Darkscribes.org

December 24, 2000

No one really gave a second glance at the man in the corner of the Leaky Cauldron. True, he was rather tall, and dressed in a long, black, hooded traveling cloak, but he’d not said anything to anyone. In fact, the crowd in the tavern was so small and the mood so light, that nearly anyone would go unnoticed.

Basnier Lersgo liked this attitude. The fewer people who noticed him the better. It had taken months of planning for him and other members of the Landorian High Council to decide when to strike. He ran the tip of his finger along the rim of his glass. It was a plan so simple, so elegant...but rather difficult to get started.

If the plan went off as hoped, as planned...not only would the Landorians be feared as they once were, but the Juraian Empire would be weak against them. And with Jurai out of the way, the universe would belong to the Landorians. Just as it should. The only thing to do now was for the plan to be put into action, and then wait once more. It was the waiting that annoyed Basnier the most. Waiting, in his opinion, was the worst part of the plan.

Basnier glanced up as a new comer came into the bar. He frowned slightly. If it came to skills, Richard McDowd would not have been his first choice. He knew that by Earth’s wizarding standards, there was nothing spectacular about him. But as several members of the council pointed out - who’d suspect such a man to be guilty of the crime of kidnapping?

Richard approached the table apprehensively. He’d only talked to Basnier through a few letters, and as soon as he had accepted a ‘job’ that promised him the incredible sum of three million galleons, this appointment had been set up. Richard had only seen dementors during his final year at Hogwarts - but he had a feeling if this man had ever encountered one, the dementor would turn tail and run.

Basnier beckoned to the chair across from him as Richard came to a stop. “So, Richard McDowd. We meet at last.” He folded back the edge of his hood, revealing a heavily scared face that, upon first look, was human. But as Richard sat, he noticed that the man’s teeth were spiked, and his eyes appeared to be more reptilian and were a dull black in color. The man, if that’s what he was, had bluish skin, and his hands, concealed under black leather gloves, were long and thin.

“Yes...Mr. Lersgo.” He pulled his hat and scarf off. He pulled off his gloves as well and set them on the table.

“Basnier. We do not use such titles at mister and madam where I come from - not even in formality.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small metal disk.

“I’m perfectly willing to do this job...regardless of what it is, you know that, don’t you?”

“Of course. Despite what I’ve heard of your record, you have few scruples. I admire that.”

Richard smirked. “I wasn’t so lacking in qualms that it would have set me in Slytherin, thankfully. I just want to do something to help your plight.”

Basnier waved this comment off. He didn’t give a damn about some school called Hogwarts, or for this man’s stupidity, and certainly nothing about Richard’s childhood. “I will cut right to the point, Richard, I may call you Richard, yes?”

“Of course.” He gave Basnier a nervous smile.

“My people have been greatly oppressed by an evil people known as the Jurai. They have no tolerance for people who are different, for people who are not like them. They have been threatening my homeland for centuries.”

“That’s horrible, Basnier.”

“Yes. We have but one hope. To find someone who can wield the mystical power within our home-world. But there is a great flaw. No one born in our empire or in Jurai’s empire can harness it. We have searched for a planet where someone could be found. This is where we are hoping to find someone.”

“Who do you need?” Richard leaned forward. He had a feeling it wasn’t him, but if he could help save an empire, hell - he could become as famous as the boy who lived. Maybe even more so. True, it was unlikely that his fame would spread here, but in another place, an empire, that would be something.

“We need a child. An infant, to be exact. A child old enough to be separated from their mother, but young enough to never recall them.”

Richard knew his face went slightly white. “You want me to bring you a child?”

“No.” Basnier pushed the small device towards the man. “This device will work twice. Upon taking the child, you merely press the center of it, and it will take you to the outside of a house. You are to leave child on this doorstep and then return home. Your reward will be given when you return back here.” He smiled. “There is no need to concern yourself with the matter of time. You’ll be arriving someplace that has already lived through this hour, and when you return, your absence will have only been several minutes.”

“Do I need to take the child by force?” Richard knew no mother would willingly give up their child.

Basnier folded his hood over his eyes and held up his hand. Richard’s mind went blank. “You will leave the child at the house. Kill the child’s parents if you must. But you must not be seen by them. Leave no trace of what you have done. When the task is complete, return to me.” He closed his hand and picked up his glass of fire whiskey. While Landorians had no vast aptitude for magic, some were able to manipulate minds. “Any questions, my good man?”

Richard blinked once and slid the metal portal into his pocket. “It will be done.”

“Good man.”

Richard stood, put his scarf, gloves and hat on, and disappeared into the early evening. Basnier stood and pulled his gloves on a little tighter. It was true, men were so weak. He had actually believed that slop about the Juraian Empire being evil. Well, from his perspective, a people like the Jurai were. Although, it was very true that Juraians were extremely superior. No where was that more evident than in their crown princess.

And leaving the weapon the Landorians would one day steal on the very doorstep of Yosho Jurai and his family? Even more amazing! Basnier had done enough research to know that this...Japanese Ministry of Magic paid no attention to the bizarre happenings at that place. They weren’t entirely sure of what lived at that Shinto Shrine - but all occurrences were disregarded. In fact, given the very generous sum they were given every year directly from Jurai, they even covered things up.

Such as the explosion and fire that destroyed a high school in April of 1996. To top it off, the Japanese Ministry of Magic didn’t let things like the Jurai become known among the other ministries. This was almost too perfect. Basnier debated about the altering of records. True, the Masakis would be certain to report the missing child. But when they came to the hospital on Christmas morning, the infant, would - by reckoning of time - not be missing. Or even if they did seem to coincide, there was no way anyone would think that a child who disappeared on Christmas Eve in London could appear on the doorstep of a family in Okayama, Japan also on Christmas Eve. It would save him some time.

And all he and the Landorian Empire needed to hope for was for the good nature of Tenchi Masaki to shine through once more. It was almost impossible for him not to take the child into his own home, rather than leave it at the mercy of the social welfare system of Japan.

****

Harry Potter, age twenty, covered a yawn and stood up. The work day was nearly over, save for a short meeting with the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement which was undergoing a debate on lifting the ban on the Decree of Underage Wizardry during the shorter school vacations from the age of seventeen down to fourteen. Harry had little interest in this, as his daughter, Lily was only four months old. In his opinion, this past year had probably been one of the most wonderful of his life.

He’d finally passed all his auror training and tests, last November he and Ginny had gotten married, and this past August, had, of course - brought a great miracle into their lives. He grinned at the photograph that resided on the corner of his desk. It showed Ginny - looking remarkably happy, despite the thirty-two hours of labor she’d endured, himself, and Lily, who was sleeping.

The sound of knuckles cracking caused him to jerk his head up. Ron Weasley, the best and first friend he had ever had was standing in his doorway. “Something wrong Ron?”

Ronald Weasley shook his head. “No...just nerves.”

Harry checked his watch. “You’re already nervous? It’s only three in the afternoon. Are you dreading dinner with Percy already?”

Ron let out a snort. “I’m getting spared that, thankfully. I have other plans tonight.”

“Really?” Harry began stacking papers on his desk. “I assume those plans include a certain someone?” He peered over his glasses at Ron. “Fess up, Ron. I know you’re plotting something.”

Ron rubbed the back of his neck. “How could you tell?”

“I recognize the look from when we were playing quidditch back at school.”

“I...” Ron leaned against the doorframe, his arms folded. “You’ll laugh if I tell you.”

“Ron.” Harry said in mock seriousness. “Since when do I laugh at you?”

“You’ll laugh when you hear what I’ve decided to do.” Ron came more into the office, and now leaned against a file cabinet. “I’ve finally decided to stop stalling and ask Hermione to marry me.”

“What?” Harry’s face broke into a grin. “That’s wonderful.”

Ron’s face seemed to break out in fresh panic. “I know...but I’m scared to death about doing it!”

Harry nodded. “I know how that goes...I’m actually amazed I was able to talk coherently the night I asked Ginny to marry me.”

“I’m to worried about her saying no...or worse, laughing like an idiot.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I mean, I know we've been dating since our sixth year..."

Harry shrugged into his cloak. “There are far more terrifying things in this world, Ron. If Bill could manage to propose to Fleur without breaking a sweat, I’m sure you can handle Hermione. The worst she’ll probably say is that it took you long enough.”

“I’m not Bill. He’s a lot more...calm than I am.” Ron probably wasn’t entirely aware that Fleur had her eyes on Bill for several years before they got married.

Harry chuckled. “Well, it could be much worse...you could have to ask her in front of her parents.”

“True. I always feel a little nervous around her parents.”

“Well, they are Muggles. Of course, you dad certainly likes talking with them.”

“That’s my dad for you. Still obsessed with Muggles. So I guess you’ll not feel offended if I’m not around for Christmas Eve dinner tonight?”

“Not at all. Although, I’d be careful. Fred and George might use it as an excuse to slip you a few of their treats tomorrow.”

Ron started to fasten up his coat, grinning. “I’m not worried about that. I think mom’s threatened them with dish duty for the next seven holidays if they repeat what they did last Christmas. It was horrible to see Fleur that angry. I better get going if I want to be on time.” He wrapped a maroon and dark yellow scarf around his neck. “Merry Christmas, Harry.”

“Merry Christmas, Ron.” Harry straightened up his cloak’s collar as Ron vanished.

Why anyone should have to work on Christmas Eve was beyond him.

****

The house really was too big. Ginny had thought that over and over ever since she and Harry had started living in number twelve, Grimmauld Place. They only occupied a few of the rooms within the house, a few bedrooms, the drawing room, and the kitchen.

At least they were going to be spending Christmas Eve and Christmas at her parents house. She checked her watch. Harry would be home in an hour. Lily should sleep until then. Ginny went back to packing a small bag of diapers, clothes, and other necessities into a large diaper bag. Although she knew that her mother was bound to have things that the baby would need, there was always the possibility that it wouldn’t be enough. Or there would be things that her mother didn’t have, such as the hand knitted blanket her mother had given her as part of a shower gift. To an outsider, some would say a blanket is a blanket - but then they’d not heard the indigent cry of a three month old who already had an attachment to a favorite object.

A small thud downstairs caused her to turn. It sounded like someone knocking into that infernal umbrella stand again. Even she bumped it occasionally. Mercifully, Lupin and Moody had somehow managed to get that picture of Mrs. Black off the wall... so she wouldn’t start screaming. But who would be in the house, without knocking? Perhaps someone had arrived via the Floo Network. Although the only person she could think would come to call would be Tonks, but since she knew how to apparate, this made little sense.

Checking once to see that Lily was still sleeping, which she was - she started into the hallway. “Who’s there?” She leaned over the landing, and saw no-one. But there was an ominous creaking on the stairs. There was someone coming up the stairs, someone she couldn’t see. Whoever it was, they were wearing an invisibility cloak. Ginny backed a few steps from the top of the stairs and held out her wand. If this was Harry’s idea of a joke, he was going to regret it. She’d jinx him so hard, Lily was going to speak clearly before his face was no longer red. But a tiny voice in her mind was telling her it couldn’t be Harry. Harry’s cloak was hanging in the closet in their bedroom.

The steps stopped, and silence fell over the hallway.

Ginny flexed her hand instinctively. “All right, Harry - the joke’s over, I know you’re there.”

A thin wand held by a rough looking hand slowly appeared, followed by an unfamiliar voice. “Expelliarmus!”

Ginny’s wand flew out of her hand and she backed up towards it. “Who...what?” She saw the hand flex again, but she did not hear the words the man spoke. Blackness sank in as Hermione’s head hit the hardwood floor.

Richard didn’t pause to check on the woman - he wasn’t sure if she was dead or not. He slid quickly into the nursery and pulled down the hood of his cloak. The Potters really should have thought a little more clearly in the way of security. Then again, since he-who-must-not-be-named had been dead for several years, and what Death Eaters remained where in no condition to cause anything as simple as a pillow fight...He checked his watch. It was six o’clock.

The child was sleeping. She didn’t even stir when he lifted the small girl into the basket he’d fixed to his scarf, so that it hung at his hip. “There we go...” Richard finished wrapping the girl in a woven blanket she’d been clutching. He heard a sound downstairs, and froze. It was the unmistakable sound of someone apparating. “Shit.” He dug into his pocket and pulled out the small metal disk. He pressed the center once, and felt himself falling quickly and abruptly downward.

*

Harry hung his coat on the rack next to the door. “Ginny? I’m home.” He started up the stairs. The house was to quiet. “Is everything all right?” Lily, if she was sleeping, usually woke up the second he got home. Ginny would have at least come to the top of the stairs. He froze when he reached the landing. “Ginny!” Harry raced over to her side, and managed to roll her onto her back. He could see her wand a good six feet away. A cold sense of dread was creeping up his spine. There was a slight pulse and Ginny slowly opened her eyes.

“Li...ly...” Her eyelids flickered, her voice was weak. “Find...Lily...”

Harry’s eyes slowly lifted from Ginny to the nursery door. “No...” Harry rose to his feet and raced into the brightly lit room. He withdrew his wand from his robes and slowly looked around. There was no sign of anyone standing in the shadows. Harry edged to the side of the crib and looked down. It was empty.

There was no one in this room but him. Someone, someone had tried to kill Ginny and they had taken their daughter. Leaving no clue to who they were, what they were, indeed...all that was left was a foul smell...a smell that reminded him of burnt cabbage. Harry drug himself to where Ginny lay, and gathered her into his arms. He felt the tears already streaming down his cheeks. A sob racked his body, and he buried his face in Ginny’s hair, weeping. Ginny, sensing what had happened began to sob weakly. This couldn’t be happening, not now...not when everything should be going so well...Whoever had done this was going to pay the price.

****

Richard came out of the portal gasping for breath. He had landed on his knees in a huge snowdrift. More snow was hurling around him in a sharp, wintry gale. He shook his head to clear it. It was so cold...it hadn’t been this cold in London. Nor had it been snowing. In the distance, he could see many tall shapes, bent into the wind, it appeared to be a forest. A howl brought him around. “Crap...” He looked down at the infant in the basket, the realization of what he had just done hit him.

“Merlin. Of all kids I had to go and snatch...” He struggled to his feet and looked around. A light on a porch shone faintly in the wintry night. When he started towards the house he noticed something very odd. He was not leaving any tracks in the snow, even though when he walked, he was sinking almost to his knees. He hauled himself up onto the porch and untied the basket from his scarf. “Shush little one...things are going to be all right now...” On pure instant he pulled out his wand and pointed the wand at the girl. “Sorry about this little girl...” There was a small flash and then he stared down at the baby as he pocketed the wand. True, performing a memory charm was totally unnecessary, a four month old infant wouldn’t recognize their parent from a total stranger. Well...some might argue that fact, but the odds of either of this girl’s parents showing up wherever the hell he was seemed very unlikely. Especially considering HE didn’t even know where he was.

Richard debated about knocking. The girl was screaming her head off, there was no way they weren’t going to hear her. He backed off the porch, and pressed the small disc again...once again falling into darkness.

Inside the Masaki house, Ryoko Masaki stood gathering up coffee cups as her cabbit, Ryo-o-ki started hissing and spitting at the door. “What is it, Ryo-o-ki?” She set the tray down and came into the hallway. “You smell something?” She picked up the squirming animal, unlocked the door, and slid it back. There was nothing out in the courtyard, no tracks, nothing - just whirling snow. She squinted, trying to see into the storm. For a moment, she thought she saw movement, but it was small and indistinct.

And then a sound reached her ears. Ryoko looked down and dropped Ryo-o-ki in shock. “My god!” She leaned down and picked up the basket containing a small infant and brought it inside. She quickly shut the door and then lifted the baby from the basket. “What in the world...” She ran her hand over the baby’s back, making soft soothing noises. “Who would be so cruel as to leave a baby out on a night like this?” Not to mention how did they do it, anyone traveling on a night like this wouldn’t get far without freezing to death!

Tenchi Masaki came down the stairs, having finally gotten his daughter Mayuka to sleep. “Ryoko?”

Ryoko looked up. “Look what someone has left on our doorstep...” She turned the still sobbing infant towards her husband.

“Good God...” He took the baby and held it against him. The child whimpered once, and slowly broke into a sniffle. Tenchi made soft soothing noises, rocking the girl back and forth, patting her back gently. Ryoko leaned down and went through the basket. There was a worn looking blanket folded up resting on the bottom, but other than that - it was empty. Ryoko reached out a hand and stroked the back of the baby’s head. “There’s no kind of identification for her...nothing.”

Tenchi frowned and glanced out of the living room window at the whirling snow. “We can’t take her into town, not tonight...I doubt the plow has come through.”

Ryoko shook her head. “It wasn’t anyone around here who left her...there were no tracks in the snow...nothing.”

Tenchi looked the baby over. “Well, its a shame Washu’s not here - in the morning, as soon as we can, we’ll go and find her parents.”

“Tenchi...I don’t think her parents want her.” She pulled on her bottom lip with her teeth. “Nor do they live around here. If it was someone near...they’d have left her closer to where they live...this house is three miles off the main road!”

Tenchi slowly raised his eyes. He knew all to well that some people had no feeling for their children. Yuzuha had been the perfect example of that. He studied the small baby who was staring up at him with brilliantly green eyes. “Well, little one...” He looked at Ryoko. “We still need to check...just in case...”

Ryoko nodded and brushed the baby’s forehead. “And just think, Mayuka only moved out of her crib two days ago...” Tenchi nodded and the pair took the baby upstairs. Mayuka had heard the noise and stuck her head out of her bedroom door.

“Has Santa come already?” She was rubbing her eyes.

“No, Machi...” Ryoko came over and swung Mayuka into her arms. “Someone else is here though...” She carried her over to Tenchi so that she could look down at the baby.

“It’s a baby...who’s baby is that, mama?”

“We don’t know sweetie. Someone just left her on the doorstep.” Tenchi gave his daughter a smile. “You think she’d find that old crib of yours comfortable?”

Mayuka pursed her lips. “Uh huh. What’s her name?”

Tenchi glanced at Ryoko. “I’m afraid she doesn’t have one right now...so we’ll just call her Baby, all right Machi?”

“Okay.” Mayuka yawned and set her head on her mom’s shoulder. “She’s got pretty eyes. Wish I had pretty eyes.”

Tenchi chuckled as they set Baby into the crib, which was still in Mayuka’s room. “Oh, your eyes are very pretty, Machi. There are very few people in this world with sanguine moon eyes.”

Ryoko set Mayuka back into her bed as Tenchi adjusted the woven blanket over Baby. “Now you two go to sleep. Tomorrow’s going to be rather busy.” She set a finger on the tip of Mayuka’s nose, grinning. “And you know Santa Claus comes only if good little girls are sleeping.”

Mayuka nodded and let herself be tucked into bed. A few minutes later, she heard the door click shut. Pulling herself up, Mayuka crawled out from under the covers, the only light in the room coming from the small night-lite on the dresser. Small as she was, Mayuka was able to peer through the slats of the side of the crib in at the infant contained therein.

“Don’t be scared. You’re safe here...maybe, maybe you can stay here.” A smile spread across Mayuka’s face. “Maybe we can be sisters. I’d like that.” Quietly, three-year old Mayuka, her eyes bright, crept back to her bed and snuggled up under the covers. She had wanted a little sister or brother, and now...maybe now she would have one.

****

Ginny Potter stared out of the window in her room at St. Mungos. While her injury was not life threatening, it was very severe. Harry sat in the chair next to the bed, picking at the calluses on his hands. What was there to be said? How were they supposed to go on from here? Harry kept wishing it was all a very bad dream and he would soon wake up, and it would be Christmas Eve morning.

“She’s not dead.” Ginny closed her eyes. “We would know if Lily was dead.”

Harry nodded, and sniffed. “Why would someone take her? Who would do such a thing? The only likely people I can think of are currently locked up in Azkaban, or dead.”

“We’re going to find her.” Ginny slowly opened her eyes and looked up at the ceiling. “Because she’s out there, somewhere...”

Harry reached over and took one of Ginny’s hands in both of his. “I know she is.” He tried to smile. “And I hope and I pray that wherever she is...someone...someone is taking good care of her.”

Ginny looked down at their hands, and a ghost of a smile appeared on her face. “Lily will be home soon...” The tears had already formed at the corners of her eyes. “Back home, safe...safe...”

Harry stood, sat on the bed and drew Ginny into his arms. He let her weep. His own tears fell silently down his cheeks, his eyes staring unseeingly at the sun rising higher in the cold winter dawn.

****

Tenchi Masaki looked over the form one last time and then at Officer Shibano of the Okayama Police Department. “I take it this is all perfectly legal?”

Officer Shibano sighed. “It will be legal unless it is found that the child in question arrived on your doorstep by illegal means. Such as someone kidnapped her and left her there. Although the odds of a kidnapper out on Christmas Eve in rural Okayama is beyond belief. If they did leave any tracks - they were probably covered up by the snow. That storm dropped a record amount.”

Tenchi shook his head. “Yes. I know it seems rather odd that I want to take her in, but I don’t like the idea of leaving an infant to our nation’s welfare system. You hear some horror stories on occasion.”

“Yes, yes. Plus the system is already over-run with parents who don’t want their children, it is always wonderful when we find someone who actually wants a child.” The man pulled a sheet of paper towards him that bore a set of footprints. “So what will you be calling your daughter?”

“Kaida.” Tenchi smiled. “Masaki Kaida.”

The man wrote the name down. “We were able to determine Kaida was about five months old. Would you like to select a birthday, as we found no records of Miss Masaki?”

“July thirty-first.” Tenchi replied. Things had been so bad this past year. His father had died of cancer, and Mayuka had been rather sickly herself. Now, suddenly, at the dawn of a new century, things looked better. “I suppose that makes her five and a half months, doesn’t it?”

Officer Shibano slid the sheet of paper towards Tenchi. “Sign here please.” Tenchi scrawled his signature and the date at the bottom of the adoption certificate. It was the seventeenth of January.

*****

Author’s Notes: New chapter idea, new concept, new whatever... I did this without my pre-reader, so if anyone sees any errors, email me and point it out. Thanks.