The Protector

Harry Potter and Final Fantasy VIII Crossover.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything! Not HP or Final Fantasy VIII. if I did Ginny (scary-obsession) and Rinoa (Whinny-perky-princess) would have died a death before they existed.

Summary: Squall meets a strange boy while out training, forming a connection with him. It's a friendship that will turn the tide of war and a love that changes the world. HPxSL. Lion Pair!

Note: Harry is the GF Fallen Mage. A non-elemental based offensive attack and provides protection for the caster(s). Known to KO enemies, he also grants the use of 3rd level magics to his user with the said user not having to have the magic in stock. Eg. Use Firaga even if user doesn't have it in their magic stock.

Note 2: Looking for a Beta! To read over and correct my spelling and typos! You get the chapter before anyone else.

Fanart! DeathNoteMaker made a fanart, link is on my profile page, or here: .com/#/d2qc867

I am sorry if my updates aren't fast, despite it being my holidays, but I am South African and we are hosting the FIFA 2010! And I got tickets, so I'm going to a tad soccer crazy for the next five weeks.

Warnings: Rinoa bashing, slightQuistisbashing, Boys on boys, kissing, making out. Maybe even (gasp!) sex. Swearing. Power plays. My crazy ideas...

** RATING WILL BE GOING UP TO M IN THE NEAR FUTURE!**

Pairings: HarryxSquall, SelphiexIrvine, ZellxLibrary Girl, slight Irvine-being-a-manwhore-and-flirting-with-Harry...

Chapter 4

Trust me.

Harry staggered out after Quistis as the group fled through the back. An arm wrapped around his waist, steadying him as they approached a staircase. Green eyes found worried grey ones. Harry tried to smile to reassure his friend. Really, he did. It was not his fault it turned out to be more of a grimace.

The blood from his head wound was dripping down his scalp and onto his neck. It was soaking his shirt and mentally Harry was grateful for the material being black. the amount opf blood his was losing was something to be cautious of. But they needed to get out of Timber first and warn Cid. They needed to get to safety.

Walking down the stairs with Squall's help, Harry winced at the whiny voice that was half crying, "They found out base. It was cmopletely destroyed."

Pulling himself together, Harry looked over at the familiar voice and bit back a groan. The princess of was here! The annoying one from the party. Harry turned to his best friend with a glare.

You could have warned me.

Squall shrugged and moved them to the group as Rinoa answered Selphie's question, "They're fine. They're good at escaping. "

Brown eyes caught the sight of the youngest SeeD and widened in shock. Her face turned a lovely shade of red and Harry amused himself with the image of steaming coming out of her ears.

"What is he doing here?" she asked, somewhat shocked. Harry rolled his eyes and winced. Feeling the wince, Squall pulling his friend closer in his embrace and tilted Harry's head to inspect the wound. Harry pouted and swatted the hands away, even if Squall was being uncharacteristically gentle. The pair were unaware of the intimate position they were in as Zell smirked at them.

Green eyes glared, spitting fire through the pain.

Later.

Stormy grey eyes glared right back and stared his opponent down.

Yeah right. You can barely walk without the adrenaline.

It was Quistis who answered the question from the client, "He was on a classified mission."

The girl stared at the small man and shrugged it off, for now. Rinoa addressed the blond woman, "We need to stay away from Timber for a while. Is there a safe place you can take me? As an order from your client."

Quistis sighed as she felt a headache building up. She had an amateur team, a client, a international disaster and the SeeD-trained Sorceresss assassin. She could only nod as she eyed Squall support the injured Mage. That itself was something she was still trying to get her mind aroung: the boy faced off with the Sorceress and survived. In fact, the Sorceress fled the fight. She retreated.

"We need to get out of Timber and get a message to the Garden," Harry's voice cut the building tension.

"Your wounds..." Selphie murmured as she stared at pain-laced eyes.

"When we are safe and the Garden is safe," Harry bit out harshly Selphie averted her gaze and nodded thickly. Logic dictated that but her heart said to treat her teammate first. Squall gave Harry a look and asked, "You're going to be difficult about this, aren't you?"

All he got in return was a look that said 'what do you think?'. Squall sighed before he slipped an arm under Harry's knees and picked his up bridle-style. Harry yelped in surprise and was going to yell at his friend before his head gave a pounding flash of pain from the shift. Groaning, he gipped his head.

"You're dead," Harry said through clenched teeth. Squall chuckled lowly, "I was told that head injuried were dangerous and don't heal fully with magic. Someone once told me to take it easy."

"I can walk, you know," Harry said as he leaned into the firm chest as the group made their way to the Bar.

"Of course you can," Squall replied patronisingly.

~0~0~0~

The group ended up in yet another resistance base. Base being the second floor room of a woman that was the leader of the Forest Fox. The woman was a mother holding a wooden spoon and fiery red hair, "I'll let you know if anything changes. 'Til then, make yourself at home."

Hearing her footsteps going down the stairs to her kitchen, Zell pulled a face at the closed door. "She reminds of my mother when she's angry."

Harry, who had commandeered the only bed in the room, snorted. Since being placed on the bed by the hovering Squall when they first walked into the room, he had been working on healing his head. "I really must meet the woman that kept you in line while you were growing up," Harry replied as his gently prodded at the back of his head.

Selphie, who had been watching the scene with a smirk, huffed and walked over. She waved his hands away and glared at Squall who stepped forward to push her away. "I have the level two first battle aid. Let me check it."

Harry relented and let Selphie check his wound. "Rinoa, go and ask Chief for a bowl of water and a wash cloth. I need to clean this. And you," she turned to Squall, "back off and let me work."

Rinoa huffed but one look from Selphie, she did as she was told and the door slammed closed.

Squall gave her a dark look as he stepped away from the bed. But he stopped as a small hand caught his wrist. Look down, Squall gave Harry a small smile in reply to the green-eyed boy's grin. "Here," Harry said as he winced from Selphie's 'tender care'. "Use this to call the Headmaster."

Squall took the offered the communicator. He quirked an eyebrow at his best friend. "What?" Harry asked, "I needed some way to report back to the man."

Harry was saved by the biting reply when Rinoa came back with the items needed and Selphie busied herself cleaning the back of Harry's head.

"We were sent here to help Timber gain independence," Squall said to Quistis, "but how did Seifer and you get here? I need to understand the situation so we can report back."

Quistis said nothing as the group waited for her answer but she was staring at Harry. Harry sighed and replied to the unasked question, "My mission was to locate and subdue the Sorceress known as Edea Kramer. I followed our sources in Dueling and discovered that she was the ambassador of Galbadia." Then Harry glared at Quistis, "And if you hadn't come in with Seifer I would have had the threat subdued and we wouldn't be in this mess."

His statement met silence as Zell stared at him in horror, "They sent you alone against a Sorceress?"

Harry couldn't see Selphies face but her hands had stilled in the middle of wrapping the bandage, "I was the best choice as I can almost match her blow for blow magically."

Squall's face was expressionless, "The reason for the formation of SeeD is top stop any Sorceress in her rise to power and to prevent another Sorceress War."

"Seifer broke out of the detention rooms when he heard that only 3 SeeDs, whom he considered rookies, were sent to Timber. He was so angry as he said he was coming here. I never expected him to actually do it. I followed him to bring him back to the Garden." Quistis said.

Squall frowned as he let out a sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. "We need to warn the Headmaster that there may be retaliation from Galbadia." He then opened the communicator and dialed the only number programmed in it.

As Squall stood in the corner murmuring into the phone, Selphie stepped away from Harry. "Done. It seems like most of the healing is done but I would recommend not getting thrown into walls for awhile."

"Thanks." Harry said with a smile, "Selphie, right?"

Selphie nodded and gave him, a huge smile. She sat down next to him on the bed and Zell joined them. That left a curious Rinoa to question Quistis about on Seifer Almasy.

"Boy, I'm glad you're back with him," Zell said as he jerkily pointed to Squall in the corner. "He's cold normally but when you're not there he's like Shiva's lost son." At that Harry choked back a laugh.

"I heard that," Squall said as he stood directly behind Zell, causing his to jump three feet in the air and turn around. He let out a quiet 'meep!' and dashed to hide behind Selphie, who by then was laughing. Harry didn't even hide his amused grin.

"He wants to speak to you," Squall said to Harry as he handed the communicator over. Harry took it curiously.

"Sir?" he asked.

"Are you alright, Harry? Squall said you had a head injury," came Cid's voice. Harry sighed.

"It's minor an already mostly healed. I apologise for letting the Sorceress get away. Subduing her now will be more of a challenge as he have lost the surprise."

"That's okay. You're going to head to Galbadia Garden. There, I want you to rest and get checked up. If you're up to it, join the assassination team. And don't worry about the Garden, we have already started emergency procedures."

"Understood, sir," Harry replied and hung up after the Headmaster. But before he could be interrogated, they heard voices from the ground floor.

"Anybody in here!"

"What is this! I have 2 small children in here. Don't do anything to

frighten them!" Chief replied as they heard a door open.

The group quietened down. Rinoa looked troubled. Quietly, she asked Quistis, "...Wonder if he's all right...?"

Quistis said nothing in reply. It was Harry who replied, "He may already be dead."

Rinoa looked like someone killed her dog. "How can you be so casual? I feel...sorry for him."

Squall had to snort at that and Zell gaffed.

The girl rounded on those two males, furious as her eyes were alight with flames, "What's so funny! You're terrible!"

"You obviously did not knnow Seifer then," Zell replied seriously, "I wasn't close to him but even I know he would have hated someone feeling sorry for him."

Squall nodded as he added, "It's no use not being unrealistic either. Seifer attacked the President of Galbadia. If the army doesn't kill him, the Sorceress, as their new ally, will. Attacking the president is the death sentence in every country."

Rinoa opened her mouth to retort but was stopped by a hand on her arm. She turned to look at a pale Quistis, who said quietly, "It's unkind but true. he knew the risks and the consequences when he acted. Don't downplay his sacrifice. We can hope, but that just builds us up to tear us down."

Rinoa looked at the whole group for the first time. Each of them seemed unaffected by the apparent death but then again... "It's all part of being a mercenary?" she asked Squall who gave a curt nod. And that closed the topic.

"And you," Squall turned to Harry on the bed, "we will be talking after we get out of Timber. We have orders to go to Galbadia Garden, as per Garden Code, Article 8, line 7. "

Harry flinched at the harsh tone and the steel eyes, but nodded nonetheless. It was one of the conversations he had been dreading for a long time.

Chief entered the room and looked at Squall, "The Galbadian forces are withdrawing. Only the soldiers normally stationed here will stick around. If you're gonna leave town, now's your chance! You know how persistent those soldiers can be!"

~0~0~0~

The goup quickly made their way to the Station, but were stopped just before the stairs leading into the station by a soldier. Harry was ready to cast a Sleep on the man as Selphie stepped in front of him. Zell moved to stand on the otherside of the man so he couldn't run for help. Quistis took up point in front of Rinoa.

"Wait! It's me, sir! It's me!" the man said as he pulled off his head gear to show he was Watts. "Got some info, sir. Timber station will be shut down temporarily."

Selphie groaned, "Major bummer!"

Watts shook his head, "Not necessarily. It's not completely shutdown yet. The last train out of here is bound for East Academy."

Squall looked slightly relieved, "We're getting on that train. We can go through the Forest to get to G.G."

Watts turned to Rinoa with a serious expression, "You're going too, right Rinoa?"

Rinoa Looked uncomfortable but nodded, "Yeah. What about you, Watts?"

Watts shook his head, "No need to worry 'bout me, I'll go gather more info!"

Harry looked around and shifted, "Guys, we need to more. We're getting some attention..."

Rinoa hastily said to Watts, "I promise I'll be back. You take care, ok?"

Watts waved them off and sen them down to the train station, redirecting the attention as he yelled at some people across the street for lingering.

They quickly moved down the stairs, pushing Harry and Rinos near the middle of the group. Harry grumbled that he was injured, not invalid. Rinoa merely glared at the SeeD. She was still miffed at the whole dance-debacle.

Standing int the area deemed at the train station, Squall motioned for them to stand in a corner as he walked towards the ticket counter. But before he could walk three steps a man stumbled into him. Stepping back, the man exclaimed and hugged him.

Harry's eyes narrowed as he watched the scene. 'Who the hell is hugging Squall?' And he was not alone in being slightly bug-eyed. The whole group stared at the weird scene.

Just as Squall was ready to draw his gunblade and slice the man, he heard a frantic whisper, "Squall! It's me, Zone. Play along. They're watching the station."

Pulling away, Squall masterfully smiled and said clearly, "Long time no see, Merry. Come one, I'm traveling with some friends from university. Come meet them!"

Squall and Zone walked quickly to the corner. Getting a better view of the man, Rinoa gave him a hug as soon as he got into arm's reach.

Speaking quickly, Zone said, "You need to go to East Academy, right? There's no more tickets left."

Selphie stomped her foot, "Oh, MAJOR bummer!"

Squall eyed the station before murmuring, "We'll do whatever it takes to get on that train. We need to get out of Timber and all the exits are being gaurded."

Zone grinned at that and shook his head. He like the SeeD leader. he was a man who understood a situation an dthought of the whole team. "You won't have to do that. Looky here! I have everyone's ticket right here!"

He handed one to Rinoa and gave Squall three. Zone paused as he looked at the two extra members. He turned to Squall nervously, "I only have one extra ticket that's mine..."

Squall looked at the group and went silent. They couldn't leave anyone behind. That was not an option.

"Okay," Squall said, "this is what we are going to do. Quistis, you're taking Zell and Selphie on the train. Take my ticket. Your objective is to secure Rinoa and Zone outside of Timber. We will meet up in G.G. Harry and I will sneak out of Timber and walk there."

"But," Selphie cut in with a small voice, "Harry's injured..."

Squall shook his head, "They probably have guards on the train, considering it's final destination is Dollet. They will be looking for a male with injuries. It will be safer to split the groups anyway."

Quistis took charge and nodded, "Understood. We will meet at the Galbadia."

The station announcement sounded, "This train is bound for Dollet, stopping at East Academy. This is the last train for today. Please hurry on board."

Quistis nodded one last time and pulled Rinoa with her to the train. Zell traded looks with Squall for a moment before nodding and running after. Selphie but her lip but pulled Harry into a hug and giving Squall a mock salute. Zone looked hesitant before nodding, gratefully. "Watts can help with a distraction. Find him through the Chief."

Squall and Harry slipped out of the station before the train pulled away, intent on finding one Watts.

~0~0~0~

True to Squall's word, there were soldiers who stopped to check their compartment. They eyed them suspiciously as Zell and Selphie cuddled and Rinoa was on Zone's lap. Quistis was scolding them to 'behave' and 'not act in such an inappropriate manner'.

As soon as the door closed. Selphie and Zell jumped away from each other. Giggling, Rinoa moved to a free seat and Quistis sighed.

"What a mess," she said to no one in particular.

"A screwed up first mission and then an assasination attempt. And now we are fleeing with two resistance members to protect," Zell said in agreement. Rinoe pouted at that, with a "Hey!"

Selphie said nothign as she stared out of the window, watching the landscape rush by. She loved the peacefulness of traveling by train. The room fell silent as they waited to reach their destination.

Selphie eventually broke the silence by asking quietly, "Do you think they made it out of Timber alright?"

Quistis looked over at her and smiled slightly, "I'm sure they are fine. Those two are the top two students of their year."

"Yeah. I heard," Selphie said but the frown did not leave her face, "but Harry is hurt and Squall will need to watch out for him as they fight..."

It was Zell who snorted, "You haven't been at the Garden long enough but those two fight together all the time. I've seen them in action and they always watch each other's back, no matter what."

Rinoa and Zone stayed quiet as they watched the exchange like outsiders. And in a sense, they were. Quistis nodded as she recalled the two of them fighting Bugbites on the practical test.

"Plus," Zell added softly, "I think they need to talk."

Selphie looked at Zell and gave him a bright smile, "Yeah! You're right!"

They fell silent again and no one spoke for five minutes. That was until Zell snorted. Everyone turned to stare at him as he started out the window. he said nothing until Selphie poked him.

"What?" he asked her, eyes wide.

"Why the snort?" she asked curiously. Zell grinned at that.

"I was just wondering if they would finally figure it out and hook up already," Zell said simply. Quistis's eyes went wide, along with Rinoa's and Zone's. Selphie let out a triumphant shout.

"I knew it! They so have a thing for each other!," she said excitedly as her mind drew up images of the two of them having date together. She let out a squeal at the cuteness. "Wait! How long have you known?"

Zell laughed at that, "There's a betting pool in the Garden of when they will finally realise their feelings and hook up. Almost everyone is in on it. It start about two years ago."

Quistis choked at that, "What?"

Zell shrugged as he grinned, "I had a bet on their first mission. The pots at 85000 gil. I really hope they hook up!"

~0~0~0~

Walking up the stairs, Watts was nowhere to be seen. Squall swore softly. Harry grabbed his hand and pulled him inot a stroll as they walked towards the nearest exit.

"Squall," Harry whispered, "I need you to trust me."

Squall said nothing as he squeezed teh hand back in response.

"I'm going to make up invisble and we are going to walk out the exit. I'll explain everything when we are out of here," Harry murmured as he called up his wizarding magic.

Squall stumbled a little at that but kept walking. Harry pulled the magic and wandlessly wrapped it up around them, disillusoning them.

And they calmly walked right past the soldiers. It did help that Harry also cast as notice-me-not charm. They got out of Timber and past the East Academy Station. After walking a good distance away, Squall spied a forest just a little ways off, and pulled Harry on that direction.

Killing off the few monsters, Squall pulled Harry to the edge so they were hidden from prying eyes. Turning on his friend, grey eyes bored into the raven.

"Explain. Everything," Squall said, his tone leaving no room for arguement. Harry winced as he took a seat on the forest floor. He waved his hand, casting a ward keep monsters away.

"Take a seat. No monsters will come. It's a long story and I can't tell you everything," Harry said. Squall opened his mouth, his face angry but Harry raised his hand, "I'll tell you everything I can."

Squall sat down, facing his best friend. Grey eyes traced the familiar petite figure and silk-like raven hair. And fiery green eyes to match the personality he knew so well. This was the same biy who was annoying chirpy at 6 in the morning and gave as good as he got. The same one who was not afraid to dump water on him to get in up or had this specific look when someone did not follow his orders as a medic.

The same boy who was haunted by nightmares and whose eyes looked even more stunning when they were wet with tears. And had a smile to light up the whole room. His best friend, Harry.

Harry looked at the ground, picking at the grass. He couldn't bring himself to look at his best friend. He was about to spill most of his deepest secrets and possibly alienate his crush. Silence descended on them and Harry couldn't bring himself to speak.

But the silence was drowning. Harry swallowed and opened his mouth. He closed it. Shredding a blade of grass, he spoke quietly.

"Shiva and Ifrit aren't my parents. I can't tell you how I born or why I am in their care. The tribes like the one you met used to exist but Adel destroyed all of them. The Mage tribe, everyone you have met, are the Guardian Forces you have junctioned. It's why the GFs will never refuse me; they brought me up. And by extension, you will never be refused because of our friendship. They also don't take a place in your memories, which is why you haven't forgotten everything. They drain my power instead."

"What?" Squall asked, eyes wide. Harry's head jerked upwards and shocked grey eyes locked on to terrified green.

"You can asked question at the end," Harry pleaded. "If I stop now I might not be able to tell you the whole truth."

A part of Harry prayed taht Squall would say it didn't matter. that he didn't need to know. Harry dropped his gaze squall fell silent again.

"The first Sorcerer was Hyne. The power then passed to his daughter, Hyna. But she went mad with an obsession, creating a slave GF and tainting the power. She killed her father, who didn't have the heart to murder his own daughter. That tainted power was then passed from woman to woman and split when one female could not handle all the power. It's the taint that drives the Sorceress mad."

Harry stopped to recollect his thoughts but Squall said nothign as he watched his friend with a morbid interest. He could almost see where this was going but his mind screamed that it was not possible. But the small voice whispered of how Harry fought the Sorceress. How she called him Hyne. How they escaped Timber...

"I was placed in the care of the GFs partly because I am a born Sorcerer. My magic is untouched and untainted. I am in no danger of going mad. I am also alot more powerful. The second Sorcerer since Hyne," Harry said bitterely, "I was trained to handle my power. To hide it and to stop any Sorceresses that posed a threat to the world. I don't have to kill a Sorceress, just subdue her to pull the taint out of the magic and destroy it. I was trying to subdue Edea so I could save your Matron, the kind lady from your memories."

"Then I met you and I wanted to do something fun. Shiva allowed me to come to the Garden because I would be somewhat safe. And it posed a good cover for my skill and job. SeeD was created to stop Sorceresses. Who would look for a Sorcerer there?" But despite what Harry said, there was a smile on his lips.

"But I was living for once. I have been having fun!" Harry said it earnestly as he looked up and locked gazes with Squall. Harry froze as he saw the disbelief in Squall's eyes. He flinched and gropped his eyes to the ground again.

Squall sat there shocked as he tried to absorb the information Harry gave him.

'Harry is a Sorcerer...Those were the GFs... It's why he's favoured... It's why he is powerful... It's why he's trained... It's why he joined the Garden... A cover?... Matron is a Sorceress... It was a cover...' Squall's thoughts were a mess. He shut his eyes and his heart battled with his head.

Harry sat and watched Squall. It was more nerve wrecking that telling the secrets. 'And it's not evven all of them,' Harry added in his mind. He had to wince at that.

"What else are you hiding?" Squall asked, and his voice was ice cold. Harry flinched as his head snapped upwards, shocked at the tone.

"...I can't tell you. But I've told you most of it," Harry replied quiety as he watched storm grey eyes close off from him. Desperately, Harry said, "Squall! I never meant to-"

"What?" Squall snapped, "Lie to me about almost everything?"

Harry flinched again but exclaimed, "No! I had to keep it a secret! No one else knows! Not even Cid! If they find out I would become a lab rat or a government weapon!"

"Well, what about me?" Squall asked angrily, "What you've told me changes almost everything I know about you!"

Harry shook his head, "It changes nothing! I'm still me!"

Squall shook his head, "I don't think I even know you; not if I couldn't see something like this for myself."

Harry jerked backwards at that as he stared wide-eyed at Squall.

"I don't even know you..."

"What..." Harry whispered.

"Who was my friend all these years?"

"Squall..." Harry tried again as he watched his friend get angry.

"Was I just a cover as well?" It was strange but Squall's icy temper was just the start. It was only when he really got mad did he yell and the fire lit in silver eyes.

"NO!" Harry shouted at that, shocked, "Never! Squall, I have always been your friend! I'm still me!.."

Squall shook his head and he looked directly into Harry's green eyes, angry and hurt. But all he saw were memories that he held close of someone he may not truely know. He let someone close and he got hurt.

By this point the two of them were standing facing each other. Squall shook his head, 'This is why I didn't let anyone get close. Because I always end up picking up the pieces alone!' But it felt worse than last time. Itwas like someone tore his heart into pieces and stomped on them.

Then there was the high pitched whistling again, 'Not now!'

Squall grabbed his head and swayed.

"Squall?" Harry asked as he watched his friend. He had half a second to grab his, hopefully still, friend before he collapsed to the ground. "Squall!"

Lying him on the ground, Harry slapped his face lightly and ran a scan on him. Medically, there was nothing wrong but Harry frowned as he felt magic working on Squall.

Angry, Harry yanked at the magic, only to be drawn in and taken to the source.

"Who the hell are you and what do you want with Squall!" he yelled through the magic. The magic gave a start as a voice answered.

"Harry? How are you here?" came a female voice that sent Harry reeling.

"Ellone?" he asked shocked.

"How did you come here? I only sent Squall back!" she said shocked.

"Sent Squall back?" Harry asked, "Sent him where?"

"I have a gift that came send people back to the past. I need to change something! So I borrowed Squall and his friends," Ellone explained, still shocked.

Harry went silent. She was doing this to change something in the past.

"I'm sorry but I can't allow you to interfere, "she said, "I don't know how you're not affected but I won't allow to interfere. I promise no harm will come to them!"

And Harry was pushed out of the connection. Harry sat there shocked at what happened. Looking down,. Squall looked like he was sleeping. He ran a hand through thick, brown hair.

Looking at Squall, Harry groaned into his hands.

'I've messed up. Squall's mad at me and thinks everything has been a lie. I don't know how to fix this. I don't know how to make things right again.'

And it felt like someone was tearing out his heart.

~0~0~0~

Galbadia Garden was in the far distance. They could see it from the edge of the forest they were currently traveling through. But before they could go any further, Quistis grabbed her head and stumbled.

There was no time to react as she fell down in a dead faint. Selphie moaned and went down as well.

"What's going on!" Rinoa half-yelled as she stared at the two bodies on the ground.

Zell shook his head and sat down on the floor, "I think...they went to the 'dream world'."

~0~0~0~

Quistis and her team were waiting at Galbadia Garden's entrance for Squall and Harry when they finally arrived. The walk to Galbadia Garden had been awkward and if Harry hadn't been as old as he was, he would have been ina tears a long time ago. But atleast they made good time.

Squall refused to talk to Harry. Not even to explain the 'dream world' and even as he walked, Harry could see the fury in his body. Harry had tried to speak to him, but every attempt had been shot down or flat out ignored. For the last twenty minutes Harry had given up. He was now wallowing in despair at the thought of losing his best friend and love.

'I always knew this would happen if anyone found out,' Harry thought bitterly as he tried to muster a smile for Selphie who was waving estatically. Her grin dropped sligtly as she took in the tension between the two of them.

Getting within greeting range, Squall nodded at Quistis, "I trust there were no problems."

She shook her head, "No monsters that we couldn't handle. We decided to wait for you so we could meet the Headmaster together."

Squall nodded, completely ignoring Harry who stood behind him. Harry dropped his gaze to the floor and sighed. 'I didn't expect anything different so why did I hope it would be?' he wondered bitterly.

Quistis continued, "Could you leave this one up to me? I've been here several times, and I know the headmaster pretty well. I'll go and explain our situation."

Squall nodded; he knew he wasn't a people person. As Quistis entered to meet the Headmaster, Squall's mind drifted to the problem that was Harry Mage.

'If Mage is really his surname,' Squall thought bitterly.

Selphie grinned and tried to lighten the mood as she exlcaimed as he pointed at things, "It's totally different from Trabia or Balamb Garden."

And the Garden was really different. It was more technological than even Balamb. The students were on one-person hovering devices that carried them across the Garden.

Each of the Gardens focus on a specific discipline," Harry said quietly, aware of all the eyes turning to him, but he kept his eyes firmly on the floor. "Balamb focuses on GF. Trabia on weapon training. Galbadia focuses on technology."

Selphie looked at him curiously but couldn't ask anything as the announcement came, "Attention, SeeD party from Balamb Garden: Please wait in the 2F Reception

Room."

~0~0~0~

They waited in tense silence in the room. Harry was sitting on one side of the room, staring at the floor and Squall was on the other side, resolutely studying the decor. Rinoa had tried to seak to the grey eyed leader only to be pulled back onto the couch by a frantic Zone. Why anger someone who could kill you with one blow. Selphie and Zell found themselves stuck in the middle and unwisely, curious at what exactly happened to cause a rift between the two.

The door hissed as it slid open and Quistis walked in. Immediately, Squall asked, "How'd it go?"

Quistis gave the group a tired smile and sat down next to Rinoa and nodded, "They understood our situation. There was an official notice from the Galbadian government saying that Balamb Garden is not being held responsible as they viewed the attack as in independent one, considering we tried to stop him."

Harry shook his head, "That doesn't make sense. The Sorceress knows I was watching out for you guys. She would have connected it that I knew you guys, at the very least. Why would they place all the blame on Seifer?"

Quistis shrugged and looked at her hands as he gripped them in he lap. It was in a quiet voice she added, "The trial's over, and the sentence has been carried out..."

Zell sighed and Selphie closed her eyes as she leaned back. Harry pressed his head in his hands and even Squall let out a deep breath.

"...He was executed?" Rinoa asked in a quiet voice. Her face was pale and hands shaking. Zone rubbed her shoulder and nodded as he said, "...Of course he was. He attacked the president."

Selphie shook her head, "I didn't know him. I only met him during the SeeD exam..."

Zell snorted, "You're lucky. I've known that bastard for years and I still hated him. But he was one of us, you know?"

Harry nodded numbly, "I know what you mean."

Squall said nothing but it didn't escape anyone's notice that his fists were clenched and his face was tight.

'Past tense already,' Squall thought bitterly, 'I may not have liked him, but he was my rival and oddly enough, one of the people I was closest to. Will I be talked of like this when I die? Will anyone miss me?'

Grey eyes fell on the depressed figure in back as he sat slumped in the chair. His eyes were firmly on the ground.

'Would he even miss me? Do I matter? Does he matter to me? If he died, would I miss him?'

And the memory came back of soulless emeralds and pooling blood. Squall's heart felt like someone was trying to pull it out of his chest. 'I know I would miss the old Harry, but what about this Harry? This Sorcerer Harry?'

Black hair with red highlights was fanned out around his head, like a deathly halo. His skin was a pale, cold marble and blood was smeared across once pink lips. A tear on a dead cheek...

Squall closed his eyes and breath deeply. Opening his eyes and releasing his breath didn't help. The pain was still there. The feeling of loneliness and abandonment was still there. The gap in his heart was still there.

'But why am I feeling this for someone I don't even know? For someone who had lied to me!' Squall thought angrily as his world was stuck in this maelstrom of emotions.

Why?

Why?

'Why do I care so much?'

Unable to bear being in the same room, Squall open the door to leave, ignoring the shocked looks. And he left.

Harry watched the back of Squall walk away. He stood and reached out, the words to make him stop were on his lips. But he stopped. He didn't move. He didn't speak.

'It's not my place,' Harry thought, 'if he wants to break our friendship I can't stop him. He doesn't trust me enough to believe when I said everything was true. Every moment, every feeling...'

I can't stop him... He doesn't trust me... And that hurt more than anything Harry had ever experienced. Squall didn't trust him.

And Harry's world crashed down around him as the door closed.

~0~0~0~

The group waited at the gate for the Headmaster. Rinoa and Zone were already explained as clients in need of protection and that they would be traveling with them.

Zell and Selphie were leaning against the wall, talking quietly as they eyed Squall and Harry. The said pair were shooting the other glances when they thought the other wasn't looking. But there was still anger and hurt and tension lingering between the two.

Quistis was explaining the Garden and how its run to Zone and Rinoa, who were listening with some interest.

"Squall," Harry said quietly as he nervously walked up to the taller man, "we need to talk." He took another breath and finally raised his eyes to look at the cold gaze of his friend, "Please Squall?"

Squall met the green gaze and watched as Harry's emotions mixed in a whirlpool in the emeralds. He swallowed but couldn't bring himself to talk to the Sorcerer. He felt betrayed. He was confused. He didn't know what to think.

"We'll talk later; after this mission," Squall replied. Harry swallowed and shook his head, "But-"

They were interrupted as a car arrived and the headmaster exited it. They saluted him, with Zone and Rinoa standing awkwardly behind them. The man was thinner than Headmaster Cid and had a more serious and stricter air about him.

"Good day." He said, "I have official orders from Headmaster Cid addressed to you. Following regulations, I have gone over these orders. After careful consideration of our options, we have decided to fully assist and cooperate with Headmaster Cid. Actually, we too, have been planning for this quite some time now. In order to stress the importance of this mission, I must first brief you on the current situation. You all know about the sorceress being appointed as the peace ambassador for the Galbadian government. However, this ambassador thing is just a cover up. There will be no peace talks, only threats. The sorceress creates fear among people. Therefore, peace talks are impossible. Galbadia is planning to use this fear to negotiate favourable conditions for itself. It is clear that Galbadia's ultimate goal is world domination. Garden is no exception, either. It is a fact that the sorceress is planning to use this Garden as her base. ...We have very few options available to us. We entrust world peace, and the future to you. Details of the mission are enclosed in these official orders. Any questions?"

"This is not possible," Harry said as he leafed through the mission plan, "I have orders to join your assassination team. The smaller the team the better chance of our assassination of the Sorceress. My first attempt failed due to the presence of others."

Martin raised an eyebrow as he studied Harry, "You were the one that almost took down the Sorceress?"

Harry stuck out his chin and met the gaze head on, "Yes. I sustained a minor injury and ready for the next, and final, attempt."

"This plan is using our source, the one you met, information. Using a sniper is the best chance we have," Martin replied.

Harry shook his head, frustration laced his voice, "A bullet won't kill her. She will stop it before it gets within a foot of her. The only way to take her down is in close combat situations, preferably in a one-on-one situation."

"So, you are willing to go on a practically suicidal mission?" Martin asked sharply, eyes now calculating.

Harry met the look, "That was my mission from the very beginning."

"Fine," Martin said, "Adjust the plan. If the sniper fails, you attack; alone."

Harry nodded grimly, "And the sniper? We have none."

Martine smirked as he said, "Don't worry about it. Let me introduce an elite sharpshooter from Galbadia Garden. Kinneas! Irvine Kinneas!"

Looking around, Martin found Irvine lying on the ground witha butterfly sitting on an outstretch finger. The man moves his hand quickly as if he were firing a pistol, sending the butterfly flying. He stands up, dressed in brown jeans and a coat and a cowboy hat. Sighing, the man walked over, his rifle on his shoulder.

"Failure is not an option," was the Galbadia Garden Headmaster said before he left. Irvine pretends his hand is a gun, aims and fired at Martine's back, while pulling a face. "Bang."

Harry snorted and shook his head. Zell grinned and Selphie eyed the man with a glint in her eye.

Irvine turned to them with an easy smile, "Greetings. You cool with me crashing your mission?"

"That depends on your attitude," Squall replied.

Irvine shrugged at that, "Snipers are loners by nature. Though..." And here he got a Cheshire cat grin as he sauntered up to Harry, "What may I call you, Beauty?" He tried to take Harry hand to kiss the back of it. Harry gave him an unimpressed snort and zapped him with a thunder. Irvine yelped and jumped away. "Feisty? I like you all the more."

And Irvine winked at Harry. Selphie giggled at the scene as Zell stepped back. Quistis and Rinoa were bug-eyed, again.

Hearing the giggle, Irvine turned on his heel and bowed to Selphie, Quistis and Rinoa. "Forgive me, gorgeous ladies, I did not mean to ignore you but your companion has striking eyes that captured my attention. And what may I call you lovelies."

At that, Squall stepped in and introduced everyone. "Parties to get to Dueling; Irvine, you're with Quistis, Zone and Selphie. Harry, Rinoa and Zell, you're with me. Head to train station, but Harry stay. We need to talk. Now."

Irvine looked at the two before sighing, "But of course Beauty would be spoken for." He turned to Harry who was now staring in shock at the flamboyant man, "You ever get bored of the stuffy leader I'll be more than happy to show you a good time."

He left a blushing Harry and a fuming Squall. There was something that just didn't sit right with him when his mind conjured pictures of Harry hanging off the sharp shooters arm. But pushing that out of his mind for the time being, Squall turned to Harry still angry. By then the group had wisely cleared out.

"Do you have a death wish?" Squall all but shouted at his raven. Harry rolled his eyes.

"Don't exaggerate! It's not a suicide misson. I have the best chance at surviving! I can save Matron." Harry said back calmly.

"Because you did so well last time," Squall replied with a sarcastic bite, "she threw you into a wall and almost skewered you!"

"Almost!" Harry threw back as he crossed his arms, "Plus the only reason she managed that was because she threatened to kill you guys! If there is no one else, I can take her!"

"And what if she catches you off guard again? Then what?" Squall bit out as he stepped closer to Harry, his larger frame looming over Harry, trying to intimidate him into obeying.

"Then you start the second wave," Harry replied calmly, even as his hands shook. "If I don't survive then you start the second attack and take her out."

Squall locked his eyes on emeralds and his voice came out as a whisper, "And am I just supposed to accept your death? Am I supposed to just stand by and watch it."

Emerald eyes started back just as hurt, as Harry replied in a whisper, "Why should you care. You don't know me, remember? I'm the Sorcerer Harry. You don't trust me when I say that I've never lied about any of my feelings over the years. So why would a strangers death affect you?"

Squall rolled his eyes and sighed, "How did you expect me to react to hearing that, Harry? I don't know how to understand it. It hurts that you have hidden your whole life from me, and you're still keeping secrets!"

"Did you ever think that it may be to keep you safe?" Harry half-yelled as he stepped closer to Squall, eyes glowing with rage now, "That there may be beings that would kill you for knowing some one my secrets?"

Silence met his statement.

"Then how can a trust you?" Squall asked in a quiet voice, eyes pleading Harry for an answer.

"You're just supposed to trust me," Harry replied, his voice breaking, "trust the part of me that you know; the only part that truly matters. Squall, you have always known I was powerful, just not how much or how. You always knew that I wasn't always with Shiva and the tribe, but they are like my family. So trust me, trust me when I say that everything was real. Everything."

Squall sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Harry ducked his head, eyes burning.

'I tried,' he thought morosely to himself. 'I tried.'

Arms wrapped around his waist from nowhere and Harry yelped as he was pulled into a familiar embrace. "I don't like it.I don't like these secrets almost as much as I don't like this distance between us," Squall said into the mop of hair, "But I trust my best friend and I really hate seeing you cry. I'm still angry at you, but we are going on a suicidal mission and I can't stand the thought of anything happening to you."

Harry choked as a few tears leaked out. It wasn't perfect but it was start. It was a start to get back to where they used to be.

Pulling back, Harry tried to wipe the few teardrops away quickly. Squall sighed as he reached and used his thumb to wipe the ones that he missed. "You're not going to let me talk you out of attacking the Sorceress alone, are you?"

Harry shook his head and gave Squall a cheeky grin, but he caught the hand that was wiping his tears away, "But you can trust me to back to you. She won't be the one to kill me, promise."

~0~0~0~

By the time Squall and Harry reached the station, Quistis was scolding Irvine, who continued to wink at Selphie whenever he caught her eye. Harry rolled his eyes at the 'playboy's' antics.

"Ah!" Irvine said as he caught sight of Harry and Squall, "Our leader and the illustrious Beauty have joined us. Just in time for the next train too!"

Harry snorted, "I have a name, use it."

Irvine walked up to them, and completely ignoring Squall, "But it's boring. Beauty, though even I can admit it's unoriginal, it's far more fitting." An arm was slung around Harry's waist, drawing him closer to Irvine, "Now a little birdie let it slip that you are, in fact, single."

Harry sighed and poked Irvine's side. The effect was amusing as the man jumped three feet in the air and his hair fizzed out from the electric shock. "Single and certainly not interested in you. Everytime you hit on me, you're getting zapped. Or burned, depending on my mood."

And with that, Harry turned and boarded their train.

Irvine let out a whistle as he watched Harry walk away, "He's quite the fire cracker. How do you keep up with him?" Squall ignored that comment, and the growing unease he felt when Irvine had Harry in his arms. It was irrational to want to his the brunnete for touching his Harry.

'When did I consider Harry mine?' Squall pondered as he boarded the train.

"So," Selphie asked a cornered Harry. Harry's eyes darted around but help was nowhere to be found. Zell closed in on his other side. "So what?" Harry responded.

Zell huffed, "Did you two make up or do we need to keep walking on eggshells?"

Harry blushed lightly at that. He hadn't realised what the team would think of their behaviour. "We came to an agreement."

Selphie smirked but flounced off. Zell and Harry traded looks but agreed that they would never understand the female mind.

~0~0~0~

They quickly made their way to Caraway's mansion, as he was their informant and organiser of the plot. Harry had murmured on the way that he had met the man before and that he had good information.

Standing outside of the huge gothic building, they were stopped buy a guard. "General Caraway's mansion is right through this gate, but...I can't just let you walk in."

Squall shook his head, "I believe he's been informed of our arrival." They didn't have time for this!

The guard shook his head on response, "Yes indeed, but... I was ordered not to let you through until your skills have been tested."

Harry sighed at this point and asked, "What does he want us to so?"

"The Tomb of the Unknown King to the northeast. All you have to do is go there. It's real simple, but... You have to bring back proof that you were there. A code number."

Harry looked at the man, "A code from a card, found in the inner tomb?"

The man looked baffled but nodded and Squall turned to Harry with his eyebrow raised. Harry shrugged as he dug the card out of his bag, "I was bored when we used that as our meeting place and I was early."

Taking th card, Squall gave the number, "84"

And with that they were let through. They made their way up the garden path and to the front door. Squall was stopped by a hand on his wrist, and it was too slim to be Harry's.

"Umm..." Rinoa asked, "Is my contract...still in effect? Just please. Don't leave me in this house, ok?"

Squall sighed and nodded. "Quistis, you keep an eye on Rinoa and Zone." The blonde looked put out but nodded.

They were let in and told to wait in the study. And wait they did, for a long while. Irvine took the chair behind the desk, though he offered Harry his lap. That comment got her hat burnt to a crisp.

Selphie amd Zell took to leaning against the wall and Quitis sat down on the couch with Rinoa and Zone. Rinoa's eye were darting around as she admitted that this was her father's house. Harry and squall were leaning against the desk, ignoring the comments made by Irvine as they argued the plan. Harry was adamant to attack alone and Squall wanted them to attack together.

Rinoa had tried to leave the room to go and find her father but her suggestion was shot down by Quistis.

~0~0~0~

Caraway had been over an hour late for their 'meeting'. But when he finally entered the room, Harry could see the strain the situation had taken on the man. his eyes met with Squall's first before he stared at Harry. He gave a nod of greeting, which Harry turned, before he found the furious eyes of his daughter.

The meeting had gone down hill from there. A furious and impudent Rinoa, Harry arguing over the plan and Quistis adding her professional opinion to adjust the plan. It was a mess. Eventually, Zone and Rinoa were taken to a safe room for the duration of the mission and Squall had given Caraway not so much of a veiled, but a threat nonetheless. Rinoa was their client so they had orders to follow.

The pla had finally been decided on, with two teams. Squall, Quistis and Irvine would be the Sniper team. Harry would lead the gateway team, with Selphie and Zell. And after much debate, Harry would elad the attack alone if the shot failed, with Squall leading the second wave.

Qusitis was sent to go and explain the situation to an irate Rinoa while the others were to wander Deling City until the time for the attack.

~0~0~0~

"Come on," Harry said as he hooked his fingers on Squall's jacket edge, pulling him with him, "There's a really good weapons shop here. Their upgrades are really top notch."

Squall looked at Harry, a touch awkwardly as he didn't respond immediately. Harry dropped his grip and stepped back, the smile on his face becoming a little strained. Squall sighed and nodded before turning to Zell and Selphie.

"You coming?" he asked politely. Before Zell could reply Selphie stepped forward and shook her head.

"Nah, we're going to wait for Quistis before hitting the shops for potions," Selphie replied and waved them off. Squall nodded and motioned to Harry to lead.

Harry started walking through the park in the direction of the shopping center, mentally wincing at the awkward silence. Squall fell in to step with him, almost naturally. It was strange, they weren't back to their old terms with each other, but they were still insync.

The walk was somewhat long but the afternoon was a nice warm one. Harry sighed as he watched the colours fade in the sky as the day entered dusk. Quietly he asked, "Is there nothing you want to ask?"

Squall stayed silent as they kept walking. Now that was a question he wasn't sure of himself. If he asked things and Harry was different, he didn't know if he could handle the difference. But if he didn't and something happened on the mission his gut told him that a part of his world would end. And if he was the same... if Harry was the same then he had broken his friend's trust in him.

"You know," Harry said as they stopped at the road to cross it, "my favourite food is still pasta and I still hate peas. I'm the boy who burnt off his eyebrows the fist time I caste Fira and I still scared of losing you."

Squall sighed at that and grabbed Harry's hand to pull him across the road. On the other side, Harry continued, "The only difference is that I can do things that most people can't and I have an arsenal of GFs watching my back."

Squall said nothing as they made it to the weapons shop. Harry had sighed and stayed silent from the lack of reaction.

'I'm sorry but I need time to get used to this. I'm sorry.'

~0~0~0~

Rinoa paced around the room as she thought furiously. Quistis had ordered them to stay in the room for the duration of the mission. She fingered the bangle in her pocket.

'But I have a better idea!' she thought. Zone had been tired from the pain attacks and constant traveling, and fallen asleep on the couch. And from past experiences, she knew he would sleep like a rock. 'I'll get out of here and do it myself! If I take out the Sorceress, maybe I can bargain for Timber's independence.'

~0~0~0~

Next chapter: The Attack, a prison and a missing person. Leave a review if you wnat an update :P

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Amira D.