Author's Note: Hey all, I just want to remind you that character info can be found in my profile!
The History section of this story may answer some questions that have remained in my readers minds, most specifically, who is altering time, and why! If you've read my One Month story, you've met my time Youma before. But I'd like you to welcome an ALL NEW CHARACTER! Princess Heliodor. I created her for another story, but to answer some questions I'm bringing her in a little early here.
Chapter 11
A New Balance
Tentomushi
Tentomushi was very nervous when she appeared in the study of Professor Dumbledore. Auntie Puu had been very careful about the timing and placement, she knew, and Dumbledore had been warned she was coming. Mushi thought that was interesting. Auntie Puu did a lot of things she didn't really understand. But she was really smart and pretty.
"Hello Ms. Chiba," the professor said. He had twinkling blue eyes and a very long beard that hung down to his chest. His hat was really pointy too. "The others are still at the funeral, I'm afraid. Come along with me and I'll bring you to your common room."
She nodded, unsure what to say. The tall man stood and took her hand, leading her through a door and down a spiral staircase guarded by a stone gargoyle.
"I only learned you were about to arrive yesterday, and I had to wait until the others had gone down before I could complete the room you will share with Yuzuki. I'm sure Hagrid is just finishing up and the house elves will be making the beds as we arrive. Was it a pleasant trip?"
"Hie Dumbledore-san." Mushi blushed. "I mean, yes Professor Dumbledore."
"Don't fret Tentomushi. Changing cultures can be rather a shock, I'm certain."
Mushi nodded her head frantically. "Yes. Daddy took us to another planet once, and there everyone thinks it is very rude to bow. We almost gotted in trouble because we couldn't amember. Naru helped me, but I was scared cause a lady told me I was dishonest cause I didn't 'meet her eyes.'"
"I'm sure that was very frightening." Professor Dumbledore said. "Here we are. Do you see this tapestry? It will ask you a question. Just answer as best you can."
The human form of Luna was depicted, and she asked, "What is your mother's birthday?"
"June 30th." Mushi shook her head. That was a silly question. Everyone knew the queen's birthday. It was a world-wide holiday. "Everybody knows that," she told the tapestry.
"Not in this time Tentomushi," the tapestry Luna said primly. "Therefore it was the perfect question for you."
Dumbledore was hiding a laugh, Mushi was sure of it, and she grinned up at him. He walked through the wall with her and into a beautiful common room that was filled mostly with Japanese furniture, and some English tables, chairs, and couches. There was a staircase on the other side of the room, leading up, and professor Dumbledore pointed it out.
"In just a moment the house elves will have finished, and when the others return you and Yuzuki may go and have a look at your room."
"Thank you Professor Dumbledore," Mushi said, bowing instinctively. He only smiled at her.
There was a small flash and a group of students appeared. Mushi stared at the younger versions of her parents. She'd only been a toddler when they had come to their time, but now she knew who they were. And they were beautiful.
"Mushi!" Chibi-Usa ran to her and gave her a tight hug. Chibi-Mamo came close too, holding the hand of a red-haired little girl. She must be Yuzuki. It was nice that they both had red hair.
"Hi!" she waved at her future parents after she was released from a tight hug.
"Is everything okay at home?" Chibi-Mamo asked gravely.
Tentomushi nodded her head. "Yes, but I was sent because I have to learn to become a Senshi, and because I am supposed to help Yuzuki and because I have to bring her home with us when the school year is over. The others have to finish killing the 'sassins before she can be in Tokyo."
Professor Dumbledore was now talking with the younger versions of her parents. She watched them nod for a few moments and then Usagi came and hugged her. "Hi Tentomushi," she said, and gave her a second hug.
"Hi momma," she said.
"Professor Dumbledore says you and Yuzuki have your own bedroom now. Would you like to go an see it?"
Mushi nodded and grabbed Yuzuki's hand. "Come on, we'll go together."
They went up the stairs. The room had been added magically. Mushi didn't really understand that, but when Chibi-Usa gasped and started talking rapidly about the rooms moving, she looked over her shoulder at the Professor, who winked.
"Professor Dumbledore did it," she told the others. She let Yuzuki open the door because the girl still seemed so sad. The door even had their names on it. There were two beds built into wooden structures with pretty sun and moon curtains on one and red and black ladybug curtains on the other. "Pretty!" The room itself was done in mostly reds, with even the wood painted that way, with little symbols carved into it somehow.
"Hey, Helios," Chibi-Mamo called, "Shingo says your name is on his door now too."
Tentomushi raced out to look into the other room. Chibi-Usa had told her a lot about Helios from this time. Soon he would be going into his deep sleep and his sisters would have to protect him for many years. It made her sad that they had to grow up without him, but it had to be done. He was Chibi-Usa's soulmate, and one day they would get married. They needed to be together for that to happen, and he didn't want to grow up without her.
"Mushi," Chibi-Mamo called. She ran to her brother, feeling happy. The other kids seemed happy here, and even though she missed her other brothers and sisters, Chibi-Mamo had always been her favorite brother.
"Nani?" she asked, looking at the purple-haired twin who had often made pretty pictures for her.
"I want you to meet Takeo," he said, with a small smile on his face. She took a close look at the blonde haired boy next to him. "Takeo, this is my little sister Tentomushi. We all call her Mushi though. She loves ladybugs and the color purple, and chocolates."
Mushi giggled, and then stared up at Takeo. He was around Chibi-Mamo's age. Perhaps nine or so. His eyes were the color of the summer sky, and he had a smattering of freckles on his cheeks. He looked a lot like Uncle Jed.
"Hi," she said, and couldn't help blushing.
"Hello," he said, staring at her. She wondered what he was thinking.
"He's going to be coming to the future with us too," Chibi-Mamo told her. "Uncle Jed and Auntie Rei think it's safer. Cause something is gonna happen soon." He raised his eyebrows and Mushi remembered what had happened, a few years ago for her and her siblings, but far in the future for those here now. She could barely remember it. She'd slept through almost the whole thing.
The Children
Harry ran into the Great Hall for dinner. The new arrivals were the talk of Gryffindor tower and he really wanted a chance to meet them. Apparently one of them was another of Usagi and Mamoru's children from the future, and he found that fascinating. With everything that had been happening to him this year, he was excited to have something else to think about.
It had been an intense few months. With accidentally blowing up his aunt, though he still thought she rather deserved it. Then overhearing the conversation about Sirius Black being after him, and Mr. Weasley's warning. And of course the grim left, right, and center. He'd seen it several times now. And Professor Trelawney had seen it in his tea leaves.
Not to mention the attack on the Fat Lady, losing against Hufflepuff because of the dementors, his broom being destroyed... his heart clenched a little at the thought. And then Ron and Hermione arguing all the time. To be honest, he was still happier than he'd been the year before when everyone seemed to turn against him.
The night before he had found the kittens Manno and Diana in the Gryffindor common room. They were almost overwhelmed by people who wanted to cuddle and pet them. He was fascinated by them, and by all the people from Tokyo, but none more so than the children from the future. They'd been sent back in time for training.
It was sort of like being sent to Hogwarts to learn magic. He went to their table first. Usagi looked much better now. Not just better after the accident, but healthier in general. There was a new rosy glow to her cheeks. She sat taller, and moved with more grace. The curse she'd been put under as a child was a horrible thing. It would have weakened her drastically. He still wondered why other attempts had not been made on her and the two boys.
His thoughts turned to Lucius Malfoy, and he glanced over at his own Malfoy nemesis. The boy had been a menace to him since his first day, and he didn't think that would change. But he had to wonder what would he have been like if his father had been more like Kunzite, who was stern, but fair.
He shrugged and turned back to Usagi. "Hey, I heard about another daughter coming back and the other little one. Ginny told me the whole story. How are you doing with all of it?"
Usagi frowned. "I'm upset about what happened in the past, and I'm sad for Yuzuki's loss. But I'm happy to have her, Tentomushi, and Helios with us. They'll be going back to their own time when the school year is done, and I'm going to miss them very much."
Harry sat next to her. "I can imagine. But from what Ginny and Ami were saying earlier, you have things you'll be facing soon. Things you wouldn't want them here for."
"Very true," Usagi said. "Besides, we have to find and destroy the assassins. We can't take the chance of them finding Yuzuki." She paused and leaned closer. "I think she's Chibi-Mamo's soulmate. And if I'm not mistaken, Takeo is Tentomushi's."
"Wow," Harry breathed. "How can you tell?"
"At this age, it's mostly the reaction of friendship. Sometimes it's the opposite." She giggled. "You should have heard some of mine and Mamo-chan's arguments. But even when we were arguing, I loved him. It just scared me. And him." She sighed. "But at this age the best way to see it is to watch just how quickly they trust one another. Look at Shingo and Hotaru. They've got two joint attacks now, can fight together, and she trusted him to get her home."
Harry nodded. He had very few people he trusted like that. Hermione and Ron. Professor Dumbledore and Hagrid. Ginny. That was enough for now though. He didn't need dozens of friends, just a few good ones.
"Good luck with all the children," he whispered. "I bet they're fun though," he added.
Usagi nodded and sent him a grin. "They are."
Need
"Look, all I'm saying is we have to something to track her. No matter where... or when... she is." Shingo's voice was full of concern and fear. "This man, I'm assuming there is a reason he gets so far, and that she's not transforming and kicking his butt."
"Shingo, I just don't want you to get your hopes up. I don't know of any tracking devise that can work through time." Artemis sounded frustrated. They'd had this discussion several times.
Setsuna paced. "There has to be something we're missing. I can't look all through every time line at once. I have to know roughly when to look."
"Well, maybe we can get a rough date from the twins," Shingo said. "Perhaps..." he shook his head. "I don't know. I just can't stand the thought that he does what..." he stopped talking.
"I have a suggestion," said another voice. Setsuna turned to see Ami and Hermione approaching. It was the witch speaking, and for some reason it gave Setsuna a feeling of hope.
"Anything," Shingo said desperately. "We'll take any help we can get."
"In the wizarding world," Hermione said, settling into one of the chairs, "there is a way young witches and wizards are tracked. It's called the Trace. For those who are born into non-magic families, it is used to ensure they do no magic outside of school. It fades when they come of age, at seventeen."
"Wizard children have this?" Shingo asked.
"Not all of them, and it doesn't happen until they start school. Children aren't punished for accidental magic. But, once they start at Hogwarts, the Trace helps to keep track of them. Of course, it isn't perfect. Harry got in trouble last year because a house-elf did magic in his house."
"Who puts it on the students?" Setsuna asked. "And does it have to be linked to the Ministry of Magic, or can it be linked to a single person? Me, for instance? If I have access to something like that I could find her in time, I'm sure."
"I believe it's done by someone in the ministry. It doesn't say in Hogwarts: A History. But I know who we could ask. Professor Lupin."
Setsuna felt hope. She had to protect her princess. Her friend.
History
Dark General Heliodor was pacing back and forth in what remained of the Dark Kingdom at D Point near the North Pole. The throne was empty, no red-haired queen left to look over the Youma. No maleficent presence in the halls. Her mind wheeled with conflicting thoughts and images. She didn't know up from down or right from wrong anymore.
Without Metallia, or Queen Beryl, filling her with dark energy and whispering in her ears, it was hard to maintain the pure hatred she had been fed like mother's milk. In fact, her mother's hatred and anger towards the moon princess and the earth prince had long been the subject of conflict in her.
On the one hand, Queen Beryl was her mother, and she felt the need for revenge burning in her. On the other hand however, it was perfectly clear to Heliodor than the Moon Senshi was provoked again and again and yet had never struck against them directly. She had healed and restored people rather than killing them. And she had showed kindness to her when she'd hidden among the human population several times.
Even when she had met Sailor V she had been greeted with kindness. Many times she had hidden among the victims of Youma attacks. Once, she had even seen the girl with blue hair release her henshin. She hadn't followed. To this day Heliodor could not understand why she hadn't followed.
She had done her duty. As the only one who could control her creation, she had ordered it where the Queen ordered. Her creation was a marvel however. It could cross timelines. She knew she must have created the same creature, or something similar, in other times as well. And perhaps there were timelines where she herself did not exist. Time was a tricky thing.
She wasn't even sure where the idea for Dragon Fire Opal, her only successful Youma, had come from. It had simply been in her mind when she woke one morning. And ever since that moment she had enjoyed her mother's praise. Before that she had been a hidden embarrassment, which was likely the reason she had survived when the Youma turned on each other.
Already she had sent her Youma backward several times. She had changed the course of events as far back as the birth of one of the Senshi, almost causing her death. She had been beaten severely for the failure. She'd then attempted to take out the Sun Knight. Twice. Both attempts had failed due to the meddling of the Time Senshi.
Her only true successes had been in delaying Sailor V's entry into crime fighting, and in provoking the Senshi into completing their Soul-Bonds early. The last thing she had wanted was the Earth Prince as a step-father. Nor had she wanted to share power. Now, without the evil infesting the Dark Kingdom, she was beginning to wonder why she had cared so much.
Perhaps instead of harming the Senshi, she could join them. Would they take her in? Would they want her? It was the question of the ages. She could simply pretend to be a refugee from another world. They had been arriving on earth for many years now. She thought perhaps as many as seven other solar systems were represented now. She could sense a shift in time. A single minute was passing, and yet, something major was occurring.
She could feel the shift in the future, and in the past. She'd always had an affinity for time. Again she wondered who her father was and where he had come from. She thought perhaps she could number thirteen years, but no one spoke of those days. No one spoke of anyone brought to the Dark Kingdom in that time.
When the Dark Generals, the four who were as brothers had been awoken, it had made her wonder all the more. Especially the white-haired eldest. He'd been sleeping her whole life, as young as she, until one day he was kneeling before the queen. For a long time she had wondered if perhaps he was her brother. But he looked nothing like her. Of course, other than red hair, she looked nothing like her mother either.
Dragon Fire Opal returned to her then, and bowed low. "Princess Heliodor," he said. "They have travelled a year back in time, to a place called Hogwarts. They will be gone only a minute from our time, but it is enough to cause damage, should you wish, or to hide yourself forever if that is your goal instead."
She absolutely hated being called Princess. She wasn't. Not really. Sometimes, when she was laying in bed staring at the cracked and weathered stone, she had even questioned whether she truly was the daughter of Queen Beryl as she'd been told. She wanted to yell at him, but he was faithful to her, and had shown her kindness many times. So instead she pondered the possibilities.
Once she stepped out of the bubble in time he had created for her, it would flow again. She had to decide quickly. She knelt down and looked into his face.
"Would you think less of me if I said I bear them no ill will Opal?" she asked.
"Princess, I have never questioned you," he answered. "You created me, and I am yours to command. As for bearing them no ill will, I understand that. They defended themselves. Nothing more. I've long seen the way you watch them. The way you long to be treated kindly. The Queen did not treat you kindly."
"No," Heliodor muttered. "No, she did not." She frowned. "What would you say if I told you I wanted to find my father."
"I would tell you that I will take you wherever and whenever you wish Princess."
"Opal? Do you think, for now, you can just use my name. I don't feel much like a princess."
"As you wish," he said and bowed his head again. "Do you want to accompany me Heliodor?"
"Yes, please," she whispered.
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