The Magic Inquisition
Thanks for the response everyone. Quick thing that I did not post, this takes place from OOTP and after the Winter War. Enjoy today's chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Harry Potter.
"Normal speech"
'Inner speech/thoughts'
"Kido/Zanpakuto Attacks/Quincy Techniques"
"Zanpakuto speech/Inner Power"
"Hollow speech"
XXX
Chapter 1:
"So what did you mean by going back to the source?" Ichigo asked as they arrived back at the Urahara Shop, before following the shopkeeper into his study.
"I mean that we need to fully understand what we're about to study, before we go out there and try to investigate them," Kisuke answered, rummaging around for several papers, before promptly tossing them onto a table for Ichigo to peruse.
"Not that I doubt your approach, but why go through all this effort if we're only interested in how they cheated death?" Ichigo asked, as he poked gingerly through the plethora of notes Kisuke had collected so far.
"When the Soul Society investigates a species or race, they gather all facts about them, relevant or otherwise," Kisuke explained breathlessly, still shuffling about his study. "If the initial concerns proved to be false, there's no need for them to act. But they if another issue pops up, then they are already up and running and can pursue that thought."
"So what kind of timeline does that give us? They're certainly not going to be able to get this all over the course of a weekend right?" Ichigo asked, stepping to the side to avoid the scientist in his frenzied dash around the room.
"We have a year maybe more, but we are racing against their official inquisition. They will pick apart every technique that they can use, weigh up the potential benefits or hurts that it cause and then put forth their recommendations to the Captain Commanders."
"So we need to research what their 'spells' are capable of. That sounds easy enough," Ichigo commented with a smile.
"Yes but that's only part of our task Kurosaki-san and the part that you'll most likely spend the least amount of time on. Your most important task is determining who cheated death and how," Kisuke explained, placing down the photo of a teenager with black hair on the table.
"Okay so what do you want me to do? And who's this?"
"Well I've discovered that, apart from the individual that sparked this investigation, there is one other that seems to have survived a potentially fatal attack," he explained, pointing to the boy in the photo. "His name is Harry Potter and he is a student at a school called Hogwarts."
"Never heard of it," Ichigo muttered with a frown, drawing a chuckle from Kisuke.
"Of course you haven't, it's a school for witches and wizards. Anyway, Potter-san is a survivor of a spell that is apparently guaranteed to kill whomever it's used on. He survived this spell at age one and is currently fourteen years old. I trust you can see why we're interested in him. The other person that is said to have survived it is incidentally the same person that tried to use it on Potter-san, a villain by the name of Voldemort."
"Voldemort? What the hell does that mean?" Ichigo asked his expression slightly incredulous. Having spent some time going through Aizen's experiences with Kyoka Suigetsu, he knew that the madman had never entertained the idea of giving himself a nickname.
"I don't know and quite frankly that's the last thing that should concern us. What does concern us is that he apparently died after trying to kill Potter-san, who just this year has claimed that he has returned from the dead," Kisuke explained, before pointing to a really demeaning article of the teen in a faded newspaper.
"So a kid that's supposed to have lived fourteen years too long and a guy that's come back after fourteen years…basically if I do meet them and I see that they are in fact alive, this basically proves that they've broken a law that they didn't even know about?" Ichigo asked, getting a shake of the head from Kisuke.
"Not exactly. If we can prove that they never passed away, neither of them can be said to have returned from the dead, thus no law has been broken."
"Okay, so where do you want me to start?"
"Well since you are still a high school student, I was hoping that you would be able to befriend him in that environment. After that, we can move on to the man who we have next to no information on."
"You want me to attend Hogwarts? But I don't…oh," he said with a sound of understanding, catching the gleam of excitement in Kisuke's eye. "You want me to use Kyoka's Complete Hypnosis to make them think I'm a wizard. How are we even going to get me admitted though? I know you've managed to get the Soul Reapers into human schools before, but surely they'll question why I just started attending out of the blue."
"Yes they would. That's why we're going to pay a visit to the Headmaster in a few days. I'm hoping that I am still persuasive enough to get what I want. I do have one piece of bad news for you though. You are of course aware of how…unapproachable you can be yes?"
"Well I don't smile a lot that's true, but I don't think that makes me unapproachable." 'Michiru was able to muster up the courage to ask me out after all,' he thought, his mood dampening slightly as he thought back to the shy girl.
"Well yes, but your scowl, it can be quite intimidating even on your worst days. So I was thinking that maybe we can tweak your appearance if only a little."
"What were you thinking exactly?" Ichigo asked, his eyes focussed on Kisuke as he opened a drawer and reached into it and withdrew a small item. "Oh hell no! I refuse! There's no way in hell you'll get me to wear that!"
XXX
Within the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore sat at his desk, several sheaves of parchment around him as he drew up various plans to either halt, or hinder Voldemort's return to power.
Ever since the End-of-Term Feast, he'd spent nearly every waking moment on this arduous task, while being constantly stone-walled or ridiculed by the Magical Community.
What occupied his mind at the moment though, was a strange request that had arrived a few days ago by a butterfly of all things. Within the letter, he found a request for a meeting between himself and a man named Kisuke Urahara, and his student Ichigo Kurosaki. The purpose, as Kisuke had explained, was for Hogwarts to play host to the young Ichigo for perhaps a year, maybe more, as he wished to experience the contrasting styles in magic and education between two differing countries.
While he understood the boy's wish to see how other cultures interpreted magic, he was a bit perplexed that he had chosen Hogwarts over several other institutions far closer to his home nation of Japan.
Nevertheless, he had replied that he would gladly meet the pair and they had settled on today for their meeting. Considering the eight hour time difference, they had all agreed on meeting at 10:00am BST, making it just after breakfast for him and just after dinner for them.
As expected at about 9:50am a house elf popped into his office, informing him that two guests had arrived to meet him and were being led to his office at that very moment. Gathering his plans together, he hastily filed them away into his desk and waited patiently for his guests.
Minutes later, there was a soft knock at his door, prompting him to invite them in. As yet another house elf bowed its head to him, it beckoned to two people to come in. Kisuke seemed to be in his early thirties and wore a casual ensemble of green pants, a green gi and a large dark green jacket. The most curious items of his clothing though, were the wooden clogs, green and white striped bucket hat and cane he carried, making him seem like a more comical version of Lord Malfoy, though he was sure that neither man knew of the other's style.
Ichigo in comparison was far more subdued in his appearance, wearing a pair of black jeans and a green hoodie with a skull emblazoned on the back with the hood thrown up to hide his face. Sheathed at his waist though, was a green katana that caused Dumbledore some measure of alarm internally.
"Gentleman," he said in that grandfatherly tone of voice he used so often, as he stood to greet them, "My name is Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
"Kisuke Urahara and might I just add what a pleasure it is to meet someone of your stature Dumbledore-san," Kisuke said with a smile, taking Dumbledore's hand in his own. "There's no need to be shy anymore Kurosaki-san, we're far away from your friends now so there's no need to hide anymore," he said with a chuckle, glancing over his shoulder at Ichigo.
Hearing the teen grumble something under his breath, Dumbledore was surprised when he pulled down the hood of his sweatshirt, revealing a mop of spiky orange hair. Initially Dumbledore thought that he had hidden under his hood because of his hair, but the source of his frustration seemed to be the rectangular black glasses he wore, as he seemed to make every effort to not look through them. Seeing that the teen was greeting him, he quickly replied back in kind.
"Now as you explained in your letter, it seems to me that Ichigo here wishes to attend Hogwarts. Is this true?" Dumbledore asked, gesturing for them to sit as he did so.
"Ah yes it is. You see Dumbledore-san, there is no institute dedicated to the education of young witches and wizards in Japan, with most of them learning the skills needed through apprenticeships with accomplished witches and wizards such as myself. Ichigo has expressed to me an interest in seeing how the average apprenticeship in Japan compares to actually attending an institution and so I contacted you to aid us in this endeavour."
"I see, but why not attend another school, closer to Japan?"
"Ah well most of the Asian continent only offer apprenticeships and as for the schools that do exist, well Kurosaki-san doesn't exactly speak their language. He is however quite fluent in English, a side-effect of having a love of Shakespeare I'm told," he said with a light laugh, causing Dumbledore to chuckle along with him while Ichigo pouted.
"I see, well we'd be more than willing to offer Mr. Kurosaki a place here, but the question is what year do you expect him to enter. If he has already been with you for a few years, putting him among our junior students would be a waste, but unfortunately there are many that would protest if I simply put him in with the senior students without testing him, or at the very least having the necessary reports from other testing institutions."
"Ah yes we did neglect to actually attend the examinations," Kisuke said with an uneasy chuckle. "Perhaps he could join your…Fifth Years I think it was? They do write their O.W.L.s then don't they?
"That is correct and I don't expect there to be too many objections from either our staff or the Board of Governors."
"Wonderful. Could you also be so kind as to provide us with a list of spells that the students are already expected to know by now? It would allow me to fill any gaps in his knowledge before the start of the new term."
"I understand, especially since most schools don't follow the same curriculum," Dumbledore said with a smile, using his wand to summon an overview of what was expected from an O.W.L student. "Also this is the list with the various items that he will need for this school year, as well as his ticket for the Hogwarts Express," he explained as he summoned a letter filled with content that was normally sent to all First-Year students. "I do have one question though. Do you plan on bringing that sword with you Mr. Kurosaki?"
"I was planning to yes," Ichigo answered, staring down at Kyoka Suigetsu. "I created it as the focus for my powers. It would be meaningless to leave it behind."
"I'm afraid that you will have to do just that Mr. Kurosaki as we do not allow weapons such as those within our walls," Dumbledore said, his tone sombre.
"Ah if I might interrupt," Kisuke said as he intervened in the situation. "While I understand your reluctance Dumbledore-san, that sword is akin to Kurosaki-san's wand. If you will not allow him to keep it in that form, perhaps you'd allow him to keep it in another guise?"
"If it acts as his wand, then I will agree to your compromise, but I need you to understand, that we do not allow such weapons to be carried here unless it is for ceremonial purposes. Well gentleman, I trust that this meeting has been as fruitful as you hoped and Mr. Kurosaki I look forward to seeing you again on the 1st of September."
"I hope I don't disappoint you sir," Ichigo replied with a brief bow, before shaking hands with Dumbledore as Kisuke led them out.
Once they left the grounds though, a grimace appeared on Ichigo's face, before he tore the glasses off of him, staring at them with barely veiled disgust. "Did you have to make them so similar to Aizen's? I feel tainted simply wearing them."
"Now, now Kurosaki-san, they give you a gentle, scholarly look, exactly what we need for your cover story here. Now then, shall we be off to acquire the items you'll need for your next school year? And then there's still the matter of informing your friends and family of your departure. We simply don't have any time to waste." Stabbing his cane into the air, he opened a senkaimon that would gate them directly into his underground area.
"I thought they made you look a little cute and sophisticated," Kyoka commented from within his inner world, drawing a grunt from Ichigo.
'I still haven't figured out what I'm going to say to Yuzu and Karin about disappearing for a year. Do you think they'll accept that I was drafted to attend a year-long trial to evaluate if I was up to their standards?"
"I wouldn't believe it, but I might believe that you've been chosen as part of a Cultural Exchange Program to experience other ways of life. It's based on what you're actually doing and will be much easier to accept than you being on a year-long fighting spree."
'True and it sort of makes sense too. I just hope that Kisuke will be able to waylay any Soul Reapers that come looking for me while I'm there.'
"You told them quite clearly to leave you alone, or they'd risk having you as an enemy. What part of that makes you think that they'd want to meet you?"
'Considering that you spent the better part of two centuries around them, I would've thought you'd know.'
"Touché."
XXX
And that's the chapter done. A lot of boring speeches, but I've at least explained what their task is and how they plan to do it. And Harry is a person of interest in their investigation. Let's hope that nothing too serious happens to him. (*nudge* *nudge* *wink* *wink*)
Till next time, bye-bye.
PS. If you're curious as to what his glasses look like, Google Levi Glasses and pick your favourite one. For me personally they're a pair of black, rectangular frames with hints of red on the ends of the arms.