Chapter 12

It wasn't long before Harry caved in to his friends and agreed to teach a Defense Against the Dark Arts club. After securing Harry's consent Hermione cornered Ichigo and Ulquiorra to ask them how they were going to teach the physical defense portion, all she received was an unholy grin promising a future of pain from Ichigo and a coldly calculative look from Ulquiorra. She had left wondering just what she had unleashed upon her fellow peers. When the day of meeting their prospective students finally arrived it was during a Hogsmeade weekend,

"Ron and I have been scouting out some prospective students, and a few seem interested so we're meeting them at the Hog's Head today at around noon."

Ichigo looked up from her breakfast of eggs and toast, "What about that Three Broomsticks or whatever that you guys told us about?"

"It's always too crowded," Said Hermione, "No real room for us not to be overheard."

"That is exactly why you should use it," Ulquiorra's voice floated out from behind Hermione's Daily Prophet,

"Huh?"

The scrunching of paper could be heard as Ulquiorra balled up the newspaper before pulling out his wand and vanishing it with a mutter of "trash"before he explained, "If the Three Broomsticks is always full of people then it is an establishment looked upon in a better light,"

"And thus you are less likely to be associated with shady dealings" Continued Ichigo,

"Not including the general noise will muffle your conversation,"Ulquiorra picked up when Ichigo left off.

Ron looked between the two as they both took another bite of their meal, "Not to change the subject or anything but can you two read each other's minds?"

Both hybrids made choking noises before coughing on the food chunks they had inhaled thanks to Ron's statement,

"No!" Ichigo managed, "We can't do that."

Harry raised an eyebrow, "Really? Cause I thought you could the way you two always pick up each other's sentences."

Ulquiorra shook his head, "We've just been around each other for a long time."

'Yea,' Ichigo thought wryly 'About fifty five years,'

"I've been with Ron and Hermione since we were eleven and I can't finish their sentences like you two do."

Ichigo scowled, "Like Ulquiorra said, a long time." And her expression showed that she refused to tell anymore.

"So, since breakfast is over we might as well start heading to the Hog's Head then." Hermione said, apparently ignoring Ulquiorra and Ichigo's advice.

The two hybrids just sighed before they got up to join the Golden Trio on the way to the nearby wizarding village. When the group passed the pillars atop which stood winged boars with their tusks bared both Ichigo and Ulquiorra froze mid-step and exchanged horrified glances,

"It can't be-"

"It is-"

"Kuso." They both said to Harry, Ron and Hermione's confusion,

"Wha?"

Harry's question was cut off as a green blur swept Ichigo away with a loud shout of "Itsygo!" filled with enthusiasm and joy.

Blinking in shock Harry saw his cousin, his 'nothing can hurt me',cousin being swung around like a ragdoll by a woman with sea-green hair. He just couldn't look away, this woman was constantly shouting Ichigo's name with a slightly childish lisp as she swung the orange and white haired younger girl around, she wore a simple turtleneck sweater in a slightly darker shade of green than her hair and faded blue-jeans. She had a strange red mark stretching across the bridge of her nose and across her face just below her eyes, she also had a faint scar coming from her hairline and ending near an eyebrow. Harry had a slight blush however when he noticed how developed she was in a certian area, but he was doing better than Ron who was openly staring.

"Nice— to see you too— *Gasp* Nel, but I *Wheeze* NEED AIR!"

The woman, Nel froze, her eyes opening in shock to reveal a greyish-green before she dropped Ichigo to the ground who began to quickly suck in air to appease her abused lungs.

As Ichigo finally recovered, and Ulquiorra maintained a safe distance to prevent any hugging while he said his hello to Nel another voice drifted over to the group,

"Oi! Emospada! What's the big idea not sending us any letters?"

Looking over Harry saw what was practically the color version of one of Ichigo's drawings. A man looking exactly like her drawing of her friend Grimmjow, only wearing different clothes, but again Harry noticed the odd hair color. The man's hair was a light blue, his eyes the same color and with tattoo like markings of the same color under his eyes. But the most shocking was his open vest like shirt, showing the large scar that had been present in Ichigo's drawing. Harry felt a cold pit forming in his gut as he stared at the scar, it was clearly painful but he couldn't help but wonder what had caused such a horrible scar.

"Grimmjow…" Ulquiorra growled out,

Harry was midly intimidated by the glare his cousin's boyfriend sent towards Grimmjow, but the man just waved it off before walking up and slapping him on the back.

"So, you gonna explain why we have heard nothing from you yet?"

"Things have been busy" Ichigo sighed, "and it isn't like you two could do anything, besides mentally scar the populous."

Harry raised an eyebrow, that was interesting to hear. He was interrupted from his thoughts however when Nel suddenly popped up into his view he could have sworn she apperated,

"Wah!"

"Hmm'' Nel looked thoughtful as she stared at the flailing boy-who-lived, "Are you sure he's your cousin Itsygo?"

"Huh?" Ichigo turned from Ulquiorra and Grimmjow who were starting an argument that she had been trying to stop in Japanese.

"Well, when you told us you and Ulquiorra were going to Hogwarts to be with your cousin I thought he would be a bit less…wimpy."

Harry gaped openly, "I-" Then her last word registered in his brain, "I am not a wimp!"

Ichigo snickered, as Nel continued, "But how can you be related to Itsygo? Urahara's description of you matches perfectly but you are just so weak…"

As she said weak Nel had grabbed Harry's arm and was poking his biceps with a disappointed, deadpan look to it. Harry snatched his arm back with a scowl, "I am not weak! I've handled loads of stuff!"

One of Nel's eyebrows rose a fraction of an inch, "Even your scowl isn't intimidating, Itsygo's is much better."

Harry felt his eyebrow twitch as Nel continued to point out various ways he was 'weak' while Ichigo was clutching her sides in silent laughter, even Ron was laughing while Hermione stared at the still arguing Ulquiorra and Grimmjow. He was sure that if Nel had come face to face with a basilisklike he did she would probably run screaming.

"Oi! I am NOT WEAK!"

Nel stopped mid-way through saying that Harry probably couldn't even lift zangetsu— 'Whatever the hell that is' Thought Harry, he was about to open his mouth when Ron finally decided to support his friend,

"Yea, he did kill a bloody basilisk, -heehee— and get past a dragon, that is pretty scary stuff."

Nel blinked, "What's a basilisk?"

Ichigo finally recovered, "It's a giant snake Nel, like Bawabawa in size but with a gaze that kills if you look it in the eye and nasty venom."

Nel blinked before looking between Harry and Ichigo before saying "Just one? And just getting past a dragon? I was over estimating him."

Harry felt a vein pulse in his forehead, "What the hell? By what standards are you calling me weak?!"

Nel grinned, "I'm comparing you to Itsygo, duh! I remember when we met in Hueco Mundo when she was about to— Mfft?!"

Ichigo had her hand over Nel's mouth and an obviously fake smile on her face, "Now, now, no need to tell anybody about that hmm? They don't know about that yet." She said the last part with her usual scowl before removing her hand from Nel's mouth,

"They don't?! but, but,"

"They don't Nel, nothing."

Nel's eyes widened considerably, "You mean you haven't told them, anything?"

"That ain't like you." Grimmjow popped up behind Harry, making him jump slightly, "You wouldn't happen to be scared of a couple kids, would ya strawberry?"

It was silent but for Ulquiorra's muttered,"idiot"

Ichigo had stiffened upon hearing the insult, turning to face him she gave a smile so obviously fake and sweet it was slightly disturbing, "What did you say?"

Unheeding the dangerous territory Grimmjow cockily replied, "You heard me strawberrry, and this time you don't have reiatsu." He finished with a smug grin,

Despite Harry's believe otherwise, Ichigo's grin got wider as a dangerous gleam sparked in her eyes,

"Ah, but your forgetting something."

Grimmjow tilted his head curiously, "Oh? I don't think so."

Nel was muttering about Grimmjow biting of more than he could chew as Ichigo's eyes narrowed to dangerous slits.

"No hierro."

As the two words left her mouth Grimmjow's smug grin was wiped from his face before he turned pale. Saying nothing he immediately turned around and began running as though a dragon were chasing him. Looking back to Ichigo however Harry thought that was a good comparison as Ichigo began chasing him with fists raised menacingly, he could hear her shouting "MY NAME IS NOT STRAWBERRY DAMNIT! AND YOU KNOW IT! NOW STAY PUT SO I CAN KICK YOUR ASS!"

Nobody said anything for a while, none of the Golden Trio understanding what they just saw. But as usual Hermione's brain processed the information fastest. "Strawberry?That's the insult?!"

Both Nel and Ulquiorra grinned slightly, still hearing Ichigo's furious shouts now accompanied by Grimmjow's pleads for her to spare him the pain. "Grimmjow never learns."

The group lapsed into silence, if Grimmjow's frightened screams were ignored, but it wasn't long before Ulquiorra gave Nel a sidelong glance, "Want to watch?"

Nel simply gave a big smile before bouncing on her heels, "Yup!" She popped the 'p' and quickly grabbed Ulquiorra's arm, causing his hand to be ripped out of its pocket as she enthusiastically dragged him off to where the screaming was coming from.

Once the two were out of sight Harry just looked to Hermione and Ron, "Do you have any idea what just happened?"

Upon receiving two negative responses he sighed, "Me neither."

"But strawberry?"Asked Hermione incredulously,

Ron just snickered, "I've so got to remember that, it'll be fun calling her that."

Harry gave his friend a flat glare, "You did just see a grown man run away screaming from my cousin after he called her that, right?"

"So?" Ron asked airily, at that point there was a particularly shrill scream from the direction Nel had dragged Ulquiorra to, causing Ron's face to pale. "Err— on second thought maybe I won't call her that."

Harry gave a light chuckle while Hermione frowned,"It isn't good that she is that violent though, do you think it has something to do with their hybrid status? And Ichigo clearly cut off Nel from saying something about a…Hueco Mundo."

"Guzzuntite," Said Ron,

"I didn't sneeze Ronald, Nel mentioned Ichigo doing something in a place called Hueco Mundo but." She chewed her lip in indecision, "I've never heard of the place."

Harry tried to think of any time when Ichigo mentioned a place like that before but came up blank, "Ichigo's never mentioned it before. Maybe it's in a different language?"

"Of course!" Hermione's eyes blazed with curiosity,"She and her friends are Japanese so obviouslyit would be a different language! Thanks Harry!"

Harry couldn't do much more than blink before Ron reminded them of the meeting in the Hog's Head causing Hermione to manhandle both boys as she dragged them off while doing a very good impression of the rabbit of Alice and Wonderland.

((Pagebreak))

Ichigo sighed a contented sigh as she exerted a little more pressure with her left foot, which was currently forcing a blue-haired head into the ground. A wicked grin spread across her face when a muffled groan of pain came from below her foot, it was good to have some sense of her definition of normal back in her life. Looking up at the sky Ichigo couldn't help but feel out of place as she looked around at the living world, everything just seemed heavy. Even though it was only a few months she already missed the atmosphere of Soul Society, she missed the lightness of the air, the feeling of peace when she went for walks in the rare moments of quiet. She even missed the haunting beauty of Hueco Mundo, but most of all she simply felt like she belonged when she was in either place, she was herself when she worked with her division and when she helped with the reorganizing and improving of the Rukonagai districts, a project she had personally petitioned for.

Ichigo snorted, 'I can't belive I'm actually missing doing work.'

"I think it is more the company than the work Ichigo." Came Zangetsu's voice,

'Yea, I suppose you're right. Don't get me wrong I like spending time with Harry and his friends but I just don't feel like myself anymore, probably sounds pretty stupid.'

She could feel her Zanpakuto sending her feelings of understanding and comfort, "No it doesn't, when you are with them you are cutting yourself off from an integral part of what makes you, you."

Zangetsu didn't need to explain any more, Ichigo understood what he was saying. Being a shinigami wasn't just a description of Ichigo, but a fundamental part of herself. When she was with her cousin she had to keep so much of her true self hidden, she couldn't crack jokes that her friends would get because they had lived through the situations the jokes often referenced too. She couldn't even show them how she truly appeared because they wouldn't understand.

Looking up at the snapping of a twig Ichigo saw Nel and Ulquiorra emerging from the trail that went near the Shrieking Shack, Ichigo and Grimmjow were currently standing not even five feet from the dilapidated building.

"I see you caught him."

Ichigo's smirk returned, and she replied by simply stomping her antagonist's head deeper into the dirt.

Nel giggled as her boyfriend gave another groan of pain, Grimmjow was covered in bruises from Ichigo's punishment but he would probably be back to his normal annoying self in no time.

"So, we're probably late to Harry's little Defense club meeting. Oh well, let's see how many of the wussys we can scare shitless."

As she started speaking Ichigo removed her foot from Grimmjow's head, and as she predicted it didn't take long before he had his usual smirk back in place.

"So, how are we gonna scare those kids?" Grimmjow rubbed his hands together as he looked at Ichigo, but it was Ulquiorra who spoke up.

"I have an idea."

Grimmjow decided that the former quatra espada was spending too much time with Ichigo; his grin did not bode well.

((Pagebreak))

Harry stared at the large group of students; the meeting had gone smoothly for the most part much to his relief. But now there was one last question from Neville,

"You said we could learn how to fight with martial arts, I didn't know that you knew how to do that too Harry. But won't it be hard teaching two different classes at the same time?"

Harry scratched the back of his head nervously, "Err-about that Neville, I won't be teaching you how to fight with martial arts."

The gathered students looked to each other in confusion, while both Fred and George paled as they realized who Harry was talking about.

"Then who-"

Neville was interrupted as one of the windows shattered as a man with blue hair was thrown roughly into the building. Many of the students gave yells of shock as the man rolled to a stop before getting up and holding his head,

"OI! WHAT THE FUCKING HELL WAS THAT FOR? DAMNIT!"

Many students either had their jaws hanging or where blushing in embarrassment at the man's vulgar language, but they were even more shocked when they saw their classmates Ichigo and Ulquiorra calmly stepped through the window.

Harry sucked in a sharp breath; his cousin's eyes were cold and distant, the amber holding no warmth. He felt a slight shiver of fear crawl up his spine as he saw a predatory glint in her eyes, looking closely he saw that it wasn't just her eyes but her whole body language had changed drastically, she looked ready to pounce and attack at a moment's notice, and Ulquiorra was the same.

The whole group was so focused on their two classmates that they didn't even notice when a green haired woman came in and nudged the blue haired man to join her in a dark corner. Ichigo never let her gaze drop from the students, she kept staring at each of them in the eyes a sinister grin spread across her face and grew larger with each averted pair of eyes. Pulling out her wand Ichigo softly muttered the incantation to the repairing spell causing the shards of the broken window to fly back into place.

"For those who do not know me, I am Ichigo Kurosaki." Ichigo strode towards the table Harry was standing on, her words as even as her silent footsteps. None of the students said a word, each of them sensing the authority the orange and white haired girl before them possessed.

"I will be the one instructing you in the martial arts, and I shall instruct you my way. If you find you unsatisfactory then I shall drop you from my teaching."

She was met with stunned silence, taking it as an invitation to continue she spoke up again, her voice containing all the authority and weight of her position as a captain of the Goeti 14.

"While I shall be teaching hand-to-hand combat to those willing, and those whom I approve of. Ulquiorra shall teach swordsmanship to those who fulfill the same criteria."

It was at this point that a Ravenclaw spoke up, "Swordsmanship? Harry said that we could learn hand-to-hand so we would have something to defend ourselves with if we lost our wands. We aren't going to be carrying around swords, and besides, it would be dangerous!"

Ulquiorra then spoke up from his position just behind Ichigo, his voice flat and emotionless causing several students to shiver in fear much to Ichigo's slightly demented amusement. "Then if no one wants to learn how to use a sword I shall assist Ichigo in teaching you how to fight without any weapons."

He paused, keeping his hands in his pockets he displayed nothing but an emotionless mask seemingly devoid of any flicker of life, "Does anyone here wish to learn how to fight with a sword?"

The silence lasted long enough for the students' opinion to be understood. However it was only a second after Ulquiorra nodded in understanding that a boy spoke up, his voice scathing with disgust, "Personally I don't see why we have to learn such barbaric skills. Fighting with our fists? We are not muggle, we have magic."

Harry opened his mouth to reprimand the boy but Ichigo shook her head, if she let her cousin handle the discipline then she would lose any respect from her future students. Instead Ichigo whirled onto the boy, blond haired and an arrogant expression on his face. She was entirely silent as she let the silence drag on, putting him on edge as he stared at her grin which had become even more twisted, and even containing a hint of bloodlust as she thought about beating him up to prove her point.

"We are not forcing you to learn from us, but if you are so confident about your magical prowess and its superiority over the martial arts then feel free to challenge me during the first lesson." Her eyes flashed dangerously, "It will be an, excellent demonstration...what is your name?"

The boy shifted his weight, signifying his unease as Ichigo waited patiently for his name which he gave in a voice that sounded brave, "Zacharias Smith,"

But she could hear the tremble.

"Good, then consider yourself volunteered for a demonstration Smith."

Looking away and gleefully hearing a slight whimper Ichigo addressed the entire group, "Whether or not you decide to learn from us remember, we can drop you at any time, and we will be harsh, you may very well hate us by the end of the first day."

Ichigo paused to let her words sink in, before she let her intimidating grin fade and be replaced by a blank mask, "But do not think that we will care, we will be there to teach you how to stay alive in the case that you lose your wand, not make friends. We will teach you the skills needed to survive should you lose your wands because rest assured."

Ichigo focused on each of them with a hard stare that was heavy with experience, Harry could have sworn that her eyes almost began to glow in the gloom.

"Voldemort, rouge deatheaters, even thugs and rapists will show you no mercy, they shall not care if you lose your wand, they will exploit any opening you give them. We will teach you the same, to fight any enemy, knowing is half the battle, you must know what you are going to do and what your opponent may do. Take it, or leave it."

With that the two shinigami turned with a swirl of their cloaks and began walking to the door, the students parting before them as the two exuded a somewhat dark aura of presence. Once they left the blue main stood up,

"You lucky little fuckers have no idea just how lucky you all are to be taught by Ichigo and Ulquiorra."

The students all looked over to the two previously ignored guests, Smith speaking up, "Oh yea? What's the big deal about that orange haired wierdo?"

He couldn't say any more as he was hoisted up into the air by Grimmjow, who was holding the collar of his robes in a tight fist. As he stepped from the shadows and into the relative light of the main room where Smith stood there were several gasps of shock as students caught sight of his scar.

"The big deal bastard is that both Nel and I owe Ichigo our lives."

There was silence as everyone's eyes widened once they heard Grimmjow's growl.

"I won't go into details, don't want accidentally scar you." Grimmjow's tone left some doubt about that statement, "But you will never find anyone better to teach you than those two, however know this."

He lowered Smith till they were eyes to eye, "Even if you knew as many spells as that Dumble-dork and they had no wands they would still beat your ass so bad not even your mother would be able to recognize you, while holding back."

By this point Smith had gone pale from the combination of still being unable to feel the floor beneath his feet, the threatening tone in Grimmjow's voice and the dangerous gleam within the teal eyes that stared directly into his own with contempt. The blond gave a yelp of pain as he crumpled to the ground when Grimmjow released him.

"Che,"

Grimmjow walked up to where Ichigo's cousin stood still staring at him dumbly, when he was just past the raven haired teen he grabbed his shoulder in an iron grip and spoke in a low voice only Harry could hear,

"Oh, and Potter? You betray Ichigo's trust and I will find you even if you are dead, and I will tear you apart with my bare hands."

With that both Grimmjow and Nel left, leaving the Hogwarts students in the pub before heading off to Honeydukes where Ichigo and Ulquiorra had agreed to meet up with them after they scared the little kids. But with Harry however he just stared at the door, unable to shake himself of the sheer dread when he heard Grimmjow's threat, he had a feeling that it could, and would be followed through.

Even after the four had left everyone was still silent, till the barman gave an appreciative whistle.

"You brats are lucky; those four know how to fight."

(PageBreak)

Ichigo smiled as she watched Nel darting from sweet to sweet inside Honeydukes, she had enjoyed scaring the kids but she wasn't kidding about running them into the ground. She let out a slight gasp of surprise however when she felt warm arms wrap around her waist and warm breath on her ear.

"So how many do you think will join?"

Ichigo smiled at Ulquiorra's question, leaning into him and almost melting at the warm sensations that spread throughout her body just being close to him she thought back to the group of kids Ron and Hermione had managed to wrangle up. "Hmm, I'm gonna bet on Harry, Ron and Hermione, though Ron might drop so I'll have to remind him he can better fight Malfoy to keep him learning."

Ichigo paused feeling Ulquiorra shake slightly with silent laughter, "True, although I did see that Neville boy seem slightly determined."

Ichigo nodded "I saw it too, although the twins will probably be too scared to join, and Ginny seems more magic focused to me."

"I agree, nobody else seemed all that interested unfortunately"

Ichigo turned around in Ulquiorra's loose hold and rested her wrists on his shoulders, a slight smirk on her face, "Well, that just means more time for us then."

She leaned forward to give him a kiss, closing her eyes she felt his soft lips pressing against hers, eagerly returning the affection. It wasn't long before she felt something warm pressing against her own lips causing her to gasp in slight surprise, Ulquiorra quickly took advantage of the opening and deepened the kiss, causing Ichigo to bend her back slightly. Ichigo shivered as she felt one of Ulquiorra's hands trail up and down her back with deliberate slowness, determined not to be outdone she pressed herself closer to him, fitting him perfectly.

"Hey, you guys realize there might be kids in here?!"

Ichigo and Ulquiorra broke off their kiss, causing her to give him a slight pout to which he gave her a genuine smile. Looking over to Grimmjow who had interrupted them Ichigo crossed her arms and gave him a death glare, but his face never changed from the shocked one he wore since she had turned to him.

"What?"

"You just-" Grimmjow pointed at Ichigo "You just pouted." He said in shock as if he couldn't believe what he had just seen.

Ichigo's eyes narrowed, "And?" she drew the word out, making it a threat.

Grimmjow picked his jaw up from the ground, "I didn't see anything."

Nel chose that moment to then show up with a bag bursting with various candies that she had picked up throughout the store. "Itsygo, can you help me with the money? I don't know which is which."

Ichigo smiled, "Sure, just make sure you share with Yachiru when you two get back."

When both of the girls left to pay for the candy, much to the shop owner's delight at making such a big sale Ulquiorra looked over to Grimmjow. "One word and I'm throwing you in a Gargantura."

Grimmjow put up his hands, "Alright, alright! Geez no teasing, sheesh."

Ulquiorra just rolled his eyes before he placed his hands back into his pockets, "So, what's going on back home?"

The former sexta seemed glad the topic had changed, "Well, nothing much besides the usual."

Ulquiorra nodded and his companion went on, "But there have been rumors of a shady organization getting involved in hollow stuff. We don't know much now but if they are a threat you and Ichigo will most likely be recalled over the summer."

Ulquiorra's eyes widened slightly, "What about you and Nel? If anything hollow related is involved you two would be able to handle it."

Grimmjow shook his head, "Nah, we don't exactly do subtle. I prefer to go in a just beat shit up and Nel not best for covert operations."

Ulquiorra sighed, it was true that he and Ichigo were the best at investigating living world issues when blending into the living was required.

"I don't know how we are going to explain leaving to the others."

Grimmjow snorted, "Then don't tell the whining bitches."

Ulquiorra decided not to comment; arguing with an idiot only resulted in them dragging you to their level then beating you with experience.

The doorbell rang as Nel, Ichigo and Ulquiorra left Grimmjow behind, "HEY! Damn you emospada! Get back here!"

(Pagebreak)

The following day was mostly uneventful, except for Umbridge somehow finding out about the meeting and thus passing another educational decree. Ichigo and Ulquiorra were both in high spirits however, they had enjoyed spending the afternoon being with their friends, it was good to just be themselves. Ichigo looked up from her toast as Hermione frantically shooed the other students from yesterday away before they could make a scene, but she just shook her head. For all the smarts the bookworm claimed to have she was causing a slight scene for those who knew where to look, her actions only proving any of the Ministry Plant's suspicions. Both shinigami just ignored the educational decree and continued on as usual, the club was the Golden Trio's plan and they would have to deal with how they wanted to set it up.

As Harry thought about where they would hold the club, Hermione had taken to lurking in the library. She was checking all the language books she could find for a possible translation of 'Hueco Mundo' she had of course checked the Japanese translations first but had come up with nothing. It wasn't till she checked Spanish translations that she found a match.

It was late one night in the Gryffindor common room when Hermione finally found Harry and Ron sitting alone without Ichigo and Ulquiorra, the two of them having claimed to gone to bed. Walking up behind her friends Hermione quickly slammed the large Spanish to English dictionary onto the table between the chairs in which the two boys sat. The loud noise easily sending both jumping into the air and causing Ron to let out a shocked shriek that made both Hermione and Harry stare at him oddly.

"Err, anyway…" Hermione tore her eyes off of an embarrassed Ron to bring her full focus onto Harry "Remember when Nel let a piece of info about something called Hueco Mundo slip out? And how Ichigo silenced her immediately after?"

Harry blinked before he gave her a dry retort, "I can hardly forget when you keep reminding me Hermione."

The bookworm had the decency to at least blush in slight embarrassment. "Right, sorry. Anyway I searched through all possible translations and this was the only one that fit."

She opened the book to the page with a sheet of parchment in it, upon which was written the words Hueco Mundo, and Hollow World.

"Hollow World?" Ron asked incredulously, "That doesn't ring any bells."

Hermione shook her head, "No it doesn't, and I've looked everywhere! There isn't a single mention of such a place or any of its possible translations anywhere!"

She sat down with a frustrated "Huff" before frowning, "It doesn't make any sense and when I asked professor Binns after class one day he got really odd…"

"Erm," Began Harry, "Odd how?"

"As in he got pale even for a ghost and started stuttering worse than Quirrel did." Hermione mused,

"Did he say anything?"

Harry got a negative head shake, "No, he had no clue and said such a place have never been documented to exist."

Ron and Harry exchanged frightened looks, "Did you ask anyone else?"

Hermione nodded, "Yes, and told them what Binns said. I asked McGonagall and she was just as confused as I was, although she did say she would ask around for any information."

Harry thought about what Hermione told him, if Binns in all his knowledge of locations and events through history hadn't a clue of what or where Hueco Mundo was then their chances weren't looking very good.

"Maybe we can ask Ichigo, or Ulquiorra?" Harry proposed

After getting two incredulous looks he elaborated, "Well, obviously they know and maybe they'll tell us."

Ron snorted, "Yeah, like they tell us so much about other stuff."

"Ron's right," Hermione bit her lip, "They have been rather secretive about their pasts. Not that we don't trust them." She quickly amended herself seeing Harry's glare, "But all the same they keep telling us that they can't tell us yet."

"Precisely," Said Harry, "They can't tell us yet, but at least they tell us that they are hiding something rather than lying. And it can't hurt to ask."

Both Ron and Hermione rolled their eyes, "Fine, just don't come complaining if you don't find anything out."

Harry just sent his friends a light glare before deciding to change the subject, eagerly telling them about Dobby's 'Come and Go' room. It wasn't long before the trio decided to go to bed, promising to investigate the room the next day.

The next day was an early Saturday morning for Ichigo as Hermione shook her awake at eight in the morning. Normally Ichigo would have no issue waking up so early, but she and Ulquiorra had stayed up till four in the morning flying around since it was a week since they last did it.

"Hermione, why are we waking up? And so early?!" Ichigo asked in a sleepy monotone

Said early-bird turned around to stare at Ichigo, who was still sitting in her bed and rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"You okay?"

Ichigo eyed her oddly, "Yeeeaaaa? Why do you ask?"

Hermione shrugged, "Normally you are never tired, and you went to bed earlier than us."

The shinigami yawned, "Had a rough night."

"Minus thing?"

Ichigo stiffened slightly; Hermione was staring at her with a suspicious glint to her eyes. Sighing, Ichigo decided to just agree,

"Yea, just having fun though."

Hermione tilted her head to one side, "What were you doing?"

"Remember that stepping onto solid air thing?"

Ichigo continued when she saw Hermione nod after a slight hesitation, "Stuff like that."

"Oh."

Ichigo was relieved that she seemingly let the subject drop, "Okay, let's go see what has you Ron and Harry so excited."

Hermione just grinned before rushing the sleepy hybrid through her morning routine.

Both Ichigo and Ulquiorra met up with the Golden Trio in the Common Room before they headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast; Ichigo tried asking Harry about the prospective meeting room but he just told her to wait till they all saw it, that and he didn't know anything yet himself. As they sat down to eat in the nearly empty Great Hall— apparently everyone else believed that one shouldn't wake up early on a Saturday— Harry had a question of his own though.

"Hey Ichigo?"

"Hmm?" Ichigo didn't reply due to a mouth full of eggs that she didn't want to spew over everyone, unlike Ron.

Harry seemed slightly nervous, his eyes focused on his own eggs, "Could you tell us about that Hueco Mundo place Nel mentioned?"

Ichigo felt like planting her forehead onto the table, and bang it repeatedly. She quickly swallowed before answering, "I'm sure you've already looked up the meaning of the name."

Hermione nodded, "Hollow World,"

Ulquiorra put down his fork with deliberate slowness, "I hope you never go there."

Each of the Golden Trio looked at him curiously, "Why?"

"It is the home of the … minuses,"

The three blinked at the response, Ulquiorra's head was lowered, his hair overshadowing his eyes as he was inwardly cursing the three's curiosity.

Ichigo had a grim scowl on her face, her eyes having darkened in memories causing them to appear as dark pools of amber rather than their usual warm gold. "When a minus is formed, a full minus they go to Hueco Mundo. It is a barren place."

Hermione's eyes narrowed, "Where is it?"

Ichigo closed her eyes, she didn't want them seeking that place out, they wouldn't last an hour. "Only a minus can find it, and don't even think about finding such a place. You three wouldn't last an hour there."

Ron paled, "Is it like the Forbidden Forest?"

Ichigo couldn't hold back the cynical laughter that came out, "No, not at all."

The redhead seemed to look relived, till Ichigo continued, "It is far worse."

Ron, and Harry both paled considerably, "What could be worse than spiders the size of a house?!"

Now Ichigo smirked, "A minus the size of three houses that is trying to eat you alive while blasting you with ceros repeatedly."

Both boys' eyes widened to point where Ichigo thought they would pop out of their heads, it was only worse when Ulquiorra joined in,

"Those? They aren't that bad, it's the smaller ones you have to watch out for."

Ichigo just nodded wisely, both her and Ulquiorra inwardly laughing at how close both boys seemed to fainting. "Very true."

Hermione on the other hand was just as scared looking, but for a different reason, "Minuses are…cannibals?!"

Her shocked whisper was just barely heard by Ron and Harry, who both turned slightly green when they realized how Hermione came to that conclusion.

"Eh?" Ichigo stopped grinning, placing a hand on her chin as she thought about it. "I guess they could, after all other minuses are the only thing there is to eat in Hueco Mundo. That's kinda why I don't like it there."

Ron actually threw up a little in his mouth, whereas Harry's mouth ran dry, "But weren't minuses once…human?"

Ichigo shrugged, "Yea, with 'were' being the key word. Once you become a minus, you aren't human, you know the whole thing about instincts."

"But to eat…" Hermione trailed off, seemingly disgusted with the way the sentence ended.

Ron had other concerns however, "Do you two, well, you know…"

Ichigo looked to Ulquiorra, silently asking him how she should respond only for him to shrug slightly. "Only with no other choice, we once got stranded in Hueco Mundo for…a couple of months and it was eat or die."

Now Ron quickly got up and ran out the Hall to the bathrooms across the hall, holding his mouth as a green tint spread all over his face. Harry ignored his friend though for one last question, "What were you doing there in the first place?"

Ichigo gave Harry a sad smile, "That is for a later date, now about that new club location?"

Harry grudgingly let the subject drop, but he did get answers on Hueco Mundo, even if they were answers he wished he had never heard. It didn't take long for all of them to arrive at the tapestry of the wizard trying to teach trolls to dance; they had meet back up with a still queasy Ron in the hallway before arriving at the Room of Requirement. When they arrived though both hybrids could feel a shift in the flow of the magic throughout the castle, it was as it there were just a slight change in the current in the location where the door appeared after Harry tested out Dobby's instructions. When the door appeared out of thin air both Harry and Ron exchanged shit-eating grins before eagerly walking inside.

The inside was relatively plain, with walls the same as the rest of the castle but with dark detectors on a table set up against one wall, and a wall of books and a nearby reading corner on another. There was a slightly raised platform for Harry to get up on top of and speak to the whole class and banners depicting the colors and mascot of all the Houses except Slytherin. Hermione went straight to the books and Ron the dark detectors, but Harry's attention was drawn to the door that looked like a traditional Japanese paper panel door. As he went over to open it both his cousin and Ulquiorra followed, the latter two thinking it was the room for them to teach the willing students how to fight. The door opened like any other door but once inside Harry gave a soft "Whoa,"

Ichigo and Ulquiorra on the other hand were impressed. The room appeared like a copy of one of Seireitei's zanjutsu training dojos, except for the fact that it lacked any training equipment which was good for what the two hybrids had in mind. The only decoration being a simple black cloth with a white symbol for the Gotei 14 framing the crescent mooned desert that was the crest of the 14th squad.

While both Ichigo and Ulquiorra looked at each other, already planning to test the room Harry pointed to the banner, "What does that symbol mean?"

Ichigo hesitated, "Long story,"

Harry frowned, "It's also on your trunks."

Ichigo scowled, "Later, It has to do with why we were stuck in Hueco Mundo, and a lot more."

Harry pouted slightly at being denied information but asked if the two were done with the room.

"Hell no! Ulquiorra, what do you say to a spar?"

The arrancar looked over to Ichigo, his face blank as he took his hands out of his pockets. "Do you have to ask?"

Harry grinned slightly, it would be interesting to see the two fight, "Hang on, I'm going to get Ron and Hermione."

The two nodded as they took off their robes, leaving their usual 'muggle' wear they had chosen to wear underneath. Both of their wands were held at their hips, strapped to their belts like their zanpakutos would have been.

"Let them see Sonido?"

Ulquiorra tilted his head slightly, "You okay with them knowing?"

Ichigo shook her head, "Nah, I'm just tired of holding back."

His lips twitched up into a smile, "You're on then."

The other three quickly filed into the room, and three chairs materialized in an out of the way corner for them to watch from. As soon as the three got settled Ichigo spoke up, but her eyes never left Ulquiorra's form, "We're going to add some of our Minus abilities, don't worry and don't interrupt."

With that the fight began, although nothing much happened as both Ichigo and Ulquiorra continued to stand, watching the other for the slightest hint of movement. Ichigo's eyes scanned her opponent, 'He's tensing slightly, but not enough for him to start any movement. But only one hand is out of his pockets, hmm…showoff.'

Both opponents stood still, and the silence was only broken by Ron shifting in his chair causing it to let out a slight creak of moving wood. That was all that was needed.

To the three watching it simply appeared as if Ichigo raised her foot before her form blurred towards Ulquiorra. All three felt their jaws drop to the ground as Ulquiorra raised his arm to block Ichigo's kick, the force pushing him backwards slightly. Not stopping for a moment Ichigo quickly recovered by sending a barrage of punches, each of them dodged or blocked but she did accomplish what she wanted to, Ulquiorra had both hands out and ready. Seeing an opening Ulquiorra quickly retaliated, aiming towards Ichigo's ribs only to meet her arm as she managed to redirect the blow, but it was enough to set her on defense. The two continued their exchange of blows, their speed augmented by their sonidos as they sought to get around the defense of each other to no avail.

Ron, Harry and Hermione all continued to stare in shock; they could barely see the movements of the hybrids as a low buzzing sound filled the room as the two fought fiercely and yet with a grace glaringly absent in any of the brawls Ron had gotten into with Crabe or Goyle. Each strike precise and quick, each kick a calculated risk. The two had gone at it for over twenty minutes before they broke apart once Ichigo took a kick to the ribs, knocking her back and winding her slightly. When she finally stopped skidding both Ichigo and Ulquiorra looked to each other, their obvious thrill at being able to fight easily seen in their eyes despite the blank expressions they both wore.

It was Ulquiorra who decided to step it up first; he slowly, deliberately drew his wand, holding it out to his side rather than point it at Ichigo much to the Golden Trio's confusion. Ichigo's face broke out into a maniacal grin when she saw this, quickly drawing her own wand and holding it in the same position. Then they both spoke at the same time.

"Cleave the heavens, Zangetsu."

"Descend to the void, Murciélago"

Both wands began to shift in shape, twisting and lengthening into standard sized katanas of opposite appearances. Ichigo's wand had transformed into a slightly curved blade that was entirely black but for the reflected light, which even though the room was lit with a white light the sword reflected it as a deep crimson. The guard was similarly black and the handle wrapped in red cloth. Ulquiorra's sword was of similar shape and size but it was white, the reflected light showing up as a light green. The guard was a silvery white in a shape reminiscent of an eye with a handle wrapped in green cloth.

Hermione paled, "They can't— but that's-"

It didn't matter if what they did was impossible because both hybrids were lost to the fight. The buzzing returned to the room as both blurred out of sight, their forms only visible clearly between each strike as one parried the other. Soon the room was filled with cacophonous clangs and the steely rasp of sword sliding against sword as Ichigo and Ulquiorra crossed blades. The three students were horrified as they watched Ichigo rain a relentless assault against Ulquiorra, the blows coming from any direction that might be open; any falter in his guard would be exploited as he held his ground. Ulquiorra's patience paid off however as he saw a slight slack in Ichigo's attack and quickly tried to turn the tables, he slashed at Ichigo's ribs only for her to twist just out of the way. He might have missed but it was enough, now both were on equal grounds, both exchanging an equal amount of offence and defense trying to find come out better than the other. The fight went on for almost thirty minutes before Ichigo snuck past Ulquorra's guard and nicked him on his right arm; just enough to draw blood but not enough to injure him.

Hermione gasped in shock as the buzzing finally died down, revealing both hybrids who had wide grins as they looked into the other's eyes and both seeing the excitement they felt. The bookworm quickly jumped up and started to fuss over Ulquiorra's cut, which he felt was wholly unnecessary, it was only an inch long and just deep enough to draw blood, facts which he promptly started telling the frantic girl. Ichigo just grinned as Ulquiorrra silently sent her a plea for help once Hermione mentioned Madam Pomfrey.

"Hermione, he's fine. We've done this before."

Said girl stopped fussing over the 'injured' and whirled upon Ichigo, "Oh?!" she began in a high pitched voice, "So you normally cut up your boyfriend?!"

Ichigo rolled her eyes, "Hermione, this is normal for us. And that cut isn't-"

"Don't you dare say it!" Hermione spat, "You think that was just a game?"

Ichigo's eyes narrowed, she opened her mouth but was cut off by a furious Hermione,

"That was taking things entirely too far! You could have seriously injured him and then what? You don't play with weapons; there was no reason to start fighting with real swords! What would have happened if you tripped or something? If you didn't dodge? I saw how some of those strikes were aimed; you could have taken off an arm! Or even cut him in half!" She whirled onto Ulquiorra, "And you were just as bad! Were you two trying to kill each other?! It was completely id-"

"Enough," Ichigo snarled,

Hermione opened her mouth to continue her rant but this time Ichigo cut her off.

"You think we don't know how to use our own swords? You forget that we have been doing this for years; we were entirely in control the whole match. Had Ulquiorra not blocked my blade before a crippling blow I would have stopped just before striking him." Ichigo's eyes burned molten gold with rage, they seemed to gain a slight glow that rooted Hermione to her spot as Ichigo continued on in a voice that left no room for doubt, "To imply that we would seriously injure one another in a spar is an insult to our skills."

"And how are we supposed to know?" Hermione nearly screamed, "You two are too secretive, you are dangerous and I know it. You never explain things, I have tried being patient but I have had enough."

Harry tried to get her to stop, "Hermione, wait!" but to no avail as she ignored him,

Ichigo didn't budge, her eyes holding flickering shadows of past pains, "Some things you aren't yet ready to know."

"That is what I am talking about! You tell us that you fought in gang wars, but I don't believe it. You tell us that you were stuck in a place that doesn't exist; you disregard all decency of safety for a 'friendly spar'." You could hear the sarcasm dripping off the words, "And you tell us that you and Ulquiorra are part cannibalistic monsters!"

Ichigo recoiled as if slapped when Hermione screamed the last part at her, Ulquiorra's eyes widened fully as his mouth parted open.

"Hermione!" Harry couldn't believe that his friend had called them monsters; he knew she was frustrated by the secrets but to take it that far…

"Monsters, huh?" Ichigo said softly, her eyes downcast.

Harry was quick to join his cousin's side, "Ichigo, I don't think-"

She just waved her hand, "No Harry, I can see it in your eyes that you don't agree." She gave him a slight smile, "And thank you," she turned back to Hermione, "But if that is how you see us then I guess this is how we get repaid, for everything…"

Ulquiorra noticed how Ichigo's voice grew fainter at the end, and he was worried for her. Quickly giving her a tight hug he turned to Hermione,

"We became what we are through circumstance and necessity, not choice. As Ichigo said some things you are not yet ready to learn, some things are safer left unknown."

Hermione remained defiant, "Then wouldn't it be better to know what we are up against?"

Both hybrid's eyes narrowed, "That is exactly why we won't tell you, we don't want you getting involved." Ichigo paused before continuing in a quieter voice, "I don't want you to end up like me."

Harry's eyes widened as he caught what his cousin said,

"But if you have a problem with us, monsters." Ichigo continued so coldly that Hermione flinched slightly, "Then we simply won't bother you."

With that Ichigo just turned around, still holding on to Ulquiorra as he held on to her as they walked out of the room.

Harry turned to glare at Hermione, "What the bloody hell was that for!"

She glared back, "They're dangerous Harry, they may not be death eaters but why the secrecy unless they have something dark to hide. You heard them, whatever they are is dark."

"So?!" Harry said roughly, "Lupin was a bloody werewolf! You weren't calling him dark, or running him off!"

"He was only dangerous once a month!" She snapped back,

"So then we'll just agree to disagree about my cousin then?" Harry replied coldly,

Hermione just bowed her head,

"Fine, what about you Ron?"

Said red-head snapped into awareness, "Huh? Oh, umm…I guess we can trust them, I mean they haven't done anything."

Harry sighed, "Fine," and he turned around to head out the door, shouting for Ichigo and Ulquiorra to wait.

Hermione sighed, "I just don't want him to get hurt when something happens."

Ron shook his head, "And this wouldn't hurt?"