I don't own KHR, HP, Sherlock, or Ranma 1/2! I also don't own the quote from E.A. Poe.
Quick Note: I know that I left out: the detective, the British government, and the good doctor, but that was for a reason! I think? Maybe? Well, I guess we're going to find out in this chapter.
Shinigami: So do I, but I have an inkling that... Oops, almost gave you a spoiler. Yep, the Kunos have arrived! Skull is dealing with a lot and sometimes going on little sleep leaves one less than prepared. Backup is coming. Or going. Or well... We'll get there, eventually.
FANactic Writer: Exactly! I like the Labyrinth film, but I'm not so sure that the quote works for this situation. But I do love that quote! Yeah, about that "Go-time" - It was supposed to be in the last chapter, but they all got to discussing their plans first. It's exactly like what happens to me and my husband just before we get things done. Oh well, this will be the "Go-time" Chapter, but with a different name... if I can think of a good one.
Gathering the Team: Part 1
"So, that leaves myself, Sherlock, John, Mr. Tonks, the children, and La-la?" Mycroft lifted his bushy brow.
"It's Lal Mirch, Softy-Crofty," Lal snorted in annoyance at him.
"That's a good one, might I use it?" Sherlock asked Lal, surprising his brother and John Watson.
"Certainly, Detective Holmes," Lal smirked in a pleased manner.
"La-la, I'm sure there was another reason that you entered here so quickly. What was it?" Mycroft glared at his brother, before turning his attention back to Lal.
"Right. Skull called and let me know that they've arrived at the air strip. Apparently, they needed a stretcher and a ride for roughly ten people. Softy-Crofty, you want to arrange one? It's at that lovely little strip you told me to use when necessary," Lal smirked.
Mycroft sighed dramatically, rolled his eyes and punched a few numbers into his phone, "Consider it done. Anything else?"
"Is Her Majesty aware of the Wizarding World?" Lal asked pointedly.
"She is, to a point."
"What about my neck of the woods?" Lal asked Mycroft, careful not to breach Vindice Law.
"She's moderately aware. Mostly due to the fact that she is a latent," Mycroft stated flatly.
"Which type?" Tsuyoshi asked curiously, even as he was busy trying to get to Tsuna before they left.
"What else? Leadership," Mycroft snorted as Tsuyoshi blinked in surprise.
Tsuyoshi choked back his shock, but nodded, before he caught up with Tsuna, "Be careful. Are you sure you don't want Takashi going with Draco's group?"
"I'm certain, Dad. I know it seems like you or he should go, but I get the feeling that Chrome and Squallo will be better choices. After all, Squallo could pass as a Malfoy cousin," Tsuna chuckled. "We'll try to meet back here! Everyone who can't find their people, report to- Harry, where's a good place to meet?"
"If not Fortescues, then Flourish and Blotts. Claim you're with a Book Club. If you don't see anyone by let's say 4:30pm, we'll meet back up at the Leaky Cauldron. Thank you all for helping us and our friends," Harry spoke to everyone, before flushing a bit as Akane stood next to him and put an arm around him.
Ginny glared at the older girl, before her mother hustled her out the door. Akane just chuckled, "Harry, you've really got an admirer in that red-head."
"Admirer? Ginny?" Harry paled at the thought.
"Do not fear, peasant, the Prince is on the case with his Temporary Royal Retainer," Bel puffed up and hurried out the door, following Lussuria.
"B-But I don't feel that way about Ginny! She's like my sister!" Harry protested.
"Don't sweat it, Hare-bear," Fred winked at him.
"We appreciate your honesty, and would appreciate it if you let her down, gently, if you can," George smiled understandingly, before they left with their group.
"Huh?" Harry gaped in shock at the retreating backs of the twins, and a chuckling Tsuna.
"Harry, when dealing with Augusta Longbottom, be flattering but honest. She's a tough old bird, but you do have an ace," Amelia stated calmly. "Neville is your God-brother. At least, that was what Alice told me when she was expecting him."
"God-brother?" Harry gaped in surprise, before realizing one important thing, "Wait! What about Hermione?!"
It was Sirius who responded, much to Harry's surprise, "Nana has had the Holmes brothers monitoring her location. I'm sure that one of them would be ideal to retrieve her, when she returns home."
"Actually, Mr. Black, we will intercept her and her parents at the airport and then bring them here," Sherlock smirked.
"Wait, you're just going to abduct Hermione Granger?" Ron snorted in surprise.
"Of course not, Ronald Weasley," Mycroft smirked. "You'll be joining us."
"I- wait- what?" Ron paled at the thought, "Mate, this is a bad idea. A very bad idea!"
Back at the air strip...
"Bill, when is our ride arriving?" Joy asked softly.
"That may be them, now," Bill frowned worriedly when he saw the limo and the ambulance.
"Too bad you couldn't just magic us there," Skull sighed tiredly. "Any way I can get you to keep Kodaichi occupied for a while? Tatewaki is about to loose his mind. Renato is ready to shoot her, and Fon is about to use a pressure point to knock her out."
"Might be best if he does," Bill replied, noting that the other girls were still a bit clingy for him and Skull.
"All aboard who's going aboard," Renato snorted and hopped into the limo, watching the girls, hopeful that they'd join them. But Bill and Skull helped them into the modified ambulances, which is something that only a Flame user would notice.
"They aren't going with us," Bianchi informed them as she slipped into the limo. "They want to stick with each other, and refuse to let Skull or Bill leave them. Shamal is going with them, just to be safe."
"If he harms a hair-" Fon glowered at her.
"Then I get to poison him," Bianchi informed the enforcer with a forced smile on her face.
While Bianchi was making the three mafia men shiver at her viciousness, Ginny and Molly's team had arrived in Ottery St. Catchpole. Bel sighed at the boringness of it all, at least, until he saw the Weasley house as they were passing, "Motherly-peasant, why is that house still standing?"
"That is our home, the Burrow," Mrs. Weasley smiled with a strange twitch to her face, as if she was trying to keep her temper at bay. "It's held together by magic."
"Luss, does that mean it's like a TARDIS?" Bel asked curiously.
"Bel-chan wants to know if it's bigger on the inside than the outside, Molly-dear," Luss translated.
"Oh, well, yes. It has to be to house all of us," Molly smiled. "But what is a Tardis?"
"Bel-chan was watching the tellie the other day. It's a quaint little show about time travel and space travel. Rather interesting show, but I think Bel-chan really liked the Dinosaur in the middle of London," Luss smiled.
"Dinosaur? What's that?" Ginny asked as they neared closer to the Lovegood's home.
"Dinosaurs were terribly giant lizards that lived millions of years ago. They are now extinct, but they share much in common with today's avian family," Mousse smiled.
"Avian?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Birds. But not all of them could fly. There were ones that could swim, some that walked on land, and some that flew. There were meat eaters, plant eaters, and ones that ate both plant and animal. Remind me to show you a documentary I have when we return to the hotel. It's quite fascinating," Mousse smiled at Ginny.
"Here it is, the Lovegood home," Molly sighed in relief as they turned to the little house with a small tower that looked like it had been created with the purpose of growing around a living tree. Molly hesitated a moment, but went ahead and knocked on the door.
It opened to reveal a young blonde girl with the most fascinating bottle-cap earrings, "*While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping. As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.* Hello Weasleys, Molly and Ginerva. Hello strangers. Did you happen to find some Blithering Humdingers?"
"Hello Luna dear, is your father home? We need to speak to both of you," Molly greatly suppressed her wince as she clearly was nearly used to dealing with Luna's non-sense.
"Daddy is around back. Would you like to see if he's found a Spack-a-back?"
"A what?" Mousse blinked in surprise at the new term. This girl wasn't quiet all there, but something about her reminded him of someone in his Tribe back home.
"It's a creature that's notorious for taking people from their homes and moving them elsewheres," Luna smiled.
"Actually, Luna, that's what we're here to talk to you and your dad about," Ginny smiled understandingly. "It's a safe place. I'm not sure why, but I feel like it's safer than most people realize."
"I'm sure daddy would love to see if there are any creatures that we can find in this new place!" Luna smiled dreamily as she led them around the side of the house to the back.
"Well, there will be when Renato returns," Luss nodded. "Ever heard of a shape changing chameleon?"
"Oh, you mean a Charm-Leo! They are very rare!" A man appeared in front of them as they rounded the turn, "Hello! I see Luna found you! She told me to pack for a journey. Should I bring the kettle round?"
"No, Xeno, that won't be necessary. We're staying where there's plenty of kettles," Molly grimaced at dealing with the slightly crazy man. He'd always rubbed her the wrong way after his wife had passed. She knew it wasn't completely his fault, but it was the way he was coping with his grief that always managed to make her twitchy. She had hoped that Ginny would be a stabilizing factor for Luna, but it seemed that it was a lost cause.
"Your daughter knew that we were coming for both of you?" Mousse blinked as something clicked in his mind. He knew why Luna's actions seemed familiar. He looked around and understood better than most what that meant. He nodded to Mr. Lovegood, "Let sleeping phoenixes lie."
"That's the spirit! Shall we be off?" Xeno smiled happily, "Let's go Luna-Loo!"
"After you, your Highness," Luna curtsied to Bel. "I apologize for not greeting you properly, earlier."
"Apology accepted, Moon-Priestess," Bel smirked. He recognized what she was, as much as Mousse did. However, he did almost tell them all what she really was. Luss caught on, even if Ginny and Molly didn't. "Please follow the Prince and his Temporary Royal Retainer."
"We'd be honored, your Highness," Luna smiled dreamily, as Bel offered her his hand and she accepted. "Daddy?"
"Coming Lu-bear!" Xeno shrunk their luggage with a flick of his wand and hurriedly trotted after the two and Luss.
"Shall we, ladies?" Mousse held out his arms to both Weasley women, who blushed a bit, but both took his arms on either side and the quickly caught up with the rest of their group. At this rate, they'd be back at the newly re-named "Hibari Hotel" before anyone else!