Disclaimer: I own nothing so it's really pointless to try and sue me.
Neglected Grey
Chapter 2;
A New Arrival
A figure, clad in muggle jeans with a matching jacket studied the great castle before him. The air was heavy with the promise of rain, the castle overhung by dark clouds. The wind whipped his soft golden hair, tangling it and throwing it into dark contrast with his pale, slightly tanned features. Yet the boy remained motionless, simply studying, his eyes the only sign, other than the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest, that he was alive. Abruptly his gaze flickered to the trees, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his stiletto as he searched for some sort of disturbance in the peace. However, midnight is hardly the time for an enemy to rise from its bed in an effort to attack. Growling slightly to himself, he turned and strode towards the dark shape of the castle, his steps light and measured along the gravel path.
The boy had changed from the five-year-old in the woods, lessons of a harsh life ingrained in his being. A pupil of Master Zen Yoshida, he had come to learn the ways of Ninjitsu and respect the art. Yoshida had discovered him on his vacation to Europe and adopted him. Together, they had returned to his home in Canada. With age, his powers in Magery grew, expanding beyond his Masters' teaching capabilities. Thoughts of the school he had been raised in ran through his head, but he pushed them away, clearing his mind to focus on the task at hand. He quickened his pace, effortlessly remaining on the balls of his feet, eager to reach the school's boundaries.
A great iron gate barred his way, and he smirked inwardly, his features remaining detached and emotionless. Raising his hand, a small flame flickered into being, illuminating his features completely. Intelligent, liquid amber eyes studied the gate before him. His rosy pouting lips held the barest trace of a smile, his high aristocratic cheekbones accenting them all the more fully. Two honey-colored eyebrows rose slightly at the rather unchallenging lock. The spells were designed to keep out unwanted guests, but he was a mage and quite above the slight of hand tricks used by wizards and witches.
Rapidly the flame grew, leaping from his fingers and twisting around the metal lock like a vine around a tree. Smirking openly now, he fed the fire with mage power, tearing into the essence of the spells and bending them to his will. A flash of white answered him and the flame spread to encompass the entire gate. Sighing, he relented. If he continued to play with it, he'd end up waking the whole blasted school when he wanted his entrance to be relatively unnoticed. Shaking his head at the obliviousness of the sleeping inhabitants, he let the flame die down.
'Let me pass,' he murmured in his Canadian accent. The gates seemed to sigh before the lock clicked open and the chains slithered back, allowing the doors to swing inwards. They did so with a rusty whine, clanging against the perimeter fence, and he stepped through gracefully. They clashed back to their previous positions, the echo seeming to surround him before fleeing across the grounds. He sighed inwardly; at least they had only decided to grace him with a little noise. He knew they could easily have woken the entire school should they have chosen to. In retaliation, he sent a hot spark of flame at them before continuing on his way. The angered gates clattered loudly in response.
It took the ninja all of twenty minutes to reach the stone gargoyle that he determined led to the headmaster's office. However, what demons they had trapped inside did not seem to be nearly as relenting as the gates. Groaning, he settled for a simple Summoning to gain the attention to the Professor. Waving his hand, a reddish-orange glow appeared in the middle of the darkened hallway. Swiftly it grew, a crimson vortex swirling in its center as the fire formed an outer ring. A spark slipped off and through the gargoyle, which shuddered and let out an earthy growl similar to the sound of rock grating against rock. Encouraged, he waited before the sleeping face of Albus Dumbledore appeared in the center of the vortex.
'Professor!' he called harshly, grinning as the man nearly jumped out of his skin, 'I would have come up and knocked, but it seems your guardian is rather rude in that regard.'
The expression on his face was priceless, and he nearly collapsed in a fit of laughter. He held his training in check, however, and his neutral expression only wavered the slightest bit. The poor man looked on the verge of a heart attack. Gradually he seemed to compose himself and studied the Summoning Mirror with interest.
'Sirius?' he asked, slightly disoriented, 'What is this contraption that you've set upon me?'
'Actually, I'm his son, Gregory Black; but just 'Greg's' cool. And this contraption that I've supposedly 'set' on you is a Summoning Mirror, used by mages to get a hold of someone's attention. It's great for communication, better than the phone or a web camera. But that's beside the point. Can I come up?' he replied, grinning broadly by this point.
'Of course, child, of course,' Albus replied and he nearly scowled but held himself in check. He Banished the Mirror before chuckling slightly at the poor headmaster's expense.
The gargoyle growled at him menacingly as it slid away to reveal a revolving flight of steps, the banister topped by a golden phoenix. He smirked at it, striking off a blast of power simply to anger it after stepping through the doorway. The stairs continued to twist upwards until they had carried him to a great oak door beset with many charms, spells and curses. It swung open for him and he thanked it silently, glad he didn't have to deal with another insufferable object. Those floating stairs had tried to drop him at every chance.
The office itself was adorned richly in folds of silk and other materials. The throw rug was a skinned polar bear that winked up at her when he glanced at it. Trinkets of every description adorned shelves thrust mercilessly upon the unsuspecting walls. But most impressive of all was the paintings where various people snored.
One man sat alert in his frame; black hair adorned the top of the roughly thirty-something Asian male. His robes were a Jaybird blue, accenting the vivid blue eyes.
'Hello,' he said quietly when his eyes fixed upon her.
'Good morning, Mr. Black. Clever trick with the gates and the headmaster's guardian. My name is Richards,' the portrait replied.
'Thank you. However, I must ask that you call me Greg. I hate being called Mr. or Black,' Greg replied with a small smile, 'how did you know about my "tricks", sir?'
'I simply used a similar trick to your Summoning Mirror, Greg,' Richards replied, 'However, mine is invisible due to the fact that my mage powers lie in air.'
'You were a mage?' Greg asked quietly.
'The mage of wind, just as you are the mage of fire, Greg,' Richards replied.
'You must have a fairly good idea of what goes on within the school, then,' Greg replied thoughtfully.
'Quite. Though I hardly divulge my knowledge without good reason,' Richards replied.
'Understandable, though would you be able to tell me if any other mages are here?' Greg asked.
'I will not give you their identities, that would be telling. Though I can promise you that you will find all three here,' Richards replied.
'Thank you, sir,' Greg replied. The conversation ended, however, because Albus Dumbledore chose that moment to enter the room, almost unnoticeable were it not for Greg's training.
'Good morning, sir,' he greeted cheerfully, noting that it seemed to irritate the older man though he was rather proficient at hiding it. Behind him, Richards turned his laughter into a hacking cough.
'Hello, child. Are you alright Professor Richards?' Dumbledore asked and the man nodded from behind his hand, concealing his broad grin, 'Good. Now then, Mr. Black, what brings you to Hogwarts at such an ungodly hour?'
'I come to inquire about a position in Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts. My sensei, Master Zen Yoshida, is convinced that Hogwarts would be the most efficient school to apply my particular attributes,' he answered, pulling a file out of his back pocket that could never have fit in there if it remained normal sized. He sat in the chintz armchair Dumbledore gestured to and waited as the old wizard examined it over his half moon spectacles. The files were complete and it would take him at least half an hour to read them through.
'Tea?' he suggested, summoning a tray of the hot liquid equipped with biscuits and green tea leaves from a Japanese Banta tree. The headmaster nodded absently and accepted the proffered cup without a second thought.
'A mage and a ninja at just nineteen? Well, you could certainly prove yourself in these days, young Black,' the headmaster told him as he peered at him over his half moon spectacles.
'Undoubtedly, headmaster, but I wish to strengthen and hone my skills, not become involved in the wars of the Wizarding world,' he told him quietly.
'You choose to remain neutral, then?' he asked calmly, sighing when he nodded, 'Very well, Mr. Black, perhaps you would do me a favor in any case. There is a student here, by the name of Harry Potter, who I would ask that you keep an eye on.'
'The one whose blood everyone from the "dark" side is after and the savior of the "light" side?' Greg asked, nearly adding finger points to accent his amusement. He found his restraint would be admirable, had he the audacity to point it out.
'Yes, I am afraid so,' Dumbledore replied morosely, 'I am simply unable to watch him at all times and would ask for your assistance.'
'Perhaps he should receive training rather than a babysitter. The ones who really need to be watched are the children of Tom's friends,' Greg replied simply.
'What would you suggest?' Dumbledore asked, his eyes twinkling. Greg already understood that the headmaster believed things were going his way in his attempt to manipulate him. He smirked inwardly, hearing the echoing chuckle of his fire power.
'Perhaps I could train him and keep an eye on the Death Eater children?' he suggested.
'That would be an excellent idea. I will have young Mr. Potter meet you in the Great Hall at seven a.m. the first morning of classes,' Albus exclaimed, the twinkle in his eyes nearly blinding in its intensity.
'No, the day after we will begin. But he should meet my by the lake at four a.m.' she answered and then looked thoughtful, 'However, I will need a place to stay, preferably away from prying eyes and ears.'
'I can give you a room on the third floor,' the headmaster answered agreeably, 'You will find a portrait of a wolf. The password is 'Candy Canes' but you may change it if you wish. Would you also be willing to train other students?'
The rapid change of subject had been in an effort to disorient him and he refused to fall for that particular trick.
'If I do it will be by my own choosing,' he replied calmly, his demeanor remaining calm and comforting.
'Ah, yes, of course,' Albus replied, the disappointment flickering on his face for only a moment, 'Well, off to bed with you. I'm sure you've had a long journey. You may join us for breakfast in the Great Hall if you feel fit enough, or when you are comfortably rested.'
'Thank you, headmaster,' he answered, rising to leave, 'Enjoy the rest of your evening. Goodnight, Professor Richards.'
With that the ninja turned gracefully on her heel and left the room.
Okay, I took like forever, but at least it's up. Please review!
Me