Upon opening his eyes, Harry couldn't help but take notice, no pain. Could it have been a rather horrid nightmare? It made sense, after all, during his first life the Dursleys had been abusive and certainly neglectful of him, but never had they physically harmed him. Oh, they'd threatened it every occasion, but never acted on any impulse to cause bodily harm. Except Dudley, seeing as he had been raised on a pedestal and could do no evil, Harry Hunting was perfectly acceptable.

Harry shook out of his ponderings when he felt the flaky feel of dried blood peeling from his skin and the stiff, crusted fabric of his lone sheet under his hands. Horrified, he twisted his arms every which way possible to scramble at his back, feeling for the fresh scabs forming over the wounds that had decidedly not occurred in a nightmare. Surprisingly, he felt not scabs, but smooth skin. He'd a feeling that if he could see his back, it'd be criss-crossed with smooth scars, if the slightly taut, smoother strips of flesh he could feel were any indicator.

As Harry made to lean back against the inner wall of his cupboard, the air stilled, and a chill swept through him. Despite the shivers it briefly caused, he couldn't help but sigh in relief, as the cool felt so very familiar and comforting. Just as his eyes fluttered closed, thin, frigid arms wrapped around him and he nestled into the bony, arctic frame of his companion.

"I'm sorry Master. I was not meant to interfere, but I've healed your wounds. They will scar, but only to serve as a reminder, for strength will grow within you through suffering and hardship. Fear not Master, for your soulmate's touch will erase the physical manifestations of your pain, and heal the aspects within your mind and soul."

Instead of opening his eyes, Harry just softly sighed. "Is this how it's fated to be? I am to barely survive my childhood before I ever have the chance to see him, to help him? They never hurt me like this the first time. I haven't a wand, obviously the accidental magic bit hasn't come to the rescue, and it's become quite apparent that you'll not be able to do a thing to help until after I'm broken and bloody! Any suggestions?"

Death remained silent before answering, "Master, it is true that I cannot be of assistance during such occurences and that accidental magic will not be of aid to you in most circumstances, but what do you know of magic? When learning in school, is it not the castor's intent? Remember Master, that a wand is simply a conduit for wizarding folk to focus and channel their magic. However, a great many magical creatures perform the same, if not more complex magic without a wand. "

Harry's eyes twitched and one opened to peer up towards the otherwordly being currently cradling him. "You wouldn't happening to be suggesting wandless magic would you? If you'll remember, I never learned wandless magic. One would need an innate ability to sense magic or intense meditation for a simple Accio! May I remind you that I was pants at Occlumemcy, which was nearly completely meditation for a very similar purpose??" By this point Harry had sat up to glare directly into the swirling orbs before him.

Death, without speaking, raised Its hands to Harry's temples. Harry's eyes fluttered shut yet again at the incredibly soothing touch of Death. Silently, It trailed long fingers over his eyelids, down his cheeksand followed every vein and pulsepoint in his body before speaking, "Open your eyes Master."

As Harry's eyes slowly opened he let out a startled gasp. Throughout his entire body, under the surface of his skin, he could see silverly trailing wisps, swirling and ever so often flickering with a clear mint and gorgeous bronze colouring. "This is magic! This is my magic isn't it?!"

Death chuckled lightly as Harry sat examining his hands as if they were the most fasinating things he'd ever seen. "Yes Master. I've enabled you to see your magic, feel it. The meditation you spoke of? Unnecessary. Now you can feel the magic swirling through your body, you will be able to focus, will, and direct your magic by intent. In fact, should danger befall you and you intended to defend yourself, it is now perfectly within your capabilities to do so." Death stated, if a bit smugly.

A sly grin found its way onto Harry's face. "Why Death, you wouldn't happen to be suggesting I cause my Uncle harm, would you?" When Death said nothing in response, Harry just smiled in turn. "Thank you Death"

Laying the child form of Harry down, Death stroked a stray lock from his face before disappearing with a whispered, "You're welcome Master." And with that, Harry drifted off.