"You just won't give it up, will you, koi?"
The familiar voice caught him off-guard, as he looked up from the all-too engrossing task of typing away at the little black box.
"I know you think this is important-"
"I don't think it's important, I know it's important."
"Not so much so you have to resort to Muggle methods, though…"
"I've done all I can magically. This is a last resort. And yes, duo, it IS that important." He sighed, cobalt eyes returning to the screen after glimpsing at Duo for a moment. "I think we need to call in a favor or two…"
"Chang?" Duo asked hesitantly.
"Yeah, we'll be needing his help, most probably."
"What's the plan?"
Facing Duo once again, and brushing errant chocolate bangs out of eyes, he smiled a little.
"Tell Chang to meet us at the Leaky Cauldron a week from now. We're going to have to do a bit of shopping…"
"You can't mean-"
"Send an owl to Albus Dumbledore regarding the present situation. Also ask him to sort out places for the three of us."
Duo nodded, grinning. "Looks like we're going back to school, eh Hiiro?"
Hiiro's gaze turned from his braided lover back to screen. "Yes," he muttered, "it certainly does…"
-scene change-
The day they meet Chang in the Leaky Cauldron had to be the busiest day of the week. With students in a hurry to purchase the necessary school supplies before term began, it was no surprise. This was a good time – arouse less suspicion this way. Of course, just because it was the simplest thing to do didn't mean they were happy about it.
"You just had to call me out to do this mission-"
"Yes, Chang,"
"I don't even need to go to school-"
"We know, Chang,"
"And whatever we're doing seems completely obsolete-"
"It's not, Chang,"
"I do have my own duties, I do have my own life-"
"If you'd let me brief you, Chang-"
"Sorry to break up this lovely conversation in which you blurt many secrets to the patrons of this here establishment, but I have us some wonderful Butterbeer so Hiiro may brief us on this 'mission' or whatever!" Duo butted in, azure orbs twinkling with good cheer as he handed Hiiro and Chang mugs.
Hiiro nodded his thanks, and procured papers, while Chang smiled lightly.
As Duo sat down, Hiiro handed each of them a quill, as he read off a piece of paper.
"Hiiro Yui, Duo Maxwell, and Chang WuFei are charged with locating and protecting subject, undercover. To do so they are given permission to enter Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as Fifth Year students. It is predicted subject will also be entering school. Description enclosed. Name is unknown at present. If subject does not appear at school within First Term, they are to leave the school until further notice. It is speculated subject may join school as First or Fifth year, but at present these details are unknown. Please be aware of certain obstacles. Their halls will be decided with the Sorting Hat on first night. If they are not in the same hall it is of no consequence. Caution is necessary – subject may or may not be dangerous. It is of utmost important to locate and protect subject. Mission out."
He passed around the paper. "Sign if you wish to accept the mission.
Already on the paper was the indistinct signature of Hiiro Yui. Duo grinned more than ever.
"Why didn't you tell me it was a mission, Hii-chan? Hell, I'm in!" Signing the sheet with more vigor than was necessary, Duo eyed Chang. "Will you be joining us, Chang?"
Chang seemed to be mulling over everything. So this was why Hiiro had asked to meet him here, and now? Well, the mission did sound fun, sort of… and there were so many people they'd be able to see again.
"Well, it would be nice to go back to Hogwarts, even for a little while," he commented wistfully, "I'd love to see who's teaching there now… wonder if there'd be anyone we know?"
Hiiro smiled as Chang signed the paper. "I heard that there's another new Dark Arts teacher this year. Apparently there's been a new one every year for the past four. Wonder who we'll get?"
As Hiiro folded the paper and placed it in his pocket, he smiled broadly deep inside. It had been years since the three of them had been together. Though they looked like any other fifteen-year-olds, they most certainly were not…
-scene change-
Ah, the train. The red steam-train to Hogwarts had been something he'd always wanted to see, and only now was being given the chance. Hauling the trolley was a hard job – with his small stature, and the fact he was not all that sure of where he was going, coupled with the desire to get away from the members of his 'family' for who he held no little distaste. Having finally caught sight of a way to get onto the train, he hurried ahead, hoping he wouldn't be spotted. He was just in time, it seemed; no sooner had he gotten on it, the train pitched forward at the sound of the whistles, and the doors slammed shut. No turning back now. Sighing, he headed down the corridors, looking for an empty compartment, but no such luck. So, he headed back down the corridors and looked for at least for a friendly looking compartment that didn't contain anyone he knew. Eventually, and to his relief, he decided he'd found what he was looking for, and knocked three times on the compartment door.
-scene change-
A knocking at the compartment door alerted the attention of Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and Ginny. They all stared at it expectantly as it opened slightly
"Um… e-excuse me… but would you mind terribly… if I sat in this compartment?"
Whoever asked the request of them did not seem to keen on opening the door fully for them to look at him. Apparently, he was sure the request would be turned down and looked set to scarper as quickly as possible.
For a few moments there was complete silence, and the stranger at the door seemed to take this as a no, and they heard (barely) footsteps heading down the corridor again. All at once, the all called back the stranger, welcoming him to their midst. All at once the compartment door was pulled fully open, to reveal the owner of the rather small voice, a small boy who most definitely looked like a quite small First Year. He was beaming at them all, but still his eyes seemed to scan them and take in every detail. All at once his gaze landed on Harry, and they registered surprise. The boy looked so surprised as the breath caught in his throat. Harry was used to people looking at him and being surprised, of course, but never this much of a reaction. The boy looked as though he'd seen a ghost.
Eyes nervously scanned Harry once more, he let out a sigh of relief and smiled again.
"Sorry," he said, nervously playing with his uniform, which he was already wearing, "Thought I was going crazy for a second there…"
Confusion registered on all of their faces, and the boy took not of that.
"You're Harry Potter," he said simply, as if it were the most mundane thing in the world. He held out a hand in a friendly gesture. Harry took, it, though warily. It wasn't every day he got this kind of reaction. His mulling over thoughts was jolted by what could have been static. The boy moved on from him, going to each of them, shaking their hands, stating their names as if he'd always known them. After he was finished, he seemed to have recovered from whatever spell had overtaken him a moment ago. Seemingly noting that Harry, at least, was still confused, the boy spoke lowly, as for only him to hear.
"I'm sorry, it's not that I wasn't expecting to see you, I just didn't expect you'd… well, look like you do. It was a bit of a surprise… s'pose you've been told plenty of times you're the splitting image of your father…" he bowed his head slightly, as if ashamed. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't go around saying things like that, I guess…" he turned away, and continued speaking, more to himself. "It gets to me when people say I look like 'Trine…" he spun around again, smile firmly in place. "It's nice to meet you all."
It seemed only now that everyone noticed they were missing a few all-important details about their new friend, and Hermione was the one to state them.
"Excuse me, but what's your name, and what year are you in?"
"Oh, I'm sorry! I forgot all about that… my name is Cat."
"How'd you get the name Cat? Is it short for something?"
"My parents called me Cat a lot… don't really like to use my real name anymore…" 'Cat' trailed off, voice seemingly growing useless. Hermione seemed to spot this, and added quickly, "So what year?"
"Oh, I'm Fifth Year, but it'll be my first time, coming to a school… expect I'll have loads to catch up with… don't bother telling me what years you're all in, I know already…"
Multiple (though confused) nods rose to this statement.
A silence filled the compartment, not an uncomfortable one as such, but one born more of a lack of things to say. Then the snack trolley lady rolled by, food was purchased, and conversation re-begun about the school year ahead, and the like. The small Fifth year remained silent, observant. The nature he showed seemed shy, which would explain the apparent silence, but there was something more to it. Less of shyness and more of sadness.
Harry knew he had been staring when he was stared at himself. But he couldn't help it, the boy was familiar. He could not for the life of him place from where, but it was instinct.
Then there was the name. What was wrong with his real, or perhaps full name? Maybe he was related to someone they all 'disliked' (this being the mild version) such as Malfoy. That would be scary. And then of course, there was that little statement before introductions. How could someone who looked to be younger than him have known his father, when he did not? And there was there was the reference to someone else, someone known as 'Trine'. Harry knew this was a nickname, somehow. He'd heard the name before, it rang so many bells in his head. However, it rang enough bells for him to not know which church the right bell was in.
-scene change-
The three sat in the compartment at the front of the train. They sat tense, as if expecting anything to suddenly jump from the shadows and go 'BOO!' If they were ready enough, they wouldn't jump. At least, that was the theory. Not saying it will work.
The theory was proved wrong once they all jumped as the carriage door was opened by a rather tall and rather familiar figure, who then proceeded to move their baggage and take a seat.
Only once he had done this did he decide to take notice of the three baffled original occupants of the carriage. No one spoke.
"I've been asked to join your mission, and I accepted," a slight smirk, "although I would have preferred a real greeting…"
Yes, it certainly had been a long time since they were all together. And not one of them had changed.
-end-