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. And please, make sure you allow PMs so I can contact you.

Note : Trabia's Headmaster's name is never mentioned so I made him up. If he is mentioned please do tell me his name so I can correct the story.

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

Er, last one I promise! I apologise for not writing about Harry. I kindofforgotabouthim... My bad! (cringe) I plead my case simply: I'm a FF nut who has played this game too many times to be healthy... Last count was on twenty-two...

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

Chapter 7

Will you still want me?

~0~0~0~

Green eyes fluttered open as Harry's mind tried to comprehend where he was. The last thing he remembered was...missile base... Trabia Garden... He bolted upright and looked around. It seemed he was in an Infirmary of sorts. Definitely not Balamb and not with the GFs.

Harry frowned as he tried to recollect his memories. He helped Quistis, Selphie and the Cowboy change the settings for the missile. He then told them of his secret and left.

'That's right! I apparated to Trabia Garden. I got there before the missiles, just in case the missiles hit it."

Harry frowned as he tried to recall what happened next.

'I landed just outside the Garden. There were a group of Trabia SeeDs and I told them of the missiles. They went to warn the Headmaster and start an evacuation, but it was too late. The missiles were too close. The first two missed by far. Landing in front of the Garden. The third hit was close as almost hit part of the Garden and the mountain next to it. I managed to shield the Garden from the rocket but the debris was heading to the Garden...'

"You're awake!" someone exclaimed. Harry looked up to see a redhead in a lab coat. She was quite young. He motioned to a student and said something to him. The student left in a sprint as she turned back to Harry. Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Sorry about that. Headmaster Pres said he wanted to be notified when you awoke," she said with a smile, "I'm Doctor Narni, head of the Trabia Clinic. Now, how are you feeling?"

Harry paused at her question as he looked at his body. He felt small aches but no pressing injuries. The most he felt was drained from using so much magic and a dull pain in his head. He raised a hand and touched his head. He was surprised to find his head bandaged.

Harry blinked. 'That's right. I shielded the Garden from most of the debris. Something knocked me out though...'

"A piece of debris got part whatever you did and hit you. A few more got through but it was only superficial damage to the Garden. It really could have been much worse," Narni said as pulled out a penlight and grabbed his chin. Harry blinked as she checked his pupils. "We really owe you one. Thank you."

Harry blinked as his eyes readjusted. Shaking his head to get rid of the after image, he smiled slightly at her, "It was my mission. Balamb heard about the missiles and I tried to stop them. We messed with the co-ordinates but..."

Narni nodded as she checked his pressure and heart rate. "We heard. We have information that Balamb Garden activated old emergency system and dodged the missiles."

"Dodged the missiles?" Harry yelped as his mind processed what was being said.

Narni gave him an amused grin, "All the Gardens were built over emergency bunkers. They are all mobile."

Harry stared at her. 'Maybe the hit to my head damaged my hearing. I thought she said the Gardens are mobile!'

"Seriously?" he asked weakly after a few moments. Narni nodded but wasn't given the chance to reply as the doors burst open.

~0~0~0~

Selphie was reluctant to let the girl go and find their AWOL Commander, but there was no one else left. Everyone was either in the show or working backstage. Biting her lip, Selphie comforted herself as she watched the Princess walk off in an evening dress, 'At least he won't kill her; that would be a breach of contract.'

Squall, on the other hand, was sulking in his room. His was bored out of his mind but the last time he walked into the cafeteria the students had applauded him and saluted him. Now that wasn't awkward at all; note the sarcasm.

Turning, he shifted to lie on his side and tucked one arm under his head. 'I wish Harry was here. He would know how to stop this madness! Cid has finally lost it!' Squall mentally grouched. 'But I refuse to go out there; back into the madness!'

But it was not to be as there was a knock on his door. For the moment, Squall frowned and decided to ignore whoever it was. He really didn't want to deal with people right now.

"Squall!" came the familiar voice, "I know you're in there! Open this door!"

Squall sighed and contemplated that if he just stayed silent maybe she would go away. The bane of his existence turned out, not to be a high-levelled monster or a teacher, but spoilt little girl who was still learning that the world was seldom a nice place. And she followed him around like a puppy.

"Squall! as your client I'm ordering you to open this door!"

That caused him to frown. Technically he was still her client, though as Commander he had the power to remove himself, and the team, from that mission. And right now, he would take the position if only he could get rid of the brat!

Sighing, he forced himself to get up and walk to the door. With a 'swish' the door opened and Squall glared at the dolled-up girl. He felt a migraine coming on. That dress brought back some... interesting memories about his SeeD inauguration ball. Then the random thought struck him, 'Please don't tell she carried that dress with her from Timber!'

"You're coming to the concert!" she announced, seemingly unaffected by the death glare being sent her way. For once, Squall would have traded his Fated Circle limit break for Quistis's laser eyes.

"I'm not in the mood," Squall replied before shutting the door closed. He heard a squeak and then a huff.

"Actually," the smug voice came through the door, "Your attendance, as Commander, is necessary. Headmaster Cid invited some of the head honchos of Finsherman's Horizon to the concert so you're expected to come. They want to meet the man that lead a two man team in protecting their town."

"You've got to be kidding me!" Squall muttered. He grabbed his jacket and opened the door. He said nothing as he walked out of the dorms, ignoring Rinoa as she tried to catch up.

'If I have to be there I refuse to be uncomfortable,' Squall reasoned as noted how underdressed he was in comparison to Rinoa.

They walked in relative silence to the quad. Relative meaning Rinoa chatted and Squall stayed silent, ignoring her.

Getting there, Squall had to raise an eyebrow at the crowd. It looked like the whole garden turned out for the concert. Rinoa grabbed his wrist and dragged him towards a raised platform with tables and chairs. Squall pulled away from her grip. He was anti-social, not stupid. He knew she wanted him.

She turned on him with a disappointed look in her face, "Um, you need to go there." She pointed at the platform. "all the VIPs are there."

Squall nodded and moved towards the area, ignoring the slight stab of guilt for putting her down like that.

"Squall!" Cid greeted him with a smile. He looked better; less stressed and less likely that his world was going to end. That caused Squall to frown. 'What kind of man can order his wife's murder and not be affected?'

"This is Squall Leonhart, Commander of Balamb Garden and the SeeD that dispatched the Galbadian soldiers," Cid explained to the VIPS as he introduced them. Sighing internally, Squall put on a smile and shook their hands. 'I hate small talk!'

Squall let out a sigh as Selphie stepped on stage with a microphone. She was dressed, and Squall really did snort, a cowgirl outfit. 'Subtle Selphie, very subtle.'

"Good evening!" she said excitedly getting some cheers from the audience, "Tonight's performance it dedicated to my team leader and our Commander, Squall! You big stud! Congratulations! Enjoy the show!"

Squall was mildly impressed by the performances. The tables in the VIP area were serving dinner to go with the show, which he was really grateful for. The first item had been a hiphop dance by some of the younger girls. A sketch followed it and, in true SeeD style, a fighting expo. Though, it did surprise him when Selphie, Irvine, Quistis and Zell walked into the stage and started playing a slightly rock, but danceable tune.

Zell was on drums, Irvine on bass, Selphie on electric and Quistis on violin. They were good, considering that they all just got back from a mission. Cid chuckled, drawing Squall's attention. "They worked hard to put this concert on in your honour, you know."

Squall said nothing as he stared at the stage. Childish, he knew that but he was still angry at the man for dumping it all on him.

"It's a lot to handle, but it's your destiny. It always has been. It would be easier to just accept it and embrace it. I daresay that your friends would stand by you through it all," Cid murmured. He paused a moment longer to add, "You need a vice, and it should be someone you trust beyond everyone else." He then left to chat with someone else. And Squall had to admit the only person he would have as his Vice would be Harry.

The night, overall, Squall admitted had been a success. The strained relations with Fisherman's Horizon were much better and a peace treaty slash alliance was in the talks. (That brought a groan when Cid informed him it would be one of his duties as Commander.)

But it was oddly lonely as he watched the Garden clear out of the Quad and back to the dorms. He escorted the dignitaries to the Gate after Cid retired and he had to go back to his own room alone. For once the Garden seemed deserted at the late hour. No one was out and about as he walked through deserted corridors. He could imagine Harry walking next to him, a quiet companion who only broke the silence when he was bored or it was something he deemed important.

Green eyes dancing with joy as he whispered the latest piece of gossip. He didn't like the gossip but more the part when he ripped apart the ridiculous rumour by pure logic and facts. Sometimes, Squall recalled, Harry would hold hostage his arm, dragging him off as a fast pace to wherever he needed to be. Or just because he could.

Squall felt himself stop as he looked up, finally drawn out of his thoughts, to see his room door. Sighing, he opened is and entered his sanctuary. As he got ready for bed, he could not help but ponder, 'If I had to change us, would Harry accept it? Would he accept me? Do I stand a chance when he's turned down so many people? Or are we just close friends?'

As he fell into dreams, the question still lingered.

'If I love him, will he love me?'

~0~0~0~

The next morning, Squall found himself in a nightmare. He had been called to the bridge only to find that he was officially in charge and that all the repairs were done. The Garden could depart and Quistis was waiting with Xu for orders. That was not uncomfortable at all, not the sarcasm.

Squall sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He could feel the headache starting up with having to deal with these people, with the position.

"We have two choices," Squall said, cutting off the discussion Xu and Quistis were having, "We could head back to Balamb for our missing students or we head to Trabia to assess the damage to our sister Garden. Harry should be there as well. We also need to call in our sources to see if Galbadia Garden had been taken over. A pair of eyes on the inside would be useful too."

Xu was smiling at him as she nodded, "Balamb should be our destination. It's a harbour and might be the next target. We can also let off any students who do not want a part in this. But I doubt any will leave."

Quistis nodded at that, "The SeeD calibre. I'll check our informants and get the information. I'll get in touch with Trabia as well. I think we may need an alliance if this gets any worse. Plus," and here Quistis gave Squall a smirk, "I think we need to retrieved out MIA Vice-Commander."

Xu looked to Quistis with a curious expression, "Vice-Commander?"

Squall groaned ad Quistis nodded, "Cid told me last night. The commander needs a vice, so Squall chose Harry Mage."

Xu nodded in approval, "Good choice" she said to Squall. Mentally, Squall was killing Cid. 'That man needs to stop making decisions for other people! I was going to wait to ask Harry first!'

"So, we now have a plan of action," Xu stated and Quistis nodded.

Squall nodded as he felt completely out of his depth. An old memory passed through his mind. The sad voice that didn't suit it's owner as it whispered a piece of wisdom to the dark, "When in doubt, don't stop. Keep moving forward or you will drown in the building darkness. Then you will truly be lost."

'All I can do it keep moving forward,' Squall accepted grudgingly as he turned to the grinning Nida. The SeeD passed his exams with Squall. A decent fighter but better with mechanics and information. He was also the appointed pilot of the Garden.

"So, Balamb, Commander?" he asked with a grin and a salute. Squall bit back the groan as he nodded.

"Roger!" Nida replied and he turned his attention to the intercom. Switching it on, he called for the attention of the Garden, "May I have your attention please. This is the bridge. The Garden will be leaving FH shortly. Please prepare for departure. All students are to note that the ranks of Xu Nika and Quistis Trepe are now Advisor. Any questions are to be deferred to them. And the position of Vice-Commander is now filled by Harry Mage. I will now hand the mike over to our leader, Squall."

Squall looked at him startled as he held the microphone towards him. Squall looked like a deer caught in the headlights. Quistis, Xu and Nida looked at him expectantly.

"A speech...? Forget it." Squall asked in shock before his expression closed to a cold face, "Cut the mike!"

Around the Garden, students chuckled at their Commander. It was a well-known fact that Squall hated speaking. And more than a few of the students wondered where the prodigy Mage had disappeared. Then they winced when they realised they would have to deal with a grumpy Commander.

~0~0~0~

Harry sighed as he touched the bandage on his head. He winced at the sharp sting of pain. The Headmaster was a fairly young man, especially when compared to Cid. And he had been very, very grateful for Harry's help. The man practically bowed down to his feet.

Harry frowned irritably at the near hero worship. He had enough of that for more than one lifetime. No, he was far more preoccupied with the situation at hand. Doctor Narni and Headmaster Pres prompt got into an argument over him. Narni said he needed rest and time to recover. Pres went along with Harry's idea of Harry being the Balamb Ambassador for the time being. They needed to plan their actions now that Galbadia has shown their hand. 'Not to mention,' Harry reminded himself grimly. 'We have probably lost Galbadia Garden in this mess.'

In the end, the Doctor won and booted out the Headmaster with a smirk. When her vengeful gaze landed on him, Harry mutely climbed back into bed and smiled innocently like a good patient. He would discuss the matters with Pres when Narni left the Infirmary. He knew have wrathful healers could be.

Narni nodded in satisfaction and turned on her heel as she walked to her office.

Harry sighed and tried to sleep. But the blissful slumber eluded him; his mind was a tornado of thoughts. What should they do now? Was Squall okay? And the others? Was Balamb Garden okay? Squall. Squall. Squall.

And in the end, it always come back to Squall. With a groan, Harry pressed his palms on his eyes, knees bent as he curled his body. He tried to push those traitorous thoughts away. Those thoughts involving his love for his best friend. It hurt his heart when he thought of the grey-eyed SeeD being injured but it fluttered at the thought of seeing him again. His stomach was in knots wondering if Squall accepted his Sorcerer abilities now.

And that lead to even more dangerous thoughts...

'I wonder... I wonder if he would ever feel anything for more, anything more than friendship?'

~0~0~0~

The Garden landed close to the site of where it had once been. Looking at the crater, Squall winced. 'The Garden could have been that.'

"I'll contact all students and SeeD. We will regroup here. If any students want to leave, they will be escorted off the Garden before we depart," Xu said as she looked at Squall, waiting fro his approval. This had been the procedure for last few days as the Garden travelled towards it's destination. Squall found himself being held captive in the bridge and Cid's office.

'Well,' Squall thought, 'technically it's our office now.'

Turning to Xu he nodded, "That sounds good. Do we need to stock up on anything while we are here? We may not get time in the future if things go south."

Xu gave him a small smile as she nodded her approval. She had been trying to mould him into someone of authority. "We stocked up in FH. I'll double check."

The doors to the office opened and Quistis walked in, her heels tapping against the floor. Squall looked at her as she saluted. He sighed. No matter how much he protested against the salute and the 'sir' they kept doing it. Even when he tried to order against it, much to Xu's amusement. Squall almost felt like pouting.

"Sir! According to our information, Galbadia has occupied the town of Balamb," Quistis reported, "They are hostile and searching for Ellone." She paused for a moment before adding in an uncertain voice, "They are also looking for a SeeD with black hair, green eyes wielding twin katanas."

Squall cursed under his breath.

"We need to cut off the Sorceress reign. Galbadia cannot grow in power," Xu added helpfully.

Squall knew what she was implying. They had to save Balamb and any other town or city that Galbadia tried to take over. They had to stop from the Sorceress from finding Ellone. Harry was another matter. Squall knew that of the Sorceress got her hands on him, Harry was as good as dead.

With a sigh he nodded, "Quistis, get Zell, Selphie, Irvine and Zell and explain the situation. Xu, you're in charge of the Garden's defence. Can you organise four SeeD teams. They can clear out any hidden Galbadian forces around Balamb. I will infiltrate with my team. If we need help we will send owrd and the SeeD are to engage in combat."

Quistis smiled and saluted before leaving. Xu looked at Squall and sighed. She shook her head, "You'r the commander. You should not leave the Garden."

Squall snorted, "I refuse to be held captive here. It would be easier to handle any talks if I was there in person anyways."

Xu raised an eyebrow, "You want to try and talk the Galbadian soldiers to leave Balamb."

Squall shrugged, "I figured if they knew that they had a whole Garden of SeeD waiting to take back the town they might leave peacefully."

Xu chuckled before saluting and leaving the office. Squall stood there awkwardly. He couldn't leave until Quistis came back. His eyes sifted to the desk and the leather chair behind it. He considered it for a moment. It would be more comfortable than just standing around.

'But that would still be awkward,' Squall reasoned before he stepped onto the platform to go the bridge. Nida had already been excused and sent to rest. The SeeD has basically lived on the bridge while the Garden was in motion, just in case something happened. Squall made a note top tell Nida to teacher two more SeeD how to pilot the Garden, just in case.

The view was unobstructed as Squall finally let out a sigh. The familiar sight of the Balamb seashore stretch in front of him as he could see over the forests and the Fire Cavern.

Squall smiled slightly as he remembered the day he had literally ran into Harry. How he met Shiva. 'If it wasn't for that day, I wonder how everything would have turned out?' Squall mused. Most of his happier memories included the green-eyed Sorcerer.

'Sorcerer.' Storm grey eyes dulled as he remembered the secret his best friend had kept from him for years. It still left a bitter taste in his mouth but the guilt that was gnawing at his chest was much worse. Because Squall understood it now. Harry being a Sorcerer painted a target on his back. He was an anomaly; the perfect weapon and a scientist's dream.

'When it all comes down,' Squall could admit to himself, 'Harry hasn't changed. It's just another ability; another strength of his that he doesn't care for. Even if I made it a big deal...'

Gripping the banister, Squall repressed a shudder as he remembered the sight of Harry turning to face him. His eyes wide with fear and horror. His face drained of colour as he took in the sight before him, forgetting everything around him. Squall remembered his own horror as he tried to choke out the warning as he watched the ice stab into the dark haired man. One. Two. Three.

"Squall?" Zell's concerned voice pulled him out of his thoughts. Squall turned around to see Quistis with the team he requested. She too looked worried. Squall schooled his expression to be blank as he nodded.

"Has Xu done what we planned?" Squall asked Quistis, quick to divert the attention. He could see the questions on Selphie's tongue.

Quistis paused for a moment, as if to consider her answer, or the unasked question, before replying, "The SeeD are ready for dispatch. She's still calling in the MIA students and SeeD."

Squall nodded and turned himself to face his 'team'. He could almost snort at the irony. Before this whole fiasco he would never work in a team, other than the partnership he had with Harry. Now he was a team leader and a Commander.

"We are going into Balamb. We need to liberate Balamb from the Galbadian Army's occupancy of the town. They're primary mission, it seems, is to find Ellone. They are also searching for Harry, under the Sorceress's orders."

Zell smirked as he punched his fists together, "Simply. We go in and kick them out. They don't get a chance to search for Harry or Ellone."

Selphie nodded as she got a determined look in her eyes, "There's no way we can let them get away with this. Ellone is protected and SeeD protect their own."

Squall sighed as the team got gang-ho about 'kicking Galbadian asses'. He looked at Quistis to see her amused. "We are going to sneak in. Then we are going after their highest chain of command. If he can be 'persuaded' to leave, then we attack. Quistis, you're in charge of calling in the SeeD teams if it comes to that."

Selphie pouted as her revenge was taken away. Zell looked like he wanted to argue but shut his mouth, jaw tense. It was his hometown after all. He just wanted them out. Irvine, looked mildly impressed.

Squall sighed yet again as he stepped forward onto the platform. The rest of the team trailed behind him, ready to descend and leave the Garden.

~0~0~0~

Harry sighed as Doctor Narni left him and Pres to talk, with firm warnings that he should not push himself. When the redhead (with a temper to match) finally left the Infirmary with the surround sound of the door closing, Harry sighed.

"We've gathered information about what has been happening around the world," Pres informed him with a grim expression. Harry steeled himself for the worst, heart pounding. He wasn't sure what he would do if Squall had been injured or worse.

'I would probably leave,' he realised with a start. Pres was watching him with a curious expression on his face.

"Galbadia has seized Galbadia Garden and it is now the base of the Sorceress. The G-Army is now searching for a girl, an Ellone, in each town. They burn down the town after the search," Pres finally said. Harry' s head jerked upwards at the name.

"Ellone?" Harry asked on reflex, as he pondered the chances of Ellone being Squall's Ellone. He sighed, knowing that it was very likely, considering her strange abilities.

"You know her?" Pres's eyebrows rose a notch higher. their guest, and unofficial Balamb ambassador, was a mystery. The magic he used was something no one had even heard of. If Harry had been female, he would have guessed she was a Sorceress. But he was male, leading to even more questions. Then again, he had heard from Cid about Harry Mage, the prodigy. He wielded magic like no one before and his skills insinuating years and years of training. And he had experience. A boy from a rare Mage Tribe. Harry Mage, was indeed, a mystery.

Harry nodded, "I met her briefly on two occasions. She has a rare ability and that may be why Edea is after her."

Pres sighed and continued, "We have recalled all of our students and SeeDs. They have been informed of our situation and anyone who does not want to join the war has been asked to leave."

Harry's lips twitched into a small smile as he leant back into the pillows "Let me guess. No one from the combat courses left?"

Pres nodded with a small smile. Harry chuckled, "SeeD is SeeD. Trainee, cadet or qualified, we are all the same at the core."

Pres laughed a little and scratched the back of his neck, "That's true. We also have information about Balamb Garden."

Harry jerked forward in response, eyes wide. His fingers clenched the blanket.

"The mobile system is older than ours so it was somewhat malfunctioning. They collided with Fisherman's Horizon and received repairs there. I believe that they left there a day ago. Unfortunately, we were not able to get a message to them."

Harry's eyes fell to his fingers. He did not like not knowing. The worry was eating him inside out. All he knew was that Squall had been injured and then escaped the Desert Prison. He had been heading to Balamb Garden. Harry could only hope that he was okay.

"We are preparing for our own departure as we speak. We plan to meet up with Balamb Garden. Do you have any ideas where they would be heading? I would have thought Cid would have ordered the Garden to come here to join up but he appointed a SeeD as Commander during the war. A Squall Leonheart."

Harry's neck snapped upwards so fast that Pres was surprised that the boy didn't get some sort of whiplash. He winced at the chewing out Narni would give him if the boy was anymore injured after their meeting.

"Squall? Commander?" Harry asked faintly. "Cid named Squall Commander?"

Pres nodded as he asked jokingly, "Why, jealous?"

The next moment the headmaster found himself staring into glowing green orbs that were spitting fire. He forced himself not to move backwards as he stared at the enraged mage.

"What is that man thinking!" Harry raged, "Cid is painting a blood target on Squall's back! We already tried two assassinations on her and she knows that Squall and I are close. We also stop the missiles! Does that man want the Sorceress to come after Balamb Garden?"

Harry paused at the thought and froze. He murmured the last word, "Come after Balamb Garden..." Harry chuckled dryly, "He's quite the tactician."

"Cid is going to lure the Sorceress to Balamb Garden?" Pres asked sceptically. Harry nodded.

"We need to meet up with Balamb asap. They are going to need the back-up," Harry replied as he pushed his feelings for Squall to the back of his mind. 'Where would they go? Squall is commander so where would he go.' There was a pang of hurt when he realised that Squall was not coming to Trabia to find him. 'No! think Harry! Where would they go? The Garden was almost destroyed and they left in hurry...'

Pres watched the young man think. Yet another clue to the mystery to young SeeD. A healer SeeD with enough magic to confront a sorceress. Someone who was close to the new commander of a Garden.

"Balamb." Harry finally said. "They would head to Balamb. For any students left behind, to drop off students who want no part in the war and to regroup their SeeD. It is the most logical. They would have gone back to Balamb."

Pres nodded with his lips pursed, "I thought so as well. I was hoping you would think the same. Trabia will head to Balamb as well."

~0~0~0~

Zell gritted his teeth as he heard what the soldier told them what happened. His blood was boiling at what was happening to his hometown. Selphie nudged him slightly, forcing blue eyes to meet her brown ones. She gave him a small smile and he could see the fire in her eyes.

"This town is under the control of Sorceress Edea! The town is off-limits while we conduct our investigation! It will last for several days! Once we're through with our investigation here, you're next. So just stay out and stay put!"

Squall repressed a frown as he sighed. He gave the guard a look as he shrugged. "We are residents. Can't we please go back into the town?" he asked. Quistis nodded behind him.

The soldier snorted, "Off-limits is off-limits. No one enters or leaves!"

Squall groaned as he turned to the team, "Sorry guys. I can't believe we visit Ellone and we come back and we can't get into Balamb. Maybe we should head back?"

Irvine caught on to what Squall was doing and hid his grin as he answered, "Yeah. I think so. She won't mind us staying with her."

Quistis shrugged, "Well, we better leave then. No use staying here and arguing."

Galbadian Soldier stared at the group of kids with bug eyes. "W-What? Elle...Wait a minute! Tell me everything you know about her! Do you actually know who she is?"

Squall turned to the soldier and gave him an innocently confused look, "Of course. We all are childhood friends."

Galbadian Soldier looked like Christmas was coming early, "If you find out any information at all, go talk to the commander. She's staying at the hotel! The Galbadian Army is looking for Ellone. You will be rewarded."

They entered Balamb quickly before the soldier changed his mind. Selphie giggled behind her hand. Irvine and Zell were staring at Squall with big eyes, slightly shocked. Quistis sighed with exasperation.

Annoyed at the attention, Squall rounded on the group, "What?" he muttered. Selphie smiled as she giggled her reply, "Squall! You acted so normal! Wow!"

"Dude! Where did you learn to act like that?" Zell asked in somewhat awe.

Squall gave them a blank look, "When you're best friends with someone like Harry, you learn how to act innocent and confused. He has pranked one too many people."

"And got away with it," Quistis added with a small smile. The little mage grew on her, a little by little. Before she would have not raised a finger to help him but now she would willingly battle by his side. "'More than on Instructor let him off easy for his actions."

Irvine let out a low whistle. "I have got to see Beauty act innocent with wide green eyes!" Selphie giggled harder at the mental image Irvine conjured up.

Squall sighed and continued down the road, expecting them to follow him. 'Wide green eyes indeed,' he thought as he remembered how 'that look' got him to do things he wouldn't usually do.

Finding the Commander turned out to be a wild goose chase around Balamb as the man went AWOL. First he was out fishing. Then someone mentioned he caught somewhat poisonous fish. The fish gave you food poisoning. Then they had to track down the sick man only to find it was someone they knew.

Squall was almost spitting fire. He really just wanted to get this over and done with. "It's Raijin!...Come on!" he ordered, unintentionally, to the group as the followed the fleeing man from the docks.

They finally stopped outside the Balamb Hotel, only for the doors to be burst open and Raijin to land on his ass right in front of them. Zell punched his fists together and turned to Squall. "Can't we just beat them to a pulp for making us run around so much?" he half-pleaded. Squall gave him an unimpressed stare, even if that was what he truly felt like doing.

"Ouuuch..." Raijin groaned as he said, "F-Fujin...C-Control your temper, ya know?"

"You're going to take us to your commander," Squall said as he stepped forward, aware that Irvine had already taken out the guard standing nearby.

Raijin's head whipped around at his voice as he stared bugged-eyed at Squall. "Yo! You! What are you doing here?"

Selphie glared at the man on the floor, "We are here to liberate Balamb! Now take us to your leader or we will have to hurt you!" Her numchucks were in her hands, ready to keep her word.

Raijin got up and dusted his pants as he casually replied, "No can do, man. Seifer told us to give you a beating if we saw you so-"

Before Raijin could say another word, Zell had drilled his fist into the man's solar plexus, winding him. "You picked the wrong fucking town to mess with," Zell hissed. He swung a fist at his opponent's jaw and a kick to the neck. Raijin was down for the count as Zell straightened himself.

The group was staring at him expectantly. Zell shrugged, "What? He was a small fry; he said so himself. You can still negotiate with the leader."

Squall shrugged and made for the hotel doors. Quistis sighed and cradled her head in her hands before following. Selphie smirked and nodded her approval. Irvine chuckled and gave Zell a high-five, "Nice."

Inside, they found an unguarded Fujin. She looked at them before asking, in her normal manner of talking, "Raijin...Defeated!"

Squall nodded as he stepped up. Zell had his back as Selphie and Irvine flanked him. Quistis was on standby to give orders.

"As the Commander of Balamb Garden, I request that you relinquish this town and surrender or we will have to retaliate," Squall said calmly. It was the most diplomatic he could be but if it worked, he was not going to complain.

Fujin stared at him, "Commander?"

Quistis nodded, gathering Fujin's attention, "Squall was elected Commander to lead this war. I do suggest surrendering. The town is surrounded by SeeD."

Fujin stared at them before slipping into her attacking stance. Squall sighed. He knew that the girl would not give up. Her pride was almost the same size as Seifer's. But five against one was not fair odds and it was a short fight. She went down hard and fast.

And yet, still she refused to call a surrender of her troops. She was loyal to Seifer, to a fault. With sigh, Squall gave Quistis the go ahead for SeeD to clear out the town. They were quick and efficient. Any remaining or surrendered soldiers were escorted to the Garden and into makeshift cells. (ie. detention centres'.)

~0~0~0~

"Commander! Your presence is needed at the bridge urgently," the intercom rang. Squall groaned as he sat up from his bed. It seemed just as they had a moment to rest, something else started. They were still near Balamb, waiting for their SeeD to respond to the recall and rebuild some of the damage the Galbadian's had done to Balamb. It was already two days since the liberation of Balamb.

Squall made his way quickly through the Garden as he walked the familiar route to Cid's office and above, all the way ignoring the salutes and greetings of "Commander!". Finally he made it and was met with the grim faces of Nida and Xu. He wanted to go ad crawl back into bed.

Handing him a pair of binoculars, Xu pointed to an approaching fortress in the distance. It was floating in the sea, too big to be a ship. Squall swallowed as he lowered the binoculars. It could only be a Garden.

"Galbadia?" he asked, now just as grim as his advisor. Xu shook her head, "We don't know; not yet in the very least."

Squall froze. What could they do?

"Should I instigate the emergency procedures for an attack?" Xu asked quietly as her eyes were fixed on the horizon.

"Emergency?" Squall asked as his mind raced.

"Quistis and I ran through our existing ones and modified them. We have briefed the students. The younger years will be locked in the Dorms, guarded by the upper years. SeeDs have guard point positions around the Garden."

"Do it."

Xu nodded and left to make the preparations. Squall could only hope for the best as his heart pounded. 'Can we defeat the Sorceress on our own? Without Harry?'

~0~0~0~

Harry grinned at the feeling of the wind in his hair. It brought back memories of flying high and fast on his Firebolt. He was on the bridge of Trabia Garden as she sailed towards Balamb, and more importantly, the Balamb Garden.

Pres was watching the anomaly known as Harry Mage. The boy was grinning into the wind, eyes scanning everything in view. Ever since Narni released him, Harry has been antsy with excess energy.

"Sir?" The rookie pilot said, gaining the attention of both of the other men on the bridge, "We are coming up to visual range to Balamb, and probably, Balamb Garden."

Pres nodded as he eyed the town in the distance as they steered towards the landmass, "as soon as we are in range, initiate contact with B.G. We do not want to engage over miscommunication."

The pilot nodded as he turned back to his wheel that steered the Garden. There was a panel built next to it, with it, a comprehensive communication panel. He would radio in as soon as they reached the land.

Harry was now bouncing on the balls of his feet, eager to see Squall. 'I can't believe it. It feels like it's been forever since I last saw him. It reality it has only been a couple of weeks,' Harry mused as his stomach exploded in familiar butterflies. His mind started to spin at the thought of the older man. He missed him so terribly, the sort of emptiness he had forced himself to ignore in light of their situation. But, in the scarce moments when he could stop and think, harry felt it hit in twice as hard.

Green eyes softened as they stared at something intangible in the distance. A hand crept upwards, gripping his shirt lightly, just above his heart. "I guess," Harry murmured to himself as the winds stole his words, "I need him more than I realised. Even if it's just friendship, I need him to be by my side." And the thought of Squall smiling in someone else's arms hurt but the thought of a Squall-less life hurt more.

"We are in contact range, sir," the pilot said to Pres, breaking Harry out of his thoughts. Pres nodded as the SeeD picked up the radio.

"Balamb Garden, this is the Bridge of Trabia Garden, please come in. We wish to initiate contact and a request to board, in light of the latest actions of the Sorceress Edea."

The three waited with bated breath for a response. There was nothing but static over the radio. Harry groaned in frustration as they kept on approaching Balamb Garden. The closer he got he could see students amass around the Garden. It was too strategic to be random.

Pres frowned grimly as he stepped forward and took the radio from his SeeD. He pressed the button and repeated the sentence, adding, "This is Headmaster Pres of Trabia Garden. Please respond, Balamb Garden."

After a tense moment, the radio crackled into life, as a familiar voice came over the radio, "This is Commander Squall Leonheart of Balamb Garden. I apologise for the delay in answering as our equipment is not functioning efficiently. You have permission to board Balamb Garden. I look forward to discussing an alliance."

Pres grinned as he sighed in relief, "As do I. I will board with my team asap. We have much to discuss, Commander."

"Very well, Headmaster."

The radio died into silence. Pres turned around, as he had forgotten about his guest, intent on asking Harry if he wanted to say something. But there was no Harry. Pres paused as looked around the bridge. It was only him and Jiru, the pilot.

"He left as soon as he heard that we had permission to board," Jiru said helpfully. Pres chuckled lightly and nodded. Giving out the standing orders for an emergency attack, Pres left the bridge and made his way to the front gates.

Waiting for him, was the Trabia SeeD team and a very impatient Harry Mage.

"Finally!" Harry said as he threw his hands in the air. With a venomous glare, he turned to Captain Fern and asked, "Can we go now?"

Pres sighed and he nodded when Fern looked over to him. Truth be told, Harry didn't need to wait the permission to board as he was a Balamb SeeD.

With Harry leading, much to Fern's displeasure, the group left the Garden quickly and made their way to Balamb Garden. With ease, Harry made his way the front gate and entered. He followed the familiar path towards the entrance gates, noting the SeeDs that were positioned in between then two gates.

"Sir!" A SeeD saluted him as Harry stepped forward, with the wary Trabia's SeeDs who looked on the scene curiously. "Welcome back, Vice-Commander!"

Harry stepped backwards as his eyes widened in shock, "What?" he exclaimed to the title.

But the other SeeDs followed their leader's actions and saluted him as well, all addressing him as Vice-Commander. Harry was now glaring at the squad leader, pinning him to his spot. "What on earth did you just call me?" Harry hissed, emerald eyes flashing, promising pain if he didn't like the answer.

The SeeD stepped backwards but otherwise held his ground. Swallowing at the scary sight, the male gathered his wits and replied in the most confident voice he could muster, "Headmaster Kramer and Commander Leonheart elected you as Vice-Commander as Balamb Garden engages in the war against the threat that is the Sorceress."

Harry cursed as he turned on his heel and matched towards the entrance. 'Like hell Squall would just pick me! He would have bloody well asked first! This has Cid written all over it! When I see that man I'm going to give him a piece of my mind! We are at freaking war! This is not a game!' Harry fumed to himself.

Amused, Pres followed with somewhat baffled Trabia SeeD.

Harry paid no attention to the saluting SeeD as he passed through the foyer and climbed the stairs to the elevator. He jabbed the button for the lift and tapped his foot impatiently as he waited. Pres said nothing but he did throw curious glances at the Balamb prodigy.

With a muttered "Finally!" the lift beeped and the small team got in. Harry pressed the button for 3FL and waited as they ascended. The angry inside of him was promptly pushed away as the thought struck Harry.

'I'm going to see Squall.'

The door's opened and the team stepped out, Pres leading with a friendly smile for his old friend Cid. Noticing Harry made no move to get off; Pres paused and turned to watch the green-eyed Mage. He was staring at the floor, fists clenched.

"Are you okay?" the Trabia SeeD leader asked hesitantly, causing Harry's head to jerk upwards. He then realised that they were waiting for him. Taking a deep breath, Harry nodded and got off the lift. With false confidence, he walked past the group and pushed open the doors that lead to Cid's office.

Blue eyes, tinged with grey, widened as Squall realised just who walked through the door. On reflex, Squall stood up as his mind caught up with the situation. His lips murmured the name before he even realised he spoke, "Harry."

Harry gave him a somewhat nervous grin, "Hey Squall, or is it Commander?"

Squall glared at his best friend as he stepped around the desk he was seated at, crossed the room and pulled the smaller boy in to a hug, muttering, "Don't call me that ridiculous title."

Harry hugged the man he loved back, burying his head into the warmth and comfort that he emitted. Harry sighed in relief. Closing emerald eyes, he couldn't help but think, 'It's like coming home.'

"Cid!" a voice called jovially, catching their attention. Squall withdrew his arms and Harry stepped away with a blush on his cheeks.

Cid and Pres were chatting happily like old friends. Squall scowled at the pair before sighing. 'Might as well let them catch up,' he thought as his eyes drifted to the teen.

"How have you been," Squall murmured, still standing with his arms crossed but eyes on Harry. Harry met his gaze with an easy small and relief clearly written in his eyes.

"Healed and much better. You? I was worried about you," he asked, eyes now on the two Headmasters.

Squall said nothing for a moment. "Healed and much better. Before getting this ridiculous job."

Harry rolled his eye at his friend. But they traded looks that screamed that they had more to talk about. The air was still tense, as if each of them were afraid of uttering something wrong. The once simply companionship was gone. Something had shifted. Everything had changed.

"Well," Cid said, cutting the conversation, "we best get down to business."

~0~0~0~

Harry slumped on the familiar bed. The door closed softly and soft footsteps sounded in the quiet room. Harry couldn't open his eyes as the bed slumped further with the extra weight. Squall sighed as he shifted on to his side.

Grey eyes watched the figure that took up most of the bed. It felt like the last time they did were years ago. 'Strange how time passes,' Squall pondered, 'especially when you're alone.'

Harry sighed as he opened his eyes, somewhat reluctantly. With a sad smile, he whispered, "We have a lot to talk about, don't we."

Squall said nothing as he nodded, eyes tracing Harry's face. Harry's heart skipped a beat before he harshly shut down the part of his mind that whispered hope to him. Hope that maybe Squall was returning his feelings.

"What happened after the parade?" Squall asked quietly, averting his eyes. He couldn't stop the guilt that crept into his voice. The scene replayed over and over again in his mind. Green eyes widening in disbelief as a hand tried to catch Squall, despite being meters away. Never thinking about himself or his own safety.

Harry sighed as he closed his eyes. "My guardians took me away to heal. They didn't want to lose the current Sorcerer. When I awoke there they told me of Galbadia's plans to use missiles to destroy the Gardens. I infiltrated the Missile Base and hacked the computer systems. Found out you were being held in the prison in the desert. I met up with Selphie and her team before leaving them to deal with the missiles. I went to protect Trabia, planning to go to Balamb after the danger had passed."

Squall was silent as he processed what Harry had said before sighing. "You were injured?"

Harry opened his emerald eyes and gave Squall a slight smile as he jerked his head. "Some of the debris caught me with my guard down. But fine. After that, Pres and I talked as it was decided that finding Balamb Garden was in the best interest of both Gardens."

It was heard; the unsaid words that he had wanted to find Squall but duty would always come first. Squall nodded, because that was something he understood.

Harry turned his head to stare at Squall as he waited for Squall's tale. Green eyes never left storm grey as the low voice lulled him. Squall spoke softly but with efficiency that only came after years of service; or being raised in a Garden.

'And perhaps,' Harry thought with a tired but content smile as he fell asleep on the narrow bed, almost in the arms of the Lion Commander, 'his actions always spoke louder than his words.'

Something had changed, shifted in a way neither could truly comprehend. But, at that moment in time, they really didn't care.

~0~0~0~

"Commander Leonheart, Vice-Commander Mage, please report to the bridge. Commander Leonheart, Vice-Commander Mage, please report to the bridge," the bane of sleeping students sounded in every room. Harry groaned and buried his head deeper in the warmth of his firm pillow.

"Go away," he groaned, refusing to get up. It was only when Squall hummed his consent and a hand in his messy hair, did Harry realise that the 'pillow' was in fact, Squall.

Moaning at the injustice, harry forced his eyes open and he titled his head to meet sleepy grey eyes. "Morning," he murmured, soaking in the rare affection as it seemed neither of them was inclined to move.

Squall grunted, loosening his grip on the smaller male only slightly, Harry was being used almost as teddy bear, half on top of Squall, and he didn't mind.

"What on Gaie could they want now?" Squall groaned as he ran a hand through his hair.

"No idea," Harry responded as he snuggled into his officially favourite pillow. "Can we skip?"

For a moment Squall contemplated before answering flatly, "No."

"Please?" Harry whined.

Squall suppressed the smile that was twitching on his lips, "No. Time to get up or they will come to us."

Harry grumbled as Squall sat up, forcing Harry to roll off him, where the mage buried into the blanket. Squall got up and shook his head as he eyed the cocoon on his bed. Harry was rolled in the blanket with only the tuffs of black and red hair sticking out the top.

Squall took the bathroom first and then kicked Harry out of bed. The green-eyed Sorcerer muttered curses as he reluctantly got ready. It was then the two made their way to the Bridge, bickering all the way.

Entering the old office, the two froze as they eyed the group that gathered there. Zell, Selphie, Quistis, Irvine, Cid, Pres, Xu, Rinoa and various SeeD. Harry sighed as he ignored the glared from the Princess but nodded his greeting to the others.

"So what on Gaie is so damn important that it can't wait another hour or so?" he asked viciously, hands twitching near his katana. Cid chuckled before answering, "Sorry but we need to discuss the plan of action."

Harry sighed and threw himself into an empty chair. Squall followed as he sat, albeit with more dignity, next to him.

"So," Harry said as the group stared at him and Squall, "what do we know?"

"Edea has Galbadia Garden as her base," Xu replied immediately, shifting the attention to her, "SeeD evacuated but the army resides in there. We know that Edea is searching for Ellone town by town."

"Ellone," Quistis added as he met Squall's gaze. He gave a small nodded, "can send people into the past threw. Edea probably wants that power, but we don't know why."

Harry sighed as he sat forward, brow furrowed in thought. "When I fought her, something was off. We need to know more about Edea, how she was before."

"Why?" Cid asked, surprised.

"A hunch," Harry replied.

Squall sighed as he turned to Cid, "Headmaster?"

Cid looked older than anyone could remember as he spoke slowly and quietly, "Edea is my wife. She received her powers many years ago while running an orphanage. The Sorceress she got her powers said something to her that scared her. SeeD and the Garden were her ideas."

Harry nodded as he looked thoughtful, "And when did she change? Was it sudden?"

Cid nodded, his face haggard with pain and tiredness, "A couple months ago she disappeared and reappeared as a Sorceress aligned with Galbadia. It was overnight."

Harry nodded as he leaned back in the chair, "She's possessed. I thought something was off but now I'm almost positive."

"What does that mean?" Irvine said almost immediately, "Do we have to kill her?"

Harry shook his head, "No, it means that we can save her." That shocked the whole group. "It means that we can save your matron."

"Matron?" Rinoa asked as everyone tried to understand what Harry was saying. Rinoa had found herself locked away in the Garden. She worked in the Infirmary and never met any of the other students. It seemed that everyone in the Garden was willing to fight, and die, for their cause. It scared her, the intensity of the students.

Squall nodded, "Matron. Irvine and I were in the orphanage she ran."

"I guess it all started in that stone house," Irvine added, his eyes shifting to Selphie and Quistis.

"Wait!" Selphie cut in, "An old house, by the ocean?"

"You guessed it..." Irvine said slowly as he watched her.

"And a light house…" Quistis added.

"What?" Rinoa couldn't help but cut in and her head swivelled between the groups.

"And the flower field behind the house," Zell added.

"You were all there," Cid nodded, "And Seifer and Ellone."

"Sis," Squall murmured.

"Aw man!" Zell said in frustration, "I remember now. Fireworks on the beach, playing the rain…"

Quistis nodded, "Wonder why we forgot?" she murmured.

"GFs," Harry replied, gaining their attention, "The GFs take a place in your memories when they are first junctioned. You lose the oldest memories; well most people do."

Selphie nodded, "Makes sense why Quistis, Zell, Seifer and I don't remember. We all junctioned GFs before. Galbadia Garden doesn't focus on GFs. Don't know why Squall remembers though…"

Squall looked at the group and shrugged, though his eyes slid to Harry. Green eyes smiled at him before returning to the group.

"So," Pres spoke up, "that's all good and well, but what are we going to do?"

Squall looked at Harry and Harry returned his look. They nodded In consent. "We go after Edea and end this. Harry and I will head an assault team while the SeeD take care of the Galbadia Army. We stop this before it gets out of hand."

Cid and Pres looked grim but nodded reluctantly,

"We should go the orphanage," Harry added suddenly, "there may be clues there as to who is possessing her."

The group nodded as Quistis and Xu started making preparations with the help of Selphie, Irvine Zell. The two headmasters went to a corner to discuss matters.

Rinoa approached the two males who were seated. She looked at Squall shyly with a sad smile, "I don't understand how you can be so fearless. You plan as if there is no possibility that nothing that can go wrong."

"In battle there is no room for doubt, especially when you're leading," Squall replied.

"And when you're fighting for something, you can't lose. Not when others are counting on you," Harry added, as he seemed to be falling asleep in the chair he was on. "Not when you're protecting others. You understand that. You are a freedom faction leader. We feel the doubt and we are far from fearless but we can't let it rule us."

Rinoa went quiet before replying, "I guess that's the difference in SeeD." And for once, she was serious. Harry smiled lightly, 'Seems she's finally beginning to see the real world and not the bubble she created for herself.'

"Squall? Harry? We need your input," Cid called.

~0~0~0~

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Amira Devant