A/N: Slash warning for the end of the chapter. M for Mature.
Encounters
A young Auror came pelting down the corridor, his grey robes flapping behind him. Conversations in the Auror Department quieted in a hush of anticipation as the young man ran straight to the Head Auror's door and banged on it with a fist. Head Auror, Captain Scrimgeour opened it and glared out at the young man with gold-colored eyes.
"What is it, Auror?"
"Sir, I have a report from the Department of Mysteries," he gasped out. "Their ward network found something!"
Scrimgeour pulled the young man in and slammed the door, much to the disappointment of the eavesdropping department. The messenger swallowed as the Department Head of Magical Law Enforcement, Amelia Bones, stared at him with steady grey eyes. She was responsible for not only the Aurors, but oversaw Improper Use of Magic, Misuse of Muggle Artifacts, the Hit Wizards, the Obliviators, and last but not least the Ministry's and the Minister's security.
The Auror swallowed hard. He'd never had to speak in Commander Bones' presence before. The formidable woman stood by the strategy table where glowing three-dimensional maps spun and shifted over the wooden surface.
"What's the word, Auror Stackhouse?" Scrimgeour demanded impatiently.
"The Muggles pinged Sirius Black, Captain." He thrust a short parchment with an address at his leader.
Scrimgeour took it from him and brought it to Bones. She took a look at the address before nodding. "Get Junior Auror Tonks. She's an expert at impersonating Muggle authority." The Auror bowed quickly before rushing out of the room to do as ordered. Bones looked at her second. "Go with her, Rufus. The last thing we need right now is Black making a move. Everyone's scared shitless as it is."
Scrimgeour flashed a bloodthirsty smile. With his dark blonde hair standing out around his head, his golden eyes and muscular build, he looked like a lion in human garb. "I'll take care of it, Commander."
Bones nodded and returned her attention to the maps.
xXxXxXx
Wufei stared out the large glass windows at the twinkling lights of London. True night had fallen, and he felt exhausted. It had been an incredibly long day. Harry had woken up, clearly effected by his ordeal, and had suffered that vision. The UK had been attacked, thousands had died, and they had revealed the millennia-old secret of magic to Darlian and Une.
Une sat behind her desk. Her dark eyes were unfocused, her thoughts clearly far away. Wufei stood at attention across from her. He'd been forced to recount their story once more from Harry's abduction to this morning. His mouth was dry, and he wanted more than anything to sit and rest somewhere. He hadn't quite come to terms with everything that had happened, either.
Magic… it turned his well-ordered world upside down. He'd spent his life studying and understanding the universe, and he'd just been told that he'd never had all the pieces to the puzzle. Worse, this incredible, illogical force was not benign. It had attacked them, attacked the world they had nearly died to protect, and it continued to threaten Harry. He could sympathize with Une's anger and frustration. He could even sympathize with her fear, but he was never one to be cowed by the unknown. He was a scholar as much as a soldier. He would untangle the mystery until he understood it as well as he understood physics.
The intercom beeped. "Commander Une, your next appointment is here. I've sent them back to see you," the secretary announced, voice breathier than normal.
Une scowled at the device. "I have no appointments this evening, Miranda."
Strangely, the girl on the other end didn't respond.
Wufei moved to the door and put his back to the wall next to it. He pulled his pistol. It was a severe breach of protocol for Miranda to send anyone back without first seeking the go-ahead from Une. It was also suspicious that Miranda and Une disagreed about the Commander's schedule. Une was on her feet, ready to fall under her bulletproof desk. Wufei gave her a nod to say he was ready, just as the door swung inward, further blocking him from sight. He heard two sets of footsteps and the swish of fabric as the individuals walked forward.
They wore suits, the generic kind that agents in law enforcement seemed to favor, but Wufei's trained eyes could see no tell-tale bulges or folds that indicated concealed guns. One interloper was a middle-aged male, tall and muscular; the second was a nondescript female. She was of average height and build with brown hair and tan skin.
"Good evening, Commander Une," the man spoke, voice deep and carrying a local British accent. "I am Agent Scrimgeour. I was told you may possibly know the location of Sirius Black."
Wufei pulled a second gun from his lower back and shut the door behind them with his foot. The click of the door shutting had the two spinning to find a gun pointed at each of their chests. "Don't move."
The woman's eyes widened in surprise, but the man had stiffened, his hand unconsciously going to his forearm where Wufei suspected his wand lay.
"Don't," Wufei commanded again, staring into the man's burning gaze.
"Who are you?" Une demanded, staying behind her desk.
The woman looked over her shoulder at Une. "We're the agents in charge of the Black case."
"From which agency?" Une pressed.
"We're a task force assembled by the Prime Minister," the man growled. "Put down your weapon or I'll be forced to report you."
Wufei sneered, unimpressed, and kept his gun aimed forward. He moved to the side, around the pair, and put his back to Une, so that they could all be facing each other. He did not lower his weapons. Neither his guns nor his eyes wavered a millimeter as he moved into position.
"We have a meeting with the Prime Minister scheduled tomorrow," Une informed them. "We'll verify your credentials, then. Until that time, I'm afraid I cannot give you any information."
The man regarded them silently for a moment. "Black is an extremely dangerous criminal, ma'am. My team has had special training, without which you put your people at risk by dealing with him."
Une stood resolute. "I am confident of my agents' skill. We have the Black situation under control."
"Black does not fall under your jurisdiction," the man warned.
"I will not pass information or prisoners into the custody of anyone lacking identification or credentials."
"I have both," the man argued. His hand moved to the inside of his jacket.
BANG!
The woman dropped into a crouch, her wand in hand, as the man dove to the side. He pushed off the wall and came at Wufei with a chop toward his wrist. Wufei brought his other hand forward in a fast strike, beating the man's reaching hand off with the butt of his second gun. Wufei spun in a tight circle and used the momentum to land a kick on the man's ribs. He went flying and hit the wall hard enough to send Une's star-filled painting crashing to the floor.
Wufei fell backward into a roll, feeling the heat of some spell pass over him. He came up in a crouched position and lunged at the man before he could bring his wand around. A well-placed knee to the gut had the man's torso snapping forward reflexively, and Wufei brought his gun-laden fist around to crash into his temple. The agent collapsed to the floor unconscious. Wufei dropped to his knees, just missing another spell, and put both guns to the back of the man's head.
"Freeze or I'll shoot!" he barked, glaring the woman down. "Put down your weapon!"
The woman glared back. Were her eyes turning blue? "You attacked a fellow officer! Are you crazy?"
"Drop the stick," Wufei growled and cocked his gun. "Do it or he dies."
The woman hesitated, her muscles bunching in preparation of some action.
"If you flee, he dies," he warned her coldly. "If you shoot, my finger will squeeze this trigger before your attack can land."
Her glare became murderous, but she dropped her wand.
Une marched across the room and kicked the stick far from the woman's reach. Then she brought cuffs out, tossing a pair to Wufei. He cuffed the unconscious wizard and looked up to see Une had the woman by the scruff of her neck.
"Don't do anything stupid and you and your partner will attend the meeting with the Prime Minister," Une told her.
"Why did you attack us? We did nothing to you!" the woman hissed furiously, but she made no move to escape.
Wufei stood and met her accusing stare unflinchingly. "Unfortunately, I cannot risk you influencing me with magic or erasing my memories. I had to act first in order to protect myself."
She gasped. "How…?"
"It will all be discussed at tomorrow's meeting," Une cut her off, shaking her lightly. "Walk."
Wufei knelt and pulled the unconscious agent over his shoulder in a fireman's carry. The man had to outweigh him by at least twenty pounds, but Wufei was stronger than he looked. He walked steadily after Une and her prisoner. They took the elevator two floors down where there were some holding cells. The woman went in one, the man in another. They were carefully placed out of sight of each other, but they could talk if they chose. Of course, anything they said would be recorded and used against them if at all possible.
Une set four guards on them before returning to the elevator. "You are dismissed, Agent Chang. I'll send an agent to fetch you in the morning so we can discuss how to transfer the prisoners with us to the meeting."
"Yes, Commander." Wufei gave her a salute and stayed on the elevator when she stepped off on her floor. The elevator doors closed and he relaxed with a quiet sigh. He pushed the button for the eleventh floor, the residential area where he and Heero had been assigned rooms. A long bath and a few hours rest sounded heavenly. It had been a really, really long day.
xXxXxXx
Heero felt the tension he hadn't even noticed lift as Harry's laughter washed over him. A smile softened the edges of his mouth as they stepped into the house; Black was outright grinning. Heero shut the door behind him hard enough to be heard upstairs. The laughter cut off, followed by a heavy thump and the sound of racing feet sprinting toward them. Harry came down the stairs at a run, smiling widely, his braid whipping behind him. Duo swatted at the thick rope playfully, chanting, "Gunna get ya, I'm gunna get ya," much to Harry's obvious delight.
"Heero!" The teen flung himself forward, and Heero caught him, his shoulders hitting the door with a loud thunk from the boy's momentum. Harry stood in the circle of his arms, panting. "You're back!"
"Yes," Heero answered simply, brushing Harry's wild hair away from his sweaty forehead.
Duo growled. He was in a crouch at the base of the stairs. Heero knew his lover could easily leap the distance between them from such a position. Harry yelped, eyes wide and happy. He squirmed out of Heero's hold and pushed between Heero and the door, obviously taking cover. Duo grinned wickedly up at his lover before diving forward. Heero held still, letting Duo snag Harry from between his legs and pull the boy out into the open by one ankle.
"Gotcha!" he cried and began to tickle the teen mercilessly.
"No – haha – Heero! Help – ahaha!"
Movement out of the corner of his eye drew his attention. Black was standing in the corner, watching as Duo and Harry tussled with naked longing in his eyes. Heero wasn't easily moved. Black still couldn't be trusted one hundred percent. He was still a wizard with unknown abilities and loyalties. However, Black had done a lot for them and his devotion to Harry was undeniable.
"Try not to kill each other." Heero stepped over the flailing limbs and moved toward the kitchen. "Black, help me assemble something for dinner."
The wizard followed slowly, eyes still on Harry.
"You sure he's well enough for rough housing?" the wizard asked. He sounded exhausted. His slacks had faded back into jeans and his shirt into a wrinkled mess. His wavy, dark hair fell limply around his face, the tie disappearing.
"It's a good way to relieve stress. Duo knows what he's doing." Heero dug through the bags of rations Trowa had acquired earlier and found the makings of spaghetti. It was easy and quick. Perfect. "Put a pot of water to boil."
Black obeyed, bending to get one out of the cupboard. Without looking at Heero, the wizard moved to the sink to fill it, head down, posture defeated.
"He's not good with strangers. Just give him time. Let him come to you," Heero offered as he lined up the ingredients he'd need on the counter.
Black froze. He looked over at Heero with painful hope etched across his pale face.
Heero crouched to retrieve a sauce pan. "We haven't told him your history yet. I'll talk to him tonight."
"Thank you." The wizard smiled brightly. The pot began to overflow, and Black quickly shut off the faucet and carried the pot to the stove. "I just want the chance to get to know him."
Heero stood and captured Black's eyes in one of his fiercest stares. "As long as it's understood that Harry is ours, Black, not yours. You lost your chance to be his father."
Black winced. His eyes slid away from Heero's. "Yeah. Yeah, I know that." With shaking hands, he spelled fire under the burner.
Heero relented, softening his tone. "We could always use close allies."
Black darted a glance at him. He held Heero's gaze a moment longer before nodding, color returning to his gaunt cheeks. "That sounds good."
Heero offered a tiny smile in return. "Good." He handed him some noodles. "Put these in when the water comes to a boil."
Black took them, and they spent the next fifteen minutes cooking in companionable silence.
xXxXxXx
Quatre had been at Gringotts for nearing four hours now. The bank was technically closed, but the goblins – and boy was he surprised when he saw who he'd be dealing with – would never interrupt a business transaction before it was completed. The creatures were fierce little things, definitely not ones to mess with, but they were good business men from what Quatre could see.
The goblins had taken them on a tour of their facilities, showed them open vaults they could rent the rights to, and patiently explained their policies, interest rates, security, personnel, and relationship with the Wizarding world. They had assured Quatre that they did not favor one group of wizard over the other, meaning they wouldn't give Death Eaters, Auror members, or Dumbledore's agents special access or information regarding other clients' vaults. By the end of the second hour, Quatre had felt secure enough to transfer a couple million into a high security vault. He had agreed to the transaction fees and accepted the small loss he'd take by exchanging his Muggle money for Wizarding currency; both were to be expected.
The remaining two hours were spent weighing his wand, taking his blood, getting an imprint of his magical signature, and waiting for the Muggle side of things to be approved. He and Trowa now found themselves in an opulent waiting room. An antique table sat laden with snacks and drinks on a mahogany wood floor. The walls were white with authentic gold borders, and a diamond chandelier hung from the ceiling casting clear white light around the room and revealing the hidden patterns in the wallpaper. Quatre sat on an elegant chaise lounge, his ankle propped up on his knee, one arm resting on the arm rest and the other resting comfortably across his lap. Trowa stood at attention between Quatre and the door, still playing bodyguard.
Quatre wished Trowa would sit down, but he knew his stubborn husband would refuse. Trowa considered himself on duty, never taking Quatre's safety for granted. He refused to eat or drink anything, as well. He couldn't risk having anything in his hands to hinder him or slow him down should anything happen.
Finally, the door opened and the small goblin was now manager of his account entered. Quatre put his leg down and clasped his hands together. "I take it everything is in order?" he asked, allowing none of his impatience to show through.
Griphook gave a grin, revealing his shark-like teeth. "Your funds have successfully been transferred to your vault, if you'd like to see it."
"I would." Quatre stood and smoothed out his robes before striding after the little, gray-skinned creature. "I appreciate the overtime you've put in tonight."
"It is our pleasure, Master Winner." Griphook's eyes gleamed greedily up at him.
They strode through quiet halls until they reached the two enormous metal doors that lead down to the vaults. Griphook held up Quatre's key and the door unlocked like a mechanical puzzle, allowing them entrance. The cart ride was just as exhilarating as it was before, and he hid a smile as Trowa stared in abject fascination at the sleeping white dragon across the tracks from Quatre's vault.
Again his key was used to open the door, as well as some magic from the goblin. Quatre stared at the piles of gold and silver now filling the large chamber. The coins glistened in the torch light hypnotically, and Quatre thought of pirates and treasure. He knew he was wealthy, but it was one thing to see his wealth printed as numbers on a page and another to see it glittering before him. He carefully kept his expression neutral, knowing any sign of weakness shown before the goblin would lose him the little respect he had managed to gain from their dealings.
"Everything looks in order. Thank you, Griphook."
"Your gold will be kept safe in Gringotts," the goblin assured him and swung the vault closed again. "Is there anything else I can help you with, Master Winner?"
"I am in need of a lawyer." Quatre strode after the creature as they returned to their cart. "I have a suit I'd like to pursue against a highly-placed Wizarding citizen. I would be willing to pay a percentage of my winnings for good advice, of course."
Griphook's grin widened. "I am familiar with two such lawyers. They aren't cheap, but if you have fair grievance, you will be victorious no matter your opponent. May I inquire as to which denomination of magic you seek to challenge, Light or Dark?"
Quatre considered this as they raced along the tracks. He could see the reason behind the question. He couldn't expect a lawyer who worships Dumbledore to represent him. On the other hand, hiring a Dark aligned lawyer would paint him negatively to the populace and draw suspicion to his suit. But then again…
A bold strategy began to unfold in his mind's eye. It was risky, but could possibly earn them a serious advantage in this war. The ride came to an end, and as they made their way to the entrance of the now dark bank, Quatre offered the goblin a cold smile of his own. "I seek to win what's owed to me from the Light. Is there perhaps a candidate who would not balk at challenging Albus Dumbledore?"
The goblin hissed, indicating excitement. "Very few wizards are willing to stand against the White Wizard in these times, but there are a few who have the backbone and skill to do so. One in particular has a reputation for winning. Seek out Lucius Malfoy. He handles few cases personally anymore, but I have confidence you will garner his personal attention."
Quatre thanked him and offered a bow, having learned the goblins didn't appreciate being touched. "Upon my victory, I will return with a well-deserved bonus for you."
"That is most appreciated, Master Winner." Griphook gave another shark's smile and practically slammed the front door behind them.
Quatre lifted an eyebrow at his husband. "That was interesting."
Trowa nodded, his eyes scanning the night-darkened street. Almost all the shops were closed, but the pubs and restaurants seemed to be busy. Golden light spilled out of windows, along with raised voices and laughter. The scent of food made Quatre's mouth water, and he knew Trowa had to be doubly hungry and thirsty.
"Come on. Let's get back."
They walked in tandem down the street, hands on guns and wand respectively as they made their way out of Diagon Alley and back into normal London. Quatre released a breath he didn't know he'd been holding, and hailed a cab to take them to the park across from Black's hidden house. Hopefully Duo and the others had put aside some food for them and hadn't eaten it all.
His cell rang almost as soon as they entered the taxi. He checked the caller ID and winced. "Hello, Iria." Trowa smirked and Quatre slapped his thigh in retaliation. "How are you?"
"Don't, 'how are you', me! Where have you been, Quatre Raberba Winner? I have been calling you for days! Here I am, worried sick about you and Harry, and you can't be bothered to call your sister! Did you know I flew to London to try and help my inconsiderate brother? I missed that attack by hours! You wouldn't even have known I was dead!"
Quatre paled. He could feel the blood rush out of his head and his vision went dark. "Are you okay?" He felt Trowa take his free hand and squeezed it tightly. Trowa's other arm came around his shoulders and pulled him against his warm side.
She sighed audibly in his ear. "I'm fine, Cat. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I've just had a very hard few days."
"Where are you?"
"A hotel near the Preventer building. Sally and Cathy are sharing a room, and I got a room on the same floor. They're not exactly happy with you guys, either, you know? Sally said Une got word that you recovered Harry, but something was going on and you couldn't come in."
"It's complicated," Quatre offered. His vision had returned, but he still felt sick at how close he'd come to losing the sister closest to him.
"Un-complicate it for me."
"Iria, you know it doesn't work that way. I'm involved in something highly classified." Quatre eyed the taxi driver and frowned in frustration. With him in the car, he couldn't be more specific. Quatre hated worrying her. "I promise that Harry is fine. We're all fine, but we need to put an end to this."
There was silence on the other end of the line. He could hear Iria breathing angrily and knew she was pacing. Finally, she asked, "How can I help?"
"You can't." There really was nothing she could do.
"Sally wants to check Harry over. Make sure he's okay."
Quatre sighed and patiently answered. "He's fine."
"You're not a doctor!" Iria snapped. "We want to see him with our own eyes."
"It's not safe," he countered. "Iria…"
"This is ridiculous, Quatre! I want to see you! I want to be in on whatever this is. You're my brother and Harry's practically my nephew. My family is in danger once again, and I don't want to be sidelined! Whatever this is, it's big. I can help you. Don't be so damn stubborn, Quatre!"
"I'll discuss it with the others. If we need you, you'll be the first to know. Until then, I want you to be careful!" Quatre let steel enter his voice. "You are a liability right now, and I don't need that kind of worry on top of everything else we're dealing with. If you want to help, you'll lay low and stay out of trouble until I contact you."
"When will that be?" she demanded angrily.
"In the next two days," he promised. His tone softened. "Goodbye, Iria. Be safe."
There was a short pause before she responded quietly, "You, too, little brother."
Quatre closed his phone and leaned his head against Trowa's shoulder.
"She on the warpath?" Trowa asked quietly.
"Her, Sally, and Cathy. Une's not far behind them, I bet. We've got all the women up in arms." He gave a dramatic shiver and Trowa laughed. Quatre slapped his stomach playfully with a glare. "Hey, Cathy's armed and ready to use you for target practice. I wouldn't laugh, if I were you."
Trowa gave him a lopsided smile. "It's just their way of saying they love us."
Quatre sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I know." He looked up at his husband with a deep frown. "What are we going to do? Can we tell them? How can we not? For better or worse, we're a part of this new world and they're our family."
Trowa didn't have an answer, and they lapsed into silence until the taxi pulled to a stop. Quatre paid him his fare, and they waited several minutes after he'd pulled away to cross to the invisible house.
xXxXxXx
Harry sat in one of the sitting rooms at a small table with a Wizarding chess set resting on top. He'd been intrigued by the animation of the pieces. He worried they'd interfere with game play, but they really didn't detract from the game. Black sat across from him, scowling at the board and his pissed-off white pieces.
"You're getting beat by a child!" his last remaining rook scolded the wizard in a high squeaking voice.
"Shut up!" Black snapped and gave Harry a wink. "He's an exceptional child."
"As are you, you knave! Exceptionally slow!" the white king squeaked back.
Harry had to cover his mouth with a hand to keep from laughing out loud. The way his black pieces preened and smirked at their opponents was hilarious. Black moved his knight to take Harry's bishop, and the white pieces let out a howl of dismay. Laughing out loud, Harry moved his queen and said rather smugly, "Checkmate."
Black sighed and slumped in his chair. "I surrender!" He eyed Harry across the board. "You're pretty good at this."
Harry gave him a lopsided smile. "Wufei and I play several strategy games. We started with chess and worked our way up to Xiang Qi, Chinese chess or Elephant chess, and Go, which is played in both China and Japan. Trust me. They're much harder than the European version."
"That's so cheating," Black grumbled, but he was smiling back, clearly enjoying just playing the game.
"No, cheating would be learning under Cat." Harry shook his head, moving the pieces back into their starting places. "He's unbeatable. Seriously, I've never seen him lose a single game to anyone. At least I know I have a chance against Wufei and the others."
"How many times have you beat him?" Black asked curiously.
"Twice," Harry answered easily. "We've stalemated at least a dozen times, but I've only really won twice."
"Harry beats me pretty regularly. I'd say about fifty-fifty," Duo offered from across the room. He was sitting on the floor with his back to the couch and was bent over his notes with several open books spread out around him on the coffee table. He was working on the list of spells Quatre should learn first while Heero sat on the couch, reading a Wizarding history book.
"And Yuy?" Black asked with a hopeful grin. "You kick his ass, right?"
"We don't play that often." Harry shot a wicked smile his brother's way. "But the last time we played I did beat him."
Heero looked over his book, humor sparkling in his eyes if not in his expression. "You never will again if you become overconfident."
Harry tossed his braid over his shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm always careful. I'll beat you next time, too."
"We'll see," was all Heero said to that boast and returned to his book.
The front door opened and Harry bolted out of his seat. He practically pounced on Trowa, and his stoic older brother lifted Harry off his feet in a tight hug. "How are you?"
"I'm fine." He felt a little shaky still after the vision, but he was much better than when he'd woken up. Duo had seen to that. However, he felt even better having his brothers home. Duo had promised that everyone was okay, but after the death and destruction in his vision, he needed to see that his family was safe with his own eyes. "How was the bank?"
"We are now millionaires in the Wizarding world as well as the normal one," Trowa answered with a wry smile. He set Harry on his feet, allowing Harry to go to Quatre.
His empathetic brother gave him a warm smile and an equally warm hug. "Did you save us food? We're starving."
"Yeah. Heero and Mr. Black made spaghetti. There's plenty left." Harry led the two by their hands toward the kitchen. Heero, Duo, and Black followed along after them.
As Harry made them plates, Quatre regaled them with descriptions of the bank and the goblins that ran it. Trowa remained quiet as he dug into his food and drank nearly three glasses of water. Harry rubbed his shoulders for a few minutes, knowing Trowa had played bodyguard for hours and that it was hard work. When Quarter got to the part about roller coaster rides, dragons, and piles of golden treasure, Duo and Harry's mouth fell open in shock, much to Black's amusement.
"You have all the fun, Cat! Next trip to the bank, I'm definitely going with," Duo exclaimed. He crossed his arms, pouting, as Harry gathered the dirty dishes and carried them to the sink.
"Griphook also suggested a good lawyer, one Lucius Malfoy."
"WHAT!" Black barked, making Harry drop the dishes. All eyes turned to the horror-struck wizard. "He's a Death Eater! Tell me you didn't contact him!"
They whipped their heads around to stare at Quatre.
The blond sat back in his seat looking very satisfied. "I knew he would be sympathetic to the Dark, but a Death Eater is even better."
"Have you lost your ever-bleeding mind?" Black whispered, hoarse.
Duo tsked and got to his feet. He came around the table to help Harry pick up the broken porcelain. "Seriously, Sirius…"
"Good thing Wufei didn't hear that," Trowa muttered.
Duo flashed Trowa a wicked grin while continuing his explanation to the wizard. "Didn't you hear what Harry said about Cat and strategy?"
"He has a plan," Harry added, nodding wisely.
Black stared at him like he was nuts. "A plan. Involving a Death Eater." He put his head in his hands. "You guys really are nuts."
Harry looked at his brother curiously. "What is the plan?"
"We'll take your name out of it, Harry, since you're famous and I don't want any information about you to reach Death Eater ears. We'll alter the suit to involve just Trowa and me. I'm sure Dumbledore will agree once we explain the situation at the meeting tomorrow, not to mention it will reduce the claims amount of the suit since there will be fewer people involved."
"Will it still be enough to weaken his financial support?" Heero asked.
Harry's eyes went wide as he understood their strategy behind the lawsuit against Dumbledore. It showed the old man that they couldn't be pushed around, but more importantly it gave them control over the people Dumbledore had marshaled to fight the Death Eaters.
"I don't get it. Why are you trying to bankrupt the Headmaster? Don't we need him to help us fight You-Know-Who?" Black asked finally lifting his head. He looked terribly confused.
Quatre reached across the table to pat his forearm. "We do need his help, but we can't trust him to act independently. If we hold his purse strings, it will give us an excuse to look over his shoulder more often."
Black sighed and put his head back in his hands. "Nuts. And the Death Eater? What's the plan with him?"
"We need a connection to the Dark. It might not be possible to insinuate a spy within the Death Eater ranks, but having the ability to call on a known Death Eater might become handy in the future," Heero explained for Quatre.
Quatre nodded and flashed a sharp smile. "Exactly. Being a wealthy wizard with unknown affiliations and alliances, I might be recruited to their side."
Harry turned wide, worried eyes to his brother.
Duo frowned. "That's not your usual role, Cat. It's mine. You sure about this?"
"I'll have you to advise me." Quatre pulled Harry into his lap. "As the only wizard among us besides Harry, I'm the only one who Malfoy would be interested in."
"I might be able to pull it off."
Harry looked at Black in surprise. Heero had explained Black was a very close friend of his biological father and had put a lot on the line to help them get Harry back, but he hadn't really believed it until now. Spying on the enemy was an incredibly dangerous position, and Black had just volunteered to spare Quatre from taking that risk. Harry felt a well of gratitude wash through him, and Black became Sirius to him in that moment.
Quatre squeezed Harry reassuringly, likely having sensed the surge of Harry's emotion since they were touching. "What do you mean?"
Sirius gave a dark, wry smile. "I was wrongfully imprisoned for a decade and Dumbledore never got me out. I could reasonably want revenge against the Light. My godson is Harry Potter, but they could seduce me to their side so that by the time Harry's ever in literal danger I'd have gone too far to turn back. Not to mention he's married to one of my cousins and another is in You-Know-Who's inner circle."
Harry looked over his shoulder to see Quatre nodding.
"We might be able to make use of that," the blond agreed. "We'll keep it in mind."
"This sucks," Duo complained. He leaned against the still seated Heero. "What am I supposed to be doing while you and Black do my usual kickass job?"
Quatre laughed. "There will be plenty to do. Trust me."
"Don't forget Iria," Trowa added mischievously.
Quatre nodded and rested his chin on Harry's shoulder. "She took a shuttle to London and just barely avoided the attack. She's at a hotel with Sally and Catherine now. The three of them are demanding answers and want to see Harry."
Heero sighed, Duo snickered, and Harry winced. Those girls were scary when they were pissed.
"Who're they?" Sirius asked curiously, obviously intrigued by their reactions.
"Family," Quatre answered, and Sirius nodded like that explained everything. The blond gave Harry a quick hug before pushing him off his lap and standing. "It's getting late."
"We'll be up in a little while," Heero responded. "I want to finish the spell list."
Harry frowned in confusion for a second, but the lifted eyebrow Duo was shooting his partner told him everything. He hid a grin and allowed Quatre to lead him out of the kitchen by his hand. Trowa followed after them. Harry held in his giggles until they hit the stairs. He wondered if Sirius would be smart enough to escape to his own bedroom or if he'd catch Heero and Duo 'working'.
"Oh to be young," Quatre said with a grin.
"You're the same age," Harry pointed out, still snickering.
"Actually, Heero doesn't turn twenty-three until August."
"I bet Sirius would fall over in shock if we told him Heero was the youngest." Harry grinned just imagining it. "Everyone always thinks he's the oldest."
"That dubious honor belongs to Wufei." Quatre shrugged and pushed open the door to the bedroom with the massively enlarged bed.
"He's responsible enough for the position," Trowa added his opinion.
"Yeah." Harry yawned. "Guess I was more tired than I thought," he said, shifting his weight and looking sheepish.
Trowa tugged gently on Harry's bangs. "You've had a long week. We all have."
"Get the bed warm for us. Trowa and I are going to take a quick shower." Quatre snagged Trowa's hand and pulled him toward the door.
"Okay," he agreed with an innocent smile.
He waited until his brothers had left the room before covering his head with a pillow to laugh. Trowa was shy. He didn't like to be teased about private things like the time he spent with Quatre, but it was funny that they thought they were fooling Harry. After living with his brothers for five years, he knew the 'sexy time' look no matter how smooth or subtle his brothers thought they were about it.
He'd walked in on Duo and Heero only a year after they started living together. That had led to a very embarrassing conversation with all five of them. Harry knew his Uncle had molested him, but he hadn't really understood what sex was. After they explained sex, it made him hate his Uncle more than ever, but Dr. Bohren and his brothers made sure that he was comfortable with the idea of intimacy and that his brothers were together in that way.
Wufei especially helped to make it less upsetting. They had great fun good-naturedly teasing the love birds behind their backs. For Wufei, his strictest brother, to think of it as a joking matter made Harry relax significantly. Not to mention it bonded him and Wufei even more. It was a secret understanding between them as the only ones not in a relationship like that.
Of course, none of his older brothers, except Wufei, knew just how aware Harry was of their romantic encounters. They tried to be discrete out of respect for Harry's age and bad experiences, but he always knew when they were going off to be together. Not to mention it took only one look to know if they had just come back from doing so.
Not that he told his brothers this. He knew they were overprotective. Harry didn't want them to feel self-conscious about it or stop loving each other because of him. He liked that they were together. Once he understood and got over his fear, Harry realized it bonded them all together more securely than if his brothers hadn't been in love.
"A shower? Things are getting desperate if Cat's using Duo's lame excuses. Who takes showers for that long?" he sighed, missing Wufei terribly as he crawled into bed. At home, he and Wufei always shared a room to give the couples their privacy, and his brother would definitely have something witty and disparaging to say right about now.
Harry had intended to stay up and wait for his brothers to join him, but he was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
xXxXxXx
Duo was pulled into the sitting room across from the one they had been using earlier. Dust lay thick on every surface, and the candles had never been lit. He took a few steps into the gloom, guided by his lover's firm push. He turned with a question on his face, only to see Heero shut the door behind them, plunging the room into darkness.
"I want you."
Duo shivered in delight at the low growl, instantly hard. "Nice to hear, but what's with the décor?" he teased.
"Take off your clothes," Heero ordered, voice coming from somewhere to the right. He was on the prowl, his movements completely silent.
Duo's breath caught. His eyes went wide, but they were useless.
"Take them off," Heero repeated warningly from the darkness.
Heart thundering in his chest, Duo grasped the bottom hem of his shirt and lifted it over his head. The cloth made a soft slithering sound as it fell to the floor. Heero was in front of him now, blocking the little light that came in from under the door.
"Keep going."
Duo reached for his pants.
O
Quatre tugged Trowa into the small bedroom where they kept their baggage. A magical lamp sat on the nightstand and lit up at their entrance. Staring into deep green eyes, Quatre smiled and pressed Trowa against the bedroom door. Trowa's long arms came around him as their lips met. Quatre moaned as his love lapped at the inside of his mouth.
Tingling, heart thumping hard and steady, he pressed his tongue forward, taking his turn. Trowa arched slightly against him as Quatre's chilled hands slipped under his shirt to slide up his warm skin. After a long, warm moment, Quatre pulled his head back, panting for air. He drank in the sight of Trowa's flushed face as the brunet let his head fall back against the door and exposed his throat. Quatre laid gentle butterfly kisses under his jaw and tweaked a nipple. Trowa's arms tightened around him, pulling him flush to his body and aligning their hips.
"Quatre…" Trowa whispered, sending contentment and desire sparking through Quatre's empathetic senses.
"Have I told you how much I love you recently?" Quatre asked in a husky voice, pulling his love toward the bed. "Let me show you how much." Gently, he unstrapped his love's shoulder and waist harnesses. The four guns fell to the floor with a heavy thunk.
Trowa gave a sigh of relief and tugged his shirt off.
"Sit," Quatre ordered softly.
Trowa obeyed, sitting on the edge of the bed. He pulled Quatre between his lean thighs and lifted the blond's shirt up enough to lay a string of kisses across his abdomen. Quatre enjoyed the ticklish sensation, but he wasn't going to be sidetracked. He ran his hands through his love's hair, hooking Trowa's long bangs behind his ear in the process. Quatre fingers gingerly traced the beautiful features before sliding luxuriously down his husband's muscled chest and washboard abs. Trowa put his hands behind him and canted his hips up, allowing Quatre to slip his pants and underwear off.
Quatre pulled the material slowly down the mile long legs. Voice rough with desire, he said, "Lay back."
Trowa's eyes darkened with lust as he moved to lay on the bed, fully exposed to Quatre's gaze, naked in every way. His light brown hair glistened in the pure light. His skin was caramel in color and just as smooth. Strength lay in every etched muscle; gentleness hinted in every graceful, deliberate movement of his long-fingered hands.
"Allah, you're beautiful," Quatre whispered reverently. He put a knee on the bed, still fully dressed, and ran his hands up his husband's thighs.
"I love you," Trowa spoke quietly in his deep baritone voice.
Quatre looked into his husband's eyes and felt near to tears with answering emotion. "I love you, too."
Trowa reached out and pulled him in for a deep kiss, his tongue sending spikes of pleasure through Quatre's core and curling his toes.
O
Duo stood naked in the dark, not knowing where the next attack would come from. The sensory deprivation had him hyperaware and achingly sensitive to the slightest sound. He turned toward the hand a half-second before it touched him. Blunt nails scraped across his scalp as Heero fisted his hair and pulled his head back.
Lips slid sensuously down his throat, and Duo swallowed, Adam's apple bobbing. The heat of Heero's shockingly naked body pressed hard against his back and made Duo's heart race triple-time. The world shrank to the confines of his body. Every touch had his muscles clenching, moans falling from his lips. Then Heero's fingers pushed inside him, the dull burn making him cry out. "Heero!"
An impossibly strong arm wrapped around his waist, holding him in place, and Duo quivered as blunt nails scraped over his prostate. "Yes?"
"More…" Duo begged. The only thing keeping him up was his lover, and he went pliant in his lover's embrace. "Love that you give me this… God, so good, Hee-chan."
Heero pressed an open mouth kiss to his shoulder, his hand working in earnest now, and Duo was rendered incapable of anything more articulate than a scream.
O
Trowa arched up with a hiss as the friction of his naked arousal against the soft texture of Quatre's pants sent shocks along every nerve. His eyes fluttered open and he stared up at the angel above him. Quatre smiled, pupils dilated as he rocked his hips a second time. Trowa groaned. He curled his hand over the back of the blond's neck and gently scraped his nails down Quatre's back. When Quatre leaned down for another soul stealing kiss, Trowa wrestled his love out of his shirt. In the tussle, he ended up on top, Quatre's blond hair a messy halo around his flushed face.
"Make love to me?" Trowa asked, staring into the clear blue of Quatre's eyes.
"Are you sure?" Quatre reached up to cradle Trowa's face in his hands, running his thumbs gently over his high cheekbones.
Trowa very deliberately rolled onto his back, pulling his husband with him. Quatre stared down at him, cheeks heating in anticipation as Trowa let his legs fall open. Quatre's hands pressed on the brunet's stomach for balance, increasing the pressure on Trowa's nerves. He arched against those hands and lifted a leg toward his chest, opening himself to his love. The sheer desire he saw ignite in Quatre's expression made him swallow hard.
"I'm sure," he answered, voice low and rough.
Quatre visibly shivered and crashed their mouths together in a hungry kiss.
O
Heero couldn't wait any longer. The scent of his lover, the feel of him under his mouth and hands, drove him past all control. He grabbed Duo's shoulder, turned him to the right, and shoved with perfectly calculated strength. Duo's cry of surprise was followed by a thump that told him he'd done it right.
"Kneel on the couch," he rasped, breathing hard. He held himself rigid as he heard the quiet hiss of flesh sliding against cloth. He stalked forward and drew just within reach of his lover when Duo opened his mouth.
"Gunna spank me, Heero?" his lover challenged, voice thick with tension.
Heero grinned wolfishly and ran his fingertips over the rounded curve of Duo's ass. "You'd like that."
Duo gasped, his whole body shivering with anticipation. "Hell yeah," he rasped, voice a mere whisper in the dark, heavy with lust.
Heero couldn't wait that long. "Not this time," he answered roughly and moved forward.
O
Quatre slid into the heat of his love and nearly came undone. His eyes fluttered closed as a loud groan vibrated through his chest and into Trowa's open mouth. Trowa was holding him close, his arms wrapped around Quatre's shoulders, his legs around his waist. Quatre kept one hand anchored half in Trowa's hair, half pressed against his cheek. The other was pressed hard into the mattress, his arm shaking under his weight.
Trowa's velvet heat tightened and he broke his mouth away to give a quiet cry. Then his love relaxed, going pliant under him, wet lips parting as he panted for air. Quatre shifted on his knees, sliding out and back in.
"Quatre," Trowa moaned, eyes closing, legs opening impossibly further as he unlocked them from around Quatre's waist and brought them up toward his chest. The move also lifted his hips.
"Ah!" Quatre pressed in harder, pleasure whiting out his vision as strobes of heat coiled up through his groin into his stomach and chest.
"Quatre…" Trowa gasped, reaching desperately toward the headboard, needing something to hold on to.
O
Duo arched and muffled a scream around a fist, feeling his lover all the way up his spine as Heero rocked into him with brutal intensity. If it weren't for Heero adding some of his weight by putting a knee on the couch, it would have toppled under the force of the thrust. Duo held on desperately as he pushed back against Heero's delicious strength. "Fuck yeah! Give me more, oh, god, Heero, like that!"
Hard teeth indented his skin at his shoulder as he was taken with unbridled passion. Fireworks exploded in his head and he keened, nearly blacking out as he came without warning. Heero gave a low guttural cry as Duo's muscles clamped down around him, but he didn't stop. If anything, he grew more forceful as Duo's body went limp. Duo's stomach hit the back of the couch, the fabric rubbing along his sensitive member, and he gave a high whine.
"I'm not done with you…" Heero growled, panting, hips pistoning in and out. "I want it all. Give it... to me, lover."
Shaking, reeling, Duo spread his knees and tried to thrust his hips back, muscles feeling like jelly. "Yes!" he yelled hoarsely, head hanging and nearly sobbing. "Yours, take it!"
Heero's hands clamped down on his hips with bruising force, and he cried out wildly as Heero hit his prostate again and again.
O
Trowa watched, entranced, as his love came inside his body. Quatre arched, sweat dripping down his cheek, eyes shuttered and face twisted with orgasm. Groaning, the blond collapsed across Trowa's sweat-sick chest. He couldn't help a low moan as Quatre shifted out of him. Trowa cradled him against his side and breathed deep, trying to think past the throbbing, burning heat in his blood.
Quatre gave a heart-stopping grin before slithering down his body. His long torso pinned the Trowa's legs as the blond began to languidly lap at his love's still hard member. Trowa's hands slammed into the headboard as he grabbed hold for a second time. His hips bucked, desperate for that wicked mouth, but Quatre would not be hurried. He slid his tongue over every inch, drinking in Trowa's whimpers and gasps.
Eyes tightly closed, Trowa admitted defeat. "Please…" he begged. Quatre immediately closed his lips around him and hollowed his cheeks, and with a low guttural cry, Trowa came down his love's throat.
O
Frozen in a moment of perfect clarity, of exquisite pleasure, Heero gave a hoarse cry and collapsed across Duo's back. He slid sideways and sprawled against one end of the couch. His head felt full of miniature lightning and cotton candy as euphoria flooded his system, and he pulled Duo into the cradle of his body with a smug smile. The warm panting breaths against the sensitive skin of his collarbone made Heero shiver. He gave a gentle tug on the long braid firmly in his grip.
"Go ahead and sleep. I'll wake you in an hour for a shower."
"Mmm," Duo hummed, practically purring. "Love you."
Heero sighed, completely sated, and held his lover close and protected in his arms.
Chapter end.
A/N: Thanks for all the votes! I think I'll keep the results to myself for a few chapters while my muses stew over how things could play out with our favorite Chinese pilot. (grins) However, I will let you know the potential list for Wufei's lover that I have to play with. In no particular order, they are:
Hermione Granger, Luna Lovegood, Penelope Clearwater, Cho Chang, Fleur Delacour, Madam Hooch, Emmeline Vance (Order Member), Charity Burbage, Tonks, Hestia Jones (Order Member), an OC female Auror, and an OC female Death Eater.
Maybe other options will pop up later, but for now I'll stew on these.
A/N2: What did you think of the slash scene? Did you like the back and forth? Please let me know!