Chapter 2: Familiar Conversations
Entering, the Headmaster and the Potions Master found two velvet pillows outlaid before a low desk, which the young Toshiro Hitsugaya was seated. Covering the shell encrusted desk, was an outspread of parchment held in place by two paperweights on either side, to the very right, laid an inkwell and a damp brush; recently in use. Seating themselves, the two professors scanned their student with slight surprise.
Dressed in dark navy robes, the boy's hair was longer and drooped slightly as he glared at them with his usual icy one, his teal orbs as brilliant and intelligent as ever. His usual teal scarf was replaced with a golden one, matching the boy's majestic robes as a golden dragon in mid-roar was woven menacing on the center, grasping a crescent moon in it's claws. With a golden belt with a chain going down to his ankles, the ice captain appeared exactly what he claimed to be and more so. But what had surprised the professors was however, that despite of becoming what would be fifteen, the white-haired transfer appeared to be no more than twelve, thirteen at the greatest estimate.
"Mr. Hitsugaya." Dumbledore greeted as the ice captain bowed his head, nodding as he quirked a white eyebrow.
"Headmaster, and Professor Snape." Toshiro nodded, going straight to business. "You have requested an audience with me and Ukitake. But unfortunately, he has succumbed to his illness this morning, and had to forego your visit, sending his regards. I hope you understand the circumstances."
"I see." Dumbledore nodded as he gave the boy a look of concern, while Snape merely quirked an eyebrow. "I hope he will get better soon, Mr. Hitsugaya."
"It is a minor mishap." Hitsugaya waved aside as he sent the both of them a glare. "What business does the professors of Hogwarts have with the Eastern World? I presume that this is no greeting trip that you have taken up upon; especially with the school year beginning in a month."
Dumbledore smiled in mirth as Snape merely narrowed his eyes as the former spoke, his eyes twinkling with a mixture of pride, amusement, and mischief before they grew steeled. "That is Mr. Hitsugaya for you. Correct as always, Captain Hitsugaya. But we have come with a warning."
"Oh?" Toshiro feigned ignorance as he was well aware of the warning.
"Lord Voldemort has returned." Dumbledore said as the former Death Eater flinched ever so slightly, not missing the ice captain as his teal orbs flickered over the Potions Master before going back to the Headmaster. "Last year, Hogwarts had housed the Triwizard Tournament…"
Dumbledore went on to explain the events of the previous year, that Harry Potter's name was placed in by Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody, who was actually Barty Crouch Jr. in disguise, along with how the three tasks of the tournament ended up as a tragedy at the death of Cedric Diggory. Along with the grown power of Voldemort, in accordance to Potter, that the Dark Lord was resurrected through the use of his blood.
"And the Ministry of Magic's response?" Hitsugaya inquired, not condescending but not kindly neither.
"Cornelius is afraid." Dumbledore all but said as the ice captain held back a snort. Of course they are. The Dark Lord is back and what do the mighty and proud Ministry of Magic do? Oh, hide behind their mother's cloaks and hope that the monster goes away and delude themselves that they don't exist. It's not even pathetic anymore, it's damn embarrassingly pitiful.
But they're afraid, Master. Hyorinmaru sighed with a dark look. However, they are simply being foolish now. That even when their 'Chosen One' claims that the Dark Lord has returned, and yet they continue to delude themselves.
Yes, but that is so because of their fear. Sephiroth growled. They are so afraid that they would forsake all warning even from their savior to keep whatever broken order that they could salvage. Acknowledging it would ensue panic that they do not want to deal or see through.
Fear is not an excuse for ducking their heads into the dirt like cowards. Toshiro hissed internally as he rose an eyebrow at the Headmaster and the Potions Master in his external expression, appearing almost disinterested. "So, in other words, Minister Cornelius Fudge had put up a front that rumors of the Dark Lord's return is the delusions of a fourteen-year-old, all due to the fear that Voldemort has returned."
"Exactly." Snape commented with a note of snide.
"Which is why we have come to you as a word of warning and an offer, Mr. Hitsugaya." Dumbledore smiled softly. "Would you like to come back to Hogwarts and help us combat against Voldemort?"
"You are well aware just as I what it is you are asking me, Headmaster." Toshiro snapped as he lifted his brush, finishing the last of his paperwork as he set the paper aside to dry. "However, luckily, my grandfather wishes for me to return to Hogwarts, within a reasoning; of course."
"And that would be?" Snape sniped as the ice captain set his brush down, his teal orbs meeting Snape's ebony ones only to flicker back to the Headmaster's twinkling ones.
"To continue my education and further interactions with the Western Wizarding World." Toshiro replied, as he sported a thin smirk, relaying implicitly of what his true orders were to the professors who sent looks of their own versions of mirth as he fingered his yew wand, hidden in his sleeve. After all, what better place to build interactions and education than going to school in the midst of a terrifying panic?
"Then we look forward to seeing you in the halls of Hogwarts once more, Mr. Hitsugaya." Dumbledore smiled. "However, we would like you to keep an eye on Harry for us throughout the year. In our place, if you would, as how I would like to separate myself from the boy for a while."
"Potter has become quite reliant on you." Snape snapped, as the ice captain had to agree but said nothing as Dumbledore continued.
"But firstly, Mr. Hitsugaya, have you ever heard of the Order?"
"By the Order, I presume you are referring to the secret society in which you have set up to combat against Voldemort and his Death Eaters?" Toshiro stated, more a statement rather than a question as he received narrowed orbs and a surprised twinkle in response, as the ice captain elaborated with a soft sigh. "It would be idiotic of me and my grandfather to not research of whom was going to teach my education and be taking care of me for a near year. The Order of the Phoenix is only known by my society as a small army and nothing more. As far as the organization was concerned, after the deaths of the Potters, it was MIA."
Noting the slight flinch of the Potions Master at the death of the Potters, the ice captain merely folded his letter before inserting it into his sleeve, Dumbledore nodding.
"Yes, it was. But after Harry's proclamation that the Dark Lord has returned, I have decided that the Order must be brought back. Which brings us back to our offer, as a Captain of the Thirteen Court Squads, I would have offered you a place in the Order but you are in need to be of age." Dumbledore frowned, as if in the middle of a thin mishap. "And I would not risk an Aging Potion."
"That would not be a problem." Toshiro countered as he flicked out his wand, conjuring a transparent pair of dragons, one serpentine and of Eastern descent with the other of fearsome Western descent, the two of them curled over their master protectively as Toshiro undid the spell, smirking softly at the widened gazes of the professors, replacing the wand. "As you can see, the Ministry of Magic's Law of Underaged Wizardry has no jurisdiction over me as my Eastern magic and position as the heir of Yamamoto allows me leeway, if you will. And I, along with the rest of my adopted family for that matter, do not age as you do, due to our lineage of being spiritually aware and our practice of wandless magic, we are able to keep our youthfulness and appearance at one decimal. In a basic sense, I, for example, will not change appearance wise until I have reached the age of twenty and my 'father' will not change until he reaches a hundred and my grandfather until he is five hundred."
"Then dare say how old are you truly, Hitsugaya?" Dumbledore whispered, amazed as the ice captain rose an amused eyebrow.
"I am fifteen, just as Potter and his friends are; Headmaster." Toshiro smirked softly. "But I simply do not appear that way is all."
"Extraordinary." Dumbledore commented, before his gaze became hardened, as Snape scrutinized the captain with ebony orbs. "Then will you join us, Hitsugaya?"
Hook, line, and sinker. Toshiro thought as he hid his gaze under his bangs, his smirk hidden as he answered with an affirmative. It's just as easy as I remember.
Toshiro Hitsugaya Apparated with Dumbledore to find himself in a quaint yet cozy living room, the furniture musty but used regularly and the faint scent of cats, making the ice captain wrinkle his nose a bit, reminded slightly of his lieutenant. Snape declined outwardly to accompany them as the ice captain had excused himself to change, making several calls to the Head Captain and Urahara respectively, informing them that he would be leaving the palace, and what he had learned as of late in short, having sent Korihana a copy of the previous conversation to each.
Changed into an ebony button down shirt under a thin white tie and navy jeans over his legs, the ice captain sighed as he fixed the sleeves of his white jacket, his combat boots laced over his feet, teal orbs scanning his surroundings as he turned to his company with a risen eyebrow.
"Where are we, Headmaster?" Toshiro voiced as a woman entered the living room, her expression surprised.
She was a petit and fairly aged, her grizzled grey hair caught in a neat hairnet as she was dressed in a rosy warm dress that grandmother's seemed to take a liking to wear, holding a cup of freshly brewed tea, it was obvious that the old woman had just entered her own home, keys and grey purse in other hand. While she glanced at the ice captain with a questioning look, she appeared to know the Headmaster who greeted the woman who nodded the same.
"Mrs. Figg." Dumbledore greeted as the ice captain held his tongue. "I apologize for intruding upon your home but I have a request of you."
"Oh, Dumbledore." Mrs. Figg whispered timidly. "It's no problem. But who is this young child?"
Bristling at the child comment, the ice captain bit back a retort. Granny taught him better than to snap at aged grandmothers who only wanted to help.
Smiling, Dumbledore gestured to the ice captain, introducing the captain as a member of the Order and a more than qualified student to defend himself, despite the worried looks that the woman had sent. In the midst of the conversation, the ice captain had addressed another topic internally.
I doubt that the Ministry of Magic will simply allow Potter to continue spouting words that they would rather him not. Toshiro narrowed his teal orbs, as the ice dragons in his Inner World nodded. If the Ministry of Magic is indeed run by the same personnel, especially if it is Fudge, then they will try to silence Potter. Whether by peaceful or violent terms. The latter being the Central 46.
Then your decision, Master? Sephiroth voiced.
Nothing yet. Toshiro decided as he glanced to the house that currently housed the subject of their conversation, from the window. We cannot move recklessly if there is politics that are in play. If worse comes to worst, then I can negotiate otherwise to keep them at bay with Dumbledore. However, I would like to keep my interactions with the Ministry of Magic to a minimum.
Then we will have to simply stop the Ministry of Magic in making Potter break any laws that may make them have the leeway to silence him. Hyorinmaru growled as Toshiro bit back a frown. Meaning, follow the boy everywhere.
I hate politics and this Wizarding World in general. Toshiro hissed as he followed Dumbledore up to his temporary bedroom, having caught the gist of the conversation of how he would watch over Potter and Dumbledore sending an occasional member to assist to Mrs. Figg's insistence. After the two had seated themselves, Toshiro on the edge of the bed and Dumbledore on the single armchair, each nursing a small teacup of which Mrs. Figg had brewed for them; Toshiro narrowed his orbs over the Headmaster.
"Headmaster, there is something I must inform you." Toshiro began, his voice icy and cold but the ice captain made himself falter at the end a tad to display anxiety. Let the interrogation begin.
Picking up on the boy's rare display of hesitation, the Headmaster smiled assuringly as he gestured for the boy before him to continue, who nodded. Breathing a small breath, the ice captain set his tea cup with a soft clink, before reaching in his pocket, revealing a shrunken velvet box.
"Engorgio." Toshiro commanded with a pointed spell of his wand, as the velvet box grew in suitable size as the ice captain ordered, the curiously twinkling orbs of Dumbledore watching carefully. Opening the box with a soft crack, the ice captain presented it to the Headmaster, who blinked and hitched his breath in surprise at the box's contents.
It was the Lost Diadem of Ravenclaw.
Polished until the point it gleamed, Dumbledore's reflection back at him, the diadem glowed softly with ancient magic as the raven outspread its diamond wings, in the center, its sapphire body, glinting in radiating setting sun. Placing a terse hand over the tiara, the Headmaster paused, looking up to the transfer student in awe.
"Where did you find this, Mr. Hitsugaya?" Dumbledore questioned in wonder, as he eyed the diadem with an experienced eye.
"I-It was by accidental circumstances, really…" Toshiro mumbled before making his expression flush a bit as he played out his lies. "I was using the Time-Turner to stop by the dormitories in the Seventh Floor Corridor when I found the diadem appear before me, velvet box and all, unopened as if it was waiting for me. At first, I had thought that it was something that someone had left behind, but then after a closer inspection, I realized what it was."
"I see." Dumbledore nodded as he seemed to grow darker, his gaze fearful for the ice captain rather than anything else. "Mr. Hitsugaya, did you sense something off with the diadem when you encountered it? Anything strange or that was not right?"
Furrowing his white eyebrow, the ice captain internally smirked as he allowed a fearful look to flicker his external expression, before in contorted to slight shame, not meeting the Headmaster's eyes. "A Dark presence did seem to arise when I touched it. However, it was for a mere half-second, therefore, I was unharmed."
"Then why is it now that I am informed of this?" The teal orbs flicked up to find relief and mischief playing in those twinkling orbs, unnoticed by the latter.
"Confused as to what to do with it, I had decided to take it to my father, seeing as at the time, the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts were unknowns and enigmas at best to me." Toshiro explained as he allowed more blood to flush his cheeks.
"I understand, Mr. Hitsugaya." Dumbledore smiled finally as his gaze turned to the diadem. "But did your father or grandfather inform you of what that foreboding presence was?"
"No. They did not." Toshiro looked up with iciness as he answered, his childish expression gone as his indifferent expression rose an eyebrow. "It was the reverse. It was I, who informed them that the diadem contained a Horcrux."
Dumbledore met the ice captain with a look that consisted a mixture of shock, awe, and sympathy; a familiar one that the captain had seen others wear when they found out he was a captain. And a damn good one at that, dammit.
"A Horcrux, you say?" Dumbledore spoke as he regained his composure, gesturing for the ice captain to explain. "How did you find such knowledge to be able to identify that, Mr. Hitsugaya?"
"In the library, Headmaster." Toshiro replied, as he met the Headmaster's scrutiny. "Within the Restricted Section, manuscripts and texts are littered with excerpts on Horcruxes. Putting the readings and what I felt from the diadem, I had conjectured that perhaps, if there was a student who had done the same before me, then it maybe…"
"…Have you ever heard of being too perceptive for your own good, Mr. Hitsugaya?" Ignoring the laughter from the two dragons in his Inner World, the ice captain merely smiled a ghost of one, as the Headmaster explained the life of Tom Marvolo Riddle, and his later and more infamous title, Lord Voldemort.
It was in the wee hours into the next morning when the Headmaster had left, Mrs. Figg dropping off dinner and Butterbeers for both of them which Toshiro declined in the midst of their conversation. Bidding the ice captain good night, Mrs. Figg was a suitable host. She never bothered the ice captain and he didn't with her, therefore, they shared her home comfortably after he offered to assist her with the dishes.
Seating himself in the guest bedroom, the ice captain scanned the contents once more, teal orbs calculating and planning. A twin bed with a thin white canopy overhead, with transparent curtains; a bedside table and an armchair by the window as a desk was placed beside the door.
Perfect. The ice captain smirked as he placed his usual defenses over the curtains, window, and door; taking no chances. Writing a full report to the Head Captain for Korihana to send, who did so with look, that was similar to the one the ice captain had whenever he rose an eyebrow, eyeing the heavier than usual letter before she took off.
Eyeing the home of 4 Privet Drive, the ice captain seated himself on the velvety blue armchair, his teal orbs icy and darkened. Now, then. Let's watch how well you can screw up before school starts, Potter.
Master, Dumbledore has explained well as to who Voldemort is, but do you believe it to be valid? Sephiroth questioned as he and Hyorinmaru solidified themselves behind their master in their humanoid forms; Toshiro's gaze fixed to the home as they continued to speak mentally.
Yes. Their master replied. The Headmaster has no reason to lie to me, he already has his hands tied with the Ministry of Magic, Potter, and the Order for that matter. Not to mention the repercussions that may escalate if he did, he is well aware that they are not ideal if he feeds me lies.
Then what do you make of Voldemort's history? Hyorinmaru questioned.
Idiotic. Toshiro growled, as he narrowed his teal orbs. Orphaned and then suddenly, he was a wizard. Filled with self-importance, he tried to find a way to escape the eventuality of death, by severing his soul into damnation. As if that would save him.
But haven't we heard this story before, Master? Hyorinmaru inquired as the ice captain nodded as all three turned to the desolate boy who wandered listlessly in his bedroom.
If Potter had been sent to an orphanage, perhaps he would have turned out like Riddle, however, another similarity concerns me. Toshiro voiced, his teal orbs flickering to his own hands. My own cover story is not that far off from Potter's and Riddle's for that matter. So, how the hell do I fit into this scene as the Master of the Ivory Wand? And this Elder Wand for that matter?
