Chapter 10: Give Me a Break

After the initial shock of Sirius Black's visit to the castle had worn off, Fred and George took full advantage of Kakashi not having a door. They hid puking pasties all over his room because, as they explained to Lee Jordan, you can't vomit with a mask on. Unfortunately for them, it was a waste of their product. Kakashi didn't like sweets that much, especially strangely colored sweets that he found on the floor, in desk drawers, and under his pillow.

The twins also tried stealing Kakashi's extra masks so that he wouldn't have replacements to wear when the one he was wearing eventually needed to be washed. Much to their surprise, not only could they not find his other masks, but any extra clothes whatsoever. This made them extremely suspicious that Kakashi only had one pair of clothes and slept in the nude while the house elves washed them at night. This theory spread like wildfire, especially among the witches. Ebisu thought about explaining to the twins how storage scrolls worked but their theories were much too entertaining to tamper with.

Before long another Hogsmeade visit came up. Guy and Kakashi decided to take this one. The Friday before, Kakashi gave Harry a pointed look and then walked into an abandoned classroom. Harry followed him obediently.

When Harry closed the door, Kakashi asked, "do you plan to go to Hogsmeade this weekend?"

Harry nodded.

"Okay, then I will escort you. Guy will be around too but sometimes he lacks discretion."

"You don't have to worry about hiding me," Harry assured the guard. "I have an invisibility cloak."

Kakashi's visible eye widened a fraction but his voice was very even, "a what?"

"An invisibility cloak," Harry repeated. "The name kind of explains itself. I'll still use the secret tunnel though. You can meet me on the other end so you aren't seen at the exit."

"No," Kakashi replied, "I'll go with you. I don't need a cloak to be invisible."

Saturday morning dawned bright and clear. After breakfast, Harry and Kakashi walked to the third floor together. Harry began to pull out the Marauder's Map when Kakashi put a hand on his arm.

"Put your cloak on, someone's coming."

Harry shoved the map back into his pocket and pulled his cloak on. Kakashi adopted an even lazier expression than usual. He leaned against the wall, looking bored.

In a moment, Neville Longbottom came around the corner. The wizard was almost past the ninja when he noticed Kakashi. Neville gave a small start and then laughed nervously. "H-h-hey Kakashi," Neville said.

Kakashi gave him an eye smile and said, "yo."

Neville began to continue down the corridor when Snape came billowing around the other corner. If Neville seemed slightly nervous in the presence of the ninja, now he was terrified.

"Longbottom," Snape sneered. "What are you doing?"

Neville started to stutter something but Kakashi cut in, "we were just having a chat professor." He pushed himself off of the wall, uncrossing his arms as he did so.

Snape suddenly noticed the ninja. He quickly hid his surprise. "Kakashi," Snape spat. "Why would you bother talking to the likes of Longbottom?"

Kakashi didn't answer but instead said, "I don't know why you'd bother talking to him if he should be beneath my notice."

Snape scowled and marched off in a huff. Neville gave Kakashi a shy grin.

"Why aren't you going to Hogsmeade Neville?" Kakashi asked after Snape had gone.

Neville's face fell. "I was the one that wrote down the passwords for the week. It's just, Sir Cadogan kept changing them every day. I had trouble remembering them when they only changed monthly. I'm not even sure how Black could have gotten them at all. The last place I remember leaving the passwords was on my nightstand." Neville sighed.

Kakashi thought this was interesting and filed it away in his mind for later.

"Anyway, what are you up to?" The wizard continued pleasantly.

"Oh I'm going to Hogsmeade with Guy. I just had to check out this corridor first. I'll catch up to him later."

"Oh," Neville's face fell. He didn't want to be stuck in the common room with the first and second years all day.

Kakashi had an idea. He made a clone and it hurried off to find Kurenai. "Hold on a second Neville," Kakashi said. Kakashi could feel the air move as Harry danced from one foot to another. He wanted to get down to Hogsmeade. Well, he'd just have to wait.

Kakashi blinked, receiving the information from his clone. Perfect. "Say Neville," Kakashi began. "You enjoy botany right?"

Neville visibly brightened and nodded. "Herbology is my best subject."

"Well Kurenai is a bit of a botanist herself," Kakashi continued. "And she happens to be in the greenhouses right now. You wouldn't want to join her would you? I'm sure she'd appreciate some instruction on the plants you wizards keep."

Neville's eyes shone. "That'd be great!" He took off, Kakashi forgotten, down the hallway, excited that one of the ninja was interested in plants.

"Can we go now?" Harry complained.

Kakashi scowled in the direction of Harry's voice but said nothing. He nodded.

Kakashi heard Harry mutter, "Dissendium" and the hump on the witch's back opened up. Harry pushed his bag down the shoot and then climbed in himself.

Kakashi followed him cautiously. We're on the third floor of a castle. Why make a tunnel that goes all the way up to the third floor?

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When Harry went through the trapdoor into Honeydukes's cellar, Kakashi followed stealthily as promised. Nobody saw either of them, cloak or no cloak. They soon met up with Ron, who had been waiting for them outside of the shop.

"I'll keep an eye out at a distance from now on," Kakashi reminded them. "It would look strange if I followed Ron around all day." With that, Kakashi walked away and joined Guy who had just appeared on their street.

"Well, what do you want to do first?" Ron asked Harry. They saw the post office, Zonko's, and then headed to the Shrieking Shack. Ron was telling Harry about the shack's history when Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle came walking up the hill.

Malfoy grinned when he saw Ron alone. "What are you doing here Weasley? Thinking about moving out to get more space for yourself? I heard that your family all sleeps in the same room, is that true?"

Ron started toward Malfoy but Harry grabbed his robes. In an instant, Kakashi and Guy were behind the Slytherins.

"My youthful charges!" Guy burst out. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle nearly jumped out of their skin. They whirled around to see Kakashi and Guy.

"Guy," Malfoy said slowly as if talking to an ape. "I told you not to do that anymore. You could give someone a heart attack." He had his hand on his chest and was breathing deeply.

Kakashi was puzzled that Malfoy wasn't being as rude to Guy lately. He'd ask Guy about it later. For now he asked, "how are you boys liking your day in Hogsmeade so far?"

"What do you care?" Malfoy snapped at Kakashi. "Come on Goyle, Crabbe, let's get back to the castle." The three Slytherins trooped away through the snow.

"Time's almost up Harry," Kakashi whispered. "Ready to head back?"

Harry nodded but then realized that no one could see him. "Yes."

When Harry, Kakashi, and Ron got back to the common room, Hermione was in tears. Hagrid had written. Buckbeak had been convicted and sentenced to execution.

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Over Easter holiday most of the students were studying for their upcoming exams or catching up on homework. Ron wasn't doing either since he'd taken on the job of researching things for Hagrid to use to defend Buckbeak at the appeal. Normally Hermione would have done it but she looked like she was about to unravel.

"You know Hermione," Kakashi said. "You might need to take a break." He eyed the pile of books and papers around her.

Harry and Ron wanted to back Kakashi up but Hermione had gotten progressively scarier as the days had passed. The ninja was on his own.

Hermione looked up at the guard. Her eyes had dark circles under them and her hair was more frizzy than normal. "What? Don't be ridiculous," she snapped. She looked around once more and muttered, "I must not have checked that one out." Standing up she said, "I'm going to the library."

"'kay," the boys chorused.

When Hermione had exited the portrait hole, Kakashi made a clone. The clone ran up the dormitory stairs and didn't come back. "What was that for Kakashi?" Harry asked, fascinated every time the ninja duplicated himself.

"Don't worry about it," Kakashi said shortly.

Meanwhile, Kakashi's clone ran to the window in the boy's room, opened it, stepped out onto the castle wall, and shut the window behind him. He then went running, parallel to the ground, down the tower wall and to the library. Ebisu was reading about the history of charm invention in a back corner of the library. When Kakashi's clone appeared, he got up.

"Ebisu, just a heads up, Hermione's heading to the library," the clone said.

Ebisu cocked an eyebrow at the duplicate. "That's a shock," Ebisu deadpanned.

"It might be a good opportunity for you two to take a break together, she looks like she needs it."

"You know," Ebisu said, "that's pretty rich coming from you."

"Hey, I'm just the clone messenger." Then Kakashi's clone went poof and he was gone. Way up in Gryffindor Tower, Kakashi frowned at Ebisu's comment as it came back to him.

Right at that moment, Hermione walked into the library. She made a beeline for the third shelf on the right and started reading spines. Ebisu approached. "Good afternoon Hermione," he said politely.

Hermione looked up at him, gave him a weak smile and then went back to the shelf.

"I was thinking about taking a walk by the lake, care to join me?" Ebisu asked.

Hermione stopped and looked up at him. "Oh, I'm sorry Ebisu. I'd love to, really, but I have a lot of work to do." Hermione turned back to the shelf, slower this time.

Ebisu tried again, "you could use a break. You can't work productively if you don't have proper rest."

Hermione laughed a little hysterically to herself. "It would be very nice, but I haven't got the time."

"Ah," Ebisu replied, it was the opening he'd been waiting for, "but I think you do."

Hermione's finger froze on the spine of a book. Her head whipped up to look at him in surprise.

"Walk with me?" Ebisu headed toward the exit, not waiting for an answer. Hermione followed him out of the library, down the stairs, and onto the grounds. Everyone was inside studying so they had the extensive lawns to themselves. Ebisu began a circuit around the lake. Hermione walked by his side.

"How long have you known?" Hermione asked.

"That you've been time traveling? Since I was watching Gryffindor tower for Kakashi. I saw you walk in the common area and go up to the dormitories. A few minutes later, I saw you come in again with Harry and Ron. Your doubled up schedule made more sense after that." He paused. "Considering how many times the boys have noticed your schedule, you'd think they'd start to work out how you were managing it."

"Well," Hermione explained, "I didn't expect Harry to know about time-turners. He was raised by muggles and doesn't read much outside of the required material. Ron though, he should have heard about them at some point."

"And what's a time-turner?"

"It's, oh here," Hermione pulled at the neck of her robes and produced a little hourglass on a fine gold chain. "It's this. You turn the hourglass and for each turn, you go back an hour. I've been doing over certain hours of the day to do multiple classes. It didn't occur to me to use it for break periods. I have time to do extra homework now!"

"And, you know, actual rest."

"Yes," Hermione agreed but she barely heard him. "Ebisu you're a genius!" Before either of them knew what was happening, she'd embraced him tightly. "Oh, sorry," Hermione immediately let go and rung her hands.

Ebisu tried to hide his red face without actually turning away from her.

"I'm sorry," Hermione said again, "it's just so nice to be able to talk to someone else about this. I promised Professor McGonagall that I wouldn't tell anybody but since you already know…"

"Kakashi, Kurenai, and Guy know as well, if you ever need to talk to them about it," Ebisu said, finding his voice.

"You told all of them?" Hermione exclaimed. The happy glow she'd had before diminished.

"Yes, withholding important information from your team could put lives at risk." Ebisu immediately wished he'd thought of a more gentle way of saying it. He quickly added, "I have to tell Kakashi, since he's my captain. As far as Kurenai and Guy, well, if they had seen you and then seen you again, they might have thought one of you was an imposter."

"Oh I see," Hermione said, a little brighter.

They had made it half way around the lake before either of them spoke again.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," Hermione apologized again. "You should have heard it from me, rather than finding out by accident."

"Either way, we found out, so it won't be a security problem."

"That's not what I meant," Hermione said. "You told me about your eyes and I didn't take you into my confidence. Harry spent some time with Kakashi before term started and he says you're all very secretive."

Ebisu chuckled, "well, Kakashi is more secretive than most."

"Why?"

A long silence followed. The wind whistled in the grass and rippled the surface of the lake.

"I'm sorry," Hermione couldn't stop herself from apologizing again. "I shouldn't have asked."

"No, it's okay. I'm just trying to think of a way to answer without breaking Kakashi's confidence." Ebisu looked out on the lake. "Let's just say that Kakashi has had a difficult life and leave it at that."

"That isn't much of an answer," Hermione said sadly.

"I'm sorry but unless Kakashi feels like telling you, it's the best one you're going to get," Ebisu stated frankly.

Hermione nodded and they walked on.

"Have you had a difficult life?" The witch broke the silence tentatively.

"Not as much as some. That's an important thing to remember in life. No matter how bad things get, it could always be worse, so we must be grateful for and happy about what we have."

"Ebisu?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you for making me take a break."

Ebisu smiled, "it's my pleasure. Since we arrived here, I've had a lot of practice making stubborn people get some rest."

"I am not stubborn," Hermione objected.

"You most certainly are," Ebisu retorted and Hermione looked like she might punch him. He continued, "but that can be a good thing. All the knowledge in the world is useless if you don't have the will to put it to work."

They walked for another hour, either talking or in silence. Every once in awhile, Hermione would yawn and cover it with her hand. She wasn't bored but she was extremely tired and she didn't want the ninja to think she was uninterested in their conversation.

Ebisu got another idea. "Hermione, if you went up to your dormitory right now, couldn't you turn back time a bit and get some sleep?"

Hermione blinked at him. "Yes, I suppose. Even if someone came into the room, I could have the curtains on my bed closed. But everyone will see me go through the common room."

"Not," Ebisu said, "if we go through the window."

There was a bit of a pause following this announcement. "Through the window?"

"Yes."

Hermione looked at him like he was crazy.

"Oh yes, see watch." Ebisu took a couple of steps and then leapt toward the lake, only he didn't sink into the water. When he straightened up, he was standing on top of the water's surface. Little rings of disturbance radiated out from where his feet made contact with the otherwise smooth water. "I can walk like this, only we'll be walking up the side of the castle."

"How are you doing that?" Hermione asked, eyes wide. She was looking sideways at his feet.

"It's the same way we do our techniques that you've seen or move very quickly. It's training and our own kind of magic." Ebisu walked to the water's edge and stepped onto land once more. "If I walk up the wall while carrying you, you can slip in the window."

"But I've been in the common room all day," Hermione pointed out, "and I can't get back out the window without you. My friends saw me go to the library, so they'll expect me to come back from there. I can hardly expect you to wait outside just so you can pick me up after my nap and deposit me in the library."

Ebisu thought about this. He'd only be outside for a moment, if the time-turner worked the way he thought it did, but she had a point. If someone saw him on the castle wall and asked what he was doing outside the girl's dormitory window, it could lead to awkward questions. His face heated up just thinking about it. He didn't want anyone to think he was peeping or kidnapping the witch from her bed. "Kakashi's in the common room, right?"

"Yes," Hermione replied, not sure why that mattered.

"Then we don't have a problem.

As Hermione and Ebisu approached the castle wall, Hermione began to get anxious. "You're sure this is safe?" Hermione asked, craning her neck back to see the top of the tower.

"If you don't trust me, we can just go back and forget about it," Ebisu offered.

"No…no…" Hermione said, but she was still looking up the wall apprehensively.

Ebisu put his arm tentatively around her shoulders. Hermione started, pulling her eyes away from the tower to look at him, and then put her arms around his neck. He scooped the witch up in his arms and hopped onto the wall. He quickly broke into a run, straight up the vertical surface. Hermione instantly clung to his shoulders and buried her face in his neck.

"You okay?" Ebisu asked even as he ran.

Ebisu felt rather than saw Hermione nod. As they ascended, Hermione's grip became less clingy and her head slowly moved away from his neck. Soon they were approaching the dormitory windows of Gryffindor Tower and Hermione located the correct window.

"It's so strange seeing the room from this angle," Hermione commented as Ebisu knelt next to the makeshift entrance. Hermione pulled out her wand. "Alohomora," she said and the window popped open. Ebisu began to hand Hermione through the opening but she wouldn't let go.

"I won't let you fall," Ebisu promised.

"I know," Hermione replied, breathless. "I just wanted to thank you for everything."

Ebisu looked down and smiled. He handed Hermione through the window, legs first. She transferred her grip from Ebisu's shoulders to the window sill and was safely inside. Ebisu flashed his chakra.

Kakashi, who was sitting downstairs in the common area, looked up suddenly. Then he stood and headed toward the staircase that went up to the girls' dormitory.

"Um, Kakashi, you won't be able to go up there," Harry warned. As Kakashi put his foot on the first step, the stone stairs morphed from even steps to a steep and slippery chute. Not breaking stride, Kakashi kept walking, using the chakra in his feet to ascend the slide. Ron and Harry stared at each other wide-eyed.

Kakashi counted the levels as he made his way up, seventh year, sixth year, fifth year, fourth year... The room Hermione shares is the third door. Wait, the first years have to climb 7 levels just to go to bed? That's kind of harsh. With these thoughts in mind, Kakashi stopped on Hermione's landing and opened the correct door. Seeing the witch standing in the room and Ebisu out the window didn't faze him. "Yes?"

"Kakashi," Ebisu greeted him, "Hermione is going to need a distraction in about five minutes." Ebisu looked at Hermione and she nodded that that would be fine. She already had her time turner out.

"No problem," Kakashi said, his mask hiding the small smile that played on his mouth. He turned around and walked back out of the dorm and down the chute.

Hermione turned the hourglass three times and when she looked up, the sun was higher in the sky and Ebisu had disappeared from her window. She got into bed and pulled the curtains around her bed closed. She wasn't sure how she'd be able to sleep with her heart pounding the way it was.

Ebisu saw Hermione turn the hourglass. Then the witch disappeared and the curtains around her bed were suddenly closed, not open like they'd been a moment before. Ebisu climbed into the room and pulled back the curtain. There Hermione lay, fast asleep. Ebisu cleared his throat loudly and Hermione's eyes slid open. "Oh Ebisu," she said, stretching. "Is it time already?"

The ninja nodded and stood back so she could stand. "Now don't go making this a habit," Ebisu warned. "The classes are bad enough. This isn't like when I make a clone. You're actually living those extra hours. By the end of the year, you'll probably have matured months more than everyone else your year."

"I know; I'll be careful." Hermione looked at him, almost as if she was trying to see the eyes behind the sunglasses.

Suddenly Ebisu was out the window and said, "I'd better go. Kakashi will be giving you a distraction any second now." With that he was gone.

Hermione stared after him. Then she closed her mouth and went to listen by the door. She heard a 'pop' from below and figured that was the signal. When she reached the bottom of the stairs she couldn't see a thing. The entire common room was filled with blue smoke. The voices of several disgruntled Gryffindors reached her ears.

Hermione was just beginning to wonder how she was going to avoid tripping over someone when Kakashi was beside her and took her arm. "This way," he prompted politely and he steered her by the arm through the impenetrable smoke to the portrait hole. She climbed out and Kakashi moved to the center of the room.

A sixth year girl's voice rose above the rest, "when I get my hands on those Weasley twins…"

"Calm down," Kakashi advised. "Nobody move." Several shuffling noises stopped. Kakashi weaved some signs for a wind style jutsu and blew the smoke up the common room chimney.

Suddenly the room was completely clear of smoke. A pair of first years who had been gripping each other for support sprang apart. A brown haired wizard who had tripped over a chair and landed in the occupant's lap was disentangling himself. Most of the Gryffindors hadn't moved however and were in the same positions. Harry and Ron were looking at Kakashi.

"Looks like it was just a prank," Kakashi said offhandedly and sat back down. The witch who'd spoken earlier made her way to the portrait hole, presumably to go Weasley hunting. She passed Hermione on her way out.

"Did something happen?" Hermione asked innocently, looking around at the disheveled common room.

"Yeah," Ron exclaimed, "the whole bloody room just filled with smoke."

"Did you get your book?" Harry asked.

"My what?" Hermione blinked. Kakashi face-palmed in the corner. "Oh yes, um, no, I realized I don't need it." She hurried over to her mountain of paperwork and began to tackle it with new vigor.

"Well at least the walk did you some good," Harry said, observing her.

"The what?" Hermione squeaked.

Harry looked puzzled, "the walk, to the library. You look more relaxed now than when you left."

"Oh," Hermione said, relieved.

"You know," Ron began, "you can take a break every once in awhile Hermione. You might actually like it."

Hermione just smiled to herself and picked up her quill. She glanced at Kakashi who looked bored as ever, until he caught her look and eye-smiled at her.