Yay! This bitch of a chapter took a long time to write, but here it is! And many big thanks to Noora, who patiently ruined her mind and body checking all the chapters so far! They have been reposted, and all things you want to complain about are to be addressed to me, as they are the parts I stubbornly refused to change. You will be happy to know, all the commas are now in their right places now. Noora is a heroine.
I', however, still accepting all offers for beta'ing! So if you have spare time, mind and soul, tell me and I'll put it all to good use. The more the merrier!
(Oh and I'm still missing that one review! sniff! I hope it'll come with this chapter, because I reached all the other goals!)
3. Enter the Sensei
Where a surprising Teacher appears and things have to be rearranged
"Good evening, Hally Potter. I am honoured by our meeting," the woman said and bowed slightly. Potter, of course, without any manners had forgotten his tongue under his feet, and Draco had to poke him.
"Ah…urm…Good evening, Mrs…Miss…?" Potter was a hopeless case.
"The honour is ours, madam. I am Draco Malfoy, at your service," Draco took over with his elegant bow, which Potter had the wits to follow. "This is an unexpected pleasure, as Mr. Potter's surprise implies."
"I apologize for my intluding into this gland house, may fortune smile upon it. I have come to fulfil an agleement between the late Dumbledore-san and myself. My name is Kikuta Kaede," came the reply in rapid English. There was a bow again, which was immediately returned. They were saved from further conversation by a blast at the door, which opened. Heavily breathing Order members poured into the room, wands at the ready.
Potter shouted at them to calm them down as a rain of Stunning Spells hit the Asian, who seemed only mildly interested, standing as upright and stiff as before, as though she was sucking the Charms in. The Order members lowered their wands, partly due to Harry's furious commanding and partly due to the obvious futility of their attack. Potter let out a breath, glanced murderously at the now shuffling members and turned to Kikuta Kaede. "I am so sorry, Mrs. Kaede, my friends have grown used to the war and tend to attack before questioning."
The lady only bowed politely to this, causing Potter to bow back. Draco scoffed at his attempts. "Potter, I think it would be better to invite Kikuta-san to continue this discussion in a more suitable place and leave me to my peace," and with that Draco bowed to the stranger and stalked to his bed, sitting on it with his back towards the door. Potter, embarrassed and stammering, followed Draco's suggestion, inviting Kikuta-san to the kitchen downstairs. Why they did not use a drawing room or other respectable room, he did not want to know.
"Thank you, Potter-san, I would gladly come to the kitchen. I wonder, however, if it would be possible for Malfoy-san to come with us." This was even more unexpected than her appearance. Draco turned and saw the Order in a state of full and utter disbelief, half of them having their jaws making acquaintanceship with their ribs. Potter stuttered something, trying to object, but was cut off by a crisp "I insist."
So Draco found himself accompanying half of the Order to the kitchen of Grimmauld Place 12. A grim guard of Order members swept him from his room into a gloomy staircase, down to the entrance hall where Lupin and Longbottom where wrestling with a screeching portrait, and into the basement where the large, warm kitchen was situated. He was elbowed into a chair in the corner, with two Order members keeping a close eye on him.
The room was cluttered with mismatched chairs around a long sturdy table. A large fireplace was warming the room; in this house the saying "the kitchen is the heart of a house" was certainly true. Kikuta-san raised her eyebrows at the chairs and sat herself on one that had a suspiciously Oriental design; Draco was quite sure the chair was not one that was found in the kitchen usually.
The Order began to sit eagerly, but McGonagall came into the room in a hurry and ushered most of them out of the door with the same air she had guided first-years in Hogwarts. Two Weasleys took the places of Draco's guards; one of them was one of the twins, the other had a terribly scarred face and had tied his long hair back. Three other Weasleys lingered too; the mother, Ron, and the second twin, along with Lupin who had apparently finished his wrestle with the hideous woman in the portrait. McGonagall spoke a few quiet words to Lupin, and swept out with a hurry; apparently the Order had other business to attend to.
The door opened again before they had a chance to begin, and Nymphadora Tonks, with ridiculously coloured hair, entered with Granger hurrying after her. Draco stared at the Auror who practically bounced down to Lupin, kissing him on the cheek and informing the others, "Found Hermione at last; she was buried in some monster of a book in the upstairs library." Granger frowned at her but was too busy measuring out the new visitor to comment. "Wotcher, cousin!" Tonks had noticed Draco, waving cheekily at him. Draco dismissed her with a sniff and concentrated on Kikuta Kaede.
Finally the bustle calmed down and all eyes were turned towards the Asian woman. Potter made the initiative; "Err, so you said you are here to fulfil an agreement with Dumbledore?"
"Yes. I leglet to hear of his lecent death," she said bowing once more to Potter. "We were old fliends, and a few yeals back he sent me a letter where he asked me a favour. I have come to offer to tlain you, Hally Potter-san."
The room fell into a stunned silence.
"To train…me?" Potter opened his so-called mouth of a frog farm.
"Dumbledore did not tell you?"
"His death was very sudden and unexpected." A few blaming glares shot at Draco, who huddled on his chair, wondering what he was doing there. "Maybe he forgot he had asked, or he meant to tell me later…"
"Excuse me, but how did Dumbledore contact you?" Granger butted in. "I'm sorry to be wary, but we are in war at the moment."
"By his phoenix," the woman said and poked her hand into her sleeve. Out came a small, ugly chick. "Fawkes!" Potter held an eager hand out and the chick chirped at him. The lady gave it to him and Potter cradled the chick to his chest, where the newborn phoenix peered with its black eyes at everyone in the room. The others gathered around saying their hellos. "I thought he died when he flew to Dumbledore's grave!" Ron Weasley exclaimed.
The herald of this pleasant news waited patiently until the hubbub that seemed to be characteristic to the Order died down. She then silently proffered a scroll to Potter, who took it and glanced through it. "What does it say, Harry?" Lupin asked quietly. "Could you read it out loud?"
"Yes," Potter cleared his throat to get ready to read.
"Not just yet! Malfoy's still there, listening!" Ron Weasley interrupted suddenly.
"I've been listening for long enough that it hardly matters if I hear what the letter says or not," Draco drawled and Lupin nodded in agreement.
"Calm down, Ron." Hermione pulled the boy down next to her.
Harry started reading as if he had not been interrupted:
Dear Kaede,
I hope this letter finds you well; it has been far too long since we met last time. Hogwarts has been keeping me busy as a bumblebee, as you know; education has a large appetite for time. My position of captaining the magical learning of British children has been harrowed by a certain problem recently. Lord Voldemort has been making disturbing appearances, and young Harry Potter has been very much caught in the middle of this activity.
I am starting to fear that the one formerly known as Tom Riddle will return, and though I will do everything I can to prevent this, he is crafty. I therefore have a favour to ask of you. Harry Potter will be a person of vital importance, wanted or not, if a Second War breaks out, and he must have all the help he can. I will in all probability teach him myself eventually, but I have a feeling that a branch of Oriental magic would be helpful. There is a possibility that Harry can manage without your tuition, and I do wish to save you and him the trouble. There is the grim possibility that I will fall in this uprising of the Dark; it is the third I have seen and I am growing old.
If I were to fall, I ask you to take up Harry's training. He is a very powerful young wizard, and I do not have a doubt that you would be able to nourish and prune that budding power into its full glory. The possible downfall of myself is a sad prospect, but it is a prospect we must be ready for.
Think of this, however, Kaede, more of a warning. I will contact you if it becomes evident that your help is needed.
May Fortune smile upon you and your house.
Albus Dumbledore.
PS. I hope you enjoy these Sherbet Lemons Fawkes brings you with this letter. I find them very tasty myself.
Mrs. Weasley sobbed after Potter had finished the letter and the whole room had fallen to a miserable hush. The other twin moved to comfort his mother, and Lupin drew Tonks into a deep embrace. That pair was an unexpected one, Draco thought dryly as he tried to stay above the deep dark waters of remembrance, they must have at least, what, ten years of age difference. It was not uncommon in the wizarding world, but modern times had brought slight changes in the general opinion.
Potter was the first to find his voice. "I accept. I'd be honoured to be trained by you."
"It is my honour, Potter-san. Shall we set the deglees of the applenticeship immediately?"
Granger perked up at this. "What kind of degrees? Is the agreement a variation of the Apprenticeship Charm defined by Phyllis Brahman or is it one of the Ancient ones?" Ever the want-to-know-it-all.
"I do not know if the Blitish Wizalds know of it; it is a tladitional agleement we use in the Academy whenever a student wishes to become an applentice of someone," it seemed to be the first time the lady acknowledged Granger's presence and she seemed intrigued of this new person entering her world.
"Now hold on, I'm sorry, but could we just slow down a little and not jump to hasty decisions?" Lupin woke up from beneath Tonks. "I'm very sorry, madam, but we do not know you and I'm not sure if I'm ready to let Harry enter into an apprenticeship with someone who I know nothing of."
The lean woman showed her feelings for the first time, breaking into flustered bows and started a stream of apologies. "I'm vely solly, I do not know the customs of your countly, and…"
The Order was fully incapable of handling the situation and Draco shuddered at the ignorance they had of etiquette and manners. He stood up before he could stop himself, ignoring the protests the two Weasley guards voiced and drawled at the disorganised group in front of him, "It seems you do not have a clue of what you should do. I suggest that I, with my pureblood training, take over and reorganise this circus so that it is comfortable for your guest."
Potter threw Draco a sudden grateful smile, to which Draco had a sudden inclination of answering with a resembling one, but Draco thought better and nodded in return. Others were leering distrusting, and Weasley, of course, was starting to protest, but Granger grabbed his arm and started talking to him in a quiet voice.
"Kikuta-san, I express apologies for your hosts' impoliteness, and I hope we can forget this unfortunate meeting and start anew. I believe you would like to have a room where you can recover from your long journey," Draco offered with a deep bow.
Kikuta-san smiled with gratitude at Draco and bowed a little lower than before to him, "Thank you kindly, Malfoy-san, I am very glateful for your offer. I accept your apologies and tlust we can discuss this matter again in a more applopliate way."
Draco glanced at Potter who was already discussing with Mrs. Weasley, who after a few more words relented, came forward and bowed a little stiffly. "Good afternoon Kikuta-san, my name is Molly Weasley. If you follow me, please, I will show you your room."
There was no hope that Kikuta-san would receive respectable quarters, but it had to do. Draco turned to find Potter standing awkwardly behind him. "Now Potter, do you have a drawing room in this shack?"
"Err, yes, right here," he said, leading Draco to the first floor room. "It's not in a very good shape; we did manage to get rid of the things living in here, but there hasn't been much time to make it more…pleasant." Draco sniffed at the grey, gloomy room.
"It will have to do. We need some armchairs and a small table arranged as a group, and… do you have any good tea?"
"It's good enough…"
"Show me."
The tea proved to be acceptable. Draco wished he had access to the tea cupboard of the Manor, where every possible type of tea could be found. Kikuta-san was probably used to the Oriental green tea, which was rather mild to British taste, but Draco did not even mention it to Potter, as it would be a hopeless case.
The drawing room was arranged according to Draco's guidance and he concentrated on discussing the attendance of the discussion. Draco would not have the Weasley clan in there again, and rather hoped to have only Potter, Lupin and possibly Granger there; others would only be in the way, and Lupin and Granger would be impossible to stop from coming.
A small argument broke out with Ron Weasley, of course, but the Granger girl seemed to have a quite a strong hold over him and she managed to fight him down. The other Weasleys cleared out huffily and soon Draco found himself sitting in the drawing room with Potter, Lupin and Granger. He massaged his temples slightly, wondering what the hell he was doing there, teaching members of the Order of the Phoenix Oriental etiquette, but swept the wondering away. He had to do something to stay sane, and this was better than staying in his room.
"Before I start giving you a crash course on manners, what the hell was that carnival the Order managed the organise all the bleeding time?"
Lupin smiled rather weakly at him. "A meeting had just ended when the front door - which is usually highly protected and bolted in various ways - opened and revealed this lady, who proceeded quite calmly to ask Dedalus Diggle where a certain Harry Potter-san was. The fool in his utter surprise pointed upstairs, where she probably Apparated --" at this point Granger presented a exasperated sound "-- ignoring the strong anti-Apparation wards on the whole property as she immediately disappeared. The people present were quite shaken at this, and, well… we are rather stressed nowadays and the reaction comes before thought."
"Can't you manage anything without Dumbledore?" Draco quipped and regretted it immediately. Potter only smiled tightly at him.
"It seems we can't."
"Harry, stop that. We are doing well, considering how most of the structure of the Order collapsed with the loss of Dumbledore. Malfoy, I'll have you know that we have done one hell of a job, readjusting and recreating the protections on the Order, organising everyone, recruiting…"
"Alright, alright, Granger, I'm sorry," Draco replied, which shut her up very well, as an apology was not something she expected from Draco Malfoy.
"If we could now concentrate on the matter on hand, I will gladly be filled on the dreadful condition of the Order later," Draco ended the discussion, slightly baffled by the notion that he was hearing all of the Order's problems. A guilt tried to whisper deep in is mind, but he blocked it with iron will.
The basics of the decorum Japanese usually expected were soon understood by the three students of Draco. He was a little baffled by the manner of Kikuta-san, as she clearly understood that the western wizards had their surnames last, but she did not flip her name over like the few Oriental wizards Draco had seen before. She also barged into the house without any problem, but then fell into twitters as soon as she was confronted. Full of suspicious paradoxes, Draco thought, as he placed a pot of tea on the table with small cups, which at least were of the same set and porcelain.
Straightening his poor robes, he suddenly grabbed Potter's arm. "By the way, Potter, could I have some new clothes? I'm rather bored of these by now."
" I think there's something in the big wardrobe…"
"I said new clothes, Potter, something from this decade," Draco sneered at him. A sudden flash went through Potters eyes, which made Draco rather apprehensive of what Potter actually relented to when he agreed readily and called to some witch Draco did not know, who flashed a grin at Draco and tottered off. Draco had no time to think about that, since a cuckoo clock sang the time to be a quarter to eight.
Potter jumped and started to tussle his messy hair even further. Draco rolled his eyes.
"Is anyone going to get Kikuta-san?"
"I'll go," Granger jumped up and marched out of the room. She came back with Kikuta-san soon and shut the door after them. The whole group bowed to each other, exchanged greetings and then proceeded to sit, Granger, Potter and Lupin on one side of the coffee table and Draco and Kikuta-san sitting opposite them.
"I believe you, Kikuta-san, have offered to take Mr. Harry Potter as your apprentice," Drao opened the discussion.
"Yes, indeed. By the agleement we had with Dumbledore-san, I am leady to educate Potter-san in the ways of Oliental Magic."
"Mr. Lupin here," Draco nodded his head at the named, "is anxious about Mr. Potter entering an apprenticeship with someone we do not know very much. I agree that a introduction should first be made."
"I would be glad, Lupin-san. I am Kikuta Kaede of the ancient war mage house of Kikuta. I teach in the Gakuin Mahou, or as it is known here the Oliental Academy of Magic. The tladitions of the Academy go far, and I have been honouled to teach Offensive and Defensive Magic there, for thilty yeals now. I am specialized in Magical Maltial Alts."
"Thank you, Kikuta-san," Draco said when it was evident that the Oriental teacher felt everything needed was said. Lupin then took his turn to question her.
"Which country is this Academy situated in?"
"Cullently in my homecountly, Japan. It was situated in China until the Communist Levolution in the ealy 20th century folced it to flee; the Levolution was vely extensive. But the Academy teaches all childlen willing and capable of Magic in Centlal and Easteln Asia, excluding Nolth Kolea Some students come flom elsewhere, but mainly we have students flom China and Japan."
"So there are other schools in Asia?"
"Yes, vely many, and some in our alea also, but we plide oulselves to be the most extensive educator of whole Asia. We have magical education of any and all blanches of Oliental Magic at our institute."
"How many students do you have in the Academy then?"
"About ten thousand." This caused a silence in the room.
"How are you able to teach so many children?"
"People do not learn more than five or six subjects, and we have apploximately nine hundled teachers. We have vely long tladitions."
"I am sure of it," Lupin stammered.
"Are you now willing to give Hally Potter-san the permission to enter applenticeship?"
"Yes, I think I am satisfied," Lupin said weakly.
"So, Hally Potter-san, are you leady to set the deglees?"
"Yes, I am," Potter affirmed steadily.
"Good. Before we begin, I must warn you that if you learn Oliental Magic, Westeln Magic is something you will mostly not be able to do."
"Excuse me?" Potter stared wide-eyed.
"The theolies on which these main blanches are based ale vely diffelent. I will have to unteach you much of what you have learned until now, so you will be able to master Oliental Magic."
"Err…" Starting from scratch wasn't appealing to Potter.
"Is it necessary? Harry has spent six long years at Hogwarts learning a lot of difficult, important things! Six years' worth of knowledge is a lot to lose!" Granger entered the discussion.
"It is, so that Potter-san can learn the techniques I teach," Kikuta-san replied, saying this rather happily, as if it was not such a big issue as it was to the Western wizards.
"How much will it affect, exactly?" Granger prodded.
"I think I have an article on the effects somewhere." Kikuta-san poked her hand into her sleeves and rummaged. "Here," she said, pulling her arm out with a scroll with miniscule characters. "I am solly, but it is wlitten in the language of Kijutsu, the dialect of all magical people in Asia. I could tlanslate it to you as best as I can."
"Please do." Granger was practically twitching with her eagerness of receiving knowledge from the other side of the world.
Kikuta-san opened the scroll and began to move her hands over the script, uttering quiet mumbling. The scroll's small characters began to rearrange themselves into Roman letters. The others in the room stared, but their amazement was even more evident when the parchment started to cough and mumble to itself, practising English words, "I, you, we, Magic, tlanscliption, movement, kittens…"
Kikuta-san sighed and shook her head, and then bowed in apology. "I am solly, but my skills in tlanslation are not gleat. It will begin leading itself soon."
The others assured her it was fine and the scroll soon began to lecture in a dreary voice, which was surprisingly similar to Binns' except for its difficulties with pronouncing the words. Potter soon stopped listening, but Lupin and especially Granger listened with vigour. Draco managed to decipher that a person who started to study Oriental Magic would not use Western incantations, and would prefer the use of Oriental spell casting and use the equivalent Oriental spells when they needed to do magic. It didn't sound too bad, Draco thought to himself. Granger evidently thought otherwise, as she revealed after the scroll had finished its stumbling monologue.
"So Harry's magical signature would change, and he would have troubles to understand Western Magic, for example some wards would not recognise him?"
"Yes."
"To me those seem rather useful qualities," Draco interrupted.
"You don't see, Malfoy, he might change the whole wards of this house that are locked to him, and it isn't sure if Western Healing Magic would be able to heal him!" That was a good point.
"The wards will survive," Lupin said. "They might actually become stronger."
"How do you know?" Granger cried and a technical argument commenced.
"I'll enter the apprenticeship," Potter said, stopping the quarrel after a few minutes.
"But Harry! What if you would be hit by some deadly curse and no-one could help?"
"If I'll come resistant to Stunning Spells like Kikuta-san, I think it's worth the risk!"
"But, Harry…!"
"It's my choice." Something in Potter's voice stopped all arguments.
"Vely good." Kikuta-san settled the matters. Just as the three Order members were calm again, she drew yet another surprise card from her sleeve. "I have only one condition I want to set. I wish to tlain Malfoy-san alongside Potter-san." Now this was a surprise above all. The Order members were flabbergasted and Draco wasn't too far behind.
"Well," was the only comprehensive word they were able to produce for a while.
"I am not sure if you are aware that Mr. Malfoy is not our guest, but our… how should I say this, in our custody. He has just leaped to our side from the Death Eaters' and we are not ready to give him his wand yet…" Lupin tried to explain, but Kikuta-san was unaffected.
"He will not need a wand."
"But he will learn magic! We do not trust him enough yet!" Granger opposed.
"He is tlustwolthy."
"He is?" The three on the other side of the table sounded as one.
"I certainly am," Draco huffed.
"And we're supposed to trust you?" A squabble was starting to brew.
"He is tlustwolthy. I will vouch for him."
"That is not good enough," Potter voiced in a pained voice suddenly.
"I will set a binding degree to the applenticeship agleement. He will not be able to leave or contact anyone outside this house without pelmission."
"Wouldn't be much of a difference," Draco said quietly. "I agree."
"Vely good. I will set up the agleement." Kikuta-san didn't need anything else and started rummaging her sleeves. The opinions of Lupin, Granger and Potter were ignored and they soon relented sulkily. Kikuta-san set up an incense stick and lit it with a flick of her hand. A pleasant spicy smell filled the room. Granger was practically ripping her robes in her excitement, asking questions about everything, to which Kikuta-san tried to answer with her best capability.
"Give some space, will you, Granger?" Malfoy sneered. "It would probably be easier to set an apprenticeship without a nosy know-it-all poking her ugly nose into everything."
"Shut up, Malfoy," Granger said calmly, but sat back into her armchair and felt her nose.
Kikuta-san started a mumbling chant and drew characters into the smoke of the incense, which solidified in a circle shape. She then drew a character in front of herself and one in front of both Draco and Potter's eyes.
"Do you aglee to enter applenticeship undel me, Hally Potter?"
"Err…yes?"
"Do you aglee to enter applenticeship undel me Dlaco Malfoy?
"Yes."
"So it will be."
The characters flashed a bright light and vanished, and the incense burned out. Draco blinked his eyes, which still stung from the light. Potter was staring at his palm. It had the character imprinted on the skin. Draco noticed he had one too.
"Flom now on, you will call me sensei and I will call you deshi," Kikuta-san told them. "We will begin lessons tomollow. Good night, deshi."
"Good night, sensei," Draco said, followed by Potter. There was a short bowing and then Kikuta-san marched from the room.
"That was amazing," Granger exclaimed, "the use of sigils and the making of the connection! And then the marks on the skin…I wonder!" And she buzzed off somewhere.
"And she's off again," Lupin sighed. Turning on Potter he asked, "Are you all right? How do you feel?"
"Not very different…"Potter said.
"So," Draco drawled, "what shall you do about me now?"
The two Order members looked sharply at him.
"I guess we'll have to suffer you around," Potter commented dryly.
And lastly, Merry Christmas to you all!
