Chapter 8: Katsuro Suzuki
After dinner, most of the students went to the common room where Harry and Ron talked to Ernie, introducing him to Rudolf. At around ten o'clock Ron announced that he was going to bed, and the others decided to do the same.
After breakfast the next morning, the students went first to Room Three where Professor Gabriel would give them some guidance for the next year. Andros students did not follow a strict timetable, but had to attend at least three of the four ninety minute lessons each weekday. The lessons themselves were decided by the teachers, the year tutor and the students, based on what each felt needed more practise.
After the next week's timetable had been decided, Professor Gabriel gave the students some details about the upcoming foreign course, which would take place between January and March. He didn't seem too sure on the details himself, but instructed Harry and the rest on what to bring ("everything you need for college plus anything else that might be useful"), what to wear ("something appropriate for the Alps in winter") and how else to prepare ("listen to your lectures – it'll most likely be the main theme of many of them"). He then told the class that this year would be more practical, with fewer lessons of just taking notes from the teachers and more trips outside the college grounds, as the had done most of the basic theory the at school and in the previous year.
"Any questions?" he asked when he'd finished all this. "Don't ask about the foreign course, you'll be told more nearer the time."
Only Rudolf had a question. "Vill ve verk vid real Aurors on der field trips?" he asked.
"Wait until next year," Professor Gabriel told him. "You might even go out on a couple of minor missions."
The days and lessons past: Concealment & Disguise and Stealth & Tracking with the kindly old Headmaster, Professor Confessus; Herbology and Potions with the very silly Professor Potts; Spell Creation and Transfiguration with Professor Gabriel; the study of curses with Kingsley Shacklebolt; Charms with the fair but short tempered Madam Masters; and Physical Training with Madam Hooch. Harry found little time for fun or even much communication with the other students: when he wasn't on the fields or in the Spell Casting Paddock, the Spell Challenge Arena or the middle of nowhere doing activities such as orienteering, studying dragons or catching pretend criminals, he was in the dormitory or the common room trying to put everything the teachers had told him that day into his own words for marking. It was only at the weekends that he could really enjoy himself, and even then, time was limited by homework.
It was in the first of these weekends that Harry got to know Katsuro Suzuki. The Japanese wizard came over as he was relaxing in an armchair.
"Can we talk?" he asked. "I have always wanted to meet you."
"Oh," replied Harry. "Yeah, I suppose so."
Katsuro was short and dumpy, with black hair and a round face. He had dispensed with his purple and gold robes over the week and was now dressed in stripy robes of the Andros regulation colours: black, blue and grey.
"I suppose you want to know what it feels like to be famous," guessed Harry, pulling back his fringe to show Katsuro his scar.
Katsuro gazed at the scar, but answered, "No. I already know what its like."
"Really?" said Harry. "Did you kill a Dark Lord too?" He wished he hadn't said it.
Katsuro smiled. "No. My father is a Quidditch player."
"A Quidditch – not Yoshiro Suzuki?"
"Yes," said Katsuro. "He got signed by the Chudley Cannons."
"My friend Ron supports them. Can you get him an autograph?"
"A signature, you mean? I can try."
"You speak very good English," Harry noted.
"My father made my brothers and my sister and I learn how to," Katsuro said. "From an early age. He knew that one day he would be signed by one of the big foreign clubs."
Harry snorted. "You can hardly call Chudley Cannons big! How do get into Andros?"
"I went to a special test with your government. They said I had very great ability."
"You must be good, if they trust you," Harry replied. "Can't imagine they normally let in foreigners. Even my friend Rudolf's got dual nationality."
Katsuro smiled again. "Does your friend want to see me?"
"'Spose," said Harry. "Hey, Ron. Suzuki wants to talk."
Ron looked up from his essay then stood up slowly. "Fine," he said. About halfway to Harry he seemed to realise the new student's name for the first time in a week. Getting closer, he scanned Katsuro's face.
"You're not related to Yoshiro, are you?" he asked, sitting down.
"He is my father," said Katsuro.
"Wow," Ron breathed. "Can you get me an autograph?"
"I can try," Katsuro answered.
Two of the other first-years, Dom and Donald, had been watching the conversation, and came over.
"You support Chudley Cannons?" said Dom incredulously to Ron. "They suck!"
"Loser!" taunted Donald.
"Go away or I'll curse you," growled Ron, reaching for his wand to show he really meant it. The two raised their eyebrows at each other and sauntered off to annoy Lizzy and Lyra, who were talking quietly.
"Hope they get expelled," spat Ron. "Little buggers."
"What type of magic are you good at?" Harry asked Katsuro.
"I can do defence magic, attack magic and Herbology," he replied. "Oh, and some wandless magic."
"Wandless magic," said Ron, amazed. "They don't even try to teach you that at Hogwarts, it's so hard. They taught us a little bit last year, I can just about –" He clapped his hands. Nothing happened.
"It is not very possible to do much without a wand, of course. But I can do some simple spells," Katsuro explained. "Would you like to see?"
There was a crash from across the room as Lizzy pushed Dom away, sending him flying into a bookcase.
"Fine," said Harry, after he had finished watching Dom pick himself up.
"How about a Hover Charm?" suggested Katsuro. He took his wand out of his pocket and conjured a feather from thin air. Then, placing his wand back, he raised his arms upwards. Ron and Harry watched, impressed, and the feather followed them.
"Brilliant," praised Ron. "Wish I could do that!"
There was an explosion on the other side of the room, followed by a yelp from Dom and Donald.
