Chapter 26

Ichigo sat next to the window in the compartment of the Hogwarts Express that she and the others had picked staring out through the pane of glass as the train slowly pulled out from the station. When Harry and the others had come back from Diagon alley, they had immediately begun telling her about the wonders of Fred and George's shop along with their newfound suspicions of one Draco Malfoy. Both her father and Urahara had left after dropping off their supplies and a few grudgingly signed albums and of course many tears from Isshin but even though she would never admit it Ichigo had enjoyed their visit. Closing her eyes Ichigo snuggled closer to Ulquiorra as Neville and Luna came into the compartment, both of them grinning slightly when they saw the two hybrids.

"Ichigo! You're back!" Neville said happily,

She cracked open an eye, "And why wouldn't I be?"

"I— Well— Harry was all depressed after the whole Ministry incident and you weren't around so…" He trailed off at the end.

"Did you really have that little faith in us? Too bad though, you guys are stuck with me and Ulquiorra for a bit longer," She smiled, "I never knew you were that eager to be rid of us."

Leaving Neville to sputter more Ichigo looked back out the window to watch the passing landscape. Another year of acting the student, and another year stuck hiding herself, but as her gaze roved over to her cousin who was happily chatting away with his friends Ichigo smiled to herself, she didn't have to hide herself from him. It was as she felt Ulquiorra let out a deep breath before shifting slightly that Ichigo let her hands drift together, her fingers rubbing the exposed skin where her rings should be. They were still there on her soul form, but their gigais had been created to make both her and Ulquiorra normal, and she missed feeling them even though it had only been a few days. Slowly she felt her husband's hand drift down to hold her at her waist and pull her closer, bringing a light smile to her face before the door opened to reveal what seemed to be a second year with a slightly awestruck look on his face.

"Um, I was asked to invite Harry Potter to the new Professor's compartment." When finished he looked up with a hopeful expression, his eyes darting to Harry's scar.

Harry just sighed, "That's me," He gestured to her, "So where to?" he asked as he got up.

Ichigo looked over, "Good luck with politics Harry, and try not to step on any toes both literal and metaphorical."

Her speaking up however had gotten the kid's attention, "Wow, how'd you get your hair like that?!"

Ichigo scowled as the others all laughed, even Ulquiorra grinning, "It's natural, I didn't do anything to it but brush it this morning."

"Whah? But it's Orange!" the kid began but Harry just cut him off with a snicker, "Didn't you have somewhere to take me?" Looking back to him the kid nodded, "Yea, follow me." And with one last ogle at Ichigo's hair he went off with a still snickering Harry following.

Crossing her arms angrily Ichigo just huffed, "Why is it always the hair?"

"I like your hair." Ichigo shivered slightly hearing Ulquiorra whisper in her ear.

Feeling heat rise to her cheeks she just huffed before settling back to watch the countryside. With Ron and Hermione at a Prefect's meeting, and now Harry gone neither hybrid felt like socializing much. If she had her sketchbook Ichigo might have popped it out and attempted to draw something as best she could with the slight rocking movement of the train, but as that was the one thing missing from her trunk that option was denied to her. She didn't feel like going over the new textbooks, knowing she probably should look them over before class warred with the equal desire to not do so. Yawning again Ichigo felt her eyelids grow heavy, maybe a nap to pass the time? The steady movment of the train paired with the warm arm around her waist slowly lulled her to sleep.

As Ichigo's head dropped lower onto his chest Ulquiorra smiled and carefully adjusted her so she wouldn't have a stiff neck, after doing so he gently brushed a strand of bright orange hair out of her closed eyes and tucked it behind an ear.

"You really care for her don't you?" a quiet dreamy voice came from a corner of the compartment.

Looking over he saw it to be Ginny's friend, Luna. Not feeling inclined to talk he just nodded.

The girl's vacant eyes slowly looked at both him and Ichigo, "It's special though, deeper than any other bond I've seen at Hogwarts."

Ulquiorra raised an eyebrow, she was more perceptive than he thought but she kept talking, "It's very strange…both of you are different, you seem here but not here. And the Blibbering Humdingers avoid you but the Nargles follow you wherever you go, I've noticed it since last year."

Now both eyebrows were up, 'here but not here'? That sounded suspicious but Ulquiorra honestly had no clue about the Blibbering Humdingers and Nargles, or how to react to her odd statement.

Neville also looked just as lost but Ulquiorra wasn't going to say anything. It was at that moment though when Harry came back and began rummaging through his trunk and pulled out something silvery which Ulquiorra recognized as his invisibility cloak. "Spying on someone?"

Harry paused before turning to the two, "Yea, Malfoy's being suspicious. I think he's a Death Eater and I might be able to catch him admitting it to his friends."

Ulquiorra shook his head, "Even if he is I doubt he would tell his friends and do it so openly."

Looking uncertain Harry hesitated before Neville added his own opinion, "Besides Harry, I don't think You-Know-Who would recruit someone underage."

Snorting in disbelief Ulquiorra looked back out the window, "Voldemort wouldn't care about age, he murders without hesitation or care in the name of 'blood purity' Neville. Age wouldn't matter so long as the trash is devoted to the cause."

Neville looked pale and even Harry looked taken aback before he frowned, "All the more reason to get proof that he's a Death Eater."

His eyes flickering to where the now invisible Harry stood before going back to their previous position Ulquiorra sighed, "If you aren't back by the time the train reaches the station we'll go looking for you."

"Right,"

And with that the door slid open and then closed with a click and the room's occupants once more fell silent before Ron, Hermione and Ginny came in a few seconds later. "Where's Harry?"

Sighing again Ulquiorra caught Neville's eyes before jerking his head slightly to the confused newcomers, and realizing his silent request the boy explained what Harry had said before vanishing under the cloak. The group soon dissolved into a heated debate about whether or not Malfoy really was a Death Eater or not, bringing up seeing him in Madam Malkin's, Borgan and Burkes and his family's past misdeeds which Ulquiorra tuned out. To him it didn't matter if the trash was a Death Eater or not, best to prepare for any incidents if he was and if it turned out he wasn't? Then it was better than being caught unprepared.

"What do you think Ulquiorra?"

The arrancar was jolted out of his thoughts when he heard his name, turning to look at the expectant group he asked, "What do I think about what?"

"Whether or not Malfoy is a Death Eater?" Ron asked eagerly.

Ulquiorra felt like banging his head on the window, why did it matter so much? "Does it matter?"

The others looked shocked, but he continued knowing they would just ask him to anyway, "Regardless of whether Malfoy is a Death Eater or not it would be best to prepare for the situation in which he is so that even if he isn't it would be better than being caught unprepared for anything."

"Wow," Neville said slightly surprised, "Why didn't we think of that?"

Ron snorted, "Because we aren't paranoid Mad-eye Moodys?"

Rolling his eyes Ulquiorra quipped back, "It isn't paranoia, just a healthy dose of caution."

And with that he ignored them and closed his eyes, if pretending to go to sleep would keep them from bugging him then so be it. Resting his head atop Ichigo's he breathed in the scent of her strawberry shampoo, chuckling inwardly to himself when he remembered how she reacted to seeing it in her trunk and cursing both her father and godfather but unable to do anything about it since they had already left. There were a few more attempts to bring him back into the conversation but Ulquiorra ignored them, staying inert even when he felt Ron shake him roughly by the shoulder, "Heh, who knew they were such heavy sleepers?"

Finally the train came to a stop, and when it did Ulquiorra opened his eyes surprising Ron who was just about to reach over and 'wake him up'. Seeing the shinigami just open his eyes the red-head's face scrunched up, "Wait, you were awake the whole time, weren't you?" He accused.

Sending the boy a smirk Ulquiorra responded, "It got you to leave me alone didn't it?"

Chuckling at the dumbstruck look he got Ulquiorra turned to Ichigo and tried to gently shake her awake only to get her to mutter "Five more minutes," In Japanese. He was about to try again when Ron spoke up, "Can I try something?" Raising an eyebrow Ulquiorra looked over curiously.

Taking his silence as a 'go ahead' Ron cupped his hands around his mouth, realizing what he was trying to do Ulquiorra's eyes flew wide with shock and he tried to cut Ron off but it was too late. "GOOOOD MORNNNING IIIIICHIGOOOO!"

And with that Ichigo sprung from where she was and tackled Ron to the ground with her foot on his face and looking confused, "Wait, you aren't my dad…"

Ulquiorra couldn't hold back the laugh, "Ron thought it a good idea to wake you the same way Kurosaki-san does."

Turning back to the boy still under her foot Ichigo scowled before getting off him and looking around, "So where's Harry?"

As the others quickly left, with Hermione scolding Ron about how it was his fault for getting a face full of shoe Ulquiorra filled Ichigo in on where her cousin had run off to. With a quick pesquisa the two found Harry frozen under his invisibility cloak with blood all over his face, Ulquiorra quickly cast the counter curse as the last few students went past the compartment, their silhouettes easily visible through the frosted glass. "Merlin am I glad to see you!" He said thickly through the blood.

Ichigo frowned as she inspected his nose, "Hmm, not broken or anything thankfully. The bleeding has probably stopped by now but we do need to get you cleaned up. Getting back up she ignored his "M'fine." And helped him to his feet, stuffing his Invisibility Cloak into her pocket the three of them followed the last of the students out, scaring a couple of first years with the blood on Harry's face. But they were paid no mind as the three approached the last carriage set to depart for the castle, their approach easily noticed by the threstal as it turned to them and leaned its neck over to lick Harry's face. Smiling slightly Ichigo let the creature enjoy its snack and soon a very wet but otherwise clean Harry was glaring at the two shinigami seated on either side of him as they slowly went up to the castle. "Not a word," Harry threatened but it was hard to look intimidating with one's glasses askew and hair spiked up in a cowlick.

Dinner was uneventful, with Ron and Hermione quickly asking Harry where he had been while both hybrids noticed Malfoy's surprise at seeing them walk into the Great Hall as though nothing were wrong. "Erm, Harry? Why is your hair like that? It makes you look like Ichigo's father."

Seeing Harry's irritated glare being shot to the innocent Hermione Ichigo had to stifle her snickers, mostly because it was true. After the Sorting silence reigned through the Hall as Dumbledore stood up only for a few mutters and hushed gossip to break out about his blackened hand, smiling as though nothing were wrong the man covered the appendage with his sleeve before giving the usual announcements, "And I am pleased to announce that Professor Slughorn has returned from retirement and shall retake his old post as Potions Instructor."

Harry looked floored while both Ichigo and Ulquiorra caught Severus' eye just in time for him to send them a very smug smirk and they grinned.

"The post for Defense against the Dark Arts has been taken by none other than our own Professor Snape." Dumbledore continued as though just commenting on the weather only to be briefly interrupted by Harry's loud denial.

Ichigo watched in slight concern as Harry walked with them up to the common room like a zombie, before cracking once they got inside and vehemently opposing Dumbledore's decision to his friends "How could he let Snape get the post? He's been denying him all this time only to just give it to him?!"

Rolling her eyes Ichigo spoke up, interrupting her cousin, "Harry, just drop it."

"Wha-?"

"Drop it," She repeated, "Will complaining change the fact that Severus is now the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor? No. So suck it up and prove whatever you think Severus' expectations of you are, wrong." She said while scowling at him.

"But— Snape-" He argued weakly,

"Harry, I did not complain about what happened to me after I kicked Aizen's ass. Stop wasting hot air and do something about it."

Hermione chewed her lip, "She has a point, we'll just have to see what happens in class before we decide anything."

And with that they went to bed.

The dawn of the next day found Ichigo wanting to bang her head against her desk, repeatedly. In front of her Snape had just finished instructing the class on his views of the Dark Arts, and while she ignored her cousin's skeptical under the breath mutterings there was one thing she had forgotten till now. Professor Snape had split them into pairs to try casting nonverbal spells, and her control was only enough to seal her zanpakuto's shikai. That meant her kido skills had gone back to zero, her control back to near nothing, zip, zero, zilch, nada, caput, in short she was screwed. And an apprehensive Ulquiorra on the other end of her wand did nothing to bolster her confidence. Biting her lip Ichigo concentrated on casting a simple stunner, it wasn't the nonverbal part that was the issue, prior to the events of the summer she would have just channeled her reiatsu through her wand the way a stunning hex was cast previously since the spells' incantations worked the same way as a kidos' incantations; enough practice and it isn't needed. But now?

'Stupify!'

The reiatsu coagulated at the tip of her wand before spectacularly exploding with a resounding, room shaking boom complete with florescent red confetti. Everyone in the room jumped a foot in the air before turning to look in complete shock at the now very scorched Ichigo who was glaring fire and brimstone at the impressive soot streak on the ground in front of her. 'Damn Kushanāda,'

Ulquiorra's eyes were wide as he dispelled his silently cast Protego charm which had kept him clean of the resulting ash and smoke that had now covered the majority of the room and several of the students near Ichigo, many of whom were slowly edging away with fearful looks.

"Kurosaki!" Came the professor's angry shout but she could hear the slight concern underneath.

"Yes –cough— sir?" She asked, already knowing what it would be about.

His eyes were wide as he barked out, "Detention at eight next Saturday! Now get started cleaning this up, without magic!"

She almost sighed in relief at the excuse to not keep practicing, but keeping up the façade she scowled angrily before nodding sharply and holstered her wand before picking up the cloth thrust at her by the professor along with a bucket of water and got to work. Scrubbing up the sooty floor didn't take much effort but Ichigo felt glad that Severus had recognized the signs of a failed kido, although from the way she could see Harry's angrily clenching jaw she would have to explain things after the lesson, but her cousin let his temper get the best of him resulting in a detention same time as her own. Ulquiorra offered to help but instead got reassigned to Harry and stood with a hand in his pocket while his white wand flicked to and fro, easily sending out stunners and shields in a steady succession without uttering a single word.

When the bell tolled signifying the end of class Ichigo got up from where she had been wiping up the last of the soot and with a satisfied nod at the now clean room dropped off the supplies next to the professor's desk, shouldered her pack and left the room with the rest of the students. As she passed the door though she nodded to Severus, silently promising the explanation his dark eyes demanded as they bored into her. Soon as the door behind them shut however Harry stomped over to her, "Why did that git give you detention? He knows how you have to learn spells differently!" He vented.

"Harry," Ichigo placed a placating hand on his shoulder, "It's a good thing he did what he did. It gave me an excuse not to keep trying magic."

Harry gaped at her, "You want detention with Snape?!"

Giving him a dry look she lowered her voice, "Remember what I told you about…this?" She pushed back on one of her sleeves just enough to show him the chain tattoos that had transferred onto her gigai when she first entered it. It was at that point she had never been more glad the Hogwarts uniform called for long sleeved and close-collared shirts.

"So?" He asked raising an eyebrow,

"Sooooo," She drew out, "My control is all screwed up. It's like trying to draw a small thin line with a paint covered sponge."

He, Ron and Hermione all had some understanding but were still mostly confused, "So, before last summer you had trained your control for it to act like a quill drawing a thin line when casting a spell. But now instead of a quill you are using wide paintbrush. Right?"

Ichigo nodded towards Hermione and she continued, "But I thought you said you had fixed your control before coming back?"

Shaking her head Ichigo continued in a low whisper, "If we continue the metaphor then just after the incident my control was like using a bucket and splashing ink around." The others cringed, probably imagining the explosion that could result from a failed spell at that time, "I only had to reach a level passable enough to let me back into the real world without any of my reiatsu leaking out to affect anyone, it took me roughly twenty-five years to get it to how it was last year." The others all cringed hearing the last bit.

Turning down another corridor Ron asked, "What I don't understand is why don't wizards or witches have this problem?"

"That is because 'magic' is a form of negative-reiyoku in a sense. You are born with a natural deficiency of spiritual ability when compared to normal humans, as a result you can easily channel the ambient spirit particles through your bodies and 'cast magic'." Ulquiorra spoke up. "Compared to a kido or cero your magic only requires a minimal amount of reiatsu having evolved to use only the ambient spirit particles found everywhere in the Living World."

At this point the group slowed down slightly since the door to the next class had come into view, "And since you and Ichigo are used to using kido and cero in mass amounts, not even including the other skills you have that use reiatsu you are more adapted to using larger amounts especially since it can draw from your own reserves." Hermione mused thoughtfully, "So using magic is like using an eyedropper after gathering nearby water vapor, but you are used to a fire hose with your own water tank?"

Nodding with a smile Ichigo grabbed the handle and held open the door to Transfiguration, "Got it in one Hermione."

Filing into the room Ichigo and Ulquiorra sat in the back, the latter sending worried glances at the former since she was ducking deeper into the shadows of the corner of the room. When the late bell tolled Professor McGongall strolled into the room and shut the door behind her, briskly and sternly giving the now expected and easily predicted 'This is a N.E.W.T. level class…blah blah blah' speech that Ichigo had a hard time not tuning out. It was so similar to the speeches her high school teachers would give right before a big test that Ichigo felt a swell of nostalgia fill her as she relaxed further into her chair; those tests seemed so insignificant back then. Yawning Ichigo's eyes caught the back of her cousin's head as he listened to the professor, both she and Ulquiorra had the same schedule as the new Gryffindor Quidditch captain much to Ichigo's joy. Hearing a sudden change in the professor's pitch she tore herself from her thoughts and picked up her quill, old school habits telling her that the actual lesson was about to start and sure enough it did, smirking to herself Ichigo mentally patted herself on the back for getting away with spacing out in McGongall's class.

The class had passed easily enough, and luckily Ichigo was ignored for the most part since she had hung in the back of the room. She had gotten a curious glance from the professor but grimaced and shook her head, causing the witch to frown thoughtfully and to ask them to stay behind when the students were dismissed for either their next class or their free period. "Mind telling me why you didn't attempt the spell Ms. Kurosaki?"

Ichigo tried not to roll her eyes at the stern request, "You know how the shit hit the fan last summer with Shuren and his 'friends'?"

McGongall's eyes widened and she winced, obviously getting what Ichigo was referencing too so the shinigami continued, "They messed up my 'magic' where I need to relearn how to cast it without blowing everything up. I thought it best not to have things go boom on the first day of class." She said with a faint hint of amusement.

"What do I tell the professors who don't know about, well…" She trailed off,

Frowning Ichigo drew up blank but Ulquiorra had an idea, "It is known that her godfather is a bit of a scientist and inventor. We could say that there was an accident with him trying to invent a new spell that backfired and accidentally hit her, causing all her spell attempts to blow up. It will eventually wear off but we'll have to wait until it does, giving Ichigo-chan an excuse to steadily improve as she retrains her reiatsu."

Leaning over and giving him a quick peck on the cheek Ichigo grinned, "Sounds perfect to me, and very believable." Looking over to the professor she asked, "What do you think?"

She nodded slowly, "I think that it could work, mind you some other professors will still ask you to cast some spells periodically to gauge how your 'condition' is progressing but it is a solid excuse."

"Well, that's one problem solved." Ichigo sighed, "And since I've got a free period I can take a 'nap' and focus on training my reiatsu." She said, using air-quotes around 'nap' since she was really leaving her gigai on her bed.

"I'll never get used to this," McGongall muttered under her breath, obviously catching what Ichigo meant with the air-quotes before bidding them farewell.

Chuckling Ichigo just shot back, "Well, imagine being in my place during my Substitute days…constantly being punched out of my body by a midget or being popped out by swallowing a pill."

The professor just let out a long suffering sigh, "Just go."

V/V/V/V/V/V/V/V

During the free period Ichigo made a beeline straight for the girl's dorms and dropped off her gigai before heading back downstairs where Harry, Ron and Hermione all stiffened before gesturing her over frantically. Wondering why Ichigo walked over, "Something up?"

"Why are you visible? The others will see you!" Hermione hissed out in a whisper.

Blinking in surprise Ichigo replied, "Remember those charms Urahara gave you? They let you and only you see the spiritual plane so to speak. So that means you three can see what Ulquiorra-kun and I can see all the time."

They all sat back, "Oh," Hermione said with relief, but Ron had paled slightly, "You mean we can see hollows now?"

Ulquiorra nodded, "Yes, everything will be visible so long as you wear those charms. But you will be safe from any Hollows while you are in Hogwarts due to all the nearby wizards."

The three grimaced before Ichigo started walking away towards the window, "If you need me I'll be outside training on my control. See you in an hour next class!"

And with that she jumped out the open window, running on the air till she was out of view. Shaking his head Harry just sighed, "Even though I know she won't fall it still scares me seeing her jump out like that." He whispered.

Ulquiorra looked up from his textbook with an odd expression, "You do know that even if she can't walk her other release has wings right?"

Harry stared at him for a bit before he remembered seeing a fuzzy dark winged Ichigo in the mirror, "Kinda, I mean we did see it in the mirror but she was a bit blurry."

The dark haired arrancar fell silent, before his dark green eyes flickered back up to Harry's, "You haven't really seen us just go flying have you." He said rhetorically before continuing, "Ichigo-chan and I were planning on going flying tonight," He hesitated, "Would you, like to join us?"

Harry was surprised at the question, but the idea of seeing his cousin flying just for fun, a hobby he finally shared with her was a very tempting offer. Grinning broadly he said, "Sure! What time and where?"

The edge of Ulquiorra's mouth twitched slightly, "At four in the morning, we'll meet you in the common room. You might want to get to bed early since classes start at seven and we will finish at six so you can have time to get ready."

Harry gaped, four in the morning? Next to him Ron looked just as appalled as he felt, "Four?!"

Ulquiorra raised an eyebrow as if the question were absurd, "Whenever we fly we always do it at four, less people around who would try to wake up our gigais."

It was then that Harry remembered all the times the two would head to their beds early, or be wide awake after 'waking up' in the morning. He had always just figured it was a hybrid thing but now that he knew it made a bit more sense, Harry didn't want to get up that early and then have to go through the whole day but the thought of being able to go flying with Ichigo and Ulquiorra was too tempting. "Alright, four it is."

Before turning back to his latest essay for Defense Against the Dark Arts Harry saw a soft smile on Ulquiorra's face as he cupped his hands together before a swirling of reiatsu flared into existence only to compress itself between his fingers. When he opened his hands Harry could see a black butterfly lazily opening and closing its wings sitting in Ulquiorra's hands, he was about to ask what it was when Harry noticed the arrancar mouthing something before the butterfly flew off outside the window. "What was that?"

"It was a Hell Butterfly; I was just letting Ichigo-chan know about you joining us. They are our version of your owl post."

Staring out the window Harry couldn't help but think that even knowing of their past there was still much left to know about his cousin and Ulquiorra. The hour passed uneventfully, Harry having finished his first draft of his essay even though he was sure that when Hermione was done checking it later all the margins would be filled with her neat tiny writing. Ichigo had come back and shot him a quick wink before using sonido to get upstairs and come walking back down in gigai while yawning and looking as though she had just woken up, in fact had Harry not known she was awake the whole time he would have been convinced that she had taken a nap. With their free period spent the group ate lunch and went to Charms, where Flitwick had assured Ichigo that he heard of her 'accident' and would not ask her to perform any spells in his class, instead he gave her written work to complete in class.

Potions however was a different experience, looking around the room Ichigo and Ulquiorra took seats directly behind Ron and Harry who were currently grinning goofily to each other as they choose the desk closest to the potion with shimmering fumes. Ichigo herself was curious about the potion closest to where they were sitting, the golden one looked volatile, and the dark green one like bubbling mud, but she was unsure of the pink one, it made her uneasy. She just couldn't put her finger on it but she was sure the mud one was Polyjuice from her cousin's descriptions of past misadventures, the golden one she thought was luck based considering how it seemed to be just pure luck that the highly arching globules of it that were shooting out were landing in it without a single drop spilling. But the pink one made her feel comfortable, and relaxed just smelling the fumes, and ironically enough that was what had her so on edge. 'It smells almost like a crisp night air just after a rainstorm…kinda like-'

Ichigo's eyes flew wide open when her mind made the connection, her gaze darting to Ulquiorra who was looking at the same potion curiously and back before she finished her thought, 'like Ulquiorra-kun'.

Now she was sure of what type of potion that one was as Ichigo fought down the blush that she could feel heating her cheeks. Sneaking another glance at Ulquiorra who had stiffened next to her she was sure he too understood what category the potion was under the way he too reddened before glancing quickly her way. Ichigo and Ulquiorra both caught each other's glance before looking away quickly with deepening blushes. It wasn't long after that when Professor Slughorn finally entered the room, both hybrids glad for the darkness of the room to hide them as the man clearly had favorites he was pushing into the limelight. Harry and Ron however had to both request second-hand text books since they had thought they would not be getting into the class, Ichigo had shrunk back when Slughorn was talking with Harry, she knew that being the cousin of 'The-Boy-Who-Lived' would mean dealing with the man sooner or later but she preferred latter, much later.

Luckily for her the man had started the lesson, asking the students about the potions on his desk and absolutely beaming at Hermione when she eagerly and correctly answered each one. Ichigo had felt herself flush even more in embarrassment when Slughorn had described the potion as having "A unique aroma that would always smell like what was most appealing to whomever smelled it."

Although she did find it somewhat amusing that Hermione's description of the smell included parchment.

When the class was finally given their assignment Ichigo had quickly jotted down what ingredients she and Ulquiorra would need before rushing off to the stores and picking up the needed supplies. She couldn't help but feel slightly embarrassed that the Love Potion smelled like her husband despite everything else it could have been but she was secretly happy about it as well, returning back to their table Ichigo split the ingredients evenly before turning her attention back to the cauldron Ulquiorra had prepped while waiting. Both shinigami studiously focused on their batches of the Draught of Living Death, which Ichigo had to bite her lip not to at least chuckle slightly at the thought of a dead person brewing 'Living Death', a horrible pun but slightly humorous all the same.

When time was called Ichigo looked up from her pale grey potion, slightly proud of how it had turned out given the time constraint. Hers was almost the exact shade as both Ulquiorra and Hermione, although when she looked over to Harry Ichigo had to hold back her shock. His potion was a perfect metallic silver, and Slughorn wasted no time praising it and Lilly Potter's potion making genes while giving him the prize vial of Felix Felicis. Looking over Ichigo saw a flabbergasted Ron, and a resentful Hermione, and she herself was curious at the sudden jump in her cousin's potion brewing skills, did he study over the summer? She found herself doubting it. Instead she said nothing as she corked the small vial to be submitted for grading and took a deep breath before walking up to the professor to hand it in.

"Ah, hello there, I don't believe I've seen you around before." He said cheerfully,

Ichigo felt like rolling her eyes, "That would be because I am from Japan, sir."

He grinned widely as she cringed, "Oh! So you must be Harry Potter's foreign cousin I have heard so much about!"

'Greeeeaaaaat' Ichigo thought sarcastically, 'Next he'll ask me to join the Slug Club Harry warned be about.' She hated politics, hence why she never got involved in any Nobles' meeting back in Seireitei if she could avoid them, especially the social get-togethers. "Yes sir," she said stiffly.

"In that case how about you and your cousin join me for a little get together next Saturday? I would love to hear about what it's like where you come from!" Ichigo wondered if he even paid attention when she told him she was from Japan since he avoided just saying it.

Plastering on a fake smile Ichigo once more mentally thanked Rukia for acting lessons, at this rate she was going to have to give the midget a Chappy themed present. "I'm terribly sorry professor, but my cousin and I already have a detention with Professor Snape at that time."

The walrus like man's eyebrows shot up, causing his forehead to wrinkle up, "Really? Well I'm sure I can convince him otherwise."

Gritting her teeth Ichigo hoped that Severus would not abandon her to the Slug Club for blowing up his room, he knew she hated parties and would view going to one as more of a punishment than pulling out potion ingredients from dead critters or cleaning cauldrons. If things went right then Ichigo would never need to use the kimono Rukia had gotten her as a present after her wedding, saying that even though the hybrid would never tell when her birthday was it didn't mean that she couldn't get something nice every now and then. "I am sorry to say that I doubt it sir, I kinda blew up his room today."

Slughorn sent her a skeptical look, "Is that what Minerva meant about your condition due to an experimental hex?"

Unable to keep out the slight smirk at the thought of blowing the man up with a tickling charm if he dared to drag her to a party Ichigo nodded, "Yes Professor, all my spells blow up now."

Letting out a booming laugh he finally took her offered bottle, "Well, then I hope I can convince ol' Severus to at least reschedule your detention along with your cousin's, I'm sure you would have a blast at my little get together. Now off you go."

Glad to finally escape Ichigo passed Ulquiorra who shot her a sympathetic look, having heard the whole conversation.

"Ah, Ulquiorra Ciffer correct?" Slughorn said happily after reading the name on the roster.

"Yes," Ulquiorra said flatly,

"A very unusual name, are you also foreign?" The professor asked curiously,

"Yes,"

He paused, "Would you mind telling me where you are from?"

"…"

"…I see you did a very good job with the potion today. Did you enjoy the lesson?"

"No,"

"You don't talk much do you?" Slughorn asked resignedly.

"No."

And with that Ulquiorra turned around and left, leaving Ichigo to bite her cheek not to laugh as she ducked out of the room with her husband. It didn't take much to catch up to him since he was waiting for her just outside the door.

Giving him a quick kiss on the lips Ichigo said, "That was hilarious."

He sent her a small grin, "I'm glad you found it so, the trash was annoying with how he talked too much."

At that point the others caught up to them, Ron grinning about Slughorn's miffed expression after Ulquiorra had left while Harry sent her a sympathetic smile, "He tried to get you to attend his party too huh?"

"Yea," Ichigo said with a scowl, "I hate parties, Rukia would try and rope me into them so she wouldn't be stuck with all alone with the prissy noble girls who couldn't even swing a zanpakuto without worrying about breaking a nail."

Harry sent her a curious look, "Why would it be so bad?"

"Because they do nothing but gossip! Once I had to attend a mandatory ball on the anniversary of Aizen's defeat, and being a shinigami I was thankfully required to be in my uniform but…" Ichigo shuddered, "Since that day they made it their mission to get me to 'dress up' nicely."

"Huh?" Harry asked blankly, "What's so bad about that?"

"Harry," Ichigo said flatly, "They literally assaulted me with make-up, hair products, and kimonos after the party."

Her cousin now seemed to get it as he cringed, "Um, no offence but…I can't see you doing that kind of stuff."

Throwing her hands up Ichigo yelled, "Thank you! You get why it is so horrible! Those girls are annoying, they keep trying to send me party invites and when I decline they drone on and on about how hopeless I am at being a girl." She grumbled, "I can dress up but I don't like to, it isn't like the hollows are going to not try and bite my head off because I have nice hair."

Harry started chuckling causing Ichigo to stop mid-rant, "What's so funny?"

"The thought of you freaking out over a split end like Aunt Petunia would." He said reluctantly.

Scowling Ichigo just shot back, "Well, I'm glad you find it so funny."

That night, or rather early morning found Harry asleep with his Firebolt hidden just under his bed when he felt someone shaking him. Blearily opening his eyes he made out a fuzzy black and white figure standing over him, "Harry, wake up."

Yawning widely Harry blindly reached for his glasses and put them on, looking back to the figure he realized it was Ulquiorra. "Mhmm?"

His mind still clouded with sleep Harry slowly noticed several things, the first being that it was still dark out, the second being that Ulquiorra was dressed in his shinigami uniform, and the mask fragment and hole were clearly visible. "You wanted to join us for flying?" He said in a slightly teasing tone that Harry almost missed.

Eyes jolting wide, Harry quickly got out of bed before dropping to the ground and reaching for his Firebolt. As he did so he was glad he had gone to bed wearing jeans and a sweater before reaching over and grabbing his shoes as well. Ulquiorra just grinned slightly before leaving Harry to silently scramble with his shoe strings before rushing down to the common room after him.

"Morning sleepy-head."

Harry turned to see Ichigo grinning, her own mask fragment and captain's haori clearly visible telling him that she too was in soul form. "Sorry but I'm not exactly used to getting up this early." He growled back.

Ichigo just rolled her eyes before walking over to the window and opening it widely, "You first." She said while gesturing to the black night sky.

Mounting his broom Harry slowly maneuvered out the window before turning around to watch what the other two would do, he was curious about Ichigo's sword release. Seeing her step up to the edge of the window though made Harry worry a bit, and when she sent him a wink before jumping he nearly had a heart attack. She dived straight down, sword drawn and held to her chest before a massive torrent of black and red energies flared into existence around her, completely obscuring her form from view. Harry couldn't help but watch with wide eyes as the black and red meteor fell closer and closer to the ground and when he feared Ichigo would crash the energy dissipated like smoke as massive dark wings snapped out and Ichigo quickly ascended back up until she was nearly level with a gob-smacked Harry.

She had changed, and the fuzzy mirror had not done her form justice. She was dressed similarly to her bankai outfit, but sleeveless and exposing her midriff, her pants ending in tatters near the top of her knees as the cloth of her coat remained connected to her waist forming a torn skirt ending at the knees and open in the front. But not only her outfit had changed but Ichigo herself had changed, her mask had darkened to the same amber as her skeletal armor and its horns now jutted forwards like a bull's the tips sharpened to lethal points, the skeletal amber armor was also back, the rib like guards easily bending with her body as though it were a part of her. However it had changed just a little, the gauntlets extended to her hands, forming wickedly sharp claws and her reptilian feet were similar, her tail now had armor plating that mimicked vertebrae as it neared the sickle bladed tip. Her black chain like markings had now become a part of the armor, no longer a part of her skin but the same deep amber that formed a chain wrapping itself around her arms and upper torso much like the former tattoos had done, standing out against her pale white skin. Harry blinked repeatedly in shock when she sent him a smirking grin, the moonlight glinting on her lengthened canines that now resembled fangs more than human teeth, her black and amber eyes shining in amusement. "Different than the scrying mirror hmm?"

Harry just let his jaw hang low, barely noticing Ulquiorra also diving down before gliding back up on silent bat like wings. Looking over to him Harry saw he looked much the same as he did in the memory of his first release, without any differences he could notice beside facial expression as the arrancar was grinning at his still stunned face.

"Well, are you just going to sit there staring or have fun?" Ichigo teased before with she got off her air platform she had previously been standing on with a mighty downwards thrust of her massive wings and shot back into the air, Ulquiorra following not long afterwards. Harry shook his head before urging his broom to follow them as the trio raced around the castle, diving and swooping through the battlements and arches of the gothic architecture. Somehow Harry found himself watching a strange game of tag, both Ichigo and Ulquiorra would race each other through the castle's outside, tagging the other when close enough, he had tried to play with them but just couldn't keep up. Harry's broom just couldn't handle the corners and stunts the two did and in the end he simply flew up above the castle, watching the aerial maneuverings in awe as the two seemed more at ease in the air than he could ever be. He almost considered it Seeker training trying to just find the two, their forms easily melding with the dappled shadows and silvery moonlight making it harder to spot them than a brightly shining snitch on a sunny day. Harry had become so engrossed in trying to predict where the two would appear next that he nearly jumped off his broomstick when he felt two armored arms wrap themselves around his torso and lift him off his Firebolt. "Let me show you what it's like to really fly."

Blinking as he heard his cousin's voice Harry looked up to see her grinning face as she held on to him tightly, below them he saw Ulquiorra grab his broomstick and it was with a sinking dread Harry realized what was going on. "Oh no, no, no, no, NOOOOOOOOO!"

He couldn't get another word in edgewise as Ichigo's wings clamped to her side, the two of them shooting downwards as Harry felt gravity loosen its hold over them. His own hands clamping onto Ichigo's arms as then fell Harry couldn't help but notice how different this felt from when he was diving on his broom, not only did he not have control of anything but he could feel as weightlessness took a hold of him. Looking above him at the ground Harry started feeling sick as he and his cousin began corkscrewing downward, sky and ground twisting in a dizzying vertigo as shapes became larger and more detailed. When what seemed to be the ground came so close Harry thought he could touch it he suddenly heard a massive crack of the wind catching Ichigo's wings as she snapped them open, the sudden change jerking him as gravity and inertia fought against the sudden halting of their deadly decent before they swooped low to the ground, the grass brushing against the tips of Harry's shoes before they shot up into the air, each powerful thrust of Ichigo's wings fighting gravity as they climbed through the air.

Harry couldn't help the large grin that spread across his face, each loop, each corkscrew Ichigo did he could feel. It gave him a rush he could never gain from a simple broomstick, when riding his Firebolt he was the one in control, it followed his thoughts as he maneuvered through the air but the charms on it had always kept him firmly on it, had kept him from feeling the tugging of inertia when he would twist and turn. But now? Flying like this made flying on a broomstick seem like swimming in air. Now as he felt Ichigo fall backwards through the air, once more diving down to the castle below Harry felt alive, he could feel the wind as it rushed over Ichigo's wings, it was as though he was not conquering gravity but a part of it. Letting out a whoop of joy and exhilaration he felt and heard Ichigo's own laughter as she quickly turned, darting through the arches and around the pillars, each turn caused by even the most subtle of shifts of her wings as Harry simply enjoyed the flight, reveling in the sensations and abandoning all his fear.

Every now and then he would see Ulquiorra flying nearby, ghosting in and out of the shadows and nearly colliding with Harry and Ichigo but she would always pull away at the last possible second. Each sharp turn tugging at him as Harry felt each movement Ichigo did to twist in the air, the slightest bank to the left becoming a wide lazy spiral around a tower, each aerial stunt initiated at the smallest of forewarning. Once Harry saw Ulquiorra chasing them from behind only for to feel himself yanked up as Ichigo shot straight up into the air only to kick off of a nearby wall and turn the tables in their game of tag, and Harry merely watched in awe at how quickly things would change. Finally Ichigo slowly descended, wings open lazily as she glided to the still open window of the Gryffindor Common Room as Ulquiorra swooped up into view. It was only as Harry was let go inside and instantly fell to the ground that he realized how sore his chest was from the way he was being held and how his legs had been replaced with jelly. But that didn't matter as he looked up at Ichigo and Ulquiorra who reverted back to their normal soul form with a wide grin that threatened to split his face.

"So?" Ichigo asked smugly as Ulquiorra shot him a wide grin, both of their eyes shining with excitement.

Still breathless with the adrenaline slowly leaving him Harry tried to get up on his wobbly legs, having to use a nearby chair to support himself, "Bloody hell that was brilliant!" He gushed, grin not fading in the slightest.

"Worth getting up for?" Ulquiorra asked slyly,

"Worth getting up for?" Harry asked incredulously, "That was the most fun I've had in ages and he asks me if it was 'worth getting up for'?"

The three all shared a laugh before Ichigo went over and lifted Harry to his feet where he wobbled a little but slowly regained his bearings. "Now I know why you two don't like the idea of flying on a broomstick!" Harry said, he knew for a fact he would never be able to enjoy quidditch the same way again after flying like that.

Chuckling Ichigo replied, "Nothing beats having your own wings."

"I'll say!" Harry exclaimed, "And after that my animagmus better be a bird! Karma owes me that at least!"

Quickly thanking Ulquiorra as he handed him back his broom Harry looked back at Ichigo before he and Ulquiorra headed back up to their dorms, "When's the next time?"

V/V/V/V/V/V/V/V

The week passed uneventfully, except for the occasional explosions from Ichigo. News of her 'condition' had rapidly spread through the Hogwarts Grapevine and it wasn't long before all nearby students would get nervous if they saw Ichigo even holding her wand much to her chagrin. Harry had told her and his friends about the mysterious Half-Blood Prince who had previously owned his textbook, and while Hermione had been skeptical Ichigo and Ulquiorra just looked at the handwriting curiously and frowning in confusion before they both warned him not to try any of the spells written in the margins unless they were nearby and in a safe place to test them. While Hermione didn't like the fact that the two shinigami sided with Harry in keeping the book she at least agreed that they had a point regarding the spells.

Dumbledore had his first lesson with Harry that Saturday, and had shown him a memory of Voldemort's family and explained the circumstances of the man's birth. Ichigo and Ulquiorra were skeptical about the way Dumbledore's lessons were going; obviously they weren't to teach Harry any advanced magics so the two decided to work more on Harry's hand to hand lessons in the near future. As the new quidditch captain however Harry had to hold try outs, and had almost begged Ichigo and Ulquiorra to at least try flying on a broom but they flat out denied him, but Harry wouldn't give up and eventually wore them down till they agreed to fly with him on brooms after the tryouts.

Ichigo and Ulquiorra both eyed the old Cleansweeps with distaste and distrust as Harry held one in each hand for them. The tryouts had been a fiasco, full of fans from other houses, first years who couldn't fly, and hot-headed fools that Ichigo could care less about, but through all the riff-raff Harry had managed to scrounge up a team and now that team along with Hermione were eagerly waiting to see how his cousin fared on a broomstick.

"There isn't any backing out of this is there?" Ichigo asked dryly to which Harry shook his head with a shit-eating grin stretched wide across his face. Sighing the shinigami grabbed the broom and mounted it, Ulquiorra doing the same next to her before they both began rising up to hover a few feet in the air. Harry soon joined them as the three went for a lap around the pitch, the whole time Ichigo frowned. The brooms felt, artificial. They had too many charms that reduced the feeling of inertia, and gravity to truly feel like one was flying, rather if felt more like just moving through the air, a pale comparison to how the two shinigami flew. Not only that but with the aerodynamics of the broom itself she could only lean forwards, great for single direction acceleration but nothing like the instant turns, dips and dives she had gotten used to in aerial combat. The flight was still fun, but as Ichigo lazily wove in and out of the observation towers she just couldn't help but compare it to her own wings and find it lacking. Landing back on the ground amid the team's applause she and Ulquiorra frowned slightly as they handed the brooms back, "Sorry Harry, but brooms just are not my thing." Ichigo said quietly, not wanting to hurt his feelings.

She needn't have worried though as Harry easily accepted the brooms, "I kinda figured, it's really different from the flight you took me on. And I could see you trying to fly like normal on the brooms but it didn't work out."

Grinning sheepishly Ichigo felt Katie Bell clap her on the back, "That was brilliant! You flew really well actually, why didn't you try out for the team?"

"I'm not much of a quidditch fan, and I just don't feel right on a broom. That's something I'll leave to Harry." Ichigo said honestly, to which the girl just pouted before looking over to Ulquiorra who was in a similar situation with the two new beaters.

That Saturday they had received notice that their detention with Professor Snape would not be postponed for a party under any circumstances, and that they were to bring their dragonhide gloves, something that had Ichigo yelling out 'thank you!' and Harry groaning in misery much to the poor messenger boy's confusion. He had even asked Harry if his cousin was mental for wanting detention with Snape over going to a party. Upon showing up at the detention Ichigo and Harry both had their gloves on and were simply shown the barrel full of dead flobberworms and the assorted bottles for their various body parts. "You don't have to do the detention Ichigo, Minerva explained why your spell blew up."

Ichigo looked over to Snape and gave him a small grin, "That's fine, your detention gave me an excuse to get out of Slughorn's party so I might as well help to return the favor."

All the man did was raise an eyebrow and Ichigo continued, "Really, I don't mind the guts or the worms. You know I'm not the squeamish type." She ended with a slight laugh.

Harry saw the professor turn slightly pale-green before sharply nodding and the two got to work. They were quiet at first, Harry struggling slightly with the mucus covered worms and their similarly slimy innards but Ichigo deftly used the silver potions knives to easily start separating the worms into the various parts labeled on the jars. "So Harry, I heard you plan on continuing the DA."

Before answering Harry's eyes darted over to Snape who silently sat grading papers, "Yea, Luna and the others all wanted it to keep going."

"That's great, although Ulquiorra and I won't be joining." Ichigo said while flicking a heart into the appropriate jar, "And I don't think we'll continue the hand-to-hand fighting side lessons, by the end of last year only you and Neville were left."

Nodding in agreement Harry lost his grip on a flobberworm and it slipped back into the bucket, "Sorry that didn't work out."

"Nah, I'm not bothered by it. Gives Ulquiorra-kun and I more time to train you since Dumbledore isn't focusing on fighting skills." She said lightly, causing Harry to shudder slightly, their training sessions always left him so sore he could barely walk afterwards. In the corner of his eye Harry could see Snape smirking slightly, and he was sure that the professor knew about those torture sessions.

"There's no need, I'm good…" Harry said apprehensively, hoping he could convince her that he didn't need to have practice spars with her or Ulquiorra.

Ichigo scowled and pointed her mucus covered knife at Harry, making a very scary image, "You aren't getting out of it Harry. I want you able to run up to ol' Voldy and give him a good kick where the sun don't shine if you ever lose your wand, and that means you need to be able to dodge on the drop of a hat and actually punch hard." Her scowl deepened while in the background Harry swore he saw Snape duck behind some papers to hide a chuckle. "You can't even punch like you mean it, heck! I could beat up the gangs back in Karakura even when I was human! But you would just get your ass handed to you."

Harry gaped, "You saying I punch like a girl?"

"No, cause I'm a girl and I can and could punch harder than you, your skills aren't that good."

At that point Snape couldn't hide his laugh.