Harry Potter and the Dreamer Awakened (Part 11)

Harry Potter and the Dreamer Awakened (Part 11)

Asriel blinked, and allowed his senses to assess the situation before moving. He was lying on a bed. Judging by the starry poster on the wall to his left, it was his bed in his Mom's house. The room was bright, so it was daytime. Toriel must be nearby, because that mixture of butterscotch and cinnamon was unique. He could also sense someone was in the room with him.

His body also felt like itself, in a way you can't really appreciate until you realise how it wasn't itself.

Finally deciding to tip his hand, he slowly and quietly sat up. He felt constricted somehow. Looking down, he realised he was wearing a set of Frisk's pyjamas, but that these were now too small for him. This helped make sense of another report that his tail felt constrained. That could be dealt with later. He looked to his right, and it was Hermione, sitting in a chair and currently reading what looked like a really old book.

"Um, h-howdy."

Her head jerked at him in shock. "Oh, Asriel!" She stood up and was about to head to the door.

"Wait. Don't call them yet, please. Give me a minute."

"Oh, sorry."

She returned to her chair. Asriel took a deep breath, getting a good dose of the pie's smell. At this moment, breathing felt good. His arms and legs felt heavy, like he hadn't used them for a while.

"How long was I asleep?"

"Well, you helped us destroy the locket last night, and after everything else that happened...well it's about four o' clock in the afternoon right now."

"Golly." He said flatly. "It took a lot out of me." He then had a stab of worry. "Is everyone okay?! Did I- Did he-?"

"We're fine. Harry's arm may take a few more days to set right, but monster healing magic is good at handling things like that. Everyone else is no worse for the wear."

"Oh." He sighed in relief. "I'm glad to hear that."

"Let me show you something."

Hermione picked up an orange box with a screen on it.

"Doctor Alphys came round this morning. I think your mum ordered her to on pain of death. Hold still a second."

He obeyed. She held the scanner over his chest for a moment. There was a beeping noise, and her face split into a smile.

"I already saw this earlier, but I thought you'd like to."

She had turned it around. A white, upside-down heart was glowing on the screen.

"You have a soul now. A soul of your own! We're still not sure how it happened. Frisk suggested you were so long as, well, yourself, that it gave your the love, mercy and compassion to generate a new one, and that's what helped you resist You-Know-Who."

From his own confused recollection of what happened after he destroyed the locket, Asriel was pretty sure this wasn't true. He also suspected Frisk knew more than they were letting on, but he trusted them to be doing it for a reason. Instead he let his genuine wonder shine through that he and his soul were reunited.

"Now Asriel." Hermione was saying. "Nobody blames you for what he did. Older and wiser people have been hoodwinked by him. Ron's sister was possessed by him once."

"I don't blame me either." He said earnestly. "I've had a long time to think about how we're responsible for our actions. I know who did what."

This reassurance had begun the process of destabilising the grace period of serenity he had woken up with. Tears were starting to form.

Hermione's brow furrowed. "What's wrong?"

"I told you. I'm responsible for my actions."

She thought about it for a moment, and then it clicked.

"You mean-"

The door swung open.

"Hermione, do you wish to take a break? I can watch- Oh!"

His mother was staring right at him. There was shock, but this was melting away fast, replaced with unmistakable relief. Asriel wasn't sure he shared it.

"Oh...oh Asriel!"

She had whispered these words, but they carried with the air of the mightiest shout. He barely registered the scrape of Hermione's chair as she gave Toriel room to make a beeline for him and scoop him up in a hug. It was just like when he had returned the first time. He could tell how much she loved him now. He could literally feel it deep in his chest. His soul was hungry for it. She was hugging so tight he couldn't move his arms...

...but that was because he didn't have arms anymore. Those phantom limb sensations were annoying. Anyway, the trick worked. She was right where he wanted him, muttering his old name, blind to everything in the world. Like the pellets that suddenly zoomed into her back as she gave a gasp of shock-

"NO!!!"

He finally freed his arms and pushed himself clear of her grasp. He caught a glimpse of a surprised face as he landed back on the bed, scrambling to back away as far from her as possible. Finding himself literally cornered, he seized his blanket and covered himself with it.

"M-my child?!"

"No, keep back!"

That one memory had broken the dam. Much like before, the weight of his crimes came crashing down in a slow motion tidal wave. Looks of pain and fear and anger, and nearly always dust. And if not dust, the blood of his best friend. He had grabbed his ears so tightly he threatened to rip them off. Maybe that would help make up-

"Asriel? Son?"

The deep and unexpected cadence of his father cut through the memories. They still swirled around threatening to overwhelm him, but once again his soul seemed to resonate. It gave him enough courage to uncover his head, and discovered that in addition to Asgore, his shouting had summoned Frisk, Harry and Ron. He noticed Harry's arm in a full sling, before realising Toriel was making another attempt to reach out to him, a move he parried with a wild swing of his arm and an unintentional burst of flame.

"No, don't touch me! Please! I'll hurt you!" It wasn't a threat, it was a statement of fact.

"You what?" Ron was scratching his nose to cover his confusion. "But the locket's gone, mate. We got rid of it. You got rid of it!"

"Indeed." Nodded Asgore with appreciation. "You did an incredibly difficult thing, and we're proud of you for it. And now its influence is gone. You need not worry."

"It's not the locket! I know it's gone! Don't you get it you id-" His hands slapped to his mouth to arrest that word. The dream he just had was more than an idle threat, and now he had something else to fret about.

"Then what is wrong, Asriel? Why are you so upset?"

"It's...it's when I..."

The younger people in the room seemed to know exactly what to do. As soon as Toriel had asked her question, Hermione began moving towards Ron and Harry. They in turn didn't need prompting, and all three left the room, closing the door behind them. Then they heard Harry say something, and their footsteps were replaced with a faint buzzing. At the same time, Frisk advanced towards him, found one of his hands, and was gently holding it. Unlike his parents, he found he could tolerate this. Perhaps because he had already had this conversation with them, sort of. He took a deep breath, and forced a calm expression he wasn't feeling.

"I have to tell you about Flowey."

In the context of what he had just been through, this was a complete non sequitur to his parents.

"You mean when you were...? But we discussed this when you returned."

"The locket. It made me, well I didn't forget, b-but I decided some stuff wasn't important. I didn't t-tell you everything I did. I d-didn't t-tell you anything!"

Without Frisk, Asriel wasn't sure if he could have recounted everything. That hand on his helped him to remain both calm enough and determined enough to keep going. The full details of his first awakening, how they could not reach him, and how he chose to end it. Beyond when he had finally abandoned the routine behaviours of his old life. Beyond the pranks he played. Into the realm of schemes that really hurt people. That killed them. And how that was eventually replaced with just doing it himself.

"...and I told myself 'I don't like this', but that was a lie. I just knew I was supposed to not like it, but I didn't feel that way..."

To tell them absolutely everything would have taken a long time, so he was forced to give an overview of how he had hurt others. But he would not allow himself to skip the details of how he had interacted with them. Every cruel trick, every wound, every slaying, he made sure they knew. He didn't know if this was out of a desire for them to know the truth, or to try and push them away so they wouldn't reach out to him.

"And th-then the very last time. B-before Frisk came, I used my vines to draw a picture of me w-with Chara's b-body and signed it with m-my name and left it lying around Mom's house, to try and s-see what reaction I could g-get. And then when Frisk f-fell...well you know wh-what happened then."

The tale told, Asriel finally allowed the guilt to envelop him, and he broke down into tears. Frisk was still holding his hand, and from movements Asriel sensed more than saw, was stopping either parent from approaching. Nobody tried to stop him crying, so he let it continue until it reached a natural lull. He looked up at his parents, who were in turn looking at each other. Understanding was passing between them as they faced him once more. They looked absolutely stricken. Of course they would, after all he did to them. It was only natural they couldn’t bear to look at him

"My child." Began Toriel. "You may recall that when you first told us about, about Flowey, we concluded you had lost your way due to circumstances none of us could anticipate, and it was only with Frisk's guidance that you found yourself again."

Asriel waited for the 'but' that refused to come. Eventually his impatience outpaced his nervousness. "And?"

"And that has not changed. The only difference between now and then is the degree to which you were lost. It would appear...it was far greater...than we imagined..."

It was Toriel's turn to shed tears. She did not bother to shrug off Asgore’s hand on her shoulder, but he made no effort to move beyond that. Asriel's soul was correcting his earlier assumption. If they were horrified at what he had done, it was only a tiny portion of what they felt. The true and overwhelming source of their horror was the grief and turmoil his crimes had inflicted on himself, that they had failed to understand or help him with. His soul’s understanding was having a hard time conveying itself to his own, however.

"I...I don't understand. How could you forgive me?"

"I forgave you." Said Frisk.

"But, but all I did was attack you a few times. I did so much more to them! I tortured them! I killed them! I killed them again and again and-"

"And we are in remarkably good shape, considering." Said Asgore. His voice was steady, but he too was weeping openly.

"But it still happened!"

"Yes, Asriel." Nodded Toriel. "But since the damage is undone, or perhaps was never inflicted to begin with, then perhaps it is not our forgiveness you should seek. You must learn to forgive yourself."

"But I can't!" He was actively resenting their efforts to reach him, even though a part of him craved it.

"We shall help you. When our Wizard friends tried to find you, I asked them to make sure you knew we loved you, no matter what you did, or what you were. That has not changed."

An uncharitable tic of anger grabbed him before he could stop himself. "No matter what I was?! Didn't stop you attacking me in front of Frisk!"

"When did I-" Her eyes bulged in shock as she remembered her first encounter with Frisk, and her face screwed up in fresh horror. He had finally provoked a reaction he thought was appropriate. And felt even worse for it.

"I'm sorry." He meekly said. "But that just proves I'm not worth it."

If anything this intensified her horror. His own soul felt mournful at his recalcitrance. He started crying in earnest again, at the same time Toriel resumed her own tears. It didn't stop him noticing the figure now looming over him, Frisk having finally given him permission to approach. A large hand was approaching him.

"Please don't." He said softly. "I don't deserve it."

"It is not a question of deserving." Came the equally soft reply. "If only the deserving received mercy or forgiveness, there would be precious little of either. Besides, son, you are forgetting something."

"What?"

"That if you don't deserve it, then neither do I."

Asriel looked up at his father's purple eyes. They seemed dim. His tears continued to flow.

"I told you once before. Terrible crimes are not reserved to those without feelings. If anyone can appreciate your burden, it is me. Seven children suffered at my hands. And that will always have happened."

Asriel had curled his arms around his knees and was staring down at them. He felt his father's hand rest on his shoulder, but this time he didn't resist. The shared taint seemed to be the key.

"Wait, seven?" Frisk frowned. "But you only had six souls."

"Well, several months ago I learned of a seventh child I caused untold m-misery towards."

Asriel's head jerked back towards him. "You mean..."

"Yes. I kept this from you, but I've been having a n-new nightmare since you returned, in addition to the others. A f-flower waking up utterly alone in a dark room, c-confused about what's happened, terrified th-that his arms d-don't work and c-crying for a f-father who never..."

His voice was utterly seized up. Asriel felt shocked. It was as if he had witnessed his awakening in person. He began to sob in earnest, face utterly submerged in his mighty hands. Toriel looked on, clearly remembering having seen Asgore like this once before.

"Dad." Whispered Frisk, stretching to pat his shoulder. "It's okay..."

The hands clenched tightly, and with a deep breath, Asgore forced himself to continue.

"In many ways, Frisk, it's not okay. Today I've learned the scope of my seventh crime was even greater than I could have possibly imagined. In trying to avoid my duty and stick to my principles, I may have caused even more pain to every monster in the Underground than I realised. Asriel, son, the weight of your sins is mine to bear. Do not let them trouble you."

"No!" Cried Asriel. He and his soul agreed that to burden others with this was intolerable. "You may have ordered Alphys to find a way to break the barrier and that...woke me up, but I chose to do what I did! You never knew. Besides, it worked! The barrier broke without having to kill anyone else. You've suffered enough, I have to take responsibility for my actions!"

They stared at each other a long time. Asgore thought of the way Frisk would stare at him. Finally, his hand rested on a small shoulder again.

"Very well, son. If that is what you wish. But you will not do it alone. One way or another, I will help you find a way to cope. I won't hear any argument on this."

His soul felt really warm and comforting now. Funny how hyper aware he was of all its twinges and reactions. Back before he died, he never paid it much heed. You really don't appreciate something until it's gone. But right now he could feel the clashing emotions of sorrow and hope from his parents. And while he couldn't feel it directly from Frisk, their expression told volumes.

"But how can I make amends to everyone? I mean I broke the barrier, but it's not enough."

"Do as you did when Harry and his friends first arrived, my child." Said Toriel. "Offer a hand of friendship, and do right by them. Try not to let them worry about you without need."

"But, I was under the locket's power back then. That might as well have been a dream."

"It didn't feel like a dream to me." Said Asgore. "And remember, you still remember it happening, so for all intents and purposes you may as well act as it was real."

In spite of himself, remembering that night brought the first smile to Asriel's face since he woke up.

"Does...does it ever stop hurting? Do you ever find peace?"

Asgore dipped his great head slightly. "I don't know. Not yet at least. But we'll find out together."

"That is correct. We shall ALL find out together." Said Toriel, with a softness sharp enough to slice a pie.

Asgore looked as if he had forgotten she was there. "But Tori, I don’t want you to have to-"

"Not again, Dreemurr. I will not have you make another decision by yourself and refuse all guidance. I will not have you deny our son the support of any who wish to offer it! I shall help us move on too."

"But Mom-"

A steely look filled her copper eyes. "Perhaps you think because of the miracle of your rebirth, I am now without regrets or sorrow or pain, my child? That it is unfair to burden me with your woes? You are mistaken. When I chose to allow children to leave my care when I could have done so much more for them by confronting your father? When I clearly failed to understand your needs when you reached out to me, even though I no longer remember it? I am just as complicit in your actions, for having f-failed in my one chance to guide you. I...am j-just as undeserving. And if you refuse to allow me to feel that, then you are accepting my help!"

"And if it gets too much for any of you, I'm right here." Said Frisk defiantly. Nobody thought to argue with them.

Asriel's guilt was accompanied by the guilt of their parents, and that in turn set off his grief which was met in kind by their grief. But then he looked at Frisk's encouraging expression, and hope settled into his core. And then he suddenly leapt into his father's arms.

They broke down into tears yet again, Asgore's sobs reverberating throughout the room. Frisk found themselves scooped up by Toriel as, unlike when he first returned, she ensured they were a part of the reunion. The hug fully assembled, she too cried earnestly. Frisk alone retained a dry face as their arm found purchase on Asriel's back, as he said the only words that came to him in such a bittersweet moment.

"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry...I love you..."

A thin flesh-coloured string that had been poking under the door for a while disappeared. Ron pocketed the extendable ear as he wiped a tear of his own away. Right, he'd better return from the bathroom before Hermione caught him and pecked him with birds.

****

Asriel hadn't felt hungry. He was ready to trust in his family, but he still had a lot to work through. He'd changed into better fitting pyjamas that Toriel had bought while he was asleep, but hadn't wanted to leave the room. Asgore understood, and reminded him this would all take time.

Harry, Ron and Hermione had come back in when his parents and Frisk went down to get some dinner, and spent the rest of the evening with him. They had guessed, and Ron straight up knew, that he had probably discussed Flowey enough for a lifetime already, so they talked about how amazing he'd been when he destroyed the locket, and was able help him understand what happened afterwards. He gasped when they explained how Harry and Frisk had figured out how to banish Voldemort from him.

"Wow..." He had said softly. "It's like that dr- that stuff that Alphys watches." Another Flowey impulse had almost slipped through. He dreaded going back to school with it, but that was for later.

He was equally amazed when they showed him what they had found at the Orbis house. He read the letter greedily, his interest in human magic surviving the past few days intact. He felt a spasm of sorrow as he learned of Aurelian's spell and how this may have helped him when he first went to the surface, but even though they were all aware of that night, he didn't let it show.

"So what was up with the memory in the cave?" He asked, trying to remain light hearted.

"Erm, a cave?" Harry was nonplussed.

"Yeah, I was standing on an island in a lake, and it was inside a really dark cave. And there was a pedestal there. And a tiny creature with big ears"

"I know that cave. But I never visited it with a house-elf..."

Hermione gasped. "Harry, could that be, you know, his memory?"

"Blimey," Muttered Ron. "I reckon you're onto something."

"You mean...I remember some of You-Know-Who's memories?"

"Yes. When you- when he was chasing us, he was talking about other things that are important to him."

"So, I might know where they are?" He didn't know whether to be scared or excited.

"No." Said Harry firmly. "I can't ask you to do any more than you have. Wizards have put you through enough."

"But-"

"Give it a rest, Asriel." Said Ron. "He's doing his saving-people thing. Let him sleep on it. We're not going anywhere until that cast is off anyway."

"And that's meant to be on the day of the festival." Said another voice. "Surely you can stay a few more hours or one more day?"

"Oh, howdy Frisk."

"Mom saved you some dinner, you spent all evening up here keeping Asriel company. She says thank you, by the way. Besides, it's almost our bedtime."

Harry seemed glad he wasn't about to have someone else put themselves in harm's way for him, and the three of them ushered themselves out. Frisk looked to Asriel with concern, which Asriel forced himself to appreciate.

"How are you feeling, Asriel?"

"Fine- No I'm not, wait a moment." He took the opportunity to properly assess his feelings. "I'm tired. Exhausted really. I still feel terrible for what I did as Flowey. I'm almost scared to go to sleep."

"In case you have a nightmare?"

"Those I can handle. But what if I wake up as him?"

Frisk shot him a look that reminded him of a hundred years ago. "That's not happening. Let me show you."

They walked over to Alphys' soul scanner, and scanned Asriel again, showing him the soul. They then pushed a button showing earlier readings, and they were a perfect match.

"You've been scanned three times so far, and your soul hasn't changed at all. It's stable. You're stable. You're here to stay. I'll make sure of it."

His hands were grasped again. He smiled in gratitude.

"Thanks. I know it's a dumb fear. But I dreamt about times like this when I was him. I almost knew what caring was like in those dreams. Waking up was torture."

He watched Frisk look on with sadness, which softened his own mood.

"Dad's right, isn't he? There's no quick fix to this. I have to deal with it one day at a time."

"Yeah. But not alone."

"True. It's weird I can't really make it up to anyone." He absently toyed with his ear.

"That's the trouble with resets. It's like Sans said. You’re the only one who can judge you."

These words were cold comfort. A small part of him wanted to run up to Sans and explain everything he had ever done to Papyrus and maybe that would assuage his guilt. But he had the feeling Sans would go out of his way not to listen. He had made that plain last time. But he wanted to apologise to someone. Anyone. Like maybe...

"You know who I really want to say sorry to?"

Frisk raised an eyebrow. "Papyrus?"

"Nah. He'd forgive me no matter what I said. I...I want to apologise to Chara."

"Chara?! But you said-"

"Yeah, they weren't the b-best person. And they used me to try d-do something terrible. B-but I should have been st-stronger."

Frisk looked shocked. "To go through with the plan?"

Asriel was incredulous. "No! I sh-should have told them no. I should have m-made them find another w-way. I should have b-burned the buttercups and t-told Mom and Dad. If I had been stronger, n-none of this would h-have haaaaaaa..."

He was crying again. His words were true. Unlike the majority of his sins, this was still on his tally. No resetting this away. No matter what happened, he had poisoned his best friend and took their soul, and helped destroy his family in the process.

"Asriel." Frisk was tearing up now. "I think Chara would understand why you backed out. They made a terrible mistake."

"Y-yeah? Well we'll n-never know. All that rage and p-pain, I wish I s-saw it sooner. I could have h-helped..."

Sobbing quietly, Asriel didn't see Frisk getting out of their clothes. They were the same clothes they had worn into the Underground yesterday, they mustn't have changed since then. He also didn't see their hand brush against their pocket or hear the gasp. But he did hear-

"Of course!"

The excitement arrested Asriel's sobs as he looked up at them. They extracted something from their pocket that glinted of gold.

Frisk, what are you doing...

"Is that...Harry's snitch? What are you doing with it?"

"It's hard to explain, but there's something inside it. It's how I found your soul."

He gave a soft bleat in shock. "Really?! That's incredible!"

Don't do this, please.

"But, why haven't you told anyone?"

"When I tapped into it, I could feel its power. I don't think Harry knows. He's not supposed to know, at least not yet. If everyone knew that would turn the world upside down. That's what we agreed on."

"Wait, 'we'? And what are you gonna do?"

Please, I'll hurt him again.

"Well of course I'm gonna give it back to Harry. But first..."

Frisk clasped it tightly, and screwed up their face in concentration. Asriel felt a little intimidated by it.

This won't help, I’ll screw everything up again, "I can't help him! Oh..."

Asriel bleated again, somewhat louder. The smoky and insubstantial form of a child was standing in the room. Wearing a green and yellow sweater, with long brown hair, rosy cheeks, and brown eyes that were hard to read. Their expression was attempting to be inscrutable, but was undermined by the surprise.

Mechanically, Asriel got out of bed, and slowly approached them. Tears sourced to one of a half dozen emotions were flowing unchecked as they looked down at their eyes. When he last saw those eyes, they were the same height. As he approached them, he felt something placed in his hand.

"Hold onto it and don't let go." Frisk was instructing. "I have to go to the bathroom."

They headed to the door and left the room, shutting it behind them. Asriel reached out a hand, continuing to sniffle and weep. The child seemed resigned to the impending conversation, and rested their translucent hand in his. The act of contact opened up emotions that seemed to pool in his hand. He could feel that anger and pain that had driven them so long ago, but it was muted now. There were other feelings too. Grief to mirror his. A strong feeling of regret. And also happiness aimed specifically at him.

"Hey there, crybaby." Said Chara, finally flashing a smile. "Let's talk, then."

****

"Now hold still, kid. I mean, young man."

Harry was sitting in the overlarge chair by the fireplace in Toriel’s living room, as Toriel looked on. A lanky and rather jaded looking cat with a stethoscope was resting his hands on his upper arm. There was a twinge of pain as a loose fragment of bone was forced into its proper position, but the warm comfort of his magic soon dulled this. The ache that had been in his arm since that night had lessened overall as well.

"It’s like Doctor Drake said in your case notes, for a human you respond really well to healing magic, considering how bad a break that was. I’ll need to do this two or three more times, but then it will be like it never happened. Best not to do it all at once, we don’t want to overtax your body."

"Thank you, Doctor Pants."

He exhaled with resignation. The name appeared to be an irritant. He then launched into a well rehearsed explanation. "I know my hospital ID says that, Your Maj- I mean Ma'am, but that's a clerical error. Someone in admin seemed to think that's my name."

"Oh? I happened to be speaking to a Hospital Clerical Worker the other day. I think her name was Bratty?"

Harry could tell this was news to him, but he didn't react much. "Ah. That would explain it."

"In any case, I apoligise for the misunderstanding, Doctor...?"

"I’m not a Doctor, Ma’am. Not yet anyway. Still in training. Turns out spending three years handling meat gives you quite a knack for manipulating it. I’ll probably be fully qualified in a year or so."

Harry didn’t know how he felt about being a practice dummy, but so far he was doing a far better job than Gilderoy Lockhart had done.

"And you had no interest in healing at all before then? That is surprising."

"Eh, I still don’t. This is just a gig to keep me away from- well, I’d rather not dwell on it. Once monsters make proper peace with humans, I’m finding an agent and sending my headshot everywhere I can. And my screenplay if I’ve finished it by then."

"You wish to go into entertainment? Well perhaps in the meantime you should get in touch with the likes of Mettaton. I am sure the King could facilitate a meeting."

Something flashed in his otherwise disinterested eyes. "Uhh, I don’t think my creative vision is compatible with his. I’ll take my chances solo. In the meantime, I guess this isn’t the worst thing to fall back on. I’m twenty years old, it’s not like I’ve wasted my life." As he took Harry’s pulse with one hand, he was fishing in his coat pocket with the other, and soon extracted a pack of cigarettes.

"I would appreciate if you did not smoke in my house." Toriel said curtly. "I have children here."

Like Asgore, Toriel had a knack for concealing commanding edge in otherwise mild requests, and on this occasion it was razor sharp. The cat was almost bored by the threat, seemingly inured to such danger.

"Sure, sure. Sorry Ma’am." He put the pack away. "Well I suggest you skip the gym today, young man, and I’ll see you tomorrow for the next treatment." With that, he left.

"I am not sure I approve of his bedside manner," Said Toriel with a frown. ", but Doctor Drake assured me he was the most promising Human Healer on staff. I do hope he improves his attitude, for the sake of his patients."

"Sometimes being borderline unlikable has nothing to do with how good you are at something." Mused Harry.

"Yes, well, I still believe manners are important. So do you want to meet up with your friends now? Mettaton is under instruction not to ask you- oh, children!"

Toriel had made no effort to wake Asriel and Frisk that morning, figuring they would have had trouble sleeping. So to see them arrive in mid-morning was not a surprise. Asriel was wearing the set of clothes she had bought him while he slept. The solid purple jumper was slightly too big for him, but then he hadn’t been available to try it on. Besides, it meant it would last longer now that he appeared to have begun growing in earnest.

"Did you sleep well?" She asked. Everyone knew the answer.

"Not really." Said Asriel with brutal honesty. "I spent a long time talking with...with Frisk, and then I woke up twice dreaming about what I did."

He indeed looked tired, maybe not quite as tired as when he was freed from Voldemort, but it was there in his eyes. And Harry could now recognise what else he had seen that night, that was still lingering now. It was sorrow. He’d seen that glint in Asgore’s eyes they day they met.

"Oh my!" Toriel lamented softly. "Did I sleep through that? My child, I am so sorry-"

"No, no! I wasn’t screaming or anything. I just bolted upright in bed. I was gonna call for you, but Frisk was already awake. They helped calm me down."

Toriel allowed mild relief to appear on her face. "I am glad to hear that. Frisk, I know you are looking out for your brother, and I cannot thank you enough, but I hope you were not staying up all night to keep watch. If anything, it is I or your father who should do that."

"It’s okay, Mom. I just had, well I guess you could call it a hunch, and I happened to wake up and hear him muttering. It’s just luck, that’s all."

Toriel looked shrewdly at them, but decided not to push the point.

"Oh, Harry! I almost forgot." Frisk approached him, and pulled out the snitch. "You dropped this in the Underground when, um, when the locket was smashed."

Harry hadn’t examined his pouch since then. There had been no time. Everything had been in such a rush.

"Oh! Er, thanks Frisk. I’d hate to lose that."

"Yeah, best not to leave your sentimental value behind."

Harry was seized with the urge to explain the entire context behind his receiving the snitch in the hope Frisk could explain it, but common sense prevailed. The locket was one thing, that had observable effects you could guess about, but the snitch was almost entirely inert. Instead he fumbled with the drawstring of his pouch and dropped it in.

"Anyway children, I have some breakfast ready for you. Asriel, I understand you weren’t hungry yesterday, but that means you haven’t eaten in two days. You will eat something now. This is not a request."

"Okay, mom." He raised a smile at her.

"What do you plan to do after breakfast? I shall need to get you some more clothes now that you can try them on."

"Actually," Said Frisk. ", we were just going to spend some time upstairs, and maybe go outside by ourselves later if the weather's still good. It’s been crazy no matter how you slice it, we need to unwind."

She gave a deep sigh, and a small, sad smile aimed at her son. "Of course. We can get you clothes tomorrow. Just remember what we discussed. I am here if you need help. And your father now probably has his phone glued to his ear. Do not hesitate to tell anyone if you have trouble."

Harry saw a brief look of annoyance cross Asriel’s face, like he partly resented being coddled like this, but then with a look of effort it appeared to become genuine gratitude. "Thanks, mom. I won’t forget."

When he arrived at the park, Mettaton, Ron and Hermione were nowhere in sight. A normal-ish looking cat who answered to the name of Bob pointed him towards a trailer in the corner of the park, with a black and pink star on the door.  He headed over, and found the door opened automatically. Sure enough he found Hermione and Ron. Mettaton was there too, looking thoughtfully at a silver otter and terrier scurrying around the floor.

"Hmm, they’re certainly cute." He said thoughtfully. "But they don’t have the wow factor I’m looking for. Are you sure you can’t change them?"

"No, they’re unique to each wizard." Hermione explained.

"Oh, well what about your DARLING!" He had noticed Harry mid-sentence, gotten to his feet and advanced, threatening a hug.

"Oi, his arm’s broken, don’t touch him!" Yelled Ron.

"Oh, how foolish of me! Asgore did mention the accident. So sorry about that. Anyway, we were just picking up where we left off the other day and-"

"I can’t show you here." Said Harry flatly. "It’s too big, muggles might see it."

"Even better! A mystery box! Not even I’ll know what’s coming. I’ve been meaning to practice my improv skills."

"Here," Demanded Ron. "What makes you think we’ll do it?"

"Well I know the King will refuse to let you leave when your arm’s like that. He’ll hold you at spearpoint until you’re all better. And you’re meant to get better on the day of the show! It’s providence, dears!"

After a non-committal promise to think about it, Harry managed to extract Ron and Hermione, and they went for an early lunch. The topic of discussion was packing to leave, even though an unspoken agreement appeared to have formed that of course they’d attend the concert. This place could wear you down in ways you wouldn’t expect. When they returned to the park, Mettaton was on the stage rehearsing. Ron suggested making a break for it, when-

"Howdy, guys!"

Frisk and Asriel were approaching them. They had identical looks of resolve.

"Can we talk in private?" Asked Frisk. "Do that buzzing thing you did yesterday."

With the trailer empty, it seemed as good a place as any to talk. The five of them entered, and Ron closed the door.

"Muffliato. Now what’s wrong?"

"Nothing." Said Frisk pleasantly. "It’s just we think we can help you defeat You-Know-Who."

"You what?!" Blurted Ron. "You two are mental!"

"No." Decreed Harry. "For one thing, your parents will kill me personally if you get hurt after everything that’s-"

"No, not like that!" Asriel was determined to backpedal what Frisk had implied. "We mean with information!"

The three of them gave a puzzled look as Frisk fiddled on their phone. A map flashed into existence.

"This is a new map. We made sure to pay double for it by 'accident' to make up for the one You-Know-Who stole."

The map had a number of markings spread across Britain. They were significantly less tidy than Voldemort’s notes had been, and few were in the same location. On an extract showing London there were several sites, and a big question mark in the Scottish Highlands. There was also a few pieces of note paper, matching up descriptions with numbers on the map.

"Frisk and I have been talking all morning. I’ve been thinking about stuff I remember that I definitely didn’t do. I didn’t get everything, but if he was thinking about where more of those things that protect him are, they might be somewhere here."

"Oh Asriel," Hermione looked guilty. ", we can’t ask you to dwell on those thoughts-"

"Too late, I already did! And, um, yeah, some of it wasn’t really pleasant. Heck, it was nasty and horrible. But..." His smile melted away. "I’ve done stuff like that already."

Frisk held his hand firmly. This gave him an emotional second wind.

"I think this is what's called a fait accompli. The information’s all there, so you might as well take it!"

Unable to grip the map properly, Harry consulted the accompanying notes. Descriptions of sites and areas, but with few identifying names. They seemed to spark his imagination, trying to get himself to think like Voldemort. Some even supported half-guesses he had made before.

"I don’t understand, Asriel. Surely you’ve enough baggage of your own to work through. Why would you subject yourself to everything he’s done to help us?"

"Well we’re friends, aren’t we? Frisk will tell you, I go a long way for a friend. But it’s more than that."

Harry looked at the boy who had suffered enough trouble for a lifetime. "What?"

Asriel’s smile faded again. "This is the only way I have to make up for what I did."

Frisk squeezed his hand reassuringly. Hermione appeared to have understood at once and her eyes were overbright. Ron gave voice to Harry’s confusion.

"Erm, sorry?"

"Well, because you can say most of what I did never actually happened, I feel like I can’t just say sorry to everyone. I’ve been able to say sorry to a few people, but not enough. Most of them won’t get it. Mom and Dad barely got it. That only leaves trying to make amends. Breaking the barrier was a good start, but it’s not enough. So I had this idea. We’re still kind of trapped in Ebott, because Wizards are too busy to talk to us or let us talk to everyone else. So I figured, try and help my friends break that stalemate, and that might help monsters too! I don’t think we’ll do too well if you fail."

"Heh. Two birds with one stone." Ron murmured, impressed. "You’re like your Mum, dead shrewd."

Harry still had nameless doubts. "But-"

"Look, Harry, the information’s there. I was gonna have nightmares tonight anyway, you knew that. And this isn't about you, or even the people he's putting in danger, I need to do this for myself too. This is the only way I can think of to help monsters right now! So you better take it or I’ll-"

He had been getting more loud and agitated as he spoke, even angry, and Frisk suddenly seized his arm, causing him to freeze as he realised what he was saying. Then he dipped his head in horror and shame. Frisk moved their hand to his shoulder to reassure him.

"I’m sorry." He muttered softly. "I got pretty impatient when I was a flower. I guess I need to watch out for that."

"No, I’m sorry. I’m being thick." Said Harry. "It’s just, beating You-Know-Who is one thing, how do we facilitate diplomatic channels like that? I reckon we’ll be pretty busy."

"Well it’s not like we don’t have contacts in the Ministry." Said Ron slyly. "Sure, they’re useless right now, but with the right reshuffle maybe they'll listen."

"What about a passcode?"

Everyone looked at Hermione.

"Sorry?" Asked Frisk.

"Do you remember the Fidelius Charm? The spell Aurelian used to hide knowledge of Monsters? Well we could come up with a passcode, and I could keep it secret, and if we get the right contacts we can tell someone, so when they come they give the passcode, and you know they’re alright."

"Oh yeah. That sounds cool!" Asriel looked pleased.

"We’ll probably have to discuss that part with Asgore. I wouldn’t tell your Mum, she’ll probably fret about what you’ve done today already." She got up and headed to the door. "How about we talk to him right now and OH!"

"’sup, wiz-kids."

Sans had fully assembled a hotdog stand right outside the trailer.

"sorry if i was buzzin’ around. just had a good feeling about selling here. and, uh, sorry for weighing you down the other day."

"Th-that was my fault, Sans. I tricked you." Asriel looked curiously tense around Sans right now, but determined to stand his ground too.

"don’t worry about it, cap. from what i hear, you had a lot on your mind. like another mind."

Asriel chuckled. "Y-yeah, you could put it that way. Uh, do you know where Dad is? We need to talk to him."

"sure, he declined to buy a hot dog from me half an hour ago, he was supervising the stall set up over on school street. doing a little diplomatic summit?"

Ron gave the game away. "How did-"

"the reason you came here is gone, i figure you kids wouldn't just leave it at that. you're charming like that. i'll go with you, i'm due a break."

****

Asgore wasn't much impressed with what Frisk and Asriel had done regarding reconnaissance for Harry, but flanked by two sources of determination he was willing to let it slide, as there was a need to take some initiative to escape the limbo monsters found themselves in. Ebott held many wonders that humans took for granted, but for some it would never be enough. And as they had risked their lives to return his son to him and Toriel, Harry, Ron and Hermione now had his complete gratitude and trust. The passcode was agreed upon and Hermione cast the Fidelius Charm right there, allowing the other six present to read it off a piece of paper before burning it.

Dinner that evening was with both the King and Queen present, and Harry had the distinct impression this was going to be a more regular occurrence than it had been in the past. They still spoke mostly of mundane business when talking to each other, but Harry caught Ron looking approvingly even at this. Asriel had asked if he and Frisk could stargaze that night, but neither parent wanted him going out to the woods. Hermione stepped in, explaining the enchantments she could put on a telescope for Astronomy that meant they didn't need to stay away from city lights, so Toriel relented to let them do it in the back yard.

As they were setting up for it, Asriel was carrying his telescope into the yard, when he tripped and fell, and the telescope broke. From his time spent with him, Harry expected him to cry. He was surprised, then, when Asriel launched into an angry string of curses, before catching himself and clasping his mouth shut with his hands before his Mother heard.

"Where'd you learn those words?" Asked Frisk.

"You would hear a lot of it at Grillby's in Snowdin when it's closing time." Said Asriel, looking ashamed at himself. "Why can't I be nice? I'm such an idiot."

With the horcrux's influence now gone, there were definite changes in Asriel, Harry could see. Besides occasionally withdrawing into himself, no doubt dwelling on his time as Flowey, he seemed to be surprisingly aggressive when stressed or agitated. He explained it as old Flowey habits acting unchecked, and then he'd get upset with himself for doing it, which from Harry’s own experience meant he’d be more likely to get angry again. Frisk had to remind him the fact he got upset about it meant he wanted to be better, which helped a little. Hermione refined her opinion about Flowey as a time that Asriel was mentally ill, and maybe Asgore and Toriel should seek therapy, if nothing else to help him recognise warning signs and how to cope with them.

"What, you just talk to someone about why you're upset and they make you feel better?" Ron looked up with interest. "Amazing what muggles can do without a cheering charm or something."

"It's not as easy as that, you have to work really hard at it. Maybe for years, and possibly for life. And it's not like wizards wouldn't benefit from it either. Do you think a cheering charm would help you deal with spiders?"

"Oh yeah, good point." He shuddered.

Frisk's point of Asriel's shame over his shortened temper helped reinforce an unspoken point. Namely that in spite of his brand new rough edges, Asriel was still the same person at his core. As Hermione repaired and enchanted the telescope, Harry and Frisk could see the excitement build in his face, just like old times. He was eager to help out, and had used his magic to create a campfire. And he paid rapt attention as Hermione began to regurgitate five years of Astronomy lessons, something Frisk had little interest in, so they joined Harry and Ron at the campfire.

"I just wanted to say thanks. For everything."

"Sure, no problem." Said Ron lazily. "We're good at sorting stuff out like that."

Harry felt like there were loose ends in all this. "I still don't understand where his new soul came from."

"Did anybody check before we smashed the locket?" Offered Ron. "Maybe he had one all along and we got worked up over nothing."

"Yeah, maybe..." Frisk was non-committal about it.

Ron looked over to Asriel and Hermione. "Do you reckon he'll be alright? I mean, blimey, that's a lot to deal with all at once."

"He'll be fine." Said Frisk, partly to reassure themselves. "He's only been trying for a day. I know it will be hard sometimes, but I'm determined to help him."

"Well he's got a good understanding of what he needs to do." Said Harry, casting his mind back. "Only with understanding can there be acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery."

Frisk raised an eyebrow. "Did Dad tell you that?"

"Er, no, it was a teacher of mine."

"Oh. Well you're right. He knows what he wants to be, and we can help him get there."

The three of them looked up from the fire at the stars. Harry had spent so long trying to memorise their names and position that he had kind of forgotten to stop and appreciate that they were just beautiful to look at. Asriel had the right idea, really.

That night, Harry received a cruel reminder of his responsibilities, as he awoke to a burning scar and a vision of flying over nameless countryside, continuing his search for something. The information he had received that day bolstered his resolve however, for he no longer had to fling around in abject darkness. Before he settled to sleep again, he heard voices in the room next door. No screaming or crying however. Frisk and Asriel seemed to be handling their burden well for the moment. And that two children could face such a burden filled Harry with determination.

****

Everyone agreed the festival was a smash hit, and they were certainly going to make it an annual event.

Asriel and Frisk hadn't partaken of much of the direct festivities. They had their fun at the funfair before it opened, and the week's events meant they weren't really in the mood. Not that they didn't enjoy watching everybody mingle in the streets looking at exhibitions and trying the games. The atmosphere was infectious. They witnessed a hotly contested battle of wordplay between Toriel and Sans, Toriel laughing out loud in a way you rarely saw in public. Papyrus was seizing the arm of any human in range and shaking it vigorously. Asriel declined Gerson's invitation to try and dunk the King, Asgore indeed sitting on a bench above a tank of water. Frisk felt no such compunctions, but missed with their throw. In the end Monsterkid was on target with a throw from his tail, and Asgore fell with a mighty splash. Upon climbing out the first thing he did was laugh, and then dried himself off with his magic while Gerson reset the bench.

It had been awkward when they bumped into Lance and Ursk. Like Ursk, Lance had thanked Asriel for helping them and apologised for talking about Frisk. Asriel made a brave show of accepting it, for what really happened couldn't be discussed, but Frisk knew he felt bad about it, even if it had been someone else who did it.

Harry, freshly de-casted, was accompanying Ron and Hermione as they made their own way around the festival. Ron was taking the last chance to sample monster food, though he made a point to steer clear of the purple stall where the proprietor of the Spider Bakery was selling her wares. Alphys was animatedly showing off the results of monster scientific development, with Undyne being the occasional guinea pig. Hermione regretted how crowded the place was, because she'd have liked to continue the discussion of magical theory with her.

And then, at last, the long threatened concert kicked off. Mettaton strutting dramatic poses and singing while accompanied by a singing fish and Napstablook at the DJ table. In the middle of the performance, Frisk was invited onto the stage for an 'encore', though Harry had no knowledge of the first performance. That left him backstage with Asriel, as Hermione and Ron were in the main crowd. They could hear Mettaton praise Frisk for breaking the barrier, the true story of how it had broken being not widely known, and Asriel happy to keep it that way. Going backstage with Harry had been his compromise to go to the concert at all, as he didn't feel ready to be in the middle of a crowd like that.

Mettaton's light show kicked in. A dozen monsters firing off all sorts of lights and shapes. Stars and hearts and moons and spears and bones and rainbows. There were also wild fireworks, red and green and blue, flying above the crowd in the shape of rockets and dragons and never seeming to go out. Harry supposed Sans had decided to try some of Fred and George's wares.

The effects under Mettaton's control shifted colour to be a deep gold. This was Harry's cue, a cue he had relented to half an hour before the concert started, and he pulled out his wand and thought of Ginny.

"Expecto patronum!"

Asriel's eyes widened in wonder as a silver stag erupted from Harry's wand and cantered onto the stage, before galloping into the fray of lights and fireworks above the crowd.

"Oh my! What fabulous antlers! Be careful you don't make the King jealous!"

Harry and Asriel could have sworn they heard Asgore laugh, even though they weren't sure where he was in the crowd. Harry continued to guide the stag around for a few minutes before having it streak away as a bolt of silver light. The crowd was suitably awestruck, and burst into applause. Everyone had the most peaceful sleep they had for a long time at the end of such a day.

And then, the next morning, Harry, Ron and Hermione were all packed. Toriel had come round to Asgore’s and cooked them breakfast one last time, and then offered them a few lunch boxes with assorted deserts.

"Asriel told me your favourite desert is treacle tart, so I attempted to make it. It is the least I can offer for all you have done for us."

Harry looked briefly nonplussed until he caught Asriel's wink.

"Oh, yeah! I mentioned that the other day. Not that your pie isn't good as well."

Instead of relying on Kreacher to take them back to Britain, Sans had offered to take them on a shortcut. Ron was skeptical of this until Sans pulled out a brand new Weasley Wizard Wheezes form that hadn't existed when they left the Burrow. They were sitting in Asgore’s living room with a final cup of tea, just waiting on him coming over. Asriel was trying to keep a brave face, but this was undermined by his tears. Frisk seemed reassured by them.

"Th-thanks for everything. I hope you stay safe."

"Don't worry about us. You've your own life to live."

"Heh, I do, don't I?" He sniffled. "It's been a while."

"Well focus on that, then."

Enthusiastic knocking interrupted the conversation, and Toriel went to answer.

"I APOLOGISE FOR OUR TARDINESS, YOUR MAJESTY, BUT SANS CLAIMED HE HAD A NAP PRESCRIPTION HE NEEDED TO TAKE. FRANKLY, I'M SKEPTICAL."

Papyrus entered the room actually carrying Sans, planting him in the middle of the room in the most accusatory manner he could muster.

"are you claiming i doctored that note?"

"IF I DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER, I'D SAY IT WAS YOUR HANDWRITING."

"what a coincidence. so, you kids ready to go?"

"Um, yes." Said Hermione. "Everyone, thank you so much for your hospitality."

"FAREWELL, HARRY! FAREWELL, RON! FAREWELL, HERM-O-NINNY!"

A wry smile appeared on her face. "Thank you, Papyrus."

"Goodbye, guys." Said Frisk.

"I hope we shall meet again." Added Toriel.

"Thank you once more for your help." Asgore contributed.

"Y-yeah, thanks." Whispered Asriel, who then turned away to blunt the pain of parting. But then he thought of something. "Hey, Harry, what about-"

But they were gone.

"I never get how Sans does that in front of everyone." He shrugged.