I don't own KHR, HP, Sherlock, or Ranma 1/2!
Quick Note: Yes, I know I've let some things sit for far too long, I really will be trying to get certain things moving again. And Holy Cats! We're at 51 chapters! Yikes! Never thought this would last this long, but oh well. I also know that this is part 6 and I do promise that I won't let it get to 10, if I can help it.
Guest: Maybe, I'm not sure if they will wake up, but it never hurts to try. I do have plans for dear Bella, but we haven't gotten there just yet. Keep in mind, it's been at least twelve years since Neville's parents have been in St. Mungos, not to mention the Janus Thackery Ward. If I remember right, the Janus Thackery Ward was for hopeless or impossible/incurable cases that had issues with mind-magics.
D C JoKeR H S: Algie is the Uncle... well, technically he's Neville's Great Uncle, and Augusta's brother-in-law by marriage, making him potentially the next Lord Longbottom, if Neville was a squib or dead and if he could get Augusta out of the way. I believe that Augusta is Neville's guardian and his Regent until he can take over his future Lordship.
Shinigami: Glad you enjoyed the Arthurian humor I added. I love the stories about King Arthur and his Knights! Yeah, about that... I'm just going to say that Lancelot must have won a coin toss to see who got to name their firstborn. You and I are on the same wave-length, again, about Algie. He will face repercussions for his actions; I'm just not sure it will be at this point or who will be dishing it out.
Gathering the Team: Part 6
While everyone else was having a relatively easy time of gathering their friends, minus the Longbottoms and Clearwaters, Draco and his team had yet to even reach their targets.
It didn't help that Sirius still couldn't go gallivanting around in his normal form, due to the corrupt Minister Cornelius Fudge. Amelia was working on getting a press release, but it was still slow going. Squalo wasn't exactly thrilled he'd been paired with the salty dog and two teenage girls, let alone a prissy teenaged boy, "VOI! How much longer?"
"We should be coming up on the Zabini residence, shortly... Um, Uncle Sirius, Squalo, tread carefully, please? Blaise's mum, Lady Zambini is a Black Widow," Draco warned cautiously.
"VOI! I am an assassin, brat! You think one measly black widow is going to scare me?" Squalo glared at the young Malfoy.
"She scares Blaise and me," Draco informed the assassin bluntly, as he walked up to the door and wrapped on the door knocker.
Sirius transformed back into his human form at the door, "We'll make sure to treat her with respect, Draco. She is a Lady, after all, and I'm sure even Squalo knows that Italian Ladies are to be treated with the utmost respect-"
"That they should," the Lady of the house was the one that answered the door. "Well met, Lord Black, Scion Malfoy, and company. To what do we owe this unexpected visit? And won't you please come in?"
"Lady Zabini, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance," Sirius bowed and placed a kiss upon her hand.
"Said the spider to the fly," Squalo snorted under his breath, making Lady Zabini raise an eyebrow at him.
"Italian?" Zabini smirked knowingly as she led them into the small manor house, "Draco dear, when did you happen to fall in with such poor company?"
"When we fled from fath-Lord Malfoy attempting to beat my mother to death," Draco replied as soon as the door had closed behind them. "We found out that Uncle Sirius was innocent and not in the thrall of the Dark Lord and is rather on a newer side. More Gray than White."
"I see, how interesting. Mercucio, please call my bambino down. We have guests," Lady Zabini smirked as she led them into a parlor, making Squalo twitch a bit more. "Now, no more of this Lady Zabini business. I insist you call me Juliet."
"Then I am simply Sirius. This is our escort, Squalo Superbi, Ukyo Saotome, and Chrome Yamamoto," Sirius introduced the new faces to her. "And you are familiar with Draco."
"But of course," Juliet winked at him. "May I say that you look just as dashing as you did in your Auror days, Sirius?"
"You may, but sadly you are to radiant for the likes of me," Sirius flattered Juliet Zabini politely, while letting her know that he wasn't interested in being the next notch on her list.
"Mother, please refrain from selecting husband number eight, as my latest step-father is not yet cold in the ground," Blaise sighed tiredly as he entered the room.
"Sirius, this is my son, Blaise. Blaise, this is Lord Black, and you know Scion Malfoy. Their friends are Squalo Superbi, Ukyo Saotome, and Chrome Yamamoto," Juliet smiled poisonously at her son at his lack of decorum.
"Sirs, ladies," Blaise greeted them, before turning to Draco. "What brings you here?"
"We found out that my Uncle, Sirius Black, was framed by Dumbledore and the Ministry. Not only that, but it appears that Potter and anyone who had any dealings with him, including me, had memory charms or potions used on them. We came to warn you and see if you wished to be checked by Gringotts, as we all have been. Also, we're starting our own side of the war, a Gray side."
"Oh, I love gray!" Juliet grinned shamelessly, "Just like Mr. Superbi's pretty hair..."
"VOI! Woman," Squalo glared at her.
"Mother, isn't he a bit young for you?" Blaise groaned.
"He's Italian, dear. They know that women only ripen with age," Juliet wiggled her eyebrows while Squalo eyed Juliet with shock.
"Mother, as lovely as this conversation is, I'd rather we didn't have it," Blaise sighed. "What else did you need, Draco?"
"We're having a gathering of everyone that may want to join our side," Draco stated flatly.
"What does this side stand for?" Blaise questioned him.
"For one, it's against the manipulations and machinations of Dumbledore and the Dark Lord. It's against the corruption of the Ministry, and for friends and family only," Draco stated unerringly.
"You consider us friends, that's so... disgustingly cute, Draco," Blaise rolled his eyes. "Where's the proof that Potter is running this dog and pony show?"
"I'm his godfather," Sirius raised his hand in a small wave.
"That's all the claim you have? We need more proof before-" Blaise began to rationalize, only to be cut off by Ukyo stepping forward. "Yes?"
"It's not just for that reason. Did you know that Dumbledore put Harry in an abusive home, didn't tell him anything about Wizarding culture, and sent Hagrid to collect him from said abusive home? What does that tell you about him?" Ukyo stated calmly.
"Nothing but he had a bad home life," Blaise scoffed.
"Mr. Zabini," Chrome delicately intervened. "Harry was led around by the nose, by Dumbledore. It may not seem likely, but my guardian, she's now Harry's too. She also has been a victim of memory charms and other things. There is much more to be learned by coming with us, after you visit the Goblins. After all, even if we're wrong, what harm could a simple check-up do? It's already paid for, and the Goblins are impartial."
"You do have a point," Blaise murmured after a long pause. It had taken a bit of persuasion, but he finally relented, "Mother, I believe that we should take their advice and visit the Goblins. Where are we to meet you if everything is as you say?"
"We'll meet you at Gringotts, we have another stop to make..." Draco began.
"Who?" Blaise frowned in disgust, "Not Crabbe or Goyle-"
"No. Daphne," Draco stated coolly. "You know how her family is."
"Neutral," Blaise nodded. "Good choice. Be careful, I heard that Lord Greengrass may want your head."
"Why?" Draco blinked at his friend in surprise.
"Blame Astoria or your father, I know it's one of the two," Blaise shrugged.
"See you later, Squalo-dear," Juliet flirted with the assassin, making him very uncomfortable, as she escorted them out of the house. "By Sirius, Draco! We'll see you soon!"
"Is it just me, or is Squalo dealing with a cougar?" Ukyo asked Sirius, Draco, and Chrome.
"What's a cougar?" Chrome asked innocently.
"An older woman that has romantic designs on a younger man," Sirius explained with a twitch. "And you weren't wrong, Ukyo."
"She did try you first, Uncle," Draco snorted.
"True, but I'm fine with just Amy, if she'll have me back," Sirius shrugged.
"You're not as much of a ladies man as mother said that you were," Draco raised an eyebrow.
"I'm older, and a bit more mature," Sirius reluctantly admitted. "Just do me a favor and stick with one girl, it'll be less trouble for you later."
"So, we're heading to the Greengrass' now?" Chrome asked curiously as they walked further from the Zabini house, and Sirius returned to his dog form.
"Yes, but now Blaise has me wanting to hide. Lord Greengrass is a fearsome man..." Draco shivered slightly at the thought of the man as they neared the Greengrass estate, which was next door to the Zabini's.
"So why are there Death Eaters attacking his house?" Chrome asked softly, as she quickly covered them in Mist.
"Because he's not supporting their Dark Lord or agenda," Draco growled angrily as he charged forward to get into the house and save his friend and her family, before it was too late!
"Draco!" Sirius tried to catch him as he shifted back into a human, but he missed.
Ukyo turned to Chrome, "Do you have this covered?"
"We're invisible to them. They will not detect us. Squalo, would you mind making some sushi?" Chrome asked gently.
"Sashimi coming right up!" Squalo smirked, "You got me covered too?"
"Yes," Chrome nodded.
"Good. Go back to the Zabini's and alert them of the attack. Tell them we're taking are of it and stay with them to Gringotts," Squalo informed her.
"Understood," Chrome vanished and reappeared on the Zabini's doorstep.
"Ranma should have been in this group," Ukyo snorted as she took out her giant spatula and nodded to Squalo.
"Let's cut down the enemy," Squalo smirked.