Wild-filly: ^_^ yes I'm back!

Muses: *assorted grumbling and complaints*

Wild-filly: And I have a sad announcement to have... MoonWraith will no longer be in the chapter disclaimers, as since I have forgotten what the previous plot was, she no longer has anything to complain about (in this story at least)

MoonWraith: humph! I'll be back.. you'll see *packs up crudely-made protest signs and clatters out of room, smacking into various muses who didn't get out of the way fast enough*

Wild-filly: by the way, MoonWraith and I have been writing a Dragonball Z fic called "A Fairytale Work Experience" - we haven't done very much of it yet, but feel free to have a look at it and maybe review to say whether or not it should be continued ^_^ You know what - I'm semi tempted to actually write a fic which is nothing but disclaimer, just to see what people think of it *pensive expression*

Kaioshin: uhhhhh.. bad idea I'm afraid

Wild-filly: Really? Oh well.. there goes my dream of posting possibly the only COMPLETELY pointless fic on fanfiction.net

Marik: *shakes head in disdain* Are you going to start the chapter or not?

Wild-filly: oh yeah, that's what I was going to do ^_^;;;

Muses: *sweatdrop*

Disclaimer: Wild-filly still hasn't been donated the rights to Dragonball Z, Harry Potter, Yu-Gi-Oh!, the television remote control, the fossilized tubs of icecream in the freezer or her toothbrush, however she would like to add that she started this fic before the 5th book came out - therefore Fred and George are still in Hogwarts, however Sirius is dead *sniff* in order to try and keep up with the original book without re-writing everything.

***Chapter 13***

Dumbledore hurried through the castle, ignoring the startled stares of the general student body following him. The fact that the Headmaster was agitated enough to break into a run was more than slightly disturbing - perhaps now would be a good time to find a place to hide or write wills. Flitwick was nearly flattened coming out of his classroom as the rest of the class decided it was safer inside.

Scrambling back to his feet, clustered by sheepish pupils, the tiny wizard squeaked in complaint, 'what on earth is wrong with all of you?'

Fred and George were the last to enter, both twins looking considerably less rattled than the rest of the class, 'Dumbledore's looking worried about something; went tearing off towards his study', commented George.

Flitwick furrowed his brow. Albus must be going to alert the Order of the Phoenix, there was no other explanation, unless of course he had just remembered a previously-forgotten packet of muggle sweets he had acquired. Clearing his throat and pushing his way through the bunch of students, Flitwick called, 'nothing to worry about probably; I'll go see what's the matter, you all just go to your next class'.

Exchanging anxious glances and forming a tight-knit group, the Charms class exited, walking past Flitwick much the same way as water breaks around a rock. Fred and George remained nonchalant, lurking at the back of the group in order to magically attach a couple of 'Hex Me' signs onto the backs of the unfortunate Slytherins with whom they shared a class.

Flitwick chose to ignore this and hurried off towards what remained of the stone gargoyle, meeting up with McGonagal, Hagrid and Snape on the way. The Order was obviously being summoned.

*

Kaioshin continued the fairly low flight, weaving occasionally to avoid towering oak trees that seemed to erupt from nowhere from the uneven tree line. Vegeta was following close behind, holding back a snide comment that he could fly much faster than the pace the Supreme Kai was setting. However, even Vegeta had to give the ultimate overlord responsible for enuring that everything in the universe kept operating a little respect - in Vegeta's case, this meant toning down the insults slightly.

'How much further? We COULD get there a lot faster you know'

Kaioshin didn't even turn around. 'I am trying to focus on the centaurs' energies, but they seem to have a repelling magic of their own. I would appreciate it if you wouldn't distract my attention'.

Vegeta felt snubbed. People who snubbed Vegeta generally didn't live much longer. Vegeta was quite happy about this standard procedure of events, but was not impressed when it was made apparent that this could not act out as normal. The proud Saiyan decided to hold this in insult storing capacity - just in case the stupid little purple elf one day lost his position as supreme deity and needed a favour..

Gohan shook his head, deciding it best just to ignore Vegeta and actually try to help matters instead of plotting to complicate them further. The demi-Saiyan couldn't read minds, but what was on Vegeta's mind was practically tattooed on his forehead. Closing his eyes and letting the ki signatures of the other fighters guide him through the air, Gohan gently cleared his mind and sought to recognise the life signatures of the centaurs.

In the blackness of his concentration, a sketchy image appeared to his far right - an image distorted by the limitations of ki existing in the magical creature, but clear enough to distinguish as having four legs, two arms and a tail. Gohan opened his eyes again, just about to call to the Supreme Kai that he had found them, when his flight guidance wavered and the demi- Saiyan opened his eyes just in time to smack face-first into a tree.

Dazed, covered in suddenly dislodged branches, leaves and acorns, the demi- Saiyan slowly glided to the ground with a distinctly cross-eyed expression. Piccolo slid to a halt in mid air, looking down at where his pupil was curled up on the ground clutching his skull and yelping.

The Namekian shook his head, partially in mirth, partially in exasperation. The kid was too much like Goku for his own good, but it would seem that his head was perhaps not as solid.

Squinting up at the sky, through the sea of stars fluttering around his eyes, Gohan observed the quiet attentions of his sensei. Blushing slightly in embarrassment, Gohan leapt back into the air and took off as fast as he could to catch up with the Supreme Kai and Vegeta. At least the prince hadn't witnessed his fall from grace - else he would never have been allowed to forget it.

Kaioshin had sensed Gohan tapping into the centaur life force and had literally used the demi-Saiyan's head like a map. One of the perks of being Supreme Kai - nobody's mind was safe. Although he was quite thankful this didn't work on other Kais, being as how he was now sharing a planet with the Elder Kai and his fascination for aerobics videos.

As the Kai drew closer and closer to where the centaurs were continuing to gallop, he pondered over just how the universe was coping without him pretending to be watching over it. There was a nasty possibility that said Elder Kai would reinstate himself as Supreme and redecorate and restaff the entire temple on KaioshinKai - the lavender deity shuddered at the mere thought. The sooner he returned, the better.

At last, through the filtering oak trees, a surging herd of centaur emerged; galloping in a strange silence. Vegeta dove down just ahead of them, coming to land directly in front of the leader and putting out a hand. Taken by surprise, the centaur kept going until it was brought to an abrupt halt by the Saiyan prince's hand planted firmly on their chest.

Gohan rolled his eyes - there goes the nice peaceful entrance. It was highly doubtful that the centaurs would help them now after this indignation.

*

The disturbed musing had earlier by Kaioshin was in fact, more than worthy of his concern than the deity had first deemed worthy.

Kibito stood in the only shadowed corner in the Grand Kai's throne room, muttering darkly to himself about just how much trouble his master was going to be in when he got back. He couldn't take much more of this disco- obsessive maniac and his fluorescent wall paper - if Kaioshin-sama didn't return soon, the he would destroy the deity's "secret" stash of contraband computer games just to show him when he got back.

The Grand Kai sat comfortably burrowed in the depths of his sequined cushions, gazing into his own Viewing Orb, with a look he hoped could pass as concentration. In all honesty, the Grand Kai was easily as competent as the Supreme Kai to oversee the universe, but it was hard to take on the job of a being you have never met in person because he's so "holy".

Basically, he was terrified of making a mistake and accidentally bringing on the destruction of the universe. Minor things like that.

Kibito shuffled impatiently; the universe seemed to be continuing in the normal fashion, but if he had to hang around here any longer then it was unlikely that his eyes would ever function the same way again.

'Sir.. do you require any further assistance? If not I will go and try to find a way to find my master, the Saiyans and the Namekian'.

The Grand Kai almost wept in relief, 'no, of course I don't. You go find them then'.

Carefully watching the retreating back of the pink giant, the Grand Kai unceremoniously dumped the Orb onto the glittery floor and heaved a sigh of relief as Kibito slunk out of the room, still partially blinded. That guy really freaked him out.... he had to feel kind of sorry for the Supreme Kai, whoever it was.

Glaring at the Orb, the Grand Kai slumped backwards in the pile of cushions to stare at the shimmering ceiling in a bored stupor - it seemed that the universe was perfectly capable of managing itself without him. Kibito was just being paranoid, after all, if there's a possibility that something is supporting the existence of life, the universe and everything, then it generally isn't a good idea to experiment with what would happen if you took it away.

*

Harry blinked as the castle before him seemed to flicker, and then flicker completely from view. Being a human, he was incapable of seeing the universal fabric swirling around them as Goku heaved himself and the three young wizards from one area to another miles away. However what he did see was the sudden appearance of a misty lake surrounded by ominous weeping willows.

Hermione let go of the Saiyan's armband and stared at him in amazement, 'you could do that without a Portkey?!'

Goku stared at her with a look of utter confusion, 'what's a Portkey? This is called Instant Transmission; it's a fighting technique'.

Ron shuddered; he'd hate to imagine someone using this particular technique in a fight.. just thinking of where this guy's opponent could end up was rather unpleasant.

Harry squinted through the dense cover of the forest enveloping them, 'wasn't Gohan going to meet us here?'

Goku nodded, 'yeah, they should be somewhere nearby, but I can't sense their Ki very easily here'.

A deafening bloodthirsty roar issued from the depths of the forest, causing Ron, Hermione and Harry to leap backwards in fear, but Goku's face to brighten as he stepped forward.

'HEY VEGETA!! CAN YOU HEAR ME??'

Harry glanced at the Saiyan, debating whether or not this was the best of ideas he'd had all day. It was unlikely that anything would attack them with the aliens nearby, or at least unlikely that the attacks would be effective.

The answering cry came from Gohan. 'DAD? WHERE ARE YOU?!'

Goku grinned at the trio, 'this way, come on!' And the fighter took off through the underbrush, travelling at a speed just slow enough for them to follow without getting hopelessly lost, but fast enough for them to think that they were.

When Harry stumbled, panting and heaving into the lighter clearing, his decision to come with the aliens in search of the children was immediately shuffled to the position of worst idea he'd had this year.

Gohan, Vegeta, Piccolo and the Supreme Kai were surrounded by an intimidating group of centaurs, in varying stages of anxiety, concern and boredom. It appeared that one of the centaurs had fired an arrow at Vegeta - there was a small nick on the prince's arm and a chestnut centaur moaning on the ground beside a charred quiver.

The largest centaur, his flanks a deep blue-black and expression murderous, turned sharply towards the line of trees as Goku came crashing through in no show of dignity. His iron-grey eyes then widened in recognition as the three wizards came stumbling after.

'You! You humans have been warned many times before, I will not tolerate this insult!'

With unnerving speed, the centaur drew his bow, cocked and released a sharply-tipped hunting arrow. Barely thinking, Gohan fired a compacted Ki blast, catching the arrow in mid air and sending it smoking to the ground. There was a sudden pain in his back as three centaurs behind him had fired their own arrows, each catching the demi-Saiyan in the spine. There was no way such weapons could threaten the safety of the young man, but it wasn't much fun being treated like a pin cushion just the same.

Charging up a Ki-shield, Gohan burned away the feathered tips of the arrows deeply embedded in his back and discharged the metallic tips. The watching centaurs backed away, expressions unreadable, but cautious just the same. Bane turned to Gohan, a look of dawning comprehension writ over his aged face.

'You're not human, nor are you a wizard.... the aliens Hagrid told us about?'

Gohan nodded, never breaking eye contact with the wise centaurian. This was like some kind of test, which could only really be expected after someone suddenly drops from the sky and hits you in the chest so hard you keel over backwards. Not very dignified for any centaur, let alone Bane.

Arrows were returned to their quivers, bows strung over backs and the circle disbanded. Goku, Harry, Hermione and Ron moved over to join the others as Bane surveyed them carefully.

'I am afraid that I do not have good news for you. The two foals you seek came this way, appearing unable to pinpoint the location of the castle. They were followed by a wizard disguised as a crow for some time until they discovered him. Their discovery was made too late though and they were attacked, knocked unconscious and taken off towards the mountains. The small one with black hair managed to kill their new attacker, but was defeated by the disguised human'.

Vegeta snapped, voice incredulous, 'how could any mere human defeat those boys?! They both carry Saiyan blood in their veins.... My son!'

Bane shook his head, 'they were caught by surprise and not even raw power can overcome a spell. Speed perhaps, but not power'.

Vegeta looked away, face unreadable, but pure fury irradiating from every pore. Goku's expression was serious, 'where exactly did they go?'

'After hearing from Hagrid who these children were we began to follow the path we had seen the Death Eater take. I believe that there may be a hideout in the northern mountains; its exact location I cannot say, but you should be able to find it'.

Goku nodded, 'thank you'. Turning to the adolescent mages standing beside him, Goku spoke sombrely, 'if these wizards were able to overpower the boys, then this is pretty serious - I could take you back to the castle if you want, or you can help us to find the hideout. It will be dangerous though, and I don't want to put your lives in any unnecessary danger'.

Harry shook his head, 'we've fought Voldemort and his Death Eaters before; we could help you in some way. Besides, we want to help you as much as we can... I lost my godfather last year to the Death Eaters; I don't want you to lose your family either'.

Gohan stared at Harry, unaware that the young wizard had lost so much.. Gohan had known about his parents, but not about his godfather - perhaps if they ever got out of this parallel universe and found his brother, maybe he could help..

*

Massive black wings pounding through the crisp mountain air, the elegant dark Pegasus gingerly manoeuvred his way onto a narrow outcrop on the face of a sheer jagged cliff. Iron-shod hooves clattered onto the slippery stone surface and Macnair dismounted, the two demi-Saiyans still magically bound now floating eerily alongside him.

With a malicious grin, the black robed and cowled Death Eater swung an iron gauntleted hand and smacked the scarred creature hard on the rump, ridges biting deep into sensitive flesh. A strangled scream issued from the great horse's mouth, wings thrashing as the creature fought to gain height away from his new master. There was nowhere for him to go but a barren ledge within the magical bindings where he could await his next summoning.

Chuckling brutally to himself, Macnair rolled up his right sleeve, exposing the livid Dark Mark on his upper arm and pressed it carefully against the icy rock of the mountain. The Mark flashed scarlet once, and left a burning imprint on the rocky face before sinking into the stone. Where the Mark was, a trap door appeared, complete with handle in the shape of a writhing serpent emerging from the eye socket of a skull.

Macnair, Goten and Trunks entered the narrow stone passageway - Macnair ducking to avoid being decapitated by random stalactites threatening to bludgeon all in their path. After what seemed like several miles of staggering in pitch blackness, the passage erupted into a freezing stone chamber, tastefully decorated with massive snake sculptures and the odd Death Eater standing guard.

With a casual nod to the masked guardians, Macnair beckoned towards the still-sleeping boys, 'something that might interest the Master. Dolohov's stuff is mine'.

One of the Death Eaters stepped forward, eyes narrowed behind the skull mask, 'you'll be in trouble if you're wasting the Dark Lord's time today - it hasn't been a good one'.

Macnair winced inwardly; if his lordship wasn't having a good day, it would probably be a good idea to stay as far away as possible. But with the chance that these two horrors could wake up at any moment, it wasn't a good one.

He glared through the eye-slits his mask allowed, 'my business is important. Let me past'.

The door behind the two guards rolled back, presenting yet another appealing stone corridor to crawl through. Muttering to himself, Macnair pressed onwards, ignoring the guards whispering behind his back.

After an eternity, he reached the final chamber door, emblazoned with carved serpents with emeralds for eyes. The snakes seemed to leer at him through the musty gloom, sneering at his stumbling advance. Macnair glared back, extending one trembling hand to rap his knuckles sharply on the granite door. Before he could complete the action though, the door swung inwards to admit him, temporarily blinding the Death Eater as bright firelight burst from within.

Tiptoeing as quietly and inoffensively as possible into the chamber, the door swung back to its original place, almost removing Macnair's elbow in the process as he attempted to slowly enter. A venomous snicker came from a high armchair in front of the fire.

'What gift have you brought the Dark Lord, Macnair? Two little children that cost the fool Dolohov's life? He should have been more careful..'

Macnair couldn't work out where the master was addressing him in third person or was talking about Dolohov, but decided to risk speaking.

'My lord, I humbly apologise for invading on your time like this, but these two children possess a strange power I have never witnessed before. I... I thought it may be useful to you'.

The snicker gave way to a gentle snort, 'and what strange power would this be? Mental prowess perhaps? Or maybe intelligence?'

It would not be polite or good for his future health to respond to that decided Macnair in an unusual flash of brilliance. 'Master, one of them killed Dolohov with a beam of light shot from his hands. Neither of them used a wand but both of them have incredible power in their bodies. Is it possible that they could be used as weapons?'

A deafening silence ensued, during which Macnair proceeded to have an elaborate slideshow of his life, until finally Voldemort spoke.

'Very good Macnair. I would never I given you credit for such thought'.

Another silence, this time punctured by a sudden thump. Voldemort rolled one soulless eye towards the floor where Macnair had just collapsed in a dead faint.

'Very well. I take it back'.

*

wild-filly: ^_^ more apologies to Kaye... I must say I'm flattered that you enjoy my writing enough to issue death threats on late updates

Yami Bakura: let me get this straight.... you punish US for death threats, and thank your reviewers for them?!

Wild-filly: *puzzled* I punish you?

Yami Bakura: we're still here aren't we?!

Wild-filly: -_- I think I'll choose to ignore that. Ok, thanks go to the last reviewers ^_^

Kaye

Niori

MoonWraith