"English"

"Japanese"

'Thoughts'

'Zanpakuto'

Slugs in a Club

After his frustrated outburst, Toshiro refused to acknowledge the nervously twitching teen who tried to desperately apologize for unintentionally insulting the Shinigami Captain.

"I-I'm so sorry!" Neville squeaked, stumbling over his words in his hurry to get them out "I d-didn't mean anything by it!"

"Hn" Toshiro grunted as he glared out the window, watching the countryside pass by.

Cast-fallen, Neville turned to Luna for help but she simply shrugged as she stared off into space; she couldn't make the unusually short teen forgive him. He seemed too stubborn to listen to anything she could say as far as she could tell, so in the end, she simply changed the subject. After all, she didn't want Neville to have an emotional breakdown.

"Will Hermione and Ron continue the DA this year?"

"Umm… I don't think so, Luna" Neville muttered honestly, easily distracted from his guilt, but not really liking the new subject any better than the previous one "With Harry still missing there's no one to really teach us…"

Toshiro mentally groaned at the comment; Harry's instinct to blurt out the fact that he was right here began pounding on his subconscious. Almost like an insistent child who wanted their own way.

'Stop this instant! I shall not jeopardize my mission to appease your soft heart!'

'Talking to one's self is the first sign of madness, Hatchling'

'No. That is when you start responding'

'But I am a part of you and am replying'

'Oh hush, Hyorinmaru. That's different and I will do what I must to fight my childish instincts'

'Whatever you say, Master' Hyorinmaru shrugged in amusement.

Luckily for Toshiro, Neville's pet toad decided that moment was perfect to make yet another escape attempt "Oi, come back, Trevor!" the larger teen called out as he pounced after the slippery reptile that leaped across the compartment onto Toshiro's lap.

Seeing Neville's trajectory would also end up with him also on his lap, the small Captain quickly lifted his leg while scooping up Trevor into his hand.

These series of events ended up with Toshiro slumped in his seat with one leg up, his foot planting firmly into Neville's face, Trevor held above his head and Luna giggling maniacally.

"Well, this is bloody weird…" Ron sniggering voice stated, announcing his and Hermione's presence in the compartment doorway and breaking the awkward stillness that had settled across the carriage. Excluding Luna's insane laughter, of course.

"What happened?" Hermione frowned, looking over the scene in utter confusion.

"A perfect example of the 'cause and effect' theory of relativity" Toshiro stated bluntly, lowering both his arm and leg to reveal a red-faced Neville. Whether the colour was due to embarrassment or from the Shinigami's foot's impact no one could tell.

"Huh?" Ron asked, tilting his head in confusion as Toshiro handed the toad back to its owner.

"The theory that one's actions affect another. It's also known as the 'Butterfly Effect' " Hermione explained with a sigh in disappointment but not surprise.

"Whatever" Ron shrugged, not really caring about Muggle nonsense as he fell onto the bench next to Toshiro "I wish the Lunch Trolley would hurry up, I'm starving!" he sighed longingly, rubbing his stomach.

"Honestly, Ron! You had breakfast not two hours ago!" Hermione scolded before sitting next to him and smiling at the two sitting opposite to them "Hi, Neville. Hi, Luna"

"Morning, Hermione" Neville smiled back, still rubbing his sore nose "D-do you two know Toshiro?" he asked, referring to how they seemed to be rather comfortable with the new kid.

"I stayed with the Weasley's during the summer" Toshiro jumped in quickly before Hermione or Ron could expose him or make Neville suspicious for not having an explanation.

"W-why? I thought you said you moved here"

'Damn it'

'Think fast, Master'

"I did" Toshiro nodded "I am being housed by the Weasley's for the duration of my education at Hogwarts. My guardian is still in Japan, awaiting my return" he lied easily with a 'casual' shrug.

"That's nice of them" Luna smile vacantly "Letting a kid they don't know stay with them for so long"

"Yes, well Ron's parents are very nice" Hermione smiled back nervously "But Mr. Weasley does know Toshiro- Though work!"

"Huh…" Luna blinked before turning to the Shinigami "Your parents work for the Japanese Ministry of Magic?"

"In a way" Toshiro nodded, content with the lie as it made his back-story more believable "He's a Captain in our Military force and Royal Guard" he threw in, using his own position so he wouldn't forget it later "Don't ask me how he knows -san as I never bothered to ask"

'Teenage-disinterest, nice touch' Hyorinmaru nodded in approval.

'I'm meant to be blending in' Toshiro mentally shrugged just as the compartment door slid open and a breathless 3rd year peeked her head in.

"I'm supposed to deliver these to Longbottom and… Hitsy- Hitsuo- Um…"

"Hitsugaya?" Toshiro asked, pitying the girl struggling to read his name off the parchment.

"Yes" the 3rd year blushed at her inability to pronounce the foreign name as she handing the two scrolls with a red ribbon to the elder students and quickly stumbling out of the compartment.

"What is it?" Ron asked, closely leaning over the mini Captain's shoulder as he unrolled the parchment.

"An invitation from Slughorn-sensei" Toshiro stated blandly as he quickly scanned the short message.

"Who's that?" Neville asked scrunching up his nose as he read his own invitation "Is he our new Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor?" he couldn't think of any other position vacant after all, but why would he invite him of all people and the new transfer to lunch?

"Should we go?" he asked nervously.

"You have to!" Hermione scolded the two for even questioning it "You can't turn down an invitation from a Professor! Especially a new one! It would give him a bad first impression!"

Leaving no room for argument as she practically threw the two out of the compartment, the boys just went with it and began making their way down the tight corridor towards the front end of the train where they'd been instructed to go. Neville trailing behind the shorter student as he easily pushed his way through the crowds.

When they finally made it to Compartment C, Toshiro noted the small group of invitees sitting around a large table that took up too much of the cramped compartment space. He didn't recognize most of them except for Ginny, who relaxed somewhat at the sight of him and Neville; obviously happy to see people she knew.

"Toshiro, my boy!" Slughorn cheered enthusiastically at the sight of the white-haired Captain "Good to see you make it! And this must be Mr. Longbottom! Come! Come sit with us!"

As they sat, Toshiro took the seat beside the nervously fidgeting Neville and across from Ginny who waved weakly at them.

"Now let me introduce you to everyone" Slughorn grinned gleefully "Everyone, this is Toshiro Hitsugaya, Albus tells me he's transferring to Hogwarts from Mahoutokaro Academy in Japan. Wonderful, isn't it?"

'Wow… That was actually believable' Toshiro thought in surprise at the convincing lie and acting.

'I didn't think he had it in him' Hyorinmaru's deep voice added in agreement.

"Toshiro, Mr. Longbottom, this is Blaise Zabini. He's in your year I believe"

"It's a pleasure" Zabini nodded at Toshiro while ignoring Neville since as a Slytherin he had to loathe the Gryffindor on principal "I hope to see you in Slytherin"

"As would I!" Slughorn chuckled before turning to a bulky boy and another nervous looking one next to him "And these two are Cormac McLaggen and Marcus Belby"

"I heard Mahoutokaro has one of the best Quidditch teams in the world. Are you planning on trying out for your House's team?" Cormac asked, running his hand through his wiry hair smugly "Because, just to be warned; I'm going for the Gryffindor Keeper spot, and you don't wanna try and get a Quiffler past me"

"Fascinating…" Toshiro said sarcastically, not that McLaggen noticed "I was a Seeker on my last Quidditch team and the Headmaster offered me the position of Captain of whichever House I am sorted into"

"Really?!" Neville gasped in surprise. The transfer must be amazing at Quidditch for Headmaster Dumbledore to offer him charge of his Houses team without even trying out.

"Yes. I have turned it down, however, as it would not be fair to the other team members"

"T-that's very considerate of you" Neville admitted in awe. Even though he wasn't as mad about Quidditch as most Wizards, even he knew how an opportunity like that was a dream come true for a player.

"Hn" Toshiro shrugged, flying around on a broom just didn't seem that incredible to him nowadays since his Bankai form had its own wings.

"You truly are a generous boy" Slughorn agreed as he tucked his napkin into his collar "Anyway, I was just telling young Mr. Belby that I had the pleasure of teaching his Uncle Damocles…"

At this point the mini Captain began tuning the elderly Wizard out, he could easily tell the man was once again trying to make connections as he used to and Toshiro had no interest with such pathetic attempts at politics. He had to deal with enough of that back in the Soul Society.

.