Labyrinth of Illusion

Fred tapped his fingers against the handle of his broom. "Where the hell is Harry? We can't start the practice without our captain!"

Ron shook his head. "I just hope he didn't go to see Professor Maclay."

"What?" George idly kicked the grass. "Why?"

" It's a long story. He should be here. I reminded him of the practice." Ron shrugged. "Our first game is in two weeks. We have *got* to practice."

"We're up against Slytherin, right?" Angelina asked.

Fred shook his head. "No, they're up against Ravenclaw first. We're going to be playing Hufflepuff. We're lucky. Hufflepuff's got almost an entirely new team this year."

"Who is Hufflepuff replacing Ce--" George cut himself off, an uneasy feeling in the air. "I mean, who are they playing as Seeker?"

"Some-- Some third year," Alicia murmured. "Derek. Derek Kalderasha... I saw him practicing the other day... He's not bad."

Fidgeting and looking to the ground, the entire team tried to fight off their shared feelings. It had become an unspoken rule not to mention the name of their fallen classmate. The six students sighed in relief as Harry approached the field.

"Sorry I'm late," Harry murmured, "I got held up."

Ron gulped. "Did you got talk to Profess--"

"*Back off*," Harry snarled. Ron went wide-eyed, while the others jumped back. Harry's voice had never had so much venom. Those two simple words were the most terrifying to ever come from his mouth-- More so than even Parseltongue!

"Let's just get to practice," Katie said softly, "I mean, we really need to get to work."

"Yeah." Harry nodded. "Let's.... Umm...." He put a hand to his brow. "I don't know where to start."

"Have you worked out any new plays? Watched Hufflepuff to judge how we should attack them?" Fred asked.

"I've been a little preoccupied," Harry admitted. "Does anyone have any ideas? I'm open to suggestions."

There was a murmur among the Quidditch team, uncomfortable looks shared.

"You-- You want us to come up with plays?"

Harry shrugged. "I don't know. Just-- do what you want."

**

"He didn't come up with Quidditch plays?" Hermione repeated.

She and Ron walked alongside the lake. He still wore his Quidditch robes, carrying his broom with him. Hermione wrapped her robes tighter around herself. The late October weather was sending chills throughout her body.

"He came. He just wasn't too interested in it." Ron gave a shrug. "It's his first year as Captain... And he's not as obsessed as Wood was. And he's got a lot on his mind right now!"

Hermione let out an exasperated sigh. "Are you completely thick, Ron? Why are you ignoring what's right in front of you face?"

Ron stopped walking, dropping his broom on the ground. He crossed his arms over his chest. "I just want to give Professor Maclay the benefit of the doubt!"

"Why? We've been here for years and there's always *something*. Why would this year be any different?" Hermione demanded.

"Hermione, this isn't Voldemort. This is Harry's family."

"*We're* Harry's family," Hermione insisted. "We're the ones that have been there for him for the last four years. Professor Maclay is just some random person who happens to have a few drops of Potter blood!"

"Why does it matter so much to you?" Ron demanded. "Professor Dumbledore, Sirius, Professor Lupin, Miss Tsukino-- There are a million people protecting Harry. Why do you need--" Ron stopped suddenly. "You're in love with him."

Hermione laughed. "What? You're mad!" She bit her lip hard, wringing her hands together.

"You're in love with Harry," Ron repeated, "It's so obvious. I'm an idiot for not noticing it before."

"I-- I--" Hermione stammered, looking down. " I just want to protect him!"

"I should have known," Ron murmured, shuffling his feet. "I mean, what kind of girl wouldn't have a thing for him? I mean, he's strong, rich, popular and really good at Quidditch..."

Hermione's eyes went wide, realization hitting her. "Oh my.... Ron, I didn't know you.... I mean, you were always making fun of me."

He gave her a sad smile. "You always hurt--"

"--The ones you love," Hermione finished, shaking her head. "I'm so sorry, Ron...."

"You don't feel that way about me. I know. Why would you?" He laughed. "There aren't many people who compare to Harry."

Hermione backed up. "Ron...."

Ron shook his head. "I don't want to hear it, Hermione."

"RON!" She screamed. "MOVE!"

"What? Wh--" Ron was not able to get out word before a large, clawed hand descended down on him. He was swept up, thrown through the air. With a large splash, he landed in the lake. He burst through the surface of the water, clearing it out of his eyes. Though blurry, he could make out a hazy, hulking figure.

It was at least fifteen feet high. Its skin was grey. Was it a Mountain Troll? Blinking, his eyes focused. No, the skin was blue. This was no Mountain Troll Ron had ever seen before. It had three eyes and horns surrounding its flat face. Its clawed hand was moving towards Hermione.

"NO!" Ron shouted, trying to find his wand. Dammit, he had left it in his dorm! "Hermione!"

The beast dug its claw into Hermione's belly. She screamed out, blood sliding down the beast's claws.

Ron fought against the water, struggling against his weighed down robes. "HERMIONE!"

The beast let go of Hermione, who fell limp, bleeding onto the frost-covered grass. His attention fell back on Ron. Growls escape from its lipless mouth.

Paying no attention to the creature, he ran to Hermione's side, cradling her. "Hermione! Hermione! Talk to me!"

She let out a laboured gasp. "Ron...."

The claws slashed at Ron, hitting him across the face. He felt the hot blood spill down his cheek. He reached out, trying to grab his broom. If he could just reach it-- If he could--

Several small pieces of parchment struck the creature on the forehead. Ron noticed the body flip over him and Hermione, kicking the creature in the chest. The massive monster fell backwards, roaring.

Crouching on the ground in an animalistic fashion, Miss Tsukino let out a growl. "Oni."

The monster-- Oni-- looked surprised. "Kitsune."

"You will not harm them," Miss Tsukino commanded. She pulled her iron fan from her belt, opening it. She brought it above her head, yelling a spell in Japanese. A white light shot from her fan, hitting the creature. The blast did little to stop it.

"Miss Tsukino!" Ron yelled. He pulled Hermione closer to his chest.

Miss Tsukino turned to Ron. Her eyes glowed. "Run, Ron. Take Hermione and leave! NOW!"

He was frozen as he watched the small woman face against the large beast. He watched as her hands morphed, long claws coming from her fingertips. Pointed, white ears came out of her hair. She dropped her fan on the ground, bringing her hand up. Murmuring softly, a fireball began to form in her palm. She flung the fireball against the Oni's chest.

The Oni let out a howl, reaching out for Miss Tsukino. He grabbed her by the neck, picking her up. He brought his hand up. It growled loudly.

Miss Tsukino struggled, freeing one hand. She stuck a claw into the Oni's middle eye. It screamed covering its face. Miss Tsukino fell to the ground. "Now I'm angry," she murmured, her body becoming engulfed in flames. The flames dispersed, leaving a white fox. It was much larger than it should have been. It jumped at the Oni, jaws snapping. It attached itself to the Oni's neck, not letting go. The Oni fought to get it off, finally succeeding at throwing the fox over Ron and Hermione. Ron looked back. Fire again surrounded the fox, which had become Miss Tsukino again.

Ron looked back to the Oni. It brought its hand to its throat. Miss Tsukino had held onto its flesh as Oni had thrown her. The Oni's neck was bloody. It's throat had been torn out. It fell, dead.

Miss Tsukino ran to Ron and Hermione. "I told you to leave," she insisted. She looked at Hermione. "Oh no.... Ron, get Dumbledore. It's important. I need you tell him Yasha--" Her eyes suddenly went began to glow again.

"Yasha what?" Ron asked, picking Hermione up.

Miss Tsukino shook her head, breathing deeply. "Nothing. I'll tell him. Just get Hermione to the hospital wing. I need to take care of the body."

Ron nodded, cradling the unconscious Hermione in his arms. He began to carry her towards the castle. Harry was going to flip out when he heard what happened.

**

"How come you two and Mr. Potter get in more trouble than any of the other students combined?" Madame Pomfrey sighed.

Ron winced as the mediwitch daubed his cheek with a disinfecting potion. "Just lucky, I guess. Will Hermione be okay?"

Sighing, Madame Pomfrey looked over to Hermione. "She's in bad shape. There was poison in that thing's claws. But Miss Granger will be fine. She's resting right now. What did this?"

"It was some sort of creature." Ron said, "I don't know quite what it was. It was ugly in the extreme sense of the word."

"Would you mind describing it?" Professor Dumbledore asked from the doorway.

Madame Pomfrey jumped. "Albus! Please don't sneak up! You scared me half to death."

"I'm sorry, Poppy." Dumbledore walked into the room, sitting down beside Ron's bed. "I heard about what happened. I wanted to get the full story from Mr. Weasley."

"Hermione was right!" Ron insisted. "I'm sure she was.... I wasn't before, but now I am! She must have known Hermione suspected her! She must have sent that thing!"

"What are you talking about, my boy?" Dumbledore asked. "Who did Hermione suspect?"

"Professor Maclay! She must have sent that creature after us!"

"Gwendolyn?" Madame Pomfrey laughed. "She wouldn't hurt a fly! I delivered her! There's not an evil bone in her body!"

Dumbledore raised a hand to silence Madame Pomfrey. He looked to Ron, the candlelight flickering against his half-moon glass. "Please. Slowly, Ronald. From the beginning."

"Hermione and I were talking. Well, arguing. She thinks that Professor Maclay is doing something to Harry... Something evil."

"Really? Why?"

Ron leaned back. "Well, he's been acting strange lately. He doesn't really care about anything."

"Really.... That is... Quite interesting." Dumbledore nodded, stroking his beard with his hand. "And you believe Professor Maclay is behind Harry's apathy?"

"Yeah.... Hermione said Professor Maclay read her mind... And Harry only cares about her! He's always going to see her! It's spooky!"

Dumbledore nodded. "And today, what happened?"

"This creature came and attacked us. It threw me in the lake and cut Hermione." Ron felt his throat burn as he tried to get in enough air to get out all the words. "It would have killed us, but Miss Tsukino came and save us... She's not human! She turned into a fox."

"Yes, yes... I know." Dumbledore put a hand on Ron's shoulder. "It is nothing to concern yourself about, I assure you. I am well aware of Miss Tsukino's condition."

"The thingÉ. Miss Tsukino called it Oni."

"Oni? Sakura, would you mind explaining?" Dumbledore turned to the door, to the Auror standing there. "Why was an Oni here at Hogwarts? I have never heard of one outside of Asia."

"You--" Ron tried to get up, being restrained by Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey. "Did you bring it here?"

"I'm afraid I did. Not on purpose, I assure you." Miss Tsukino moved smoothly across the floor. "I was being stalked by the creature for some time. I killed its mate when I was in Hokkaido. I was so sure it couldn't follow me--"

"You mean--" Ron shook his head. "Professor Maclay had *nothing* to do with it?"

"It was my error," Miss Tsukino murmured, lowering her head. "I am so sorry, Ron. Please apologize to Hermione when she wakes up." She slipped back out the door.

Dumbledore nodded. "Poppy, take care of Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger. I have business I must attend to."

**

The door to the Harry's dorm creaked open, a large black muzzle peeking in. The hulking dog trotted in, looking around. Once he was sure Harry was the only one in the room, he transformed.

"Sirius," Harry said, getting up from his bed. He hadn't even bothered to change out of his Quidditch robes. After practice, he had just come up to his room and collapsed. "What are you doing here?"

"Dumbledore sent me. Harry, there's been an accident." He sighed deeply, taking Harry's hand. "It's about Ron and Hermione."

"Oh?" Harry raised an eyebrow. "Did something happen to them?"

Sirius nodded gravely. "It was an Oni. A big troll-like creature. It attacked them after Quidditch practice."

"Oh.... " Nodding, Harry looked up at Sirius with a blank expression "Are they dead?"

Sirius let go of Harry's hand. "What did you say?"

"Are they dead? Did the-- what did you call it-- Oni-- kill them?" Harry laughed. "It's not like it's a hard question, Sirius."

"No. They're not dead. They're in the Hospital Wing thought. Hermione is very badly injured." Sirius felt his stomach coil. Harry's face... It was so blank. "The Oni... It tore into her stomach."

Harry shook his head. "Why didn't she have her wand? Really! You wonder how those two tie their shoes without me around!"

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Sirius scolded. "Hermione and Ron could have been killed!"

"But they weren't. They're going to be fine. It's not my problem," Harry snarled. "I can't waste my time worrying about a pathetic excuse for a wizard and a little mudblood bitch."

"Harry James Potter!" Sirius grabbed Harry's arm, his long fingers digging into Harry's robes. "Your parents must be rolling in their graves! Since when do you care about things like that?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "You want me to go see them? Fine." He stalked towards the door. "Well? Are you coming?"

Sirius shook his head. "I can't.... They'd know...."

Letting up an exasperated sigh, Harry shook his head. "Well, you're really useful, aren't you?"

Sirius' eyes narrowed as he watched Harry leave. He and Gwendolyn really needed to have their little chat.

**

Harry strode into the Hospital Wing. Madame Pomfrey was tending to the sleeping Ron. "Well, I'm surprised it took you so long to come," she commented, "They'll be fine."

Slowly, Harry approached Hermione. He ran his hand over hers. His eyes softened. "She's.... She's cold."

"She lost a lot of blood, Mr. Potter. I assure you, she'll be fine."

He swallowed hard, threading her fingers with hers. "It's strange."

Madame Pomfrey raised an eyebrow. "What's strange, Mr. Potter?"

"N-Nothing.... I-I have to go."

Quickly releasing Hermione's hand, he backed up. He looked to Ron, his hands trembling. He turned, running. He stopped when he got out the door, panting hard.

Why were his cheeks covered in tears?