Muahaha! I made it before the end of the year! Last minute update, whoohoo! I got a lot of response for the previous chapter. I'm so glad you all like the idea of wand spirits as much as I do!

(Also – and this is no critique – I find it absolutely hilarious that several people have mentioned that Manjushage is too much of a mouthful; as if Sougyo no Kotowari – and every other Zanpakutou name – isn't. In fact, I've checked Zanpakutou names, and Manjushage is actually a bit on the short side – very few having less than four syllables – and Sougyo no Kotowari is the longest, with eight syllables. Really, you guys have no idea how funny I think this is. Maybe spirits just like long names?)

Anyhow, on to the chapter! I think I should mention that I took quite a few pieces of dialogues and descriptions from the book. Obviously, I can't take credit for those.

Enjoy!

He was standing before a closed door. On the other side was the beginning of what he hoped to be his future. A sudden rush of nervous fear had him rooted on the spot, afraid to step forward and take what he had worked so hard for. Wiping his palms on his new uniform he took a shallow, steadying breath to soothe the mild irritation in his chest, hoping to stave off a deeper burn.

He could do it, he told himself. He would prove himself capable. And if it would be more difficult for him than for others, well, life was always filled with trials. His was just a bit more difficult to work around than other's.

He shook his head, determination returning. He would prove everyone wrong. He would be so much more than what people could see right now. He was sick of people saying he couldn't do something without even allowing him the attempt. He would prove that physical weakness and other people's delicately voiced beliefs didn't define someone.

He refused to conform to other people's expectations. He had decided that, from the moment he heard of the Academy and had thought, I want that. If he failed, he would forever be doomed to stay inside, like a delicate figurine of spun glass, to be wrapped in wool and cotton and put away so he wouldn't break. But at least he would have tried, instead of submitting to the whims of his disease and his family's excessive concern without even a token of resistance.

He opened the door and stepped into the classroom, politely bowing to the instructor before taking his seat. Anticipation curled his lips in a tentative smile to answer the curious glances of his fellow students.

He would create his own future.

XXX(xxxx)XXX(xxxx)XXX(xxxx)XXX

The morning Harry was leaving for Hogwarts was both the most exciting day of his life, as well as the most nerve-wracking one. He hadn't slept too well, being up a good three hours before he even had to be. One of Juushirou's memories had surfaced during his dreams. It was not what you'd call a regular occurrence. On Harry's request Sougyo no Kotowari tried to keep the memories away, but sometimes one slipped past their guard, like this one had.

Though this particular memory had been ridiculously appropriate. Harry suspected that it had reached his dreams because it had matched his mood so well. Juushirou had been just as nervous about going to the Academy as Harry was about going to Hogwarts, if for very different reasons. Juushirou's worries had been more along the line of whether his illness would truly be the insurmountable encumbrance others had claimed it was, while Harry was more worried about whether he would be accepted by his peers.

To give himself something to do while waiting for the Dursleys to wake, he did another mental check to ensure he had packed everything.

:Calm down, Harry,: Sougyo no Kotowari rebuked cheerily. :You're being silly.:

Says you, he shot back sullenly, fidgeting with a frayed edge of his oversized clothes, painfully aware how bad an impression he would make thanks to the snippets of Juushirou's knowledge that had seeped through over the years. You're not famous.

Gods, he hoped no one would recognize him at the train station. He looked ridiculous in Dudley's clothes, and he couldn't wear his new ones yet because he knew that his Uncle would be nearly apoplectic with rage at such obvious proof of his nephew's freakiness. But he didn't want his future classmates to see him like this either. He didn't want them to get the wrong impression. Given how important everyone seemed to think he was, he was sure they would hold it against him.

:Then switch to your school uniform as soon as you can,: Manjushage replied sensibly. :Keeping your head down and your scar covered should allow you to avoid being recognized for a few minutes.:

:What she said!: Harry could just feel his twins' utterly unsympathetic grins. :At least your uniform is a far sight better than the uniform Aunt Giraffe made for you. You were right that it would look like pieces of elephant. As long as the other students don't realize you're the Harry Potter there's no reason for them to link the scruffy newbie to you. Just change fast. You'll be fine!:

Clearly, his spirits were optimists. Harry sighed, absently checking whether his wand was still securely attached to his belt and hidden by his clothes.

:Harry, you're going to Hogwarts. You're going to learn magic. Cheer up! It'll be fun!:

Despite his worries, Harry smiled. It was difficult to remain anxious when the three people in your head were all but vibrating with impatience. Manjushage was generally calmer than the excitable twins, but she was very young and new to the world, and was therefore even more easily interested in new things than Sougyo no Kotowari. Especially when it came to magic, which was the core of her very being. She was eager to learn more about herself and the power she wielded, particularly after hearing about Zanpakutou from Sougyo no Kotowari. It was one of the topics they looked forward to learning about at Hogwarts.

Harry was also glad that his spirits got along well. The twins had been more than happy to take the younger spirit under their wing and teach her about Harry's Inner World and everything it contained. Though this was not always a good thing, as his Zanpakutou spirits could be right terrors whenever they were in a mischievous mood, and Manjushage rarely protested getting drafted in their plots to entertain themselves. It was always a tossup whether Harry would be entertained by their antics, or whether he would suffer from them.

However, at the moment none of them was focused on mischief. Instead, everyone was thrilled to finally go to Hogwarts. For Harry it was as if he had three overly energetic and very eager kittens in his head, each more than ready to poke their nose into anything and everything they could find.

It was amazingly soothing, despite their restless energy making it impossible for him to be truly calm.

A pale shadow blocked the sunlight for a second, and then the warm weight of Hyouden settled on his shoulder. Her claws lightly pricked through his clothes and scratched his skin. His aunt and uncle had been remarkably lenient regarding everything to do with magic even after they had recovered from Hagrid's visit. All Harry had to do was keep it out of their sight and they were perfectly happy to ignore him and everything to do with him, which was quite possibly the kindest thing they'd ever done for him, even though it got a bit depressing after a while.

Dudley, on the other hand, was terrified of him, possibly because he thought that Hagrid could appear any moment whenever Harry was close by. Harry felt a tiny bit bad about Dudley's new tail. It hadn't been Dudley who had insulted Dumbledore after all, so he hadn't deserved to be the target of Hagrid's retaliation. Then again, after all the bullying he had suffered at his cousin's hands he wasn't above a bit of vindictive gloating when seeing Dudley scared, embarrassed, and in pain for once.

"Hey Hyouden," he cooed at the large bird pressed against the side of his face as he stroked her feathers. "Ready for the big day?"

Hyouden gave a small hoot of confirmation. During the last month, Harry had come to realize more and more exactly how clever his feathered companion was. She understood his words incredibly well. He considered himself very lucky he had chosen her back in the pet shop. Hyouden affectionately nibbled at a wild lock of hair as thanks when he offered her an owl treat. She was probably making it even more a mess than usual, but Harry couldn't bring himself to mind. He appreciated Hyouden's affections more than he cared about neat hair. His hair was a lost cause anyway.

Harry smiled, happy despite his nerves. This year's August had been better for him than any ever before. His family hadn't bothered him. For the first time in years he had something to look forward to, to a place where he wouldn't be a freak. He and his spirits had studied his books in detail, and Manjushage had fitted in as if she had always been there, and they all couldn't wait to try their hand at actually doing magic.

And best of all, after more than a week searching, Sougyo no Kotowari had found memories of his parents. Most were vague, jumbled impressions of voices he trusted, being held, and feeling safe and content. Understandable, since he had been so very small back then, and probably hadn't understood much that first year. But there were also a few hazy memories of a man with glasses and the same messy black hair as him, and a red-haired woman with his own green eyes. Those memories alone had almost been enough to reduce him to tears, because he had always wanted to know what his parents looked like, and remembering them was more than he had ever dared hope for.

But there was one memory even more beloved than that. The one that really had him bawling in his spirits' arms like a little kid. A simple, slightly misty memory in which his parents held him, and kissed his forehead, and said: "We love you, Harry. We love you so much," as if they were afraid they wouldn't be able to tell him again. And his father had smiled, and his mother had chuckled when his baby-self had grabbed a handful of her hair. It had been a beautiful autumn red and curled a little. Both his parents had looked a little sad and a bit worried, but they had meant what they'd said.

The memory told him what Harry had wanted to know ever since the Dursleys had started badmouthing him and his parents.

His parents had loved him.

His parents. Had loved him. Harry hadn't been able to stop smiling for days.

He had also promptly demanded to be taught how to make memory items, and Sougyo no Kotowari had eagerly complied. The house now held a couple of simple frames with pictures of his parents – prominently displayed in the sitting room they spent the most time in – and the memory of his parents telling him they loved him had become a necklace. It was a simple chain with an oval locket, and in a fit of inspiration Harry had made it gold with a silver owl on it, as a tribute to his one companion that couldn't be with him in his Inner World. Inside was a picture of his parents holding him, taken directly from the memory. Harry had immediately hung the locket around his neck, and that was where it was located every time he entered his Inner World. It was like carrying a candle in his heart.

"Come Hyouden," he sighed, cutting of his musings and carrying his owl to her cage. "Time to get ready. Uncle Vernon won't wait a second for us, so we better be set to leave."

Hyouden obediently went to sit in her cage, calmly watching as he shut the door. Within less than ten minutes Harry had every piece of luggage ready at the front door, lined up so everything would be as little in the way as possible. Uncle Vernon didn't like it when things got in his way, especially not when they were Harry's when he was reluctantly doing Harry a favor.

Given how much his uncle was against him attending Hogwarts, Harry didn't dare aggravate his uncle in any way the entire morning, afraid that the man would leave him behind if he put one toe out of line. He held his breath right until he was sitting in his uncle's large car as rumbled to life beneath him, and pulled out of the driveway with Harry and every piece of luggage on board. Harry carefully didn't sigh of relief, but he certainly felt as if a weight had fallen off his shoulders when they were finally on their way. Then again, it was possible that his uncle was just glad to have him gone for most of the year and thought the small effort on his part to be a fair prize to get rid of his freak of a nephew.

When they left the neighborhood, Harry shivered, as if the temperature had suddenly dropped a few degrees. He blamed it on nerves and focused on being quiet and unobtrusive so his uncle would keep his word. His uncle could be petty and vindictive when he felt like it. Harry had seen how far his uncle was willing to go to deny him his heritage during the fiasco with the letters. Harry wouldn't put it past the fat man to dump him somewhere at the side of the road so he would never reach the train in time. And Harry refused to let that happen.

XXX(xxxx)XXX(xxxx)XXX(xxxx)XXX

Miracle of miracles, Uncle Vernon brought Harry straight to the station with plenty of time to spare. He even helped Harry put his luggage on a trolley, which was astonishingly nice of him. Harry ignored his uncle's spiteful gloating with practiced ease, instead distractedly nodding at his uncle's barbs. As his uncle's car disappeared in the London traffic, Harry briefly wondered whether it was Hagrid's actions or the wish to be rid of him as soon as possible that made his uncle so mellow. Probably Hagrid, he decided. His uncle didn't mind putting a bit of effort in denying Harry something he wanted.

Harry sighed and shook his head as he set out towards platforms nine and ten. He was grateful for his spirits' curiosity, because thanks to them he had checked the ticket Hagrid had given him long before he needed it, and had realized that as far as he knew, no platform ever had such a number. It had been a small jump from there to assume it was probably hidden from muggles, especially after their experience with Diagon Alley and its hidden entrance. Hyouden would never have made it to the game keeper in time to bring him Hagrid's answer to his questions if they hadn't prodded Harry into asking them. He didn't want to know how he could have found platform 9¾ otherwise, and he would have hated to prove his uncle's sneers right.

From Hagrid's return letter Harry knew that between platforms nine and ten was supposed to be a barrier, concealed as a piece of wall that divided the two platforms. Particularly, the wall with the ticket barrier. You were supposed to be able to walk straight through it. When he reached it he hesitated, looking at the ticket boxes with doubt. they looked very solid to him.

:There is a weird energy around them,: Manjushage said suddenly. A rush of excitement spread from her to Harry. He could feel how eager she was to explore.

:We don't sense it,: one of the twins remarked, mildly puzzled.

:It's just a little pressure,: the other added. :As if it's one of those places with a little more reishi than most.:

I think I feel what Sougyo no Kotowari is feeling, Harry observed, moving closer towards that feeling of heaviness in the air. Though it does feel odd. You think this is the magic?

:Think so. If you two are recognizing it as off,: Sougyo no Kotowari replied thoughtfully. :Like reishi, but different. Maryoku?:

Don't know. What's that?

:Magical energy.:

Harry scratched his head, thinking that over. Could be, he allowed.

:For now, let's assume it is,: Manjushage decided. :Now go on! Otherwise we might miss the train!:

Casting a look at the clock, he saw that she was right and they had only fifteen minutes left before the train would leave, and who knew how long boarding would take? Right then, Harry thought. Taking a deep breath, he leaned against the barrier. Hagrid had said he should be able to pass right through…

He did. It was like stepping though a thin sheet of water, only without getting wet. Harry felt the magical concealment wash over him, as if a heavy jacket had suddenly landed on his shoulders. For a moment he frowned at the magical wall behind him. From this side it looked like a wrought-iron archway with the words Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on it. Huh. Seemed like magic was indeed similar to reishi, in that large amounts of magical energy had weight. Well, he supposed he shouldn't be surprised. Sougyo no Kotowari had said before that there was a connection between the two.

:It is,: Manjushage confirmed, curiosity spilling from her in waves. :The magical energy here is very dense.:

Well, that is good to know I suppose… Harry trailed off, jaw dropping at the sight that greeted him. A scarlet steam engine was waiting next to a platform packed with people. A sign overhead read Hogwarts Express, 11 o'clock. The crowd in front of it was as blatantly magical as the crowd at Diagon Alley had been. Cats, owls, robes, heavy trunks, levitating trunks; it was undeniable that they were at the right place. Quickly he made his way to the train, keeping an eye out for an empty compartment. When he found one he first put Hyouden inside, opening her cage so she could stretch her wings if she wanted. Then he dragged his trunk towards the steps. He got stuck when he actually tried to lift it off the trolley and into the train.

Bugger. Where did people get levitating trunks? Should have gotten one, Harry thought to himself frowning as he panted from the effort.

"Need some help?" someone asked behind him.

Harry turned around. Behind him stood a handsome boy in the Hogwarts uniform with an expression of friendly inquiry on his face. Probably from an other year, given that he had a black and yellow trim on his uniform, unlike Harry, whose uniform was still plain black. Drat, which house was that?

"Well, can't say I'd mind some," he replied. He carefully didn't sweep his sweaty hair out of his face even though the strands obscured his vision a little, instead offering the boy a grateful smile.

The other boy grinned. "Well, come on then."

Together they managed to get the heavy trunk inside and stuff it into a corner of the compartment. "There you go," the older boy puffed, wiping the worst of the sweat from his brow. "Bloody books. I don't see why they can't put a charm on them to make them lighter right in the shop."

"Now that would be nice," Harry agreed. "Thanks for the help." He held out a hand to shake. "My name is Harry."

"Cedric," the older boy said cheerfully, accepting the handshake. "You're a first year, right?"

"Yeah. Guess I'll have to practice lifting my trunk for next time," Harry said ruefully. "Should have known it would be an issue. You?"

Cedric laughed. "Sounds like a plan. I'm starting my third year. But don't hesitate to ask for my help if you need it. Or ask someone else. Most people here wouldn't mind giving a hand if you're nice about it. Though Hufflepuffs tend to be the most willing, generally."

"Hufflepuff? Which colors are those?"

"These," Cedric said, tapping the yellow and black crest with the badger on his chest. "We Hufflepuffs are a helpful lot. Don't believe anything you hear from other houses about us. A good work ethic and loyalty are far more important than ambition or wanting to read a lot, if you ask me. Generally, we are the most liked out of the four houses, and experience the least strife. Unlike Gryffindor and Slytherin. Those two are always at each other's' throat. It's a miracle if we get through the day without some of their students getting into a fight. I think it's because Gryffindors are too straightforward while Slytherins are too sneaky. It clashes. Why they still share classes in beyond me. And the Ravens have enough internal competition to make up for the lack of house rivalry."

"I can imagine," Harry agreed, a bit overwhelmed by the unexpected flood of information. And then, just because he felt he had to know, "Do all houses have negative opinions about the others?"

Cedric laughed, looking a little sheepish. "Probably. We're all pretty biased. We all like to think our house is the best, of course, and try to get new students to think the same. If you want to get a good idea of the houses you should ask people from every house about them. At least then you'll hear both the good sides and the bad sides."

Harry smiled. At least Cedric was honest about it. "Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."

"You do that. Now, I've got friends waiting for me, so I got to go. Come talk to me at Hogwarts once in a while. Even if you end up in another house I won't mind giving you a tour if you want one. Not all houses have Prefects that are dedicated enough to their job to do that."

"Thank you," Harry said sincerely. "I'll probably take you up on that offer. See you later?"

"Sure thing," Cedric said with a wave as he left the compartment.

:That's a nice guy,: Manjushage remarked.

Yeah. Yeah he is. He really lives up to what he said about Hufflepuffs.

:Wonder how you get into houses,: Sougyo no Kotowari added.

Maybe a questionnaire or something, to see what kind of person you are? Harry suggested. Though he didn't really think that would be it. Somehow that just didn't sound… magical enough. Or maybe some kind of test?

:Could be…:

Puzzling over the question his spirits had posed, Harry sought out a toilet and quickly changed into his school uniform. At some point while he was changing the train lurched into motion, almost making him topple over. He and his spirits shared grins. They were on their way!

Feeling more confident now he no longer looked like he got his clothes from the Salvation Army, he returned to his seat, only to find someone had joined him in the empty compartment. A boy and a girl were standing in the middle of the compartment with their trunks beside them, admiring Hyouden, who had claimed a seat close to the window as her perch. When Hyouden hooted to welcome him back the two turned, startled by his sudden appearance. One was a round-faced boy he believed he had seen in the crowd, while the other was a girl with bushy brown hair and rather large front teeth. Both were wearing plain black Hogwarts robes without house colors. Other first years then.

"Hey Hyouden," Harry greeted his owl as he gave the newcomers a curious look. "Been saving me a seat?"

Hyouden bobbed her head in confirmation. Harry laughed. "Thanks."

"Um, excuse me," the girl said. "Would you mind if we joined you? Most of the other compartments are full and it would be nicer to sit together than sit in an empty compartment, don't you think? This is Neville Longbottom and I'm Hermione Granger."

Harry blinked at the sudden barrage of words. "Um… I guess? You're welcome to sit here anyway. I'm Harry Potter."

"Goodness, are you really?" Hermione said, looking pleasantly surprised. "I know all about you of course. I got a few extra books for background reading and you're in 'Modern Magical History', 'The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts', and 'Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century'."

"I am?" Harry asked, startled. "I knew I was famous, but I didn't think there would be books about me." He gave her a puzzled look. Encouraged by his snickering spirits, he added, "And how would you know all about me through that anyway? I only found out about the whole wizarding stuff a month ago, and as far as I know I didn't talk to any of the authors of those books about myself. So unless they spied on me – which would be very creepy – I doubt the books were all that informative."

Hermione had the decency to look embarrassed. "Ah, well, I guess I don't really know all about you, but more about what happened when you got that scar. That's what the books focused on, so I don't think they spied. At least, they don't mention they spied. You think they would do that? That would be a terrible breach of privacy!"

Harry shrugged. "I don't know. All I know is that a book would not be able to teach you all about me." Particularly the ancient Shinigami part of me, he thought sardonically. In the back of his head, his spirits laughed.

Hermione nodded, a curious gleam entering her eyes. "You didn't know you were a wizard? Goodness, you would have been the last I expected that from! How come?"

"Let's first get your stuff out of the way, okay?" he said with a wave towards their luggage still standing in the middle of the compartment, feeling a little nervous. No one had ever been interested enough in him to ask such questions. It was an odd experience. "You've got the whole train ride to ask questions, as long as you answer mine as well. You read ahead a lot?"

Hermione nodded as she and Neville helped Harry wrangle their trunks into the same corner he had stashed his own. "Yes I did. Nobody in my family has magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course. I've learnt all our set books off by heart, I just hope it will be enough – I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me."

"You don't have to worry," Neville suddenly piped up. "There are a lot of people who come from muggle families and as far as I heard they have no trouble keeping up. In fact," he added gloomily, "You'll probably do better than me. My family is pure blood but the family thought I was a squib for ages. My great-uncle Algie kept trying to catch me off guard and force some magic out of me – he pushed me off the end of Blackpool pier once, I nearly drowned – but nothing happened until I was eight. Great-uncle Algie came round for tea and he was hanging me out of an upstairs window by my ankles when my great-auntie Enid offered him a meringue and he accidentally let go. But I bounced – all the way down the garden and onto the road. They were all really pleased. Gran was crying, she was so happy. And you should have seen their faces when I got my letter. They thought I might not have enough magic to come, you see. Great-uncle Algie was so pleased he bought me my toad."

At this Neville opened a small wicker basket and showed them a large toad. It croaked. "His name is Trevor."

Hermione stared at Neville, aghast, completely disregarding Trevor. Even Harry had to admit that Neville had got it bad, and he only knew the Dursleys well enough to compare with. They might have locked him up and half-starved him, but at least they'd never tried to actually kill him. The stunts Neville's great-uncle pulled sounded like they could have seriously hurt him.

Apparently, Hermione shared Harry's opinion. "That's terrible!" she shrieked.

Neville looked taken aback, before he looked sadly at his toad. "I know some people don't like toads but Trevor isn't bad," he mumbled, sounding so dejected Harry wouldn't have been surprised to see tears in the boy's eyes.

"I don't think Hermione was talking about Trevor, Neville," Harry said comfortingly, patting the boy's shoulder. "I think she's more worried your great-uncle might have hurt you."

"Oh." Neville blushed, but quit looking so glum, so Harry counted it as a win. "Um, Hermione? You don't need to worry. Great-uncle Algie told me later he always had security measures in place so I wouldn't die or something. But I had to believe my life was in danger for my magic to jump in. That's how it works."

"But still! It must have been terrible for you! Did he even apologize?" she replied indignantly.

"He did," Neville nodded. "Said he was very sorry for scaring me." He looked at the worry in her face and reaffirmed shyly, "It's okay Hermione, everything is fine."

When Hermione didn't look like she was willing to let the topic go, Harry hastily interrupted her before she could speak. "Hermione, you were telling us about the spells you've tried. I read that casting a spell for the first time is the most difficult, because you aren't used to using your magic voluntarily yet. Does that mean you've found your wand spirit too?"

Hermione paused, anger on Neville's behalf replaced by plain curiosity. "My wand spirit? Do wands have spirits? Goodness, I didn't know, Mr Ollivander didn't say anything about something like that! That really is quite irresponsible of him. How did you find out?"

Neville looked curious too. "I don't think I ever heard of those. I'd have thought Gran would have mentioned them when she gave me my dad's wand. What are they? It does have to do with wands, right?"

Harry blinked, stunned, feeling his spirits' emotions match his own. "You don't know? But I thought that that would be the most important thing we would ever learn about at Hogwarts!" Inside, he was suddenly worried. He had expected to learn about wand spirits like Juushirou had once learned about Zanpakutou spirits, like how they were the core of their most important tools and were thus deeply connected to their potential for using magic. But if the others didn't know about them, did that mean that he had just made a mistake? He didn't want to stand out any more than he already did!

Why on earth wouldn't they know? Their wands are living beings! Surely I'm not the only wizard to ever enter my Inner World?

:We don't know, Harry,: Sougyo no Kotowari said grimly. Manjushage was still silent with shock. :But that does seem unlikely. Especially because Mr Ollivander was clearly aware that wands have a consciousness.:

… Maybe they'll teach it later? Harry suggested hesitantly. How much do the Shinigami learn about their Zanpakutou in class?

:Not a lot,: Sougyo no Kotowari grudgingly admitted. :They are told to find their Inner World and the name of their Zanpakutou, but meditation classes aside, no one really teaches about them. All they learn about us is how to wield us in our sealed forms. Shikai training is entirely individual because every Shikai is different.:

Harry relaxed a little. So maybe we just don't have a book about it?

:Probably… But then again, why doesn't Neville know? Surely his family would have told him about it? All the families in Seireitei that had Shinigami members did.:

I don't know.

:Harry,: Manjushage suddenly cut in. :Maybe finding me is like finding your Zanpakutou's name. What happens if a Shinigami knows his Zanpakutou's name before even entering the Academy?:

Harry froze, waiting for Sougyo no Kotowari to give the answer. He didn't know, but he had a feeling…

:They'd stand out,: the twins answered. :Like, really stand out. No one has ever known their Zanpakutou's name that soon.:

Harry was horrified. So I would be considered even more weird than I already am?!

His spirits were quiet for a few moments. :Probably,: Sougyo no Kotowari admitted. :Though we don't think that's the word they'd use:

:Harry,: Manjushage said slowly, as if it pained her. :If you want, you can keep me secret. I know you hate standing out.:

But Manju-

:No. It's alright,: she interrupted decisively. :First find out whether wand spirits are known or not. You can always reveal me later.:

Okay, Harry agreed, feeling guilty but at the same time grateful for Manjushage's understanding.

"Really now? Why?" Hermione asked in the meantime, oblivious to Harry's internal conversation. Harry only just managed to catch her question.

Harry hesitated, but then decided to tell them. At least part of it. They'd probably learn all about it later anyway. "You remember how Mr Ollivander told you that every wand chooses it's wizard, instead of the other way around?"

She nodded, but Neville shook his head. "I never went there," he said as explanation. "I got my father's wand."

Harry frowned, wondering what it meant if Neville's wand hadn't chosen him, but then dismissed it. He could contemplate that later. "Well, he did. Anyhow, that means that every wand has a spirit, because without being alive, a wand wouldn't be able to choose, right? He even said that wands could get jealous if you tried to get another while you were still using them, to the point that neither would work if you tried to force them. I think doing magic is easier once you get to know your wand spirit."

They thought that over. "Sounds fair," Hermione admitted. "There must be some form of intelligence. I suppose you could call it a spirit – a wand certainly isn't alive the conventional way. But if you only learned about magic a month ago, how do you know about wand spirits?" she inquired.

Harry paused. Now he had to choose what he'd tell them. Damn. He hadn't thought that far ahead yet.

:Go with a vague truth,: Sougyo no Kotowari advised.

"I asked about it," Harry said obediently, specifically not mentioning exactly who he had asked. "I was curious after Mr Ollivander mentioned it."

"But you asked if I had met my wand spirit too," Hermione prodded shrewdly. "Does that mean you have met yours?"

Vague truth, Harry repeated to himself. But it was difficult to come up with something sufficient on such a short notice. In the end he settled for, "I heard mine a few times. Mostly when I was asleep though."

Which was somewhat true. He often meditated at night, and he had associated meditation with being asleep ever since he had first entered his Inner World. It had taken a long time and a thorough explanation from Sougyo no Kotowari before he had understood that there was a difference.

"Really?" Hermione asked, eyes glinting with fascination. Neville leaned forward with similar curiosity. "What does it sound like?"

"She sounds like a girl," Harry admitted honestly. "Like a little kid. But please don't tell anyone I've already heard mine."

"Why would you want to keep it secret? There wasn't even a mention of wand spirits in the books and you've already heard yours!" Hermione asked, apparently genuinely shocked at the idea of keeping such a thing under wraps.

"Well," Harry said uncomfortably. "You guys don't know anything about it, so clearly it isn't normal. And people are already weird enough about me. I don't want to give them another reason to stare."

"Oh," Hermione said, suddenly understanding. "Do you not like being famous?" She shrugged at Harry's and Neville's surprised looks. "My mum once talked about famous muggles. It is probably comparable. She said that she thought it to be horrible, especially for children, because everyone is always very nosy and has a lot of opinions, even about things that aren't their business. She said she wouldn't want to be famous for all the money in the world."

Harry shrugged. "I don't know if it's the same, but so far I haven't been liking the reactions. No offense," he said apologetically to Hermione, "But it's really weird when people just start talking as if they know me when I have no idea who they are. And a little creepy."

Hermione and Neville thought that one over. "I can imagine," Neville muttered. "People who knew my parents sometimes do that. I never know what to say."

Hermione nodded decisively. "Well then. Neville and I won't tell anyone about your spirit. Right Neville?"

Neville nodded. "I won't say anything," he promised emphatically.

"But can you tell us how you can hear it? I want to be able to hear my wand spirit too. Just imagine what it could tell about magic! It could offer a completely different perspective!"

Harry chuckled. "It's fairly simple. Just don't think it will be easy. But I get the best contact with my spirit when I'm meditating."

"You meditate?"

"Since I was a little kid," Harry confirmed.

"They say you can remember things more easily when you meditate," Hermione mused. "Is that true?"

"I don't know. Guess I've been meditating too long for that. Guess it depends what you focus on when meditating."

"And what should we focus on for our wand spirits?"

"What do you think?" Harry replied with a smile. "Your wand of course. How it feels and whether you can sense the magic within. It can take a lot of time, but it should get you closer to your wand spirit," Harry said confidently. At least, that was how it usually worked for Shinigami wanting to communicate with their Zanpakutou according to Sougyo no Kotowari, who had been very puzzled by his ability to reach them without them having a physical form. He could only hope it would work the same for witches and wizards.

:It probably will,: Sougyo no Kotowari said.

:It will likely get easier once they start using their wands,: one of them added.

"I'll try that," Hermione said decisively, looking as if she was gearing up to begin straight away. Neville nodded as well.

"You'll probably want some quieter surroundings when you start," Harry warned.

Hermione and Neville shared a look. "I'll try before I go to sleep," Neville decided quietly.

"I think I will too," Hermione agreed after a moment of contemplation. "Now then, we were talking about ourselves. You still haven't told why you didn't know about magic before, Harry."

Harry sighed and started to explain the Dursleys. He was halfway through his recount of the night Hagrid came to pick him up when they were interrupted by a redheaded boy opening their compartment door, whose face brightened when he saw them. His uniform lacked any house colors, which would make him a first year too. Which was probably why he was glad to see three other first years. "Hey. Sorry to barge in, but can I join you?" The boy asked awkwardly, obviously uncomfortable with being stared at. "My brothers went off to look at a giant spider, so I'm kinda alone."

The three shared a look. "Sure," Harry shrugged.

"Thanks," the boy said, taking a seat. "I'm Ron. Ron Weasley."

This sparked a small round of introductions. Ron's eyes went wide when Harry introduced himself.

"Are you really Harry Potter?" Ron blurted out.

Harry nodded, already getting tired of the reaction.

"And have you really got – you know…" Ron pointed at Harry's forehead.

Harry blinked, before realizing Ron was pointing at his scar. With a sigh he pulled back his fringe.

Ron stared. "So that's where You-Know-who-?"

Before Ron could finish his question, Hermione flared up. "Don't be so rude! Harry isn't a circus animal you can gawk at! As if Harry wants to talk about being attacked by a mass murderer!" Harry was just as taken aback as the others when she lit into a passionate diatribe about insensitivity, which quickly descended into a lecture about trauma and the immorality of disaster tourism.

:Now that's a scary girl,: Sougyo no Kotowari giggled, highly entertained by Hermione's tirade and Ron's increasingly panicked expression. Harry shushed them, but had to agree. He almost smiled, touched and baffled by her vehement defense of him despite having known each other for less than two hours. Clearly she had taken his words about being uncomfortable with his fame to heart.

"I'm sorry," a red-faced Ron finally managed to shout when she had to pause her rapid stream of words to take a breath. "I didn't mean anything by it!"

When Hermione opened her mouth to continue her scolding Harry quickly stepped in. "It's fine," he told her firmly. "I think Ron got the message. There's no need to keep going."

She gave him a wounded look. "But I was trying to help."

Harry didn't need Sougyo no Kotowari's warning to understand he was on slippery ice. Support Ron too much and Hermione would be hurt, but if he didn't stop Hermione Ron would leave the moment he could. He didn't want to be at odds with his classmates before the year even started, so he had to pick his words with care. "I know, and I'm glad you did. But once your point is made you shouldn't keep pushing. Otherwise it'll just end up being a shouting match. Ron has apologized already."

Hermione still looked a little miffed, but acquiesced easily enough. Ron just looked relieved it was over. "You sound like Mum when she's mad," the redhead muttered. He reddened again when she turned a sharp eye towards him. "It's not that bad though," he added hastily.

Peace restored, conversation slowly started again. This time the topic was magical families, which both Hermione and Harry found absolutely fascinating. Neville and Ron didn't mind telling them about it. Ron even seemed flattered by the attention, despite his moans about the burden of having five older brothers. They were particularly interested in Ron's brothers Charlie and Bill, who had finished Hogwarts already.

Despite the rocky beginning, it turned out to be a wonderful start of the year.

This part turned out a lot longer than I expected. I had intended to sort out the Sorting this chapter, but things didn't go quite as I planned. First Cedric decided to make his first appearance years early, then Hermione and Neville suddenly turned up, and then they were talking about wand spirits before I even realized they were moving in that direction. It really is quite vexing when your characters suddenly decide to do stuff without consulting you. Anyhow, I hope you all liked the chapter and I hope to see you all back in 2016! Don't forget to tell me what you think!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!