A/N: Aaaannnndd a new story. Yes, I know, I know. On the other hand, I did close up one of my old ones, finally. So that makes up for it, right? *hopeful smile* And yes, a virtually unexplained long absence followed by a breech into a new fandom. Sorry. *shrug* Hope you like this! This, by the way, is a modern AU for D. Gray-man, because unlike Ciel, Allen is thirty years older than Dumbledore and that's just not okay. Even if his hair is just as white.

Title: A History of Innocence

Author: liketolaugh

Rating: T

Pairings: None at present

Genre: Drama/Mystery

Warnings: Modern AU for D. Gray-man

Summary: In the Wizarding World, Innocence isn't as obvious, nor as earth-shaking as it is in the Muggle World. Still, when it does appear, it has a strong, long-lasting influence, something Allen discovers when he goes there to ward off akuma and search for Innocence.

Disclaimer: I only wish I owned D. Gray-man

Excited chatter rolled and crashed over the crowd of travelling students, herded together in a roiling mass, shadows flickering and waving in the semidarkness.

"-and he said that he didn't hear I thing, but I know he was listening-"

"I'm so nervous, what if the classes are too difficult, Janie?"

"I hear that OWL year is really difficult-"

"Oh, no, oh, no, I'm not sure I can do this, I'm far too stupid to be taking NEWT classes, I'm sure of it-"

"Veronica? Veronica, I'm sorry about your mother-"

A blonde girl looked with concern at her unnaturally impassive black-haired friend, who had her head slightly dropped, eyes downcast.

But then the girl smiled slightly.

"Veronica?"

That was all the blonde girl managed to get out before the skin down Veronica's forehead suddenly split, and she screamed, drawing the attention of the rest of the students in the process.

From the girl's head, a creature, giant and black and grey and white, had sprung, massive, smiling grotesquely, with a sense of despair hanging about it almost like a dementor, but far, far scarier, with its round body scattered with ominous-looking tubes.

Chaos erupted, frantic, frightened students pushing at each other, trying to get away, while a few, almost all in higher years, remained behind, wands out, most shaking, some not.

The blonde girl had backed up, eyes wide and terrified, and an older girl grabbed her arm, pulling her behind and firing the first spell.

"Someone get the professors!" yelled a boy, joining the girl and firing a blasting curse that hardly even seemed to affect it.

Someone had obviously heard him, because a smooth otter patronus burst from the mass of students and flew toward the castle, blurring with desperation and determination. In seconds, it had reached the castle, and a reply came back, in the form of a glowing phoenix, wise and soothing.

"Protect the younger years, we will come as quickly as we can."

And the battle went on, not one of their spells seeming to cause more than a mild annoyance.

In the train, both Harry, in the compartment, and Malfoy, with his wand out, froze as screams rang through the distance. Harry's invisibility cloak slid off and both he and an utterly unsurprised Malfoy met gazes only briefly before Harry rolled out of the compartment and took off at a run, Malfoy only a few steps behind him, not chasing him, but following.

It didn't take long for the cause of the commotion to become apparent: moments after stepping off the train, a horrendous creature bloomed over the distance, firing violet bullets at something Harry couldn't quite make out in the rapidly falling darkness.

"Akuma," Malfoy muttered, and Harry couldn't help but agree.

They had learned about akuma from Professor Lupin in their third year, and Harry had been horrified. He'd been grateful, then, that he had been far too young to be able to make an akuma, and, watching the thing, frightening even from afar, he felt that gratitude return tenfold.

They had not gone over how one could be defeated, covering only a sort of specialist group, known only as the Black Order, who took care of all akuma.

Harry didn't wait for Malfoy before taking off running again, toward where he could see the battle. Drawing near, he could see Dumbledore, together with Professor McGonagall, Flitwick, and Snape, all trying to take down the towering creature, with limited success.

"Deprimo!" Dumbledore commanded, sending the curse sailing through the air and knocking back the akuma, scuffing it. A moment later, he dodged away from a bullet.

"Confringo!" Snape snapped out, flicking the explosive curse at the creature, and creating a similar effect to Dumbledore's Deprimo.

"Dumbledore!" hissed McGonagall, gaze darting to the older man for a moment before going back and sending another curse that knocked the creature back.

Despite her saying nothing more than that, Dumbledore seemed to understand, and nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, I do believe that would work." He aimed more carefully this time, something Harry thought vaguely was completely unnecessary on a creature larger than the broad side of a barn, and incanted firmly, "Defodio."

The spell sailed straight into one of the tubes, and created a noticeably larger effect, the akuma letting out a sharp cry and reeling back.

Snape gave Dumbledore a curt nod and Flitwick gave an affirmative squeak. Together, almost as one, they took aim again. "Deprimo!"

Each one of the spells shot toward the huge creature simultaneously and entered one of its many tubes. The creature shook for a moment, bobbing and screaming and thrashing, before finally blowing up violently, dissolving into dust.

Slowly, the professors lowered the wands, letting out soft sighs of relief as a great cheer erupted from those students that still remained.

Komui rubbed his chin thoughtfully, listening and nodding along to Dumbledore's words as he kneeled in front of the fireplace. "A parasitic type, you say?"

Dumbledore nodded gravely. "If you could. I am very well aware that you are as busy with your war as we are with ours, but I believe that this is of vital importance."

Komui nodded, maintaining seriousness. "But why a parasitic type?"

"You are aware that Innocence is perhaps the rawest form of magic one can find?"

Komui nodded again, silently prompting the elderly Headmaster to go on.

"Parasitic type users would have the easiest time channeling this Innocence into a wand, converting it into a form useable as magic. While it would still be quite challenging, I do believe that it would be possible." Dumbledore gave the younger man a weary smile, a twinkle in his eyes even through the flickering fire.

Komui nodded yet again, looking thoughtful. "Yes, yes, that does make sense. I think I know just the person, actually."

Dumbledore relaxed, looking relieved. "Do you indeed?" he asked, half-hopeful. "I do apologize for imposing as I am, but…"

Komui smiled at him, waving a hand dismissively. "Not at all, Dumbledore. Actually, this solves a problem I have been pondering for some time now. After all…" He chuckled wryly. "The Wizarding World is every bit as likely to have Innocence as the normal one, but how can one find strange happenings in a place where strangeness is the norm? If I send an exorcist into the Wizarding World, that problem is all but solved."

Dumbledore chuckled, smiling. "Ah, I understand. Incredibly well thought out, as always, Komui."

"Some might disagree," Reever grunted, coming up to them with a towering stack of paperwork. "Chief, I need you to sign off on these, understand?" He peeked out from behind the trembling papers, glowering halfheartedly at Komui.

Komui gave it a mildly horrified look and then pretended not to have heard, turning back to Dumbledore, who looked more amused than anything. "As I said, I know just the person for this."

"Do tell me," Dumbledore prompted, smiling with a twinkle in his eyes as he watched Reever let out an annoyed huff.

"Allen Walker."

So I hope you liked that and that you don't think that the premise is too shaky. It solidifies a bit later, I swear. Meanwhile, please review! I want to know what you think!