Late-night post. Fun.
Once again, I apologize for not updating more frequently. Gomen, Gomen… But, as I said, writer's block is most horrible. I think in the next chapter I might just skip ahead to Christmas, seeing as there is no convenient time to work in the Digimon scene I originally had planned. But, eh…Que sera sera…Even Rowling-sama had to leave out scenes she really wanted to do.
BTW…Anybody know where I can find a good midi of Oreta Tsubasa de -With Broken Wings? I have translated lyrics, but I want to know how the song goes! And I've searched everywhere…I just can't find it!
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon or Harry Potter. I'm just really strange.
Chapter 26: Facing Fear
Kouichi was getting a bit restless. He was in the Digital World. Again. As they had a agreed on, this time in the depths of the Continent of Darkness. It was a week since his little 'spell' and he'd had plenty of time to recover. The only question was, where the heck were Lowemon and…
A snap of a twig behind him made him jump. He spun around, raising his arms automatically to defend himself.
"Oops. Sorry." Lowemon smiled, coming out of the dense trees with Antylamon just behind him. "Didn't mean to scare you."
Kouichi somehow doubted that. Seeing as he and Lowemon shared the same temperament, he wouldn't be surprised if the lion-like warrior was fond of sneaking up on the people he cared about…an interesting bit of his own that he rarely showed.
Antylamon, on the other hand, didn't seam the least bit amused. As though in redemption for what he had done as the corrupted Cherubimon, he always seamed a tad bit…overprotective…of Kouichi, while he was in this state. Almost like a well-meaning uncle, including its annoyance.
"This is no time to play around, Lowemon." the rabbit-like Digimon admonished. "If we don't get started soon, it will be daylight in the Real World by the time we're done."
Neither Kouichi nor Lowemon mentioned that, because of Lucemon's defeat and the rebuilding, the Digital World moved at three times the rate of the Real World.
Lowemon produced the black and gray D-Tector, holding it out to the boy with a bit of hesitation. "…You sure you're willing to go through with this?"
"This is no time for second thoughts." Kouichi shrugged.
"You realize how dangerous this is." Antylamon pressed. "The leaf was one thing. The D-Tectors are complex and delicate. It'll be a long process, even with the elemental powers of the separate areas taking a bit of the weight…"
"Antylamon." Kouichi interrupted. "I know."
Lowemon smiled behind his helmet as Kouichi took the D-Tector in both hands. He sat, folding his legs under him in the most comfortable position he could get in and not fall completely asleep. Sitting straight as he could, he positioned his hands the way Angewomon had shown him before…cupped in just front of his chest, with the D-Tector screen facing up.
"…You're absolutely…?"
"Antylamon, please." Kouichi mumbled. "I'm trying to concentrate…"
The two Digimon fell silent as the boy's breathing slowed slightly. Lowemon stood behind him, within arm's reach to lend his strength if needed be, while Antylamon hovered a few feet away.
For a moment, Kouichi concentrated on clearing his mind, loosing any distractions. Then he pressed the 'scanner' button on the side of the D-Tector, a bright red light shooting from the top of the device.
Pushing a bit of magic into his hands, he settled back for a long haul.
( - ) ( - ) ( - )
"Uh…Malfoy?"
Draco hissed slightly, hoping that he had dreamed Crabbe's thick, stupid voice hovering over him like maple syrup. He rolled over, burying his face in his small pile of pillows, trying to block it out.
"Malfoy? Malfoy, come on."
Draco growled, knocking away the thick hands as he sat up. "What is it, Crabbe?"
"Uh…" the large boy hesitated a moment, then pointed at the bed beside Draco's. "There's somethin' wrong with Kimura…"
Draco blinked at him. That was not what he had been expecting. He pushed past his large flunky and crossed to the offending bed, whose curtains were hanging open slightly.
Kimura was lying on his stomach, but you could see that his face was flushed slightly. He was panting, almost as though he had run quite a bit before collapsing onto the bed. His hands were buried in the pillows.
Draco frowned, putting a hand to Kimura's forehead. He wasn't hot, or even slightly warm…nothing to worry about.
"Go to bed, Crabbe." he snapped.
"But Kimura…"
"It's a nightmare, Crabbe. He has them sometimes. Go. To Bed."
The huge boy did as he was told and disappeared from sight. Draco stood there in the curtain's opening a moment, looking down at the transfer before he sighed again despite himself.
He reached down and put his hand on the other boy's shoulder. "Oy, Kimura." he muttered, shaking him slightly. "Wake up."
The transfer didn't respond, but shifted a bit restlessly. Draco frowned and shook him again. "Kimura. Up. Now."
"…Antylamon…stop it." Draco snapped his hand back, a bit confused. Anta…wha?
Kimura suddenly rolled over and blinked up at him, keeping one hand under the pillows. "Oh. Hello, Malfoy-kun." he yawned slightly, rubbing his eye. "Is it time for breakfast already?"
Draco stepped back, regaining his composure and putting his poker face back on. "No. You were making a fit and driving us all crazy."
"Oh…" Kimura sat up slightly and smiled at him. "I apologize for waking you."
"Whatever." Malfoy sat back on his bed, toeing off his slippers. "Just don't do it again."
With that, he snapped his curtains closed and blocked himself off.
As soon as Kouichi was sure he was alone again, he pulled his hand out from under the pillows. The small screen glowed in the darkness, barely illuminating the black and gray casing.
Kouichi smiled a bit, sliding it into a small pocket between the bed frame and the wall before settling back in for some well deserved rest.
( - ) ( - ) ( - )
Professor Tonks smiled around at the 6th-year class, green eyes now shining under bubblegum pink bangs. The room was now organized back into two separate rows of tables with an open path down the middle. Following the unwritten rule, one side held the Slytherins, with the other made entirely of Gryffindors.
"Well, kiddos." she chuckled with a grin. "I think we've gotten our 'specialties' worked out pretty well. Now to move on to the second part of this semester…Advanced Dark Creatures."
She paused a moment to let that sink in, then began walking slowly though the middle isle with at and easy pace. "Now I feel it only right to warn you folks: This isn't going to be a walk in the park. I know you've tackled some tough things before…with dear ol' Professor Lupin, bless him, the man has had such troubles…But the creatures I have prepared for you will be much more…dangerous.
"Case in point…" she paused at the closet door, at the back of the room. "Our first topic: Dementors."
A collective shiver ran through the room. Harry, in particular, felt a shiver run up his spine. The only ones unaffected were the three transfers, who merely looked a bit apprehensive.
"Yes, I see you all remember that particular creature." Tonks nodded sagely. "However, to really remember, there must be a bit of experience in an encounter, if only to remind you…
"Now before you start protesting or making excuses, know that this is only a conjured Dementor…in other words, a fake." Tonks placed her hand on the doorknob. "The effects have been watered down a bit, so as not to endanger those of us more…susceptible…to the powers."
Harry heard Malfoy and his flunkies snickering and knew they were laughing at him. He refused to turn around and give them the satisfaction of riling him up.
"However, the effects will be similar, and very real." Tonks warned cautiously. "Though a true Dementor may be stronger, ever little bit of experience you can get will heighten your resistance to it…and give you a much better chance of coming away from and encounter alive.
"Now…" she gripped the doorknob in preparation. "Is everyone ready?"
The class remained in hesitant silence. She waited a few more moments, as though making sure, then slowly opened the door.
The figure that stepped out was slightly smaller and paler than a real Dementor, but as it moved it gave off the same icy, heartbreaking chill. It moved slowly down the middle isle, conducted by Tonk's wand like a marching band, turning it blank face left and right to stare at each of the twenty-five students in turn.
Harry restrained himself from covering his ears as the screaming began…this time it was softer, muffled and indistinct, as though he was hearing it from the apartment below the action. But her screams…her mother's screams…still pierced into his core.
It was torture…he could hardly think…he had to find something else to concentrate on…
His eyes darted around, trying to distract himself. Ron and Hermione, next to him, looked like they were taking it worse than they had in third year…of course, after everything they had gone through in the Ministry last year, he wasn't too surprised. Hermione had buried her head in her arms, covering her head slightly, while Ron's freckles stood out like pockmarks on ghost-white skin. Neville was shaking slightly, trying to warm himself by rubbing his arms.
He glanced at the transfers, wondering how they were taking it, and was a bit surprised. Kouji was gripping the tabletop so tightly his knuckles were white, mouthing something wordlessly. Takuya had his hands over his ears, eyes darting around wildly like he expected something to jump out at him.
Harry looked over at the Slytherins, trying to pick out Kouichi. Malfoy was paler than usual, trying to scramble as far away as possible, nearly knocking the Slytherin transfer over. And Kouichi…
Kouichi seamed to be having trouble…breathing?!
His whole body had gone white as a sheet, and his was shaking so hard it made Neville look like he was holding still. His hands had come to clutch at the collar around his throat, he was gasping as though being strangled. A few tears were trickling out of his eyes painfully.
Then, quite suddenly, it was over. The Dementor had disappeared through another door, which Tonks had obviously charmed to lead back into the closet. A collective sigh of relief passed through the class.
"As you can see, the effects can be very…very torturous." the young teacher sighed, producing a basket of chocolate bars, all color-coded for size. "There is only one cure for a real Dementor after-effect…Chocolate. Chocolate has a natural stimulate that spreads happiness through your system, pushing out the Dementor's chilling effects. Soon, we will learn a special charm that, if strong enough, can keep these creatures at bay."
"Of course…" she winked at Harry, handing him an extra-large bar in a red wrapper. "Some of us may already know the technique themselves."
Harry noticed that she gave Kouji and Takuya red bars as well, obviously to compensate for their reactions. Everyone else's, so far, had a green wrapper and were regular-sized.
The teacher paused a moment on the Slytherin side, gently ruffling Kouichi's hair. "You all right there, mate?" she asked gently, "You looked like you were having a pretty nasty time there."
Kouichi looked down. "I…I'm fine."
"I understand." Tonks nodded sagely, setting a red bar in front of him. "Reliving near-death experiences can be a real killer."
( - ) ( - ) ( - )
"I never want to do that again." Takuya shuddered as they left Defense that day.
Harry wholeheartedly agreed. "Dementors are nasty creatures." Hermione agreed, rubbing her arms. "There were some real ones around here three years ago…when they were searching for an escapee from Azkaban. It was awful."
"I bet." Kouji muttered. He was hovering in the door, waiting for his brother, who was moving very, very slowly, yawning as he did.
Takuya seamed extra-nervous for some reason, glancing this way and that. "Hey…Kouji." he said in a low voice, though it carried to Harry's curious ear. "When that happened, did you hear…voices?"
Voices? Harry's mind jumped. He wasn't the only one?
"No." Kouji said shortly, and Harry's mood fell until his said. "I heard a voice. Singular. Just one."
Takuya leaned forward secretively. "Was it…him?" Kouji nodded. "Me too. God, I never wanted to hear that laugh again…"
Harry frowned, but decided he shouldn't ask…no reason to tell them he'd been eavesdropping. He sighed and hurried to catch up with Ron en route to lunch.
Kouichi was the last one out of class, still in mid-yawn as he left the room with his books. Kouji and Takuya were there waiting for him, looking concerned. "Nii-san, are you okay?"
"Just…tired…" the older twin stretched his jaw before sliding it back into place almost like a snake. "I didn't get much rest…last night. I was busy…"
"Busy?" Takuya echoed as they headed towards the Great Hall. "With what?"
A slightly mischievous look slid over Kouichi's face. "With this." he said, slipping something partially out of his pocket.
For a moment, Kouji and Takuya stared at the slightly glowing, black and gray device, then it went back in its hiding place before anyone else could see it. Takuya nearly burst out laughing.
"You actually did it?" he exclaimed, keeping his voice low. "You mean it actually worked?"
"Yup." Kouichi smiled, then yawned again. "But I think, following that…I need a…nap."
He emphasized this by putting his head down on Kouji's shoulder, eyes closed. The younger twin laughed a bit, then treaded his arm back to support him. "Okay, okay." he sighed. "Give me directions, and let's get you back to your commons…"
TBC…
Lame ending. Damn. Next chapter will be better.
