Hogwarts Part 6
Off to Howarts at Last!
"Duo... wake up! Quatre will be here soon! We'll pack the car as soon as he gets here." Kitty smiled as she got a mumbled reply. From the night Duo had spilled almost his entire past to this day, he'd gained a few healthy pounds and had a better complexion. She hadn't said anything to Quatre, but Duo's pale skin had worried her a bit. Now he had more color and even more energy, she was content to send him off. As it was, she had his favorite breakfast made for him and a packed lunch complete with what Duo had dubbed as 'Comfort Cookies'... which were basically chocolate chip cookies with almost too many chips for the cookie to handle.
All his suitcases sat in the hall... along with a carrier for Shinigami. It was a bit larger than what most cats got, but Duo had insisted that his Shi-chan be comfortable.
Duo ran down the stairs grumbling about the wardrobe and buttoning his deep blue shirt. "Meddling piece of firewood! I TOLD it I wanted something simple!"
Kitty laughed and put Duo's breakfast on the table. "Look on the bright side! At least it isn't embroidered with dragons in gold thread. What did you do with that shirt, by the way?"
Duo ducked his head. "I'm gonna see if I can send it to a friend of mine. He's Chinese, and I thought he'd like it. He should stop wearing white all the time." The shirt in question had been scarlet in coloring made out of fine silk. On it, there had been a dragon embroidered in what was, quite possibly, pure gold thread with a sparkling emerald as an eye.
"Oh? Is your friend a wizard?" Kitty filled a glass with juice.
Duo shook his head. "Not that I know of. I was going to see if I could get it to him in a way that was acceptable to... Muggles, was it?"
Kitty smiled and ruffled Duo's hair. "Yes, it was."
After a second of deliberation, Duo solemnly handed the detangling brush to Kitty. "I... I won't have time to eat breakfast and do my hair."
Kitty was touched to the very depths of her soul. Duo, in that second, was telling her that he trusted her with the most important thing he had. She took the brush just as solemnly and stood behind her nephew as he slowly ate breakfast. She brushed his hair lovingly... telling Duo, without words, that his feelings were important to her. She knew that there was much that he hadn't shared with her, but she decided to leave matters the way they were rather than press him for answers he was not ready to give. Once his hair was smoother than the silk shirt he was wearing, she deftly wove it into an even braid. "There. Done!" She smiled at the polite tapping on the door. "And not a moment too soon! The door's open, Quatre!"
Quatre entered and beamed at Duo. "You two ready to go? My bags are outside."
Duo nodded and finished his breakfast. "Yeah. As soon as the car is loaded." He stood up.
Quatre impulsively hugged Kitty. "Thanks for giving me a ride!"
Kitty clucked at Quatre. "I'm glad to help. Besides... I think Duo would feel better if he was by a familiar face for a while."
-Well... I certainly hope you don't think that I'll ride in that tiny little cage the ENTIRE time. It's appalling to think that a lady such as myself should have to be stuck in baggage as if she were of no importance.- Shi-chan sniffed at the cage with an air of disdain. -This thing is positively microscopic compared to the cage Featherbrain has.- She had often called Sultan Featherbrain. She was not fond of Quatre's owl, but put up with him for Duo's sake.
Duo chuckled at the cat. "It's smaller than the carrier Sultan has because he's bigger than you are."
"What did she say?" Quatre walked over to rub the area between Shi-chan's ears.
"She's complaining about the size of her carrier." Duo chuckled and opened the door. "After you, milady!"
-There's no need to be sarcastic. We cats get NO respect any more.- Shinigami curled on the embroidered cushion and glared at Duo. -The things a cat has to put up with to go to Hogwarts nowadays.-
"Nag nag nag!" Duo closed the door and placed a small bowl of tuna in the cage to placate Shi-chan.
*****
"All right, boys... here we are. Now... to get onto the platform, you head straight at that wall between platforms 9 and 10. Duo, dear, you have your ticket?"
Duo nodded and looked down at the ticket. An old fear shot through him and he gave his aunt a wide-eyed look as Quatre ran at the wall and vanished. "Aunt Kitty? I..."
Kitty didn't let Duo finish, but yanked him into her arms and held him as tightly as she could. "I WILL be here when you get back from Hogwarts. I will meet you right here, and I will send letters every week. You won't lose your home with me, I promise." She released him and smiled. "Now... go on before you miss your train."
Duo turned and ran at the wall. When he reached the other side, he let his jaw drop in amazement. It was like he had stepped into another world. The train, though antique in design, shone like new. Not a spot of rust could be seen anywhere on the surface. Suddenly... it all became real. He smiled in genuine delight as he headed over to where Quatre was standing talking animatedly with Trowa and Catherine.
*****
Duo gazed out the window at the passing scenery with only passing interest. He was glad that Quatre and Trowa were sharing the cabin with him, but felt like a fifth wheel as they flirted with each other. Shi-Chan had left a while ago to prowl the car they were in and perhaps catch a few mice. She had enjoyed the tuna, but wanted to hunt for a little while. He was brought back to the conversations when Quatre tapped his elbow. "Hm? What?"
Quatre gave Duo a curious look. "Whatever happened between you and Heero?"
Duo quirked a sad smile. "We had a fight. He left and... never came back. I don't know where he is or even if he's alive anymore."
Trowa shook his head. "A fight? The two of you were always arguing during the war about one thing or another. Heero told me about your inability to stop talking and how he took parts from your suit. What was so bad that broke you two apart?"
"Relena... she's not as psychotic as she pretends to be. She's actually rather nice. It started with my insecurities making it past my big mouth and ended with him leaving. I tried to find him... but I guess he doesn't wanna be found by me." Duo turned back to look out the window. "I was gonna crash with Hilde for a while. She is kinda like a sister to me, you know. Unfortunately, she was living with her boyfriend. I didn't want to be like a bratty brother, so I just... decided to go missing." He sighed and shook his head. "I wonder if anyone cared that I was gone."
Quatre reached over and took Duo's hand. "You should have called me, Duo. You should have let me know that you and Heero were having problems."
Duo shook his head. "Our problems were our own. That's what Heero said before he left me. What happened... was nobody else's business." He sighed sadly. "I really miss that bastard sometimes. We were little more than roommates, but I wanted more... and I'm sure he wanted it to be more as well. I guess... some things are never meant to be."
Trowa reached across and took Duo's other hand. "Just remember that we're there for you whenever you need us." He returned the smile that Duo gave him. "Let's get into our robes. We'll be there soon."
Duo quickly changed and finally pulled out the lunch that his aunt had packed. He hadn't been hungry before. The first thing that caught his eye was a small envelope that had fallen out of the bag. He picked it up and opened it. Inside was a letter and a picture of himself with his aunt. He smiled as he read the letter while eating his lunch.
'Dear Duo,By the time you read this, you will be well on your way to Hogwarts for your first year. I know you will do well. Don't worry about me, love. I'll be fine here, and I'll send you an owl every week.
I know you've lost many homes in your life, and you're probably terrified that you will lose yet another. Don't be. I will be at the station to greet you with a big hug when you return for the Christmas break.
Know that you're loved, child.
Katrina (Your Aunt Kitty)'
TBC...
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