Darkness and Light

Chapter 5

Updated as of 1/2/10. Another facelift chapter. I feel proud, heh.

Tonks was missing.

After their Transfiguration lesson, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had a free period before lunch, so they trudged back to the common room to work on the homework that they already had. Harry found it odd that Hermione had been so quiet all day, usually she was at her prime on the first day of classes. Ron, however, was talking away about the injustice of McGonagall giving his extra homework because he failed to remember something they had learned back in their fourth year.

"It was two whole years ago!" He kept repeating. "How am I supposed to remember something from that long ago?"

"It wasn't that long ago," Hermione said, though not with the tone of annoyance that was expected.

"We were so wrapped up with harry and the Triwizard Tournament, how were we supposed to learn anything?" Ron asked anyone who would listen.

When they climbed through the portrait hole, Harry saw some sort of exotic bird, sitting patiently on the table. Harry didn't have to guess who had sent the letter wrapped to the bird's leg. He quickly unwrapped it and sent the bird flying up to the Owlery.

"You have to build on the knowledge you already have!" Hermione was saying. "If you can't do that, then you'll never advance!"

"Then, I'll never advance!"

"Guys." Harry said. This was not good. Luckily, Ron and Hermione could tell in his voice that something was wrong, they stopped their bickering and came over to him. Harry read aloud,

Dear Harry,

Something has gone terribly wrong, the entire Order could be exposed at any time. Tonks and Arthur were out on a simple patrol and Tonks was kidnapped without a trace. I fear she may be dead. Not even Arthur knows what happened. Tonks knows very well not to give any information about the Order or you or anything else that may endanger our cause, but it is always possible that they could be using Veritiserum...among other, much harsher methods of making her talk. Dumbledore should know this information now, so there is no need to even speak of this information out loud- (at this, Harry looked around, making sure there was no one else in the common room who was close enough that they could have heard him) -but if for some reason you hear any sort of whisper, mutter, even see someone in Hogwarts who was not there the day before, tell us immediately. I have never felt so sick with worry, nor have I ever felt more useless just sitting here while she could be in pain. I believe I will be contacting you by floo on the tenth at one in the morning, please be there. And please, Harry, do not do anything that would put you in danger.

-Sirius

"This is terrible!" Hermione exclaimed.

"I mean, know the Order's always putting themselves in danger..." Ron said, "But they always seemed so powerful, I never thought anything would actually happen to one of them."

"I guess all we can do is hope that's she's alive." Harry said, feeling as useless as Sirius.

"They'll find her." Hermione said. "I mean, they have to find her, right?"

"They'll find her." Harry repeated, not sure if he really believed it or not. He wrapped his arm around Hermione, trying to comfort her, butt she did not lean back into him as she always did.

The grounds outside were chilly, more chilly then a normal September day should have been. The twelve soldiers stood in the very center of the Quidditch pitch, a Quidditch pitch that was very abandoned. The garish cloaks that had them complaining on the train were now sorely missed; their school robes did not keep out the cold winds.

"Could this be a trap?" Haruka finally spoke what they all were thinking. "It's after ten."

"Maybe he's just late." Usagi suggested. "I mean, he's the headmaster, I'm sure he does lots of important stuff."

"Maybe this is a self study class." Ami said.

"I've found that self study classes don't go over so well at Hogwarts." A voice said. Professor Dumbledore walked onto the field, smiling brightly. "Forgive me for being late, I was speaking with Professor Snape." Before the girls and three boys could speak, he held up a hand and continued, "Professor Meioh filled me in on what happened last night, including the fact that Lord Voldemort seems to have somehow reached through time or space to conjure an Inferi from one of your old enemies, as well as the transformation of one of my own students."

"What's an Inferi?" Usagi and Minako asked at the same time.

"Professor, did you know we were coming ahead of time?" Rei asked before Dumbledore could answer the blondes' question. "Did Setsuna come to you?"

"I came to him." Another voice said from behind them. They all turned quickly and saw Cosmos there, flanked by two of their old enemies, Chiral and Achiral. The most mysterious of the warriors was wrapped on a very short, white, furry cloak that didn't even reach her bare knees, not bothered at all by the terribly cold wind that was whipping her white hair to and fro. In fact, she seemed quite amazed that she was somewhere that was not the Cauldron, she looked at the sights around her and took a deep breath of the air. The men who stood next to her did not look as aggressive as they did when they were being controlled by the Dark Kingdom, giving them no reason to attack right now.

"Lady Cosmos," Dumbledore addressed her, stepping over to her and taking one of her frail hands in his. "This is quite a surprise. I'm astounded you can afford to be away from the Cauldron."

"I have found someone there who is willing to watch and protect it in my place." The woman answered, placing her other hand over the old man's. "I feel that I am suffering a very common emotion, though now it is hurting me in a way I cannot bear any longer. Guilt. I am feeling very guilty."

The warriors knew almost nothing of Cosmos, only that she was the guardian of the powerful Cauldron and that she was the final form of Sailor Moon in one way or another. She had told Usagi that she had run away from something in the past, something she always seemed to be remembering.

"Let me first say that I did not know that when I sent you all to this time and place, I did not know just how much of your memory would be lost, and for that, I am truly sorry." Cosmos continued.

"Cosmos..." Chibiusa started suddenly. She looked at the ground.

"No, small one." The woman before them said simply. "You asked me, that day in the cauldron, to see your friends one more time."

It hit them all like a rush of water, pouring in quickly and steadily. They remembered. Usagi put a hand to her head, that is what she wanted? Yes...when she was in the Cauldron, all of the memories of her past life came back to her, and she remembered her friends who had given their lives to right the wrongs that Voldemort had done to the time stream. Harry...yes, Harry, he was one of them. Harry, Hermione, and Ron were close to them.

"Is that it?" Rei asked Cosmos. "Because both Snape and Draco said that our very presence here is a threat to everyone here! Wasn't there another reason we came?"

"It was us who caused Voldemort to summon that youma, wasn't it?" Michiru asked, feeling guilty at the very thought.

Cosmos did not speak for a moment, she was, for once, stuck for words.

"I believe I am still human." Cosmos said. Was it just the harsh wind, or was she shaking slightly? "And there is something...something which I can only discuss with Dumbledore, forgive me...there was a discrepancy...and Lord Voldemort was able to summon the deceased youma from the Cauldron."

"He was at the Cauldron?" Dumbledore asked, raising his eyebrows. "How could this have happened?"

"It is not something I'm especially proud of." Cosmos muttered. "If you will allow it, I would like to discuss it in private."

"Yes, of course." The elder wizard nodded.

"It was my fault that the youma attacked, and I have reason to believe that Voldemort has created something of a shortcut so that he can return to conjure whatever he likes at any time." Cosmos said. She truly did look guilty.

"Well, what does that mean, if he can conjure whatever he wants?" Usagi asked. "It's a black hole, he couldn't actually get any star seeds or anything, could he?"

"He has not yet figured out how to enter the Cauldron." Cosmos nodded. "And if he did, I fear that he could control anything. I will see that it never happens. I will."

"Um, Cosmos, is that why they're there?" Usagi asked, pointing at the twin sculptors who had once tried to kill them.

"Voldemort tried to take their bodies as well, but I gave them beck their star seeds. He could not take them any more." Cosmos nodded.

"We are grateful to Lady Cosmos," Chiral said, his voice hoarse.

"We protect her with our lives." Achiral added.

The senshi were not sure what happened that had Cosmos so shaken, they never imagined she would want protection of any sort from anyone. It was clear, however, that she would not tell anyone what had happened.

"Next, I believe you would like to know what happened with Miss Hermione Granger last night." Cosmos continued.

"Is she my daughter from the future?" Ami asked.

"She is not." Cosmos answered. Ami wasn't sure if she should be relieved or sad. "But she has inherited the power of Mercury nonetheless, but not from the you of this time."

"That makes no sense." Makoto pointed out. "Can our powers, like, time travel?"

"No, they cannot." Cosmos said. "I'm not exactly sure why another star was born last night. I wouldn't even have known if they hadn't informed me." She held out her hand towards Seiya, Yaten, and Taiki.

"You've been able to contact Cosmos?!" Minako exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"I didn't want you to think we knew more then we did!" Seiya said quickly, raising his arms in defense. "We never came here, so there was nothing for us to forget!"

"I asked them to join you." Cosmos said, causing any commotion to stop once more. "I was dealing with so much that I couldn't keep an eye on you. But now I can, so if you will, I would like to take you back."

"I can't take it!" Chibiusa suddenly exclaimed. Everyone's eyes were on the small, pink-haired girl. Next to her, Hotaru looked very worried.

"Little one, are you sure..." Cosmos started.

"What's wrong?" Hotaru asked quietly.

"I'm sorry, Cosmos, I can't keep it up any more! I never lost my memory because I never really died!" She exclaimed. "I knew exactly what you all wanted to do here, but Cosmos made me keep quiet!"

All eyes were now back on Cosmos, who sighed, but managed a small smile.

"Why couldn't she tell us?" Haruka demanded.

"I cannot tell you." Cosmos said simply. "You have learned a lot of information today, and that is all you need to know."

"But, what about Hermione-" Rei started.

"I don't know how on earth she awakened now, but I have a hunch." Cosmos told them. "A hunch that involves me not telling you why Chibiusa should not have told you that she retained her memories." Cosmos was stubborn, she would not let anything slip that shouldn't have. "Now, I only have a few brief minutes here, and we have gone so far off track from Rei's original question. I came to see the headmaster, and I told him that you wanted to come, as sort of a dying wish sort of ordeal. He informed me that almost everyone in the school had been granted distorted memories and that it was very unlikely you would be remembered. You wanted to come back and see your friends, and I wanted there to be no violence. Just a simple trip to the school."

"It seems Lord Voldemort interrupted those plans." Dumbledore continued. "Miss Granger has not come to me about what happened last night, nor does anyone outside of the dorm know, though, so to everyone else, you are still just normal students. Miss Brown and Miss Patil have been spreading a rumor that you were practicing some sort of nightmare charm."

"But will this happen again?" Makoto asked. "Will the school be breached again? It'll be hard to stay hidden."

"And what if another senshi shows up?" Minako asked. "How will we explain it if we find someone who won't keep quiet?"

"We will deal with it as it comes, not to worry." Dumbledore reassured them.

"As for Hermione," Cosmos continued, "As I am not sure why and how she was awakened, I need you to try and find the solution."

"Find it where?" Usagi asked her counterpart. Cosmos did not answer, she only looked at the birds flying overhead.

"I will see you soon, my friends." She said. "Taiki, Yaten, Seiya, please come with me."

"Goodbye, odango." Seiya said fondly to Usagi, brushing his hand on her neck.

"Hey!" Usagi yelled, irritated. Seiya merely laughed and went to stand with his brothers next to the silver-haired woman.

"I shall owl you tonight, Professor." Cosmos told Dumbledore. There was a flash, and then Cosmos, Chiral and Achiral, and the three brothers were gone.

"Now unfortunately, this encounter has not only left us with no time for any sort of lesson whatsoever," Dumbledore said, chuckling, "But I now have to explain how three of our students have vanished. Hmmhmm."