Pairings: Harry/Draco, Tom/Severus
Disclaimer: Neither Harry Potter nor any Greek Myths belong to me.
Chapter 1 - The Beginning
Harry Potter opened his eyes. That in itself was not a trying thing. The fact that he couldn't understand why he was alive at all was the problem. Slowly, he sat up. The world him was warm and dark, a hard surface with little in the way of noticeable features. It looked to be a cave, though he could see no walls or even a ceiling. The distances around were shrouded in fog. Harry got up and began to walk.
He didn't notice others walking along with him until he was nearing a river, cutting the cavern in half. Most were silvery, almost formless shapes, but some had detail in their features. Harry stopped dead as he watched the body of Draco Malfoy walk past him, as if he hadn't seen him at all. He tried to call out to the other boy, the one he knew should be dead, but his voice would not sound. Harry clawed at his neck, but there was nothing. Panicking, he fell to his knees and stared as more familiar faces floated past him.
Cho Chang. Rubeus Hagrid. Minerva MaGonagall.
He tried to scream. Hot tears flowed from his eyes, soundless sobs erupting from his throat. He screamed those silent screams until his throat was raw and his body tired. Huddling on his knees, head laying on them and arms wrapped around it, he tried to forget the dark world and the specters. He had died. Was this the land of the dead? Why could no one see him? Why couldn't he speak?!
A hand touched his shoulder. Harry sat up and looked to see a quiet, relaxed face. He choked back another sob as Severus Snape enveloped him in a warm embrace. The Potions Master could say nothing, but Harry clung to him all the same. There was someone that acknowledged him.
Finally, the two dragged themselves to their feet. Snape kept an arm around the boy's shoulders, a lifeline each needed. The walk began again. They followed the endless sea of walking spirits. They were all going to one place. Snape paused and watched as a tall, skinny man spoke with each person before sending them one way or the other along the river. Harry didn't care of this and simply kept a firm hold on Snape's robes. He was confused and battered, and there was no one who would take him from his only comfort. Snape steered them both into the long line. The woman ahead of them turned and smiled gently. Snape nodded his head in greeting to MaGonagall. The woman glanced down at Harry and her face grew grave. She reached out and touched his hair, much like a mother to her child. The boy looked at her. His eyes grew wet again, but she smiled and pet his hair just the same. Harry fought for control of himself again and won.
"Next. Have you your coin?" MaGonagall turned from Harry and Snape. It was her turn. Slipping from her pocket two gold coins, she held them out to the tall man. He smiled a crooked smile and sent her down the left side. Then. He turned his beady eyes onto Harry.
"Have you your coin?"
Harry stared at him, dumbfounded. He knew of no coins like MaGonagall had pulled out. He desperately wanted to follow her, for he was afraid of what the other side would be. He was afraid of the left side as well, but she was there. She would help him. A hand reached into his pocket. Harry jumped and looked over to see Snape dragging two gold coins from his cloth robes. Harry sighed in relief and Snape handed them over. The man smiled, crooked teeth showing.
"Left side. Next please. Have you your coin?"
Harry was frightened a moment and looked up at Snape. The dark teacher hadn't moved to claim his right to follow them. Green eyes snapped wide. Snape would go to the other side. He didn't want that. Without another hesitation, Harry grabbed the teacher's robes and shoved a hand into one pocket. He found nothing. Panicking, Harry searched another and another until he found no more. He was ready to cry again. Harry didn't want to lose Snape. A soft hand caressed the boy's cheek. He looked up at Snape, desperate. Finally, the man sighed and drug two coins from a pocket Harry simply knew he had already searched. Snape wasn't leaving him! He wasn't leaving him alone!
"Left side. Next. Have you your coin?"
With a comforting arm back around the boy and Harry's body pressed close to the Potions Master's side, the two walked away from the crooked man and continued down the way. They could barely see MaGonagall ahead of them, but she had stopped and let them catch up. She smiled at the two of them and took one of Harry's hands. She and Snape kept him between them the whole way.
It seemed like forever that they walked. Harry calmed on the way and lost his need for such closeness to the two professors beside him, though he kept hold of both their hands. They did not move away from him. Other spirits looked towards the three, but none came near. MaGonagall and Snape were quite imposing.
Finally, they reached another station, nestled in the crook of the only rock wall they had seen yet. There, a small man with a boat stood at the shore. Spirits were gathered before him, some in groups and some alone. Each was a fully formed spirit, not like the shadowy things Harry had seen before. Some were familiar to him. Draco Malfoy stood proudly on his own. He was close to the boatman. Ron Weasley and Rubeus Hagrid were together with a few other Hogwarts students. The students seemed drawn to Hagrid. His presence, even in that place of death, was still a comfort.
They waited in the silence. Sometimes, Harry could hear shuffling of ghostly steps, the swishing of robes, or even the voice of the boatman as he ferried spirits across the river. Harry wondered where they would be taken, once it was their turn. The river turned off three different ways from their bank. Harry watched as Hagrid stepped into the boat. The boatman paused and waved on the children that had been with him, all except Ron. The boat magically enlarged for them and they set off down one river. It was one Harry had seen almost half the other spirits disappearing down. Another had taken just as many. The other one had barely been used at all.
The crowd thinned, but more arrivals came to the back. Harry, MaGonagall, and Snape slowly edged forward. Harry watched as Ron got into the boat, followed by Draco. The two of them seemed as if they couldn't see one another. The boatman took both down the middle river. Harry wondered where it led. More spirits were taken, more time was spent waiting. Harry could do nothing but observe the spirits around him. He kept recognizing them, seeing people from the Order, students, and even Death Eaters. Some of them were clearer than others, some only faintly outlined. Some had color and some were faded.
"The boy and the woman," murmured a soft, dark toned voice. Harry looked and sat the boatman. He looked like a young boy, dark haired and dark eyed with the palest skin Harry could imagine. He looked young, but there was age in his face. His eyes were tired. His clothing was in grays, swaths of cloth hanging over him in layers. An ore was in his hand.
"Come," the boatman beckoned him. His voice was kind, though his face was blank of anything. "You are destined for the Elysian Fields."
MaGonagall took his hand.
"Snape," Harry said. He was shocked that his voice worked again. The boatman shook his head.
"No," he said. "He is destined for the Palace. He has done both evil and good in his life, so much that he must be judged by the Three."
"I don't want to go anywhere without him," Harry whispered. From behind, he felt a hand press against his back, urging him to go. He looked up at Snape. The inky eyes were pleading. Harry felt himself start to break again. "Please don't make me go without him…"
The boatman sighed softly. "You would give up eternal bliss just to stay with this man?"
"Yes," replied the boy. The boatman nodded and turned to MaGonagall.
"I shall accompany them," she replied to his unasked question.
"Then, come. We will see the Three."
Harry took hold of Snape and MaGonagall's hands and led the two onto the boat with him. They sat down as he did, both looking regretful.
"You should have gone on, Potter," muttered Snape. "That's heaven Charon was speaking of."
MaGonagall pulled Harry into her arms, stroking his wild hair. "What's done is done, Snape… We shall make the most of it."
The dark man fell silent for the journey. Harry didn't move from MaGonagall's grasp. She was comforting, like a mother he'd never had. All around them, the waters licked and pushed the boat while Charon devotedly steered it along. Harry watched as the other shore loomed closer. Beyond it, he could barely distinguish tall shapes in the fog, like a city hid before him.
The boat hit the shoreline. Charon stepped out and helped his passengers.
"Welcome to Erebus," he murmured gently. "You must go to the Palace to have your names put on the waiting list. It will be years before you are Judged."
The dark boatman got back into his boat. Harry jumped forward and grabbed the edge of it. Charon looked at him in confusion.
"Did you change your mind?" he asked. Harry shook his head.
"I just wanted to thank you."
A strange flush took the boatman's white cheeks. "You're…welcome…"
Harry gave him a brilliant smile and let go of the boat. Pushing off, he started back to the other shore. Harry watched him until he disappeared. Then, he went back to Snape and MaGonagall.
Now that they were there, Harry could see the city more clearly. Spiraling buildings made from living rock rose to dizzying heights with strange, glowing trees all over the ground. The sounds of people going about life filled his ears. He could see their shapes move about the winding streets. In the distance, a large mansion rose out of the fog, spirals and domes topping it's towers. Harry swallowed thickly.
"That's the place," MaGonagall murmured. She gave his head a pat before starting towards it. Snape and Harry followed behind her.
A/N: Slow...Things will kick up soon. As always, romance is going to be slow in coming, 'cause I can't rush things. Now then...
Does anyone else agree with me that Charon is a tragic character? I think ferrying people across the river Styx would get boring and he's done it since Hades was created!!!! Bah....
Feedback:
Icelight-warm - Heh, boisex is in the future and this time I didn't taunt you by not telling you the pairings.
Crysania Fay - wince I updated! I updated! Don't kill me!!! ...and how DOES one "crow happily"??
Uuari - What can I say? I like violence.
HaRrYrOxMuhSoX - Amazing...? blushes
Chi7890 - blushes even harder It's okay...breathe, lady...breathe...
Off to write more...I'm just happy I refuse to do any more 15 page a chapter stories!! pointed glare at Lies
Ciao