Disclaimer: Yeah, like I own DBZ and Harry Potter. If I did, I'd have scrapped GT and… well, Harry Potter's fine as is.
Chapter 10: Black Dog
"I… am whole!"
Cell growled at Gohan from the air. Desperate in defeat, Cell had flown into the sky and unleashed a Kamehameha of unbelievable proportions upon his enemies, with the intent to blow up the Earth and ensure Gohan's demise. At the last moment, however, Gohan effortlessly countered with his own Kamehameha. The child's was stronger than Cell's, and sent their combined might barreling at Cell. The power tore Cell apart, incinerating most of his limbs and body parts.
Gohan smirked. He knew Cell was aware he allowed him to regenerate, that he let Cell heal and grow stronger. But he was still nowhere near Gohan's power.
"You wretched child," Cell seethed, "how dare you! HOW DARE YOU!"
Cell screamed furiously, and his body flexed to an unimaginable size. His muscles became bulkier and his body enlarged grotesquely until he appeared more blob-like than lean, like he had binged on power.
He landed onto the ground heavily, crashing in front of Gohan.
"Boy," Cell bellowed, "you won't defeat me!" His voice was hoarse, gargled and rough. "A worthless Saiyan like you can't compete with me! I am invincible, and now I will make you pay!"
The android brought his arm back and launched it angrily at Gohan, but the boy lazily jumped into the air, landing several feet away. The punch hit the ground loudly, penetrating the earth and kicking up dust and debris.
Growling, Cell turned and leapt for Gohan, attempting to strike him with single-handed punches. Gohan dodged every punch Cell threw, and each time the villain became more and more agitated. Gohan soared over Cell, landing behind the larger warrior.
He smiled; Trunks had made this very mistake against Cell before, sacrificing speed for greater strength. Lost in his fury and rapidly falling pride, the bio-android was grasping at straws and losing his edge.
Gohan, with a cry, propelled himself forward and kicked Cell in his ugly, putrid face.
Landing softly on his feet, Gohan looked on icily as Cell staggered in pain. A pulsing blow was dented into Cell's fleshly cheek, his face contorted with fear and pain.
"You're not a boy" Cell croaked. "You're a monster!"
Gohan swiftly impaling Cell in the gut with his foot, all the while staring at Cell coldly.
"Expecto Patronum!" Gohan shouted. Silver mist erupted out of his wand and floated in front of the dementor. It didn't drive the dementor back as it had occasionally accomplished, but the solidness and shape of the Patronus was improving. Improving and growing.
"Riddikulus!" Lupin banished the moon-boggart back into the case. "Excellent work, boys! You've done tremendously today."
A whole month had passed, and Gohan was pleased to say his three friends had kept their word about keeping Sirius Black's innocence a secret.
They rarely ever discussed it, as there was no point in elaborating on a secret they already discovered. But when it was brought up they talked outside and always when Gohan was sure they were alone. After nearly being caught mid conversation by Fred and George in the Common Room it was not Gohan, but Hermione, who proposed such radical constrictions; the Common Room was too (potentially) populated to speak in private about a secret subject.
Those few meetings they had and time during classes were the only moments Hermione was with Ron and Harry, the Firebolt incident still fresh in everyone's minds. It was February already and Professor McGonagall still refused to give Harry his Firebolt back, mentioning "Professor Flitwick believes the broom might have a Hurling Hex," to the annoyance of Harry and the fury of Ron.
Hermione's interactions with Gohan were normal —likely because he wasn't personally affected by the Firebolt— but limited because he spent so much time with Ron and Harry. He felt bad about this, knowing Hermione's circle of friends was small, so he studied with her each night. She was grateful to Gohan, more than he imagined she would be; apparently her immense class load was finally wearing her down, and she was at wit's end trying to organize her assignments. Hermione only let Gohan work with her on subjects they had together and, like with anyone else, snapped at him when he cut into her studying for other classes.
As per Harry's suggestion they'd searched the Gryffindor Common Room for anything that could potentially prove Sirius innocent. It was, however, fruitless; the only things in the Room that were as old as Sirius Black were the furniture. Gohan and Ron even scoured the boy's dormitory for clues linked to Sirius Black, but came out empty-handed and frustrated.
Still, it was to be expected. It was only a possibility that Sirius Black wanted proof from the Gryffindor Common Room, and that was being gracious. It looked as if Sirius only wanted to talk to Harry, possibly to convince his godson of his innocence.
Thankfully, with all this gloom and bad luck, there was a silver lining. Ravenclaw played against Slytherin and lost which, according to Harry, was good news for Gryffindor. If they could beat Ravenclaw in their upcoming match, Gryffindor would rise to second place and go against Slytherin for the Quidditch Cup.
Harry and Gohan were also making progress with their anti-dementor lessons, though Harry might have said differently. They were able to summon indistinct silver Patronuses at dementors without fail, but Harry had hoped to move on from the silver misty clouds that hovered in-between them and the boggart-dementor. All his and Gohan's Patronuses could do were act as barriers between the dementor and dull their effects, and not drive them away. Many times, as with his second Patronus that first lesson, Gohan would conjure a Patronus strong enough to repel a dementor, but it was still shapeless and difficult to accomplish.
"You're expecting too much," Lupin told them four weeks into their lessons. "For any thirteen-year-old, even an indistinct Patronus is an amazing feat. You aren't passing out anymore are you, Harry?"
"I thought Patronuses would — attack the dementors something," Harry said irritably. "Make them disappear —"
"The true Patronus does do that," Lupin said. "Though Gohan's has been able to repel, an actual dementor would not be forced to retreat from an indistinct Patronus. However, if the dementors appear at your next Quidditch match, you will keep them away long enough to get back on the ground."
The lesson dissolved from there. Professor Lupin brought out three bottles of Butterbeer and they toasted to a Gryffindor victory against Ravenclaw.
For some reason, Harry asked Professor Lupin what a dementor looks like; an interesting question, one Gohan was surprised he never asked himself. Professor Lupin explained no one knows what is under a dementor's hood except those who fall victim to the Dementor's Kiss — a their deadliest weapon. Somehow, they clamp their jaws over their victim's mouth and suck out their soul. This would leave the person alive, as long as their brain and heart stay functional, but an empty shell: no memory, no personality… nothing.
It horrified Gohan. Dying wasn't something to fear, and he knew what to expect in the Other World; he'd be with his father and, not to be arrogant, but Gohan was sure he would keep his body and not wander as a puff of cloud. But what the Kiss entailed, to be nothing more than a hollow husk separated from everything and everyone you knew, and just… go on? That was an end worse than any he could imagine.
"It's the fate that awaits Sirius Black," Professor Lupin told them. "It was in the Daily Prophet this morning. The Ministry has given the dementors permission to perform it if they find him."
Gohan chocked on his butterbeer. After recovering from his coughing fit he looked over and noticed Harry having a similar reaction. They exchanged worried looks, but if Professor Lupin noticed he didn't say anything.
After an awkward moment of silence Gohan noticed Harry's face scrunched up in thought.
"Professor Lupin," he said, "Did you know Sirius Black?"
The Professor frowned.
"Why?" he questioned. Gohan and Harry were taken aback at the aggressiveness in Professor Lupin's tone.
"Well — I mean, you said a few weeks ago that you and my dad were friends, and I know him and Sirius Black were friends at Hogwarts too…"
Professor Lupin's face relaxed.
"Yes, I knew him," he said finally. "Or I thought I did."
"So you knew Peter Pettigrew too?" Harry pressed on. Gohan shot him a warning look, but Harry ignored it. "I heard that Sirius Black and my father were friends with him too."
"Yes," Lupin said, giving Harry a curious stare. He seemed hesitant to continue, but relented. "We were all friends at Hogwarts, the only Gryffindor boys in our Year. We shared the boat ride to the castle in our First Year; James and — and Sirius had already met on the Hogwarts Express, and they struck up a conversation with Peter and me. We hit it off quickly and were pleased that we all got into Gryffindor together."
Lupin chuckled softly. "I must confess, I was surprised at that. Peter didn't strike me as a brave boy, the sort the Potters were known to fraternize with; I sometimes think Peter asked the Sorting Hat to put him in Gryffindor with us, those boys who were so friendly and kind to him. And of course the Blacks were notorious for being proud Slytherins, considering their pureblooded ideals and… practices."
Professor Lupin paused, taking a sip of his butterbeer. Gohan noticed the pained expression that appeared on his face.
"It seems the Sorting Hat is not as good an indicator about people as most assume."
"Come on, Ron," Fred said kindly, "you were always saying how boring Scabbers was. And he's been wasting away for ages. It was probably better for him to snuff it quickly — one swallow — he probably didn't feel a thing."
"Fred!" Ginny glared at the twin. Ron paled sickly, and Gohan and Harry gave him sympathetic looks. Fred sheepishly shrugged.
The evening after the anti-dementor lessons, Ron's rat Scabbers was eaten by Crookshanks. There was no sign of a small mangled rodent corpse; just a bunch of ginger cat hairs on Ron's bed sheet, sticky with blood, but it was enough evidence (plus the missing Scabbers) for Gohan that the Scabbers was eaten by Hermione's cat. The young half-Saiyan had an innate love and compassion for all animals, but Crookshanks had made it clear the last few months that he didn't like Scabbers at all.
Just when it seemed like Hermione and Ron might have made amends over the Firebolt incident, this had to loom over their heads. Harry and Gohan treaded lightly on both fronts on account of Ron's tragic loss and Hermione's angry accusations upon any blame cast onto her or Crookshanks.
After the lessons with Professor Lupin, Harry and Gohan ran into Professor McGonagall, holding what Gohan soon learned was Harry's Firebolt. Apparently she couldn't find anything wrong with the broom (which all four friends figured) and decided to finally give it back to Harry. Gohan wondered if the upcoming Ravenclaw and Gryffindor Quidditch game had any influence on her decision.
Upon seeing the broom in action, Gohan had to admit it lived up to Ron's hype. The loss of Harry's Nimbus 2000 was upsetting, but after watching the Gryffindor Quidditch team's last practice before their match against Ravenclaw, he realized it was a huge advantage. Capable of going one hundred and fifty miles an hour, the broom was nowhere near the speeds Gohan was used to, but every other broom on the pitch lagged noticeably compared to Harry's Firebolt. Harry quickly settled into his Seeker duties, obviously pleased to fly again. Observing from the stadium with Madam Hooch and Ron, Gohan believed Harry's obvious flying skills were better unveiled with the Firebolt, as if the broom and Harry were in synch. It fondly reminded Gohan of the Flying Nimbus.
After practice Harry, Ron, and Gohan stayed behind on the pitch (and did not bother to awaken sleeping Madam Hooch). Harry, feeling sorry for his friend and wanting to cheer him up, let Ron try out his Firebolt. Ever the Quidditch enthusiast, Ron was ecstatic. He hopped on the broom and zoomed up and into the night sky. Harry and Gohan grinned as Ron's whooping and hollering echoed across the Quidditch pitch.
"I better make sure he doesn't fly off into space at some point," Gohan. It had been about an hour, and Ron still hadn't come down. "Knowing Ron, he's not likely to stop until he slams into something in the dark."
Harry agreed heartily. "Just break it to him gently," he joked.
Gohan nodded. A white fiery aura burst around him as he rocketed into the night; it wasn't necessary, seeing as he could travel much faster than one hundred and fifty miles an hour even without powering up, but it allowed Gohan to better see through the starry sky. He sensed Ron soaring about before he spotted him, and in seconds Gohan was flying alongside him.
"Bloody hell!" Gohan chuckled as Ron flailed about on the Firebolt. "Don't pop up like that, mate! You nearly scared me off the broom, not to mention practically blinding me!"
"Sorry," Gohan said sincerely. "It's been an hour, and Madam Hooch is probably going to wake up soon."
Ron's smile drooped slightly. They both flew side by side in a circle within the pitch,.
Finally, Ron sighed. "I guess. It is an amazing broom though. Handles really well, like it responds to what you're thinking, you know?"
"I noticed," Gohan said. "The way they practiced today, Harry and the others are going to wipe the floor with Ravenclaw tomorrow."
"Definitely!" Ron said excitedly. "Not to mention the Firebolt's the fastest broom out right now. That Chang girl won't have a clue what she's up against. You know she rides a Comet Two Sixty, right?" He laughed. "Can you imagine? Riding against a Firebolt? The Slytherins' Nimbus 2001s will have a hard time keeping up with Harry, let alone a Comet Two Sixty!"
"They are fast." Gohan grinned. "For brooms, I suppose."
"Not all of us can fly or run at super speeds," Ron teased. "Maybe you should take a spin on a broom and see how it is for the rest of us, eh?"
Gohan noticed down below Madam Hooch walking over to Harry, pointing up at Ron and Gohan. "Maybe later."
As they left the Quidditch field, Ron's spirits dimmed; the three boys ran into Crookshanks a bit of a ways from them. Ron, angry at the creature, chucked a rock at it and forced it to scamper away. Gohan noticed Harry breath in deeply, relieved. Had he thought Crookshanks was something else? A dementor, maybe?
Walking back towards the castle, Gohan wondered how much a decent racing broom would cost. He could fly, and could call the Flying Nimbus, but it'd be nice to accustom himself with the Wizarding World and further embrace his new magical heritage.
"Mount your brooms!"
"Do you think the non-Slytherin Captains try crushing each other's hands?" Gohan asked Ron.
The redhead shrugged. "It's not like they would get caught or in trouble; the Slytherins never are."
The deciding Quidditch match, Ravenclaw against Gryffindor, was mere moments from beginning. The Gryffindors were all in an energetic frenzy, partially because it was their House playing, but mainly because this game decided if they would battle Slytherin in the Finals for the Quidditch Cup. Tensions ran high, but the Firebolt in Gryffindor's arsenal soon became a symbol of their (hopeful) victory.
Walking earlier into the Great Hall, with Ron and Hermione and Gohan, Harry proudly displayed his Firebolt to the awe of his classmates. Malfoy was, of course, jealous, and, of course, slimed over to trade barbs with Harry. It didn't last long, considering Harry managed to trounce his would-be verbal abuser.
Harry had to join his fellow team members before the game, so his three friends went out to the Quidditch field and found seats amongst their fellow lions. Admittedly, it was awkward: Hermione and Ron were still frosty with each other, with Gohan sitting in-between them as a buffer. However, they put aside accusations and shouting and adopted team spirit and House unity for the day. Still, that didn't mean they'd talk to each other.
Leaving only one person's attention for the two humans to fight over.
"I don't think they would, Gohan," Hermione said loudly. "Even if it's Quidditch, it's just a game."
"Of course some people would think it's just a game," Ron said, his tone irritant. "But this game actually matters to some of us, Gohan."
"There's no reason for anyone get worked up over a game, Gohan." Hermione was practically shouting over the cheering crowd. "We all care about the match, but it isn't something to get so worked up over. I'm sure no one intends to actually cause harm."
"You know," Ron yelled down to the field, "not everybody is so callous about Quidditch, Gohan. They actually know what it's like to lose something so important, and how it'd make them feel."
Gohan was too terrified to respond to either of them. He was so unbelievably thankful, therefore, when Madam Hooch's whistle went off, and both teams rocketed into the air.
Katie Bell scored the first ten points of the match for Gryffindor, setting the mood of the game in the screaming Gryffindor fans' favor. The Gryffindors led eighty points to zero, until Ravenclaw got into the swing of things and scored thirty points for themselves.
The young Saiyan spent a lot of time watching the Seekers. Even before he had the Firebolt Harry was a force to be reckoned with but he was something else now. Although easy for Gohan, it was practically impossible for onlookers to stay locked onto Harry, not at the speeds and maneuvering he employed. Ravenclaw's Seeker, Cho Chang, was doing well also: a Year above them and the only female on her team, it wasn't surprising that she'd be remarkable on a broom. Granted, she was much slower than Harry, but she made up for that by never losing sight of Harry, always able to follow him, as well as having excellent maneuverability. Gohan was impressed with the witch's abilities.
He also noticed she was quite pretty. Gohan was sure Harry noticed it as well.
"HARRY, THIS IS NO TIME TO BE A GENTLEMAN!" Gohan heard Wood yell as Harry was forced to veer up as Cho blocked him from the Snitch. "KNOCK HER OFF HER BROOM IF YOU HAVE TO!"
Following relatively close behind Harry, Gohan understood Cho's strategy: she was tailing him, waiting until he spotted the Snitch to snatch it before he did. Realizing she had done that before, Gohan couldn't help his outrage at the thought of such a lazy tactic. Perhaps it was the Saiyan in him, or the code of honor he'd learned from his father.
It didn't help when, spotting the Snitch during his musings, Harry pulled down into a dive, with Cho Chang hot on his tail and inciting further anger from Gohan. Twenty feet above the ground Harry pulled up, further demonstrating the gap between his broom and Cho's; while he managed veer quickly back up, Cho continued spiraling down, slowly trying to level off. Harry paused, and then bolted over to Ravenclaw's end of the field. Gohan followed him and, as a very small glittering speck, saw the Snitch there.
He faked it, Gohan realized. He knew Cho was following him too, and shook her off to look for the Snitch. Once again, Gohan was left to marvel at the skills non-fighters could possess.
But then Cho screamed, pointing down toward the ground. Gohan followed her gaze. Three dementors stood below Harry, their hoods looking up toward his friend.
If they were closer Gohan might have attempted the Patronus Charm. But they weren't. And they were after his friend.
Gohan saw red. With a primal shout a gold aura surrounded him, and the Super Saiyan was racing toward the dementors on the ground. He flew at them from the ground, his feet inches from the field's surface, arms at his sides with his hands cupped together.
"KA-ME," blue energy pooled in-between his hands as he zoomed toward the creatures, "HA-ME," the energy's light intensified brilliantly as he stopped in front of the soul-sucking monsters, "H—!"
Two things registered in Gohan's mind, despite the rage and ki pouring off of him. First, a silver deer with giant antlers was gliding from the sky toward him and the dementors. Second, he had discovered what was underneath a dementor's hood: the hyperventilating and terrified face of Draco Malfoy.
Gohan halted his attack, turning up toward the silver deer that was charging towards them. Malfoy and the two (fake?) dementors ran away, toward the exit out of the stadium. It might have worked, had the deer not passed right by Gohan to follow the movements the assailants. As four screams of fright emitted from the hoods at the sight of it, the deer vanished through them in a thick mist of silver.
Any relief they may have felt was quickly snuffed out when, after turning around to run away, they bumped into a flushing and livid Professor McGonagall.
"What is going on here?" she roared, yanking down each of the hoods. The faces of Malfoy, Crabbe, and the Slytherin Quidditch Captain Marcus Flint were revealed. A sweaty, panting Goyle could be seen trying to claw his way from under Malfoy and their cloak. "You – you three – you four – I have never seen such deception in all my years!
Gohan turned away from the scene momentarily as he heard thunderous cheering and applause erupt throughout the Quidditch stadium. Dropping his golden fiery aura, he looked up and saw Harry making his way over to the other side of the field to the Gryffindors. Proudly holding his right arm up to the crowd, as students poured from their seats to surround him, Harry revealed the Golden Snitch in his hand. Harry managed to grab the Snitch in the midst of the scare and win the match for Gryffindor.
"An unworthy trick!" McGonagall ranting continued. "A low and cowardly attempt to sabotage the Gryffindor Seeker! Detention for all of you, and fifty points from Slytherin! I shall be speaking to Professor Dumbledore about this, make no mistake! Ah, here he comes now!"
Said Professor appeared from the stadiums innards, sadly eyeing the four Slytherins on the field's ground.
"A pity such a glorious game was nearly ruined by such childish antics," he said. "But thankfully, such a glorious game was only nearly ruined. I had hoped to expect more from children coming from such esteemed families." Gohan wasn't positive, but he could have sworn Dumbledore hadn't meant for "esteemed" to be a compliment.
Dumbledore turned to Professor McGonagall. "I trust you will talk with Professor Snape regarding their punishment?"
"Oh yes." McGonagall glowered at the students. "I will make sure Severus and I come up with the appropriate consequences for their actions." After a nod of approval from the Headmaster, the Deputy Headmistress left with four whining Slytherins.
Dumbledore approached the Super Saiyan, chuckling at the confused expression on his face. "I must praise, Gohan, your ever impressive reflexes. Had you not realized those dementors were not, in fact, dementors, I would have had to explain to a flustered Lucius Malfoy why his son is a magnet for injuries this year. Assuming, of course, young Draco and his friends weren't vaporized."
"I'm surprised I managed to," Gohan admitted, "but glad. So Harry caught the Snitch?"
"It appears young Harry has taken a leaflet from Mr. Diggory, and focused on winning the match first and foremost." Dumbledore smiled. "Still, all things appear to be alright."
"What was that deer thing?"
"A stag, Gohan," Dumbledore answered, "it is a type of deer. That stag was a Patronus."
"A Patronus?"
Dumbledore nodded. "A true Patronus. A strong one too, for a thirteen year-old wizard."
Thirteen year— did he mean… no…
"Harry?"
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "I don't believe there were any other thirteen year-olds on the Quidditch pitch, particularly those who've been taught the Patronus Charm. I may be wrong, though."
"But how?" Gohan's tone was filled with awe. "Harry and I haven't been able to conjure a Patronus at all in our lessons, not a true one. How'd he do it without trying?"
"Wasn't he? The dementors were imposters, but Harry didn't know that, no one did. Harry saw dementors and reacted accordingly, to protect himself and others from their nastiness. Likely, it also had to do with not suffering a their debilitating effects which, as you know, hamper concentration. But still, a remarkable feat of magic! Wouldn't you agree, my boy?"
Gohan nodded. "Does Harry know he conjured a Patronus? If he was focused on getting the Snitch…" Gohan felt ashamed to imply Harry doubted his own abilities. But both boys were modest in thinking that accomplishing advanced magic some powerful wizards couldn't was unlikely. When they were older, sure, but now?
Dumbledore shook his head. "He looked away upon casting the Charm down at young Mr. Malfoy and his cohorts, and in his excitement swooped toward the Gryffindors upon grabbing the Snitch. I doubt anyone save a few even bothered to look after Harry caught the Snitch and flew away. Fewer will realize what he cast."
Gohan grinned. "He'll be pretty excited when I tell him."
"I'm sure it will brighten his day even more than it currently is," Dumbledore agreed. "Now if you will excuse me, I must go converse with two of our illustrious Heads of House." Dumbledore took his leave.
The Super Saiyan looked around. In the midst of his conversation with Dumbledore nearly everyone had left the pitch, save only a few stragglers in the stands talking to friends or randomly running up and down the aisles. Gohan jumped lightly into the air, floating over the Quidditch field toward the castle. From high in the sky he saw a small black form make its way from the school grounds.
For a brief moment, Gohan thought it might be that dog from the Hogsmeade trip.
"I did it? A real Patronus?"
Gohan grinned. "Any realer and Malfoy would have wet himself."
Harry pumped his fist into the air, shouting "Yes!" over the laughs and cheers in the Gryffindor Common Room.
"Keep it down, mate," Ron said, pulling his friends arm down to his side. ""Now's not exactly a private moment."
That was an understatement. Because of their amazing win the entire Gryffindor House was in a tizzy. Once the Quidditch team proudly entered through the portrait they were greeted with a crowd of eager students to talk and thank and scream and cheer at them. Fred and George left for a couple hours only to return with an unbelievable amount of treats and goodies, which turned the celebration into a party of epic proportions. It was very difficult for Gohan and Ron to have alone time with Harry, given each person in the room wanting at least a couple minutes to praise him, but they found a few moments here and there.
One person hadn't come up to Harry, and it was the same one who wasn't celebrating Gryffindor's victory. Harry had tried convincing Hermione to join them, but his feeble attempt became absolutely pointless when Ron loudly mentioned Scabbers. Hermione burst into tears and ran into the girl's dorm. Gohan was less than pleased with Ron's attitude, as was Harry, but they both understood his reasons. However unjustified his comments were.
"A stag," Harry said, "that's what Dumbledore said my Patronus form was?"
"Yes," Gohan answered. "Why a stag, though? Is it important to you or something?"
"I'm not sure," Harry replied. "I feel … I feel like I do know, like I should know, but I have no idea why." The short pause was only noticed by the three friends, and not felt by the loud party goers. "But at least I know I can summon a Patronus. Now we know it's possible, Gohan!"
Gohan laughed. "Yeah. I guess a little more practice will go a long way."
Ron tilted his head thoughtfully. "You know what I want to know? What's your Patronus going to be, Gohan?" He grinned. "A monkey? Maybe that giant ape thing you turn into."
All three boy wizards laughed uproariously. The party ended a little later in the evening, when Professor McGonagall came in insisting they all go to bed. After waiting behind for Harry —who was receiving some last minute congratulations from Professor McGonagall— Ron and Gohan and Harry ventured into the boys dormitory for bed.
Gohan climbed into his bed, not as tired as he'd like to be but more than he had expected.
He spent the next hour lying awake in his bed, his thoughts buzzing about Harry's Patronus. It was easy for Gohan to admit he was surprised Harry managed it, if only because of their constant failures during practice. But like Dumbledore had said, it likely had to do with being in the heat of the moment: the adrenaline of the Quidditch match, his desperation to fight off the "dementors," and Harry not being plagued by reliving his parents' deaths were all probably factors in his success.
But Harry had still summoned one, still managed to bring his Patronus to life. Gohan was happy for his friend, he was; Harry more than either of them needed protection from the dementors, if only because of his lack of mental and endurance training. Now they knew, however, that it was possible, that all their training and lessons with Professor Lupin weren't for nothing. Now that Harry knew he could summon a Patronus, maybe it would become easier with his increased confidence. But that still didn't quell the gnawing dread Gohan felt fill his heart, the fear that perhaps he'd never be able to conjure his own Patronus, to never know what form it would become. Perhaps he'd doubted his abilities out of modesty, but he didn't want to fail in stopping those… those monsters if they attacked him or his friends. Dumbledore probably knew why Harry's Patronus was a stag, whatever reason it was. He probably knew what form Gohan's would be. He didn't seem at all surprised by it being—
Creak.
Gohan's eyes opened. He heard the Third Year Room's door open slowly, the hinges squealing lightly. Then, he heard footsteps patter quietly across the floor. This wouldn't have bothered Gohan normally, since no one went to bed at the same time.
But normally, that would be if all his friends weren't in bed already. Which they were.
Gohan leapt into the air, landing softly onto the floor in front of his bed. A ball of gold energy burst to life in his hand, casting a soft glow across the room. A shadowed figure was in front of the door, stiffening at the sight of the student.
"Who are you?" Gohan demanded. He willed the ki in his hand to shine its light brighter and forward, removing the person's shadowy veil.
He was incredibly thin, his cloths hanging feebly off his body. A knife was in his hand, held down at his side but gripped very tightly. His grey eyes shone from the light, making them wince. He had waxy skin, pulled so tight against his bones Gohan might have thought he was a skeleton, if not for the long, dirty, matted black hair sticking out of his skull. A frown greeted Gohan's bewildered expression. Had he not been there, awake, standing in front of him, Gohan wouldn't have believed it.
"Sirius Black," Gohan whispered.
Sirius Black turned and ran from the room.
Gohan's eyes widened. Of course! As far as Sirius Black knew, he was still considered a criminal by everyone in the Wizarding World.
No! Gohan extinguished the energy in his hand and bolted after Sirius. He saw him already down the stairs, halfway across the room toward the exit. The Saiyan wizard reacted immediately, jumping into the air and landing in front of Sir Cadogan's portrait. Sirius Black flinched. He looked down at the knife in his hand and back up to Gohan. Gohan could see the conflict on his face.
"I know you were framed by Peter Pettigrew!" Gohan saw Sirius Black's eyes widen, his jaw slacken. "I know everything: you weren't Mr. and Mrs. Potter's Secret Keeper, and Peter Pettigrew betrayed them to Voldemort before killing those muggles."
Gohan had to get out that knowledge before saying anything else, before Sirius Black reacted like a caged animal. He had to get Sirius to trust him.
"H-how?" Sirius Black's voice was hoarse, raspy, like he hadn't spoken for some time. "We didn't tell – tell anyone about the switch." It seemed like Sirius Black hadn't spoken of "the switch" for some time. Possibly years.
"My friend told me," Gohan explained. "He knows a lot of things most people don't."
If Sirius Black seemed perturbed by the boy's vague answer, he hid it behind a stony mask. "Then you know what I need to do."
Gohan nodded. "I know. My friends and I have been trying to help, but—"
"Harry?" Gohan couldn't believe the man could grow paler. "Harry knows the truth? He knows I'm — I'm innocent?"
"I told him," Gohan admitted. "I couldn't lie to my friend about the truth of his parents, if his… godfather." Gohan noticed the corners of Sirius's mouth go up, and his eyes shine brighter. "But I need to get you someplace safe, away from here. My friend lives in a place no one from the Wizarding or Muggle Worlds can locate. I've just got to —got to—" a light bulb seared his brain. "Oh."
With the new wards Piccolo and Dumbledore made sure were constructed, Gohan couldn't use Instant Transmission to get in or out of Hogwarts. And even if he managed to sneak Sirius Black out of the castle —which was actually possible since he apparently knew how to sneak in— Gohan would have quite a struggle with the dementors patrolling outside the grounds. Things looked even bleaker when he'd have to do all this while keeping safe a weak and malnourished fugitive.
Gohan had never felt so cramped in his life.
"How could Piccolo and I forget the wards?" Gohan groaned. "Not to mention the dementors outside the school. There's no way I can get you to the Lookout." Not unless I can convince Dumbledore to let me Floo an escaped murderer to safety. He probably wouldn't.
"I'm not leaving." Sirius's tone was like steel, his eyes filled with rage. "Not until I get what I came for."
"What is here?" Gohan asked, looking around the Common Room. "What can prove you're innocent here? The Potters and Pettigrew didn't die anywhere near—"
"What are you talking about?" Sirius Black couldn't hide the surprise in his voice. "I thought you said you knew?"
Gohan blinked. Confused as he was, though, he knew better than to not be blunt. "What don't I know?"
"Peter Pettigrew isn't dead." Now it was Gohan's jaw that slackened. "He faked it, and he's here."
"Who's down there?" The voice came from the Boy's Dormitory. Gohan and Sirius looked up toward the door, and saw a faint sliver of light from behind its depths. A chorus of "I don't know" resounded, and then Gohan heard footsteps.
Sirius Black growled. "Damn! Not again." He stalked toward Gohan, grey eyes locking onto black ones. "Tell them I was here, but stall the search. I'm the dog from Hogsmeade. Get the rat!" He bolted past Gohan and out of the portrait. Gohan heard Sir Cadogan say something into the darkness where Sirius disappeared into.
No sooner than when Sirius had left, four boys entered the Common from the Dormitory: Fred and George Weasley, Lee Jordan, and a blonde boy also in their Year.
"Gohan?" Fred —or was it George? No, wait, it was Fred— called down to him, his eyes squinted. "What's all the ruckus for, monkey boy?"
Gohan paused for a moment. He looked up from the older boys, then back to the still open portrait. He shut his eyes tightly, taking in a deep breath.
"Guys, please go find Professor McGonagall. I think… I think Sirius Black just left the Common Room."
"So you met him before," Ron asked, "when he was a … dog, was it?"
"Apparently," Gohan said. "I saw him while Christmas shopping. I gave him chocolate."
It was days later and the entire castle was still reeling from the news that Sirius Black broke into the castle. Again. In addition to that, it disturbed students and faculty alike to learn he managed to get into one of the Common Rooms. Apparently, Sirius stole a list of passwords for the Gryffindor Common Room and Sir Cadogan, stout-hearted but light-minded painting as he was, let him in.
The knight's portrait was promptly removed and replaced with the Fat Lady who, while a little jumpy, was found and feeling better. Knowing that Sirius hadn't meant any of the students harm, Gohan felt even worse for Neville Longbottom, who had honorably admitted to making, and losing, the password list. The boy had to go through more punishments than Gohan could have imagined, from Hogwarts and home alike.
"He's not any less stupid for making it." Ron frowned. "What if someone really had wanted to hurt Harry, or any of us? They'd have gotten one step closer than anyone had ever thought they could, eh?"
"They'd have to get through our resident Super Saiyan," Harry said, shooting a smile at a blushing Gohan. "You've already proven you're a decent guard dog, having "scared off" Sirius Black."
Professor McGonagall needed some coxing, as well as confirmation from Sir Cadogan, but fifteen minutes later the castle was searched for Sirius who had, again, disappeared. It seemed Gohan stalled long enough for him to make a getaway. Gohan was interviewed and questioned by McGonagall, and then Professor Dumbledore, Professor Lupin and, curiously, Professor Snape. Gohan hadn't even talked to Harry or the others beforehand, so they knew as much as anyone else about what occurred during the encounter between the fugitive and their friend. Gohan found he had to commit his "account" to memory, since nearly everyone came up to him asking what happened.
Officially, Sirius Black never even made to the Third Years' room. Not wanting questions of why Gohan didn't catch the murderer, Gohan told Professor McGonagall he heard a ruckus from the Common Room —playing up his enhanced hearing a little bit— and came down to find a shadowy figure. Upon his arrival, the figure turned and ran away, out of sight by the time Gohan realized who he was. Other than some barbs from Professor Snape, who had expected the Saiyan capable of disabling the grown wizard, no one blamed Gohan for not catching Black. If anything, the stories had Gohan heard about his meeting with Sirius Black were more climactic than Gohan had recalled it.
"So you didn't end up dueling Sirius Black until he cast fiery dragons at you, and diffused them with your energy stuff before he flew out the window with bat wings?"
"No, I didn't, Dean." Gohan cut Dean Thomas off before he could speak again. "No, I didn't save one of the Fourth Year girls from having her throat cut by breaking the knife with mine, either."
"Really? Huh, hadn't heard that one. So I guess you never incinerated the guard werewolf he conjured either, huh?" Gohan really hoped Professor Lupin hadn't heard that one.
Now, however, Gohan was trying to clarify the last few words Sirius had left him with. He said that he was the dog from Hogsmeade and, considering Gohan had only met one dog there, and Sirius Black knew of it, it was a safe bet he was telling the truth. Gohan hadn't sensed anyone around him at the time.
Gohan informed Harry and Ron and Hermione of his real encounter and exchange with Sirius Black. He told Harry and Ron together, who both seemed very shocked by the news of Peter Pettigrew's apparent "return." Before they could ponder further, however, Harry received a letter via Hedwig at breakfast from Hagrid, whose case for Buckbeak wasn't going as smoothly as any of them wanted. He wanted to see all three boys, but Gohan had to find Hermione and finally tell her the news; her spat with Ron and continued obsession with studying left her no will to actively seek the Saiyan out or talk to him or Harry with Ron.
It took convincing for her to not multitask and study while listening to him, but Hermione was enraptured once Gohan recounted his meeting. He wasn't at all surprised when she instantly solved the mystery of the Sirius dog.
"Of course! He's an Animagus!" Gohan quickly understood her train of thought, recalling Professor McGonagall's lesson from earlier in the year. "That's why no one can find him; he's probably spent more time as a dog than human since he escaped. He's unregistered too: Professor McGonagall's one of only seven Animagi in the twentieth century registered, and Sirius Black's not on the Ministry's list. Do you think he was an Animagus in Azkaban?"
"Maybe," Gohan said. An epiphany shot crashed down like a bolt of lightning. "Sirius seemed pretty well kept when I talked to him, and he'd been in Azkaban for thirteen years. The dementors are supposed to make people lose their minds after a while, right? I think Sirius spent a lot of time as a dog."
"Why?"
"When I was little and first transformed into an Ape, I was bestial, an animal. I'm myself now when I transform, but my thoughts are still kind of… hazy. Simple. I recognize people and control my actions, but complex thoughts and speech are beyond someone as inexperienced and young as me."
"I think," Gohan continued, "it's the same for an Animagus's animal form. They're themselves but… less human. Dementors feed off the emotions of memories, so maybe they have trouble with animals, because they're emotions are more raw and murky."
Hermione's brow was furrowed in thought. "I suppose. It would probably be unwise to ask Professor McGonagall at any rate, but it's not as if it's important. Now, Sirius told you Peter Pettigrew is here at Hogwarts?"
Gohan nodded. "He couldn't say much because Fred and George were coming down, but he mentioned Pettigrew's alive and here, and told me to find the traitor."
"Well now we know why he's at Hogwarts," Hermione said. "If Peter Pettigrew is here, and we find him, we can prove everything and set him free! If Pettigrew's been at Hogwarts all this time it will be very difficult to find him, though."
"Unfortunately." Gohan sighed. "Peter Pettigrew has over a decade of experience at hiding, and I can't tell his ki apart from everyone else in school. It'll be tricky to find him if he's immersed himself here. We may have even seen him once or twice and not known.
"Sirius didn't tell you why Pettigrew is at Hogwarts? Or how he's stayed hidden all these years? What he looks like even?"
"Not enough time." Gohan bit his bottom lip uneasily. "Besides, I think if Sirius knew he wouldn't have told me to find him. I thought he wanted his freedom, not anymore. Sirius is out for blood. He wants to kill Peter Pettigrew."
"What?" The look on Hermione's face made Gohan remember she was still a child, less experienced to horrors than him. "But why? If he kills Pettigrew there's no way he'll be released from prison—"
"Revenge. When he was talking about Peter Pettigrew there was a glint in his eyes. I've… seen it a lot. Sirius doesn't care about his freedom or his life. He just wants justice for what Pettigrew did to him. Retribution for Harry's parents."
You're not a boy. You're a monster!
Gohan dismissed the wave of nausea that threatened to spew bile from his stomach. "It's a very powerful desire, Hermione."
Saturday came quickly, and along with it the next Hogsmeade trip. Hermione and Gohan ran into Ron and Harry later that evening and compared notes. They all pitched in to help Hagrid with his case, each of them concerned about not only Buckbeak, but Hagrid.
Once Hermione left the three boys, Ron and Harry confided in their friend the other reason for their visit to Hagrid: their large friend wanted to talk to them about Hermione. Apparently their female friend tearfully confessed her troubles to Hagrid who, as a neutral (but not really) party, attempted to convince Ron and Harry (mainly Ron, though) to not hold anything against Hermione. Gohan then realized Ron made a bit of an improvement when, comparing notes, he praised Hermione's deduction of Sirius Black being an Animagus. Their witch friend seemed surprised, but visibly more cheerful. It was a start, but hopefully Ron would come around soon.
Gohan walked with Ron and Hermione down to Hogsmeade. Harry would meet them at Honeydukes, hidden underneath the Invisibility Cloak. The boys expected Hermione to make a fuss, but were shocked when Hermione actually encouraged Harry to join them.
"If Peter Pettigrew really is at Hogwarts, what's to keep him from doing something while everyone's away?" she told the still gawking wizards. "Neville's now the only other Gryffindor who can't go to Hogsmeade, Harry, and everyone else we know will be there. Peter Pettigrew hasn't done anything yet, but we don't know if that's because you're never alone or what." She sighed. "We can't tell anyone why you can't be alone at the castle, so it would be safer if you came with us."
"…Wow, Hermione," Harry said. "I don't know what—"
"Under the Invisibility Cloak. With us." Harry hastily agreed under the intensity of Hermione's unyielding stare.
As they passed the school grounds, Gohan wasn't sure if the group were all going together or if Hermione was just silently tagging along. As much as Ron seemed to be trying with Hermione he was still irritated at her, and neither friend talked. Strangely, this made their time to Hogsmeade more comfortable than sitting at the Quidditch match.
The entire journey down to the village, as well as waiting outside Honeydukes for Harry, Gohan kept both eyes out for a scrappy black canine, possibly hiding in the bushes and brush. If Sirius didn't want them to know his little secret he wouldn't have told Gohan. Clearly, the wizard wanted him to recognize him and, hopefully, meet up at some point during the trip. Hopefully, with more time to explain, he could convince Sirius to give up his bloodlust for Peter Pettigrew. Gohan had the impression the man would be as stubborn as Vegeta and be difficult to reign in.
If they did meet today, perhaps Harry's presence and pleas would help convince him.
"Were you almost caught?" Ron and Hermione quickly picked up Gohan's random question, looking around for their invisible friend.
"Not really," a voice from behind them. Although they knew he was there, Ron and Hermione still jumped when they heard him.
"What kept you?" Ron snapped.
"Snape was hanging around….."
The group of friends left Honeydukes, all the visible wizards flanked around Harry.
"So, what first?" Ron looked around the stores on High Street. "You haven't been to Zonko's yet I—"
"I want to find Sirius." Their friend's disembodied voice forced the group to stop.
"Harry," Hermione said finally, "we can't. No one knows he's a —you know— and if they find us looking it'll only cause problems. We'll just have to wait and hope he comes find us instead."
"Good instincts, Hermione." This time everyone, including Gohan, was startled. They turned around and found Piccolo standing behind them.
"What are you doing here?" Gohan asked, looking around wildly. "If anyone sees you—"
"They'll know I'm here to talk to you," Piccolo said, "and figure it has nothing to do with the Wizarding World since I'm not a part of it." The Namekian ignored the children and adults who turned their heads at the sight of the tall green man. "We should go someplace a little less crowded. We have much to discuss." He eyed his pupil's friends. "All of us."
Piccolo led the group to the Post Office, where they all stood in a far off corner, huddled tightly in a circle. Hermione and Ron were clearly still a little apprehensive around the green Z-Fighter, their previous meeting with him being somewhat brief.
"Why here?" Ron asked finally, eyeing the few customers and employees warily. "We could have gone someplace outside and be alone—"
"Where someone could have easily walked along and overheard us," Piccolo cut off the boy. "Even if they only see us, it'll raise more questions if I'm talking to all of you and not just Gohan. At least here," Piccolo gestured to the building, "no one from the school has a reason to be here. Now, Gohan, I assume what Dumbledore told wasn't entirely accurate, yes?"
For the sake of not being simplicity, Gohan made his response vague. "I told him what I know. He said the Secret Keeper isn't dead and is here."
"Really?" Piccolo lowered his head in thought, lowering his voice. "Interesting. Did he say how or anything else?"
"No. We were short on time. But he did tell me he's… a dog I met once."
"That would explain how he escaped and has been hiding," Piccolo muttered, understanding the implication. "Animals aren't affected or noticed by dementors. He must have slipped through the bars when he was thin enough and swam to shore. He's not registered, so he probably stays a dog most of the time. "
"I've seen him before," Harry's voice chipped in. He waited several seconds, to make sure no one noticed the group, before continuing. "I've keep seeing a black dog following me a few times: once at Privet Drive and a couple times near the Quidditch pitch."
Piccolo nodded. "Makes sense. He cares about you. And if the traitor's around, it explains why he keeps breaking into the school, and going to such… extremes." Slashing the Fat Lady and breaking into the Common Room with a knife went unsaid. He turned to Gohan. "Do I have to ask why that is?"
Gohan sighed sadly. "Just like dad becoming a Super Saiyan on Namek." The unsaid message passed from Gohan to Piccolo: revenge for the death of a loved one.
"That complicates things," Piccolo conceded, "especially if he won't let us find him."
"What? Why" Gohan and Piccolo had to "sh" the chorus from continuing.
"He told Gohan his secret because he knew he might need you to recognize him at some point, not that he wanted you to find him. Right now he's after Peter's life, and he won't stop until he's convinced otherwise. He'll avoid us unless he needs us. I'd hoped you could talk to him," Piccolo vaguely nodded toward the center of the circle, where Harry stood unseen, "but I should have realized he wouldn't actively seek you out and endanger your life."
"Why the Common Room, though?" Hermione asked. Everyone turned toward her. She blushed. "It's always been the Common Room, nowhere else, he wanted to get into. He slashed the portrait up trying to get in and stole the list of passwords later."
"He had a knife on him too, according to you, Gohan," Ron added. "He wouldn't have had it unless he wanted to use it. And if he didn't want to talk to Harry—"
"He must have thought Peter might be there," Piccolo finished. "Very astute, both of you." The witch and wizard beamed at each other, before widening their eyes and quickly looking away.
"I don't know why," Piccolo continued. "If I had to guess, he thought Peter would go after Harry now that he's escaped. It's not illogical; he was a Gryffindor, so he could know secret passages or hiding places throughout the Tower. There are only so many people who'll take him in now, and what better way to get into their good graces? And if he's been at the school for as long as he's been 'dead' he might know the layout better than anyone." A pregnant pause erupted, cascading silence amongst the circle. "This is good work, all of you. Keep this to yourselves, obviously, and watch for either of them." Piccolo turned to Gohan. "I need to relay a message from Vegeta. He wants it private."
Gohan nodded. "Okay." He turned to his friends. "I guess I'll catch up to you guys?"
"We'll be at Zonko's," Ron said. "Someone hasn't been there yet." Hermione huffed, clearly not wanting to go, but relented to stay with Harry.
They all left the Post Office. As soon as his friends started walking away to the joke shop, Gohan and Piccolo walked in the opposite direction.
"Vegeta doesn't send messages," Gohan said casually, walking side-by-side Piccolo. "He insults people in person."
"They've met Vegeta. Did you think they wouldn't leave if he wanted something private?" Piccolo and Gohan chuckled. "So, you talked to him. How'd he seem?"
"Sane," Gohan said, "and angry. Really angry; he's clearly letting his hatred fuel his drive. We didn't think about the wards, I couldn't bring him to the Lookout."
"No, we didn't," Piccolo agreed, "but it's not like it would have changed anything; I can't remove them without Dumbledore, and he'd want to know why I want to remove the very wards I wanted to put up."
They walked up the road toward the castle, quickening their stride.
"How're your anti-dementor lessons coming along?" Piccolo asked.
"They're good," Gohan said. "I can summon indistinct Patronuses, but it wouldn't help if I was surrounded by as many as I faced on the Quidditch pitch. Harry summoned a real one during his last Quidditch match."
"Really? That's very impressive. What form did it take?"
"A stag." Filch leered at both of them as they entered the gates. "When do you think I'll be able to summon one?"
"You're a powerful wizard, Gohan," Piccolo assured his friend, "but the Patronus Charm is very difficult for a lot of wizards." Gohan rolled his eyes.
"So I've heard," he said dryly. Piccolo grinned. They walked past Hagrid's hut. Gohan didn't have the heart to look at Buckbeak.
"Give it time," Piccolo told him. "When the right memory comes along, I'm sure you'll blow that Charm, and the dementors, out of the water. It worked in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, and now you're the youngest Super Saiyan in existence."
Gohan snorted. "Yeah, like that's something to be proud of. Having Vegeta constantly berate me and force me to fight him just to prove I'm not slacking." They reached the Quidditch pitch, empty except for a few First and Second Years studying in the grass and a group of older students outside the stadium.
"That reminds me," Piccolo said. "Vegeta actually did have a message for you."
Gohan just barely dodged the first punched with his knee, and even the second one with his right arm. But he was sent reeling upward when white ki lasers erupted from Piccolo's eyes, catching him full in the chest.
Gohan threw out his arms and legs, halting his movement and hovering high above the Quidditch pitch. A white fiery aura burst around him as he launched his fist forward, matching the one a powered up Piccolo cast as well. They struggled for a few seconds, attempting to overpower the other, before Piccolo broke away.
Piccolo brought both his arms back, briefly allowing ki to charge in his hands, before releasing his right arm forward. "Destructive Wind!" A gust of wind, charged with yellow ki, was released at Gohan.
Gohan grunted and threw his arms out, summoning a clear, gold tinted barrier around himself. The wind collided with the circular shield and a loud gong! echoed across the stadium. Gohan shouted again, causing the shield to glow brighter and encase him in a glowing sphere of ki. With a final, rather loud note, the protective luminous energy sphere exploded.
Gohan saw Piccolo get hit by the brunt of the attack, falling and losing altitude. Seeing this opportunity, Gohan flew at his mentor, bringing back a fist and leaving a trail of his energy in his wake.
He cried out, bringing his fist forward as he was only a foot from the still falling Piccolo. Inches from hitting him, without looking up, Piccolo grabbed the offending arm with both hands. Surprised, Gohan couldn't stop Piccolo from throwing him over his shoulder, using his own momentum against him.
Falling, twirling somersaults in the air, Gohan soon saw multiple purple ki blasts raining down on him. Gohan powered up again, white aura flaring, and bolted off to the left. The ki blasts followed, small purple wisps following a larger white one. Gohan flew up, twirled, did loop de loops, but only managed to shake two of the eight blasts.
Stopping he turned, quickly thrusting his arm forward. Gohan roared, sending a cobalt blue beam to meet the smaller blasts. The beam absorbed the balls of energy, cascading into the ground below with a boom!
A flaring pain reached Gohan's senses, surrounding his body, originating from his back. Gohan turned his head and saw Piccolo behind him, electricity shooting from the Namekian's antennae.
Gohan snarled, roaring. His aura bulked up and morphed from white to gold, pushing Piccolo away and toward the ground.
Piccolo abruptly stopped his descent, looking up at the large gold flame with a smirk. He brought his hands forward, one on top of the other, his palms facing the aura.
"Masenko!" he yelled, sending a brilliant yellow beam of ki at the younger warrior.
"Special Beam Cannon!" An orange and purple beam, with another coiled around it, bolted at the Namekian at alarming speed. His eyes widened as it pierced the yellow blast, making its way toward him. Piccolo cursed, flying straight down to avoid it.
Landing on the ground with a soft pft as his feet hit the dirt, Piccolo took the moment to catch his breath. His brow was lightly covered in sweat, his breathing a little haggard.
He looked forward. Gohan stood across from him, staring coolly back at him with green eyes and gold, spiky hair. His was breathing roughly as well, with sweat dripping down his face. Both of their auras were gone.
"Really?" A smile slowly spread across Gohan's face. "I expected it to be honest."
Piccolo chuckled. "Good. At least I can tell Vegeta you're keeping up with training."
Gohan raised an eyebrow. "So Vegeta really did want you to test me?"
"No. That was just me being playful." A white-hot aura exploded around Piccolo. "Do you want to be tested?"
A gold flame surrounded the wizard. "I have a few hours before dinner."
…
Well, that's it for now, guys. I do hope you liked it, and that it was worth the wait. I just realized this is the 10th chapter and I'm really breezing through the story, huh? Oh well, at this rate I believe the story should be over within a couple more chapters, but I can't say for sure. I hope to update sooner, but… yeah…
Comments on how the writing is is appreciated. I'd like to know what you think of the plot, dialogue, development, changes to canon, etc.
Thanks, guys!