AN: I'd like to start by thanking everyone who took the time to leave me reviews I really appreciate it.
Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or Harry Potter.
The days passed quickly and before long Gohan found himself once more walking the halls of Hogwarts. Gohan had found his thoughts much more conflicted as the days ticked by, each passing day growing closer to the day that Bulma had suggested he ask Hermione out on a date. Even though he had faced down some of the greatest threats the universe had known to date, the young saiyan found the thought of asking Hermione out terrifying after all what if she said no and then it ruined their friendship, or what if she says yes and then he screws up.
These questions had been running circles in his mind ever since he had that talk with Bulma, but even still the young warrior knew that no matter how scared he was he needed to ask Hermione out or else he'd never forgive himself. But even though he knew this Gohan had failed to ask Hermione to go to the three broomsticks, unfortunately each time he tried tended to end with him mumbling incoherently before saying something rather stupid or pointless, after which he'd simply turn and run off hoping to avoid saying anything else. Knowing that these thoughts weren't going to get him anywhere Gohan decided to head out towards the lake so that he could train.
What Gohan didn't know was that he wasn't the only one being plagued by these thoughts. Hermione had found that she too was plagued by similar questions. She had known that she had a crush on the young warrior before the Christmas party; the accidental kiss they had shared had simply reinforced that fact. But it had also left her mind a flurry with questions, what if Gohan didn't actually like her like that, or what if it hurt their friendship, and should she ask him out on a date, after all it wasn't the eighteen hundreds anymore women could ask men out on dates now. But what if she did and Gohan said no, these thoughts had prevented Hermione from really talking to the boy, she had returned to spending most of her time in the library, but instead of reading text books like she use to Hermione had found the romantic section had taken more of her interest of late. The one thing that Hermione had learned from those books that she once scoffed at was that if she didn't ask Gohan out on a date and take that chance she might regret it for the rest of her life. So knowing exactly where the boy would be at this moment Hermione returned her latest novel to madam Pince, before leaving the library and heading towards the lake.
Unknown to the studious girl though was the fact that she wasn't the only person on their way to speak with the powerful boy. Harry also had a question for Gohan, although his was fueled by rage and a burning desire for revenge. The lightning scared boy knew that he didn't have the magical knowledge to defeat someone like Sirius Black, but if he could get Gohan to train him, like the boy had been training Hermione then he'd be able to kill the older man for sure. He couldn't stop the small dark smile from spreading across his lips as he saw the other boy meditating.
"Hey Gohan" Harry called out.
"Oh hi Harry" Gohan responded as he got to his feet his typical large smile quickly spreading across his face.
"Listen Gohan, I need to ask you a favor." Harry stated having no desire to put off his revenge for too long.
"Ok" Gohan said his smile still in place although it had shrunk somewhat.
"I want you to train me." Harry stated.
"Um ok but why?" Gohan asked somewhat confused, after all in the entire time that he'd known him Harry had never stricken him as the martial arts type. The question surprised Harry but it didn't take long for Harry to begin telling Gohan how Sirius betrayed his parents.
"and that's why I need you to train me, I'm not sure I can stop him with what I've been taught here at Hogwarts so far, but with your training I know that I'll be able to kill him and get revenge for my parents." Harry finished, his green eyes alight with sorrow and fury.
"I'm sorry Harry" Gohan stated causing the other boy to look at him, Harry had expected to see a look of sorrow and potentially pity on Gohan's face but the stern scowl and furious eyes that met him, caused the boy to take a step back.
"But I won't train you" Gohan finished shocking the other boy.
"What" Harry asked unsure if he had heard Gohan right.
"I won't train you Harry" Gohan repeated his hard onyx eyes locked with Harry's stunned green eyes.
"But why" Harry asked his shock slowly beginning to turn to anger.
"Life isn't something that should be taken for granted Harry, and I won't train you just so you can kill someone." Gohan stated firmly, the young saiyan knew that his words would anger Harry but he had no intention of changing his mind. Just as Gohan had expected Harry's shock quickly turned into fury as the other boy lunged at Gohan his hand quickly grabbing a fistful of Gohan's blue undershirt, as he got within inches of the other boys face.
"What do you mean you won't train me, I need to know how to fight so train me." Harry snarled.
"No" Gohan stated firmly, making the fact that he wouldn't train the other boy as clear as possible. It didn't take long for Harry to realize that the other boy wasn't going to change his mind so with one final glare, the lightning scared boy shoved the other boy away before he began to storm back towards the castle. Furious at the fact that someone he used to call a friend refused to help him.
Gohan couldn't help but to sigh as he watched Harry walk away, he knew that the other boy was angry at him, and he could understand the other boy's fury at Sirius, after all he'd felt the same fury and thirst for revenge himself more than once. But even though he knew that Harry might not forgive him for his choice Gohan knew that it was the right choice.
Gohan was about to return to his mediation when he noticed Hermione walking towards him.
"Hi Hermione" Gohan said a small smile on his face as he looked at the girl.
"Good morning Gohan" Hermione responded before looking away, unsure what to say next. What really frustrated the brunette was that she had spent the entire walk over here working on her speech, but now that she was standing less than five feet from the boy she found that all of her carefully constructed words had left her.
Gohan couldn't help but to mentally hit himself as he tried to figure out just what to say, he still remembered from Bulma's lecture just how important the way he asked Hermione out was, but no matter what he did Gohan found it impossible for him to come up with something as amazing and romantic as Bulma had described. So even though he was absolutely terrified at the potential answer that he could get Gohan decided to simply go for it.
"Um Hermione I know that it's kind of last second but I was curious if you'd like to go to the three broomsticks with me this Saturday?" Gohan asked his voice rising towards the end.
Hermione for her part couldn't help but to stare at him. Had he really just asked her out on a date, after all this time that she had been wondering if Gohan even liked her like that and now he just up and asks her. Hermione was so focused on her own thoughts that she didn't realize just how her silence was affecting Gohan.
"Of course if you don't want to you don't have to I mean I'd understand of course and" Gohan continued simply rambling on hoping that he hadn't done too much damage to his friendship with Hermione.
"No Gohan of course I'd love to go out with you." Hermione stated quickly causing the young boy to freeze his mouth hanging wide open in shock, before slowly closing to reveal the trademark Son grin. Neither teen knew exactly what to say after that so instead both simply smiled and turned away, their cheeks tinged red.
The rest of the day passed smoothly for Gohan, although dinner was a little uncomfortable for the saiyan warrior, mainly because Harry spent the better part of the evening glaring at Gohan. But even the slightly younger boy's ire couldn't put a damper on Gohan's mood. A fact that was easily noticed by the rest staff members, many of which couldn't help but to smile at the young man's exuberant and innocent nature, while other's found a distinct dislike and even disgust out the child. This was most obvious in one Severus Snape, ever since the first time that he had met Gohan the potion master had found himself with an almost unbearable dislike of the child. The way that he conducted himself so carefree, and dare he say it stupid was of particular dislike of the potions master. But after the events of not only the Halloween party but more recently the incident with the dementor's had shown Snape that the young man had more raw power then he had let on. His dislike was only tempered by the knowledge that he had of the young man's past, and the grudging gratitude and respect that he knew the youth had earned throughout his life.
Snape wasn't the only teacher whose thoughts were focused on the youth; Albus Dumbledore couldn't help but to smile as he looked at the youth. He had always found Gohan's innocent and gentle nature refreshing, the old wizard had spent the better part of his life surrounded by people who weren't really who they seemed, or had other agendas. But Gohan was different; Albus knew that he could trust the young warrior. But Dumbledore had noticed the angry looks that Harry had been shooting the young warrior the entire night, knowing that Gohan had befriended the other boy, Albus couldn't help but to wonder what had happened to cause a rift between the two boys friendship. Realizing that his best chance at getting answers would be by simply asking one of the two boys, Dumbledore decided that he'd ask Harry to join him in his office for a short time this Saturday. After all he was sure that the youth would rather be off gallivanting around Hogsmead with his friends, and he'd hate to keep him from doing so.
Dinner was just finishing, when Gohan felt a hand rest softly upon his shoulder.
"Gohan I was hoping to have a word with you in my office if you don't mind." Dumbledore stated with his usual smile in place. Gohan simply smiled as he nodded at the older man, before following after him. The trip up to the headmaster's office was spent in silence.
Gohan had been in the headmaster's office before, and much like the first time Gohan found his eyes wandering over all of the amazing magical objects that were scattered around the area. His thoughts were ripped away from what each object might do though when he felt something land on his shoulder. Gohan simply smiled when he noticed Dumbledore's trusty phoenix Fawkes now resting comfortably on his shoulder. Albus had little desire to interrupt the young Saiyan, but he knew that he needed to have a conversation with the young warrior.
"Gohan" Albus started, easily catching the young warrior's attention.
"Yes Headmaster" Gohan responded politely, much like his mother had always taught him.
"During the Christmas vacation I was the host of a very interesting visitor" Dumbledore continued his twinkling blue eyes locked with Gohan's innocent onyx ones, "a friend of yours actually." Gohan simply looked at the old wizard unsure of where this conversation was going.
"In fact he was kind enough to give me a copy of his memories, specifically the ones involving you Gohan." His words shocked Gohan; of all the things the young warrior had been expecting this defiantly wasn't one of them.
"I asked you here to both say thank you and to say that I'm sorry" Albus stated further stunning the young warrior.
"Huh" Gohan asked extremely confused.
"Gohan I knew that you were the one who defeated Cell when I first met you, but it wasn't until just recently that I found out just how many times you've been forced into life or death situations, even when you were only a child." Albus stated as he looked away.
"it's okay" Gohan stated with the trademark Son grin firmly on his face, his words shocked Dumbledore causing the older man to look at the youth in shock, "I was able to help others." The boy's words struck the old wizard.
"Thank you Gohan, that's all." Albus stated unsure what else he could say to the young man.
"Okay goodnight Headmaster" Gohan stated as he turned Fawkes easily flying from the young warriors shoulder and back to his usual post. Albus couldn't help but to smile as he watched the boy leave.
"Thank you Gohan, from all of us that you have saved."
AN: alright there's the end of chapter 21, I'd like to start off by apologizing for how long it took me to get this chapter out, I got into a little car accident towards the end of October, which made it a little difficult to type for awhile but I'm back and have started on the first chapter of my Naruto/DBZ crossover. Still haven't figured out a title for it though, but one step at a time. So I hope that everyone liked this chapter the next one will have the long awaited first date, so until then I hope everyone liked this chapter and please remember to leave a Review.