Gundam Wing Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction ❯ Peace, Love, and Family: The Story of the Vanuli Three ❯ Gilding Harry ( Chapter 55 )
[ 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: 08.10.2005 | Pages: 4 | Words: 4.8K | Visits: 454 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction / Fan Fiction | Genre(s): / Hentai / Fantasy / Drama / Angst | Type: Crossover | Uploaded On: 08.10.2005 | Pages: 4 | Words: 4.8K | Visits: 454 | 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 55: Gilding Harry
March 1, AC 198 Saturday Gryffindor Tower
Dorothy really should have expected this, Harry thought, putting on his boots. It was three weeks since the attack, three weeks since Harry said those horrible words to Dorothy, and three weeks since she forgave him. Harry was still determined to see Balor, and that's exactly what he was going to do.
Dorothy was taking an unexpected nap, and Harry was going to sneak out, again. Of course, Dorothy was more unconscious than asleep, due to the Claritaserum with which he'd laced her tea. She was going to be so angry with him, but that was later. Harry would deal with that then. Now was for Balor.
Harry looked in the mirror, primping his hair a little bit. It fell back into its usual messy waves, and Harry sighed. Like Heero, he couldn't do anything with it.
Satisfied—enough—with his appearance, Harry teleported to the entrance to Haven. One face-bending second later, and he was in the home of his ancestors. He smiled and walked up to the nearest familiar face. "Do you know where Balor is?"
Allegara grinned like a lunatic. "Slipped your warden, huh? You know, Malal and Imela did that, once. You should have seen Ismea's face once she found them. They were in a fairy club, you see, with Relena Peacecraft—"
"Allie," Harry interrupted. "Balor?"
She jumped. "Oh, yeah, your Highness. He's moping in his subfamily's room, I think."
Harry thanked her and took off running before she could get started on another tangent. A few minutes later, Harry was outside Balor's room. He touched his hand to the air in front of the frame and felt a vibration. The wards must have still been keyed to Harry's magical signature because it shimmered, and he was in.
Balor was, indeed, moping. His large frame lay on the bed, dwarfing it, even though Harry knew it could easily fit seven or eight people with room between them. He was looking at a picture album. Harry saw the cover and knew it was one of him.
A month ago, Harry had been frustrated at his lack of seeing Balor. He bought the pictures from Colin Creevey, made the album, and sent it to the drop-off point near Haven's entrance by way of Hedwig, all in the hopes that Balor would reciprocate the gift. He didn't. Apparently, Vanuli had not yet perfected the art of photography.
"Hey," Harry said, to get Balor's attention.
"I'm busy," Balor snapped.
Harry was startled before he realized—he hoped—that Balor must not have recognized his voice. "All right. If you're sure you'd rather look at a representation than see the real thing, I can always go see my sister. Allegara and I will have a fantastic time together," Harry teased.
Balor jumped up from the bed and twirled around. He blinked. "Your Highness?"
"Yes, your Grace," Harry said, moving to take Balor's hand. "Now, how about we get out of this dusty old room and find a place a bit more fun?" Harry touched the back of Balor's head and pulled him down for a kiss. Just before their lips met, Balor broke away.
"All r-right," Balor said. "Just let me get something first. I've been saving it for you. Don't look."
Harry smirked, but dutifully turned away. Balor's surprises were never that surprising. Harry's smirk widened at the thought of sex with his—very—talented boyfriend and whatever new toy he had.
***
"Ahh!" Lucy screamed, gripping Milliardo's hand tight. "Get away from me! Don't touch me!" But she didn't let go. In fact, she held on tighter, making Milliardo's hand turn red, then purple.
"Love, you're doing great," Milliardo said soothingly. His free hand rubbed circles on Lucy's neck, serving to further her anger.
"You're never touching me again!" Lucy yelled. "You want anymore kids, you're having them!"
On top of the pain of childbirth was the worry that the baby was late. Two weeks may not seem like a lot of time, but for Vanuli births, even one day over the normal gestation period could mean dire consequences for the baby or mother. Add to that the fact that Lucy wasn't Vanuli yet—she got through the barrier by the Vanuli blood in the little on inside her—and her situation was very bad indeed.
"Mrs. Peacecraft," the Vanulian Healer said, striding in the room like she was somebody. "You're going to have to calm down. It's not good for the baby for you to be so stressed."
Lucy tried to calm down, but it hurt so much.
Relena and Tashpi stood to the other side of Lucy, and now Relena moved to take Lucy's free hand. She brought a damp cloth to Lucy's forehead, and Lucy forced herself to take deep breaths.
"Good, Mrs. Peacecraft," Vanity said. She looked at Lucy under the sheet, and a smile lit up her face. "It won't be long now." With that, Vanity went to check on another patient.
Lucy held on tighter to her husband.
***
Heero laughed and ran his hand down Duo's side. What Duo said wasn't all that funny, but Heero was just so happy to be with Duo, he laughed at practically everything. The full moon was in a week, but with only Remus to control, Heero's emotions weren't getting the better of him. His giddiness was all his own. And Duo's.
"Come here," Duo said, grabbing Heero and pulling him down for a kiss.
The last three weeks were bliss to Heero. Sure, there were five more werewolves in the world. Sure, the war was heating up, with bodies piling up by the truckload. And sure, he was acting more and more like his brothers everyday, a sure sign that Fusion was upon them. But Duo was with him, and Heero refused to ruin what would perhaps be his last days as an individual by worrying. Which was something Harry would do, and worrying in its own right.
Heero and Duo were taking their relationship slow, this time. They hadn't even had sex, yet. This time, unlike their first go 'round, it was Duo who was holding out. He didn't want this time to be like their second, when all they did was have sex with each other, never talking things through.
This time, they had a long talk. The day Duo got out of the Hospital Wing, in fact. Heero told Duo about his great embarrassment at being sick, and how he didn't want Duo to know because he was afraid Duo would pity him. He told Duo about leaving, how everything had happened so fast that there wasn't enough time to wake Duo up to tell him everything. He told Duo about his treatment, and how in the first few months he was barely alive, and when he was actually conscious, he was too weak to lift a pen and write. Quatre was too focussed on Heero to care about Duo's feelings. He told Duo that, afterwards, so much time had passed that he was just too scared to contact Duo. "Some Gryffindor I am," he told Duo.
Duo heard and listened and talked to Heero. He talked about what it was like to fall in love with Heero and to finally be able to make love to him. He talked about waking up the next morning to find Heero and Quatre gone. He talked about his feelings of betrayal when he figured out that they left together, and what they must have been up to. He talked about what it felt like to doubt that Heero had ever loved him, especially since he had never said the words. He talked about Beauxbatons and the first boy he slept with who didn't look like Heero, didn't feel like Heero, just plain wasn't Heero. He talked about turning cold and building a wall around his heart. "I only let in Trowa and Wufei," he said, "and that's only because they were already there." He talked about seeing Heero again for the first time, and how he wanted to tear down his wall, scoop Heero in his arms, and never let go. He talked about his mistrust of Heero, and how he wanted to let go of it.
By the time they were finished talking, their throats were soar, and they were crying. But they felt better, and their new relationship was better because of it. They had no secrets—Duo even knew all of the Plan.
Heero sighed and nuzzled Duo's neck. Everything was so much better, now.
***
Quatre smiled and grabbed Daemon's hand. They were walking from the library with Hermione and Ron. Both couples had run into each other while doing research—Ron and Hermione on werewolves, and Daemon and Quatre on sharing visions. The triplets had only ever joined one vision, and Quatre was curious to see if it was a fluke.
People whispered as the four walked by, staring and gawking at the ex-terrorists and the new lycanthrope. Quatre tried to fight back the urge to go off on his peers—which was more like Harry than himself—or take out his wand and hex the lot of them—Heero's feelings if there ever were. Ron and Daemon looked like he felt. Ron's face matched his hair, and Daemon's free hand was clenched into a fist.
It was Hermione who finally responded. She book her books down on the nearest table in the common room and turned to glare at the other students. She singled out a brunette sixth year boy, whose name escaped Quatre. He was whispering particularly loudly. "Do you have something you'd like to say to me, Jeremiah?"
The boy looked up, startled. "N-no. Not really."
Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Good."
She turned and started to say something to Quatre about her research. Quatre didn't get to hear exactly what it was because Jeremiah decided he did have something to say to them. "Why do you hang around with those murderers, anyway?"
The group of four tensed and turned as one. It was Daemon who spoke up. "What. Did. You. Call. Us?"
Jeremiah stood up. He got in Daemon's face. "Mur-der-ers."
Daemon lunged, and Quatre leapt to grab him.
"Oh, who cares who she hangs out with?" The girl Jeremiah had been talking to said. "She's just another half-breed mongrel, anyway."
Quatre saw red. He stalked over to the girl and grabbed her chin in his hand, forcing her to look at him. "Now, you listen to me, Blondie, because I'm only going to say this once. You can say what you want about me and my family because we don't really care what your kind thinks of us, but you will not say one word about Hermione or her friends." He was shaking with anger. "She is a good person—better than you, I'd say—and she has done no wrong to anyone.
"I have. I am, as your friend said, a murderer. You'd do well to remember that, before you insult my friends." Quatre dropped the girl's chin and went back to his boyfriend.
Hermione was crying. "Th-thank you," she said, wringing her hands.
Quatre frowned. "It's what Harry would've done." He turned to Daemon. "I've got this urge to see my brothers. I'll go see if Harry's upstairs, then we can go interrupt Heero and Duo. Give me your things, and I'll put them up."
Daemon handed over his backpack to Quatre, who hefted it in his arms.
Quatre walked to his dorm room and was immediately suspicious upon entering. The curtains to Harry's bed were closed. They were never closed, except at night.
Quatre strode over to the bed and flung open the curtains. His suspicions rose when he saw Dorothy, seemingly taking a nap. Dorothy never slept in the daytime. Hell, she barely slept at night! The better to watch her Niamos, she always said.
Quatre saw the glass tipped over on the nightstand. Tea. Quatre put his fingers in the spilled liquid and put them to his nose. Definitely not tea.
That's when Quatre remembered—Harry had been with Dorothy! He ran from the room, never noticing the folded sheet of parchment laying on the bed.
Quatre ran down the stairs and grabbed Daemon. "Harry's gone," he whispered, frantic.
***
{Harry's gone!}
Heero jerked his head up from Duo's stomach, where he was dozing.
"Wha'?" he asked, sleepily. {Quatre?}
Quatre's panicked voice came into his mind. {Harry's missing! Dorothy's drugged, and Harry's not there, and who could have taken him?}
{Quat. Quat! Slow down,} Heero ordered. He felt Quatre take a deep breath. {Now, tell me what's happened.}
{Dorothy has been drugged with something. I'm not sure what. Harry was supposed to be with her, but he's not. I think someone's taken him.}
Heero felt the panic bubble in his throat, and he fought it down. {Let's think about this rationally. Why don't we just ask Harry where he is?}
{Yeah. Okay. I'll ask.}
Heero waited for a few minutes. {What'd he say?}
{He's not answering. Let's try together.}
Heero nodded before realizing that Quatre couldn't see him. {All right. On three. One, two—}
Harry was covered in gold. Balor's eyes widened in terror as the screaming started. Someone grabbed him from behind, and he knew no more.
"Oh, Mother."
"Wha' is 't 'Ro?" Duo groaned.
"Haven," Heero said. "They're attacking Haven."
***
Nott grumbled as he led his group to the barrier. He'd just come out of his shell yesterday, and already he was forced back to work. But one of the Dark Lord's spies had seen the Potter boy go into the Forbidden Forest all by his lonesome, and he had decided that today was the day to strike. The Dark Lord and Dr. J now had 300 Vanuli soldiers between them, courtesy of pilot 01 and the Boy-Who-Lived.
Their strike would be efficient, effective, and completely surprising.
The other units' orders were to capture as many young nobles as possible and get out of there before they were caught. Nott's orders were to catch Potter and whoever was with him.
Nott led his unit passed the screaming masses in the vaunted city. This would be fun.
***
Harry sighed and tried to sneak a peek at what Balor had in his hand, but every time he looked, Balor would move it behind his back or over his head or anywhere that Harry couldn't see. His curiosity was killing him!
"Okay, we're here now," Harry said after they both stepped through the barrier to "their" spot. There were other couples hanging around, but not many. "Showmeshowmeshowme."
"In a minute, my amadaya," Balor murmured. "I want this to be perfect."
Balor led Harry to a clearing in the trees and made him sit on a fallen log. He knelt in front of Harry and brought the small black box into sight.
"Nelat." He took Harry's hand. "Harry. These past two months have been heaven for me. Even though I've not been able to see you much, loving you and knowing that you love me have made me happier than I've ever been. I know that you are to Fuse with your brothers on the fifteenth, but I was hoping that you would consent to, I mean," Balor was flustered. He took a deep breath and began again. "Harry Potter, will you marry me?"
He opened the box, and Harry was blinded by a gold light. He felt something settle on his skin and he looked at it. He was covered in gold dust.
Harry took a deep breath and turned back to Balor. He didn't know the Plan. Harry would tell him now, then see if Balor still wanted to marry him.
"Balor, I—"
Balor's eyes grew wide as he looked at something behind Harry.
Harry didn't have time to turn around as someone grabbed him and hit his head. He fell, unconscious, into the mystery person's arms.
***
"Oh, Mother," Quatre said. "{What do we do?}" he asked. Daemon put a hand on his shoulder, and he forced himself to calm down.
"{Okay, here's what we're going to do,}" Quatre said aloud and to Heero. "{Daemon, go wake up Dorothy; have her meet us at the front door. Teleporting to the barrier may be a bad idea because we don't know how many soldiers are guarding it.}"
Daemon nodded and bounded up the stairs, taking them two at a time.
{Heero?}Quatre asked, to get Heero's attention away from his welling panic. {Teleport to the front door. If Dorothy and Daemon aren't there in three minutes, we'll fly on to the barrier.}
{Hai,} Heero thought, reverting to his native tongue.
Quatre nodded, avoiding the worried looks of those around him—especially Ron and Hermione—and teleported to the meeting point.
***
Daemon ran into the room and began furiously shaking Dorothy.
"Catalonia, wake up!" he yelled. "Ismea, your Niamo needs you!" It didn't work.
If Daemon knew what she'd been given, he was sure he could find the antidote in Quatre's stores. As it was, they would have to wait for her to wake up.
Giving up, Daemon ran back down the stairs, finding Weasley and Granger. "You want to help," he stated. They nodded. "Take Dorothy to the Infirmary." Satisfied that she would be helped, he teleported to the front door.
Quatre and Heero were long gone.
***
Heero ducked the curse flying at him and sent off one of his own. He and Quatre were at the portal to Haven—and so were about a dozen guards.
{Set to kill,}Heero thought to Quatre, drawing out his Fury Shooter.
The next few minutes were chaos as Heero's and Quatre's Fury Shooters did their damage. A tall, bucktoothed guard got hit, but before he went down, he sent out a Fury Shooter of his own.
They're all Vanuli!Heero realized, then mentally smacked himself. Of course, they're Vanuli. How else would they be getting into Haven?
The Fury Shooter went straight to Quatre. He sent out another Fury Shooter of his own, and the two met in a burst of light.
Heero took the distraction as a chance to finish off the rest of the guards. When all of them lay dead, Heero looked to Quatre, who took a deep breath and nodded.
They entered Haven.
***
Echo-Theta-1-1 was pleased. She and her unit—the daughters of the now defunct Theta unit—were attacking the Infirmary. So much lovely food, the ex-Acromantula thought. Of course, she couldn't eat any of it. This food was for her master.
Echo-Theta-1-1 picked up the baby in the bassinet before her. The babe's mother, father, and other family were already captured, spun in 1-1's webbing by the door. They baby began to cry as she spun her web around her, too.
Echo-Theta 1-1 laughed.
***
The images assaulted Heero as he stepped into Haven. He touched a tree and yelled to Quatre. "They've taken him this way!"
The brothers ran off, not bothering to help the others in their haste to find their brother. Harry was most important. They reached the Sank portal just in time to see Balor being carried through.
They ran through, but by the time they got there, Harry and the others were gone.
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 55: Gilding Harry
March 1, AC 198 Saturday Gryffindor Tower
Dorothy really should have expected this, Harry thought, putting on his boots. It was three weeks since the attack, three weeks since Harry said those horrible words to Dorothy, and three weeks since she forgave him. Harry was still determined to see Balor, and that's exactly what he was going to do.
Dorothy was taking an unexpected nap, and Harry was going to sneak out, again. Of course, Dorothy was more unconscious than asleep, due to the Claritaserum with which he'd laced her tea. She was going to be so angry with him, but that was later. Harry would deal with that then. Now was for Balor.
Harry looked in the mirror, primping his hair a little bit. It fell back into its usual messy waves, and Harry sighed. Like Heero, he couldn't do anything with it.
Satisfied—enough—with his appearance, Harry teleported to the entrance to Haven. One face-bending second later, and he was in the home of his ancestors. He smiled and walked up to the nearest familiar face. "Do you know where Balor is?"
Allegara grinned like a lunatic. "Slipped your warden, huh? You know, Malal and Imela did that, once. You should have seen Ismea's face once she found them. They were in a fairy club, you see, with Relena Peacecraft—"
"Allie," Harry interrupted. "Balor?"
She jumped. "Oh, yeah, your Highness. He's moping in his subfamily's room, I think."
Harry thanked her and took off running before she could get started on another tangent. A few minutes later, Harry was outside Balor's room. He touched his hand to the air in front of the frame and felt a vibration. The wards must have still been keyed to Harry's magical signature because it shimmered, and he was in.
Balor was, indeed, moping. His large frame lay on the bed, dwarfing it, even though Harry knew it could easily fit seven or eight people with room between them. He was looking at a picture album. Harry saw the cover and knew it was one of him.
A month ago, Harry had been frustrated at his lack of seeing Balor. He bought the pictures from Colin Creevey, made the album, and sent it to the drop-off point near Haven's entrance by way of Hedwig, all in the hopes that Balor would reciprocate the gift. He didn't. Apparently, Vanuli had not yet perfected the art of photography.
"Hey," Harry said, to get Balor's attention.
"I'm busy," Balor snapped.
Harry was startled before he realized—he hoped—that Balor must not have recognized his voice. "All right. If you're sure you'd rather look at a representation than see the real thing, I can always go see my sister. Allegara and I will have a fantastic time together," Harry teased.
Balor jumped up from the bed and twirled around. He blinked. "Your Highness?"
"Yes, your Grace," Harry said, moving to take Balor's hand. "Now, how about we get out of this dusty old room and find a place a bit more fun?" Harry touched the back of Balor's head and pulled him down for a kiss. Just before their lips met, Balor broke away.
"All r-right," Balor said. "Just let me get something first. I've been saving it for you. Don't look."
Harry smirked, but dutifully turned away. Balor's surprises were never that surprising. Harry's smirk widened at the thought of sex with his—very—talented boyfriend and whatever new toy he had.
***
"Ahh!" Lucy screamed, gripping Milliardo's hand tight. "Get away from me! Don't touch me!" But she didn't let go. In fact, she held on tighter, making Milliardo's hand turn red, then purple.
"Love, you're doing great," Milliardo said soothingly. His free hand rubbed circles on Lucy's neck, serving to further her anger.
"You're never touching me again!" Lucy yelled. "You want anymore kids, you're having them!"
On top of the pain of childbirth was the worry that the baby was late. Two weeks may not seem like a lot of time, but for Vanuli births, even one day over the normal gestation period could mean dire consequences for the baby or mother. Add to that the fact that Lucy wasn't Vanuli yet—she got through the barrier by the Vanuli blood in the little on inside her—and her situation was very bad indeed.
"Mrs. Peacecraft," the Vanulian Healer said, striding in the room like she was somebody. "You're going to have to calm down. It's not good for the baby for you to be so stressed."
Lucy tried to calm down, but it hurt so much.
Relena and Tashpi stood to the other side of Lucy, and now Relena moved to take Lucy's free hand. She brought a damp cloth to Lucy's forehead, and Lucy forced herself to take deep breaths.
"Good, Mrs. Peacecraft," Vanity said. She looked at Lucy under the sheet, and a smile lit up her face. "It won't be long now." With that, Vanity went to check on another patient.
Lucy held on tighter to her husband.
***
Heero laughed and ran his hand down Duo's side. What Duo said wasn't all that funny, but Heero was just so happy to be with Duo, he laughed at practically everything. The full moon was in a week, but with only Remus to control, Heero's emotions weren't getting the better of him. His giddiness was all his own. And Duo's.
"Come here," Duo said, grabbing Heero and pulling him down for a kiss.
The last three weeks were bliss to Heero. Sure, there were five more werewolves in the world. Sure, the war was heating up, with bodies piling up by the truckload. And sure, he was acting more and more like his brothers everyday, a sure sign that Fusion was upon them. But Duo was with him, and Heero refused to ruin what would perhaps be his last days as an individual by worrying. Which was something Harry would do, and worrying in its own right.
Heero and Duo were taking their relationship slow, this time. They hadn't even had sex, yet. This time, unlike their first go 'round, it was Duo who was holding out. He didn't want this time to be like their second, when all they did was have sex with each other, never talking things through.
This time, they had a long talk. The day Duo got out of the Hospital Wing, in fact. Heero told Duo about his great embarrassment at being sick, and how he didn't want Duo to know because he was afraid Duo would pity him. He told Duo about leaving, how everything had happened so fast that there wasn't enough time to wake Duo up to tell him everything. He told Duo about his treatment, and how in the first few months he was barely alive, and when he was actually conscious, he was too weak to lift a pen and write. Quatre was too focussed on Heero to care about Duo's feelings. He told Duo that, afterwards, so much time had passed that he was just too scared to contact Duo. "Some Gryffindor I am," he told Duo.
Duo heard and listened and talked to Heero. He talked about what it was like to fall in love with Heero and to finally be able to make love to him. He talked about waking up the next morning to find Heero and Quatre gone. He talked about his feelings of betrayal when he figured out that they left together, and what they must have been up to. He talked about what it felt like to doubt that Heero had ever loved him, especially since he had never said the words. He talked about Beauxbatons and the first boy he slept with who didn't look like Heero, didn't feel like Heero, just plain wasn't Heero. He talked about turning cold and building a wall around his heart. "I only let in Trowa and Wufei," he said, "and that's only because they were already there." He talked about seeing Heero again for the first time, and how he wanted to tear down his wall, scoop Heero in his arms, and never let go. He talked about his mistrust of Heero, and how he wanted to let go of it.
By the time they were finished talking, their throats were soar, and they were crying. But they felt better, and their new relationship was better because of it. They had no secrets—Duo even knew all of the Plan.
Heero sighed and nuzzled Duo's neck. Everything was so much better, now.
***
Quatre smiled and grabbed Daemon's hand. They were walking from the library with Hermione and Ron. Both couples had run into each other while doing research—Ron and Hermione on werewolves, and Daemon and Quatre on sharing visions. The triplets had only ever joined one vision, and Quatre was curious to see if it was a fluke.
People whispered as the four walked by, staring and gawking at the ex-terrorists and the new lycanthrope. Quatre tried to fight back the urge to go off on his peers—which was more like Harry than himself—or take out his wand and hex the lot of them—Heero's feelings if there ever were. Ron and Daemon looked like he felt. Ron's face matched his hair, and Daemon's free hand was clenched into a fist.
It was Hermione who finally responded. She book her books down on the nearest table in the common room and turned to glare at the other students. She singled out a brunette sixth year boy, whose name escaped Quatre. He was whispering particularly loudly. "Do you have something you'd like to say to me, Jeremiah?"
The boy looked up, startled. "N-no. Not really."
Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Good."
She turned and started to say something to Quatre about her research. Quatre didn't get to hear exactly what it was because Jeremiah decided he did have something to say to them. "Why do you hang around with those murderers, anyway?"
The group of four tensed and turned as one. It was Daemon who spoke up. "What. Did. You. Call. Us?"
Jeremiah stood up. He got in Daemon's face. "Mur-der-ers."
Daemon lunged, and Quatre leapt to grab him.
"Oh, who cares who she hangs out with?" The girl Jeremiah had been talking to said. "She's just another half-breed mongrel, anyway."
Quatre saw red. He stalked over to the girl and grabbed her chin in his hand, forcing her to look at him. "Now, you listen to me, Blondie, because I'm only going to say this once. You can say what you want about me and my family because we don't really care what your kind thinks of us, but you will not say one word about Hermione or her friends." He was shaking with anger. "She is a good person—better than you, I'd say—and she has done no wrong to anyone.
"I have. I am, as your friend said, a murderer. You'd do well to remember that, before you insult my friends." Quatre dropped the girl's chin and went back to his boyfriend.
Hermione was crying. "Th-thank you," she said, wringing her hands.
Quatre frowned. "It's what Harry would've done." He turned to Daemon. "I've got this urge to see my brothers. I'll go see if Harry's upstairs, then we can go interrupt Heero and Duo. Give me your things, and I'll put them up."
Daemon handed over his backpack to Quatre, who hefted it in his arms.
Quatre walked to his dorm room and was immediately suspicious upon entering. The curtains to Harry's bed were closed. They were never closed, except at night.
Quatre strode over to the bed and flung open the curtains. His suspicions rose when he saw Dorothy, seemingly taking a nap. Dorothy never slept in the daytime. Hell, she barely slept at night! The better to watch her Niamos, she always said.
Quatre saw the glass tipped over on the nightstand. Tea. Quatre put his fingers in the spilled liquid and put them to his nose. Definitely not tea.
That's when Quatre remembered—Harry had been with Dorothy! He ran from the room, never noticing the folded sheet of parchment laying on the bed.
Quatre ran down the stairs and grabbed Daemon. "Harry's gone," he whispered, frantic.
***
{Harry's gone!}
Heero jerked his head up from Duo's stomach, where he was dozing.
"Wha'?" he asked, sleepily. {Quatre?}
Quatre's panicked voice came into his mind. {Harry's missing! Dorothy's drugged, and Harry's not there, and who could have taken him?}
{Quat. Quat! Slow down,} Heero ordered. He felt Quatre take a deep breath. {Now, tell me what's happened.}
{Dorothy has been drugged with something. I'm not sure what. Harry was supposed to be with her, but he's not. I think someone's taken him.}
Heero felt the panic bubble in his throat, and he fought it down. {Let's think about this rationally. Why don't we just ask Harry where he is?}
{Yeah. Okay. I'll ask.}
Heero waited for a few minutes. {What'd he say?}
{He's not answering. Let's try together.}
Heero nodded before realizing that Quatre couldn't see him. {All right. On three. One, two—}
Harry was covered in gold. Balor's eyes widened in terror as the screaming started. Someone grabbed him from behind, and he knew no more.
"Oh, Mother."
"Wha' is 't 'Ro?" Duo groaned.
"Haven," Heero said. "They're attacking Haven."
***
Nott grumbled as he led his group to the barrier. He'd just come out of his shell yesterday, and already he was forced back to work. But one of the Dark Lord's spies had seen the Potter boy go into the Forbidden Forest all by his lonesome, and he had decided that today was the day to strike. The Dark Lord and Dr. J now had 300 Vanuli soldiers between them, courtesy of pilot 01 and the Boy-Who-Lived.
Their strike would be efficient, effective, and completely surprising.
The other units' orders were to capture as many young nobles as possible and get out of there before they were caught. Nott's orders were to catch Potter and whoever was with him.
Nott led his unit passed the screaming masses in the vaunted city. This would be fun.
***
Harry sighed and tried to sneak a peek at what Balor had in his hand, but every time he looked, Balor would move it behind his back or over his head or anywhere that Harry couldn't see. His curiosity was killing him!
"Okay, we're here now," Harry said after they both stepped through the barrier to "their" spot. There were other couples hanging around, but not many. "Showmeshowmeshowme."
"In a minute, my amadaya," Balor murmured. "I want this to be perfect."
Balor led Harry to a clearing in the trees and made him sit on a fallen log. He knelt in front of Harry and brought the small black box into sight.
"Nelat." He took Harry's hand. "Harry. These past two months have been heaven for me. Even though I've not been able to see you much, loving you and knowing that you love me have made me happier than I've ever been. I know that you are to Fuse with your brothers on the fifteenth, but I was hoping that you would consent to, I mean," Balor was flustered. He took a deep breath and began again. "Harry Potter, will you marry me?"
He opened the box, and Harry was blinded by a gold light. He felt something settle on his skin and he looked at it. He was covered in gold dust.
Harry took a deep breath and turned back to Balor. He didn't know the Plan. Harry would tell him now, then see if Balor still wanted to marry him.
"Balor, I—"
Balor's eyes grew wide as he looked at something behind Harry.
Harry didn't have time to turn around as someone grabbed him and hit his head. He fell, unconscious, into the mystery person's arms.
***
"Oh, Mother," Quatre said. "{What do we do?}" he asked. Daemon put a hand on his shoulder, and he forced himself to calm down.
"{Okay, here's what we're going to do,}" Quatre said aloud and to Heero. "{Daemon, go wake up Dorothy; have her meet us at the front door. Teleporting to the barrier may be a bad idea because we don't know how many soldiers are guarding it.}"
Daemon nodded and bounded up the stairs, taking them two at a time.
{Heero?}Quatre asked, to get Heero's attention away from his welling panic. {Teleport to the front door. If Dorothy and Daemon aren't there in three minutes, we'll fly on to the barrier.}
{Hai,} Heero thought, reverting to his native tongue.
Quatre nodded, avoiding the worried looks of those around him—especially Ron and Hermione—and teleported to the meeting point.
***
Daemon ran into the room and began furiously shaking Dorothy.
"Catalonia, wake up!" he yelled. "Ismea, your Niamo needs you!" It didn't work.
If Daemon knew what she'd been given, he was sure he could find the antidote in Quatre's stores. As it was, they would have to wait for her to wake up.
Giving up, Daemon ran back down the stairs, finding Weasley and Granger. "You want to help," he stated. They nodded. "Take Dorothy to the Infirmary." Satisfied that she would be helped, he teleported to the front door.
Quatre and Heero were long gone.
***
Heero ducked the curse flying at him and sent off one of his own. He and Quatre were at the portal to Haven—and so were about a dozen guards.
{Set to kill,}Heero thought to Quatre, drawing out his Fury Shooter.
The next few minutes were chaos as Heero's and Quatre's Fury Shooters did their damage. A tall, bucktoothed guard got hit, but before he went down, he sent out a Fury Shooter of his own.
They're all Vanuli!Heero realized, then mentally smacked himself. Of course, they're Vanuli. How else would they be getting into Haven?
The Fury Shooter went straight to Quatre. He sent out another Fury Shooter of his own, and the two met in a burst of light.
Heero took the distraction as a chance to finish off the rest of the guards. When all of them lay dead, Heero looked to Quatre, who took a deep breath and nodded.
They entered Haven.
***
Echo-Theta-1-1 was pleased. She and her unit—the daughters of the now defunct Theta unit—were attacking the Infirmary. So much lovely food, the ex-Acromantula thought. Of course, she couldn't eat any of it. This food was for her master.
Echo-Theta-1-1 picked up the baby in the bassinet before her. The babe's mother, father, and other family were already captured, spun in 1-1's webbing by the door. They baby began to cry as she spun her web around her, too.
Echo-Theta 1-1 laughed.
***
The images assaulted Heero as he stepped into Haven. He touched a tree and yelled to Quatre. "They've taken him this way!"
The brothers ran off, not bothering to help the others in their haste to find their brother. Harry was most important. They reached the Sank portal just in time to see Balor being carried through.
They ran through, but by the time they got there, Harry and the others were gone.
Selune