Spirit Magic

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 Twenty Three: An Accident in Defense

Kurama mentally scolded himself for his earlier foolishness. He didn't expect that the ghost would react so harshly to his taunting, after all the ghost, Sir Nicholas, had seemed more amused by him then afraid. He had just assumed that the headmaster was exaggerating about the fear the ghosts had toward him, but apparently some of the ghosts, if not the majority, had a deep fear towards him, a fear that was completely justified.

"What did you do to him?"

Kurama was pulled out of his thoughts by Harry's concerned whisper.

"I only told him to leave. Youko was the one who thought it would be fun to accompany the request with a threatening look," Kurama said sounding a little bit more offended then was normal for the fox.

"Why are the ghost's so afraid of you anyways?" Hermione whispered looking just as concerned as Harry, though she couldn't hide the small hint of amusement she felt at the thought of the annoying Peeves finally afraid of someone as nice as Kurama.

Kurama couldn't help but blush as he thought back to his previous visit to Hogwarts years ago. "It was because of an artifact that I had just stolen. The artifact was meant to increase spirit energy, but it also had unforeseen effect on spirits. When the artifact came within a ten yard radius of a ghost, it would start stealing their energy, and the ghost would begin feeling something that would be described as pain. Imagine if you can, being a ghost that hasn't felt any physical stimuli since your death, and then all of a sudden you could feel full force all of the pains that your physical body would. Imagine feeling the pain of your death, and not knowing if the pain will ever leave you. You see, ghosts fear their death more then anything, and I had the power to make them feel it again. They fear what I could do more then who or what I really am," Kurama explained grateful that the uproar of confused students chattering about Peeve's weird behavior was able to cover his little story, so that only Harry and Hermione could hear him.

"That's horrible," Hermione gasped, but at the same time she couldn't help but feel intrigued and fascinated by all that Kurama had done and knew.

Harry just stared opened mouthed at Kurama until Dumbledore took control of the class. As if he was just awoken, Harry spun around and stared at the old headmaster with a dazed look. Dumbledore stared back down at him and the class, his wise blue eyes wavering slightly at Kurama, and a unreadable look crossed his face before he raised his hand, silently demanding for the class's attention.

"I think that it is past time for us to start this lesson," Dumbledore announced. "Now can I have the candidates for the In-School Competition come up to the dueling platform," Dumbledore requested.

Hermione immediately perked up, and she beamed slightly as she made her way toward the headmaster. Behind her Draco followed. Kurama hesitantly made his way after the Slytherin, and would have preferred to have passed off the situation if he didn't suspect that such an action would create even more suspicion from the headmaster.

"Good, good," Dumbledore mumbled looking at the three students proudly, before he began to whisper hurried instructions to them. When he was finished, Hermione and Kurama got off of the stage, and made their way toward Harry.

"Today class, Mr. Malfoy will be demonstrating the traditional form of wizard dueling," Dumbledore explained getting a whoop of excitement from his students.

Kurama only stared forward with his arms crossed; observing with little interest as Draco and Dumbledore started a full out duel. Charms, curses, and other complicated spells flew across the stage in an impressive shower of colors, but Kurama could easily tell how Dumbledore was just playing with his opponent, and was holding off ending the duel so that the students had a better show. Harry made a disgusted noise next to him, and Kurama was glad to note that Harry had also observed Dumbledore's lack of skill in the battle.

"Dumbledore could have ended this duel in a second," Harry mumbled remembering the duel he had witnessed between Dumbledore and Voldemort. Kurama silent agreed with him.

The duel continued for another three minutes, when it came to a sudden halt. Draco stared up at Dumbledore all dazed as the effects of Dumbledore's charm slowly began to fade. "Excellent work Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore complimented smiling at the boy proudly. A withered old hand reached down to help the boy to his feet, and surprisingly Draco accepted the help.

"Next we have Miss Granger, who will be demonstrating a duel of illusions," Dumbledore announced. Hermione smiled with pent up excitement that just wanted to bubble over as she nearly skipped up to the dueling platform.

"Hopefully this will be a bit more exciting," Kurama mumbled watching as the second duel began.

As soon as the duel started, Hermione began mumbling a mixture of complex words, and waving her wand in a furious pattern. The class watched, and waited for the effect of the spell to take place, and they were soon awarded as Hermione's body began to flicker, and duplicate.

"Impressive," Kurama whistled when the spell finally ended, and four copies of Hermione stood facing Dumbledore.

"Wow," Harry mumbled, "Can you tell which one is the real one?" Harry asked looking at Kurama hopefully.

"The one closest to us," Kurama said not even tearing his eyes away from the battle.

Harry looked at the copies and shook his head. "How can you tell, they all look the same to me," Harry admitted.

"It's simple. The original Hermione is the only one that has spirit energy. You can also tell it is her because her copies are reflections. Which means they aren't exactly identical to her," Kurama said noting that Harry still looked confused. "Think of it this way Harry. The copies are like her reflection. It is the same thing as though she was looking into three mirrors, and so they are the same as her, but yet different. But don't worry, it takes a trained eye to notice the slight differences. I'm not even sure if the headmaster will be able to distinguish the differences," Kurama explained.

"How do you know all of this?" Harry asked looking at Kurama in awe.

"I've been around for awhile, and this form of duplication is an old form of fighting. Though it is a little bit more advanced in the demon world. The leader of the Saint Beasts specialized in this form of spirit manipulations, and could create seven identical copies of himself that were all connected subconsciously, but all had free will. In other words, it was like fighting seven different people who all wanted the same exact thing. Hermione's copies will mirror her movements, but they cannot fight on their own. What she does they do. After the duel goes on for awhile, the differences between her and her copies will become more evident, since the original one will begin moving a fraction of a second before the copies. All Dumbledore has to do is wait until the spell begins to fade," Kurama explained pointing out how the differences was already beginning to show.

Harry nodded finally understanding the spell. He wasn't very surprised when Dumbledore soon caught onto the slight differences, and sent a binding charm on the original Hermione. Instantly the copies faded away, leaving Hermione laying on the ground frustrated and confused.

"Excellent work Miss Granger. That was an amazing show, I am very proud of you," Dumbledore complimented removing the charm, and helping the girl up. Hermione smiled thankfully regardless of her disappointment, and slowly made her way off of the stage.

"Good job," Kurama said smiling as Hermione took her place next to him and Harry.

"Thanks," Hermione mumbled blushing slightly at the compliment.

"The last duel that will be demonstrated is very untraditional, and yet it is the form that many wizards find themselves in. Mr. Minamino will be demonstrating fighting without the use of a wand," Dumbledore announced.

Kurama gave Harry and Hermione a timid smile before he made his way to the dueling platform.

"Mr. Minamino, may I have your wand?" Dumbledore asked holding out his hand.

Kurama stared at the hand uncertain. The wand was a deadly and unstable weapon. He wasn't exactly sure how the Youko core would react in the hands of someone besides himself.

"Don't worry, you'll get it back after the duel," Dumbledore reassured misinterpreting the boy's hesitation.

Kurama pulled the wand out from his robes, and ran his hand across the dark smooth wood. He could already feel the power radiating from it, and again he was hesitant to give up his treasure. Yes, it was his treasure, it was his, and nobody got anything that was his. Kurama could already feel the Youko side of him trying to emerge. The headmaster meant no harm, Kurama knew that, but he was still trying to get the fox to give up his treasure. Kurama shook his head, trying to suppress his demon side. It wasn't normal for him to loss control so easily over something as simple as this, but ever since he returned to this castle, his demon side had become very restless, clouding his better judgment in many cases.

"Mr. Minamino," Dumbledore said again with a little hint of annoyance in his voice.

Kurama wanted to growl at him, to snarl and show the old human that he was not intimidated by him, but his rational mind screamed out the importance of keeping a low profile.

"I'm sorry Professor, but could I please just set this wand in my bag?" Kurama asked.

Dumbledore looked at him questionably, unsure of why the boy seemed so intent to keep the wand, but nodded his approval anyways. Kurama nodded thankfully, and quickly made his way toward his bag, ignoring the murmurs that his classmates were saying about him.

"Alright, shall we begin?" Dumbledore asked when Kurama was finally ready.

"Yes, Kurama said bowing respectfully as the opening of the duel began.

Harry watched the duel in more fascination then he had for the previous battles. Just like Dumbledore had said, fighting against an enemy with an advantage was the most common form of fighting. In fact, the death eaters enjoyed making sure that that was the only form of fighting that their victims had. But even though Kurama was wandless, Harry had to wonder if the boy was the one at the disadvantage, or if it was the armed headmaster. He was actually so busy concentrating on the fight to notice Draco until the blonde boy was right in front of him.

"So what's so special about the Jap's wand?" Draco asked holding up Kurama's book bag in front of Harry.

"Put that back Malfoy," Harry demanded reaching over to snatch the bag, but Malfoy swung the bag out of the way.

"No, I don't think so," Malfoy said reaching into the bag, and pulling out the dark woodened wand.

"Put that back," Harry said getting a bad feeling about it when Kurama stopped his dueling to stare over toward them.

Draco laughed amused twirling the stick in his hands carelessly. "Don't tell me your afraid Potter?" Draco said pointing backwards were Kurama was hit full force by a stunning curse.

Kurama felt his body go stiff, and he fell to the floor like a log. But the effects only lasted a second before his enraged demon side began fighting to get to the surface. He could still see Malfoy taunting Harry; spinning his wand around and laughing at how his distraction had caused Kurama to loss his concentration on the battle.

Kurama's eyes turned golden yellow, and his spirit energy began to seep out of him. Dumbledore watched in wonder as Kurama gained full control of his movements, and before he knew what was happening, the boy lounged into the crowd of students. Straight at the unprepared Draco.

Harry let out a horrified cry as the partially transformed Kurama lounged towards Draco. Draco spun around holding the wand out defensively in front of him. His gray eyes widened in horror and he did the only thing he could to defend himself. He muttered a curse using Kurama's wand. A powerful blast of sliver light exploded from the wand throwing everybody around the wand off of their feet and against the wall.

Kurama was the first one to recover. The room was smoking and debris was still falling from the ceiling, but from what he could tell, the students weren't seriously injured.

"What the hell happened here?"

Kurama looked over towards the entrance of the room, where several of the school professors were already gathered looking into the room in shock.

Kurama swallowed, and laid back down against the ground. He'll let the professors try to speculate what happened. If he got involved, he would just make matters worse. The only thing he could hope was that nobody would connect this to him. But deep down he already knew that he wont be so lucky.

TBC.