I don't own KHR, HP, Sherlock, or Ranma 1/2!
Quick Note: I have a busy-bee week ahead of me, and I'm doing the work of two people most of this week, with the exception being Wednesday (work of 3 people). At least Friday I can relax a bit, as no one has off until next week on Wednesday, again. Oh well, that's the way it goes, so this is an explanation if a chapter doesn't get out on one day or two of this week. I really didn't really want to stop the chapter where I did.
D C JoKeR H S: Thanks, at least I know I'm heading down the right path, even if there isn't too much action, just yet.
icedshadows: They will be making an appearance, but it's the when that seems to allude me. That, or Luna's using Thestrals to secret her and Neville away for just the right moment.
War Ready?
Arthur Weasley was twitchy as he and his remaining two children entered the bank with Amelia Bones and Mai, "Amelia, are you sure that this is completely safe?"
"Arthur, a lot of things were brought to my attention, not just by Mrs. Yamamoto, but by my own Susan. We need to check. I've been in too much contact with manipulative politicians to not be wary. We need to do this and the Goblins are impartial," Amelia stated calm and collectedly, while internally, she was as twitchy as a cat that got it's tail caught under a rocking chair one too many times.
"Dad, does this mean that we're meeting up with Mum, Fred, George, and Percy?" Ron asked hopefully.
"It does, as far as I know, Ronald," Arthur sighed resignedly as they walked up to the tellers. "We're here to undergo the same procedure as my wife, Molly Weasley."
"Mrs. Yamamoto said we should ask to see Ripear," Ron stated calmly. Both children were less twitchy than the adults, but it was to be expected. Ron was even less twitchy than Ginny, as Harry clearly trusted Nana, so why shouldn't they? It was all logical.
"Right this way, please," the Goblin guided them towards the private rooms, and then beyond into a maze of corridors that led them to another door. It was at that door the they noticed nothing different, except that there were rising stairs. As they ascended the dark, small stairwell, they noticed that the walls were made of gray granite and that they were only lit by intermittent torches. It gave all four an semi-ominous feeling.
When they finally came to the top of the stairs, there was a sigh of relief from young Ginny, who noted that it was brighter up here. She looked up at the ceilings to see the sun shining through the windows and clouds passing them by. Of course, she happened to miss the designs on the giant doors in front of them, and only briefly noticed as they opened wide to reveal her mother sitting in a chair, shakily drinking a single cup of tea, the twins pacing, and Percy throwing his shoe at the wall, which was stone, and wouldn't damage anything, "Mum?"
"Ginny," the twins raced forward and pulled her into a hug. "You wouldn't believe what..."
"Father," Percy stopped throwing his shoe, and stepped near his father. "Have you had the procedure yet?"
"No, Percy, what happened?" Arthur asked concernedly.
"You need to do it, then everything will make sense," Percy stated calmly.
"Percy, what happened to your mother?" Arthur stared his son down.
"She finally got a dose of the truth," Percy snorted. "We all did. You'll find out, then we can talk."
"I am your father, Percy," Arthur began to demand.
"Dad, let's just get it over with. If she's right, we won't believe it anyway," Ron shrugged.
"This way Mr. Weasley's, Miss Weasley, Madam Bones," an older Goblin stepped out of the shadows near Molly, as their guide disappeared.
"Exactly how do you get rid of a loyalty potion?" Ginny asked the adults and Goblin curiously.
"You drink the antidote made by the Goblins, the one who brewed it, or a potions master," the Goblin that they thought might be Ripear stated. "Mrs. Weasley is drinking a calming drought mixed with chamomile tea. The information she found and remembered was... very disturbing."
"Ripear, I presume?" Madam Bones inquired.
"Yes," Ripear gave a slight bow. "Also, all expenses have been taken care of by the Yamamoto-Black Family."
"Thank you for the clarification. What else will we need to go through?" Amelia asked curiously.
"If it is believed that you have memory charms on you, we will remove them," the Goblin stated. "With Goblin magic."
Meanwhile, being kicked off of the train...
Voldemort/Nagini hissed their dis-appreciation and anger at being literally booted off of the train, by an overzealous porter, of all things! They had been sleeping most comfortably near a heater in the second to rear compartment, only to find out that it was the porter's compartment, and that they were quite unwelcome guests. They had been attacked and removed from the train, while it was moving, by a broom and one of the porter's boots. Slightly bruised and with a battered ego, Voldemort/Nagini shook off their landing in a cold mud puddle, and began to attempt to figure out where exactly they were.
Back in Gringotts Upper Dis-Enchantment Rooms...
Arthur Weasley was now sitting by his wife's side, refusing to let go of his own teacup or to let his daughter and sons leave the room. He was very much in the same position that he'd found Molly in. Which now that he realized exactly what had been done to his family, he was beyond furious.
"Dad, why?" Ginny asked him as she clung to Fred and George. Percy had an arm around Ron, and all five children were sitting close together.
Ron was the one that finally stated what none of the others could, "How could he do that to us? To Harry?"
"I don't know, children, but he's created a feud between the Potter Family and himself. It seems that he's also created one between us, the Bones Family and him. When you all go back to school, be on your guard. Fred, George, Percy, do anything it takes to get your siblings, Harry, and anyone else out at all costs if it comes to it."
"We will," Fred and George stated flatly.
"I will as well," Percy agreed.
"Madam Bones, are you better?" Arthur asked, knowing that there was no way the seasoned head of the DMLE was completely all right.
"I will be as soon as I get to Susan. Mrs. Hibari, I must retrieve my niece, but afterwards, I would like to be taken to Mrs. Yamamoto," Amelia stated coolly, but there was a touch of fire under all her frost. If one had to guess what it was, it would most likely be frostbite, and Dumbledore would soon burn from it, if she had her way.
"With pleasure, Madam Bones. Please, call me Mai."
"Amelia," she offered her hand to the Asian woman.
The same Asian woman who smirked with a knowing glint in her eyes, "May our friendship devour the unjust."
"Ron, what's going on?" Ginny asked her brother as she watched Madam Bones and Mai create a unholy alliance.
"We're going to war against Dumbledore. It looks like we've got a few allies, at least," Ron sent her an unsure but hopeful look.
"Who are our allies, besides Madam Bones?" Ginny questioned her brothers again.
"Harry and the Yamamotos, for sure," Fred shrugged and looked to his brothers.
"Susan will be joining us," Ron added.
"You have the entire Hibari Clan, the Vongola Family, and the Varia," Mai gently intruded upon their conversation. "Possibly another group, but we are all very formidable. Amelia, I will wait for you to return with your niece. Will you and yours be joining us, Mr. Weasley?"
"We will," Molly shakily stood by her husband, tear stains still prevalent on her face. "For the deaths of my brothers, Dumbledore shall face hell."
Over in Japan...
Renato had his Leon-gun in hand and was starting to get a bit trigger happy, but he was relieved when Bill announced, "It's a spell. A slightly altered petrification spell, but I believe that I can unravel it. It may take a while, but whomever did this meant it to be permanent. I need to set up wards around your residence. Can you show me to the corners of the property?"
"What are wards?" Skull asked worriedly.
"It's like a shield to keep the ones who did this out," Bill replied firmly. "They are unknown, and in so, they are dangerous and could attempt to attack us while we are trying to save your friends."
"Do it," Renato ordered. "Fon, show him the property lines."
"Agreed," Fon nodded, but not before tapping Renato on the shoulder. "Make sure that ordering me around on my family's land doesn't happen again."
"Understood," Renato agreed tightly, far too trigger happy right now to register that Fon was itching for a fight as much as he was.
"I'll stay with Renato," Skull stated coldly. If either of them had been paying attention, they would have realized that Skull had not been unaffected by the harm that had befallen their girlfriends. Actually, if either of them had asked Nana about his strange behavior she'd have told them that Skull's temper burned colder than the Great Abyss, but she wasn't there. And so, it went unnoticed, to all except Kusakabe and Bill.