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.

False Omens

It wasn't until after it was taken away that Harry realized just how much he missed Dumbledore's Soldiers. He knew that he'd been doing well as a teacher—too many of the Soldiers had told him this for him to believe otherwise—but he realized, with some surprise, that he'd enjoyed teaching them as well.

He sighed, grabbed his Potions text, and stuffed it into his book bag. Snape might not be the git he was in my first two years, he mused, but being late for a detention—even if it's just a cover, like this one—won't improve his disposition. He waved to Neville and Ginny, and ducked through the portrait hole.

"Potter."

He glanced up, surprised to see Draco waiting for him. The blond boy was flipping through a Quidditch magazine.

"Malfoy," he acknowledged. He continued walking towards the staircases, and Draco fell in beside him.

"Whatever will you do without your minions to teach?" sneered Draco. Then chuckled. "Seriously, though. Do you know if..." He glanced around. "Well, will we be able to continue?"

"Possibly," said Harry. "If we can find another secure place to meet. We'll let everybody know via the charmed parchment."

Draco shook his head. "Edgecombe would have turned over her parchment. That means of communication is compromised."

"I didn't think of that," admitted Harry. "Damn." He considered. "I'll ask Hermione if she had any contingency for that." He started down a staircase. "Listen. About your father."

"He can't do much for the Order," admitted Draco. "If any Death Eater spots him, they'll kill him on sight. As far as I understand, he's mostly providing financial assistance."

"Is he, at least, getting along with everybody?" asked Harry. "I can't imagine Sirius hasn't tried to strangle him yet."

Draco chuckled. "You're not wrong." He sighed. "Father was raised believing that pure-bloods were naturally superior. So was I, but I'm younger, and it hasn't had as many years to set in yet. But Father has only just started to shake off that opinion, and it's hard for him." He snorted. "You and Ami—a half-blood and a muggleborn—winning the Challenge was certainly an eye-opener for him. So was the fact that Hermione's been top of her year every year for the past five.

"So there's been some friction, but he's improving," finished Draco.

"Well, that's good, at least," said Harry. "I mean, I know he switched sides primarily because Voldemort lied to all his followers."

"Not just that," said Draco, shaking his head. "He switched sides, because I switched sides."

He stopped, and Harry turned to face him directly.

"Look," said Draco. "I know my father isn't a good man. Not by a long shot. But I also know that he will do anything—anything at all—for me." He looked down at his shoes. "I kind of abused that, up until third year." He looked back up. "So when I became convinced that following Voldemort was the losing path, and I told him I was ready to turn my back on the Malfoy name, if needed..." He gave a lopsided grin. "Well, that kind of forced his hand."

"Well, then, we've got to make sure that we win, then," said Harry. "Can't let you down like that."

Draco grinned. "Right. No pressure, though." He clapped Harry on the shoulder. "Enjoy your detention. I'll see you tomorrow."

Snape lowered his wand. "Where did you see that hallway?"

"A dream," gasped Harry. The constant battering against his mental shields that Snape had inflicted upon him was the only way to improve those shields, but it left him with a raging headache.

"Would it surprise you, Potter, to know that that hallway is from the Ministry of Magic?"

Harry shrugged. "Not really, no." He paused. "Wait. I remember Sirius saying something about that. He said that Voldemort was after something, and that it was being guarded." He snapped his fingers. "That's right! I saw this corridor when Mr Weasley was attacked!"

"Therefore, we can assume that the Dark Lord is attempting to lure you there, with these...visions." He scowled. "Am I wasting my time here, Potter? The entire intent of this exercise is to keep the Dark Lord out of your mind. Do you think that these visions make you important in some way?"

Harry scowled. "Hardly. But my defences aren't perfect yet. As you are fond of pointing out. Are you such a terrible teacher that you can't find a better way to improve my defences?"

Snape's dark eyes narrowed as he studied Harry. "I am not here to cater to your whims. My methods are effective, and if you find them challenging, it is because your mental fortitude is sorely lacking." He slid his wand into his sleeve, and turned away from Harry. "However, since you seem so insistent on alternatives, let's explore your suggestion.

"There is another way of improving your defences, but I would hesitate to recommend it." He picked up a book, one that Harry recognized: Most Potente Potions. "There is a draught described in this book which, when drunk, will place the imbiber into a deep slumber. It temporarily removes any Occlumency barriers that you have. A person who is skilled in both Legilimency and Occlumency may then rebuild the drinker's defences in an optimal fashion, instilling in the target's mind a natural bent for the talent." He turned back to Harry. "However, there are three problems with this.

"The first is that, while you are in the slumber, your Occlumency defences are lowered. Normally, this is not an issue, as Legilimency typically requires line of sight. Your situation, however, is not normal. The Dark Lord can observe your thoughts without regard for distance or sight.

"Second," continued Snape, "the Legilimancer who is rebuilding your defences would have complete access to your memories. This would be even more invasive than what your friend Hotaru underwent.

"Third," he said, "the potion is rather expensive to brew. Fortunately, not terribly time-consuming, but phoenix ash, essence of moonlight orchid and spectral frost crystals command very high prices."

Harry considered this. "Well, the cost, I don't care. My parents left me a lot of money, and this seems like exactly the sort of thing that they'd want me to spend it on."

Snape nodded. "True."

"As to the invasiveness..." Harry glared at Snape. "You know that I don't really like you."

"The feeling is mutual," the Potions Master sneered.

"But so long as we're both willing to be professionals about this, I can't see it being a problem," continued Harry. "I doubt that I have any secrets that you don't already know."

"Also true," allowed Snape.

"Except for one." Harry scowled. "I almost forgot. I need to talk to Meiou-sensei before I can agree."

"You mean Sailor Pluto?" asked Snape quietly.

"I don't know if she's told you everything she's told me," countered Harry. "But if you know she's Sailor Pluto, then you know that she might be able to help with your first point as well." He nodded. "I'll talk to her in the morning."

"I do not think you know anything that I have not admitted already to the Order of the Phoenix." Setsuna's voice was remarkably clear; Harry had expected that the technology of the hand-held communicator wouldn't work well, if at all, inside Hogwarts. "Though even I am not certain how much of Hotaru's memories Severus is aware of."

"More than I'd like," admitted Hotaru. "But I don't think Harry has access to anything that Professor Snape hasn't already seen." She blushed. "Actually, Snape's seen far more than I'm comfortable with, just for the language exchange."

"But on the other question," continued Setsuna, "I might be able to offer more help than you think. I do not know enough about Legilimency, but would Tom be able to read your thoughts if you were displaced in time?"

Harry blinked. "I don't know. But I'd expect that the answer is no."

"Then ask Professor Snape if he would consent to do this procedure in the year 1920, before the birth of Tom Riddle."

Harry felt as though he'd taken a bludger to the head.

"Wait—" He jumped to his feet. "You can travel through time!?"

"The circumstances in which it is allowed are exceedingly rare," said Setsuna. Harry could practically hear her frown through the communicator. "As I am certain you are aware—given your prior exploits with time travel—one cannot change anything. Even observing is dangerous. If there is any way to perform the procedure, without being seen by any occupant of the castle, and then leave, with none being the wiser, this would be best."

Harry's mind was racing. "Oh, I can guarantee that. I know of two rooms, here in the castle, that have gone centuries without discovery. Well," he amended, "Professor Dumbledore found one of them once, but then he lost it again."

"The Come and Go room?" asked Hotaru. Harry nodded.

"That would be a poor choice," said Setsuna. "That room is a causality tangle that I don't want to mess with. What is the other option?"

"The Chamber of Secrets," said Harry. "Or rather, the antechamber between the Chamber and the bathroom to which it's connected. Only a Parselmouth can get past the doors at either side, and I'm one of only two to have been at Hogwarts in the last hundred years."

"That seems like a better choice," confirmed Setsuna. "Can you speak to Snape today without raising suspicion? Especially from that woman?"

"Oh, yeah," said Harry. "After all, I've got weeks of detention left."