So here is Chapter Two. I just want to thank everyone who Reviewed and also those who Followed and Favorited the story, I can't believe the response I've gotten for just one chapter, I hope you enjoy this one just as much.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Bleach.

Italics: Hyorinmaru and Toshiro mind speech/spells

Chapter 2

Train Meetings

"Can I just borrow…"

"No."

"I promise not to break it."

"That's what you said about the books, so no, I already had to glue the pages back together after you got so excited and ripped them out."

Urahara pouted and whined in annoyance.

"You're no fair Hitsugaya Taichou."

Toshiro sighed a week had passed swiftly since his shopping trip with Professor Flitwick. As the small half goblin had said his books and supplies had all arrived with in the first week, the books the very next day, much to Urahara's delight. Toshiro had been lucky he'd even managed to get a look in before the crazed ex Shinigami was secreting them up to his room. Toshiro had been rather surprised when he had finally been able to start reading them; he was shocked at the amount of spells, as the wizards called them, and the amount of things they could accomplish. Some were rather interesting, such as transfiguring objects, but others seemed rather strange, why would someone want to have a spell to cut their own nose hair and straighten their teeth? The rest of his things had trickled in as the week went by. First his books then his cauldron, followed by his parchments, quills and ink. After came his potion ingredients, scales and telescope, plus his robes, much to the amusement of Urahara and Yoruichi, who forced him to parade about the shop in them, under the pretence of making sure they fit. But finally the week had ended and Toshiro was relaxing in the kitchen with a steaming cup of green tea.

"I didn't know you liked green tea Hitsugaya Taichou?" Ururu said filling up his cup again.

"It's soothing."

"It's weird," Jinta exclaimed and Toshiro shot him a glare.

"Now, now children let's all calm down, Toshiro's only here for another week," Urahara said with a grin.

Before Toshiro could say anything a tapping caught his attention. He turned and saw a large grey owl outside the window, its beak tapping at the glass as it flapped its wings awkwardly, it looked to be carrying something.

"Is that an owl?" Tessai said as Toshiro got up and went to the window. Toshiro remembered what Flitwick had said about owls, that they carried mail in the wizarding world and were used instead of the muggle post system. He quickly let the tired creature inside where it landed on the table in a heap, a long box tied to its leg. Ururu offered the animal some bread to eat while Toshiro extracted the box from the animal and sat back at the small round table.

The others crowded around as he lifted the lid.

"Is that it?"

"It looks so pretty."

"Why is it so long?"

"I thought you said they were made of wood?"

Toshiro frowned; he had not been expecting this when he saw his wand for the first time, for that was what it was. It was long, much longer than any of the ones he had tried in the shop. It had an engraved grip in the handle, with swirling patterns running around the edge that looked almost like snowflakes. But the strangest thing about the wand was that it was pure white, almost like the colour of his hair. It was startling to look at, and stood out starkly against the purple interior of the box.

"There's a letter."

Toshiro quickly snatched it before Urahara could get his slimy hands all over it. His name was written in elegant script on the envelope and was sealed with a thick purple wax seal. Toshiro quickly slit it open, pulled out the letter and opened it.

Dear Mr Hitsugaya.He read.

After a hard week I now have the distinct pleasure of giving you your wand. I will say that I have never had such a hard time with someone's wand than what I have had with yours. This is what has driven me to write you this letter, to explain in detail the properties that make up this wand. One of the finest creations I have ever made.

First to note is that the wand is 17 inches long, a rarity among wands, as the standard highest length is being only fourteen inches. I was forced to make the wand longer as the balance kept going off. Having a balanced wand is important for tricky spell work and having an unbalanced wand can cause any number of accidents to occur.

The second and perhaps the most startling thing about the wand is the colour. Never before have I made a wand this colour. Of course I have used silver birch as a wood and the colour is slightly lighter, but never has a wand been white. The wood itself is from a fir tree, again not standard issue for a wand, but as I tested many different types of wood with the hair you provided I discovered that none were suitable, in fact most of them cracked and started to freeze over in places. I deduced that a sturdier wood was needed, one that could withstand cold temperatures and thus I turned to fir tree wood. But again that does not explain the colour, as fir tree wood is the same colour as any normal wood. The incident occurred when I had finally managed to get the wand to stabilise and seated the hair directly into the core of the wand. I had just cut it to 17 inches when a sudden burst of cold magic spilled right from the wand. I have to tell you Mr Hitsugaya I have never seen anything like it in my life. One moment your wand was the normal brown of any wand I had ever created the next it was stark white. I couldn't believe my eyes. And the presence I felt from it, it was like I could feel frost creeping up my skin. Truly it was an experience.

I added the distinct handle to help with your grip, what with the wand being so long, the decoration I added for free.

I write you this to tell you that never have I had a wand so temperamental and stubborn, and such a joy to make. I expect to see great things from you in the future Mr Hitsugaya and please if you have any issues with it, please come and see me. I would be most happy to see your wand again, one of my greatest feats.

Yours in gratitude.

Garrick Ollivander

Wandmaker first class

"Temperamental and stubborn? That dose sound like our young Taichou now doesn't it?"

"Shut up Urahara," Toshiro snapped before folding the letter closed and looking down at the wand. He could tell what Ollivander had meant by the presence of the thing, it really did radiate quite a bit of cold reiatsu.

It is an extension of myself.

What do you mean Hyorinmaru?

It is like your zanpakuto. It feels like our reiatsu because it was made from our reiatsu. You will have no troubles performing this wizarding magic with that wand.

.

Toshiro had been sceptical at first but after a day of trial and error he found that Hyorinmaru's prediction had been spot on. Performing magic with the wand was simple; in fact it was much easier to understand than kido, the premise behind spells being fairly easy. Say the words with intent and wave the wand in the correct hand movements and presto you have magic. Toshiro didn't know why, but he felt rather disappointed that it wasn't as hard as he had thought. He had quickly worked his way through all of the first year spells and books by the end of his first day with the wand. Well he wasn't called a prodigy for nothing. His memory being able to memorise the words and wand movements with ease and handling a wand was no different to using his zanpakuto, both required a delicate hand but a strong wrist. He didn't see how these wizards took a year to grasp these simple things; it was all just memory after all. Urahara had offered him to use the secret training room, which was not so secret any more, under the building and Toshiro had been quick to take him up on the offer. The larger space enabled him to use more power and truly see what magic could do. He sped through the second and third year books and dove into the fourth and fifth. As he approached the end of the week he was pretty confident in spells across the board and was working his way through the sixth year material. The only problem he foresaw having was with potions. Not for lack of understanding the material, he fully understood the theory and memorised the recipes with ease. No, it was the lack of practical practise that had him worried. He'd never had to cook for himself before, his Grandmother having done all of that when he lived at home, and in the division the lower members dealt with the feeding of all the division that included himself. He'd never trusted Matsumoto to feed him, or teach him to cook. So he was left with reading through the many recipe books and hoping that understanding the theory would be enough to get him through the class unscathed.

During the week an increase of visitors had appeared at Urahara's shop. The humans who hung around Karakura town had come around to see what was going on much to Toshiro's displeasure. He guessed that he must have been over broadcasting his reiatsu with his practise as the day before he was set to leave he was visited by the substitute soul reaper Ichigo Kurosaki while he was down in the underground training room.

"Reducto!" Toshiro said softly and flicked his wand at a nearby boulder causing it to explode in a shower of stone.

"That's impressive."

"What do you want Kurosaki?"

Toshiro watched as the orange hair substitute weaved his way towards him, looking about at the various remains of other boulders. Toshiro had been practising with that particular spell for a while, trying to determine if the strength of the spell varied by the amount of reiatsu he pumped into it. His answer was yes, it did and he'd had quite a successful morning.

"I heard you were in town."

"From whom no one knows I'm here but Urahara."

"Rukia mention you had a mission and were staying with him for a while."

Toshiro scowled. Damn Kuchiki sticking her nose into to his business.

"What do you want?"

Kurosaki shrugged.

"Just thought I'd see what it was all about. It's rare a Captain goes on a mission."

"And because of that most Captain Missions are secret and are not supposed to be talked about."

Ichigo snorted.

"Good luck with that, I've already had my ear talked off by Urahara. He can't shut up about wizards and magic and all the books you brought back from your little trip. Trust me Toshiro your mission isn't going to stay secret for long around here."

"That's Hitsugaya Taichou to you," Toshiro growled as his brow furrowed in annoyance. Really he should have known that Urahara couldn't be expected to keep his mouth shut. That man was more of a gossip than the entire Woman's Shinigami Society and they had Matsumoto as a member.

Ichigo raised his hands in mock surrender but his face remained serious. Toshiro thought for a moment about forcing him to leave, but the substitute was far too stubborn for that. He'd just come back again tomorrow or the next day until Toshiro caved in and talked about the damn mission. The white haired Captain sighed; things just always had to be so complicated.

And so Toshiro spilled his mission to Ichigo Kurosaki. Toshiro telling the orange haired teen all about what he had seen throughout Diagon Allley and what he had been able to learn about the humans while he was there. Even though the books he had bought were good for learning they had a complete lack of information about the wizarding world. Toshiro had eagerly dived into the history books once he had found them, but they seemed more to concentrate on creatures and goblin wars than on actual events in wizarding history. Toshiro had found that frustrating and told Ichigo so. When Toshiro told Ichigo about what he had learned of Harry Potter, the substitute was of the same mind as the white haired Captain, in fact he had openly scoffed.

"They were saved by a baby?"

"If what Flitwick and Madam Malkin said was true, also there is an account in one of the history books I had bought. There's a whole chapter dedicated to the boy."

To say Toshiro had found that rather disconcerting would be a lie. Most Captains and soul reapers were written about after they had died, again. It kept things simple and clean, plus most of their deeds were automatically recorded anyway. But he didn't like the idea of someone chronicling his life before he had passed. The thought was rather morbid.

"And he's what? Sixteen now? And he's supposed to save them again?"

Toshiro nodded.

"There was not many mentioning's of the war while I was in Diagon Alley. I think Flitwick was trying to down play it so I wouldn't get scared and run off. But honestly I would have thought there would be some level of security patrolling the place; I didn't see anyone who fit that description. It was almost as if they didn't fully believe that this terrorist was out there."

"Is that what this Voldemort guy is? A terrorist?"

Toshiro shrugged.

"Seems like it to me. From what I've managed to read on him he was of a pro pure blood stance."

Ichigo raised an eyebrow but Toshiro waved his question away.

"Don't ask. Anyway, he believed in these policies and in order to further them he killed anyone who stood in his way or didn't fit into his view of wizarding society."

"Why didn't these wizards just kill him?"

"They couldn't, he was too strong."

"And yet he was defeated by a baby."

Toshiro felt his lips twitch but resisted the urge to smile.

"To be honest this war has really nothing to do with me. My mission is reconnaissance and to find out what I can about the school and wizarding society and also to investigate the raise in Hollow activity, then I will leave. This is all so we can monitor them and the situation better; we do not what another Quincy incident."

Ichigo winced and Toshiro couldn't blame him. His human friend Uryu was the last of the Quincy and hated Shinigami, they didn't want something like what happened to the young man's people to happen again. So Toshiro would monitor these wizards and if they became a threat to the balance they would have the time to find a better response than just wiping them out.

"If you have any trouble with these wizards you just let me know. You may be there to monitor them but if you get dragged into something send for help, I'll come."

"I doubt I will need your assistance Kurosaki, I am a Captain. Besides I'm not planning on being dragged into anything. This war has nothing to do with us. Unless it directly affects the mission, I have been ordered to stay out."

Ichigo snorted, "Whatever."

"What?" Toshiro asked.

"Nothing."

"No Kurosaki you have something to say, say it."

"You've never been able to stay out of something in all the time I've known you Hitsugaya Taichou," Ichigo stressed the word Taichou heavily which caused Toshiro to scowl.

"You can't help but want to help others out; it's in your nature. Even if you have been ordered to stay out of it you'll still do it. I'm just telling you if you find yourself in too deep you can call on me. No need to tell the Head Captain and put a black spot on your ooh so white record."

Toshiro huffed and turned away ignoring the young male, but inside he couldn't help but feel happy. Kurosaki was willing to help him with no questions asked. It felt kind of…nice.

Is my young Master finally admitting that Ichigo Kurosaki is nice? The world must be ending.

Shut up Hyorinmaru.

I'm glad you're finally letting people in again Master.

Toshiro ignored his dragon and instead directed his attention to practising his spells again. He even offered Ichigo the chance to watch and was quickly took up on the offer. The rest of the day passed quickly with Ichigo being very impressed with how far Toshiro had advanced in less than two weeks.

The rest of the day passed quickly. Toshiro filled out his first reports and sent them off to Seireitei with what he had learned. When he finally came out of his room he went and sat in the kitchen and was just about to indulge in another cup of green tea when Urahara dumped something in front of him.

"What is that?"

"Our message system. Good isn't it?"

"What is it supposed to be? Some form of demon?"

"I'll have you know I'm offended by that remark."

Toshiro simply rolled his aqua marine eyes; he doubted the man was ever offended by anything.

"Ever since that owl came with your wand I've been trying to recreate it," Urahara said with a gleam of excitement, "of course I could have just used a real owl or got you too purchase one put this seemed much more fun, let me introduce the first mod soul owl."

Toshiro looked down at the now identified owl. It was rather small for an owl and pitch black in colour with wide silver eyes. It really didn't look like any sort of owl Toshiro had had the chance to see and going past the Owl Emporium in Diagon Alley had given him the chance to see many.

"How will this thing be any better than me sending my reports with a regular owl?"

"Well…"

"Oi kid I'll have you know I can travel ten times as fast as any of those feathered monsters you call owls," a harsh feminine voice said.

Toshiro raised an eyebrow and looked down at the owl, whose silver eyes glared at him.

"Did you just speak?"

"Course I did," the owl scoffed snapping its beak angrily in Toshiro's direction, "You're not too bright for a Shinigami."

Why that little…

It's cute.

Shut up Hyorinmaru.

Just as Toshiro was about to swat the little menace Urahara quickly cut in.

"I told you it's a mod soul owl. The actual body is just a gigai that I made in the likeness of an owl; I then placed one of my own home made mod souls inside. I designed her just for this mission. She's fully equipped with the usual mod soul specs, so that little owl can move pretty fast, about one hundred times faster than a regular owl in flight and I believe they are no slouches. Plus she's got the added bonus of being able to avoid detection, as well as a high intelligence in case of interception. I think she's perfect for this."

Toshiro eyed the little owl on the table that stared at him with equal intensity.

"What should I call you?"

"How should I know, he didn't give me a name," the owl gestured with her head at Urahara who merely grinned, "said you got to choose seen as I was going to be your pet and all."

Toshiro didn't know what to do. He'd never had a pet before and Hyorinmaru didn't count, plus he already had a name. His Grandmother had taught him that names were important, that they helped shape who you were. Toshiro suddenly felt a great deal of pressure naming the little owl mod soul.

"How about Lucy? Ethel? Sarah? They're all good English names."

"No."

"Spot? Blackie? Swift?"

"No just shut up!" Toshiro snapped and Urahara quickly retreated as the air started to turn frigid. Toshiro took a breath before turning his attention back to the owl. She really was dark, he black feathers almost melding into one another. Blackie wouldn't be an inappropriate name for her. But he was not going with one of Urahara's suggestions, plus it was rather plain. Her eyes shone like two stars on a cloudless night, bright and dazzling. But star didn't seem right either, that was too bright of a name for a creature that seemed to embody the night so much. Wait.

"Yoru." Toshiro said with finality.

Urahara scratched his chin and eyed the small Captain in thought.

"Night? Seems rather simple."

"The best names often are," Toshiro replied looking at the little owl, who had cocked her head to the side in thought.

"Yoru? It will do I suppose. Better than spot anyway."

Toshiro couldn't help a grin twitching at his lips. He thought he might quiet liked this mod soul after all.

….

Later that night Urahara and Tessai set out a large meal for Toshiro's last night. Toshiro felt kind of sad to be leaving. In the two weeks of his stay there he had grown comfortable. Even the children didn't get on his nerves as much; he was not looking forward to leaving. His mission would truly start then and he would have no time to relax.

He went to bed that night after releasing Yoru out into the sky for a hunt, he had confidence that she would know when to come back. He had packed his truck. An item Flitwick had insisted that he attain, earlier. He quickly settled down to get what sleep he could.

The next day dawned bright and early. Toshiro was up with the sun, strapping Hyorinmaru securely to his back and dragging his truck out of the back and into the shop, ready and waiting for whoever would come to pick him up. Toshiro held a secret hope that it would be Flitwick, he was comfortable with the little half goblin and was in no doubt that he could get more information out of him in the near future.

"Are you nervous?"

"No."

Urahara smiled. He was the only one to stand with him, the others having their chores to do, plus getting ready to open the shop once Toshiro had left.

Toshiro checked his soul phone, which had been upgraded thanks to Urahara's meddling hands. It was nearly 10:30 am. Flitwick had said the train left at 11 am. He hoped these wizards were on time. Toshiro could not abide being late for anything.

A faint popping noise came to Toshiro's ears and a minute later there was a knock on the shoji door.

"Come in," Urahara called exuberantly and slowly the door slide back.

"Good morning I am here to escort a Mr Hitsugaya to London Kings cross."

The voice was deep and almost lyrical; Toshiro got the sense of a brooding personality. A foot passed the threshold and Toshiro looked up to see his escort.

The man was tall, taller than Urahara and that was hard to do, the same height as Kyoraku Taichou. His black hair was long and greasy and fell in strands about his face. Long black robes that seemed to flutter in the slight breeze like bat wings, covered a lean pale from and dark coal black eyes peered out of a pasty face. They shot around the room at lightning speed before landing on Toshiro; the man's lip seemed to curl as he took in Toshiro's bright white hair and the hilt of his zanpakuto that still rested on his back.

"I am Severus Snape, potions Professor of Hogwarts."

Urahara bounded forward like a man possessed and held out his hand in the traditional English greeting.

"A pleasure to meet you Mr Snape, I'm Urahara and this is my nephew Toshiro. Thank you for taking him to the station for us. Getting to London at this time of the year would be so difficult."

Severus raised an eyebrow at the man's light tone and extracted his hand from his surprisingly firm grip. His eyes slid back to the boy. Severus had a hard time keeping the shock out of his face as he took in the boy's features. Of course he had been for warned by Flitwick but he couldn't help but think that the half goblin had been exaggerating. But looking at the child now, he was safe to say that Flitwick's report had been spot on. He truly did have incredible features for an Asian born boy. His eyes slid further back and caught a glimpse of the long sword the boy carried. Flitwick had told him about that as well. Apparently the boy had refused to take it off for the trip to Diagon Alley. Albus had told him that he had asked the boy's Uncle about the young man running an after school club that focused on the art, he thought Albus had called it kendo. But he didn't think the child would be running around with the thing strapped to his back. He could only imagine Albus's face when he saw the thing practically attached to the child and most likely said child refusing to take it off. It would be worth a few laughs if nothing else.

Toshiro stared at the Professor and bowed slightly in greeting.

"Thank you for taking me to the station."

"It's no problem at all, you have your supplies?"

"Hai everything is in the trunk."

"Toshiro is always prepared aren't you nephew?" Urahara skipped back over to the young Captain and before he could move away ruffled his hair into even more of a mess.

"Stop that," Toshiro snapped slapping the man's hand from his head and glaring at him. Severus took in the display and couldn't help but feel amused.

"Well we had best be going. The train leaves in less than half an hour and we still have to get you on to the train."

Toshiro nodded and quickly held out his arm before giving a piecing whistle. A light flap of wings and Yoru suddenly alighted on his arm before moving up to perch on his shoulder. The two of them had come up with this call system the previous night. Toshiro would whistle when he wanted Yoru's services and the owl would come running. Yoru had said that if Toshiro imbued a burst of his reiatsu into the whistle she would be able to know it was him. Toshiro found the idea of calling her to be the simplest way to send his reports; he had no clue as to where he could be when he had to make them. There was no guarantee he would be able to get to her.

Severus stood trying to conceal his shock. Had the boy just called his owl? He had never seen something done like that before. Of course Albus had done a similar trick with his phoenix, but Fawkes was magical and had a higher level of intelligence than most birds. Owls were finicky by nature and he had never seen a wizard able to call one in such a fashion. This boy was rather interesting.

"Shall we go Professor?" Toshiro asked and the man nodded and brought out his wand. He flicked it in the direction of Toshiro's truck and slowly the heavy thing rose into the air and went gliding towards the man.

Urahara watched in fascination and Toshiro quickly escaped to the Professor's side. If he wasn't careful the shop keeper would end up giving him a hug.

"Take my hand," Snape instructed and with a feeling of woe Toshiro did so.

"We will be apparating directly on to the platform."

"My information said something about a platform 9 and ¾'s."

"That is correct, we will be going straight there, it is easier than going through Kings Cross."

Toshiro nodded and Urahara waved his hand enthusiastically.

"Don't forget to write dear nephew, see you soon."

Toshiro snorted, "whatever," he mumbled. They turned and the world started to squeeze him. Toshiro gripped the Professors pale hand tightly, until the world righted itself again and Toshiro had to blink his eyes to adjust them.

A swell of noise came to his ears. Children laughing and screaming at each other. Older voices calling after them. The sound of a large engine working slowly. Something hissed and Toshiro looked up to see a great cloud of steam being jetted into the sky. Toshiro looked down and dragged his eyes along a bright red train. And not a new train as he had seen in Tokyo or even Karakura. No it had a large chimney breast and body which was round with several large square carriages hocked up behind. He could see children climbing into large compartments, sat in groups or alone reading books. The place was noisy, loud and full of people, all the things Toshiro hated, he almost groaned.

"This way."

Toshiro refocused and before following the Professor threw Yoru up into the air, she would follow the train and make her own way to Hogwarts. They headed to the back of the train, the sea of people seeming to open before them. Snape still held Toshiro's trunk aloft and quickly opened the door of an empty compartment and slotted the wooden thing into one of the many empty spaces to store it.

Severus turned back to the boy, who was watching him with a black expression, looking neither impressed by the Hogwarts Express nor thrilled at the sight of so many people. Severus wondered if the child even wanted to be there.

"This is where I leave you, do not bother to take your truck with you when you reach Hogwarts it will be taken separately, merely change into your robes and bring your wand if you wish."

"Thank you Professor," Toshiro said with another bow and Severus couldn't help but feel rather proud to have this young man show such a sign of respect to him. He knew his popularity among the student body, his main haters being the Gryffindor's, but the Ravenclaw's and Hufflepuff's were not too far behind. The only ones to like him from the students were his own Slytherin's and they were not that popular themselves.

"I will see you in the Great Hall once you arrive. You will go with the first years and take the voyage across the lake to the school."

"Why? I am not to be in their year."

"That's true," Severus said, "you will be placed in the sixth year as requested by your Uncle, but the Headmaster feels that the lake voyage is something everyone should have the chance to enjoy. I rather abhorred it myself; then again it was raining when I crossed that night."

Toshiro sighed in defeat, it was obvious he was not going to get out of it; it was rather annoying how much these wizards wanted everyone to be involved with things.

"I will go with the first years then Professor. Thank you again for the escort."

Snape nodded quickly before turning and disappearing into the crowd. Toshiro watched him for a moment before pulling himself into the compartment and shutting the door, hoping to drown out some of the noise taking place outside.

Toshiro looked around the compartment, it seemed nice enough, a bit big, but then again they were built to accommodate more than one person. Toshiro hoped that no one would come into his compartment, he rather liked the solitude, what with after all the time he had spent at Urahara's, he could do with some solitude. He quickly took Hyorinmaru from his back and crossed to his truck where he propped it up against the side. He opened the lid and riffled through the trunks contents before bring out a book. It was the sixth year Defence Against the Dark Arts text. Ever since he had seen Professor Snape cast the levitating spell wordlessly, it had got Toshiro's interest perked up. Casting soundlessly was not something he had tried and he was keen to see if there was anything in the defence book about the theory.

He quickly settled down on one of the cushioned benches and started to read, quickly losing himself in the theory behind several spells that looked rather more complicated than the ones in the previous volume.

The noises from outside seemed to grow. Toshiro winced when he heard a rather loud woman's tone yelling. Honestly couldn't these wizards be a little quieter. A shrill whistle and the train lurched into life and started rolling. Toshiro didn't look up to engrossed and without the outside noise to distract him he soon became lost.

He was almost half way through the volume when the door of his compartment slid open. Toshiro resisted the urge to growl; he knew he should have locked the door.

"Oh we're sorry."

"It's fine," Toshiro said in his icy tone snapping his eyes up to glare at the intruders.

There were three of them. Two boys and a girl and all were dragging their trucks behind them. The girl was small with long blonde hair that seemed to be rather knotted and tangled. She held a magazine to her chest and seemed to be wearing some kind of crazy glasses. A rather chubby boy stood near the back, dark brown hair plastered to his head and large brown eyes wide as he stared at Toshiro. The third intruder and remaining boy was quiet tall, but rather lean. Black tussled hair with wire rimmed glasses framing green eyes. He looked at Toshiro in confusion, before seeming to gather himself together and cleared his throat.

"Do you mind if we sat in here? There's no other free compartments."

Toshiro rolled his eyes. It was just his luck that he got company when he could well do without it. He nodded and pulled his book back up to his face to continue reading.

The shuffling of feet and the banging of the trucks being slotted into place and finally the squeaking of seats filled the air as the three interlopers sat down. A damning silence fell but Toshiro couldn't care less, the latest chapter of his book was rather interesting.

"So are you a first year?"

Toshiro glanced up and saw it was the chubby boy that was speaking.

"No," he said turning over to the next page.

"Oh, right."

"You look like a first year, your small and we've never seen you around here before, so what are you if not a first year?" a dreamy voice asked.

Toshiro prickled and felt his reiatsu rise.

What did she say?

Calm down Master, I'm sure she did not mean offence.

Toshiro sent his coldest glare at the blonde haired girl, who had taken off her strange glasses to scrutinise him. For a moment the dreamy dazed look seemed to vanish from her eyes, as she was caught by Toshiro's harsh glare.

"I am not a first year. The reason you haven't seen me before is because I am a transfer, I will be in the sixth year."

"What?" the black bespectacled boy exclaimed.

"Are you deaf? I am starting sixth year."

"But you look twelve?"

What?

Shall I kill him Master?

Oh I'm tempted believe me.

But the trouble Toshiro would get into if he did that was uncertain, so he stuck to shifting his icy gaze onto the boy instead and was pleased to note the shiver than ran through him.

"Shall we introduce ourselves," the dreamy girl from before said, seeming to try and diffuse the situation they were finding themselves drawn into, "I'm Luna Lovegood."

"N…Neville L…L…Longbottom."

"Harry Potter."

Toshiro speared Potter with a quick assessing glance which had the boy staring at this was Harry Potter? The would-be saviour of the wizarding world? Toshiro resisted the urge to snort in amusement, the kid didn't look as though he paid attention in his classes half the time, let alone beat a powerful Dark Lord or so the books had said, Toshiro was rather disappointed actually, he thought the boy would at least be taller.

Toshiro nodded to the three of them, not showing his thoughts on his face, before returning to his book.

"I am Hitsugaya Toshiro, or Toshiro Hitsugaya as you would say it in this country."

"That's a nice name Toshiro."

"Pease don't call me that."

The three of them blinked.

"Why not?" Potter asked.

"Because I would prefer to be addressed by my last name. if you wish to call me anything address me as Hitsugaya."

"Oh right."

"Is your hair dyed Hitsugaya"

"Yeah it's a rather weird colour, don't you worry that you'll get in trouble at Hogwarts?"

Toshiro felt his vein pop.

"My hair is not dyed."

The three gasped.

"You mean it's natural?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Wow."

Toshiro went back to his book but before he could get comfortable a cry caught his attention.

"Is that a sword?"

Toshiro's gaze snapped up and was just in time to see the chubby boy reaching out for his zanpakuto.

"Don't touch that!" he yelled getting to his feet instantly. Longbottom froze, his fingers inches from Hyorinmaru's icy sheath.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly pulling his hand back.

"Is it yours Hitsugaya? It's very pretty," Lovegood said.

Toshiro huffed and quickly crossed to his truck taking up his zanpakuto and placing it across his lap as he sat back down.

"What are you doing with a sword anyway?" Potter asked in curiosity.

Toshiro raised an eyebrow and shot the teen a look of complete disdain.

"I'm going to kill someone with it," Toshiro dead panned.

The room went utterly still and Toshiro let their shock ride for a few moments, before sighing.

"I'm joking."

The three of them stared at him for a moment longer before offering him strange smiles and looking at each other in curiosity.

Can they not take a joke?

If we are being honest Master that joke was rather bad.

I didn't know you were an authority on joke telling Hyorinmaru? Toshiro snapped in annoyance.

I'm not but even I could tell that what you said was not funny.

Toshiro huffed and could hear the dragon laughing to himself at the back of his mind. Dumb overgrown lizard, what did he know about being funny?

"Seriously though why do you have a sword, no one else carries them at Hogwarts?"

Toshiro sighed.

"I have practised kendo all of my life, it is a skill I learnt back home. When your Headmaster found out about it he approached my Uncle about me setting up an after school club to teach the art."

The three of them stared at the small Captain for a moment in awe, Toshiro wanted to shake them. Honestly haven't these children been taught it's impolite to stare?

"Professor Dumbledore wants us to learn to fight?" Longbottom asked nervously.

"It's almost like a dueling club or the DA," Lovegood said dazedly.

"May be because of the war…"

"How can you run it? You're just a kid yourself?"

Toshiro bristled at the last comment and resisted the urge to unsheathe Hyorinmaru. He could show this human just how much of a kid he was.

"I have been practising kendo nearly all of my life," Toshiro said in his cold Captain's voice, "I am considered a Master among my peers and have taught many others the way of the sword long before you. I assure you I am plenty able to teach kendo."

The children gulped and all looked away nervously. Toshiro smirked to himself, the Captain voice never failed; it's what he used with new graduates when they first stepped into his division. What with being the youngest Taichou he was rather underestimated, and graduates seemed to think he was some form of push over. Well he certainly knocked that out of them in quick order.

Don't you mean scare the new recruits out of their wits at the first meeting?

It always works.

You can be rather cruel Master.

Toshiro ignored the dragon and instead turned back to his book. Glad for the silence his speech had brought.

Unfortunately it didn't last long, the three started to talk amongst each other after a while, but their voices were quiet and didn't disturb Toshiro's reading too much. The boys started talking about something called Quidditch and Toshiro was happy to tune them out, but a hand on his shoulder startled him.

"What house to do you think you will get into Hitsugaya?"

Toshiro raised an eyebrow and looked at the girl.

"House?"

"Yes."

"What are these houses?"

"You don't know?" Longbottom said and Toshiro sent him a withering look causing him to look away.

"They're the houses that students are sorted into in their first year, there are four of them Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and… Slytherin."

Potter seemed rather reluctant to mention the last house and it got Toshiro's ever present curiosity up.

"How is one sorted?"

"Well your put into the house that best matches your personality traits," Lovegood explained, "for example Ravenclaw is the house of knowledge and wisdom."

"Gryffindor is courage and bravery," Potter added.

"Hufflepuff is for hard workers and loyalty and Slytherin is for the cunning and sly."

Toshiro stared at the three of them as he assessed the information.

"Doesn't everyone have those traits?"

"No," Potter said with such ferocity that it shocked even Toshiro.

"Not everyone is a hard worker or is smart, nor is everyone sly and cunning," Potter seemed to sneer the last two as though they were something disgusting on the bottom of his shoe.

"Really then I would not wished to be sorted into any of your houses if it encourages separatism like that."

Potter gaped and Longbottom seemed bewildered, only Lovegood seemed intrigued.

"Separatism?"

"You don't think so? Splitting up children based on personality is a rather disadvantages thing to do, how do you ever have the chance to grow into well rounded personalities and individuals if you are surrounded by people who act the same as you all the time?"

"I think it's to engender feelings of companionship and getting young students to have something in common with each other."

"Then doing so based on personality is stupid, there are simpler things, such as what type of music someone likes or if they are athletic or not. Putting people in houses based on personalities at 11 is rather dull and hinders growth, especially intellectually. How are people going to get smarter and better grades in their school work if they don't believe they can, simply based on that they are not a Ravenclaw?"

The three sat in stunned silence and Toshiro felt rather vindicated. He could never imagine the Gotai 13 working on such a system. Of course they're best healers went to the fourth division and most Shinigami with a physical zanpakuto gravitated towards division 11, but most of the time the graduates had a good pick of divisions and didn't feel pressured to go into one or the other. It created good working teams as you could depend on others strength knowing they'd have different strengths and abilities to yourself. Toshiro didn't know what he would have done when he first graduated if it wasn't for the diverse personalities and skills of his team mates, being surrounded with people like himself for that period in his life would have been counterproductive and he would have never been made a Captain.

"So based on what you know of our house system that you think is pointless which house do you think you would fit into?" Potter asked with a tone of anger. Toshiro didn't know if he was angry at Toshiro's argument or if it was because he was bad mouthing the school. Potter came across as though he loved the school more than he did people.

"If I was to pick one out of the lot, I think I would be a Slytherin, they at least seem to have a modicum of sense about them."

Silence fell, all three of them staring at him as though he had grown a second head. Toshiro stared blankly back at them, what had he done now?

"You'd want to be a Slytherin?" Longbottom asked with shock.

Toshiro shrugged.

"They seem the best fit for me."

"You'd like to be associated with dirty rotten, cheating, sly, dark, murderers?" Potter asked in a quiet voice.

"I don't know anything about murderers that was not mentioned in the traits you said earlier but I would consider myself to be cunning, I am a good strategist, so people tell me."

It was true, Toshiro was renowned for his strategies, even with being the youngest Captain, he was considered one of the best behind Kyoraku Taichou and the Head Captain. What with his power still being immature, he had to learn to compensate and planning his battles always saw that he came out at the end of them alive. He had rushed blindly into battle before, the fight with Aizen in the central forty six chambers being one of the examples, and in nearly all the cases where he hadn't planned ahead he had come off worse.

"All Slytherin's are nothing but dirty Death Eaters, most of them follow Voldemort! Is that what you're going to do!?"

Toshiro watched the Potter boy stunned as he glared angrily at him. What had the terrorist got to do with his house choice? He thought they were discussing traits?

"What has that got to do with this?"

"All Slytherin's follow Voldemort! They hate muggle's and muggleborn's and think everyone but purebloods are beneath them. They think they're better than us simply because they're pure blood. It's wrong and disgusting and you want to be a part of that?"

"Harry please," Longbottom whined but Toshiro could feel his own anger raising, if there was one thing Toshiro could not abide it was prejudice. Sure the Death Eater's sounded just as bad but that didn't mean that all the students in a house somehow associated with them were the same.

"All of them?"

"Yes all of them! All of them follow Voldemort or will in the future."

"That's rather harsh of you."

"It's the truth."

"So little 11 year olds if they're sorted into Slytherin are going to follow this Voldemort then when they grow up?"

Potter stumbled for a moment.

"W…well."

"They're going to all march off and follow a man who is a known murderer simply because of the house they were sorted into at school? That's putting rather a lot of pressure on the shoulders of a child."

"They want to…"

"Then if that's what you think then no wonder they follow him."

Potter blinked in surprise and even Lovegood and Longbottom stared at him in shock.

"What?"

"I said no wonder they follow him, because it seems as though even if they decided not to, they would just be persecuted by you anyway. You would call them untrustworthy and many other things. Have you ever thought that it is you that make these so called Death Eater's possible?"

Potter seemed to splutter but before he could say anything the door slid open again.

"There you guys are we've been looking all over…hey whose the kid?"

Toshiro looked up to see a tall red haired male framed in the doorway. Dark freckles dusted his face and his blue eyes regarded Toshiro with something like mistrust. Behind him was a bushy haired girl with brown eyes. Both were already dressed in their Hogwarts uniforms and were staring at the scene with confusion.

"What's going on?" the girl asked.

Toshiro snapped his book shut before anyone could speak and quickly got to his feet, slinging his zanpakuto from its place on his lap up onto his back.

"Nothing of concern. If you will excuse me I have to use the bathroom."

Toshiro smoothly passed between the two other children. He just managed to hear the red heads voice inquire a second time as to what was happening before Toshiro was around the bend and away.

He made a quick beeline for the toilet, taking a quick look around to check to see if he was alone before dashing into the nearest cubical and locking the door. He sat on the toilet seat with his legs crossed and pulled Hyorinmaru from his back, laying the zanpakuto across his lap he closed his eyes and took a deep calming breathe.

Are you calm now Master?

Toshiro opened his eyes and saw the large ice dragon staring at him with his blood red eyes. The icy glazier was surrounded by mountains of snow and the wind howled and whipped about as though agitated.

I've been better.

I can feel your frustration.

Toshiro huffed. You would be to if you had to put up with that.

I understand why you are upset.

I'm not upset Hyorinmaru I'm just pissed off.

The dragon chuckled and Toshiro felt some of his anger start to ebb away. Those kids really had wound him up the wrong way. First interrupting his reading, then the hair comments and trying to touch Hyorinmaru, didn't they understand the concept of look but do not touch? Especially with an object that did not belong to them. Then there was the argument. Toshiro had not known much about Hogwarts, Flitwick had been fairly tight lipped and Toshiro had not been inclined to question him on the subject, seen as he would be going to the school in just a few short weeks, but still, what kind of school encouraged separatism in such a way?

Your being dramatic Master.

You can't deny it though.

I'm not saying that the way they split the students is foolish and should be done on a better basis than personality, especially the personality of 11 year olds. But the idea of houses themselves is not a separatist notion, it is a way to foster community and bring comfort to the young children that are probably living away from home for the first time in their lives.

Toshiro frowned. Ok maybe Hyorinmaru had a point. But still what that Potter boy had said...

They seem to hate Slytherin's though.

Yes I noticed.

All because of the views and actions of a few associated with those in the house? That would be like Seireitei throwing out the entire 11th division just because Kempachi broke another building, or something equally as volatile.

That is how it is though Master. Hate is an easy thing to feel.

Toshiro huffed it was hard not to, the Potter boy was practically seething killing intent, even the other two didn't protest to what he said. Why were such a group discriminated against so harshly? Simply because of the actions of one man that had ties to the house in some way or another? That was a pretty silly thing for people to hold a grudge against them for. Of course Toshiro did not condone what the man was doing, and if people of that house did follow his doctrines then they were foolish to do so. But maybe they would not feel the need to do so, if they felt they could be accepted by those around them.

Adults teach children what they want them to know. If the hatred starts and is passed on it continues to grow over time.

I know Hyorinmaru, I know, but I find the whole thing disturbing.

Unless it affects your mission you shouldn't interfere with it, you are here for reconnaissance Master, not to solve this world's problems for them.

Toshiro nodded his head, but he couldn't help but feel a stab of guilt at leaving things like they were. He knew how it felt to be discriminated against, he had been nearly his whole life. What with only having Grandmother and Momo not look at him as if he was some freak or curse. It was only when he became a Shinigami that he had finally achieved some sort of acceptance, but even then the scars of his past still haunted him.

Hyorinmaru slid forward and curled his body around his young Master, offering what comfort he could as the memories surfaced. Toshiro pushed into the cold scales and tried his best to push the thoughts back.

He didn't know how long they stayed like that but suddenly a large banging noise cut through the silence and Toshiro's eyes snapped open. He was still sat on the toilet seat and he could feel the train had stopped and the sound of feet along the corridor outside heralded that it was time to disembark.

How long had he been meditating? He thought before jumping to his feet and pulling his zanpakuto across his back and opening the toilet door and rushing out of the bathroom. He dashed along the corridor weaving in and out of the other students; all dressed in their Hogwarts uniforms. He finally made it back to the compartment and was thankful that the thing was empty. He went to his truck and quickly threw open the lid. He pulled his robes over his head and tried his best to fasten them up as best he could, after some hesitation he quickly grabbed his wand as well. By the time he was finished the corridor was nearly empty. Toshiro took a breath and started to make his way to the exit.

A cracking sound caught Toshio's attention and he stopped just before a compartment door.

"That's from my Father. Now, let's see…"

A shuffle and a ruffle of cloth.

"I don't reckon they'll find you till the trains back in London. See you around Potter…or not."

The compartment door slid open and Toshiro was greeted by a sight of a silver haired male. Well silver was perhaps a strange word to describe the boy's hair, very light blonde almost as white as Toshiro's own but along the lines of Gin's colouring. That thought rather disturbed Toshiro. His skin was pale and his eyes a stormy grey. He was small and slight, but Toshiro could make out some muscle, especially around the arms, long and lean. He was dressed in his Hogwarts robes which were neat and pressed and looked rather expensive.

The boy turned to look at Toshiro who merely gazed back blankly. The boy stared at him for a moment before tilting his head and walking away. Toshiro watched him go before looking into the compartment. It was empty apart from the trucks stacked in the corner. Who had the boy been talking to then?

There's a presence in here Master.

Where?

On the floor, it seems to be cloaked.

Toshiro glanced at the floor and thought for a second he could see something moving. He concentrated for a second and in a flash he caught a glimpse of reiatsu. His lip curled slightly.

Potter.

Indeed Master.

Toshiro hesitated for a second, what should he do? Should he help him? Undo whatever the silver haired child had done and walk away? Or simply let things be?

Toshiro pondered a moment before turning his back swiftly and walking down the corridor.

You're going to just leave him there Master?

No, I'm just not going to be the one to help him.

Toshiro quickly left the train and as he stepped down he saw a young woman with bright hair watching the crowd by one of the outside compartment doors. Toshiro quickly crossed to her and tapped her arm.

"Yes?" she said shocked, obviously not expecting anyone to approach her.

"Sorry for bothering you but there seems to be someone still on the train, in one of the first compartments. I think he could use a hand."

"Oh right thank you."

The woman smiled at him before bustling off towards the train exit. Toshiro watched her go, yes he wouldn't help the Potter boy himself, but that didn't mean he would just leave him. What kind of Captain would that make him?

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