[START]

Define 'Normal'...

Chapter 8: Authority

There were still pink blossoms stubbornly gripping and hanging on to the trees, trees that were desperately attempting to grow out their green coats. May was coming to an end and June fast approaching and with it, Summer.

Harry walked under one such tree, trudging over a scattered few sakura petals that had not been cleared from the pavement outside of the school, pink and white stained with black and brown as it was trampled to the ground.

He'd missed school on Friday, because as baddass as it probably DIDN'T look, even he couldn't drink a cupful of Runespoor venom without some negative side effects.

Having to explain to the Guidance Counsellor that he was kind of stuck to the toilet had been one mortifying and humbling experience. On top of the fact that he hadn't been excused from the homework his class received that weekend his little victory rang a little hollow.

Harry paused by the entrance, students instinctively parting and stepping around him without so much as a backwards glance as he remained motionless. He'd used THAT spell on someone. Granted, Ronshaku wasn't the sort of man he should be standing around feeling sorry for, one glimpse into his mind showcased that he was a vile little cretin who delighted in exerting his will on those weaker than him. A bully, plain and simple, who Harry had torn down a few pegs.

Yet his lips still dipped into a frown,

"But what does that make me?" Spoken aloud but in a voice oh so soft. He'd enjoyed fighting the thugs, but not because they were weak, but because he'd thought they might be strong. Realising they weren't had actually left him... disappointed?

But when he'd decided to take Ronshaku, he'd entered that house KNOWING he was the stronger of the two of them. No fear, no anticipation, just ready to snuff out a hindrance with the same callous disregard for his life as one might have for a knat or fly.

That wasn't a Gryffindor's way of thinking. It certainly wasn't one any Potter would be pleased with either.

But Tom on the other hand...

A violent shake of the head,

"I'm not him." Snarled through gritted teeth and stomping footsteps resumed, taking him onto school property in a swift few strides. Mind already striving to put those rebellious thoughts in their place, even as they gnawed at the back of his head.

He'd started the day thinking about how wonderful it would be, he would be damned before he allowed his expectations to be subverted!

...

Yuri wasn't having a good morning, slamming against the wall with a harsh thudding noise as her bag was yanked painfully from her pale, shaking fingers. Hands reddened and sore whilst her precious stationary and papers (a myriad of colourful metal pens and floral bordered A4) clattered over the floor.

A quartet of blonde haired, fake tanned harpies flitted and flew around her as they shoved her, yanked at her hair and reminded Yuri that the Ganguro Girls (as they had been dubbed) were a vile group of… creatures,

"Yo, what the hell is this?" A slightly crumpled bit of paper covered in Yuri's delicate and intricate calligraphy,

"Black Velvet Fervour?! I can't make heads or tails of this mess." A snatch from one girl as she read the flowing title with a slack jawed expression,

"This some kind of poetry?" Her incredulous spew of words was met with a chorus of raucous snorts and laughter.

This wasn't anything new, at least not anything that she hadn't experienced before attending Akademi, though the only difference was the distinct lack of Ronshaku Musume this time.

"So, when's your boyfriend getting here?" Spittle flew from Daidaiyama's mouth, her dirty blonde hair a scruffy mess held up by one of the many scrunchies she (and her group) wore excessively. Seemingly leading the charge in Musume's absence,

"I… d-don't"

"Don't give us any of that 'I don't know' crap." Mizudori snapped, she was the newest member of their clique. A policeman's daughter with a cruelty streak far wider than her contemporaries, if the iron grip on Yuri's hair was anything to go by, despite her more elegant striking appearance (her long blonde and turquoise pony tail standing out to Yuri's quickly tearing eyes), "We got a bone to pick with him, tell us when he's gonna get here."

"I don't know!" Yuri's insistence after a yelp, her back slamming into the white wall of the sports hall again by a sneering Momoiro, who flicked the bubblegum bangs out of her face and encouraged Mizudori's yank on Yuri's purple locks.

She was spat on after that and they finally let go of her. She stopped listening as they sneered, cursed and yelled. Her hands over her throbbing scalp as she sunk to the floor and waited for it to be over. She waited in such mind-numbing terror that she was the last to notice that the girls had stopped.

She peeked up at them through hooded eyes that widened to the size of dinner plates when she saw the four of them had turned to a boy who had appeared before them.

Potter Harry. His face blank but his eyes unleashing a furious glare on them.

"The fuck?"
"The hell?"
"Did you just take a picture of us?!"

They were ignored. He advanced, barging through them as if they weren't there and fell into a crouch in front of her,

"Can you walk, Kuroyanagi-san?" His voice was gentle, and Yuri's response was a sniffle and a nod.

Not 'Are you okay?' because she clearly wasn't. Not 'Did they hurt you?' because they clearly did. Her nod was tearful, and she let him gently take her hands and guide her to her feet. She couldn't help herself, throwing her arms around him and placing her face smack into his shoulder, eyes squeezed shut as her eyes burned (refusing to dissolve in to tears) as Harry squeezed her to him.

"C'mon, let's get you out of here." He whispered, a gentle hand stroking her hair soothingly and she just nodded into him. Reluctantly but obediently, she disentangled herself from him and took great comfort in the firm grip he took on her arm as he moved to walk her past the girls.

The quartet stepped in front of them in unison, a movement that reeked of 'hive mentality' as they all glared up at their classmate with unrestrained revulsion, tainted by curiosity.

"Oi, Potter. What did you do to Musume-"

"Get the hell out of my way, you brat." Harry's interruption was cold and clipped, far different from the gentle and warm way he spoke to Yuri or his friends. She felt is hand grip her a little tighter but for some reason it made her feel all the safer than scared.

Mizudori tried to take control of the scenario, puffing out her chest and stepping ahead of the quickly cowed girls with a glare of her own,

"You don't scare me Potter. My dad's a cop, he'll-"

His fist connected to the wall beside him with a bang, they leapt and staggered back in fright at the noise combined with the speed, ferocity and force behind the gesture. His eyes darkened, almost black in their murderous intention and the girls lost all feeling in their bodies beside an icy feeling of fear,

"Get out of the way." This time they moved without question.

Harry's firm grip on Yuri's hand slackening only slightly, but he still swiftly dragged her past the bullies, heading right into the schools main building after only the briefest pit stops to shove Yuri's things back into her bag and bring it with them.

The door to the Guidance Counselor's office slammed open and Harry pulled Yuri along with him towards Kunahito-sensei, seemingly about to settle in her chair before their interruption,

"What is the meaning of this?" Her voice rife with incredulity as Harry silently ordered Yuri to take a seat. She acquiesced without a word, but she did

"Can you give me a second? I'm sorry." He was fatigued, and Yuri felt a stabbing in her heart at the sight.

He unleashed an exhale, his body shaking visibly and Yuri's eyes found themselves pulled to the drops of red that were falling to the offices floor, dripping from Harry's ruined right hand. Kunahito-sensei perceived them both from behind a pair of scarlet oval spectacles that matched the red ribbon wrapped into a bow around her neck.

Yuri felt incredibly intimidated by this woman, having only ever seen her when she descended on their classroom to take the Ganguro girls out of class before their suspension. Fury present in dark brown eyes and her clipped voice whilst still remaining a tall statue of femininity.

She was a black haired curvaceous woman who's every article of clothing clung to the curves of her form: her black heels, dark tights and pantyhose a black skirt and a matching blazer with a white shirt contained underneath it. Yuri gulped a little when her eyes raked her up and down, for she could not quite stifle her thoughts of appreciation and monumentous envy. A woman who still somehow maintained an image of superiority and ultimate professionalism despite the first few buttons of her shirt continuously left undone to not only reveal her large cleavage but also that she was…lacking a certain item of clothing beneath her dress shirt…

"Potter-san, this is an inappropriate way to enter my office." She snapped harshly and raised an eyebrow at Harry's bow and apology, her brown eyes softening instantly as she met his gaze once again and she quickly fiddled with the bun her black hair had been tied into, "What is the issue? Has something occurred between Kuroyanagi-san and yourself?"

Yuri was quite surprised that the woman knew her by name,

"Ah- erm, no Kunahito-sensei."

"Yuri was having issues with the bullies from my class."

The girl in question looked in surprise at him then between the two in the room, the Counsellor's eyes widened then narrowed in thought whilst Harry's were firm and determined. Kunahito-sensei took a moment to settle in to her chair opposite the two students and spoke after the briefest of silences,

"Please explain." And Harry was quick to offer his side of events and Yuri, with unexpectedly tender reassurances and encouragement from Harry, supplied her own. The woman's expression always resetting to a mask of cool indifference after every wince and each and every sympathetic, guilty or apologetic look she sent Yuri's way.

Yuri had never felt so drained, slumping in the hard seat in front of their teacher's desk after she finished speaking. She stiffened a little then all but melted when Harry's hand gently found her arm again and offered a gentle, encouraging squeeze. Her smile was small and grateful, but she didn't hold his gaze for long,

"I'll deal with this." The Guidance Counsellor stated firmly, a rather severe expression on her face and her eyes burning just a little behind her glasses whilst Harry gently adjusted his own,

"How though? The last time I came in here with their cruelty on display they were back at it again as soon as they got back." He shook his head and his nostril's briefly twitched and flared in an expression of rage or disgust, "I know I'm not the only one whose come in here about them. Or the other bullying going on in this school."

This seemed to be something, a nerve had clearly been struck as Kunahito-sensei's eyes narrowed and she gripped the thin plastic pen (that she had been jotting down the details of their stories with) so tight that it cracked and splintered in her grip.

"I assure you that the school does not tolerate bullying of any kind or in any capacity." Her words were surprisingly… earnest. Her expression emotive, showcasing a desperation for the two of them to believe her words. Harry's expression did not change, and she continued in spite of that, "We will review any evidence of your claims and act accordingly. These actions alone are a suspension worthy offence."

"They attacked a student!"

Her expression closed off at his yell, he was on his feet and his hands on her desk. Staring her down with eyes of green fire.

"If you have any more issues with them, I'll deal with them again." She shook her head and Yuri wondered if that was supposed to be some sort of dismissal, Harry clearly seemed to take it as such as a spark lit up his eyes and he unleashed a fiery retort,

"I'm not sitting by whilst my friends and other students are being bullied. Especially when you seem SO eager to just look the other way." Harry snapped, eyes boring into the unflinching Kunahito-sensei, "What they did to Gushiken-san's desk was outrageous, and I don't understand how a week-long suspension was anywhere near appropriate punishment."
She glowered at Harry's defiance and Yuri worriedly watched on from the side lines. Both of them were clearly passionate people, but Harry was not in the position of authority here. Yuri worried that a line had been crossed by Harry's tone and felt terror over what would happen to him

"I will be calling them in to hear their side of the story." Kunahito-sensei vehemently ignored the shuddering, furious exhale he unleashed and the flinch from Yuri, though she did allow her expression to soften slightly and her strict, harsh tone morphed into a gentler one, "But I can assure you that their previous… activities, will be factored into mine and the headmaster's decision. And that decision WILL be something that you will, as a student of this school, have to abide by."

Harry's glare was quick to vanish after she finished speaking, the boy not wishing to give her any grief as she promised to do her job. He offered what he hoped were sincere sounding thanks and heard Yuri follow suit, then the two were banished to the nurse's office to get Harry's hand looked at and for Yuri to be given a once over.

"Potter-san." Harry turned back from the door and their Guidance Counseler was on her feet leaning towards them from the other side of her desk, "I was going to call for you today anyway, I will be expecting you in the headmaster's office at lunch to discuss your recent absence."

Harry wasn't an idiot, that wasn't why they wanted to speak to him. But he nodded his head to show he would be there, and gently leading the way out of the room and towards the school infirmary.

Their trip was made in a silence that only grew tenser and heavier as they weaved through and past the other students, slipping into the nurse's office with a lot less fanfare whilst the majority of their peers entered their own classrooms for the morning homeroom. A smell of disinfectant hitting their noses as they entered the room and the two forced to squint a little as the sun reflected harshly off of the rooms harsh, white floor and surfaces.

The check-up was quick, the nurse quick to label Yuri as fit to leave before she lunged for bandages and antiseptic as Harry's shredded knuckles dripped red on the crisp white sheets of one of the infirmary's bed. This was where Yuri's eyes had fallen to again, the physical evidence that the boy who sat in front of her, Harry, the only boy in class who actually spoke to her, had come to her rescue.

He'd faced them before. The bullies. HER bullies. But this time he'd done it for her.

She wasn't delusional enough to believe that she was the only one they picked on, the girls had picked on anyone they saw as a threat (or beneath them) ever since kindergarten. She hadn't been a target until junior high and even now she wasn't the only one in her class alone to have to deal with them. She even knew that Harry had gone and helped someone else before, and that was why they'd been suspended the first time. So, did she have any right to be looking too far into it?

Anyone else may have considered his continuous assault against them as some kind of vendetta. But he'd been in the country for less than half a year and apparently just met them at the beginning of the school year, so it was far more likely that he just didn't like bullies.

It was just the little voice screaming in her head about how Harry was not doing this for her but because he just was a person who wouldn't stand bullies and wanted to help others. But that didn't do much to stop her heart fluttering a little, even if he may not have done it just for her sake.

Then again…

"What's wrong, are you okay?" Harry inquired, eyes boring in to her in concern and only making her cheeks burn harsher,

"Erm… it's just that. Y-you called me by my name… earlier." She had great difficulties in actually speaking those words. Her head felt light and her heart was hammering so hard,

His face displayed utter mortification.

"Ah- s-sorry Kuroyanagi-san, I'm so-"

"N-NO!" she yelled, flinching herself when her own high volume elicited an identical flinch from him, the two flung into a heavy and awkward silence afterwards, "D-D-Don't be…"

The only sound for a little bit was the clattering and thuds of the nurse digging through the medicine cabinet,

"Is it okay for me to call you Yuri then?" He was able to squeak out a little while later, his voice as quiet and unsure as Yuri herself.

"Ah…" Yuri stammered and worried her bottom lip between her teeth and murmured out, "I would like that."

His smile was a little tight, but it was warm and genuine regardless. He offered his good hand for a second and after a look of confusion she took his hand and bemusedly accepted Harry's little handshake and blushed as he giggled a little at her expense.

Yuri was sent to class almost immediately afterwards, the bell for which chimed as the door to the infirmary clicked shut behind her. Whilst it took every last ounce of charm from Harry's lip to not be sent to a hospital for a suspected broken hand.

It HAD been broken but casting subtle self-healing charms was a skill Harry had had to develop relatively quickly some time ago. He was simply ordered to sit still after the bruised and scraped skin had been treated and bandaged away instead of hurled from the school into the nearest ambulance by a fretting and worried school nurse.

And it was this situation that allowed Harry to finally meet Natsuki…

[TO BE CONTINUED]


Lol, funny thought came to mind whilst writing this chapter and I'd like your opinion.

She's gonna have to deal with a lot, an unruly student body, an irritating superior, possibly multiple yandere's stalking the school's grounds and (of course) our favourite little wizard boy…

Wanna see a little side story/route where the Guidance Counsellor and Harry get together? HAHA!

...

But for real though,

ZombieDreamer: Happy Sayori is Best Sayori! And I've got to agree with you about the games MC, he just isn't very nice to Sayori during the game and that most definitely would not have helped the way she was feeling and the struggles she had to go through. I will be trying to not bash him though, he is a person and every person has a reason for doing what they do…

And good nod to Kokona, I wasn't going to bring her up until a bit later but she'll eventually know what her senpai did. Thanks again for reviewing, see ya next time.

Hazelnut Coffee Queen: DAMN RIGHT YURI'S FEELINGS ARE GONNA DEEPEN FOR MA MAN HARRY! But obviously Harry's little stunts aren't going to go unnoticed, I'm trying to explore that this Harry's ruthlessness and aggression are not something he revels in or enjoys (just so I don't stray from the Golden Boy from the books).

I'm looking forward to exploring how Harry's inability to stop getting himself in to trouble and drawing attention to himself ruins his 'normal life' and affects his relationships and reputation in Akademi high. As well as with Monika, Yuri, Natsuki and Sayori specifically, I hope you look forward to it appearing in the future. Thank you once again, I appreciate your review x

randomidiot1816: yikes…well I won't be doing any of that so…

Ruberforumfree: Thank you, though the other two are pretty cool. 'The Marauder's Literature Club' even if it's a bit derivative from the game, I think that maybe it could have gone somewhere interesting, even if it was just to explore what differences would have to be made from the games story. And 'Harry Potter and the game of Freedom' is good too, though I'd love the author to go back and clean it up a little and maybe add some more detail and grammatical corrections. I think they're both great, appreciate them dammit! Lol!

But seriously thanks and to answer your question, I am not entirely against adding lemons (and have an idea and a few notes on how Harry and the Doki's first times may be…) but they aren't exactly necessary, and I don't want to add them for the sake of adding them. If people show interest I may write them in and change the story's rating to match. Thanks mate :)

Thank you all for your continued support, I'm happy to write for you guys.

See you in chapter 9.