Dear Harry, Ron and Hermione
How about having tea with me this afternoon 'round six?
I'll come and collect you from the Castle, bring the guard with you.
Cheers,
Hagrid
Kakashi was waiting for them at the Entrance Hall, his once-broken arm now healed. The trio smiled in relief, and they were sure the guard smiled at them in return from behind the mask. While waiting for Hagrid, the three decided to talk among themselves, while the guard stood nearby as a silent sentry.
"So you okay now?" Harry asked the guard, who gave a simple nod. He held his own arm out for inspection. "I'm fine."
The three burst out in relieved smiles. "Listen, thanks for…protecting us." Ron spoke, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. Hermione gave a smile as Hagrid burst into the hall.
"Oh, there you three are!" Hagrid spoke, smiling behind his big bushy beard. "Nice work ya did las' Saturday."
Kakashi gave an amused bow as Hagrid shepherded the four of them outside. The sun shone on them merrily as they crossed the grounds and entered Hagrid's hut. Kakashi stared about him in curiosity before sitting down on the bed next to Buckbeak after bowing. Harry, Ron and Hermione went on to talk about school, Buckbeak's trial, and the guard's efforts to protect them. After 3 hours, Hagrid led them all back to the Castle while the guard spoke some excuse and teleported away in a puff of smoke.
Kakashi appeared right outside the stone gargoyle. He spoke the password, stepped into the spiral escalator and barged into Dumbledore's office without a word. He then tore his mask off and proceeded to speak, hands planted palms down on Dumbledore's desk as the old man looked up.
"It is time for my report to Sandaime-sama." Kakashi hissed in Japanese. "According to normal mission parameters, I must ask my…employer on the status of the…target and about anything that's happened."
"What will I tell him?" Kakashi began, voice rising until a near scream. You said the Castle was perfectly safe! I do not like being surprised, Dumbledore-san! Konoha will hear of this…breach of terms! You said, before we even agreed to it, that Hogwarts is warded, and no trespasser will even dare to get in! TWICE HE'S SNUCK IN, TWICE YOU HAVE FAILED! What will I tell Konoha now that the terms have been broken?"
Dumbledore blinked in shock. "The wards were and still are in place, I assure you…I admit I don't know how he got in. I know none of my staff have been smuggling him in. Konoha will have my apologies…"
Kakashi blinked and then responded in kind. "So you admit you don't even know ANYTHING about your school? Black shouldn't even be able to even put one finger IN THIS SCHOOL!"
Dumbledore waited patiently as the ANBU mentioned about his knowledge of the school. Quietly, he spoke, with a forced calm. "No one really knows Hogwarts completely. Besides, the security breach was your fault as much as mine."
Kakashi growled, like a wolf. Dumbledore gazed at him calmly as Kakashi resumed his outburst. "I know that! But at least, I was not the one who failed," Kakashi's voice lowered, a dangerous hiss. "I did something. I prevented this breach of yours from getting worse, even though it was NOT within the parameters of my duties. Were you the one that got injured defending the boy? NO! I was injured, I bled, and I wasted my time in this…hell." Kakashi's eyes were narrowed dangerously. "With incorrect information, no less. I will not accept this, Dumbledore-san! You have to live up to your end of this contract as well! I demand full information on this 'Sirius Black' and on ALL entrances and exits from 'Hogwarts'! I cannot do my job unless you do yours, Dumbledore-san."
Dumbledore nodded. "I will agree on your terms, but there is one more thing I ask of you."
Kakashi, who was by this time, most exasperated, glared at Dumbledore before snapping. "What?"
Dumbledore gave a small smile. "I would like you to teach a few of the Four Houses a lesson on your famed 'teamwork'."
Kakashi frowned. "It is not my famed teamwork. Obito or Sensei would've done a better job. Too bad they're not here; nevertheless I will do my best. You will have to give me full clearance to do whatever is necessary for the duration of this exercise."
Dumbledore frowned, considered this point before agreeing. "Very well, but you will not put my students into life-threatening danger."
Kakashi snorted. "Yes I will not put them in danger, but if they think its life threatening, that's not my problem, is it?"
Dumbledore frowned, but reluctantly agreed.
The next day, the students were shocked to see that once again, Professor Hatake was taking charge of their class out of the normal arrangement. Professor Lupin looked fine today, so why was the second teacher taking over?
They were not kept waiting for the answer long because Professor Hatake immediately started out on a seemingly prepared explanation speech that breakfast.
"One of my comrades once told me that teamwork was the most important thing in the life of a… magic user." He began, rising from the chair. "With teamwork all things are possible, and stop nodding off Weasley, I can see you." He snapped. Fred blinked and straightened up in his chair. "Dumbledore has instructed me to teach you teamwork under any circumstances necessary. United, the school will stand. Divided by strife, it will fall. As the school has been infiltrated by an escaped convict, I should think that we do not want the situation to get any worse. Therefore, I will further the cooperation between all your Houses, from now until June 4, you four Houses will be engaged in a team-building exercise. One member from each house will be assigned to a team. Therefore, the resulting teams will be composed of members from all four houses. The only weeks that will not be covered by this exercise will be the ones with Hogsmeade weekends and Quidditch matches. Anyone who will not attend will fail their Defense against the Dark arts class, and if I can convince your teachers, all your other classes as well."
There was a great outcry of denials from the students, especially the Ravenclaws.
He frowned and then resumed, giving them an evil glare. "You will eat, sleep, and work with your teams on all the exercises given from this point on. There will be a multitude of contests and quizzes given to you and the highest ranking teams will get medals, commendations and note taken in their permanent records. This will be helpful for you if you want to graduate and enter the Ministry of Magic. Oh, your grades are hanging in the balance as well. From this point on, there will be no sniping at each others Houses, no random pranking of your teammates, and no yapping about 'Purebloods' and 'Mudbloods'. Your team will be your house. You will learn to work together."
Most of the Slytherins revolted, or would have revolted if it weren't for Professor Hatake's evil glare.
"Silence! I will not accept no for an answer! I do not care about your bloodlines, or whether you think you're better than anyone else! I don't care about your House loyalties, and I certainly don't care if you can't stand the person put in your team. In life, you cannot choose who you are stuck with, so right here and right now, you will learn to DEAL."
As an afterthought, the teacher added. "And shut up Malfoy. I don't give a hippogriff's ass if you're father cannot deal with this. Your father is not god. Your eternal soul does not rest on his happiness. And five points from Slytherin, I saw that, Crabbe. You cannot keep anything from ME. All teachers have eyes at the back of their heads, STOP SNIGGERING, WEASLEY, YES ITS THE BOTH OF YOU!"
As Malfoy sat down, subsiding into muted grumbling, the teacher began to give out the teams.
"Alright. Teams are as follows. You may pick a team name."
Kakashi cleared his throat and read off a list:
"Team 1:
Leader:
Cedric Diggory
Genin:
Harry Potter
Cho Chang
Pansy Parkinson
Team 2:
Leader:
Percy Weasley
Genin:
Draco Malfoy
Luna Lovegood
Hannah Abbott
Team 3:
Leader:
Penelope Clearwater
Genin:
Vincent Crabbe
Oliver Wood
Wayne Hopkins
Team 4:
Leader:
Marcus Flint
Genin:
Terry Boot
Ernie Macmillan
Lee Jordan
Team 5:
Leader(s):
Fred and George Weasley
Genin:
Zacharias Smith
Morag McDougal
Gregory Goyle
Team 6:
Leader:
Rodger Davies
Genin:
Hermione Granger
Kevin Whitby
Millicent Bulstrode
Team 7:
Leader:
Adrian Pucey
Genin:
Ronald Weasley
Michael Corner
Megan Jones
…" And so he continued splitting up the four Houses into multiple teams, watching as the grumbling students began to group themselves by their teammates. He rolled up the list and gave a smile, too happy for these circumstances.
Ah, the joy of tormenting students…such cute puppies they were, a pity that Malfoy needed a bit more housebreaking.