Disclaimer:
Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to J.K. Rowling.
I own nothing but the original characters I make.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
-Author notes-
Chapter 267: The Next Great Adventure
James took a moment to observe her.
Ultima was standing on top of a golden dragon. Tertivor was wrapped around her wrist in the shape of a bracelet, and Nyxaris rested on her right shoulder.
They looked exactly like the day Voldemort was killed.
As artificial magical constructs, they had the advantage of being eternal. As long as they don't suffer irreparable damage or become unable to recharge their energy, they will continue to function forever.
James tried to recall the last time he had seen them. It took him a moment to remember that it must have been the day his wife died.
'That felt like it was an eternity ago though…' he thought.
"Why did you come to see me, Ultima?" James asked.
"I felt that Master's vitality was… is nearly gone," she said.
"Master…" Nyxaris flew from Ultima's shoulder and landed on the desk to look at him better.
"Kyu." Primum let out a sad cry.
"I see. You came to say goodbye." A warm smile appeared on James's face. "Don't be sad, my children. I have lived more than enough."
"Master, I don't understand. You have the methods to extend your lifespan," Ultima said. "You could even have used my blood fo—"
"No." James's tone was firm. "I never intended to extend my time in this world. This is what I want…"
"But what are we going to do without you, Master?" Nyxaris asked.
"Kyu!" Primum complained as well.
"You did not need me for decades. Why would that change after I'm gone? The whole purpose of your creation was so you keep everyone safe long after my death." James had to speak slowly, as the mere action of moving his mouth was already exhausting him.
He felt his eyelids becoming heavy and knew that his moment was near.
Ultima stared at him with her intense golden eyes. "Our purpose…"
"That's right, and from what I have heard, you have all been doing a great job so far." James did not miss the news that arrived in his ears about their battles all over the world.
Ultima and his other creations had fought against countless dangerous individuals since their creation. Thanks to them, there are no Dark Lords anywhere in the world, and when someone tries to break this peace, they will soon receive a visit from them.
"Master, we shall continue to carry out our mission," Ultima said with her usual serious expression.
"That is fine, but… before I go, I want to give all of you… one more mission to complete," said James. The words felt so heavy that he had to use all his remaining strength to get them out.
"Another mission?" Ultima said.
"Kyu?" Primum tilted his head.
"What do you require from us, Master?" Nyxaris asked.
"It's fine if you want to keep protecting this world. But I also want you to do something else…" James had to take a moment to rest.
"I want you to… find happiness for yourselves."
"Happiness?" Ultima looked confused.
"How are we to do that?" Nyxaris, despite the immense amount of knowledge he had accumulated, did not have the answer to that.
"You… I'm sure you can figure it out. Unlike us fragile mortals, you have still plenty of time ahead of you. I know that… urgg!" James flinched in pain and grasped his chest.
"Master!" Nyxaris hurried to perform a magical scan. "It's his heart! It's stopping!"
"I have some potent healing medicine on me," Ultima said while taking something out of her bag.
James raised his trembling hand in the air. "N-no…"
Ultima jumped down from Primum's back and went inside the office. She approached James and grabbed his hand very gently. "I have learned that humans find this comforting during their last…"
James could no longer speak. He smiled and closed his eyes while listening to their voices.
He felt at peace… the pain was nearly gone now.
The voices started to disappear, and his surroundings turned completely dark.
All of a sudden… James heard something once more.
It was the sound of mighty wings.
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His vision became filled with light.
"Mmmm…" James didn't think he would be opening his eyes again, and for a moment, he wondered if Ultima had done something to keep him alive against his wishes.
But he soon was forced to discard that possibility.
James found himself sitting alone on a bench. When he looked around, he realized it was a very familiar place.
"The platform 9¾…" This was where students waited for their train to Hogwarts. "No, this is different…"
Everything was too bright, like someone had splashed white paint over everything.
The next thing that James noted was the lack of pain in his limbs, and when he looked down to check on himself, he discovered that his body was different… he was back to his young self, and he felt stronger than ever.
He stood up from the bench with no difficulty and began to walk around, trying to figure out what had happened to him.
Meanwhile, at the back of his mind, there was this strange feeling telling him that this was not the first time he had seen this pure white room.
"Have I been here before?"
"You did."
James was startled by the sudden voice. He had been completely sure that the place was empty a moment ago.
His head snapped in the direction of the sound and found a young-looking girl dressed completely in black clothes.
She was beautiful, and her pure white skin completely contrasted with her black eyes and long black hair.
In this place of pure whiteness, she felt completely out of place, but at the same time, James's instincts were warning him that she was very dangerous.
"You have nothing to fear from me, Harry," the girl said. "Or do you prefer James now? You have lived both lives to their full potential, after all."
"Who are you?" James asked, while keeping his distance from her. "What is this place?"
"You already know the answer to those questions. You just forgot after being reborn… mortals are unable to retain memories of the afterlife."
While staring into his eyes, she snapped her fingers. "Remember."
"Ahh!" James felt a wave of memories emerging into his mind.
After dying as Harry Potter, he appeared in this same white station and had a conversation with this 'girl', whose real identity was… Death.
"You didn't let me board the train the last time." James frowned as he realized that she was the whole reason for what happened to him.
"I did," she responded.
She denied him the chance to pass away and sent him back to the realm of the living as James Potter.
He had spent his entire second life wondering what had happened to him, and now he finally got the answer.
"Why?"
"Because it was your destiny," she simply said.
"My destiny? To do what? Kill Voldemort again? Having a family? Did I do what I was supposed to do? I still have so many questions…"
"Harry, I am not here to satisfy your curiosity." Her tone was serene, but there was a hint of a warning that he did not miss.
She made a gesture with her hands, and the sound of an approaching train could now be heard.
In just a short moment, a large train that resembled the Hogwarts Express had stopped at the station.
James was unable to see anything inside the windows. And when the doors opened, there was a blinding white light coming from inside.
"I am here to send you on your way," Death told him, pointing at the train.
A smile appeared on James's face. "So, this is it. What happens then? Will I see my loved ones as Harry Potter or James Potter?" Or maybe none, but he didn't want to think about that possibility.
Death stared at him for a moment before speaking again.
"Everyone."
James felt an immense relief washing over him.
He knew that he was not going to get more explanations than that, so with nothing else to do here, he walked up to the train and went inside.
Once he crossed the doors and ventured into the light, he expected to find himself inside the train, but that was not the case.
"Mmm?... what is this?" He looked around and found nothing but a white void all around him.
It was then that James understood that the whole station and the train were nothing more than shapes constructed for his benefit. The afterlife did not need such things.
"James."
He heard someone call for him and immediately turned around.
A gorgeous girl with black hair and violet eyes was staring back at him now.
"Bella!" James saw that she looked just as young and beautiful as the day they got married.
She offered him a warm smile. "I was sent to get you." She extended her hand to him.
James took her hand. "Get me?"
She made a gesture with her head, pulling him away. "Come on. Everyone has been waiting for you…"
James and Bella walked together into the white void.
He finally felt at peace.
THE END.
A.N - There it is!. Another story wrapped up. I hope you guys liked this one. I wasn't very sure about writing a fic that took place during the Marauders era, but I think it turned out fine.
I hope you guys enjoyed it at least. -
Thank you for reading, Kriogenix