Hyorimaru sighed, as he slowly ate his dinner. He was hungry and human food would not sustain him long, Youkai had an extremely fast metabolism which was why they tended to eat either frequently or in large quantities. It was also why they ate their meat raw, cooking burned off some of the energy meat provided, and while they could eat vegetables, they didn't really need them, and they didn't provide much in the way of sustenance. His father had once told him that humans were something called omnivores, but that demons were true carnivores.
He looked at the food piled high on the plates with something similar to distaste and mild disinterest. He'd never seen so much food at once in his life, and that was saying something if one considered how much a demon could eat in one setting. He gazed across the table at the plates laden with "roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, fries, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup, and, for some strange reason, peppermint humbugs"(the book somewhere). He suppressed the urge to growl; there wasn't a damned thing on this table that wasn't cooked to a crisp. He wasn't sure how well cooked meat would go over with his system.
"Hyorimaru," Draco asked him softly setting down his fork and knife. "Why aren't you eating?"
"Yes," one of the older boys seated a little further down the table "Is Hogwart's food not good enough for a relative of the famous boy-who- lived?" he gestured over at the Gryffindor table where Nicolas was indeed making a scene.
With his sensitive Youkai hearing he could hear Nicolas bragging about how his House-elves cooking were better than the Hogwarts' elves; and whining about the food. Hyorimaru snorted and made a mental note to find out exactly what a house-elf was. "No, I have simply found myself in the curious predicament of having never tried any of these foods." He replied mildly. "Forgive me I have yet to make your acquaintance."
"Pucey, Adrian Pucey," The boy replied, "Have you really never seen any of these foods before?"
"To be perfectly honest, no;" Hyorimaru replied mildly, then keeping his voice low enough that only Draco, who was seated right beside him would hear, he added. "I've never eaten cooked meat before."
Draco blinked, "Yes, I suppose that would pose a problem." He replied mildly. "What type of food have you eaten?"
"Mostly game meat," Hyorimaru responded simply. "Venison, rabbit, boar, I've had beef a time or two, but it was … rare."
"Try the roast chicken then," Pucey said mildly, "That should be easiest on your stomach."
Hyorimaru inclined his head. "My thanks."
"You will soon learn that Slytherin House is a family, we take care of our own." Pucey replied.
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Severus looked over the assembled first years as the rest of his house began to file off towards there dormitories.
"Slytherins," he called mildly. "As this year we have a celebrity at school this year's start of term meeting will be a bit different." He gestured with his hand for them to come forward.
His snakes complied instantly either pulling up seats of settling themselves cross-legged on the floor. Hyorimaru he noticed chose to sit on the floor like most of the first years, but unlike the other students, he folded his legs under him and sat on his knees, his back strait and his arms relaxed. It further drove home the fact that the boy had been raised in Japan as it was a common way of sitting in Japanese martial arts.
"For those of you who are new to Hogwarts, welcome. Those of you who are not you know the rules, and I expect that none of you will be caught breaking them. If you are the consequences will be dire indeed. Should you lose points for your house, you will be doubly in trouble as I will meet any punishment given to you by your other professors with one of my own. Any fights or arguments between you will stay within these walls; we will present a united front to the other houses. As you all know, James Potter is teaching the younger years Transfiguration this year. I have little faith in his ability not to prosecute those who wear the badge of our house. Give him no reason to persecute you.
As for his son, Nicolas Potter is no doubt spoilt and full of his own self importance, as I am sure that his father has taken great pains to spoon feed him, tails of his own legend and importance. Should you have the opportunity to teach the boy the truth of the world." He let that hang.
"Hyorimaru here has the misfortune of being genetically related to them. However it is apparent that Gryffindor foolishness is not always inherited." He paused "Remember loyalty to your house. Dismissed."
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Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can top them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a steady mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!
Hyorimaru growled and rolled over burying his head in his pillow in an attempt to smother the inane drivel that kept repeating itself over and over in his head. If it didn't stop soon – he was going to shred that hat!
He obviously wasn't getting any sleep tonight. Between the inane tune repeating itself in his mind and the hunger growing at his stomach sleep would be impossible. He might as well hunt… and then explore.
Hyori had given him a list of things that he couldn't hunt in the forest, so at least he wasn't going to accidently eat a unicorn or something equally socially unacceptable, but the forest was full of deer and boar so it shouldn't be to hard to find something to eat.
He pulled on traditional Japanese silk clothing – eventually he'd learn how to hunt in the more restricting 'modern mortal clothing' but for now he wanted freedom of movement. He finished tying his Obi, and pulled on soft boots made from the hide of a demon hare and padded silently out of the room. Slipping out of the common room was easy enough, and he easily followed his own sent up the Great Hall and from their made his way out onto the grounds with a bit of trial and error since he couldn't exactly follow his sent back to the place where the magical row boats had docked – he didn't much fancy a swim.
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Hyorimaru glanced up from his meal at the sound of a hoof snapping a branch, followed by someone cursing softly. He growled softly and deliberately bit through the rib bone he was holding. Tearing off a chunk of meat sinew and bone; "Come out," he said softly after he swallowed, "I know you're there."
He cocked his head to the side when what looked like a man who was half horse stepped out of the brush. "Please pardon my rudeness but what exactly are you?" he enquired.
The creature looked at him then down at the remains of the Boar at his feet. "Did you bring that down yourself?" he asked notching an arrow in his bow and aiming at him.
Hyorimaru met the creature's gaze calmly, "Yes."
"Bane," a new voice said firmly into the night. "we do not kill foals, even one who appears to eat his meat raw."
Bane turned his head, and addressed the creature walking up beside him, "He killed that boar himself Firenze."
"It is only a half grown piglet." Firenze replied mildly. "it is not as if he went after a member of the herd."
Hyorimaru snorted in annoyance. Why couldn't he eat in peace?
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Hyorimaru slipped back into the Slytherindormitories around five thirty in the morning and snorted in amused disgust when he realized not a single human was stirring. His entire pack would have been up and dressed by now. With a sigh he made his way up to the first year Dormitories and gathered his toiletries before heading off to the boy's showers.
He couldn't help but feel home sick as he began to prepare himself for the day, Demon's needed little rest compared to humans. At home the palace would already be awash with activity. The pack's warriors would be on the hunt before the sun rose. They'd eat breakfast as a pack the pups eating first then the Alpha pair, then the elders and the heir if said heir was grown, and finally the rest of the pack. While each member of the pack was capable of hunting on their own save the very young and the very old, it was custom that unless a dog's duty prevented it they ate the first meal of the day with the pack.
His father had explained the custom once, Pack ties made them stronger than just a single individual could ever be on their own. Pups ate first to remind the pack of their importance to the future, and where allowed to eat there fill, the Alphas ate next because without strong alpha's the pack could not survive, but they restricted themselves to just a few bites. The elder's were fed next and like the pups they ate their fill to honor them for their knowledge and past service to the pack. The rest of the pack ate last.
In times of hardship the pups and the elders were feed before the warriors with even the alpha going hungry to feed his pack. It was there law and it made them strong.
His father had told him once that long before Rin and his birth, he'd looked down at the ritual and even gone as far as ending it. The pack had fallen into disarray, and it had taken years to rebuild. Apparently Rin was the reason their father had seen the logic in the custom and set about fixing his pack.
He showered and dressed quickly, and settled down on his bed to meditate.
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Draco awoke to the sound of his dorm mate's stirring. He groaned, and got ready to start his day. He glanced around at the other boys who upon realizing the time had started scurrying around franticly getting ready for the day. He quickly grabbed his toiletries and liked for Hyorimaru among the frantic activity – hoping the other boy was awake. He was shocked to see him sitting on his knees on top of his bed, fully dressed – apparently meditating.
He shook his head and started for the showers at a sedate and dignified pace; Malfoy dignity did not permit scurrying.
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Hyorimaru settled himself down for breakfast with his housemates. He glanced at the food on the table and tried to find something he could eat, not that he was to hungry after the late night dinner he'd had while his dorm-mates slept, but if he had to look human he needed to keep up appearances. That meant eating three meals a day like a human. He finally selected something that he recognized from distant memories as bacon and eggs.
He ate slowly while professor Snape handed out their class schedules, he glanced at it making a mental note of the classes he had and were each class room was located based off of his wandering the night before. He glanced up the owls began to bring in the mail. He had to admit there was a small part of him that wished he could have an owl, but the older version of himself had reminded him that he was a born predator and most owls would not risk bonding to him.
But he had his dear serpent familiar.
Abruptly students started to scream and he looked around in confusion having smelled nothing out of the ordinary. The professors were on their feet and headed for theSlytherin table before he'd fully registered the problem, but when he did he laughed.
"She is the Familiar of the Western Akita Clan's heir." He told them all mildly as the great poisonous serpent folded her silver wings, and coiled her nearly 17 foot length up on the table.
"Hello Sylvanna," he hissed, ignoring how odd it felt to address his familiar when she was also coiled around his wrist.
The great serpent inclined her head, light flashing off of her scales; she reached out with her tail and deposited a silk scroll into his hands. "Hello again little master," she greeted, "my master sends his regards, and bids me deliver this for your lord father, and this message. "Chasing your tail gets you nowhere except back were you started, should you chose to give chase, follow the scent trail."
That said the great snake opened her wing and launched herself into the air. He looked down at the silk scroll and deftly broke his father's seal. He recognized his father's eloquent, vertical script and smiled at the courtesy he'd been extended. His father had many demands on his time – even in this time - that he'd taken the time to write even a short missive to the son who technically was already grown.
The inferiority of Humans is that they can neither stand alone or together. Remember your superiority.
He snorted and rolled up the scroll, sliding it into a pocket.
"How can you be my Twin?" Nicolas shouted in denial, "You're nothing but a dark wizard! I can't believe I wanted anything to do with you! You're nothing but a mini death eater!"
Hyorimaru snorted, "How exactly did you come to that conclusion?"
It was Professor Potter who answered his sarcastic question. "You're a Parselmouth." The man replied as if it was obvious. "Everyone knows Parselmouths are evil."
"Mr. Potter!" Exclaimed Professor McGonagall harshly. "That's not something you say in front of impressionable Children!"
Hyorimaru snorted, "Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall may I be excused please?" he enquired ignoring James Potter out right."
Professor Snape inclined his head in assent and Hyorimaru quietly took his leave, trying his best to imitate his father's graceful dismissal of anything he considered to be beneath his dignity. Surly James Potter was beneath even Jaken's dignity.
HPIYHPIYHPIYHPIY
Hyorimaru settled himself down into a chair in the Transfiguration Class room; he was the first student to arrive. It hadn't been too difficult to find the class room after he'd gathered his books for his morning classes. However he supposed he had a bit of an advantage over the other students – he was a demon and the class room smelled strongly of Professor McGonagall and bore Professor Potter's rank stench, though it was fainter.
Professor Potter had yet to arrive but the Cat sitting upon the massive oak desk smelled strongly enough of Professor McGonagall to make him wonder if Wizards could obtain their true form like those of Youkai blood. Students began to trickle in filling the desks slowly until finally when the bell rang every student baring three were in their seats.
Professor Potter wasn't present yet either, which annoyed him he'd never had a truant sensei before. No Youkai sensei would have so disrespectful of his pupils. They waited another five minutes before Nicolas, Ron Weasley, and Seamus Finnigan finally sauntered into the room.
"Good thing this is your father's class," Weasley said mildly as they ambled down the center aisle towards the only three seats left open. "Could you imagine the look on old McGonagall's face if we were late to her class?"
The three boys sniggered as they took their seats and the cat rose gracefully to its feet and leapt from the desk transforming into Professor McGonagall as it went. From behind the great oak desk there was a slight shimmer of movement and Professor Potter appeared holding a strange silk cloak in his hands and Hyorimaru made a mental note to check more closely for the man's scent in the future if the man could just appear out of thin air.
"Five points from Gryffindor for that foolish comment Mr. Weasley." Professor McGonagall retorted sharply.
"Come Now Minerva, Boys will be boys." Professor Potter laughed, "Thank you for the practical demonstration of Self-Transfiguration. That student was the Animagus transformation. We won't get into human transfiguration until your sixth year. Today we will be learning how to turn a matchstick into a needle."
Hyorimaru watched quietly as McGonagall left the room muttering under her breath. He made a mental note to speak with her about this Animagus transformation as soon as he was no longer disguised as a human, maybe she could help him to shrink his true form so that he looked like a mortal dog. There had to be some benefits to being able to pass as a normal dog in this world.
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