Revenge Served Cold

Meeting the Lost and a Choice to Make

Harry sat silently as Thanatos left the room. He was nervous. Thanatos told him he had a gift for him, one he prepared for him.

Thinking over all he learned, he has a feeling that it's just the tip of a very big iceberg. From what he could remember of Dumbledore the man's secrets had secrets with a plot or two just for funsies.

If he was honest with himself, he wasn't all that shocked about Dumbledore. His 'friends' still upset him. Ron didn't surprise him, but Hermione did. Things just didn't add up from what he saw in the beginning to what he remembered up to his death.

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Harry looked up when he heard someone enter the room, and he froze.

"Mum? Dad?" He asked as softly as he could, desperate to keep this illusion if it was one.

Lily Potter was a tall, lovely woman with long flowing red hair and bright green eyes. His eyes. His mum's eyes.

James Potter was handsome and tall with wild hair like his own. His hair was brown instead of black, and his glasses were gold framing his hazel eyes. He was smiling.

They were smiling.

At him.

"Mum! Dad!" Harry cried as he sprung up from his seat and flew into his parent's arms.

They held him as tightly as he held them. They were really here.

"Oh my baby! I love you so much, my baby." He heard his mother's voice in his ear as they all cried. "My son...I love you so much." His father whispered. He felt tears on his shoulder as he sobbed.

"Any room for one more? Or is Prong just going to hog it all." Harry froze again. He knew that voice. It was "Sirius?" He wiggled to look over his dad's shoulder to meet familiar gray eyes.

Sirius smiled and literally dived into the family hug.

"Scoot over Potter he's my kid too!"

"Damn it Padfoot! Ow!"

"You two stop it! Honestly just hug our son and shut up!"

They all quieted as they all three wrapped Harry in an embrace. They stayed like that for a long time. Tears and smiles, and gentle squeezes. Somehow, they ended up cuddled on the plush rug, refusing to untangle themselves.

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It took a few hours, but the small family managed to get into a comfortable cuddle puddle with James and Sirius wrapped around Lily and Harry.

They spend another few hours telling the teen stories, they even told him the name they gave him at birth. "We named you Hadrian James Charlus Potter-Black. After your great-great grandfather and uncle. Sirius had blood adopted you a few days after you were born, so you got your second surname from him."

They listened to Harry as he told his life story.

Needless to say, they all were not very happy with what they now knew but are proud of their son for the strength he showed.

"But I was beaten, literally a slave! I let them treat me that way!" Harry exclaimed, ashamed of how he lived and died.

James was the one who answered "You are strong because you lived, son. You are brave because you fought in the only way you could, even though you were afraid." James petted his son's head as Lily and Sirius hummed their agreement. "We are proud of you, son. No matter what path you go down, no matter who's side you chose, no matter who you love or the choices you make, we love you, so much." Lily continues from her husband "We know things are not as black and white as they seem."

"We know life is complicated and sometimes taking the high ground can get you killed." Sirius added. "WE love you no matter what, son."

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Thanatos entered the room a few more hours later to see the small family cuddled on the floor. He chuckled, gaining the attention of eight pairs of red rimmed eyes, and smiled warmly. "I know this reunion is long overdue, however the young Master has some choices to make." He gestured to the couch and chairs, inviting them to sit if they wished, and chuckling again when no one moved a muscle, just cheeky smiles. "Well then, mind if I join this little floor party? The choices can still be made from the floor, I'm sure." This made all in the room laugh as the Deity plopped cross legged in front of them on the rug. Harry couldn't help but laugh harder.

Thanatos looked so out of place on the floor. His long robes were bunched and yet his crown still sat atop his head, but crooked. Thanatos smiled along with James, Sirius, and Lily. It was nice to hear the teen laugh so freely.

"Now then, Master, your choices are as follows." Thanatos met the green eyes of the teen evenly. "As Master of Death you can either move on to the rebirth cycle or go back to a certain point after your birth."

Harry was silent for a moment then asked, "What happens if I move on?"

"If you move on you will reside here in my realm until you are reborn as a new soul. You leave the living world and all its faults behind."

"And if i go back?"

"That is up to you Master. It is your choice after all."

"What about my parents? Will they be here when I die again?"

"A soul does not have to move to the cycle if they do not wish it. The only souls who do not choose are the infants that pass through." Death explained, he continued.

"Young, fresh souls who did not live long enough to remember life. I send them into the cycle to keep the balance. If a soul passes through that does not want the cycle, I send them to a chosen afterlife."

Harry thought about this for a few moments. He wanted to stay with his family. But the anger in his heart was almost too much. He looked imploringly at his parents. It was Lily who answered "If you want to go back, to get revenge or even to just have a do over, a chance at a life to remember fondly, we will not keep you from it. I understand wanting to stay, and I understand wanting to change one's life." Lily kissed his forehead and said, "We love you baby, it will be okay."

Harry met the eyes of his dad and godfather, seeing the love in their eyes. "I can't ignore this, ich, to make it right. To change my life and get back at the ones who used me. I...I need this. I want to stay." He met his parents' eyes before meeting Death's "But I need this. I want to go back, but I need..."

"You will need help."

"I can't do it alone."

"Who will you need, Master?"

Harry thought for a long time. Sitting cuddled to his parents as he went through everyone he knew when he was alive.

Finally, after some deep thought, he said. "Fred, George, Neville, Draco, and Luna." Harry turned back to his parents and Thanatos stood, as the family said teary goodbyes and I love Yous.

After getting plenty of motherly kisses and father hugs Harry stood and took Death's hand.

"I'm ready."