AN Hey all, my goal this weak was to finish this chapter. Even though my fingers forgot how to type at the end of the week, I'd say I accomplished my goal. *throws confetti* woo. (Note the uncaringness I share right now). However, the only reason I finished it is because my car died and I was stuck at the YMCA for a couple hours. Again, woo. So, only six chapters left, and I'm getting started on the new one tomorrow.
See you all then, and thank you so much for reading and/or reviewing this. It means a lot, even if I don't have the energy to thank you all one by one. If I did, I would, I swear! Thanks again!
OH! And from last chapter, "La Cucuratcha" is actually something I probably spelt wrong. It's the Mexian cockroach jumping song. I just randomly popped into my head and I thought, hey! I'll use that!
===========================================
Chapter 9
"Man Wufei!" Duo laughed, dancing down the corridor. "I never thought I'd say this but I'm suddenly *glad* you're a Justice Ranting freak."
"And I never thought I'd be thankful to hear Duo-logic," Wufei countered. "That mess of words was enough to make *my* head spin."
"Why, thank you."
Duo continued down the hallway, humming the Mexican cockroach stomping song under his breath and stamping at the appropriate beats.
"Wufei, you need to learn how to control your temper!" Quatre chided, catching up with his friend and giving him a light punch on the arm. "What if he understood what you were saying?"
"I would have picked a different language," Wufei stated proudly. "He deserved to have that said to him, it's his own fault he didn't understand what I was saying."
They arrived at their dormitories, said the recently changed password: "Green Spandex" (chosen by Duo) and stepped inside. Heero was standing next to a window, his back to his friends, looking out at the Hogwarts grounds. However, the boy that the four Gundam Pilots may physically be the same, magically he had a much stronger magical aura then before. The power flowing though his blood seemed to have doubled since the last time Duo had seen him. But, right now that didn't matter.
"HEE-CHAN!"
Heero turned around, vivid green eyes clearly unhappy.
"Er... Harry-kun?"
"Both, actually." Heero said in Harry's voice. "My body wasn't strong enough for Heero to return to it, so I entered his body for the time being." The boy standing across from them sighed heavily and moved to sit down in the couch in front of the fire. "Heero's kind of my conscious right now, a little voice in the back of my head. When we switch his features will return."
Duo gave a tremendous sniffle and rushed to envelope the boy in a tight, rib-cracking hug. "We'll find a way to get you two separated again," he whispered. "I promise!"
Then he stepped back a micro-step and proceeded to poke and prod at all of Heero's new features. His hair had turned from chocolate brown to midnight black and his eyes were obviously Harry's. He seemed micrometer shorter then before and a tiny smattering of barely visible freckles danced over his newly turned up button nose. Duo grinned, freckles were fun! His skin was still tanned, eyes still slanted from his Asian heritage. And the scar on his forehead had once again been covered up with Muggle make-up.
"But first," Harry/Heero said softly, motioning for them all to sit down. "We have a few more things to explain to you about us, and about Voldemort..."
===
November first, the front page article of every Magical newspaper, magazine and other literary source in the world was the same. "Harry Potter, dead. Reason's unknown." Quatre managed to get a copy of the Daily Prophet and the group sat around their common room reading it carefully.
-On Tuesday October thirtieth, Harry Potter was pronounced dead. During class earlier that day numerous bystanders were astounded when The Boy Who Lived collapsed due to what seemed to be a headache and stress. Many of Potter's classmates informed the press that he had been suffering from these headaches since the beginning of the school year.
His best friend and roommate, Ronald Weasley also informed us that Potter had been suffering from nightmares for years. These nightly terrors were apparently sent to him by none other then You-Know-Who though a link that seemed to have been forged sixteen years ago. Dreams that left Harry screaming in his sleep and clawing at his skin. Many times Mr. Weasley would help his friend clean his wounds and heal them after a night of watching him suffer.
Many times before this, Potter had apparently collapsed around the Hogwarts campus, suffering from 'visions'.
"He (Potter) was always so brave," friend and classmate Hermione Granger sobbed when asked. "He took his suffering in stride and didn't complain when so many others would have. He always put on a cheerful face and told us not to worry, even when people began spreading rumors about him." At this point Miss Granger seemed to anger and began shouting at Daily Prophet reporter, Atsuko Shiori in her grief based fury.
Other students from different houses commented on Potter's seemingly perfectly balanced life.
"He was a goody-goody," yearmate Pansy Parkinson snorted when questioned. "Always going around and trying to help everybody with their problems instead of trying to fix his own." Before the Prophet could question her further another yearmate in his anger, knocked her unconscious and stormed away.
By the time the Daily Prophet was allowed in to confirm that Mr. Potter was indeed dead, his body had disappeared. It is rumored that You-Know-Who has stolen the body for unknown reasons...-
The article went on to display a few of Harry's most proud moments, including the Sorceress stone incident, the Goblet of Fire story and the Hogwarts attack during sixth year. Also included were Quidditch moments and a brief summary of Harry's relationship with his "boyfriend" Draco Malfoy.
At that point Duo snorted and threw the paper into the fire. He looked over at the pensive, blue eyed Heero and sighed.
"Hee-chan?" He asked, almost timidly before realizing he had nothing to ask.
Heero looked up, focusing his eyes on Duo and attempting to smile. With downcast violet eyes, Duo scooted closer to the boy and rested his head in the crook of Heero's neck. Pressing into a close hug, the American boy sighed.
"Do you know any spell that will take us back home?"
Heero murmured a negative reply. Standing by the fire, Trowa spoke up.
"I fear that we will have a few problems to solve before we can leave here, Duo."
The four boys looked at him, knowing exactly what he meant and hating that he was right.
"We will no doubt be put under surveillance in the very near future." Trowa continued, staring at the dancing flames. "You all know the only reason we weren't mentioned in that article is because they didn't want to anger the Japanese Ministry of Magic into a new war. This ministry is having enough problems with just Voldemort on the loose."
"Wimps," Duo muttered.
"In any case," Trowa continued, ignoring Duo. "We will have many problems and not only here at school. Now that Harry is dead and the world knows about it, it will be the perfect time for Voldemort to attack. His ideal way to attack would naturally be just to invade the castle during a moment that the guard is down, such as a meal or passing period. But I fear he is more intelligent then that. He will send a small attack first to make sure that Harry is indeed dead and gone."
"That's what he's planning," Heero confirmed. "I had a vision of one of his latest Death Eater meetings. He plans to send four of the weaker to see how long they last and judge the defences around Hogwarts." He sighed, "damn these pointless wars, will humanity ever learn?"
Wufei looked up from his place sitting against the wall. In his lap, Hiei nuzzled gently against his fingers purring softly. "We need to get stronger," he said determinedly. "If we could spend a little extra time training, or trying to strengthen our magic we might have a fair chance."
Quatre frowned thoughtfully. "If we do this in shifts," he began, "two of us could study in the library and the others could practice sparing here or in the tower." He pointed at the secret opening behind the fireplace. "It is the ideal place really."
The others were unsure.
"They'll place monitoring spells in here," Duo reminded them. "Or they'll send a student to live with us... Heck, Hiei over there could be their spy." The idea was a little farfetched but there was a possibility.
"Hiei is no spy," Wufei muttered. "He's always with me, they don't have a chance to hex him."
Little Hiei purred out his agreement, arching his back and Wufei continued to pet his back and behind his ears.
"I hate war." Quatre muttered, sinking into the cushions of his chair. "It seems like that's all we do, fight in wars."
The group of boys was silent after that.
===
In the early hours of a cold, damp Saturday morning, a dark shape was prowling near the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Up in one of the towers facing the lake, a dark figure stood in the blackened window, not even an outline visible. The figures eyes cut directly towards the dark shape, watching its progress across the dark lawn.
Suddenly, another shape appeared on the lawn, sneaking away from the school and towards the oncoming black thing. However, this thing seemed to shine in the moonlight. The light from the nearly full moon revealing it to be a silverish fox. It bounded straight to the other animal in a playful manner, encouraging the other to bound and play with it. After a while, the black dog lay down and curled with the fox.
With a sigh, Duo left the window and headed to bed.
Down on the lawn, Harry curled up his fox form next to that of his godfathers dog formed body. Sirius stank of sweat and dirt and fear, and in Harry's presence, relief.
With a gentle nudge of his nose and a soft but commanding bark, Sirius managed to convince both himself and Harry to get back onto their paws. Then with a tilt of his head, he gestured that they should move into the forest so they could talk. They left the lawn for the yawning darkness beyond the calm lake. Once inside the trees and out of sight they took their human forms and embraced tightly, eyes tightly shut to chase away their emotional tears.
"*Harry!*" Sirius gasped, seemingly trying to break the poor boys ribs, "I was so scared, the paper said you had died..."
Harry hugged the man back just as fiercely, tears threatening in the corners of his green eyes. "I'm sorry I worried you," he whispered. "But the paper is right, my body died a few days ago."
There was a brief silence with that statement before: "Where's Heero?"
"I'm here."
The deeper voice of The Perfect Soldier spoke instead of the soothing tone of The Boy Who Lived. Heero took control of their body, pushing a complaining Harry to the side. Taking a much firmer grip on their Godfather he let relief pour through his soul as well as Harry's. No other change was noticeable until Sirius broke away form the hug to look.
"Both of you are in there?" The ex-convict asked wonderingly, staring at the Heero he had met during the summer. Met and vowed to protect as he had with Harry.
There was a brief nod and a sparkle of blue eyes. "It's confusing as hell, but we're a whole person again. Duo's enjoying it, so it's not a complete loss."
Silence echoed.
"Just as long as you're safe," Sirius decided rushing in for another hug. "You're *my* Harry at heart, no matter what body you wear."
Apparently the sappy reunion became too much for the three, who were unused to such emotional displays and they sat down on the forest floor to discuss what they should do.
"Voldemort is bound to move," Heero told the man. Abruptly, his eyes changed to green and the few barely noticeable changes took place that signified Harry had once again taken control. "We just don't know when, and it's not like the headmaster trusts Heero right now... you'll have to tell him for us Sirius." Blue resurfaced in Heero's eyes.
"I was getting to that!" Came the mildly whining complaint. "Anyway, all we know is that only a few minions will arrive sometime soon. You can report that for us right?"
Sirius nodded, an amused expression dancing across his face. "Fighting, boys?"
Harry took over so he could stick out his tongue in a childish display of playfulness.
"Stupid dog," Heero muttered after Harry receded.
"I'll make an appearance in a few days," Sirius told them. "I have to stop by Moony's to tell him I'm still alive."
Heero rolled his eyes and changed into his wolf form.
"...Weren't you a fox before?" The man called Padfoot asked, confused.
Blue eyes glinted in the light and Sirius gave a sound of understanding. When Heero was in control, they were a wolf, but when Harry was in control they were a fox. Then with one last hug Sirius walked into the forest and out of Hogwarts bounds to apparate away. Heero on the other hand raised his nose into the air and sniffed carefully for danger. Smelling none, he took off towards the castle and his comfy, Duo-warmed bed.
With a wolfish grin he snuck all the way towards the secret door closest to their dorms. Once there he switched to human and began making his way to both bed and his koibito.
"Is he alright?" Duo slurred out in his half-asleep state, curling his body against that of his two-in-one boyfriend.
"Hn."
===
Madam Pomphrey paced. Back and forth, back and forth, from bed two to bed seven, back and forth. She had been doing this for the past hour or so, not noticing anything else around her. Such as the over-flowing bathroom just a few beds away. Or the fact that she was running low in many of her sedative potions.
"Poppy?"
Back and forth, back and forth...
"Poppy, about Mr. Yuy..."
Step, step, step, turn, pause, glance at bed four where Harry Potter had died, sigh, step, step, step...
"POPPY! THE MUSHROOMS ARE ATTACKING!"
"Huh?" Madam Pomphrey jolted out of her self inflicted shame and turned bewildered eyes to stare at the headmaster. Said man was currently twitching his mustache as though trying to hold back his laughter. "Are you alright headmaster?"
"Yes Poppy, I just wanted to know a little more about the brief time that Mr. Yuy spent here. Was there anything else you needed to talk to us about?"
Poppy frowned, biting her lip and turning her eyes downward. Mr. Yuy, the Asian boy who looked so much like Mr. Potter. Potter, who had died under her watch...
Step, step, step, turn...
The headmaster sighed and sat down on bed three. "Poppy this information could be very important."
The medi-witch stopped pacing again and turned to face the elderly wizard. "Well, at first his power level was very normal," he recalled, "but after a few days it began to increase at a very unusual pace. He was still in his coma so I didn't think too much of it at the time." She paused, thinking. "After the second day when I was checking his vitals, I noticed that his blood pressure was unusually low, even for one who is well fit and properly nourished. His blood sample was very odd as well as though he had been experimented on before. He had an amazing amount of scars all over his body, they looked like battle scars. Even bullet wounds!" Poppy seemed to have completely forgotten about her previous woes.
"Also, I noticed that the other boy, Mr. Maxwell had a lot of scars as well. He sleeps in only a pair of sweat-pants," here she flushed slightly, "and his whole upper torso and arms were covered in very old scars, bullet wounds and the such." Her voice trailed off. "Mr. Chang carried a steel sword under his white coat," she remembered faintly, "I didn't notice anything else."
Dumbledore was silent. "Battle scars?" He repeated, "I would like to see these scars..."
===
"MAXWELL! What are the two greatest uses for a frozen Ashwinder egg?"
Duo sighed and looked up at the potions master trying to intimidate him. If anything, Deathscythes pilot was more annoyed with the constant questions then he was intimidated by the under-evolved ape in front of him.
"Ashwinder eggs are of great value for use in Love Potions and can be eaten whole as a cure for Ague, Snape-baka." He recited the line from Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them easily, once again thanking his lucky stars he was blessed with a photographic memory.
Snape scowled at the long haired American, hating that the boy had answered his every question perfectly. The lesson continued where he had left off a moment before.
Duo let out an almost silent sigh, frowning down at the only table he had been able to find a seat at. All the others had been mysteriously full when he and Heero had entered the room twenty minutes prior. The whole class, Slytherins and Hufflepuffs alike had scowled at the two boys. As a result, the two war hero's were forced to sit at the back of the classroom and were constantly being attacked by both Snape and students alike.
Up in Transfiguration it was the same story for Quatre, Trowa and Wufei. Professor McGonagall had quite firmly forbid them to write their notes in their usual way. They were then told they had to recopy their notes from Japanese by the next class and that they could not speak in their 'first' language. The boys took it all in stride, though, knowing that arguing would only make their situation worse and get them kicked out.
At breakfast earlier that morning no seats had been available to them so they simply left the dining hall and made their way to the kitchen. The house elves spoiled them with a meal that was twenty times better then the one being served upstairs.
In the halls, they were constantly snubbed and mocked. Wufei was on the verge of pulling out his katana and slashing them all to pieces but restrained himself at the very of his honor.
And this had been going on for nearly a week.
Dinner time was a sight to behold. The five boys had seated themselves on the floor, sitting in a circle and eating. They were not only on the floor, but sitting around a low table Duo had conjured between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, the two middle house tables. Trowa had erected a sort of barrier to keep mysteriously flying food off of their uniforms.
"So," Duo said calmly in German, reaching across their table for a small dish of soy sauce. "How was class today?"
"It was alright," Quatre smiled, using his personal favorite language, that of South Africa. He carefully took a small bite of his rice ball, making sure not to drop anything in his lap.
"If you don't mind your death being predicted twenty times in one hour," Wufei added in his own native tongue. "By some crazy Divinations teacher." He grabbed the soy sauce back from Duo and emptied the dish over his sushi. On his shoulder, Hiei mewed and eyed the food on the table with a predatory look. The cat pounced, only to be caught by Heero and returned to Wufei's shoulder.
Trowa smiled and calmly put in his own two cents. "Care Of Magical Creatures was interesting," he said softly in Spanish, "the Augurey's song is so beautiful. Most of the Gryffindors were crying though." He took a bite of chicken and washed it down with a little pumpkin juice.
Duo recovered from his Wufei-glaring and snickered at his words. "Did you know they only sing when its about to rain?" He asked, this time in the hard to learn dialect of Hawaii. "But wizards used to think that it meant death." He laughed again, "morons."
Heero cracked a smile. "Was Hagrid nice to you?" He asked softly in Japanese, "he must love you for your ability with animals."
Trowa nodded quickly and answered appropriately in yet another different language. Those translator charms did come in handy for pissing off a school.
By now every eye in the school was staring in both anger, resentment and annoyance at the five boys on their floor. Anger for being the closest to Harry when he died, resentment that they didn't understand the conversation, and annoyance that they were even there. However there was absolutely nothing that they could do without the consent of a teacher. Lucky for them that teacher was fast in approaching. Professor Snape seemed very angry that his path to the teachers table was being blocked.
"What do you think you're doing?" He snarled, planting his hands on his hips and glaring down his nose at the five on the floor.
Any other student would have shrieked and ran from that look, but the exchange students merely blinked owlishly at him.
"We're eating our meal and discussing todays lessons, Snape-baka," Duo answered innocently, gesturing at their meal and table.
"Why are you on the floor?" Snape growled, "and in the way of people who might want to pass."
At that moment a casually throw but poorly aimed chicken leg came in contact with Trowa's barrier and bounced to hit Snape in the face. The man didn't look amused and quickly shouted out an order for detention.
"We're on the floor because there is no room for us at a house table, Snape-baka," Quatre answered, blinking sad blue eyes up at the fuming man.
At his words every student seemed to shuffle to close any gaps that might hint at extra room at the tables. Snape scowled at the Gryffindors first, then at every other table, including the Slytherins. "Perhaps you should come to the meal sooner if you want a place at a table." He grit out, clenching his fists.
"Of course, Snape-baka," Heero said in a monotonous voice. "We'll just run here from the north tower next time."
"See that you do." The Potions Master snapped.
===
The water of the lake rippled gently as Harry placed his two feet in its shallow shore. He was wearing his blue shorts and green tank-top and staring at the moon, reflected on the calm surface of the water. The light of the moon bounced off of the weapons hung on his barely clad form, off the wands strapped to each arm and concealed with a simple charm.
"Perhaps we should tell them our secret," he said softly to Heero. "Maybe if they knew, they would understand and leave the others alone. They're all so angry at them..."
=They'll think us insane,= Heero shot him down, as only he could. =A crazy Japanese exchange student who thinks he's Harry Potter.=
"You could be right," Harry admitted, "but there are so many things about the magical world that even Dumbledore can't predict. Even Voldemort doesn't know everything, though at least he's been trying."
=Testing the link again have you,= Heero teased. =Seeing how far into his mind you can see without him noticing?=
"Maybe," Harry grinned, wadding a little deeper into the lake's freezing waters. "Who are you to tell me not to?"
Abruptly they switched control, a tingle racing through their shared body as Heero stepped forward and bent to trail one hand though the knee deep water.
"I'm you," He answered calmly, staring into the reflection. The image of himself that was Harry. The boy in the water smiled at the stoic pilot.
=That's right,= the image said. =We're the same person, with the same desires and dreams. With the same future and the same past.=
Heero chuckled, standing upright again. A little ways away a branch cracked and a muffled grunt was heard. The boy in the water stiffened slightly but otherwise didn't let the new presence know it had been detected. Three sets of footsteps began softly crunching though the forest and Heero inwardly sighed at their lack of stealth.
Duo would have a heart attack if that were anybody he knew. Nobody disgraced Shinigami with poor stealth.
Finally, three black clad figures stepped out of the cover of the trees. They were obviously lower class Death Eaters because none of them were pointing their wands at him and they were bickering amongst themselves.
A gunshot later they were all on guard, looking at Heero through their white masks. Three wands finally pointed at him.
"Look at what we have here," the female Death Eater Heero had already identified as Pansy Parkinson sneered, taking another step closer. "A poor little student out after hours." She chuckled in what she thought was an evil way and nodded at the other two.
The others, Terry Boot and Blaize Zabini took the que and began advancing. Obviously the three Pure-blooded wizards had no idea what a single bullet could do to them. And what might be the result when Heero was the one who shot that bullet.
===
Quatre sat up straight in his and Trowa's bed. Perspiration dripped down his over heated face and he gasped painfully. His space heart was throbbing with the memory of his dream.
"*Heero!*" He gasped, "he's in trouble!"
Trowa cracked open one green eye, allowed the blonds words to travel to his brain and bolted from bed. He arrived at Duo and Heero's room, just across the hall from his own and burst in. Duo was there, curled around a pillow with his hair splayed out around him, but Heero was nowhere to be seen. Quatre arrived just behind Trowa, one hand over his heart, the other clutching the doorframe.
"Duo!" The Arabian gasped, "Heero's in trouble?"
Duo snapped awake much faster then Trowa had and leapt from his bed, throwing the pillow aside. "The Death Eaters?" He asked hurriedly, throwing on his cloths.
Quatre nodded, moving slightly as Trowa hurried towards Wufei's room. There was a muffled thump as the Heavyarms pilot tripped over Hiei's small sleeping basket. Wufei awoke rather quickly after that and met them down in their common room.
Duo was frantic.
===
"I have a question," Heero said, stepping out of the lake and walking calmly towards the three Death Eaters. He passed their shocked forms and continued into the forest. "Why do you serve that snake Voldemort?"
The three robed figures hissed and spun around in anger. They wasted no time firing off simple hexes. Heero dodged them easily and continued walking.
"Don't you speak his name!" Pansy shrieked. "You have no right! Our lord has promised us power and protection!" She drew herself up to stand tall, proud of that fact.
"I see," Hero said softly. "So a man who can't kill a baby is going to protect you? You have the whole of Britain after you blood, and he's going to keep you safe?" With a snort, Heero entered the Forbidden Forest, dodging a few more hexes. The three arrogant Death Eaters followed him, their footsteps telling him exactly how far behind him they were, and how seriously they took him.
"You arrogant fool!" Blaize seethed. "You know nothing!"
"Enough talk!" Terry barked. "We'll kill him here and continue on our mission."
Heero stopped underneath a large tree and turned around. "The Perfect Soldier hears your words," he said lowly, so low that the three didn't hear him, "and I will not die. The Boy-Who-Lived will not die." He smirked again and let out a low chuckle. Eyes glinted green for a second with a flash of panic, before returning to blue.
He pulled out a gun. The metal glinted in the faded moonlight. With two well placed bullets both Blaize and Terry hit the ground - dead. Neither boy knew what a gun was, though the knowledge probably wouldn't have helped them any. Even Duo knew better then to stand before Heero's gun. The stoic pilot was an excellent marksman, and he aimed to kill.
Pansy shrieked in outrage and cast her first spell, flinging Heero's weapon away from his hand. The Death Eater chuckled from behind her mask, following the boy a little deeper into the forest, after the weapon.
"Your stupid Muggle contraption has no use to you now," she said, casting a barrier spell around herself.
Heero grunted in amusement, already having located the barriers weakness. Every spell had a weakness, and barriers were no exception. There had to be a place where it came together, a sort of crease. Pansy chose to place that at her feet, the last place usually looked. Pulling out a knife he hurled it towards Pansy's feet. The weapon broke through the weakest spot of the spell and sank into the girls flesh with a slick sound. He must have missed the bones by pure luck.
"I'm a soldier, a perfect marksman and not somebody to be messed with." Heero said calmly. "I've fought in more wars then I care to admit and you think you can defeat me that easily?"
"Why aren't you afraid of us?" Pansy hissed, trying with all her might to keep the barrier up. "The whole world is afraid of our lord and his followers."
"I grew up to be an assassin," Heero said calmly, walking slowly to retrieve his gun from the forest floor. "And I was modified to be perfect. I have no need for fear."
"Everybody's afraid of something!" Pansy argued, hating that Heero was barely paying any attention to her.
"Your right," Heero said softly, picking up the gun and turning around. He checked it over and began walking back to Pansy, who was now turning white from the pain in her foot. "I do have my fears, though I don't need them. I'm afraid that Duo will leave me, and that the wars will start again. I'm afraid that I'll be needed to save the damn day." His eyes shifted the green.
Pansy gasped in shock.
"And I'm afraid that someone will find out our secret," Harry said. "And that my whole world will be taken from me. I'm afraid that the people I love will die."
"Y-your secret?"
"I'm Harry Potter." Blue eyes returned. "And Heero Yuy."
Pansy snarled in anger and bent to pull the knife from her foot. In a new, anger filled surge of energy she lunged forwards and drove the knife into Heero's left shoulder. Twisting it painfully to cause maximum damage. "Potter is dead! I saw him myself."
Blue eyes returned to green and the boy broke away. "Pansy," Harry whispered. "Believe it or not, but Heero's body was built to tolerate pain. This whole body has been modified to be stronger, better then everyone else's. He's survived the odds all his life - you can't beat him."
Blue bled back into the green. "I eliminate all obstacles."
With one punch, Heero absolutely shattered the barrier spell. With another, he knocked Pansy into a tree, and with a third he broke about ten ribs, thus, eliminating the obstacle.
"I'm not what you think I am." Heero told the dying girl, pulling the knife from his shoulder. "I am the perfect soldier, a Gundam pilot and an assassin."
Then, to make sure Pansy stayed dead, Heero checked his gun and shot its final bullet into the dead girls still heart.
Tears began spilling as he looked at the dead girl. "I don't want to kill anymore," he whispered. I shouldn't have to." He collapsed onto his knees, his eyes locked on the blood staining the black clothing. "I'm so sorry..."
And then he passed out.
===
Duo rushed down the empty hallways of Hogwarts. He didn't care if his three friends were chasing after him. He didn't care if the paintings shouted at him for breaking the rules. Heero was in trouble, that's all that mattered. The gunshot echoed in his ears, he had heard it from the tower.
"Duo!" Wufei growled, suddenly appearing in front of the frantic pilot. "Calm down, he'll be alright!"
Deathscythes pilot attempted to dodge, but Wufei anticipated the move and managed to pin him to the ground.
"Dammit Wufei!" The boy shouted, "let me up!" He struggled, vainly for the Chinese boy was clearly stronger. "He's in trouble!"
Quatre caught up to them, panting slightly. "Duo," he said as calmly as he could. "Heero is a Perfect Soldier, and Harry is a Perfect Wizard. Nothing can beat that combination!"
The words did nothing to sooth the American. "He needs me! I want to be there!"
"Let him up," Trowa commanded. "He will know best."
Reluctantly, Wufei let Duo up and the three pilots watched as their friend continued running. They were about to follow when two people coughed behind them.
Turning around revealed Professor's Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall. Argus Filch suddenly appeared as well.
"K'so!"
"I think an explanation is in order," Dumbledore said softly, tapping one slippered foot on the ground. The other clenched his hand tightly. In his anger, sparks were flying from the tip. "But I'm sure that we can wait until Mr. Maxwell returns."
===
Duo raced across the Hogwarts grounds. His heart pounded in fear, and his hair flapped loosely behind him as though trying to hold him back. The gunshot he had heard might have been a warning shot, but it had been ten minutes ago. Something might have happened between then and now.
Stopping a moment, Duo frowned. Never before had he had trouble finding his koibito but for some reason no sign could be found.
Two consecutive bangs, clearly gunshots, came from the forest. Duo's heart nearly stopped with both fear and relief. With renewed hope, he began racing towards and through the trees. Branches scratched at his skin, some drawing blood. His hair, usually tightly bound snagged on twigs, some of them pulling painfully and breaking off to remain tangled.
Minutes later he arrived next to a dead, black-clad, masked body. "A... Death Eater?" He wondered softly. A few yards away lay another body, dead as well. Duo removed the masks and took in the sight of Blaize Zabini and Terry Boot, taking a moment to close their eyes. "So Harry was right... but these are just kids! Why would he send such inexperienced fighters?"
A cry of pain echoed in the nearby trees, and the sound of flesh meeting flesh. Harsh words met Duo's ears, frightening words.
"I'm not what you think I am. I am the Perfect Soldier, a Gundam pilot and an assassin."
Softer words that Duo didn't hear because he was racing towards that voice, stealth forgotten. He found Heero in time to see Wing Zero's pilot fall to his knees in front of yet another Death Eaters body.
"I'm so sorry..." and then he passed out.
With a sob of relief, Duo rushed to the boy, gathered him close and let his tears fall. He didn't care that Heero's blood was spilling onto his clothes, or that his hair was trailing in the mud. Still in a half-dazed state, he pulled out his wand and whispered the most powerful healing charm he knew. He took another moment to gather Heero's weapons, hide them expertly, and lifted the surprisingly light body of his boyfriend. Carrying him back to the castle and back to bed.
Upon reaching the front steps, his plans abruptly changed and his heart thudded again. For there stood, not only Wufei Quatre and Trowa, but also Snape, McGonagall and Dumbledore.
===========================================
AN Review and I'll update.
.
See you all then, and thank you so much for reading and/or reviewing this. It means a lot, even if I don't have the energy to thank you all one by one. If I did, I would, I swear! Thanks again!
OH! And from last chapter, "La Cucuratcha" is actually something I probably spelt wrong. It's the Mexian cockroach jumping song. I just randomly popped into my head and I thought, hey! I'll use that!
===========================================
Chapter 9
"Man Wufei!" Duo laughed, dancing down the corridor. "I never thought I'd say this but I'm suddenly *glad* you're a Justice Ranting freak."
"And I never thought I'd be thankful to hear Duo-logic," Wufei countered. "That mess of words was enough to make *my* head spin."
"Why, thank you."
Duo continued down the hallway, humming the Mexican cockroach stomping song under his breath and stamping at the appropriate beats.
"Wufei, you need to learn how to control your temper!" Quatre chided, catching up with his friend and giving him a light punch on the arm. "What if he understood what you were saying?"
"I would have picked a different language," Wufei stated proudly. "He deserved to have that said to him, it's his own fault he didn't understand what I was saying."
They arrived at their dormitories, said the recently changed password: "Green Spandex" (chosen by Duo) and stepped inside. Heero was standing next to a window, his back to his friends, looking out at the Hogwarts grounds. However, the boy that the four Gundam Pilots may physically be the same, magically he had a much stronger magical aura then before. The power flowing though his blood seemed to have doubled since the last time Duo had seen him. But, right now that didn't matter.
"HEE-CHAN!"
Heero turned around, vivid green eyes clearly unhappy.
"Er... Harry-kun?"
"Both, actually." Heero said in Harry's voice. "My body wasn't strong enough for Heero to return to it, so I entered his body for the time being." The boy standing across from them sighed heavily and moved to sit down in the couch in front of the fire. "Heero's kind of my conscious right now, a little voice in the back of my head. When we switch his features will return."
Duo gave a tremendous sniffle and rushed to envelope the boy in a tight, rib-cracking hug. "We'll find a way to get you two separated again," he whispered. "I promise!"
Then he stepped back a micro-step and proceeded to poke and prod at all of Heero's new features. His hair had turned from chocolate brown to midnight black and his eyes were obviously Harry's. He seemed micrometer shorter then before and a tiny smattering of barely visible freckles danced over his newly turned up button nose. Duo grinned, freckles were fun! His skin was still tanned, eyes still slanted from his Asian heritage. And the scar on his forehead had once again been covered up with Muggle make-up.
"But first," Harry/Heero said softly, motioning for them all to sit down. "We have a few more things to explain to you about us, and about Voldemort..."
===
November first, the front page article of every Magical newspaper, magazine and other literary source in the world was the same. "Harry Potter, dead. Reason's unknown." Quatre managed to get a copy of the Daily Prophet and the group sat around their common room reading it carefully.
-On Tuesday October thirtieth, Harry Potter was pronounced dead. During class earlier that day numerous bystanders were astounded when The Boy Who Lived collapsed due to what seemed to be a headache and stress. Many of Potter's classmates informed the press that he had been suffering from these headaches since the beginning of the school year.
His best friend and roommate, Ronald Weasley also informed us that Potter had been suffering from nightmares for years. These nightly terrors were apparently sent to him by none other then You-Know-Who though a link that seemed to have been forged sixteen years ago. Dreams that left Harry screaming in his sleep and clawing at his skin. Many times Mr. Weasley would help his friend clean his wounds and heal them after a night of watching him suffer.
Many times before this, Potter had apparently collapsed around the Hogwarts campus, suffering from 'visions'.
"He (Potter) was always so brave," friend and classmate Hermione Granger sobbed when asked. "He took his suffering in stride and didn't complain when so many others would have. He always put on a cheerful face and told us not to worry, even when people began spreading rumors about him." At this point Miss Granger seemed to anger and began shouting at Daily Prophet reporter, Atsuko Shiori in her grief based fury.
Other students from different houses commented on Potter's seemingly perfectly balanced life.
"He was a goody-goody," yearmate Pansy Parkinson snorted when questioned. "Always going around and trying to help everybody with their problems instead of trying to fix his own." Before the Prophet could question her further another yearmate in his anger, knocked her unconscious and stormed away.
By the time the Daily Prophet was allowed in to confirm that Mr. Potter was indeed dead, his body had disappeared. It is rumored that You-Know-Who has stolen the body for unknown reasons...-
The article went on to display a few of Harry's most proud moments, including the Sorceress stone incident, the Goblet of Fire story and the Hogwarts attack during sixth year. Also included were Quidditch moments and a brief summary of Harry's relationship with his "boyfriend" Draco Malfoy.
At that point Duo snorted and threw the paper into the fire. He looked over at the pensive, blue eyed Heero and sighed.
"Hee-chan?" He asked, almost timidly before realizing he had nothing to ask.
Heero looked up, focusing his eyes on Duo and attempting to smile. With downcast violet eyes, Duo scooted closer to the boy and rested his head in the crook of Heero's neck. Pressing into a close hug, the American boy sighed.
"Do you know any spell that will take us back home?"
Heero murmured a negative reply. Standing by the fire, Trowa spoke up.
"I fear that we will have a few problems to solve before we can leave here, Duo."
The four boys looked at him, knowing exactly what he meant and hating that he was right.
"We will no doubt be put under surveillance in the very near future." Trowa continued, staring at the dancing flames. "You all know the only reason we weren't mentioned in that article is because they didn't want to anger the Japanese Ministry of Magic into a new war. This ministry is having enough problems with just Voldemort on the loose."
"Wimps," Duo muttered.
"In any case," Trowa continued, ignoring Duo. "We will have many problems and not only here at school. Now that Harry is dead and the world knows about it, it will be the perfect time for Voldemort to attack. His ideal way to attack would naturally be just to invade the castle during a moment that the guard is down, such as a meal or passing period. But I fear he is more intelligent then that. He will send a small attack first to make sure that Harry is indeed dead and gone."
"That's what he's planning," Heero confirmed. "I had a vision of one of his latest Death Eater meetings. He plans to send four of the weaker to see how long they last and judge the defences around Hogwarts." He sighed, "damn these pointless wars, will humanity ever learn?"
Wufei looked up from his place sitting against the wall. In his lap, Hiei nuzzled gently against his fingers purring softly. "We need to get stronger," he said determinedly. "If we could spend a little extra time training, or trying to strengthen our magic we might have a fair chance."
Quatre frowned thoughtfully. "If we do this in shifts," he began, "two of us could study in the library and the others could practice sparing here or in the tower." He pointed at the secret opening behind the fireplace. "It is the ideal place really."
The others were unsure.
"They'll place monitoring spells in here," Duo reminded them. "Or they'll send a student to live with us... Heck, Hiei over there could be their spy." The idea was a little farfetched but there was a possibility.
"Hiei is no spy," Wufei muttered. "He's always with me, they don't have a chance to hex him."
Little Hiei purred out his agreement, arching his back and Wufei continued to pet his back and behind his ears.
"I hate war." Quatre muttered, sinking into the cushions of his chair. "It seems like that's all we do, fight in wars."
The group of boys was silent after that.
===
In the early hours of a cold, damp Saturday morning, a dark shape was prowling near the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Up in one of the towers facing the lake, a dark figure stood in the blackened window, not even an outline visible. The figures eyes cut directly towards the dark shape, watching its progress across the dark lawn.
Suddenly, another shape appeared on the lawn, sneaking away from the school and towards the oncoming black thing. However, this thing seemed to shine in the moonlight. The light from the nearly full moon revealing it to be a silverish fox. It bounded straight to the other animal in a playful manner, encouraging the other to bound and play with it. After a while, the black dog lay down and curled with the fox.
With a sigh, Duo left the window and headed to bed.
Down on the lawn, Harry curled up his fox form next to that of his godfathers dog formed body. Sirius stank of sweat and dirt and fear, and in Harry's presence, relief.
With a gentle nudge of his nose and a soft but commanding bark, Sirius managed to convince both himself and Harry to get back onto their paws. Then with a tilt of his head, he gestured that they should move into the forest so they could talk. They left the lawn for the yawning darkness beyond the calm lake. Once inside the trees and out of sight they took their human forms and embraced tightly, eyes tightly shut to chase away their emotional tears.
"*Harry!*" Sirius gasped, seemingly trying to break the poor boys ribs, "I was so scared, the paper said you had died..."
Harry hugged the man back just as fiercely, tears threatening in the corners of his green eyes. "I'm sorry I worried you," he whispered. "But the paper is right, my body died a few days ago."
There was a brief silence with that statement before: "Where's Heero?"
"I'm here."
The deeper voice of The Perfect Soldier spoke instead of the soothing tone of The Boy Who Lived. Heero took control of their body, pushing a complaining Harry to the side. Taking a much firmer grip on their Godfather he let relief pour through his soul as well as Harry's. No other change was noticeable until Sirius broke away form the hug to look.
"Both of you are in there?" The ex-convict asked wonderingly, staring at the Heero he had met during the summer. Met and vowed to protect as he had with Harry.
There was a brief nod and a sparkle of blue eyes. "It's confusing as hell, but we're a whole person again. Duo's enjoying it, so it's not a complete loss."
Silence echoed.
"Just as long as you're safe," Sirius decided rushing in for another hug. "You're *my* Harry at heart, no matter what body you wear."
Apparently the sappy reunion became too much for the three, who were unused to such emotional displays and they sat down on the forest floor to discuss what they should do.
"Voldemort is bound to move," Heero told the man. Abruptly, his eyes changed to green and the few barely noticeable changes took place that signified Harry had once again taken control. "We just don't know when, and it's not like the headmaster trusts Heero right now... you'll have to tell him for us Sirius." Blue resurfaced in Heero's eyes.
"I was getting to that!" Came the mildly whining complaint. "Anyway, all we know is that only a few minions will arrive sometime soon. You can report that for us right?"
Sirius nodded, an amused expression dancing across his face. "Fighting, boys?"
Harry took over so he could stick out his tongue in a childish display of playfulness.
"Stupid dog," Heero muttered after Harry receded.
"I'll make an appearance in a few days," Sirius told them. "I have to stop by Moony's to tell him I'm still alive."
Heero rolled his eyes and changed into his wolf form.
"...Weren't you a fox before?" The man called Padfoot asked, confused.
Blue eyes glinted in the light and Sirius gave a sound of understanding. When Heero was in control, they were a wolf, but when Harry was in control they were a fox. Then with one last hug Sirius walked into the forest and out of Hogwarts bounds to apparate away. Heero on the other hand raised his nose into the air and sniffed carefully for danger. Smelling none, he took off towards the castle and his comfy, Duo-warmed bed.
With a wolfish grin he snuck all the way towards the secret door closest to their dorms. Once there he switched to human and began making his way to both bed and his koibito.
"Is he alright?" Duo slurred out in his half-asleep state, curling his body against that of his two-in-one boyfriend.
"Hn."
===
Madam Pomphrey paced. Back and forth, back and forth, from bed two to bed seven, back and forth. She had been doing this for the past hour or so, not noticing anything else around her. Such as the over-flowing bathroom just a few beds away. Or the fact that she was running low in many of her sedative potions.
"Poppy?"
Back and forth, back and forth...
"Poppy, about Mr. Yuy..."
Step, step, step, turn, pause, glance at bed four where Harry Potter had died, sigh, step, step, step...
"POPPY! THE MUSHROOMS ARE ATTACKING!"
"Huh?" Madam Pomphrey jolted out of her self inflicted shame and turned bewildered eyes to stare at the headmaster. Said man was currently twitching his mustache as though trying to hold back his laughter. "Are you alright headmaster?"
"Yes Poppy, I just wanted to know a little more about the brief time that Mr. Yuy spent here. Was there anything else you needed to talk to us about?"
Poppy frowned, biting her lip and turning her eyes downward. Mr. Yuy, the Asian boy who looked so much like Mr. Potter. Potter, who had died under her watch...
Step, step, step, turn...
The headmaster sighed and sat down on bed three. "Poppy this information could be very important."
The medi-witch stopped pacing again and turned to face the elderly wizard. "Well, at first his power level was very normal," he recalled, "but after a few days it began to increase at a very unusual pace. He was still in his coma so I didn't think too much of it at the time." She paused, thinking. "After the second day when I was checking his vitals, I noticed that his blood pressure was unusually low, even for one who is well fit and properly nourished. His blood sample was very odd as well as though he had been experimented on before. He had an amazing amount of scars all over his body, they looked like battle scars. Even bullet wounds!" Poppy seemed to have completely forgotten about her previous woes.
"Also, I noticed that the other boy, Mr. Maxwell had a lot of scars as well. He sleeps in only a pair of sweat-pants," here she flushed slightly, "and his whole upper torso and arms were covered in very old scars, bullet wounds and the such." Her voice trailed off. "Mr. Chang carried a steel sword under his white coat," she remembered faintly, "I didn't notice anything else."
Dumbledore was silent. "Battle scars?" He repeated, "I would like to see these scars..."
===
"MAXWELL! What are the two greatest uses for a frozen Ashwinder egg?"
Duo sighed and looked up at the potions master trying to intimidate him. If anything, Deathscythes pilot was more annoyed with the constant questions then he was intimidated by the under-evolved ape in front of him.
"Ashwinder eggs are of great value for use in Love Potions and can be eaten whole as a cure for Ague, Snape-baka." He recited the line from Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them easily, once again thanking his lucky stars he was blessed with a photographic memory.
Snape scowled at the long haired American, hating that the boy had answered his every question perfectly. The lesson continued where he had left off a moment before.
Duo let out an almost silent sigh, frowning down at the only table he had been able to find a seat at. All the others had been mysteriously full when he and Heero had entered the room twenty minutes prior. The whole class, Slytherins and Hufflepuffs alike had scowled at the two boys. As a result, the two war hero's were forced to sit at the back of the classroom and were constantly being attacked by both Snape and students alike.
Up in Transfiguration it was the same story for Quatre, Trowa and Wufei. Professor McGonagall had quite firmly forbid them to write their notes in their usual way. They were then told they had to recopy their notes from Japanese by the next class and that they could not speak in their 'first' language. The boys took it all in stride, though, knowing that arguing would only make their situation worse and get them kicked out.
At breakfast earlier that morning no seats had been available to them so they simply left the dining hall and made their way to the kitchen. The house elves spoiled them with a meal that was twenty times better then the one being served upstairs.
In the halls, they were constantly snubbed and mocked. Wufei was on the verge of pulling out his katana and slashing them all to pieces but restrained himself at the very of his honor.
And this had been going on for nearly a week.
Dinner time was a sight to behold. The five boys had seated themselves on the floor, sitting in a circle and eating. They were not only on the floor, but sitting around a low table Duo had conjured between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, the two middle house tables. Trowa had erected a sort of barrier to keep mysteriously flying food off of their uniforms.
"So," Duo said calmly in German, reaching across their table for a small dish of soy sauce. "How was class today?"
"It was alright," Quatre smiled, using his personal favorite language, that of South Africa. He carefully took a small bite of his rice ball, making sure not to drop anything in his lap.
"If you don't mind your death being predicted twenty times in one hour," Wufei added in his own native tongue. "By some crazy Divinations teacher." He grabbed the soy sauce back from Duo and emptied the dish over his sushi. On his shoulder, Hiei mewed and eyed the food on the table with a predatory look. The cat pounced, only to be caught by Heero and returned to Wufei's shoulder.
Trowa smiled and calmly put in his own two cents. "Care Of Magical Creatures was interesting," he said softly in Spanish, "the Augurey's song is so beautiful. Most of the Gryffindors were crying though." He took a bite of chicken and washed it down with a little pumpkin juice.
Duo recovered from his Wufei-glaring and snickered at his words. "Did you know they only sing when its about to rain?" He asked, this time in the hard to learn dialect of Hawaii. "But wizards used to think that it meant death." He laughed again, "morons."
Heero cracked a smile. "Was Hagrid nice to you?" He asked softly in Japanese, "he must love you for your ability with animals."
Trowa nodded quickly and answered appropriately in yet another different language. Those translator charms did come in handy for pissing off a school.
By now every eye in the school was staring in both anger, resentment and annoyance at the five boys on their floor. Anger for being the closest to Harry when he died, resentment that they didn't understand the conversation, and annoyance that they were even there. However there was absolutely nothing that they could do without the consent of a teacher. Lucky for them that teacher was fast in approaching. Professor Snape seemed very angry that his path to the teachers table was being blocked.
"What do you think you're doing?" He snarled, planting his hands on his hips and glaring down his nose at the five on the floor.
Any other student would have shrieked and ran from that look, but the exchange students merely blinked owlishly at him.
"We're eating our meal and discussing todays lessons, Snape-baka," Duo answered innocently, gesturing at their meal and table.
"Why are you on the floor?" Snape growled, "and in the way of people who might want to pass."
At that moment a casually throw but poorly aimed chicken leg came in contact with Trowa's barrier and bounced to hit Snape in the face. The man didn't look amused and quickly shouted out an order for detention.
"We're on the floor because there is no room for us at a house table, Snape-baka," Quatre answered, blinking sad blue eyes up at the fuming man.
At his words every student seemed to shuffle to close any gaps that might hint at extra room at the tables. Snape scowled at the Gryffindors first, then at every other table, including the Slytherins. "Perhaps you should come to the meal sooner if you want a place at a table." He grit out, clenching his fists.
"Of course, Snape-baka," Heero said in a monotonous voice. "We'll just run here from the north tower next time."
"See that you do." The Potions Master snapped.
===
The water of the lake rippled gently as Harry placed his two feet in its shallow shore. He was wearing his blue shorts and green tank-top and staring at the moon, reflected on the calm surface of the water. The light of the moon bounced off of the weapons hung on his barely clad form, off the wands strapped to each arm and concealed with a simple charm.
"Perhaps we should tell them our secret," he said softly to Heero. "Maybe if they knew, they would understand and leave the others alone. They're all so angry at them..."
=They'll think us insane,= Heero shot him down, as only he could. =A crazy Japanese exchange student who thinks he's Harry Potter.=
"You could be right," Harry admitted, "but there are so many things about the magical world that even Dumbledore can't predict. Even Voldemort doesn't know everything, though at least he's been trying."
=Testing the link again have you,= Heero teased. =Seeing how far into his mind you can see without him noticing?=
"Maybe," Harry grinned, wadding a little deeper into the lake's freezing waters. "Who are you to tell me not to?"
Abruptly they switched control, a tingle racing through their shared body as Heero stepped forward and bent to trail one hand though the knee deep water.
"I'm you," He answered calmly, staring into the reflection. The image of himself that was Harry. The boy in the water smiled at the stoic pilot.
=That's right,= the image said. =We're the same person, with the same desires and dreams. With the same future and the same past.=
Heero chuckled, standing upright again. A little ways away a branch cracked and a muffled grunt was heard. The boy in the water stiffened slightly but otherwise didn't let the new presence know it had been detected. Three sets of footsteps began softly crunching though the forest and Heero inwardly sighed at their lack of stealth.
Duo would have a heart attack if that were anybody he knew. Nobody disgraced Shinigami with poor stealth.
Finally, three black clad figures stepped out of the cover of the trees. They were obviously lower class Death Eaters because none of them were pointing their wands at him and they were bickering amongst themselves.
A gunshot later they were all on guard, looking at Heero through their white masks. Three wands finally pointed at him.
"Look at what we have here," the female Death Eater Heero had already identified as Pansy Parkinson sneered, taking another step closer. "A poor little student out after hours." She chuckled in what she thought was an evil way and nodded at the other two.
The others, Terry Boot and Blaize Zabini took the que and began advancing. Obviously the three Pure-blooded wizards had no idea what a single bullet could do to them. And what might be the result when Heero was the one who shot that bullet.
===
Quatre sat up straight in his and Trowa's bed. Perspiration dripped down his over heated face and he gasped painfully. His space heart was throbbing with the memory of his dream.
"*Heero!*" He gasped, "he's in trouble!"
Trowa cracked open one green eye, allowed the blonds words to travel to his brain and bolted from bed. He arrived at Duo and Heero's room, just across the hall from his own and burst in. Duo was there, curled around a pillow with his hair splayed out around him, but Heero was nowhere to be seen. Quatre arrived just behind Trowa, one hand over his heart, the other clutching the doorframe.
"Duo!" The Arabian gasped, "Heero's in trouble?"
Duo snapped awake much faster then Trowa had and leapt from his bed, throwing the pillow aside. "The Death Eaters?" He asked hurriedly, throwing on his cloths.
Quatre nodded, moving slightly as Trowa hurried towards Wufei's room. There was a muffled thump as the Heavyarms pilot tripped over Hiei's small sleeping basket. Wufei awoke rather quickly after that and met them down in their common room.
Duo was frantic.
===
"I have a question," Heero said, stepping out of the lake and walking calmly towards the three Death Eaters. He passed their shocked forms and continued into the forest. "Why do you serve that snake Voldemort?"
The three robed figures hissed and spun around in anger. They wasted no time firing off simple hexes. Heero dodged them easily and continued walking.
"Don't you speak his name!" Pansy shrieked. "You have no right! Our lord has promised us power and protection!" She drew herself up to stand tall, proud of that fact.
"I see," Hero said softly. "So a man who can't kill a baby is going to protect you? You have the whole of Britain after you blood, and he's going to keep you safe?" With a snort, Heero entered the Forbidden Forest, dodging a few more hexes. The three arrogant Death Eaters followed him, their footsteps telling him exactly how far behind him they were, and how seriously they took him.
"You arrogant fool!" Blaize seethed. "You know nothing!"
"Enough talk!" Terry barked. "We'll kill him here and continue on our mission."
Heero stopped underneath a large tree and turned around. "The Perfect Soldier hears your words," he said lowly, so low that the three didn't hear him, "and I will not die. The Boy-Who-Lived will not die." He smirked again and let out a low chuckle. Eyes glinted green for a second with a flash of panic, before returning to blue.
He pulled out a gun. The metal glinted in the faded moonlight. With two well placed bullets both Blaize and Terry hit the ground - dead. Neither boy knew what a gun was, though the knowledge probably wouldn't have helped them any. Even Duo knew better then to stand before Heero's gun. The stoic pilot was an excellent marksman, and he aimed to kill.
Pansy shrieked in outrage and cast her first spell, flinging Heero's weapon away from his hand. The Death Eater chuckled from behind her mask, following the boy a little deeper into the forest, after the weapon.
"Your stupid Muggle contraption has no use to you now," she said, casting a barrier spell around herself.
Heero grunted in amusement, already having located the barriers weakness. Every spell had a weakness, and barriers were no exception. There had to be a place where it came together, a sort of crease. Pansy chose to place that at her feet, the last place usually looked. Pulling out a knife he hurled it towards Pansy's feet. The weapon broke through the weakest spot of the spell and sank into the girls flesh with a slick sound. He must have missed the bones by pure luck.
"I'm a soldier, a perfect marksman and not somebody to be messed with." Heero said calmly. "I've fought in more wars then I care to admit and you think you can defeat me that easily?"
"Why aren't you afraid of us?" Pansy hissed, trying with all her might to keep the barrier up. "The whole world is afraid of our lord and his followers."
"I grew up to be an assassin," Heero said calmly, walking slowly to retrieve his gun from the forest floor. "And I was modified to be perfect. I have no need for fear."
"Everybody's afraid of something!" Pansy argued, hating that Heero was barely paying any attention to her.
"Your right," Heero said softly, picking up the gun and turning around. He checked it over and began walking back to Pansy, who was now turning white from the pain in her foot. "I do have my fears, though I don't need them. I'm afraid that Duo will leave me, and that the wars will start again. I'm afraid that I'll be needed to save the damn day." His eyes shifted the green.
Pansy gasped in shock.
"And I'm afraid that someone will find out our secret," Harry said. "And that my whole world will be taken from me. I'm afraid that the people I love will die."
"Y-your secret?"
"I'm Harry Potter." Blue eyes returned. "And Heero Yuy."
Pansy snarled in anger and bent to pull the knife from her foot. In a new, anger filled surge of energy she lunged forwards and drove the knife into Heero's left shoulder. Twisting it painfully to cause maximum damage. "Potter is dead! I saw him myself."
Blue eyes returned to green and the boy broke away. "Pansy," Harry whispered. "Believe it or not, but Heero's body was built to tolerate pain. This whole body has been modified to be stronger, better then everyone else's. He's survived the odds all his life - you can't beat him."
Blue bled back into the green. "I eliminate all obstacles."
With one punch, Heero absolutely shattered the barrier spell. With another, he knocked Pansy into a tree, and with a third he broke about ten ribs, thus, eliminating the obstacle.
"I'm not what you think I am." Heero told the dying girl, pulling the knife from his shoulder. "I am the perfect soldier, a Gundam pilot and an assassin."
Then, to make sure Pansy stayed dead, Heero checked his gun and shot its final bullet into the dead girls still heart.
Tears began spilling as he looked at the dead girl. "I don't want to kill anymore," he whispered. I shouldn't have to." He collapsed onto his knees, his eyes locked on the blood staining the black clothing. "I'm so sorry..."
And then he passed out.
===
Duo rushed down the empty hallways of Hogwarts. He didn't care if his three friends were chasing after him. He didn't care if the paintings shouted at him for breaking the rules. Heero was in trouble, that's all that mattered. The gunshot echoed in his ears, he had heard it from the tower.
"Duo!" Wufei growled, suddenly appearing in front of the frantic pilot. "Calm down, he'll be alright!"
Deathscythes pilot attempted to dodge, but Wufei anticipated the move and managed to pin him to the ground.
"Dammit Wufei!" The boy shouted, "let me up!" He struggled, vainly for the Chinese boy was clearly stronger. "He's in trouble!"
Quatre caught up to them, panting slightly. "Duo," he said as calmly as he could. "Heero is a Perfect Soldier, and Harry is a Perfect Wizard. Nothing can beat that combination!"
The words did nothing to sooth the American. "He needs me! I want to be there!"
"Let him up," Trowa commanded. "He will know best."
Reluctantly, Wufei let Duo up and the three pilots watched as their friend continued running. They were about to follow when two people coughed behind them.
Turning around revealed Professor's Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall. Argus Filch suddenly appeared as well.
"K'so!"
"I think an explanation is in order," Dumbledore said softly, tapping one slippered foot on the ground. The other clenched his hand tightly. In his anger, sparks were flying from the tip. "But I'm sure that we can wait until Mr. Maxwell returns."
===
Duo raced across the Hogwarts grounds. His heart pounded in fear, and his hair flapped loosely behind him as though trying to hold him back. The gunshot he had heard might have been a warning shot, but it had been ten minutes ago. Something might have happened between then and now.
Stopping a moment, Duo frowned. Never before had he had trouble finding his koibito but for some reason no sign could be found.
Two consecutive bangs, clearly gunshots, came from the forest. Duo's heart nearly stopped with both fear and relief. With renewed hope, he began racing towards and through the trees. Branches scratched at his skin, some drawing blood. His hair, usually tightly bound snagged on twigs, some of them pulling painfully and breaking off to remain tangled.
Minutes later he arrived next to a dead, black-clad, masked body. "A... Death Eater?" He wondered softly. A few yards away lay another body, dead as well. Duo removed the masks and took in the sight of Blaize Zabini and Terry Boot, taking a moment to close their eyes. "So Harry was right... but these are just kids! Why would he send such inexperienced fighters?"
A cry of pain echoed in the nearby trees, and the sound of flesh meeting flesh. Harsh words met Duo's ears, frightening words.
"I'm not what you think I am. I am the Perfect Soldier, a Gundam pilot and an assassin."
Softer words that Duo didn't hear because he was racing towards that voice, stealth forgotten. He found Heero in time to see Wing Zero's pilot fall to his knees in front of yet another Death Eaters body.
"I'm so sorry..." and then he passed out.
With a sob of relief, Duo rushed to the boy, gathered him close and let his tears fall. He didn't care that Heero's blood was spilling onto his clothes, or that his hair was trailing in the mud. Still in a half-dazed state, he pulled out his wand and whispered the most powerful healing charm he knew. He took another moment to gather Heero's weapons, hide them expertly, and lifted the surprisingly light body of his boyfriend. Carrying him back to the castle and back to bed.
Upon reaching the front steps, his plans abruptly changed and his heart thudded again. For there stood, not only Wufei Quatre and Trowa, but also Snape, McGonagall and Dumbledore.
===========================================
AN Review and I'll update.
.