Ichigo snorted contemptuously as he exited the Great Hall, dropping out of his specialized silent movement technique, hearing his companions do the same behind him. "Wizards," he spat.
Byakuya smirked at Ichigo's back. "Even after so long, your temper still gets the best of you."
"Oh, shut up," Ichigo said, but the minute amusement in his voice was easily noticed by his companions, who had known him and his mannerisms for a long time.
"From what I heard, the government here seems to be rather corrupt," Hisagi voiced, speaking up for the first time. "If the people you incapacitated at this World Cup were truly Death Eaters that have significant power and influence in the Ministry, then no doubt they were the ones who manipulated the Minister of Magic to try and detain you."
Ichigo nodded. "So you've all been briefed on the situation?"
They nodded affirmative. Momo asked a question that had been sitting on the other shinigami's minds for a while. "Who were those men that were with the Minister? Their positioning implied that they were bodyguards or security or something like that."
"They're called Aurors," Ichigo replied with a roll of his eyes. "They're supposed to be the wizarding equivalent of police, I suppose. Their job is primarily to catch Dark Wizards, but it seems like they've become the personal yes-men of the Minister, and thus indirectly, to the influential Death Eaters who have somehow managed to avoid conviction by the Ministry. Then again, I'm not surprised at their ineptness."
Rukia nudged him from behind. "If they give you any trouble, don't hesitate to call on us for backup. If you really need it, I think Yamamoto-soutaicho might even allow a few high-ranking shinigami to join the mission temporarily, or even permanently. He really wants Riddle gone, and forever this time."
Ichigo nodded. "So how long are you guys staying?" he asked. "You are aware of the international magical tournament that will be taking place in a few days?"
Toushiro nodded. "We were given a few weeks' leave by the captain-commander. Things are quiet in Soul Society, so we decided to pay you a visit. Just in time, it seems. I'm curious to see how these wizards do combat. This tournament is designed to challenge the abilities of the wizards, right? I personally rather want to watch this tournament and see for myself."
The others voiced their agreement. Ichigo thought about it a bit. "I think that your stay for the tournament should be approved by the Headmaster. I know that the tournament consists of three challenges spread out over the school year, so I don't know how practical it would be for you to stay for the whole thing in one go, or if Yamamoto-soutaicho will allow it. I think the best strategy would be for you to come a few days before each task and leave shortly afterward."
"A wise observation, Ichigo," Byakuya remarked. "But enough about us. How has your stay been in the wizarding world?"
Ichigo grimaced. "It's been alright for the most part, although I've discovered a few things about the wizards that are rather irritating, if not downright stupid. Firstly, most wizards seem to possess some sort of inbred belief that they are somehow better than non-magicals. Some of them take this belief even further, to the point that they think pureblooded wizards are superior to those who are not. The equivalent of wizarding royalty, it seems." Ichigo nodded to Byakuya, who knew where he was going with this. "Although the idea of royalty is not a harmful one, in fact in some cases they are beneficial to the people, such as the Kuchiki Family, these pureblood supremacists look down upon those they consider beneath them, to the point that they mistreat their so-called 'inferiors' and call them derogatory names. It is a concept that largely contributed to, if not was the base cause behind, the initial Riddle incident fifteen years ago."
He stopped in front of a large painting on the wall. The others looked it over curiously. It depicted a desert realm, illuminated by a bright moon, with a dark-looking sun opposite it, and a single, stunted tree. Ichigo tapped on a specific knot on the tree and said clearly yet quietly, "Black sun."
The others smirked at the password, knowing exactly why he had chosen such words. The painting, which was actually a concealed door, swung outward, allowing access to the chamber that was Ichigo's room within.
"Are we secure?" asked Toushiro. Ichigo, Byakuya, Rukia, and Momo didn't even spare him a look as they began casting various kidou shields around the room, designed to block vision and hearing into the room, both normal and magical, as well as defensive shields, in case of an attack. Despite the fact than an attack wasn't likely due to the fact that Hogwarts was a school, all the shinigami had learned never to be careless about security.
"We are now," Ichigo announced when they finished. He strode over to a low table in front of the fireplace, surrounded by comfortable couches. "Have a seat. Drinks?"
Hisagi and Momo politely declined, while Byakuya settled for fine sake, Toushiro for a light Chardonnay, and Rukia for tea. Ichigo poured them their drinks and measured out a few fingers of fine brandy for himself.
Plopping down on the loveseat next to Rukia, who nestled up against his side, Ichigo let out a contented sigh. "That's better," he said as he sipped the brandy. "The swill they call drinks during dinner doesn't even compare," he said.
Byakuya chuckled. He for one could certainly appreciate fine alcohol. "So," the noble said, taking a sip of his sake, "what did you want to talk to us about, Ichigo?" he asked, catching the attention of the other shinigami.
"Well, I don't really know how to put this lightly," Ichigo said. He took a deep breath. "A few days ago, I detected a certain reiatsu in the Great Hall, belonging to a student. A few days after that, I bumped into that student in the hallways between classes. Her name is Luna Lovegood, and she is a Third Year student. Additionally…" Ichigo took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to reveal. "She is the reincarnated soul of Kira Izuru."
Momo and Hisagi seemed to stop breathing, and Byakuya, Toushiro, and Rukia were stunned as well, although they were not nearly as affected as Momo and Hisagi.
The room was silent as Ichigo watched his companions contemplate this development and what it meant. It was Momo who finally broke the silence.
"Can we see hi-her?" she asked, her voice soft. Despite being a hardened fighter, Momo was extremely loyal to her friends. The thought of seeing Kira, with whom she had attended the Academy, and had risen through the ranks of the Gotei 13, even if his soul had been reincarnated as a student, was an opportunity she couldn't resist.
Ichigo looked around and saw agreement written plainly on Hisagi's face. The scarred man had been close friends and comrades with Kira, and his death had hit the Ninth division vice-captain hard.
The other three captains had sympathetic looks on their faces. They all knew the pain of losing a comrade, some more so than others. Ichigo sighed and nodded. "Alright. Normally, I wouldn't hesitate to say yes, but when I spoke with Luna, she was showing signs of remembering Kira's memories. She addressed me as 'Kurosaki-taicho' and spoke in Japanese, although she didn't give any indication afterward that she even knew what she had done. We all know that it is against the law to actively help a reincarnated soul regain his or her previous memories, and I'm afraid that if she sees so many familiar people from Kira's life, she will regain his memories. The danger is that if she regains all those memories, she could go insane, overwhelmed by the sheer force of memories. So when you meet her, be careful. Don't say anything related to Kira, especially his death."
Hisagi and Momo nodded earnestly. They couldn't wait to see this Luna girl, the reincarnation of their old friend. Ichigo couldn't help but smile as well. He had thoroughly enjoyed talking with the quiet young blonde, and Momo and Hisagi's eagerness was infectious.
He whistled, and an owl swooped down and landed on his shoulder through the open window. Whipping out a pen and a sheet of parchment, Ichigo scribbled something down quickly and rolled it up, handing it to the owl to clutch in its beak. "Take this to Luna Lovegood, could you?" he asked. The bird hooted in understanding and flapped its wings, swooping out the window.
The shinigami waited in anticipation. After a few minutes, there was a knocking at the door.
#
The silence reigning in the Great Hall was deafening. Everybody, teachers and students alike, sat stunned after witnessing the Minister of Magic's humiliation by Captain Kurosaki and his comrades. It was a long time before it was broken.
"Bloody hell…" whispered Ron finally, shocking everyone out of their reverie. Muted murmurs and whispers began echoing throughout the hall. Dumbledore coughed to regain attention, and gradually the hall fell silent again.
"That… interruption notwithstanding," the Headmaster said, his tone more serious now, "I believe it is time to introduce two of our judges for the Tri-wizard Tournament, in addition to the heads of the schools. Please join me in welcoming Mr. Ludovic Bagman and Mr. Bartemius Crouch of the Department of International Magical Cooperation!"
Thunderous applause rang out as students forgot the incident temporarily, their attention directed mostly to Ludovic "Ludo" Bagman, a former Beater for the Wimbourne Wasps. He was a heavily built man, although his years away from Quidditch had caused him to gain some weight, especially around his middle. He beamed and waved, bowing a few times to cheers and applause.
His counterpart, Bartemius "Barty" Crouch, on the other hand, was stiff and formal, giving only a nod before sitting down at the teacher's table. His small moustache was neatly trimmed and combed, and he dressed immaculately, with not a speck of dust on his formal robes.
Dumbledore held up his hand, and the applause finally died down. He continued, "And now, it's time for the casket to be brought out!" A massive, ornately carved and jeweled wooden chest was carried out and laid on a stand on the dais. With a flourish of Dumbledore's wand, the chest dissolved into the air, revealing a large, crudely-carved wooden goblet. If not for the blue flames, obviously magical, burning within the cup, the goblet would be utterly unremarkable except for its size.
"The Goblet of Fire," Dumbledore intoned solemnly. "The impartial judge for the Tri-wizard Tournament. Any student wishing to enter will put their name on a piece of parchment into the cup. On the night of the drawing, the Goblet shall determine which of the students from each school is most worthy of entering the Tri-wizard Tournament." Whispers broke out, and Dumbledore silenced them quickly. A note of amusement crept into his voice. "And for those who have thoughts of entering, despite not being of age," he said with a small smile, "I shall be drawing an Age Line myself around the Goblet. None under the age of seventeen shall be able to cross it."
"An Age Line!" Fred Weasley said, catching Harry's attention as they all made their way across the hall to the doors. "Well, that should be fooled by an Ageing Potion, shouldn't it? And once your name's in the Goblet, you're laughing – it can't whether you're seventeen or not!"
"But I don't think anyone under seventeen will stand a chance," said Hermione, "We just haven't learnt enough…"
"Speak for yourself," said George shortly. "You'll try and get in, won't you, Harry?"
Harry thought briefly of Dumbledore's insistence that nobody under seventeen should submit their name, but then the wonderful picture of himself winning the Tri-wizard Cup filled his mind again. He wondered how angry Dumbledore would be if someone younger than seventeen did find a way to get over the Age Line…
"Blimey!" said Ron, elbowing Harry and jolting him out of his thoughts. "Look over there!" The redhead pointed a finger down the hallway, where an unfamiliar owl, was winging its way over the heads of the students. Many of them ducked as the massive owl, even larger than Draco Malfoy's Eagle Owl, fluttered to a halt, landing on the shoulder of a young blonde Ravenclaw.
Dropping a piece of parchment into the girl's hand, the owl flapped its massive wings, the drafts causing many students' hair to become disheveled, and took off again, soaring out an open window into the night sky.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione watched as the blonde read what was written on the parchment. A wide grin spread over her face, and she dropped the parchment, taking off in the opposite direction, pushing her way through the crowd. The whole event would have completely escaped the trio's notice if not for the owl's sheer size. Harry had never seen an owl that large before, not even in Diagon Alley. It clearly wasn't native to England. It was this mere fact that had Harry pushing his way through the crowd, bending to pick up the scrap of parchment.
"Dear Luna," he read out loud, Ron and Hermione listening, "please come to my chamber. It is located on the Second Floor, behind the painting of a desert and a stunted tree. My companions would like to meet you, and since you had expressed interest in meeting them, I decided it was a perfect time. If you could come as soon as possible, it would be most convenient. Sincerely, Ichigo Kurosaki."
Harry looked up at his two friends. "There's something up," he muttered. "I have a bad feeling about those Japanese wizards."
Ron nodded. "They're Death Eaters, I just know it!"
Hermione sighed, but didn't say anything. She had finally realized that there was simply no dissuading Ron from his wild theories.
"Let's follow her," Harry decided. "I have my invisibility cloak in my robes; we can get into Kurosaki's chamber completely hidden." The other two nodded, and Harry whipped out the cloak, draping it over themselves. Taking off, they followed the young blonde as she made her way towards Kurosaki's chamber, Hermione casting a silencing charm on their feet and mouths to stop the sound of their footsteps and breathing, which had given them away to the orange-haired Japanese wizard the first time they had tried sneaking up on him.
Following the Ravenclaw closely, they reached a large, door-sized painting on the Second Floor, as the letter from Captain Kurosaki had said. They watched as the Ravenclaw knocked on the painting and stood back, patiently waiting.
After a few seconds, the painting swung open, and the trio stepped inside behind the Ravenclaw, narrowly avoiding the door swinging shut behind them.
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Next chapter is up now! Also, we broke 200 reviews last chapter! Thanks so much for your support, and I'll see you guys for the next chapter!