A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed and told me what they thought regarding the two votes! I'll discuss the Wufei love issue at the end of the chapter. As for if they should tell or not, it was a major landslide victory for telling Une about magic. There were some good arguments for having the boys go AWOL, but it was 57 for telling Une and only 5 against.
To those who voted that Une should not be told: Please let me know if this chapter has changed your mind. I really wanted to incorporate the interesting points you brought up.
I also got some requests to see more Relena, Sally Po, and Cathy, as well as Gundam Wing characters that I haven't introduced yet, namely Zechs, Noin, and Hilde. I'm not sure if the latter three will be involved in this story, but I think I can manage working in the women who've already been introduced.
Be sure to read the A/N at the end of the chapter. Thanks!
…
Top Secret
Heero and Wufei strode into Grimmauld Place with their backs stiff and grim expressions pinned to their faces. Duo swallowed hard as he ducked out of the doorway so they could enter the sitting room where Quatre and Black were still discussing possible theories regarding Harry's scar. The two fell silent as Heero and Wufei came into the room.
"Where's Harry?" Heero demanded, staring at Duo expectantly.
"Trowa's watching him. He passed out not long after you left," Duo answered quickly, but his attention was drawn to Wufei as his friend began to pace the perimeter of the room.
Wufei's glare was emphasized by his silence. An annoyed, irritated Wufei was a loud Wufei. Silence indicated deep fury or deep grief. After a decade of knowing the Chinese pilot, Duo knew enough to recognize both of the terrible emotions in his friend now. Quatre stood and lifted his chin, as if preparing for a blow, while Black looked around at them warily. The wizard was slouched in the corner of a couch, his hair frazzled from being tugged at it in frustration.
Duo looked back to Heero, wide-eyed. "What happened?"
"Voldemort and his Death Eaters led simultaneous strikes against all the major airports in the UK. The spaceport has also been destroyed."
Duo gasped, his fist clenching. Something on this scale hadn't happened since the Earth-Space War, a war they were all very glad was done and gone.
"Survivors?" Quatre asked sharply.
"None that I've heard," was Heero's grave answer.
"We need to make decisions," Wufei suddenly spoke up, moving rapidly across the room.
Duo followed him, knowing he was heading to Harry's room. Decisions meant they all needed to speak their opinions, which meant Trowa had to be present. They couldn't leave Harry alone, vulnerable and unconscious from some mysterious magical anomaly, so that meant holding their conference in Harry's room. He and Quatre had just reached the door when Heero's voice had him looking over his shoulder.
"Your attendance is unnecessary. We will inform you of our decision shortly." His voice was low with warning as he glared at the wizard who had stood to follow.
Black's expression instantly turned stubborn and angry. "This involves me! I can help you!"
"When we need your assistance, we'll let you know," Heero snapped, glaring right back.
"We know you've put yourself at risk to help, and we will not forget that," Quatre interrupted diplomatically. "But I'm sure you understand our need to make a few decisions as a family before we include you to discuss future plans."
Black crossed his arms, still scowling, though Duo noted with some amusement that the wizard refused to meet Heero's burning gaze. "Fine. I'll be down here whenever you're ready."
"Thank you," Quatre said softly before sweeping out of the room, practically running up the stairs toward Harry's room.
Heero shoved Duo forward to get him moving. Duo obliged by picking up his pace. He looked at his long-time lover out of the corner of his eye and felt his heart skip a beat. Heero was locked up tighter than Fort Knox. Conflict raged in his eyes, and Duo caught Heero's arm on the upswing to give it a reassuring squeeze. Such gestures usually worked to relax his partner, if even only a little, but this time Heero made no sign that he registered the gesture.
They crossed the threshold of the bedroom together. Duo saw that Wufei had resumed his pacing. The quick four steps back and forth made him dizzy, so he turned his attention to Quatre. The blond sat Indian style on the bed, his back to the headboard and his left hand running through Harry's thick hair. Trowa sat on the other side of the unconscious boy. One foot rested on the floor while the other leg was outstretched and pressed against Harry's side for warmth and comfort.
"Tro caught up?" he asked, climbing up to sit at the foot of the magically enlarged bed that Black had created for them at their request.
"Yes," the green-eyed pilot answered shortly, visibly tense.
Duo and the others turned expectant eyes toward Heero as the man leaned against the closed door protectively.
"Une and the rest of the world are aware of the attack, though they are in the dark as to the perpetrators," Heero reported in a tight, monotone voice. "Une reminded us of our duty as Preventer agents and wants a report in…" He checked his watch. "Two hours, twenty minutes. Thousands of civilians were killed in these attacks, exact number unknown. It is well within Commander Une's rights to be briefed as to this danger, as well as the UK's Prime Minister and the country's law enforcement. Due to the possibility of hostile magic becoming a threat to the world at large, the President of Earth and the Preventers should also be informed of what we know."
"The problem," Wufei picked up when Heero fell silent, "is that while Earth officials have a right to know about the magical world and the danger it presents, wizards and witches also have a right to live in peace. They are also victims of this terrorist group and should not be sacrificed for the 'greater good' of the world. We of all people know that such thinking leads to unforgivable evil. Should we break the Statute of Secrecy, we put all those innocents in danger. Fear, hate, experimentation, discrimination, and exploitation are all probable responses to the exposure of magic. It is possible that witch hunts would begin again, and this time, with our advanced technology, we could succeed in wiping out the magical populace. We have a duty to protect these people from such ignorant reactions."
Duo looked to Quatre pleadingly. The blond had always been able to steer them through thorny problems, able to guide them across the tight-rope of right and wrong in impossible situations. Quatre's head was lowered, his expression curtained off by his thick golden hair. When he spoke, his voice came slowly, as if he were still thinking years into the future and weighing what he saw there. His hand never stopped its rhythmic stroking of Harry's hair.
"So we have duties to mutually exclusive groups, each of which has innocents in danger from the opposite group." His head tilted up and Duo returned his wry smile, catching on to the blond's thoughts. "Sounds familiar. We struck out against Earth's malefactors in an effort to protect both the innocents of Earth as well as the Colonies. That didn't go so well."
Trowa nodded. "We were most successful as independent agents, fighting for neither group."
"There are similarities, but they are not identical." Wufei shook his head and stopped his pacing to scowl fiercely at the far wall. "That was an open war. This one is not. The world is wholly ignorant of this new threat, and should the public be informed, Commander Une will easily put the pieces together. She will know Harry is magical due to his kidnapping precipitating the attack. Being the only known wizard, the Commander will be forced to use him as her only source to study magic."
Heero made a sound low in his throat, eyes pinned to the unconscious boy in the bed. "I won't allow that," he rasped furiously.
"None of us will," Duo retorted sharply, tugging and twisting his braid fretfully. "If it comes down to that, we can disappear into the Wizarding world."
Trowa and Quatre frowned, and Duo realized that they had more things binding them to this world than the rest of them. They had families, the Winner businesses and charities, and the circus here. It would not be easy for them to cut all ties and exile themselves in the Wizarding world, but they'd do it. For Harry, they'd sacrifice worse, but Duo felt bad for bringing up what his two friends stood to lose.
He rubbed the back of his neck with a strained smile. "Sorry, Cat. I'm sure it won't come to that."
Quatre brushed it off. "Wufei is right. We can't be independent, but maybe we could create a different type of middle ground between the two worlds."
"What do you mean?" Duo asked, head tilted curiously.
"Telling Une is not the same as telling all of the Preventers," Quatre explained. His eyes swept their group. "Telling Relena is not the same as telling the world. We can bind them to secrecy and help them formulate defensive measures against a magical attack. The world in general could be told that it's a normal terrorist group and that officials are doing all they can to prevent future attacks. We can keep Une and Relena apprised of the situation while we work with the magical Ministry and Dumbledore on the offensive to put an end to Voldemort and his Death Eaters."
"They're not going to like that," Duo pointed out. "Une's always believed the best defense is a good offense. That's why she formed the Preventers."
"It doesn't matter if she likes it," Heero stated. He pushed off from the door and came to stand at the edge of the bed.
"She'll boot you from the Preventers," Duo argued, scowling.
Heero shrugged. "I enjoy my job, but Harry's safety comes first. The world cannot become aware of the existence of magic. Otherwise Harry's surviving this war would be pointless."
Duo practically strangled his braid. It wasn't fair! Heero loved his job. It gave him purpose, something Heero had to have or he floundered, and he did good work. He'd saved millions in his position as a Preventer. Duo could think of several missions that would have failed had Heero not been involved. Wufei also enjoyed his work for the Preventers, though he worked only part-time.
"Maybe she'll understand," he offered faintly.
Duo gave a grim chuckle, knowing Quatre didn't believe that for a second.
"So we're agreed?" Wufei spun to face them, hands on hips. "We will bring Black to HQ so that he can bind the girls to secrecy and a vow of defensive maneuvers only."
"Agreed," Heero answered and looked expectantly at Duo.
Duo sighed. "Fine. I can't think of anything better."
Trowa nodded in agreement.
"Now we need only convince Black." Quatre frowned as he realized just how likely it was for Black to agree to let them tell Relena Darlian, President of the Earth, and Commander Une of the Preventers about magic, Voldemort, and Death Eaters.
"Good luck, Cat!" Duo flashed him a thumbs up, grinning sadistically.
"Thanks." The blond huffed and climbed to his feet.
Heero caught his arm, preventing him from leaving. "Did you get any more information out of Black concerning Harry's connection to Voldemort?"
"No. He has no idea what kind of bond it is, though he guesses it occurred when Harry survived Voldemort's Killing Curse. He said such bonds are rare even in the magical world. He thinks an expert Mind Healer will be needed, though he's not certain even a Healer will be able to tell us the full effect this bond has on Harry or how to sever it."
Heero released him, discontent.
"If they are connected, will killing the bastard hurt Harry?" Duo voiced, looking worriedly at their boy.
"As loath as I am to suggest it, Dumbledore might have a better idea, considering his age and skill with magic," Wufei admitted very reluctantly. His sour expression made him look like he'd been sucking on lemons.
"Trowa and I cannot be present when you take Black to HQ," Quatre spoke up, changing the topic, much to Duo's relief. The room was so thick with fury, frustration, and worry that even he could feel it. "Black has warned us that revealing the Wizarding world has severe legal consequences. Due to Trowa and I officially entering the Wizarding world, we could be held responsible, while you three are not yet technically under Wizarding authority."
"Understood." Heero gave a sharp nod. "I planned on taking only Wufei with me."
Duo shrugged, not caring about being left out. "You two are the official agents. So what are our first moves?"
"I'll convince Black of the necessity of making Une and Relena aware of the situation," Quatre began, his voice taking on the cadence of confidence and purpose it always held when he acted as their leader. "Heero, Wufei, and the wizard will make the rendezvous that Une assigned. I will take a taxi to the Leaky Cauldron and go to the Wizarding bank to open an account, and then I will see if I can contact a wizard lawyer to push my lawsuit against Dumbledore through. Trowa will come with me to watch my back, while Duo stays with Harry."
Duo pouted. It was an important job, and he didn't mind staying with Harry, but waiting around was never his strong suit. He was a hyper person and Harry was unconscious so it wasn't like he could play with the kid.
Quatre flashed him a sympathetic look. "It would be helpful if you could write up a letter to Dumbledore, requesting a meeting tomorrow to discuss the recent attack. Remind him that he still owes us all the information he has on Voldemort. We can bring up Harry's connection then if we feel it advantageous."
"Yeah. All right." Duo sighed and slumped against the footboard.
"Let's go. I'll help you talk sense into the wizard." Wufei cracked his knuckles and stalked through the door. Quatre followed with an amused smile.
Then Heero's lips were on his. Duo flung his arms around Heero's shoulders as his lover's tongue stabbed forward. Moaning deep in his throat to egg Heero on, Duo gave as good as he got, lapping and sucking at the appendage pillaging his mouth. He was bent back over the footboard and would have toppled to the floor if it weren't for the grip he had on his lover. His nerves blazed, fear and hunger made him desperate. It'd been a week since they'd really touched. They'd gone longer, but it was never easy.
Heero pulled away, lips wet and swollen as he stared hotly down into Duo's eyes. Duo was still pressed over the footboard, panting and dizzy with lust. For one heart stopping moment, Duo was sure his lover was going to flip him and ravage him. He had no doubt at all that it would be fast and deliciously painful, the kind of sex that put a wide grin on your face and bruised you for a week afterward, but Heero broke their stare and glanced over at their silent witness.
Trowa was looking down at Harry, giving them as much privacy as possible. Duo felt a wide smile split his face. He'd forgotten Trowa was there. He knew Trowa felt a bit uncomfortable witnessing their more amorous moments, though Duo didn't know why. He felt encouraged by watchers, not put off. What could he say? He always did like to show off.
"Be careful," Heero ordered their shy friend, voice rough and deep. It made Duo shiver and his cock ache. He really wished Heero hadn't pulled back. It wasn't the time, but god, it would have felt so damn good.
Trowa glanced up through his bangs. "Always."
Heero nodded. He pulled Duo up, so he was sitting normally and kissed him one more time. Duo closed his eyes and put everything he had into that kiss. It was a promise that no matter what Une decided, Duo was proud of Heero, and that together they would find a way to keep all the things that mattered in their life.
"I love you," Duo whispered so quietly that he was certain Trowa couldn't hear.
Heero flashed a rare grin. It transformed his face, made him look younger and more roguish, before he straightened. He gave a sharp nod to Trowa before striding from the room. Duo sighed and touched his throbbing lips. Trowa smirked, his eyes still on Harry. Duo laughed. Yeah, he knew he had it bad.
xXxXxXx
"Are you crazy?" Sirius demanded, flinging his hands up. He stood in the kitchen, glad for the table that stood between him and the two insane men staring him down. "You can't tell a military agency about the Wizarding world! The Prime Minister will be told by his contact in the Wizarding world and ordered to keep things calm. That's good enough, isn't it?" He had known Chang and Yuy's connection to the Muggle military would eventually be a problem, but hadn't expected to have to deal with it so soon.
"The world has changed since that particular policy has been made!" Chang snapped impatiently. He stood with shoulders back and expression practically screaming his contempt for Sirius. "The Prime Minister does not have the power he used to have. Now all national government leaders act as a World Council led by the President of the Earth. President Darlian will not be appeased by any half-answers or weak, unproved explanations for what happened. Neither will Commander Une. They will have the Prime Minister arrested in a heartbeat for collusion or incompetency, and they will be even more determined to discover the truth. Is that what you want?"
Sirius scowled and crossed his arms defensively. "I will not break the Statute." His determined glare shifted to the blond business man as Winner stepped forward in front of his friend.
"Please consider the lives you will help save by assisting us. If Commander Une understood what she was up against, she could develop more effective strategies to minimize civilian casualties. Muggles, as you call us, cannot defend themselves properly, so you must allow for the government to protect them."
Sirius glared harder against these very persuasive words. "That's for the Wizengamot and the Minister to decide!"
Chang sneered. The expression would have done any Pureblood proud. "Commander Une is a valuable resource for Harry! She commands men and women skilled in combat and has access to weapons and instruments that could prove vital to his future, as well as the future of the magical world! She is an ally it would be dangerous not to utilize."
"I said no!" Sirius snarled. He moved to go around them, but Winner stepped in his path. The young man was an inch or so taller than Sirius and had an aura that commanded respect, which halted Sirius where he stood.
"President Darlian is the only one who could successfully cover for the magical world. These people are still traumatized from the Earth-Space War. This attack on the UK killed thousands. People are going to be terrified. They will demand answers that they can believe, and only President Darlian can provide that. Anyone less will not be able to stop the populace from panicking and causing more harm than good. I am certain that your government will come to see this and make President Darlian aware of the situation, but by then it will be too late."
Sirius felt his conviction waver as Winner met his gaze with frank honesty.
"The government serves an important function, but sometimes citizens who are better informed are required to act," the blond added gently.
Sirius sighed and looked away. "Fine. I'll agree to us informing President Darlian." His eyes snapped back up to the young man just as Winner began to smile gratefully. "But not this Commander person! Nothing you can say will change my mind, and you don't have the power to force me. No military!"
Chang scowled, but Winner nodded thoughtfully. "Very well. I understand your fear."
"Heero is waiting," Chang said before turning on his toe and stalking from the room.
They found Yuy standing at the front door, indeed waiting. Sirius sighed again. Why couldn't Winner come instead of Chang? They wouldn't be seeing that Commander Une person, and the blond was infinitely more pleasant to be around. Or Duo. Either of those two would be fine. Sirius wasn't too proud to admit that Chang and Yuy scared him.
"Good luck," Winner bade them with sincerity.
"Let's go," Yuy ordered before walking out the door without once looking back to see if Sirius followed.
Sirius was gestured forward by a scowling Chang, and his shoulders twitched as the young agent followed close on his heels. It was a very unpleasant sensation, but when he slowed down to allow Chang to pass him to walk alongside his partner, the Chinese agent shoved him forward with a low order to pick up the pace. Sirius obeyed, though his patience with these young men was wearing thin.
"Has anyone ever told you that your attitude is going to cause you a world of pain one day?" he asked with mock-cheerfulness. "I'm not the enemy, you know, but if you keep that up, I just might change my mind." He flashed the arrogant bastard a dangerous, toothy grin.
Chang's dark eyes darted over Sirius' shoulder, presumably getting a cue from Yuy, and his thunderous expression blanked into something more resembling neutral. Like someone had cast a spell, the change happened in the blink of an eye. "I apologize. Please do not delay. Time is critical at the moment."
Sirius shivered. These men were so intense. It really was disturbing. He turned around and faced front, practically jogging after Yuy to a small Honda that was parked down the block. Sirius gratefully climbed into the back, pleased he would be out of their line of sight. He leaned his head back as the car pulled away from the curb and closed his eyes.
These past few years hadn't been easy. Hell, the last decade hasn't been easy, and it didn't look to be getting any better anytime soon. Depression washed over him as he flashed to that morning's breakfast. Harry had looked just like James had at that age, just with longer hair, but his eyes were all Lily's. That vivid green was unforgettable. It had pierced Sirius through the heart when Harry had looked at him with that mistrustful, cold expression. His Harry, his little pup, wanted nothing to do with him. Had contacting his family meant so little to the boy? What did Sirius have to do to be forgiven?
His nails bit into his palms as he fought back weak tears. His emotions were still unstable after all that time in Azkaban prison. The soul-eating guards had wrecked him in more ways than could be seen on his still gaunt body. He was well acquainted with the lingering symptoms he suffered and knew how best to mitigate that damage. Very deliberately, Sirius forced his thoughts on the positives side of the situation.
Harry was safe. He was healthy. He had a strong family guarding him. Sirius could work with that. He couldn't just expect Harry to fall into his arms. They were strangers. In time, Sirius would win his trust. After failing Harry all those years ago, that was more than Sirius deserved, really. He would prove himself again and again until he earned a place in his pup's life and heart. Sirius was a Gryffindor. He wouldn't give up on Harry. Never!
"We're here," Yuy announced, bringing Sirius out of his fierce pep talk.
He lifted his head and blinked his eyes rapidly to clear them. His mouth almost fell open as he caught sight of the massive, gleaming skyscraper that they had illegally parked in front of. Suddenly, he realized they were going to see the President of the Earth, and he wore scuffed black boots, worn jeans, and a wrinkled button-down. His wand was strapped to an invisible holster on his forearm, but other than that he carried nothing with him. He hadn't even brushed his hair! A quick glance at his two companions waiting for him outside the car revealed they wore casual attire as well. Chang looked the most presentable. His silk shirt and black slacks had not a single wrinkle, and his hair was pulled neatly back into a tight low ponytail.
"Hurry up," Chang snapped as Sirius delayed in the back seat.
"One second," he muttered, irritated.
He quickly cast freshening charms on his shirt, transformed his jeans into black slacks, and conjured a hair tie. Finger-combing his hair, he hastily pulled it up into a ponytail centered on the back of his head. Finished with his hasty grooming, he holstered his wand and escaped the increasingly warm vehicle.
Yuy stood impassive, unbothered by his delay, but Chang's neutral expression cracked as he glared suspiciously at his pants. Sirius flashed him a smug smirk. He even went so far as to wink at the uptight man. Maybe Chang wasn't so bad. You just had to have the right attitude to deal with him.
Cool air washed over them as they stepped inside the modern, Muggle building. Sirius was familiar with the Muggle world, having gone Muggle since he'd fled the Wizarding world nearly three years ago, but he'd never seen anything like this. Marble floors, mosaic ceiling, steel framed windows that stood two stories tall, exotic plants that sat in corners, and clusters of chairs that were positioned around expensive coffee tables laden with cookies and magazines… This place rivaled the lobby for the Ministry of Magic.
His attention was soon captured by the lovely woman manning a state of the art computer at an elegant desk at the back of the room. The redhead's blouse was cut just low enough to tease, but not enough to be unprofessional. Sirius was looking forward to talking with her and had a charming smile already in place only to be disappointed when Chang and Yuy walked past her without any form of greeting.
The two agents ignored her 'good afternoon' and walked toward a set of four elevators that faced each other behind the woman's station. Sirius met the redhead's eyes and she smiled back at him, not at all disturbed or surprised by Chang and Yuy's rude behavior. Sirius gave her a wink and felt a thrill of pleasure as the woman blushed and lowered her eyes flirtatiously.
"Black!"
Sirius hurried after the impatient agents and stepped into the waiting elevator. "So where are we?"
"Preventer headquarters," Yuy answered.
Sirius spun to face him, fury igniting in his veins. "What! I told you, I will not allow you to reveal…!" The lights flickered as his magic aura spiked and disrupted the electric systems.
Chang cut him a suppressive look. "Control yourself. The President resides here at the moment. I assure you we are going to her chambers and not to the Commander."
Sirius subsided, muttering under his breath about arrogant pricks who didn't explain things very well. He wasn't a fool. He understood that being here increased the chance of these men devising a way to get word to their Commander. It also increased the chance that he would be manipulated or coerced into changing his stance. He scowled, but his temper didn't linger. The elevator ride was taking forever. He glanced at the buttons and all but gaped at seeing there were fifty-four floors. The fiftieth floor was the one highlighted. No wonder it was taking so long!
Finally they reached their destination. The doors opened and they stepped out of the elevator niche onto plush, maroon carpet. Cream paisley wallpaper and a long, massive water painting of a lush forest adorned the walls. Another desk and lovely secretary was positioned discretely beside a gilded door. The brunette flashed a perfect smile.
"May I help you?"
"Agent Yuy and Chang to see President Darlian. It's an emergency," Yuy announced.
"Of course, sir." She gently tossed her thick, wavy hair over her shoulder and batted her long lashes at Sirius. "And who is your guest?"
"None of your concern."
The chill in Yuy's voice literally made the woman shiver. Her back straightened and she immediately typed something on her computer, all business. Sirius stared reproachfully at Yuy, but the agent's midnight eyes stared back unaffected.
"The President will see you now. Please step on through."
"Thank you," Sirius spoke up, knowing now that these two weren't going to bother with manners.
Her beautiful smile peeked out once more. "You're welcome."
Yuy and Chang had already disappeared past the door and Sirius had to lunge to catch it before it shut. He'd seen the massive steel locks the door possessed and didn't want to risk it locking before he could get through. Stepping through the door was like stepping into someone's townhouse. A butler stood with Yuy and Chang in what looked to be a foyer. A closet stood closed on the right, for coats and hats, Sirius guessed, and a sitting room to the right, for when the President wanted people to cool their heels.
The butler did not make use of this room. Instead he offered a deep bow and turned to lead them further into the President's residence. He never spoke a word. Sirius felt himself react to the formal greeting. The rules of etiquette drilled into him by his Pureblood family came flooding back. He stood with shoulders back, his stride easy, his chin slightly up.
When they stepped into a formal receiving room, Sirius put his heels together and gave a bow, right hand resting on his stomach, left out stretched toward her as was proper. He did not go down on bended knee. This was not his President. When he glanced up after the appropriate moment of obeisance, he saw an attractive young woman with long dark blond hair and wide blue eyes. She wore a white business suit made of exquisite material and obviously tailored to her perfectly. She wore little make-up or jewelry – only a platinum necklace with a large pearl pendant and a matching signet ring inset with two modest diamonds. He had not expected a woman, let alone a young and attractive woman, and he definitely hadn't expected a woman who clearly liked pink. The luxurious room had been done in various shades of pink, from a pastel pink sofa to deep rose curtains and every shade in between.
"Heero! Wufei!" The young woman moved across the room to pull Yuy into an embrace that he returned stiffly. Chang offered a quick bow when her brilliant smile fell upon him.
Her eyes briefly ran over Sirius, who now stood at casual attention. He shivered. She seemed to measure his soul with just a look, and he released a breath when she offered a kind smile before she turned back to the other two. Her obvious joy at seeing them dimmed to be replaced by sadness.
"What have you discovered about the attack? What happened out there?"
Sirius winced under that compelling sorrowful look, and he wasn't the one it was aimed at. This woman was really something else.
"What I have to report is of the utmost secrecy, Relena," Yuy answered her gravely. He didn't seem affected by her look or the petite hand she had resting on his arm. "I must ask that we retreat to your bedroom where there are no recording devices."
Sirius' eyes widened in shock at that suggestion. "We don't have to do that! I can take care of it!" To think Yuy thought it okay to order an unmarried President to take him to her bedroom!
Chang shot him a venomous glare. "We have no proof that your… ability to disrupt the many devices in this room will be a complete success. It is partly due to your insistence that our report must be kept highly classified."
Sirius scowled back. "I assure you, Chang, that I am one hundred percent confident in my ability to keep our discussion private within this chamber. We have no need to invade her bedroom."
Chang flushed and Sirius felt a surge of victory at the successful hit. The Asian cast Heero a pointed look, conveniently allowing him to look away from Sirius' triumphant smirk.
"What is this about, Heero? You know everything said within these chambers is for my records alone." President Relena pinned Yuy with a rather remarkably steady look. "You are safe to tell me what you know."
"This conversation can't go into your records. When I say no one else can know what I have to report, I mean no one," Heero told her bluntly. The way these two stared each other down was very uncomfortable to witness. It was as if some subtle battle or intimate communication was taking place. "Sit down. This will take a while." He turned to look at his partner. "Confirm our privacy from outside."
Chang nodded and slipped from the room without a word.
Yuy's eyes landed heavily on Sirius. "Do what you need to do."
Sirius nodded and took out his wand. First, he cast an anti-Muggle ward on the door to prevent someone from walking in – except for Chang, since he was a Squib. Then he put up a privacy ward around the room. It should keep people's attention off the room and those inside. Last, he added silencing charms to the walls, floor, and ceiling. All this took a good ten minutes, and he kept half of his attention on the conversation happing behind him.
"Did you find Harry?"
"Yes. We got him back last night."
"Is he all right? Was he hurt?"
"He's a little shaken up."
"Have you told the others?"
"No."
A long pause. "Why didn't you tell us immediately? We've been worried sick, Heero!"
"You'll understand everything in a moment."
Then there was silence. That unnamed tension had returned, only now redoubled. When Sirius finished, he found the President sitting in a thickly cushioned armchair as if it were her throne. She stared at Yuy with a steely, unrelenting look. Yuy seemed unperturbed. His gaze wandered around the room lazily, fastening on Sirius when he turned around.
"We're good," Sirius offered with a grin.
Heero immediately turned his attention back to the President.
xXxXxXx
Harry opened his eyes to the sound of Duo cackling somewhere nearby. He blinked a few times until a maroon ceiling came into focus. Daylight flooded the room and he had to shield his eyes as he turned his head toward his brother. Dull pain throbbed within his skull, but he'd felt worse. Squinting, he made out Duo hunched over something on the desk, his arm moving as if he were writing something.
"You planning a prank on Wufei?" he asked, voice coming out a raspy croak.
Duo spun around, his braid sweeping loose paper off the desk. "Harry!"
Harry winced. "Not so loud."
"Sorry." Duo crawled onto the bed and sat on his heels, his palms pressed into the mattress. "How're you feeling?"
"Head hurts," he admitted. "Thirsty."
Duo leaned way over to reach the nightstand and the glass of water waiting there. Harry sat up slowly, frowning down at his arms that shook underneath him. Once he was propped up by the headboard, he carefully took the glass into his hand and sipped at it. His tongue felt like leather, his throat like gravel. He remembered being rescued, remembered most of the day, but things got fuzzy at the end. He certainly didn't remember what had knocked him out. Had the wizard attacked him? No, couldn't be. He wouldn't still be in this house had that happened.
"Where is everyone? What happened?"
Duo peered at him through sharp violet eyes. "You don't remember?" he asked seriously.
Harry frowned. He felt light, like he was floating. He could feel something dark and scary waiting. He could seize it if he reached, but did he want to? He stared down at the glass of water, almost absentmindedly watching the tremors ripple the surface as his hand began to shake. "I don't want to. I really don't."
Duo's large warm hands took the glass from him and pulled him into a hug made awkward by the way they were sitting. "It's going to be all right, Harry. We're going to work this out, I promise you."
"It doesn't feel that way," he admitted in a small voice, forehead pressed against his brother's collar bone.
"It didn't feel that way when we adopted you, but it worked out just like we promised. So will this."
Harry smiled, closed his eyes, and remembered. Tears pooled under his lids before spilling down his cheeks. "It was terrible, Duo. I was in his head. I was looking out his eyes. I felt like I was him… It made him so happy and excited to kill all those people. To destroy the airport. He melted a plane with this fire… It was like something out of hell. I could smell the people cooking..."
Duo's arms tightened around him, cutting off his words. "There are really bad guys out there, Harry. He's just another one of them, and we're going to stop him just like we've stopped all the others." He pushed Harry back and stared intently into his eyes. "You believe me?"
Harry took a deep breath and nodded. He did believe him. His brothers had never lied to him before, and they had never lost when it really mattered. He had faith that they'd win this time, too. No matter how scary the enemy was. He wiped at his face and sniffed. "Yeah," he said roughly. "Yeah, I believe you. We're going to kick his ass."
Duo's answering smile was full of pride. "Damn right." He kissed Harry's damp cheek and ruffled his hair. "And you're still the bravest kid I've ever met."
Harry flushed under the praise, his chest feeling tight. He flung his arms around Duo in a quick, fierce hug before pulling back. "So where are the others?"
Duo gave him a sly grin. "Kicking ass and taking names, of course!" He burst into laughter that Harry couldn't help but join in. "Come help me write this letter to Dumbfuck. We've got a message to send."
An evil grin bloomed across Harry's face, a perfect match to Duo's. "Let me see what you've got so far."
His brother fetched the parchment he'd been working on and climbed back into the bed. They sat, heads bent together, and wrote Albus Dumbledore a letter.
xXxXxXx
After listening for nearly twenty-five minutes, Relena still struggled to believe what she was hearing. However, the shaggy dog that had its front paws on her lap and demanded to be scratched behind its ears was pretty hard to deny. And, yeah, okay, she could kind of believe in magic. It seemed reasonable, in an impossible way, but the fact that a whole society could remain hidden… that she found hard to believe.
"What did you do during the Earth-Space war? When the planet was almost annihilated?"
The big, black dog got down off her lap and trotted a few feet away before changing back into a human man, the wizard, Sirius Black. He rubbed the back of his neck like a sheepish kid, his blue eyes cast downward. "Well, to be honest, we didn't really know much about it. Like I said, we're pretty completely isolated from Muggles and their news. Not to mention we were busy picking up the pieces after our own Armageddon. From what I understand, it had only been four years since the fall of the Dark Lord when the Gundams landed on Earth and your war came to a conclusion only a year or two later. Because it was such a short war, a lot of wizards and witches didn't know about the danger to Earth until after it was all settled."
Relena stared at him in utter disbelief. The war had devastated every single life on the planet and touched everyone living on a colony. She had yet to meet a single family who hadn't lost a member to the war. Seeing someone stand there in front of her, shrugging sheepishly in response to that horrific time, was surreal. "It didn't make much of an impact?"
"That time made a huge impact, don't get me wrong. We have a division in the Ministry now that will keep up on Muggle news from now on, so that if it ever came down to a threat against the planet again, we can step in." Black sighed in obvious frustration. He looked to Heero for help, but Heero stood stoic as ever and let the wizard fend for himself. "You have to understand. We were a bit preoccupied at the time. As bad as your war was, ours was just as bad for us. I don't know why, exactly, but there's this law called the Law of Resonance. It states that our worlds mirror each other, for some reason. Throughout our history, since the Great Separation, our wars seem to parallel each other. A Dark Lord seems to rise around the same time as Muggle wars or enormous natural catastrophes break out. The war against the Dark Lord before Voldemort coincided with the last Muggle World War."
Relena narrowed her eyes at him. If what he was saying were true, this Voldemort character had attacked the magical world during the rise of the tyrannical Federation that led up to the Gundams falling to earth. The magical war was probably supposed to continue as the war on Earth grew to involve Space, but it had been cut short somehow. Now the Voldemort was back, ready to finish the job he'd started. "Are you saying that these Dark Lords are somehow causing the… Muggle world to erupt into wars?"
"Or the other way around. Maybe the building violence in the Muggle world somehow gives rise to a Dark Lord." Black shrugged yet again. "I never really paid much attention to my theory classes. I didn't understand it when it was being taught. I just know there is a connection."
"So now that Voldemort is back, another war might break out?" Relena was horrified. She looked to Heero with wide eyes. Heero was frowning fiercely at Black, as if he too wanted an answer.
"Well, no, not necessarily." Black shifted back and forth on his feet, looking uncomfortable under their combined stares. "I mean, kind of. Voldemort attacked the Muggle world, so maybe this war is one that we'll share."
"If that's the case, we need to talk to Commander Une," Relena announced resolutely. When Black looked about to argue, she stood quickly and met him head on. "We have to prepare, Mr. Black. I will not have any more death or killing. We're finally moving toward peace. For the first time in history, every country on the planet has agreed to an official policy of pacifism. I will not have that ruined because of a magical terrorist with delusions of grandeur! These are my people! They are just beginning to recover from the loss of loved ones and family, getting new jobs, and rebuilding their lives. I will not have that sabotaged for any reason." Her tone softened at seeing the genuine distress in the man's eyes. "I understand your concern for your people. It is a legitimate concern, and I assure you I am just as concerned for their safety. You fear the world's reaction to magic. How do you think they will react if they find out they could have been protected, but the magical law of secrecy denied them security? What do you think they will do when more people start dying? I assure you that is not the way to begin relations with a new people."
Black nearly cowered away from her. "But…"
"We will handle this delicately," Relena assured him. "We will inform Commander Une. She will be present during any meetings involving myself and the Prime Minister. When terrorists are involved, it becomes her jurisdiction, so I am sure I can arrange local army and law enforcement to be placed under Preventer control. Together, with the magical community's input, we will handle information disbursement to the public, as well as marshal what defenses we can. If I have learned anything from my experiences from the last war, it is that we must work together if we are to succeed. We are not the enemy, Mr. Black. We share the same planet, we have the same needs, and both of our people desire a peaceful resolution. I'm certain the only way to reach that end is by working together."
Relena was used to the star-struck look people gave her when she stated her views, but she flushed a bit under Heero's amused stare. She lifted her chin and returned her attention to the wizard in front of her. "Shall we go, Mr. Black?"
"Can you really guarantee that the magical world will be safe?" he asked subdued, clearly overwhelmed. "I don't want some military group trying to capture witches and wizards for experimentation or pushing to have us all wiped all out."
"Yes. Only the Commander will be informed," Relena promised. She didn't want that to happen, either.
"I would not let it come to that," Heero suddenly spoke up. He stared intently at Black, honesty clear in his voice. "I will not allow anything that would put Harry in danger."
Relena nodded in total agreement. "Let's get this over with." She strode toward the door, but stopped halfway across the room when she realized she had veered in the direction of the window instead. She turned around, confused, to see Black blushing hotly.
"Sorry about that, Miss President. Let me take down the wards."
She gave him a brisk nod. "Please."
The wizard went to the door and began muttering, waving his wand in interesting patterns. She watched for a few seconds before turning her attention to the man standing at her shoulder. "You were counting on me to convince him," she stated without doubt. "I'm surprised Quatre couldn't do it."
Cobalt blue eyes slid in her direction. "Black's a bit skittish."
"I've noticed. Is he well?" She frowned at the man's skinny back.
"Apparently he suffered some severe emotional trauma that he's still recovering from. The stress of the last few days hasn't been good for him."
Relena's frown deepened into worry. She knew better than to protest the boys putting so much stress on the obviously fragile man. Heero would do what he felt was necessary regardless of the cost to himself or others. War did that to people. It was like a disease and no one was immune. She had sincerely hoped that the new generation wouldn't have to endure such a terrible experience, but it seemed her hopes were in vain. War again sat on the horizon, threatening them all.
"Don't." Heero's voice, low and quiet, washed over her. "We will stop this. The future can be saved."
Relena opened her eyes and stared at the man who had so influenced her life. It was Heero who had given her strength, who had set the example. It was he who taught her to never give up, to never stop working to make her dream a reality. She wouldn't disappoint him now. He wasn't ready to quit, and neither was she.
Black cleared his throat. "It's down now. We can go."
"Thank you." She strode forward and this time managed to stay on course. Wufei was waiting at the end of the hall. He fell into step beside her just as she heard Black's whisper from behind.
"So, ah, are you two together? You're not married are you?"
Relena almost burst out laughing and had to bite her lip to keep it inside. A glance at Wufei revealed he was just as amused. She admitted that she shared a strange connection to Heero. It was intellectual, spiritual maybe, but it wasn't sexual. The only one who had ever evoked a sexual response in Heero was Duo. It was amazing that Heero felt such things at all after the extensive training he had undergone as a child. But Duo had succeeded in reaching through to Heero, and that meant all that pent up passion was directed at one person and one person only. Duo was probably the only one in the whole world who could handle Heero. After seeing those two together, it was laughable to think either could be with anyone else. They were made for each other.
"No. We are not married," came Heero's eventual response.
Relena snorted. Marriage. Not even Duo could talk Heero into that one. When Trowa and Quatre had married, Duo had broached the topic to Heero. She just had happened to overhear his answer. "I do not need society's acknowledgement to hold us together. We can do this on our own." Typical Heero. He hated accepting help and hated attention from the general populace. He had always worked happiest alone, until the other pilots, until Harry. Then Heero became an 'Us'. He started using 'We' and 'Our' more often than 'I', but he still shied away from joining the community as a whole. Heero was still fiercely independent.
Such thoughts amused her and distracted her from thinking about the frightening information she'd just been given. Heero distracted her well enough all the way to Une's office, where they were informed the Commander was waiting for them in one of the adjacent conference rooms. That meant she had known they were coming. She must have been informed when Heero and Wufei had entered the building. In that case, she was going to be mighty frustrated that her agents hadn't checked in with her first before seeing Relena. By her estimation, the boys had arrived nearly forty minutes ago.
Heero and Wufei led the way without showing unease. Their strides were smooth, their expressions calm. Black, however, wasn't as sanguine. He was pale and his expression was too blank. She could see sweat dewing his forehead and upper lip. His hands were shoved in his pockets. That wasn't going to do him any favors. Une would think he was concealing a weapon there.
Relena put a gentle hand on the wizard's arm. He looked down at her, and she could see turmoil in his eyes. She felt terrible for forcing him into doing this. He clearly wasn't all right with talking to Une. She slowed her steps, allowing Wufei and Heero to enter before them. It would be wise to let the two agents take the brunt of Une's temper before Black stepped onto the scene.
"It's going to be all right, Mr. Black…"
"Sirius." She gave him a curious look, and a charming smile broke across his tense face. "I'd love for you to call me by name, Miss President."
"Sirius," she returned, smiling back. There really was a sweet aura around him, just as when he was in his dog form. "I have a feeling things will work out."
Covering her hand with his, he ducked his head. "I hope you're right."
She squeezed his arm softly in reassurance before letting him go and stepping into the conference room. Sirius followed her in. They both froze in shock. Four uniformed Preventer soldiers were on the floor unconscious, arms handcuffed behind them, at the feet of Wufei. A pile of pistols and other such equipment had been placed on the table, obviously taken off the downed agents. Relena's mouth literally fell open as she stared wide-eyed at Heero who stood with a gun pointed at the Commander.
Une stood at the foot of the table, an athletic woman in her late thirties. The grey streaks through her brown hair made her seem more formidable, as did the red in her cheeks that had nothing to do with embarrassment or pleasure. She was furious.
"Black, take care of the room and make sure these four don't wake up," Heero ordered, never taking his eyes off Une.
The Commander made a sound like the hissing of a cat. "You're going to have this murderer kill your fellow officers right in front of me, Yuy?"
Relena looked at Black in alarm, but the wizard seemed horrified by the accusation.
"No! He means to make them sleep!" Black glared at Heero, clearly blaming him for the misunderstanding. "I'm not who you think I am."
Une gave him a cold smile. "Don't be so sure. I have good agents, Mr. Black, and your face was recognized by our databanks minutes after you walked through the front doors. You are Sirius Black, escaped convict, mass murderer. You bombed a London square and killed twelve people."
"I didn't!" Black's face visibly paled at the list. "I was framed!"
Relena moved forward and sat stiffly in one of the chairs at the large, round table and folded her hands in front of her. "Clearly there are some misunderstandings to clear up. I must ask you to remain calm and hear us out before acting, Commander Une. There is no need for violence ."
Heero gestured at the walls. "Mr. Black, if you would?"
Sirius nodded and took out his wand. He began the same muttering that he'd done in her sitting room. Relena looked back at Une, who was looking at her agents as if she didn't know them. Wufei met his Commander's gaze confidently, his hands clasped at the small of his back. Heero stood at his partner's side, arms loose and ready. He also looked unconcerned with his superior's wrath.
"What's going on?" Une pressed her hands to the table and leaned over them toward the boys.
Heero was the one to answer. "While retrieving Harry, my team and I made contact with an underground community in hiding from the rest of the world. A terrorist group connected to this community was at fault for today's attack. Due to the highly sensitive nature of the situation, I must ask you to submit to an oath of secrecy before I can reveal any more information than that."
"An oath?" Une asked archly, disbelief ringing clear in her tone. "On whose authority is this information classified?" Her eyes snapped to Relena.
"Mine." Relena held her gaze levelly, willing to let Une believe all this was her doing for now. "If you do not submit to the oath, then you will have to work with me as the intermediary between Agent Yuy and yourself during the course of this mission. I would ask that you take the oath so that this doesn't become necessary."
Une stared around at them for several seconds before pulling out a seat and sitting. She crossed her arms and folded her hands in her lap. "What would this oath require of me?"
Sirius, who had finished spelling the room and the unconscious soldiers, stepped up to the table. "You must swear not to speak of what you are about to be told to anyone who does not already know and that you will not use this information for personal gain."
Une's sharp eyes snapped to the wizard, making him tense and hold still. "I don't make deals with criminals."
"Then make it with me," Relena butted in, temper rising. "As your President, I require it of you."
Une glared, but finally inclined her head. "I agree to the oath."
"I need to be sure." Sirius edged around the table toward the boys. "I need you to repeat the oath word for word, please."
Relena watched as his wand subtly pointed at Une from his hip. She could see the tip moving in a small perfect circle. If she hadn't been looking for it, she would never have noticed. But Une was different. She was a soldier. She noticed the wand and its movement, but she brushed it off as non-threatening for the moment. She trusted the boys that much, at least.
"I swear not to reveal the information about to be told to me to anyone who is not already aware. I swear not to use this information for my own gain," Une repeated dutifully. "Now what is this about?"
Wufei's lips stretched into a wry smile. "Do you believe in magic, Commander?"
Relena had to look down at the gob smacked expression on Une's face as Sirius transformed into a dog. He gave a loud bark and came trotting back to Relena, tail wagging. She felt weird petting the dog, knowing it was really a man, but she couldn't help it. "Cheater," she whispered to the wizard.
Sirius had made a very timely escape, removing himself from Une's sights. The Commander, already over her shock, was grilling the two boys relentlessly. Wufei and Heero told her everything they had already told Relena, and her amusement disappeared. There wasn't anything humorous about the situation. They were on the brink of yet another war. The first strike had already been made.
Sirius-the-dog whined and put a paw on her lap. Relena scratched behind his ears, wishing there was time to be enchanted by the fact magic was real. It was, well, magical. Who hadn't grown up wishing it really existed? To learn of it now, in such horrible circumstances, seemed so cruel. Then again, if it weren't for the current tragedy, she would never have been told at all. That seemed crueler still.
"I'm glad to have met you," she admitted softly and smiled when the dog's ears perked up. A wet, pink tongue licked at her fingers. Relena sighed and turned her attention to the conversation at hand, still petting the dog softly.
"I can't believe it," Une muttered, glaring at the black dog. "The airports, the spaceport, they were destroyed with magic?"
"Yes," Heero stated simply.
Sirius turned back into a man, standing right next to Relena's chair. "But we aren't a threat. These terrorists do not represent the majority of our population."
Une said nothing to that claim. She didn't have to. Her doubt was written all over her face.
"Just because a people possess different abilities does not mean they should be persecuted," Relena said sharply. "Should we lock up all with athletic gifts? Everyone with good aim or has a mind for chemistry? These are law abiding citizens and we will treat them with the respect and consideration they deserve. That is my stance as President of Earth."
Une regarded her solemnly from across the table. "Yes, President. I understand."
Relena inclined her head. "I'll schedule a meeting with the Prime Minister tomorrow. Once there, I will request that he contact the Ministry of Magic through official channels."
"Chang and Yuy will stay and help me with preliminary strategies to protect the populace from another… magical attack. We will have something to work with by the meeting. Hopefully the… magical official will tell us what type of things to expect."
Relena nodded and stood. "Then I believe we are done here."
"Agent Chang will stay. Black and I need to return to base," Heero spoke up.
"Oh, no. You and this wizard are staying right here," Une argued.
"No," Heero argued, making Relena's eyes go wide. "We are not. You have Chang. His skill with strategy of this nature surpasses mine. I must return with Black. We are working on a more offensive angle to stopping this terrorist."
"What angle?" Une's furious expression was back.
"I will keep you informed," Heero promised her. "So far we haven't made any solid plans. We have a lead. Once we follow it, we'll know better how to proceed."
"It might be best if we let them work semi-independently so that we can honestly claim their actions do not represent us," Relena offered. Une's glare became a more thoughtful one. "I'm sure they have ways of making you tell the truth. If he goes now and only tells you things after the fact, you can honestly tell anyone who asks that we did not authorize him to act."
"Fine. Go." She jabbed her finger at Wufei. "You're staying with me."
"Understood," the agent said, submitting easily.
Relena lifted her eyebrow at that. Wufei was not submissive by nature. That meant he was exactly where he wanted to be. She shot Heero a curious look as they left the conference room. She hardly even noticed Sirius walking at her side. All her attention was on her old friend. Was Heero planting a spy on Une? Was Une's fear that the boys had shifted their loyalties legitimate?
"Thank you," Heero said as they stepped into the elevator.
Relena held his eyes. "Just make sure I don't regret it."
Chapter end.
A/N: So, the responses to the vote involving Wufei Chang were much more complex.
9 votes for Wufei remaining single.
17 votes that he gets paired with a male. 9 votes for Charlie Weasley. 4 votes each for Sirius Black, Zechs, Bill Weasley, and Harry Potter. 3 votes for a threesome with Duo and Heero. 2 votes each for Severus Snape and Percy Weasley. 1 vote each for Kingsley Shacklebolt and Fenrir Greyback.
22 votes that he gets paired with a female. 9 votes for Nymphadora Tonks. 5 votes for Sally Po. 4 votes for Catherine (Cathy) Bloom. 1 vote each for Hermione Granger, Charity Burbage, and Hilde.
However, there seems to be some confusion as to character ages in this story. I thought I'd put that here. They are:
Gundam Characters: Commander Une – 38 yrs, Sally P. – 33 yrs, Catherine B. – 28 yrs, Wufei – 24 yrs, Relena Darlian – 23 yrs, Duo/Quatre/Trowa – 23 yrs, Heero – 22 yrs
Wizards: Albus D. – 113 yrs, Severus S./Remus L./Sirius B. – 35 yrs, Bill W. – 23 yrs, Charlie W. – 21 yrs, Percy W. – 18 yrs, Fred and George W. – 16 yrs, Ron W. – 14 yrs, Harry P./Draco M. – 13 yrs
Witches: Minerva M. – 70 yrs, N. Tonks – 21 yrs, Hermione G. – 14 yrs, Ginny W. – 12 yrs
So! After thinking about all the good points made, I think Wufei needs to be with a female witch. It will give the pilots another attachment to the Wizarding world, and it will also give them another wand on their side during the war that they can trust completely. I want to make it clear that he will not fall in love quickly. It will be a logical progression that I promise to write believably!
! VOTE !
I need your help one more time before I close this issue and deliver it to my muses. 22 reviewers said an OC would be okay. 16 asked for there not to be an OC love interest. If I promise that the OC would be a believable part of the story, like an older sister of a Hogwarts student or an Auror from a recognizable Wizarding family, would an OC be okay? If you still think an OC is a bad idea, which Harry Potter witch can you see best with Wufei down the road?
Thank you all so very much! I am having a lot of fun writing this story!