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Life...is it's own reason
|HPTC-Helaine WrathStorme|
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Part 18 Aeternum Cease
Dumbledore's chambers...
He was dying. Both figures in the room knew it. He didn't have to die- it was more of a conscious choice than an inevitable destiny. Albus Dumbledore believed that every person chose their own destiny.
"So, Tom, what did you want?" He asked, as he would have fifty years ago when Riddle was his student.
"You and I both know, Dumbledore, that you have made the choice to die." Riddle, on the other hand, spoke to Dumbledore as an adversary.
"Yes."
"A foolish choice. Those who are bonded with the Phoenix need not die."
"But I won't be dying altogether, Tom. You see, I've spent an eternity. Living, dying and being reborn in a endless cycle. Quite like Fawkes. I will be reborn."
"But after a tremendous waste of time! You will have to grow from a little babe yet again."
"The world is unready for eternity."
"I want you to die altogether." Dumbledore's eyebrow twitched.
"Why should I?" He asked, his voice still pleasant.
"Don't tell me you've forgotten about Senna- your precious little daughter." Fire blazed into Dumbledore's eyes.
"If you've done anything to my-"
"Relax- she's fine. Why would I hurt the woman who loves me?" Voldemort laughed, ridiculing Dumbledore with his measured words. "That's the supreme agony, isn't it? The fact that she loves me and sees you as the enemy."
"Did you merely come to gloat? I thought you wanted to say something important."
The red eyes narrowed to serpentine slits. "An exchange of relatives, my dear Dumbledore. Your daughter for mine."
Albus laughed, a steely glint in his blue eyes. "Why should I even want Senna back? She is only bonded to me by blood. She is your daughter by mind."
"See how parallel our situations are, Dumbledore? Don't pretend you don't care for her. I know you care for her because I care for Celeste."
"Celeste mightn't be your daughter."
Voldemort caressed his wand thoughtfully. "But then again, she might. She too, is only bonded me by blood- her mind is filled with your wiles."
"What's the use of having my daughter back if I can't be with her? See reason, Tom!"
Voldemort sighed exaggeratedly. "The girl and the Potter boy- I will give you both for my daughter."
Dumbledore flinched slightly and crossed his arms. "I agree to those terms."
"Come, let us prepare the Finity ritual."
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Draco's chambers, the next morning...
Hermione stirred from her sleep. She felt arms around her body and pulled herself into a sitting position. "Draco..." She breathed, softly touching his pale hair. She smiled and slowly settled back down, trying not to wake him.
His eyelids flickered and opened, the grey orbs of his eye unfocused. They regarded her, uncomprehending, for a moment before expression seeped into them. "Good morning..." He smiled. "How are you feeling?"
"Good..."
He touched her cheek and drew her closer in a kiss. She could feel his left arm hooked around her waist, caressing the crook of her back. There was a tangible tension in the air. Hermione was unsure of how to act. Draco wondered if anything had changed...
"Everything's changed." Hermione said, simply.
Draco grimaced. "Hermione, you're not allowed to read thoughts."
She giggled a little. "What more opportune time?"
"Saucy little thing, aren't you?"
"You didn't seem to mind last night."
"Oh, so, that's how it is!" He laughed and suddenly stopped- consternation on his face. "But you're right...where do we go from here, Mia?"
"I don't know, Draco. You're the one with experience." She said, a trifle bitterly.
He narrowed his eyes. "You think I have experience being in love?" He demanded.
"I'm sorry." She whispered, tucking a loose strand of his blond hair behind his ear. "But, Draco, were we ever going anywhere?"
He looked away. "I think we both knew it would end this way."
"Don't talk about the end now. We still have time." A frantic knock sounded at the door, followed by the sound of a person stumbling into a room. "What the hell?" Hermione drew the blankets around her frame.
Ron stood in front of the both of them, his eyes gleaming and skin pale. He didn't even register Draco and Hermione in bed together. "Harry- Harry's gone!"
"What?" Hermione shot up straight, her expression aghast. Her first reaction was surprise, but then sympathy for Ron. He has to go through this all over again... She remembered. Molly Weasley had been kidnapped by Voldemort when Ron had been in sixth year. She could still remember his guilt-ridden face and weary eyes as if it were yesterday.
"Fleur and Harry- gone...someone- see them- go the Other Side." Draco was pulling on a pair of black silk trousers already. He stretched into a dark crimson sweater and ran his fingers through his hair once. Hermione used the sheets as a makeshift toga and walked into the bathroom. She didn't even pay heed to her reflection or the outfit she was wearing.
Draco looked handsome, but worn out. The strain of war was beginning to tell on him. He held Mia's hand as they walked into the hallway.
"Sorceror Valwracen..." Draco turned, his expression clouding at the sight of a Dementor.
"Reil, what is it?" His tones were clipped and cursory.
"We are satiated with souls, Sorceror." He bowed low. "It is necessary to dispose of them."
"Dispose-" Draco scrunched his eyes up. "Ah, Blacknight. You need to deposit your souls in Blacknight." He bit his lip and waved a hand. "Consider it done."
The Dementor bowed lower. "Thankyou, Master."
Hermione looked slightly sickened as she followed Ron. Within moments, they were outside Dumbledore's rooms. Ron knocked twice, shivering as the pale shafts of dawnlight pierced the clouds. His red eyes turned to vicious slits and his hands started to tremble.
Light touched his arm and he drew it away, yelping in pain- a cruel black scar remained where the light had been. His flesh looked charred.
"Are you- alright?" Hermione asked, trying not to be afraid of her friend.
"I-am...yes, alright." Ron was slowly learning to master his thoughts and speak as a sentient being.
"Dammit! Where the fuck is Dumbledore?" Draco cursed again and pulled out his staff. "Alohomora!" The doors flung wide open.
With a startled cheep, Fawkes burst out of the room. His feathers were dull and he emitted low, pained noises. Ron stumbled inside. "Professor! Pro-"
He stopped.
Hermione started to quiver. One shrill scream of disbelief was wrung from her lips before she collapsed onto the floor. Draco's lips twisted, a muscle went in his temple. "Slytherin's Grave..." He whispered. "This can't be."
Ron snapped, the intense emotion bringing out the beast within the man. He bared his teeth, salivating. Froth coated the corners of his lips. His eyes were wide, fear in their every movement. With an agitated snarl he pushed his way past Draco and into the fresh air.
A yowl of misery shred the stillness. The sun was completely up by now, Ron was coated in scalding sunlight. Draco rushed out, trying to pull him back. Ron fought, not understanding that Draco was trying to help him.
He tried to sink his teeth into the soft flesh and managed. A bite sustained for more than five seconds would turn a person into a vampire. The long fangs punctured the pale skin- a second later the vampire drew away, coughing up the blood sucked from the Sorceror's body.
He spat it out with every spasm, glaring at Draco. "Evil-poisoned blood." He choked out, crumpling to his knees. Draco inched closer and grabbed Ron's shirt, trying to drag him back into the relative safety of the room. The vampire resisted, using his claw-like nails to dig into the porcelain flesh. From far off, the dragon Alyewn bugled her distress, receiving pain from her mind-bonded.
Draco pushed him off and slunk away. "Dammit- Weasley, let me help you."
Ron screamed, a noise more chilling and more sustained that the whistling of a piccolo. As Draco closed the door with a resigned sigh, blackness consumed Ron's very flesh. He stopped twitching and stood upright for a complete moment before imploding in a flash of light. It was like the sun had burrowed into him and had consumed itself in a fiery suicide.
"I'm sorry Weasley." Draco said, before shutting the door completely. He was still in semi-shock. He stumbled back to the room.
The walls were splattered with blood. The red liquid formed complex elliptical patterns. Candles flickered, casting eerie shadows onto the wall. Incense thickened the air and black powder formed an oval in the centre of the room.
Albus Dumbledore levitated above it, his arms spread out and legs crossed over- suspended on an invisible cross. His chin was thrust upward at an impossible angle, eyes open and glassy. Blood dripped from punctures on his forehead, but no crown of thorns was visible. Slanting slashes bit deep into his skin, showing the whiteness of his bone underneath.
Draco had seen paintings of the Crucifixion, but he never thought he would see it himself. Dumbledore's white hair cascaded down his shoulders, his facial muscles were lax. He looked innocent- almost divine. Even death could not rob the great man of his dignity. Draco exhaled slowly.
"Enervate.." He said, pulling Hermione into his arms. Her fingers twitched and her eyes slowly fluttered open.
"Draco- oh God...oh God- look..." Her face twisted into a mask of misery. "Dumbledore's...he's dead."
Draco nodded. "The Finity Ritual." He said, hollowly. "He must have been a demon."
"A...a what?"
"Demon."
---
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Senneca's chambers...
"No!" Senna screamed, pushing the man away. "That's not true!"
"Senna, my dearest, it is." Voldemort shook his head sadly. "I told you the whole story."
She took two steps away from him. "You killed my mother and stole me from my father? You loved me because you wanted- revenge?"
Voldemort sighed. "Senna, darling- my sweet, it was like that in the beginning. And then I grew to truly love you."
He paused a second, waiting for the effect of his words- but to the Dark Lord's great surprise and chagrin she laughed. Senna Liebermann threw back her head and laughed. "Love?" She asked, finally. "You don't know the first thing about Love- don't even speak to me of it! You are killing me with your Love!"
"Now, Senna, sweet, let's not get hysterical."
"Did you put a spell on me to love you? Did you?"
Voldemort shrugged. "No."
"You're lying!"
"Only at first- then you grew to love me!" He said, his voice frantic.
"You lying, conniving, traitorous bastard!" She spat, her clear blue eyes accusatory. She drew herself up to her full height. "MudBlood." She hissed menacingly, using the only term Voldemort was ashamed of. "MudBlood Filth!"
Voldemort's face went chalky grey. He gasped out quick breaths, his fingers twitching. "What did you call me?" He asked, his voice a whisper, reacting instinctively. His mind wasn't working- he pointed his wand straight at her and whispered two ill-begotten words. "Avada Kedavra."
Green light shot out of his wand, speeding toward Senna. She merely smiled, her eyes alight with the same blue fire that burned in Albus Dumbledores'. The light hit her full in the chest, she was pushed back with a gasp. The Dark Lord's eyes widened as the light reflected from her, heading for him.
"Oh God, no!" He yelled, his muggle past surfacing. He lifted an arm to try and shield himself from the blow but to no avail. The green light was absorbed into his body, and with a convulsive jerk Tom Marvolo Riddle fell down dead.
Senna pried the wand from his dead fingers. "My father died to keep me alive. Just like Harry Potters' mother died to keep him alive." She bent close to him, her fingers in his hair, knowing that the wisp of his spirit was probably in the room. "Remember that next time, fool."
Nearby the door, the thin stream of consciousness, all that was left of the Great Dark Lord, whimpered softly and floated out of the room.
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Three hours later, in the Strategy room...
Of course, the war was over. Both Dumbledore and Voldemort were, effectively, dead. Many of the Dark Lord's followers had slunk back into the Coalition HorseShoe, claiming that they had been under the Imperius Curse. It was just like when Voldemort had disappeared before. The Ministry of Magic, especially the Unspeakables, were going wild. Blacknight was now manacled in a barn next to Alyewn and the Dementors had rid themselves of the excess souls.
Senna Liebermann was being touted as the 'new Harry Potter', the Girl Who Lived. Her name was Senna Dumbledore now, though she had refused to drop Liebermann- proud of her mother. It was queer how like Harry's her own life was. After the TimeFreeze dissipated, she would be sent to live with her uncle Aberforth Dumbledore in Alaska for a few years. She wasn't particularly looking forward to it, having heard stories about his nocturnal habits all alone with the goats in the desolate mountain reaches.
Harry was standing at the head of the table, his expression grim. Ginny Weasley had her arm on his shoulder, her bright eyes dull and lifeless. Hermione was sobbing softly on Draco's shoulder. Senna was slumped on the table, reading some old letters Dumbledore had written to Anna, her mother. Celeste was sitting on Blaze's lap, tears running down her face, while Chaos had her arms folded and eyes narrowed. Padma was trying extremely hard not to look guilty and failing miserably. Sylvoren was eyeing Senna apprehensively.
"It's all over." Nobody responded. Harry's face contorted. "Didn't you fucking hear me? The war's over. We won."
"Oh three sodding cheers, Potter. Now can we go back down to the depths of misery or would you like us to pretend it's all okay for you." Draco hissed, sarcasm oozing out of him. "Magic's End, I can even smile if it'll make you feel better."
"Oh shut up, Draco, he's been through a lot." Padma snapped.
"Oh, and we bloody well haven't."
"Your best friend didn't die- your mentor didn't kill himself!" She yelled, standing up. Senna stood up simultaneously.
"My father didn't kill himself." She said, through gritted teeth. "Riddle killed him."
"Well I lost my only chance of having a father!" Celeste cried out. "Maybe he was evil- but damn it, he might have been my father!"
"Stop it!" Chaos screamed shrilly. "I know we're all frustrated, but this isn't the time."
"Frustrated?" Hermione whispered. "That's the understatement of the millennium!"
Before anyone could say another word a hush descended on the room. A palpable, living silence, creeping in through the cracks in the doorway, filling the room slowly.
All of a sudden bright white light flashed in the room. It dimmed a little, receding into a swirling spiral portal. It looked like a vortex suspended in midair. Hermione gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as she remembered a passage from the Book of Ascension, given to her by Empress Azaelyste.
"The time has come." She said, simply, standing up.
Sylvoren laughed, standing up, her hair flying as she recited a prophecy.
"When the Trident is replaced,
All humanity will be embraced,
Pure light will descend from the skies,
Coating mortal, fool or wise.
Trident three must step willingly into,
The spiral portal they Ascend through,
There a test of truth awaits
Before they can pass through fire-gates."
Draco grinned, pulling Hermione's hand into his and motioning for Harry. "You heard what the lady said- let's go."
Before the words were out of his mouth, Harry Potter had pushed in front of him and leaped head first into the Portal. As the last of Draco and Hermione's body slipped through the interdimensional rift, the world was cloaked in pure white light.
---
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The Plane of the Trident...
Helaine Wrathstorme smiled as Harry Potter was pulled into the Trident's Plane. She had confined her consciousness in human form once more. Gravero had deemed it necessary. She smiled wanly, her blue eyes troubled as she extended a hand in greeting. Draco and Hermione arrived simultaneously. The portal remained open for a few seconds and then closed with a small pop.
"Welcome, contenders." She said, loudly. "Welcome to the Trident's Plane. I am Helaine WrathStorme..." She closed her eyes for a second and two blurry forms detached themselves from her and began to sharpen. "That-he is Gravero Gryffindor and he is Sorceror Daemersgrale."
Harry looked bewildered, Draco was impassive and Hermione had the same rapt look on her face as when she explored the Egyptian pyramids during her third-year summer. Helaine smiled again, but the quality of it was strained.
"If you pass the tests ahead of you- you will assume the position of the Trident." She took a deep breath. "Allow me to explain- the Trident are a group of three Wizards, as you know. Every thirteen mortal aeons, the Ascension takes place, and if the contenders are worthy, the Trident is replaced. If not, they are killed. We have been the Trident for thirty-nine aeons."
Draco made an coughing noise in the back of his throat. "That's encouraging."
"It was not meant to be encouraging, Sorceror Valwracen. Be warned, those who fall from the Trident in just thirteen aeons are cast deep into the torturous pits of Remembrance." Helaine's astute gaze was weary with the troubles of all the world. "The Trident control the destiny of the World. Do not look so shocked, there is free will- in fact, free will is how destiny is formed. You see, Time, in it's mortal form, runs only forwards. In the Trident's plane, time has no meaning- everything that will happen has already happened. That is the reason mortal time runs forward- to catch up with itself."
"But- that means that there must be an- End...a time when time catches up to itself." Hermione's lips trembled. "The End of everything...."
Helaine graced her with a rare and radiant smile. "Yes. At that moment, the Mortal plane will self-implode and Time will once more start again. Not much is known about the Genesii- for that is what they are called. Genesii. The Trident control destiny subconsciously, their minds have already been searched by the Book of Destiny, so Destiny knows the decisions The Trident will make when faced with a certain set of circumstances. Larger decisions, however, must be discussed and any interference with the Mortal Plane must be authorised by all Three members of the Trident. If the Trident are tardy with their decision, the fabric of Mortal Reality is stretched- reality becomes Threadbare, you may say." A deep gong sounded, vibrating the ground underneath their feet. "Face your daemons, contenders- the time has come. Luck be with you all."
Before any of the three could respond, the ground fell away beneath them and they fell into three separate areas of testing. Above, Helaine Wrathstorme sighed.
"Good luck, contenders." She whispered, crystal tears wending down her features. "Succeed so that we may die at last."
---
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Draco's test...
Draco gathered himself to his feet, looking around cautiously. Darkness billowed all around him like a congealing cloak. For a few seconds, nothing happened- the stillness was unbroken except for his own quick gulps of breath.
"Draco."
The pale blond boy whirled around, his grey eyes meeting with electric blue. For a second, he faltered, not knowing what to say. "F-Father?" He swallowed and brushed his hair back, confidence returning to him as he clutched the wand in his hand. "Father."
"Yes, Draco. I am glad you accept that. I am your father and however much you may dislike or abhor this- it is a fact. I will always be your father." The voice was cold, it matched perfectly with Lucius Malfoy's face.
"You watched him kill my mother- you watched him kill Narcissa." Draco said, his tone once more imbued with emotion. "How dare you call yourself my father?"
"She was a traitor, Draco. Narcia Havisham. Spy." He hissed, his eyes narrowing. "But I- loved- her...I loved her so..." Lucius' voice broke, but he continued nonetheless. "But that is what a true Malfoy would do- whatever the emotional costs, the Higher Purpose must be achieved! You are a failure, Draco. You have failed the Malfoy family." Draco's eyes were afraid now, terrified. They darted around, looking for an avenue of escape.
"No..." He said, faintly.
"Oh but you are! You love a MudBlood, you consort with Harry Potter, you joined with that old fool Dumbledore in the war. You have disgraced the name of Malfoy!"
Draco raised himself to his feet. "I have not! You, you and all the others like you- they have disgraced the Malfoy lineage! We were not meant to be servile simperers, forever at some others' beck and call! We are not cowards- we uphold our honour, father. You have no honour." His voice was filled with pure, destroying scorn. Draco's staff was glowing dangerously, he looked ready to murder Lucius. "You are unfit to be a Malfoy!"
A heartbeat passed, and Lucius Malfoy laughed. "Perhaps, Draco. Will you kill me, then? I am your father, be always aware of this fact. Here I am now- kill me. I watched Narcia being murdered by my master- kill me." Draco's eyes filled with murder as he raised his wand, light crackling all around it's tip. Lucius Malfoy laughed once more, an unsettling, unearthly laugh. "Kill me, Draco...you don't even have the courage!"
From the depths of his soul, he found strength. "No. I will let you live."
"I murdered your mother, I drove away your sister, I would kill you if my master commanded it." Lucius stepped closer. "I killed your mother! You are not even man enough to kill me Draco- you weak, abhorrent foundling!"
"Live, Lucius- I will not become like you. I have the courage not to kill you. I loathe you, I detest you- and that is why I shall let you live." Draco said, and the world melted away around him.
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Harry's test...
The world around Harry was dark. Soft soil crunched beneath his bare feet, he groped for his wand in his pockets but it was not to be found. Harry stumbled ahead, his arms outstretched to meet any obstacles in his path.
With a soft thwap his knees came into contact with cold, hard stone. "What the-?"
Slowly, his eyes focussed enough to make out a dark horseshoe shaped object jutting side-by-side from the ground. He ran his fingers over the lettering. "James Amadeus Potter and Lily Franklin Potter- loving wife and husband." Harry stumbled backwards, his eyes bleary with saline tears.
A cold hand touched his shoulder and he spun around, pulling the sword from his belt in a fluid movement. The steel clattered to the floor as the Boy Who Lived stood, gaping and speechless at the person in front of him. "Mum? Mum!"
"Oh, Harry..." Her voice was weighed down by sadness. Lily Potter stood, in all her beautiful glory, not a pale ghost but a living, breathing person. "Welcome."
"Welcome where?" He asked, his voice muffled from being buried in her shoulder.
Lily laughed, a low and fruity sound. "To the Afterlife, Harry darling- don't look quite so surprised, dear." Her words were comforting and her tone soothing.
Harry's brow furrowed and he took a few steps back. "I can't be dead!" He repeated, over and over. "I can't be!"
"That's what we all felt, Harry. You died saving the world from- Voldemort. You died bravely- James and I were so proud of you." Harry's eyes lit up at the mention of his father's name. "That's right- James is waiting to see you. We all are- Sirius, Remus, Narcia, Dumbledore- we're all together now, son." Slowly, tentatively she slipped her arms around Harry's now broad shoulders, hugging him tightly. "We've missed you so!"
"I can't be dead."
"Look." She pointed to a smaller, less noticeable gravestone. Harry could read the gleaming lettering from where he stood. Harrison James Potter- Gryffindor's Own. "I'm sorry, Harry- but at least now you can be with us..."
"What about Hermione...and Draco and Azaelyste?" He murmured to himself. Lily's shoulders sagged and she began to cry softly, hardly making any sound. "Mum, what's wrong?" Harry asked, encircling the comparatively diminutive woman in his arms.
"I just thought you'd be-be- glad to see us after so long...we've watched you. Watched you grow up and become such a wonderful, brave man. They don't need you there an more. Hermione and Draco, they've got each other. And Azaelyste- she isn't human, Harry. And your friend Ron's here too, along with one of his brothers. Live happily here, Harry."
"They need me- it's not my time to die. It can't be." Harry said, an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach. "There has to be a way to go back there."
"There isn't." Lily seemed to be avoiding his eyes.
"Mum- you're not telling me something."
Lilly cried out in frustration, her eyes ineffably sad. "This wasn't your time. You can go back there. It's just- you'll never see us again. Even if you die- you'll be in a different realm." Lily held on to Harry's hand like it was a lifeline. "Harry- you'll never be with us. Ever. Just come with me and we can live together- a family- our family."
Lily let go of his arm and then held out her right hand. "Come." She said, simply. "Come home."
Home. I want to go home... Harry Potter took his mother's hand, lifted it to his lips and kissed it. "Goodbye mum. I love you. Say goodbye to dad for me."
Tears ran down Lily Potter's face as her arms dropped to her side. "Goodbye Harrison. We are always proud."
Harry turned and was enveloped in a velvet black darkness.
---
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The Plane of the Trident...
Helaine WrathStorme smiled, the exhaustion clinging to her body like a mist had melted away. She watched as Harry, Draco and Hermione lifted themselves from the floor and dusted themselves off and was reminded painfully of her own test. "Congratulations." She said softly.
"You have all passed- with flying colours. Draco, you found strength within yourself to do the right thing. You were right- you do have courage. Harry, you learned that love sometimes means letting go. You made the right decision- you were not tempted by personal gain."
"Was that- real?" Harry asked in a whisper.
"No. Do not concern yourself- none of the people in the Tests were real." Helaine turned to Hermione, regarding her with an almost maternal air. "And Hermione, you realised that you possess the ability for Unconditional Love." Helaine lifted her arms. "Henceforth, you may never speak of these tests, not amongst yourselves nor to others."
"What's- what's going to happen now?" Hermione asked.
"Have you ever wondered why we are called the Trident- not the Triad?" Helaine asked, still smiling. "It is because of this ritual."
Daemersgrale was behind them, holding a large gleaming metal Trident in his hand. One spoke was copper, interlaced with sapphire, another silver with emeralds embedded in it's surface and the last spoke was burnished gold with glittering rubies set into it's splendor. The hilt was a swirling mass of all three metals, like interwoven threads, making a seemingly neverending pattern.
"That is the Trident of Life. The three metals represent the three main components of life- Good, Evil and Intelligence- the hilt shows individual life. You must learn- we are all part of a pattern. Every choice we make, every destiny we conceive all fits within it. Every choice we could, would or should possibly make has already been made."
"Then what's the point- why all this Life?" Draco asked, his voice husky.
Helaine smiled once more, her even white teeth gleaming. "Life...is it's own reason."
Before any of them could react, Daemersgrale stabbed each of them once with cold, quick precision. Hermione held her stomach, the triple wound oozing crimson blood as she looked with shock on her face at the smiling countenance of Helaine. "What are you doing?"
Helaine did not reply, instead put her fingers on Hermione's wound, digging into the flesh till blood dripped over her hands. Daemersgrale and Gryffindor were doing the same to their heirs. Helaine stood, an ethereal wind blew her hair and robes back.
"With this blood, we purchase freedom. With this blood we bind three new." She yelled into the wind, marking her forehead with the red liquid. The Trident began to pulsate, throwing off a white light. "Aeternum Cease."
The three of the Trident stiffened- the winds increased to gales. With a crystalline shudder, the bodies of the Trident turned to sparkling dust and were borne away by the wind. All that remained was the glowing, bloodstained Trident, glowing feebly in the enclosing gloom.
---
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The Mortal Plane...
Darkness descended, the bright lights were gone. Hermione, Draco and Harry awoke simultaneously- each disbelieving of what they had experienced. White walls surrounded them, Hermione looked to one side and found herself connected to various magical monitoring devices. She shifted in her bed and tried to sit up, wincing from the pain that boiled in her stomach.
A prim nurse came into the room. "You're awake!" She exclaimed, pressing her SpellCom (Tm) InterPersonal Communicator bar on her shoulder. "Doctor Casterleigh. Our patients have woken up." The nurse tapped the bar again and busied herself fluffing up their pillows until the door creaked open.
Chaos walked in.
She wasn't exactly Chaos- her clothes were much different, she was now wearing a lab overcoat and surgeons gloves. Her demeanor seemed changed somehow, calmer and happier. "Thankyou Amanda. That will be all." She nodded authoritatively at the nurse, who walked out of the room without comment. Chaos smiled at the others, reaching for Draco's forehead to feel his life-force. "Welcome to St Mungo's."
"Chaos?" Harry asked, weakly. "That you under all that doctor-ness?"
"My name's Elizabeth. Lady Elizabeth Casterleigh, if we're going into titles. Father was nobility." She commented, moving over to check Harry.
"How long have we been unconscious?" Hermione asked, business-like as usual.
"Eighteen days." Chaos said briefly, biting her lip. "We've been worried. Especially when you began to injure yourselves spontaneously- it was a shock, coming in in the middle of the night and seeing three identical bloodstains on each of you."
Chaos moved over to Hermione with a quick nod at Harry. "You all seem to be quite normal." She said, at length. "The wounds are healing amazingly fast."
Draco pulled himself into sitting position. "What's been happening?"
"The world's been re-arranging itself. You've missed a lot. It's like a whole new reality." Chaos said, watching in bewilderment as the three patients exchanged glances. "But everything's pretty much back to normal- the TimeFreeze was deactivated the day after you went into a coma. Hogwarts is getting itself ready for a new batch of students, Azkaban's packed full once more." Chaos noted the look on Draco's face. "You got it right- the Dementors are back. Everything's better than it was- people are all smiling, there's an atmosphere of openness. It's like evil never existed."
"That's- good- right?" Harry said, uncertainly. "But Voldemort would have survived. It's simply a matter of time."
Chaos-Elizabeth, nodded. "But a long, long time we're hoping. You guys have got a lot of publicity." Chaos looked down at her notes. "So many people came to see you- Senneca, Celeste, Blaze, Ginny, Percy, Padma..." She counted off on her fingers. "And Draco- your father-"
"If you're going to say he came to see me I'll throw up." He drawled, a disgusted expression on his elfin features.
"Er- no. He's in Azkaban."
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Two weeks later...
Harry looked up from his desk, hearing the rap on his door. Professor McGonagall, the new principal of Hogwarts, had lent him a room on top of the library since he didn't have a home of his own. Draco and Hermione were at Malfoy Manor- soon to be renamed Valwracen Hall- and though they had extended an invitation, Harry hadn't wanted to interrupt their 'honeymoon'.
"Come."
The door opened a crack, and was then pushed open with decisive force. "Harry." There was only one person that melodious voice could belong to. Fleur Delacour undulated in, her beauty even more breathtaking than the last time he had seen her.
"Fleur." Harry said, managing to keep his tone free of rancour.
"Please Harry. I came to apologeese." Her voice was of a small child's, meek and terrified. "I would do anytheeng for my sister. She is my life- I love her more zan I could evair love anytheeng. You see- my mother and father weren't really ze family type. When we were at Beauxbatons, I thought she was an annoyance, and I didn't pay any attention to 'er. She came to me one day and told me to take 'er swimming in Crystal Lake- it is nearby Beauxbatons. I refused, I was too busy wiz my friends. Gabriele went." Fleur stopped in her tale, taking a few breaths.
"She almost drowned. A seventh year boy was sweeming nearby and 'e saved 'er. I nearly lost 'er, Harry. I swore to myself that I would nevair let Gabi come to any 'arm- nevair. Even if I 'ad to die." Fleur pronounced solemnly. "They took 'er- zey took my leetle sister and zey would 'ave killed 'er if I 'ad not brought you. Please, I am sorry."
Harry listened in stony silence, his eyes on her hand outstretched to him- an olive branch of peace. She had betrayed him, but- Harry couldn't bring himself to hate her. "It's okay Fleur. I- understand."
Fleur nearly collapsed at his feet, praising Magic, her Veela Ancestry and seven minor Gaulish deities in a flow of continuous French. "Thankyou, Harry. You don't know 'ow much it means..." She straightened slightly. "Harry, I meant all those theengs I said- about my life. I really did. I broke up wiz Damien yesterday."
"So?"
"I love you, Harry."
---
||
Seven months later, St.Mungo's...
Draco paced the waiting room outside the Maternity ward, wringing his hands. "What could be taking so long?" He muttered, worried that something had gone wrong. He noted the indulgent looks of the assembled father-to-be's, all looked experienced.
"Yer first, mate?" A plain faced main in a cheap shirt asked with a wink.
"Ah-yes." Draco regarded the man with contempt. He was wearing dark glasses, and had turned his hair a darker colour so as not to be recognised. It wouldn't be- practical- to be recognised as the most feared Dark Wizard in the history of magic. Draco hadn't done a thing after the war, but the tales of his deeds while fighting and commanding had spread. Valwracen had soon replaced Voldemort in people's hearts.
There was the sound of running and the double-doors swung open as a wiry, black haired man skidded to a halt. "Draco!" He yelled, pulling the disguised man into a manly hug. "Got here as fast as I could." he gasped out, still panting from the run. "How is she?"
"They won't tell me yet. Been in there for five hours, dammit!"
The doors swung open once again and every man in the room straightened up and stared. Fleur Delacour sashayed in, attired impeccably in a dark blue evening suit, not a hair out of place and not even faintly out of breath. She kissed Draco on each cheek. "Mon cher."
"Fleur- or should I say Mrs Potter?- nice to see you." Draco commented wryly.
"Mrs Potter sounds so old, Draco, sweet. Ms Delacour is better." Fleur was about to say something else when the door to the maternity ward swung open and a nurse came out.
"Mister Granger? Could you follow me please?" Harry stifled a chuckle at Draco's choice of undercover name.
"Go on then, Mister Granger- don't stand there looking like you've seen ghost!" Harry said, pushing him in.
Hermione was lying on the bed, beads of perspiration dotting her brow. "Draco?" She called, plaintively.
"I'm here, honey. Shh..." He said, holding her hand.
The nurse returned with a baby, wrapped soundly in white cloth. "You have a beautiful baby girl." She pronounced, handing her over to Hermione.
Draco looked uncomfortable, he still hadn't told Hermione the truth. He never would. He watched her as she cradled the child in her arms, a serene aura surrounding them. The child's eyes were screwed shut and she was bawling.
"She's beautiful." Hermione breathed, touching the baby's soft cheek. "Our beautiful Draco Narcissa RavenClaw Malfoy."
"It's a mouthful, I know."
"It's a wonderful name. I know she'll like it." Draco placed an arm around Hermione, holding her protectively. Harry and Fleur came in, standing to one side, waiting for an appropriate moment.
Slowly, almost deliberately the little baby opened her eyes.
They were light, startling green.
If Hermione Granger noticed, she certainly didn't show it.
---
A/N Part 18:
Yes, I finally finished it off. Fear not- there's still the epilogue to come, I'll be tying up all the loose ends in that one. As you can see, we've gone through a major format change, and hopefully the rest of the series will be uploaded in their new format soon. I'll be redoing the first few chapters- so watch out for that.
Thankyou everyone who's helped me and inspired me- too many names to list, but you know who your are. Thankyou everyone who's reviewed- I love, love, love you all. Send me mail please.
Hermione's test was deliberately left out, so worry not about that.
I hope you've sincerely enjoyed this series and that you show this by leaving me a good, long review.
It's been so much fun writing for all of you and I'll be continuing it in the near future. The epilogue will be done as soon as possible, but I have exams in two weeks- so maybe after that.
We have a sequel and a prequel planned, and the prologues to both will be up after I'm done with this epilogue.
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