Soldier
2494
A/N: For those you may have forgotten, Harry played a prank on the Visoreds before he left Japan. Let's see who remembers it.
Disclaimer: See chapter 1. Reveiws are welcomed, flames are not.
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Chapter 20: Buried Treasure
Harry was once more in the Room of Requirement. He was once again training, alternating between combat and studying. The frustrated teen was so bored with Hogwarts classes, students and its staff.
Since the blocks on his magic had been lifted and the fact that he was no longer hampered by the expectations of his so-called friends, he could now show his true intelligence.
He and Urahara had a chat about that one night, just before he had to leave for England. For those that didn't know Kisuke Urahara well – the blonde shop keeper came across as lazy and shifty, but behind that persona the former shinigami captain had a very sharp mind and knew how to use it.
He had questioned Harry about his studies and discovered the reasons as why Harry had been hiding his intellect for years.
"Very good. It is never wise to show how smart you truly are Harry-kun," Urahara said with approval. "Ichigo-kun does it well. Behind that delinquent behavior of his is a sharp mind. Ichigo-kun once ranked in the top 25 students city wide. That's very impressive in a city the size of Tokyo. His score ranking as he grew older dropped because of all the soul reaping duties he took on, but those scores do not reflect his true intelligence."
"People see only what they want to see," Ichigo had added, joining the conversation as he plopped down beside Harry. "It's pointless to try to change their minds, but there also comes a time when you must stop hiding and show your true self. I surprise Rukia and the others all the time."
Harry'd had to agree with that. He was very used to that sentiment at Hogwarts; they only saw the scar and not the young wizard behind it. Draco Malfoy even referred to him as 'scarhead' and while annoying, it was, unfortunately, true. The Wizarding World never looked beyond that scar. They wanted a hero and in their minds it branded him as theirs.
He wanted out of this stagnated society! As soon as possible! To that end, with the help of the goblins, he had requested the home schooled students requirements for OWLS and NEWTS, covering the last decade, from the Magical Department of Education.
With the ruse of being a home schooled student unable to afford Hogwarts, he wrote to the MDE. and requested their requirements for DADA, Charms, Transfiguration and Potions. Those were the core classes needed to get any job in the Wizarding World.
Of course, if the professors at Hogwarts, most notably Albus "Bloody-Stick-His-Nose-into-Everything-that- Belongs-to-Harry Potter" Dumbledore, ever found out he'd requested them, he would've been in trouble.
The past exams were only for those that were home schooled, but Harry didn't care. The simple fact was he'd basically taught himself, even here at Hogwarts. In his mind he was self-taught. No adult had ever stepped forward to help him in his studies except for Remus Lupin, but even he hadn't lasted long enough to make a difference.
No more! Harry wanted out of Hogwarts, and most especially the whole British Wizarding World.
Harry just wanted to see what he needed to study for his OWLS. He could care less about getting a job. He was a noble, the Head of an Ancient and Noble House. And, according to Sirius and the Goblins, he was Heir Apparent to a second. Once he takes his OWL's he can leave and not look back. If he wanted to take his NEWTs, he could continue to home study in Japan. He could, after all, afford any tutors he might need.
Harry knew he had been hiding his intelligence from everyone, but once he had figured out that the Dursleys could care less about his grades at Hogwarts it was too late. Everyone had this image of a mediocre student and he couldn't change it now without being accused of cheating.
With the help of the goblins, Harry had come to realize his class standings really didn't matter in the long run. According the pure-bloods, it was all about family standing, blood and passing his OWLs.
Without Ron holding him back, or Hermione nagging at him, he could concentrate on his studies. Muramasa was a huge advantage there. He helped by organizing Harry's thoughts, and supporting him when he was overly tired. Even in his dream state Muramasa would quiz him. Harry loved subliminal learning! At the same time Muramasa taught him he got a good night's sleep.
As Harry went through the past exams he noted that there were only two questions about the goblin rebellions on the history tests. Figures!
He didn't have to worry about Charms and Transfiguration. However, when it came to DADA he'd figured out that Umbridge was setting everyone up for a fall.
The DADA exam was mostly practical applications! With not being able to use a wand in class, the students had no way of perfecting the spells they would need to pass the test.
'Of course,' he mused. 'Some one, probably Hermione, will want me to start teaching them. So not happening.'
"Harry," Muramasa said, appearing next to him. Luna looked up from the couch where she had been reading quietly through his rather violent reaction to the information he'd found in the exam requirements.
He turned from blowing up dummies."Yes Muramasa?"
"I sense another soul fragment. It is close, somewhere around here."
"In this room?" Harry asked, as he reached for a bottle of water. Luna came over to join the pair.
"Not sure, Harry, but it is close." Muramasa looked up at the ceiling.
"This is the Room of Requirement," Luna said, setting aside her book. "Maybe it's here, but in a different part of the room?"
"Hmm. . . " Harry thought for a moment and thought hard.
The room began to change around them, to a dark, cavernous chamber filled with junk.
"It's closer now," Muramasa said as he pondered the room. "It's this way."
There, on the bust of some dead warlock, sat a gold and diamond and sapphire headpiece. By the design it looked to be from the ninth century.
Harry frowned. There were many dark objects in this room, but when he concentrated he could sense the evil radiating off the diadem.
"The lost diadem of Ravenclaw!" Luna said in awe as she reached up for it.
"Don't!" Harry shouted. A quick Kido spell sealed the piece in a protective barrier.
"Oh poo!" Luna pouted. "It is said those that wear it can gain the knowledge of Rowena Ravenclaw. I just wanted to know if I could find where the crumple horned snorkacks are hiding."
"After it's been purified, I'll let you try it," Harry promised as he smiled. "Well, do you want to meet my cousin this time? He'd like to meet you."
"Will I see the Gates of Hell, when he comes?" Luna asked, tentatively.
"You will," Harry confirmed with a shudder. "It isn't a pretty sight though, and there will probably be at least one dementor, or hollow, to contend with afterward. They're attracted to the high spirit pressure that the release of a soul piece causes."
"Then I'll pass, but I still would like to meet your cousin," she sighed with disappointment.
"I think that's doable."
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Two nights later, Harry was standing in the clearing with Luna and Professor Flitwick. Harry had invited the professor along after he had shown him the diadem.
"It's tainted at the moment," Harry had told the diminutive man, "but after my cousin and I take care of it, the diadem's yours. It belongs with your house. However, I did promise Miss Lovegood a chance to try it on afterward."
The professor nodded as he studied the headpiece through the barrier that Harry had placed around it.
"Why don't you want the headmaster to know, Lord Potter?"
"Because professor, I don't trust him," Harry replied bluntly. "He would try to take the diadem away, 'to be studied'. Or worse, use it to try to black mail me into complying with his wishes once again . . . if he didn't obliviate me of all knowledge of the horcruxes first."
The Head of Ravenclaw sighed, but nodded in agreement. "Understandable. Sometimes I wonder about him myself," came the quiet reply. "I'm curious as to how you plan to purify it without destroying it?"
Harry smiled as the mist rose around them. He looked up to see the senkaimon open. "Professor, you need to do a language translation spell if you want to understand what's happening. We'll be speaking in Japanese."
"I understand," Flitwick said as he cast the spell on him and Luna.
"Oi!" came Ichigo's voice. Beside him was a tall, white haired man wearing a purple sleeveless tee shirt and green cargo pants.
"When Ichigo mentioned he needed a senkaimon to travel to England, I said I would come along this time. Rose and Love wanted to come too when they heard where we were going. Something about payback, but Kisuke said no." Kensei explained.
Harry smiled, "You are always welcome Kensei-sensei. This is my friend Lovegood Luna-chan and Flitwick-sensei. Both wanted to meet my cousin before we did the Konso."
Luna giggled and skipped over to Ichigo. "Wow! You're tall! The nargles would have a hard time around you!"
Ichigo looked down at the blonde and shook his head with a rueful smirk. "You're right runt, she's just like Orihime!"
"Told ya," Harry agreed, with a smile. "She's fun to be around. Don't know why everyone else picks on her."
She giggled and waved to everyone. "Harry asked if I wanted to watch, but I don't think so. Have fun!" She turned and skipped back to the castle."Don't stay out too late."
Kensei just shook his head as the blonde girl disappeared from sight. "Well let's get this over with."
"Sensei, you might want to stay behind Harry, so he can protect you," Kensei said to Flitwick as Harry laid the diadem in the middle of the clearing. "We don't know what will be attracted to the release of this thing's spirit pressure."
It didn't take that long for Harry to dispatch the soul fragment in the head-piece. A lone dementor had been hanging around the forest waiting for a feed when it was drawn to the opening of the gates. Ichigo didn't even break a sweat as he cleaved the dementor in two, instead of using his favorite attack.
Harry gave his shaken Hogwart's professor the now cleansed diadem."Here Professor, this belongs to Ravenclaw House. I am sure you know what to do with it?"
"Of . . . of course, Lord Potter," Flitwick said, examining the undamaged diadem. "My word, that was incredible. I have never heard of any one that could kill a dementor, and so quickly!"
"You can't say anything about Ichigo, Professor," Harry cautioned. "We're bending several laws in even letting you watch."
Ichigo stepped up to Harry. "How many more do you think there are left?"
Harry thought for a moment, "Not sure. I mean, I could go after Tom now, but if there are still soul fragments out there. . ."
"If I may," Flitwick interjected. "How many have you dispatched already?"
Harry started to tick off on his fingers."Well, there was the diary in my second year. My scar last summer, as well as that cup we found in Gringotts. Then there was the locket when the term started, and now the diadem, that makes five."
"Damn! That's one sick bastard," Kensei exclaimed, shaking his head.
Flitwick paled at the mere thought of the number times Riddle had split his soul. "Well, in that case, you are probably looking for two more. Seven is a very magical number in many arithmantic equations. So I say you are looking for two more items and then He-Who-Must- Not-be-Named himself."
"Damn it!" Harry exclaimed, scowling. "I want this over with. I hate it here! I'm so bored!"
Flitwick looked over at the young wizard in shock. Ichigo and Kensei, however, weren't. They'd got to know Harry very well during his stay with them.
"Runt! Just hang in there. You are keeping up with your training, ne? I still have to pay you back for that little stunt you pulled!" Kensei clapped a hand on Harry's shoulder, who sighed and nodded. "Still can't believe you set my own zanpakuto against me!"
"Muramasa and I were doing you and the others a favor. Your zanpakutos were tired of being ignored. They were hurting just as the rest of you," Harry told him.
The tall former captain stepped back, drew his zanpakato and charged the young wizard.
Harry quickly called Muramasa out to block the attack, only to be knocked back a couple of feet.
"Well expect an ass kicking when you return," Kensei replied as the pair faced off for a few minutes of intense combat.
When the white-haired former captain was satisfied Harry hadn't slacked off his training, he straightened. "You still have a ways to go but I do see some small improvement." Turning back to Ichigo, he said. "Time to go Ichigo. We need to report back to Kisuke."
"Hang in there runt. Yuzu is working on her next care package," Ichigo teased as the pair left the clearing via the heavenly gate.
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Professor Flitwick was deeply troubled. He'd had the privilege to teach Lily's son for four years. In that time he'd become suspicious of the boy's apparent lack of intelligence over the years, but after taking a good look at Mr. Potter's best friends, he was convinced it was a mask. Harry Potter was the perfect product of his parents – intelligent, crafty and powerful.
"Lord Potter," the diminutive professor said before they parted company for the night. "When you are next in my class, try to earn yourself a detention. I need to speak with you privately, without others knowing."
Harry gave the professor a long look before giving him a curt nod. "Good night, Professor."
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A/N: Yes, I know about the ring. Harry can't really leave Hogwarts to go looking for it. This is still fifth year. Albus hadn't found it yet either. When the ring is found, the headmaster will be getting a huge wake up call. I promise. It is already written.
Ok OK so many of you got the chapter titles but decided not to post. To them, we apologize.
Until next time– GF