Ch.4

Harry and Hermione were heading back to the common room at the end of the day when they noticed they both hadn't seen Ron in the hours they were supposed to. Harry had him in Potions with the new professor Prof. Chrno. Prof. Chrno said she hadn't seen Ron all day and he was supposed to have double potions. Hermione was supposed to have him with Hagrid in the study of Magical Creatures Class. He didn't show. The two classmates ran to see if Ron was in the common room worriedly. He wasn't and the other Gryffendors hadn't seen him since 5th hour either.

When Hermione went to headmaster McGonnagle the headmaster said there was nothing to worry about that he had just gone home for a family emergency but he had called and said everything was okay and he would be returning tomorrow. Relieved Hermione went back to tell Harry what was going on she got there and found a note.

Hermione,

I've gone to see Haku, I have a few questions, and I'll be back soon.

Harry

Hermione smiled, "I'm happy for you Harry," a tear slid down her cheek, "I'm really happy you've finally got someone to care for you." Hermione had a sudden pain in her shoulder. She carefully pulled up her sleeve to reveal the bruises, which had all but healed. "At least you'll be happy," she walked to the girl's dormitories and fell asleep. Harry would wake her when he got back. "If he came back," she thought to herself. Hermione was extremely worried Harry like all the others changed before would turn to the river spirits life. She would only have Ron. The only person she could call a friend.

Harry walked down to the river. It was pitch but surprisingly he could see really well. Haku was sitting by a tree, with his bare feet resting in the water. 'Haku' Harry thought. Haku's figured stirred.

'You woke me,' Haku thought back.

'I'm sorry,' Harry thought back.

Haku smiled. "Come and sit with me Harry."

Harry looked at the ground still standing five feet away. "This is all kind of…"

"Weird," Haku finished. "Yeah I know," Haku scratched the back of his head nervously. "I never thought I'd be bound to a being. I just wanted to bind myself to a river lead a normal afterlife. That kind of thing."

"I'm sorry I ruined that for you," Harry's heart hurt immensely at the thought of depressing Haku. The things he had just said cut deep.

"O Harry I didn't mean, Not like that, I mean I don't Mind being bound to you, well I mean…" Haku sighed. "This is complicated." Haku blushed. He knew he had just made things worse.

Harry nodded still a little put out. "I…I have a few questions."

"Ask away, I may not be able to answer them all but I'll try," Haku said eager to change the subject.

"First, where was your Born River?"

"I thought you were going to have questions about being a spirit? Not questions about me." Haku looked distant like he was remembering something disturbing.

"O sorry," Harry blushed.

"Don't be sorry, you have a right to know, you're my mate now," They both blushed and looked away. "Well, my Born River was in Japan. The Kohaku River. I was pushed out when humans buried the river to put a housing unit in. Then I met a witch who took me in. She's not evil, but she can be demanding," Haku gave a little laugh, "after about 50 years of working for her in the spirit world where there were no humans. A little girl and her family wandered there. The witch Yu-Baaba turned the girls parents into pigs. I saved Chihiro from the same fate as her parents and sent her to the boiler man Kamajii. He sent her to ask for a job from Yu-Baaba. The witch was forced to give Chihiro a job.

She wasn't supposed to see her parents. I often took her to see them," Haku's eyes were clouded with unshed tears. "It ended happily she made a deal with Yu-Baaba and here and her parents were freed. She saw the spirit world but she would never be able to tell anyone," Haku wiped the now heavily flowing tears. Harry scooted closer and put his hands on Haku's shoulder. Haku leaned against Harry's shoulder still crying. Harry felt awkward but at the same time felt right about it. "She was the only friend I had," Haku cried, "10 minutes after she left the spirit world a car rammed into theirs at 90 miles an hour killing Chihiro's parents, and turning her into a walking ghost. She can't talk hear or see anything. She doesn't know me. Harry I killed the driver of the other car." Haku was hysterical by now. "I don't know why I did it, I killed him. He has two children and a beautiful wife, and I killed him."

"Haku, I…I don't blame you." Harry was crying now too and couldn't understand why. "I would do the same if something like that happened to Ron or Hermione."

Haku sobered a bit, "Sorry Harry I'm not usually like this you're the only person in my life other than Chihiro I've ever talked like this to." Haku blushed and gave Harry and awkward smile. Harry smiled back.

"So Haku how old are you?" Harry asked wiping his wet eyes before Haku saw.

"Your really want to know."

"Would I have asked if I didn't," Harry laughed and shoved Haku a little, "Come on can't be that bad."

Haku sighed and mumbled something under his breath.

"What didn't catch that?"

"952," Haku breathed.

Harry's jaw dropped, "YOUR KIDDING RIGHT!"

Haku gave a little half smile, "That's young for a spirit you know!"

Harry grinned, then looked thoughtful, "am…am…I dead?"

Haku looked down at the ground, "no you may be a river spirit but for some reason your body hasn't died yet, which to tell you the truth I don't know anything about."

"Wow, 952 and you still don't know stuff," Harry laughed at him.

"It's not funny!" Haku went to shove him and missed his shoulder landing awkwardly on top of him. Haku and Harry both laughed nervously. Haku sat up quickly and neither talked for a good five minutes.

"So…" Harry said still blushing furiously.

"So…" Haku said in the same condition.

"Haku.."

"Harry…"

They both said each other's names at the same time.

"Harry go ahead."

"No you it's okay," Harry said blushing even more.

"Thanks Harry, for everything," Haku pulled Harry into a warm embrace. "I'm happy you're here."

"Haku I'm happy you're here to." Harry smiled in Haku's arms he felt completely safe. He didn't think about Voldemort, traitors, or even death. He only thought of Haku.

When Harry made it to the dorms around 1a.m. he noticed Hermione had already slipped off to bed. He knew if he didn't wake her she would be horribly pissed at him. He walked up to the girl's dorm and hoped he wouldn't wake anyone but Hermione. As he walked past the Common Room he saw Ron sitting in a chair near the fire, fast asleep. He walked over to him. Harry stopped as he saw a book in Ron's lap. Poisonous Herbs was the books title. 'why would Ron need this,' Harry thought to himself. Harry went to pull the book away and Ron grabbed his arm and pulled him into a headlock.

Ron jolted, "O it's just you mate. You scared the bloody hell out of me man!"

Harry smiled sliding out of Ron's headlock, "Sorry Ron, have you seen Hermione yet, she was super worried about you?"

"Yeah sure she was," Ron sneered in the dark, "so I'm just gonna go to sleep I'll see her in the morning," Ron gave a fake yawn and headed towards the boy's dorm.

Harry gave him an odd look before walking off, 'he's probably just stressed out about that family emergency thing,' Harry thought to himself. He walked up the stairs to the girl's dorm and heard screaming. Harry ran through the door to see all the girls standing around Hermione's bed. "What's wrong?" Harry asked worriedly.