Nuriko: Well, here it is, Part Two.

Duo: See, you started this before you even posted the first.

Draco: Yes, but this one isn’t finished yet and she posted it.

Nuriko: Well, I’ve kind of agreed that I’d try to update at least once a week. If I give myself that much time, I should be able to handle it.

Duo: Well, you usually can.

Draco: Hell only knows.

Nuriko: :pouts: I guess so. For now, on with the story. Here’s Part Two of Hogwarts: The Duo Years

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Duo arrived at home and with plenty of time to get the student lists out and have several of the house elves help in getting the invitations out. He grinned and took up the ones for the former pilots. After all, what was better than a letter from himself to his friends? Why visiting them himself. Besides, the poor owl would never be able to reach Heero without his aid. So he figured he should visit the Japanese man himself. Yet the easier one’s first. Quatre and Trowa where here on Earth, working with Relena’s security team to keep the United Alliance of Nations in a peaceful area. It was also within Apparating distance.

He let the House Ghosts and the House Elves know he was going out for a bit and that he would be back in time to finish up the Professor’s bedrooms before he would have them arrive. He also let them know that the Weasleys would be showing up while he was gone, and that they were allowed to get their designated areas set up in a manner that would be productive for them to work at their best.

Lolly and Dobby both nodded their agreement before Duo handed his wizard robes to Lolly and then used the Floo Network to send himself to a place where he could then Apparate to where Quatre and Trowa were located. Pulling a badge from his back pocket, he attached it to his shirt and walked into the main UAN building and got to work on finding his friends. Talking to a lady down the hall, he found that they were in their sleeping quarters up on the third floor. With a grin, he nodded his head to her in thanks and headed for the elevator to get up to the third floor. Reaching the door to the room that his friends had been given, he raised a single hand and knocked on it lightly.

“Just a second!” a cheerful voice called from the other side of it. Duo couldn’t help but grin as he heard a small giggle and then a groan, before he could hear feet scrambling to pull clothing on. For once, he was glad that he hadn’t apparated right into the living room. He would have gotten an eye full that he wouldn’t have been ready for.

The door opened to show a slightly disheveled Quatre and a very mussed up Trowa. Duo couldn’t help but grin at the sight, even as he was a bit embarrassed that he had obviously disturbed them at a rather inappropriate moment. Yet when Quatre’s grin broke out across his face, Duo knew that there could never have been a bad time to visit. “Hey Q-bean,” he said softly, giving him a trademark Duo-grin.

“Duo!!” Quatre exclaimed, even as he threw himself into Duo’s arms. They both had tears in their eyes as they embraced, even as Trowa stood at the open door, a gentle, understanding smile on his lips. Once Quatre let Duo go, Trowa held out his hand, shaking Duo’s warmly. “What brings you here?” Quatre asked, before flushing a cute shade of pink. “Not that you need a reason, but I figure you do have one.”

Duo chuckled, even as he looked at both of them and with a little slight-of-hand, had their invitations appear in their hands. Trowa looked his over, looking at the Hogwarts seal before smiling widely. “You’re re-opening the school,” Trowa stated.

Duo nodded. “Yep, it re-opens in August. Gives you almost two months to make certain Lady Une will allow you the time to go to school, plus to get the money together so you can purchase books, robes, and anything else needed.”

“Une’s already given the okay for our schooling. Trowa and I talked to her about it once we returned. She was skeptical at first, but after Heero almost transfigured her into a frog, she agreed that finishing schooling in such skills would be wise. She also said that anyone else you find worthy of such training should go as well.”

“Heero did? Man, he’s lucky the Ministry isn’t as hard on muggles seeing magic any more, or he would have been banned from his magic for a while.”

Quatre’s eyes widened. “There’s a Ministry of Magic in this time?” he asked, slightly surprised that it had been able to survive.

“Well, it’s no where near as strict and powerful was it was in Harry’s time, but it’s not a push over either. So try to remain within the limits of the wizarding world. I don’t want to see any of my friends end up in wizarding prison just because they thought it was cool to be stupid.”

“No need to fear there, Duo,” Trowa murmured, a smile on his lips. “Quatre and I would rather keep our ability quiet for the moment.”

Duo laughed softly, nodding. “I know the feeling, Tro-man. Sometimes I wish I could say the same.”

“The restoration didn’t go so well?” Quatre asked, his aquamarine gaze concerned.

“It wasn’t a piece of cake, I can tell ya that. But once it was finished, it was more than worth the effort it took.” Trowa’s emerald gaze seemed to sympathize with the battle Duo had been fighting. It wasn’t anything like what the group of five had usually had to deal with, but it was still a battle.

“You were the best of us for the job, Duo. You love Hogwarts and you’ve become really powerful. So I can’t imagine what would have become of the school without you.”

Duo flushed, looking down at his feet. “Gee, thank Q-bean. But I can’t stick around. I’ve got other letters to deliver.”

“Will you be seeing Heero?” Quatre asked softly. Trowa gave his lover a look, only to be glared back by the blond.

Duo gave them a soft smile. “Yes, I’ll be visiting him. He’s invited to the school as well, if he wants to go, that is.”

Quatre rushed into the house and grabbed a small wrapped package. He then turned around and handed it to Duo. “Would you give this to him? I made it for him and I wanted to make certain he would be able to get it, seeing as none of us known where he is besides you.”

Duo nodded, accepting the package. “That’s Q-bean, I’ll get it to him. Promise. I’ve just got a small visit to pay to Wuffles and then I’ll be paying Heero a visit.” Quatre nodded even as Trowa gave him a soft smile.

“Make certain he eats,” Trowa remarked, knowing Heero tended to forget what was important when he was working on something. Duo laughed, nodding at those words.

“Can do, Tro-man. Take care of yourselves, ok, Quatre? Trowa?”

“Got it, Duo. Don’t be such a stranger any more.” Trowa nodded in agreement with his lovers words.

“Got it. Yet with you two soon to be in school, you’ll come to wish I was missing again.” They laughed as Duo waved and farewells were said. He then apparated from their door and appeared at Wufei’s home.

-----

Duo raised his arm and knocked on the door, smiling when a rather tall, handsome blond with stunning ice-blue eyes and a killer body that was being shown off in a pair of sweat pants and nothing else.

“Duo Maxwell? What brings you here?” the blond asked, his eyes slightly wide. Duo’s own violet ones shimmered with mirth, even as he handed the first of two envelopes in his hand to him.

“Oh, just playing mailman for the moment. So here’s yours. I’ve got one for Wuffles too as well.” Zechs smirked at those words and laughed softly.

“Well then, by all means, come on in,” Zechs commented in a smooth voice and he stepped back to allow Duo room to enter.

“Who is it?” Wufei asked as he came out from the bathroom, his black hair wet and hanging lose around his shoulders. Duo couldn’t help but whistle at his appearance. Wufei always was a killer when his hair was down. Men and women alike fell pray to such looks.

“It’s the friendly neighborhood mailman stopping by with a package for you,” Duo said with a grin. Wufei let a grin slip past his lips for a second at this unexpected arrival before he snorted and rolled his eyes.

“You are the lowest of the low, Maxwell. You never wrote, never visited. We all thought you had done us all a favor and fallen off the face of the planet,” he grumbled.

Zechs smirked, even as he leaned close to Duo. “That means he missed you,” he remarked, only to receive a cool glare from Wufei.

“I’ve missed him as well. Here, Wuffles, this is for you,” he said, holding out the white envelope.

“I’ve told you, it’s Wufei, Maxwell. Try to get it right,” he growled, looking at the cover of the letter and flushed when he realized that it read that he slept in the same bed as Zechs. “What is this?” he growled.

“It’s your invitation letter to Hogwarts. Same as Zechs and the other pilots are getting.”

Zechs’ eyes widened at those words. “Invitation letter? To a wizarding school? Why me?”

Duo’s lips curved up in a mischievous grin. “Because your whole family was a wizarding family. The Peacecraft’s have been well known and respected for years. That’s why it was such a pain when almost all of the family was killed. Only your sister and you remain. That’s all there is. We are looking forward to seeing the Peacecraft’s once more back in the wizarding world. As I am certain Wufei has filled you in on his last adventure.”

Zechs nodded, his eyes still wide and full for surprise. “Yes. At first I had a bit of trouble believing what he was telling me. But when he showed me some of it, I had to admit that it’s hard to deny what your own eyes have seen.”

“Yep, that does make it hard to deny, doesn’t it,” Duo said with a grin. Wufei sighed.

“So, I take it I’ll need to stop by Diagon Alley and pick up the necessary supplies?” the Chinese man asked of his soon-to-be Headmaster. Duo nodded his head at those words.

“Yeah. Might want to take Zechs with you. I’m certain he won’t know how to get there either.”

“You’d be right, Duo. I’ve never even heard of the place.”

“Don’t worry too much about it. Wuffles can get ya there without trouble.”

“WUFEI!” he growled. “Damn it Maxwell, you aren’t a child any more. Act like the adult you are.”

Duo snickered at that. “Of course, but it’s a lot more fun acting like a kid. Adults are just too boring at times.”

“Here, here,” Zechs agreed, gaining a dark glare from his lover. He ignored it, as he did most things when Wufei was more embarrassed than he was upset. It was something Zechs had come to learn of his dark haired lover.

“In any case, I’ve got another to visit before I can go back and place the finishing touches on the school, so I’ll see ya when school begins.”

Wufei smiled, a small one. “Well, at least I get that much of a break before I have to see you again.” Duo nodded, even as he watched Wufei fight with himself before the Chinese boy gave the American a small, tentative hug. “Take care of yourself Maxwell. I expect to see that school shine.”

“You got it, Wufei. Zechs, take care of him till school begins.”

Zechs smiled, giving him a wink. “Understood. Take care of yourself, Duo.”

“Of course,” Duo replied with a wink, before heading off to apparate toward the last place he needed to stop.

“What… just happened?” Zechs asked, looking at Wufei. Wufei snorted, looking at the place Duo had once been.

“He’s being a show off,” Wufei grumbled. Zechs laughed, shaking off his shocked look and padding over to his lover, pulling him into his arms and nuzzling his neck.

“Come on, little dragon. You have to admit, he looks rather content with the path he’s chosen,” Zechs murmured against his throat.

Wufei sighed, feeling himself begin to melt into the taller man’s arms. “Hm, I suppose so. He did look happy, didn’t he?” he asked, even as he felt his pulse begin to pick up.

“Very happy, Wufei,” Zechs replied, before dragging his lover back into the shower to continue where they had left off before company had arrived.

-----

Duo once more apparated to a place that was relatively unpopulated. Once there, he began the slow trek through the forest path to the small cottage that Heero had called home for the last year. When Heero had originally asked for an unplotable area, Duo had been surprised. When Heero said he wanted it to be as far from population as he could stand, without starving, Duo had been pleasantly knocked of balance. He loved the sound of a small place that was just a little ways from civilization, yet allowing the peace of being close to others. It sounded like heaven.

Walking along the small path, he grinned as he caught sight of a slightly tanned chest that seemed to glisten with a faint sheen of sweat. The green tank top had obviously been discarded in the mid-afternoon heat. The muscles seemed to bunch and gather as he swung an ax down onto a piece of wood, cutting it perfectly in two. Tight, form hugging jeans caressed powerful legs and hips. It was a sight Duo could enjoy looking at over and over again.

Walking slowly up to the tree line, Duo leaned against one and just watched his love work at chopping wood. Once Duo was certain he wouldn’t cause Heero any dangerous slip ups should he become surprised, he let out a soft whistle. Heero looked up, his Prussian blue eyes wide.

“Duo?” he questioned, almost as if he was uncertain that he was seeing the real thing or a mirage.

“Hey, Hee-chan. Good to see ya haven’t changed,” Duo commented, even as he pushed off the tree and walked down toward Heero.

Prussian blue’s seemed to watch every step; every movement. They eventually locked onto the long chestnut half-braid that seemed to move with every shift Duo’s body made as he walked over to him. Standing face-to-face with one another, Heero seemed as if he was battling something within himself. Knowing Heero wouldn’t react without some encouragement, Duo reached out and pulled Heero into his arms, hugging him warmly. Heero groaned, before wrapping his own arms around Duo’s slender body, hugging him fiercely.

“I missed you,” Duo whispered into Heero’s ear. A delicate shiver trailed through his body.

“I missed you too, Duo,” he murmured, almost clinging to the slender wizard. After they held one another for a while, Duo slightly pulled back to meet Heero’s gaze dead-on. “What brings you here?” Heero asked, even as he slowly reached out to caress his cheek.

“Good. I’d hate for you to not care about me any more,” Duo whispered. He then held up his hand, holding up the envelope for him. Heero looked down at it, his eyes not showing anything, even as one hand seemed to snake around Duo to grasp his hair, holding onto it like it was a lifeline, even as he took the letter in his free hand.

“So, you’ve finally managed to get the school up and running?” he asked, even though the seal on the back of the envelope alerted him to what Duo was going to say.

“Yep. It’s all ready for students in late August. I’m looking forward to it. I’ve got a staff that’ll impress the students and some amazingly bright students that will be attending school this term. I’m hoping to add you to the list, Hee-chan. Will you come?”

Heero tugged at the hair slightly, making Duo tilt his head back to meet his gaze evenly. Seemed Heero had gotten a little taller while Duo was away. He kind of liked it. “Of course, baka. Someone needs to be able to keep an eye on you. You tend to get into trouble while being wrapped up in the wizarding world.”

Duo couldn’t help but laughed softly, liking the sound of Heero being there because of him. Even after a year apart, with only letters between them, he was still madly in love with Heero. While the Japanese boy had understood why they had to part ways, neither one of them liked the idea. Now, with school opening soon, they could once more be together. At least, Duo hoped Heero still wanted him.

A soft brush of Heero’s lips across his exposed throat made Duo’s eyes widen, even as he smiled widely. Apparently, he still wanted Duo just as much as Duo wanted him. It was something he liked knowing very much. “Mm, good to know you’ll be there. I want you there as well.”

Reluctantly, Heero let him go, taking a step back. “I’ll be there when school begins. I’m certain you have work to finish. So no slacking off, Duo. Go back and finish it.”

Duo pouted slightly, before leaning in and brushing a soft kiss across Heero’s lips. He was surprised he had forgot to return the brief kiss. “Got it, Hee-chan. I’ll see you in August then.” Heero only nodded before Duo vanished from view. He then sighed and put the wood away, taking up his wand and a book of charms. Focusing on the pieces of wood, he got back to work on practicing his charms, glad he had been alerted to when someone had entered his little space. After all, he was not going to be caught learning something that he felt was silly. For it was this silly skill that would allow him to spend more time with Duo; eventually allowing them to remain together forever.

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Nuriko: Well, I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter.

Duo: It’s certainly beginning to be a lot more interesting than I thought it would be.

Draco: Hey! You’re ignoring our side.

Nuriko: Not at all. The next chapter is all for you… well… most of it.

Draco: Most of it?! I say, you are playing favorites.

Duo: Well, she has known us longer.

Draco: :growls: Unfair.

Duo: :smirks: Who said life was fair?

Nuriko: Oh, stop it. Things will even out, I promise. Until Part Three, ja mata ne!