Gundam Wing Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction ❯ Peace, Love, and Family: The Story of the Vanuli Three ❯ Kidnapped ( Chapter 35 )

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, Relena/OFC, OMCx4, Zacharias/Harry

Category: crossover, fantasy, general, drama

Author: Selune

Author's site: livejournal.com/users/selune2

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 35: Kidnapped

Tuesday evening

December 3, AC 197

4:56 PM

France Base

Kayla grabbed her pack and secured it around her shoulders. In it was food, water, a tent, and many other supplies she or the werewolves might need on the long trek to the Dark Lord's hideout-enough for at least a week. Because You-Know-Who and Dr. J were both paranoid to the point of insanity (with good reason, of course-it's not paranoia if they really are out to get you), getting from one base to another was a bitch.

First, they had to hike out to the Apparition point-which was about ten miles away on very rough terrain-where they would Apparate to a French brothel. At the brothel, the Madam would let them Floo-for a hefty fee-to a pub outside London. From there, they would portkey to two miles outside of the Dark Lord's wards. They would then hike to the wards (there was only one specific spot in which to enter, and it was warded against Apparition), disarm the traps, enter the wards, re-arm the traps, and hike the quarter mile to You-Know-Who's England base.

It was hard enough to go it alone, but with a dozen newbies, it would be pure torture.

"Are you almost ready?" Kayla snapped at the pack leader, who was fighting with his own backpack. She drew a circular device from her bag (the only one, as they had been taken out of the wolves' bags) and punched in her own personal code. The device, when used correctly, produced the same effects as the Cruciatus curse. It had both a scientific and magical setting, so it could be used anywhere. It allowed those without the hatred necessary to use the Cruciatus curse to use the Unforgivable to its full advantage, and because it didn't use the user's magic, it was virtually untraceable. Dr. J developed it six months ago, and it was still in beta testing. However, Dr. J wasn't exactly a very patient man these days. According to him, the best test for the device's usefulness would be on the battlefield.

Today, Kayla would be using it to protect herself. She was distrustful of the werewolf pack's motives. As far as she knew, the werewolves could have been playing Dr. J when they decided to ally themselves with him. They could be spies from the Dark Lord-or worse, spies for Dumbledore, the Preventers, even Heero and his brothers.

Kayla explained to Roun and the others about the use of the Cruciatus Imitator, letting them know, in no uncertain terms, that she would not hesitate to use it against each and every one of them, if she felt herself to be in danger from them.

The wolves finally ready, Kayla gave the signal to move out.

***

Kayla didn't like having her back to the werewolves, but it couldn't be helped. They had been blindfolded when she and Gamma-3 (a big woman in her late twenties, with short, black hair-she went by the name Clarice Shoemaker) brought them to the main base. Kayla was the only one who knew the way.

"Can we stop now?" one of the werewolves whined. He was called Cub, and Kayla could see why. He couldn't be much older than fourteen, and he still had that baby pudge on his cheeks. Kayla didn't know his real name, but she didn't much care.

"No," she said, climbing over a fallen tree. There had been a nasty storm a few nights ago, and there were trees down all over the place.

"Yes, we can," Roun said from behind her. She could practically feelhim sit on the tree, along with the rest of his overgrown mutts.

Subtly shaking with anger-it had been a long, long day, and they still had three miles to go before dusk-she turned on her left foot. "What. Did. You. Say?" she demanded. She did nottolerate anyoneundermining her authority.

Roun was smiling at her, petting Cub's hair. "Look, we're all tired. We've spent most of the day being poked and prodded by your Healers, not to mention being "kidnapped" by you and that other woman just yesterday. Just give us a few minute's rest, and we'll be good as new."

Kayla looked around at the other ten werewolves. From their expressions, she knew they wouldn't move until their leader said to. She supposed that she could use the Cruciatus Imitator on one or two of them, but she didn't think that would exactly inspire loyalty in them. Kayla sighed and sat down on the tree, dangling her legs off the end. She supposed a little rest couldn't hurt.

***

"All right," Kayla said, getting to her feet. "Break's over. Time to go." To her relief, the werewolves all got up and started to follow her.

It only took them half an hour to make it to the Apparition point. Kayla glanced around at the markers-a rock that was a little too round, a blue mushroom, and a one inch squared plot of only four leaf clovers.

"Listen up, people," she shouted as she stopped. "We have reached the Apparition point. I will not describe to you where we are going. Instead, I will blindfold you and personally Apparate each and every one of you to the next leg of the journey. I will only be taking one at a time, so line up, people."

The werewolves did as they were told. A tiny woman with honey blonde hair and blue eyes was the first in line. On Kayla's gesture, she stepped in the area between the markers and let Kayla blindfold her. Kayla grabbed the woman in a bear hug, touching as much of her as possible-it was always a gamble, Apparating other people-and Disapparated to the brothel.

They re-appeared in a back room, next to the Madam's quarters. Kayla pressed the button beside the door and waited for the Madam to show up. She planned on explaining the situation before going back and getting the others.

Kayla started to turn back around when her head erupted in pain, and everything went black.

***

Wednesday morning

December 4, AC 197

4:13 am

Gryffindor Tower

Quatre jerked awake, his naked legs tangling with Heero's. For once on the side of the bed with the night table, Quatre fumbled for the clock. Upon seeing the time, he groaned. He didn't have to get up for another two hours and twenty-seven minutes! Sighing, Quatre untangled himself from Heero and got out of bed. After months of training, it was second nature to write down his visions as soon as they were over.

This vision was weird for one reason only. It seemed like it lasted forever. It skipped over irrelevant data-which most other visions did-but the sheer amount of information conveyed was phenomenal. He now knew how to get to Voldemort's headquarters, and he could figure out where Dr. J's base of operations was based on what he saw. Plus, the kidnapped girl-who undoubtedly knew Heero, if her identification number was any indication-would be a wealth of information.

On the bed, Heero stirred. Quatre stilled his writing-quills weren't exactly the most quiet of writing utensils-and waited for him to settle back to sleep.

No such luck.

"Quatre?" Heero asked, his voice hoarse from sleep. "What are you doing up?"

"I just had a vision," Quatre whispered, not wanting to wake up Harry, also. "I was just writing it down. You can read it later. Go back to sleep."

"Okay," Heero said, a yawn interrupting him. "Goodnight."

Once Heero was asleep, Quatre began writing again. That vision had to be a lucky break!

***

It was the second class of the day, and Heero was concentrating furiously. Not on McGonagall, though. He was ignoring her just as he had ignored Trelawny during Double Divinations that morning. No, Heero was concentrating on something much more important-Daemon's garland.

A garland was usually a wreath one wore on one's head. It was made from flowers and the the stems of such flowers. Wreaths were usually worn during festivals, holidays, or after winning some type of contest. In ancient Greece, Olympic winners were rewarded with wreaths-unlike now, when Olympic winners were rewarded with fame and shoe endorsement deals.

To Vanuli, garlands were much more important than any wreath could be. Upon birth, a garland was made for each and every baby Vanuli. Many components went into the garlands. Flowers and such were the base of the garland; they gave it its shape. The hair of the mother, father, and baby were weaved into the garland. A great deal of magic went into making the garlands, and only the Vanuli nobility had the requisite amount of magic to actually make the garland a part of the baby, able to grow and change as the child did.

Noble children were taught how to make garlands between the ages of sixteen and eighteen. At least, they used to be. The tradition of making such magnificent garlands had fallen out of practice, and it was usually the responsibility of the custodial parent to make the garland.

A Vanuli would keep his or her birth garland until death, with only two exceptions: marriage, or a change in status. When married, the Vanuli changing his/her family would be given a new garland made by the other's family. Since Heero didn't know if Milliardo would have the time or the inclination to do so, he was doing Tashpi's, as Relena's favorite cousin. Dorothy was making one for Relena in case Milliardo didn't show up for the wedding, and Relena was forced to take the name of Mordal instead of the other way around.

A garland made for a rise in status (such as being confirmed as the Crown Prince), the immediate superior (the Queen) would make the garland. If there was no superior, the Vanuli being replaced would make it. For a decline in status, a Vanuli would use his/her former garland.

For Daemon, Heero had to make a whole new garland (and pick out a Vanuli name) because he would be Daemon's brother-father. His brother as a peer, and his father as the more experienced, the Turner.

The Turning ceremony was tentatively scheduled for Saturday evening, after Harry's date with the Hufflepuff. After the ceremony, Daemon could go one of three ways: His body could reject the blood and flush it out of his system; his body could reject the blood and kill him; or his body could accept the blood and turn him Vanuli. If either the first or the third happened, Daemon would need constant supervision, at least until Sunday at midnight. If the second started happening, Heero was going to freeze him and try to reverse the process. Very few people had ever died from the Turning, but it was enough to worry about.

"Mr. Yuy!" McGonagall rapped her hand on his desk, startling him out of his concentration. "What are the hypotheses experts have for the talent of becoming an Animagus?"

Heero thought. "One theory, which most Animagi believe, is that Animagi simply are more powerful-at least, as it relates to transfigurations. Another hypothesis is that it's like Quidditch or casting spells-some have a natural talent for it, but almost anybody can do it with enough practice and perserverence. The last hypothesis states that there is a certain set of genes which enables people with the correct alleles in the correct order which allows those people to become Animagi. It's a very controversial theory, since a Magicologist came up with it."

"Very good, Mr. Yuy," Professor McGonagall said. "I would give you house points, but since that would be moot, two points to your last paper."

Professor McGonagall walked back to the front of the class, lecturing on Animagi, Metamorphmagi, and the many forms of transfiguring oneself.

Heero went back to Daemon's garland, adding in a bit of his hair.

***

Dorothy was walking to Care of Magical Creatures with Daemon, Relena's garland hanging loosely from her hand. She didn't like Daemon much-he was a sniveling, little coward who hurt her boy, Heero-but it was nice having someone with whom to walk to class. She didn't have to throw her own weight around near as much when she walked after him-sort of like walking in some else's snow tracks.

Dorothy had been working on Relena's garland since the day before, and it was close to being finished. A bit more of the Vine Rose-which Heero had shown her in a garden he'd seen from the Owlery one day-a couple drops of blood, and all of the necessary spells, and it would be done.

"Ugh! What is that smell?" Daemon asked as they got closer to Hagrid's house, holding his hand over his nose.

"What sme-" Dorothy wrinkled her nose, resisting the urge to puke up her recently eaten food. Wednesday COMC was always the best-right after lunch.

"It smells like rotten eggs and-"

"Burnt matches," Dorothy interrupted, bringing her hand up to her nose.

"I was going to say, 'a chicken coop,' " Daemon said huffily.

"I've never smelled a chicken coop," Dorothy said, "but I have smelled burnt matches. And that's what this smells like." Not wanting to get into another petty argument with Daemon, which would just end up making her want to grab him by the ears and throw him into the Forbidden Forest-sort of like this nasty principal did to a little pig-tailed girl in a really old Muggle vid Heero made her watch-which would, in turn, end up pissing off Heero and Quatre who-remarkably-actually seemed to like him.

As Dorothy got closer to Hagrid's house, she could see several bonfires lighting up the sky, melting the little bit of snow that always stayed on the ground in the winter. Dorothy found and stood by her boys-Heero with two garlands hanging from his arm.

"What creature is this?" she asked Harry while looking around for one type of monster of another. Harry usually knew-better than anyone-what was going on in Professor Hagrid's class, seeing as how he actually tried to treat Hagrid's class as he would any other, instead of the easy "A" most people considered it.

"Drakes," Harry said, leaning into her. "Invisible, benevolent creatures that help out with fire magic. The only drawback is that they smell like a cross between rotten eggs and a chicken coop."

"Told you so," Daemon said, coming up from behind her.

Dorothy scowled and stomped on his foot.

Not stopping in his speech, Harry went on, explaining that, because of the fires, Hagrid had attracted a clutch of salamanders, too. Dorothy looked more closely at the fires, seeing purple balls of fire rolling into the ice, turning into red lizards, and jumping back into the fire, as she mused on Harry's reaction to Daemon. He seemed to trust Daemon just a little bit more than she did-which meant, of course, not a damn bit. Harry, however, never actually said it aloud, so she wasn't too sure.

Hagrid came out of his house, banging the door shut.

" 'Ello, class," Hagrid said, going to the closest fire. "Terday, we'll be learnin' about drakes and salamanders."

***

Heero sat in his regular seat in Potions-next to Duo-musing over Quatre's most recent vision as he continued weaving his own hair into Daemon's garland. He could probably finish it that night and be able to work on Tashpi's tomorrow.

Quatre's vision was a lucky break for the triplets. One of the things that had worried Heero often was that they didn't know where their enemies were and what they were doing. They now knew that Dr. J and Voldemort had teamed up, but they were paranoid about the intentions of their partners in crime. The triplets knew how to get to Voldemort's hideout-all they had to do was Apparate into the brothel and go from there. They knew basically how to get to Dr. J's headquarters-and they had a prisoner from whom they could extract exact directions. Roun and the others would be greatly rewarded for their deed.

The only problem Heero had with the whole thing was their choice (or lack thereof) of prisoner. Heero had grown up with Kayla Guildenstern. She was Daemon's second-in-command, and with Daemon here at Hogwarts, she was the ranking officer of the Omegas. Chances were, she, like most of J's weapons, had undergone some type of brainwashing. It would be difficult and definitely no too pretty to do what they would most likely have to do. Especially to a girl he'd once thought of as a sister.

Snape burst into the room, robes billowing out behind him as it always did. Heero ignored his professor and continued working on the garland. He could see Dorothy doing so, too, out of the corner of his eye. She'd snagged the desk opposite him, leaving Ron and Hermione to the front seat.

Snape sneered at Heero and Dorothy, but the didn't say anything about it. Obviously, he'd heard what happened to the professors who'd tried to make them stop their activity. Rather, he'd heard what happened to Professor Vector when he'd tried to make Dorothy stop during her Double Arithmancy class. Using magic that was supposed to be kept for use only in protecting her Niamos, she'd encased him in a bubble from head to toe for the remainder of the class. Every spell he sent at the bubble-to try to get himself out-was obsorbed into the bubble, making it stronger. Dorothy left Professor Vector in the bubble until class was over, forcing him to lecture while in it.

Since nobody could prove it was Dorothy's doing-she had neither pointed her wand at him nor said a word-she got off scot free. The whole school knew, though, that it was Dorothy's doing. With each passage of the rumor, Dorothy's spell grew bigger-and her name more feared. Dorothy liked the gossip more and more, actually adding to it when it came back around to her.

As Snape began lecturing-thankfully, Wednesday Potions was just a single, and there would be no actually potion-making-Heero began half-listening. He could always get the notes from Quatre later, who despite being somewhat smitten with his Potions partner, could always be counted on to listen and record every word Snape said.

Heero looked down at the garland. It had enough of his hair in it. Nodding to himself, he reached in front of him and pulled out a few strands of Daemon's-it was better if they had the root on them.

"Ow!" Daemon yelled, holding the back of his head with his hand. He turned around in his seat. "What did you do that for?"

Heero smiled and showed Daemon the garland. Heero had told him a bit about the roles garlands played in Vanuli society. At seeing the garland, Daemon's mouth formed an 'O.' He turned back around in his seat, still rubbing his head.

Snape said nothing about the exchange.

***

Another night of massive group studying was over. It was nine o'clock, and the seventh years had been studying since classes let out at three. Thankfully, the library stayed open later during exams, so they weren't forcibly thrown out at eight. Most students studied non-stop, though a few actually took a break to east supper. Harry hadn't been one of them, and his stomach was growling as he waved good-bye to Trowa and Ron, his Transfigurations group. Transfigurations was to be Ron's and Harry's second end-of-term exam, after Divination next Wednesday.

Harry watched as most of the group filed out of the library-more like ran, for Heero and Maxwell; it was their first time staying for the whole thing-and Harry was glad to see that Zacharias (and of course, Hermione) was not with them.

Arms slinked around Harry's shoulders from behind, pulling him in close, a nose pressed against his neck.

"Your name better be Zacharias Smith, or you're headed the right way for an smacked bottom," Harry said lightly. He turned in Zacharias's arms and kissed him on the chin-which was as high as he could get without tiptoeing; Zacharias was easily the tallest person in seventh year, even beating out Dean and Ron by several inches.

"I guess it's a good thing I took that Polyjuice Potion, then," Zacharias said. "You won't know it's not me for another hour." Zacharias leaned down to give Harry a proper kiss when both of their stomachs growled fiercely.

"Guess that won't happen just yet," Harry said, laughing into Zacharias's chest. "I guess you didn't break for food, either." Harry put his bag over one shoulder and tugged on Zacharias's hand. "Come on, I know where we can get some food."

"We're turning into a couple of regular Grangers," Zacharias said, using the-sometimes hurtful-seventh year slang regarding Hermione and her study habits. Zacharias quickly shouldered his bag and let Harry lead him out of the library. "Where are we going?" Zacharias asked, loudly, after they were out from under the glare of Madam Pince.

"To somewhere my friends won't be happy I'm showing to you." Ron didn't like Zacharias very much. He had taken up offering to set Harry up with George, again. Well, after he took the time away from glaring at Neville and threatening to do him grievous bodily harm.

"Your friends wouldn't like you to show me a lot of things," Zacharias said as they reached the ground floor. "And that, of course, is the sign that you shouldshow it to me."

Harry headed to the door to the right of the main staircase in the entrance hall, leading Zacharias down a corridor, stopping when they reached the painting of a bowl of fruit. Stomach growling, Harry tickled the pear. It giggled, and Harry opened the door, pulling Zacharias after him.

The house elves were bustling around in the kitchen, still cleaning up the dishes and the leftovers (some of which went to Hagrid's creatures). Harry turned around to see the look on Zacharias's face. His jaw hanging open for only a second before he got a hold of himself.

"How did I not know about this place?" Zacharias asked. "I walk by this corridor every day."

"You've just got to know the right people," Harry said, just as Dobby popped into view. Harry turned to Dobby, obscuring Zacharias from the house elf's view.

"MisterHarryPottersir," Dobby squealed. "What can I do for you and your Never?"

Harry's smile fell, and Zacharias stepped out from behind Harry, no longer out of sight by any view-even a house elf's.

"We just need a couple of sandwiches. Right, Harry?" Zacharias said, bumping into Harry.

Harry broke out of his daze. "Yeah," he said. Dobby smiled at him like a-well, like a house elf on a mission.

Harry turned to Zacharias and fisted his hands in Zacharias's robes. "I am so sorry." Apparently, the rumor mill hadn't made it down to the kitchen, or Dobby had refused to believe any of it and still believed Harry and Neville to be together. Last year, even before they got together, Harry and Neville would come to the kitchen to get food for the Gryffindor parties.

"It's all right," Zacharias said, blowing it off. Harry knew he cared, though. That he didn't like being Rebound Boy very much. Zacharias jumped up onto a counter, his legs swinging. "So tell me," Zacharias said nonchalantly, looking at Harry through his curly bangs, "why did you and Longbottom break up?"

Harry jumped up next to Zacharias, twining their hands together. He focused on their entwined hands. "There were several reasons, actually," Harry began, trying to figure out how much to tell Zacharias. After all, they hadn't even been together a week, hadn't had their first date, or even made their relationship official. "Neville started getting really jealous in the middle of our relationship. He was always a little possessive and down on himself, so there were signs. He convinced himself that I was cheating on him with Quatre and Heero," which isn't so very far from the truth, "even more so when he learned that we were related. If you know anything about Vanuli culture, it is a reasonable belief." Biggest understatement of the year. "Well, we both got tired of it and called it quits."

"So it was a mutual thing?" Zacharias asked, letting out a breath. Subtly but Harry heard it.

"Yeah," Harry lied easily. Telling Zacharias everything didn't seem to be too good an idea. After all, he was completely honest with Neville, and look how that turned out.

"Well, you don't have to worry about me being jealous," Zacharias said. "You know, if we become boyfriends."

"Oh, yes," Harry said. "If." He looked at his watch. "You know, I think you're Polyjuice Potion should be wearing off right about now. Let's see who you really are." He leaned in close to Zacharias, to give him a slow, sensual kiss, but a noise to his right distracted him. Harry looked, and it was Dobby, carrying a big tray of sandwiches. "Food!" Harry yelled, neatly jumping off the counter.

Selune