Redemption

Chapter Twenty Three:

Thankfully, no footsteps had followed Wufei by the time he reached his quarters. Although, that small relief died upon birthing as he edged the door open.

Wufei wasn't sure what to do. He knew that Heero must be here to kill him, why else would he be at Hogwarts, but he couldn't quite believe that it would happen. Despite his own social reluctance, he had formed a bond with all of the other operatives. They knew that they would always watch each others backs. It was an unspoken agreement. Although, Wufei was no longer a part of them.

Inside, Heero stood by the window, staring out onto the grounds, which were growing colder by the day, inviting the crisp chill of winter. That same chill seemed to settle in the air now, leaving Wufei with a sense of unexplained dread. "Yuy, you wanted to... talk?"

The Japanese boy let out a heavy sigh and leant back against the wall. His eyes were reduced to slits, but no doubt he still had full view of what he found important to observe. "I do. It seems that G.U.N.D.A.M.'s new assignment has brought us to cross paths once more."

"New assignment?" hissed Wufei. "Here?"

Ignoring the interruption, Heero continued, no longer feigning a relaxed vigilance. "I have orders to terminate you, agent 05. However, if you cooperate, that may not be necessary."

"No games, Heero. I promised that I would never again lower myself to little more than a murderer. You know that," Wufei growled acidly.

"Not even for your precious Harry Potter?"

Wufei's eyes narrowed dangerously, and his face transformed into a scowl that would terrify most men. "What does Harry have to do with this?"

"Surely you know that he is in danger." At the low rumbled that issued from Wufei's chest, Heero raised a hand to stall him. "Not from us, but from a certain dark wizard." The expression that passed over Heero's face at the last two words was almost comical. It appeared that he was having trouble accepting this task as wholeheartedly as he claimed. "And," he added. "Treize Kushrenada."

"Kushrenada? But he's a Muggle! What would he -"

"The senator has discovered this world and allied himself with a powerful force, which is currently gaining ground rapidly. The charge, Potter, is in grave danger, and with him lies the fates of both the wizarding world and our own," Heero reported smoothly.

The angry furor left Wufei, and he sat heavily on his bed. "Your world; this is my home now," he answered without much thought. Running a hand over his face, he sighed in defeat. "I'll never escape it. I'm doomed to a life of servitude to Chu Jung." [1] Taking a deep breath as his eyes fluttered closed and then open once more, Wufei looked up tiredly. "You want me to rejoin you."

"We could use your skills, yes. Will you do it?" There seemed to be an almost pleading note in Heero's voice, despite his stoic cover.

"I will. For Harry's sake," Wufei replied.

Heero nodded and the tension drained from him perceptibly. "We will meet later in the day to re-assign mission posts."

As his old comrade made to leave, Wufei suddenly smirked. "It's been quite a while, Yuy, and this is all the greeting I get? You haven't changed in the least."

Pausing with his hand on the door handle, Heero answered with a half grin of his own. "You'd prefer I greeted you with a bullet?"

"Well, it would save time. Although I'd be interested to see if a gun even worked in the wizarding world," the Chinese boy answered.

"What? What do you mean?" Heero questioned suspiciously, snapping around.

"No one told you? Technology doesn't work here. Your laptop will be completely useless, but I don't know about guns. They don't run on electricity after all," Wufei mused.

"So, they might still work, then. We'll have to run some tests if that's the case. If guns don't work, we'll be at a disadvantage, unless we can lure the target away from the wizarding world." Heero's eyes were narrowed in thought until he abruptly turned and opened the door. "I'll see you later," he called as he made his way back down into the common room.

Wufei stared after him a moment before getting up and closing the door. He leant against it as the conversation began to replay in his mind, slowly allowing everything to sink in.

He'd agreed to rejoin the cause that had haunted his dreams whenever he didn't spend them with Harry. So many nights had seen vivid stains of crimson blood painted behind his eyelids. Worse still were the ingrained images of lifeless eyes, lips parted to release a final breath, hands outstretched and pleading for help.

A shudder shook Wufei's slender frame. He'd been so close to leaving all of that behind. With Harry, he'd found peace and the first true happiness that he could remember...

And that was why he had to protect him. He owed so much to the sweet, loving soul who had saved his own. The least he could do was protect his love. Yet, doing so meant he would have to confess to the shame his life had encompassed.

He was afraid that if Harry knew of his past and subsequent future, he'd lose the boy permanently. And yet, if he didn't confess, then all may be lost anyway. Who knew what Harry thought of the exchange on the stairway? It was certainly incriminating.

Wufei's imagination began to spin visions of Harry in tears, Harry angry, Harry jealous. Ignoring rational thought, Wufei decided to talk to his love now, before he lost his nerve. Knowing that if he hesitated, he would never again have the courage, he ran immediately from the room, heading straight for the Potions dungeon.

.................................................................................................................................

Harry skidded to a halt, aware of the racket he'd made as he pounded down the stone steps. Every eye in the class was on him, including the dark obsidian pair of Snape's.

A malicious grin twisted the Potions Master's face, and his eyes gleamed with amusement and pleasure. "You're late, Mr. Potter," he said slowly and softly.

"I, I know, sir. I-"

"What excuse could you possibly expect to get away with, boy? I'm afraid you've done your lot in this time." The professor was enjoying this moment far too much, and Harry felt a deep dread rise in him.

It seemed an eternity that he stood before the class, desperate for guidance. "S-sir, I-"

"S-sir, what, Mr. Potter? If you don't mind, you're disrupting my class. Go on, get out." Snape turned back to the students, still smirking like he'd just pulled one over on a Gringotts Goblin.

"Please, sir-"

"Harry!"

Harry jumped as Wufei's voice rang out down the stone passageway. He turned to see his boyfriend running towards him, out of breath, and he promptly forgot that he was in a very precarious situation at that point in time.

"'Fei? What's wrong?" he asked, seeing the uncharacteristic display of emotions on his love's face.

"I need to talk to you. Now," Wufei stated emphatically.

A grinding cough drew Harry's attention back to the Potions Master. "Just a minute!" Harry yelled. A split second later, a look of horror crossed his features and he turned slowly on his heel, afraid to see what reaction his distinct lack of respect had cause.

And well he should have been afraid. After a scant moment of shock, Snape became furious. His eyes narrowed, and his cheek twitched noticeably.

"Uh, I mean-"

"Out. Now." Snape swept out from behind his desk and exited the room, slamming the heavy door behind him. "Mr. Potter. I have put up with your stupidity for several years, and this is finally the end. Today, I will be rid of your presence in my class. First, you arrive not only late, but almost halfway through the class. Second, you disobey my direct orders to leave. And, third," and the malicious grin returned at this point, "You abandon all show of manners and brains and prove your insolence in front of a class of witnesses. Thank you, Mr. Potter, for finally overstepping the thin boundaries and giving me acceptable reason to punish you to kingdom come. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a class to instruct."

Harry was pale and almost trembling by the time the Potions Master returned to the classroom, leaving the corridor to feel colder than it had even a moment before.

[1] Chu Jung: Chinese god of Fire Execution. Embodies justice, revenge, death and the element of fire.