I feel kind of guilty working on this so soon when I still have two other fics that need updating, but this one is just flowing from my fingertips. Enjoy the latest segment and thanks for reading!


Part 2. Dumblewhat? Deathwhat?

Marron sighed as he sat on the back end of Harry's bed. They had been waiting for a reply from Harry's "owl" for about two hours now. On the bright side, thanks to some subtle persuasion from Gateau they were inside a house and not out in the dark streets. On the other hand, it was quite crowded in this small room and he didn't know how much longer everyone could behave themselves. Or sit without be cramped. Poor Gateau.

Carrot giggled. "Man, I am never going to forget the look on Porky's face when Gateau smashed his fist into the wall."

"I still think it was a bit much." Tira, sitting on the floor, leaned back into the blanket hanging off the bed. "But then again, he was being unreasonable."

"I agree. What type of a jerk doesn't let people in out of the cold?"

"A fat jerk who called my Darling an idiot!"

"Chocolat! Knock it off! There are kids here!"

"Oh, he's old enough!"

"Sister!"

Much like Marron, Harry was keeping his mouth shut and doing his best to ignore the others. That red headed girl, Chocolat, keep groping that boy Carrot and calling him 'Darling.' He was slightly unnerved at their behavior. Though, in all reality it was pretty funny to see Uncle Vernon and Petunia nearly wet themselves when the big muscle dude put a hole in the plaster. Dudley just fainted and that was priceless.

"So, Harry, is it?" Tira adjusted her glasses and looked up to the boy next to Marron. Chocolat and carrot seemed to be unconscious with developing bruises on their heads.

"Yes?"

"You said that you were a wizard. How come you don't have the mark on your forehead?"

"The mark?"

"Yeah," Carrot piped in after regaining consciousness. "I was wondering that myself."

"I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about." Harry shifted uncomfortably. They wouldn't do something like brand him would they? After seeing some of their weird habits he wouldn't put it past them.

"Where we're from, those born with the ability to use magic, sorcerers, have a birthmark that looks like an upside down triangle on their foreheads. It sets them apart from the parsoners." Marron's eyes fell on Harry's scar as he said this and couldn't help but notice it was an odd shape. He also felt a slight magic pulsing from it that was quite distracting.

"What's a parsoner?" Harry shifted slightly under the scrutinizing stare. Marron seemed like the intelligent one. He had yet to figure out if that made him scarier than the others because he knew what he was doing, or if the others were worse because they didn't.

"Someone who is born without the ability to use magic. They can learn if they so choose, but it's very difficult and tends to require the use of forbidden magic to do so." Marron shifted his gaze to Harry's eyes. "You have an interesting mark on your head yourself, if I may be so bold as to ask how you got it?"

"A wizard attacked me." Harry decided that was all they needed to know.

"Ah, that could explain the odd shape then. Magic does produce odd effects." Marron couldn't help but smile in Carrot's direction.

"Stop staring, Marron." Carrot huffed. "It's creepy."

"So, do you guys have marks that separate wizards from parsoners?" Chocolat claimed Carrot's arm again and ignored the indignant "Sister!" from Tira.

"There isn't a physical mark. Wizards can use magic and muggles can't." Harry shrugged.

"So a muggle is the equivalent of a parsoner here?" Gateau tried to stretch his shoulders a bit in the tight corner. "How are their relations with the sorcerers here?"

"Not quite, muggles can't learn magic at all." Harry shifted his legs beneath him on the bed. "And the relationship is non-existent. Very few muggles even know wizards exist, and those that do are the ones with wizards in the family or marry one on accident. Muggles aren't allowed to know magic exists. The ministry of magic takes great lengths to make sure they keep the two worlds separate from each other."

"Are you serious?" Carrot absently shook Chocolat off his arm again. "Parsoner's don't even know it exists?"

"That is quite the change." Marron nodded absently. "Harry, could you by chance get a cup of water? I'd go myself but I'd rather not make relations even worse with your family."

"Huh?" Harry wasn't sure if it was a good idea, but he'd give them the benefit of the doubt. They were odd, but they didn't seem evil. "Sure."

"So why'd you send the squirt out?" Gateau leaned against the door to make sure to give warning if he came back too quick. "I know you've got something on your mind."

"I think we should keep our occupations a secret from Harry." Marron stood and stretched for a bit.

"That sounds good." Tira scooted up and claimed Marron's seat to stretch her own legs out. "I don't think he'd react well to us being Sorcerer Hunters."

"That's what I was thinking. It doesn't seem as if they have the same issues we do when it comes to sorcerers abusing their power." Marron frowned at Tira and she slid back down to the floor.

"That and I still don't trust this situation." Gateau sighed. "No point in revealing our trump cards."

"That's very true, Gateau." Marron yawned.

"Tired?" Carrot leaned back. "Me too, all this waiting around for this Dumbledorf person is so boring!"

"Somehow, I feel like that's the wrong name."

"Ah, whatever."

"Yes, but we're all in agreement?" Marron's hair fell over his shoulder lightly.

"Yup, no complaints here." Carrot yawned himself. "But what do we do if they ask what we do for a living?"

"A modified version of the truth." Gateau smirked. "We're body guards or some other bit like that."

Tira laughed. "Yup, my sister and I sure fit that description at first glance, don't we?"

"Why don't we just say we do odd jobs?" Marron smiled. "That's true enough."

"Decided then, because the kid's coming back up." Gateau shifted his position just in time for the door to be opened again.

"Here's your water, Marron." Harry handed the smiling man the cup and sat back down on the bed.

"Thank-you very much, Harry. I was parched."

"Hey, kid." Carrot began. "How much longer 'till this Dumbledorf guy answers your letter?"

"It's Dumbledore and he'll answer as soon as he gets the letter I'd imagine." Harry yawned. He hoped Dumbledore answered soon as well, he wasn't too sure if he felt save sleeping around these people yet. Just because he didn't think they were evil, didn't mean he felt completely safe around them. "He'll probably have answered at least by tomorrow morning."

"That seems like forever away." Carrot groaned and stretched out on the floor with what little room there was available. "And I should be tired, but I'm not. This sucks."

"Patience is a virtue, my brother."

"You always say that, Marron." Carrot rolled over and hit Tira with his foot. "It's not my fault you're better at it than me."

"If you'd practice you'd be better at it, Carrot." Smacking his foot away, Tira continued. "It wouldn't kill you, you know."

"Yeah, well." Carrot was interrupted by a large crash coming from downstairs.

"What was that?" Gateau was up on his feet and opening the door to hear the commotion better. "Sounds like screaming."

"Sounds like curses." Harry leapt to his feet and headed straight for his trunk hidden away in the closet. Opening it he searched for his wand frantically. "This isn't good."

"What's that?" Carrot was up on his feet and staring at the strange stick in Harry's hand.

"My wand." Harry headed out the door. "I'll need it to fight if who I think is down there really is. You stay up here and stay out of the way."

"Wait," Marron grabbed his arm and held him. "What's going on? Just from the sounds I know that it can't be safe for a teenager to handle on his own."

"There's only one group who'd be trying to kill me and you'd need magic to fight them."

"Who?"

"Hey, your Uncle and Aunt are running down the street. And the fat kid is trying to keep up with his mom."

"What did you say, Chocolat?" Harry went to the window to indeed see his biological family running down the street like chickens with their heads cut off. That only confirmed his suspicions. "No question, it's the Death Eaters."

"The what?" Gateau stared as Harry funny as he heard the commotion downstairs quiet. It was unnerving.

"Death Eaters are servants of Voldermort. They're evil wizards who work for the most evil man alive." Harry gripped his fists together. "He killed my parents, and my friend."

"Harry." Marron was about to place a hand to Harry's shoulder when he was interrupted.

"No time, those Death whatevers are heading up the stairs." Gateau flexed. "What do you guys want to do?"

"Nothing." Harry gripped his wand. "You don't need to get involved. You don't know how to defend yourselves so I'll handle it."

"Harry stop!" Gateau missed Harry by a hair as he sped past him and out the door. "Marron!"

"I know we said to keep our real jobs a secret not more than ten minutes ago," Marron removed about six ofuda from his sleeve. "But I feel that would be neglecting our duty to rid the world of sorcerers who abuse their power."

"I agree completely, Marron." Chocolat laughed. "Let's show these boys just who isn't prepared."

"Let's do it!" Tira shouted and grabbed Carrot.

While the team had made up their minds of breaking their little secret much too quickly, Harry had his hands full. Due to his size and speed he managed to even the playing field and get the Death Eaters to chase him out into the yard where there was more room to cast spells. It made him more open, but it was better than knocking into furniture and not being able to see. Not to mention the last thing he needed was thirty or so Death Eaters getting him in a corner and firing at once. The glaring skulls glared at him as he prepared his wand for battle. "Stupefy!"

A barrier easily countered the red light and the Death Eaters laughed. The leader strode foreword to mock the boy. "Is that the best little Harry Potter can do?"

"It's the best he needs to do."

The group of snake flunkies all turned at the new voice to enter the playing field. Harry too had his eyes stuck on the group of strange people standing on his roof. "What are you doing? Go back inside!"

"No can do, Harry." Carrot pulled his sword out of its sheath. "Taking out the bad guys is our job."

"We're sorry to have misled you, Harry." Tira smirked and grabbed the tip of her cape. "But this is what we do."

"Yes," Marron's ofuda shined brightly. "This is what we live for."

"Wherever sorcerers abuse their magic we will always be there." Red hair gathered neatly into a black cap.

"Whenever those in need call for help, than these muscles will be there to answer." Gateau flexed at the prime moments.

"For we are none other than those legendary heroes of justice!" Carrot brandished his sword high.

In unison they shouted, "The Sorcerer Hunters!"

The Death Eaters laughed.

Harry nearly dropped his wand at the sight. These people weren't just lost and weird, they were crazy, too.

"I don't think they're taking us seriously, sister."

"I agree, Tira."

The Death Eaters stopped laughing when clothes were shed and the two girls jumped off the roof to stand before them. The one in the leather corset and thigh high boots with pink hair pulled out what looked to be like a spool of wire. The one that gathered the rest of attention was the red head in the hat sporting no more of a top than a pair of suspenders. The Death Eaters took a step back when the men jumped down behind to join the ladies, much too confused to do anything else.

"What should we do to them, sister?" Harry marveled at the drop in pitch of the whiny girl's voice.

"Kill them." The Death Eaters regained their footing at the seriousness of the tone.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Gateau led the charge to the dumbstruck Death Eaters.

Harry fell to the ground when this strange group of people began attacking. He felt sick when that Gateau stuck his hand through one of the masked men's stomach. The spell that was cast on him didn't even work properly; it was if it had bounced of his muscles. The girls weren't any better for his own stomach. Tira was strangling men with her thread while laughing and Chocolat was impaling people on metal twine. Even the Death Eaters that had managed to get a spell out, if they were fast enough, fell quickly enough when the spell was dodged or deflected. "How, how could they be this strong?"

Marron wanted to end this fight quickly before his brother was hit by a spell. He had no idea how this foreign magic would affect his zoanthrapy and they did not need a monster raging in a civilian area. Carrot would never forgive himself. A few of the robed men had gotten spells out but Carrot was able to dodge them, much to Marron's relief. "Guys! Get out of the way I'm taking them all out at once!"

"Sorry fellas'," Tira winked as she backed off and sprinted behind Marron. "But you heard the man."

Harry sat frozen to the spot on the opposite side of the yard behind the Death Eaters. These Sorcerer Hunters had taken out at least twelve with no trouble at all and now Marron wanted to take out the remaining fifteen on his own? It was too much.

"Hey, kiddo." Carrot had miraculously appeared behind Harry and he turned to look up at him. "Can't stay here or you'll get caught up in it, too."

Harry was unceremoniously yanked off of the ground and dragged to where the others were standing. He nearly tripped as his feet fumbled to hold onto the ground. Marron was putting his hands in odd positions and chanting something. When the huge flames of fire ripped from his posed hands, Harry felt as if he would faint. A huge phoenix rose forth and wiped the Death Eaters out in one swing. Fawkes would have been put to shame at the sight. The loyal minions were left twitching on the ground as the fight ended. There was no question of the victor and Harry truly felt as if he had been helping the bad guys.

"Hey guys." Carrot shook Harry's shoulder a bit, but it didn't register a reaction. "I think the kid's in shock."

"As he should be after witnessing such an act of violence."

"And who might you be?" Marron turned, ofuda raised and ready for action.

"Professor Albus Dumbledore." Dumbledore watched these newcomers warily with his wand at the ready. He had only seen the black haired boy with the paper summon a phoenix, but the carnage on the ground was enough to tell the rest of the story. "And that, is my student."

"You're the guy he sent that owl too, right?" Carrot sheathed his sword. "Took you long enough to show up. We had our hands full."

"Enemies or not, you could show some respect young man and not kick the corpse."

"Hey, I can check if it's dead, can't I?" Carrot put his arms behind his head. "Make that mistake once and you learn to not do it again."

"I take it you disapprove of our methods?" Marron kept his gaze even. "In our defense, they were going to kill Harry."

"You don't need a degree to have seen that." Gateau crossed his arms as he stared down at the old man in the funny hat.

"It was overkill. If they would have lived we could have had them arrested and questioned." Dumbledore knelt down to pull a piece of chocolate out of his pocket and hand it to Harry. "Now the evidence is gone, Harry's seen more death than he should have ever had too, and I have to deal with you."

"We dealt with them the way we knew how." Tira rewound her spindle as she talked. "And believe me when I said we went easy on them."

"Yes, it wasn't nearly as bad as it couldn't have gotten." Chocolat sent a pointed look at her Darling. "It could have been a lot messier, and fun."

"I see nothing fun about death. Harry, are you alright?"

Harry slowly tilted his head up when he was addressed. He barely recognized that he had a piece of chocolate in his hand. "Yeah, I'm okay. Just a little stunned, I didn't think you could fight wizards without magic and be effective."

"Sorcerers are human, just like everyone else." Marron relaxed his attack, it didn't seem as if Dumbledore was going to start anything. Not at least with Harry around. "They feel a punch just like anyone else, they just have little spells to give them a head jump."

"Speaking," Dumbledore stood and brought Harry to his feet as well. "In the letter, Harry described that you five could not use magic. What exactly was it then that you used, young man, when you summoned the phoenix?"

"My name is Marron, and correct, I was born without the ability to use magic." Marron pocketed his ofuda snugly in their places within his robes. "However, I trained diligently and learned a great deal of Eastern Magic to use at my disposal."

"I didn't find out until after I sent the letter, Professor." Harry started to calm down when everyone else relaxed as well. Seeing their calm faces he almost forgot the corpses strewn about him, still smoldering. "But in their world, muggles can learn magic if they want."

"That is unique." Dumbledore put his own wand away. There had been enough fighting for today, and he had a problem to sort out. "Where exactly are you all from? I know how you got here from the letter, but none of the specifics about your background."

"We're from the Spooner Continent." Tira replaced her glasses and cape discretely and with a wave of her hand got Chocolat to take off her hat and put on some clothes.

"And what exactly is it that you do, that would make this carnage a natural way to handle a problem?"

"We're sorcerer hunters." Gateau would not be intimidated. "It's our job to take out sorcerers who abuse their power over the parsoners."

"And who are you to decide who is abusing power?"

"Big Mama, head of the Stella Church, and one closest to God makes the decisions." Chocolat shook out her hair. "And we check it out for ourselves. It'd make you sick some of the things we've seen."

"Everything from slavery, to kidnapping, to torture." Tira growled. "It's disgusting and the parsoners can't defend themselves because they can't fight against the magic."

"A self appointed team of justice, then."

"Hey," Gateau stood foreword. "If we weren't there, than nothing would be there to stop it. Everyone would suffer and the Spell Wars would start again. This ministry that handles problems you keep talking about doesn't exist."

Marron muttered under his breath, "or sound that different from us."

"The spell wars?"

"A thing of the past." Marron intervened before someone lost their cool. "But if it appeases a little, we don't just handle sorcerers. We also handle parsoners who have gotten their hands on forbidden magic."

Dumbledore shifted his glasses. Where they talking about the three unforgivable curses? Or at least the equivalent from wherever they're from? "Forbidden magic?"

"Spells, potions, and books that are forbidden to be used by both sorcerers and parsoners. Usually leftovers from the Spell Wars that either have devastating effects, or require unforgivable sacrifices to work." Marron covered a yawn. He was getting exhausted.

"It seems it is later than I had expected." Dumbledore noticed Harry had been unusually quiet. "Why don't we all head somewhere less in the open and discuss this situation further."

"What about all of these guys." Carrot popped his thumb next to his head to point behind him.

"I'll alert the ministry and tell them I have Harry in my custody." Dumbledore shifted through his robes looking for that port key. "Alright, everyone grab onto this."

"A pocket watch?" Carrot poked it.

"It's a port key, it'll transport us to Hogwarts where we can discuss things in privacy."

Harry grabbed the key automatically and prepared for the worse. "It's a little weird, but it works alright."

"Okay."

The group took a hold of the key and felt the yanking sensation pull them out of this plane before they even had a chance to shout.