Edited 11.11. - reworked the starting scene since I had something messed up a bit.
Big fat thanks to kitsuneluvuhat this point! Thank you for pointing that out!
It was a fairly normal day in Konoha, everything was pretty much as usual. The usual merchants doing their business, the usual Shinobi asking for orders, the usual students having a happy lunch time.
What wasn't normal though, was what was going on in the Hokage's office. Tsunade was standing in the middle of the room, a small foldable table in front of her and a handful of the best Shinobi available leaning in to study the papers gathered on top of it. This meeting had started four and a half hours prior, with the arrival of a hypercrypted message sent by ANBU Captain Fox straight from the other side of the 'Rim' as history (or those that knew of it, at least) called it. The toad that had carried it, had told her of a time difference, hence the five-day-old-date signed on top of the message. Even though the carrier had traveled its usual way through the Enshinsui on Mount Myoboku, there seemed to be a rift, which caused a distortion of the time-continuum in between the Old World and the Elemental Nations. It wasn't as if one worlds time traveled faster than the other worlds - no. It was way easier than that. When the Elemental Nations were ripped from the Old World, time and space broke apart. With portals and gates - like the one they had created - they were stitched back together, but the bridge was an instabil one, and took time to travel across. Even though the traveler itself wouldn't notice until his arrival.
The toad - being able to sync with the nature around it - had noticed almost immediately and had hurried from the moment on it had stepped through the gate, so as not to get the message even more belated than it already was.
But even without this, the news that it bore were troublesome, if not even problematic. Fox had given a short summarized report about the situation itself and finally asked for new orders regarding their stay in the Wizarding World. Not only orders itself, though, but specific directives for an entry into what could easily turn into a full out war. Tsunade swore she would kill the brat the moment he came back here. Then she prayed that he would come back in the first place.
They shouldn't be involved into another war that soon after the end of the Fourth. Too many Shinobi had lost their lives over the course of a few months and neither village had grown back to its previous strength and wouldn't be for some time to come. Now he asked to join in to another battle, another bloodbath, another massacre.
Tsunade didn't understand the kid from time to time. Not only did he endanger himself in the process - more than he already did by protecting the school as it was - but his fellow crew members as well. The chances of winning a war against wizards were likely to be zero, since they had no idea of their potential. She didn't want to lose some of the best warriors Konoha had to offer, but neither did she want to have Naruto going off on his own - which he would, should she say no to the request. The Hokage knew him too well for that. And sometimes she also hated him for it. One of his more obnoxious flaws.
"Hokage-sama, I don't think we should risk being involved in another war that soon, our forces are not yet up to standard," Hiashi Hyuuga said, now one of the Elders of the Clan. "No matter how experienced Captain Fox and his men are."
Tsunade respected Hiashi for his way of thinking, which was only one of the reasons she had invited him here for. She needed people who knew the risks that war would bring, the dangers not only to Konoha but to the future of the whole Elemental Nations. So the Hokage had gathered a handful of her most-trusted and most-skilled Shinobi Konoha had to offer.
"A man, who conquers one world for power will not stop, if he has the chance to conquer another."
Sai stood from his chair, sliding into a spot to her right, gesturing with his hands. Tsunade wondered where and when he had gathered as much wisdom as he showed.
"We all know this, we have seen it happen," he continued. "Now that our troops have already entered the Old World, it won't be long before this 'Dark Lord' finds out about us and about a way to enter our plane of existence. Fox just wants to protect us, by protecting them first."
"He uses the wizards as a shield between us and them, you mean?" Raido questioned, his scarred face contorting in the fading light of day. As the sun was going down, time for a decision approached and everyone in the room knew it.
"Even if he does that, how can a handful of ANBU agents prevent hundreds of wizards from coming here? What if one of them slips beneath their sight?" Someone called, Tsunade didn't see who it was. She put her hands on her hips and stared all of them in the eyes.
"That was a risk, we were willing to take right from the beginning. It wouldn't need a war for the enemy to be curious about us. Alone shady person-to-person talk is enough. If I had been afraid of stick-wavers I wouldn't have sent an entire Black-Ops contingent over there. I know how valuable a handful of fully trained warriors is in times like these, just like you all know that. We've talked that over more often than we needed to," she spoke, an angry huff following her exclamation. "And if someone like Fox - and his entire team - deems this fight, this battle, this war, or whatever it extends to be, necessary to fulfill the clients wishes, then so be it. He… they will not fail. They will bring us glory and honour, new contacts, new contracts. Trust in your fellow soldiers. Trust them, as I trust them."
"Tsunade-hime," Hiashi spoke again. "Is it really wise...I do not want to contradict you, or undermine your wishes, but I am not sure...to put Konoha's future on the line -"
"When isn't it on the line, though?" Tsume interrupted. "Every single day, every single hour, we hurry out to do what people pay us for. And still, we make our own decision, that we - as the people of Konoha- pay for. You yourself once decided to save your daughter. What did that lead to? It got your brother killed."
Tenzo scratched the back of his head, looking out the window. "Our lives are ruled by decisions that others make, most of them more stupid than your average academy student. Let someone like Captain Fox make the decision, and you won't regret it."
Genma, who had seated himself near the windows nodded, all the while chewing a senbon. "If you can't believe in your leaders most trusted, who can you trust in?"
"Nobody," Kurenai answered, just to show unity in times of crisis. She wasn't officially back on duty, but she still helped out here and there when she could. Konoha needed all the strength it could get.
Tsunade smiled at her Shinobi. She was proud of them, having known most of them when they had still been children. How well they had grown. Konoha's future suddenly didn't look as bleak as before.
"That's enough," she said pounding her hand on the table-top. "The time for bickering is up. The time for a decision has come."
Hiashi held himself straight, as he asked his question. "And how do you decide, Lady Hokage?"
She smirked, loving how much might her title held. She loved how others listened to her, knowing she would do the right thing. Just like she trusted Naruto not to do anything that would bring harm upon his home and his friends.
"The wizards world is in peril, just as ours was just years ago. All of us have experienced loss, have seen death swarming us. We have blood on our hands, Konoha's youngest generation has already seen more bloodshed than we wished upon them. I, for one, do not want anybody else suffer this fate; to see their own children kill in revenge and bloodlust, loose sisters and brothers, mothers and fathers, uncles and aunts. The Old World is facing a dilemma that we are able to stop from happening. Captain Fox and his team are well experienced enough to take down their enemy, a delusional man who wants nothing more than power. They will handle the situation accordingly and return home safely. I will send out their orders to track and engage the foe."
Tsunade then huffed and folded her arms in front of her very well developed chest. "Anyone here that wants to complain?"
The assembled Shinobi didn't say anything, and in that way it was clear that they had nothing against her new orders for the ANBU team. Then Genma coughed into his fist, turning all attention onto him.
"Hokage-sama. Are you gonna send backup?" he asked, his senbon being tucked into a corner of his mouth. Tsunade looked at him, her gaze raking over his features.
"Not until they ask for it. Their manpower should suffice," she answered with a small smile. "It would go against their pride, and you should know how prideful young ANBU are. It would also undermine the image the wizards have of them. Should we send a backup team, than they will think our ANBU are weak. At the moment their count is high enough."
Genma nodded, continuing to chew on his senbon like one would do with a toothpick.
"Well then, little one," Tsunade said, turning to the toad sitting on her desk after writing her orders on a stamped and signed scroll. "Deliver this to your summoner."
The toad held the official paperwork in its mouth while making handsign and finally saluting to the Hokage before a little white cloud of smoke was in its place.
"I hope you made the right decision," Hiashi murmured and prayed to the gods that his daughter would return home unharmed.
Sasuke sighed as he watched Sakura move about their room. Both of them had finished placing seals all about the school grounds and Hogsmeade earlier this morning but something kept them from sleeping, like an irritating sound or a nagging feeling at the back of their minds. Something was wrong, and they knew it. Something had gone out of order, nothing they could do anything against.
"Would you stop pacing already," he hissed, a headache having formed hours earlier and now hammering away at his head. He didn't particularly want to hiss at her, but he didn't really know what else to do. She hadn't stopped moving around from one end of the room to the other and into one corner and then the next. On other days it wouldn't have annoyed him, since she regularly did it, like a quirk or a tik. But today every little thing seemed to draw his ire.
"No," was all she said, before sitting down.
"You did stop, though."
"Because I wanted to, not because you hissed at me," she said, folding her arms over her chest and leaning against the wall behind her. "I know you're not in the best of moods today, Uchiha, but that doesn't mean you can just act on it."
Her gaze didn't stray from his, and yet again he asked himself when exactly she had changed from the useless girl she once was to this … well ...still brash, but less useless Kunoichi. Sakura had grown in so many ways that he was sure even Naruto had yet to discover.
"Sorry."
"Okay."
Their conversation didn't continue from there on. Sasuke lounged on his bed, watching the ceiling and repeatedly telling himself that something would go down soon. At least he hoped it would. Sakura sat on her own bed staring at the opposite wall, grinding her teeth together.
An unnerving silence filled the room but neither wanted to fill it with words.
Sasuke knew why Sakura behaved like this, or at least he thought why.
After the war had ended, he had never really talked to either her or Naruto. He hadn't seen the need, as Naruto had walked straight up to him and pulled him along to daily adventures. Sakura had joined in on many an occasion and it had felt just like years prior in their Genin days. But the dynamics had changed and everyone had known that.
Sasuke had never apologized for his actions, had never wanted to. On one hand, he wasn't sorry for what he had done. Naruto and Sakura knew why he had left Konoha, how much the revenge had meant to him and that achieving it would satisfy him more than anything else. That's what he thought back then. He had needed to go his own way and see things with his own eyes, before finally reverting back to Konoha. And he did come back, didn't he? On the other hand he could also understand their hurt. Especially Naruto, who he had hurt in more than one way. Sasuke would probably never forget the feeling of his friends warm body encasing his arm as his Chidori passed right through Naruto's shoulder blade. The look on his face...He wanted to be sorry, but maybe it was the Uchiha in him that didn't let this happen. What would it change if he said it? His actions lay in the past, he couldn't change any of this, no matter what he did, what he said. So what good would it do to try? If they didn't want to forgive him, then they wouldn't change their opinion because of a 'sorry'. Surely not.
"Sasuke," Sakura started, turning her head to him. "When did Naruto say he wanted to be back here?"
He put his arms behind his head and shrugged, which was pretty uncomfortable in this position. "Dunno. He didn't specify."
She sighed, scratching her cheek and playing with her fringe. "I thought plastering seals across surfaces for days on end was boring."
"You were obviously wrong," he smirked, happy that the tension between them was dissipating. "He's probably fooling around somewhere, having forgotten about the mission."
Sakura grinned, fondly remembering how her teammate used to be years ago. "Yeah, probably. Sounds like him."
"It does…"
"Why have you never apologized?"
Her question didn't fit into their conversation at all, but he knew she would be the one to ask it one day.
"Because it wouldn't have changed anything."
She snorted, glaring at the wall. But not at him.
"Didn't you at least think about how we felt? Of course we were happy that you had come back. And, sure, we didn't need you to apologize as it wouldn't have changed anything that had happened, but it would have made us feel better. Naruto for the most part."
Sasuke sat up and watched her talk. "How so?"
"He was relieved when you decided to join back with us after the end of the war, but he wasn't sure why you did it. If you had just come with us, so we would leave you alone to sulk and so that you could escape Konoha on another day. Or if you truly wanted to be with us again. Be home, again. An apology would have helped to clear his conscious since he felt like he had dragged you back against your will…"
"Oh."
"Yeah. Oh. I know you are a prick, Sasuke, and I also know that you will stay a prick your whole life. But at least let us in on your life. As you are a part of ours, too."
She smiled sadly as she finished and watched emotions rush across his face. Everyone had always said that Sasuke never showed his emotions, that he was emotionless. That wasn't true. If you just knew him well enough, you could pick out the most minuscule of impulses wandering across his face, mostly his eyes, which most regarded as 'cold as ice, unmoving as a glacier'.
Shame flittered behind those very same eyes, but also grief.
She knew those feeling. Having felt them over and over again. But she was over it now, and they would never return.
"I'll talk to him," he promised, a true smile gracing his lips as his eyes locked with hers. His head was dipped and his shoulders stiff. An apology without words. Just for her. And she accepted it without question.
"Good."
Fox scratched the back of his head as he watched the happenings right in front of him. He felt confused at how such an unorganised group of people had survived a war against a mighty foe, if they couldn't get important documents out of the room before the kids came in. He didn't get it, seriously. Sirius Black had just led the Potter boy into the cavernous kitchen in the basement of the house, which looked like it had before he left it, including empty wine bottles and rolls of parchment spread across the long table. Arthur Weasley and his oldest son - Bill, his mind told him - were still discussing the matters at hand while they collected maps and parchment.
If it were Konoha, the documents would have been out of the room the moment the meeting had ended and sealed somewhere in the archive or in T&I to either never be touched again or to only be accessed by those that were permitted to. Here, it was vastly different, and it hurt his very soul seeing them do it that way.
While Shikamaru was allowed to take a break in handling the wizards and Hanabi had locked herself in her room for some time alone, he had taken over the duty of watching the Order members. Dove was still playing look-out and scaling buildings while he had to stay in the cramped kitchen with more people than he'd like.
Rather be rained upon than this, he thought.
He crossed his arms as he let himself be enveloped by shadow. It wouldn't do to be seen by those youngsters. Looking back, he also really wanted to whack himself over the head for that stunt he had pulled with Tonks. Showing of his Fuinjutsu, really? What had driven him to act on impulse? Wasn't he an ANBU agent, hadn't he matured beyond the point to give into the urge to show off? Hadn't he grown out of those habits.
Obviously not.
Sakura would hit him as soon as she caught wind of it, he was sure. Sasuke too, now that he thought of it.
He snapped out of his reverie just as Tonks toppled a candle on top of a piece of parchment. He watched with fascination as Mrs Weasley repaired it with a flick of her wand. Magic was interesting in its own way, he decided. If they could repair everything with just a swish and a flick…
"Sit down, Harry," Sirius said, nearly shoving the boy into a seat. He looked to the man on the other side of the table and Fox followed his gaze.
Mundungus Fletcher was a sight to behold. And smell he thought he'd never forget. Not even beggars and homeless people back home smelled as bad as that man did, and that was a wonder in itself. How Fletcher had been introduced to the Order was a question he wanted to ask Dumbledore the next time he saw him, as he provided a risk to the security, not only of the Order but a risk to everyone around him. Had it not be for Fletcher, they wouldn't have had to pick Potter up prematurely. Someone else would have taken care of the Dementors, Fox and Tonks wouldn't have had to spend days outside, watching the perimeter surrounding Potter's house and none would have had to worry about Potter being thrown out of school.
"Some'n say m'name?" Mundungus mumbled sleepily. "I 'gree with Sirius…" He raised a very grubby hand in the air as though voting, his droopy, bloodshot eyes unfocused.
The Weasley girl giggled.
It was funny, he supposed, but it showed just how useless Fletcher would be in the later course of this dispute. Falling asleep during meetings was one thing - Shikamaru had done this more often than not - but putting a boy in danger by sheer laziness alone..a boy that could've died and that he was to protect. Fox wanted to yell at the guy and get him to straighten out his life but he knew that his wasn't for him to say, for him to change, so he just leaned back and listened.
Until Mundungus took out that damn little pipe of his, which caused him to nearly gag at its smell alone. He had been here once before when Fletcher had smoked his pipe. Gruesome it had been. The greenish smoke that was wafting from it now, had his nostrils numb but burning at the same time. It was an acrid smell that he wouldn't forget, even though he wished so. It didn't make his vision hazy like some of the stuff that Jiraya the Sannin had smoked once in a while, while being in company of beautiful women, but it gave him a headache anyway.
"For the last time, Mundungus," called Mrs Weasley, "will you please not smoke that thing in the kitchen, especially not when we're about to eat!"
Luckily - for Fletcher - the man complied and Fox was free to take deep inhales of breath.
"And if you'll want dinner before midnight I'll need a hand," she continued. "Ginny, dear, do you mind calling our guests down.
"No problem, mom," Ginny said, rising from her seat at the far end of the table, just beside Hermione to leave the room and get Hanabi and Shikamaru. The Potter boy looked after her, curious as to who came down. Fox knew that Hanabi had already introduced herself to him, but he had no idea how the boy would react to seeing Shikamaru. Especially during dinner times, when that lazy bum still had the quirk to spontaneously fall asleep whilst chewing. Fox truly wondered if he'd get that habit off of didn't think so, really.
As soon as the two Shinobi entered the room, everyones eyes fell upon them, especially the childrens. While all of them - excluding Potter - had seen both of them many a times, they knew that something was going on with them, that nobody had told them about yet. They didn't need to be particularly clever to notice this either, the adults had given away too many hints, to not notice anything.
They both sat down beside each other, near Lupin, who had welcomed them with a smile. Hanabi promptly turned toward her plate, not wanting to be talked to at all. Fox had noticed how she had reverted back to her angry self since this morning. He would talk to her about this. Again. Shikamaru spared him not only glance, but the way he held his cutlery before spooning the stew was sign enough. Both of them knew enough secret sign languages to communicate without anyone knowing more than before.
The dinner itself was fairly normal. Tonks showed off her abilities as a Metamorphmagus, Fletcher told stories of his thievery and lone discussion went on as well.
"Sirius," Molly started after a few minutes, "I've been meaning to tell you, there's something trapped in that writing desk in the drawing room, it keeps rattling and shaking."
The moment she had said this, Fox saw Hanabi's eyes bulge into Byakugan, observing the mentioned desk two floors above.
"Of course, it could just be a Boggart, but I thought we ought to ask Alastor to have a look at it before we let it out."
"What is a 'Boggart'?" Shikamaru asked, drawing her attention to him. He smiled, happy that he engaged himself in the conversation.
"A beast which turns into your worst fear, as it feasts on you being scared."
He blanched at the answer but nodded all the same. Hanabi had grown a shade paler too, having listened while seeing the strange creature bop up and down in the drawing room. Fox watched their expressions and wondered what his Boggart would turn into, but soon distracted himself with watching Tonks making silly faces. He knew what he feared, but he never wanted to face it. Twenty minutes later Mrs Weasley yawned, as did some of the others. It had gotten pretty late by then. "Nearly time for bed, I think," she said.
"Not just yet, Molly," said Sirius, pushing his empty plate away and then turning to Harry. Fox got the impression something bad was about to happen. "You know, I'm surprised at you. I thought the first thing you'd so when you got here would be to start asking questions about Voldemort."
Fox had been right. Shikamaru threw a startled glance towards him, not believing what was happening in front of their eyes as well. They hadn't planned on such a head-on conversation that earlier after Harry's arrival. Especially not after dinner and at such a late time of the day. Maybe breakfast, when the spirits were still high. Even Lupin was surprised, as he lowered his goblet of wine.
"I did!" Harry said indignantly. "I asked Ron and Hermione but they said we're not allowed in the Order, so -"
"And they're quite right," Mrs Weasley interrupted him. "You're too young."
"Since when did someone have to be in the Order of the Phoenix to ask questions?" asked Sirius. "Harry's been trapped in that Muggle house for a month. He's got the right to know what's been happen-"
"Hang on!" interrupted George loudly.
"How come Harry gets his questions answered?" said Fred angrily.
"We've been trying to get stuff out of you for a month and you haven't told us a single stinking thing!" said George.
"'You're too young, you're not in the Order'" said Fred, mimicking his mother's voice. "Harry's not even of age!"
"It's not my fault you haven't been told what the Order's doing," Sirius argued, with a calm voice that was so unlike the childrens before him, "that's your parents' decision. Harry, on the other hand -"
"It's not down to you to decide what's good for Harry!" Mrs Weasley interfered sharply. She looked dangerous and reminded Fox uncomfortably of an angry Tsunade. "You haven't forgotten what Dumbledore said, I suppose."
"Which bit?"
"The bit about not telling Harry more than he needsto know," she said, emphasising the last three words.
"I don't intend to tell him more than he needs to know, Molly. But as he was the one who saw Voldemort come back he has more right than most to-"
"He's not a member of the Order of the Phoenix! He's only fifteen and-"
"And he's dealt with as much as most in the Order and more than some."
"No one's denying what he's done! But he's still-"
"He's not a child!" said Sirius impatiently.
"He's not an adult either! He's not James, Sirius."
Fox flinched, he truly did. That was the point where things were about to turn ugly for all of them. From what Dove had told him James Potter was Harry's late father, and one of Sirius' best friends. No matter how right Molly was with her argument that the Potter boy was not yet an adult, she shouldn't have steered the conversation into this direction. It was nothing short of a provocation towards Sirius, whose cheeks burned a raw red in anger, but whose eyes flashed with an icy cold. He was about to answer her, when Fox stepped out of the shadow, but only after having a silent communication with Shikamaru. Both knew this was the only way to stop what was happening here.
"Quiet," he said calmly. He didn't speak more than this one word, but it was enough to flush the ire out of Sirius' system and to distract Molly from placing her next argument where it didn't belong.
"Captain," Lupin said, surprised about his interruption. "I didn't think you would . . ."
"Join you?" Fox finished for him, scowling behind his mask. Many battles and feuds had been started by nothing more than a useless little squabble a petty argument. Something like this.
"I hadn't planned it, either."
He sat down between Hanabi and Shikamaru, ignoring the gawking faces of the brats. He had done his fair share of staring when he had been a kid, too, after all. Shikamaru's knee brushed against his as soon as he sat down, as a means of pleading with him in case he should burst. Which wouldn't happen, if it was up to him. As a Captain of an ANBU squad he had to have control and a tight reign over his emotions after all. Not that he had ever been the best of rule followers. . .
Lupin swirled the wine in his goblet with a shake of his wrist. He didn't say anything as there was nothing he could say in the first place. Instead he looked at the holes of Fox' mask, hoping to see the man behind it.
"Do you want to have some stew?" Molly asked, already standing and offering him a plate. He took it, but didn't eat anything off it, yet.
"Thank you," he nodded.
"What makes you join us, Captain," Sirius spoke, curiosity and thankfulness in his gaze. He, of course, knew the exact reason for Fox' actions, as well. He had noticed the drift that the previous conversation had taken, and he knew where it would have gone. He was very much glad for the interruption. Even though he would have never guessed for the man to provide it.
"I'm not too sure myself, to say the truth." Fox turned his head to Shikamaru, who had taken to resting his own head on his palms. He looked ready to fall asleep any second; no wonder as he had not slept the last two days or nights. He was dozing now and then, but that didn't wasn't enough resting to provide his body with necessary REM sleep. His mind had worked in overdrive, as they had tried to plan what was to come for the future. How they should act given the nature of Tsunade's answer.
Which was overdue, now that he thought of it.
Shikamaru smirked at him, but didn't help him with answering. Sneaky bastard.
"You were treading grounds that shouldn't have stepped upon in the first place," he finally said, looking at Molly from behind his mask. She stared at him, now, too, fearfully, as she was afraid of him. He then looked at Sirius. "The things you were talking about . . . they shouldn't have been talked about in front of youngsters."
"I'm not a child!" Harry protested, fed up enough with this argument that he dared to stand up to an ANBU Captain. His fork and knife, having been forgotten on the tabletop, jumped when his fists crashed onto the hardwood.
"I'm sure that's not what he meant, Harry," Tonks tried to placate him, her hair turning a sickly shade of yellow.
Harry took her advice to heart, swallowing his anger with a visible gulp, and sat back in his seat trying to figure out who this man was.
"Why are you here, with us? And not hiding like you did all week?" Bill asked Fox, wanting an answer from the man. "I thought your orders didn't allow you to step out into the open."
Shikamaru sighed as he straightened himself out. "No. Our orders were to follow what we perceived to be the best course of course changed as soon as we entered this room . . . maybe even when Mr. Potter was attacked. It might change again. Sooner or later, given the situation."
"So we will see more of you now, Captain Fox?" Tonks questioned, eagerly leaning on the table. Fox merely nodded, a small smile hidden the porcelain.
"The Captain and I have come to the conclusion that a bit more transparency is in order, especially in the Order. Mr. Potter might not be a legal adult, yet, but he shouldn't be left in the dark just because of that," Shikamaru drawled, interlocking his fingers as he spoke. Lupin nodded, agreeing with him on this.
"Well," said Molly, breathing deeply and looking around the table for support that did not come. She wanted for Harry to stay in the dark, both Shikamaru and Fox could understand that, as the boy was just that - a boy. But there was no use in denying that trying to keep a curious person such as Potter detained, would only make matters worse. Reports showed just how far his curiosity reached, and how his thirst for a little more knowledge often brought him into grave danger.
"Well. . . I can see I'm going to be overruled. I'll just say this: Dumbledore must have had his reasons for not wanting Harry to know too much, and speaking as someone who has Harry's best interest at heart -"
"He's not your son," said Sirius quietly.
"He's as good as ," said Mrs Weasley fiercely. "Who else has he got?"
"He's got me!"
"Yes," said Mrs Weasley, her lip curling. "The thing is, it's been rather difficult for you to look after him while you've been locked up in Azkaban, hasn't it?"
Another low blow, Fox mused. But he could see the hurt not only in SIrius' eyes. No. Molly carried it around with her too. Hidden behind the obvious bitterness was grief sitting so deep in her bones, that to him, it was as plain as day. She too, had lost someone, someone very close to her and it still stung, even though time had passed.
Sirius started to rise from his chair, on the boiling point and short before exploding.
"Molly," Lupin said sharply," you are not the only person at this table who cares about Harry." He directed his gaze at his friend. "Sirius, sit down."
Shikamaru observed the scene with cunning eyes, while the children had watched it like it had been a tennis match. Hanabi was sitting quietly on Fox' other side, yet to say a word.
"I think Harry ought to be allowed a say in this," Lupin continued," he's old enough to decide for himself."
"I want to know what's been going on," Harry said at once. Fox' eyebrows rose. Pretty straight forward, wasn't he? He leaned closer to Shikamaru as Mrs Weasley tried - tried and failed - to get the majority of her children out of the room.
"I'm starting to think that taking this mission was a mistake," he whispered in his tactician's ear.
"And I begin to think that it's going to become more troublesome than I was paid for."
"That's not possible," he answered with a smirk. He then turned to Hanabi. "Enjoying the show?"
She frowned at him as she listened at the ongoing argument in the background. "I've never seen my family interact like this with each other."
"Gonna be a miracle when Hyuuga's start to do it," Shikamaru commented and earned a scowl in reply. He only yawned in return.
"It is weird," he said seconds later," to see them act so . . .casually. All I've ever known was how to behave formally, never to break traditions, never to be weak… They do not know how constant struggle affects a family as a system."
"Do you wish for them to know?" Fox turned his head.
She denied. "No . . . but also yes. It would unnecessarily hurt them, but it would also give them insight as to what family truly means."
"Wise words, Hanabi," he praised her and put a hand to her shoulder. If only he had been as wise as her when was fourteen.
The situation around them soon calmed down.
"Where's Voldemort?" was Harry's first question. Not the one that Fox would have asked but he was glad that his appearance had been forgotten that easily. He followed the conversation with rapt attention, pushing one or two things that were said to the part of his mind that would allow him to go over them at a later time.
"So, what's the Order been doing?" Harry said, looking around at them all, and as if he hadn't noticed before his eyes fell on Hanabi, Fox and Shikamaru. "And who are you, anyway? You ain't Order members."
Hanabi groaned to Fox' left. "I already told you Potter - yesterday in case you've already forgotten. I am -"
"Hanabi Hyuuga, but that's not what I meant. What are you? Spies?"
The girl winced when he butchered her name, but she didn't answer. Instead she looked at her companion and Team Leader for guidance. Clever girl.
"We're here, because Dumbledore asked us to protect what's most holy to him - the school and its students," Shikamaru started but Ron interrupted him.
"This isn't the school, and the term hasn't started yet."
"What do you mean with protection?" George asked at the same time. Shikamaru frowned, not liking the disruption.
"We came a bit early to prepare and to group with the Order of the Phoenix as we aren't exactly from this part of the world."
"Where are you from?" Hermione asked, not able to hold her curiosity at bay anymore.
"I'm not permitted to tell you."
"We came to guard, not to answer petty questions," Fox said at that moment. "But for your sake, I am giving you a name. Fox, head of this mission."
"Dumbledore had hired them to protect the school grounds, Harry," Lupin told the boy. "He has seen it necessary to provide further protection after what has happened at the end of last year."
"How can we be sure they're not Death Eaters? Like the fake Moody?"
"No foe could impersonate us, be sure of that, Mr. Potter," Shikamaru said, grimly smiling at the boy. Harry didn't want to find out what would happen if someone actually tried it. The way that the guys eyes shone was more than a bit intimidating.
"You're on our side then, as long as we need you to?" Fred asked, studying the Captain more than the other two.
"No," Nara said, leaving the baffled for a heartbeat. He couldn't mean - could he mean . . "As long as our mission values validate our stay. No longer, no shorter. But I shall not share those values with you, seeing as they are of no consequence for you.
"No consequence -"
"- he says."
The twins weren't amused at all by his answer, it seemed, but Shikamaru you dropped his gaze to the table, before moving it back up to Fox. "Did you tell the others of your changed mind, then?"
Transparency, Fox thought. Let them think they'd be the first to know the news.
"No, I thought I'd rather let you and the Order know of it first."
"How kind," Shikamaru joked, a tone in his voice that the others couldn't identify. Fox could and smiled widely.
"Will you be down here for dinner - for every meal now, Captain? You and Dove?"
Fox looked to Molly, and seeing the hope in her eyes, nodded shortly. "Not all the time, but we'll try to make it."
"So…" George grinned. "There's more than one guard here, are there?"
"That's none of your business, young Mr Weasley."
"Oh come oooon!"
Voices rose again, and Fox looked to Shikamaru once more, seeing him smirk, again. He knew he shouldn't expect help from the Nara, who liked to see him suffer in situations such as this.
God, please let the new orders arrive soon!
Just across the Rim, a young toad struggled with the force of energies around here, pushing itself across the interdimensional bridge with grim eyes.
A/N:
With roughly 6700 words neither the longest nor the shortest chapter of the bunch. This won't be divided into two seperate parts, seeing as it's not a bad point to end, and otherwise you guys would have to wait a tiny bit longer, yet again. Which I didn't want.
So. The chapter doesn't span a quarter of the stuff I wanted to put into it at the beginning, but I couldn't be bothered to write another - what - 15.000 words, just to get it as long and stuffed as it should be.
NaNoWriMo is happening, too, guys, so I won't even start scibbling for the new chap till the end of the month. Busy busy busy. Not only with NaNo but my life in general.
Thank you very much for you patience with me, I know I'm a horrible author to have you waiting this long for such a short chapter.
Next time more action, (or not).
Please, please, please review.
Regards
Taka