Dark Marks and a Reluctant Hypocrite

Gohan's eyes shot open and he sat upright, his eyes darting around him. His father held a finger to his lips as he crouched low to the ground.

"Father, what's going on?" Gohan whispered. Suddenly, Hermione, Videl, and Ginny appeared in the center of the room, causing several of the Weasleys to cry out in alarm. Hermione was frowning thoughtfully as she motioned the other two to get down. Ginny and Videl exchanged fearful glances; they knew just enough about ki to know something was terribly wrong.

"Shh!" Goku said insistently. Then, he smirked. "Hermione knows Instant Transmission, huh?"

Harry shuddered. "What is that? It feels all wrong."

Arthur Weasley looked around anxiously. "Should I…wake up Vegeta?"

"I'm here," a voice growled. "There's no way I'd sleep through a ki disturbance like that.You know who they feel like, Kakarot?"

"Yeah, I do. Based on what I'm feeling, it's not good. Looks like he's learned how to suppress a bit. That's not good at all. And the worst ones to team together are those three."

Gohan gasped suddenly. "No! Not them!"

"Shh! Relax, Gohan. They pose no threat to us physically, and they are not hurting anyone yet. I wonder who the fourth ki is. I've never sensed it before."

Silence filled the tent, allowing the sounds from outside to enter. Sounds of running. Sounds of screaming.

Piccolo entered the tent. "There are two incidents occurring. The first is some wizards in black robes floating some Muggles in the air. The second is the powerful ki that just appeared. There seem to be four of them. I cannot determine whether the two events are related. The second group may be merely using the confusion from the first to their advantage. But the signatures of three of them are unmistakable."

Goku nodded. His eyes turned to Gohan. "Gohan, get everyone back to the forest where you originally arrived. You and Hermione keep closed ranks around Harry. Piccolo, do you think you can help handle the wayward wizards?"

Piccolo smirked.

"Vegeta and I will track down the powerful ki and determine their intentions—"

"Yeah…or just blast them into oblivion," Vegeta said with a smug grin.

Gohan and the other teens had made it to the tree line. They looked back to view the commotion within the camp. A group of wizards in black robes and masks had four people hovering in the air, two of them children. Gohan growled angrily as the woman flipped upside down and a small child began to spin like a top.

"That is sick," Ron said in disgust. "That is really sick."

Gohan wanted to do something, but he knew he had to stay with Harry. "Come on," he said, turning away with great effort.

As they receded further into the trees, they heard Ron yelp and curse. "Tripped over a tree root."

"Well, with feet that large, little wonder," a voice drawled. Draco Malfoy was leaning against a tree, his arms folded.

"We've lost Fred, George, Ginny, and Videl," Hermione whispered to Gohan.

Ron muttered something that made Malfoy sneer.

"Language, Weasley. You might want to hurry along. You don't want her spotted." He nodded toward Hermione.

Hermione smirked. "If they did spot me, they wouldn't be healthy enough to reveal much."

"You've been hanging around Vegeta too much," Gohan muttered. Hermione winked at him.

Malfoy raised a brow. "My, what a cocky little Mudblood we've become! You think your little trick can save you?"

Hermione snorted, then she gasped. "Malfoy! Get over here, now! They're right behind you!"

Malfoy continued smirking until a shadow fell upon him. He yelped and scampered behind the group.

Gohan and Hermione stood in front with a defensive stance. The stranger on the left was tall, muscular, and red with black horns and a goatee. The other was no taller than Hermione, what little of him showed beneath the cloak was pale. Gohan frowned at the shorter of the two.

The red one chuckled. "My, aren't we perceptive? I promise we won't hurt the others if you come along quietly, little girl."

Hermione jumped and scowled. Gohan stood in front of her. "What do you want with Hermione?" He demanded.

"Oh, Hermione, is it? How simple…how mundane…how perfectly average! Almost too average. Completely lacking in grandeur. Your father wouldn't approve."

Hermione's face contorted. "My father named me! My real father!" She spat. "There is no other father than him!"

"Is that so? Maybe you need re-educating. If you don't come to me, I will remove you by force."

"Enough!" Gohan shouted in annoyance. "If you want her, you have to get through me first!"

The red one cackled. "What a brave little fool we have! Neutralizing you should be no trouble at all. I'll handle you, and Frieza can easily manage the girl."

Gohan growled as the hood slid from the creature. "Hello, Saiyan scum. The look on your face!" Frieza cackled. On cue, Gohan became a Super Saiyan.

Frieza smirked. "Yes, Cell told me about your power increase and your Super Monkey status. I believe Dabura's right. I'll handle the girl."

Dabura tossed a long, narrow, metal rod at Frieza, who caught it with a grin. Dabura charged at the golden-haired boy and drove him into the ground, causing everyone else to scatter. Harry grabbed Malfoy and darted nimbly from harm, dropping the pale-faced teen roughly as soon as they were clear.

Frieza flashed a grin at Hermione. "Why don't you come here? Surrender would be considerably less painful for you."

Hermione sneered. "Thanks, but I don't think so. Gohan isn't the only one with secret strengths..." She focused her energy and pulled it out. She could feel her body changing: her chocolate eyes became as blue as the ocean; her ears melded into squared tips; her muscles slightly bulged and streamlined and reddish-brown markings covered her cheekbones and forehead, forming an exotic-looking mask shape. "So, who starts out?" She said, smiling.

Frieza shrugged. "As much as I would love to compare your abilities to that of a Super Saiyan, I'm afraid that's not what I'm here for."

"I guess that means me," she charged him. Frieza barely managed to avoid her punch, hitting a button on the metallic rod. A rapid sound of metal revolving inside the cylinder filled Hermione's ears before she felt a sting propel her backwards. She hit the ground with a soft thud, her fingertips numbly pulling a thin, long needle from her torso. Her vision began to swim. She saw a blurry movement in front of her.

"No, Harry," she managed weakly.

Frieza laughed. "Well, isn't this ironic? You trying to save her? You do realize who her fa—"

"I couldn't give a rat's arse about him!" Harry snarled. Hermione's ki was fading fast, and Gohan was still trying to find an opening to ascend Super Saiyan. He needed more time.

Frieza bared his teeth. "Move away, foolish boy! As much as I'd love to kill you, you get to live today."

"How generous of you, but I decline the offer. You want her?" Harry chose a stance. "Come and get her!" Hermione fought to remain conscious.

"Ha! You dare challenge me? Pathetic human! You're even considerably more pathetic than that Krillin! I suppose there would be no harm in tearing off an arm or two. I could—" Frieza was cut off by a sound kick to the face, which sent him skidding thirty yards.

"How sweet! You remembered me," a short man chuckled sardonically.

"Krillin!" Gohan shouted, glancing down in surprise.

Krillin chuckled. "Yeah, somehow I couldn't miss out on an opportunity to reunite with my old pal, Frieza. I came as soon as I sensed him. So, how's life in HFIL, buddy?" Krillin smirked as he called.

Dabura snarled angrily. "Don't forget me, boy!" He launched himself at Gohan, who barely managed to avoid it in time. The fight continued.

Frieza's laugh could be heard in the distance. "It's been hell…friend. It's nice to know you haven't lost your sense of humor over the years. You're in for a treat, human," he said as he emerged from the ditch his body had dug. "It's not often I get to kill someone twice. You should feel honored."

A female's cold voice rang out from behind Harry, causing the boy to flinch. "Normally I'd squash this miserable fool for daring to threaten my husband, but I think I'll rather enjoy watching Krillin shove those words down the moron's throat."

"Husband? Eighteen?" Harry asked tentatively as he turned.

The blond frowned as she knelt beside Hermione, touching her neck. "Yes. Krillin is a rather recent acquisition…hmm, her pulse is irregular. Whatever was in that needle couldn't have been good, especially to have taken down someone at her level." She pulled Hermione into a standing position. Hermione murmured incoherently, her head lolling.

"Well, I hate to interrupt your medical assessment, dear, but you have something of ours! Hand over the girl—"

"Krillin, shut him up!" Eighteen said in annoyance.

Frieza snarled. "Why you—AAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!" He shrieked as Krillin blasted him with concentrated ki. Frieza coughed, choking on his own blood. "How? How could you…you're just a human…"

Krillin flexed his arm muscle. "Nyeh, I've been a little…busy while you've been away. Don't feel too bad, Frieza. I'm still no match for Cell."

"DAMN YOU!" Frieza shrieked as Krillin raised his palm and obliterated him.

Dabura stopped his assault, blinking stupidly. Frieza had just been destroyed by one of the kids. He knew there was no hope of getting the girl now. He'd have to wait. He powered up and sped away.

Gohan landed with a soft thud. "How's Hermione?"

Eighteen shook her head. "There's no telling what she has in her system. It's powerful, whatever it is. Why were they interested in her, anyways? She's not much more powerful than Krillin," she said thoughtfully.

Gohan jerked his head toward the trembling Malfoy. "We can't discuss it. Not now."

Malfoy's jaw dropped as his brain processed what the two had said. He gestured wildly. "Are you saying…that the Mudblood is as powerful…as him?" He pointed at Krillin in disbelief. Harry and Gohan glared.

Krillin rubbed his head and chuckled. "Based on what I sensed, she's actually a bit stronger. If she hadn't been hit with that dart…or whatever it was."

…ving dea… An echo sounded in Gohan's mind.

Gohan blinked stupidly. "Huh? What?"

…living dea…

"Hermione?" Gohan frowned at her. She was trying to communicate with him telepathically.

...ving death…liv...eath…

"Living Death?" Gohan frowned. "The Drought of Living Death? Is that what you mean?"

…yes… Hermione's voice echoed; her body slumped as she succumbed.

Gohan turned to the others. "She thinks the needle contained "Drought of the Living Death."

"She's done for," Ron said hollowly.

Gohan frowned. "Not necessarily. The draught was designed for human consumption."

Harry frowned. "You think…her transformation…that she's…"

Gohan nodded. "It stands to reason. Perhaps he knew her body would react differently. Maybe it acts like a tranquilizer in her body, as opposed to the neurotoxic reaction it has in humans." Gohan took her body from Eighteen and lifted her into his arms.

"Wishful thinking. She's a goner," Ron wailed in an unusually high voice.

"Shut up, Ron!" Harry said in annoyance as he absently reached into his back pocket. He gasped. "My wand! I've lost it!"

"Oh great! Everyone spread out—" Ron said.

"NO!" Krillin said sharply. "You have to stay together. Especially if anyone else with enormous ki shows up—"

"I'm not taking orders from a Muggle!" Malfoy spat.

Eighteen raised a brow. "Really? By all means, try to leave. But I must warn you. I'm not as gentle with you human fleshy types as my husband." She cracked her knuckles ominously.

Malfoy fell silent.

Harry pointed. "Hey, look. It's Winky! That's weird." Gohan frowned. It appeared as though she had a ki attached to her body. Gohan frowned thoughtfully. Come to think of it, Gohan had felt a bit of ki sitting next to Winky during the Quidditch match, but it had been considerably smaller…barely noticeable. Harry and Gohan exchanged glances. They took a single step to follow, when—

Flash—

"We just keep running into each other, don't we, Gohan?" A clear voice said sneeringly. Gohan glared up at the insect-looking creature. "But there's no reason for you to die. Just give me the girl."

Goku appeared suddenly, blazing with the gold flames of an ascended Super Saiyan. "What's the matter, Cell? Didn't you want to finish our fight?"

Cell smirked. "I'd love nothing more than to kill you…again. Pity you're already dead. But I have more important things to attend to. It seems your little spawn has something I want."

Goku turned his head toward his son and gasped. Gohan was carrying Hermione's limp body. He returned his glare to the monster. "What did you do to her?" He demanded.

Cell laughed. "Oh, don't worry. She's fine. But I will be taking her, so do yourself a favor and hand her over."

"Not in your life!" Goku snarled.

"Then perhaps on yours!" Cell replied and charged him. Cell's kick landed on air as Goku brought a fist into the insect's chest. Cell coughed, panting and spitting purple. "I…I…don't recall…you ever…being…this…powerful," he panted.

Goku smirked. "What did you think? That I was slacking in Other World? Ka…"

"NO!" Cell cried, his eyes bulging. "Not that!"

"So you remember the attack that killed you last time. Me…"

"STOP!" Cell said, his eyes narrowing fearfully.

"Only this time, it won't be my son who finishes you. It will be ME! Ha…

"You…monster!" Cell said, frozen in terror.

"Monster? Who, me? You're the one who started this fight, remember? Me…" A light shone, illuminating the haloed Super Saiyan from behind.

Cell's eyes snapped wider and he turned to flee.

"!" Goku bellowed as the power sprang from his cupped hands. The energy enveloped Cell and silenced his shrieking, his blast clearing an area the size of a few football fields.

Goku landed softly next to his son. "Two more to go. What happened to her?"

Gohan bit his lip. "Frieza shot her with something. Before she passed out, she told me she thought the needle might have been laced with "Drought of the Living Death."

Blink. Blink. "Huh?"

"It's a powerful potion that puts a person into a coma so deep that people often mistake the person for dead."

"Oh. Well, that's not good," Goku said. Large beads of sweat formed on the backs of heads. "so, what do we do about it?"

"Hairy Cue-Ball and the Bucket-Of-Bolts Harpy can take the witch brat to the short Green Bean," a smooth voice said. Everyone turned to see Vegeta emerging from the trees. "Besides, if she was sent to a wizard hospital, they may find some of Hermione's…interesting quirks. Last thing we need right now is the ministry pestering us. I've eliminated Cooler." He smirked proudly.

Eighteen smirked and spoke, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, so you've thought of a funnily offensive name for me now, as well? It's nice to know I'm one of the many who is forever insulted by the great, flawless Prince Vegeta. I feel so loved—"

Vegeta snorted.

Goku gasped, pointing at her. "Oh no! Look out, you guys! It's Android Eighteen!"

Eighteen smiled. "Oh, look, he remembered. How sweet."

Krillin raked his black hair with his fingers and chuckled. "I guess I should tell you. Eighteen and I are married now."

"WHAT?"

"Yeah. And guess what? Eighteen is pregnant."

Vegeta cackled. "With what, a can-opener?"

Eighteen frowned. "It might interest you to know that even though I am a cyborg, I am still a woman."

"Where's Piccolo?" Gohan asked as he carried Hermione over to Krillin.

Vegeta smirked. "Still dealing with the humans. Either they are too much of a challenge, or he's being way too soft with them." Krillin received Hermione's body and flew into the darkness with Eighteen.

Gohan watched anxiously as the forms disappeared from sight. Hermione's ki had dwindled so miniscule that he could barely sense it. He felt a hand on his shoulder.

"She's going to be fine, Gohan," his father said.

"It doesn't make sense. Why would Voldemort ignore Harry? Wouldn't he have his team try and get them both?" Gohan frowned. Malfoy squeaked at the name.

"I'm not so sure it was Voldemort's group," Videl said, casting a shrewd glance at Goku, who gulped nervously. "Did you see those M tattoos on their foreheads? Voldemort never did that to any of his followers. His mark looked different. I do wonder why they seemed reluctant to hurt Harry, though."

"Shh!" Goku said suddenly, looking over behind Videl's head. "Hello?"

"MORSMODRE!" A man's voice bellowed.

Malfoy screamed, his eyes popping with terror. "It's the Dark Mark!" The night air became filled with shrieks as a green image snake exiting the mouth of a skull. The group stared, mesmerized. Suddenly, the group was surrounded by twenty wizards.

"STUPIFY!" The wizards all cried and red sparks headed for their position. A red shield surrounded the entire group, causing the spells to glance off at differing angles. Harry looked back at Gohan in shock, who had his hand extended, frowning in concentration. What shocked Harry was that Gohan's shield had properties of both ki and magic. Gohan dropped the shield as the wizards rushed over.

Barty Crouch pointed at him, his eyes gleaming madly. "Underage magic! And Dark magic at that! I will ensure you will be in Azkaban tonight! You conjured the mark, didn't you, boy?"

Gohan blinked stupidly.

Arthur Weasley pushed through the group. "Barty, don't be silly. Gohan—"

"I saw him with my own eyes!" Barty said with his eyes popping wildly. "He performed wandless magic!"

"That's not true!" Harry said hotly. "He didn't use magic. It was ki based…like he did with Cell!" It was a little fib, Harry reasoned.

Crouch blinked at Harry. "But…underage…and he cast a shield!"

"Well, what did you expect, Dung-for-brains? You attacked us!"

"Ron! You will apologize to Mr Crouch at once!" Arthur Weasley said sternly.

"Sorry," he mumbled. Crouch lowered his wand slowly.

Videl pointed. "It was a male voice. He spoke an incantation. Over there."

Amos Diggory went into the woods. Moments later he came out with—

"Winky?"

Diggory cleared his throat. "I found this wand lying in her hand."

Harry gasped and grabbed for it. "That's my wand! I dropped it!"

Diggory raised his eyebrows, raising his wand slightly. "Excuse me? Are you confessing? You dropped the wand after you conjured—"

Mr Weasley snapped. "Amos, think of whom you're speaking with! Are you saying Harry Potter conjured the Dark Mark?"

"I…er…of course not. Sorry. I'm a bit excited."

"Perhaps we should ask Winky what happened," a calm voice suggested as a tall form emerged from the back of the crowd.

"An excellent suggestion, er—"

"Piccolo."

"Right. Maybe we should ask the elf."

"Let's do it now," Crouch said, returning from the bushes where Winky was discovered.

Hermione, Krillin, and Eighteen emerged from the tree line on foot. Gohan brightened and rushed to her side, hugging her. Vegeta pushed him off roughly. "Don't be such a softie!"

"Dende gave me sacred water," she whispered. "The sensu had no effect at all."

Harry hugged her next. "It's great to have you back, 'Mione."

Amos Diggory glared at the now conscious elf as the Priori Incantum spell wore off from Harry's wand. A silver echo of a snake and skull was slowly disappearing.

"I is not doing it, sirs!" Winki said fearfully. "I isn't knowing how! I is not using wands, sirs, I isn't knowing how!"

"You've been caught red-handed, elf! Caught with the guilty wand in your hand!"

"Amos, think about it! Few wizards know that spell. Where do you imagine Winky would have learned it?" Mr Weasley said loudly.

"Perhaps Amos is suggesting," Crouch said in a low, dangerous voice, "that I routinely teach my house-elves Dark magic?"

Diggory blanched. "I, no, of course not! Not at all…"

"That makes two of us you've falsely accused, Amos! The two least likely to even manage it! Harry Potter…and myself! You are familiar with Harry Potter's story?"

"I…yes, of course."

"And I trust you know the many proofs I have given over the years that I detest Dark magic?"

"Yes, but—"

"You accuse my elf…you accuse me!"

Diggory stammered. "Yes, of course, forgive me. I…she might have picked it up anywhere—"

Mr Weasley nodded kindly. "Exactly. Where, exactly, did you find Harry's wand, Winky?"

"I…I is finding it there, sir…in the trees."

"See, Amos? Whoever conjured it dropped the wand. Clever not to use their own wand and be implicated."

"But that means she was standing a few feet away from the culprit! Elf, did you see anyone?"

Hermione glared. "Her name is Winky, not elf!"

Everyone stared.

Diggory cleared his throat. "Er, Winky?"

She trembled. Piccolo's eyes narrowed. She knew something. "I is seeing no one, sirs."

"Amos," Mr Crouch said curtly, "Allow me to deal with her. She is my elf. I will be sure to punish her."

Winky threw herself at Crouch, sobbing on his shoes. "Please, master! Please!"

"But she hasn't done anything wrong!" Hermione said angrily.

Crouch glared at her coldly. "I have no use for a disobedient elf. I told her to remain in the tent! This means clothes."

"No master! No! Not clothes! Please!"

Mr Crouch loosened his tie and threw it at her. She sobbed uncontrollably as he walked away.

"I is having no master! No master at all! I is disgraced! No master!" Winky choked brokenly.

Hermione bit her lip. She hated the enslavement of house-elves, but she hated seeing Winky in the state she was in. She knelt down toward Winky. "Would you have another, Winky?"

Winky looked up at her, her eyes watering. "Who is wanting a bad servant like miserable Winky?"

Hermione choked on her own words, hating herself. "Would you…have me?"

Winky gasped. "But…why? Why does you want a bad elf?"

Hermione frowned. She didn't want to say something that would anger Winky. Telling Winky that she wasn't bad would be the same as calling her old master a liar. Hermione drew in a breath. "Because, I believe in second chances."

Winky's eyes stared in disbelief. "You is wanting me, Ladyship? You wants to be master of…bad Winky?"

"Yes," she barely managed. A warm tingle filled her and Winky as the bond was made.

Winky's eyes lit up. "Oh! Oh! Winky isn't deserving! Winky tries harder to be a good house-elf! Thank you, Ladyship! Thank you!" She kissed Hermione's shoes.

"Winky, please stop," Hermione said, horrified. "You are not…required to bow…or kiss my shoes. In fact, I'd prefer if you didn't."

"Yes, Ladyship!" Winky said happily, hopping excitedly on the tips of her toes.

Hermione felt a hand on her shoulder.

"You did the right thing, Hermione," Goku said, changing to telepathy. Perhaps she will learn some things from her new master. Perhaps in time, she will learn how to be her own master.

"I hope you're right," Hermione said.

"Harry! Hermione! Gohan!" Ginny shouted from a distance. She came into view, along with a pair of identical red-headed males and a raven-haired girl with brilliantly blue eyes. As the group chatted merrily, Harry approached Krillin.

"Krillin, Gohan and I have been talking. We were wondering if you'd be willing to take on a student interested in martial arts."

Krillin blinked. "Okay, so who's this mystery pupil?"

Harry grinned.