Soldier 27

Warning: We are now dealing with the dementors as promised. What we did was marry Bleach Canon and HP Canon and threw out what didn't fit. Again, we plead Poetic License.

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.

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Chapter 27: Trumpets Blowing

"Hey Ichigo, Sirius, what's going on?" Harry asked as he took a seat in the crowded DMLE office. "I only have an hour until my next exam."

Sirius handed a plate of sandwiches and a cup of tea over to Harry.

"Harry, what do you know about Dementors?" Urahara asked as the teen settled himself in a chair.

"I already told you last summer, Urahara-san," came the reply as Harry bit into his quick lunch.

Urahara raised his fan and tapped it to his chin. "Humor me."

Harry recounted, in between bites, what he knew and had experienced.

"When I first saw them, I thought they were Mini Menos," Ichigo said, his English somewhat better. Looked like someone had hit him with a translation spell after all.

"Actually, the ones we caught in the Forbidden Forest," Urahana explained, going into teacher mode. ". . .are something we've never seen before. We had Division 12, Research and Development, take a look at them. The R & D discovered that they are actually Bounts that were hollowified."

"What are Bounts?" Harry asked, confused at the term while Ichigo scowled and let out an angry growl.

"A Bount was a Soul Society experiment that went wrong, terribly wrong, several centuries ago," Urahara explained, ignoring the teen. "They were experimental souls that escaped to, and were born during different times throughout the Living World. It is unknown how many of these 'modified' souls escaped into the Living World, and the Soul Society did their best to eliminate them. They consumed other life forces to survive which was were the vampire myths come from, but bounts prey on souls, not blood.

"Dementors, as far as we can tell, are Bounts that were hollowified. How and why we are still trying to discover.

"That's why they feed on souls through what you wizards call 'The Kiss.' It is a horrible way to die, and the kissed soul has no chance of returning to the Soul Society and rebirth. That is why the Soul Society has ordered their destruction," Urahara said with an abrupt snap of his fan.

"As far as we know, a Dark Wizard named Ekrizdis was the one credited with creating Dementors," Madam Bones took up the tale. "It is said he did terrible things in his experiments, and when he was killed all of his notes were destroyed. Later, it was Minister Damocles Rowle that siezed the fortress of Azkaban, and turned it into a prison to contain them, and the dregs of our society."

"What's hollowified mean?" Harry asked, thinking hard on where he had heard the term. "Wait, that's what Shinji and the others are, right?"

Urahara nodded. "But we are not sure how these Bounts were hollowified. Hollowification. . ." Urahara didn't look at Ichigo, who had straightened slightly. ". . . is a process that places a Hollow's soul into a normal soul. It's dangerous, as Hollows can't be controlled. I know of several shinigamis that were Hollowified and the pain and torture they went through to gain control of their inner Hollows was immense. I would not recommend it. They must constantly battle their inner hollow to stay in control."

Ichigo gave another angry snort which caused everyone to give him a look. Urahara just pulled his hat down to hide his eyes.

The blonde scientist turned to Madam Bones and stared into her eyes. "Regardless what laws or procedures you have for these creatures – these Dementors – they eat souls, remove all happy thoughts and emotions. The Soul Society has now been made aware of their existence and will not allow them to continue in the Living World. They are not pleased and will be coming soon to destroy them."

"I keep telling you there's no way to destroy them! We have tried!" Madam Bones snapped back. "And even if there was, the Ministry wouldn't allow it."

"And yet, I killed two last summer," Ichigo snarled at her look of disbelief. "And we killed several more in that crazy forest behind Harry's school since then."

"And I keep telling you, that's impossible!"

Ichigo threw up his hands. "Why don't you summon one and I'll take care of it for you?" he challenged.

"Enough Ichigo-kun," Uruhara chided. "We will discuss this later. Harry-kun needs to get back to his exams. Bones-taicho promised us a tour in their Department of Mysteries, and a talk with their Unspeakables."

"How are your exams going, Harry?" Sirius asked, changing the subject.

"Not too bad. Easy for the most part," Harry said as he finished his lunch. "I have DADA this afternoon, should pass it easily."

Madam Bones looked relieved that the rest of their lunch hour turned to discussion of Harry's O.W.L.'s and how he felt about them. She commented that it was a rare student, aside from Ravenclaws, who took the exams early.

"Well, I thought it was strange that Harry, the son of two very intelligent people, did so poorly at Hogwarts," Remus commented. "When I taught him in third year, I could see he was being held back by his friends. The intelligence was there, but not the desire to achieve."

Harry sighed, as he wandlessly banished his leftover lunch. "And yet, people saw only what they wanted to. I had no choice, it was either hide my abilities or lose my friends. Just like it was either get poorer marks than Dudley, or be 'punished'."

"I can see it now, but then. . ." Remus sighed into the sudden silence.

With his lunch break over, Harry returned to his exams. He hoped that the news he was taking his O.W.L.'s early was still on a need to know basis. Unfortunately he was sure that by the end of the day, word would get out and Albus Dumbledore would try to stop him.

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Harry exited his DADA exam a little bemused. He had finished the theory test about fifteen minutes early.

When he'd walked into the practical the instructor said: "I was there when you battled Fudge, and I had Madam Bones show me Halloween night. There's nothing I can test you on, and I only hope I am not the examiner when you go for your mastery! I don't think there will be a tester at your level. No offense, but I never want to be on the other side of your magic – or your sword. You pass with an O+. Now get out of here!"

Harry smiled and gave a slight bow before slipping out the door.

It didn't take long for him to find someone who knew where Ichigo and everyone else was. They were still in the Department of Mysteries.

Harry was escorted to the barren chamber deep within the heart of the Department by a robed and hooded Unspeakable.

Ichigo and Urahara were standing in front of the huge, stone archway and its fluttering veil. Neither looked pleased. In fact, Ichigo looked ready to kill something.

'At least he is still in his body,' Harry thought and wondered how long that was going to last.

"Oi, Runt! Any idea on how it got here, and who opened it?" Ichigo demanded. Harry could see from the reactions of the others it wasn't the first time he had asked. "And why the hell is it made from stone?"

Harry threw his hands up as he gave his cousin a questioning look.

"All the history we have says that Merlin created it as he wanted to study the After Life," the hooded Unspeakable explained, yet again. "We're still studying it. Occasionally, we send condemned prisoners through just to see what happens."

"They are killed instantly, what did you think?" Ichigo snarked. "Even I know that."

"Nothing living survives once they enter a Senkaimon," came Urahara's sing-song voice, deep with his annoyance. "Well, it's obvious it needs to be closed."

The blond scientist tapped one of the stones of the archway with his fan. "Only spirits can pass through safely. The Dangai was once used as a penal colony by the Soul Society for condemned prisoners. I suspect there will be a litter of human bones just inside. I've just never seen a permanent gateway before. It needs to be studied, then destroyed."

The former captain raised his hand and summoned a black butterfly. He stared at it for a moment before flitted off his finger and flew into the archway. Then it returned to land on his outstretched hand. He studied it for a moment before giving a sigh.

Madam Bones and the Unspeakable started to protest after the insect disappeared. Then gasped in surprise as it returned.

"Ichigo, it should be safe for you to travel in it."

"What about the cleaner?" Ichigo asked as he studied the entrance.

Urahara gave him a look and a smirk. "That is a very good question. I don't know if there is one."

Harry watched as Ichigo popped a green pill into his mouth and swallowed. He then pressed a badge to his chest and suddenly there was two of him.

"Alright Ichigo this Hell butterfly will safely take you through. I have no idea where you'll end up, though. it could be the heart of the Seiretei or the outskirts of the Rukon District. Your only safety is the butterfly. Watch out for the cleaner. However, I don't know if this gate has one from what you are telling me."

Ichigo's clone stood in front of the stone archway in a black soul reaper outfit, with a massive zanpakuto strapped to his back. "Kon, behave yourself and stay out of trouble."

"Right Ichigo," the Ichigo double said with a nod. Everyone could see that this was a different teen than before.

"Don't worry Ichigo, I'll keep an eye on him," Harry volunteered. Ichigo gave his cousin a curt nod.

"What's going on? And why are there two Ichigos?" Sirius asked, confused.

"I'm Kon," the teen announced as he looked around. "Where am I?"

"It's alright, Sirius-san," Urahara said, before turning back to Ichigo. "Just be careful."

"Right." The black-clad Ichigo turned, walked up to the Veil and stuck his head inside much to the shock and horror of the wizards present. Pulling out, he turned back, "There is a pile of bones just inside and a fresh dead body. I didn't see a cleaner."

"That would be Pettigrew," Madam Bones answered shakily. "He was tossed in a few days ago."

"Wh. . . why isn't he sucked in and killed?" asked a stuttering Sirius. The wizards, except for Harry, couldn't believe that Ichigo was standing so close to the Veil and wasn't afraid of being swept in.

"Ichigo's a special case," Urahara said as he released the black butterfly. "Before you go, you'll need these to convince the Head Captain. He'll know who to send back." He handed Ichigo several file folders. "Remember, you have four minutes. Run Ichigo."

"Right!" Ichigo tucked the folders into his gi as well as grabbing Urahara's fanas he turned to watch the butterfly enter the Veil and sprinted in after it.

"Bring that fan back! It's my favorite!" Urahara chided after the disappearing youth.

"Don't worry, Sirius," Harry assured his shivering godfather after Ichigo was gone. "As Geta-Boshi said – Ichigo's special. Besides, the Soul Society owes him big time."

"Uh Harry? What's this Soul Society you speak of?" Remus asked as Kon and Urahara snickered. "And if that was Ichigo, then. . . "

Harry smiled. "The Soul Society is that place where souls who die go to be reborn. You could say it is Paradise, or in other words Heaven."

"WHAT!?"

Harry shrugged as he pulled Kon and his wandering hands away from Madam Bones. "Kon! Behave yourself. Sorry Madam Bones, but he can be a bit of a pervert."

"But what is he?" she asked, as she gave the teen a glare.

"Kon's a modified soul with a slightly perverted personality. He inhabits Ichigo's body to keep it from rotting when Ichigo has to leave it," Harry explained.

"But just what is Ichigo?" asked the dumbfounded Unspeakable.

"He is a Substitute Shinigami, or in English, a Soul Reaper," Harry said.

"As in a Grim Reaper?" asked Remus hesitantly.

"Not really. Similar, but different," Urahara piped in. "Harry?"

Harry sighed and took over the explanation. "As it was explained to me, and what I know about our two different cultures and philosophies, a Soul Reaper protects souls that have already been severed from their body by death. If the soul hasn't moved on to the Soul Society, what we call the afterlife, a Soul Reaper will help send it on its way. A Grim Reaper takes lives, not caring for the departed soul."

"I see," said the Unspeakable as he pulled out his wand. "Fascinating. I must study this more. I'm afraid I can't allow you to shut the Veil down."

Harry sighed as he raised a hand. "Bakudo #63: Sajo Sabaku: Locking Bondage Stripe. Fool, you don't get it. You have no choice when it comes to the soul."

"What do you mean?" asked Remus as chains of light wrapped around the struggling Unspeakable.

"Ichigo went to the Soul Society," Harry replied. "You don't want to cross whoever comes back with him. Right Geta Boshi?"

Kisuke Urahara grinned as he tugged on the brim of his bucket hat. "Ichigo by himself is a force of nature. If he brings back who I think he will, then you people wouldn't stand a chance."

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We aren't going to repost the definitions as they've been posted earlier.

Also, we want to thank everyone for the reviews.

Until next time. – GF and The Frau