Forsaking Fate

The Winds of Change

Chapter 4

Making his way back to the Potters' home, Sirius sighed in defeat. He had searched for his daughter long past dark and still there was no sign of her. Turning the corner onto the road where he and the Potters lived, he came up short. There, sitting on the ground against a tree, was his eight year old daughter.

"Destiny?" Sirius called, hurrying over to her. "Where have you been? We've all been worried sick." Shrugging, the little girl began to draw in the dirt with a stick. "Lily didn't mean what she said."

"Yes, she did."

Kneeling, Sirius wrapped his arm around the skinny little girl. "No, she was just upset."

"She was right though."

"Des..."

Pulling away suddenly, Destiny rose gracefully to her feet and brushed off her behind. "It doesn't matter. What must be, will be."

"Dest-"

"I think you should go to the Potters now. I will be here when you return."

Climbing to his feet slowly, he gazed down at her. "It's not safe for you to be out her in the dark."

"It is for me. The night can not harm me. It is only the day that I fear." Confused, Sirius just stood there. "Go; I will be fine."

Nodding reluctantly, Sirius turned to leave. "Don't you dare move from that spot," he called over his shoulder before breaking into a jog down the street. Reaching the house, he hurried in.

Glancing up from where she stood next to James, Julia asked quietly, "Where is she?"

"She's fine. She's waiting outside. How are you two doing?" he asked the Potters.

Shaking her head dully, Lily whispered, "I have no more tears left to cry."

*****

From where she sat, Destiny whispered, "Aspiro."

*****

In the kitchen where the Blacks and Potters sat, a soft wind began to stir.

"It was his birthday," James muttered. Sadly, he whispered, "Happy birthday, Harry."

*****

"My gift to you," the Necromancer hissed, "life. Dego!"

*****

On the couch where Harry lay, the corpse's chest rose, drawing in a rasping breath.

*****

"He was so excited that he only had one more year to go before he was going to go to Hogwarts. He kept saying how he was going to be an even better Marauder than we were," James said, smiling sadly. "Can you imagine, Padfoot, a better Marauder than the originals?" Sighing, he whispered, "He would have been too."

Silence descended on the gathering. Staring at the tabletop, Sirius jumped when a choking sound came to his ears.

"What was that?" Sirius asked.

"What was what?" James replied.

As the choking sound came again, Sirius said, "That!"

"I don't-" James began, rising from his seat when he was interrupted.

"Mummy?" a young boy's voice called out.

Freezing, they just stared at one another.

"Mummy?" the voice came again, tears becoming more pronounced in it.

"Harry," Lily breathed, jumping to her feet and dashing into the living room.

Following swiftly, they came around the corner and ran into Lily who was seemingly frozen to the floor.

"Look," she whispered.

Lying on the couch, Harry was leaning over the side, coughing weakly up some water from the river. Becoming once again animated, Lily gave a happy shriek and darted forward. Catching her son up in her arms, she cradled him to her, whispering over and over, "My baby; my baby." Within seconds James had joined her.

Staring stunned, Julia whispered, "That's impossible. The boy has been dead for hours." Glancing at her husband, she asked weakly, "How is this possible?"

Shaking his head, Sirius murmured, "Stay here. I'll be right back."

Rushing out of the house and down the street, he stopped at the street corner where Destiny still sat waiting.

"How?" he demanded, not bothering to explain his question.

"I'm the Necromancer; it's what I do."

"You brought him back from the dead. That has never been done before. Not even by a Necromancer. Nothing dead can be brought back to life. How did you do it?"

"Does it really matter so long as he's alive?"

"Yes!" Sirius growled. "If it can be done once, done by a child no less, then it can be done again! How did you do it?"

"You've not been listening. Only I can do it. It's just part of what I am. The reason it hasn't been recorded that anyone has actually been raised is because most of the time, it goes horribly wrong. It has only been successfully done twice."

"So, Harry is the third success?"

"I never said he was a success."

"Well, if he's a failed attempt, it's good enough!"

"For now, but if I messed up even slightly, he may begin to rot in several days. I hear that it's absolutely horrible to rot while you're still living." Grinning nastily, she continued. "Other times the soul doesn't return to the body and you're left with an empty, breathing shell. Sometimes a demon returns in the souls place."

"I've never read anything about that."

"It was never written down because it was hoped that if it wasn't, the Art of Necromancy would be forgotten."

"But it wasn't."

"No, it wasn't. Nature has a way of making sure that certain crafts are never fully lost. From that loss, Necromancers were born. We remember what has been forgotten for centuries. We keep the craft alive even if we usually don't actively use it."

Going back to the earlier part of the conversation, Sirius said, "How will we know if Harry's a demon or not?"

"I will know."

"And... And what if he begins to rot?"

"We kill him."

"You mean you just take whatever gave him life away, right?"

"No, if he's to be killed, it's easier to just stab him to death."

"Oh," Sirius muttered, shocked. Watching his daughter rise to her feet and head toward the Potters' house, he whispered, "Oh, God!"

"One more thing; nobody needs to know that Harry was dead. It will just cause problems for him and will most likely get him killed. "

"If we don't have to anyways," Sirius sighed.

"If we don't have to anyways," Destiny agreed. "Also, Harry, if it worked, will remember nothing of being dead. Don't tell him he was. He doesn't need to know and will not handle it well."

"All right, I'll make sure to tell Lily and the others."

"Don't bother. If it worked, their memories will alter themselves to make them believe that something else happened."

"Your magic?"

"Yes. If you had stayed, your memory would be altered too. Now, because you left, you will have to keep this secret and talk about it with no one."

"Why does it matter if they know?"

"They may accidentally tell someone and they would eventually trace it back to me. Necromancy is illegal and the price of using it is death."

He had taken several steps before he realized that Destiny had stopped. Seeing her questioning face, he said, "I'll take your secret to my grave."

Eyeing him suspiciously, she said, "You had better."

*****

Returning to the house, Destiny walked up and kneeled in front of Harry who was squashed between his parents. Touching his forehead, she smiled.

"I'm glad you're okay. We didn't think you were going to make it."

"Of course he's alright," James said. "He's a Potter and Potters are tough!" As if to prove his statement, he ruffled Harry's hair.

Nodding, Destiny slipped back into little kid mode.

"Daddy, I'm tired!"

Looking down at her watch, Julia exclaimed, "Good gracious! You and Rosaline should have been in bed hours ago!"

Taking Rosaline's hand, she waited for Sirius to take Destiny's before saying to the Potters, "I'm so glad this all turned out alright and not the way it could have."

"We all are."

Walking out of the house, Sirius leaned down and muttered, "Well?"

"It worked."

*****

On Harry's eleventh birthday, the letter he had been waiting for arrived.

"Mum, Dad, it's here!"

Looking up from her book, Lily smiled. "That's great, honey."

"When can we go shopping?" Harry asked.

"How about next week? I'm sure your father will want to go too."

"Can Destiny go?"

"Why don't you go ask her parents?"

*****

The next week came and soon the Potters and Destiny were flooing to Diagon Alley. Arriving, the two children ran up and down the street, dodging other shoppers in their excitement. Reaching the bank, Gringotts, the four hurried up to the high counter where a goblin sat staring at some parchment.

"Excuse me," James said, "We would like to withdraw some money from the Potter vault."

Handing the goblin their key, they waited while it was examined before taking the wild ride down and retrieving their money.

"Uh," James mumbled, "I hate that bloody cart. I always feel like I'm going to hurl when I get off."

"How is it," Lily replied, "that you can do those crazy stunts on a broom but you feel sick on a little cart ride?"

Shrugging, James replied, "I have no idea."

Moving down the street, Lily pointed to the wand shop. "Look, there's Ollivanders. Let's go get your wand first!"

Nodding excitedly, Harry and Destiny ran ahead and entered the shop.

"Hello?" Harry called out nervously.

All around were shelves and shelves full of long skinny boxes. On the ground there were stacks of the boxes taller than Harry himself. Everything in the store was covered in dust and gave the appearance of having been abandoned for many years.

"Is there anyone here?" Destiny called out.

"Mr. Potter," a soft voice replied from the shelves to his right.

Jumping, Harry spun around.

"Um, hello," Harry said awkwardly.

At the ding of the bell on the door, Mr. Ollivanders turned.

"James Potter," Mr. Ollivanders said, "mahogany, eleven inches, pliable, yes?"

"Er, yes," James replied, shifting nervous under the man's penetrating stare.

"Lily Evans, ten and a quarter inches, swishy, willow. You succeeded nicely in charms I expect?"

"Yes, sir, I did."

Nodding, the old man turned and chose a handful of boxes.

"Which is your wand arm?"

"Um, my right," Harry replied, slightly distracted by the tape measurer that had begun to measure him without any help.

"Here, seven inches, mahogany, stiff; try it." Holding the wand cautiously, he gave it a little wave before having it snatched away. "No, no, try this. Maple and unicorn hair, twelve inches." Before he could move his hand, it was yanked away.

This occurred many times over the next twenty minutes and soon the floor was littered with boxes and wands. Glancing desperately at his parents, he saw that his father was trying not to laugh as he was slowly buried in the mountain of boxes.

Moving back into the stacks, he heard the shop keeper mutter, "I wonder," before he returned with another box. Taking it carefully out of the box, he said, "An unusual combination this. Holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."

As the wand touched his hand, he felt a warmth flow through his fingers. Waving it around, he watched as a shower of red and gold sparks shot from the end.

"Bravo!" Mr. Ollivanders cried. "Curious though. Very curious."

"Curious?" James asked.

"Yes, very curious. Mr. Potter, I remember every wand I have ever sold. Every one. The phoenix who gave the feather to your wand gave only one other. Just one. It just so happens that the brother to your wand belongs to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. I believe that we can expect great things from you. You-Know-Who does great things- horrible yes- but great.

Swallowing loudly, he waited for his parents to pay before dashing out the door.

"That man is so creepy," Lily muttered, glancing over her shoulder at the closed door of the shop.

Nodding, James suggested they move on.

Entering Flourish and Blotts, the Potters and Destiny began to gather the books that Harry would need. Watching the family collect the books, Destiny turned and made her way to a relatively empty section of the store.

"When you see a Grim," Destiny read from the spine of a dark bound book.

Taking it off of the shelf, she glanced at the picture on the front. Smiling down at the ferocious looking dog, she giggled. The Grim looked exactly like her fathers animagus. Browsing through several more books, she chose one that caught her eye.

"The Art of Divination," she whispered. Glancing around to make sure that no one was looking, she took out the book and began to flip through it.

"Interested in Divination, are you?" a drawling voice asked.

Jumping, Destiny gazed wide eyed up at the boy who had spoken. With a pale, pointed face and white blond hair that had been plastered to his head, the boy towered frighteningly over her.

"Well," he asked, "who are you?"

"Um..." she mumbled. Backing up a few steps, she answered his first question. "I don't know. What is Divination?"

"It means you can see the future or something. Who are you anyway? Not a muggle, are you?"

"No!" she snapped defensively. "My family is pure! There hasn't been a Mudblood in my family in centuries!" Narrowing her eyes, she snapped, "Who are you?"

"I," he replied, his disgust with her plain in his voice, "am Draco Malfoy."

"Really now?" she murmured.

"Yes really. Now who are you?"

"I'm Destiny Black."

"A Black, eh?"

"Yes."

"My father says that you're all a bunch of lazy, Mudblood lovers."

"So you're going to judge me based on daddy's word? That, Draco Malfoy, is the mark of a child. If you can't think for yourself, you're not even worth insulting."

Glaring at her, he was opening his mouth to reply when an older, taller version of Draco stepped up behind his son.

"Well now," Lucius Malfoy said silkily, "Who is your little friend?"

"Destiny!" Lily called, stepping around the shelf and into view. "We've paid for the books. It's time to go." Freezing at the sight of the long haired blond, she grumbled, "Lucius."

"Lily, my dear."

"What are you doing to the poor girl?" she asked accusation clear in her voice.

"Absolutely nothing. My son was conversing with the girl and I stopped to see who she was. I had no idea she was some of your filth."

Snarling, Lily opened her mouth to reply when James stepped in and began to yell at the blond.

Watching the adults silently, she noticed Harry's bag sitting beside her. Making sure that the adults weren't watching, she carefully slid her book into the bag. Noticing that the blond boy had seen her, she stared at him calmly and waited for him to sound the alarm. After several seconds, he gave her a nod of respect and a small smile.

Turning to the Potters, she said, "This is boring. Let's go look at the owls!"

Effectively interrupting the conversation, Lily and James gave one last glare before grabbing the children and dragging them away.

Outside the shop, Lily snapped furiously, "Those Malfoys, always believing they're better than everyone else. I'd like to show them!"

"Relax, honey. Destiny, are you alright? What did he say to you?"

Shrugging, she said, "Not much. Draco just wanted to know my name."

"See Lily, no harm done. Let's not let them ruin our day. Now, how about those owls? Harry is most definitely going to need a pet at school."

Eeylops Owl Emporium was dark and all around the room, jewel-bright eyes blinked down at them. Very quickly Harry found two owls that he liked. One had gray and white feathers and seemed very interested in following Harry around. The second was a snowy white one that was fast asleep in its cage.

"Which one do you want, son?" James asked.

"I like them both..." Harry replied, glancing back and forth between the two.

"Well, honey," Lily replied, "you can only get one. I'm sure the other one will end up in a lovely home."

"Yeah..."

Having been very quiet since entering the shop, Destiny had followed the Potters silently around, periodically touching her fingertips to her forehead. Blinking away the sudden images of Harry and a giant man carrying a bird away from the shop, Destiny pointed at the white one and said, "Get that one."

"Now Destiny," Lily said, "let's let Harry decide which one he wants."

"But he has to get it!"

"Destiny-"

"It's okay, Mum. I want to get the white one."

Nodding, they went to pay for the owl.

After completing their shopping and flooing back to the Potters', Harry and Destiny sat up in his room and let the owl out of its cage.

"Why did you say I had to get this one?"

Shrugging, the little girl picked at the carpeting. "Sometimes I just know things," she replied carefully. "I knew that you had to pick her."

"Oh... Do you know what I should name her?"

"Yes."

When she didn't continue, Harry gave her a little prompt. "Well?"

"It's getting dark," she said instead, rising to her feet. "My Mummy doesn't like me being out alone after dark."

"Aren't you going to tell me what I'm supposed to name her?"

Pausing at the door, she replied, "Hedwig," before closing the door behind herself.

*****

The remaining days before Harry was to start school passed quickly. Almost before anyone realized it, September 1^st had arrived and the Potter household quickly descended into chaos.

"Harry, I know you had more underwear than this! What did you do with it?" Lily called, digging frantically through the mess in her son's closet.

"I don't know," Harry snapped as he brushed his teeth.

"Well, you're going to have a bad wake up call one day when you have nothing to wear!"

"Lily," James yelled up the stairs, "it's already in his trunk. Remember? You packed it all last night."

"Oh," the red haired woman muttered, "right."

Coming up the stairs, James kneeled next to where his wife sat clutching one of Harry's shirts to her chest.

"Lily?" James asked worriedly. "Are you alright?"

Giving a loud sniff, she whispered, "No, but I will be." Looking sadly around the room at the Quidditch posters and little quaffles zooming around on the wall paper, she sniffed again. "I'm just not ready to let my little boy go."

Laughing softly, James pulled her into his arms. "He'll be back before you know it."

"I know."

*****

Ten minutes later the Blacks appeared through the front door.

Oh, Harry," Julia cried, grabbing up the boy in her arms, "we're going to miss you so much! It'll be so strange to not have you barging in and constantly making noise and messes with Destiny."

Frantically Harry began to try and pull away from the woman's suffocating embrace. "I'll be back next summer!"

Nodding, she pulled back and wiped her eyes. "Of course you will. At Christmas also."

Glancing anxiously at his Godfather, Harry waited to be attacked by him.

Laughing, Sirius hugged him and said, "I'm not going to strangle you too. Have fun and don't forget you have the Marauder name to uphold!"

Standing at the back of the group next to Rosaline, Destiny watched the commotion in silence. Noticing her silence, Harry smiled at her.

"You'll write me lots of letters, won't you?" he asked.

Nodding slowly, she replied gently, "Yes... Do you remember that time I asked you if you'd always be my friend?"

"Yes."

"You said you would be. I expect you to keep your promise."

Confused, Harry said, "Of course I will. I'll write to you all the time while I'm gone."

Hugging her, Harry waved once more and stepped into the fireplace with his parents.

Standing in the middle of the living room surrounded by her family, she had never felt more alone.

"You don't understand," she whispered to herself. "That's not what I meant."

Watching as the flames died down in the hearth, she knew that nothing would ever be the same. No matter how hard she tried, her and Harry would never be able to be the friends they had been for the last nine years.