Ok, I admit it - I'm just procrastinating now. I really don't have time to be updating this so much... lol.
Oh well, at least you guys get quicker (and often longer) chapters out of this :)
"Setsuna, you could have warned me that was going to happen." Rei complained loudly as they struggled to lift an immobile Dudley.
"If I had you would not have transformed – you'd have taught yourself the charm Harry used to repel the dementors."
"Huh… I suppose. But still, I was worried sick – I mean the way you told me something was going to happen to Harry."
"We should probably un-transform," Usagi began but Setsuna interrupted.
"No – we stay as we are. The Dementors are still nearby and we need to be ready to fight." Minako sighed loudly. "Your chance will come too Minako, probably sooner than you think." The leader of the inner senshi smiled, somewhat wanly. Makoto and Harry each shrugged one of Dudley's massive arms over one shoulder and they started to head to number four Privet Drive.
As they made their way through Magnolia Crescent, an old lady approached them. "Are they gone?" She asked, seeking out Harry amongst the senshi.
"Are what gone Mrs Fig?" He asked, feigning innocence.
"The dementors, stupid boy. I am going to kill Mundungus Fletcher – at least you lot turned up in time," she addressed the scouts. "What Dumbledore…"
"You know Dumbledore?" Harry didn't have to act shocked.
"What? Yes of course – who doesn't know Dumbledore."
"So you're a witch?"
"I'm a squib, Potter." She turned to Setsuna and took in her fuku and the garnet rod. "You would be Sailor Pluto?" she asked. Setsuna nodded. "Get them to Harry's aunt and uncle – Dumbledore will contact you there."
"I know," Setsuna nodded.
"Of course you do," Mrs Fig nodded to herself. "Well keep them safe anyway."
"It shall be my top priority. Fletcher will be back any second now," Setsuna continued, "make sure he regrets his actions tonight."
"Oh I will," Mrs Fig said threateningly. Sure enough, as they turned into Privet Drive they heard a loud crack, followed by the thump of Mrs Fig's handbag.
When they reached the door to number four, Harry and Makoto moved forward, pulling Dudley with them. Harry knocked on the door and it was opened barely a second later by a horse like woman with an exceedingly long neck.
"Thank goodness your home Diddy, I was… was… Diddy!"
"Diddy?" Rei mouthed at Harry as Vernon Dursley came galumphing to the door.
"What's going on? Who are all these people? Dudley?" Dudley chose that moment to throw up onto Petunia's shoes. She screeched and kicked them off before running to the kitchen to get cleaning equipment. Minako raised an eyebrow at Harry, who shrugged as Dudley moved forward to his father. Vernon took Dudley's weight and led him through to the living room. He left the door open, so Harry and the senshi followed.
They stepped through into the sweltering living room and Uncle Vernon looked around. "I don't know what you think you're doing boy," he spat at Harry, "but I want these freaks out of my house right now."
"Hey!" Makoto bristled.
"I wouldn't worry," harry sighed, "he's like that with everyone.
"Mr Dursley – my name is Setsuna Meioh. I am a teacher at Harry's school."
"Oh yes and what to you teach – how to turn people into frogs? And I'm sorry if I don't think you look much like a teacher."
"My apologies," Setsuna nodded. There was a flash of light and she reappeared in her civilian clothes. She was still holding the Garnet rod, something she had never been able to do in the past. "And I teach History, Mr Dursley. It has surprisingly little to do with Frogs."
"Well whatever it is you do, do it somewhere else – I want you all out of my house!" he turned towards Dudley. "Who did this to you son?" He asked quietly. Dudley raised a shaking finger and pointed first at Harry, then at Rei.
"What? No we didn't it was the dementors…" Rei began, but it was no use.
"Out!" Vernon yelled at them, "Get out right now!"
"Mr Dursley," Setsuna's voice was louder than his easily, although she did not appear to be shouting, "There are almost a hundred dementors outside of this house. Sending anyone of us outside would be madness."
"How do I know these dementor-wotsits are even real?" Vernon puffed up. "Dementors…" came a strangely soft voice from the door, "they guard the wizard prison, Azkaban."
"Petunia?" Vernon spluttered.
"They stay, Vernon," Petunia replied firmly.
"But…"
"They stay." Petunia said this with such conviction that Vernon dared not argue. "But only until the dementors have gone."
"Do not worry, we will remain here only a few more minutes."
"Are they going?" Minako asked hopefully.
"No… but there are more than a few owls on their way." As Setsuna spoke the first owl swept into the room, dropping a letter into Harry's hands. He ripped it open and went very pale.
"I've been expelled." He said, emotionlessly.
"Don't be so sure." The second owl entered the room.
"It's Sirius… he says stay put."
"That is good advice."
"It's hypocritical advice."
"But good advice nonetheless. The last owl is coming." This owl dropped its letter by Harry's foot.
"I'm not expelled!" he yelled triumphantly. "I have to go to a hearing at the ministry.
"I wouldn't worry too much about that," Setsuna reassured him, "there aren't many ways it can go wrong. For now, we have places to be. We're going to form a circle – please stand in the centre." Harry did as instructed and watched, somewhat mystified, as the senshi joined hands.
"Sailor Teleport!" Usagi called out. There was a flash of light and they all vanished, leaving the slightly stunned Dursley's behind.
"What was that?"
"The sailor teleport – a more advanced form of what you call apparition although it does, of course, have limitations. For example only four of us are capable of using it alone – myself, Usagi, Minako and Hotaru."
"Right. I thought I was supposed to stay where I was?"
"I said that was good advice, not that it was the right advice at the time."
"Where are we?" Rei asked, looking around.
"Grimauld Place, London. Wait here." Without any further explanation, Setsuna headed towards number eleven. Usagi blinked and she had gone.
"Whose that at the door Molly?"
"I've no idea – probably someone for dinner. I'll go check." Mrs Weasley hurried up the stairs and looked towards the door. "Setsuna! Albus wasn't expecting you to come for this meeting."
"I'm not here for the meeting Molly. I've brought Harry."
"Harry? Where is he?"
"In the square – don't worry, the senshi are with him."
"Well bring him in then."
"I can't – they don't know about headquarters."
Mrs Weasley frowned, "Actually, how do you know about headquarters."
"Dumbledore will tell me very shortly."
"But… he hasn't told you yet?"
"There are advantages to being the senshi of time and space, Molly."
"Right… of course. Why didn't I think of that?"
"If you could please speak to Albus."
"Of course – you caught him on the way out."
"I am aware of that."
Molly hurried downstairs – there was something unnerving about Setsuna Meioh. When she got downstairs Dumbledore had left already, but there was a scrap of parchment with the required information on it. She hurried back upstairs with it and handed it to Setsuna.
"The head-"
"You won't be able to finish that sentence, so if I were you I wouldn't bother trying."
"Right…" Minako rolled her eyes.
"Rei, if you would do the honours," Setsuna nodded at the paper. Rei clicked her fingers and a spark leapt onto the parchment, burning it to a crisp in a second. "Follow me then." Setsuna lead them towards number eleven. Glancing to one side, Usagi realised that the street numbers jumped straight from eleven to thirteen – but then where was number twelve.
But even as she watched, a house began to push itself into existence between numbers eleven and thirteen. Number twelve Grimauld Place.
They headed inside what turned out to be a dimly lit, rather imposing house. The paintings along the wall were all covered in dusty drapes, and the stairs ahead seemed to be lined with shrunken house elf heads. Usagi was so busy looking around that she didn't notice a large trolls leg umbrella stand.
She screamed as she went flying and pandemonium broke loose. The drapes covering largest painting, at the end of the hall, flew open to reveal a window.
No – a painting, but a hideously realistic painting of an old woman, wrinkled and with spittle dripping down her chin. "Blood traitors, mud bloods! Filth besmirching the noble house of Black!"
A man with long, scraggy black hair bounded up the stairs with his wand drawn. "Shut up you hideous old bat!"
"You!" The woman's eyes bulged, "you dare return here-"
"I dare!" The man waved his wand and the curtains flew back over the painting, silencing the woman's shouts. Straightening his jacket, the man turned around.
"Hello," Sirius said, smiling wryly, "I see you've met my mother."