A Hop Skip And A Jump Away

dress up aging and death

"Stupid mutt, making him relive his death," Severus muttered angrily as they gently laid Harry down to sleep off the exhaustion.

"And we still have to call everyone for the meeting and interview," Voldemort agreed with a grimace.

"At least he managed to say goodbye this time. If Death was truthful about the stone then Harry should be fine in a couple of hours. He grieved over the mutt last time and it hurt him for nearly three months. At least with something to do this time and that blasted stone it will simply be like the mutt is actually able to be there for him," Snape pointed out sourly.

"The only reason I can think of that it had to be Lord Black that was collected was either he was a threat to Harry or as part of the original price of the deal. They warned us that the two of us would be paying the highest personal price but we agreed before knowing what the full price and conditions actually were," Voldemort admitted, frustration clear in his voice.

"Potter I can believe that of but you?" Snape asked incredulously.

"I know, I know, but the interpretation of the wording being used wasn't as clear cut as it could have been. You might have managed to avoid our mistake with all your practice as a spy... maybe," Voldemort informed him, still irritated over the obvious trick. "We would have likely agreed any way but they clearly did not want us to know the exact terms of the deal. Which is why we've had so much trouble since the third task trying to figure out what we need to focus on, aside from eliminating the obvious stupidity."

"Well if you help me wake him we can feed him the potions before sending him back to sleep, that way he will be the correct physical age by the time everyone gets here," Snape offered, changing the subject.

Voldemort grudgingly nodded his agreement, they carefully woke Harry just enough to feed the emotionally exhausted younger wizard most of his potions before allowing him to return to blissful slumber as his body healed, preparing to be aged. However when Harry's body didn't seem to be responding to the early sip of Ageing potion that would help integrate the Nutrition and Oculus potions Snape frowned in concern before starting to cast diagnostic spells, the results were confusing to say the least.

"Having a bit of trouble?" Death drawled with a snicker from a nearby shadowy corner, causing them both to start.

"I take it this... unusual effect has something to do with you?" Voldemort shot back.

"Certainly, his soul remembers dying and taking up the mantle as my master at age 17, earning a few perks from the position. He doesn't actually need glasses anymore but his incorrect prescription changes his vision to almost the same as it did when his eyes were still damaged so he hasn't noticed. Just take away his glasses and make him use his eyes for small things or distance and he'll have 20/10 vision by the time his eyes finish correcting and healing themselves, again. I was going to work on his physical body next but he never took off the glasses long enough to notice the change. While amusing I didn't feel like dealing with him panicking over it while in the middle of a war zone. As for the choice of wording when gaining your agreement, well it gives us a bit more room to work with," Death admitted, more than a bit amused.

"And claiming the mutt?" Severus asked stubbornly, mentally filing away the need to take Harry's glasses away and check him at 6 month intervals for any other "changes" Death might decide to make.

"Black's mind was mostly broken. It would only have taken the smallest push to send him over the edge and put my master in danger. It wouldn't have necessarily killed him but it could have broken my Master's spirit. A little relived grief now is better than having to practically paste his mind and soul back together later. Even with your help he might not have ever healed enough to be functional again should Sirius Orion Black have broken in a certain way. I removed the threat," Death said simply. "Call it complications from being stuck in Azkaban for so long. Though some of it actually came from the inbreeding of the Black family, it just wasn't as obvious as Bellatrix's insanity which Tom here exasperated with his training in his own previously compromised state."