Chapter 3: Entering the Wasteland

Author's Note: I need a beta. It's my birthday, So Review everyone.

Harry:

I don't think I'd even really realized that Draco was my mate until that very moment in the stairwell. I guess on some subconscious level, I did, though. I followed him, thought about him, dreamed about him. I lived and breathed Draco. Who else did I think it would be?

We tip-toed around each other the rest of the year. We never talked, but we were probably within 30 feet of one another every single second of every day, except for when we slept. I wasn't even sure of that, as my window was suspiciously open in the morning a couple of times.

Dumbledore was concerned, I could tell. He'd picked up on the fact that we were soul-bound, and I think he felt like we couldn't work things out on our own. He was right, most likely. It could've gone on that way forever.

The offer to take us to Cantani seemed sort of dull at first. I was pretty focused on destroying good old Voldie, and Draco seemed to be having some problems at home. Not wanting to take the Dark Mark pissed off his dad pretty badly. But Dumbledore seemed pretty eager about the whole thing, and said I'd be going with Draco. I remember thinking I needed a break, anyhow. And a couple weeks with Draco didn't sound so shabby either, even if he wouldn't look me in the eye.

The next step of the Hero's Journey is the "Wasteland.' The Wasteland is pretty much the whole backbone of the Journey. Right after you leave the gate, you're out there, and have to go through the whole bloody thing just to get back to your rightful home.

I figure the second Draco and I grabbed the portkey, we had one foot out of the cage. The next second, when we saw that Dumbledore hadn't grabbed the portkey himself, pushed us thoroughly out and into the fast-paced, action-packed trail up to the climax.

Draco and I stood alone, on a bright sandy beach, surrounded by a vast jade ocean. The whole surface of the water seemed to shimmer white in the sun. It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen, besides Draco. The youngest Malfoy, at the time, was staring in bewilderment. Maybe at the sea, or maybe at our predicament.

We both heard it at the same time. Delicate crooning, washing over our senses in waves. The notes moved up and down a simple c-minor scale, fading out at the top. It was beautiful in its simplicity. Sopranos, Basses, Tenors, Altos all moved their instruments together. The voices were so clear and round. I felt like I could die from my heart beating so hard and fast. I was one of them. I could hardly believe it.

I'd never really sung before, except to hum the occasional "Happy Birthday." I didn't think there was any way I could sound like that.

Then I heard Draco beside me. On his knees in the pale sand, he sang out to them,

blending his voice with theirs, but standing out in his own way. His tone was a bit more human, thicker. But still soft and perfect. I hadn't really noticed that I'd begun to sing as well. My voice moved around Draco's echoing, following, and bonding with his tone. Together we were strong, sending a wall of sound out towards the water.

We were so wrapped up in our moment, our song, that we didn't hear the gradual silence of the other's voices. Just us, singing duet: the first thing we did in a foreign realm

When we did finally turn back out to the sea, what we saw astounded us. Dozens of sirens were scattered throughout the shallow water lapping at their legs. They looked like wizards, but sharper, more angles and intensely colored. They were the whitest of pales of the deepest of browns. What surprised me most was the hair: White-blonde, Raven, or Auburn. No browns, or highlights, or varied shades. Just a shock of dramatic color around their face.

I laughed, looking at Draco, and down at myself. White-blonde hair and deep black hair, pale skin, sharp features. No wonder we stood out so much back at Hogwarts.

They were staring at us, eyes round and unblinking. We stared back, suddenly frightened. We knew next to nothing of our culture. They could've been singing a wizard sacrifice song and we could've just offered ourselves up. We could've insulted them.

'Ifs' and 'maybes' ran though our heads when a voice cut through the air like a sword through flesh.

"They've come." Intoned one dark siren with grey eyes and black hair. Smiles broke out on every visible face as Draco and I stood in confusion.

"The prophecy is fulfilled."

Author's Note: Confused, aren't you?!? You wanna know what's going on, don't you? WELL REVIEW AND I'LL TELL YOU IN THE NEXT CHAPTER!!!

Love you guys.

TruestBlue