Got hit with inspiration, and I realized (rereading the last chapter) that some of the things I'd fixed had been lost in a crash and I'd forgotten to put them back.

Soooo.

That's now fixed.

Stormy – You updated! WOO!

^^ Thanks to Jade Maxwell, Dark_Fox, and Muchacha, as well, for being so quick to review. That's so kewl ^^;

This is my longest chapter, but not all of them are going to be this long. Some of you are going to hate me for this.

Just be aware that there's some major language in here, okay?

***

Chapter 20

The bell sounded moments after Harry had left, and Duo waved bye to his fellow pilots as he and Heero followed the Gryiffindors towards their next class. He walked along behind Hermione, swinging his laptop case absently, and chattering to Heero about the corridors and decorations of the castle. Heero, for the most part, wasn't paying attention.

They arrived at the Transfigurations classroom soon enough, and an annoyed-looking McGonagall watched them as they took seats next to each other. Heero and Duo shared a 'she's-staring-at-us-evilly' glance before resigning themselves to their fates and opening their laptops.

"Gentlemen, do put your toys away. This is not a free period."

Duo looked up and blinked at the Professor. "So we're not taking any notes then?" he asked innocently. He was already in the process of shutting the laptop back down when she responded.

"No, Mr. Maxwell, Transfigurations is a practical class and most of what you will learn will come from listening to me, reading, or doing assignments. No note-taking."

"Ah."

Another glance at Heero told him that he, too, was finding this class to be a bit more interesting than earlier perceived.

"Sorry," Harry muttered from Duo's left. "Should've told you about that."

"S'kay," Duo responded good-naturedly, shrugging. "No big deal."

"Today, we'll be starting out easily enough and then quickly progress to more complicated transfigurations. We'll begin by turning rats into pin cushions," McGonagall told them, and with a flick of her wrist rats appeared in front of the students.

Duo blinked in surprise, staring down at the small rat that was blinking back at him. "Um. Okay. So what do I do, Harry?"

Harry demonstrated transfiguring his own rat into a pin cushion, with Duo and Heero watching him intently. He was about to repeat the process when they both turned back to their rats with determination set in their faces. Harry watched as, in perfect unison, they repeated exactly the process Harry had just demonstrated, and their rats turned into pin cushions.

"Wow," Harry breathed. "That was fast."

Duo grinned. "Guess I got a knack for this class. Wish I could say the same for those damn Charms…"

Minutes later, everyone in the class had completed a successful transfiguration, and McGonagall smiled, pleased. "All right, now turn your pin cushions back to rats and we'll try something a little more complicated." A series of reverse-transfigurations followed, Duo and Heero being last but completing in unison again. "Very good, I must say I'm impressed."

"Hey, Harry, is Neville in this class?" Duo whispered.

Harry smiled. "No, Neville is only taking classes he'll need to become a mediwizard or something. He dropped this class as soon as he could."

Duo nodded, and listened to McGonagall again.

"Now you will transfigure your live rats, into live owls. The distinct difference is that you'll have to remember that owls are living creatures, and therefore must have inside organs in order to live. Please watch closely." The class watched as McGonagall's face took on a look of concentration, then she waved her wand and the rat before her became a beautiful barn owl.

"Cool!" Duo exclaimed, grinning. "Can we make them other colors, too?"

McGonagall nodded, "Yes, but first we should concentrate on making the owl whole…"

But Duo wasn't listening. He already had his laptop out and was searching for a suitable site… there. A site with the insides of an owl visible and labeled appeared on the screen. Heero grunted his approval and they both studied the diagram for a few moments. Heero was the first to look at his rat again, and Duo watched as the Asian boy watched his rat closely and waved his wand, turning the rat into a miniature… yellow owl.

Duo burst out laughing, causing the yellow owl to hoot indignantly. "Oh my god, Heero, that is the cutest thing! Missing your shoes, huh?"

Heero smirked. "Those were good shoes. The ones we got from here are impractical."

Duo laughed again, prodding at the owl. "Awww, aren't you a cute one? Little yellow owl. Aww… Ouch!" Duo pulled back his finger and pouted at the animal, who'd just bitten him. "Stupid owl."

Heero snickered. "I like this owl."

"Very good, Mr. Yuy!" came a surprised McGonagall. Duo and Heero watched as she made her way over to the little owl. "Did you make it that color, as well?" Heero nodded. "Very good!"

Not to be outdone, Duo rolled up his sleeves and concentrated on the tiny rat staring up at him. He grinned evilly, swished his wand at the rat, and watched is it transfigured itself into an exact replicate of Heero's owl – only pitch black with violet eyes.

"Hehehe, miniature Shinigami!" Duo crowed, petting his owl's head. Heero frowned, focused back on his own owl, and waved his wand. Moments later, bright blue eyes stared back at him. Pleased, Heero pat his owl on the head. "We have cool owls," Duo affirmed, looking around to see how the others were doing.

"Can we keep them?" Heero asked McGonagall, who looked at him in surprise.

"Well… I suppose, Mr. Yuy. They'll stay in that form until you change them back… but since you did such a spectacular job, I can't find it in myself to say no." She sighed. "However, they are not to accompany you to your detention."

Duo and Heero nodded, and McGonagall made her way around the room. Duo grinned at Heero. "You totally rock, man. Me and Shini' are gonna torture Wu like crazy! So what're you gonna name yours? Wing?"

Heero shook his head, watching his yellow owl flutter its wings fondly. "Odin."

"Cool," Duo replied quietly. He put his laptop away and played with Shinigami for the rest of the period.

***

Quatre sighed, resting his chin on his arms at the Gryffindor table. He, Wufei and Trowa had spent the past forty-five minutes exploring the castle, and with the help from some friendly paintings, had a very basic idea of the castle's layout. They were now sitting in the Great Hall, waiting for Duo and Heero to return from their class so they could further discuss the castle and their predicament.

He breathed deeply, closing his eyes and allowing his consciousness to spread out and take in the room they were in. Since they'd arrived he'd kept himself guarded, in case of an attack, but it'd been almost two days and he felt safe to explore the feelings in the room. The overall feeling he got was excitement – excitement at being back, seeing old friends, and magic – but in one part of the room he felt hostility.

He didn't have to look to know that this was the Slytherin section of the room. When Neville had returned from Potions – which had taken a long time – he'd told then a bit more about the houses, explaining how the Slytherins were deceitful, evil students. Being that he'd never actually met one of the Slytherins, save the brief encounter with Draco, he didn't feel it was fair to judge them immediately. However, feeling these emotions surrounding the Slytherins, he didn't think Neville's description was too far off, save a few people.

Turning his head he focused on listening to the conversations going on at the Slytherin table. He could feel Draco was defending himself, and wondered what about. Listening closely to the large table across the room, ignoring all other noises, he picked up a few hissed voices.

"What's the deal, Malfoy? You wanna be a Gryffindor now?" came one feminine voice.

"What in the hell would make you think that," returned Draco, not bothering to hiss. Quatre was grateful for that at least.

"'Good show', was it? Congratulating them for taking down Blaise?"

"Oh honestly, is that what this is about? Have you seen that lummox lately? He should weigh as much as a cow by now! Anybody that can take him down in one hit deserves recognition. Gryffindor or not." The finality in his voice, and the commanding tone he spoke it in, signaled the end of the conversation.

Quatre was focusing on the rest of the table, wondering what they thought of Draco's announcement, when something landed on his head. Jerked back to his body, he sat up quickly. The offending object hopped off his head and onto the table, and Quatre realized it was a little owl. A little yellow owl with bright blue eyes.

"Er, hello?" Quatre said tentatively. Glancing at Wufei he laughed, as the Chinese boy was fending off an attack from a little black owl buzzing around his head. He looked back at the yellow owl, who'd moved closer to him. Quatre lowered his face so they were eye-to-eye, and the owl pecked him in the nose.

"OW!" Laughter followed his loud exclamation, and the two owls took off towards the sound of it. Rubbing his nose and looking up, he saw Duo and Heero walking towards them. Duo was beaming, as the little black owl flapped around his head, and Heero looked pleased when the yellow owl settled on his shoulder.

"So that's your demon, Maxwell? I should have known!" growled Wufei.

"Yep!" Duo exclaimed, watching his owl fondly. "His name's Shinigami. Made him in Transfigurations."

"Made him?" asked Trowa, who was also eyeing the owl with interest. As if sensing his gaze, Shinigami landed in front of him.

"Yeah. He was a rat. Ugly little brown one with black eyes. He's so much cooler now."

"And what did you call yours, Heero?" asked Quatre.

"Odin."

"Wow, I guess you two got your owls after all," Quatre said, smiling. He tried to ignore the aching in his nose, and refrained from glaring at Odin.

The group spent the next while in the Great Hall, sitting and recounting Heero and Duo's class, and Quatre's little mind journey, as well as the exploration of the castle. Before long it was time for supper, and the Gryffindor table soon filled up. Shinigami, annoyed by all the people, hopped up onto Duo's head. Odin mimicked him, but Heero put him back on his shoulder.

Supper appeared on the table, and Hermione scolded Duo every time she tried feeding Shinigami from his plate. Heero, being the stealthy one he was – and farther away from Hermione – was successful in giving Odin a few pieces of pumpkin pie.

As soon as supper had finished, McGonagall came over to Heero and Duo and told them to meet her in the Transfigurations classroom. They left their owls with Trowa and Hermione, since Quatre and Wufei wouldn't touch them, who promised to take care of them and bring them to the Owlery.

They found McGonagall's classroom again relatively easy, as they'd been there only a short while ago. Blaise Zabini was already sitting there, and to Duo's shock he had no bruises on his face.

"What in the hell?! Why doesn't he look all beat up?" Duo demanded, glaring at the stocky boy.

When Zabini provided no answer, McGonagall spoke up. "Don't you know, Mr. Maxwell? Madam Pomfry is able to cure all illnesses that should come about in Hogwarts, as well as heal any bruising."

Duo scowled. "Well that takes away the whole point."

He threw himself into a seat on the other side of the room from Zabini, and with a gesture from McGonagall, Heero in the middle of the room.

"Now, since it's only the second day for Mr. Zabini, and the first for you both, there will be a minor loss of 20 house points by Mr. Yuy and Mr. Zabini. Now, due to a few witnesses, we've come to believe that you, Mr. Maxwell, had done nothing in this ordeal. You will be allowed to leave if so."

Duo shrugged. "I'm stayin' as long as Heero's stayin'."

"Very well. You will be here for one hour, and there will be no talking."

Duo shrugged and turned to face Heero, leaning against the wall behind him. Heero took the hint and turned to face him as well.

'So, what do you wanna do now?' Duo mouthed to the Asian boy. Heero shrugged.

'Not much to do.'

'True, true. Rock paper scissors?'

Heero made a snorting motion. 'You always make noise playing that.'

'Well… yeah, true. There's nothing to throw around, either.'

'I doubt she'd let us throw things around.'

'Yeah… I guess. Man, this sucks.'

"Mr. Yuy and Mr. Maxwell?" McGonagall's voice rang out in the silent classroom, and they both looked at her in question. "Am I to assume you two are holding a conversation silently?"

"Well, yeah," Duo responded, shrugging. "You said we couldn't talk."

"…You can read each other's lips?"

"Yep."

McGonagall furrowed her brow. "Hm. Interesting," she murmured, and turned back to her desk to mark.

Heero and Duo watched McGonagall curiously, and nobody noticed as Blaise took out his wand and waved it over a vial he had in his pocket. The liquid that had been inside disappeared, and he looked up to watch the effect.

Duo froze. He felt some substance on his head, and that it was leaking down his neck. He raised his hand slowly, touched the back of his neck and looked at his hand. A translucent, pink substance was on his fingers. He looked up at Heero, who suddenly looked very strange.

After watching Maxwell touch his neck, Blaise drew out the other vial and waved his wand over it. He sneered.

Duo leaned a bit and saw Blaise's face, and immediately began to worry. Heero looked like he was going to be sick. "Um, Professor. I think we're going to need a garbage can."

"For what, Mr. Maxwell?"

"I think Heero's gonna hurl." He was already moving to his Japanese friend, who wasn't moving except for his throat working. "How do I get a garbage can over here?"

"Say Accio before it and wave our wand," McGonagall instructed, watching them.

"Accio garbage can," Duo hollered, waving his wand and snatching the can as soon as it came into view. He pulled Heero off the stool he was perched on and set him over the can. "Go on, Heero."

As if setting of a reaction, Heero immediately starting hurling into the garbage can. A blue film seemed to follow whatever came out, and Duo looked at Heero, concerned. "Get it all out, Heero!" he commanded, rubbing Heero's back. "Get that shit out!"

Heero moved suddenly, grabbing the sides of the can and letting loose whatever was left in his stomach. This went on for a few more minutes, before Heero raised his head shakily and looked at Duo with worry in his eyes. Duo mirrored his expression.

Heero had never thrown up in his life.

***

An hour later found both Duo and Heero in the Gryffindor Common Room. McGonagall had brought them to the Infirmary, but Madam Pomfrey could find nothing wrong. The film that had been on the back of Duo's neck had disappeared, and Duo had a sinking feeling that it had absorbed into his skull.

Quatre had immediately asked them what was wrong, but Duo dismissed it, saying all they needed was a good night's sleep and that they'd be fine in the morning. The way Duo kept a firm hand on Heero's arm the entire time, and the way Heero's eyes looked wide and blank set their fellow pilots on edge, and they'd followed them to their room.

Eventually they'd all fallen asleep, Duo and Heero falling asleep almost immediately, and the others in intervals after, keeping watch. They slept through the night and woke to a pained gasp before dawn the next morning.

Duo shot up immediately, knowing the gasp came from Quatre but worried about Heero, and was about to check on them when he felt something terribly wrong. He froze, and whimpered slightly. A hand reached up slowly, patting the top of his head.

He was bald.

"THAT MOTHERFUCKING SON OF A BITCH! I'M GOING TO FUCKING KILL HIM AND TAKE HIM STRAIGHT TO FUCKING HELL!"

If Quatre's gasp hadn't woken up the other pilots, Wufei and Trowa were now on their feet, alert, and ready to kill. They took one look at Duo and froze. The American was shaking in fury, looking at the floor. Footsteps thundered over the staircase, and Harry and Ron burst into the room.

"Are you guys all right?!" Harry asked frantically, looking around and freezing when he looked at Duo. "Oh my God…"

"Duo… your… your hair…" Ron murmured, shocked.

Duo looked up, a rage and fury showing on his face that they'd never before witnessed in their lives. "I AM GOING TO KILL THAT MOTHERFUCKER!" Duo hollered, taking one step before turning back to Heero, "Come on, Heer--…."

But Heero wasn't standing and watching the scene, like the other pilots. Heero hadn't moved from his bed, and his eyes weren't even open. The commotion that Duo had made should have sent the Japanese pilot diving for cover and his gun, but Heero hadn't moved.

The rage and the fury that had been on Duo's face died away, left with only concern. "…Heero?"

Heero hadn't moved from his bed.

And Heero wasn't breathing.

***

This one was pretty long…

Heero and Odin are just too cute IMO ^^;;

And um… anybody remember Trelawney's prediction? O.O;

*hides*