Harry Potter and the Song of Life
-All rights, of course, go to J.K. Rowling and George R. R. Martin.-
Chapter One: Fate
Excerpt from Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix:
Harry saw Sirius duck Bellatrix's jet of red light: He was laughing at her. "Come on, you can do better than that!" he yelled, his voice echoing around the cavernous room.
The second jet of light hit him squarely on the chest.
The laughter had not quite died from his face, but his eyes widened in shock.
Harry released Neville, though he was unaware of doing so. He was jumping down the steps again, pulling out his wand, as Dumbledore turned to the dais too.
It seemed to take Sirius an age to fall. His body curved in a graceful arc as he sank backward through the ragged veil hanging from the arch...
And Harry saw the look of mingled fear and surprise on his godfather's wasted, once-handsome face as he fell through the ancient doorway and disappeared behind the veil, which fluttered for a moment as though in a high wind and then fell back into place.
Harry heard Bellatrix Lestrange's triumphant scream, but knew it meant nothing -- Sirius had only just fallen through the archway, he would reappear from the other side any second.
But Sirius did not reappear.
"SIRIUS!" Harry yelled, "SIRIUS!"
He had reached the floor, his breath coming in searing gasps. Sirius must be just behind the curtain, he, Harry, would pull him back out again...
But as he reached the ground and sprinted toward the dais, Lupin grabbed Harry around the chest, holding him back.
"There's nothing you can do, Harry -- "
"Get him, save him, he's only just gone through!"
"It's too late, Harry -- "
"We can still reach him -- "
Harry struggled hard and viciously, but Lupin would not let go...
"There's nothing you can do, Harry... nothing... He's gone."
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No, no, that can't be right! Sirius can't be dead. He was just there, he only tripped. He was hit by a stunner, he was alright!
Tears pricked Harry's eyes, his throat closing off. This was wrong, all of it, it couldn't be true. Lupin was only mistaken!
Harry was keenly reminded of Lupins werewolf like strength as he struggled desperately against the professors hold.
"Let me go! He's right there, he only tripped — their going to get him, let me go!" Harry screamed, face twisting in frustration and anguish.
"No, Harry, I'm so sor—" Lupin was cut off as Harry reached his breaking point. A hot feeling had been gathering in Harry's chest, a force that flowed through his body until it shot out of his fingers, making Lupin yelp in pain and let him go. He'd never been able to control his magic like that, but he didn't dwell on the thought.
Harry ran, striding towards the flowing veil with deadly urgency. He hardly even registered the screams of 'Harry, no!' As he jumped head first through the gateway, not looking back for a second. He had no thought, no plan, he just wanted to save Sirius.
He immediately regretted it.
A scream hardly escaped his throat as he plummeted through darkness, his stomach jumped into his throat as cold air rushed at his ears. He didn't want to die.
Slowly, his descent slowed, his free fall turning into a slow drift. He panted heavily, heart pounding in his chest. His body shook, and sweat poured down his brow.
Everything around him was pitch black and silent, a void of never-ending darkness. It coated him like a blanket, making him equally tired and afraid.
His only company was the pounding of his heart and heavy, deep breath.
"H-hello! HELLO?!" Harry called into the darkness. For a second, there was nothing.
"SIRIUS?! SIRIUS!"
Harry remained in the darkness, his heart stuttering in anticipation as he waited for any sign of life.
Nothing.
Harry's heart dropped, a dreadful feeling creeping over him. Was he going to die here? Alone, never to see his friends again?
His face crumpled, and he quietly cried, tears pouring from his eyes as he mourned. Sirius was dead, he was dead, his friends were probably dead, and it was all his fault. He'd screwed up; if only he hadn't fallen for Voldemort's tricks!
His hair still stood on end — it was a terribly unnerving feeling, hanging in the air. He was at the utter mercy of this place.
Suddenly, there was a sound. Like a whisper on a breeze, it was almost like a sigh. Nonetheless, Harry jerked to attention, hope filling his chest again — as well as more than a little fear.
A bright blue light invaded his vision, purples, blues and whites swirling into patterns. A strange figure, it was hard to make out, whenever he looked directly at it his head would hurt. It was like looking at the whole of the universe all at once.
"Hello?" Harry said quietly, his voice crackly and hoarse.
"My, my... how strange and mysterious... How has a mortal found its way to my realm? Only dead things and me live in the void between worlds. But, oh, I can hear your life blood, thrum-thrumming away in your body. You are full of life... yes, and magic. You are the one that defies me, have you come to me again? Will you escape me again? You cannot run forever, you know." The voice of the being was deep and smooth, but quiet. Nevertheless it had a kind of demanding power to it, and Harry felt his heart double in speed, and he sweat so much his shirt stuck to him.
"Who are you?" Harry said in a shaker voice. "Where am I, where is Sirius?" Harry said, his voice a bit more brazen. He needed to find his Godfather, if he was here.
"The ones who fall come straight to me, mortal. You did not though — you never do. I am the Stranger, Anubis, Osiris, Mot, Imset, Orcus, so on and more. Mine is many names, as will be yours. Tell me, boy who does not die, how come you here?"
"You mean... Sirius is dead?" Harry asked, voice breaking. His eyes blurred with tears, hands shaking.
"Yes." Said the Stranger.
Harry made a strangled noise.
"How come you here?" The Stranger echoed patiently, as if they had all the time in the world. He supposed they did.
"I.. I fell, through the veil, just like Sirius. Please, I just want to go home. What is this place?" Harry said quietly. He shouldn't mourn for Sirius— it was his fault he was dead in the first place.
"I've told you, though I do suppose you mortals have bad remembrance. This is the void between worlds, a limbo if you will. I use this place to travel, as many others like me do. We are like shepherds, guiding you mortals through the world. Just like I guide souls whom are victim to death, others protect the ideas of strength, honor, fertility, love, and more."
Harry's eyes widened, mouth dropping a bit in shock. He couldn't believe it, this was impossible. Of course, he'd read a bit about mythology and gods In primary school, and the Dursley's were devout Christians, but the magical world never made a big deal out of religion, so neither had he.
"So, your Death? Like... the whole grim reaper thing?" He asked feebly.
"I am not death itself— I am the watcher of death. I guide victims of it, but I do not cause it. There is not much more I would tell you, because you yet live, so that is all I will." The Stranger said, it's blue light thrumming with some feeling. Harry couldn't begin to tell which, though.
Harry let out a small noise of disbelief, though he did in fact believe it. It's not like finding out that gods exist is much more shocking then finding out that magic does.
He found himself feeling very tired, the events of the day taking its toll. He could hardly stop now, though.
"You... you said I'm still alive, but I'll die here anyway, so what does it matter if you tell me anything?"
The light glowed even brighter, like it was glad he was finally asking the right questions.
"You will not die here. You have not died before — it is not in your path to do so now. The boy who would not die cannot go home, though. He has things to do yet."
"According to who?" Asked Harry bravely. He wanted to go home, he wanted to see his friends again. He couldn't just leave them to Voldemort.
"It is the will of the universe itself, boy who would not die. A purpose much greater than only yourself awaits. Hold onto your strength; you will need it."
"I don't understand! What about Voldemort, what about my friends!? I can't just abandon them! And what do you mean I can't go home, where else would I go? I can't very well be part of some greater purpose if I'm suspended in a void!" He ranted, voice growing into an angry hiss by the end of it.
The Stranger was unaffected.
"You are a loyal lion, brimming with bravery — and you hold compassion in your heart. I can see why you were chosen. The world you existed in will be well. The people left behind will mourn you, but mortals always move on. They will continue their cause, and with no one to make the prophecy self fulfilling, the side of goodness will win, this time. You must not worry for them." The Stranger's voice filled the void.
Harry listened with a heavy heart. Somehow, he knew the Stranger was not lying. He was glad — glad that they would be okay, and glad that they would mourn him. It made him sad, anyway, to think of a world where everyone got along just fine without him. Maybe it was narcissistic of him, but it made him solemn.
The Stranger's voice broke him from his thoughts:
"Before, I told you that this was a void between many different worlds. The one you will be sent to is full of suffering, wars and pain. It is a dangerous place, full of mysteries, dark magic, beasts both human and not, slavery, rape, poverty, violence, and hardly any kindness. It much resembles your world, when it was still very young."
"But, why?! Does the universe just hate me so much? Why send me to such a place!" Harry exclaimed. Was he just fates's chew toy?
"Because..." The Stranger said, "you will be the one to change it."
Harry shook his head violently, feeling frustrated tears prick his eyes. No, thats ridiculous! How could he change an entire world?
"I can't... I cant! I can't change a whole world of savages, no, I won't!" Harry said, voice cracking and high pitched.
"Yes..." The Stranger rumbled forcibly. "You will."
And then Harry's head exploded in color, vivid images painting themselves into his head.
A huge wall of ice, stretching across miles...
Another image: a huge gust of wind blowing dust into his face, as he watched a ginormous dragon fly away from him...
A child, hiding behind a pillar. Behind her was a terrible scene; men battled, and dead bodies lay strewn across the floors, gutted and bloody. One woman screams as her neck is cut, a burst of blood streaming from her neck, and then the child is engulfed in flames...
A young, blond haired boy sits on a throne of swords.
'Cut out his tongue.' He says coldly, a cruel smirk on his face. He laughs unabashedly as gurgling screams come from somewhere out of focus...
An ugly armored man man slaps a young woman, laughing as he bend her over and...
Harry felt like vomiting, but managed not to.
Scenes of love, loss, birth, death, joy and sorrow all flashed before his eyes.
Another scene — a beautiful girl with silver hair, and brilliant violet eyes. She sat naked in ash, three tiny dragons clinging to her body. Her eyes were intense, and her whole appearance, despite her nudity, screamed 'bow to me'.
Suddenly, Harry gasped, his eyes blinking open blearily. The blue lit Stranger was still in front of him — he was still in the void.
"That is a glimpse of the world you will traverse. Do you think you will fight for it?" The Stranger asked.
"I...I..." Harry stuttered. He thought of the terrified little girl, and the horrible scene behind her. He thought of all the horrible things he'd seen, and the kindness that existed anyway. He thought of the beautiful woman with violet eyes, and the woman who had been so horribly violated.
He could do as the Stranger said — fight for them. He had no idea how, but shouldn't he try? What else can he even do, now? Maybe he could change something for the better— make up, at least a little bit, for the death he'd brought his godfather and parents.
Ron was probably right about the saving thing.
"Yes." He said breathily. He sighed, steadying himself. "Yes, I'll help them."
"I know." Says the Stranger, and suddenly he's falling again.
This time he doesn't scream, though his heart spikes in fear and he closes his eyes tightly.
Then, light exploded around him. Even with his eyes closed he could see it. He, somehow, had shot into the world horizontally, and fell into a roll into the deep snow.
The air was freezing cold, but for some reason it didn't effect him as much as he thought it should have. Not in the mood for thinking, Harry relished the only slightly strange feeling of gravity, and the cold snow felt like the softest pillow he'd ever layer on.
Harry blacked out.
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N/A: Leave reviews; this is my first posted story. I'll probably continue, and I'll try to plan it out very carefully. Feel free to roast me, I really like criticism— honest!