31st October 2022, The Old London Cemetery

Tyranus Vengari was nothing like the story-book vampires: pale with overgrown canines and a dislike of garlic. He was like a regular guy, almost. His skin was a little on the waxy side, and he wore shades in the daylight, which didn't bother him at all. His sense of humour was dark though, no room for sentimentality, and he was the only person Harry knew who never got offended over anything. He'd seen it all, heard it all, done it all. He made no pretence that he'd never killed, apparently the wars were a banquet for his kin, all-you-can-eat. But it wasn't like he actually killed them, just made sure the blood didn't go to waste.

The only announcement of his arrival was a slight drop in the air temperature and the descent of absolute silence. Without turning Harry knew he was there, pale in the shadows of the cemetery. His voice came, high-pitched and cold, "Has everything been prepared?".

"The hard part is taken care of" Replied Harry who stood before an enormous Chronos sigil that had been scorched into the ground.

"You know young protégé, this is very Dark Magic. Time-related magic is unstable. There's no guarantee this ritual of yours, Hades will work and even if you do succeed in this suicidal mission of yours. You'll effectively be travelling back in time to alter your own timeline. We have no idea how this will affect the future. The repercussions-" The vampire gently remonstrance.

Harry carded a hand through his hair and gave his old friend a side way glance "I'm well aware of the repercussions".

"Do you really?" Scoffed Tyranus as he leaned against a tombstone. Moss and ivy had grown all over the back of the great slab of grey granite, engraving almost worn away by centuries of rain, once sharp edged letters now rounded and so shallow as to be barely readable, standing as a testimony to the life of someone long forgotten, in the shadow of a great Yew tree.

"I know Dark magic comes with a price. It's a burden. It demands sacrifice. But, no price is too high for what I wish to achieve here" Replied Harry.

Tyranus raised an eyebrow "Even if it means Voldemort would still be alive?" He questioned.

Harry nodded solemnly "Yes, even if it means I have to re-do it all over again".

Tyranus let out a small sigh "I know and I also know that many would jump at the chance to change their past", he commented. "Especially one that has as much…horror in it as yours does. But your past will remain the same, no matter what you do. It wouldn't change everything you've already seen or everything you've already lived through".

"I know, I'm old enough to know now that a longer life isn't always a better one". Harry replied with his eyes downcast and ran a hand over his weary face "In the end you just get tired…tired of the struggle, tired of losing everyone that matters to you, tired of watching everyone die around you".

Tyranus nodded, in acceptance "Very well, Hades I have said my peace. I just hope that your sacrifice is not in vain".

"Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live" Harry said as he pointed his wand directly at his heart.

"I guess we should hope for the best, prepare for the worst and expect nothing" Replied Tyranus.

The wand burned hot as a point of bright green appeared at the tip. Just waiting on the incantation being spoken from his lips "Goodbye, Tyranus, till we meet again, someday, somewhere wherever and whenever it may be".

"Indeed, we will Hades. Until then, I bid you farewell and good luck on your new journey that you're about to embark on be it in this life or the next".

Harry drew in a deep breath and whispered the unforgivable curse, and there was a bright flash of green as the curse enveloped The-Boy-Who-Lived. The pentagram scorched the grass as he waited for the inevitable pain.

Everything melted and turned black before his very eyes as a thousand sharp needles pieced him everywhere with indescribably hot waves of excruciating pain. It wasn't long before Harry slipped away into oblivion. All he could see now was the darkness that encased him, he could feel his heart slow, and he could hear his breath become still. There was nothing to do now, but throw himself into death's icy hands. As the darkness that had shrouded him began to recede his sight returned.