A/N: Hey everyone! How was your week? Good I hope! Thanks so much to all those who reviewed. OVER 200! Seriously that's amazing. You guys are awesome.

Alright. Just a quick note here. Several people have pointed out that while in a gigai, a soul does have to eat. I would like to thank those who pointed out this error but I'm actually using it as a bit of a plot device....

Another person pointed out that if all the ghosts were gone who would be teaching History of Magic? Actually...I had something written up to deal with that a while back...and I forgot about it...Yeah I'm that forgetful *smiles nervously*. Eventually I'll go back and integrate that document in but for now just humour me alright?

PS. Thanks to Tanglemask for helping me get over my writers block! Being friends sounds like fun!


Dumbledore smiled in a way that was almost similar to Gin, "The really interesting thing is that when I asked one of them why they had hidden themselves away he said it was to protect themselves. He said a powerful and dangerous adversary had come to Hogwarts, under the guise of a white haired child."


Toshiro glared at the older man as he continued to smile, "So, you know I'm not a normal student. What do you plan on doing?"

The headmaster leaned forward, "I'm not sure exactly what you are Mr. Hitsugaya, if that's even your real name. But, if you pose such a threat I might just have to...neutralize you."

The temperature in the room began to slowly drop as Toshiro stared, "Neutralize me?" Dumbledore nodded, "Unless that is...I can put you to good use. From what Sir Nicholas said you have powers beyond the comprehension of the wizarding world."

Snape snorted but kept his wand at the ready as he stood near Hitsugaya's side. "I think three wizards of our caliber will be more then enough to control you."

McGonagall stepped forward with a look of horror on her face, "But Albus he's just a boy! Surely there's another way." The headmaster shook his head sadly, "Don't be fooled Minerva. He could very well be a monster that wouldn't hesitate to kill you."

The woman paled but continued, "Maybe so but I— "Not now Minerva," he snapped, his eyes going cold before turning back to Hitsugaya.

The white haired Shinigami glared from where he stood, "You really think I'll sit back and let you control me?" Dumbledore grinned, "My dear boy you don't have a choice in the matter."

The temperature suddenly dropped dramatically and the wind began to howl outside of the tower, "This is a grievous mistake on your part Dumbledore." The man smiled, "Is it?"

The windows broke open and snow began to flood into the room. The wind continued to roar as the walls and floors began to ice over.

"You dare threaten me boy," snarled Hitsugaya, his teal eyes glowing. "I have lived longer then you ever will and I could cut you down the moment I decided to do so and yet you have the gull to believe you can manipulate me?!"

Dumbledore stood and withdrew his wand, his eyes narrowing, "You're doing all this," he asked over the wind as snow began to gather in his beard. Toshiro smiled while the headmaster paled as a wave of killing intent rolled over him, "This is nothing."

The air was becoming heavy and thick making it hard for the wizards to breathe as they struggled to stay standing, "I suggest you back down before someone gets hurt."

Snape stepped forward, struggling as he did, "Headmaster, this boy is far too dangerous to keep within the school." Hitsugaya stood stoically as the temperature dropped far below zero, "I came here with no intent of harming any or the students or staff but if you push me I won't hesitate to remove any obstacles that interfere with my mission."

The potions master glared, "How dare you threaten us you insolent child?!" Dumbledore held up a hand, "Do not forget Severus. This is no child. He is nothing short of a monster."

"Call me what you will," Hitsugaya shrugged. The headmaster smirked, "Sir Nicholas was right in saying you were powerful. Severus, Minerva."

Snape stepped forward his wand held in front of him and fired off a curse. Toshiro growled to himself as he realized he was trapped. His gikongan was back in his room sealed away in his trunk.

A beam of red came shooting towards him which he easily sidestepped. He let his frosty reiatsu flood the room even more and it bore down upon the wizards.

McGonagall struggled to keep her wand arm up and soon she had to brace her arm with her other. With his limit on and the drain he had been feeling he couldn't unnecessarily waste any of his energy.

Snape was fairing quite a bit better then the woman and quickly shouted out, "Petrificus Totalus!"

Hitsugaya swore inwardly as he suddenly found himself unable to move his gigai. Snape smirked as he slipped his wand back into his robes and returned to his former position.

He'd have to wait for them to drop their guard and then somehow make it to his room. In his gigai the most he could do was release his spiritual energy and while he was running so short on it, it could do little more then intimidate them.

He needed Hyorinmaru; he needed to be able to move freely. He needed a plan.

Dumbledore smiled as he stepped out from behind his desk not nearly as badly affected by the pressure as Hitsugaya would have liked, "You have an amazing power for one who appears so young. Tell me," he continued quietly as he slipped a hand under the Shinigami's small chin and lifted his head to meet his eyes, "How old are you exactly?"

Before he realized what was happening pictures of Hinamori and his grandmother were flitting through his head as if he was watching a film. He was eating watermelon on a hot afternoon while sitting out on the porch of the house, Momo was telling him how she was going to become—

He quickly broke eye contact with a snarl directed at the man who towered above him. The headmaster smirked, but Toshiro could see the goose bumps on his skin from the cold, "I'll have to figure out exactly what you are before I can properly put you to work. Until then I'm afraid you'll have to pay a visit to the dungeons."

Inwardly the taicho was almost glad, he didn't really mind the dungeons; with their cool temperature they were far nicer then the common room.

"Now, if you don't mind its rather chilly in here and the carpets are going to be ruined if it snows for much longer," he raised his wand "Stupify."

The world faded away.

---

Potions had long ended and dinner had begun yet Toshiro and Snape had yet to reappear, even Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore were missing.

Harry frowned as he sipped his pumpkin juice, "I wonder where he got to." Neville looked worried as he hurried up to sit with him and Ron, "You don't think Toshiro got into trouble do you?"

Hermione shook her head from across the table, "He hadn't really done anything wrong. But, it might be about his not eating...I just don't see why Snape would have been called to the meeting as well. McGonagall is a must seeing as she's his head of house, but I just don't get why Snape would go. And then Dumbledore..."

Ron shrugged as he cut into his roast, "We'll just have to ask him what happened when he comes back."

But he didn't come back...

---

Hitsugaya woke to the sound of Dumbledore's voice.

As he cracked open his teal eyes he realized that he had been tied to a chair that had been placed in the middle of a rather large cell. The room was cold and he took comfort in that but the fact was that he was completely at the mercy of the wizards was unsettling.

He could feel something almost...pulling at him. Draining him and causing his concentration to slip away as he struggled to steady his breathing. They were going to find a way to kill him, he just knew it.

He'd be letting everyone down and soon his nightmares would become reality. He could see it playing through his mind. The blood there was so much blood. Dead children in the streets and the injured crying out for help, comrades lying mangled in the fields, their blood splattered through the blades or—

He snapped his eyes open having not realized he had let them slip closed as he tried to expel the images from his head.

The headmaster's face came into view as he stepped from the shadows, "I see they have a very negative effect on you. You and Harry have that in common." Toshiro let his gaze slide across the room until it landed on two Dementors who were waiting in front of the cell door.

He'd broken out into a cold sweat as tremors racked his bound body. His vision was swimming and he knew he was slowly being absorbed by the hooded creatures. "Albus, he looks horrible. Are you sure about this," asked a voice he knew to belong to McGonagall.

The old man sighed, "Minerva please," he said sounded exasperated "We've talked about this." Toshiro could hear her grumbling from within the shadows that blanketed the corners of the room.

Dumbledore smiled kindly, "But she does have a point doesn't she Mr. Hitsugaya. You're looking quite awful." The small taicho growled but the noise only made his head pound. "While you were unconscious I tried to gain access to your mind and I was met with something quite...odd to say the least. Almost like ice."

Toshiro clenched his fists. The whole thing was unsettling to say the least and he found himself feeing insulted and offended that the headmaster had dared to delve into his mind.

"So tell me Toshiro, what exactly am I dealing with here," he said as he leaned in. Had the taicho been a lesser person he would have spat into that smug face, "I believe you must have your own theories on the matter."

The man sighed as he stepped back, "Of course we have theories. But they are just that. Truthfully, I find you rather perplexing. You're looks, and the way the Thestrals are drawn to you, and let's not forget your powers over the temperature and your inability to eat. I've never met anything quite like you." Toshiro frowned but otherwise kept quiet.

"Headmaster if I may interrupt," the drawling voice of Snape said as he stepped into view. "I hardly see how this is going to help us. The boy clearly refuses to say anything and I for one would like to return to my room before dawn."

Dumbledore nodded but continued to stare at the boy who remained bound in front of him, "You know, Toshiro. Like I mention earlier, I do have some theories. Would you be willing to tell me if they were accurate?"

"I'll tell you nothing bastard," he hissed as he stared at the man's chest, making sure not to make eye contact. The older man chuckled as he began to pace the room, "Olivander had it in his head that you weren't alive. He said when fitting you for your wand he could feel death emanating from you."

He stopped his pacing and pulled his wand from within the folds of his robes, "It would be so easy to torture it out of you Toshiro, please just tell me what I need to know."

Hitsugaya glared, "Do what you will. I won't tell you anything. Kill me if you must."

The headmaster stared at him and he made the mistake of looking into his eyes. They were eerily wide, a look of insanity present in their depths, "But can I do even that Toshiro? Could I end your life? Or would you simply continue to sit there and taunt me?"

The small taicho could hear the hysteria within the steady voice. The man was reaching his limit. "Tell me, are you really dead? Are you some sort of freak? Some immortal monster that has come to wreak havoc? Or are you simply here to kill us?! Do you see Toshiro? Do you? This is the difference between life and death for you!"

The tenth division head could see Professor McGonagall looking wary as she stepped forward as is preparing to protect her student.

He sighed, "I have come to observe; nothing more." Dumbledore smiled happily, "Observe what exactly? What are you?"

Hitsugaya shook his head as he tried to get some circulation in his bound wrists, "I will tell you nothing more."

The smile slipped from the headmaster's wrinkled face quickly, almost comically,

"I see. Cruico."

Pain ripped through his body as if his bones themselves were burning. He'd been stabbed in the chest before and yet this pain was far worse. It was like his insides were boiling as he bit through his tongue, but he refused to cry out.

Just as suddenly as it had appeared the pain was gone and he opened his eyes to find McGonagall looking horrified while Dumbledore looked at him rather sadly.

The taicho spat the blood from his mouth only to have it fill open again with the thick metallic tasting liquid.

"I'm very sorry it's come to this my boy." And he did seem sorry which was rather surprising. A wrinkled hand reached out and wiped the blood from his small chin, "Please tell me Toshiro."

"ALBUS STOP THIS INSTANT!"

Numbness spread through his body as black spots coated his vision. He could still feel his energy being leached from his body and blood was spilling from his chin down onto the white of his dress shirt.

He could only hope he wouldn't bite his tongue off. His wrists were bleeding too as the ropes, magically reinforced cut into them and chaffed the skin. At this rate his gigai would be ruined.

McGonagall was standing in front of him with her arms thrown wide, "Albus I don't know what's gotten into you but this has to stop. He's just a boy."

When the headmaster went to say something she cut him off, "I don't care how old he actually is. He is in the body of a boy and I will view him as such!"

Dumbledore knocked her aside and Toshiro felt something strike him across the face; a fist.

He gagged as he almost swallowed a tooth that had been knocked free. He stared up at his tormentor keeping his face blank.

"Are you ready to tell me yet Mr. Hitsugaya? I'm nearing the end of my rope and I would like to get you to the Hospital Wing." Toshiro growled through his blood coated lips, spraying the crimson through the air, "Screw you."

The pain once again flooded his body. When it stopped Dumbledore looked at him sadly, "Now are you ready?"

When the small teen once again shook his head the same fist connected with his cheek. He saw white for a moment as he tried to clear his vision only to be punched again. Dumbledore sighed, "Cruci—

"Headmaster, why don't I try," The potions master asked suddenly and Toshiro wasn't sure whether to be relieved or worried.

The man hesitated before nodding and backing away while McGonagall glared daggers at him from across the room. Hitsugaya's left eye was swelling up from being hit-for an old man he could punch hard as hell- and he knew he must have been a sorry sight.

Snape bent down and placed his hands delicately on either side of Toshiro's face. The small taicho tried to turn his head away only to have Snape tighten his grip painfully, "Just relax Hitsugaya and this will all go smoothly. Legilimens."

Black eyes stared into teal and the rest of the world seemed to fade away to nothing. Toshiro wasn't sure if his gigai was malfunctioning or if it was him but the world seemed to be spinning as the temperature dropped.

There was a roaring in his ears that he was sure was coming from Hyorinmaru but it was only getting weaker. He knew he should be trying to fight, yet something was telling him not to.

Memories were playing out in front of his eyes. His grandmother serving him rice on night at dinner, making fun of Hinamori, meeting Matsumoto in the market place, it was as if he was watching his entire life play out from the beginning. But there was something wrong...something that didn't belong.

He couldn't quite place his finger on it...there had been a reason why he hadn't wanted this. Suddenly the memories were changing. They were of the battlefield and he watched as he cut down hollows and his comrades were killed. He wasn't a taicho yet, just a normal shinigami.

Screams were filling the air and he wanted to stop—he didn't want to see anymore. He tried to shake his head to rid himself of the images only the images only to find he couldn't move. Something was holding him still— then it came back.

Snape.

His eyes were open in a flash as they glowed brightly. The temperature of the room had dropped and the potions master and apparently mind reader was shivering as he finally broke eye contact, his lips blue.

The greasy man quickly withdrew his hands and straightened himself. His eyes were almost fearful as he backed away, "Headmaster," he stared shakily "This – this boy isn't human. He isn't even alive. Olivander was right."

Dumbledore nodded, "Just as I thought." McGonagall stared wide eyed at her student, "If he's not human then what in God's name is he?!"

Snape narrowed his dark eyes, "Some sort of...warrior. He could very well be here to kill us all. But he most certainly isn't alive. I could tell just by reading his mind and he's not the only one in there."

The room went silent except for the shuddering breaths of the Dementors. "What do you mean by that Severus," The Deputy Headmistress asked worriedly.

"There's something else dwelling in him. Something strong, I could feel it trying to hold me off but the Dementors seem to help keep it at bay. They seem to be almost...eating this thing."

Dumbledore fiddled with his beard as he stared off at the guards, "I see." Toshiro blinked repeatedly as he tried to clear his vision. He could feel his eye lids drooping and he knew blood was still dripping from between his lips.

The headmaster knelt down in front of him and lifted his chin ignoring the blood, "Well Toshiro it seems we now know something about you. From now on maybe we'll just skip to Severus reading your mind instead of having to hurt you so."

The taicho wrenched his head away and spat two of his back molars to the ground before glaring at the man. Dumbledore smiled,

"Oh don't worry my boy Poppy can take care of that. But, how is it that you can bleed if you're dead hm? This is all quite interesting. But the fact is: you no longer have any rights."

"Rights," the white haired youth asked disgusted at how the blood escaped his mouth as he did. The headmaster nodded, "As far as I can tell, you're some sort of magical creature. One that isn't mentioned in any of the protection laws...," he smiled kindly as he wiped some of the blood off of Toshiro's face with his sleeve.

"That means that when it comes to you, we can do anything we want."


--

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Dear Readers,

So I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. I tried to make Dumbledore seem a little...unstable. One moment he was smiling and then next he was angry again. I really wanted to get this out before I went to Boston with my choir on Wednesday so I'm happy I met my little deadline... I'm normally not good at that sort of thing. Anyway, have any of you seen the new Naruto Shippuuden movie? I loved it! Well, maybe not all of it but the parts with Sasuke were just epic.

So, it might be a little bit before I can update. I'm away for my trip then the dire race to catch up on missed homework will begin...But it shouldn't take too long. And who knows? Maybe I'll see some of you guys out in Boston! Of course....you won't know it's me and I won't know it's you, but fate will sure as hell be laughing at us! Thanks for reading.

Yours truly,

ForeverFalling