Disclaimer: I do not own Familiar of Zero or Harry Potter, they belong to their respective owners. I'm not making money, this is just for fun and a hobby at most.

AN: This is a story.. Wanted to make sure I put out a chapter this month, this one is a bit of a detour, but setting up stuff for the future. And a small little speckling of fun... Hehe. Anyways, if you are fine with all that, please enjoy!

AN:This chapter has been edited on 7.25.21.

Chapter Eleven: An Interlude on Earth

Everyone in Hogsmeade was still in good cheer. The war had been over since the beginning of May. Quite a bit of time had passed since then, and with Kingsley Shacklebolt taking over the reigns of Minister, the magical community had settled down some. The celebrations that were still going, were getting a bit out of hand as well. Still, all was not well.

The last remains of the death eaters were still being rounded up, and the magic community at large was still recovering. Auror's could still be seen making arrests and hunting down the last of Voldemort's followers. Still, everything was returning to as normal as it could for magical Britain.

"Oy, watch we're you're going!" A drunk wizard shouted.

"Excuse me." Neville ignored the man. Pushing past to get into the very busy bar.

Neville ducked into Hog's Head bar into the small, dingy, and very dirty room. It smelled strongly of goats. The bay windows were so foul, that very little daylight could permeate the room. The room itself was lit with candle stubs on rough wooden tables. Finding whom he was looking for, he took a seat.

"HiYa, Arry." Neville greeted as he sat down across from Harry.

Harry glanced up for a moment before taking another swig from his dirty mug.

"Watcha doing in Hogs Head? I got your letter... What happened?" Neville gazed at Harry.

"Haven't you read the daily prophet? Never mind..." Harry paused as he remembered such people as Rita Skeeter who worked for the daily prophet.

"I'm quitting my Auror training Neville." Harry spat quickly before downing the rest of his glass. That wasn't all that was on his mind, of course the last day hadn't gone very well.

"This isn't like you Arry. What would Ginny say if she heard that."

"She's doesn't care Neville!" Harry slammed his fists on the wooden table.

"Calm down Arry! Tell me what happened?" Neville patted him on the back. Ever since the battle of Hogwarts they had stuck close together, and practiced for their eventual Auror exam.

"Yesterday we had gone to Diagon Alley to get me a new wand. Well it had actually started before that. …."

"You see we, me and Ginny that is, we had been fighting. Though it all came to a head at the damn party. You know the one you skipped out on the other day." He began.

"What happened to your wand? And I told you not to go to that party, who even in the order wanted to celebrate, we lost so much." Neville hated to interrupt, but a wizard didn't just loose his wand. Parties had always been overrated anyways.

"Fawkes nicked it, along with some of my other stuff. Damn Phoenix just flew off to god's knows where. That's when Ginny told me to stop being useless and go after him. Well I bloody well couldn't without my wand. Next thing I know we were both drunk throwing insults at each other." Harry spat.

'Fawkes hadn't been seen since last July, having flown off after singing at Albus Dumbledore's funeral. Why would the headmaster's Phoenix come back to steal Arry's wand? Ginny always seemed nice, though he remembered that Molly and his Gram never did well on alcohol either.'

"Ginny and I were heading to Mr. Ollivander's shop, we were still bickering, this time it was over money. Honestly it was all so bloody stupid. I don't even care about money, why can't the Weasley's get that?"

"Couples fight all the time Arry. Gram always says you should just apologize." Neville replied.

"Well after that fight we left Gringotts, money in hand for my new wand. That was when several masked death eaters came storming out of Knockturn alley. I reached for my wand... Ginny.. She tried to shield me with a Protego charm, I think." Harry teared up.

"That had worked for a moment until I saw the curse heading for her stomach. It only took a moment afterwards that I also went down. I was so pathetic!" Harry took a deep breath.

"You aren't pathetic Arry!" Neville shouted.

"It all happened too fast Neville. I couldn't bare the thought of losing her. Thankfully the Auror's showed up, sparring the both of us. We both woke in St. Mungo's Hospital, I lucked out for once, Ginny on the other hand had to regrow several bones..." Harry slumped in his chair. It was hard for him to admit his moment of weakness. He had fought Lord Voldemort and won, but could fall so easily to the lowest scum.

"It wasn't your fault mate. Without a wand, what could anyone expect you to do? You are not the chosen one Harry, you may hear everyone call you the boy who lived. But the only person I can see is the hero that you are." Neville attempted to reassure his friend. Neville was not new to self doubt, neither of them were.

"Tell that to the Weasley's. Sure. When I told Molly what had happened, and how weak I was, she said it wasn't my fault.. But I couldn't accept that."

"Ron, well he was Ron. He understood what happened, until I told them all I was breaking up with Ginny because I wasn't man enough, I wasn't good enough... That was when Ron punched me in the face, I probably needed it honestly."

"Everyone at the Borough looked at me with pity Neville, like I was a victim! Only Hermione slapped me and told me to get a hold of myself. That got Ron rather upset, I understand why, but I think I really needed to hear that from someone." Harry took a breath.

"Only Hermione knew what to really say Neville... Only she could really understand how I felt. Wizards don't see those muggles things like PTSD, or whatever Hermione was trying to call it."

"As a result, Ron's not talking to her, I think he won't forgive her unless she takes his side. Which won't happen. Hermione actually cares!" Harry stated.

Neville interrupted. "Ron is just be being a twit."

"He's always been like this. Even Hermione is fed up with him.." Harry petered off.

"Hermione went that far for you. I thought her and Ronald were just recently trying to decide on a wedding date?" Neville blurted. Those two had had a rough relationship, but for it to be this fragile...

"There isn't going to be a wedding Neville. Hermione and I are going to find her parents in Australia. I can only wish you luck on your Auror training. Maybe I can find the solice I need to face Ginny, or myself there." Harry stated before wishing his friend luck.

"But Arry, we are partners on the physical portion of the exam. If you quit, I'll have to wait a year before the next one. I'm sorry what happened to Ginny, but running off to Australia with your friends Fiance? Abandoning all our hard effort!" Neville spoke in shock.

"I've made my decision Neville. For what it's worth I'm sorry.. It won't be the end of your Auror career if you have to wait another year. Why don't you take up that Herbology teaching post at Hogwarts. They will be re opening soon right?"

"Since I can't convince you to change your course, I can only wish you luck Arry. Please make sure to sober up and send me letters, just address them to Hogwarts. Goodbye." Neville pushed back his chair emitting a screech on the floor.

"See ya Mate." Harry lounged back in his chair. The hangover after today was going to be killer. He was sure Hermione would be by later anyways to use an enervate charm on him.

*Chapter Eleven: An Interlude on Earth*

Neville had a lot to think about. While being an Auror was a recent dream of his since his days being in Dumbledore's army, hell even before that. His parents Frank and Alice had been Auror's as well. It had also been a dream of his to teach Herbology though. 'I suppose it won't be too bad being called Professor Longbottom.'

The trip out of Hogsmeade was quick as he passed the post office getting unto high street. The three broomsticks had been fully repaired finally, and the rest of the town had little to show for the war scars of the scant few months it had earlier. 'Hopefully I can catch the train to Diagon Alley.'

*Chapter Eleven: An Interlude on Earth*

Saito Hiraga was currently with his parents. They had made the trip to the Leaky Cauldron, on Charring Cross road. His mother was currently complaining about the parking. Considering that this was a major choke point for all muggleborns, he was surprised not to see more parking.

"I told you we should have taken a cab!" His mother shouted.

She was a native of Japan, and not much older then his father. They had met when his dad had done curse breaker work at her families shrine. She was quite good with her charms, and practiced the traditional magic arts of kotodama and shikigami.

Not that he was any good at them, as generally they were not taught such archaic magic at Mahoutokoro. Not that he missed the color changing uniforms, or flying giant storm petrels to and from home. Least he would miss the hot humid temps of the tropical volcanic island the school was located on.

"Why would I want to miss the opportunity to drive? You know I haven't done this since I stole that car with a bunch of gryffindors! Those muggles were so angry before old Slug Horn oblivated them."

His father, the current driver of their car, was a muggle born who had chosen to become a curse breaker in Tokyo. When he had first left Great Britain, it was but shortly after the first wizarding war erupted in England, leaving little reason for him to return. When he had found out about the war, it was obvious what he would do, so he had decided to stay and raise a Family in Japan, rather then go back.

"You are going to get us killed stupid! Saito say something to your father!"

Now over twenty eight years later, Saito's father had a wife, a sixteen year old kid, and they where all going back to his childhood roots. This matter was decided when the second wizarding world had finally come to an end. His son Saito, was to take after his father, just as he always said he wanted. On this both parents agreed.

Another Curse breaker in the family, that dream had been nearly dashed long ago, now however. Toyko's premiere magic school Mahoutokoro did not have a curse breaker study program. Hogwarts did however, even if it was only a rarely taken elective like Alchemy. That's how he got his own license before moving to Tokyo.

"Ahh I found a spot!" Saito's father forced the car between two parked cars. Much to the relief of the other two passengers.

"We take a cab next time husband!" Saito laughed as his mother finished.

"Do not encourage your father. I should know well enough you will be glad to be done with riding petrals to school. I'm so glad we enrolled you in those English muggle classes on the side." Saito's mother stepped out of the car.

"I was good enough at English just talking with dad.." Saito replied.

"That was not English, you father might as well have been impersonating some Australian American actor. You need to be able to speak properly Saito." His mother lectured.

"No problemo." Saito smirked at his mother.

"Lets hurry Saito, if we get all your school supplies quickly, we can go to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor after!" He shouted as he shut the trunk of the car.

"Dad! I'm not eleven anymore! I thought we were going to go meet the Goblins?" Saito inquired before continuing. "Don't they hire curse breakers too?"

*Chapter Eleven: An Interlude on Earth*

The Owl Emporium had seen better days. The hoots and chirps of many caged owls could be heard from quite the distance. Still the business had bee booming since the announcement that Hogwarts would be reopening. Wizards peddled young muggleborns for their hard earned cash. Many of them would go home with a new pet to bring with them to their Hogwarts schooling.

Still all of that was a big distraction from the two creatures sitting on top of it's roof.

"Fawkes when are we going to get to eat?" Irukukwu stomach growled.

"You most be patient Irukukwu. And quiet!" Fawkes slid down her neck.

"That tickles Fawkes." The blue rhyme dragon giggled.

"Here's the plan, Blue. At noon the apothecary gets a wagon delivery." Fawkes bit into a lemon. How one does this with a beak, is left to one's own interpretation...

Irukukwu stared at Fawkes in rapt attention... Or was it the lemon she was eyeing? Food was good after all, even if it was yellow and sour.

"First we'll wait till the wagon comes down the street. Then well have you fly real low over those kids checking out the cauldrons outside. While your providing that distraction, I'll swoop in and grab our lunch. An entire cart of lemon drops!" Fawkes drooled.

"Remember we cannot tell our masters, otherwise it wouldn't be a good surprise!" Fawkes proudly held out her chest.

"Your so smart Fawkes! Just like big sister!" Fawkes cooed. Then her stomach growled.

Fawkes frowned. 'No one was better at being smart then Fawkes! Fawkes was a clever Phoenix who always got praised by her master!'

"Get Ready Big Blue. I'm calling this operation Skuld! Prepare yourself Irukukwu! El Psy Congroo!" Fawkes flapped her wings with flair!

'Irukukwu was always thinking Fawkes was weird, but at least lemon drops were tasty, and big sister liked tasty things too! Oh, and so did she!'

*Chapter Eleven: An Interlude on Earth*

The train ride from Hogsmeade was rather more peaceful then his rides on the Hogwarts express as a kid. A lot less stressful. It took a while to get to Kings cross though. Still beat apparition.

From there it wasn't to much of a walk to Diagon alley. The leaky Caludron even had a friendly atmosphere as he passed through.

What a sight to see it recovering so well. This was even despite what happened here yesterday. It really did inspire hope in him. Still he was here to get his things from the apartment he was renting out. Diagon alley had been a convenient place to stay while he was training to be an Auror. Now he planned to just move on to Hogwarts.

A quick casting of a shrinking, and feather light charm, reduced his trunk to a manageable carrying size.

Sliding the trunk with all his belongings into his pocket, he took a final glance before exiting his room back into the alley. He was still glad he had chosen to stay here, rather then with his Gram.

Neville took a breath as he noticed something large and blue on the roof of the owl Emporium. 'Is that a dragon?'

Chaos broke loose on the street as the large blue dragon flew off the building. It darted right towards a crowd of families looking at cauldrons on an outside sale.

Neville Auror training kicked in as he dashed towards the crowds, all the while casting banishers at the dragon. It would not harm the dragon any, he was only hoping that to combined spell fire from those wizards present, might drive it off away from the children.

"Oy! Is everyone all right?" Neville shouted as he approached a group.

"Oh thanks for the hand. Been while since I fought a dragon. Once, while I was trying to break this one curse..." The man was interrupted, by what was presumably his wife.

"Oh, Shut Up dear! Thanks for the save young man. And I thought dealing with infestations of Crumple-Horned Snorkack's in my father's shrine was dangerous. To think England magicals allow dragons to rome free." She spoke heavily accented.

"Its not a problem mam... Um. In Great Britain we generally keep our dragons in a preserve, not sure how that one got out? Did you say Crumple-Horned Snorkack?" Neville asked in disbelief.

"Yeah their terrible! Partly how my mom met dad. The local magicals in Tokyo just don't know how to deal with them, since they manifest due to curses." The teenager, only a few years younger then himself spoke out.

The man who had also helped repel the dragon looked around. "Where did that beastie go anyways? Something that big doesn't just disappear?"

Neville through his arm behind his head and laughed. "Shouldn't we just be glad a dragon is no longer in the alley. Those other kids near you I think went themselves."

"I think their muggle borns like you dad. It's too bad they put a trace on my wand or else I would have helped out." The young man sighed in frustration.

"While me and your father are here, you shouldn't be worrying about helping anyways. You should just have scurried inside the cauldron shop." She patted the young man on his head.

"Say young man, we were about to get ice cream after going to get my sons books, you wouldn't happen to want to come along would you?" The man asked.

"Yeah that sounds good. I kinda wanted to pick up a few books while I was there anyways. I need to pick out books for my teaching curriculum at Hogwarts." Neville responded.

"Your a professor at Hogwarts already? At your age! What do you teach? What house did you graduate from?" The man asked neville.

"Herbology is the class I will be teaching. I'm a gryffindor You can call me Professor Longbotom." He finished.

"Pffft!" The young man started to laugh. "Man your last name is great! Almost as good as my friend Dai Ochinko's name!"

"Your friends parent's really should have thought better about that name.." The young man's mother groaned.

"Wasn't he also from the US, I think Ex Navy or something. He really wanted him to have a big name you know. Pfft ha ha." The young man's father joked.

Neville looked confused. 'Whats wrong with that name, what did it have to do with being big? Further what was wrong with his name, a name from an ancient noble magic house.'

"Anyways... Mr. Longbottom. Pfft... It's a pleasure to meet you. From one Gryffindor to another, the Hiraga's are pleased to make your acquaintance." They all took turns shaking hands.

"I've been robbed! My whole wagon of calming drought lemon candies have been stolen!" A man across the street roared at the auror's who had just arrived. "It was that damn bird again I tell you! Over a hundred years and you still won't do anything! Why do I even give you my tax money!"

*Chapter Eleven: An Interlude on Earth*

A blue rhyme dragon carrying several large bags flew past the window of Tabitha's room. It was just passing long enough to strobe the light at Tabitha's face.

Tabitha awoke with a groan. Tired, she reached for her staff, then realized it was still laying on the floor from the night before.

Pulling out of her chair, she could see blood stains on her favorite reading chair. This startled her awake finally, she looked down on the ground to the side of her chair in panic. Her new book was completely dried and caked with blood. 'It's ruined.'

Tabitha picked up the book but was unable to peel apart the pages. Several tears dripped down her face. 'I should just be a fairy. Throw out my emotions, steel my heart to others. I need to freeze my heart, just like Xia Qingyue in my books. It's the only way I won't break. Just let me be a fairy and see my mother again like she once was.'

Tabitha sobbed as she cleaned the mess that was her room. It helped when one was a triangle class water mage. It did not take very long for the room to become clean, just like her blank expressionless face.

Taking a shower, she also was clean, of all the filth... Thankfully the bruises on her back wouldn't be noticeable under the school clothes.

Putting on her clothes for the day, she failed to notice that her socks, which had been just delivered by a maid along with all her other clothes. The socks had a strange creature embroidered on them. If one looked close enough, you may notice a Griffin on them. Alas Tabitha did not, as they looked hardly any different from her other pairs from Gallia.

After breakfast she had history class. She just hoped she could avoid Kirche today. She needed to steel her heart, kill her emotions, all she needed was strength.

AN: So this is an edit, because everyone including me wasn't happy with this chapter. I rushed it. Placed plot points above story, and I'm sorry. Perhaps I have been running to many DND sessions where it's easier to kill off NPC for story then write them out correctly. Sometime it's easy to forget to write correctly when your just following an outline you wrote, with things that need to happen, but not how they need to happen. And I screwed up on the how. There was no need for the way I killed Ginny originally, or put a bunch of HP characters out of well, "character". Hope to see you all next chapter.