Hello my fellow readers! Things are starting to pick up for our favorite wizards. I have not much to say about this chapter. I tried making this part of Harry Potter my own while staying true to the source material. Pretty tricky.

Enjoy!


Chapter 9

Broomstick Blunders

Before the Okumura brothers knew it, they had spent two weeks at Hogwarts. It was clear to Harry and Ron that Rin was the go-to person for their Potions homework since Rin had a natural talent for the subject. Rin hated doing his homework, but doing it with Ron and Harry made it bearable. Yukio often dragged all three of them to the library to help them, usually to edit and correct any spelling mistakes (and clean up the splotches Ron's quill left on his parchment).

Yukio entered the Great Hall for breakfast on Monday when he noticed Rin, Ron, and Harry sitting at the Gryffindor table looking gloomy again. Curious, he walked over to where they were sitting.

"Rin? Harry? Ron? What's the matter?" he asked. "Did something happen? You three look miserable."

"We woke up with the worst news ever," Rin moaned.

"We've got flying lessons Thursday with the Slytherins," Ron said.

"I'd rather help Filch with his cleaning duties," Rin growled.

"That's just typical," Harry mumbled darkly. "Just what I always wanted. To make a fool of myself on a broomstick in front of Malfoy."

"You don't know that," Yukio assured Harry. "For all you know, you'll be a natural."

"Besides," Ron added, "even though Malfoy's always going on about how good he is at Quidditch, I bet it's all talk. He probably wouldn't know which end is which on a broom!"

That got the redhead's friends to smile.

~0~0~0~

Throughout the week, it felt like Rin got a headache every time Malfoy was nearby, bragging about his so-called flying abilities. He complained loudly about how first years were not allowed to tryout for Quidditch and told long, boastful, and boring stories which always seemed to end with him narrowly escaping Muggles in helicopters ("He doesn't even know what a bicycle is, yet he knows what a helicopter is?" Rin skeptically asked).

Malfoy wasn't the only one though. Seamus Finnigan said that he'd spent most of his childhood zooming around the countryside on his broomstick. Even Ron would tell anyone who would listen about the time he'd almost hit a hang-glider on Charlie's old broom (Yukio had a hard time believing that story). Everyone from wizarding families talked about Quidditch constantly. From what the Okumura twins heard, it's like a combination of European football (aka soccer), American football, and basketball on broomsticks. Rin automatically wanted the Quidditch season to start so he could see the game for himself.

Neville had never been on a broom in his whole life because his grandmother had never let him near one. Privately, Rin and Harry understood why. Neville has had an extraordinary number of accidents on the ground already.

Hermione was almost as nervous as Neville was. Yukio knew that flying was not something one could learn from a book alone - not that Hermione tried. At breakfast on Thursday, she bored everyone stupid with flying tips she had gotten from a library book called Quidditch Through the Ages. Neville was the only one hanging on her every word, desperate for anything that might help him hang on to his broom later. Everyone was relieved when the morning post finally arrived.

Rin was surprised that an owl dropped an envelope on his plate. Looking at the letter, he recognized the handwriting as Shiro's. He hastily opened the letter and read it.

Dear Rin,

How is Hogwarts treating you? Yukio wrote to me last week to tell me how your first week was and I'm happy that you two have made some new friends. No, not just happy. Proud! I know that you've had difficulties making friends back home, so I'm glad that you've found a group of kids to hang out with. Keep being yourself so you can make memories you can look back on with a smile.

I'm also happy you're behaving yourself and not getting into fights. Yukio and your friends must be doing a bang up job keeping you in line.

I had a feeling Potions class was going to be your strong suit. It's kind of like cooking if you think about it. Try not to let the teacher get to you. If he's as big a prick as you and your brother make him out to be, then maybe he's trying to bring out the best in you. Trust me, I've had teachers like him when I was your age and I always thrived in their classes because of their rotten attitudes.

I hope to hear from you soon, not just Yukio. I would appreciate a letter from both of you in the near future. If you ever see Professor Dumbledore, tell him I said 'hello!'

Love you both,

Dad

Rin smiled at the letter. It was nice that his dad was thinking about him and Yukio. Speaking of which, Rin would have to thank Yukio for staying in contact with their father.

Harry noticed Rin's letter. "Is that from your dad?" he inquired.

Rin looked up and nodded with a smile. "Yeah. Yukio's been keeping in touch with him. So much has happened lately that I've forgotten to write to him," he said. "I need to remember to do that this weekend."

Rin didn't notice but Harry looked at him with a little envy. While Rin and Yukio did not have or know their mother, they still had their father to raise and love them (or at least their adoptive father). Ron had his parents and numerous siblings. Harry had neither. All he had were his aunt, uncle, and cousin who saw him as the equivalent of a dead cockroach. He didn't even know what his parents looked like.

Neville, meanwhile, had opened a package from his grandmother. Inside was a glass ball that filled itself with white smoke when he held it in his hand.

"What's that thing?" Rin asked. "It looks like a mini crystal ball."

"It's a Remembrall," Neville explained. "Gran knows I forget things - this tells you if there's something you've forgotten to do. Look, if you hold it tight like this and if it turns red - oh…" His face fell as his Remembrall turned scarlet. "...you've forgotten something."

"So what did you forget?" Rin inquired.

Neville tried to remember but Draco Malfoy, who was walking past the Gryffindor table, snatched the Remembrall from Neville's hand. Harry, Ron, and Rin stood up immediately. Rin was eager for a fight with Malfoy. The pale-faced prick needed to be knocked down a few pegs.

Professor McGonagall, who could smell trouble a mile away, was there in a flash. "What is going on here?" she asked.

"Malfoy's got my Remembrall, professor," Neville hastily told her.

Scowling at being robbed of any fun, Malfoy quickly put the sphere on the table. "Just looking," he said and walked away with Crabbe and Goyle close behind him.

"Next time, ask!" Rin called out.

~0~0~0~

Three-thirty came all too soon for Rin and his friends. They reluctantly made their way onto the grounds for their first flying lesson. The Slytherins were already there, standing close to two rows of old broomsticks. Rin thought they looked like the kind of broomsticks witches flew on in horror movies. Standing in front of the broomsticks was a grey-haired witch with piercing amber hawk-like eyes named Madam Hooch.

"Everyone stand by a broom," Madam Hooch instructed. "Come on, hurry up!"

Everyone stood next to a old broom. Judging from how old, battered, and the amount of twigs sticking out in different directions the brooms had, Rin didn't think any of these brooms could even sweep up a single dust bunny.

"Stick out your right hand over the broom and say, 'Up!'" Hooch instructed.

"Up!" everyone called. Harry and Rin's brooms shot straight up into their hands. Ron's broom simply hit him in the face, which Harry and Rin thought was hilarious ("Shut up, you guys," Ron grumbled). Neville's didn't move at all and Hermione's just rolled over.

Then Madam Hooch showed everyone how to hold and mount their broomsticks. The trio smirked when Hooch told Malfoy that he had been holding his broom wrong for years ("So how did you avoid that helicopter again?" Rin mockingly asked Malfoy).

"Now, when I blow my whistle you kick off from the ground, hard," said Madam Hooch. "Keep your broom steady, rise a few feet, and then come straight back down by leaning forward slightly. On my whistle, three -"

Neville suddenly pushed off hard before the whistle was even blown. He was way too nervous for this. No matter how many times Madam Hooch screamed for Neville to come back to the ground, he just floated higher and higher. The broom was obviously out of Neville's control. It rose higher and higher, slamming him into the walls like a bucking horse. He soon slipped off his broom.

CRASH! CRACK!

Rin, Harry, Ron and the other Gryffindors winced when they heard a reverberating crack come from Neville as he crashed to the ground. Madam Hooch hurriedly ran over to Neville, her face as white as his.

"...Yep. Broken wrist," she tutted. She gently helped Neville to his feet. "Come on, boy, it's all right - up you get."

Hooch turned to the rest of the class.

"None of you is to move while I take this boy up to the hospital wing! You leave those brooms where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts faster than you can say 'Quidditch!'"

As soon as she and Neville disappeared into the castle, Malfoy and the other Slytherins burst into laughter.

"Did you see his face, the great lump?" he laughed.

"Shut up, Malfoy," said Parvati Patil.

Rin was ready to shove his broomstick up Malfoy's ass.

"Look, it's that stupid thing Longbottom's gran sent him."

Everyone looked in Malfoy's direction and saw that he was holding Neville' Remembrall in his hand. He must have dropped it when he fell off his broom.

Harry then stepped forward.

"Give it here, Malfoy," he demanded.

Malfoy gave Harry a nasty smile. "I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find it," he replied. He ran over to his broomstick and took off. "How about up a tree?"

Rin and Ron dropped their jaws. Malfoy wasn't exaggerating. He really was a good flyer. Despite Hermione's warnings, Harry grabbed his broomstick and took off as well.

"Yukio was right. Harry really is a natural," Ron said enviously.

"Who would have thought?" Rin responded.

Malfoy then threw the Remembrall and Harry sped off toward it. It was close, but Harry managed to catch it before it hit the ground. The Gryffindors applauded Harry's performance as he landed.

"HARRY POTTER!"

Everyone turned and saw Professor McGonagall storming towards them. Her glasses flashed dangerously and her face was red with anger. "Never - in all my years -" she started. " - How dare you - might have broken your neck -"

"It wasn't Harry's fault," Rin defended.

"Silence, Mr. Okumura," McGonagall hissed.

"But Malfoy…" Ron started.

"That's enough, Mr. Weasley!" she snapped. She rounded at Harry, who flinched. "Potter, follow me now!" she ordered. Harry followed glumly back to the castle. Malfoy, along with Crabbe and Goyle, had triumphant smirks.

Rin had had enough of Malfoy's antics. He stomped over to Malfoy and grabbed his robes.

"You're in for it now, Malfoy!" Rin roared. "You're gonna pay for getting Harry in trouble!"

Ron, Dean Thomas, and Seamus Finnigan had to break Rin away from Malfoy.

"Calm down, Rin," Ron pleaded.

"Malfoy's not worth it," Seamus reasoned.

Rin was not giving up. "Gimme ten minutes with that prick! Just me and him! He'll be sorry for what he did when I'm done with him!" he threatened. His fellow Gryffindors had to tighten their grips on Rin's robes.

"He's stronger than I thought!" Seamus exclaimed through gritted teeth.

"You'll get in trouble if you don't calm down, Rin!" Dean grunted.

"Is everything alright, boys?" Madam Hooch asked as she returned to her students.

Rin calmed down, knowing that the opportunity to avenge Harry had passed.

"Yes, ma'am," Rin grumbled as his classmates finally released him.

~0~0~0~

Rin and Ron sat in the Great Hall during dinner, but neither of them felt like eating. Harry still hadn't returned and both of them were worried. Rin told Yukio about what happened, but he assured his brother that word would have spread like wildfire if Harry was expelled. This did little to reassure Rin.

"I can't believe McGonagall wouldn't even listen to us!" Ron exclaimed. "It wasn't even Harry's fault."

"I know!" Rin exclaimed, stabbing his kidney pie with his fork vengefully. "Since when is sticking up for Neville against the rules? If Harry gets expelled for that, I'm gonna talk to Dumbledore about this."

"I'm with you," Ron agreed. Both boys gave each other a thumbs-up as a salute.

Harry suddenly dashed into the Great Hall with a big smile on his face. "Guys! You'll never guessed what happened!" he exclaimed. He then explained that, instead of getting in trouble, he was given the position of Seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

"You're joking!" Ron exclaimed excitedly.

"Aw, I'm jealous!" Rin exclaimed with a smile.

Several Gryffindors came up to Harry to congratulate him on his success, including Fred and George, who were also on the Quidditch team. Their evening was going well until Malfoy and his goons approached sneeringly.

"Having a last meal, Potter? When are you getting on the train back to the Muggles?" Malfoy taunted.

"Not even in your dreams, Malfoy," Rin remarked as he helped himself to a cupcake for dessert.

"You're a lot braver now that you're back on the ground and you've got your little friends with you," said Harry.

Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Please, Potter, I'd take you on anytime!" he challenged. He suddenly paused and smiled. "Tonight, if you want, actually. Wizard's duel. Wands only - no contact. What's the matter? Never heard of a wizard's duel before, I suppose?"

"Of course, he has," Ron interjected. "And I'm his second. Who's yours?"

Malofy looked at Crabbe and Goyle, sizing them up.

"Crabbe," he decided. "Midnight it is, then. We'll meet you in the trophy room; that's always unlocked. That is, so long as you don't chicken out, Potter."

"You wish, Malfoy," Harry said threateningly.

When Malfoy was gone, the three friends looked at each other.

"What is a wizard's duel?" asked Harry. "And what did you mean you're my second?"

"I think the name 'wizard's duel' speaks for itself," said Rin. "It's a fight between two wizards."

"And a second's there to take over if you die," Ron added casually. Catching the looks of horror from Harry and Rin's faces, Ron quickly added, "But people only die in proper duels, you know, with real wizards. The most you and Malfoy'll be able to do is send sparks at each other. I bet he expected you to refuse anyway."

"Mind if I come?" asked Rin. "If all else fails, I can always give Malfoy a bloody nose."

"Good idea," Ron commented.

"Excuse me?!"

The three boys looked up and saw Hermione Granger standing next to them.

"Can we help you?" Rin asked irritably.

"Can't a person eat in peace in this place?" Ron asked.

"I couldn't help overhearing what you guys and Malfoy were saying -"

"Bet you could," Ron muttered.

"-and you mustn't go wandering around the school at night. Think of the points you'll cost Gryffindor if you three are caught, and you're bound to be. It'd be really selfish of you all to go," Hermione reasoned.

"And it's really none of your business," said Harry.

"Goodbye," said Ron as Rin shooed the bushy-haired girl away with his hand.

~0~0~0~

Hermione left the Great Hall in a huff. Didn't those three know that this midnight duel was a bad idea? She looked up and saw Yukio coming down the stairs with three other Ravenclaw boys in tow. An idea popped into Hermione's head. Yukio was Rin's brother. Maybe he could talk some sense into his brother and his friends.

"Yukio!"

Yukio looked in Hermione's direction. "Hello, Hermione," he greeted. He turned to his friends. "Save me a seat. I'll be with you shortly."

Yukio's friends entered the Great Hall, leaving him and Hermione alone.

"What's going on?" Yukio inquired.

"You need to talk to your brother and his friends," said Hermione. "They're planning to dueling Malfoy tonight at midnight."

Yukio's eyebrows shot up. "Rin's going to do what?!" he exclaimed.

"Malfoy challenged Harry to a duel and Ron and Rin are going to accompany him," Hermione explained.

Yukio let out a frustrated growl. "That idiot! Dad doesn't want him to get into trouble. Thanks, Hermione. I'll go talk to him."

Yukio stormed into the Great Hall to talk some sense into his idiot brother.

~0~0~0~

Rin was just finishing his milk when Yukio marched towards him.

"Hi, Yukio!" Rin greeted. Ron and Harry waved.

"What's this I hear about a duel with Malfoy?" Yukio asked, getting straight to the point.

Ron's jaw dropped, causing the pudding he was eating to fall onto his plate. "I can't believe she told already!" he exclaimed.

"At least she told Yukio and not a teacher," Harry muttered.

Yukio turned to Harry. "You can't go through with this," he told him.

"Why not?" Harry asked.

"One, it'll be breaking the rules. Filch will be on patrol for anyone who breaks curfew. And two, how do you know that this isn't a trick? I don't know Malfoy as well as you guys do, but he doesn't seem like a trustworthy person," Yukio reasoned.

"If he wusses out, then he's a bigger chicken than I thought," said Rin.

"That's not the point, Rin," Yukio argued.

"Relax, Yukio," assured Ron. "We'll make sure Filch doesn't catch us."

"I'll ask Fred and George about Filch," said Rin. "They seem to know their way around the castle. Maybe they know how to avoid him."

"Good idea," said Harry.

"Are you guys even listening to me?!" Yukio exclaimed. The three Gryffindors looked at the Ravenclaw. "This has bad idea written all over it!"

"If I don't go through with this, Malfoy will never let it down," said Harry. "You don't know Malfoy like we do, Yukio. He's been tormenting us since the term started. We need to put him in his place."

Yukio sighed. "Nothing I say will stop you, will it?" he asked.

"Nope," they said.

He pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I'm coming with you," he said.

"WHAT?!" the three boys exclaimed.

Yukio folded his arms. "I'm coming with you to make sure you guys don't do anything stupid and to say, 'I told you so' when this whole thing goes downhill," he said adamantly.

Harry, Ron, and Rin looked at each other before facing Yukio.

"Fine, you can come," said Ron.

"But you can't tell anyone," said Harry, "especially the teachers."

"I'm not a rat," said Yukio.

"You better not tell Dad about this either," said Rin.


People have been asking me if Rin's powers will appear earlier than canon. I haven't really decided that yet. I'm still trying to figure out how to give the Golden Trio temptaints (although I have a few ideas...).

I'm letting Yukio join the gang to the midnight duel. He's part of the group so it's only fair that he tags along too.

Please review! A lot of people are following this story. Don't be afraid to leave a review!