Disclaimer- I don't own Harry Potter.
AN: Thanks to Nimbirosa, who beta read this chapter, and caught my mistakes.
Chapter 15 Sundering
Lost... lost in the abyss...
Time had no more meaning to the young man, the prisoner... trapped in an endless cage of shadows... within his mind. Unable to touch, hear, see, smell, or talk to anything except the Other. Him. The Demon.
He tried to recall images of what he was before the Demon took over... sights and sounds and smells that were now nothing but flights of fancy, a world he could no longer reach, things that even he himself barely believed were real...
Like a drowning man, he continually managed to surface for a moment or two, remembering who he was, but then it was all stripped from him, every memory, every feeling, every fiber of his very being torn apart, and he was forced back down into the Darkness.
Sometimes he wonders if those places he had once been are just his imagination, if all that he remembers was just an illusion, and this cage of shadows is the cold, harsh truth. If everything he once was, everything he experienced, was just a lie, a dream, a fantasy.
Trying, struggling to find himself again, he fights the Darkness bitterly, and like a small spark in shadow, he manages to illuminate his prison and remove the Darkness.
For a moment, he surfaces, breaking the sea of nothingness that continues to drown him, and remembers. His name, Harry James Potter. He's a wizard... the Boy-Who-Lived... and then suddenly he's jerked back down into Darkness as the spark goes out, and the shadows press in once more, hungry.
He tries to scream, to protest, to mark his fear, to try and give aid to his fight, but no sound comes from his lips as the shadows converge to drown him again...
And his last coherent thought, that last tie to his old self as he falls in Darkness is that he is in Hell.
It had been a week since Harry had transformed into a sadistic demon and terrorized the Gryffindor House, and now rumors had spread like wildfire in a dry summer. The rumormongers spread tales of how Ginny slept with both Dean and Harry (at different times, of course), how Harry, driven off the edge already, snapped and was now allied with the Dark Lord, or how Harry was really Voldemort in disguise, and that he'd been waiting for his chance to attack the Gryffindors, and other such nonsensical ideas.
Ron and Hermione's angry gazes and threats of violence (and actual violence, on Ron's part) did douse the wildfire rumors, but it was just not enough. With Ginny completely out of touch with the world, they had no real way, other than revealing the incredulous story that Harry had two personalities, the nice and heroic Boy-Who-Lived, and the completely psychopathic and sadistic monster, to disprove the rumors.
Students actively talked about how Harry was going to kill them all, or how he was really the Dark Lord's son (which caused Ron to fall over laughing), and such talk.
But all the rumors were of light heart, which Albus Dumbledore had none of. Two days after intense and fruitless research, the Headmaster called his brother Aberforth Dumbledore, specialist in the field of Soul Magic. Dumbledore had contacted him before, when the demon was first sealed, but his brother hadn't had time to do anything before the demon escaped.
Looking out into the peaceful night, Dumbledore was sure that the demon was planning something. The disappearance of an entire block of people in the suburbs he had linked to the demon feeding, but that was all it had done. The Headmaster sighed. His brother's research was needed now, more than ever.
As if summoned by his thoughts, the fire in his office erupted, banishing the shadows of the room to the back, and the head of his brother (who could have been Dumbledore's slightly shorter, thinner twin), appeared in the fire.
"Aberforth!" Dumbledore greeted, smiling despite himself.
"Hello Albus," Aberforth responded, smiling, before he went into a more business-like tone. "I think I can separate young Potter from that creature, but you'd have to get me close enough to do it."
"How?" Albus asked curiously.
"Not here," Aberforth shook his head, and his brother remembered how paranoid he was with his research, which was why the even more eccentric Dumbledore isolated himself. "Come to my flat tomorrow. I'm knackered tonight." He yawned to prove his point.
The Headmaster smiled warmly at his brother. "Thank you. I'll be there tomorrow. Around nine?"
"Nine is fine. See you then brother." Aberforth said, and then disappeared.
Albus Dumbledore felt his heart lighten a bit. His brother had found a way. Now all they need do is find the demon, and contain him again so that Aberforth could do his work. Still, he was uneasy about something, and the Headmaster knew that it wouldn't be this easy to beat the demon.
From outside the window, cloaked in shadow, a pair of obsidian eyes twinkles darkly, thoughtfully. "See you soon, Aberforth." Thanatos whispered with a smirk, and then the Darkness took him away.
The Other... the Demon was pleased... immensely pleased. Somehow... he could discern that from within the cage of shadow.
And in his pleasure, the Demon's prisoner felt the shadows close in tighter, a noose of nothingness around his very soul, burning, searing, slashing, cleaving, cutting, and obliterating his soul with endless midnight and silence. It was beyond injury, beyond torture, beyond pain... beyond even Death.
The lost one screamed internally, and no sound came from him, the vacuum of the Stygian abyss drowning all sound, Light, and Hope...
Thanatos was immensely pleased indeed. He knew that eventually, the old man would figure out a way to separate them. On this point, the fiend agreed completely. Harry and the demon just could not keep the same body... that would not work out at all.
Of course, where they disagreed was who would keep this body.
Smiling, he allowed the Darkness to spill forth Albus Dumbledore's knowledge of where his brother lived, in the same fashion he discovered fears and nightmares unspoken... how he easily preyed on weaknesses and feelings.
The Darkness knows all... after all, it lives in all people. In the Darkness, there are no secrets. After all, you cannot hide from the hidden, you cannot run from your shadow, you cannot lie to lies... and you cannot shield yourself from yourself. Darkness is everywhere, it is in everyone, it is everyone.
But in Thanatos, the Darkness didn't just live within... it lived. Period.
Aberforth Dumbledore slept peacefully in his bed in an upper room of the Hog's Head, content with the knowledge that he had made a breakthrough of immense proportions... and of terrible consequences.
A sudden blaring klaxon shattered his slumber, and the octogenarian leapt out of his bed with surprising agility, wand raised and ready. Unfortunately, it wasn't fast enough.
Aberforth was able to awake instantly from slumber, a habit both he and his brother developed in the war against Grindelwald, but even he took a few seconds to realize that his wand was no longer in his hand. After another two seconds, he realized he wasn't moving into cover.
"Pleased to finally meet you Aberforth. And who'd have guessed Albus Dumbledore's brother was the bar man at the Hog's Head?" A voice greeted warmly, but there was a distinct ethereal... evil quality to his voice.
"You have me at a bit of a disadvantage." The elderly man replied evenly.
"Ah yes, allow me to introduce myself. The name is Thanatos." The creature of Darkness stepped forth from the shadows, smiling in a most unpleasant manner. As usual, he wore all black, and seemed to be made of living shadow, from his own thinning body to the clothes and hair and eyes that made nearly every part of his body seem made of midnight.
"Named after the Greek god of death, are you?" Aberforth replied in that same tone, unshaken.
"Indeed I am... quite apt at doing the job too." Thanatos replied in that same upbeat, cheerful tone, as if he was discussing a new gadget or trophy he had won, instead of an occupation as a merchant of death.
"What do you want from me?" The bar man asked, dropping the facade.
"Want... I want what everyone wants, Aberforth." The demon stepped closer to the old man and whispered softly, "Freedom."
The younger Dumbledore blinked confusedly. "What?" He asked.
"I want freedom... to be my own person. And unfortunately... my weaker half is infringing on that freedom. So I need your help to free myself." Thanatos replied, his voice staying at a low, dangerous whisper.
"I will not help you." Aberforth replied bravely, not an inch of fear in his eyes.
The demon smiled. "Oh goody. I just love it when they play hard to get."
"You will not get my help, even if you torture me." The octogenarian swallowed, but was ready for the pain.
"I think I'll get plenty of things out of you..." Thanatos replied with a smirk.
Thanatos smirked to himself. His prediction was true, of course, unlike that bat Trelawney. He got plenty of things out of Aberforth.
Screams, various bodily fluids, but no research... or so the old man had believed when the shadows consumed him. Aberforth Dumbledore had died thinking he had protected his secrets, when in fact he had already failed.
The demon had no need to torture to gain his information, since a person's heart, mind, and soul told him everything already. He just wanted to make a symphony of screams... to pass the time, and to alert-
A tugging at the edge of his mind made Thanatos smirk wider. "It looks like the cavalry's on its way Harry... they'll be a little late, of course.
"Far too late to help you, anyway Harry."
The prisoner in shadows screamed even greater, a terrible burning within him. It felt as thought every part of his body was being ripped apart violently, while he was on combusting into a pile of ash.
Slashing, burning, ripping, wounding, damaging, injuring, PAIN all around...
Unending pain... relentless torment... unyielding agony... the young man screamed as he was put through Calvary, as he was put on his cross and beaten brutally...
After an endless infinity, he felt a violent ripping, and suddenly he knew no more.
The Demon smiled. Harry James Potter was no longer a threat... in fact, he was probably not even on this plane of existence anymore.
When the Headmaster had received a panicked report from a distressed Minerva McGonagall that the Hog's Head was ablaze, Dumbledore could have sworn his heart skipped a beat. When he tried to Floo anywhere nearby, and found himself unable to, he felt his heart stop.
Dashing madly towards the gates, he nearly crashed into a running Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Ginny Weasley, the last who was carrying the Marauder's Map. With panicked looks in their eyes, they told the Headmaster what he already knew, but also told him of a secret passageway (with a bit of difficulty from Ron) to Hogsmeade.
Pleased, he granted fifty points to Gryffindor in a panicked whim, and dashed off in a rush that was beyond his age, followed closely by Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and a very tired but still distressed Minerva McGonagall.
After an age, an age that was far too long, they reached the exit of the tunnel, and ran out into the street, where they stopped dead at the sight of the inferno that was once the Hog's Head ablaze. Most were running about in a frightened panic, or staying indoors to avoid getting hurt in what they believed was a Death Eater attack.
In reality, they should have preferred one.
Albus Dumbledore's heart was wracked with a fear and grief that tore into his very soul... his only remaining family, his little brother... was dead. Somehow, he knew. He could hear his breaths come in short, ragged, rapid spurts and he didn't care that he was straining himself as he ran towards the burning ruin that was once his brother's home.
"Aberforth! Aberforth!" The normally unshakable Headmaster screamed, reaching the inferno, all thoughts gone and replaced with a panic unlike any other. Tears began falling from his eyes, drops of water spilling out from the ocean of his eyes.
"I just love bonfires, don't you?" A chillingly familiar voice called out.
Dumbledore turned his angry, crying eyes towards the demon, who stood on the other side of the vast expanse of burning wreckage, angry and hateful and bitter and all thoughts except revenge clouding his mind. He had not been this angry in a long time... not since most of the Dumbledore family had been obliterated by Grindelwald to spite the Headmaster, all those years ago.
But now he was forcing himself to relax, the horrified chorus of screams and shouts of his companions aiding him, forcing him to become rational once more. At this range, the demon could avoid spells, that strange magic of his would stop magical movement, most likely, and crossing the fiery rubble would take time, and by then, Dark Harry would escape.
He had planned this perfectly, the Headmaster realized in horror.
"Dear Merlin... Aberforth..." McGonagall whispered in disbelief.
Ginny, Hermione, and Ron, however, were more concerned with getting Harry back, and thus, were looking directly at the smirking, black clothed replica of their best friend.
However, the demon hadn't even noticed, still smirking and talking. "I really hope you're as good a screamer as your brother Albus, because otherwise, it just won't be as much fun torturing you." He said.
"You monster!" Ginny spat hatefully.
Dark Harry smirked and put his hand to his chest in mock hurt. "Now Ginny, I have a name now. It's Thanatos. Say it with me. Tha-na-tos."
"I don't care what your damn name is!" Ginny shot back. "Give Harry back!"
"Can't do that..." Thanatos replied cheerfully in a sing-song voice. "You know Albus, your brother is damn good with that Soul Magic."
The Headmaster's already pale face went deathly. "Wha-what?" He stuttered. "You didn't-"
"Ah but I did." Thanatos said gleefully. "Now your precious Boy-Who-Lived is nothing but a drifting soul... if he isn't already dead."
"You're lying! Its another trick!" Ron yelled desperately.
The demon shook his head, grinning mockingly. "'fraid not, Ronny boy."
"We'll find a way to bring him back then," Hermione said bravely, swallowing her fear.
Thanatos threw back his head and laughed that cold, chilling laugh. "Well, you are a big know-it-all, so maybe you will... or maybe you won't." Hermione picked up on the veiled threat behind the demon's mocking words, and scowled.
"Well, as much as I love this banter, I'm afraid I just have to go. Places to go, things to do," the demon smirked viciously and cast his gaze on all of them, from Dumbledore, to McGonagall, to Ginny, to Ron, and lastly Hermione, "People to kill."
He turned around and began walking away slowly, calmly, cockily turning his back to his opponents. "See you soon," Thanatos called out cheerfully, looking back at them over his shoulder and raising his hand in farewell, before he looked forward, let his hand down, and added in a lower, darker, deadlier tone,
"See you real soon."
Thanks to VFPC, spike blade, Pleione, Quillian, Nimbirosa, Night-Owl123, Bujiana, jbfritz, Discombobulated, Alan Quicksilver, DoomGazeHell, DarkMagicPracticer, harrysmom, csferosha, HellHound, FutureGoddess, Julie Long, mashimaromadness, Samurai Demon-God Sekkikage, FroBoy, japanese-jew, arekuruu-inabikari-no-She, kobe23, YamiClara, FirePhionex, Ice-Pheonix-Tears, captainplanet2003, HazelWolf, and kobe23 for reviewing!
Q&A
Nimbirosa- No problem. That's just one disturbing thing... there's an AU scene to this for what Thanatos (finally I can use his freakin name) does to Malfoy... I think it's my most sadistic work ever. Am I dividing your love of both Harry and Ginny? '
Bujiana- (looks both pleased and embarrassed) Thanks. I mean really, thank you. I'm glad you've enjoyed this so much, and offered such nice constructive praise. I totally agree with how you described Harry, which is exactly what I used when making Thanatos' character. Where Harry is shy, Thanatos is bold, where Harry is revolted, Thanatos is excited, where Harry is headstrong and brash, Thanatos is coldly calculating.
Alan Quicksilver- I'd love to have an e-mail conversation. I'm not sure how to cross message ICQ either, anyway. A quick correction to my e-mail address on last chapter, it has an underscore between yami and chaos.
DoomGazeHell- Thanks for reminding me about the school. Any mention of them might not have made it otherwise. Now then, how does Light Harry gain strength? Well... that's a secret.
harrysmom- Yeah... its "like" there are two souls in one body... (maniacal laughter) Oh and yes, Harry's feelings are definitely something Thanatos will learn to fear... in time. After a few more people are added to Thanatos' body count... and most aren't nameless. (return of maniacal laughter)
csferosha- Actually, it was Xanatos. And from that statement, you can probably gather I have read it. Now, will Harry and Thanatos ever merge? I thought about it... but nah. There's enough of Dark and Light merging elsewhere.
HellHound- Indeed I have read his stories. Damn good writer, loads better than me. Of course From the Abyss (the story you referenced) is damn sadistic and scary, which is probably why this reminds you of it, right?
FutureGoddess- Aw... sorry to heart that. Well, that's okay. I'm glad you liked it anyway.
mashimaromadness- I like your style of thinking much better than others. Thanks for the compliment on Dreams too. And yes, Thanatos is a real Greek god.
Samurai Demon-God Sekkikage- Maybe. Maybe not. Never assume you know everything, because the universe will find a way to screw you over. Besides, I said before, Thanatos is not a spawned from Hell, minion of the Morningstar demon. Plus, I've never played D&D, so chances of you being right are very slim. And no, the god of death will not be appearing anytime. Ever. So no divine forces are fighting Thanatos... just people.
arekuruu-inabikari-no-She- I want to watch that series, but just the few clips I've seen have kind of freaked me out, so I'm hesitant. Even I have a limit on blood and gore.
captainplanet2003- Who says Thanatos can be defeated? Or at least permanently?
AN: That last scene's one of my favorites. It's just so creepy and fitting. Remember to review! I love to hear opinions on this fic!