Disclaimer- I don't own HP. Terry Pratchett, Patricia C. Wrede, Adamo Redamo, the Sigma Protocol or AD&D.
A/N- Confused enough yet? Don't worry, the brunt of it is over. Hmm… I think there's only maybe 10 more chapters in this story, but I don't know quite honestly. And the time is different in the two realms, in all five actually, but it doesn't flow significantly faster or slower.
PATHWAYS
"What the fuck just happened?" Draco snarled. Dumbledore looked around and sighed in relief, they were all here.
"Albus, what is going on?" Snape asked, his voice full of confusion and wonder. They stood on a piece of earth, a gigantic floating piece of earth, they were on the edge. Below them stretch whirling gigantic clouds and the promise of a very long fall. Harry was used to heights from Quidditch, but this was something else. Seamus clutched him, one of the few things that terrified the Irish boy was heights, and this was enough to make him want to cry.
"I suggest we all trek inward, we want to be away from the Edge if the wind should pick up." Dumbledore commented. "Answers will wait until later, please follow me." He was still wearing the Sorting Hat. He began to walk inland, and the group moved to follow him, each looking uncomfortable and in the case of Dobby fearful.
"What is going on?" He moaned piteously and Hermione took pity on him.
"Come on Dobby, everyone is here, we'll be fine, we just need some time to get our bearings and then-"
"We can find out what the fuck we are doing in a place not of earth." Draco finished with a snap. Harry put a hand on his shoulder and was promptly shrugged off. Anger boiled within him and spun down their bond making Draco and Seamus flinch. Harry felt the anger boil back and it hurt, a lot.
"Damn it, I hate this bond, it controls you-" Harry growled and Dumbledore turned around.
"All of you, cease your talking and stew for a bit, we need to be farther away from the Edge." The way he kept saying the edge made Harry's neck hair stand up, and he wasn't alone. But they did as they were told, and kept walking.
"Where are they?" McGonagall wailed. Ms. Figg glared at her.
"Snap out of it Minerva, we'll find them, right double M?" Moody glared at Ms. Figg with his normal eye, the other one searching the room. The students had been sent to their dorms with the prefects watching over them, there was a giant staff meeting in the Great Hall right now.
"The question is, where have they gone?" Jacob asked quietly. "If all of us working together cannot find them I motion they are no longer on this plane, unless Albus is hiding them." He finished.
"But that would make no sense, how could they have access to the other planes, the walls are very hard to penetrate, except for those to the Realm of fire." Professor Vector inserted. Roger cleared his throat nervously, being around all these powerful wizards and witches still picked on his nerves no matter how brilliant he was.
"Well it is possible that some sort of measure was installed by the Founders, if the copy of Hogwarts a History in the teachers library is the original un edited version, they were Accesses." He said and everyone gave him an appraising glance except Moody who grinned, sort of.
"Absolutely true, but there is no pressing business here right now correct? Voldemort is dead, we have some time to breathe. Let's just relax and think before we move. Albus wouldn't put those kids in danger, and he is with them. These are some of the most powerful students Hogwarts has seen in a long time, they are special, let's give it some time." Moody said.
"I concur." Maggie Ainsley spoke up. "Let us combine our resources, and find what is going on. Jacob, can you contact your minister? Trent will speak with Cornelius, we can find this out if we work together." She said, and something about the quiet way she said it had them all nodding together.
"Do whatever you have to do, I want to find my godson and will do whatever it takes to bring him and his friends home safely." Sirius said.
"Ve all vish that, let us vork together and get them back." Victor said. "It is vhat Dumbledore vould vish."
"I am stopping now, and god damn it some one is going to tell me what we are doing here!" Draco thundered. He stomped his foot against the ground and glared at Dumbledore. Everyone else stopped as well and Dumbledore sighed. The land around them was dark and it was growing a little cold, a wind picked up. Dumbledore looked at them and smiled slightly.
"Very well then, let us go onward to that forest just ahead, and we shall set up camp." And with that he turned to walk forward. Draco began to trudge after him. Neville leaned wearily against Ron, he wasn't one for great physical activity and Ron helped him along for a second and then stopped.
"Here babe." He whispered in Neville's ear causing the boy to blush. Ron picked up Neville and began to carry him. Neville snuggled into Ron's arms and Ron marveled at how light Neville seemed before Hermione snickered and he saw her wand disappear into her robes. He smiled thankfully at her and she smiled and whispered something into Ginny's ears.
"Carry me too Draco!" Seamus squeaked imploringly, something that was truly difficult to achieve, but he did manage. Draco looked at him with a mixture of disgust and scorn. Seamus saw that and he took a mental step back, one that showed in his eyes and Draco instantly felt bad and pulled the Irish boy into a hug. Seamus smiled then and all was right for a second.
"AAAAAAAAH!" Lucius screamed as he plummeted through the air with Narcissa beside him. Suddenly they were both stopped and then they were flying up. Gazeroth had slung both of them under his arms and his great dark wings were beating fiercely as he pulled them up with him. He had grown using his own demonic powers, and was now a good 9 feet tall with maybe close to a 20 foot wingspan.
Lucius stared in wonder at the sight before him. A great floating land mass where water cascaded downwards off it into the clouds they were flying through. And by some strange miracle the water after it went a few miles bent back up and hit the bottom of the floating island with great force, obviously creating the rivers and lakes that would form on the island. It was a beautiful cycle that caught the light of the setting sun and Lucius marveled at its awesome splendor.
"Lucky I'm here you two are." Gazeorth murmured and laughed. "That did sound odd did it not?" Lucius smiled tightly and Narcissa sighed. The three flew in silence, waiting as Gazeroth's wings beat and carried them up to the Island. They had quite a ways to go when the Daemon prince spoke.
"I am going to speed up, I am going to place you into a sleep until I reach the top, understand." Lucius nodded and Narcissa murmured her assent. Gazeroth put them to sleep, and then called upon ancient powerful magic and pushed-
"So this is the Realm of Air?" King asked. "Boring." The group held varying reactions.
"What do we do now King?" Duchess asked and King shrugged and looked at Jester.
"You drug us here, what do you suggest." Jester smiled with deep wickedness in it.
"Let's find those brats and kill them."
"Sounds good to me." Queen said, and they laughed. All except Lady, who was staring at something only she could see. Jester waved his hand and the ground began to break apart until great mounds of it were there, and then he changed those into horses.
"Magic appears to work here just as well as at home, if not better. Come, let's ride!" And he jumped onto a horse as the rest did the same, then they were off.
"So this is the place?" Wormtail asked. Karkarov nodded. 'And the Slayer swore his assistance whenever we needed it?" Once again Karkarov nodded.
"Good." And the two Wraiths began to float, and then fly.
"So where are we going?" Wormtail asked again and Karkarov pointed dead ahead. Wormtail sighed and then shrugged, whatever. At this point he was to far in to turn back.
"Alright, is everyone comfortable?" Dumbledore asked. There were various assents from all those with partners, as they were in various positions of cuddling. It was so heartwarming Snape felt he would be ill.
"Yes damn it now tell us what is going on!" Draco snapped and Dumbledore rolled his eyes cheerfully.
"Really Mr. Malfoy, that is quite the temper you have there, would you care for a sweet? I find they always calm me down." Draco's eyes twitched and Dumbledore decided it would be best for the boy's sanity if he did tell them what was going on.
"Forces are at work here Draco, far greater than any you can imagine." He paused for a second. "All of you have a part to play in this." He looked at them, and they looked at each other.
"Hermione, you as you know are the Creator. Harry, you are quite obviously the lightning boy. Dobby is the Hunter, while Gilderoy is the Guide. Severus is the Traitor, and Ron is the Friend. Neville is the Sorcerer, Draco the Half-Breed and Seamus is the Healer." He paused. "Ginny I do not know, neither do I know Pansy's part in this." He glanced at the two apologetically. The red head who was leaning against Ginny and the ghost girl who hadn't said anything the whole time they'd been walking. Finally Harry voiced the question they were all itching to ask.
"What are you Headmaster?" And Dumbledore smiled with a twinkle in his eyes.
"That is for me to know, and for you to find out."
"Ah, here we are." Gazeroth said as he woke the two. Lucius groggily shook his head and looked at Narcissa.
"'Cissa, wake up." He said gently and she groaned and stretched before standing awkwardly up. The two looked at Gazeroth who had returned to his normal size. In his hands he held a gnobbly staff that he was leaning on.
"Ah good, you two are awake, let's see if we can find life on this place eh?" The daemon asked and the two nodded. "Feel up to making some horses Lucius?" Lucius shook his head.
"'Cissa's better at transfiguration than I am, 'Cissa?" Narcissa nodded and flicked out her wand, and with a couple swishes and flicks two horses appeared from two well placed rocks. She looked inquiringly at Gazeroth who just smiled and snapped his wings out, before jumping up into the air.
"Head inland, that direction, I'll watch you from the sky." And he shot up until he was a speck in the sky. Lucius looked at Narcissa and smiled.
"Ladies first." He said and helped her up onto the force before mounting his own. "This brings you back doesn't it 'Cissa?" Narcissa laughed gaily, a sound that Lucius loved deeply and the two set off into the night.
"So I think that it is about time for us to sleep." Dumbledore said. "Magic appears to work here so just hold on a second, Severus, care to help me?" Snape nodded and stood up, everyone had been fairly quiet since coming to this place, Snape was no exception.
"Hold on a second." Neville said as he stood up. He clenched his hands and began to concentrate and then- the tree branches above them began to grow and weave themselves tightly around each other. He paused and sweat was dotting his brow.
"There, we have a roof over our heads. And now-" He lifted his hands and the fire suddenly began to spiral into itself until it form a globe about the size of a basketball. "That should stay light until morning, and I don't know if I can handle sleeping bags right now." He looked at Dumbledore who smiled.
"Thank you Neville, now-" He waved his wand mumbling under his breath and purple sleeping bags popped out of thin air until there were eleven.
"I'll keep watch, I don't exactly need sleep." Pansy said quietly. Soon everyone crawled into their sleeping bags and it was just the ghost girl watching a glowing ball. Slowly, a smile spread across her face, and she vanished into the earth below her.
And then there was only silence.
"This sucks." Greg suddenly shouted and Dean nodded in sympathy.
"Couldn't have said it better myself." Blaise remarked absently.
"Oh what are we going to do?" Lavender asked. The group was sitting around the top of a small hill near the lake, a common enough spot to be in. Dean, Greg, Padma, Vincent, Parvati, Lavender and Blaise were missing the rest of their friends, and had joined together to discuss what they could do.
"Damn it, why is it always something so above us, between You-Know-Who and obscure prophecies really!" Lavender continued and then Padma looked at Parvati.
"Hey Parv, aren't those two constellations-" Parvati jumped up at what her sister was saying.
"YES! Lavender!" She looked at the other girl who jumped up in happiness. "The sleeping dragon and the seer's glass will be in alignment tonight, remember we got permission from Trelawney! We can try for that divining!" The two girls high-fived and then looked at the boys. They smiled sweetly.
"But we'll need some help guys, care to assist us?" Blaise was instantly on his feet and holding Lavender's hand.
"How could I resist helping such a lovely lady?" He asked and smiled charmingly. Lavender melted and Dean suddenly looked a little angry before quickly masking it. If Blaise wanted to play, they'd play…
"Mum, dad!" Charlie shouted as he embraced his parents. Arthur and Molly Weasley hugged their second eldest tightly and cried tears of joy. The moment was incredible, to discover that their son was still living, and yet it was poisoned with the bitter knowledge that their youngest son and daughter were gone to a place they couldn't reach, and with the boy who they had practically adopted and a girl who they had become quite attached to.
"Hmmm." Ron mumbled and smiled at Neville's sleeping form. He gently kissed the boy on the lips and his forehead. Then he yawned and stretched gently so as not to disturb the sleeping boy next to him. He reached out for a pair of pants and remembered that he only had one pair and to his horror they were gone. He stared at blankly at the spot where his clothes had been when Hermione came back into the campsite wearing a long t-shirt.
"Hey Ron." She said and went over to the fire-globe thing to warm her hands. She was revealing quite a bit of skin Ron thought absently, but they were in the wilderness and most of the guys around her were quite- well gay, she probably didn't feel too conspicuous.
"'Mione? Do you know where my clothes are?" Hermione yawned and nodded.
"Lockhart's washing them down at the river." She mumbled through the yawn and stretched. Ron furrowed his brow.
"A river? Since when was there a river anywhere near here?" He felt a sudden chill as Pansy rose up out of the ground next to him.
"I got bored last night and found one as I made sweeps around the camp site, you have to make your own fun when you're dead." Ron nodded and then laid back and put one arm around Neville making the other boy snuggle up close to him.
"Something reeks." Professor Figg snapped suddenly. Sirius looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Excuse me?" He asked and she shook her head.
"No, just…" She trailed off and reached into her notebook. She flipped to the front and read quickly.
"Ah yes, in Trelawney's first real prediction she foresaw that it would be 13 that averted the great darkness. Well only 12 people left the school. Albus, Severus, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco, Seamus, Neville, Pansy, Ginny, Lockheart and Dobby. So who's the 13th?"
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO REVEAL THE LARGE MULTIPLE DIGIT NUMBER OF HITS PER CHAPTER I AM GETTING, VERSES THE NUMBER OF REVIEWS, SO KINDLY HIT THAT BUTTON DOWN THERE AND MAKE ME A LITTLE TOO HAPPY!
GO READ "HP & The Knights of Merlin's Keep" BY MUGGLE, IT'S A GREAT STORY WITH FEW REVIEWS, SO GO READ IT, IT'S UNDER MY FAVORITES.
SHOUT OUTS-
Mizzy- Seamus is quite the naughty Irish lad isn't he? Glad to know that you enjoyed this, I'm trying to clear up the confusion with the next couple chapters. Been sick lately so that's why this took so long and is sorta short.
Myr- Confused? Yes that was the point actually… But I hope that this clears up the confusion slightly.
MistWalker- Well as long as you enjoy it, that's all that matters, the fans must be happy!
Prophetess Of Hearts- Charlie isn't a large player, he was important for a bit but he doesn't come into play until the Faery dragons return and then he- well I can't tell you can I cuz that would just ruin it for you… And Draco's parents… Well like good Slytherins, they have their ideals, but more importantly a survival plan and they love Draco unconditionally even if they have some trouble showing it at times. Evil can love, it just takes longer!
Twins of Destiny and Fate- Well Pansy died when in chapter 12 when that mysterious black cloaked figure entered the Slytherin dorm and said "Avade Kedavra" and the faery dragons are small dragons that are far more intelligent than their large cousins and have as yet unrevealed powers, I made them up myself. ^_^
Coriander- Ah yes, the 13. When people figure it out I think some heads are going to roll. Just think about it and if you have to reread a little, a hint is that it's really thanks to Milicent. And I actually never knew that Dean was black, but I saw it in a fic and when I reread the books (for the 80 billionth time!) and I saw that it was indeed canon! How cool is that?
Zara-Jester is bizarre and slightly insane, like most guys ( and since I am one I know, heh heh…) And I'm glad that you're not confused, shows your reading intelligence!
DragonSoul- Ah ah ah! That would be telling, but you'll find out soon enough.
Rannchan- Glad I can ease the wait, what's the fic? I'm always on the look out for good reads.
Demeter- Yep, I do like the Snape and Fleur, it shows up in two of my stories, and is one of my favorite het pairings. I don't even know where it came from…
Tenshimagic- Yup, those were some of my favorite books, Searching for Dragons, Calling on Dragons, Talking with Dragons and Dealing with Dragons.
LdyLazarus- I'm almost at a loss to respond to your review, it was truly very wonderful and I love that you pointed out what you enjoyed and I just- Thank you so much! Your story is just as wonderful if not better than mine (in my mind) and so your opinion means a lot to me. Once again thank you so much for your review!
Tealish- I'm glad that you like my- "tripling" as you put it (I think I like that word) and that you like the plot. I'm trying to maintain a plot and not lose this story to the soap opera HP romance thing… So I'm glad that you enjoy it.
I'LL TRY AND TURN OUT MORE SOON BUT IT IS FINALS RIGHT NOW SO I CAN'T PROMISE MUCH FOR THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS, SORRY.