Ch20
Harry quickly looked around and made sure that there was no one there to notice him making his way toward the third corridor. He'd been coming here more often to spar with Rlocky since he heard the headmaster say that he wouldn't be expelled.
As he neared the door he realized that it was ajar and he could hear shouting and growling. Harry pulled himself into the shadows a moment before Professor Snape tumbled out the door. As Harry looked over the Professor's wounds, Snape lost some respect in Harry's eyes. It was obvious the man was really slow. He had a slash along his side, his arm looked like one of the heads had gotten a good bite in and his leg was obviously damaged. The man limped away slowly.
Harry waited for the professor to disappear around the corner before rushing through the door. Rlocky was a right mess. Professor Snape had obviously used a couple of cutting charms and the results looked painful. One of the eyes in the center head was swollen shut. Harry was appalled and dodged right away as a swipe came. No one should hurt an animal, people at least can heal themselves. A few minutes later, Rlocky seemed to either be too tired or in too much pain to continue.
Harry quickly started to pet the undamaged parts of Rlocky's hide. After a couple moments the dog fell asleep and Harry ran to go get some healing supplies. It took several hours and it was after curfew when he was done, but Harry was sure Rlocky would make a full recovery.
Soon enough the whole school seemed to be distracted by Quidditch and Harry decided to go to the first game to see what all the fuss was about. Half an hour of watching Slytherin pounding on Gryffindor was all he needed to know that it was absolutely dull. Sure the bludgers were good, but overall there wasn't anything Harry found interesting. Harry used the rest of the Quidditch games as a distraction for the rest of the populous so he could practice without all those eyes on him.
The days grew shorter and snow started to cover the ground. Christmas was coming and all of the classes were excited. Harry was getting better with his English, but still couldn't hold a conversation. He did get to the point where he could read and write very simple phrases. He was getting more stir crazy after being in the same spot for nearly four months and with the poor weather conditions he couldn't send any letters to Ryouga or Ranma. He flat out refused to endanger Kazema just to keep in touch.
Everyone was absolutely excited about the holiday and going home to see their family. When the list for those whom were staying in the castle for the season came around, Harry noticed his name was on the list. His mood fell and he went to go ask Professor Dumbledore why he had to stay when most of the other students were going home.
"Harry" Dumbledore greeted him with a smile and a twinkle in his eye.
"Sir, Why do I have to stay over the recess?" He really wanted to see Ranma and Ryouga. He'd even be happy to see Genma at this point. What he wanted most was to get out of this castle.
"As we had trouble with getting you back to your family the last time, we've decided that you'll stay here. We're doing research into how to get you back, but so far we cannot find anything yet."
"Just drop me off in China, I'll find them." Professor Dumbledore looked startled by the idea.
"We simply cannot do that, you'd have no protection and you wouldn't have your guardian with you. I cannot allow it."
Harry's visible eye darkened, No protection. . . the nerve of that man.
"I'll have you know that I can protect myself, I don't need Genma's" he barely prevented himself from spitting his uncle's name. He might have to do what the man directly commands if he wanted to keep his name, but he didn't have to like the man. "Protection."
"Weather you can or not is not your decision to make, we can't leave an eleven year old boy in China. Especially when we don't know where his guardian is." Albus's eyes were twinkling evilly, or so Harry felt. "We could send you to your aunt."
Harry growled slightly.
"She's dead."
Professor Dumbledore's face fell.
"Dead?"
"Yes dead, now can we change the subject to WHY I can't visit my family when everyone else can visit theirs?"
"I told you, we simply don't know how to track them yet. How did it happen, you're aunt I mean."
Harry shrugged, his anger calming down somewhat. It isn't healthy to stay angry for too long.
"I dunno, she died when I was really little. Genma never talks about her. Are you sure I can't go to China, I'm sure I could find them."
"The answer is still no and it's not about to change. Your uncle sent you to us and we must keep you safe."
Harry glared a little, Genma wasn't ever concerned with his well being unless it meant that food or money would be scarce. He was starting to feel resigned to staying the holiday, but he would leave for the summer, weather he had the headmaster's permission or not.
"Thank you." He said cooly and left.
Soon exams came and then the Hogwarts Express left with one of Harry's prime pieces of entertainment. Christmas would be dull without Malfoy attacking him all the time. Although with the exit of his entertainment also came the exit of Hermione and Neville, so Harry was happy he wouldn't have to do his English lessons. Ron Weasley was staying, but Harry didn't know him very well.
Harry spent his holidays snooping around the castle and forest, and playing with Rlocky.
"'arry? what you doin' out here in the forest."
Harry turned and tugged on his rat tail while trying to look innocent. He knew he wasn't supposed to be in the forest. Then again, they wouldn't expel him, so he could investigate all he wanted.
"Ehhtouuu, I was just. . . ehh. . hehe. . . " he paused at Hagrid's slightly suspicious look. "Looking for some herbs." He brightened when he thought of something. "I needed some more after I had to use my supply of salve on Rlocky."
"Who?" Hagrid's voice was slightly confused but he didn't seem quite as suspicious anymore.
"Rlocky."
"Rocky?"
"No, Rlocky."
"Lucky?"
"No, no, Rlocky, he's a good friend and . . ." Harry wasn't sure if he should tell Hagrid about Professor Snape hurting his friend. "He was injured a while ago. I had to use most of my stores to heal all the cuts." He stopped talking when Hagrid's face jumped to realization.
"You're the one who healed fluffy."
"FRU-FFY?" Harry looked at Hagrid incredulously. Hagrid nodded.
"Yep, 'e's a beute, bought him off of a Greek chappie I met in a pub last year."
"How could you do that to him?" Harry's voice nearly squeaked. "He needs a strong name like Rlocky, not Fruffy!"
"'ow do you know fluffy anyway? No one's supposed to go to that corridor."
"I ran into him at the beginning of the year, we've been roughhousing ever since." Harry replied with a shrug.
"Yeh shouldn' be out here, 'ts dangerous." Harry started to glare.
"I can take care of myself."
"Maybe around the muggles, but this 'ere forest is different. There's many nasties in this forest, not even full wizards would want to meet."
Harry's interest was peaked.
"What sort of nasties?"
Thus a quasi friendship was born between the two.
Christmas came soon enough and Harry was wondering what the fuss was about. Sure he heard it was a western holiday, but never heard what the specifics were.
On Christmas morning he woke to find four packages at the foot of his bed. He looked over at Ron's sleeping form and noticed the boy also had some packages at the foot of his bed.
It seemed that today was the only day that Harry's early morning rising caused enough noise to wake up Ron.
"Merry Christmas," Ron's sleepy voice interrupted Harry's musings. Harry looked at him for a moment.
"Meri Kurisumasu too. What are those for?" He asked pointing to the packages. In reply Ron's eyes went wide.
"You've never gotten Christmas presents before?"
"No, never celebrated Kurisumasu before." If possible, Ron looked even more stunned.
"But. . . but. . " he trailed off in speechlessness.
"So, they're for me?"
Ron just nodded.
"And I'm supposed to open them?"
Ron nodded again,
"I can handle that." Harry said before moving to the small pile.
He first went for the smallest box which was wrapped in glittery paper with a little card attached to the bow. It said To: Harry From: Hermione. Harry was curious but opened the paper carefully. The concept that anyone would just give things to him because of the date was odd, but it felt nice.
In side of the package were a couple of chocolate frogs. Harry grinned and thought that it would be great to send one to Ryouga and one to Ranma, he just wished he could be there to see their faces when the candy frogs jump away from them.
The next package was in sky blue paper and was long and thin. He found a small note from Neville in it saying that the boy hoped he would have a Merry Christmas. In the box were a couple of sugar quills. Harry grinned slightly before taking a bite off of the end of one.
He opened the plain brown package next. On the package in messy scrawl was "To Harry from Hagrid" Harry opened it with a smile. It was good to know that even though the large man kept on scolding him for going into the forbidden forest, an act which he wasn't about to stop, he liked harry enough to send him a present. Within the package was a hand whittled flute. Harry was sure that the large man had made it himself and was saddened when he thought that all the effort the man went through would be wasted. Harry didn't know how to play.
Harry gently set the flute aside promising himself that he would try to play it anyway. The last package was unmarked and when he opened it something fluid and silvery grey slithered to the floor.
" I've heard of those" Ron gasped, he'd obviously been watching Harry open his presents. Harry looked over.
"If that's what I think it is, They're really rare and valuable."
"What is it?" Harry asked as he picked the fluid-like cloth from the ground.
"It's an invisibility cloak," the redhead said with a look of awe on his face, "I'm sure it is. Try it on."
Harry looked him speculatively but humored him none-the-less. Ron gasped again.
"It is. Look down." Harry looked down and sure enough, his legs were missing, but his aura was still there, it was rather intimidating. He shuddered slightly and took the material off. He noticed a note lying on the floor where the cloak had first fallen. Harry put the cloak away in his trunk and grabbed the note.
"I'd give anything for one of those" he heard Ron mutter. "Anything."
Harry looked at the note and cast a translation charm. One of the few spells he could successfully cast.
Your father left this in my
possession before he died.
It is time it was returned to
you. Use it well.
A very merry Christmas to you
There was no signature or hanko mark. Harry was sure it came from one of the staff because they still considered him a Potter, and maybe he might be, but he spent too much time earning the right to the name Saotome. He wasn't about to honor ancestors that never helped him out.
Fred and George Weasley bound into their dorm room. They were both wearing blue sweaters, one with a large yellow F on it, the other one had a G.
"Why aren't you wearing your sweater Ron?" The boys bypassed Harry with their gazes. "Come on, get it on, they're lovely and warm." George demanded of Ron.
Harry slipped out the door just after hearing Ron moan about hating maroon. He quickly made his way to Hagrid's hut to thank the man for the flute then spent the rest of the day practicing and sparing with fluffy.
Dinner soon came and Harry had never seen such an extravagant display. He quickly ate and left the room. The small mice that were running around everywhere were sure to draw the attention of one of those demons and he'd rather be elsewhere before that happened.
Harry worked at learning to play the flute that Hagrid gave him until he went to sleep later that evening. All in all, Christmas was an interesting day he decided.
AN:
First off, Thanks to Simpleinsanity who did a sorta beta thingy for me and helped me get this chapter slightly better in quality than its original incarnation.
ok, to answer some complaints that I know you're going to have about things said within this chapter.
Harry doesn't really know about Christmas because even though some Dutch people interacted with them for a long time, He's been living with Genma and traveling around. Genma's a traditional man (or more like too lazy to get involved with this western holiday when taking care of two children) and never did any of that superfluous stuff.
Yes Harry's parents did give their lives for him, but he doesn't know that and everyone assumes he does and it's a difficult subject for him so hasn't said anything about his parents sacrifice. One day, not sure when, probably around his first experience with dementors, he'll realize that they gave their lives for him and will start fulfilling his filial piety, but he won't give up the Saotome name, he'll just honor both sets of ancestors.
Yes, it's going to take me a long time again, I want to finish a story I've got going on under the penname Bakajin first, the thing's almost done. That and I've got a busy life and I'm looking for a new job. So yeah, might take a long time again.
Woah, over a hundred reviews I feel special so, first to say thanks to anyone who reviewed without a real question, Thanks Momocolady or lady sakura cosmos, Merle Elendil, Pisiform, CRose, Lachwen, Kachie, KT and Sora the Taske.
ZeonReborn, I'm trying to leave the Ranmaverse as untouched as possible, but I figured it would be nicer to have Ryouga as a constant rival from earlier on than it started in the real Ranmaverse. Harry will eventually get the flying thing down. Voldemort's actions are going to continue as they had at least for a little while. I mean seriously, just because the boy that defeated him doesn't seem to be around ( He can't see Harry being that Potter brat, he's a little prejudiced like Snape is, thinks the boy grew up in fame or ended up offing himself) doesn't mean he's not going to try to come back to power.
Pitbull123: He'll only run-away over the summer if DD doesn't let him go on his own. To keep his name and honor he's got to do what Genma expressly commands, and the man commanded he go with Hagrid to the school, the only ways he can leave with his honor are expulsion and Genma telling him not to return.
Insanechildfanfic: The syllables is part of the problem. I figure magic's slightly different than Ki which the Ranmaverse uses in spades, therefore the magic's exploding because he's trying to use it as Ki (which he's been training in while they stayed at some dojo's) and mixing the two which is explosive in non-living things. If he tried to levitate say a cat, he wouldn't set the kitty on fire. Then again, he'd have one annoyed cat.