A Persian's Tale: Scarred for Life 6

2/20/2008 -- 1247 words

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter (Rowlings) or Gundam Wing (Bandai)

AN: This is in response to Alorkin's question about what the Wizards were doing about Harry being gone. Ten days since my last update, can you tell how much I hated this chapter? However, overall I think it turned out pretty well. HET and some light language warnings.

AN2: Very minor changes. Mostly a second AN at the bottom in response to an anon. reviewer explaining my choice in pairings. The review wasn't a flame and I'm not retaliating, just explaining. If you want to know why I decided to pair Harry with Zechs Marquise ultimately, read the second AN directed to Lady Gaia at the end.

--- Time skip --- September 1 ---

--- Hogwarts Express ---

"Oh Ron I'm so worried. I haven't heard from Harry since early summer."

"It's strange Hermione. I haven't either and neither have the twins. Even the Order is getting worried. You don't think those relatives of his did anything to him do you?"

"Knowing how those people think of Harry, I wouldn't put it past them. Maybe we should tell the Headmaster?"

"Look, we'll wait until tomorrow morning. If Harry isn't here by breakfast then we'll go tell Dumbledore our suspicious. I'm not sure how much good it'll do though. I know Dumbledore means well but he sure seems to turn a blind eye where Harry's relatives are concerned."

"True but if we haven't heard from Harry in two months I think he'll at least investigate. Alright, tomorrow breakfast time. If Harry isn't there we go immediately to the Headmaster and make him listen one way or the other."

"Blimey Hermione, you look scary when you frown like that."

"Shut it Ron."

--- Grimmauld Place ---

"I don't like this Tonks. No contact from Harry in two months and no word where he could be. I could understand his not contacting Albus after last semester, definite trust issues after Si-Sirius left. But no word to his friends either."

"I know what you mean Remy. Severus says Vol-Voldemort has no idea where Harry is either which may or may not be a blessing. Just think what'll happen when the Dark Lord finds out we've lost the Boy Who Lived."

"Chaos will be the least of our worries. You know he wouldn't keep that information from reaching the population for long. Any will they might have to resist, which isn't much to begin with, would be destroyed. And just think what the backlash against Harry will be!"

"Remus…"

"I'm sorry Tonks but first Sirius and now Harry just a few months later?"

"He's not dead Remus."

The werewolf snorted contemptuously.

"I promise Remus; we'd find out real quick if something like that happened. However, we have no body, no ransom, and no dark celebrations in the streets. Just keep up the hope Rem. The worst thing you could do to Harry would be giving up on him."

"You're right, you're right Tonks. But it's just so hard…"

Nymphadora Tonks smiled sadly at the depressed werewolf. Screwing up her Gryffindor courage in the face of his despair, she leant down and kissed him, her hair promptly flaming as brightly as her face. The look of stunned shock on the werewolf's face would have been extremely comical if she wasn't so busy being distracted.

--- September 2 --- Hogwarts ---

---Great Hall ---

"He's not here Ron. Harry's not here!"

"I know Hermione, I bloody know already. He wasn't in the dorm either, last night or this morning. Look, we both have free immediately after breakfast. We'll head up to the Headmaster's office then."

"Alright Ron. Now for goodness sake, chew with your mouth closed!"

---Headmaster's Office---

"Come in Ms. Granger, Mr. Weasley."

"Headmaster Dumbledore, Harry isn't here!"

"He wasn't on the train or in the dorms either. Since he wasn't at breakfast we came to you."

Dumbledore sighed heavily. "I understand Ms. Granger, Mr. Weasley and rest assured that the Order is doing its best to find Mr. Potter. Tell me, have you received any correspondence from Mr. Potter over the summer?"

"No sir. We only got one letter from Harry approximately two weeks into summer vacation and it didn't sound like anything was wrong. He said the Dursley's were normal, he was bored, and made no mention of Sirius – standard summer letter all around."

"I see."

"Headmaster, me and Hermione think the Dursleys may have done something to Harry. We know, he needs the blood protection and all that –," Ron grunted at Hermione's elbow to his ribs, "But they don't like Harry and have made no attempts to hide it. I, we, wouldn't put it past them to do something."

"I am sure you are exaggerating children."

"No sir, when me and my brothers went to get Harry for the summer before second we had to pull iron bars off his window frame first. His Uncle then ran into the room and grabbed Harry by his ankle hard enough to leave a hand shaped bruise for two weeks. Sir, Harry looked scared while his Uncle had him and was shaking a little all the way to the Burrow. He didn't act like anything was wrong, but still. Just ask the twins, I think they put the grate from his window in the back of dad's garage."

"That is a disturbing accusation Mr. Weasley. Are you—"

"Headmaster, pardon my rudeness, but there is the floo powder and a fireplace connected to the Floo Network. The destination is 'Gred and Forge's Flat'. Ask them sir; they'll back me up whole heartedly."

"I'll forgive your frankness young man; it is your best friend who's missing. Now, DADA is about to start. Head on to class and I'll speak with the Misters Weasley."

Hermione and Ron stared hard into the Headmaster's eyes before nodding. On the way out the door Hermione turned back and let loose a final parting shot.

"We're trusting you Dumbledore."

--- September 3 --- Little Whining, Surrey ---

--- No.4 Privet Drive ---

"Ah, Petunia how nice to see you again."

"What do you want Dumbledore? And get inside, I don't want any of the neighbors to see your kind on our front step."

"Of course Petunia. Now, I don't want to take up much of your time but I am worried about Mr. Potter. He didn't make it to the train two days ago and wasn't in school yesterday or this morning."

"What exactly makes you think we had anything to do with him not reaching the school? The little brat probably just got lost on the way."

"Well, that is the thing my dear. Why would Mr. Potter get lost on the way when he should have been here the entire summer?"

"No. Vernon and I talked before Potter came back and we decided that if we deemed him a threat to the continued safety of our family he would be out of here immediately. Then, those three freaks of your Order dared to threaten Vernon; we kept Potter for the required two weeks then gave him some money and left him outside the entrance to your freak pub. If Potter hasn't made it to the school, it isn't our fault. We washed our hands of the boy two months ago."

"Petunia—"

"It's Mrs. Dursley to you Dumbledore. We are not familiar and if I have any say in it we won't be here long enough to become so."

"Mrs. Dursley—"

"I won't hear it Dumbledore. Get out and don't darken our doorstep again. If you try to drop the boy off with us again, I'll revoke any relationship I have with him. See how well your wards hold up when I no longer acknowledge him."

"I cannot change your mind?"

"No, now go. I already told you, we dropped the boy off in front of the Leaky Cauldron third week of summer. We watched the boy disappear inside the building; we don't know what happened after that. Ask whoever runs that horrid establishment what they know. Now, get out and don't come back."

"Alright Mrs. Dursley. And thank you for your cooperation."

Petunia Dursley sniffed disdainfully before slamming the front door in Dumbledore's solemn face.

AN: You learn something new every day. I got this cool little review from gic916 over at HPFandom:

"I like the story, but I wanted to mention that calico cats are almost always female. For a male to be calico, he would need two x chromosomes in addition to the y. It happens, but not often."

I had no idea. However, she said unlikely, not impossible! I haven't gone against nature just yet! -grins mischievously-

To anon. reviewer Lady Gaia: I specifically discarded the idea of Harry/Wufei or Harry/Heero because both are so very common in HP/GW crossovers of the slash variety. I have never seen a Harry/Zechs in all my time since joining FFN two - three years ago. It was originally going to be Harry/Quatre but my mental version of this story suddenly switched gears at Harry's 17th birthday party and said "Zechs! You will pair him with Zechs Marquise or you can forget any help from me!". Considering my own imagination was threatening to revolt, I had to comply. I like this story; I started short, stick to the high points, and this thing just seems willing to flow for me. Hope the pairing doesn't throw you off but Harry/Zechs is pretty much set in stone. (PS: Forgive me if I misspelled Zech's last name, I'll make sure to have it down pat by the time he becomes a prime factor in the story)

Review people, I have proven time and again that I read and will acknowledge your review!