Chapter 13 – Game changer

Hermione was totally speechless. It all seemed unreal. Well, it seemed even more unreal than before, as she contemplated becoming the Incarnation of Fate. She looked around, trying to get a grip in reality.

Ron might have been murdered.

The sense of reality was getting farther and farther away from Hermione. The beautiful willow tree both women were under looked incredibly out of place in contrast to the grave words the young widow just had heard.

Ron had been murdered. Her Ron was killed. By Satan.

'Is it true?'

Marlene shrugged, but there was definitely concern in her voice. 'That was the suspicion in Purgatory. Satan has a lot of agents there.'

'But why kill my husband? Ron never harmed a fly in his whole life.'

'Satan certainly was after a soul to damn to Hell. That's what we figured, at least.'

'We? Who is we?'

'The other Incarnations. We consult each other quite often. But no one knew for sure.'

Hermione still had a hard time with the whole story. 'But if Ron was killed, he would not go to hell, would he? So what would Satan gain by killing him?'

'Oh, dear,' said Marlene McKinnon. 'It was not his soul he was after. It was yours, we reckoned.'

'Mine?'

'Had you committed suicide, your soul would be tainted by a capital sin. It is a sure one-way ticket down, sweetie.'

Something about the wonderful breakfast of the resort churned in Hermione's stomach and she suddenly dashed out of the bench. She got to her knees and hurled a bit, out of sheer disgust. Marlene helped her a bit, but Hermione soon recovered from the bout of sickness.

Her first question was, 'How do we do this?'

o0o 0o0 o0o 0o0

In the end, becoming the Incarnation of Fate was awfully simple. All it took was a holding of hands.

But things started to complicate from there on. Hermione immediately felt the other two aspects of Fate inside her head.

Welcome, new sister, said one. Hermione could not say which was which.

Marlene McKinnon stared at her. 'It is odd. I don't feel my sisters anymore.'

Suddenly Hermione felt her body change, and it was as if she was shoved behind her own body. Atropos had taken over.

Sorry about her, apologized Lachesis. Atropos has always been a bit hasty in her ways.

Atropos embraced Marlene with love and respect. 'Good luck to you in your new life.'

Marlene was overwhelmed with emotion. She hugged the older woman fiercely, tears already streaming from her eyes.

'I know I will not remember you, but believe me: I miss you already.'

They cried in each other arms for a while, and then it was Lachesis's turn to say goodbye to her sister.

Hermione, now as the young incarnation of Fate called Clotho, took over the body and asked, 'Please take good care of dear Rose.'

'I will. Don't worry,' she smiled. 'And I am sure you will be a wonderful Fate.'

Hermione felt tears forming in her eyes, for this was final. She was not Hermione Granger anymore, and she would never be again. It was an odd feeling.

She hugged Marlene McKinnon, and when she looked at the other woman she felt a real jolt. For it was like staring at a mirror: Marlene now had the physical appearance of Hermione Weasley née Granger.

'Now,' said Marlene, wiping the tears, 'it's time for that handy accident to wipe out my memories.'

'What?'

'Don't fret, dear. Lachesis got it all covered.'

Hermione felt that shove again as she was pushed back inside her own body. The middle-aged aspect of Fate took over her body and said, 'Leave everything to me, sisters.'

She is so crafty, commented Atropos, with sincere admiration.

Hermione was still getting used to the whole change of body thing. Ever being the know-it-all, she observed as Marlene and Lachesis arranged a totally freak accident involving a timely fall of a sturdy oak branch which managed to land precisely in Marlene's head. She was knocked out immediately, and Hermione was alarmed.

This is a deserted road. It may take hours until someone finds her.

Atropos tried to calm her down. Have some faith in Fate.

In less than thirty seconds, two men riding beautiful horses from the compound appeared by that road. Lachesis had already turned into the small spider, and went up the huge oak tree.

The men quickly spotted the unconscious woman.

'Look! What is that?'

'Oh, good heavens! The poor girl!'

They dismounted and one of them checked her pulse. 'She is alive!'

'Better bring her to the hotel. They have a nurse there.'

The riders took the young lady with them, and through the arachnid eyes Hermione saw herself for the last time, in a silent farewell.

'Time to take the new sister home,' said Lachesis in her spider form, using the travel threads with proficiency.

I need to learn that, thought Hermione.

To her surprise, Lachesis answered, It's much easier than it looks.

Shared thoughts would be a thing to get used, Hermione realized. Nothing to worry.

The small spider went upwards and upwards and then to different directions, ones that Hermione could not remember if she tried. They were clearly leaving this world and then going to the fringe, as Marlene had described it. She saw the huge building deeply resembling a gigantic spider web and recalled what Ron had told her about Aragog's lair.

The spider entered the web and nimbly came down to the center of it, landing already as Lachesis.

'Home, at last.'

Hermione looked around. She already knew some of the place, having been there before, to plea for Ron's life. Back then, all she saw was the web of threads and a spider's lair. Now, though, she could see it was cozy and really comfy.

Hermione reprimanded herself. What was she expecting? Dead flies wrapped in silky threads?

'Oh, dear,' laughed Lachesis. 'Please take the body and voice all your questions.'

Hermione took on the body still embarrassed that her ridiculous thoughts were being shared. Atropos said mentally, Do not feel afraid to ask a question, even if you think it is silly.

'I really thought there might be dead flies and such…'

I can see you keep referring to that movie with a monstrous spider, said Lachesis. No, we eat normal food and we make our own chores. That is usually my field. But we share.

'I can cook… a bit.'

Lachesis is really good, offered Atropos. Sometimes I bake a bit, too.

'I am best at cleaning, I confess,' said Hermione.

Good, a cleaner, cherished Lachesis. It seems you will fit well, my dear.

'And what about the loom? I've never done that before.'

It is not hard, said Atropos. Marlene left a lot of threads already spun, so you can practice spinning the new threads with the distaff and the spindle. But it is your job to pick up the fibers in the Void.

Hermione blanched, 'The Void?'

It is just a part of Purgatory, explained Lachesis. It is strictly Clotho's job to pick the fibers and collect them in the staff. Then you can come back to the Abode, and we will help you spin them.

'Can't you help me collect them?'

No, dear, said Atropos. We are not allowed there. It is Clotho's realm.

'How am I going to do that?'

We can practice your use of the distaff, said Lachesis reassuringly. Go to the spinning room. There you will find an old-fashioned spinning-wheel. Remember the Sleeping Beauty? It's just like that. The Golden Distaff is right by it. The spindle can do it just fine, but the spinning-wheel sometimes helps speeding up the spinning.

'I fear I have no familiarity with this at all.' Hermione felt tension rising up. What if she could not do it?

Relax, dear, said Lachesis. We will help you. And maybe the Green Mother can help you at the Void. She is allowed in there.

'I never met her.'

She is one of the major Incarnations, explained Atropos. We all work together so that the system works.

'So tell me more about this system. And how was it that Ron was murdered by Satan.'

There was a spot of mental silence. Then Lachesis, always accommodating, invited, Why don't we discuss it over a bit of tea? I am a pit peckish.

Hermione felt the tension double.

o0o 0o0 o0o 0o0

The smell of lemongrass and chamomile never smelled so lovely as Hermione sat on the table of the Abode of Fate. It was a familiar sense in the amidst of so much new environment.

Perhaps I could take over the body and explain the mechanics of things, offered Lachesis. Hermione agreed, and the middle-aged woman came to the "front" of the body. It was still something to get used.

'You will get the hang of it,' said Lachesis. 'It is just a matter of common sense, giving privacy when privacy is due, and all that.'

Atropos piped up, Mortals could learn that, if you ask me.

Hermione smiled internally. Each minute she liked Atropos even better. The older aspect felt that, too.

Lachesis explained, 'When you came here the first time, you learned the basis of our firmament. We are five major incarnations, working below but independently from the two major entities. Our job is to keep life on the mortal realm flowing smoothly. We are prohibited from directly interfering in individual lives, especially Fate. As Fate, we must ensure destiny to happen, even though we don't make the decisions.'

Then who does them?, asked Hermione.

'Probably God and Satan, after consultation with their advisors, but this is not clear,' said Lachesis. 'It is not up to us to question or even understand the criteria of their decision making process. All I know is that it includes merit issues among others. And let me stress this: they are not allowed to interfere with mortals, either.'

Hermione was shocked. Lachesis didn't give her time to formulate a question.

'These rules are older than time. It was a covenant made at the dawn of the ages. We, incarnations, are immortals but not perennial. We can die or just quit the office, like Marlene did. It is different for God and Satan, though frankly I have my doubts about Satan. Besides, needless to say, the Prince of Darkness is always trying to bend or ignore the ancient rules.'

That knave, thought Atropos, disgusted.

So he interferes and God doesn't?, asked Hermione.

'Long story short, yes, but it is not as simple as that,' answered Lachesis. 'It is mostly a subtle interference. Just like your husband's death, an accident. It wasn't even suspicious. It was ruled as an accidental death. Satan is always subtle and insidious. And God left that whole parting of the Red Sea approach in the past.'

But God hears prayers, right?, asked Hermione.

Atropos moved uncomfortably, and Lachesis was a bit reticent. 'See, this is a very touchy subject because of religious beliefs. We don't want people to lose faith. I am sure God hears prayers, and it is said that he moves in mysterious ways, but we just have no tangible confirmation, that's all. Even we, the incarnations, have no direct access to God. The angels are his representatives and they are as high as we go.'

So you have access to Satan? Do you go down or does he appear to the incarnations?, asked the former witch.

Atropos huffed in indignation. That entity has no respect for boundaries at all! What a horrible, horrible man!

Lachesis reminded, 'He is not a man.'

You know what I mean, said Atropos. Hermione liked her more and more by the minute. But yes, he may appear occasionally.

I still can't figure out why would he kill Ron, said Hermione. Just for my soul?

Lachesis said, 'Satan is deviant, but he is no fool. He may have anticipated Marlene's move and killed Ron to prevent you from becoming Clotho. But I am just speculating, of course.'

Why would he want to prevent my becoming Fate?, wondered Hermione.

Maybe you will uncover one of his great schemes, said Atropos excitedly. I am sure this man has some sort of swindle or trickery ring in Purgatory! He has agents everywhere!

'Yes, he has minions in a lot of places,' conceded Lachesis. 'But Purgatory is neutral territory. Like Switzerland.'

But not everybody who lives in Switzerland is Swiss, right?, asked Atropos. Hermione had to admit the elder aspect of Fate made a good point.

It would be good to get back at Satan for what he did to Ron, thought Hermione. But that was not the reason she accepted the office and she knew it.

Lachesis (and Atropos as well) could hear her thoughts. 'Good,' said the middle-age aspect of Fate. 'Because the office is so much more than this. Marlene was right about you. You wanted something bigger than yourself, I can see that now. Well, there's hardly anything bigger than Fate.'

Even Nature is not as big as Fate, piped Atropos. But don't let her know we think that.

'Well, Hermione, is there anything else you would like to know? Do you want to know my original name?'

The conversation turned suddenly, and it made Hermione relax. Because Atropos name was Mathilda and she was a widow. After raising all her children during the war, the couple decided to live their golden years in little house in a coastal town. Then they were swindled by a vicious knave and became penniless. Their children couldn't help, because they had children of their own. So her husband became sick and died of sheer sadness. Sad as well, she contemplated suicide, but couldn't do that to her grandchildren. But her zest for life was gone. Then came the invitation from former Atropos, who had never married and wanted to experience life within a big family, surrounded by grandchildren. Mathilda, though, was attracted to the thought of doing a bigger job than just raising kids. So they switched places.

Lachesis had a similar story. She had been a brilliant woman, engrossed in her career where she was well-known and quite accomplished. However, in those times, success for a woman equaled a good marriage, a house full of kids and a nice position in society. And when she concerned herself to find a nice husband, she was already tagged as a spinster at the age of 32. Nevertheless, she found herself a suitable suitor, with relative easiness, and soon marriage arrangements were made. But by one of those strange turns of faith, she discovered her betrothed had no intention of fulfilling the loyalty vows. Disillusioned, she was at the brink of doing something drastic when Fate literally intervened. And a new Lachesis comes to the Abode.

So you didn't have to die?, asked Hermione.

'No, there was no need. Poor Marlene just had a nasty streak of bad luck.'

Yes, you may say so, snapped Hermione. She has my life now.

I suggest we either get dinner started or go rest, interrupted Atropos. Tomorrow is going to be a big day.

Why?, asked Hermione.

'Because, dear,' said Lachesis with a deceptively sweet smile, 'tomorrow you will go in the Void.'

tbc

NOTE: When the three aspects of Fate interact amongst themselves, the single quotation marks indicate only the aspect that has the body. The other two aspects have neither quotation marks nor italics for speech, so that it does not look confusing. I have tried double quotation marks or italics, but it looked horrible. For clarity purposes, I opted to keep normal formatting for the internal speech of the other two aspects without Fate's body.