I don't own Harry Potter or any other books or movies that may inadvertently be referenced throughout my works.
Thanks to all those who have followed/favorited/commented on this story. The positive feedback does wonders for motivation and having things pointed out where I have made mistakes is helpful as well.
To the reviewer who decided to have a go at my Favorites list, I had a look at yours and some of my favorites are on your list as well, so if my list is lame...
Without further ado, here is the next chapter in Harry Samurai...
Harry thought he would feel more the first time he looked upon his birth family in so long. But all he really felt was indifference. He had his family already. These were just relations. He thought back to a quote he had heard before, you can't pick your relatives, but family were those you chose. He had no idea where the quote originated, but he felt it was appropriate here. Those before him had once been family, but they had thrown him away on the word of one old man. Now they were just people he was related to. Those standing here with him and back in Japan were his Family now. He would interact with his relatives, but he would never forgive them for throwing him away on the word of the old man and then never checking up on him.
"They had investigated his background both when he had first been found and since coming to England a week ago. The Potters had never even tried to check on him before his Hogwarts Letter was unable to be delivered. Only then had they shown any concern for his well being. Even when his sister was born they failed to check on him. This put the lie to the whole sending him away for his safety spiel they had spouted when they sent him away.
Now Harry and his family and friends waited to see what would happen now that they were alone. It was clear that both the Potters and Dumbledore were uncomfortable with the situation they found themselves in.
Albus looked at the group surrounding Harry wondering how he had possibly met such a diverse group of people. Surely being abandoned in Japan should have seen him on the streets, not in the company of the Heir to the Throne of Magical Japan, nor with allies within the Youkai association. Something had definitely changed in the elder Potter since the last time he had seen him, and not necessarily for the better in his opinion.
"Now, you will all be housed in the VIP Wing of the castle for tonight, and once we have Harry sorted tomorrow he will reside with his respective house while the rest of you can either remain or return to Japan." Started Albus.
Unfortunately for him, that was as far as he got into his speech.
"What on earth makes you think that I want to be sorted old man?" Question Harry. "There is no way under heaven that I would ever agree to attend this second rate school. You don't teach to the ICW Standard for one thing, and you don't provide any of the courses that I have previously undertaken." He continued.
"Surely you are mistaken" Albus replied, "Hogwarts is one of the premier schools of magic in the world. We provide a wide range of subjects and our Professors are world renowned in their fields. And you need to enrol in Hogwarts so that you may finish your education and return to your family now that we have found you again."
"Well you see, that is where you are mistaken. I do not need to finish my eductation" Harry began before he was interrupted by both his parent and Dumbledore.
"But you have to finish your education. You can't get a decent job if you haven't scored well on your NEWTS" they all exclaimed, or words to that effect.
"I will not have any son of mine fail to finish his education and bring shame to the Potter name" Finished James Potter.
Harry's face turned to stone when he heard the last statement by the senior Potter.
"You will not?" Harry asked in an icy cold voice that sent shivers up the spine of all those who lived in England. "How is this about what you want? You wanted to send me away for my own protection so you sent me to the Dursleys! We have all seen how well that turned out with the number of times they tried to kill me. You didn't want me around your precious saviour as it was too dangerous for me, obviously it was only me it was dangerous for as you had no problems brining young Rose into the house that was apparently too dangerous for me but not for a newly born baby! I think we have all seen exactly what you want. It happens to be whatever coincides with the dictates of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore and not what is the best for the Potter Family. How you have managed to maintain your Lordship and Magic is beyond me"
The Hogwarts contingent flinched with each statement Harry made, knowing that he had valid points, although they disagreed with his last one about the Headmaster.
"As for finishing my education, what makes you think I haven't already completed it?" asked Harry.
At that statement they all looked at him in shock. Surely this should have been his NEWT Year? There was no way that he could already be finished his schooling, he had stated that some of those in his party were here to continue his training. Surely that meant he was still undertaking his schooling.
"But you said that members of your party were here to continue your training." Said Lily, speaking up for the first time since they entered the room. "Surely that referred to your schooling. You're too young to be finished school already."
"Sorry to disappoint you Mrs Potter, but I have completed my NEWTS Already with Outstandings across the board in all subjects tested. And tested to ICW Levels which means better than the trash used here in Britain. Did you know that anyone from Britain who moves overseas to try and find work needs to resit their NEWTs as the ones offered in Britain are the equivalent of ICW OWLS? Hardly anyone in Britain holds ICW Level NEWT Qualifications. Off the top of my head the Headmaster is the only one in the last century to sit and pass the ICW NEWTs. Interesting that he hasn't tried to bring Hogwarts back up to that level even though he knows that you are teaching to lower than the international standards"
Everyone from Britain turned to look at the aging Headmaster, hoping to see denial on his face. Unfortunately all they saw was someone who looked like he had been caught with his hand in the Cookie Jar.
"Albus, surely he is mistaken, we can't have fallen that far behind the international standards." Exclaimed Lily. She thought she was teaching her students what they needed to know to have fulfilling careers. Now it looked like she was setting them up to fail.
"Unfortunately it is the Ministry that sets the OWL and NEWT exams. I have no control over that" replied the Headmaster.
"Ahh, but Albus, you haven't even tried. And if you look at the records the dumbing down only started after you became Headmaster. As well as the removal of such subjects as Warding, Wizard Traditions for the First Generations, Rituals Magic, Alchemy and Battle Magic. All of these subjects were available when you came through as a Student, but strangely disappeared from the curriculum within 5 years of you starting your Tenure as Headmaster" Sanji quite smugly bought up.
"We went back through the records once we found out where Harry had come from to see if we would return him to Hogwarts when he turned 11 for his education. We were bitterly disappointed to see just how far you have allowed this once great institute to have fallen."
"In an attempt to change the subject, Albus asked "If you already have your NEWTS then why are you continuing training? And if you have investigated things as you say, then why did you not return to your family?"
"Why would I leave those who wanted me and helped heal and raise me to return to those who threw me away like yesterdays garbage?" asked Harry. "I was happy where I was an had no intention of ever returning to these shores if I could help it. However your incompetence has forced me back where I did not want to go."
"As for training, they are helping me with my Combat Training, my Apprenticeship and my Mundane Schooling as I was lined up to attend a very prestigious mundane academy in Japan and I don't want to loose my spot at Kuoh while having to deal with things here."
"Muggle Schooling? My boy, why would you ever wish to undertake that when you have your magical schooling to focus on. No I am sorry but you will not be able to continue that once you have returned to your family and England." Stated Dumbledore.
You could hear a pin drop in the room after that statement. The Potters and their friends looked at the Headmaster as if seeing him for the first time. This was clearly a family discussion and decision, he had no place making sweeping statements like that. They were trying to convince Harry to return to the family, not drive him away with bold sweeping statements like that. From Harry and his friends and family there was incredulity quickly followed by rising anger directed at the Headmaster of Hogwarts.
"By what right do you try and dictate what my son can and can not do Mr Dumbledore?" hissed Sanji. "The last time I looked you were only the Headmaster of a school he does not, has not and will never attend. You have no say in what happens outside of your post as host of this Gladiatorial Games you somehow convinced people was a good idea. Harry is a citizen of both he Magical and Mundane society of Japan. If not required for this tournament, you would still have no idea where he was unless he decided to contact his birth family."
At this point Akane decided to put her thoughts on the matter forward as well.
"I am sure my father will be overjoyed with your High Handed way of dealing with this matter. I am sure he will be overjoyed with how you are trying to dictate what will happen to a valued member of his household" You could almost feel the sarcasm dripping from each word.
Albus paled dramatically as the implications of Akanes presence at the meeting was once again thrust in his face. If she was here representing her father, then Harry was obviously a values member of their household. The last time he had tried to interfere in the affairs of magical Japan, her grandfather had quite firmly advised him that if he wanted to keep living he would but out of Japans internal affairs. The fact that he had followed that up by nearly blasting him through the walls of the building they were in at the time only served to drive the point home. While Albus liked to portray himself as the most powerful mage of modern times, he knew that he was only the most powerful in England. There were more powerful mages than him in other countries around the world. It was only the positions he had previously held which helped to project that image as well. And the rulers of Magical Japan had always been some of the most powerful in the world.
What Albus failed to understand was that this stemmed in part from their close relationship with their gods. Their belief in them fed back into their power. The stronger their belief in their gods the stronger the magic in their community was. One of the changes implemented by Albus was the minimisation of the old ways of Great Britain and the pushing aside of the traditional rites at times like Samhain. These rites and traditions were used to strengthen the bonds between the gods and their followers. By reducing their importance, Albus had in turn reduced the bond between them and this led to the weakening of new mages who didn't follow these traditions throughout Britain. Another reason for the dumbing down of the OWLs and NEWTs.
"I think we have said all that needs to be said tonight. We will call it a night here and you can organise for someone to show us to our rooms. We can pick this conversation up at another time should it be necessary. However, I don't see a need for separate accommodation down the track as I will not be sorted or undertaking any classes while we are here" stated Harry. "All we are here for is to ensure that I do not lose my magic and to get through this farce. Don't try and force us to do things your way or impose your morals on us and we should be able to make it through the year without any of you dieing."
While slightly taken aback by this abrupt dismissal, Albus could only agree. So calling a house elf he tasked it with leading Harry and his party to their accommodation.
Once they had left he turned to look at the Potters.
"I fear young Harry is walking a Dark Path. Unfortunately Japan had never heeded my guidance while I was with the ICW." Started Albus before being interrupted by Lily.
"Yes, well if you treated them like you just tried to treat Harry I don't wonder at it. Albus, what Harry does or does not do is of no concern of yours after everything that has happened. It is hardly even any concern of ours at the moment. Harry was right in everything that he said tonight. He has found a loving family that cares for him. That is all that as a mother I can hope for. If he will eventually let us back into his life, I will be happy. I will not try and force him to return to England when he clearly has a life elsewhere. All I can wish is that he will eventually let us be a part of that life in some form."
James Potter nodding his head alongside his wife showed that he agreed with her statement. This was further proven when he said "Leave our son alone Albus. We have obviously caused him enough grief in his life. Hearing his words here show that he has no feeling towards us at this time. If we are to build anything with him, it will not be by forcing him somewhere he does not wish to be. We have screwed up enough with him before this. I will not ruin any chance we have at forming a relationship with him."
Albus was taken aback. Always before the Potters had listened to him and followed his direction. Obviously things had changed further than he expected since the revelation that Harry was alive.
With Harry and his family
Harry quietly cancelled the listening charm he had placed in the room before he had left. It was interesting to see how his parents were going to handle things.
Looking at his chosen family Harry smiled.
"Well it looks like my parents have taken what we said on board. They are not going to push things and hope to one day be a part of my family. While I might one day forgive them for what they did, I will never forget that they gave me up on the word of an meddling old man."
"Nor should you" said Sanji. "Your scars show just how bad a decision that was. They may eventually be worthy of your forgiveness, but never forget what they have done. And from what we have heard about your Brother, they have not done the best job of raising him either. He sounds like an arrogant egotistical brat."
They had managed to find out a lot of things in the time they were here before coming to Hogwarts. What they had learned did not paint the Potters in a very positive light as far as how they had raised Harry's brother. The fame and spotlight had obviously gone to his head from all reports. They would make their own decisions once they started interacting with him, but the initial information did not look promising for him.
The following week passed quickly with Harry and his friends staying primarily to themselves. They availed themselves of the famous Hogwarts Library spending a lot of time going through the subjects that interested them to see what information was available in England. Unfortunately it looked like quite a few of their chosen fields were in the restricted section of the library. This just showed how much things had changed in England as far as they were concerned, and how much Albus was trying to limit the knowledge available in the country.
Most of the books they saw in the Restricted Section were freely available in Japan provided you met the requirements for having them. Mainly these requirements revolved around being magically powerful enough to utilise or in some cases being enrolled for the courses at your school as it was thought that they were better able to be learned while being guided in their usage, rather than trying to self study. History had shown the Japanese people that self studying these subjects could lead to unhinged Dark Lords who delved too deeply without help or supervision. While Japan believed that all knowledge should be free, they also believed that it was best to have guidance with the more dangerous topics. Hence the limitations on subjects such as Summoning Magic. Used incorrectly this magic could cause great damage if the mage utilising it decided to summon something they would be unable to control. Indeed one of Asias worst Dark Lords had thought he was going to summon a minor devil to undertake his wishes, instead he had summoned a Demon Lord which had twisted him in ways beyond imagination. In the end they had had to Banish the mage with the Demon as it was the only way to remove it from this plane of existence. The mages involved in the banishing hadn't wanted to do it that way, as they were condemning his soul to eternal pain as he wasn't actually dead, he was still alive in the Demon Realm and would only die when the Demon Lord had had enough of him. Before banishing him they had tied a Life Stone to him so that they could monitor when he finally was allowed to die. That stone was still on display at the Japanese Ministry along with a detailed history of what they mage had done. It had also shown the date he had been defeated and banished, 1066AD. Nearly a thousand years had passed since his banishment and the Life Stone still shone, showing he was still alive in the Demon Realm. This was often used as a reminder to people as to why such things were taught they way they were.
Finally it was the weighing of the Wands. While Harry had managed to avoid Dumbledore over the last week as well as his birth family, there was no way he could avoid them today as he was sure they would be there.
Walking into the room he could see the other champions and their representatives, as well as the two representatives from the English Ministry. Over to the side of the room were the Potter parents and who Harry assumed was his youngest sibling Rose. She looked like a spitting image of his mother only younger with the same flaming red hair and piercing green eyes that were a match for both his own and his mothers. Also in the room off to the side was a woman with hideously bleach blonde hair and the most atrocious green glasses Harry had ever seen, and he had been to the Hentai/Steampunk district of Tokyo and seen what some of them thought was good looking. She was accompanied by a photographer so obviously this was the token reporter doing a piece on the wand weighing. Curiously Dumbledore was not present, nor was the person who would be inspecting their focai. Harry refused to say wands as he was sure he would be shocking them by not having one. He was still debating whether to present his primary focus or not. Their were pros and cons to each argument with no side the clear winner. He would make his final decision during this meeting.
"Well hello deary, you must be the missing Potter" the blonde reporter said as she approached him "Do you think we could have a little interview with you before the ceremony starts?" she continued.
"I am sorry miss, but I have no idea who you are and I am not interested in giving interviews to the English Press. Are there no other organisations interested in covering this event? I would think given the international nature of the event their would at least be reporters from France and Belgium here covering the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang champions. Also I find it very interesting that there is no one here from Japan. Akane, I am sure your father said that he was sending someone to cover this story from home." Harry responded.
"Yes Harry, Daddy told me he would be sending someone over to cover all the major events so he and others could be kept abreast of events from an impartial observer." Responded Akane.
These comments caught the attention of both the French and Belgium contingent. They looked at each other clearly wondering where their new agencies were as they had not thought of it until now, but surely their countries and new agencies would be interested in what was happening at Hogwarts and would have sent their own reporters to cover events.
Turning to the now flustered reports Harry asked "Where are the other reporters to cover this event? Surely you are not the only one interested in this. And while we are on the topic, who are you?"
"I am Rita Skeeter, lead reporter for the Daily Prophet. The Prophet secured the exclusive rights to be able to report on the Tri Wizard Tournament so no other agencies are able to be present at events" Rita was clearly proud of this fact and was almost openly gloating that she would be the only reporter present at events. "Now, about that interview?"
"I am sorry, but no. I will not be conducting an interview with you. I will however be finding the reporter sent over from Japan as well as those from France and Belgium and organising to have a sit down interview with them away from this ceremony. They will be the only interviews I will be giving while here in the UK."
"I am sorry Mr Potter, but the Prophet has exclusive rights to cover the Tournament, you will not be able to give interviews to outside sources" started Ludo Bagman, one of the Ministry representatives.
"That is where you are wrong Mr Bagman" Akane interrupted. "The Prophet only has exclusive rights to the events and ceremonies themselves, they do not have exclusive rights to the individual champions or what they do outside of those times. If Harry or the other champions wish to give interviews away from the events and ceremonies there is nothing you or the Prophet can do about it."
This clearly did not sit well with the Ministry representatives nor Miss Skeeter if the look on her face was anything to go by. Clearly she expected to be the only one reporting on the tournament. This new piece of information would not go over well at the Prophet. They had paid a lot of money to get exclusive rights for the tournament.
While she was still trying to get her head around what she just learnt, and the other champions were considering his words, Dumbledore walked into the room followed by a wizened old man who would obviously be checking their foci.
"Ahh good, everyone is here" began Dumbledore." Allow me to Introduce Mr Garrick Olivander, Britains foremost Wandmaker. He will be checking each of your wands to ensure they are in working order before the tournament begins in earnest. Once your wand has been checked this is the only one you will be permitted to use during the tournament unless it is damaged and another is required. Should this happen, then your replacement wand will need to go through the same process as we are about to go through. Are there any questions?"
Upon seeing that there were no questions, the headmaster turned the floor over to the old wand maker.
"Right, lets get started shall we, ladies first I think." Stated Mr Olivander while turning to the French Champion.
Fleur stepped forward and handed her wand to Mr Olivander. Holding it in his hands he looked at it carefully. Holding it up he looked along the length of the wand, even putting it up to his ear as if to listen to it.
"Ahh, a beautiful creation. Not one of mine obviously, made by Madame Chanteau of France if I am reading it right. A beautiful creation, Rosewood I see. And this core, not something I use but can you confirm for me it is the hair from a very powerful Veela, freely given?" he asked.
"Yes, it is a hair from my Grandmother, given while transformed but not in anger" Fleur replied.
"Ahh, that explains what I am feeling. A very powerful and loyal wand once that loyalty is given. It should serve you well in the tournament" with that he gave the wand a swish, summoning a flock of small birds that quickly vanished before handing it back to the French Champion.
Next up was Victor Krum.
"Ahh, another one not made by me. A Gregoravich if I am reading this right. Made from Hornbeam with the heartstring of a rather old and powerful Ukrainian Iron Belly if I am reading it right. Again a very powerful wand in the right hands. I am sure it will serve you well during this tournament." With a flourish he caused a cascade of wine to come from the tip of the wand before handing it back.
Next was the Hogwarts Champion Cedric Diggory.
"Ahh, now this is one of mine" he began" Well taken care of, Ash with the tale hair of a rather feisty unicorn if memory serves. Nearly took my arm off when I plucked this from his tail. This should serve you well Mr Diggory" Giving it a swish Olivander conjured up a bouquet of flowers before handing it back.
Harry noticed that both the French and Belgium champions had wands with powerful cores, clearly showing that they would be a force to be reckoned with. The British Champion however did not have as powerful a wand. This more than anything showed the decline in the British Magical society to Harry and how much they had lost under Albus's guidance.
While Harry was thinking this, Olivander had turned to him expectantly.
Coming to a decision Harry decided to show just how powerful he was. He was going to utilise his Primary Focus during the tournament. His secondary focus was a ring on his right hand, made of Blackthorn wood and infused with the blood and tears of Hanta it was a very personal foci and Harry did not think it would work for anyone but him. And the rules only mentioned Wands, nothing about other foci.
"I am sorry Mr Olivander but I do not have a wand for you to check" began Harry much to the shock of most of the other people in the room. Before he could continue however he was interrupted.
"Harry, how do you not have a wand? Surely you had one while you were undergoing your schooling?" asked Dumbledore. While it was obvious his parents and the other champions were curious about his statement, they were not rude enough to not wait for him to finish.
"If you had let me finish Headmaster, you would have heard the rest of my statement." Replied Harry. "Now, as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, I do not have a wand for you to check. Unfortunately the wand I received when I started my schooling was outgrown some time ago. All I have now is a Staff that I will let you look at if you wish" Harry finished.
To say the others in the room not from Japan were shocked would be an understatement. No one in Europe had been able to utilise a Staff in centuries. Even Albus, the acknowledged most powerful in England did not need a staff. They were a thing of legend in Europe. All in the room wondered just how powerful Harry was if he needed a staff. The other question they had was when had he started using one? The way he spoke he had been using his staff for quite a while.
"Nodding eagerly Olivander replied "Of course Mr Potter. While I have not needed to make one in quite a while, it was still a requirement of my apprenticeship to make a staff. I will pass the knowledge on to my apprentice when I find one. It is not as lost an art as some would think. All internationally recognised masters of my craft have crafted at least one staff in their lives."
Everyone from Europe was surprised by this admission, not knowing that staffs were still in use in other parts of the world.
With a flourish, Harry produced his staff from the pocket dimension he kept it in when not using it. It was a thing of Beauty to behold. The wood was polished to a dark shine with the top carved like a Dragons Head. In the mouth of the dragon was a gem that seemed to contain living fire. Olivander looked on it in awe as he held it in his hands.
"Blackthorn and Cherry for the wood. A very unique combination Mr Potter. Your Crafter is a master of the art. I do not think I could fuse those two woods together like this. And the cores, I can detect 4 unique cores in this staff. One I believe to be a hair from your companion beside you. Another is Powdered Dragon Scale from an Asian Dragon. I am not sure what breed, but I can tell it is very powerful. Next we have, oh my, is that a Thunderbird Feather. Quite an old one too if I am any judge. And for the last core, my my, you have a truly interesting staff here Mr Potter. However did you manage to get a Nine Tailed Kitsune to voluntarily surrender one of their tail hairs for you staff? But that is not all is it. We have this lovely gem at the top of your staff. Unless I am sadly mistaken, you have a Dragon Diamond there Mr Potter. Extremely rare they are only given by ancient dragons when they are close to dieing. They can compress all of their magic into a Gem and can pass this on to one they feel worthy. The gems can take various forms with Diamonds being the most powerful. Whoever made your Staff Mr Potter is clearly in a league of their own. I doubt anyone but you would be able to utilise this staff under normal circumstances, but with that Gem on top anyone trying to use this but you would soon find themselves severely hurt if not killed."
Everyone in the room was shocked by the description of Harrys staff, even his family. They knew some of the information about his staff but even they were unaware of the full details associated with it, in particular the gem on top. He had disappeared with Ryuu one day, only to return with the Diamond in his hands and tears on his face. He had not disclosed any information about where he and Ryuu had gone or who had provided the stone.
Taking the staff back, Harry ran his hands over it before flourishing it. Out of the gem on top came a fully Corporeal Patonus in the shape of an Asian Dragon. Such was the power of the charm that the dragon was glowing gold as it flew around the room looking for the threat. Upon seeing none, it returned to Harry, who patted its snout before releasing the charm allowing it to dissipate.
"Yes, I believe that staff will serve you quite well Mr Potter" Finished Olivander.
Going to leave it there for now as this chapter took on a life of its own. I decided to break it here and leave further reactions for the next chapter. I have it about half written on the computer where this one took on a life of its own, and half on pad and paper where I write the drafts while on breaks at work.
Hopefully I will have the next chapter out quicker than this one.