DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and all other characters and locations belong to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter Thirteen - Hell, Sweet Hell
A soothing warmth drew Harry from the arms of Morpheus. Stirring sleepily, he rolled over and stretched, arching his back and pointing his toes. The pull of recently abused muscles had him moaning in pleasure and relaxing, one hand rising to absently scratch his chin. He sniffed delicately and smiled, listening to the familiar sound of lava burbling and slurping in the craters throughout his lair. His brow furrowed as his brain began to put the pieces together. Emerald orbs flew open suddenly, staring at the blackened rock above him in comprehension.
"Shit!" He snarled, jerking into a sitting position. His lips curled back and he loosed a feral growl, eyes sweeping the cavern he called home. In a fluid movement, he shot to his feet, his black wings rustling softly as he stormed from the small cave. Stalking through the darkened corridors of Hell, he began a mental litany of why he shouldn't hunt Hermione Granger down and kill her. By the time he reached his destination, his eyes were blazing and his hands were clenching, dagger like nails cutting into the palms of his hands.
With a threatening rumble, he knocked a patiently waiting imp out of his way and crashed through the doors of Hades throne room. His unannounced arrival brought immediate silence to the large chamber, the eyes of dozens of demons landing on him with malicious intent. Flashing fangs at a harried looking messenger, he swept around the muttering group, his attention focused completely on the tall blond sitting arrogantly upon Hell's throne. He halted before the God of Death and made a quick bow, dipping his head and wings respectfully before straightening. "I want the name of the demon given the task of destroying the grimoires," he hissed.
Slender eyebrows arching, Hades slumped deeper into his throne, the fingers of one hand beginning to bounce with restrained energy. "If you wish to address me, Retriever, you shall do so from your knees." Eyes of the palest blue regarded the raven-haired demon, daring him to disobey the softly spoken command.
Dropping gracefully to his knees, Harry placed fisted hands upon his bare thighs and focused glowing orbs on the stone between Hades feet. "I want the name of the demon given the task of destroying the grimoires," he repeated. His fingers tugged unconsciously at the edges of the dark kilt he wore, returning the garment to an acceptable position around his muscled thighs. With an audible snap, he closed his fluttering wings and held them tightly against his back, taking comfort in their presence. "And I want it now."
"You dare use that tone with our lord," a voice rasped from the shadows. The demon who had spoken clattered out of the darkness on shod hooves and sketched a neat bow to Hades, ducking his heavily horned head. Lifting orbs that shone a startling violet, he drew a massive ax from his belt and eyed Harry. "Let me kill him for you, Sire."
Hades rose smoothly, descending the dais silently and gliding toward Harry's still form. "What a kind offer, Abraxas, but unfortunately I must decline." Black robes swishing across the dark floor, the Demon Lord prowled forward. He swept around the Retriever carelessly, his gaze sliding across the excited faces of his subjects. "Harold James Potter is one of my most faithful subjects. Aren't you, Harry?"
Drawing a deep breath, Harry tipped his head in a small nod. "Of course, my lord. I live only to serve you," he said dispassionately. The fire in his eyes refused to be banked and was hastily hidden by sooty lashes. He focused his attention upon his fingers, staring at the crescent tattoo on the back of his hand.
"Then tell me, Retriever, why have you returned without accomplishing your task?" Hades asked succinctly. He continued his slow circuit of the chamber's perimeter, hands folded at the small of his back. When Harry failed to answer his question immediately, he whirled around, narrowing icy eyes upon the Retriever.
Glancing at the violet-eyed demon, Harry hunched his shoulders. "I was captured, my lord, in a demon trap." He shifted unhappily at the snorts of amusement and laughs of disbelief his announcement garnered. Narrowing his eyes, he lifted his chin and glared into the shadows. "A witch banished me before I was able to free myself. Now, may I have the name of the demon given the task of destroying the grimoires?"
A bark of laughter heralded the appearance of a tall demon. Amber eyes shimmering with mirth, the male flipped short red hair off his forehead and sneered at the Retriever. "You admit to allowing a mortal to trap you?" The High Court demon demanded, exchanging a dissatisfied look with the horned Abraxas. "You bring shame to our kind, Retriever." That snarled, the red-haired demon spat in his general direction and then slid back into the concealing shadows.
"Aberfoyle is correct. I do not reward failure." Hades bit out. Shaking his head ruefully, the God moved solemnly forward. "I shall not give you the name of the demon given the task of destroying the grimoires. Nor shall I return you to the mortal plane. For the first time, you have failed me, and I find myself concerned with that fact. Return to your lair, Harry."
Harry sprang to his feet and growled, opening his wings with a crash. "You have no choice! You must send me back!" He bellowed, emerald orbs flashing in outrage. "My task is not complete!" His chest rose and fell as he panted for air, nostrils flared. Sweat dampened his brow. Scrabbling with the silver band that encircled his wrist, he searched for his sword, dropping his gaze when he was unable to locate it. He lowered his eyes in time to watch the crescent tattoo bleed darkness across his skin, erasing the clock he had planned his every move by.
"I have other Retrievers in my retinue, Harry. You might be the best, but you are not the last. One of your brethren will finish the task I assigned you," Hades drawled. He watched the maddened Retriever carefully, pacing further away from him and frowning. His eyes swept the shadowed corners of the dark throne room, ferreting out his most powerful advisors. At the raven-haired Retrievers's outraged bellow, he turned, watching grimly as swirling emerald's focused completely on him.
"I had him! His heart upon my blade!" Growled Harry, hefting his wings and glaring at Hades. Lips curling back from elongated fangs, he hissed, his fingers curling threateningly.
The smile that crossed Hades face was condescending, his tone patronizing. "Be that as it may, Dwayne shall see Voldemort executed." His pale eyes widened innocently as Harry let out a screech of fury.
Hands clenching into tight fists, Harry gave four hard flaps of his wings, rising higher into the air with every heavy downstroke. "Dwayne! You're replacing me with Dwayne? He's an incompetent moron!" His final words were screamed, the sheer volume of his voice causing small pieces of rock to rain down upon the dark court. He ignored the gleeful murmurs from the shadows, choosing instead to keep his attention on Hades.
Sighing in regret, Hades lifted a long fingered hand and gave a delicate wave. His brow furrowed as the Retriever slammed into the marble floor, one long wing snapping beneath his weight. "I've had enough of your dramatics, Harry Potter. You will leave this room and not return until your presence is requested." Not bothering to watch the lesser demon climb to his feet, the God spun around and glided toward his throne, his gaze sweeping the shadows.
Harry rolled painfully to his knees and drew a shallow breath, fighting down the urge to howl like a rabid Hell Hound. Instead, he pushed himself to his feet and limped from the room, slowing only to ram his fist into the scowling imp's face. Ignoring the imp's yelp of fear, he trudged down the long corridor, his broken wing dragging uselessly behind him.
His feet carried him through the depths of Hell, taking him around bottomless chasms and boiling pools of magma, to the entrance of his lair. He paused in the narrow portal, staring blindly into the shadowed interior while his thoughts churned. Sirius was stuck on the mortal plane. Draco knew his dirty little secret. His reputation had just been dealt a terrible blow. And to top it all off, Voldemort still had his favourite sword. Heaving a deep sigh, he turned slowly around and plodded away from his lair; he wasn't happy about it, but he was home.
XxXxX
The atmosphere of Dumbledore's study was decidedly dark. Fear was evident on the faces of the three Gryffindors; their eyes wide and their faces pale as they attempted to guide shaky teacups to their mouths. Across from them, Draco stared blindly into space, his fingers folded in his lap. Gaze shifting back and forth between the four, Severus Snape sneered and lifted his brandy glass.
"Please tell me again which spell you used, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said quietly. He lifted his eyes from the grimoire sitting forlornly on his desk, glancing at the Gryffindor witch over the top of his spectacles. It seemed that just when things were starting to look up, everything went terribly wrong. Sighing softly, he lifted his teacup to his mouth and took a long swallow, waiting patiently for the young Gryffindor to gather her courage and recite her tale.
Lowering her teacup, Hermione Granger stared into the murky liquid, her eyes closing tightly as she drew a deep breath. "It was on page three-hundred-ninety-eight, professor." She jumped in fright when Ron attempted to pat her shoulder comfortingly, the quick movement sending the remaining tea inside her cup sloshing over the rim.
"Are we in trouble?" Neville asked anxiously, his wide eyes darting back and forth between the Headmaster and Professor Snape. His left hand was shaking so badly that his dark robes were dampened with spilt tea and the cup nearly empty, although the golden rim had never brushed his lips.
"Of course not," Ron scoffed, scooping up a handful of Lemon Drops and ferrying them into his waiting mouth. He chewed greedily, ignoring the disgusted glare Snape had pinned upon him.
"I'm afraid we may all be in trouble, Mister Longbottom." Dumbledore said softly. Sighing heavily, he removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. He wiped the half-moon lenses on the front of his robe before placing them back upon his nose.
"But he was a demon!" Hermione hissed, staring at the Headmaster with wide eyes. She rose and placed her cup on a nearby side table, fisting her hands in her black cloak as she began to pace back and forth before the roaring fire. "He was sent by Voldemort. We saw them talking! That evil . . . thing was obviously sent to kill Neville!"
"He's not evil," Draco rasped, startling the arguing group. He peered at them thoughtfully for a moment, ignoring the disgusted sneer Weasley sent his way. Drawing his knees up, he wrapped his arms around his legs and returned his attention to the stone wall beside him.
Curling his lips, Ron narrowed his eyes and glared in disdain at the blond Slytherin. "You'd think so, wouldn't you, Malfoy?" His sneer turned into a triumphant smirk when the Slytherin remained silent.
Shaking his head, Dumbledore focused his attention upon the ancient grimoire resting before him, narrowing his eyes as he read the incantation the Gryffindor witch had used upon Harry. "Quite the opposite actually, Miss Granger," he murmured, lips moving as he silently studied the spell. "Harry was sent by Hades to retrieve Voldemort." Lifting his gaze, he stared at Hermione, wondering if she understood the magnitude of their actions.
"I knew it!" Severus crowed. His dark eyes sparked and his lips curved into a dangerous smile. He swallowed the final dredges of brandy from his cup and slammed the empty glass down on the Headmaster's desk. "I knew there was something wrong with that boy! Only a demon would've had a negative reaction to Dresden's balm. I told you, didn't I, Draco?" His gaze swung to the blond, brow furrowing when the young wizard stared at him silently.
"Hades?" Neville whimpered, face paling as Hermione gasped.
"The God of Death," the bushy-haired witch muttered through bloodless lips. Raising her eyes from the toes of her boots, she stared at Dumbledore in horror, her mind racing. "The ruler of the underworld."
Nodding his head slowly, Dumbledore lowered his gaze to the grimoire and frowned. With a flick of his wrist, he closed the book and turned to stare into the crackling blaze within the hearth. "Correct, Miss Granger."
"But that would mean-"
"Voldemort is a demon!" Snape spat in shock, his dark orbs widening as Dumbledore nodded slowly.
"Correct."
XxXxX
Sirius slid through the dark halls of Hogwarts, his gray eyes narrowed. He moved with the assurance of a hunting cat, his entire being centered upon capturing his skittish mouse. A quick look down an abandoned hall assured him the coast was clear. Grinning devilishly, he stepped from the darkness and glared at the stone Gargoyle guarding the stairs to the Headmaster's office. Tilting his head, he whispered, "Sherbet Lemons," and waited patiently for the statue to shift to the side. He drew a deep breath as he put his foot on the first stair, closing his eyes and thinking of Harry before beginning the climb.
Courage was generally not a characteristic found in minor demons, nor was bravery. Minor demons excelled in skulduggery. They skulked and schemed and terrorized mortals; they didn't mount rescue missions. Then again, self-preservation could be listed among a minor demons best qualities. If their survival depended upon them doing something brave, they closed their eyes, did it, and hoped for the best.
Which was exactly how Sirius had come by his ingenious plan. All he had to do, in theory, was rush into the room, howl and snarl angrily, grab the grimoire, then disappear. It was simple and easy to remember, making it practically impossible to screw up. Or so he hoped.
Giving a sharp nod of encouragement to bolster his waning bravado, he drew himself straight and threw open the door of Dumbledore's study, lunging inside with an angered snarl. Metal began to scream loudly, a sharp ringing that made him curse and slap his hands protectively over his ears. His hands were unable to block out the shrill whining, nor were they able to protect his ear drums from the panicked wails of fear that escaped the four young mortals crowded around the Headmaster's desk.
The phoenix perched beyond the group let out a disgusted trill and launched itself into the air. With a crack of scarlet wings, Fawkes shot over the group, lashing angrily at the dark-haired male with sharp talons as he passed. Ignoring the demon's screech, the phoenix dropped gracefully down the staircase with a triumphant shrill, leaving chaos in his wake.
To busy swatting at the air over his head, Sirius was completely unprepared for the barrage of spells that struck him. His breath was forced from his lungs as he was slammed into a wall, his waving arms scattering dozens of shiny trinkets and whirring objects. Slumping to the floor, he gave a sharp shake of his head and blinked, trying to clear his fuzzy mind. A blur of blue sailing toward him had him rolling to the left and struggling painfully to his feet. "Give me the book," he yelped, wild gray eyes locking on the Headmaster.
"Book?" Severus hissed in confusion, the tip of his wand pointed firmly at the crazed male. Narrowing his eyes, the Potions Master darted a quick look at Dumbledore. He was surprised at the relief he found upon the older wizard's face, the hope shining within those blue orbs causing him to falter.
"The Grimoire!" Sirius snarled as he straightened. "I must have it!" He took a shaky step forward and walked into an invisible wall. A howl of pure anger escaped him as he banged uselessly upon the empty air, his fisted hands sending ripples through the magic that contained him.
"He's a demon," Hermione whispered loudly, "just like Harry." She loosed a frightened squeak when orbs blazing steely gray focused completely on her, the pupils dilated to slits of black. Whimpering in fear, she pressed closer to Ron and Neville, cowering against the pair as the contained demon snarled.
"Harry isn't just a demon!" Sirius roared in response to the witch's whisper. Lifting his hands, he placed his palms against the magical sphere and dragged his nails slowly down its length, attempting to separate the pulsing energy. "He's the finest Retriever in all of Hell! His skill is legendary! His prowess unrivaled! Heaven, even Voldemort fears him! And you, you worthless mortal, banished him! Can you even begin to comprehend what you've done? You've tarnished his reputation! He shall be laughed at for decades to come!"
"Enough!" Dumbledore cried suddenly, raising a hand to bring silence to the room. He stared at the panting demon thoughtfully, his gaze dropping slowly to the grimoire resting closed before him. Brow furrowing, he rose and circled his desk, bringing the thick book with him as he moved. Halting before the angry demon, he lifted the grimoire and calmly asked, "can you summon him back?"
Eyes narrowing, Sirius shifted, his gaze locked on the proffered book. Fingers clenching, he inhaled slowly and gave a sharp bob of his head. "I can," he whispered, slitted orbs moving from the tome to the face of the wizard holding it. Tipping his head, he slowly reached for the grimoire, his hand passing easily through the air which had moments ago been occupied by a magical wall. At the feel of aged leather beneath his fingertips, he grinned and tossed his head back, laughing gleefully.
"Professor," Hermione hissed in a scandalized voice, shaking her head back and forth in horror. She shifted closer to Ron and Neville and slid her hand into her pocket, wrapping her fingers around the comforting length of her wand. "They're evil. How can you consort with something that crawled out of Hell?"
"I'll have you know I jumped two planes to get here." The minor demon snapped, shooting the young witch a disgusted look as he opened the grimoire and began to thumb hastily through its pages. "And I'm not evil . . . well, I'm not really evil. Neither is Harry. Heaven, if he were any nicer we'd have to dye his wings cherub white!" The shaggy haired demon muttered, his gray eyes dancing merrily at the thought.
"Professor-"
"Please return to your dormitories," Dumbledore said, his gaze sweeping over the three Gryffindors in warning. He arched a brow when Hermione began to protest, his compressed lips bringing her to a stuttering halt. "Immediately." Relief swept through him when the witch bowed her head and swung toward the door, leading her fellow Gryffindors from his study. Eager to begin, he returned his gaze to the humming demon, his brow drawing down as the dark-haired male flipped the grimoire upside down and pursed his lips. A light thud turned his head and brought his eyes to the pair of Slytherins staring silently at him.
Tipping his chin upward, Draco glared down his nose at the headmaster. "I'm staying," he stated calmly as he folded his arms. His chin went up a notch when Dumbledore frowned, his hands fisting in the cloth of his dark robes.
"Mister Malfoy," Albus began, stopping when the blond gave a sharp shake of his head.
"I'm staying," Draco repeated, glancing at Severus. The flare of surprise in his Godfather's eyes had him narrowing his pale orbs and tapping one foot impatiently. "Many dark spells require the brewing of potions. This . . . demon shall surely need the assistance of someone who is capable of brewing a perfect potion."
Sighing lightly, the Headmaster bobbed his head in agreement. He glanced at the demon perusing the grimoire, cringing as the male muttered something about unicorn blood and then licked his lips. "You may stay, Mister Malfoy. And you as well, Severus," he added worriedly. "Something tells me your expertise shall be needed in the next few hours.
"I need fifteen pounds of salt and a human heart, preferably fresh - the heart not the salt."
Exchanging nervous looks, the three wizards peered at the demon and reached for their wands. It was going to be an interesting few hours. Assuming they all lived through the summoning of the wizarding world's last hope.
XxXxX
A finger ran lazily up the inside of his arm, the touch making him draw back his lips and bare glistening teeth in warning. When the digit continued leisurely on its exploratory path, he growled softly. The hand was withdrawn quickly, only to reappear quite suddenly upon his bare back. Eyes flying open in outrage, Harry jerked his head to the side, orbs narrowing upon the silent individual sitting next to him. "What do you want?" He bit out, resettling his chin upon the warm stone beneath him. His teeth ground together as a feather light stroke was delivered to the underside of his right wing, the brush causing the hair at the nape of his neck to rise.
"I want my demon, Harry Potter." The individual crooned, head tilting as he examined the raven-haired Retriever. Running fingers tipped with needle like nails up Harry's spine, the male slowly began to apply more pressure, leaving narrow furrows within the tanned skin that filled slowly with blood. "Tell me, where is my Sirius?"
Flinching at the rake of claws, Harry snarled and rolled away, coming up on all fours several feet away from the maddened Incubus. "Go away, Remus." His emerald orbs narrowed dangerously, his dark wings arching threateningly above his bleeding back. He tensed as the other male flowed liquidly into the same position, head tipped coquettishly and lips drawn back.
"You called and he went. Yet here you are, and he is nowhere in sight. So, tell me, Retriever, where is my Sirius?" Remus bellowed, wings opening with a crack. He hissed like a feral cat, exposing a mouth full of razor sharp teeth.
Harry responded in kind, drawing back his lips and revealing neatly curved fangs. "He's upon the mortal plane! Which is exactly where I should be!" His angered scream ricocheted around the cavern. Silence fell upon the rock chamber, both males staring quietly at each other as they panted for breath.
"You left him there?" Demanded the browned-haired Incubus into the silence, his nails scraping the dark stone as he crept forward. He slunk like a stalking lion, his eyes narrowing as Harry growled and spread his dark wings further.
"I had no choice!" Bellowed the Retriever, nostrils flaring as he exhaled angrily. "I was banished!" He snapped his mouth closed as soon as the admission had flown past his lips. Face flushing, he rumbled angrily and closed his eyes, preparing himself for what was to come.
At his words, the Incubus halted, his lips forming a delighted smile. Tipping his head, he leaned forward and lowered his wings, blue orbs sparkling with mirth. "You? Banished?" At the raven-haired Retriever's embarrassed nod, he tossed back his head and howled with laughter. His left fist hammered the warm rock beneath him as he laughed wildly, his face growing redder with every high-pitched giggle. "The great Harry James Potter banished? Hades finest Retriever thrown from the mortal plane? Who had the horns to do such a thing?" Snickered Remus, gasping for air as he peered at the younger demon.
Groaning, Harry dropped to his stomach and buried his burning face in his folded arms. "A witch," he mumbled, gritting his teeth as Remus cackled like a hyena.
With one final hoot, Remus collapsed to his stomach and sighed. Rubbing his chin against the smooth skin of his arms, he stared at the sulking Retriever. "I suppose it's up to me to go and fetch him, then?" The Incubus inquired softly, allowing his eyes to drift closed as he inhaled deeply.
Lifting his face from his arms, Harry swivelled his head and gazed at the Incubus in stunned realization. "Remus? You can jump across the planes, can't you?" He asked unnecessarily as a smile slid slowly across his face. The sleepy nod the other gave had him grinning widely. "If you'll perform a simple task for me, I'll give you whatever your black little heart desires."
A/n: Thank you to everyone who took the time to read and review. And I wish you all the best in the New Year!