Defence Against The Darkness

Written by Shaun Garin

Harry Potter is owned and copyright JK Rowling 2006. Kingdom Hearts is owned and copyright SquareEnix 2006. Why YES I am insane, risking my sanity and status in the Guild for this. Most likely they'll flog me or love me to pieces.


Lock 1: Into Every Life, A Shadow Is Born


"You know, there's really no point to this," argued Phineas Black, holding a conversation with the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Albus Dumbledore. "You either elevate that darn fool Snape to the position he always dreamed about or keep him as the Potions Master. Simple as that."

Dumbledore heaved a giant sized sigh and he shook his head. "There is little I can do, Phineas. Slughorn has accepted the position of Potions Master and I require Severus to be the DADA Professor. My hands are tied."

"Bah," remarked Phineas. Then, the man in the painting looked at the window where an owl sat, clutching a letter. "Mail's here."

Getting out of the chair and crossing the room to where the owl sat, Dumbledore picked it out of his mouth and said, "Thank you," without really expecting a reply.

"It's about time you got this letter too," reprimanded the owl and Dumbledore fumbled the letter. "Hoo! Careful there! Merlin'll have my head if you loose that letter!"

"Good gracious, Archimedes, isn't it?" exclaimed Dumbledore, surprised, adjusting his askew moon-shaped glasses. "I have not seen you since you were a little owl!"

The owl ruffled his feathers self-importantly and he preened a little. "Well Dumbledore, I was told to give this letter to you. Merlin's a little scatter-brained at the moment but he easily sent me to this world. I'm to return in an few minutes so I'll let you know now that the barmy old coot is planning something. Read that letter and give him an answer quickly before I vanish."

No matter how much Dumbledore was happy to see the grouchy old owl, the thought of Merlin plotting something was usually an unnerving concept. "Well tell him thanks. I will read this immediately."

Dumbledore,

Sources tell me that you're having a little problem here and there in jolly old England. I can't say I'm surprised for a little whippersnapper like you fighting a war with kids. Really now, I waited till Arthur was at least old enough by his time's standards of being a man before, well, that's not important.

What's important is that Dark Lord of yours. Normally I wouldn't get involved in the world, Radiant Garden requires my attention and all, but with a heart as dark as his, it'll draw Heartless there. Which is why I'm offering the services of a remarkable young man who has been fighting his own darkness for a long time. You might remember him or not, depending on what he can do. I suspect there's a clause for War-time classes such as a magical combat class for anyone fifth year and up. Do take this into consideration will you?

Merlin.

PS: Tell Archimedes that he has to make certain to pick up some chocolate before he leaves. Aerith, Tifa and Yuffie are becoming deprived of it and quite frankly, we can't get enough here.

Dumbledore folded up the letter and turned to Archimedes who was giving Fawkes a baleful stare. "Archimedes, please tell Merlin I accept his proposition and for that matter, he reminds you to pick up some chocolate before you leave. I will give you some coins for them since I'm certain Merlin has forgotten to give you some."

"Hoo, you're correct," said Archimedes as he grasped the small pouch of gold coins in his talons. "I'll be off. Expect to see Merlin here soon Dumbledore." With that, the small owl flew out of the tower, leaving Dumbledore to ponder who exactly Merlin was sending.


"No."

"C'mon Leon, it's either you or Cloud," grinned Yuffie as she tugged on Leon's arm. The man with a mane of messy brown hair remained steadfast. "Merlin's never specific about these things anyhow. Who knows, we could have grabbed a Gummi Ship and went to Destiny Islands and grabbed Riku for all we know."

"Barring the fact we don't know WHERE Destiny Islands is, and then we could have gone to all of the known worlds and grabbed one Angst-Bucket from each of them," chimed in Aerith cheerfully. Leon gave the two women a glare, something that passed over their cheerfulness like a shot off a Reflectaga.

"No," repeated Leon. "I'm not in the whole 'teach little kids how to defend themselves' mood."

"You're NEVER in the mood Squally-poo," smirked Yuffie and Leon fought the urge to snap "It's LEON". Instead, he resumed his glare.

Leaning against the wall and looking fairly amused, Cloud added, "You know, you're outnumbered here Leon. It's three to one."

"What about you then?" snorted Leon. "You're the one who is always fighting his inner darkness."

Cloud's smirk widened a little more. "Sephiroth'll get his," he said calmly.

Silently, Leon cursed Sora for giving Cloud renewed purpose for killing Sephiroth. It made him more… unmistakably open and chatty. Leon hated it when he was chatty or otherwise smirking far too much for his own sanity to take. At least I'm not in a love triangle thought Leon to himself, amused.

Then again, Yuffie was being a little TOO clingy lately…

Shaking off his thoughts, he said, "Yuffie, I'm not in the mood. And couldn't have Merlin left us better information before telling us to find someone to teach these kids how to fight the darkness?"

"Aw c'mon, we have two Angst-Buckets right here!" chirped Yuffie and Leon fought the urge to palm his face at Yuffie, Aerith and Tifa ever meeting each other. The things that came out of these girls was a mite too disturbing. About as disturbing as the very odd trio of treasure hunters-slash-thieves that made themselves known as Yu-Ri-Pa.

Little floating winged girls was usually out of Leon's normal view, but he dealt with it as it came along.

Leon's thoughts were then suddenly cut off as Merlin appeared once more, looking refreshed despite his long absence from Radiant Garden. "Aaah," he said happily, "Have we decided?"

"Squall's being too stubborn," said Yuffie, pouting. "And Cloud said no."

Cloud shrugged at Merlin's questioning gaze and said, "They might string me up for being some kind of demon, with the one wing manifesting at times."

"That, and he wants to deal with his love triangle," stage-whispered Yuffie to Merlin and Aerith giggled madly. Cloud immediately felt relieved that Tifa was off helping Cid with the rebuilding and was not within earshot.

Subject a whole school of impressionable children to Cloud and his vengeance kick… or let me handle it. Leon sighed heavily. "All right, I'll do it."

"Who-hoo!" cheered Yuffie happily. "Did you hear that? He said he'll do it!"

Silently, Leon cursed the heavens for doing this to him. Then, an ironic thought flitted through his mind and he grinned despite himself.

On the good note… Merlin coulda just went and woke up Vincent from sleep.