AN: Ok, this is the longest chapter, I can't remember anymore. Standard Disclaimer applies; happy reading.
Chapter 14
McGonagall looked at Snape stunned as the fireplace in this sitting room flared into life, it wasn't the usual green flames indicating a fire-call but purple flames that smelt like sulphur. The purple flames caught her eye as she stuck her head around the door frame, there in front of her was a tall, thin and elegantly handsome man; unfortunately, he had crimson red eyes. They were the eyes of evil, but there was nothing evil in them. It confused the transfiguration professor, until the figure spoke, then it seemed to make sense; this was the devil. The real one not a dark lord like Voldemort but the actual Christian devil. The deputy headmistress forced herself to look at Severus was still hunched away from them and muttering but now he seemed to have additional appendages on his back, not unlike folded wings. McGonagall tried not to think about that for the time being.
"Um, Severus. I think the devil's in your sitting room." Snape's eyes opened and they weren't black they were the void. "Severus?"
"Answer the lady, Severus." The figure was stood in the doorway, blocking Hermione and McGonagall's exit, although the professor was closer to him and could feel the radiated heat, as if hell was burning off him. Severus' eyes had returned from the void look to their normal black.
"You came?"
"Of course, I came. You summoned me."
"But you never did before?"
"I didn't want to get you hurt. You're safer now, despite the sudden lack of age. What happened?"
"I was experimenting, something went wrong. Oh, Professor Minerva McGonagall, and Hermione Granger. This is Lucifer Morningstar; my actual grandfather, among other things."
"And yes, my dear lady I am." The figure now known to be Lucifer stared at the deputy headmistress who looked like she was about to faint. He then looked at Snape. "She's not religious, is she?"
"No idea, why?"
"Because only the religious have that reaction to me. Non-believers don't really care either way. Like her." Lucifer pointed at Hermione. "See no response."
"Trust me, she'll be asking you a lot of questions in a minute."
"I hate questioners."
"Not that kind. The other kind." Lucifer groaned.
"That's almost worse."
"She's not that bad, grandfather."
"If you say so." There was a pause before Mr Morningstar spoke again. "Severus, why are you letting these mortals know about this? Why now?"
"As you said, it's safer now, despite this." Snape had gestured to himself as he said it. "My minds made up grandfather. I won't keep the people I am close to out of my life like before." The taller gentleman grinned; it was all teeth, but it was gentle.
"There is some of your mother in you after all. I had wondered."
"Let's not go there, grandfather."
"I am aware that you didn't have best relationship with her Severus, but Tobias had broken her long before. She was spirited before that, as you can be when you put your mind to it."
"Speaking of father, how is he?"
"In the fields where he belongs, why, do you wish for him to be elsewhere?"
"Father was only ever going down there, grandfather. You of all people know that."
"You do not disapprove?"
"Why should I?"
"Severus, you have had a hard life. In that life, you have done things which will not allow you well, upstairs. I know you are atoning grandson, but it will only work if you truly believe it will. All I ask is do you?"
"I am fairly certain that it is. I shall miss you, but it is working." The tall man nodded. He turned on his heels much like the adult Snape did, he moved back to the fireplace this time he spoke in Latin and the fire was again purple smelling of sulphur.
"Severus?" Snape moved next to the man.
"Yes grandfather?"
"If you are sure about those two, perhaps you should show them the rest. I doubt the non-believer will believe her own eyes but still. They seem to trust your judgement."
"Grandfather, my judgement would damn them." Lucifer laughed; it was a bitter laugh but still content. Almost like he knew his lot would remain unchanged.
"We both know that is not true. Your judgement is held in higher regard than mine. Azrael would not allow her apprentice to damn a human, your job is to guide the dead; mine is to punish their souls. Do not think on it further, grandson. Let your wings speak for themselves."
"My wings are an abomination."
"THEY ARE NOT." There was a shift of elemental powers and Lucifer's wings became visible, they were burnt skin, reddish as if they never healed. One was slightly higher on his back than the other and looked pinker as if starting to heal. He coughed as if trying to control his temper. "If anyone's wings are an abomination, it would be mine. Hell is not a pleasant place to have wings, grandson. Not all the demons are controllable, and neither is the hellfire all the time. It takes a patience I don't have."
"AT LEAST YOURS MATCH." With another feelable change in temperature there were a pair of wings behind Severus, and while one of them was covered with angelically white feathers, the other was covered in tar black feathers. They were the opposite of each other, even though they were attached to the same person.
"Well that is different." Lucifer seemed stunned by Severus' mismatched wing designs. They weren't streamlined like a bird of prey but angled like a vulture or other that rose on the hotter air vortices. There were two flashes of light as if summoned by Lucifer's voice. A dark-skinned male angel with dappled grey wings; and a petit female angel with fully grey wings that seemed too large for her.
"What's different Luc?" Lucifer just pointed at Severus' wings. She followed his finger, and her eyes widened. "Wings of the Impartial."
"What?" Severus looked at Azrael, then at Amendiel, who cleared his voice to speak.
"Wings of the Impartial. Our wing colours show our personality or our position next to our father. Well, except Lucifer, who is convinced he hasn't earned his back; if it even finally goes into that great skull of his than his wings would be like your white one." He paused briefly. "I take it those mortals are supposed to be here?" Snape looked at the Professor and Granger.
"Yes, they are trustworthy."
"Very well. Most of the angels have wings in varying shades of grey, from pale to dark. Mine used to be lighter, but they moulted. Lucifer lost his completely, got them back, hacked them off, got them back again, and now refuses to let them heal. Azrael's are more like my current ones but solid in colouration, that only because of her position as the angel of death. I was the obeyer; or favoured."
"Yes, and that went straight to your head."
"Shut up, Lucifer. The point is Severus, your wings are special because they do not match. As the guide of the dead, you must judge them. They either get sent to Lucifer or me depending on your say of their life's. Hell, or Heaven, who goes to which depends on you as the Impartial one."
"Azrael's the executioner, Grandfather the punisher, you the greeter, and I'm the jury?"
"Something like that."
"Actually brother, he's got it in one. I do hate my job sometimes, so does Luc."
"Sometimes, I hate it all the time." Lucifer had a point, he only dealt with `bad` souls.
"I supposed I understand why the punisher and executioner hate their jobs, but they must be done."
"Says the one whose got the good job. The greeter only has to deal with `good` souls, right?"
"I suppose." Severus narrowed his eyes at his grandfather's brother.
"Maybe you should swap jobs occasionally. Just so you all understand where the others are coming from."
"I like that idea." Lucifer suddenly seemed to brighten, and so did his wings, he didn't look so broken and devilish. Amendiel however seemed truly upset by the idea.
"I hate hell."
"Doesn't everyone, that's kind of the idea of hell." Lucifer and Azrael laughed. Amendiel grunted as if angered by the point. "If you lot don't mind, I've got some explaining to do." Lucifer nodded understanding completely, he had done this explanation before. Azrael got it but not perfectly, she'd just let her best friend think she was a ghost not the angel of death. Amendiel didn't, he never had to explain himself; Lucifer had explained for him. Lucifer stepped into the fire which was still purple and was gone in the fires of hell. Amendiel and Azrael vanished in a haze. Severus shuddered, knowing that this was not going to be easy. His wings shuddered with him.
"Professor McGonagall? Miss Granger?"
"Yes sir."
"You… Your, the devil… Is your grand… grandfather?"
"Less stuttering Minerva. Still me."
"YOU HAVE WINGS. YOU'RE AN ANGEL. AN BLOODY GODFORSAKEN ANGEL."
"Careful there Minerva you don't want to be cursing the almighty."
"Right now, I'm a bit pissed at you. Severus Snape; is a god damn angel. We are all doomed."
"Bit harsh, or did you miss that conversation?"
"I was a bit stunned that, the devil, the angel of death and the gatekeeper where on this plane at once Severus, that never bodes well."
"Amendiel, is not the gatekeeper. He's the greeter; only deals with good dead souls. The gatekeeper prevents the demons from getting to heaven should they overthrow the devil. Different job entirely, although he used to be that yes."
"And he's not now because?"
"He did something great-grandfather didn't approve off."
"Oh, no. Your related to actual GOD."
"How did you not get that. Amendiel did mention `our father` at least thrice."
"I was trying to overlook that part, you of all people are a half-angel."
"Quarter, technically. But effectively, I suppose. Yes?"
"I really wish I hadn't seen this."
"I can do that if you really want."
"Actually, no. But you have to judge my soul? Oh god, I'm going to hell."
"I can be impartial you know."
"Really?"
"Well apparently, since I have these things in non-matching opposite colours." Severus pointed at his wings.
"I wonder where father is." Severus stared at McGonagall's suddenly innocently hopeful expression.
"NO. I am not the messenger; you can summon Gabriel for that."
"Severus."
"No, I have only just learnt that this is supposedly my job. I am not going to ruin the laws of heaven and hell simply so you can see your father."
"I don't want to see him; I just want to know where he is. Which one he's in really." Snape's nostrils flared slightly obviously irritated.
"Fine. Just because it's you." He put his hands together in a prayer formation. "Azrael. I need the book, and your help finding a name. Please, it's for a friend." He unlocked his hands and looked glaringly at McGonagall. "There happy?" There was a haze next to Severus, and the petit female angel with fully grey feathered wings was back.
"Really twice? I am busy, you know."
"You think I'm not? Look, I need what you have on a Robert Percival McGonagall."
"Oddly specific, but familiar requests are not unusual when mortals find their friends with an angel."
"Seriously? Not unusual, yet oddly specific?"
"Oh, come on, she is a witch. It's not common for our lot to mess with their magic. It gets complicated and complicated is never good for an angel. Lucifer proved that years ago."
"You mean mother, don't you?"
"Unfortunately, yes. Look he loved his little girl, but once she saw the devil, her magic broke his glamour's I suppose you call them? It wasn't the same, part of them died, the fierceness in him and her spirit. Nothing kind comes from an angel and a mortal but nothing good comes from an angel and a magical mortal. She wanted nothing to do with her father anymore, and her grandfather revoked her wings. They became yours. She proved she couldn't be impartial, you have. Don't lose yourself Severus Snape."
"Fine, great pep talk Azrael. Robert McGonagall."
"Senior or Junior." Snape looked at Minerva in confirmation.
"Both, if possible." Azrael looked stonily at Minerva.
"One or none, darling. That's how this goes."
"I am uncertain of who was who." Severus stared at McGonagall slightly stunned.
"You of all people cannot seriously be saying that you are uncertain of which family member was which?"
"They were both named Robert Percival. For all I know then father's father was also." Severus groaned. He was clearly dismayed that one of the most intelligent people he knew was so confused by something so simple.
"He wasn't, your father was senior then. His father was Percival Robert." Severus glared at Azrael however he said nothing.
"Oh, well Senior then."
"Fine." Azrael clicked her fingers and heavily on the desk landed an ancient leather-bound book. She moved over to it and placed one hand on the main cover, which was intricately engraved and cracked with time, the angel of death spoke the name she needed. The book jumped open instantly onto the page she wanted. Her eyes widened at the information on the page. "Was your father a Scottish priest?"
"He was Scottish and a priest, yes."
"Not what I meant. Look the dates I've got here put you in your seventies, you look to good for that…"
"Thank you but I am."
"Really?"
"It's the magic, we're mortal we just live longer than non-magic mortals."
"Oh, well that's good. Anyway, he was a catholic priest?"
"Yes. Sermons and everything."
"In hell, I'm afraid. Father gets testy when his priest is two-timing him with the pantheons."
"What?"
"Your father, darling was a priest in Scotland during the rebellions yes?" McGonagall nodded. "Well, clearly he knew that his faith didn't hold all the answer's, so he got some of them from the dead gods. It's quite the list I'm afraid. I mean good on him, but really should have known better."
"Do you have dates for when the other gods came up?"
"Around your birth I should think darling. If these dates are accurate which they are." Severus had been silent, until this.
"Azrael, not your place."
"Hey, I'm the angel of death, I'm not the impartial. That's your job nephew." Severus' wings unfolded forcefully, one sucking light in and the other was shining.
"Indeed, your opinions dead aunt, are not required for your job. Information was all that was requested of you. Stick to the facts not the judgements."
"You are bloody perfect for your job. No-one tends to mess with me, death and all."
"Perhaps, clearly the lot of you have been allowed to much liberty with your jobs; the crossovers are unbalance-able." Severus was chewing out the angel of death like it was nothing and clearly it was something. The fire suddenly flashed purple, and there was Lucifer again.
"I'm being summoned by Azrael now?"
"Can't you muzzle your grandson?"
"Hell no. He is your apprentice, and the Impartial. I don't have the jurisdiction here." He glanced at Minerva who was for once close to tears. Lucifer's eyes were not their usual hellfire crimson but hazel. "He's in my realm, isn't he?" She nodded. "I'm sorry dear, I can't change that. Sometimes I wish I could, guilt is usually why they end up down there; myself included." She nodded, understanding the complexities of the angels and humans was clearly not gods forte since apparently, he liked things in black and white. Obviously, this was changing since Severus' job was considered new by the angels and made sure that areas of grey were considered. Seemingly the angel of death and the Impartial were quite at odds on how her job should be done. McGonagall glanced their way with her eyes, Lucifer understood immediately since his wings came out fully covered in shining white feathers, both not one like Severus'. With his voice raised he was clearly not one to argue with. "WILL YOU BOTH BE QUIET; THE HUMAN WOMAN REQUIRES COMFORT FROM THE ONE SHE DEEMS A FRIEND." Severus and Azrael turned to face the devil, in his angelic form, living up to his name of light-bringer.
"Shit." Severus just breathed just audibly enough. His eyes returned from the void where they had been staring darkly at Azrael. He moved to Minerva. "Minerva I'm sorry."
"I know. Family has always been a sore subject to you. I guess, I can guess why now. I'll be fine in a bit."
"No, my grandfather can be right sometimes; you need me right now. My argument with my aunt can wait. I doubt she'll let me forget it anyway. Apparently stubborn is a trait." Minerva chuckled lightly. Severus' lip curled at the corner his not quite form of a smile. "Come on, I know you have better scotch than me." Snape's wings folded back into a haze and were invisible from sight. Azrael growled as the pair left the room, Lucifer stood between an irate angel of death and the mortal left in the room.
"They are gone sister, so should you be."
"But he…"
"He was proving that Impartial can be as hard as ever. The last Impartial was a hard-arse as you recall."
"Yes, you were for a time. What happened?"
"I fell, sister. Or have you actually forgotten that I'm the devil for a reason."
"You know none of us can forget your fall. You were the brightest of us, lost forever."
"I am not lost anymore. But I remain a hard arse to the demons. Now, I understand why father was so furious when I led that rebellion." There was a human interruption when Hermione gasped. Lucifer turned to her. "What child?"
"The demons have free will, enough to revolt?"
"Of course, I made them that way. I didn't know that some of them would revolt, others stayed true to my rule. Mazikeen stayed on earth, she's become a bounty hunter you know. Same job different rules. I suppose I should have known Beltane would revolt he's always been discontent; he was one of the first made from hell's fire; an experiment if you will. He likes possessing humans, I outlawed that, in the beginning."
"Hell has laws?"
"Of course. It is my realm; I refuse it to be completely lawless. There are some things even the devil will not do."
"Is there a King of Heaven or just Hell, and is God like a High King or what?"
"Just Hell. Lucifer always has special treatment even if it's not all good." Azrael was answering for Lucifer which was something he clearly didn't like since his eyes flashed red.
"Don't you have the dead to collect? I'm still waiting for that one, you know."
"I can't find him, that's not my fault."
"Well, its not mine. I don't grant mortals immortality. One of the things the devil does not do."
"So why, then can I not find him?"
"Have you tried looking in your book, maybe you've already got him and just don't know it?" Lucifer and Azrael looked at Hermione for her interrupted idea. Lucifer's eyes brightened like a sunny day, clearly the idea had merit.
"I think I like her, sister. She's not near the front of that book of yours's, is she?"
"No, she's not even in it yet. Long life, this one. Same with the scot. I suppose her idea has some promise, but I guarantee nothing." Lucifer chuckled.
"You never do. I thank you child, few get one up on the angel of death. I trust your ending is painless and clean, and that I don't see you down there."
"My turn to make no guarantees, there is a war out there. I'm in the middle of it." Lucifer groaned like he had earlier.
"I hate magical wars; we end up being summoned far to often."
"I'll try not to. Summon either of you, I mean." Lucifer nodded to Hermione.
"I can see why my grandson trusts you, Miss Granger. You remind me of a human I knew once in Los Angeles."
"Chloe? She's in heaven you know." Lucifer's eyes narrowed at his sister.
"I think he knows that." Hermione had answered the look for Lucifer. Her attention was divided between the two angels. "That seems like it's hard on you; she was special to you wasn't she, like the professor's grandmother was?" Lucifer just nodded.
"I really should be going, have a pleasant life, Miss Granger." Lucifer stepped into the purple fire again and once gone. Hermione turned to where Azrael had been stood and nothing, she was gone. There had been no indication of when or how she had vanished just that it had happened. Hermione shrugged and left the room, with the fire now out completely it was cold in the dungeon room; she travelled swiftly towards the Gryffindor common room, normally she would have told Ron and Harry everything but she thought that this might brake them and probably Severus if he knew that they knew.