A Potter Secret

Death's Doorstep

          "Isabella!" Severus calls, walking onto the pitch. "Isabella, it's time to come in."

Isabella flies lower, followed by Cedric, Fred and George. "But Papa, we're in the middle of a game. Please!"

Severus had come home after the convention to find her and Cedric working hard on summer assignments. Isabella had decided to earn her masters in all subjects, starting with potions. She spent all summer exchanging letters with Cedric and working with her Papa. Isabella had just taken the mastery examination the day before under Dumbledore's supervision with less than a week until school will start up. He had declared her a master and signed her masters' certificate. To celebrate, Severus had invited her friends over. They'd been playing Quidditch on the pitch all afternoon and it was finally time for the party.

"Fine," Severus relents. "Just this game. Hurry indoors, it's getting chilly."

Isabella blows him a kiss before flying off. Severus quickly finds a seat in the stands as they continue playing. Cedric chases after the snitch, following Isabella who saw it first. "Look out!" Fred cries, rushing forwards.

"Runaway Bludger!" George calls.

Isabella turns back and pulls out her wand, trying to hit it. "Cedric!" Isabella calls. She rushes forward, grabbing Cedric and barrel rolling with him. The Bludger strikes, breaking the broom handle and hitting Isabella.

As she starts falling, Cedric rushes forward and catches her with his quick reflexes before lowering them to the ground. Severus runs up moments later. "Izzy!" Cedric tries. "Izzy, come on, wake up!"

Severus pulls her into his arms and picks her up. "Clean up and come into the school."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Poppy kicked everyone out of the hospital wing before setting to work. The Bludger had hit the side of her head when it struck and knocked her off the broom. Poppy gives her potion after potion, trying to heal her. After half an hour, she lets everyone in. "I've gotten her stable but she's going to be unconscious for a while. She's got a bad concussion but I didn't want to give her anymore potions or use more spells. I've used so many already."

"Will she be alright?" Cedric asks.

Poppy sighs. "I don't know, Mr. Diggory. At this point it's hard to know. I'll know more when she wakes up."

Dumbledore summons a few chairs and everyone sits around Isabella. It's supposed to be a day for Isabella to celebrate. Instead, she's in pain.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Isabella's eyes open to see a beautiful meadow. She sits up slowly, a hand to her head as it pounds. "Isabella." She spins quickly to see a man standing there in a dark suit.

She stands up, stepping away. "Who are you?" Isabella asks.

"I go by many names but most know me as Death," the man explains. A table appears and Death sits down. "Don't worry, child. I'm not here for you." Isabella approaches slowly and sits before him. "There are things that you do not know and I'm sure you'll have questions. I'll explain everything to you. Feel free to ask questions if you feel the need."

Isabella nods. "Where are we?"

Death peers around. "We are in your dreams," he explains. "You were knocked unconscious by a Bludger. I've been meaning to talk to you for a while but I felt you weren't quite ready. When you were a baby, you were put in stasis."

"I know," Isabella interjects. "I woke up three years later to the day."

"You were not going to wake up, Isabella," Death explains. "The dark magic you were exposed to was going to kill you. I appeared to the one who you call Papa and struck a deal with him. You see, Voldemort was never meant to be. So many have died who were not meant to die. As I care for the souls of the dead, I can not return them to where they belong. I could, however, give that power to someone young enough and powerful enough to handle it."

Isabella sits up a little further. "You're saying I have the power to bring back the dead?"

Death nods. "That's why you're so much more powerful than you're supposed to be. You were exceedingly powerful before and this gift expanded it."

"Why didn't Papa tell me? Why haven't I seen this before?" Isabella ponders.

"I removed our meeting from your father's memory and locked this specific power away until I was able to speak to you," Death assures. "I feel with all you've accomplished that you are ready and won't be too overwhelmed with all this knowledge."

"How does this work?" Isabella asks. "How do I channel it?"

"You need to be connected with them in some way as you start. Eventually you may be able to focus on people you are emotionally connected to as well," Death explains. "You have to focus on their heartbeat and bringing it back to them. When you feel strong emotions, such as fear or love, you may bring them back without even realizing. Until you've practiced it will take a lot of energy. I recommend animals you may come across. This power will also enable you to heal people from some injuries as time progresses. As you age and your powers become stronger, there are many possibilities as to what may come."

"What if I bring back someone who shouldn't come back?" Isabella asks, tears coming to her eyes. "What if I bring back a bad guy by mistake?"

Death gets up and kneels in front of her. "Hush, child. You will always be able to contact me from now on. If you need to see me, think about speaking with me just before bed and I will appear in your dream. If it's really important, think about projecting your thoughts to me and I will hear you."

Isabella nods and stands up. "How do I get back?" Isabella asks. "Papa's probably worried."

"It's as easy as falling asleep," Death replies, smiling. A small bed appears beside them and Death leads Isabella towards it. "Rest, Isabella. I may have used this occurrence to contact you but you were still hurt." Isabella nods and lies down. Death tucks her in gently. "Everything will work out, Isabella. You just need faith."

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