2/8/09 A/N

--To SesshoGal—I so get that, I just applied for a job at Stop'N Shop. ..That is so unbelievably weird to say…Scared shitless if they ask me to come for an interview.

So, I finally found my email that I used for another account and wrote over 7000 words for a chapter. Yeah, I'm still gloating about it. I have to read the Lord of the Rings for some of my other fics though AND I finished Breaking Dawn from the Twilight Saga. I do NOT want to see the movie for that O_O I think I'd barf if I had to see Bella preggers…But anyway, I MUST make a Harry Potter / Twilight Crossover now. It's horrible that way, isn't it? I'm just a little Harry Potter Crossover whore. It depresses me…

Aside from my crazy brain, I've made a decent length chapter, the story part alone is over 3000 words, and I'd like to get in the habit of longer chapters.

Rating

PG13 for swears and violence, rating may change in certain chapters, you will be informed when such happens.

Harry Potter and the Inner Demon

Chapter 22

Natsu watched, wide-eyed as the Great Hall flooded with students, all chatting and trying to talk over one another. The noise was horrific and only moments after their entry his ears were ringing. Covering them with his hands did little good so he was forced to sit through it, eardrums throbbing painfully.

Glancing at his brother, he wondered how Seshomaru dealt with this for all of his life. "Not easily," the silver haired demon growled lowly, reading his mind. Natsu stifled a giggle and tried to tune the students out. Fiddling with the tablecloth, he never felt so childish before, he tried to focus on the smells that the students brought with them.

His nose was flooded with different scents and he nearly gagged at their mixing; from lilac to must, from sweat to cauldron cakes. He turned a little green and chose to hold his breath a while. His brother laughed at him lightly, "You'll get used to it," he whispered. The pup highly doubted that. He settled for watching the students continue to swarm inside and he dearly hoped that they were just luminescent with joy for all the misery they were causing him.

"He's not here, Ron!"

It was barely a hiss amongst snarls but Natsu had caught it; had to catch it because he knew that voice.

"We'll ask McGonagall later, maybe the Order had to take him somewhere."

He knew that voice as well. Over hundreds of heads and passed as many faces he easily picked out the bushy brunette and the flaming red head. The were taking their seats at Gryffindor table, faces gray with worry. Hermione had red raw rims around her eyes and looked bout to burst into tears. It surprised him—this worry that visibly seemed to overwhelm the two. What was there to be so upset about, after all, he could just be a little late, or didn't have time to write a letter over the summer.

Once everyone in the Hall had been seated, the double doors opened again, allowing McGonagall to enter, followed by the first years. They had all been eyeing the sorting hat and the stool it sat on warily. Were they always that short? Was he that short? Well, he supposed he was now.

All of their little eyes widened drastically when the hat broke out in song, and Natsu choked back a laugh. They all seemed to pep one another up, he could just make out, "We can do this!" and "It's just a hat, nothing to be scared of!" throughout the group.

"Bane, Elizabeth!"

The whole horde of children seemed to get nervous all over again as they made a path for a small, timid looking girl with long black hair. She sped over to the stool and sat down while McGonagall plopped the hat on her head.

'Is it meant to be too big?' Natsu wondered as it fell over her eyes. The hat cried, "Ravenclaw!" and the girl quickly dashed over to the table that cheered the most. Her face was rosy pink and she looked exhilarated.

"Finn, Charles!" the first years that were left wait grew more anxious and one boy looked ready to cry. Natsu would have felt sorry for him but didn't have a chance as the girl beside him patted him on the head reassuringly. He was just starting to cheer up when the girl's name was called.

"Nelson, Alexandra!"

She dashed up to the stool excitably and crammed the hat on her, blonde hair bobbing around her chin. A few moments later she was sent to Slytherin. Natsu could see the small boy she had comforted watch in misery as she went to join them. He must not expect to be in the same house, Natsu realized. The blue-green eyes seemed to water a little and something in him called out to the boy. He had the horrible need to just leap across the table and soothe his fears and worries away.

One by one, the others all disspeared and he was the only one left. He nearly flinched as McGonagall called his name.

"Wildes, Embry!"

Black hair bounced as he scurried to the platform where the stool was and sat down. His golden brown skin flushed as the whole hall watched with mild interest. The hat sank onto his head-

And there was silence.

A minute passed, than two, and the boy swung his feet nervously and the hat finally cried, "Hufflepuff!"

Embry leapt off the stool, removed the hat near ran to the Hufflepuff table, that greeted him kindly. The pressure that had been gathering in Natsu's heart ebbed away. What was wrong with him, really? Panicking for that kid? Maybe it was because he remembered his own sorting, the terror of being sent to a different house or not getting sorted at all. 'But it didn't matter so much with the rest,' he thought.

Dumbledore stood from his chair, arms wide and warming as he cried his short welcome speech. "-Since I know you are all famished by your long journey, I shall allow you all to your dines!" With that, he clapped his hands twice and the tables were all suddenly laden with a magnificent feast.

"Ten times better than the rehearsal!" Natsu said, smirking at his surprised brother. He wondered if Seshomaru had ever seen this much food in one place; he somewhat doubted it as his brother's eyes widened in awe. Natsu snickered only to receive a scowl from his brother and a large helping of broccoli on his plate.

"This would be a better time than any to make sure you get all your nutrients, otouto."

"Of course," Natsu growled back and stabbed one of the leafy vegetables with his fork. "The absolute best time…"

Throughout the dinner, Natsu caught onto the different conversations going on around the hall. Apparently 'Joanne' had received a motorcycle for her birthday and was learning how to ride it over the holiday breaks, 'Mike' and 'Riley' got together on the train but broke up once they arrived because Riley was actually dating Jordan, and 'Harry' had supposedly killed himself that summer-

Natsu froze.

Swinging his head to the Gryffindor table he noticed most his year huddled together and whispering quietly. Ron looked grave and Hermione was near tears. "We all saw how bad he was after Snuffles died!" Ginny hissed, "but he'd never just off himself!" She sounded disbelieving. "No way, Harry's too strong for that!" Neville agreed with her but still looked worried.

Beside him, Seshomaru shifted and whispered something about leaving it alone. So his friends thought he was dead? That he just couldn't take the pain anymore and killed himself. That was just infuriating—he had fought to live his entire life, there wasn't a chance that he'd ever willingly die.

He kept to himself for the rest of the dinner, only glancing up to check on Embry every few minutes. The boy had shied away from the others and developed a sort of poker face as he ate a meager amount of food. He didn't seem at all keen on spending the rest of his years at Hogwarts stuck in a dorm with these bouncing Hufflepuffs.

He didn't even try to make conversation with the others and it worried Natsu. It was like a motherly instinct—which frightened him a bit since he was neither a mother nor a girl—that pulled at him every time he gazed upon the boy. Maybe he was just tired and over thinking things.

Seshomaru seemed more than willing to stuff his plate with more food as soon as he cleared it of the last helping and Natsu began to flush as half the student body watched Seshomaru stacked three steaks on his plate. 'Well,' he thought. 'I have been a lot hungrier lately…' Wide eyes watched as he devoured the steaks in only minutes. Yet, he still had room for dessert.

The tables cleared themselves and the dishes returned with sweets and desserts of all kinds. Natsu was quite pleased when Seshoamru chose to butt out of his selection this time. He decorated his new plate with treacle tarts, pies, and cookies—much to Snape's disgust. The man rolled his eyes at him from his seat by Headmaster. Natsu made sure his mouth was full when he stuck his tongue out at him.

The man glared at him with promises of torture in his malevolent black eyes. This only cause Natsu to giggle, getting a bit drunk off the massive slice of pie he had finally ate his way through; Seshomaru later discovered it had excessive amounts of firewhiskey and a variety of wines in it.

Rosy faced and near bouncing, he caught Embry's eye at the Hufflepuff table and the boy turned pink again as Natsu waved ecstatically at him. The other Hufflepuffs noticed his wild gesture and all set in on the first, asking who the adorable little boy at the staff table was. Natsu snickered as he heard Embry stutter that he didn't know.

The desserts were cleared away and Dumbledore rose from his seat once more. "Now that are stomachs are filled, it is time for a few short announcements." The old man beamed at them all over his crescent moon glasses and turned to Seshomaru.

"It is my great pleasure to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher—Professor Janfrer—" Seshomaru stood before the crowd. "-Who has taken a temporary leave from his position as Ruler of the West Japan Demon territories to teach for a year, possibly two if I can convince him to stay!" Several surprised gasps and awed sighs echoed around the hall and both brothers could hear the whispers over Seshomaru's tail and hair. A small group of sixth year girls were making lewd comments and Natsu was sure his brother was fighting a blush at the blunt wording.

"And with Professor Janfrer," the headmaster continued. "I would like to introduce his young brother." Natsu took his turn to stand before the Hall, years of being stared at and the slight inebriation keeping him from being too nervous. He snuggled Seshomaru's waist just to hear the squeals of the adolescents.

"Natsu has been given permission to attend whichever classes he wishes and is to be treated with the respect of any teacher." He glanced around at the tables, eyes turning serious. "He is under both my and Professor Janfrer's explicit protection."

Both Natsu and Seshomaru seated themselves and the Headmaster continued his speech. "We will also be having an 'exchange student' of sorts this year. Miss Kagome Higurashi will be using Hogwarts facilities for both the O.W.L.S. and N.E.W.T.S. this year. She is to be respected as a foreign ambassador."

Just down the table, Natsu could see Kagome looking embarrassed and when he caught her eye he gave her a confident smile, which she returned hesitantly.

"We have a new post this year, that of a Guidance Counselor, due to the current events in the Wizarding World." He nodded to Remus, beside Kagome and he stood. "I am quite pleased to welcome back Professor Lupin. Some of you may remember him when he was Defense against the Dark Arts teacher two years ago." There was a scattered applause and Remus smiled only slightly before sitting down. "You may all feel free to visit Mister Lupin and make an appointment with him."

"The Forbidden Forest is, and shall remain as always, forbidden to all students unaccompanied by a teacher, as well as the Whomping Willow. Make sure to check Mr. Filch's list of what items are not allowed in the hallways, you can find it on his office door just a few classrooms from the Great Hall."

He ended his speech with a clap of his hands and said, "follow your house's prefects to your common room's and I bid you all good night!"

Natsu swept over the rising crowds of students and searched for Embry again. The Hufflepuff was very small but was easily noticeable as the blonde Slytherin bounded over to him. She spoke very quickly and excitedly about how she hoped they would have some of the same classes together and scampered off after her house before Embry could a put a word in edge wise. He smiled softly after her and when he turned his eyes caught Natsu's once more. They immediately dropped to the ground and he scrambled to catch up with his fellow Hufflepuffs.

"Come, Natsu." Seshomaru gave him a nudge and the two started to the Staff door. Remus fell beside Natsu and smiled at him. "Are you excited for your new year at Hogwarts, Natsu?"

Natsu could tell the man had struggled to keep his new identity in mind, and felt a warmth spread through him. "Yup!" He responded. "I'll have to avoid Ron and Hermione but remember that you can't tell them anything but the cover up story." The werewolf nodded and ruffled his hair.

Growling loudly, he snapped playfully at the hand and giggled as a few heads whirled around from the entrance. Wide-eyed teens watched him warily and he flashed them a toothy grin, fangs glistening in the candlelight. Those close enough to see them shot toward the double doors though Embry, nearly lost in the crowds, continued to stare. Natsu couldn't tell if it was fear or amazement in his eyes though he certainly hoped it wasn't the first; he felt that mysterious bond pull at his chest again.

Turning away, he followed his brother out the door and into the side hallway. Still somewhat drunk from his dessert, Seshomaru had to stop him from going in the wrong direction. As they were heading to the dungeons, Snape joined them and they ended up walking beside the Slytherins. The man's snakes nodded to him respectfully but eyed the two demons suspiciously.

Seeing the blonde girl again, Natsu waved at her sleepily before being pulled to the side; they had reached another passage that would take them to their rooms. The girl looked at him with buggy eyes and he stumbled after his brother. His tail had slid off his shoulder and was now curling as not to pick up and dirt on the floor so he wasn't surprised when he felt a hand or two stroke it. That did not mean he was not affected; as he had turned the corner, he let out a purring growl before Seshomaru rolled his eyes and dragged him off.

Giggles followed them and Natsu's jelly like legs, already rendered nearly useless from earlier, were now putty beneath him. Seshomaru lifted him over his shoulder and before they reached their chambers Natsu had fallen fast asleep.

It was an early morning for the brothers, and they were first to enter the Great Hall. The tables were barren and would probably remain that way until six o'clock. Natsu yawned for the better part of their wait, shooting looks of irritation at Seshomaru for getting him out of bed so early. The silver haired youkai rolled hi eyes.

"Better early than late," was all he said.

The staff were the first to trickle in and when the clock tower outside struck six, every table was suddenly groaning under the weight of eggs, bacon, fruits, sausages and so much more. The aromas, if not the quantity, set Natsu's mouth watering. Snape took a seat beside him as he took a chunk out of a bright red apple.

Swallowing, he gave the man—who was NOT wearing the hair band Natsu had gotten used to his wearing—an innocent face. "So, Snape…" Both watched as some of the students made an early entrance to the Hall. "Who are you teaching first?" The man gave him a rather harassed look and Natsu concluded that--for all Snape's strict beliefs—he was in no way a morning person.

"First year Hufflepuff's and Ravenclaws," He growled under his breath, stabbing at a sausage with a 'chink' as the fork hit the plate. Eyes dazzling, Natsu grinned broadly. "I'll come for a period of potions then, I'll come back later." After a second thought he bugged the man again. "When are your sixth year Gryffindors?"

"Double period with Hufflepuff, Just after Lunch."

Natsu decided it best to leave him alone until a little later.

When he turned back to his plate he wasn't too surprised to see that Seshomaru had taken the time to fill it with as much as he could—again. He briefly wondered if it was a personal chore of his or something.

Taking a hardy mouthful of fruit salad, he felt his insides burst with what he could only name as joy. He rolled a strawberry in his mouth and felt himself shudder in ecstasy. He just found his new favorite food; the small red fruit had sent his head spinning. He was so entranced with the flavor that he had missed Embry's entry.

The boy was watching him curiously, nerves from the other night soothed by a night's rest. He smiled up at the staff table and Natsu grinned back happily.

At six forty-five the first year Hufflepuffs were shepherded out of the Hall by a few older years, schedules in hand. Natsu leapt out of seat with a hurried, "Bye!" and out the staff door.

Taking a tight corner, he dashed down the corridors to the Potion's room and burst through the door. It took a moment for him to realize he had probably scared the crap out of any one in the halls, going as fast he was. Natsu threw himself into Snape's chair behind the desk at the front of the room and fidgeted with his magic.

The orb had been very 'quiet' lately. It would warm up every once in a while when he was upset or annoyed but for the most part it had simply hung limply around his neck and he wasn't sure he like it so inanimate. As if sensing his frustration, it pressed closer to his chest and warmed. Natsu smiled.

As the minutes passed he began to wonder when he had gotten so impatient; maybe it was when he connected eyes with that first year, he wasn't quite sure. He idly tapped the orb and buzzed in irritation, making him giggle. The storm clouds inside whirled and the lightening seemed to spark disapprovingly at him. Natsu thought back to Dumbledore's words about eyes being the window to one's magic. What did green eyes mean? He bit his lip in frustration. Whatever it was, Lily Potter had it too.

The pattering of feet on the stone floors reverberated around the dungeons and a few voices stood out over the rest, instructing how to get to the Potion's lab fastest and what passages to use to get their next class. The door opened and the first years and two fifth years were shocked to find him there.

He grinned widely, letting his fangs protrude out from under his lips. The gaped at him, before another group of feet stormed up behind them and questions arose about why they were outside. Embry, five people away from the door, squeezed passed them and went to sit down in the middle row. Dropping his book bag on the floor, he blinked at Natsu. Natsu blinked right back and snuggled deeper into Snape's chair with a smug smirk.

"What are you all milling about for?" Ah, there was a familiar snarl. "Get inside at once!"

The first years scrambled over one another to get in and out of Snape's way as he stormed in. One glance at the young dog demon had him glaring irately.

"Mister Janfrer, I have no intention of playing childish games today, take a seat behind a student desk or get out."

Natsu gave him a pout but sprang out of the seat and gracefully landed in the aisle. Several students flinched at this and turned away. He near skipped to sit in an aisle seat beside Embry and looked to Snape, patting his hands on the desk expectantly. The potion's master rolled his eyes and moved to the front of the room, flicking his wand to close the door with a slam.

Natsu winced and glared, only to receive a smirk. Damn Slytherins.