Darkness, that is all she could see as she floated in the never ending void. Where was she? Why was she here? Memories assaulted her mind. 'Oh, that's right,' her mind whispered as she floated, 'I died.' It wasn't right really. After all she had done to save everyone. She thought at least her friends would be on her side. Instead Ron and Hermione had killed Neville and Luna in order to lure her out and subdue her. How long had she been tortured at their tender mercies under Dumbledores order. And didn't finding out he faked his death to reclaim his dwindling glory just grate her nerves beyond all measure! Now here she was, floating in a vast blackness, waiting to cross over.
"You're safe now my dear." She jerked at the deep sultry voice. A ripple appeared in front of her, shaping into a solid full length mirror. She gazed at her naked reflection. When had she lost her clothes? A young girl stared back at her with eyes the color of the killing curse. Silver hair, the color of starlight, fell in waves, curling around the delicate curves of her 5'7" frame. Hundreds of scars glittered against her alabaster skin. The mirror rippled once more, slowly pulling her into it. It felt like silk gliding across her body. She opened her eyes, 'When had she closed them?'. Looking around she took in her surroundings. The room was furnished in dark cherry wood bookcases lining the left wall from floor to ceiling. The other three walls were colored a deep burgundy red with a fireplace across from the shelves. In front of her sat a grey loveseat and two armchairs with a faint purple brocade pattern. A delicate wrought iron coffee table of black sat underneath a tea setting and a tray of small delicate desserts sat upon its glass surface.
Sitting in one of these chairs was a man of exceptional beauty. Standing at what could possibly be a height of 6'2", he dwarfed the chair. His broadly, muscled, frame spilled sophistically over the arms and sides. He stood, sauntering like a predator to stand in her path. He wore black dragon-hide boots tucked in leg hugging black leather pants. His purple cotton dress shirt lay untucked, yet took nothing away. She looked into his face to see rugged yet aristocratic features hidden underneath a trim beard of black peppered with grey. His short but spiked black hair almost hid his pointed ears and the three piercings in his right cartilage. But when she looked into his eyes her breath caught in her throat. He has the same color green she does! He smiled warmly at her surprised face as he held out a hand. "Come little one, sit with me, and I shall explain. First though, I think you need some clothing." Waving his hand lazily he summoned a long flowing dress and another mirror. She gazed wide eyed at her new dress. The violet silk, fell in one long elegant piece to pool at her feet. Strapless and backless, the gown was held up with a thin lavender lace choker around her delicate throat. Her hair was pulled behind her face in delicate waves, held in place with a barrette of silver; shaped like the Deathly Hallows.
She shook her head before crossing the room to sit politely on the sofa. The man sat casually drinking tea while she held in so many questions. After waiting what seemed like an eternity, he set down the China with a light clink before giving her his full attention. "Harriet Potter, the Saviour of the wizarding world. Let me tell you a story. Three women, called The Fates, had a single problem. They created a false prophecy, you would think it could be retracted, but alas once spoken it is set in stone. Now they must pick a child, so closing their eyes they picked a random child. This child, was Harrison Potter. A boy you say, why that can not be true, you think! One year later a bigger problem arose. The Dark Lord killed the boy and his family. What were the Fates to do?" This made her uneasy, causing her to squirm in her seat. "Earlier that day a God and Goddess recently gave birth to a new deity. The Fates hated these two higher deities, and decided they make the couple suffer." Her eyes went wide as she started piecing it together. He smiled a soft smile filled with longing and pain. "In the night they took the Goddesses child and placed he/she in place of the dead one for their champion to find. From then on this new child would be manipulated by the three sisters for their mistakes." Harriet shook her head. She could not, would not believe three childish deities would do this to her. She looked at the man with tears in her eyes. "Then who are my parents? Is Harriet even my name? Who or what am I?!"
"You are our daughter." Harriet turned at the voice. Behind her stood an elegant woman of 5'9" with slender curves, wearing a blue dress cut in layers swirling like water to her ankles. The queen-Anne neckline accentuated her throat and pale skin. Long, ankle length, silver hair framed her heart shaped face and orchid colored eyes. The beautiful woman walked around the chair to sit lightly on the arm. The two women stared at one another. "My name is Celeste, I am the Goddess of magic. This is my husband, you know him as Hades, God of the underworld, and the Grim Reaper. You are our daughter stolen from us by the fates. We decided when you were born to gift you with two names. Your birth name is, Renata Odessa. Names have power, so to keep you safe, we gifted your position as a deity with another name. You are the Goddess Hela, she who controls the magical underworld and all the dark creatures tied to it. Any dark creature will feel who you are, yet never risk your wrath by revealing you. They will bow to you and any order you give."
Harriet, now named Renata, didn't know what to think about this. Everything she ever knew was a lie. She looked more closely at the deities in front of her. The man so stern but so full of hope; the woman full of love and yearning waiting to embrace her. 'If this is my path, then I will gladly grasp a chance at family.' Renata stood from her seat, to gracefully stand in front of the couple. "What is my position as a deity, Father?" Celeste wept happily as she pulled her daughter into her bosom for the second time in their lives. Hades smiled serenely at his family together once more. "You control all of the dark creatures such as thestrals, dementors, vampires etc. When any living being with magic dies, it is sent to your personal underworld to be judged."
Renata was surprised at the power and abilities gifted to her as a goddess. "If I control the dementors then I assume light magic will not work for me?" Celeste shook her head smiling," No darling, you were born from me and I would not cripple you in such a way. You can use magic wandlessly and wordlessly, but you must learn the spell yourself first. Afterall, it would not be fair to everyone else." She nodded at her Mother in understanding, it did make perfect sense. She turned as her Father spoke. "As for all the dark creatures, only you will have their undieing loyalty. Simply masking your aura will create a shroud of anonymity in their presence. The only magic you can not control on the mortal plane is death magic. Blood and Soul spells are available to you with a drawback after each use. Whether this be magical exhaustion, temporary sense deprivation, or even blood loss, a price must be paid. Even the gods and goddesses do not get away for free."
Celeste clapped her hands together," Now that all the awkwardness is gone let me tell you what is happening next." Renata nodded her ascent. "Because of the problems in your previous world, we decided to get rid of them." Renatas eyes grew wide,"What?" Celeste continued, "They did you harm and as our daughter we could not simply let it go. Once you were murdered we opened the gates; proceeding with that world's apocalypse. They will die in fear and regret for what they have done. Unfortunately for them, the next great adventure is in your domain. However, you are not ready to take on such responsibilities so your Father will handle such things until you return."
Renata was puzzled, "If I'm not being placed in my own domain then what will happen to me? Where will I go?" Hades sat forward in his chair, clipping and lighting a cigar he smiled, "We have decided some time for you is needed. There is an alternate realm you are being sent to. Time is different and the other gods cannot interfere. The path there is already set and so you may change anything you like. If you want a peaceful existence or to raise hell, it will have no consequences from the other deities." Renata thought carefully about her choices. "Will I find my other half if I go to this new world?" Both parents nodded in confirmation. She smiled wistfully. She could not find love when she had been alive, seeing as her life was so thoroughly manipulated. "Then I believe necessary chaos benefitting myself and my family is warranted. I refuse to let anyone chain me ever again." Her parents smiled at her conviction.
Standing, Celeste held her hand toward Renata,"Shall we my darling? We have much to do before you go, and I would like to spend some time with you." Hades stood as well,"Indeed, I must settle your home and account at Gringotts before you arrive in your new world." Renata held her Mother's hand as the two walked through a door she hadn't noticed behind her upon her arrival.
The hallway she walked through was like none she had seen before. Dark marble columns lined the hallway to hold up the silver vaulted celing. The walls were emerald green making the windows pop. The Windows were stained glass depicting lush gardens filled with creatures playing. Renata was enraptured as she walked across a jade stone floor to follow after her Mother. Her Mother smiled at the innocent joy on her beloved child's face. Reaching the end of the hall Celeste drew Renata through a white gossamer curtain.
Renatas eyes went wide when she reached the other side. In front of her was a beautiful greenhouse. Flowers from all over earth, mundane and magical, were inside. She wandered through the gardens smelling the beautiful flowers and foliage. Turning a corner, she saw her Mother sitting on smooth wooden bench carved into a massive dragon. The white wood made the glistening grey and red tipped scales in its skin stand out in stark contrast. The pearlescent white and grey wings looked like something out of a watercolor artwork almost brushing the ceiling with their cosmic size. The plated underbelly was the same crimson red as the edges of its scales trailing to the tip of its sleek barbed tail. The smooth white head with its red chin and small scales enhancing shocking vivid blue eyes took her breath away. Pointed tall ears were complimented by even larger gently curving black horns leading a small trail of black ridges down its spine. Celeste beckoned her closer, patting the seat next to her as she did so.
Renata sat beside her Mother leaning into her embrace. "Where did this garden come from?" Her Mother smiled wistfully "I have been adding on and guarding this sanctuary for millennia. The plants here are all extinct in the mortal plane. The statues you will find here are all creatures who have hidden themselves from the world or exist no longer." She lovingly stroked the wooden dragon scales under her palm. "This creature we are sitting on is a Netherworld Dragon. They are a breed of dragon that live and thrive in the Underworlds. As an Underworld Deity yourself they live and work under you and only you." Renata blinked with surprise, "What do they do in the Underworld?" Celeste glanced down at her daughter before gazing back at the wooden bench. "Nethers mostly work like security Cerberus'. They guard Gates and the deeper pits. They keep the Silver plane safe and protected from the darkness of the Underworld. They also can be used in the same way as the hell hounds from the Hunt. Anything you can imagine or need done they will do." She shrugged one shoulder slightly. "Pretty much imagine a puppy who thinks you are its Mother and use its overprotective instincts and power to do anything to please the one it loves." Renata could not believe a dragon of such magnitude could exist out there.
Celeste gave a deep sigh as she rose gracefully off the bench. Turning sideways she held out a hand. Renata took the hand as her Mother pulled her up beside her. "Come with me, we have to get you ready to leave." She nodded following after her through the garden to the other side. At the end stood her Father waiting by a small pool filled with a silver Mercury like liquid. Hades reached out to pull his treasure in his arms. She hugged him with all the force she could muster. He looked down into matching eyes. "I have everything ready for you in the mortal plane. When you arrive you must go to Gringotts first. Once there, the Goblins will assist you in any trivialities I may have missed. If you ever need us you only have to whisper our name in a silver fire. Do you have any questions before we let you wreak havoc?" Renata thought for a moment before shaking her head.
Hades released his hold on Renata; sweeping his arm out before the silver pool beside them. "This is your portal to the mortal realm. Your Mother and I have ensured your arrival will be in a safe isolated area near Hogsmead in Scotland. Once you arrive in town a Goblin will escort you towards the bank." Hades led her closer towards the edge of the water. "We will miss you darling child, never be afraid call us, let us know when you get settled in your new home."
Renata hugged both her parents (and wasn't that an odd thing to say in her head) one last time before placing one dainty foot underneath the mercurial liquid. The silver liquid felt like a warm embrace gliding across her skin as she waded farther towards the pools center. Reaching the center she turned to face her parents. Smiling she waved as she fell, almost as if in slow motion, body enveloped in the warmth. The darkness crept up in her vision as she continued to fall through. Renata closed her eyes relaxing as she did so. She knew when she opened her eyes again a new adventure would begin. So with a flash blinding the God and Goddess who birthed her, the underworld goddess Hela, Renata Odessa Grimm was transported, a new destination awaiting her.