CHAPTER THIRTEEN (Oh my freakin' god, we're already at thirteen!): Endless Pianissimo
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LYRICS: Wareta Mado, by Plastic Tree. The title translates to Broken Window
fukaku fukaku fukaku suisai ni yure-ugoku boku no ishiki wa tada
marude marude marude shizunde iku mitai ni yukkuri toke-dashiteku
yume no iro yurari koku naru
wareta GARASU mado o aketara imasugu ni kotae o mitsukenakya
mitsukerarenai boku nodo ga KARA-KARA ni naru mata koboreta
fukaku fukaku fukaku suisai ni yure-ugoku boku no ishiki wa tada
marude marude marude shizunde iku mitai ni yukkuri toke-dashiteku
tokete tokete tokete nani mo wakaranaku naru boku no ishiki wa tada
zutto zutto zutto nanimo wakaranaku naru
zutto zutto zutto
sono mama
Deeply, deeply
In deep watercolor, trembling
Is all my consciousness is
It's as if, as if
As if I'm sinking down
Melting away
The color of the dream
Shifts
And intensifies
I open the broken glass window, I must find an answer at once
Unable to, my throat dries up
Again
And I spill over
Deeply, deeply
In deep watercolor, trembling
Is all my consciousness is
It's as if, as if
As if I'm sinking down
Melting away
Melting, melting, melting
So that I no longer know a thing
And that's all my consciousness is
Forever more, ever more, ever more
Knowing nothing
Ever more, ever more, ever more
Like this
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RANDOM BLATHER PLEASE READ!: I've still got a block on this, but if you're still here, I thank you! I've worked so hard on this fic. Now, I've got an honest question. If I went into the other books, how would you guys feel about it? Would you read it? Thing is, I'd skip fourth year, because I have plans for that, and if I do the books it'll continue with book five.
And no, before anyone asks, SIRIUS IS NOT DYING.
However, someone will, before the end of this series.
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MORE NOTES: I have been upset and worried about Katrina and the people hit the entire time writing this. If it isn't up to usual standard, I apologize.
To all of those people in Louisiana and Mississippi who were hit by Katrina, I offer what little condolence I might bring. I know it isn't much, and I ask you to not give up. Just keep trying. Please.
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"No fucking way."
"I feel the same!" Sirius retorted, blue eyes dark and scowling, his face matching them. Severus snarled at him, but nevertheless handed Dumbledore the tiny bottle of clear liquid, who uncorked said bottle and took out a muggle eyedropper.
"This is merely protocol, you know." he said, holding the eyedropper out to Sirius. The man took it and squeezed three drops out onto his tongue. In seconds, his eyes were glassy and blank. "Good. Sirius, can you hear me?"
"Yes." was the monotone reply.
"What is your full name?"
"Sirius Oriel Black."
"Who is this rat on my desk that I have bound?"
"Wormtail, also known as Peter Pettigrew."
"Good. Who is the child standing to your left?"
"Son Gohan, third year Slytherin."
"Did you betray James and Lily Potter?"
"No."
"Were you the secret keeper?"
"No."
"Was Peter Pettigrew the secret keeper?"
"Yes."
Dumbledore inclined his head, blue eyes sparking.
"No more questions. Severus, would you give Mr. Black the antidote?" Looking as if he would give 'Mr. Black' an Avada Kedavra, Severus strode forward and, for lack of better words, shoved the pink liquid down Sirius' throat. Quickly, the man's eyes returned to their normal alert blue, and he gagged.
"Ew, nasty stuff. Just like you, Snape."
"Shut. Up. Black. Before I shove my boot up your-"
"Ahem, gentlemen.." Remus tried to interject, just as Sirius replied to the previous comment.
"Oooh, kinky."
"You egotistical arse-"
"Mother fu-"
"SILENCE." Dumbledore suddenly boomed, looking down at the two of them in disappointment. "Let's get back to the task at hand, shall we?" Both Sirius and Severus stared down at their shoes. Even now, the venerable headmaster could still make them feel like misbehaving first years. "Back to business, shall we?"
"Yes sir."
"Good." Gaze even, Dumbledore instructed them all to back away, and though they, especially Severus, would never admit to it, all three of them positioned themselves protectively in front of the three younger ones, while Draco complained that he wouldn't be able to see. Severus scowled, before silently allowing the boy some more room, but wrapping his arm around the blonde's throat. Harry rather politely asked Remus to move over a bit, whilst Gohan unceremoniously shoved Sirius' arm out of the way. The animagus scowled at him slightly, and 'hmphed' when Gohan smirked as said aforementioned arm traveled to rest over the boy's chest.
With a muttered word, a blue light shot out of the headmaster's wand, hitting Wormtail right on. Gohan's eyes widened as the rat writhed, twitched, and began to morph into some semblance of a man. The hybrid's face instantly twisted up in disgust, and he could feel Sirius' hand twitching from where it rested on his chest.
Peter Pettigrew looked like a rat. He was short man, and Gohan believed that he would be unattractive even if he wasn't grossly underweight. His hair was thin and colorless, unkempt, with a bald patch on the top. He had very small, watery blue eyes, and his nose was small and pointed like a rat's.
Gohan absently raised a hand and took Sirius' arm firmly, not saying a word.
Pettigrew looked up, tiny nose twitching, and all color drained out of his face upon seeing one calmly infuriated headmaster of Hogwarts, a completely emotionless Severus Snape, a shaking in fury Remus Lupin, and oh, we couldn't forget. A snarling Sirius Black.
"Oh….headmaster-! Sirius, Remus-!"
"Don't talk to me, you filthy traitor!" Sirius shouted, furious, "Don't you talk to a single person in this room, you disgusting bastard-"
"Enough, Mr. Black." Dumbledore interjected, "Peter Pettigrew, you are under arrest for the betrayal of James and Lily Potter, for being a death eater, and for the framing of one Sirius Black. I suggest that you remain silent." With the manner of one used to dealing with things as such, Dumbledore bound Wormtail, and gagged him. "Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, it is your rights to take advantage of my absence to deal with this traitor in the manner that you wish while I ring for the minister. Do try not to kill him, would you?" The headmaster then left the room. Gohan promptly released the animagus' arm and Sirius exchanged looks with Remus, before they both nodded.
"You kids might want to leave, this won't be pretty." Remus said and Gohan raised an eyebrow, sitting himself down on a chair with Harry and Draco and pulling the large dish of lemon drops towards him.
"No, I think we're good. Besides, I believe that it is Harry's right as a wizard and a relative to take what he feels as his revenge after the two of you are done." Harry nodded at his friend's words, and swallowed when Sirius reeled back a massive hand and smashed Pettigrew straight in the jaw, sending the midgety man flying.
"That was for Lily," Another smash, this time in the stomach, "That was for James-!" Another hit, "That was for Remus!" Another, "This was for me!" Another, "And that was for the hell of it!" When he finished, Pettigrew was in more pain than he ever thought he'd ever been in, and was bleeding form a great deal of welts and bruises. The dog animagus suddenly stopped his onslaught for a second, before turning to the three boys, then clapping his hands. "I remember now!" This time, he pulled his leg back and slammed the traitor in the stomach, "And that was for Harry!" One more, "And THAT was for even daring to meet up with your death eater friends, and for the fact that one of them crucio'd a child, particularly that child!"
Gohan glanced up, not expecting himself to be added into this rather painful equation.
Sirius slowly lowered his hands, breathing heavily. "I think I'm done. It's your turn now, Remus."
Remus answered with a nod of his head, stepping forward as Sirius stepped back.
"Peter Pettigrew, I trusted you. We all did. The second you even thought of betraying us, you were doomed from the start." He grew silent. "Sirius, would you please hold my wand for me?"
"Certainly, my friend." Sirius obliged, and watched in an almost morbid fashion as Remus, the most mild-mannered person he had ever met, began to pound the life out the squirming, struggling rat.
"These are for Lily and James!" Wham! "This is for Sirius and the fact that had to spend twelve FUCKING years in Azkaban because of you!" Smash! "That's for Harry, and the fact that because of you his parents died!" Wham! "And god damnit, this is for me, you fucking bastard!" A final hit, and Remus drew back, taking his wand back. "Thank you, Padfoot."
"No problem. Harry? Do you want to take your turn?"
Emerald eyes widened, before Harry got to his feet.
"Yes, but I'm not going to beat the shit out of him, though heaven knows he deserves to get put in the same room with Gohan when he hasn't fought in a month." The boy said, and Gohan raised a brow, popping a lemon drop into his mouth, was he really that bad?
"Yes, you are," Draco muttered under his breath, reading the hybrid's look, "You are most definitely that bad."
"I hate you." Harry said coolly, "But I'm better than you. I have, at this very moment, the right to kill you, as do Professor Lupin and Sirius. But we're better than you. I'm not going to hit you, or kick you, or waste a single joule of energy raising my hand against you. But you'll get worse than that if I have anything to say about it. The dementors will come, and I hope you get the Kiss. When you do, I want to be there, so I can watch you lose your soul, you repulsive thing." Without another word, Harry returned to his seat, and Gohan tilted his head, his eyes widening when he saw his friend's hands shaking in repressed fury. Quiet, Gohan leaned over and took Harry by the wrist, holding it tight.
"Please relax." he murmured quietly, "That traitorous rat will get his, I promise."
At that very moment, footsteps began sounding from down the hallway, and seconds later Dumbledore, several aurors, and the minister of magic walked past the ruined gargoyle, Fudge giving in a condescending stare.
"Is this him?" he asked, staring at the now unconscious Wormtail, "What the hell happened-" He then caught sight of Sirius standing in the corned by the boys, and Gohan grabbed his hand protectively.
"Don't make a move, Cornelius." Dumbledore commanded, "As you can see, Peter Pettigrew is right here. You having nothing to do with Sirius Black." Fudge went ashen, stuttered a bit, and after about a half hour more of veritaserum, some clever manipulation from our dearest Headmaster, and the constant scathing death glares coming from Gohan's general direction, the pardon papers were signed, and Peter Pettigrew carted off to Azkaban until his trial.
When they were finally gone, Sirius collapsed into a chair, placing his hands over his eyes.
"What do I do now?" He asked half to himself, and Dumbledore chuckled.
"Do you honestly think that I won't let you stay here? Your innocence should be all over the papers by tomorrow morning, so I think it best if you stay under wraps for a while." he said quietly, and Sirius slumped forward, face showing nothing bar relief.
"Thank you, so much." he breathed quietly, "All of you, even you, Snape. I still think you're a total asshole, though."
"The feeling is most definitely mutual." Severus replied, sneering, before turning to his two Slytherins. "Well, I think that the two of you have gotten into quite enough trouble for today." That was a veiled command that said quite plainly, I'm annoyed and it's your fault, fix it. Normally attentive, Gohan certainly noticed it but decided to ignore his teacher in favor of giving Sirius a solemn but sincere goodbye and walking out of the office, away from the killed gargoyle.
"Whoops, almost forgot." They all heard him mutter, and with a spell spoken in clear Japanese the pieces of stone jumped back together, the gargoyle regaining it's fierce glare. Dumbledore shook his head, smirking slightly.
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"Kyaa! Kyaa!" Gohan whooped, the effects of what he had just done sinking into him at last, "Padfoot's free! Kyaa, kyaa!"
I'm glad that you're happy, master. Aoi told him from his right side.
"Happy? I'm more than happy! Yatta, yatta, yatta!" The hybrid bounced slightly on the balls of his feet, huge grin plastered on his features, "I feel so on top!"
That's good, Pikachu mused, Now, have you decided what you're going to do? Don't try to fool me, I know you're having doubts. Gohan smiled.
"You know me too well, my friend." he replied quietly, doing a small spin and staring up at the sky. "I don't really know what to do. I miss Sasuke and Goten so much, and everyone else too. I want to see Shigure and Sasani, and I want to hang out with Lance-san and Lara-san. But here, I want to explore, and learn about this world. I want to study here, and I don't want to leave Leon and Rettile." He stopped speaking for a few seconds, before returning, "I'll miss whomever I leave."
Well, there's summer vacation for a reason, you know. Decide then.
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END CHAPTER
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Oh. My.God. Blocks suck llama balls. Anyway, as I said last time, review responses are on my journal.