Didn't think I'd do that to my fave char, did you?
Bwahaha!
***
Chapter 31
Duo froze, eyes wide, and watched as Heero's eyes searched his face as though it were something unfamiliar. Heero's eyebrows were drawn together, and his expression showed his confusion.
"You're…"
"Duo," the boy replied numbly. "I'm Duo."
Heero lowered his eyes. "Yeah."
"Heero," Wufei said lowly, watching the Japanese boy from across the table. Heero looked up and stared at Wufei for a moment.
"I…" the boy murmured. Harry leaned forward and looked around Duo at Heero.
"Something wrong?"
Heero looked at the scarred boy, and then shook his head slightly, closing his eyes. When he opened them again they fastened on Duo, and Duo held his breath.
"What's going on, Duo?" Heero murmured, bringing a hand up to his head. "Why… did that just happen?"
"You remember again, Heero?" Wufei asked, leaning forward and pushing his lunch off to the side. Heero nodded blearily, still rubbing his head. Beside him Duo bit his lip and stood, grabbing Heero's arm and pulling. Instead of shaking Duo off Heero merely complied, and Duo dragged the Wing pilot out of the Great Hall with the other three pilots and Harry chasing after them.
"Where are you taking him?" Trowa asked once he'd caught up with Duo. His long legs helped him keep up the pace with the only somewhat shorter Duo, while the others were all an inch or two shorter than the braided pilot.
"Infirmary," came the short reply. "She said he was fucking better."
"Well maybe Zabini-" Harry was cut off by Heero, who looked up suddenly with anger in his eyes.
"That son of a bitch," the Wing pilot cursed, grinding his heels into the floor and causing Duo to stop. Duo whirled on him.
"Later," he ordered, tugging on Heero's arm once more, but with considerably less force than before. Heero only considered it for a moment before consenting and following Duo once again. Trowa, who had not stopped with Heero and Duo, was already half a corridor ahead and talking with Quatre.
"If he's still feeling the effects then maybe this potion wasn't accidental after all," Quatre wondered. Trowa nodded.
"That's what I was thinking. But why would Zabini go after Heero?"
"Maybe he was supposed to save it for someone, or maybe Heero was just a test dummy," Quatre guessed. Trowa shrugged his lean shoulders, the black robe swishing against the floor.
"Maybe we should go ask him," the taller boy suggested. "It'll give Duo them something less to worry about, at least until we find out what he's done." Quatre looked hesitant, and Trowa quickly added, "or I could take Wufei."
Quatre smiled thankfully. "I'd prefer to be around to see what happens with Heero this time, but I think checking with Zabini again would be good."
Trowa nodded and turned to the Chinese boy. "Wufei. Want to go see if Zabini knows anything about this?"
A slow smirk crept along Wufei's face. "Sounds like fun."
"Don't rip him apart," Duo called back. He and Heero were continuing on, with Harry and Quatre close behind. Trowa walked back to Wufei and they both looked at Duo.
"Why not?" Wufei asked indignantly.
"Because I'm going to do it myself," Heero called back to them. The two pilots smirked at him.
"Sounds good," Trowa returned. Duo waved once over his head, other arm still attached to Heero's own arm and tugging him along. Wufei and Trowa watched them turn around a corner towards the Infirmary before turning back towards the Great Hall.
"So what kind of interrogation are we planning?" Trowa asked Wufei, who was cracking his knuckles methodically.
"I'm a bit mad that Duo told us not to rip him apart," Wufei admitted, but shrugged his shoulders. "He didn't say we couldn't kick the shit out of him, though."
"What's another detention?" Trowa asked rhetorically. In truth, none of their group honestly cared about the detentions.
It wasn't like they were going to serve them.
***
Heero's head was throbbing painfully by the time they'd made it to the Infirmary. Harry had suggested getting Hermione so that she could fix it, but Duo had dismissed that idea, saying that the less people involved in their affairs the better.
"It gets to a point where you can't tell friends from enemies," Duo had said, only somewhat confusingly. "And those friends you aren't watching could have become enemies, and when you go to them for help you'd never know."
"That's why you spy on everyone," Quatre said with a smile at Heero, who nodded. "But, to spy on everyone you still need a group."
"A manageable one," Heero grumbled.
"Stop talking and just walk," Duo commanded, glaring at the Japanese boy he was supporting. He was still pulling Heero by his arm, but Heero was putting much more weight on that arm now that they were walking a lot.
Heero merely grunted in response.
Upon reaching the Infirmary, Harry reached the door first, walking in and calling Madam Pomfrey. The woman ambled out into sight and started at the boys.
"Oh my, I hadn't expected to see you lot again so soon." She frowned at Heero. "This one again? What happened?"
"Same thing that happened last time," Duo said darkly. "He got a headache, he got weak, and for a second he had amnesia. We just didn't wait a long time to bring him here, so he just hasn't died yet."
Pomfrey frowned nervously and motioned them in, disappearing into the medicine cabinet on the far wall. When she emerged, she was holding a bottle and a wand. "Sit 'im down," she told Duo, who leaned Heero against one of the hospital beds. Someone walked into the Infirmary behind them, and the group glanced back to see Headmaster Dumbledore standing just inside the door.
"Afternoon, Headmaster," Pomfrey said gravely, mixing the ingredients of the bottle with another bottle she'd retrieved. Her voice clearly said that it was in fact not a good afternoon, and Dumbledore caught it immediately.
"What seems to be the problem?" he asked kindly, walking towards the group of boys.
"Headache, weakness, momentary amnesia," Quatre rattled off. "It has something to do with that potion Zabini made," he said with conviction, watching Duo's eyes narrow dangerously.
"I'm going to kill that bastard," he said quietly. Harry frowned at them both, and Madam Pomfrey set the bottle of solution she'd mixed on a tray, leaving it for the time being. She then began examining Heero using her wand. She cast some sort of spell, and soon the air around Heero was glowing a soft red color. Pomfrey's face showed concern before she masked it, but the boys had noticed.
"What?" Duo demanded.
"What's wrong with him?" Harry added.
Madam Pomfrey shot a look to Dumbledore, who nodded. "Mister Yuy has been subjected to a mild form of poisoning… most likely the cause was in fact the potion by Mister Zabini… however…"
"He did it on purpose," Quatre said suddenly, beating the nurse to the punch. She looked surprised, then nodded.
"It would seem that way. Mister Yuy is not in any serious danger as of now, thanks to the efforts of the mediwizards at St. Mungo's, but he will still need to be treated."
"What kind of treated are we talking here?" Duo asked carefully, already moving closer to an edgy-looking Heero.
"Hm," Pomfrey hummed to herself, examining the bottle liquid she'd set down earlier. "Drink this, Mister Yuy. It should, if not halt the poison, then slow it down considerably."
"How are you planning on stopping it if that doesn't work?" Quatre asked. "We don't need him dying on us again."
Duo shuddered slightly and nodded in agreement. "We could send him to St. Mungo's again," Pomfrey suggested hesitantly. As she expected, the three pilots shook their heads.
"We need him here," Quatre insisted. "Is there nothing else you can do?"
"From the results I've witnessed," Dumbledore cut in suddenly, causing the boys to look to him. "It would seem Mister Yuy is quite resilient. I believe that the potion Madam Pomfrey made, given a reasonable amount of time, should be more than enough to return Heero to a healthy state."
"No more amnesia?" Harry questioned the Headmaster, who nodded.
"That should stop as well."
"You can stay here for a while, if you'd like," Pomfrey offered, gesturing to the chairs next to the bed Heero sat on. "Unless the Headmaster wishes otherwise, of course."
"I would actually like to speak with Harry for a small while," Dumbledore confessed. "That was my original reason for seeking him out. I assure you that I will check on you later, Mister Yuy." Heero nodded, face still a pale color as he examined the liquid in the bottle he held. "Harry?"
Harry smiled at the Quatre, Duo and Heero. "I'll catch up with you lot later, all right?"
Quatre returned the smile with one of his own. "Sure thing Harry. See you."
Harry turned to follow Dumbledore as the Headmaster left the Infirmary, shooting the boys another much more solemn glance before disappearing after him.
Quatre frowned, and filed the look away to consider at a later time.
***
"So what did you want to talk with me about?" Harry asked conversationally as they made their way down the corridor. Dumbledore shook his head and didn't respond until they'd rounded the corner and his office's guardian statue was in sight.
"There have been some… strange instances occurring, ever since those five boys appeared," the Headmaster began as the gargoyle moved out of the way. "I have not failed to notice, Harry, that you have been spending quite a bit of time with them over these last few days."
"They're new," Harry said simply, expecting that to explain his reasoning.
"Perhaps," Dumbledore conceded. "How have your dreams been as of late?"
A grimace flashed over Harry's features, though Dumbledore didn't notice since he was already ascending the staircase and opening his office door. "They've been normal. Nothing monumental."
"No Voldemort premonitions?"
"No," Harry lied easily. He did not feel that explaining to Dumbledore about how Draco was being tortured in his dreams would be helpful to their impending rescue attempt.
Dumbledore hummed, and the old man sat in his chair behind his large desk, absently stroking his beard. The Headmaster looked tired, Harry noticed. Dumbledore's next question nearly knocked Harry off his feet. "Have you had dreams of Draco Malfoy before, Harry?"
Recovering quickly, Harry retorted, "ones where he dies a horrible death, the git."
It actually wasn't that far from the truth, though it upset Harry to think that it may actually come true. He needed to be researching, not chatting it up with the Headmaster, who, for once, was not meant to be his saving grace. Harry did not plan to depend on the elderly wizard in front of him for any assistance.
Had he stopped to think about it, the amount of faith and trust he had put in five mysterious boys would have appalled him.
"Mister Malfoy was not present in any of his classes today," Dumbledore commented almost lazily. "I had wondered it there may be something sinister attached to his absence."
"Probably planning his next prank," Harry forced himself to reply. Keeping their relationship a secret had always been difficult, but it seemed twice as hard with Draco in danger.
"I hope, Harry," the wizard implored the boy, "that you will tell me if you sense or dream anything significant. In times like these, one must be aware of all possibilities."
Harry nodded and smiled, unnerved by the feeling he always got from Dumbledore's friendly blue eyes. He always felt as though the man could read his… mind... "Of course, sir."
"Then I will speak with you again at a later time," Dumbledore dismissed him, and the scarred boy nodded and left, already planning in his head.
***
Wufei strode into the Great Hall, already veering towards the Slytherin table. Just like last time the stocky Blaise Zabini was seated at the head of the table, talking loudly with his housemates. Wufei absently heard Trowa coming behind him, a silent reassurance. Wufei had no doubt that Trowa would love to take out Zabini, but the European was also content to take out anyone that may try to interfere.
Wufei stopped once he was well within Zabini's personal space, leaning over the Slytherin and burning a stare into his head.
"We need to speak with you."
Zabini snorted. "How about you prats back the bloody hell up 'fore somebody gets hurt," he said. "A man needs his space."
The second Zabini finished his sentence Wufei's hand had the back of his robe's collar and he was hauling the British Slytherin out of his seat. The maneuver brought Zabini directly in front of the taller Trowa, who glared.
"You'll be wishing for a lot more than space once we're through with you," he said ominously. Zabini paled.
***
Harry's relatively short meeting with Dumbledore found him walking back to the Infirmary, eager to share his revelation with the other three boys. He felt that it was pretty damn ingenious – especially since it had come at complete random.
Regardless, it would enable him to communicate with Draco, and that was all that mattered.
"Well maybe if you'd stopped fucking around then we wouldn't have had to rush you here," Duo snapped as Harry walked back into the Infirmary, glancing around the room in surprise. Heero was still pale and leaning on the bed, but the fury in his eyes was not dull anymore. And it was directed at Duo, who was, of course, glaring back with all he was worth.
"Guys," Quatre, who was standing off to the side with fingers pinching the bridge of his nose, said impatiently. "Just stop."
"Tell this jackass to stop," Heero muttered cruelly, sneering at the braided boy. "And just let it go."
"I can't let it go if you're not going to fucking LEARN, Heero, Jesus!" Duo exclaimed, pushing the fingers of both hands into his hair with exasperation. Harry got the impression that this was not a new argument. "Stop fucking acting like a tough guy all the time, that's all I want! Start acting like you're not invincible, even if you don't believe it yet!"
"I'm perfectly aware of my mortality," Heero snapped moodily. Duo growled.
"Yeah, perfectly. Perfect this, and that, and that, and this. PERFECT. All the fucking time! You're not him anymore! Just STOP!"
"Look at you!" came the immediate retort. "You tell me to let it go, and look at you, fucking Shinigami every time there's a problem!"
Harry edged closer to Quatre, who was shaking his head tiredly. The blond was watching with a blank face, and Harry wasn't sure what was going on. Standing near Quatre would offer him some protection should something go flying, at least.
"Then I guess we're at a draw," the violet-eyed boy hissed. "Perfect Soldier and the Shinigami."
"So lay off," Heero grumbled, covering his eyes with one hand. Harry noticed that the bottle next to Heero was empty, and assumed the Japanese boy had downed the liquid.
Quatre pounced on the moment of silence that followed. "If you two are fucking done," he said with a glare to both of them, "let's get the hell out of here."
Duo turned and walked out without a word, not quite slamming the Infirmary door, but definitely closing it with more force than necessary. Heero stared after the Deathscythe pilot with a lost look on his face before he shook it off and stood slowly.
"I need to talk to him," the Wing pilot said quietly. Quatre groaned.
"Are you sure you're going to talk and not yell? We really don't need anymore of that bullshit right now, Heero."
"Just talk," Heero insisted. He looked to Harry. "Where's the Owlrey?"
"The west tower," Harry said slowly, a quizzical look on his face. "How do you know he went there?"
"Shinigami," Heero said simply, walking out of the Infirmary and leaving a sighing Quatre and a befuddled Harry behind.
"The owl," Quatre said, laughing shortly. "Those two are so…. Thickheaded."
"They don't seem fond of each other," Harry commented, and Quatre laughed again, moving towards the door.
"Trust me, Harry. They don't get much more affectionate than that in public, but they're crazy about each other."
"If that's affectionate," Harry muttered, following the blond, "I wouldn't want to see spiteful."
***
Do be doooo…
^^
Wee 1x2.
C'mon and lay it doooooown… I've always been with you here and noooooow…. *wanders away singing Matchbox 20 songs*
