The Heir of House Black

AN: I make no profit from this. Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling, Gundam Wing is owned by Sunrise.

36: Aftermath

While Ron and Trowa were doing damage control, Draco was sitting on the roof of the Express, watching everyone else scurrying around like ants. He chuckled a bit as he watched. The expression had been brought to his attention when he was in Deathscythe with Duo the first time, back during the battle in London. He had to admit, it felt appropriate. Now if he could just get a magnifying glass, his lumos was pretty decent.

Harry plopped down beside his boyfriend. "You're not going to win any points by frying first years." Harry chuckled as he watched Malfoy concentrating on what seemed to be one of the more irritating first year Hufflepuffs.

"I don't need points. I'm a Malfoy. Malfoy's are above points."

"If you say so."

"I do and nothing you can say will disprove it." However, before Harry could make a rebuttal, he changed the topic. "So, how's Hermione? Still unconscious?" He wouldn't make fun of her, not anymore. He might have been willing to overlook some of her actions until now, her intelligence was just a lucky fluke, but then the proof had been staring him in the face and there was no denying it. A muggle girl could have easily replaced Voldemort as the next biggest threat to the wizarding world. Power of that magnitude demanded respect. Then she had overcome her demons, won the trust of Quatre Malfoy-Winner and finally done something he would have thought impossible and saved the lives of hundreds of wizards and witches. She had practically given her life to do so, as she lay unconscious in a medical tent just outside the train, and in doing so had gained not only the respect of the entire school, specifically from those who didn't already respect or fear her, but could arguably cash in on more than a few life debts if she felt so inclined. The original Hermione might not have even considered it, but 07 as Duo kept insisting on calling her now… well he suspected she just might.

Before Malfoy could delve any further into the possibilities of exploiting Granger's new found power of many of his friends, Dumbledore appeared beside Harry.

"She's in stable condition. The worst is over, but I fear she won't be waking any time soon."

Harry was up immediately. "I can see her though, right?"

Dumbledore nodded, stepping aside as Harry immediately hopped off the train and was making a beeline for the tent. Draco stood as well, though moving at a more moderate pace. He looked up at Dumbledore briefly and stopped when he saw the man deep in thought. It was so rare for the Headmaster to let anyone catch him looking anything other than perfectly in control.

"Something wrong?"

Dumbledore smiled and shook his head, his face immediately going back to the mask he'd perfected so well. "Nothing at all Mr. Malfoy. Go, I'm certain Harry would appreciate your presence in this most worrisome time."

As Malfoy made his way to the tent, he stopped and turned southward, a look of absolute terror in his eyes. "Fuck… he's awake." chuckling a bit even as he hurried towards the tent… the warded tent. "Better you than me Weasley."

Harry looked down at Hermione. She was pale and breathing heavily. Her eyes were closed and her right hand was wrapped around her wand in a deathgrip. He frowned… she looked like she was dying, but there was a soft beeping from a monitoring spell that kept the local mediwitch apprised of her condition. The tent, like so many other wizarding tents, was much bigger on the inside. Hermione wasn't the only one in here of course, but she was the worst of the lot.

As it turned out, Hermione hadn't been able to repel all of the damage done. The energy beam… the most deadly of what had been aimed at them had still destroyed the front of the train, leaving them stranded until the Aurors could arrange for everyone to be taken home safely, in case of another attack. Also, the mechs had used less advanced weaponry as well. The train was riddled with bullets and while no one had been killed, several students had been gravely injured by the flying shrapnel and the sudden impact. No one was leaving here any time soon, even when the Auror's arrived.

Duo stepped in and clapped a hand down over Harry and Draco's shoulders. "Come on, lets blow this joint."

Harry turned.. "But, don't we have to wait for the Aurors… what about Hermione?"

Duo shook his head. "We don't have no reason to wait for an armed guard back to London." He grinned. "Who's better armed than me?"

Draco laughed. "Not even the Queen's guard."

Duo nodded. "See, even Dray gets it. Trowa can't leave anytime soon anyway. They'll grab Hermy when she's up to being moved. Lets get outta here before it gets even crazier… plus Heero wants you someplace safer."

Harry really couldn't argue with that. He followed Duo out towards Deathscythe. It might be cramped, the three of them, but he had to admit, he didn't want to stick around if he could help it. The press would inevitably follow the aurors… better to avoid them at all costs. As he made it to Deathscythe though, Dumbledore stepped up between them.

"Harry. We need to discuss things."

Harry frowned. "What's wrong Headmaster?"

"I think you should remain at Hogwarts, with me until further notice."

"But what about Duo and the others. I'll be fine with them."

The Headmaster frowned. "No Harry. They'll be on the front lines. War has started, you won't be safe with them."

"Like hell he won't!" Duo stormed up to the Headmaster, but Dumbledore drew his wand faster than anyone could react and Duo was on the ground, paralyzed.

"I really must insist."

Harry froze. He was staring up at the Headmaster. The man that had practically raised him… a man that had become like a grandfather to him. He was aiming his wand directly at him. He was a threat… Harry wouldn't be separated from his family. Never again!

"No." Harry said as he drew his wand.

Several miles south of them, Quatre gripped his heart, crying out in pain.