Siriusly Disturbed

As the days passed, the students became settled into their classes. Gohan decided that he liked Defense Against the Dark Arts best, Ancient Runes and Charms coming in second, and Transfiguration third. True, he liked most all of his classes, except Divination and Care of Magical Creatures. Hagrid had been terrified by Malfoy's performance and digressed to having the students care for flobberworms. Potions had digressed as well. Apparently, Snape had heard of the incident with the boggarts.

But as boring as Hagrid's class had become, sometimes interest occurred unexpectedly. Gohan had a surprise when a familiar creature sailed into the paddock and landed with a thud. The students shrieked and ran for cover. Gohan gasped. Although he had grown considerably, Gohan would recognize that purple-pallored lizard anywhere.

"HEEEEEEY…ICARUS!" Gohan called happily as he tackled the large dragon. The dragon nuzzled Gohan, licking him. Gohan giggled.

Hermione approached warily. "Gohan?"

"Hey, Hermione! This is my friend Icarus."

She gulped. "Gohan, did you know your 'friend' is a Paozu Purple Beauty? Very ferocious."

"Who, Icarus? Nah! He's really friendly. Come on. Come say hi."

Hermione reluctantly walked over as Hagrid stared, obviously in love with the giant newcomer.

"H-hi, Icarus," Hermione said nervously as Icarus sniffed her hair. He nuzzled her gently.

"Heh. See? Nothing to be afraid of."

Suddenly, she gasped. "Gohan! He can't be here. This could be very bad for Hagrid!"

"Huh? What do you mean?" Hermione told him about the incident with Lucius Malfoy and the Ministry. Gohan took it true to character. "WHAT? THEY'RE GOING TO KILL BUCKBEAK? OH NO!"

Hermione nodded. "And Icarus being here, especially during class could harm Hagrid's case. I'm sorry, Gohan."

Gohan nodded sadly. He approached the dragon. "Sorry, Icarus, but you can't stay here now. Go into the forest and wait. You remember the signal, right?"

Icarus inclined his head.

"Thatta boy! I'll see you, okay?"

Gohan sat idly on the edge of the forbidden forest, absently watching Harry zoom across the Quidditch pitch from a distance. Turning his gaze, he watched the lake's smooth, gently rippling surface. Just then, he heard a crisp bark. It was the big, black dog. It was holding something in its mouth.

As usual, Gohan sensed nothing unusual from the dog's behavior. "Hi there." The dog dropped its cargo and nudged it toward Gohan, who picked it up. It was an old newspaper, The Daily Prophet. He unfurled it. It was the same newspaper that Ron had proudly displayed the day he had met up with Hermione and Gohan. On the front cover were the entire Weasley lot smiling and pointing. Pyramids were in the background. The article had been studied so many times that the newspaper had a cloth-like texture.

The dog whined. Gohan looked up at it. No dog had ever looked at him that way before. Hungrily.

Gohan frowned thoughtfully as he returned his gaze. Once more misinterpreting his stare, Gohan asked. "Mr. Dog, are you hungry again?"

Crash. The dog fell over. It stood just as quickly, desperately hopping around, barking and nudging the paper. Gohan looked at the paper and at the dog. As he focused on the dog, it struck him. Like Ron's rat, the dog also had an unusually high ki for an animal. He looked down at the paper and gasped.

There, in Ron's left hand, was the rat. Gohan blinked. For some reason, the rat was struggling fiercely with Ron. It was trying to get away. As long as Gohan could remember he had never known Ron's rat to try escaping from him. It was strange to think, after all the years it had spent in the Weasley household, it would want to leave now.

The dog whined, scratching at the rat's image.

"That's weird," Gohan said. He looked up at the dog. The dog blinked. "Hmm. Rat." He said at the dog.

The dog growled.

"Ron Weasley."

The dog whined.

"Molly Weasley."

Whine.

"Rat."

"Grrrrrrrrrrggghhhhhh!" He snarled.

Gohan stared. He didn't know why he was about to say his name, but his instincts told him to. "Harry Potter," he said at the dog.

The dog whined, then, howled forlornly.

"Rat."

"Grrrrrrrrrgggghhhhhh!"

"Gosh, Mr. Dog. You don't like the rat, do you?"

"Grrrrrrrrgggghhhhhhhhh!"

"Why? What did he ever do to you?"

"Grrrrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhh!"

"Was it really that bad?"

The dog flopped down and sighed heavily. Gohan stroked his ears. For the first time, Gohan sensed his loneliness. He wanted to help the dog.

"Maybe we should tell Piccolo. He'd like to help you."

The dog sat up suddenly.

"Yeah. He'd help you. I think he wants to talk to you anyways."

The dog shot Gohan a fearful look. Snatching up the paper, he bounded into the woods.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Gohan called. The only response he got was a fearful whine that diminished as the dog fled.

Videl crossed the hall to the library. She was mostly ignored by her peers. Out of respect for Gohan, most of the Gryffindors had left her alone. Most. As she continued toward her destination, she was startled as a green faced, red headed teenager popped out from behind a statue, growling menacingly.

"Bwahahahahahahahaha! Cell's got you now, little Miss Satan. No Gohan to save you!" Fred grinned evilly.

Rolling her eyes, Videl folded her arms across her chest. "I can take care of myself!" she said imperiously.

The pseudo-Cell smirked. "Is that so? You can withstand the awesome might of the all powerful Cell? TREMBLE IN FEAR BEFORE MY SPECKLED APPENDAGES….YAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" He lunged at her and pinned her arms to her sides as his green faced twin emerged and began tickling her.

She shrieked in loud cackles that echoed through the corridor. Other students stopped and watched the display. She permitted the twins antics a few more seconds before wrestling herself free from the grasp of the' fiends.' The twins exchanged grins. They knew better than to attempt a second capture. By then, they had become quite aware of the young woman's impressive strength, having fallen victim to it several times already. George was still sporting a brilliantly purple eye from their last encounter with the charlatan's daughter.

They grinned evilly at her. "Ah, you might have escaped for now, love, but one day Cell will be victorious! Until then, tremble in expectation! Mwahahahahahahaha!"

Videl smiled back at them. She found their sport of her less wearisome than the cold stares, dark scowls, and cruel murmurings that often filled the corridor in which she was walking. She appreciated that they treated her as they treated mostly everyone else: all in good fun.

Harry sat gloomily on the wall in the courtyard.

"What's wrong?" Gohan asked.

Harry shrugged. "The others have gone to Hogsmeade."

"Oh. What's wrong with that?"

Harry stared at Gohan. He could be so clueless sometimes. "I want to go."

"Oh. Why don't you go, then?"

Harry glared. Gohan was beginning to annoy him. "I can't, okay? You have to have your permission slip signed to go. I can't go because my uncle didn't sign mine. Okay?"

"Oh. Well, I don't see what the big deal is. It's just a lot of shops and saloons. Bulma might like it there. She loves to shop."

Harry shook his head in exasperation at his Saiyan friend. Gohan turned to walk away. "Going to Hogsmeade?" Harry asked dully.

"Nah. That would be boring. I'm going to find Mister Piccolo."

Harry started. He had forgotten about Piccolo. He sprinted after Gohan. "Hey, wait up!"

Harry told Gohan about his morning with Professor Lupin, including an incident involving Snape and a smoking potion.

Gohan shrugged. "It's probably because the moon's coming out next week."

Harry blinked. What did the moon have anything to do with Lupin and Snape's potion?

The Halloween feast had been excellent. Hermione and Ron had returned from Hogsmeade with a pile of sweets for both Gohan and Harry. Even Malfoy couldn't damper Harry's spirits.

After several hours of feasting and merriment, the happy Gryffindors wended their way to their tower. But an unusual traffic jam left everyone feeling mildly annoyed. Percy pompously squeezed through the students. Percy gasped. "Someone get Professor Dumbledore. Hurry!"

Gohan hovered above everyone to get a closer look. The Fat Lady's picture had been completely sliced. Dumbledore approached and began issuing orders and inquiring. Gohan approached the painting as Peeves was saying to the Headmaster gleefully, "-nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black."

Gohan inspected the painting. It had been slashed violently. Large chunks were missing, and smaller chunks littered the floor. Gohan sniffed the area. A familiar scent hung around the area. A picture formed in his mind, one of a big, black dog-

Gohan gasped. Dumbledore turned to him questioningly. He bored into Gohan's mind and saw it. He whipped his cloak around and pulled Professor Snape to him, muttering. Snape nodded and hurried away. Dumbledore summoned Filch and Percy to him. It was then that Gohan remembered. He turned-

Piccolo. Piccolo!

I'm here, Gohan. No need to shout.

The black dog…it's Sirius Black!

Gohan heard a sigh. I know.

WHAT? You knew and you didn't tell me? I came across the dog a few days ago! I could have-

WHAT? Why didn't you say anything, Gohan? I told you to tell me if you saw that dog again!

He ran away. If you had told me how important it was-

I did tell you how important it was, Gohan! But…I suppose it doesn't matter now. What's got you torn up, kid?

Sirius Black tried to get into Gryffindor Tower-

WHAT? GOHAN!

I'm sorry! Wait…why am I apologizing?

Grrrgghhh! I mean it, Gohan! Any more contact from the dog, I want to know immediately! With that, Piccolo severed the connection.

"Mr. Son," Dumbledore cleared his throat. Apparently, he hadn't missed the exchange.

Gohan gulped. "Uh, yeah?"

"Follow me, please."

"O-okay."

...

Gohan sat nervously in the headmaster's office, fidgeting with his tail as Dumbledore took his seat behind the desk.

"Mr. Son, I would like you to tell me everything you know about that big dog you've been seeing."

"Well, I first saw him at Magical Menagerie. I gave him food. He looked skinny. Then, I saw him on the edge of the forbidden forest. He showed me a newspaper."

Dumbledore leaned forward. "Newspaper?"

"Yeah."

"I see. Why would he show you a newspaper? What was in it?"

"Ron's family. The trip to Egypt. Sir, can I say something?"

"Of course, Mr. Son."

"I don't think Sirius Black is after Harry."

Dumbledore frowned. "Why would you say that?"

"Well, he seems to be angry at Ron's rat for some reason."

"How do you know the dog wasn't trying to trick you?"

"I guess I don't. But I believe him."

Dumbledore's eyes bore into his. "Why?"

"I searched his feelings. I think his animosity toward the rat is genuine."

Dumbledore nodded. "I see. Is there anything else you can tell me?"

Gohan frowned. "Oh, yeah! Before I met the dog, I sensed Ron's rat. It has an unusual ki for a rat. I didn't think too much of it at the time. But at the lake, the dog's ki was also unusual for a dog. Now I know it's because the dog is human-"

"Are you suggesting that Ronald's rat is also human?"

"I donno, but it makes sense. How else could the rat have such energy?"

Dumbledore nodded. "I think…it would be best…if you kept your suspicions to yourself…for the time being."

"You mean…another secret? Awwww!"

"Sadly, that seems to be your fate at the moment. Oh and speaking of secrets-"

"I'm not listening," Gohan plugged his ears and began singing loudly, "La la la la la-"

Dumbledore chuckled. "Mr. Son-"

"-La La La La La-"

"-Mr. Son-"

"LA LA LA LA LA-"

"MR. SON!"

Wincing in surprise, Gohan removed his fingers.

Eyes still twinkling, Dumbledore continued. "This concerns a secret you have already been keeping for a certain young lady."

Gohan blushed but said nothing.

"Ah, silence. The best weapon when not desiring to lie but not wanting to admit the truth. How unfortunate it is that more people won't practice such an art when confronted by discomfort-"

Gohan frowned. "You're stalling."

Dumbledore smiled. "You're beginning to be able to read my thought patterns. Yes, I'm stalling. I'm trying to find the best way to approach this. You see, I'm not sure how much Miss Granger has told you. At the same time, I doubt you are going to tell me how much she has. I don't want to reveal to you anything that she hasn't told-"

Gohan sighed. "I probably know as much as you do. We know that Piccolo knows…so it stands to reason that you know, as well."

"I see. Well, that was less difficult than I thought. She certainly has her father's brains."

Gohan leveled his eyes at Dumbledore. "Better not let her hear that. It tears her apart to think she has anything to do with that…that-" Gohan couldn't finish.

Dumbledore nodded. "Well, I'll get to the point, then. Have you ever heard of Pandora?"

Gohan flinched. "Professor Trelawney said something about that."

Dumbledore raised a brow. "Is that so? I suppose I'll be needing to give Sybill a raise. And I'll need to be having a talk to her. We don't want that getting around…could arouse curiosity. In the meantime, I would like to lend you some books."

"Huh?"

"I have a few books on Pandora and a few others from my personal library I believe you and Miss Granger might enjoy." Dumbledore turned and pulled four books from a nearby bookcase. He held them out to Gohan, who took them. Gohan examined the covers: Pandora Unveiled, Opening Pandora, and Origins of Magic Welders. The fourth had strange symbols on the cover. "Unless you have anything else to add, Gohan, I believe this concludes our meeting. I will escort you to the Grand Hall."

...

As soon as Gohan entered the Grand Hall he pulled his sleeping bag into the corner where Hermione and the others were.

Hermione leaned over. "((What did Dumbledore want?))" she whispered in Namekian.

"((You were right, Hermione. He knows.))"

She sighed. "((Is that all he wanted? To confirm that I am, in fact, his daughter?))" She spat his.

"((Nah, he already knows that. He gave us some books to read…about Pandora…and other stuff.))"

"What the bloody hell are you saying?" Ron whispered.

"Never mind, Ron. ((Pandora? Not him, too! I was hoping Trelawney was just having a massive brain fart. Pandora is real?))"

Gohan giggled. "((I can't believe you just said that in Namekian! Dende would keel over if he heard you-))"

"((Never mind that, Gohan!))" Hermione whispered in exasperation.

"Son! Granger! Stop talking at once!" Percy barked in a deadly whisper, amid nearby giggles.

Hermione rolled her eyes as Percy walked away. When she was sure he was out of earshot, she whispered, "((What do you think, Gohan? Should we study this thing?))"

Gohan shrugged. "((It's probably better than not knowing.))"

She sighed. "((If you say so.))"

Harry relaxed as his friends fell silent. He had recognized the words Dumbledore, Trelawney, and Pandora. He frowned thoughtfully. He remembered when Trelawney had made the comment about Pandora. He also remembered what Hermione had said about her recurring dreams of the same gold box. She had said the dream frightened her for some reason.

Harry sat up. What if Hermione had been stuck with that box while she had been Petrified? Maybe that was why she was acting funny when she was freed. But that couldn't be all of it. Hermione had become so secretive lately. The fact that she was conversing with Gohan in a different language sometimes had Harry wondering what she and Gohan did over the summer. She would be the type to be able to pick up a language in only a few months. After all, Hermione had never had those types of conversations before summer. She didn't have much of an opportunity, lying in a hospital bed.

"Potter! What are you doing? Lie down!" Glaring at Percy, Harry settled into his squashy purple bag. He looked over at Hermione's back, wishing for once that he was as smart as she was. Then maybe he'd be useful enough to help the friend he just knew was going to be in serious trouble.

Gohan sat in the Quidditch pitch, wearing a slightly annoyed, bored expression. Professor McGonagall refused to allow Harry at practice unless he, Vegeta, or Piccolo was there to 'protect him' from Sirius Black. Vegeta, who was still miffed at Harry for sneaking away from Privet Drive practically under his nose, flat out refused. Piccolo, on the other hand, became so focused on finding Sirius Black before the dementors that he barely made out what Gohan said when he asked.

Gohan looked over at Hermione and smiled. She had agreed to come along and keep him company. She pushed a strand of hair from her face as she pored through Pandora Revealed. Gohan traced the outline of her jaw with his eyes. She's really pretty.

Feeling his gaze, Hermione looked up. "What?"

Gohan looked away, blushing slightly. "Aww, nothing."

Seeing him squirm and fidget with his tail, she returned to her book with a tiny smile. Gohan could be really cute sometimes.

She gasped suddenly. "Gohan, listen to this! 'Creating Pandora is an exceptionally difficult magical maneuver, one that requires intense concentration and skill. Because it often requires Legilimency, Pandora is rarely attempted by anyone excepting the most extraordinary and most focused witches and wizards. Most ordinary wizards know better than to attempt the Pandora Charm, because the results of failure could be disastrous. Many victims of failed or opened Pandora have never recovered. It is for that reason that the Confederation of Warlocks have attempted to vote Pandora as an unforgivable during countless sessions.' Gohan, do you think V-Voldemort did this to me?"

"I don't know. You said you were at Harry's house at one point before Harry's parents got killed…but after they went into hiding, right? So, when would he find the time to do it? And what would his motive be?"

"Hmm. But who else could it be. The only extraordinary wizards we know are V-Voldemort…and Dumbledore, and I just can't see Dumbledore-"

"There are others, Hermione. Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, Harry even. Just because you don't hear of someone being exceptional doesn't mean that they aren't. Would you believe that Professor Snape can beat me with a wand, and I'm a Super Saiyan?"

"I suppose, but…hang on. How would you know that Snape can-"

"Aaaahhhh! So…what else does the book say?"

"Gohan-"

"Later. Tell me what the book says."

Hermione sighed. "The book also says that Pandora can be used to contain memories, powers, abilities, knowledge, even another person. Pandora seals those things into a golden shimmery encasement within the mind. Most Pandora victims are unaware of the seal. I guess I'm an exception.

"It says the symptoms to look for in a person include: returning to the same location for no apparent reason, possessing memories of said encasement…as the inexperienced caster sometimes forgets to wipe away residue memories of the casting, remembering seeing someone or something in a memory that seems out of place…" Hermione's eyes shifted out of focus for a moment.

"Hermione?"

She stood suddenly, clearly enraged. "I'll murder him!" She stomped down the stairs.