Sorry for the delay, folks! I needed to figure out how to start this chapter before going into retelling territory.

Enjoy! And Happy Memorial Day!

Chapter 22

Exile

Rin shoved past several students as he ran through the corridors. The thought of Hogwarts closing was unthinkable to him. He'd never see Harry, Ron or Hermione again. No more explosions with Seamus. No more jokes with Fred and George. No more visits to Hagrid's hut. No more sneaking away to visit Dolly and the house-elves.

Speaking of which, Rin made his way to the portrait of fruit and tickled the pear. When it turned into a door handle, Rin yanked the portrait open and went in. He let the door slam shut as the house-elves stopped what they were doing to see their visitor.

"Is… is Dolly here?" Rin choked, trying his best to not cry. Dolly put the pot she was scrubbing into the sink and scampered over to Rin.

"Rin Okumura? What is the matter?" she squeaked.

"Did you… hear what happened to my friend Hermione?"

Dolly's ears drooped. "Why yes, yes Dolly did, Rin Okumura," she said forlornly. "Dolly is sorry for what happened to Hermione Granger. Rin Okumura always talked about how smart Hermione Granger is."

"She's not dead, Dolly!" Rin snapped. Dolly flinched, causing Rin to take a deep breath so he wouldn't scare his friend. "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you."

Dolly grabbed a nearby dishrag and gave it to Rin. "Dolly understands, Rin Okumura. Rin Okumura's hurting because his friend is Petrified. Dolly and the house-elves are here for Rin Okumura to make him feel better."

The other house-elves chimed in.

"Do not fret, Rin Okumura!"

"Hermione Granger will be restored before Rin Okumura knows it!"

"The Heir of Slytherin will be stopped!"

Tears leaked from Rin's eyes, touched that this small group of literally little people was here to support him. He used the dishrag to dab his eyes but more tears kept coming. He pulled Dolly into a tight embrace as the tears kept coming. She tensed at first but eventually Rin felt Dolly's skinny arms return the embrace.

Dolly let him go and was about to make Rin a cup of tea when Professor McGonagall came in through the portrait hole.

"There you are, Mr. Okumura!" she exclaimed. One look at his wet, tear-stricken face and her stern exterior melted. She looked at Dolly. "That won't be necessary. Be about your business." Dolly nodded and went back to scrubbing the pot she left in the sink.

"I need to escort you back to Gryffindor Tower, Okumura," said McGonagall. Rin let out a huff and followed McGonagall out the kitchen. Rin followed his teacher, keeping his eyes on the floor the entire time. "I understand why you are upset about this turn of events, Okumura."

"Yeah?"

"I overheard your brother talking to Potter and Weasley about the matter," she said. "I understand your fears. However, you must understand that students' lives are at stake. If another student is Petrified or - God forbid - killed, we will have no choice but to close the school."

"But -"

"No buts, Okumura!" McGonagall snapped. "Let's get you back to Gryffindor Tower. I need to address the other students anyway."

~0~0~0~

"What're we going to do?" Ron quietly asked Harry and Rin later that night. "Do you think they suspect Hagrid?"

"They better not," Rin growled.

"We've got to go and talk to him," Harry said, making up his mind. "Rin's right. We can't believe it's him this time, but if he set the monster loose last time he'll know how to get into the Chamber of Secrets, and that's a start."

"But McGonagall said we've got to stay in Gryffindor Tower unless we're in classes," Ron reasoned.

Harry looked around to make sure no one was listening. "I think," he said more quietly, "it's time to get my dad's old cloak out again."

Harry had inherited only one thing from his father: a long, silvery Invisibility Cloak. It was their only chance to visit Hagrid after hours. Since Yukio was in Ravenclaw Tower, he'd have to sit this one out. They waited until Seamus, Dean, and Neville went to sleep, then threw the cloak over themselves and left Gryffindor Tower. It was difficult navigating through the corridors since ghosts, prefects, and teachers were patrolling the hallways. They were relieved when they finally made it to the front doors and slipped outside.

They hurried through the grounds until they reached the glowing windows of Hagrid's hut and took the cloak off. Seconds after they knocked on the door, Hagrid flung it open. They found themselves face-to-face with a crossbow aimed right at them, making them hold their hands up.

"Oh," Hagrid said, lowering the weapon and stared at them. "What're you three doin' here?"

"What's that for?" Harry asked, gesturing to the crossbow while Rin poked the pointy tip of the bolt.

"Nothin' - Nothin' -" Hagrid muttered. "I've been expectin' - doesn' matter - Sit down - I'll make tea -"

Hagrid was clearly on edge about something. He nearly extinguished the fire after spilling water from the tea kettle, and then smashed the teapot with a nervous jerk of his massive hand.

"Are you okay, Hagrid?" asked Ron.

"You seem kind of jumpy," Rin noted.

"I'm fine," Hagrid assured them.

"Did you hear about Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Oh, I heard, all righ,'" Hagrid answered with a slight break in his voice.

He kept glancing at the windows as if he was expecting someone. He was about to serve them hot water (he'd forgotten the tea bags) and fruitcake when there was a loud knock on the door. Hagrid jumped and dropped the fruitcake. The boys exchanged panicked stricken looks and ran to the far corner of the hut and Harry draped the cloak over them.

Hagrid grabbed his crossbow and flung his door open.

"Good evening, Hagrid."

Hagrid lowered his weapon. "Professor Dumbledore, sir," he said. "Please come in, come in."

Dumbledore entered, looking deadly serious, and was followed by a very livid Professor Shura and an oddly dressed man.

He had rumpled gray hair and a nervous expression on his face. He wore a pinstriped suit, a scarlet tie, a long black cloak, and pointed purple boots. Under his arm was a lime-green bowler hat.

"That's Dad's boss!" Ron breathed. "Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic."

Harry elbowed him hard to make him shut up. Rin did a double take at this revelation. This was Mr. Weasley's boss? He didn't look like much. The guy certainly was no Prime Minister of Japan. However, when Hagrid looked at him, his face went pale and sweaty.

"Bad business, Hagrid," Fudge said in rather clipped tones. "Very bad business. Had to come. Four attacks on Muggleborns. Things've gone far enough. The Ministry's got to act."

Rin felt his face pale. He had a feeling where this was going.

"I never -" said Hagrid, looking pleadingly at Dumbledore. "You know I never, Professor Dumbledore, sir! Shura -"

"Hagrid wouldn't harm a fly," Shura said in defense of her drinking buddy.

"I want it understood, Cornelius, that Hagrid has my full confidence," said Dumbledore, frowning at Fudge.

"Look, Albus," Fudge said uncomfortably, "Hagrid's record is against him. The Ministry's got to do something - the school governors had been in touch -"

"Yet again, Cornelius, I tell you that taking Hagrid away will not help in the slightest," said Dumbledore. There was a fire in his normally twinkling blue eyes that the boys had never seen before in the old wizard.

"You seriously think taking Hagrid away will stop these attacks?" Shura suddenly asked. "I oughta…" Dumbledore silenced her simply by raising his hand.

"Look at it from my point of view," Fudge argued as he fidgeted with his bowler. "I'm under a lot of pressure. Got to be seen to be doing something. If it turns out it wasn't Hagrid, he'll be back and no more said. But I've got to take him."

"Take me?" said Hagrid who was trembling in the seat he had sunk in. "Take me where?"

"For a short stretch only," Fudge assured Hagrid, although he wasn't making eye contact. "Not a punishment, just a precaution. If someone else is caught, you'll be let out with a full apology -"

"Not Azkaban?" Hagrid croaked in fear.

Shura could not keep her anger in anymore. "ARE YOU FUC -?!"

"Shura," Dumbledore stopped her firmly.

Before Shura could argue with Dumbledore, there was another loud rap on the door. Dumbledore answered it and it was Harry's turn to be elbowed in the ribs for he had audibly gasped. Lucius Malfoy strode into the hut, wearing a long, black traveling cloak and a cold, satisfied smile on his face. Fang started to growl.

"Already here, Fudge," he said approvingly. "Good, good…"

Shura sneered. "Well, well, well, Papa Ferret graces us with his presence."

Lucius's eyes fell on Shura. "Ferret… You must be Shura Kirigakure. My son spoke about you a lot. You're quite an… abrasive teacher. Borderline abusive even."

Shura rolled her eyes. "And your son is a daddy's boy who goes crying to you whenever he doesn't get his way at school. You must be so proud."

"What're you doing here?" Hagrid asked furiously (and to drive Lucius's attention away from Shura). "Get outta my house!"

Lucius turned to Hagrid. "My good man, please believe me, I have no pleasure at all being inside your… er - did you call this a house?" He sneered at his surroundings. "I simply contacted the school and was told the headmaster was here."

Shura glared at Lucius. "And what do you want with the boss, Papa Ferret?"

Lucius glared back. "I kindly ask you to refrain from addressing me in such a way. It's very disrespectful," he said. He then took out a rolled up parchment. "The governors feel it's time for you to step aside, Dumbledore. This is an Order of Suspension - you'll find all twelve signatures on it. I'm afraid we feel you're losing your touch. How many attacks have there been now? Two more this afternoon, wasn't it? At this rate, there'll be no Muggleborns left at Hogwarts and we all know what an awful loss that would be to the school."

"You're probably jumping for joy inside," Shura grumbled.

Lucius turned his sneer at Shura. "Perhaps the school governors should know that one of the True Cross's top exorcists is doing an incompetent job of catching the monster that's responsible for these attacks."

Shura sneered back. "Maybe you should talk to the Vatican. I'm sure a wizard would be able to convince the Grigori that I'm doing a crappy job of catching something that is clearly not a demon."

"That you know of," Lucius finished. "Perhaps this is a new breed of demon you and your order are not familiar with."

Shura held up her fist. "I'll show you a new breed of demon," she growled.

"Now, see here, Lucius," Fudge interrupted to avoid the escalating fight. "Dumbledore suspended - no, no - last thing we want just now."

"The appointment - or suspension - of the headmaster is a matter of the governors, Fudge," Lucius said smoothly. "And as Dumbledore has failed to stop these attacks -"

"See here, Malfoy, if Dumbledore can't stop them," Fudge tried to reason, "I mean to say, who can?"

"That remains to be seen," Lucius said with a nasty smile. "But as all twelve of us have voted -"

"An' how many did yeh have ter threaten an' blackmail before they agreed, eh, Malfoy?" Hagrid roared as he stood up.

"You son of a bitch," Shura growled.

"Dear, dear, you know, those tempers of yours will certainly lead you both into trouble one of these days. Especially you, Hagrid," said Lucius. "I would advise you not to shout at the Azkaban guards like that. They won't like it at all."

"Yeh can't take Dumbledore!" Hagrid yelled. "Take him away, an' the Muggleborns won' stand a chance! There'll be killin' next!"

"We'll make sure the parents know whose brilliant idea it was if - God forbid - it comes to that!" Shura added.

"Calm yourselves you two," Dumbledore said sharply. He then looked at Lucius. "If the governors want my removal, Lucius, then I shall of course step aside -"

"But -" stuttered Fudge.

"Boss!" Shura argued.

"No!" Hagrid growled.

Dumbledore still had his blue eyes locked on Lucius.

"However," Dumbledore continued, speaking slowly and very clearly, "you will find that I will only truly have left the school when none here are loyal to me… Help will always be given to Hogwarts to those who ask for it."

For a split second, Harry was almost sure Dumbledore's eyes flickered in their direction. He was also pretty sure Rin thought the same thing since he felt him shiver next to him.

"Admirable sentiments," Lucius said with a smirk.

The five adults started heading towards the door when Hagrid suddenly said, "If anyone wanted ter find out some stuff, all they'd have ter do is follow the spiders. That'd lead 'em right. That's all I'm sayin.'" Hagrid grabbed his moleskin coat. "An' someone'll have ter feed Fang while I'm gone."

"I got him, Hagrid," Shura said.

As soon as the adults left the cottage, Ron pulled off the Invisibility Cloak.

"We're in trouble now," Ron said hoarsely.

"With Dumbledore gone, there'll be an attack a day," Rin added. He looked at Harry. "What do we do now?"

~0~0~0~

The five adults made their way to the gates where they were greeted by a young man wearing white robes. Shura instantly frowned.

"What are you doing here, Baldy?" she barked.

The young man huffed out a laugh. "I still don't understand why you call me that. It makes no sense."

Lucius stared at him. "And who are you?"

The man held up his credentials. "Arthur Auguste Angel, Arc Knight of the Knights of the True Cross. And you are?"

"Lucius Malfoy," he said, extending his hand which Arthur shook.

Shura stepped forward. "What are you doing here, Baldy?" she repeated.

"I'm here to receive a report from you, Miss Kirigakure," Arthur answered. "The Grigori is not happy with your progress, or lack thereof."

Several tick marks appeared on Shura's head. "Does no one listen to me?! Whatever's Petrifying the students here is. Not. A. Demon!" she yelled. Dumbledore placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her down.

"Then why are you unable to catch the culprit?" asked Arthur.

"My nagas aren't cooperating with me!" Shura yelled. The men all stared at her. "I've summoned my nagas at each of the attack sites. Each time they refuse to tell me anything. Whatever is attacking the students has my nagas scared shitless."

Dumbledore's only response was a raised eyebrow.

I checked the Blue Exorcist wiki and Arc Knight is the rank below Paladin, which is currently Shiro's position.

I know I suddenly cut off Rin's little breakdown but I didn't know how to end it. I think Yukio summed it up in the previous chapter pretty well.

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