Okay, so I got the second chapter out...WOW! I have never gotten two chapters out on the same night, let alone for the same story. I'm on a roll. :)

Anyway, I would just like to thank all of my reviews. You really got my inspiration moving. So yeah, Thanks a lot!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN OUTSIDERS OR HARRY POTTER.

Chapter 2

The Worried

"Oh God! What am I going to do? Darry is going to kill me when he finds out!" Sodapop whispered, fear lacing every word. He had actually lost his kid brother!

"Geez Soda, him and Johnny probably just headed home," Steve muttered, frowning.

Sodapop nodded, forcing himself to take a breath and calm down. Steve was right; there was probably no reason to worry. Pony and Johnny had most likely gotten bored of their movie choice and had gone home…alone….at night. Despite trying to look at things logically, Soda couldn't help but worry. Tensions around Tulsa had been running high lately, ever since their last rumble after Johnny had killed the Soc.

Steve sighed and grabbed his friend by the arm, dragging him in the direction of the car. "C'mon, I'm taking you home so you can see for yourself."

Sodapop nodded mutely and got into the car. Within seconds the car was speeding down the streets, running four red lights in the process. Each minute that went by only caused his stress to rise. Something told him that Pony was in trouble. For Pony's sake, he hoped he was wrong.

After what felt like forever, but was really only five minutes, they were pulling into the driveway. Soda quickly got out of the car, running hastily up the steps. Before he had time to contemplate anything, he was throwing the door open and running into the house. His heartbeat widely and his eyes widened in shock at the sight before him.

…

Darry sat down on the couch, enjoying the peace and quiet. Beside him sat none other than Dallas Winston, who was staring uninterested at the T.V. On the floor in front of the coffee table sat Two-Bit. They were all contently basking in the rare peace that accompanied the absence of the gang's younger members.

Just as he about to get up and grab a snack from the kitchen, a loud crash sounded from the corner of the room. Jumping up, Dally and Two-Bit immediately followed his lead. However, they were unable to see the source of the bang thanks to a cloud of smoke and ash that was now obscuring their vision of the fireplace.

He stood on guard, waiting for the ash cloud to clear. To his right, he vaguely noticed Dally withdrawing a medium-sized switchblade, holding it in front of him and bracing to attack if necessary.

As the smoke cleared, Darry felt his mouth nearly hit the floor in surprise. Out of all the scenarios that had run through his head, he hadn't expected the sight before him. Slowly emerging from the smoke was an old man that looked like he should have died ages ago. The tension in the room immediately dissipated. An uncomfortable silence followed, before Two-Bit's burst out laughing, clutching his stomach.

"Old man… I think… you got the…. wrong place," Two-Bit stated between fits of laughter. Let's just say an old man flying out of a fireplace was the last thing he had expected to see that night.

"Quite the contrary Keith Mathews, this is the Curtis household. Is it not?" The old man sent the group a smile, and as quickly as Two-Bit's laughter had started, it stopped. If possible Darry's jaw dropped even lower. Next to him Dally looked equally taken aback, eyes narrowing ever so slightly.

"How do you know my name?" Two-Bit asked, his eyes wide and mouth hanging open.

"All will be explained in due time. Yet, it appears we seem to be missing a few people. How about we wait over a nice cup of tea?" The man was officially starting to grate on Darry's nerves. But before he even had time to protest the man had sat himself down in the un-occupied arm-chair.

Not knowing what else to do, Darry also sat down. After all, none of them were going to attack an old man. Even if the said old man had invited himself into someone else's house. Dally and Two-Bit also sat down and the wait for Soda, Steve, Pony and Johnny began.

Darry fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat. Every few seconds he would steal a glance at the old man before them. He turned to look over at Two-Bit and Dallas, noticing they were also staring suspiciously at the man.

The minutes ticked on and just as he was about to reach his breaking point and confront the old man, a loud crash interrupted him. He whipped around to see Soda glancing furiously around the living room as if looking for something. In the doorway behind him, Steve stood with a frown.

The minute Soda burst into the house he knew something was wrong. His brother looked nearly hysterical, his eyes glancing frantically around the room, looking intently for something.

"God Darry! Pony's not here is he?" Darry's eyes widened as he realized Pony and Johnny were not with Steve and Soda. Now his brother really looked distraught.

"Oh God!" Soda began pacing.

Darry quickly stood up and walked over to him, guiding him to sit on the couch. At the moment, the old man was the last thing on his mind.

"Soda calm down and tell me what's wrong," He said, forcing himself to sound calmer than he actually was.

"I'm sorry Darry! I'm so sorry! I didn't think they would leave…" Soda's voice wavered slightly. "Me and Steve only left them for a few minutes, but when we came back they were gone!"

Darry looked over at Steve who shot him a questioning glance before pointing to the old man. He shook his head, this was not the time.

"It's okay, it's not your fault," He whispered, rubbing circles on his brother's back. "If him and Johnny aren't back in a half an hour we'll all go out to look."

Soda nodded looking more relaxed and for the third time that night, Darry settled down on the couch and began to wait.

Ponyboy blinked open his eyes and gazed around blearily, trying to figure out where he was. The hard ground was digging into his back as a cold night air swept over his aching face. He tried to sit up, but a blinding pain in his stomach stopped him. Immediately he fell back with a loud gasp.

It was then that he remembered exactly where he was; they had been cornered by one of Bob Sheldon's friends.

Oh God! Where was Johnny?

Ponyboy tried to call out to his friend, but his throat stung. All he managed was a low moan. Thankfully his pitiful attempts still seemed to accomplish something.

"Ponyboy?" A small, pained voice came from a few meters away. Ponyboy turned his head to see Johnny trying to sit up. Relief instantly swept over him.

"Johnny," He finally managed to gasp out, voice raspy. Every word hurt and his chest felt like it was going to explode.

God, it hurt so much.

He tried once again to sit up, but only fell back with a grunt. He brought his hand up to his stomach only to bring it away in shock. In that second he wanted to throw up. Blood had stained his entire hand. Feeling his breath quicken, he let out a small squeak.

"Pony? What's wrong?" Johnny asked, slowly making his way over.

Ponyboy could only stare wide-eyed, before managing a few stuttering words.

"Johnny…I…I…think I was…sta…stabbed!"

…

Johnny froze in his tracks.

'Johnny I think I was stabbed!'

Those words echoed around in his head before reality hit him and hit him hard. He crawled over to Pony and felt his breath catch in his throat.

Even in the darkness of night, he could tell his friend was pale, too pale. Bruises covered every inch of visible skin. His head sported a large cut that reached from his temple to chin. Not to mention blood could clearly be seen coming from a wound right below his rib-cage.

At that moment Johnny quickly leaned away and emptied what little contents his stomach contained onto the hard pavement. Wiping his mouth, he quickly turned back to Pony and forced himself to stay calm.

"Pony, you need to calm down," He whispered and could gradually hear Pony's breath become a little steadier. "Okay Pone, this might hurt a bit, but I'm going to put you on my back."

He nodded.

Quickly kneeling down beside him Johnny carefully lifted Pony up into a sitting position. He flinched as a small grunt of pain escaped Pony's lips. Using all the strength he had left, Johnny bent down and lifted his friend onto a piggy-back.

With a small limp he began down the streets, trying to stay hidden in the shadows. Judging from the lack of people on the streets, he could tell it was late. Behind him, Pony's laboured breathing came in short, shallow gasps. He quickened his pace.

He once again felt the urge to be sick as Pony's blood started soaking through his shirt. He forced himself to keep going. He wouldn't let Pony get hurt again, because of him.

A fresh wave of relief washed over him as they passed the lot. 'Only a couple more blocks to go!' Feeling like he was about to collapse, a sigh escaped him as they reached the house. Quickly climbing the porch he reached up and opened the door with what little strength he had left.

…

Darry jumped up as the front door was slammed open. Immediately any words he was about to say caught right in his throat. Johnny stood in the doorway looking for all his life like he had just gotten the snot kicked out of him. The kid looked outright horrible. Bruises covered his face and his eye was turned a nasty shade of purple.

It was then that Darry noticed the kid was carrying something. Upon closer inspection he realized it wasn't something, rather someone. His eyes widened in horror as he took a closer look. Oh God! Pony!

He ran over, catching Johnny just as he collapsed. The rest of the gang crowd around them. Dally and Two-bit went to work helping to take Johnny up to the couch, but the kid stopped them.

"Pony he's hurt real bad!" He gasped out, panting heavily.

Darry felt his heart stop and focused all his attention on Pony, for the first time he was able to see how bad he looked.

Ponyboy was covered from head to toe in bruises and cuts. He was way to pale to be healthy and looked lifeless. If it wasn't for the faint rise and fall of his chest he could have been dead. Darry's eyes were drawn to the blood that seemed to be flowing from a wound in his stomach. Soda knelt beside him, clutching Pony's hand for dear life.

"Two-bit go upstairs and get the first aid kit! Steve go get me a wet rag!" Darry commanded and knelt down beside his two kid brothers.

"Pony, can you hear me?" He whispered. No response. Darry could hear his brother's breathing getting shallower and shallower by the minute. "Hey Pony, I'm gonna need you to wake up."

Again, no response.

Soda had tears falling from his eyes. "C'mon Pone, wake up!"

Two-Bit and Steve came back, but they just stood there, watching the scene with wide eyes.

Darry's own eyes widened in horror as Pony's breathing became increasingly laboured. Suddenly it felt like his world was crashing as the rise and fall of his brother's chest halted. He's not breathing! Was the only thing his mind seemed to recognize.

He was about to turn around and yell at whoever had just tapped his shoulder when he was pushed aside by the old man. Bearing his teeth, his snarl caught in his throat.

"If you would allow me to be of some assistance," The man said this calmly, like their brother wasn't dying right in front of their eyes. Darry's eyes widened in confusion as the old man pulled out a wooden stick, quickly pushed back Soda. For what it was worth, Soda sent him a glare that could make anyone freeze and turn to ash.

"This isn't the time for petty little pranks old man!" Dally shouted, clearly less patient than Darry, but stopped as the man began muttering quietly under his breath.

Darry froze in shock as the flow of blood from Ponyboy's wound stopped, his eyes also widened as the wound began to knit itself back together, leaving behind a small scar.

"D..arry….So..da," A small fragile voice came from Pony. Before he even had time to register what was happening, Soda had brought Ponyboy into his arms, hugging him as if he would suddenly disappear.

"God Pone! We thought we had lost you!" Soda sobbed.

Darry stood up, turning towards the old man, feeling the rest of the gang's eyes follow him.

"What the fuck was that?" He shouted, not sure if he should be angry or happy.

The old man merely smiled in response. "That my boy was a spell. Or more specifically, a very powerful healing spell."

Darry felt every ounce of patience he had held onto throughout the night dissolve.

"Don't play with me! What the hell did you do to my brother?" He all but snarled, causing everyone except Dallas to flinch.

"My dear child, what reason would I have to lie to you?" The man continued calmly. "A spell is a very simple form of magic that can be performed by any Witch or Wizard."

After getting only blank stares in response, he continued.

"It is also my greatest honour to inform you all that you are Wizards."

A/N

I'm really happy with how the rewrite for these chapter's turned out!

I hope you're enjoying it as much as I am!