Chapter 6

Gohan watched as the castle's lights sedately drifted on the lake. He was seriously starting to question the wisdom in his plan.

Here he arrived on a world in turmoil. Witches and wizards were attacked form within and without. If it wasn't giants, spiders, dementors and other dark creatures it was infiltrators, traitors and back stabbers. The muggles were being slaughtered in their thousands, all they while ignorant of what was killing them. And all this time Voldemort kept growing in strength as his armies swelled.

And now, when they need unity more than ever. He arrives. A muggle, in Hogwarts. The pinnacle of wizard achievement. He threatened to single-handedly destroy whatever unity they did have. Not to mention shattering an already waning confidence in Dumbledore himself.

Looking up at the impressive castle looming ahead of the lake, Gohan suppressed a shuddered at the thought at what he was attempting to do here tonight. He was definitely starting to question the wisdom behind his plan.

"Ano... Gohan-kun. Is something wrong?"

"You ever get the feeling that you're about to make a big mistake."

"Hell yeah!" Naruto interrupted. "I always get that feeling, especially before I speak."

"Baka!" She yelled at Naruto, "Gohan I don't know if you're making a mistake. But if you want to pull out. Now's the time." Gohan nodded weakly. Though he was thinking that if he wanted to pull out, he had to do it before he got into the minuscule boat.

***

The doors to the great hall slowly swung inward, Gohan steeled himself and walked in with the shinobi and the other first years.

Gohan couldn't help but stare at the room in awe. The magnificent hall was lit by thousands of candles floating above five great tables. Their light danced across the golden plates, polished oak tables and a perfect granite floor. The magnificent stone walls rose high into the sky, where it gave way to an enchanting view of the velvet night sky, sparkling with starts.

And if what Gohan saw was impressive, it was nothing compared to what he sensed. The entire castle was vibrant with energy. Different energies drifted through the walls. Some slowly like clouds over the night sky, others darted through the walls like electric currents. Others remained stationary but was constantly changing in shape, size and appearance. It seemed like the whole castle was glowing to his senses.

The magical ki within the students seemed to have become synchronised somehow. Each table had a completely different feel to it, but they all seemed to flow and change with the same rhythm. It was like music that he could sense. How was he ever going to fit in, in a place like this?

Gohan was so entranced by what he could sense that he was only vaguely aware of the names being read out and sorted into houses. But, all too soon it was only Gohan left standing along with the shinobi.

Dumbledore rose from his seat. "Normally I leave my address until after the school feast. But as you can all see, we have seven new additions this year, and I would like to introduce them personally."

Seven?,Gohan wondered counting their number. Sure enough there was a new girl standing among them with the same pale eyes that Neji carried. She must have joined us when I was gawking at this place. Man, what would Piccolo say? I can't zone out like this in unfamiliar territory.

"Through an unfortunate series of events, they have been forced to leave their original school in Japan. Normally Hogwarts does not accept late entries, but given their proficiency in magic, we have decided to let them continue their education in the sixth and seventh year levels. I trust that you will make them feel properly welcome. They will now be sorted."

***

Harry stared at the seven odd teenagers standing in front of the wizarding hat. Harry couldn't help but notice that the blond teen was extremely pale, and trembling slightly. He turned to make a comment about it, but Ron beat him too it.

"Blimey Harry, he looks jumpy."

"Remember how nervous we were the first time. Maybe we're just not used to seeing it on an older kids face." Hermoine put in uncertainly. Nervous? Harry wondered looking at the terrified child. That was an understatement, he looked ready to pass out.

"But I wonder what Dumbledore is thinking, bringing them here?"

"What do you mean Hermoine?"

"Well, he said they came from Japan, but Japanese magic schools finish two years earlier that ours. So they should all have graduated already." Harry and Ron looked at her surprised. "What!"

"You read about Japanese schools?"

"It was mentioned in Hogwarts: A history. It was really interesting, did you know that..." Harry and Ron looked helplessly at each other. But to their surprise, she suddenly became quiet.

The followed her gaze, to see the pink haired girl sit next to down opposite her.

"Hello, I'm Hermoine, this is Harry and Ron" The strange girl gave each a friendly bow.

"Hi, I'm Sakura. Its a pleasure to be here in Hogwarts."

"You speak English very well for a Japanese student."

"No, I don't speak English at all. Dumbledore enchanted our forehead protectors with a translation spell."

"Really, what's a forehead protector?" Sakura took of a metal plate and showed them.

"This is what we call in Japanese a hitai-ate. But its only symbolic really, its to show that we've graduated from school."

"But, if you've graduated, why would you want to attend Hogwarts?"

"We get our hitai-ates after our OWLS. We were all planni..."

"Can I ask you a question?" Harry interrupted the girls.

"Sure" She smiled at him. So this is the boy that Voldemort wants dead. He seems ordinary enough.

"Who is that boy? The young one with the black hair. And why isn't he waring school uniform like everyone else?"

"That is Gohan Son. I don't really know him to well. I only met him on the way over here. He's very friendly and polite though. Why do you ask?"

"Don't know." Harry responded truthfully, eyes glued on the young demi-saiyan. Something in the back of his mind simply screamed DANGEROUS.

"What's taking so long?" Hermoine's question pulled Harry and Sakura's attention back to the shinobi, who had all been sorted. All except for Naruto, who had been sitting with the sorting hat on for the last five minutes.

No one expected what happened next.

"THERE'S TO MANY VOICES IN MY HEAD! SHUT UP ALL OF YOU! DATTEBAYO!" Naruto jumped up and slammed the sorting hat back onto the chair and made his own way over to the Gryffindor table where he squeezed in next to Sakura.

The entire hall was quiet. No one, not even in Dumbledore's hundred and fifty years of memory, had ever, told the sorting hat to 'shut up'. Every eye was on Naruto, who seemed completely oblivious to their stares.

Dumbledore again rose from his seat and broke through the awkward silence.. "And with that exuberant display we close the sorting."

***

After Dumbledore announced the end of the sorting, every eye drifted back to Gohan. The only one who was still left standing in the middle of the hall. He seemed very out of place, wearing obviously muggle clothing. While the shinobi had all come as students, Gohan had no need for school supplies, and consequently found himself without school robes.

His throat constricted. This was the moment he'd been dreading. The moment he might single handedly bring down everything Dumbledore has spent the last fifty years working for. The moment he had asked for... Damn Vegeta for his idea.

"Now as everyone in this hall knows, Lord Voldemort and his followers once more at large and gaining in strength. Its is now, as we face our darkest years that unity becomes more important than ever, that we welcome Gohan Son to our school. As the first muggle ambassador, he will be working with us to ensure that muggle casualties are kept to a minimum. He will also help to build relations between muggles and wizards, and lastly he will help us by further fortifying Hogwarts. At my request he has also agreed to teach the Muggle Studies class in Mr. Albert's unfortunate absence. As many of you may have already guessed Mr. Son, is himself a muggle. But he has earned my deepest respect, and I ask that you will give him time, and he will certainly win over your respect and admiration."

Gohan was surprised at that last statement. He had Dumbledore's greatest respect? How? Dumbledore only just met him. Did he just say that to help Gohan gain acceptance? Somehow, he doubted that Dumbledore would do something like that.

"Now Mr. Son, why don't you join us up here at the staff table?"

As Gohan walked up to the staff table, he found himself wondering why he was so afraid of these kids. He was probably the most powerful being in any universe, so why was he so afraid of these teenagers?

But despite that, he was still a boy. And now, looking out over their faces he was struck with the realization of just how badly he wanted their acceptance, and that thought scared him. After everything he had been through, was he really just a child that wanted friends? It seemed shameful to him somehow. He was champion of earth! Not some child! But even as he said it, he knew it was a lie. He was still a child. And nothing except time would change that.

After what seemed like an eternity, Gohan made his way up to the staff table and sat in one of two open seats. He chose the one between Professor McGonagall and Hagrid. Mostly because he didn't want to sit next to the greasy haired Professor, who sat next to the other open seat.

"Now, I have no doubt that you are all hungry; so dig in."

Gohan watched amazed as golden plates and bowls filled with every kind of food he had ever seen and several he could only guess at. This was a saiyan's paradise! If only his father were here... he would love this. No one could eat like Goku...

As Gohan looked out over the Great Hall, he noticed that all eyes were still on him. Except for Naruto who was obliviously eating food as though he'd never eaten before.

Most had looked at him disbelievingly, some seemed insulted. But the Slytherin table was almost quivering with rage. There was no doubt in Gohan's mind that they would attack him the first chance they get.

"I'd watch out fer them if I was you. Jump yeh firs' chance they get. Would be my guess anyway."

"Yeah" Gohan agreed still staring at the hate filled faces. This year was going to be a lot harder than he thought.

"Rubeus Hagrid, by the way." He said offering a huge hand to the teen. "Don' go worr'in 'bout what they think. If yer good enough fer Dumbledore, yer good enough fer me."

"Yes" Professor McGonagall agreed. "But Dumbledore seems to place an extraordinary amount of faith in you. Why does he trust you so much?"

Gohan's eyes lowered to his food.

"I don't know. I've only just met him." To Minerva he suddenly seemed so small, lost in whatever nightmare haunted his self-esteem. He looked up at her with large eyes.McGonagall wasn't sure what was troubling him, but she did know that it felt wrong coming from such a small child.

Without taking his eyes of Professor McGonagall Gohan casually raised an empty plate, just in time for a hostile spell to bounce off it. The hall grew deathly silent.

Every eye focussed on Gohan, keen to see his reaction.

"I WILL NEVER ACCEPT YOU!" A seventh year Slytherin student suddenly roared out. "DUMBLEDORE HAS GONE TOO FAR THIS TIME! I'LL MAKE YOU WISH YOU WERE DEAD. YOU'LL QUIT BEFORE THE WEEK IS OUT!"

In an instant all six shinobi were on their feet.

"Teme!" Naruto yelled as he got to his feet. "Is that how you treat someone who's trying to help you? Why I should kick your..."
"Naruto!" To everyone's surprise the rebuke came from Gohan.

"It's my job to bring wizards and muggles together. I'm afraid you'll make that rather difficult if you go and start fights about me" His soft words seemed thunderous in the deafening silence.

"I know that its difficult to accept me." Gohan said to the entire hall. "Believe me I know how hard it can be to accept when something you never thought would change, does. But the world is changing. And if we want to survive this war, so must we."

"But I also know that you need time to accept me. So to help grease the wheels, I would like to propose a game. Everyone in this hall may attack me for three months without fear of repercussions" He paused to let the words sink in.

"Every time you successfully manage to hit me with either a spell, an object or even your own fists, you will automatically win your house 120 points. After three months I will decide what the best ambush was, and that person will win a prize."

"This way, you get to attack me as much as you want. And I will get the time to earn your respect." He said with a friendly smile, as though he didn't realize what his own promise entailed.

The hall grew silent yet again. How many more surprises was this night going to yield? Had a single muggle just challenged every student in Hogwarts to attack him?

"What's the prize?" A second year Hufflepuff student finally called out.

"Hmm..." Gohan thought putting his finger on his chin. "How about this?" He opened his capsule case and took out a single black capsule. He pressed the button and threw it on the raised platform in front of the teacher's table.

A poof of smoke later revealed a pitch black motorcycle. It seemed to Gohan that he'd forgotten how beautiful it was since the last time he took it out, almost a year ago. It was Capsule Corps's latest model. Or at least it was last year, when he got it for his birthday. He could move far faster than the bike, even while wearing his weights new weights, and... he wasn't old enough to drive it anyway.

There were several gasps of amazement. It was obvious to everyone that this was an extremely expensive prize. He re-capsulated the bike and picked up the small capsule.
"Is this good enough for you?" He asked holding up the precious capsule. His question was met with a roar of approval.

"Very well. However, there is one rule..." The hall quietened instantly. "Your target is me, and only me. If anyone else is seriously injured in your attack, that attempt is null and void, as are all subsequent attempts for the duration of the competition. Do I make myself clear?"

There was a general murmur of affirmation ran through the hall.

Dumbledore slowly rose from his seat. "Very well. I will start the competition at midnight. However, this will not exempt you from classes so I suggest you all get some rest."

***

Gohan followed Professor Flitwick into the small room darkly lit room. In the center of the room was a large circular table.

Dumbledore seated himself in the one chair that was slightly larger than the others. As Gohan took a seat opposite him next to the small figure of Professor Flitwick, Gohan couldn't help but wonder what had gotten into him. How could he do that? Did he really just challenge every wizard in Hogwarts?

"Now before we start the meeting, I would like to announce that we have another new member of staff..."
"Excuse me Dumbledore" Professor McGonagall interrupted. "Aren't we going to discuss what just happened."

"I see no reason why that should be necessary."
"NO REASON! A MUGGLE JUST DECLARED WAR ON THE ENTIRE SCHOOL! AND YOU LET HIM!"

Gohan looked around the room. While most of the teachers probably wouldn't have said it as loud as Minerva had just put it, he could tell that they agreed with her. Well Snape looked like Christmas had come early, but somehow Gohan doubted that it was because he thought Gohan's challenge was a stroke of brilliance. Suddenly he felt very foolish.

"They were all glaring at me." Gohan said in a whisper. "I didn't know what to do. I've never been hated before. I guess I acted without thinking."

"Personally" a new voice said, "I think it was a stroke of brilliance." Gohan looked over the candles towards the voice, but unfortunately the bright light ruined any chance of seeing into he dark corner of the room. "He's shown them he's not afraid. He's offered them a game to help them forget about their fears, bought himself time to earn their respect and given them a challenge that unless I'm very much mistaken, they have no chance of winning unless they team up together."

"Excuse me, but who are you?" Snape said in a cold voice.

"Ah, excuse me. This is Kakashi Hatake" Dumbledore said pleasantly. "I was going to introduce him during the feast, but unfortunately it seems he was detained."

"Is he the new DADA teacher?" Professor Sprout inquired.

"No I'm the new security consultant"

"Security Consultant? Dumbledore, since when have we had a security consultant!" Snape said, enraged that he had again been left out of the loop.

"Since today. Unfortunately it seems that the new potions master has been detained. I trust that I will be able to introduce him to the school tomorrow at breakfast?"

"I will make sure that he is there."

"Dumbledore, you have a lot of explaining to do! You suddenly open your arms to foreigners, muggles and create two new positions. When where planning on informing the rest of us! And when where you planning on telling me, THAT I'VE BEEN REPLACED!"

"My dear Severus, I did not want to distract you from more important tasks. You will become the new defence against the dark arts teacher. Rest assured that I have the utmost confidence in Gohan, Kakashi as well as the new potions master."

"Why?" Gohan's voice was so soft he wasn't sure they heard him. "Why do you trust me with so much? I haven't done anything to deserve that kind of ..."

"My dear boy" Gohan looked up, he could see the wet shimmering of tears in the old eyes. "You have done so much. So very, very much. Your father would be so proud of you."

"My father?"

"Yes, Son Goku. A man whom I was very fortunate to have known."

"You knew my father?"

"Excuse me, Dumbledore. But perhaps it would enrich all of our... faith, if you would tell us what exactly the boy has done, to earn your respect."

"That, I'm afraid, is Gohan's story. And I do not think that he is ready to relive the incident yet. But I am certain that he will tell you as soon as he's ready."