Disclaimer: The only things I own are my pen, paper, laptop, and Harry Potter books written by one, JK Rowling. Also, this shit gay. Get over it.

A/N: This is unbeta'd. I will be going back and making a valiant attempt at fixing this eventually. uwu

In the Arms of a Father Chapter 3: A New Beginning

Harry got up and dragged his bag out from above their heads before making his way outside. "Cole, where are your things? I thought I saw you with a huge cart earlier?" he asked as they joined the throng of adolescent bodies.

The girl simply smirked and pulled out a scroll, tapping it to her temple. "In here. It's something us ninja learn. It makes missions and traveling a lot easier if all our food and other shit are all sealed into tiny scrolls we can stick in our pockets. I'm sure there's a magical equivalent somewhere if you bother to look," she replied with a smile. "Most of what we do can be called wandless magic by your standards. Magic is a kind of energy; you pull it from your surroundings. But a ninja's brand of magic is called 'chakara' and it is our own stored energy. Some people have more than others." She explained patiently. She was actually completely fascinated with all the kinds of magic in the world and how science related to it all.

Harry just nodded, pretending to understand what she was saying. He managed a small smile as Cole laughed, knowing he had no clue what she was talking about. Right as they were about to board one of the carriages, a booming voice was heard.

"-LE TAKAHASHI? NICOLE TAKAHASHI? NICOLE TAKAHASHI PLEASE REPORT TO ME IMMEDIATELY," Hagrid called through the crowd. Cole took a moment to stare at this giant of a man that was calling to her.

"Shit, Harry who is that?" she asked nervously. Although the man didn't seem very powerful, he did give off an aura of being impervious to most attacks. Not to mention his sheer girth would make it difficult to land any actually damaging physical blows.

Harry finally gave a full-blown laugh. Hagrid wouldn't even purposely hurt a fly. "Don't worry. That's just Hagrid. I guess you're going to cross with the first years to get sorted with them," he said with an encouraging smile.

"Find the Weasley twins and sit with them, okay?" Cole said through clenched teeth. She just got to her mission and now she had to abandon her post. Harry nodded as he spotted the two redheads a little ways away and watched as Cole drifted to the half giant. The shorter boy stood for a moment, wondering how Cole managed to look like she was gliding when she walked as opposed to walking. Shaking his head, he left his luggage where he was supposed to and joined the twins who slapped him on the back and pulled him into their carriage.

In the Great Hall, Harry settled himself at the very end of the Gryffindor table and empty space surrounded him. No one sat across from him or next to him. Fred and George offered to stay with him, but he waved them off. He knew they wanted to sit with Lee to discuss some prank or another. Harry continued to stare down at his plate as the sorting went on, only lightly clapping as someone was sorted into his own house.

When the sorting was finally over, Harry waited for the food to appear on the table. Instead, Dumbledore began speaking again. "This year, Hogwarts has the privilege of housing yet another international student! She comes from Japan, although not to worry, her English is impeccable. So please join me in welcoming Miss Nicole Takahashi!" The hall clapped half-heartedly. It was full of hungry teenagers waiting to eat. "And as soon as she is sorted, the feast will begin!"

Professor McGonagall called out her name and Cole stepped forward. The way she carried herself immediately demanded attention. She sat on the stool almost comically. It was made for eleven year olds who stood at about five feet tall. Still, she managed to be somewhat graceful as the Sorting Hat was placed on her head. After a tense two minutes of silence, the whole school wanting this new girl who could carry herself in such a manner to be in their house, the Hat decided with confidence, "SLYTHERIN!"

Harry smiled a bit at that. Cole would be good for Slytherin. She could help them get out of Voldemort's grasp, or even be a fantastic spy. She was foreign and Voldemort wouldn't know where her alliances fell. He watched calmly as she sauntered over to the Slytherin table and proceeded to ignore everyone who talked to her. She met Harry's gaze and winked. She would be keeping an eye on him.

Once the feast was in full swing and the hall was filled with chattering students, Harry found himself with company. Cole had some how escaped her new fan club and joined Harry at the Gryffindor table. Immediately, the room quieted he felt the stares on him again. He sighed and kept his head down as he picked at his food. "You know, you should probably sit with your own house… We're not too fond of interhouse relations here in Hogwarts," he said quietly.

"Sounds like a child's bitch fit. I'm not going to deal with that. I'd rather sit with a friend," Cole replied, biting into a chicken leg. "I've seen enough conflict between the villages back home, I'm not about to condone it in a school."

The hall burst into loud talk and whispers as soon as the brunette girl sat down. Thankfully, they were left in peace for a few moments before Ron Weasley showed up. Cole quickly looked him over. She determined that the redhead was a momma's boy with abandonment issues and a deep set insecurity in his own self due to the fact that he was the sixth son in a family of seven. That would be most annoying to deal with. She sighed before returning to her meal. If she recalled correctly, this was one of the few Weasley children that did not condone of Harry's preferences of bed partners. It also really probably didn't help that Harry was the golden child. Then sleeping with the triwizard champ for Hogwarts last year? That just wouldn't do now would it?

"I always knew you were going to turn out evil. Becoming mates with a Slytherin now, are you?" the redhead bit out scathingly. He rolled his eyes and looked at the girl standing next to him. Cole deduced this was Hermione. Hermione looked very put off by Ron's comments. However, undeterred by his friend's disapproving look, Ron continued speaking. "Nothing more than what could be expected of a faggot."

Cole almost laughed. Almost. She saw the look on Harry's face. The boy was hurting. Ron was supposed to be his friend. Ron was his first friend ever. And this is what it came to? Over something that was literally out of his control? The redhead had accepted him after the parsel tongue thing. After finding out that his godfather was a criminal (wrongly accused but the sentiment was there). Even after their spat over the triwizard tournament last year. What made this any different? Harry didn't choose to have feelings for Cedric. And he certainly wasn't thinking much of anything when the two of them fell to bed last year. Harry shook his head slightly to clear those thoughts from his mind. He didn't want to remember those times. Not here. Not where he could end up crying his heart out in front of the entire school.

Hermione beat Cole to anything Ron could have done. The witch raised her hand and smacked Ron on the back of the head so hard he nearly doubled over. "RONALD. BILIUS. WEASLEY. I SWEAR TO MERLIN…" she began shouting. She took a deep breath and let it go before continuing in a much more acceptable volume for private conversation. "I swear to Merlin. You are such a bigoted little… Little… Little child! I don't understand why you are so fickle when it comes to Harry! I don't see anything wrong with who he chooses to be with! And neither does your entire family. I swear, if I didn't know better, I would say you're just jealous that he picked Cedric over you!" Hermione finished her tirade with a little stomp before huffing off to the dorm. Harry was about to call out to her. They didn't know the password for the portrait. But then he remembered. Ron and Hermione had been appointed prefects this year.

Ron turned bright red, sputtering, before following Hermione. Harry leaned back and stretched out his back before slumping over again. "Well that went better than expected…" he said with a morose chuckle. "Could have sworn he was going to hit me… Or tell the entire school what an abomination I am…"

Cole's attention was sparked again. "Wait. You're telling me that the school doesn't hate you for being out? Its for something else?" she asked, confused. She couldn't think of a single reason why the entire student body could single out this kid. It's not like he housed Voldemort or anything. When Harry shook his head, affirming her statement that the hatred was for something else, the kunoichi snorted in disbelief. "Well shit… Man then you're not in the danger I thought you were in. That makes life a lot easier for me at least. So tell me why everyone hates you then," she demanded.

Harry sighed and continued to pick at his food. "Do you know about what happened at the triwizard tournament last year? Besides my boyfriend dying?" Cole shook her head. She had no clue. "Well I saw Voldemort return. A traitor named Peter Pettrigrew used my damn blood to bring the monster back from the dead. I brought Cedric's body back with me and with the cup. The cup was a portkey. No one believed me that Voldemort was back. Other than Dumbledore, at least. But now even he won't look at me."

Cole hummed thoughtfully. Harry's story explained a lot. But if that particular Dark Lord was back, it would explain why some of the older students in Slytherin were so skittish. She had noticed some of them eyeing her; unsure whether or not to approach her with offers to join their army. "Well Harry… It's not the end of the world. You will have allies and its only a matter of time before someone realizes that you're correct," she said in attempt to comfort him. Her own thoughts drifted back to her home where her friend, Naruto, was faced scorn and hardship every day. That boy could take it, so she knew Harry could as well. "I know it probably feels terrible right now, but it will blow over. But when it does, I guess that means war, huh? That actually really blows."

Harry could have laughed at Cole's pathetic attempts and comforting him. Really the girl had no clue how to make anyone feel better. He felt her wrap a strong arm around him. Now that was something he could take comfort in. He leaned into her one armed hug. "To say the least…"

They sat in silence while finishing their dinner. When the tables finally cleared, they turned their attention back to Dumbledore who was standing up to make the start of term announcements.

*"Well, now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices. First Years aught to know that the forest in the grounds is out of bounds to students- and a few of our older students ought to know by now too. Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells me is the four hundred and sixty-second tim, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between classes, nor are a number of other things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list now fastened to Mr. Filch's office door. We have had two changes of staffing this year. We are very pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking over Care of Magical Creatures lessons; we are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher. Tryouts for the House of Quidditch teams will take place on the-"*

"Hem hem."

The small girlish cough interrupted the professor's speech. It took both Harry and Cole a few seconds to find the source of the cough. It was Professor Umbridge. She had stood up, not that it mattered. The woman was about an inch taller standing than sitting and wearing far too much pink. Cole could have screamed at the sheer amount of disrespect it showed. How dare this woman interrupt the headmaster? The hall fell silent.

"Hem hem." This time everyone's eyes turned to the short woman dressed in pink. "Thank you, Headmaster, for those kind words of welcome." Her voice was high pitched and reminiscent of a bratty child. "Well, it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts. I must say! And to see such happy little faces looking back at me!"

The irony was in the fact that no one was smiling, and maybe two people actually paying attention. Hermione was back, sitting half way down the table, pointedly ignoring Ron. She was one of two that was paying attention.

"I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all, and I'm sure we'll be very good friends!"

Someone muttered, *"I'll be her friend as long as I don't have to borrow that cardigan."* Cole smirked when she heard Harry snicker at the comment.

*"The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. The rare gifts with which you were born may come to nothing if not nurtured and honed by careful instruction. The ancient skills unique to the Wizarding community must be passed down through the generations lest we lose them forever. The treasure trove of magical knowledge amassed by our ancestors must be guarded, replenished, and polished by those who have been called to the noble profession of teaching. Every headmaster and headmistress has brought something new to the weighty task of governing this historic school, and that is at it should be, for without progress there will be stagnation and decay. There again, progress for progress's sake must be discouraged, for our tried and tested traditions often require no tinkering. A balance, then between old and new, between permanence and change, between tradition and innovation… Because some changes will be for the better, while others will come, in the fullness of time, to be recognized as errors of judgment. Meanwhile, some old habits will be retired, and rightly so, whereas others, outmoded and outworn, must be abandoned. Let us move forward, then, into a new openness, effectiveness, and accountability, intent on preserving what ought to be preserved, perfecting what needs to be perfected, and pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited."*

She finally sat down. Dumbledore continued on with his speech as if nothing had happened.

Harry stopped paying attention to Dumbledore. He knew the typical warnings and instructions by now. He did start thinking about what Umbridge had said though. It was thought provoking to say the least, if impossible to understand. He was brought back to reality when he saw the mass exodus of students begin.

He decided to actually try to figure out what Umbridge was actually saying. So he asked Cole, "Did you happen to catch what the new professor was saying? I really couldn't be bothered to listen to her... Well I could but I didn't understand any of it."

Cole chuckled decided to explain. "It looks like Umbridge is a government plant. She spouted a bunch of propaganda bullshit about the way this school is run. I mean I'll admit, Dumbledore looks like he's got a few loose screws, but I've looked into the stats, the graduates in the last five years or so have been doing significantly better at their jobs than they have before. Something has been done right. But from the way she's been talking, it looks like all the defense lessons this year are going to be theoretical. A-"

"Wait a second! Theoretical? You mean we won't be doing any spell casting at all?" Harry asked, shocked. "Most of that class is practical work. How could we learn anything if we don't practice it? Theory is great and all, but when it comes down to a situation where you need those spells, all the theory in the world won't help you if you haven't cast it before!"

Cole nodded in agreement. "Kid, I know. And theory also goes out the fucking window when you're actually in a fight. It's ridiculous the way she thinks this is going to work out. And doesn't our year have exams this year? But that is something we can discuss on another day. I have to talk to Dumbledore after we eat… But do you know where I can get a class schedule?"

"We'll get them tomorrow morning. The heads of house hand them out during breakfast so it's best to not be late," Harry replied, still miffed at the proceedings. "Why do you need to talk to Dumbledore?"

Cole sighed. She was getting tired. Here, she had the luxury of sleeping in a soft, warm bed, but she would still miss her wife. She'd see her at the end of the school year. That was when she would switch out with another shinobi. "Dumbledore is the one that hired me. I need to ask him what exactly I need to be doing here. My instructions weren't very specific and it seems as if you're safe enough, isolated in the middle of nowhere, Scotland. So I need to ask about that."

Harry nodded in vague understanding. Cole stayed seated while Harry stood up and began following the rush of Gryffindors. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow then… Goodnight Cole," Harry said as the crowd swept him away.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this! I'm going to try to be updating at least once a month or so, but don't hold me on that. School has just started up again. Please review! It helps move the story along by giving me motivation.