AN:I do not own Bleach or Harry Potter

Hitsugaya spent several days clearing up the rumors that his brother's visit spawned, everything from him being a simple runaway to the bastard son of an ancient line that needed an heir. But by far the strangest thing was when Malfoy cornered him one day after class to apologies for calling him a mudblood. But that was in the past now and things had returned to normal.

"But if you take out the snitch then Slytherin only won by a hundred points. So I was right!" Toshiro scooted to his right so he wouldn't go deaf from Grant's yelling.

Roger just made a shushing motion to quiet the third year keeper so they didn't make a scene in the Great Hall. Once Grant had retaken his seat he spoke, "When have we ever not counted the snitch Grant?"

When he didn't say anything Jason let out a long suffering sigh, "Just pay him Grant. Merlin knows he won't shut up till you do."

The keeper just shot him a wounded look before reaching into his pockets and pulling out a handful of coins. Mumbling something about traitors he counted out four galleons before handing them over to his grinning friend. Roger made a show of counting out each one before smiling at his sullen friend as he pocketed the money, "Thanks mate. Maybe you'll have better luck next time."

"I will. Snaps after breakfast?"

Jason looked baffled, "Did Professor Trelawney say you were going to have good luck this month or something? Cause if she did, I have to wonder why you're willing to put you gold on what some tea leaves said."

Hermione slammed her silverware onto the table and turned to glare at the three older boys from her spot to the right of Toshiro, "Do you three have nothing better to do then spend your morning arguing about gambling?"

Hitsugaya inwardly groaned and began to pick up the pace of his eating. He sympathized with his teammates, he really did, but he had no intention of getting in between them and Hermione when she was in lecture mode. Really, she could be so uptight when it came to these things. He smiled to himself wondering what she would say if he told her half the things he had done those first few years out of the academy.

When his attention returned from reminiscing he found the witch already well into her speech, "…mean really! Shouldn't you be using your free time for something more constructive? Like preparing for your exams?"

Jason shrugged noncommittally, "We still have five weeks before they start. What's the rush? We did well last year you know."

Any sympathy the captain felt for his teammates evaporated with that statement. Hermione had drawn up a study plan for the both of them and been unyielding in insuring they followed it, and that had started five weeks ago. Swallowing a piece of sausage he spoke up casually, "You know, now that Hufflepuff and Slytherin have finished their seasons our practices are going to double. And knowing Sam, it's just going to get worse the closer we get to game day, which isn't until after exams."

Hermione grinned at the support, "Not to mention you have your electives classes to prepare for this year as well."

The older boys frowned at the two first years. Grant opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by the sudden screech of owls that filled the air as they entered the hall delivering the morning post. Casting a lazy look at the birds Hitsugaya pushed his plate away and prepared to get up and head back to the tower. Saying farewell to the boys he turned to Hermione, "I'll see you in the library when you're done?"

The witch nodded, "Think we'll find them this time?"

He just shrugged, "Merlin willing, I have better things to do with my free time then spend it cooped up in the library for the rest of the year." Offering a parting wave he headed out of the Great Hall.

Hitsugaya leaned back in his chair, a look of contemplation on his face as his eyes swept from the book before him to the rest of the library. He was done with the book, but his curiosity remained unsated. "No luck?"

Teal eyes looked across the table into brown before giving a subtly shake of his head, "You?"

Hermione shook her own, "No." Lifting up a piece of parchment that was lying next to her book, she looked over the images that had been drawn there. "I don't understand it, it shouldn't be this hard to identify the runes."

Toshiro looked at his own hand drawn copies of the three runes on the diadem, wondering just what they meant. He had spent much of his spare time here for the last several months researching them, and Hermione had been more then willing to help, but now it was just getting annoying and he was beginning to wonder if it was worth the effort. "We're not getting anywhere with this. Lets get out of here."

"You're giving up?" The surprise clear in her voice as he called them to leave earlier then ever before.

The captain shrugged his shoulders, "For now. We've been at this for months and we haven't even finished the British Isles rune section, and there is no guarantee they will be in there. If they aren't, then they could be anywhere in the Europe, Africa, Middle East, or Near East sections. I've spent enough time on it this year, especially now with the end of the year crunch. Maybe next year."

Hermione looked him over before speaking rather disinterestedly, "You know, there are easier ways to find out what they mean."

The chaser raised a white eyebrow, "Really?"

She nodded her head, "Of course. You could ask Professor Babbling."

He snorted, "I would hate to waste her time on a mere curiosity."

The girl just smiled, "I doubt she would mind. But there is another way if you're interested."

"I'm listening."

The witch's smile broadened and leaned across the table, "You could just put it on."

Hitsugaya just looked at her confused, "What?"

She rolled her eyes, "Honestly, Toshiro, sometimes you're really dense, you know that? The crown! If I could understand German with it on then you should be able to figure out what these mean." She waved the parchment at him for extra effect.

He leaned back into his chair a look of thoughtful contemplation on his face, "But you couldn't remember a thing about German after you took it off. So what good would it do to know only to forget it when I took it off?"

She sat back into her chair, "I hadn't thought of that." They sat in quiet thinking over this new problem for several minutes before Hermione sat bolt upright snapping her fingers, "I got it!" She quieted herself before they drew the attention of Madam Pince, the librarian, "You can tell me what they are then I can write it down. Then all you have to do is read what you told me and you'll know what they mean." She looked at him with a large smile of satisfaction on her face.

Toshiro thought it over for a few moments before giving a small nod, "Worth a shot I guess." Standing up he grabbed his book, "Lets put these back and get out of here." The brown haired girl nodded as she rose and the two separated as they went to put the books back.

Toshiro descended the stairs and entered the Ravenclaw common room with the diadem in his right hand. Scanning the room he spotted Hermione at one of the group work tables and moved towards her. As he walked he felt the eyes of his fellow students on him, no doubt wondering why he had brought out the crown, considering his apparent disinterest with it in the past. Ignoring them he sat down and looked at the expectant face of his fellow first year as she slid the parchment across the table towards him and readied her own, eager to see if the relic could solve the mystery of the runes. Looking down at the silver crown one more time he let out a soft sigh before raising it and placing it on his head.

For a long moment nothing happened and he was about to turn his attention to the parchment when a low growl echoed in his head. He paused, trying to figure out what had upset Hyourinmaru, but his thoughts were interrupted when a new presence announced itself in his mind. The voice's volume was to low for him to decipher anything it said, but it's tone was calm and soothing, as if trying to placate the mighty dragon. The loud snarl that answered it showed the spirit's displeasure, but it was answered only with more whispers.

Hitsugaya wasn't sure what was going on but it was clear that Hyoruinmaru didn't like it, and that was enough for him. Knowing the crown must be the cause he decided to be quick so he could get the dammed thing off his head. He turned his eyes to the images and thought of their meaning.

Like flipping a switch everything changed. Hyoruinmaru's growl's faded to the background and the whispers took a decidedly pleased tone as they slithered through his mind. As he looked at the first rune he could hear it and everything became clear.

The first rune was three interlocked triangles, he began tracing it with his finger as he spoke, "Norse rune and symbol of Odin, ruler of Asgard. God of sky, war, death, magic, and wisdom. Traditionally written on a warrior in blood before battle to grant strength, courage, and victory to the wearer. Believed to be the reason behind the Viking's success across Europe."

Hermione's quill flew over the page as she wrote but he took no heed, turning his attention to the next rune, a square with a straight line running across the middle and a circle underneath it. Toshiro looked at it and smiled, "We never would have found this in the library. It's a dwarven rune favored by the Keepers of History in the Ural Mountains. Often tattooed on the forehead or cheek, it greatly increases their memory. Critical to their task as they do not write down their history, instead passing it down orally."

Moving on he came to the last rune, two crossed spears. "An ancient Greek rune, and symbol of Athena, goddess of wisdom, warfare, and divine intelligence. Patron god of Athens. Traditionally carved into talismans and sold to Athenian citizens it granted them the traits of Athena to varying degrees. Responsible for the rise of Athens as both a mercantile and military power."

Then the voice went quiet and he looked on as Hermione finished writing. Quickly he removed the crown and looked at it in his hands wondering if that was what it was suppose to feel like. A satisfied grunt was all the dragon did before going quiet, leaving him to figure it out on his own. Shaking his head he returned to the present and discovered Hermione had pushed the parchment across the table for him to read.

He quickly read over them once, then again, before looking up at the girl sitting across from him, "Well, you were right. And now we know what they are."

Hermione beamed, "See, I told you the crown had its uses." A look of confusion crossed her face, "Though I wonder why Ravenclaw would use such militaristic runes? There must have been others to choose from. And just what is their purpose?"

Toshiro turned his eyes back to the crown as it sat on the table, "You know the old saying Hermione, 'Knowledge is power'. Those runes you speak of represent wisdom as well as war."

The witch just sat there thinking it over for a moment before shrugging her shoulders, "I guess there is no way to really know what her reasons were." She tapped her finger on her chin thoughtfully, "What should we do now? We could start studying if you want."

Toshiro shook his head, "How bout a game of chess before lunch? We can study after."

Hermione nodded, a small smile on her face, "That's fine with me." Toshiro grabbed the crown and parchments before following her to one of the common room chess sets. Yet even as he played his thoughts were on what had happened while he had been wearing the crown. However he was forced to put such thoughts in the back of his mind as his companion took his bishop to put him in check forcing him to focus on the game.

I never thought it would take this long when I started but now the finish line is in sight. Any feedback would be appreciated.