CHAPTER 8:

THE INNER GRIMM

"So, you have an arena?" Harry asked, looking around at the room he had been led to. It was like a small amphitheatre, only with elements of a classroom, complete with whiteboard and a TV screen.

Goodwitch nodded. "While the main task of Hunters is to fight the Grimm, they are also sent as fighters against rogue Hunters, criminals that the local police have trouble with, terrorists like what the White Fang has become or the Jaegers…so Hunters do need to learn how to fight other people. Professor Port also has an arena in his classroom, allowing students to fight Grimm he has captured. Usually a Beowolf or a Boarbatusk. For all the man's bombast, he is an expert at capturing Grimm alive."

"He's also a great cure for insomnia," Qrow snarked. "He could bore for Vale if they ever made boring speeches part of the Vytal Festival Tournament. And if Grimm were capable of being bored to death, then Jimmy could weaponise it and…"

"Yes, Qrow, you've made your point," Ozpin said, sipping from his mug of hot chocolate. "Port's anecdotes are useful, one just has to patiently sift through the superfluous parts to find the nuggets of wisdom. However, I will tell James of your novel idea. In any case, I brought you here because, well, I wanted to see your part-Grimm form for myself if I could. It's between semesters, and the students who wish to go home and are able to have done so, so there's less chance of someone seeing something they shouldn't."

Harry shot Ozpin a look. "Really?" he asked, rather flatly.

"Yes, I must share his apprehension," Goodwitch said. "That sounds appallingly dangerous."

"Dangerous, yes, though appallingly so…while Qrow only witnessed a brief period of your transformation, Harry, what he related does raise some interesting points. Grimm generally lack intelligence, save for those that survive long enough to gain it, but they lack sentience, a self-awareness beyond the bare basics. And yet, Harry, in defending himself against Remus Lupin when he was transformed, ensured that the injuries he inflicted were only enough to knock Lupin out. He also recognised allies, and could converse with them."

Harry shot Qrow a glare, before he turned back to Ozpin. "The thing is…I've only really done it twice now. Well, three times, really, but…it's…there've been times when I wanted to change…but didn't. Because I was afraid of what they'd think of me. That got even worse during my second year at Hogwarts. I found out I could talk to snakes, and everyone treated me like I was Voldemort's son and heir. The first time I did it…it was to save my friend Hermione from a troll. I was already in a foul mood because they were celebrating the death of my parents…well, not exactly, but that's what it felt like. Long story short, we stupidly went in to save Hermione from a troll, only for Ron to get knocked out with broken ribs into the bargain, Hermione about to get turned into jam, and…that's when I snapped. I tore the troll apart with my bare hands. Hermione saw the whole thing, and…well, I didn't really deserve her making up a cover story about accidental magic. I hadn't really stood up for her when Ron made some nasty remarks."

"And the other two times?" Qrow asked.

"The next time was when Snape threatened Remus," Harry said quietly. "I was still up in the air about Sirius, but Remus…I already knew he was a werewolf. That caused me to transform, Snape's threats, and when he threatened me…I acted. Given what he did later, I should have gutted the greasy-haired bastard. Then again, putting him through a wall broke an arm and several ribs. I reverted, but I was on edge the entire time, and when Remus transformed and Pettigrew escaped…well, that's when Qrow came on the scene, with Raven."

Ozpin nodded. "Interesting. So even while under the influence of this inner Grimm, you retain enough vestiges of yourself to restrain your attacks. I wonder…are you capable of transforming voluntarily?"

Harry was struck dumb by the question. He'd never even considered it. Because, frankly, he was terrified of losing control. In truth, despite transforming only a couple of times, he was afraid of it. He very nearly lost control while facing Quirrelmort…only for something else, the Silver Eyes apparently, to happen instead.

"Well, how about it, then?" Qrow asked in his drunken drawl. "You've got issues with me, we're in an arena…if you let the Grimm out of the bottle, I'll let you try to give me a cathartic beating."

"You're one to talk about bottles. Even that walrus I was forced to call an uncle didn't drink that much," Harry snarked.

"Harry…" Ozpin said quietly. "Perhaps before we go any further, we should try unlocking your Aura. Yours does seem partially unlocked to a degree, probably due to either the Silver Eyes or your Grimm form. Or maybe that is what defines mages in your world, those with partially or fully-unlocked Aura."

"…Okay, go ahead," Harry said.

Ozpin walked over, and put his hand on Harry's shoulder. Harry could feel something brush up against him, a power that seemed to be reaching into him gently. "For it is in passing that we achieve immortality," Ozpin intoned, "through this we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all. Infinite in distance and unbound by death, I release your soul, and by my shoulder, protect thee."

The surge of energy from within took Harry by surprise, and he staggered back from Ozpin when the ancient man released him. Ozpin himself was blinking in surprise. "My word…you certainly have a higher Aura than the norm, Harry. Not the greatest I have seen, but certainly stronger than most. Certainly more than someone not trained at an academy prior."

"I presume that's a good thing?" Harry asked.

"Mostly," Goodwitch said. "Large reserves of Aura are good for using it for defence. The longer your Aura reserves hold out, the longer you are protected from injury. Of course, it takes time for one to be able to use it as a shield instinctively. The larger your Aura reserves are, the longer or more frequently you can use your Semblance as well. Consider my own Semblance, Telekinesis. The larger my Aura reserves, the longer I can sustain my hold over objects, or the heavier the objects I can lift."

"Or take Yang," Qrow said. "Her Semblance is about taking damage and dishing it back out, so the more Aura she has, the better she's able to keep it up. Ruby could sustain her high speed for longer, or go faster."

"Of course, some Semblances aren't restricted to Aura reserves, only that you need a certain amount to use them in the first place," Ozpin said. "Your mother and your aunt, for example, only need enough Aura to teleport or create portals in the first place, but the distance travelled, to my knowledge, has little effect. Your uncle Hazel's Semblance allows him to block his pain receptors, and he used that to his advantage, directly implanting Dust crystals into his body to enhance his strength and imbue his attacks with elemental properties."

"Yeah, that was pretty painful to watch him do that," Qrow said with a wince. "He'd actually stab the crystals right into his arms. Ouch."

Harry winced at the thought. He was glad he didn't get a Semblance like that. Not being able to feel pain would have helped, admittedly. Then again, was the one he had any better?

"Yes, quite," Ozpin said, clearing his throat. "Some Semblances are passive, always present, like Qrow's misfortune Semblance. I have also heard of a student at Sanctum Academy who is able to absorb electrical energy and convert it into strength. But enough of that. I'd like to see your inner Grimm, as it were, in action."

"Sorry, are you senile or something?" Harry asked. As Goodwitch gasped in shock, and Qrow snickered, Harry added, "Look, you're centuries old, and I'm just saying…"

Ozpin laughed. "It's not the first time I have been accused of such things, and I doubt it'll be the last. But…" His expression dissolved into shock when Qrow, rolling his eyes, did a leg sweep, knocking Harry onto his arse. "Qrow!"

"Got bored. If you're gonna let the genie out of the bottle, I don't think you're gonna coax it out," Qrow said.

Harry felt the surge of darkness from within, a too familiar surge by this point. Buoyed by the anger he felt towards Qrow, he grinned, as he transformed, his magic causing his Scroll to start playing a piece of music, beginning with ominous organ music and distorted vocals.

Crazy Scary Holy Fantasy,

Akumu no arisama wa (The kind of nightmare this will be).

Do what? Do what? Do what you want to!

Akui no souzou shidai (All depends on my wicked imagination)…

"Be careful what you wish for, Sperm Donor," he said, his voice warping and flanging. "Because you might just get it!"

Ozpin couldn't help but take a couple of startled steps back. To hear about it from Qrow was one thing, but to see it in action was another. Harry's skin and hair paled, bone seemed to burst from one side of his face, forming a Grimm-like mask over that side. His posture, once he had leapt agilely back to his feet, was considerably more hunched and bestial. The exposed part of his face looked so much like Salem, if she was a teenaged boy, albeit with none of her serene cruelty, and more of an animalistic deranged glee.

But that was superficial compared to what Ozpin felt. Harry was now a beacon of negative emotion. It was like being close to a bonfire…no, a burning building. He didn't know how far this influence reached, and he could only hope that none of the Grimm in the Emerald Forest or immediately outside Vale were not affected. The last thing they needed to do was to get them excited, more aggressive, than they already were.

And yet, even as his senses were nearly overwhelmed by the darkness, Ozpin realised that there was more to the negative emotion. It wasn't pure darkness, just a darkness that had some light within. And what was more, he could still sense Harry's Aura. Grimm were utterly soulless, though Salem was an exception in many regards. Oh, there was still malice and darkness, but Harry was not exuding killing intent…though Ozpin wondered whether this was any better for Qrow.

It's like a game of Peek-a-Boo,

Asobi ni mo tarinai! (That I'm still not tired of playing!)

Nothing to do, just killing time,

Yoka a mitasu satsui (Murderous intent filling each spare minute).

Qrow shrugged. "Okay, so, I'm gonna…" That was as far as he got, before Harry suddenly flickered and vanished, only for Qrow to fall down and smack his head on the floor when his tattered cape was sharply yanked.

"Ooh, gravity, thou art a heartless bitch!" Harry howled with glee, letting go of Qrow's cape. "Hey, let's polish the floor with a Qrow-feather duster!" He grabbed Qrow's leg, and began running around the arena, cackling. Qrow merely sent a Dust round from Harbinger into Harry's back, sending him sprawling. As Qrow got to his feet, Harry got to his feet, rubbing back. "Okay, that hurt. But do you use that to compensate for the size of your COCK?!"

Nakisakebi osoreoneki nigedashi (Until I cried aloud, trembled in fear and fled…)

Hirefusu made wa yoteichouwa (Fell to my knees, everything was in pre-set harmony…)

Akakusome ta te o furimidashi (As my red-stained hands flail through the air,)

Nani o egakou ka. (What image shall I depict?)

"Bite me," Qrow said, dodging around Harry as the two combatants closed the distance. Now that the element of surprise was lost, he was better able to keep up with Harry, even when he tried to use what seemed to be either teleportation, or bursts of extremely fast speed. Even the red spells that Harry shot at him were deflected with Harbinger.

Still, Harry was acquitting himself fairly well. Qrow was, admittedly, holding back somewhat: as much as Harry's inner Grimm gave him a boost in his strength, speed, and general ability, his fighting style was very simplistic and animalistic. While unpredictable, it was also messy, and left openings that Qrow could, and take, advantage of.

Calling, calling, you're calling me?

Hello, hello, sekai ni gyakutsu o! (This world's asking for a massacre!)

But soon, Harry seemed to tire of playing around, and lunged at Qrow, only for the seasoned hunter to redirect his charge, and send him speeding into a wall.

Crazy Scary Holy Fantasy,

Akumu no arisama wa (The kind of nightmare this will be).

Do what? Do what? Do what you want to!

Akui no souzou shidai (All depends on my wicked imagination)!

Harry tried to get up, only for him to sag to the ground. His features reverted to normal. Qrow shrugged, walking over. "Well, there you go. A good workout, really. You okay there, Harry?"

Suddenly, Harry looked up and pointed a hand at him, a red jet of light smacking into Qrow, and sending him skidding along the floor, dazed. Harry, shakily, got up. "Wanker," he muttered, panting heavily.

Goodwitch, who seemed to have recovered from her experience at being close to a human Grimm, remarked, "Young man, your language leaves a lot to be desired."

He looked at her flatly. "He provoked me into trying to attack him, and you're taking issue with my language? Weren't you remotely worried I could have lost control?"

Ozpin said, "To some degree…and to be frank, Qrow's method of doing so was too dangerous, akin to drop-kicking an open box filled with Fire Dust. But…I noted a number of things. Sadly, Harry, that inner Grimm seems to be your Semblance. But…you still have an Aura while transformed. What was more, despite the rather wild nature of your attacks, I didn't sense that myself or Professor Goodwitch were in any substantial danger whatsoever."

Qrow got to his feet, staggering a little from a brain addled by both alcohol and whatever spell Harry hit him with. "I'll give him that much…one thing you do when you're in a fight to the death…you fight dirty," Qrow slurred. He then gave a shaky grin and an equally shaky thumbs-up. "Kudos."

"A bit late for any paternal pride," Harry snarked back. He then looked back over at Ozpin. "So…you're still willing to have me trained?"

"Of course," Ozpin said. "A better question is, Harry Potter…do you still want to be a Huntsman? Despite what your Semblance would mean. Despite the hatred it may draw. Despite the danger you will be in from Salem when she realises who and what you are. Despite all that, you wish to do this?"

Harry just met Ozpin's gaze with his own. The resolve in those emerald eyes, flecked with silver, was impressive. Harry was not the simple soul he knew would be needed at the front of the war against Salem. But he was important all the same. A flawed soul, tempered by testing fires, but determined to do good. To help. To save.

Magical Britain's loss was Remnant's gain, Ozpin felt. And maybe making sure Harry could fight against Salem and her forces without perishing could be some small atonement for Gretchen's death.

Hazel, he thought to himself. If only you could see your nephew now. You'd be proud of him, even if he was working with me. Gretchen…do you approve of the path your child has started on?

Silence was his only answer, as it always was when he spoke to the dead, like Gretchen was. But he hoped Gretchen Rainart would rest easy in the afterlife, should it exist, knowing her son was alive and well, and wanting to continue her work…

CHAPTER 8 ANNOTATIONS:

So, Harry's shown off his skills, and had fully accepted his new path. The next few chapters will be vignettes of Harry's training, as well as others getting used to life on Remnant, before we finally get to RWBY canon proper.

The lyrics, incidentally, are to Scary Crazy Holy Fantasy by Myth & Roid, and comes from the end credits of the first Overlord compilation film. Obviously, I don't own the lyrics. As with Rise, the non-English (here, Japanese romaji) lyrics are given, along with translations.

Now, a few things. Firstly, Harry's attitude to Qrow. He's still admittedly a little POed at Qrow, somewhat unfairly, admittedly, but Qrow's not helping things with his attitude. As loving as Qrow can be to Ruby and Yang, he's not helpful at bridging a distance that has been there for all of Harry's life. And Qrow knows it. He's not really father material, and that whole knocking Harry onto his arse to provoke the inner Grimm to come forth isn't going to help (Qrow made that decision as a Huntsman and as Harry's future trainer). If anything, Harry's relationship with Qrow isn't going to be son and father for a while if at all: Taiyang's there for that.

Secondly, trying to make sure Harry's Grimm form wasn't too OP. As tempting as it was for Harry's inner Grimm to curbstomp Qrow, that wouldn't work too well with the story. Qrow is a veteran Huntsman with over one and a half decades of experience under his belt. Harry may be able to surprise him initially, but Qrow can turn the tables. And Qrow is holding back, to avoid hurting his son.

BTW, did you like the little oblique reference to Nora? I put her at Sanctum rather than Signal because, well, she and Ren come from Anima, so it's not unreasonable for her to have been taught there.

Review-answering time! To those who inundated me with the definition of a Vizard or Visored or whatever it is…okay, please stop. Harry, as you will have guessed, will NOT be as powerful as a Vizard. He's faster and less inhibited as his inner Grimm, but he's not that much stronger. While he'd probably wipe the floor with Hunters about his age, against seasoned Hunters, he'd be defeated PDQ unless he didn't play around with them. And while he will get better at using it, he not only has a time limit to using his inner Grimm, but it's more of a desperation move, a Limit Break. It's actually not unlike Sora's Anti-Form from Kingdom Hearts II. Plus, I should have mentioned this before, but Harry's inner Grimm was also partially inspired by a similar ability Jaune has in Coeur Al'Aran's White Sheep. However, unlike that work, Harry cannot speak or control Grimm, or spawn them.

Tenzo51: It'll be a spear-rifle like Pyrrha's weapon, but it can also function as a quarterstaff. It's being called the Gae Bolg, as I mentioned before that Harry's going to be modelled slightly on a certain Irish hero.

DalkonCledwin: I have not, but I did once write into one of my Naruto fanfics (I think it was my Potterverse crossover Sins of the Father) that the Third Hokage was aware of possibly using Shadow Clones to do paperwork…but he doesn't do so. Why? Well, all the accumulated boredom the Shadow Clones feel could be potentially lethal to the user when the clones are dismissed. In short, he'd die of boredom (which is, allegedly, what happens to Kerensky in the recent novelisation of Doctor Who: City of Death…though that's due to a time manipulation device being used to kill him).

Remzal Von Enili: He can't feed on negativity, but as stated above, his inner Grimm acts as a beacon to Grimm within a certain radius. While that may seem like a bad thing, it also means that, in a pinch, he can 'pull aggro' away from his allies. So, if Team RWBY was having trouble against a really strong Grimm or a herd of them, he could use his Semblance and draw the Grimm away.

Guest: I knew that about Ironwood, but I certainly did not know that about Zwei, though according to the RWBY Wiki, he's actually meant to be a reference to Ein the Corgi from Cowboy Bebop. As in Ein, Zwei, German for One and Two. Get it? As for the Cowardly Lion, it's pretty blatant that Leonardo Lionheart is meant to be a reference. And you misread my answer. I said TASER, not a LASER. A taser is a stungun, an electric stungun.

No numbered annotations this time.