Spirits of the Living
a Sailormoon-Harry Potter-Slayers fanfic..
by Kellybug
SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY
SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY - SM-HP-TRY
Chap. 09:
The next morning, somewhere between midnight and dawn, Amelia Katherina Seraphim Snape-Mizuno and Kino Makoto found their way through the Forbidden Forest to a certain still pool of dark water.
"This is Pool of Waterhorses?" Makoto asked.
"Hai! This is home!" Ami swiftly took off her robes, then whispered her battle-cry:
"Mercury.. Star.. Power!"
"I pray you..." Makoto began.
Then, as Ami henshined to Sailormercury, she dove streight into the pool!
SPLASH!
"Know what you are doing?" Makoto finished with a blink. "Ami-chan? Did Hagrid-Sama not tell us Waterhorses are...?"
As Makoto was uttering her warning, a blur of blue exited the pool!
"YIPPI-YAI-YAY!" Ami giggled as the Waterhorse tried to toss the naked bluenette off its back!
"Dangerous?" Makoto meeped "Ride'em, Pony-girl! Ara..Dragon-Girl!" The tall brunette cheered as Ami expertly-grabbed the mail-pouch the tall Senshi carried as she righted herself upon the waterhorse' back. She reminded Makoto - somehow - of the medieval tale of the Englishwoman:
Lady Godiva?
"Always enjoyed rodeos!" Ami squealed. "Phase one, complete! Now? For phase two! Reagan? Around Hogwarts Castle! And?"
Ami then armed herself with the Ice-Harp of Mercury.
Then, she aimed into a tower-window:
"SLYTHERIN!"
A harpstring was plucked.
TWANG!
Thump!
"RAVENCLAW!"
Another string was plucked.
TWANG!
Thump!
"GRYFFENDOR!"
A third string was plucked.
TWANG!
Thump!
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
And, a last string was plucked.
TWANG!
Thump!
Then, "Lady Godiva" and her waterhorse went back to their pool!
As the waterhouse dove for home, Amelia Katherina Seraphim leaped to shore, then turned and saluted, then bowed to, the whinnying waterhorse:
"Arigatounisai, Reagan-chan! It WAS a great-ride! Hai. May try it, again!"
After the watery steed vanished silently into the still water, Amelia re-dressed to get home to Gryffendor:
"Come! Let us go! Before Dementors notice we are out!"
"Hai." Makoto agreed. "Do not wish to leave Hermoine-chan ano Harry-kun for too long! Already miss joji. Hai. Like Usagi miss us! Well?" Makoto caressed Ami's shoulder and a breast. "Miss MOST of us! Is Usagi-Sama only one to have Ami-chan?"
"Makoto want to play with Ami-pet?" Amelia Katherine Seraphim caressed Makoto's face. "All Makoto needs to do it ask Owner's permission!"
"Will Usagi-Sama give this one permission?" Makoto asked, suddenly feeling very small in comparison to Usagi.
Owner will grant permission!" Ami chirped. "If Makoto-san will ask?"
After the sunrise, each of the four Houses were abuzz with nervous-energy as to how the portraits in the stairwells had come to hold the parchments announcing that the heirs of various families were called to renew - if they so wished - their various obligations to the Lunarian Kingdom.
The Signatures on the parchment were:
Serenitati VII, Regina Lunari, and Amalea, Princessie Mercuriae.
In House Slytherin, the excitement was quadrupled because the next Queen of the Lunari was one of their own! And that the rule of the "Chivalier" of Gryffendor would soon end!
No longer would a "Protector" run roughshod over the wells of magic!
Later that morning, at breakfast, a young reporter - about Usagi's age - came to Slytherin-Table:
"I am called 'Luna Lovegood', of the Ottery Catchpole, and I am here to speak to the Heir of the Lunarian Kingdom!"
"Ara.. the 'Daily Quibbler'!" Usagi looked up from her oatmeal. "Not the 'Daily Prophet'? Good! Do not trust the 'Prophet'! Newspaper of Ministry-of-Magic, of Dummerdoro Albus-baka! So? What does 'Quibbler' wish to know?"
"Well?" Luna asked. "As I was coming down to breakfast, I saw a portrait holding a parchment! And? The parchment had your name and title on it. Oh! And 'Amalea of the Mercurians'. About magical-families who still held debts to the Lunarian Kingdom?"
"Hai! My signature on Parchment!" Usagi answered after another bite of oatmeal. "Princess-of-Mercury as second-signatory! Was ancestor of House of Lovegood found on Parchment?"
"They were, your Highness, from both sides of my family!" Luna affirmed. "Where were the names taken from?"
"Original parchments are in Vaults of Tsukino, in Gringotts Londinium!" Usagi answered. "Will stay in Gringotts! Best security in Britain! Hai."
While Usagi spoke, and under the watchful-eyes of Slytherin, Luna dutifully took notes.
"What, or who, is to be counted?" The volunteer-reporter asked.
"Families who still have debts-of-fealty to The Moon! Wish to know which families still feel they owe debt. Hai. Wish to know which families to still try to protect in coming war!"
"'Coming war', your Highness?" Luna asked. As the rest of Slytherin table seemed to hush.
"Hai! I said war is coming." Usagi repeated. "I do not call for war? Never want war. But? Senshi dragged into next war, I fear, as we were dragged into Goblin Wars. Hai. Moon never wanted war! Goblins never wanted war!"
"The goblins never wanted the war, Your Highness?" Luna asked, as the rest of Slytherin seemed to zero in on the interview. "But? According to our historians? The goblins were vicious-fighters! Not known for being noble to those whome they defeated in battle. Weren't they barbaric?"
"Were wizards noble to Goblins? Noble to other creatures-of-the-night?" Usagi asked in reply. "Not according to Kaasan's writings! Iie! Goblins did not start war dano! Always on defensive! Wizards were ones to invade, to conquer! Hai. 'Side-of-light'? 'Party-of-sun'? Sun red as blood! As for historians? Propagandists. Wizards win war, never offer peace-terms! So? War never, officially, ended! Only eneasy cease-fire! Wizards never mention that, do they?!"
"True." Luna admitted, feeling properly-admonished. "But? Feelings have healed? Haven't they?"
"Only scabbed-over!" Makoto spoke up, from behind Luna and to her side. "Wizards have use for goblins, goblins still suspicious demo! Elves find refuge with some families, for price demo! Usagi-Sama? Gryffendors want to know what parchment is about portraits holding and reading!"
"Ara.. Gryffenda cannot read?" Usagi dead-panned.
And, The Slytherin-table, and Luna Lovegood, snickered.
"Iie, Your Highness!" Makoto snapped out to keep from chuckling too much. "It is just? McGonigall-Sensei wonders about the parchment! Hai!"
"Sensei cannot read?" Usagi dead-panned, once more. "Did she see ancestor's name on parchment?"
"Iiede! Name was not on parchment!" Makoto affirmed.
"Explains it." Usagi snapped out.
"Your Highness? Mistress?" Ami approached the Slytherin-Table, tentative and barefoot, shadowed by Hermoine and Harry. "Just received request from High-Table!"
"What do High-Chairs want dano?" Usagi again dead-panned, causing Makoto to smirk and Ami to almost jack-knife in a fit-of-giggles!
'Usagi-Mistress has been around my family too long!' A giggling Amelia Katherina Seraphim thought.
"'High-chairs'?" Harry whispered to Hermoine, a slight-grin on his face.
"Toddlers", Hermoine whispered back, tightly holding his hand and trying to hide a smirk.
"Though so." Harry agreed, the grin growing on his face.
"McGoniga-Sensei request an audience with Her Highness, hai!" Ami bowed, respectfully, after she arose with her proper-decorum intact. "At best-possible time for Her Highness!"
"Tell McGoniga-Sensei that we will see her for lunch, today, my Ami!" Usagi nodded. "At her office! Keep silencia-spell in mind and on lips. Dumbadoro need not know plans! Yet."
"Hai. Your Majesty!" Ami, Makoto, Hermoine, and Harry snapped out salutes and headed back to the Gryffendor-table.
Luna Lovegood looked down, smiled, and wondered about the comfort of being a barefoot servant:
'I wonder if I should interview Lord Potter and Lady Granger? I Wonder if I should? Who owns them? How do I interview property? How have I interviewed house-elves?'
After morning-classes were over, two dignified young royals stepped with confidence into the office of Vice-Headmistress and Transformations-instructor, Minerva McGonigall.
Then, they whispered a spell in unison, wands aimed at the far-corners of the office:
"Silencia!"
Their spell cast, Usagi and Ami walked up to McGonigall's desk.
The owl by the desk hooted and flew to the seat behind the desk, and transformed:
"Are you afraid, of me, so much that you have to silence me?" Minerva asked.
"Iede." Usagi answered firmly, "It is not you, McGoniga-Sensei, that we have to deafen! It is 'The Greatest-Wizard since Merlin', who we wish to keep deaf," Usagi smiled, "for now!"
"We are sure Dumbledor knows," Ami paused, "a few things!"
"He does not need to figure out all." Usagi concluded the thought.
"This is about the parchment?" Minerva asked, "In Gryffendor-Tower?"
"In Gryffendor, hai!" Ami warbled. "In Hufflepuff dano! In Ravenclaw ano Slytherin. Delivered parchment before dawn! Hai. Waterhorse-express! Kukukuku."
"A dangerous ride, indeed!" McGonigall breathed in, suitably impressed with the bluenette.
"Iyaa. Not if you know the waters and their ways!" Snape-Mizuno grinned knowingly.
"Did Headmistress read parchment?" Amelia Katherina Seraphim asked.
"I did." Minerva slowly nodded. "A call to all who swore fealty to the Lunarian Kingdom! Is the Moon declaring war of Hogwarts? On Magical Britian?"
"On Britannia? No!" Usagi answered as she counted off three of the fingers on her hand. "Hogwarts? No! Dumbadoro Albus? Up to him!"
"Albus!?" Minerva sat down in shock. "But Albus is.. Albus is.. Albus.. is.. is.."
"'Greatest Wizard since Merlin'?" Usagi asked, much like a Prosecuting Attorney. "High Mugiwumpa? Hai! Know what baka calls himself."
"My.. friend?" Minerva weakly defended the Headmaster.
"Friend who uses people," Usagi growled, "worse than little GIRL used to! Hai."
Ami wanted to hug her Mistress, tightly, to reassure her Usagi that she was not - was never - the girl she thought she was! Then? Usagi held her palm out to halt Her Ami-chan:
"Dumbadoro-baka holds too many secrets! Hai! NEVER tells students what they need to hear! Even when they become puppets! ESPECIALLY, when they become puppets! WHERE was advise when Headmaster uses Harry against VALDEMORTE? Where was advice when JAMES and LILY were used against VALDEMORTE? Where was advice when Dumbledore TURNED Riddle-kun into VOLDEMORTE?!"
Amelia Katherina Seraphim fought the urge to hide and curle herself into a ball. Typhoon Usagi was more-frightening, now, than she was against Metallia or the Death Phantom!
When this day was over? Little Ami was going to surrender herself completely to Her Mistress!
But? For now?
"But.. Albus has his ways?" McGonigall whimpered like a baby. "Albus is..?"
"A manipulative old bastard!" Ami snapped at her House-Mistress! "He uses his puppets, and, then? He SACRIFICES them! He even uses FRIENDS as puppets, McGoniga-Sensei! THINK ON THAT! REMEMBER that!"
It took a few minutes of meditative-prayer for Minerva McGonigal to rejoin the world of the lucid.
"So. What happens, now?" Minerva asked tentively. "Mistresses? Are you declaring war?"
Usagi took off her shoes and knealt to look Minerva in the eyes:
"No. Do not wish to make war! No. Want to make friends. Senshiate was brought into this war against my will! Lists are of families who swore fealty to moon! Wish to know who will still pledge fealty! Who I can put wings around and try to save! Hai. Try to keep from being lost to war!"
"But.." Minerva whispered fearfully. "What about.. about those who.. never.. never swore fealty?"
"Never too late to make friends!" Usagi smiled and kissed the old witch's forehead. "Walk with me, Minerva-chan. Walk with Senshi! Help keep children safe! Onegai?"
"Hai." Minerva whispered in a sigh as Usagi scooped up the aged witch and placed her gently in her chair.
And, Amelia Katherina Seraphim Snape-Mizuno was feeling more in awe of her Mistress with every passing second!
"Where? Where do I.. do we.. meet.. Princess?" Minerva asked.
"Will learn that, later!" Usagi smiled.
"Rest, now!" Ami smiled and chirped. "Have some tea!"
The next full-moon, on the Salisbury plains, two visitors made their presence known at the Estates of Malfoy:
"Arigatounisai for allowing us in, young Malfoy!" Xellos smiled at Draco. "I hope? Your family is awaiting us?"
"They are, Xellos, High-Priest of the Mizuko! Filia Ul Copt, Miko of the Golden-Dragons!" Draco Malfoy bowed. "Professor Snape said to expect you! These are my Lieutinants, Gregory Goyle, Jr., and Vincent Crabbe! Follow us, please! This way."
"We shall follow!" Filia replied. "Lead the way!"
As they were lead to the Malfoy's Inner Sanctum, Xellos and Filia looked at the assembled witches.
"Well, well, well!" Xellos chuckled. "The Malfoys, the Lestranges, the Crabbes, the Goyles, the Carews..."
"Peter Pettigrew, the Snapes.. does Dumbledore know of your 'extra-curricular activities'? Our dear Severus?", Filia chuckled and clucked as she picked up Xellos' list. Much like Xellos.
"I keep the Old Goat 'informed'", Snape answered with a smile, "of what he 'needs' to know!"
A ripple of chuckles ran though the Death-Eaters.
"'Spy', indeed!" Narcissa Malfoy giggled.
"The only one who believes he's a single-malt-spy is Dumbledor!" Bellatrix Lestrange cackled.
"Snape keeps us as informed of the goat as he keeps the goat informed of us!" Pettigrew smiled.
"My father never has trusted 'the greatest wizard since Merlin'", Snape grinned into a cup of
tea. "Why in the seven hells should I?"
Amelia Katherine Seraphim giggled, sounding to one and all like tinkling bells!
"What DID surprise us.. delightfully.. is that Snape has a wife and daughter!" an old reptile of a wizard spoke up. "And, that they were still living!"
"I DID keep them well-hidden," Snape smiled dangerously, "Lord Valdemort! I would be TRULY damned if I lost them to Dumbledor!"
"What I want to know, Severus?" Bellatrix asked. "Is WHO was lucky-enough to put that LOVELY blue collar around Amelia Katherina Seraphim?"
"You noticed that, too, Bella?" Narcissa noted. "Damn! But, that looks much like the collar we gifted Saeko-inuoye with! Poppie's assistant-nurse!"
"One of Dumbledore's thorns-in-his-side!" Bellatrix cackled.
"The LADY who collared little Amelia", Filia smiled, "is our granddaughter, mine and Xellos'! Tsukino Usagi!"
"Ah! the BUNNY!" Rodolfo chimed in. "We should have known! As protective as they are of each other!"
"So.." Tom Riddle, Jr., of Valdemort hissed to Usagi, "YOU are the poppet that has Dumbledor scared beyond death!"
"As he should be!" Usagi said between bites of biscuit. "Tries to steal others' lives and happiness to extend his own life! Time to cut life-expectancy! Hai!"
"So I have heard," Riddle of Valdemorte chuckled darkly, "from our friendly neighborhood triple-agent! But! Snape says your help comes with .. conditions?"
"And, what conditions are those .. little Bunny?" Bellatrix purred.
"Obaasan? Jiisan?" Usagi requested. "Let Potta-kun and Ga-ranja-chan out!"
The assembled-Detheaters, except for Severus Snape, were in various states of shock as Hermoine Granger and Hary Potter stepped forth, draped in vines and leaves and stone-anklets (one of jade, the other of moonstones), from the cloaks of Filia Ul Copt and Xellos Mizuko!
"What is this?" Lucius Malfoy roared. "A trap? By the gods, Draco! if you have.."
"Draco? My son? My only son?" Narcissa asked weakly, seemingly draining of color.
"They are friends, father!" Draco replied. "Examine them."
Lucius Malfoy used all of his magical-abilities to examine the two Gryffendors. Then? He summoned a second-opinion:
"Kreature! I have not found one stain of Dumbledor on them! But? I have need of the elves to confirm for me what I have found! There are traces of Lunar-magics on Potter, and Jovian-magics on them both!"
A House-elf then popped-in to examine the captives:
"A mudblood and a muggle, truly," Kreature sniffed, "no trace of the cursed-Dumbledor, however! Not even residual-magics of Protection! Smell magics of Luna and Jove, Kreature does! Master will want answers!"
"And, we will give him those answers, Kreature!" Hermoine curtsied to the house-elf.
Kreature turned to Harry. "Why does witchling act like elf?"
"I'm trying to figure that out, myself, Kreature." Harry sighed, a smile forming on his face. Then, he turned to Lord Valdemort:
"Tom Riddle, Lord Valdemort! I, Harry Potter, put myself and my lady, Hermoine Granger, at your mercies! We no longer trust the wizard, Albus Dumbledor, and have foresaken his allegience, charms, and spells upon our persons! I am under the protection of Tsukino Usagi-Sama, reincarnated Princess of the Lunarian Kingdom, and await your judgement upon my body."
"You are under the protection of the Rabbit-of-the-Moon, whose powers are greater than mine?" Lord Valdemort started as he wandered around Harry. "Yet, you still act as I could destroy you? Why?"
"If needs be?" breathed Harry, "to remove the last taint of Dumbledor from me!"
"You are, indeed, a wizard to be reckoned with, young Harry!", Valdemort smiled. "And, of a sharp mind! Not many would have figured Dumbledor's machanizations. We have - much - to discuss, after I speak to your Protector."
Than, Voldemort turned to Hermoine:
"And, what of you, Muggle-born? What is your tale?"
"I am Harmoine Granger, and I am a Gryffendor, and - ", Hermoine blushed, "I have had - feelings - for Harry since we met! I.. I think? I still do, even - though - I have feelings, also, for another."
"Another?" Valdemort asked. "Who? That Weasley-thing?"
"Don't - EVER!," Hermoine hissed, "MENTION that idiot-boy and I in the same breath.. ever.. again!"
"Very - good - Granger!" Valdemort smiled, again. "You are, indeed, the smartest witch of our age!"
"Please..", Hermoine flinched, "don't call me that? Dumbledor called me that. I HATE being called that!"
"Then?" Voldemort said, "What should we call you, Witchling? For, you are proving yourself to be more than a muggle-born! Much more."
"For now? You may call me... Kino Hermoine!" She smiled shily, as her body twisted as she tried to hide a light blush. And, her voice came out sounding Elvish. "Until Lord Harry claims me? This one is called Kino Hermoine?"
"A HA!" Peter noted. "Miss Hermoine belongs to the Senshi of Jupiter, Kino Makoto!"
"Hai! She does!" Makoto said as she came from who-knew-where. "How do you know so much about the Sailorsenshi, little.. Pettigrew?"
"I AM Peter Pettigrew, my good giantess!" Peter stood at attention. "I am also an animagus-rat! And, Tom Riddle, Lord of Valdemort's, best spy! I have known of the Dumbledor's plans to bring the legendary SailorSenshi to Hogwarts for three years! And, I warned my fellow-Deatheaters of the Dumbledor's plans! And? I saw the reactions of Severus Snape! Yes. he cried and shook with rage, thinking of what the Dumbledor could do to his only child. The Dumbledor does, indeed, deserve the deepest Hell! And? Miss Hermoine deserves your and young Harry's gentlest touches."
"My magics are small," Pettigrew smiled, "but, I see much? And, think on what I see!"
"What may The Deatheaters do for thee, O Usagi Tsukino?" Valdemort said.
"I ask The Deatheaters to put aside their Mistrust of Hogwarts, for now," Usagi bowed, "so we me forge a trap that Dumbadoro-baka can not escape from! Hai. Need place to plan dano! Guys already put notice up in Hogwarts! I am taking count of families who wish Lanerian-Protection in coming war, if trap should fail! I put notice up at Hogwarts' because heirs of families will be first ones called for war! First ones to die in war dano. We all die. Death by war is waste demo. Need place away from Hogwarts to take count! May lead to debate, demo."
"So? A place is needed to dispell the winds!" Lucius Malfoy chuckled. "Malfoy-Manor have dealt with such winds, before! The plains are yours, Your Highness, to use as you see fit!"
"So? Young Harry!" Valdemort chuckled. "Where is the proof of young Tsukino's protection of you? Or? Of Jove's protection of Miss Hermoine?"
Harry and Hermoine shily raised their feet to show their anklets to the Deatheaters.
"Absolutely lovely!" Bellatrix Lestrange purred. "But? They look a bit.. temporary?"
"Only until collars are found, hai." Makoto confirmed.
"Collars have been ordered!" Usagi smiled and curtsied to Harry and Hermoine.
"I have to tell you this, Usagi-hime!" Thomas of Valdemort warned. "A Certain 'Deatheater' was not able to come to this meeting. Directly."
"Understand. Hai." Usagi bowed to Lord Valdemort. "On Picket-Duty? Greyback-Sama? Pack dano?" The odangoed-blonde lifted her face and enquired. "Goshenpainaku, Riddle-Sama! I have agents who can communicate wishes to Ookami! Kyongshi dano!" Usagi then smiled. "Will be here when collars get here dano!"
Amelia Katherine Seraphim did her best to not giggle or even grin. Yet.
"Musume-no-Jeweler has awakened, Usagi-hime?" Makoto asked Usagi.
"Hai." Usagi grinned. "Been awake since.. Yule-break? At least?"
Makoto's jaw dropped, slightly, and Ami Seraphim fell to the floor in a gale of giggles:
"No wonder she was so calm when she see us! See me! Hihihi! Chambermaiden.. Hihihi.. Coming home! Hihi!"