A/N:
Mother tongue isn't English. Inform me about any major mistakes if there is, what lazy bastard I am. As always I hope they wont distract your reading experience.
"Thoughts"
"Zangetsu"
"Hollow"
War after the war: Chapter 11
At the same time Arthur woke up and saw Ichigo sitting next to him.
"Where am I?" he squinted his eyes shut.
"In the St. Mungo. You were attacked yesterday. Can you remember anything about it?" Ichigo leaned forwards with worried look on his face.
Mr. Weasley scratched his head: "Not much… But it was a snake wasn't it?"
"Yeah."
"How did they find me so fast? I mean that it was supposed to be undercover job."
Ichigo stood up and flexed his numb arms. He took couple steps away before answering: "Harry saw the attack in his dream." with that he walked to the door: "I hope that you recover fast. Now sleep, I think that there are people who want to see you soon."
Shinigami closed room's door and sighed. He was too tired to explain whole nightmare-thing now.
"Do you think that here is any kind of café nearby?"
"You are getting old, King. One night without sleep and you are half-dead already."
"Shut up."
"So you are Shinigami too?" Sirius lifted his eyebrows. When wizards had woken up, there were five persons waiting them downstairs.
"You really almost gave us a heart attack!" Molly sighed and smiled when he served tea for guests: "Last night Arthur was attacked and now there's some unknown people waiting for us when we wake up!"
"We are sorry if we scared you. It was just that they had located Ichigo's reiatsu here so…" Rukia apologized. They had arrived in the big kitchen, realizing that it was still night and stayed there.
"It's nothing!" Sirius waved his hand belittling whole thing, though he almost had been killed by Renji when he tried to restrain red-haired man: "Why are you looking for Ichigo?"
"Now that you mention…" Hitsugaya frowned looking around: "Where is he?"
"Ah, he stayed in the hospital to wait that Arthur wakes up. I wonder that if he still sleeps." Molly blinked wondering look etched on her face.
"What happened? You said something about an attack?" Matsumoto asked carefully. She had gotten attention of Weasley brothers who just couldn't keep their eyes away. Her large neckline showed way too much like always, but when she noticed Mrs. Weasley's disapproving look she tried to pull her shirt higher – Without success.
"Dad was attacked last night", youngest of Weasley siblings said: "It was Voldemort."
"We have heard about him…" Hitsugaya coughed: "Well, Ichigo have cleared similar situation before so I think that he's able to help you."
They all got quiet when a light filled the room. It was a senkaimon and the infamous orange head walked in the room. Portal closed up and revealed blinking Ichigo.
He stood there a moment, puzzled look on his face: "R-renji? Rukia? And Matsumoto and Toshiro too!" he stuttered taking a step backwards.
"ICHIGO!" Renji and Rukia yelled at the same time and jumped up. Ichigo didn't have time to do anything before Renji took a good position and kicked him straight to face.
"Ouch! That hurt dammit!" Ichigo cursed holding his chin while wizards stared them with widen eyes.
"YOU STUPID IDIOT JUST DECIDED TO LEAVE LIKE THAT HUH? NOT EVEN LEFTING A NOTE FOR PRECIOUS FRIENDS!" Rukia kicked him to knee causing him to fall down. Ichigo grimaced and tried to apologize through the kicks and hits:
"I didn't mean! You were on the mission at the same time! And I…"
"NO EXCUSES!" Rukia and Renji stomped at the same time on his back, leaving Ichigo to lay there when they went back to sit.
Wizards didn't get even one word from their mouths. They had just seen how person, the strongest person they knew, was stomped on the ground like some kind of insect.
"Is he dead?" Ginny asked carefully when Ichigo didn't even move an inch. Fred and George crouched next to him and poked Ichigo with a stick.
"That stupid idiot won't die from something like that." Hitsugaya sipped his tea. After few seconds of silence, orange head stood up wiping dust off from his robe.
"That hurt god damn!" Ichigo gritted his teeth. They could see blood flowing down from the cut in his head. Matsumoto just giggled: "You are just happy to see us again!"
"Happy eh…"
"IIICHIIIGGOOOOOOOO!"
"WHAT? YOU TOO!" Ichigo roared and kicked black haired man to the face. Man fell on the floor and Ichigo stomped few times more before saying: "Can't I have even one LITTLE moment in peace?"
"You have improved my son…." They could hear his muffled voice from the floor.
"Why didn't I notice you earlier?" Ichigo blinked. He didn't remember seeing goat-face here after arriving.
"It's my new ultimate-hiding-technique!" Isshin said proudly when stood up so fast that it was almost frightening.
"Ultimate hiding technique my ass…" Ichigo scowled: "You were just hiding under the table, weren't you?" he asked narrowing his eyes.
Other Shinigami had lost their interest already. It was usual for them to fight like that. But wizard just couldn't but wonder that were all soul reapers fallen on their heads when they were little.
Ichigo face palmed when his dad started to feign a cry. Good thing was that there wasn't mother's poster anywhere close.
That thought was in vain when Isshin dug a photo with a woman from his pocket and started to rub his cheek to it, muttering something: "Why Masaki? Why! Your son is being so mean to me…!"
"Eh… Anyway…" Ichigo sat down shaking his head: "Why are you here?" blood still flowed down his face.
"We just needed to come to check that you aren't doing anything stupid in here." Renji snorted. Ichigo turned to him narrowing his eyes: "What? And WHO'S the bitter one about the Captain's position?" Ichigo grinned.
"WHAT?" Renji snapped: "I am not bitter! I just think that you are immature brat who CAN'T DO HIS PAPERWORK IN TIME!"
"Hey! I am doing my work perfectly fine!"
They had stood up and now they were standing forehead to forehead above the table. Still arguing.
"Are they always like that?" Sirius lifted his eyebrow. Hitsugaya nodded: "Yeah…" he put his teacup on the table and when Ichigo and Renji accidentally spilled it over, young Captain gritted his teeth together: "KUROSAKI! ABARAI!"
Both guys stopped and turned to white haired boy.
"STOP IT!"
They mumbled something and sat down. Wizards just gaped at them. They had never seen always calm and composed Ichigo to act like this.
"Oh well, now you have seen me. What else?" Ichigo leaned to table.
"So we can't come to see you without any ulterior motive?"
All of them startled when they heard voice from the doors. When they turned to look at the source, there stood man with weird striped hat and sandals. And he seemed to have a fan.
"And Hat an' Clogs too. This is the proof that you have some kind of ulterior motive." Ichigo sighed rubbing his neck.
"Awww~~ Ichigo! What's with that attitude!" he waved his fan at him: "You should be happy to see your long-time mentor here!"
"Please God, what did I do to deserve this?" Ichigo muttered under his breath and Harry gave out a laugh.
"We have been thinking, Kurosaki-san", Urahara waved his fan, ignoring looks from the wizards: "That we need to arrange more Shinigami at Hogwarts."
Ichigo lifted his eyebrow and turned to look at the shopkeeper.
"What do you mean?"
"There's been a suspicion that Voldemort has been messing with Hollows lately." Isshin frowned, seriously this time: "It's not just wizards, Ichigo. If he's with Hollows, we can't allow him roam around anymore."
"Spirit Government wouldn't approve that…" Ichigo scowled: "I think that I need make a report."
"Nah! There's no need!" Urahara said joyfully: "We have taken care of it already!"
"What do you mean?"
"They decided to assign some familiar faces temporary for Hogwarts. From Soul Society I mean."
Ichigo's eyes widened. They couldn't be serious.
"I hope that this isn't what I think it is." Ichigo thought and got understanding mental pat to his shoulder from Zangetsu.
"Yes! Your lovely friends will be joining you! Captain Hitsugaya, Matsumoto, Renji and Rukia!"
Hitsugaya muttered something what sounded like: "What friends?" and Ichigo just groaned, burying his face in his hands.
Molly made some tea for that weird man with striped hat and even Isshin decided to take some. He introduced himself to Harry, since they were family. The black haired boy got compassionated looks from his friends. Soon after that Urahara left, dragging crying Isshin behind him: "ICHIGO! IT'S ALWAYS HARD TO LEAVE MY LITTLE BOY, BUT I AM SURE THAT YOU WILL MANAGE IN THE THIS BIG AND CRUEL WORLD!" wizards sweat dropped.
Ichigo face palmed and senkaimon finally closed up.
"I really wonder sometimes that have he hit his head sometimes THAT hard…" Ichigo thought mostly with himself. Matsumoto laughed.
"Anyways…" Orange-head blinked: "Back in the business. Arthur woke up." he smiled and wizards cheered.
"And it's possible to visit him soon. Now he's just a bit dozy so there's no point to go yet." he continued.
That brought smiled on their faces and Molly decided to start doing breakfast.
"Ichigo, I need to talk a bit with you." Sirius waved at him and he left with Shinigami to library when others stayed there.
"There's so big mayhem in the kitchen so I decided to talk to you in here", Sirius laughed. Ichigo smiled and sat down: "So what is it?"
Sirius scratched his chin, thinking how to start. Then he sighed: "Snape starts teaching occlumency to Harry after the Christmas."
Ichigo just lifted other eyebrow: "And?"
"Occlumency is protecting mind from the attacks outside. Harry needs that since his mental connection with Voldemort."
"I see. What's your point?"
"Snape and Harry don't get along well." Sirius half-smiled: "You know?"
Ichigo snorted. He had noticed that some why Severus couldn't even stand Harry's presence. And he had heard so many complaints about the teacher from Harry.
"Yeah, I have noticed. Why is that?"
"Snape didn't like… I could say that he hated Harry's father, James." Sirius explained: "So…"
"I see. Well, Harry looks a lot like his dad. Although I have met him only once, I have seen some photos as well."
"True, but he has…"
"Lily's eyes. I know." Ichigo smiled.
Sirius sat next to Ichigo: "And there we get to the point: I don't think that lessons are very… Enjoyable."
Shinigami tilted his head narrowing eyes: "And what I can do about that?"
"I would be grateful if you just look after them. If you notice anything being out of place, please tell me." Sirius smiled at him: "Harry is too stubborn and proud to complain."
Ichigo nodded and stood up. He could hear that others started wondering that where they went: "I will. But we need to go back before they start asking that where we are."
Sirius and Ichigo walked back to kitchen. They said that Sirius wanted to show him some old pictures in library.
Rest day went nicely, even Hermione decided to come to spend Christmas with them. When girl arrived, she was curious about other Shinigami, since Ichigo didn't like to answer her questions. She started detailed question series, and only Hitsugaya was patient enough to answer.
"So…" Renji walked with Ichigo to upstairs to look where they would sleep: "What have you been doing this time?"
Ichigo didn't answer first. They chose a room and sat on the beds. Orange-head sighed deeply: "Basic stuff. Trying to keep them out of troubles, looking for Hollows and solving other messes in here."
"But it has been annoying without any other sparring partner than my Hollow." Ichigo frowned.
"Hey! What does that mean?" Shiro whined on the background. Ichigo just ignored him.
Renji grinned: "Is that a challenge?" he leaned forwards. Ichigo's grin matched Renji's: "Maybe? Or are you scared to face a Captain?"
"Don't be kidding me! I have become stronger while you just have been sitting on your lazy ass for months!"
"I have not! PINEAPPLE!"
"You are not the one to say that! STRAWBERRY!"
"PINEAPPLE!"
"STRAWBERRY!"
"PINEAPPLE!"
"STRAWBERRY!"
They had walked back downstairs without noticing it. People turned to look at the corridor when they heard their arguing. Molly frowned worriedly.
"Are they going at it again?"
"Yeah, those two will never stop that." Hitsugaya gritted his teeth. Why did he need to come here?
"Wait a minute…" Sirius looked horrified: "They are yelling in corridor!" he jumped up.
"So?" Rukia and Matsumoto asked, but answer came immediately:
"WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE YELLING IN MY OWN HOUSE? MUDBLOODS! MUDBLOODS!" woman's voice started to scream.
"Shit…" Sirius ran to Renji and Ichigo to pull curtains back together.
"Who is yelling?" Hitsugaya frowned when Sirius sprinted through the door. That voice gave chills. Molly sighed: "It's painting which presents old owner of the house. His mother."
Eyebrows lifted around the room, but at the same time yelling stopped and three men walked back to kitchen.
"Idiots." Rukia said and took another bite from bread.
Ichigo coughed couple times and it sounded suspiciously like "midget". Rukia didn't hear it or decided to ignore him this time.
"Dears, eat something." Molly smiled motherly and all sat to the table. After quiet dinner, Renji and Ichigo glanced each other. Hitsugaya noticed that: "What are you planning now?" he narrowed his eyes. This didn't mean anything good.
"We were just thinking…" Renji started and scratched his neck: "…That is there any place where we could…" Ichigo continued: "Spar a bit?" Renji finished the sentence. Ron, Hermione and Harry blinked few times. That sounded like Fred and George when they talked about something.
"Why?" young Captain asked with closed eyes, though he knew already what was the point.
"I have not been able to spar with anyone for a while", Ichigo shrugged: "And I need to relieve stress sometimes too. Besides, I want to beat his annoying ass since he has gotten pretty arrogant lately."
"HEY!" Renji frowned: "You are just scared that I will beat you!"
"SHUT UP BOTH!" Hitsugaya yelled and stood up. He turned to Sirius: "Is here anywhere near large area where aren't many humans?"
Sirius blinked few times: "Erm… Outside London might be one place. There they kept Quidditch World Cup last year, so I think that spells which kept humans away, are still working a bit."
"That sounds great!" Renji yelled. Ichigo was nodding next to him: "Show us."
After persuasion Sirius and Hitsugaya managed to postpone the sparring to tomorrow. Ichigo knew that he was tired after all-nighter and he wanted to be lively to fight. Renji had gotten better lately, he couldn't deny it.
Next morning was full of excitement. Afternoon they would go to visit Arthur, but before that, wizards would be able to witness fight of soul reapers.
"What do you think it's like?" Ron grinned to Harry when they put their clothes on in the bedroom. Harry shrugged but smiled. He had seen Ichigo's sword and boy, he was eager to see it again.
Hope you enjoyed.