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They found the body, splayed out straight past the front entrance, hand fingering a whole blackened by heat. They were three unsuspecting males, unsuspecting as the fourth had given no indication he was anything but ecstatic, who had just returned from Christmas shopping. Remus and Sirius Lupin were stunned to see their second adopted son dead on the floor. And Harry’s soul was twisted to see his lover, Draco Malfoy, dead almost entirely by his hand. Almost, because there beside him was the remnants of his favorite meal, all but a handful of peas. And of course a note, simple and to the point. I had the Genie make my favorite meal for my second wish. And I had him take me someplace more perfect than here. That was all. With visions of the genie and Draco’s shinning soul ascending to Heaven, Harry cried for his love lost, and his lost lover. They never knew that it was the true start of the war. Draco’s second wish had been for haggis and peas, because no one else even liked meat let alone entrails. His third wish however, had been to set the genie free. The genie promptly turned him over to Voldemort who just wanted rid of the boy by this point, and had thought this a rather clever method. He still couldn’t get at Potter’s body, but by god he would get to him somehow. Near the close of the war, Harry had been stripped of everyone he loved. This didn’t stop Madame Hooch and the last of her Air Brigade, a group of students who had been held back because of their young age and therefore had never actually learned to fly the brooms they naturally had had a knack for during testing, from performing spell only complicated in that the casters died. So Madame Hooch had twelve bodies that were smaller in age than in number complete a circle around both Potter and the altar. The altar’s room had already had provisions laid into it. The trick wouldn’t be getting things in; it was making sure things couldn’t forcibly be taken out. So Harry Potter, the Boy Who Would Live despite no other desire to do anything but lie down and die, was sealed beneath an alter decorated by dead children, to exit when he had garnered his strength. Madame Hooch, who had had the foresight to not be in the circle herself, and to hold back still yet another small group of children, had not told the deceased children that they would be heading towards their deaths, only that they would receive a treat afterwards. They had been expecting a secret stash of chocolate. Their war damaged minds never registered the shinning souls of those long dead would never be able to take them to a park where there was sunshine and fun and picnics all the time. Hermione Weasley and her husband Ron. Cho Chang. Padma Patil and Lavender Brown. And lastly Draco Malfoy, who could only hold the hand of a small child as he lead them to Heaven, and weep for the only person he had ever truly loved and been taken from. By the end of the war the small bands of survivors were spread far out, including Hooch’s three. She of course was still waiting for Harry to release himself, strong and whole, and to save the day. But in the mean time there was another dead body with some meat on it. Survival for today, to survive for tomorrow. Harry Potter himself tried to take his own life about five seconds after he realized what Hooch had done. When he discovered no violence could act upon him in his single room, he threw himself to the ground that instantly softened so he wouldn’t be hurt. And he cried out everything that remained of himself, screaming for Draco. It was some while before he actually took notice of the fact that while his mind had been absent, every one of his body’s needs had been taken care of. He was physically fit and his magic had restored itself to unprecedented heights. But he couldn’t get out yet. He fought and fought, anger growing, and magic with it still more. By the end of the war Harry Potter could have killed every Dark Force upon the earth. It was really too bad they’d all killed themselves along with the whole of earth’s populace. Harry himself discovered Madame Hooch and the last of her Air Brigade in a cave not far off. When Hooch finally gave up hope, she had used the last of her skills in making one of the bodies they were eating so full of acid it burned through the hearts of her young charges. She had lied to this group too, telling them that she saw Harry coming for them, so they’d have a hot meal and be ready. Their faces were blissful with the warmth of their meal even as they died. Harry was the last thing on earth. Except… Except for a genie that had been rebound to Voldemort. With his death there was just a lamp waiting for Harry Potter, who rubbed it. At last he could find his love. To say that Harry’s body almost didn’t survive the mental agony he underwent to find that his lover hadn’t committed assisted suicide, but had been murdered, was not a slight thing. But with the final registering of this, he went calm. Calm enough to realize the genie was bound to his will now. He couldn’t bring back the dead anymore than he could have someone killed, but he could… Harry Potter was walking calmly with his arms around one Draco Malfoy, soon to be Draco Potter. The two other most important men in their lives, Remus and Sirius, were ahead of them, looking through antiques. “Harry! Look at this. A magic lamp. Let’s get it shall we?” “What could you possibly need a genie for?” “You’re right of course. I’m so blissfully happy with you my darling. It would be something of a lark though…” “No, no. We’ll go to the store for chocolate syrup and what I’ll show you with that will be a lark. Just leave it, and I’ll be your genie tonight.” “I can’t pass up an offer like that. Still, I rather think the poor thing should be set free.” “Come on now. I need you so bad, let’s go back now. We’ll get the chocolate later, hm?” “Ooooo, that’s nice Harry. Yes, we’ll do the chocolate another time. Let’s go home.” Harry crept back to the store. He’d slipped a note to the shop keeper as they’d left. Don’t sell the magic lamp and keep your backdoor open after hours for me. With the magic lamp locked into the bathroom with him, he summoned the genie. “Well, now were back in time to when it happened. I’ve prevented that future, partially. Now it’s time to finish this. For my second wish, I want you to use your knowledge of Voldemort from serving him, to destroy his power and that of his minions since you can’t destroy their lives.” “It is done.” “For my third wish, I wish you into inexistence. That at least you can do.” There was no answer, for the room was empty even of the lamp. Harry looked at his lover, and thought of all those years without him. Of his oh so innocent, lovely, perfect, wonderful Draco. Of the man he’d be going to. His first wish was finally being granted. To be allowed the illusion of saving the few people he’d ever wanted to protect and then to join them. Genies can assist with suicide after all. Author’s Note: The original ending was like this. I thought to so one with Harry actually having gone back in time and saving the day. But I thought I’d remain true to the nightmare. I’m considering doing an optional ending. That’s not depending on reviews or anything. I’m just thinking on it, and will come to my own decision. |