Chapter 8: Back to School
Returning to Gryffindor Tower with McGonagall escorting him back, the ice captain, thanking the Transfiguration professor for suppling the new password for the House, a dark reiatsu entered the captain's mind as he suppressed a mental groan. Flicking out his wand and unsealing his reiatsu a bit, the captain entered the dormitory, finding a dreaming Harry in the midst of a nightmare.
Horcrux. The ice captain labeled the boy in midst of a nightmare, as he hid his wand, spotting Ron, the only one who was awake, staring aimlessly as the captain spoke.
"Weasley."
Looking toward the captain, the red-head flinched before relaxing, both turning to the slumbering Boy Who Lived. "Hitsugaya, what are you doing out so late? McGonagall talking to you about your appearance?"
The question of the ice captain's unchanged appearance had come up at the carriage as the white-haired transfer merely supplied the same explanation that he had given the Headmaster and Snape, deciding that discrepancies would only lead to more trouble, even though he had made up the concept at the spot. Even though he cared to look at the situation at every angle, there was things that he too missed, but that did not mean he did not take precaution into when he did commit them. Nodding to Weasley's question, the captain changed into an ebony hakama, before glancing to Harry. Catching the glance, the red-head merely shrugged.
"It happens often enough. But mate's a bit touchy 'bout it."
Merely humming in answer, the ice captain pulled his curtains, allowing them to separate him from the rest of his dorm mates, sealing them with a snap of his fingers as he Transfigured Hyorinmaru to his blade gigai, the ice captain falling back into the bed, his blade and wand within mere inches' reach as he pulled out his mod-soul phone, dialing the Head Captain.
Ignoring the small burst of Potter's reiatsu, which was a bit more twisted with the dark reiatsu than usual, the ice captain merely sighed, as he gave his report.
"Hitsugaya-taicho?" The Head Captain's commanding voice echoed as the ice captain spoke with swift reply. "Has there been any change in your mission?"
"Not by the long run, sir. I have more information in regard of the 'heavenly guardian' and to why Aizen could have been so keen to have me be given to Voldemort. However, it may have to require some political manipulation."
"I see." The elder captain replied, before speaking after a short silence. "Is the area secure enough for you to speak?"
"Yes, sir. However, I am short on time."
"Very well. I shall hear the rest of your report at that time. Will the following Captain's Meeting be suitable enough time for you to secure the area in which you will be reporting from?"
Gauging the hours, the ice captain nodded into the phone as he spoke. "Yes, sir. I shall give my full report in regards of the 'heavenly guardian' along with the control of the Ministry of Magic; then."
A grunt of approval, the sharp click of the phone rang out the end of the conversation as the ice captain replaced the phone, closing his orbs in thought, all the while; noting the stabilization of Potter's reiatsu and the snores of Weasley. They were sleeping soundly and were getting real sleep from the sound of it.
Good. Toshiro thought as he fingered his yew wand. They need it tomorrow.
So do you, Master. Hyorinmaru retorted with Sephiroth right behind him almost ready to scold as the ice captain allowed a small smirk to color his lips before receding to his ice dragons' urges for rest, falling back against the bed sheets as he too fell asleep.
Toshiro awakened several hours later with a soft groan as he dressed and passed the slumbering children and the empty common room, kindly reminded of how warm it was. Exiting the portrait, the ice captain ran a hand through his white locks, noting the length as he entered the Great Hall. There was little activity, the food set out already and several students crawling in; but otherwise, was quiet.
Pouring himself a cup of tea, the ice captain noted the bitterness.
Ceylon. Toshiro read the label as he buttered a slice of toast, pushing past the pancakes and sweet breakfast choices. Maybe I should switch from Earl Grey.
Wrapping his scarf over his form, the ice captain was dressed in his school robes, his sweater and tie forgone once more in replacement of his scarf and a thin ebony tie, as his cloak was set aside having taken it off when he entered the common room. A soft chirp took the ice captain from his breakfast as Korihana landed before him, a single letter on her beak as the captain rewarded her with some dried berries as she picked at them with as much dignity an owl could muster.
Unwrapping the envelope, the ice captain pulled out the parchment, reading the contents before a small smirk crossed his expression when a dreamy voice spoke, having just arrived to the hall.
"You look scary, Hitsugaya." Luna noted, as she still wore her plum earrings and cork necklace in her Ravenclaw robes, the magazine folded in an odd angle in her hands. "Have the dabberblimps been visiting you?"
"I wouldn't know, Lovegood." Toshiro replied, having not the faintest idea what the girl was talking about. "Are you awaiting for someone perhaps?"
"Perhaps." The girl repeated, before holding up the magazine. "Do you read The Quibbler?"
"The Quibbler?" A voice cut in as the ice captain turned to see Granger near the table, Weasley and Potter trailing after her. "That's filled with rubbish. Why would you read that?"
"My father is the editor." Luna retorted almost frostily as the ice captain sighed, Granger clearly flustered.
"I'm sorry, Luna." Hermione amended as the blonde girl quickly forgave her, stating that a wrackspurt had possessed her for the moment and that it was not her fault. Rendered speechless, the bushy-haired girl could only nod as she seated herself beside Toshiro with a groan.
"This school year is starting off so well." The girl groaned as Ron and Harry nodded in sarcastic agreement. "First, the Ministry is interfering with Hogwarts. Then, Harry with Seamus; not to mention Lavender and I, this morning. And now, Luna."
"Potter with Finnigan?" Toshiro echoed as he sipped his tea. "What happened now?"
Sighing, Hermione quickly recounted the events that occurred while he was summoned to Dumbledore's office, with several interjections / grumbles from Potter and occasionally, Weasley. The Daily Prophet had apparently had a number of readers who believed the printed words as Finnigan's mother was one of them, causing a fight between Potter and the former, until Weasley had arrived to break it up. And apparently, Granger had the same problem, in a less physical nature, with Brown.
"You all are being too hot-headed and are causing more trouble than needed." Toshiro stated as he lowered his cup with a clink. "Despite the words of Finnigan's mother, did Finnigan perchance believe the Daily Prophet's words, Potter?"
Harry shook his head, replying he did not know.
"Then I presume that he had not argued back until you insulted his mother." Toshiro conjectured as he continued, noting a presence behind the three. "You were at fault for presuming and adding on that his mother was ignorant. You are well aware of the situation as to regards of the Ministry, Potter. The Daily Prophet is a propaganda tool, not something worth insulting others' mothers over."
"However, you were not entirely at fault." Toshiro spoke as he sent a glare to Seamus, whose smirk faltered, all turning in surprise to find him. "Finnigan, as a witness to the events of the previous year, you should have known or at least thought better to have mentioned that to Potter. While Potter is at fault; you too, bear some in that you could have cleared up and worded your responses better, couldn't you, Finnigan?"
"I suppose." Seamus mumbled as he turned to Harry both mumbling apologies to one another as Hitsugaya returned to his tea.
"Harry!" A girl's voice rang out as she seated herself at the table beside the green-eyed boy.
"Angelina." Harry greeted as she waved at everyone else at the table who was joined with Ginny, the twins, along with Neville and Dean. Nodding in his greeting, Toshiro clipped his cloak over his form as the conversation between the new Quidditch captain and their Seeker resonated.
"Guess who's the new captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team?" She smiled rhetorically as Harry grinned back.
"Congratulations. You replacing Wood?"
"Yup. And with that, we'll need a new Keeper." She frowned as she held up a hand, at the Boy Who Lived and then at the twins. "So, that's why this Friday, we'll be holding tryouts. So, be at the pitch after class. And no tardiness."
"Yes, ma'm." The twins saluted in half-hearted mockery as they nodded in unison, mouths filled with syrupy French toast. "Fahday."
Wrinkling her nose in disgust, the new captain turn tailed, sending a glance to Harry to make sure the twins showed up for good measure.
"Mr. Hitsugaya."
Turning at the sound of his name, Toshiro lowered his tea as he was given his schedule, scanning it over once as he noted that it was even more complicated than his Third-Year, recalling the session with McGonagall.
"You don't know?"
Toshiro Hitsugaya kept his stare even as he replied an affirmative. "Yes, Professor. I do not know what I want to pursue as a wizard at least in regards of the Western Wizarding realm. In the East, I am already at the position I wish to be and well into my training. But here, I do not know. Or rather there is nothing that interests me to be."
"Well…" McGonagall sighed as she looked over several papers in her office. "Dependent on what you wish to pursue in your future, Mr. Hitsugaya, you are assigned the recommended classes."
"Then what position can I potentially pursue in the future, that would assist me as the future Head of the House of Yamamoto?" Toshiro retorted as the Transfiguration Professor allowed herself a moment to think before speaking.
"Would you consider in working at the Ministry, Mr. Hitsugaya?"
Now that's ironic. Hyorinmaru smiled cheekily as Toshiro rolled his eyes mentally. A shinigami captain, a member under the Ministry of Magic, currently being led by a mod-soul under the same captain's control. Your manipulation gets you in so many circles, Master.
The next thing she'll offer you a military leader position. Sephiroth poked playfully as McGonagall spoke up, taking the ice captain from his thoughts.
"Considering your military background, Mr. Hitsugaya; I doubt you would like taking orders from the Ministry." She shook her head, when an idea seemed to come to her. "Would you consider being an Auror, Mr. Hitsugaya?"
"An Auror?" Toshiro echoed as he ignored Sephiroth's yells of being right. "Is that also under the Ministry of Magic, Professor?"
"Yes, under technical terms; Mr. Hitsugaya." McGonagall nodded as she folded her hands over the desk that separated the student and professor. "However, it is more of a separate division of the Ministry, the only one you would report to in actuality, is your superior. And are only a member under the Ministry only by name as you are more of a hunter of sorts with Dark Wizards."
"I see." Toshiro nodded as he fingered the paper he was given. "It seems to be a difficult position to uptake, Professor. No applicants for the past three years with the exception of Tonks. A low acceptance rate."
Hyorinmaru snorted at his master. Master, you've bypassed worse.
Like? Sephiroth asked.
Like being the youngest shinigami to graduate from Shino Academy in one year and reach captaincy in history. And Soul Society has existed as long as the Head Captain was alive.
Ignoring his ice dragons, the captain returned to the professor.
"You have met the requirements of being N.E.W.T. level as far as your education, Mr. Hitsugaya, unofficial as they may be." She noted. "As you would need to go through training afterwards to ensure that you are adept in all the fields necessary. But to maintain your curriculum here, I would recommend this set of classes for this year."
Looking over them, the captain nodded as he pulled out his Time-Turner.
"Then I suppose I would require to use this."
Slipping a golden chain under his scarf, the ice captain seated himself in the bustling classroom beside Granger, who greeted him with a smile as they sat in front of Thomas and Finnigan, who joked and laughed at something with Potter and Weasley who sat beside them. A paper bird held the class's amusement as it flew in the air, as if surveying the changes that had been made due to the change of professors. They were not much, but the desks were arranged in neat rows as a professor's desk sat on the elevated lecture position with several stacks of textbooks on it, along with a new chalkboard as Umbridge had yet to appear; or so it seemed.
In a mid-flight, the paper bird burst into a small plume of flames, the ashes falling down the onto the adjacent desk to Granger and the captain, all but the latter turning to the pink-clad professor, smiling curtly. Curved with what appeared to be too much complication and unnaturally short, the wand was the gripped by the very same eyesore, as she smiled, speaking in her honeyed voice.
"Good morning, children."
No, it isn't. If anything, that conversation with Dumbledore was a far cry from a good morning. Toshiro retorted mentally as he scrawled an approval for the new recruits and transfers to his division, before scanning over the financial balances.
"Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations." Umbridge smiled as she walked down the aisle toward her desk, her wand waving for the chalk to script her words on the blackboard.
"O.W.L.(s)!" She exclaimed, in faux happiness, coming to a stop before her students. "More commonly known as OWLs. Study hard and you will be rewarded. Fail to do so, and consequences may be severe."
With a smarting wave of her wand, the new textbooks seated themselves before each student, nearly crushing the transfer's report as he looked up with a risen eyebrow, Umbridge's words resonating as looks of disbelief took on nearly every student's face.
"Your previous instruction in this subject has been disturbingly uneven. But you'll be pleased to know, from now on, you will be following a carefully structured, Ministry-approved course of defensive magic."
This looks more like Yachiru's coloring book than a textbook on defensive magic. Toshiro stated as he flipped through the text, scanning its contents with a small frown as more of the students; namely Granger, Weasley, Potter and basically everyone else took the expression. Not to mention the lack of spells or hexes for that matter.
Apparently, Granger was not one to stand for it, as the bushy-haired girl rose a hand with a glare to accompany it.
"Yes?" Umbridge called, her voice inked with an innocent twinkle, appearing to not notice the squint in Granger's expression. If Toshiro recalled it correctly, the black-haired Kurosaki had called it, 'the stink eye' look.
"There's nothing in here about using defensive spells?"
"Using spells?" Umbridge cried, her frog-like face incredulous and almost scandalized at the thought as she laughed nervously. "Well, I can't imagine why you would need to use spells in my classroom."
That's like saying there shouldn't be any ice in my Inner World because it's too cold. Toshiro deadpanned as he ignored Hyorinmaru and Sephiroth's bursts of laughter at the incredulousness of the thought. That is just plain idiotically and moronically absurd.
"We're not gonna use magic?" Ron questioned, his facial expression eccentric as if he was trying clarify that the pink eye-sore just said what she had just said.
"You'll be learning about defensive spells in a secure, risk-free way." Umbridge assured as the ice captain held back the urge to snort.
Your teaching methods will last you five minutes in the battlefield of Soul Society, Umbridge. And that's us being nice. Toshiro scoffed, shoving aside the textbook as he returned to his paperwork; before pausing to add an afterthought. Along with being oddly generous that day, depending if we are going to cut you down ourselves from behind or not.
Being nice as in letting her waltz into the battlefield like that, not even letting her know that you've already prepared the burial rites whether luck or generosity is involved or not. Hyorinmaru bantered playfully as Sephiroth shrugged. At least, Master was kind enough to do that.
I'm not that merciful. Ukitake might but I think even he would be hard pressed to do that. Toshiro retorted, as Potter's voice cut in.
"What's the use of that?" The green-eyed boy scoffed, as he sent a glance to the white-haired transfer. "If we're attacked, it won't be risk free."
"Students will raise their hands when they speak in my class." Umbridge turned away, as she spoke, her voice struggling to be honeyed and sweet as she faced them once more. "It is the view of the Ministry that a theoretical knowledge will be sufficient to get you through your examinations, which, after all, is what school is all about."
You haven't been to Shino Academy, have you, Umbridge? The ice wielder asked rhetorically, as the captain continued his survey of the applications. Theoretical knowledge is nonexistent. Only commandments of how to survive and make your death in consideration of others, resorting to any measure needed.
Medieval times were so much simpler. Sephiroth agreed, as he shook his head. Survive, and keep your wits with you as you do; and if you can't, then at least the plants will find you useful.
Compost. Hyorinmaru supplied, as Sephiroth nodded.
"And how's theory supposed to prepare us for what's out there?" Harry asked indignantly, as eyes turned back to him.
"There is nothing out there, dear." The eyesore — Toshiro found this nickname becoming more and more fitting, her face was practically about to rip open from the smiles she was forcing out — smiled, as her face turned mockingly inquisitive. "Who do you imagine wants to attack children like yourself?"
"Oh. I don't know. Maybe, Lord Voldemort." Harry supplied with just as much mockery as the classroom silenced dramatically, glances sent between the Trio and the captain, the Daily Prophet readers, and the fellows in-between the nonsense.
"Now, let me make this quite plain." Umbridge smiled forcefully, trying to regain what little control of the classroom she had left, looking at individual students' faces. "You have been told that a certain dark wizard — Gee, who can that be, Master? Ow! Elder! — is at large once again."
"This is a lie." Umbridge pressed as she came to a stop at Harry's desk.
"It's not a lie." Potter protested vehemently, as he met the frog professor's glare dead on. "I saw them. I fought him."
"Detention. Mr. Potter." Dolores Umbridge declared as she briskly walked back to her desk, Potter shouting behind her as the ice captain watched with an icy glare, seemingly unmoved.
"So, Cedric Diggory just dropped dead of his own accord?"
"Cedric Diggory's death was a tragic accident." The Defence Against the Dark Arts professor retorted as she tried to force another smile, but was faced with a supplicant from Harry, sharp and biting.
"It was murder. Voldemort killed him."
"Enough!" Umbridge yelled, her composure snapped as she breathed, a smile regained albeit, a bit more forced. "Enough."
"See me later, Mr. Potter. My office."
I need to meet with Cornelius Fudge, it seems my orders need to be rectified from the ones I had sent him on the way upon Hogwarts Express. Toshiro thought darkly as he sent a narrowed glare at Harry. Along with Urahara soon; if I am going to play Umbridge and what Fudge had planned for her correctly.
Toshiro seated himself in the Great Hall, having finished giving the Head Captain his report right after classes, receiving a headache in courtesy of Zaraki and Soifon, this time, arguing on how they should execute a particularly annoying murderer that had apparently been a great swordsman and had killed a number of Rukongai residents before he was apprehended. Zaraki insisted on letting him have a 'go' at the murderer, while Soifon argued that it was under the authority of the Onmitsukido. After a declaration that the murderer had died an hour after they began to argue by a report of a subordinate, the ice captain was just about done with this day.
"Hitsugaya? Are you feeling alright?"
An icy teal gaze met a concerned brown look as Toshiro nodded, hiding his surprise of seeing the latter as he had seated himself at the end of the table, sighing as he spoke. "Ever since this morning, Longbottom, let's just accept that my day was not the most splendid of days."
"Join the club." Harry said dully as he seated himself, Ron and Hermione on the tow; all three of them ignoring the whispers and remarks directed at the half-blood. After the display at Defence Against the Dark Arts, stories and tales of the event traveled quickly as snide remarks toward Harry and Umbridge's teachings saturated the conversations at every turn by the end of the hour.
"Umbridge is obviously working as Fudge's spy. You all saw how she clung everything she said to the Ministry." Harry scoffed as he served himself some lamb and mashed potatoes, as the ice captain sent each of them a glare, eyes informing them to speak with silenced voices. "Why else would she be here other than to play as Fudge's dog?"
"But to teach us defensive magic without spells?" Hermione added with a soft huff, loud enough for the five of them to hear but drowned from the chatter in the Hall. "That's like trying to learn how to read without letters. How are we going to defend ourselves?"
"We need a new bloody teacher." Ron agreed as he bit into a chicken wing, Neville looking unsure as Toshiro merely shrugged before speaking, pouring himself a cup of Ceylon.
"To answer Granger's question, you don't." Toshiro stated bluntly, as he pointed to Harry. "After the display between Potter and Professor Umbridge, it is obvious that she is firm that the Ministry of Magic is correct, no matter the words of anyone; especially Potter's. So, with the use of the Daily Prophet and propaganda; the Ministry of Magic has effectively stifled the truth of that result of the previous year from sinking in, and with that, Fudge has most likely decided that you all, are too educated."
"Too educated?" Hermione repeated as if trying a rotten fruit, as Ron and Harry looked at each other as if they never thought that they could have been deemed as 'overeducated.' "How can you be overeducated, Hitsugaya? And why would us being too educated make Umbridge not teach us spells?"
"Have you ever heard of knowing too much, Granger?" Toshiro shot back rhetorically, as he nodded to Dumbledore. "With Potter's spouts, Fudge has deemed him a threat and the ones protecting him as one, and therefore, will do anything to interfere with him. Including with cutting off your education."
"And you know this how?" Ron questioned, raising an eyebrow of his own as the ice captain shrugged once more, setting his cup.
"Ambush tactics, Weasley. You render your opponent without food, water, information, and of stable location and soon enough, they would have to face you, cornered. Having deprived of necessities and possible disorientation is simply a bonus."
"Spoken like a true ice captain. Ne, Hitsu-chan?"