CHAPTER NINE: Dare no Koe Mo Todokanai Nara Watashi Ga Subete Keshiteageyou
Nandomo Onaji Ayamachi O Kurikaeshita Kanashimi Ni Furuetsuzukeru

TRANSLATION: If no one's voice reaches me, then I will erase everything for you, Over and over again you repeated the same mistakes and now continue trembling in sadness

REVIEWS:

Golden Warrior12: Hey there! He only gets kitty ears when he's not thinking, it doesn't happen often.

TheShadowPanther:

YOU ARE EVIL!

I know.

Please do keep signing my guestbook demanding reviews.

Certainly.

But it exactly WHY Gohan-chan's such a big teddy bear inside that we RAAV him! LOL!

He's a fuzzy bunny!

Oh, please, do NOT tell me that you liked Snape like that.

EWWWWW!

I'm taking AP US History, Latin I Honors, English XI Honors, Physics, Pre-calculus Honors, and some art class (I still have to see if I'm getting in, especially for Photography--grrr! I keep missing out on that one. Grrr...). So, I have a busy schedule of my own, Falcon-chan, but why the HELL are you taking Economics! HONORS, TOO!

Ouch. My school requires Ecco. and American Gov to graduate.

Dream-sharing? Ooh... the plot thickens. (Snickers) GO FALCON-CHAN! Brahaha! So, Gohan-chan is both Flame and Ice, eh? Fitting. Gohan-kun is such a complicated character...

Yep. (sigh) I though it might be fun.

Darn you! (Shakes fist) I WANT YOU TO TELL ME EVERYTHING!

Ummm….no.

Gohan-chan DOES TOO like flying! Just not on brooms. :D

But of course.

FINE! I'll get a bloody livejournal already! (Huffs) Sheesh... If you don't see one with theshadowpanther on it, nag me. As you are doing now. :P

Wow, you're saying 'sheesh', a lot, aren't you? But on the LJ, I think that TheShadowPanther might be too long.

Well, what do you think? I NEED FEEDBACK! MUST. GET. SOME. ADVICE! HELP! LOL!

I think you should finish the fics you've got now, or help me get some motivation on Oleander.

New Dye: Hey, thanks for your review!

1. Did Neville accidentally make a sleeping potion?

Nope.
2. So Black told Gohan who he was. What will happen when Harry, Draco, Dumbledore, and or Snape (Crackle, and Pop. I had to put that in there.) find out?

You'll find out this chapter.
3. Any other surprising revelations happening in the near future?

Maybe. (secret smile)
4. Another prophecy? Don't you ever get tired of them?
(not realated to this story)

Yeah, actually. I wrote this before OotP, so quite frankly, I was rather irritated.
I wonder what happened to Hagrid's dog Fluffy.

(shrug)
Why would anyone, Giant or not, call a three-headed dog Fluffy anyway?

Maybe it was unusually cuddly.
Why do they always want Harry to defeat the evil that comes in each book?

No idea.
Why doesn't Snape get any credit? He is the one risking his neck to get information back to Dumbledore (or Bumblebee, as Harry sometimes call him in some of the other fics that have been written.) by spying on Moldywarts.

I know, this irritates me as well.

MarshmellowDragon: Yo! He doesn't have ears for long! (grin) He only gets 'em when he's not thinking clearly.

---------

Hi there.

Harry was floating in nothingness, feeling warm and wet, like he was wafting in bathwater. It was strange though, that he didn't need to breathe, but who was Harry to question his lack of need of oxygen?

Hello? A floaty voice broke through the silence, and Harry made an attempt to swim in the right direction, but he had never learned to swim so he was quite clumsy. There was a giggle and in a poof of bubbles, a very familiar white dragon appeared in front of him, blue eyes sparkling like sapphires.

"Hikari!" Harry yelped, but only a flood of bubbles came out.

You know, it might be easier if you didn't talk vocally, hmm? Hikari asked playfully, noting with amusement that Harry blushed.

Um, right. So, what am I doing here and why have Gohan and Draco fallen asleep?

Because my Chosen, you have a lot of growing to do.

What do you mean, Chosen! Harry yelled in his head, and Hikari giggled at him, looking as if she was enjoying this very much.

Look, I'm only going to say this once, twice if you beg, okay? You know that prophecy Binns was going on about...? The dragon trailed off. The black-haired wizard stared at her for a few seconds, then nodded, fearing what she was going to say. Well, it was talking about you.

You lost me.

Okay, guess I'll have to break it down for you, huh? Alright, line one: When the Storm crashes in the second month. You'll notice that a) it's February, and b) it ain't sunshine and rainbows outside. Line two: The Three of Three shall rise with the Lightning. I'm sure you'll have noticed that it was only three of you that were affected. Line three: Of Emerald, Steel, and Ebony, they rise to quell the fighting. That's describing in a really cheesy way your eye colors, which will be important, so pay attention! Emerald, yours; Steel, Draco's; and Ebony, Gohan's.

Here's where it gets important. Line four: Emerald with flecks of white, and secrets kept within. This describes your personality and the form you'll take when you ShapeShift. That will happen later. An example of this would be when Gohan ShapeShifts, his hair and eyes streak with silver and blue. Follow me so far? Harry nodded.

Good. That line also describes the way you keep your powers, I'd have to say you like privacy. Line five: Element of brightest Light, PowerName of Astyan. Your PowerName is basically your outer soul name, your inner soul name is one that you are forbidden to tell anyone; if one controls the name, they control the thing. So I wouldn't go dispensing your outer soul name to everyone you meet, either. I'm sure that you've realized that Sasuke and Yumi often refer to Gohan by his outer soul name, if they weren't so close to him he would never ever let them call him that. And the first bit is pretty self explanatory, your element is Light. You'll find out what that means later. Hikari explained. Harry's head was spinning; this was getting too weird!

And line six describes me, your Bonded dragon, like a familiar, almost. Of purest Light and feathers. I am rather proud of my coloring, if I do say so. So, any questions? Harry gaped at her. Questions! Of course he had questions! But he figured that probably wouldn't be the best way of going about it, so he settled for a sensible one.

Why did Gohan fall asleep before me or Draco? Hikari beamed at him, eyes sparkling happily.

My God, you have a brain, I was wondering when you were going to activate it. Actually, Gohan already has a bond to pokemon and animals alike, and to bond him, the legendaries had to put him to sleep. He was used to the sensation and didn't fight it, because as I'm sure you noticed, it doesn't do much good. Harry flushed, thinking of how he must have looked, stumbling around the hallways like a drunk. Although, it was highly entertaining to see young Draco going on about kittens. Both you and he unconsciously fought the sleep and thus you acted like idiots. Rather amusing. The wizard shot her a wounded look, that Hikari waved off. So, anyway, to keep things simple, you are here to get some growing done. Not physically, though you could use it; you're so scrawny... But magically. The time you spend in this realm is going to boost your magical capacities so that the power won't overwhelm you and make you lose your mind. This was said matter-of-factly, and Harry winced. He doubted he was going to go crazy anytime soon.

So, are they in this realm too? Hikari nodded.

Yes, but at separate ends. They are having things explained to them as we speak. But for now, let's get the show on the road. Suddenly, Harry felt the overwhelming sleepiness again, and this time he let it overtake him; and let it lead him into peaceful dreams. And now that you are going to be awakened, I too must go through the treatment. And that includes getting a new PowerName.

Then what should I call you?

Please, call me Ishtar.

-----------

'This is stupid.' Gohan muttered darkly to himself in his head, floating in the gold warmy-floaty water-stuff. A familiar little red dragon sat on her haunches in front of him, having explained that damned prophecy. But tell me, why didn't you tell me? He asked. Kotoko blinked at him and tilted her head.

I think all the sleep has turned your brains to mush. she commented. Hello, doofus, I couldn't tell ya until it was time. Cliché, yeah, but the Kaioshins always did have a weird sense a' humor.

But I want any more power or any of this crap! I'm already the bedamned Chosen in Yumi's realm, can't I please just be normal here? He pleaded. Kotoko appeared to think about this, then shook her head. Um, nope. Nothin' doin'. And I'm afraid that you will have to call me by my PowerName from now on. The dragon's osakaben accent rang through the abyss, and Gohan winced. Saiyan hearing could be a real bitch.

Damnit. You wanker. he grumbled, before giving into the gentle ministrations of Kotoko's DragonSong, slipping into a contented coma. Slowly, the boy began to glow with a bright rainbow light of all colors of the spectrum and even some that weren't. Goodnight then, Seiliez.

---------

Whoa. Um... hi. Draco said to the thin, but elegantly featured black dragon in front of him. The creature was almost skeletal in appearance but hauntingly beautiful, steel grey eyes staring out from the tapered face and black scales shining as if polished. Adorning each the four paws was a claw of at least two inches long, a sharp contrast to the other proportions, a tail with painfully shape spikes on it that Draco suspected were poisoned, and out of its mouth were two razor sharp fangs that poked out of the dragon's jaw. To be blunt, Draco was gobsmacked.

Almost in a cattish manner the dragon cuddled up to him, purring loudly, and without hesitation Draco closed his eyes, welcoming the sleep overpowering him. In seconds, a metallic steel and black glow engulfed the boy, sheltering him like a blanket.

----------

"Harry...? Harry... wake up Harry. Please Harry, wake up.. please..." A familiar voice.

"Harry you git, you'd better wake up soon, or I'll be stealing your broom and keeping it as my own!" Another familiar voice.

"Mr. Potter? Wake up now." Dumbledore. Slowly, Harry opened his green eyes and instantly had a wailing Hermione Granger attached to his neck. Whether she was hugging him or if it was an attempt on his life, Harry wasn't sure.

"Oh my God!" She caterwauled, sounding almost exactly like her bandy-legged cat herself. "Harry, I thought you were dead!" At the sharp noises, Harry had shaken all the loose knuts out of his head and was able to think clearly. Almost immediately he could tell that something had changed; he felt stronger. Suddenly, he jolted up, realizing that he had heard the headmaster's voice calling to him. The old man smiled down benignly at him, blue eyes sparkling.

"You gave us quite a scare, Harry." The boy grinned and rubbed his head sheepishly, and Hermione let go of him. Harry gave no reaction when he saw her inconspicuously lean up against Ron; he had expected it for some time. "Are you alright?" Harry nodded.

"Yes, I'm fine. Just really tired, can I go to bed now? I can make it to my dorm, but I just wish I could go a month away from the hospital wing..." The wizard muttered, before getting to his feet and dashing out of the wing before the headmaster could say a word. Dumbledore smiled.

-------

Upon reaching the Slytherin dungeons, Harry slipped in through the wall hole. The place was positively empty, but two figures sat in the plush chairs. One turned, and Gohan beamed, Seiliez situated on his head and Pikachu clinging onto his front like a koala.

"When did you wake?" asked Harry, and Gohan grinned.

"About an hour ago. Draco just woke up. Check out his dragon, and where's Hikari?"

"How did you know I had Hikari? And her name is Ishtar now."

"Because, she's missing and you happen to have a really wicked looking band on your arm. Check out mine?" Harry did, and saw that Gohan's pendant stone circled his neck on a silver, black, and blue choker chain. The wizard looked to his arm and saw a platinum band surrounding it. Strange runic symbols were engraved in patterns on it, and Harry could have sworn that he saw them move. Currently, Draco was blinking sleepily, and looked about to conk out again, when Harry heard a light screech and the platinum blonde yelped. Gohan grinned, seeing as he had a front-row showing of what precisely was so amusing. Apparently, Draco's guardian dragon had nipped him to keep him awake. Harry chuckled and collapsed onto a chair in front of the roaring fire.

"Say, Reptile, if you've been lurking around here for so long, here's a question. Did anyone say anything?" asked Harry. The Malfoy heir smirked.

"Of course not, and the reason is simple. When you ran out, dork, you locked the dorm. Idiot Hero." At the last comment, Draco's voice held just a bit of a scolding edge, but the emerald-eyed wizard ignored him. "And since Gohan was in bed and you were gone, no one gave a flip." Then, Harry turned to Ishtar, who had appeared suddenly without his notice and sat on his head, almost preening him.

"But what are we going to do about these guys? I can just imagine the looks on the teachers' when we waltz in with dragons on our heads." Gohan and Draco looked a bit worried as he said this, but Ishtar remained passive, mildly lipping at a lock of his hair.

No worries. She assured them. Watch and learn. Without another word, the dragon suddenly morphed, transforming herself into a jewel that would easily fit into a notch on his band. Seiliez followed suit, but Draco's dragon remained.

"Hey, what's your guy's name?" Gohan inquired, referring to the black beauty that Draco was scowling darkly at.

"Oh, this bugger -Ow!- damnit!" Draco growled. "He says his name is Duzell."

"Like the Vampire? As in, Vampire King Duzell!" Gohan exclaimed, eyebrows arched.

"So he says." Draco answered. "How'd you know?" Gohan shrugged.

"I met the guy. He's pretty cool, a little moody, but aren't we all?" Draco and Harry stared blankly, then the Boy-Who-Lived brushed it off like water.

"Whatever."

Gohan yawned, and Seiliez morphed into a bright, blood red jewel, fitting comfortably onto her Chosen's pendant.

"I don't know about you guys,"Harry remarked, "But I am tired. See you in the morning." With that theGryffindor exited the common room,Ishtar in his arms, to head off in the direction of the Fat Lady. Gohan shook his head.

"I'm with him. I don't care where I sleep, as long as I do." To prove his point, the boy curled up in the chair he rested in and leaned his head against the warm, cuddly body of Aoi, whomDraco hadn't noticed before. It was cute (ThoughDraco would never admit that aloud; it wasn't very manly.) the way that they always seemed to end sleeping in a big pile, Pikachu always on the saiyan's head. "Oyasumi nasai." Gohan called sleepily, andthe blondereturned the call while heading up the stairs to his dorm.

"Oyasumi nasai."

---------

Gohan awoke the next morning, somehow having moved during the night to the out-of-reach balcony ofthe Astronomytower during the night. Of course, he had a tendency to pull an elf thing and sleep while seeming awake, so this wasn't really a shock for him. Or maybe it was just a saiyan thing, he didn't know. But what he did know was that several coo-coo doves were roosting on his head. Thankfully, it seemed that they had refrained from pooping on him.

Slowly, he got up and yawned widely, noting that the sun wasn't even up, explaining why the stupid coo-coo doves were silent, sleeping with their heads under their wings. He scooped them up and plopped them on the stone floor, before standing. The stars were just going out, and Gohan felt content at the peacefulness. On a whim, the saiyan got up on the railing and took a flying leap off and using just a bit of his ki to soar and take a splash-down straight into the lake.

With the sheer speed of the fall, a huge tidal wave of water shot up, then went back down, drops sparkling in the fading moonlight. For about an hour Gohan dove (As Vegeta proved, saiyans could hold their breaths for a very long time.) down to the bottom and explored, absently bringing up shiny empty shells that he found. Nobody but his pokemon knew it, but Gohan collected them, and the saiyan planned on keeping it that way. He didn't really like the merpeople that he had met at the bottom, but the squid seemed pleasant enough and was good company. They had had a nice conversation while paddling lazily around, despite the positively icy water of the lake.

The squid, who's name apparently was Bob, knew a great deal about all things dealing with the watery section of Hogwarts, and seemed to delight in telling Gohan all he knew about it. Even when he began to ramble Gohan listened openly, soaking in every bit of knowledge like a sponge. Bob liked the students at Hogwarts, most of them anyway; and also liked playing around, hence allowing students to tickle him.

Finally, the sun was beginning to rise, and Gohan reluctantly got out of the lake and drying himself off with some of his ki. He said a goodbye to Bob and promised to visit him later; the squid waved goofily at him with a tentacle as he made his way to the forest to visit Padfoot.

The forest was alive with the calls of awakening birds, and the trees brushed at his face in a greeting. Gohan just couldn't figure out why this forest was so feared; it was beautiful and gentle and quiet, and so peaceful. Yes, the giant spiders had been a bit testy with him when he first met them, but they had warmed up to him eventually; and the packs of Kneazels had been skittish, but they had accepted him quite quickly as well. Gohan loved the thestrals, and delighted in soaring with them at night when the stars were bright and twinkling and running freely with the unicorns and Padfoot.

With a serene smile, Gohan pulled out his wand and sent out a beam of blue light; a tracking charm. There were wolves and other dogs in the forbidden forest, and always during the day Sirius was in his dog form, so it made things a little difficult for the Chosen Child to track him down without the charm. He supposed he could always just try harder with his ki sense, but figured he needed more practice with his wand, he was so used to doing things without one.

Following the beam, it soon led Gohan to the huge black dog flopped lazily on his back in a clearing.

"Hiya Pad." Gohan greeted his friend, and Sirius barked in thanks as the saiyan produced several plates of steaming food from a subspace pocket and he transformed. The man wasn't so gaunt now with all the food that Gohan brought him every day, and found that as more time passed he had grown quite attached to the only person to trust him and treat him like a normal person. He now noticed that Gohan was singing softly to himself, a song that Padfoot couldn't understand the words to, until he got louder.

In truth, Gohan didn't give a crap about what the words sounded like to another, he just liked the tune. Sirius however, looked scandalized, seeing that, in truth, the song was rather lewd. The saiyan shrugged.

"What? I'm sure you've heard worse." The boy commented, and Sirius had to concede. He had heard much worse. So, the animagus turned back to his scrambled eggs, pointedly ignoring his younger companion. Gohan began to laugh, a musical, passionate sound. The saiyan, and Sirius to an extent, had laughs that transferred all their emotions in them, and generally had the effect of making other people's spirits rise. It also had the effect of making it very easy to tell when they were faking happiness. Soon, Sirius joined in, before flipping a large flurry of leaves into Gohan's face. Gohan blinked rapidly once or twice, then caused a large wind to blow, so Sirius was flat on his face, limbs splayed out all over. Sirius blew a raspberry.

--------

"I don't care what your reasons are, I am not sneaking into the forest with you at night." Harry said stubbornly. Over that morning, Gohan had roped Draco into his little plan (the blonde decided that he didn't want to go and risk his aristocratic ass) over breakfast, but Harry was not budging. Draco normally had no problems with breaking rules, but Harry had had some rather nasty experiences with the Forbidden Forest.

"Please?"

"No! Absolutely not! Besides, that forest doesn't like me!"

Gohan knew that Sirius really wanted to see his godson, but the saiyan wasn't sure of where Harry's loyalties lay when it came to Sirius. Most likely, and they both knew it, chances were that Harry believed full-out that Sirius was a murderer, and that was why Gohan was going as well. If worse came to worse, and he would truly hate himself for doing it, the saiyan would ask Seiliez to place an unbreakable memory charm. This would most likely erupt into a full-scale brawl between Ishtar and Seiliez, but if that was the risk, then so be it.

"Leon, I'm begging you!" The younger wizard got to his feet and looked his friend in the eyes, silently pleading with him. After about two minutes of staring each other down, Harry rolled his eyes.

"Fine, but I promise, if we end up getting expelled, I will blame you for the rest of my life." Harry conceded sulkily, chewing on a piece of toast. Gohan beamed.

"Deal." Was all the Chosen Child said before doing a small spin and dashing out the huge entrance doors, most likely to dance gleefully through the hallways. Harry shook his head. He loved Saturdays; no potions, no Snape, and worries except for a madman out for his blood. But, that was a given, so that didn't really count.

-------------------

You have lost your mind. Pikachu commented. That's all there is to it, you have lost your mind.

"Pikachu!" Gohan wailed while slipping into a light outfit. Violet, loose silk pants and a shirt of the same material and shade only with blue trim. A pair of blue leather boots covered the saiyan's feet and his hair was tied back with a blue silk ribbon. "Don't tell me you're against this too! Sirius had been waiting for years to meet him, how cold hearted are you?"

I'm not, and you know it. But what if it goes wrong? What if Harry thinks you've betrayed him by associating with Sirius, and decides not to ever trust you again? With Ishtar on his side, I wouldn't want to be in the middle of that fight. A war that would makes Voldemort look like an amateur would break out, that's what!

"So you won't help me?"

Of course I'm going to help you, Gohan no baka. Pikachu chided him, taking a swipe at his head with a paw. You think I'm going to let you of all people go around trying to be diplomatic? Are you kidding me! With a grin, Gohan had made two steps and picked up his starter and gave her a tight hug.

"You're the best."

And you're crazy, but we'd follow you to the ends of the Earth anyway.

---------

"I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts, deedily deedee, there they are a standing in a row! Bum bum bum! Big ones, small ones, some as big as your head..."

"Son Gohan I demand you shut your yakker this instant, as if my nerves aren't frayed enough!" Harry whispered in response to his friend's cheerful singing while stalking through the forest later that night. Gohan gave a rather Slytherin-esque smirk and switched his tune a bit.

"Why ever so? Because you know I lurve you! We dance gleefully through the forest, cuz I lurve you! Oh yes I doooo!" the saiyan sang.

"Shut up!"

"Little bunny Foo-foo stalkin' through the forest! Scooping up the field mice and bonkin' 'em on the head!"

"Shut. Up."

Both of you shut up, you're driving me crazier! And Gohan, sweetheart? It's bopping them on the head, not bonking. Pikachu commented from atop Gohan's head. The euphoria that Gohan sensed Sirius giving off was making him just a little bit nuts, and the Chosen Child began breaking into stupid songs he made up on the spot because of all the elation he felt that wasn't his washing through him. Gohan beamed but shut up, settling for doing small spins before coming to his senses and putting some shields up.

"Whoops." He said quietly. "Sorry about that." Then Harry started humming. Gohan smirked, and the elder wizard looked stricken, then furious.

"Goddamnit Flame, you got that song stuck in my head!" Gohan smiled sweetly.

"You mean the 'I Lurve You' song?"

"Shut up."

Eventually they arrived at the clearing where Sirius would be waiting, but before going any further, Gohan pulled his friend aside.

"What is going on!"

"Listen Leon, I want you to promise me something."

"What?" Harry asked suspiciously.

"Don't sic Ishtar on me later." Without another word, Gohan turned and walked silently into the clearing. "Padfoot?" He called quietly, and the rustle of leaves gave away his friend's position. Harry followed him, and recoiled as he caught sight of the man leaning up against a tree trunk.

"What the hell! Flame, what the- what the fuck is this!" Harry sounded and looked horrified, and raised his wand, before the tip was covered by a slender hand of the other Chosen Child.

"Please, listen for a second!" The saiyan pleaded.

"Oh hell no! That's Sirius Black!" Suddenly, Sirius got to his feet and held up his hands, rendering himself unarmed. At the same time, Gohan took off the ribbon binding his hair and wrapped his wand in it and placed it by Harry's feet.

"Please, hear us out." Gohan said quietly. "Leon, please?" Sirius sunk back to the ground, and Harry looked suspiciously at the both of them. Gohan wasn't surprised to see a strong sense of hurt and betrayal reflected in the emerald depths, but that didn't make it hurt any less. Eventually, Harry sighed, realizing that if Gohan really wanted to he could bind him. But he released Ishtar anyway, who perched on his shoulder looking as suspicious as her master. The emerald eyed boy glowered but sat down as well, eyes never leaving the conflict.

"Okay, now that you have abducted me," Gohan snorted at the rather grim humor, "Talk." Sirius looked more tired than usual, before beginning his story.

"This is going to sound really stupid, but I didn't do it."

"Suuuurrrreee..."

"I'm serious!" Sirius yelled, then turned to Gohan. "One word about that pun and you are dead." Harry stiffened and grasped his wand tighter at that little comment, and Sirius turned back to his godson. "Not literally of course. But will you please hear me out?" No response from the ever adamant Harry, and Gohan stood, scooping up Pikachu and stalking away.

"I'm gonna go and get out of the way." was all he said before disappearing into the brush. Harry looked upset with his friend's leaving, but recomposed himself.

"Like I said, talk."

"Alright." Sirius cleared his throat. It all started when you were born. I was a part of your parents' close circle. There was no one closer, the five of us, once we got to our sixth year andyour father began dating Lily. There was James, Lily, Me, Remus, and Wormtail. Also known as Peter Pettigrew."

"Remus? As in, Lupin?"

"Yes Harry, the very same. Now, when you were born, your parents could be no happier. But like I'm sure you know, Voldemort was at the peak of his power at that time, and when the Potters found out that they were targets, they immediately went into hiding, wanting to protect themselves and you. Albus Dumbledore suggested the most powerful shielding spell, the Fidelius charm. The recipient of this spell is called a Secret Keeper, and in your parents' case, whereabouts, can only be released willingly by the Secret Keeper. Albus offered to be the Secret Keeper, and how I wish now that James had accepted the offer, but he didn't. Everyone assumed that it was either Dumbledore, or James's best friend."

"You." Harry said quietly. Sirius nodded.

"Me. But James and I got to talking, was it really safe for people to automatically and correctly assume the Secret Keeper? So we bluffed. We made it seem like I would be it, and we went for the inconspicuous one. Peter Pettigrew. He was always rather fat in school, not very good looking nor did he get good grades, but he was our friend just the same and we were his, and we expected the utmost loyalty from him as we gave freely."

"But he betrayed you.." It was all beginning to come together, and Harry could almost see those events playing out.

"Yes he did Harry, yes he did. Once I was in my right mind the next day, I went after Pettigrew. He deserved to die, to be murdered as brutally as humanly possible. I admit, it wasn't the best thing to do. We were all animagus', do you know what those are?" Harry nodded. "Well, Wormtail's form was a rat, which was where he got his nickname. When I confronted him, he yelled as loud as he could that I betrayed Lily and James, then blew up that muggle street with his wand behind his back. Then he cut off his finger and changed into his form before running into the sewers. And then I was sent to Azkaban without a trial. After all, it was obvious that I would be the Secret Keeper, not even Albus knew about the switch, so why bother with truth serum or what not?" Sirius spat this out bitterly like a disgusting swear word. Harry sat there, silent, taking this all in.

"But them how did you escape Azkaban?" he asked, Sirius gave a rather ironic grin, and with a small pop changed into a huge black shaggy dog, Gohan's beloved Grim.

"My emotions aren't as complex when I am a dog, that and the thought that I was innocent (which wasn't a happy thought, mind you) kept me sane. And so when the dementors opened my cell to put my food in I slipped out as a dog and no one was the wiser." Sirius informed him, and watched the emotions rush across Harry's face like some sort of whirlwind, before they finally stopped on calm.

"I understand."

"And you believe me?"

"How can I not? I think I would believe you anyway, simply because Gohan does not make mistakes when it comes to people. Sure, he may screw up spells and turn Ron purple all the time, though I think it's on purpose, but he's way too perceptive to be fooled by someone like you. No offense, of course."

"None taken." Still quiet, Harry leaned up against the back of a tree.

"Think we should look for Flame? Doubt he'd ever get lost, but-"

"No need." Harry was cut off as said boy came out from behind a the tree Harry was leaning on and bending over slightly. "I started coming back when I felt the emotional surges start calming down. Man does that stuff feel uncomfortable in waves. Are you guys finished being Sirius now?" The usage of that horribly abused pun broke down any tension that was left. Harry snorted, and Sirius began chuckling.

"Damn, what the hell was my mother thinking? Did she know her son was going to be a living pun and paradox when she named me!"

---------

"Look, Flame?" Harry asked quietly once they were in the Gryffindorcommon room, whuch was empty. All of the sane people had already gone to bed.

"Yeah?" replied the saiyan.

"I'm sorry."

"For what? I was the one who lied and snuck around behind everyone's backs and made you think I betrayed you."

"I shouldn't have thought you would ever betray me. I feel awful now."

Gohan rolled his eyes and pulled out a two green and red Jolly Rancher lollipops, wrenching the wrapper off the red one and beginning to suck on it and tossing the green one at Harry. "It's not a huge problem." was all he said, voice slightly muffled.

"Is too."

"Is not."

"S'too."

"S'not."

"Stew."

"Snot."

Shut up both of you! The two boys glanced up and looked to the side, and sweatdropped. Pikachu, Kira, and Aoi were sending them both stink-eye from across the room. Harry looked at Gohan. Gohan looked at Harry. They smirked as one.

"Why ever so? Because you know we lurrvve you!" They sang in unison, before ducking well aimed thundershocks from a vexed off Pikachu.

I promise you, if either of you sing that song one more time, help me God..

"Okay, I think I'll go back to the dungeons now," Gohan said eventually, "You know how worried Rettile gets."

"Yeah, I do." Harry responded midly, "Don't get caught."

"Do I ever?"

"...Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Gohan grinned as he slid into his warm, soft bed about a half hour later, after changing into a pair of loose black gi pants and a loose gi shirt. It was usually left open as the saiyan preferred to sleep shirtless anyway; but after Pansy andDaphne had caught him with only his pants on Gohan wasn't taking any chances. Daphne he liked, she was rather quiet, but Pansy...ugh.

Contentedly, Gohan rested his head on his pillow and closed his eyes, curling up into a tight ball. He felt Pikachu snuggle up to his chest and Kira and Aoi gently hop up, the former propping her paws lightly over his side. With nothing but peaceful thoughts, Gohan was welcomed into Ganiel's Realm.

A/N If you don't know who Ganiel is, he is the Dream King from the beautiful world of Tamora Pierce. Imperio! Read her stuff! whacks reader repeatedly on the head with a wand.

As he dreamed, Gohan was taken away to a familiar spot that was all his, all him, only his. His centre. Piccolo had taught him that every person's centre was different, depending on how they felt at the moment. At the moment, Gohan's was a bright sunny beach. Light golden sand, sparkling blue waves crashing on it, seagulls, sand dunes and grasses waving in the cool breeze. Puffy marshmallow clouds passed lazily overhead, and above all there was no humidity.

"Well, someone's happy tonight." Gohan turned and wasn't surprised in the least to see a certain blue-haired Goddess standing behind him, looking appreciatively at his choice of centre. Gohan flashed the ever charming and female-melting Son grin that he had unfortunately inherited.

"Whazzup, Yumi-chan?" The boy replied, sinking down into the velvety sand, relishing the feel of it against his lightly tanned skin from years of working outside. The girl followed his example and leaned back in the sand, scooping some of it into her hands.

"Nothing much." Then she winked. "Having fun?"

"It would have been better if you told me." Gohan grumbled, crossing his arms. Yumi smirked and said four words that had Gohan laughing hysterically.

"Cuz I lurve you..."

----------

"No, no, you're not doing it right." Gohan commented patiently, gently correcting Harry's grip with the wakizashi he held in his right hand. Harry had finally wheedled him into teaching him the basics of swordsmanship. The world as we know it was doomed. Draco, who had been taught from a very early age how to handle a sword by his father and his snake pimp cane, basically decided that it was his goal in life to sit on the sidelines and cackle loudly whenever Harry got something wrong. That and be as irritating as humanly possible.

Harry was good, a natural, Gohan observed. With enough practice, etc, the saiyan fully believed that his friend could do very well indeed, if he could just get his grips right! Sometimes Gohan could simply scream in frustration.

Harry rolled his eyes lightly, but adjusted himself. It was irritating, but he knew that Gohan was the expert, and to hell if he thought he could do any better than the other Chosen Child. Since they were out on the quiddich pitch, a rather lazy looking Hagrid sat on one of the low bleachers. That stupid rule about adults being there still stood, but Gohan wished it had been Severus, though he was quite fond of the gentle grounds-keeper. But of course, both Harry Potter and Severus Snape in the same vicinity was the formula for a rather volatile explosion, so maybe it was in both of their best interests.

"Hey Flame?" Harry asked.

"Ne, Leon?" Gohan replied, addressing his friend by his nickname.

"Why didn't you take divination as an elective? Most do, because all you have to do is fake your own death and you pass." Harry quipped. A light glitter of good humor appeared in the hybrid's eyes, and Gohan shook his head, the very picture of amusement in his body language.

"Porque, mi amour," as a regular joke, the saiyan switched to a suave and supposedly debonair Spanish accent that he heard all the time on foreign language soap operas, " Creo, si crees que te futuro esta decede, esta decede. Y si crees que te futuro esta no decede, esta no decede."

"I have... no idea what you just said." Harry sweatdropped and put his hands on his hips, gently resting the wakizashi on the ground.

"It means, ' If you believe that your future is decided, it is decided. And if you believe that your future is not decided, it is not decided."

"When the hell did you learn Spanish? And that was disturbingly deep, by the way."

"WAY too much time watching Spanish soap operas."

"I shudder to think of what you did before you came here." Harry quirked his eyebrow down, commenting dryly, sitting down on the plush grass. "Waitasecond... You just called me 'My Love', didn't you, moron?" Gohan stuck out his tongue. "And before you say anything about how I know that, I was forced when I was eight." Gohan faked a mock-hurt expression.

"Your barbs wound me greatly." Then he promptly pretended to die, grabbing onto a positively stricken Harry as he fell to the ground and sobbing. "I... only wanted to be together... Esmerelda..."

"What!" Gohan let go and collapsed to the ground onto Harry's feet, wallowing on the ground in death. Harry grinned and played along.

"Oh... Pierre! I too, only wanted to be with you. My one, my only... But alas, I am in love with the jackass Phoebus! Why, I do not know... damn the laws against polygamy.." It was at this time when Hagrid began looking at them quite strangely then, and Harry pulled out an imaginary dagger and pretended to stab himself repeatedly under his arm. "Woe is me... I seem to have been corrupted by bad animation.. I die now."

"No, Esmerelda, you cannot die yet!" Draco inserted, leaping to his feet, and puffing out his chest, "We haven't tried out all of those positions I wanted, you dirty skank! And you haven't borne me seven thousand billion children yet!"

Struggling to keep a straight face, Harry fell dramatically on top of the pseudo-dead Gohan. After about three seconds, they leapt up and bowed deeply to the rather large stunned crowd, and one rather maniacal blonde who was clapping madly.

"Thank you, thank you! This has been our production of 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame.', hope ya enjoyed." Gohan declared, conjuring a red rose and tossing it to the crowd. A shocked Hufflepuff girl caught it, and blushed deeply as the two boys began blowing kisses to the crowd.

"And thanks very much to Draco, who submitted his wonderful and spoiled self as the evil and villainous Dom Claude Frollo and the womanizer, Phoebus." the emerald-eyed wizard beamed as the platinum blonde bowed, conjured a rose of his own, only royal purple, and stuck it between his teeth.

"Thank you very much." The platinum blonde said. "Love ya'll."

-END CHAPTER-

Yeah, kind of a pointless chapter, but hey, I got a kick out of it. I haven't been feeling too hot, so I needed something fun.

A/N Heehee, I love the names! They're all from 'Vampire Game', which is a totally kick-ass manga which I advise everyone to read pronto! Just think, Psycho-Hottie Vampire King Duzell, reincarnated into a tiny little blood-sucking kyawl kitty. He's just adorable! Ishtar is a snotty but somehow awesome princess who is the descendant of Duzell's nemesis, Phelios, whom Duzell has sworn to kill, and is also Duzie's caretaker and has taken on the task of helping Duzell kill Phelios' reincarnation, who is a member of her family. Ironic, huh? Seiliez is a beautiful prince who was adopted by the queen of La Naan, but Lady Ramia believed that he was really her husband's son with a beautiful prostitute so she hates him. Seiliez is prettier than Ishtar, but totally cute; he acts so innocent but has the whole Dark-And-Working-With-Vampies thing goin' on.

Vord: Hot damn, that was a long author's note.

Falcon: (whacks him unconscious with a plastic hammer.) Shut yer piehole! Annoying princes with goofy tans should be seen and not heard!

Tobi: You moron, the note isn't over yet. (grumbles darkly about moronic princes.) At least Seiliez and Laphiji can hold an intelligent conversation.

Falcon: Yeah, and they're cute!

Vord: (ignores them both.) World Domination!

Falcon: (shrugs) Hell Yes! Wait, weren't you unconscious?

Vord: (shrugs)

Falcon: Oh, what the hell.

Vord: (Chases after Falcon, clinging onto her like a koala, giggling goofily)

Falcon: (Runs) He's freaking me out he's freaking me out he's freaking me out! Tobi, kill it!

Tobi: (whacks Vord unconscious with a titanium mallet.) That should do it.

Vord: (attaches himself to Tobi.)

Tobi: Eeeeee! Kill it!

Falcon: (turns Vord into a coo-coo dove)

Vord: . . . . . . . . . ?

Tobi: Hey Fal, I think he's even stupider than a coo-coo dove.

Falcon: Let's see! (Holds up normal coo-coo dove.)

Coo-coo dove: . . . . . . . . . ?

Falcon: You know, I think they're just about even.

Vord: . . . . . . . . . ?

Tobi: I think you're right.

Falcon: (takes Vord-Coo-coo dove in her fist, bringing him up to her face.) I will turn you back when you show me you can behave yourself. (doing an imitation of her grandmother)

Tobi: You have no idea of how frightening that is.

Falcon: Oh, I have a pretty good idea.