"About fucking time." A voice growled from the bright white beyond Harry's closed eyes.

Hearing the voice, memories from his previous lives filled Harry's mind. "Rather unbecoming of an arch angel to curse don't you think?"

He opened his eyes and grinned at the man who was sitting at a desk across the room, hands folded rested against his mouth as his elbows rested on the top of the desk. It was a look Harry knew well. It seemed to be the look that perpetually greeted him whenever he arrived here. His guardian angel, Gabriel, one of the three original Arch Angels. Despite the title and status, was still very male as any mortal Harry'd ever met. And often showed in the angel's sense of humor. Gabriel was tall, at least seven feet, with honey brown hair, artistically styled, at least as Gabriel claimed, with a pair of large white wings attacked to his back. Harry knew they were as tall as Gabriel was, from his head to his toes, and when unfolded, were twice the length of his body. Harry had never seen them expanded, though he admitted to wanting to.

"You, Mr. Potter, would make God curse." Gabriel sighed. "Satan's been cursing for years, and were he here, we'd hear some very colorful cursing."

"So, Satan's already followed through on his threat and drank himself to death because of me then?" Harry shot back as he got up from the bed to sit in a chair placed on the other side of the desk. Knowing the bed behind him disappeared.

"No," Gabriel sighed followed by a chuckle, "Though when it was clear what was going to happen in this life, he and I did get pretty wasted. Though that orc angel he promoted a bit ago nearly drank us both under the table. I'm so glad we don't have a Dwarf angel among our ranks." Gabriel shook his head as if to clear it before regarding Harry again. "Something good did come from it though, Satan has relinquished his prior "request" to your soul. You're free and clear of the underworld. For the time being at least."

Harry chuckled. "Not sure how I should feel about that. Even with knowing the real reason why Satan wants my soul." He sat back and scratched his chin. "You've argued on the one hand, all of my deaths, and the circumstances of my life were not my fault. Therefore, I can't be held accountable. Which you know I think is a load of crocking shite, I did the crime I should pay the time. Perhaps Satan gave up on me when he realized I'm so weak I can't fight against some stupid potions and a manipulative old man with a God complex."

"Well, not to stroke your easily inflated ego, but there wasn't anything you could have done. You couldn't fight against the manipulations and stood no chance against the potions." Gabriel said sitting back himself. "Dumbledore had more knowledge than you, Molly had a little and she was the Potions Queen, Ginny was an obsessed little girl. You were weakened by Dumbledore with the abuse at the Dursley's, plus the blocks on your core; therefore, you had no chance to fight. As for this last fiasco, Hermione was the brightest witch of her age, and what she managed to do with those potions was beyond revolutionary."

Harry glared at him. "Don't praise that woman in front of me again."

Gabriel raised his hands in surrender. "It wasn't my intention merely stating a fact. We had no idea she was capable of such a feat, her angel certainly didn't or she would have warned me. I checked with her guardian before your arrival, Hermione didn't have her memories by some mistake, what happened was all her own mortal minds doing. However, that means even with her mind wiped, she'll likely try again in her next life with you."

"Not if I kill her first," Harry grumbled. "If it's one thing I've realized, my contempt and hate for certain people carry on into the next life. I'll know she's as much of an enemy as Ron and Ginny now. She won't get that chance again, I won't let her become what she did in this last life. I'll kill the Dark Lady Hermione before she gets to that point."

Gabriel gave a shrug as if to say, as you wish. The two men gave a combined sigh of utter exhaustion before sitting back and closing their eyes.

"So, what happens this time?" Harry asked, his head still tilted back, his eyes still closed. "Have I finally died enough times to go back with my memories intact yet?"

Gabriel was silent for a long time, and Harry looked at him annoyed. "That's still a no?"

"It's not the way we work." Gabriel sat forward, "Harry, you have to understand . . ."

But that was as far as the angel got.

"Screw you and your deeper understanding!" Harry leapt to his feet and began pacing furiously as he shouted with all of his might. "I've died a grand total of nine times already! Nine fucking times! Alright!? Two of those times happened before I was eleven and went to Hogwarts.

"One time was because of the pack of bloody Dementors when I was thirteen and trying to save Sirius, I died of magical exhaustion because of the bloody blocks on my core that you white winged fucks refuse to remove for me! Apparently only a mortal soul can! Twice I died because that fucking Tournament! The first time due to that bloody dragon, that I will make sure I kill from now on. The second time was drowning because I refused to let a little girl be brutally tortured to death!

"And need I remind you that one life time I committed suicide because my Aunt raped me. Let me repeat that so I can get through your cloud infested ears! I. Killed. Myself. Because. My. Aunt. Fucking. RAPED. ME! Which is how Satan got involved with my soul in the first place! I committed the most terrible sin that exists! But, because I have some grand fucking destiny that I must accomplish for you fuckers, or the cosmos will go into complete unrepairable chaos, you kept me from going to the Underworld!

"Not to mention when you rewound time for me to start again in that life after the rape, my uncle killed me! I don't know how he found out, and you've never said, but he did find out and he killed me for it! That was the first time you rewound the world completely for me to start over.

"Which leads me to my current situation. The last two life times I was potioned into a bloody mindless zombie by an obsessed witch who thought I was her fucking property! Some might think it a kindness after all I've been through, but let me tell you something Gabriel, it wasn't! You try being forced to be beside a woman and knowing you don't love her, knowing you're growing to hate her, and being unable to do anything about it! Every order she gives you, you obey like an obedient dog!"

Harry finally stopped and finally faced the angel in front of him. His fury coming off of him in waves so fast Gabriel's hair was being blown back.

"I have been through enough Hell in the lives I've lived to earn this damn it! I've killed, I've been killed; I've been weakened and manipulated by some gay bastard who wanted me to bugger him, then be buggered by him had he lived! I saw that flinch! Didn't think I knew about that did you, well I do! The treatment I received at the Dursley's is by far the worst any in the Wizarding World I'd endured. I've been potioned into loving two women I am repulsed sexually by, and all for what!? Forced to have children who later in life who hated me and just wanted my fortune! Both times I might add! My son Albus being the only exception. All of that for you to tell me it's too fucking complicated for me to go back with my knowledge intact!? Fuck you!"

Gabriel stared at the wizard before him. His black hair billowing as if caught in the whirlwind that was his rage. Harry's temper was not unknown here, many had felt it as he threw the biggest tantrums after some of his deaths. None blamed him. Now, he glared back at Gabriel, his emerald green eyes glowing like the killing curse his world was famous for.

"Face it Gabriel, it's the only way to accomplish my task, and we're deluding ourselves if we think otherwise. If insanity is doing the same thing over and over again with the same result, then we've been insane this whole time. Either give me my memories when I go back or send me to Hell! Anything would be better than living through that shit for a tenth time!"

Though it might be disgraceful of an angel to show fear of his charge, Gabriel visibly gulped. "Yes, well, I'll need to talk to the higher ups. Michael for sure, and probably God. It will take some time Harry. Even if we get fast approval, there's the paper work and the specifics to work out. Can you stay calm and wait at least semi patiently for me to return?"

Harry sat down, arms crossed over his chest. "Haven't I always? Even if I didn't get the answers I wanted."

Gabriel gave a curt nod before doing another disgraceful thing and literally ran from the room at full speed. Praying to the big man upstairs his office was still in one piece when he got back.

To Harry, Gabriel was simply there, then gone, the door to the office banging open as he left in a hurry. Harry sat drumming his fingers against the arm rest of the chair for a few minutes before standing again, he walked to the window with the most beautiful view in all of existence. In a few of his other stays here, he would sit and stare out the window, at a loss for words and all concept of time. Finding no solace in it this time, he crossed the office to the book shelves.

He went to reach for a volume but dropped his hand. What was the point, he'd read the entirety of the angel's manual and afterlife guide twice over. Something not even all of the angels did. Harry was rather confident he knew more about the afterlife, it's history, and how it worked, than angels who had been working here for centuries. In any case, there was nothing new there to discover.

So, what to do? He turned and looked at the office door. It was still open? It usually disappeared after Gabriel left the room, even if he had left the door open. So why was it open now? With a shrug he walked to it and took a step out of the office. Gabriel would find him when he had answers. The fact that Harry wasn't kidding made all the more impact. He didn't know what was going to happen, but he did know something was going to change.

He made his way forward taking in his surroundings. It wasn't the first time he'd seen the structure that was fashioned off a muggles business office. Matter of fact, he'd seen a great deal of it during his time here after his suicide. When Satan got involved with his fate. Demanding to get his soul after he completed his destiny. Satan later assured him it was because he wanted to recruit Harry, not condemn him. Apparently, the hell he went through in his mortal life was more than enough in Satan's eyes to warrant his redemption. Not that he admitted that to Michael and Gabriel.

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It was something new to do, so Harry began looking around. Harry wondered if he could find Teddy's guardian and watch his life while he waited for Gabriel to come back. This section was all supposed to be his world anyway. He looked at each room, trying to find Teddy's viewing room.

Guardian angels watched their charges lives as if they were movies in a theater. The cinematic records they called them. Each room had about thirty chairs, as some angels tended to watch as well, mostly for training, or just a means to pass time. Gabriel, essentially being a manager, got his own office, where he could watch over his charges in private.

Harry walked past an open door to a viewing room, there was a loud ruckus coming from inside, he saw something out of the corner of his eye as he past. Two doors down, he stopped, thought about what he saw at a brief glance, then back tracked to the open door.

He hadn't been wrong, there were black winged angels in the room. While it wasn't unusual to see them in a viewing room, it was unusual that they sat among a white winged angel. Black winged angels tended to watch over their own kind, or those who sinned badly in life and needed punished in the underworld before they returned to mortal life again. White winged angels watched over the souls who, sure while they did wrong, they didn't commit the damning sins that would see them in the underworld. They would simply return to mortal life till they got it right. While it wasn't entirely true, it was the simplest of explanations given to new souls.

He walked in and took in the scene, six or seven of the black winged angels sat in the recliners, mostly clustered together, all grinning and groaning in pleasure at the screen. The one white winged angel was scowling and refusing to look at anything but the floor.

If he had to venture a guess, it was the white winged angels viewing room, or she had it for this charge, and the others, were just along for the show. But, why? Curious, he finally looked at the viewer. Immediately he was frozen into place, wide eyed, staring. There, that had to be the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen. And he'd seen Veela.

She was on a stage at a strip club, at least he thought that's what it was. He'd never been to one in any of his lives, so he really had no basis for comparison. Whoever she was, she was wearing a black lace top that left nothing to the imagination, or maybe it was because of her large breasts that could give Susan Bones a run for money, with a black thong that showed off her glorious ass.

Her hair was long and dark, midnight purple when the light caught it, it curled naturally and hung in thick locks, falling down to the middle of her back. Her smoky purple covered lips grinned at him as her bright blue eyes gazed into his own. It felt as if they were piercing into his soul, she grinned mischievously, and he was lost.

He sat down in the closest vacant recliner and just stared. She moved her body sensually, slowly, fast, bouncing swinging in beat with the song. Even singing along with the lyrics a bit. He gulped and felt parts of himself wanting to react. Had he not been a soul, he had no doubt he'd be boasting the hardest erection he'd ever experienced.

Beside him, the angel chuckled. "I know, she has quite the effect. Even on beings such as ourselves."

"Aren't you guys at least allowed physical contact?" Harry asked not looking at the angel. Knowing he was the one black winged sitting apart from the rest.

The angle chuckled. "We can, but only with that of our kind. The white wings are pure beings, or so they claim. We're considered fallen angels because we can mate. I know for a fact Gabriel and Michael have mated a time or two in the last millennia. The whole stigma about the black wings is such a crock."

"I thought your wings were black because you have mortal emotions." Harry said still watching the woman dance.

"It is, but that's not what the white wings believe, or at least the younger generations anyway. Satan promotes young and is very very vocal about it. It tempts the younger white wings, especially the females, and some developed emotions and their wings turned as a result. Two of the latest ones are knocked up now, by Satan I believe." There was silence for a few moments before the angel spoke again. "I'm Tarnok by the way."

"Harry."

"Harry, as in Harry Potter? The priority case Gabriel has?"

"One in the same."

He heard Tarnok chuckle. "So, what's the great Harry Potter doing watching a stripper. Not that I blame you."

"She's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." Harry found himself saying honestly. That was right, here in this place, there was no lying. Oh well, not like he could have hidden this anyway. "I take it she's your charge then? Is that why you're apart from the rest? Why is the white winged angel even here? Are you guys just watching for the show and that's why there's so many here? I know those guys, and they aren't trainees, they're among Satan's most trusted." Harry continued more to himself, "Is this even my world? Maybe I can find her when I go back."

He heard Tarnok sigh. "Unfortunately, no, this is not your world. So, you could look for her all you want, and you wouldn't be able to find her. She's not my charge unfortunately, we're to keep an eye on this angel. She was kicked out of her viewing room when she wouldn't let the trainees watch with her. She mentioned a contract and not subjecting their impressionable minds to such sin. Gabriel was certain you were the only contract case at this time. He asked Satan for a few free angels to watch and see what's going on. Given Michael had specific instructions for this soul, he suspected something was seriously off and pulled us off our own cases to investigate. We moved closer to Gabriel, so we could report to him if needed after her life is over."

"He's not in his office." Harry said feeling like he had to inform the orc of that fact.

"We'll find him." Tarnok assured him.

It was the dark tone under the reassurance that had Harry asking, "Will it be needed? The report I mean. Is it that serious?"

"Yes." Tarnok said in a dark tone that had Harry looking at him confused.

"I can explain it all, and while I'm at it," Tarnok looked at him and smiled. "Do you want to know more about her?"

Tarnok was an Orc, perhaps the same one that Gabriel mentioned earlier, which is probably why Gabriel allowed this man to watch this mortal woman's life with the white wings. Gabriel obviously liked and trusted Tarnok. The angel's skin was green with dark brown tattoos and equally dark brown hair. With a pair of sharp looking tusks protruding from the bottom his mouth going upwards, as one would expect with an orc.

Harry glanced at the white wings, she was dressed in something akin to a nun's garb, and he couldn't get a good look at her. But he could see from her rigid posture she was not happy.

"Somehow, I don't think she'll tell me."

"Forget her, I've read the case about this woman, and I've watched this life." Tarnok said softly. "I can tell you what I know."

Harry looked at him again, "Then tell me."

Tarnok grinned viciously. Both looking between the screen and each other as he spoke.

"First of all, let me start by saying, the contract is a fake, she's not supposed to have one. Her name is Mallory Swan. At least in this life. It varies from life to life, it's been Malinda, and Malissa." Harry gave him an incredulous look and Tarnok nodded. "Yeah, I know, but her nickname stays the same, Mal. She always goes by that, more often than not, once she reaches a certain age, she absolutely refuses to acknowledge her real name.

"Anyway, from what I gather, each of her lives has been filled with abuse form her overly religious family. Much like you, she's been living the same life over and over, and much like you, she's on her ninth pass right now. Which was not supposed to happen, any of this. We were brought in to see what her Guardian Angel has been up to, and she has been putting Mal through unnecessary hardships." Tarnok spared a glare at the white winged angel.

Harry looked between the two getting really worried. "Why?"

"We can't find the contract, and Rida's not talking, so we have no idea." Tarnok growled. "Everyone is downright pissed at Rida, in every single one of her lives, Mal's been brutally killed. She was supposed to get an easy life after her family killed her in her first one, Michael's orders according to the file. However, Rida has been putting her through the same life over and over again."

"I'm extremely confused." Harry said with a shake of his head, "Why is she working as a stripper if her family is overly religious in each life? It is some kind of rebellion?"

Tarnok snorted. "I wish, the girl needs a decent rebellion, but she's too kind hearted for that." He adjusted himself in his pants rather unashamed after glancing at the screen. When Harry checked as to why, he simply stared wide eyed and slacked jaw for a moment, she was blissfully nude in the shower.

Tarnok cleared his throat and continued. "She's been a good girl in this life, did as the family said, so the abuse was minimal. She waited to have sex till she was married, only to be stuck with a man who's lucky to last five minutes, then blames her for his short comings. Even for the small nature of his equipment. As a result, the only pleasure she's ever known is the pleasure she gives herself. Anyway, in this life, she's had three miscarriages." Tarnok pointed at the angel Rida. "Because she terminated each one."

Harry's hands clenched into fists. "What!?"

"Unfortunately, we have no say over what Rida does, and Mal already signed on the contract before we were assigned to watch. So whatever Rida does, we can't stop it, however much we may want to. Even if the contract was fake for us, it's binding in the mortal realm because Mal signed it. She won't be punished, she didn't know, I can only hope we can make it up to her somehow." Tarnok sighed remorsefully. "Meanwhile in her mortal life, her family is berating her for the miscarriages, as if it's her fault it happens. Doctors confirmed a couple years ago, she'll never be able to have children. She had to have a complete hysterectomy for medical reasons. Again, Rida's doing. Once Mal explained that to her family they began to beat her for it, and she was an adult at this point, in her twenties. As everyone in that neighborhood was part of the church, no one called the cops to save her. She managed to get away without any major injuries thank heaven. That, I am responsible for."

Tarnok sighed long and deep. "I saved her from that, but when she got home to her husband, she found out he'd left her for some young thing fresh out of high school." Tarnok then growled. "The bastard left her with nothing. She had no job because he didn't want her to work. She had no money because he took it all, and the apartment had an eviction notice on it. Because of my interference, when she left her family, they did not part on good terms. Her family refused to even look at her. And that's just this life, that's not including the pain from the others. This life, has been rather tame compared to the others."

Harry looked back at the screen with tears in his eyes. It was almost worse than the pain he'd endured. At least he was unaware of being manipulated, and while under the effects of the potion, he found some happiness even if part of him questioned it. She wasn't even allowed that.

"So, she became a stripper to survive."

Tarnok huffed. "Pretty much, someone she knew from high school responded to her plea about looking for work when all other avenues failed. She auditioned and got the job." Tarnok scratched his head while dropping his voice. "I will admit only to you that I was responsible for that. Anyway, within a month, she was popular. We're seeing the effects of two years worth of hard work and dedication there. Inside the club, she's respected, has friends, even the boss makes sure she's okay. But everyone outside of the club hates that. They don't like what she's become."

Harry watched as man was sneaking out from under a car as she walked out of the club with a couple of other women. Horrified he saw her walking towards the car. "What's that, what just happened!?"

"That would have been her husband." Tarnok said remorsefully. "They never divorced because he'd have to pay her alimony, and given all of the shit she's been through, and medical expenses and his not being there and being neglectful, he'd have nothing left to himself. He just cut her break lines. Once she's dead, he gets everything she has because he's still legally her husband."

"Can't you do something!? You've helped her before!?" Harry said getting desperate watching her get behind the wheel.

Tarnok shook his head slowly. "I was only allowed three interferences. The first, I used when her mother tried to abandon her when she was two. The second used during the beating to spare her life. The third was to get her this job. I have no more favors left. I can't stop this, though I want to."

"NO!" Harry shouted rising to feet watching in horror and fury as her car crashed.

"Sit down lad," Tarnok said softly. "She was dead upon impact, she'll be here any second."

Sure enough, soon, there sat Mal in the chair from her car. No markings on her thankfully or he would not have been able to control his rage. Her eyes were closed, and her head was off to the side. If he had a heartbeat, it would have been pounding in his ears as he waited for her to come around. Eventually, she drew breath and opened her eyes. He saw the knowledge and understanding cross over her face. Knowledge of her past lives and understanding of where she was.

"Well this is new." She chuckled.