Let’s keep going!

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon or Harry Potter. This is non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfic written by me for myself so I own it.

Chapter 11: Slip

Ron Weasley trailed the group as they sat down in the library and popped open a variety of books.

“They have to be hiding something! Once I figure it out… those Slytherins won’t even have a chance at the house cup.”

He sneered.

He was completely unaware of being tailed himself.

Arbok slithered after her prey, intending to tear out its throat.

Master didn’t provide fresh meat much, and now, she would take full advantage of it. Yes…

< Wait. >

Arbok frowned. < Why can’t I eat him? >

< It would cause unnecessary suspicion. I just need you to keep an eye on him. you can hunt freely tonight. >

< Very well, Master.>

“I can’t find anything.” Ash said, putting down a book. “It could be anything.”

“That is unfortunate.” Harry sighed. * What could be in that package? The size is pretty hard to pin. *

They all looked at each other and shrugged.

“Hmm… I could ask my father.” Malfoy suggested. “I’ll send him an owl tonight.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem.”

The three packed up their books, putting the library books back on the shelves, as they trooped out silently.

“What a waste of time…” Ron sighed. “But I was hoping for some real information…”

A voice laughed. “Sneaky little Gryffindors.”

Ron jumped, and saw nothing.

“Who are you? Show yourself!”
“As you wish…” A voice giggled. The light peeled away to reveal a girl in a purple robe with long purple hair.

“Woah.” Ron said, temporarily speechless.

“Lucky you aren’t hurting him,” The girl continued. “Otherwise, I might have to hurt you and that would be hard to explain, wouldn’t it?”

She patted him on the head and then disappeared. “Leave him alone…”

Ron’s head swam and he took a few steps towards her before he blacked out.

Arbok shifted back and then disappeared into the dream realm. < I’m done. >

< Excellent work. >

< Of course. The food you serve at this school is quite good. The house-elves were more than ready to provide food with some ‘coercion’. >

< I’ll remember that. >

“Demo, Lance-chan, what if it was the book?”

“It can’t be mine or yours… that leaves hers.” Lance said. “Possible. But if it is, Vulpix-chan will listen to you.”

“Ah…”

“However, if you want me to look for the entrance, that I can do.”
“Could you?” Ash asked hopefully.

‘I can find anything…” Lance said, impishly, before she vanished.

Ash, reassured, ran off to Potions before he was late.

It was a simple class, and he wasn’t too bad at mixing the ingredients. Besides Serebii could always help if it turned out badly.

So he wasn’t worried.

Harry and Draco were partnered up, so all was going well on their end.

Yes, Ash wasn’t worried… why should he be?
< I’m a card master now… even though my powers are still weak, they will unseal in time. >

Ash beamed as he added powdered sage to the mixture. He wasn’t cooking, but herbs did have magical properties.

Besides, it never hurt to learn more.

Learning never hurt in the long run.

The potion bubbled, turning a pale, gossamer pink.

Snape nodded. “Excellent. Five points to Slytherin for speed.”

The Gryffindors shot him sour looks, which Ash ignored. They were below him after all.

Worthless fellahin. Any altruism he might have felt was quickly being eradicated, as another attempt on his life had occurred.

Again, Lance had intervened in time. But since it was a Gryffindor, seventh-year, almost. Pity. She didn’t kill him.

That would have been much too suspicious. And Ditto could only pose as one person at a time.

So Lance-chan had just sealed off all his magic, forcing him to use his lifeforce if he wanted to do spells.

A just punishment... It would teach him not to meddle with a guardian.

Ash smiled, as Harry and Draco finished their potion.

They could go sneaking again after class.

A week passed, before Lance gave the confirmation.

“Sun deck, no pokemon.”
“Great.’ Ash sighed. * That will be harder… *

“Don’t worry about a thing,” She assured him, blue eyes locking with his.

“I won’t.”

Lance smiled, shifting back to dragon form and settling on his shoulder.

“So it’s a deck of magical cards?” Harry asked.

“Yes, but the dangerous thing about that deck is that if you open it, you get the power.”

“Why is that bad?” Draco mused.

“Because, you have to be Chosen. If you try to catch the cards without being Chosen, it could lead to the loss of your life or even worldwide disaster.”

“Then we should destroy it.” Harry whispered.

“No, we’ll have to steal it and seal it.”

“How?”

“Well, for stealing, we just have to get in. For Sealing, Lance-chan promised me she’d do it.”

“That sounds too easy…”

“Trust me, it isn’t.” Ash replied.

End Chapter!
Completed 4/12/04, Started 3/15/04