It was interesting how quickly things changed. Around the start of summer, Harry would've instantaneously told anyone willing to listen just how utter boring life was like at Privet Drive. His so-called family was miserable, the days were so monotonous, and the lack of contact with friends was torturous.

Then one day that all changed, due to a single letter from someone Harry honestly wished he'd known about sooner. Shuuichi was amazing. Of course, there was a lack of proper competition for Harry to compare him against – even if Shuuichi had been an utter slob, he still would've been amazing compared to the Dursleys – but that seemed like the best way to describe him. Somehow, from the redhead's arrival, something of the Dursley family sudden changed overnight. There was something odd going on with Aunt Petunia. The woman drifted around in the house lately, spying on him and his cousin from the corner of her eyes. She seemed … contemplative, which was weird, but whatever.

Whether or not Shuuichi was the cause, Harry couldn't say. However, clearly Shuuichi's presence had done something to his Aunt because it started the day after the other teen arrived. Maybe it was Shuuichi's appearance. Harry had to be a fool not to notice the unusual resemblance between his mother and Shuuichi. In the quick second after Shuuichi crossed the door and Harry caught his first glimpse of his appearance, Harry had been furious, suddenly struck with the thought that his mother had another child.

Then logic kicked away that stupid thought, and he was left wondering what Shuuichi's mother looked like, and what sort of man James was (because, really, if by chance Shuuichi's mother looked like Shuuichi, then didn't that mean James fell for Lily because she reminded him of family?). Or perhaps a certain taste in partners ran in the family if both his father and Shuuichi's mother had fallen in love with redheads.

Of course, then again, Shuuichi's mother was apparently adopted into the Potter family. This lead to a whole heap of other questions, mainly: why didn't Dumbledore tell him about her? Surely the headmaster had to have known. True that wouldn't have affect where he lived during the summers (stupid blood protection worked only with blood relatives of Lily), but it would've been nice to know he had more living relative than just the Dursleys.

Of course, then again, Shuuichi's family never tried to keep in touch with him either - the utter lack of letters sent to him was telling. The only consolation Harry had of that fact was the convenient excuse from Shuuichi that his family had apparently thought Harry was the one to cut them off. Lie or not, Harry couldn't tell. But, clearly the Minamino family had at least been keeping an eye out for contact from Harry, if they knew where he lived (seeing as Shuuishi's advisor somehow got the Dursely's address).

And if that was a lie, Harry still bet it wasn't Shuuichi's fault for not keeping in touch. The other teen's mother had likely done so to keep the redhead away from the wizarding world. Harry didn't know much about the woman, but fact that Shuuichi didn't react towards Harry's famous scar, that had to mean he was truly ignorant of the wizarding world. Witches rarely lived convincing lives in the muggle world, so Shuuichi's mother had to be either a muggle or squib. The fact that Potters mainly dwelled in the wizarding world meant that she had be a squib at the very least. Harry knew quite well how some wizarding families, the prejudice bigots that they were, treated squibs. If the woman had deliberately tried to cut herself off from the wizarding world, going as far as keeping her son away from Harry, Harry supposed he couldn't fault her.

Still, whatever the reason for their lack of prior communication, the Shuuichi that Harry knew now was a nice enough bloke. Mysterious to the boot too. There was a certain air around the other teen that subconsciously awed Harry. Maybe it was his graceful movements, or the serene way he regarded everything, or even the sly look deep in his emerald green eyes, but Harry knew there was so much more to Shuuichi he still had yet to see.

Harry supposed there was a little bit of him that just ached to know what Shuuichi was hiding behind his mysterious demeanor – let it be known Harry didn't do well with not knowing things.

(But heck, it wasn't his fault he was constantly lied to, or uninformed of important information for his own sake, apparently. So, really, it was the fault of all the over-protective adults and professors around him that made him this way.)

Still, no matter how much Harry tried, getting past Shuuichi was impossible (not that he tried too hard. Yes, he knew what subtlety was, thank you very much). The thing was, whenever Harry asked his cousin a question that was a little too private, Shuuichi would answer him … but then only hours later would he realise Shuuichi gave him absolutely nothing. The redhead was talented at misleading him, giving him unrelated facts that Harry never realised was drivel until he thought back on the conversation. Some days Harry wondered if it was a culture thing, or if there was some sort of language barrier that was getting in the way.

Or maybe Shuuichi was just that damned sneaky.

It had been nearly a months since Shuuichi's arrival in the Dursely household, and Harry doubt he managed to pull any sort of secret Shuuichi may or may not have been hiding from him behind that mysterious demeanor of Shuuichi's.

Not that Harry could say anything about it, seeing as he was keeping a rather large one from his cousin as well – an extremely large secret in fact, seeing as it was about his whole life and existence. But at least for Harry's case he could say it wasn't because he didn't want to tell; there was a law in place, and he knew better than to try to squirm around it.

If Harry could have his way, he reckoned he would've told Shuuichi. There was a feeling inside of him, akin to guilt, every time Harry had to slam a textbook shut or throw his half-written essays under his bed whenever Shuuichi walked by. He hated having to fumble answering the most innocent of questions from Shuuichi whenever the teen caught a glimpse of something he shouldn't have. He hated having to hide Hedwig's abilities from Shuuichi, telling the redhead she was only his pet and nothing more.

The more mischievous side of Harry had other reasons for wanting to tell Shuuichi. He wanted to see how the redhead would react to those sudden words of "I'm a wizard!". He wanted to see the face Shuuichi would make. Would the teen accept it, or would Harry get a lecture on the nonsense of fantasy novels? Would Shuuichi humour him and play along, thinking Harry was acting for fun?

Harry really wanted to know how Shuuichi's mind worked.

With a sigh, Harry looked over at his cousin once more. Presently, Shuuichi was sitting by the window, looking like he'd claimed it as his own territory (Hedwig didn't mind the compay), and reading a Japanese book.

Harry himself had given up trying to guess what Shuuichi's book was about, Japanese looking like nothing more than swiggles to him, and was spread out on his bed with a pen and piece of scrap paper by his side. In point form, in words that looked more like scribbles than English, Harry tried to write an outline for his potions essay. Shuuichi wasn't a nosy one, but Harry wasn't taking any chances, trying to write as illegibly as possible while still being able to read his own writing himself. Later on, he'd have to properly rewrite the essay, but it would do for now.

Still, writing it was hard work, and that had nothing to do with perfecting his chicken scratch. The problem was, Harry didn't dare to bring out his textbooks, knowing that if Shuuichi was anything like Hermione, he wouldn't be able to resist asking to take a peek at one. There was no way he could talk himself out of that one. So, that meant harder work for him. Honestly, Harry couldn't even remember the difference between moonshold and wormwood. They were plants, right?

It was going to be a long day.

Kurama was somewhat amused. Sitting on the ledge of the window in Harry's room, Kurama paged through the book Koenma had thrown at him when their meeting had been over. The book, actually, was an introductory history to the wizarding world. It had a brief section on Hogwarts, and a whole two chapters dedicated to the wonders of his cousin Harry.

No doubt facts on the boy-who-lived were embellished, written solely to satisfy the masses wishing to see the boy as someone he really wasn't. Kurama had courteously glanced through those few pages, but on a whole, skipped it all. He was certain he could learn more about Harry by being around the boy than any description a book could give him. The boy's history intrigued Shuuichi, but he knew better then to put too much faith into the minor details.

It was only a couple pages in that Shuuichi found out wizards had moving pictures of all things. Thankfully, that was found out through the text, rather than any moving pictures within the book. Turned out Koenma either found a book that didn't move, or he found a way to disable the movements of the photos within.

The more Kurama read, the more awed he was at the wizarding world. In addition to all sorts of fanatical objects, they also had such amazing jobs – or at least more so than what the 'muggles' had. It wasn't too surprising; considering how much more wizards could do, the possibility of jobs were endless. But what really caught Kurama's attention was the wizards' knowledge of the existence of demons. There was a short section, buried within the lengthy details of other, more exciting jobs, that listed the words Demon Hunter in a way that looked like it had been added in as an afterthought. Clearly demons were acknowledged to exist, but their existence was not feared as much as they should be. Or, perhaps, the Spirit Barrier, and Detectives of the Spirit World had been doing their jobs properly to keep the human safe and utter ignorant of the true horrors of demons.

Nevertheless, it seemed the Demon Hunters of the wizarding world, though few and far between, were supposedly the best at their jobs. They were considered strong to be granted the title of Demon Hunter as their profession, having slayed at least one demon in their lifetime.

Kurama was certain the book's boastings for their undefeated kill rate was more than exaggerated, but he couldn't help the upward twitch on the corner of his lip. Deep, deep within him, Youko gave a howling laugh, spur on by the challenge the text inadvertently gave. Should he encounter one during his mission, they would surely be a hinder, but something told him it was also going to be fun outwitting the fools.

Did they really think they could ever hold up against true demons, those silly humans?

Shaking his head clear from Youko's thoughts, Kurama continued to leaf through the book, memorizing facts as he went along. In the corner of his mind, he wondered how Yusuke was going to handle it. He wasn't the type to start reading or remembering facts anytime soon, that Detective. At least Hiei had a good memory for these things (and other tricks to help him seem as though he knew what he was doing). Perhaps if Kuwabara came along, the delinquent would provoke Yusuke into putting more into this mission, driving Yusuke to work harder through their shared rivary. It was a shame Kuwabara wasn't part of the mission. Not that it was a bad thing he was working so hard for a better future. Kuwabara seemed very keen on getting into a good university, and with his sister's encouragement, he was doing a marvelous job so far.

Kurama gave an inaudible sigh and stared out the window, closing his book at the same time. He let his mind wander. What upset Shuuichi was his mother's mysterious past. Kurama liked to think his mother had always been open to him, but his lack of knowledge about her and the wizarding world she used to live in, proved otherwise. If Kurama recalled hard enough, he could vaguely recall something about Shiori mentioning she was adopted, but that was it. She'd never mentioned any Potter family, or any possible magical powers she may or may not have. It struck Kurama so suddenly how little he actually knew about his mother. Or his step-family, now that he thought about it.

Not that Kurama had time to dwell on those facts anytime soon. His mission was almost at a start now, and he couldn't lose his focus on Harry and his school – there was only three more weeks before the start of a new term.

Between dealing with the responsibility of dealing with Voldemort; the death of his family, friends, and godfather; and all those death defying adventures Kurama heard was littered throughout Harry's school year, Kurama knew it was better if the teen didn't have any more on his plate. That was why Kurama appreciated how Koenma had dispatched the Spirit Detectives at even the hint of the possibility of demons attacking Hogwarts.

It was the Spirit World's duty to keep demons away from the human world. Harry would crack if he had to handle them as well, on top of everything else.

The sound of fluttering wings suddenly caught Kurama's attention. He instinctively turned towards the Snowy Owl perched on the stand beside him. Hedwig, in turn, stood motionless, only cocking her head at him as if wondering about his sudden interest in her. The source of the flutter sounds was soon corrected when screaming and colourful swearing echoing throughout the house from the floor below.

Kurama hopped down from his seat, hesitating for a moment to stretch out his senses and to see what Harry would do. His senses detected no youki, nor any threat, so when Harry dashed off to find the source of the commotion, Kurama followed behind at a sedated pace. Any lingering worry that Kurama may have had was quickly erased when Vernon roared out the problem with his face bloating into a dangerous shade of purple.

"Boy! Get down here and get that ruddy owl away before the neighbours see. You and your bloody lot need to be taught some manners! Uncivilized, the whole lot of you!"

Kurama hover by the bottom steps of the stairs, wondering if he should pretend he didn't hear anything.

Petunia was trying to calm down her husband while Harry snatched the letter off the school owl, wondering what the Headmaster wanted. When he flipped the envelope right-side-up, Harry proceeded to rub his eyes before attempting to read it again. With an inelegant, "Uhhh," Harry made Kurama's decision for him. "Shuuichi, it's for you."

Kurama strode out from where he was hidden, receiving the letter with an acceptable air of confusion and curiosity. "Thank you, Harry," Kurama said, while his Aunt and Uncle gawked at the exchanged letter and wondered what the world was coming to.

The silence didn't last as Vernon quickly snapped out of his stupor, his face exploding into an odd shade of blue. "You too?!" he hissed out in a snarl, "We've been housing another one of your kind in our house? We're not a bloody circus!" he spat furiously, "Get back to your room!"

Petunia shuffled around her husband, murmuring calming words, before looking back at the two emerald eyed boys. "Harry, Shuuichi, go back up to your room," she said warningly, glancing at the sputtering Vernon. Kurama dipped his head into a nod, knowing it was best to let the older man cool without their presence constantly raising his blood pressure every second.

Kurama broke the wax seal off the envelope as he ascended the stairs, reading as he walked.

In spidery green writing, the letter read:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Dear Mr. Minamino,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We at Hogwarts apologise to the lateness at realizing your wizarding abilities. We hope that you will be able to catch up with the lost six years during your time in Hogwarts, and our staff will be more than happy to help if required. Due to this certain circumstance, you will be put in the sixth year class instead of the seventh. For further questions about the wizarding world, or Hogwarts, please direct them to your cousin, Mr. Harry Potter. I am certain he will be most pleased to help you.

Term begins on September 1. Please obtain the list on necessary books and equipment for Mr. Potter again. I have informed the Weasleys that you will be accompanying Mr. Potter for his visit there before the start of the school year. Obtain your school material then.

Yours sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore,

Headmaster,

(Order of Merlin, First class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Surpreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Kurama was about to return the letter back in the envelope, when something flashed on the bottom of them page.

PS. Read second letter in the envelope privately.

With that, the sentence disappeared from sight.

…

"So what does the letter say?" asked Harry, beside him, when the two of them finally slipped into the sanctuary of Harry's bedroom.

Kurama played his part as a clueless teenager, only just receiving his acceptance letter to Hogwarts. "Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardly?" he asked with just the right amount of ridicule in his tone. The redhead pointed at the letter, arching an eyebrow at his cousin.

Harry was quick to correct him. "No! It's real, I swear!" He fumbled around his bed, before pulling out a textbook he had hidden away earlier that week. "See, this is a one of my course books. It's real. Basically, you're a wizard so you can do magic!"

Kurama hummed thoughtfully, with lingering skepticism, even as he accepted the textbook and flipped through it.

Harry cringed, hating how he couldn't show his cousin real magic. "Students aren't allowed magic outside of school, but," Harry leaned in as he reread the letter Shuuichi was showing him, brightening up, "it says you're coming to the Burrow with me, so maybe the Weasleys will show you some!"

"Weasleys?" Kurama asked.

Harry nodded. "My best mate, Ron Weasley. He invited me to stay with his family a few weeks before school starts." Kurama nodded in understanding, but otherwise stayed quiet. Harry took his silence as an opportunity to rant about all he knew about the wizarding world, trying to familiarise Shuuichi before he was thrown head-first into the whole thing. Kurama listened, feigning interest. He knew most of what Harry was trying to explain already, courtesy of the book from Koenma.

Harry paused, suddenly hit with a thought. "I think you might want to pack up. The Weasleys are picking us up in a few days, actually."

"I hope I'm not too much trouble for them."

Harry gave a laugh because no one was more trouble that the Weasley twins, and Mr and Mrs Weasley seemed to be handling them just fine. A moment later, Harry frown, struck with yet another realization. "What's going to happen with your other school? The one you applied for?"

Kurama shook his head. "Nothing for you to worry about. I can handle it," the redhead said. In truth, there was no other school, but Harry didn't need to know that.

"Professor Dumbledore, the Headmaster, could help," Harry supplied helpfully, still looking worried for his cousin's (non-existent) plight. "If he obliviate their minds for you - wipe their memories – no one will know you were supposed to show up."

Kurama nodded with a smile. "I see. I'll talk about it with him then," he said.

"I can send the Headmaster a letter for you," Harry offered.

Kurama smiled warmly, but shook his head. "Honestly, Harry, please don't worry about it. I handle everything," he insisted projecting gentle stubbornness in his tone.

Harry frown, but eventually relented in defeat when it was clear Kurama was not about to change his mind any time soon. "Well, I reckon we should pack, then?" he said. At Kurama's nod, Harry headed for the door. "Most of my things are actually in the cupboard under the stairs; I'll be back in a sec."

"Take your time," Kurama called out at Harry's retreating back, discreetly reaching for the envelope he'd placed on the desk. "I'm not going anywhere." When Harry was out of sight did Kurama unfold the second letter within.

It read:

Dear Shuichi Minamino,

Hopefully, you have taken this letter out second. If not, please return it back in the envelope, and reach for the other one. Thank you.

Mr. Shuichi Minamino, I welcome you to Hogwarts on behalf of my staff-members. An old friend, Genkai, recently dropped by with the Prince of the Afterlife. They told me of some horrifying news about the possible threat of demons joining in our wizarding war. I was told by the Prince that his Spirit Detectives (you, and two others) would be willing to help to protect our school from them. I thank you on Hogwart's behalf, and will be pleased to help you (as the kids say,) blend in with the crowd. I understand that you Spirit Detectives have a different form of magic. Lord Koenma has gone over with Ollivander, our local wand maker, with details of this problem. All you need to do is drop by, and he'll fix you up a wand.

I do hope that the possible threat soon to occur, as well as your duty to protect the school, will remain a secret among the other students to avoid unnecessary fears. Our teachers will not be informed either, and it would be a shame if they found reason to be suspicious of you.

Please stand clear as the letter erupts in flames.

Yours sincerely,

Headmaster Dumbledore.

As the letter indeed started burning, Kurama opened the window and held a hand out, watching as the letter turned into ash, drifting off into the distance with the wind. The redhead mused quietly at the implications of the letter. It seemed the Spirit Detectives were solely on their own – they would have to hide from both enemy and friend (with the sole exception of the Headmaster). And even then, just how much exactly did Dumbledore know?

Harry was back in the room not a second later, arms hefting a large, bulky trunk. "Let's pack!" the raven-haired teen said cheerfully, never knowing the contemplative thoughts whirling in Kurama's head.

Kurama smiled. "Of course," the redhead replied simply. He wasn't about to tell him anytime soon.

Really, like everything else, only time would tell how things would go.