Harry moved through the castle at a steady speed. He wasn't sure what he was going to say to Fleur. Being sent back in time by Death was hard to believe even in the magical world. Plus, he didn't want to let that information out just yet. If at all. He didn't bother looking back in on the Ball. Instead, he went straight for her carriage. He paused once he was outside. His hand hovered in the air just in front of her door.
The door opened before he could knock. Fleur stared back at him for a moment. She grabbed him by the collar and pulled him inside.
"Tell me." She growled as she led him over to her bed. "Who are you?"
Fleur pushed him onto his back. She straddled him before he could sit up. The look on her face was not one of arousal. It was intense, focused, and bordering on anger. If this was her method of interrogation, then he would have to suffer through it.
"I can feel you." Fleur continued.
"You are sitting on my-" Harry countered.
She glared at him.
"My magic reaches out to yours. It feels familiar." She kept her eyes locked on his. "If you will not tell me, then I will find the answers on my own."
Harry could feel her pressing against his mind. She huffed in frustration when she couldn't gain access.
"That was rude." Harry mocked.
"Then tell me what I want to know." She snapped.
"So far you've asked me who I am." Harry shrugged. "I'm Harry. People think I'm so great hero, but I'm just me. I don't know what else to say."
"Who are you to me?" She poked him with a finger to accentuate each word.
"Currently? Your captive." Harry replied with a sly smile.
"You know what I mean." Her eyes flashed gold.
Harry dropped the smile. "I am your friend."
Fleur studied him for a long moment. Slowly, she shifted off of him. She nodded to herself.
"That will do, for now." She said without looking at him. "I need some time to think this over. Goodnight."
Harry stood, he gave her a genuine smile before he left her carriage.
"That wasn't a total disaster." A familiar voice said.
Harry jumped at the sound, his wand was out and pointed toward the source on instinct. He groaned when he saw Death standing nearby.
"I thought you'd still be dancing." Harry put his wand away.
"I thought you would be busy with a private dance." Death chuckled.
They walked in companionable silence for a while.
"What's the plan now?" She asked. "You've been laying low for a while."
"I need to let the people working behind the scenes make some progress." Harry replied.
"That's boring." Death huffed. "When was the last time you killed someone? Tonight, would be the perfect cover."
"Are you saying you want more work?" Harry chuckled.
"I don't know if I made it clear, but I'm not the only Death out there." She countered. "Right now, you are my charge, just in case you get bored and decide to join the ranks early. That leaves me with a LOT of free time."
"Fine." Harry rolled his eyes. "Which Death Eaters are still alive and in the country?"
"You killed a lot of them in Azkaban, but now it's time for more cleanup." Death clapped her hands happily. "Alecto and Amycus Carrow." She counted off on her fingers. "Avery and Nott Senior."
"What about Greyback?" Harry asked. "I've been meaning to take him out."
"He's somewhere in Russia at the moment." Death shrugged.
"I'd hate to ruin a perfectly good suit." Harry looked down at his clothes. "I'll get changed and then we can go."
Death bounced with giddy energy.
~ § ~ Ϟ ~ § ~
AN: Violence Warning
~ § ~ Ϟ ~ § ~
Harry made his way up to the Gryffindor Tower. A few tired students saw him arrive and head up the stairs. He averted his gaze when he got to his dorm. Seamus had closed his curtains for privacy, but Harry didn't want to chance it.
He took off his suit before slipping into bed and drawing the curtains. Harry made sure to seal them with a few privacy charms before continuing. The last thing he needed was some random girl sneaking up to join him after some liquid courage.
A quick thought popped him to his room in Privet Drive where he grabbed a change of clothes. Another jump took him to Ron's room at the Burrow to get dressed. He didn't want to risk anyone seeing him during the night. Once properly dressed, Harry appeared in a forest somewhere in Russia. There was a village nearby. Judging by the architecture, it was magical rather than mundane. His quarry was perched on a branch a few feet away.
The werewolf reacted instantly, leaping at Harry with surprising speed.
Greyback was more wolf than man. His hands were permanent claws, the lower half of his face bigger than it should have been to accommodate his many sharp teeth. The clothes he wore were mismatched and torn. Most likely they came from the people he had killed rather than his own wardrobe. A late-night monster movie made real.
He had mused that being a werewolf would have been interesting. If it was to happen, it wasn't going to be Greyback who did it.
Harry dove to the side, summoning Excalibur as he moved. He brought the sword up in a flash, clipping Greyback on the flank. The blow didn't do much more than annoy the werewolf. Greyback kicked off another tree, launching back at Harry leading with his claws. He dove under the werewolf, pulling himself into a roll before hopping back to his feet.
Greyback clawed a tree, using it to shift his momentum and spin back to face Harry. The trees were working against him in the fight. He needed to get to an open area with more space. Unfortunately, the clear space between the forest and the village was now behind him. He would have to expose his back to the werewolf to get there.
That was not a good idea.
His train of thought was interrupted as Greyback rushed him. Harry sliced the sword upward, causing the werewolf to veer off to the side. It had saved him from getting tackled, but the searing pain along his ribs let him know that he hadn't been as successful as he had thought.
Staying still was going to get him killed.
Harry slapped himself mentally. Fighting with a sword didn't mean his tactics for using a wand were useless.
The air popped as he disappeared. He appeared behind Greyback, swiping the blade low. The werewolf let out a growl-filled scream as one of his legs just below the knee was cut away. Greyback braced himself against a tree, spinning himself to face where the attack had come from just in time to see Harry disappear.
Harry appeared on the other side, chopping through the arm braced against the tree. Greyback lurched with the support gone. His shoulder slammed against the tree. The werewolf lashed out with his remaining hand, trying to guess where Harry would appear next. Having attacked from his blindside the previous two times, Greyback swung his arm wildly behind him.
Greyback spun, losing his balance now that he lacked two limbs. The werewolf landed on his back. He stared up at Harry, still trying to reach him with his claw. Greyback snapped his teeth at him, as though that would somehow work.
"I expected more." Harry sighed.
The pure hatred that looked back at him was beyond words. Greyback thrashed around even harder, spurred on by the feral need to kill his target.
Harry shifted his feet and brought the sword down, beheading the werewolf. He waited. Killing a werewolf usually made them revert to their human form. Greyback didn't change.
"You could take the head." Death chimed in as she appeared beside him. "He's got a huge bounty."
"How would I explain that?" Harry asked.
"Good point." Death sighed. "You should get that looked at."
The pain along his ribs flared back to life. Harry winced, placing a hand against it. He sent his sword away.
"I can't exactly go see Poppy for this." Harry spoke through gritted teeth.
"Guess you'll just have to die." Death shrugged. "Oh, woe is you."
"It's not that bad." Harry scoffed.
"How often do you think headless here washed his claws?" Death prodded the body.
"Good point." Harry sighed, which caused him to wince again.
Harry closed his eyes. He disappeared, leaving Greyback to rot. A moment later he appeared in the sitting room of Sirius' Hogsmeade apartment. His godfather was instantly beside him.
"Harry!" Sirius yelled. "What happened? Did Voldermort attack?"
"No." Harry said through gritted teeth. "Greyback."
"He's at the school?" Remus yelled.
Harry hadn't noticed the other man. To be fair, he was having trouble concentrating.
"No." Harry shook his head. "Found him. Killed him. Can you stop the bleeding?"
"We need to get you-" Sirius started to say.
"No." Harry interrupted firmly. "This stays between us."
"You're going to explain this." Sirius said as he led Harry to the couch.
"Stop the bleeding, then talk." Harry chuckled.