Worlds Collide
It was a miracle that Master Makarov was ever able to this place, back in his days. As his wheelchair did not allow him to roll though the steep snowy slides, not to mention climbing those rocks, he had written a very, very detailed plan for Erza to carry, which was still incredibly difficult to follow.
Natsu had tried his best to be the carrier of the precious paper, excited as he was, but there was no way in hell anyone would entrust him with this kind of thing. He would have lost it, or worse, burnt it, in his sleep.
So he was sulking. or at least until he understood the challenge that climbing those snowy mountain would be. His palms ignited with excitation, and he rushed forward, daring Grey to beat him to the top. He was only stopped by Erza, who violently smacked his head.
- Master Makarov warned us that the path was tricky and dangerous, Natsu, she said. So you stay with us, and quit behaving like a five years old.
It had already taken them three days to reach this point. Two days by train, which were an absolute nightmare for Natsu (he was always, always terribly motion sick, in any types of vehicle). Then they had to walk a full day toward the mountain, starting from the small village they had landed in. They had dressed up camp for the night, for the first time in months. Or maybe years? They couldn't tell anymore.
As soon as the dawn had risen, they had started their ascension.
- I can't believe how cold this is ! complained Lucy.
During the very first mission she had done with Natsu, years ago, they had to climbs frozen lands like this one to rescue one of Fairy Tail's veteran, a pipe-smoking man named Macao. Back then, with her short sleeves and skirt, she had almost died of cold. So this time she had avoided that mistake, wrapped in a massive fur coat from head to toes.
Next to her, Gray, the Ice Mage, was walking topless as usual, his shirt hanging from his belt.
- What do you mean? he asked, genuinely not understanding.
The cold had never bothered him anyway, for sure. Nor did it bothered Natsu, as the fire in his veins always kept him warm.
- Yeah, what do you mean?
The young woman shook her head.
- Never mind...
Next to her, Wendy, shivering too, whispered.
- I know what you mean... Those two hot heads have no idea how lucky they are.
Meanwhile, Erza Scarlet, still annoyed about having to leave the massive bags of clothes she usually travels with at the bottom of the mountain, kept advancing forward through the snow, determined.
- Master never told us how steep it was... she muttered to herself.
It took them, once again, almost the full day to reach the point described by Makarov. The bottom of a peak that looked like a goat's horn. Thankfully, the whole landscape had not really changed over the decades. No one ever came here, clearly. And luckily. If a gateway to another world was easily accessible, they all would have been in another kind of problem.
- I think that's here! pointed the redhaired leader.
Under the said rocky horn, there was one big piece of stone that seems to have fallen hundreds of years ago. According to the directions from their guild master, there should be a small opening into the cliff right behind it.
Erza first had a doubt, but after a second look, she found it. The hole was small enough that only Wendy (or Makarov himself) could fit in while standing, all the other mages had to bend in all kind of directions to slither in.
But finally there were there, sheltered from the snow and wind, in a small cave that was just big enough for the five of them. Six, sorry Happy.
With the wind kept completely out of the place, it felt like the cold was a different one, less violent, but more vicious. The type of cold that doesn't hurt, but if you'd fall asleep, you'd never wake up. It was a pit of darkness, where so little light reached from the outside that Natsu had to lit up his hands to provide any vision.
- How the hell did Gramps find this place, wondered Gray in awe.
- No idea, really. Maybe he felt the magical power from the guy ? Dundelbore?
- Dumbledore, corrected Lucy.
- Yeah whatever.
- It does not really matter, concluded Erza. What matters in the mission ahead.
She was staring in front of her. There was no possible mistake. This had to be the gateway. The wall in front of her looked different, weird. Blurry and moving, while staying still. Competing with Natsu's own fire, they all could see that this wall was casting some kind of light. Like a halo of sorts.
- Let's go! shouted Natsu. I'm all fired up!
And before Erza could reach his scarf to grab him and keep him here, he had jumped through the gate, and disappeared instantly, Happy on his trail.
- Damn it, Natsu, whispered the warrior.
She jumped back after him, followed by Happy, then Gray.
- I guess it's our turn? asked Lucy to Wendy, obviously not as excited as her friends before her.
Wendy nodded with resolution.
- Alright. Here goes nothing!
And she stepped forward.
She was expecting some kind of slap in the face. Maybe a heat wave, or and even deadlier cold. Maybe appearing back in the ocean with salty water pouring down her throat. Or maybe to have her own traits and body distorted like a ragged doll as she passed through dimension.
But nothing happened. It was as easy as stepping through a door, any door. Her eyes closed, she took a few seconds before allowing her to open them. Long enough that Wendy, the poor blue-haired girl, bumped right into her as she was crossing after her.
-Oh. Sorry.
Her eyes opened.
It was dark, but not as dark as the cave. It was cold, but not as cold as the cave. For a bit, she wondered how it was possible, but the answer was simple enough to make her blush of shame.
It was night. The moon was cut in half in the sky, like eaten by a giant wolf, but still brightening the celestial ceiling of all its might, eclipsing the closest of the millions of stars above them. For a second, it reminded her of the Spirit World.
- Where are the others? asked Wendy with a small voice, bringing Lucy back to reality.
A sudden panic quickly froze the blood in her veins. They had crossed the gateway barely ten seconds before and yet they were nowhere to be seen. Could it be that they had not all landed at the same spot? Part of her wanted nothing but turn back, rush through the portal and go back home.
- Natsu?! she yelled. Erza?! Gray?!
- We're here, Lucy! answered the voice of the Dragon Slayer not so far ahead of them, behind a few trees.
The blond girl looked at her young friend, and ran toward the voice.
The group of four was not far. She felt ashamed, again, to have panicked so fast. She was supposed to be better than that. They were standing on what looked like a beach, a quiet sea gently splashing at their feet.
- Where are we? she asked, when she finally joined them.
- I don't know, answered Erza. It looks like we're on an island. I can see the mainland over there. But I don't see any lights, any town.
- We need to find that Bumblebee fellow! claimed Natsu, overexcited.
- Dumbledore!
- We need to stay secret, reminded Gray, his shirt now back on his skin. Maybe just speaking his name would fail our quest?
- Well if that's the case, it's gonna be tricky finding the guy!
- First, we need to find a way across, ordered Erza.
Their island looked really small from where they were, they could see the contours all around under the moonlight. Just a few pine trees had grown in the middle of the grass, tall and undisturbed, hiding the existence of the portal. The mainland, or what looked like it, was probably not further than a few hundreds of meters ahead. But, while the sea was calm, it was terribly cold, as Happy complained when he tried to dip his toes.
- It's freezing! Like Gray's magic! I ain't gonna get any fish here...
He looked disappointed.
- Don't worry big guy! We'll get you one as soon as we get to civilization!
- Thanks Natsu!
- I don't want to swim... complained Lucy.
Her mind wandered to Aquarius. The Sea Spirit, the tough-love guardian that had protected her so many times, and her broken key, now useless. She sighed.
- Well, I don't see other ch... started Natsu.
He was interrupted by a strange sound behind him. Something between a crack and a pop. They all turned at the same time, battle-hardened to recognize any aggressive aura, any murderous intention. In a flash, Erza's sword appeared in her hand, while both Natsu and Gray had taken their battle stance, ready to rain fire and ice on any enemy.
In front of the group, two men had appeared out of thin air. One had long dark hair, so dark that the night itself swallowed his face. His small mustache and months-old beard framed a deadly grin. To his left, the other man looked slightly younger, or just less tired, with brown hair and deep brown eyes. They both wore long, used coats, or were them robes? But more importantly, they were both aiming at them with small sticks in their hands.
- The Magic sticks ! claimed Natsu. They're wizards! Be careful!
A few sparks crackled on his hands.
One of the man spoke. His voice was calm, quiet, without any aggression, which was the only reason Erza did not jump forward to slash his hand off. His words were unintelligible, a weird gibberish that sounded almost like Natsu's stomach when he was hungry.
He spoke again, but no one moved. The brown-haired man, gently, lowered his stick, and put his left hand on the partner's arm, forcing him to lower his weapon.
Slightly reassured, Erza lowered her own blade just a few centimeters.
- What you saying, man? snarled Natsu. We don't understand crap!
With careful gesture, this man tried to calm the mages down, to reassure them. He showed his own stick, and tried to explain, with his weird noises, that it all would be ok (or so it seems).
Gray, Natsu and Wendy relaxed, convinced that they would not be attacked. Lucy was not so sure, her grip was still on the handle of her magic-infused whip, hidden in her back under the fur coat.
The man spoke once more, but this time his words were different, while still not understandable, and he accompanied them with a gentle gesture of the stick.
Scared to her bones, Lucy waited for a lightning to struck her down.
- Do you understand me now? I used an Universal Language spell, you should understand me.
Dumbstruck, the whole group took a second to realize. Wendy was the first to nod.
- Good. Is anyone of you named Makarov?
Natsu shook his head.
- Nah. The old man can't come. None of you ain't euhm... Dustledore then, I guess?
The tall man who spoke first sadly shook his own head.
- Albus Dumbledore is dead, he said. My name is Remus. Remus Lupin. This is Sirius Black. Welcome to our world. We have a lot to discuss.
Their wands back into their long-sleeved robes, the two men invited the group to move back toward the center of the small island.
- Do every men in your world wear robes? was the first question Natsu asked.
- Natsu! scolded the redhaired female.
The man named Black scoffed.
- No it's okay, it's okay. Most wizards do. However, Muggles, the non-magic folk, have a different fashion. Closer to yours, I suppose. Although...
He took a look at Erza. Someone in his eyes was strange, unnatural. Ravenous.
- No one here has worn this kind of armor in centuries, I'd wager.
Then stop looking at me like I didn't have one... she thought. Quit staring!
- So where are we? asked Natsu again as his second question.
Gray and Lucy both shook their heads in despair.
- We are in Northern Scotland, answered the one called Lupin. Someone near the island of Westray. . Not that any of it would mean anything to you, would it? he added with a smile.
- Then I suppose you already know we're not... from here, concluded Lucy, always the fastest to understand. Were you expecting us?
Remus Lupin sighed. He looked really tired, almost white, in the moonlight.
- A few weeks before Dumbledore passed away, he explained everything to us. That after the.. the death of...
- Harry Potter?
- Yes, Harry. Sorry, even after more than a year, it's still really hard on us. What was I saying... Yes, before his passing, Albus told us both, as the higher ranks of the Order, about this letter he had sent to your world. He told us about the portal, and the magical alarm he had set up in case anyone crossed it. To be honest, we didn't really believe you were real... Mages from another world... Not an easy thing swallow. Anyway, Dumbledore died a month ago... But he was already waiting for an answer for more than six months! I think he had lost hope. When the alarm rang, we barely believe it. But we were only expecting one, maybe two people. One of them named Makarov.
- Master Makarov has been badly wounded in battle, the same battle that got your letter delayed, explained Erza. He is not in condition to travel, or to fight, anymore. So he sent us instead to complete the mission.
- I'm sorry to hear that, he said with all the empathy in the world. And who exactly are you? You all look so... young.
Natsu smashed his own fists again each others. Some bright sparkles lit up the night for a second.
- We're the damn best team in Fairy Tail! he claimed high and loud, showing off the tattoo of the guild on his shoulder.
Erza smiled gently.
- This hot head here is Natsu. He's the Dragon Slayer of Fire. He's as strong as he's stupid!
- Hey!
- And the blue cat at his feet is called Happy. This here is Gray. He's a master of Ice magic. Next to him is Lucy. She invokes Spirits.
The blond girl gave a quick, encouraging, wave.
- The young girl with blue hair is Wendy. She's the Dragon Slayer of the Sky. And my name is Erza Scarlet. I do Re-Equip magic.
- Elsa, hum?
Sirius's voice was deep and appreciative. Like he was enjoying a tasty piece of chocolate cake. That gave her shivers, which she could not decide if they were good, or bad.
- Erza.
The difference in pronunciation was slim, almost non existent. Still, she wanted to correct him, would not let him get away with a single slither of mistake.
- Well for sure you wear your name right, he added, pointing at her blazing red hair. Are all youngs so... colorful headed, in your world?
The battle mage raised her shoulders, almost imperceptibly under her plate armor.
- Some.
- Wait, wait, go back!
Remus Lupin seemed disturbed, surprised.
- Did you say... Dragon Slayer ? Re-equip magic? What in Merlin's name...
- Ah yes. Master Makarov told us our magics work... differently. Natsu, a little demonstration?
- Hehe...
The pink haired man showed a gigantic grin, his teeth shining in the dark. Lupin even thought he saw some pointy canines.
Everyone clear the space around him. Remus and Sirius suddenly felt a burst of magical aura gathering all around them, like the air was sucked out of the world and drawn to the young man.
- Flame Dragon ROAR!
His head lift up toward the sky, a massive pillar of flame exploded out of his mouth, lighting up the heavens so bright they might have seen it from space. The supernova stream was bigger, stronger, hotter than any flame either of the wizards could have summoned. Probably even worse than the Fiendfyre... After a few seconds of display, Natsu interrupted his spell, closed his mouth and the flame disappeared just as suddenly.
- Whoa... Can you all do that?
Lucy shook her head.
- No. Natsu is unique. I summon Spirits. Look.
She quickly grabbed one of the key, and with a masterful move, invoked :
- Open, Gate of the Archer! Sagitarius !
A bright light appeared from the key itself, and the second later, a weird man, dressed like a horse and wielding a bow, was standing in from of her, his right hand to his forehead in a military salute.
- Oy Oy Mistress ! What can I do for you today?
- Nothing, Sagitarius ! I just wanted to introduce you to our new friends here. Meet Sirius, and Remus!
The man-horse turned and shared the same military greetings to the two wizards.
- Nice to meet you gentlemen!
Their mouth were both hanging opened, in awe. The man was as tall as them, but the weird horse mask he was wearing put in at least one heal taller. The spirits face was just appearing through the neck of the horse mask.
- Euhm... Hello!
With a final thank you note, Lucy raised her key again, and closed the invisible gate, sending the spirit back to where he came from.
Sirius, now really interested, turned toward Erza.
- And you, Scarlet miss? What's your talent then?
With a snarky smile, she stepped back, and spread her arms wide. A bright light engulfed her, swallowing her whole, and while it was impossible for anyone to see through the blinding light, Sirius was sure that she was naked for a split second.
The light disappeared as fast as it came, and the young warrior reappeared, wearing an incredible armor. Four wings ornated her back, each of them made with a dozen of shiny blades welded together. A long dress, mixing metal protection and white soft fabric, covered her legs, while her top was protected only at the chest and the sides by metal leaves, leaving her stomach and collarbone bare. Arms and legs were entirely covered by decorated plate armor, and both her hands each carried a longsword.
- The Heaven's Wheel Armor... whispered Lucy with a smile. Someone's trying to impress.
It took a good full minutes for Sirius to come back to his senses.
- Merlin. That's probably my favourite power so far, Miss.
- Don't call me Miss. Call me Erza. Or Titania.
The old man nodded as she reverted back to her original Heart Kreuz armor in the same blinding light.
- Were you waiting for us here? suddenly asked Wendy, curious. For months? I'm so sorry we took so much time ! We didn't know !
Remus Lupin smiled, gently.
- Don't worry, Miss Wendy. We didn't. We just used a Portkey when we heard the alarm.
- Port.. what?
His smile grew a bit wider.
- Teleported, if you wish. One of the perks of our magic.
Then suddenly worried, he turned to his friend.
- Maybe we should go back, Sirius. We're out in the open here, and I don't want to drag any Death Eaters here.
- Agreed. Let's go back. The kids might be worried. Where is the damn Portkey? I thought I left it here... Ah! Here it is.
He bent over and picked up an old boot that was lying on the floor. Meanwhile, Lupin turned toward the group of young people.
- I need to know. Are you all accepting the mission Albus Dumbledore sent to Makarov? Will you help us? If so, we'll bring you back to our headquarter to introduce you to the others, and explain to you all details of the mission.
- We wouldn't be here if we did not! answered Natsu, almost insulted.
- Very well. In that case, please all put your hands on the boot that Sirius holds. Yes please, all of you.
The cat, to his surprise, had climbed Natsu's arm and put in own paw against the boot, as if he hand understood the order.
I got the feeling there will me many more surprises to come... thought the old professor.
- Whatever happens, explained Sirius, don't let got of the boot. It's important.
Then, with a smile, he added.
- I hope none of you has motion sickness.
- What? asked Natsu, suddenly terrified.
But it was too late. Before he could react, the whole world around him seemed to fold on itself, and he felt both sucked in and falling into the void at the same time, his companions all screaming at his side, Happy screeching near his ears.
He suddenly met the floor with incredible force, as it had been pushed into into his face. The world had finally stopped spinning. Before he could realize where he was, or what had happened, his stomach turned upside down. He just got the time to turn over and gets himself and his knees before starting to violently retch and give back all he had eaten during their lunch break.
It was, no doubt, the worst experience of his life.
- Never... Never again, he managed to whisper between two waves of vomit.
All members of Fairy Tail, including Happy, were lying face down on the floor, completely shocked by what had just happened to them.
- Aoutch, complained Lucy, trying to get up. I lost my coat...
- Merlin! cried out Lupin, horrified, already trying to help Wendy up. The tiny girl thanked him profusely.
Meanwhile, Sirius laughed out loud.
- Ahahahaha! I love it! The first time is always special.
Erza got up in a grunt, and answered bitterly.
- Thank you for the heads up, Mister Black. This was indeed a brand new experience.
He scoffed.
- Come on! I'll show you the place! Welcome to my home!
They seemed to be at the entrance of a long hallway, a massive wooden door just behind them. The walls were all covered with a green-ish wallpaper, torn and stained here and there, barely lit by old school candles on the walls. A few paintings hanging, and Lucy had the weird feeling that the faces painted on them were following them. Somewhere at the end of this dark and creepy hallway, a light escaping from a door inted to another room behind, and lit up the beginning of some stairs. A female voice, authoritarian, rose from behind that door.
- Remus? Sirius? You alright?
- Yeah, yelled Sirius. We got a hell of a surprise for you lot!
He hurried the Fairy Tail members along the doorway, Natsu gently held up by Lucy as he was slowly gaining colors back.
- I didn't think he would get hit that hard, admitted Remus to the young woman in the short skirt. I've never seen such a bad reaction to the Portkey...
- Don't worry, explained Lucy with a smile. Natsu has a very, very bad case of motion sickness. Cars, Trains, whatever moves gets him really sick. He destroyed a world-ending dragon, but a children's bike could be the death of him, she added with a laugh.
- Shut up... he grunted.
He tried to stand up on his own, his head slightly brushing his friend's breasts. Lucy had turned so red that a tomato would have been jealous, but of course, as always, Natsu hadn't notice a blood thing. Or maybe he pretended to? It was hard to know if he had done it on purpose or not... Remus smiled beneath his brow. Even from another world, kids will be kids, he thought.
Wendy grabbed Lucy's sleeve as they walked down that corridor.
- I think the painting are looking at us, she whispered.
A dark shiver creeped along her skin
- Come in! chanted Sirius with a happy voice, opening the door. Welcome to my home, to the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. The Ancient and Noble House of Black, Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place.
The door opened to a big kitchen and a dark living room. The smell of a roasted pork and beans assaulted them with force, drawing drool out of their mouth. There was a hint of alcohol too, beer maybe, something that smelled like what their friend Cana usually drinks by the barrel. A young woman was standing up by a big pot, a massive wooden spoon swirling in it by itself while she was dropping some pepper and salt in it. They were all pretty hungry, after the day's worth of effort, and the scent just tormented their stomachs to supplice.
The young witch wore a tight bun on her head out of which some light brown, rebel hair were escaping. Dressed in a similar, although feminine version, of the wizard robes Sirius and Remus were themselves wearing, she told without turning her head.
- Dinner is almost ready. Where did you two leave so fast? What was all that noise?
At the same time, a young man, sitting in the couch, suddenly rose, trying to get his wand of his pocket. His red hair shined under the candelabra hanging from the ceiling, its five candles barely lighting the room.
- The hell are you? he asked, aggressively, pointing his wooden weapon at the first mage through the door.
The young cook scarejumped, turning toward the newcomers, an expression of fear and surprise on her face.
- Whoa! Easy there, jumped Sirius, placing himself between Erza and the wizard. Lower your wand, Ron! They are guests!
Suspicious, the named Ron frowned his brow, obeying Sirius just a bit. Remus joined the fray, and explained:
- Dumbledore's alarm rang off. We went to pick them up.
- What alarm? What are you two talking about? asked the woman.
Remus sighed, took a deep breath, like he knew he would have a lot of talking to do.
- There's a lot we need to explain, he said. Let's all calm down, sit and I'll tell you all about it. Hermione, Ron, please meet Erza Scarlet, Natsu, Gray, Lucy, Wendy and their cat, Happy. The mages of Fairy Tail.
To the young mages amazement, Sirius had conjured a couple of extra chairs out of thin air in the living room, where they were all sit around a table. None of them had spoken yet, not sure what they would say, so they waited for Remus to start.
- Where should I begin, he wondered.
- The beginning sounds like a good idea, snarled Hermione, clearly bitter about something.
The old professor sighed.
- Yes, I suppose. There's something you need to know and understand. Albus Dumbledore knew things, things none of us would even consider to imagine, I'd say. Among those things, is the existence of another world. A parallel, secret, universe, if you prefer, and the portal that leads to it. I will tell you more about it later, if you wish, but for now let's stick to that.
That cut Hermione's questions, who closed her mouth without a sound, although the expression of bewilderment never left her face.
- In this world, there are wielders of magic. A different kind. Erza, Natsu and the others are some of them. Albus knew some people in this world. One, in particular, called Makarov.
- He's the master of our guild, added Erza, as it would help make sense.
- After the death of... The death of Harry, Albus sent a letter to them, asking for help. Back up. Whatever you wanna call it. And now... Here they are. To help us. To win the war.
Ron was out of his mind, up and walking around, visibly trying to get the words he needed to express his anger.
- Back-up?! Back-up?! Now? Just now! Where the goddamn hell was this back-up last year when they attacked the school and killed him? Where the hell was this back-up when they killed Harry?!
Lucy, empathic and understanding, tried to explain.
- We were in a war of our own... The letter your guild master, Dumbledore, sent, we just received it a week ago.
Remus added :
- You have to understand. Our worlds were meant to stay apart. Albus and Makarov had sworn not to contact each others ever again. Imagine what You-know-Who would have do if he discovers the access to a full world of untapped magic?
Erza reached out underneath her armor, and took out the letter from the late Headmaster, handing it over to Hermione.
- It seems we were a last resource. After your friend, Harry, was killed, it seems he thought we were a last hope. We are sorry for your loss.
Ripping the paper away from her hand, she briefly went over it, then got up and joined Ron in his raging pacing.
- Rah! I can't believe it! I! Can't! Believe it! He trained us for a full year! A full year, after Harry was gone! Told us all about the Horcruxes, the quest, and he didn't mention that?! How did you two know?!
Apologetic, Sirius lowered his head and explained, like a twelve years old caught in mischief.
- He explained us a year ago, before he started training you. He said that, in case the letter never got through, that you should not know. Not base any plan on it, not take any chance for the Death Eaters to know about the gateway... He told us he had setup a magical alarm in case someone crossed, and prepared a Portkey to the place.
- I can't believe it!
- I thought you all of people would be amazed by the existence of another world, with another kind of magic, Hermione, muttered Remus, disappointed, maybe even a little hurt.
- It's not about that, Remus!
- It's betrayal! yelled Ron. The old bastard lied to Harry his whole life! Raised him like a sheep for the slaughter! And now you tell us that this could have been avoided? That we could have had help before? We could have saved him! Sirius! How are you not enraged?
Sirius sunk further in his chair and spoke, his voice clear, deep and hard:
- You know as much as I do the weight of a promise, Ron. You don't break it that easily, especially when you still have other options. But you're right, I understand what you feel. I felt it too. I screamed at the old man. But in the end I understood, and you need to understand too, that this, this is a last resort. We are endangering a whole world with this request. Those young folks came here to help, with nothing less than a letter, knowing that if things go south, You-Know-Who could invade their own home. This is not a decision you take lightly! As long as Harry was there, we still had hope. A chance. Now that he's gone...
- You mean we're not good enough, deadpanned Hermione. That we can't do it.
Sirius stared at her, right in the eyes. Hers were casting lightnings, his were as black as his name.
- That's exactly what I mean, yes. I don't think we can do it, Hermione. The four of us... We don't have the resources, and honestly, I don't think we have the skills. So yes, we need help.
Natsu jumped out of the couch, and smashed his fists togethers. Droplets of fire scattered around.
- Don't worry guys! Just point us to the bad guy, and we'll do the rest! We're the best goddamn team of Fairy Tail!
Erza grabbed by the scarf, and dragged him down back to the couch.
- Natsu, quiet. This is a sensitive matter.
- Yeah, shut up, flamebrain, added Gray, teasing.
Before Natsu could snarl his comeback, Erza shut him up with one single stare.
- Well, thanks for your honesty! At least one person his the whole bloody Order can be upfront! I'm glad to know that the whole last year of training was for nothing!
Then, she turned toward the group of mages, silently waiting for the argument to be over, awkwardly.
- I'm sorry, but I don't know you! So, good luck with the next lake of Inferi, and have a nice evening!
And she stormed off. Ron tried to catch her, in vain, and looked back at the two older men, unsure. Then silently, he ran after her, their steps heard in the stairs and soon just above their head.
- Well that's not the welcome I expected, scoffed Gray. Not the worst we got, by far, but still! What her deal?
Sirius sighed, and Remus tried to explain, as gently as possible. To Lucy and Wendy, it was very clear that this man had an extraordinarily big heart, the kind of man you could only like.
- Give her some time. She just went through something very difficult with her family. The whole situation has been dire for the past fourteen months...
- Then explain us. Tell us what the situation is, and tomorrow, we'll get to work.
- It's quite hard to explain, but I will try to make it as simple as I can, started Remus, back into his old habits as a professor.
Plates had been served all around, and the pork tasted as delicious as it smelled. Natsu would have swallowed it all in a single bite if Erza had not stopped him. The beans, however, was something new to them, but not less tasty by any means.
- This Dark Lord, whom we call 'You-know-who" or "He-who-must-not-be-named", has c...
- Why can't we say his name?
- Shut up, Natsu!
- Because it's bad luck, and also probably cursed. Better be safe. So, the Dark Lord, has created, according to Albus Dumbledore, seven Horcruxes. An Horcrux, sorry for the tough name, is a regular looking item, in which he has locked away a piece of his own soul. This is very, very VERY dark magic. You need to understand that creating just one is something incredibly awful, so seven... it's barely imaginable. But as long as a single of these items exists, he's virtually immortal.
- So we need to find and destroy those Hrocsus... things. And then kick his ass.
- Yes, pretty much. Seventeen years ago, You-Know-Who tried to murder Harry Potter when he was just a newborn. The Killing Spell bounced back, and He was killed... but not really, thanks to his little safeguards. It took him a decade to come back, but he did. So even if we managed to get our hands on him tomorrow, we could only, at best, postpone the catastrophe.
- Do you know where to find those items? asked Lucy. Or what they look like?
- Actually three of them have already been... destroyed. One was a diary. Harry destroyed it unknowingly, when he was only twelve, with a Basilic fang. The second one was a ring, with Dumbledore destroyed... And that cost him his life. And the last one...
He trembled and winced.
- The third one was Harry himself. Albus suspects that You-Know-Who never actually intended to place a piece of his existence into Harry... It just happened by accident when he tried to kill him. When Harry himself passed away, a year ago... Well...
- The piece died away with him, concluded Sirius with pain.
- As for the four ones that are left... We highly suspect that one of them is the giant snake that his seems to keep near him at all time, as a pet.
- Hey! cheered Natsu! I knew a guy like that! A 2nd generation Dragon Slayer named... euhm... I can't remember. But he always kept a big snake with him!
- Then maybe you already have a head start... The only one of us who killed a giant snake was Harry.
- He sounds like an incredible warrior, whispered Erza, impressed.
- He was. Although he would have never described himself as one. Anyway. As far as the three remaining Horcruxes are concerned, we are in the dark. We know one of them is a necklace which was stolen by my own brother, then was stolen again from this very house... We are trying to track it back. And the last two are a total mystery. That's Hermione and Ron's work, currently... Trying to locate the necklace, and identify the Horcruxes... And find a way to destroy them.
- What about this so called Dark Lord, asked Gray. Do we know where he is? How to find it? Is he alone or does he have an army? Are we under surveillance? Are they? What resources does he have?
Sirius laid back in the his chair. His dinner plate was already empty.
- You sound like you know what you're talking about.. Here's the situation. The Dark Lord has followers, called Death Eaters. They wear masks, hiding their identity. Which means that they could actually be anybody. Our neighbours. The host on the radio. Members or the government. The baker. We can assume that his network goes in every direction. We know he has people in the local government, but for now, he does not own it completely. That's likely a goal of his, though. For now, his followers do his bidding, so his whereabouts are unknown.
His voice turned darker.
- But they are not resting. People are disappearing. Some killed in their own homes, murdered. Some wizards and witches, threats to his rise of power, are vanishing from the face of the Earth. Sometimes non-magical folks too, entire families, just for the sport of it... They all are very dangerous. So yes, we are very much in danger. If they could get their hands on Remus or me, they would not hesitate a single second to take us down.
He chuckled slightly.
- Plus, I'm a wanted criminal in this world, and Remus has quite a bad reputation. The government would not spit on the opportunity to grab me by the balls. It's rather annoying.
- For now, this is still a secret war, rephrased Remus, but I don't believe this will be the case for very long, at the rate things are going...
- Did you say that they were killing innocent families just for sport? asked Natsu, his voice suddenly filled with a bestial growl, his fists clenched.
Remus nodded with sadness.
- The Dark Lord and his followers believe that magic, and the world, should belong to wizards. They would not hesitate to kill half of the world just to enslave the other half. For now, they are not strong enough to break the status of Secrecy and declare an open war on Muggles, but masquerading their murders as home invasions or robbery certainly is a hobby of theirs...
The Dragon Slayer growled of rage, tiny flames escaping between his teeth, and for a second, Remus believed he saw some scales appear underneath his skin.
- There bastards... I'll burn them all to ashes...
Erza gently put her iron-wrapped hand on his arm. The cold of her plate-armored glove seemed to turned down his own heat.
- Easy Natsu. That's why we're here. But remember, we need to destroy the items first. Don't worry, we'll get them.
- Yeah, we'll get them! cheered a little voice.
Remus and Sirius both jumped, surprised.
- Did... did your cat just speak?
Happy was looking at them, horrified, his paws on his mouth.
- Oh no...
- What's the matter, Happy? asked Wendy, putting her hand on his back.
- Master Makarov said there might be no Exceeds here... I don't want to screw up the mission!
Natsu laughed loudly, as if Happy had said the most ridiculous thing of his life.
- Don't worry, Happy! explained Lucy. They are wizards, we are in the a magical house. You didn't endanger anything!
- Ah! Fiou... good. Then, misters, do you have some fish for me?
The two wizards looked at him, gobsmacked, then Sirius exploded in laughters as well, while Remus stood up with a smile, going to the kitchen.
- A blue cat that talks ! By Merlin, I was not expecting that! You guys are full of surprise!
- That's not all I can do! cheered Happy, gla to be the center of attention. Look!
White wings sprung out of his back, and he started to fly around, like a fish in a pond.
- Merlin's beard! A Flying, talking, blue cat! That could even get Minerva jealous!
Remus came back, a bowl of tuna in his hands, and chuckled.
- That's something I'd pay to see.
They kept discussing the state of the war well into the night, Sirius and Remus bringing the mages up to speed.
- But until we get to all this, there's something more urgent that requires our attention, concluded Remus. There's a wedding in just one week, and something tells me that your presence will be more than needed...
A/N : And that's chapter 1! Not much happened, i really wanted to setup the world and the story. But I promise, you will not have to wait long! Next chapter will be full of fire, ice and magic!