Ch 18 Get Me to Hogwarts on Time

Encounters – Get me to Hogwarts on time!

By Mannd

Nope, still don't own HP or GW,… rats!

Mention of my established Yaoi pairing, just mention nothing else. (SS/ZM)

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Harry nervously looked over at the tall blond who was taking him to the train station this morning. He was a bit disappointed that his brothers had been all busy, but a terrorist group was threatening to attack the worker's rights summit that was happening on L3 and they had all been assigned the mission. He had never really had one-on-one time with Zechs and wondered what the man was like.

Zechs glanced over at him, "We have about an hour before you should get to the station. Would you like to stop for something to eat?"

Harry's eyes light up, "Only if it's not out of the way for you?" Harry flushed as his stomach growled. Harry snickered when Zechs' stomach answered by growling back causing the man to laugh.

"It's not," Zechs assured the teen and pulled into the Pancake house that he remembered Duo talking about Harry's love of chocolate chip pancakes.

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Harry was happily eating his pancakes as Zechs dug into his ham and cheese omelet, "Are you excited for school to start?" Zechs asked taking a sip of his tea.

"I haven't really decided yet," Harry said truthfully, "I love Hogwarts, but I don't want to be away from my brothers… I mean Duo and the others."

Zechs smiled at the teen, "I think that Duo and the others would be honored to be called your brothers, Harry," he said and Harry bit his lip, "What's wrong, green eyes?" he asked calling Harry by WuFei's nickname for the teen.

"I don't want to be a problem or a pest," Harry said.

Zechs put his tea cup down and held Harry's gaze levelly, "I highly doubt you will ever be a problem or a pest to them… or to Severus and I. You should see Duo's face light up when he talks about his little brother Harry or Quatre searching for the perfect going back to school gift for you."

Harry flushed happily as he happily fingered his new clothes from Quatre and nodded, "Thanks, Mr. Marquis."

"Zechs," Zechs said firmly, "call me Zechs."

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The train station was as chaotic as last year. Business men and women hurrying off to lunch meetings, mom's with fussing or fascinated children in tow trying to get home to cook lunch, and Hogwarts' students pushing carts filled with school trunks, owls and cats trying to be surreptitious as they went through the barrier to 9 ¾s. "Harry!" Hermione called to her friend, Harry smiled back waving as he said good-bye to Zechs.

"Thank you for the brunch," Harry said, "and for taking me to the station."

Zechs nodded, "I'll wait for you to get through," he said and Harry grinned. Most kids his age would roll their eyes at an adult waiting until they got through but Harry didn't think he would ever get tired of having an adult who truly cared about him waiting to make sure that everything was okay.

Hermione waited until Harry joined her and the Weasley's before saying good-bye to her parents and turning to the barrier. She went over to Ginny, "want to go in with me?" she asked. The youngest Weasley perked up, Ron had been being a jerk to her, telling her that she would have to find her own friends and couldn't sit with them on the train. Mrs. Granger and Molly were finalizing directions and a date to meet over tea when the girls slipped through the barrier.

Percy went next or tried to as Fred and George zipped in front of him. He huffed his impatience before following the troublemakers with his father and getting a water balloon in the face. The two hastily got on the train while Arthur was wiping the water from his eyes. "Those two," he sighed. He handed Percy a small white bag. Percy looked up at his father curiously, "Oh… just something Zonko's is trying to 'perfect'. He asked me if I knew any good test subjects."

Percy hid a snicker and pocketed the bag, he knew exactly how and when to let the twins 'steal' it from him, "Thanks father," Percy said.

"Have a good year, Perc," Arthur said, than turned to the barrier, "I wonder what's taking the others so long?"

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Ron frowned as Harry leaned his back hard against the brick barrier, but nothing happened, "Harry?" Molly said coming up to them as Mrs. Granger left, "What's wrong?"

"I… can't… get… in…" Harry said pushing with his legs trying to get the barrier to budge.

Molly looked confused, "Let me try dear," she said and Harry moved away and she leaned against the barrier and it sucked her in.

Both Ron and Harry looked at each other, and Harry nodded to Ron to go ahead took a few steps back and ran. Ron slipped through the barrier quickly disappearing from view and Harry watched his own trunk and cart disappear into the barrier and thought that this time… Pain exploded as he let go of the handles of his cart and fell backwards hard. "Harry!" Zechs said coming over to the now bleeding boy, "What…" Harry let Zechs lean him back and he looked at the blood pouring down Harry's face from his nose.

"I can't get in," Harry said blinking back tears of pain and confusion. The pain in his face was making it very hard to think, "I can't get in!" he said again.

"Okay, Harry, calm down," Zechs said, helping the dazed boy to his feet and over to a bench.

"My cart, trunk and Hedwig made it through, but I can't…" Harry broke off.

"It's okay," Zechs said handing Harry his handkerchief, "We'll get you there." He nodded his thanks to a vendor who came over with a cup full of ice and wrapped a second handkerchief with that, "Let's get you to headquarters, we will figure out a way to contact Sev. We will get you there on time."

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When the two arrived at Zech's car, Harry looked up and grinned through the blood streaming down his face at a familiar hoot, "Hedwig!" he called to his owl who flitted down to him and held out his leg, "smart girl!" she preened as if to say she knew! Zechs carefully pulled the note off of her leg and handed it to Harry

Harry

Where are you? Are you all right? What happened? Ron was frantic and tried to get back through the barrier, but I could have told him that it was a one-way barrier; it says so in Hogwart's: A History. They switch the way (in or out) depending on the day. Anyway, by the time Mrs. Weasley wanted to apparate back to get you and apparate you onto the platform, but Mr. Weasley said it wouldn't be a good idea if something was targeting you. He is going to go to the Ministry of Magic to have the incident investigated!

I convinced Mr. Weasley that Mr. Marquis will see that you get to Hogwarts, so don't worry about your trunk; it will be at Hogwarts when you get there.

See you soon,

Hermione (and Ron!)

"We should probably send a note to Severus to explain what happened," Zechs said opening his car and pulling out a briefcase, "that way if we are a bit late, they won't be as worried."

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Harry spent an hour with Doctor Sally Po as she examined his nose and took a few x-rays. "It's not broken," she said finally, "but you are definitely going to have two beautiful black eyes," she grinned at him, "kinda makes me envious. How bad is your headache?"

Harry opened his mouth to say it was fine, but a piercing looking from the woman and he admitted his face and head were throbbing. He wasn't sure what hurt more, his head or his nose. She nodded knowingly, and surprised the boy by handing him a small vial, "Pain and headache potion, when you get to HW, I am sure Poppy will want to look at you closer, and will be able to give you something stronger if you need it." She turned to Zechs, "I am sure I don't need to remind you of how do deal with a head injury?"

Zechs shook his head, "Come on Harry, let's get you to school."

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Severus looked up with a small frown as a hooting called to him from an elf's shoulder, "Hedwig?" he questioned and took the note off of the owl's offered leg. He quickly recognized his lover's handwriting,

S

There was a problem with the barrier at King's Cross which kept Harry (and only Harry) from successfully crossing through. His luggage and owl made the journey, however Harry was injured in the attempt. I am taking him to Headquarters for a possible broken nose and concussion and will bring him to Hogwarts this evening if Dr. Po gives the okay.

Z

"The barrier closed only to Harry?" Severus asked a frown on his face as he rubbed his forehead to keep a growing headache from getting worse. Snape heard another yell and winced; the elves were fighting over a mess made by the Cornish pixies that fop Lockhart had 'accidentally' let loose in his potions closet. Snape had safely vanished the volatile potions from the closet, but there was still an occasional pixie that was hiding behind the jars and causing mischief by pushing off the jar on an unsuspecting elf who was trying to clean up. Several of the critters had escaped the closet and were currently zipping around in the Slytherin Common room as well as other areas of the lower levels of the dungeons causing all kinds of havoc. Snape was placing each caught one in a cage, which were going to end up in the Fop's wardrobe before the end of the day.

What the Headmaster had been thinking, Snape shook his head as he remembered Gilderoy had been a very mediocre Ravenclaw third year, in his seventh year. How in the world the boy had managed all that he had, Severus would never understand. Even back as a Ravenclaw the boy took credit for others work and it got him in quite a bit of trouble.

He wondered… and cursed as a pixie tried to shoot past him to get into his quarters… "Oh no you don't," he hissed quickly pulling out his wand and blinked as Hedwig swooped in and plucked the flying blue demon from the sky then calmly held out her foot. Snape smirked, "If you catch all that are in the Common Room, I will supply you with fresh mice for a month." Hedwig bobbed her head and hooted as Snape opened the door between his quarters and the larger room watching as the pixies shrieked in rage and fear.

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Harry watched the scenery passing by trying to decide if he was excited or disappointed that he wasn't on the train. "How is your head, Harry?" Zechs asked.

"Much better," Harry said gripping the door panel as Zechs' took the corner sharply but grinning at the man who was pouring on the speed, he paused when Zechs' cleared his throat, "It throbs a bit, but nothing like it was."

"Why don't you close your eyes and rest, the sun light might make your headache worse," Zechs said being very careful not to insinuate the boy needed a nap, but the boy needed a nap.

Harry nodded carefully and leaned back more comfortably against the seat, and as Zechs figured it didn't take that long before the green-eyed wizard slipped into sleep. Zechs pressed a button and very slowly laid the passenger seat back, Harry barely waking as he rolled slightly to his side and slipped into deeper sleep.

Zechs slipped into a contemplative state as he drove, through the hills and countryside of England and Scotland heading towards Hogwarts and he thought of the night so many years ago when he first met Severus Snape.

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Rain was pouring that night, streets were drenched and everything looked like a washed out water painting. A sedan pulled through the mostly darkened narrow streets searching for one house in particular. Finally spotting it the car slowed and two men got out; one tall, with long blond hair braided to keep the wet mess out of his face, the other short brown hair was pulled flat on his head, used to the English weather. The two waited a moment for the others in the car to join them, but the other two refused to move, and after moment, Zechs opened the car's door and ushered the two frightened young teens out of the backseat.

Zechs led the way up to the house that seemed to be crammed between its neighbors, the two teens walking behind him with the other man bringing up the rear. Zechs waited until they were all there than knocked on the door, he was about to knock again when it was opened by a man with shoulder-length black hair, a Roman nose and a scowl, "Yes," he said a book in his hands showing what they had interrupted. The black eyes quickly took in the uniforms, the two familiar and frightened teens and said a touch less snarkily, "May I help you?"

"My name is Zechs Marquis and this is Greg Gifford, we are part of a teen crisis center and we found these two teens who only gave us your name," Zechs motioned to the two who had yet to look up at their head of house.

Snape stared for a half a second before stepping back, "Please come in," the group followed them in, "Mr. Higgs, Mr. Flint, do your parents know…" he trailed off when he noticed that they both flinched at the mention of parents. He moved into the living room, and turned on the electric lights as he led the boys to the sofa and crouched in front of them, "Look at me," he said his voice soft, full of compassion but with a tone that brooked no argument. The teens looked up at their head of house and Snape was glad that his face was able to stay impassive as he took note of the bruising that covered the younger Higgs face. He remembered hearing that Mr. Elder Flint and Mrs. Higgs had started to 'see' each other and had flown in the face of wizarding convention and magic moved in together, and 'this', Snape thought sardonically, 'is the result.'

"What happened, Mr. Higgs," Snape said as he moved to pour some tea, vanishing part of it and putting a calm draught in the liquid, "the truth please."

"My da lost his temper," twelve going on thirteen year old Flint said, "Ter was in the way."

"Does this happen often or was this the first time?"

"First time for me," the year younger boy said softly, "he hits Marc all the time."

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Zechs knew that the boys had been returned to their worried (and embarrassed) parents. Mrs. Higgs had taken one look at her son's face and moved out, taking Marcus with her. Zechs found out later that Snape had had a talk with the elder Flint and what ever had been said, Flint never hit his or any other child again. Severus became interested in working with Zechs to create a Teen Crisis Center for Magical Teens in abusive situations. It had been a year before the men became lovers, and another three months before Zechs had been 'introduced' to magic.

"Where is my daughter, muggle," a very inebriated man said coming in late one night to the Teen Crisis Center. Zechs was the only one in the building at the moment; the phones were silent at 4 o'clock in the afternoon before the evening and late nightshift that started at 7.

"Your daughter, sir," Zechs said calmly.

"My daughter, you stupid muggle," the man seethed in anger, "Ella Ketteridge, fourteen, Ravenclaw, goes to Hogwarts, she ran last night when I told her of her betrothal." The man pulled out a stick, "Where is she?"

"We have no one by the name of Ketteridge at the crisis center, and even if we did I wouldn't tell you," Zechs said wishing that Severus who was supposed to pick him up for an early dinner at 4:30 would for once be early.

The man bellowed in fury, "Crucio!" Zechs collapsed to the floor, screaming in pain and surprise then clamped his teeth shut. The pain stopped abruptly and he heard struggling before looking up into the concerned black eyes of his lover, "Are you alright?"

"What the hell was that?" Zechs demanded getting shakily to his feet and leaning against the desk.

"That was an unforgivable curse which has just landed Mr. Ketteridge a life sentence in Azkaban," Snape said turning to glare at the unconscious and bound man.

Zechs wiped his face with a shaky hand, "That was the most painful thing I have ever…"

Snape looked at him for a moment before pulling out a small vial of grey liquid, "Drink this, it might take the edge away."

Zechs had drank the ash tasting potion and sighed in relief as the pain left him, "What is this Severus?" he asked.

Snape looked at him sharply before drawing out his own stick, Zechs very nearly went for his gun, but Snape only muttered words and blinked, "You're magical. Not quite full magic, but not a squib either."

"Squib? Magical?" Zechs paused as several people popped into the room, "Who the hell…?"

"They are Aurors, magical police here to arrest Mr. Ketteridge for the curse he used on you," Snape said moving to stand next to his lover. When one of the men went to raise his wand at Zechs, Snape moved in front of him, "He is magical, Shacklebolt," he said calmly, "and mine."

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Zechs learned of the magical world that night and of Severus Snape's position in it. Snape held nothing back, telling of his youth, Hogwarts' years, Potion's apprenticeship, and Mastery, joining the Dark Lord and fleeing to the Light. Zechs learned about magic. He wasn't strong enough to use a wand, but healing spells and potions worked quickly and almost seemed to be enhanced. His first visit to Hogwarts for the first Quidditch game between Slytherin and Gryffindor had led to more wonderful discoveries. It had been Snape's voice he had heard in his head not Relena's that brought him back out of the Zero induced nightmare of wanting/needing to destroy the earth. He had been horrified and ashamed of what he had done, but as Severus said, if Zechs' could love him after all the horrible things that he had done, how could he, Severus do any less.

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Zechs reached over and shook Harry's shoulder two hours after the boy had drifted to sleep, "You don't want to sleep to long, Harry, or you will never sleep tonight." he said as he maneuvered the seat upright and watched the boy settle himself. "We will be at Hogwarts about an hour before the train arrives, enough time for Poppy to heal your face, how is your head?"

"Much better," Harry said smiling, "still a bit achy but not screaming like it was earlier."

"Excellent."

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"Harry!" Hermione said running up to her best friend, "We were so worried." She hugged him, "Are you okay?"

"Nothing Dr. Po and Madam Pomfrey couldn't fix," Harry reassured her and smiled at Ron, "An eventful ride?"

"Nothing too exciting," Ron sat down, and looked longingly at his empty plate, "Why can't they have the sorting after we eat?" he demanded.

"And just where would the first years sit, Ronald?" Hermione scowled at the boy, "You act like you've never eaten a day in your life." She sniffed at him than turned to watch as the doors opened, "I am going to save a seat for your sister."

Ron grimaced, "She's been a nightmare about Ginny, telling me off for trying to get rid of her and everything," he listened with half an ear to the sorting hat.

"I would have too," Harry said, "She is your sister after all." Harry smiled at Zechs and Severus as they all turned to watch the first scared looking first year get sorted into Hufflepuff.

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"I am pushing the petition to have Preventers Headquarters added to the Headmaster's Floo, as well as our home connected to my Floo in my quarters; it will help with the boys' visits to Harry." 'And other visits' was the other unspoken words. The two men walked the school corridors that night at Severus' insistence.

"That would be much appreciated," Zechs said, "Not that I mind the drive, but if there was ever an emergency, short of flying a Gundam, it would still take me over three hours to get here at top speed."

Loud bangs, a muffled cry, a wrenched door and a heavily disarrayed Lockhart stumbled into the corridor. Several pixies were pulling at the fop's curlers in damp hair; another was pulling on his sash flying around and trying to trip the man with the article. "Ah Severus, Mr. Marquis," Lockhart said trying to bat the flying pests away, "I seem to have a bit of a pixie problem."

"Good thing you are the defense teacher," Snape said flicking his wand and pushing the hopeless man back into his room, "I will ward your room to help you keep them confined for the night… no, no need to thank me," he brandished his wand slamming the door closed in Lockhart's face. Zechs looked between the now closed door and the very satisfied look on his lovers face and decided he probably didn't want to know.

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AN: So time line, I wanted Sev and Zechs to have been together for a bit before Harry, so I chose two older (sixth/seventh) year Slytherins to be what brings them together. So during the summer between Flint's second and third, and Higgs, first and second year is when they meet, leaving me with about three years before Harry comes to Hogwarts. Ella Ketteridge is the many time great granddaughter of the person who discovered the use of Gillyweed, Elladora Ketteridge. I didn't want Harry to fly the car, the consequences of that might come up later, with Arogog, but I'll cross that bridge when I need to, and in my mind a responsible adult would have made sure all of the students were through the barrier first before going through themselves just in case something happened on the Muggle side. I made up the Kings' Cross Barrier one way as it would make some sense to me to keep students from running back and forth between the magical world and the muggle world until the train left.

Next chapter Harry is tired of being Lockharts's volunteer and gets some of his own back, and after that a chapter is brewing in my head, now it's Duo's turn to meet the fop as well as help Harry deal with a rogue Bludger.