In a Lifetime

In A Lifetime
Chapter 22: Walking the Veil Part 1: Soul Seeking

Disclaimer: I own nothing of what you’re about to read, with the possible exception of the plot, although I’m sure it’s been done before. The places, characters, etc. belong to JK Rowling. Thanks.

Hermione found herself alone on a dark path. She looked to either side of her and could see no one. Indeed, she could see nothing. She felt the panic rise up in her, then remembered what she had read and what Severus had told her. She gulped and closed her eyes, slowly feeling Severus’ hand in hers. She breathed deeply and opened her eyes again. This time there was more light, she could see dense vegetation all around her, and she wasn’t alone. She turned and looked up into Severus’ eyes.

“You did it, Hermione,” he said softly, “you didn’t lose me on the way in. Now, look behind you. What do you see?”

Hermione looked behind her and saw a faint white trail leading to a break in the foliage. Looking behind Severus, she saw the same faint white trail.

“I see a white line behind both of us,” she said.

“That’s the cord that ties us to the waking world. We can ALWAYS find our way back by following that cord. Should something happen to our mortal bodies whilst we’re here, the cord will pull us back,” explained Severus.

“What if something cuts it?” asked Hermione.

“It can only be cut with our permission,” said Severus, “now, as you may remember from our discussion, this first part of the journey is the tricky part. Here is where you trust no one save yourself and me.”

“Right, this is where the souls that are between earthbound and accepting of death are.”

“Exactly. This is where those that are not living, not ghosts, and cannot move on congregate. They will try to trick you into allowing the cord to be cut and then will ride your cord back to the waking world where they can control your body. Just move straight ahead and ignore anything that you see, they have no power other than what you give them,” said Severus, looking around warily.

Hermione became aware of fleeting figures about them and gripped Severus’ hand tighter.

“That’s it love, just hang on to me,” smiled Severus.

Hermione was nervous, but felt safe with Severus near her. He had done this many times and was no longer afraid of the powerless beings that surrounded them. And they sensed his lack of fear and disregard of their attempts to play their games. Hermione drew strength from Severus and from what she had read in the books. She had the power here. As her feeling of security grew, she became aware of a light surrounding her. Looking at Severus, she noticed the same light around him.

“That’s the light of protection. As long as we feel secure, we are protected, Hermione,” he explained, “up ahead is the junction where we have to cross the river.”

Hermione squinted through the lifting haze where she could barely make out what appeared to be a wooden bridge over a swiftly running river. They approached the bridge and began to cross. Severus stopped in the middle and concentrater a r a moment, dropping several small packages into the water. Hermione recalled reading something about dropping your fears, hates, worries, etc, into the river.

“Concentrate and your excess baggage will become a solid form, then drop it all in the current and let it wash away,” explained Severus.

Hermione did just that and was overjoyed to see several small parcels appear in her hands. She dropped them into the river and turned to continue across the bridge. Much to her dismay, she was stopped by a tall figure with a silvery aura.

“You have one more to leave behind, Professor Granger,” said the figure.

Hermione looked at Severus. He returned her look with a raised eyebrow.

“You have to dispense of your hatred for Voldemort,” he said quietly, “otherwise you cannot cross.”

“I’m not sure I can…”

The silvery figure spoke again, “You only need to temporarily leave it behind, Professor Granger. You can pick it up again at the end of the journey, should you wish to.”

“Once the journey is over, you might not wish to pick it up. There’s a lightness when you decide to leave it forever in the River of Forgiveness. I’ve let go of much of my hate and despair,” said Severus.

“Is that why you’re so different now?”

“I would like to think so, Hermione.”

Hermione looked into his deep ebony eyes and smiled slightly. She concentrated again, harder this time, and a package appeared in her hand. With a sigh, she dropped it into the swirling current of the river and watched it rush downstream. She turned to the silvery figure, but it was gone. As if reading her mind, Severus explained.

“That was the riverkeeper. Dropping our hates, fears, and excess baggage into the river makes it safe for us here. He prefers the travelers remain safe. Our baggage can weigh us down here and our hate can draw less than benevolent beings to us. How do you feel?”

“A little empty,” she admitted.

“You may discover you like that emptiness, but picking up your parcels when we are through is allowed.”

Hermione nodded and looked around. The atmosphere was lighter, though still a pale shimmering gray. There were paths leading in all directions. Hermione looked to Severus for guidance.

“This is your journey. You will pick the right path,” said Severus.

Hermione thought for a few moments, and then picked the path that led along the river. With a glance at her companion, she inhaled deeply and said, “This way.”

They set off down the river path, heading toward a bright light. Hermione felt herself relax and was able to look at the scenery that surrounded her. There were tall trees on one side of the path and the river on the other. The path twisted and turned and for no reason that she could discern, it simply felt like the right path.

“Is it the same here each time?” asked Hermione, “the same paths, the same options?”

“It’s different every time, because each time we seek something different,” replied Severus.

“I read that there are other things here besides those passed.”

“Yes. There are the beings that you noticed at the entrance, there’s the Riverkeeper, there are unicorns killed before their time, there are gods, goddesses, nymphs, dryads…mystical creatures unimaginable,” stated Severus.

They walked a bit in companionable silence until Hermione noted a small tavern up ahead. Without consulting Severus, she turned at the path to the inn. Severus smiled as he saw how Hermione was truly making this her journey. It was what he wanted. He was just there to give her support. They entered the tavern, which was empty with the exception of a hunched over figure at the bar and the barkeep.

“Evening, travelers. Can I get you anything?” asked the barkeep.“Jus“Just the purest of water,” replied Severus. He whispered to Hermione, “it’s best not to partake of more than pure water in the afterworld.” Hermione nodded.

The barkeep gave them each a tankard of cool pure water. Severus passed his hand over both tankards, muttering a quick spell before handing one to Hermione.

“Just a precaution,” he whispered.

“Severus?” asked Hermione, not noticing the hunched figure at the bar raising his head at the name.

“Yes, Hermione?” replied Severus, taking notice of the other patron of the tavern.

“Is time the same here as it is in the mortal world?”

“No. What seems like hours here is mere minutes in the mortal world. To the living, that is. To those passed, time has no meaning.””

“Well, well, …” s…” said a gravelly voice from the bar, “if it isn’t Snivellus and Miss Granger traipsing about the Summerland.”

Severus slipped his hand down to his wand and approached the figure at the bar.

“Black,” he sneered, “even in the Summerland you’re still annoying. Death hasn’t changed you in the slightest.”

“And you’re still as ugly as ever. I imagine Miss Granger isn’t so thrilled at being kidnapped and dragged to the Otherworld,” remarked Sirius Black.

“I was hardly kidnapped,” protested Hermione, “Severus is assisting me to walk the veil.”

“Is it Halloween already?” Sirius mumbled, taking a long draw from his tankard.

“Yes, it is,” said Hermione, “and as I said, Severus is assisting me.”

“Wouldn’t you be better off with someone cleaner, nicer, more pleasant?” queried Sirius.

Hermione stared at Sirius, her eyes flashing dangerously. “I will have you know that there is no one I would rather be with on this journey than Severus Snape. I trust him with my life,” she looked at Severus, “and my heart.”

“You trust this animal with your heart?” asked Sirius, glaring at Severus.

“He’s not an animal and I trust him more than you could ever imagine. He is the man I am spendihe rhe rest of my life with.”

“What about Harry?”

“That is none of your concern. I am a grown woman, Sirius Black, and I make my own decisions. I intend to marry Severus and nothing will change my mind.”

“Fine,” stated Sirius, not taking his eyes off Severus, “then allow me to give you a little wedding present.”

Sirius reached inside his backpack and pulled out a squirming creature that Hermione did not recognize. He thrust it in her hands and stood up.

“Give my regards to everyone on the other side,” he said with a sneer as he stalked out of the tavern.

Hermione looked at the creature in her hands. It was small and faintly yellow colored with streaks of red and black. She had no idea what it was.

“It’s a fragment of someone’s soul,” said Severus, “sad little thing, actually. Hermione, if you don’t mind, I need to get to the river bank.”

“Why?”

“I am harboring a whole new batch of serious dislike right now.”

“As am I,” agreed Hermione, “I can’t believe that I used to have such respect for him.”

“I’m sure inside he’s not too horrible,” said Severus.

“You ARE kidding, right?” asked Hermione, following Severus out of the tavern and to the riverbank, clutching the soul fragment.

“No, think of it, Hermione, Black wasn’t ready to die. It wasn’t his time. He FELL into the veil and slipped behind it. He had no choices given him, he didn’t enter the afterworld by fro front gate, so to speak. I’m sure he’s bitter, angry, and now is forced to live the lessons here, instead of in the mortal world. The fact that he gave you this fragment…I think he’s working as an internal Soul Seeker, not the easiest of jobs, I would imagine.”

Hermione looked at Severus quizzically, “What is an internal Soul Seeker? And what are soul fragments?”

“Fragments are parts of our soul that through some trauma have broken off from the rest of our soul. They can also be taken from us without our will, if someone is powerful enough to do that. The Dark Mark…” Severus sat down on the riverbank to continue, “was a form of fragment stealing. The Mark took away a part of the Death Eater’s soul. Voldemort locked away the soul fragments in the underworld, which is a less pleasant part of the Summerland. When I was cleaned of the Dark Mark, I got that fragment back. It’s rare that fragments can be returned by pure love, but the magic between us at that moment was strong enough to pull the fragment back,” Severus pulled Hermione down onto his lap and held her against him, “Strong emotions with a negative connotation; hate, fear, jealousy, can cause part of the soul to fragment. When that happens, there is a noticeable change in a person. I have lost so much of my soul that I’m surprised there’s anything left.”

“But you’ve been changing, Severus. Since I’ve known you there have been subtle changes. Can you retrieve parts of your own soul? Is that what you’ve been doing?”

“Yes, you can retrieve your own soul, but it’s a long and difficult road. It’s best to leave it up to a Soul Seeker. I am not a Soul Seeker, nor have I sought out my own fragments. An internal Soul Seeker searches for fragments and turns them in where they can be returned over time. It’s difficult to match the fragment with the person, though. An external Soul Seeker would know what he/she is looking for. An internal Soul Seeker just looks for random fragments.”

Hermione looked at the wriggling fragment in her arms, “I wonder who this belongs to?”

“I can’t imagine Sirius Black giving you something you had no use for.”

“Well, what do we do with it?”

Severus shrugged and conjured up a leather pack, “Here, put in inside until we figure out why we have it.”

Hermione put the fragment into the pack and stood up, closing her eyes and creating another small packet that she dropped into the river. Severus followed suit. He smiled at her and motioned to the path. Hermione nodded and they set off toward the brighter light.

After what seemed to be an hour’s time, Hermione noticed the trees grow sparser and the river run slower as they walked against the current. There were signs of life ahead, a small village, to Hermione’s surprised eyes. The mist began lifting and the witch was surprised by the vivid colors that sprang from the ground.

“Severus, what is this?” she asked, breathlessly.

Severus smiled, “That gate up ahead is an entrance to the Summerland proper.”

“It looks like the small seaside village I used to visit as a child,” she said, tears forming in her eyes, “I can almost hear the sea.”

Severus took Hermione’s hand and walked to the gate with her. The gate swung open to allow them entrance, and closed behind them.

“I would say that we’re welcome here,” smiled Severus.

Hermione looked about in awe at the small cottages and ran up a sandy path, “Severus!” she shouted, “the sea is here!”

Severus followed her to a small bluff overlooking a sea. He drew in a breath, it was indeed lovely. He watched Hermione as she stared out over the water, the sun shining on her hair, glints of red and gold shimmering in the light. Her brown eyes glistened with tears as a gentle breeze brushed her hair back from her face. At that moment, Severus knew that there was nothing he wouldn’t do for this woman. If loving her required him trudging to the center of the underworld and doing battle with the great god himself, he would do it. She turned to him and suddenly rushed into his arms, kissing him soundly.

“What is that for?” he said, chuckling as he held her tightly.

“Even if I don’t see my parents, to know that they will spend eternity in a place like this makes my heart full. And because of you, I know what the Summerland is like. I love you so much, Severus Snape.”

“Snape?” said a lilting female voice from behind them, “as in ‘great greasy bat of a bastard potions professor’ Snape?”

Hermione whirled around quickly and stood there, a look of astonishment on her face.

“Mum?”