Disclaimer: Harry Potter is Copyrighted by J. K. Rowling with all rights reserved. Gundam Wing is Copyrighted by Bandai, Sunrise, et al. Believe me when I say I'm neither Japanese or British and can only claim a couple hundred bucks in the bank.
Authors Note: Yaoi, Merged timeline, AUness, et al. A little OOCness. Okay, Maybe alot.
Heero and Wufei sat silently in the booth of Andover Deli as they waited for Quatre and Trowa to arrive. Their usual waitress, a older woman with a kindly face and graying sable hair set five glasses of ice water on the table. Neither mentioned that the fifth glass would be unnecessary.
"Others running a bit late?" she asked sympathetically. "I'll leave the menus and I'll come over when they get here?"
They both nodded automatically and the waitress left. The Andover wasn't your typical deli and it was why it was a favorite of all five pilots. Instead of the typical walk up service of most delis the Andover offered the option of being waited on, walk up, and to go ordering. The deli was spacious, clean, quiet, and it had Pepsi products which Duo said was the piece de résistance.
Quatre slid in to the booth followed by Trowa and they picked up their menus without missing a beat.
"Duo?" ask Quatre lightly sensing the searing tension surrounding his comrades.
"Mission," answered Wufei pensively and Quatre exchanged a puzzled look with Trowa.
"Then why the…"
"Harry Potter is on the same mission," interrupted Heero and Quatre's mouth snapped shut. Trowa who had been taking a drink of water had choked.
"Excuse me?" he sputtered and Wufei handed him a napkin.
"Harry Potter is on a mission with Duo," snapped Heero and Quatre felt the underlying frustration he was feeling break to the surface. "There is no log, no record, no nothing! Une won't tell us anything until Friday!"
"That explains our meeting," mused Trowa, composure regained. "I didn't know Potter was a part of the Preventors."
"He wasn't until this morning," snarked Wufei and Trowa felt his eyes widen.
"This morning?" asked Quatre shrilly. "Une sent Duo on a mission with an untrained rookie?"
"It looks like it," started Heero but sputtered to a stop as their waitress sidled up to their table.
"You boys ready?" she asked pleasantly.
They ordered their usuals, pastrami on rye for Trowa and Heero, the veggie special for Wufei, and Quatre chose the days soup and sandwich special. They were silent as the waitress left with the fifth water glass. It was obvious their fifth member wouldn't be there today
"Have you uncovered anything else on Harry Potter," asked Trowa breaking the tense silence.
"Nothing," gritted Heero. "It's as if he's a ghost."
"He very well could be," theorized Quatre pensively. "One of Une's most likely. It would explain the sparse data and why Une put them on duty so quickly."
"He doesn't have the temperament for a spook," replied Wufei distantly. "He's to open, to easy going."
They lapsed into silence again as their plates were set in front of them.
"If you boys need anything else, just holler!"
"Thank you, we will," replied Quatre politely.
As she walked away Quatre swirled his spoon in his French Onion soup.
"It's obvious Une trusts this Harry Potter," said Quatre quietly. "We have to trust her judgment until she tells us the reasoning behind her decision."
And that was the most frustrating part of it all.
Duo Maxwell was not a happy camper. He didn't know what Potter had done but being sucked through a straw and then being dumped on the ground was not his idea of fun and damned if his new partner wasn't doubled over laughing at him.
"What the fuck was that," demanded Duo as he picked himself off the cobblestone street and dusted his uniform off.
"Apparation," chuckled Harry and the scowl Duo sent him sent him over the edge of hysterics again. "Sorry!"
"Next time warn me," he sniffed. "though I will say being sucked through a magical straw gives me a whole new perspective on how soda must feel just before you drink it."
Harry burst out laughing again and for the first time Duo noticed his surroundings. The cobblestone street was crowded with robed men, women, children, and shops advertising everything from wands to cauldrons.
"Where are we," he asked in awe.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley," said Harry quietly. "What ever you do, don't say my name to loudly. The last thing we need is to be mobbed while shopping for robes."
"What?"
"I'll explain later," Harry told him quietly as he led Duo through the milling crowds. They entered a shop and the dull roar of the crowd outside was instantly replace with quiet.
"Hello dears, how can we help you?" asked a cheerful woman from behind a counter.
"Well need a standard set of Auror Robes and a set of work robes please," answered Harry. "They'll be for him." He nodded in Duo's direction and the woman eyed him speculatively.
"Right this was," he was cheerfully told and he followed the woman to the back room.
It was the most humiliating experience he had ever endured. Poked, prodded, giggled at! These robes had better be worth it Duo seethed as another woman slung a robe over his head. Potter was sitting off to the side smirking at him as if he knew what was going through his mind and god only knew if he did!
"There you go dear," cooed the Woman and Duo turned toward the mirror the woman gestured at. He studied his reflection was amazed. The Auror robe he was wearing was identical to the one Potter had one. The fit was impeccable, not showing his harness or the fact that he had the full regalia of a Preventor underneath. Maybe it was worth the poking and prodding.
"He'll wear that one out," said Potter. "How much do I owe you?"
"15 Galleons Auror Potter," said the Woman hesitantly and Duo noticed the displeased look on Harry's face. He was just about to tell him he'd pay for the robe when Harry spoke.
"I don't need a discount Madam Malkin, How much do I owe you," he asked tersely.
"15 Galleons," said Madam Malkin stubbornly. "It's the least I can do, Auror Potter."
He was about to protest when Duo decided to step in.
"Thank you very much Madam," grinned Duo and earned a displeased look from his partner. "I appreciate the gesture even if this ungrateful lout doesn't! These are fantastic, the craftsmanship is unbelievable."
"Thank you," beamed Madam Malkin. "It's very nice of you to say so."
Harry counted 15 Galleons out on to the counter and he grabbed his uniform and the bundle of robes.
"Do you mind if changed into my uniform quickly?" Harry asked the shop keeper and she pointed him toward a changing room.
"That boy," she sighed sadly and she turned towards Duo. "He refuses any thanks for what he's done. Thank you for convincing him this once."
Interesting Duo thought but said, "It's no problem Madam."
They didn't get a chance to say anything else because Harry came out dressed in his Preventors uniform with his Auror robe covering it. Duo noticed the smile he gave Madam Malkin was tired and a bit strained.
"Thank you Madam," said Harry pleasantly. "We need to be getting to the Ministry now."
He offered his hand to Duo and he winced.
"Must we?" whined Duo and garnered the laugh he was aiming for but took Harry's hand and he was being squeezed through the to small tunnel. This time he managed to stay on his feet but almost fell over as he took in the opulent reception area they had landed in. He knew his reaction was amusing his partner but he couldn't help but gawp at the marble floors cover in a scatter of rich bold rugs, crystal vases full of fragrant flowers and deep, comfortable looking chairs.
"Impressive much?" he asked a little breathlessly. If he hadn't known he would have sworn he was in the reception to Quatre's office at WEI.
"I know," chuckled Harry. "I almost past out the first time I saw it after it was remodeled."
Harry led them to the receptionists desk and they were told "Minister Shaklebolt told me to show you in immediately." He waved her off and strode down a hall to huge mahogany door which he opened. The office beyond was just as opulent as the waiting room and the Tall African man behind the huge desk stood to welcome them.
"Harry," said the man gesturing them both in. "I take it you have news from Commander Une?"
"Yes but first I'd like to introduce you to Agent Duo Maxwell, my new partner," said Harry quietly and the smile that had been on the mans face fell slightly. "Duo I'd like you to meet Minster of Magic Kingsley Shaklebolt."
"Nice to meetcha," Duo said breezily offering his hand and was surprised by the strong grip and calluses he felt.
"Is Armstrong…" trailed Harry and Kingsley shook his head.
"Out on a call," said Kingsley ruefully. "Now that you're not on the force the other have had to actually work."
Harry winced and Kingsley shot him an amused look.
"You did more than your share the last couple months Potter, let someone else worry about magical Britain's law enforcement."
"It's hard not to worry."
"Believe me I know," Kingsley told him somberly. " Though you are changing you're your status as Auror is not going to be revoked, if you decide to come back your position will still be here."
Harry blinked in shock.
"Now, what news do you have?"
Harry snapped to attention and told his former employer about Une's plans to prepare the Preventors in case of a magical attack.
"How many bases will you be visiting?" asked Kingsley and before Harry could speak Duo answered.
"There are seven others on planet and 4 off planet. At our base only Une and four others who will be on our team, and Myself will know."
Kingsley nodded thoughtfully. "It seems that the Preventors have everything thought out."
"You betcha!"
Harry nodded in agreement, "I'll be preparing several MiPs in the next couple weeks, that won't pose a problem will it?"
"MiPs?" ask Duo curiously even as Kingsley told him, "Not at all."
"Muggle in the know Passes," explained Harry. "Shortened to MiP for connivance sake and because MiKP sounds awful."
Duo shook his head in bemusement. "I take it these passes are important?"
"Yes," said Kingsley quite seriously. "If you don't have one and you were caught in a magical situation your memory would be modified or erased if you don't have a pass."
"Yikes," yelped Duo and Harry nodded in agreement. "I hope one of those passes will have my name on it 'cause I like my memories right where they are!"
Kingsley chuckled at the Braided teens melodramatic speech.
"You will definitely be getting one of the passes, Mr. Maxwell," said Kingsley quite seriously.
Duo winced, "It's Duo. Mr. Maxwell makes me want to look for a responsible adult."
Kingsley blinked but nodded in agreement.
"I think that's everything," mused Kingsley. "You still have your magical passport?"
"Yes," said Harry and he checked the clock. "We probably need to get going. We have a flight to catch."
"Yeah," said Duo and he stood to leave.
"Before you go, do you mind if I spoke to Duo Privately?" asked Kingsley.
Harry looked at his former boss in surprise but shrugged his shoulders and left the office. Silence reigned for a long moment.
"What's up?" asked Duo quietly.
Kingsley sighed heavily.
"Your new partner is a living legend," began Kingsley but a snort cut him off.
"Well he's joined the right agency," muttered Duo and Kingsley offered a wan smile.
"I suppose you're right. I don't know much about the muggle war or what you may have live through but Harry was the main player in our war," Kingsley told Duo.
"He doesn't rest, eat, sleep, until his objective is obtained. I'm not sure if he told you but he was on medical leave for magical exhaustion. He hunted down every last Death Eater that escaped the final battle. Those he considered his family are either dead or they have left the country. His fiancé and his two best friends were killed in front of him when they were lured into a trap just a couple months ago," said Kingsley softly.
Duo was silent as he contemplated the horror of loosing his supportive base. He shuddered and thanked his lucky star he still had his lover and the other pilots.
"I'm not telling you this to spread gossip. You haven't been in the wizard world long enough to know about Harry's struggles," continued Kingsley. "Harry Potter is one of, if not the most powerful wizard in the world. The British Wizarding community, and myself personally, owe him a huge debt that he won't ever collect.
"You need to know this because he would never tell you. He needs support, a friend and I hope you maybe able to help as his partner."
Duo nodded solemnly, his violet eyes meeting Kingsley's with out hesitation.
"I had questions about some of his behavior and how the wizarding population has treated him," he told the Minister. "I like Harry and I can tell he's hurting though he won't say anything. This mission is important and Harry is important to the mission. I can tell you with out a doubt that I myself will do everything I can to help Harry."
Kingsley nodded and sighed, "Thank you, thank you."
"I'd better not keep Harry waiting," said Duo and he rose to leave.
"Duo, if you need anything, please let us know," said Kingsley and Duo nodded.
Harry was waiting right out side the door and while he gave Duo a curious look, Duo shrugged it off.
"Well partner mine, lets go get packed!"
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