Kindred Spirits

by Tailkinker

This is a work of fan fiction based on the Harry Potter series and the Sailor Moon franchise created respectively by J.K. Rowling and Naoko Takeuchi. The characters and settings belong to their respective owners and no copyright infringement is intended. This story is written purely for entertainment purposes and should not be considered as part of the official canon of either series.

Dreams of Danger

Harry awoke screaming.

"Wha?" Ron looked over at him blearily. "What's going on?"

"It's your dad," gasped Harry. "Gotta see Dumbledore."

"You're not making any sense—"

Harry gritted his teeth against the pain flaring in his scar. "Go get Dumbledore!"

"Mate, it's the middle of the night."

Harry fumbled for his glasses and jammed them on his face. He stood up, swaying on his feet. The pain radiating from his scar was making him nauseous; he choked back the need to vomit, and staggered towards the door.

"Harry! Wait a minute." Ron had pulled on his houserobe and ran over to Harry. "Let me give you a hand, or you're gonna wreck yourself on the steps."

"I need to get to Dumbledore—"

"You said that, but it's far too late. We can get Professor McGonagall."

"It'll have to do," said Harry through gritted teeth. "She can get Dumbledore."

"What were you saying about—"

But Professor McGonagall turned the corner of the spiral staircase. "I've been told that—"

"Professor," said Harry urgently. "I need you to get Dumbledore." He winced, and rubbed at his scar. "Arthur Weasley has been attacked!"

"Two members of the Order have recovered Arthur, and have moved him to St Mungo's," said the headmaster. "One of them force-fed Arthur a bezoar, to counteract the snake's venom. He should make a full recovery."

Ron heaved a sigh of relief. "That's good, then."

"Once the rest of your siblings have arrived," continued Dumbledore, "I shall be sending you to the Burrow. The Christmas holiday begins tomorrow, and the rest of the students will be taking train after lunch, so you will not be missing any classes."

"We'll be going by floo?" asked Ron.

"No," said Dumbledore. "The floo network is being watched. I shall be sending you via portkey."

The doors opened behind them, and Harry turned, expecting to see a crowd of redheads trooping in. He was surprised instead to see—

"Hotaru-chan?"

"Oh, Harry-kun!" She rushed forward, tugging off her glove, and laid her hand on his forehead. Almost immediately, the remaining pain in his scar receded.

"Tomoe-san," said Dumbledore in Japanese. "Our good friend Arthur Weasley was greviously injured. While he is out of danger at this time, I wonder if I might impose upon your unique talents?"

Harry was completely unsurprised that Dumbledore could speak Japanese.

Hotaru bowed. "I would be happy to assist Weasley-san."

There was a flash of light over Dumbledore's desk, and a single red-gold feather drifted down to land upon it. Dumbledore picked it up, and frowned.

"Fawkes has warned me that Professor Umbridge is on the move," he said. "Minerva, if you could be so kind as to distract her?"

"I shall do my best," said Professor McGonagall, and hurried from the room.

"Our time is limited," said Dumbledore. He pulled a small teapot from under his desk, and touched his wand to it. "Portus," he said quietly, and the teapot glowed blue briefly.

Harry frowned. Dumbledore seemed to be looking at everybody except for him. Even when he'd told him of the attack, Dumbledore had not looked directly at him. "Professor?" he asked. "Is there something you're not telling me?"

"Most likely quite a few things," said Dumbledore, still not looking at Harry. Harry realized that Dumbledore was speaking to him in Japanese, and shifted to that language.

"Is there a reason you're not looking at me?"

"There is a reason, I am afraid," said Dumbledore. "I cannot tell you of my concerns at this time, but I hope that you will trust me to keep you safe."

"Dumbledore-sensei, I've faced dark magic and danger before," said Harry. "And I know there's lots you can't tell me, but trust is a two-way street. Please, don't keep me in the dark. If there's some threat that I present—"

"I shall have a professor teach you what you need to know," said Dumbledore. "Watch for my owl over the holidays."

The door opened again, and Dumbledore switched back to English. "Excellent. Harry, Ms Tomoe, and everybody with red hair, please touch the teapot. It shall take you home."

As they crowded around the teapot, Dumbledore said, "It will activate in three, two, one—"

For some reason, Harry suddenly felt an overwhelming rush of hatred and rage, directed at Dumbledore. But before he could draw his wand and strike, he felt a hook behind his navel, and was whisked off by the portkey.

Molly Weasley was waiting for them, of course. It made sense; Dumbledore had stated that Mr Weasley was on a mission, and it was reasonable that his wife would be waiting up for him. And the Weasleys had a remarkable clock, that showed the condition of each family member. Harry snuck a glance at it; Arthur's hand was pointed at "Sick", not at "In Mortal Peril", so there was that, at least.

"I've got more than enough beds to go around," said Mrs Weasley. "Harry will have to bunk with Ron, and—I'm sorry, dear. What was your name?"

"Hotaru Tomoe, Ma'am."

"Oh!" Molly smiled briefly. "You're Harry's girlfriend, aren't you? You'll have to bunk with Ginny. I hope that's all right?"

"That's fine," said Hotaru. "Provided it doesn't bother Ginny."

Ginny shook her head mutely, her eyes glued to the family clock.

"I don't think anybody's going to be sleeping well tonight, Mrs Weasley," said Harry.

"No doubt," agreed Molly. "I'll just go put the kettle on...perhaps a cuppa will make the night go by a little more quickly." She wandered off towards the kitchen.

Harry suspected that the tea was as much to distract herself as it was for anybody else there.

"How did you know about the attack?" asked George.

"I had a nightmare," said Harry. "Dreamed about it. But it seemed so real—"

"It's not the first time you've had a dream like that," said Ron. "Remember back the morning before the World Cup?"

"Yeah," said Harry. "Now that you mention it." He shuddered. "It felt awful, though. Like I was the snake that attacked Mr Weasley." He looked up, horrified. "What of he's possessing me? I could be a danger to everybody here—"

"No, you're not," stated Ginny. She scowled at the floor. "Vol—Tom possessed me, remember? Back in first year." She looked up at Harry. "You remember what was happening, right?"

"Yeah," admitted Harry. "All too well."

"Whenever Tom was controlling me, I couldn't remember what I'd been doing," said Ginny. "So you weren't being possessed."

"Besides that," said Ron. "We were in Scotland, and Dad was...well, I don't know, but he sure wasn't in Scotland." He hesitated. "I know you think Divination's all bollocks, but—"

"I don't think that at all," Harry interrupted. "I just think that Trelawney's barking."

"Well, you're not wrong about that," admitted Ron.

"Perhaps dream interpretation?" suggested Hotaru.

"But this dream was less of a dream, and more of a remote viewing," said Ron. "I don't think that dream interpretation is the right call." He paused. "Let me go grab my cards."

"The Fool," said Ron, laying down the first card.

"That's reassuring," growled Harry.

"More than you think," said Ron. "It indicates a quest, a journey or a new adventure. Crossing: The Devil. A powerful force working against you."

"No guesses who," said George cheerfully.

"The Hermit. Introspection and inner wisdom." Ron grinned. "In this position, it means that you're concerned about something internal." He turned the fourth card. "The Tower. Upheaval and sudden change. That would be what happened tonight."

"Doesn't that card also mean disaster?" asked Hotaru.

"It does," agreed Ron. "But it's in the position for the recent past, and maybe I'm prejudiced, but I think my Dad getting attacked by a bloody great snake is a disaster." He turned the next card. "The Magician. Unique abilities and power. In this position, it means you, Harry."

"You're a wizard, Harry," quipped Fred.

"Surprise, surprise," added George.

"Will you two shut it?" snapped Ron. He turned another card. "Strength in the Immediate Future position. Courage and patience are needed to face the challenges ahead." He turned the seventh card. "But you also need control and balance, or else you'll stumble." He turned an eighth card. "The Hanged Man. Sacrifice. But that's external...someone's gonna suffer to help you."

"This I need," grumbled Harry.

"The High Priestess. You're hoping for some hidden knowledge to be brought to light." He nodded. "Might seem obvious, but often, this position—the one of hopes and fears—reflects something different, and that would tell me that you didn't ask the right question. And the final card." He turned the tenth card. "The Star. Spiritual guidance. Inspiration."

Harry considered this. "It seems hopeful...but not terribly helpful."

"It doesn't reveal what this connection is," admitted Ron. "But it does tell you what you need to do to control or reduce it."

"Courage, control and balance," agreed Harry. He paused. "But the Star...guidance? I think I know what's going on."

"It might relate to—"

Harry raised a hand, forestalling Hotaru's comment. He switched to Japanese, and said, "There's gotta be a reason the headmaster discussed this with me in Japanese. I suspect it was to prevent spying."

"That's rude, Harry," said George. "Discussing things in front of us in another language."

"Sorry, guys," said Harry. "But I was told to keep some things a secret. Voldemort can't speak this language." He glanced back to Hotaru, and switched back to Japanese. "And I suspect that Dumbledore's worried that, if I can see what he's doing, then Voldemort can see what I'm doing."