Gundam Wing Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction ❯ Peace, Love, and Family: The Story of the Vanuli Three ❯ The Game ( Chapter 19 )

Disclaimer: I do not own any things Harry Potter-the characters, setting, plot, everything belongs to the wonderful J. K. Rowling and whomever else she decides. I do not own anything Gundam Wing-the characters, setting, plot, everything belongs to (I think) Bandai and Sunrise.

Spoilers: This fic contains spoilers for books 1-5 of Harry Potter and all of the episodes of Gundam Wing. This fic does not include Endless Waltz.

Rating: NC17

Pairings: Neville/Harry, 2x1

Category: crossover, fantasy, general

Author: Selune

Author's site: http://www.gundam-wing-universe.net/fanfiction/menu.php?id=113

Summary: Two years ago, the One Year War ended. At this time, the five heroes-the Gundam pilots-disappeared from the Muggle world. Three of them-pilots 02, 03, and 05-reappeared shortly after in the Wizarding world, as students at Hogwarts School of Witchraft and Wizardry. Now, twenty months after the fact, Heero Yuy and Quatre Winner are coming to Hogwarts, and they're bringing all of their secrets with them. The world-especially one Harry Potter-will never be the same.

Peace, Love, and Family:

The Story of the Vanuli Three

Chapter 19: The Game

"No. This won't work," Relena announced as she stepped into a room to the right of the common room.

Harry looked into the room she-his cousin, by blood-entered. He could see nothing wrong with it or with the rest of her, Tashpi's, Milliardo's, and Lucy's temporary quarters. Granted, they werepretty small, just four rooms, one of which was a bathroom, connecting to a common room the size of his Aunt Petunia's den. The bedroom he and Relena-and Tashpi, who couldn't seem to get out from under Relena's ass-were currently in the biggest one, as far as Harry could tell. It was rectangular, which was to be expected because the whole area used to be the Charms classrooms, but of a fair size. There were two large dressers to the far end, just under the window. In the middle of the room, the headboard facing the left wall, was the biggest four-poster Harry had ever seen. All in all, not too shabby.

"It's not big enough," Relena said, turning her back to her companions.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked, knowing he was about to be made to feel very stupid. For the past two hours-the length of time it took them to find these apparently inadequate quarters-every time anybody said anything, Harry was reminded of how very little he actually knew about Vanuli culture. He didn't know the typical daywear of his people, where the majority of them lived, or what they liked to eat. He wasn't even that clear on what Dorothy was to him! Besides her title, Naiyama. Every time one of his newfound cousins, brothers, or protector said anything about the Vanuli-which was only every other word out of their respective mouths-Harry felt his frustration rise a little bit.

Tonight, when he and his brothers went to bed, Harry would explain this to them. Quatre and Heero would help him learn everything he needed to know.

"This bed just isn't big enough for eight people," Relena said, swerving back around to look at Harry. "How does Dumbeldore expect us all to fit in that?" She pointed to the bed, a look of mild disdain crossing her face.

"He doesn't," Milliardo said. Harry turned to look at him. Tall. Aristocratic features. Married to Lucy. Father of the unborn Allurna. The Head of his House-whatever that meant. Harry had a feeling that it wasn't comparative to Professor McGonagall and Gryffindor. Relena was the Heir. "Professor Dumbledore doesn't know of our preference to be as close to our family as possible, even in sleep. There are two other bedrooms, passed the common room." Milliardo stepped closer into the room, eyeing it over. He nodded his head, and Harry took that to mean it was satisfactory. "If we take out the dressers and expand the bed until it reaches the window, we should all be very comfortable tonight."

Milliardo started to walk out of the room, then stopped. "Oh, yes. Heero is currently jumping on the bed in what I believe to be your room, Relena. He managed to make Quatre join him. They both wish for the presences of their "favorite middle brother and cousin 'Lena." "

***

Jumping on beds is fun, Heero thought, as he did just that. Especially Hogwarts beds. They have just the right amount of springiness and aren't too soft.

"Ten little monkeys jumpin' on the bed," Heero sang, grabbing Quatre's hands and jumping the both of them in circles. "One fell off and bumped his head. Momma called the doctor, and the doctor said, "No more monkeys jumpin' on the bed." "

Heero felt more people climb on the bed, and he released Quatre's hands, instinctively allowing Harry and Lena to fill in the empty spots. Harry grabbed Heero's left hand, Relena his right, and Quatre their empty ones.

Heero continued singing his song as the four of them jumped. He couldn't remember where he heard it, but it was a great bed-jumping song.

"Nine little monkeys jumping on the bed! One fell off and bumped his head! Momma called the doctor, and the doctor said, "No more monkeys jumpin' on the bed!" "

***

Dorothy watched her boys as they played, flinching every time one of them, or Relena, came close to the edge. She knew they were almost grown and that a tumble off a three foot high bed wasn't likely to hurt any of them, but she still worried. Beside her, she could see Tashpi doing the same thing.

"Donai Maya, Tashpi," Dorothy said, speaking to her directly for the first time all day.

"Hnn," Tashpi grunted. "Donai Maya, Ismea."

Tashpi was Dorothy's older sister by two years. She was the daughter of Vikimi and Teurnna Mordal. Teurnna was Dorothy's mother. Even though they were raised in vastly different worlds-Tashpi was raised by her Vanuli parents, and Dorothy by her human grandfather Dekim with considerable influence by her cousin Treize-the two were fairly close growing up.

After Dorothy's father died when she was a year old-he was Deatheater killed by Voldemort on October 30th for displeasing him-her grandfather raised her. Not knowing how to raise a young girl because he'd had all boys, Dekim usually took Dorothy to her mother for several months out of the year. While there, Dorothy met Tashpi, and the two became fast friends.

As Dorothy got older, Dekim put her in boarding school after boarding school to keep her out of the way. When school was out for the summer, Dekim took to keeping her with him, preparing her for the war ahead. The war between Earth and the colonies. Dorothy grew closer and closer to Dekim and the human world, and farther and farther away from Tashpi and the Vanuli one. From the time Dorothy was eleven, until the time that she was fifteen, she had no contact whatsoever with the world of her mother.

Relena Peacecraft changed all that. Relena, raised by wizard parents who, even though she believed them to be her birth parents, taught her all about the Vanuli. Relena, former Queen of the World and current Queen of the Sank kingdom. Relena who was-upon Dorothy's first meeting with her-one of only two members of the regal Peacecraft clan. Dorothy knew that she could have loved Relena, if given half a chance. But she wasn't.

There were only two reasons for a Vanuli to kill another Vanuli. The first was considered an honor and in most cases, unavoidable. When twins were born to a Vanuli family, the mother almost always died instantly after giving birth, the drain on her magic and body being too much to take. Occasionally, the mother would survive, but just barely. At those times, the mother would be placed in a coma-like state until such time as the twins reached their majority. On their Life Day, the twins' mother would be awakened and sacrificed during the Fusion, in which the two became the One. It was a wholly beautiful experience, and Dorothy was very excited teat she would get to see it in her lifetime.

The second reason was a fate worse than banishment. It was a disgrace to the entire clan; a blight on their very name. When a warrior became a Naiyama-such as Dorothy and Tashpi had-she took an oath to protect her Niamo, her child, from all harm. Her whole life revolved around the one she was to protect. She loved her Niamo, and he, in turn, trusted and loved her. If a Naiyama were to break that trust-and in doing so, her oath-she would be put to death. The only example of a Naiyama ever doing such a thing was in 883 A.D. Vierry Kordel made love to her sixteen year-old Niamo, Allurna LeFey. She was executed within one week's time.

When Dorothy first met Relena, she knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that she was meant to be Relena's Naiyama. So Dorothy never tried to become romantically involved with the princess. When, upon Relena's sixteenth Life Day, Dorothy didn't feel the distinct pull that signified a call to service, she was deeply disappointed. And when Dorothy discovered just exactly who Relena's protector was, she was very relieved. Dorothy knew Tashpi would take care of her friend, following all the rules and regulations that one must. In three months time, when Dorothy felt not one, but three distinctive tugs at her stomach, telling her to go, find her boys, Dorothy left Sank with a heavy heart and a suspicious mind.

Dorothy could tell, even then, that there was more between Relena and Tashpi than there should be. The furtive looks. The casual touches that lingered just a touch too long. It all pointed to the one thing that could never be, and that spelled trouble. The whole thing was wrong. Sooner or later, they would slip up, and the wrong person would find out. That would put an end to their love affair in the most gruesome way possible, and it would kill Relena.

Dorothy couldn't forgive her sister for what she was doing to Relena, but she wouldn't interfere. That didn't mean she would be nice to Tashpi, though.

"Do you think we should stop them, now?" Lucy-formerly Lucretzia Noin-asked, startling Dorothy out of her reverie. Milly's wife patted Dorothy on the arm, as if sensing her thoughts. "I remember Relena saying that she wanted to play a game of some kind?"

***

Heero was so excited. They were about to play the Game. He was going to play the Game! Heero stood in the common room with the rest of the family, waiting for the Game to begin. Milly was explaining the Game for the benefit of Lucy and Harry.

"The object of the Game," Milly said, holding up a large jar; it was glowing a bright blue, "is to get this. This," he shook the jar for emphasis, "is a Vahir. It is pure energy, set to a timer. When the time is up, the Vahir will become corporeal. Whoever has it at that moment wins the Game.

"Now for the rules." A number of groans sounded from around the room, Heero included. Why did such a great Game have to be messed up with rules? "Rule number one: no one player can have possession of the Vahir for the entirety of the Game." Glares all around were directed to Relena. "Rule number two: no one team can have possession of the Vahir for the entirety of the Game." Glares for Heero and Quatre. "Rule number three: no player is to seriously harm another player with the intention of gaining possession of the Vahir. That means no maiming." Glares to Dorothy. "Rule no four: no one-team or player-is to use the facial expressions "puppy dog," "hang dog," or any other with the intention of inspiring pity in other players in order to gain possession of the Vahir." Glared to Heero, Quatre, and Relena. "Finally, rule number five: Heero and Quare are not allowed to be on the same team."

"What?" Heero exclaimed. This was an outrage! Who was supposed to be his partner in crime, err, in the Game, if not Quatre?

"I claim Harry!" Quatre shouted, grabbing onto said brother.

"Relena!" Heero claimed soon after. If he couldn't have either of his brothers as his partner, he would have his favorite cousin. And they would kick. Quatre's. Ass.

Heero grabbed Relena to him, their arms linked. Heero saw Quatre do the same to Harry, on his right, and Tashpi linked arms with Dorothy, on his left. Seeing that the teams were ready, Milly raised the jar and unscrewed the lid.

"Let the Game begin," he said as the Vahir flew out.

***

Harry watched, mesmerized, as the Vahir was let out of its cage. It was so beautiful as it flew towards the middle of the room, and fast. Like a Snitch. Harry would catch it in no time.

If Harry understood Quatre correctly, the Game was like a kind of magical "Tag." Only you wanted to be "It." Players would chase the Vahir around the playing area-usually much larger than these five rooms-and whenever it was caught, it would spread over the player's body, making it look like he was glowing. In order to get it away from the "It" person, all Harry had to do was touch them. The Vahir would move to him, and he would be "It." If one person had the Vahir for more than five minutes, it would detach itself and fly away. Whoever was "It" when the Vahir exploded-usually into confetti, but sometimes as rice or candy-won the Game. And the rest of their team, of course.

"Aah! I got it!" Relena screamed from across the room.

To expect your cousin to be blue and to actually see the glow surrounding her, Harry soon discovered, were actually two quite different things. Relena stood behind the couch, jumping up and down in the air, screaming her current victory for all to hear. Her arms, her face, robes, and even her hair were all covered in this blue light. It was like Harry had put on blue-tinted sunglasses, but just for Relena.

That didn't last long, though, as Heero came out from, seemingly, nowhere and tackled her to the ground.

"Argh!" Relena grunted at the now-blue boy. "What'd you do that for? I'm on your team!"

"I've got it! I've got it!" Heero shouted, completely ignoring Relena's complaints. "I've got-oof."

Quatre ran across the room and tackled Heero. When Harry's partner got up, he had possession of the Vahir.

"Way to go, Quat!" Harry yelled, running over to him. They jumped up and down, like they had on the bed earlier, and clapped their hands together. Immediately, Harry could feel something different. He had the Vahir. He looked at his skin. Up close, he could tell that he was in no danger of the Vahir touching his skin. It hovered over him a good two or three inches. Still, though, he could feel its warmth surrounding him.

Satisfied with his inspection, Harry looked up. To find four feral Vanuli creeping up on him. Harry screamed and ran-right into Dorothy. She smirked and looked oddly ethereal in the blue light. But still so very, very Slytherin.

Never thought I'd see a Slytherin angel, Harry thought, before taking up the chase again.

For the next thirty minutes, the six younger Vanuli chased one another around and around eh five rooms that made up the newcomers' temporary home. Harry counted that he had the Vahir a total of seven times; Quatre had it eleven; Dorothy, nine; Tashpi, eight; Relena, a paltry five; and Heero had it the most, sixteen. Of course, he was more exuberant in acquiring the Vahir than were the others.

Heero currently had the Vahir. He had for a long time. Somehow, when Heero last gained possession of the Vahir, he sprouted wings and flew up to the ceiling. He'd hovered there-occasionally doing little dips and twirls-for almost four and a half minutes.

It was like nothing Harry ever saw before. He'd seen Heero as a full-blown bird, a toucan, back before he knew they were brothers. But never since. And never only part bird. Harry likened it to a cross between an Animagus-because of the wing aspect-and a Metamorphmagus-because Tonks, who was one, could change just one particular part, if she so chose. Harry wondered if all Vanuli could do it. He suspected they couldn't because the others remained landlocked, just like Harry.

Then Harry didn't wonder about anything but the Vahir, as Heero reached the five-minute mark. It was a wonder to see the Vahir gathering itself up into a little blue ball again. It shot out, just like earlier, into the middle of their gathering. Harry could see it coming, feel the air whoosh as it tore through. With his Seeker reflexes honed to near perfection, Harry grabbed onto Dorothy's shoulder and, using her as leverage, hurled himself into the air.

As soon as Harry hit the ground, he was running. He didn't even wait to make sure he had the Vahir, he just ran and ran and ran to the closed bedroom door. If he could just get in there before the rabid packs caught him, he just might be able to wait out the timer. And win the Game.

Harry grabbed the doorknob and pulled with all his might, semi-surprised when it didn't break off in his hand. Throwing the door against the wall, Harry ran out of the common room. And into the hallway.

Harry thought of going back into his cousins' quarters-he really did-but he could feel the Vahir flicker around him-which it didn't ordinarily do-and he could hear the roar of his family behind him. Harry made up his mind and ran away from the rooms, and closer and closer to Hogwarts proper. He ran down long corridors, turned in twisty, out-of-the-way paths, went up and down stairs, and-all in all-took much longer than five minutes. At least, Harry felt that it had to have taken at least six or seven minutes. But apparently, it hadn't because every time Harry looked down, he could see the Vahir surrounding him. It was flickering non-stop but not gathering itself into a ball, like with Heero. Harry took that as a good sign. That it was about to go off.

Harry stepped behind a statue while he caught his breath. He thought he lost the others at least two halls ago, but with Relena's nose, he knew they wouldn't be behind for long. Harry counted to ten in his head. At ten, he was running again, with his breath or without it.

...nine, ten. Harry breathed deeply and stepped out from behind the statue, only to wish he hadn't.

A man stood with his back to Harry, looking around the hall. Harry couldn't tell who he was, but Harry was extremely aware of his current conspicuous state of being. Harry tried to creep back the way he came-where his family was-quietly, so the man couldn't hear him, to no avail. Harry tripped over the feet of the statue he'd hidden behind, bringing the entire thing clattering down on him. Harry cringed and willed the Vahir to go away before the man saw.

It didn't happen.

The man whirled around at the noise, and Harry let out a sigh of relief. It was only Remus. Remus knew more about Harry, Quatre, Heero, and Dorothy than anyone else in the school. Even more than Professor Dumbledore! When they decided (read: were ordered by the sadistic almost-sister Maddy) to practice using their Sights and Gifts after Quatre's unfortunate mishap, they had to have an adult watch over them, to heal them if necessary, but more importantly, to give them a legitimate reason to be out of their dorms at night. Because Harry already had lessons with Remus the requisite number of nights they had to practice, and because Heero had claimed Remus as one of his "puppies," they'd decided Remus would be their instructor.

And, of course, they had to tell him why. The four Vanuli debated over it for several days, but they finally decided to tell Remus the full, unfettered truth, on the condition that he sign a contract of theirs stating that he would not tell their secrets to anything or anyone, be they living, dead, or inanimate. Or animate, for that matter. Were he to break that contract...well, just say something very not nice would happen to Remus and those he loved and cared about.

Understandably, it took Remus a bit to adjust to the news that his "nephew" wasn't human in the slightest. But adjust, he did. Better than Harry, even, considering that he didn't have the close emotional support of Quatre, Heero, and Dorothy. But Remus came to terms with it, and that made him perfectly safe to be around while playing a Vanuli game.

"Harry?" Remus asked, coming over to look closer. "Harry, is that you? Why are you on the floor? Under a statue?"

Harry held out his arm to Remus, and he barely held back his laughter at eh shock on his professor's face.

"Little help, Professor?" Harry said, shaking his arm for emphasis. Remus took the hint and helped Harry to his feet, righting the statue as he did so.

"So, Remus said, after Harry was up and so was the statue, "you mind telling me why you're so blue?"

"We're playing a game," Harry said. The Vahir flickered faster than it ever had, making his skin look a weird purple hue. Harry stared at it, laughing. He looked up at Remus as he felt it go pop, spraying the both of them with licorice. "And I guess, I win."

Selune