Hades' Tour

Harry could barely wait for the next day to end when he would visit his father that night. Cat knew this was the reason for Harry's inattentiveness throughout the day. Then that night Harry lay awake waiting for the older ones to go to sleep. Finally Michael called light outs. Harry lay awake as he listened to the others breaths level out as they. When Cat finally fell asleep Harry slipped out of his bed pulling on his black jeans and orange camp half blood and a long, black trench coat which he had bought for the winter.

Harry then left the Cabin and Shadow Travelled thinking of his father and his images of the Underworld. He felt himself being pulled through a long tube and be spat out the end. Harry swayed slightly at the end feeling tired. It hadn't exhausted him this much in a long time but he supposed that was because it was far longer to travel from the Camp to the Underworld rather from one end of Camp to the other end of Camp. Harry fell into a pair of strong, cool arms but it wasn't like Harry felt the cold.

'Have you ever Shadow Travelled before?' asked Hades hitting Harry with a piercing look.

'Not that far,' Harry said, 'usually only from one end of Camp to the other. I haven't felt that tired in months.'

Hades nodded, 'it just takes practice. Come on I'll get you some food and nectar.'

'Nectar?' asked Harry.

Harry had never tasted nectar but he knew a few people had camp that had. But of course nectar was only given when a demigod had real need of it. Harry found that sharing a meal with his father was a surreal experience to put it mildly. He wondered what people would think if they saw the Lord of the Dead having a meal with a seven year old boy. There were of course dead guards at the door at all times. Harry was feeling quite awkward and as any demigod would tell you when things got awkward they began to fidget. Curse of ADHD unfortunately.

'So you spoke about the dead horses,' Harry said when the awkwardness got too much for him.

'Thestrals,' corrected Hades sounding amused, 'not dead horses.'

'Yeah vestrals,' Harry said.

'Thestrals,' repeated Hades.

'Thestrals,' Harry grinned cheekily.

Hades just shook his head at his son's antics, 'did you ever not know how to say it?'

Harry didn't answer, 'can I see some?' asked Harry.

'After dinner,' Hades said.

'You know I've already had dinner,' Harry said.

'Before you Shadow Travelled,' Hades said pointedly.

'Oh you're no fun,' Harry said.

'I'm the Lord of the Dead I don't do fun,' Hades responded.

Harry just snickered at his father, 'so what do you do?' Harry asked.

'I judge the dead,' Hades said grimly.

'Why?' asked Harry.

'So good people get rewarded and bad people get punished,' Hades said simply.

'Mum said she was in Elysium,' Harry said.

'A place for heroes,' nodded Hades.

'Did you love her?' asked Harry.

'She was a wonderful woman,' Hades said. 'She could see past the prejudices of society always judging one on their own personality rather than the light they've been cast in.'

'Huh?' asked Harry not understanding any of it.

Hades sighed remembering he was talking to a seven year old, 'she was a very fair person.'

'When did you meet?' asked Harry.

'She was an Unspeakable-'Hades began.

'A what?' Harry asked.

'A top secret scientist,' Hades explained.

'Cool did she discover anything?' Harry asked green eyes glowing.

'She had a lot of theories on death and the after life. I have to say I helped her on that. In particular her work on the Veil of Death was second to none.'

'One of my children centuries ago invented it to try and save a loved one,' Hades said. 'It didn't work once someone's gone on nothing will completely bring them back.'

'Oh,' Harry said simply.

'Did she know who you were?' asked Harry.

'Yeah I told her when I heard her and a colleague having an argument. She was right of course,' Hades said. 'She was an extremely intelligent witch. You have her eyes you know.'

'You sound like Aunt Petunia,' muttered Harry.

Hades frowned, 'Lily never did get on with Petunia.'

'Aunt Petunia felt guilty that she had never made up with mom before it was too late,' Harry said.

'That is often the case,' Hades said. 'You know your accent is becoming more American by the day.'

'That's what Chiron said,' Harry laughed.

'How is the old horse?' asked Hades.

'He was worried about what happened last night,' Harry said.

'You mean my dearest brother,' growled Hades.

Harry felt his father's power radiate the room again. If it had been anyone but the son of the God of the Dead they would have gone running a mile. The death and fear that Hades could radiate even without his helm of darkness was incredible. But Harry was Hades' son so could weather it as he to a much lesser degree radiated the same presence of fear and death. Hades black eyes burned with fury as only the God of the Dead could. Harry saw his robes move and the faces in it seemed restless as their Lord became more and more angry.

Then the door swung open to reveal a woman standing at the door. The woman was tall and beautiful young woman. Her skin was very pale which made sense as she hadn't been out of the Underworld in quite a few months. Her black hair flowed and curled half way down her back over her white dress. Her eyes seemed faded. Harry understood that the Goddess of Springtime was not well suited to being locked down in the Land of the Dead. She caught sight of her husband's son sitting at the table she frowned.

'I see your son has popped down for a visit,' Persephone said.

'Hello ma'am,' Harry said politely.

'Why do your bastards always have to hang around?' demanded Persephone with a huff.

'I was just about to show Harry the Thestrals,' Hades said.

Harry grinned, 'cool,' he said.

'You do know that the garden and stables are the only decent places in this hellhole,' Persephone retorted.

'Persephone,' Hades hissed.

'I'm going to my garden,' Persephone said and walked off.

'Don't mind her, Harry, she's had it hard lately,' Hades told his son.

'Are we really going to see the Thestrals?' asked Harry excitedly.

'Patience,' Hades said.

Not long after they were down at the stables which were made out of black wood. There was a racing track lined with black poplar trees. There were no seats but Harry supposed that apart from the dead there were few living people who visited the underworld and stayed. Harry didn't mind he quite liked it. But he'd always preferred the dark and the black to the daytime. It must have been a child of Hades thing. Harry looked at the skeletal black horse with leathery bat-like wings. Harry thought it was beautiful.

'Oh aren't you beautiful,' Harry cooed.

'Her name is May,' Hades said. 'Persephone named her.'

'Oh,' was all Harry said. 'Can I ride her?' asked Harry.

'If you want,' Hades said.

'Can I ride you May?' Harry asked the Thestral.

'Yes, little Prince,' the Thestral whispered intoHarry's mind.

Harry was amazed when the large Thestral bent down slightly to let Harry up onto its back. Harry was amazed at how easy it was to slip onto the Thestral and how comfortable. She was certainly better than any Pegasi. Harry squeazed slightly on the Thestral's flanks as he'd seen the other children do during Pegasi lessons which shot forward slightly. Harry then guided it towards the air. The two of them then began to fly. Harry giggled slightly enjoying the cool underworld air hitting him.

'You're much better than a Pegasi,' Harry said.

'You bet I am little Prince,' May snorted into Harry's mind.

Hades remained on the ground watching his young son giggling with the Thestral. He could hear everything to the two Underworld citizens were saying to each other of course. He smiled. He had personally never much liked Thestrals. They pulled his chariot and pleased Persephone but looking at his son he was never gladder that he had created the Horses of the Dead as Poseidon had always called them. Out of two brothers Poseidon was the most accepting of his son and that was before Hades sent his furies and hellhounds after the pine tree.

'May, bring Harry down,' Hades ordered.

He would have loved Harry to spend more time down here but he needed to go to bed otherwise he would be exhausted by the next morning and Hades was well aware of how extensive demigod training was. Of course they needed it but that didn't mean that demigods could have all nighters even if his children were almost nocturnal because of the fact they felt more comfortable in darkness than the light. May and Harry landed both looking disappointed. How a Thestral could look disappointed was anyone's guess.

'Come on Harry you have training tomorrow you have to get some sleep tonight,' Hades said.

'Okay Dad,' Harry said.

'Come on I'll give you the tour,' Hades said.

Harry nodded as he followed after his father. They had been in a courtyard of Hades' palace. Hades lead Harry through the castle pointing out the dining room that he already had been into. He pointed out Persephone's quarters which Harry decided to stay out of. Then there was Hades' quarters that Harry thought were decent looking. Then there was a kitchen with some of the best dead chefs from throughout the ages. Harry had to wonder whether they had kept up their skills despite passing on.

'Can the dead cook?' asked Harry.

'Well you seemed to quite like their roast,' smirked Hades.

'They cooked it?' asked Harry wide eyed.

'Of course,' Hades said. 'There's Persephone's garden. I'd stay away from there unless you want to be turned into a shrub.'

Harry laughed thinking that his father was joking.

'You think I'm joking?' asked Hades, 'trust me I'm not.'

Then Harry was shown a few drawing and living rooms and the castle gates. Then he was brought up to the guest rooms and was asked to pick one. Harry picked one which faced out onto the moat of the Styx. It was made of dark stones with black covers over the bed and mahogany chest and wardrobe. Harry liked it a lot. Hades left Harry after changing into his clothes into pyjamas. Harry lay on the bed feeling more comfortable than he ever had on the surface world. No matter what he was always a child of the Underworld.

Harry awoke to a smallish skeleton in a Victorian maid's outfit waking him up. Harry blinked for a second. He wondered what time of day it was. He hoped he'd be able to explain where he had been to the others. He was sure that Cat knew. Chiron wouldn't be happy with him at all. Harry rubbed the sleep out of his eyes as the skeleton told him that he was to meet his father at the castle gates so that he could be taken back to the Camp. Harry wondered when he'd next meet his father but hurriedly got up and met up with his father.

'Ah there you are Harry,' greeted Hades changing Harry's clothes back to how they were. 'Well come on.'

Hades lead his son out of the castle making sure that Harry was keeping up with him. Hades saw Harry looking around the Fields of Asphodel as the dead came up to them. This after all was the most exciting thing that happened to them. Harry of course understood them perfectly considering he was a Son of Hades. Hades doubted that Harry even thought of this as odd. Other mortals wouldn't be able to understand what the dead were saying. Harry seemed quite interested in what Percival Dumbledore was saying.

'Come on, Harry,' Hades pulled Harry along. 'That's the Field of Asphodel where most of the Dead remain. But whatever you do Harry do not go beyond the boundaries of this Field.'

'Why?' asked Harry.

'That's where Tarturus lies,' warned Hades, 'a prison for the worst immortals of history.'

'Okay Dad,' Harry said.

The two kept walking to the Judgement Pavilion. There was of course the never ending stream of people going into the Pavilion although there was far more coming towards the Field of Asphodel. Why couldn't people just stop dying? Just for a few days so Hades could deal with the backlog. Or at least stop having so many wars. He'd brought this up with Ares time and time again yet the other God loved creating havoc across the human world despite what it cost Hades. Well at least he wasn't currently messing in the Wizarding World.

'And that's the judgement Pavilion to decide how well they've lived their life so the rewards or punishments they'll get in the afterlife,' Hades said. 'I've got a pick of the most famous dead to act as judges.'

'Uh huh,' Harry said.

Harry could hear cries of pain and torment come from another part of the Underworld. He looked at his father in shock. Hades saw where he was looking and frowned. There were people being lead by dead, armed guards. Harry could hear those who were there or were being taken there beg to be revaluated. He didn't know where it was but he hoped he would never go there ever. He hated the idea that his father would make someone upset but he wasn't stupid enough to say as much. He just looked with wide eyes at his father.

'That is the Fields of Punishment you must promise me never to go there,' Hades said seriously.

'I promise,' Harry said.

Then he looked towards the gates where new souls were coming in daily. Harry couldn't help but smile as he saw a large three headed Rottweiler. It was massive and black as night. Harry ran up to it and began to pet it. The three headed dog began to hum in contentment. Harry had never seen an animal like it before. He had always liked dogs. They were some of the few animals that actually liked him. He supposed that was his connection to their friend from the Underworld. Harry realised he was getting in the way and returned to his father.

'That's Cerberus,' Hades told Harry. 'He has a son on Earth.' (1) Hades then whistled and a hellhound came racing towards him. 'Bring Harry to the Camp then come back. I'll see you later Harry.'

'Yes, Dad,' Harry said and left with the hellhound to Camp Half Blood.

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