A/N: Hello my dear readers, if you are reading this for the first time, I warn you that it may not make very much sense because my beta CrimsonKitsune333 and myself are revamping this story, and making it (hopefully) better. However, If this is not your first time reading this story, please read this chapter and let me know what you think of it, okay? Kitsune and I really want to know how y'all (I can't believe I just typed that...urg...T-T) like it.
So please enjoy!
Allen Walker sighed as he packed his small suitcase. "I guess this is going to be an interesting mission…" Allen was actually very worried, not about the mission, but who he was going on the mission with, Kanda, Lavi, Komui, and Lenalee. This could jeopardize his secret. You see, Allen Walker wasn't really a boy, but in fact he was a she masqueradingas a boy. She had her reasons for disguising herself even after she entered the safety of the Black Order, and she didn't want to see everyone's reactions if she told them. They had never found out, because her ribs and chest were always bandaged tightly, so there was never any doubt of her gender. After she finished packing all of her clothes, supplies, and other essentials, she rocked back on her heels and remembered what Komui had said during their mission briefing.
Komui was leaning up at his desk, fingers delicately crossed in front of his mouth. "There have been several strange occurrences in London, and I would like you four to go and help out. Kanda, don't give that look, you are going, we need someone of your skill on this mission." Komui turned and stood from his chair, walking in front of the four exorcists. Allen squirmed as he scrutinized her thoroughly, before turning around to the map behind his desk. "For reasons unknown, I have been requested to teach at this school, so…I CAN GO WITH YOU AND PROTECT MY DARLING LENALEE!!!!!" Lenalee, Allen, and Lavi sweat dropped, while Kanda just glared at Komui's stupidity.
Allen asked tentatively, "Do you think this has anything to do with Innocence?"
Komui shook his head. "That I am not sure of, this school is special. It is for those who possess magic." At this Lavi burst into peals of laughter, Kanda glared and growled out in frustration, while Allen and Lenalee looked blankly at Komui.
"You mean magic like the kind in fairy tails with wands and such brother?" Lenalee asked.
Komui shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe. We'll just have to go there and find out. Now, you are dismissed, so go pack your bags."
Allen grunted as she stood up, her knees popping from being stuck in the crouching position for so long. "…I'd better go steal some bandages and some more supplies from the infirmary…" As quietly as she could, Allen slowly made her way to the infirmary. She dove in when the doctors and nurses weren't looking, and snatched her stuff. Quickly running back to her room, she stuffed some of the things she filched into a small bag, and proceeded to put that in a pocket in her coat. After fastening up her coat, she grabbed her suitcase and ran to the Science Department of the Order. This was where the door to the Ark was located, and the launch point for their newest mission. "Sorry I'm late, it took me longer to pack than I had expected…"
Kanda just looked at her and growled, "Just make the stupid door, bean sprout."
As Allen walked up to the Ark,she muttered under her breath, "My name isn't bean sprout, it's Allen, Allen Walker. A-L-L-E-N W-A-L-K-E-R…" She continued muttering similar things under her breath as she raised her arms and entered the piano room.
The inside of the ark was eerily quiet, even with Allen playing the piano and singing the mournful melody that filled every nook and cranny in the place. Lavi, Lenalee, Kanda, and Komui, stood somewhat patiently for Allen to finish creating a door to the new time and destination.
The music came to an end, and Allen walked out of nowhere, a bright smile covering her face as she saw them. "The new Door is this way, follow me please." Kanda snorted at her cheerfulness, but followed closely behind her, leaving the others to catch up.
(To Harry's Peeps! ^^)
Tonks and Lupin were waiting in the crowds of people at a London train station, Oxford Circus. They were looking for the people that Dumbledore had asked for help with the extremely odd occurrences at Hogwarts. Tonks had asked what they looked like, but Dumbledore merely said, "You'll know them when you see them, but if it helps, they will have an odd looking cross on their left breast, that marks them as exorcists."
Tonks ran a hand through her now electric blue chin-length hair, displaying her nervousness. Anything that had to do with the exorcists she knew of was anything but good. She sighed and glanced at Lupin, "Do you think they're here yet? The train's already getting ready to leave."
Lupin sighed, closing his tired eyes, "I don't know Tonks, we'll just have to wait."
Suddenly a voice from behind made the witch and wizard turn around, "Are you the ones who we were supposed to meet us and take us to this…Diagon Alley?" A fairly tall Asian man wearing white pants, a white coat with a strange looking cross on it, and a white beret was standing in front of them.(In case you hadn't noticed, he was very white) "I am Komui Lee, head of the science department of the Black Order. Behind me are Kanda," he motioned to the tall Asian boy with long hair in a ponytail, "Lavi," a medium built red haired boy wearing a green headband and an eye patch over his right eye who seemed to be snickering over something, "Allen Walker," a petite white haired boy with clear grey-blue eyes, and a scar coming down the left side of his face. At the top there was a large upside down pentagram, giving the boy's face a slightly sinister feel to the otherwise innocent-looking child. He smiled and Komui continued on, "and finally, this is my darling Lenalee!!!!" He squeezed the pretty girl standing next to him with short black-green hair.
Lenalee sweat dropped, "Brother, let me go. You're making a big scene." Indeed he was, for now everyone in the vicinity was looking at the group, particularly, staring at the man hugging his sister to death.
Allen intervened before long saying, "Komui, shouldn't we be getting on our way, we do have a mission right?"
The change in personality was immediate; he released Lenalee, and straightened up, fixing his lopsided beret, "Yes of course, forgive me. Will you lead the way to Diagon Alley then?"
Tonks and Lupin looked at each other, "Let us introduce ourselves first, I am Remus Lupin, and this is Nymphadora Tonks."
Tonks scowled, "Just call me Tonks. Wotcher, let's get going shall we?" Remus chuckled at her antics and led the other six out of the train station. Tonks was in the back, and from her position, she could see that there was a piece of duck tape on the back of Allen's jacket saying, "~kiss this. 3~" Poor Allen, she just couldn't seem to get a break…
Allen was intrigued by everything going on in the city; it was almost the same as the last time she had been in London, but that was almost a century ago, if the newspaper on the ground was correct. It seemed almost implausible, but knowing the Science Department, and now having the seemingly endless possibilities of the Ark, anything could happen.
As she sighed, she noticed Tonks giggling at something on her back, so she reached around and felt what was so the middle of her back in the most hard to reach place of all Allen felt something. Stretching her arms just a little more, she grabbed what it was and peeled it off. In her hands was a piece of duck tape that said "~kiss this. 3~" Her eye twitching she crumbled up the tape and threw it in the closest waste basket. "Lavi…" The said red-head turned and saw the foreboding face of Dark Allen.
Lavi quickly started to sweat profusely, "Hey Allen, it was a joke, no need to make a big scene out here in the middle of the street."
Allen tilted her head to the side and placed a finger on her lower lip, "That's true… "
Tonks watched this battle with interest, and suddenly burst out laughing. "You two should see the looks on your faces! They are so hilarious!!" Lenalee giggled and nodded in agreement.
Lupin suddenly stopped at a rundown bar that everyone seemed to be passing without noticing. Komui didn't notice, and ran right into Lupin's back. "Ah, here we are, the Leaky Cauldron, come on, let's go on inside." Komui looked at him quizzically, but Linali grabbed his arm and took him inside with everyone else.
The inside of the pub was dark and smoky, and Allen's hair stood out like a light in the dark, no pun intended. Trying not to reminisce about her time as an apprentice, she closely followed Lupin past the barkeep and into an alley with lots of trash on the ground, and one trash can. Lupin turned to the wall and tapped several bricks in a sequence. After he tapped the last brick, it sunk into the wall, and all the others appeared to fold in on themselves forming an arch way. Allen jumped at this sight, but it made her feel better that all of the others from the Black Order were surprised as well, even though Kanda didn't show it that much.
Tonks ushered them in, and the portal closed soundly behind them. Allen's jaw dropped at the sight. People of all ages were walking around in robes, buying things like "newt eyes" and "vampire fangs". Suddenly she found herself shoved into a shop that had several different robes hanging in the windows.
"Hogwarts? Up on the stool dearie," a sweet looking woman ordered Allen, before a robe was slipped harshly over her head. Pins were tucked at the right places, and the bottom of the robe was lifted to match her height.
"Hey, Yuu-chan, doesn't bean sprout-chan look like a girl in those robes?" Lavi asked, while trying to elbow Kanda in the ribs.
Kanda merely glared at Lavi, "Don't call me Yuu-chan, it's disgusting. Besides, the bean sprout was girly enough as it was this doesn't make in any different." Before he could turn on his heel to leave, the woman had grabbed him, thrown a robe over his head, and started taking up the robe while he was on the stool.
Lavi looked at the disgruntled Kanda, and burst out laughing, "God, Yuu-chan! You look even more like a girl!!!" Before a majority of the people there could blink, a sword was pressed against Lavi's throat, and he was laughing merrily. "Hey Yuu-chan, that's nothing to get upset over."
Kanda narrowed his eyes and growled out, "Do not call me Yuu-chan."
Lavi merely laughed off the death glare, and pushed Mugen away from his throat. "Well, I guess I'm next," Lavi chirped as Allen hopped off the stool. In her hands, Allen was holding a large parcel filled with enough robes so that she wouldn't run out during the school year. The rest of the members of the Black Order were fitted without much trouble.
The next store they entered was Olivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C. The Exorcists eyed the store carefully before following Remus in at Tonks' ushering. The store was dark, and the light present was murky, filled with dust. Suddenly, an old man with deep blue eyes emerged from between the shelves, almost out of thin air.
"Welcome, I don't believe I have had the honor of meeting any of you before and I never forget a customer. Who's first?" He didn't ask any questions about their ages, but the question was clearly in his eyes as they landed on Allen. "You, boy, what is your name?"
Allen gulped, slightly unnerved by his nearly unblinking stare. "Allen Walker sir." Olivander nodded and motioned him closer as a tape measure floated next to her.
"Wand arm up," Olivander commanded as he pulled several boxes from their shelves, and Allen complied, more than nervous. As the tape measure measured her arm, Olivander started to speak to her. "I made a wand for a Walker once, charming fellow. 12" Willow with a Dragon Heart-string core, nice and flexible, excellent for hexes. You wouldn't happen to be related would you?" He snatched the tape measure from where it was trying to measure the length of Allen's scar and shoved a wand in her hand. Before she could even wave it, it was replaced with another, and this one caused the lantern on the counter to shatter. Quickly snatching it from her hand, he shoved another into her hand, and she felt a warmth flood her body like when she activated her Innocence. Her left hand glowed slightly as she held the wand, and as she waved it, glittering silver sparks erupted from the tip. Mesmerized, she barely heard what Olivander was telling her. "Ah, I should have known, 11" paper birch, unicorn tail hair core, quite bendy, wonderful for charms." Allen smiled as she held the white with a brown flame pattern wand.
The next three went through a similar process, in which Kanda was first. After several curses and exploding windows, he was finally settled with a 13" Hawthorn, and ash winder ash core wand. "Quite stiff, good for defense."
Lavi was next, and his experience was similar, except for curses and he accepted the explosions with glee. He was finally settled with a 12" hazel, and hippogriff core wand. "Nice and swishy, very good for charms."
Finally it was Lenalee's turn, and she had the shortest experience, only two wands. No explosions and no curses. She was equipped with a 11 ½" ash, with a demiguise hair. "Very powerful, perfect for Transfigurations."
After that they paid, Lavi clearly sent them a look telling the group to meet together after they get settled, and all complied, even Komui.
The group then traveled around Diagon Alley with few mishaps, only Allen or Tonks tripping over a display in a couple of the stores. By the end of the day, Allen was carrying both hers and Lenalee's packages. Wobbling slightly, she managed not to bump into anyone while going back to the Leaky Cauldron. After arriving in the smoky light of the pub, Allen briefly wondered how they were going to carry all of this supplies to wherever they were staying. Suddenly Lupin and Tonks turned to the exorcists, holding what they had earlier found out to be wands, and told them to pile their stuff together. They would have it transported to their headquarters. Not complaining, Allen dropped the packages gently in the pile.
"Now," Lupin began, "we are going to perform side-long apparition, so would each of you link arms with either me or Tonks?" Allen and the others looked apprehensive, but they complied, linking arms with Tonks and Lupin, and Lenalee linking arms with Allen. Lupin had just said, "Hold on tight," when the exorcists felt that they were being pulled through a tube way to narrow for them to fit through. Then, suddenly they were on the ground again, legs weak at the knees. Lupin waited for them to get their balance back before explaining, "Our headquarters are just a little away from here, but we don't know if we're being watched or not, so we're going to have to walk." Looking the exorcists over, he turned and walked down the sidewalk, leaving the rest to follow. Allen followed behind quickly, walking beside Lenalee and Lavi, who was trying to get a conversation out of Kanda.
They walked around a block, and stopped, looking at the spaces between the houses numbered 11, and 13. Lupin handed the exorcists a piece of paper with large curling script that read:
The headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix may be found at Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, London.
Allen looked up from the paper, to see a house appear out of the space in between number eleven and number thirteen, like it was inflating, slowly pushing the other houses out of its way. There was a stereo thudding in number eleven. And the civilians in the house didn't seem to notice. Lupin quickly entered the house with the exorcists and Tonks following behind. "Don't go very far inside, and don't touch anything." Kanda scoffed with his usual 'che'. The others just nodded.
The inside was dimly lit, and they were greeted by a cheery, plump, older woman with flaming red curls. "Welcome back Lupin, Tonks! Are these the help that Dumbledore said we would need? They're looking peaky, I'll go grab them something to eat from the kitchen," she whispered before puttering off to what Allen and the other suspected to be the kitchen. Before they knew what was happening, she was back with sandwiches for everyone. "I'm Mrs. Weasly, and I'll show you where you'll be sleeping. You can eat there or in the kitchen, but don't wander around too much, and keep your voice down in the hall; we don't want to wake anything up."
Allen looked at Lenalee and shrugged her shoulders; neither understood what was going on. Deciding to follow Mrs. Weasley, they trudged up the stairs, past the first and second floors, to the third, which contained three bedrooms. "The girl can sleep here, and the boys can divide up into pairs, sharing a room." She handed Lenalee, Allen, and Lavi a plate. "Now when you pick your rooms, there'll be room to put your supplies up. After you get settled, come down to the kitchen so we can have a meeting." With that Mrs. Weasley tottered down the stairs, and could be heard chastising children for spying.
Allen looked at Komui, "I guess I'll room with you. Kanda wouldn't want to be roomed with me." At that Kanda made his trademark 'che'. Allen glared at her fellow exorcist, "Don't you make that noise, I'm not as worthless as you think I am you know!" With that note Allen shoved the plate of food into Komui's hands, and stalked down the stairs, not noticing a pair of identical redheads looking at her strangely, and then a brown, bushy haired girl and another red-headed boy looking out of a room when she made it to that floor. Storming past the curtains, she made her way into what was presumably the kitchen and saw Mrs. Weasley, and a rough looking man with shaggy black hair and a thin sunken-in face. Trying to cool her temper with her curiosity at the man, she entered the kitchen slower, just as Mrs. Weasley turned around.
"Oh, hello deary! Which one of the exorcists are you?" Mrs. Weasley asked, wiping her floury hands on her apron. It appeared she was making dinner.
Allen shifted nervously under the new man's gaze, for when Mrs. Weasley had noticed her; he had turned to look at her also. "I'm Allen Walker ma'am. What are you making for dinner tonight?" She inquired curiously, really wondering what that amazing aroma was.
Mrs. Weasley broke out into a smile, "Well, I'm making some fresh bread, stew, rhubarb crumble, and custard dear." Her smile grew larger as she heard Allen's stomach grumble. "Why don't I get you a quick snack…but what happened to those sandwiches I made for you all?"
Allen gave a sheepish grin, "I let the others have them, I'm known to eat a lot…"
The sunken-faced man looked between her and Mrs. Weasley, "Molly, is this one of those exorcists that Dumbledore was talking about?"
Mrs. Weasley gave and exasperated sigh from her position at the counter and turned around with a whole plate of sandwiches, "Yes Sirius, this is one of the exorcists Dumbledore told us about. His name is Allen Walker."
Allen gave Sirius a gentle disarming smile, "Pleased to meet you, I'm Allen Walker as Mrs. Weasley said." Sirius gave her a look that clearly said, 'I don't trust you' so she just sat down and thanked Mrs. Weasley for the sandwiches. Mrs. Weasley turned away for a second, and put the ladle back in the stew, and turned to see Sirius staring at Allen with wide eyes. Allen, meanwhile, was dabbing at her mouth delicately, having pushed the empty sandwich plate away. "Those were delicious Mrs. Weasley. Thank you!" With that Allen nodded to Mrs. Weasley and Sirius and walked back to her room to unpack some of her possessions.
When Allen arrived into the room she shared with Komui, she noticed that he was actually doing paper work that Lenalee had brought for him to complete. Chuckling to herself, Allen proceeded to unpack some of her clothing, placing them in a drawer, and leaving her more…personal items in the suitcase, for her to retrieve when she required them. Not knowing what to do, she decided to check in with Lenalee and Lavi, to see if they needed help unpacking, since she never really was a heavy packer. Kanda could be a jerk and do it on his own for all she cared. Walking across the landing, she rapped softly on the door with the back of her knuckles. "Lenalee, would you like some help unpacking?" A muffled reply came from inside, and soon the door was opened by a rumpled Lenalee.
"Ah, Allen-kun, I couldn't force you to help me unpack," Lenalee's face grew slightly pink in the cheeks, "It wouldn't be proper…" quickly looking away she glanced at the room Allen shared with Komui. Smiling and nodding in understanding, she wished her luck with her unpacking, and moved onto Kanda and Lavi's room.
As Allen approached the room however, you could hear loud thumps, and muffled bangs. It appeared that Lavi had called Kanda Yuu-chan again…Deciding to try her luck Allen raised her hand to knock on the door, but before she could, the door opened to reveal a frantic Lavi, who, when he saw her, leaped behind her just a sword came slicing down in his place. The swordsman just happened to be an enraged Kanda, who then proceeded to stab Mugen at Allen's chest, almost close enough for Kanda to notice the difference between flesh and the bandages. Allen started sweating slightly, holding his hands up as a sign of peace. "Kanda, you don't need to point Mugen at me."
"Che."
"Awww, Yuu-chan, did I make you cranky again?" Lavi smiled sweetly from behind Allen's shoulder. Allen's eyes widened drastically and she ducked just as Kanda took a swing at Lavi with her in the middle. Army-crawling away from the fight, Allen made her way down stairs…well almost…that was she went down a flight of stairs, and then she ran into two identical red heads, slightly stocky, that seemed to remind her an awful lot of Lavi when he's in a mischievous mood.
Backing up she apologized, "I'm sorry, I didn't notice you…" as she said this, a yell sounded and a harsh thump followed, and she cringed.
"No problem-"
"-No problem at all-"
"-Might I inquire-"
"-As to what your name is?"
"-By the way-"
"-I'm Fred-"
"-And I'm George-"
""-Weasley, pleasure to meet you.""
Allen looked to each in turn, getting lost when they were saying their names, pointing to each other with their thumbs. Severely flustered, she blushed, at her attempts to say her name, "Um…I'm Allen Walker."
"Might we ask-"
"-What exactly is going on-"
""-the floor above us?""
Allen looked up at the ceiling, "Well…the red head, Lavi, called Kanda, the Asian guy with the long hair, a name he despises, so now Kanda is trying to kill Lavi, and Lavi pulled me into it, and I almost got decapitated, and Lenalee, the only girl," mental cringe here, "and her older brother Komui, the other Asian man, are deciding to stay out of it." After finishing her long-winded explanation she sucked in a much needed breath. "If you'll excuse me, I was just going to see if Mrs. Weasley needed any help with dinner…"
"Funny that-"
"-We were just going-"
""-To help mum ourselves."" With that they linked the shorter girl's (which they think she's a boy) arms, and dragged her down the next couple of flights of stairs. That was when she noticed the gruesome heads mounted on the wall. Gulping at the sight, she returned to trying not to fall. When they finally reached the kitchen, several others had arrived.
Mrs. Weasley was observing the setting out of the cauldron and the cutting boards, and was placing the bread in the oven. When she turned around and saw Allen in between Fred and George, she looked like she was ready to faint. She glanced at the people placing rolls of parchment on the table, and setting out the chairs and quickly scurried over to the three. "Fred George, go back to your room, Allen dear, would you mind going and getting the other exorcists?"
Allen was about to reply, when she felt that feeling of being pulled slowly through a tiny tube. Suddenly, she landed on her feet, on the landing where she met the twins. Wobbling slightly, she tried to walk up the next flight of stairs, and when she got her land legs back, she waved to the twins, and proceeded to the eerily quiet third landing. Glancing around, she tiptoed to her and Komui's room and slowly opened the door. Before she opened it a crack, Lavi proceeded to jump on her, sending her flat onto her back. Lenalee giggled as she walked out of the room, Kanda scowled, and Komui chuckled. Allen's face grew brick red as Lavi nuzzled her cheek.
"U-um…Lavi…would you mind getting off…?"
Lavi proceeded to nuzzle a little more, before looked her in the eyes with his flashing emerald one, "But bean-sprout-chan…it's just so comfortable here…" At this Allen's face flushed even more and she tried to wriggle out of the Junior Bookman's grasp.
"Lavi…Mrs. Weasley wants us down in the kitchen…I think you'd better let me go before she gets angry…"
With that, Lavi let go, and proceeded to drag Allen down the stairs, with Lenalee, Kanda, and Komui following close behind. When they reached the main floor, they saw Mrs. Weasley quickly usher in a group of people, of which a grizzly, pock-marked old man with a wooden leg seemed to be leading. He waved his wand over the area beside him, revealing a boy about Allen and Lenalee's age, with untamed jet black hair, and dazzling emerald eyes. Stopping the boy in question, Mrs. Weasley hurried him towards the stairs, and by the moth eaten curtain. The boy looked at them in confusion, and the exorcists did the same. Mrs. Weasley swung her head in the direction of the kitchen, and they followed the group down. Looking around the kitchen, they noticed five six chairs remaining, and took places in five of them. When Mrs. Weasley came back down, she pulled out her wand and cast a charm over the door, and she turned to look at every one, before sitting down.
The grizzly old man stood, and looked at Mrs. Weasley. Growling, a large electric blue eye swiveled onto each of the exorcists in turn, "To start off this meeting, I would like to know who the bloody hell these people are!"