Kasumi: Er... Hi... *runs and cowers behind stuffed penguin.* I'm sorry, I'm sorry, no don't kill me please.... I offer this chapter as a peace offering
Right... I'm back! I'm sorry this took so long but my muses decided to take a 5 month trip all around the world and have only just gotten back.
A huge hep of thanks to:
Kuro-No-Tsubasa, Ryn-Ryn Arashi, Qube, Celestrail, Bobboky, autumn-annette 19, DragonTamer186, Sakura Lisel, glennscm, and SelenaWolf.
Thank you so much for reviewing and hopefully sticking with this story! You all get cream puffs the size of Canada!!!!!
Disclaimer: Hey, guess what guys, I'm a 15 year old high school student that doesn't even have a job! Do you really think that I own Card Captor Sakura, Harry Potter, and the reference to Torchwood that's in here! If you do then you're an IDIOT!
Harry Potter and the Legend of the Sorcerers
Chapter 7
"Hope, deceitful as it is, serves at least to lead us to the end of life along an agreeable road." - La Rochefoucauld
"Whoever blushes is already guilty; true innocence is ashamed of nothing." - Jean-Jacques Rousseau
"The field of consciousness is tiny. It accepts only one problem at a time. Get into a fist fight, put your mind on the strategy of the fight, and you will not feel the other fellow's punches." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Months had past since Syaoran came home. All were delighted to have him home, only to have their good moods dashed when they saw him in an off moment. He just looked so lost, so forlorn. When he was doing something he was a focused and determined as before he left. But in those moments between moments his eyes weren't looking at anything. They were empty. Period. No question about it.
He was in love.
And no matter how cliché it sounded it was true. It was honest to god, no fooling, sure enough, rare and beautiful, true love.
However the only drawback to this was that his love was all the way back in Japan while he was stuck in Hong Kong. Life sucked. Guan was there though. He kept his brother grounded, was his rock when Syaoran started to drift in memories. Meiling was there was well so that helped. About a month after Syaoran returned Meiling and him got into a huge argument. That was when Guan finally learned the name of the girl that managed to get away with his brother's heart: Sakura.
Unfortunately the Elders were being themselves and so were complete and utter gits. In the words of Nicholas and Remus that is. Bastards was Yelan's less then polite term. Guan simply vowed that he would never let himself be used like that. Syaoran was trying to act like nothing had happened but everyone could see through his mask.
Fortunately Sakura wrote and Syaoran responded with an unearthly fire. He told her of training, of his sister's antics, and of his family. Yet he did not mention Guan. After further prying Guan was able to establish that Sakura had come to Hong Kong earlier, while Guan had gone with Nicholas to travel the world, and had met every but Guan and his uncle. It would be awkward now to inform Sakura that he had a younger brother, was Syaoran's excuse. But his mother and Guan were able to distinguish the truth. Syaoran wasn't sure how either one would react with each other. Syaoran and Guan had a bond, so deep and so meaningful that nothing could break it. But Sakura… Sakura was his light, his idol, everything he strived to be and protect.
Finally Guan got tired of Syaoran's attempts at normalcy and cornered him.
"What wrong?" He demanded.
Syaoran shifted, uncomfortable and nervous. "It's… nothing. I'm being silly and petty."
"You're worried about Sakura's reaction aren't you?"
Syaoran blinked, and then blinked again. "But how?"
Guan merely shook his head. "Living with Nicholas for the past couple years does do some good. He is exceptionally good at reading people. One of his friends we met in California taught me a couple tricks. His name was Patrick Jane and he worked for the CBI. You're tense and worried. You think that Sakura will fell like you've betrayed her by not telling her about me. And then you think that I'll think that you've abandoned me for her."
By the look on Syaoran's face Guan knew he was right.
"Syaoran, listen, I don't mean to insult you or anything, but you're an idiot. In the words of Nicholas it would be 'a big bleeding moron who can't see things a foot in front of his bloody face.' I love you, put as the most awesome, brave, and magical brother I've ever had. Sakura is a whole other buck of bolts. You both love each other, but as soul mates. I understand that and that just means that we're going to have to share you."
"But…"
"No buts! I don't want to hear it. Now if you don't stop that I'm just going to have to sneak over the Japan myself and then form a secret bond with Sakura where we will clone you multiple times. Then I'll get one clone and she'll get another and with the rest we will build a super powered army and take over the world. You wouldn't want that to happen, would you?"
Syaoran grimaced, trying to remove the picture of Sakura and Guan laughing manically while standing on top a globe. "I guess not."
"Right then, back to training."
After that pep talk Syaoran tried to get back into the funk of things. He seemed the throw himself into his training, desperate to prove to the Elders that he was ready to be sent back to Japan. Guan also tried to cheer him up by introducing him to Nicholas and Sirius. Thankfully Nicholas and Syaoran started to discuss magical theory and just branched off from there. And on that note days passed, then weeks, then months and before anyone knew it Syaoran was twelve, Guan was nine and Meiling and Syaoran had convince the Elders and Yelan to let them take a trip to Japan.
Guan decided to stay behind with his mother and let Syaoran have this time to confess his love, as eternally cliché as it sounded. And so Syaoran and Meiling left for Japan, leaving behind a very bored Guan and Nicholas. Finally Remus and Sirius got tired of their miserable attitude.
"I know they're planning something," Guan muttered to Nicholas and his mother one evening. "They're sneaking around, making telephone calls, and generally being subtle which I know is not in their bodies."
Nicholas nodded his agreement while Yelan smirked. Guan took notice of this and frowned at his mother.
"You're in league with them, n'est pas? What are they planning?"
Yelan just laughed. "I'll never tell you. After all, a secret makes a women, women."
"You watch too much Detective Conan."
"Truer words were never spoken," agreed the slouching Flamel. "The last thing we want her to do is start acting like Vermouth."
Guan looked to his mother again to question her again but she had disappeared.
Even when Guan and Nicholas tried to keep a look out for Remus and Sirius they were still helpless when the two put the plan into motion. Before they knew it both had been kidnapped and spirited off to who knows where. Guan felt like he was being squeezed through a tiny straw when Sirius grabbed his arm and it took him a while to get his bearings when the feeling stopped. The neutral coloured walls, plush sofas, and moving portraits were a far cry from the ridged shapes and formations in the Li House. A soft crack to the right indicated Remus's appearance with Nicholas on his arm.
Pernelle appeared across the hall wearing an apron. "Oh good you're here. Remus come in here and help me with dinner."
Remus raised his hands in mock surrender and left while Sirius steered Nicholas and Guan towards the sofa.
"Where are we?" Guan asked curiously. His eyes drifted from the flight of stairs that lead to a second floor to a particularly ugly troll leg umbrella stand standing by the front door. On the far wall there was an empty space that looked like it had been the home of a wall hanging for some time.
"We, my fine young godson, are in the Noble and Ancient House of the Blacks. I grew up here as well as my family before me. Unfortunately, the Black Family is known to be a family with a more malevolent side than most. The old house elf Kreacher died awhile ago and I hired some more that were abandoned by other purebloods to help me spruce up the place. I'm lucky that Gringotts has branches all over the world and sent me a letter once my innocence was proved in America.
I decided that I was not going to allow you two to mope around the house and instead would force you to admit defeat while showing Guan around his native England."
Nicholas looked put out. "So we have no choice to admit defeat."
"Indeed, good sir," Sirius said with a bow. "So will you surrender gracefully or will I have to force you."
"Oh, I don't know. I think that I will launch a TICKLE FIGHT!" With that Sirius sprang at Nicholas and started to tickle him mercilessly. Guan allowed himself a smirk and then joined in.
"Guan!!!" Nicholas whined. "You're my pupil. You're supposed to help me!"
"Sorry Nicki, but I'm afraid that I'll have to align myself with my godfather on this one."
The next day Remus took Guan out to some of the tourist attractions in London: Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and the Thames. The day after that Nicholas and Guan went to Cardiff, Wales. Guan looked around suspiciously at Roald Dahl Plaza and at the specific stone they were standing on.
"Is there any reason we're here?" Guan asked. It was broad daylight and the sound of the sea was coming in loud and clear.
"Just wait for it, wait for it."
And then the ground started to sink. The stone they were standing lowered them through a tunnel and down into a… Well Guan wasn't exactly sure what to describe it as. There were desks scattered about with bits and pieces of metallic machines and papers.
Guan stared at the hub in confusion. Then he turned to Nicholas. "Why are we here exactly? And what is this place?"
"We're here to see an old friend of mine. As to what this place is…. Well…" Nicholas started but was cut off when five people came into the hub. Guan and Nicholas stared. The other five stared. In fact this continued on for quite some time before one of the men decided to break the silence.
"Oi, what the hell are you two doing here!"
Guan looked up at Nicholas, waiting for him to answer since Guan himself didn't know what they were doing here. Nicholas didn't pay any attention to the loudmouth and instead greeted the man dressed in a trench coat that looked like it came right out of World War II.
"Jack Harkness, how's eternity treating you?"
The one identified as Jack Harkness broke out into a grin.
"That's Captain Jack Harkness to you Nicholas Flamel. And shouldn't I be asking you the same question?"
"Oh, touché my good man," and with that the two embraced like brothers.
That effectively left the other four and Guan staring at the two. Jack and Nicholas noticed this and grinned at each other. That in itself was really quite terrifying because they have the exact same evil grin that makes you think the end of the world is coming in some horribly painful way (like death by Barney, or Teletubbies, or Barbie).
"Right, Nicholas and friend this is my team: The lovely and talented Toshiko Sato, the brilliant and sarcastic Dr. Owen Harper, the magnanimous and fantastic Gwen Cooper, and finally the very sexy Ianto Jones. And I am Captain Jack Harkness of Torchwood Three. Team, this is Nicholas Flamel, the famed alchemist and his young friend," Jack said.
Nicholas smiled at each one of them in turn. Then he pushed Guan forward. "This is my apprentice, Guan Li, of the Li Clan. It is nice to meet you all."
After that Guan was introduced into the realm of aliens, space, time travel, and the Doctor. While Nicholas and he decided not to get involved in Jack's world, it was fun to learn about it. In fact there were many friends of Nicholas's that he met with that had their own strange and interesting businesses. Eriol Hiiragizawa was one that guan was especially pleased to met. Oh yes, Guan had heard his brother cursing that name quite a few times in their talks about the adventures he had in Tomoeda. Nicholas got shivers every time he thought about what was in store for Syaoran when he next met up with his younger brother.
Remus and Nicholas both agreed to accompany Guan to Diagon Alley on Saturday morning. They reached the dingy pub close to 9 a.m. and Remus was greeted by Tom when they went inside.
"Well, if it isn't Remus Lupin. I haven't seen you in years." Tom called out.
"Hello Tom," Remus said smiling. "I've been in Asia actually. This is my honorary nephew Guan and his teacher, Nicolas. I'm showing them both around Wizarding London."
"Hope you enjoy your time in the Alley," Tom shouted after them as Remus lead them out the back door.
Nicholas took the honor of opening up the entrance and with a flourish swept Guan onto the cobble stone walkway. "So what do you think?" He asked.
Guan examined every detail with open eyes. "I don't know. It's nothing special."
"Nothing special!? What are you talking about?"
"Well compared with everything else I've seen in my life it really isn't."
Nicholas and Remus both chuckled.
"Alright I'll give you that," Remus agreed. "Who would have thought that our lives would go this askew? From Voldyshorts, to Yelan and Hong Kong, to Nicholas and Pernelle, nobody could have predicted all this."
"And I'm not even 10 yet!" Added in Guan.
Remus shivered. "I dread to think what's going to happen when you announce yourself to Wizarding England."
"Oh don't worry," a voice piped up. "By that time all the Heliopaths that Minister Fudge has hired will have wiped us all out. Either that or the Black Syndicate will unleash their drug and turn the entire world in to second graders."
A young blond girl was standing there, staring at them. Guan and Remus blinked while Nicholas broke out into a broad grin.
"Luna Lovegood, I was wondering when you'd pop up. Oh, it's fantastic to see you again. How's your father doing?"
Luna smiled. "He is fine. And how are you?"
"I'm great, better than great actually. This is Remus Lupin and…"
"Guan Li or Harry Potter, yes I know."
Nicholas answered Guan's unasked question. "Luna here is a true Seer. I met her in Scotland when her and he father were doing a report on the Loch Ness Monster for their magazine."
Luna bowed to Guan, Remus, and Nicholas. "Tell Sakura I said hi," and with that Luna disappeared back into the crowd.
Guan and Remus looked to each other, with bemused expressions on their faces while Nicholas whistled Hey Baby and took off towards Gringotts.
"What do you mean you've never ridden a Ferris Wheel? Isn't that a crime?" Guan shouted at the bleach blond boy.
"I don't even know what a Ferris Wheel is. Father said it some dumb muggle contraption." Responded the idiot, not knowing what he was getting himself into.
"Oh yeah, where's your father now?" Guan retorted.
The blond had the decency to blush. "He left me here."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. What do you mean he left you here?"
"He was conducting business with the goblins about two hours ago. I asked one of the goblins what happened to him but the goblin said he had already left. I can only assume that he forgot he took me along."
Guan smirked. "Perfect."
He promptly grabbed the blonds hand and rushed out of the bank lobby. Ignoring the boy's protest Guan grabbed his cell phone and dialed Remus's number, ever thankful that the Li Clan had solved the magic vs. technology problem at the beginning of the twentieth century.
"Remus?" He asked.
The man on the phone answered back. "Nope sorry kiddo, it's Nicholas. Remus is talking to some goblins right now."
"That's okay," Guan said. "I just wanted to warn you guys that I've abducted one of those stuck up purebloods you guys talked about and am proceeding to brainwash him by showing him muggle London."
"Is he bleach blond and arrogant?" Nicholas asked.
Guan looked over at his captive who had ceased his whining.
"Yep."
"Oh that's brilliant. You've just kidnapped Draco Malfoy without his father being any the wiser. Carry on!"
Yes, It's done! Please please please review! I worked hard on this chapter and guess what? I already have started on the next chapter!
Your ever loyal author,
Kasumi
