NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1: Chapter 1: The End and a New Beginning
Chapter 1: The End and a New Beginning
Date: July 31, 2124
Location: Godric's Hollow
Age: 144
Harry Potter's last breath was taken in the same small village where his story began. The quiet hum of life in Godric's Hollow surrounded him as he lay in his bed, frail but at peace. His loved ones—children, grandchildren, and a few surviving friends—had gathered to say their final goodbyes.
Harry reflected on his life, the trials, the victories, and the rare moments of serenity. A century and a half had passed since his days as the Boy Who Lived. Voldemort was a distant memory, as were the wars that had shaped his youth. Now, he felt no fear, only a sense of readiness.
When his eyes closed for the last time, Harry expected nothingness. But as the world faded away, he found himself standing in a void, surrounded by a deep, impenetrable blackness.
"Master," a voice echoed.
Harry turned to see Death itself—a tall, shadowy figure cloaked in darkness, yet somehow familiar. The being's presence was neither threatening nor comforting, merely inevitable.
"You have collected all three of my Hallows," Death said, its voice resonating with an otherworldly calm. "The Cloak of Invisibility, the Elder Wand, and the Resurrection Stone. You became my Master the moment you united them. And now, your journey continues."
Harry frowned. "Continues? I thought this was the end."
"For most, it would be," Death replied. "But you are no ordinary soul. A fragment of you remains bound to the Hallows, and thus to me. I offer you a choice: to rest eternally or to begin anew."
The thought of rest was tempting, but something inside Harry stirred. Curiosity, perhaps. A need to understand what lay beyond.
"Begin anew," Harry said after a moment's hesitation. "But where?"
Death's hollow laugh echoed through the void. "That, Master, is not for you to know yet. Your journey will start where all life begins."
Before Harry could question further, the darkness enveloped him, pulling him into a vortex of sensations. He felt weightless, then heavy, then weightless again. When the spinning stopped, Harry found himself floating in warm silence, surrounded by muffled sounds and gentle rhythms.
He realized he was in a womb.
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A New Reality
At first, Harry was disoriented, his senses dulled and his memories fragmented. He had no idea where he was or who he would become. But as the days passed, he began piecing together fragments of his previous life.
Occasionally, his consciousness flickered. During one such moment, he found himself face to face with Death again, though this time the being appeared as nothing more than a faint shadow.
"You will find answers in time," Death said cryptically. "But know this: the world you are entering is not your own. It is a realm where bloodlines and power reign supreme. Your magic will adapt, and so must you. This second life will test you in ways your first never could."
With that, Death disappeared, leaving Harry alone with his thoughts. He did not know the name of this new world, nor did he know what kind of life awaited him. But he was determined to survive and to uncover the mysteries surrounding his rebirth.
The rhythmic thudding of his new mother's heartbeat became his constant companion. It was the first anchor of stability in this strange new existence, reminding him that, despite the uncertainties, life had begun again.
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