CHAPTER 2: Goddess of Pain and Packing of Torture

Clotho, a pale child by appearance with wavy blond hair and gray eyes that gave her true age away, Lachesis, a fair- skinned woman of about thirty with dirty blonde hair and eyes like her sister's, and Atropos, an old, deathly white woman with gray hair and matching gray eyes, looked gravely down at the two mortals. Tisiphone, Megaera and Alecto, all three chocolate-colored skinned, midnight black hair and eyes, long, slim hands and fingers that ended in claws, along with weather-beaten wings which were pulled back, came out from behind them to stand on the other side of the room and get a better view of the two.

"I remember weaving these two," Clotho said.

"You always did work so far in advance," Lachesis agreed.

"As did you," Atropos said, a slight complaint in her voice. "I'm afraid I haven't had any interact with these two. They look so young and fresh." She shuddered. "I can barely stand it."

"Then you have my permission to leave," Luna said politely. Atropos growled.

"Don't get cheeky, mortal," she warned. "I can still end you life very quickly even with the bonds in place."

"So, what do I owe this pleasure to ladies?" Luna asked conversationally. "I haven't seen any of you in a while."

"We wanted to see the new mortal," Tisiphone said, her voice high yet clear cut as crystal.

"You are getting boring," Megaera told her faintly, her voice in the mid-range and very quiet.

"He has not done anything to catch our attention," Alecto said, her voice very low and powerful. "He is extraordinarily pure for a mortal. We can now see why Artemis and Athena require him."

"Is that all?" Luna asked. "Dear me, and here I thought you were going to induce some sick punishment on him, you're so disappointing."

"Don't get comfortable among us," Tisiphone said, her voice sharp and biting.

"Don't get used to talking so freely," Megaera continued.

"You will soon regret it," Alecto finished. All six woman glared at Luna, glanced once more at Harry and glided out, shutting the door tightly behind.

"Who were they?" Harry asked, beginning to breathe freely once more. The immortals had scared the heck out of him and he didn't even know why.

"The child like one is Clotho, the middle-aged woman standing next to her was her sister, Lachesis, and the old woman was the third sister, Atropos. If you've ever studied Greek Mythology you'll know they're the Fates. They used to control us mortals' life. Clotho would spin the thread to start it, Lachesis would then take it and measure it, thus setting the amount of time a person would live, and then Atropos would cut the thread, ending the life. Understand, this was all quite literal," Luna added. "Hence the phrase, 'the thread of life.'"

"Wow," Harry said, it was the best he could come up with.

"The other three were once known as Erinyes, but later people realized they were three separate beings, Tisiphone, the one with the high voice, Megaera, the quiet one with the mid-range voice, and Alecto, the one with the low voice. They punished the unfaithful, very brutal, not nice in the least, but they never killed, just tortured," Luna finished.

"Luna," Harry said. "What's going on? I thought these Greek Gods didn't exist, but then a couple months ago I met Artemis…"

"You met Artemis?" Luna said in a shocked voice. "But, you're, you're still alive!"

"Yeah, so, she didn't seem that bad," Harry said in an offhanded manor.

"Not that bad?" Luna said disbelieving. "My God, you really don't know much about her, do you?"

"Nor you," Harry said quietly. She sighed.

"Very well, Harry. I suppose I ought to tell you what's going on, not that I know everything," Luna added quickly. "But I know some, enough to know that's is not good, not good at all…"

"You're completely crazy, have I mentioned that yet?" Severus said for the thousandth time.

"Yes, darling, I believe you have," Hermione said absently as she rummaged through her draws, pulling out random objects and stuffing them into a bag that sat by her feet.

"We have no idea where we're going," Severus said. "So exactly how are you going to be sure that you've packed enough. And what good is a hair-straighter going to do you?" He took it from her hands and placed it on the bed. It made a clanging noise as it hit the rest of the things he had tossed on the bed, all of her makeup, a few kitchen utensils, a mixer, a hair-curler, though why she needed one was beyond him, and other various objects that Severus had protested about bringing.

"Fine," Hermione said, miffed. "But when we're under-prepared, I'm blaming you! Got it?"

"Whatever makes you happy," Severus replied. "But as I believe I have the experience in matters like this, let me do the packing, all right? It's not like we're going to be totally cut off from civilization the entire time…"

Sniffle I'm a terrible author, aren't I? bawls her eyes out That's why I only got two reviews last chapter, isn't it! I would like to thank dopey and winter blaze for being nice enough to review me last chapter. Now, if anyone feels nice while reading this chapter, I would appreciate it if you would PLEASE REVIEW! I'm feeling very depressed. Also, I would like it if you would if you would answer the little question I posted last chapter, Ms. White would appreciate it too! Anyhow, if I get more reviews this chapter I post the next one sooner and it will be longer! Next Chapter: We learn more about Luna, and Hermione and Severus start their journey, in the farthest place from civilization: ? Find out next chapter, won't you. Remo