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Chapter 23

Blackmail, Schmackmail…

"Who founded Hogsmeade?"

"Hengist of Woodcroft," replied Harry lazily.

"Why?"

"He was driven away from his home by Muggle persecutors. Sensei, you are aware this can be found in Hogwarts: A History?"

"I am aware," replied Snape as he lurked behind the youth's shoulder. "I am simply covering Bramwell's course outline."

Harry sighed and asked, "Can we skip it and just say we did it? Today and every other day?"

Black eyes stared then crinkled at the corners as he replied, "I suppose we can. If you agree to do something for me."

"Blackmail, sir?"

"I'm a Slytherin, boy. You expect less of me?"

"Of course not, sensei," said Harry. His left ear twitched then and he asked, "What do you want me to do?"

"Three cauldrons of Pepper-Up Potion and two of one of the lesser Sleeping Draughts – it doesn't matter which though the quicker working one is generally best. Also one of Wit-Sharpening Potion."

The han-akurei nodded, filing the information away then asked, "I take it these are for Madam Pomfrey?"

"Indeed," replied Snape. "She needs them by tomorrow night else she'll be out of them. Apparently she's had an influx of flu and cold victims and students with nightmares and insomnia else she'd have informed me of her lack of them earlier."

"And why am I getting blackmailed into this?" asked Harry as he tucked his books away and rose to go pull out a cauldron from the school supply.

"Apparently the akurei that took care of Meru sent her a letter and will be arriving tonight. She wants me to meet her."

"Kailua's coming here? Did she say where she'd been?" Harry lit a fire under the cauldron with his wand as he continued, "I know she didn't stay at her pub after she sent us off. Though she never told any of us what she was going to do."

Snape frowned slightly, watching his student for a moment, before he spoke.

"You had a good reason not to have been told. Hermione informed me of the state you were in after you escaped Voldemort's hands."

Feline ears swiveled backwards and Harry grumbled, "It wasn't a good couple of days. I always felt tired for no reason and didn't feel at all right in my own body." He frowned down at the beginning of the Pepper-Up Potion and he nervously reached up to tug at the heavy silver collar still bound about his throat. "Damn collar…"

"Pinching?" asked Snape as the han-akurei continued with the potion.

"Occasionally. Catches in my hair or the fur on my shoulders."

"Still no luck in finding a way to get them off, I take it."

"Nai," replied Harry. He then added, "No. Mia-san has been looking for ways ever since we came back. Ginny-san came up with something we thought might work but its not likely to be attempted."

Snape just arched an eyebrow and waited for the younger man to elaborate.

"Her father apparently has spoken of Muggle metalworking before. She thought that perhaps they could do what magic could not as Voldemort wouldn't likely block them from that type of attack."

"But Hermione doubts it."

"She's…unsure," replied Harry. He tossed another ingredient into the cauldron, stirred it slowly, then went to retrieve another cauldron to start up a second batch of Pepper-Up Potion. As he came back, he said, "The problem would be getting a hold of something like that. I'm also not very fond of the idea of us leaving the school wards."

Snape nodded, saying, "After what has happened to you and Hermione of late, I'm not surprised." He then pulled out an old silver pocket watch and added, "Well, I'm going to go and ask Albus when this…what was her name?"

"Kailua."

"Ah, yes. You and Hermione are welcome to join us as well, I'm certain. Since she took care of the both of you, she's likely to wish to see you."

Harry nodded and said, "I'll finish a few of these then go and see her."

Snape nodded then turned and left, leaving the han-akurei to brew the potions in the silence of the classroom, his tail flicking idly about his ankles.

Kailua, seated comfortably in a chair in the rooms Dumbledore had given her within the castle, looked up in surprise as there was a gentle rap at her door. Slipping the ribbon attached to the top of her book's spine between the pages, she set it aside and rose, absently wrapping her long tail about her shoulders as she stepped to the door.

"Who is it?" she asked, knowing Meru would have only knocked for a moment before bounding inside since Kailua had told her she wouldn't lock the door until midnight.

There was silence for a moment then she heard, "It is Harry, Kailua-san."

Amber eyes widening instantly, the kitsune threw open the door and stared up at the young man standing outside her door. He blinked, ears perking slightly, and said, "Um…hi."

Kailua smiled then and said, "I am glad to see you looking better."

Harry grinned sheepishly and ran a hand back though his hair, which caused several strands to come free of the string that bound it loosely into a tail at the base of his neck.

"Well, things have really been going up and down for a while but I think they're starting to settle off again," he said. Then his ears dipped slightly as he added, "Forgive me for coming by so late. Sensei blackmailed me into making potions for him."

"Who?"

"Professor Snape," amended Harry. He sniffed then and cast an askance look down the corridor to his left. "Can we take this inside, Kailua-san? There are only a handful of students here that truly enjoy my company nowadays."

She frowned at this news then nodded, moving aside so he could enter the room. He cast her a grateful smile as he moved past and she leaned out of the room to glare at the youth down the hall that had been eying Harry with disdain. After he had run off, she closed the door and locked it behind her to avoid being disturbed.

When she turned around, she found Harry standing by the fireplace and took the moment to study him. He didn't look any different than the last time she had seen him excepting that his tail had appeared to have grown a few inches and was now curling about his feet. Long, ebony hair still trailed past his shoulders in a long tail and he still stood tall, his body held with an odd cat-like grace. The only feature that hurt her to see were the silver manacles and collar still bound to his ankles and throat. To think that any sentient being had tried to bind another to it without it's will filled her with a quiet rage.

She only hoped that she would be there when Harry met Voldemort for the last time. Oh, yes, she would much enjoy watching that confrontation…

Slowly crossing the room to him, she reached out to touch his right wrist. He turned towards her with a frown, one ear flicking back against his head before coming forward again when he saw what she was doing.

"Kailua-san…"

"They still bind you," she whispered, her clawed fingers touching the silver manacle about his wrist. Absently she scratched at it and was slightly mollified by the fact that she left a white line on the relatively untarnished metal. "Magic will not release them, I take it?"

Harry shook his head slowly and replied, "Mia-san has tried everything to get them off to no avail. Ginny-san has an idea involving Muggle metalworking but it would be difficult to do."

Kailua frowned and said, "I have a regular at my pub who I believe does such things. He knows well what I am being an old friend and it would be no problem for you to go to him."

The han-akurei frowned, ears slightly laid back, then shook his head slowly.

"Not now. Voldemort is even more determined to get me on his side now and the Ministry, despite recent developments, is still not very friendly towards me. Perhaps after this is all over…" He trailed off, sorrowfully eying the manacle she held in her hand. Then he looked up, eyes meeting hers, as he confessed, "I fear I've become used to their weight."

She winced at that and was certain she felt her heart break a little. Then she forced a smile, carefully letting his wrist fall from her hands

"What does Hermione think of them?" she asked.

Harry looked down at that, lifting both hands to look at the manacles that bound his wrists.

"She hates them," he whispered. "That is why she has tried so hard to remove them. She hates the fact that despite of our escape from his hands, something of his still clings to me."

"She is right to hate them. And him."

"I know." He looked up at her then, eyes flickering between human and feline before finally settling to the latter. "But I don't like to see that look in her eyes – that hateful look I've seen before from so many when they look at me, knowing what I am. It hurts to see it."

Kailua smiled gently and said, "No one likes to see that look in the eyes of those they care for, Harry."

He nodded then asked, "Where did you go after you sent us back here? I know you did not remain at your pub."

The kitsune frowned and waved a hand at the couch behind her, then retreated to her chair. Harry blinked then moved to sit, emerald eyes focused on the woman intently as he waited for her to speak.

"I have been debating for years over whether to enter this conflict since it began. After your arrival in my pub I found I could not bear to remain aloof from it any longer." She shook her head, locks of crimson hair falling from behind her pointed ears. "I owe Harper too much to allow his child to fight that madman alone. So, after I sent the three of you back here, I gave Emily the pub to run and left in an attempt to find any of akurei blood who would be willing to do the same as I."

Harry blinked at that then asked, "Did you find any?"

"One, perhaps two," she replied with a scowl. "All the rest that I visited either claimed the problem not to be theirs or feared the exposing themselves during this would reveal them to Douchi. He still hunts our kind, even though your father dealt him a wound that nearly felled him." Her fists clenched then and she cried, "Oh, if he but had!"

"But he didn't," said Harry, suddenly feeling the loss of his father and anger towards his killer more acutely than ever. He shook the feelings away and asked, "Who did you convince?"

Kailua sighed and replied, "A snake akurei named Jaemur who is currently living in Ireland and a young female han-akurei like yourself from Japan – I can't recall her name off the top of my head, alas. Oh! And I brought something back for you."

He blinked then broke out into a grin as she handed him a bag filled with small rectangular boxes that had been sitting beside her chair. He snatched it and sniffed the top, his grin growing even wider as he reached in and pulled out one of the boxes.

"You brought Pocky! Arigato, Kailua-san!"

She smiled and said, "I thought you'd like that."

"Hai," confirmed Harry with a nod. He grinned at her and said, "I haven't had Pocky since I came here! Ai…Aika stole all of mine before I left." Emerald eyes dulled slightly as he mentioned his now deceased childhood friend and Kailua reached across the space between them to cover her hand with his. He looked up at the contact and blinked curiously.

"Meru's uncle informed me of all that has happened to you since you've been here. Including your friend's and your foster parent's deaths." She shook her head and added, "I am very sorry."

"You have no reason to be."

"I am still, however."

They sat in silence for a moment then Harry's ears perked.

"Ah, how was the meeting with sensei and Meru-sama?"

"It went well," replied Kailua. "Though I sensed that he was acting oddly in Meru's eyes."

Harry frowned then said, "Ah. I sensed he would."

The kitsune tilted her head at that and said, "How did you come to that conclusion?"

"Ah…sensei, he is still not used to his relationship with Meru. It is better now than it was but…I think he perhaps is nervous around you."

"Me? But…" Kailua then stopped and nodded slowly, realization flowing across her gaze. "Ah, I see. He is worried that my having raised her will come between the two of them."

"Hai, that would be my guess."

"Hmm, well then, I'll have to have a little chat with my dear daughter and have her assure him that that is not so."

Harry smiled at that, saying, "That would be good."

"Indeed. My! Look at the time! We both should be in bed with the rest of the castle."

The han-akurei chuckled and said, "Not all the rest of the castle. Mia-san is no doubt still awake and waiting up for me."

Kailua smiled at the mention of the bushy-haired girl and leaned towards him.

"You are happy with her?"

"Yes," replied Harry without pause, eyes bright. "She completes me. And keeps my demon half in check."

"Mates do that," said the kitsune with a nod. "You are lucky to have found her."

"I know."

The pair smiled at each other then the elder demon chuckled and rose, saying, "Now, I think I've kept you from sleeping long enough. Off with you, cub!"

Harry laughed at the nickname and moved towards the door, pausing before he opened it. He turned and bowed slightly towards Kailua, murmuring, "Good night, Kailua-san."

"Good night, Harry," replied the kitsune with a motherly smile.

The han-akurei grinned back then was out the door and sprinting down the corridor, feet making only the barest sounds. Kailua closed the door behind him and leaned against it for a long moment before she retreated to her bedroom. As she pushed away from the door, she said aloud, "I swear, Harper, I won't let anything else happen to your son. Even if it takes me giving my life."

There was a brush of magic against her skin then and she shivered as the power behind the oath she'd just made took hold. If it came down to it, she would very likely be forced to give her life for Harry's.

And she would do it without protest.

Translations

Nai: No

Author's Note

To those who don't know what Pocky is, it's from Japan and – according to the boxes I've bought – is a biscuit stick covered in chocolate. Or strawberry. Or whatever other flavors there are that I don't know of or can't purchase at the only place nearby that has them. I am obsessed – okay, maybe not OBSESSED but yeah – with Pocky. Pocky is JOY. I need money to buy more Pocky.

Anyway, enough with my whining. Review!

Oh, and whoever e-mailed me with the Kumiko character, please inform me as to what challenge you responded to. Because the name you gave did not correspond with the guys who answered the first two correctly and I don't recall seeing any to the third.