Yusuke followed the rest of his housemates up staircase after staircase, most of them moving. He didn't approve of this at all, especially after someone named Dean Thomas admitted that he'd fallen off one in first year and broken his leg. His cheerful, "But Madam Pomfrey mended it in no time." wasn't reassuring at all. He was well aware of skele-grow, but he was also aware of its shortcomings.
The real problem was that, if you didn't get enough vitamin D and Calcium, you robbed other bones for materials to mend the broken one. It could leave all your bones fragile. Yusuke wasn't fond of some of the other effects either.
He listened to the short lecture on remembering the password and not counting on someone else to let him in. The fat woman in the portrait nodded her head and said, "And no foolishness with me either. Now, go in." and with that she swung aside to allow everyone to enter.
Yusuke looked around the common room and shuddered. It was very English, decorated in maroon and mustard, chairs, couches and tables of various sizes were scattered around in groupings obviously intended to encourage studying. He thought it would encourage socializing instead. He was glad he'd gotten the trunk he had. He was going to have to have a private place to study, this noisy room was totally unsuitable. However, it did look like a nice place to socialize and make contacts.
The Head of House, Professor McGonagall, gave a short speech then pointed to the stairs off to the right. "There are the boys dormitories. Mr Potter, you will find that it is impossible for boys to enter the girls dorm. However, the girls may enter the boys from 7am to 8pm." Yusuke gave her a disbelieving look. "I know. It's ridiculous. To continue, you will be rooming with Neville Longbottom, Ronald Weasley, Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan. They will be happy to show you how to go on." With that, she turned to the first years and began assigning them to a prefect who was to help them get settled. Yusuke followed his roommates up the stairs.
The room at the top of the circular staircase was not what Yusuke was used to. He was used to his six-tatami room with its wood floors, sliding shoji and clean lines. What was revealed when he entered his new quarters was a circular room crowded with five beds, four trunks and a mess of stove and coal.
Neville glanced around and realized that all the elves had done was push all the old beds over a bit and add one more. He sighed and turned to Harry. "I'll help you, if you want. Um ... that's my bed, there's Ron, Dean and Seamus. That leaves you with the one farthest from the door. We can shift stuff around a bit, if you like."
Yusuke nodded absently while he looked around. His bed was against the far wall and the shape of the room left a perfect place for his trunk behind the head. This would make it possible for him to leave it in place and just shut and lock it. Rather than having to keep it at the foot of his bed in trunk form. He hadn't been looking forward to constantly laying it down and setting it back up again.
He nodded again, this time at Neville. "Thank you, Longbottom-kun. This will be fine." He looked around more carefully, then said, "Although, it is exceptionally dirty." a wave of his hand pulled all the dirt and cobwebs into a compact ball. He looked around then said, "Finnigan-san, please open the window." Seamus, wide-eyed at this display of wandless magic, thrust the window open and got out of the way. The ball of dirt whisked itself out. "Arigato, Finnigan-san."
Seamus didn't recognize the language so he just said, "Excuse me?"
"Ah! Warui. Thank you." Yusuke decided he needed to start trying to think in English again. "Sorry. My English is not as good as you might expect. I had EASL teachers but only for a few hours a month."
Seamus and Dean both just nodded their heads agreeably. Ron Weasley looked a bit indignant then said, "What? You don't speak English? How come? You are English."
Yusuke just shrugged elegantly and said, "I went to Japan very young. I learned quickly and well. I don't use English in my everyday life. I speak Nihongo daily." as he was speaking, Yusuke moved to put his trunk in place. He turned it on end, or upright, depending on your point of view. He opened it and emptied his pockets into a basket in the storage compartment. He knew he had to sort some things out but he could do that in the morning. Then he shut it, opened it to the clothing section and took out a yakuta for sleeping.
Ron grumped and grumbled a bit, then announced, "You can't have a compartment trunk. Hogwarts rules."
Yusuke just snapped, "The rules say I can't have a trunk with a compartment that creates an enclosed room. This trunk contains a study area, a storage area and a wardrobe. That is all." He didn't bother to tell them all the things in his storage. His opinion was it wasn't their business.
Neville nodded, he'd wanted something similar for his newest trunk, but his Gran had turned him down. Seamus and Dean both looked suitably impressed and didn't push the issue.
Yusuke nodded to the room, not quite a bow, but close. "I am going to bathe. I believe privacy is required here?"
Neville shook his head. "It's rather communal, but we try not to get in each other's space."
Yusuke smiled slightly at Neville. He thought he was going to like this soft spoken, kindly boy. "Arigato, Longbottom-kun." He was going to see if he couldn't put some starch in the boy's spine. It would be good for him.
"Do itashimashte, Yusuke-san." Neville drew on what he knew from his experience in Japan and smiled back.
Yusuke took himself off to bathe, put on his yakuta over a pair of boxers and returned. He did another cleaning spell on his bed and climbed in. He'd slept in Western style beds before and was used to them. He wasn't that fond of the odd curtains all around it, but decided he'd get used to them. They might be very useful in keep him from waking his roommates with an almost all night reading session. As he'd gotten older his need for sleep had decreased from four to six hours down to three or four. He used the hours to study, read, do business or workout.
He settled against his pillows and quietly listened to his roommates as they horsed around, eating candy and telling stories about their summers. He was very sure no one would like to hear about his.
.
He'd been eating breakfast when one of the kyōdai had hurried in and told Musashi that there was an invasion on one of the far islands. Urup was one of the islands that the Yamaguchi-gumi claimed as their own. The Russians disagreed.
They invaded the Yamaguchi Northern Possessions from time to time, trying to claim them for Russia. The Japanese government ignored these proceedings with a stoic, "There's nothing we need to do about it. Mobsters fighting mobsters." But everyone noticed that they made sure that anyone injured got the best of care and Russians were imprisoned on various trumped up charges, smuggling being one.
The kyōdai had given coordinates and Yusuke had called his men to him. They'd mounted their oars and soared off into the sky, flying North at an incredible rate.
It took them half an hour of flying at top speed to get to the area where the Russians had made their forward camp. This was situated near a small lake at the far northern part of the island. It was a good place to camp as the lake was in a depression, which sheltered it from off shore winds. But, this also made it hard to defend as attackers could get the higher ground.
It didn't hurt that it was nearly inaccessible by mundane means. The only way in and out was by flight. And only oars were small enough to get in due to the thick growth of trees.
They had flown in like a murder of crows, devastating their foes in seconds. Yusuke had been in the lead of a triangular formation that cut a swath of death through the camp. No one escaped their wrath. This was their territory and no one, no one at all, was allowed to invade without facing consequences.
Yusuke had finally flicked the last traces of blood from his katana, and wiped it on the shirt of the one man still living. The soft ring of the sword entering its saya sounded loud in the clearing. Yusuke just looked at the man, the commander of the group, until he was a whimpering mess.
Yusuke glanced at his two seconds. "Suggestions."
Someone called out, "Cut out his tongue."
Yusuke just looked at the wakashu until he began to sweat. "And why would I do that when I want him to carry a message? Baka!" He turned away, knowing that the wakashu was properly chastised. He returned his attention to the commander. "You! You will return to your Oyabun and tell him that the next time he encroaches on our territory, I will come for him. Do you understand?" He kept his voice soft and low, but the man paled even more than he already had and nodded so hard he nearly gave himself whiplash.
The man had been sent on his way after a beating that left him nearly unconscious.
Miyamoto Musashi had received an apology from the Russian Mafia boss a day later. It had included some very nice vodka and caviar.
.
Yusuke was pulled from his memories by Ron, who asked, "And what did you do for your summer?"
Yusuke smiled around, looking somewhat like his namesake,Shinigami, and said, "Not much. Worked out, did kanji exercises, entertained my father, killed a few people. The usual."
Neville turned a bit grey, but Ron, Dean and Seamus scoffed at this with various degrees of rudeness. Yusuke just shrugged, tossed a few bits of paper around and announced, "I'm going to sleep. Don't bother me. And don't tamper with my trunk, you won't like the results." A wave of his hand closed the curtains. He would spend four hours reading his books, then sleep until dawn.
The other's grumbled a bit at that rudeness, but Neville remarked, "I don't think he's kidding about his summer. And there's something about the way he talks ... but I can't put my finger on it." He sighed. His memory was just as bad as ever. "I'm tired from the train ride, and it's going to be a long day tomorrow. I'm going to bed too. Good night." And he also went to bed.
Dean, Ron and Seamus stayed up a while longer, talking about Harry Potter, and wondering about where he'd been and what he'd really been doing. They all remarked on his attitude of faint contemptuous hauteur.
They all slept the night through.
Yusuke awoke as the first rays of dawns light shone in the window. He eased out of bed, then grimaced. The silencing spells had blocked the sound of Weasley's stentorian snoring. Neville wasn't too bad, but Dean and Seamus both made a back up of hoots and whistles that would keep a deaf man awake.
He decided to do his exercises before showering and dressing for the day. The only problem was, where to go. He decided to call for a servant to see if they could find him a dojo.
"Service please." Yusuke was a bit startled by the oni who showed up. It was about a third of his height with huge eyes and flapping ears. It was dressed in a clean garment of cloth draped around it's body. It touched him gently with a delicate long fingered hand.
"You is not being calling a house elf, young sir. Students is not being allowed."
Yusuke put his cards on the table, figuratively speaking. "I don't want to be here, I have other things to do. But your ministry threatened to steal my inheritance if I didn't come to this place. So ... I'm not in favor of following rules that are ... inconvenient. I will try not to make things difficult for you."
The elf made a rude face. "Do not be calling it my ministry. They is all busybodies. What is you needing?"
"I need a place ... a dojo. To work out in. And I don't want to be running all over this drafty pile of rock twice a day. Can you help?'' Yusuke dipped his head in a slight bow. He was always fairly scrupulous about his dealings with servants. They had a hard enough time without him adding to it, and he found that a modicum of politeness got him excellent service.
The elf nodded, ears flapping. "Yes, there is a salle. A place for sword fighting. Very big. Very open. Is this helping?"
Yusuke knew exactly what a salle was. "If it's a big one. Show me, dozo."
The elf led him down the stairs, saying politely, "Dizzy is this one's name, not dozo. This way please"
Yusuke decided to let that go in favor of finding the dojo sooner.
The elf, Dizzy, led him through the common room and out the portrait guarded door. They turned left at the first landing and were faced with a short corridor with a door at the end. But, instead of going to the door, the elf turned right, facing a blank wall. "Here we is, sir. Just touch the wall with your magic. If you is acceptable to the salle, you is being let in."
Yusuke put his hand on the wall and reached out with his Chi, the door slid open with a soft sound of wood sliding on wood. The elf disappeared with a soft pop and Yusuke walked in to the salle.
He wondered why the elf had called it a salle as it was obviously a dojo, complete with a matted area surrounded with tatami then encircled with benches padded with thin cushions.
One wall contained a huge rack of weapons, from tanto to tachi, to naginata and a heavy spear. There were shelves full of gi, shirikin and throwing pins, rope and chain darts and sectional whips under them.
It was divided in the traditional manner into quarters. One quarter was the matted area and one was another area surrounded by a low divider made like a banister. This area contained zafu and zabuton with attendant small tables scattered over the area. The other two were a changing area and an area with exercise machines.
These machines were surprisingly modern in appearance, but Yusuke wasn't that surprised. It was more or less like the dojo he had at home. He would later find out that Hogwarts elves had set this up just for him. Miyamoto's arm was very long indeed.
Yusuke reached into his mallet space and pulled out his hakamashita and hakama as well as a fundoshi. He put them on, tossing his street clothes into mallet space, and started with some tai chi to warm up with. He worked his way through his kata, starting with simple Iaido and moving through more and more complex kata then on to shinkendo kata until he finally carefully sheathed his sword and knelt, sweating and panting on a zafu to rest a moment before moving on to a yoga cool down. This was followed by half an hour of meditation.
He returned to the dorm just in time to see Weasley blown across the room. He sneered and said, "Tampering with my things is not a good idea. I did warn you, didn't I?"
Ron stumbled to his feet with a snarl. "Potter! You're not allowed a multi-compartment trunk. Hogwarts rules."
Yusuke just shrugged. "So? Do I really care? I was dragged here. I don't want to be here. I'd much rather still be in Japan, but your ministry threatened to confiscate my inheritance if I didn't. So here I am, under protest. Deal."
Dean and Seamus had been pleased to realize that they were going to room with The-Boy-Who-Lived, but now they weren't so sure. This elegant young man wasn't anything like what they'd expected. He was harder, colder and certainly much more mature than anyone else their age that they'd met. Neville just sighed, this was not going to go well.
Yusuke for his part, wasn't that thrilled with his roommates either. They were, to his eyes, very immature, frivolous and silly. Neville was the best of the lot, only because he was shyer than the rest.
Ron just glowered then mumbled something about telling Professor McGonagall. Yusuke snorted. He really didn't care if someone went and complained. But, he wasn't about to tolerate that attitude for a moment.
"Yes, please do. If you want to wake up with a canary in your mouth. I don't like tell tales, it isn't good for business. Nor your reputation. And what are you without that?" And with that final remark, he turned to find clean clothing for the day. He absently dragged his dirty clothing out of mallet space and dropped them into the hamper behind his trunk. He pulled off his hakama and pulled the hem of his hakamashita down to his ankles with a quick spell. Then he ambled into the bathroom. He didn't mind taking showers, but he was going to want a real bath now and then, at least twice a week. He decided to ask a house oni about it.
For now, he satisfied himself with a long hot shower, put his hakamashita into his mallet space and dressed for the day. He'd decided on a compromise uniform, comfortable BDU pants with soft soled combat style boots specially made for him and a t-shirt with kanji on it. He tugged his robe on over this and left it open. Since he was wearing a t-shirt he left his Beretta in his wardrobe. He kept his other arms as his throwing pin sheath looked like a bracer and his wand sheath looked like a wrist band. He kept his kunai in the wrist sheath and his balisong in his pocket. He stuffed a tanto into his left boot and headed downstairs for breakfast.
.
His entry into the common room was greeted by what seemed to be a huge sigh of relief. He glanced around suspiciously, wondering what the hell was going on now.
A small voice pipped out, " Harry Potter. You're going to save us all from You-Know-Who, right?"
Yusuke just blinked at the small boy for a moment. He started to get nasty but realized that the kid couldn't be more than what they called a second year. He just shrugged and said, "I have no idea what you're talking about. I know who?" he shook his head irritably. "No, I don't know who. And who the hell are you?"
The boy looked astonished then said, "Oh, I'm sorry. My name is Michael Porter You-Know-Who., I mean ... um ...He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Him. You're going to protect us from Him, right?" Michael looked confused, upset and afraid.
Yusuke sighed, "I don't know who you're talking about. I was raised in Japan. I have no idea what you expect of me." He started to turn away, but waited a moment to see if someone would explain things to him. If not, he was going to have to find out some other way. If they were expecting protection, he had to know the particulars.
The soft muttering of most of the house followed him out the door with Michael's voice a shrill counterpoint. As did Hermione Granger.
"Yusuke, wait for me." Yusuke, who knew he had to start thinking of himself as Harry, or he wouldn't answer when called, turned to smile at her. "I know all about this. I'll tell you what I know over breakfast. Ok?"
"Yes, that would be good. You could call me Harry, if you like ... I think." He let his distaste for the name change show on his face.
"I'll rather call you what you like. Is Yusuke-kun ok?" Hermione thought it would be fun to address him by his Japanese name.
Harry, he firmly admonished himself to remember that, said, "That would be nice. Thank you. I shall call you Hermione-chan. Yes?"
"Oh, I'd like that. Now. What do you know? I'll start from there. And..." She flushed. "If I get TMI on you, tell me. I do tend to lecture." She sighed heavily. "Most people here just tolerate me, I know that. But I just can't help it. If someone is doing something wrong, they could get hurt, or hurt someone."
Harry bowed slightly and offered her his arm on the stairs, he just didn't trust stairs that moved on their own to be safe. "I'll tell you. But I know absolutely nothing about any of this. All I know is that I am a legacy to this school, and, if I don't attend for the next two years, the Ministry of Magic of Britain will take my inheritance. It's a lot of money. Bad for business. I would just let it go myself, but my adoptive father Miyamoto Musashi asked me to come. So ... I did."
Hermione thought about that as they navigated the first flight of stairs. "Oh. Um ... I'm not sure that is legal. But with this Ministry? It really isn't unusual for Fudge to pull a fast one, or two. So ... You're the Boy-Who-Lived." And with that, she spent the rest of the walk to the Great Hall telling Harry/Yusuke about himself.
At the end, all he could do was ask, "And how do they know all that happened that night? It doesn't make sense."
Hermione blinked for a moment then said, "Well, everyone knows ... but ... Well." She frowned in thought, nibbling on a piece of bacon.
"Exactly, Hermione-chan. I don't know who 'they' are, but the solid facts are ... Voldemort found out where my parents and I were. He broke in, killed my parents then disappeared. I was found with a cut on my head. I'm pretty sure I didn't do much at the age of fifteen months. Especially since I was completely unable to defend myself from my uncle only weeks later. So ... for the sake of my sanity, let's say that no one really knows what happened and move on."
Hermione nodded at this bit of cynical wisdom and continued on to explain that there was some sort of prophecy, which no one actually knew, that he was the savior of the wizarding world or something. No one seemed really sure of this, but 'everyone' knew it was so. So they idolized Harry Potter and seemed to think they all knew him and that he owed them some sort of service.
As they settled at the table, Harry shrugged and announced, "I know all about protection rackets, and they don't get something for nothing. Trying to take my inheritance instead of paying me a proper fee is not going to get them anywhere. As long as He and his gumi leave me alone, there won't be any problems between us."
Hermione thought about that for a moment then decided that it all was something to deal with when the proper time came. "Well, that's alright then. Pass the pumpkin juice, please."
Harry handed the pitcher over, sniffing it suspiciously as he did so. Hermione poured herself some then offered. "Would you care for some, Yusuke-kun?"
He reached over and took her goblet. He sipped it then forced himself to swallow. He choked out, "No. Ahem! I don't believe so. Thank you all the same." He put the goblet back where it had been, and gulped some tea to get rid of the taste. "That stuff is way too sweet for me."
Neville had settled opposite Harry, and had listened to their conversation with interest. He now interjected himself into it by asking, "Do you know what classes you'll be taking yet?"
Harry started to answer, but was interrupted by an argument down the table.
Ron Weasley was arguing with a girl who was obviously his sister.
"You can't give that away. Mum bought it for you." Ron was holding what was obviously a journal book covered with well worn green suede.
Ginny was red faced and clearly angry. "I'll give it away, if I like. I'd never keep a journal. Any girl with six brothers who would do something like that is an idiot. Give it!"
Harry just gestured with one hand. The book flew out of Ron's grasp and bounced up and down in front of Ginny until she grabbed it. She then handed it off to a first year, saying, "I said you could have it, and I meant it. If Mum had wanted me to write in it she would have said, not just stuffed it in my cauldron in my first year." She turned to Ron. "And you leave her alone, you hear me?"
Ron mumbled something incomprehensible and returned to his breakfast.
Ginny turned to Harry and gave him a brilliant smile. "Thanks. Ron's such a prat. Can I sit with you?" Harry nodded and moved over a bit. "Imagine, me sitting with Harry Potter. Wow."
"You could call me Yusuke." Yusuke waited to see what she said.
"Why would I do that? That's just silly. Your name is Harry Potter, so why should I call you something foreign?" Ginny's evident satisfaction with this remark left several people with displeasing thoughts.
Neville thought she was shallow but he had for years. Harry thought she was stupid and obnoxious. Hermione just sighed, the poor girl would never realize what she had done, nor understand why her hero held her at arms length.
Professor McGonagall waited until everyone was finished eating then passed out the timetables. She smiled thinly at Harry and said, "Here you are, Mr. Potter. Headmaster Dumbledore saw fit to mark a few changes." She grimaced then finished, "If you see fit to agree, just initial where indicated and I'll make the changes."
Harry looked at the original timetable, it had all the classes he wanted on it. The emendations were in green and were all the classes he had rejected as useless. He was also taking Potions, which he had not included on his original.
"The black table is the one I decided on with one difference. Potions. I did not wish to take that class." Harry handed the parchment back to the professor.
McGonagall nodded. "I do realize that but Dumbledore will not be swayed on this one. I believe that he altered your timetable in the way he did so that you would not notice Potions being a requirement. Do what you will, he'll see you in that class, damn the consequences. I'm sorry, Mr. Potter, but there's not much I can do about it." The professor looked annoyed for a moment.
Professor McGonagall was suffering from a crises of /conscious/. She knew that Harry Potter was necessary to the war against Voldemort, but she didn't like the way the ministry was going about getting him to help. Threatening a sixteen year old, really. So, she was going to go out of her way a bit for him. Even though his attitude annoyed her. Refusing the Potter name did not go over well with her. Not that she really regretted interfering with Dumbledore's plans, she was annoyed at him too. He could have done a bit more to stymie the Ministry plans, via Fudge, she was sure. But, he'd been at the ICW meeting instead of in his office at said ministry as scheduled.
While she was thinking, Yusuke was also thinking. "McGonagall-sensei, you could call me Yusuke, if you wish." He returned his attention to the parchment. "This will do, I suppose. Potions is only one more class since I'm not taking any of the other suggestions. Is there a juku here?"
McGonagall pulled her thoughts back to the present. "You will refer to me as Professor, Mr. Potter. And it would be completely unethical for me to call you ... Yusuke. I don't know what a juku is so I'm sure we don't have one. Some heathen amusement, I assume. Now ... head for your class." She handed back the parchment and strode off.
Yusuke, or Harry, gazed after her for a moment then shrugged, relegated her to the list of not helpful people and turned to Hermione.
"Well, I suppose she told me. What class do you have?"
Hermione took his timetable and compared it to hers. "We're taking all the same classes. Exactly. I'll set up a study guide and a schedule as soon as we have our first assignments." She suddenly flushed. "If that's ok by you, that is."
Harry was used to someone else making up his schedule so he just nodded, "Ah. That is fine. Thank you."
Hermione glanced at her schedule then announced, "Our first class is Charms. Professor Flitwick. Come on. Being late is one of the few things he'll take points for."
Harry eyed his schedule as he obediently followed her. After a moment he asked, "Why do we have Double Potions then a single later?"
"Double Potions is the lab and the single is review of the potion, assignment of the new chapter, question and answer and assignment review. Snape assigns the next weeks lab and we go over things. Well, he gives a review and we take notes. He's ... not much of a teacher as such. He expects us to know things. I better shut up. He doesn't like me much." Hermione turned bright red and clutched at the strap of her huge book bag.
Weasley decided to butt in just then. "Yeah, Ol' Snape doesn't like her, even less than other Gryffindors. She's a 'bloody great know it all' according to him. Called her insufferable. Takes points for breathing too loud. Git."
Hermione turned even redder. "He does. And he'll ask questions that he's sure no one knows the answer to. Just to be a ... a..." she closed her mouth, looking put out.
"Ah! Ikuzo. Na! Come on, we'll be late to class." Harry touched Hermione's bag, casting a feather light charm on it. "Why don't you do this yourself?"
Hermione put the strap over her shoulder. "Because I can never get the spell to stick to the leather. Thanks."
Harry just offered her his arm. This might not be so bad after all. He had a definite saving people thing, and loved to mix in other people's – help people with their problems. His father found it amusing.
They found their seats where Harry wanted to sit. His hand on Hermione's arm made sure that she sat where he wanted. Neville joined them on Hermione's other side. Weasley settled in front of them. Harry made a slight face at that, he was still not sure what to make of the redhead. However, he'd wait and see. Often the most useless seeming people turned out to be worthwhile.
Hermione sighed. Maybe this time she could keep a friend. She just hoped that Yusuke kept his word to tell her when she got overbearing and too critical. Then she saw who had just entered the room and groaned softly. "Malfoy."
"Nani?" Yusuke looked around. He had to stare for a second. The boy Hermione was pointing out was one of those ferrety faced sorts that only the English seemed to produce. He stood in the door for a moment, looking around with an expression of arrogant disdain. Then he moved into the room, selected a seat and settled into it, arranging his robes in a fastidious fashion that Harry found over exaggerated and silly. He dismissed him as a spoiled scion of some nouvelle rich new blood family. His heritage couldn't be more than 600 or 700 years old.
"Sou ka. He thinks he is someone?" Harry turned to look at Hermione and Neville.
Neville answered his question. "His family came over in the Norman invasion. He's stuck up and rude." He shrugged. "My family and the Potters were here before his by about a thousand years. Of course, our names weren't Potter and Longbottom then."
Hermione nodded her understanding while saying, "Well, they were but in a different language."
Professor Flitwick cleared his throat to gain their attention, took attendance then told them that he was sure they'd done their summer work so they would start by reading the first chapter in their text book. Harry opened his book and got out a yellow legal tablet and a rollerball to take notes. Hermione hissed at him but he ignored her, so did the professor.
After he was sure everyone was dutifully reading their books, Professor Flitwick called Harry over to his desk.
Harry went up and bowed to Flitwick. "Yes, Flitwick-sensei?"
Professor Flitwick just smiled at him cheerfully. "Yusuke-san, I just want to establish your proficiency. I don't want you to be at a disadvantage. I understand that you've been home-schooled?"
"Hai. Ah! Yes, I have. My father insisted that I be schooled at the Miyamoto compound, instead of putting up with the constant insults of ... I don't know the word. People beneath me in rank." After blessing Professor Flitwick with a brilliant, sincere smile, Harry dropped that for something more important. "What would you like me to do?"
Flitwick just let Harry's remarks drop, but resolved to have a talk with Minerva later. "I thought I'd just name a spell and you could do it. If you don't recognize the name, I'll demonstrate it then you can try. How does that sound?"
"It sounds very good to me. Yes. First spell?"
Flitwick started with levitation and moved on from there. He finally reminded Harry to use his wand at third year spells. When they were done, Flitwick clapped his tiny hands in glee. "Well, Mr Potter, you did quite well. I'm very pleased to say that you will be classed a good, solid sixth year. Please go back to your seat and begin to read the chapter."
Harry settled back in his seat and pulled out his book. He smiled over it at Neville, who was giving him a slightly worried look, then began to read.
When the clock tower chimed the end of class, Harry rose, stuffed his books into his bag and headed for the door. It would be easier to wait there than to try to catch Hermione and Neville in the room.
Hermione immediately began an in depth inquisition on everything Flitwick had him do and how he'd done it, ending, "Ok, so where did he place you? I hope you're in sixth year. It would be just awful if you had to go down a year. You didn't, did you?"
Harry assumed a slightly put upon expression and finally interrupted her. "Granger-chan, breathe. I did fine. I'm in sixth year. Flitwick-sensei said I was a good, solid sixth. Calm down."
Hermione took a deep breath then said, "Well, that's ok then. Neville, are we going to be study buddies again this year?"
Neville gave a deep sigh. "Like I'd pass anything if we weren't. Yusuke-chan, you want to join us? Ok, Hermione?"
Harry laughed as they walked down the stairs to the next floor. "Neville, chan is only for girls. Kun is boys. Sama, san, sensei and a few others are for either male or female. Hermione-chan? It is alright for me to call you that?"
Hermione nodded easily. "Yes, that's fine. To both questions. I did offer to make up a study schedule for us all, didn't I?"
"You did, but I don't take anything for granted and twice offered is ... better." Harry followed her, slightly to her left with Neville on her other side.
She spent the entire rest of the walk to Transfiguration talking about what they needed to know so that she could make up the most efficient study guides. Harry bore with it with a blank expression, forcing the urge to gag her down ruthlessly.
.
They found seats together and settled in to wait for the professor to appear. Hermione pointed to a cat and said, "Oh, look there. Yusuke-kun, look."
She was about to say more, but the stern voice of Professor McGonagall interrupted her. "Attention, class." Harry had to smile, the cat in the corner had become the instructor. Impressive, an animagus. He turned his attention to the professor as she began a short lecture on what they were going to cover this year.
After her lecture she gave the next weeks assigned reading and practice. Then she announced that the rest of the two hour class period would be review. Starting with last years transfigurations.
Harry was pleased to see that there had only been six. Each transfiguration was an example of a theory of transfiguration; noble to inferior, inferior to noble, living to non-living, non-living to living, hot to cold and cold to hot.
Harry managed to change silver into glass then back again without strain. He didn't notice the expression on Professor McGonagall's face when he did it with a wave of his hand. He completely forgot about the wand residing in the sheath on his wrist.
"Well, that is noble to inferior and inferior to noble. Right?" Harry looked up at the professor.
She made a slight sound deep in her throat, but was interrupted by Neville. "Yusuke-kun, you're supposed to use your wand."
Harry looked blank for a moment then produced his wand. "Oh? Fine, then. Again."
Considering that he'd never actually used the wand for anything, Harry didn't feel that he did too badly, it only took him two tries to get the silver to glass to work. He managed the rest of the transfigurations easily, except for the living to non-living. He just couldn't see turning a hedge hog into a pincushion. He listened to the professor's instructions then said, flatly, "No."
Professor McGonagall looked at him for a moment then said, "Mr. Potter, you need to turn this hedge hog into a pincushion. It's a simple transfiguration. First year's do it."
"I don't doubt that for a moment. But, is it right? What if sticking it with pins hurts it. It can't protest if it's a cushion, now, can it?" Harry wondered if the woman was cruel or just stupid. "Don't you teach Logic and Reasoning or Ethics?"
"And what do such muggle things have to do with magic, Mr. Potter?" McGonagall seemed more curious than annoyed, but Harry was seriously annoyed by now.
"Oh, I don't know." he didn't bother to smooth his snarky tone, "Ethics teaches us that doing things to living things that might cause them distress should be reserved for those that deserve it. And Logic and Reasoning teach us to think about things before we do them." Harry eyed the woman for a moment then added, "McGonagall-sensei."
A snide voice from the other side of the room announced, "I don't think you'll be around long, Potter. Calling the Professors names and all. Where were you raised, a barn?"
Harry looked over at the blond annoyance named Malfoy and said, "No. I was raised in one of the oldest families in Japan, in a house that has stood on the same site in one form or another for about 3000 years." He eyed the boy for a moment then shrugged. "You, obviously, were raised without care or concern for your manners." He bowed slightly and sat back down.
Professor McGonagall called the class to order, her sharp voice snapping out, "Alright! Everyone sit down! Now!" She waited for them to obey then continued, "Mr. Malfoy, I don't need, nor do I want, your aid in controlling my class. Mr. Potter, if you have religious objections to live transformations, please let me know. Everyone prepare for me to review you on last years work. Now!" The class turned to their books, the Slytherins snickering slightly.
Harry thought he had a handle on who was who in his current acquaintances. Hermione and Neville were on his side, Malfoy was not. As sensei went, Flitwick was an ally, McGonagall was barely acceptable. He wondered what the rest of his teachers would be like. Dumbledore was still in his black books and not likely to get out of them. Divination, really? As for the Ministry, he was really not impressed and not likely to be any time soon. He wondered how soon he was going to really lose his temper and kill some useless piece of kategi trash. He really hated dealing with civilians.
Harry settled back to listen to Professor McGonagall lead the class through their review. He was not impressed with that either. They needed a focus to do things he'd been doing without one since he was thirteen, or younger. He watched with a distant look in his eye and a blank face. He never noticed McGonagall watching him, not that he would have worried over much about it if he had. What could, or would, she do after all?
When class was dismissed, Hermione stayed after to speak to the professor for a moment.
"Professor McGonagall? ... um ... I think you should know that, in Japan, sensei is usually translated as Professor or teacher." With that, she clutched her book bag and scurried out the door to try to catch up with Harry and Neville. She didn't notice Ron give her a sharp look.
.
Harry was making his way down the stairs to the inner entry hall when he heard a scream above him. He turned and saw a small, first year girl clinging to the edge of a staircase. The stairs had moved unexpectedly and then frozen when she slipped, to keep her from being crushed between the stairs and the landing. This did not help her much as no one near her could reach to pull her up.
It was no help that the ones who could were blocked by a mass of screaming, gawking idiots. Harry took stock of the situation and did the only thing he could, he tried to get a levitation spell on the girl but the milling bodies between him blocked that, he had to cancel the spell before he levitated the wrong person.
The only other way he could see to get to the girl before she lost her grip and fell five stories into the atrium was to climb to her. He shucked his robes and shoved them into Neville's hands. His basic cat scramble up the broad railing caused several people to scream. He made it to the next landing and had to use a tic-tac off the wall and over several heads to get across to the next flight of stairs. These left him with no choice but to return to the railing, konging off the shoulders of a boy who yelped but held strong instead of ducking. Two more jumps got him to the stairs which he leapt up three stairs at a time. He just managed to grab the girls hand as her exhausted fingers finally let go.
Panting from the mad scramble up the stairs, Harry clutched the trembling girl to his chest and plopped down on the stairs. "Shimata!" He turned to glower at the still screaming group of gawkers. "Urusai! Baka!"
No one paid his demand for quiet any attention, but a bellow from the atrium got everyone's attention and quieted the noise. "Everybody be quiet! Now!" Dumbledore sorted the mess out easily, sending students to their classes, or to the Great Hall to eat. Then he made his way up the stairs to where Harry was still seated, cuddling the sobbing girl. "Miss Granger, Mr Longbottom, perhaps you should be headed for your next class?"
Hermione plucked up her courage, constant contact with Dumbledore had finally quashed her hero worship although the same couldn't be said for other professors. "No, sir, we'll wait for Yusuke-kun. We're his friends and he'll need us." She took Harry's robes from Neville and helped him get them on. She noticed that his hands didn't tremble and he wasn't visibly shaken.
Dumbledore just nodded and said, "Ah, I see. Well, let's get this sorted then, shall we?"
The girl was turned over to a hovering Madam Pomfrey who took her to the infirmary for a quick once over. Madam was sure the only things wrong with her were a strained arm and exhaustion, but she wanted her in the infirmary to make sure. She checked Harry with a quick flick of her wand, and found nothing but a skinned palm. "Albus, I trust you'll see to Mr. Potter." and with that she stalked off with her charge in tow.
Harry straightened his robes and asked, very quietly, "And what, exactly, is the purpose of moving staircases that cause at least three disasters a week? Please explain this to me." He didn't look particularly angry, but the tone of his voice warned Neville that something was going to explode soon. His Gran got that tone when she was about to 'rip someone a new one'.
Dumbledore twinkled at Harry. "They're tradition, my boy. They've been that way since I was a lad. Keeps the young one's on their toes. Now. I'll heal that hand and all of you can hurry off to lunch." He flicked his wand, healed Harry's hand and wandered off, humming to himself.
Harry forcibly, obviously, calmed himself as he watched after Dumbledore for a moment then muttered in Japanese, "That fool. Someone is going to be killed, sooner or later. And he just wanders off without so much as a thank you." Then he turned to Hermione and asked, "Do you have any idea how these damn stairs actually fucking work?" Hermione shook her head no.
Neville shrugged, admitted he didn't either then said, "But it's sure to be in Hogwarts; a History. Hermione has a copy. Let's forget about it for now. Come on, let's go eat, I'm starving. Fear does that to a fellow, you know."
Hermione huffed her irritation but Harry just patted her shoulder and tugged her along. "Me, too. I'd love a nice Sukiyaki." He didn't expect to get food like he had at home on a regular basis, but he didn't know much about house elves.
When they seated themselves the food that appeared around them was a mix of English Boarding School fare and Japanese traditional foods. Hermione nearly drooled at the sight of ramen bowls while Neville appreciated the fresh salad. Harry happily took the lid off his sukiyaki and began to eat with relish.
Hermione ate then went on her usual mission of inquiry. The Ravenclaws always knew all the assignments by lunch time so she just asked the nearest one, James something-or-other, who happily told her all the assignments for the sixth year classes, even the one's she wasn't taking. She made notes, grumbling when her quill blotted her parchment. She still hated both quill and ink, never mind parchment but what could you do, rules were rules.
She noted that Yusuke left the Great Hall, he actually waved to her before he left. Neither she nor Yusuke noted that Neville paused at the door then followed him.
.
Harry went out into the sunshine of the inner courtyard and pulled out his cigarette case. He'd refrained from smoking in the Great Hall as he wasn't about to let the professors know that he smoked. He didn't need the aggravation of having them try to stop him. He smiled a bit, most yakuza wouldn't understand his reasoning, they'd smoke and the devil take the hindmost. He, on the other hand, didn't think it would be wise to rub their noses in his real world. Let them think of him as they pleased, for now. So, he found a comfortable bench in a nook behind a large bush and settled to smoke and think.
He was pleased with his schedule, it made it convenient to keep up his skills. He could do workouts in the morning then have his afternoon free for more workout, practice on his instruments and his calligraphy. After taking care of the essentials, he could study. He was sure that Hermione would want to include his daily schedule in her organizational efforts. He was amazed at how quickly he'd made friends with her. He'd expected to feel disconnected from all his classmates but both Neville and Hermione were turning out to be his 'specials' here at Hogwarts.
Neville found him there, eased behind the huge bush and said, "Can I join you?"
Harry offered him a smoke, but he just smiled and shook his head. "Well, sit down before you fall down. What can I do for you?"
Neville just settled on the end of the bench and replied, "You could have killed yourself."
"No, I couldn't have. I know all the levitation charms. That's what you call them, right?" Harry blew smoke out his nostrils, making him look decidedly dragonish.
"Yes, that's right. Everything is a spell. Hexes are usually hostile unless they're included in wards, then they're ... well, still hostile just not to you. And jinxes are pranks. Only some are really dangerous. Then there's charms, which are always benign. And why am I telling you things you already know?"
"Because I don't know the names for them. With us, everything is just a spell, or a curse. You forgot curses."
Neville batted at him idly. "No, I didn't. You already knew that."
Harry, well aware that Neville didn't mean anything by his back handed swat, blew out more smoke. "I did. I'm going to workout as soon as I finish this." He waved his cigarette then took another drag. "You want to come?"
Neville waved a hand in the cloud of smoke Harry had produced. "Ok. I don't workout. Gran is always telling me I'm so awkward that I'd hurt myself. I'd like to know how I'm supposed to develop any coordination if I don't work on it. It's not like it'll just appear out of nowhere. Magic can only take you so far, you know."
Harry nodded. "I do know. I can start you out on some yoga and tai chi. Simple stuff, but it'll help, if you work at it."
"I'm not afraid of hard work. It's not like running the Longbottom greenhouses is easy. I have to start late because of school but we still put out most of the high end potion supplies around." Neville smiled proudly at that revelation.
Harry nodded. "Your reputation is good, even in Nihon. My family buys from you, through a supplier in Tokyo." Harry noted Neville's smile of pride then changed the subject. "Now, what is it with McGonagall. She obviously doesn't like me, but I have no idea why."
Neville shrugged. "Me neither. And you better watch out for Snape. He hates everyone, but probably will hate you particularly. He and your Dad had a prank war of epic proportions all seven years they were here. No one is exactly sure why."
Harry thought about that for a moment then shrugged. "Ok. Come on, workout now." He led the way to the dojo next to Gryffindor.
Neville started across the floor with his shoes on but Harry stopped him. "No, Neville-kun, you take off your shoes at the door. It's even more important than in a house. You're going to be rolling around on most of the floor and sitting on the rest. I've got slippers here, if you want but bare feet are more appropriate. All exercises are done barefoot." He waited while Neville took off his shoes and socks then motioned at a stack of yoga mats. "Pick one, doesn't matter which one. I'll show you a short sequence, easy to remember, but very effective for a beginner." He found Neville a pair of yoga pants on the shelf, along with a t-shirt. He gave these to him and pointed him behind the partitioned off section. "Change in there, I'll change out here."
Neville changed quickly and returned to find Harry in an aikido uniform of white hakama-shita and dark blue hakama. Harry explained to Neville that he should put the mat on the bare floor of the section dedicated to floor work. He then began to teach Neville yoga.
Neville proved to have a good physical memory, he could remember the whole twenty asana series after two run throughs. Harry left him to his practice after telling him to go through his series twice more at his own pace then do corpse pose for ten minutes.
Harry turned to the matted dojo area and bowed to the small alter there. He pulled his katana out of mallet space and unsheathed it, putting the sheath on the tatami covered verge. After a short warm up of combined cuts he began his kata. He worked on some of his magically enhanced kata, things that only a person who'd watched movies by Jackie Chan and Steven Sagal would recognize. He happily admitted to stealing moves from Kill Bill as well. What movies accomplished by wire work, he accomplished by magic.
He was just completing a combined move of cut to head, reverse waist stab and roundhouse head kick when he realized that Neville was standing on the verge tatami and staring at him, open mouthed and wide eyed.
"Neville?" Harry walked over to him, smiling slightly at the expression on his face.
"Holy Merlin's lily white. That's ... amazing. Where did you learn that?" Neville just managed to swallow down a demand to be taught all that Harry knew.
"Nihon. Genji taught me the basics but, when Chichi-ue realized that I was good, he brought in Masters from all over to teach me. He taught me himself too. I'll start you on the path, but ... I'm exceptionally good for some reason. My reflexes and strength are well over that of men twice my age. No one has figured out why. The only thing anyone will really say is, it's genetic." He shrugged and waited for Neville to say something.
"Oh, ok. I'll learn anything you're willing to teach me. After all, who in their right mind would pass up lessons from The-Boy-Who-Lived."
Harry gave Neville such a blank look that he wondered for a moment what was wrong. Then Harry yelped, "Nani? Nani yo? Me! Nan da ... Matte."
Neville waited for Harry to collect himself. It had never occurred to him that his friend would have no idea of his reputation in England. After several seconds he realized that this revelation had been a bit more of a shock than expected so he called an elf to bring some tea.
Harry put away his sword then led him to the area with cushions and tables and settled them both on what he called a zafu.
"Yusuke-kun, don't you know anything about yourself?" Neville frowned as he realized that that hadn't come out as he expected.
Harry shook his head. "All I really know is that the Ministry called me a national hero, but no one told me why. And they forced me to come here for 'training in my obligations'. It's all bullshit as far as I'm concerned. I'm well aware of my duty to my father and family. How I managed to acquire a fucking obligation to a country I left at the age of nine, I have no idea. No one tells me much of anything. Hermione told me all about the war of Voldemort and said that The-Boy-Who-Lived was supposed to fix it all. She neglected, amongst all the information she did tell me, to tell me that I'm ... My chichi-ue would be ... displeased. I am sure that I am. So, tell."
So Neville spent the next two hours telling Yusuke everything he knew about what was going on with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, who's real name no one knew. And the political situation in Wizarding Britain. His viewpoint was completely different from Hermione's and more enlightening.
He was just finishing up when Hermione burst in, yelling. "Harry James Potter! There you are. I've been looking all over for you. What .."
Shinigami came out in force. "Onna! Do not yell in the Dojo. Where are your manners? Come sit down. And speak to me with respect. Quietly."
Hermione took one look at his frozen expression and made a noise usually written as "Meep?" She came to the seating area, shedding her shoes at the door without being told and settled siza. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you considered this a dojo. But I've been looking all over for you and I ... I was afraid. Who knows what some Slytherin might do while your back is turned."
Neville nearly snorted tea up his nose at that. He coughed a bit then allowed, "Hermione, I don't really think that's going to be much of a problem. If someone is stupid enough to hex him ... well, I hope they have their cemetery plot picked out."
Hermione gave Neville a sharp look then asked, "Really? And why is that?" She turned to Harry, "Yusuke-kun, do you practice martial arts?"
Harry smoothed his face into a blank relaxed expression and said, "I do. Aikido, Shinkendo, Iaido, Hapkido, taikwando and some others." He waited while Hermione got her grin under control. "No, we don't call it Musabetsu Kakutō Ryū but that's really what it is. Or you could call it Ninjado."
Hermione had to stop at that. "Ninjado? Really? Does that actually exist?"
Harry didn't see any sense in denying it. "Yes, it does. I am a Master of that style and Aikido, shinkendo and Iaido. I didn't bother testing in any other styles. It pleases Chichi-ue to watch me compete." He didn't bother to tell her that he had been competing, at his own request, since he'd earned his first mastery at the age of 13. And he was surely not going to tell her that he had started competing in mixed martial arts cage fights in one of the clubs his father owned shortly after that. Especially since they included weapons.
While he had been distracted by his thoughts, Hermione had been setting out their project planners and schedules. "Ok. Here's a day planner for each of us. I've got project pages for each subject as well as due date cues. There's a monthly page with weekly addenda. Then there is one fold out with a timeline at the top where we can put due dates with notes for everything that's due for the whole term. Any questions?"
Neville looked lost and nodded. "I have no idea what you just said. What about the old way, the way we've used for the last five years?"
Hermione sighed. "Neville, how many times have we both lost something important because we kept all our schedules on individual bits of parchment?" Neville just shrugged. "Fine. What don't you understand?"
"Um ... most of it. Who's going to keep all this up? Not me, you know. I'll have mine completely fouled up in no time."
Harry just examined the pages then nodded. Hermione had already established his timeline and schedule as far as she was aware of his classes. "This is very good. I'll add in the rest of my schedule so that you won't schedule a study session when I need to be doing something else. Are they self-updating across the board or do we have to update each one individually."
"Individually. I don't know any charms that will work on more than one location. But, if you write something on a daily page it transfers to all the other pages. And turns red if you already have something on a different page." Hermione managed to look just a bit smug.
Harry nodded. "I know a spell that will link all our schedules so that what we write in one will appear on all the others. If I charm the timeline pages and the project pages, that'll keep us up with each other while allowing us to keep private pages. Yes?"
Hermione nodded. "That's a great idea. Here." She put all three books together. "Do you need them individually or on top of each other."
"On top, onegai." She piled the books and pushed them toward Harry. "Arigato."
It only took him a moment to charm the planners. Then he wrote his exercise and practice schedule in his book. It transferred perfectly.
Hermione looked at his schedule and said, "My goodness, Yusuke-kun, you do keep yourself busy. Are you sure you're going to be able to keep up?"
Harry just smiled. "Come on, let's go back to the common room. I want a smoke. And, yes, I'm sure I can keep up. Chichi-ue has given me a pass on keeping up with all my studies because the mail is impossible. I'd have to send my work to Gringotts, they'd send it on to Japan, Tokyo U. would grade it, sent it back to Genji-san, who'd send it back to me along with my new assignments. There's a ten day turn around but I'm only allowed a week to do each assignment. Not good. I'd always be late. Not good. So I get a pass until I'm back in Nihon. Then I have to play catch-up." He shrugged.
After putting on his boots, he led the way out and back toward Gryffindor. Hermione had a very thoughtful look on her face, Neville just followed along after his friends.
As they got seated in a grouping around a table, Hermione said, "I notice that you're using muggle biro's and paper. We're not allowed. We have to use parchment and quill. It's a royal pain. I have to get everything made special for the new schedule books. Although the covers are much nicer."
Harry got a smug look and pointed to Hermione's book bag. "Hogwarts; a History, page 436. and I quote; 'All assignments must be turned in written on fine grade parchment, written with a properly trimmed and sharpened goose quill, with pure ink.' Not a word about notes, private work, outlines or preliminary copies." He smirked as Hermione dove into her book bag and emerged with the book. It didn't take her long to find the passage in question.
"Oh, man. You're right. I'm so embarrassed. This is just great. Now ... I need to write to my Mum ..."
Harry lit a cigarette, dragging in a lungful of smoke he said on his exhale, "I have all that. And highlighters, flags and pointers. I had a gaki pick all that up and stock my trunk so I'm not sure what else is there but I'll give you some of whatever you want. And a fountain pen. I don't think anyone will be able to tell the difference between a chisel point nib and a goose quill."
Hermione calmly took Harry's cigarette and walked off with it. She headed for the stairs to the boys dorm, calling over her shoulder, "Come on, then," before Harry could do more than say, "Oi!"
He followed Hermione, laughing softly to himself. He was sure there would be an outcry at Hermione's invasion of male territory and he was right. But it was Seamus Finnigan who objected, not Ron Weasley as Harry had expected. His objections cut off abruptly when he saw that not only was Harry giving him a cold look, Neville looked annoyed as well. No one was really worried about him doing much, but he was old family and had proper manners. Seamus was well aware that offending him could bring about some very unpleasant things.
Neville was polite to a fault and shy as they came, but a word to his Gran was the kiss of death more likely than not. So, Seamus retreated to his bed and watched the proceedings with a bemused expression.
Harry opened the storage compartment of his trunk and waved a hand at it. "Help yourself. If there's not enough left, tell me and I'll send for more."
Hermione dove in and spent several minutes opening different bins. "Ok. I'll take one spiral notebook for each class for notes and a couple of yellow tablets for essay prep. Biros and a mechanical pencil. And ... fountain pen and ink cartridges. A pad of sticky notes and a folder of sticky flags and some sticky points. Yusuke-kun, can you think of anything else?"
Harry had finished his cigarette while she was poking around but he lit another before replying, "No, not really. And feel free to ask me for more of anything you need. You are going to need more, if you're going to keep up with three people's schedules."
Hermione started to turn away but something caught her eye. "Oh, what's that?"
Harry glanced at the box she was pointing at then said, "A calligraphy set. Just a small one as I won't have time to do more than keep up my practice. There's only four brushes, an ink stone, stick, mat and some weights. The paper is in the next bin down. If you like, I'll show you next time I have it out." Hermione started to protest but Harry reminded her, "You'll just have time to put that stuff away before dinner. And I'm starved."
Neville chuckled softly, "You're always starved."
Hermione just left in a flurry of hair and robes to put her booty away before time to eat.
.
One thing. (yes, another Authors Note) There's not going to be a huge cast of characters. I have a hard time keeping track of them all. There's going to be Harry, Neville, Hermione, Ron, Draco; Some McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick and Lockhart. Dumbledore will show up now and again as will various other canon characters, but I'm not going to have them all be around a lot. Most of the adults will be in and out. And remember, Harry is NOT a nice boy. He smokes, kills people and swears.
Another thing: If you do not have Private Messaging enabled I cannot respond to reviews.
In the staircase scene, Dumbledore asks if Hermione and Neville shouldn't head for their next class. I'm well aware that they were headed for lunch. Dumbledore just assumes that they have a class because he isn't keeping track of who has what when. I've had teachers do that to me. Go to your next class when it was lunch or tell me to go to the wrong class.
Someone pointed out that I haven't been posting translations of the Japanese. If I miss something, it's easy enough to look it up. But here:
"Nani? Nani yo? Me! Nan da ... Matte – what? What the fuck? (different form of) what ...wait.
There are several names for father – chichi-ue, Otouto, otousan, oyaji and no rhyme or reason for use that I can see.
Musabetsu Kakutō Ryū – anything goes school. From Ranma ½
Many people have asked for this.
OyabunOyabun (Godfather)Oyabun
The Oyabun is the ultimate leader of the Yakuza, which means his decisions and orders are final and everyone beneath him in the organization must obey him. The oyabun only stays in contact with members working directly under him.
KumichoKumicho (Supreme Boss)Kumicho
Directly under the Oyabun there are only two men, one of those is the Kumicho. This is also a great leader and he is in charge of all tactical and financial business of the Yakuza.
WakagashiraWakagashira (Underboss)Wakagashira
The other leader working on Oyabun's side is the Wakagashira. He is in charge of other leaders as well as all the gang members within the Yakuza. The Wakagashira has much street knowledge and experience.
Saiko KomonSaiko Komon (Senior Adviser)Saiko Komon
The Saiko komon is a personal advisor for the Kumicho and the Oyabun. He is also in charge of the tactical and defensive agencies.
So-HonbuchoSo-Honbucho (HeadQuarters Chief)So-Honbucho
The So-Honbucho is an operational leader within the Yakuza. He is in charge of Yakuza's logistics agencies.
Fuku-HonbuchoFuku-Honbucho (Regional Boss)Fuku-Honbucho
The Fuku-Honbucho is an operational leader within the Yakuza. He is effectively in charge of all the Yakuza gang members. They are at his service and are willing to sacrifice their lives to complete any task the Fuku-Honbucho might order.
ShateigashiraShateigashira (Captain)Shateigashira
The Shateigashira is Yakuza's captain and he works for the Fuku-Honbucho as his assistant. The Shateigashira is the direct leader of all the gang members within the Yakuza.
Waka – foot soldiers
Gaki – new recruits