A/N: I'm so happy to have reached chapter 10… Hahah… And I'm so happy to have gotten many many reviews! Thanks to you guys who hang on to this fic and read it! That's why you have to know I flunked my chemistry test for this! I wasn't able to study pretty well for my chem test earlier today because I was constructing chapter 9 last night, but no regrets. Fanfics are so much better than school, anyways! Hahah, you might think I don't care about my studies. I still do, it's just that it's so frustrating when you can do something else like write here, right? Hahah… To my reviewers for chapter nine…
To MtOTHepowERoF2: Erm, am not really aiming for a "pornish" fic, that's all. But thanks for reading and reviewing!
To Mandrin Orange: You scared me, 'right? Thanks for reviewing and keep readign, 'right? Hope you like this next one.
To Cubster: Hello! Thanks for reading again! Hahah, who says you can't join their sleep and get some rest? Hahah! But don't fall asleep while reading my fic, 'right? Thanks and keep on reading, 'right?
To Mr. Anderson: Nice name there. Are you a guy or a girl? I'm guessing a guy? Anyway, thanks for the comment and I hope you continue reading!
To Pherusa: I was refering to Harry's caretakers as the Hogwarts teachers who care about him (like Dumbledore, McGonagall, etc.) and the Order, for that matter. Rose doesn't have any caretakers, you'll know soon! Thanks for keeping up with this fic and hope to receive more reviews from you!
Chapter 10: Defense Day One
Ron's and Hermione's facial expressions were complete opposites as Harry approached them for breakfast at the Bridgework dining hall. Ron's face was red with stiffled laughter, and he looked ready to burst. Hermione, however, welcomed Harry with a scowl. She spoke up first as soon as Harry reached the table and was about to sit down.
"And where have you been last night?" said Hermione in her usual bossy tone. "Ron checked your dormitory last night before we went to sleep, and you weren't there. Don't tell me you…" Hermione's voice trailed off as her scowl turned into an expression ofmixed confusion and disgust.
"It's not what you think, all right?" Harry began as he sat down, but Ron cut him.
"Whatever, mate. Just tell us the truth. We're your friends, we won't get mad!" Ron said, patting Harry in the back, grinning. "It will just bring us to the conclusion that you finally decided to bring your manhood up one notch," he whispered and giggled in Harry's ear.
Harry pushed him off. "Shut up! Nothing happened! We just talked!" Harry yelled. Thankfully, only several people turned their heads in Harry's direction, and when he stopped yelling, their attention returned to their breakfast.
"You just talked?" Hermione said, her expression lightening a bit.
"Just talked?" echoed Ron, frowning.
"Ron, you are so disgusting!" Hermione threw a table napkin at Ron.
"You talked all night? What the heck were you talking about, planning how to defeat You-Know-Who?" Ron demanded.
"We didn't – "Harry tried to explain, but he was cut off by Hermione this time.
"That is none of your business, Ron! Give Harry some privacy! I know he's our friend, but can't you wait until he's ready to tell us? At least until Rose says yes to him?"
"What?" Harry stared.
"What?" Ron frowned even more.
"What?" said Hermione.
"Hermione," Harry said in an exasperated voice. "I'm not courting Rose."
"You're not?"
"You're not?"
"Can you stop echoing each other?"
"Right, right," Hermione said. "You're not courting her? I thought – "
"I thought you were already serious? I mean, don't tell me you're not yet sure if you like her or not. C'mon, Harry, you talk about her twenty-four seven," said Ron. Harry felt his face grow hot again.
"Harry?" another voice joined in. It was Raven.
"Oh, Raven, hi. Er, you need anything?" said Harry, getting up.
"Um, actually, yes, I needed to tell you something, but it's fine. I can tell you here," she replied. She then leaned in and whispered so that only Harry could hear. "Draco found out about last night – "
Harry straightened up, alarmed. Raven motioned for Harry to lean again so that she could continue.
"Just watch out, okay? I mean, I don't know what he can do, and he certainly looked mad when – "
"How did he know?" Harry asked.
"Um, I somehow… let it slip… Sorry," she added. "Just be careful around Draco for now. He won't listen that nothing happened. He is so green, he automatically thinks – um, you know what I mean."
Raven walked away with a feeble smile as though still apologizing. Harry could not help but feel irritated at Raven for telling Malfoy such thing, but what was done was done, and he could only face the consequences of the actions of somebody else's, he thought angrily, and not his own. He then remembered that he left Rose's room with her still slumbering peacefully on her bed.
"Hey, Raven!" he shouted at her, catching up. "Where's Rose?" he whispered now.
"Oh, she didn't tell you?" Raven turned to him. "She's not here. She's going to have a concert out in the Muggle world later tonight. Hahah… Down in Korakuen area."
Harry stared at Raven, confused.
"You know, the Muggle rocker thing? Cover up for the entire magical community?"
Then Harry remembered. Rose was performing as a Muggle singer in order to protect the magical community from the eager eyes of Japanese Muggles as well. Harry did not quite understand how Rose, performing, would protect magic, so he made a mental note to ask Rose about it when she returned.
"Is she coming back tonight?"
"Um, no, I don't think so. She still has to meet up with the emperor after the concert."
"Emperor?" Harry asked, confused yet again.
"The emperor of Japan. He sort of knows about the magical community, though he's not a wizard himself, and since Rose's like in the council and she's popular as well, she's the one assigned to talk to the emperor."
"Council?"
Raven sighed and decided that this was going to be a long talk. She sat down at Harry's table, and ate with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, as she discussed the politics of the magical community in Japan.
"We don't have a Minister of Magic here, like you do in Britain. Instead, we have a Council, composed of ten people. These people come from the most influential families in the magical community, and these ten are supposed to be the heads of their families," Raven elaborated, chewing on buttered toast. "In Rose's case, the Ashworths are one of the ten most influential families here, and since she's the only Ashworth left, she gets to be in the council."
"Wow…" Ron said after taking a huge gulp of tea. "So Rose is really powerful, isn't she?"
"She gets more responsibilities and privileges than any other girl her age," said Hermione knowingly.
"Hah, wish it was that easy to say," Raven smiled mischievously. "She doesn't give a damn about her so-called responsibilities! She doesn't attend council meetings, reasoning that she needs to be at school. Of course, the rest of the council allows that. I mean, it's the great Rose Ashworth. They can't say no."
Harry spent the rest of his morning lessons wondering about Rose's life. He thought his was already too hard to handle, with his death threats and all. But now he'd heard of Rose's duties, he obtained a more positive outlook in life.
He forgot about everything he learned that morning about Rose, however, when he attended his first Defense Against the Dark Arts class in the afternoon.
"Buckle up, Harry," said Ron as they sat down. "You're in for a rough ride."
Harry was just about to ask what Ron meant when the classroom door opened.
"Good afternoon, class," snapped an aged man as he entered the classroom.
He wore dull, grey robes and his hair was also grey and thinning. He was slightly wrinkled but it was remarkable how he moved with great speed, as though his energy was more than that of an old man. Harry was strongly reminded of Lupin, a friend of his father's, but the menacing glint in his eye, Harry thought, was similarto that of Snape.
"Today, we will formally start our lesson, since yesterday was more of an… introduction, shall I say?" the man grinned evilly. Harry sensed the class around him shudder. "But of course, today I shall meet, for the first time, Harry Potter."
The man suddenly looked at Harry. Harry looked back, uncertain if he should reply.
"Stand up, Mr. Potter."
He stood up.
"Why weren't you in my class yesterday?"
"I – er, I – I was at the hospital wing – er, the clinic, I mean – "
"Why?"
"I – I didn't feel good yesterday."
"So?"
"So I was not able to attend – "
"What if I had a headache on your examination day, Mr. Potter, and told you that you would get zero in your test because I could not supervise your test?" the man's voice grew louder, as if he was becoming angry with Harry.
Harry looked down, unable to believe that the man was so much more like Snape than he had thought.
"What would you do, Mr. Potter?"
"I – I would complain, sir."
"Complain of what?"
"Of injustice, sir."
"Because?"
"Because it's not my fault that your head ached, sir," Harry replied, angry now.
"Now then, is it my fault that you did not feel well yesterday?" asked the teacher cruelly.
"No, sir."
Harry heard Malfoy laugh. Harry did not look at him, however, fearing that he might vent his anger out on Malfoy. Instead, Harry bored his stare on his desk.
"Then, demerits to you, Mr. Potter. Your current grade in my class is now a negative ten. If you want to at least remove the debts, perform well. And do not expect that I give special treatments. I think all of you who are from Bridgework know what I do when our other celebrity, Rose Ashworth, comes in late for class."
Iris Lair gave an audible laugh, and the teacher smirked.
"Demerits to you, Mr. Potter, and I need not mention that Ms. Ashworth will get demerits too, for she has grown quite used to it. You will do detentions later this week when I have settled whom you shall serve. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, sir."
"And by the way, in case no one has mentioned, I am Kozuke Hatori. Hatori-sensei to you."
A/N: Yeah! I finished this one in two hours! Reviews, guys! And oh, the Japanese word, "sensei," means "teacher" and if one attaches it to a name, it's the equivalent of "sir" or "ma'am." Hey, is this a tutorial for the Japanese language? Hahah...! R&R peepz! Chill! m/ punks not dead