Redemption

Chapter Twenty Two:

Wufei paused for a moment outside of the Great Hall. He wasn't sure what to do. Suddenly, in that moment when he had laid eyes on the head table, he'd felt as if his whole life had been invaded.

What were they doing here? Were they here for him? Had he been careless and, despite his arrogance, left a trail for them to follow? Would they kill him? If so, why were they sitting around eating breakfast? Wouldn't they try to assassinate him from the shadows?

Casting a nervous glance behind him, Wufei made up his mind and headed for the Gryffindor Tower. Just as he reached the staircase landing, he heard the doors to the Great Hall swing open and then shut again.

Even with all of his training, he had grown lax here in the wizarding world and failed to resist turning to see if he was being followed. "Shit," he whispered, as Heero's eyes landed on him and the Japanese boy began to follow.

Taking a deep breath and trying to calm his mind, Wufei ducked into a side passage. It lead to a round about way to the Tower that had been on a map that Harry shown him. He was more likely to lose someone this way.

Wufei was glad that he had committed as much as he could to memory. This place was a Labyrinth of passages and secrets, which, thanks to the Marauder's Map, Harry and his friends knew well.

Part in a rope tapestry, up two flights of stairs, down a hallway, duck into a thin alcove on the right, down that passage, turn to the left...

Finally, he caught sight of the suit of armor and the portrait of the Fat Lady that marked Gryffindor Tower. Breathing a sigh of relief, Wufei tapped her on the nose to wake her from a light doze. "Zucchini," he whispered, and then went rigid as a hand landed on his shoulder.

"Relax. Where can we talk?" The hand on his shoulder squeezed lightly and then back off.

"Follow me," Wufei answered, and ducked through the opening portrait hole, unwilling to think about the impending confrontation that was going to occur once they were away from private eyes. Perhaps there would be none. After all, privacy and shadows went together well.

Gathering his wits, Wufei analyzed the situation. Heero had managed to follow him all the way to the Tower. Of course he had, it was Heero. Now he had no choice but to lead him away from the public into a potentially life threatening situation. No, that wasn't quite true. Just being near the boy was life threatening. Being near any of them was. Even Wufei himself, no matter how much he denied it.

They both crawled through the opening and into the common room. Wufei was glad that no one was about and made straight for the boy's staircase. They were past the fifth year dorms and almost home free when another turn had him walking straight into Harry.

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There was a moment of confusion when Wufei turned the corner and knocked into somebody. Heero didn't have enough warning to stop, but instead continued forward and almost lost his own balance as he knocked Wufei and the other boy to the floor.

"'Fei?" the boy asked from the floor. "There you are. I was wondering where you'd gotten to. You disappeared so fast at breakfast, and-" Apparently, he'd just noticed Heero and stopped mid-sentence. He let himself be pulled up by Wufei, who was already standing. "You were at the Head Table this morning," he said accusingly.

Heero nodded, but said nothing else until it became clear that both of the others weren't planning to either. "You're Harry Potter."

"Yes," the boy replied softly. "And you are?"

"I am none of your concern," Heero told him harshly. He didn't want to talk to the target. There was every chance that the mission would fail. No use in getting close to someone who may be doomed to die. Besides, in less than a week, he would be gone, and it would be best if only those he worked with knew enough about him to notice he was missing. He turned to Wufei. "I don't have all day."

The ex-operative looked at him uneasily and then even more so at Harry. He licked his lips once and then his eyes went back to Heero. "Pass the next door and then you'll find mine. I'll be up in a moment." Heero raised an eyebrow at him, but obviously Wufei knew what he was thinking. "I'll be there."

"Very well," Heero muttered and continued past them, up the stairs.

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Harry frowned. What was all this about, and who was that guy? He watched the exchange between the two of them and couldn't help feeling a little jealous. Especially when he saw how nervous his boyfriend seemed to be.

Once he thought the stranger was out of earshot, he shifted his attention. "'Fei?" he asked quietly. "What's going on?"

There was a lengthy pause and Wufei's eyes traveled up the steps before returning to Harry. "I'm sorry, Harry. I can't explain. I-I don't want to get you involved."

There was fear in his eyes, but Harry couldn't tell what he was afraid of. He knew his own fears, though. What if that stranger was an ex-lover. What if he wanted Wufei back? What if-

"Harry?" the voice cut through his thoughts.

"Yeah?" he asked, as nonchalantly as possible.

Wufei watched him for a moment. He seemed to be debating what he was going to say, but then he turned his face away. "You should go to class. Snape will be angry if you're late." Then, he began to follow the stranger up the stairs.

"Wufei!" Harry called after him. "'Fei, wait!"

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Wufei closed his eyes. He knew what Harry must be thinking, could see the hurt in his face. But he didn't want to tell him. Not now, not ever. He'd finally found a peaceful place where he could live his life. The terrible things he'd done in the name of justice were only a memory here.

Now, G.U.N.D.A.M. had found its way back into his life, and he didn't want it to tangle with the purity he'd found. He didn't want Harry to know. He didn't want to acknowledge the hand on his wrist, the pleading eyes. He didn't want them to belong to Harry, begging him to open up, to tell him that Heero wasn't an ex-fling. To tell him that Wufei wasn't going to be lost to him.

He couldn't. Wufei knew that Heero was likely here to execute him, and he didn't know if he could escape this time. He didn't know if he'd ever see Harry again.

With that realization, he looked down at the boy before him. He couldn't leave it at that.

Wufei reached out and pulled Harry into his embrace. Holding him against his chest, he leaned forward and stole Harry's lips in a kiss. "I love you," he whispered, and then continued up the stairs toward his room, leaving Harry shell-shocked and praying that the boy wouldn't follow.

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Harry stood in place, his lips still tingling from the kiss. He heard Wufei make his way up the stairs, and then the click of the door above. The silence that went with that click was dreadful. There should have been some noise coming from the common room or a dormitory on the way, but Harry could hear none of it.

What was wrong with him? He had to get to Potions or he'd be late. So, why was he still standing in the middle of a stairway, waiting for Wufei to come back down and tell him what was going on?

Wufei had said he loved him and there was no doubt that he meant it. So, what was Harry's problem? Why couldn't he move?

He trusted Wufei, didn't he? More than that, he loved him. Trust was a part of love. Wasn't it?

He couldn't make up his mind. He wanted to go up to Wufei's room, to go in, or listen at the door. But on the other hand, to do so would be to prove that he didn't trust Wufei, and if he didn't trust him, then how could he love him?

Still, Harry had come to no decision. Time was passing him by, and the books he carried grew heavy the longer he held them. He couldn't just stand there forever; he was already late for Potions.

Slowly, as if afraid that Harry would be angry at their decision, his feet turned and began to walk back down the staircase. His mind didn't catch up with him until he was halfway to the dungeons. It was as if he'd stopped thinking. It felt like his brain had shut down.

Then, the thoughts began to catch up. Of course he was doing the right thing. Whatever was going on, Wufei loved him. He wouldn't hurt Harry, and Harry wouldn't betray that by not believing in him. Besides, Snape would have his head if he skipped Potions.

Finally, it occurred to him. Potions... Snape... He was late; REALLY late. There was no way he could talk himself out of this one.

Harry broke into a run, his footfalls echoing off of the stone passages in the dungeons all the way to his classroom.