Disclaimer: I am not J K Rowling or Robert Jordan and their worlds of Harry Potter and the Wheel of Time. These two created the fun little worlds I have decided to play in with no thought of profit to myself. So I promise that if I did own these I wouldn't have had Hermione with Ron, though I would have been happy to see her be married to Rand al'Thor if ever the two worlds should meet.
/= Excerpt
$= Parseltongue
Chapter Twenty: Bring Me to Life
Following obediently behind Sheriam Sedai, she felt sick to her stomach. Yet this was what she wanted. This is what she had came to Tar Valon and the White Tower for. Hogwarts was nearly a distant memory for her after all that she had been through to get here. Its gentle quirky world was not the one she now walked. The White Tower was demanding and bitterly hard on a witch. Where Hogwarts placed value on a few well done essays, a practical exhibition or two, and just living as a child, the White Tower shaped silly girls into witches of character and strength like a blacksmith at the forge ringing with fiery hammer blows. Lumps of mindless silly little chits enter, but they either learned and were reshaped, or they never leave.
Coming to Tar Valon had been an ordeal beyond what she could have dreamed of, but its rewards had been superb. When she returned to her home world, she would be witch worthy of the title Aes Sedai. And the terrifying testing to be raised to Accepted was just one step she must take to see that reality take shape. She had no time for the foolish ways of a simple minded ninny of a girl, she must be more than that.
Entering the subterranean domed chamber that was home to the Arches, she again takes a moment. The thing is a wonder like she has only seen one other time in Slytherin's Truth. Three connected arches sit in a circle on top of a binding connected circle. At the base of each attached arch set, sat an Aes Sedai Sister cross legged. Another stood off to the side with a plain table holding three silver chalices.
The one at the table challenged them as they entered, / "Whom do you bring with you Sister?"
"One who comes as a candidate for Acceptance, Sister." Sheriam replied/ in formal challenge.
/ "Is she ready?"
"She is ready to leave behind what she was, and, passing through her fears, gain Acceptance."
"Does she know her fears?"
"She has never faced them, but now is willing."
"Then let her face what she fears."/
Before they could go on further she had to strip. It was cold and embarrassing, but this was just one step and inconvenience in a long list of them. She would not stop for this discomfort when she had came so far. She was ready.
/ "The first time," Sheriam said, "is for what was. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast."/
Hesitating to take a breath and focus her will, she stepped forward. Immersing herself in the glow inside the Arches. Just one more step.
Running in her mind was a near mantra to focus her wildly scattered thoughts. She would become an Aes Sedai. She would be bonding her love. She would bring back the light to her world. Just one step on her way home.
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Daphne sat watching the Duel between the loathsome Draco and her secret crush, Harry Potter. It annoyed her that Snape had manipulated the event so neatly as a way to have Harry be humiliated by Draco. That and to blatantly torture the poppenjay prat, Professor Lockhart. Of course Snape loved to torture people, it was how he kept Slytherin House under his heavy heel and everyone that takes Potions too afraid to question his unjust cruelty.
As per usual, the little lordling Draco the First was cheating. Though Harry was not backing down, and instead had the blond ponce laid out more than once in this mummer's farce Snape had arranged. She would be called a traitor or worse if it was known how deeply she loved her Harry more for his fighting on, and winning despite Snape's frequent interferences. So she had to not physically cheer her love on when Snape made him take center stage. She could crow in delight in the recesses of her mind at his turning this upside down for her foul Head of House.
Sharing a look with Tracey, her excitable silly cousin after one pass of spellfire that sent Draco careening over the audiences heads, she decided it was time to make her way closer to the stage. Jostling more than a few onlookers along the way till she was beside a muggleborn Hufflepuff boy.
The puffed up wizard glares at her from one glimpse of her Slytherin colors, but she ignored him. Her eyes were only for Harry.
Scrambling to his feet with a rictus snarl, Draco the Fey flings a secret spell that many Slytherins learn to show their loyalties and pureblood superiority. Draco's wand sprouts a giant hissing, highly poisonous, irritable snake. Showing off was all the Malfoy scion was good for as he held zero control it seemed over the venomous serpent, unlike a truly powerful spell caster.
Snape's sibilant offer to Harry is lost to Daphne's ears as people began to panic and shove their ways away from the stage when the idiot Lockhart zaps the snake weakly with a low powered stinging hex. Too bad it was strong enough to jolt the snake her way. Worsening this poor turn, the muggleborn wizard began to have a gibbering fit. Striving to drag the panic stricken dolt to safety she sees the snake rear its head for a strike.
That is when she heard the sweetest sound of her young life. In Parseltongue, her Harry commanded in a lordly hiss, $Leave him alone!$
The irrate snake at first collapses into contrite subservience, till the mean spirited hand of a cowardly cretin acted. At first Draco had tried to run alongside the rest of the terrified school, that is until he to heard his better's hissed command. Fear and open jealousy twisted his ferret shaped features into a mask of murderous hate. Taking quick aim when Harry was nearer to the conjured serpent, Draco snaps off a second stinging hex for his uncontrolled summons. By then the Hufflepuff was staring at Harry in mute accusatory horror, and clearly had lost the ability to think cognitively to make a run for it.
Understandable if highly annoying as the abused snake reared up once more.
$He told you to stop!$ Daphne hissed, leaving everybody gobsmacked and her in horror of discovery. Her Harry laughed as the snake collapsed again into servitude.
Harry's smile for her was making thought hard to put together as he hopped down from the stage. That dazzling grin left her knees weakening when he stood beside her above all others in the Great Hall.
$I guess we told it. Your Daphne right? It's nice to see I'm not the only one unafraid of a silly snake.$ his eyes, those perfect green pools of her fantasies, were so full of life as he hissed to her in Parseltongue.
/The way back will come but once. Be steadfast./
She shyly hissed with a smile, $I'm not alone anymore either.$
Draco was furious. He'd been bested completely, and she could see it in his eyes as he screamed, "They're the heirs of Slytherin. They're the ones trying to murder us all."
Snape regarded them for only a second as he drew his wand, suppressing a smirk, "Potter, Greengrass you will come with me."
Lockhart was gaping at them in a dim-witted stupor then with reflexive comb of his hair and wide bright smile curling his lips he announces, "Ah yes I knew this from the start. Thank you Severus for aiding me in the apprehension of these two dark souls. My cousin Deloras in the Ministry will be overjoyed in reporting my capture of the Heirs of Slytherin. Now young Mr. Potter, Miss Greengrass I will be having your wands. I warn you to not try anything untoward as I am a master at the muggle arts of Kung Fu and Karate. My hands are as lethal as my wand."
There were cries for Harry's head being screamed by the sheep in the audience turned mob. Ron Weasley was braying that it was her that brainwashed Harry and that she was the monster. Oddly Ginny Weasley was staring in silent horror for a time before fleeing with a book in hand.
Draco was crowing in victory as he sneered, "My father was right about you Potters."
/The way back will come but once. Be steadfast./
Harry turned to face the vile mob, moving himself into a protective stance before her. A warm loathsome light poured over her as she stood behind him. He was so noble, so beautiful and perfect. Here she knew she had won him.
Her love hissed softly for her. $Don't worry we're together. Two are stronger than one I've been told.$
/Be steadfast./
Crying, she left him behind.
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Jerking awake, Ginny cried out in horror at what she had done, and more importantly for whom she had did it for. Tom Riddle Jr., a.k.a. Lord Voldemort, had duped her into letting herself be used as an attempted murderess and bait for an ambush. All from her weakness and timidity in facing life and the love she held in her heart for Harry. Instead she had poured herself into a filthy diary of an evil wizard. Yes it would reply to anything she wrote of in its age yellowed pages, but it also grew to dominate her every moment. Till now.
She had been trapped and was being drained of her life force and soul by the younger memories of Lord Voldemort. Helplessly laying out like a virgin sacrificial maiden to the cruel Dark Lord and his deranged pet monster for the specific use of stealing her life so that he may return to life. When he returned the world would die, as would her love. Yet even though she mentally railed against this, she was physically unable to resist or put a stop to it.
Now though she was free. The memory of Tom Riddle Jr was no more than wispy ash and his abomination of a pet lay dead. Both vanquished by her love and hero Harry Potter. Unfortunately a grave cost was leveled in the offing. A mortal wound was her love's reward for his gallantry. Now it was he that had taken her place on the sacrificial alter to the vile machinations of the twisted designs of evil, but she was still powerless to help or fight.
"No..." she gasped in horror at what she had wrought for being a silly chit. "No, not Harry... He won. He saved me..."
Battling free of her stupefying self recrimination, she strove to make her weakened muscles move. To get their severely sapped strength to respond to her commands and no longer under the direction of her possessing invader.
/The way back will come but once. Be steadfast./
Beside her was a pile of ash that shuffled and shivered. She was uncertain about seeing such a sight. Strange things in the magical world often as not held terrible surprises, just as her diary had held in store for her. With a violent shake a tiny hatchling of some sort appeared, still partly buried in ash. Relief that it wasn't another monster washed away some of Ginny's fright.
Returning to her wobbly quest to be at Harry's side, Ginny saw that he lay with a heavy labored breath rattling unevenly. On his chest lay a long vicious looking fang, impelled upon this terrible tooth was the Diary that started this whole horrible ordeal. Rivers of ink ran like blood out of its gash, over Harry as one of his hands held an iron grip on the fang. When he seemed to hear her near him, he weakly rolled to his side to face her. He was truly looking at her, and not as if she were some silly girl that she knew herself to be. A wanness to his features made his blossoming smile look off and unnatural. It could almost be called a death mask in some Greek tragedy than the face of a vibrantly alive wizard hero.
A condemning sight for her mounting guilt in all this. She had helped murder her champion and truest love. She had stole Harry's life more effectively than Riddle had attempted with her own. Though she did not want this turn of fate, it occurred and she could not hold in her tears of self loathing from realizing it.
/The way back will come but once. Be steadfast./
Crawling over to her on unsteady newly alive legs, the ash covered chick cheeps at her demandingly. Pausing her struggle to reach her Harry, she looks at the cute ugly little thing in befuddlement. It definitely wanted something of her, but she was clueless as to what. Her mind hissed in demand of what would make its demands more important than Harry's life.
Her love saw it and took to coughing in laughter.
"Hello Fawkes. I'm glad the Killing Curse failed." her love wheezed with discolored phlegm leaking from his lips. Reaching a palsied hand out in her direction he begged, "Bring him to me, please. Bring Fawkes over-," he started to cough more violently, "please, Ginny. He's a phoenix, and... Gyarghhh it hurts! Please Gin..." His coughing fit had him writhing with his good hand clutching his other arm.
/The way back will come but once./
Ginny felt warmth behind her. Turning to this new sensation, she saw an archway glowing invitingly. It was utterly alien to this place and scene.
Harry's coughing was spewing frothy blood filled phlegm in great sprays, "Gin... please... Ginny help..."
/The way back will come.../
The arch was glowing so beautifully, while the tiny chick chirped so insistently.
/...but once. Be steadfast./
"Ginny help... I'm dying..." her beloved was wailing pitifully, begging her for her help.
The arch was flickering...
/...but once.../
She was wailing too as she traitorously flung herself out the archway, cursing her betrayal of the boy who gave his all for her.
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How a single night could spiral so far downward, Hermione would never fully comprehend while she cried in aggrieved frustration. Though they had managed to save Harry's godfather from Dementors, it was only to hand him over to them anyway. Her best friend was justifiably distraught after all they had learned of the truth of the night his parents died. Endless quilting of lies had seen his godfather illegally arrested and imprisoned in Azkaban. Lies that could and should have been put to rest long ago were being neatly reaffirmed by the impossible but true aid of so many that they had trusted. It was criminal how deep the denial or cover up went.
With near tyrannical glee, the Minister of Magic had pompously decreed the summary execution of Sirius. At the bowler wearing despots side stood a victoriously sneering Snape whispering dark denouncements of the Potter and Black families.
Thankfully none of those seeking the end of Sirius Black had known or remembered that Hermione had one last weapon to make use of. Tucked hidden inside her blouse and jumper lay her time turner she'd been entrusted with to complete her ludicrously over scheduled class terms. With it they had one last chance to best these villainous rotters aligned against truth and justice.
So far her and Harry had successfully rescued Buckbeak, an innocent majestic hippogriff from the Ministry Headsman's ax. A coup as it were by how they made the blustering Minister himself think that the animal had simply broke free on its own under his fat arrogant befuddled nose. A victory worthy of capering in celebration as it spat in the eyes of the despicable Malfoy clan, whom were some of the prime instigators of this night's long list of travesties.
Only this one rescue had been the easy bit.
/The way back will come but once. Be steadfast./
That was an odd thought as it wasn't her own.
Sitting in wait of the next part of their daring plan, Hermione and Harry fell into a quiet conversation. They had done so many dangerous feats this night that a small rest was needful in calming their over stressed hearts. Side by side they had been dodging a werewolf professor, avoiding being spotted by their former selves, and escaping any of the hordes of nasty deaths awaiting the unwary in the depths of the Forbidden Forest. Some of those last were undoubtedly brutal and highly likely for two mere Third Years such as they.
This quiet calm center of the storm had her examining her green eyed compatriot. She had harbored a crush for him off and on through the last three years. She would deny it if asked, and even told herself that his returning the sentiment was a pure fantasy unworthy of her wasting away hoping for. She was a buck toothed book beaver to put it bluntly, and him...
Well he was a living adonis of unimaginable proportions. She was simply never going to be the kind of girl to be in the league he dwelled in. No she was safer putting her heart into hopes that the oft times uncouth Ron would see her even.
His glowing green eyes were studying her, it was frank and held a gleam of something undefinable. It was making her uncomfortable as she couldn't help but blush. The intensity was giving her heart a flutter.
"Hermione," he reached out to take her hand by only the fingers, but it felt as if he wished for more. "Do you know how much you mean to me?"
Did he know how much he meant to her?
His glorious eyes were holding her enraptured by their luminous perfection. "No..."
His hand lightly tugged at her fingers begging her to near him. When she yielded to his non-verbal request to slide from her perch on a twisted deadfall limb and next to his reclining side. Her heart was pounding wildly as he now took her hand in both of his. He was so gorgeous it hurt.
"I think I know what they said my father felt for my mother. Hermione, would you be angry if I told you..." he maddeningly fell silent.
Was this what she could never hope believe?
Her cherished best friend brought her hand to his lips for a kiss and asked, "Hermione would you ever care to see each other? I know you're out of my class. You're beautiful, gentle, sweet, wickedly more brilliant than I could ever dream of being, heart stoppingly beautiful... You're incredible compared to me, but I- but I've realized I can't face all that life holds without you next to me. People expect me to be things I could never hope or wish to be. You've always just wanted me to be me. I know I'm not smashing boyfriend material, but I'll always try to be worthy of you."
She wanted to squeal in delight as her heart soared to the heavens above. She even couldn't suppress the tiny giggle of girlish delight as it sunk in that he was begging to be her boyfriend. This was a chance at a life, though unsafe or guaranteed, like the ones she secretly dreamed of while swept up in her Jane Austen and other Victorian Romances.
/The way back will come but once. Be steadfast./
Pushing that invasive thought aside she shyly replied, "Yes Harry. I'd love to be your girl. If that's what you truly want. I'd love it really."
Sighing in relieved joy, he sat up to bring his face nearer to hers. With her breath coming in short little bursts, she leaned down to meet him halfway. One of his hands gingerly laid claim to the nape of her neck to draw her in. A touch that had her jump in ecstacy, he wanted and needed her enough to overcome his stiff resistance to physical interactions. He wanted her.
With a tiny smile of victory she let him guide her. She was in need of him and felt safe in being his witch- his and no other wizard's.
Barely grazing their lips together, an unwelcome and all to familiar chill fractured this tender moment. Laden with the stomach twisting scent of death and actively sucking all joy and life from the world, the cold gust washing over them banished cheer from her heart. All but the tiny flicker that fought on as she looked into the green eyes of her beloved below her.
"I think its time." Harry grimly stated as he sat up and tenderly pushed her aside. "Stay safe, I won't let them have you."
/The way back will come but once. Be steadfast./
Be steadfast? How could she be steadfast when her love was about to do something noble to protect all those she loved? What of her love for him? He might love her and wish her safe, but she returned that sentiment. Sit and be steadfast while he faced danger? Never.
She would be steadfast. Steadfastly at his side.
Following him as best she could as he dashed away headlong, Hermione cursed how tired and out of shape she was. Her lovely newly minted boyfriend was leaving her far behind. If she lost him, he might do something stupid and get himself hurt horribly in the process. If he died...
She refused to follow that thought, aside from acknowledging she would die as well. He was an anchor in her life and not having him was as good as losing the ability to breath.
Leaping over some prickly underbrush, she fell and felt her ankle turn in an unnatural direction. Crying out in pain, she drew in her leg to hurriedly examen the damage. Doing so had her gasp in horror as she saw the worst sight of her young life. Hundreds of Dementors filled the sky, blacking out the moon and stars above. Her far too gallant Harry was apparently heedless of this fact as he never slowed his charge into this unimaginable fray. Her eyes followed him the entire way while he rushed out onto a small isthmus of land coated in ice from the presence of so many Dementors. Looking about frantically he stopped then turned to look her in the eye with disbelieving anger. Then as their eyes met in silent communication of boundless love, he smiled and turned to face the dark maelstrom seeking the life of his former self and godfather on the far shore.
Drawing his wand he roared like a mighty lion, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!"
Defiance and strength of conviction in his voice accompanied that spell aimed at the heart of that demonic storm. A bright stag burst from his wand and with it came so much power the frozen stiff grass and trees laid over in the pulsing waves. Every pulse erupting from her beloved wizard banished the fearful horde, any that attempted to flee in a direction other than his choosing were vaporized.
When he was done and slumping forward with his hands on his knees, he laughed, "I know now how deep I feel for you Hermione." He was almost giggling, "Thinking of you is what powered that. You're my hope for life."
/The way back will come but once. Be steadfast./
Though his power was incredible and shattered the Dementors, it was also not immeasurable as he fell to his knees with his back to her. Hermione was getting ready to drag herself to his side when an unwelcome guest slipped out from the shadows of the surrounding forest. His bald pate glistened slickly with sweat and his eyes were wild with unrequited hate. Peter Pettigrew was a craven coward to the core as he raised an ill gotten wand.
/The way back will come but once./
An archway brimming with light behind her illuminated her world, highlighting the madness in the eyes of the betrayer of her love's family. His treachery was not from humble fear but pure desire for murder. He wanted them butchered!
Her Harry was defenseless!
"Avada..." the vile rat began to sneer.
/Be steadfast./
She had her wand, but her best bet was to throw herself in the way. Her love needed her.
There was hope and then there was the arch full of light. She could save him one more time. Give him the long life she wished him to have.
/...once.../
Tearfully she crawled back away and out the archway, as she did she heard the dreaded, "...Kedavra!"
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Her mother loved to try new things, or old things made new. "This thirst for discovery of what is unseen, Luna, is what makes true Ravenclaws special, and gives spice to our lives." was her mother's frequently spoken proverb for Luna as a standard for life.
It was always great fun, to be out with her mummy on days like this. The sun hung high and warm overhead with the breeze just cool enough to make the weather a calming balm to the anxious of heart. A perfect time to go out and experiment with what her brilliant forward thinking mother had uncovered clues of. If they found something of especial greatness or discovered an astounding truth of life, the family would regain back a measure of the reputation they once held before her great grandparents' day. Days long before the Lovegoods threw their lot into a crazed devotion of the cruel Raveness and her intellectual purging of magical society. It's what drove her father to work day and night on the liberally minded Quibbler for, and its call for open free thought in the secretively staid magical world.
"Now the Ancients that wrote this scroll claim that all of life is connected to a unifying force. This mighty force is what drives both fate and magic. Luna, do be a dear and stand over there by that tree. If this is the fundamental power of life, then it might be a touch dangerous to access." her mum smiled so sweetly in her often times distracted way as she commanded her faithful assistant daughter to go to a prudently safe distance.
"Okay mum. Do you think daddy would like to participate?" she inquired while skipping obediently from her mother's side, "He doesn't like us testing things without his help and planning. Remember mum what he told us last time."
"I know dear, but he's busy with finding advertisers for the Quibbler." her mother grew rather short with Luna, "He's made his decision about what matters most to him."
"How so mummy?" Luna inquired while sitting beside the tree her mum indicated earlier. "He says it's only to pay the bills. He tells me, 'Dreams don't feed us, Luna.', shouldn't I remember what he teaches too?"
Frowning pensively, her mother ignored Luna's repeating her father's lectures.
Not wishing to be sent away like a bad little girl, she quickly apologized with tears in her eyes, "I'm sorry mum. I'll be quiet while you work."
"That's my good darling little assistant witch. You are paying much better attention these days I see. That is so exciting." confided her mother in a mollified tone, "Now let's get on with the fun we started before you're little rebellion. This is going to show the world how brilliant we two witches are, and give us untold changes in our lives. Won't that be smashing my little Luna?"
Clapping excitedly, she giggled, "Yes let's mummy!"
/The way back will come but once. Be steadfast./
That was an odd thought, but Luna was used to having unfamiliar mental warnings.
Her mum was rereading the instructive text she had recently recovered from a muggle archeological dig in Wales. As the scroll her mum had recovered as an Unspeakable to protect the muggles was written by a witch from the era of the Roman Conquests, it had to be translated. A job her mother preferred to handle herself, and why not? If one has the tools to do a job themselves, why endanger a prized discovery by an intellectual thief.
Luna wasn't particularly gifted in ancient Greek like her parents. Her daddy was the best in the world at many of the lost languages of history but mummy never liked to let him read over her notes. So Luna hoped her mother was correct in what was written. It would be dreadfully embarrassing if they were reading something into what the original manuscript spoke of. Like when her daddy published a discussion on floating stones in lower East Asia from a noted adventurer wizard. Finding out it was throwing stones had hurt both her father's and the Quibblers credibility. A forced retraction article to keep his status as a member of the College of Rowena's Visionaries proved to be costly for the loss of valuable advertising space. He never printed without verification again.
Remembering this, Luna sat silently watching her wise mother at work. The care her mother went through to follow the specified rituals to harmonize with the natural power of the Earth was rather fascinating. Every move was building up a quiet resonance with the natural order in a gentle whispering hum in the air. This process sounded and looked daunting in its rather involved actual practice. A task too complex for a tiny little girl such as herself, though her mother was giving her reassuring smiles now and again. Those smiles made her genuinely wish to actively participate as it looked rather fun if her mum could smile from it.
While she watched another one of her secret visions overlapped her sight. With her mother chanting the suggested incantation during the involuted dance, Luna saw her mother's charred remains stare accusingly up at her.
/The way back will come but once. Be steadfast./
Where is that thought coming from? Was this an advancing of her curse, the endless Visions her daddy fears and mother encourages?
Her mother began to laughingly sing an eerie ancient song of worship of the Spirit of Life. It was haunting as her mother's angelic voice swirled through the air, filling it with an electric charge. Touches of this sang with Luna's own soul, seductively calling for her to join her mother in opening herself to the hidden truths and energies of creation. A siren call that frightened her to the core.
That vision taunted her, causing her to worry about disturbing her mum. Two cardinal commands of assisting her mother warred within her terrified soul. Both were irrefutable and would wind up with her banned from these experiments till her mother felt her trustworthy again. That Luna wasn't a bad little disruptive miscreant unsuitable for the finer delving of what magic held secreted away from its practitioners.
One was the most stringently observed, "Never interrupt me while I'm working, Luna my darling. Disastrous things may be unleashed if you are so careless."
Its counter here though was equal in stringency for assisting her mother, "My darling daughter, what is seen is a quick guide for us to be apprized of. If observed and reported immediately, course changes can be followed to protect what can be protected."
A glowing arch stood off to the side, seeming to summon her to its blinding warmth.
/The way back will come but once. Be steadfast./
There it was again. It was a thought that stayed her hand and froze her tongue in concern. Consternation was teasing her with the thought that she was truly going mad as the Healers at St. Mungo's secretly told her parents when discussing her nighty night talks and rambles across the county.
She was sane. She knew it. She just lived in a different state of mind is all. That is what her mother and father insist, and she devoutly trusted them in all things.
She must help her mum. "Mum stop. Please stop." She broke down and begged her mother whom was now laughing scarily in her ancient dance as if this was boundless perfection.
Her mother was not stopping. In fact as the air grew more charged with this unknown and possibly unstable power, her mum became more ecstatic. Some of her mother's steps were not touching the ground as lightening erupted from below.
Frightened into tears Luna stepped hesitantly closer, sobbing out, "The Visions say you should stop mother. They insist you stop this now! Please stop. This is wrong mummy! Please listen to me mummy! Please...please..."
/The way back.../
Luna felt the draw of the archway. It held truth and salvation.
/Be steadfast./
Gazing with longing at her mother one last time, unable to reach her. Unable to save her like a good girl she so desperately wished to be, she witnessed her beloved mother work harder to delve deeper into the Power of Life. It was now burning the brilliant witch alive before her eyes. No words Luna could scream or things she could find to throw would stop this. Luna was a devilish, despicable girl and knew it if she didn't stop her mother somehow. A good loving daughter would do it. Would succeed and keep her family safe and whole.
Tearing out her hair she fled out the flickering arch as her mother's shrieks mixed with the insane laughter and thunderous detonations of lightening.
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"Will you look at that? So small and so perfect." her husband asked her as they held they're daughters. "Beautiful, just as beautiful as their mother." Harry glowingly smiled as he tenderly kissed her sweaty brow.
It had been a rough pregnancy and an even rougher delivery, though the conception bit was rather enjoyable.
/The way back will come but once. Be steadfast./
Parvati had to frown in worry as that floated past her. Just as she was feeling the euphoria of being her cherished Harry's wife. Of course his nobility had been a good part of that taking place as the two of them had gotten a bit too carried away their first night upon this world, this other Earth. But it was in no small portion influenced by her driving desire to be his wife that encouraged her to accept his proposal.
"What do you think of Lily and Lalena? For our mothers, and yes I know its only your mother's middle name. But it fits so prettily. A matching set of angels I think. They might never all meet, but- but they are here with them I think." he asked so lovingly, his perfect green eyes were alight with wonder as they were regarded in return by dual mirrors of like kind. Their daughters were a curious set.
Green eyed twins that held their parents' thumbs in tiny fists. Both were as dusky in skin tone as herself, but clearly favored their father's wiry inquisitive side. A startling pair to discover, and a true sign of the love the pair's parents bore. Tiny delicate flowers of a love that spanned two Earths and Ages. And one day the duo would be shattering hearts by the score.
Her own twin, Padma was smiling as she and a not so dull eyed Hermione cleaned up. Her sister was working as an apprentice for the local Wisdom of the minuscule mountain village of Devon Ride. Coming out of the Mountains of Mist, fleeing both Whitecloaks and Trollocs had led them to the Two Rivers. Led them here and left them with no idea how to ever return to that high valley and strange pillar.
Harry stood up straight and hugged Padma tightly while studiously keeping a spans distance from the wincing Hermione, "Thank you. If I lost... I won't lose anyone else."
He choked up as his eyes met Hermione's for a brief second or two. For just a fraction of time, their once vibrant brilliant friend was alight with life again herself. It was gone far too soon, but it was there and gave them all hope.
It was understandable when his own eyes lost some luster at Hermione's return to frightened dullardry. Those memories of that harrowing flight across the mountains would haunt not only poor Granger, but all of them forevermore. Neville and Tracey had been feathered by arrows fired from so called Children of the Light. Ginny and Daphne had been lost to such a villainous rain from Trollocs. It was swords that took Blaise, George, and Alicia. Trolloc for the first, Fade for the second, and white robed bigot for the last. Angelina fell to a catch pole by a ravenous Trolloc and Fred torn limb from limb by its mates. And after the brutal gang rape by Whitecloaks that had came to rescue them, Hermione might as well be dead herself by the endless horror replaying in her eyes and mind. Coming to this world had not been the hoped for salvation, but an extended nightmare made real.
But with all life comes the dark and the good. Staring down at their daughters confirmed this. In these two bundles of joy was life, and a renewed hope.
/The way back will come but once. Be steadfast./
Again it came and with it a strange alien feeling in the back of her mind. But it was gone when Harry grabbed his scar again. It had been getting worse of late. With it came signs of accidental magic that was growing in magnitude and intensity. They suspected and feared the root cause. Harry has been struck by the dreaded Taint. Slytherin's doom was now her Harry's doom as well. No one spoke of it, but all of them knew- including the now weeping Hermione- that Harry was not long for this life either.
"I... I'll go... get some bloody... get some firewood." Harry tried to play it off as he turned slowly on unsteady feet to leave. Only he was stopped cold as he grabbed his scar and collapsed in a heap. His thrice cursed scar had ripped open and was now spewing forth sulphurous putrefied blood and gangrenous puss.
Hermione wailed and grabbed her head in both hands in a silent scream of pure agony. Padma was torn on whom to run to first, Harry or Hermione as he would wish her to do. Weakly Parvati sat down her newborn babies to go to her love's side. Only she could barely move about herself. Her legs and body had precious little left in them after the lengthy and arduous birthing. Parvati had been in labor for close to a full day before her girls were delivered. But some struggles are worth it.
/The way back will come but once. Be steadfast./
An arch of blinding light appeared in place of their bedroom door. An inviting golden light harkening to her while her sweet loving husband lay dying in a writhing heap.
If he passed, could she find the strength enough for her daughters' and family's sake?
Crawling to her man took extreme effort, and she noticed blood trailed from between her thighs and down her legs. Not a good sign, but she didn't care for her own well being when her love lay only a few feet away, screaming in possibly his final moments. She was exhausted and depleted after they had struggled through building their rugged new life. Though pregnant she refused to allow her husband and sister bear the brunt of this mountain farming lifestyle forced on them. Though Harry was a good provider that toiled daily to give them all the best home he could, they were never at their leisure. Her pregnancy, Padma's apprenticeship funds, and poor Hermione's shattered state had him working from predawn to well after sunset to feed, clothe, and shelter them all.
Crashing to the floor on weakened trembling arms, Parvati began to weep and curse her abominable weakness. It was her time to be strong for her Harry and the girls. To be the one to see Hermione fed and free of the night terrors. To see that Padma can pay her way till she can be raised to Wisdom of some nearby township. Parvati must be the one to take over being the foundation stone of their family.
Only this life was wrong. She felt it humming through out her whole being.
Wrenching her eyes from her dying husband, Parvati gazes at the seductive, alien archway calling her. It was real. It was important.
/The way back will come but once./
Her darling perfect pair of newborn twins were crying.
Leaving the cowering side of the screaming Hermione to see to Harry, Padma was yelling at her, "Par, Get back in bed this instant! You shouldn't be up. I can handle helping Harry, but if I have to fight you as well as him and Hermione."
/The way back../
She felt so wrong, and yet so right here.
Her Harry was reaching out to her with a grimace of unbearable pain, sobbing through his clinched teeth, "Par! My love... I need- I need you to stay strong. Our daughters Par," He was weeping blood out from his eyes, snot was hanging from his nose in a blood tinged mess, "Par, our babies- think of them and not me. Forget me. They need you Par."
Hermione was scrambling for the knife Harry keeps in his belt. She mustn't have it or she may well succeed in taking her life this time. The twins were bawling inconsolably.
The archway was urgently calling her as its light flickered and dimmed.
/Be steadfast./
Her sister and family insisted she return to bed or stop poor Hermione.
The archway was slowly fading in its call to her.
She made her choice screaming in outrage as she flung herself into her decision.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++WOT/HP+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Falling out of the Arches, Parvati wanted nothing more than to curl up into a ball and scream. Her family! Her husband and daughters! Why did she have to leave them? This world felt right, but so too did that other in ways.
"I'm EVIL! They needed me!" she sobbed out through gnashing teeth, tears were puddling on the floor beneath her, "Light forgive me. Please forgive me..."
The hissing swish of skirts and slippers announced the coming of women to Parvati's side. She had little strength or inclination to look up just then at whom this might be. In truth she could care less who it was. All she saw or heard was the agonizing anguish of her Harry and the perfect little forms of their girls wailing in need. Then she felt the chilly rush of cold water washing her in a cool steady rinsing. It sent shivers down her exposed back as it ran down the trough of her spinal column.
/You are washed clean," Elaida pronounced, "of what sin you may have done, and those done against you. You come to us washed clean and pure, in heart and soul."/
Raising her head in hope, even as she wanted to tear out her own heart and hurl it back to her children, Parvati saw that she was at the feet of Elaida and a kindly smiling Sheriam Sedai. She was being tested. This was what had to be faced and finished before she became an Aes Sedai and returned to her true home.
"Is that real? Was it true?" she begged for an answer but unsure what one she wished to hear. If she heard one at all.
Sheriam Sedai helped her to her feet with a gentle embrace, "I don't know. No one alive does. Though every woman seems to ask that self same set of questions. Some are said to have chosen to stay instead of returning because it is real. If they do then it's good riddance as they are shirkers, and we who've came back have no reason to accept them back if they could ever return. We have great responsibilities and no room for those that baulk in facing them."
"It felt real, but not. Or that I was the intruder. That's what decided me. That I must become Aes Sedai and nothing less will do. Even what I left behind there. Oh Sheriam Sedai it hurt. I... I can't describe it." Parvati whimpered but grew determined, "But staying wouldn't help those I love or can help here. Staying would have been selfish."
"That is what I feel child." Sheriam smiled on her fondly and gave her a rough encouraging hug, "You child have the right of it."
Wiping away her tears Parvati controlled her breathing and focused her recalcitrant mind. Harry wouldn't want a girl who was unwilling to stand strong as his own mother had. To stand up to the darkness and evil that fills the world even if it cost her very life to do so. No, Harry would only want a woman of character, strength, and honor. She too would want nothing less in herself. Aes Sedai had all these traits, but more than that they could be able to aid him in his quest to save their home world. She would be able to reshape their world into one that they could feel safe in having and raising children in.
A husband could not change the world alone and some broken things only a woman could be trusted in seeing set right. She would be that woman, just as their mothers had been.
Leading her to the next arch, Sheriam gently guided Parvati by an arm around her shoulder, "You are growing child. That is good. You have great potential."
"I have no choice but to grow. There is much to do and a Novice can never do them. It takes a woman, not a girl." Parvati replied, building her courage up to face the next task, what ever it may be.
"I must ask," Sheriam Sedai spoke as they/ stopped in front of the next glow filled arch, "Are you ready?"/
Setting her shoulders and holding her head up high with a tiny shake, Parvati gazed into the portal with dread and determination, "I am."
/ "The second time is for what is. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast."/
Fighting down her fear once more, Parvati strode into the all encompassing glow.