A/N I modified the last chapter so hopefully it flows a little bit better. There aren't any huge changes so don't worry.
Someone pointed out to me that I should have had Astyr send Harry a letter. I will admit that this is a failure on my part and a hole in my plot. This is the message I sent back to that person.
Hello and thanks for reviewing,
So there are few flimsy reasons why Astyr doesn't send a message. The most obvious is that while Astyr isn't stupid, I definitely am because it didn't really occur to ME to send a message. A typical case of me being off in my own little world, I know. After thinking about it, I know why it never occurred to me. If I were in Astyr's position, I wouldn't send one.
Astyr is working under the assumption that Harry has been in his own world for all of this time. He doesn't realize that he is supposedly dead and all he knows is that the bond they had was severed when he jumped worlds. His goal is to be physically near Harry because before now they have been interacting in dreams. A big part of my fic is the fine line between dream/reality. And we should keep in mind that Astyr is NOT desperate. Harry is desperate, but Astyr just misses him. It's like showing up at your boyfriend's house in another world unannounced.
Also, when people get into situations that are over their heads where they cant understand what is going on (like culture shock in a completely different world), the most probable pathway to their thoughts is simple and linear. They choose a goal and try to reach that goal. Ultimately Astyr's goal is to go to Harry. It isn't to contact Harry but to actually take himself to his love's side. I realize that he could send a letter to Harry in order to get him to meet in a specified place but in Astyr's mind, HE must get to Harry who is in an unknown place in an unknown world.
To answer your question, no there are no instant messaging systems in Astyr's world. With all the new sensory information coming his way, Astyr is probably not going to start assuming that everything is different but rather he will cling to similarities with his own home. He doesn't assume that humans can fly because in his home world, human can't fly. So if it comes down to a human messenger, If Astyr can't get to Hogwarts, neither can another person delivering a message. And would Harry ever believe a handwritten message? That would add to the length of my story if Astyr tries that and it doesn't pan out. They need to get together now, not skirt around each other with letters. Plus, in this world Harry is too famous and there is no way an unknown letter could reach him, owl or otherwise (not that Astyr knows that).
And ultimately the best reason that this doesn't occur to him is because there is a really short amount of time between when he leaves the bank and finds a solution to his problem. He finds a way to Hogwarts literally within the day as you will see in this next chapter (if you read it). Usually I hate it when fics heighten drama by conveniently skipping a few natural laws or common sense. I always stop reading so I wouldn't be surprised if you do.
And you are entirely right; I am trying to heighten drama.
You have brought up a valid point and I am going to post this PM with the next chapter. Obviously it doesn't fix the hole in my fic. I'm sorry that it is like that. Thanks for your input.
Thank you for reviewing,
Wizz.
P.S. Purple trains make more sense to me. I honestly have always thought of it as purplish pink. That is entirely wrong, of course. Next time I repost the chapter, Ill fix it. cheers.
Chapter 22
...
Astyr smiled delightedly when he saw the thestrals. He walked right up to two of them and started crooning. He stroked their cheeks and murmured to them about his day. Some students who had never seen death before ignored him. For the most part though, these children were just coming out of the second war and they stared at his boldness. The creatures were frightening and no one ever went near them.
Thestrals are intelligent enough to appreciate it when a human comes to speak with them. Astyr was telling them about his adventures and they enjoyed it. Other thestrals down the line of carriages looked back in longing, wishing the nice human would come to them. Most of the children were shocked at how much they adored Astyr. Slowly, those who had stopped to watch entered the carriages. Astyr was left alone with the empty coche that his thestrals were hitched to. As the line began to move he broke out of his reverie and scrambled to get into a seat before his thestrals took off.
Watching out the window, Astyr was awed to see Hogwarts up on its hill. He had seen it many times before in the dreamscapes but here it was real. Here he was about to enter the magnificent building on his own. The walls drew larger and larger and soon they drew up in front of large double doors that boomed open as the children approached.
Everyone was very loud as they entered and large groups split away in tides.
"I'll meet you at dinner later!" Candy called to her friends who were going in a different direction.
"I'm not going. I don't feel up to it tonight!" Josh called across.
"I'll be there!" Eric yelled too.
Astyr was swept with a group going upwards. He ascended the stairs, looking around him discretely. He didn't know where Harry was but he wished that he were here now. He didn't know where he was going or what he was doing. He noticed that everyone around him was a Gryffindor. He was glad that he blended in well enough. As they went down a corridor, Astyr watched the paintings wave and call out greetings. He watched the kids as they swarmed in groups. Soon, very soon, they would call him out. There weren't enough people here that he could remain anonymous.
He tried to extract himself from the press but gave it up as a bad job. He moved through them, trying to find out where they were going. It didn't take very long after that. He was swept up the steps and into the common room. Astyr recognized this place as well. There was only one fundamental difference between Harry's memory and the real thing. In Harry's memory, there was a portrait of Albus Dumbledore above the fire, his eyes twinkling over all. Here, there was a portrait of Harry.
He stood with his arms crossed and his face impassive. He shifted his weight regularly from foot to foot. He didn't talk or breathe loudly at all. He looked around the room, wary of danger. The students separated again into groups. The boys headed right and the girls headed left. For an interval, Astyr was left alone with Harry's painting.
"You are not a Gryffindor." Harry's dangerous tone made Astyr smile
In any other context, he couldn't have smiled in the face of that, but now he was just glad to hear his voice.
"No. I'm looking for you." He paused. "The real you."
"Oh? Am I here?"
Astyr was taken aback and nodded.
"You teach defense."
"Ah. I wonder why I don't visit me. Though I suppose I don't even realize I was painted. I was illegally done, you know."
The painting looked down at a palm before turning back to Astyr.
"Why are you looking for me?"
"I love you." His smile was wry as he said it.
Harry looked surprised but was prevented from responding as two students flew down the boy's side, laughing and chasing each other. They disappeared out the common room entrance.
Astyr, wary of discovery, left as well. He exchanged a discrete smile with Harry's portrait and entered the corridor, following the sound of the laughing children.
...
Astyr sat at the Gryffindor table and ate quickly. The longer he stayed, the more likely he was to be labeled as an imposter. When he'd first entered the Great Hall, he'd expected to see Harry at the head table. It became obvious as dinner progressed and more students began arriving, that Harry wasn't coming to eat. There was a single chair left unoccupied and everyone around him was talking about it. They wished their favorite professor had attended so that they could get a look at him. It had been a while since they'd seen him after all. Astyr was disappointed but resolved not to worry. He would find him soon enough.
He left the Hall and walked a short distance away. He opened a random door and found a classroom. He settled himself there, yawning. When it got late, Astyr would sneak back into the Gryffindor common room. He could sleep on the couches and wake early. None of the students need know he was even there.
...
Astyr skipped breakfast, hiding in his classroom. He didn't know if Harry would be there this time and it seemed like having the daylight from the enchanted ceiling show his face would reveal him before he could find the man. He knew Harry would be teaching in the defense room and, after some snooping after hours, he'd found the correct route to the place. All he had to do was wait until class started. It was the best way of predicting where Harry would be.
After the last of the first period bells sounded, Astyr walked towards the defense classroom. He wondered what he would say or how he would react. He was almost afraid Harry would yell at him for interrupting class. He rubbed at his chest and didn't notice when a cat walked by him. He did notice however, when a hand grabbed his robes and yanked him forward.
In front of him was a wrinkled and hunched old man. He snarled into Astyr's face, which had stretched in alarm.
"What have we here? A seventh year walking about after the bell has rung? Tut tut. Detention with me tonight, boy. Now where are you supposed to be, hmm?"
"Uh…"
Astyr looked to the side, wondering how he would get out of this.
"Ah! Look at this! A symbol around your neck, how quaint. You must be part of the Newt Ancient Runes class. Follow me."
At that, the old man turned and stomped away. Unless he wanted to cross the old man, Astyr was forced to follow.
...
After many turning staircases and more corridors than Astyr could count, the old man stopped in front of a door with the label 'Ancient Runes' above it.
"In you get!"
Astyr hesitantly opened the door. No one paid any attention. They were all engrossed in whispering to each other as the professor in the front of the room began to write on a board. Looking back to the glaring countenance of the old man, Astyr decided to take a seat. He went to the back, hiding professionally behind an overweight boy with brown hair.
"Now." The female professor's voice was commanding, silencing the muttering seventeen-year olds. "We left off at combining runes. Can anyone tell me why this is so hard to do? Yes, you there."
"Two original runes have their own basic structure and the combination has to connect them without losing their value."
"Good. Five points to Ravenclaw."
"Now who can tell me exactly how to combine a fire rune with a rune of specific movement? Anyone? No? To begin, we must determine the projection of movement using arithmacy…"
Astyr was astonished. This was the most advanced class for runes? They were only just now learning to combine runes! There wasn't any purpose to runes if you didn't know how to combine them! The only things you could do were draw protections or luck charms. This was unbelievable.
Astyr pursed his lips as the lecture continued. This drivel wasn't worth listening to. He soon became very bored. He put his head in his arms, he played with his robe sleeve, and he mentally mocked the professor. Soon however, he couldn't continue to do nothing. Carefully moving so that the professor had no way of seeing him, Astyr began drawing a complicated rune circle. He wanted to send a slap in the face to the runes professor. Maybe she would begin to respect her students if they outdid themselves. Absently, Astyr wondered when they learned practical rune application.
The runes he used were difficult and it had taken him a long time to learn them. They had given him his mastery for drawing circles like the one he did now. This complex structure was the type he'd used on the grounding stones that kept Fray afloat.
Part of his aim was subtlety so he drew the runes without the flare of power that usually flashed through each rune of a circle. He made the circle small and settled it on top of his desk. Drawing from his core, Astyr waited to release the tension of the active runes until the bell signaled for the next class. The students began to move, collecting their things and standing up. Finishing it quickly, Astyr nearly laughed and gave himself away. All around the room, objects were taking flight. Anything any person was touching stayed grounded but that left inkwells, the ink inside the inkwells, chairs, tables, the contents of the professor's desk and more. The edges of the room darkened with a strange atmosphere that seemed to reflect the night sky within its depths. A very slight breeze and a cooling mist gave the room a calming and out of doors atmosphere. The professor was shocked by the floating objects and put her hand on her desk. The large piece of furniture settled down to the ground. When she pulled her hand away, it shot up again. Students were standing around, awed by the display. Many cast 'finite' at the objects and the darkness but to no avail.
The professor drew a magic-dispelling rune in front of her. It did nothing. His circle was there to stay. Astyr wondered what they would do with the classroom now that it permanently de-gravitated things. He wondered how long it would take for someone to notice the rune circle burned in the air above where his table used to be. It didn't really matter, he thought as he slipped out the door. They shouldn't have underestimated him.
...
Astyr turned around and around. It was well past the last of the second period bells and Astyr was completely lost. He didn't know how to get from the runes classroom to the Great Hall much less the defense classroom. He peered into paintings and asked some of them for directions. They never really helped. He eventually made it to the Great Hall where he sorted himself out.
Finally deciding to hell with the itchy robe, Astyr deposited it next to the Gryffindor table. The Hall was silent like it had been in his dreams. The idea appealed to him.
Feeling light, Astyr quickly made his way up to the upper levels of Hogwarts. He came to a halt just down the hall from the defense room. He wished he had a mirror as he ran a hand through his hair and checked his breath. He tugged at his clothes and felt altogether foolish. He was wearing gray-blue jeans and a white tunic. The collar and cuffs were rimmed with gold and Astyr thought he looked somewhat princely. He did want to impress Harry and thought the detail was appealing. Now though, he had to question his own judgment. Did he look too gaudy or pompous? He composed himself and strode down the corridor.
The defense room's door was open and Astyr could see right inside. There, half sitting on the professor's desk was Harry. He was looking at his students and listening as someone spoke. His skin was pale and his eyes were sharp. He seemed to take everything in at a glance. His robes were slung over a chair behind the desk and he wore simple trousers and a blue button down shirt. Slight shadows under his eyes belied his state of mind. Despite that, he was entirely cold and professional as he taught. He didn't notice the prince standing at his door.
...
"So Gary says Astyr died before he even fell." Hermione said, looking up as Draco entered.
"Oh? How did he die?"
"He touched something called the Ruby of Death. It's strange, but I think I've heard of it before."
"Let me guess, it kills you when you touch it."
"Honestly Draco, can you be more callous?"
Draco adopted a grin and sat in the chair across the desk from Hermione. He swung his feet up before replying.
"Probably. So he touched this Ruby, died, and the heartbond broke when his spirit left his body."
Hermione was looking troubled. Draco waited patiently. She had on her 'I'm on to something' expression and he knew it was only a matter of time before something disgustingly brilliant popped out of her mouth.
"He gave his heart to Harry as a ruby. He touched the Ruby of Death and died. That just doesn't make any sense. The Ruby of Death…is a heartbond."
Draco listened to her muttering with interest. She didn't usually think out loud but this was obviously an issue of thinking three dimensionally. It helped to have a verbal outline. It also helped Draco eavesdrop.
"The Ruby of Death…Oh, Draco! The Ruby of Death is the Lady of Death's heartbond!"
Draco looked confused. "What?" His statement confirmed it.
Hermione explained.
"The Lady of Death is the woman who chooses when a person dies in ancient mythology. She is the first source on heartbonds in all recorded history. She tried to make a heartbond with a dead demon. He was dead and he couldn't very well take her heart from her nor she his. Her heart is incomplete. It absorbs every heart that comes into contact with it, killing the person instantly. It tries to complete itself but a human heart is never enough."
"Well. I guess its like two halves of a whole. She will never be whole. How sad…"
Hermione nodded her agreement. She pushed his feet off her desk and looked thoughtful.
Draco continued, "So Astyr touched the heart bond, it absorbed his heart, and he died."
She shook her head.
"Impossible."
Draco frowned.
"Why? He died."
"No. Or at least, he didn't die from the Ruby of Death. You see, Astyr didn't have his heart. Harry has his heart. Astyr couldn't have died because the Ruby couldn't take it."
"So Astyr died in the volcano? That was the original theory, you know."
Hermione looked stumped.
"He couldn't have….could he? Whoever has the Lady of Death's Ruby, literally has her heart. I don't think anyone who has it and doesn't die from it can die from anything else. He would have complete control over her. She has control over death itself."
Draco sat up in his chair.
"So what are you saying, Mione? Are you saying Astyr is alive? What about the heartbond? How did it break?"
Hermione's eyes were darting back and forth as she thought rapidly.
"It's a bond, Draco. How do bonds break?"
Draco answered promptly, remembering his mind magic research.
"The soul leaves the body and the world."
"His soul…left his body and the world."
Draco sighed in exasperation.
"But he couldn't die, right? Leverage on the Lady of Death and everything."
Hermione rubbed her head.
"Well if his soul left his body and his world, maybe he went to another world."
Draco leaned forward, looking intently at Hermione.
"Where is he?"
...
Astyr leaned against the doorjamb, waiting to be discovered. Harry hadn't noticed him because he wasn't in his direct line of sight. He would have to turn his head to see the door. None of the third year students seemed to notice him either. They were all too intent on what Harry was saying.
"While we are on the subject of fear, can anyone tell me what a boggart is? Yes, Ms. Davis."
"A boggart is a magical creature that takes on the shape of what one fears most of all."
"Good, two points to Slytherin. What do you think is the best way to face one's fears?"
"To confront them."
"Ah, good answer. We must always confront our fears before moving forward. To counter a boggart, we must confront our greatest fear and laugh in its face. I will let you in on a secret." Harry's conspiratorial tone caused his students to lean in closer. "My greatest fear of all is… a dementor."
Several people shuddered and one boy looked slightly green. A girl towards the front raised her hand.
"Go ahead."
"Professor, why aren't you afraid of V-Voldemort?"
Harry nodded.
"It's a very good question. I was always afraid of Voldemort but he was not my greatest fear. You see, he was my enemy and we had a closer relationship than that kind of fear would allow. I'm not afraid of dementors because they are skeletal and frightening to see. I am afraid of dementors because I am afraid of losing everyone I've ever loved, every worthy memory I've ever had, and every good feeling I have ever possessed. That, my friends, is the most valuable thing you will ever find in this short life: happiness. I am afraid that I will lose it all…permanently."
Astyr figured this was as good a time as any to interrupt. He didn't think he could keep to himself much longer even if he tried.
"Well said."
It was quietly uttered but everyone heard it in the aftermath of Harry's speech. Astyr ignored the curious looks from students, intent on Harry's reaction. The man had stilled, moving not at all. His head was bowed down slightly and his hand clenched at the side of the desk. He didn't look to Astyr standing to the left of him. He only tilted his head up to looked at the students. They recoiled at the intensity of his gaze, though no emotion was immediately identifiable.
"Class dismissed."
They nearly fell over themselves trying to leave. They didn't want to be around when Harry did whatever he was going to do. Astyr stepped inside to let the students pour out. He shut the door behind them and turned to face Harry. Harry still hadn't moved or made any indication that he knew Astyr was there. Astyr watched as Harry moved his head up and closed his eyes tightly. He finally lowered his gaze and straightened swiftly. He turned his body and looked to Astyr. The emotionless mask that he presented chilled the prince to the bone.
"What are you? Some kind of creature? A metamorphagmus intent on hurting me? My boggart come to haunt me?"
Astyr wasn't as relieved to hear Harry's voice as he had been previously. He walked forward slowly.
"I don't know of a creature that can pretend to be me, though your world might have one. I don't think I've ever met a metamorphagmus, though I suppose that is a biased view. I am most certainly not your boggart; you said it yourself, you don't fear me."
Harry shivered when he heard Astyr's voice but didn't react otherwise.
"You obviously weren't listening carefully. You are exactly what I fear."
Astyr let a slow smile grace his features. Harry's stony expression weakened as it appeared.
"Do you know, your portrait is hanging in the Gryffindor common room?"
Astyr took a step closer as he said this. He was very near now. Harry was thrown by the change in subject and by Astyr's proximity. His confusion warred with his fear, hope, and despair. It made him indecisive and immobile.
"It hangs where Dumbledore did when you were here. It wants you to visit."
Harry's eyes widened as Astyr came closer. They nearly touched. Astyr dropped the pretense of small talk. It wasn't working.
"What are you afraid of, Harry? I'm real. I'm here. The sky isn't going to melt and the walls aren't going to fall. It isn't a dream. Finally, it isn't a dream."
"Astyr…"
His name was breathy and strained coming from Harry's lips. Astyr's smile deepened in response. He loved the sound of his name when Harry said it. He reached out a hand and gently caressed Harry's cheek, imitating the last physical gesture they had shared. Harry's frozen demeanor deteriorated at the touch. His breathing became quick and arduous as he accepted that Astyr was standing in front of him.
"Oh god, Astyr…You were dead…You died and you left me…you…."
Harry's lungs deflated and he brought his hands up to Astyr's forearms, clutching at him tightly. Then he hugged the prince close, pressing painfully into the other. Harry's chest was heaving and Astyr felt cold and hot all over his body. Harry was gasping into Astyr's shoulder and the prince didn't think he would ever let him go.
Astyr held him, smelling him and enjoying the reality that was Harry. He felt the physical presence of his other half and didn't ever want to leave again. His fears and troubles seemed so trivial compared to this. Everything before this was truly a dream and only now was he waking to his entirety.
"Oh Shag," Astyr said softly into his hair, "I guess I just up and got assassinated, again."
Harry's breath left in a whoosh as he laughed.
"Oh God," Harry turned his head up, making no move to break their embrace. "Don't do that. Please, don't ever do that again."
The plea was so sincere and heartbreaking that Astyr didn't make another joke. He only shook his head and responded quietly with conviction.
"I wont."
Harry began to take deep breaths, trying to calm himself. Astyr helped by rubbing his back and listening to his heartbeat.
"You have something of mine." Astyr spoke suddenly, driven by instinct.
"What?" Harry asked in confusion.
Astyr smiled and Harry's eyes latched onto his.
"My heart. You've kept it safe for me. I have yours for you."
Harry's expression turned vulnerable in a very scary way.
"Will you take your heart from me, Astyr?"
Astyr smiled that slow smile again.
"No, love. It lost me when I moved. Yours lost you, too. We need to find each other again."
"How?" Harry whispered, his hoarse voice coming across as desperate.
Astyr's head moved down slowly and he caught Harry's lips with his in a searing kiss. It was warm and soft and embodied everything they felt about each other. He brought his arm up and pulled Harry's head in, pressing into him passionately. Harry's arms moved to Astyr's back and he clutched tightly at the other's shoulders. Their mouths aligned perfectly and the softness between them was heady in its intensity and rightness. Their chests pressed against one another and their bodies moved closer as they yearned for deeper touch.
There wasn't just a physical connection, either. They could only think of their love for each other and each tried to express it. Around them, a red light flitted about their bodies, twining them together. The light dissipated and they drew apart. They stared into each other's eyes, their heartbond healed and filling the space between them.
"Where's the statue?" Harry asked weakly.
Even if the statue were right next to him on the desk, Harry wouldn't have seen it. He never looked away from Astyr at all. Astyr shook his head slowly.
"We don't need it."
Harry agreed.
As the magic and blood slowed in their veins, the classroom fell into silence.
Harry eased his grasp on Astyr and moved back so that he could look more directly at him. Astyr's eyes widened suddenly and a coy smirk played across his face as a thought occurred to him.
"Oh how much I want to shag you right now?"
Each word was said carefully and with pointed clarity. Harry blushed and looked down, unable to keep the grin off his face. His eyes crinkled merrily from the memory.
"I did. Very badly." Harry evaluated Astyr's reaction demurely.
The prince did something very unexpected. He turned and grabbed Harry's wrist, pulling him toward the door.
Surprised, Harry asked, "Where are we going?"
"Your rooms." He replied promptly, "You have two hours until your next class and I think we have wasted enough time if you've been wanting to shag me for this long."
Astyr looked back briefly to catch Harry's astonishment and brought them both out the door.
"Honestly, we could have saved ourselves so much effort!" He said as he dragged the boy-who-lived down the corridor.
Harry started walking faster.
...
YAY! Aren't we all just so happy and gooey inside?
Anyway, I would really appreciate some feedback. I don't know if I'm cut out for big emotional scenes.
Did anyone notice the little sideplot about Astyr's name? In the beginning Harry says he will try to make Astyr appreciate it and here, he finally thinks it sounds wonderful when Harry says it.
I bet you were really pissed off at me when I had Astyr so close to Harry in Hogwarts but he kept running into something that delayed their meeting. I almost made it extend to another chapter. You should thank me because I didn't.
I notice that Astyr is particularly unnoticeable in the last few chapters. Strange.
So I think I made a lot of strange parallels without consciously channeling my highschool English teacher. There is a lot of Fake verses Reality and a lot of Truth verses Lies. I put about a hundred layers on my two main characters because I wanted everyone, including the characters themselves, to question who they are. I wanted a big revolving question of what is heroic and what is normal. Was Jeff heroic? I think so. I wrote him to be a little pessimistic but does that translate to self-serving or evil? Was Astyr ever truly heroic or was he self-serving? Was Harry, the hero, ever perfect in anything he did? I don't think so.
I do think it is very interesting to note that originally, Astyr was going to be the one who got a job at hogwarts and Harry was going to come find him. That was my vague plan when I started this mess. It ended up backwards but sufficient, I suppose.
OK So here is the big question: Do I need to go anywhere from here? I mean, this leaves us all on a heartwrenching moment (assuming that my writing isnt horrendous) and I don't know if anything else needs to be said. There will be one or two more chapters of epilogue if I decide to end on this note. The question is should I? Of course there is the war in France and the assassin not to mention all sorts of particulars I want all the characters to address. Hermione and Draco haven't even met Astyr. And Astyr does have a kingdom he should be fighting for in some other world that I haven't yet named.
I feel like if I leave it at this, there might be a possibility for a sequel (though really, I don't know why.) and if I continue, I will be essentially extending my third act. That's never a good idea. Anticlimactic additional information is almost always a no-go. I also feel like if I did ever do a sequel, I would be skipping a lot of time. I dunno why but it doesn't seem like a story can start from this point. It would have to start a lot later.
Thanks for reading. I love you always.
Tell me what you think.