Harry Potter & the Shipgirls

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 52: S0ngD0g13

In the aftermath of the Destroyer Polo Game...
......................................

Zuikaku picked up a skewer of dango and gestured with it. "You're surpringly calm about that near-miss earlier, Jaw. Most folks would be a nervous wreck in your shoes."

Jaw nodded. "Make no mistake, Zuikaku, I'm almost certainly going to have a panic attack later once it fully sinks in; I'm still a bit in shock, really. Thanks again for the save."

"It was reflex, mostly."

Jaw chuckled. "Good to know you care, Turkey." He picked up a skewer of his own and took a bite.

"You're an asshole, Jaw McAmis," said Zuikaku as she listened to one of her pilots orbiting above them report no one else around. "But you're my asshole. No one gets to kill you but me. Understand?"

Jaw raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying what I think you are?"

The carrier shrugged. "You croak, and I'm stuck with no one to swap barbs with. Life would get dull."

Jaw laughed. "Well far be it from me to deprive a lady of entertainment; I also juggle and ride the unicycle, though not both at the same time, I'm afraid. Pleasant conversation is only one of my many talents."

Zui snorted. "And self-preservation isn't one of your talents, or else your dad lied about all your adventures growing up."

"He didn't..."

"He did. The Knoxville Zoo, when you were six, the Camel Ride."

"I didn't get bucked off, and the fence damage was minimal."

"Your grandfather's farm, age ten, the twelve-gauge and the rooster."

"I paid Ray Thompson back for that ewe, and it's not like Dad didn't laugh while he picked the birdshot outta my ass..."

"Miley Gass, Eighth-Grade Homecoming."

"Low Blow, Turkey. Seriously below the belt." Jaw was blushing.

Zui sighed theatrically. "Face it, you draw trouble like chum draws sharks. You need a girl to keep you out of trouble, and you know what they say, if you want it done right..." She smirked.

Jaw smirked right back. "So you're saying I'm your boyfriend now? Don't I get a say? Maybe I've already got a girl, back in the States or up in Tokyo..."

Zuikaku grinned and grabbed Jaw by the shirt. "Then they're SOL; I'm press-ganging you."

Jaw smiled. "So ya are, Zui..."

"Shut up and kiss me, Jaw."

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 53: S0ngD0g13

The Fat Friar glided into the Great Hall, as was his habit, well-before the students; the Hufflepuff House Ghost had always been something of an early-riser, and enjoyed the peaceful quiet of the empty Hall as a place to reflect.

He was interrupted, however, by the entry of one of the Shipgirls who had arrived the day before. She glanced up from her book and paused. "Sorry, Father; didn't mean to interrupt you."

The Friar merely shook his head with a smile. "Not a problem at all, Child. I was nearly finished. What brings you down so early?" He floated up to where she'd sat down at the Ravenclaw Table.

Kaylee pulled her notes out of her coat and spread them out on the table, then produced a pot of coffee and a cup. "I was up all night talking with Professor Snape, researching Basilisk Venom." She started and blushed abruptly. "Oh, where are my manners; I'm Virginia, though my Christian name is Kaylee, Father."

"Friar William, at your service, Miss Kaylee. Though nowadays I'm primarily referred to as the 'Fat Friar'. I'm the House Ghost for Hufflepuff." He looked at the notes and saw how detailed they were, with citations interspersed in the young woman's precise hand. "My my, such a studious young lady; and to have gone all night researching? You'd have surely been a Hufflepuff or a Ravenclaw, were you a student here."

Kaylee smiled. "Thank you; I'll take that as a high compliment. I was always brought up to value thoroughness. Doing half a job only deserves half a pay-off, my granddad used to say." She pulled a second cup out of her hull and filled both. "Would you care for coffee, Father? I've heard from Harry that ghosts don't have trouble with food or drink made by Shipgirls."

The Friar smiled brightly. "I'd be delighted, Miss Kaylee. I'd heard much the same from Miss Warren." He picked up the tin cup and sipped, then smacked his lips with a smile. "Quite strong! I like it!" He laughed a deep, rolling belly-laugh at his first taste of coffee in several centuries.

Kaylee laughed along with him. "You think my Black-Gang's coffee is good, you should try some of Yamato's cooking, Padre. Just don't call her 'Hotel'; it's a bit of a sore spot for her."

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

By the time the students started filing in, Kaylee and the Friar were engrossed in conversation, on their third pot of coffee, and the ironclad's crew had produced a plate of bacon and eggs for the ghost to go along with Kaylee's plate from the Kitchens.

"...So Saint Peter reads the scroll out loud for the Sergeants-Major and the Master Chief of the Navy: Each Branch of the Military is unique, and each has both its own strengths and its own weaknesses; Verily, each Service is Equal in Mine Eyes. Signed, God, US Navy, Retired."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Slowly waking up, Maruyu noticed that her body was rising and falling where it lay. A glance upwards showed the little Submarine Harry's sleeping face which revealed that she was on top of his chest. Yet another glance, this one around her made her smile at the sight of the cuddlepile she was in. Beneath Harry, in her usual position, was Shinano with the giant Carrier acting as a sort of bed for the much smaller boy. Said boy having his head pillowed on her chest which was also gently rising and falling.

On either side of Harry, heads on his shoulders, were Natsumi and Verniy. The two of them were cuddled up as close as they could get with their faces nestled in the crook of the black haired boy's neck while they were enclosed with Shinano's arms. Behind Verniy and pressed up against her was Regina, whose tail's head Maruyu could feel on Harry's lower legs, just below her feet. And behind Natsumi, Hamakaze was also cuddled though the Destroyer's chest was pressed up against the kitsune's head.

Maruyu just held back a giggle as Natsumi muttered in her sleep about giant marshmellow hats.

While not able to see anyone else, the Submarine could still feel the others in the room. She knew, for example, that Nagato and Wanko had put their beds up close to Harry's. One of her fairies popped out of her ear and climbed up to better have a look. Moments later, Maruyu blinked in confusion. She was right that Nagato, Hoppou, Urakaze were in one bed with Wanko and Revina in the other. But what caused her to blink was the odd side of Revina and how the Re-Class was sleeping.

As it had turned out, Revina's tail had it's head on the pillow. Meanwhile, Revina's actual head was down by the foot of the bed for some odd reason. The fact that her tail had one of those sleeping blindfolds and a large, colorful sleeping hat made it all the odder. 'Why...?'

Quickly dismissing the question from her mind, mainly for her sanity's sake, Maruyu laid her head back down on Harry's chest as she checked her internal clocks. There was still mostly an hour before Harry actually had to get up for his morning run after all and the Submarine wanted to enjoy that time she had left until then. Cuddlepiles were nice after all for reasons that still escaped Maruyu and other shipgirls. More then that though? She could hear and somewhat feel Harry's steady heartbeat under her ear. The rhythmic 'Lub-dub' was relaxing to hear.

Part of her mused about how all the shipgirls she knew that often slept alongside humans had said that their heartbeats were relaxing. In some ways, far more then listening to the low sounds of a fellow sleeping shipgirls' engines or turbines. Something about it just made a shipgirl feel... relaxed. Kongou had gone on once about how incredible it was to hear Teitoku's heart under her ear while he was asleep. Then Ashigara had chimed in that she felt the same way and could just lay there listening to it. Not that either had known that Maruyu was there of course.

She was a Submarine after all and it was a quite lovely box she was in at the time.

Of course, her musing also brought up the dream she had awoken from and which made her blush. The dream had started with her and Harry walking along the Yokosuka waterfront just enjoying the day. Both of them had laughed and had lots of fun, with Harry buying her treats such as crepes. Then they had sat together under watching the setting sun until Harry had grasped her chin and slowly turned it his way. Moving closer and closer until their lips had touched. Of course, Harry had placed his hand on her thigh and slowly moved it up...

Even now, she was blushing extremely heavily. 'Mogu, mogu! And stop that snickering!'

Her fairies didn't stop their snickering though.
_______________________________________________________________

Popping some bacon into his mouth, Harry looked up to see Kaylee eating her own food, plate piled high. "Hmm?"

Only rolling her eyes as she drenched a stack of pancakes in syrup, the Ironclad snorted some. "I was asking if you always go out for a run in the morning. You were gone for..." After some quick calculations, Kaylee nodded. "About an hour or so."

With a shrug, Harry snatched some of his eggs away from Hoppou's greedy fork. "Usually I do. If I'm going to be an Admiral then I need to be healthy in body as well as mind. Just like Mum told me."
As the Battleship nodded, Kaylee's lips twitched some. "I see... though you could argue it in some cases."

Harry only rolled his eyes. "Not Goto-Oji. I've seen him and Yonehara-Oji wrestling each other on the beach all the time. Which causes Kongou-Oba and Ashigara-Oba to stare with drool... until they start fighting each other for some odd reason."

That only got him an odd look from Kaylee until she turned back to her meal. Across from him, Tenryuu was looking over Ikazuchi's shoulder at a brochure in the Destroyer's hands. "What do you have there, Aki?"

Looking up at her mother, Ikazuchi shrugged. "Something that Dad sent and I just got around to looking at. They're Canal Cruises I guess?" Frowning, she scratched her head. "You know, since you said that you might consider letting us spend some of his downtime here in England."

Perking up some, Ron looked over at Ikazuchi. "A Canal cruise? Really?" At the Destroyer's unsure nod, he chuckled and shook his head. "Lucky, Warspite's mentioned about wanting to go on one."

Just taking a bite of her sausage, Tenryuu frowned some at the picture. "So, uh... What's the big deal with these? I mean, they can't be that long, right?"

However, Ron grinned and shook his head. "They're usually a few hours actually." Becoming thoughtful, the red haired wizard hummed some. "There's one that goes through the village near my home, Otterly St. Catchpole. Anyways... when I was young it was empty really but now you see Narrowboats going up and down it all the time. Sometimes they got a lot of stuff in them too."

Blinking, Inazuma looked over at him. "Narrowboats? Stuff in them?"

Neville suddenly snapped his fingers. "Oh yeah! Gran took me on one since us Longbottoms own some through some Squibs outside the family." At the looks, he shrugged. "Muggles don't really notice magical stuff being transported back and forth over England like that. Some of what gets transported is too finicky to go via Apparation or Portkey, to say nothing of the Floo or something like the Knight Bus. Heck, sometimes even flying it won't really work and when you need to get a large amount somewhere..." The brown haired boy got some nods. "Gran told me that when the Abyssals attacked, a lot of roads and railways were bombed, but the canals were untouched so a lot of the old Narrowboats got work going up and down them again. And she said that there was work on a number back in the 1980s to upgrade them that also worked."

Also nodding, Ron frowned some. "Yeah, one of the old boatmen down in the village mentioned that. He also mentioned that since all they really needed to do was put some solar panels to power a motor, they could haul a lot of goods up and down the canals during fuel rationing. And that there's been a lot of upgrades to them since the war started as they can be used to get stuff places."

Eyebrows furrowing, Neville gave a nod as he thought it over. "I think... yeah, us Longbottoms were one of the families who helped financed it. The Bones, Greengrasses, Davis, and Williamson families also did. Upgrades to the old system I mean in the early days."

Intrigued, Natsumi leaned forward from where she was eating some eggs. "Really?" When Neville nodded, she frowned some. "Huh. I was under the understanding that they really wouldn't do something like that."

Just shaking his head, Neville frowned some. "Not really? I mean, like I said, we use them to transport magical goods back and forth. And there's been talk of upgrading the system anyways, though with the non-magical government noticing any attempts before..." Giving a glance around, he leaned forward and lowered his voice. "Well, that was the excuse that Gran and others gave to the Ministry and Wizengamot anyways. That we were doing only because we had a chance. But we were really trying to help, but with the Statute and all that... we can only do so much."

Looking away from her own conversation, Gangut gave a snort. "Da, that silly thing gives trouble all over the place it does." She gave a glance to where Harry was feeding a blushing Regina's tail a large cinnamon roll. "So how did your family help?"

With a frown, Neville gave it some thought before nodding. "Um, right, so we helped pay some of the cost for several of them you know? And we also helped out other ways..." Grinning a bit, he looked around. "After all, there's spells and stuff that can soften up stone and that during the night or when no one is looking, letting them get it out of the way more easily. Or some repair spells over parts of it to make it so that they don't need to work on that section." Pointing over at the Ravenclaw table, Neville gestured at a boy there. "Terry Boot's grandfather owns a small boat shop which makes them for the magical side. All of a sudden, it was discovered that they had a number in stock for transport which they handed over to the non-magical government. Now, none of them were obviously magical, but..."

Not noticing Nagato having an interested look on her face, Inazuma spoke up. "So, um, have you been on one of these canal cruises? What are they like? Any fun?"

Chuckling, Neville nodded as he rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, I've been on some. They mostly go through the smaller canals and around the English countryside. Some go all the way to the ocean in order to reach another canal, though they don't spend long there and hug close to the coast. But yeah, you basically sit in this cabin and spend the day watching the countryside go by in comfort..."

Listening in with half a ear, Harry was watching Hoppou out of the corner of his eye as she chose a muffin. She was about to grab something else when Harry grabbed said muffin and took a bite out of it. Shocked, Hoppou's jaw dropped some and then she glared at him. "Big Brother! Why you steal Hoppou's muffin! That was Hoppou's!"

Eyebrow raising, Nagato glanced from the small booklet she had and gave her son a frown. "Yes, why did you take her muffin?"

Harry grinned though and took another bite. "But Mum, Hoppou's muffins are the best! Little Sis always chooses the best muffins there are."

It took a few moments for it to click and Nagato had to choke back a laugh. Hoppou took a few seconds more of thought before she stood up and puffed out her cheeks while throwing her hands into the air. "PO! BIG BROTHER BEING MEAN TO HOPPOU! NOT FAIR!"

Still grinning, Harry finished off the muffin with a shrug. "But Hoppou, you say I choose the best food all the time. So if I choose your food, then that means they're the best, right?"

All that did though was make Hoppou fume and puff out her cheeks more, not noticing Wanko smiling a bit. 'Cute...'

Once things calmed down though, or as much as they ever did, Nagato turned back to the booklet. Partially due to what was in it and partially because she really, really did not need to know what about the conversation between Gangut and the Weasley Twins had them grinning. Percy sighing was enough information for that. Finally, Akatsuki spoke up from where she was trying to eat her breakfast daintily. "Um, Nagato-San? What are you reading?"

However, it was Harry who spoke up. "She's reading the information booklet for classes that I can choose starting Third Year. Professor McGonagall gave it to me to look over the other day since we need to get started on that."

Ryuujou looked up from her own breakfast at that with an interested look. "Really now, Harry-Chan? An what exactly have you decided to go with?" At Harry turning his eyes to her, she smiled a bit. "After all, ain't like you would chose any that might be bad.'

Frowning, Harry chewed his lip some. "Well... I'm going with Divination as one. I mean, Onmyoudo uses Divination after all" That got him several nods, including Ryuujou's. "Care of Magical Creatures is another. Because I or any shipgirls under me might come across the aquatic ones anyways. Might as well know about some of them."

That got him a worried expression from Natsumi. "Are you sure, Harry-Chan? I mean, we saw the professor for it last night, remember? And he's... not in the best of shape."

In reply, Harry shook his head. "I asked Madame Pomfrey about that. According to her, none of the students in that class got that badly hurt. Mainly him due to his enthusiasm mostly."

Slowly nodding, Ryuujou held out her hand which Nagato deposited the booklet into. "Well, so far so good, Harry-Chan. But what others have you chosen then?"

As he tapped his fingers on the table in thought, Harry hummed some. "Well... I was also thinking Arthimancy, the magic of numbers since I'm sort of good at math. Mostly that class is about how math can help such as predicting a spell's effects. Not going for Muggle Studies because if you were raised in the non-magical world, you can easily get everything for it via self-study. Ancient Runes sort of looks interesting... but I want to get Alchemy too, not that there's much on it for a few years. Just don't want to overload myself."

Much to his confusion, Ryuujou gave him a proud grin and nod. "Tha's about right, Harry-Chan. Best not to let yourself get overwhelmed in work." Flipping through the pages, she raised an eyebrow at the next group. "What about these extracurricular subjects that are here?"

With a smile on his face, Harry tapped it. "They're sort of half subjects I guess, each class is only a half hour long once a week. Ghoul Studies is one that I'm going to take since it has to do with spirits and stuff, I know that Ron's taking that one too. Might take Xylomancy as well."

Hamakaze furrowed her eyebrows some in confusion. "Xylomancy? What is that, Harry-San?"

The smile he gave her told him that he did not mind the question. "It's a sort of divination, but you use burning sticks and such for it. According to Percy, you cover everything in one year." Scratching his head, Harry frowned some. "Might try for Ancient Studies since that deals with really old magic, my biological Mum had that. And maybe Art, since I heard that helps out with making stuff with magic." With a huff, he shook his head some. "I really want to try out Enchanting and such, but that's only for Sixth Years and above and if you managed at least an Exceeds Expectations on your OWLs."

Even as Nagato and the others nodded, Urakaze was giving Gangut an odd look. Finally, she narrowed her eyes and sighed. "Now what are ya talking about?"

Slowly, Gangut turned to the Destroyer and chuckled. "Ah, Small One, was only talking to these two about something that I want to do. For Comrade New Jersey!"

Now that caused Harry to turn and raise an eyebrow at her. "... New Jersey?" At the nod he got from the Russian, his eyebrow climbed still further. "The Iowa who is always going on about hating Commies...?"

If anything, that made Gangut's grin grow. "Da, that is the New Jersey."

Having noticed the grins on the Weasley Twins' faces, Shinano frowned. "And what are you going to Jersey-San? Nothing bad?"

Expression softening, Gangut reached up and patted the youngest Yamato on the shoulder. "Nyet, nothing bad. No, I wish to introduce Comrade New Jersey to the might of Russian bear! By giving her one that has and uses gun, like Americans like and have in their Constitution!"

Shinano blinked and then frowned before glancing at Harry who had a massive grin and was already laughing. "Um... A Russian bear that has a gun? Why? And what does that have to do with the American Constitution?"

There were groans from several shipgirls as Gangut spoke up with a face of confusion though anyone could see the gleam there. "Why? It is right there, the Right to Arm Bear! And a Russian one is better then an American one!"

Moments later, Harry fell out of his chair laughing.

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 54: S0ngD0g13

Jaw and Zuikaku were climbing a hill in his Lancer when a blur rocketed past them, resolving itself into the tail-end of an electric trike with a vanity plate on the back that read 'MEEPMEEP'. Following close behind came a second trike that Jaw recognized as Akuzuki's. Jaw picked up the Mic for his radio and laughed, then keyed up. "Breaker 1-9, Breaker 1-9; this is the Young Pup calling the racers up. Mercy Sakes Alive, Shimmy, you and the Runner-Duck 'bout blew my doors off goin' by. Where's the fire?"

"Sorry, Young Pup; Shimmy and I have a case of Ramune on the line over who can reach Kure first. Want in, Big Brother?"

Jaw looked at Zui, who smirked and nodded. "Fer Sure, Fer Sure, Runner-Duck. This is the Young Pup, with Lady Fantail flyin' copilot, and we're hammer-down and victory-bound." Jaw double-clutched and caught a higher gear, and the Mitsubishi bolted forward like a racehorse out of the gate...

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

The racers had traded the lead a dozen times by the time they neared the halfway point, swapping barbs over the CB the whole time. All at once another voice broke into the channel. "Breaker, Breaker, Break-Nineteen for the Tin-Can Rally; this the Collie-Doc letting you know the roads are clear, not a bear in sight. You're clean clear to K-Town."

"Ten-Four, Collie-Doc," Shimakaze replied as she took the lead again. "Hey, Young Pup, you okay there on the back-door? I'm not going too fast, am I?"

Jaw laughed as Zuikaku keyed the mic. "Shimmy, this is Lady Fantail; haven't you heard 'Speed Kills'? If you hadn't, then give us a bit to throttle up and we'll show you. You're sure to die of embarrassment at being outrun by a flat-top."

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

By the three-quarter mark, Shimakaze and Jaw were neck-and neck, with Akizuki gaining ground fast...

The outskirts of Kure City came in sight and Shimakaze poured on the speed to pass Jaw's Lancer. Jaw redlined his engine to keep the lead, only to swerve aside as Akizuki whipped past them both, the speakers in her trike blaring 'Rocky Top'. As the trio drifted into the front parking-lot of the Kure PX, they were all laughing.

Akagi pulled up in her car then and leaned out the window as she keyed up...

"That was some good driving, but now the Red Rider wants in. Back to Yokosuka, loser buys?"

 

[darthcourt10]

Wildrook

"You know," Victory muttered, "I know you and the other teachers can be Gilbert and Sullivan fans, Bumblebee, but have you figured that the song's kind of dated?"

Dumbledore just stared at the shipgirl. "Well, unless you can figure out a new lyric to Modern Major General," he muttered, "it's probably would stay as is."

Victory thought about it for a while. "I've heard a lot of parodies, but the only one that comes to mind is the one I saw in this Half-Life parody."

That caught the man's attention as he brought a xylophone, enchanting the drumsticks to keep up with the shipgirl.

"You keep an enchanted xylophone for such an occasion?" Vicky asked him.

"Filtwick tends to use it more often," the man replied. "Now start."

Vicky nodded as she took a deep breath, the drumsticks about to follow the speed of the shipgirl.

I can fire at a target and hit it at least half the time
or graph out an electron path while using only numbers prime
I calculate the fall rate of a bullet shot a thousand yards
and perforate the thick heads of a hundred military guards.

I can make a simulation of an atom bomb and build one too
or flank a dozen men and ambush ten of them out of the blue
from SMGs to RPGs I carry quite an arsenal
and skip around a warzone like a subatomic particle

Every solider out here wants to kill me for my curiosity
I wage war on the whole damn world because of my tenacity
in matters combat tactical and physics theoretical
I am the very model of a modern major general

Dumbledore shook his head as the Xylophone finished. "It needs a chorus, but it does fit the whole 'Modern Major General' theme," he said. "Heck, I remember an occasion where Snape, Lily, and the Marauders watched it."

"Hang on, Bumblebee," Vicky muttered. "Lily got the four troublemakers and their constant target to get along and watch Gilbert and Sullivan? How'd she do that?"

"Hard work and determination. That, and it was one of the few times where they got along. Now tell me...what does this have to do with what happens when you're exposed to radiation?"

Vicky then sighed. "If this castle had a wireless connection, I'd show you the game in question. Now...she got them to get along. And this was Harry's Mother." She then smirked. "And I heard on the grapevine that she was an Unawakened Naturalborn. Must have been quite the effort on her part."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "You'd be surprised what the woman can do when she's determined. Other than the combined efforts of the pranksters of that year, she made things quite lively with her enthusiasm. Getting Snape and James to get along was a rarity in itself." He then looked at the roster of DADA applicants. "In fact, I was considering hiring one of the old Marauders for the Defense Against the Dark Arts job."

Vicky was unamused. "The only one that isn't dead, on the run, or mistaken for murderer?" she asked him.

"I thought it would be interesting for Harry to meet one of his Father's old friends."

"You know that the snake head's not going to be happy with that."

"I'm aware, but I have the feeling that Sirius might be hiding nearby. If not, I might arrange a meeting between Harry's guardians and James's old friends."

Vicky gave him a stare. "Or you could see what happens and pray that they don't shoot first," she muttered. "And you're doing this for Harry. Just don't go 'master manipulator' on them, or else the next prank will be severe."

"Believe me, I'm only doing this in order to make up for my oversight." He then looked at Vicky. "Besides, I may find myself outclassed in that department nowadays due to my oversight of modern laws."

Vicky nodded. "And I won't tell anyone about Severus's truce with the Marauders," she said. "Would hurt his reputation."

Dumbledore gave out a smirk. "He sees more of Lily in the boy than James nowadays," he replied. "If we're lucky, he, Remus, and Sirius may introduce Harry to the Pirates of Penzance."
----
Yeah, that's pretty much how I'd interpret one of their non-pranky conversations. And yes, Lily strongarming the Marauders and Snape to watch Gilbert and Sullivan is kind of my headcanon. And this is what I picture Snape using when he quotes the Modern Major General on the parchment.

With every prank imaginable
And acts that are quite whimsical
We are the very models of
Marauding Individuals.

And that would bring a small chuckle or a sad look on the Potion Master's face.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Walking up beside Kaylee who was observing the others as they were chatting with a painting, Harry glanced to her before chewing his lip. Finally, he gave a small nod. "Um, Miss Kaylee?"

Only glancing at him, Kaylee chuckled a bit. "Now, you don't need to go and call me 'Miss', Harry."

In reply, Harry shrugged at that. "Sure? Anyways, I... I heard what happened."

Stiffening, the Ironclad gave a jerking nod. "You did? I see... And you want to talk with me about it, I suppose."

For a moment Harry said nothing before shaking his head. "Not really? I just wanted to say that if you want to vent about... relatives... You can do so to me." Expression darkening some, he grimaced. "I'd understand that."

Looking at him from the corner of her eye, Kaylee frowned. Part of her wanted to be somewhat annoyed with him, really. But something else floated up in her mind. "You know, Jaw once asked Akizuki about if you had any relatives during a conversation when you came up. According to him, she got real quiet like, dangerous. Never saw her like that before, but then she told him that there was none worth mentioning and then changed the subject. Jaw said though that he felt a shiver at the anger in her eyes. How bad?"

Harry was quiet for a few seconds before sighing. "Bad. You know that my parents died, were murdered?" When the Ironclad shipgirl nodded, he continued. "I was sent to my aunt and uncle, my aunt being my biological Mum's sister. Right up to when Mum found me, my bedroom was this little cupboard under the stairs. It had locks on it, but they didn't really use them. They also had four bedrooms, one was for my Aunt and uncle, one was for any guests... and two were for my cousin, Dudley."

Eyebrows furrowing, Kaylee gave him an odd look. "Now why in all that is right would your cousin need two bedrooms?"

Glancing at her, Harry gave a snort. "One bedroom was the one he slept in with some of his things. The other bedroom was where he put all his broken toys and stuff. Or books..." A ghost of a smirk was on his face. "He tossed those in there as he hated to read, but when I left Mum took them. Said that they might as well be enjoyed by someone."

Softly snorting, Kaylee shook her head some. "That's... I cannot imagine treating one of my blood like that."

The black haired boy shrugged some. "Yeah, well, they wished that I wasn't their blood and made sure that I knew it. All because Mum was magical I guess. Heck, they spread around that my parents were good for nothing, drunken and drugged up layabouts and that I would turn out the same. With them having taken me in 'Out of the goodness of their hearts'. Meanwhile I had to do all the chores including stuff Dudley would normally had to do in other homes because I had to 'Pay them back' for their kindness. Dudley used to get his friends together and do some 'Harry Hunting'... which involved chasing me around and then giving me a beating when they caught me. Complaining didn't work, all that got me was a rant about besmirching Dudley and how I should be glad that they took me in."

It went without saying that Kaylee's eyebrow twitched some. Said twitch though froze and she turned her head to Harry after he said something. "Wait, go back. What was that about dogs?"

Blinking at the dangerous undertone, Harry frowned. "Um, my uncle's sister was some sort of breeder of bulldogs. She had this one dog she called Ripper that chased me up a tree. All she did was laugh and cheer him on... And it was worse when she was drunk. She used to say things like how I was lucky that Petunia took me in and didn't treat me like she does defective pups, by tossing them into a river."

Needless to say, the twitch increased some. 'I wonder if she could be tracked down... Uncle James might want to have a word with her...' Taking a deep breath, Kaylee let it out before closing her eyes and giving Harry a one armed hug. "Mother o' Mares, Harry. Blood kin should never treat another like that. No wonder that Akizuki was angry for you, I know that I am."

Chuckling weakly, Harry sighed some. "I know that now... But it's still hard." He got a nod from the shipgirl beside him. "So, yeah... if you ever need someone to just rant to about rotten relatives, I'm here. The Kami know that I have more then had a few thoughts of my own."

After some thought, Kaylee slowly nodded. "I might take you up on that. But right now..."

While she trailed off, the black haired boy blew out a sigh. "Yeah, I know. Unfortunately, I cannot give you an advance on the payment for the rendering of the Basilisk." Looking confused, Kaylee turned and was about to say something when he continued. "And I definitely can't tell you all about a certain prank store named Zonko's in the nearby village that I have never heard about. One that, due to not existing to my knowledge, does not have shelves upon shelves full of magical prank items that can have all sorts of effects. Just as sad as I know that you would never, ever want to borrow my Invisibility Cloak which would render someone invisible to all means of detection as per testing by Akashi. After all, you wouldn't want to sneak by anyone."

Lips twitching, Kaylee hummed some in thought. "Oh, for sure, Harry. A sad thing indeed that such a place does not exist. Not that I would want to go there in any case."

Both of them shared a slight smile before Inazuma called over for them to come and see it. About a half hour later though the group was gathered by a tapestry with a wizard trying to teach trolls ballet. Rather bemused by the sight, Tenryuu looked at Harry. "So what's up here, Kiddo? Besides the obvious."

Glancing around, Harry leaned in before speaking in a stage whisper. "A secret room is right here. At that wall in fact."

With a frown on her face, Hamakaze walked over to the wall and knocked on it. She also ran her hands along the wall before shaking her head. "I don't see any room here, Harry-San. Is there some special way to reach it?"

Just nodding, Harry placed his hands into his pocket. "Yup! In fact all you need to do is walk past three times while thinking about what you need. And boom! The room appears with the inside suited to your needs." At their looks, he rubbed the back of his neck. "The, um, House Elves don't let me use their kitchen to make stuff for White Day. So when I found out about this place from Myrtle."

Raising an eyebrow at him, Enterprise snorted some. "You know, while that does sound cool it also is a bit of an issue." At the looks, she rolled her eyes. "Think about it, a room that becomes anything you want? Would be great to hide stuff from prying eyes."

Bemused, Kawa began walking back and forth. "Let's see then... I want some place to hide stuff... I want some place to hide stuff... I want some place to hide stuff." On the third pass, a door suddenly appeared and her eyebrows shot up. "That worked?"

All of them shared a look before Nagato grabbed the door and then pulled it open to reveal a massive room with an arched ceiling. But what caught all of their attention was the massive piles of things in said room. Slowly, they all entered and looked around with Inazuma bouncing a bit in excitement. "Hwawawa! Look at this place! There's so many things here, Nanodesu!"

Moving forward, Ikazuchi nodded some. "Yeah, this is so awesome and cool! And some of this is really, really old."

Jaw dropping, Natsumi felt the hairs on her body stand on end from the magic in the air. "And magical. There's a lot of magic in here, I can feel it." Walking up to a bookshelf, she began to read some of what was there. Suddenly, Natsumi blinked as she read a name on one of the books. "Why would the person who created My Little Pony have a book written here?"

That caused Harry to turn away from where he was watching Kaylee pick up a cage containing a skeleton. Said skeleton had a skull not unlike a triceratops with each limb ending in a hand, even the tail. "Wait, My Little Pony? What are you talking about, Natsumi-Chan?"

However, Natsumi just pointed at one of the books with a frown on her face. "Right here, see? Faust, you know? Lauren Faust created it."

Walking over, Harry frowned as he looked closer and then shook his head. "Um, that's not what the book is by, Natsumi-Chan." Taking the book, he opened it. "Yeah, this is in German... 'The Affairs of the Spirit and Death' by Johann Faust." Eyes widening, the wizard stared a it. "Wait, a book by Doctor Faust? Here?"

As he opened it, Shinano leaned over his shoulder. Part of her was disappointed though as she could not reach what was in the book as it was not English or Japanese. "Um, what's it about? And who was Doctor Faust?"

Flipping through the pages, Harry furrowed his eyebrows. But it was Maruyu who answered the question. "Oh, Faust is some German magician. RO-Chan went on about some play involving him. Something about a deal with the Devil, Mogu, Mogu."

Slowly nodding, Harry felt his eyebrows raising. "That's one legend. But this one is about ghosts, spectres, and the like." Pausing, he leaned down and stared at what he was reading before raising a hand. "Mum? Mum! You might want to come over here!"

Quickly making her way over, Nagato came to a stop and looked at the book. "Is something wrong, Harry? Or is it something in this book?"

In reply, Harry pointed at one bit in particular. "Mum, Faust is talking about meeting 'Ancient Spirits of ships as described by Vergil.' He met some shipgirls and talked with them! Ones that were born after the Fall of Troy and were around still when he was alive!"

Utter silence fell on them as they all stared at the book. Glancing at Kaylee who was staring at Harry, Tenryuu cleared her throat. "Are you sure, Harry? They would have been alive more then a thousand years..."

With a swallow, Harry nodded some. "It's right here, Tenryuu-Oba. He describes them as having strange, wooden armor and little men at arms. And that they could dance upon the waves themselves... It's an entire chapter on them!"

Just as Harry went to close it, Akatsuki spoke up. "Wait, Harry-Chan stop!" At the looks, she took the book and reopened it before flipping through several pages. "Right here! I saw this symbol on a gravestone! It's in the graveyard where your parents are buried!"

Frowning, Harry's lips moved as he read the passage and frowned. "It's talking about the Deathly Hollows? You know, that fairy tale? Um... wait, it mentions that the three brothers belonged to the Peverell family?"

Eyebrows furrowing, Nagato muttered to herself as she looked away. "Peverell? Why does that sound familiar...?"

Only shaking her head, Yamato took the book gently from Harry and closed it. "I think that perhaps we should bring this to Dumbledore-San and ask if we can take it." Looking around the room, she frowned some. "Perhaps there are other, similar tomes here. We should search it I believe when we have some time."

That got her several nods as the other shipgirls as well as Harry and Natsumi looked around in interest.

 

[darthcourt10]

taalismn

I've decided to delete my earlier Stegman post in deference to the thread host; since he's allowing us to play in his sandbox, I have no wish to offend.

I substitute instead with something hopefully more acceptable, if harkening back to a bloodier period in the thread's world-history:

She was awakened by the rumor of death. She sensed that war was again in the air, hearing of it in the surprised and frightened voices of the tourists and park rangers quiting her decks. As she struggled to awareness, she read the airwaves from radios and televisions in the park information kiosks, learning of the fires blazing in Boston, of Cape Cod alight from Provincetown to Buzzard's Bay, of the death closing in on New York, and secondary, but less brutal, air strikes at Providence, New Bedford, and Newport. Of the sea- demons ripsawing shark-like into the panicked shipping and boating jamming into Long Island Sound, seeking sanctuary. Her boilers, had they been fully fueled, would have roiled with anger at the reports of the slaughter taking place not far from where she reposed.

Now the war came to Fall River, an appendage of the forces moving westward to strike again at Providence and other communities along the sea, and the sub bases at New London. Perhaps drawn by the civilian ships and small craft trying to find safety inshore, one of the monsters cruised arrogantly up the mouth of the Taunton River, running down small craft and sending random death into the shoreside facilities. The beast had long ago dispatched the handful of Coast Guard craft that had bravely sallied to confront it, and there were no aircraft to try to attack from above, the few available off defending other, more important ports. There would be no cavalry, no rescue, before the creature had laid waste to Fall River. Overhead, two floatplane-analogues, scouts, circled and dived, spotting for the creature's long range gunnery, and taking advantage to spread their own mayhem, pouncing and strafing targets of opportunity. Already, more smoke and flames rose from traffic jams up and down the highways-turned-killing zones, and from parking lots where emergency services sought to assemble, only to become targets. Chaotic as the situation was, from the scattered reports screaming over the airwaves of this 'tertiary target', the death toll was already in the thousands, and climbing, and assistance was nowhere in sight. The armed services were simply stretched too thin, or too far apart, to bring any help in timely fashion, to every corner of the coast.

The Charles M. Braga bridge was down, its vehicle-crammed span now lying crushed and broken in the water. The demon-woman stepped up over it, as a hunter might a forest log, while closing in on a trapped animal, ignoring the cars and trucks floating, and in some cases burning, in the debris-choked river mouth, as oil and gasoline spread across the waters.

The sea-demon noticed and sneered at the old museum ship and casually sent several salvos smashing into its hull, tearing away aerials, boat cranes, lifeboats, riddling the smokestack and several of the five-incher turrets. Battered, the ship rolled and pitched in her anchorage, before settling at a list, pushed up against the wharf, the tourist gangways buckled and crushed behind it. Fires broke out as display cases and deck fittings caught flame. Smoke poured from dock timbers and buildings set ablaze. Then, satisfied at the inert and ineffectual state of the old battleship, the monster returned her attention to more satisfying prey.

The battleship bore the pain of the attack in stoic silence, infuriated more by the insult delivered as the monster rained fire into the town while Massachusetts could only watch helplessly. A part of her wondered if this was how the French battleships at Casablanca had felt, trapped, angry and frustrated, in their harbor anchorages as her shells rained down into them. No, she thought angrily; Jean Bart, incomplete as she had been, had shot back at least. Behind her she could feel Lionfish churning water and clawing at her moorings, wanting to squirm free and bring her torpedo tubes to bear, or at least her deck guns, silently howling her distress at being trapped against the shore and the deadweight of the corvette Hiddensee, too young and too dumb to be fully aware of what was happening except in the most basic sense. She could also sense the slightly older Joseph P. Kennedy trembling in place in pain, her bow trapped by a fallen span of the I-195 bridge overpass. Ashore, in the museum display buildings, the two PT boats rattled in their mounts, too far from water to do anything useful, and fearful of the flames now getting closer to their prisons.

The monster, lit by those same flames, stepped off the ruined bridge span and piled-up vehicles, and made her slow, mincing way further up the river, her head and monstrous guns swiveling to take in new victims trying desperately to quit the waters. Fresh fire and smoke billowed from bursting waterside targets, the howling of emergency vehicles drowned out by the racket of destruction.
But as the flames of burning ships, automobiles and buildings drifted across the water, they also obscured something else.

The sudden turning of Massachusetts' C turret.

Sheer anger powered her weapons mounts as the big cannons swiveled to bear. It didn't matter that many of her fire control mounts were damaged, at this pointblank range BB59 could not miss, evem through the smoke.

Three sixteen-inch guns loaded with righteous rage thundered suddenly, and the Abyssal's head and shoulders, along with a fair swath of wetland shore on the other side of the bay, vanished. Oily ichor fountained from the headless body as it shuddered, then fell into the waters.

Behind Massachusetts, Lionfish's reawakened diesels let loose with a crowing roar of approval.
Even as the monstrous woman's corpse slid under the water, a harsh buzzing sounded from the skies. With a scream like giant monster hornets, the two enraged scouts circled back and dove upon the scene, screaming their hatred as they fired upon the agents of their mistress's destruction. Bombs already expended on the city, the demons chatter-spat at the unexpected resistance below.

Though missing many of her AA guns, half her twin 5-inchers either crippled by the earlier salvoes or tangled in the collapsed remains of her masts, BB-59's remaining mounts turned and elevated, and for the first time in years, spat fire. Not ceremonial salutes, but war-fire. Though no mortal hands turned her wheels or sighted through her scopes, the memory of long practice and of Guam, Saipan, and Tinian, and the energy of her anger pounded out round after phantom round into the path of the diving demons. And in return she weathered the sting of enemy hellspit against her armored deck.

In the end, several more of gun mounts were damaged and inoperable, more decking was chewed up. Of her companions, the strafing had chewed into Lionfish's tail and sail, though the submarine still remained defiant, and maimed Joseph P. cried anew at the holes punched through her fantail. Poor young Hiddensee dumbly endured shattered decks and a slowly sinking stern. But two spirals of smoke ending in the waters of the Taunton River told of the fate of their enemy.

BB-59 Massachusetts loomed tall, still afloat, sharp bow angled defiantly over her opponents' watery graves. She might not be able to move yet, but BB59 realized that she could still FIGHT. As her main turrets turned to cover the waters and her remaining five inchers and AA guns moved to cover the sky and what else might come, she could still FIGHT.

 

[darthcourt10]

S0ngD0g13

Just outside the small town of Greeneville, Tennessee, an SUV pulled up in front of a single-story brick house in the community of Ottway, and two gentlemen stepped out. The pair walked up to the front door and the senior man, wiry of frame with silvered hair and a hard look to his eye, knocked.

When the door was answered, he spoke To the slim redheaded woman who lived there. "Madison Reeves? I'm Special Agent Cassin, and this is Special Agent Downes, NCIS. We'd like to have a word with you about your cousin, Kaylee McAmis. Particularly about her and her uncle, Jonathan Stegman, as well as an incident involving her classmate, Claudius Weems."

Madison Reeves, nee Malone, paused. "And the Naval Criminal Investigative Service has an interest in Kaylee, why?"

"We, meaning the Navy, Ma'am," said Downes, "take potential threats to our personnel very seriously, and Lieutenant McAmis' past has recently come back to haunt her. We just want to determine if any more of that past might come back."

Madison sighed and shook her head. "You're going to have to explain how my underage second-cousin is a commissioned officer, Agents. But you'll do it in the house, and not standing here on my porch. Come in; would either of you like tea? I just finished making a pitcher."

"No, thank you," replied Cassin, and Downes followed suit. The Agents sat on the sofa and Cassin watched Madison take a seat in the recliner facing them. "Mrs. Reeves, Kaylee is a Shipgirl. As such, having Awakened as a Shipgirl and volunteered to fight, she was given an Officer's Commission, though owing to her age it's a commission in the Navy Reserve. She's presently stationed in Kure, Japan, and works alongside your cousin, James McAmis, when not on patrol."

"I knew she ran west, but I never knew she ran that far west. It caused quite a stir around here; Claude Weems is sterile now, because of her, and his daddy, Augustus Weems, is a big mover and shaker here in Greene County. It wouldn't be so bad, since Claude has a younger brother, Julius, but word has it Julius Weems is more of a Gentleman's Gentleman, if you take my meaning. Auggie Weems is still livid, and he's been doing his best to make our lives hard since out of spite." Madison snorted. "His best is pretty damn considerable, too; he's a lawyer by trade, even defended Kaylee's uncle Johnnie pro bono, and the Weems name is one of Greene County's oldest and carries weight. Of course, the McAmis and Malone names are just as old, and we carry some weight, too, for all we try to stay out of politics. It cost us, though; the rest of the family pretty-much disowned her to save face. I supported her, though it made little difference."

Downes made notes, then stopped as Madison paused and chuckled. "But you didn't come here for a history lesson. As far as I know, Claude Weems has stayed well-clear of us when he could, and hasn't left the country. Unless he's been sending Kaylee threatening messages, I'm at a loss as to why you're investigating. I know it ain't because of Johnnie Stegman."

"Actually, it is. He showed up in Kure a few nights ago and accosted Kaylee," said Downes.

"Impossible."

Cassin responded. "It's true; Stegman's in custody right now, in Japan."

Madison went pale and shook her head. "No, you don't understand, Agent Cassin; it's impossible for you to have Johnnie Stegman in your lockup right now, because he's in Cross-Anchor Cemetery, dead of a heroin overdose for three years now. I know; I was..." She trailed off, conflicted. "I was there, when he died. We had the same dealer. Him OD'ing in front of me was what finally convinced me to get clean. I'm sober now for two-and-half years..."

Downes got a nod from Cassin and stepped out to use his cellphone, calling another pair of Agents. "Chantry, Sackett, it's Downes; I need you to visit the County Courthouse and the ME's office, pull up the Death Certificate and Coroner's Report on Jonathan Stegman. Thanks."

An hour later, Downes got a text from Agent Tatton Chantry:

Records of Stegman's death were doctored and the ME 'blivied.

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 56: S0ngD0g13

Jackson 'Gravedigger' Graves, Auror, looked at his partner, Samantha Piquery. "The Agents say anything?"

She shook her head. "Not out loud; apparently jurisdictional pissing-matches are still a thing and the GCSD badge I was using put me lower on the totem-pole. But Chantry's not a No-Maj. I brushed up against some decent shields trying a passive probe on him. Sackett, on the other hand, was an open book, and a Squib. They found evidence of a cover-up. Someone faked Stegman's death and Obliviated the Medical Examiner. They don't know who yet, though." She shivered. "That's all I got by Legilimancy, in between Sackett undressing me with his eyes."

"Weems, you reckon?"

"The sig was degraded by time, but a partial match to Augustus Weems. We going to bring him in?"

"Sam, I've got a question for you. What do you reckon would happen to Auggie Weems if we bring him in for faking Stegman's death, and Obliviating a No-Maj? If we arrest him?"

"He'll get a slap on the wrist at worst, especially since he's a former Auror. Why?"

Jackson nodded. "Dollars to Dragots, that's exactly what would happen. He's connected; you and me? We're just Junior-Level Aurors and I'm poor white-trash anyway. He'd see us both sued out of the Department for Harassment."

Samantha scowled. "This is some screwed-up shit, Jackson. The damage to the Statute..."

"Oh, I know. Believe me, I know." Graves rolled his pen between his fingers and sighed. "We bring Weems in for questioning. If he's innocent, we let him go. If he's not..."

Sam met his eye. "If he's not?"

"I'll have to live up to my nickname." Graves picked up his jacket, his sleeve pulling upward to show the 75th Ranger Regiment insignia tattooed on his forearm.

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

Augustus Weems sat, shaking with rage after the counter-agent flushed the Veritaserum out of his system. Those damned Aurors had slipped him Veritaserum! He glared across the table at Graves and Piquery. "You damn upstarts! You just ruined your careers, dosing me without my consent! I'll see you both arrested, you Merlin-Damned Sons of Scourers!"

Jackson glared across the table at Weems. "No. You won't. You just admitted, under Veritaserum, to faking Jonathan Stegman's death and illegally modifying the memories of his family, and the Medical Examiner, in recompense for Stegman making a political rival of yours disappear. You admitted to having employed him several times since in a similar capacity, most recently against Lieutenant Kaylee McAmis as revenge for gelding your son. You admitted to orchestrating the deaths of Lieutenant McAmis' parents for getting too close to exposing your misdeeds, and having fed Stegman a steady stream of No-Maj girls to keep him tame. And for what? Power? Revenge?"

"I already have power, Boy. Go ahead, arrest me; I'll be free by nightfall."

Gravedigger looked into Augustus Weems' eyes. "You could easily have brought the Statute of Secrecy down around our ears. You're powerful because of your connections. I have connections too. Kaylee McAmis' father, Eric? He was my Platoon Sergeant in the Army. That means he was my brother."

Jackson's wand snapped up and Obliviated Piquery.

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

As Graves walked away from the Knoxville alleyway, he made a phone-call. "It's done. Mugging gone bad."

"Good. Justice is served, then. Don't trouble yourself with Stegman; there's already enough evidence to put him away for good, and I doubt he'll last long in Leavenworth."

"Understood, Miss Constitution."

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 57: S0ngD0g13

"James?" said Houshou from the back door of her former house.

James looked up from helping pack boxes. "Yeah, Houshou?"

"You know how the Light Cruisers have their Info-Network, or the Destroyer Mafia?"

"I Do."

"We... Older Ships... Have our own. The Old-Girls Network. I just got a message from Constitution, for you. About the investigation into Johnnie."

James met her eyes. "Oh?"

Houshou nodded. "I can't name names; Need-to-Know. She says: Stegman was a Black Rook; your brother and sister-in-law were White Knights. Your Niece is a White Queen. The Black King is Checkmated."

James nodded as he thought it through. "Johnnie was someone else's man, huh? And now that Black King, who was also apparently behind Eric's and Kate's deaths, is gone. Permanently?"

Houshou only nodded.

"Good. Give Constitution my thanks, on behalf of me and Kaylee both. I'm in her debt."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Taking several sips from the large mug which drained it, Wanko placed it down on the table with a smile and a nod. "Thank you, Hagrid... the tea is... quite enjoyable... as always."

Brightly smiling, Hagrid only chuckled some as he took her mug. "Well, thank yeh, Wanko. Glad tha' yeh enjoy it." With a look around, he nodded. "Would yeh like another cup?"

A blush spread across Wanko's face as she played with her claws some. "That would... be lovely, Hagrid... Thank you. Could I also... have some more... of these... lovely rock cakes?"

Chuckling, which made her blush increase, Hagrid only nodded. "O'course! Now, jus' give me a moment here. Got some in the oven."

While he had his back turned, Wanko once more examined the small hut that Hagrid called home. Some unkind souls would have sneered at it, but the Princess was not most. In fact, she found it rather homely and it had given her some ideas for her own home back in Australia. Granted, every time her eyes drifted over the fur covered bed, a part of her mind wondered if it was as sturdy as it looked before she shoved that thought down.

Of course, her face would also be bright red every time that happened.

Shaking such thoughts off, Wanko turned back to Hagrid with her head cocked to the side. "Have you... given any more... thought about... my offer? I really..." The blush on her face deepened for a moment. "I really do... not mind if... you go for... it."

Just humming as he grabbed some honey and spooned it into the tea, Hagrid thought for several moments. "I must admit, I'm tempted. But what about Fang? 'E's already had quite some time away from me. A bit worried about him."

For a moment, Wanko followed his gaze to where said dog was laying on the floor as Regina patted him and gave it some thought. "Hmm... that is... an issue... It can get... quite hot... where I live." Eyebrows furrowing in thought, she looked at Hagrid. "I heard that... Little Brother gave... this woman... some earrings that... keep one cool... when it is... very hot out."

As he stirred in some milk, Hagrid frowned in thought. "Hmm... Maybe ask Flitwick about that. 'E would know more about tha' sort o' thing then I do. But if so... would Fang be welcome?"

The look that Wanko gave him was utterly serious. "Yes, Fang would... be very welcome. None... would harm him... as I would... order it so."

Head tilting to the side, Hagrid slowly nodded. "'Ell, if so then I don' see much problem. Always sort o' wanted ta see Australia. Heard they got a number of critters down there tha' are a mite interestin'. Read once about these ones some wizard or witch made, drop down outta trees on people. Look rather cute."

Blinking, Wanko considered for a moment what sort of creature he was talking about. But then she shrugged off the thoughts as her own aligned with Hagrid's in regards with such things. After all, she found the Thestrals here at Hogwarts utterly adorable creatures. Especially when they nibbled on her claws some, though she made a note next time to bring some food for the little ones. 'Maybe Kangaroo...'

Meanwhile, Regina was petting Fang which the dog was enjoying greatly. Sure, he was a bit unsure about the beings currently in the hut with his Master, but his Master liked them. And while they felt off, they had not tried to hurt him, not like some of Master's other friends. Such as the Eight Legged Eaters. And the one currently stroking him was great at petting, very gentle and getting the right spots.

He rather liked her, and she had Black Messy One's scent all over her.

Accepting the new mug of tea along with a still warm rock cake, Wanko took a bite out of it before washing it down. "Take your time... to decide, Hagrid. I shall... be around here... for some time."

Only nodding, Hagrid took a bite of his own rock cake as he settled back into his creaking chair. "Oh? Yeh are going to be around Hogwarts then to keep an eye on 'Arry?"

However, moments later Wanko shook her head. "No, I shall... be in Scotland... for some time. Though I may... drop by every... once in awhile." She smiled slightly and held up a rock cake. "Especially as... I rather enjoy... having tea and... these wonderful things... with you."

That caused a flush to spread across Hagrid's face as he reached out and patted Wanko's claws. "Aye, I rather like it myself as well. It's nice having someone to talk to like yeh. After all, yeh are a wonderful person." From where she was, Regina had to hold back a grin at the blush that spread across Wanko's face and how said Princess tapped her claws together when Hagrid stopped petting them. "So what are yeh going ta be doing here in Scotland, if yeh don' mind me askin'?"

Wanko tilted her head to the side some before slowly nodding. "I shall be... doing some work... for the Royal Navy... involving a... Princess they have." Frowning, she looked towards the north. "She is at... Scapa Flow right... now. They want me... to help her... with negotiations as... she does not... understand humans. Though why... they think that... I do, I... do not know."

Chuckling, Hagrid only shook his head. "Ah, don't be worryin' much abou' tha', Wanko. I don' think tha' us humans understand each other all that much anyways. Yeh understand more then yeh think... I think."

For a few seconds, Wanko had a thoughtful look on her face. "Hagrid? May I... ask a question of you?"

Slowly, Hagrid nodded some. "Go righ' on ahead, Wanko. Yeh can ask me anythin'."

Nodding, Wanko frowned. "I may need... some help with... this. Would you... be available... to give me a hand... if needed?"

More then a little surprised, but warmed by the trust the giant groundskeeper nodded. "O'course! Yeh only need ta ask and I'd be right there."

Just smiling, Wanko tilted her head to the side and gave him a thankful look which made Hagrid chuckle and scratch his cheek with a blush visible on his face. Several moments passed before Wanko coughed and turned to Regina. "Regina... I have some... orders for you..."

Perking up, Regina paused in her petting for a moment. But then she continued at the whine from Fang. "Yes, milady? What do you need?"

The Abyssal turned in her seat and fixed the Re-Class with her gaze. She was rather proud of the Abyssal after all, despite some oddities that come from being a Re, Regina was loyal. However, Wanko also was not blind, though in this case that made her only more pleased. "I shall only... be taking Revina... with me to... Scapa Flow." Spotting the hurt in Regina's gaze, she raised her hand. "It is not... a slight against... you, Regina. I have... another mission... for you while... I am there."

Confused, Regina blinked some. "Another mission, milady? What sort of mission?"

Smiling warmly, Wanko gestured at the school. "Until the school... is deemed safe... in three weeks... I want you... to stay here... and keep guard... over Little Brother. You shall be... under his command... for the duration... of your mission."

Heavily blushing, Regina bit her lip before pulling her scarf up higher over her face. "S-stay here? With Harry... And he would be..." Gulping, she felt the blood rushing to her face at the images in her head that the next words brought. "Would be... In charge of me? Able to c-command me?"

Extremely amused at the reaction, Wanko nodded. "Yes, Little Brother... shall be... your commander for... this mission." Scratching her chin as Hagrid looked on in interest, she continued. "Consider it... a test in... a way. Or perhaps... a proof of... concept"

Putting his mug down, Hagrid frowned some. "Proof of concept?"

There was a very slight smile on Wanko's face. "In time... us Allied Abyssals... and the shipgirls... shall be working... together. But there are... few human commanders... that both sides... would trust with... both shipgirls and... Abyssals. The human, Goto... believes that Little Brother... would be a good... one in the future. By placing you... under Little Brother... when the time... comes, then the... humans would see... he can work... with both. I hope to... place you fully... under him in... such a situation." Gazing at swaying Regina over the top of her mug, Wanko smiled a bit more. "I trust... Little Brother... after all and... know that you... would not mind... it at all."

Regina's reply was to give an eep before nodding and twiddling her fingers. Finally, she nodded. "Y-yes, Milady, I would not mind that at all. And I will obey his orders as if they were your own."

If anything, that made Wanko's eyes glow in amusement.

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

Snippet! This one's a little bit tetchy, but I couldn't get it any further that this.
Hopes and Dreams

-----

They haven't been waiting overly long by the time the Shipgirls arrive. Nemo is cringing in embarrassment, and Takumi wonders if maybe he should step in front of her, block their view of her somehow. On the other hand, he can't see how it would mean anything in the long run, given even the smallest one there, Fubuki if he recalls what he's seen in the news correctly, could throw him with enough force to eclipse anything the star pitcher on the school baseball team is capable of. But still, looking at the way Nemo is about ready to jump out of her skin, it would help her feel better… Is this what thinking in circles is supposed to be?

"Hieiiii…" the battleship in question says, grinning awkwardly. Takumi quietly wonders what she thinks she and her friends interrupted. "Hello there, kid. Been a few days, hasn't it?"

Nemo makes a vague squeaking noise, tapping her forefingers together. Takumi reaches over and takes one of her hands, interlacing their fingers. She looks at him with praying eyes, silently begging him not to—

"EEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"

—everything hurt.

"HIEI! I'm trying to be serious, Akagi!" Hiei shouts at the carrier.

"I'm sorry! They're just so cute!" Akagi replies, eyes sparkling and not sounding apologetic in the slightest. Hiei groans and slaps her cheeks, clearing her throat.

"Ignoring that," she says in a low voice, inhales deeply, and then she's confident smiles and standing tall, very much the noble figure that Takumi has seen on the internet, television, the newspapers, and pasted all over the walls of the elementary school where he picked up his cousin's daughter. "So—"

"theendofthemonthedgeoftheterritory" Nemo mumbles under her breath. Hiei pauses.

"I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that?" she asks. Nemo 'eep's, and shuffles over to press her shoulder against Takumi's. He looks over the girls in front of him, and settles on Fubuki.

"Hey," he says, giving a half-wave in an attempt to get her attention. She blinks, glancing over at the larger girls before it seemingly clicks and she nods. "I think she's a little nervous around new people, and you're coming across a lot calmer than them… Do you think you could…"

Fubuki frowns, processing his request. "Ah. No, I'm afraid not." Takumi sighs, stretching his free arm out as best he can, and rolling his shoulder.

"We're probably going to be here a while," he admits.

-----

Back when they had first become Princesses, when they were hopping island to deserted island that their fleet had charted before finally settling into their current whereabouts, Ku-Tan had frequently woken up screaming. She would throw herself to her feet with all her strength and pitch around, thrashing frantically until Shi-chi was woken and could calm her.

It had been a long time, and Ku-Tan no longer screams.

She's too used to it for that.

Still, after her eyes flickered open, she casts about the small cave to make sure that she hasn't been dragged back to that day, so long ago. Sighing hard enough to empty her lungs completely, she stands and walks out into the fading light.

She'd like to pretend that the nightmares had stopped, she admits to herself as she walks down the almost permanent furrow in the ground that she's worn step by step. Shi-chi calls the island their Super Secret Base, and it certainly looks the part—a crooked, craggy rock that juts up from the water, nothing like the tropical paradise that deserted islands are supposed to be. Whatever else, it's a place for them to rest their heads and strike out from—if they were interested. A Secret base, a fortress, that that monster doesn't know about. She'd like to pretend. She'd be lying.

And then Ku-tan is standing on the beach, pebbles shifting under her feet. She looks out over the ocean, looking west to where she knows where Nemo is. It's okay, she tells herself. She's acting as a go-between, helping negotiate with the navy, and it's in the navy's best interests to make sure she doesn't come to harm. They won't let the Harbour Princess hurt Nemo. It doesn't make the fear go away.

Hmm, she wonders, how far can I throw one of these pebbles?

Reaching down, she carefully runs her fingertips over the stones, selecting one that seems to have a good shine to it. She looks it over, admiring the rounded shape and texture. Then she shifts one leg back, cups the pebble in her hand, reaches back—

"Did you enjoy your nap?" Shi-chi asks brightly.

—and fumbles the throw, pinching the rock into dust.

"Shi-chi," she says simply, not turning around.

"That bad, huh?"

She knows her too well. Ku-tan starts going over the rocks again. "I miss them," she replies, selecting one. Foot back. Arm stretched out.

Motion. The rock disappears with a crack and she sighs. She feels arms wrapping around her shoulders, a chin nestled in the crook of her neck.

"So do I," Shi-chi says, holding her tight. Ku-tan doesn't do anything to dissuade her.

"I know," she admits, and she feels a pair of tickling lines trail down her cheeks. "I know, but… it's different."

Shi-chi is quiet. She had been unconscious, struck a glancing blow during the early stages of the battle. She hadn't experienced the utter terror and chaos, followed by the deathly silence following their departure. And then…

Friends. Family. All gone. Some of them more so than others.

She had tried to pull a cruiser who was sinking below the waves up from the water. The top half had separated from the bottom with a sick tearing noise, and she'd been left with—

Caught as she is in Shi-chi's arms, Ku-tan can't lean forward, but she thrusts her head out as bile, oil, and chemicals force themselves up her throat. Once and again, then a third time. And finally, she is left weak-kneed, breathing heavily, chin wet with vomit, and Shi-chi shifts her arms to support her.

"Come on," she whispers, "let's get you cleaned up."

"Nn."

She doesn't mind being weak like this in front of Shi-chi. They've seen each other far weaker.
-----

Hiei stands with her fingers to her temple, her eyes slightly closed. As everyone else watches, she opens them, and lowers her hand. Looking at Nemo with a firm expression, she nods.

"Terms accepted," she says.
-----

On the one hand, I'm not too sure if this works. On the other, I'm a bit burned out, and not entirely caring. Going to be a bit of a long Saturday.

Well what do you think, sirs?

Edited--All the different princess names are a little bit confusing for me at times. As I've said before, Wanko is Ku-tan's boogie-Abyssal.

 

[darthcourt10]

S0ngD0g13

Kaylee was sitting on the front steps tapping her toe in time to a spirited rendition of 'Salamanca Reel' being played by one of her Fairies when Ginny walked outside. "Hey, Ginny. How you feeling?"

"Better. Bored though."

Virginia saw the remnants of a nightmare in the redhead's eyes; many things Ginny Weasley might be, but bored wasn't very likely. "I've got a few of my airsoft guns stashed in a locker in my pilothouse; we could shoot targets?"

"Air-soft gun? Is that a Shipgirl thing?"

Kaylee laughed. "More like a Muggle thing. Or since I'm American, I guess it'd be a No-Maj thing. Lemme show you." Kaylee pulled the locker out, chuckled at how one of her crew had carved 'Jones, D.' into the lid, and withdrew two of her airsoft pistols, a matched brace of gas-blowback Berettas modeled after Revy Two-Hands' Cutlasses. She primed the magazines with green-gas and loaded them, handing one off to Ginny. "These are airsoft guns; they shoot these 6mm plastic BBs. They're safe-enough to shoot at people, and won't leave more than a stinging welt, but they can do damage if you hit someone in the eye, so avoid face-shots."

"Okay, Safety-Brief Time, and this applies to actual guns as well. Don't point it at anything you don't plan on shooting. Keep your finger off that trigger unless you're ready to shoot, and leave the safety on until same. See little lever there on the slide? That's the safety." Kaylee demonstrated with her own. "Up means it'll shoot. Down is 'on safe' and it won't shoot. Last rule is treat it like it's loaded at all times."

Kaylee walked Ginny through the shooting process and tacked some paper targets, extra silhouette-targets she'd wheedled out of an armorer back in Kure, to trees nearby. "Now, let's punch some paper," the ironclad said with a grin.

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

When Harry and the others walked out, Ginny had an airsoft M1 carbine on a one-point sling and a holstered M9 on her thigh, and the targets had enlarged copies of Tom Riddle's Head-Boy photo taped over the silhouette heads. Kaylee held up a pocket-watch. A crowd was watching eagerly. "Shooter on the Firing Line, beginning with the rifle and finishing with the pistol, Box Drill. Make Ready!" Ginny racked the carbine's bolt and assumed a ready position. "You may commence fire when your targets appear; Targets!"

Ginny brought the carbine up and fired a quick hammer-pair into the center of the left target, then another into the right-hand target's torso. She dropped the carbine to hang on its sling and drew the pistol, and drilled the smiling photographic face of Tom Riddle between the eyes with a single shot, first on the right, then the left. The First-Year quickly holstered the M9 and held her hands up by her ears.

Kaylee shouted to the crowd, "Four seconds even! Anybody think they can beat four seconds on a Box-Drill?" Ginny Weasley had no challengers.

Kaylee accepted the M9 back, then slid it into a set of shoulder-holsters and handed the whole assembly back to Ginny along with ammo and gas. "Keep'em. You've got real talent, Ginny, and this let's you keep practicing. Maybe you and I can duel tomorrow? If you're free, o'course."

 

[darthcourt10]

SeaofFallingStars

It was a confused Ooyodo who strode into Akashi's workshop, wondering what the repair ship was up to. No mad science for a few weeks made for a twitchy person waiting for something terrible. What she actually saw gave pause before she tapped Akashi on the shoulder.

"Akashi, why do you have what appears to be a lego mecha bay?"

"Oh this diorama? That young man who constantly hangs around with Macon and the other Baltimores decided to round up a bunch of his old lego sets and got them mailed to me somehow. He only wanted pics of them in exchange."

Ooyodo blinked. Surely one of the American ships would've been better suited for these and not one of theirs, even if it was brick-build Mecha. Still, if it kept Akashi out of her hair for a while...

"I might have to send a thank you note. Without you to help Yuubari I have had less headaches than usual"

"Well he said he wasn't going to be using them and that this was better than selling them. So add in a thank you from me to the starman!"

Giving affirmation and leaving the workshop, Ooyodo wondered what the worst that could come from the diorama was. Then she remembered Harry could enchant things and made a note to try and nip that in the bud or at least get the animated mechs to help HER with things.

~~~~~

Well Harry, finally did something. And yes, I do have such lego mechs. Not a lot of them but honestly? I would give them to Akashi for a diorama!

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

SeaofFallingStars said:
Do it! That was a fun arc and maybe you could have small bits of Ushio and company interacting with Kidlet Harry before he goes to Hogwarts
Harry Leferts said:
It was pretty fun actually.​

This is actually building on something that was discussed briefly a few weeks ago. Timeline... I think it's concurrent with all the business going on presently. Ironically, while I was writing it, I figured out what's going to happen next in the Nemo snippets. Be ready for that in the next couple days.
Weekend Calling

-----

The door opened, ringing the attached to the frame, and a naval officer stepped in. Following behind her was a girl dressed in an old-style sailor fuku, blushing and tripping over her words. They walked forward, small-talking as they drew up to the bar. As the officer drew their stools out, the girl behind the counter reached out and placed two bowls of ramen in front of their chosen places.

"There you go," she said with a voice that some would call deadpan sarcastic if they hadn't known her, "the usual. Eat up, you two."

"Sakiii!" the officer whined, dramatically hanging her head over her dinner, "we're your old school friends! Why isn't there any love in your voice?"

Tohda Saki raised an eyebrow imperiously. "I'm on the clock. No time for love. Besides—" she paused, checking boiling water and a basket of eggs. "I know when you're trying to get a rise out of me."

Hoshikawa Umi perked up, grinning cheekily, and grabbed the disposable chopsticks that rested on top of her bowl. "Whatever you say, Saki. How's life been treating you?"

Ushio, known to her close friends and family as Nagawa Namiko, nodded to her former classmate. "Good evening, Saki. Ah…"

"What's to talk about?" Saki twisted a dial on the stove. "Life's life. Simple as that."

Since Umi and Ushio had walked into the ramen bar almost a year ago and found their old friend working the counter, they had made a point of eating out weekend nights, barring deployment or destroyer antics. Saki had been pleasantly surprised, having lost contact with her friends briefly during college, and had welcomed the company. The owner hadn't cared as long as they ate up, were satisfied, and didn't cause a scene.

"Now for you two—" she hefted a ladle and pointed it at the physically older girl. "What was that earlier this morning, Umi? About the tree getting set on fire." Umi paused, mouth stretched open in preparation to say "Itadakimasu," then brought a hand up to massage her forehead with a groan.

"Well… Some of the girls got their hands on enough popcorn to fill an old dinghy that they found around base," Ushio explained, shrugging awkwardly. "They, ah, decided that they wanted to pop it all at once, and then… Well, they figured they might as well…"

"They lifted the boat into a tree, and then lit the tree on fire," Umi summarized. "It was put out, nothing was lost… Well, excluding dignity." She snapped the chopsticks, and intoned solemnly "Itadakimasu." She was followed in kind by Ushio.

"Dignity?"

"The boat fell on Zuikaku as we were trying to get it out of the tree," Umi explained around a mouthful of noodle. Ushio frowned and poked her in the ribs. She swallowed and let out a happy sigh. "Ah, that hits the spot."

"You know," Saki said thoughtfully, leaning on the counter, "You could probably write a book once all this is over about all the crazy things that Shipgirls do."

"And get hunted down by an army of angry super-midgets?" Umi cracked another grin. "No thanks. I like my torso where it is, thank you very much. Attached to my arms and legs and head."

"Umi!" whined Ushio. Umi smiled more gently, and rested a hand on the crown of her head.

"Fine, lovely little destroyer-girls," she conceded. "But that doesn't exactly change my point." Ushio blushed bright red, and turned her attention to her ramen, inhaling the noodles at a rate that made it hard for Saki to believe she was chewing.

She sighed heavily. "It's weird," she said, shrugging to no one in particular. At Ushio's expectant gaze, she shook her head and turned her attention back to the ramen. "Looking back, I used to be shorter than you, didn't I?"

Ushio stopped eating, lowering her chopsticks to rest against the edge of the bowl. "You're right," she admitted after a second's reflection. "I think I was." She ran a hand over her cheeks, feeling a face that had looked exactly the same the day her brother graduated high school as it did the day he called her to announce his wife was pregnant. "I guess it is pretty weird."

A silence hung over the three, that was cut by Umi rapping her knuckles against Ushio's forehead. "Nope," she said cheerfully, raising her bowl, "No time for being grumpy. Right now… is time for ramen."

And then the door opened, and Saki was called away to deal with a new customer, followed by two more. By the time she returned to Umi and Ushio, the two had nearly finished.

"Hey, Namiko," she said, and the destroyer girl raised her head at the sound of her name. "Don't let it get you down. All that means is that you get to look like a high schooler when we're all old and grey and rickety. You hear?" Ushio sighed and raised her bowl to her lips.

"I guess—" she began, and then the phone rang. Saki turned to glare at the appliance, then shrugged.

"Where's the freaking kohai when you need him?" she asked herself, walking over and grabbing the handset. "Hello, this is Kurasu Ramen. Are you—"

"Tohda-san?" a voice responded, and it was one that Saki hadn't heard in a while. She racked her brain for a moment, trying to put a name to it. "This is Tohda Saki-san, right?"

"Yeah, this is…" The name, what was the name, Miya? Something like… "Oikawa-san?"

"Hikawa," another old schoolmate, who had accompanied the three present on possibly the craziest three days of their life, responded flatly. "Wait, that's not important right now! Help! We need to get help!"

"Why are you calling my workplace?" Saki demanded.

"It's Ashida-san! Yae! She's in trouble, I don't know what to do!" Miya replied frantically. "I'm tracking down everyone I know—"

"I'll call you later, I can't use the work phone for personal business!" Saki protested.

"SHE'S PREGNANT, TOHDA! SHE'S PREGNANT AND SCARED AND ALONE AND I COULDN'T STOP HER BOYFRIEND FROM REACHING THE SHINKANSEN AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!"

Saki paused. Her grip on the phone tightened involuntarily. "I'll call you later on my cell. You can give me the details then. Later." She pressed the handset down into its cradle with an angry force she didn't know was within her. Drawing a deep, shuddering breath, she walked over to stove.

Ushio suddenly raised her head, pressing her index and middle fingers to her temple.

"Please repeat, over? Did they leave a name? Over. It's… I'll be there as soon as I can. I think I…"

Her eyes met Saki's and she was left with no uncertain conviction that she had heard Miya's outburst over the phone. Umi looked between the two apprehensively.

"… Sorry. Stray thought. Be there as soon as possible. Over."
-----
Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

A Marine sighted down his weapon at the range before firing, the projectile shooting across the waves and slamming into the target. When it did, it detonated sending shrapnel across several feet. Meanwhile, watching from a distance Jane scowled as she placed her chin in her hands. However, a voice spoke up and caused her to turn her head in surprise. "So here you are, Jane."

Blinking, Jane turned and her eyebrows raised at the sight of Arizona there watching her with a raised eyebrow. "Ari-Mama?"

Slowly nodding, Arizona walked over before sitting beside Jane and spending a few moments watching as the Marines fired at their targets several hundred feet away. "Your father was rather worried when you disappeared so I stated that I would go and look for you." Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the ashamed expression on Jane's face. "I thought that you might be down here."

The sounds of another group of weapons fire caused them to look over at the firing range with Jane shrugging. "Sorry... I just needed to get away. And I overheard that they were doing some stuff down here."

Glancing at the binoculars that the youngest Richardson had been using, Arizona focused her own eyes on the firing range. Even now, she had to shake her head at some of the things that the future threw at her. "Back when I was but a ship, no one would have believed that exploding bullets that could shoot hundreds of feet would be anything but science fiction. And yet... here we are."

Jane gave a shrug as she watched. "I guess? I mean, they were using some of them on Iwo Jima from what I overheard." As they watched one of the projectiles went between two targets before detonating, showering both with shrapnel. "Some of the Marines were going on about how it did in the tunnels there."

Only humming in agreement, Arizona thought back to the recent battle. While won months ago, there was still sporadic fighting going on in the tunnels beneath the island as the last Abyssal remnants were cleared out as no one wanted to leave any behind just in case. And the last the Battleship had heard, they were sending in units who had experience in such fighting from time spent in Afghanistan. Shaking off those thoughts, she leaned forward in a pose not unlike Jane's. "You understand that John only wants you to be safe."

Scowling, Jane looked down at her feet. "I know that, Ari-Mama. But I'm not a kid anymore, I'm older. And..." Eyes closing, she slumped some. "I just want to make sure that Cuz is safe. He nearly died. But the monster who was attacking is dead, so why can't I go and check for myself?!"

Barely tilting her head, Arizona frowned some in thought. "That is understandable, I suppose. Just the same, Harry will be home in three weeks and you will be able to check him over to your heart's content then, Jane."

A grumble came from the nearly thirteen year old. "Yeah, but that's three weeks of me worrying! And everything else doesn't help."

With a chuckle, the Battleship beside her nodded. "I suppose not, Jane." Then she fixed Jane with a disappointed look that made the teen flinch. "However, that does not excuse your behavior at all. I can understand that our family is under a lot of stress with Mutsu only a few months off from being due. The Lord knows that John needs to relax some from his constant worrying."

Jane stared down at the ground for several moments before sighing. "Daddy has reasons to do so though..."

Placing an arm across the girl who was, to her, her daughter in everyway but blood, Arizona gave her a gentle kiss to the top of the head. "He may, but it is driving Mutsu up the wall. And this latest wrinkle does not help." Only getting a silent nod, Arizona frowned in thought as she considered her next words. "Hmm... But I may have a solution for you."

Suddenly blinking, Jane looked up. "A solution, Ari-Mama? What sort of solution?"

Lips twitching, Arizona chuckled. "I believe that Harry has one of those... Quidditch games coming up?" Checking her logs, she nodded. "In about a week or so."

Confused at where this was going, but a part of her already suspecting, Jane nodded as she checked her own mental notes. "Yes? I think it's against Ravenclaw actually... why?"

Unable to help herself, Arizona smiled some. "Well, if, and I do mean IF, nothing else happens. And if everything seems to be as safe as possible, then I shall talk with John about you going to it."

Eyes widening, Jane's jaw dropped. "R-really, Ari-Mama?! You mean it?!"

Slowly, Arizona nodded. "I do, Jane. And to help him relax I shall go along with you just in case." Her lips curling upwards some, she chuckled. "Also, I am somewhat interested to see one myself in real life. But... there is something else that you need to do."

Quickly nodding, Jane stared at her with wide eyes. "Sure! Anything at all!"

Leaning in, Arizona raised an eyebrow. "Firstly, apologize to your father and Mutsu. While I am happy that you walked away before too much anger happened, you were still rather rude to them. Second, be on your best behavior until then. That will help to convince your father."

After a few seconds, Jane nodded some and gave a salute. "Will do, Ari-Mama! I'll go and do that right now!"

With that, Jane got up and ran off with the bemused Battleship shaking her head in amusement. Sending a quick message to Mutsu that she both found Jane and had talked to her, as well as Jane heading back, Arizona stretched some in the evening light. As she sighed, she gave some thought about heading back to the Richardson Household before deciding to spend some time elsewhere.

The three involved in the issue should have some privacy after all.

Decision made, Arizona made her way through the base. Eventually, she reached what had been an old boatshed. Knocking on the door, she waited a few seconds before she got an answer. "Come in!" After she opened the door, Dewey poked her head up from behind some machinery and gave a bright smile that stood out against her oil and grease stained skin. "Ari! Now what brings you here? Want a checkup?"

Softly chuckling, Arizona shook her head as the massive, even to her, Floating Dry Dock stood up and began to wipe her hands on a cloth just as stained with various things as her own hands. "Not today, Miss Dewey. Though thank you for the offer." Watching as the borderline Installation Shipgirl turned on the taps to her sink and began washing her hands, Arizona glanced around. Once she had gotten orientated with what had happened, Dewey had taken over one of the boathouses and turned it into a workshop of sorts. Various pieces of rigging were scattered on various tables with desks and schematics everywhere she looked. "There hasn't been much fighting recently after all."

Humming as she shook her hands dry, Dewey pulled a pipe out and then lit it with experienced ease. "Well, that's good news then. Less work for both myself and the others. Though remind your sister that Aristaeus is going to hunt her down if she misses another appointment." Some smoke gently rising from her pipe, she gave Arizona a look over. "So what did you come for then?"

Quickly looking around, Arizona closed the door behind her and then turned to the bemused Floating Dry Dock. "I came by to check on the project that I asked you to do. For Jane."

Eyes twinkling, Dewey chuckled and gestured for Arizona to follow her. "As a matter of fact, I'm nearly done if you want to come and have a look." Guiding the other shipgirl through the somewhat cluttered workshop, she hummed a little ditty to herself before pulling a chocolate bar from her pocket and holding it out. "Want some?"

Giving her a smile and a shake of the head, Arizona chuckled. "No thank you. Besides, I'm more excited for what you may have done so far." Only shrugging and biting the candy bar, wrapper and all, Dewey unlocked a door and hustled Arizona inside. Meanwhile, Arizona was frowning in thought. 'I did not know that this building was this large...' Then she caught sight of the shape under a cloth and felt excitement bubble up. "Is that it?"

A smirk on her face, Dewey grasped the cloth and then pulled it off to reveal a vehicle there. It oddly looked much like a car from the 1930s, but much smaller and squished. From where she stood, Arizona could see the pedals in the floor where one would get it started up. "Not painted yet?"

Only scratching her cheek, Dewey shook her head. "Not yet, I'm also waiting for some more modern parts I ordered to come in as well as the paint. Also some parts that needed to be chromed. But the electric engine's already here so that's going to be put in the next few days." Patting the body of the vehicle, she chuckled. "But when it's all together, it will look amazing for a electric bicycle... quadcycle?" After a moment of thought, Dewey shrugged. "No matter, it'll be done on time."

Smile widening, Arizona ran a hand over the body of the vehicle. "Beautiful." Turning, she gave Dewey a thankful nod. "Thank you for this, it looks just like one of the more expensive cars from my day. Jane will be over the Moon for it when she gets it for her Birthday."

With a snicker, Dewey shook her head. "What teenaged kid wouldn't? Made the modifications that Akashi suggested of course. Smart girl that Repair Ship. That way if Jane is with any shipgirls, the pedals and gears won't come apart under real horsepower. Still, I got to thank you, Jintsuu, and Mutsu. If nothing else it's been an interesting project."

Humming, Arizona nodded as she imagined how it would all look put together. "An Admiral, even a future one, needs a vehicle after all..."
__________________________________________________________________

Walking along the grounds in the cool, damp March air, Nagato raised an eyebrow at Ron who had joined them after lunch. "So your father is planning for a trip this Summer?"

Just placing his hands into his pockets, Ron nodded some. "Yeah, Dad's been talking with some people on Saint Brendan's." Glancing around, he nodded as there was no one in hearing range. "Officially, he'll be there to talk with them about showing too much magic to muggles with me there to show me how he does his job. But really, he'll be there for a week or two and some of their engineers will be showing me some of what they did for magic."

As she thought back to her sister's wedding, Nagato gave a small nod. "From what I have heard and seen, what they managed was quite impressive. Though do you think that it will be all that useful?"

Glancing around, he snorted some. "Pretty useful actually. And Dad told me he learned some stuff from them. Might not help me much with helping Warspite, but it's something, right?" Ron chewed his lip some before shrugging. "Dad also heard that they might start offering it as a summer thing, a week or two each summer... I wouldn't mind much. He can even pass it off as having me learn to take his place someday. Besides, even if it doesn't help Warspite much it might help others."

Raising her eyebrow, Nagato frowned some. "Oh? Like who out of curiosity?"

In reply, Ron pointed at Kaylee. "She's Virginia, right? A Civil War Ironclad?" At Nagato's nod, he continued. "Thunderchild is only twenty years younger. Stuff that works for Thunderchild could help out her and others including some Pre-Dreads. Might even make her equal to a World War I ship."

That caused Nagato to pause for a moment as she considered it. 'That... would be impressive. Even being equal to something from turn of the century would be a boost...'

While behind them, Nagato and Ron had their conversation, Inazuma looked around in confusion. "Where are we going, Nanodesu? You said that you had something to show us!"

Grinning at the impatient Destroyer, Harry snickered some and raised a finger. "We're nearly there, Dess! It's right there in that glade actually."

Upon reaching the glade, Tenryuu frowned as she spotted a cart filled with bales of hay. "Uh, kiddo? There's nothing here but hay." Then she furrowed her eyebrows some as she looked around as there was still snow here and there on the ground. "Any reason you brought us here?"

If anything though, Harry's grin widened as he walked over to the nearest bales and lifted off another. "Well, first we got to cut the ties for these and spread them out. Then comes the excitement."

By the twinkle in Kaylee's eyes, the black haired boy guessed that she had figured out at least part of it. Confused though, Ikazuchi only shrugged and began grabbing bales of hay and doing as instructed. "Leave this to us, Harry-Chan! You can rely on us more!"

Several minutes later, the bales were broken up and spread about before Harry brought his fingers to his mouth and let out a loud whistle. With a slow nod, he smiled. "Now all we got to do is wait for a few minutes for the dinner guests to arrive." It was not long before he perked up at a sound. "Here they come!"

Looking around, Akatsuki frowned some as she turned to Verniy. "Come? Who's coming..." A flash of white out of the corner of her eye caused her to turn. Her jaw dropped as the first Unicorn entered the clearing followed by other members of it's herd. The adult's fur was so brilliantly white, they made the freshly fallen March snow seem dirty and grey in comparison. Safe within the herd was silver younglings and golden foals. Voice filled with awe, Akatsuki was breathless. "Unicorns..."

At the same time, Harry stood proudly as he watched the unicorns look at the group curiously before turning to him. When he nodded, they soon turned to the food spread out and began to munch. Harry though blinked at a sound and turned to stare at Tenryuu who had a large grin before she blushed. "Um, Tenryuu-Oba? Did... did you just squeal?"

Heavily flushing, the Light Cruiser shook her head rapidly and looked away with a scowl. "No." It was ruined though as she kept glancing at the unicorns with her lips twitching. "I don't squeal like no schoolgirl."

Behind her, Shinano frowned and raised a finger. "Um, but I heard you. And Harry-Chan didn't say that it sounded like a schoolgirl..."

Urakaze nodded as she folded her arms across her chest. "Ah heard it too.

Needless to say, Tenryuu blushed even more at that and gave a huff. "You're all hearing things. I'm too cool to do something like that." Looking back at the unicorns though, she felt warmth bubbling up inside. 'I wonder if this is what Nagato feels whenever Nagamon tries to break out...'

Meanwhile, Gangut just smiled as she leaned against a tree. "Comrade Garri?" When Harry turned to look at her, he was more then a little surprised to see her eyes glistening. "Ogromnoye spasibo for this. You have given me a great gift to see these beings like this, one that shall not be forgotten."

Bowing some, Harry gave her a smile back. "Pozhaluysta, Comrade Gangut." He ignored the surprised expression on Gangut's face before the Battleship reached over and ruffled his hair. Giggling some, Harry didn't notice some of the unicorns watching the byplay. "Anyways, we're not done yet."

From where she was beside him and holding his hand, Verniy looked at him. "We're not, Harry-Chan? But..."

In reply, Harry gestured at the bag he had his mother bring. "I got some apple slices and carrots in there. We can actually feed them some when they're done." At Kaylee's unasked question and look, he shrugged. "They're still wild, you can never tame a unicorn. But they're also really intelligent even if it's not the same sort that you might understand. Hagrid taught me how to interact with them when I help him get unicorn hair from them and brush their coats." Feeling Natsumi's hand tighten on his, he turned and was surprised to see the utterly awestruck expression on her face as she watched them. "Natsumi-Chan? Is something wrong?"

Swallowing, Natsumi looked at him. "I... they'll let us feed them? Really?"

Only giving her hand a squeeze, the wizard nodded. "They will. In fact, they'll even let you pet them, the ones in this herd are pretty gentle even compared to most unicorns, though they still don't like most boys." He frowned for a brief moment and then shrugged. "They don't mind Hagrid or I much."

Eyes closing, Natsumi took a deep breath before opening them. She had never been in the same area as a unicorn, let alone this close to a group before. Even from where she stood, Natsumi could feel the sheer purity of the beings in front of her. The best that she could give was the spiritual version of being bathed in a pool of the cleanest water possible. But even that failed in her mind to describe it. Opening her eyes, she leaned over and gave Harry a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, Harry-Chan. This... this is a wonderful gift." Sniffling, Natsumi shook her head. "It feels so... so wonderful."

Behind them, Ryuujou sat down on a stump and nodded as she watched the herd. "It really is. To be in the presence of such beings... Thank you, Harry-Chan."

It was not just the Light Carrier who thanked him as other members of the group did much the same as they settled in to watch the herd feed. Their quiet silence only lasted until the first foal was done and wandered over to greet the shipgirls with inquisitive snouts. They did pause for a moment with Natsumi, but then whatever caused them to do so was dismissed and they began to greet her as well. Not long after, all of them were feeding the unicorns with slices of apple or carrots. All the while sometimes running their hands over snouts and fur, with the unicorns nuzzling them back.

 

[darthcourt10]

Gosu

Abyssals tend to go for over the top antics, mostly evil. So I guess that if they have access to internet and movies, they may appreciate some over the top human evil antics, yes? Especially if fictional. And it's not impossible that Wanko has a sense of humor either, right?

Harry Leferts said:
There was a very slight smile on Wanko's face. "In time... us Allied Abyssals... and the shipgirls... shall be working... together. But there are... few human commanders... that both sides... would trust with... both shipgirls and... Abyssals. The human, Goto... believes that Little Brother... would be a good... one in the future. By placing you... under Little Brother... when the time... comes, then the... humans would see... he can work... with both. I hope to... place you fully... under him in... such a situation." Gazing at swaying Regina over the top of her mug, Wanko smiled a bit more. "I trust... Little Brother... after all and... know that you... would not mind... it at all."

Regina's reply was to give an eep before nodding and twiddling her fingers. Finally, she nodded. "Y-yes, Milady, I would not mind that at all. And I will obey his orders as if they were your own."

If anything, that made Wanko's eyes glow in amusement.​

Wanko looked at Harry and Regina standing in front of her for the transfer of command ceremony. The young boy had been given a paper with the answers he was required to give.

"Do you ... Little Brother... take Regina to... be your Re-class... of the next three weeks?"

Looking down on his paper, Harry read the first line. "Of the next three weeks, yes".

"Do you... promise to... use her as... you will?"

Regina flushed. Harry frowned. He read on though. "Certainly."

"And not to... sink her as a target... unless you grow... weary of... her antics?"

He wanted to say he would never do that, but this was an Abyssal ceremony and he had to follow the script, right? "I do."

"Then I now... pronounce you... flagship and battleship." She nodded to Regina. "You may... hug your... commander."

Regina gladly did so.

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 60: S0ngD0g13

When the unicorns entered the clearing, Kaylee gasped in surprise. Mother o' Mares... So beautiful...

The ironclad watched the herd from the clearing's edge, feeling... Lighter, like all the shadows that had haunted her since leaving Tennessee were driven away by the presence of such magnificent, radiant creatures.

Her awestruck watching was interrupted by the sound of hoofbeats nearby her with a halting cadence. Kaylee turned and saw a foal walking near, favoring his right foreleg as though it pained him. "Hey, there, Little One," she said softly as she approached. "Hey, there... Your leg hurts? Here, let me see; I'll try to help." She gently stroked the foal's shoulder and then ran her hands down the foreleg to just above the hoof.

When she got her hands close to the hoof, the foal jerked his leg and Kaylee reached up to stroke his shoulder as she kept talking to him. "I know, Little One, I know it hurts. I gotta pick your hoof up now; can you let me pick it up?" She lifted the hoof and saw the problem immediately.

"Ah, there's your trouble. You must've been in some briars earlier; you got a thorn in the frog of your hoof. Here, just lean on me a minute while I draw it out... And done. See?" She held the thorn up for the foal to see before tossing it away. "You should be good as new in a little while, just gotta give the swelling time to go down."

Kaylee stroked the foal's coat, paying close attention to the mare that stood nearby, and talked quietly. She never noticed how some of the destroyers overheard her. "I think I'll call you 'Hopper'. You know, Hopper, before things got rough back in the States I was planning on going to Vet School. 'Doctor Kaylee V. McAmis, DVM' has a certain ring to it, and there's certainly no shortage of work for a veterinarian in a farming town like Greeneville."

Kaylee started combing Hopper's mane. "I had it all planned out; Graduate from North Greene High, Vet School at UT Knoxville, and then try to get hired on at Duckworth's Clinic in Greeneville or at Old Hatchie in Bolivar, near Granddaddy Mike's old farm. Eventually have enough saved up to start my own practice." She chuckled when the unicorn foal nosed her ear. "Yeah, I know, Hopper; if you wanna see the Gods laugh, just tell'em your plans..."

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 61: S0ngD0g13

Kaylee was in the Great Hall sipping tea and letting her lunch settle when Queen Anne's Revenge sat next to her. "Virginia."

"Anne."

"I've heard ye've a fine an' tunesome voice. Might I ask if ye'd sing? I've not heard a good air in a stiflin'-long while, an' there'd be fair compensation in it for ye."

Kaylee grinned and nodded. "I might could be persuaded... Four bottles o' blackstrap, in advance."

The pirate ship snorted. "Two, afterward."

"How 'bout two, one in advance? What say you?"

"I say we have an accord." Anne slid a bottle of dark blackstrap rum to Kaylee, who tucked it away.

"I've got just the song in mind, too..."

A quick, quiet discussion with Professors Flitwick and Dumbledore had them calling the hall to silence. "We're in for a treat," said Albus. "One of our guests, Miss Virginia, has offered to sing for us. What song shall we hear, Miss?"

Kaylee smiled. "I figured on singing a song from one of my favorite artists, a lady named Heather Dale. She did a whole album once where all the songs were based around the legends of King Arthur, and the song I'm singing today, As I Am, is one of them."

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

In Kure at the same time, James looked at Houshou. "Say, Houshou; I've got a song stuck in my head. Want to hear it?"

"Sure, James. You know I love your singing."

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

Two people, half a world apart, began to sing the same song...

"I suppose that I look different,
Without the robes and crown,
But I come this day before you,
With no riches,
And no renown..."

James met Houshou's eyes as he sang, "... For here I am no leader;
I'm just a humble man,
And I only ask you take me,
Just take me as I am..."

Kaylee's eyes were misty as she stared at something only she could see. "... I'm not looking for perfection..."

James held a hand over his heart as he sang, "... And I'm not offering a saint..."

Uncle and niece, separated by continents, both sang out, "... I'm not looking for a pretty bird,
To put in some restraint;
The only thing I want
Is that you love me,
If you can,
And I only ask you take me,
Oh take me as I am..."

Kaylee's voice rang from the Great Hall rafters as she sang, "I offer you a look inside;
I offer you that trust..."

There were tears in James' eyes but his voice was strong as he sang, "... I need your strength to help me fight,
The battles that I must..."

Kaylee flexed her hands as she continued, "... I need you to remind me of the light we bear within,
That there's more to life than struggle,
And the things we seek to win..." Her voice rose again, strong and clear. "Don't take me out of duty,
And don't take me out of pride..."

James held Houshou's hands in his as he sang, "... Just take me if the man you see,
Is one you'd stand beside."

As Kaylee sang the last lines in Scotland, James sank to one knee and spoke them plainly.

"I'm offering an open heart, and I'm asking for your hand. I only ask you take me... Take me as I am."

"Hai. Yes."

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 62: S0ngD0g13

"Kaylee! KayleeKayleeKaylee!" shouted Willie as she barreled through the door into the room where Kaylee had her bed. "Kayl-oof!" The girl the US Navy lovingly referred to as ' the Original Derp-stroyer' tripped over the edge of the rug, fell, rolled, and came upright by the bed with the barrel of a revolver pointed up her left nostril before Kaylee realized what was going on and holstered it, blushing and apologizing.

"Sorry 'bout that; startle reflex. What's going on, Willie?"

Willie smiled. "Flash traffic from your uncle via the Tin-Can Mafia, marked, in Johnston's terms, 'Priority Now-Goshdangit'."

Kaylee's eyes widened. "Read it."

"From McAmis, J; To McAmis, K: I have opened the second bottle of Bushmills 1608, and no one's going to the gallows. She answered affirmative."

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

Everyone in Gryffindor Tower heard a female voice cry out.

"HOOOO-EEEE!!!"

Kaylee came down the stairs into the Common Room with Willie in her arms, spinning and hopping while laughing like a loon, until she abruptly dropped the destroyer in her arms, howled like a she-wolf, and started doing a dance that looked like a cross between a slip-jig, a can-can, and the Charleston on a coffee-table. Everyone looked at the Weasley Twins.

"Wasn't us," they said in stereo as they raised their hands.

Harry was swept up into the dance, and between beats asked, "What's got you so happy, Kaylee?"

Kaylee twirled Harry. "Message from Uncle James! Good news! Very good news! We-need-to-party-news! Willie, read it!" Willie read it. Kaylee set Harry down and collapsed back onto the couch, still grinning ear-to-ear. "Uncle James had two bottles of Bushmills 1608; they were wedding gifts from Grandpa Mike, his dad. One got drank at his and Aunt Trish's wedding reception. He swore the second would only ever be opened for a wedding or a hanging." Kaylee's voice rose as she spoke. "No one's going to the gallows, and 'She answered affirmatively'? She said yes! She said yes! Houshou said yes!"

When the implications of that sunk in, the collective feminine squeal of delight was audible to Upholder, sitting vigilant with Hermione in the Hospital Wing across the castle.

There was a party, of course, for two reasons. One was, James McAmis and Houshou were engaged to be wed; the other was that Willie had won the Tin-Can Mafia's betting pool about the carrier and the dog-trainer's engagement, and a dozen other destroyers across three continents now owed her money...

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Seated as she was across the Black Lake from Hogwarts, Nagato watched the reactions on the screen of the laptop she was using. On the screen, and thousands of miles away in Yokosuka, Goto leaned back in his chair in thought. "I'll admit, I'm happy that everything seems to have turned out well. So the Monster is dead and the tunnels might as well be cleared then?"

Only nodding, Nagato gave a small smile. "Hai, Teitoku. It seems that things are cleared here." Her lips then turned down into a frown. "Though I wish that I could get more then a few days more here."

Goto gave a snort before shaking his head and accepting some paperwork from Ooyodo. "And I wish that I could give that to you. If there's anyone who deserves more then a few days off, it's you, Nagato. Especially after all the work you put in on patrols, sorties, and being a Secretary Ship helping Ooyodo. Unfortunately, the higher ups do not feel the same." A smirk then crossed his face. "Though the Basilisk did scare them some. The idea of an actual Kaiju, or Uwabami I suppose, that can slay just by looking and withstand heavy caliber gunfire rather frightens them. Just imagine if one appeared in downtown Tokyo for instance..."

A shudder passed through Nagato at that and she shook her head. "I would rather not. Both the death toll and... response... to such an incident do not really bear thinking about."

With a grimace on his face, Goto nodded. "No, it would not. You are certainly correct about that..." Shaking it off, he sighed some. "But I did manage to get you some time off to find out as much as possible about Basilisks and the Hogwarts Library is a very good source of information. I would assume that you have some of your crew looking over texts?"

Lips twitching, the Battleship nodded with a hum. "I do, Teitoku. I also decided to look up some other dangerous creatures of my own volition."

That got her a snort from Goto before he suddenly smirked. "Very good, that will give the spooks something to chew over. As an aside though, you may be getting some more time to spend with Harry very soon."

Surprised, Nagato sat up a bit straighter. "Some more time?"

Chuckling, Goto smirk grew some. "Yes, though before we get to that in just a moment, I do have a question for you..." After getting a nod, he continued with a confused look. "Why are you wearing glasses?"

Nagato gave a blink at that before reaching up and adjusting the glasses that perched on her nose. "My glasses?" At his nod, she shrugged. "Because I read that wearing them while giving a report makes a woman look more intelligent. Does it work?"

Utter silence met her as the Admiral stared at her for a few moments before slowly nodding. "I... suppose that it does do that, yes." When Nagato smiled brightly, Goto coughed into one fist. "Anyways, while you are to return after the Quidditch game this weekend, I managed to get you a mission which means spending some more time with your son when he gets off for Spring Break. It will require for you to make a small detour though to Germany."

Needless to say, Nagato's eyebrows raised in surprise at that. "Germany, Teitoku? May I ask why?"

Still smirking, Goto leaned forward. "You may. They have need of Harry for an attempt in Germany. To that end, when you go, Akashi shall give you a shard of the Fake Stone as well as a test tube of the Liquid of Life. When you reach Germany, you will find an escort where, with help of Harry, Germany will try to get the Aircraft Carrier Weser with the materials given."

It took a few moments for Nagato to quickly look through her logs before slowly nodding. "The Admiral Hipper class, Seydlitz's conversion, correct?"

With a nod, Goto glanced at some papers on his desk. "That would be correct. The Deusche Marine is hoping to get one more Carrier at least without costing them a Heavy Cruiser. It should ease the strain on the Carriers that they do have."

Furrowing her eyebrows, Nagato frowned in thought. "Graf, Elbe and Ausonia, correct?"

All Goto did was give a nod before answering. "Yes, right on the dot. Only Graf is a Fleet Carrier, though I believe they hope to eventually find or summon Peter Strasser to give them a boost. Outside of that, they have Seaplane Carriers only, so any Light Aircraft Carrier would be welcome. Especially if they do not need to lose another ship for conversion."

While she considered it, Nagato tapped her fingers against her knee before giving a nod. "I don't see a major issue with that, and it has been some time since I was last in Germany." Suddenly, her lips curled upwards. "And from memory a property belonging to Harry's family is in Germany. We might swing by for a day or two and have a look."

Leaning back with his hands clasped on his stomach, Goto chuckled. "If this works, then I don't see an issue with a few days of leave. I think that I will also send Hachi and RO as well at least. They have been rather busy and I think that the Submarines deserve a small break. Hachi has been asking at times for another mission to Germany and RO might want to see her sisters..."

Only giving him a look, Nagato frowned. "And I am certain that you do not have some ulterior motive at all."

There was a grin on Goto's face only grew as he spread his outwards. "None whatsoever. Just thinking that it would be nice for them to have a small vacation of sorts is all." Ignoring the narrowed eyed glare, the Admiral chuckled. "Speaking of Harry, where is he?"

Glancing behind her, Nagato shook her head. "As I needed to cross the lake to get outside any interference, Harry decided to check the old summoning chamber from last year." At the look, she shook her head. "It's decommissioned and we're just checking to see if anyone used it." Sighing, Nagato grimaced a bit. "And since this was the first day of classes and everyone wanted to talk with him..."

Needless to say, Goto only nodded at that. "Yes, I suppose he would need some time alone then..."

Meanwhile, inside the chamber, Harry just walked around as he looked this way and that. "Huh... looks like no one has been in here since last year. Guess that it really is pretty secret." Walking over to where the summoning pool was, Harry peeked his head over the side of the lip and looked down. Just below, he could see a small amount of water and he could smell salt. "Must be from condensation, there would be enough dried salt there anyways." After a few moments of watching the light shine back from the nearly mirror like surface, Harry turned back to the rest of the chamber. He had already taken a note of materials left behind when everyone had gone home the last time. A can which had contained oil now only had a few drops in it, some strips of metal, and three or four shotgun shells. "Going to have to get rid of that, especially the shells. Don't want someone getting hurt after all."

Looking back over his shoulder, Harry gave a small smile at the pool. "I wonder if Doctor Crowning is right about how much tonnage sunk helps summon. Heh, maybe me killing the Basilisk counts." Harry spent a few moments considering that thought in amusement before he turned away from the Pool and so missed the slight shimmer that travelled across it. "Steel, ammo, and oil to the sea for a gift."

Suddenly though, the black haired boy felt a breeze brush past him and he blinked as the light on his wand flickered. When he was done though, he looked around until a sound caused him to turn and look down at the summoning pool. Eyes widening in surprise, Harry just stared. "Didn't expect that..."

Just a few minutes later, Nagato turned away from the now shut down laptop at the sounds of footsteps and smiled. "Anything to report, Har..." Blinking for a few moments, her eyebrows raised upwards and she had to chew her lip. "Well... that answers that question."
__________________________________________________________________________________

As she sat down across from him, Harry gave Natsumi a smile. "So, how did your research go in the library? I hope that it went well?"

Only nodding as she began to get some food, the Miko in training nodded. "There was some interesting stuff there. Especially on spirits and the like, there's a difference between what I know from Japan and what is true here. Such as how ghosts operate. There was also some nasty creatures mentioned..." Trailing off as she spotted Shinano staring at something from her position beside Harry, Natsumi blinked and looked in the same direction. "... What in the world, Harry-Chan? I... is that one of those..."

Looking down at the chibi-Nagato that was on the table, Harry shrugged. "Smols? Yeah... I think that I shall call her Mingato."

Said being looked up at Harry and nodded some. "Gato." It then grabbed a biscuit in both hands with a stern expression before breaking it in half. "GATO!"

In return, Harry gave it a rub on the top of the head with a smile. "Yup! Behold the power of the Big Seven Smols." He ignored his mother facepalming and shaking as the Smol gave a nod. "Anyways, I was investigating the Summoning Chamber to see if anyone had used it and... she sort of showed up?"

Natsumi only blinked and stared from him to the small being that was now happily eating the biscuit and then back to him. "... I see..." Sighing, she pinched her nose and shook her head. "Only you, Harry-Chan... only you."
That got her a snicker from Harry before he noticed how quiet Shinano was being. "Um, is something wrong, Shinano-Chan?"

Frowning, she looked at him and then shook her head. "Not really? But, um... this just means that I lost the bet with Archie-San." At the confused looks, she scratched her cheek. "I had a bet with her as to the next Smol that Jane-San was going to summon."

Just as Harry was about to comment, there was a bang sound and everyone turned to see Nagato with her face against the table. After a few moments, Nagato began to mumble. "There's a betting pool on what smols my neice will summon next...?"

Very slowly, Shinano nodded in confusion. "Yes? I mean, the pool's rather good. It's been going on since the Smol version of Albie turned up..." Pouting, she shook her head. "Hopefully the Jintsuu one comes soon, that way I can make up for this loss."

Yet again, Nagato banged her head on the table with a soft sigh. "Because, of course there would be betting on it. Why wouldn't there be betting on it..."

With a shrug, Harry turned to where Kaylee had sat down and was not staring in utter befuddlement at the tiny version of Nagato. "Oh, hey there Kaylee. How's things going?"

Barely giving him a glance, Kaylee kept her stare on Minigato who was now trying to eat an entire leg of chicken by herself. "Things... Are goin' good, Harry. Got a lot of research done." With another look around, the Ironclad noted that barely any of the other shipgirls gave the tiny Nagato more then a curious glance before turning back to their meals. 'What is going on here...?'

Cutting a piece of ham, Harry gave a nod while ignoring how Hoppou was once more snatching food from him. "Cool, that's actually great to hear. Oh, and our meeting is tomorrow." At the surprised look, he shrugged. "There's a room here in Hogwarts for that sort of thing. It's on the third floor behind a one way mirror. Had a look, the whole place is pretty posh."

Finally deciding to try her best to ignore the tiny fairy, Kaylee only frowned as she began to eat her own meal. "Good to hear. I'm rather surprised to hear that there's an actual room dedicated to that sort of thing though..."

All Harry did was shrug in answer. "Apparently it's not exactly uncommon for scions of various families to make deals with each other. Usually it's pretty minor stuff and all that so that they can get some experience."

Swallowing the food in her mouth, Ryuujou frowned some. 'Meeting rooms, huh?' With a shared glance between her and Nagato, the Light Carrier made a thoughtful noise. 'I wonder if that's the room that Dumbledore wanted to meet us in to discuss some things tonight...'
___________________________________________________________
The look on Ryuujou's face could be best described as incredulous as she entered the room that they were holding the meeting in. After almost a minute as Nagato and Victory both walked past her along with Tenryuu, Ryuujou turned said look onto Dumbledore who was smiling as he sat on a bench. "... A bowling alley. We're having a meeting in a bowling alley, which for some odd reason is located in a school of magic."

Eyes twinkling, Dumbledore gave her a small smile. "Why wouldn't we have a meeting in a bowling alley inside of a magic school?" Finishing tying his shoes, he nodded some. "Besides, I like ten pin bowling. Wonderful sport really."

Pinching her nose, Ryuujou let out a sigh. "Ya mean you used your position as Headmaster to have a bowling alley installed in Hogwarts. Just so that you can play it..."

His smile widening, Dumbledore chuckled. "Well, yes, I do suppose that I did. And it's not that odd for a Headmaster to add something here or there... Though it does get lonely as Fillius is the only other one to join me besides Rolanda and Septima at times." He then turned to see Nagato taking a pair of shoes from the elf behind the counter there. "Do you think that perhaps Harry might be willing to have a game or two sometimes?"

Lips twitching, Nagato just held back from grinning at the sight of Ryuujou facepalming and muttering about insane, old wizards. "I think that my son might be willing if you asked. Ever think of starting up a bowling team here?"
Making a thoughtful sound, the Headmaster slowly nodded. "I must admit that I have not. Though that is not a bad idea I suppose in all actuality. Perhaps even win a trophy or two for the school... I think that I will give that some thought."

Victory meanwhile was watching as her fairies tied up her shoes, as it was rather hard to do so herself with one hand. "By the way, Bumblebee, what do you mean it gets lonely? I often come here to bowl after all! And win as well."

Only frowning at her, Dumbledore narrowed his eyes some. "You only win, dear Vicky, because you are a cheating cheater who cheats... cheatingly."

That got him a glare back from Victory. "I do not cheat, Bumblebee. You are just not as good as you may think that you are. And that is not my fault."

Snorting, Dumbledore walked over and waved his wand to set up the pins. "You are so a cheater. I've caught you using your fairies rolling cannonballs."

A scowl on her face, Victory huffed at him. "That is far from proof that I cheat. You, my dear Bumblebee, are just a sore loser."

Ryuujou ignored the barbs being slung back and forth between Dumbledore and Victory before sighing. 'This is how he holds a meeting to talk about how to handle some issues regarding the upcoming sweep?' Glancing to where Enterprise and Yamato who making arguments over who would win, what the loser would do for the winner and so forth, Ryuujou felt like banging her head on a wall. 'Who, I wonder, is nuttier... wizards or shipgirls...'

With a final shrug, she walked over to the shoe counter. Might as well have some fun, right? And Tenryuu was bragging to an amused Kaylee some about her high school days so maybe knock her down a peg or two...

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

And now, a thing! I hope this one works out well.
Young Love

-----

"Yakumo, one of your friends from school is here!" Mother calls from downstairs. One of them? She wonders whether it's Tachibana or Uzukawa, whether they're here to justify themselves or make peace or just hang out. They would do that from time to time in the past years, when they first met and were trying to get her to be more open. Another question—is she feeling like dealing with the two right now?

Yakumo pushes herself up off of her bed, rolling to her feet and stepping lightly to her door. Out of her room, to the stairs, step down a few and Uzukawa grins up at her. Taking a deep breath, Yakumo steels herself. Uzukawa has dressed up relatively nicely, in a frilly dress that dropped down past her knees. Granted, with Uzukawa's eye for color, it looks like someone dumped a can of neon magenta paint over her head, but the dress is more or less tasteful which means that she's trying to just get along. Yakumo chews on her lip.

"Where's Tachibana?" she asks noncommittally. Uzukawa shrugs, and for a second Yakumo is disappointed that it isn't the former who arrived first—Tachibana, for all her petty vendetta, tends to be more attuned to subtlety than Uzukawa.

"She's grabbing some snacks," she replies without guile. "Everything okay with you?"

Yakumo has to stop herself from tripping down the stairs. Why is it that she refuses to see anything wrong? Uzukawa almost skips up the stairs, taking each one with a cutesy hopping step that was copied from an anime (literally—Uzukawa watched as a child and mimicked the character's step as they traversed stairs, and got into the habit of doing so). "Is it? We just wanted to hang out some. You know, like the old days?"

Yakumo most emphatically does not sigh dramatically. She's too mature for that (or so she tells herself). "Sure," she says, "come on up."

A few seconds more, and Uzukawa is sitting backwards at her desk, Yakumo sitting hunched over on her bed looking down at the table where Tachibana would usually be sitting right now.

"Man," Uzukawa grumbles, hooking her chin over the back of her chair, "Haruka-chan's late. She trying to find an airhorn or something?" Yakumo almost ignores it. Almost. But it's just so blatant, that her friend is out looking for something that she would ordinarily have no use for, and she bites the hook before she can stop herself.

"What would she want with an airhorn?" she demands, fixing Uzukawa with a heated look that has her friend leaning away from her in askance. "Part of your little war?"

"Maybe," Uzukawa says, drawing out the syllables in a goofy caricature of sinister-ness. It does nothing to assuage Yakumo's worries. "I mean, next we were planning to—"

"What is wrong with you?" Uzukawa blinks, startled at being interrupted.

"Sakurada?" she asks hesitantly.

"What's wrong with you two?" Yakumo repeats, sliding her feet down to the floor and standing in a single practiced motion. "Why are you so set against Inoue-kun? I asked, he said no! I'm upset, yes, but this—this is unwarranted what you're doing? Why?"

"Why?" her friend replies in turn, incredulous at Yakumo's ire. "He turned you down, in front of the entire class!"

"Yeah, cause that's where I asked him!" Yakumo throws her hands up in frustration. "You two said I had to risk getting my heart broken, right? So what's with all this?" Uzukawa grimaces, sinking into her hunched shoulders.

"Sakurada… you used to live in this room. I mean, after school, you would just come back here and hide out. No clubs, no stopping for snacks, no nothing. When I said hello that one day, you looked like you wanted to climb a tree and hide, like a cat." Looking up at Yakumo, her voice takes on a more plaintive tone. "And then you worked so hard to stop living like that! You made your first friend outside of me and Haruka-chan, and I was so happy for you that I wanted to throw a party! You… You deserve even more." Her gaze sinks again, her tone dropping back into sullenness. "And he wouldn't give that to you. Forgive us if we're a little mad."

"And a little is enough to… to push him down the stairs?" Yakumo demands. Uzukawa's eyes come up again, giving her a stunned look.

"Push him down the stairs? We wouldn't do that! Why would we do that?" she asks.

"It's at the point where I'm able to see you doing it!" she screeches, leaning down into Uzukawa's face, causing the other girl to jump back with a start. Yakumo sighs and recedes. "It's not like he has some duty to fall in love with the first girl who confesses to him," she says, recalling her father's words when she didn't come down from her room for dinner that night. He has a frustrating habit of imparting wisdom that, while not exactly wrong, do nothing to help the situation.

Uzukawa huffs, but she looks away, eyes scanning the wall. She sags, as if the argument had left her. "I'll try to get Haruka-chan to tone it down. She… she was really mad. Like Inoue had hurt her personally somehow."
-----

"Is there anything else?" Goto asked. If negotiations were in the works with the Twin Princesses, he had more than a few phone calls to make, and he wanted to get started on them as soon as possible. It was late enough as it was.

"Yes, actually, but it's something fairly minor," Ooyodo admitted. When Goto waved at her to continue, she smiled wryly. "The Abyssal has been coming to the shore to visit with her boyfriend, so… she would like to walk around town with him for a little while."

Goto has to stop himself from gaping at his secretary for a moment. Then he chuckles. "Sure. Why not. Granted."

-----

Hiei looks down into Nemo's eyes with a gentle smile, and Nemo feels like her heart will burst out through her chest. "You've got it," she confirms. "A half hour walking the streets with Inoue-san here. Though I should warn you, you two'll need an escort—that'd be Fubuki, I guess. Compared to me and Akagi, she's relatively low-profile. Try anything—" her gaze turns cool for a second, and Nemo has to remind herself that their factions will enter negotiations soon, she's not going to kill her. "—and we'll know. Got that?"

Nemo nods, gracious that…

That…

OH.

She feels as if the world has been swept away from around her, wind, sand, sea vanished in favor of realization. Something closed to her has become open, something that Takumi has wanted to share with her so long, that now he can. Takumi's hand taking hers pulls her back to reality, but she as she walks, she is swimming through the ethereal feeling that this is more, that maybe they could be more…
-----

Tachibana Haruka examines the spoils of her impromptu shopping trip. She has chips, cola, and Sakurada's favorite brand of taiyaki. This should probably be enough for a brief visit, just to reaffirm that everyone is still friends. In the face of everything happening. Because friends are important.

She sets her teeth. No. She promised herself that she wouldn't think about Inoue-san. The root of the argument between her and Yuzuki and Sakurada. It's not fair to Sakurada, bringing the fight under her roof. Tonight, that... that asshole does not exist.

"… a convenience store. I don't know how it'd go over if I took you in there, but if I just…"

And now she can hear him. Great… Hang on just a moment.

She casts about frantically, trying to find somewhere—side street! She dashes down, passing a streetlight, then scrabbling to a halt and turning to watch the intersection she just stood at. Sure enough, Inoue walks into view. One girl trails after him, another walks at his side.

"It's okay," she replies. "We've only got fifteen more minutes, right? I… I can live… without…"

"We appreciate your sacrifice," he says, in a tone that is half-joking, and the girl hops up and down, whining like a child. And then Inoue leans down towards her, and…

Oh.

That's what's going on.

It's in everything. The way the two are walking, the second girl's gait and posture, the way she leans into him, how their hands are clasped… that's why he turned her down.

She watches them walk away, voices fading. Her grocery bag slips from her fingers, and she plants her back against the streetlight. Slowly, she slides down against it until her butt plants against the earth. Her hands come up to cup her face, heat meeting flushed red heat.

"She's gonna hate me," she says out loud to no one, tearful pain burning in her throat. "She's gonna hate me."
-----
Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 63: S0ngD0g13

Kaylee looked up from the book she'd been reading. "Severus? I was wondering if you could help clarify something I just read."

Snape walked around his desk at the front of the Potions Classroom and up to the table where Kaylee was reading. In the few days that the Shipgirls had been at Hogwarts, he and the American ironclad had struck up something of a comradeship, built of mutual respect for a fellow professional; she took as much pride in her research into Magical Fauna as he did in his Potions-making. "What seems to be the issue, Kaylee?"

"This passage here mentions a Wizard attempting to tame a Norwegian Ridgeback using 'Legilimency'. It also mentions the attempt failing, and a result that my old classmates in Tennessee would call worthy of a Darwin Award. But the book doesn't actually say what Legilimency is."

Severus read over the passage in question, winced internally at the description of Aegon the Imprudent's demise in 1067, and nodded. "Legilimency is one of a pair of interrelated magics known as the Mind Arts. A person with training in it can read the surface-thoughts of another, or with greater effort even enter another's mind and view their memories. Its defensive counterpart is 'Occlumency', which involves the organization and building of mental defenses."

"So Imprudent Egg there," Kaylee pointed to the book, "tried to tame a dragon by reading its mind? Yup, definitely a Darwin Award for him." She paused, thinking. "Do you know how to use Legilimency, Severus?"

"I do. I'm an Occlumens, as well."

"You said Occlumency is about organizing and defending the mind; how so?" Kaylee slid a playing-card into her book to mark the page and slid it aside, growing more into this new topic.

Severus pulled a chair over from the table in front of Kaylee's and sat down. "Most practitioners build a mental landscape in which their memories are stored, and then construct defenses, either mental constructs or shields. For example, a person might have their mindscape be a castle, their memories stored in its archives, and populate the halls and battlements with soldiers as guards."

Kaylee nodded, following the explanation. "I see... It sounds much like meditation, or..."

"Or?" asked Snape, lifting one eyebrow.

"I don't know if any other Shipgirls have done this themselves, but when I meditate to help me relax or clear my mind, I for lack of any clearer way to phrase it, can let my self sink inward and walk the decks of my actual hull, and talk to my crew."

Snape rubbed his chin. "That sounds very much like an Occlumens' mindscape..."

"Would you like to try it? Using Legilimency on me? I don't think anyone's ever tried reading a Shipgirl's mind before, and I'm curious as to what might happen."

Snape started. "It's by its very nature an intrusive thing; legilimizing a person without permission is considered tantamount to a form of rape."

"I trust you, Severus. And if anyone complains, we can tell them I volunteered and that it was a scientific experiment."

Snape snorted. "Very well. But I'll have your permission in writing." Kaylee wrote out her permission for Snape to legilimize her, and signed it. "Now, I want you to relax and look me in the eyes." When Kaylee met his gaze, he murmured, "Legilimens."

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

Severus found himself standing at the foot of a gangplank that led up onto the deck of a long, low-slung ship. He walked up the plank and paused at the top, where Kaylee stood, a group of men in gray uniform standing in formation next to her. As he had ascended the gangplank, a bell had rung, and as he paused, one of the crew called out, "Slytherin House, Arriving!"

Snape nodded to Kaylee, and then nodded toward the flag that flew from the ship. "Permission to board?"

"Granted. Welcome aboard, Severus. What do you think?"

Severus looked around, then nodded. "It feels similar to a mindscape, but there are differences. Perhaps we might discuss it as we walk?"

Kaylee offered her arm. "Perhaps we might." She turned to one of the crew. "Mister Duncan, be a dear and fetch a pot of coffee, biscuits, and a jar of jelly to the foredeck, along with two chairs and one of the empty hogsheads."

The sailor saluted sharply. "Aye, Ma'am."

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

When the pair finished the short tour of the pilothouse and outer decks, having foregone the gundeck and engineering spaces, they found the coffee and snacks waiting for them atop a barrel on the foredeck. They sat, and Kaylee poured for them both.

The two spent several hours there, discussing Kaylee's mental representation of her hull and crew, whether or not it qualified as 'self-image', and other mind-magic-related topics, while eating buttermilk biscuits with blackberry jelly and drinking coffee until they decided to exit the mindscape. Kaylee saw him off, and he returned to awareness in his classroom.

Kaylee stretched her arms as Severus took note of something. "Curious..."

Kaylee looked to him. "What's curious?"

"When we conducted this experiment, I was slightly hungry. Right now, I feel quite full, and I can still taste jelly on my tongue... It suggests that your mental hull is more real than we first believed."

Kaylee paled for a moment, her mind racing. That was my actual hull?! He was aboard my hull?! I gave him a guided tour of my hull?!

Severus watched as Kaylee's face blushed crimson before her eyes rolled upward and she fainted, cracking the reinforced stone top of the work-table...

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

In a certain room, the sound of a bowling ball hitting pins could be heard. A smirk on her face, Victory turned to Dumbledore and chuckled. "As it is in my name, another Victory goes to me, Bumblebee."
Frowning as he stroked his beard, Dumbledore sighed. "I still say that you are cheating somehow."

Unable to help herself, the Sailship gave him a wink. "Ah, but you forget one fact, Bumblebee. I am quite used to holding and dropping large, round objects." That got her a chuckle from the old wizard before her expression turned serious. "Now what is it that is on your mind, Bumblebee? Especially as you asked for me to stay after the others left?"

Almost a minute passed before Dumbledore settled into a seat with a sigh. Staring blankly into space, he was silent as if seeing something only he could. "Victory, do you think that I have made the right decision?"

Knowing that this was going to be a serious subject, Victory sat down beside him and pulled out a bottle. Moments later, she handed a glass to Dumbledore and filled both of theirs. "I cannot say, Albus. Only you can decide if you believe that you made the right decision or not. And only the future can show if it was just or not, usually well after the fact."

Albus stared at the alcohol in his glass before swishing it around. "Perhaps. But can I trust my own judgement at all anymore? With the mistakes that I have made?" Closing his eyes, he gave a sigh. "However, in your own opinion?"

For several seconds, Victory sipped her drink as she thought before sighing. "In my honest opinion, Albus? You've done as well as anyone could. Only the Lord above would know if anyone would have done better, but in my experience I doubt it."

Opening his eyes, he fixed his friend with a look. "Several of my students nearly got killed and even now lie in the Hospital Wing petrified. All the time I did not even know what was doing it. And young Harry has his whole life ahead of him and nearly lost it. Meanwhile, I was not here."

Considering that, Victory nodded some. "That may be true..." Then she placed her glass down and her arm lashed out, striking Dumbledore in the head. "But that does not mean you're being any less of an idiot."

A grimace on his face, Dumbledore rubbed where she had struck him. "Did you truly have to do that? And how am I being stupid."

Once more sipping she drink, Victory raised an eyebrow at him. "Because you're being melancholy over something that you could not prevent unless you were some sort of seer. Something that we both know you most certainly are not, no matter what that fraud you got on staff says." She then gestured at him with the glass. "You have an expert on magical creatures on your staff who did not realize what was going on. There was also no way for your to have known that Riddle's Diary was behind it or was on the school property. Nor could you have possibly guessed the idiocy that Fudge and his group would have done. But that is all in the past and things turned out about as well as they could have considering."

Having decided to have a sip of the drink, Dumbledore winced some at the potency of it before shrugging it off. He had far stronger in his years and right now it was rather welcome. "While I can understand what you are saying on an intellectual level, Victory, in my heart things are different. It is but another failure to place on the heap that is my own. I could have... should have guessed how far Tom would go and tried to stop it. Maybe I could have guided him away from his path... what if I had added my voice to those asking for him to stay at Hogwarts? Away from the orphanage he stayed at and where bad behaviours would be reinforced? Or when he stood across from me that day in the 1960s. I knew then what he had been up to, how far into the dark he had slipped. All the signs were there." Shaking, Dumbledore stretched out a hand. "I could have ended him right there as he stood in front of me. It would have been so easy.... so easy to stop all the evil he did before it truly had a chance to begin. Before all that suffering happened..."

Her eye narrowing at him, Victory hissed at him. "But at what cost, Albus?! At what cost to you?!"

Staring forward, he simply shrugged. "I do not care about such things, Victory. My soul is stained with my many sins and if I knew then what I do now? What I have seen? I would have accepted another stain if it meant that not one more innocent had to suffer. But I was tired from the war against Gellart and didn't want to go through it again. Selfish."

Just scowling, Victory angrily drained her glass before refilling it. 'You idiotic self-sacrificing old fool.' Voice filled with distain, she sneered at him. "There are plenty of demons in this world, Albus Dumbledore. You are far from being one of them. Honestly, this is nearly as bad as when you made me swear on Nelson's Grave that I would not interfere when the Statute comes down and the government comes for you like you believe it will. Damn you for that, Albus Dumbledore. Damn you."

In reply, he just spread his hands at the old argument. "I have already accepted that I am damned due to my decisions over the years. Also... You can visit me in Prison, Victory. But if by doing so I can save even those students here at this school, and perhaps some of their families by giving a scapegoat, then I will gladly walk to the gallows."

Glaring at him, Victory's voice practically dropped venom. "There will be no gallows for you, Dumbledore." After a few moments, she took a deep breath before letting it out. "All this because of the discovery of a book. A goddamn book." Both friends sat there in silence before Victory spoke again. "Do you really think that he created more of those things, Albus? That the destruction of one would not kill him?"

With a sad sigh, Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, I'm afraid so, Victory."

Gaze steady, she frowned. "And that young Master Potter may have such a... disgusting thing within his scar? A horcrux?" Silently, Dumbledore nodded. "Bloody hell."

Chuckling weakly, the Headmaster had a sad smile on his face. "To put it mildly. I have suspected it for years and exhausted every single source I have in Europe while trying not to tip off anyone who should not know. Nothing, absolutely nothing except for an extremely far shot at him surviving which I can hope for which requires Tom to use a specific method to return. I have hope that perhaps there is some Asian magic which can help, I am not as well versed in non-European magics after all. Though is only one other source here in Europe which I shall be visiting."

As she carefully watched him, Victory nodded. "Grindlewald." Expression softening, she sighed. "Are you sure that you are ready to face that demon of your past, Albus?"

Face almost appearing to be carved from stone, Dumbledore nodded. "For Harry, I shall. Gellart dove deep into dark magic. Things that I would not name out of fear. But it may be Harry's only hope if the Asian magic cannot help. I can only hope that I do not nearly fall like I did that day when I faced him."

Head tilting to the side, Victory frowned as she guessed that he was talking about when he had fought his former friend in 1945. "Is that why you're so afraid of him? Why you never went there?"

There was a far off gaze in Dumbledore's eyes as he nodded. "Quite. He gave me an offer, to stand down and help him in his madness. An offer that... that I wanted so badly to take. Not the Greater Good as I despised it and he knew it... but something far more personal which he knew would shake me to my very core. I have never told anyone before now, Victory. No one but I know of what was said, what was offered. But I need you to know to understand what I need."

Reaching over, Victory placed a hand on Dumbledore's knee. "Speak to me, Albus. You know that I will not judge and will listen."

Dumbledore relaxed and closed his eyes. "Gellart has always been after the Deathly Hallows. He wanted to unite them and become 'Master of Death' as he believed that it would give him the power over life and death. It was why he tried to kill off the European branch of the Potters, he believed that they had brought the Cloak with them from England and why he took pains to capture their estate in Germany intact. He believed such as it was noted that the Potter who had married a female noble in Germany in the 1500s had been given a gift of great power. Gellart had believed that the gift was that of the Cloak. Oddly, as there was a Dark Lord in Britain trying to find the Hallows, it would have made sense to send them elsewhere for their safety. Thankfully, he was wrong as I shudder to think that he might have done with the Cloak."

Expression darkening, Victory frowned. 'A Cloak that grants one the ability to hide from anything, even Death? No, that would be something to avoid.'

With his eyes still closed, Dumbledore continued his story. "In 1899 when I met him, he believed that the Resurrection Stone would allow him to raise an army of Inferi. And with it, he would be able to conquer the world as they would also be intelligent. But by the time when I fought him in his fortress, he knew it only Summoned spirits, shades of the dead. Gellart knows much dark magic though, especially when dealing with death. One spell for example was used with corpses that were... damaged, to bring them to a pristine condition. As if they had just died in their sleep. Theoretically, one could use it on a skeleton if they had enough power. His offer was to do so with Ariana's remains once he had all the Deathly Hallows while using the Resurrection Stone to summon her spirit. He would then bind her spirit to her body and give her life once more of a sort. The Elder Wand would be used to make sure that her body would not rot. Perhaps even using Nicholas' Stone to give her full life after." Hanging his head, Dumbledore's shoulders shook with sobs. "I could have held her, I could have held my sister after all those years."

Needless to say, Victory's eye was more then a little misty. More then anyone else besides maybe one other, she knew what that meant to him. "Oh Albus... a choice like that..."

Still sobbing, Dumbledore shook his head. "He might have been able to bring her back, and I could have held her. I could have held her in my arms and apologized for all the pain I put her through. To this day, I have always suspected that Aberforth was right and it was I that killed her. And I was so close, so very close to redeeming that. To telling her that I was sorry, even if she hated me. But... I threw it all away. Even now, with everything that I know, I am still unsure if it would have been impossible. It haunts me still..."

Out of nowhere, suddenly it clicked in Victory's head and she stared at him. "That is why you never visited him. Why you never asked him before. You could not trust yourself to make that choice a second time."

Looking far older then his years, Dumbledore nodded. "Yes. It weighs so heavily on me that even now I cannot trust myself. What if he gives me the offer again in exchange for freeing him? Or what if he states that he can bring back those lost to Tom? While I could argue that I am not worthy, what if he stated he could bring back Lily and James for Harry? I do not think that I am strong enough to not cave. While my sister does visit thanks to you, an offer to allow for her or others that I care for to truly live again...." Taking a deep breath, he turned and looked at Victory in the eyes. "Please... You are the only one that I can trust, Victory. When I go, I need you by my side so that if that choice comes up and I fail, as I expect..."

Inside of Victory's eye there was pure steel. The same steel that had seen England stand time and again against those who would fell her. From Trafalgar to the current war with the Abyssals. Steel forged through the generations from the iron of blood that was shed in the defence of the island and forged in the heat of battle. Now that gaze was focused on Dumbledore as she whispered to him. "I will go, Albus Dumbledore. Not as insurance as I know that you will not fall. No, I will stand there beside you as a friend, as a support as you face this Demon, this darkness of the past and then conquer it while grinding it beneath your boot."

All Dumbledore offered her was a wane smile. 'If only I could believe that...' Outwardly, he only nodded. "Thank you, Victory. Thank you."

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 65: S0ngD0g13

Kaylee looked over her papers prior to hers and Harry's meeting, checking figures and the totals of how much she'd harvested on Spider Island. As she read, she winced a bit at how thorough she'd been culling the Acromantula. Yes, they were strictly-speaking an invasive species there, but in hindsight the population could have been managed with periodic hunting and stocking prey species...

After she'd finished, she took the totals to Harry. "I just went over the total harvest from Spider Island. It's... Impressive. Fangs in hogshead barrels, one gross. Venom in quart jars, three gross of flats, a dozen jars to the flat. That comes out to one thousand, two-hundred and ninety-six US Gallons of venom. Spider silk, one hundred 6'x6'' bales." Kaylee straightened her coat and kepi. "Thanks, by the way. For helping me sell all this."

Harry shook his head with a smile. "It's no trouble, Miss Kaylee. So, what will you do with your share of the money?"

"Save some. I figure to donate most of it to a few charities, conservation mostly, and things like the Red Cross, the USO, and such. And to some Law-Enforcement charities, too. How bout you? You plan on bein' the big whale at the Yokosuka Tin-Can Poker Night?"

"I thought about buying gifts for folks, actually."

Kaylee chuckled. "Gonna get your girls some shiny things, eh? Good idea, Harry. Take it from me, who is a girl; girls are a lot like crows, in that we love shiny things. Not necessarily the usual kind of shiny things, mind, but the love o' glitter an' glint is still there all the same." She checked her chronometer. "Well, best we finish getting ready, eh? Time and Tide wait for no one."

Kaylee went back up to her room to finish preparing, which mostly consisted of hanging her revolvers up by her sea-chest and fixing her hair...

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

As they came to a stop, Kaylee looked around the hallway they were in. It was one of the ones on what she would call the second floor of the castle. It still amused her to no end that it seemed that people in the UK called it instead the first floor. There was not much in said hallway really, except for various paintings and tapestries as well as plenty of weapons mounted on the wall. Walking over to one painting, Kaylee frowned a bit as she looked closely at it. In the painting, spells were being exchanged as was cannon fire while on horseback, there were those fighting with sabers. Oddly, one of the horses looked nearly skeletal with bat wings as the wizard used either his sword or wand to fight. "Huh... what's this painting of?"

Walking over, Harry tilted his head some before suddenly blinking. "I think that it's one of the battles of the Thirty Year War." A frown on his face, he looked at the wizard on a thestral and nodded. "I'm pretty sure that is one of my ancestors, William the Bloody."

Only glancing at him, Kaylee raised an eyebrow. "William the Bloody? How did he get that title now?"

Harry shrugged for a moment. "He fought with the Protestants against the Catholics, which included the European Branch. Supposedly he really hated the European Branch of the family so much he reserved the bloodiest curses for them. In particular one that would boil the blood and cause the body to expel it from every orifice. Because he felt that they were unworthy of having 'Any Potter blood in their Catholic bodies'. Not a nice guy at all... though he got killed partway through the war. From the family history book Mum got apparently he hates the rest of the family for making peace with them and so doesn't talk with us."

Shuddering, Kaylee shook her head. "Not nice, Harry? I think that's putting it mildly." Out of the corner of her eye, she could see said wizard give Harry a glare before he went back to his endless battle. "So the meeting room is right behind that mirror?"

Both of them looked over the object in front of them. The mirror was bigger then either Kaylee or Harry himself and gilded with gold leaf and gems around it. Nodding, Harry glanced at the watch on his wrist before shrugging. "We're several minutes early I guess."

A voice behind them made them turn. "Should we go in and examine it, Master?" Rose had an interested look as she examined the mirror. "After all, we should at least have an idea as to where to sit."

While Harry gave a nod, Kaylee looked back and forth between them. "Could I ask a question?" Once the black haired boy nodded, she furrowed her eyebrows. "Why did you ask for Miz Rose here?" Kaylee then gave the tsukumogami a small smile. "Not that I mind all that much."

Her head tilted in curiosity, Rose looked toward Harry who was scratching his head. "I was talking with Neville about this sort of thing as he's used to it. According to him, as we're the people who called the meeting, we need to provide refreshments. Normally, a House Elf owned by the person would be the one providing the food while the ones being invited have their own to check for anything that could affect them negatively. Doing it yourself could be seen as negotiating from a position of weakness on either side.."

Very slowly, Rose nodded as she considered that while Kaylee gave Harry a very odd look. "That does make a certain amount of sense. The Pureblood Families do seem to operate much like the upper class during the Victorian Era, so you would have servants provide refreshments. It's all about image really." Lips twitching a bit, Rose held back a small giggle. "Though I think that they might be very confused about myself being here."

In reply, Harry only shrugged. "Keep them off balance and somewhat confused then." At Rose's snicker, he gave her a look. "I don't see you as a servant though, Rose. You're a member of the family and think of it that way."

Rose just gave him a soft smile and then hugged him. "I know that, Master. But I am more then willing to play the part in this case." Clapping her hands some, she tilted her head to the side. "It will be just like the games that my Mistresses used to play when younger!"

That got her some chuckles from Harry as Kaylee shook her head. Harry then turned to the mirror and cleared his throat. "Let us use this room for neutrality, for nothing worse then words will occur in this sanctuary of peace while we bring about agreement."

Before their eyes, the mirror moved to the side and they all felt their eyebrows raised. The room was done wood paneling with a fireplace along one wall, though Harry was more then willing to bet that it was not connected to the Floo network. The floors themselves were polished marble and in one corner was what looked like an expensive cabinet with various bottles. In the middle though was a group of arm chairs made of dark wood with leather cushions that faced a table of polished stone with a carpet. Part of Harry was surprised that there was no paintings or tapistries anywhere in the room, but when he thought about it he wasn't so surprised.

After all, who knows if they would be spying or not.

What caught Harry's eye though was a much more fanciful version of Hogwarts' crest on a shield above the fireplace done in various materials. Kaylee walked over and touched one of the white of the badger and her eyebrows raised. "That's ivory!" A glance at the rest made her eyebrows raise even more. "Precious metals and gemstones. This here crest would be worth millions!"

Meanwhile, Rose walked over to the Grandfather clock in one corner and slowly nodded. "This has ivory as well. And I believe that it is made of ebony, Master, Miss Kaylee. My word... this whole room is opulent!"

Slowly taking in the whole thing in surprise, Harry only nodded. "I know that I should be surprised, but I really am not. It makes far too much sense for it to scream money like this." Looking back at the mirror, Harry was unsurprised that it was closed and that he could see outside. "I'm going to see something, once the mirror closes mind talking as loud as possible?"

Getting nods, Harry walked over to the mirror and then stepped out. He waited for three minutes after it closed before it reopened to reveal Kaylee there. "Well? Did you hear anything, Harry?" At the shake of his head, her eyes widened. "Huh, and here I was practically yelling at you through the mirror."

There was a considering look on Harry's face as he stepped back inside. "Well, it is supposed to have privacy here." He then gave a nod towards the chairs. "According to Neville, the chairs will animate if spells happen and will confine all those inside the room. If that doesn't work, apparently there's other means of preventing fights from going beyond the verbal."

With a shudder, Kaylee glanced around the room. "I guess that they take security here pretty seriously." Suddenly, she perked up and looked at the mirror. "It seems that the others have arrived."

Outside the mirror, Daphne Greengrass and Tracy Davis waiting in dress robes with a House Elf beside them. Harry quickly gave himself and Kaylee as well as Rose a look over before relaxing. Opening the mirror, he gave a small bow to the two girls. "Welcome, and thank you for coming. I am Harry Potter of House Potter and I am the facilitator of this meeting. With me is Kaylee McAmis of House McAmis. We give you greetings."

Sharing a look, the two girls held out their hands with Harry taking them in turn and giving them a gentle kiss on the knuckles which made Daphne nod. "I am Daphne Greengrass, Heir to the House Greengrass, greetings from our House to yours, Harry Potter. I shall be the other side of this negotiation. With me is Tracy Davis, member of House Davis who will be my partner in these negotiations."

Only giving a slight tilt of the head, Tracy kept her face somewhat expressionless. "As my esteemed colleague has stated, I am Tracy Davis of House Davis. It is an honor to be alongside the others at this preliminary meeting."

From beside Harry, Kaylee took a step forward and held out her hand which the other two girls shook. "As my friend here mentioned, I am Kaylee McAmis of House McAmis. I am also the Ironclad USS Virginia. Thank you for accepting this meeting."

There was a brief widening of eyes from the two witches before they settled down. Daphne then gestured at the House Elf beside her who was staring between Kaylee and Rose. "This Tilly, one of my family's House Elves as per the agreement."

Even as there was some curiosity as she looked at Rose, Tracy nodded. "And this is Sudsy, one of my family's House Elves."

Gesturing at Rose, who did a curtsy, Harry smiled some. "And this is Rose Potter, she shall be providing refreshments as per the agreement." He then waved a hand towards the chairs. "Shall we have a seat?"

Once they were all seated, Daphne glanced towards Rose who was setting up some tea and treats under the gaze of the two elves. Her eyebrows did raise a fraction as Rose waved a hand over the cups and there was steaming tea there suddenly. The nod from the two House Elves made her relax some. Glancing to where Harry was seated, Daphne hummed some as she decided to settle her curiosity some. After all, small talk was a thing at these sort of meetings. "Rose Potter? I was unaware that there was any other Potters still alive, though I suppose that one could give a servant the last name of the family. Not often done nowadays though."

In reply, Harry gave a nod towards Rose who was looking at him before she smiled. "Master gave me the last name as I have served part of his family for more then a century." At the now shocked expressions, she smiled slightly more while holding back giggles. "I am the tsukumogami of a tea set that has been in Master's family on his Mother's side since 1890."

Unable to help herself, Tracy turned to Harry before taking a sip of the tea. Eyebrows raising, she set it down. "This tea is rather amazing, thank you." Frowning, she took another sip. "But... tsukumogami?"

A smile on his face as she slowly sounded out the odd word, Harry nodded some. "In Japan, it is believed that any object more then a hundred years old can gain a soul, a spirit if you will, and animate. Those that have been mistreated can become... rather nasty. But those treated well as loyal to their owners to no end. Rose belongs to a tea set that has been in my family for a very long time and served them faithfully that whole period. Miss Haru, a Miko back in Yokosuka, thinks that being exposed to shipgirls caused her to become much more then a tsukumogami her age normally would as she can use a physical avatar."

Extremely interested, Daphne slowly noddded. "That is rather fascinating." Placing her cup down, she gave a very small smile. "And being so loyal to your family, Miss Rose, no wonder why you were given your family's name as your own. One such as you do deserves an award for faithful service."

Blushing some, Rose just nodded. "Thank you, Miss Greengrass. My family treated me well and so it was more then repayment for me to do the same."

Several more minutes of small talk occurred, such as both Tracy and Daphne asking for books to research what Harry had told them, before Tracy placed her hands on her armchair having noticed Kaylee shift a bit. "Now then, I think that we should get to what this meeting is all about."

Only nodding, Harry glanced towards Kaylee who placed several sheets onto a table. "Some weeks ago, I was given a mission to an island off the coast of Japan. The magical who had lived there before the Abyssals drove him away had apparently a group of Acromantula. Without anything to keep their numbers down, they multiplied and were a risk to anyone reaching the island. To say nothing if they somehow managed to reach the mainland in any numbers..."

Frowning, Daphne barely held back a scowl. "It does not surprise me that anything like that happened. After all, there is no shortage of fools out there who would think that they could easily handle such beings or creatures and not take steps just in case. If you are dealing with such things, then you have to take every precaution no matter what."

Thoughtful, Harry gave a blink. "Sort of reminds me of Jurassic Park when you put it that way." At the looks of confusion, he chuckled some. "It's a non-magical novel as well as a series of movies. In it, humans bring back dangerous creatures and try to control them... and things go wrong."

Intrigued, Daphne hummed. "Sounds interesting, perhaps I will have to look it up."

Lips twitching, Tracy tried to keep a serious expression on her face. "But Daphne is right though, it happens far too often and either the Ministry needs to step in or you need to hire professional hunters to bring them down. There was a fool just two years ago in the south of France with some fire crabs. He did not take all the precautions necessary and so the French Ministry had to bring an end to it before too many got hurt... they were only able to identify the wizard since he had a ring that was still on a scorched finger bone. Not to mention the rumors of acromantula here in Scotland."

Having spotted the glance that Harry gave Kaylee, Daphne blinked for a moment. 'Why would he react like that unless he knew the truth? But there isn't any...' It took everything for her not to panic or show any outward signs. 'The Forbidden Forest, that small shipgirl he was with was rumored to be covered in what looked like bug guts. Hagrid had a giant spider according to the interview... Dear Morgana, there's acromantula in the Forbidden Forest!'

Meanwhile, Tracy only continued as she reached for the papers, part of her noting that what was on them was done up on crisp, white sheets and easily readable. "So you were sent to perform a cull on the island? I suppose that you also harvested various items from them while doing so?"

Slowly, Kaylee pushed the papers towards Tracy and turning them so that the witch could read them along with Daphne. "That's correct. It was a good thing as well as the population had eaten everything on the island and was turning against each other. We... have one survivor who might provide venom and silk though."

Glancing at her, Daphne frowned. "I see, just tell whoever is doing so to be careful then." When she looked back at the sheet though, her eyebrows only raised. "However, this is a rather impressive an amount though."

Beside her, Tracy's jaw dropped some as she looked over the list on her copy. "That is putting it rather mildly, Daphne." Doing some calculations in her head, she slowly nodded. "While I cannot speak for my friend, I can say that my family will be more then willing to provide a fair price. With the war and issues getting materials, the profit from this would be considerable."

With a thoughtful nod, Daphne furrowed her eyebrows. "To say the least. And having your backing could raise the profit margin for all of us, Harry." At his slight surprise, she smiled. "Your family has a good reputation for potions. A very good one as it matters, mostly due to your grandfather."

Considering that, Harry gave a small smile. "That's right, he invented several potions, didn't he? Though... I don't have the same connections."

However, Daphne waved him off. "That does not matter, just stating that your name is behind this will be enough. And no one would blink an eye at us helping as we're quite well known for being intermediaries not to mention that no one would expect for you not to have to rebuild those connections after what has happened." Smile turning feral, she chuckled some. "I will admit that there's some families that are a bit of a thorn for all of ours that may complain as they find their profit margins dropping for the next few years though. Something that I doubt any of us would lose sleep over..."

The fact that she could see a similar grin to what she knew was on her face on Harry's internally made her grin more. Being as she was a Slytherin, the idea of causing problems for annoyances, especially in a legal manner, made her quite happy.

Fifteen minutes later, after various questions which they breezed past, Kaylee leaned back in her chair with a smile. She was somewhat amused by the whole thing. "We have an accord then?"

Looking over the agreement in her hands, Daphne slowly nodded as Tracy spoke up. "I believe that we have an accord. Our families will need to look it over, of course, but I very much doubt that they will have much issue thanks to the potential windfall. And a source of fresh venom and silk will be, I think the muggles call it the cherry on top?" At the nod, she smiled. "Right, though harvesting the silk would be rather labor intensive."

Much to her surprise, Kaylee laughed some. "Not that much." At their confusion, she waved a hand. "There's a device made to harvest silk from spiders. Charlotte doesn't like it much, but she understands. Been around for a few hundred years as well."

After a moment, both Slytherins shared a look before turning back with Tracy clearing her throat. "I see..." Giving a small nod, she glanced at the nearly gone treats and tea. "Our business is concluded then?"

Sharing a look with Kaylee, Harry pulled out a few more papers. "In regards to the acromantula, yes. But as you are here, there may perhaps be something else for you to look at." Laying the papers on the table, he pushed them both towards the two girls. "I have come into possession of a dead Basilisk which has been rendered in the past few days..."

The black haired boy trailed off he realized that both girls were now looking at him in horror. Daphne took a moment to take a deep breath before letting it out. "A.. Basilisk? I... I am guessing that it was in fact the Monster of Slytherin."

With a blink, Harry nodded some. "That's correct. It turns out that the Chamber of Secrets had a Basilisk in it which was killed only through some luck."

Daphne just stared at him. "I... see." To her slight dismay, her voice came out as a squeak as she realized just how close it was at times. But at the moment, she had other factors to focus on. "And... the issue of the Heir?"

Both Harry and Kaylee went expressionless, though part of the two girls shuddered at how hard their eyes went. It was the Ironclad who answered them both though. "The issue of the Heir has been dealt with, don't either of you worry about that."

Eyes going from side to side, Tracy swallowed nervously. "And was Draco involved in any way? After all he did like giving hints that he knew more then what he outright said."

Turning his eyes on her, Harry only shrugged after almost a minute of silence. "Draco was not the Heir, if that is what you meant."

Inside Daphne's head, it all clicked. 'Draco was not the Heir, but he didn't say if he had any idea. But his father likely would not tell him much, though Father stated that Lucius had been making moves... and he was behind Dumbledore being sent away. Marcus was also saying he saw Draco's father arrive annoyed and leave enraged. He knew...' It took absolutely everything for Daphne not to snarl. 'That bastard knew what was going on!'

Meanwhile, Tracy reached for the paper on the table. "I take it that this is information? On the Basilisk?" At Harry's nod, she took said paper and read over it, her face turning as white as snow as she got to the size. Voice shaking, Tracy looked at him. "Do... you have any proof?"

Looking over at Rose, Harry waited as she gave him a wooden box which he opened to reveal the fang he had kept. It went without saying that both Daphne and Tracy went utterly still with the blonde looking over the sheet that was held in her friend's now trembling hand. For some odd reason, the edges of her vision began to turn grey as she quickly read it over. 'Dear Hacate protect me. It was that big and roaming around the school... Even if you don't like Muggleborns, that was danger to everyone who might have stumbled across it by accident! Any of us, Purebloods or Halfbloods, Heirs or not, could have... and Lucius was involved.'

When she looked at her friend, Daphne knew the same thoughts were running through Tracy's head. 'This is explosive and way, way above what we can deal with. Our parents need to be informed as soon as possible by elf so nothing intercepts it. Even the other dark families wouldn't tolerate this! Death Eater families wouldn't tolerate their children being threatened like this!'

Slowly, Tracy turned back to Harry with a shaky smile. "Well... I'm afraid that we shall need to speak with our parents. A situation such as this is... rather beyond our ability to talk about. After all, neither I nor Daphne know much about the market for Basilisk parts."

Kaylee had an odd look on her face, almost predatory as she leaned forward. "I was the one who rendered it and we do have several photos. Non-magical ones, unfortunately, though they do detail what was found. If you would like, I can give you some to pass along?"

Jerkingly, Daphne nodded before glancing at the fang. "That... would be much appreciated, thank you." Licking her dry lips, she tried to give them a smile. 'Dear Merlin... forget kittens, Father will be having outright Nundus when he finds out...'

 

[darthcourt10]

RCNAnon

Interesting business dealings, I don't suppose Basilisk parts go on sale very often.

I also wrote a thing, hope you all enjoy.

Warspite and Duke of York
-----------------

Two gorgeous blonde women were sitting at a table mostly obscured from outside viewing by flower bushes and other bits of garden scenery, the table carried one admittedly large teapot, a large selection of snack sandwiches and a chess board. Along with the beautiful weather, the chirping birds and just enough wind to keep things cool the scene couldn't have been more idyllic if it tried.

The scene would have been declared cliché by half the writers and directors in Hollywood, the other half would be arguing how effective it was despite that.

The fact that said women were both the walking, breathing avatars of thousands of tons of steel and firepower would have occurred to nobody unless they'd met them before.

"You seem much calmer than you were last week Warspite," said Duke of York, the well endowed blonde moving one of her pawns forward on the board, "I take it that the situation at Hogwarts has calmed down since then?"

Warspite nodded as she studied the board, taking a sip of her tea before moving one of her knights to take the pawn. "Yes thankfully. Ron is fine, as is Harry and everyone else involved. Nagato and a number of Harry's close friends from the base have been there for several days now and are dealing with the remains of the beast as well as clearing out the area."

Duke nodded her head, studying the board before she made another move. "Still you wish you could have gone there yourself."

Warpsite stopped mid sip, sighing as she set her cup down. "Yes, yes I do. Unfortunately the Admiralty and the Government had very solid points to prevent me from going, much as I personally disliked them."

Duke smiled lightly, moving one of her pieces. "I've found that idiots do not last long when dealing with us. I'm sure they brought their best."

"They certainly did," said Warspite, one last sigh and she picked up her tea again, "Still, I will get to visit him soon enough so there is no point in worrying."

Duke cocked her eyebrow as she took a bite out of one of the sandwiches. "Oh? How did you manage that?"

Warspite smiled as she moved one of her pieces on the board, "Hogwarts is having a Quidditch match in about a week. Ron doesn't play but his brothers do. He invited me to come since I'm a family friend."

"And I'm sure your attention will be on the game and not talking with him," said Duke with an understated smirk.

"I will be perfectly focused on the game while it is going on," said Warspite primly. "I simply have plans to arrive early and possibly stay over."

"Plenty of time to spend with him then," said Duke, "It'll be good for you."

Warspite nodded in agreement. "We do keep up with letters but it has been longer than I would have liked since I have seen him. I'm sure we will have much to talk about."

"Are you going to tell him how you're doing?" Duke asked.

"Doing on what?" Warspite said, raising her eyebrow curiously.

"On summoning your hull," Duke said, taking a sip of her tea, "Last I heard things were going well."

Warspite shook her head. "I don't think so, not unless he asks me directly. There's… a lot of work to do yet." That seemed to be an understatement to her, there would be work to do until she could actually summon her hull and while she had made strides she hadn't even made the water stir yet.

Duke nodded, a bit of understanding in her eyes. "You'll do it," she said, "You love the boy too much to fail."

"I…" started Warspite, blushing up a storm and starting to splutter.

"Don't even bother to deny it," said Duke, "Anyone who knows you knows it. Between the way your face lights up when you talk about him and how you carry that walking stick of his around everywhere you go you really couldn't be much more obvious."

"Am I really that bad?" said Warspite with a half forced chuckle.

"Not to most," said Duke, "Just to a few like me or your sisters."

Warspite nodded, her hand rubbing over the smooth finish of the enchanted walking stick.

"I suppose there isn't much point in denying it," she said, "Even if it's not that kind of love it is love."

"Philia," said Duke, "Not Eros."

"Yes," said Warspite, "He's still much too young for that sort of thing."

"I don't think you're particularly ready either," said Duke.

"Oh?" said Warspite.

"You're still much too focused on faults that you can do nothing about," said Duke, nodding towards Warspite's legs, "Though I suppose that will be fixed before he grows up at the pace you're going."

Warspite sat and thought about what Duke had just said for several seconds before nodding. It wasn't as if Duke was wrong. She did have her own issues, some of which she dealt with properly and some… some she treated as if they didn't exist, much to the exasperation of Ron and her sisters.

"You aren't wrong," she said, "Though I'm not sure I can change after so long."

"Just give it a thought is all," said Duke, "I'm sure you'll figure it out."

Warspite smiled and took a few bites of one of the sandwiches as they both made a few moves back and forth, relatively evenly matched after playing so many games with each other.

"How are you doing?" Warspite asked, moving one of her bishops to take Duke's knight, "I hear your shoulders are still giving you trouble."

Duke frowned slightly and rolled one of her shoulders. "I'm doing alright. They only act up when I get into a battle."

"Seeing as how I still go into battle with my condition it would be slightly hypocritical of me to criticize you for that," said Warspite as her bishop was taken by a queen, "Have you still not figured out a way to relieve it?"

Duke shook her head, "No, it's the same as you. The repair girls do their best but since my turrets were never fully modified during the war they can't do anything."

Warspite nodded, her thoughts wandering towards the work of a redheaded boy.

"Make sure to take care," she said, "Don't over-exert yourself."

"Same to you," said Duke with a smile, moving one of her pieces into position near Warspites king, "Check."


------

Comments and such are welcome as always.

 

[darthcourt10]

Snippet 66: S0ngD0g13

Jaw and Zuikaku were in the backyard of James' house flight-testing some new RC aircraft when Jaw took the camera-equipped quad-copter he was flying up and over the house. "Oh, Hellfire... Zui, get Dad; we've got incoming."

Zuikaku nearly crashed the Val she was flying. "Abyssals?"

Jaw brought the drone down to land and tore off his FPV goggles. "Worse... Relatives..." He stuck his head inside the back door and bellowed, "Dad, we got comp'ny comin'! It's Uncle Joe an' his boys! Aunt Edie's with'em!"

James came running, tucking his shirt in and his hair still wet from the shower. Houshou followed after him, dressed in a kimono of subdued hunter-green with silver feathers embroidered on the edges.

James met his relatives on the front porch. "Joseph. Edith. Boys," he said by way of greeting. "If I'd known you were in town visiting, I'd have cooked extra. Darlin'," he said, looking at Houshou, "I'd like to introduce the Reverend Joseph Leach, his wife Edith, and their sons Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Joseph was Katie's brother. Joseph, Edith, my fiancee, Houshou. The lovely young lady rounding the corner there with Jaw is her daughter, Zuikaku."

He rounded back and met Joe's eye. "So, what brings y'all so far from Tennessee?"

Joe answered. "We're here about our niece. We saw her on the television, a news story about Shipgirls, and we feel that she'd not be well-served remaining here, in such company."

James' eyes narrowed; Houshou bristled and Jaw had to lay a hand on Zui's shoulder to keep her still. "Such company? What sort of company is 'such', Joseph?" James was still speaking softly, but his voice was laced with icy cold.

Edith spoke up. "Why, Shipgirls, of course, James. Everyone knows they aren't much more than tame Abyssals. A Demon on the side of the Angels is still a Demon, after all. And to have her here, among them? No, we won't let her be corrupted; she's coming home with us and getting a good Christian raising."

Mark wandered over to Jaw, the preteen bored and looking for better company than his family. Meanwhile, James was clenching his jaw. "No. She won't be going anywhere, not by anyone's choice but her own and by leave of her CO. Kaylee's not merely among Shipgirls, she is one. She's also joined the Navy, and thus she's under military regulations. I for one am proud of her."

Joseph recoiled and Edith stepped forward and slapped James across the face. "Damn you, James McAmis. Damn you for a liar and damn your murdering government dog of a brother for corrupting our niece."

"Get out."

"What?" asked Joseph.

James' voice had gone flat as a tabletop, almost whisper-quiet, and cold as midwinter. "Get. Out. I'll take being insulted myself, and I'm willing to let you have that slap, Edith, as your one freebie. But in the course of this conversation you made two mistakes I can't forgive. You insulted my brother's memory, and you insulted my fiancee and her daughter. They're Shipgirls also, you sanctimonious, self-righteous, judgmental Pharisees. Now, get off my porch, off my lawn, and out of my sight, Joe, Edie. Else I won't be responsible for my actions."

As they stepped away, Joe decided to get in a last word. "Edith, he's not lying; I know James. She's lost to us. And good riddance in that case; James has done us a favor by removing that viper from our nest. She's no blood of our blood, now. Goodbye, James."

Joseph, however, didn't get the last word. What he got, was an up-close and personal view of the Mother of Japanese Carriers going Full Mama-Bear. Houshou came off the porch in three long strides and grabbed him by the front of his suit-coat. "Kaylee is a braver young woman than you'll ever be, you ignorant baka. You know how she became a Shipgirl? How she awoke her abilities? She charged an Abyssal by herself, to try and save an injured friend. She nearly died that day; she knew her charge was suicidally doomed but she charged anyway to try and buy her friend time. She was willing to sacrifice herself for that; doesn't your Bible say something about that sort of thing, Joseph Leach? Something about 'Greater Love', as I recall?"

She got very close to his face. "Do you know what my name means, Mister Leach? It means 'Flying Phoenix'. Most people only remember the Phoenix as a symbol of rebirth and immortality, but it's also a creature of fire, and if you don't turn around and walk away now, I'll happily burn you in every way I can before scuttling you. Do I make myself clear?"

When the six visitors left, in a hurry James would describe as 'like their hair was on fire and their asses were catching', Houshou turned back to James. "No wonder Kaylee came here, if they're all the relatives she had in Tennessee."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

The only sound in the darkened Infirmary was the sound of pages turning with the barest of light visible inside a small side room. Inside, Upholder was in a chair beside the makeshift repair pool that held Hermione's still petrified body. Not once did the Submarine leave Hermione's side, not even during the time when they were going to evacuate Hogwarts due to the Monster of Slytherin. Which is not to say that Upholder did not want to charge right in, especially when she overheard Harry talking about how he knew where the Chamber was.

It was so very, very tempting to head out and take revenge for what happened to Hermione.

But in the end, Upholder stayed her hand and kept her post by Hermione. None who would threaten the helpless girl would get past her. As a Knight of the Undersea, she swore it. That was not to say though that it was not a very boring post. Upholder was quite thankful though that the Hospital Wing had a small library of sorts for those staying there to use. However, it had not taken the Submarine long to exhaust said books though, most of which were older folktales and the like. Though she was surprised to find that there was the Lyonness Trilogy. Who the "L.E.", the initials in the books, and who had donated those and some other books, was though was beyond her. Upholder did make a note though to try and track down copies for the small library that the Submarines owned. Once those were finished though, Upholder had turned to raiding Madame Pomfrey's own library.

Needless to say, Upholder's jaw dropped at the sheer number of "Bodice Rippers" that the unassuming school nurse had.

Of course, reading those had lead her to another fact. Mainly that said novels often had drawings in them. And being wizards and witches... said drawings moved. All of which often lead to a blushing Upholder boggling at them. Currently though, she was sitting in a chair with one open and a bemused expression on her face. Sipping some tea, she glanced at the petrified Hermione. "Did you know, fair Lady of Troy, that wizards and witches can come up with some of the most silly, though intriguing ideas? Take this book!"

Holding out the book, she tapped it. "They consider it a 'Historical Fiction' romance! Apparently, King Arthur had a child by Queen Guinevere who became a powerful witch. But she was cursed with immortality due to what happened with her father. She went and searched out means of solving her issue, but failed before settling down with a poor, but noble wizard." With a glance at a page, Upholder flushed some. "Though it can get quite... descriptive at parts. And I cannot help but think that the pictures of the woman reminds me of someone."

For a few moments, the Submarine thought before shaking it off. "I cannot place it, though for some odd reason I keep thinking Japan and King Arthur, most annoying." Giving the picture another glance, she shook her head. "And the pictures are... quite informative."

Unknown to her, Hermione was on her bridge giving a sigh as she leaned against the window. "Sounds like that other book I came across, which was written as the same witch falling in love with a fellow witch and them running off together." A similar blush crossed her face. "Though that got pretty descriptive as well... though really, where did they get an idea like that from?"

Deep in the dungeons, the Bloody Baron paused and sneezed hard enough he was pushed back a few feet. Looking around in confusion, he frowned while he rubbed his nose. 'Now where did that come from?' His eyes then narrowed some and his frown became a scowl. 'And why am I suddenly thinking of my argument with Helena twelve years ago about her running away and her reasons for doing so...? Granted, it was only one-sided...'

In Ravenclaw Tower, Helena paused from where she was staring out the window and blinked as various members of her Mother's House stared at her. Mainly because they were rather surprised at her sneezing. 'Now why ever do I feel the need to kill Baron as well as I could...?'

Meanwhile, back in the Hospital Wing, Upholder stiffened and then stood up. "It seems that we have some visitors, Hermione, the Fairest Lady of Troy! Who goes there, reveal thyself!"

A laugh could be heard before two rather busty teen girls in swimsuits stepped into the light with grins. One of them opening her arms. "Well met, Sir Upholder! Tis I, Thrasher!"

Beside her, the other one gave a laugh. "And I, Thorn! It is good to see you again, fellow Knight of the Undersea!" With a grin of her own, Upholder hugged the two close with them returning it. After several minutes though, Thorn turned a sad gaze upon Hermione. "And how is our Lady? Any change?"

Sitting back down, Upholder stared at Hermione sadly. "Nay, there has been no change in her condition. I sometimes hear her fairies, but it is hard to do so." After a few moments, she turned her gaze onto the two Submarines. "Does the Admiralty wish for me?"

Both her fellows could hear the nervousness and hope that the answer was in the negative and only nodded. "They are most understanding, Sir Upholder! Indeed, they have stated that you can take as much time as you need! After all, you have much leave built up and are guarding someone who is important to the Royal Navy."

Thrasher though narrowed her eyes some and leaned in. Her expression then turned serious. "When was it that you last slept, Upholder? You look exhausted."

In reply to both the question and the narrowed eye gazes being given to her, Upholder looked to the side and coughed. "Well... I have rested fairly recently."

However, that made the other two narrow their eyes even more at her. Thorn growling low in her throat, all humor gone. "Upholder..."

Wincing, Upholder finally sighed and rubbed her eyes. "Been a fortnight since I last slept, my fellow Knights. Worry not though! Such things will not dull me! For the Lady Hermione needs a faithful Knight to keep watch over her!"

Only crossing their arms under their chests, both Thrasher and Thorn gave her looks. At the same time, and unknown to either, Hermione slumped on her bridge. "A fortnight... it's been that long? And she's been watching over me that whole time...?" Unable to help herself, she blushed some before pinching her nose. "Dammit, Upholder you idiot."

Meanwhile, Upholder was waving her hands around as the two unamused Submarines glared at her. "Truly, it bothers me not! I have a nice cuppa here to keep me away every so often, and books to keep my mind sharp! I shall stand guard until-"

It was then that Thorn cut her off. "Until we have arrived, which we have, and relieve you to get some rest. Now, go and lie down to catch forty winks, wot? We shall watch over our Lady until then." Seeing as Upholder was about to argue, Thorn placed a hand on her shoulder. "Peace, my friend. We can understand as the Maiden hast stolen thy heart, something that is not surprising at all. But the dear Hermione, loveliest since Troy herself, would be most unhappy if you were to harm yourself through not resting."

Snorting on her bridge, Hermione scowled. "You're bloody well right that I would be unhappy. Honestly!"

Unsure, Upholder looked into the hard, though understanding gazes before her shoulders slumped. She, more then anyone, knew better to argue. "Perhaps you are right. But I shall sleep here! In case that I have need to spring into action to protect our fair Maiden from what may threaten her."

That caused smiles to bloom on the other two's faces and they just nodded while taking up positions before Upholder left. Several minutes later, she returned to the room and laid some pillows out on the floor next to the pool that Hermione was in. Placing a blanket on top, Upholder let out a yawn as she laid down and curled up, pulling another blanket over her as she went to sleep. "Good night... Hermione... the most Lovely Maiden since... Troy blessed the world... Milady."

On her bridge, Hermione leaned her chin against her fist as she looked out her window with a frown on her face. "Good night, Upholder. Sweet dreams." After she noticed the Submarine's breathing slow to one that showed that she was asleep, she sighed some and took a sip of the glass of rum beside her. Her own ration from her stores. "What am I going to do with you..." Glancing at the other Submarines, she frowned. "With any of you?"

Pointingly, Hermione ignored the comments from her crew about what she could do with them, though her cheeks did turn red.
_____________________________________________________________________

Flipping through some paperwork, Tanaka hummed as he reached the door to one of the storage sheds on his base. It was just a low, steel building, but it was something. And with how there were some assholes above him, the Captain made damn sure to stockpile what he could. Opening the door, he smiled as he took a step in. "So you found something Akebono, Kasuuummmi." Rocking back, he blinked some. "What in the name of the Kami is that smell?!"

Arms crossed against her chest, Kasumi gave a glare to her friend. "You can thank Akebono-Chan for it. Honestly, what possessed you to haul this all the way back to the base."

Cheeks puffing out, Akebono glared right back. "I'm telling you, I remembered something. This could be useful!"

Only walking in, Tanaka took some breaths through his mouth though he still winced at the smell. His attention though was grabbed by a large, blocky object by Akebono's leg. There was smaller blocks close to it, none of which were any smaller then the Destroyer's head. But the main block was nearly the size of his own torso. "So... you found this on the expedition then?"

Looking away, Akebono gave a nod. "Yeah, I found them on that shitty expedition that you sent me on, you shitty Captain. Noticed that some water looked odd and sailed close to find these floating just below the surface and brought them back." On her face was a scowl as she shook her head. "It reminded me of something and I just don't know what. But it's important."

Kasumi just gave a sniff before regretting it and waving her hand in front of her nose. "Can't see what would be so important about this fucking shitty smelling crap. Ugh, it reeks."

Meanwhile, Tanaka crouched down and looked at the largest material while scratching his head. "Huh. You think that it's important?" At Akebono's nod, he shrugged and gave her a smile. "Well, I'll trust you on that. Though what is it?"

Raising her finger, Akebono took a deep breath before pausing. Then she let her finger fall and frowned in confusion. "I know what it is... but it's just on the tip of my tongue. One of my crew encountered it and it was important. And might be worth a lot." It was then that she noticed Tanaka frowning as he was looking at something. "And what's with that look, you shitty Captain?"

A frown on his face, Tanaka shook his head. "Not sure... it looks like there's something inside?" Moments later, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a pen knife which he flicked out. Stabbing it into the waxy substance, his frown deepened. "Can one of you get me a towel? The dispenser should still be filled."

Quickly heading over to the dispenser, Kasumi pulled out one and then handed it to him. "Here you fucking go."

Giving her a glance over his shoulders, Tanaka smiled. "Thanks, Kasumi-Chan. I don't want to handle whatever this is with my bare hands."

There was a deep flush on Kasumi's cheeks as she looked away with a huff. "I only got it for you since you asked. That's all." When she got a hum, she looked over her shoulder and watched as Tanaka finally pried a dark object from it and blinked. "What the hell is that?"

Somewhat surprised, Tanaka turned it over in his hands and raised his eyebrows. "Looks like a squid beak. But what is it doing in that stuff?"

Placing it to the side, he pulled out his phone and quickly typed a search inquiry. Moments later it came back and he muttered to himself as he read before his eyes slowly widened. Both Destroyers looked at each other and gave a shrug of confusion before they turned their attention back on the slowly grinning Tanaka with Kasumi scowling. "What's got you so happy about this smelly crap?"

Madly grinning, Tanaka stood up and laughed. Then, to their surprise he swept Akebono up in a hug and began to swing the squeaking shipgirl around. "Akebono, you did good! You did damn good! I could kiss you right now!"

Needless to say, Akebono was deep red and sputtering like mad. "K-kiss me! W-why would you kiss me, you shitty Captain!? And what makes you think that I would even let you!?"

Once he put her down, Tanaka laughed some as Akebono was chewing her lip. "Why? Because of the haul you brought in. This is ambergris, Akebono! Ambergris!"

Confused, Akebono suddenly pounded her fist into her palm. "That's what it's called! I knew the name but forgot it!"

Unamused, Kasumi looked between them. "Right, ambergris. That's the stuff in perfume, right?" Taking a sniff, she winkled her nose. "Smells bad enough. What's the big deal anyways."

Grinning, Tanaka shook his head. "This stuff is worth a lot. As in over a million yen per pound. And with the amount that you just hauled in?"

He pulled the two into a hug with Akebono blushing alongside Kasumi. Stuttering, Akebono tried not to show how much she was enjoying it. "I-I guess that I can let you hug me, you shitty Captain. But not for too long!"

Beside her, Kasumi was also nodding while also pretending not to enjoy it.

 

[darthcourt10]

Azzaciel

The Once and Future Ship, Part 16

__________

Prydwen had been on her way to the northwestern parts of the mainland after making sure that the irish could adequately protect their own treasures while also finding some of hers, when she quite literally rammed face first into until then invisible wards.
Everyone had been alarmed at this turn of events, but could do nothing more than make surprised noises before she felt someone scrying on her. Just as Merlin was about to scramble together a spell to stop whoever was doing so, an impression of idle curiosity made itself known.
Then the wards that had halted her movement turned inactive to reveal what could barely be considered a reef only just breaching the surface of the sea, supporting an engraved rock of considerable size.

Recognising the invitation for what it was, Prydwen did the only reasonable thing to do and slowly and cautiously circled around the small piece of land. While she didn't know the exact location of her current position, she could see land to the south near the horizon. At least she hadn't known until Merlin informed her that he could triangulate their position via linked magical beacons he started to scatter in her path around three centuries ago.
Prydwen decided that they would have a lengthy conversation about intelligence sharing at a later date, mostly about what he had also been up to when she hadn't payed attention.
When the emotional impression around her shifted to slight impatience, Prydwen noticed that she had circled the reef half a dozen times already, gave a spoken apology for her rudeness and stepped from her shield onto the island.

As she crossed the inactive wardline, Fou woke from his slumber and forced his head out of the travel bag serving as his bed and took in his surroundings. With a few fast spoken "Fou"s, he told Prydwen that the stone felt far more like his lair than anything else they had encountered during their journey, yet distinctly different. The best way he could describe it as was that the runestone felt primal despite being clearly man made.
This was corroborated by Merlin as he told her that the runes were similar to all different runic traditions he knew, yet remained unique.
Coming to the decision that staying could potentially delay her quest for far too long, Prydwen once more apologised to their watcher and bid them farewell, then stepped back on her shield and turned back to her original course.
The presence of their watcher changed to amused exasperation before fading entirely.

__________

At the same time Prydwen accelerated away from her newest discovery, a queen contemplated the first person to find an entrance to her realm for centuries. That one had been most curious, for she hadn't been human, and yet she had embodied humanity too well to be one of the others. Maybe one old script or another would have a reference to her kin, and reading with a goal would help her stave of some of the boredom she felt most of the time.
As the queen of shadows walked through her castle to the library, she ignored the monsters raging outside the walls, for they had long since stopped giving an exciting fight for the witch of Dun Scaith.
__________


AN: Another small snip, since I sorta think skipping ahead to the fun part without any intermediary content would be a too much tell and not enough show.
Also Harry Leferts don't think I didn't see those references.