Bittersweet Revenge
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter or Sailor Moon... I am merely using the ideas to try and create an entertaining story...
~#*(LAST TIME)*#~
"And where have you been all day?" Harry enquired curiously when he noticed the half unruliness of their clothes and the many expensive looking objects in their arms.
"The Venusian fair!" Hotaru piped up before Draco could say anything.
"Uh-huh..." he trailed off as he walked over to them and looked at Hotaru closely, "So why do you both look as though you were just in a make out session?" he teased them as both flushed deeply.
"I. Uhhh. We. Um. Oh dear." Hotaru could not think straight because of her embarrassment,
"I knew it!" laughed Harry, "So you two are an item?"
Hotaru looked at Draco and draco smiled shifting the prizes into one arm, before using his free hand to pull Hotaru too him for a deep lingering kiss, shocking all around him into a practical silence.
"I'll take that as a yes."
~#*(AND NOW)*#~
Chapter 17 - Encounters of the Dangerous Kind
Princess Minako opened her eyes the next morning as the sun streamed in through the open window she faced. Yawning she sat up and grinned when her door burst open and in bounced an excited Princess Reia. "Come on! Time to get up and beautify ourselves V!!" laughed Rei as she watch Minako flop back with a contented sigh.
"I can't believe that by the time the day is over, I'll be Mrs. Minako Wood!" she laughed happily, "We will be an officially married couple! Oooo I can't wait!!!" she sighed happily staring at nothing.
"Well sweetie, sitting here with a goofy grin on your face isn't gonna get you ready for your big day. Come on. Beautification time!!" squealing excitedly, Minako jumped from her bed and slipped into a normal dress as they headed out of her room and practically ran down the stairs with joy, only having to compose themselves ever-so-slightly because they had entered a student meeting in the front hall...
Half way across the room, Professor Snape noticed them, so he Black and Malfoy came over and bowed giving Princess Minako their congratulations. Minako smiled in thanks and they calmly continued on their way, which meant with less than ten meters to the door, and all the students' eyes on them, she and Princess Reia squealed softly and ran towards the door and the palace spa, which had been reserved for the bride and her maid of honour.
Hotaru smiled and giggled, shaking her head slightly before returning her attention to what Professor Snape was saying, only to feel a hand nudge hers. Looking beside her, she smiled and brushed her fingers over the much larger hand by her side, as it entwined with her own.
Smiling contently, she allowed the hand to slowly let go and snake around her waist, pulling her gently towards the owner. She grinned at Draco who only stopped tightening his grip when Hotaru's back was planted firmly against his chest. With an adoring smile they looked back at the professor who was shooting them strange looks but not stopping his talking.
"- And last of all. The Royal Wedding and celebration ball are being held tonight. You are expected to be on your absolute best behaviour and you all must wear the dress robes, gowns or suits you were asked to bring. Does anyone not have something suitable?" when no one spoke up, Snape smirked and nodded, "Excellent. Now we will be going into the main city today. Those who wish to remain here, to get ready for this evening," at the moment he was mostly talking to the girls who were going gaga about having the chance to meet some royal people and dress up and so on... "Then you will have to sign your names to the clip board with Mr. Black over there. If you do not, you must go to the city." At this point he stopped talking and stepped back as most of the girls and even some of the guys ran towards Black.
"Do you want to stay? We went yesterday." Hotaru asked Draco.
"Do you?" smirked Draco playing with a strand of her hair.
"I really don't care either way." She grinned jabbing Draco lightly in the gut when he began to trail kisses up and down her neck and jaw, sending a light shiver down her spine.
"Hmm... Let's analyse the situations." He paused momentarily to nip her shoulder, "If we go to the city, we will have some fun but we'll be surrounded by the teachers and the other guys and girls." He motioned to everyone around them. "If we stay here, we can still have lot's of 'fun' but without all the extra attention." He smirked when Hotaru's cheeks reddened and she smiled,
"Here it is then." She giggled, as they walked over to Sirus. As they lined up to wait, the front doors opened and to everyone's surprise, in marched Sailor Pluto looking as emotionless as ever. As she passed the group of students, her eyes connected to Hotaru's sending an apology to her though for what, Hotaru did not know.
Pluto exited the room, heading straight for the throne room where queen Selenity was currently in a meeting with the kings and Queens of the Silver Alliance.
"She looked worried about something..." Draco whispered to Hotaru as they watched the stoic soldier leave.
"Yeah..." why had she said sorry when there was nothing to be sorry for? And what had she meant by watch for the code? Hotaru's mind was confused. Stepping up to Sirus, they put their names down and were about to exit the room when a royal messenger entered and walked straight to Hotaru,
"Madame. This just arrived for you." Bowed the man as he handed Hotaru the note and left."
Hotaru opened the elegant envelope that had Pluto's magical signature all over it (not literally) and read the message, At first she didn't understand but then she realised what was meant and her face turned white as her smile turned into a frown.
"Firefly, what's wrong?" Draco asked looking over her shoulder to read the letter...
Dear Hotaru
Grandfather's illness is back. We need the Nrutas now. For some reason, his condition has been getting worse and worse. Mina can't help and neither can I. You know why. Go to the queen and get permission to leave sweetie. If you don't hurry, he may die. I'm sorry this is so short but I haven't much time we need you and he isn't getting any better with-
Draco's attention was drawn away from the letter as Hotaru's soft voice filled with anguish spoke up, "No..." her face looked so sad but even though Draco thought it was for her Grandfather's health, Hotaru knew better. Nrutas was a wizarding-healing potion but in actuality, it was Saturn spelt backwards. She had to leave Draco again. She didn't want to but they needed Sailor Saturn again. Why couldn't Mars or Venus do it though? "I'm sorry Draco... I- I have to go." She leaned up and pressed her lips to his quickly before turning and running out of the door close to tears and ready to rip someone's head off. Pluto was going to get it.
Bursting into the throne room, Hotaru glared darkly at the Royal families there and if looks could kill, Pluto would have dropped dead where she stood.
"Good, you got the message, Saturn you are needed on the battle field. We would not call you out but the soldiers are having a large amount of trouble. Sailor Moon is going to go aid them, and you are going with her. The Silver crystal may protect Lunarian soldiers but the soldiers from Mars, Saturn, Venus, and all the other planets are not protected by it. You are needed. The Youma that they are battling are drawing ever closer to the Moon regardless of their efforts, you mother and father are reviving the soldiers that have died as we speak and bringing them back here but the number of soldiers on the battle-field is waning."
"Why could you not send Mars?" asked Saturn still thoroughly pissed off at the Queen.
"If we sent Mars, we would alert Venus and her wedding is today. Do you really wish to spoil the day she has been anticipating for many months now?" asked Queen Aphrodite.
Sighing in defeat, Saturn nodded, "You're right. She deserves to be happy. Ok I'll go, but you do all the lying this time. I'm sick of having to bend the truth every other second around the people whom are supposed to be my friends." She gave them another dark look before transforming into Sailor Saturn and vanishing.
She reappeared, glaive in hand and hair fluttering madly around her between the soldiers that remained on the battlefield. A quick scan around her and she nearly fainted. There had to be at least a million platoons of Youma here. How could she possibly be able to deal with them all on her own without the other senshi? Sure there were soldiers but none of them were nearly as powerful as one senshi.
"Oh, well. We better get to it huh?" grinned Moon whom just appeared beside her."
"Yeah..."
"Bet I could wipe out more than you could." The pink haired Senshi laughed,
"You wish." Saturn smirked as they flew forward to join the fighting frenzy...
On The Moon.
Draco sighed Sadly. Hotaru had to go home again when she had just got here. Why were Duty and Destiny so cruel? All he wanted was to spend more time with the one girl he'd ever cared for. He couldn't even stand his own mother and sometimes he got the feeling that neither could his father. But the man had married her hadn't he? Surely he had learned how to put up with the annoyance that was somehow his mother.
He'd been wandering aimlessly for the past half an hour, just exploring the palace. He walked passed the glittering sapphire and diamond door that he'd come across last night when Hotaru had given him the tour. When he had asked what was behind the door, Hotaru had shrugged saying she never really found out. Not a single person had opened the door in roughly two millennia's.
Apparently the room belonged to the eldest son of the Royal family but no one could ever open it because the Queen had sealed it shut with the silver imperium crystal... whatever that was...
Deciding to test it out, Draco moved forward and tried turning the doorknob but it wouldn't budge. He attempted to push the door open but it was stuck. "Whoa. They weren't kidding when they said it was sealed tight."
"No they weren't." a voice behind him stated with amusement. Draco spun around and almost fell over with shock,
"Hey you're the guy that was with Hotaru's friend. Um Rini... I think it was."
"Yes I am. 'Rini' as you put it, is my fiancé. My name is Helios." The man held out his hand and Draco shook it with a firm grip.
"Hang on, what are you doing up here then?"
"This is my temporary home till I leave, Selenity has been most gracious."
"The Queen?" Draco looked shocked. He thought that everyone referred to her as 'Queen' Selenity. NO one had spoken of her by just her first name, yet somehow, it sounded familiar. Somehow...
"Yes the Queen. She is a good friend of mine. A most benign and kind woman, but something has been occupying her thoughts lately. Not in a bad way mind you, she seems extremely happy. I believe the return of her husband is probably it, that and her son."
"Her son? You mean the person who owns that room there?"
"Yes." Draco was shocked. The Queen did seem more cheerful than usual... but how would he know what was usual for her. He'd only just met her and he didn't even know her well...
A long moment of silence followed before Helios spoke up again, "Draco Malfoy, I do not wish to seem abrupt but I've noticed you 'spacing out' so to speak ever since you arrived. Is something the matter?"
Draco looked up surprised but said nothing for a long time, "I'm not sure."
"I see. Well if you ever want answers to your questions, all you have to do is ask." And with that, Helios stepped back, bowed low and walked away.
With Harry.
Harry had decided to go into the city with Ron and Hermione but he was feeling rather bored. Mione and Ron frankly flirted too much, and it annoyed him. It was like they were trying to get rid of him. Groaning in annoyance, Harry walked away from the two, tossing a lame excuse, about finding a bathroom, over his shoulder.
Once he could no longer see them he strolled over to a bench a dropped down onto it. He loved his two best friends. They were the closest things to a brother and sister that he had but frankly, with that image in mind, seeing them together was weird. It would take a little getting used to, but he wished they could tone down the lovey dovey-ness even just a little until he came to better terms with their relationship, "I wish Rei was here..." he sighed... "And now I sound like a hypocrite..."
Groaning in frustration, Harry looked up at the bright sky, lit up by the nearby sun. Why did his thoughts always go back to Rei? No matter whom he was with, or what he was doing, they always came back to her! Even in his dreams.
Closing his eyes Harry sighed as he recalled the dream that had been re-occurring since they had been invited to the moon...
~#*(Dream Flash)*#~
He was standing on a podium staring out at the sea of people before him. To his left was a man standing tall in royal green robes. Beside him were two women; one seemingly about his age and the other was much older, though how he knew this when he could not see their faces confused him immensely.
Looking back out over the crowd he noticed them waiting for something. What that 'something' was, he didn't know but he somehow felt the same anticipation. He noticed the crowd parting as a man and two women made their way up to the podium on the backs of three unicorns. As they neared, his gaze was drawn to the woman riding on the unicorn with the reddish bronze horn.
Suddenly everything vanished as his eyes locked with amethyst ones. All was black around him as the Princess of Mars stood right, in front of him. He was about to step to her when Sailor Mars appeared next to her. A little more hesitant now, he took a step forward and froze as Rei appeared on the Princess's other side.
Looking from one to the other, Harry gazed at them uncertainly. They all looked remarkably different, yet strikingly similar. Then the images all shimmered and Rei and Sailor Mars were drawn into the Princess as if they were spirits joining a body.
Princess Mars vanished and Rei stood there, smiling lightly as she stepped forward and cupped his cheek tenderly, "One." She paused before continuing, "Same." She whispered, though the words echoed around them as if they had been screamed. Rei vanished and Princess Mars stood there in her place, "One." Princess Mars paused before continuing as well, "Same."
Reaching forward Harry brushed her cheek with his fingers and ran them down her neck, shoulder and arm to her waist before slowly bringing his other arm around the princess. Leaning in, he brushed his lips to hers, closing his eyes as she instantly responded to his lips. They broke away after a few seconds only for Harry to see that it was no longer Princess Mars but Sailor Mars. When had she changed?
Not really caring he drew her close and held her. They stayed in the warm embrace for quite sometime, as the figure in his arms continuously shifted from Rei, to Princess Mars, to Sailor Mars and back again.
Closing his eyes contently, he heard a shrill laugh fill the air and two more equally evil ones joined it. Eyes springing open he noticed three hooded figures surrounding them.
Looking down he noticed that Rei stood there, head buried into his chest and tears pouring down as though in fright. Squeezing her gently in reassurance, he glared openly at the figures around him as the three figures lowered their hoods.
"You are mine little Mars. And always will be!" the blonde man with evil blue eyes laughed, "Do not try to fight it. You will always belong to me. Just like little Venus will always belong to Malachite, little Mercury will always belong to Zoicite and little Jupiter will always belong to Nephrite." The man threw his head back and laughed sadistically.
"No." he heard Rei whisper as she shimmered out and an angry Mars stood in her place,
"Oh yes. There are no two ways about it little Pyro. I shan't be sharing you with anyone either."
Sailor Mars moved out of Harry's embrace and stood firmly in front of him, "You will not lay a finger on him." Harry noticed her skin beginning to glow a fiery glow and for some reason, he knew this was not a good thing. Steeping forward he rested a hand on her bare arm only to draw it back instantly. Her skin had burned him. Not just a small burn, but also one that was making his hand blister.
Looking up from his hand in shock, Harry noticed that Sailor Mar's body suit was no longer white, but a shade of the darkest black. Her hair was no longer flowing down her back freely, but had been pulled back in a long French braid... Her bright red skirt, collar and shoes, had turned a dark crimson red... but what frightened him the most was the angry look of blood lust on her features.
"MARS FIRE STORM RAGE!!" she called out as meteors rained down from the black sky, yet the three, cloaked men vanished before they could be hit by the frightening attack.
This 'angry' Mars turned back into Rei before she burst out into hysterical laughter. It sickened Harry deeply and just before he always woke, he would always see her apologetic eyes as she continued to laugh...
~#*(End Dream Flash)*#~
He wasn't quite sure what the hell the dream was about or whom the man, that had called 'little Mars' his own, was, but he did know that it was trying to tell him something. Something important-
"Excuse me mister. Are you ok?" the innocent little voice snapped him out of his revere and he looked down at the girl standing in front of him who didn't appear to be a day older than four.
"Oh, hello there, what's your name?" asked Harry rather surprised that any mother would let such a young child walk up to a complete stranger.
"I'm Mia. Are you ok mister?" she asked again with the adorable curiosity that only a child possessed.
"I'm not to sure Mia..." he sighed with a sad smile,
"What's your name?" she asked innocently
"I'm Harry. But I like your name better." He smiled when Mia giggled patting his knee cutely,
"I know what will make you feel better!" her English still sounded a touch babyish but she had the language pretty down pact for a girl her age. Without warning she toddled over to the blossom-covered booth and picked a flower from a particularly beautiful bunch. The man tending the booth just smiled and waved the girl off.
Mia skipped back over and held up the silver rose-like blossom, "This always makes mummy feel beta. Here!" Harry slowly accepted the 'rose', and a wave of peace washed over him.
"Whoa." Harry mumbled with a smile, "You weren't kidding." He grinned as the little blonde laughed and attempted to pull herself up onto the high bench, "Thank you Mia." He chuckled, lifting the pouting girl up onto the bench beside him.
"Your welcome 'Arry!" she giggled standing up and wrapping her chubby little arms as far around Harry as she could reach, which incidentally was barely passed his shoulder.
"Oh my goodness. Mia there you are! You had me so worried! Oh thank you sir! She just ran off into the crowd. I've been looking everywhere for her. Thank you for finding her!" the woman continued to thank Harry over and over again as she hugged Mia,
"Actually your little friend here found me. Cheered me up while she was at it too." Harry smiled, standing up calmly.
"'Arry wasn't sure if he was ok so I gave him a Silva Pirawa mummy."
"You have an adorable daughter." Smiled Harry as he patted Mia's hair gently with a smile, but the young lady with crystal blue eyes tensed up as she took in Harry's appearance
"Thank you sire... Now we must be off. Good bye and thank you!" for some reason she looked nervous as she bowed low and hurried off with Mia,
"Bah bye 'Arry!" Mia called over her mother's shoulder smiling brightly. Harry just waved back with a smile before walking in the direction of the fair, the 'rose' still in his hand as he studied it.
That Evening, at the Palace.
Cheers went up from the Palace Temple as Prince Oliverio of Earth and Princess Minako of Venus were presented to the people of the Moon as man and wife, and the future King and Queen of Venus. Smiling in absolute joy, Princess Minako was practically radiating with happiness as he natural love magic spread over the people.
Celebrations lasted well into the night and even after the newly weds left for Venus where they were to stay for three weeks undisturbed, the party continued. Two figures were not celebrating. In fact they were just lazing around in the gardens, talking.
No one seemed to have notice them except a pair of green eyes and a pair of icy silver-blue eyes, watching them with a motherly gaze, "I wander how long it will take for them to remember us..." sighed Queen Lillian sadly as her husband wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.
"I understand how you feel Lillian. I too wish to be able to hold my son again, but until they remember, I cannot. I can hold neither him nor my husband." Queen Selenity's sigh was just as depressed as her companion's, if not more so, but there was no one standing behind her to comfort her.
"Yes Apollo was guarding him on Earth was he not?" asked King James tentatively. This was always a tender subject for the Queen really missed the father of her child. The two had always loved each other greatly, and they had conceived two children together.
"Yes. He is here... however we can go nowhere near each other until my dear son Draconis, and your son Prince Harlan, remember their pasts. I do hope they hurry..." sighed Selenity with a faint blush crossing her cheeks as her gaze wandered towards Lucius Malfoy whom was smiling in her direction even as he pretended to listen attentively to the conversation going on around him.
Hearing laughter beside her from Royal Jovians the Queen simply glared at them in annoyance, "You are so cute when you want to be Selenity." Laughed Lillian as she leaned into her husband's, loving embrace.
"Oh hush up Hera. Let's see you and Zeus be apart for 16 long years and we'll see how you handle it."
"Well I'd probably never allow it." Smirked King James
"Probably... but what if duty called for it?"
"Then I'd tell duty to shove that call where the sun don't shine." Smirked James as he received a light slap from his wife.
"James! You are the King of Jupiter. You're supposed to be setting an example, and not using such foul language!" she berated him lightly.
"Yes dear." He grinned, not noticing the pain in his friend's eyes...
"I still can't believe Weasel and Granger did that. I thought you lot were inseparable." Draco said, as he looked at his strange new friend with a raised brow.
"So did I... Honestly ever since fourth year they've been distant... or was that me?"
"I think it might have been you pot head." Smirked Draco when Harry sent him a dark glare,
"Well can you blame me? I could have done something to save Cedric but I didn't! I was too weak..." he protested in annoyance as he leaned back on the grass looking at the much nearer stars. Which seemed to glitter different colours continuously. Mainly purple and pink. Which was odd because these stars were, by some strange force, between Earth and themselves. "And then last year when Sirus fell through that veil..." he paused to hold back tears at the memory of the pain, "I thought he had died. They had never found anyone who had done that... I still can't believe he turned up in Japan..."
"Yeah, how did Black do that?"
"I don't know. He said he didn't even know himself. But Malfoy, you'll never understand how bad that hurt. He was, -is- my only family."
"Probably not..." Draco stated sounding indifferent
"Ok, this is getting way too depressing. So how'd you and Hotaru... you know... get together?"
"You tried to get that out of me last night too Potter. And guess what! Believe it or not, it is still 'none of your business'!" the annoyance that coated his voice was easily mistaken for sarcasm and Harry knew better than to piss Draco off too much... But playing with him wouldn't be a problem...
"Alright, alright! Gees! You'd think I just asked if you were doing the dirty deed or something." Harry waited for a reaction and was not disappointed as Draco shot him a deadly look, "Calm down, I was just kidding!"
"You better've been Potter."
"You know you wouldn't mind it. Believe it or not Malfoy, you're still a hormonal teenager who-"
"-unlike you, knows how to control himself." Draco finished for him with a smirk. Not true but still!
"I know how to control myself!" grinned Harry, it's just the girls who can't control it." He grinned much like Draco had just done,
Draco looked over at Harry's face and smirked, "I think I'm a bad influence on you Potter."
"I think you are." His grin widened, "But I'm not complaining. How did we even become friends? I mean just at the beginning of this year we would have probably killed each other if we were allowed to...
"If you told me last year I would someday, even in the far off future, consider you a friend, I would have laughed while I hexed your ass all the way to the insanity ward at St Mungo's."
"Don't worry, I would have done the same thing." Harry chuckled lightly. Silence fell over them for a long time as they just sat there. Finally Draco broke the silence,
"Is it just me, or is that odd?" he asked pointing up at the large flash of purple light hovering between them and Earth. Then whole bunch of smaller white flashes followed by a large pink and gold one went off.
"No, it's not you, that is weird." Agreed Harry as he stared up at the rather strange site.
"Solar flares." Came a voice from behind the two. Lucius Malfoy stood behind them dressed as impeccably as ever, yet his stance was not the usual better-than-thou one.
"Draco. A word if you please?" he stated as smoothly as ever.
"Of course father." He nodded rising to his feet quickly, "I'll be back Harry."
"Take you're time."
"Come then. Follow me. I wish to show you something my son." Lucius motioned to the castle with one white-gloved hand.
They walked in silence, passing through the ballroom where many couples were dancing, and through countless corridors finally halting at a glittering sapphire and diamond door... but the glittering seemed rather unnatural. There was a soft silver glow radiating from the door, which had not been there the last time he was here.
"Father, why did you bring me here? This is the Prince's sleeping quarters-" he questioned rather unsure if his father had had a little too much to drink that eve.
"I am well aware of that Draconis. Open the door." His tone was regal and yet still persuasive. However it was not convincing enough because moments later, Draco began to protest...
"But it's magically sealed-"
"-Open it." Lucius Malfoy cut his son off with the quick command that made him sound more like a General or a King, than JUST a Malfoy.
Obeying his father swiftly, Draco rested one hand on the door nob as the ethereal glow surrounding intensified ten fold. Pushing down the handle, he was shocked to find the door unlocked, and it quickly swung open to reveal the most expensive room Draco had ever seen. Even living in the wealth of the Malfoys did not compare to this.
He managed a small gasp of 'wow' before he scrunched his eyes closed, as a white light erupted in them. He slowly began to recede into the far corners of his own mind, collapsing to his knees as image after image, pummelled into his brain.
Lucius just stood back and smiled as a silver haired figure stepped into the corridor, shimmering with the same radiance as the door, "Apollo!" cried the woman as she ran into Lucius's open arms, crying tears of joy. Lucius brought his lips to his beloved's own sharing their first kiss in over a millennium.
"I've missed you my dearest Selenity." Whispered Lucius as he held the emotional Queen tightly in his arms. Hearing a groan, both heads snapped towards the silvery blond haired boy slowly and unsteadily rising to his feet.
Queen Selenity smiled gently as recognition flickered into Draco's eyes, "My son..." she whispered ever so softly.
"Mother..."
With Harry.
"Oh I'm sorry," exclaimed a melodic voice as the rustling of a skirt with many layers stopped, "I thought I was alone here." Harry sat up and turned around, almost falling over with shock.
There behind him, sat Princess Mars. The woman from his dreams...!
"It's fine Princess. You may stay. I was just going to leave..."
"Um no, this is fine, I could use some none psychotic company. Please sit with me." The princess smiled as Harry nodded, getting up and sitting beside her lightly.
Just inside the doors, Princess Pluto danced with a well dressed Black as Snape stood near the shadows, watching...
I'm sooo sorry this took so long to come out. It was partly my fault and partly yours everyone. I lost inspiration for a little while with this story cause it took you all so long to review. Please R+R. I need reviews to keep me going. Same deal as before. I need fifteen reviews at a minimum before I update people. So tell me what ya'll think!! The faster you review the faster I update!!!
CHERRY^_^
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter or Sailor Moon... I am merely using the ideas to try and create an entertaining story...
~#*(LAST TIME)*#~
"And where have you been all day?" Harry enquired curiously when he noticed the half unruliness of their clothes and the many expensive looking objects in their arms.
"The Venusian fair!" Hotaru piped up before Draco could say anything.
"Uh-huh..." he trailed off as he walked over to them and looked at Hotaru closely, "So why do you both look as though you were just in a make out session?" he teased them as both flushed deeply.
"I. Uhhh. We. Um. Oh dear." Hotaru could not think straight because of her embarrassment,
"I knew it!" laughed Harry, "So you two are an item?"
Hotaru looked at Draco and draco smiled shifting the prizes into one arm, before using his free hand to pull Hotaru too him for a deep lingering kiss, shocking all around him into a practical silence.
"I'll take that as a yes."
~#*(AND NOW)*#~
Chapter 17 - Encounters of the Dangerous Kind
Princess Minako opened her eyes the next morning as the sun streamed in through the open window she faced. Yawning she sat up and grinned when her door burst open and in bounced an excited Princess Reia. "Come on! Time to get up and beautify ourselves V!!" laughed Rei as she watch Minako flop back with a contented sigh.
"I can't believe that by the time the day is over, I'll be Mrs. Minako Wood!" she laughed happily, "We will be an officially married couple! Oooo I can't wait!!!" she sighed happily staring at nothing.
"Well sweetie, sitting here with a goofy grin on your face isn't gonna get you ready for your big day. Come on. Beautification time!!" squealing excitedly, Minako jumped from her bed and slipped into a normal dress as they headed out of her room and practically ran down the stairs with joy, only having to compose themselves ever-so-slightly because they had entered a student meeting in the front hall...
Half way across the room, Professor Snape noticed them, so he Black and Malfoy came over and bowed giving Princess Minako their congratulations. Minako smiled in thanks and they calmly continued on their way, which meant with less than ten meters to the door, and all the students' eyes on them, she and Princess Reia squealed softly and ran towards the door and the palace spa, which had been reserved for the bride and her maid of honour.
Hotaru smiled and giggled, shaking her head slightly before returning her attention to what Professor Snape was saying, only to feel a hand nudge hers. Looking beside her, she smiled and brushed her fingers over the much larger hand by her side, as it entwined with her own.
Smiling contently, she allowed the hand to slowly let go and snake around her waist, pulling her gently towards the owner. She grinned at Draco who only stopped tightening his grip when Hotaru's back was planted firmly against his chest. With an adoring smile they looked back at the professor who was shooting them strange looks but not stopping his talking.
"- And last of all. The Royal Wedding and celebration ball are being held tonight. You are expected to be on your absolute best behaviour and you all must wear the dress robes, gowns or suits you were asked to bring. Does anyone not have something suitable?" when no one spoke up, Snape smirked and nodded, "Excellent. Now we will be going into the main city today. Those who wish to remain here, to get ready for this evening," at the moment he was mostly talking to the girls who were going gaga about having the chance to meet some royal people and dress up and so on... "Then you will have to sign your names to the clip board with Mr. Black over there. If you do not, you must go to the city." At this point he stopped talking and stepped back as most of the girls and even some of the guys ran towards Black.
"Do you want to stay? We went yesterday." Hotaru asked Draco.
"Do you?" smirked Draco playing with a strand of her hair.
"I really don't care either way." She grinned jabbing Draco lightly in the gut when he began to trail kisses up and down her neck and jaw, sending a light shiver down her spine.
"Hmm... Let's analyse the situations." He paused momentarily to nip her shoulder, "If we go to the city, we will have some fun but we'll be surrounded by the teachers and the other guys and girls." He motioned to everyone around them. "If we stay here, we can still have lot's of 'fun' but without all the extra attention." He smirked when Hotaru's cheeks reddened and she smiled,
"Here it is then." She giggled, as they walked over to Sirus. As they lined up to wait, the front doors opened and to everyone's surprise, in marched Sailor Pluto looking as emotionless as ever. As she passed the group of students, her eyes connected to Hotaru's sending an apology to her though for what, Hotaru did not know.
Pluto exited the room, heading straight for the throne room where queen Selenity was currently in a meeting with the kings and Queens of the Silver Alliance.
"She looked worried about something..." Draco whispered to Hotaru as they watched the stoic soldier leave.
"Yeah..." why had she said sorry when there was nothing to be sorry for? And what had she meant by watch for the code? Hotaru's mind was confused. Stepping up to Sirus, they put their names down and were about to exit the room when a royal messenger entered and walked straight to Hotaru,
"Madame. This just arrived for you." Bowed the man as he handed Hotaru the note and left."
Hotaru opened the elegant envelope that had Pluto's magical signature all over it (not literally) and read the message, At first she didn't understand but then she realised what was meant and her face turned white as her smile turned into a frown.
"Firefly, what's wrong?" Draco asked looking over her shoulder to read the letter...
Dear Hotaru
Grandfather's illness is back. We need the Nrutas now. For some reason, his condition has been getting worse and worse. Mina can't help and neither can I. You know why. Go to the queen and get permission to leave sweetie. If you don't hurry, he may die. I'm sorry this is so short but I haven't much time we need you and he isn't getting any better with-
Draco's attention was drawn away from the letter as Hotaru's soft voice filled with anguish spoke up, "No..." her face looked so sad but even though Draco thought it was for her Grandfather's health, Hotaru knew better. Nrutas was a wizarding-healing potion but in actuality, it was Saturn spelt backwards. She had to leave Draco again. She didn't want to but they needed Sailor Saturn again. Why couldn't Mars or Venus do it though? "I'm sorry Draco... I- I have to go." She leaned up and pressed her lips to his quickly before turning and running out of the door close to tears and ready to rip someone's head off. Pluto was going to get it.
Bursting into the throne room, Hotaru glared darkly at the Royal families there and if looks could kill, Pluto would have dropped dead where she stood.
"Good, you got the message, Saturn you are needed on the battle field. We would not call you out but the soldiers are having a large amount of trouble. Sailor Moon is going to go aid them, and you are going with her. The Silver crystal may protect Lunarian soldiers but the soldiers from Mars, Saturn, Venus, and all the other planets are not protected by it. You are needed. The Youma that they are battling are drawing ever closer to the Moon regardless of their efforts, you mother and father are reviving the soldiers that have died as we speak and bringing them back here but the number of soldiers on the battle-field is waning."
"Why could you not send Mars?" asked Saturn still thoroughly pissed off at the Queen.
"If we sent Mars, we would alert Venus and her wedding is today. Do you really wish to spoil the day she has been anticipating for many months now?" asked Queen Aphrodite.
Sighing in defeat, Saturn nodded, "You're right. She deserves to be happy. Ok I'll go, but you do all the lying this time. I'm sick of having to bend the truth every other second around the people whom are supposed to be my friends." She gave them another dark look before transforming into Sailor Saturn and vanishing.
She reappeared, glaive in hand and hair fluttering madly around her between the soldiers that remained on the battlefield. A quick scan around her and she nearly fainted. There had to be at least a million platoons of Youma here. How could she possibly be able to deal with them all on her own without the other senshi? Sure there were soldiers but none of them were nearly as powerful as one senshi.
"Oh, well. We better get to it huh?" grinned Moon whom just appeared beside her."
"Yeah..."
"Bet I could wipe out more than you could." The pink haired Senshi laughed,
"You wish." Saturn smirked as they flew forward to join the fighting frenzy...
On The Moon.
Draco sighed Sadly. Hotaru had to go home again when she had just got here. Why were Duty and Destiny so cruel? All he wanted was to spend more time with the one girl he'd ever cared for. He couldn't even stand his own mother and sometimes he got the feeling that neither could his father. But the man had married her hadn't he? Surely he had learned how to put up with the annoyance that was somehow his mother.
He'd been wandering aimlessly for the past half an hour, just exploring the palace. He walked passed the glittering sapphire and diamond door that he'd come across last night when Hotaru had given him the tour. When he had asked what was behind the door, Hotaru had shrugged saying she never really found out. Not a single person had opened the door in roughly two millennia's.
Apparently the room belonged to the eldest son of the Royal family but no one could ever open it because the Queen had sealed it shut with the silver imperium crystal... whatever that was...
Deciding to test it out, Draco moved forward and tried turning the doorknob but it wouldn't budge. He attempted to push the door open but it was stuck. "Whoa. They weren't kidding when they said it was sealed tight."
"No they weren't." a voice behind him stated with amusement. Draco spun around and almost fell over with shock,
"Hey you're the guy that was with Hotaru's friend. Um Rini... I think it was."
"Yes I am. 'Rini' as you put it, is my fiancé. My name is Helios." The man held out his hand and Draco shook it with a firm grip.
"Hang on, what are you doing up here then?"
"This is my temporary home till I leave, Selenity has been most gracious."
"The Queen?" Draco looked shocked. He thought that everyone referred to her as 'Queen' Selenity. NO one had spoken of her by just her first name, yet somehow, it sounded familiar. Somehow...
"Yes the Queen. She is a good friend of mine. A most benign and kind woman, but something has been occupying her thoughts lately. Not in a bad way mind you, she seems extremely happy. I believe the return of her husband is probably it, that and her son."
"Her son? You mean the person who owns that room there?"
"Yes." Draco was shocked. The Queen did seem more cheerful than usual... but how would he know what was usual for her. He'd only just met her and he didn't even know her well...
A long moment of silence followed before Helios spoke up again, "Draco Malfoy, I do not wish to seem abrupt but I've noticed you 'spacing out' so to speak ever since you arrived. Is something the matter?"
Draco looked up surprised but said nothing for a long time, "I'm not sure."
"I see. Well if you ever want answers to your questions, all you have to do is ask." And with that, Helios stepped back, bowed low and walked away.
With Harry.
Harry had decided to go into the city with Ron and Hermione but he was feeling rather bored. Mione and Ron frankly flirted too much, and it annoyed him. It was like they were trying to get rid of him. Groaning in annoyance, Harry walked away from the two, tossing a lame excuse, about finding a bathroom, over his shoulder.
Once he could no longer see them he strolled over to a bench a dropped down onto it. He loved his two best friends. They were the closest things to a brother and sister that he had but frankly, with that image in mind, seeing them together was weird. It would take a little getting used to, but he wished they could tone down the lovey dovey-ness even just a little until he came to better terms with their relationship, "I wish Rei was here..." he sighed... "And now I sound like a hypocrite..."
Groaning in frustration, Harry looked up at the bright sky, lit up by the nearby sun. Why did his thoughts always go back to Rei? No matter whom he was with, or what he was doing, they always came back to her! Even in his dreams.
Closing his eyes Harry sighed as he recalled the dream that had been re-occurring since they had been invited to the moon...
~#*(Dream Flash)*#~
He was standing on a podium staring out at the sea of people before him. To his left was a man standing tall in royal green robes. Beside him were two women; one seemingly about his age and the other was much older, though how he knew this when he could not see their faces confused him immensely.
Looking back out over the crowd he noticed them waiting for something. What that 'something' was, he didn't know but he somehow felt the same anticipation. He noticed the crowd parting as a man and two women made their way up to the podium on the backs of three unicorns. As they neared, his gaze was drawn to the woman riding on the unicorn with the reddish bronze horn.
Suddenly everything vanished as his eyes locked with amethyst ones. All was black around him as the Princess of Mars stood right, in front of him. He was about to step to her when Sailor Mars appeared next to her. A little more hesitant now, he took a step forward and froze as Rei appeared on the Princess's other side.
Looking from one to the other, Harry gazed at them uncertainly. They all looked remarkably different, yet strikingly similar. Then the images all shimmered and Rei and Sailor Mars were drawn into the Princess as if they were spirits joining a body.
Princess Mars vanished and Rei stood there, smiling lightly as she stepped forward and cupped his cheek tenderly, "One." She paused before continuing, "Same." She whispered, though the words echoed around them as if they had been screamed. Rei vanished and Princess Mars stood there in her place, "One." Princess Mars paused before continuing as well, "Same."
Reaching forward Harry brushed her cheek with his fingers and ran them down her neck, shoulder and arm to her waist before slowly bringing his other arm around the princess. Leaning in, he brushed his lips to hers, closing his eyes as she instantly responded to his lips. They broke away after a few seconds only for Harry to see that it was no longer Princess Mars but Sailor Mars. When had she changed?
Not really caring he drew her close and held her. They stayed in the warm embrace for quite sometime, as the figure in his arms continuously shifted from Rei, to Princess Mars, to Sailor Mars and back again.
Closing his eyes contently, he heard a shrill laugh fill the air and two more equally evil ones joined it. Eyes springing open he noticed three hooded figures surrounding them.
Looking down he noticed that Rei stood there, head buried into his chest and tears pouring down as though in fright. Squeezing her gently in reassurance, he glared openly at the figures around him as the three figures lowered their hoods.
"You are mine little Mars. And always will be!" the blonde man with evil blue eyes laughed, "Do not try to fight it. You will always belong to me. Just like little Venus will always belong to Malachite, little Mercury will always belong to Zoicite and little Jupiter will always belong to Nephrite." The man threw his head back and laughed sadistically.
"No." he heard Rei whisper as she shimmered out and an angry Mars stood in her place,
"Oh yes. There are no two ways about it little Pyro. I shan't be sharing you with anyone either."
Sailor Mars moved out of Harry's embrace and stood firmly in front of him, "You will not lay a finger on him." Harry noticed her skin beginning to glow a fiery glow and for some reason, he knew this was not a good thing. Steeping forward he rested a hand on her bare arm only to draw it back instantly. Her skin had burned him. Not just a small burn, but also one that was making his hand blister.
Looking up from his hand in shock, Harry noticed that Sailor Mar's body suit was no longer white, but a shade of the darkest black. Her hair was no longer flowing down her back freely, but had been pulled back in a long French braid... Her bright red skirt, collar and shoes, had turned a dark crimson red... but what frightened him the most was the angry look of blood lust on her features.
"MARS FIRE STORM RAGE!!" she called out as meteors rained down from the black sky, yet the three, cloaked men vanished before they could be hit by the frightening attack.
This 'angry' Mars turned back into Rei before she burst out into hysterical laughter. It sickened Harry deeply and just before he always woke, he would always see her apologetic eyes as she continued to laugh...
~#*(End Dream Flash)*#~
He wasn't quite sure what the hell the dream was about or whom the man, that had called 'little Mars' his own, was, but he did know that it was trying to tell him something. Something important-
"Excuse me mister. Are you ok?" the innocent little voice snapped him out of his revere and he looked down at the girl standing in front of him who didn't appear to be a day older than four.
"Oh, hello there, what's your name?" asked Harry rather surprised that any mother would let such a young child walk up to a complete stranger.
"I'm Mia. Are you ok mister?" she asked again with the adorable curiosity that only a child possessed.
"I'm not to sure Mia..." he sighed with a sad smile,
"What's your name?" she asked innocently
"I'm Harry. But I like your name better." He smiled when Mia giggled patting his knee cutely,
"I know what will make you feel better!" her English still sounded a touch babyish but she had the language pretty down pact for a girl her age. Without warning she toddled over to the blossom-covered booth and picked a flower from a particularly beautiful bunch. The man tending the booth just smiled and waved the girl off.
Mia skipped back over and held up the silver rose-like blossom, "This always makes mummy feel beta. Here!" Harry slowly accepted the 'rose', and a wave of peace washed over him.
"Whoa." Harry mumbled with a smile, "You weren't kidding." He grinned as the little blonde laughed and attempted to pull herself up onto the high bench, "Thank you Mia." He chuckled, lifting the pouting girl up onto the bench beside him.
"Your welcome 'Arry!" she giggled standing up and wrapping her chubby little arms as far around Harry as she could reach, which incidentally was barely passed his shoulder.
"Oh my goodness. Mia there you are! You had me so worried! Oh thank you sir! She just ran off into the crowd. I've been looking everywhere for her. Thank you for finding her!" the woman continued to thank Harry over and over again as she hugged Mia,
"Actually your little friend here found me. Cheered me up while she was at it too." Harry smiled, standing up calmly.
"'Arry wasn't sure if he was ok so I gave him a Silva Pirawa mummy."
"You have an adorable daughter." Smiled Harry as he patted Mia's hair gently with a smile, but the young lady with crystal blue eyes tensed up as she took in Harry's appearance
"Thank you sire... Now we must be off. Good bye and thank you!" for some reason she looked nervous as she bowed low and hurried off with Mia,
"Bah bye 'Arry!" Mia called over her mother's shoulder smiling brightly. Harry just waved back with a smile before walking in the direction of the fair, the 'rose' still in his hand as he studied it.
That Evening, at the Palace.
Cheers went up from the Palace Temple as Prince Oliverio of Earth and Princess Minako of Venus were presented to the people of the Moon as man and wife, and the future King and Queen of Venus. Smiling in absolute joy, Princess Minako was practically radiating with happiness as he natural love magic spread over the people.
Celebrations lasted well into the night and even after the newly weds left for Venus where they were to stay for three weeks undisturbed, the party continued. Two figures were not celebrating. In fact they were just lazing around in the gardens, talking.
No one seemed to have notice them except a pair of green eyes and a pair of icy silver-blue eyes, watching them with a motherly gaze, "I wander how long it will take for them to remember us..." sighed Queen Lillian sadly as her husband wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.
"I understand how you feel Lillian. I too wish to be able to hold my son again, but until they remember, I cannot. I can hold neither him nor my husband." Queen Selenity's sigh was just as depressed as her companion's, if not more so, but there was no one standing behind her to comfort her.
"Yes Apollo was guarding him on Earth was he not?" asked King James tentatively. This was always a tender subject for the Queen really missed the father of her child. The two had always loved each other greatly, and they had conceived two children together.
"Yes. He is here... however we can go nowhere near each other until my dear son Draconis, and your son Prince Harlan, remember their pasts. I do hope they hurry..." sighed Selenity with a faint blush crossing her cheeks as her gaze wandered towards Lucius Malfoy whom was smiling in her direction even as he pretended to listen attentively to the conversation going on around him.
Hearing laughter beside her from Royal Jovians the Queen simply glared at them in annoyance, "You are so cute when you want to be Selenity." Laughed Lillian as she leaned into her husband's, loving embrace.
"Oh hush up Hera. Let's see you and Zeus be apart for 16 long years and we'll see how you handle it."
"Well I'd probably never allow it." Smirked King James
"Probably... but what if duty called for it?"
"Then I'd tell duty to shove that call where the sun don't shine." Smirked James as he received a light slap from his wife.
"James! You are the King of Jupiter. You're supposed to be setting an example, and not using such foul language!" she berated him lightly.
"Yes dear." He grinned, not noticing the pain in his friend's eyes...
"I still can't believe Weasel and Granger did that. I thought you lot were inseparable." Draco said, as he looked at his strange new friend with a raised brow.
"So did I... Honestly ever since fourth year they've been distant... or was that me?"
"I think it might have been you pot head." Smirked Draco when Harry sent him a dark glare,
"Well can you blame me? I could have done something to save Cedric but I didn't! I was too weak..." he protested in annoyance as he leaned back on the grass looking at the much nearer stars. Which seemed to glitter different colours continuously. Mainly purple and pink. Which was odd because these stars were, by some strange force, between Earth and themselves. "And then last year when Sirus fell through that veil..." he paused to hold back tears at the memory of the pain, "I thought he had died. They had never found anyone who had done that... I still can't believe he turned up in Japan..."
"Yeah, how did Black do that?"
"I don't know. He said he didn't even know himself. But Malfoy, you'll never understand how bad that hurt. He was, -is- my only family."
"Probably not..." Draco stated sounding indifferent
"Ok, this is getting way too depressing. So how'd you and Hotaru... you know... get together?"
"You tried to get that out of me last night too Potter. And guess what! Believe it or not, it is still 'none of your business'!" the annoyance that coated his voice was easily mistaken for sarcasm and Harry knew better than to piss Draco off too much... But playing with him wouldn't be a problem...
"Alright, alright! Gees! You'd think I just asked if you were doing the dirty deed or something." Harry waited for a reaction and was not disappointed as Draco shot him a deadly look, "Calm down, I was just kidding!"
"You better've been Potter."
"You know you wouldn't mind it. Believe it or not Malfoy, you're still a hormonal teenager who-"
"-unlike you, knows how to control himself." Draco finished for him with a smirk. Not true but still!
"I know how to control myself!" grinned Harry, it's just the girls who can't control it." He grinned much like Draco had just done,
Draco looked over at Harry's face and smirked, "I think I'm a bad influence on you Potter."
"I think you are." His grin widened, "But I'm not complaining. How did we even become friends? I mean just at the beginning of this year we would have probably killed each other if we were allowed to...
"If you told me last year I would someday, even in the far off future, consider you a friend, I would have laughed while I hexed your ass all the way to the insanity ward at St Mungo's."
"Don't worry, I would have done the same thing." Harry chuckled lightly. Silence fell over them for a long time as they just sat there. Finally Draco broke the silence,
"Is it just me, or is that odd?" he asked pointing up at the large flash of purple light hovering between them and Earth. Then whole bunch of smaller white flashes followed by a large pink and gold one went off.
"No, it's not you, that is weird." Agreed Harry as he stared up at the rather strange site.
"Solar flares." Came a voice from behind the two. Lucius Malfoy stood behind them dressed as impeccably as ever, yet his stance was not the usual better-than-thou one.
"Draco. A word if you please?" he stated as smoothly as ever.
"Of course father." He nodded rising to his feet quickly, "I'll be back Harry."
"Take you're time."
"Come then. Follow me. I wish to show you something my son." Lucius motioned to the castle with one white-gloved hand.
They walked in silence, passing through the ballroom where many couples were dancing, and through countless corridors finally halting at a glittering sapphire and diamond door... but the glittering seemed rather unnatural. There was a soft silver glow radiating from the door, which had not been there the last time he was here.
"Father, why did you bring me here? This is the Prince's sleeping quarters-" he questioned rather unsure if his father had had a little too much to drink that eve.
"I am well aware of that Draconis. Open the door." His tone was regal and yet still persuasive. However it was not convincing enough because moments later, Draco began to protest...
"But it's magically sealed-"
"-Open it." Lucius Malfoy cut his son off with the quick command that made him sound more like a General or a King, than JUST a Malfoy.
Obeying his father swiftly, Draco rested one hand on the door nob as the ethereal glow surrounding intensified ten fold. Pushing down the handle, he was shocked to find the door unlocked, and it quickly swung open to reveal the most expensive room Draco had ever seen. Even living in the wealth of the Malfoys did not compare to this.
He managed a small gasp of 'wow' before he scrunched his eyes closed, as a white light erupted in them. He slowly began to recede into the far corners of his own mind, collapsing to his knees as image after image, pummelled into his brain.
Lucius just stood back and smiled as a silver haired figure stepped into the corridor, shimmering with the same radiance as the door, "Apollo!" cried the woman as she ran into Lucius's open arms, crying tears of joy. Lucius brought his lips to his beloved's own sharing their first kiss in over a millennium.
"I've missed you my dearest Selenity." Whispered Lucius as he held the emotional Queen tightly in his arms. Hearing a groan, both heads snapped towards the silvery blond haired boy slowly and unsteadily rising to his feet.
Queen Selenity smiled gently as recognition flickered into Draco's eyes, "My son..." she whispered ever so softly.
"Mother..."
With Harry.
"Oh I'm sorry," exclaimed a melodic voice as the rustling of a skirt with many layers stopped, "I thought I was alone here." Harry sat up and turned around, almost falling over with shock.
There behind him, sat Princess Mars. The woman from his dreams...!
"It's fine Princess. You may stay. I was just going to leave..."
"Um no, this is fine, I could use some none psychotic company. Please sit with me." The princess smiled as Harry nodded, getting up and sitting beside her lightly.
Just inside the doors, Princess Pluto danced with a well dressed Black as Snape stood near the shadows, watching...
I'm sooo sorry this took so long to come out. It was partly my fault and partly yours everyone. I lost inspiration for a little while with this story cause it took you all so long to review. Please R+R. I need reviews to keep me going. Same deal as before. I need fifteen reviews at a minimum before I update people. So tell me what ya'll think!! The faster you review the faster I update!!!
CHERRY^_^
