Ch 20
Disclaimer: so not mine.
Harry pushed open the door and gasped in disbelief. All around the ice blue room where hundreds of chairs, some squishy and big, others tall and straight, but almost every single chair was filled with someone.
Harry gazed around as he followed the ever-thinning rope. 'What is this place?' he thought. He frowned but stopped as he saw his Mate huddling in a corner chair. He slowly walked towards Severus.
"Severus?" he asked softly.
The mans dark eyes snapped open as he gazed deeply into bright green eyes. "Harry? W-what are you doing here?" Severus jumped up and hugged Harry tightly. "You shouldn't be here Harry."
Harry hugged his Mate just as hard. "I told you I wouldn't let you die on me." He pulled back and gazed around him. "Where are we?"
Severus held Harry's tiny hand and frowned. "I have an idea, but I'm not sure. I never read anything about this before."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Like that is so helpful. Just tell me where you think we are."
"Truthfully?" Harry nodded. "I think we are dead and this is just the waiting room to eternity."
Harry blinked. "Well, I never thought this is what death would look like. Anyway, I'm not here to let you die on me. I'm here to take you home."
Severus smiled sadly, "Harry, I can't go back. I died. Only you can go back, though you better hurry."
"No," Harry said stubbornly, "I'll only go back with you."
"That's not possible. I'm dead-"
"Why don't we ask her?" Harry pointed to a small receptionist desk that was tucked away into one corner. He didn't notice it the first time he walked in but now it was completely visible.
A sign above the desk read "Files For The Recently Dead". Harry grabbed Severus's hand and dragged him over to the desk. A blond woman was scribbling frantically on an orange memo and didn't seem to notice the two men standing in front of her.
"Excuse me, miss," said Harry. The blond girl jumped straight out of the chair.
"Goddess, you scared me! What can I get you?"
"We have a problem," started Harry. "You see, this is my Mate and I'm not dead. I want him to go back with me. There has to be a way."
The girl blinked a few times and stared. "You're not dead."
"Obviously," muttered Severus. Harry quickly elbowed the offending body.
"I know that. I want him- my Mate-to go back with me."
"You can't be here if you're not dead. Hang on." The woman quickly reached over and grabbed an antique phone that had appeared out of nowhere. "Yes, sir, we have a code red out here." She paused and nodded. "Yes, sir. Very clear, sir. Right away." She replaced the phone and stared at Harry.
"You two need to take this," she threw a red ticket at them, "and go through that door. You have a great day."
Severus took the ticket and led Harry to a wooden door next to the desk that Harry could have sworn was not there a moment ago. Severus placed the ticket on the waiting slot and the door slowly opened.
A smaller waiting room presented itself to them as the slowly stalked in. "Just a minute!" shouted a voice from another room.
"Should we sit?" asked Harry. Severus shrugged and led them to a small love seat near the door the voice floated out of. "Kind of snazzy for the after life. I always thought I'd see the light, not an office building."
"Normally," said a voice that made both men jump, "you would. This place is for those who are waiting judgment." A tall brunette walked through a side door, carrying what looked like a small mountain of file folders.
"Judgment?" asked Harry. One quick look at Severus showed he knew what the mysterious man was talking about.
"Yes, those who are waiting to know where to go. Some automatically go to the Summerland, some come here, some become ghosts. It just depends on the person. Oh, I am David."
"I'm Harry, and this is Severus."
David nodded to them both and gestured them into an office. They sat in the two leather chairs that sat in front of a dark wood desk. The desk was covered in files and memos but David just planted his files on top of the old ones.
"So, I hear you, Harry, are alive," David's violet eyes glimmered in amusement, "and you want to take Severus back to the land of the living."
"Of course I do, he's my Mate."
"But I already told Harry that it is not possible," muttered Severus.
"I don't care if it's possible or not, Sev, I intend to take you home to my realm." Harry's green eyes blazed in the beginning of anger. "I don't care if you've already given up on hope but I will not."
David watched the two men bicker amongst themselves before finally interrupting. "Actually, it may be possible."
"Excuse me?" asked Severus.
"Ha, I told you," muttered Harry triumphantly, twining their fingers together.
"You see," David opened the top file folder and flipped through a few pages before reading a highlighted passage. "Harry was the one that was supposed to die, being the Dagger. However, Harry's awakened demon powers forced the two of you to bond, which is why you, Harry are still alive."
"Which is what I don't understand. The Prophesy stated the Dagger would die. Even Harry's demonic side should not have stopped it."
Harry glared at Severus, saying, "Oh, so you wanted me to die? I love you, too."
Severus kicked Harry's leg gently. "That's not what I meant and you know it, imp," Severus turned his attention to David. "How come Harry is still alive?"
"Because of you." The two men both looked as confused as they felt, so David expanded on his explanation. "You love Harry so much, the bond allowed you to transfer the last of your life energy to keep Harry alive."
"If it was just and exchange of energy then I should be able to give him back what he gave me."
David shook his head. "No, it's not that easy, I'm afraid. Severus here is well and truly dead. Though an exchange of energy would be sufficient to put him back into his body, a sacrifice must be made to bring him back among the living."
Harry sat straight up in his chair. "What kind of sacrifice?"
"Severus would have to give up his humanity."
"I will not become a monster to be brought back to life." Severus's voice made no room for argument.
"No, you misunderstood me. Not your sense of humanity, what's right versus what's wrong, but your human body. The effort alone on turning you could possibly kill one or both of you."
"I'll take the risk," muttered Harry.
"Harry, I did not die for you only to let you kill yourself. I'm not worth the effort."
Harry turned and stared deeply into obsidian eyes. "Severus, if I lose you when I had the chance to save you, I will die."
They stared at each deep into each other's eyes, willing the other to just listen and not fight. Severus suddenly blinked and looked away.
"Fine, do what you will."
Harry kissed Severus lightly on the cheek and turned to David. "We're willing, now what do we do?"
AN: I am sooooo sorry this is late! A lot has happened between then and now. I got a second job as an ambulance dispatcher and now work 10pm-6am, working at the fish place, trying to find time to sleep and get ready for school. Anyway, to all those reviewers who have stayed with me through think and thin, I thank you. Until next time.
Cheers