Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Reviews are welcomed, flames aren't.

Chapter 8: Consequences

Between Shuichi and Severus, they explained all they've piece together of Yukiko's tragic life and that the child was an intelligent being that just happens to look like a 5 year old human child with fox ears and tail. Poppy couldn't resist scratching an ear and run a hand along Yukiko's tail.

Severus smiled slightly as Yukiko had fallen into a deep slumber, of course he lost control of his demon form and slowly melted back into his kit body. "Sleep well, little one," the potion master muttered softly as he leaned back into his pillows, getting comfortable. He didn't hear Shuichi's soft chuckle or Poppy's gasp in astonishment.

0o0o0o0

Rumors flew around Hogwarts. The students that witnessed the accident were telling what they saw. They were saying that a young white haired boy pushed Snape out of the way. Some argued that it was Snape's familiar, the kit. Others were saying that the explosion was an accident, while many said it had been deliberately done by the Slytherins to get back at Snape for betraying the Dark Lord.

Professor Minamino helped, adding to the confusion by twisting the rumors until the truth fell by the wayside. It didn't bode well to have Yukiko's fox boy form revealed to the children of Death Eaters; let alone for it to get back to the Ministry. It was enough that Yoko was royally po'd and wanted the death of the girl who caused the injury to his grandson and the boy's guardian.

Shuichi was amazed at how well Yukiko was healing. He was sure that the child would lose what little demon energy he had built up in trying to heal himself. Thankfully, the loss was minimal.

Shuichi/Kurama's thoughts also turned to the professor. More and more, the man was becoming quite the enigma and attractive. It's been awhile since he had a wizard for a lover.

All the professors were up in arms about the incident. Some were demanding that the girl should be expelled, one or two were in favor of extreme detention and house points. Shuichi knew that Yoko had his own brand of justice planned.

Albus called a staff meeting in his office, three days after the incident. As the professors filed in, Shuichi sat down next to a tight-lipped and furious Severus Snape, who had slipped out the Infirmary to attend. The red head noted with some amusement that Poppy glared at the Potions Master, but didn't say anything about the fact that the man should still be bed ridden. Shuichi was heartened to see Yukiko around Severus' neck unaware of the uproar around him. The little kit had his nose buried under his tail, sleeping peacefully. Severus from time to time would reach up to either adjust the kit or scratch behind one of little pointed ears.

"Now, now," Dumbledore said, trying to soothe ruffled feathers. "We need calm heads to deal with this. Minerva and I will question Miss Crabbe to see what happened. I only waited this long so that Severus could be present as well as her Head of House. While I would like to give the child the benefit of the doubt, we need hard evidence to take to the Governors. I just can't expel a student just for causing an explosion in Potions or we wouldn't have any students left."

"Evidence!?" Snape snarled. Yukiko whimpered at the change in his guardian's demeanor. Severus placed a hand on the kit, to calm him as he continued in a low but dangerous voice. "I can give you evidence! The girl deliberately tried to kill me and I can give you pensive memories to prove it. I'll administer veritaserum to her for the why."

"Now, Severus, my boy . . .," Albus started.

"NO! Don't you dare! She tried to kill me, Albus, and harmed Yukiko."

Yoko, pacing in the back of Shuichi's mind, growled. He wanted out and he wanted revenge. No one hurts his family and lives to tell the tale! Rubbing his forehead, Shuichi said softly, "With all due respect, Headmaster. Pensieve memory is admissible in Wizarding court. I, for one, want to see the incident before I give my vote."

Albus sighed, aware that he was out-voted as he pulled out his pensive. Severus stood and with a flick of his wand called forth the memory and dropped it into the silvery liquid.

All there watched in growing horror at the scene. Shuichi was grateful that the man had stopped the memory at the explosion so they didn't see Yukiko's transformation or rescue.

"Well," Minerva said as she came out, "I agree. The girl not only needs to be expelled but arrested for attempted murder, if you don't call the Aurors, Albus, I will."

0o0o0o0

In the end, all it took was Professor Snape's pensieve and the girl's testimony. Under veritiserum, she told how she had been instructed by her parents to do as much damage in the potions class as possible. If she was able to severely harm or kill the blood traitor in the process, so much the better. Although, she had been too young to be Marked, she would willingly have recieved it in her seventh year like many had before her. Kingsley Shacklebolt, who had taken the deposition, stood with the girl's wand and snapped it in front of everyone present, before leading her back to the Ministry in chains.

0o0o0o0

That night, a silvery figure crept through the Wizarding World bent on one thing – Revenge.

Crabbe Manor was buried under rose brambles. Come morning, not a living soul remained. The aurors couldn't penetrate the dense tangle as the trunks and branches were so thick and heavy that the manor had collapsed under the bushes' weight. The air was cloyingly thick with the perfume of roses.

0o0o0o0

Madame Bones sat in her office going over the reports. Shacklebolt walked in. "Amelia, here is the report on the Crabbe case. As far as we can tell, most of the house-elves made it out as well as all the children still living in the manor, but all the adults perished. Strangled by the brambles. Some of the thorns were three inches long. Several of my aurors had to be treated at St. Mungos for puncture wounds. Thank Merlin! They weren't poisonous," Kingsley said with eyes rolled briefly to the ceiling but continuing, with a worried look on his face, "Whoever did it had to have strong magic. Never in all my years as an Auror have I seen roses that huge and that deadly."

Amelia leaned back in her chair, pinching the bridge of her nose. "It gets worse. Miss Crabbe was found dead in her cell last night. She had flowers growing out of her body. We are still trying to identify the plant. Each flower had a small mouth and was dripping acid."

"Do you think it was a Dark Spell gone wrong?"

0o0o0o0

Koenma sat as his desk groaning, holding his head in his hands. Yoko was within his right to deal with the attempted murder but did he have to go to such extremes? Tom Riddle's followers were still considered fair game. They were still causing a lot of headaches and paperwork for the little demi-god. Should he chew Kurama out for letting Yoko out? Hm. He had informed the kitsune to take any measure to keep the kit safe, but not to reveal himself. However, at the rate he was going, it wouldn't be long before the secret of Spirit World would be exposed.

"Why me?" He whined, taking a pull on his pacifier. Pressing a button on in his intercom, he screamed, "Get me Yusuke!"

0o0o0o0

Yukiko felt the presence of his grandfather before he smelt or saw him. He and his father had turned in early that night. Both had been sleeping soundly, curled next to each other as Yoko stepped into the bedroom. Silently, Yukiko slipped from his father's bed to stand in his fox boy form in front of the older and taller demon.

Placing a finger to his lips, Yoko signalled for them to leave quietly. Yukiko took one last look at his sleeping father. Trusting his grandfather, the little fox boy slipped out.

It didn't take long before both kitsunes entered the Forbidden Forest. Both had transformed into their fox forms. Yukiko marveled at the many tails that his grandfather had. Yoko preened a bit. 'Time, little kit and experience. That is how you get them,' the older kitsune growled in Makai. 'Come. We have a ways to go. There is someone I want you to meet.'

0o0o0o0

Thanks for all the reviews. I have thought long and hard about Hiei but for the life of me, I just don't see him in this fic. Yusuke will be putting in another appearance soon. The Spirit Detective and Harry have so much in common. As for the rumor mill and Yukiko's boy form, I hope you all find what I did satisfying. Kurama can be quite the trickster when he wants to be. Also, as for slash, I did rate this for M, however, I don't like going too graphic. I like to challenge the minds of my readers and let them image what goes on behind close doors. If you don't understand, watch a Alfred Hitchcock movie sometimes. The man was a genius at mind games.

Until next time. --GF