Harry occupied most of his day by sneaking out to explore the Forbidden Forest. He enjoyed his time there, but realized why it would be forbidden to most students. Acromantulas, aside, it was great fun.
He was well aware that he was expected to have tea with Professor McGonagall, so he got back in plenty of time to bathe; a proper bath, not one of those hasty things the Westerners insisted was good enough. He dressed in formal kamishimo, with hakama, hakama-shita and kataginu. He preferred the more narrow shouldered modern style, but the kataginu still carried the three mon of an older style.
Tea with McGonagall was all that he feared and hoped it would be.
Harry entered and sat in the chair McGonagall pointed to. "Thank you."
"You are welcome. Sugar?" Professor McGonagall poured tea and offered the usual sugar, lemon, milk cream. She totally ignored his choice of garb.
"Plain, thank you." Harry accepted the cup of tea, noticing that it was red instead of the green he was accustomed to. "Can you tell me something?"
"I can try." McGonagall hoped it wasn't too personal.
"Why do the English call this tea black, when it is clearly red?" Harry had always wondered about that.
"Because the leaves are black." She sighed, "Well, that was easy enough. Sandwich? I have water cress and butter or ..." She eyed the finger sandwich in her hand for a moment. "Egg salad on whole wheat. There's also biscuits and scones."
Harry helped himself to cress and butter and a bite size scone topped with Devon cream and some sort of red jam. "Thank you." He nibbled on the scone. "Mmmm. Red currant? Very nice. Now, I'm not much for politeness." Harry lied blandly. "I'm much too straight forward for my father's comfort. What is your problem with me? What did I ever do to offend you? I'd really like to know." He sat back and waited for answers. He knew he'd put her off balance by being so direct. He wondered if English children were more circumspect than this. Probably. They were probably scared of what might happen to them if they put adults on the spot.
Professor McGonagall did her best not to choke on her tea. This Harry Potter was nothing like the boy she had expected. She'd never been to Japan, never been out of Scotland more than a handful of times. But she could read and had read up on Japan and Japanese manners. These direct questions put her on the defensive, something she wasn't used to and didn't like.
"Well, Mr Potter, you are direct, aren't you? So ... My problem is ... you're not what I expected and that puts me out. Also, you refuse to use your real name. Potter is an ancient and honorable name. And that is what offends me. James and Lily gave their lives for you and you reject them. Rather bad mannered of you, if I may say so."
Harry thought about this, trying to see it from her point of view. He had nearly finished his tea by the time he thought it over and came to some conclusions. He formed his reply carefully.
"Ah ... Sou ka. I see. Try looking at it from my point of view. I know nothing of my English family. I remember the Dursleys, of course, much as I'd rather forget them." He told the professor all that he could remember of his time at the Dursleys, then told her about living in Japan; suitably censored. At the end, he said, "So ... why would I honor the name of people I never heard of. Even though they gave their lives for me, my true father gave me life. I prefer to honor him, but I will not fight over a name. Those who know me will call me what I like, not what is ..." He waved a hand. "And as to the name being old. The Miyamoto name is one of the first in Japan. That means that it's over 3000 years old. The house I was raised in has been on that site, in one form or another, for that long. I work in the family business already. I am ... well known in Japan. By the name Miyamoto Yusuke. So ... yes, I do prefer that name, but I will save my fights for other things."
McGonagall had a lot to think about, but she put that aside for now and offered, "More tea?"
Harry accepted and talk drifted from one subject to another for a while. They reached a guarded understanding, Harry hoped so, at least. He took his leave with a bow. Professor McGonagall rose to escort him to the door.
"Well, Mr Potter, I think we understand each other a bit better. I'll try to ... be a bit more flexible. If you remember that I knew your parents very well. Good day to you." She opened the door and watched him leave, wondering exactly why he gave her chills. It was something about his eyes, she thought.
.
Harry wandered around for a while, thinking about McGonagall and her expectations. She expected things that he could not and would not deliver. This made her angry, anger that she shifted onto him. He thought she might not be a very good head of house to him. He decided not to trust her much without more proof of her intentions.
He decided to find Neville, avoid Ron, and drag his friend off to ask more questions of him.
This was not to be however, Ron caught him before he could reach the outer courtyard.
"Harry, there you are. Hermione wanted to go over some of the first and second year charms with you. She thought you were a bit shaky on them. Tough luck, mate. She's relentless." Ron didn't touch Harry, which was a good thing. But he did stay right by his side until he turned and went back inside.
Hermione was waiting for them in the juku. The second they entered, she started in.
"Yusuke-san! There you are. I've been thinking that perhaps you might need some practice with spells that you're not that familiar with. We can start with the spells you had trouble with, from first year through fifth, then go on to get in some practice on this week's assignment."
Harry glowered at her for a moment then snarled, "And you decided this all on your own? You never thought to ask me what I want?" he took a deep breath. "I think I should leave before I say something unforgivable. Excuse me." he bowed and left quickly.
Hermione turned woeful eyes to Ron who just shrugged and said, "I told you. You're way too pushy. He's not going to put up with your shit, no matter. If you want to stay friends with him, I'd suggest you lighten up. If he needs help, be there; if not, don't nag him. I'm leaving too. No wonder you don't have any friends. Just sayin'." He left, leaving her to cry on her desk.
.
Harry took a quick trip back to his dorm to change into BDU's, t-shirt and soft boots. He also tucked several senbon into his left boot, to join the tanto in his right. He felt very uncomfortable without several weapons to hand at all times. He cast a charm to hide the bulges, and went back to the common room. Just in time to hear Ron bragging.
"So I gave her a bit of home truth and she's still in that study room of hers, bawling her eyes out. Stupid bint, thinks I'm a messenger boy. Well, I told her." He grinned around, not really noticing that even his twin brothers were looking at him with annoyance.
Ron had never understood that, while most of the house wasn't fond of Hermione, being truly cruel to her wasn't on the table. Not since the Terrible Twins had taken her under their wings.
No one was quite sure exactly why they'd done it. They weren't admitting that she was the source of some of their best pranks and a constant source of help in potions and charms. They were lordly seventh years, twice over; while she was just a fifth year. But everyone knew that she was under their protection. They'd pranked enough people to convince them of that.
Now, Harry heard Ron mocking Hermione and glowered at him. Ron never noticed but he felt a cold chill which made him shudder.
Harry just left, headed for the Juku.
.
Hermione sobbed into her sleeve. She just wanted to make sure that Yusuke didn't fail a class and have to repeat it, that would be horrible. But she wasn't that good at this sort of thing. She had told Ron to be sure to ask Harry to come see her, not order him around. She was sure Ron had done it wrong on purpose and, of course, the second she'd seen him, she thought he understood what she was about. Show her to trust that ginger menace for a second. Now she had lost a friend.
She stiffened when she heard, "Hermione-chan, please don't cry. I'm no good with weeping females. Now. Come. Sit up and talk to me."
Hermione sniffled and took the tissue Harry offered. "I'm so sorry. I swear, I wasn't trying to be bossy. I told Ron to ask you to come study with me. But ... he's such a ... a ..." she let out a little shriek of annoyance. "A boy! Idiot! Prat! I'd love to give him one in the ... the..." she hiccuped, sniffled again and finished, "Well, you know."
Harry sighed, "I think ... he was bragging in the common room. I think he did it on purpose. His brothers were eyeing him in a way that ... I think he is doomed to some nasty pranks from them. Now ... shimaimasen, Granger-san. Hai? No more tears?" He wiped the last of her tears away with his thumbs. "I was angry at ... I assumed that it was your idea to order me around. But I did leave before I said something bad. Yes?"
"Yes, you did. Arigato. It's ok. I should have asked you directly and in person ... but boys are so prickly about girls helping them. I don't get it." She sighed heavily. "I'm sorry too. Ok? We're still friends?"
Harry chuckled a bit. "Yes, we're still friends. Friends fight and make up and fight again. We'll get over it. Now. What made you think I had trouble with those ... charms?"
"Well, Professor Flitwick made you do them twice. So I assumed ... yes ..." she held up a hand to keep Harry from saying it, "I know. Assuming makes an ass of you and me. So. Why did you have to do them twice?"
Harry grinned at her. "Because I forgot to use my wand the first time."
Hermione's jaw dropped, her mouth open in a very unladylike way. When she shut it, he was half way to the door. She took a deep breath, he slammed the door shut.
"MIYAMOTO YUSUKE! YOU ARSE!" Hermione pelted after him, robes hiked to her knees.
She finally caught him down by the lake.
"Yusuke-kun, I'm going to smack you good. Wandless magic? Really? How? Can you teach me? More importantly, will you?" Hermione flopped down on the shore beside Harry, panting slightly.
"No hitting." His grin was calm. "Yes, really. It's the way I was taught. Japanese people use different foci than Western people. I might be able to. I'm not a sensei by any means, but I'll try. We just have to find you a focus." He showed Hermione his rings. "I use rings. Some people use ... well, all sorts of things. But I can also do magic without any focus at all. It's just a lot harder. So ... not mad at me?" he tugged a lock of her hair.
"No. Not mad. Are you? I know you were ... irritated at first. But ... I'm sorry that prat Ron ordered you around. He's just ... I don't know ... just ..."
Harry snorted. "Never mind him. He earned some friendship points right off, but lost most of them with that trick. I'll be nice to him because I have to live with him, but I don't trust him. Not like Neville. Neville is ... good. In a way that I can't explain." He got up and picked up a flat rock. He skipped it across the lake, counting the splats.
Hermione stood up and did the same. She was comfortable with Harry in a way that she had never been with anyone before.
They skipped stones for a while, then sat down in a depression on the shore at the base of a huge old pine tree. It was nice and warm there, sheltered from the cold wind off the mountains behind Hogwarts.
They were just getting comfortable when Neville called, "Hi. Can I join you or am I a third wheel?"
Harry laughed. "No, you're not. We're just discussing Ron ... and the need to punish him thoroughly."
Hermione filled Neville in on what had happened, with Harry interjecting from time to time.
When they were finished, Neville grumbled, "Well, damn. Trust me to miss all the excitement from being in the greenhouses. But ... there you are. So ... what are you going to do to him? Can I help? And, please don't kill him." He laughed at their expressions. "Oh, don't get me wrong. I don't care if you kill him, but it'll get you talked about in the common rooms. You really should avoid that, if you can. So?"
Hermione choked back a rather hysterical laugh. "Oh, no, we wouldn't want that. Not at all. But ... Ron's an idiot. I don't really like him at all, no matter that I'm polite to him. So ... what can we do? We have to be careful not to get caught. Also, we have to do it in such a way that no one suspects us. That leaves any prank in the dorm out." she trailed off, thinking.
Harry just lit a cigarette and settled back to smoke and think. Neville just drifted off, snoring softly.
Hermione finally grumbled, "Damn. I can't think of anything that won't point right at me, or you. We better wake Neville, it's getting on for dark."
Harry gently poked Neville with his foot. "Neville-san, wake up. Time for dinner."
Neville snorted once then rolled over. He stood up and shook out his robes. "Ok, I'm sort of awake. Dinner?"
Harry stood beside Neville and waved one hand, dismissing the leaves and sand from his clothing. "Yes, dinner. Come on."
Hermione clambered to her feet last and grumbled at the mess her robes were in. She was wrinkled and had sand and something she was sure was snot on her sleeve. "Blast! I look like I was dragged through a hedge." She started to clear up her mess when it all disappeared. "Oh, thank you, Yusuke-kun."
Harry flicked the fan in his hand again, then shut it and tucked it into his belt. "Come on, we'll be late."
Dinner was accompanied by the information that Professor Lockhart was starting a Dueling Club, it's first meeting to be on Monday after dinner. Neville sighed heavily, at Harry's inquiring look he said, "This is not going to turn out well. I just know it."
.
Harry woke at three am. He'd stayed up, reading, as usual. His need for sleep was still limited. He remembered the physician that he'd been taken to several years ago. The man had done ETKTMS and said that Harry just didn't need that much sleep. He also said that trying to make Harry sleep when he didn't need too was just as bad as not getting enough sleep. Musashi had told Harry to stay up as late as he needed too but that he was to sleep himself out every night. He'd obeyed, why wouldn't he? His father only had his best interests in heart.
So he wondered why he was awake when he'd set himself to wake at five. Then he heard it again.
"Hungry! So hungry! Must find food. Where food?" The voice was very soft and seemed far away.
Harry decided to go find the hungry creature and see if he couldn't get it some food. He hated to think of anything being hungry.
It wasn't long until he ran afoul of Filch
It was unfortunate that the old squib touched him before he was really aware of his presence. Harry was too busy trying to pin down the strange voice he was hearing to notice him. His father would be displeased.
"Ha! I gotcha! You little bastards. Sneaking around, doing who knows what. Well, we'll just see about this. Dumbledore will ..." he stopped speaking when Harry pulled the tanto out of his boot, reversed their positions with a simple back flip and put the tanto to his unshaven throat.
"He'll do nothing. What? I don't attend detentions. And he's surely not going to expel me. So ... what is it that he is going to do? Or you? Do you really think you can force me? Pray try." He pushed the old man away with one hand and tucked his knife away with the other. "I'm bored now. Good night."
Harry went back to the dorm but didn't bother to try to sleep, he was now wide awake. He was a bit startled when a large, long haired cat jumped up onto his bed. He petted her for awhile then pushed her to the foot of his bed. "Lay there, if you like, Neko." He pulled the edge of the coverlet up to cover her. She blinked at him for a moment then went to sleep.
An hour later the lynx like creature got up, stretched and patted Harry on the foot with one paw. He smiled down at her and said, "I'm awake, Neko. And up." He ran one hand down her back, pulled her tail gently and slid off the bed. He decided to run an extra lap today and do several extra kata, he was getting a bit lazy. And it wasn't like he didn't have plenty of time.
After a heavy workout that left him sweating and panting, he meditated. He managed to calm himself once again. He really didn't like Hogwarts, it felt off to him. It's magic was too different from what he was used to. And he was still angry about being forced here against his will and he knew well enough exactly where to place the blame.
After a shower, he felt more or less human again. He dressed in his usual and picked up the cat to bring her down to the common room. She struggled a bit but he calmed her with a pat and a whispered, "No, Neko, I don't want you on those stairs. You'll fall and I'll feel bad." The cat seemed to understand him, even though he spoke in Japanese.
Neville just gawked at them for a moment then stammered, "That's Mrs Norris. She's Filch's cat. She hates ... everyone." His expansive gesture made Mrs Norris hiss. "See?"
Harry just petted her a bit then let her drop to the floor. "I don't know about that. See seemed nice enough to me. Maybe she just doesn't like ... you lot because you're too rough. Cats don't like a lot of noise and rough housing."
Hermione asked, "Who doesn't?" then she saw the cat. "Oh, Mrs Norris. She's rather stand offish. Doesn't like Crookshanks much." She opened the door and let the cat scamper past her. "Well? Come on then. I'm hungry, then, I have to research a few things before class tomorrow."
Harry just gave Neville a telling look, before following her down to breakfast.
Harry asked Hermione what, exactly, she had to research as they walked down the now still stairs. "I'm researching Lockhart. He's really ... well, the timeline is really off as you know. But I'm trying to find out who might have actually done what he claims to have. All I get are, 'I don't remember anything' in various forms. Something's fishy and it isn't the sushi." Hermione frowned at a portrait, which returned a vaguely insulted stare.
The settled in to eat breakfast but were interrupted about half way through by Draco Malfoy.
Draco had received a letter from Lucius which flatly told him to make sure not to insult Miyamoto Yusuke, whatever name he was using; and, if he had, to apologize at once.
Harry glanced at him then the box he carried.
Draco offered it to Harry, stammering, "I thought ... well, Father commands. Um ... this is for you. Oranges and apples from our hot houses. I hope ... you like them. Excuse me." Draco caught a good look at Harry's jade green eyes. The look in them made him flee back to the Slytherin table, swearing to himself.
Hermione gazed after him then remarked, "Well, that was interesting. What the heck was his problem?"
Harry blinked for a moment then said, "I do believe he had a letter from his father. Perhaps he, Draco's father, I mean, had some good advice? I do hope so. We have had a couple of talks. Nothing much, but I'm not sure I like him." He smiled sweetly. "And people I really don't like have a bad habit of having accidents with sharp things. Most unfortunate."
Neville sighed, there was that feeling again. He was going to have to have a real sit down and think.
Harry opened the box and waved his hand over it. The fruit was safe, ripe and looked delicious. He helped himself to an orange and motioned to Hermione, Neville and Fred to help themselves. Ron reached for something but got his hand slapped for his troubles. George wandered by, raised an eyebrow at Harry; and, when he got a nod, took an orange.
Harry glanced at a pouting Ron then pinned him with an icy glare. "The next time you lie to me, even by omission, I'll cut your lying tongue out. Do you understand me?"
Ron gulped and nodded. Fred and George had already had words with him about setting Hermione up. Harry patted his cheek in a gentle way then wandered off. Ron took a bite of eggs without thought then sprouted boils the size of shillings. He whimpered softly but continued to eat. The boils would go away and he was very sure that any visit to Madam Pomfrey would only result in further retaliation.
Harry glanced over his shoulder at the noise then continued on his way. Ron wasn't off the hook yet.
Hermione swiped at her hair and followed Neville up to the juku to finish her studies. "I swear, Yusuke doesn't seem to do a lick of homework but he's done already. What is going on?"
Neville decided that this wasn't a secret so he just said, "I don't think he sleeps more than four hours a night. I woke up Tuesday at ... well, that would make it Wednesday, at two and he was at his desk, writing something. He's done with all his reading and his essays already. And none of it is due until next week. Don't fuss at him, it's not a good idea. He said something the other day about bushes or something. Seemed really mad."
Hermione just sighed, of course, bushido. Harry would do his homework because it was his duty as a student to do it. She had questioned his honor when she implied that he wouldn't have it done on time. "Never mind, Neville. I have a book you can read about bushido. I think ... Harry's been trained as a samurai. We really better watch ourselves so we don't get him mad at us for what we might consider stupid things. But they won't be stupid to him."
Neville just nodded. He'd heard a few vague things about that. A samurai would make a friend then keep him or her until death and do everything possible to assure their safety and happiness. He was very glad to have a friend like Yusuke.
.
Harry wandered the grounds, thinking about everything he'd learned. It seemed that the English Wizards had a problem with a Dark Lord named Voldemort. And there was a prophecy that he, Harry, Yusuke, whatever, was the only one who could kill him. He sighed. What the hell? They wanted him to do a job for them; and, instead of paying him, they kept his money? This wasn't going to fly. Not for a second.
He settled down and pulled writing materials from a pocket. He wrote a letter to his father, sealed it and pocketed it. He'd put it in his letter box and Gringotts would deliver it to his father as soon as possible. Much sooner than an owl could make it.
If these idiots wanted a job done, they were going to pay for it. Or it wouldn't get done. Simple.
If Voldemort was stupid enough to bring the fight to him? Well, that was another story all together. He absently fingered the tanto in his boot. He was going to have to re-evaluate what he carried with him and where he carried it.
He started back to Hogwarts, thinking about this and that on the way.
His thoughts were, 'Bombs, yes. I definitely should carry some C4 at least. Don't need detonators for that. And some prima cord too. My best ninjato and a katana. Wakazashi? Yes. Senbon? Or Kunai? Perhaps both. Baretta 93R, of course. A chain dart and a seven section whip. You can never have too many sharps. By the time he was back to the main doors, he had made up his mind. He was going loaded for bear from now on.
A trip to his room saw him tucking things into mallet space, his pockets and his hair. He was sure that no one would realize that the hair tie he was wearing was wrapped around prima cord. The C4 tucked into one pocket looked enough like clay that he wasn't much worried. Of course, he didn't have to worry at all, wizards wouldn't even know what C4 was.
The rest of the day went well as he stayed in the common room, visiting with other members of his house.
.
Monday classes were interesting in that Harry turned in the first of his homework. In Kanji, or hiragana or katakana, as was appropriate to the task at hand. Flitwick just took the work with a slight smile. He'd expected something like this and was prepared with a translation spell. He put the pages into Harry's folder without comment, smirking slightly at Harry as he did so.
Harry, for his part, just grinned at the small professor and settled back in his seat. Hermione huffed at his expression but kept her peace. She was treading on thin ice with Yusuke and had no intention of making the heavy step that would break through. Neville patted her on the shoulder in appreciation.
When Harry turned in his Transfiguration work, Professor McGonagall took one look at it and demanded to know what he was playing at.
"Sorry? I'm not playing at anything." Harry gave his head of house a look that was clearly a warning.
Professor McGonagall was not a stupid woman by any means so, instead of throwing what is rudely called a wobbly, she snapped, "This is not in English. I'm actually not sure what it is in."
Harry shrugged elegantly as he replied, "Since I don't read or write English, it's written in ... mostly hiragana, with some kanji and katakana thrown in as necessary."
Professor McGonagall opened her mouth, closed it, thought for a moment then said, "Of course you don't. What ... how much English do you remember?"
"Not much. I wasn't good in school because I got a thumping for cheating if I did better than Dudley. So?..." he thought for a moment. "About second grade in vocabulary and spelling. I'm not sure about anything else as grammar is completely different in Nihon."
The professor gave up. This was not going to become a bone of contention between them. "Very well. I'll just have to ask Fillius for a good translation spell. Return to your seat, please."
Harry grinned at Neville as he settled back in his seat. This was going much better than he'd expected.
Lunch went by in quiet conversation with Hermione being happy too just listen carefully for once. Harry was happy to see that she seemed to be thinking about her attitude more carefully. He was pleased by this and let it show.
Neville offered to help him with his English, with Hermione seconding the offer, he refused politely saying, "No, I thank you, I have no need for it outside of Hogwarts. To me it's just wasted effort. The professors can use a translating spell or fail me and I don't care which." His expression became thoughtful. "Although, Father may have something to say about it. Still ... I think I'll take my chances."
Hermione opened her mouth to harangue Harry about this attitude. She thought quickly then shut it. Harry gave her a brilliant smile and said, "Arigato, Hermione-chan. Think before you speak, then be silent if you can't be helpful. Well done." Hermione couldn't help but beam at that.
After she gathered her thoughts, she asked a question. "Yusuke-kun, why don't you use a translation spell yourself?"
"Because I don't want to be here, I don't care about my grades; sacrilegious as that seems, and they need to do some of the work themselves. It's only proper after all." Harry waited to hear what Hermione might say about that.
Hermione, for her part, had more to think about. She knew that Yusuke had been threatened into coming to Hogwarts, no one made a secret of that, especially after her friend made a point of telling everyone, several times. He seemed to like rubbing their noses in it. Also, why did a ministry full of Aurors, Unspeakables and other fully trained wizards and witches seem to think that Harry was the one to do their job for them. She didn't believe, for a second, that a prophecy was a good reason to put a sixteen year old on the front lines of a war.
When she finally spoke, all she said was, "Well, try to be polite about it. Ok?"
Harry's reply was a simple, "Hn." a sound he'd copied from one of his favorite anime.
Hermione blinked then groaned, "Oh, shimatta, do not go all Heero Yuy on me."
Harry corrected, "Yuy Heero. Tough." then grinned at her, produced a cigarette and wandered away.
Neville looked confused but shrugged when Hermione said, "Anime, Neville, a Japanese ..." he quit listening about two seconds after his name and just nodded from time to time, saying, "Oh, ok."
.
After dinner, most of the upper year students gathered in the Great Hall to witness the start of the new Dueling Club.
Lockhart came out and made a fool of himself. His duel with Snape took two seconds with Snape coming out on top with a smug smirk on his face.
Harry turned to the boy next to him and said, "Well, that's that. The club is over?"
The lantern jawed boy turned and said, in one of those 'Etonian' accents that have to be learned from a speech therapist, "Excuse me?"
Harry bowed slightly, "Miyamoto Yusuke, or Harry Potter, if you prefer. I was wondering if the club was done now. Since the faculty adviser is ... hors de combat? Is that the proper phrase?"
The boy nodded once. "Justin Finch-Fletchley. Yes, it is. I don't think so. Snape is still up and going. Bad show, though. Isn't the thing to show up a celebrity like Lockhart."
Harry made a face. "Lockhart-san is a fraud. He can't be in two places at once but he claims to have been. The events in books two and three seem to have happened within days of each other, on opposite sides of Europe. Alternately."
Justin looked a bit outraged at that. "Oh, are you sure?"
Harry shook his head, making the end of his high ponytail whisper against his shoulder. "No. But Granger-san is. I'm satisfied."
"Oh, well, if Granger says something, it's usually right. Irritating sort, she is. But ... what's going on now?"
They returned their attention to the dueling platform where Lockhart was arguing with Snape. Lockhart gestured to Draco and Snape shook his head. He gestured to Harry and, when Lockhart nodded his approval, also to Flitwick. The professor of Charms smiled in a rather feral way and nodded his head.
"Well, since the last duel was such a fiasco, Professor Lockhart has agreed to place me in charge of the rest of this meeting while he ... recovers his ... composure. So ..." Snape smiled at the group, something that was rather frightening. "we have agreed that Mr Potter should face Professor Flitwick while I do a commentary. If you will, gentlemen?"
Justin made a faintly despairing face. "Oh, dear, you're in for it now. Professor Flitwick is just a little fellow but he's a past master at dueling. Held an international championship until a couple of years ago. You can only win ... I believe it's eight times before you have to retire for ten years. He was not in a good mood all that year, from what I've heard." He patted Harry on the back. "Just do your best."
Harry was happy to hear this. He had been sure he knew the small man but he couldn't remember where from. Now he remembered. He'd never actually seen him up close, but the second year he'd been in Japan his father had taken him to see the International Dueling Championship. He'd seen Flitwick fight his last duels and announce his retirement.
He mounted the platform and waited. Snape approached him to ask, "I want to know that you are willing to participate in this. Lockhart ..."
"Is an ass, Snape-sensei. He ... we will not discuss him, please. I am willing. If Flitwick-Kyooju is willing. I don't want him ... coerced either." Harry glanced over Shape's shoulder at the other professor.
Professor Flitwick just nodded at Harry. He was willing; interested, in fact.
So it was that Miyamoto Yusuke faced Fillius Flitwick in a duel. It certainly wasn't Harry Potter on that platform. At least, not the Harry Potter that everyone seemed to think they knew.
Harry bowed to his opponent, pleased to see that Professor Flitwick didn't take his eyes off him when he bowed back. Harry was glad Flitwick knew that it was disrespectful to take his eyes off his opponent.
They started by feeling each other out. Flitwick cast a tickling hex, very over powered but still a 'safe' start. Harry blocked it with an ofuda, flinging the paper to intercept the charm. The resulting explosion was minor and a rather pretty pink. Flitwick smiled happily.
Harry then replied with a jelly legs jinx that Flitwick jumped over. And the battle was on.
Most of the students and some of the faculty couldn't really keep track of what was going on. All they could really see were flashes of spells being exchanged and Harry and Flitwick jumping, rolling and diving. Snape kept up a running commentary on what he could see, or as much of it as he could keep up with. Finally, after nearly twenty minutes, Flitwick got in a lucky stunner and knocked Harry out of the air. Even Harry was impressed when he enervated him before he could hit the platform, giving him time to flip in the air and land on his feet.
He staggered a bit, still dizzy from the stunner but he landed in a defensive posture, eyes on Flitwick. Flitwick bowed to him, giving him the bow of equals. Harry bowed back.
"Well fought, Sensei. Thank you for a great bout." Harry started toward the smaller man to shake hands. He stopped cold when a voice cried out, "Serpensortia!" and a snake suddenly appeared between him and his opponent.
Flitwick started to cast some spell but Lockhart interrupted him. "I've got it." He extended his wand in a theatrical gesture and shouted a spell. It didn't do much good as all it did was blast the snake to the rafters. It dropped back to the platform, landing heavily.
Now, as anyone with a brain knows, snakes hate flying, they'll climb trees but that's about it. This snake landed pissed off and ready for anything. He darted from one side of the platform to the other so quickly that only Snape, Flitwick and Harry could keep track of him. There were a few screams but Snape's acidic, "Yes, let's all upset it even more by screaming." quickly shut them up.
Justin Finch-Fletchley suppressed the urge to scream like a girl, the snake had just zeroed in on him. He was now faced with a very unhappy cobra, hood open, ready to strike and all he could do was stare at it. If he moved for his wand, it would strike him, right in the face. He froze in place.
Harry, meanwhile, was trying to decide whether to hex Lockhart to bits or rescue the boy in the Hufflepuff robes. He decided that the boy was more immediate, he could always hex the professor later.
He turned to the snake and said, in Parseltongue, "Do not bite him. He is no threat to you. Come to me."
The snake turned to Harry and hissed, "What? Why am I here? What is going on?"
Harry just walked over and picked up the now very confused snake and replied, "Big play fight. Someone got a bit too ... wanted to win too much. I'll send you back home now. Good hunting." He tapped the snake with a finger and it just disappeared with a soft pop.
He looked up to see everyone staring at him in a mix of fear and/or horror. He was more or less used to this sort of behavior so he ignored it in favor of asking Justin, "Oi! Fitch-Flechey you ok?"
Justin snatched his attention back from the edge of terror to reply, "It's Finch-Fletchley. Yes, I'm fine. Um ... what did you say to that snake?"
Harry shrugged, grinned and said, "I told it not to bite you because you weren't good to eat."
Justin snickered, a bit hysterically, it's true, "Ok. And, I think I'm a bit too big for it too. Thanks awfully. I really wouldn't like to be bitten."
Harry hopped off the platform to pat Justin on the shoulder. "No, you really wouldn't. You'd have been really sick, even with a bezoar. Come on. Let's sit down a sec. You look like you need it." He tugged at Justin to get him moving.
That was when everything seemed to begin to move again. People shouted, girls screamed, professors shouted orders. Ron Weasley proclaimed to anyone who would listen that Harry was Dark because he was a Parslemouth. Hermione just ordered tea for Justin while Flitwick started getting those who were not directly involved out of the Great Hall.
Snape, true to form, took his ire out on Lockhart, sending him to the right about with a snarky, "Well, it does seem that you've cast the cat amongst the pigeons, you idiot."
Lockhart just whimpered, he was well aware that the glare Snape was sending him implied future pain. He didn't see the look that Harry cast his way or he'd have wet himself. He scurried about, issuing contradictory orders and getting in the way until he found himself faced with Professor McGonagall. She eyed him for a moment then snapped, "If you can't do something useful, get to your quarters. I'll deal with you later. Now, go." He gratefully sneaked out of the Great Hall, leaving chaos and confusion in his wake. In other words, business as usual for him.
Harry snarled at a Chinese girl who got in his way, she 'eeped' and scurried away. Justin clung to his hand weakly.
"It's ok. You'll feel a bit weak for a few moments. It's just adrenalin crash." He took the cup of hot, sweet tea the house elf offered and pressed it into Justin's hands. "Drink this."
Harry stood up then and looked around. Snape was snapping orders at the elves while McGonagall was directing the students who'd been far enough away that they were still calm to leave for their common rooms. He patted Justin on the shoulder, motioned to one of his nearby housemates to take over and started helping to control the chaos.
With Snape, McGonagall, Flitwick and Harry working with the prefects who were present and Hermione, they finally got everything sorted out. All the hysterical students were given a calming draught by Madam Pomfrey or Professor Snape, the rest were sent back to their common rooms immediately. The hysterical ones were settled at the Gryffindor table to drink tea and calm down before being sent to follow their fellows.
Then Snape rounded on Harry, "What the devil were you thinking, you stupid boy?" Harry pulled a cigarette out of his case and started smoking. Snape eyed the thing with narrowed eyes but stuck to the point. "Well? Answer me."
Harry shrugged, "I would. If you would please to explain to me what has you so ... in a temper."
"You're a Parselmouth. Not something that is much accepted. I would have thought you would be smart enough to keep such a thing to yourself. It seems I was mistaken." He sneered at the stupid boy.
Harry just looked at him for a moment then replied, "Since it is much different in Japan, where snake speakers are respected for their ability to catch snakes without getting bitten, I never considered it a problem. That only shows how much better Japan is than this cold and stupid place. You're all barbarians. Excuse me." and with that, he took Hermione by the arm and walked out the door.
Hermione just sighed, shoved her hair out of her face and said, "Well, that's a nice pickle we're in." Neville joined them. "Neville."
Harry just smoked as they walked out into the outer courtyard. After they got out, Harry conjured seats with a wave of his hand and settled in one. "Hermione-chan, I swear, you're going to wake up with a haircut if you don't do something about that mess."
Hermione sighed. "It's awful, I know, but I don't know any spells, charms or anything that will tame it. Not even Sleekeasy does the trick."
Neville, rather hesitantly offered, "Well, I've got some stuff that I use. It's easy to make. Gran does up a double batch before I come to school every year. You just brush a dab through ... well, in your case, a bit more than a dab ... but it really works. I'd look like a hedgehog without it."
Harry just held out his hand for the container that Neville held up. "Kudasai. Hermione-chan, I know you have a brush in your pocket."
Hermione handed him the brush and submitted to Harry's attentions. She was as shaken as she'd ever been and the idea of having Harry do something with her wild hair just struck her as calming. Neville hid his amusement and watched as Harry worked a bit of the pomade through Hermione's hair and brushed it until it was smooth and wavy, instead of kinky and wild. He did it up in a neat tail at the nape of her neck and smiled.
"Well, that looks a lot better. Neville-kun, could you ask your Gran for more?"
Hermione interjected, "I'd be pleased to pay?" Neville glowered at her. "Or not. I'm never sure when to offer and when not."
Harry just took the cigarette he'd been smoking out of the corner of his mouth, crushed it and said, "Offer twice for politeness sake then say thank you and be happy for the gift. Then you have to come up with something nice to give in return. It's just giri at it's best. Now. I'm exhausted and hungry. Lets sneak up to the juku and pig out on junk food. The elves will provide, I'm sure."
So that's exactly what they did.
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Harry eyed the last cake on the plate. "Either of you two want that?"
Hermione shook her head, enjoying the brush of her neat tail against her shoulders and back. "No, but I need to tell you something."
Harry offered the plate to Neville who just shook his head over his teacup. "Ok. What is it?"
"I know who cast that spell. And, I know that Dumbledore won't do a damn thing to him, nor will he let anyone else do anything. Malfoy gets away with murder; literally, I bet."
Harry just smiled serenely. "Oh, so Malfoy-san ... yes. Well, don't worry about him. I have my own plans for him and a few others."
Neville sighed, "Good. That lot are all bad news. Death Eaters in training and those fools aren't limited to Slytherin, no matter what anyone thinks. That Ravenclaw ... Johnston, or something like that. I bet he has the mark already. Seventh year. Hermione? You remember him?"
Hermione nodded around a mouthful of lemon tart. She swallowed and cleared her mouth with a sip of tea. "Yes, I do. He and Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle and that black kid ... I don't remember his name. Well, they were caught going after that first year who quit. Went back to the muggle world, got obliviated and everything. Dumbledore didn't do much but give them detention and tell them 'naughty'. Someone should do something drastic."
Neville nodded, "But ... who and what? I mean, really, I'd just like to see Johnston and Mathias out at least. No one is going to do much to Malfoy and who really cares about Crabbe and Goyle, they're just dumb muscle after all."
Hermione sighed, "Well, true, but even dumb muscle can be dangerous under the right circumstances."
Harry drifted away from the conversation into his thoughts. He had several things to take care of now. He knew who was a bully now, and who was not, for the most part. So ... the next few nights were going to be busy. He wished that he knew some way of detecting this dark mark thing but, in order to figure that out, he had to have access to someone with it. Someone he could experiment on without repercussions.
He was pulled out of his thoughts by Hermione's voice, "Yusuke-kun! Wake up, you gaki. I was asking you a question."
He replied without thinking, something that his father would be very displeased with, "I'm not a gaki. Or even a fuku-honbusho." He blinked, "Ano ... what was it you were asking?"
Hermione blinked at Harry owlishly for a moment while Neville frankly goggled. "Oh ... um ... never mind. I was just ..." She waved her wand then jumped. "Oh, fudge, look at the time. We better hustle or we'll be out after hours. Blast!" She scrambled her notes and books off the desk top, distracting Harry then rushed both boys out the door.
Neville refrained from comment, obediently running along with Hermione. Harry followed them, amused and doing his best not to show it.
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Harry went ahead of Neville up the stairs. Hermione took the opportunity to grab Neville by the arm and hiss, "I need to tell you something important but ..." Harry called from half way up the stairs so she managed, "Just don't make him mad. Really."
Neville gazed after her for a moment before turning to follow Harry.
"What was that about?"
Neville shook his head, "I have no idea. Sometimes that girl is totally mental. Why would it all of a sudden be so important that I not make you angry?"
Harry narrowed his eyes at Neville for a moment. "No idea. But it really is good advice. Come on, we better get to bed. You're drooping."
Neville got ready for bed and crawled between his sheets. Harry, as expected, got into bed but sat up with a book.
The rest of the dorm was asleep when Harry's mailbox let off a soft ping. He got up and opened it. He was pleased to see three letters for him; one from Genji, one from his father and one from one of his brothers.
He read the gossip from Genji with amused interest and the cautions about baka gaijin as well. The letter from Miyamoto-san had angered him, not because of any fault on his part or that of his father, but because of the information it contained. The Western Wizarding World was in a mess and he was expected to fix it. This he knew. The part that annoyed him was that they expected him to do it, for free. This was not happening, as his father was quick to assure him. Negotiations were underway. He smiled at that. The last letter from Miyamoto Ichigo was more useful. It was a nice run down of who was who. Who would be useful, who would be a problem and who was just there. It also advised him as to how to go about dealing with the people who needed to be dealt with and who to deal with first.
Yusuke had never disobeyed Ichigo-san when he gave 'advice' and he wasn't about to now.
And the first bit of advice was exactly what he wanted to do anyway, clean up Hogwarts. So ... he'd start with the softest targets, the non-Slytherin problems.
He still wished he knew some way to find out whether they had a mark or not. He didn't think, 'I'll show you mine if you'll show me yours.' was going to work.
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Severus Snape was on the horns of a dilemma. But not for long.
He rounded on his godson the second they entered his office. "What the devil possessed you to use a borderline dark curse on Potter? Not only that but also one that's a trademark of Death Eaters. You fool!."
Draco sulked. "What's the problem! I'll just send Crabbe and Goyle after him. He'll cave, just like all the others. Perhaps we can even turn him?"
That was when Snape finally connected all the dots. "No. He's ... I can't believe it. You stay away from him. He's no one to mess with."
"Pah! He's just some slant-eyed nobody. Who cares about Mu ... what's his name." Draco fluttered a hand in what he thought was a negligent manner. It really just served to make him look effeminate.
"Miyamoto Musashi. And ... Oh! Damn! Merlin's balls. How could I have been so ... You stay away from him! You hear me? Completely. He's not some soft target. The way he speaks." Snape made his decision at that moment. He was not involved in this anymore. Voldemort could kiss his ass and Dumbledore too.
Draco was as arrogant as his father, with a lot less reason, so he continued to speak. "What do you know of Japan anyway?"
"Not that much. I went there once, on business for the Dark Lord. I didn't get anywhere much. I ran into a group called yakuza. They talked Japanese like Potter does. And they are not a group that I want to be on the wrong side of. Their Ninja warriors make most Death Eaters look like children. And Miyamoto is the Godfather of them all. He's called something like the Hidden Lord or something. I'd advise you to keep your head down and your mouth shut. Now ... get out." Snape shoved Draco out the door and slammed it.
After thinking for a while, he sat down with a tumbler of Firewhiskey to try to figure out how to cover his ass with three very dangerous people; two of whom had access to him on a daily basis.
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Harry thought carefully about all he needed to accomplish. He really needed to find out how to detect the dark mark. After several moments thought he wrote another note to his father, requesting help then settled to finish his studying.
After he finished his chapter of History of Magic he added the problem of Binns to his list and went to sleep.
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Cornelius Fudge eyed his aid with a very jaundiced eye. The letter from the ICW had been short and to the point. They were not allowed to freeze Harry Potter's accounts. They were not allowed, prophecy be damned, to force the boy to fight in their civil war. The aide suggested that they deal with the second problem, perhaps that would fix the first.
The second problem was a very short letter from the Emperor of Japan. It said, "Beware of the anger of Miyamoto. We are." it was signed and sealed by the emperor himself.
"Well, shit. How the hell are we to control that boy if we don't have any leverage?" Fudge looked as put out as he possibly could.
Percy Weasley knew where the gold was, as the Goblins would say, so he just announced, "Agree to whatever Miyamoto demands. If we need that snot that badly, we'll just have to suck it up and pay."
Fudge subsided, grumbling, but agreed that they would allow Potter access to whatever his parents allowed in their wills. Weasley made notes, added to them himself and went away. His notes were quite simple, keep the boy happy.
When he received the letter from Miyamoto Musashi later that day, he just signed off on it as the senior secretary to the minister. The man wanted a face-to-face meeting with the minister as soon as possible. He sent back that they could meet the next day at 2pm. Percy thought that this would put the man off for a bit. He was wrong. He received an acknowledgement within the hour.
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Miyamoto Musashi was ready for the Minister of Magic. In fact he was ready for the whole ministry, building and all.
He had portkeyed into the main vestibule of the building, accompanied by his youngest son, Masa, and Genji, his wakagashira, as well as a dozen senior kyōdai. They were all heavily armed, muggle and magical. He intended to put the screws to this idiot Fudge, hard.
The group gathered carefully, putting Musashi-sama, Masa-san and Genji-san in the middle. Musashi because he had to be protected and Genji because he was Musashi's shield, his Tate. If there was trouble Genji would step between Musashi-sama and danger. Masa-san had his own Tate.
They walked with purposeful strides to the elevators and got into two. One contained Masa-san and six kyōdai the other held Musashi-sama and the other six. The Tate stayed with their boss. A senior clerk scurried to get into the car with one group. He turned away at the glower aimed at him over a pair of sunglasses and was glad to get away with nothing more.
The intimidating group made their way to the Minister's Office with a minimum of fuss, on their part. For the part of everyone else, they got out of the way. These men were not only magical but also very strongly so. They radiated magic and menace like radiators in mid winter radiated heat.
When they entered the outer office, without knocking, Percy Weasley was at the desk. He'd made sure of that. He was eager to curry favor with the minister but one look at these men made even Percy decide that personal safety was more important than currying favor.
He just opened the inner door and got out of the way.
One of the kyōdai entered the inner office and announced, in a loud voice, "Oyabun Miyamoto Musashi-sama is here."
Everyone entered the room. The kyōdai took positions around the room, standing at ease with their hands clasped in front of them. Genji stood in front of the door with his heels against it to keep anyone from coming in without knocking.
Musashi-sama accepted the seat that Fudge offered him while Masa-san conjured another for himself as Fudge rudely didn't offer. Masa-san's Tate stood behind and between the chairs. Musashi-sama's Tate stood directly behind him.
Fudge eyed all this with disfavor and asked acidicly, "Is all this really necessary?"
Musashi-sama just smiled benignly and said, "Of course it is. People of power must be protected. You understand this, being one such yourself. As is my third son." He then rested his elbows in the arms of his chair, folded his hands at chin level and waited.
One of the kyōdai smiled to himself. This was going to be good.
Fudge tried to hold out but the combined weight of seventeen yakuza, all high ranked in one way or another was already making him sweat after two minutes.
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Remember, with this story, Google is your friend. I'll provide what definitions and such that I have, but for the kimono, Google Images is very good. (FF will not allow links. LJ does.)
Kataginu is the vest thing that is worn over a hakama.
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Mon are the round crest. .com/EBchecked/media/58378/Japanese-mon-or-heraldic-emblems-the-mon-is-worn-as
Senbon – throwing pins. Usually just a length of steel with a point at both ends. Very deadly.
Tate is pronounced Ta-Tay