Gundam Wing Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction ❯ Peace, Love, and Family: The Story of the Vanuli Three ❯ I Hate You, I Love You ( Chapter 54 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Selune 
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction | Genre(s): / Hentai / Fantasy / Drama / Angst | Type: Crossover | Uploaded On: 07.28.2005 | Pages: 4 | Words: 4.6K | Visits: 297 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction | Genre(s): / Hentai / Fantasy / Drama / Angst | Type: Crossover | Uploaded On: 07.28.2005 | Pages: 4 | Words: 4.6K | Visits: 297 | Status: Work In Progress
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: 2x1, Relena/OFC, OMCx4, OMC/Harry
Category: crossover, fantasy, general, drama
Author: Selune
Author's site: www.livejournal.com/~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 54: I Hate You, I Love You
Beta-6 smirked at Heero. "Aren't you happy to see me?"
"Of course!" Heero pasted a huge smile on his face. If he could only think of a way out of this. Like with Dorothy, Heero had to follow his father's direct orders—it was built into him, like his love of Bellarmees and his blue eyes. But his father didn't order him not to—
"I order you to not call or help—in any manner."
Well, shit.
Beta-6 whispered a spell that Heero didn't quite catch. "Now, you can't teleport out, and no one can teleport in."
Double shit.
"I order you to stay exactly where you are."
Beta-6 advanced on Heero. Heero struggled to run, to move, to do something, but he couldn't. He was stuck. Heero's father brought out a needle and three vials.
Heero's eyes went wide. "You can't," he said, horrified.
"I can," Beta-6 muttered. "Now, shut up."
But it wasn't an order, so Heero didn't have to comply. "Please, don't," Heero begged. "Whatever he's giving you, I can make it look like nothing." Beta-6 ignored him. "I'm your son! Don't do this to me!"
Loud stomping came from the steps, and Heero's spirits soared. If someone was coming, he was saved! His father wouldn't be able to get his blood to Turn J into a Vanuli, and Heero wouldn't be a traitor.
Beta-6 tensed at the sound, but he relaxed when someone whistled three sharp notes. 'That'll be Silverman and Thomas."
Heero's hopes sank. It was just back-up for Daddy Dearest. "I hope he dies," Heero spat. "Vanuli blood is like poison to a human, you know. It'll rot him from the inside—"
"Traitor," Beta-6 said, "I order you to shut up."
Heero's mouth snapped shut with an audible click.
Beta-6 quickly found a vein and inserted the needle in the crook of Heero's elbow. Heero, not to be outdone, concentrated on his Gift while they remained touching. Nothing happened. Beta-6 filled up the vials and put them away in his robes.
Beta-6 held up an old floppy-disk. "Now, if you'd just touch the portkey." Heero didn't move, and Beta-6 rolled his eyes. "I order you to touch this p—"
"I order you to stay away from that portkey at all costs!"
***
Dorothy teleported as close as she could get to Heero and ran the rest of the way, until she came across two goons on the stairs. They were, obviously, J's men—they weren't quite so over-the-top as Voldemort's. She tried to pass them, but they blocked her way.
"I suggest that you let me pass," she said through gritted teeth.
The man on the left laughed. "Or you're gonna do what, little girl? Braid our hair?"
Dorothy smiled. Now was not the time for fun, but she couldn't help it if an opportunity presented itself. "No," she said in as sweet a voice as she could muster. "I'm going to do this."
She grabbed the wrist of the man on the right and used it to hurl him up the steps. The other man stopped laughing and went for his wand. Giggling, Dorothy used her Gift to vanish the bones in both of his hands. He looked up, his eyes comically wide.
Dorothy heard talking from the hall upstairs and decided to finish this. With a flick of her hand, she vanished the man's arm and leg bones. When he was just a torso squirming around on the floor, his limbs ruined, she punched him straight through the ribcage, grabbed his heart, and tore it from his chest.
For the other guy—who was knocked out from his fall—Dorothy vanished his skull. She made sure to step in his brains when she passed.
"Ew. Squishy."
Then, she heard what Heero's father was saying, and she yelled out.
***
Heero smirked at his father before scrambling away from the portkey.
"Sorry, Dad, but she outranks you."
"I order you to—"
"Expelliarmus!" Dorothy yelled. Beta-6 flew to the far wall, crashing against it. The portkey flew in the opposite direction.
Dorothy stalked to where Heero's father lay crumpled, murder in her eyes. She raised her hand, and Heero yelled out, "No! Don't kill him!"
She turned around. "It's for the best."
"Please," Heero begged for the second time that night. "He's my father."
Dorothy nodded. "For you, Niamo." She turned back to Beta-6, but he wasn't on the floor anymore. He came barreling passed her and dove for the portkey, almost touching Heero as he passed. He hit the floppy disk and disappeared.
Heero let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Dorothy strode over to him and wrapped her arms around his thin frame. They sank to the floor, and she placed a chaste kiss on his forehead.
Heero heard screams coming from downstairs.
Dorothy said, "Someone must have found the bodies."
***
"Gentlemen, Miss Catalonia, please, have a seat." Albus gestured to the plush chairs decorating his office. He sat behind his desk and waited for the children to get settled. He had failed them—all of them—today. "I assume you know why you're here."
They nodded, murmuring their agreement. Miss Catalonia rubbed Mr. Yuy's shoulder and pulled him tighter to her. "You want to know how much we know about the attack."
"Precisely." Albus popped a lemon drop in his mouth, more as something to do than because he really wanted one. He offered them one, but they all declined.
"They're mine," Mr. Yuy spoke up, nestled between Miss Catalonia and Harry. "The werewolves, they belong to me; they bear my Mark. I brought them here."
Cries of contention broke out amongst the students.
"No, you—"
"You had nothing—"
"It's not your fault!" Harry yelled, holding his brother's chin in his hand. "Heero, you couldn't have known—"
"I brought dangerous, dark creatures around children and treated them like pets!" Mr. Yuy argued, tearing his face from Harry's grip.
"They were in the Forbidden Forest, far away from the school," Mr. Winner protested. "It wasn't until the Death Eaters attacked—oh!" He jumped up from the chair he was sharing with Mr. Rosencrantz. "They used this device to make themselves invisible. There's a double agent in J's camp. He stole it."
Albus was surprised that he mentioned J's cohort. They never had before. "Who is J?"
Mr. Rosencrantz rolled his eyes. "Come off it, old man. You know damn well who J is. He's the man who made us." He gestured to himself and the triplets.
"Ah. I must admit, I knew that Voldemort had recently acquired a partner, though I don't know much about him."
"J's a magicologist," Mr. Yuy said. "He combines science with magic. He's your typical evil genius. And now he has my blood."
Albus was alarmed. Voldemort was already a formidable enemy. If he became Vanuli, he would be close to unstoppable.
"Now, he'll become Vanuli, just like Voldemort," Mr. Yuy continued.
"You mean...?" Albus asked.
"Voldemort's been Vanuli since the Third Task," Harry put in. "You know, my blood and all."
This is bad, Albus thought, but all hope was not lost. After all, there was a prophecy that these boys would win. He would have to trust in it.
A look went through the children. Mr. Winner nodded, and Harry said, "We have a plan, though..."
***
The next morning after breakfast, Harry, Ron, and Heero made their way to the Hospital Wing. Harry and Ron were going to visit Hermione, and Heero was visiting Maxwell, who got scratched up pretty bad. Classes were canceled today, so Hermione would be glad that she wasn't missing lessons.
They got to the Infirmary and split up, Heero going over to where Barton and Chang were visiting Maxwell.
"Hey, Hermione," Harry said softly, mindful of the other patients. About twelve students got hurt in the attack last night. Amazingly, nobody was killed. Madam Pomfrey would be keeping Hermione and the others for a day or two, until their lycanthropy tests came back. Hopefully, they would all be negative. "How are you feeling?"
"Tired. I've been up all night, worrying," Hermione answered. Ron at on the bed next to her and held her hand. "I guess I don't have to anymore." She let out a half-chuckle, half-sob. "My preliminary tests came back." She took a deep breath. "They were positive. I'm a werewolf."
"Oh, Herm," Harry said, using the hated nickname. He sat on the other side and grabbed her right hand. "I have something to ask you, and I don't want you to think I'm doing this just because of this. This goes for you, too, Ron. I was wondering, well. . ."
"Just ask, Harry," Hermione said, her brown eyes warm. "It can't be that bad."
"All right." Harry screwed up his courage. "Will you be my sister? Will you let me Turn you into a Vanuli?"
Hermione started. "Harry," she breathed. "I don't know—I'll have to think about it."
Harry nodded and looked to Ron. "And you? Will you be my brother?"
Ron smiled. "Harry, we've been brothers since first year, but why not? Let's make it official."
***
Heero approached Duo's bed cautiously. They might be on good terms, but Trowa and Wufei were still hostile towards him.
And why wouldn't they be? You've done nothing to make them change their minds about you.
Duo saw Heero first, as Wufei's and Trowa's backs were to him, and he smiled. "Hey, 'Ro," he said, causing his friends to turn around.
"Hello Duo. Wufei. Trowa." Heero nodded to them before turning his full attention back to Duo. He slid onto the bed beside Duo and pecked his boyfriend on the lips. It was like they'd never been apart. "How are you feeling?"
Duo's smile lit up his face. "I'm fantastic!"
"His preliminary tests came back negative," Wufei elaborated.
"That's great!" Heero gushed, a weight lifting off his shoulders. He didn't know what he would have done if Duo had been a werewolf. Duo certainly wouldn't take one of Heero's Marks; not after last night. Thankfully, Heero didn't have to think about it.
"Guys?" Duo said to Trowa and Wufei. "Can we be alone? I need to talk to Heero."
Trowa nodded and squeezed Duo on his uninjured shoulder. They left.
Duo looked at Heero. "How are you holding up?" he asked in Japanese.
"I'm fine," Heero insisted. He rubbed his hand over Duo's cheek. "I'm sorry about this."
Duo brought Heero down for a kiss. "'S not your fault," he said.
"Everyone's saying that."
"Everyone's right."
Heero looked at Duo skeptically. "Sure."
"So," Duo said, raising himself up to where he was nose to nose with Heero, "what happened to your puppies?"
Heero frowned. "Dumbledore let them 'escape' before the Aurors got here. They're probably deep in the Forbidden Forest by now. They'll never be found."
"Good," Duo said.
Heero smiled and kissed Duo again.
***
That evening, Harry and Dorothy were in the Gryffindor common room, calmly discussing Harry's Valentine's Day plans.
"I said no!" Dorothy screeched.
"You promised that you'd let me!" Harry snarled back. "You said I could see Balor."
The others in the common room looked on amusedly—some even going so far as to titter over their words—which served to fuel Harry's anger.
"I believe I said maybe," Dorothy said reasonably. "I've changed that to a 'no.' It's just too dangerous."
"You're a liar," Harry said, his eyes burning furiously. "You said if we were all okay, I could go." His voice dropped to a whisper.
"I can't take the risk of you getting hurt, or of Heero or Quatre getting hurt while I'm with you." She reached out to squeeze his shoulder, but he recoiled.
"Don't touch me," he said. "You have no problem letting Heero be alone with his boyfriend, who is in no shape to protect him, or for Quatre to be alone with Daemon. Why can't you just take me there? Balor won't let anything happen to me." Harry was disgruntled at the thought of having to be protected by his big, burly boyfriend, whose magic was nowhere near Harry's power, but he figured it might sway Dorothy. It looked like it might be working.
"No," she said at the last minute. She switched to Vanulian and the others around them lost interest. "I give Heero and Quatre some privacy while they're in the castle. My spiders watch them, and I know that they're safe. If they aren't, I can teleport to them in a snap and kill whoever or whatever is hurting them. I can't do that at Haven. I can't teleport into or out of Haven—I have to leave by the exits. My control of the spiders doesn't reach across dimensions. If I was at Haven, I wouldn't know if Heero and Quatre were okay, and if I was here, I wouldn't know about you."
Harry understood Dorothy's reasons and he sympathized. He really did. He just didn't care. He hadn't seen Balor in weeks, and he only had a little over a month until his Life Day and everything changed.
"I hate you," he said, more to hurt Dorothy than because he meant it. He stalked towards his dorm, already regretting his words.
He would just have to find some other way to see Balor.
***
Neville Longbottom was not a man of many talents. He was pudgy, clumsy, and absolutely horrid at Potions. He jealously guarded his lovers, and it was that jealousy that ruined, perhaps, the best thing to ever happen to Neville in his young life: his relationship with Harry Potter. Neville kicked himself every day for ruining things with Harry, especially when Harry started dating other people. Now that Harry was with that other Vanuli—Valor or something—Neville knew he would never have another chance. Harry was just too in love with his boyfriend.
That didn't mean, thought, that Neville could—or would—ignore a crying Harry.
After several minutes of Harry and Catalonia yelling at each other in the common room, Harry came stomping up the stairs. He didn't see Neville and flung himself onto Yuy's bed, sobbing for all he was worth.
Hesitantly, Neville made his way over to his ex-boyfriend. "Harry?"
"Go 'way," Harry muttered through his tears.
Neville sighed and sat down on the bed. It was dusty from disuse. His hand hovered over the small of Harry's back before clenching and coming to rest on his own thigh. "Do you—do you want to talk about it?"
"No," Harry croaked. "Yes." He turned over to face Neville. His eyes were rimmed with red, and his face was blotchy. He looked gorgeous, as always. "I told her I hated her. She told me I couldn't see him, and I told her I hated her."
"Who can't you see?" Neville asked. He almost moved to wipe Harry's fringe out of his eyes but stopped himself just in time. They weren't dating anymore, so he didn't have the right to touch Harry.
"Balor." Harry buried his face back in his pillow. "I haven't seen him in forever, and I really miss him, but I didn't mean what I said—I said such a horrible thing to her—and now she's probably sad, and I still won't get to see him." Harry took a deep breath. "And you probably don't want to be hearing any of this."
Neville had to admit, it was awkward, hearing the love of his life talk about the love of his life, but Neville would do it and not complain, as he did so many things.
"Shh, it's all right," Neville mumbled.
Harry sat up and leaned into Neville. Neville wrapped his arm around Harry and pulled him close. Neville had read—rather, he'd heard Hermione read—that Vanuli were a very tactile species. They craved the touch of their families during stressful times. Neville guessed that meant exes—ex-friends, ex-boyfriends, ex-lovers—would do in a pinch.
"I should probably apologize to Dorothy," Harry said softly.
"If you think so," Neville said neutrally. Privately, he thought the horrid girl got what she deserved.
"But not just yet," Harry said. "This is nice." Harry yawned and lay his head on Neville's shoulder.
It was nice, and oh, so painful. Neville let it happen, though, because he knew Harry didn't get much sleep last night. After the attack and Yuy's attempted kidnapping, the Vanuli family had been up all night. They'd woken Neville up several times.
Of course, Neville would let Harry touch him, no matter how much sleep he had, anywhere he wanted to, any time he wanted to.
Harry's hair fell in his face, and this time, Neville did brush it back. "I'm still in love with you," he said, kissing Harry's forehead directly on his scar.
"I know," Harry said, sleepily.
Quietly, Neville's heart broke. Harry was finally over him.
***
Voldemort looked down at his partner-in-crime. J was covered in a hard shell, as all were during their Turning. Of course, Voldemort was never Turned. He was born Vanuli, albeit, the second time around. He was stronger than J would be. But those bloody triplets were still stronger than him.
Nodding, Voldemort consented for his blood to be drawn. He would get stronger, and he would destroy those children.
Selune
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: 2x1, Relena/OFC, OMCx4, OMC/Harry
Category: crossover, fantasy, general, drama
Author: Selune
Author's site: www.livejournal.com/~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 54: I Hate You, I Love You
Beta-6 smirked at Heero. "Aren't you happy to see me?"
"Of course!" Heero pasted a huge smile on his face. If he could only think of a way out of this. Like with Dorothy, Heero had to follow his father's direct orders—it was built into him, like his love of Bellarmees and his blue eyes. But his father didn't order him not to—
"I order you to not call or help—in any manner."
Well, shit.
Beta-6 whispered a spell that Heero didn't quite catch. "Now, you can't teleport out, and no one can teleport in."
Double shit.
"I order you to stay exactly where you are."
Beta-6 advanced on Heero. Heero struggled to run, to move, to do something, but he couldn't. He was stuck. Heero's father brought out a needle and three vials.
Heero's eyes went wide. "You can't," he said, horrified.
"I can," Beta-6 muttered. "Now, shut up."
But it wasn't an order, so Heero didn't have to comply. "Please, don't," Heero begged. "Whatever he's giving you, I can make it look like nothing." Beta-6 ignored him. "I'm your son! Don't do this to me!"
Loud stomping came from the steps, and Heero's spirits soared. If someone was coming, he was saved! His father wouldn't be able to get his blood to Turn J into a Vanuli, and Heero wouldn't be a traitor.
Beta-6 tensed at the sound, but he relaxed when someone whistled three sharp notes. 'That'll be Silverman and Thomas."
Heero's hopes sank. It was just back-up for Daddy Dearest. "I hope he dies," Heero spat. "Vanuli blood is like poison to a human, you know. It'll rot him from the inside—"
"Traitor," Beta-6 said, "I order you to shut up."
Heero's mouth snapped shut with an audible click.
Beta-6 quickly found a vein and inserted the needle in the crook of Heero's elbow. Heero, not to be outdone, concentrated on his Gift while they remained touching. Nothing happened. Beta-6 filled up the vials and put them away in his robes.
Beta-6 held up an old floppy-disk. "Now, if you'd just touch the portkey." Heero didn't move, and Beta-6 rolled his eyes. "I order you to touch this p—"
"I order you to stay away from that portkey at all costs!"
***
Dorothy teleported as close as she could get to Heero and ran the rest of the way, until she came across two goons on the stairs. They were, obviously, J's men—they weren't quite so over-the-top as Voldemort's. She tried to pass them, but they blocked her way.
"I suggest that you let me pass," she said through gritted teeth.
The man on the left laughed. "Or you're gonna do what, little girl? Braid our hair?"
Dorothy smiled. Now was not the time for fun, but she couldn't help it if an opportunity presented itself. "No," she said in as sweet a voice as she could muster. "I'm going to do this."
She grabbed the wrist of the man on the right and used it to hurl him up the steps. The other man stopped laughing and went for his wand. Giggling, Dorothy used her Gift to vanish the bones in both of his hands. He looked up, his eyes comically wide.
Dorothy heard talking from the hall upstairs and decided to finish this. With a flick of her hand, she vanished the man's arm and leg bones. When he was just a torso squirming around on the floor, his limbs ruined, she punched him straight through the ribcage, grabbed his heart, and tore it from his chest.
For the other guy—who was knocked out from his fall—Dorothy vanished his skull. She made sure to step in his brains when she passed.
"Ew. Squishy."
Then, she heard what Heero's father was saying, and she yelled out.
***
Heero smirked at his father before scrambling away from the portkey.
"Sorry, Dad, but she outranks you."
"I order you to—"
"Expelliarmus!" Dorothy yelled. Beta-6 flew to the far wall, crashing against it. The portkey flew in the opposite direction.
Dorothy stalked to where Heero's father lay crumpled, murder in her eyes. She raised her hand, and Heero yelled out, "No! Don't kill him!"
She turned around. "It's for the best."
"Please," Heero begged for the second time that night. "He's my father."
Dorothy nodded. "For you, Niamo." She turned back to Beta-6, but he wasn't on the floor anymore. He came barreling passed her and dove for the portkey, almost touching Heero as he passed. He hit the floppy disk and disappeared.
Heero let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Dorothy strode over to him and wrapped her arms around his thin frame. They sank to the floor, and she placed a chaste kiss on his forehead.
Heero heard screams coming from downstairs.
Dorothy said, "Someone must have found the bodies."
***
"Gentlemen, Miss Catalonia, please, have a seat." Albus gestured to the plush chairs decorating his office. He sat behind his desk and waited for the children to get settled. He had failed them—all of them—today. "I assume you know why you're here."
They nodded, murmuring their agreement. Miss Catalonia rubbed Mr. Yuy's shoulder and pulled him tighter to her. "You want to know how much we know about the attack."
"Precisely." Albus popped a lemon drop in his mouth, more as something to do than because he really wanted one. He offered them one, but they all declined.
"They're mine," Mr. Yuy spoke up, nestled between Miss Catalonia and Harry. "The werewolves, they belong to me; they bear my Mark. I brought them here."
Cries of contention broke out amongst the students.
"No, you—"
"You had nothing—"
"It's not your fault!" Harry yelled, holding his brother's chin in his hand. "Heero, you couldn't have known—"
"I brought dangerous, dark creatures around children and treated them like pets!" Mr. Yuy argued, tearing his face from Harry's grip.
"They were in the Forbidden Forest, far away from the school," Mr. Winner protested. "It wasn't until the Death Eaters attacked—oh!" He jumped up from the chair he was sharing with Mr. Rosencrantz. "They used this device to make themselves invisible. There's a double agent in J's camp. He stole it."
Albus was surprised that he mentioned J's cohort. They never had before. "Who is J?"
Mr. Rosencrantz rolled his eyes. "Come off it, old man. You know damn well who J is. He's the man who made us." He gestured to himself and the triplets.
"Ah. I must admit, I knew that Voldemort had recently acquired a partner, though I don't know much about him."
"J's a magicologist," Mr. Yuy said. "He combines science with magic. He's your typical evil genius. And now he has my blood."
Albus was alarmed. Voldemort was already a formidable enemy. If he became Vanuli, he would be close to unstoppable.
"Now, he'll become Vanuli, just like Voldemort," Mr. Yuy continued.
"You mean...?" Albus asked.
"Voldemort's been Vanuli since the Third Task," Harry put in. "You know, my blood and all."
This is bad, Albus thought, but all hope was not lost. After all, there was a prophecy that these boys would win. He would have to trust in it.
A look went through the children. Mr. Winner nodded, and Harry said, "We have a plan, though..."
***
The next morning after breakfast, Harry, Ron, and Heero made their way to the Hospital Wing. Harry and Ron were going to visit Hermione, and Heero was visiting Maxwell, who got scratched up pretty bad. Classes were canceled today, so Hermione would be glad that she wasn't missing lessons.
They got to the Infirmary and split up, Heero going over to where Barton and Chang were visiting Maxwell.
"Hey, Hermione," Harry said softly, mindful of the other patients. About twelve students got hurt in the attack last night. Amazingly, nobody was killed. Madam Pomfrey would be keeping Hermione and the others for a day or two, until their lycanthropy tests came back. Hopefully, they would all be negative. "How are you feeling?"
"Tired. I've been up all night, worrying," Hermione answered. Ron at on the bed next to her and held her hand. "I guess I don't have to anymore." She let out a half-chuckle, half-sob. "My preliminary tests came back." She took a deep breath. "They were positive. I'm a werewolf."
"Oh, Herm," Harry said, using the hated nickname. He sat on the other side and grabbed her right hand. "I have something to ask you, and I don't want you to think I'm doing this just because of this. This goes for you, too, Ron. I was wondering, well. . ."
"Just ask, Harry," Hermione said, her brown eyes warm. "It can't be that bad."
"All right." Harry screwed up his courage. "Will you be my sister? Will you let me Turn you into a Vanuli?"
Hermione started. "Harry," she breathed. "I don't know—I'll have to think about it."
Harry nodded and looked to Ron. "And you? Will you be my brother?"
Ron smiled. "Harry, we've been brothers since first year, but why not? Let's make it official."
***
Heero approached Duo's bed cautiously. They might be on good terms, but Trowa and Wufei were still hostile towards him.
And why wouldn't they be? You've done nothing to make them change their minds about you.
Duo saw Heero first, as Wufei's and Trowa's backs were to him, and he smiled. "Hey, 'Ro," he said, causing his friends to turn around.
"Hello Duo. Wufei. Trowa." Heero nodded to them before turning his full attention back to Duo. He slid onto the bed beside Duo and pecked his boyfriend on the lips. It was like they'd never been apart. "How are you feeling?"
Duo's smile lit up his face. "I'm fantastic!"
"His preliminary tests came back negative," Wufei elaborated.
"That's great!" Heero gushed, a weight lifting off his shoulders. He didn't know what he would have done if Duo had been a werewolf. Duo certainly wouldn't take one of Heero's Marks; not after last night. Thankfully, Heero didn't have to think about it.
"Guys?" Duo said to Trowa and Wufei. "Can we be alone? I need to talk to Heero."
Trowa nodded and squeezed Duo on his uninjured shoulder. They left.
Duo looked at Heero. "How are you holding up?" he asked in Japanese.
"I'm fine," Heero insisted. He rubbed his hand over Duo's cheek. "I'm sorry about this."
Duo brought Heero down for a kiss. "'S not your fault," he said.
"Everyone's saying that."
"Everyone's right."
Heero looked at Duo skeptically. "Sure."
"So," Duo said, raising himself up to where he was nose to nose with Heero, "what happened to your puppies?"
Heero frowned. "Dumbledore let them 'escape' before the Aurors got here. They're probably deep in the Forbidden Forest by now. They'll never be found."
"Good," Duo said.
Heero smiled and kissed Duo again.
***
That evening, Harry and Dorothy were in the Gryffindor common room, calmly discussing Harry's Valentine's Day plans.
"I said no!" Dorothy screeched.
"You promised that you'd let me!" Harry snarled back. "You said I could see Balor."
The others in the common room looked on amusedly—some even going so far as to titter over their words—which served to fuel Harry's anger.
"I believe I said maybe," Dorothy said reasonably. "I've changed that to a 'no.' It's just too dangerous."
"You're a liar," Harry said, his eyes burning furiously. "You said if we were all okay, I could go." His voice dropped to a whisper.
"I can't take the risk of you getting hurt, or of Heero or Quatre getting hurt while I'm with you." She reached out to squeeze his shoulder, but he recoiled.
"Don't touch me," he said. "You have no problem letting Heero be alone with his boyfriend, who is in no shape to protect him, or for Quatre to be alone with Daemon. Why can't you just take me there? Balor won't let anything happen to me." Harry was disgruntled at the thought of having to be protected by his big, burly boyfriend, whose magic was nowhere near Harry's power, but he figured it might sway Dorothy. It looked like it might be working.
"No," she said at the last minute. She switched to Vanulian and the others around them lost interest. "I give Heero and Quatre some privacy while they're in the castle. My spiders watch them, and I know that they're safe. If they aren't, I can teleport to them in a snap and kill whoever or whatever is hurting them. I can't do that at Haven. I can't teleport into or out of Haven—I have to leave by the exits. My control of the spiders doesn't reach across dimensions. If I was at Haven, I wouldn't know if Heero and Quatre were okay, and if I was here, I wouldn't know about you."
Harry understood Dorothy's reasons and he sympathized. He really did. He just didn't care. He hadn't seen Balor in weeks, and he only had a little over a month until his Life Day and everything changed.
"I hate you," he said, more to hurt Dorothy than because he meant it. He stalked towards his dorm, already regretting his words.
He would just have to find some other way to see Balor.
***
Neville Longbottom was not a man of many talents. He was pudgy, clumsy, and absolutely horrid at Potions. He jealously guarded his lovers, and it was that jealousy that ruined, perhaps, the best thing to ever happen to Neville in his young life: his relationship with Harry Potter. Neville kicked himself every day for ruining things with Harry, especially when Harry started dating other people. Now that Harry was with that other Vanuli—Valor or something—Neville knew he would never have another chance. Harry was just too in love with his boyfriend.
That didn't mean, thought, that Neville could—or would—ignore a crying Harry.
After several minutes of Harry and Catalonia yelling at each other in the common room, Harry came stomping up the stairs. He didn't see Neville and flung himself onto Yuy's bed, sobbing for all he was worth.
Hesitantly, Neville made his way over to his ex-boyfriend. "Harry?"
"Go 'way," Harry muttered through his tears.
Neville sighed and sat down on the bed. It was dusty from disuse. His hand hovered over the small of Harry's back before clenching and coming to rest on his own thigh. "Do you—do you want to talk about it?"
"No," Harry croaked. "Yes." He turned over to face Neville. His eyes were rimmed with red, and his face was blotchy. He looked gorgeous, as always. "I told her I hated her. She told me I couldn't see him, and I told her I hated her."
"Who can't you see?" Neville asked. He almost moved to wipe Harry's fringe out of his eyes but stopped himself just in time. They weren't dating anymore, so he didn't have the right to touch Harry.
"Balor." Harry buried his face back in his pillow. "I haven't seen him in forever, and I really miss him, but I didn't mean what I said—I said such a horrible thing to her—and now she's probably sad, and I still won't get to see him." Harry took a deep breath. "And you probably don't want to be hearing any of this."
Neville had to admit, it was awkward, hearing the love of his life talk about the love of his life, but Neville would do it and not complain, as he did so many things.
"Shh, it's all right," Neville mumbled.
Harry sat up and leaned into Neville. Neville wrapped his arm around Harry and pulled him close. Neville had read—rather, he'd heard Hermione read—that Vanuli were a very tactile species. They craved the touch of their families during stressful times. Neville guessed that meant exes—ex-friends, ex-boyfriends, ex-lovers—would do in a pinch.
"I should probably apologize to Dorothy," Harry said softly.
"If you think so," Neville said neutrally. Privately, he thought the horrid girl got what she deserved.
"But not just yet," Harry said. "This is nice." Harry yawned and lay his head on Neville's shoulder.
It was nice, and oh, so painful. Neville let it happen, though, because he knew Harry didn't get much sleep last night. After the attack and Yuy's attempted kidnapping, the Vanuli family had been up all night. They'd woken Neville up several times.
Of course, Neville would let Harry touch him, no matter how much sleep he had, anywhere he wanted to, any time he wanted to.
Harry's hair fell in his face, and this time, Neville did brush it back. "I'm still in love with you," he said, kissing Harry's forehead directly on his scar.
"I know," Harry said, sleepily.
Quietly, Neville's heart broke. Harry was finally over him.
***
Voldemort looked down at his partner-in-crime. J was covered in a hard shell, as all were during their Turning. Of course, Voldemort was never Turned. He was born Vanuli, albeit, the second time around. He was stronger than J would be. But those bloody triplets were still stronger than him.
Nodding, Voldemort consented for his blood to be drawn. He would get stronger, and he would destroy those children.
Selune