Long after Harry had gone back to Hogwarts, Sirius and Remus were still in the kitchen if Grimmauld Place. Both drowning in their thoughts.
Truthfully, they didn't know how to react to what Harry had told them. They believed him, that wasn't the problem, the difficulty was accepting what Harry had told them. True, they understood why he had joined Voldemort, why he hated muggles, but that didn't any easier to associate a broken, adult Harry, with the fourteen-year-old he was supposed to be.
A part of then couldn't help but feel guilty about having left Harry alone to deal with all of it. Harry hadn't come out and told them they had been dead, but it had been rather easy to deduce, especially since Harry had told them that he had been the last of his family to live.
It was illogical, of course, but they couldn't help but feel guilty.
They both survived through war, both had lost family and it had nearly destroyed them. So it was rather easy to see how Harry became the way he was. Both had seen the insanity that lurked beneath the anger and determination. Could they really fault him for going to the only person that would be able to relate? Not that either of them approved of Voldemort, but they could see the appeal to Harry, murderous tendencies included.
Remus sighed and looked at Sirius, both feeling older than they were.
"It kinda explains his performance during the task," Remus remarked, earning a snort from Sirius.
"Does it?" Sirius muttered, "Have you ever seen anyone wield magic like that?"
"No, not really," Remus confessed after a moment, "Not even Dumbledore."
"Exactly. The war he lived though may explain some things about him, though I doubt that explains his power. That, I think, is something that Death did."
A dark chuckle filled the room, making both men tense in their seats.
"You do have a brain in that big head of yours, Mortal," Death remarked, leaning casually against the wall.
Both men stared at the immortal being in front of them, not really knowing what to do or say. Something in their very soul told them to tread carefully, that the being in front of them was far beyond anything they had ever seen. And, no matter how reckless they may have been, they weren't stupid; they would listen to that something.
A smirk spread on Death's lips, and they couldn't help but shy away from the entity.
"Now that my little one isn't here, let me make something perfectly clear," Death stated, looking more menacing than it had the moment before though it hadn't moved a muscle, "You harm him in any way, shape, or form, and you will learn just why the ancient Greeks called one of my personifications Keres. Do we understand each other?"
If it was possible, Remus and Sirius, became even paler. However, there was a fierce light in their eyes.
"We would never hurt Harry," Sirius growled rather fiercely considering who he was talking to.
"So you say, Mortal," Death murmured.
"Harry's mortal too," Remus remarked, studying Death closely, even though his wolf was telling him to flee. For his cub, he would face even death, he had always thought that he just never expected it to be so literal.
He wasn't expecting Death to laugh. If he were completely honest, it was rather creepy.
"Mortal?" Death asked, "Did you really think I'd let my son remain mortal when I could so easily remedy it? He may be human, a wizard, however, he is no mortal."
"He... Harry's immortal?" Remus whispered.
"He is," Death confirmed, "In a few years he will stop aging. My son has eternity waiting for him, so if he wants to play with you mortals, then it's his choice. Once he's bored with you, we'll move on. Maybe he'll want to destroy a couple of worlds or enslave one. Who knows? He has eternity to do whatever he wishes."
"You don't care?" Remus sounded a little aghast.
"I am Death. The only thing I care about is my son," Death stated, "There are reasons why beings such as myself don't form such bonds. Everything, aside from us, is so ephemeral. Even amongst beings like me, I am the only one that is truly immortal, all the others I will eventually take. Can you imagine the pain of everything you care about being lost to time? Can you imagine the number of universes I have seen? I was there at the very beginning. The second something came to be, I was there. I will end up taking the whole universe, only to see a new one be born in its place," Death chuckled when he saw their looks, "Of course, I just had to form an attachment to Harry. I let him live a normal life, I didn't interfere. And then the muggles came along and ruined everything. So I did what any loving father would have done. I made it better for him."
"By making him immortal?" Sirius asked, looking just as shocked as Remus.
"By giving him what he needed. The immortality was more for me than him. Do not tell me you would be cruel enough to ask a father to give up his son." Death's smile was in no way reassuring, "Either way, it does not matter. Do not think, even for a second, that your opinion or your feelings will in any way change a thing."
"Then why tell us?" Sirius almost demanded.
"For my own amusement, perhaps," Death mused.
"I don't see how it's amusing," Remus grumbled.
"Yes, well, when you have eternity, you find amusement in the little things," Deah smiled and vanished into thin air.
Both men seemed to breath easier and slumped in their seats.
"Who would have thought Death could be so frustrating," Sirius muttered.
"That's what you focus on?" Remus asked him, sounding more than a little exasperated.
Slowly, Sirius nodded, "I suppose there are other things to focus on."
"Yes, such as Harry being a Dark Lord. Harry being immortal. Or that Harry is older than us? Or even what Harry was doing with the shadows, fire, air, and the temperature earlier," Remus remarked.
"What will we do?" Sirius asked, feeling lost.
"Do you really think that there is anything we can do?" Remus muttered, "We cannot stand against Death."
"I don't think anything can stand against Death. He did create a completely new timeline, just for Harry, to make him happy." Sirius stated.
"It's somewhat intimidating, isn't it?" Remus whispered, "With Death by his side, do you think he even needs us?"
"He may not need us," Sirius replied after a couple of moments, "But he wants us with him. He wants us beside him."
A small chuckle left Remus and a genuine smile lit up his features, "True. He wants us with him."
"That puts us in a spot, doesn't it?" Sirius grinned, "If we didn't stand with him in his quest to subdue, or exterminate, not really sure which route he'll opt for, the muggles than that would make us rather ungrateful, wouldn't it?"
"Yeah, it would," Remus nodded gravely, though his eyes gave him away, they were twinkling with mischievous, "We'll just have to side with him in the coming war."
Silence filled the room for a heartbeat.
"Oh Merlin," Sirius whispered, the reality of the situation crashing down on them.
"We're really doing this?" Remus murmured, looking stricken, "We're betraying the Order and joining Voldemort?"
"Technically, we're siding with Harry," Sirius grumbled.
"No matter how you word it, it doesn't change the fact that we are betraying the Light." Remus almost snarled.
"I know," Sirius sighed, looking so tired that Remus felt bad for snapping at him. It was hardly Sirius's fault.
"Though, to be honest, I don't feel as guilty as I should," Sirius admitted, "It's more the Voldemort thing that's bothering me, than leaving the Light. Honestly, Remus, what good did the Light ever do for us?"
"I know you're bitter-"
Damn right I'm bitter," Sirius shouted, jumping from his seat, "Wouldn't you? They left me to rot!" Sirius growled, "It's been over a decade, Remus. What changed for you? Do werewolves have comfy jobs now? Hell, do they have rights?" when Remus looked away, Sirius sat back down and took a deep breath, "It's been years, Remus, and nothing's changed."
"And you think it will change with Voldemort?"
"I don't see how it can be worse," Sirius admitted.
The two sat in silence before Sirius spoke up again, "Wait a minute... Kreacher remembers!?"
When Harry went back to Hogwarts, he went straight to Barty's room. The man was asleep in his room, but Harry decided to stay in quarters, near the fire. Harry lit the fireplace and sat down on the couch, deep in thought.
He'd be able to see his children. This thought has been on his mind for a while. He was only slightly aware that Sirius and Remus were aware of his past life, he had only planned to tell Tom and Barty.
Harry had been a little irritated with Death when he showed himself like that, about forcing him to come clean to his godfathers. However, now that he had time to think about it, he could understand why Death did it. He knew he had been about to break and only Merlin knew what would have happened then.
He was positive that he would have hurt his godfathers if he had lost control, something he wanted to avoid at all costs. It wasn't only his magic he had to worry about now. His elemental powers were devastating if he lost control of them. From what he had found out he could have destroyed the whole block if he was powerful enough, and something told him he was.
Though, now he had to deal with Sirius and Remus knowing the truth. He didn't really know how he would deal with it all. He had seen how both men reacted, They understood why he had taken the path he did, however, they hadn't been able to truly accept it. Though, it could be that they had been far too shocked to be able to properly think about what he told them.
That was one of the reasons why he had left as quickly as he had, the other was that he needed the space as well.
Harry sighed and closed his eyes, casting a silencing charm, deciding to sleep on Barty's couch, in front of the warm fire. He had a long day ahead of him, no good to lose sleep over something he couldn't change. His last thought was, 'My children...'
Barty woke up the next morning, knowing he wasn't alone in his room. He could sense someone in his quarters but didn't feel particularly threatened by the presence. Barty got up out of his bed, casting a disillusionment charm on himself, not wanting to take the polyjuice potion.
When Barty entered the study area of his quarters, he noticed that the fireplace had been lit a while ago and was almost completely out. Confused, Barty tightens his grip on his wand and wanders farther into the room. He saw a familiar tuft of black hair sticking out from his couch.
Canceling the disillusionment, Barty walks over to the couch. He smiles fondly at Harry, as it seems that Harry is sleeping peacefully. Barty's expression changes to concern when he watches Harry's expression change to pure agony. Harry's mouth opens in a silent scream, but no sound is made.
Barty watches in horror as tears start to stream down Harry's face. The dying fire, in the fireplace, starts to pick up and is quickly roaring again. The shadows dance angrily around the room. Barty rushes over to Harry, making sure to gently rub his arm, not wanting to startle Harry awake, which would make things worse.
Harry jumps awake, even with the gentle touch that he felt. His eyes dance wildly around the room, before memories of the night before come back to him. He turned to Barty, a weak smile appearing on his face, "Thanks."
"No problem. Are you ok? When did you get in here? Why?" Barty asked, looking concerned.
"I'm fine. I got in here last night after talking with Sirius and Remus. I learned that I can summon my children, which was hard for me to hear. Then I almost lost control of my elemental powers at something Remus asked. So after I calmed down, I was coerced into telling them the truth about my past, including being Death's son. Death probably went back to them after I left to threaten them properly," Harry explained, laughing a little at the last part.
"Anyway, I came here because I was too distraught to go up to Gryffindor Tower and deal with them. So, I came here. Since you were already asleep, I just laid here on the couch." Harry finished.
Barty looks at Harry with a look of sorrow and guilt, "You could have woken me up, Harry. I wouldn't have minded."
"I know, I just didn't want to bother you with my problems. Anyway, I'm heading to Riddle Manor tonight, you are coming with me," Harry replied, changing the subject off of himself.
Barty nodded, "Alright. I am going to go shower and such. You should probably go do the same."
Harry nodded and got up and left Barty's quarters.
When he arrived at Gryffindor tower, everyone was mostly still asleep, those who were awake, weren't completely aware of things yet. Harry snickered as he walked somewhat briskly past them. He showered and got ready for the day.