Finally! An Explanation!

The blazing phoenix cries and takes a swan dive straight towards the house located in Hampstead.

Falling at great speeds through the atmosphere, it becomes more and more ethereal. Just before it hits the roof of the house, it becomes almost completely translucent and goes right through the material as though it isn't even there.

It stops on a dime, spreading its majestic wings within a near empty room.

Upon the bed is a ten-year-old... Harry Potter. AKA, the boy-that-merged.

It lands quite gently on the side of the bed and utilizes its profound mental energy to enter the boy's mind.

It's finally time to explain some things.

--- Inside Harry's Mindscape ---

"...freak!" A slap.

"...BOY!" A punch to the gut.

"Get in there and stay quiet!" He is shoved into his room without any food for the third day.

He is all alone.

Crying.

It hurts.

But no one helps.

The nightmares continue without end.

But all of a sudden, it is all swept away by a powerful wave of mental energy.

All that is left is two things.

First, the space, which is exactly like the space described in fanfictions. An infinite black void.

Second, Harry himself, who is standing there looking around confused. Now that his mind is out of the nightmare, he can think more clearly.

--- First POV (Harry) ---

'Um... what?'

That wave of energy was the same as what merged me with me before. Where the heck did it come from?

Whoever or whatever it is that did that is here a second time for whatever reason.

"You are correct. I am the one who merged your souls. And I am indeed here for a purpose." A powerful female voice suddenly resounds throughout the space.

'Right... well. Hopefully she isn't wanting to kill me now. Not much I could do against someone who has full access to my mind...'

"Who are you? And why am I not scared???"

It takes only a moment for the voice to respond.

"I am The Pheonix. You have no need to fear me, and so you do not. You could say it is a deep-seated instinct within most living beings to not fear me."

'...?'

"A phoenix? That can't be right. Phoenixes are just magical fire chickens as far as I know."

"Don't deign to compare me against that weakling that is bonded to Dumbledore. He is not on the same level as I. Throughout this multiverse, I am commonly known as the Pheonix Force. The cosmic force of life, destruction, and rebirth." She says calmly, though I can feel she is annoyed from my statement.

My eyes widen at what she says.

"The Phoenix Force? I've heard of you. Can you tell me why you merged us?" I ask.

"I did so on the request of Death."

"Why?"

"Around 2000 years ago, Death visited this world for a short time. Normally she simply stays within her realm, but she decided to go. She did quite a few things while she was here. One of which was creating and gifting the items you know as the Deathly Hallows."

'Oh, my goodness! I was curious whether it was actually Death that made them!'

"Death made them as a tool to help locate her next champion. She thought that she may have been able to find someone in your wizarding world. However, she has quite recently decided not to choose one in this universe, therefore does not need the Hallows to remain in existence any longer."

"As you may know, the 3 Hallows are quite powerful. More so than the movies you have seen showed. In the wrong hands, someone could use their power to destroy the current balance of the life and death in this universe."

"As I hold authority over life and rebirth, Death asked me to bring you to this universe and merge your two souls together. She wishes you to destroy the Hallows forever. and kill Voldemort."

"Why me?"

"I chose you in particular for multiple reasons. Your personality, and future choices among them. Even the original version of Harry Potter would have collected all 3 hallows even without actively seeking them. Being in that body gives you a good chance at destroying them for Death. The current course of events which will lead you to fight Voldemort was also a deciding factor."

I take a moment and calm down to think through what she just said.

"So, you and Death want me to destroy the Hallows and end Voldemort and his horcruxes?"

"Correct. I was able to destroy the soul fragment inside you, so there is no need for you to die at the hands of that psychotic killer. In return for the completion of our wishes, Death has told me she will grant you one or more gifts once you are finished."

"Fine. That's okay with me. I was fully expecting to have to fight Voldemort and collect the Hallows even if just to keep them out of his hands."

*Sigh*

'This is heavy...'

"What questions would you like to ask me now that I've explained the events leading to your being brought here? This may be the last time we meet. I can tell you anything you want as long as it is within reason."

'Oh geez... I feel like I have so many questions..."

"Is the prophecy that was in the Harry Potter story still in effect?"

"Yes, there is a prophecy, but do be aware that there is more to this world than you know from the Harry Potter story."

"Okay? Why don't I remember much of my time as Not-Harry?"

"That is because it could have made you feel like this isn't your true life. Both Death and I wish for you to destroy the Deathly Hallows and Voldemort. For that, simply put, it is best that you care."

"That's fair, I suppose. Can I at least know what my name in that other life?"

"Your name in that life was Michael."

'Michael... huh...'

"Thank you." I smile. It feels like that void I had was filled. Even if I am mostly Harry, I am still more. "Is this some kind of crossover universe?"

"You could view it like that I suppose, but it is not. This is a world that contains only magicals and mundane humans, but it is connected to the same multiverse as Earth-199999, or the MCU"

"Okay... So, mutants, aliens, demons, angels... none of them are here?"

"Correct. It does not have any strong beings you need to be concerned about other than the magicals in your Wizarding World and the occasional multiverse traveler."

'Oh no... I hope I never meet Deadpool...'

I think if there's anything else I want to ask.

"Why exactly can I feel people's emotions? What other abilities do I have access to?"

"That is because I empowered your soul. It has made your soul larger and stronger than all other humans on this Earth."

"When people's souls/minds increase in power, they will be inclined toward a certain aspect or aspects of psionics. You are naturally inclined towards empathy. You will, however, have some talent in mindreading, astral projection, and telekinesis if you ever learn how."

"There is also the possibility of you wielding Phoenix Flames."

"I have, as a result of improving your soul, also raised your previous limits. Both physical and mental. The soul is the embodiment of your essence, and since it was strengthened to such a degree, it has had an impact on your body and mind.

"Right." I say, a little confused.

"You will see what I mean eventually."

"You will also be able to wield quite a lot of magic, as your soul is so strong. As the current magicals of this world lack knowledge of the soul, it creates the supposed upper magic limit that magicals know of, as they do not know how to strengthen it."

"Only those skilled or dedicated enough have greater magical abilities. Such examples of this are Dumbledore and Grindelwald. They only have above-average souls, but through their talent and hard work, they are known as magical powerhouses."

"Why couldn't I use any magic at all during this time? Not even accidental magic?"

"Simply because you don't know how to properly channel magic. At first magicals will have no results whatsoever with wandless magic due to this reason, but eventually, after using it enough, you will be able to channel it rather easily without a focus. As for the accidental magic, it is because your mind is much more mature due to the merging of your two souls. It is unlikely that you will "accidentally" use magic without severe emotional stress."

"So, why was Tom Riddle able to do wandless magic at my age?"

"He was able to become accustomed to channeling magic by feeling what his magic did when he used it "accidentally". I highly suggest not using this method. It is not healthy to use pain and anger to channel magic."

"So... it's like the dark side of the Force?"

"..."

"Got it. What you're saying is that I should wait until I get a wand to learn what active magic feels like? Then I will be able to replicate it to use it without a wand."

"Yes. Any other questions?"

"The story I know made magic seem so limited. Why is that?"

"Simply put, politics."

'I knew it...'

"Nearly all harmful, misunderstood, or unknown magics have been labeled "Dark" and banned from use. Rituals, blood magic, etc. This has stagnated the progression of magic in the current age. There is next to no positive change even after 2000 years. It has only gone downhill."

"I see. Is there any truly dark magic though?"

"Indeed, there is. When magic becomes corrupted, it becomes true dark magic. Magic is rather resilient to such corruption, but it can be overpowered. Whether through severe negative emotions or a potent enough dark magic source. It can have a corrosive effect on nearly anything. Such as minds, physical matter, etc."

"I assume that's all?"

"I guess so. Unless you want to teach me everything you know about life, the universe, and... everything..."

"No. I should go now. I believe I have taught you everything you need to know. However, I do have one last order of business..."

"What's that?"

"This." She says amusedly.

Suddenly, my everything is engulfed by flames.