Hogwarts Part 16
Birthday Bash
Duo woke up feeling VERY disoriented. There was a sense of having missed something. He frowned. The pillow beneath him was much firmer than he remembered... and it was moving.
Heero blinked. Something was different. He remembered Duo waking up in the middle of the night crying his little eyes out and trembling in terror. Not surprising as a bunch of Slytherins had cornered the child and managed to drag him outside when Heero wasn't looking. They'd had Duo stripped of all clothes, gagged and tied up by the time Heero had found them.
Duo hadn't let go of him once since then except to be tucked in. Later last night, it had taken Heero over an hour to calm Duo down after a nightmare, and Duo had only fallen asleep curled up against Heero's side with one of Heero's arms wrapped protectively around him. Now, Duo seemed... bigger and heavier.
Heero looked to his left and felt a small thrill. Duo was back to his true age... and was looking at him with the cutest confused expression on his face. "Morning, Duo. Welcome back."
Duo bit his lip. "Ummmm... Heero? What are you doing in my room? More to the point... what are you doing in my bed?" He furrowed his eyebrows and took a quick peek under the sheets. "And... why am I naked?" Heero wasn't, so Duo didn't think they'd done anything. He'd hate to think that they'd had sex and he had forgotten. The torn child's clothing was confusing to him as well.
Heero sighed. At least Duo didn't sound angry, that was good. He wasn't pulling away, either. That was better. "You don't remember? You've been eight years old for about a week." He recounted how Duo had been brought into the main hall the first day when Duo held up a hand. "Duo?"
"Hang on a sec... it's coming back to me." He frowned as a trickle of memories started filling his mind. Something Heero had said the first night stuck. His breath caught and he looked up at Heero. The one word thrilled and terrified him. Then... Heero had never professed to love him or be in love with him before that. The notion that Heero might have just said that to soothe a child was immediately disregarded. Heero never said anything he didn't mean. Even the death threats were meant when he said them. "Ummmm... Heero? That first night... you said that you..."
It was Heero's turn to hush Duo. "I meant it. Oh! I have a present for you, if you want it." He sat up, bringing Duo with him. He gave Duo a quick squeeze before letting go of him. He got out of bed carefully so as not to cause the blankets protecting Duo's modesty to slip.
Heero held his breath as he watched Duo unwrap his gift. He ducked his head a little when Duo saw what Heero had given to him. He hoped... sincerely hoped... that Duo would accept it.
Duo opened the box and blinked. Inside the box was his cross, but there was something different about it. There was what looked like two vines wrapped around it. One black and one silver-ish white. Bits of red and yellow made tiny flowers and bits of green were made to look like leaves. He recognized the glint of the metal. "How did you do this?"
Heero shrugged a little. "I found Howard. He gave me a black eye, but agreed to my request. I figured that... if and when I found you again that you would want a momento of our time together. Not just you and me, but all the guys. We had some great times together."
Duo smiled at Heero, knowing what Heero was trying to give to him. "Thank you, Heero. I love it." He quickly put the cross on, noting the relief in Heero's eyes. "So... when are you going to pack your things and head back to the Slytherin house?"
Heero shook his head. "I'm not." He stood up and walked over to take Duo's hand. "We're on the precipice again, aren't we? I made the mistake of walking out on it once. NEVER again. I'm staying in here, with you. I intend to stay near you as much as I possibly can."
Duo's smile widened. "Are you going to transfer to Gryffindor, then?"
Heero frowned a moment in thought. "I'm not quite ready yet. I'm sorry." He took Duo's other hand and pulled them to cover the area over Heero's heart. "I need to be SURE that I can put you before anything else. You deserve more than what I feel I can currently give you." He smiled sadly into those beloved eyes. "I don't want to hurt you again. I NEVER wanted to hurt you in the first place, but I did."
Though his smile faltered a little, Duo understood what Heero was saying. "I understand, Heero. I need to be sure of myself as well." He wrapped his arms around Heero and squeezed a little. "I... I chased you away, didn't I? I think I can see that now."
Heero nodded and hugged Duo back. "Yes, you did. Duo, I can't... I can't be with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I'd LIKE to, but... it can't be done."
Duo's smile returned and he rested his head on Heero's shoulder. "I know that now. I'm glad that you're here and that we have this second chance."
Heero let out a breath and smiled. "So am I, Duo..." He inhaled the scent of Duo's hair. "Let's get dressed then go down to breakfast."
Duo released Heero and nodded, feeling much better than he had since coming to Hogwarts.
*****
"How dare you?! You think it's funny to terrorise a small and already frightened child? You pampered, egotistical, self-centered spoiled brats! You think you are just so powerful, tormenting a child who can't defend himself! Cowards, that's what ye are! Cowards who are afraid to face anyone not smaller and weaker than ye are. Well, t'is time ye experience the results of yer actions... Aye, t'is high time. Now... LEARN!"
Duo and Heero entered the hall just in time to see the petite redhaired Amazon queen clench her fists and growl at the students sitting at the Slytherin table.
"Hey! Welcome back!" Angel grinned at Duo and motioned to the redhead. "Christy has been planning this all night... since you two passed through the common room last night. You okay, Duo? You were pretty shaken up."
Duo nodded with a small smile on his face. He recognized the redhead's voice, she had helped him on the field... and later had cheered the child he had been for a week. "What is she doing?"
"Making them feel the fear you felt last night. They weren't going to do anything except leave you somewhere, but... you FELT like they would have done more had Heero not appeared." She grinned. "Heero told the team that your birthday is today. We'll have a party later in the Gryffindor common room... your friends are all invited, of course."
Duo blushed a little and smiled as Christy ended her rant. The Slytherins were all cringing away from her and each other. "It isn't necessary, but thanks."
*****
At lunch, Duo laughed as the students of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff presented him with a small cake. Not much, just enough for maybe one or two people to enjoy. "Hey Heero... close you eyes and open your mouth."
Heero blinked, but shrugged and did as he was told, missing the look on Duo's face completely. Heero had always questioned Duo before when that phrase was uttered. He smiled as a bite of cake was placed into his mouth. He chewed and swallowed, then opened his mouth again when Duo asked him to. What he got the second time... caused his eyes to fly open.
Duo was kissing him! Heero closed his eyes and moaned.
Duo's heart beat wildly as he pressed his lips against Heero's. What would Heero say? How would Heero react? Duo jumped a bit as Heero moaned and pulled Duo close to deepen the already passionate kiss. Duo was barely aware of the cheers going on around them.
-Hate to break this up, but mail is coming!- Shi-chan hopped onto the table and gave the pair a very cat-like grin.
Duo sighed and reluctantly broke the kiss to glare at the cat. "You're one to talk, Shi-chan. I heard you and Tiger the other night."
If Shi-chan could have blushed, she would have. -Well... I can't help that I have needs!- With that, she took a sausage from the selections available and left the room.
Duo chuckled and watched as owls started filling the hall. An unfamiliar owl headed straight for him. He let the bewilderment fill him as a rolled up piece of parchment fell into his hands.
Duo unrolled the parchment, wondering what it could possibly be. He gasped, his eyes flying wide, the smile fading from his face as he took in the words scrawled across the yellowing parchment. It was a shock to say the least... he hadn't thought that this would happen.
Why had Aunt Kitty done this to him? Why did she have to go and do this? He couldn't believe it. No, it was a lie. This was just some horrible joke. But what if it wasn't?
Duo was torn. It became more difficult to read this parchment... his hands had begun to tremble, his body quivering with the onslaught of emotion that this simple piece of paper had brought to him. Sweat mingled on his brow, his breath growing uneven and ragged. Something dripped onto the paper he held... it was a moment before he realized that it was a tear, his own tears that had fallen. This had to be a joke. It couldn't be real. His mind went blank as the parchment fell from his slack fingers.
Heero noticed that Duo had gone really pale and was now shaking as badly as the child had last night. "Duo? Duo... what's wrong?" He stood with Duo still in his arms. "I'll bring him somewhere to calm down. What IS that?" He motioned to the piece of parchment that Quatre had picked up and was currently reading.
Quatre smiled gently. His own expressive eyes were bright with unshed tears. "An adoption certificate. I guess this is his birthday gift from his aunt." His smile widened as he glanced at the shocked youth in Heero's arms. "With his experiences of being adopted... it's no wonder he reacted as he did."
Heero nodded and picked Duo up. Everything else could wait. He had to calm Duo down before he made himself sick. Shock, in and of itself, wasn't overly serious. Untreated, though, would mean disaster. He moved quickly, and was in their room before he knew it. Knowing that warmth and comfort were crucial, Heero quickly laid Duo down and removed Duo's shoes. He knew Duo would respond to physical touch more than verbal reassurances, so he kicked his own shoes off and got into bed with Duo before pulling the blanket up to cover both of them.
"It's okay, Duo. I'm here." He pulled Duo close and rested his cheek on the top of Duo's head. "Don't hide, Duo. Don't hide from me. You can sleep if you want to... I'll guard you. I won't let anything hurt you."
"Heero?" Duo's voice sounded small and frightened.
Heero smiled gently as Duo opened his eyes a little. "I'm here. It's okay. You can sleep of the shock."
"Why did she do that, Heero?" He sniffled and curled closer... as if he had, once again, been reverted to a child.
Heero supposed that Duo was still reacting to things as if he were eight. A minor side effect of the spell. "From what Quatre has told me, she loves you as if you were her own son. This isn't a bad thing, Duo. You deserve to have a family just as much as the rest of us do." He rubbed soothing circles on Duo's back. "Just rest... there are no classes today, and everything can wait for a while."
"Stay with me?" Duo hated the fact that he sounded helpless, but that was how he felt. He felt a need to be protected from an inexistent danger and he wanted Heero to be the one protecting him.
Heero smiled and nodded before kissing the top of Duo's head. "A team of wild horses wouldn't be able to drag me away."
Duo smiled back and blushed a little. "I'm my real age now... you can..." He paused and ducked his head shyly. "Ummm... you can make love to me if you want."
Heero shook his head. "Not now. You need to rest. You're still shaking. I want your first time with me to be a wonderful experience. It won't be if you're too upset at first to enjoy it."
Duo waited a moment. His silence was anticipatory at first, and then it became a confused. "Heero?"
"Hm?" Heero turned to look at Duo.
Duo bit his lip. "You... you're not going to ask if I'm a virgin or not?"
Heero chuckled softly. "Baka. I don't care whether you are or not. I love YOU, not your sexual experience or lack thereof. You could have slept with everyone in the Earth Sphere for all I care. All I want... is to not hurt you. So if there is anything you want or don't want, tell me. Okay?" He was content at the moment. He was not expecting Duo's next statement, although he should have been.
"Well... I am. I wanted my first time to be special. You don't get that if you're on a corner." He smiled at Heero. "So when I offered myself to you... I didn't do it lightly. I'm glad you refused, though. You're right... doing that while I'm upset wouldn't help our relationship." He yawned and closed his eyes, allowing Heero to soothe him. He was asleep within minutes.
*****
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!" The cheer had followed Duo's entry to the Common Room of the Gryffindor house. The students were all dressed casually and there was a pile of presents stacked on a table. There weren't many, but they WERE there.
Duo blushed as several students came forward to congratulate him. Angel managed to push through them and grab Duo's elbow and lead him into the crowd. For the first time, Duo saw that Angel had two angel wings tattooed on her back... one on each shoulderblade.
She led him over to a corner where Christiana was sipping a beverage with Barr on her shoulder. "Here he is! Now be nice and talk."
"Don't tell me what to do, Angel!" Christy glared at the brown-haired girl a moment before turning her intense eyes to Duo. "All right... we want to know what happened today that caused you to high-tail it out of the Dining Hall." Her tone left no room for argument or refusal to talk.
Duo blushed and ducked his head. His reaction seemed silly to him now. "My Aunt adopted me."
Angel blinked and shared a quick look with Christy. "That's a GOOD thing, though. Why the bad reaction to it?"
Duo shrugged. "I've had a lot of bad experiences. I could count on my fingers and toes - and then some - the number of times I've been 'adopted'." He sighed sadly. "No one kept me for long. They got sick of me and sent me back to the church. I got no end of grief about it from everyone except Sister Helen. I guess being a kid for a week has affected me more than I first thought."
Christy nodded, satisfied with the answer. "Oh... by the way... happy birthday. So... how old are you?"
Duo opened his mouth to answer, only to shut it again. "I have no idea!"
Quatre appeared at Duo's elbow. "HERE you are! Are you okay? We were worried about you. Here... you dropped this earlier." Quatre gave Duo the adoption certificate.
Christy nodded to Angel.
Angel nodded back and turned to Duo. "Go on and hang out with your friends. We can talk later."
Duo let Quatre lead him to where the other former pilots and Meiling were standing.
"Duo... Happy Birthday! We never found out what your age was." Meiling handed a present to Duo. "We decided not to put our gifts on the table... we thought it was better to give them to you one by one."
Duo grinned and unrolled the parchment. "It says here I was born... Tristan Vance in AC 181... so I'm 16 today."
Quatre blinked and smiled. "You're younger than us! How CUTE! I'm not the baby of the group anymore!"
Trowa smirked. "Your initials are T.V.?" He shook his head.
Wufei snickered. "Why does it not surprise me?"
Duo blushed a little and ducked his head. "Well..."
Heero shook his head. "Okay... don't make Duo uncomfortable. Although he does have a lot of payback coming for the fun he had at our expense." He smiled and drew Duo close to his side.
Duo smiled back and started to enjoy the party. It was his birthday, after all... and he had everything he had ever wanted. Friends, family and a loved one who had survived what he had once called the "Maxwell Curse". Duo smirked at Heero. The ex-soldier didn't know it yet, but Duo planned the seduce the pants off of Heero at the first opportunity.
TBC... Back to Tenshi-chan's Fanfictions Page