The Muggle with White Hair
NOTE: I am no way copying any other BLEACHHP fics out there. Have fun reading, eating, flaming, criticizing! Also, this story takes place during the Order of the Phoenix arc. Warning of an Arrancar OC
Chapter 7: Social Lacking
Hitsugaya steadily turned a page in his Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century book. He was settled comfortably in a high backed hard chair, no different from the one back in his office, and was surrounded by a congregation of leather-bound books. Titles such as, Modern Magical History, Hogwarts: a History, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, A Compendium of Common Curses and their Counter-Actions, The Dark Arts Outsmarted, Self-Defensive Spellwork, Jinxes for the Jinxed, and numerous others were scattered all along the table.
He had felt the need to study up on this, magical, realm and had at once arrived at the library. It was vastly different from the Archives room in Soul Society. For one thing, it was huge. The room was cavernous, expanding to the point where Hitsugaya could not guess the limit of books. The knowledge was infinite though, Ise-fuku taichou would be extremely pleased on seeing the accumulation.
"Here's another one." A rather squinty old lady thumped another book down on the table. Madam Pince in an extreme rare moment actually looked pleased. She clutched An Appraisal of Magical Education in Europe and was stroking the one she had recently put down, Dreadful Denizens of the Deep. Hitsugaya bowed his head in thanks.
"Need any more?" Madam Pince asked, a little hopefully. Hitsugaya eyed the mass of books in front of him. "Perhaps one more on great wizards?" He asked hesitantly. There was no need for hesitation, he realized, seeing as Madam Pince gave a twisted sort of smile and went scuttling off. At least she was helpful!
Not realizing that Madam Pince was described as "non-helpful" at the most by students, Hitsugaya read on. He was rather surprised on discovering that Harry was in several of the books. He's put on a pedestal, Hitsugaya thought with disgust. It's enough to turn anyone's head around.
And yet, he paused, Harry was far from a haughty, egotistical individual. He was modest and uncomfortable with attention. Hitsugaya noticed the way Harry would flatten his black hair, mostly over his lightning-bolt shaped scar.
Great Wizards of the Twentieth Century landed next to him. Madam Pince leered very creepily. "Are you sure you don't need anything else?"
Hitsugaya was sure.
Madam Pince left, muttering in some sort of euphoria, as Hitsugaya closed his current book. Enough is enough, he thought, stretching. He was killing his eyes. Gathering the rather large tomes with difficulty, Hitsugaya checked out and staggered off.
Some students were still out, many were also going to the library. Hitsugaya walked rather slowly, hoping that he wouldn't drop any of the books. His gigai was exceptionally weak which was rather annoying, since Hitsugaya had requested one with moderate strength.
When he rounded the corner, a bunch of things happened simultaneously. First, Hitsugaya's cellphone rang. Second, Peeves appeared and launched a bright red water balloon at his head. Third, a group of Slytherins sneered and barreled into him. Fourth, Hitsugaya slipped on a random orange peel.
Down he went, swearing, and the books went flying in different directions. The Slytherins laughed uproariously (then started screaming as Peeves threw balloons down). His head drenched in water, Hitsugaya aimed a frigid look at Peeves (who ran away snickering) and dug into the pockets of his robes for the cellphone.
"What?" He demanded in an aggravated tone. A familiar soprano voice squealed over the line. "Taiiichhooouu!!!"
Oh great, Matsumoto.
"Not a great time Matsumoto." Hitsugaya replied, getting to his feet. A sudden, whiny voice echoed painfully in his ear. "But taichou, I'm so lonely and bored!"
He grabbed Dreadful Denizens of the Deep and shook its sopping wet pages. Madam Pince would surely go medieval on his as-
"Taichou are you thereee??"
"Yes. Unfortunately." He snapped back. "Taichou," Matsumoto said in a reproving voice. "Is that a tone to take with your awesome lieutanant that hasn't seen you in weeks?"
Hitsugaya sighed. "What do you want. And make it quick!"
"Here we go again with your turning interrogative statements into imperative ones! Didn't I tell you-"
"Matsumoto, hurry up"
"Fine taichou. I was just calling because of the news Kyouraku-taichou said to tell you! This is also a double order from all the taichous."
Hitsugaya quickly became alert. A double, more like triple, more like multiple, order from all the taichous? "What is it?"
"Well..."
"Matsumoto spit it out. NOW!"
"Alright alright!" A noise of static, Matsumoto was taking a deep breath. "All-the-taichous-miss-you-very-much-and-wonder-if-you're-having-fun-they're-expecting-souveneirs-when-you-get-back-and-are-sorry-that-you're-going-to-miss-the-cocktail-party-plus-Yachiru-wants-some-really-good-candy-and-I-destroyed-this-weeks-documents-along-with-your-favorite-calligraphy-brush-okay-bye-now-taichou!"
The line was hastily cut off.
A vein was pulsing, scratch that, it was throbbing.
"MATSUMOTO!"
---------------
Hours later, Hitsugaya labored into the Gryffindor Common Room. His hair was still wet and his back was sore from having tripped on that orange peel (which he chucked at the nearest Slytherin). He hauled in his burdens and tried to catch his breath.
He spotted Hermione placing some malformed cotton objects on a table by the fireplace while having a spat with the incredulous Ron. Harry was biting at his quill, looking slightly amused at the irregular knitted things covered in rubbish.
His small smile vanished on seeing the approaching Hitsugaya. "I'm going to bed too." He said hastily and left for the dormitory.
Hitsugaya resisted the urge to roll eyes. Could Harry be more obvious? Both Ron and Hermione left shortly after, looking embarrassed at Harry's behavior. They ran.
Blinking his eyes slowly, Hitsugaya quickly claimed their seats. He felt a little discouraged on having been so cold-shouldered, but shrugged it off. Ah well, time to start on homework!
-------
It was a rainy morning.
Thank the heavens, Hitsugaya thought as he walked briskly down the halls. If it had been a sunshiny morning, he would've taken it as a bad omen. Plus, Hyouinmaru would've been in a nasty mood. They both basked in the soft orchestra of rain before heading to the Great Hall.
After eating more toast and protectively shielding his milk from the owls above, Hitsugaya received his schedule. He felt a little amount of dread.
1st class: Double Charms with Ravenclaw. Professor: Flitwick
2nd class: Double Transfiguration with Hufflepuff. Professor: McGonagall
3rd class: Double Care of Magical Creatures with Slytherin. Professor: Grubbly-Plank
4th Class: Herbology. Professor: Sprout
Oh. Well. Perhaps last nights studying could help him today. Fixing his (he had FINALLY gotten a bookbag) bookbag, Hitsugaya stood and left the table. He recognized a familiar set of clones and quickly cut across the crowd, dodged behind some people, and exited the Great Hall to his first class.
Charms.
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"What you must remember is that these examinations may influence your futures for many years to come!" Professor Flitwick said, his voice cracking at some points.
Hitsugaya stared. He had finally found someone who was shorter and older than him. Hallelujah. No seriously, Hallelu-!
"If you have not already given serious thought to your careers, now is the time to do so. And in the meantime, I'm afraid, we shall be working harder than ever to ensure that you all do yourselves justice!"
That morning was rather difficult. Hitsugaya felt increasingly idiotic as he waved his wand and tried to make things come to him. Was that why wizards were all so dang lazy? Did they perform every bit of their lives with magic?
He couldn't wait to dump the stick and run his hands along the smooth hilt and star-shaped guard of his zanpaktou. Hopefully that moment will come soon with the Espada threat and everything. HItsugaya frowned. Was there even an Espada threat? There had to be, Hitsugaya thought determinedly, why else would he have to suffer in a foreign country with stupid adolescents?
"Are-sorry-that-you're-going-to-miss-the-cocktail-party..."
Oh gosh, Hitsugaya blanched. No. They couldn't have-
"Toeshirow, please demonstrate the Summoning Charm for us!" Professor Flitwicks annoying high voice shook Hitsugaya out of his thoughts.
"Right." Hitsugaya gripped his wand and made some sort of weak jab. "Akkio!" The rock he was summoning suddenly blasted into tiny little pieces, knocking Professor Flitwick off his pile of books.
Oops.
Ron laughed, not out of spite, but happy that someone else was mediocre in spellwork. Harry grinned too. Hitsugaya was not amused.
Which is why he cast bakudou 1, Sai, on both Ron and Harry.
Hey, it was amusing seeing both frozen to their chairs. It was specially hilarious when Professor Flitwich gave them an extra load of homework, believing that Ron and Harry were being rude since they weren't lifting their wands and practicing.
---------------------
Transfiguration, Hitsugaya believed, was an interesting class. Changing one's shape was actually useful, not like trying to make things come to you. He had canceled the spell on Ron and Harry, which was why they came panting to the class, late.
"Sit down." McGonagall ordered them, making both mumble apologies and scamper to their seats. "You cannot pass an O.W.L. without some serious application, practice, and study. I see no reason why everybody in this class should not achieve an O.W.L. in Transfiguration as long as they put in the work."
O.W.L.'s..Hitsugaya mused, realizing that it spelled the word 'owl'. He would have to do something about those exams. In the most likely scenario, he would fail them. It really didn't matter, O.W.L's were not going to influence his shinigami days at Soul Society.
"Today we start on Vanishing Spells. These are easier than Conguring Spells, which you would not usually attempt until N.E.W.T. level, but they are still among the most difficult magic you will be tested on in your O.W.L."
The Vanishing Spell was disgustingly difficult. The only good thing was that Harry and Ron weren't laughing at anyone either, for they were as terrible at the spell as Hitsugaya was. Hermione was the only one who didn't receive homework from McGonagall that day.
Squishing his snail aggressively, Hitsugaya pushed it back into the box. The bell signaled the end of class causing chairs to scrape across the floor and students to rush out of the door. Hitsugaya allowed himself to be carried on through the tumult, wondering how he was going to finish his homework.
He stopped suddenly, a flare of reiatsu alerting his sense and sending shivers down his spine. It was of medium strength, located outside of the castle, and it tasted strongly of..
Arrancar.
Finally.
------------
It's a blessing to be out of that clumsy gigai body, Hitsugaya thought as rain dripped from the edges of his captain robe. After feeling that particular reiatsu pulse, Hitsugaya had swallowed a soul pill, instructed his gigai to go to the library (for lack of better place), and exited the castle.
It was slightly difficult at first, Hitsugaya had realized that strong enchantments blocked the doors of the castle. He wasn't a captain for nothing though and easily broke through them. I have to ask for something to get me through that barrier or I'll be wasting precious time.
He sped over the expanse of wet green grass, ignoring a woman ushering small moving brown dots around a hut, and finally reached the outer fringe of the forest.
The Forbidden Forest. Hitsugaya was not afraid of a name. He shunpoed over the tops of the trees, his soles lightly brushing foliage. The reiatsu was growing larger and nearer. Finally Hitsugaya pinpointed the target and descended through leaves and branches.
The arrancar was hunched over, clutching something in his or her hand. It was a small sparrow. The arrancar obviously thought it was great fun ripping and crushing the bird to pieces.
Slightly revolted, Hitsugaya turned his attention away from the shrieking helpless animal. The bird let out one more piercing chirp then fell limp.
"Died already? So fragile." The arrancar muttered, rather disappointedly. "I'm bored." The voice indicated that the arrancar was a female.
"Bored already? So idiotic." Hitsugaya mimicked sarcastically. She whirled around in alarm.
A single amber eye was blinking spasmodically, her other eye was covered by a bleached grinning skull face reminiscent of a horse. Her bright red hair was in a medium-long braid, a gothic, spiked strap hanging around it. Her mouth was slightly open, caught between alarm and anger. She had the typical all white outfit that Aizen had so proudly designed, shorts and a vest.
She sputtered incoherently as Hitsugaya patiently waited. "You-you-how did you...why are you..." She shook herself in time. "That was pathetic shinigami." She snarled.
Hitsugaya raised a single white eyebrow. "What was pathetic? The way you reacted to my appearance?" The arrancar grumbled in response.
It was obvious that this arrancar was teetering on the weak side by way of her easy infuriation. Hitsugaya was a little disappointed. The arrancar didn't even have a zanpaktou on her.
During her rantings of "You stupid boy," and "Shut up you dumbas-" Hitsugaya wondered how his gigai was doing.
---------------
"Hiya Harry, Ron!" A bright chipper voice interuppted Ron and Harry's frantic homework progress. Both looked up, annoyed. They then froze, staring stupidly at the large smile stretched across Hitsugaya's face. It was the most muscle movement they had seen on his face since...actually never.
This Hitsugaya was strangely alien, he smiled again and gestured with both of his arms. "It's such a rainy day, but we can still play-pyon!"
Ron's mouth was slightly open, he was wondering what the pyon was supposed to be. Harry only stared some more, did Hetsugellia just rhyme?
"Hey hey hey! I know a game! Let's play-!"
--------------------------
I wonder why I feel a wave of nausea. Hitsugaya pondered.
The arrancar girl had finally used up the extent of her cursing knowledge and noticed Hitsugaya's thoughtful face. Here's my chance!
"CE-" A numbing pressure suddenly came over her body, forcing her onto the ground.
"Too slow." Hitsugaya said, watching with disinterest at the still body. His reiatsu spiked to a couple of higher levels causing the arrancar to shudder and squeak.
"You...damn-"
The reiatsu increased and her skull mask cracked, shattering into pieces. The 10th squad captain crossed his arms, bored. "I'm sure that you are aware of the difference in power," He started. "Seeing as you haven't died yet, I'll take the liberty to ask some questions."
The arrancar writhed.
"Where are the Espada?"
Her whole form was trembling, but she managed to open her mouth. "Where else...Hueco..Mundo."
"Why were there signals of the Espada in Europe then?" He demanded. A large amount of choking and coughing answered him. "Don't know...what you're talking...about...Europe is of...no..interest to the...Espada."
Hitsugaya frowned. "Don't lie. Why would Aizen send the Espada to Europe, if it is of 'no interest' to them?"
That was the wrong move. At the mention of Aizen, the arrancar gave a furious scream. "Aizen-sama! You said I would find him here! Aizen-sama, you...LIAR!" She gave one final scream, flailed her limbs rather dramatically about, and her body went slack.
Displeased, Hitsugaya stepped towards the girl and nudged her with his sandal. She moved subtly, it was miniscule but Hitsugaya felt it. He wrenched her up by her braid and glanced at her coldly.
"Answer me."
The arrancar struggled weakly then gave up. "Aizen...lie...Ha-lee.."
A pause and the arrancar immediatly opened her jaw, a bright ball of red light forming on her tongue.
Aw sh-
------------
Harry watched, gaping as Hetsugellia did several cartwheels across the table. Ron, likewise, opened and closed his mouth mechanically. Harry wondered how large Hetsugellia's sugar intake was before dodging.
Hetsugellia smashed into the bookshelf behind him, large tomes falling and smacking Ron in the head (who yelped).
"Do something!" Ron said, placing his hands protectively in front of his face. "You do something!" Harry shouted back. Hetsugellia gave a high-pitched giggle and grabbed several of the fallen books. He then proceeded to juggle them.
On instinct, Harry swiveled his head around to see if Madam Pince was crawling around. Ron gave a low-throated groan before trying to snatch the books back. Hetsugellia backflipped back while still juggling (Harry wondered if he did acrobatic activities in his spare time) and gave another deranged laugh.
Grim, Harry pulled out his wand. There was no other way, but to use Petrificus Totalus. "Ron hold him!" Ron squacked something back ("I'd like to see you try!") and lunged for Hetsugellia's legs.
Who jumped out of the way in time.
However, stumbled and fell at the feet of Madam Pince.
She was livid, her eyes rolling, her teeth clenched, her sallow cheeks stretched taut. "Never in my years have I seen such a display before in my library, GET OUT!"
Hetsugellia smiled.
Madam Pince responded by bewitching the books to attack Hetsugellia, Ron, and Harry as all three ran away for their dear life.
-------------
Hitsugaya dusted his coat off, looking disdainfully at the dead arrancar at the floor. "Like I said, you're too slow." He turned his head away from the decapitated body and processed on what he had just learned.
"...Ha-lee..."
That sounded strangely like Harry. But why would a lowly arrancar spontaneously spout out his name like that? Hitsugaya rolled his shoulders and shunpoed himself off the ground and back into the air.
He would think about it later.
Hitsugaya found his gigai lurking around the library ("Why in the world are you out here?" He asked), was told a bunch of lies, snatched his books, and ran from an irate Madam Pince.
It was his turn to be late for his next class, Care of Magical Creatures. He had rushed in the stupid slow gigai body towards the congregation of students near a small hut. Squeezing among the students, ignoring the grumbles, Hitsugaya reached the front of the crowd.
He found himself near Hermione, Harry, and Ron. The latter two visibly flinching and backing away from him. Hitsugaya wondered what he did to garner that much revulsion in the last hour.
"Everyone here? Let's crack on then-who can tell me what these things are called?" Professor Grubbly-Plank asked as the Gryffindors and Slytherins calmed down. Hermione raised her hand, Malfoy imitating her in a rather exaggerated way.
Hitsugaya's attention was wrenched away as, what he thought were twigs, the things on the table started moving. It looked like a brown fairy with a rather sharp, angular body. One of them flexed its sharp fingers threateningly and glared pointedly at Hitsugaya. What did I do? Hitsugaya thought, annoyed.
"Oooh!" A pair of girls squealed. Their exclamation of joy was sharply cut off by Professor Grubbly-Plank, who ordered them to be quiet. She then dumped a handful of brown lice across the table, attracting the strange wood things (including the one who was looking malevontly at Hitsugaya).
Actually they weren't all that strange-looking. He was pretty sure that he had seen them before, like in that Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them book.
"So-anyone know the names of these creatures?"
Hitsugaya raised his hand.
Hermione was startled to see someone else actually raise their hand. She recovered quickly, however. Malfoy, although, seemed to have a permanent jaw fixture.
So did Harry and Ron.
Professor Grubbly-Plank looked a little disoriented, but managed to save face with a cough. "Yes," She consulted her student sheet. "Mr.Toushirou?"
"Bowtruckles. They're tree-guardians." He answered. The professor nodded her head, pleased. "Five points to Gryffindor. Yes, these are bowtruckles as Mr. Toushirou says, they generally live in trees whose wood is of wand-quality. Anybody know what they eat?"
This time Hermione beat Hitsugaya to the question. She answered correctly, gaining another five points for Gryffindor. Professor Grubbly-Plank assigned them all to study a single bowtruckle and create a chart of its features.
Hitsugaya realized that everyone had grouped together and that he was the only one alone. White hair really had a bad affect on his social skills. He sighed, attracting Professor Grubbly-Plank's attention. "No group eh Mr. Toushirou? You can join Miss Granger's."
Speculating on whether the rainy morning really did seem like a good omen, Hitsugaya grudgily approached the group.
"Dumbledore would know if something happened to Hagrid. It's just playing into Malfoy's hands to look worried, it tells him-" She broke off at once as Hitsugaya came near and blushed hard at realizing how obvious she was. Ron jumped and made room for Hitsugaya to enter the small circle, who replied with an aggravated look.
"...So even if that overgrown moron does show up again, he'll probably be sent packing straight away." Malfoy's derisive voice came drifting over the group.
Seeing Harry's angry countenance, Hitsugaya nudged him. "Oy, let go of the bowtruckle." Harry, on a reflex, let go and the bowtruckle gave him a resentful look on almost being crushed.
"Thanks," He muttered back before remembering that he was supposed to bear grudge against Hitsugaya. Shutting his mouth defiantly, Harry ignored him.
Fine, two can play this game. Hitsugaya sketched one of the bowtruckles long limbs and labeled his drawing with quick, decisive strokes. He blocked out the thought of how idiotic he was being, stooping down to Harry's level. Ron and Hermione made no attempt at conversation and for the rest of the period there was silence in that small group.
After ushering their bowtruckle back to the table (in which Harry received a hefty cuff of revenge for handling it so brutally), they set out for Herbology. Hitsugaya bypassed the group, deliberately marching on.
"Harry, can you stop being such a git?" Hermione demanded, causing Harry to look at her, startled. "Me? A git?" He emphasized the word, a little offended. "Yes," Their shoes thudded over the vegetable patch and Hermione went on. "For one, stop attacking Ron and me whenever you're mad," She cut off his angry speech by raising her voice. "For another, stop being so angry at Hetsugellia. All he did was try and stop you from blowing up on that Umbridge woman, you know." Her tone ended on a reproachful note.
Harry grumbled and lapsed into silence.
While this conversation was taking place, Hitsugaya examined the greenhouse. Professor Sprout was a well-rounded witch with scraggly mouse-brown hair and a raggedy "witch's hat" perched precariously on her head. On upon seeing Hitsugaya enter the house, she singled him out and ordered him to pass out the large amounts of dragon dung to the students.
If "flinging bits of it to the giggling students", was passing it out then Hitsugaya was obeying orders. He flicked a rather large amount at Ron who snorted ungraciously at seeing Hitsugaya's angry expression.
An hour and a half later, Hitsugaya walked into the Great Hall feeling weary. He just managed to catch the conversation between Harry and another, furious girl. She wrung her hands at him, yelling about something about Quidditch tryouts..
Oh yeah.
Around five o'clock, Hitsugaya watched Harry leave the table and exit the hall. Inconspiciously, Hitsugaya abandoned his lamb chops and followed Harry at a distance behind.
If he was a bodyguard, for goodness sakes he'll be a good one. No bodyguard would leave their charge to wander into an office of a crazed, asinine, dull, woman with the tendency to tack on belittling suffixes to her words.
Rummaging for the candy dispenser, Hitsugaya pressed the bunny's head and swallowed the candy. A peculiar sensation and he was standing regally with his captain coat floating in a nonexistent breeze. Where did that breeze come from? Hitsugaya wondered, before catching sight of Harry turning the corner.
Hurriedly, he shunpoed off across the third floor. To his relief, Harry didn't notice the captain sneaking behind him. But then, he always had a rather light step.
They stopped. Harry hesitated before the door before knocking.
"Come in." Someone sing-songed.
Harry stepped in closely followed by Hitsugaya. Both wondered if they should step back out. The room had a heady aroma of perfume, scent Tropical Flowers, and a large collection of plates decorated the walls. They had huge neon-colored kittens plastered over the porcelain.
Tearing his smarting eyes away from the decorations, Hitsugaya studied the surroundings for Umbridge. She had blended in completely, her extravagant robe matched the tawdry desk. Her small beady eyes studied Harry (who was staring at one of the neon kittens) while her ringed fingers tapped silently against the cloth.
She startled Harry with a greeting while Hitsugaya settled himself comfortably against one of the pastel-colored walls. He observed Harry who sat down and seethed inwardly. His request to take Friday detention off was rejected (quite happily) by Umbridge.
"I want you to write 'I must not tell lies," Umbridge said while handing a black, sharp quill to Harry.
"How many times?" Harry asked, gripping the quill.
"Oh, as long as it takes for the message to sink in," Umbridge replied, a nasty smile on her face.
Hitsugaya, suspicious, wondered where the ink Harry was supposed to write with was.
"You haven't given me any ink," Harry said a moment later, voicing Hitsugaya's question. Umbridge smirked and leaned forward. "Oh, you won't need any ink."
Harry shrugged and traced the words "I must not tell lies" on the paper.
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Cliffie. Don't kill me please. I'm not sure on whether to make Hitsugaya react violently or to just chuck Umbridge out the window. The latter seems tempting.