Anti-litigation charm: see chapter 1
A/N: The first ring of hell in Dante's world is Limbo.
Chapter 5: The Vestibule and The Boat Ride
Professor Snape and Hermione walked through the gates that loomed in front of them leaving the dark forest behind. The path in front of them lead to a barren plain that stretched on and on for miles. They walked forward for way seemed like a good part of their morning, but they were uncertain if it was morning or night due to the lack of sky. If one were to look directly up they would only see barren nothingness. No sun, no moon, no stars, or sky, just dark air in the vastness.
"Professor, can we sit a bit? I'm getting tired." Hermione asked looking up to her companion's dark eyes.
"Of course. My legs could use the rest also. But I doubt we'll find some suitable seating place." Snape said as he started to sit down on the ground below. He spread out his cloak and motioned for Hermione to sit down on it. "So you don't get dirty. I doubt your school uniform of a skirt, blouse, and cloak doesn't allow for much comfortable ground sitting." Hermione just smiled and sat down only to find Snape wrap the rest of his cloak around her. "To keep warm." He said. As they sat there, a banner flew by with some people chasing after it.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked. "Wait a minute. In Dante, the atheist and the uncommitted to religion chased after banners in the vestibule of hell."
"Yes, but they were also stung by insects." As Snape said that a hord of bees flew by and after the banner chasers. "I think we better go before we get rained upon with the wrath of the bees."
Hermione and Professor Snape got up and started quickly walked forward.
"If this is anything like the Dante's Inferno, we should be running into the river Acheron in a few minutes." Hermione stated.
"And Charon, the deliverer of dead souls to hell." Hermione paled and looked up.
"We can't be dead, can we?"
"Well, if I'm in a coma and you are still a student in Hogwarts who's being reading to me for the past two nights then I doubt it." Professor Snape said as he looked down to a very frightened Hermione. "I think we should continue." Hermione just nodded a slow yes. "May I?" He said with a hand outreached to which Hermione immediately responded by taking and started walking toward the river.
"Halt. Visitor or damned?" A man (or at least that what was they though it) was stood in a wooden boat at the edge of the river.
"Visitor." Professor Snape answered as the man looked at him suspiciously.
"If you lie, mortal, the punishment will be worst and you shall be cast in the further." The man answered. "By the looks of it you should be in the second circle for the sin of lust." He said as he eyed Hermione.
Professor Snape gently moved Hermione behind him and said, "Let us pass. We are visitors on the way to Purgatory."
"Very well but you've been warned." The man then moved aside and allowing Professor Snape to step into the boat and help Hermione in.
Hermione and Professor Snape sat at the front of the boat while the man stood in the back. The boat started to move without the man even rowing. It just moved slowly along the surface of the river. Hermione sat and looked over into the water. She reached down in order to allow her hand skim the surface.
"I wouldn't do that. The river is made of acid. Your mortal flesh will burn." The man snapped. Hermione slowly moved her hand back.
"So who are you? Are you a mortal or a demon?" Hermione asked.
"Ahh. The child this man lusts after speaks. I am Charon, the boatman for the river Acheron. As if I'm a demon or a mortal. I would have to say I'm a demon in part and a mortal in another."
"How could you be both?" Hermione still pressed.
"Foolish child. I am a demon for I have already been damned but I am mortal for I would love the chance to ravage you as any mortal man would. Am I not right, Severus?" Charon said.
"What! How do you know my name?" Professor Snape rebuffed.
"I know everything about everyone who steps in the boat. You (points to Severus) are a man who chooses to hide his feelings for a woman or shall we say child for the mere fact that you cannot allow yourself the simple pleasure of the love that she could give you. And you child are trying to prove that you are worth of the title you are working for though everyone around you included the man in this boat believe and knows whole-heartedly that you are everything you wish to be and so much more. I cannot see how you both can deny each other for such a long period of time. What has it been seven years, eh, Severus?" Hermione looked over to Professor Snape and saw that he was infuriated.
"How dare you? She is but a mere child and my student to add to it..."
"But no she isn't. Miss Hermione what is your age, child?"
"Technically, I'm eighteen years old..."
"Because of the use of the time turner." Charon stated as he looked pointly at Severus. "She needs to know, Severus, she need to know, because if you get off this boat and don't tell her your true feelings all of hell's angels and heaven's angels cannot save this girl from the path that she will lead."
"What..What..path..would..that..be?" Hermione shakingly asked. With that Charon dropped his rudder and walked forward to Hermione placing his hand on her head. Images rushed by Hermione images of her graduating, getting married to Ron, having children, being abused daily and in the ultimate finale being killed in the midst of a fight with her husband. Hermione screamed and fell on the floor of the boat in tears.
"No, no. This cannot happen. I can't die. I just can." Severus looked down at the quivering girl on floor of the boat and he moved down by her to sweep her up in his arms.
"Shhh...I would never let anything happen to you. Never." He said as he stroked her hair. "Miss Granger..Hermione. I love you way to much to allow anything horrible happen to you."