The Calm before the Storm
Episode XXIII
Heroes?
Bang!
Bang!
"Harry!" a woman screeched through his bedroom door, after banging on it really really loud and hard. How can knocking sound that obnoxious? He though whoever it was might knock the door off its hinges.
Go away...
I'm sleeping...
Ugh, just fuck off already…!
Bang!
Bang!
Errugh… for fucks sake… go away!
Harry stirred briefly but didn't open his eyes, ignoring the intruder to his comfortable rest in his nice warm bed. Snuggled up nice and cosily to someone warm and cuddly, soft and...
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
"Oh for fucks sake," he groaned tiredly as he pulled his girlfriend's soft body tighter to his. "Why the fuck didn't I seal the apartment door?" he asked himself rhetorically as he knows the thought didn't cross his mind.
"Harry, Harry, open this door right now!" yelled a banshee demandingly.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
At least I locked this one…!
He sighed in frustration and opened his eyes briefly to see Ginny still fast asleep, her golden blonde hair sprawled out and messy over him as she rested her cheek on his chest.
Harry hadn't really noticed last night but her hair is longer, thicker, and luscious, framing her beautiful face perfectly. He could feel its length travelling down with his hand stroking it passed her butt, and remembers seeing it running just passed her knees in length.
So it wasn't a freaky dream…?
If I find out who sent her that bracelet I'll rip them apart…!
He took a deep breath to stop himself from getting angry, his eyes had gone from bright emerald green to a darker shade of jade, but other than that nothing else changed.
Harry sighed as he stroked his hand through Ginny's luxurious soft hair and kissed her forehead. She looked so sweet and innocent just lying there, arms around him, head gently resting on his chest, her breathing soft and peaceful.
She doesn't look like she's got a care in the world...
Bang!
Bang!
He sighed in annoyance and was surprised that Ginny hadn't been woken, but he saw that both May and April were sleepily sitting up in their beds wearing their cute little PJ's rubbing sleep from their eyes.
Knock!
Knock!
The knocking was quieter this time, and Harry could sense multiples outside the door now, and could only guess at which had knocked then, but knew he would guess correctly.
"Open the door would you please April?" he asked quietly to the small girl. "Let's see who it is?" he added even though he knows who it is, and gently tugged at his power readying to kick ass if needed.
The young girl nodded and climbed out of bed and walked to the door, unlocked it and almost got knocked to the ground as three people charged in, rudely not waiting to be invited.
Mrs. Weasley, Hermione and Ron came in. It was Mrs. Weasley who rudely knocked April out of the way followed by her son then Hermione who seemed annoyed and was asking whether the disgruntled little girl was okay.
"What do you think you're doing with my sister!" Ron all but yelled his face red and angry, as he stared at Harry and his sleeping sister. Harry was surprised she hadn't been woken or even startled.
"Well," Harry responded, his eyes darkening a little further. "Before you rudely barged in and nearly trampled April, we were sleeping!" he hissed angrily in annoyance.
Mrs. Weasley eyed Harry shrewdly, and without a care, or any realisation that he could crush her with ease at any time, and he tends to be grumpy in the mornings when he hadn't gotten enough sleep. Both she and her youngest son ignored the fact that he was complaining about their vicious and uncalled for 'attack' on a child.
Harry eyed Ron with annoyance and mistrust as his behaviour over the years has been unstable and fuelled by jealousy.
"Yes Ronald!" Hermione interjected angrily from behind the red haired boy and his mother, holding Aprils hand. She was going to say something to Mrs. Weasley too but thought better of the hassle it could possibly cause her.
She turned from them to May and April. "Come a long girls, we'll go get you dressed and then some breakfast," she said kindly to the youngsters. They both nodded shyly, and May was quick to scramble out of bed to stand with her sister. Hermione took both girls hands and turned back to Ron. "Ronald, leave now!" she demanded.
"What? I'm not going anywhere!" he replied stubbornly, his anger flaring.
"Ronald Billius Weasley!" his mother said with her hands on her hips looking up slightly at her son glaring angrily.
Ron looked as if he was going to retort when suddenly he was finding it hard to breathe and turned to see Harry looking at him in anger, his dark green eyes holding a golden light behind them.
"Leave the whole apartment Ronald, now!" he hissed quietly. "If you don't…" he left the threat hanging in the air and watched as Ron lost the colour from his face and was starting to sweat before he was quick to flee.
Hermione gave Harry a thoughtful look before she offered a small smile and led the confused young girls out of the room.
Mrs. Weasley waited a moment before closing the door and taking a seat on a chair near the bed. She now looked nervous but took some solace that Harry's eyes had lightened.
"Are you okay?" she asked, a little concerned. "You look so pale, both of you do in fact."
Harry looked at his hands and was only mildly surprised to find that she was right, he did look very pale, but he could also tell that his colour is slowly returning. He looked at Ginny's face to see that she was also very pale, more so than him, her wounds from the night before were healed, which his vain side was happy about as she's gorgeous, and she doesn't have a single scar.
"Yeah," he replied slowly after a few moments. "I guess so… my strength is nearly at full capacity, and Ginny's will be in a day or so, but I think she'll be up and about soon."
0oo00oo0
"So this is the place eh?" a young man hidden by shadows asked of the two other shadows by him, up against a large building.
"Yeah, but umm…" another young man asked sounding confused. "He is kind of expecting us."
"It's cooler this way," a young lady responded. "Right Trey?" she asked sounding as if she was having too much fun.
"Right," the first guy agreed laughingly. "We could just walk in the front doors but that just no fun! Plus Vanille will kick my ass if I don't go along with this Damon!"
"Come on, let's move out," she answered sounding amused. "We have a… 'master' to attend, and stuff. I just hope he's cute, the elders did say he's our age!"
Trey sighed and sounded unhappy. "What about me…? I'm cute, right…?" he asked sounding uncertain.
"I guess," she replied without much thought as they began moving. "But we grew up together. You're like my… my annoying big brother. You know the one I never wanted but grew attached to anyway!"
Damon hid his humour as he patted the other guys shoulder. "You swing… and hit yourself in the head, out cold!" he mocked quietly so Vanille didn't hear.
"Jerk!" the other replied in annoyance.
0oo00oo0
"What happened to her?" Molly Weasley asked of Harry Potter as she cautiously looked her daughter over from her seat, making sure not to cause trouble if she can help it.
"Bluh," he answered causing her to jump a little at his noncommittal response. "Nothing big, she was just… cursed; it's all over now, all fixed and when I find the person that did it they will die!"
"And what's that supposed to mean!" she demanded angrily. "Who did this I'll have the…!"
Ginny's eyes suddenly snap wide open, and Molly Weasley started as a cool and calming presence flooded the room for just a flash of a second, as if a phoenix had woken.
Mrs. Weasley stood from her seat and moved back in fear as Ginny looked to her with golden yellow eyes full of confusion and curiosity, her breathing hard and rapid as she seems to be upset.
"Good morning sleepy head," Harry whispered into her ear giving her a small kiss. "How are you feeling this morning, huh?"
She had the saddest look he had ever seen. It broke his heart to see her looking so unhappy, all he really wanted right now was to see her smile at him, like she's done many times before. That smile that lights up his heart as well as the room. She had a few stray tears in her eyes, which looked ready to over flow at any moment.
She looked over at her mother then back to Harry she had a pleading look in her eye as if to say 'get rid of her'. Harry wasn't sure how possible that would be at that moment and gave her a look of 'forgive me' then shrugged. Sure he could get rid of her mother with magic, but that will cause him grief later.
She sighed sadly and turned back to her mother who was standing several yards away watching her daughter apprehensively.
"Ginny!" her mother said uncertainly. "What happened to you?" she asks nervously. Ginny looked up to Harry uncertainly and he shakes his head no.
"I... I'm sorry mum but... but I can't tell you," Ginny croaks out her throat still a bit dry and sore from screaming last night. "And… to be honest I-I don't really no."
"Ginevra Weasley!" her mother stated angrily, her hands on her hips. "You will tell me this instant young lady."
Ginny looked nervous for a moment before answering.
"No!"
"What? What do you mean no?" Mrs Weasley responded angrily.
'Bloody hell Gin,' Harry thinks in amusement. 'She looks like she's going to kill us.'
Ginny looked up at him with a confused frown, then at her mum, then back to Harry, she looked as though at that moment in time in her weakened state that her brain couldn't process something.
Harry tried not to smile. She seemed extra cute while trying this hard to figure something out. Though, Harry wasn't sure what as she kept looking back and forth between Harry and her mother, still cuddled up in her boyfriend's arms, she finally spoke.
"Did... did you just say that?" she asked him in a croaky whisper, her throat still very dry and sore.
"I didn't say anything," he told her looking worriedly, concern etched his face.
'Must have imagined it…'
Harry was just gapping at her. He clearly heard her voice but she didn't even move her lips, he was just as confused as she was a moment ago then a thought hit him.
'Hey Gin," Harry thinks, her eyes went wide with surprise. 'Just think to me if you hear my thoughts.'
'H... Harry,' she thought back. 'What's going on…? I can hear you but you aren't talking?'
'This is so cool… some kind of bond made with the transference of power,' he thought to her looking thoughtful.
She smiled and she looked a little happier now. He supposes this does count as an upside to the whole nearly dying thing last night.
"Are you two ignoring me?" Mrs. Weasley butted in to their unheard confiscation.
Harry and Ginny looked at her. Ginny tried not to look too guilty while she noticed Harry had a small smile on his face as if he had no care in the world and would say yes just because he could get away with it.
"No," they responded in unison lying and trying not to laugh, especially since Harry's no didn't even try to sound sincere.
"Mrs. Weasley?" Harry spoke crisply suddenly with a commanding edge to his voice. "Could you please leave us alone? We have a few matters to discuss, as well would like to get changed and ready for the day. Plus we're hungry and would very much like to grab some breakfast, and possibly visit the infirmary first."
"No, I am not leaving you two alone for a second…!"
Harry pointed two fingers at her, which startled her but not much more. "If you do not leave now ma'am, I will force you!" he spoke harshly.
"You are just a fifteen year old wizard," she retorted. "What makes you think you would stand a chance against a fully trained witch?"
"I defeated hundreds of aurors, Death Eaters, and Albus Dumbledore on the same day, so leave!" he reminded her wondering whether she has a selective memory or something. She should probably see a healer about that sometime.
"Mum please…!" Ginny begged as her mother pulled out her wand in anger. Molly only hesitated for a second before pointing the wand at Harry.
However, before Harry made a motion to stop her some shimmering transparent strands of light shot out and pinned the woman's arms to her sides wrapping around her, and lifted her from the ground causing her to cry out in shock.
"Potter… umm… my Lord…" came the cool voice of Severus Snape as he opened the bedroom door and entered with a shimmering band around his bracelet connected to the strands holding Molly. "I have recently discovered the bracelet is not all about killing."
Harry was just as surprised as Ginny that Snape, although wearing the whole dark robe thing as usual had his hair washed free of grease and neatly tied back. Harry supposed it came from potion brewing in the dungeons, and that he had been too lazy (or just lacked the motivation) to wash it out before now.
"Severus Snape, how dare you!" Molly Weasley cried out as she realised it was him who had captured her. "Put me down this instant!"
He just ignored her and turned to Harry, actually looking a little amused. "I was curious about what had happened last night and came to see for myself. I was about to knock on the open front door when Miss…" he sighed here. "Granger exited and informed me of… your predicament, so I investigated, and thought I would assist you."
"Err, thanks," he replied with a shrug. "Well… um, just take her out of here; I'll seal the doors after you've left thanks."
He gave a slight bow of his head in acknowledgement before leaving with the woman as she cried out for him to put her down. Harry and Ginny waited a moment before he clicked his fingers and sealed the door to the apartment.
"T-that was odd…" Ginny muttered more to herself before turning back to Harry. "I can't believe that you have Snape working for you."
He just shrugged while smiling. "I have lots of people working WITH me, even if they don't know it yet!"
Ginny smiled at that and snuggled tighter into his embrace. "H-how can we hear each other's thoughts?" she asked after a few moments of silence.
To be honest Harry didn't really know too much about that himself, and told her so in thoughts.
'I don't rightly know my goddess,' he thought to her mentally shrugging with a smirk as she blushed. 'But it's cool, so who cares!' he added laughingly.
After a few more moments of content quiet Ginny tensed, and her mood dropped. "H-Harry... I... I hurt people." she started, her voice quiet and slight hoarse. "I didn't... You know?" she asked as a few tears broke free of her eyes.
Harry shook his head and kissed her forehead. "No-no you didn't... everyone's okay."
She sighed a little with relief. "T-thanks Harry, for saving me… again," she spoke gratefully. "A-and I'm sorry for all of the dirty things dark me was saying, but she… I was really, really, really… well you know… horny," she whispered the last word with her face a deep red colour.
Harry laughed capturing her lips in a quick kiss. "No problem baby," he answered smilingly. "Dark you is just as cute as normal you, and light you," he told her with a wicked grin.
She just seemed to light up more. "Um… thanks," she replied embarrassedly. "B-but what do you mean light me?" she asked in confusion as her heart-rate slowed.
"You know, I have a thing for red-haired beauties, but blondes are great too," he said amusedly.
"Blondes?" she looked baffled as she reached for her hair starting at the odd texture before pulling a handful before her widened eyes. "Oh my… Harry, what happened, why am I blonde, and why's my hair so… why do I have so much more hair?"
"The bracelet told you what I am right?" he asked her slowly, and she nodded her recognition. "Well, you are the same now," he simply stated.
She looked to him terrified for a moment before responding. "I'm so sorry Harry," she started fully crying now burying her face into the crock of his neck.
Harry just stroked his fingers through her long silky blonde hair trying his best to make her feel better. "Shh" he tried to sooth. "It's okay Gin... It will be all okay... I promise," he told her. "I'll take care of you, and you won't have to fight…!"
She suddenly looked up at him, her puffy eyes glaring to his surprise. "I-if you're going to be fighting Harry… then… if I have the power to fight too, I shall. Do you understand!" she reprimanded him.
He let a small smile line his lips. "Yeah… ok, Ginny… together, you and I with our Knights and friends by our sides."
She tried to smile at him but couldn't seem to manage it, as tears still streamed down her cheeks. He could tell she felt scared. But she accepted to live this new destiny by his side no matter what.
"Let's get up" he suddenly said smilingly. "We'll go check on the girls see if they're okay?"
She didn't say anything but just nodded.
0oo00oo0
"Eww…!" complained Vanille as she and the two boys had crept along the ceiling of a large and furnished entrance hall hidden in the shadows. "Is that supposed to be a girl or… some kind of giant fat pug!" she asked rhetorically as she looked down at the 'girl' and three large, ugly and stupid boys with her.
"I'm not quite sure," agreed Trey. "I think your guess is as good as ours!"
Damon sighed. "Do you two have to be so childish!"
"Yes," they both retorted laughingly as they paused upon the pug saying something.
"I can't believe the Minister, how dare the mudblood fire my father!" she grumbled out spitefully. "We have only been asserting our rights! It's all Potter's fault! We should pay him back… let's get those filthy little brats of his, that will teach him!" she said smugly as she looked down the corridor, her smile turning positively evil.
The three 'spies' also looked to see a young witch around their age walking with two little girls leading them along.
"Look, it's only a filthy mudblood guarding them," she continued with her sicking smile. "She won't stand a chance against one of us, let alone all four of us respectable purebloods!"
However, the 'mudblood' hadn't even noticed them as a blast of pink light flew down from above and the four 'purebloods' crashed down unconscious without even managing to scream out in shock.
The two male shadows looked to the female and saw her just shrug her shoulders. "Hate at first sight boys, hate at first sight!" she said as way of explaining her 'excessive' force.
The two guys just shrugged as the 'mudblood' and young girls entered the entrance hall to pause in shock.
"Well girls," the 'mudblood' spoke trying to hide her amusement. "If you become a spiteful bully like her you'll just get beaten up all the time too. So you should be good girls ok?"
The two little girls nodded readily as they were led on into the dining hall where the three shadows could smell breakfast has been cooked. They only waited around long enough to see a teacher discover the pug and friends and levitate them off, presumably to the infirmary.
0oo00oo0
"Wow, a beach!" cried out Nanoha in happiness as the soft white sand felt positively delightful between her toes. The three had just appeared on the beach in the early morning as the sun was just peeking up from the horizon.
The beach is deserted this early, but it has a few houses up further in land facing out toward the water. Evee placed her trident back on the back of her waist as she looked around in awe having never seen the outside world before.
"The air… it tastes so different here Master Cassy, Master Nanoha," she said to the younger girls in confusion.
"T-that would probably be the pollution," Cassy said feeling shameful. "B-but it's okay… I don't think it's as bad as some people think."
"Oh… I'm not sure what pollution is Masters," she answered in confusion.
"Never mind that," Nanoha suddenly interrupted as she held up Rei-chan. "The little yellow bleep isn't too far from us! Let's go get it before the evil army guys turn up!"
"Right, Nanoha's right Evee," Cassy agreed. "We shouldn't hang around while we're so close!"
Evee nodded readily in agreement. "Yes my Masters, I understand, we must make hast and find the Celestial item before it falls into nefarious hands."
Cassy and Nanoha just gave each other odd looks before shrugging and leading the way inland and following the bleep when Nanoha stopped almost causing the other two to bump into her.
"Nano, what is it now?" Cassy asked her best friend as the other girl was now just string at Rei-chan looking awed.
"More coloured bleeps," she said in awe. "Look, right here by the yellow bleep, there's a blue bleep right next to it now. And look here, a red bleep and loads of green bleeps, and there's this dull white bleep too, oh… the red bleep… it was just with a few of those green bleeps, but then… kapooh-y, they just up and gone!"
Cassy looked at the radar in shock. "Whoa, that is a lot of green bleeps… wait look at that one… it just appeared out of nowhere… that one's black! Maybe we shouldn't go… we don't know what we're dealing with!"
"But if we can't deal with this…" Nanoha disagreed. "Then how can we help save the world!"
"I… I guess," she replied nervously as she played with some buttons on Rei-chan. "Whoa… those bleeps are all over the state, possibly the country, or world. This thing didn't pick them up before did it?"
Nanoha shook her head and looked to the slowly brightening sky with a frown. "M-maybe the Storm is just getting closer and Rei-chan can now pick up its minions readying for war or something."
"That might be it," Cassy agreed sounding scared.
"Or it could be from when I dropped Rei-chan again and had to fix her," she added sounding sheepish.
Cassy groaned tiredly. "That's more than likely with your weird luck," she agreed exasperated, but couldn't help but give her a smile. "So what could these bleeps and stuff be then?"
"Maybe they're other items of some kind?" Nanoha suggested happily. "Come on, the Celestial Item, the red one, the blue one, and the black one are all waiting. I bet the green ones aren't as cool, but they have lots of them too. It doesn't look too far."
Cassy rolled her eyes as she finally looked at the distance readout and groaned. "It's over one hundred and fifty miles in land. We'll have to see about getting the train. I have enough money… well I think, so that should be fine. That way we can at least take a nap. And if we can't get a train, we can always get the bus."
0oo00oo0
There were a lot of whispers that followed them through the school and a lot of people wouldn't look at them, and all kept their distance as they made their way to the infirmary.
Harry was quite glad that none of the students felt the urge to approach them or ask them what happened. Ginny is still feeling quite terrible about it and he doesn't want her to feel even worse.
He knocked on the infirmary door and heard a woman call for them to enter, which they did, Harry with Ginny nervously behind him.
What they saw confused them, there weren't many people there. There were a few girls who were awake including Amanda, Abby, and Tessa.
Harry noticed that both Dumbledore and Arthur Weasley were awake. Dumbledore looked highly uncomfortable as Harry's emerald eyes fixed to his with a twinkle that wasn't one of amusement, but modified just to be an ass with mockery… dark mockery.
Harry smirked at Dumbledore as he left Ginny to see her father. "So how you doing Old Man!" he asked with amusement tinting his voice.
"I-I've been better," he replied, his words quiet and near muttered. "I-I don't suppose you'll undo the spell would you?" he asked that even quitter, with a note of hope but a tone that held doubt.
Harry couldn't help but let out a chuckle as he shook his head in amusement. "I suppose there's nothing wrong with asking," he answered laughingly. "But if I let you off this punishment you wouldn't have learnt your lesson now would you?"
He sighed sadly and shook his head. "I-I suppose not, but I didn't know."
"A lot of people do stupid things without understanding," he replied rolling his eyes. "It doesn't stop the teachers handing out punishment though."
The old man grimaced and slowly shook his head on his pillow. "I suppose you're right once again Harry. B-but what are you going to do about…" he looked round to make sure no one was paying attention before continuing. "IT… the Storm, the greatest evil to have ever existed…"
Harry just shrugged. "Kick its ass of course…" he paused in thought. "Well if it has an ass," he laughed. "From what I hear it's non-corporeal right now."
Harry then just moved from the old man to stand by Mr. Weasley sliding his arm around Ginny's waist holding her tight to his side, she rested her head on his shoulder.
"Yo, how's it going?" he asked the bed ridden man. "You're looking better."
"Yes, I'm feeling much better thank you," Mr. Weasley replied offering a small smile but his eyes flickered confusedly to his daughter.
Harry smiled and kissed Ginny's cheek. "How about you have a visit with your father and I'll see how the girls are doing?"
Ginny nodded timidly as he moved from her and joined the three girls looking them over smiling. "Are you three feeling okay?" he asked as he sat on the edge of Amanda's bed.
"Yeah, we're fine," said Tessa nodding her head in agreement. "But because we were the closest to… well you know," she whispered the last and he nodded. "She just absorbed more power from us."
"So what happened to her?" Amanda asked with concern in her eyes. "Why is her hair so… wow… her hair looks freaking awesome."
Harry just laughed as neither of the other girls seemed to disagree. "I-I'm sorry but… that information is strictly confidential until such time as you all give me a naughty show!" he said with an amused grin as they all blushed brightly, even Tabby got the implication.
"You should behave Harry," Amanda reprimanded but laughingly.
He just shrugged cheekily. "So… the question is… how could Ginny have drained any magical power from you," he muttered looking Amanda over, her eyes widening in shock. "Hmm… you aren't studying demonic magic are you, because that can become highly addictive?"
She just shakes her head with a confused frown on her brow. "B-but I'm just a mug… uh, non-magical. I can't use any magic."
Harry lets his eyes roam over her before turning to Dumbledore who happened to try looking as if he wasn't eavesdropping. "Hey Old Man!" he called getting the guys full attention. "How many muggleborn sub-elements have been to Hogwarts that you're aware of?"
Dumbledore's eyebrows rose briefly before his expression showed confusion. "I-I don't know what you mean Harry."
He rolled his eyes. "Come off it Old Man, don't give me that bull-shit or I'll send Sirius to keep you company!"
"I don't know," he spoke quietly. "M-most Ministry's worldwide don't care too much about finding them as they have trouble preforming accidental magic. And it would be even more unlikely that one would be detected if she has two standard element magic siblings."
"W-wait, I could be a witch?" Amanda interrupted with wide eyes. "I-I mean… err, what do you mean elements?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "It isn't taught in schools these days as the ministry's fear witches and wizards getting too powerful, as we draw power from our element. There are five prime elements… fire, water, wind, and earth. However, after them are the sub-elements such as lightning, which is a combination of fire and wind, and ice, which is a combination of wind and water, or gravity, which is a combination of fire and earth.
"It's been proven during history that the sub-elements are harder to use, which makes it hard to accidently preform magic making them go unnoticed, even though they are more powerful naturally compared with those of the standard four elements."
"Four…?" Amanda asks in confusion. "You said there are five main elements… then what's the fifth?"
Harry laughed as he saw Dumbledore looked uncomfortable and flicked his right wrist and three pieces of paper appeared in his hand the size of playing cards, and handed one to each girl.
"Tabs, Tess, you just need to feed the paper some magic," he said smilingly. "After that… well, the paper will ignite for fire, crumble for earth, cut in two for wind, and soak for water. I'll help you, okay Amanda?"
She nodded her head as he held her hand while she held the paper, and a second later she dropped it in shock as it froze over and fell shattering on her covers.
"Whoa…" she whispered in awe as Tessa squealed as her piece of paper ignited in flames, but only ash hit her covers, and then another shriek of shock from Tabitha as hers crumpled up.
"Well, another sub-element, lightning," he said in surprise. "And the Hogwarts board refused you a scholarship… well there loss is our gain," he said smiling at her.
"How do you know that I froze the paper and not you?" Amanda asked looking as if to stall her happiness.
"My element is not ice… my magic is of… a different source," he reassured her laughingly as she grinned widely and he turned to Dumbledore. "So Old Man, I can't see you not having found out. It would explain your above par power levels."
The old man chuckled a little before replying. "My element is actually water," he answered straightforward, and Harry was actually surprised. "It would be nice to know yours too," he spoke with a tone that spoke he already suspected what it is.
Harry chuckled in amusement. "My element Professor… mine is the fifth element," he spoke laughingly as the girls all pouted as he wasn't saying anything, which caused Dumbledore a little humour.
"You enjoy not telling them don't you?" he asked with a shake of his head.
"Pretty much," he said winking at the girls before his eyes widened slightly and he looked to one side quickly as if looking through the solid wall. "Now that's odd… whoever that is… the power outstrips both Dumbledore and Voldemort combined… so much anger and sadness… so dark," he was muttering to himself before shrugging.
"Ah well," he said shrugging again as he saw the pale looks on the others faces. "What…?" he asked them, baffled.
"A-a Dark wizard stronger than me and Tom combined!" Dumbledore gulped out worried. "Well… aren't y-you going to stop him, it's your responsibility as the… well only person powerful enough that's capable. If you get to him now, he won't become another Dark Lord we have to worry about!"
"Lady…!" Harry corrected causing gasps from Dumbledore to the girls, to Ginny and her father as they had started listening in. "What…?" he asked in amusement. "You really find it that hard to believe that a wicca or witch could be that powerful?"
"Well, it's just…" Mr. Weasley spoke in thought. "Well, I've never heard of a Dark… Dark Lady since Morgana Le Fay…"
"Ah don't sweat it, it's not my problem," he said shrugging. "Well, as long as she doesn't try to destroy the world!"
"But Harry you could stop her?" the Old Man asked reasonably. Harry just shrugged his shoulders nodding in agreement. "Then why won't you, if you can sense her… sense the disturbance within the balance?"
"Bluh," was Harry's amused response causing them to start and stare at him as if he had grown a second head. "I'm not the only hero in the world… someone will stop her. I can't go around stopping everyone," he said in smug amusement, rolling his eyes as they all looked shocked. "Though, what I am concerned about is, if Amanda was overlooked and she has two magic siblings, which would mean looking closer into the family just encase, how many more just get ignored."
Dumbledore grimaced at the thought, but Harry shrugged as he pulled out his wand and dropped it in Amanda's lap. "Here you go… I'm sure you could use this… we'll take you to get your own come the weekend."
"B-but won't you need it for classes," she asked as she held it in reverence.
"Na… don't worry Ami," he said rolling his eyes as he clicked his fingers and suddenly his normal average clothes morphed into a perfect tailored suit of black silk with shiny black shoes and black shirt with black tie. His hair wavered and moved neatening into a mess of wavy downward spikes.
He smirked and chuckled as all mouths had dropped open as he took Ginny's hand in his. "I'm just awesome I guess…" he said winking at the three other girls causing their cheeks to light up crimson. "Well, later all… oh, and Ami, keep my wand from The Old Man!"
He then led Ginny from the room smilingly and closed the door behind him.
"So what is the fifth element?" Tessa couldn't help but ask out loud. Only Dumbledore seemed to know but he had looked away and was most certainly ignoring her.
Though, she has to wonder how he came to be so gifted and pretending not to hear. It's going to bug her for ages if nobody tells her… maybe Hermione might know, after all she does seem to love sticking her nose in books, and might have come across it, or might be able to bug Harry enough that he tells them.
0oo00oo0
Nanoha and Cassy had to practically drag Evee off of the bus to this small Californian town… well it wasn't that small. Evee was just awed by the things people had invented that her people had never even seen before. It was all like people invented magic.
It was night in town as it had taken awhile to get bus tickets as it was cheaper than the train and they were walking through the night with a nice warm breeze on their skin.
"This place has an awful lot of graveyards," Cassy spoke as they were passing one. "This is like the third we've came across in the past ten minutes. Are you sure the yellow bleep is this way?"
"Yep," Nanoha agreed before the three of them started as three men came swaggering out of the cemetery gates with grins on their faces. "Err… vampires?" she asked shocking her two friends, and the three men looked taken aback before grinning as their faces changed all bumpy foreheaded with red eyes and fangs.
"Seems our breakfast has the heads up boys," one vampire spoke laughingly to his friends. "One each… I used to love a good Chinese, you guys can have the other two."
"Um… I'm Japanese," Nanoha interrupted pouting. "Why does everyone always say I'm Chinese!"
"Whatever, Japanese, Chinese, it's still Oriental food!" his hissed smugly as he was about to stalk forward he paused. "Why aren't scared. We're vampires, going to eat you, drain you dry of blood, that kind of thing!"
"Oh, silly boy, that's easy," she said happily as she kicked up a piece of wood from the floor and caught in happily in her hand. "Someone lost this and I found it," she said happily showing off the wooden stake that had been hidden in the grass outside the cemetery.
The vampires looked nervous as they eyed the odd stake wielding girl wearily. "You think a small fry like you could beat us," one laughed and went in to attack her, but she barely moved before he started as the girl was pulling the stake from his chest and he burst into dust.
She smirked at the other two vampires as they charged forward her friends moved back out of the way. One vamp lunged with a right punch that Nanoha blocked as she giggled infuriating him before he cried out as she kicked him in the nads lifting him from the ground where he fell to the floor in the foetal position whimpering and holding his crutch.
She leaned back and swung round a kick from the other vampire, but caught his ankle as it passed, pulled on it fast lifting him from the ground and swinging him before letting go. He cried out in shock as he hit the cemetery fence two spiked tips piercing his chest and dusting him into nothing.
Nanoha grinned as she dropped down to her right knee in the last vamps gut causing him to cry out more before she run the stake through his chest and hopped up to her feet stake in hand as he too burst into dust.
"No free and easy meal hear Mr. Vampires!" she declared happily before turning back to both of her relieved friends and placing away her newly acquired stake. "You know guys… I think there's something weird happening in town, and I'm not talking about the vampires. I sense some kind of unstable magic! And the red bleep, blue bleep, yellow bleep, and black bleep are all together… oh, and that pale white bleep is too. They're not too far away."
"Nanoha…!" Cassy sighed in exasperation. "Y-you don't just kill some vampires and treat that as normal. I think I know why there are so many graveyards now. Vampire town USA…!"
"Hmm… I guess," she agreed nodding. "But let's go. The unstable magic's coming from the direction of the item!"
"Oh… great… now we'll have to fight more evil," Cassy sighed sadly. "I-I know its our chosen path and all, but I hoped that we could have found the item with ease and then gone back to the beach. We're in California; they make cool movies and stuff here!"
"Oh… what's a movie Cassy-chan?" she asked in excitement as she led the way with Cassy walking beside her and Evee bringing up her rear, watching her two masters with a smile as they're so fun.
Evee hasn't gotten to know the younger girls much yet, but her masters are certainly interesting, and she is happy and proud to be their servant, property, slave, and fight by their sides as she has been given her very own magical item in her trident.
"Wow… all of these fake lights," Evee said as they came out from a back alley into a wide road with yellow streetlights lined up either side with some empty cars. However, they could hear a commotion coming from one of the few shops lining the road and crossed.
The shops door had been blown off and the shops name had been Magic… something… the something they couldn't tell as it had been blasted. They could hear talking or pleading inside the shop as they came to a stop outside.
"It's here," Nanoha whispered nervously. "The magic and the Celestial Item... I think the magic's coming from a girl, b… but there's something else in there, but I don't think she or anyone else knows. It feels…"
"Like a cold chill of dread shivering down your spine?" Cassy interrupted shivering.
"Yeah," Nanoha agreed nodded nervously. "I have a bad feeling about this. This is nothing like those vampires, they're nothing but a nascence to me as long as I keep my guard up… but I don't know what I could do to fight this…"
"But what about the girl…?" Cassy asked trying to see through the window but could only make out shadowed figures as the light inside is low.
"I don't know, but…" she shook her head uncertainly. "I-I think we should help," she added closing her eyes for better reflexion and concentration. She filtered out the creepy presence and focused on the witch, trying to feel her emotions before opening her eyes looking sad.
"I… I think she's suffering… grief, and lost control," she continued looking so sad that Cassy had to resist giving her a hug. "But… on top of her grief she feels rage, anger, and hatred. It's so sad, I feel sorry for her, but… we can't let her continue like this. She'll end up hurting innocent people and then feel worse and… she might be lost… lost forever in her grief and anger."
"It's nice to see insightful Nano… Nano-chan and all," Cassy began getting a brilliant look in Nanoha's eyes at using the honorific. "B-but what can we do to stop her," she muttered sadly as she looked into the window again. It seemed like there is a fight going on inside and they heard a loud explosion.
"Let's do this!" Cassy said fiercely as her gun appeared in her left hand in a flash of white light.
"Yes, let's do this," Nanoha agreed as her claw appeared, and Evee nodded as she took off her trident and it expanded to full size. "Plus the other items in there!"
0oo00oo0
He ran as fast as he could with his newly acquired pet ferret on his shoulder as some weird men in military uniforms were chasing him through the streets of LA in the middle of the night.
They had attacked the orphanage and some of them used little wooden sticks to blast the staff with different coloured light. Not that he cared for them much; they didn't exactly make his life any easier.
In fact, they made his life hell for their own amusement, or to amuse other orphans… nothing… naughty… unless you count forcing him to wear girls clothes because they won't buy him much in the line of 'guy clothes'. It's so humiliating, just because he's kind of feminine, it's not his fault he's fourteen and can easily be mistaken for a girl.
He was huffing and puffing as he ran down a side alley in a part of town he hadn't been to before, that he can remember anyway, and it's dark. He tends not to go out after dark as he learnt from that mistake. Things really do go bump in the night, not that anyone would believe him, it just because a source of ridicule. Kids can be so cruel, but he can easily ignore the jerks these days, letting them get to him means they win, and he hates to lose.
Though, it seems he's going to lose this time, maybe his life as he has come to a dead end. He held onto the end wall panting for breath, but looked up as his pet started hissing and saw two burly men walking down the alley carrying those little sticks pointed at him.
"Come on now little girl, hand that thing over and we might let you live!" one man demanded gesturing to his new pet ferret. The white fired creature hissed louder at this and not for the first time the young boy felt as if his pet actually understood words.
The little 'girl' moved back a little as far as he could, his pale, milk like skin reflecting the half-moon above. His light brown hair (long because the staff think it's funny to make him keep it that way) hanging just below his neck neatly and would fall into his eyes if not for the hairclip over his right ear holding it back, and the other higher up pinning his fringe over, and his soft green eyes trembling with fear and watering slightly.
He was wearing a white sleeveless top over his slender, small body and a black jacket with a black skirt that hung halfway down this slender and smooth thighs as well white running trainers and socks, with a black leather collar around his slim neck with some strange pink markings.
"I-I'm a guy," he muttered out fearfully.
Both men snorted unbelievingly. "Yeah, and boys often dress like… girls, and look like them too," one said laughingly. "Now hand over the weasel!"
"S-she's a ferret… and NO!" he said fearfully. He went to grab her when he started as she suddenly started glowing pink, with incredible bright pink eyes. Then twin beams shot forward a few inches, connected creating a hoop in the air before blasting forward towards the shocked men.
The beam cut into the men in a blinding light of pink, a huge pentagram blazed around their feet before another flash of pint and the beam and men were gone. His pet just looked at him, her little mouth almost smiling.
"Wow, Artillery," he spoke gently, his voice rather feminine. "You're awesome… but… but what happened to them?" he asked her but just giggled as she stroked her little head up against his soft check.
"That's pretty cool kid!"
They started and Artillery hissed as a young bald headed black man come around the corner from the other end of the alley.
"It looked like your friend there just sent them away," he said cautiously. "What's your name…?" he asked. He didn't give off a threatening aura like those army guys and he looked to his pet, she seemed to agree that it's okay.
"M-my names Taloph, but just Tal or Tally is fine," he said timidly.
"So you really are a… boy?" he asked looking a little doubtful.
Taloph sighed as he nodded in agreement. "Yeah… but… I guess I've grown accustomed to skirts and stuff. I like at an orphanage, and… they like to make fun… I guess it makes them feel better…" he trailed off tiredly.
"Okay kid, but we should get out of here, it's not safe," he said quickly. "I've seen more of those jerks, and I don't think that want that powerful little ferret of yours to love it. I have a place you can hide out, plus we're not in a friendly neighbourhood, unless you like the type with fangs and a thirst for blood."
Taloph paled as he took a few steps closer. "You mean you believe that there are vampires around too? And that these army guys have magical powers…?"
"Yeah kid, which is why we should get out of here," he said fast. "I have some friends who can help… well that's what we do, help people like you from people like them."
"T-then that's your job?" he asked hopefully as took a few more steps forward.
The black guy nodded quickly looking around nervously. "Yea… I don't think I'm good at much else, and the whole supernatural world seems to hate me… or love hating me, but that could be because of my friends. We should go now before those army bastards get a fix on you."
Taloph took one last look at Artillery to see her give a slight nod and turned back to the man, he too nodded. "O-okay… I don't know who those guys are… but I do know I want to keep Artillery safe from them," he agreed as he moved the rest of the way to the black guy.
"Look what we found!"
Looking to the other end of the alley Taloph's eyes widened impossibly as there stood two leather-bound bikers, (stereotypical and everything), but not just any bikers, their skin an orange/brown with bald heads, pointed ears fangy teeth and odd markings/tattoos in blue on their faces.
"Well, if it isn't our dear friend," one of the creatures said with a sneer. "I thought I smelt your filthy stench!"
"Oh crap," the African American man spoke with his black/onyx eyes glaring fiercely. "Can't a guy get a break?"
"Yeah, a broken neck," the other yelled out angrily as they both stalked forward with a smug air about them as they pulled out chains from their jackets.
"Kid…! Stay back…" he spoke calmly as he pulled out a large knife from his own jacket and moving forward with his body ready for a fight.
To Be Continued…