Spirit Magic
Author's note: I NEED YOUR HELP. Can anybody tell me who is on the Gryffindor Quidditch team? Ron is keeper, and Ginny will be a chaser. Harry is of course the seeker, but I'm unsure of the other positions. I know the twins left, so there is an opening for two beaters, but I'm unsure what year the other players from the original team where. If you know, please tell me. Thanks.
WARNING: This story takes place in Harry's sixth year, which means there are spoilers to the fifth book!!!!!!!
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho or Harry Potter.
Part Thirteen: Another Ally
Ron stared across the boy dormitory where the still sleeping forms of Harry and Kurama could be seen resting peacefully. As much as Ron didn't like the new kid, he couldn't help but notice just how harmless the boy looked in sleep. He was a classical "pretty boy" with his extraordinary good looks, his muscular body, fighting abilities, and such proper etiquette, but while Kurama lay sleeping peacefully, he looked surprisingly young and vulnerable. It was something that always fascinated Ron, the way people could be completely oblivious to the world around them while in sleep, and for a moment Ron considered trying to open up to the new guy. After all, there really was nothing that the guy had done to be considered "evil". But still, Ron couldn't help but feel complete distaste for the boy. Not only had the boy stolen his best friend, he had become the most popular boy in school in less then a week, and whenever he was around, Hermione ignored everyone but him. Yes Ron Weasley was jealous of the new kid, and all he could think about was making the new boy look bad in a selfish attempt to win back his friends. The only problem that Ron was faced with was Harry.
When school had ended last year, Harry was in no position to be sent back to those relatives of his, but Dumbledore insisted that he was still safer there then anywhere else. So Ron was forced to give Harry much needed comfort through the less effective process of sending mail back and forth. It wasn't until Harry's birthday that the true extent of his sufferings was finally revealed. Harry wrote a letter that was practically begging Ron to send him dreamless sleep potion for his birthday, saying that the nightmares were too much. He said that every night he dreamed about somebody's death, and he just couldn't take it anymore. After hours of begging his parents, and getting some help from the twins, Ron was finally able to send Harry a couple of bottles of the potion along with very strict instruction on how to use it properly. But the potion didn't work.
Ron watched every night as Harry performed a silencing charm around his bed so that he wouldn't wake anybody up with his screams of pain. And every morning, Harry would wake up in a cold sweat with a haunted and frightened look on his face. But last night, Harry had slept, for the first time in months, in a peaceful slumber.
Ron growled as his foot lashed out at the nearest object as he thought about the cause of Harry's rest. It wasn't him and his worthless potion, it was that new kid. Ron had used one of his brothers' inventions to listen to the end of Kurama's and Harry's discussion last night, and he had heard Kurama's promise to Harry. At first Ron was skeptical of the idea of Kurama being the only one that could stop the dreams, but after witnessing it himself, Ron couldn't help but feel more anger toward the boy. Again he was there to help Harry in a way that Ron, his best friend, could not. "Damn it! It's just not fair!" Ron yelled swinging his leg back to strike his school trunk again, but a sudden flash of movement stopped him from his course of action. Turning around, Ron was just able to get a glimpse of Kurama leaping out of his bed.
Kurama woke with a start from the loud shouting, and before his half asleep mind was able to register anything, he was on his feet in a defensive fighting stance. As on instinct, his hand flew to where his rose seed was, and in a second, he was holding a very dangerous weapon in his hand.
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Hermione felt her feet carrying her toward the boys' dorm room, completely oblivious of the fact that the rules prohibited her from being in there. As far as the girl was concerned her two best friends might be fighting again, and that this time one of them might get hurt. She would break all the rules in the school if she could possibly keep them from harm, but also a more selfish side of her saw an opportunity to catch the new kid in a rather awkward position. A blush made it's way across her face at the last thought, causing her to run faster in embarrassment.
The room was so silent when the door flew open, that the slight creak that it made was almost like someone had just let off a bomb. Ron flew in the air at the sound of Hermione entering, but he never took his eyes off of Kurama.
Hermione's eyes narrowed as she took in the situation. Ron was as still as a statue as he stared unblinking at the new kid. Harry on the other hand was shifting nervously from his bed, while he too tried to figure out what was going on. Harry's head turned back an forth between Ron and Kurama before he laid pleading eyes on Hermione. Hermione gave him a reassuring smile before her concentration finally fell on the new kid.
Kurama was crouched in a low fighting stance. His weapon was held out in front of him in such a manner that he could instantly attack or defend with it. On his face, Kurama wore an unreadable expression, and nothing more could be read from his body language, then the fact that he was waiting patiently for the other person to make the first move. Hermione gulped at the flawless position as she felt an even more intense blush cover her face. Even though she had seen him fighting in defense, Hermione was still impressed with the perfection that Kurama was showing at the moment.
"What the hell are you!?" Ron demanded finally pulling out of his frightened trance.
Kurama's hand tightened around the weapon a little more in anticipation, drawing Hermione's attention toward it. The weapon was green with razor looking thorns protruding out of it, but the thing that really caught Hermione's attention was the seemingly harmless rose petals that lay at Kurama's feet. Almost instantly Hermione's mind wandered to the lesson that they had in defense. The teacher had said something about some demons wielding the power to control plants. It all made sense Hermione realized as the clues fell into place. Kurama was either a demon in disguise, or he was a human that possessed the ability to use demonic powers. But if that was true, then is it safe to even be around Kurama? Almost like Harry could read Hermione's mind, the boy was on his feet preparing to defend the boy from both of his other friends.
"Damn it Ron, why did you have to start yelling like that?" Harry demanded trying to pull Ron's attention away from Kurama, but Ron wasn't buying it. Ron remained glaring at the boy, completely oblivious to everything that Harry was doing. Again Harry gave Hermione a pleading look.
"Wow Kurama, I had no idea you where that far in transfiguration," Hermione exclaimed formulating a rough plan in her head as she made her way casually across the room. Three pairs of confused eyes fell on her as Hermione pulled out her wand.
"What are you talking about?" Ron demanded pulling his eyes away from Kurama for the first time since the whole ordeal started.
"Well, Professor McGonagall told me that there was going to be a contest to try to boost moral. Two people from each house will be competing to see who's house is more academically superior. Sort of like a trivia on magic. Well naturally I was selected for the girl candidate, but Professor McGonagall is still looking for a male candidate. I told Kurama about it, so we've been working on some pretty advanced forms of transfiguration. The whip you see him holding is a form of transfiguration that we are going to learn about. It is using any sort of object, and changing it into a weapon. Watch," Hermione said picking up her wand and pointing it at a quill that was still laying on one of the desks. After mumbling some words that Ron and Harry couldn't hear, the quill turned into a whip that was almost identical to Kurama's.
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Hermione couldn't help but blush as Harry pulled her into a thankful hug, and Kurama gave her a grateful smile. Ron had pretty much stormed out of the room after he realized that he was beaten, and it wasn't long before the three people left behind realized that they had successfully managed to avoid a bad situation. If Ron was able to draw the same conclusions Hermione had, there was no doubt in any of their minds that Kurama would probably be expelled.
"That was amazing Hermione. How did you manage to transfigure that quill?" Harry asked trying to touch Hermione's transfigured whip, only to find his hands pass right through it.
"I didn't transfigure it. What you see is a very old charm. It's called a glamour spell, and it will show the on lookers whatever the caster wants them to see. It's a complex illusion that is so believable that it could fool even some of the wisest wizards," Hermione explained getting a soft chuckle of amusement from Kurama.
"And what about that contest thing? Was that true?" Harry asked sounding more cheerful now that the danger had passed.
"The contest will be announced soon. It's going to be like the tri-wizard tournament in the sense that the ministry will be judging the contestants, but believe me, there isn't going to be anything dangerous," Hermione said before she was interrupted by a soft cough. Hermione and Harry turned their heads to look at Kurama, who was making a gesture toward the time. Both kids paled as they realized that they had missed breakfast, and only had ten minutes before their first class began.
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Hermione felt light in spirit as she raced toward the two boys that where making their way toward Hagrid's cabin. "Good afternoon," Kurama greeted turning around and giving Hermione a friendly smile. Hermione stopped startled, but shook aside the fact that Kurama knew she was behind them before she called out to them. It was probably just because the guy was really alert about everything around him.
"Hey Hermione, you taking this class too?" Harry asked when Hermione finally caught up with them.
"Yeah, there are a few creatures that have magical abilities that are under the same basic principles as ancient magic. Though I doubt that we would be learning about those creatures, they are all very rare and dangerous," Hermione explained glimpsing over towards Kurama to see what sort of a reaction she would get. Kurama was listening politely to what she was saying, but again there was very little else that Hermione could read from the guy's expression. He was just so mysterious, and that thought only made Hermione blush more.
"So what sort of creatures does Professor Hagrid teach about?" Kurama asked curiously.
Harry and Hermione exchanged amused glances before their faces broke into almost identical grins. "Actually, must of the creatures Hagrid teaches us about are pretty much…well…" Harry tried to say before Hermione interrupted him.
"To put it nicely, Hagrid has rather interesting tastes in creatures, and many of them are considered monsters by the rest of the class," Hermione said receiving another amused chuckle form Kurama that made her heart beat faster, and her cheeks burn red.
"Yeah, I guess Hagrid's creatures are…unique, but he really is a nice guy. A little weird, but great," Harry said.
"Who's weird?" a loud booming voice asked causing the three kids to turn around.
"Umm…hi Hagrid," Harry said before he was pulled into a bone crushing hug by the half giant.
"So how have you been Hagrid?" Hermione asked causing Hagrid to release a breathless Harry.
"I'm great," Hagrid said still beaming before he lowered his huge head down till his eyes where leveled with the three kids. "You lot are going to love today's lesson. Professor Huã suggested I teach you guys about these animals, bless her. She's a wonderful lady, Professor Huã , and one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen besides…um. I better get the class started," Hagrid said stopping suddenly and turning bright red. Harry and Hermione only laughed at Hagrid's obvious infatuation with the half giant headmistress.
"Well good luck Hagrid," Harry said reaching up to give Hagrid a reassuring pat on the huge man's shoulder.
Hagrid gave off a cheerful laugh before his expression got hard. "By the way, Harry, what's going on between you and Ron if you don't mind me asking?" Hagrid said causing the three students to stare at the group of kids sitting around Hagrid's hut as they prepared for the lesson to start. Ron was sitting as far away from the group as he could, and was throwing nasty looks to Kurama.
"I believe it is my fault," Kurama said seeing just how uncomfortable Harry and Hermione were at the present conversation.
"Really, how so?" Hagrid asked studying Kurama up close for the first time.
"Because Ron is jealous of Kurama, and is being a real jerk," Harry stated looking at the confusion on Hagrid's face before the half giant shrugged his shoulders and extended one of his large hand toward Kurama.
"Name's Hagrid, Professor of care of magical creatures, and ground keeper of Hogwarts," Hagrid said in greeting.
"Shuuichi Minamino, but I prefer to be called Kurama," Kurama said taking the large hand and giving it a firm hand shake.
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Kurama only half listened as Hagrid reviewed some of the creatures they had covered last year. Even though he showed no signs of worry, the fact that Meì kuí had suggested whatever creature they were going to learn about, did not settle well with him. Hagrid seemed nice enough, but it wouldn't matter much if Meì kuí could manipulate him like she plans on doing to everybody at the school.
"Harry, keep alert, I may need a distraction," Kurama whispered getting a shocked look from both Harry and Hermione.
"Why?" Hermione whispered back, careful not disturb Hagrid's lesson.
"Does it have something to do with the fact that Hagrid said that Professor Huã suggested Hagrid's mystery monster?" Harry asked suddenly becoming anxious himself.
"Yes, but don't worry, I might just be reading too much into her hatred towards me. I'm just saying we should prepare incase the worst should happen," Kurama stated.
"Well now, if you will just follow me, I will bring you to the creatures we will be studying," Hagrid said interrupting the trio's conversation as the half giant stood up and gestured for the class to follow him into the Forbidden Forest
For awhile the class followed Hagrid in silence. The Forbidden Forest was still a place of fear to many of the students, and to those who were used to it like Harry, Ron and Hermione, they were too busy thinking about other things to talk. So for the majority of the hike, the class traveled in silence. It wasn't until Kurama halted and stared into the distance with a dark look on his face, that the silence was broken.
"What's wrong?" Hermione demanded as Kurama's hand pulled out a seed.
"You know that distraction I was talking about? Well, it looks like we are going to need it. Dear old Professor Huã has suggested that we learn about fox demons," Kurama said as the forms of several silver foxes came into view.
TBC.
Author's endnote: Okay, if I lied again, it wasn't my fault. I write these chapters at the oddest times, and stop when I feel like I'm at a good stopping point. But on a brighter note, I'm finally getting somewhere with giving Kurama some more allies. Hermione is now going to help Harry keep Kurama's secret. ^_^ And hopefully the Ron bashing will end soon, but like I said, I'm not sure when that will be. It probably will be before Kurama tries to get into the ministry, but we'll see when I get there. So how was this chapter, I'm dying to know?