AN: Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
Sirius had forgotten how majestic the golden gating separating the outside world from heaven was. It glistened in the sunlight, in contrast to the bleached clouds underneath their feet endlessly stretching into eternity. In the distance was a soft triumphant song.
St. Pete stood at his station, his staff in his right hand. His glow was steady, at peace with his station in the afterlife. Sirius hoped he could find such peace beyond those gates, or at least a place to belong.
The scene would have been perfect, if not for the spirit beside Severus.
Sirius' glow lessened as he turned to Severus. The other spirit's glow such a dark shade of indigo it was almost as dark as the shade of his robe. Beside Severus stood St. Dismas. The Good Thief's glow was dull, as if he regretted his role in the whole affair.
At a loss of what to do, Sirius put a hand on Severus' back and massaged him. The other spirit gave him a glance as the darkness began to lift from his essence. He mouthed his thanks. In return, Sirius gave him a smile.
"Thank you for your patience."
The spirits turned to the figures standing before the gate. The Creator's hair was neatly curled, her skin more translucent than Sirius remembered. The Creator's glow was the brightest yellow Sirius had ever seen. The scars were less pronounced than they'd been in the courtroom. Paraclete hovered above them, his feathers whiter than the clouds. His eyes were dark as a black hole, betraying no emotion, save love.
"We needed to wait for the right time to appear," the Redeemer began.
"We understand. Your timing is perfect, as always," Dismas knelt before the triune figure.
Sirius and Severus genuflected upon seeing St. Peter doing likewise.
"Please rise," Paraclete said in the gentlest voice Sirius had ever heard. "There is no need for such reverence at this moment."
"Although we will admit that much more reverence is being shown than when we first met either of you," the Creator mused. "That is an improvement."
"A deeper reverence is expected after a time spent in Purgatory," the Redeemer noted.
"Indeed," Paraclete mused. "And always appreciated."
The spirits all rose. Sirius' glow pulsated as he scanned the Trinity's eyes for any hint of what they had planned. He was coming up empty.
"Given that you have spent time in Purgatory, we believed it would be wisest for us to judge you out here," the Creator began.
"You should be reminded of what your reward could be," the Redeemer continued. "Should we decide you are worthy of an eternity in heaven."
"Plus, this is more beautiful than the trial room," Paraclete concluded. "It never hurts to get a change in scenery."
The other members of the Trinity nodded.
"Triune majesty." Dismas stepped forward and put a hand over his heart. "You told me the program is finished."
"It is," the Creator replied.
"Meaning it is time to revise our judgments," the Redeemer announced.
"Could you make it so Severus can be with Hermione again?"
Everyone turned to Sirius.
"What did you just say?" Paraclete asked.
"Well, it's just Severus and Hermione are in love, and I just thought since you were love, you might…well..." Sirius' voice trailed off.
"You think we should allow them to reunite in the mortal realm, not merely in the spiritual one," the Creator cut in.
"Yes."
The Trinity's expressions were impassive.
"Please." Sirius folded his hands. "It would mean so much to them of you could allow them to unite."
Severus' glow returned to its regular hue. His eyes flashed in hope.
"We see you still think you can make demands of us," the Redeemer's voice was low. "Which could be construed as arrogance."
"Please, I don't mean to demand anything from you, but if there's any way you can unite them, if you could let them be together." Sirius knelt. "Please, please do it."
"Severus will be with her soon enough," Paraclete noted. "Once he gets into heaven, he can watch over her, just as everyone else who has been separated from a loved one can."
"But it isn't the same. Surely you know that."
"True, but death is the natural order of things," the Creator noted.
"But you're God!" He threw up his hands. "Surely you can find a way around death just this once!"
The members of the Trinity glanced at each other for one long moment.
"You've already violated the laws of death once," Sirius continued. "Can't you do it again?"
"You do make a great point about us revising the laws of nature to set up this program," the Redeemer mused aloud.
"Perhaps we can shift things once again," the Paraclete replied.
Severus' glow intensified.
"But it will cost you one additional millennium in Purgatory," the Creator replied.
"What?" Sirius paled.
"If you agree to spend one more millennium in Purgatory than your original sentence, we will bring Severus back to life and allow him to spend the rest of existence with Hermione," the Redeemer offered.
"They'll even die on the same die so they spend as little time apart as possible," the Paraclete promised.
"But I have to spend two millennia in Purgatory." Sirius' voice was weak.
"You will spend the next two millennia watching your life and your afterlife flash before your eyes," the Creator replied.
"You won't be allowed to leave this time for another program," the Paraclete replied. "Once you take this deal, you can never renegotiate a new one."
"I…" Sirius looked back at Severus, whose glow was pulsating. The other spirit looked at Sirius, wide eyed as a prisoner being pardoned the day before an execution.
"Do you consent to our deal?" The Creator asked.
"Yes." Sirius returned his gaze to them, determination in his eyes. "I'll spend another millennium in Purgatory."
"No!"
Now everyone's attention was on Severus.
"You cannot seriously ask another man to suffer so another one can find joy!"
"It wouldn't be the first time someone has sacrificed themselves in the name of love," the Redeemer noted.
"Yes, but you chose to die on a cross. Nobody demanded it of you." Severus approached them. "Besides, you're God! You could control the whole thing. Sirius can't."
"Severus," Dismas called, the color drained from his essence.
"At no point were you facing eternal punishment," Severus pointed to the Redeemer. "Yet you are asking him to be tormented."
"He will be free of his torment in two millennia," Paraclete noted.
"Given that he will exist for an eternity, that is a short amount fo time," the Paraclete noted.
"One second is too long to torment someone who is acting out of love."
"Severus, please remember who you are speaking to," Dismas rushed towards him.
"Let him speak." The Redeemer replied. "He's saying nothing we haven't heard before."
Dismas stopped.
"You three claim to be all good, yet you demand that another man suffer torment just so you can follow some natural law you arbitrarily put into place." Severus stood beside Sirius.
"Severus, it's fine," Sirius stood. "I'm willing to take the extra millennium."
"No, it is not fine," Severus replied. "None of this is fine. You are not taking an additional sentence."
"But you'll see Hermione again. Isn't that what you want more than anything?"
"Not at your expense. I won't do it at your expense."
"Does this mean you do not consent to his revised sentence?" The Creator asked.
"Be aware that if you refuse to take it, you will have to wait much longer to be in the same realm as Hermione," the Paraclete noted.
"No, I do not consent to this," Severus said.
"Why not?" Sirius asked. "You love Hermione! Why are you throwing away decades with her over me?"
"Because I will see her again soon, much sooner than your ridiculous new sentence is. Besides," Severus' voice was softer. "I consider you a good friend, too good a friend to make this sacrifice."
"Which is why you are both granted immediate entry into heaven," the Creator announced.
Sirius and Severus' eyes grew as they turned to the triune majesty.
"Sirius, you were sent to Purgatory for selfishness and your reckless disregard for Severus' life," the Redeemer replied.
"Your recent actions have shown that you have truly repented of those sins," Paraclete replied.
"How does this prove I've repented of everything? I couldn't have only been in Purgatory because of how I treated Severus."
"True, your sins were so numerous even Metatron struggled to keep track of them," the Creator noted.
"Still, we figured if you were willing to sacrifice yourself for a man you considered your mortal enemy, then you understand the self-sacrificial love necessary for heaven," the Redeemer said.
"Given that love is about self-sacrifice, we find you a perfect candidate for heaven," Paraclete answered.
Sirius' glow returned to its regular hue.
"Assuming that's what you want," the Creator cut in.
"What do you mean if that's what I want?" Sirius asked. "Of course it's what I want! I want out of that awful room. Where else would I want to be?"
"Not necessarily in heaven proper." St. Pete approached the spirits.
Sirius kept his gaze on St. Pete.
"You've said on numerous occasions you don't like the idea of sitting around and reading philosophy all day."
"I could use a break from Aristotle."
"Most people with your kinds of sins of sloth and viciousness are sent to the intake room in Purgatory," the Redeemer began.
"But James was there, and after finding so little to do in life, any work would feel like a slice of heaven," Paraclete flapped its wings.
"So we chose the TV punishment knowing you would spend more time resenting us than learning anything," the Creator replied.
"But now that you're reformed, we think your talents could be best served elsewhere in eternity," the Redeemer said.
"W-where?" Sirius asked.
"Here," Paraclete answered. "In the Purgatory Program."
"I don't get it," Sirius' glow dulled. "If I'm saved, why do I have to go through this again?"
"You won't be a participant. You'll be helping Dismas and St. Peter run it," the Creator answered.
"Assuming you don't drive them crazy first." The Redeemer shot a glance at his former disciple.
"I'm going to spend an eternity with Sirius anyway," St. Pete grinned. "I think I can handle being his colleague."
"It would be a great comfort to other souls to see someone who has graduated," Dismas stood beside the spirits. "I would be honored to have him as a colleague."
"What do you think of our new offer?" Paraclete asked.
"What do I think?" Sirius' glow brightened. "I say when can I start!"
Even Severus cracked a smile.
"As for you, Severus," the Creator began. "You were a harder case to judge."
"We meant it when we said you'd experienced more purgation than most of the souls who have been in Purgatory for eight centuries," the Redeemer noted.
"Still, you did not know how to give or receive love," Paraclete added. "You needed someone to teach you how to do so."
Severus' glow returned to its blue hue.
"You have learned to love not only Hermione, but a former enemy. For that, we will admit you to heaven," the Creator replied.
"Assuming that's what you want," the Redeemer added.
"How could it not be what I want?" Severus asked. "I have wanted peace all my life. Isn't heaven all about peace?"
"Heaven is peace, but your peace is also with Hermione," Paraclete answered.
Severus bowed his head.
"Given how unusual this whole program is, we have decided that if you would like, you may return to earth to resume your life," the Creator replied.
Severus glanced up.
"You mean, this entire time he could've remained on earth?" Sirius asked.
"Only if he chooses to return there," the Redeemer answered.
"Will I be allowed to return to heaven when I die?" Severus asked.
"If your existence keeps on the trajectory it's on, then you will be a straight shot," Paraclete replied.
"But I can return?"
"Yes," the Creator answered. "When it is your time once again, we will recall you to heaven, assuming you live out the lessons we have taught you."
"And I can be with Hermione again?"
"If that's how you chose to spend your time, then yes," the Redeemer replied.
"I would love nothing more than that," Severus was as bright as the Trinity. "I want to live once more with her!"
"Wait, how are you going to do this?" Sirius asked.
"We're the Trinity, we can do whatever we would like," Paraclete sounded as if this was the most obvious statement in existence.
"Then why don't you bring more people back to life?" Sirius asked.
"That is for us to know, and mortals to never fully comprehend," the Creator answered.
"Though the theories do amuse us." There was a gleam in the Redeemer's eyes.
"But none have completely captured our essence," Paraclete replied. "Though a few have come close."
"But if we keep searching, then we'll have something to do, giving our lives some kind of meaning," Sirius noted.
"Exactly," all three replied in unison.
"I suppose the philosophers have to have something to do," Sirius muttered.
"Indeed they do," Severus answered before turning to Dismas. His glow and expression softened. "Will you be fine with my absence?"
Dismas tilted his head.
"You mentioned that you could use a friend. I would not want to leave you without someone who understands you," Severus continued.
"I have plenty of other friends, though none quite as close as you."
Severus frowned.
"Still, you won't be gone for long," Dismas replied. "We'll see each other soon enough."
"I know, but I will miss you." Severus was light blue.
"I will be watching over you when I'm not keeping Sirius in line," Dismas promised.
Uncertainty lingered in Severus' expression.
"Go be happy. We will meet again," Dismas promised.
"I'm counting on you being at the gates when I return."
"I'll be there." Dismas embraced him.
Sirius was certain his eyes would have misted had there been tears in heaven. If he was honest, being tearless still took time to get used to. Nothing expressed emotions like tears, even if he'd hated weeping in life. Now that they were gone, he almost missed them. How else could he express aloud the emotions welling in his essence?
"Sirius?"
He jolted from his thoughts.
"Behave for Dismas and St. Peter," Severus floated towards him. "I do not want to meet a premature end because they could no longer handle you."
"I'll behave as best I can." Sirius batted his eyes.
"That's what I fear," Severus muttered.
"You'd better treat Hermione right." Sirius poked him in the chest. "I'll find a way to come down there if you don't."
"I will take care of her as best I can," Severus replied.
"And remember everything I taught you," Sirius continued. "Never apologize with a 'but,' wash your hair every once in awhile, and don't be a bore. If things get too bad, read to her. She loves that, almost as much as she loves you."
"I will remember all of that."
"Good, then there's only one thing left to do!" Sirius pressed the other spirit against his chest.
Severus returned the embrace, sending a jolt of love through them.
"I'll miss you," Sirius began. "Don't be afraid to say 'hi' via prayer every once in awhile."
"Don't be afraid to find a way to say. 'hi' too," Severus answered.
"I will every time I'm off work."
For another long moment, they remained in each other's embrace. Finally, they broke apart.
"Are you ready to resume your new life?" The Creator asked.
"I am." Severus' eyes gleamed with joy.
"Then your life is now your own once more." The Redeemer snapped his fingers.
Severus disappeared before them.
"That will be all for us," Paraclete began. "Now go out into the afterlife and spread the good news of redemption!"
With that, the Trinity disappeared, leaving the saints to begin the rest of their afterlives.