To Live is the Rarest Thing

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Sirius broke the embrace off after a minute or so and gave Harry a very confused look.

“I’ll tell you everything, I promise, but not out here.” Harry gestured at the two men to follow him and he unlocked the front door and led them inside. “There are two secrecy contracts for you to sign on the dining table. Read them all you like. I’ll make some tea.”

“But, Harry – “ Sirius started with a helpless gesture towards Harry.

“Sign the contract and I’ll explain everything.” Harry gave him an honest smile and set about making tea while Sirius and Remus stood quietly at the dining table reading their contracts. They were pretty straightforward, making it so Sirius and Lupin would be unable to share any confidential information they learned that day with anyone in any form.

Harry got the kettle boiling and arranged a pile of pastries onto a plate. He’d been stress-baking ever since sending Sirius the letter and he had a whole assortment of homemade sausage rolls, pigs in a blanket and little steak and mushroom pies to show for it. There were also strawberry tarts for afters. Harry placed his tea service and the pastries on the dining table while Sirius and Lupin signed the contracts. He then poured them all a cup of tea and sat down, gesturing the two men to do the same.

“Thanks,” Harry said as he examined the contracts briefly to make sure they had activated.

“So you’re Harry,” Lupin started saying, looking very dubious about this revelation.

“Yep,” Harry said and gave Lupin a questioning look. “Hey, can I call you Remus? I just realized you’ve never actually given me permission to do so back in my first life.”

“Yes, of course,” Remus said, just as Sirius said, “First life?”

“Yeah,” Harry sighed. “Look, this is a long story and I ask that you hear me out and don’t lose your shit right away.”

“All right,” Sirius said slowly, reaching for a sausage roll and taking a big bite.

“During my first life, I was Harry Potter. I grew up with the Dursleys, went to Hogwarts, made friends, had to fight for my life at the end of every year because of Voldemort, but eventually I defeated the fucker when I was seventeen. I got married, had kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, worked as an Auror and eventually made it to Head of Magical Law Enforcement until my retirement. I died at 103 years old from a massive stroke. The next thing I knew I’m a completely different bloke, Jack Bird, a muggle at university and across from me is some bloke named Andrew who is in reality Tom Riddle.” Harry gave Sirius and Remus an expectant look but neither showed any recognition.

“Who’s Tom Riddle?” Sirius asked as he took another sausage roll after finishing his first one.

“Tom Marvolo Riddle,” Harry said with a rather fond smile. “He very dramatically turned that into an anagram when he was twelve or so. I am Lord Voldemort.”

“What?” Remus asked as Sirius coughed violently, some of his sausage roll going down the wrong way.

“Yep,” Harry said knowingly. “I was just as shocked. Turns out, we’d both been reincarnated with our memories of our previous life intact.”

“What did you do?” Remus asked while Sirius was wiping tears from his eyes while frantically clearing his throat. He reached for his cup and downed his tea.