"Hell? We're going to Hell?" Draco yelled at Morgana after all their guests had left. The two had spent more time in their attire just dancing and laughing until yawns were harder to stifle. Both of them were in their room now and were about to turn out the lights when Draco asked for more details.
"Be calm, honey!" Morgana quietly scolded. Elenei buried her head in the crook of her wing due to the loud outbursts coming from Draco. "Look at Elenei! You're giving her grief!"
"You're more concerned about the bird than you are about taking us all to the Underworld! It's the first lesson we learn in magic! Do not toy with death!"
"We aren't meddling with death. Like I said to Neville, death won't touch us there."
"How do you know this?"
A heavy sigh escaped her lips. "Sit down here and I'll tell you."
Draco begrudgingly slid into the bed where Morgana earlier patted. A flick of her hand and the lights dimmed while she got comfortable under the sheets. "There's this muggle legend that there are four horsemen of the apocalypse: war, famine, pestilence, and death. Legend or not, I believe them to be true. They will not come around to us for we are not bringing forth the apocalypse. If I'm correct, though, after we are done, there'll be the four horsemen at the end of our journey."
"You cannot tell me that this is guaranteed safe. For you, for us, or for humanity."
She shrugged. "It's sort of safe. It's more a danger to me while we're down there and then the bigger question is not bringing anything out when we come back."
In the dim light, Morgana could make out Draco's irate expression. "You're telling me all this now? I would never have let you do all this if I had known."
"That's exactly why I didn't tell you anything until now." Another yawn had escaped her lips. "But it'll be fine, I know it will be." Her body settled further into the bed as her lids grew heavy. Before she fully slipped into a world of dreams, she felt the soft lips of Draco pressed against her forehead.
"I hope it will be. Or else I'll die keeping you safe. And then I'll die at how stubborn you are."
The moons rose and set the number of times Morgana said it would. After the second moon setting, a sound of disturbed gravel broke the morning silence. One by one, her guests trickled into the Malfoy Manor. Many of them were in casual trousers and jumpers, a couple of them in drenched raincoats from the typical English weather. The house elves were up early preparing a good, wholesome breakfast for everyone.
"You gave your house elves clothes? Why are they still here?" Hermione asked as she sat down in one of the open seats. At the head of the table, Draco ignored her comments and kept his nose buried in one of the book of shadows. Beside him, Morgana had a bowl of porridge to the colour of brown sugar, nuts, and fruit.
Seeing as he wasn't about to answer, Morgana put her spoon down beside her tea. "They choose to be here as well as they aren't fully free from their duties. We pay them a modest wage and we have them presentable. In Japan we dress them in modest kimonos, so I figured that they can wear that. It's more flattering than a pillowcase anyway."
"See Ron! Fairness for house elves!" Hermione scolded her husband. The two went into a small, heated discussion amongst themselves as light chatter filled the room.
Unbeknownst to the party, Elenei flew down and landed atop of Draco's chair. Having accustomed to her presence, Draco handed her a bit of his sausage from his plate. In turn, Elenei had warmed up to Draco and grew attached to him just as she did to Morgana. She stepped down from the head of the chair and onto his armrest where Draco absentmindedly petted her feathers.
"Puck," Morgana started to gain attention of one of the house elves.
"Yes Ma'am?"
"Would you mind taking care of Elenei while we're gone? If anything happens while we're gone that you can't handle, she'll know what to do." Morgana added a small, discreet wink to the house elf. Puck body slightly shook with a contained laughter before obeying her wishes.
Everyone was delved into their breakfast. Small conversations flittered about, but it was no Weasley household. Morgana quickly finished up her porridge before everyone else. "If you don't mind, I think now would be a good time to tell you about what you all got yourselves into."
From her side, she could feel Draco's eyes forming a slight glare. Even without his confirmation on the mission, she knew he would follow regardless. A slight tingle in his arm told him that his girlfriend was nervous. He didn't know it, but this was uncharted territory for even her.
"The last time we all met, you all had given me your agreement to join me on this mission. Whatever I may mention from this point onwards cannot make you change your mind. You are bound to see this mission completed. With that being said, we will all be visiting the Inferno," she quickly, but clearly, stated.
Every pair of eyes gave a different expression, but were all united by the underlying look of disbelief.
In all her readings, Hermione had never come across any confirmation of an underworld (or any world) that was beyond their own. Wizards have tried to find many answers to many things, but there was no answer on the afterlife. The Department of Mysteries had been searching for answers to that very question for lifetimes, but there was still no definitive answer.
The Master of Death himself was stunned into silence. He was walking to his end again, it seemed.
"When we retrieve what we go down there for, there will be no reason for any of you to look over your shoulders at night or in the dark. There will be no dementor you cannot face – with or without the patronus charm," Morgana tried to reassure them. "But you must hold onto what you find most pure in your hearts. Hold on to the bravery, love, and happiness. Hold onto truth and you will find it easier to move through the fires."
After impenetrable silence, a voice spoke that was not Morgana's. "How are we going to get to Hell?" Ginny asked.
"There's a small, ancient ritual that hasn't been used in generations that I know of. It takes a great sum of magic and concentration, but if it works, we'll be at the entranceway," Morgana explained. "Just before dusk, a house elf will lead you to where I will be awaiting. Once we're all together, the ritual can commence."
"The house elves will also show you around to whatever you may need until then," Draco stated before departing from the table. Following suit, Morgana made her leave, but was stopped just outside the door by her companion's faithful friend.
"Morgana, do be mindful of Draco," Blaise insisted quietly while just in their private presence. Her brows furrowed at his inquisition. "He is madly in love with you. I know he will do something idiotic when it comes to you, so just pay heed. I would like for all of us to live to see your wedding day."
Before shocked questions could fall from her lips, Blaise slipped away to the outdoor grounds.
"Darling?" Morgana asked into the air. Her footsteps led her to the slightly ajar door to their shared bedroom. The rustling of clothing took control of the air before a hush.
"What are you trying to hear?" Draco accused as he rounded the doorframe to find Morgana leaning against it. Her dark hair blended with the wallpaper and Draco couldn't help but pull her from her position to him. "I love you, Morgana. Whatever happens or is uncovered, I will love you just the same." The grip he had around her tightened as words dropped from his lips into her hair. In a moment of weakness, her dark eyes shut and her world became just the sound of the heartbeat against her ear.
Opening her mind, she pulled Draco into her sight. It wasn't a memory, but felt more like a dream. There was no background, but there she was in black lace from the tips of her fingers to the ground beneath her and an emerald green corset around her torso. To her opposite was her love, dressed in midnight slacks and a soft, satin emerald shirt.
"Draco Lucius Malfoy, I love you. I am completely yours until the end of our times. I vow to remind you of that every day and every night. I vow that every morning I will fight for your safety as you will die for mine. Whether we bonded in matrimony or not, I vow to give you all of me. This, I swear on the sacredness of my magic, on my blood," Morgana whispered in her mind. It was only a whisper in her mind, but it travelled on the wind and surrounded them.
"Morgana Amane Iaculus Diamanté, you know I love you and I will stop nowhere to keep you safe and with me. I have vowed since the year I had to keep you safe to always be there for you. Let my blood flow before yours, I will carry you through everything and anything. As long as you are mine to have, I will be yours to depend upon. I swear on the Malfoy name and the purity of my blood."
As the wind carried their words, the runes and Dark Mark that were placed on Draco glowed and in turn, Morgana herself was set aglow. For a brief moment, it seemed to Draco that Morgana had wings of darkness. As soon as it appeared, it was gone. Opening their eyes, they were back in the Malfoy Manor with silence around them.
"Morgana, tell me that that wasn't a dream."
Her head shook against his chest. "No, it was our truth."
The clock rang the hour of necessity, pulling both wizard and witch out of their personal reveries. Against the sky, Morgana and Draco walked out in the dark attires. Draco wore his black cotton pants with his black sleeveless shirt. The mandarin collar elongated his neck and the onyx buttons shimmered against the light. Morgana was in black cotton shorts over her black backless bodysuit. Like her partners, the mock-turtleneck gave her a taller appearance. Short combat boots cladded both of their feet and so did a long, dark cape shrouded their faces. Draco's wand was strapped into his forearm along with two side-arms in a holster against his hips. Morgana needed only her sword hanging from its sheath on her side.
The two walked hand-in-hand to the edge of the lake. The bracelet glowed along with the ring on her finger, but nothing was brighter to Draco than the jewel he had by his side. Even in all their darkness, she was still the brightest thing he ever laid eyes upon.
As the seconds ticked, the rest of their party gathered around them. No one said a word, either too scared to or unaware of what to say. Nervous glances were exchanged by the non-Slytherins. None noticed how the skies thickened with darkness directly above them.
"Morgana, is this you?" Draco asked. No response. With her hand clutched tightly in his, he looked down at the girl he loved and noticed that her eyes were closed and lips were moving, though no sound emitted from them. The dark mark on his arm started to tingle with an electric sensation, but no pain came from it. Suddenly, the lake split open for them and a stairwell of water welcomed them down.
His sterling grey eyes shrouded with nervousness for a second before Morgana was squeezing his hand tighter than he was hers. Her lips continued to mouth something he could not decipher, but in his head, her voice was clear. 'Lead them down, my dragon,' she said to him.
A short nod to Blaise over his shoulder was all it took. Blaise started to head down first. When none followed, Draco lifted Morgana in his arms. Instinctively, she curled herself into him, all the while still mouthing the words. Her katana was cold against his one hand as he kept it against her, knowing it was the most precious thing that could keep them all safe.
"We're going to drown in there," Neville whined.
Luna looked over to him in the odd fashion that she always did. "Do not be scared, Neville. It's just the beginning of an incredible story!" With the small smile on her face, Luna followed the two Slytherins down into the lake's depths.
Morgana was lost to them. She was the water, staying aside and staying still for them to walk upon. Faintly she could hear the dull drumming of Draco's heart, keeping her calm and protected. At the bottom of the lake, Morgana was abruptly pulled from her state. The water thrashed and whirled to life around her, but none crashed upon them.
Her sudden alertness from her previous state shook Draco with worry and instinctively, he pulled her so tight to her chest that all she could see were the threads of his shirt. "It's here," she softly whispered against him.
Draco gently allowed her feet to touch the watery ground, but he refused to let go of her.
In a tongue no one could decipher Morgana said the words she knew to speak before her name. "Open at the ground for your daughter has come home. There is no hope. Let her in and seek!"
At the end of her words, something was pulled out of her invisibly. It was as if her humanity was pulled from her heart. When the sensation stopped, an iron gate materialised in front of them. Black as pitch and old as time, they released the shrillest of creaks as they opened for its new visitors. As the nine of them walked past the open bars, an inscription appeared.
"I don't like where this is going, Hermione," Ron squeaked out.
"We agreed, Ronald. There's no turning back now," she stated to her other half.
"Harry? Are you alright?" Ginny asked. The hand that enclosed hers was nearly sheeted white. Although the scar was gone from his visage, the age of what he had gone through was visible in every feature. When he didn't respond to her question, she stood on her toes and kissed the bottom of his jaw. "You can do this. If anything, the rest of us will get out of here first and leave the three to deal with what they brought upon the rest of us."
The group walked on until it came upon a river that was never-ending in all directions save for the one they came from. After some time, a few became anxious and impatient. Morgana, ahead of them all, stood stoic. She would utter no spell or thought as she stared straight as far as the river. She could feel the unrest of those who were stuck in Limbo.
That feeling that only Morgana was once feeling started to near in on them. Deep in his heart Draco knew none of them would harm the party, but as the groans and voices came nearer, his hope started to fade.
"You have come at last."
A/N: So... Hell time! This might be a little heavy for what I intentionally wanted, but I like this layer that I created by bringing the Underworld into this. If anyone is familiar with Dante's 'Inferno', the levels of hell I used in this story are heavily inspired by it. Although I have never quite finished the epic poem, I did a little bit of light research to keep some similarities. But, I repeat, I was just inspired by Dante and am not directly using his exact version of Hell.
Also, if I have offended anyone by bringing anything in, I apologise. Although, you are reading something to do with magic, so now is not the time to be sensitive to Hell (no offence).
A big shoutout to a reader I forgot to give a shoutout too a few chapters back! Thank you Renrue for your support to this story! Another shoutout to the-first-beast for their support for my little story here too!
If any of you have the time, please leave a review (critical or appraising) and keep reading!
Also, with the Wizarding World Book Club going on, I understand if we're falling away from reading fanfiction. I have two book clubs going on at work following our lovely world that J.K. Rowling has left us, and another with friends.