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 Thirty One: Changing.
The giant tree seemed to grow off of the boy's fear. The end of each branch curled as though it was a hand clenching into a fist. A quiver went up the tree, knocking off the worn out leaves, and knocking unsuspecting animals away from it. The roots rouse out of the ground, curling around Draco, preventing the petrified boy from escaping.
"Now is the time of truth. I listened to your story, now it is time to back it up. Just how much do you want to change Mr. Malfoy?" Kurama demanded keeping a sharp eye on the boy, and ignoring the dangerous plant in front of him.
"Are you bloody crazy?" Draco demanded, his voice dropping when he realized that the noise caused the tree's movements to become more threatening.
"For too long have I watched you coward behind your name, and yet you claim that you want nothing more to do with it. It is hard to believe that you would so willingly give up your security, the very thing that has made you and controls you. Then I heard the rumors. That your father was arrested last year, and that he is one of Voldemort's servants. I began to doubt that you really wanted to change. I have a suspicion that you only want to learn my power so that you can bring it to Voldemort, and eventually use it against me," Kurama said watching Draco's movements very carefully, noting how the boy didn't flinch at the accusation. In a way, Draco looked almost saddened, and behind the fear, there was obvious hurt. Kurama smiled inwardly, already knowing that Draco's intentions were pure, but he refused to show it, not yet anyways. Draco didn't have to prove his loyalties, what Kurama wanted him to prove was that he could survive the training. "You have been a sniveling coward far too long. Always hiding behind your name, and you lackeys. If you ever want to change, to prove that you can learn the fine art of the fox spirits, then you must prove that you can overcome your fear. Only then will I allow you to learn what I know. To become one with nature, and to grow into something greater," Kurama said in a calm and demanding voice.
Draco stared at Kurama with renowned wonderment. Kurama was no longer the pretty boy Gryffindor that he loathed, instead, Draco could see the demonic qualities that made the boy a legend. There was a power that radiated attention, and for a moment, Draco forgot his fear. For a moment he was no longer Draco Malfoy, son of Lucious Malfoy. He was a wizard who had finally found his place. Pulling out his wand, Draco moved forward, holding it out in front of him like a sword.
"Drop the wand," Kurama demanded watching as the hand shook slightly before it opened and allowed the weapon to fall to the ground. "The Whomping Willow is just like a wild animal. It feeds off of you fear. It senses it, and draws it to you. It feels a need to defend itself, that is why it attacks so violently. Reach out to it, not with feelings of fear or anger, but with the same life energy that resides in both you and the plant. With that energy, you can manipulate it to do what you want, since the plant will see you as an equal force. With time, you will become better at the manipulation, and soon you can feed it to the plant, giving it more strength and power, and it will obey you more willingly," Kurama lectured watching satisfied as the tree's movements became more relaxed, and Draco's stride became more confident.
Kurama never felt more triumphant then when Draco made it safely to the tree's trunk, and rested his hand against the rough bark. Turning around, Draco threw Kurama a dazzling smile before his eyes drooped, and he slumped against the tree.
/An admirable first try/
"Yes," Kurama replied proudly to Youko's response. "But it is only the beginning. There is still so much to teach him, and so little time," Kurama sighed making his way to the tree, that was already using it's branches to protect the exhausted boy.
/You're going to need more help then him if you can't get the rest of the Tantei here,/
"I'm aware of that, but Draco will provide enough assistance when I gain his trust. After all the best way to gain information is to work through someone who already has access to the inside," Kurama pointed out.
/So you plan on using him for information. A wonderful plan, but it doesn't sound like you Shuuichi,/
Kurama chuckled as he eased the branches out of his path. "You know me too well Youko. Draco has many uses to me. But the most important to me is that if I can help him change, then there is still hope for me as well," Kurama said looking at Draco fondly, like a master upon his apprentice. "I've been needing to teach someone my techniques for years, and I had always hoped it would be a son, but this boy reminds me so much of myself. A child born of evil, yet he's trying so hard to change. I sense a great amount of power within him, and even though he will never be able to control any plant besides the very basic human ones, he will still become very powerful," Kurama said.
/You're getting too soft,/
Kurama laughed again as he picked the boy up, and made his way back to the tunnel he had created. "Maybe Youko, but my soul has never been stronger."
"Are you sure about this?" Dumbledore demanded his eyes piercing through Snape's mask as the potion master told him about what Bellatrix had said.
Snape nodded, his eyes starring outside to the bright afternoon outside. Already he could hear the sounds of the student's merrymaking, as well as the loud cheering from the Gryffindors, as the quiddiditch tryouts continued. From the sounds of things, his nephew was again impressing the school with his unlimited supply of talent.
"Demons…" Dumbledore mumbled getting up from his desk and pacing the room in annoyance. "How in the world are we supposed to fight demons. That art has been lost to the wizarding world for over a hundred years," Dumbledore exclaimed finally catching Snape's attention.
"I don't understand Albus, I thought that demons were weak," Snape pointed out not liking the way the headmaster was acting at all.
"Weak?" Dumbledore said stopping to stare at Snape with those penetrating blue eyes. "That is what the ministry wants us to believe. Demons are by far the most deadly creatures to walk this world," Dumbledore said.
"I'm afraid I don't understand," Snape admitted hoping that Albus would just smile and take away all the tension like he always did.
"The legends of the few demons we come across in the wizarding world are so few, that we have completely forgotten the history of what really happened, of what is really going on. The fact is, while some demons are weak, the majority of them are far more powerful them myself. I remember when the laws on demons weren't as restricting, and far more powerful demons used to roam the earth, terrorizing it like they are now…" Dumbledore mumbled completely lost in the nightmare of the past.
"Albus," Snape yelled finally catching the headmaster's attention. "What are you talking about?" Snape demanded.
"I'm talking about the demon world and the spirit world. There was once a time when the wizarding world had direct contact with the spirit world. It was with their help, that we were able to create our world away from the muggle population. They helped us to build the ministry, Diagon Alley and Hogwarts. But soon the ones in charge of the spirit world decided that it would be best if all humans did not know of their existence, and set up laws to keep this world isolated from the other two. That is why we are so ignorant about demons," Dumbledore explained.
"Are you trying to say that there are two other worlds?" Snape demanded wondering if Dumbledore had finally cracked.
"That is what the legends say." Dumbledore said sitting back down. "If you want an example of how dangerous demons can be, think about the Dementors. Dementors are parasite demons, only insects in the demon world. They came to this world, looking for refuge in a way, since they were slowly beginning to go extinct in the demon world. Here in the human world, they can flourish," Dumbledore said.
Snape sat in his chair horrified. It all made frightening sense. "If it is all true, then why aren't you doing something about it?" Snape demanded.
"What can I do?" Dumbledore inquired, "I don't know how to defeat a true demon. Sure the low lives that are so weak that they can slip through the barriers are simple enough to conquer, but what about the stronger ones like this 'Youko' that the ghosts are all hinting at? The truth will just cause a panic, and give Voldemort the chaos that he needs to gain power," Dumbledore pointed out, his blue eyes clouding over with weariness. "The truth is, is I have no idea how to defeat a demon, and you're talking about an army."
Snape watched as the old headmaster placed his head in his hands. Everything that had happened in the last few minutes had turned his world around. If the headmaster didn't know what to do, then there was no hope.
"The demons have been saying something. For some reason they all fear him. They whisper about how the boy is the deadly Kurama, hired by Koenma to destroy demons. And that he has come to Hogwarts to thwart our lord's reign,"
Again Snape felt Bellatrix's words enter his head, only this time the words didn't create fear, but the hope that he was looking for. "We need to talk to Shuuichi. He may be able to help us," Snape blurted out, getting a perplexed look from the headmaster.
"Shuuichi?" Dumbledore asked sounding just a little confused, though he tried to hide it. It wasn't often that someone surprised him.
"There is more to what Bellatrix said to me. She not only told me about the demons. She also told me that the demons are afraid of a person called Kurama," Snape said pausing to look Dumbledore in the eye. "Lord Voldemort is after Shuuichi Minamino, and I suspect it is because Shuuichi knows how to defeat his demon army," Snape pointed out.
Dumbledore's eyes widened at the statement, before he got up and looked out the window to the quiddiditch field below. Way down below, he could make out the forms of the new student gliding through the sky, and for the first time, he noticed just how peculiar the boy was. His movements seemed unnatural, almost like he was holding back. Then he noticed something else that confused him just as much. From where he was watching, he could see a familiar blonde head watching the tryouts. Dumbledore's eyes narrowed in suspicion as he watched the Slytherine, waiting for the boy to do something that would provoke a fight. But it never happened. The tryout finished without interference, and after Shuuichi had put his items away, he made his way straight to Draco's hiding place, and the two of them disappeared into the Forbidden Forest.
"As hard as it may be to believe," Dumbledore said turning away from the window, so that he could watch Snape closely, "I believe that Mr. Minamino is hiding something, and that he may hold the key to Voldemort's defeat. I say we keep a close eye on our newest student," Dumbledore announced.
TBC. (To Be Continued)