A/N: I apologize for any continuity errors—I'm afraid Miss J.K Rowling decided to kill off almost every character in the Deathly Hallows. So basically, this story is set somewhere between the sixth and seventh books, because Dumbledore is dead. Maybe we can call it Year 6.5? BUT:
Fred and George were forced to come back and finish their last year of school, putting them in seventh year while the Golden Trio are in sixth.
McGonagall is Headmistress.
Anyone who is dead by this time in the books, but I mention in the story by accident, was magically resurrected. ;)
Anyone who is dead in this story but has appearances in the Deathly Hallows, (eg. Lavender for obvious reasons) was resurrected in the seventh book. ;) heheh
All good? Now let's continue!
Stepping out of the car, the team were greeted by the Headmistress of Hogwarts.
"Welcome to our school. It is a pleasure to have you here. I only wish the circumstances of your visit were different," she said sombrely.
The team nodded slowly.
"I am Headmistress, Professor McGonagall," she introduced herself. She shook everyone's hands.
"Thanks for havin' us here, Professor," said Gibbs as he shook her hand. McGonagall flushed slightly.
"You may call me Minerva, if you wish," she said.
Gibbs nodded. Yeah, MIGHT just stick with 'Professor,' he thought.
Tony and Ziva traded sly grins. Looked like the silver-haired fox was out breaking hearts once again.
The team retrieved their luggage and began to head up the long, steep path towards the castle. Professor McGonagall noticed that they struggled slightly under the weight of their belongings.
"That is entirely unnecessary," she said as she drew her wand. She gave it a short, sharp flick. "Locomotor," she said. The suitcases and backpacks slowly rose into the air, hovering along obediently behind them. Ziva was rendered speechless. Abby squealed.
"Whoa!" exclaimed Tony.
"That is SO cool!" said an excited McGee. Gibbs' eyebrows rose slightly. So it was real.
"Hey, so where can I get one of those magic stick thingos from?" Tony asked. McGonagall regarded him with a disapproving look.
"Wands. And no, you cannot get one. Just yet anyway. The school may issue you a temporary wand if you are proven to be trustworthy enough to use them," she tutted. Tony pouted like a small child. Ziva laughed. He loved her laugh. He looked at her, wondering if there was such a thing as a Love Spell…but for that to be the case, there would also have to be a Gibbs-Rule-Vanishing Spell…
Ziva bit her lip in annoyance. Tony was staring at her again. It used to be rare when this happened, but ever since he had rescued her in Somalia, the times she caught him had increased in frequency. She often wondered why… Did he think she was a freak? Did he think that she was so damaged that he had to keep checking on her to make sure that she didn't have a nervous breakdown? Did he think she was weak? Weak. Ziva hated that word.
But secretly it thrilled her whenever she found him staring at her.
Tony studied the conflicting emotions crossing his partner's face. Irritation, pain, humiliation, shame, determination and then…lovesickness? This confused him to no end.
"We have reached the entrance," stated Professor McGonagall as she waved her wand at the tall oak doors. They creaked open loudly.
As the team entered the school, McGee looked up.
"What happened to the ceiling?" he exclaimed, observing the gentle rays of sun and puffy white clouds that drifted lazily above him.
"That is the ceiling" smiled McGonagall. These investigators were like First Years all over again. A few students milled around the Entrance Hall, but left after the professor shooed them. She turned to the agents.
"Now Mr. Gibbs and I spoke on the way up here, and we both agreed that the first step in your investigation will be…observation," she began. "You will watch the students, study them, and if you notice anything suspicious, you…you have my permission to interrogate them," she finished sadly. She was silent for a moment, wondering if this was the right thing to do. Then she remembered Lavender's unfortunate fate. Her killer must be stopped.
"We have set up an interrogation room, and an observation room, as I do believe you call it. Simple magic really—the one way mirror was probably the hardest. I have informed all staff not to touch anything at the murder scene including the," –she gulped- "…body. And also, I have been notified that your autopsy doctors are on their way." The everyday words seemed foreign and strange coming out of her mouth.
She continued.
"The best way," she sighed, "to work by observation, is to sort you each into houses that you can study. Mr. Gibbs will work around all of them and oversee."
"Sort?" questioned Ziva curiously.
"Follow me," said McGonagall. "We will make this quick."
She disappeared for a quick moment, returning with a stook and a mangled old hat. A croaky cough echoed throughout the room.
But nobody's mouth had moved.
That was when they saw that the hat had a face.
Oh, well that's not creepy at all…!
"Now sit on the stool, and the hat will tell you which house you will fit in with best. Hat, no doubling up."
"Got it, got it…just hurry up, I was having a pleasant nap," wheezed the hat.
"Who is first?" asked McGonagall. The team were reluctant. Finally, Abby stepped up, though they had trouble fitting the hat over her high ponytails.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" it yelled. Abby smiled, as did the professor.
"Hufflepuff, for the kind-hearted, open and caring," McGonagall beamed.
Abby grinned as she skipped back to her spot. Tony then swaggered his way up to the stool and sat himself down. The hat pondered.
"Hmm…arrogant, self-centred…both signs do point towards the house of green and silver…" it mused, "…but I do see a great deal of care and affection towards others. One in particular…a woman…" it smirked (that is, if a hat could smirk.)
Tony cleared his throat.
"I guess I will have to go with…SLYTHERIN!"
The Senior Agent seemed indifferent, if not slightly flustered as he returned to the group. McGee sat himself down on the rickety old chair.
"RAVENCLAW!"
As Tim resumed his place, McGonagall explained further.
"Ravenclaw…home of intelligence and wit."
Lastly, Ziva crept up to the school, knowing there was only one house left but still longing to hear what the hat said about her.
There was silence for a brief moment.
"My oh my…" murmured the hat, "this is quite possibly the most troubled mind I have ever read."
The team were speechless.
"You have been through much," it continued, "and the strength and courage it took you to make it through makes only one house worthy of you…GRYFFINDOR!" it proclaimed.
As the hat was removed, it only had time to say one last comment.
"One more thing, girl. I would encourage you not to hide your feelings," it winked. Apart from her eyes widening slightly, Ziva showed no obvious signs of discomfort as she silently treaded her way back to the others.
The headmistress encouraged the team to get used to their surroundings, as soon the students would be gathering in the Great Hall for dinner.
And so, the investigators began wandering off to have a look around the Hall. McGee jumped back in fright as a portrait of a rather rotund, balding wizard yelled "Boo!" as he passed, accompanied by a chuckle, and a jeer of "Muggles…"
*NCIS*HARRYPOTTER*NCIS*HARRYPOTTER*
At dinner, all eyes were on the team as Headmistress McGonagall brought them to the podium to introduce them to the students. A low hum of anticipation and excitement buzzed through the school, the children whispering to one another conspicuously.
"Ahem. Boys and girls, these are the special agents of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. They are here to help us deal with these past…events. This is Special Agent Gibbs," –he nodded his head- "Senior Agent Anthony DiNozzo," –he grinned his charming smile, causing many of the female students to sigh in adoration- "Special Agent Timothy McGee," –he blushed at the attention- "Special Agent Ziva David," –she remained rigid and professional, not so much as batting an eyelash when a few of the male students wolf-whistled at her- "Forensic Specialist Abigail Sciuto," -she bounced up and down and waved excitedly- "…and arriving a little later will be-" McGonagall stopped as the front doors opened, revealing a short old Scottish man and a bumbling assistant pushing his rounded glasses up the bridge of his nose, making their way up to the podium.
"Or arriving now," the headmistress corrected herself. "This is Dr. Donald Mallard and his assistant, Mr. James Palmer." Jimmy ducked his head a little in an awkward show of thanks.
"You may call me Ducky," smiled the M.E. The students instantly took a liking to the doctor.
"Yes. So each of the field agents except Agent Gibbs have been assigned a house to observe, including Miss Sciuto. She will alternate between her house and her laboratory in the first room to the left of the Potions corridor. I ask that do not bother her too much," said the headmistress. Abby waved off this comment.
"Students, please settle down," ushered McGonagall, gesturing to the now freely talking school. They quietened. "Now, Miss Sciuto has been assigned to Hufflepuff." The children of the yellow clad table cheered as Abby bounced her way down to join them. "Agent McGee will be overseeing Ravenclaw." Tim, if possible, blushed even redder as the blue house applauded and welcomed him. Luna Lovegood observed the agent.
"Are you feeling alright, Mr. McGee?" she asked dreamily. Tim examined the pretty blonde girl who currently sported a pair of earrings made of radishes.
"Yeah, why?" he asked. The girl's silvery blue eyes regarded him as she pushed a pair of what looked like oddly shaped 3D glasses further up the bridge of her nose.
"Your head is simply infested with Wrackspurts!" she exclaimed. "Not feeling…fuzzy, at all?" McGee's hand flew to his head.
"Wra—what?" he asked, worried.
Back At The Podium
"Agent David will be with Gryffindor," continued McGonagall. The table erupted in cheers. Fred and George wore grins as they high fived under the table and scooched closer the Ziva when she sat down. Some of the Slytherin guys looked slightly put out.
"Ron, close your mouth when there's food in it," scoffed Hermione Granger. Ronald Weasley hastily retracted his hanging jaw as Harry Potter sniggered behind his hand.
"What?" exclaimed Ron after he had gulped down his food, "She's hot," he said dreamily.
"And way out of your league, and your age bracket," Hermione sniffed. Ron nearly coughed up his potatoes.
Meanwhile, Agent David sat straight-backed on the bench, surrounded on both sides by the lounging Weasley twins.
"So…your name's Ziva?" smirked Fred.
"Pretty name…and where would you be from?" flirted George. Ziva inwardly rolled her eyes. If it wasn't enough to have to leave the country, travel hours by train to a school of magic and investigate a murder, she had to be hit on by horny teenage boys as well?
"Israel," she answered stiffly.
"Wicked," said the twins in unison. A couple of girls shook their heads at Fred and George for their hopeless flirting.
At The Hufflepuff Table
"I love your tattoos," exclaimed a wide-eyed Hannah Abbott. Abby's natural charisma and bubbly personality had attracted the entire table in droves. They all wanted to be her friend.
"Thanks!" she grinned. These kids were actually quite nice, and she simply loved their adorable accents.
"So what exactly is a laboratory?" questioned Ernie Macmillan. The rest of the yellow-clad house leaned in eagerly to listen.
"It's basically how we solve our crimes! Machines and chemicals, you know, forensic stuff. It was founded on the principle that every single thing that someone touches leaves something behind. Whether it's a chemical, a fibre, skin or blood cells or whatever! And we use those things to track down the bad guys," Abby explained.
The Hufflepuffs oohed and ahhed at her apparent genius.
At The Slytherin Table
Tony was uncomfortable.
Uncomfortable because he was surrounded by at least thirty girls, batting their eyelashes at him.
Not that he was normally uncomfortable around women; it was just that most of these girls weren't even legal yet.
But yet, they were still touching him, brushing up against him in poor attempts to grab his attention.
And the Slytherin guys didn't like it.
"You must have to be so smart to be a Special Agent!"
"Especially a Senior Agent."
"And strong too!"
"I can so tell you work out!"
"How much do you bench?"
"Could you bench me?"
"Enough, girls. Leave the bloke alone."
The last voice was a cold one. The girls shut up instantly and cleared a path for the boy, who pushed his way through the other teens. His hair was pale blonde, eyes a steely grey. He was tall and generally well built, and he had an aura of power around him that led the agent to believe that he was the one in charge.
"Draco Malfoy," he said. "And you?"
"I'm Very Special Agent Tony DiNozzo," he grinned. The boy chuckled.
"Very special indeed," he smirked. Pushing some of the students aside, Malfoy settled himself next to the agent. "I'm sure you'll enjoy it here."
"So am I. Food looks great," Tony joked. Malfoy chuckled softly again.
"Welcome to the silver and green."
"Glad to be here," replied the agent, deciding he liked the boy.
Blaise Zabini sat on the other side of Tony.
"So am I, because you need to introduce me to that gorgeous specimen over there," he said. Tony followed his line of vision to his partner, sitting rigidly at the Gryffindor table.
"Who, Ziva?" he exclaimed. Malfoy nodded in approval.
"Definitely," he said, gazing hungrily at the Israeli.
Suddenly, Tony didn't like Malfoy so much anymore.
He scoffed.
"Not a chance in all hell, my friend. Ziva is…she's…" he paused, struggling to find words to describe the awesome-and-epic-ninja-destruction-powers that his partner possessed. Not to mention her deadly good looks…Tony found himself daydreaming until the guys around him brought him back to reality. "She's dangerous," he settled on. "She was trained by the top intelligence organization in Israel. She could pin you to the ground in less than three seconds, asleep, with her hands tied," Tony smiled fondly.
This only seemed to encourage the boys further.
"She's so…exotic," said Blaise.
Tony could see where he was coming from here. The lack of sand and sun in England left even their prettiest girls tall, thin and pale, whereas Ziva's golden skin and sexy curves were enough to make a guy-
Okay he really needed to stop doing that.
A/N: LOL! And voila! A new, -extra long- chapter for you guys! I actually kinda need your help coz I still haven't decided who the killer is….heh….leave me a review with your thoughts on the chappy and maybe an idea for who could have done it. (WITH a motive. They aren't just gonna have randomly killed her ;))
xXtegannXx