Yes, I'm still around
Chapter 30
Entering the Divination classroom caused Quatre to reel back slightly. The musk of the place seemed to have combined with its potent perfume smell, and the two together made it incredibly difficult to breathe. He could hear Duo's choking noises behind him, but they braved forward and sat at the tables they'd sat in previously, Duo claiming the shared beanbag for his own.
He planned to move over once Heero arrived, of course.
"So how long you plan on staying?" Quatre asked quietly, leaning back to speak with Duo, noting that Trelawney wasn't in sight. The boy shrugged.
"I dunno, I'll ask Heero when he gets here. Probably soon into the class, though. Make it look like we're sort of making an effort at this crap, then we'll take off. All depends on what he wants to do though."
"I can't believe we've only been here for four days," Quatre griped. "It feels like a month." Wufei nodded in agreement.
"I'm glad we haven't been here that long," Trowa added, frowning at the Slytherins across the room. The class was making a ruckus about something, but Trowa couldn't tell what from where he sat.
Heero made his way into the room then, rubbing his forehead with a pained look on his face. His other hand carried his laptop case, and the Asian boy stumbled across the room towards Duo and the others.
"He looks awfully… wobbly," Duo commented, standing with a frown on his face. Hermione came in behind Heero with a concerned look on her face, and Harry emerged after her. By the time Ron entered the room, Heero had reached Duo, who was questioning Heero quietly.
"You okay, Heero?" Duo asked seriously. "Or are you starting the sick act early?"
"Headache," Heero grunted in response. He sank into the beanbag chair with something akin to relief, which earned him troubled glances from all of the pilots. Heero, known for his unparallel ability to hide his emotions or mask his pain, was not acting normally at all.
"Welcome to your second day of Divination," Trelawney's voice sounded from the depths of the room. Some Slytherins murmured to each other and snickered, while Hermione, Ron, and Harry sank into their chairs while rolling their eyes. Trelawney, looking the same as she had the first day of class, strolled into the light and looked over them all. Her gaze stopped on Heero, who was rubbing his forehead. "Are you unwell, Mr. Yuy?"
"His head's pounding like there's a herd of elephants tromping around in there," Duo responded, taking advantage of the situation immediately. "Can I take him back to his room? I don't think being up here in this heat's good for his condition."
At Duo's mention of 'condition', Trelawney perked slightly. "Ah, he is unwell?" her voice became tinged with sorrow, and she gave Duo a sympathetic look. "Yes, please take care of him as well as you are able, Mr. Maxwell."
Duo rolled his eyes internally. Crazy hag still thinks Heero's going to die. Like something as simple as a little headache's cause for panic, yeesh. "Sure, Professor. Thanks. C'mon Heero," Duo urged, grabbing Heero by the elbow and leading him towards the ladder. The Asian boy followed compliantly, but neither Duo nor the others could tell whether it was an act or not. Once they'd descended the ladder and had made it a ways down the hallway and around a corner, Duo whirled on his comrade.
"Okay, spill. What's wrong."
"Nothing," Heero grunted in response. Duo's eyes narrowed.
"Don't give me that crap! How long have you had that headache?"
"I'm fine, Duo," Heero insisted, glaring.
"Oh you are SO not lying to me right now!" Duo exclaimed, waving his arm for emphasis. "Who the fuck do you think I am, Heero? I know you! So don't pull that bullshit with me, and tell me what the hell is wrong with you!"
"There's NOTHING wrong with me!" Heero retorted angrily, leaning forward. His eyes flashed menacingly, but Duo wouldn't be swayed.
"You have a headache. You are showing that you have a headache."
"You'd think you'd be pleased."
"Not in front of those kids, Heero. You wouldn't let your guard down in front of them unless you didn't have a fucking choice, and you don't get migraines like that!"
"Stop fucking worrying about it," Heero growled. "Let's go find Harry's godfather, save Draco, and get back to worrying about getting home."
Duo bit his lip, glaring. "Fine. For now, Yuy, you're getting your way, but I swear to God we WILL discuss this later."
"Fine."
"So, what's the map thing say?" Duo asked, sighing and trying to push his anger aside for now. Heero opened his laptop case slightly and pulled out the parchment, handing it to Duo. Duo tapped the parchment with his wand, muttered the incantation, and watched as the lines melted onto the page.
"So… you see Sirius' name anywhere on here?"
They stood staring at the map, Heero looking over Duo's shoulder in a way that would normally make Duo preen with delight, but due to their argument, it made Duo uncomfortable. Heero didn't seem to notice, his eyes scanning the page methodically.
"There," Duo said suddenly, pointing at a far-away region of the map.
Heero read it as well, nodding at the name 'Sirius Black'. "That's him, but where…"
"That shack," Duo concluded, tracing the square frame with his finger. "He's out there where that big dude, Hagrid, lives. Remember? That giant that took us to buy our stuff?" Heero nodded. "So since Sirius is there, we'd better get moving," Duo concluded, rolling up the map and tucking it away in his robe.
Instead of responding, Heero merely started off down the hallway, leaving Duo with not much of a choice: follow Heero, or stand in the hallway watching him walk away. Rolling his eyes, Duo jogged a bit to catch up to his infuriating partner, and together they started their descent to the ground floor of Hogwarts.
***
Wufei stepped back, chest heaving, to determine the extent of damage done to the classroom: two broken tables, a few broken chairs, and a terrified Trelawney hiding behind her winged chair.
Wufei looked skyward and sighed, deciding that most of the damage dealt out was to students. Many already had welts forming on their faces, mostly from wild punches than anything effective. Nothing had been broken – he and the other two had seen to that, no thanks to Ron and Harry. Hermione had, helpfully, screamed at the top of her lungs for everyone to stop. No wands had been drawn effectively, though, for which Wufei was grateful.
If someone had pointed a wand at him again, he would have broken their arm first, closely followed by their wand or their face – whichever Wufei was more inclined to break.
Almost immediately after Heero and Duo had left the room, Zabini had loudly suggested some of the things they may have gone off to do. He then suggested some very insulting and lewd things that caused Hermione's face to flare up in embarrassment, while Ron's flared red in anger.
An angry Ron was, apparently, not a very smart Ron. He started shouting rude and insulting things back at Zabini, who turned his insults back on Ron. The insulting of Ron prompted Harry to insult Zabini, mainly about his fear of Duo, which prompted one of the large, massive Slytherins (Croyle or Grabbe or something, Wufei couldn't remember) to stand up threateningly.
This, of course, prompted Harry and Ron to stand up defiantly.
This, of course, prompted the entire Slytherin side of the room to stand threateningly.
And obviously, since their pride had been threatened, the entirety of the Gryffindor population (save Hermione, Quatre, Wufei, and Trowa) stood defiantly.
Then began the menacing steps forward, started by the Slytherins, and matched by the Gryffindors. Wufei had watched with… well, horror was the closest name he could pin to the emotion, so absurd their movements were. They'd step-step-step'd closer and closer until within punching distance.
Which Zabini did, belting Ron in the face even as the redhead began to retort to whatever Zabini had said.
Wufei hadn't paid much attention to the dialogue.
So, true to their rivalry's reverence, all six Gryffindor students (since Hermione, Quatre, Wufei, and Trowa had not taken part) charged at the nine Slytherin students (since Draco was absent), ignoring feeble protests from Hermione and Trelawney.
Once they'd felt the brawl had gone on long enough, the three pilots dove into the fray, pulling apart the fighters and throwing them in opposite directions. Few wands had been drawn, but thankfully Hermione was faster and snatched any that emerged with her own magic.
Now Wufei stood, shaking his head embarrassedly. Not that he himself was embarrassed – far from it, actually. He was embarrassed for these children, who fought like toddlers with no real comprehension of what battle was really like.
He was also embarrassed for their fighting skills, of which none of them had any.
Suddenly Quatre started laughing softly, and Wufei found himself fighting a smile as well.
"Well, we'd wondered if anything exciting would happen today," Quatre muttered. Harry was standing next to him with a bleeding nose, sniffling petulantly. "I hadn't expected temper tantrums, though."
Harry's bleeding nose seemed to be the worst of the injuries sustained, since nobody else looked to have any blood on them. Wufei was almost disappointed, after the theatrics that had lead up to the brawl.
Finally, the obviously magically disinclined Trelawney emerged from behind her winged chair. As if there weren't fewer tables, and as if the students weren't groaning and wincing in pain, she continued to lecture about Crystal Balls and seeing into the future.
"Pofessa Twelawney?" Harry warbled, one hand held to his nose. Hermione had been offering to stop the blood flow, but Harry had denied her and instead attempted to get the teacher's attention. Once the bug-eyed woman turned to him, Harry continued. "Cad I do to da Infemewy pease?"
Trelawney blinked at him vacantly, and Quatre translated helpfully. "He asked to go to the Infirmary, Professor."
"Oh, yes, of course Mr. Potter. Wouldn't want you to suffer from extreme blood loss," she trailed off, eyeing Harry suspiciously. Harry rolled his eyes, adjusting his glasses with the hand staunching the blood flow. Wufei wasn't sure who'd hit the wizard, but he doubted Harry would confess in any case. The boy stood and left the classroom, causing Zabini and his cohorts to start snickering madly. Before Ron could start shouting, Trowa laid a hand on his shoulder.
"What?" the redhead asked of the European, eyes narrowed. His face was still flushed with rage. Quatre looked at him pointedly.
"Uh, I don't think picking a fight with the Slytherins is a good idea for someone who already has numerous detentions, and plans on trying out for the Quidditch team?" Ron grunted and slouched in his seat.
"Bloody great day this is turning out to be."
***
"This is bullshit," Duo grumbled, trudging across the field. "First he goes to the fucking hospital, then he comes back all tired and shit, then he starts freaking out at me, and THEN he takes off running towards Hagrid's shack instead of walking there with me. Heero, you are probably the most annoying person I have ever met."
Heero, who was a very long ways away, could not hear Duo's mutterings. Instead, the former Wing pilot was inspecting Hagrid's cabin, stealthily peeking in windows and circling the perimeter.
Duo had to forcibly stop himself from shouting and calling attention to his partner's… well, idiocy. It wasn't like Sirius was a bad guy.
When he finally did reach Hagrid's shack, he knocked on the front door. Immediately Heero was at his side, glaring holes into the side of his head. Duo ignored him with a nonchalance that was better suited to Heero, and instead focused on the door in front of him. After a few moments Hagrid answered, looking surprised at the sight of them.
"'ello there," the giant said in greeting. "What brings you boys out 'ere?"
"We're looking for Black," Duo said point-blank, opting against skirting the issue. "And we know he's here."
Hagrid frowned at Duo, then at Heero, who looked ready to strangle the longhaired boy. "C'mon in then, don't need for ya to be seen by someone."
The boys entered the hut, and Hagrid closed the door behind him. A dog looked up from under the table, and ruffed quietly before laying its head back down and going back to sleep. Another dog, smaller and darker in color than the first, came bounding towards Duo, staring up at him.
Heero glared at the dog and settled into a defensive stance.
Hagrid harrumphed at the sight. "Might as well turn back," he told the dog. "This one's figured ya out."
Before their eyes the dog mutated into another figure: a man with long black hair, a pale complexion, and dark eyes. He smiled at Duo, albeit reservedly.
"I won't ask how you found me," he said without preamble. "Harry must have given you the map, so that's reason enough to believe he sent you. Although I'm sure I asked you not to tell him."
"Extreme circumstances," Duo replied, only somewhat put off by the fact Sirius had just been a dog. "Draco's been kidnapped by Lucius Malfoy, and we want you to help us get him back."
Hagrid laughed disbelievingly. "A Malfoy? There's no way 'arry sent you to get help for that prat."
"He did," Heero said lowly, glaring at them both. Duo ignored him and continued.
"We need a wizard that won't be missed by the public… and you're the only one Harry trusts to help. Draco Malfoy isn't the same kid anymore, and he's been decent to us," Duo said seriously. Then he shrugged. "Plus that Lucius guy really pissed me off."
Sirius arched an eyebrow. "I'm not sure I understand completely… You want me to come out of hiding, help you save the son of Voldemort's premier follower – who should be dead, by the way."
"Pettigrew was supposed to be dead, too," Duo replied easily. Sirius' eyes narrowed.
"Does Harry realize that by doing this it'll throw everyone into war?"
"I think he's more concerned about getting Draco back than anything else," Heero spoke up for the first time. "We can deal with the consequences later."
"So, what do you say?" Duo finished, looking at Sirius expectantly. "It's not something I wanted to involve anyone else in, but we're," he gestured to Heero, "out of element here. You're supposed to be a really good wizard, but if you won't help then we'll do it ourselves."
"I'm not about to let my godson go off and face Voldemort alone," Sirius growled. "He's my responsibility."
"Then help us," Heero said. "We won't be waiting much longer before we go after him. As soon as we locate him we're leaving."
"As soon as ye locate 'im?" Hagrid asked disbelievingly. Duo shrugged.
"Like I said, we're not exactly super wizards. Some of the gang is going to look up spells in the Library once we shake Pince."
Sirius snorted. "Hm. You've got guts, but I don't want Harry getting involved."
"He's already involved, and has been since before Draco was taken," Duo pointed out. "You're not going to stop him."
Sirius leaned back and regarded the two boys seriously. "I'll consider it. If Harry is definitely going to do this, then I'll help, but who's going to watch out for a bunch of muggles pretending to be wizards? Are Ron and Hermione helping?"
Duo and Heero both shook their heads, and Duo responded once more. "They don't know, and they're not going to find out until after it's over, if we have anything to do with it. That's the way Harry wants it."
The wizard sighed. "The way you tell it doesn't leave me
much room for refusal."
Duo grinned darkly. "That was the point."
*~*
"He's in," Duo said in Harry's ear as they sat at the table in the Great Hall. Heero and Duo had stayed to outline the very rough ideas they had, since they really hadn't had anything to go on. Sirius has finally agreed, and would help finalize and enact any sort of plans they made. He told them he'd be in Hagrid's hut or the Forbidden Forest, and although Hagrid had argued vehemently, the two pilots had left with another ally to help them rescue Draco.
Once they'd left, the two pilots had stopped speaking to each other, and had returned to the school in silence.
Divination had already ended, and students were filing into the Great Hall for lunch when they'd returned. Making his way to Harry immediately, Duo sat down in the empty seat next to him and very, very quietly relayed what had happened, his voice drowned out by the commotion of students in the Hall.
Harry nodded grimly once Duo finished, and then Duo realized that his face was bruised.
"What the hell happened to you?"
"They had an exciting period," Quatre said dryly from across the table. "Once you two left these guys and the Slytherins attacked each other. They managed to add about two more weeks of detention to their sentence."
"Not like it was going to bother me in the first place," Harry grumbled. "I'm going after him."
Duo smiled thinly. "Yeah, I know. We'll get him back."
"It hurts, you know?" Harry murmured, low enough that only Duo could hear him. Duo looked over to see Harry pull of his glasses and stare up at the ceiling, charmed to look like the cloudy sky. "Not knowing whether I'm ever going to see him again. Whether or not he'll be alive if I do."
Duo nodded sympathetically. "Yeah, I know the feeling." Harry's green eyes shifted to him and he nodded.
"Of course, when Heero was away," Harry muttered. "How could I forget?"
Duo grinned. "You've been a bit preoccupied." Behind him, though Duo couldn't see, Heero was watching them both with a confused look on his face. It disappeared quickly enough, and he lowered his eyes to his plate. The blue eyed boy rested his elbow on the table and laid his forehead on his palm, closing his eyes.
Though Duo couldn't see this, Trowa and Quatre did.
"Heero," Quatre prodded. "You still not feeling all right?"
"Get lost, Quatre," Heero said tiredly. "I'm fine."
Quatre frowned and narrowed his eyes, watching the Wing pilot sag a bit in his seat. "Heero? …Heero?"
Trowa reached over and nudged the Japanese boy, causing him to tip over and lay his head on the table with a thunk. Trowa stood immediately, reaching over the table and shaking the boy. "Heero!"
Duo snapped around, eyes wide, and laid a hand on Heero's shoulder. "Hey, Heero! Hey!"
Heero's eyes snapped open suddenly, and Trowa leaned back with a grunt. Duo stayed close, leaning in and peering into Heero's face. "Welcome back," he muttered, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "I think that it's time for us to have another talk with Pomfrey, don't you think?"
Heero did not respond for a moment, and merely stared at Duo with a hint of confusion on his face.
"Who… are you?"
*~*
Okay, the delay was caused by exams, school, and my comp's processor fan committing suicide. I have a bigass fan blowing into it right not to keep it cool, but even then I'm not staying on it for long.
Sorry about the wait, but now we're picking up! ^^;
…What's wrong with Heero? Why is his memory gone? Will he revert to normal when it's time to save Draco?!
Heehee.
