CHAPTER 13:

TEAM CFVY

A couple of months later…

Velvet could feel her heart hammering in her chest. This was it, her Beacon initiation. She was standing on one of the catapult platforms that, before long, would fling her into the Emerald Forest, at considerable speed.

Ozpin was making his speech about how the initiation worked, Professor Goodwitch standing by his side, as was Harry. It was that which helped her have the wherewithal to get through this. "That being said, upon landing, the first student you make eye-contact with will be your partner for your time at Beacon."

Oh no, Velvet thought with a wince. She was hoping that she would be paired with Coco, if only because she was familiar with her. But still…

"Once you have a partner, make your way to the northern end of the forest. There will be relics placed there in ruins of a temple. Keep in mind that you will encounter opposition in the form of Grimm. Do not hesitate to kill them, before they do the same to you. Once you have retrieved your relic, make your way back here. Are there any questions?"

One brave soul put up their hand, but was promptly ignored. Velvet shot a look at Harry, who smiled reassuringly at her. Good luck, he mouthed. She nodded, and prepared for launch.

As she did so, she found herself thinking over the past couple of months. Of their birthdays, of the dates they had had…the gradual blossoming of their love and their lust…until one date…well, it went very well indeed. Even the memory brought a faint blush and a smile to her face. Her rabbit ears were often a source of torment when bullies tugged on them…but stroked the right way, by a careful lover, and, well…she was sure that helped make the night even more enjoyable, for her at least.

Harry was troubled, though. Velvet had some understanding that, due to his Semblance, Harry could not enter Beacon normally, and was thus trained elsewhere, by expert Hunters. She knew Qrow Branwen was one, and there was General Ironwood and Specialist Winter Schnee of the Atlesian Military. Harry had, albeit with Ozpin's permission, admitted he was working for Ozpin under the table for secret things. What they were, he couldn't specify for various reasons.

Velvet understood. She intended to ask Ozpin herself, though, see if she could get something out of the man. Though for now, she had to think of a landing strategy. Probably using one of the weapons she had at her disposal, though she had to choose wisely, using a weapon that wouldn't be as useful against a Grimm.

Then, the catapult activated, and she was sent flying with a scream that was part fright and part elation…

Harry shaded his eyes with his hand as Velvet went flying. "What if these poor sods don't have a landing strategy?" he asked when the last students were thrown into the air.

"We trust that their Aura will protect them," Ozpin said. "And despite our warning, we do actually have staff monitoring their battles, ready to come in if there's any true danger they can't handle. I'm glad you came to show support to Miss Scarlatina."

"She's my girlfriend. I want to help her where I can, and Velvet needs, well, a good hug at times."

"I'm sure. Incidentally, thank you for that interesting movie you managed to obtain from Earth. I really had no idea that there was a 'wizard of Oz'," Ozpin said, sipping from his mug. "Though I assure you, it's somewhat of an astonishing coincidence."

Goodwitch harrumphed. "I, for one, am certainly not going to wear something like that Glynda wore."

Harry decided, then and there, to suggest a prank to Sirius along those very lines. He checked his Scroll, Ozpin allowing him to access the camera feeds dotted throughout the Emerald Forest. To his delight, he found Velvet pretty quickly, and noted that she was with Coco. "Seems like Velvet's found her partner already," he said. "Coco's a bit overbearing at times, but she'll keep Velvet safe."

"Indeed. The team selection is actually not as random as you might think, actually," Ozpin confessed. "I…change the vectors of the catapults to increase the chances of certain partners coming together."

"I see," Harry said. "Makes sense."

"…Incidentally, Qrow tells me that your relationship is on the mend."

"Sort of," Harry said with a resigned sigh. "He's come back to Patch, as you doubtless know. It's hard to think of him as a father at times. I'm closer to Taiyang, and Ruby and Yang are pretty much my sisters in every way but blood. But…he's trying. It was during my birthday, really. He got me this album, filled with photos. No, not just him. Raven, too. I got to see my mother, my uncle, and my aunts…back when it was happier times. Before my mother was kidnapped, and Summer died." He emitted a bitter chuckle. "Happier times…anyway, it was also partly Ruby and Yang trying to get me to mend bridges with him. You know how much they idolise Qrow, especially Ruby."

"Of course," Ozpin said. "Harry, while I do not want to force people to mend relationships that are strained…Qrow is a good man. He's flawed, but he's done a lot for me, more than I really should expect him to. I would rest easier knowing you two have a better relationship."

"Thanks, but like I said, I'm closer to Taiyang than him," Harry said.

"And that's fine. Taiyang's a good man too. True, there was a time after Summer died that he…well, he wasn't there for Yang and Ruby as much as he would've liked to be."

Harry nodded. "I know. Yang and Qrow have told me of that little incident where she brought Ruby out to start looking for Raven. By the way, did Qrow tell you what Raven told us at the birthday party?"

Ozpin nodded. "Yes…that she will be keeping an eye on the Spring Maiden, and that Leonardo is not to be trusted. Rather vague, that warning, but in retrospect, I have noticed some disturbing changes in my old friend recently. He's become more skittish, and some of the information he sends to me has been misleading. He claims he made mistakes due to stress from overwork, and I never really thought about it, but still…I hope she is wrong. As for the Spring Maiden…as long as Raven does not betray the Spring Maiden to Salem, I will let her guard her for now."

"I hope that you know what you're doing, Professor," Goodwitch said.

"Raven may not be on our side anymore, but she is certainly not on Salem's," Ozpin said. "As long as her interests and ours coincide where Salem is concerned, we can trust her in that much if nothing else."

"Yeah, but she and Yang…they're very different," Harry remarked. "They haven't really buried the hatchet per se, but at least they're on speaking terms. Besides, she leads those bandits and despoils those villages in Anima, leaving them prey to the Grimm. And she has the gall to go on about that 'the strong survive' bollocks. Though sometimes, I think she just says it to kid herself."

"In all likelihood, yes. Raven, I believe, may still be a good person beneath it all. It was the pain of Gretchen's death that drove her away. That, and fear that Salem may be unstoppable."

"And is she?"

"I'll be honest, in all my years of opposing her, I don't know. She could very well be. But…is there no point in trying to stop her?"

Harry sighed softly to himself. He didn't know, to be honest. But even if defeating her for once and for all was impossible, preventing her from enacting her plans was worthwhile…he hoped. Changing the awkward subject, he said, "Ruby's getting along very well with Penny."

"Yes, James mentioned that, actually. He was glad that Penny was making a friend, even if he's yet to admit that she is a gynoid. From what you've told me about her, I think that James made the right decision with her, to treat her as a person. He is obsessed with mechanisation, true, but at least he's treating Penny as something more than one of his Atlesian Knights. I have no objections to an artificial being like Penny being created, as long as they are treated like people, and given the choice to fight. And by what little my sources tell me, Penny has been given that choice."

"I still find it hard to believe that General Ironwood has created a robot capable of generating Aura," Goodwitch remarked. "That's an astonishing feat in of itself." She looked down at her Scroll. "Hmm, it seems that the first would-be students have reached the temple ruins. Mr Alistair and Mr Daichi have taken the first of the relics."

Harry looked at his own Scroll, and raised an eyebrow. "Replica weapons? Really?"

"Weapons with two parts," Ozpin said. "We have a sword and a scabbard, a bow and a quiver of arrows, a rifle with a bandoleer, and so on. Mr Alistair and Mr Daichi have taken the quiver of arrows, so whoever gets the bow will be the other half of their team. I will override this if I believe the team is completely incompatible, but that happens less often than you think."

Harry watched on in silence, until he saw Coco and Velvet finally making their way to the ruins, with Coco eventually choosing the bow. As they left, Harry said, "So, Velvet and Coco are on the same team as…" He thought of the names of 'Mr Alistair' and 'Mr Daichi', the former being a red-haired, dark-skinned boy with eerie white eyes, and the latter being a tall, burly, Asiatic-looking guy. "Fox Alistair and Yatsuhashi Daichi. So…" Another bit of thought. "What team name can you come up with?"

"CFVY," Ozpin said, pronouncing the name as 'coffee'. Before sipping from his mug as if it contained said beverage, and not hot chocolate. "I already noticed Miss Adel showing her leaderships skills when dealing with the Grimm, so she's tentatively pencilled in as team leader. Still, you should be proud of Miss Scarlatina."

"I don't need to be. I'm always proud of her," Harry said. He shot Ozpin a look, his eyes temporarily becoming that of his inner Grimm, as was his voice. "Just know that if anyone hurts her deliberately, just because she's a Faunus, or tries to take advantage of her, I will end them, if Coco doesn't."

"Please don't do that," Ozpin said, as Harry returned to normal. "While it's good to see you gaining more control over your Semblance, it's more than a little disconcerting."

"Besides," Goodwitch said primly, "it won't be long before the first students return here. And rest assured, if I witness any bullying of her for her being a Faunus, I will deal with it." She tapped her riding crop against her shoulder pointedly, as she held her Scroll with the other. "And as you pointed out, I am sure Miss Adel would do it first…"

True to Ozpin's earlier remarks, Velvet was now part of Team CFVY. Harry watched with a smile as the entrance ceremony, showing the teams, came around to them. Velvet's eyes met his, and her nervous expression gained a smile.

After all was said and done, they went to the canteen for some dinner, and Harry sat with CFVY, being introduced to the other two members. He got the impression that Alistair Fox would be the quiet type. After greeting Harry, he barely spoke a word. The gigantic Yatsuhachi, while a quiet type himself, was friendly, albeit a little awkward.

"It's just as well that we didn't encounter any truly dangerous Grimm," Coco remarked. "I have heard rumours of a Death Stalker residing in a cave somewhere in the Emerald Forest, and I know for a fact that there are a number of Nevermores in the area. And while we do need chances to prove ourselves, I think Beowolves, Boarbatusks, and Ursas should do for an initiation test. Though I daresay Ruby and Yang would ace that test, even if that were the case."

"Who?" Fox asked.

"My cousins, though I think of them as sisters," Harry said. "Ruby Rose and Yang Xiao Long. Velvet and Coco know them. Yang'll be in Beacon next year, so you'll get to meet her at least. And Ruby's a weapon fanatic, and probably the deadliest fourteen year old on Remnant with that rifle-scythe of hers."

"And are they that good?" asked Yatsuhachi.

Harry shrugged. "It may sound like bragging, but I think both would be good enough to enter Beacon as they are now. Even Ruby."

"While he is exaggerating a little," Coco said, "Ruby is indeed very skilled. Both of them are. However, they require more schooling first."

"And you two are boyfriend and girlfriend?" Yatsuhachi asked, looking at Harry and Velvet, who were sitting next to each other.

"Of course," Velvet said with a smile. "He's really sweet."

"When I'm not being sour, anyway," Harry retorted gently.

"Harry and Velvet make each other happy," Coco said with a careless shrug. "What else needs to be said?"

Roman Torchwick was surprised when he received the visitor without warning at one of his hideouts. Especially a visitor he recognised from his own time at Beacon, being in one of the senior Hunter teams at the time Roman joined. "As I live and breathe!" Torchwick said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Hazel Rainart! Long time no see!"

The hulking ex-Hunter's eyes narrowed. "Torchwick…still got that sense of élan you harped on about, if nothing else," he rumbled. "Hamming it up like some villain in a movie." He looked over to Neo, and his features softened. "I remember you. Did you enjoy your ice cream?"

The girl nodded with a warm smile. "Oh? Did you know Hazel, Neo?" Roman asked.

"She was lingering around an ice cream stand in rags, and the owner was telling her to leave," Hazel said. "I bought her an ice cream…Neapolitan, if I recall. This was years ago, long before she met you, I presume. Is she happy?"

"Neo is the only person I care about in this shithole of a world, Hazel," Roman said, in what was probably the most truthful statement he had ever spoken in his life. Oddly enough, so was the next statement. "She is to me what Gretchen was to you. Frankly, I'm sorry that happened. I heard you had a major blowup with Ozpin about it."

Hazel scowled. "Don't talk to me about Ozpin. It's tempting to head up to Beacon here and now to smash his skull, but my employer would not like it. That being said, I want to retain your services, in gathering information. I want to use you as a proxy, as Ozpin would know the moment I approached someone more prominent like Hei Xiong."

Roman nodded. "Okay, I get it. Under the radar. Information gathering. For your employer?"

"Later. I am retaining you personally at first to find out as much information about one of Ozpin's protégés, currently residing with Taiyang Xiao Long on Patch," Hazel said. "He is a boy of about sixteen called Harry Potter, with dark hair, green eyes, and has a distinctive scar on his forehead." He handed a photo over, which Roman examined.

"I think I may have seen him in passing," Roman mused. "He's often in the company of Taiyang Xiao Long and a couple of kids, presumably Taiyang's. And there's a rabbit Faunus with him too. Are you interested in information gathering only, or would you like him brought to you?"

"Just information gathering for now," Hazel said, taking a bunch of Lien cards out and placing them on Roman's desk, along with a file. "No action to be taken unless I say so. You do well, Torchwick, and there will be more work for you, and more Lien with it. Just don't attract attention to yourself…more than you usually do."

"I am the very picture of discretion, Hazel," Roman said, taking the Lien cards. "Incidentally, who is your current employer?"

Hazel gave a scoff. "Discretion works both ways, Torchwick. Be thankful for your ignorance, for now. And look after her." He indicated Neo.

"Neo can look after herself well. The first time I met her, she was carving up Hei Xiong's uncle like a Sunday roast," Roman said. "And I will. I always do."

Hazel nodded, before scribbling down a Scroll number. "Send any substantial reports to my Scroll. Anything beyond what that file gives you. I'll be in touch." And with that, Hazel walked out.

Roman looked at Neo, green eyes matching heterochromic pink and brown. Neo's body language seemed inquisitive and puzzled. "Yes, it is a lot of money to look at some kid who's not even at Beacon, even if he's a protégé of Ozpin's. I wonder why?"

Neo shrugged, and then gestured to the files and photos. "Do the job? Well, why not? He's paid, and while I am a thief, being paid to do work is not too bad. Well, Neo, it seems we should start investigating Harry Potter…"

CHAPTER 13 ANNOTATIONS:

Well, that just happened. So, Harry and Velvet have taken their relationship to the next level, Team CFVY has been formed, and Hazel has recruited Roman to find out more about Harry.

The original version of this chapter ended with Harry encountering Hazel at Summer's grave site at Patch, and getting involved in a fight, but I decided that was moving things along way too quickly. I was trying to figure out how to close the chapter, when I hit upon doing the bit with Roman and Neo. Let's face it, they're two of my favourite characters from the series (though TBH, I actually prefer Gray Haddock as Locus in Red vs Blue, having watched the Chorus Trilogy…not to mention it's scary listening to Miles Luna play Felix, a complete contrast with Jaune).

Speaking of Red vs Blue, I have a crossover with that series and Harry Potter, called Freelancer, Medic, Mage. Imagine Harry as a Freelancer, and paired with Carolina, and getting involved in the events of Season 6.

Incidentally, I'm not sure how long the next update will be. I already had this chapter mostly written when Chapter 12 was posted, I just didn't know how to finish it after I discarded the original version.

Review-answering time! LoamyCoffee: I don't think Cinder could ever be called a reasonable person.

orion0905: I'm not sure there's many Harry/Pyrrha stories (partly because I am sure there are many fans who don't want to break up Arkos, which I understand: I like the pairing, though I have heard there are toxic elements of the fandom that despise it). I know of one by EmeraldGuardian7, The Wizard and the Grimm, as well as Life of a Huntsmen (sic) by Fenozzel12 and The Second Chance by SilverAegis.

Celestia GF of the Void: Sadly, I don't know when or even if I will be updating them. It's all dependent on inspiration, not on people asking me to update them.

No numbered annotations this time.