And here we go.
Chapter 36…
…
Sirius was in shock. That was really the only way to put it. He'd expected a day, maybe even a week at most, to prepare. He didn't even have an hour! He had 'until Trowa and Duo return'. Those were the exact words, too. Harry's friend had honestly said that, and Harry had agreed!
And Harry was gay!
"All right," Sirius muttered to himself, aware that Harry and Heero were both watching him. "Gotta get past that now." So he tried, really. It was hard to think that James' legacy had ended with Harry because Harry was gay, but hey, Sirius tried to look on the bright side. Maybe this was just a phase.
And if it wasn't, then he would just have to deal with it.
Just as he now had to deal with the fact that they were about to perform a powerful spell on Harry, so that these boys Harry barely knew could go and save the son of a bloody prick.
"This is bloody crazy," Sirius said with a short laugh. Harry was nodding in agreement, but Heero merely arched an eyebrow and eyed him with those bright blue irises of his.
"Can we go now?"
Sirius gave another bark of a laugh, and nodded. Within moments he was in dog form once more, staring at Harry and shaking his doggy head. Harry forced a smile.
"It… will make more sense when you see him," Harry explained lamely. Heero was apparently bored of the small talk and began walking towards the front of the hut, expecting the others to follow.
Which, after a moment of deliberation to study each other, they did.
Harry called out a farewell to the giant, and Hagrid returned it. They slipped out the front door and tore across the lawn, trying to keep up with a quickly moving Heero. The young Asian seemed bent on returning to the dorms as quickly as possible. Harry assumed much time had passed as he'd told the story of his and Draco's past, and that Heero was trying to make up for it.
Regardless, Harry was trying not to think about what he'd just told his Godfather, as he assumed Sirius was trying to do as well.
Soon enough they reached the bottom of Gryffindor tower, where Heero stood waiting for them. Harry was breathing heavily from the run, but Heero didn't even look fazed.
"Will you carry the dog?" Heero asked him. Harry blanched, stepping away.
"What? He's huge!" Sirius whined indignantly. "It's true. Honestly, you could have tried to be a smaller dog." Harry frowned when Sirius hung his head, and Heero rolled his eyes.
"Fine. I'll carry him." Sirius' head shot up, but Heero's arm had already wrapped around the dog's torso and he hefted him up onto his shoulder. The black dog whined and tried to get away, but Heero merely tightened his grip. "If you scratch me or piss on me I won't hesitate to drop you."
The threat seemed to work, and Sirius calmed down. He did whine a bit more, though, especially when Heero held him with one arm and picked up the broom with the other, hefting his leg over it and jumping up to begin his ascent. Harry followed closely behind, a little awed by the ease that Heero held the big dog.
Harry was actually getting a little tired of being awed all the time.
Heero rapped on the window and it was immediately opened. Heero ducked his head and flew inside with the dog, Harry following. The window was shut immediately after them.
…
"Look, really, I think this'll be a snap," Duo told his companion, strolling down the hallway. He wished the robes had pockets, so he could complete the illusion of ease he was projecting. "I mean, we've got the cloak thing. Then there's me. I'm just amazing."
Trowa snorted and shot his shorter friend a wry grin. "Modesty means nothing to you."
Duo shook his head with a broad grin. "I don't know the meaning of the word." The banter served them for a few more minutes, as they made their way towards the dungeons. They didn't meet anyone they recognized, and assumed that anyone they did meet were from either Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw, the only houses left where they'd barely interacted with the students. Of course, most of their interaction with the Slytherins had been negative, but they had at least interacted.
Soon enough they reached the stairwell that would take them down to the dungeons and the potions classroom, and Duo smiled grimly.
"No ventilation shafts, I guess," he muttered. Trowa snorted next to him, holding out the cloak. "Nah," Duo replied, shaking his head. "Keep it. I need the practice."
Trowa shrugged and let the cloak rest at his side again. Duo grinned at him and walked to the side of the hallway.
"The best way to hide is in plain sight, right?" Duo muttered, more to himself than to Trowa. He started down the staircase, and Trowa followed, keeping an eye out behind them. It wouldn't do to get caught before they even got to the classroom.
The corridor was barren. There was no signs of life anywhere – not even a mouse, or a spider. It would have freaked Duo out had he not been accustomed to such sights from his youth. As it was, he was barely fazed, and instead counted it as luck. He quickly made his way down to the potions room, which was of course locked.
Duo snorted and knelt, peering at the knob. "Think they use magical locks here, Trowa?"
"It would stand to reason," Trowa replied.
"How about that nifty little spell Quatre knows? Allohomaroo or something."
Trowa shook his head. "Think about what kind of traps you'd have in a castle where the students know magic. If you locked a door wouldn't you put a certain alarm on it, that would trigger if someone tried to open it?"
Duo smirked. "Yeah. And the kids here are so inept they're probably expected to try and magic their way in." He started to reach back into his hair, but remembered at the last second that he didn't have his tools. "Shit."
Trowa knelt beside him, eyeing up and down the corridor. "We need to get inside, Duo."
"Well, duh," Duo replied, sneering. "Not much I can do without a tool."
"So make something. You made a damn owl, and you can't make a bobby pin?"
Duo grimaced and pulled out his wand, eyeing it. "But I need something to change." Next to him, Trowa tugged a piece of hair out of his head and handed it over.
"Think of it as my contribution."
Duo snorted and focused on the piece of hair, picturing it as a bobby pin. He tried to recall the certain pattern he'd used in McGonagall's class, but it was escaping him. Finally, he simply waved his wand and willed the hair to turn to something else.
He almost dropped it in shock when it actually did.
"Man, I got a knack for this stuff," Duo muttered, already in motion trying to get the door unlocked the old fashioned way. Trowa did another scan of the hallway, growing rather edgy next to his longhaired companion. It took almost twenty seconds to get the door opened – Trowa counted – and once it was they both dashed inside and closed the door once more, Duo locking it again. They stilled, staring at the door apprehensively, as a few students walked by out in the hallway. Duo let out a breath of relief and Trowa glared at him.
"What?" Duo hissed. "You think I knew it was going to open? Gimme a break. Even I'm allowed to get a little lucky." With a huff Duo walked towards the back of the classroom, with Trowa staring at his back in disbelief.
He shook his head. "The devil's luck, more like it," he muttered before following Duo. He just hoped collecting the damned ingredients didn't involve any more of the Maxwell Luck.
…
"So, you're a transfer student from the Middle East," Neville repeated. Quatre smiled and nodded.
"Basically, yeah."
Seated next to him, Wufei's eyes were closed and he tried not to snort in annoyance. Honestly, who would buy an idiotic story like 'all of a sudden a bunch of schools nobody's heard of sent transfer students to Hogwarts'. Right. That was probable. Wufei doubted that transfer students were common at all, let alone five arriving on the same day.
Whatever. It didn't matter, because they'd hopefully be leaving soon enough. Wufei was getting tired of this place, and the people that lived here.
"Hello, Wufei," came a female voice, and Wufei's eyes snapped open. One of the Gryffindor girls Harry's age stood in front of him, smiling. She seated herself next to the Asian boy. "I know you're new, and all, but I wondered how you were finding Howarts?"
Wufei racked his brain. He knew this girl's name. Normally he wouldn't care, but he was supposed to be distracting. That required responding.
After a few moments considering, he decided to forget it and just reply. "It's interesting." The girl flushed, and Wufei felt an inkling of apprehension set in. Oh, no.
"That's good. I hope you're enjoying your classes," she muttered. Wufei made a noise in response, drawing in unto himself. "Wufei, do you have a girlfriend?"
Next to him, Wufei could see Quatre tense. The blonde's speech stuttered just a bit before he got caught up in it again, apparently weaving for Neville and two other Gryffindors a story of the Middle East. Wufei cursed him for leaving him to fend off the woman alone.
But what the hell was he supposed to say?
"No. And I have no interest to find one."
The girl - whose name was Lavender, Wufei recalled suddenly – looked downcast. "Oh, really? Why not? Are you…" Her voice lowered. "Gay?"
Wufei's eyes narrowed and he tried to ignore the tremor that went through Quatre. No doubt the damn boy was laughing. "No."
Lavender flushed again. "Oh. Um." She looked embarrassed and glanced around the room, clearing her throat nervously. "Well. Um."
Wufei tried not to sigh impatiently, waiting for the next idiotic thing this girl was sure to say. He cursed Duo and Trowa, and silently urged them to hurry the hell up.
…
"Does this look like newt genitals to you?"
Duo made a face. "Oh, ew. That's gross." He peered at the objects within the container and nodded. "Yeah." The brunette went back to scanning the shelves and Trowa placed the newt genitals on the cloak, which was laid out on the floor.
"Does Harry have to drink this or something?"
"I don't think so," Duo replied, shuddering. "I hope not. That would be so disgusting." He grabbed some kind of root off the shelf and tossed it on the cloak. "I think he just needs to inhale it, and then have the spell cast on him or something."
Trowa paused. "Doesn't that mean we'll all inhale it?"
"I guess so," Duo muttered absently. "Why, you been sleeping with Wufei and haven't told the rest of us?" He started snickering when Trowa's jaw dropped and the European flushed.
"No!" He sighed impatiently and shook his head. "No."
"Yeah, yeah, it's all for Quatre, I know," Duo replied with a laugh. "You're not fooling anybody. But you haven't been sleeping with Quatre, either, so I don't think it'll be a problem."
"I don't love Quatre," Trowa replied stiffly. Duo nodded.
"I know." He shrugged and grabbed another item off the shelf. "But I'm sure he wouldn't be upset to find out if you did."
"What about you and Heero?" Trowa asked. "You love Heero. Wouldn't that have something to do with a Bond of Lovers?"
Duo grimaced. "I don't know, Trowa. Maybe. I doubt it, though. I think the feelings have to be reciprocated."
Trowa chose not to reply and let the matter drop. He couldn't help but wonder, though. What if things went wrong?
"Okay, I think this is the last of it," Duo said excitedly. "We can get out of here now."
He placed the last item, some appendage of a rabbit, onto the cloak and Trowa grabbed the edges, pulling them up to a point and lifting it all as a bundle. As they'd hoped, the makeshift bag disappeared. Duo snickered appreciatively.
"Very nice. Much better than hiding that stuff in our robes."
As they left the potions closet, Trowa couldn't help but mutter, "Are you kidding? Those newt genitals aren't going anywhere near my robe."
…
It was with extreme relief that Wufei spotted Duo walk into the Common Room. The braided boy glanced around and seemed pleased before gesturing Trowa to come forward. The shorthaired brunette quickly walked through the room, robe swishing with the movement, and disappeared down the staircase. Duo tossed Wufei a wave and a wink before following.
Their task had been successful.
Now he and Quatre just had to get the hell out of the Common Room.
Thankfully, Quatre was a master of tact. "Oh, Wufei, didn't you have a question for Duo about his Transfiguration class?"
Wufei merely nodded, not showing any indication of moving. Lavender, still next to him, looked hopeful. The hope crumbled when Quatre stood and indicated that Wufei should do so as well. "I'm actually curious about that too. He's back, so let's go ask him." He turned to the boys he'd been entertaining and grinned. "If you want to know anything else just ask me, and I'll be happy to tell you!" Without giving away any indication of his lying, he turned and made his way towards the staircase.
Wufei himself was not known for his tact, and simply stood and walked away, leaving a dejected Lavender in his wake. One of the other Gryffindor girls was at her side in seconds, glaring at Wufei's retreating back.
Honestly, though, Wufei really didn't care.
Walking into their room made Wufei immediately take notice of the fact that Heero and Harry had not yet returned. Trowa had placed the cloak filled with items on his bed, and was sitting in front of it to shield it from view. Wufei closed their door behind him.
"'Ro's not back yet?" Duo asked, frowning. "Didn't think it'd take that long."
"You've never had to fill your godfather in on your way of life for the past few years," Quatre offered by way of explanation. "Maybe Harry's having trouble with what to say. And I doubt Heero's going to try and help him out."
Duo shrugged. "Let's get this stuff organized, then. And where are we doing this? I don't think in the middle of a tower filled with kids is a good place."
"One of the classrooms," Wufei suggested. "Such as one of the abandoned ones. Or Ihsaar's."
"Yeah, he's cool," Duo agreed. "There would be good, that way even if we get caught we have a reasonable chance of getting out of it."
The four boys settled themselves in to wait, ironing out the details of the evening. It was growing later and darker outside the longer they sat, and soon enough Quatre began to pace.
"They really need to get back soon," he muttered to himself. "We have to get out of here without getting caught."
Duo, at complete opposite, was lounged on his bed. "They will, Quat. Trust me. Heero'll be as anxious as you are."
True enough, less than ten minutes later there was a knock at the window. Quatre was there immediately, throwing it open and ushering Heero in. He seemed to be carrying a large… dog.
"Oh. Hello," Quatre greeted the dog, surprised. Harry climbed through the window once they were through, and the dog shook himself in the middle of the floor. There was a moment where all in the room paused, before the silence was broken.
"How the hell are we supposed to hide a dog?" Duo asked the room. "I mean, six guys creeping down the hall will be suspicious enough. And we can't use the cloak because it's the carrying sack."
"The corridors are dark," Trowa mused. "Maybe nobody will notice him. We could always form a group and conceal him, and he could walk in the shadows."
"I guess that's our best idea," Quatre conceded with a grimace. The others looked equally uneasy about that plan, but it was the best they could do. Then he paused and groaned. "But what about the Common Room?"
"Oh, please don't make me master of distraction again," Duo whined. "It's getting old and nobody's going to fall for it anymore."
"The only ones who've seen it are myself, Ron, Hermione, the twins, and Pince," Harry pointed out. Duo didn't look much happier.
"It is getting old," Heero grumbled. Duo stuck his tongue out at him.
"All right, I think I have my volunteer," Duo conceded, grinning at Heero. The blue-eyed boy eyed his comrade warily.
"I don't think I want to volunteer," he said. Behind him, Trowa laughed.
"Like you have a choice?" The brunette was putting the book in with the ingredients, packaging it up again.
"I think I have an idea," Duo mused. "And you know, I think it'll work rather well." Heero continued to look uneasy, but the others looked pleased.
"Then let's go," Wufei said, gesturing to the door. At his feet, Sirius bounced a little. Duo smiled broadly.
"Don't worry," he told the dog. "Nobody's going to notice you. C'mon, Heero," Duo called, gesturing and making his way towards the door. With a grunt of protest, Heero followed.
His sense of unease only grew as Duo walked to the other side of the Common Room, so that anyone watching them would face away from the portrait. Deathscythe's pilot smirked as a few eyes of those within the Common Room were immediately directed at him. "All right," Duo announced. Now most eyes were on him. "I have a little announcement to make. I feel uneasy by hiding it from you all, and thought I'd let everyone know at once." Duo's eyes sought Heero's. "Heero. Come over here."
The Japanese young man walked over hesitantly to stand a few steps from Duo. He crossed his arms and eyed the group of Gryffindors. He absently noticed Quatre making his way across the room towards the portrait to get it open, and forced himself to relax. He looked at Duo expectantly.
"A few days ago this lunkhead got himself put in the hospital," Duo told the group, gesturing to Heero with his thumb. "Now, this made me realize something that I thought I'd tell everyone as well as him." Face completely serious, Duo turned to Heero, reached out, and grabbed his hand. A hush fell over the room, with many confused looks being sent their way. "Heero," Duo announced. Heero's eyes widened as he realized what Duo was about to announce. "I love you!"
A few gasps rang out, even more so when Duo's hand shot out and latched onto the back of Heero's neck, pulling both soldiers together and allowing Duo to plant his lips onto Heero's.
Unnoticed amongst the gasps, whispers, and catcalls from the group, three young men and a dog darted to the portrait. About a solid minute later, Duo stepped back and grinned.
"Heh heh. Just kidding!"
Duo took off out of the portrait, and with a roar of anger, Heero followed.
"I'm going to kill you!"
Laughter rang up from a few people in the room, causing others to laugh as well. Most, though, simply looked confused. Regardless of what reaction Duo's distraction had caused among the Gryffindors, it had served its purpose, and the six boys and dog were making their way down the corridor, Duo still grinning at the flushed Heero, with Quatre demanding to know what the hell Duo had done.
A few tense and uneasy minutes later, they reached their destination.
…
…
BANG!
No, not very much excitement. I hope there's humor in there somewhere. I gave it an attempt.
But damn was that ever fast, eh? For me, anyway .
But yeah. This is my apology for being pathetically slow.
And who knows… maybe the next one will be along soon too?
Lemme know what you thought, and if my humor leaves something to be desired.
