Rukia was upstairs getting ready for bed when Risa stumbled in, face tear-streaked, eyes bloodshot. Rukia took one look at Risa, Katie, Angelina and Alicia hurried over as well.
"Risa," Rukia said. "What happened? What's wrong?"
"I got kicked out of the hospital wing," Risa mumbled. "Amy wouldn't let me stay with Ichigo."
"What's wrong with Ichigo?" Rukia asked guiding Risa down on the bed. "Why is he in the hospital wing?"
Risa told the other girls the story, about how she and Jake had found Ichigo in the hallway and the Bogart.
"Wait," said Katie when Risa was finished. "I don't get it, was the Bogart his mother or…?"
"Ichigo's fear is that he won't be able to protect people," Rukia explained handing Risa a tissue for the umpteenth time. "He also lost his mother at a young age; it kind of goes hand in hand."
"I guess if you don't know what you're dealing with seeing a deceased loved one is kind of a shock," Angelina said sitting on Risa's other side.
"Not like me and Jake made it any better," Risa sighed.
"You got rid of it," Alicia said. "If you didn't the situation would have been a lot worse."
"I just don't know if it was anything else before me and Jake showed up," Risa said. "It must have been, with the way he was shaking."
"Don't beat yourself up over this," Rukia said firmly. "First thing tomorrow me and you will go down to the hospital wing together before breakfast ok?"
Risa smiled slightly and gave Rukia a hug.
"Thank you," she muttered.
Together as promised, Risa and Rukia made their way to the hospital wing. The rest of the school was heading down to breakfast chatting about petty matters. It was a Friday, with clear blue skies and biting cold weather. The team of Soul Reapers had already been here four months, it was already December.
Amy opened the door when Rukia knocked. She broke into a smile and led the two of them inside the ward.
Ichigo was pulling on his cloak and getting ready to leave when Risa and Rukia came in. Upon seeing him all right Risa broke into a sprint and glomped Ichigo with all of her strength.
"Hi Risa," Ichigo said awkwardly. The force of Risa's glomp had thrown him backwards onto the bed with her on top of him. Rukia giggled as she saw them. Amy muttered something to herself and left the room. Rukia left shortly after to give the couple their space.
"You have no idea how worried I was about you last night," Risa said still holding Ichigo. He pulled her into him tighter than she had him, and tucked her head under his chin.
"Amy said it was you who made the Bogart disappear," Ichigo breathed smelling Risa's hair.
"Jake helped," Risa mumbled. "The way you were shaking though…what made you do that?"
"Not being able to protect the people I love," he answered. "Watching them die, seeing them hurt. Then the cold, and the voices…"
"The dementor, it's over now, you're safe that's all that matters."
The holiday season was fast approaching and there was a sense of overall giddiness in the air. The Emmerson twins could be seen linking arms and skipping through the corridors belting Christmas songs at the top of their lungs. A feat Umbridge attempted to put a stop to. Not that they listened of course. Risa even found her spirits up higher, though her and her team would be staying at Hogwarts over the break they would still be together for Christmas.
Two days before the term was about to end, Jake approached Risa with some unwelcome news.
"A snake attacked Fred and George's dad last night," he said darkly. "Them their family and Harry departed last night."
"Attacked by a snake?" Risa asked wondering how the hell Jake knew this. "What the hell?"
"Yeah, that's not all," Jake said pulling Risa into the corner. "I heard from my sources, that your lack of action has caused Yamamoto to send half the team back, and put Byakuya in charge."
"Are you kidding me?" Risa asked. Her eyes were wide and she was both shocked and angry. "This is my mission! He can't do that!"
"He's the soutaichou," Jake told her. "Of course he can."
Risa huffed and rolled her eyes. Jake handed her a slip of paper. Their eyes met for a brief second and Risa considered walking away. Jake wouldn't have it; he stuffed the paper into her hand.
"I suggest you open that," he said calmly. "It's from Byakuya." And he walked away. Risa stood there for a moment before she headed into the girls bathroom down the hall. She locked herself in a stall and unfolded the note.
'Uchimani-taichou,' it read, 'I understand your lie and wait theory. Yamamoto soutaichou does not and has taken your actions for a lack thereof. Half your team has been sent back to the soul Society, members being: Hinamori, Kira, Matsumoto, and Hitsugaya. Zaraki and Ukitake left on their own free will, and thus the sword arts class will be discontinued. Yamamoto also put me in charge of this mission and by such I feel that some changes need to be made. As part of something else headmaster Dumbledore sought it wise to introduce Ukitake, Zaraki and myself to the Order of the Phoenix, I feel you and Emmerson ought to do the same. I expect to see you, konpaku form, at the top of the North Tower. As you both know the current enemy is not Voldemort but Umbridge. Stay wary."
And it was signed by Byakuya Kuchiki. Risa folded up the note and put it in her cloak pocket.
Ten minutes later she found herself at Byakuya's office, knocking on the door. The captain's face when he opened it wasn't pleased.
"What the hell?" Risa asked brandishing the note in Byakuya's face. "Seriously what the hell?"
"I see you read my note," Byakuya said leading her into the office and closing the door. Risa faced him nearly fuming.
"Lie and wait has been my strategy since day one! I put my team together and now he breaks it apart?"
Byakuya looked at her and shook his head.
"Like the letter says, you and Emmerson will meet the Order and we'll see how it goes from there."
Risa nodded and left the office.