A/N: Apparently I posted the wrong chapter. The right chapter six is now up. You can go back and read that now. This is the mistakenly posted chapter.
As soon as they had arrived back at the school, they began to put the newspaper together. Their articles were already written, now it was just a matter of arranging and printing. This was a task that Gin, Moka and Yukari were able to do.
Kurumu would grab a magazine and read whilst Harry did something similar. He usually claimed he was just going to 'sit in the corner and try not to swallow his tongue'. It was a retort he had used when Gin claimed the wizard was too dumb to learn how to use the computer.
So it was, that on the first day of classes, the Newspaper Club was out in force and handing out their latest edition. It was a big hit. Kurumu had managed to appeal to both boys and girls with her articles on human fashion.
The girls wanted to try them.
The boys wanted the girls to try them.
Moka and Yukari had covered the various activities available in the human world.
"Alright, that seems to be the last issue gone." Harry sighed tiredly as he began stacking the plastic carrying boxes they used. "We will need to print double the amount for next week."
"Huh? But we gave out every single one and nobody missed out." Kurumu frowned.
"Yeah, but that's because I was duplicating them."
"Oh… won't they disappear at some point?" Moka asked.
"No, if it was a conjuration then, sure. But duplication is less powerful and uses more existing resources."
"Nekonome-sensei will be thrilled that the club is so popular." Yukari said happily as she clung to Moka.
"I wonder if there will be more club members next year?" Harry mused as he folded the tables back up.
"It would be nice to have more help." Moka nodded.
"Aww… I don't want to share Harry-chan with more people!" Kurumu pouted as she latched onto his arm.
"Weird… you guys actually like each other."
The group turned to see a girl, about their age, standing there. She had light purple hair that fell to just beneath her shoulder blades. She was wearing a top that left her shoulders bare and long, horizontally striped, purple stockings.
The only piece of school uniform she wore was the skirt… but she wore that like the rest of the girls, so Harry could have easily described her knickers if he chose to.
She had a bored look to her as she sucked on a lollipop.
"That's what friends do." Kurumu frowned. She didn't like the way she felt she was being judged.
The girl moved towards Harry and Kurumu slowly.
"You're Potter Harry." She stated blandly. "Cuter than I expected." She then spun on her heel and marched off. "I'm taking a paper."
The four friends just stood there staring.
Home room was nearly the same as always. But Harry was surprised to see the strange purple haired girl there as well. He ignored her for now. Aside from subconsciously cataloguing what he saw and preparing a list of defences.
"Today we will be choosing our new Class Officers!" Miss Nekonome beamed. "Our school festival takes place in our second semester and we need people to take charge."
At least Harry now had some ready made topics for newspaper articles coming up.
"We need one President, one Vice-President and two Secretaries.
"Nominations, anyone?"
"Hey… I've got a nomination."
Harry got a cold chill down his back as the new girl spoke up in her usual bored manner.
"I think Harry would make a great class prez."
Miss Nekonome looked slightly non-plussed at the sight of the new girl in her class. But she quickly recovered and smiled happily. "Excellent! We have our first candidate!"
Harry was horrified when they all started clapping.
"I nominate Akashiya-san!" Harry said quickly. "She is the smartest in the class and very organised."
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a gobsmacked, pink haired vampire, frozen in mid-clap. Payback!
"And, I apologise, but as I am already the President of the Newspaper Club, I believe I would not be able to dedicate the necessary time to another position." He bowed low to the class… and then sat down.
Checkmate!
The rest of the class time had turned into a round-robin of nominations. Everybody seemed to want someone else to do it.
Until one moron decided to nominate Saizou. The git had grinned smugly before standing and launching into a speech accepting the position.
Miss Nekonome had to remind him that he was only nominated. There still needed to be an election.
Not to mention a severe culling of the nominee list.
"Why did you nominate me?!" Moka demanded as she dragged Harry out of the classroom.
Harry shrugged. "Like I said, you are smart and organised."
"So are you!"
"I'm ranked in the two hundreds, remember? I don't see why this is a problem." Harry frowned.
"You didn't even ask me!" She hissed.
Harry let himself smirk. "But you were more than happy to support my nomination." He was pleased to see Moka blanch. "Besides, you can always opt out. I'm sure Saizou will do well."
Moka was outright grimacing. Clearly she didn't like that thought. She turned on her heel and stomped off.
Harry stood there and sighed. It was probably going to be another one of those weeks.
"Hey… congratulations."
Harry spun in surprise at the soft voice behind him.
He found himself inches away from the girl who had nominated him.
"Erm… thanks for the nomination. Sorry I couldn't stand though." He said slightly uncomfortable. He hated conflict.
"You would be great." She shrugged. "I read the paper you passed out this morning." She said as she held the relevant periodical open. "That article you wrote was awesome as usual."
Harry frowned. "The one about Human Emergency Services?"
She nodded with a smile. "I've read all your work. I'm your biggest fan. I'm Shirayuki Mizore."
Harry was decidedly… non-plussed. The only articles he wrote were about the mundane routine things, like changes to the school calendar, the school menu… pretty much, he copied out what Miss Nekonome gathered from relevant school departments. This was the first full article he had written.
"Erm… thanks?"
She suddenly latched onto his arm began walking, dragging him slowly outside. Harry didn't really see the harm so he followed.
"I missed most of last semester." She explained as they walked. "People make me nervous. Nekonome-sensei would bring me the school newspaper. That's how I got to know your work.
"How you took down all those students. She even told me about the art teacher."
Things were beginning to make a little more sense now. Obviously Mizore was reading those articles as if he had given an interview.
A book was suddenly thrust in his face.
"See? I kept all your articles and put my thoughts on them." She smiled bashfully.
Harry paled as he weakly paged through the various articles the girls had written about him. He didn't realise they had made him so famous.
He was going to have to personally proof read all their articles instead of leaving it to Gin.
Slightly more disturbing was Mizore's 'thoughts'. It was more like a book of love declarations. She'd frequently written 'Potter Mizore' in various forms.
And not the sisterly ones.
"You've always looked out for the underdog." She was saying. "You're so compassionate.
"We're so alike… we must be soul mates!"
Harry was desperately wishing one of the girls was here. A girl that wasn't Mizore. He had no idea how to deal with this… they should have a class about it!
Harry wasn't sure exactly why he had walked with Mizore to the lake. He supposed it was a sense of duty. Maybe he could talk to her and help her see that he wasn't this amazing person she made him out to be.
He was having flashbacks to a red-headed girl with butter on her elbow.
Mizore was now a completely different girl to the apathetic teen that had given her unsolicited opinions on their friendships that morning.
She was laughing happily as she skipped stones across the lake.
"Nine! Did you see that, Harry? I got nine skips!" She was jumping around happily.
Harry gave her a genuine smile. "Pretty impressive. But, I have to get back now."
The smile dropped from her face instantly. "You're going to her aren't you?"
Harry tensed. He could feel the hostility from the girl.
"Don't go. It might not be good for her."
Harry turned and began stalking off.
That's when the ground turned to ice.
He turned back to the girl. "You don't want to do this, Mizore. I thought you wanted to be my friend. This isn't how friends treat each other."
"Friends don't leave each other." She retorted.
"I was going to my Newspaper Club meeting. Tonight I will be going to bed. Tomorrow I will go to classes. None of that means I am abandoning my friends. It just means I am living my life."
Harry now knew what he was up against. A Yuki-onna. A Snow Woman.
He knew they were isolationists. If a man stumbled their way that they took a liking to… they kept him. Choice was not a part of the equation.
Also, they could control the cold. But that should be a given by the name.
"Don't leave me, Harry." Mizore appeared to be genuine and begging.
Harry knew this was how they lured men in, like sirens with sailors. A yuki-onna would play the damsel in distress, lost in cold mountains.
"I never said I was leaving you. I never said you had to leave me. But I am leaving this place. You are welcome to join me, but I won't be a prisoner."
Apparently cold was an element. He didn't find it uncomfortable and he could feel a connection to it when he focused. Of course, he could also feel the control and influence that Mizore had over it.
"No. You will never leave me." She said as hands of ice rose from the ground and grabbed his ankles.
Harry stood there calmly, trying to think about what to do. His discussions with Moka meant he knew he couldn't reveal himself as an Elemental. Miss Nekonome had pointed out that revealing himself as a wizard would increase the attacks against him as the other monsters wouldn't appreciate being bested by something they barely recognised as a monster.
He was going to need to buy a few things.
The ice was travelling up his body, it was thick and clearly meant to hold him in place, but Harry could tell it wouldn't work.
"Mizore-"
"No! We are meant to be together!" She interrupted, her anger was becoming visible. "We are so alike, we are soul mates!"
Harry winced as he thought of Kurumu. "This isn't how soul mates treat each other." The ice was creeping up his chest.
"Harrrry!"
He breathed a sigh of relief as he heard Moka's voice high above him. That meant Kurumu was ok too.
That was the moment he remembered something very important. He knew the obliviate spell.
He scowled at himself as he easily stepped out of the ice. He absently noticed his lower body was now made of ice.
He heard Kurumu and Moka land behind him. Mizore was clearly stunned that Harry was free.
And ice.
"Mizore, if you want to be my friend, then that is fine. I like having friends. But I will never give up all my friends. If you hurt me or my friends again I'll string you up outside the school like we did with all the others who attacked us."
He raised his hand and quickly cast an obliviate to remove the knowledge of how he had freed himself.
"Moka, Kurumu, is Yukari alright?" He asked as he walked to his two friends.
"We think so." Moka nodded breathlessly. "I asked Hedwig to check and let us know if she needed help."
Harry was relieved he didn't see Mizore for the rest of the day. He didn't see her the next day either. Unfortunately, he got dragged into things.
"Why is this my job?" Harry asked irritably.
Miss Nekonome had just asked Moka and himself to find Mizore and make sure she starts attending classes. Apparently she had missed most of the first semester.
"You do remember the School Protection Committee, right Harry-kun?" She smirked.
"Sure, I still have nightmares about killing their leader." Harry said with a grimace.
"Well, they are gone now. You defeated them. So now you are the School Protection Committee.
"Besides, it is your duty as Class President."
Harry grabbed a chair from nearby and sat opposite his teacher. They were actually in the staff room at Miss Nekonome's desk.
"I withdrew my nomination."
"Your fellow students put it back."
Harry growled at the smirking cat woman. "How am I supposed to be the Class President, Club President and create a new School Protection Committee?"
Miss Nekonome turned her chair to face him. "Harry-chan, do you remember the positions that were up for nomination alongside President?"
Harry frowned, not quite sure where this was going. "A vice-president and secretary?"
She nodded. "Two secretaries. What do you think the vice-president does if there is a president? What do you think the duties of the secretaries are?"
"Filing?"
"Harry-chan, you should take these roles of leadership and learn to delegate. Aside from writing articles, what do you do for the Newspaper Club?"
"Threaten Gin with a newspaper?" Harry gave a sheepish grin.
Miss Nekonome smirked as Moka giggled. "Right. And everyone else in your class belongs to a club. You simply need to be available to the vice-president when they need an executive decision.
"As for the School Protection Committee… perhaps you should try and reform the original members. With a proper leader they may be more effective."
"Nekonome-sensei. I need to speak to you about one of your students." They turned to see a tall man, muscular yet not bulky, with sandy, slicked hair. "Shirayuki-san, last night she attacked two boys from my soccer team."
"Kotsubo-sensei, are you sure?" Miss Nekonome asked the Gym teacher.
"She left them near death." He said calmly. "They were gravely wounded. Not only that, but she left them frozen in ice!
"This is the second time her actions have led to dire consequences. In addition to being chronically truant.
"The school doesn't have the resources to handle her. Our only recourse is expulsion."
"You have proof?"
Mr. Kotsubo was taken aback at being questioned by a student. A first year at that. "You are Potter-san, yes? No wonder you are ranked at the bottom of the school rankings." He sneered. "I just said the boys were found encased in ice. Everyone knows that Shirayuki-san is a Yuki-onna."
"I know several students who can achieve the same thing. What specifically points to Shirayuki-san?" Harry pressed.
Mr. Kotsubo growled. "This was found by the boys." He tossed a book on Miss Nekonome's desk.
Harry frowned as he picked it up. "This is her scrap book. She shared it with me. I know she treasures it." Harry looked at Kotsubo carefully. "I also know she would never leave it carelessly lying around. Which suggests to me that it was stolen from her. She probably doesn't even know as she would be on a rampage looking for it."
"I don't have time for your pointless ramblings." Kotsubo snarled. "This isn't the first time she's done this." He turned and stalked off.
"Harry-chan, you need to be careful around Kotsubo-sensei." Moka's eyes narrowed as Miss Kagome approached them. "He is known as a ladies man. He also hounds the students he doesn't like. He has a reputation for getting them expelled."
Harry sighed as he turned back to Miss Nekonome. "You don't plan on trying to kill me or hurt me, do you? Because this will make three teachers I've confronted."
"Harry-chan! I never wanted to kill or hurt you." Miss Kagome said with affront. Then she smirked sultrily at him. "Not in a bad way at least."
Mizore opened the door to her room to see Harry standing there, her book held up.
"You attacked two boys last night, yes or no?" Harry asked bluntly. He had convinced Moka to let him handle this alone.
"I-I-"
"Why?" Harry asked with clear disappointment as he tossed her book to her.
"I don't know." She said her mask of apathy returning. "I was angry and upset."
"So you left them there to die?"
"They were fine when I left." She shrugged as she hugged her book. "I unfroze them and then left."
"You unfroze them?"
"You really think I would hurt innocent bystanders, Harry?" She was hurt.
"You tried to encase me in ice and kill Moka." Harry retorted dryly.
"We are meant to be together… Akashiya was in the way."
Harry knew he wasn't going to win any arguments with her about that. "They are talking about expulsion." He was a mite surprised to see her pale skin turn completely white. "I can probably argue them down from that. But I'll need your word that you won't go around attacking students again if they aren't hurting you."
She nodded shakily.
"Alright. I'll go and talk to Nekonome-sensei. She is concerned about you. Make sure you start attending classes. I can't stop them from expelling you for that."
"Ha- Harry?" He paused at the door. "Was it Kotsubo-sensei? Did he want me expelled?" She asked shakily.
"Yes. He was the one who found the boys." He walked out and closed the door.
"Expelling her for this is wrong." Harry told his teacher firmly as they sat in the staff room at her desk. "I have a fairly long list of individuals who have done things as bad as her and are still here.
"Kuyou murdered people and you didn't expel him!"
Miss Nekonome was clearly upset and agitated. But not with Harry. "I know, but… I'm not very powerful. I can't argue with Kotsubo-sensei."
"Does he have the power to expel Mizore on his own?"
"No, it would have to go before the Chairman."
"Then make sure that when it does, you take myself, Gin, Moka and Kurumu with you. I figure that should be enough power to make an argument."
She sucked in a breath. "Harry-kun, you must be careful." She admonished worriedly. "Taking on students and teachers is one thing… but the Chairman?"
"Nekonome-sensei, do you know what the good thing about facing a Yoko was?" She shook her head. "It made it easy to narrow down the list of monsters capable of beating him… and therefore, beating me. It isn't a long list, and I've been studying."
Miss Nekonome's hand snatched out grabbing his chin. "That's pride, Harry. Arrogance. It is what led to Kuyou's downfall." She warned.
Harry gently took her hand off his face and shook his head. "No, that would be actively challenging these people and believing I can win.
"I am fully aware that I would be lucky to survive those encounters. But, I also know that they will be careful about taking on powerful challengers. Hopefully they will be smart enough to not fight pointless battles.
"They've got far more to lose than me."
Miss Nekonome watched Harry leave, it felt like her heart was breaking for Harry. He truly had no personal sense of self-worth.
Harry was speeding through the air on his new broom, Hedwig perched tightly on the broom handle in front of him as she couldn't keep up. He saw Mizore hanging on to the edge of the cliffs as a large tentacled monster hung from her ankle.
He had asked his familiar to keep an eye on the snow-woman for a few days. Apparently that was a good idea.
Harry dived as Hedwig dropped off the broom. He sent a tickling hex at the monster, causing it to let go. He stopped next to the hanging yuki-onna and helped her onto the broom, side-saddle in front of him. He then flew up and landed several metres away from the cliff edge.
"Are you ok?"
The next thing he knew he had a sobbing girl in his arms.
He stood there for several minutes, just holding her as she cried. But then something wrapped around his neck, suffocating him.
Harry grabbed it and simply cast the Killing Curse.
He was instantly free.
He fell to his knees, sucking in air. As his vision cleared he saw Mr. Kutsubo's face in the middle of a mass of tentacles. He could feel Mizore rubbing his back.
"Haaarrrryyy!"
He choked a laugh as he heard Moka's voice up in the sky. She and Kurumu where instantly at his side.
Harry sat back on the ground, staring at the open and lifeless eyes of the former gym teacher. Tears began to fall down his own cheeks.
"Harry-chan, what's wrong?" Moka asked worriedly.
"Is he hurt still?" Mizore asked. "Kotsubo-sensei was strangling him."
There was a flutter of wings and Hedwig landed in his lap. Harry cried harder as he gently buried his face in her feathers.
Kurumu knelt down next to him and hugged him. "What is wrong?" She asked softly.
"Death." Harry sobbed as he pounded the ground angrily. "People keep trying to kill me… but I'm the one killing."
Whilst Kurumu consoled a distraught Harry, Moka made Mizore help her push the dead gym teacher off the cliff. Harry had eventually stopped crying, even though he was clearly upset. They silently led him back to the school.
As they walked Harry noticed a particular face through his fog of despair.
"Keito!" He called out to the spider-woman. "Get your old uniform and meet me in the classroom."
Keito looked at him with wide-eyes. It was the last thing she would expect to hear from Potter Harry. Then she saw his expression, the darkness and sorrow. She nodded and walked off, wondering what poor bastard had crossed his path and what manner of destruction they had triggered.
They arrived at the classroom to find Gin, Yukari and Miss Nekonome waiting for them.
"You need a new gym teacher." Harry said sullenly.
"Damn, kid." Gin muttered.
"I don't know how we are going to cope." Miss Nekonome whined pitifully. "We already lost the art teacher. We still haven't found a replacement."
Harry rubbed his temples as his headache raged. "Yukari, I need a special favour."
He never noticed the blush on the young girl's face.
"Go and find Rikiishi Chopper and tell him that Potter Harry respectfully requests he meet me here as soon as possible."
"Rikiishi?" She squeaked.
"Be honest, respectful and tell him I sent you and he will treat you well." He assured her with a soft smile.
"I'll go with her." Kurumu said as she led the witch out.
"Gin… what were you planning to do when you left here? When you finish school?"
The werewolf shrugged. "Photography. Hopefully for hot models."
"In the human world?"
"It's not like we have magazines here. Just the school newspaper."
Harry turned to his teacher. "Do all monsters leave here to work in the human world?"
"No, there are communities for some. Shirayuki-san belongs to one for other yuki-onna." She indicated the quiet and subdued snow-girl.
"Well… what would Saizou do?"
"I imagine he would work for his father. He runs a shipping company."
"Between monsters?" Harry asked, confusion clear.
"Monsters, magicals, a lot of low-level monsters will work with humans, if they are good at hiding their true forms."
"What the hell happens if they reveal their monster form to humans? What if Saizou did what he wanted to do and started eating humans?"
"They get destroyed. Put down by people like the school Chairman." She said solemnly.
"No. They send people like me."
They turned to see Chopper Rikiishi standing in the doorway, dwarfing Kurumu and Yukari like a mountain.
He was staring at Miss Nekonome, incredibly serious and out of character. "People like me are employed by people like your Chairman to put down threats to our world's secrecy. Morioka there is also likely to be offered a position." Chopper snorted as he saw the werewolf grimace. "Of course, if the risk is great enough, they'll order you to do it.
"Akashiya… well, her family are on the level of those who employ people like me. But, she might spend a few decades doing my sort of work. Gives experience, builds character."
"But the Chairman is more powerful, right?" Harry asked.
"Kid, when monsters like the Chairman get involved, chances are our secret is out. It's now about ending the threats. It's what the humans call 'apocalyptic'."
"I guess it hasn't happened in a while?"
"Centuries."
"I guess I need to do some more reading."
"I can tell you some stories. My kind prefer spoken history to writing." Chopper shrugged. "Well, you called me here kid, got a problem?"
Harry stood and bowed. "I have just killed the gym teacher."
"Kotsubo? About time someone dealt with him." Chopper chuckled. "He's… He was always particular about his students. He'd never challenge someone like me, Morioka or Akashiya, but he makes sure weaklings drop his classes. Unless they're pretty girls.
"I'm guessing one of yours caught his eye?" He looked meaningfully at Mizore who was being held gently by Moka.
"I caught him in the act of murdering, Shirayuki-san."
"You're gonna be a hero to most of the school." He smirked.
Harry scowled and tried to change the subject. "I asked you here because I was wondering if you would be willing to cover the gym classes until the school finds a new teacher."
Chopper raised an eyebrow. "I'm still a student, Potter. I have my own classes to attend."
"I hope it would only be for a few weeks, tops. It would only be for the more advanced classes. Probably the ones you are already taking.
"They still haven't found a replacement art teacher though."
"Jeeze, kid, I ain't never taught."
"Nekonome-sensei can show you to the gym teacher's desk. There should be some notes or something."
"I can walk you through what is there, Rikiishi-san." Nekonome agreed cautiously.
"Alright. I'll try." Chopper grumbled. "Any other miracles you want me to do?" He asked sarcastically.
"Not at the moment. Kurumu, can you go and find Kagome-sensei and ask her to come here?"
"Sure Harry-chan. Come on Yukari-tan, let's go snake hunting."
Kurumu dragged the scowling young witch out the door, passing Keito as they did. She was standing there in her black SPC uniform and looking extremely sexy to boot.
"Shall we take this somewhere more private, Potter-san?" She asked sultrily as she posed against the doorframe.
"Huh?"
"The kid didn't call you here 'cause he wanted your ass, girl." Chopper sneered. "My guess; he's got a job in mind for you." He walked up to the girl who looked a mite embarrassed. "My advice; do as he says. If he doesn't punish you, I will."
Keito gulped as Rikiishi walked out.
"I thought Harry-chan put an end to your little club?" She jumped at the bored voice of the maths teacher.
"I did." Harry answered. "She's going to be starting it up under our supervision. We'll discuss it later. For now, go and find your former club members and see if they are willing to work with me.
"As an incentive, let them know I just killed the gym teacher."
Keito briefly raised an eyebrow, but then scowled. "It is not a 'club'." She was heard to mutter.
"So, Harry-chan, have you called me here to finally formalise your harem?" Miss Kagome asked as she took a seat, crossing her legs in a manner that gave everyone a good idea of her preferred knickers.
Harry looked at her dumbly. "Harem?"
"You are powerful and have attracted many females. From what Sendo-san mentioned as we walked, you have saved another female's life today. You have defeated myself and Ishigami-san, not to mention the entire swimming club.
"Add to that that you have clearly won the affections of a succubus… unless you want her to die, a harem is the way to go."
Harry sat there staring at the sexy maths teacher. After a few minutes he turned to a blushing Kurumu (although all the females were blushing). "Die?"
"You are Kurono-sans Mate of Destiny." Miss Nekonome said softly. "If a succubus is not loved by their mate, they will die."
"Does it have to be me?"
Kurumu was clearly hurt by the question and burst into tears as she ran from the room.
"Kurumu!"
"Sit down you idiot." Gin snarled as shoved Harry back into his chair. "Yukari, Moka, go and check on her. Make sure she doesn't do anything stupid."
The two girls darted out the door, both sending angry looks at Harry.
"Wow… how did a fuck up like you-"
"Shut up Keito." Harry snapped. "What happened?" He asked Gin.
"You implied that you couldn't willingly love Kurumu." Gin glared. "Idiot."
"I was just curious if she could survive off of the love of family. What about friends, girls who are friends? I've never had a girlfriend! I know Kurumu and Moka like me but I didn't want to hurt them."
"As much as I hate to admit it, Kagome-sensei is right. Either you start a harem or people- women will die. They will go to war for you."
"I've never even been on a date." Harry mumbled, slightly dazed.
"The English newspaper had a picture of you with girl, dancing." Miss Nekonome spoke up.
Harry tried to remember. "The Yule Ball? I guess it was a date. It didn't go very well. I only asked Pavarti because no one else would go with me."
There was a scoff from the lamia in the room. "English girls are stupid." Miss Ririko sneered.
"Everybody thought I was a cheat. That I- " He cast a sideways glance at Keito. "That I was looking for media attention."
"Kid, there's no point hiding that you are a wizard from Keito." Gin sighed.
"A wizard?!" Keito screeched in disbelief.
Gin turned and glared at her. "Yeah, a wizard. A wizard that killed a yoko, a kraken. A wizard that has defeated a monstrel, a werewolf, a gorgon. A wizard that has females drooling for him. A wizard that has clearly made you wet." He tapped his nose.
"Gin!" Harry barked angrily. "Back off." He then turned to Keito. "I'm a wizard. I'm also something else. Kurumu says there is something she can't work out. She hasn't told me if she's solved her curiosity yet.
"But I am also something that most of us know. If you earn my trust I will tell you."
Keito's face softened, she had an eager, pleading look. There was a bit of worry too. She didn't want to miss this opportunity.
"Gin, what's a kraken?" Harry asked.
"Kotsubo-sensei was a kraken. It's probably in your books.
"Now don't change the subject! You need to start responding to those girls or at least one of them is going to actually die."
"Leave it to me, Morioka-san." Miss Kagome smirked. "I believe I can handle this situation. It is why you called me here, no?" She winked at Harry.
Harry blinked before he remembered. "No, actually. I asked you here because I can release Ishigami-san. I want you to work with Nekonome-sensei, Moka, Kurumu and Keito to make sure she stays in line."
She looked distinctly disappointed. "Oh."
"We will deal with Ishigami-san when we are finished here, Harry-kun." Miss Nekonome said firmly.
"Is the chairman eventually going to get involved in the school if I keep having to kill teachers?" Harry asked worriedly.
"Maybe. But like Rikiishi-san said, they will send their enforcers first." She answered.
"And are there any other teachers that might try to kill me?"
"Try, Harry-chan. Try." Miss Kagome smirked. "But I doubt it. Even Kotsubo-sensei wouldn't have tried to take on a Yoko."
"He would if it was trying to kill him." Harry mumbled to himself.
"No, he wouldn't." Miss Nekonome said firmly. "He would have run."
Harry was suddenly yanked out of his chair by his collar and Gin was in his face. "Listen, Potter, the current school power system can wait. You need to go out there and find Kurumu and the others and explain that you are starting a harem and that you want them in it first before people like her." He jabbed a finger at the smirking lamia.
Gin shoved him towards the door.
Harry gave serious consideration to telling Gin to 'sit'. But he just scowled and stomped out.
Finding Kurumu and the others wasn't too hard. After all the times they had been attacked, Yukari had suggested that she and Harry put tracking charms on everyone… just in case.
They were sitting on a bench by the lake.
There was an awkward silence as Moka and Yukari glared at him and Kurumu kept her red, tear-swollen eyes downcast.
"Gin says I need to start a harem." There. Rip the plaster off quick.
Except the glares continued, just with a bit of shock.
"Kurumu needs me. I don't want her to get hurt and I don't want you to get hurt." He told the vampire and witch. "But Gin says I'm going to have all sorts of women after me. Both Keito and Kagome-sensei thought I had called them for… sex stuff." He said awkwardly.
Moka suddenly stood up. She looked like she was in pain. "You need to take my rosary off. Inner Moka is angry and wants out."
Harry knew this was a bad idea. But he also knew that Inner Moka was vicious enough to make Outer Moka hurt just so he would help Outer Moka by releasing her.
He gently took the rosary and… it practically fell into his hand. He dived at Yukari and Kurumu, throwing up a shield to protect them.
As he suspected, Moka's anger was translated into a massive backwash of power that ripped into the ground, tearing the bench up and sending them tumbling.
"You dare think you can just start a harem and not even deign to consult me?" Inner Moka growled angrily as she marched over and tossed the bench into the lake. "You should have come to me first. I should have been your first!"
Harry's mind went blank for a second.
Then he half rebooted and ran Moka's words through his head.
Then he frowned as it didn't make sense.
Then his eyes widened as he realised that Inner Moka was attached to him at the mouth and kissing him vigorously.
He struggled out of her embrace, gasping for breath. "But you hate me!"
"I hate myself more." She said with self-loathing before leaning back in.
"Wait, wait, wait… what is happening? I know Outer Moka likes me, but I thought you hated me because I exist!"
"You need to explain it to him, Moka." Kurumu said sadly. "He honestly doesn't understand."
The vampire glowered at her, but it was half-hearted at best.
She refocused her glare at Harry. "I thought you were a pitiful wizard. Barely more than a human. I hated that I would be forced to associate with you because Outer Moka loved you.
"But you bested me. You made all my strength and speed pointless.
"I could have respected you. I experienced Outer Moka's feelings, muted though they were, and I came to like you.
"But then we discover you are an Elemental! If my father found out he would immediately order your death! He would probably make me carry out the final act if he knew how Moka and I felt about you." She admitted bitterly.
Harry sighed and absently cast a few spells to summon and repair the bench. He then sat down and gestured for the girls to do the same.
"Look, I think you are all beautiful. Even in monster form. Hell, I think Kagome-sensei and Keito are beautiful in monster form too.
"I've never had a girlfriend and I've only had one crush.
"I don't know how relationships work and I have no idea how harems work.
"My feelings about you Moka, are conflicted. I think you are beautiful, but you've never been anything but… well, mean to me.
"But I do know you can be a good person and someone who could be a friend.
"I could easily fall in love with Outer Moka or Kurumu, but I need to get to know you more. I am more than willing so long as I can be with Kurumu, if for no other reason than to make sure she is alive and happy."
Moka nodded with a slow thoughtful frown.
"What about me?"
Harry looked at the young witch who looked a bit hurt at not being mentioned. He smiled softly at her. "I was raised as human and English. You are too young for me at the moment. But that doesn't mean I don't like you, it just means I think you are one of my best friends. You just need to wait a few years until I can think of you as more."
"You'll still be one of his first in the harem. You just don't get to do the fun stuff." Kurumu grinned at the witch.
Yukari blushed deeply.
There was a harrumph from the vampire. They turned to see her snatch the rosary from Harry's hand. "Outer Moka is getting annoying." She said as she placed it back on her collar.
Moka's pink hair returned and she swayed slightly as Inner Moka hadn't drunk Harry's blood before the change.
When she regained her balance she looked up at Harry with a shy smile before dragging him into a long, deep, intimate… and highly inappropriate kiss.
Yukari looked on in awe as Kurumu pouted.
"I can't wait to do that." The little witch sighed.
"At least you can kiss him." The succubus grumbled. Then she stood up suddenly. "Harry-chan, can I ask Hedwig to deliver a letter for me?"
There was a flutter of wings as the aforementioned avian landed on her fellow winged being's shoulder. She perched there proudly.
Harry was finally able to break the kiss and was gasping for air as Moka looked disappointed. He looked blearily at Kurumu. "Erm… sure."