A/N: Okay, so this one didn't get that long either. I'm gonna start planning this thing out more, so that way I can get stuff out faster and with better quality. I'm not saying this is bad I'm just sad that it takes a while of me fumbling around in order to figure out the chapter. Anyway, enough of my useless ramblings, on with the show!

Disclaimer: You know the drill.

Ch. 10

Trowa woke with some confusion, not recognizing the room he was in. Blinking twice he looked down at a depression in the bed only a little ways away from him and began to think of what had brought him to his current position. After a moment of confusion Trowa decided that it was time to use his mental checklist of the last time he was awake.

First he had grabbed a hasty breakfast before abandoning the hotel.

Second he hailed a bus and continued on twenty routes in order to confuse anyone following.

Third he had walked to Quatre's safe house, once again using many different routes to confuse followers.

Fourth he had heard a loud crack... oh, right. Trowa recalled the rest of what had happened and nearly hit himself over the head for having forgotten.

Then again, how long had it been since he'd slept that deeply? He usually only slept lightly, not trusting his surroundings. This place felt safe, though why he couldn't possibly understand.

Trowa shrugged and opened his mouth to wake Duo for dinner when he noticed that there was only a depression in the bed. Duo wasn't there.

In an instant Trowa was up and walking out of the room, prepared to give his braided friend a proper scolding. He shouldn't be up and about when he looked so sick.

Trowa turned a corner and went down a staircase. Sighing as he realized that there was no way of finding Duo in a house this big he turned to look inside what appeared to be a study. A girl was reading in a chair, very cute in her small blue plaid skirt and black t-shirt. Her brown hair was a pleasant shade, and pulled back in a messy bun. "Excuse me," he stated, causing her to jump slightly. "I was wondering if you could help me."

She stared at him in shock before setting the book down and getting to her feet, dropping into a curtsey. "Of course," she replied. "My name's Hermione Granger, and it's an honor to meet you, Mr. Barton."

Trowa's visible widened slightly. "How do you know my name?"

Hermione looked suitably abashed as she stated, "Oh, right. Sorry, sir, for any suspicion that statement caused. I'm a friend of Quatre and Duo's."

Trowa gave a small smile, this was turning out to be a lucky exchange. He softly questioned, "Could you help me find Duo?"

Hermione laughed at him as she walked over. "Yes," she stated, "this house is rather large and easy to lose people in. I'll do the best I can, why don't we start downstairs?" Trowa smiled once again and allowed the girl to lead him down a series of staircases. "Careful here," she whispered as they walked into a hallway, "Mrs. Black always starts to scream if she hears noise in this passageway."

Trowa raised an eyebrow at her.

Hermione noticed this and explained, "She used to be the lady of the house, and her painting is very... opinionated."

Trowa simply let it drop, figuring it had more to do with the magic he so recently discovered was real. They traveled into what looked like a sitting room and suddenly Trowa heard the voices he'd been hearing in the hallway get louder. Oddly enough, no one else in the room seemed to be reacting to the heated words. "Who's fighting," he inquired of his guide.

Hermione blinked up at him with an eyebrow raised in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Trowa's brows furrowed together in confusion. "Can't you hear them?" Hermione paused a moment to strain her ears before shaking her head. Trowa filed that away as he noticed the others there were also looking at him strangely. The voices seemed to be getting harsher and Trowa turned his head towards a door to the left as he listened in.

"It is a danger to keep going out like you do!" an older voice stated. "Voldemort is still out there, need I remind you that he will capture, torture, and kill you given the slightest chance?"

"What the fuck do I care?" Ah. So that was where Duo was. "It's not like it hasn't happened before! I can deal with a bit of torture! Besides, what the fuck can he do? Frying nerve endings with a Crucio can't possibly compare to the pain I've endured from a fucking screw!" Trowa frowned. Duo sounded pissed off and on edge, never a good combination. Especially with how hurt the boy had seemed. He needed to recover his strength before getting into a screaming match that could end up with him hurting himself. Decision made, Trowa walked over to the door and opened it.

Duo had awoken to the fact that Dumbledore wanted to see him. He had grudgingly left the warm bed after making certain that Trowa was still there and followed McGonagall down to the kitchen. Thankfully it was only her, Sev, Flitwick, Lupin, and Dumbledore in the room. Even if the slight drawback of having Mrs. Weasley there did dampen his spirits even more.

"Couldn't bother to risk the whole Order seeing you lose your temper?" Duo chastised as he crossed his arms. His stomach felt only marginally better after his nap, and he knew that getting into another verbal match with the headmaster wouldn't help matters.

Dumbledore simply gave him a patronizing glance before telling him, "Please sit down, Harry, there are things we need to discuss." Duo stayed where he was, showing that he wouldn't answer to that name. The headmaster sighed before starting his tirade. "I learned that you were out again today." Duo said nothing, simply giving a bored glare back at the old man. "You know how dangerous that was, Harry. You're not supposed to leave the house."

Duo scoffed. "I had Lupin with me," he stated irritably. "You never said anything about leaving with a wizard guard," Duo spat the word in contempt. He didn't need any guard to keep him safe. They hadn't needed him at all, besides transportation.

Dumbledore sighed and tried again. "Do you know the implications of what you've done? Not only did you go out and endanger yourself but you allowed another muggle into this house without my consent!" At Duo's raised eyebrow and 'so what?' expression the old coot explained, "Every time someone is let in here without my permission it cuts down my power as secret keeper. That in turn destroys the security of this base and opens us to the danger of Voldemort finding us!"

Duo rolled his eyes as he confessed, "I honestly wish he would." he ignored the few gasps and continued on, "Then I could just shoot the bastard and be done with it."

Dumbledore's gaze became very old and very sad, making Duo realize that this man did indeed know the terrors of war from a first-hand experience. "Do you realize what that monster will do once he finds you, Harry?"

Duo shrugged, "Don't care. And it's not as if I'm out frolicking in meadows, I have actual reason to leave."

"It is a danger to keep going out like you do!" Dumbledore cried. "Voldemort is still out there, need I remind you that he will capture, torture, and kill you given the slightest chance?"

"What the fuck do I care?" Duo screamed as he finally lost control of his anger. "It's not like it hasn't happened before! I can deal with a bit of torture! Besides, what the fuck can he do? Frying nerve endings with a Crucio can't possibly compare to the pain I've endured from a fucking screw!"

At that moment, the door opened. Everyone in the room turned to look in shock as a tall teenager walked in, calmly shutting the door behind him. "You shouldn't be yelling, Duo," he calmly stated. "You'll make your injury worse."

Duo sighed as his friend walked to his side and replied, "I know Trowa, I just couldn't help it."

"How did you manage to get past the wards on this room?" Molly shrieked as she pointed an accusational finger at the boy in question.

Trowa's visible eye blinked before he answered, "I heard screaming and came to investigate."

Everyone looked on in shock until Severus broke the silence. "It seems," he commented, "that magically placed wards have no effect on you."

Duo looked up at his friend and added, "That is so cool, Trowa." Trowa noticed the lack of the nickname that would have usually followed such a statement and gave his friend a concerned look, which the braided boy threw off with a reassuring smile.

"We shall look into the matter fully tomorrow," Dumbledore interrupted. "For now, I need to ask what I have to do to get young Harry to understand the direness of the situation."

"Haven't you scolded the boy enough already?" Lupin rolled his eyes as he continued, "I don't think it's that great for Duo to be so riled up after not having fully recovered from the effects apparation had on him." Trowa decided he liked this man even more as Duo sent a mouthed 'thank you' to the werewolf.

Dumbledore merely shook his head as he plowed on, "No, he has to understand." Turning back to Duo he stated, "Voldemort is after you, and will take any chance he can to kill you. When you leave this house you endanger not only yourself, but the fate of the entire wizarding world."

Duo went completely rigid, and Trowa instantly drew the shorter boy into his arms. Glaring fiercely enough that the headmaster shut up he growled out, "Don't you dare try to use that card on Duo. He doesn't owe anything to your pathetic world."

Dumbledore sighed and began, "I'm certain you don't know the story, but-"

"No!" Trowa snarled. "I know the tale, but tell me why Duo would owe anything to a world that abandoned him to live on the streets?" Trowa's voice grew silently deadly as he verbally attacked them. "If he's so important, so precious to your stupid little hidden world, why did you allow him to fend for himself on the streets? Why-"

"Trowa," came Duo's soft whimper, "don't."

Trowa's stance softened as he turned Duo about, sheltering the teary face against his chest. "I'm sorry," he whispered. Noticing the tell-tale signs of his friend's fight or flight instinct leaning towards flight Trowa gently picked the boy up bridal-style. Trowa then left without a second glance or word as he cradled his friend, climbing the stairs up to their room carefully, so as to not jostle the weaker boy. "I'm sorry," he stated again as they neared his room. "I usually don't lose my temper like that."

He could feel Duo sigh and press closer to him. "It's okay," Duo stated. "I just... I don't think I can handle them knowing. Not yet, not until I know where their loyalties lie."

Trowa nodded, seeing the sense in that. He deposited his friend gently on the bed and had just helped him into a comfortable sitting position when the door slammed open. Trowa had turned around with his gun drawn in no time, clicking the safety off when he saw the escaped convict."Clam down Tro," Duo called out. "He's cool; innocent."

Sirius Black gave Trowa a glare before rushing to Duo's side. Despite Duo's voucher, Trowa kept his gun out and watched the man closely. "Are you alright pup?" he asked softly. "I heard you were in another fight. Everything okay?"

Duo smiled softly at his godfather as he replied, "I'm okay, just feeling a little funky. Do you know why it gets worse after fighting with Dumbles?"

Sirius furrowed his brows in thought. "Does it feel like your stomach is churning, and little needles are poking you?" At Duo's nod the convict's face grew dark. Bearing his teeth he growled out, "Kretcher!"

The little elf appeared in the doorway and asked, "What can poor Kretcher do for yous, nasty Master Black?"

Sirius ignored the insult as he barked, "Get me Dumbledore, now!"

The elf bowed and left, soon returning with the headmaster. "What's wrong, Sirius?" the old man asked as he entered with concern.

The man in question stood and pointed a finger at Duo. "You see this?" he cried. "Do you? My godson is enduring the side effects of a magical battle and all you can do is continue to beat on him just as he's about to heal!"

"Wait a minute," Duo interjected with a pacifying hand raised. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Dumbledore looked honestly shocked as he answered, "Kylan is a magical sickness, one that comes about when two people's magical auras unconsciously attack each other."

Sirius continued to glare as he snarled out, "So now you have two options, Dumbledore; stop fighting with him or get the hell out of my house!"

The older man sighed, taking off his spectacles and rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I'm terribly sorry, my boy," he finally stated. He looked back up to make eye contact with confused amethyst as he continued, "I truly am, Harry. I didn't realize that our magic was reacting so violently with each other; mine hasn't lashed out like this in many years. I will do my best to hold my tongue and not fight, for that is what prompts the magic to attack as well." Dumbledore put his glasses back on and gave his best grandfatherly smile. "Now," he added, "I do believe I've ruined your day enough, I shall allow you to rest now. Why don't you take the next two days off from active lessons in order to recover properly."

Duo blinked in confusion at the abrupt, yet honest, change in behavior. "Uh, sure," he finally stated. "Thanks, Headmaster." The older man nodded with a smile before bidding them all a good day and leaving.

Trowa turned to his friend and asked, "Would you rather eat here or downstairs?"

Duo smiled at him and stated, "I think I'll skip, if that's okay."

"Sorry pup," Sirius interjected. "You need to eat. Being downstairs in an area with more of a magical presence will help you out too, so come on."

Duo gave a deep-suffering sigh and rolled his eyes. Feeling like he had vultures stalking him, Duo got out of bed and made his way back down into the kitchen. He appreciated the concern, honestly, but he was fine! A night's sleep and he'd be good as new. Nevertheless, Duo didn't complain as he took his usual seat at the table. Only then did Sirius drift off to his usual spot across the table, Trowa sitting on the other side of Quatre, who greeted them happily as they sat.

Hermione plopped down next to him with a large book in her hands. "I've been looking through the whole library as to how Trowa could nullify the wards, and why it only works on him. Now," she opened the book and began to excitedly look through it as Duo saw her eyes light up in joy. "I finally found what could be the answer in a book about rare cases of mutating magic." Her brows furrowed in confusion as she searched for the correct passage and Duo shared a secret smile with Quatre. They could see her confidence, but it seemed as if she would always be a book worm. They could literally see the light bulb above her head as she proclaimed, "Ha! Here it is; the Borta. A wizard who's dormant magic ended up becoming used for the express purpose of helping them survive by making them impervious to all wards so they can better assimilate into any group desired."

All three looked to Trowa, who looked slightly surprised. "That explains a lot," Duo commented. He then turned to Hermione and asked, "Is Tro still capable of doing magic or is he now classified as a magical creature?"

Hermione had her nose back in the book before he'd finished the question, only taking a few minutes to answer, "No, he's still a wizard. He won't be able to perform many charms, because that's what the magic has to sacrifice in order to make a wizard impervious to the many charms that make up wards."

Quatre smiled brightly as he stated, "So he'll be able to come to Hogwarts with us! Wonderful!" Trowa shrugged as way of agreement before turning to his meal. With a laugh Duo began to pick at his as well, still not quite feeling up to eating. Street life kicked in and he began to eat anyway, the feeling in his gut lightening as he noticed how easily Hermione fit into their group. It made him smile, even as he noticed that the rest of the wizards were not making many attempts to join the group. That suited him just fine though, they were already disappointed by him, he didn't need to make any more close friends outside his family. The pilots had been all he needed, as they would always be.

Duo sighed as he forced himself to abide by his motto. He couldn't lie, not even to himself. He wanted this to be a chance at a normal life, with friends he didn't have to worry about making. Then again, he mused with a dry sense of humor, when have I ever been normal?

Duo shook his head to clear it and stabbed his fork into a piece of meat only to find himself lost in a sudden pink cloud. He coughed once as the powder now covering him settled as he heard the twins breaking out in a fit of laughter.

Oh, it was on.

A/N: Yay, another one done. I figured that it'd be neat to give Trowa a quirk, instead of simply making them all wizards. It also makes it easier to explain the whole he got in without Dumbledore or Sirius' permission thingy.

Yeah, Dumbles isn't actually a bad guy in this, just a little misguided. I don't actually think he's evil, but I'm of the personal opinion that Dumbledore forgets the pains of idividual people in favor of the bigger picture. So, evil? No. Manipulative bastard? YES.

Anyway, TTFN!