A/N: I can do this before HBP comes out. There's only one more chapter to go after this one, so I know I can do it! However... please, please review! Thank you in advance :).
And a special thanks to fox929, who left a review the last time around!
oOo Angels of Heaven and Hell oOo
Chapter 18 - Heaven can wait
oOo
When Rhiannon regained consciousness, she felt as if she was floating in mid-air. But for some reason she wasn't afraid of falling down. She felt completely safe, wherever she was.
However, her body didn't feel so well. She was hurting all over, but most of all her chest. Experimentally, she tried to move her arm around. She had lifted it only a few millimetres when she let it drop back to her side abruptly - it hurt too much.
Rhiannon lay there for a little while, concentrating on breathing and watched the sad pictures of the little black-haired boy that still fleeted through her mind. She came to realise that this boy was Voldemort, when he was still human, a long time ago.
'We're all the same when we're born,' she thought bitterly, as she saw a younger Voldemort being laughed at by other children. 'And we are judged by others. That's just not fair.'
Again, time and pictures passed - she couldn't tell how long she had been floating there, but then she heard a voice calling her name from far away. Rhiannon tried to answer the voice, but she only managed to open her mouth. No sound came out and the pain became worse. All she could do was closing her mouth again and finally opening her eyes.
She was surrounded by complete whiteness. There was no shadow, she couldn't even make out an edge.
"Rhiannon!" This time the voice sounded nearer and Rhiannon recognised it as Rowena's voice. Sure enough the woman's face appeared in Rhiannon's sight only a few seconds later. Rhiannon tried to say something, but she still couldn't talk.
"Wait," said Rowena gently. She placed her hand on Rhiannon's forehead. She muttered something under her breath, that Rhiannon couldn't hear, but it gave her time to examine Rowena. She now looked happier and radiant. There was something around her that Rhiannon couldn't quite put her finger on.
The pain subsided slowly and was gone completely when Rowena ended her murmuring.
"What happened?" Rhiannon managed to croak, while Rowena helped her into a sitting position. Rowena smiled at her.
"Everything's fine now," she responded. "You survived. You all survived! And Voldemort will never trouble this earth again. We're all free now!"
Rhiannon couldn't help but smile, as she heard how happy Rowena was. But she also got the impression that Rowena was even happier than she let on. Then the message began to sink in.
Voldemort wouldn't trouble them again. He was defeated. She was free, and so was Draco and Harry and Rowena and everyone in the Wizarding World. The shadow would finally be gone.
"I can't tell you how happy I am!" Rowena exclaimed and hugged Rhiannon spontaneously. "And I have to thank you for all you've done."
"Whow... It's okay, Rowena. Without you I wouldn't have known we'd have it in us to do what we did, if it hadn't been for you. We-" Rhiannon realised another thing. "Where's Draco?" she asked. "Is he okay?"
Rowena let go of her.
"Salazar is taking care of him. They'll join us in soon. And if I'm not very much mistaken, Harry will come, too. You don't need to be worried about them."
Rhiannon searched the whiteness with her eyes, not quite believing Rowena. But then she noticed a dark shape in the distance.
"That's them," Rowena said, standing up and pulling Rhiannon up with her. The shape drew nearer and Rhiannon saw that Rowena was right. She was more than right.
The shape consisted of Salazar, and to his left there was Draco walking beside him and on his other side was Harry. He supported both of them with his arms, but they both walked and looked whole and healthy.
When the three came into shouting distance Rhiannon noticed Rowena tightening her group on Rhiannon's shoulder. Rhiannon was about to ask why, but then she remembered that this was the first time that Rowena and Salazar saw each other again in the bodies they had both inhabited a thousand years ago. They probably wanted nothing better then run up to each other and make up. Rhiannon smiled - she felt the exact same way.
"Draco!" she called and ran up to him. Draco smiled feebly at her. Salazar let go of him but remained next to them.
"Are you all right?" asked Draco. Rhiannon nodded and was close to tears. She planted a quick kiss on his lips and then leaned her head against his chest.
A second later she heard something like a suppressed sob to her left.
She lifted her head up to see Rowena had thrown her arms around Salazar's neck, so they were in a position not unlike herself and Draco. The only difference was that Rowena's shoulder's were shaking and even Salazar looked to be on the brink of tears. He put his arms around Rowena's shaking figure and pulled her closer - it didn't look like he ever wanted to let go of her again.
Draco noticed that Rhiannon had moved and looked where she was looking. Harry came forward and looked at Draco and Rhiannon, doing his best to ignore the grown ups.
"Hi there," he said. Draco and Harry regarded each other for a second before Draco opened his mouth to speak.
"I never thought I'd say that, Potter," said Draco. "But... thank you. Thank you, okay?"
Harry only shrugged and responded with a simple "Okay."
At that, the whiteness became even more intense, without a single warning. Rhiannon blinked to shield her eyes from the light, while Draco instantly pulled her closer again. Besides her, Rhiannon heard Rowena gasping in surprise - or shock. Or maybe both.
"Rowena," a cool voice rang through the air. "We consider your mission completed."
Rhiannon opened her eyes again, to see that Salazar had let go of Rowena and that there were now four tall and humanoid figures standing before them. They radiated the same aura as Rowena, only theirs was stronger. On their backs Rhiannon could make out gleaming white wings.
'Angels...' she realised in awe. Never had she seen anything so beautiful and loveable.
"Thank you, Gabriel," Rowena muttered. Rhiannon looked at her and saw the faint outline of wings sprouting from Rowena's shoulder blades.
"We will end your imprisonment. Join us back in Heaven," Gabriel said. Maybe it was only a trick of the light, but Rhiannon thought she saw the corners of his mouth lift up a little at this.
"As for you, Salazar," the Angel next to Gabriel spoke up. "Your last life plan hasn't been completed up to this day. You may be a fallen angel, but you have redeemed yourself in the eyes of God. However, we can't welcome you back until your life plan is completed. For this, you will be reborn as soon as the circumstances allow it."
"Yes," said Salazar and he sounded strong enough, but Rhiannon saw him curl his hands into fists at his side. The angels, or better: archangels, seemed content enough with this answer. They turned their attention towards Rowena again.
"Come with us now, Rowena, to dwell where all undying souls dwell," said Gabriel kindly and he extended his hand towards them. But for some reason, Rowena's happiness that Rhiannon had felt just some minutes ago, seemed to be wiped away now. Rowena took a step towards the angels but then she stopped in hesitation and looked down.
"Please," she whispered. "I want to go back with Salazar. I want to be with him. Please, let me be reborn."
For the shortest moment the angels looked mildly confused.
"Is this what you truly wish?" asked Gabriel.
"Yes."
No one said anything, although Rhiannon saw the look on Salazar's face. He was running away again. Up until now Draco, Harry and she had watched mutely, but now Rhiannon felt obliged to interfere.
"Please, let her go," she spoke up and everyone looked at her. "I don't know how all this works, but why are you willing to end their imprisonment, only to separate them again? Is this a sign how lowly you regard love?"
"Love is the most holy thing," Gabriel replied instantly. "We hold it in high respect."
"Then let us be reborn - together," Rowena said and looked Gabriel directly in the eye. The archangel looked at her for some time, then at Salazar.
"What do you say to this, Salazar?" he questioned.
"Let her go if this is her wish," he answered in a dull voice. Rhiannon knew that now his two strongest instincts had been fighting against each other before this answer. The instinct to protect Rowena from everyone and everything, and his love for her.
"I understand," Gabriel said slowly and Rhiannon got the impression that he had been thinking along the same lines as she had. "Then go where you have to go."
He waved his hand and Rhiannon suddenly felt very lightweight. Once again, the familiar white light encircled her and robbed her of her senses.