23-Jul-2002
Parallel: A Harry Potter/Gundam Wing fanfic by Stormy, Chapter 3
A Harry Potter/Gundam Wing fanfic by Stormy
Rating: R
Pairings: 1x2 (more to be announced)
Summary: A strange man has confronted Heero. Why does he think Heero is Harry Potter? What's all this nonsense about magic? And what's the deal with Duo?
Warnings: Shonen ai (1x2), possible SBxRL (haven't decided yet ^^)
Spoilers: TPS, CoS, PoA, GoF, (HP) Endless Waltz (GW)
Additional Notes: Regarding the Psylocke hint last chapter, I'll give the few of you who emailed me a break. I didn't realize that so many Marvel fans were out of the loop on character origins. ^^ Psylocke is a Japanese ninja. But she was born and raised as Betsy Braddock – blonde, blue-eyed, British and quite frail. Now, how she became the Japanese, purple-haired, dark-eyed kick-ass fighter she is now... well, again, you'll have to look that up. I'd be, not giving up the entire plot of my fic, but giving you too much information too soon. ^^
It was typical Duo behaviour, really. The cape had barely settled about Sirius's shoulders before Duo was instantly at his side, begging to try it out for himself. Despite the fear that Heero could feel, like an alien presence tickling the back of his neck, he couldn't help but smirk at sight of the sixteen year old former terrorist begging the very same person he'd just threatened to turn over to the authorities. Heero had said it before and he'd say it again: those puppy eyes should be illegal. He'd never known how to fight against them.
Apparently, Sirius didn't know what to make of it either; he glanced back at Heero with a grin and laughingly let Duo take control of the cloak. Duo whooped and twirled it around himself, laughing crazily as his body disappeared.
"This is so COOL!" He grinned wildly at Heero. "Man, do you know how many jobs I could have pulled off a HELL of a lot easier if I had had this baby?"
Sirius stepped back and wound up next to Heero. Casting him a sidelong look, he nodded at Duo knowingly.
"That proves it then."
"Proves what?" Heero watched as Duo alternated between covering his arm and uncovering it, watching the tanned flesh disappear, reappear, disappear, and reappear.
"That he's got some magic in him as well," Sirius explained. "Not as much as you by any means, but I'm guessing he's no squib. If he were a muggle, that would just be an ordinary silver-colored cloak to him." He folded his arms, an amused grin playing about his lips as he watched Duo play with the cloak. "Do you know who his parents are?"
Heero froze. Across the office, Duo stopped what he was doing, lifting his head and staring at Sirius. "What did you say?"
"I was just asking Har-Heero," Sirius shook his head as he corrected himself yet again. "—who your parents were. I think you've got a touch of magic in you."
Duo shrugged casually but his eyes were much cooler. "Don't know."
Sirius blinked and looked back to Heero but Heero had eyes only for the American who was toying with the cloak again, deliberately not looking at either of them. He coughed. "I guess I just overstepped a bound here." He waved a hand to get Duo's attention. When the braided boy finally met his eyes, he let the grin fall away. "I didn't mean anything by it." The smile reappeared, albeit a bit ruefully. "I've been told I'm too curious for my own good. I'm sorry if I offended you."
Duo appeared mollified by the apology. "No prob."
Sirius clapped his hands briskly. "Now then – do you believe me? At least enough to come with me? Albus can do a better job of explaining all this to you – especially since I don't know what went wrong."
"What went wrong?" Duo asked. He returned to their side, folding the cloak and handing it back to Sirius somewhat reluctantly. He watched wide-eyed as Sirius tapped the fabric with his wand, shrinking it and putting it into a pocket inside his robes.
"A battle," Sirius replied. "A very dangerous battle that Harry fought against Voldemort six weeks ago. The outcome was... unexpected to say the least."
"I fought Voldemort? The one you said killed my... parents?" Heero asked, testing the word out gingerly. It still sounded foreign to him. The story Sirius was weaving seemed to be getting weirder and weirder.
"You have a few times," Sirius corrected him. "Almost every year since your first."
Duo blinked. "What year is he supposed to be in now?"
"Well, technically in two weeks you'd be starting your sixth year."
Heero blanched. "Sixth?" His voice held a note of self-disgust. Duo chuckled. Sirius looked confused again.
"I think you've started to convince him somewhat," Duo clarified, waving his hand at Heero. "And he's not too impressed with what you just said." Turning his head, he grinned cheekily at his lover. "Jeez Heero – five years and the target's still alive?
That's horrible! Lady Une would be cringing if she could hear that!"
"That's IF I believe all of this," Heero countered, still a bit red-faced. "I don't buy all of it. There's still the whole matter of you thinking I was with you at some point six weeks ago, when I KNOW we were helping Sally and Wufei on assignment. I have the bullet wound to prove it."
"Bullet wound?" Sirius's eyes were very large and angry now. "What bullet wound?"
Duo held up his hands in a placating manner. "It was just a graze. Soldier boy here's had worse." His eyes darkened as he remembered a certain explosion two years before. Death before surrender. But death hadn't sunk his cold fingers in deep enough, letting Heero escape. "Much worse."
Sirius looked like he wanted to say something but Heero spoke up first. "I thought you wanted us to meet somebody...?"
"Yeah." Sirius looked at Heero. "When you get your memory back, we're going to have talk. I want to know what's happened to you Harry."
"Heero," Heero corrected automatically, fighting back the urge to both argue with him, and accept the name that struck a chord somewhere inside him.
"Yes, yes – Heero." Sirius pulled out his wand again. "Apparating would be the quickest way – it's a good thing Moony made us practise travelling in groups."
"Moony?"
"Apparating?"
Sirius smiled. "You'll meet Moony – he's my best friend. And apparating is instantaneous travelling. It's a common way for of-age wizards to travel."
"You mean a kind of teleportation," Duo nodded, grasping the idea easily. "Sounds cool."
He grabbed his duffel bag from the couch where he'd left it earlier, slinging it over his shoulder. He tossed Heero's at his, earning him a dirty look as Heero caught it gingerly. While at work Lady Une may have forced them to use company computers, but the laptop that had supported Heero throughout the war was a staple in Heero's life. When the Preventor machines couldn't pierce a company's state-of-the-art defences, Heero's usually could. He kept it with him at all times. Duo knew how much Heero loved that computer – and knew that if he ever dropped it, Heero would come after his braid with scissors.
Heero slung his bag over his shoulder slowly. Duo was standing next to Sirius, poking his wand curiously and asking questions at a hundred miles per hour. Heero hid a smile. More typical Duo behaviour. Duo had a knack for adapting quickly. Born and bred from his years on the street, the American pilot was the most accepting of anything new, strange or different – to be honest, Heero wasn't at all surprised that once the initial shock had worn off, Duo had reverted to his true nature: curious, carefree and playful. It was one of the things he envied most about him.
Heero stifled a sigh. He was worried. He refused to say nervous or scared because perfect soldiers simply were not nervous or scared – especially in front of other people. But he couldn't help but think that the dark cloud that he could somehow envision hanging over his head, was about to get even bigger.
"C'mon Heero!" Duo appeared in front of him, his eyes lit up with excitement. "I want to try this apperporting trick!"
"Apparating," Sirius corrected with a grin. "You ready Heero?"
Shrugging, Heero made his way over to Sirius. "What is the procedure?"
"You two hang on to each other. As long as I'm touching one of you, we'll all apparate together."
Duo got a wicked gleam in his eye and Heero rolled his, knowing what was coming. Sure enough, the braided boy wrapped his arms around Heero, snuggling up to him, laying his head on his chest. Heero's arms automatically closed around him, one hand digging into the thick silkiness of his braid, looping it around his wrist and gripping it tightly in the standard leash he'd gotten in the habit of doing. Duo never complained about Heero's possessiveness and Heero could never explain why he felt the need to keep Duo so close to him. Perhaps it was because he was afraid that even after all Duo went through to 'get him' so to speak, he was afraid one day he would wake up and Duo would be gone. He had never been any good at letting people in; if Duo ever disappeared, he knew the odds of him ever trusting again were astronomical.
Sirius was watching them with a soft look of affection, lending weight to the idea that he really did know them, or at least Heero from somewhere. At the very least, he would be found out as an accomplished actor. Heero resolutely pushed his jumbled emotions to one side – he had learned over the years that it was easiest to take things one at a time and proceed from there. Step one was obviously apparating. He raised an eyebrow at Sirius.
"What now?"
"Now, "Sirius grinned, raising his wand and reaching out to grip Heero's shoulder. "We apparate."
Before Heero could even begin to think of a reply, the world vanished around them.
In the blink of an eye, the scenery changed completely. One minute they had been standing in Heero's office at the Preventor's Headquarters, the next they were standing in a large decorated room that Heero recognized as belonging to a rather expensive hotel located not far from the office. The...unusual method of travel left Heero feeling a bit queasy but his didn't change his expression. He even managed to hold up a white-faced Duo who was alternating between gagging and begging Sirius to do it again. Heero stroked his braid gently.
"Okay 02?"
"Just fine 01," Duo grinned weakly. His eyes shone with excitement. "Just let me put my stomach back where it belongs. This kind of travelling would definitely save me a fortune on gas fares. How 'bout you?"
Heero shrugged. Duo gave him a hard look but then turned back to Sirius. "Okay, that was beyond cool. Now, where are we?" He blinked, looking around the room, taking in all the details. "Hang on a sec – we're at the Cathedral Hotel!" He whistled. "Ritzy! "
A sudden gasp alerted to them to the sidewall where the door had swung open. A group of people clad in dark robes, similar to Sirius's, poured inside, their eyes wide. Heero fought the urge to reach for his gun and knew form the tense muscles that Duo was about two seconds away from unsheathing one of his daggers. Sirius quickly stepped in front of them, spreading his arms out wide.
"Harry?"
Heero looked over at the sound of a girl's excited voice, narrowing his eyes. She had bushy brown hair and was standing next to a redheaded boy who was goggling at him with a shocked expression.
"Harry, is it you?" The redhead asked hoarsely, gripping the girl's arm. Sirius coughed, drawing all eyes to him. Heero took in the others. A sallow-faced man with dark, greasy hair was watching him with cold eyes. An elderly woman with brown hair streaked with grey stood next to him. Her face was pale, her eyes hopeful. On the other side of the room, standing close to Sirius was a brown-haired young man wearing old-looking robes. His face was also pale but a bit sickly too, as though he'd suffered from some kind of illness. But despite his apparent shock and surprise, his eyes were friendly.
The last person stood directly in the centre, in front of Sirius, and Heero had to move a bit to the side to take him in completely. He was an old man, with long white hair that reached past his waist, and a matching beard that nearly brushed the plush carpet of the hotel room. His long purple robes shimmered in the light of the chandelier above them, and faded blue eyes twinkled out from behind half-moon spectacle as he slowly made his way forward, staring at Heero like the rest of them. His eyes held such relief and happiness that for a split second Heero wanted to hug the old man and reassure him he was still alive. Then the moment passed and Heero shook his head, clearing it. What had he been thinking?
Sirius held up his hands. "I need to speak to all of you for a minute," he said flatly. He began herding them all back into the other room, pausing long enough to throw a look back at the two of them. "Hang on a second, okay? I just have to explain a few things to them. Then you'll get your explanation. I promise."
Duo shrugged and waggled his fingers at them in goodbye. Heero merely folded his arms, the neutral expression he was famous for appearing on his face. That group that Sirius was imitating a sheepdog for kept looking behind them as they left as though they were unable to take their eyes off him for fear he'd disappear as soon as they turned their backs. Heero found this kind of scrutiny more then a little unnerving and he moved his hand to the back of his pants, touching the familiar weight of his gun and taking comfort from its solid presence. Duo looked at him knowingly.
"I can't believe the day would come that I'd see you nervous, Hee-chan," he said quietly. "What's up?"
"I don't know," Heero confessed in a low tone. "It's like there's two parts of me arguing over what's real and what's not. I firmly believe that I am Heero Yuy, and have been all my life. Yet there's a part of me that agrees with every word Sirius has said, as though I've lived some kind of double life that only my subconscious knows about." He sighed and stared at Duo.
"We WERE on L2 Section V-65443 six weeks ago with Wufei and Sally right?"
For an answer, Duo walked over and gripped Heero's arm, pushing his jacket sleeve up past his elbow and turning his arm over. He pointed at the thin furrow in the muscle, the only reminder of the bullet that had clipped him from the smugglers they had helped Wufei and Sally put away. "You tell me."
"I'm so confused!" Heero put his head down and rubbed the back of his neck with one hand. "And this came out of nowhere! I didn't wake up this morning and start doubting my very existence! I've been having nightmares – which, coincidentally, started six weeks ago – but they were just dreams! Figments of my imagination! I just want to brush all of this off but every time I try, something clicks in my mind!" He snorted. "My mind...I think I'm losing my mind!"
Duo sat down next to him gingerly, leaning against his shoulder. After a minute, he forced the Wing pilot to look at him, peering into Prussian eyes and avoiding looking at the jagged scar glaring out from underneath his unruly bangs. "I don't know what's going on Heero, but after seeing that cape, that wand and then just appearing here in seconds, I'm prepared to take a hell of a lot in stride here." He cupped Heero's face with his hand. "But whatever is going on, just remember I'm here for you. You got that, Soldier Boy? You're not handling this alone. You've got me riding your coat tails for this little trip even if it means I gotta get a straightjacket monogrammed with little scythes just for me to go along with yours."
Heero didn't speak but he closed his eyes and rested his forehead against Duo's, feeling a wave of relief wash over him, taking strength from the knowledge that come what may, Duo would be at his side. They stayed like that for several long seconds, breathing in each other's scent and trying to let all that had happened in the past few hours sink in.
"What the HELL?"
They jerked apart and only Duo's firm grip on Heero's hand prevented the Wing pilot from grabbing and aiming his gun at the red-haired boy that appeared in the doorway, his eyes wide as saucers, one hand pointing at the two of them in shock.
"Ron!" The bushy-haired girl pushed her way past the stunned boy, giving him an exasperated look. "Didn't you hear ANYTHING Sirius said? Honestly!"
Marching up to the two of them, the girl planted herself in front of them and held out her hand. Her tone was a little sad, but she firmly kept her voice from shaking and her eyes, though red, were dry. "I'm Hermione Granger. That's Ron Weasely." She cleared her throat. "I understand you don't remember your past right now, but we are-were, your best friends."
Heero shook her hand automatically. Ron was still frozen, watching him and Duo with his mouth hanging open. Duo glared at him. "What's his problem?"
Ron's mouth snapped shut. "Nothing," he said quickly, his eyes still stunned. "Who are you?"
"Duo Maxwell," Duo introduced himself. "I run, I hide, but I never tell a lie." He folded his arms, still leaning against Heero comfortably. Ron nodded jerkily.
"Hi..."
"Hello Mr. Yuy," came an older voice, and Heero looked up to see the white-haired man leading the rest of the group back into the room. Sirius followed directly behind him, giving Heero a small but encouraging smile. Heero looked back at the man who radiated a gentle yet powerful aura that he could somehow feel.
"Who are you?"
The man smiled. "I am Albus Dumbledore," he said in a soft voice that spoke of years enforcing his authority without the need to raise his voice. "I am the Headmaster at Hogwarts. And I believe I know why you don't remember any of us."
End Chapter 3
Notes: Yeah, I'm getting to the good stuff. ^^ Next up, Albus gives a bit of the story behind what's happened but the true details are still unknown. It's decided that perhaps a visit to Hogwarts will jog his memory, but how can they get there? Whatever happened to Heero, apparently, he's in the wrong time! Will the confusing link between him and Harry Potter be revealed? Will Duo get left behind? ^^ Find out next chapter! Coming to an archive near you soon – hopefully. After all, I haven't written it yet. ^^
Feedback please? Honestly, it encourages me to write faster!
Stormy
Please send comments to: dingostorm@hotmail.com