~Chapter 1: Masks~

Disclaimer: I do not own Tokyo Ghoul or Harry Potter, I also don't claim that I do. Please support the official releases of both these wonderful series.

Kaneki stared at the large iron gate in front of him; his unused magic reached out, testing the wards around the school. The wards were warm and welcomed him like a mother would, he smiled as he extended his hand, caressing the buzzing walls. As soon as he knew that the protective magic around the school accepted him, he leaped over the gate, his body just brushing the iron spikes that sat upon the gate's bars.

It had been two years since he had seen the castle, so much had happened in those years that whenever he thought about it, it seemed like a lifetime. He took his time and slowly hiked up the pathway that led to the first castle door, the one he would have taken as a second year. He could remember his first year; the troll and Voldemort stood out more prominently than any other situation he had found himself in, though, he could still remember meeting many interesting people.

One person that had caught his eye was Heir Malfoy, otherwise known as Draco Malfoy. The boy had intrigued him with the mask he wore, and Kaneki knew he was wearing one because he himself had been hiding at that time. He had to act like a typical Gryffindor, he had to pretend to be an arrogant and spoiled brat.

He had to act weak.

Inside though, hiding under all those cocky grins and thin limbs, was a boy who was strong and could outwit men ten times his age. He couldn't show this side of him to anyone, they all had expectations and each person had their own vision of what he should be like. Ronald visioned that he was weak person that could be easily mooched off of, Hermione only saw him as a person in need of mental guidance, and the list could go on.

Draco did the same as he had once done and hid his true self away from the world, however, their situations turned out to be very different. Kaneki, when he was younger, wanted to fit in, to belong, but he knew that would never happen with how he actually acted. Draco protected himself with his mask, he wanted to hid his true feelings away from his Death Eater father and friends.

He now stood in front of the Great Hall door, cringing as memories assaulted his mind. Kaneki was nervous and yet that was all hidden by a new mask, a mask that hid away all the insecurities he felt and the sadness that came from losing a friend.

A tear dropped from his uncovered eye, it wasn't followed by more as if knowing that it wasn't the time nor place to mourn the death of his best friend, Hide. He could fondly remember when they first met; Kaneki had just been given a new name and a family to stay with after his Aunt and Uncle abandoned him in Japan. Soon after he started attending school, quickly moving up in grades because of his high IQ; another student moved up as quick as he did. Because of their close age, and the fact that they were bullied for being the youngest and shortest 3rd year senior high school students, the two became fast friends and discovered that they shared many interests.

They both graduated early, getting top marks in everything, however, they did have their own specialties. Kaneki attended Kamii University, hoping to get a degree in Japanese literature, Hide, following his best friend, attended the same university but worked in the Department of International Studies.

Only a few months had gone by before everything changed, causing Kaneki's life to spiral out of control.

Stretching his arm out, Kaneki lightly touched the door and watched in shock as it opened. He noticed as hundreds of different coloured eyes turned towards him and stared, Kaneki felt goose bumps raise on his lightly coloured arms as his hands twitched. He needed to hurt himself again, he needed to feel some kind of pain to keep himself grounded, but before he could get too deep within his thoughts a figure stood up.

"Who are you?" It asked, and Kaneki didn't know how to fully answer that question. Who was he? Well, he was Harry James Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, The Chosen One but he was also Kaneki Ken, One-Eyed Ghoul, Eyepatch and Centipede.

"Well, I am many things." He answered quickly after contemplating just who he was.

"I require a name," it smiled, Kaneki could see some form taking shape and knew it was someone from his past, someone he had blocked from his memories to the point of erasing their existence from his image, "First and last, if you will."

"Ken Kaneki, please just call me Kaneki," he nodded in greeting to the five tables, a small, unnoticeable smile set upon his face.

"And why are you here in my school?" Slowly, an image of the person was forming, Kaneki could remember bright blue eyes that glowed maliciously while the rest of the face formed a grandfatherly smile.

"Because I was once a student here, and I think I should like to return." Kaneki blinked at them with his one free eye.

"Student? I have never met you before in my life, how are you a student of mine?"

"Just look a little closer." He brushed his white hair out of his face, showing a scar that he has had for most of his life, a lightning bolt that sat above his right eye.

"Harry? Harry Potter?" Dumbledore's eyes grew dark as a chilling smile appeared on his face, his arms spread wide as he laughed 'joyfully'.

When getting confirmation, the Headmaster looked around at his students and gleefully announced the return of one of their own. He received an applause for his trouble; Gryffindors jumped around their table, several glanced at Dumbledore questioning him before smiling as they received confirmation. This all didn't go unnoticed by Kaneki, who quickly strolled in the room, away from the doorway.

He noticed that Draco was staring at him with mix emotions, and moved to the Slytherin table with ease. He didn't really care about the gasps or the shocked faces, he just shoved a girl with a pug face away from Draco's side and sat down beside him, a hand out in front of him.

Like many of the others in the room, the blond fourteen-year-old looked surprised but took the offered hand anyway, smiling when it was firmly shaken.

"Excuse me, but what do you think you're doing here?" The girl who he had shoved away suddenly spoke to him, leaving his ears ringing. Even when trying to speak quietly, the girl had a screech in her voice that made it sound like she was trying to imitate a squawking bird.

"I thought it was obvious that he is currently siting." A voice from the other side of the table piped up, and Kaneki saw that it was Blaise Zanbini one of the more neutral Slytherins in the entire school.

Beside the white-haired teen, Draco snickered lightly before hiding it behind a disgusted look. For several minutes no one did anything but stare at the changed Boy-Who-Lived, a person who once gagged at the mention of snakes was now sitting among them like they had always been the best of friends. No one knew what to do, how could their Saviour abandon them for atrocious beings like the children of the Death Eaters?

"Harry, my boy. Why don't you sit with Gryffindor," The headmaster suggested, smiling smugly as if knowing the boy would obey his every command.

"No thank you," Kaneki answered from where he was sitting. The dinner was invading him with scents of rotten food and he couldn't distinguish one type of mouldy cheese from the next.

"Harry!" A howling pair of voices seized his attention and he winced when he noticed that it was Hermione and another girl who had called his old name.

Why was he here again? Why did he feel the urge to come back to a place that judged him based on how he behaved? He just wanted to be somewhere safe, somewhere where he could mourn the death of his friend and contemplate the others. Others, he hadn't thought about how they'd react, he had only thought about the blood pooling out of Hide's side and the last words he had ever said, "Let's go home."

An arm grabbed hold of his, attempting to wrench him out of his seat. However, even with the limb yanking on his sleeve, he managed to stay seated.

"Harry," the appendage was tied to a whining voice, "Come sit with us."

"No." He said shortly.

The person gasped, letting go of his arm as he glared at her. He didn't know this girl, though he assumed it was Ronald's little sister, Ginerva, based on their identical features. In fact, the two looked so alike, they could have been mistaken as twins.

"I actually never belonged with Gryffindor in the first place. I think I am much more comfortable sitting here, where I was always meant to be."