Author's Note: I do not own the Ninja Turtles or Harry Potter. All original characters belong to me.

Thank you to those who have reviewed.

Chapter Twelve

HE WHO MUST NOT BE NAMED RETURNS

"In a brief statement on Friday night, Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge confirmed that He Who Must Not Be Named has returned to this country and is once more active.

"'It is with great regret that I must confirm that the wizard styling himself Lord – well, you know who I mean – is alive and among us again," said Fudge, looking tired and flustered as he addressed reporters. "It is almost equal regret that we report the mass revolt of Dementors of Azkaban, who have shown themselves averse to continuing the Ministry's employ. We believe the Dementors are currently taking direction from Lord – Thingy.'"

"Lord Thingy?" Mikey interrupted Donatello.

The Turtles, Splinter and Stevie were in the old Turtles' quarters gathered in the living area, listening to Donny read out the Daily Prophet.

"I still reckon we should just call him Mouldy Shorts and be done with it," said Stevie.

"Shh!" Leo placed a finger to shush them so Donny could continue.

"'We urge the magical population to remain vigilant. The Ministry is currently publishing guides to elementary home and personal defence which will be delivered free to all wizarding homes within the coming month.'

"The Minister's statement was met with dismay and alarm from the wizarding community, which as recently as last Wednesday was receiving Ministry assurances that there was 'not truth whatsoever in these persistent rumours that You-Know-Who is operating amongst us once more".

"Just goes to show on how dumb the Ministry can and has been," Stevie commented.

"Details of the events that led to the Ministry turnaround are still hazy, though it is believed that He Who Must Not Be Named and a select band of followers (known as Death Eaters), as well as a brand new set of dark followers (according to many who know them as Foot Soldiers), gained entry to the Ministry of Magic itself on Thursday evening."

"So much for sticking to the shadows!" Raphael muttered.

"Bet Karai is screaming and kicking on how things just aren't all that fair for her," said Stevie, amused by the thought.

"I highly doubt it," Leonardo said, shaking his head.

"Albus Dumbledore, newly reinstated Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, reinstated member of the International Confederation of Wizards and reinstated Chief Warlock of Wizengamot, has so far been unavailable for comment. He has insisted over the past year that You-Know-Who is not dead, as was widely and believed, but is recruiting followers once more for a fresh attempt to seize power. Meanwhile the "Boy Who Lived" is currently recovering after having to have gone through such an ordeal in the Ministry of Magic. Harry Potter has also been seen as unavailable to speak as of this time."

"Not like he would," said Stevie.

"After all the crap he had been through, I wouldn't be surprised," said Raphael.

"The question is, however, do we stay here in UK?" Donatello asked.

There was a pause on this.

"I…I know that I have been part of this Clan for practically my whole life, but…" Stevie hesitated for a second, "I feel that I am needed here. I need to be close to my father and uncle more now that…now that this has happened."

Splinter gave a kind face of understanding. "Dear Tenshi," he said, "You must do what your heart is telling you. If staying here is the right choice by you, I, your Master and Sensei, will not stop you in any way."

Stevie gave an appreciative expression.

"But…aren't we staying?" asked Michelangelo, he didn't want to be so far away from Stevie – it was pretty clear on his face.

"Our place is in New York, Michelangelo, not here," said Splinter.

"Besides, we can try and get more help for the order if we go back," said Donatello, knowing a few good people who might just be able to help.

"But I want to stay here!" Michelangelo voiced strongly, his hand, which was already holding Stevie's, was firming his grip a little. "I don't want to leave."

"I understand, Michelangelo," said Splinter, trying to voice his reason.

"No, you don't understand, Master."

"Mikey!" Leo tried to speak.

"No!" Mikey said. "Please don't take this the wrong way, but…I am sick and tired of living in those damn sewers. I am sick and tired of being over looked and not be taken seriously because of the way I am. But I am being serious now and I refuse to be dismissed like I have been in the past.

"I am staying here in the United Kingdom!"

"You only want to stay because of Stevie!" said Raphael.

Stevie didn't say anything. Allowing Mikey to handle it.

"Is that a crime?" Michelangelo snapped, getting to his feet and staring down at Raphael. "Is it so wrong for me to want to stay a little closer to the girl I love? But what if Stevie isn't the only reason, huh? Did you think that there may be other reasons why I want to stay?"

Raphael didn't answer, knowing that he didn't think of that.

"What are the other reasons, my son?" Splinter asked, it was very rare to see his youngest act like this and, while in the past they have been brushed off, in this case…it is wise to listen.

Michelangelo looked at Stevie for a moment. Stevie nodded for him to go on.

"I have been talking to Remus and Sirius about the possibility of being seen as a citizen of some sort," Michelangelo began, "There are definitely ways and…I even filled in the correct paperwork."

"You…" Donatello began to say.

"What?" Raphael cried.

"But that's not possible!" said Donatello.

"Yes it is," said Michelangelo, strongly, "It is in the registration thingy that I read, that if you are able to walk, talk and do the same things a human can, you can be seen as a well…in my case a half-breed."

"When did you do this?" Splinter asked, clearly surprised that he didn't even learn of this until now.

"Long enough to finally get the clarifications I needed," said Mikey. "Also long enough to have the request of having four more copies of the paperwork to be sent over right away."

"Four more? You mean you want us to do the same?" said Donatello.

"I thought that if I did that, we could stay here and live an almost normal life," Michelangelo reasoned.

"But our lives aren't normal, Mikey," said Leonardo.

"Nor is mine, if you think about it," Stevie mentioned.

"But…your kind aren't afraid of us," Michelangelo tried, having this dreaded feeling that he won't be able to stay.

"But there are people like that Dolores Umbridge woman," Donatello pointed out. "Do you really think that you'd be able to be given any employment because of what you are? Think of Remus and his condition."

Michelangelo lowered his head at this. "I see," he murmured.

The orange wearing turtle left the room and went upstairs. Everyone watched him.

"He'll get over it," said Raphael, "He always does."

"I don't think he will bounce back from this, Raph," Stevie spoke, tearing her eyes way from the stairs and looking over at him. "Mikey has had to push back quite a fair bit over the years. Every time he actually acts like the way he just did now…you just brush it off as though it was just something not to worry about."

"But we cannot stay here," said Leonardo, "There is no reason to."

"For Mikey there is," said Stevie.

"What reason would that be?" Splinter asked wishing to know of his son's intentions.

"We've been talking about it amongst the two of us for months. He knew for a good long while that I would be staying here in the UK to be with my family here," Stevie explained. "Over the course of growing up, Mikey has always wanted to have some sort of freedom and not have to hide. You know his personality, he's not like you, he's a social being and when he learnt that if he does it right and that he would be able to be seen as a member of society, he jumped for it."

"Why did he not tell us until now?" said Raphael, confused.

"Because he knew full well that you would try to discourage it," said Stevie, she was dead serious, she knew Sensei and the Turtles far too well. "I promised to keep it a secret until the right time came. There is also another thing."

"What would that be?" said Splinter, sounding a little saddened that Michelangelo couldn't trust them enough to tell them this earlier.

"Michelangelo, for a good while now, has been mastering the ability to harness magic," said Stevie.

"What does that mean?" Donatello questioned, raising his brows.

"It means that your dear little brother has powers that we didn't even know about until just after we arrived here almost a year ago," said Stevie. "Another reason why he wanted to stay…he wants to learn more of it."

"So that's why Mikey's been extra sneaky," said Raph. "I thought it was because of you."

Stevie shook her head.



Stevie peered into the bedroom and saw Michelangelo lying on his stomach upon his bed, with a pillow under his upper arms and a comic in his hands. She knew that he was still a little upset about before. She closed the door; the movement caused Mikey to look over. A slither of a smile appeared on his face, but not much.

"Hey," he said.

Stevie went on over, Mikey shifted over enough so that she could lie on her stomach to his left.

"So what's going on with the others?" he asked.

"Well, I told them the truth," Stevie answered. "I believe Splinter will want to speak to you in private, when you're ready."

Mikey closed the comic and put it aside, then placed his chin on the pillow he was holding.

"I don't think he'll really listen to what I want," he said with a sigh.

Stevie sat up enough to wrap her arms around her boyfriend's neck and shoulders and pressed her lips against his left shoulder.

"I just want to live up above so badly, but I never speak it to the others because…well…they just don't see things the way I do," Michelangelo continued.

"Mike," said Stevie, "I've known you since…well, forever. I've seen the things you've seen, felt what you have felt…heck, fought along side you. I know you better than anyone, and I believe Splinter does as well. Give him the chance to really listen to you."

Mikey made to move, Stevie pulled away, so that he could roll on to his back and look at her properly. She put her hands on his chest and he gently holding both of her forearms.

"But what of my brothers?" he asked. "Leo will tell me how much of a mistake I am making for 'not sticking to the shadows' like a true ninja. Thing is, I never wanted to be a ninja; I only went along with it because I knew it would probably help in the future. Sure it can be fun, but…I'm tired of that life. But, I don't want to disappoint my brothers."

Stevie has heard this so many times from the orange wearing turtle.

"I know you value your brothers. However, there are times where you need to go by what you think is right for you. It's not like you've decided to become a crazy mass murderer who goes about hacking people with an axe." Michelangelo chuckled at that, causing Stevie laugh as well.

"Do you really think that they will comply with my wishes?" he asked.

Stevie lowered a little. "I believe it is worth a shot in getting them to try," she said. "Besides, I don't think I can handle being away from you for long periods of time."

Michelangelo's hands had moved down to her waist, while Stevie's arms moved so that they were partly wrapped around his neck.

"I don't believe I can, either," he said softly, before their lips locked together.



Michelangelo went to speak to Splinter, his brothers were told to go elsewhere, so that Mike can speak his words with the confidence to Splinter and only to Splinter.

The Turtles' Sensei was sat cross legged on the mediation mat in his room.

"Sit before me, Michelangelo," he said in a serious voice.

This the orange wearing turtle did, sitting cross legged in front of his Sensei.

"Stephanie has told of your reasons for wanting to stay," Splinter said.

"Well, not all of the reasons," said Michelangelo. "I did speak for myself at the beginning."

"Before you walked off," said Splinter, nodding. "I do remember. But you do know, for so many reasons, why I forbid your request."

Michelangelo lowered his gaze; he knew Splinter would say something along those words.

"Unless, you can give me an extremely good reason for me to change my mind," Splinter added.

With a mind buzzing with so many things and unsure of what was a good reason. He raised his head to look at his father straight in the eye.

"Master, as much as I love and respect you, I don't want to live the life that requires me to hide anymore. I may be a ninja, but, who are we kidding here? You and I both know that the only reason why I learnt how to fight was because of the possibility of what has happened in the past few years or so. You wanted us to protect ourselves and I am humbly grateful to know that I can do as much as I can to do just that.

"But since coming here, to the Wizarding world and being amongst these people, it's made me feel the one thing that I wasn't getting from home. I know that there are people like Dolores Umbridge out there, but there are those who are like Remus and Dumbledore and…and…"

Michelangelo stopped for a second before his words would get too muddled up. Inhaling, and then exhaling, he continued on with his explanation.

"Master, all I am asking, though it sounds more like begging, for you to just let me have the life I want to lead. My life is not the sewers, I know I will always have you and my brothers, but this is my choice and I just want your assurance that, no matter which path I choose, I would have your blessing and most of all, your respect."

Michelangelo felt a little teary, but brushed that aside.

Splinter watched his son with silence for a moment as the Turtle lowered his head again. He stood to his feet and went over, until he was standing right in front of Michelangelo and put his hand on the Turtle's shoulder.

"You will always have my respect, my son," he said in a voice that was mixed with caring, love and respect. Michelangelo looked up at him. "Perhaps, while I will always want to be sure that you are safe, it is time for me to step back and allow you, my son, to be the man I know you are."

Michelangelo's expression was that of appreciation.

"Thank you, father," he said maturely, and with a small smile upon his lips.



"So you're actually staying here, in the UK?" said Raphael, with disbelief that Splinter had actually allowed Michelangelo to keep his wish.

"Yeah, I am," said Michelangelo, he and the others were at Remus's for the time being until it was clear for them to leave for New York. Stevie was still at Hogwarts, she had to stay until the school year was officially over.

It had been three days since the battle and two days since Mikey's decision to stay. It was only now that he had decided to share this with his brothers, while they were sitting around on the back porch.

"But what will you do?" Donatello asked a little unsure of what to feel, knowing that his little brother wasn't going to be around the Lair anymore.

"I can still keep an eye out for any Foot activity while I'm here," said Michelangelo, "I somehow don't think that the alliance between them and the Death Eaters have been severed."

"Who are you? And what have you done with Michelangelo?" Leonardo piped up.

"Nothing, Leo," said Mikey, a little annoyed with that. "I hate it when you all do that. I think of something and you seem to think that I am being abnormal or not myself. I am just as good at thinking things up as you are."

Seeing the slightly offended expression, Leonardo apologised.

"I didn't realise that it has really gotten to you. In the past you just seem to brush it off," he said.

"I'm still me, bro," Mikey said convincingly, "I just…I just want to be a little more appreciated in what I say or do, that's all."

"But you're leaving us, Mike!" said Raph, in a tone that was pretty much telling his brother that he didn't want him to be away from the family.

"It's my choice, Raph," said Mikey. "Splinter has accepted it and I hope you do, too."

"Yeah, I do, Mike," said Raph, "It's just that…"

"I know, Raph, you don't need to say it," Michelangelo said, knowingly.

"You still haven't answered me on what you plan to do," said Donatello.

"Yes I did, I said I'd be looking out for the Foot," said Mikey.

"But, what else will you do?" Donny asked.

"He will be helping me teach Martial Arts at Hogwarts," the answer came from Splinter. He had appeared at the door just seconds earlier.

"What do you mean, Sensei?" Leonardo asked.

"Albus Dumbledore has asked me to continue teaching Ninjutsu at Hogwarts, starting afresh come the beginning of the next school year," Splinter explained, smiling. "That may mean having to stay here, in the United Kingdom for a while longer."

"You mean…?" Mikey said, slightly beaming. "You're staying too?"

"I had signed those forms of which you had told us about," said Splinter. He turned to the other Turtles. "I hope you will also do the same."

They were surprised, but, in many ways, glad. They don't have to say goodbye to Michelangelo after all.

"But, what about New York?" Donatello asked.

"Yeah, how are we to get to our friends and allies?" Raph asked.

"We will have the required to help us get what we need," said Splinter. "Until then, I believe that you, Michelangelo, have some lessons with Remus."

"Oh yeah," said Mikey, as if to suddenly remember. "See ya guys."

Michelangelo pulled out his wand, which he had gotten from Ollivander's ages ago, disguised in human form. It still caused his brothers to marvel over the fact that their brother had powers. Guess it just didn't show up during their early years due to their mutation, and probably all thought that it just wasn't possible for them. Mikey was just living proof that their mutation was still just as much of a mystery as the day after tomorrow.

"Did Dumbledore really ask you to stay on, Master?" Leonardo dared to ask, when Michelangelo was fully out of earshot.

Splinter gave a slither of a smile, before turning to walk inside.



Stevie sat with Harry, Ron, Neville, Ginny and Hermione on the way to King's Cross Station. She was looking forward to seeing the Turtles again and her father, of course. Quite personally, she wished she was back in New York jumping building tops, but Stevie knew that by staying here, in Great Britain, she has made the right choice. She felt that she was needed here.

Finally, the train came to a halt and when the ticket inspector gave the signal, she went with Ron, Harry and Hermione. A large smile appeared when she saw Splinter and the Turtles, even though they were in human form.

"Never thought I'd be seeing you all in jeans," she commented to them when she got closer. "Well, except Splinter."

Splinter was wearing a black Japanese style suit.

"Well, it beats daggy pants," said Raphael.

"Hey, Stevie," said Michelangelo, hugging her firmly.

"Still weird seeing you looking like humans," said Stevie.

"Mikey made the batch up all by himself," said Donatello.

"I did not," Mikey admitted, "I had some help."

The Turtles weren't the only ones who had been waiting. Stephanie had gone on over to give Remus a hug.

"Hey, Dad," she said.

"Ron! Ginny!" cried Mrs Weasley, who had hurried forward to hug her children and Harry as well.

Mad-Eye Moody, Tonks, Mr Weasley and the Weasley Twins were there too.

"Hello, Harry," Remus said when he was able to turn to speak to Harry.

"Hi," said Harry. "I didn't expect…what are you all doing here?"

"Yes, what are you all doing here?" Stevie asked Splinter, a little puzzled.

Remus gave the answer to that. Mentioning that he, Moody, Tonks and the Weasleys all wanted to have a chat with Harry's aunt and uncle.

"And the Turtles?" asked Harry, knitting his eyebrows together a little. "Something tells me you weren't here just for Stevie."

"The more the merrier," said Mikey, with a slight grin. He had his arm draped at the back of Stevie's shoulders. "Though we'll be standing back a little to watch the show."

"I dunno if that's a good idea," said Harry at once.

"Oh, I think it is," Moody growled, who had limped a little closer. "That'll be them, will it, Potter?"

He pointed with his thumb over to the Dursleys.

"Have these people ever heard of putting that boy on a diet?" Donny muttered.

"I think they did," said Stevie, "The 'see-food' kind."

"Ah, Harry!" said Mr Weasley, turning from Hermione's parents, who he had just greeted enthusiastically, and who were now taking turns to hug Hermione. "Well – shall we do it, then?"

"Yeah, I reckon so, Arthur," said Moody.

He and Mr Weasley took the lead across the station towards the Dursleys, who were apparently rooted to the floor. Hermione had joined them after gently pulling away from her mother. Stevie stayed with the Turtles and Splinter and simply watched from the sidelines.

"What do you suppose they're saying?" Raph asked.

"Arthur is saying good afternoon and asking if Mr Dursley remembers him," Leo informed, watching the lips of Mr Weasley.

"By the way that face is looking, he does," said Donny.

Stevie and Mikey laughed at Dudley's attempts to look small and Mrs Dursley's terrified expression.

"Mr Dursley is speaking and now Moody. Tonks has now mentions something about whatever they said not being the point," Leo continued. "She says that if the Dursleys are ever horrid towards Harry and Remus cut in saying that they will hear about it.

"Yes," said Mr Weasley, "even if you won't let Harry use the fellytone -"

"Fellytone?" muttered Stevie with a giggle.

"Mr Dursley just said something about being the kind of man to be easily intimidated. Moody must have shown him that eye of his, because Dursley has practically jumped a mile."

In the group had said their goodbyes to Harry. Harry even waved over towards the Turtles, Splinter and Stevie, whom had all waved on back. They watched him leave, before Remus went over to the Turtles.

"That is that for now," he said.

"Are you sure Harry will be fine living with that lot?" Stevie asked, with a line of concern.

"After what Moody did and what we have said to them, I believe Harry will have a fair bit more freedom this time around," said Remus.

Convinced, Steve smiled.

"Shall we head to the Leaky Cauldron and use the fireplace there?" she asked.

"I believe a round of butterbeers first, before fully heading home should do it," said Remus.

It was agreed, besides, Splinter and the Turtles had to get to the safety of the wizarding world before the potion wears off. All ready Donatello's dark skin was starting to turn a wee bit green.

Not long after, they were sitting in the Leaky Cauldron and thinking of what was to come.

The End

Thank you to all who have read and reviewed this fiction. I don't know if I will be doing a sequel or not. But I will be working on the re-writes of my other fictions...if I can get enough free time during the given months.

Until then, take care, Calypphire.