Would have updated sooner, but I was swamped with HW last weekend. Took my THREE FRIGGIN DAYS to finish it all. Also – many apologies for the whole lacking updates for two weeks. Went on road trip this past week and had the time of my life, but I didn't have a comp near me ^^;
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Chapter 9
"Does it ever stop?" Duo grumbled, trudging along the corridor beside Quatre. Heero, Trowa and Wufei walked in front of them and they were all following Professor McGonagall. "I mean c'mon, don't we get a break? We didn't even do anything this time."
"We didn't do anything last time either," Quatre returned. Duo merely groaned and nodded.
"Step lively now," McGonagall called, glancing back to look at them. "We mustn't keep the Headmaster waiting."
"Oh look," Duo drawled quietly. "She does remember we're here."
Quatre tutted him and Duo stopped talking, resigning himself to his fate and following the others.
They came to a halt in front of a gargoyle statue and waited as McGonagall clearly said "Ginger Snaps". They watched curiously as the gargoyle gave way to a spiral staircase. After a pointed look and gesture from McGonagall, the boys ascended the staircase and came upon a door. Without bothering to knock they entered, walking in slowly and taking in the curious items cluttering the room.
"Ah, boys, there you are," came Dumbledore's voice. The boys stopped dead and stared at the Headmaster, who was standing next to a dark-haired man with a sour look on his face. The boys quickly assessed him and deemed him a possible threat; his stance was too guarded to be natural.
"Headmaster," Heero greeted. He nodded his head politely, still watching the other man carefully.
"Professor Snape and I would like to have a few words with you, if you don't mind of course," the Headmaster informed them, gesturing to the dark-haired man beside him.
"Yes," Snape muttered, looking at them all distastefully. They regarded him with suspicious gazes in return. "You lot have come into our good school quite suddenly. Quite… suspiciously, if I do say. The Headmaster agrees that your arrival deserves at least some investigation."
"Oh, so you think we're some evil spies or something?" Duo asked, honestly curious. Snape narrowed his eyes at him.
"Mr. Maxwell, I presume?" Duo nodded. "Yes, the possibility of you being spies has crossed our minds. Therefore we find it…. imperative that some sort of test is done to determine your loyalties."
"Like a lie detector test?" Quatre asked, one eyebrow arched. Snape stared at him as well.
"I am not familiar with your Muggle devices, so I would not know. Regardless, I have prepared for you all a Veratiserum, which will force you all to tell the truth until the potion wears off."
"Truth serum," Wufei scoffed, frowning. "You expect us to willingly take some concoction you've just brewed? For all we know, it's poison."
Snape's eyes narrowed. "You dare accuse me of offering you poison."
"I'll take it." All eyes flew to Duo, who looked impassively at Snape. "I don't think you're trying to kill us, since people know we're here and would find it weird if we disappeared. Anyway, these guys know everything there is to know about me already, so I've got nothing to lose."
"You're volunteering then, Duo?" Dumbledore asked, making sure Duo realized what he was saying.
Duo shrugged. "Sure."
"All right then, Severus," Dumbledore turned to Snape who, casting one more glance at Duo, turned and approached the desk at the other end of the room. Sitting atop it was a vile of an off-color liquid. Duo made his way towards Snape, his companions following silently.
Snape handed the vile to Duo. "How much you consume will determine the length of time the potion will be active. You will consume enough for the Headmaster and I to follow through with question. Is that understood."
"Yeah yeah," Duo muttered dismissively. He raised the vile to his lips and took two large gulps of the potion before setting the vile back on the desk. He shook his head a bit and grimaced. "That was disgusting."
"Are you all right?" Heero asked, eyeing Duo carefully.
"I'm great," Duo returned, grinning. "That stuff's got a gross aftertaste though."
"State your name," Snape ordered. Duo blinked at him and answered promptly, "Duo Maxwell."
"Is this your real name?" Snape questioned. Duo eyed him.
"It's my name. I made it. I don't have a name besides it."
"Very well," Snape conceded, nodding. "Where were you born?"
Duo shrugged. "L2, as far as I know." Snape frowned.
"What is an L2?"
"A colony. I lived there since I was little, so I guess I was born there."
Dumbledore cut in then, asking softly, "Where are your parents?"
Duo didn't flinch. "They're dead, most likely. The plague probably got 'em."
The Headmaster frowned and abandoned that line of questioning. "How did you get to Hogwarts?"
Duo smirked. "Some freaky lady did some freaky witchcraft and when I woke up I was lying in a hospital bed. So I have no idea."
"What do you know of Voldemort?" Snape asked harshly, eyes narrowing as he hissed the name.
"Some asshole that killed Harry's parents and some poor kid. Gave Harry some funky scar thing and has been trying to kill him. S'about it." Duo responded, shrugging.
Snape glanced at Dumbledore, who nodded. Returning his glare to Duo, Snape asked one final question. "Are you or any of your companions affiliated with Voldemort or the Death Eaters?"
"No. …What the hell's a Death Eater?"
Snape hummed to himself. "Very well. You're free to go."
"What?" Quatre asked, shocked. "After all that we can just… leave?"
"Due to the Veratiserum's effects on Mr. Maxwell, Professor Snape and I have no reason not to believe your story of innocence. Therefore, you are free to go," the Headmaster stated, smiling.
Duo blinked in surprise.
"You people are crazy."
~*~
Yay chapter end ^^
