Author's Note: I am updating during Finals Week. I must be mad. I hope you all enjoy!
Someone was petting his head. Harry moaned at having his dream of a London theater trip disturbed and pulled the blanket over his head. He heard someone giggle and he opened one eye beneath his blanket. The absurdity of even being petted in his room did not make sense. His eye registered the color of the blanket and then he remembered that he was not in his room at all. "Evan, sweetie." Harry pulled down the blanket and opened his bleary eyes to see a vaguely familiar outline next to him.
"Mm?" He asked. Not the most eloquent thing he ever said, but it was the best he could manage at this point.
"Leonard's waiting for you in the kitchen." She told him, her blue eyes laughing at him as he struggled to reach full coherency. "Come on." She pulled him up to a sitting position. "We'll see you downstairs." She told him.
"K." Harry swore that one day he would be able to wake up and manage full sentences. Harry got to his feet and discarded his pajamas for his practice uniform. He put in his contacts and ran a hand through his hair in an attempt to straighten it. He pulled on socks and tied his gi top closed.
Sensei's wife, Lynn, had mothered him from the moment she had walked in the door with Sensei's daughters. Her actions reminded him of Mrs. Weasley without the fierce possessiveness. She offered food and drink to Harry, but didn't press him to take more than he could eat (even though she said he was too thin) and had shown him where everything was in the kitchen, should he be hungry later and no one was around to help him. He had felt awkward until she hugged him, smoothed his hair, and welcomed him to his "home away from home". It felt like home from that moment on. Harry wondered if Magic was somehow involved.
Sensei's daughters had been extremely helpful last night in showing Harry around the property and training hall. They both studied martial arts, though one also did ballet and the other played piano. Neither seemed too frightening, only extremely curious about him. Harry stuck with the story Sensei had told them: Harry was only there for a short visit due to a security breach at the school. Neither daughter had seen the news. His identity was safe.
Paul had appeared after dinner last night with a box full of Harry's things. It looked like Harry was staying at Sensei's house until further notice. The box held mostly clothing, but Paul had included his school books, assignments, and one of his magic books. Harry had hidden it under all of the other books and had not taken it out around anyone else. He did not want to face the Ministry over revealing the magical world to Muggles. He had been lucky so far, but even Harry knew that luck could eventually run out if he wasn't careful.
Harry's teacher was on probation with St. Jude's. Harry would have liked to seen him sacked, but Paul mentioned something about a stellar record thus far for the past twenty years. The man had been doing his "civic duty", or so he said. Harry wondered why the man felt it was his civic duty to call a number on television. Sure, it had looked convincing enough, but not everyone would call a number displayed on television, would they? Right?
Aunt Petunia had called the night before, as she had promised. She and Remus were working on the legality of what the Ministry was doing, but it was taking them a bit longer than they would have liked. Harry had to agree. The Ministry had no right doing something like this to him and the sooner they realized that, the better. He would have loved seeing Aunt Petunia putting a bunch of tough Aurors in their place. She had told him about it and he almost whined. That would have been very amusing to see. Aurors shouted down by a Muggle. Ha.
"There he is." Lynn said as Harry entered the kitchen. She motioned Harry to a chair and put a cup of tea in front of him.
"Thanks, Lynn." He mumbled. He loved tea. Or the caffeine in tea. He wasn't sure which. Harry felt her mess up his hair. Oh, well. He reached up to smooth his hair down and heard her laugh. How did anyone manage to be up this early?
"Deshi." Harry lifted his eyes to look at Sensei. "Drink, and then we run." Sensei lifted his own cup to his mouth.
Harry nodded and started to drink his tea. He hoped breakfast was soon. His teenager body was already protesting his empty stomach. Giggles from the hallway made him turn to see the girls come in. "Morning, Evan!" They chimed.
"Morning." Harry answered. Wow. Three whole coherent words in the space of two minutes. He should get a medal.
"Do you remember our names?" One asked as she received her own cup of tea.
"He's still asleep, sis." The other said as she sat down. "He won't wake up until halfway through our run." She told the other.
Harry blinked. He was going running with the girls? That…wasn't too bad. "You're, uh, Emily and Emiko." He told the first who had asked if he remembered their names. "And you're…Amy and Miyo." Harry told them. The two of them looked at him in shock before breaking into applause.
"He's conscious!" Emily/Emiko announced with pride. "He wakes up much faster than Taro!"
"Leave your brother's sleeping habits alone." Lynn said with a smile. "He's always here when he has to be. And he's awake." She moved back to the stove where she was doing something that smelled wonderful.
"Who's awake?" Rick asked as he walked into the kitchen. "Evan! Your hair!"
"Taro!" Harry watched as Rick's eyes grew wide and he braced himself on the door jamb. He wondered why until he saw two black-clad figures leap onto Rick.
"Brat attack!" Rick said as he went down. He and his two sisters started tickling each other without mercy. Harry was glad that he was not included. He wasn't sure what would happen.
"Brat attack every morning." Sensei mumbled from across the table. "Since they were small. At my funeral, will be brat attack." Harry smiled at Sensei's statement.
"Alright, brats! I need some tea before our run." Rick said as he shoved his sisters off of him.
"Aw!" Both girls complained at once as they returned to their tea. Harry smiled at their pouting faces and shook his head. He wasn't sure if he thought he missed out on having sisters or not. He figured Hermione was enough.
"Hey, Evan needs another name!" Amy/Miyo said with a smile.
"If Evan is here for two more days." Sensei said. "Only then." He told the girl.
"Okay." She said as she took her cup to the sink. "Meet you outside." She said to her father as she dragged her sister with her.
"Which one is older?" Harry asked Rick. "They're like twins."
"Miyo is the older one." Rick told him. "Dad, did you explain the name thing to Evan?" He asked.
"Yes, Taro." Sensei said as he stood and rinsed out his cup. "Last night, he understood. Still?"
"Yes, Sensei." Harry said, properly awake now. Sensei motioned for Harry to rinse out his cup and follow him. The name thing had confused him at first, but Harry had found that everyone in the family had two names, one English and one Japanese. Rick was Taro, Emily was Emiko, and Amy was Miyo. Harry had to wonder what Lynn's was. He hadn't heard it yet.
Once outside, Sensei led him, Rick, and the girls through several stretches. Harry felt his blood start to move in his body. He was fully awake now and ready to run. He was amazed to find that he liked running. It was odd. Sensei pulled Harry beside him and started running. Harry followed the pace and ran next to Sensei.
"First shower!" Amy said as she dashed up the stairs.
"I call second!" Emily said as she dashed behind her.
"You have forty-five minutes until school!" Lynn called after them. "Uniforms are on your beds!" Harry thought that the organized chaos present in Sensei's home was much better than the rigid structure he had experienced as a child. He found himself thinking that he would like a home like this someday and blushed. Thoughts like that were not good for him to have. He had no idea if he was going to survive into adulthood.
"Alright to dream, deshi." Sensei said next to him. Harry jumped. He had not heard the man come up to him. "Dreams keep you alive."
"Yes, Sensei." Harry said. He agreed. He just wasn't sure if he would see his dreams fulfilled. How had Sensei known what Harry was thinking?
"Boys, come and get it." Lynn said from the kitchen. Rick thundered down the hall from the living room and grabbed Harry on his way.
"Ack! Rick!" Harry said as he felt his arm nearly leave its socket. "I need that arm!" Harry said as Rick pulled him into the kitchen.
"Food, Evan. You need food." Rick pushed Harry into a chair and took his own next to him. He started piling food onto Harry's plate.
"Leave him be, Rick." Lynn said with a frown. "He'll eat what he wants." She said as she served herself. Harry noticed that she was busy piling food onto Sensei's plate. So that's where Rick got it.
Harry heard an odd noise twenty minutes later. It sounded like something heavy falling down the stairs. He nearly jumped out of his skin when the door to the kitchen swung open to reveal Amy. She was pulling a backpack on wheels behind her.
"How many times have we asked you to carry that down the stairs?" Lynn asked with a sigh.
"Um, not sure." Amy said as she kicked her backpack towards the wall. "Sorry." She said as she moved to her chair and started spooning breakfast onto her own plate.
"Try not to do it again." Lynn told her.
"Yes, Mum." Amy looked at Harry and rolled her eyes. Harry smiled back at her and returned his attention to his scramble. He heard the same noise five minutes later as Emily made her appearance.
Rick snorted when he heard the same speech given and he leaned over to Harry. "They know it ticks Mum off when they do that, so they just do it to annoy her." He confided. Harry nodded and finished his breakfast. Why would anyone want to annoy their parents?
"Alright, you two." Lynn said as she moved her plate to the kitchen. "Let's get you to school!" Harry watched as Amy and Emily started a rather impressive operation. They each grabbed two slices of toast and put the rest of their scramble and sausage on them. Each had a tidy little breakfast sandwich and Harry thought that that was the most ingenious thing he had ever seen. Aunt Petunia would have yelled at him for something like that.
"Move!" Amy and Emily said as the same time to the other. They stared at each other before breaking down into giggles. They left the kitchen, calling good byes to everyone (including Harry) and he heard a momentary squabble as the two pulled on their shoes and made it out the door.
"I'll see you after work." Lynn said as she leaned down and gave Leonard a kiss.
"Parents kissing." Rick said. He shuddered. "Yuck."
"Hush, you." She said as she dropped a kiss on the top of Rick's head. She mussed Harry's hair as she walked by and wished him a good day. He returned the greeting and she left the house.
"Could be worse." Sensei said as he wagged his eyebrows. Even Harry had to fight off shudders from the thought. Some things should not even be considered, student to teacher. Ack.
"No thanks." Rick said as he finished his eggs. "I already know too much." He moved to the sink and started hot water for dishes.
"Deshi? Finished?" Sensei asked a few minutes later as Harry stared at his food. Why did Rick insist on so much?
"Yes, Sensei." Sensei looked over at his plate and rolled his eyes.
"Finish your scramble and toast." Sensei told him. Harry watched as the man picked up his tea and ignored Harry's glare. "Now, deshi."
Harry wanted to grumble, but decided that grumbling would not be good for his continued existence in the Muggle world. He managed to finish most of Sensei's orders and shrugged when the man looked at him with a raised eyebrow. Sensei nodded and Harry got up from the table.
"Here, Evan. Let me take that." Rick told Harry, snatching the plate out of his hands.
"Class at eleven." Sensei told Rick.
"Yes, Dad. I've got it. Evan, I hope you're alive when I come home tonight." Rick said with a grin.
"What?" Harry asked in confusion. What in the world was going on?
"Deshi, follow me." Sensei said from the hallway. Rick waved goodbye to Harry. Harry shook his head and entered the hallway with a vague sense of foreboding. "Shoes." Sensei said, holding out Harry's trainers. Harry pulled them on and followed Harry outside to the training hall. "Shoes." Harry kicked them off before entering the floor. "Socks." Sensei threw over his shoulder as he walked to a corner containing some mats.
Harry bent down and pulled off his socks. He slid them into his shoes and was surprised to find that Sensei had spread out several layers of mats onto the floors. "Tatami will cushion falls." Sensei told Harry shortly. What falls?
"Here." Sensei waved Harry over to him. Harry stepped forward and stopped in front of his teacher. "Now, try to land on your feet, hmm?" Harry only had that as a warning when Sensei grabbed his gi top. Harry felt his feet leave the floor. He landed a second later, flat on his back and gasping for air. "Have you forgotten what I taught?"
"No, Sensei." Harry croaked out as he pushed himself to a sitting position and coughed. Getting air knocked out of him was always an experience.
"Again, then." Sensei said as he gave Harry a hand up and pulled him to the edge of the mats again. Harry nodded and he moved with Sensei that time. He twisted himself and while he didn't land on his feet, he didn't land on his back either. "Again."
What followed that single word was a three hour session of falling. Harry didn't notice that he was starting to fall less and landing more. Harry stood from his spot on the floor and stepped in front of Sensei again. "Deshi. Your blades."
Harry stepped back and flexed his arm to retrieve one of his throwing blades. Harry was surprised that Paul had yet to catch him with them. It seemed that absolutely no one knew about them. "Target on that wall. Twenty times and call them back." Harry nodded and started his target practice.
Harry's mind fell into that place it always did when he worked out now. He was calm and centered. His worries about Fudge, Dumbledore, and Voldemort were all pushed aside and he could only see the target in front of him, the cool black of his blades as they hit the target, and Sensei prowling in the background. Nothing else mattered.
Harry felt something grab his gi and toss him into the air. One of Harry's blades came into his hands and he released it in the direction of his assailant as his feet found the floor. He stopped in shock a second later as he saw Sensei snatch the blade out of the air inches from his face. "Good, deshi." Sensei said as Harry's knees suddenly felt weak. He lowered himself to the ground and rested his head on his knees. Sensei flipped the blade over in his hand and presented the weapon handle first to Harry.
Harry looked up at him but didn't take the offered weapon. "I almost killed you." Harry said as he felt shaking start in the very center of his body. "If you hadn't caught that…" Harry trailed off as he realized the odd feeling of panic attack coming on. He closed his eyes and started the breathing exercise Paul had drilled into his head.
"You did not." Sensei told Harry. Harry gripped the legs of his uniform and fought to control his breathing. The familiar cold was back and nipped at Harry's ears. "Calm, deshi." Sensei said as he knelt next to Harry. "I am alive. You did well." The cold continued to descend. Sensei looked around as fog started forming in the slightly humid training hall. "Release it, deshi." Sensei said in a calm voice. "Release it."
Harry had no idea what Sensei meant by 'release it'. Was it his magic? He took another breath and stretched his magic the slightest bit. It rushed through him again and into his fingertips and the space behind his eyes. It questioned what he wanted, what he needed, what he desired. Harry gave the vaguest thought of 'clean' to it and felt a sensation close to Madame Pomfrey's cleaning spells wash over him and out in the hall. He shuddered as the spell ended and breathed out.
"Deshi, look at me." Sensei ordered. Harry waited a few seconds before opening his eyes and looking up at Sensei. "You did exactly what I wanted. I am fine. You could not have hurt me if you wanted to. I know what you do before you do it." Sensei reached out and smoothed Harry's hair. "Fine, deshi. We're both fine. Time for a shower, I think." Sensei said as he stood and pulled Harry up with him. "Call your weapons." Sensei said as he wrapped an arm around Harry.
Harry reached out a hand to catch the blades as they flew back to him. He slid each one into its sheath and pulled his sleeve down over them. Both stopped to pull on their socks and shoes before returning to the house. Sensei sent Harry upstairs with a firm order of a long shower and a nap before returning downstairs. Like any self-respecting teenager would nap!
The shower was bliss for his sore muscles and fatigued brain. It seemed like Sensei was determined to get in as much training as possible while Harry was at his house. Harry didn't mind. Not at all. Did it have to be so painful? Harry stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around him. He padded across the hall to his room and looked for some clothing. Where were his clothes? He pulled open the dresser and noticed everything but a pair of pajamas had disappeared. What in the world? One word came to mind. Sensei.
Harry pulled on the pajamas and set out to look for his teacher. He reached the bottom of the stairs and listened for clues. A voice from directly behind him made him jump. "No nap, deshi?" Harry whirled around with his heart in his throat.
"I was just…" Harry had no idea what to say to the man.
"Stalling?" Sensei said as he folded his arms and glared down at Harry. "Upstairs and nap. Clothes will be returned after you nap." So, Sensei had made off with Harry's clothes. That…traitor.
"Fine." Harry said, rolling his eyes as he walked by his teacher. The man cuffed Harry on the back of his head for the comment.
"I will wake you, deshi." Sensei told the boy before Harry closed his door. Harry grumbled to himself and got into bed. If anyone at Hogwarts ever heard about this…his life would be over. He could almost see the newspaper headlines now. Harry fought down a groan and buried his face in the pillow.
Someone was petting his head. Again. Harry fought his way up from dreamland and opened his eyes to make out a blurry figure sitting next to his bed. "Nt Tunia?" He mumbled, not quite awake yet.
"Good afternoon, Harry." She said with a slight chuckle. "Would you like your glasses?" She asked. Harry nodded and held out his hand. He preferred his contacts to his glasses, but this would get him up quicker than having to stop to put them in. Petunia handed him his glasses and waited for him to wake up. "Remus and I are both here, Harry. We need to talk to you about a few things. Sensei sent these up." She placed a heavy bundle on his lap. Oh, clothing. "Do I want to know why he's holding your clothes hostage?"
"I don't know and I don't want to know." Harry told her. "I don't think you want to know, either." He said with a shrug. He reached up to start unbuttoning his shirt, but stopped and looked at his aunt. "Privacy?" He asked.
"I've seen it all before, you know." She said as she stood up.
"I thought you promised to not embarrass me." Harry commented as he kicked his blankets off.
"That was just in front of your friends." She said as she slipped from the room. Hmm. Harry would have to bring up his and Petunia's agreement at their next family meeting. She had to stop embarrassing him at all times. It was only fitting for him. He was a multi-millionaire and in control of a few homes. He was…not as pompous as Snape thought, but he still had some weight, right? Note to self: find out how powerful you are from Remus.
Harry went downstairs and heard Remus' voice from the kitchen. He pushed open the door and found Remus, Petunia, and Sensei all sharing afternoon tea. "Deshi." Sensei said by way of greeting. "Tea." Harry nodded his thanks and sat down in his usual spot.
"Where's Lynn?" Harry asked. He was curious. He had a feeling she and Aunt Petunia would get along famously.
"Emiko has ballet. Miyo piano. I'm making dinner tonight before my class." His class? "You think the dojo is there for show? No."
Harry wanted to hit himself for being so…naïve. Of course Sensei would be teaching classes in his dojo. Why else would he have the building? Harry accepted the sandwich slid in front of him and turned to Remus.
"What's going on?" He asked intently between bites of the sandwich. He couldn't identify what was on the sandwich itself, but it was delicious. He devoured one and found another took its' place on the plate.
"I sent a message to Minister Fudge yesterday, directly after you were removed from St. Jude's. He has refused to even return my messages, saying that he would only deal directly with Dumbledore, since Dumbledore is the one who 'hid you away'." Harry snorted at Remus' explanation and motioned for the man to continue. "Dumbledore has cloistered himself in his office and will see no one, especially not a 'tottery old werewolf' like myself." Remus explained further. "In other words, I have been blocked by all parties involved."
Harry chewed the last of his first sandwich and swallowed. "You mean no one will see you?" Harry asked in astonishment.
"No one at all. Severus told me that Albus ignores even him." Harry checked to make sure that his jaw was not brushing the ground. Dumbledore never ignored Snape. He trusted the man too much and always took everything Snape said as truth, no matter of the reality.
"I find my hands tied as well, Harry." Petunia told him. "I have sent several messages to Dumbledore. All of them were returned, unopened, to the house." She shrugged. "I guess I have fallen out of favor."
"Deshi? What is the name of the man who threatens you?" Sensei broke in.
"Voldemort." Harry answered absently. "Neither of you can do anything, can you?" Harry asked. "Not when they're ignoring you." Harry said, falling thoughtful at the end of his sentence.
"I'm sorry, Harry. We tried." Remus told him, but Harry waved the apology off.
"It's not your fault." Harry told him. "It's theirs for not realizing exactly who they're up against. How powerful would you say my family name is, Remus?" Harry asked as his mind hastily concocted a Plan B.
"I'd say almost as influential as the Malfoys in the Ministry, or what their influence used to be, at any rate. More so in certain circles, less so in others." Remus explained. "Dare I ask why?"
"So my name itself holds some weight?" Harry asked, trying to clarify what Remus meant.
"You alone would stop traffic, Harry." Remus saw the plotting look on Harry's face and frowned. "No! Don't even think about it."
Petunia looked between Remus and Harry and figured out what the two were talking about. "No, Harry."
"It could work!" Harry protested. "It could work if you come with me, Aunt Petunia. The wizarding world is kind of crazy where children are concerned. No one would try to take me to Hogwarts for 'my own good' if you are with me. Remus, this would not be a good time to reveal you. If they think that I'm stuck in the Muggle world, alone, they might try to pull something like 'Operation Rescue Potter' bigger than what happened as St. Jude's. I'd rather keep you as my trump card." Harry explained. "Fudge won't dare refuse to see me if I show up at the Ministry looking for him." Harry reasoned. "I can say my piece, tell him that I'm staying away from Hogwarts of my own free will, and that will be that. He'll have to call off the Aurors." Harry said with an air of satisfaction. So, this was what Hermione felt when she was right.
"What if he doesn't?" Remus argued. "Fudge can be persistent, Harry. More than your life at St. Jude's will allow. Your picture is still being played on television, you know." Remus reached out and held onto Harry's shoulder. "We just want to keep you safe."
"Yes, I know and I appreciate that." Harry said. Hknew that Remus and Aunt Petunia cared for him."I think I can handle Fudge. I have other methods to convince Fudge if he decides that he doesn't want to cooperate with me." Harry picked up his second sandwich and took a bite. "What is in these?" He asked the kitchen.
"Tofu and herbs." Sensei said quickly. Harry dropped the sandwich and stared at his teacher. Tofu? What was that? "Deshi's plan, while a little shaky, could work."
"Tofu?" Harry asked in confusion. That sounded vaguely familiar. Vaguely.
"I don't see how." Remus argued.
"He needs a bodyguard." Sensei said. "Discourage enthusiastic people; make sure he gets out safely."
"Tofu?" Harry asked again. "What's tofu?" Harry wondered.
"Bean curd." Petunia told him quickly. "What about their magic?" Petunia asked Sensei.
"Bean curd?" Harry asked. What in the world was that? Were they avoiding his questions for fun?
"Deshi has tricks he can do." Sensei said with a smirk. "Most will not notice his little tricks. Also, they will have to hope that I am no longer standing when they become too tired to work their magic."
"DESHI is sitting here." Harry said, a little upset at having his guardians talk around him in such a fashion. "Before we go any further, I want to know what bean curd is exactly." Harry demanded. Sensei explained it to him with a smile and Harry fought the urge to scrape off his tongue. He had liked it before he knew what it was. He made a mental note to look it up once he got back to school. Did Paul know about it? "Okay, second, please don't talk about me as if I weren't here. Dumbledore does that a lot and I hate it." Harry told them.
"Sorry, Harry. We got a little excited." Remus told him.
"We'll remember in the future." Petunia said, smoothing down his hair. Oh, she had about ten years to stop that. Harry resisted closing his eyes and returned his attention to the matter at hand. He looked at his teacher for confirmation.
Sensei only raised an eyebrow and tilted his head. Harry knew what that meant and smiled. Sensei would not forget.
"Do you think that this plan can work? It looks like our only recourse." Harry told them.
"I agree with you." Remus said. "Now that I've thought it through, I think it is a very good idea." Harry smiled at Remus and turned to Petunia.
"I would like to meet this Fudge character. Let him know exactly what I think of him." Harry wondered what the strange gleam in her eyes meant. He had a feeling it was more than what she thought of Fudge. Harry almost felt sorry for the Minister. Almost.
"Okay, here's what we're going to do." Harry said as he got a pad of paper and a pen from a stand. He started making an outline. It was time for him to tell the rest of the wizarding world that they deserved nothing from him. They had no reason to expect his every moment to be published for their perusal. He had a right to privacy! They could not have all of him!
Author's Note: Okay, questions go to the forums (click on my author's name and then on my forums). I hope you all liked it. Next chapter: a visit to the wizarding world!