, Disclaimer: I do not own Yuu Yuu Hakusho or Harry Potter nor do I make any money from this piece of fan fiction.
Reader Warnings: Shounen-ai, lime, language, pairings: all standard canon pairings and Hiei x Kurama
AN: Over 6000 hits already? I love you guys! I realized that I've been forgetting about putting in the warning with every chapter. Given the scene I have about halfway through the chapter, I thought I should bring it back. And a thank you to: those who reviewed, those who added this story onto their alerts list, those who added this story onto their favorites list, and everyone who read this story, but most of all, my beta. In addition to screening my chapters and pointing things out to me, he also adds a few ideas here and there into this little crossover world I've created. And now, onto the new chapter!
Chapter 10: First Day of Class, Part 3
Harry walked up through the trap door into the heavily incensed classroom as he had ever since his Third Year. The room was stuffy as ever, and the scarred teen could feel his eyes watering and his stomach do a few flip-flops as his nose adjusted to the strongly perfumed room. As he had done for the past two years, Harry sat himself down on a pouf nearest to the door, where he was less likely to either fall asleep or faint from the lack of fresh air in the room.
"Oi, Harry," Yuusuke whispered, "is this classroom always this stuffy? It's even worse than a girl's room!"
"Pretty much," Ron replied. "Just wait 'til she sees Harry. You haven't seen anything yet."
As if on cue, Trelawney seemingly appeared out of nowhere and strode in front of the class. "Good day," she greeted with her usual misty voice. "And welcome back to Divination." Pausing for dramatic effect, or so it seemed, she continued, "I have, of course, been following your fortunes most carefully over the holidays, and am delighted to see you all have returned to Hogwarts safely – as, of course, I knew you would." Glancing around the classroom, she spotted Yuusuke and Kazuma. "I see we have a few new members joining us in our journey in Seeing beyond the here and now and into the future. I shall see whether either of you are in possession of the Sight as the year progresses, as this is one subject where books will only get you so far." Ron stifled a laugh as he remembered the batty professor repeating the same thing two years earlier, much to Hermione's dismay and frustration.
Sweeping an arm to indicate the books set on the table, she instructed, "You will find on the stables before you copies of The Dream Oracle, by Inigo Imago. Dream interpretation is a most important means of divining the future and one that may very probably be tested in your OWL. Not, of course, that I believe examination passes or failures are of the remotest importance when it comes to the sacred art of divination. If you have the Seeing eye, certificates and grades matter very little. However, the Headmaster likes you to site the examination, so…" Her voice trailed away delicately, leaving them all in no doubt that Professor Trelawney considered her subject above such sordid matters as examinations. "Turn, please, to the introduction and read what Imago has to say on the matter of dream interpretation. Then, divide into pairs. Use The Dream Oracle to interpret each other's most recent dreams. Carry on."
Opening the book, Harry sighed. Did he really even need a book to tell him what his recent dreams were saying?
Hiei listlessly practiced the spell on the snail as Professor McGonagall circulated throughout the room. He was bored. He found the exercise in making the snail disappear pointless – he would have happily done the exercise if it involved a golden bracelet, but then again, if he needed to make a golden bracelet "disappear", he had other simpler means of accomplishing the same feat - but opted not to point it out. He did not need to attract attention; he found that attracting attention from the others often meant attracting attention from Malfoy as well. And that was one spoiled human brat this fire youkai did not want to talk to. Briefly, Hiei wondered how much power would be needed to make the platinum blonde boy to burst into flame and burn to ashes where he lay in the infirmary – Hiei had heard from another Slytherin that Malfoy had been carried up there by his two flunkies. But alas, the Reikai had rules against doing stuff like that, and Hiei had to settle for coming up with ways to avoid the kid.
"Having some difficulty, Jaganshi?" Hiei glanced up to see McGonagall standing in front of his desk. He had realized, during the course of her lecture, that while she was the Head of House for Gryffindor, she did genuinely care for teaching her students, unlike Snape. Most Slytherins, though, paid her little to no attention, choosing to whisper amongst themselves or pass notes in her class.
"Hn. Evanesco." The spots on the snail's shell disappeared.
"You've made some progress, Jaganshi, but try putting forth some more power into it."
Yes, and if I fed more power into the spell, I'd cook it, and you'd have escargot, Hiei griped, remembering the time Kurama had dragged him off to a French restaurant in Japan. Smiling a little at the memory, the fire youkai tapped into a little more power before trying again. "Evanesco!" The snail seemed to twitch uncomfortably as its shell disappeared, leaving its innards to unceremoniously drop onto the table. Hiei frowned; that had not been the effect he had wanted. The girl at the table next to him – Hiei had not bothered to remember her name, nor did he care to – looked positively green with the result. And not from jealousy either.
Professor McGonagall swished her wand, bringing the shell back into existence. "I suppose that's some progress."
Kurama carefully tucked away the charts that Professor Vector had handed out during class. She had instructed them to first convert their names into the Greek alphabet, along with their birthdays into the Greek calendar, and analyze them for homework. As he exited the classroom, he checked his schedule. He had a break next, followed by double Herbology with the Slytherins. He smiled, happy to have a class with Hiei, and went towards the Transfiguration classroom. While it would have been an impromptu meeting, Kurama seriously doubted the fire youkai would mind.
As he arrived, he saw the Slytherins exiting the classroom, along with Professor McGonagall shouting reminders regarding homework ("Twelve inches on the Vanishing Spell, including the origins of the incantation and proper wand movements!") same as his, noted the absence of Malfoy and his two flunkies in the group, and finally, at the end, Hiei, who had his book bag slung over one shoulder as he nonchalantly strolled out.
"What brings you here?"
Kurama mock pouted. "Now, is that any way to greet a friend?"
"Hn. Don't you have a class to get to?"
"Nope!" the kitsune cheerfully replied. "I have a free period, and then our Houses have Herbology together afterwards."
Hiei scoffed in reply, feigning disinterest. The former youko saw through his lover's act easily, and sent him a look. Dropping his voice a little – Kurama most certainly did not want his next comment overheard - he asked, "Want to go to the roof?"
"Whatever suits you."
Hiei looked around from his perch, Kurama seated below, back facing the stoic fire demon, on the edge. They had taken care to choose a location that would make it difficult for them to be spotted by others looking through windows or looking up from the grounds below. The late summer breeze was refreshing, as it brought scents of flowers, and played with the strands of the kitsune's scarlet hair. As though sensing Hiei's gaze on him, Kurama turned around, and smiled. A true smile, Hiei noted, unlike the other ones he gave to maintain appearances around the humans. "Isn't it much better up here, away from all the children?"
Hiei did not reply, but gave a slight smile instead, redirecting his gaze over the left, where, he assumed anyway, lay the Forbidden Forest. In front of him was a strangely animated tree, and further in the distance was a wall, and what appeared to be a village of sorts based on the few rooftops he could spot. To his right was the lake they had traveled across yesterday night where a few rather large tentacles were sticking out – Hiei assumed whatever creature those belonged to were harmless, as it was allowed to live on school grounds. Behind him was a stadium of sorts, with six hoops mounted on poles, each of varying heights, three on each end. The grounds were certainly expansive, and it would be difficult keeping it safe; Hiei knew there would be no way he could possibly travel around them without giving away his natural talents.
"Tell me, Kurama, why are we protecting them?"
"Because not all of them are bad," the scarlet haired youkai replied. "Or at least, that's what I want to believe."
"Like that Harry Potter boy?"
"Yes. Although I suspect you won't get much of a chance to talk with him, given the House rivalries."
"I hate Malfoy. He wants me to be his lackey. I am nobody's lackey."
The fox just laughed an infuriating, all knowing laugh. "I know, Hiei, I know."
Hiei just shot the kitsune an irritated look, and Kurama released a few more chuckles before stopping. "Try to get whatever information you can? From what I've heard at the dinner table, as it were, the Slytherins are the ones who have ties to this Voldemort we're supposed to be protecting Harry Potter from. And Malfoy's family is rumored to be members of the Death Eaters, Voldemort's followers."
"I am not going to join that organization. Not with a stupid name like that." But Hiei knew, at the very least, he would have to grit his teeth and attempt to befriend that Malfoy brat. He sighed and muttered, "The things I do in the name of probation."
"Mmm," Kurama murmured, standing. He took a few steps to approach Hiei before his shoe slipped on the shingles. Hiei's lightning fast reflexes took over before the fire youkai gave much thought; one hand shot out to grab the spire while the other grasped Kurama's outstretched hand.
"Stupid fox," Hiei grunted as he pulled the kitsune up. "Just what would you have done without me?"
"Why, I wouldn't be up here without you, for one," came the reply.
And all too briefly, Hiei's vision was obscured by flowing scarlet hair as a pair of soft lips touched his own.
Harry walked through the hallways, down towards the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, Ron and Hermione followed, discussing about something Harry did not really hear, as he was lost in his thoughts. In his first year, the room always smelled strongly of garlic. In his second year, the room was covered in posters and pictures of their incompetent sham of a glory-claiming memory charm specialist. In his third year, the room always had a tank or a cage containing some special magical creature they were to learn about that week or month. In his fourth, the room had spy and lie detectors everywhere. Harry opened the door, and was surprised. The room was sparsely decorated, although there were a few posters detailing martial arts positions in the room. On the chalkboard was diagram: there was a circle, with an ellipse above and below it. Strangely enough, for a Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, there was surprisingly little on things he associated with the Dark Arts.
"Um, Harry?" Hermione's voice came from behind him. "You're blocking the way."
"Oh right," he mumbled, entering to take a seat. "Sorry."
As the spectacled teen took a seat in the middle of the classroom, Ron put a hand on his shoulder. "You okay, Harry? You seem out of it lately," the redhead quietly said. Even Fred and George have noticed, and Hermione and Ginny are worried about you."
"It's nothing," Harry replied with a small smile. It was nice knowing there were people who cared and believed in him, contrary to how the Dursleys treated him and what the Prophet's libelous articles said. "Just a little short on sleep is all."
The rest of the class filtered in and Professor Genkai stepped out of her office mug of tea in one hand. Most of the class strained to see her as she set the tea cup down, although many were surprised when she jumped and landed on the teacher's desk. "Welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts. Your Headmaster, Professor Dumbledore, has filled me in on your education thus far, and I must say it is highly sub par." She gave a pointed look to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, before adding, "For most of you." Letting her words sink in, she continued. "I have no doubt that you've had a few . . . good instructors in the past, and a few bad ones to go with it. And while you know your counter curses and protective spells, and have even been shown the Unforgivable Curses, it's not enough. You lack real experience in what to do in a real fight." Lavender's hand shot up. "Yes, Miss Brown?"
"But Professor, Professor Moody used the Imperius Curse on us, and we had a dueling club our second year!"
"And what if I were to do this?" The elderly professor took out her wand in one smooth motion. "Expelliarmus!" Instantly, the quill in Lavender's hand flew out of her grasp. Professor Genkai caught it before walking over to Lavender to return it to the surprised girl.
"But, Professor, I-"
"No excuses, girl. No saying you weren't ready, I hadn't announced it, I didn't give you fair warning. Because that is what it's really like in a real fight. Imagine the consequences had I not been your professor but a Dark Wizard with intent to maim, or worse, kill? I would not have used something as weak as a Disarming Spell." Wand still in hand, she looked at each student in the class, her gaze boring into each of them, analyzing them. Harry took a glance around, and noticed most of the other students were shocked. Would he have been able to dodge that had she aimed the spell at him?
"Stupefy!" A red beam of light shot out from the professor's wand towards the back of the room; Harry heard a loud bang and he whirled his head around to see Yuusuke in a defensive crouch in the middle of the aisle, and the chair the Japanese teen formerly occupied tipped on its back. "That's more like it," she declared.
"Psh, you'll have to try harder, Grandma." The informal title for the elderly professor surprised the other Gryffindors, but Professor Genkai took no notice. "What was that spell anyway?"
The tension suddenly emptied from the classroom as everyone burst into laughter. Even Harry, despite his melancholy mood, could not avoid it. As the laughter died down, the pink-haired professor asked the class, "Can anyone answer Yuusuke?"
Hermione's hand shot up, with everyone else following after, excluding Yuusuke. "Yes, Mr. Longbottom?"
"I-I-It's the Stunning Spell, ma'am," Neville replied, voice slightly shaky.
"Five points to Gryffindor." Hopping down from the desk, she began to pace the front of the classroom. "This year, then, we will begin with a variety of physical exercises. The first hour of every class will cover the mythology of the universe. The second hour will be dedicated to physical training and practice. The key thing to remember is that all spells take time to reach you. But at the same time, dodging won't allow you to win a duel. You will eventually tire, and lose. Now then, I have acquired permission from the Headmaster to use the Quidditch field as a practice ground of sorts for my class. If you will follow me, we will head there now, and I will test your reflexes."
Kurama noted, with a hint of amusement, that the Fanged Geranium they were currently working on repotting would be purring, if it had vocal cords. Professor Sprout had described them as being very difficult to work with, and that the repotting process required quick reflexes and good organization. The plants themselves were used in a few potions; namely ones that helped heal bites and neutralize poisons found in the saliva of various magical creatures. As far as Kurama was concerned, though, there were better ones he could use.
While Hiei had been mixing the dragon dung and the soil together, Kurama had carefully removed dead leaves from the plant. The plant happily nuzzled the kitsune's hand in thanks after the task was completed; it had helped that Kurama fed it a little youki to start with. That did not stop the little fanged plant from trying to bite Hiei, although a little admonishment of the verbal and spiritual kind fixed that problem pretty quickly. The new pot ready, Kurama was ready to tip the plant out of its old pot when a voice interrupted him.
"Interesting; I don't think I've ever seen a Fanged Geranium so docile before," Professor Sprout said, circulating past their work bench.
Kurama politely smiled, and replied, "I suppose I do have a bit of a green thumb. Give them some attention and respect, and they'll respond in kind." Off his left, the kitsune caught Hiei rolling his eyes in exasperation. The portly Professor, though, beamed when she heard Kurama's reply. She had already been surprised at their choice to work with each other – in all her years teaching at Hogwarts, she never had a non-Slytherin voluntarily partner up with one – and just how seamlessly they worked together!
"Very nicely mixed soil there, and a very neatly trimmed plant," she observed. "Ten points each to Ravenclaw and Slytherin," she announced, "for good plant care skills and excellent inter-House teamwork." She continued on her way, checking the progress of the other students.
Not for the first time, Harry was glad he was Seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Years of searching the field for the tiny Snitch had honed his vision to spot small objects, and it was certainly working in his favor now. Professor Genkai's idea of a reflex test involved flinging small semi-hard paint pellets at her students. It went without saying that they were not allowed to use spells to deflect them. And to make matters worse, the elderly professor appeared to be positively enjoying herself. Dark Wizard or just a strange sense of humor? Harry certainly was not sure. After all, a Dark Wizard would do more than just fling hard paint pellets at them.
The goal for the test was to see how many paint pellets the student could dodge before getting hit by one. Lavender was slow to react, and was hit on the first try. Professor Genkai, clearly displeased by that result, forced the poor girl to keep trying until she could dodge one. By the time the elderly professor was done, the girl was in near tears. Whether it was from the humiliation of failing to perform such a task in front of the class or from the pain of the paint pellets hitting her, Harry was unsure. Seamus faired a little better, having managed to dodge two before being hit by a third. Hermione succeeded in dodging the initial one before getting hit in the arm by the second. Neville managed to avoid the first one by tripping over his own robes, and was then hit by several more as the elderly Professor chose to hit him with a few extra while explaining to the class why taking care to be alert and aware of the surroundings of a fight was important. Parvati faired no better than Lavender, and the two girls were currently huddled off to one side, no doubt jointly venting their frustrations.
Harry, though, had managed to dodge three so far; while they were smaller and faster than the Bludgers he was used to dodging for Quidditch, they did not try and follow him around after he dodged. Suddenly, he noticed the Professor flicking her wand and he rolled to his right, neatly dodging another pellet as he ended his roll on his feet. A few more motions from his peripheral vision, and he blindly tumbled further to the right as he heard three more pellets impact the ground and cheers from the other students. Harry saw a fourth flick, and he rolled right . . . only to feel something small and hard impact his knee.
"Good reflexes there, Potter," the short Professor said, "but try not to be so predictable next time. Five points to Gryffindor. I can see why they made you Seeker. Mr. Thomas? You're next."
Dean walked forward, and jumped backwards as the first pellet flew through the air. A second one came, and he was late in moving and the pellet hit his leg. "A little slow there on the second one, Mr. Thomas. Mr. Weasley?"
Ron uneasily walked up, eyes on the Professor's wand. A good start, Harry noted, as the wand would give away her intentions. One pellet thudded to the ground as Ron went to the right, and then a second as the redhead jumped back. A third, though, hit him squarely in the head as he tried to roll forward in vain. "Nice try though," the professor said, before motioning Yuusuke forward.
"Hehe," the Japanese teen laughed, springing to his feet. "Hit me with your best shot, Grandma."
Professor Genkai merely sent the boy a deadpan stare. "Just remember you asked for it, dimwit." She barely finished the sentence before she flicked her wand to send not one, but three paint pellets in Yuusuke's direction. Yuusuke moved, and Harry could have sworn Yuusuke moved at the exact same time the pellets started moving. Soon, a veritable storm of pellets were raining down on Yuusuke; Harry had long since lost count of the number Yuusuke had dodged and the numbers that were streaking towards the teen.
"A-are they always like that?" Ron nervously asked. Harry vaguely noted Kuwabara was standing next to them in his peripheral vision.
"Oh yeah, always. Even when he was being trained by her in Japan. Their banter is just their way of expressing their affection for each other."
"Oh yeah? Just who is sayi- Owowowowowowowowowow! Dammit, grandma, you didn't have to interrupt me like that!" The class burst out into laughter once more as Yuusuke, indignant at Kuwabara's remark, stopped dodging to express his sentiment. Of course, this meant that his back got plastered by all of the paintballs.
"Kuwabara, you're next." Harry noticed there was a gleam in the old woman's eyes as Yuusuke continued to shout his displeasure at being hailed by speeding pellets.
Kuwabara was far less impressive than Yuusuke; while he dodged quite a few, his taller frame and longer limbs seemed to make it far more difficult to dodge everything. As the pellets flew faster, the orange-haired boy had more and more difficult to keep up; eventually, one grazed his arm, and the professor stopped, seemingly pleased with the results.
"I hope all of you were observing while I tested these two dimwits. I fully expect all of you to be able to perform as well as they do by the end of the year. Now then, I want fifteen laps around the field, running laps, mind you, and then you are excused."
Hiei dourly sat at the Slytherin table, viciously stabbing and slicing his dinner as he ate. First off, he missed Japanese food. Secondly, even more than Japanese food, he missed the kitsune's cooking. Third and most importantly, he hated sitting with this veritable nest of snakes. Classes were, in general, rather laughable, but if nothing else, Charms and Transfiguration should allow him to learn a few new tricks. Potions was pointless, as anything the so-called Potions master could come up, Hiei was sure Kurama had something better.
Glancing around the room, he attempted to ignore Malfoy – when was that boy going to get the message that Hiei was decidedly Not Interested in talking to him? – and spotted Yukina and Botan at the Hufflepuff table. Yukina was happily engaged in a conversation with a nearby housemate along with Botan, and several of the boys seemed genuinely interested in the pair. Inwardly, Hiei smiled.
"So, you're interested in Koorino, are you?" Malfoy asked with a smirk on his face. "Not the first time I've caught you staring at her."
Hiei laughed. As if! No, no, his romantic interests most certainly lay elsewhere. Not that he was going to tell Malfoy of all people, that. Hell, not even the other two members of Team Urameshi knew. "Not at all, Malfoy."
"Sure you don't."
"Hn." Even without Kurama in the picture, Hiei was sure he would never fall for Yukina. She was too pure for his bloodied hands; if anything, that was the sole reason he tolerated the Oaf courting her. The carrot top, while clumsy, was honest and chivalrous in his pursuit, and above all else, his hands were free of murder and larceny.
Before Malfoy could continue, a group of students dragged themselves into the Great Hall and over to the Gryffindor table. All of them looked worse for the wear, and the rest of the students quickly took note and began whispering amongst themselves; most of their talk surrounding Harry. They were splattered with a few splotches of paint, and all of them looked bedraggled as though they had each run five miles before coming in. At the rear of that group were Yuusuke and Kuwabara, followed by Genkai. So they must have just come in from Genkai's Defense Against the Dark Arts class. No doubt, Hiei mused, the old master must have given them a work over. They could use it, if Koenma's files on Voldemort were anything to go by.
Following the master's walk to the High Table, Hiei noticed the rather conspicuous absence of Dumbledore and Snape. He had been under the impression the staff ate with the students during meal times; perhaps he had been mistaken? Setting that question aside for now, Hiei noted the sun was slowly setting. Catching Kurama's eye, Hiei grabbed his book bag to leave. They had a patrol to set up.
Kurama leapt up onto the shingles, quietly landing next to Hiei.
"What kept you?"
"Not all of us have terrible House mates, you know."
"Hn. So where to tonight?"
"Let's start with the forest. From what I hear, we'll stick out too much in the village."
"Oh?"
"They go about once a month, as a special excursion of sorts. And there isn't another wizarding school this side of the English Channel. Find anything interesting?"
"Plenty. Either this Voldemort's an arrogant fool, or he's an incompetent idiot. No wards, no defenses, nothing beyond a teleport block on the grounds."
"And you know this . . . how?"
A tap on the now-warded Jagan was his answer. "I can use it for other things beyond turning people into marionettes and controlling Makai flame dragons, you know."
"Didn't think you'd wanted to take that risk," the kitsune replied. "Shall we get going? As romantic as talking while the moon and stars rise, I doubt that's what you want to do right now. Forest?"
"I was about to ask the same thing. We've got a job to do."
"Hai, hai," Kurama replied with a chuckle. Taking care to avoid being spotted by a stray student in the halls, the pair leapt down onto the grass before speeding off into the forest leaving little more than a pair of blurs behind.
Harry collapsed into a chair by the fireplace as Ron came down with his chess set. As usual, Snape had managed to make detention with him absolutely unbearable. The evening started with them scrubbing cauldrons by hand for an hour; given it was only the first day of classes, Harry had to wonder if Snape had purposefully cast some spell to make clean cauldrons grimy just so he and Neville would clean them. After that, while Neville continued to clean, Snape had interrogated Harry, insistent on figuring out just what spell he had used in Potions to harm Malfoy. Of course, since Harry had done nothing to Malfoy – he had insisted as much throughout the entire interrogation, only to have Snape conclude he was lying and extend his detentions out to two months – he could not tell Snape anything.
"Game of chess, Harry?" Harry looked up to see Ron with a grin on his face.
Figuring his homework could wait for another night, he accepted. "Sure."
Taking a pawn in each hand, one white and one black, Ron shuffled them before holding his fists out. "Left or right?"
Without so much as a glance, Harry decided, "Left."
Ron opened his fist, where a white pawn lay in his hand. "White it is," the redhead said, handing the pawn over to Harry. "So, how was detention with Snape?"
"The usual, although I have to wonder if he made those cauldrons grimy just so me and Neville had something to scrub. It's only the first day of class! Just where does he get those dirty cauldrons from?" Harry sighed. "And then he insists I'm lying because I won't tell him what spell I used in class today – I didn't even do anything! So now I have another month's worth of detentions." Ron gave his friend a look of disbelief, but before he could say anything, another voice interrupted them.
"Oh hey, what's this?" Harry looked up to see Yuusuke standing next to the board.
"Wizard's Chess," Harry replied. "It's nothing like the normal one."
"They don't look like chess pieces . . ." Kazuma began.
"Oh! This is different from Shogi," Hermione cut in. Harry gave her a confused look, and she clarified, "Japanese chess."
Harry noted, though, the two Japanese transfers became far more interested once they realized the pieces would move themselves at the vocal command of the players. The scarred teen could not avoid grinning when the two boys became ecstatic that the pieces would attack each other, shattering the opposition to pieces.
As the game drew to a close – Harry lost, but he had to admit Ron was a far better player than he was – Hermione looked at the clock. Ten minutes to curfew. "Ron, we need to go! Prefect duty!"
"Oh, right!" Ron replied, shuffling out of the room. Harry hid a small frown; it still stung that he had not been made prefect. But still, at least he had Yuusuke and Kazuma to keep him company.
"Want to learn how to play?" Harry offered. "I'm not very good, but I can at least teach you the basics."
"Sure!"
"Are you trying to test my patience? I was under the impression you and your men could handle it." A hand petted Harry's head, and he lazily lifted it, flicking his tongue out to taste the air; there was no mistaking the anger and annoyance permeating from his master.
The other man, tall and slender with short black hair passively looked back. "Just a few set backs, nothing to get worried about. It would appear the Reikai has sealed up this area rather well. All it means we need to find an individual with the means to get around the barrier."
"And just where would be able to find such an individual?"
"I have a hunch."
"Just remember who you're talking to, Mr. Shinobu."
"Of course, how can I possibly forget?" A mocking smile graced Shinobu's face.
Harry awoke with a start, scar searing as the remnants of irritation faded from him. Voldemort's irritation, no doubt. Taking out his wand, he quickly found a spare piece of parchment and a quill, wasting no time to scribble down what he remembered of the dream. Quietly slipping out of bed, he rummaged in his trunk until he found the Invisibility Cloak his father left for him. Pulling it over his head, he checked to make sure it covered him completely before slipping out from his bed.
To be continued . . .
AN: As always, leave me a review! I know the pacing is a little slow for the moment, but I really wanted to get into the details of their interactions, as part of Harry Potter is Hogwarts and the teachers. See you all next chapter!