A/N: peeks out from behind tree Um….hi…..; Well…I know nothing I say will change the fact that I have not updated for checks calendar a few months. But…I am sorry! No, seriously…but anyways…enjoy this chapter!

Thanks for your wonderful, thoughtful reviews! I loved them all! (Especially Nikkielalala's review! Very forceful….)

Disclaimer: When I own YYH and the HP gang……yeah…..I'm not even going to finish that sentence, because of the obvious fact that I won't own them….

SPOILERS (maybe)

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"Blah" Talking

Blah- Thinking

Blah- Telepathic

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Last time:

"Keep your guard up." Kurama instructed. "Never underestimate your opponent."

The three nodded, wanting to prove themselves strong. Suddenly, the whole forest erupted to the cackling of a deep voice.

"Watch out everyone. Here it comes!"

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"Well, it looks like everyone's here!" The voice chuckled. "Let's get started!"

The Hogwarts trio tensed and held their wands up.

"You know, I never knew how people could use pieces of sticks as weapons." The voice sighed. "It just seems so…….pathetic."

Ron hissed angrily. "Well, they can be used just fine, and wait until we hurt you with it!"

"You? Hurt me?" A shadow slowly approached the six. "When you do that, the world's probably ended."

"Who are you?" Hermione cried out, unable to keep silent any longer.

"Me?" The voice asked, sounding amused. "You'll find out soon enough."

A snake slithered out of the bushes and weeds around the clearing. It was a jet green colour with diagonal stripes of brown. The animal was the approximate thickness of three fingers and around four feet long.

Ron jumped, then relaxed. "It's okay, you guys. Just a snake."

"Remember what I said." Kurama warned. "Make sure to never forget."

"We haven't." Harry assured. "But it's a snake. What could it possibly do?"

"And, I remember checking before," Hermione added. "There are no snake animagus."

"Well, that was before you found out about demons, right?" Yusuke rolled his eyes. "What makes you think one of the demons had nothing to do with a snake that just popped out of nowhere, right after the youkai had said he'd introduce himself?"

Hiei raised his eyebrows slightly after Yusuke's reply, adding something of his own. "It appears you can make a pressing argument once in a while. You might not be useless after all."

"Why, thank you!" Yusuke's arrogant grin slowly dropped off his face. "Wait, what do you mean by 'I might not be useless after all?'"

"Then again," Hiei drawled out. "It might have been pure luck that you figured out what to say."

Yusuke bristled after going through the conversation once again in his head and reached out to grab Hiei.

Hiei, predicting this, side-stepped, narrowly missing Yusuke's reaching hand. This hand, instead of landing where it was aimed, ended up on Kurama's crimson locks.

"Yusuke," Kurama smiled eerily. "Please remove your hand from my hair, or I'll do it for you."

"O-of course…" Yusuke shakily removed his reaching hand. Kurama can be just as scary as Hiei sometimes, if not more.

Their attention was quickly recaptured when the snake opened it's mouth.

"Hello, humans and traitors!" The snake, surprisingly, had the same voice as the one they heard before, not counting the amazing fact that it could speak at all.

"Bloody hell…did that snake just speak, or did I suddenly understand Parseltongue?" Ron asked, faintly.

"I'm pretty sure it just spoke." Hermione whispered to his left. "It must have been the demon's doing."

Harry nodded knowingly. "The demon must have enchanted a snake to be able to speak."

At this, Kurama furrowed his brow. "Are you three sure you do not want our help? Demons are strong creatures, and we would not think any less of you if you did not fight now."

That would be true……if we thought anything of them in the first place.

Yusuke snickered at Hiei's message, while Kurama merely pretended not to hear.

Ron turned just long enough to glare at them. "We'll be fine- just leave us alon- OW!"

"RON!" Harry and Hermione shouted out in unison.

In their slight lapse of concentration, the snake had slithered quickly over to Ron's leg and took a bite.

The orange haired wizard slumped over, holding his ankle. His friends grabbed him under his shoulders and hauled him to sit under a tree.

"Ron, are you okay?" Hermione asked frantically, nearly in tears.

Ron looked up woozily. "…It doesn't hurt so much now…but you guys are kind of blurry…" With that, his eyes slipped shut and he keeled over against Harry.

Hermione bit down on her knuckles, stifling a shriek. Harry shook Ron gently, then, getting no response, looked pleadingly over to the Tantei…….

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"Bamph!"

"Oh yeah! Bulls-eye!" Yusuke yelled triumphantly.

He watched, grinning, as the snake wriggled towards the bushes. It had decided to retreat after being blown sky high by Yusuke. Making sure that the creature was gone, he jogged towards where Kurama was tending to Ron.

"So, how is it?" Yusuke leaned over Kurama's shoulder to peer down at the unconscious boy.

The fox demon gave a small smile. "There's nothing to be worried about. He's going to be fine."

"How can you be sure? He's passed out!" Harry asked roughly.

Kurama started spreading some of his healing salve against the bite. "I'm sure," he said calmly. "It would be most beneficial for you to trust me."

Harry nodded slowly. Hermione, still pale-faced, glanced at the paste Kurama held in his hand. It was a slight purply colour, with tiny pieces of seeds mixed in with it. The salve was almost translucent, and you could see the little specks that were the seeds floating in it.

"What is that?" Hermione asked, pointing.

"This," Kurama said, gesturing to the medicine, "is from the flower called Lunar Poison. Usually, at the full moon, liquids collect in the stem of the plant. During the night of the full moon, this juice is a very potent poison. However, if left for a month or two, this salve is left in the stem."

Nodding, Hermione tilted her head up thoughtfully. "Isn't the full moon tomorrow?"

Tensing up, Kurama nodded. "Why do you want to know?"

Narrowing her eyes, Hermione stared at Kurama. His voice seemed different, more mocking. "Are you okay?" Hermione asked cautiously.

A shadow passed over Kurama's face. After a brief moment, he smiled sweetly. "I'm fine, thank you."

Hiei, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow. Hn. Youko fighting to get out?

Yes…and he will eventually win...hopefully, you and Yusuke will be able to restrain me then.

Hn. If you really wanted to, you could keep him inside.

If I wanted to. However, the fact that I don't want to makes everything more difficult, ne?

Is he getting on your nerves that much, fox-boy? Yusuke asked telepathically.

Kurama groaned. Ever since Hermione said the words full moon tomorrow, he's been near intolerable.

Just then, Ron stirred. "Ugh…" He groaned. "What hit me?"

"Ron!" Hermione shrieked. "Are you okay? Don't move! You'll get better faster that way." Beside her, Harry nodded, almost violently.

"Get better?" Ron questioned, puzzled. "All I remember is that snake we saw, and everything after that is blurry."

Hermione glanced nervously at Kurama, worried. "Are you sure he's okay?"

Kurama's eyes flashed, as specks of gold glinted in his normally green orbs. "You still don't trust me? Foolish girl, you should be thanking me on your knees! After I saved your dim-witted friend, you still think I might have done wrong!"

"This is not good." Yusuke muttered under his breath.

"Fox, calm down." Hiei growled out, looking down at the terrified Hermione, who was staring at Kurama with huge eyes.

Kurama glanced his way, and visibly relaxed. Upon seeing his partners, his red hair lost some of the silver streaking that was becoming noticeable.

Kurama! Hiei thought. Control yourself at least until we stop!

That was too close. Yusuke agreed. We wouldn't wanna scare them off again, would we?

I know. Kurama stated shortly, most unlike his usual traits. And Youko understands the mission, but he wants his freedom.

Yusuke grinned. He can't always have his own way.

But he has. Kurama gave a wry chuckle. At least, when he wants out. But Hiei was right beforehand. I can keep Youko in; restrain him, but not forever. And when he does eventually come out, he will cause an even greater disturbance. It would be much faster just to let him roam free for a night. After all, I should hope you and Hiei are more than capable of handling any situation that might occur.

"Definitely." Yusuke drawled.

If Hiei were a lesser demon, he would have cackled. Leaving him and the dimwit with the ningens? Without any instructions? The humans were doomed.

Oh…and Yusuke, Hiei? Be nice to them. Kurama looked over his shoulder at Hiei and smirked, eyes flashing gold. Damn fox.

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Harry plopped down on the ground beside Yusuke. He looked inquiringly at the older boy. "Where did Kurama say he was going?"

"He didn't." Hiei replied shortly, standing away from the group.

"Where is he?" Hermione asked. "Is he okay? Should we find him?"

"He's fine." Yusuke snorted. "And you three might want to remain as far away as possible from him. He has…some stress to work out.

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Kurama stopped in a small barren spot. This should be far enough, he thought.

Suddenly, he stopped and sniffed the air. Something's not right. I'd better go back to the others. Youko will just have to wait...

With a shake of his head, as if to clear any existing doubts, Kurama turned and headed back the way he came.

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Hiei frowned. Why could he feel the kitsune's energy signature coming back towards them? And Kurama had not yet transformed…what could have caused the fox to hold back Youko any longer than necessary?

The bushes behind Hiei rustled, and out stepped the former thief.

"Kurama?" Yusuke asked uncertainly. "What's wrong?"

I don't know. Kurama thought, forehead creasing. I can't tell…but something is just not right.

Wait. Hiei said harshly. There are people approaching. Ningens, but wizards.

Yusuke snorted. Probably just some geezer walking his dog or whatever. In this strange place, shorty probably mistook a dog for some guy.

Hiei growled. That seems like something you would do, Detective. Fortunately, I am nothing like you.

There's a time and place for everything, you two. Now is not it. Kurama reprimanded.

A rustle in the bushes interrupted their conversation, and all heads turned towards the sound.

A second later, two figures covered with dark, tattered cloaks stepped out, one shorter than the other.

Strangely enough, both seemed slightly lost, and their cloaks were mangled and covered with filth.

"They smell like blood." Hiei noted, seeming not at all surprised by the sudden appearance, though the same couldn't be said by the Hogwarts Trio.

"Death Eaters!" Hermione gasped. "How could they have found us?"

"Who cares how they found us! Now we have a chance to get revenge for all they've done!" Harry growled angrily, his mind conjuring up images of the night Dumbledore died.

"Wait, Potter." One of the cloaked figures croaked out, voice raspy. A voice that Harry recognized even past the grating tone.

"Malfoy!"

Draco Malfoy. Kurama narrowed his eyes towards the two figures.

"Oh, boy." Yusuke whispered to Hiei. "Kurama doesn't look too happy to see the git. Hope Youko won't see this as a chance to get out."

Hiei glanced at Yusuke, and ignored him, leaving Yusuke to frown towards the kitsune. Before he could make any comments, Harry started yelling.

"Murderers! Traitors!" He pulled out his wand, hand shaking.

Moving quickly, Kurama pivoted and gripped Harry's forearm tightly. "Stop, Harry."

"Who's that with you?" Hermione asked, cautiously.

"That's Professor Snape." Malfoy replied, glancing behind him.

"Snape!"

Harry's eyes flashed angrily, for it was Snape who cast the killing curse and killed the headmaster of Hogwarts. He pointed at Malfoy and Snape with his free hand. "You dare show your faces after what you did to Professor Dumbledore!"

"Wait, Harry. I'm sure they have a good reason of coming here." Kurama said, with a tiny sliver of annoyance colouring his tone.

Hiei grunted and turned to the new arrivals. "Talk," he ordered.

Instead of saying anything, Draco reached up and pulled off his hood, revealing pale blond hair stained with blood, and small cuts all over his face.

Hermione gasped, shocked, and Ron looked slightly green. Harry narrowed his eyes at the other boy.

"Explain why you have come." Kurama said, his eyes steely.

"That is not necessary." Snape spoke. "What you need to know is that we no longer concern ourselves with the Dark Lord."

"And why would we want to believe you?" Yusuke questioned, voice cold.

"At this point, it's not whether you want to believe us. You have no other choice."

TO BE CONTINUED…

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A/N: Well…I hope this chapter somewhat made up for the ridiculously long wait…I apologize once again…tries to grin

Anyways…I hope that the next chapter won't take quite as long to update. Thanks for hanging on! Cheers!

Like it? Hate it? Won't know if you don't tell me!

Cya L8tr!