A/N: Disclaimer – Any characters who resemble or are named after real people have been used in a fictitious way to serve a purpose in the story. Anything they do or say is not meant to represent the real opinions or character of that person. There, hope I did that right. (grins)
…
Duty Bound
Harry woke in the morning just as the sun was rising. His brothers lay sleeping around him, and even with his blurry vision he could tell they were wearing smiles. Biting back snickers, he crawled out from beneath Duo and Quatre's arms. "Wufei?" he called in a soft whisper, but when he looked over the footboard, he saw that the floor was clear. Harry sighed, his amusement fading away. His brothers' antics weren't as funny when there wasn't anyone to laugh with over their antics.
Escaping the room, snagging his glasses on the way out, Harry made his way downstairs. He met Sirius in the downstairs hall, the wizard going to the kitchen.
"Morning, Harry," Sirius muttered around a large yawn.
"Morning," Harry answered.
"You want breakfast?"
Harry brushed messy bangs from his face. "No, thanks. I usually do Tai Chi before I eat," he explained as he turned toward the sitting room.
"Can I…" Sirius spoke, but he bit his lip before he finished his sentence.
Harry turned back to face him, looking up curiously.
"Can I join you?" the wizard asked with quiet hope.
Harry bit his lip. Tai Chi wasn't entertainment. It opened his senses and energized his body for the rest of the day. It was special to him because it was the quiet time of the day he spent alone with Wufei. He looked up again through his bangs. Sirius was watching him with puppy-dog eyes, his wavy hair sleep-mussed.
"Okay," Harry relented.
The wizard's thin face lit up as if he'd been given a precious gift.
xXx
"What's on the menu for today?" Duo asked thickly, back in the bedroom with his eyes still closed.
"We're going to be busy," Quatre answered. He stretched his arms toward the headboard and smiled as he felt Trowa curl around him.
"We're meeting Dummy for lunch. Restaurant across from Big Ben," Duo informed them. "I had Kreacher deliver our message." He blinked open his eyes to see Heero climbing out of bed topless. The view was quite nice and he hummed in approval.
Heero's midnight blue eyes looked over his shoulder at his lover, and Duo could just make out a smirk curling Heero's lips as he pulled on pants and a tank top. "Quatre can make contact with Malfoy once we confirm things with Dumbledore."
"When is Une's meeting with the Prime Minister?" Trowa was pulling on clothes, as well, much to Quatre's delight. The blond watched the play of his husband's muscles in the morning light with something akin to satisfaction.
"Ten hundred." Heero tossed Duo some clothes.
"Are we all attending the meeting?" Quatre sat up and pulled Duo into an upright position. The brunet pouted, but he obediently climbed to his knees on the mattress to get dressed.
Heero crossed his arms. "What's your opinion?"
Quatre rubbed at his mouth, thinking hard. "Dumbledore has already become acquainted with Trowa and me. There is some benefit to keeping you and Duo secret. However, he is aware there is more to the team since you broke Harry free. I did not meet Lupin. Would he give your descriptions to the Headmaster?"
Heero nodded. "There is no reason for us to hold his loyalty."
"Then there's no reason for you to stay away from the meeting with Dumbledore." Quatre got to his feet and accepted the clothes Trowa handed to him.
"I'll start breakfast," Trowa offered, kissing Quatre's cheek before heading out of the room.
"However," Quatre continued, turning back to Heero. "We have no reason to reveal our whole hand to the government, our own or the magical Ministry. Also, the meeting with the Prime Minister could run long, so whoever attends may miss the meeting with Dumbledore."
Duo crossed his arms, totally knowing where this was going. "I want to meet Dumbledore! Someone else can stay with Harry."
Heero looked down at his petulant lover and noted the completely serious gleam in his violet eyes. "Very well. It would probably be best if I avoided Dumbledore for now. I'll attend the government meeting with Wufei. Quatre, you'll take Duo to the meeting with Dumbledore."
Duo grinned maniacally. "Sounds like a plan."
Quatre smiled at his best friend. "After breakfast, we can head back to Diagon Alley and get Harry his wand. When Duo and I leave to go to the meeting, Trowa can keep watch here while Sirius teaches Harry the Shield Charm. After our appointment with Dumbledore, I can come back to pick up Trowa before contacting Malfoy."
Heero's eyes darkened as he focused on the mission ahead. "Let's go."
xXx
Harry was not happy once he was informed of the day's plans. Getting a wand sounded cool, but he couldn't help feeling like he was being pushed to the side. "I want to go to the meeting with Dumbledore," he insisted. "I don't want to stay here while you all get things done. I'm a part of this, too!"
Quatre put a hand on the teen's shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "I know you are," he soothed. They were sitting around the table, Heero and Duo across from Harry while the teen sat between Trowa and the blond. Black took the far end like last time. "That's why it's important for you to learn what Black can teach you. I've already had to defend myself once using this charm, and as the only other one who can do so, you need to learn it, too."
"We will inform you of all the important details," Heero stated firmly, not allowing for argument.
"Yeah we will!" Duo reached across the table to rough up Harry's hair. "Don't fret."
"I'll be staying," Trowa offered. "I will be working on prioritizing the list of spells that we should learn."
Harry sighed and leaned back in his chair, still unsatisfied but understanding his brothers' reasoning. "Will Wufei be coming back tonight?"
"I will consult with Une." Heero promised and came around the table. He turned Harry's chair and pressed his cheek to the teen's in farewell.
Harry immediately wrapped his arms around him. "Be safe."
"Be good," Heero countered with a half-smile. He pulled away and met his team's eyes over Harry's head, charging them with the boy's safety. Duo and Quatre gave subtle nods; Trowa's shoulders straightened. Without another word, Heero turned and strode from the room.
Sirius let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He looked over to see Harry's unhappy expression and forced an upbeat smile on his face. "Well, kiddo, looks like we're going shopping!"
He was rewarded by Harry relaxing a bit. "Sounds fun," he said with a slight smile.
Sirius grinned, silently promising to make sure it was. "Then let's go!" He leapt to his feet and practically ran from the room, laughing loudly.
Duo gave chase, whooping, with Harry hot on his heels.
xXx
Heero strode into Une's office and found Wufei and the Commander bent over a table covered with papers. A quick glance showed some to be maps while others contained lists of evacuation procedures, critical supplies, and danger zones. Wufei looked up at him and straightened. Une did the same but with a scowl on her face.
"Agent Yuy," she said darkly. "Are you here because you wish to attend the meeting?"
Wufei spoke before Heero could reply. "Only those who have been let in on the secret of magic can attend, and we'll need an extra body to help manage the two prisoners."
Une snorted. "Convenient." She strode across the room toward her desk. She lifted her phone and began giving orders in preparation for their departure, all the while pulling on her formal military jacket.
Heero shot his partner a look. "Prisoners?"
"Two magical agents arrived last night to question us regarding Black," Wufei explained, hands clasped at the small of his back.
Heero frowned. "They have us bugged somehow."
"All Muggle military agencies, I suspect." Wufei agreed. "They seemed only to know that Black had come into contact with the Preventers, not what he may have said or done."
"Interesting." Heero looked down at the table. "Progress?"
"We have a few working ideas, but nothing will be solid until after consulting with the magical government." Wufei reached toward the back of a chair and grabbed the two field jackets there. He tossed one to Heero. "How's Harry?"
"I believe he had a good joke to tell you this morning and was disappointed he couldn't share," Heero answered as he pulled the jacket on over his t-shirt.
Wufei cut a look at his long-time friend and snorted in amusement. "Did he?"
Heero flashed a quick smile in return. "The others went to get him a wand. Duo and Quatre will meet Dumbledore for lunch while Harry learns shielding."
Wufei nodded in understanding.
Une approached, ending their conversation. "Let's go. We'll get the prisoners ourselves. I don't trust them with anyone else."
"Where will the meeting take place?" Heero asked, falling into step behind the Commander.
"Number 10," she said shortly, already heading toward the door.
Heero looked questioningly at Wufei.
The Chinese pilot gave a thorough answer, saying. "It's a governmental building here in London. Number 10 Downing St in Westminster, a borough in Central London, the West End."
They made the rest of the trip in silence. When they stepped off the elevator on the incarceration floor, the guards saluted and reported that nothing unusual had occurred during the night. Une gave a distracted nod and led the way down the aisle of holding cells. She came to a stop outside the only occupied ones.
Heero examined the two prisoners carefully. The male was middle age or slightly younger. Both threat and competence radiated from his well-muscled form, and he possessed intense, gold-colored eyes. On the other hand, the woman seemed nervous from the way she wrung her hands. She had dark hair and blue eyes and was of average build. They both wore wrinkled suits instead of robes. Neither of them appeared to be armed. Of course, with magic involved, that was never a certainty.
"Put your backs to the bars and place your hands behind you," Une ordered, steel in her voice.
The man shot them a poisonous glare and made no move to obey.
"Do it," Wufei snapped, scowling fiercely.
The woman was the first to break. She came slowly forward and turned her back. "Where're our wands?" she asked in a timid voice.
"Safe. They will be returned to you," Une answered impatiently, securely cuffing the woman's hands behind her before opening the cage. She gave the girl a firm push in Wufei's direction before looking to the wizard. "Well?"
The male moved into position with obvious reluctance. His expression screamed disdain and fury, but he allowed himself to be cuffed. Heero grabbed the man's arm when Une pushed him from the cage and noted the coil of firm muscle there. Fortunately for the prisoners, they made no move to attack or escape while Heero and Wufei marched them down to the waiting car.
Heero climbed into the back of the armored SUV with the prisoners while Wufei sat up front with Une. They didn't bring a driver. The Commander took control of the wheel herself. They pulled out into London traffic and were soon sitting at a standstill. Hundreds of small European cars sat bumper-to-bumper. A symphony of horns rose into the morning. Une calmly turned on the siren, and slowly they left the traffic jam behind.
"Why are you doing this?" the witch asked after thirty minutes.
Heero frowned into her brown eyes. Weren't they blue earlier? She fidgeted under his scrutiny but maintained eye-contact, waiting for an answer. "We are attempting to protect ourselves," he finally said.
"We wouldn't hurt you," she argued quietly. "Our job is to find and capture the criminal Sirius Black."
"We only have your word for that," Heero countered. "There is every reason to be cautious considering yesterday's attack."
"And this is why the magical world will forever be separated from the Muggle," the man suddenly spoke, voice cold and sharp with fury. "Your hostile overreactions will never cease to be a threat to us."
"We did not hurt you," Heero returned with just as much ice in his voice. "You did not approach us through official channels. You gave us no way to check your credentials. There is a group of wizards out there with the goal to annihilate this world. Acting with any less caution when dealing with a people as unpredictable and powerful as yours would be suicidal."
The wizard opened his mouth to deliver a glaring retort, when the witch cut him off. "He's right," she said firmly and did not waver under the harsh glare sent her way.
Heero braced himself to intervene should the man react violently to that surprising statement of support. Instead, the wizard turned and stared resolutely out the car window. Heero shared a glance with Wufei in the mirror. The woman was clearly of lower rank to the elder male, and yet she had argued with the man in their favor. Heero would keep her in mind as a magical who could potentially be turned to their side.
xXx
Once Harry, his brothers, and Sirius were gathered in the park across the street from the hidden house, all eyes turned to the wizard.
"I'm pretty rested, so it shouldn't be dangerous," Sirius said, holding out his arms for the others to take. "Just make sure to feed me the red potion in my front pocket when we land."
"I will," Quatre agreed and took hold.
Harry cried out as he was suddenly yanked off his feet, simultaneously being squeezed through what felt like a straw. As soon as his feet hit the ground, he fell to his hands and knees. Sweat dampened his face and chest, and he had to swallow repeatedly to keep from getting sick. Duo held his braid and rubbed his back comfortingly. Harry squinted behind his glasses, feeling dizzy. Slowly the image of Sirius and Quatre swam into focus. The wizard's head was propped up on Quatre's thighs as his brother knelt on the cobblestones and poured red goop into Sirius' mouth.
Pushing himself up on his knees, Harry looked toward the bright end of the shadowed alley. He could see streams of people walking along in the sunshine. Cars passed, honking their horns, and bicycles tinkled their bells. "Where are we?" he asked curiously.
"That's the Leaky Cauldron. Only magical people can see it." Trowa pointed to the rundown building across the way. "I'll secure the entrance." Without waiting for a response, he trotted across the street and slipped into the dark confines of the pub.
"Thanks. I'm okay now." Sirius sat up and gave Quatre a tired smile before transforming into a dog.
Harry's mouth fell open. He remembered seeing this before, but it was fuzzy in his memory, almost like a dream. Tentatively, he reached forward to run his hand through the dog's soft, thick coat of fur. The dog licked his arm, his tongue warm and wet, making Harry giggle. "Good doggie," he cooed teasingly.
Duo laughed. "The guy's wanted, remember? He can only go into public like that," he explained and scratched the dog behind his ears. "Okay, let's go!"
The two men, one teenager, and one dog made their way across the street and into the old bar. Trowa was standing by a door at the back, past a set of crooked stairs. Harry looked around at everything with wide eyes. The patrons in the pub were clearly magical. They wore robes and strange hats. Several had wands out, doing simple magics like reheating food or moving the furniture. Cats and owls were perched here and there, and they watched the room with unusually intelligent eyes. Harry cast a look down at the dog trotting beside him and wondered if any of them were human.
Things only grew more bizarre as they stepped out in the back alley. Quatre used his wand to open the brick wall, revealing a busy street. Harry held tight to Duo's hand as his brother pointed out all the amazing things they had seen during their previous trip to Diagon Alley. The toy shop especially caught Harry's attention. Using his puppy-dog eyes, he managed to convince his brothers to make a quick stop.
"Creepy," Quatre muttered as they watched a doll smile and ask if they'd be her daddy.
Duo laughed and followed Harry further into the store, walking curiously along the crowded shelves and winding aisles. Without having to discuss it, the three pilots moved into protective positions. With a store this cluttered, visibility was shot, so Quatre moved to scout a back entrance to the store while Trowa stayed near the front. No one would be sneaking Harry out on their watch, especially not with Duo taking point. He would make sure to always stay within reach of their boy.
Harry was only vaguely aware of his brothers' actions. He'd grown up with their paranoia and overprotectiveness. By now, it was normal to him. He was more interested in all the amazing toys. There were floating puzzles, hopping frogs, rainbow fairy dust, and fake wands. His mouth fell open when he passed an aisle devoted to chess. There were hundreds of sets, big and small, with different themes for the pieces. Themes like flowers, fantasy animals, and dragons. Harry's eyes were in constant motion as he took all of it in.
"This place is incredible," he said with laughter in his voice, his green eyes bright behind his glasses. However, his steps slowed as he came to the stuffed animal section.
Duo noticed Harry's expression and quickly hugged the teen from behind. "Sage is safe with our things at the hotel. We'll check out and bring everything back to the house soon."
Harry blushed, embarrassed to be caught longing for his stuffed rabbit. He hurried past that particular aisle, and found there were figurines down the next one. He stared with utter longing at the set of two inch dragons that prowled the shelves and roared.
"Mommy! I want this one!" Harry lifted his head to see a little blond boy tug on the robes of a young, auburn-haired woman. She smiled down at her son with visible affection as she soothed her hand through his messy hair. "All right. Put it in my basket." The little boy grabbed a box of medieval knight figurines and awkwardly put it in the floating basket beside them. "Thank you, Mommy! I love you so much!" She laughed, the sound nearly musical. "I love you, too, baby."
Harry felt his chest constrict painfully; his hands fisted at his sides. That was what he could have had; a mom who loved him, a magical home with toys and laughter. Flashes of the Dursleys flew past his eyes, reminding him of a life where he was constantly surrounded by toys and food that he wasn't allowed to touch, of beatings and being locked away in small, dark spaces. His childhood had been one of pain and unrelenting fear, of hunger and humiliation.
A hand touched his cheek, and he turned into that gentle contact almost desperately. His breath rasped through his throat too fast and his heart pounded a mile a minute. Warm arms came around him and pulled him against a strong chest.
"I know," Duo whispered into his ear. "I'm sorry, Harry." He knew better than all the others the grief Harry felt when he saw moments like the one between the mother and her little boy. Trowa and Heero had been abused, but they didn't miss having a perfect childhood the way Duo and Harry did. While growing up, they never saw examples of "normal", and by the time they did, they were way past being kids and beyond the stage of dreaming. Not so for Duo and Harry.
They had always been on the outside looking in from the time they were very little. They had watched happy families and spent long hours while growing up wishing desperately to have that warmth and happiness. To this day, there was an ache in Duo's soul, a feeling of something missing, and no matter how much he loved his life and family now, nothing ever really filled up that empty space. Heero, Harry, and the others had taken the sting out of it, but it was still there nonetheless.
"I love you, little brother," he murmured, running his hands up and down the teen's back while Harry regained control of his emotions. "You've got a family now, and we'll never let you go."
"Thanks, Duo," Harry murmured, close to tears. He hugged his big brother one more time before pulling away. He stared bashfully at the ground and wiped his face with his sleeve. "We should go."
Duo smiled and tugged on the boy's dark braid. "Yeah. Let's go get you a wand."
He took Harry's hand and gave a sharp whistle to alert Quatre before leading the way to the front of the store. Black-the-dog trotted at their heels, his tail down and his eyes mournful. He had witnessed the moment between Harry and Duo and had clearly been affected by it. Duo gave the wizard a wink to try and tell him that things were okay, but Black didn't look convinced.
As soon as Trowa came into sight, Harry flashed a wide grin and happily described all the cool things he'd found in the store. He didn't mention the episode with the woman. The shadow of the past had slipped back out of sight, and he was glad to keep it there. He may not have had a mother or magical toys, but he had the best brothers in the world and he refused to feel anything except grateful.
Solomon's Wands was delightfully spooky. It was darkly lit with dust and cobwebs hanging in the corners. Harry jumped as the man came out of the shadows behind them, and then smiled in appreciation at the trick.
"Welcome," the old wizard rasped in a mysterious voice. He was dressed like he'd stepped out of the Middle Ages and had a smile that raised goosebumps on Harry's arms.
"Damn, man! You're going to get yourself shot one day," Duo complained, hand clasped dramatically over his heart.
Sirius barked, tongue lolling with obvious laughter, and Harry grinned. This was better than an amusement park!
"Well, well," the old man said, ignoring Duo. His eyes were focused solely on Trowa. "I didn't expect to see you again so soon, Tamer. Are you here for work or pleasure?"
Harry looked up at his brother curiously. Trowa's expression was completely blank, giving nothing away, and he knew now wasn't the time to ask.
Quatre took a step forward, drawing Solomon's attention. "We're here for another wand." He put a hand on Harry's shoulder, and the wizard's eyes moved to the teenager for the first time.
Harry gasped as those eyes bleached white. "Are you blind?" he blurted out and immediately slapped his hands over his mouth in embarrassment.
"Only temporarily," Solomon chuckled. "I sacrifice my normal sight in order to see things a bit more extraordinary." He hummed melodically for a few seconds. "Yes. Another tricky customer. Come here, come here." The old wizard flashed another crazy smile. "I won't bite."
For some reason, Harry didn't feel threatened by this man, and he stepped forward without hesitation. "What do I do?"
Solomon snapped his fingers and tape measures flew through the air. He directed them to Harry, and they began taking measurements all over the boy's body. "Hold out your dominant hand, child. There you go."
Right arm extended, Harry watched the tape measures curiously. "Then what?" He noticed that the old man's eyes were no longer white.
"Then we find you a wand," Solomon answered and walked to the back of the store and out of sight. He came back with at least a dozen wand boxes. "Let's try this one first."
An hour later, Sirius was lying on his side snoring, Duo was sitting on the counter and egged Harry on to destroy more of the shop, Quatre sat in a chair next to the door, and Trowa stood patiently by his side. Harry was in turns amused by Duo's antics and frustrated that the one hundred or so wands he'd tried so far weren't right.
"Yes! Yes! I see now!" Solomon exclaimed after another wand box burst into flames. He scurried away.
"I really hope so," Harry sighed tiredly. He pushed his bangs off his sweaty forehead and sat heavily on the floor right where he stood.
"Harry," Quatre scolded.
The teen ignored him. He was tired! He didn't care how dirty it was and he didn't think Solomon was too concerned with manners. Unfortunately, the wizard chose that moment to return, and with a groan, Harry got to his feet.
"Here it is, here it is!" Solomon practically sang. He thrust a dark-colored wand toward Harry. "Holly, phoenix feather, eleven inches. Try it, boy. Go on."
As soon as Harry's fingers came in contact with the wood, something warm filled him up. His green eyes went wide as gold and silver sparks flowed from his wand in a gentle rain that lit up the shop with light. "Wow," he breathed, the wand already feeling like an extension of his body.
Quatre came over. "Amazing, isn't it?" He took out his own wand and flowers of fire fell from the tip in answer to Harry's display of magic. Both of them had stupid smiles on their faces.
Duo burst into laughter. "Do you guys need some privacy?"
Sirius barked a laugh while Trowa rolled his eyes.
"That is not a wand of my making. It was Ollivander's," Solomon revealed. For the first time since meeting the man, he looked downcast. "A great wand maker. It's a shame he was killed during the attack on his store. I know he'd be thrilled to see this one with its wizard. It was one of the first he ever made some eighty years ago." The wizard sighed and looked up to see he had all of their attention. "This wand has an incredible story. It has a twin, a brother. Ollivander was granted two feathers, you see, from the same phoenix. He crafted two wands using them. One was bought not ten years after they were made, and the other you hold now. Ollivander told me once while drunk that this wand would go to someone very special, someone who would do great things, because the elder twin had claimed Lord Voldemort as its wizard."
Harry's mouth fell open, and he clutched his wand protectively to his chest. "No."
"Shit," Duo echoed. "Sorry, kid. You just can't catch a break, can you?"
Temper exploded from deep in Harry's belly. "No!" he yelled. "It's mine! It has nothing to do with him!"
Without warning, he turned and practically fled the shop. Sirius was quick on his heels, as were his brothers. Harry pushed through the thickening crowds on the street, blinded by his desire to get away. Every time he got something good, something of magic, something bad came and tainted it. He was so sick of it. How could something that felt so right in his hand, something that had become a part of him so quickly be connected to evil? Furious energy pounded in his veins, and he pushed his legs faster to try and drown it out.
Eventually, he couldn't run any further. He leaned against the nearest wall, panting, and saw he stood on the corner where the brick entrance back to the pub stood. He didn't know the code to get through, but he knew his brothers would catch up soon. Harry winced, knowing he was going to be in big trouble for running away from them like that. Sirius leaned against his knees, and Harry stroked his head, thankful for the comfort. He caught sight of Duo coming up on him, a thunderous expression on his face, but before his brother could reach him, an elderly wizard stepped in front of Harry and grabbed the teen's shoulder.
"Harry Potter? My God! It's Harry Potter!"
Harry flinched away, Sirius' growls rumbling in his ears, and suddenly Duo was between him and the man. His brother's violet eyes were practically spitting threats.
"Don't touch him," Duo warned in a low, dangerous voice.
But it was too late. A crowd began to gather around them. "Harry Potter!" "You're back!" "Harry!" The people grew louder and louder. Duo held Harry close to his side while Quatre pushed through to the brick wall. Trowa held back as many as he could, slapping aside the groping hands. Sirius growled and nipped at heels, but it was no use. Every moment that passed, the press of people around them grew. Hands grasped at Harry's sleeves and braid despite his brothers' efforts.
"Are you going to save us?" "Where have you been?" "Why did you leave us?" "Harry, save us, please!" "Chosen One!" "The Boy-Who-Lived has returned!" "My daughter's dying!" "Can we have your picture?" "Help me!" "Who do you live with?" "Are you back for good?" "Harry!" "Why did you abandon the Wizarding world?"
Heart pounding in his chest, Harry stared in utter shock at the ring of faces crying out to him. He hadn't expected anything like this! Not in a million years! Quatre finally got the brick portal open and they hurried through only to hit another wall of people, pushing and shoving to get a look at Harry Potter.
They were in the pub now, but that just made the voices louder. There were fights breaking out at the edges of the mob as people attempted to get closer. A heavy body slammed into Duo, and Harry went down to his hands and knees. His eyes were wide with panic, breath coming harshly. He screamed as someone stepped on his hand. Sirius bit the offending limb and the foot jerked away, freeing him. Harry was lifted roughly to his feet by the back of his shirt, and he caught Duo's eyes. His brother had slipped into Shinigami mode.
Duo spun and backhanded a man reaching for Harry. The man stumbled back and would have gone down if the press of bodies hadn't kept him on his feet. Duo's gun came up and Harry slammed his hands over his ears a second before it went off with a deafening bang. Silence fell instantly.
"Back off!" the enraged pilot yelled. "The next bullet will be through your head!"
The crowd looked down from the smoking hole in the ceiling and stared at the gunman with wide eyes.
Quatre and Trowa were shoving people away from the front door, making a path for them. Duo grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him after the other two. They were almost free when something tripped Harry. It felt like rope had wrapped around his ankles, and he went down, his hand yanked hard from Duo's grip. Then Sirius' teeth napped shut around his calf, drawing blood. Harry cried out in shocked pain, but his scream became one of fear midway through as something hooked him behind his navel and he was pulled sickeningly through space.
xXx
Number 10 turned out to be a sprawling brick building. Une drove right up to the front door and parked. She held it open for them as Heero and Wufei led their prisoners inside. A secretary met them in the foyer. The woman's eyes went wide at seeing the two cuffed people among their party, and they grew even wider when Une ordered the woman to take them to the Prime Minister's office, stating they had an appointment.
The five of them took the stairs to the third level and were guided down a carpeted hallway until they reached a lobby set around an ornate door. Une didn't slow to greet the Minister's secretary, instead barging into the large, luxurious office. There were tables and couches, as well as a massive desk and fireplace. It seemed more like a large sitting room than an office.
Prime Minister David Cameron jumped to his feet, surprised by their entrance. He was at his desk. A folder lay open on the polished surface. He was young for his position, not quite middle-aged, and had intelligent blue eyes, short brown hair, a large forehead, and a small mouth. Naturally, he was dressed in an expensive suit, but surprisingly for a politician he was only slightly overweight. Once he was sure of whom they were it only took the charismatic man a moment to calm the two secretaries and send them outside, shutting the door behind them.
"What is this? Are these two connected to yesterday's attack?" Cameron demanded as he stood in front of the two cuffed prisoners now sitting on his couch.
Une stood beside him, also looking the two over. "Maybe, maybe not," she answered. "I have found that the attacks yesterday were magical in nature, and these two are wizards. I need you to contact the Magical Ministry so that we can confirm their identities. They claim to be official agents sent here by their government. We also need to come up with useful strategies to protect the populace while these wizards fight their war."
Cameron looked over the two prisoners with grim eyes, but before he could say anything there was a knock on the door. Relena was shown inside. Most people never noticed those who stood silent and watchful in the corners of the room, but Relena noticed everyone. She gave Heero and Wufei a friendly nod as she passed them before taking a seat across from the wizards.
"Good morning. I'm sorry I am late. Traffic was terrible," she said to the two who stood looking down at her.
Cameron still looked surprised by her presence. "Miss President! I wasn't informed you were going to attend this briefing. Would you like tea?"
Relena gave him a sweet smile. "We should hold the refreshments until everyone is present."
"Everyone?" Cameron shot Une a confused glance.
"Please call the magical government, Prime Minister," the Commander requested. "I believe we need to consult them regarding the situation."
"Very well." Cameron straightened his shoulders and went to his desk. He put in a code, causing a drawer to open.
Heero expected something amazing to be removed, but the Prime Minister held only a small leather bag. Cameron opened it to reveal a gray sand-like substance, ash maybe. Heero's frown deepened as the man carried it to the fireplace and threw it in. Instantly, green fire ignited where a second ago there had been none. Heero shared a looked with Wufei, neither enjoyed not knowing what to expect. Something would have to be done regarding their ignorance soon.
"Minister Fudge's office!" the Prime Minister shouted. He looked over his shoulder and gave a smile. "This is the first time I've actually had to do this, so I'm not quite sure what will happen."
"Yes? This is the Minister's secretary, how can I help you Prime Minister?" a female voice floated from the flames.
Cameron only hesitated for a heartbeat and answered as if he were talking on the phone. "I have two wizards in custody, and I need information immediately regarding the attack on the airports. I request that the Minister join me in my office as soon as possible."
There was a lengthy pause of half a minute before the woman answered. "Yes, sir. The Minister will be there shortly, along with the head of our Law Enforcement."
"Thank you," Cameron said politely and backed away from the fire.
"I apologize for the restraints. I do hope they aren't too uncomfortable?" Relena asked the two wizards.
"It's okay," the witch answered with a small smile. The wizard merely stared at Relena, unimpressed.
Heero's eyes snapped to the flames. A shadowy figure formed in the dark green center before a short, portly man stepped into the room. There was ash on his shoulders, but a quick wave of his wand removed the soot. He didn't look singed in the slightest. A second shadow grew and a woman followed the man.
Heero assumed the first was the magical Minister because he wore an old fashioned suit, including a top hat, and had a gold chain dangling from his waist coat with a pocket watch attached. He strongly reminded Heero of the white rabbit in the Wonderland story. Interesting enough, the woman could have been Alice's mother. Her blond hair was pulled back into a bun and her large blue eyes filled a pretty face. Heero wasn't fooled by her appearance. The woman held herself like she was trained in combat. She must be the leader of their Law Enforcement, then.
"Minister Fudge, thank you for coming," Cameron began.
"Why do you have my men cuffed?" the woman broke in, expression fierce.
Une stepped up to Cameron's side. "They entered Preventer headquarters with demands regarding Sirius Black. Considering the devastating magical attack yesterday, I felt it prudent to restrain them until I could confirm which magical party they were sent from."
Silence followed this statement until Fudge, red in the face, demanded an explanation.
Relena stood and drew the room's attention to prevent a fight from breaking out. "Only those in this room know the secret of magic," she reassured. "And we have all been spelled into silence. After the attack, Sirius Black turned himself in. He feared things had escalated to the point where our help was necessary to the war effort."
"That's illegal!" Fudge sputtered.
Relena inclined her head. "He informed us of that much. That's why he swore us to secrecy, to protect the Wizarding world as much as possible."
"He was right to tell us," Une snapped, staring the magical officials down. "The Prime Minister doesn't have the authority to do what needs to be done. It falls under the Preventer's jurisdiction when there is a global threat, and President Darlian is the only one who can unify the disparate governments without having to give thorough explanations."
Cameron spoke up with a grim expression. "Please understand. I do not have the power to calm the outrage this attack has sparked. Nearly three hundred thousand people died yesterday. They were innocent citizens from all over the world."
"We have only just begun to recover from our last war," Relena added, voice soft. "Fear runs strong in the people, but I'm confident that by working together we will be able to overcome this tragedy and prevent more from taking place."
Fudge wrung his hands nervously and shot the witch a desperate look.
"I am Amelia Bones, Head of the DMLE," the witch finally introduced herself. She narrowed her frosty blue eyes at Une and Relena. "Sirius Black falls under my jurisdiction for breaking several of our laws. I hope you are aware that one of his crimes includes the mass murderer of Muggles. He is a dangerous criminal, and you are taking a huge risk by associating with him."
Une lifted an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "It is my understanding that Sirius Black never received a trial. By our laws, that would make his imprisonment illegal. Is it different in the magical world?"
Bones shot Minister Fudge a sharp look, clearly surprised by this statement. "I was not aware of this." She turned back to Une. "He will be processed legally under my close supervision. Should I discover his case was mishandled, appropriate actions will be taken."
Relena took a step forward, drawing the formidable woman's attention. "I'm afraid Mr. Black is under my protection." She gave them a friendly smile and offered her hand. "I am Relena Darlian, President of the Earth Sphere United Nation. Mr. Black's advice is too advantageous to relinquish at this time. Perhaps in the future we can revisit this topic." She turned and gestured to Une, clearly signaling the end of that topic. "Let me introduce you. This is Lady Une, Commander of the Preventers, which is our only official world military. And this is David Cameron, Prime Minister of the UK and a member of the Earth Sphere council."
Bones did not look happy. "Minister, Commander," she greeted them. Her eyes once more rested on the prisoners sitting on the couch. "I request that you release my men. They went to your headquarters under my authority."
"Very well," Une said and took out the keys to their cuffs. "However, we must devise a better system to prevent any more mistakes."
The magical contingent had nothing to say to that.
Relena gave another of her perfect smiles and guided the delegates to the seats around the table. "Would anyone care for a drink?" she asked sweetly.
There wasn't much chatter as Wufei moved to serve tea, lemonade, and water respectively. The wizard prisoner was introduced as Rufus Scrimgeour, Captain of the Aurors, who functioned as the Ministry's soldiers. The witch was named simply Tonks. No rank or specialty was given. Scrimgeour took a seat at the table while Tonks stood and moved into a guard position behind Minister Fudge's chair.
Heero maintained his position standing unobtrusively in the corner of the room. So far he hadn't been given any notice, which had been his goal. He remained watchful as the true negotiations - filled with barbs, threats, and bribes - began. He was glad Wufei was present. He wasn't confident he would remember all the nuances and little details to relay back to Quatre. It was going to be a long afternoon.
xXx
Harry slammed into a carpeted floor and lay shaking. Sirius whimper-growled, and Harry whipped his head up to see an old woman in forbidding maroon robes wearing an absurd hat with a dead bird on it. Harry scrambled to his feet when the woman reached for him, and Sirius lunged at her. Fast as a striking snake, her wand snapped forward. The dog fell to the floor unmoving. Harry screamed.
"I merely Stunned your pet," the woman hissed. "Stop your caterwauling this instant!"
Harry snapped his mouth closed and glared hatefully at the woman.
Unimpressed, she pointed her wand at his head. "Better. Now, come with me. I have something to show you."
Harry thought of a dozen ways to disarm the woman, but it was dangerous. She could strike him down or hurt Sirius further. He had to wait. Maybe attack her once they left the room, so that Sirius couldn't be made a target. Harry got to his feet and blanked his face, watching her through empty eyes. Inside he was howling with fury. He'd been kidnapped again! His brothers were going to kill him!
His abductor seemed unnerved by the change, and he almost let a grin escape. She hadn't seen anything yet. "This way," she said stiffly. Her wand was still trained on him as she walked sideways toward the door.
Harry followed slowly, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. They moved carefully through hallways of what was clearly a manor house. It was old-fashioned with many antiques, not that Harry cared. She stopped at an ornate wooden door and pushed it open, ordering him inside.
The room was full of light, the far wall made up of huge windows. Creams, yellows, and whites predominated, and in the middle of a bed lay a boy around his age. He looked sickly. He was too skinny, and his eyes were sunken in his head. There were bloody bandages wrapped around his right arm, and the smell of sickness was strong in the air.
As Harry stared down at the other boy in horror, he could hear a voice that sounded suspiciously like Duo's yelling, Hell no! Harry wasn't going to let her lock him up like she had this boy! He whipped his hands up and pushed with all his might. The woman didn't have time to widen her eyes, let alone defend herself. Her body was flung against the wall so hard that she rebounded. Harry threw himself into the room to avoid being crushed. He rolled and came up to his feet, hands up and ready to defend, but the witch was on the floor, crumbled against the opposite wall of the hallway. She wasn't moving.
Harry spun and ran toward the bed. "Hey! Wake up! I'm getting you out of here." He shook the boy's shoulder, careful not to jostle him too terribly. The boy was obviously very sick, and the bloody bandages indicated he was also injured. Had the woman tortured him? Harry cast a nervous glance at the doorway, but the woman still hadn't moved. "Wake up!" he yelled desperately.
Brown eyes that were sunken deep in their sockets fluttered open. They latched onto Harry's face with surprising clarity. Harry saw the exact moment they lifted to his brow and saw the scar. The boy's pale face seemed to light up from within as he began to smile. "Harry Potter?"
"Yeah," Harry muttered, scowling slightly as he smoothed his bangs over his forehead. He really didn't like it that people could tell who he was with just one glance. "Come on. We've got to escape before she wakes up."
"What?" The boy frowned and looked toward the doorway. "Gran?" He looked back up at Harry with obvious worry. "What happened to her?"
"She tried to lock me in here with you." He pulled on the boy's good arm in an effort to get him to sit up. The boy tried to help, but he was very weak. Already his hands were shaking and his face was coated with sweat.
"There must be some mistake," the boy said weakly. "My Gran wouldn't do that."
"Bullshit," Harry panted. "Look what she did to you! Now help me out here. She could wake up any minute."
"No, Harry." A surprisingly gentle hand settled on his shoulder. "She didn't do this. Voldemort did."
Harry froze upon hearing those words, one arm wrapped around the boy's skinny back to keep him sitting. "What?"
The boy's eyes stared intently into Harry's own, their faces only a hand's breadth apart. "It was last year," he whispered. "There was a basilisk in the school. A classmate's sister was taken, and so… I tried to fight it and rescue her." He closed his eyes, shame clouding his features. "The basilisk was controlled by a memory of Voldemort when he was a teenager. He was using Ginny's life force to become alive again. I killed the basilisk, but I was too late. Ginny was dead, and Voldemort was back."
Harry shifted his attention to the bandage that covered the whole span of the boy's upper arm. "He did that?"
The boy followed his eyes. "No. The basilisk did. It bit me. The tooth was as wide as my fist at the base, but it's the poison that will kill you in minutes." He gave a pained laugh. "Fortunately for me, Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix, came and cried into the bite. Phoenix tears have magical healing abilities."
"Then why…?" Harry shook his head. He didn't understand any of this.
The boy's face paled further and he began to shake so badly that Harry was forced to help him lay back down. "He tortured me. He used my pain and blood to resurrect the basilisk that I had killed." Harry watched in horror as the boy covered his face with his good hand and wept. "I'm sorry. I tried to stop him. I did. I'm so sorry. I wasn't strong enough. I couldn't… couldn't…" By this point, the boy could hardly breathe through his gasping sobs.
Harry snapped, unable to listen to this anymore. He grabbed the boy's chin and prized away the shaking hand so he could see the boy's face. "Hey. It wasn't your fault. You did everything you could."
"Hush, Neville. Mr. Potter is correct. He does not blame you."
Harry's head whipped up and he scowled as he noticed the woman on her feet in the doorway.
She held up her hands, revealing that she did not hold a wand. "I swear I will not do you harm. You are even free to leave. I merely wanted you to see."
"See what?" Harry demanded. He stepped away from the boy. He needed room to fight should it come down to it.
The woman turned deeply mournful eyes toward Neville. The boy was fisting his blankets as he fought to regain control and catch his breath. "He's all I have left. My only son and his wife were tortured into mindlessness at the end of the last war. My only brother died of a heart attack last year. This is my sole grandchild, my only family. His name is Neville, Mr. Potter. And when you disappeared from our world, you forced us to find a replacement. Neville, who shares your birthday and who lost his parents as you did, was as close as we could get. But he is not you, Mr. Potter! Look what pretending to be the Chosen One has done to him!"
"That's not fair!" Harry cried.
Her eyes, brown just like Neville's, lifted and pinned him in place. "No, Mr. Potter. It is not fair. It's not fair that Neville has suffered. It's not fair that people are dying young, and it's not fair to all the orphans who have lost their families. This isn't fair to anyone involved, Mr. Potter! Do you understand what I'm saying? Can you understand the magnitude of your Destiny, and the consequences to innocent people should you turn your back on it?"
Harry lifted his chin defiantly. "So you think you can just kidnap me and force me into some kind of death fight with Voldemort? Is that it?"
"Gran? You didn't?" Neville rasped, tears still running down his cheeks.
The woman looked away, ashamed. "I acted rashly." She took a deep breath and met Harry's furious stare. "I was wrong to take you without permission. I apologize." She looked down at her grandson sadly. "I wanted you to see…" she said softly, trailing off.
"I'm sorry, Harry." Neville reached out a trembling hand. Harry took it reflexively when he saw pain in the boy's face. "It's my fault. She's just worried about me. I still want to fight. Voldemort took my parents. He killed Ginny. I… I want to stop him. This is my fight, too."
Harry closed his eyes remembering the horrific vision from the day before. All those people had died horrifically, and Voldemort had enjoyed every minute of it. Neville had stood up against that monster. He'd come out of it injured, but he had survived. Harry opened his eyes to see Neville's brave expression. The boy was still willing to fight, even now, even after being desperately hurt.
"Be assured that you do not stand alone," the woman added, pride in every line of her face. "We all will stand beside you, but you are needed to do your part."
The words of the prophecy Lupin had told him rang in Harry's head. "I know," he whispered. He looked down at Neville's hand still clasped in his own. They were about the same size. "I know I do."
It wasn't fair, but it hadn't been fair when his brothers were chosen to be Gundam pilots and flung down to Earth to fight the Federation, either. Duo hadn't had any combat training when he'd agreed to pilot. Quatre had rebelled against his family's pacifist beliefs in order to protect the innocent people being hurt by the war. Trowa had given up being a mercenary and had been working as an engineer when he'd been placed in a cockpit and flung down to Earth without warning. Wufei had lost his wife and entire clan, and instead of giving up, he had piloted his Gundam down to battle. As for Heero, he had been the youngest of all of them. He'd been only thirteen when the Gundams went to Earth, the same age as Harry was now. Could Harry do less than his brothers when faced with his own war?
Impulsively, he reached forward and touched Neville's cool, pale cheek with his fingertips. As their eyes locked, something passed between them. Neville had given everything he had to fight, everything. Every day was now a struggle to survive, a struggle made more difficult by the guilt weighing him down. With his eyes, Harry willed him to believe that it was okay.
"I will end this, Neville. I swear it," Harry promised, voice fierce.
Neville smiled, tears of utter relief spilling down his cheeks. Color slowly began to return to his face and he let loose a trusting sigh as his eyes fell closed. He was asleep in moments.
The old woman lowered her head over her folded hands. "Thank you, Mr. Potter," she said, voice hoarse with honest gratitude.
"Don't thank me," Harry spat, his anger coming back tenfold. He gently released Neville while he glared venomously up at her. "I'm doing this for Neville. He's innocent in all this. You are not!Fighting this bastard may be my job, but I'm not some weapon to be controlled by you or your society. You had no right to take me like that or to hold me at wand point. If you ever attack me again, I will retaliate."
She stared back at him solemnly before nodding. "I understand, Mr. Potter. It won't happen again."
Harry watched her warily as he sidled around the bed and made his way to the door. The woman made no move to stop him as he stepped into the hallway and pulled the door shut behind him. Sirius-the-dog appeared, weaving a bit on his paws. "Let's get out of here," Harry whispered and grabbed a handful of the dog's fur.
They made their way through the large, empty manor silently. Harry held tight to the scruff of Sirius's neck, mind far away. He blinked, surprised, when they stepped outside into the sun. Sirius transformed into a man and pulled him into his arms. Harry tensed, but he didn't resist. He felt the same flying, squished sensation from before and, a moment later, they were standing across from Grimmauld Place.
"Go on. I'll get your brothers," Sirius said softly, blue eyes bright with sympathy.
Harry ducked his head to escape those knowing eyes and practically ran across the street and into the house.
xXx
Sirius's hands fisted at his sides uselessly. Frustrated beyond belief, he spun and Apparated to the alley across from the Leaky Cauldron. As soon as he arrived, a strong hand grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the alley wall. He gasped, pained, and grabbed at the wrist pinning him. Light brown bangs fell over half of his attacker's face, and a single green eye stared at him without a single drop of empathy. This man was capable of anything.
"Trowa," Sirius wheezed. "He's safe. I took him back to Grimmauld Place."
The brunet released him and whistled loudly. A second later, Duo and Quatre came running toward them. Their guns were out and they looked beyond pissed.
"Where is he?" Duo demanded. Only Trowa's arm coming across Duo's chest held him back from attacking the wizard.
"Grimmauld Place," Sirius answered quickly, hoping to remain unharmed. He very bravely offered his arms. Guns were put away and three strong grips took hold. He gathered his dwindling strength and Apparated, pulling his heavy passengers with him. As soon as they landed, Sirius felt his knees buckle and darkness swam across his vision as he passed out, exhausted.
Quatre and Duo sprinted for the house as Trowa hefted the wizard over his shoulders in a fireman's carry. They left the door open for him and Trowa kicked it closed once they were inside. He could hear Duo's nervous chatter coming from the sitting room and hurried that way. He found Duo on his knees in front of Harry who sat on the couch looking pale. Quatre sat next to the teen and was gently examining Harry's swollen hand while Duo checked out the torn, bloody pants at Harry's calf.
"God, Heero's gonna kill me when he hears about this," Duo was muttering, voice shaky.
"I'm fine," Harry promised as Trowa settled the wizard in one of the arm chairs. "Some lady took me to see her injured grandson. She wanted to warn me how dangerous Voldemort was."
Trowa shared a look with Quatre. There was something in Harry's voice, in his eyes, that said the teen wasn't being completely honest about what happened. Quatre nodded, confirming Trowa's assessment with his empathy.
"Did she touch you?" Duo demanded, holding tight to Harry's calf to staunch the blood.
"No. Just held me at wand point so I wouldn't attack her." Harry closed his eyes, shutting them out. "She stunned Sirius and took me to her grandson's sick room. His name is Neville. He's about my age, and he'd been tortured by Voldemort. We talked for a bit, and then Sirius woke up and fetched me. He was still in dog form, so she doesn't know who he is. We walked outside without trouble, and Sirius transformed back into a human for a second before bringing me back here. That's all that happened."
Duo looked up at Quatre, unsure, eyes bright with worry.
Quatre gently took Harry's chin in hand. "Look at me," he ordered softly. Green eyes opened reluctantly. "I can feel the weight on your chest. It makes every breath feel heavy. What's wrong?"
Harry shook his head and turned his face away, closing his eyes once more. His arms came around his chest in a defensive move. "I'm just tired. I'm going to take a nap."
Quatre relented, obviously feeling something with his empathy that told him to back off.
Duo sighed, unhappy, but he stood and offered his little brother his hand. "I'll get some ice for your hand and bandage your leg before you hit the sack."
Harry nodded and practically ran upstairs.
"He's overwhelmed," Quatre said into the heavy silence and let his head fall heavily onto the back rest of the couch. "He needs a moment to process what happened. We'll confront him later when he wakes up."
Duo practically hissed and wrung his braid between his hands. "Goddamn it! Why does it have to be Harry?" he practically yelled.
Quatre covered his eyes with his hand. "I don't know, but we're going to be with him every step of the way."
Duo yanked away from the hand that Trowa put on his shoulder, face tight with fury. "Not if he keeps getting kidnapped right in front of us! How are we going to keep him safe if this keeps happening?"
Quatre shut down his empathy and immediately felt his blood pressure lower. He took a deep, steady breath, lifting his head. "We'll keep learning and getting stronger, and we'll teach Harry to be strong. He's going to need us, but we have to trust that he can manage on his own when we can't be there. Like he did today. Like he did with Dumbledore."
Duo spun and punched the wall with a low-throated cry.
Quatre looked away, feeling helpless and hating it. "We'll leave in an hour for the meeting. Do you still wish to come?"
Now more than ever he wanted to meet Dumbledore. "Yeah. I'm coming," Duo ground out. With that decided, he turned and stormed from the room to tend to Harry.
Quatre wasn't worried. He knew Duo would have a firm grip on his temper by the time he went upstairs. He leaned into Trowa's warmth as his husband sat next to him. Quatre let his eyes fall closed and slowly forced his muscles to relax. Seeing Harry disappear had been terrifying. Only the fact that Black had disappeared along with Harry had let him think rationally. Duo was right about one thing.
"We have to do better," he whispered.
"We will," Trowa reassured him, and they fell into a comfortable silence, just resting in each other's presence.
Chapter end. Please review!