Chapter 11: Flexible Requests

The white locked transfer sipped his blend of Assam tea all too calmly in appearance for the likeliness of the tension that ran within the grounds of the institution, ever since the appointment of Umbridge as Hogwarts High Inquisitor. Through the proposition of educational reform, the ice captain had to hold back his amusement at the gall of the eyesore, when the mod-soul had sent him a copy of the papers, awaiting for the captain's instructions. In the position, the teacher appointed by the Ministry of Magic — pink eyesore — was to ensure that unsatisfactory professors were removed from Hogwarts, and Educational Decrees, as Umbridge suggested, were followed. Which in turn, were laws / rules that Umbridge as High Inquisitor deemed reasonable and necessary for ensuring the peace of Hogwarts.

How greedy. Toshiro drawled, allowing the caffeine to affect his tired mind, as they were now well into a month in the school year, having adjusted to the rhythm of school once more. Child torture, government corruption, and now blackmail against Fudge.

Flipping up the papers before him, one personal letter was of interest as it was addressed to the minister in complicated, nearly intelligible script on light pink paper, subtly denoting that if the minister did not comply, the undersecretary had to undertake dire actions for 'unjust and the good of the Ministry' but in seeing how they 'both were in agreement that He-Whom-Must-Not-Be-Named is gone as he should be,' the appointment of her new position was 'not a problem.'

She is supplying me with all the evidence to detain her, without having the need to do much of anything. The ice captain remarked amusedly as Hyorinmaru rose an eyebrow at his master's mirth, Sephiroth studying the icy shinigami as if trying to solve a particularly hard puzzle.

You are rather compliant with her, Master. Hyorinmaru commented as Toshiro shook his head.

I am merely doing as I said as I would. Nothing more, and certainly, nothing less. Toshiro revealed evasively, both dragons intrigued as they watched their master closely, well aware that no action was taken without accident.

And so, the reign of the High Inquisitor started.

It began with the professors, McGonagall and Snape haughtily answering their questions with obvious irritation, several others doing the same with appall such as Flitwick when Umbridge took out a measuring tape, Trelawney in giving a prophecy, Sprout in the eyesore's comments of the greenhouse's appearance. Irritation colored the captain's Inner World reflective of his mood in the midst of the interruptions, that if the pink professor wanted to waste time and question her colleagues, it should have been done in the off hours in which class was not in session.

Not to mention the Educational Decrees, which gave Umbridge astronomical power to please her sadistic and intruding desires upon the students and faculty, causing all and everyone to spite the pink-clad professor.

But there was a light in the midst of the chaos as it was displayed in one afternoon, a few weeks into the government monstrosity that was the High Inquisitor, to which the captain was seated in one of the many courtyards of the grounds, his bag opposite to him under a stone arch, dressed as he usually did in his school robes. The house tie replaced with a thin teal ribbon, his scarf and cloak absent despite the cold winter weather, as the two golden necklaces hid securely under his shirt. Fake sealing bracelet twinkling with it's icy blue diamond catching the soft sunlight, the captain appeared at ease as others went about their business, a gold ring that served as Hyorinmaru's gigai replacing the formerly bracelet.

Ignoring the idle chatter, the transfer did the same to the growing presence of Umbridge's approach, having begun her inspection of the students now; Potter, Weasley, and Granger having taken their own set of questioning.

"Mr. Hitsugaya?" It appeared to be his turn now.

Looking up from his Potions textbook, the ice captain rose an eyebrow at the pink eyesore, clad in warm wooly, and of course, pink clothing under an overly perfumed cardigan. Noting the crowd of spectators that had gathered, the captain made no external indication, but rather answered his Defence Against the Dark Arts professor.

"Yes, Professor?"

"Under Educational Decree No. 12: All students are to have proper dress and decorum and with that, as a transfer, despite being a foreigner; you must conform to our rules; Mr. Hitsugaya." Umbridge smiled smugly as the captain held back the urge to use hakuda as she continued. "Although you had complied to my request to seal off your Eastern magic, I am surprised that this is the rule that you cannot abide by. Pity, really; you were such a model student, top in all of your classes and word of your skill in Quidditch. But your white hair, height, and dress… such a pity…"

If looks could kill, Umbridge would have never been reincarnated as the one that Toshiro shot at her made everyone in the vicinity take an involuntary step back. Some took more than one.

"Yes, quite, High Inquisitor." Toshiro waved indifferently, his glare icy. "But as a new foreigner in your country, is it not the host country's job or rather mannerisms to welcome and allow foreigners to become accustomed to the new environment and ensure that they are comfortable?"

"That is the responsibility of the government, I am afraid, dear." Umbridge sighed in mock dejection. "It does not apply to you."

"But are you not the government, Professor?" Toshiro retorted swiftly, at ease as the eyesore's grin grew tighter with every word. "You had stated it yourself, Professor Umbridge. 'To insult me, is to insult the Ministry, and by that extension, Cornelius Fudge, himself.' If the responsibility befalls the government, but at the aspect of the foreigner, a wizard; then by that the Ministry of Magic, and by your logic, you. Or am I mistaken in the interpretation of your words?" You are a century too late if you want to play politics with me, Umbridge.

"…Very well, Mr. Hitsugaya." Umbridge smiled tightly, her face appearing to nearly rip from her smile. "…Good day to you."

And with a sharp turn, the defeated High Inquisitor exited the courtyard, leaving a captain who found himself surrounded by other students all excitedly congratulating and cheering him on, as he took them in with only one way he could think of. He shrugged as if to say nothing much happened, and then promptly left.

The news of the conversation in the captain's one over Umbridge traveled like wildfire as glances of approval glinted as the icy transfer walked past along with winks of mischief from the twins as Toshiro shooed them aside with a small hum of indifference, merely continuing his paperwork in peace, content within the library.

Elsewhere within the Gryffindor Common Room, which was relatively empty, considering the hour it was reasonably so; only to be broken by the arrival of Granger, Potter, and Weasley.

"I don't know, Hermione." Potter argued weakly, clearly reluctant of whatever it was. "They think I'm a liar and a freak. There's no way anyone would want to learn anything from me!"

"Harry." Granger stated with impatience. "You are the only one who can help and teach us how to defend ourselves. H-He's out there, like you said. We are not learning how to pass our O.W.L.(s). We are not learning how to defend ourselves. We need someone to teach us how."

"Hermione…" Potter began, conflicted.

"Harry." Weasley spoke up, looking at his best friend. "You're the one who faced h-him. You are the one who knows what to do in the face of V-Voldemort. No one else is better or more qualified to teach us."

Still conflicted, the Boy Who Lived turned away, feeling a pair of eyes on him as he turned to meet an icy gaze that he knew all too well. Hitsugaya having returned from his studies, stood with a risen eyebrow at the conversation, before he turned away, expression disinterested, when a call for his name stopped him in his steps. Sighing lightly, the captain turned, Potter's green orbs filled with conflict and reluctance as Granger and Weasley flanked him, both equally determined.

"What is it that you three wish of me?" Toshiro asked indifferently, but not unkindly. For some reason, I think it's something illegal.

Well, it's not your first time committing into illicit activity. Hyorinmaru shrugged as Sephiroth gaped mockingly before the captain silenced both of them.

Hesitation colored Potter's face before Granger huffed, speaking instead.

"Umbridge is not teaching us what we need to pass and not to mention her new position making everything being through into the sack. And I for one, will not stand for it." Granger declared boldly. "We need a teacher, someone who can teach us. Will you join us, Hitsugaya in teaching us along with Harry?"

"I was under the impression that you were requesting apprenticeship from Potter only." Toshiro pointed out, a brow inquisitive but not insulting. Besides, do you really want me to be teaching you all?

You would need to make no promises of injury and possible death. Sephiroth snorted, Hyorinmaru nodding solemnly.

"Two teachers are better than one." Granger smirked knowingly as she waved a hand. "Harry told me that you were the one who had taught him how to produce a Patronus charm, even though your methods were rather… harsh…" I think of them as 'effective.'

Master. Hyorinmaru stated patiently. Your methods of teaching are considered illegal here. Even though they are very much effective.

The white eyebrow remained in it's risen form, teal orbs unamused.

"…But you are one of the most skilled wizards of our generation…" The young witch gritted out reluctantly as amusement colored Potter, Hitsugaya, and most of all, Weasley at the girl swallowing her pride.

"So, you up for it, mate? Will you let us learn from you?" Weasley asked finally, anticipation coloring the Trio's eyes as they looked at the top of their class, who looked at each of them evenly before answering with an indifferent shrug.

"Do what you wish."

Which was how the captain found himself in a bar in Hogsmeade that weekend, a bit off ways from the main town but close enough to not be considered isolated, seated in a lone table with the ensemble that Granger had managed to gather, an overwhelming number of them Gryffindor in one side of the room, the trio on the other with the captain, who took a corner to himself. Despite the common sight of thick coats, mittens, woolen hats, and scarves; the ice captain was the one in the least amount of layers to which some of the girls had sent a glance in concern.

Donned in an ebony shirt under a charcoal vest, the necklaces gleamed under the captain's slightly exposed collar, the sleeves rolled halfway as fingerless gloves traced the aged wood that made up the table, giving away nothing but ease in his posture. Slim but comfortable jeans covered lean legs as combat boots ended them, a hint of yew peeking through the black leather, as if to warn those who dared to near that it's master was armed.

Toshiro watched with indifference, almost bored as the meeting continued; firstly awkward and almost as useless as Captain's Meeting could be, until the two best friends to the Chosen One, began to list their shared friend's accomplishments, blood rushing steadily with every word to the boy's face, when he could not take anymore.

"Look!" Harry called all to attention, as all but the ice captain complied, the exception's mind elsewhere. "…All of those things, that you say I did… Most of it was just luck… I didn't even know what I was doing half the time." The fact that he's made it this far still continues to awe me.

"He's just being modest." Hermione cut in as Harry argued the comment.

"No! Hermione. I'm not." Harry declared vehemently, trailing off with a glance at the ice captain. "When you're out there, watching a friend dying and trying to do your best to fight… You don't know what that's like…" Commemorate the moment. For once, the Boy Who Lived is right.

"You're right, Harry." Hermione piped up. "We don't. So, teach us."

Hesitation still colored Harry's face until Toshiro narrowed his teal orbs at the Boy Who Lived. Enough of this reluctance nonsense. Either the boy would do it or he back out, either way it made no effect in my plan. If anything, it would progress the results I wished sooner in any case.

"Potter, do you want to teach them?" Toshiro asked casually enough but the Boy Who Lived caught the underlined question within, as Granger and Weasley sent a suspicious glance, but choosing not to comment. Do you want to allow them in and depend on them? Because you know what happens if you don't.

A determined glint colors the green-eyed boy's gaze as Toshiro returned to his thoughts, a particularly irritant coloring his mind as of late. Teal orbs flickered to the hidden pink letter in his breast pocket as the captain ignored as all but himself sign the parchment as a part of Dumbledore's Army. Now for the eyesore.

It was later that night that the same captain appeared in the Great Hall, donned in the same ensemble despite the late hour, silent footsteps making no sound as he turned a corner, a small twitch of his lips as his teal orbs met a pair of onyx that seemed to glow in the darkness. Standing full in his ebony robes that draped with a tad of dramatic flair, Severus Snape, Potions Master, rose a brow at the appearance of the white-haired student.

Holding up a pink letter, the ice captain silenced any questions addressed to him, those yet to be voiced and all the implied ones, catching a similar glimmer of pink in Snape's left hand, hidden within the folds of ebony.

"Summons in the dead of night." Toshiro whispered, his voice still cold despite it's lowered volume as Snape took to the captain's side, strides silent.

"An annoyance." The Potions Master sneered in the night. "One that requires our attention, unfortunately."

Receiving a small hum in reply, silence was the only sound in the midnight air, and if it were not for the soft footfalls and occasion huff of breath, the professor and student alike may have been considered in the near trifles of the dead. But reaching a door, the darkly clad twosome entered the classroom, the stench of multiple potions and concoctions alike greeting them. Snape taking a seat at his desk and Hitsugaya taking his perch at a clean potion station, it was not long until a pomp knock broke the peace.

"Enter." Snape's low voice echoed, teal orbs and ebony ones exchanging glances before they trailed over to a smiling Umbridge, dressed in softer tones of her customary color, a velvet dark pink bonnet adorning her head as she smiled at the sight of them both.

"Snape and Mr. Hitsugaya, I see you have gotten my letter." Umbridge smiled wider, reminding the captain of Ichimaru. "I suppose you are both wondering what I wish from you to call you both in the dead night."

Neither bothered to reply.

"As a member of the Ministry and Madam Undersecretary, I am afraid that my position as High Inquisitor has dampened the students' view of me and has made my efforts of information gathering a rather daunting task." Umbridge continued after an awkward silence, the facade of her words poor. "And so, I ask of you Mr. Hitsugaya and Snape, if you would assist me in this."

"In what exactly?" Snape's curt question replied.

"Why what you do best." Umbridge exclaimed, as if the answer was obvious, waving a folded scroll to the captain, who unsealed the given parchment, teal orbs scanning it. "Sources have informed me that Mr. Hitsugaya is just as adept in this field, if he can live up to his reputation that is?"

"And so he is." Snape acknowledged as he caught the scroll from the captain, taking a moment to read.

"I shall ask of your progress in the month's time, at the same arrangements." Umbridge laughed sweetly, as she took her exit. "Good night, Snape. Mr. Hitsugaya."

After the clicks of the eyesore's heels dissipated into the castle, the captain narrowed his teal orbs, yew wand out to dispel wards and protective barriers to ensure that they are not eavesdropped, before turning to Snape, who merely waited, a small flicker of approval at his student as they met gazes.

"Draught of Living Death. Veritaserum. Choice of poisons, needing at least four." Snape read the list as the ice captain held back a snort. "Madam Undersecretary is no longer subtle in her needs for information."

"Do not say it as if she was in the first place." Toshiro deadpanned with a small scoff. "Once all of the students were informed of her position in the Ministry of Magic, it took little else to connect the two and two together. The list of atrocities that Umbridge is uptaking is almost astounding, just to propagandize."

"What of Potter?" Snape addressed, changing the subject.

"Nightmares." Toshiro replied curtly, his posture indifferent as he observed the small bottles of potions, some labeled in an era beyond Snape's age and others newer. "It will not be long until he is to the point in needing to be taught Occlumency."

"Not surprising that you are well-equipped in that as well. The Headmaster has wished you take part in assisting Potter in his lessons with me."

"Hmn." Hitsugaya acknowledged with slight annoyance as he took four of the bottles, dumping the contents with ease as Snape worked on grading assignments, as if unconcerned with the captain's tampering. Adding Standard Ingredients and placing the cauldron to a low heat, the twosome continued in silence. Throwing three folded blue feathers, the cauldron bubbled and fizzed quietly as a ladle stirred the contents counter-clockwise, then clockwise, and then counter thrice more. Finished in a colorless, odorless form; was the Veritaserum. Hours trickled by as the two continued in that way, morning dawning when a sharp rap to the classroom door was heard, Snape pausing at sealing a letter and Toshiro in crushing Bloodroot's flowers with powdered Moonstone.

After the bid to enter from Snape, the door swung open, to reveal a miffed Korihana, a several letters on hand. A pink and heavily perfumed one in particular.

Opening it while setting the others aside, a smirk played the white-haired student's lips, allowing a pointed look to color the Potions Master's expression. Noting the look, the captain merely passed the letter, Korihana clutching her talons on an iron ring, her posture cold yet haughty.

"Ridiculous." Snape sneered as Korihana sniffed as if to say with a snort, 'I told you so' before he turned to captain. "Hitsugaya, clean up and set the potions upon the adjacent shelf from the ingredients. You may go once you've finished."

"Excusing us from our usual duties to brew potions. How desperate." The ice captain smirked cynically as Snape's lips twitched at that, white wand waved once as the materials for Potions cleaned themselves.

"Unfortunately, the brewing time for Veritaserum is a month."

Inserting his wand into his boot, the captain turned to the doors, teal orbs twinkled with a sliver of mischief. "But plenty of time for brewing otherwise, Professor, fortunately enough."

Hearing a soft grunt of approval, the captain left.

Alined in two rows facing one another and reminding him of the arrangements in Captains' Meetings, only with Hogwarts students and Potter in the center, all with wands in hand while the captain was seated off to the side, within the Room of Requirement, the headquarters of the D.A. gleamed softly in candlelight, having established in the previous day after Dobby's 'discovery' of the hidden room. Reading a series of reports in Japanese while Harry lectured about the Disarming Charm, and soon as weeks bypassed, the Impediment Jinx, Reductor Curse, and the Stunning Spell were added to that list.

Which made it soon that the teaching had gone to their heads, inflating them a bit; as Harry tried his best to encourage his students. Until one day, the Boy Who Lived was cut off by a hand.

"Hitsugaya?" Harry said with slight hesitation as the others visibly stiffened at the captain's appearance in actually partaking in their lessons. Usually due to his busy schedule, the captain was preoccupied with classes, work, and personal duties; making his position as a teacher to the D.A. one that was solemnly seen despite the announcement of having dual teachers in the meeting.

Due to a certain red-head and bushy-haired one that would remain anonymous for obvious reasons, the D.A. was well aware of the methodology of the icy transfer's teaching. In an understatement, they were terrified.

"Unlike Potter, who has promised to only teach defensive magic, I am not going to do the same for you all." Hitsugaya began, his orbs even. "Nor am I going to teach you all the wandless magic I am able to wield. That magic is too powerful for any of you to wield and under my contract, I am not allowed to share it with all of you. Therefore, I will teach you offensive magic, as the best defense is an offense without any breaks in your form."

Excited and eager gazes colored the army as Harry gaped beside him.

"But it would be at least until the second semester until you are able to do so." Hitsugaya continued, before smirking lightly, unease settling once more. "Physical ability and endurance are the first for you to master if you wish to wield any type of magic."

Dubious looks and suspicion colored the students as the only time they had ever seen the captain in the offensive was with his wandless magic , and did not dare to interrupt as Hitsugaya sighed, deciding to take another approach to this. Narrowing his eyes at the group before him, the ice captain shunpoed slowly, that he was visible to the Hogwarts students, reappearing behind of Lee Jordan who was at the other side of the room, all gaping at the transfer's speed.

"If any of you can land one hit on me, whether through magic or physical means, I will forego the physical ability and endurance part of my teaching and straight to offensive magic. Of course, this includes you, Potter." Toshiro smirked lightly as they all hesitated, unsure. "And I will not being using my wand. I will tag each of you to signify that you are 'dead' or 'incapacitated' which will appear with a red mark on where I tagged you."

But Harry was undeterred even if he was ninety-nine point nine percent sure of his and the rest of the students in losing. "Alright, then. But no injuries."

"Hitsugaya!" Granger cried with concern in her brown eyes. "There's no way you can outmatch all of us without magic!"

"That is my concern." Hitsugaya shrugged, unperturbed.

"Are you sure about this, mate?"

"Yes, Weasley." Toshiro repeated, his irritation displayed slightly as he turned to Colin Creevey, a small Fourth Year who was a bit shorter than the captain. A little blonde boy with looked like he could not hurt a fly. "Creevey, you keep time and initiate when we start."

The blonde younger saluted with a proud grin. "Yes, sir!"

Nodding, the ice captain returned his gaze to his opponents. Wands out and deciding that groups were more effective, the first group was before him. Terry Boot, a Fifth Year from Ravenclaw, Ginny Weasley, a Fourth Year from Gryffindor, and Zacharias Smith, another Fifth Year from Hufflepuff, all surrounded him as Harry, flanked by Granger and the youngest male Weasley, were at the other end, just after the twins.

And at Creevey's signal, the D.A. versus the captain began.

Before any of them could say anything or do anything for that matter, Toshiro held out a thin vial in his fingers, it's color an acid green, as he smirked at Granger's widened gaze, recognizing the potion.

"Get back!" Hermione cried, pulling Harry and Ron with her as everyone looked at her, confused. "Hitsugaya is using an Exploding Potion!"

Dropping the potion before she could finish, the vial was dropped; covering the captain in the intentional distraction, shunpoing under the disturbed smoke and dust as he tagged the first team, taking Lee Jordan and Ernie Macmillan with them as the dust cleared, revealing the ice captain unscathed.

"Hitsugaya, I thought you said that you would not be using magic!" Granger called out from the other side with the rest, having heard the warning fast enough.

"I said I would not using my wand. I never stated anything about other magical items, Granger." Toshiro corrected, as Granger found herself outwitted as she fired a spell to reply.

"Stupefy!" Dodging the charm at the last minute, the captain executed a number of fluid flips and swift back rolls that he appeared to be dancing at the ease he was dodging them. Believing that would suffice, the captain dodged another Reducto from Katie Bell, when he appeared to disappear; using Apparition. Appearing before Parvati and Padma Patil, twins in Gryffindor, Toshiro tagged them quickly, along with Cho Chang, — who Potter could not shut up about until Toshiro threatened to silence him by other means — along with Marietta Edgecombe. Luna greeted the captain before sending a Stupefy his way, making swift work through Longbottom, Thomas, Brown and Johnson, who cursed when the captain had gotten her from behind.

Leaving only the twins and the Golden Trio, Toshiro regarded them evenly, before they all nodded, shouting their spells at once.

"Confundo!" Granger.

"Stupefy!" Weasley.

"Flipendo!" Potter.

"Impedimenta!" One of the twins.

"Immobulus!" The other twin.

Only to find the spells bounce back at them from a Kido barrier, countering each of them as the captain swiftly tagged each of them, faltering back as he rose an eyebrow at Potter who had missed his countered spell by several centimeters, readying to fire a ruby charge of an Expelliarmus.

But then, Harry found a splitting pain in his skull, as if someone had tried to crack it open with a hammer. However, lasting only a split second, the next thing the Boy Who Lived knew, his jugular gleamed red. He was out.

Colin announced that it had been four minutes and thirty-six seconds as all of them looked at the youngest captain of Soul Society as he had a class soon, a small shiver running down their spines. None of them said a thing about how he had gotten them at fatal points, major arteries and coma-inducing blow worthy places. Able to kill all of them with ease in less than five minutes. All of them had gathered to thank him and was excited to learn offensive spells from him. But all of them noticed all too well, that it was a death wish to have the transfer as an enemy.