Kuroshitsuji belongs to Yana Toboso, Harry Potter to JK Rowling.

This unlikely crossover idea and the words are mine though so please don't take them.

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Hope you won't be disappointed by that one!

Chapter 10: Wait for a heart that never lies.

A scene he never expected greeted his eyes when he rushed into the large chamber, from where screaming was heard just moments before. Bodies were splattered, bathing in puddles of blood all over the place. The thing on the throne – well he could only guess who it was because their face was literally ripped off.

A butler clad in black was just kneeling next to a small, huddled shape on the floor. He seemed oblivious to the newcomers, focused only on the child in front of him. And really – if he alone was the cause of that massacre he didn't need to fear anything. From anybody. Ever. Other doors opened with a slam and the other members of the Order of the Phoenix rushed inside only to stop dead and fall silent at the sight of the massacre. The tall figure in black still didn't pay them any attention either.

'It's okay now, Young Master,' the butler said softly in the dead silence. 'My, my… Maybe it's not ok at all…' He carefully and gently scoped up the unmoving child from the floor and got up. 'If you excuse me,' he said and he just left and everybody was in such a shock that they just let him walk out like that. The silence in the chamber was deafening.

When the butler was gone he looked around again and noticed that something, somebody stirred near to where the butler was previously standing. Could it have been the other hostage? He hoped in a sudden thought, that she was alive and yes, the person on the floor was also a child, with bushy hair.

'Hermione!' somebody exclaimed and rushed to the girl who was trying to sit up shakily. She gratefully accepted help, not even pretending to be strong.

With disbelief, he walked further into the chamber, kicking the bodies face up to see their faces, recognizing them, giving them names as he went.

'He's alive!' somebody else shouted and he looked in their direction. Few people rushed to help but he just stood, rooted on the spot, trying to comprehend the sheer vastness of rage that massacred that place. To master such a power…

})i({

Guarded by the unrelenting Tonks, Harry and Ron could do nothing but sit in the common room, waiting. They complained about it a lot, saying that any help would be needed, that things had to be done, but she just smiled at them, explaining that they were best waiting here. They knew she wasn't happy to not be on the spot herself so in the end they had the decency to shut up about that and play cards while jumping at every sound.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of waiting, McGonagall brought the battered and tired looking Hermione to the common room. And Harry and Ron didn't know what to do other than throw themselves at her and hug her closely, trying to support her weight as she crumbled in their arms, sobbing.

'I think it's better for her that she spends time with you, rather than alone in the hospital wing,' McGonagall said quietly. 'Madame Pomfrey will come to check her up soon, after she deals with Professor Snape.' Not waiting for their reply, she left and the only sound in the Gryffindor common room was Hermione's crying.

})i({

He worked efficiently and quietly, like a perfect butler he was. Warm bath to clean the wounds and dirt, clean clothes for comfort and tucked covers just in case if the blue tint of the Young Master's lips was not only the lack of oxygen. A cold cloth on the burning forehead to fight the fever and a relaxing scent of herbs to make breathing easier. Fire in the hearth for warmth and the feeling of security. Milk to be warmed later and sweetened with honey, together with some painkillers, should they be needed.

The boy on the huge bed didn't even twitch but then, he didn't really expect him to. Now that the Young Master was out of any immediate danger, he charged himself in preparing some food to restore the child's energy later on – a nourishing, chicken soup. Even though he was in all that for the soul, he couldn't exactly help the protective instinct that he associated purely with his human form. Especially when his master was so purely helpless.

He left the soup to be warmed up later and went back to the spacious bedroom right in time to hear a small moan escaping his master's lips.

'Are you awake, Young Master?' he asked, coming up with some water. He helped the boy drink it. 'I have some hot milk with honey and painkillers,' he added.

'Please…' He helped him sit up slightly, his back propped against the pillows.

'Afterwards it will be best if you sleep some more. I shall have a meal prepared when you wake up again,' he said softly, watching his master take a small sip from the cup.

'Sounds good.' He said nothing more, waiting patiently to take back the cup and help the child to lie down. He also went to replace the wet cloth but the child was already asleep before he returned with the fresh one. Carefully, he placed it on the still burning forehead and went to check the fire.

})i({

Dumbledore was sitting in his office, looking at the people gathered in front of him. They have just finished cleaning up in the abandoned castle.

'It seems that only three people survived at all,' Lupin said quietly. 'Ciel Phantomhive, although I have no idea what state he is in. Hermione and she seems physically ok, though rather traumatised. And finally Snape…' he trailed off.

'He's gonna pull through, but it'll take time,' Madame Pomfrey said helpfully. 'He has some broken bones and minor internal damage so I think he will not wake up today.'

'Thank you,' Dumbledore acknowledged. 'But how come we don't know the state of Earl Phantomhive?'

'That butler of his refuses to let anybody inside,' Black growled. 'He says that he can handle everything on his own and we should take care of our own.'

'Well that cannot be helped for the moment. Later we need to talk with him as well, to know what exactly happened there.'

'That's pretty obvious, headmaster,' Lupin pointed out. 'He came and somehow killed everybody before we managed to even enter the castle. We collected all the bodies and listed all the names. Some we had to recognize by their signets though, because their faces were missing,' he shuddered while saying that. Dumbledore nodded slowly. 'Voldemort was also among the dead ones so I guess it's only to go through the Horcruxes and get rid of him once and for all.'

'It would seem so. We'll take care of that tomorrow, after we all get some rest,' Dumbledore decided. 'Also tomorrow I'll need to talk with Miss Granger and Earl Phantomhive I guess.'

'Good luck with the latter,' Sirius muttered angrily, but the others ignored him for the moment. Dumbledore told them to get some rest and to continue tomorrow with contacting the Ministry and giving away the bodies to the families. Then he dismissed them and after they all left, he looked thoughtfully at the desk.

'It's almost disappointing that it's over like that,' he muttered with a sigh and went to follow his own advice and get some rest. He needed his strength tomorrow to be strong for Hermione and Ciel.

})i({

He knew he was supposed to stay put in the common room, but he couldn't stand the cheerfulness of everybody when he felt that something bad would happened. He knew he wasn't supposed to know, but he heard them talking. He was fairly sure they haven't seen him anyway, so it didn't matter. They were walking to a meeting with Dumbledore, listing the names of the dead Deatheaters. He knew his father was a Deatheater, deeply loyal to the Dark Lord. He had told him many times, since he realized what power Sebastian had, he insisted that his father was careful and tried to avoid the situations where the Earl was getting hurt. His father's only reply was "well then get the Earl to our side". He knew it was a lost fight but he tried anyway. He failed but he made a friend.

"That demon just massacred everybody…" – one of Dumbledore's blind followers said as they walked. The images that sentence evoked were not ones he cared to see anytime again. So it was Sebastian after all, not Dumbledore or Lupin or any of them… He guessed it was better to die by the hand of a demon but did that really matter? Death was death and there was no coming back, no matter who killed his father.

"There's been Crabbe and Goyle…" – until he heard his family name, he hoped that somehow his father has survived. Maybe he hasn't been there, maybe he was sent away for some other mission, to oversee other projects.

Sebastian… The black butler only killed on his master's order, that much he was sure of. So it was as though Ciel, his friend, killed his father. He couldn't forgive that, right? How could he really… He would have to become the head of the family now, bear that burden… like Ciel does.

But his father… he was not a saint and he knew that Ciel would not ask to kill everybody just like that, on a whim. He didn't really want to know what they did to his friend, but it couldn't have been his father, could it? It was simply impossible because his father was not such a bad person, he wouldn't hurt a defenceless child… Unless that child was Harry Potter, but Harry Potter was a different story. Or Hermione Granger.

He knew he shouldn't go there, but he needed to know. A chill went down his spine when Sebastian opened the door and he looked right into those red eyes.

'Mr. Malfoy, you'll have to wait some time. The Young Master is sleeping now and I won't be waking him up for you any more than I did for that rude man, Mr. Black.' He would have grinned at that normally but now grinning was not an option. 'Please come back tomorrow evening. If the Young Master will want to see you then, I'll let you in.' And there was no time for arguing, because the demon closed the door swiftly, but quietly and he stood in front of those doors for few minutes.

He knew he wouldn't fall asleep, but he went to the dormitory anyway and closed the curtains of his bed to be alone with his grief.

})i({

He opened his eyes slowly, realizing that the curtain was pulled back and the winter sun was spilling into the room. It would have felt like just another day if not for the wet cloth on his forehead and the weird ache in his body.

'Good morning, Young Master,' Sebastian said as though nothing was out of order. He turned from the window which he just uncovered and moved towards the bed. 'I figured that you could need some food now, before I let you sleep some more,' he added and took the wet cloth off his forehead before putting his hand against it softly.

'What-'

'It seems that the fever has gone down, thankfully. How are you feeling?'

'I'm ok, what-' he stopped again but this time because memories flooded his head. Before he managed to panic Sebastian spoke again, making him focus back on the current moment.

'You should have called me earlier, Young Master,' he said softly, helping him to sit up and lean against the big pillows. 'I was there barely on time, but thankfully everything is over now.' He went away for a moment, only to bring a tray with a bowl of soup.

'That smells nice,' Ciel commented, sniffing the air. Sebastian bowed.

'I thought a nutritious chicken soup would be best to start the day,' he said and moved two steps away.

'Tell me what I need to know,' Ciel commanded as he took the spoon, happy that his hand wasn't shaking.

'After I removed the men in that castle?' Ciel nodded slightly, taking a tentative sip of the soup. 'We returned here and I took care of you. It seems you had an attack of asthma, I assume due to the cold. Thankfully it seems to be over now.'

'Yes.' He saw the demon smile.

'Professor Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey insisted on being let in to see the Young Master, but I didn't let them in. They said they'd be back today to check on you.'

'I don't want to see them today. And her I don't want to see at all, I don't need her charms,' he said as forcefully as he could in his state. The soup was spreading warmth inside and making him feel like another nap was the best option for the day. Sebastian bowed, obviously not wanting to question that request.

'I will make sure they won't get in then,' he said. 'Also Mr. Malfoy wanted to see you and I told him to come back today evening.'

'That's ok. I'll have to get more presentable though.' The demon smirked.

'Of course, there is still plenty of time till the evening,' he said and took away the tray with the empty plate.

'And later we have to tell Dumbledore to get us back home. I'm sick of this place, really. That's why I waited with calling you. I wanted to make sure that you kill Voldemort as well.'

'That was indeed a smart move,' Sebastian commented, helping him to lie back down. 'Rest now and I'll make some early dinner for you and Mr. Malfoy.' He wanted to protest, but the only thing that came out of his mouth was a yawn and then his eyes were already closing.

})i({

Having dispatched everybody to their duties, Dumbledore made his way to the Gryffindor tower. He knew that all the students were out, having lessons so he expected it when he was met with relative silence and three serious faces. He told McGonagall that Harry, Ron and Hermione would be allowed to stay behind for a day or two.

'Good morning, professor,' Hermione said with a small smile and he smiled back brightly.

'Good morning Hermione. Harry, Ron… How are you today?' Even Mr. Weasley understood that the question was really directed at Hermione rather than all of them.

'Better now that I'm back,' she said softly. 'It was a rather scary trip,' she added and sighed. 'And I guess you came to ask me what happened.'

'I'm sorry, my dear. I need to know and the faster it's done the faster I can let you rest and truly enjoy the company of your friends,' he said quietly and she sighed again before telling him how it started. How Malfoy started to get Ciel to hang out with him and how she did her best to counter that and spend some time with Ciel herself. She said what she taught him and described how the Earl would play them both had they happened to meet him together. Finally she said how, on that feral day, she decided to beat Malfoy to it and suggested they go to gather the herbs for potions and then she paused.

'What happened then?' Dumbledore prompted softly.

'Then we has this discussion about how it was impossible to kidnap somebody on Hogwart's grounds and he insisted that it was possible using Muggle methods… Isn't it ironic how that was exactly what happened? We were gagged and put to sleep and we woke up in that cold, damp cell and…' she trailed off and took a deep breath before continuing, telling them how they got tortured and how the Deatheaters seemed more interested in Sebastian than in Harry. At least at that time. She said how they threatened to blind Ciel and how scared she was because of his sudden cough. Dumbledore had a feeling that she wasn't saying everything, but he let it slide for the moment. Maybe there were moments of their imprisonment that she didn't want to share with her two friends yet but since Madame Pomfrey assured him there were barely any marks of physical treatment on her, he was calm about whatever might have transpired.

'And then we were brought in front of Voldemort and he said that the demon would come to collect the soul if it's master was on the verge of death and when he called the Dementors…' she paused.

'The Dementors?' There was no trace of them when they arrived. Hermione nodded.

'I think Ciel must have some really bad memories. He started crying and chocking and screaming and I don't think I even thought about my worst memories, I was so scared for him,' she said, eyes wide open. He put a calming hand on her arm.

'I don't know those memories, whatever it is he hides it pretty well,' he said. 'But now it's over. I guess Voldemort was right because the demon came and killed them all, everybody who was present in that room, except for you, professor Snape and of course Earl Phantomhive.'

'Professor Snape?' Ron exclaimed outraged.

'It's thanks to him that we knew where to find Hermione,' Dumbledore pointed out and Ron fell silent. He talked with them some more, before excusing himself and going to meet Madame Pomfrey and visit Ciel.

There, however, they were met by an impenetrable wall called Sebastian Michaelis.

'The Young Master is resting and should not be disturbed,' the demon said stubbornly for what must have been a tenth time during their short conversation.

'I can help him so that he won't need so much rest to recover after that trial,' Madame Pomfrey repeated for the fifth time.

'The Young Master does not wish for your assistance, Madame. Furthermore, he'll meet you, headmaster, when he's recovered.'

'I need to discuss with him what happened in that castle,' Dumbledore insisted.

'That can wait. The health of my master is my priority.'

'Then you should let me in!' Madame Pomfrey said and tried to squeeze past, but the demon gripped her hand.

'Please, Madame, don't make me use force. My orders are clear and under no circumstances will I let you enter that apartment,' he said slowly and deliberately.

'When can we come back?' Dumbledore asked, giving up.

'You can come back tomorrow, Madame Pomfrey should not waste her time.'

})i({

He woke up feeling much better and even sat up before Sebastian showed up in the bedroom.

'You're awake,' the demon noted, entering.

'Obviously.'

'I was going to wake you up for dinner,' he said and came closer. 'I have prepared some clothes, if you let me help you…' They went through the routine quickly and Ciel found himself in the dining room, facing a tired looking Draco Malfoy.

'How are you?' the other Slytherin asked as he entered.

'I'm alright, but you look tired,' Ciel pointed out, sitting at the table. Draco sat down as well and for the moment when Sebastian served them the dinner, they remained silent. Only when the demon finally left did Draco look up at Ciel.

'I'm sorry about what they did to you,' he said candidly, surprising the Earl.

'Why-' he stopped abruptly and Draco nodded.

'My father was one of them,' he said so quietly that Ciel almost couldn't hear him.

'Was… Was he with them at that time?' he was afraid of the answer but he needed to ask. Draco didn't say anything but the way he looked away told Ciel everything he needed to know. 'I'm sorry,' he said simply, knowing that words were not enough. Draco waved his hand dismissively.

'I've been thinking about it the whole night. You were protecting yourself,' his voice was firm. 'I don't even want to know what you went through and I don't want to even think that it could have been my father personally…' he trailed off. 'I am sad, but you were only protecting yourself.' But there was something cold in his voice and Ciel knew that it wasn't so simple.

'If there's anything I can do…'

'I guess you can tell me how it is to be the head of the family,' Draco said bitterly and it was Ciel's time to look away. 'Now we're almost the same.'

'Except you know who to blame,' he pointed out quietly. He wanted to add "and you still have your mother", but he didn't want to sound like he was complaining. He wasn't going to tell the other one how hard it was – he would figure out on his own soon enough.