Well guys... This is it. I present to you the last chapter of The Wings of Freedom: Volume One. I apologize for it being so short. I won't blame you for feeling ripped off. My editor did. I don't know when I will start posting Volume Two (I am almost finished with Chapter 7). I was pleasantly surprised to see my hit count jump from whatever it was last chapter to 227. I think that's about 35 more. Thank you to all of those who reviewed, favorited, or alerted this story.

Review Responses:

Persephone Rosamunde: We are not having this debate again. You are the better writer and that's final. Anyone who like Bones, Ouran High School Host Club, or Sailor Moon should totally check out some of her work. She's really good.

TheAbsolutistsCreed: Not much I can say that we haven't already discussed haha. Thank you for the three or four days of mental stimulis.

xflowersofdarkxx: I do not have a death wish, although you may wish to kill me for this chapter length.

Disclaimer: For the last time for this story, I own nothing.


Chapter 10

"Are you serious?" Lupin asked.

I held up the shard to let him see it.

"It's going to take me away any minute," I told him, "I'm sorry, Lupin, but you are gonna be on your own. You need to follow them and make sure Harry knows the truth before he does something drastic."

"Alright," he replied. "Good luck."

"Lupin, wait," I said just as he was almost out the door.

"Yes," he said with an urgent tone.

"Tell the kids that I was glad to meet them for me would you?" I requested.

"Of course," he said with a small smile.

"And one more thing," I said and he looked at me expectantly. "Thanks for the notebook, it was a nice gesture."

"How did—" he sputtered. "You know what, never mind. I hope to see you again someday."

"Likewise," I told him and he left.

I had one more thing to do. I pulled my hood up and made to follow him, only to break off once we reached the second floor. I made a mad dash to the statue guarding Dumbledore's office.

"Pixie sticks," I told it and it moved aside.

I didn't have the time for formalities, so I just opened the door and walked in. Thankfully he was alone at his desk doing what seemed to be paper work. He looked up at me and noticed that I was glowing.

"I see the time has come," he said while putting down his quill and standing.

"Yes," I told him. "The kids and Lupin are in trouble, but I think you know all about it, don't you?"

"Well," he began, "you'll find that being me has its advantages."

"Very true," I said, closing my eyes. "Anyway, thank you for your help, I appreciate it."

"Not a problem dear boy," he dismissed and I twitched a little at being called boy. "It's has been a pleasure having you here, keeping our beloved school safe."

He walked toward me and extended a hand. I took it and shook it.

"If you ever find yourself in this world again," he said. "Feel free to drop by. Hogwarts will always be a safe place for those who need it, and I'm sure your friends will want to see you again."

"I might take you up on that if I ever come back," I said.

All of a sudden, the light from my shard grew brighter and started to engulf me.

"Take my arm," he told me holding it out.

I took his arm and was overcome with the familiar vacuum feeling that comes with apparition.

"I thought it prudent to have you fly out of here from an open area," he said.

I looked to see we were on top of the Astronomy Tower. Feeling the light engulf me further I let go of his arm and ran to the edge of the tower. Once I reached the edge, I didn't stop. I took a leap and felt myself falling. I looked back up as I was falling and the last thing I saw was Dumbledore smiling down at me with that usual mischievous glint in his eyes before the light engulfed me completely.

Traveling between worlds is definitely a different experience while conscious. The feeling was similar to apparition, just without causing me to be nauseous. I couldn't see anything other than the warm light that had surrounded me and was taking me through the between. I closed my eyes and thought back on my stay in the last world. I wondered if the next one would be similar, or if it would be completely different.

I got so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice the wind hitting my face at first. Once I did, I opened my eyes to see myself surrounded by buildings. I had obviously ended up in a city, but that was further in the distance. The area immediately around me was grassy and had trees that were seemingly placed strategically to make the area look nice. I noticed that there were sidewalks on the ground, so I decided to start walking. I don't know how long I walked for, but eventually I came across a park bench and decided to take a seat.

I had contemplated what my next move should be. I needed to get a place to stay, and I wanted to find out a little bit about the world I'm in. I was lucky enough to spot a cloak on top of a pole nearby, so I looked and saw that it was about five in the afternoon. Deciding that I would find a motel or something later, I sat back, closed my eyes, and put my hands behind my head as a cushion. I sat like that for a while until I felt people walking around me, probably on the sidewalks making their way through the parks. I paid it no mind until someone sat down next to me.

"You know," the person said, "sleeping in the park is a bad idea. If night comes and you're still here you can get mugged."

I opened my eyes and looked over to see the person sitting next to me. It was a teenager. He looked to be a few years younger than my physical age. I could tell he was tall even though he was sitting. He had orange hair that was combed up into a 'punk' pompadour style. He also had grey eyes and had about the same build I did. He was wearing what looked to be a school uniform. It was a blue jacket that was buttoned up and I'm sure he has a shirt under it, and blue pants with black shoes and belt around his waist.

"I appreciate the concern," I said flatly, "but I can take care of myself."

"You can fight?" he asked. "You look it, but that coat of yours makes you look like a poser."

"I can assure you I'm not," I told him not getting annoyed. "Do you always just randomly talk to strangers?"

"Not always," he said, "but for some reason I just felt that I had to talk to you."

"That's creepy," I said.

"Hey! Shut up!" he said, looking flustered.

"Truth hurts," I said. "How would you feel if some creepy kid came and told you he felt he needed to talk?"

"I ought to kick your butt for that," he yelled.

"Geez," I said, "relax kid, I was kidding. I don't get weirded out."

"Kid!" he shouted indignantly.

I ignored him and changed the subject.

"Is there a reason you're here?" I asked.

"Yeah," he answered. "I have a guy that went on a trip and he is supposed to be back any day now. I just don't know which day."

He took on a sheepish expression at the end of his explanation.

"Is he your friend?"

"I suppose," he said. "It's a tad complicated."

"A lot of friendships are," I said. "How old are you anyway. You look older than you speak."

"I'm fourteen," he replied immediately.

"Oh," I said.

We sat in silence for a minute.

"Well, I'd better go," I said as I lifted myself of the bench. "I'm passing through the city and I'll be sticking around a while, so maybe I'll see you again."

"Yeah," he said faintly while staring at me.

He suddenly went cross-eyed when I held out my hand.

"My name is Gnocx," I told him.

"What kind of name is that?" he asked.

"Will you just shut up and shake?" I said.

He suddenly smirked and grasped my hand.

"I'm Kazuma Kuwabara!" he announced with vigor. "The number one punk at Sarayashiki Jr. High!"


There it is. We end with Gnocx meeting someone from this new world. If you have been paying attention, you already know where he is. About jumping off the astronomy tower... It was something whimsical that I put in. Feel free to sweatdrop and call me a fool. Please leave your thoughts. Volume Two will be likely out before the end of the month. Until then. Have a nice time while I put this story as my first competed.