Chosha's Notes

Hey minna! Welcome back once more. As usual, I would like to thank by beloved reviewers: Shauntell, JoshRin, Kristy-chan, Quiescent Vengeance, R.K.R., Crazy Hyper Lady, Wydinel Sheergale, MysticSuperSaiyanGohan and stuck-in-a-tree. I'm so happy its getting such a good response. One thing though. I have had people mentioning spelling errors. I would like to say this might be due to differences in spelling of words in British and US. As I was and am born, bread and living in the UK, I will therefore be using the British spellings, rather than US. Sorry if it put anyone out. Anyway, on popular demand, here is the next chapter!

Disclaimer: (twitch, twitch) won't lose temper with baka ahou solicitors… just look at the other ones!

Last time on RKatPS

How could a troll get in? they're meant to be really stupid – hang on – two! Kenshin and the gang kicked troll but as they went to save Hermione, but Kenshin is also worried about just how deep these teachers are going…

Chapter Thirteen

Quidditch begins!

It was still dark outside, several hours till morning, and most people were still asleep. Everyone, that is, except for Kenshin. Kenshin stared up at the red hangings of his bed, listening to the light snoring resounding somewhere outside of the crimson velvet, frowning in deep thought. No mater how much he tried, he couldn't shake off the feeling of foreboding he had had since he laid eyes on the three-headed dog behind the door of the forbidden corridor, since the Trolls at Halloween. Since he saw the blood on Snape's leg and felt the terrible malice of the second ki. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't scared, because he was. Things were just getting weirder and weirder – even by magical standards – and Kenshin was sure it didn't bode well. He remembered what Hermione had said after they had discovered the three-headed dog. He knew she had meant to put them off, so they wouldn't get into trouble and prevent them from looking for more danger, but her words had lit a fire of dark curiosity in him since then. As Kenshin had recalled, Harry had mentioned he and Hagrid had emptied a safe at Gringotts, which was targeted by the dark-wizard who broke in the same day.

The words of Hagrid rang in his head. Gringotts is the safest place in the world fer anything yer want ter keep safe – 'cept maybe Hogwarts. Did that mean whatever had been in that safe was now here? If it was true, that could mean several things about two rather conspicuous teachers who were already definitely on his keep-eye-on-at-all-times list. Whatever it was, it was either very dangerous or very valuable – perhaps even both. If it was, though…

Kenshin bit his lip. The only thing he could think to do was send a message to Hiko. Even if Hiko couldn't tell him exactly what the mysterious thing passed the trap door could be, or why Snape seemed to have tried to go passed the dog. Nor why Quirrell's second ki had reacted so violently, he could certainly advise him on how to handle the mystery that seemed to unravelling right before his eyes.

Kenshin crept out of bed, desperate not to wake the other boys, who were still snoring away behind the crimson hangings of the four-poster beds. Moving like a shadow, Kenshin slipped out of the dormitory and made his way down the staircase to the semi-darkness of the Gryffindor common room. The only source of light came from the embers of the fire. Outside, a few rays of sun peeped over, creating a dark outline on the Horizon, overcast by a pinkish sky. However, it would be several hours before even the earliest of risers would stir.

Quickly, Kenshin drew up a seat by a desk close to the window and lit a small candle. A small pool of light bathed the workplace. Kenshin pulled a piece of parchment and a quill from his yukata. Laying them out on the table, Kenshin dipped his quill into the ink and scribbled his message in Japanese, so no one would get suspicious of him if a fellow Gryffindor saw it before he could take it up to Mika in the owlery.

Shishou,

You said you wanted to be kept posted about anything strange that might happen to do with the professor with two ki signatures and the hook-nosed teacher. I don't know if this is something you meant but something really strange is going on here.

By accident, really, my friends and I came across a giant, three-headed dog in the corridor on the third floor several nights ago. Though most of us didn't notice, Hermione-dono saw that it was standing on a trap door, obviously guarding something. Harry suspects that it could be guarding what he and Hagrid-san took from Gringotts – the same day someone attempted to steal the same item. They say it was some dark wizard, because even though they didn't get hold of it, they weren't caught either. Its strange, because it's the first time it has ever happened.

Hagrid-san mentioned to me once that Hogwarts is possibly the only place safer than Gringotts. I've got a feeling Hagrid may have got wind of it and 'emptied' the vault before the thief could get to it. But to have a giant, three-headed dog to guard it… it must be very valuable or else dangerous to need such precautions.

However, last night on Halloween, two trolls had been let into the School. They couldn't have got in themselves, as Trolls are meant to be extremely stupid. But I have a feeling it was some type of diversion of some kind, because when Snape and the other professors came into the room where we stopped the Trolls, I noticed blood on his leg from a wound that looks suspiciously like teeth marks. Then that dormant ki of Quirrell's seemed to have a strong reaction to the defeat of the Trolls. I have a bad feeling – Is Snape and Quirrell in this together? I'm not sure what this is all about yet, but I have a feeling it's all linked.

Your Deshi,

Kenshin

P.S. Thanks for the Sakabato. I'll try to keep it secret and I'll make sure I continue to train. I have a feeling I might need it more than ever sooner than I thought.

By the time Kenshin had finished, the sun was beginning to peak above the horizon of the forbidden forest, casting ominous shadows across the grounds. He could sense that some of the Gryffindors were beginning to stir in the dormitories. Kenshin scooped up his writing equipment and folded the letter – he would have to wait until after breakfast to go to the owlery and get it to Mika. Ghosting back up the stairs, like a draft in the corridor, Kenshin put the things back in their original places, tucking the letter within the folds of his robes. By the time the others had begun to groggily draw back the velvet hangings, it looked as if Kenshin had never left the room at all.

o0o

Just before breakfast, Kenshin began to make his way up to the owlery, residing in one of the tallest towers of Hogwarts. However, he barely got out of the portrait hole before he heard someone call his name. Kenshin turned to see Kaoru run up to him.

"Hey! Are you going to the owlery?" she asked, indicating the paper in his hands. At Kenshin's nod, she smiled. "I'll come with you. I needed to send a letter home. My dad wanted me to give him regular updates and make sure I'm practising Kendo."

Kenshin laughed as they made their way up to the tower. Her father sounded a lot like Hiko in that sense then. "You have an owl?" he asked curiously.

"No, but McGonagall showed me how to use the school owls."

The climbed up the tower to the owlery. It was a rather draughty room that reached so high you could fit a giant in there and still have headroom. The walls were lined with box-like perches where the birds slept. The floor was littered with mouse bones, feathers and bird-poo.

As they entered, two birds immediately flew down to great them. One, Kenshin recognised, as his Mika. The other owl was a Hawk-owl with amber eyes. Kaoru giggled as she allowed him to perch on her arm.

"I've used this one before – his names Hweel, I think," She said. "And he's a real softy" The owl tilted his head and hooted suggestively. Kenshin laughed and obliged to stroke the owl's soft, brown feathers. For a moment, they said nothing, until, "So, who are you writing to? Your foster father?"

Kenshin almost choked at that. Hiko his foster father? Somehow he couldn't see Hiko taking that too well. Besides, Hiko was his Shishou, not his foster father. Technically, Kenshin wasn't even legally adopted. He was thought dead by the Japanese government, for crying out loud. But then again, trying to explain all that just then would take way too long and take him to things he really didn't want to think about. Memories like those he had locked away to protect his own sanity, determined never to open again. Instead, he nodded.

"Yeah. Hiko said to keep him posted on how things are."

"I tried to leave out the details of the Trolls. I don't think dad would be too pleased, though." Kaoru laughed as she mimed someone yelling/nagging with her hand. "He'd never let me hear the end of it!"

Kenshin laughed a little nervously. Yeah, let's not tell her his shishou and he thought that their potions and DADA teachers were off their rockers and trying to steal the whatever-it-is behind the three-headed dog then. He would definitely not approve of that!

Carefully, Kenshin attached the letter to the silver ring and stroked Mika's feathers. "Take this to Hiko, Mika. You know where to go."

Mika nuzzled against his fingers and nipped him affectionately. Kenshin lead her to the wide window and lifted the owl to the air. A sharp flap of silent wings lifted her and she swooped away into the sky, followed by Hweel. For a moment, they both stood in silence, watching the birds go, their forms little more than dots as they flew on silent wings. Finally, Kaoru turned to Kenshin.

"We'd better get down to the great hall then. If we don't get there soon, Sanosuke will have eaten everything!"

Kenshin laughed at this and they began to go down to the great hall, while Kaoru continued to talk.

"Did you hear about Snape?"

Kenshin froze momentarily, something that went unnoticed by Kaoru. "What about him?" he asked cautiously.

"Only that he took that book Hermione had lent to Harry to calm his nerves about the game today – Quidditch through the ages."

"The one Hermione kept quoting when we had flying lessons?" Kenshin asked, recalling the name. Since the incidents with the Trolls, Hermione had become much nicer towards them. She had even got round to 'helping' Harry with his homework because of all the extra practice he had to go to. She would read through it all and help out if things were missing. Basically, she did the homework for them.

"That's the one. Well, when you went to finish that Homework you needed to do. Snape came up to us outside and started moaning about library books not being aloud outside and took it off him, as well as taking off Five points. Bet he made it up. The strange thing is, he was limping too."

Hmm, so it looked like Kenshin wasn't the only one to have seen the wound. Kenshin tried not to blush as she voiced his little white lie about the Homework, though. He had gone to practice his Kata at the edge of the forbidden forest, away from prying eyes. He wasn't going to get himself in trouble by telling everyone he was going to practice Kenjutsu. He didn't think the others would be so pleased to know he was practising a style meant for war. He had barely got away with the incident with the Trolls, saying he used his wand to make the rocks fly.

"I hope Harry'll be alright. You know, it's the first game of the season – Gryffindor verses Slytherin. He seemed rather uncomfortable yesterday."

Kenshin really didn't blame him. When Ron had found out last night that Kenshin had absolutely no clue on what in the world Quidditch was, he had began to explain all the rules of the game. With those flying, cannon balls called Bludgers zipping round trying to knock off all players and complex game-play seemed to be rather dangerous. Added to the fact the players were fifty feet or something in the air – it was a recipe for disaster. Kenshin was just glad he had both feet on the ground. But Kenshin had also seen Harry fly too…

"Harry will be fine," Kenshin assured her with a smile as the entered the great hall. They spotted Harry, Ron, Hermione and Sanosuke sitting somewhere along the middle of the table. Harry looked as white as a sheet.

'You've got to eat some breakfast,' Ron was trying to coax him. It looked like the thought of food was just making Harry feel worse.

'I don't want anything.'

'Just a bit of toast,' Hermione wheedled.

'I'm not hungry.'

Kenshin could literally feel worry coming from the boy in waves. Kenshin bit his lip. Harry would be fine, right? Pre-match worries, nothing to worry about, right?

"…I hope. Ororo…"

o0o

Eleven o'clock rolled by and Kenshin found himself in the front row of the Gryffindor stands, along with Hermione, Ron, Neville, Seamus, Dean, Kaoru and Sanosuke. They had all figured Harry would like the support, so they had all pitched in making a banner from one of the sheets Ron's rat had ruined. It said in flashing letters (by a tricky little spell Hermione had found) 'Potter for President', accompanied by a large rampant Gryffindor lion.

Kenshin had been eager to see Quidditch for himself ever since Ron had explained the rules to him, but he was also worried about how it would turn out for Harry. He was seriously hoping nothing went wrong for him today. It would do him loads of good to have his confidence (or what little he had) knocked on the first try…not.

Down below, Madam Hooch, who was going to be the referee for the match, came out onto the pitch, broom in hand, followed by the two teams. Kenshin scanned the team in red (Slytherin would be playing in green) until he spotted the smallest player there with messy black hair. Kenshin made sure he cheered loudly along with his fellow Gryffindors. Harry glanced up at the stands as the two team captains – Oliver Wood and Marcus Flint – shook hands with fixed expressions. Kenshin noticed him give a start at the banner and could just make out a semi-nervous grin.

Suddenly, they weren't on the ground any more. Fifteen brooms shot into the air faster than cannonballs so it was hard for even Kenshin to keep his eyes on them. The game began!

Kenshin had never seen such a game in his life. It was like Football; Netball and flying all rolled into one. The players were little more than scarlet and green blurs on the field. Kenshin found himself hooked, caught in the spirit of the game along with everyone else. Lee Jordan, a friend of the Weasley twin was commentator for the game, though professor McGonagall was keeping her sharp eyes on him, as he had the tendency of slagging off the Slytherin team (much to Sanosuke and Ron's enjoyment). Gryffindor were the first to score. Angelina Johnson did a spectacular piece of flying, dodging a stray Bludger aiming for her head and threw the Quaffle at the keeper, who flew in the wrong direction; the red ball flying threw the hoops. The cheers were almost deafening, drowning out the moans from the Slytherin side.

'Budge up there, move along.'

Kenshin tore his wide eyes away from the action to see Hagrid shuffling through the crowd. Quickly, they made room for their giant friend.

'Bin watchin' from me hut,' Hagrid explained, tapping the large binoculars round his neck. 'But it ain't the same as bein' in the crowd. No sign of the snitch yet?' Ron shook his head.

'Nope. Harry hasn't had much to do yet.'

Kenshin glanced back up at Harry, who had been gliding over the game like a hawk, his emerald eyes scanning the pitch for the tiny golden ball. The only time he had really moved was to do a few loop-the-loops to show his feelings when the team had scored.

Suddenly, the two seekers shot like javelins towards the tiny golden flash. Harry was catching up. Neck and neck, Harry closing in—

BAM! Marcus flint swerved in front, sending Harry spinning off course. The Gryffindors were fuming, screaming fouls, while the referee yelled at Flint, giving the Gryffindors a free shot. In the confusion, the snitch had been lost.

Meanwhile, back at the stands, Sanosuke was flashing very rude hand signals towards the Slytherins, while Dean Thomas screamed 'send 'em off ref.! Red card!'

Ron rolled his eyes. Dean was something of a football maniac. 'This isn't football,' he said in exasperation. 'You can't send people off in Quidditch – and what's a red card?'

Kenshin ignored them as they complained about the rules of Quidditch and turned his attention back to the game, his eyes narrowed. Harry seemed fine, so Kenshin found himself hard pressed not to burst out laughing when he overheard the commentary. It seemed Jordan was finding it difficult not to take sides.

'So – after that obvious and disgusting piece of cheating –'

'Jordan!' growled McGonagall, her eyebrow twitching.

'I mean, after that open and revolting foul –'

'Jordan, I'm warning you –'

Jordan flinched from the steaming teacher. 'All right! All right! Flint nearly kills the Gryffindor seeker, which could happen to anyone' Kenshin snorted at the sarcasm. The commentary continued fairly normally from then on as Alicia Spinnet took the Quaffle.

Kenshin suddenly froze as he felt a strong flare of magical energy coming from the teacher's booth. Kenshin gasped and spun round, staring. Harry's broom had given an almighty lurch, almost sending Harry flying. Again and again. Kenshin hissed in horror.

…Just make sure he doesn't try to kill anyone…

'Harry!' Kenshin yelled as he was thrown off the broom, hanging on for dear life. Kenshin spun round and snatched the binoculars. Kami, please don't be what I think this is! Kenshin spun to the area he had felt the magic coming from, half-tugging Hagrid over as he did so. Quickly he scanned the teachers and almost swore at what he saw. Snape and Quirrell were chanting something under their breaths. They were cursing the broom!

Seconds latter Hermione snatched them from him. 'I knew it! Snape – look! He's jinxing the broom! We need to break his eye contact'

'Do you have that blue fire from break yesterday?' Kaoru asked urgently, inspiration striking.

'Yes,' Hermione said, immediately pulling it out of her robes, as if knowing what she needed it for. Ron looked confused.

'What're you gonna do?'

'Just leave it to me!'

She began to push her way out of the crowd. 'No, wait!' Kenshin yelled, but Kaoru was already gone. 'Dammit, why doesn't she ever listen!' He fumed under his breath. He gripped Sanosuke. 'Sano! It's not just Snape! It's Quirrell!'

'What!' Sanosuke grabbed the binoculars, literally pulling Hagrid over despite his protests, almost squashing Ron and Hermione. He swore sulphurously. "Kuso! Kenshin, what're ye gonna do?"

Kenshin bit his lip, Looking back up at Harry, who's broom was now jumping out of the way of the twins who had flown to help, sending him even farther from the ground. "I just hope Kaoru can distract him as well. We've got to trust Kaoru-dono."

Meanwhile, Kaoru raced up the stairs to the teachers' box. 'Why does there have to be so many stairs!' she complained silently. If she didn't hurry… Soon she reached the top, just under the seats of the teachers. She could see their robes through the wooden, benches. 'Which one is Snape's coat?' She muttered, biting her lip. She soon saw the flowing pitch-black cloak Snape was so fond of. As silently as possible, she unscrewed the blue fire from the jar and tipped it onto Snape's cloak. It fizzed for a second, before the small flame began to burn into a larger fire, feeding on the black robes. She bolted quickly as confusion ran through the teachers' box.

"Severus! Your cloak!" yelled one of the teachers. Snape gave a start and began to beat out the fire, knocking down several of the other professors in his frantic state; Quirrell was one of them, much to Kenshin's relief as he and Sanosuke stared through the binoculars.

Meanwhile, Harry was speeding towards the ground when the crowd saw him clap his hand to his mouth as though he was about to be sick—he hit the field on all fours. Everyone froze. Kami-sama! Kenshin thought in horror. Was Kaoru too late? Kami, don't let him die! He prayed. Don't let someone else I know die…

Harry coughed— and something gold fell into his hand. Kenshin stared. "I've got the Snitch!" Harry shouted, waving it above his head.

The game ended in complete confusion.

To be continued…

Chosha's notes

I think it wasn't too difficult, but I cant see much to comment on in this chapter. But if you guys have anything you wanna know, please review and I'll help you out.

Next time on RKatPS

Kenshin trys to figure out the mystery unravelling, but has a bone to pick with a certain Slytherin. On the idea of Shauntell – next episode: Malfoy Meets His Match (a dedicated chapter to reviewer Shauntell for her idea!)

Ja ne for now Minna-san! See you next time!

Chosha Kurenai xXx