Disclaimer: I don't own anything at all, just the plot of this lovely little fic.
Author's Note: I'm glad you all liked the last chapter. It always helps me with inspiration when I receive a review saying that the reader has enjoyed what I've written. Even more so when I find the fic on said reader's favourites list, or that I'm on their favourite authors list.
Summary: The students arrive, and sitting from her place at the Head Table, Usagi watches as Harry, Hermione, and Ron enter the Great Hall. With a dreadful feeling in the pit of her stomach, she knows, somehow, that she made the right choice in returning.
Elite Aurors
By: Leanne
Chapter Seven: Home Sweet...Home?
The two walked slowly away from Hogsmeade and to the gates of Hogwarts. Again, Usagi stopped and looked behind her. It wasn't often that she refused to do something, but this was one of those times. If she had never made such a promise to Lily and James, had they not been betrayed, she would never have had to return to Hogwarts. But then, in the back of her mind, she knew that if Lily and James had never been killed, she probably would have been married to Mamoru when she knew deep down inside, there was only one man for her.
Taking a step forward, Usagi sighed heavily. She had once counted the number of steps from the front gate to the front door; suddenly the number evaded her memory.
Looking up and to the left, she found Remus standing next to her as he promised. She wouldn't have to do this alone; she had him with her. He was going to have to be her support to make it through the next ten months of the school term. Usagi had never depended on someone outside of her court, and for the first time she had given up pretending to be the strong leader she should be.
Closing her eyes, she followed the path she so vividly remembered. The feel of the ground beneath her feet, the warmth of the sun upon her face, the faint echo of laughter past, but this time, this time there was an empty hollow feeling of impending doom weighing upon her shoulders. Quickly her eyes darted across the schoolyard they had covered, searching for the cause of her sudden panic.
Auror training kicked into high gear, Usagi pressed her hand against the school door behind her. Inside she knew, were only the Professors and the Senshi, but in an hours time the school would be bustling with children, some who knew better than others how to defend themselves. Now, now she understood why Albus had asked for her help.
"Rumours supersede the infamous Auror Trainer." Usagi heard from behind her as she tumbled into the school.
Looking up, she found herself looking into the blue twinkling eyes of Albus Dumbledore. Half laughing at his comment, half laughing at the fact she was lying on the school floor, Usagi pulled herself into a seating position and turned to face the Headmaster of Hogwarts.
"Feels like old times again. Sitting down here that is." She giggled, and was helped up off the floor by Remus.
"Your friends are waiting up in your room." Albus said, smiling all the while.
"I am sure they are but I must ask a favour of you. If I give you a list of books I would like for my classes would you be able to have them for me?" Usagi questioned, standing on wobbly legs.
"I am sure I can arrange that my dear. Now I am sure you've had a tiring day. You have an hour to settle into your new office and chambers. Remus, will you show Usagi to her room?"
"Sure." Remus replied simply, taking Usagi's hand into his own.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice, Miss Tsukino." Albus stated as the two walked away, hand in hand.
Home, Usagi was finally home. Hogwarts didn't have the same beauty and architecture that the Palace on the Moon had, but school held so much more for her than a palace on another planet did. Her heart was elated with joy as she scanned the halls, as she had once done when she was a first year. She almost started skipping down the hallway towards the Defence Against the Dark Arts Classroom. She knew that the office of the Professor teaching said class was behind the classroom.
"What has put you in such a fine mood missy?" Remus questioned, a smile plastered on his face.
He was grateful to see a smile on Usagi's face, but it had taken him far too long to get her to Hogwarts, and now that they were there, she was ecstatic.
"Being here. The school has this way of making me happy. It almost makes me forget about everything that has ever happened. I remember the good times when I'm here. When innocence ruled our thinking, when nothing and no one could tell us we were wrong to think the way we did." She said, turning in circles just outside the Defence Against the Dark Arts Class. "Think about it Remus, when we were students here, the perpetual dangers and evils of the outside world couldn't touch us. Our naivety kept us sane, and youthful. It is not something easily forgotten. It is branded in the very stone of the school."
She ran up to him, the youthful schoolgirl having been locked away for far to long was finally allowed out. She took his hands in hers and looked up at him. Blushing slightly, she went to take a step away from him, but he wouldn't allow it.
"Usagi?" Remus looked at her with a concern on his face, his eyes filled with admiration and love. "You're trembling! What's wrong?"
"I'm afraid."
"Of what?"
"Getting hurt again."
She leaned her head up against his chest. Listening to the rhythmic beat of his heart soothing her worry.
"I would never let anyone hurt you, even myself." Remus replied lifting her chin so their eyes met.
They stared into each other's eyes, and found admiration, understanding, love, longing, friendship, and most of all companionship. Leaning in Remus' lips brushed against Usagi's cheek.
"I've seen you cry too many times to allow some one to hurt you again, my lovely Moon Princess." He whispered to her; the word my being emphasised as he spoke.
"Remus..." Usagi gasped, a single tear falling from her tear filled eyes.
He said nothing; he wiped away her tear with his thumb, all the while watching her. Usagi closed her eyes, in the back of her mind this was a dream come true, but it wasn't real. She had pushed her feelings towards Remus away; she wasn't allowed to be with him, it was against regulation. She was a Queen, he was a werewolf; they were never allowed to be together. Yet, here she stood, the memories, the feelings, the love she had for him had all returned. Everything had returned to her the moment he stepped onto her base, and now she was standing in a hallway with him holding her.
She felt his lips brush against hers, leaving a tingling feeling behind. She choked for breath. She had dreamt of this day since the day she met him. He showed her such tenderness, such compassion, something Mamoru neglected; but Remus was teasing her. Her mind screamed wanting him to just kiss her already. When she felt their lips touch, her legs could hardly support her weight.
Remus pulled away from her, a slight pink glow to his cheeks, a smile on his lips that reached his eyes. He had finally been given a chance to be with the one person he loved and he didn't want to give her up.
"I...we..." Usagi muttered unable to make coherent sentences or thoughts, "dreaming?"
He shook his head no, which brought a smile to Usagi's face.
The two disappeared behind the door to the classroom, while Albus Dumbledore turned to return to his office. He had to prepare for the feast, and welcoming the students back to another year at Hogwarts.
---
The Great Hall was dimmed with the light of the candles glow. Only the Professors were present at the current moment in time. Severus sat near the headmaster, Remus to his left, Usagi seated next to him. Beside Usagi sat a stern witch, who she remembered was Professor Sinistra.
Usagi could hardly wait for the students to arrive, she had always enjoyed watching the sorting of the first years, but even so, at the back of her mind she was nervous. In a few minutes time the doors would open and Harry Potter would take a seat at the Gryffindor Table. Remus had explained to her how Harry looked a lot like James now, which when she was told made her wince.
The hall was dead silent as the doors opened and the students filled in, each taking a seat at their own table. The Slytherin table was quickly filling up with students scowling and whispering amongst themselves. If Usagi hadn't of known better, she would have assumed the Slytherins had formed their own little mini-death eater cult while at Hogwarts. The Hufflepuffs looked petrified, while the Ravenclaws seemed to gossip more about their summer than anything else. And the Gryffindors seemed to be silent, in a hush about everything. As if they were waiting for something, or someone.
Usagi watched as a group of six walked into the Great Hall. A young round boy stood with a redheaded girl, a year younger than he she assumed. Behind the two, was another redhead, a boy, obviously a brother of the girl before him. Beside him, was a girl with blond hair, and a wand in her hair. Usagi smiled at the girl, and turned her attention to the other two. A girl with bushy cinnamon hair stood beside a tall thin boy. Usagi's breath caught in her throat as she took in the sight of the boy.
"You lied!" she glared at Remus, "he's identical to James!"
She watched as the blond took a seat at the Ravenclaw table, while the others sat with the rest of the Gryffindors. Still they said nothing, not a word was spoken from the Gryffindor Table. Unless her memory was faltering, this was an unusual occurrence and something to ponder. Usagi couldn't help but watch the young Potter as he stared off into the distance. From where she was sitting, she could vaguely see the distant look on his face.
"Something's not right." Usagi whispered.
Her face was scrunched up in unease, but soon the doors opened again and the first years entered behind McGonagall. Placing a false smile on her face, Usagi watched as Minerva led the children to the front of the Great Hall. She watched with mild restlessness. Having seen the boy she should have helped raise had set her mind of fire with genuine resentment.
---
The Sorting began with a young witch, Lizette Chiba, which had immediately caught Usagi's attention, along with the five Senshi around the room. Haruka, who had casually been leaning up against the wall behind the Head Table, was now standing upright, as well as Michiru who was standing opposite Haruka. Hotaru, and Ami took posts near the Entrance Hall, paid close attention to the young Chiba as she was sorted. Minako, stood patiently near the Gryffindor Table, keeping a watchful eye on her charge. None of them had known that Mamoru Chiba had a sister, let alone one so young.
Lizette went to Slytherin house, which made Usagi grumble incoherently as the girl glared at her from her seat. They could have had a staring contest if it wasn't for the fact that Minerva McGonagall continued on with the sorting. Usagi paid little attention to the Sorting for there on out, and kept a closer eye on the students.
She felt a prickle of energy run down her skin, like little hot pokers were being jabbed into her. No one else seemed to notice, but as Usagi looked around, the Senshi were standing looking at their arms as if wondering what was going on. It had never occurred to Usagi that this would happen again, not since she had stopped in from happening before. She had to find out who was behind it, who was the one causing the pain that only those from another planet could feel.
---
They sat patiently at their respective tables. Each one watching as the next person was sorted into their house. Usagi was hardly paying any mind to what was going on, as she had felt something cold brush up against her body. Something wasn't right, and she had no idea what was going on.
Looking around the Great Hall, Usagi hoped to find the answer to her questions. The only thing she found, was Mamoru watching her closely. He smiled at her, and the cold that had touched her receded, leaving her warm again. She had not understood what had happened, or why it happened, but something inside of her had pushed the cold, darkness out of her and out of the students in the Hall.
---
The memory alone had triggered something inside of her, something that recognized the hot pain in her body. Usagi took notice that the sorting had completed and Albus was making his normal speech. She had never lost track of time as she had just done; but the feeling was over powering her. She bow her head, as if to pray and a light glow formed around Harry and spread out around the other students. If she could draw back the power, if she could push it out of the students, then she could break the hold the elder wizard had on their apprentice. She needed to push them out, needed to know that the students and no one else would only see what she taught them.
Gasps were heard around the Hall, some coming from the students, and some coming from the Professors. As the light spread through the students, a calm fell upon them, and fear faded. The light was held back from the Professors Table, as if knowing they could shield themselves from whoever, or whatever was contributing to the negative power in the room.
As the light reached the Slytherin Table, the light stopped and a shadow formed around them. Good fought against evil, light against darkness, and here Usagi fought to keep the students safe. She had to break the hold she had no choice.
In a matter of seconds, Usagi had felt the difference in her magic. She felt the power of her Senshi added. The colours of blue, purple, orange, aqua and blue were added to the white light. She felt them move along the Hall coming closer to her. She felt Hotaru stop. Usagi felt Hotaru draw the negative energy inside of her self. Without knowing when or how, Usagi jumped the table and landed with catlike grace on the opposite side, and was running towards the fallen girl.
The light faded, the connection between the master and apprentice broken, and Usagi was holding her friend in her arms. No one else moved; no teacher or student made to move towards the two girls. Holding her tightly, Usagi forced herself not to cry, she knew Hotaru wasn't dead, just weakened. She needed to do something and quick.
"Hotaru?"
The girl looked up at Usagi, eyes dark with the negative magic.
"Hotaru, I want you to release the energy. The others will block it from returning to the apprentice. You know it will take shape in the form of the master, and I need to know who sent it. Can you do that for me?" Usagi questioned, as she felt more than saw, the Senshi take of a four-point position around her.
She felt the barrier of colours surround her and Hotaru, and waited patiently for Hotaru to do as she was asked.
Usagi ran her hands over Hotaru's cold arms, trying to warm the girl with her touch. She watched at the young girl opened her mouth and the dark magic, negative energy was released. Together the two looked upon the dark wispy form of a man, and a crown. There was a collective gasp, as students and teachers alike took it as Voldemort, while Usagi and her friends knew the truth. A flash of white light was felt and seen, and when the light dissipated, the shield of colours was released and Usagi held Hotaru over to sit next to Remus while she checked over the girl.
"That was some display of power, Usagi." Remus stated as he watched the students.
"That was nothing." Hotaru laughed, held Usagi's hand in hers. "Thanks."
"Think nothing of it Hotaru." Usagi smiled and stood up to look around the room.
"We've had Professor Snape take Lizette down to his office. If we're right about the form, then we cannot allow Lizette to return home." Haruka revealed sharply.
"I don't think it was her." Usagi muttered as she looked around the room once more. "He would know we would suspect her right after that stunt. It's not her. Whoever it was is still in this room. The apprentice would protect their master before ever divulging anything to us."
"Usagi's right, Haruka." Remus said quietly. He hardly knew anything of what was going on, on a Universal level, but he did know what had seen.
"But even she might know who it was." Michiru implied.
"I suppose we should still speak with her. If that is alright with the Headmaster that is?" Usagi questioned turning her gaze to the elderly man behind her.
"If you believe you can find the answers in Miss Chiba, then by all means speak with her. I would like to speak with you after you are finished questioning Miss Chiba though."
"Of course, I would have expected after that show, you would wish to speak with me." Usagi smiled and stood up. "Are you well enough to come with us Hotaru, or would you rather Michiru and Haruka take you to your room while Ami, Minako and I go to speak with Lizette?"
"I'd like to rest. I haven't done that in a long while, and it's taken its toll on me."
"I understand Hotaru. Go and rest." Usagi made it more of an order than anything else, and turned to look at the students. Some of them gawking at her, some of them whispering amongst themselves, and some refusing eye contact with her. Sighing, she turned and followed Remus down into the dungeons of the school.