Chapter 24
As much as he hated it Inuyasha threw Kagome behind him and watched her run back to warn the others.
Sesshomaru stared at him expectantly, "Follow her, you idiot, we can't fight whatever is out there without knowing what it is!"
Inuyasha gazed at his older brother, he had never known Sesshomaru to back down from a fight much less put his brother before himself. When they reached the mouth of the cave a terrible scream echoed across the mountains.
Inside the cavern Kagome was putting out the fire and Hermione was performing a spell to set the tent invisible.
"Quick go inside and help the others find a place to hide," Hermione held the tent flap open for the two brothers and Kagome before putting the final touches on her spell.
Inside the tent was pure chaos. Ron was looking through the kitchen for any kind of crawl space; Harry was combing the bedrooms, and because of Jaken's size (he was a coward and ran inside long before Sesshomaru warned Inuyasha and Kagome) was looking under beds.
"Master! Master I think I may have found something," Jaken was hopping up and down with excitement, "Follow me." Sesshomaru, Hermione and Inuyasha followed. They were able to push a bed aside and they found a trapdoor.
On the top it read: For emergency use only, be sure to pull the tent down with you and close the door after you are out. Inuyasha wrenched the door open as Hermione called to the others.
After Sesshomaru, Jaken, Ron, Hermione, Kagome and Inuyasha were down the short steps after the trap door Harry looked around for a pull or hook, something to bring the tent down. As he was frantically searching for it a thunderous crash sounded from what may have been the mouth of the cave.
Spotting a hook near the top of the corner of the bedroom they were in Harry made a grab for it. He was halfway to carrying it to the trapdoor when Kagome screamed.
"SHIPPO!" Before anyone could stop her she ran up the stairs and out of the door. There was nothing but silence for a few painful seconds. Then ….
CRASH.
Wood and rock splintered covering everyone, though the rubble Harry saw Kagome holding the tiny demon in her arms. He pushed them both down the stairs and gave a hard tug to the canvas and closed the trapdoor.
Everyone was silent, the only noise made were ragged breaths coming from all of the members of the company (except perhaps Sesshomaru, I can't picture Sesshomaru ever being out of breath).
Harry could see they were in a dark small room; there were shafts of light shining above them covering them in a slanted dim glow. Praying he was right, Harry pulled out his wand and pushed the trapdoor up.
They met a whole different scene; instead of rock shelves filled with different boxes and other objects surrounded them. Harry felt this place was vaguely familiar, but he was unable to figure out just what.
"I'm going to close the front entryway, why don't you check the back door?" A voice floated back to them. The entire fellowship started scrambling back down the stairs but they didn't move fast enough.
A figure stood basked in light in a doorway at the end of the row they were standing in.
"Harry?" Recognizing his name Harry turned to come face to face with one of the twins.
The greetings that happened next would take too long, but let me add, Fred and George did remember Inuyasha and thanked him royally for causing a ruckus at a terribly boring event. Sesshomaru and Koga seemed to want to back away from the twin's enthusiasm, and Jaken took a great offense when Fred asked him if he was related to a Grindylow.
When George saw the small bundle in Kagome's arms he asked her how long the Kitsune had been sleeping.
"About two days now." Kagome looked with question in her eyes at George, now joined by Fred.
Fred held out a small package to Kagome, "It's an energy reviver, thought I wouldn't give it all to him, he's so small, a bite will do. But give it to him in the morning; let him sleep a while longer." The twins smiled down at Kagome, Fred motioned to the others and led them up the stairs, "We only have a small space, but I can conjure up some beds."
George stayed down with Harry and Ron. Hermione wanted to stay but she looked as if she were about to pass out, so she allowed herself to be herded up the stairs by Koga. Ron watched them go with a strong eye, seeing his brother George chuckled. He brought the boys back to a small storeroom and gave them bottles of butterbeer.
"You better enjoy that, it's from one of our last cases. Because of the fear and terror around today people aren't buying any luxuries." Harry could see worry behind the normally carefree eyes. "Our business has been hit, but we aren't about to go under. The worst that may happen is we will have to close shop and work on 'private endorsements.'" Both boys looked confusedly at George, "You know people think that if we can make the joke stuff then we can make protective stuff as well."
"We have at least ten to twenty people coming in every day." Fred joined the three and sat down. "They come in droves, all wanting some kind of protection, all willing to pay galleons for it."
"But can't you build that kind of stuff? I mean that tent was brilliant." Ron looked doubtfully between his twin brothers.
"You're not getting the point, Ron." Fred explained carefully, "we don't want to make charms only for the extremely rich, unfortunately we would be arrested if we advertised for the protections and the average wizard doesn't walk into our shop asking for the protection. The rich only want to protect their riches." Harry never knew the twins were so noble.
"Now tell us why you felt the need to come to our store in the dead of night, with four characters that look like they were in a cartoon together." It took a while but Harry and Ron were able to explain everything over a few hours. When they got to the part about frantically searching for a place to hide, Fred and George burst out laughing.
"Didn't you read the manual?" Fred managed to choke out after both Harry and Ron were fully annoyed.
"We would have if you had put one there!" Ron shouted.
"Anger, please brother we will explain everything." Said George throwing his hands in the air. Fred disappeared sill snickering as George wiped his eyes.
"Here it is!" Fred called. He came back with an orange pamphlet and handed it to Ron.
"Weasley Wizard Wheezes" Ron read aloud, "The safest tent you will ever own! Enjoy a good camp out, and become just like a muggle! Directions: To set up the tent imagine what you need and want and it will become true! Built in safety features include: no smoke chimney, enjoy a fire without the smoke! A new and improved sound proof canvas, and for ten galleons more you can add a specific emergency exit, a destination set up upon purchase. And now you may own the safest tent know to wizards today! Hey wait there is some more scribbling down at the bottom. Ron be sure to read this, the emergency exit is located in the bedroom on the far left under the bed, it will lead you directly to our shop." Ron stopped reading and glared at his twin brothers.
"So we forgot to add those small details," George turned his gaze away from his brother to the only dark haired person in the room "Is it true you've destroyed three Horcruxses?
Harry nodded, "Yeah I know the last one is Voldemort and another may be Gryffindor's sword, but I can't tell for sure. The last two I have no idea." The twins exchanged glances. "What is there something I should know?"
"We have been doing some research, you said that Voldemort loved to take souvenirs and he also was fascinated with Hogwarts history, so we found something out. All of the founders of the school started this ritual, one that was held at the school for years until it ended. The founders drank out of a goblet, and to start a new school year the Headmaster would do the same. It ended a few hundred years later when the goblet disappeared. Harry, the goblet belonged to Helga Hufflepuff." Harry sat back and thought about this new information.
"Hey, wait a second, how did you know about the Horcruxses and why did you do research about the history of Hogwarts?"
"Ron, Ron, Ron, did you think we were above listening in on other conversations? We didn't invent the extendable ears for nothing." Fred said as he threw his arm over Ron's shoulder. "We listened in on all of you when you three went to lunch with Kagome. Don't you think we would have been curious about it when Hermione asked to borrow one of our giant jinxes?"
"So then you listened in on Kagome's an my conversation?" Harry said growing red.
"Don't worry, mate," George said winking, "your secret snog-fest will stay quiet between us." The last part was drowned out by and outrageous Ron yelling something like "why didn't you tell me?"
"Dear brother, do you honestly think you should treat your best friend in such a loud manner?" Within those few words George was able to silence Ron's noisy rant. Ron turned red and apologized to Harry.
"Good, now the first thing that needs to be decided is where you're going to go. We haven't found the location of the cup yet but we're getting close." Harry was amazed at the strength of his friends.
"Why did you go to such trouble for us?" He knew the question could be best left unasked but he had to know.
"Because we're not doing much just sitting here selling joke stuff." Fred said as he stared at a spot on the table, Harry could tell both twins were really struggling between living their dream and wanting to be out fighting Voldemort.
"You've done more than most of the Ministry combined. Don't be stupid and think you're not doing anything. You're making people laugh, you make their worlds just a little bit lighter." Harry knew noting else to say so he paused and then started up again. "I think the best thing would be is to go to Hogwarts and get the sword. It would be odd, thought, trying to get all of them on and off the grounds."
"Hey what about disguises? You know like the one Hermione created for Inuyasha?" Ron said after a while.
The twins almost jumped up, "We can help there." George said smiling.