Chapter Eleven

Hey, sorry it took so long to get this chapter up. I wanted to give plenty of time for your input to be given over this matter. Not to mention I had finals to deal with. I'm happy they're finally over and I'm back at home. Now that it's summer for me, hopefully, I can focus more on the stories I have.

The results for the poll for whether the memories should be erased or not came down to:

For erasing memory: 12

For shunning Ichigo: 7

Therefore, the memories of everyone (save a selective few) will be erased. I may have it that a few students start seeing through the memory modification, if that's what you would like.

TaleWeaver: you know, I had actually considered the idea that it was Aizen that made Draco do it. It sure sounded like a good idea and it would show that Draco is pretty susceptible to Aizen's suggestions… Might as well go with that. And seeing Lucius or Snape try to mess with Byakuya would be hilarious, a disaster waiting to happen on the wizard's part, ne? A Shinigami vs. Death Eater battle is coming up soon (may throw in a few Arrancar in as well, maybe). I'm not a too big fan of IchigoRukia, it's nice, but a little too common for my tastes. I see them a bit more like siblings, really. It'll most likely be RenRuki, if anything. And Umbridge will gets what's comng for her. evil grin I really hate her guts.

Chm01: The idea is an interesting one but I really don't like Momo too much. I mean I understand the circumstances but her loyalty to Aizen kind of rubbed me the wrong way.

YunaBlaze: the Espada will be popping up in the next chapter or so. I had to get certain factors out of the way for one.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Bleach.

Chapter ElevenThe Truth is Out

You should have had more restraint, Ichigo! Zangetsu reprimanded in his mind.

That bastard deserved it. Shiro argued in Ichigo's favor.

Professor McGonagall led him to Professor Dumbledore's office.

"Blood Pops." She said and the gargoyle moved out of the way.

When they entered the office, they saw Dumbledore talking to Snape.

"Is something wrong, Minerva?" Dumbledore asked, frowning at her expression. His eyes fell on Ichigo's bloodstained shoulder. The boy wasn't even acknowledging that he was wounded.

"There was an incident in the Eastern Magic class. Mr. Kurosaki nearly strangled Mr. Malfoy to death. If it hadn't been for Mr. Hitsugaya hurting him, he may have succeeded." The Deputy Headmistress said. Snape's eyes narrowed and Dumbledore's frown deepened. Still, Ichigo remained unresponsive.

The fifth Division Captain stirred only when he felt two different forces trying to get into his mind. He gritted his teeth and balled his hands into fists.

Shiro took that time to materialize, slamming Snape into a wall and pointing the white Zangetsu at Dumbledore.

"Get outta King's head!" he yelled, seething. He bared his fangs.

Professor McGonagall pointed her wand at Shiro but Ichigo's hand closed around her wrist.

"Stand down, Shiro. They've stopped trying, so they're not a threat anymore. Don't make things worse." Ichigo said, his voice cool. Shiro scowled.

"But King, they were being nosy." The Hollow protested.

"They have every right to be, considering what we did." The Shinigami said. "They won't get into our mind but this intrusion isn't big enough a reason to kill them. They're not our enemy." Ichigo said.

Shiro scowled, letting Snape go and putting Zangetsu back.

"King knows best." He said grudgingly, fading away.

"What the hell was that?" Snape asked, eyes wide.

Ichigo gave him a surprisingly cool look and was about to answer when someone else did for him.

"That would be the darker aspect to Kurosaki's soul, created inadvertently when Kurosaki nearly died in a strange training session a couple of years back." Hitsugaya said as he, Matsumoto, Renji and Orion entered the office, looking solemn.

"What are you doing here?" McGonagall asked with a frown. "This matter holds none of your concern."

Hitsugaya flashed a look at her and McGonagall found herself backing down instinctively. Something told her that going against the child Captain was not a good idea.

"I'm afraid that this incident concerns us all greatly, Professor McGonagall." Orion said gravely, crossing his arms.

"Would you care to elaborate, Professor Kuroba?" Dumbledore asked, looking intrigued.

"This is a complicated matter, sir." Matsumoto said. "We had intended to keep to ourselves and work alone but it seems Ichigo's loss of control has proved… detrimental to our mission."

"Mission?" Snape repeated. All three wizards seemed to become weary at that. "And what mission would that be?"

"It's technically the same as yours." Orion said. "We wish to end Voldemort's existence."

"Then why didn't you come to us? It's well known that we're working to find a way to bring him down." McGonagall said.

"You are hindered by your… rather incompetent Ministry of Magic." Hitsugaya said with a frown. "We're better off working on our own terms."

"What makes you think you can stand up effectively against the Dark Lord?" Snape asked with a frown. "You're just four 6th year students and one Professor. You'd die against him."

"We don't fear death." Renji said with a roll of his eyes. At least they didn't fear death at the hands of a mortal.

"And why is that?" Dumbledore asked calmly, looking intrigued.

"We're already dead." Hitsugaya said bluntly. Snape and McGonagall looked poleaxed while Professor Dumbledore's eyes just twinkled in fascination.

"Well… all of us except Ichigo and Orion, that is. They're both stuck between the world of the living and the dead." Renji said, earning a slight glare from Hitsugaya.

"You don't need to go into details about their… precarious situation." The ice captain declared and Renji looked sheepish.

"You don't appear to be ghosts." Dumbledore observed, giving them a once over.

"We aren't. We're Shinigami, also known as Death Gods." Matsumoto declared. "Except for Orion. He's completely human. We were sent here by the head Captain to deal with Voldemort because he has committed a crime that Soul Society just can't ignore."

"And that crime would be?" McGonagall asked with a frown.

"He split his soul seven times. Humans are meant to have one Chain of Fate. By giving himself seven, he has defied normal laws concerning death." Hitsugaya said matter-of-factly.

Dumbledore sat up straighter at that point.

"So you know of the Horcruxes." He said, sounding solemn. "You aim to destroy them?"

The Shinigami and Orion nodded.

"Why did you choose to tell us all of this now?" Snape asked.

"Simple. Ichigo's loss of control can cause serious damage. We managed to erase the memories of all those who witnessed the attack but we have a feeling it wouldn't work on you, therefore we decided coming out with the truth would be the best course of action." Orion declared, giving Snape a clear look of dislike.

"Is there anything else you'd like to share?" the Headmaster inquired, looking curious.

"That's all you need to know for now. We'll disclose more information when it's needed." Hitsugaya stated definitively. They would keep Orion's true identity, Aizen and the truth about what Ichigo really was a secret for now.

"Well, it's good that you chose to inform us of your mission. Perhaps now our combined efforts may be of some benefit." Dumbledore declared. "Nevertheless, Mr. Kurosaki's actions can't go unpunished."

Ichigo looked down, preparing for the worst. What he'd done was a pretty serious offense. The punishment wouldn't be light. He wouldn't even be surprised if he was expelled.

"A month's worth of detention with Professor Snape should suffice." The Headmaster decided, much to the Shinigami's surprise. Ichigo was getting off light. "I'd also like to ask the five of you to join the Order of the Pheonix. We'll create a cover story for the students so that they're presence isn't questioned."

"I guess we can agree to that." Orion said. At least now they had their opening to the Order. Dumbledore nodded, looking pleased.

"Then I guess that's all we have to discuss for now." He said and he dismissed them.

When they were alone again, Ichigo let some of his emotions come through.

"I'm sorry… I shouldn't have lost control like that." He apologized.

"Yeah, you shouldn't have." Hitsugaya said. "But it's too late now to apologize. You reacted the way any human would to a sensitive matter. We've already eliminated the worst of the risks that came with your outburst. The only ones who will remember this incident will be Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, Professor Dumbledore and Aizen."

"It could be worse, you know." Matsumoto declared brightly. "They could all remember and then you'd be in even more trouble… particularly with that horrible Umbridge woman."

"Only you would sound so optimistic when you said that." Renji said with a shake of his head.

Ichigo still looked pretty down, concerning his companions. Matsumoto smirked as she got an idea. She grabbed Ichigo by the wrist, stopping him.

"I've got an idea that will cheer you straight up." She said happily. She then turned to Orion. "Is there any place in this castle that we'd be ensured to have some peace and quiet?"

"The Room of Requirement would be good." He suggested, though he sounded bewildered. "It's on the 7th floor. I'll show it to you. All you have to do is walk three times in front of where the door would be, all the while thinking of what you need and it will appear."

Matsumoto's smile just grew wider.

"It sounds perfect." She said and she led Ichigo off to it. Renji, Hitsugaya and Orion followed.

When they entered the Room of Requirement, the Shinigami blinked. The room looked like a sake bar.

Hitsugaya sighed in slight annoyance.

"I should have known this was what she was planning." He said, but in no ways was he complaining. They all could use a good drink.

"Here you go." Matsumoto said, handing a bottle to Ichigo.

"I'm underage." He protested with wide eyes at what she was proposing.

"You've gone through more than a normal kid your age would go through. I think you're entitled to this more than a lot of people." Matsumoto declared. "Come on, just for one night. You need it."

"Go ahead, Ichigo. It might help you forget about what happened today, for a short while at least." Renji said, grabbing another bottle and taking a swig.

"As a professor, I shouldn't condone this sort of behavior… but considering who you guys are… I'll let it slide." Orion said, sounding amused. He took a bottle of firewhiskey for himself.

Ichigo blinked as even Hitsugaya took a bottle and it was at that point that he gave in.

"What the hell." He decided, taking a large gulp and grimacing slightly as it went down his throat.

The next morning, Ichigo woke up with a killer hangover. He groaned.

"Next time… Matsumoto tries to get me to drink… remind me to refuse…" he muttered, stumbling to his feet. He stared as he realized none of the others were awake yet, not even Hitsugaya. After a moment, he smirked.

Renji was sprawled in a corner, snoring and drooling, muttering "Rukia" over and over again. Orion was snuggled up nearby, holding a silver wolf plushy to him with a dreamy look on his face. But it was Hitsugaya and Matsumoto that amused Ichigo most of all. They lay together on a green couch similar to the one in Hitsugaya's office, limbs intertwined.

Ichigo wished he had a camera and it popped up in a corner. He grinned. He really did like this room. He quickly took pictures of all his friends for blackmail purposes.

Despite his hangover (which Shiro and Zangetsu were helping him deal with), Ichigo realized that Matsumoto had been right. He felt much better than he had the day before. The emotional tension he'd gone through was completely gone. Though he couldn't really remember what had happened that night while they were drinking, something must have happened to help lift the tension.

The others soon woke up and Hitsugaya quickly shunpo-ed a good distance from Matsumoto, face burning in embarrassment. Matsumoto just smirked.

"You don't need to act like a gentleman around me, Taichou. You could have stayed where you were." She teased, giggling as he flushed harder and gave her a glare.

They all shared a good laugh at each other's expense when Orion spoke.

"While this clear disregard for normal school ruled has been fun, I think it's time to end the fun and games. You guys still have classes to deal with." Orion said, as they all took one of the hangover potions that had popped up in the room.

The Shinigami nodded, a bit more sober now, and headed off.

It was time to come face to face with all of students again and see just what had been altered with the Shinigami's use of the Memory Modifier.

I hope you liked the chapter. I was thinking… should I pair Sirius up with someone? I've been getting into the Sirius/Remus fandom and was thinking of putting it into this story. He does need someone for himself… particularly after what he's been through, don't you think?

Coming up soon will be the Hogsmeade visit… which will have some interesting situations. If you have anything you'd like to see in it, feel free to tell.