Chapter 7

Several months earlier, in Japan…

Genma had arrived in Nerima without his son. It was about a month after Jusenkyo. At first, he had thought about trying to find him, but he soon realized that Ranma had looked ready to kill him the last time he had seen the boy. In his cowardly mind, he realized that he couldn't go back to his wife, so he would have to consider other options.

After looking through his pack, he found something he had forgotten completely. It was a contract made some time ago with his friend Tendo Soun. Suddenly, he had a destination.

Unfortunately, when he was almost there, it had started to rain and he didn't have an umbrella. He grumbled and adjusted his pack for his larger frame, before going on.

At the Tendo home, Soun wept with happiness (as opposed to weeping with some other emotion). His friend Genma was coming! 'Oh, happy day! I'll have to tell the girls.' With that in mind, he started to look for his three daughters. Once he found them all, he explained about how he and Genma had made an agreement to join the schools years before. The results were predictable.

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!" Soun was almost blasted straight out of the house with the yell. Surprisingly, all three girls had participated.

Nabiki was the first to speak and the other two decided to just back her up. "Are you telling us that you engaged one of us to be married before we were born, and you're just now telling us? Do you even know what he's like?" She spoke in a soft but deadly voice and Soun wondered if he should check for frostbite.

Soun was sweating nervously and trying to escape the questions, but the glares from Akane, Nabiki, and even Kasumi made him want to check for fires forming on his clothes. "um, no?" he offered in a very small voice.

Kasumi beat her sisters this time. "No, what? Are you trying to tell us you've never met the boy you wanted to engage us to?" The question was asked in a very calm voice, but Soun knew better than to think that mattered. Just like her mother, Kasumi's voice got quietest when she was most angry.

Before Soun could think of an answer that wouldn't make his daughters even angrier than they were, the doorbell rang. In a very sweet voice, Kasumi spoke. "I'll get that, Father. You stay here. I'll be right back." He twitched, but did as he was told. He pitied whoever happened to have rung the bell. Her temper could be worse than either of her two sisters when something truly set her off.

Kasumi came back a little later, a confused expression on her face and a panda following her. "Father, this panda is asking for hot water."

Soun was confused, but decided to go along with the odd request. "Well, why don't you give it some? I don't know why a panda would be asking for hot water though."

Kasumi shrugged but went to get the water. It was a rather small request, anyway. She came back a moment later with a kettle and handed it to the panda. The panda nodded at her and poured the water over its head. A moment later, a fat man stood there. "Thank you for the water. Are you Kasumi?" Kasumi stood there absolutely still for a moment. She soon keeled over without a word.

Akane was finally broken out of her stupor and managed to catch her sister before she hit the ground. She gently pulled her over by Nabiki before turning to the panda/man who had caused this. "What did you do to my sister!" Before he could answer, Genma found himself thrown out the door and straight into the koi pond in the backyard. He turned into a panda once more. The whole Tendo family keeled over without a word at the sight.

> > > > > > >

Sometime later, Soun woke up and looked around, wondering what had happened. He saw a man sitting at the table and eating the dinner the Tendo family had been planning on eating before Soun had dropped his bombshell. "Saotome? Is that you?"

Genma looked up from his eating and quickly swallowed before he responded. "Tendo! It's so good to see you after so long! You'll have to excuse me, I've been training the boy for so long. Then the ungrateful wretch ran off! I haven't seen him for a month."

The three sisters were awake by now and staring in disgust as the man who seemed to be Genma Saotome devoured the meal that had been set out for the four of them. Then what he said seemed to sink in. "What do you mean, you haven't seen him for a month! What kind of father are you?" Nabiki demanded.

Genma immediately stopped eating and went into his sob story concerning Jusenkyo. After he was done, Soun decided to confirm it. "So you turn into a panda with cold water and back to human with hot water. Your son is female with cold and male with hot, but has cat-like physical features in both forms. That's not so bad! We'll just have to find him. Then he can marry one of my daughters." Said daughters twitched but didn't say anything otherwise. They knew better than to try to reason with their father when he was like this. With the support of this man, Genma, he would be impossible to budge from his position.

> > > > > > >

At Hogwarts…

About a month before she would have been able to change freely, Ranma heard some strange rumors. She decided to find the Trio to see if they knew what was going on.

Hermione snorted softly. "I heard from Lavender that we got some visitors earlier. Something about a small wrinkled creature hopping around on a cane and a girl our age with purple hair." She rolled her eyes. "Near as I can tell, she thought it was the truth."

Ranma's eyes widened in pure surprise as she stared at Hermione. The bushy-haired girl was about to ask if there was something wrong when Ranma practically pounced on her. "Do you know where they would have been taken?"

Hermione stared at her for a moment, but decided to ask later. "Whoever it was, they would probably be with Dumbledore."

Ranma grinned happily, giving all three of them a good view of her sharp teeth. "Thanks! I'll explain later!" Without another word, she was gone, leaving the Trio to stare after her.

Finally, Ron broke the silence. "Anybody have a clue what that was about?"

Hermione just shook her head, but Harry answered. "Well, she obviously knew whoever it was. She also seemed really happy to hear that they were here."

Hermione shook herself suddenly. "Does that mean that the visitors really were a small wrinkled creature on a cane and a girl with purple hair?" Harry and Ron could only shrug.

> > > > > > >

Some ways away, Ranma almost skidded past the gargoyle that hid Dumbledore's office. She dug her claws into the stone as she skidded to a halt, and absently swished her tail over the grooves left as she eagerly walked back to the gargoyle. The grooves disappeared as if they had never been. "M&Ms," she told the gargoyle. It leapt aside and she walked up the revealed staircase.

Near the top, Ranma heard the voices of Dumbledore and an old woman that she recognized. Without hesitation, she knocked on the door.

Kuh Lon looked up as she sensed a familiar aura coming closer. A knock resounded from the door and she chuckled. "At least she learned to knock."

Dumbledore smiled slightly. "Come in, Ranma." He turned to Kuh lon. "What do you mean?"

Before Kuh Lon could answer, Ranma came in with a cry of "Old Ghoul! When did you get here?"

Kuh Lon rolled her eyes and bopped Ranma on the head while Xian Pu giggled softly. "Learn to respect your elders, child."

Ranma snorted softly. "Genma is my elder. Doesn't mean I'll ever respect him."

Xian Pu smiled and stepped forward to give the girl a hug. "Is difference there. Old panda no deserve anyone's respect."

Ranma snickered softly as she hugged her friend back. "True, but you know me." She turned to Kuh Lon when she was released and dipped into a bow. "Hello Elder Kuh Lon. It is good to see you again." Her eyes were slightly mocking, but her greeting was sincere.

Kuh Lon rolled her eyes, but was amused in spite of herself. "Hello Ranma. No need to be so formal."

Ranma grinned happily and stepped forward to hug the old woman. "Well, it's still good to see you again, Great-Grandmother."

Dumbledore cleared his throat slightly. "I take it you know, these two Ranma?"

Ranma grinned. "Yes, their village took me in a while ago when I really needed it. Grandmother Kuh Lon had me adopted into her family."

Xian Pu grinned in agreement. "Aiyah! Sister Ranma too too nice. She help me with Japanese and English."

Kuh Lon rolled her eyes in amusement. "Yes, Shampoo used to have much more trouble speaking Japanese and English. And Ranma was a blessing to have in my family."

Dumbledore smiled softly. "Ah, yes. Well, before we were interrupted, you said something about a potion you need help brewing?" He paused as he reached for a small dish. "Lemon drop?" They all shook their heads. "Then I am assuming you will want to speak to Severus Snape, our resident Potions Master."

Kuh Lon nodded slightly in agreement before glancing over to where Ranma and Shampoo were exploring all the nooks and crannies of Dumbledore's office. "Ranma? Have you met this Severus Snape?"

She noticed the girl's slightly blank look and smiled slightly. It was either an amusing quirk or an annoying flaw, but the girl didn't seem to remember people's names unless she didn't like them or knowing their name were important in some way. " Potions Master?"

Ranma's blankness instantly cleared. "Oh, Raven. Yes, I met him."

Kuh Lon smiled slightly. The fact that the girl had given him a nickname said a lot for him. She turned back to Dumbledore as if nothing had happened. "Yes, I think I will be speaking to your Potions Master."

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "May I ask what that was about?"

Kuh Lon smiled slightly. "I wanted to find out how Ranma felt about your Potions Master. The fact that she forgot his name and gave him a nickname is a good sign."

Dumbledore raised the other eyebrow. From the look on the old woman's face, she wanted him to ask Ranma directly. "Ranma? Could you explain why you called Severus Raven?"

Ranma looked up in surprise. "Hmmm? Oh, sorry Bumblebee-san." Beside her, Xian Pu choked on air at the nickname. "I named Raven that because he reminds me of one. He's curious about things and will gather bright bits of information." She shrugged and turned back to the trinkets she was examining. "Besides, his nose reminds me of a beak."

Dumbledore almost choked on his Lemon Drop when he heard that, and there was a suspicious snickering sound coming from Kuh Lon. Kuh Lon shook her head. "Thank you, Ranma. Would you take Xian Pu with you to explore the castle? I'm sure you two would like to catch up."

Ranma grinned happily. "Thanks, Grandmother! Come on, Kitten, this place is really cool!" Ranma and Shampoo left together quickly, already chattering away in Chinese.

Dumbledore smiled slightly as he watched them go. "They seem happy together." He paused for a moment. "May I ask why Ranma called her 'kitten'?"

Kuh Lon smiled slightly. "I asked Ranma that after she first started calling her that. She said that Xian Pu had a feline soul but was too young to be a full-grown cat." She smiled slightly. "Since the child is half cat anyway, I decided that I believed her." She smirked slightly. "And before you ask, I asked her some time ago not to use my nickname. It revealed a little more than I am comfortable with when she explained it."

> > > > > > >

Meanwhile…

Xian Pu was happily chattering with her adoptive sister. "So how has it been, Ranma. You haven't sent very many letters lately."

Ranma winced slightly. "I'm sorry, Xian Pu, but the people use owls here, and I haven't been able to go buy one that was bred for long-distance travel. The few I have sent took a while to come back, and they seemed really tired."

Xian Pu shook her head. She knew by the use of her name instead of Ranma's nickname for her that the girl was sincerely sorry. "It's alright, Ranma. I don't mind, I just wanted to know." She slung an arm around her sister's shoulders. "Now, are you going to introduce me to your teacher and friends? I'd like to meet the ones you have deemed worthy."

Ranma laughed and shook her head, even though she knew that Xian Pu was right. She tended to be rather picky about choosing friends. "Alright, but I should warn you. My teacher, Auntie Min, is what these people call an animagus. She turns into a cat at will."

Xian Pu frowned slightly. "Do you mean like Jusenkyo?" she asked, fully knowing that her sister was also her brother.

Ranma shook her head. "No, she just kind of wills the change until she's a cat. She's teaching me so that I can be human or cat when I want. I'm not very good yet, but she says I'm learning."

Xian Pu nodded. "I'll have to ask her to show me. I am very curious about this strange magic." She paused for a moment. "What about your friends?"

Ranma smirked slightly. "They're known as the Gryffindor Trio." She paused at Xian Pu's confused expression. "The students are divided into four houses. Reader will be able to explain better."

Xian Pu nodded in understanding. "Is this Reader one of the trio?"

Ranma nodded. "Yes, she is the only female. Her other friends are boys. They're all about fifteen. The other two are a Fireheart and a combined Snakemind and Snaketongue."

Xian Pu considered this information for a long moment. "Let's see, you told me some of these. Fireheart is one that always has emotions burning like fire in their heart. They can make incredibly loyal friends and devoted enemies. Am I right so far?" Ranma smiled and nodded.

Xian Pu continued. "Snaketongue is an easy one. Serpent speaker." She didn't bother waiting for Ranma's nod of confirmation. "Snakemind. That one's tricky, but don't tell me. Let me figure it out." Ranma just nodded in agreement. After a moment, Xian Pu continued. "Alright. Snake's are usually considered cold, even though I imagine they would feel emotions. So…someone who can shove their emotions aside?"

Ranma nodded in agreement. "Snaketongue can push his emotions aside so he can think clearly without them distorting his judgment. It also means that if he was forced to do something like kill someone, he can shove his emotions back to do it. Unfortunately, by the time he let his emotions loose, he'd probably be a wreck after the first few times."

Xian Pu considered all this for a long moment. By now, the two girls were on the stairs heading toward wherever Ranma was taking her. She trusted her sister, so she hadn't felt like asking. "You didn't explain Reader."

Ranma blinked, surprised. "Huh. You're right, I didn't. Sorry. Well, anyway, she's something of a bookworm. That's not the only reason, but I don't want someone else to know about the rest because she doesn't know either."

Xian Pu nodded in agreement. "Alright. I won't push. But that doesn't mean I won't try to find out myself."

Ranma smirked slightly as they stopped in front of one of the paintings. "Fair enough. I still won't confirm or deny if you figure it out." Without waiting for an answer, she turned back to the painting and switched back to English. "Hello, Violet. Are the trio in?"

Violet smiled softly as she looked down at the redhead standing in front of her. "Hello, Ranma. Yes they are in. Who's your friend?"

Xian Pu blinked slightly. "Aiyah. Hello, miss painting lady. I am Shampoo." She concentrated for a moment. "Is good to meet you."

Violet smiled slightly. Well, the girl was polite, though she had obviously never dealt with moving portraits before. "Hello, Shampoo. My name is Violet."

Ranma smiled slightly. "Thank you, Violet. Sunrise glory."

Violet smiled and responded even as she swung her frame forward. "You're welcome, Ranma. It will be nice to speak to you again."

> > > > > > >

Inside Gryffindor tower, the trio were still trying to figure out what was with Ranma when they heard the portrait open and a strange voice.

Shampoo looked around in surprise. "Aiyah! Is comfy room behind portrait lady."

Ranma grinned happily. "Yeah. You probably won't be able to get in here on your own, but you might. I'm not sure how Violet would react." She flicked an ear and looked up when the trio came over. "Hello Snaketongue, Reader, and Fireheart. I did tell you I'd explain later."

Shampoo rolled her eyes. "Aiyah. First you introduce. Is polite."

Ranma laughed sheepishly. "Sorry, Kitten. I forgot." She turned back to the confused trio. "Guys, this is Xian Pu. Xian Pu, these are Snaketongue, Reader, and Fireheart." Ranma indicated each in turn as she introduced them.

Xian Pu smiled indulgently. "Now what are real names?"

Hermione smiled slightly. "It's alright, Shampoo. I don't mind introducing myself."

Xian Pu smiled slightly. "Reader girl smart, but not understand. I ask Ranma, then we explain, yes?"

Ranma rolled her eyes. "Alright, you got me. Xian Pu, these are Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and Harry Potter."

Xian Pu smiled in satisfaction. "Is good. Now we explain."

Ranma rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine. I don't mind explaining. I just wanted them to ask first."

Xian Pu rolled her eyes right back. "If wait to ask, they never ask right question."

Harry spoke up now. "Ranma, if you always call us by your nicknames for us, why did you remember our real names but not the names of some other people?"

Xian Pu stared at him for a long moment. "I wrong. Snake boy ask right question."

Ranma laughed happily. "Great!" She turned to Harry. "I don't know if you know it, but you've done something few people would have thought possible. You just gained some respect from a Chinese Amazon."

The trio stared once more, and Ron looked between the two girls as he tried to figure out what was going on. Then Shampoo sighed. "Is true. You gain respect when not Amazon and male. Is hard thing."

Hermione blinked. "Wait, you said Amazon. Do you mean like the ones in Greek myth?"

Ranma considered the question for a long moment. "Not quite. Shampoo is a Chinese Amazon. Her village is in a remote part of China. Almost all of the women there are extremely strong martial artists."

Shampoo nodded. "Is true. Many also healers."

Ranma nodded in turn. By now, all five of them were seated on the couches and the Trio was obviously fascinated. "Yeah, the males are considered second-class citizens. Most of them are little more than servants. Very few males have any martial arts skills at all, and even fewer have significant skills."

Shampoo nodded again in agreement. "Is too too true. Only one really have good skills, but is almost blind. Also…" She trailed off. "No know word." She turned to look at Ranma. "Blind duck boy."

Ranma grimaced as she realized who she was talking about. "Ah yes. Mousse." She turned back to the trio, who were more than a little surprised. Ranma rarely talked about anyone with that much distaste. The only other time she had looked like that, Hermione had made the mistake of asking about her family. That topic had since been filed under "Forbidden".

Ranma sighed, but decided to explain. "Mousse is a boy with a talent for something called 'Hidden Weapons'. It's pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Anyway, he is obsessed with Shampoo and blind as a bat. I'm not kidding, I think his glasses are thick enough to be bullet-proof." Beside her, Shampoo snickered softly, nodding in agreement. "Correction, I know they are bulletproof. I've seen the stupid things stop bullets before."

Hermione shook her head slightly. "How can glasses be that thick? He'd almost literally have to be blind to need something like that."

Ranma gave her a dry look. "Shampoo called him 'blind duck-boy' for a reason." She paused and turned back to Shampoo. "Wait a minute, duck-boy?"

Shampoo sighed but nodded slightly. "Yes, he duck-boy. Part Shampoo fault, but Great-Grandmother just laugh when I tell."

Ranma stared. "You punted him so far out of the village that he landed in the springs?"

The trio were staring in confusion, trying to figure out what that was all about. Shampoo simply smirked and shook her head slightly before explaining. "Not quite. Duck-boy follow patrol. I punt him into springs from much closer."

Ranma grinned. "Give me a minute to savor this." She paused and grinned happily. "Did he happen to run into the Musk?" Shampoo shook her head. "Darn. That would have been funny."

> > > > > > >

AN: I had fun with this chapter. Obviously, I finally got around to telling about a bit of what happened in Nerima. Sorry for those who wondered what was going on, but I didn't really have a good place for that scene before. Or rather, I probably could have put it in earlier, but I saw no point in having to re-do one of my chapters just to add that little scene. -shrug- It's not really important, except for the fact that there will be appearances from some of the characters in Nerima.

To be frank, I don't particularly like Akane. Also, I have no intention of making this a romance anyway. So for those diehard Ranma/Akane fans, it probably won't happen. There will be a different pairing, but I probably won't put any kind of focus on it. It's a pairing I have only seen a couple of times before, but other than that you'll have to wait a chapter or two to find out what the pairing is.

Review Responses:

Slade13: Thanks for the encouragement! I know what you mean about your own negative voice. Mine kept wondering how people were going to recieve this story, and when I got so much good response for it, I was thrilled. It's funny, though. I don't think I've gotten more than one review that was even slightly negative. Maybe I was too mocking, and the other flamers are afraid to be laughed at. I don't know, but it is kinda funny.

Rubberneck: Female!Draco has a chance. Especially with Cologne there. You just know she probably brought some of the instant type. I don't see much point in giving Malfoy a permanent curse, especially when a temporary one has such possibilities. If he got a permanent one, he would just get used to it, but a temporary curse has some nice possibilites for revenge.

Ebona Nite: No one besides the Amazons, as I noted in this chapter. Otherwise, everyone thinks Ranma was always female. He has had almost a year to get into the role after all.

SkyDragon2083: Yes, there will be Ranma characters showing up eventually. I just haven't had much chance within the story line to bring them in yet.

dana-san: Yes, when the year is up, people will learn about Ranma's ability to change from male to female and vice versa. Other than that, you will have to wait to find out.

Dragon Man 180: Yes, I made Remus a wolf animagus. This way, he has control of the change, and he and Padfoot don't have to worry about anything. I haven't read the sixth book, so I don't know anything about the DADA teacher in that book. I just have an anonymous man who just couldn't take it anymore.

Dairokken: I sincerely doubt Ranma will have a romantic relationship in this story. I will say that if he did, the other person would know about his ability to change soon after it was obvious that the relationship will work. But as of yet, I have no plans to pair Ranma up with anyone, male or female.