The Black Tie Affair Chapter 14
Disclaimer: HP © J.K. Rowling, JP © , Digimon © Bandai / Toei Animation, Advil belongs to some pharmaceutical company, and Ian and Della are MINE.
A/N: Always wondered why there was a Room of Requirement, so here's the reason. The villains are revealed, a conspiracy discovered, and the final battle commences. A bit darker than usual, but when 3 worlds are at stake, that sort of thing happens.
Gotta love loose ends ;) . Found some lying around while re-reading my story and it solved a problem I'd had for a while. Never forget to add in weird tidbits at the beginning of a story; you never know when you might need them.
Enjoy :D
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The headaches were coming more often now.
Ken had learned that letting his headaches show just screwed things up. After the Potions fiasco, Ken just pretended they had stopped, even though it still felt as though his head was being bashed in by hammers. The last thing Ken needed was more attention; or at least that's what he kept telling himself.
"I still think we need a House ghost," Ian said, munching on a piece of celery. He was jotting down notes in a spiral-bound notebook with a ballpoint pen. He had taken Ken's advice and started to make his own Wizarding World quote book. "All the other Houses have one. There's the Fat Friar, the Bloody Baron, the Grey Lady, and Nearly-Headless Nick. I think Nick's cool."
"Griffindors seem to have it all, don't they?" Della mused. "A ghost…cool colors; not that black's not cool…a hero for a Founder…"
"Still hung up on that Founder thing huh?" Ian said pointing his stick of celery at Della. "Look, it's not like no one knows about your ancestor; our entire House knows."
"People should know the truth is all," Della retorted, stabbing at her potato salad. "It doesn't matter anyways; you want a ghost, then we'll do it properly. We need to conduct interviews or something."
"I think JP's idea was cool," Ian replied.
"Peeves is NOT going to be our House ghost," Della scowled, then gestured towards Ken. "What do you think Ken? Should we make Peeves our House ghost?"
"Umm…whatever you guys want," Ken said, realizing mustard was leaking from his ham sandwich and dribbling down his hand. "I'm sure you'll figure it out."
"You okay Ken?" Ian asked, cocking his head to the side. "You seem a bit…off lately."
"I just miss my family and the other DigiDestineds," Ken said, mopping up the mustard with a napkin. "I don't know whether it would have been better just staying here for the holidays."
"Of course not," Della scoffed. "We all had a fabulous time. It was great meeting everyone and I got SO many sweater orders!"
Wormmon's sweater had been a real hit with the Japanese digimon. The tapping sound of magical knitting needles was always present after classes in their Common Room to keep up with demands. Della even embroidered the digimon's Crests on the sweaters as an added bonus.
"Plus, if we hadn't come, JP never would have met his Junny Bear!"
All three friends burst into laughter over Ian's statement. It was true; ever since JP had met Jun, he wouldn't stop talking about her. It was like a role-reversal; Jun was being obsessed over by someone else. Now JP's office was covered in pictures of Jun. Della said it was cute.
"And Aunty Em wouldn't be so…happy," Ian blushed. "Why did your parents have to bring up the whole relationship thing?"
After the holidays, the seating at the Head Table had mysteriously changed. Professor Treelawney no longer sat between Madame Hooch and Professor Snape, much to the Divination teacher's dismay. She had enjoyed reading Severus' tea leaves in the morning and predicting his gruesome death.
"I think it's cute," Della said, taking a sip of her apple juice. "They both sort of resemble birds…two love birds!"
"Cut it out," Ian frowned. "The last thing I need is THAT as my uncle."
Ian crossed his eyes and made a gagging sound. Della scowled and slapped him upside the head. Ken chuckled, his headache forgotten.
"But seriously, we need a House Ghost," Ian's voice was dead-pan. "We have to fit in some how. I think it's time for a group meeting!"
Della had bewitched all of their Crests to flash when a group meeting was set. She had fashioned them all so they could be worn as necklaces, and all wore them under their robes. Snape was not happy having to wear a pink thing around his neck, but Madame Hooch had eventually convinced him otherwise.
Ian found it sickening.
"There, we'll meet in the Room of Requirement like usual," Della said, setting the meeting in stone. "Maybe it can tell us who the best ghost for our House is."
Frankly, Ken didn't care; he just wanted an Advil.
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"You wished to call a group meeting over who should be our House ghost?" Professor Snape raised an eyebrow. "Your oddness never ceases to amaze me Mr. Farrow."
"I think it's an…interesting way for our House to fit in," Madame Hooch said, glaring at Snape. Ken couldn't help but notice Snape flinch. Madame Hooch was getting good at this. "Don't you agree Severus?"
"Fine," Snape snapped, arms crossed over his chest.
"I hope the Room picks Peeves," JP said, his eyes sparkling. "He's hilarious!"
"Of course you'd enjoy Peeves," Snape cast JP an annoyed look.
"Let's just see who the Room picks," Della finally intervened. "I'm sure it will choose wisely."
All six DigiDestined and their partners positioned themselves around the concealed door. Closing their eyes, they all concentrated on the fact that they required a House ghost. All save one of course.
"I need to know why my headaches are back," Ken thought, scrunching his eyes closed.
The destined opened their eyes in unison. The wall revealed that it was in fact a hidden room; the familiar latches unhooking themselves magically. Staring in awe, the group walked into a barren room; their new House ghost hovering in the center.
The ghost was the spitting image of Della.
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"Welcome DigiDestineds," the woman's voice was light and ethereal. "Welcome to the true Room of Requirement."
Ken, Ian, Della, JP, Professor Snape and Madame Hooch all looked around in a mixture of horror and amazement.
The walls were crumbling around them, mold and mildew spotting the stone. The smell was nauseating, the stench of decay almost tangible. It was as if the entire Room was dead, and Ken could feel the Darkness seeping out of every nook and cranny.
"This is a dark place," she said softy, facing the group. "A place that has seen much sadness.
"This is where they left me," the ghost said softly, a bluish tear running down her cheek. She gestured towards a corner. "Here, in the very depths of my own school."
A heap of bones lay there, half-covered by the rubble.
"Who did this to you?" Snape demanded, glaring at the ghost. "Who left you here alone?"
"You've heard of them," the ghost smiled sadly. "Read about them. Worshiped them even. And some of your fellows even wear their colors."
"The Founders?" Madame Hooch said; the groups' jaws dropping. "They left you in here?"
"One actually," came a voice from out of the shadows. "It was foolish of you to reveal yourself. Very foolish. Sadly it was necessary."
A cloaked figure came into the meager light cast from a single window high above their heads. It was a man; tall and rather brawny with short cropped hair. Eyes the color of dried blood stared at the destined, boring into their very soul. He was even wearing his House colors.
There, in red and gold, was Godric Griffindor.
"Surprised?" the wizard, who should have long since been dead said, raising a slender red eyebrow. "And I assumed you were supposed to be open-minded."
"You're Godric Griffindor!" Ian yelled out, face red with rage. "You're supposed to encourage bravery! You're supposed to be the good guy!"
"Stereotypes, how droll," the wizard sneered, reddish eyes narrowing. "You honestly think all Griffindors are good? And I thought you were against conformity."
"Every House has their faults," Antidesma explained, her ghostly lips sneering as well. "Courage can lead to arrogance and superiority complexes for instance."
"Be quiet you poltergeist," Godric pulled out a wand and sent a blast of purplish energy at the ghost. Instead of passing through her, it took the shape of shackles and pinned her against the wall. "Plasma-proofing spell; very handy if used properly. Now may I continue?"
All six of the new destined just stared. This man had lived for hundreds of years and yet was still walking. He should have been a pile of bones like Antidesma Hogwarts. What had he done?
"You really messed things up Ken," Godric said striding over. "You and your little rebellion. Trying to bring Hogwarts into the current century; ridiculous."
Ken tried to move, tried to back away, but he couldn't. Somehow or another the mold had grown in size and was firmly holding onto all of their ankles. They were stuck, helpless to this crazy wizard.
"Hogwarts is stuck in a rut," Snape sneered, black eyes flashing with hate. "Albus Dumbledore even said so."
"Yet another brilliant mind from my House," Godric smiled towards the ghost against the wall. "I do love tradition, don't you? So predictable, so lovely, and so powerful. Whole groups of people with nothing in common can be united by something as simple as a Christmas cracker. Which brings me to my true reason for bringing you here… to take care of the little problem that is Mr. Ken Ichijouji."
Ken yanked his head away as Godric Griffindor came closer to him. A headache was coming on again, his brain throbbing in his skull as the Founder approached him. That explained the headaches; this guy wore Darkness like cheap cologne.
"You burned my hat," Godric said, a mocking pout on his lips. "That's an antique you know; it's been around for centuries. Of course, you had help torching it; if it weren't for that infernal Dark Spore everything would be fine."
Ken remembered something JP had said about himself and the Digimon Emperor. They were one and the same, whether Ken liked it or not. The headaches had started to become more frequent once Quidditch had started. Ken had let the Digimon Emperor out for a romp more often so he could impress his fellow students. Ken was accepting who he was, and Godric Griffindor was not happy in the slightest.
"Aw well, fortunately that can be fixed," Godric smiled evilly. "You see if I remove the Dark Spore…POOF! No more trouble with the Sortings. Life will go on, and Black Tie House will be forgotten. You'll be Ken Ichjouji, the kind and gentle person that your digimon loves so much. The boy next-door that can do no wrong. Sounds wonderful, doesn't it?"
Ken stared at Godric Griffindor, his eyes wide with terror and admiration. That was what he had always wanted; to be normal. No Dark Spore, no walking the line between good and evil. He could just be himself.
"Like it or not, I'm a part of you," Ken heard his own voice inside of his head. "For once in your life Ken, listen to me. This isn't a trick; he'll kill us both. You think this is going to turn out fine? That we'll be Sorted and Della and Ian can just go back to their old Houses? You don't have to be a genius to know that's not going to happen."
The Digimon Emperor…Ken, was right. All of his life Ken had referred to his darker side in third person, but really it was a way for Ken to deny the fact that he had been that boy. The things he had done were a part of him; if he let the Digimon Emperor go, it would be devastating. It would be like…well…having a tiny black spore thing being yanked out of your brain after four years.
"No."
"And I thought you'd go willingly," Godric said, disappointed. "I hate to use force, but it seems necessary. I do believe you've met my friend here."
Godric Griffindor gestured as Malomyotismon stepped out of the shadows.