Hey I'm back! Thanks for the reviews!
Wow. I can't believe it's been two years since I started this thing. Bit disappointed though. Last year my average was a chapter a month. This year...not so much.
Sorry I took so long for this chapter. Been very busy at work at the autoshop after winter, and while I had most of this written out, it got deleted by accident.
Also, I've been working on four other stories, and have ideas for more. First off, is Guns and Magic of course, and now I have Caeli Potter: Vampire Keeper, which is a Harry Potter crossover where I replace Harry with the main of my own novel Vampire Keeper, whichI'll start putting out on fictionpress as soon as I finish typing up the first chapter. The last one I'm working on at the moment is in a response to a challenge by darkponyD: to make a decent Sailor Moon/Kashimashi Girl Meets Girl crossover. For my other ideas, see my profile.
Anywho, there are only about eight or ten chapters, give or take, left before I start in on Chamber of Secrets. In this one we have Nanoha and Fate's cover-story about, some of at least, their powers, a hint of Nanoha's family's heritage and source of their strength- which includes a really fun scene with Hagrid's famous rock cakes- and Norberta the dragon. Next chapter is the Forbidden Forest, and then it's down the trapdoor, which'll be a four, maybe six parter depending how long it gets, though I have most of it written out. First part's up until the troll chamber, after which is the potion room and the first part of the mirror room, where Harry'll get his chance to shine a little. Then an infodump chapter that ties up a few loose ends. Post infodump is the conclusion of the stone battle-
Tawnya: Which I'm looking forward to.
Heya Hun, didn't hear ya come in. Just restarted the next chapter of TNPS.
Tawnya: Good. I like that one as much as VK, CPVK and G&M.
You like all my stories Luv.
Tawnya: With good reason. As much as I like chatting, I'll letcha get back to it.
Thanks. Anyway, after the end of the battle there are two chapters that deal with the aftermath, and you find out a few more changes I made to cannon MGLN and what Precia's surprise is.
Tawnya: Can't wait for that.
Me neither. That said, as always...
Both: Enjoy!
(TNPS)
Nanoha stifled a yawn as she walked into the Great Hall of Hogwarts. ["Remind me again why we decided to go to a school in a timezone ten hours behind us?"] she complained lightly in Japanese as she looked for Harry and Ron.
["You're the one that manipulated the whole Bureau into letting you stay to find out what happened to your father, remember,"] Fate reminded her. ["Besides, you slept on the train."]
["Still tired."]
She spotted Harry and Ron with Draco, Tracey, Daphnae, Neville and Hermione, who had opted to floo to Hogsmead since they lived in England rather than take the train.
'Still think we should tell them?' Fate asked mentally.
'You know I don't like lying Fate,' Nanoha reminded her. 'And it's not as if we're telling them everything.'
'Lady Nanoha is correct, Sir,' Bardiche put in, broadcasting to them both having gained permission to so for the mission. 'Mine and Raging Heart's existence is still a secret. Also, your friends are trustworthy. Telling them a little is sound judgement since it will allow you more leeway in battle.'
'Thanks Bardiche,' Nanoha chirped mentally as the two sat at the table. "Hello everyone. How was your Christmas?"
"Alright," Draco said, "Father hosted a ball."
"Hai," Nanoha said, "We got the invitation, but we had other things to do." She glanced at Fate, then said in a low voice, "Fate and I have some things to tell you."
"Same here," Harry said, "but not here."
"Let's go," Hermione said.
As the group of nine stood, Nanoha said "Follow me."
She led the group to an unused classroom, using her Spacial Awareness to look for others. Finding no one, she ushered them inside.
Once everyone was inside, Harry began: "Snape's after what Fluffy's guarding."
Malfoy and Tracey groaned but before they could say anything Nanoha said in a hard tone, "I hope that you have some hard evidence rather than mere conjecture."
Everyone winced a bit at Nanoha's Bureau Tone but before Harry opened his mouth Nanoha said "In a moment Harry. Fate if you please."
Fate nodded, raising a fist in front of her. Then, she unclenched it, palm up and fingers slightly curled intoning, "Thunder Defenser."
Dark yellow Lightning sparked in her hand as the Mid-Childan circle, two circles encasing runes outside a pair of rotating squares that encased more runes spun to life beneath her, drawing both gasps and stares from their friends at the neon yellow magic.
A small beam of bright, neon yellow light sparking with lightning surged upward from her hand. It spread out as it hit the ceiling, encasing the entire room tight against the walls and bathing it in yellow light. Fate closed her hand and the beam disappeared as she brought her hand down to her side. "There. Now we can speak without being overheard."
Hermione recovered first. "What on Earth kind of magic was that?!" she asked wide eyed.
"First we want your promise not to tell anyone about want we're about to tell you," Nanoha said, "Not even Dumbledore or your parents. It is very secret. I apologize for not telling you earlier, but my hands were tied."
Their friends were silent for few seconds, so long that Nanoha thought, "I hope they aren't angry."
"I don't think so," Fate said. "And you shouldn't either. You know they aren't like that."
Their mental conversation was interrupted by Draco raising his wand. It was only because he was pointing it into the air that kept the two mages from a preemptive strike. Then he spoke, his tone serious, "I, Draco Severus Malfoy, swear by my magic not to reveal Nanoha and Fate Takamachi's secrets unless they give leave. So mote it be."
Nanoha and Fate recognized the words of the vow from their independent studies. As one, the two mages nodded. "So mote it be."
The others took the same oath, giving the names: Tracey Alice Davis, Daphnae Frances Greengrass, Hermione Jane Granger, Neville Charles Longbottom, and Harry James Potter.
"Thank you," Nanoha said brightly. "Again, I apologize for not telling you before this, but I was not allowed."
"What was that magic Fate did," Tracey asked, "And why did you lie about knowing magic before?"
Nanoha winced slightly. "I did not exactly lie. We truly did not know about Wizard magic before hand," Vampire Magic on the other hand was another matter but not her secret to tell.
"As for what," she continued, you know about my family yes?"
"Well, we know that your father was a bodyguard for the Potters when they went into hiding," Draco said, "Apparently you were there too on a playdate or something. At least that's what my father heard."
Nanoha nodded slightly. "Yes, well, I followed in his footsteps, gaining my one, and only client so far, after I helped stop a kidnapping of my friend when I was seven; though I help my brother and sister covertly when they are operating in Uminari or if we happen to travel together. My friend happens to be a vampire. They are the ones that gave me this limiter," she indicated her watch, "since I can match their own strength, senses, and healing abilities without using magic. With magic I am even stronger."
"Are you part vampire or something," Daphnae asked.
Nanoha shook her head. "Ne," she said, slightly annoyed, "I already told you; I am just a really strong human. No one in our family knows where our strength comes from, even though I am the strongest by a wide margin. Maybe my Mama's strength combined with my Papa's or something," she added thoughtfully.
"Ano," she continued, "because of that I got scouted by a top secret organization that investigates supernatural occurrences. That's their magic Fate used. I met Fate while on assignment a year later."
"On opposite sides," Fate said, taking up the narration, "though I turned states witness later. We cannot say more than that, but afterwards I was adopted by our family."
"What else can you do," Harry asked.
"We can form barriers, like the one Fate just did, regular shields, a search spell, though I have my SA up at all times, and attack spells. We can not give full disclosure, though, unless you decide to join up."
"As you saw," Fate interjected, "I can infuse lightning into my spells. That is not all I can do however. Like Nanoha, I'm pretty strong, but my true strength lies in my speed. I can outdo a car, or a broom if I had to. Nanoha though is quite good at long range spells."
"Can you show us your spells Nanoha-chan," Hermione asked eagerly.
Nanoha shook her head. "When I was nine I suffered a serious injury on assignment." Nanoha turned around, lowering the back of her shirt to show the thick six inch scar under her right shoulderblade, "I had been training too hard and it caused my core to rupture."
"So using Divine Buster didn't really rupture your core," Daphnae asked.
Nanoha shook her head. "It was not fully responsible. Just set me back a bit."
"What exactly happened to you," Harry asked.
"I got stabbed, which, because of my training schedule, aggravated my core to the extent that it ruptured. I was in a coma for three months, paralyzed from the waist down for another three as I tried to move again, and in rehab for a year before I was able to go home," Nanoha said simply. "I can't use my regular spells because of the rupture, and I chose not to use my healing for my body because it is better to heal such damage slowly rather than all at once."
"Anyway," Fate interjected, "What were you saying about Snape-Sensei, Harry?"
"Well, for Christmas I got an invisibility cloak from someone, I don't who, who knew my father. I used it to go to the Restricted Section of the library to look for Nicolas Flamel. I opened a book, only for it to scream. Filtch called out, so I ran. I stumbled onto Snape threatening Querill to try to get the protections on whatever Fluffy's guarding. Said Querill didn't want him as an enemy, and to think about where his loyalties lay."
"Definitely incriminating," Nanoha thought.
"Yeah; too bad we can't tell them about telepathy."
"Speaking of which, Fate and I found out about Flamel," Nanoha said, "He made something called the Philosopher's Stone. It can change any metal to gold, and can produce the Elixir of Life, which will make you immortal."
"Immortal," Ron asked, interested.
"It means you will never die," Hermione said.
"I know what it means," he retorted.
"No wonder Snape wants it," Harry said, ignoring the glares from Draco and Tracey.
At least until Draco snapped incredulous, "My godfather is not after the stone!"
"Whether he is or not," Nanoha said before Harry could retort, "Someone is after it. Someone tried to take it from Gringotts, and we are all sure someone let the troll in as a diversion to go after it. I am sure it is protected. We should find out how. If someone does go after it Fate and I are honor bound by our jobs to prevent it, even if I am still recovering."
"Hagrid will know," Fate said.
Nanoha checked her watch. "Half an hour 'til curfew."
Draco shook his head. "I'm not going just to hear them badmouth my godfather."
"Nor I my Head of House," Tracey said, irritably.
"I can only fit three under the cloak anyway," Harry stated, "We'll need it to get back."
"Nanoha and Fate should go," Hermione said. "Nanoha can use her Spacial Awareness to tell if a teacher or prefect is close by."
"And where Nanoha goes, I go," Fate finished. "Good thinking. And we haven't been able to go to Hagrid's yet because Flint has kept us busy."
"Nanoha-chan, Fate-chan, I'll cover for you in case you don't make it back in time," Tracey said.
"I'll do the same Harry," Ron said.
Nanoha, Fate, and Harry nodded. Harry reached into his bag and pulled out a silver cloak that rippled like water.
"Another Lost Logia," Fate sent as she and Nanoha ducked underneath and Harry held it closed.
"Seems stable though," Nanoha sent back as they walked, invisible, out the door, "Looks like a number of wizard stuff counts as one. Remember the wands? And enchanted jewelry? Odd since they're Earth made."
"I'm a bit more worried about that rapier in Querill's classroom."
"It's just incredibly sharp," Nanoha stated, "My sword should be able to match it."
Fate nodded slightly, remembering that Nanoha's sword was made and enchanted by the vampires. It could even stand up to Signum's Laevintine, and her own energy blade. Heck, that thing blocked Vita's Rakenten Hammer, which was designed to destroy physical, non-device weapons. Fate shuddered slightly at the memory.
The three made the trek to Hagrid's in near silence. It was very dark, though the moon shown on the snow covered landscape. Nanoha guided them with her Spacial Awareness, while Fate used small, underpowered Expulsos to cover their tracks. With making sure that there were not any signs of their passing, it was slow going, taking them nearly fifteen minutes to cross the quarter mile.
It was only as they walked through Hagrid's pumpkin patch, the biggest ones nearly three feet tall, that Harry spoke. "I wonder how he got them so big? He told me he wasn't supposed to use magic."
Nanoha shrugged, her gaze returning to Hagrid's hut. It was quite tall, nearly fifteen feet in height, which made sense because Hagrid was nearly eight feet tall. Instead of square, it was round with a sixteen foot radius, and topped by a cone- like steeple. The outside was covered in dark brown bark like a tree. Two, bulbous square windows rested on either side of the nine foot door. "Looks very picturesque, do you not think," Nanoha asked as the walked up the stone steps.
"Wait until you see the inside," Harry replied. He took the cloak off of them and knocked on the door.
A quite excited looking Hagrid opened it, though his expression went a little panicked when he saw them. "Forgive me bu' I'm in na fit stait ta entertain taday," he said closing the door.
As the door closed the three chorused, "We know about the Philosopher's Stone."
The door opened to show a very dejected Hagrid. "Oh."
"We think Snape's trying to steal it," Harry said as they walked in.
"We think nothing of the sort," Fate said as she and Nanoha took in the room. It was quite rustic. The center was taken up by a wooden table with four inch wide saplings for legs that stood nearly at their own height. In the far corner was very large bed covered in furs, on which lay an enormous boarhound. A fire burn merrily in the hearth beneath a large caldron nearly three feet tall and about two feet wide. Cabinets of wood and one of stone adorned the left wall with a pump fed sink.
" 'ave a seat," Hagrid said.
The two Slytherins and single Gryffindore climbed up onto the chairs, which were wide enough that Fate and Nanoha could sit comfortably side by side on one.
"Would'ya like some tea or sommat," Hagrid asked.
"Yes please," Nanoha said with a nod.
Hagrid set a kettle next to the pot on the fire, and getting four mugs, one about a foot and a half tall, the others normal sized, set them on the table as the two mages looked around above them.
Overhead from the rafters hung a variety of drying meats, and several thick braids of silver that gave off a small amount of magic.
"What is that Hagrid-san," Nanoha asked, pointing at the hair.
"Unicorn tailhair," Hagrid said, going to a stone cabinate. He opened it, bringing out a plate of dark brown, almost black brownies. "Rock cake? Mad'em meself."
"Yes please," Nanoha said, "Arigato," she added as he put the plate down in front of her.
" 'aven't seen ya two inna while," Hagrid said, as he lowered his bulk onto a chair.
"Sorry," Nanoha said as she picked up a cake. It did indeed felt like a rock. "Flint's been keeping us busy with Quidditch." She tried to take a bite, only to stop as her teeth failed to penetrate the crust. She frowned a bit. "These are hard," she muttered in a low whisper.
It still did not stop Hagrid from hearing her. "Sorry," he said, "I likem dat way. In me blud ye see."
Nanoha shook her head tapping on her watch too release the limiter. "That's alright." Once her full stregnth hit her, she again bit down at 70 percent of her full strength. This time, her teeth sunk easily into the cake, causing Harry to just blink- he was somewhat used to her displays of strength by now due to Quidditch; Hagrid's eyes though widened in surprise. He'd been offering the cakes to his friends for years, and while he may be kind-hearted Hagrid was not stupid; he knew his friends had only pretended to eat them. It was the first time that someone, at least to his knowledge, not a half giant had been able to even bite them.
Nanoha chewed the brownie; it had a somewhat earthy, chocolate flavor; unusual, but still good. "This is good Hagrid-san. You should try this Fate." Nanoha offered one as she sent, "You should be fine as you are."
Fate took the proffered rock cake, and, quite thankful for Precia's meddling with her genes, took a bite. "Hmm. These are good. Can you give us the recipe Hagrid-san?"
That shook Hagrid out of his shock. "Yer part giant!"
Nanoha and Fate blinked. "Pardon," the mages chorused.
"I've ne'er met one dat could stomach me mum's cookin'," Hagrid said, gazing longingly at a picture of an extremely tall, as tall as a twenty foot tree, black haired woman with a five foot blonde man that looked a lot like Hagrid sitting on her shoulder."
"You are a half giant," Nanoha asked.
"Yeh. So er ya Nanerha en Fate, at lest partly."
The mages shook their heads. "Sorry to disappoint Hagrid-san, but we've had our DNA looked at," Nanoha said, "We are simply human."
Hagrid nodded.
"Now," Harry said, "about the stone-"
"Naw ya jest ferget 'bou' dat," Hagrid said sharply.
"But Snape's trying to steal it," Harry insisted.
"Snape's wonna da ones pretecten da stone. 'e's not 'bou' ta try sommat as stupid as steal it."
"Of course," Fate said, "There are other things protecting the stone is there not? Spells and the like."
"A course der is. Snape, McGonaggal, Sprout, Flitwick, Dumbledore a course, and Querill do sommat too I dink.
"Waisted der time ef ya ask me. No ones 'bouta get past Fluffy. Not a soul knaws 'ow 'cept fer me an' Dumbledore."
He winced a bit. "I shunna a toldja dat."
The pot took that moment to rattle. Hagrid quickly pulled on a pair of quilted ovenmits and reached into the pot. He pulled out a large, orange, red, and blue marbled egg that he placed on the table.
"What is that Hagrid," Harry asked.
"I know," Fate said, "I have read about them."
"And they look similar to the ones we've seen at the preserve," Nanoha sent.
"Where did you get one? It's illegal to own one outside a preserve."
"I won it," Hagrid said happily, "From a stranger I met down in da pub. Seem awful glad ta get rida it actually."
The egg started to crack. Remembering what happens with hatching dragon eggs in space, Nanoha, her limiter still released, dived over it to cover it loosely just as the egg exploded underneath her as she expected with a muffled report.
"Are you alright Nanoha-chan," Harry asked as a shoot covered Nanoha picked herself up, exposing a small, rather lopsided creature with dark blue scales tipped in red, orange horns, and red bat-like wings.
"Yes," she stated as she cleaned herself off with a quick spell and repairing her clothes where theyev had gotten torn from the egg shell fragments. Not for the first time she was glad for her healing factor. "I am mostly immune to fire for some weird reason, she continued offhandedly as the dragon looked around. "It is why I got fire proof spells added to my clothes. My mama is too somewhat, though she's more heat resistant rather than fire proof," she continued as the dragon looked around, "Comes in handy in the kitchen since she does not need gloves for hot pans."
Hagrid did not really notice this as the dragon looked at him. Nanoha had to chuckle; he looked like a kid in a candy store.
"Isn't 'e beautiful?"
The dragon gave a disgruntled chirp.
"She actually," Nanoha said.
"You can understand her," Harry asked, "I barely got it."
Nanoha shrugged as Hagrid began scratching the newborn under the chin. "Apparently," she said simply, though she knew otherwise. The dragons at the preserve on MidChilda were pretty good conversationalists. "Can you talk to snakes too?"
Now it was Harry's turn to shrug. "I guess. I accidentally set a python on my cousin Dudley once."
Hagrid was blissfully unaware. "'Ello Norberta," he said, happily.
Just then, Nanoha felt something go off in her Spacial Awareness. Her head whipped around to one of the windows. She barely spotted a head of light blonde hair before it disappeared.
"Parkinson," she said. The girl had been somewhat of a problem since Draco had become friends with them.
"We should get going," Fate said.
Saying their goodbyes, the three left the hut.
"Hagrid always wanted a dragon," Harry said as they hurried into the castle without the cloak to slow them down, "Said so when I first met him. And what's worse, Parkinson. knows."
"She is just a little upset that Draco's friends with us," Nanoha defended her Housemate, "Besides what can she do?"
They rounded a corner, only to come face to face with Neville, Hermione, and Ron, distracting Nanoha.
"What are you three doing here," Fate asked.
"We overheard Pansy. We came to warn..."
Just the there was a meow behind them. The seven turned to see Filtch with Mrs. Norris slinking around his legs, his lips curled into a smile.
'Ug. I hope I get better soon so I can increase my range again,' Nanoha thought.
"Oh dear we are in trouble," Filtch singsonged.
(TNPS)
"Nothing," an irrate McGonaggal said, to the seven friends, Snape behind her and Parkinson standing smug a little to their side, "I repeat, nothing gives the student the right to walk about the school at night."
"I quite agree," Snape said.
"Fifty points will be taken from both your Houses."
"Fifty!" Ron exclaimed.
"Each." McGonaggal said.
"Professor," Nanoha said, "I apologize for interrupting, but Fate, Harry and I had gone to visit Hagrid and lost track of the time. Ron, Hermione, and Neville must have come to look for us."
"Be that as it may," McGonggal said, "You were still out three hours after curfew."
Nanoha sighed. "Yes ma'am."
"Good. Now to insure that it doesn't happen again, all eight of you will receive detention."
Parkinson's smug smile fell slightly. "Excuse me professor. Perhaps I heard you wrong. Did you say 'the eight of us'?"
"You heard me quite correctly Miss. Parkinson. As honorable as your intentions were you were also out after hours." McGonaggal looked her in the eye. "You will join your class mates in detention."
A distraut Parkinson looked to Snape but he shook his head.
(TNPS)
Finally done. Took Nanoha's immunity to fire from the hospital fight in A's. Plus it matches my backround for her. She not invulnerable to everything; fire is the only thing that can't hurt her.
See ya next time!