A Second Life

A/N; This is the last chapter of this story. It didn't really have an intended ending with this story. It's more of an 'overcoming the current struggle' story than a 'kill the evil dude' story and hopefully that's okay with you all. Before people mention it I know that this is a rather open ending to a story but then again isn't life that way at times? Anyway, hopefully you'll all enjoy it.

Chapter 18; Years pass as they do.

Hogwarts – The next morning

Harry glided through the Great Hall leaving a small trial of fog behind him as his cold feathers chilled and condensed the moisture in the warm room. He'd had a long night watching over Kevin as the school medic, Alice Jay, looked him over for injuries though Harry already knew there weren't any other than the odd scrap he'd gotten that Harry had healed with his Whitelighter powers. Kevin had understandably not wanted Harry to leave him alone but Chris and Wyatt had done a wonderful job cheering him up and as all three were his charges they had something in common.

Chris was completely fascinated with Kevin and even Wyatt hung on the eighteen year old's every word. Harry thought it would be good for them to spend some time with an older witch since Piper had always been careful about who influenced her boys but Piper could hardly be worried about Kevin's moral values when he shared the same Whitelighter as her own sons.

Harry glided down onto Jason's shoulder and carefully collapsed his wings so the cold didn't touch him. Even so his Soulmate shivered slightly at the chill to the air around him. He'd just been out to stretch his wings, enjoying the brewing storm that was travelling down the west coast of Scotland.

"Aberro, you're freezing!" Minerva gasped as she felt the cold over the foot gap to where she was sitting. "What have you been doing?" Minerva had remarkably accepted what Harry had become after a few drinks with Piper, Jason, Neville and especially Luna and after a short tear filled moment late last night she was almost back to her strict self though there was definitely an edge to her that morning. She still didn't realise that Aberro was Harry though and they planned to keep it that way.

"He's always a little cold, Minerva." Jason told her. "But today he's especially cold because he's been out enjoying a storm to the west of here. Storm Phoenixes coat their wings in a fine, but strong, coat of ice when in storms or fights to protect them from damage."

Harry leant over and preened Jason's hair for a moment before settling his head down on his Soulmate's hair to rest, he'd been up all night with Kevin and the boys before finishing the night with the adults and then he'd gone flying for several hours. Jason stroked his feathers soothingly but Harry looked up again when the sound of a hundred owls filled the room. It was a few moments before one of the owls dropped a newspaper in front of Minerva who lazily picked it up and opened it. The volume in the room almost tripled as people began to read the front page headline. Harry leaned over to read the headline.

"Harry Potter; Could he still be alive?"

"Late yesterday evening sources at the Ministry for Magic disclosed information to this paper suggesting evidence that Harry Potter had been spotted by the Ministry. Could it be possible that our Saviour wasn't killed along with You-Know-Who and has simply been hiding from society all this time?

"Reporter Anne Scribbs found out the story during the night. Harry Potter's distinctly powerful magical signature was discovered to be the source of one of two powerful magical outbursts detected in a previously hidden location in Cornwall. When Aurors arrived at the scene there was nothing but an old basement floor to a ruined mansion allegedly used by You-Know-Who during the second war.

"'All we could find was traces of magic. Six signatures, two of which were unexplainable by our normal standards.' Auror Captain, Nigel Baulmont, told Miss. Scribbs. 'We detected Harry Potter's signature quite clearly but under it and another we found the magical signatures of Lucius Malfoy and Clive Shalks.'

"Harry Potter was the most powerful Wizard in our history and it was widely known that he had the ability to hide his own signature in battle. Why did he not do so this time when using such powerful magic. It should also be noted by our readers that the answer to the question we first posed is easily made when we remember one fact; It is extremely difficult to impersonate another Wizard's Magical signature and impossible to match Harry Potter's sheer power.

"'Even the Soul Saint, Jason Aberro, who was Harry Potter's Soulmate, can't match Harry Potter for power, even now after his magic increased when Harry Potter supposedly died.' Roman Kurl, expert in theoretical bonds, told her late last night. This brings several other questions to our attention. 'Why did Harry Potter fake his own death?' 'Where has he been all this time?' 'Who created the other large burst of magic and why?' And lastly and maybe most shocking to us; 'Did Jason Aberro know that his Soulmate was still alive?'

Jason Aberro has yet to be asked these questions but we have to wonder if his sudden taking of a Professorship at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is tied into this conspiracy. We endeavour to find the answers to all of this.

"Oh shit." Jason whispered so that only Harry could hear.

'Just plead ignorance.' Harry soothed him. 'It's all guesses based on the magic I used.'

Harry could hear the talking around the room, almost three quarters of the room were glancing up at Jason while the rest were reading the articles in the paper which took up the first three pages, talking all about Harry's history as an Unspeakable.

"How long do you think before they start knocking down the doors, Minerva?" Jason asked, not even having to lower his voice over the noise.

"Probably not long." Minerva sighed. "What do you want to go with?"

"The truth, Minerva." Jason told her, knowing that the other Professors were now listening. "Harry's death was terrible for everybody that knew him and to suggest such a thing is morally ambiguous at best. It's pathetic to bring this up now, especially when the world was finally starting to move on under its own steam again. I won't be held responsible for my actions if some arrogant reporter dares slight his name and my own on this basis!"

Jason stood jerkily and Harry knew that it wasn't an act at all. Even Minerva saw that and she knew that he was covering the full truth up. The fact of the matter was that Harry had died and he'd nearly taken Jason's sanity with him. The world had finally left Harry in peace but at the first mention of a scandal involving Harry they'd leapt on it like sharks. Harry could feel his love's anger bubbling.

"If you don't mind, Minerva, I have a lesson to prepare for." Jason made to move around the length of the table but Minerva stopped him with a gentle placing of her hand on his arm.

"One moment, Jason." Minerva turned back to the hall and silence slowly spread. "Students, I feel that this issue must be dealt with immediately and with certainty of truth. This..." she paused and threw her newspaper onto the table, "...is such a shame."

There were frowns from the Professors as they took in her strange words but she continued none-the-less. "It is such a shame that our world must once again stoop to such levels to gain personal fame. To slight Harry Potter's name in such a way when all felt for his loss. I'm aware that none among you would have met Harry Potter but I was his professor and his friend during the war. Harry Potter's death came as a horrible blow to us all and it cast a pallor over what should have been the joyous news of Lord Voldemort's death." She told them all sadly and Harry saw the faint glimmer of sorrow that she tried to hide in her eyes. "I urge you before you bring this matter to Professor Aberro that you speak with you parents and discover how everybody was devastated by the news of his death and then decide whether or not you, if in Professor Aberro's position, would welcome such heinous accusations against his own integrity but especially the integrity of his deceased Soulmate."

Jason tilted his head down at Minerva before turning to walk out of the hall amongst nervous whispering that spread behind him like a wake. All eyes were on him and Harry thought that Jason would be permitted the peace to take his anger out on something that wasn't living but that idea was ruined when the doors opened sharply and a small tide of people strolled into the room. Four red-robed Aurors, two Unspeakables, and a half dozen well dressed Wizards.

"Minister Paisley." Minerva spoke up loudly as Jason tensed and came to a stop in the middle of the Great Hall. "What can I do for you?"

"I believe you know what we need to discuss but it is to Mr. Aberro that we must address." Paisley replied. At his shoulder was a woman with a pad and the distinct air of a reporter and that more than anything irritated Harry who fluttered his wings causing the air to drop sharply.

"I have nothing to discuss with you, Minister. I might not work for the Unspeakables any longer but I am still protected by their laws." Jason said gently though any sensible person could have heard the threat in his voice.

The reporter evidently didn't. "Mr. Aberro, we'd like a comment from you about Harry Potter's attempt to fake his death."

"Harry never made an attempt at anything." Jason snapped. "If he set out to do something he succeeded or haven't you noticed that Voldemort is dead?"

"Are you admitting that he may not be dead?" One of the Aurors asked, he was wearing Captains strips at his collar.

"All of the Seers council felt Harry Potter's death, Minister." Luna's voice drifted over the room. "You were thus informed soon after it happened."

"Harry Potter was detected in Cornwall!" Paisley snapped. "And we want answers!"

"You can want all you like Minister, but that doesn't mean I have anything I wish to tell you." Jason said with more gentleness than he felt at that moment.

"You'll answer our questions here voluntarily or you'll come with us to a cell in the Ministry." The Auror Captain declared.

"No cell in Azkaban for the Soulmate of the Saviour?" Jason hissed angrily. "I'll say this once, Harry Potter died to save you all. At least respect his sacrifice and leave his reputation alone."

"We're calling his death into question." Paisley told him. "If you're involved in this conspiracy then it will come to light."

"Enough!" Jason snapped and a ripple of angry magic rippled from him sending people staggering. "I won't hear his name being tarnished, or my own for that matter. Harry is a hero."

"Not if he..." The reporter started but Jason had clearly had enough. He was in motion in an instant, his wand cut through the air leaving a trail of ice in its wake. In an instant ice shot up from the ground between Jason and the others sending them tumbling backwards. Jason then slammed the heel of his wand into his palm and the four Aurors were surrounded by a loose bubble of blue magic that sunk into them causing them to fall to the ground unconscious.

A blast of orange magic was shot at Jason from one of the Unspeakables and Harry knew it was magic more complex than most Aurors could handle. Jason's magic throbbed as he lazily deflected it up at the ceiling. Jason's wand turned on the Minister's group and a blast of white light filled the area and when it faded the Minister, reporter and the four lackeys were unconscious on the ground.

Jason turned back to the two Unspeakables and narrowed his eyes at them. They nodded at him before holstering their wands under their sleeves, an unspoken agreement passing between colleagues in that instant. Their department would drop the issue for the sake of their fallen comrade.

"Don't miss first class." Jason said simply yet loud enough for all to hear. "If anyone is late for my class because of this you'll be in detention. Harry heard the clambering from behind them as the students realised they only had two minutes until their first class and knowing they'd soon be overrun he teleported his Soulmate into his office.

'Are you going to be alright, Jason?' Harry asked.

'It's you they're slandering.' Jason pointed out.

'I don't care what the Wizards think, as long as you are alright and my charges are safe then I'm happy.' Harry told him. 'I gave up caring about what they thought of me years ago.'

Jason stroked him gently before turning to walk into his classroom ready to hand out detentions to anybody that was late. Harry settled down in the corner to wait out the classes.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

A year later

Harry, as Aberro, sat gently on Jason's leg preening his wing feathers while Jason sat through the start of year Professors meeting. They were currently covering new students and soon they'd go their own ways to get ready for the welcoming feast that evening. Harry perked up only when Minerva brought up the topic of Christopher Halliwell since he was coming a year earlier on a Divination Allowance.

"That's Wyatt Halliwell's younger brother, right?" Neville asked as he leaned forward with his elbows on the desk. Minerva nodded. "Great, let's hope he's not such a trouble maker as Wyatt is."

Jason chuckled but shook his head when they all looked at him. Minerva shot him a warning glance before continuing. "Luna has done all the necessary paperwork with the Ministry to allow him to come a year early on the grounds that his Seer's powers need to be trained as early as possible. His grades are more than adequate to enter as a first year rather than a special tutorage but I'm asking you all to keep an eye on him and ensure that his age doesn't affect his grades in your own individual classes."

"What about Demons this year, Minerva?" Filius asked sharply. "We had two try to get in last year. We're all new to them and only Jason knows what to do about them."

Jason straightened up and Harry folded his wings and looked around. It had happened a few weeks after the Christmas holidays when the Ministry, still investigating Harry's outburst of magic had tracked the Demon's signal and tracked a group of Demons operating out of London. They'd attacked and there'd been serious casualties on both sides. The Demons had come to light after that and in an attempt to sooth panic Jason had come forward with knowledge about the Demons, about their weaknesses and ambitions, all learnt from Harry and the Elders.

Twice last year the Demons had attempted to attack the castle, probably trying to get at Wyatt while he was away from the protection of the Charmed Ones but Jason had killed one and Harry had torn through the other one during the night when nobody could see him.

"Hogwarts will continue as it always has in wartime." Minerva told them. "We'll teach the students and we'll do our duty and protect them. What happens after that will simply happen and we'll just have to be ready for it."

"I heard Harry Potter say that once." Filius put in with a solemn look on his face. "The last time I saw him before he died, he was visiting the castle, checking the enchantments he'd placed on the Chamber of Secrets with me. I suppose he was right."

"I think we can all safely say that he taught us all something." Minerva nodded, completely serious. "Maybe he believed that it made up for the effort we took to teach him and his peers."

Harry trilled out in agreement and Jason rubbed at his head gently. "Harry will never be gone." Jason spoke up. "It doesn't matter how long it is but good people will always want to make him proud and they'll fight injustice and evil to make themselves feel worthy of his sacrifice."

"Hear hear!" Gulliver, the potions professor declared loudly.

'Harry!' Harry jerked his head as he heard Kevin calling him and a moment later he heard Piper and Chris call his name. Instinctively he knew they were all together. Ever since Kevin had come into his powers he'd been requesting that Piper and her sisters ask for his help if they needed him and his powers really did aid the sisters, making it far safer for them to do their job.

'I need to go. Piper, Chris and Kevin are calling.' Harry told Jason.

'Do you want me to go to the manor while you sort out Kevin?' Jason asked.

'They're together.' Harry told him before launching himself into the air and teleporting from the room. He went directly to the manor where he could sense them all and appeared in a flash of ice and lightning but it was his Whitelighter form that he took as he appeared just behind Chris who, along with his older brother, were ducked behind a cabinet within Wyatt's blue force field.

The five demons in the room were strong if Harry could sense them right and he jerked out a hand, sending them all sprawling even though it made Piper miss as she tried to blow one of them up only to hit the wall behind them. "Harry! They're after Chris!"

"Why?" Harry asked even as he moved between the boys and the demons who sized him up. Kevin made use of their distraction and lashed out with his elemental powers. Flames raced along the ground before vines of fire curled up around the feet of three of the demons, burning into them before exploding outwards. What surprised Harry, Kevin and Piper was that only two of them were killed. The last was left smoking slightly but otherwise unharmed.

"Does it matter?" Piper asked sharply as she got over her shock. Harry felt a ripple go through the air and his eyes widened as he felt the demon calling for reinforcements just as Piper blew up one of the last of the Demons. Harry twisted slightly and threw out a hand and with an implosion of air the last of the lesser Demons exploded outwards.

'Jason, are you alone? I need your help.' Harry sent to his Soulmate.

'Give me a few seconds. I'm leaving the meeting now. Send someone.' Jason called.

"Piper, call Paige and have her pick up Jason!" Harry snapped at her.

"Paige!" Piper yelled just as a round of shimmering filled the room and Demons began to appear all around them. "Get Phoebe and Jason and get here now. We're under attack!" She yelled even as she dove to the side to avoid a fireball.

Harry threw a 'protego' spell around Wyatt's shield and it absorbed two fireballs that probably wouldn't get through to Wyatt anyway but he wasn't willing to take the risk. The thought went through his mind to send Wyatt and Chris to Hogwarts or Olympia for safety but he only really felt sure of their safety if he was with them.

He heard the snap of a crossbow but was too slow to do more than jerk his head around to see a Darklighter arrow flying directly at him. He tried to dodge but just as he was about to move the arrow burst into orbs and reappeared inches away from its shooter who was impaled and killed. Harry spared a grateful glance at Wyatt knowing that it had been him before he threw up a shield around him, Kevin and Piper who ended up standing back to back as they fought against the demons.

Harry found the original Demon in the crowd but he was staying out of the way. As he felt Piper beginning to lose her edge another round of demons appeared in the room filling the few gaps that the three had made.

"We need to get out of here!" Piper yelled at him just as Harry cast a complex enchantment that heaved through the floor, giving them a breather as the demons lost their footing. Before they could right themselves the enchantment caused vines of the wood to grow up from the ground and Kevin used their distraction to burn a few of them.

"I'll get Wyatt and Chris." Harry told them and in a smooth movement he stepped through a portal and slipped straight across the room appearing just behind the boys but before he could step through the shield and orb the boys away he heard another crossbow string go off and felt the impact almost instantly and saw the arrow protruding from his chest even before weakness filled him. He fell down to his knees between the two boys, falling into the safety of Wyatt's shield even as Chris screamed his name.

They boys scrambled to catch him but Harry still had some energy left to him and tried to get into a crouch but he couldn't pull any magic into being, his ability to orb them to safety was gone, he couldn't even become Aberro in order to regenerate. He'd been shot once before with an arrow but it had only been a nick to the shoulder, not a shot straight into his heart. He fell onto his back in time to see a trail of orbs fill the room and soon Jason, Paige and Phoebe were in the fight.

It took Jason all of a second for the bond to catch him up on what Harry was going through and Harry saw the anger there for only a second before Jason controlled it and turned it into a boost for his magic. "Harry's been shot!" Piper shouted at Paige but there was no way for her to get to him with all the Demons in the room and she got a fireball in her shoulder when she tried.

Jason levelled his wand across the room and a tongue of flame struck three Demons, killing them, before he cast the Killing Curse striking the original Demon, clearly the one planning this attack. His body collapsed to the ground just as if he was human before it began to slowly burn into ash.

The remaining eight Demons in the room were quickly finished off with an angry Jason there and it was Kevin that finished off the last Dark Lighter who had been the one to hit Harry. The flaming panther he'd conjured prowled the room once before vanishing. Wyatt's shield fell almost instantly and Harry felt Jason grab at his shoulders, flooding Harry across their bond with his own magic but it did little more than let Harry focus on his face. He knew he'd be pale and clammy.

"Paige! Heal him!" Jason yelled back over his shoulder.

"I don't know if I can." Paige collapsed to her knees beside him and tried all the same and even Wyatt and Chris tried to help. Harry could feel the healing magic bleeding into where his two boys were holding his hands in their own.

Harry felt energy soaring through him, but it was draining away from him just as quickly with the arrow and poison in his heart. "Take out the arrow, Jason." Paige ordered him.

Jason, with show of determination, didn't even hesitate before he yanked the arrow out of Harry's chest making him arch up with an almost silent scream of pain. Harry felt more healing magic flood him but the poison was so deeply ingrained in him that Paige sat back with a defeated sigh. Harry realised that Wyatt and Chris were still trying and he shook them off with a weak flick of his hands.

"It's no use, Jason." Paige sagged slightly, watching Harry die for a second time wasn't on her to do list. "There's too much of the poison in his heart."

"But he's already supposed to be dead." Kevin growled kneeling down beside Harry's head sadly.

"Not quite." Harry whispered out. "I'm sorry boys."

"No." Chris snapped grabbing his hand again. His hand glowed golden but Harry felt the magic simply slip away as it tried to heal him.

"Chris..." Harry shook his head. "Stop it."

Jason took Chris' hand in his own showing his own defeat. "Wait!" Piper jerked slightly. "Aberro can't be killed by this."

"I can't..." Harry shuttered his eyes.

"Can we change you?" Piper asked him desperately.

Harry tried to focus on her but he was slipping away quickly. He tried to voice the answer but his body refused to listen to him. Instead he reached out mentally, sweeping through the well formed connections to his three Charges and his Soulmate in the room. 'Fawkes.' The word echoed in their minds just as he fell unconscious.

"Fawkes!" Jason yelled loudly hoping that the Royal Phoenix would hear his desperate cries. "Please, Fawkes. Save him."

"Fawkes." Chris whispered when nothing happened straight away, he had tears in his eyes as did Wyatt and as Jason looked around for help he realised that everybody there was having trouble controlling themselves. Harry was so much a part of their lives that the thought of losing him was unimaginable.

"Not again, Harry." Jason whispered. "Please, not again."

They all tensed for battle when the room filled with lights. Golden orbs appeared beside Piper and Phoebe and formed into Joel while two small bright lights appeared above Harry's unconscious and dying body. One was a silver colour while the other was golden and it took Jason a moment to realise what they are. He was about to word it when two Phoenixes appeared out of the bright lights landing quickly on Harry's wounded chest. One was a gleaming Royal Phoenix while the other had the distinct dark look that belied it as a Storm Phoenix.

The Storm Phoenix leant over to Jason and trilled to boost his confidence and Jason sobbed out a wounded gasp. The Royal Phoenix took off again and landed on Chris' shoulder, she preened at his hair for a moment.

"Move away from Harry, boys." Joel told them. "You too Jason Aberro."

"What's happening?" Piper asked even as she watched Kevin pulling Jason away and onto the arm of the sofa.

"Fawkes heard the call and summoned the Ruling Phoenixes. I was ready for it and came down as well." Joel explained. "We know so little about their race but I presume that they wish to help and Fawkes would not have called them for no reason."

He trailed off as they heard the sound of crackling, it wasn't like a flame burning but electricity and as they looked down at Harry it was to see lightning flickering across his body and around the Ruling Storm Phoenix who was trilling quietly in the centre of his chest. Ice began to form over the Storm Phoenix and across Harry's body from where the Phoenix was standing. It spread over his torso and down his arms and his legs and finally up over his head. The last of Harry they saw was when he breathed in a pained dying breath.

Jason gasped in horror as he felt his Soulmate's pain and Kevin wrapped an arm around his waist even as Chris and Wyatt burrowed into their mother's sides. The air was soon charged with electricity and the hairs on their arms stood on end. Lightning danced across the mound of ice that was forming in the centre of the room and with a mighty shattering sound ice flew all around the room, evaporating as it struck objects and people. They all shielded themselves and Jason was the first to risk looking at his Soulmate to find Aberro lying on the ground sleeping with the Ruling Phoenix standing over him.

"What?" Jason choked on his words.

"I believe this may be a good thing." Joel told him before gesturing to Wyatt. The Dark Phoenix trilled in encouragement and slowly Wyatt lifted Aberro's limp body from the floor and cradled him to his chest trying to arrange the wings to lie naturally. Jason let Wyatt hold Aberro knowing that his own hands were trembling too much.

The Royal Phoenix took off into the air and was soon joined by the Storm Phoenix and with a boosting trill of reassurance they teleported out leaving the after image of their bright display lingering behind. "Let him rest." Joel announced. "I believe it will take time for his reserves to refill."

"Thank you, Joel." Paige told the Elder gently.

"Look after Jason." Joel warned. "I do not think he can handle dealing with Harry's death a second time, even a scare such as this."

Piper nodded and moved away to guide Jason upstairs along with Chris, Wyatt and the cradled Aberro. "Why did they attack like that?" Kevin asked as he drew himself up in determination.

"We think they wanted to take Chris' seeing power." Joel told them. "Their allies amongst the Wizards heard that Luna Lovegood was to tutor him this year and the Demons must have realised that he is without equal and wanted him before he could start to learn magic at Hogwarts."

"Is that threat over?" Paige asked worriedly.

"We believe so." Joel nodded. "We will keep an eye on it however, I assure you of that."

"Thank you." Paige sighed.

"Be well." Joel bowed slightly and raised his hood before his figure streamed into golden orbs and vanished through the ceiling.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

A few days later

Harry woke up feeling strange and realised it was because he was Aberro and he was lying flat rather than standing on a perch like normal. He struggled to right himself and found a hand lifting him up. His mind reached out even as he balanced himself with a flutter of his wings and he found the loving mind of his Soulmate ebbing with tides of relief.

'I'm still alive then?' Harry asked.

'Don't you even try to joke, Harry.' Jason sighed. 'I've been a nervous wreck ever since the Ruling Phoenixes left.'

'The Ruling Phoenixes?' Harry asked rhetorically. 'Is everyone else alright?'

'They're fine, Harry.' Jason stood up from beside the table and Harry fluttered to the ground and rippled back into human form. He stretched and didn't get to relax before he was being gathered up into a tight hug by his Soulmate. "Don't you ever get shot again, Harry."

"I'll try not to." Harry sighed and kissed the side of his lover's neck before letting his head fall onto his shoulder.

"Let's go find your boys." Jason told him. "They've been worried sick, all three of them."

Harry laughed and in a moment the two of them were orbing from the bedroom in the Halliwell manor towards Hogwarts and to the world that would always continue with or without Harry Potter but all agreed that it was better with him looking over it all.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

The End