Thank you to ShibuNoNeko for reviewing. Your comment was greatly appreciated; I'll continue this story as long as I can. :D Heh. Can you tell I'm improvising as I go? If anything ever doesn't fit the stories, please tell me and I'll make amendments as fast as I can.
Also, this means either Hiei's talking telepathically to someone, or he's thinking in his head. It'll be mentioned if he's talking to somebody else, so take it that this is someone thinking in their own heads.
Disclaimer: I don't own Yuu Yuu Hakusho or Harry Potter in any way, shape or form.
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After stepping through a swirling blue teleport, the Spirit Detectives arrived in London, in a shadier corner of King's Cross Station. Koenma had given each of them a wrist device, stressing the importance of keeping it on at all times.
"This device is the latest bit of technology, and it's able to translate different languages into Japanese. No matter what anybody else is saying, you'll be able to understand them. And when you speak back, they'll understand you, again, in any language. Nifty, huh?" He glowered with pride as the four boys clamped the machinery on their right wrists. Yusuke observed it closely.
"This makes me look too much like a sissy, Koenma," he complained loudly.
"Yeah, what kind of guys wear bracelets? It'll destroy my manly image." Kuwabara joined in with the whining tirade. Yusuke was about to ask 'What manly image?' but Koenma cut in front of him.
"Shut up, both of you! It's important that you wear these at all times! Not only will you be completely shut out from the world if you don't use these, but I'm going to get a hundred spankings for each of these devices you lose! So don't lose any!" Koenma shouted, slamming his fists onto the table before him. When silence reigned supreme, he fell back down on his seat.
"Now, Kurama and Hiei. I know you two can speak English fine, but in case Voldemort has something up his sleeve we want you to be prepared. And don't forget, everybody; keep under cover."
--
Now the foursome stood on the platform between nine and ten, looking for their destination and having no luck.
"This is so stupid…" Yusuke grumbled, looking left and right at the steaming trains, the bustling people and suddenly shouted, "Ow!" as a heavy trolley rumbled over his left foot.
"I'm so sorry! Are you all right?" A girl with long, straight red hair paused, looking back at Yusuke. She looked to be around their age, with piercing light brown eyes. Seeing the Spirit Detective hopping around on one foot and clutching the other one, his face twisted in pain, she abandoned her trolley and went to help him out. Hiei kept a constant look of indifference on his face, his gaze still flicking around. Kurama had one of Yusuke's arms draped over his shoulders, and the girl was supporting his other side.
"Mum!" she called to a plump, red headed woman hurrying their way. The older woman's face was creased with concern, and she grasped the shawl around her shoulders tightly. Her hair was as red as her daughter's, tied up in a loose bun, and the clothes she wore had undoubtedly seen better days.
"Oh, my dear! Are you all right?" she fussed over Yusuke. Kuwabara was too involved in staring at the girl helping Yusuke than to pay any attention to his injured friend. "Ginny, did you do this?"
"It was an accident!" protested the girl, Ginny. "I was rushing; it's five minutes until the Ho-I mean, train leaves!" Ginny glanced nervously at the foursome as she quickly changed words. The slip up did not go unnoticed by Kurama or Hiei; Kurama's eyes flickered and Hiei's head moved slightly in Ginny's direction. Sadly, Yusuke and Kuwabara did miss it.
Hn. I know you picked up on that mistake, fox. A voice sounded in Kurama's head, echoing around as Hiei talked to him telepathically. A quick glance in the fire demon's direction showed him staring at a train, particularly enticed by the dust coating the contraption.
Of course. Then am I right to assume that these people are witches? Kurama thought back. Having no telepathic powers of his own, he only had to think and if Hiei was reading his mind, he would catch the thought.
Yes.
"We'd best hurry and get these gentlemen to safety." Ginny's mother pursed her lips up sternly. "What platform are you looking for?"
"Nine and three quarters," Kurama replied softly, his face unreadable. Ginny and her mother seemed startled at first, staring at Kurama like his hair had suddenly turned silver, and a bushy tail had sprouted from behind him. The irony. They then shot each other worried looks.
"Nine and three quarters?" said Ginny nervously. "What do you mean-"
"Cut the crap, girl," Hiei said harshly. "We know about Hogwarts, Dumbledore, Vold-"
"You-Know-Who!" Ginny and her mother shouted simultaneously, then brushed off the curious glances that came their way.
"Okay, I'm sorry, I just wasn't sure. You can't be too careful nowadays since You-Know-Who's back," Ginny muttered in a low tone. "Don't say his name. Wizards who do have been known to have unfortunate accidents and turn up dead. Follow me. Oh, by the way, I'm Ginny Weasley." Striding back to her trolley, she pushed it towards a brick wall.
"And I'm Molly." Mrs Weasley smiled kindly at the boys, hurrying after her daughter.
"Weasley!" Kurama muttered to Hiei, who nodded slightly. Yusuke and Kuwabara were once again, in their own little world.
"Hey, Urameshi. That girl's going to knock herself out," Kuwabara mumbled to Yusuke. "Hey, kid! You're going to-" Kuwabara didn't get to finish the sentence, because then Ginny disappeared. Right through the solid brick wall. The four Spirit Detectives started, and then Molly ran straight into the wall and disappeared smoothly through it too.
"Say what…?!" mumbled Yusuke, grabbing a hold of his trolley. "The things I do for Koenma. I get myself nearly killed multiple times and now I'm off to get myself nearly killed again, and risking severe concussion in the process."
"Yusuke, I'm sure we'll be fine," smiled Kurama, running ahead of Yusuke and vanishing through the barrier, Yusuke and Kuwabara hot on his heels.
"Inconspicuous idiots." Hiei rolled his eyes, ignoring the looks that came his way because of his comrades while loitering casually near the wall. When he was certain nobody was looking his way, he fell through with his own trolley and arrived on another platform, one with a swinging sign that read 'Platform 9 ¾'. A scarlet train was belching smoke out wave after wave, and all around adults urged their children to hurry on the train, showering them with last minute affection and waving frantically when they were on the train.
"Hiei! What took you so long?" Yusuke waved an arm at him, gesturing for him to come over. Hiei maintained a dignified silence, strolling over to the others and pushing his trolley in front of him.
"Oh, I just realised we haven't introduced ourselves. I'm Shuichi Minamino." Kurama smiled warmly. Everybody had decided it would be best for Kurama to stick to his human name.
"I'm Yusuke Urameshi!" Yusuke waved an arm vigorously, nearly taking out Kuwabara's eye.
"Oi, Urameshi, watch it!" shouted Kuwabara, before clearing his throat self importantly and placing a hand on his chest. "And I am Kazuma Kuwabara, often referred to as Kuwabara. But you can call me hottie." He directed what he supposed was a rakishly handsome smile towards Ginny, but only succeeded in making himself look sleazy. "And this little shrimp's Hiei Jaganshi!" He clapped the short demon good-naturedly on his head, still grinning manically.
"Get off me, you idiot. Or I'm going to make it so you can never walk again," spat Hiei, shaking his hand off and glaring.
"Nice to meet you all. Not that I'm trying to cut your introductions short or anything, but we need to get moving or we're going to miss the train! It leaves at eleven exactly!" Ginny said, hauling her luggage onto the train and hopping on. The others, with a polite 'goodbye' to a teary-looking Mrs Weasley, followed suit. They were not a moment too soon; the train whistled loudly, the doors were slammed shut and they were off.
"Let's find us a cabin…" muttered Ginny, walking along the rocking narrow corridor and peering into cabins on both sides. "Aha!" She spotted an empty one, and quickly zipped in with her bag. The Spirit Detectives followed her, looking around curiously. It was warm, and the wood was a rich brown colour that exuded safety and security. All of them threw their baggage onto racks above the seats, before the guys sank into the cushions with a sigh. Ginny, however, remained standing next to the door, with a wand at the ready. Hiei noticed the piece of wood, and his eyes narrowed.
This is the worst planned mission I've ever been on. What are they going to say when we turn up at this Hogwarts without a wand? Hiei bethought Kurama, the other demon nodding.
I agree. I'll contact Koenma later and hopefully we can have some sent over. I don't know how long that will take, but hopefully not too long. We also need a way to bring up Ginny's brother and his friends. The sooner we befriend them, the better.
"So…are you an only child, Ginny?" Kurama asked casually, his green eyes resting on the distracted redhead. She seemed to be looking for other people, and her grip on the wand never faltered.
"Oh, er, no, actually, I have six brothers. I'm the only girl, though," she answered him, her attention still outside the cabin.
"Really? What are their names?" Kurama tried to keep up the friendly banter, and attempted to coax more information out from the girl.
"Oldest to youngest; Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George and Ronald – we just call him Ron, though. Fred and George are identical twins…or at least, they were." This last part was muttered in an undertone, but Yusuke caught it.
"What do you mean, they were?" he asked. Ginny's face contorted slightly. Remembering when the Order had come back from Mission 'Retrieve Harry' had not been one of her favourite days.
"One of them got an ear hexed off." Ginny struggled to keep the anger in her voice under control, but it was still apparent. Everybody except Hiei winced in sympathy.
"I see…" With that, Kurama lapsed into silence. The feeling of awkwardness hung in the air, as each Spirit Detective tried to think of something to say that wouldn't blow their cover, but simultaneously get them closer to their goal.
"Hey, I heard that Harry Potter goes to this school?" Yusuke suddenly spoke up. Hiei raised an eyebrow quizzically at him. For once this stupid detective got something right. Amazing. Ginny looked at him, surprised.
"Yes, he does…but if you're hoping to meet him that's too bad. He's quit school," she said slowly, but guardedly.
"What?!" exclaimed Kuwabara. "After all we've-" He got cut off with a squeak as Yusuke's Elbow of Doom jabbed him sharply in his side. Ginny looked apprehensive, turning herself around to face the foursome instead of the door.
"What do you mean, after all you've…?" She glared at the boys, lifting her wand up. "If you're Death Eaters…!"
"No no, nothing of the sort!" Kurama said hurriedly. "Kuwabara and Yuusuke have both been big fans of Harry Potter for a long time, and they were really looking forward to meeting him." At Hiei's cold stare, Yusuke nodded energetically and tried to look dejected.
"Er, yeah, that's right. I have all this merchandise at home of Harry Potter." His pretend frown changed into a brilliant smile, and he elbowed Kuwabara again to make him go along with it. Kuwabara started nodding furiously too. Hiei's crimson eyes locked onto Kurama's green ones, both of them thinking the same thing.
…Definitely worst planned mission. Ever.
