Thick mahogany met grey dry wall with a resounding bang that grabbed the attention of anyone in a ten meter vicinity. Heads turned to see the perpetrator that had the gall to make such an impudent entrance in the middle of an important mission debriefing. Notorious dyed obsidian bed-head and wide void-like eyes denoted the culprit to be "The Problem Child," as people still liked to refer to him as.
"Associate Special Class Investigator, Suzuya Juuzou reporting for duty!" Unnecessarily loud introductions were customary, after an extremely late arrival, for Juuzou, who then plopped down in a high-backed leather chair with a grin. Being on time had never been one of his strong qualities; he would either forget, get lost, or just plain not feel like going. This failure to arrive at the designated starting time included meetings he was in charge of or leading, like this one.
Next to him sat his current partner, Rank Two Investigator Abara Hanbee, who despite his usual stone face was a coward, and Juuzou knew it. Playful eyes skipped around the room till met with the commanding gaze of Special Class Investigator Arima Kishou, who stood between Hanbee and a board covered in papers pertaining to current and past ghoul investigations. Juuzou leaned forward and caught Arima's attention, then waved with a cheerful smile, as if greeting a friend from school instead of the most revered and skilled Investigator of the CCG. The older man flashed a brief smile back, before reasserting his commanding aura and expression.
With his usual lack of any manners and total disregard for professionalism, Juuzou leaned back in the squishy, poly-fiber filled chair saved especially for him at the head of the table. He basked in the attention it garnered him from his squad's lower rank investigators present. Juuzou pulled out handfuls of sweets and snacks from his coat pockets, and unceremoniously dropped them out onto the steel table with chip bags crinkling and hard candies hitting the table with audible clunks, some daring to roll off the surface.
After sorting his favorite sweets into a pile of cute and colorful wrappers, he plucked a fireball candy from the leftover pile and popped it into his mouth—better to start with the not so good ones first and save the best for last, at least that was his motto. Sucking the cinnamon flavor from the candy, Juuzou let his eyes wander. It dawned on him that one Sasaki Haise was present, sitting on the other side of Arima. Earlier he had failed to recognize the other since it was only their fourth time being in the same space for longer than a couple seconds. Waving his arms, he tried with all his might to catch Haise's attention, in hopes of snacks strategically hidden in on his person, but ultimately Juuzou's efforts were interrupted by Arima.
"Now Associate Special Class Suzuya, your mission is quite special." Getting a unique mission sounded intriguing and caught Juuzou's attention immediately. "You, Rank Two Abara, and Rank Two Sasaki are going to infiltrate, or rather attend, a school of magic and get rid of the rising ghoul population in the area."
Juuzou dipped his head to the side and fixed his gaze curiously on Arima. A magic school? Sounded fun, or at least it wouldn't be another boring stakeout mission. Maybe he could learn a spell to have everlasting candy or one that would let him grow a third eye. A mischievous smile formed on his angelic, porcelain features. In the midst of concocting infinite spell ideas that he thought would be particularly useful or cool, Juuzou failed to realize the not so subtle implication of the CCG wanting to get him out of their hair for a while, though he wouldn't have minded even if he had noticed.
"The area I've assigned you is a large plot in England. There have been reports and sightings coming from there of ghoul activity. In addition the headmaster of the magic school nearby has asked us to send help. In response the CCG chose the three of you to investigate those claims as well as aid the school. Now this is an unnaturally large area for just the three of you to control, but I believe in your skills and have confidence that you all can do this without much trouble."
"Hey Arima-san. Why is it just me, Haise, and this useless guy?" Juuzou jerked his thumb at Haise and Hanbee, who had by now gotten used to and accepted being called useless.
"You and Investigator Sasaki are our youngest investigators and will therefore be able to pass as students. The CCG higher-ups and I have agreed that you should be allowed to take on bigger cases, and that Investigator Sasaki needs more experience in the field," replied Arima with a slight smile in Juuzou's direction.
"Oh okay! So I get that me and Haise have to go 'cause none of you old guys can, but what about Hanbee? He's would stick out like a sore thumb as a student. He's way too tall and totally conspicuous. Not to mention he just looks old."
"Investigator Abara will be going to regulate intel on ghouls and his cover will be as an instructor on CCG safety procedures so none of the students get hurt if ghouls attack."
Juuzou shrugged. That job sounded boring, though perfect for Hanbee, and it meant that the CCG was leaving him to handle the best and his favorite part, ghoul elimination. Arima then pushed three letters onto the table and said that all the information they will need to fulfill their roles was enclosed in those letters, then stood and adjourned the meeting, filing out with the rest of Juuzou's newly appointed squad members.
Smiling wide, Juuzou scrambled to grab the letters after he heard the door click shut. Fast enough to leave paper-cuts, he had snatched the letters up and quickly went to ripping them open with little abandon. Pieces of red wax and envelope bits drifted to the ground, while Juuzou glossed over the long manila colored letters. He only read long enough to get the gist of the content and then slid the letters back Hanbee's way to let the other read for the exact details.
While Hanbee read the letters, Juuzou turned and motioned for Haise to come sit next to him. "Doesn't a magic school sound fun! What kind of spells do you want to learn? I want to be able to have unlimited candy!"
A smile tweaked at the corners of Haise's mouth. "Unlimited candy...? Maybe they'd have a spell for something like that, I guess. And the kind of spells...I guess something that would help in investigations..."
It wasn't the answer he had wanted to hear, though Juuzou only grumbled mildly. "So how do you like the CCG so far? This is your...second or third assignment, right?"
A nod from Haise answered that. "I hope to be of some help. Even though I was promoted to Rank Two I haven't done much field work."
Suddenly the door opened and Arima appeared, then called over Juuzou. He shrugged and hopped up, going out into the hall to meet the other investigator. "What'cha want?"
"I want you to keep a watch over Investigator Sasaki. It's his first big assignment and I want someone strong to keep him in check. Can I count on you?"
Juuzou nodded and Arima dismissed him back to the room. He had guessed that watching Haise was what he'd have to do, considering Haise's real identity and all. If Haise's troublesome side did rear his head things would get difficult, but not unmanageable. He was glad, though, that Arima trusted him and believed he met the standards to be capable for this task.
"Alright," Juuzou grinned as he turned to his partner, "Hanbee give me a summary! Those letters weren't that long." Nodding to the command, Hanbee began to read the letters out loud, which collectively said this:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mister Suzuya Juuzou, Abara Hanbee, and Sasaki Haise
We are pleased to be informed that you will be joining us here at Hogwarst this coming year. As well, we are very delighted to be able to engage in diplomatic relations with the CCG and that they have graciously decided to send over some of their officers to deal with the problem called Ghouls. In addition we have included train tickets that will take you to Hogwarts. A list of everything needed to attend school this coming Fall as a Fifth Year has been enclosed in these letters.
Yours sincerely,
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Juuzou got bored midway through the reciting of the letters and was now upside-down, hanging off the edge of a chair, reading the material list. Finished his once-over, Juuzou sat up suddenly, threw the list in Hanbee's face, and exclaimed, "Let's get going!"
Humming as he marched down the street, Juuzou read out loud every shop sign that passed. Occasionally he would look behind him at Haise and Hanbee, watching the latter constantly glance back down to the letter that mentioned where all the materials could be found; at a place called Diagon Alley, which was located behind a wizarding pub in London known as the Leaky Cauldron.
Juuzou had a knack for directions, or maybe he was just lucky, always being able to end up where he needed to be by coincidence alone. The group stopped in front of what appeared to be an abandoned, rundown building. The place didn't look like a well-known wizarding pub, much less somewhere to conceal a whole alley full of magic shops. Still, he trusted his intuition and gleefully exclaimed, "Follow me," as he pushed open the scratched up, water worn wood door.
The place was dimly lit and as Juuzou's eyes focused, he noticed all sorts of cool things; people stirring their coffee without their hands, pictures moving and chatting like living beings, owls squawking in the rafters. The place smelt like cinnamon alcohol, owl crap, and dust, which made Juuzou sneeze. Rubbing his snot on the back of his hand, a grin lit up his face and he trotted up to the pub counter.
"Excuse me mister," he chirped while rapping his fingers against a counter sticky with beer.
The man behind the counter turned, realized he was talking to someone shorter than eye level, peered down and let a curious expression appear on his face, namely in the way his eyebrows arched upon taking in Juuzou's disaster of an appearance. A friendly smile accompanied the curious gaze as the man spoke. "Hello. Tom's the name. How may I help you?"
"How do I get to this Alley place for magic stuff?" Haise appeared by Juuzou and corrected him, saying, "He means Diagon Alley."
Tom nodded and directed them to the back door, saying that Diagon Alley was beyond the bricks. Behind him and Sasaki, Hanbee gave a small bow and thanked Tom for his guidance before jogging over to them. A brick wall didn't really seem like an entire alley, much less a place where he could purchase magical commodities, but who was Juuzou to doubt magic. The letters did state that Diagon Alley was behind the Leaky Cauldron and that all one had to do to enter was tap the bricks in a certain order, and so far the information had been right.
"I think it goes like this," muttered Juuzou as he tapped a few of the grimy bricks, which in turn moved and revealed a long crowded alley lined by stores. "So, lackey, you get all the boring stuff while me and Haise go play around." And with that declaration, Juuzou dragged Haise away before Hanbee could protest.
Something about Haise interested Juuzou, though he couldn't pin it down. It wasn't the fact that the other was part-ghoul and it also wasn't the fact that Juuzou knew Haise's old identity while Haise himself did not. The interest Juuzou had developed somehow from the few encounters they previously had. He sort of felt like they were similar, both oddballs in comparison to everyone else at the CCG; they stood out from the crowd. He hoped that if during this mission he could hang out more with Haise then maybe he'd figure something out.
The wizard money he received earlier jingled in his pocket as he wandered around the line of stores. A smile shone brightly on Juuzou's face as he spotted what looked to be a sweets store. "Hey Haise let's go in here!"
With a nod from Haise the pair entered the candy store called Sugarplum's Sweets Shop. Inside the candy store Juuzou ogled at row after row after row of shelves full of weird candies. Figuring that he had to start somewhere, Juuzou meandered down the first aisle and inspected all the magic sweets.
"Do they really have all flavors?" Juuzou held the box up to the light, inspecting it as if there was some trick to the box that would affect the flavors. Next he looked at something called chocolate frogs; where they real frogs? His eyes wandered to the acid pops and pumpkin pasties. Juuzou shrugged, not sure what would suit his tastes best, and piled his arms full of whatever weird wizard sweets he could carry.
He went up to the counter and dumped the sweets and money onto said counter. "Is that enough?" Juuzou wasn't yet accustom to counting or recognizing wizard money nor would he probably ever be, so he opted out of even attempting to add up what the sweets would cost. The employee behind the counter took the money and started counting out what would cover the cost. From behind Juuzou a pack of chocolate frogs and pumpkin pasties were tossed onto the candy pile. He turned to see Haise give the employee the exact amount that would cover the two sweets.
The employee packed up the candy in a bag for Juuzou and then the two other sweets in a separate bag for Haise. Outside the sweet shop Juuzou grabbed at Haise's shirt and asked how the other learned how to use wizard money in such a short time.
"I dunno," said Haise with a bashful grin, "I guess it just clicked..."
Juuzou was awestricken and quickly asked Haise to teach him how to use the currency, to which the latter agreed. Shortly after explaining that four hundred and ninety-three Knuts equaled one Galleon, the duo were approached by Hanbee. "I finished getting the books and cauldrons."
While Juuzou grinnined, satisfied by his partner's work, Haise apologized for getting dragged away and not pulling his own weight. "So what else do we need on the list?" asked Juuzou in an unconcerned tone while munching on a pumpkin pastie.
"Next is the school uniform, wand and then lastly an animal; either a cat, toad, or owl," replied Hanbee while guiding Juuzou and Haise to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. The shop bell rang, signaling that the trio of investigators had entered the store.
"Excuse me! I'm supposed to get a uniform thing," called out Juuzou into the spacious shop.
A woman appeared from behind a rack of black cloaks. "A new Hogwarts student?" asked the woman Juuzou assumed was Madam Malkin.
"Yep," chirped Juuzou, while Haise replied with a formal, "Yes."
"Well then let's take your measurements." Madam Malkin took out her tape measure, which came to life and whizzed around Juuzou's frame a couple times, then turned to Haise and did the same. Finished measuring the duo, Madam Malkin grabbed the tape measure from the air and said, "Your robes will be done in half an hour."
Hanbee and Haise thanked the woman, handing her some wizard money, then shuffled Juuzou out of the store since he had started to fiddle with the other clothes and merchandise out of boredom mixed with curiosity.
"Next is the magic stick right?" Juuzou looked up at Hanbee as he asked, and received a nod in reply. "Then off we go," commanded the Associate Special Class Investigator, and marched off in the direction of the store called Ollivanders.
"Magic stick, magic stick, magic stick..." repeated Juuzou in a singsong tone. "Hanbee pick up the clothes while me and Haise do this magic stick thing, kay?" Hanbee nodded, while correcting Juuzou that it was called a wand. Juuzou shrugged and kicked open the door to Ollivanders. Curiously he gazed around the small shabby shop, inspecting the thin layer of dust that lay on practically everything.
An old man slid out on a sliding ladder from behind a shelf and asked, "Looking for a wand?" Juuzou nodded.
"Try this," said Ollivander and handed a wand to the young Ghoul Investigator, "Alder, twelve inches, unicorn hair." Juuzou took the wand, wondering what the purpose of waving it would be. Wasn't he supposed to do magic at that school? He didn't even know any spells yet, at least not real ones; he had made up some spells in his excitement for this assignment.
Gripping the wand, he waved it a bit, wondering what exactly would happen. In response a couple papers lit on fire, and Ollivander shook his head, muttering, "No no...How about this?" He liked this, so far. If all he had to do was wave a stick and shit would get fucked up then he was already getting enjoyment out of this mission; although nothing can compare with the glee he feels whenever he slices up ghouls—that is the most satisfying experience.
Juuzou took the next wand and gave it a wave. This time the shop's windows shattered. Haise ran in deeper into the shop as not to get covered in glass shards. Immediately Ollivander took the wand and replaced it with another.
Again and again Juuzou tried wand after wand, none seemed to work. Four dozen wands or so later, at least by his count, Juuzou was getting fed up with all these sticks not working for him. On the other hand Ollivander seemed like he was having a grand old time. "What about this one? Twelve and three quarter inches, dogwood, thestral heartstring, unexpectedly lithe."
Juuzou was skeptical of the stick, but nonetheless gave it a wave. Instead of something destructive happening the dust in the room disappeared, leaving it cleaner. "Finally!" Juuzou threw his hands up in the air, stretching.
Ollivander then turned to Juuzou's companion, a glint in his eyes. "Try this, lad. Nine inches, cedar, kelpie mane, somewhat springy."
Haise flicked the wand and a force made him fall back. "I don't think this is the one..."
Ollivander nodded and handed another wand to Haise. "Cherry, nine inches, unicorn hair, a little springy."
Warily Haise waved the new wand and the room no longer smelt of mold and wood finish, but instead, of clean laundry. "That was fast," commented Juuzou, slightly jealous that it took forever for him to get the right magic stick while Haise got it on the second try.
The two paid the old man and stepped outside where Hanbee waited with two piles of robes. Haise gladly took his own pile, while Juuzou, lazy as can be, had Hanbee carry his.
"So what do I even do with this tiny stick?" asked Juuzou as the triad left the store.
"You're supposed to do magic with it—and get that out of your nose! It's not to be used as a nose picking device." Hanbee scolded him and removed the wand from up Juuzou's nose. "Let me just keep this safe," he said and pocketed the wand.
Juuzou shrugged, sniffled and rubbed his, now, empty nose. "So now I get my first contribution to my zoo, right?" Owls, toads, and cats could be in a zoo, at least Juuzou thought they could. He'd rather have a giraffe but one of the aforementioned animals would do.
The group paused in front of a shop called The Magical Menagerie. Upon entering, a small floating silver bell rang to alert the shopkeeper of their presence. Immediately Juuzou dashed away, perusing the many cages of animals. He knew what species of animal he would get, though he wasn't exactly sure which of the large selection. He passed by a couple tabby, siamese, and oriental cats till he spotted the one he wanted.
Gingerly he slid a bony index finger through the cage, which tempted the cat to paw at his finger. A smile cracked along his face and he exclaimed, that he wanted this cat, in a loud enough voice for the shopkeeper to hear him all the way from the back of the store. The cat he had chosen was covered in shiny black fur and on one of its paws was a white sock.
After the money had been exchanged the group of Investigators walked through the winding alley back to the Leaky Cauldron, where they would be staying the night before leaving on the train for Hogwarts. Juuzou held his cat tight in his arms, rubbing its head. Hanbee smiled at the show of affection. "So what's the name?"
"Umaibo." Hanbee chuckled that the cat was named after Juuzou's favorite snack. He just grinned at Hanbee then turned to rub noses with Umaibo the cat. "Haise what's your owl's name?"
Perched in a steel cage was a large screech owl. Haise spared a glance at his owl then back to Juuzou. "Hmmm...Hamburger, if we're picking food names for our pets," he said with a laugh.
Every couple steps Juuzou would glance back to watch his subordinate struggle with two clunky metal carts piled high with luggage. He had told Hanbee to be useful and take care of all the luggage sans the case that Juuzou himself had insisted on carrying, the case that contained his prize quinque, Thirteen's Jason.
"Come on! We're gonna be late if you don't hurry up," called Juuzou through the crowded train station as he looked down at the tickets they had received in the mail. "...Platform Nine and Three...Quarters? Where's that?"
As he made faces at the tickets Hanbee was able to push through the crowd and catch up to where he had stopped. Haise peered over Juuzou's shoulder and asked if the information had been in the letters, and in response Juuzou shook his head.
Fed up with not knowing where to go, Juuzou shoved the tickets into Haise's already full hands and glanced around to see if anyone else was going to the weird platform they were headed for. Noticing a group of people with carts that looked like they held similar items that had been on the supply list for Hogwarts, Juuzou trotted over to ask about the confusing platform. When he got closer he found that some of the taller, more adult looking people were glaring or giving him the evil eye, as if he'd done something bad, which of course he hadn't yet. He decided to pay little attention to the adults, and instead tried to approach the three student age people in the group. When he got close enough he asked, "Does this Platform Nine and Three Quarters exist?"
"It's this way," replied a girl around fifteen or sixteen years of age with bushy hair. Juuzou nodded and motioned for his two charges to follow him. The triad were lead to a pillar in between Platforms Nine and Ten.
"Are you a first year, perhaps?" asked the girl, to which Juuzou replied, "Nope! I'm gonna be a...mh..." He scrunched his face, trying to remember what year he was supposed to be. "Fifth Year. We're are going to be Fifth Years," interrupted Haise who had been able to weave through the crowd faster than Hanbee. Juuou nodded, affirming Haise's words.
Following this girl and her companions brought the Investigators to yet another brick pillar between the Platforms Nine and Ten. "Okay? So how do I do this?" asked Juuzou, unsure if this girl really knew where the platform was or if she was just playing tricks on him.
"Well see...you run at that pillar to enter the platform." she pointing at the brick barrier before them. She seemed to register his skeptical look and said, "How about I show you?"
He nodded in reply, watching as the girl gripped onto of her cart and ran straight at the barrier. She disappeared in an instant, and soon after two of her companions followed, then the adults in the group.
Juuzou and Haise exchanged surprised looks before Juuzou pulled his characteristic this-is-crazy-and-I-love-it grin and charged at the barrier. Instead of the splat he had expected—despite witnessing that whole group of people prior do exactly what he just did—he felt a whoosh of air as he passed through the barrier. Next came Hanbee, looking rather distressed and, as Juuzou would describe it, extra cowardly. A couple seconds after came Haise with a surprised expression on his face.
On this side of the barrier a sign reading Platform Nine and Three Quarters in golden lettering was attached to the barrier, and a red train called the Hogwarts Express waited. The trio gave the bulk of their luggage to some helpful train attendants when instructed and were then left to search the train for an available compartment.
They finally found an empty compartment near the middle of the train and settled in. Juuzou called the window seat, wanting to watch the scenery flash by once the train started, and hopped over to the seat. He smiled and patted the space next to him, silently telling Haise to take that seat. Hanbee took the cushion across from Juuzou.
Fifteen minutes later someone rapped on their compartment door. Glancing away from the window at the door Juuzou recognized the girl who had helped him at the station.
"Everywhere else is full, do you mind?"
He shrugged in response, so Hanbee spoke up and let the three teenagers in.
"Pardon, but I was wondering...you said you were to be a Fifth Year, yet I've never seen you before. How is that possible?"
Juuzou shifted his gaze from the window to the trio and asked them, "Who are you?"
The trio glanced at each other before the girl spoke up. "My name is Hermione Granger. This is Ron Weasley and Harry Potter," she said, gesturing to the other two in turn. Hanbee and Haise gasped, and leaned forward. The trio shared another look when Juuzou gave no reaction besides a small nod. "I'm Juuzou Suzuya, this is Haise Sasaki, and that useless guy is Hanbee Abara. That's the western order...I think?"
"Um...about my question earlier...how is it possible that you are a Fifth Year?" Hermione made a slight frown as Juuzou danced around her question.
Hanbee answered instead, knowing Juuzou wasn't interested in replying. "Suzuya-senpai and Sasaki-san are transfer students this year, which is why they are going to be in the Fifth Year. Also why Suzuya-senpai didn't react when the Famous Harry Potter's name was mentioned."
At the news that the lackluster boy across from him was famous Juuzou stood up suddenly and leaned in very close to Harry's face. "You're famous?" A doubtful looked past across his face and he sat back down and said, "I don't see it."
Before any more questions could arise, the trolly came by and an old women poked her head in, asking if any of them wanted sweets. To this, Juuzou jumped up and started picking out candies. After he practically raided the trolly, Harry got up and picked out a box of Bertie Bots Every Flavor Beans, then let the trolly move on. As Juuzou munched on his own box of Bertie Bots Every Flavor Beans the trio continued to question him.
"What's a "semi-pie"?" asked the red head boy, now identified as Ron. Hermione nudged the boy in the ribs to shut up. "Ron, that's a Japanese honorific used to show respect for a senior colleague." Harry and Ron both nodded dully, probably not really understanding what an honorific meant or its purpose. Suddenly Ron, who obviously wasn't paying much attention previously, blurted out, "Are you a girl?"
Juuzou stood abruptly. "Hanbee I'm going to change into these ugly uniforms. Be back soon." And on that note Juuzou closed the door of the compartment behind him. He made his way down the train corridor, robes overflowing in bunches in his small arms.
After a short wait at the lavatories, Juuzou got his turn to change. He initially struggled putting on the robes, mixing up the arm holes and head holes, though eventually he figured out how to basically put on the long tangled mess of black. The robe's hem was in heaps on the ground, much too long for Juuzou's short stature, and he thought that Madam Malkin had gotten his height correct. He shrugged.
Sliding back into the compartment, Juuzou noticed the disappearance of three nosey students. His subordinate told him that they had left a little while before, with excuses about needing to also get dressed in their own robes. Shrugging Juuzou asked Hanbee to fix his robes for him, which the other did. Once the robes were straightened out and pinned so he could walk without tripping, Hanbee told him that they would be arriving shortly. He nodded and plopped down on the seat, beginning to snack again on some sweets.
The train hissed steam and screeched to a smooth halt at the Hogsmeade station. Droves of chatty students dressed in dark robes accented by either green, red, yellow, or blue exited the train. Juuzou watched the older students head to the carriages on the right, while the youngest were left standing on the concrete platform, waiting for directions to the school. Hanbee whispered to him that the letters said that they would be traveling by boat with the first years. Juuzou immediately grabbed Haise's arm. "Haise's gonna ride with me in those soggy wooden boats."
At the top of the marble stairs stood towering double doors. Previously the first years had gone in to be sorted into something called Houses. Juuzou cracked open the doors, peering in with anticipation. Waiting never was his specialty, so he hoped that his cue to enter would come soon.
The Great Hall clamored with students reuniting after a long summer apart, chatting about their vacation, the news in the Daily Prophet, or any topic that seemed exciting enough to hold a conversation on past dull pleasantries. The first years had just finished being sorted. An old, bearded man that mirrored Juuzou's stereotypical image of a warlock, walked up to a golden podium and suddenly a hush fell over the crowded hall. To the slight right of Juuzou, Hanbee whispered that the old man's name was Dumbledore and happened to be the man who had asked Special Class Investigator Arima to send them to this school.
"Welcome back to Hogwarts. As you may have noticed we have a few changes in staff this year. Our Games Keeper, Rubius Hagrid, is out on temporary leave, so Professor Grubbly-Plank was willing to return to teach Care of Magical Creatures till Hagrid returns. The Defense Against the Dark Arts position this year will be filled by Professor Dolores Umbridge. We wish you the best of luck Professor." Dumbledore gestured to Grubbly-Plank then Umbridge respectively.
"Due to recent, disturbing events we at Hogwarts will be hosting a few international guests to help deal with an issue concerning safety on the grounds and in the surrounding area of Hogsmeade. Please give a warm, Hogwarts welcome to Investigator Suzuya Juuzou, Investigator Sasaki Haise and Investigator Abara Hanbee from the Commission of Counter Ghoul, better known as the CCG, located in Japan. Mr. Suzuya and Mr. Sasaki are going to enroll at Hogwarts as a Fifth Years, while Mr. Abara has graciously accepted to hold a class for students to learn more about safety measures in case of ghoul attacks."
The heavy wooden doors of the Great Hall burst open, hitting sharply against the back wall with an echoing bang. Heads turned and eyes focused on the odd trio striding through the Great Hall. Students and teachers alike whispered and pointed at Juuzou, calling him a dark-haired, slovenly dressed child. While others pointed at Haise and Hanbee, calling them a teen with weird hair and a troubled looking man, respectively. Hanbee and Haise stopped in front of Dumbledore and bowed, while Juuzou merely hopped up next to the old man and stood there with an impish grin.
A soft cough from the far end of the professors' table interrupted the gossiping. The toad-like woman dressed all in pink, her name was Umbridge if Juuzou had remembered correctly, stood and slowly made her way in front of the professors' table where she had been seated.
"Pardon me, Headmaster, but why wasn't the Ministry informed of the arrival and stay of these foreigners?" She spat out the last word like poison, and turned to Dumbledore for an answer. Juuzou stuck his tongue out at her, although Hanbee stood in the way of his rude action. They didn't want to offend anyone since they had only just arrived and didn't need to be making enemies yet over Juuzou's childish antics.
"The matter required urgent attending. I apologize for not informing the Ministry right away. I will remember to do so next time." That answer didn't seem to satisfy Umbridge, but before she could protest again Juuzou interrupted her.
"You know lady, I'm doing you a huge favor by being here. With all of your magic and power you guys can't seem to even harm the ghouls let alone get rid of any of them. Who else would get rid of the ghouls besides me?" A wave of laughs chorused through the Great Hall. Some students whispered how Dumbledore had lost his mind, or how ghouls were harmless creatures that no one could be afraid of.
"Ghouls? You must be mad. Ghouls are a harmless species of magical creature," countered Umbridge. "You can't expect the Ministry, much less the public, to believe your lies!" She was accusing Juuzou and his group of spewing lies and conspiring with an old man—Dumbledore. If anything, he was offended.
"Move toad-lady." Juuzou was fed up with listening to her irritable high pitched, sugarcoated voice, so he pushed past a huffing and grumbling Umbridge. "Ah-hem. Let's see...Hanbee tell these people what a Ghoul is and all that stuff. And do it fast because I'm hungry," ordered Juuzou. He noticed some of the teacher giving him incredulous looks for ordering around someone who, in appearance and in fact, was obviously older than him.
"Let me explain...My name is Abara Hanbee, Rank Two Investigator from the CCG. The ghouls we speak of are a deadly cousin of the species of ghoul you all have come to know. They are carnivorous, cannibalistic creatures that feed only on human flesh and, though rare, sometimes the flesh of their own fellow ghoul. Their appearance resembles that of a human, but they can be differentiated by their red pupil and black sclera. They possess mass amounts of strength, regenerative abilities, as well as dangerous weapons called Kagune that can be produced from their body and cannot be destroyed by normal or, as we have been informed, magical means. Please believe us when we say that they are a very dangerous and real threat." Voices of doubt called out from the student body, while others muttered among themselves, unsure if they should believe the information.
Hanbee paused to let everyone process his words. "Now Suzuya-senpai, Rank Two Sasaki and I have been called here about an emergency by your headmaster. We were informed of a rapid spike in ghoul population and activity in the area. We will do our best to eliminate the threat." Hanbee bowed, finishing his short speech.
Umbridge looked appalled at the thought that beings with such abilities could be roaming the area and that the ministry had no prior record of them. She quickly regained her composure and asked, "And how do you expect me to believe that someone as young as you could take out such hostile creatures, if said creatures were to even exist? Also there are only three of you allotted to a whole, supposed, population of these, probably made up, creatures."
"Why don't you just shut your dumb mouth. You'll see when one of these guys comes knocking at the doors of this school. You can believe me or not. It's not my problem you aren't smart enough to believe me. Now! Dumblydoor sir, stick me at one of those colorful tables so I can fill my role as a student and blah blah..." said Juuzou with little tact. With a grin he plopped down onto the stool the first years had sat in to be sorted earlier. Umbridge started to say something, but Dumbledore cut her off, saying that they had let the students wait long enough for the feast and that they shouldn't delay it any longer.
The ugly brown hat with the wide brim he had seen placed on countless young heads earlier now blocked his view of the Great Hall and all its occupants. He kicked his legs back and forth, waiting for something to happen under the brim of this old smelling head attire. All of a sudden a worn voice spoke in his head. "Wow it talks in my head like a conscience," exclaimed Juuzou in response to the mental intrusion. "So what are these Houses? And how do I know where to go?"
The hat chuckled and explained that the four tables each represented a certain house that each prided themselves on certain character traits. Juuzou made a mental note that the hat was probably doing weird mind things to him when it would mutter in his brain.
"Interesting...very interesting. Brave, intelligent, driven...yes...you possess many characteristics that could place you in any of these Houses...difficult...perhaps you would do best in either Slytherin or Gryffindor..."
Eventually the hat proclaimed out loud, "Gryffindor!" Afterwards said hat was removed from his head and Juuzou hopped in the direction of the red table, having watched the first year sorting long enough to recognize what color went to what word the hat shouted.
Hopping off the stool, Juuzou came and sat near the front end of the Gryffindor table. He grinned and watched Haise get sorted. Maybe they would be at the same table, at least he hoped. A couple minutes passed with that ugly hat still on Haise's head, then it yelled out, "Hufflepuff." Haise was then directed to the yellow table. Juuzou was slightly crestfallen about being apart.
Then, since all sorting and announcements were over, the feast begun. Night colored eyes peered down the long table and recognized a familiar set of faces. Juuzou waved at Harry, Hermione, and Ron who sat a few seats away from him. As he dug into the plethora of oddly named cuisine he picked up the Golden Trio exchanging words about him and his story. In favor of stuffing his gut before bothering arguing with anyone, Juuzou listened to the trio gab. He wanted to get a feel on people's take of the story, and they were a perfect sample.
Ron immediately dived into the topic that had everyone talking. "Harry do you believe that rubbish about 'a new species of ghoul' because I don't. I've seen ghouls. We have a couple in our attic back at The Burrow. They're not dangerous at all." Ron paused to pile chicken legs onto his plate. "Mate, I know you trust Dumbledore, and I want to trust him too, but this is just too mad. Right, 'Mione?" Both boys turned to Hermione, who seemed a little troubled. Ron nudged her to get her attention. "Something wrong, 'Mione?"
"Actually...I've heard of these creatures before...at home. One day Mum and Dad were tuning into an international news channel from Japan. Dad said that someone at work had mentioned that there was an interesting story, so my parents had wanted to check it out. I just happened to glance over by coincidence and read the news. Basically it confirmed the existence of these kind of ghouls. Though they are mostly isolated in Japan there are small outcroppings of populations in other countries. Apparently Japanese muggles have been struggling in secret with these magical creatures for quite some time..." Hermione spared a glance down the table at Juuzou, who pretended to be too immersed in his pumpkin juice to be able to hear the trio's conversation.
The trio exchanged worried looks and, all throughout dinner, would occasionally peer down the table at the Investigator. A couple of chicken legs later, Juuzou had sated most of his hunger and began to notice all the other people pestering him with questions like: "So are those things real?" "Can you really defeat them?" "How come we've never heard of ghouls like this until now?" "Do you think you can keep up with the Fifth Year work?" "Are you siding with Dumbledore and working against the Ministry?" "Is that why you stood up against Umbridge?" "You sure you're not a girl?" "What's with those stitches?"
Juuzou's head felt like his head was steaming from the bombardment of questions. Eventually he got a grasp and answered the easiest question, saying, "It's called Body Stitch. Wanna see? It's really cool! A friend of mine is a body modification aficionado and taught me."
Juuzou pulled out a needle and thread from a pocket in his robes and began working. He pierced his wrist multiple times, ignoring the disgusted faces of the other students, and sewed the number thirteen onto his wrist, then proceeded to pull out the threads, which left red aggravation marks on his alabaster skin.
The feast finished and Juuzou went over to talk to Hanbee before they had to part ways. Dumbledore had arranged for Hanbee to have private sleeping quarters, while Juuzou would have to sleep in a dorm with other students from his House. "Useless subordinate hand me my quinque," commanded Juuzou cheerfully. Nodding, Hanbee gave him the case he had been holding onto before they had gotten on the train and gone through this whole fiasco.
He grinned, satusfied, and trotted to the place called Gryffindor Tower; apparently that was where he would be staying for the year. The rest of the kids in Gryffindor had already gone to the tower, leaving Juuzou to maneuver his way around the moving staircases and attempt to find the portrait of The Fat Lady on his own. When he found The Fat Lady she asked if he was a first year, to which he responded that he was a fifth year student. She seemed doubtful but didn't push the subject, and asked him what the password was. Before dinner a prefect had kindly informed Juuzou of the password, though he had quickly forgotten it with food on the mind. After dinner he was reminded again and this time he tried hard not to forget the two words.
"Password...password...Ah! Pegasus Feathers." The portrait moved to reveal a hole in the wall leading to the Gryffindor common room. The only thing Juuzou registered was the undeniable fact that someone had apparently gone way overboard with the color scheme, and left no iota of space unmarked by shades of red and gold. He rolled his eyes and headed up the stairs to his room.
Inside he found that two of his roommates were asleep while the other two were up, hunched together, probably gossiping about something stupid. The two aforementioned roommates that weren't sound asleep looked up when Juuzou entered the room. He recognized them as Ron and Harry, then put a finger to his lips and silently shuffled to his bed, where he found his things waiting for him. Settling the case containing Thirteen's Jason by his bedside, Juuzou threw off his robes and hopped into bed. As he began to fall asleep he picked up on Harry and Ron's conversation.
"So what can we do against this new threat?"
"Harry, I agree with what Hermione said earlier. I don't think we should do anything. I mean, Dumbledore invited those two here so they could deal with the issue, not so you could run off and play the hero instead."
Harry's voice rose as he countered, "You heard what the Order was talking about. Voldemort is recruiting heavily. These species of ghoul could be part of Voldemort's army. How else could you explain the sudden appearance of these creatures that were, until now, successfully isolated or too small in numbers to do anything!? If Voldemort is using these creatures to attack me at Hogwarts because they aren't affected by magic then I have to do something."
An uncomfortably long pause followed and then Harry curtly stated that he was going to sleep. With the conversation over Juuzou's mind stopped focusing and let him fall into a peaceful sleep inhabited by his usual nightmarish dreams.