AN: So, I started working on this chapter in the middle of finals, and at first I didn't know what that meant. But then I realized that what it meant: this chapter was definitely going to get done. There was too much procrastination in the air for it not to. Cheers!

Soldiers and Children – Chapter 2

The first thing Allen noticed about the room was the chaos. Delicate silver instruments puffed out thin streams of smoke, and spindly tables were scattered with old parchment maps and letters. Here and there he could spot the toe of a woolen sock, or the narrow end of an ancient seafarer's telescope. For the first time, he noticed flickers of movement where there should be none, within the framed portraits that hung at various intervals along the side wall. But then a gentle cough interrupted him, and he found his attention drawn to the strange old man to whom the office belonged.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen. Fascinating as the old headmasters and headmistresses may be – and they most definitely are – I do hope you are here to see me, not them." Twinkling blue eyes peered at Allen over half-moon spectacles. He ducked his head in embarrassment and was relieved to see one eye winked in amusement. The old man turned to Link and offered his hand. "Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts. You would be the envoys from the Black Order, am I right? It is wonderful to finally speak face to face with you."

"Likewise." Link returned the headmaster's handshake with a firm grip. "My name is Howard Link, inspector with the Black Order's Central Office and former member of Crow special unit."

"Oh?" Dumbledore raised an inquiring eyebrow. "I was under the impression that your name was Allen Walker and you were an exorcist. Did the plans change?"

Allen shot an amused glance at Link, then stepped forward. "That would be me, sir." He extended both gloved hands, still sealed together. "Allen Walker, exorcist and soldier of the Black Order. Pleased to meet you."

To his credit, the headmaster managed to take the news in stride. But astonishment was evident in his voice when he replied, "The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Walker. No need to call me sir – Headmaster or Albus will do just fine. I am sorry if I seem to be in a bit of a shock. It's just that you seem rather young to be a soldier, despite your remarkable white hair. Might I ask what age you are now?"

"Around sixteen."

At this point, Link broke in. "Headmaster, I understand that Walker is very young. The same age as some of your older students, in fact. But he is also very talented. He is currently one of our most powerful exorcists and has fought in countless battles. You need not feel misgivings about his capabilities or experience. He is quite fit as both a soldier and a representative of the Order."

Taking a moment to collect himself, Dumbledore quietly spoke, "It is not his ability to fight that I am concerned about. It is his peace of mind. Children should never have to be soldiers."

"And yet, here I am." This came from Allen. "I have seen things that would break adults, not to mention children. Perhaps I am already broken. I have suffered more than you could ever know, lost more than you could ever understand." He could feel the sorrow in his eyes grow ageless, bottomless. "Children are not meant to be soldiers. War is a harsh education, battle a thankless profession. All I know is that I must keep walking. Trial, pain, doubt. What is that to me when compared with the grief of those who have lost even more than I? And so, here I am."

Silence reigned over the office for long moments. Allen stood proudly before Dumbledore, mouth set firm in stubborn defiance of the suffering he had just confessed. The headmaster held his gaze for a few seconds longer, then gave a deep sigh. He removed his spectacles and, scrubbing his face resignedly, settled down in an armchair by the fire. A double clap later, a pair of new armchairs appeared, startling the two guests.

"Do sit. You must be weary from your travels." Dumbledore gestured to the armchairs. Quickly recovering from his initial alarm, Allen sank into the closer armchair with a happy sigh. Link regarded his with suspicion for a moment more before sitting down as well.

"I can see that my arguments will do nothing to dissuade you from your path. Perhaps it is necessity that drives you, but I do hope that you will remember to hold close to you any remnants of innocence and to cherish the friends that you have." At the mention of innocence, Allen shifted in his seat and glanced down at his bound arms with a wry look. Catching sight of this, Dumbledore now asked, "Pardon me for asking, but why the bindings?"

Allen turned to Link, clearly turning over the question to him. The older man reached into his pocket and drew out a sealed letter. Handing this to Dumbledore, he said, "More details are enclosed in this letter. However, I will describe the situation in brief to you. The Black Order fights against an enemy of humanity named the Millennium Earl. He feeds off of grief and sorrow, creating machines called akuma from the souls of loved ones called back from the dead. Only last month our headquarters sustained heavy damage from an attack. At the same time, we discovered a problem. Walker, one of our most valuable exorcists, has been infected by the spirit of a Noah, one of the Earl's followers." Here he paused, giving an apologetic glance to Allen. "We are here to quarantine him from the rest of the Order."

Allen shot up from his seat, a shocked exclamation on his lips. "You told me we were on a mission! Instead this turns out to be some kind of isolation program! What's going on Link?"

The inspector ignored the outburst, carrying on over Allen's angry shout. "The infection should not dangerous to your students, but it is gradually wearing away at Walker's health. The reason for the bonds is that this infection seems to be aggravated by the activation of Walker's weapon, his innocence."

Dumbledore gave him a questioning look. "His… innocence?"

Link nodded. "Perhaps it would be best to let Walker explain for himself."

The teen shot one last dark look at his companion. "This isn't over Link. You will tell me what's going on later." Turning to Dumbledore, he continued. "Innocence is the name the Order has given to the weapons that we exorcists use. In its raw form, innocence takes the form of a crystal. When the Order finds these crystals, we take them and shape them into weapons. As a weapon, innocence can appear in many shapes, from a katana to a bell. In my case, my innocence is literally a part of me. It's my arm."

Link cut in, "While Walker is here in Hogwarts, his arm will remain sealed, to avoid undue exacerbation of his infection. That is why I am here. I will oversee the seals and remove them in case of emergency."

The headmaster wrinkled his brow in concern. "Rest assured, we will do all we can here at Hogwarts to provide assistance. And will this infection interfere with your role as ambassador to Hogwarts and judge for the Triwizard Tournament? If so, tell me now and I can arrange for you to stay here as a guest rather than giving you too taxing a job."

Allen shook his head. "I believe it should be possible for Link to limit the seal to my left arm alone. And as long as he keeps the magical pressure light, I can function normally. And I am glad to finally learn what I am doing here. So I am to be a judge for some competition? A magical competition, I would presume."

"Yes, the Triwizard Tournament is a contest between representatives from three schools: Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. You will be judging the contestants based on magical prowess, quick thinking, etcetera. Obviously, you are well qualified to assess these qualities. In addition to you and me, there will be four additional judges: Headmistress Olympe Maxime, Headmaster Igor Karkaroff, and two members of the ministry, Ludovic Bagman and Bartemius Crouch." Dumbledore paused, regarding at Allen kindly. "I am sure this is a lot to take in, Mr. Walker. But rest assured, you will have plenty of time to observe both the competitors and this school itself."

"Don't worry about me." Allen smiled. "I'm a quick study in all things but finding directions."

"Oh ho, my boy, then you may wish to stick close with Mr. Link, for the layout of this castle is ever changing. It can be quite confusing for students and professors alike. But this brings me to my second request." The headmaster's gaze grew serious. "There is a boy, Harry Potter. He, like you, has been subject to many unfortunate events in past years. All I ask is this. Watch over him. Let him know that he is not alone in his pain."

Allen nodded seriously. "It would be my honor to meet Mr. Potter. I will be there for him should he ever be in need."

Dumbledore beamed, the corners of his eyes crinkling into little smiles. "Wonderful! Now, I think it is about time I let you go. Fawkes will show you to your chambers, where you will reside for the year." The phoenix gave a light trill from the corner of the room. As Allen and Link stood to leave, Dumbledore spoke. "And, one more thing. The Quidditch World Cup is fast approaching, in just about a week. My good friend Amos Diggory provided me with two tickets, but as the new term advances, I find myself flooded with letters and requests. Would you be interested in attending in my stead? I believe you would quite enjoy yourselves. Quidditch is certainly an exciting pastime for wizards of all ages."

He shuffled through the papers on his desk, finally unearthing two wrinkled tickets, which he handed to Allen. "If you do decide to go, just let me know and I will arrange a little meet-up with Amos. He'll take care of you. Now, off you go! Feel free to explore the castle at your leisure and enjoy your time here to the fullest!"

XXX

The sentinel gargoyle swiveled back into place, concealing the headmaster's office. For a moment, the two companions stood in silence before the hidden entrance, Link's face carefully devoid of emotion, Allen's pressed against the cool stone of the corridor wall. A quiet murmur broke the hush. "When were you going to tell me?"

Link sighed, leaning back against the opposite wall and staring down the empty halls. "You were supposed to be briefed earlier, in private. Like I told you, we arrived late. I thought you might be competent enough to know when to play along. Perhaps I was wrong."

Allen lifted his head and for the first time Link saw the angry sense of betrayal that the exorcist had been trying to contain. "I thought you trusted me." The quiet statement came out a taut accusation. Allen's eyes did not move from the blank wall before him. He stood there, body rigid and fists clenched within their bonds.

"I do. But you're not the only one in your head." Link tapped the side of his own head meaningfully. "Here, within the castle's barriers, we are safe. It's a modification of the Earl's own magical technology. The Fourteenth will not be able to reach outside of the barriers and the Earl will not be able to reach within."

"And that reminds me." Link reached out and traced a quick pattern over Allen's sternum. As he did so, a secondary, arcane design shimmered into existence. It wrapped around the teen's neck, finally coalescing into a thin cord, a silver teardrop pendant swinging gently from the end. "There. Now that you have entered the nexus surrounding Hogwarts, I can transfer a portion of it into a compact barrier. Just make sure you keep that charm on you at all times when you are outside of Hogwarts. And don't go more than twenty miles from the castle."

"That's another thing – what was that bit, about an 'infection'?" Allen spat out, slapping Link's hand away, "I'm not infected, I'm possessed! I still see Him everywhere I go, in mirrors and reflective bits of glass. He's not hurting my health, He's eating my soul!"

Link moved swiftly, shoving a rough hand over Allen's mouth and hissing in his ear, "Quiet, Walker! This is more than a simple diplomatic gesture. You are more than a simple judge. We are seeking to form a military alliance with the wizards. That is what was in the letter to the Headmaster. And it would help if you wouldn't go shooting your mouth off about every little thing that's wrong with you. The wizards offered their help to you. It's useless. We know that. The Fourteenth's resurrection is inevitable. What they can offer is their military power. That's what we want. And you will not get in the way of that."

Allen squirmed free of Link's hold, whispering hotly back, "Then why am I here? Why not send Kanda? I know he can't still be recovering. His wounds would have healed by the fourth or fifth day."

"Kanda is busy. And what I told the Headmaster was mostly truth. The… companion you hold within your head is too dangerous an element to be set free. Leaders among the Vatican have decided that you require constant surveillance, quarantine. Be glad you are not facing the Inquisition. Instead, during our time here at Hogwarts, I have been assigned as your direct commanding officer. And I am commanding you to keep your condition a secret. We have enough to worry about with the tangle of diplomatic relations already existing within the wizarding community. Just keep your mouth shut and handle your job: judging."

Link pulled a new envelope from his pocket and pressed it into Allen's hands. "The full details and conditions of your assignment are listed within. Read it, memorize it, then burn it. There are things that the wizards do not need to know."

Allen tilted his head, considering his companion for a moment before slipping the letter into his own pocket. "And I suppose there are things that I do not need to know?"

Link smiled tightly. "Walker, you have the memories of a Noah sleeping within your soul. You could become an enemy of the Order any day. What do you think?"

"I think that not everything you're saying makes sense. I think that you're still hiding things from me." Allen frowned thoughtfully. "I think that I will find out eventually. And I think that I will not be happy with what I find."

Fawkes the phoenix tilted his head and gave a soft trill, then set off down the corridor.

XXX

In his office, Dumbledore listened to the soothing crackling of his fire and the distant call of his trusted companion. "Ah yes, Fawkes," he murmured quietly, "I knew from the beginning that there was more to the story. But it is not my place to pry into wounds of the past. They are welcome guests and, until they prove otherwise, I shall embrace them as such."

He slit Link's sealed envelope open, unfolded the letter contained within, and began reading.