I had expected to update sooner but I was not too happy with the way the chapter was turning out so have procrastinated a very long time. Sorry. I don't know when I will update next but hopefully it will be soon.

Repost: 12/12/12

A/N update: I am reposting this chapter due to a number of spelling errors that have been pointed out to me. I should have got my BETA to look it over before posting it. The contents of the chapter it's self has not been changed so if you have already read this chapter then there is no need to re-read it.

Talking: "I am talking."

Japanese: "I am talking Japanese."

Thinking/mental discussion: 'I am thinking.'

Sorting Hat: 'I am a Hat'

Writing/flashback: I am writing/having a flashback.

Previously:

They were halfway across the lake when a grey tentacle shot out of the water, slowly wrapping around the first year in the boat with them. They gave each other significant looks. The tentacle belonged to a demon.

Rin went to pull out his gun, ready to shoot, but Yukio shook his head discreetly.

'Too dark.' he seemed to say, and instead removed one of his numerous guns, flicked on the silencer and then pulled the trigger with careful aim. The demon gave a massive roar before retreating back to the depths of the lake, the tentacle catching the mousy haired first year and pulling him out of the boat into the water.

Rin swore silently before jumping in after him, cursing the magical world's flamboyant clothing style, as the robes dragged him down as he swam towards the struggling first year. Rin wrapped his arm around the boy's middle and strained against the pressure of the water, keeping their heads above the surface with difficulty. Rain splashed the water in his face, getting in his eyes and obscuring his view. His grip slid on the shivering boy, whose eyes were starting to flutter closed.

"Come on, kid! Stay with me!" Rin shook the boy, trying to keep him awake. "What's your name?" he asked urgently.

"…..Dennis… Dennis Creevey…." The boy replied softly, his voice weak and shaky.

"Well then Denn-…" Just then a strong hand grabbed his robes and pulled them out of the water, cutting off Rin's words as he automatically swung a punch behind him, his fist connecting with a rock solid substance.

"Ouch, damn it!" he swore in a hiss, spinning around quickly to be faced with Hagrid's broad chest.

"You alright there?"

"…Yeah…" Rin nodded shakily. He had almost assaulted a teacher, fighting with Yukio was one thing, but a professor he was not related to, on their first meeting? Not so good.

"I'm not sure about Dennis though…"

"Dennis?"

Rin nodded to the limp body in his arms.

"He okay?"

"I think so." Rin gave him a quick examination, or as much as he could with pouring rain obscuring his vision and while hanging in mid air. "He seems to be fine, he only passed out when you lifted us from the water, though he should be warmed up as soon as possible." He told Hagrid, although he was half talking to himself.

Hagrid nodded in acknowledgement and gently put them down inside the boat.

Rin caught sight of Yukio in the boat a couple of meters away looking concerned. Rin sent him a reassuring smile, but Yukio did not seem reassured. At all. Was he really that bad at reassuring smiles..?

Hagrid put them down on the bottom of the rocking boat, Rin gently lowering Dennis onto the seat next to him, wrapping the monstrous coat around the youngest occupant of the boat. Hagrid gestured apologetically about not having anything to warm Rin up.

"That's fine." Rin grinned. Hagrid might seem scary but he was actually pretty cool, Hogwart's own 'B.F.G' "I don't get that cold anyway."

Hagrid still looked guilty about not having any thing for Rin, but smiled slightly in thanks.

"Alright, forwards!"

Dennis awoke when the boat camp to a stop with a light thump.

"What happened?" he asked, sitting up slowly with a faint groan.

Rin gave him a small toothy grin. "You fell in the lake."

Those words seemed to have quite an effect on Dennis, as the boy jumped to his feet quickly in joy, causing the boat to rock precariously. "Really? That's so cool! I can't wait to tell Collin!"

Dennis jump out of the boat and on to the flagstones, before his legs suddenly gave out again.

Yukio quickly left his own boat and caught him before he could hit the ground.

"Thanks…" Dennis mumbled, slightly abashed.

"Don't stress it kid." Rin reassured with a grin, and ruffled the younger boy's brown hair, like Shiro used to do to him.

"Right." Dennis agreed with a laugh, trying to take a step but failing, and stumbling against Yukio.

Rin knelt down with his back to him. "Climb on," Rin offered; giving him a grin over his shoulder "I'll give you a piggyback."

"Are you sure?" Dennis asked, looking at Rin with a mixture of hopefulness and curiosity.

"Of course, I wouldn't offer otherwise."

Dennis grinned back at him. "Thanks!"

Dennis climbed on his back, wrapping his arms around his neck as Rin stood up.

"Why are you so wet?"

Rin looked down at his dripping clothes "Oh this? I was the one who got you out of the lake."

Dennis definitely seemed less reserved after that. "Wow! Thanks!" He told the older boy for the third time.

While they were talking, Hagrid had climbed up some stone steps.

'Knock, knock'
The door swung open to reveal a strict looking lady with her grey hair in a tight bun.

"The first years, Professor McGonagall." Hagrid greeted "Oh, and the new students." he waved a hand in Rin and Yukio's general direction. She raised an eyebrow and her lips thinned slightly at Dennis's and Rin's muddy, wet state, but otherwise did not comment.

"This way please." She instructed, guiding them into the entrance hall, which was almost bigger then the one at the True Cross Academy. They were taken into a stone side chamber where most of the first years huddled together in nervousness and anticipation.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," began McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses."

Rin had a feeling that his future professor had said this speech many times.

"The Sorting is a very important ceremony, because while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting.'"

"The two Mr. Okumuras? If you would please follow me you will be waiting in a different area"

Rin put Dennis down, who was now much steadier on his feet, and McGonagall led them back into the entrance hall and to a different side chamber.

"You will be sorted after the first years; I will come and get you once it is your turn." she informed them, then turned away but glanced back again to add, "and do try and clean yourselves up."

Rin and Yukio were left in the room by themselves.

"Are you okay brother?" Yukio murmured, checking him for any sign of injury.

"Don't worry about it, I'm fine."

Yukio glared at him. "Define 'fine'. Your idea of 'fine' and my idea of 'fine' are two totally different things."

"Okay, fine, but seriously Yukio. I am FINE, in any and all definitions of the word."

Yukio ignored him. "If only there was a way to dry you off, a heater, a fire…"

Rin coughed slightly before releasing part of his power, the water quickly evaporating.

"Rin!" Yukio exclaimed angrily.

Rin quickly called his flames back as the door was opened by an extremely short wizard.

"The Okumuras I presume?" he asked in a squeaky voice.

Rin and Yukio both nodded. Yukio throwing Rin one last glare before focusing on the teacher.

He smiled at them. "Fantastic! I am Professor Flitwick, head of Ravenclaw house and the charms teacher. Minerva told me one of you were wet but I see that you must have learnt some spells from the books, I hope to see one of you in my house."

He led them into the entrance hall once again before heading towards the massive pair of double doors set in one of the walls. As they waited outside the brothers could hear snippets of what sounded like a speech.

"…feast, but first two new students will... fourth years from Japan... Rin and Yukio Okumura!"

Flitwick pushed open the doors, leading them into the crowded great hall. Rin could see Dennis waving from the table under the lion banner, next to an older boy who looked like him, Rin guessed that this was the 'Collin' that Dennis had mentioned earlier.

They were led to the front of the hall where a batty old hat sat on a wooden stool.

McGonagall cleared her throat. "When I call your name, you will come up and put this hat on your head, it will sort you into your house."

"Okumura, Rin" she called.

Rin moved forwards away from Yukio and sat down on the stool, the hat was placed on his head blocking out his sight of the hall as well as the sound.

'What do we have here?' Rin jumped slightly at the echo-y voice in his head.

'Are you the sorting hat?' he wondered silently in his mind guessing correctly about the fact that that hat had formed some form of telepathic link with him.

'Yes indeed I am.' the hat responded. 'Now let's see, where to put you…'

There were a few moments of silence while the hat debated the options.

'Not Ravenclaw, that's for sure.'

'Ravenclaw?'

'Where the smart people go.' The hat offered as an explanation.

'Are you calling me dumb?' Rin frowned indignantly.

'Are you telling me your not?' the hat mocked in the same tone.

Rin glared at the inside of the hat. 'Just sort me.'

'Okay, okay. Let's see, not Slytherin either, you have almost no self preservation or ambition. Not Hufflepuff either, you might be loyal but you are definitely not a hard worker. Hang on,what's this… Satan's son?'

Rin let out a hiss. 'Tell anyone about me or Yukio and I will personally see to it that you burn until all that is left is ashes.'

'No need to get violent, my boy.' the hat said in a jolly voice. 'Your secret's safe with me and you will be pleased to know I know the perfect house for you…'

"Gryffindor!"

Rin joined Dennis's table sitting beside the boy and his brother, who both congratulated him cheerfully for getting into the house of the 'brave'.

"Okumura, Yukio" was called next; he sat on the stool for only a little longer than Rin did. At one point the hat started to call Ravenclaw, but in the end it settled for Gryffindor, and Yukio joined Rin at the crowded red and gold table.

Rin jumped as mouth watering food suddenly appeared on the table, releasing an enticing aroma that covered the whole of the student body.

"Wow! Who made this?"

Hermione, the girl who was with the group of people that helped them get onto the platform gave a sniff. "The house elves, Hogwarts uses slave labour!"

Ron rolled his eyes "They like doing it, Hermione."

She slammed her hands on the table in frustration. "They've been brain washed!" she protested.

Rin, who had a string of noodles half way to his mouth frowned for what he hoped was the last time. "Slave labour?"

Hermione nodded disgustedly. "Yes," Turning to Ron she stressed out the words. "Slave labour."

Rin raised an eyebrow. "I don't like the sound of that. I didn't think Hogwarts would support that kind of thing…" he commented.
Harry sighed. "It's not slave labour. The house elves like doing it. And Dumbledore's really nice to all of them." He tried to reason.
Rin felt a little bemused. "I… really have no idea what to think about this…" He pointed out, his tone unsure. "House elves? Slave labour? Could someone explain all of this to me?"

Yukio nodded, agreeing about wanting an explanation.

"House elves are usually bonded to a person…" Ron started, only to be interrupted by Hermione.

"Having to do whatever that person orders."

Ron glared at her "Who is their 'master' that provides them with a roof over their head and food in exchange for their undivided loyalties."

Rin nodded his head in thought before turning to Yukio and exclaiming excitedly. "Just like Ukobach! Maybe we can have another cooking competition."

Yukio paled. "...The last one you had almost blew up the dorm."

"Did not."

"'Maybe I had the flames a little high…'" Yukio imitated Rin.

The older twin huffed in annoyance. "I did not sound like that."

"So you admit that you almost blew up the dorm?"

"What? No!" Rin spluttered indignantly, Yukio just gave him a knowing smirk.

"Who's Ukobach?" Hermione asked.

"Our headmaster's friend." Rin and Yukio said at the same time.

"What school did you two go to before Hogwarts anyway?"

"Hm?" Rin was pulled out of his thoughts. "Oh, True Cross Academy."

"The True Cross Academy?"

Rin who was starting to drift back into thought was slightly startled. "...Yeah."

Hermione's jaw dropped, while Ron and Harry looked on in confusion. "What's the big deal?"

"The big deal, the big deal you ask? It's one of the best muggle schools in the world! Only the really rich or smart get into the school. I doubt even I could get in!"

"But you're the smartest in Hogwarts…"

"Exactly!"

"So you're rich then?" Ron seemed disturbed by this idea.

"Yes" "No" Both twins answered at the same time.

"Yes or no?" Harry asked amused

It was left to Rin to answer as Yukio was slightly sulky about the fact that they used even a part of their biological fathers money. "Our father is rich but at the time of getting into the academy we did not know him as we were adopted."

"Adopted? Really?" Hermione seemed surprised by the fact.

"Yeah, our mother died at birth and our father thought us dead, so our mum's friend raised us."

"That's just…"

Dumbledore stood up smiling at them all, the food having disappeared from the plates leaving them sparkling clean.

"So, now that we are all fed and watered."

Hermione gave a small 'hmph!' thinking of the house elves.

"I must once more ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices."

Rin stopped listening when he started talking about rules, only tuning back in when loud exclamations of indignation sounded throughout the hall from what he could tell some form of sport had been cancelled.

"This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy but I am sure you will enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts…"

But at that moment, there was a deafening rumble of thunder and the door of the great hall banged open. Rin let his hand discreetly fall down to the pommel of his dagger and saw Yukio do the same with his hidden guns. A man stood in the doorway, leaning upon a long staff, shrouded in a black travelling cloak. Every head in the Great Hall swivelled towards the stranger, suddenly brightly illuminated by a fork of lightning that flashed across the ceiling. He lowered his hood, shook out a long mane of grizzled, dark grey hair, and then began to walk up towards the teachers' table.

A dull clunk echoed through the Hall on his every other step. He reached the end of the top table, turned right and limped heavily towards Dumbledore.

Another flash of lightning crossed the ceiling. Hermione gasped.

The lightning had thrown the man's face into sharp relief, and it was a face unlike anyone in the hall had ever seen. It looked as though it had been carved out of weathered wood by someone who had only the vaguest idea of what human faces were supposed to look like, and was none too skilled with a chisel.

Every inch of skin seemed to be scarred. The mouth looked like a diagonal gash, and a large chunk of his nose was missing. But it was the man's eyes that made him frightening.

One of them was small, dark and beady. The other was large, round as a coin, and a vivid, electric blue. The blue eye was moving carelessly, without blinking, and was rolling up, down and from side to side, quite independently of the normal eye - and then it rolled right over, pointing into the back of the man's head, so that all they could see was whiteness.

"Well, that's creepy." Rin commented offhandedly.

"Brother!" Yukio exclaimed, affronted. "what did I tell you about being rude?"

"That I should not be rude unless Satan is taking over the world." Rin promptly quoted.

Yukio stared at him a moment, then rolled his eyes. "I never said the Satan bit."

"It was left unsaid."

The man had started eating a sausage, his fake eye whizzing around the room.

"This is Professor Moody who will be an assistant defence teacher this year. The primary defence teacher, for personal reasons, has asked me to not reveal their identity at the moment. But as I was saying," Dumbledore said, smiling at the sea of students before him, all of whom were still gazing transfixed at Mad-Eye Moody, "we are to have the honour of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event which has not been held for over a century. It is my great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."

"You're joking!" said one of the twins from the station loudly.

The tension that had been there since Moody's arrival broke the students laughing.

Dumbledore smiled slightly. "No, I am not joking, Mr Weasley," he said, "though, now you mention it, I did hear an excellent one over the summer about a troll, a hag and a leprechaun who all go into a bar…"

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loudly, Rin snorted.

"Er - but maybe this is not the time ... no ..." Dumbledore quickly amended. "Where was I? Ah yes, the Triwizard Tournament ... well, some of you will not know what this Tournament involves, so I hope those of you who do know will forgive me for giving a short explanation, and allow their attention to wander freely. The Triwizard Tournament was first established some seven hundred years ago, as a friendly competition between the tree largest European schools of wizardry - Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. A champion was selected to represent each school, and the three champions competed in three magical tasks. The schools took it in turns to host the Tournament once every five years, and it was generally agreed to be the most excellent way of establishing ties between young witches and wizards of different nationalities. Until, that is, the death toll mounted so high that the Tournament was discontinued."

"Death toll?" Hermione whispered, alarmed.

Yukio did a face-palm. "Rin, under no circumstance are you allowed in that competition."

The younger rolled his eyes. "I don't have a death wish."

Yukio snorted. "That's debatable."

"There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the Tournament," Dumbledore continued, "none of which have been very successful. However, our own Department of International Magical Co-operation and Magical Games and Sports have decided the time is ripe for another attempt. We have worked hard over the summer to ensure that, this time, no champion will find himself or herself in mortal danger. The Heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving with their short-listed contenders in October, and the selection of the three champions will take place at Hallowe'en. An impartial judge will decide which students are most worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school, and a thousand Galleons personal prize money."

"I'm going for it!" the same twin as before hissed down the table, his face alight with enthusiasm at the prospect of such glory and riches.

Many people around the hall seemed to be visualising themselves as Hogwarts champion. Everyone was either staring at Dumbledore raptly or speaking rapidly with their neighbours. But then Dumbledore spoke again, and the Hall quieted once more.

"Eager though I know all of you will be to bring the Triwizard Cup to Hogwarts," he said, "The Heads of the participating schools, along with the Ministry of Magic, have agreed to impose an age restriction on contenders this year. Only students who are of age - that is to say, seventeen years or older - will be allowed to put forward their names for consideration. This-"

Outrage sprang up from around the hall, the most vocal being the twins.

"-is a measure we feel is necessary, given that the Tournament tasks will still be difficult and dangerous, whatever precautions we take, and it is highly unlikely that students below sixth and seventh year will be able to cope with them. I will personally be ensuring that no under-age student hoodwinks our impartial judge into making them Hogwarts champion." His light-blue eyes twinkled as they flickered over the twin's mutinous faces. "I therefore beg you not to waste your time submitting yourself if you are under seventeen."

"The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving in October, and remaining with us for the greater part of this year.

I know that you will all extend every courtesy to our foreign guests while they are with us, and will give your whole-hearted support to the Hogwarts champion when he or she is selected.

And now, it is late, and I know how important it is to you all to be alert and rested as you enter your lessons tomorrow morning."

With that, Dumbledore sat down again and turned to talk to Mad-Eye Moody. There was a great scraping and banging as all the students got to their feet, and swarmed towards the double doors into the Entrance Hall. Rin and Yukio followed the crowd but upon reaching the door, realised they had no idea where to go. Looking around they saw Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred and George walking past, deep in discussion.

"Hey, could you show us to the…" Rin paused, trying to remember the name. "Grypheetus? Thingy majig?"

Yukio rolled his eyes. "Gryffindor."

Rin nodded smartly. "Right. Gryffindor thingy."

Hermione nodded. "Sure, follow us."

The group's conversation having been interrupted they travelled mostly in silence, Rin and Yukio staring around in amazement at some of the paintings and things. They reached the common rooms with very little drama, the only thing happening being Neville falling for a trick step.

The common room had a lively, merry atmosphere and was decorated in red and gold. A crackling fire was warming the circular common room. Hermione cast the merrily dancing flames a dark look and Rin distinctly heard her mutter "slave labour" before she bid them good night and headed up one of the two staircases.

Harry, Ron and Neville led Rin and Yukio up the last, spiral staircase until they reached the fourth year dormitory, which was situated at the top of the Tower. Seven four-poster beds with deep crimson hangings stood against the walls, each with its owner's trunk at the foot. Two boys were already there. Ron was shaking his head at a soccer poster muttering something under his breath. They all got ready for bed Rin was unexpectedly happy to find his bed had somehow got a warming pan on it and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

(Yukio's talk with the sorting hat...)

Yukio sat under the sorting hat tensing in surprise when a voice echoed in his mind.

'Ah what do we have here? Like the one before… I see your twin that makes sense, you are the 'Yukio' he talked of.'

'Are you the hat?'

'That I am, now where to put you? You are loyal and hard working going to great extents to protect those you love, but you will charge into situations without thinking and are brave, you can be cold and cunning when it suits you, and will hold a grudge. But you are intelligent and rather bookish, so I think…'

"RAV…"

'No wait!' Yukio cut in quickly.

'Yes?'

'Put me in Gryffindor.'

'And why should I do that?'

'Do you seriously want Rin in a magic castle all alone?' He showed the hat some memories of things Rin would get up to.

'…'

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Was it just Yukio's imagination or had the hat called that out exceedingly fast?

Yay! Longest story in the Harry Potter X Blue Exorcist crossovers! Please review! And thank you for all previous ones! again sorry for taking so long to update.