Thicker Than Water
By Ammie Hawk
Disclaimer: So nothing really belongs to me… except a car and a couple cats…
Chapter 4: First Night
A dark figure appeared on the driveway to the Granger residence, appeared so suddenly it could only be done by magic. It was later than he wanted, or anticipated. After the mandatory end of year staff meeting, he had been summoned by Lord Voldemort, and that creature loved to hear himself talk. Once that was done, Dumbledore sent him a message that he expected a report immediately.
So here he was, hours late for a very important meeting and his temper was close to exploding, something he didn't want to happen right now. Add on top of that that he couldn't even tell his husband what he was doing without arousing suspicion. Though with recent events, they could possibly be together again soon.
On that note, he reached the front door and rang the bell. A moment later, the door was opened by a rather pretty female. He managed a tired smirk for his old friend.
"Good evening, Jean," he said quietly. "Sorry I'm late. Certain things came up."
"It's alright," Mrs. Granger smiled. "Why don't you come in, they're waiting for you."
"Thank you," he nodded and entered the house, following the woman down the hall. "How are they?"
"They're fine," she shook her head. "Though, some of them came with warning instructions, and you have to go to the Preventers and fill out some paperwork."
"I'll do that tomorrow," he rubbed his forehead tiredly. "Right now, I just want to take them home."
"Alright," she paused outside a door. "They're in here, just take it slow, okay?"
She pushed open the door to the den, where the children were currently talking with Mr. Granger. Four sets of eyes turned toward the door. There was a soft gasp from the only female in the room as she recognized the newcomer.
"Children," Mrs. Granger said, drawing most of the attention to herself, "your guardian has finally arrived. Allow me to introduce Mr. Severus Snape."
"Hermione," the Potions Master said calmly, effectively cutting her off before she began, "I will answer your questions later, right now you will go upstairs and start packing your things. I will be up momentarily to assist you."
The bushy haired girl looked like she wanted to argue for a moment, but with a huff got up and stomped out of the room. Once she was gone, he turned his attention to the two former pilots. He surveyed both of them from head to foot, before dark eyes locked with blue.
"Well, it's obvious you are Aries," he gave a wry chuckle. "You look just like him." Then he glanced at the raven haired teen. "And you are?"
"I am Chang Wufei," he bowed slightly in respect. "And I would like to thank you for allowing me to stay in your home."
"Right," Snape nodded, "you're Regulus' brat. Your uncle is going to be unbearable once I inform him you have come to stay. Now, I am assuming that your belongings are around here somewhere, I suggest you retrieve them, we'll be leaving in ten minutes. If you'll excuse me, I need to go assist my willful daughter in her packing."
With that he left the den and made his way up the stairs. As he walked, he mentally began preparing himself for what was sure to be a battle of wills with the young witch. He really wished his husband was here to deal with their little Gryffindor. But then again, he hadn't exactly told his husband that both their children had been located and were coming home.
He sighed as he reached the appropriate door and knocked quietly. He heard some banging, as if something had fallen to the floor. A moment later, the door burst open as the bushy haired girl appeared.
"Oh, it's you," she glared up at him. "What do you want?"
"There is no need for hostility, Hermione," the Potions Master took a calming breath, now would not be the time to lose it.
"So, what?" she folded her arms across her chest. "You're allowed to be hostile for the past five years, but I'm not allowed to for five minutes?"
"You are so your father's daughter," he rubbed his eyes tiredly. "I'm not saying you don't have a right to be upset. You do, and if I were in your shoes I would be equally as upset. However, at this moment, I want to gather your things and take you and your brother home. I promise I will answer all your questions in the morning, once we have all had a chance to calm down and get some sleep."
"Fine," she turned on her heel and went back inside the room and began gathering her belongings once again.
"Here, allow me," he entered the room and pulled his wand from his sleeve.
"Do I have a choice?" she sat down on the bed and glared.
"There really is no need for that, Hermione Eileen," he sighed, as he waved his wand and the items around the room began arranging themselves inside her school trunk.
"Can I at least ask where we're going and how we're getting here?" she tried to keep up her anger, but she couldn't help but be impressed with his casual display of advanced magic.
"We will be taking a portkey to my home in Cokeworth, Spinner's End," he explained as the final items packed themselves away. "With that being said," he levitated the trunk, "let's collect your brother and cousin and be on our way."
The young witch got up and followed the dour man back down the stairs to the den. Wufei and Heero were waiting, each with a duffle bag thrown over their shoulders. Snape lowered the trunk and pulled a small book from his pocket.
"If you three would please touch the portkey," he held it out and the three teens reached out and grabbed it. "Also, if you would be so kind as to keep a hold of your trunk, Hermione. Thank you, Jean, for everything. Spinner's End."
At his final words, they felt a tug behind their navels and were gone.
888888
As soon as the car pulled into the drive of number four Privet Drive, Vernon Dursley cut the engine and headed into the house without a backward glance, terror still evident in his eyes. Petunia stared after him in confusion but then shook her head and motioned for Dudley to head into the house. She then turned to the four other members of her household as they emerged from the car.
"Boy," she snapped at Harry, though he could still tell something was off about it, and Dudley's words earlier were starting to sink in, "get your things into the house. Troy and Daniel are in your room. And don't make a sound, I don't want to hear you."
"Yes, Aunt Petunia," the raven haired teen sighed quietly.
"Sorin, you're with me," she wrapped an arm around the blond's shoulders and ushered him into the house after her husband and son.
Harry rolled his eyes and made his way to the back of the car and opened the trunk. The two former pilots followed, not sure what he was doing, but also knowing they weren't going to leave him out there on his own.
Harry struggled to lift his school trunk out of the back before two pairs of hands joined him and it came easily out of the back of the car. Once it was out, he turned incredulous eyes on the two teens who had helped him, though neither of them had let go of the trunk yet and were now grabbing the three duffles as well.
"Lead the way, little bro," Duo waved him on. "We'll handle the trunk."
"Okay," the raven frowned slightly but headed into the house, too tired to argue.
He led the way up the stairs to his bedroom and opened the door for the other two. Trowa and Duo surveyed the room with rather blank expressions, neither of them were sure what to make of it, but knowing it was too small for three teenage boys. They didn't complain though, it was better than some of the places they'd slept in their lifetimes.
"Well, this is my room," Harry shrugged lamely, not sure what else to say.
"It's great," Duo said, giving an exaggerated grunt as he dropped his end of the trunk on the floor.
"I'll be right back," the unibanged teen set down his own end of the trunk and one of the duffles on his shoulder before slipping back into the hallway.
"So, how old are you anyway, baby bro?" the former Deathscythe pilot flopped down on the bed, testing it out.
"I'll be sixteen at the end of next month," emerald eyes narrowed into a glare. "So stop calling me your baby brother."
"You're still a squirt," the braided teen smirked, getting up to compare their heights, which weren't any different.
"Enough," Trowa said, coming back into the room. "We'll talk more in the morning. We should get some sleep."
"Right, Tro," Duo grinned.
The three of them prepared for bed as they usually did and then, in slight confusion and on Duo's insistence, all piled on the bed to sleep. Harry found himself sandwiched between his two brothers, but found he was too tired to protest and was asleep within minutes, the events of the past few weeks finally catching up to him. Duo and Trowa waited until the other teen had drifted off before allowing themselves to do the same. They weren't sure why, but they both had a strong urge to protect their raven haired brother, and nothing in the world would stop them from that goal.
888888
The portkey landed the four of them in a dark room that seemed to close in on the teens due to the lack of substantial light. Snape pulled his wand and a moment later, the room was illuminated by the fire now burning cheerily in the hearth. He then turned to the three teens.
"Welcome to my home, Spinner's End," he gestured to the room. "Pardon the state of things, I only live here a few months out of the year, as I am a teacher at a boarding school. I will give you a tour tomorrow, right now, I'm going to show you to the rooms you will be staying in."
He led them through the door on the right hand wall and up the stairs. At the top of the stairs was a hallway with two doors on either side.
"There are only three bedrooms at present," he gave a tired sigh. "Another thing to add to my ever growing to do list. Bathroom is the first door on the right, mine is across the hall on the left, Hermione will be in the one next to mine, leaving the last one for you two boys to share. Now, I am asking you all to go to bed, I have had a very long day with more meetings than I care to discuss, especially with minors. I am going to bed, I expect you three to do so as well. Hermione, I promised I would answer your questions tomorrow, now get your Gryffindor ass in bed."
The girl's mouth snapped shut with an audible click and she turned on her heel, grabbed her trunk, and slammed the door behind her. The two former Gundam pilots watched the byplay with raised eyebrows. Clearly these two knew each other well.
"Goodnight, boys," the Potions Master nodded at them before disappearing into his own bedroom.
Heero and Wufei shared a look. After a moment, they both shrugged and went into their room. Hopefully, they'd get some answers on the morrow.
888888
At half past midnight, Trowa was roused from his sleep by the slow creeping of the door inching inward. The former Heavyarms pilot had his gun in his hand and aimed at the portal before it made it very far. He half hoped the disturbance hadn't woken his brothers, but if the glint next to Duo's head was any indication, the braided teen was up as well. Though, it looked like Harry was managing to sleep through it.
"Who's there?" he asked quietly, not wanting to wake the raven but needing answers.
"It's Quatre" the blond's voice was barely a whisper, which the former clown was grateful for. "Can I come in?"
"Yeah."
Trowa lowered his gun, clicked on the safety, and stashed in back beneath the pillow. He shared a look with Duo, who nodded and shifted to the very edge of the bed, pulling Harry flush against him. The unibanged teen moved as well, spooning up against the little raven, making room for his best friend. A moment later, the blond was in the room and making his way cautiously toward the bed in the dark, having not turned on a light, not that any of the pilots need one anyway.
"What's wrong?" Trowa craned his neck to peer over his shoulder.
"I can't sleep," the former Sandrock pilot muttered quietly. "Heero's gone."
"Hm," the other nodded, he knew that feeling all too well. "We'll be back with him soon. We won't be here long. We'll get Harry out of here and go find him, and Wufei."
"I hope you're right, Trowa," the blond sniffed and made himself as comfortable as he could in the limited space. "I hope you're right."
Ammie: Okay, so another chapter out into the void. I am going to let ya'll know that hopefully I will be updating about once a month, depending on output. I'm hoping that as the year progresses I will get more things finished. Anyway, enough of my rambling, hope to see you next month on whichever fic happens to be next. Enjoy and let me know what you think.