A/N: Hello! This time I tried to get this chapter done faster than the last one and I managed to write it.
So much going on with work and cars and other things right now... but still continuing.
Like usually:
English isn't my native language so don't mind small mistakes, but if there's some major ones, note me. My concentration is right now... pretty low.
"Hollow speaking"
"Zangetsu speaking"
And blah blah so on...
War after the war: Chapter 17
"If death is insignificant to you, kill the boy, Dumbledore…"
Harry wanted to die because the pain was too much to endure. Voldemort had entered in his mind, trying to control Harry. Boy could feel his soul inside him. Please, Dumbledore, kill me… Please. Even death is better than this! But…
I would meet Sirius again.
Warm thoughts filled Harry's mind, including meeting his father and mother. Maybe death wouldn't be so bad after all?
Creature started to whimper. Voldemort was in pain. After shrieking angrily, he exited Harry's mind, not able to withstand happiness and love filling Harry's soul. Pain faded away and he lied on the floor, shivering a lot.
Rukia ran next to him: "Are you okay?" she breathed worriedly. Harry just shook his head: "I'm fine… For now…" he watched as other Soul Reapers and Dumbledore gathered around him. Dumbledore looked Harry in the eyes very first time for a long time. Blue eyes were filled with worry.
"Voldemort is gone now… You can relax now, Harry", he said. They didn't have time to relax before they were disturbed.
With loud thump, Minister for Magic arrived with several aurors with him. They saw Voldemort just before he disapparited out of the Ministry. Fudge, even if he hated it, had to admit that he had been wrong. Harry had never seen Minister Fudge as embarrassed as now. Twirling a bowler hat in his hands, Fudge discussed about events with smug-looking Dumbledore, while aurors arrested all Death Eaters Orders caught.
"Harry? Is Harry Potter here?" Harry heard Fudge's amused voice.
He relaxed and glanced around. There was a lot people fumbling around, but Ichigo was nowhere to be seen.
Afterwards all students got back to Hogwarts before daily newspapers reached them with their questions. Students were already interrogated by aurors who began to prepare war, and that was enough for the day. Ministry must be ready if, and when Voldemort decides to act. Rukia, Renji, Toshiro and Matsumoto stayed in the school, just to make sure everything would be alright. It had been few days and Ichigo was still missing. Soul Reapers were pretty sure that he had gone back to Spirit Government. They couldn't be sure though.
Harry, who spent time in Hospital Wing, mourned Sirius. He couldn't believe his godfather was gone. It just couldn't be true. Maybe he is just having horrible nightmare and soon Harry would wake up. The most terrible thing was that Sirius had moved on. He didn't come back as a ghost like Harry had imagined. Maybe Sirius didn't want to see him anymore? Harry was one who had foolishly taken the bait and caused his death. He snapped out of his dark thoughts when nurse came to check his condition: "Dumbledore wants to see you. I don't want to let you out just yet, but if you promise to be careful, I make exception this time."
Harry nodded while biting his lip. Slowly, he pulled on his normal clothes and headed to the office.
Others, who were with Harry in the Ministry, had gotten out of Hospital Wing long time ago. They were waiting Harry with Soul Reapers.
"When do you think he will get out?" Neville wondered and closed a book about magical plants he was reading.
Heads were shaken in dubiety, but Hermione shrugged: "I am pretty sure he will be here today or at the latest tomorrow. He's fine already. Harry is just shaken about Sirius' death."
They sat in Gryffindor's tower, mostly watching fire in hearth and thinking what future had planned for them. It was going to be all-out war from now on.
Tower's door was opened, causing everyone turn at the corridor. It wasn't Harry, but one orange headed Shinigami. His trademark scowl was back in place.
"Ichigo…!" Rukia started, but Ichigo lifted his hand to silence her.
"I would like you to come to Headmaster's office with me."
He led the way, others following him curiously. Wizards saw that Ichigo had changed his usual robe in something else. It was only slightly different but they were able to see black, long sword hanging from his waist.
Ichigo noticed questioning looks and smiled: "Everything will be explained soon." there was something weird in his look. They couldn't identify was it good or not but didn't say anything. Gargoyle moved out of the way and they climbed up to headmaster's office. Ichigo gestured them to stop, and went ahead by himself. He knocked the door and peeked inside.
Orange-head nodded at others, inviting them inside. For others surprise, Harry was already there.
"Harry, Harry… I have never heard you yelling so loudly." Ichigo grinned and they noticed how Harry had been raging about something. He was red, sweaty and standing next to Dumbledore. Hermione frowned worriedly, but headmaster spread his arms warmly: "Come inside, take a seat!" he conjured few more chairs for them.
"I think that Ichigo have something important to tell you, but first, if I may say few words…?" he pointed his eerie blue eyes at Ichigo, who nodded tiredly: "Yeah, of course Albus."
"Neville Longbottom", headmaster turned at the boy who seemed to shrink under his presence: "You have gotten some… letters from your grandmother, and I advise you to go see them immediately. Filch is getting impatient…" he left rest of the sentence to hang in the air. Neville paled evidently, before nodding and dismissing himself. Luna Lovegood accompanied him, because Neville was just too horrified to meet annoyed Argus Filch all alone.
Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Harry and Soul Reapers were present, when Ichigo closed his eyes and sighed. This caught others attention back to him.
"I have some good… and bad news."
"I went to visit my quarters few days ago", statement caused others glance each other: "Just to write report, because I couldn't catch Voldemort when he left Ministry, unfortunately." Ichigo gritted his teeth.
Harry sighed deeply. He had hoped better news. Ichigo shook his head in defeat: "Your appration skill is just too much for me, even I can't move through walls. I am not sure where he went, but he isn't anywhere nearby anymore."
"What do you mean he isn't nearby?" Ron asked: "He could be hiding in same place as before! We couldn't possibly know that, could we?"
"That place has been abandoned," Ichigo continued: "He was hiding in Lucius Malfoy's mansion with his followers. Lucius was arrested, so I doubt he is there anymore. Otherwise he's incredibly stupid. And trust me, his reiatsu is hard to overlook."
"How do you know that?" Toshiro narrowed his eyes: "I don't think Ministry's report about the incident has been sent to Spirit Government. Aurors already raided that place, isn't that right Dumbledore?" headmaster nodded: "Yes, that's right."
Ichigo snorted: "Of course they didn't send report to me. But I have been there before. I was doing undercover job where I infiltrated in to Voldemort's vicinity. That's when I discovered place for a first time."
"Why we hadn't heard about this?" Rukia demanded angrily: "You always do everything alone!"
"I do things alone, because I work alone."
Shinigami's statement was clear and cold. Rukia closed his mouth as others continued stare him. It was well-known fact that Ichigo preferred doing things with his own way so he didn't need to endanger anyone else.
Silence continued till Dumbledore asked: "I'm wondering what happened to professor Umbridge? I haven't heard anything about my Defense against Dark Arts teacher for a while."
Ichigo scowled harder than usually, crossing his arms:
"She's dead."
Another silence.
"She's… what?"
Ichigo coughed: "Ahm… Well, there was a small flaw in my plans", Ichigo frowned: "Or not a flaw. I guess that everything went too well so she's dead now." he concluded.
"You planned to kill her?" Hermione gasped.
"Well, yeah", Ichigo shrugged: "But I would have never thought that Voldemort would keep his word!" Ichigo mused mostly with himself.
"So basically you are saying that you hired you-know-who to… eliminate Umbridge?"
"Err, yeah. You could put it that way."
"Wicked!" Ron grinned.
"How did you manage to do it?" Harry frowned: "Voldemort would never do anything without return service."
Ichigo decided not to tell that he was the one who broke Azkaban's walls, it would cause too much trouble: "I'm guessing that we scared him pretty shitless." he grinned darkly: "There was a condition: If he wants to keep his life, he does what we say."
"We…?"
Office's door opened, and familiar shadow stood in doorway: "You called me…?" asked low voice and Ichigo blinked: "Oh yes. Severus, please come in." Ichigo was glad he interrupted before more awkward questions: "Anything new?" he asked from black haired teacher.
Snape let his eyes wander through the crowd before answering neutrally: "Nothing new." Ichigo knew that man couldn't give him proper answer with everyone else here. He understood how hard doing double-agent's job was anyway. But that was enough for now. He would talk to him later.
Ichigo sighed: "I guessed as much. Oh well, now that you are all here, there's the other thing I wanted you to know." he ran a hand through his hair, wondering how to start.
"So… Good news then?" Hermione asked hopefully and Ichigo's features softened. He even smiled: "I will show you", opening a senkaimon: "Follow me."
Harry, Severus, Ron, Hermione and Ginny went after Ichigo, and Rukia, Toshiro, Renji and Matsumoto followed behind to ensure nobody would get lost. Dumbledore had weird glint in his eyes when he declared that he wouldn't be coming. Ichigo just nodded in understanding before stepping in hall filled with light. "Impressive." Severus said, spurting next to Ichigo. He smiled: "Isn't it?"
They followed a small black butterfly until they exited Senkaimon, arriving in office as big as Dumbledore's. It was open, and there wasn't anything useless devices around like in headmaster's office. One wall consisted of huge windows, letting the Sun shine into room. In the front of windows was a neat desk where every paper was organized with military accuracy.
Renji chuckled: "I guess that Captain Kuchiki has finally brainwashed you with his tidiness obsession."
"Well, I found that my work is much easier when I know where my documents are. Though Byakuya was partly in fault."
"Sit down, I will be back soon." Ichigo pointed at couches and left the office. Wizard's noticed two nasty-looking guards at the door. That made atmosphere little uneasy.
They waited, and waited. Without a clock it was hard to say how long they had been sitting there.
"Captain Kurosaki!" two guards at the door saluted orange-haired person who stepped inside. He was grinning and there were three other persons following him.
Harry stood up.
"M-mom? D-dad?"
Hermione, Ron and Ginny turned to look at Harry with widen eyes, and Severus sputtered: "L-lily? Is that really you?"
Third person behind Lily and James Potter was Sirius Black, who was grinning same wolfish grin as Ichigo next to him. Soul Reaper whispered something to him and Sirius nodded. He took few steps forward: "Hello! It's been a while, eh?"
Ichigo watched as Harry and Severus met Lily and James first time for a long time. Sirius, who hadn't been dead that long, sat on couches with Ichigo. He was still grinning at happy reunion.
"I would have never thought this was possible", Sirius mused: "I mean, Harry and others are still alive and we are able to meet them! Thank you." he turned at Ichigo who shrugged.
"I just did what everyone else would have done."
Harry's mother reminded Ichigo about Masaki. She had same bright hair color and glowing aura around her as his mother had had.
Ichigo chuckled at Harry who hugged his parents once more and stood up: "Now if you excuse me", he smiled: "I have a meeting where my presence is needed." Guards saluted as he left room filled with shockingly bright reiatsu. Ichigo walked down the stairs back to yard and let smile drop off from his face. Eyes hardened and he adopted familiar Captain's attitude learned from Captain Kuchiki.
Small dark grin spread on his face.
That kind of happy atmosphere wasn't made for him. Even if he was happy for them, it felt like he was in wrong place. It could be because he still hadn't forgiven himself about his mother's death.
Zangetsu and Shiro stayed silent. There were only hard times ahead. Voldemort escaped without reason to stay hidden anymore. People will die, like the last time during Arrancar war, but Ichigo wasn't going to let it be in vain. He had promised to protect everyone.
Rukia and Toshiro watched diminishing figure from office's window, frowning worriedly.
"Captain Kurosaki," voice acknowledged him: "Just in time." commander said and Ichigo took his usual place in line when he arrived to Captain Commander's barracks.
"I believe that you have something to tell us?"
He nodded and stepped forward: "Yes, I took three souls from Soul Section in this realm." he admitted: "But for good reason. Like you know from my reports, Wizarding World is in a war right now. From now on, it will only get worse since other side has taken action."
"Conflict what happened few days ago, had its victims already, and one of them was Harry Potter's godfather. This war's protagonist's godfather." he added.
"And?"
"I needed something to lift their spirits. That's what they need right now. He's just a kid, Commander", Ichigo pointed: "He lost his parents, and now only person who had been like a parent for him."
Commander thought a while: "As far as I can remember, you were same age when you got involved in Shinigami's affairs, am I right?" Ichigo nodded.
"But you can't compare my situation to his." he said politely yet darkly.
"Hmm-m… Well, I guess that there wasn't any harm done." commander smiled: "But I would approve if I would be noticed about things like this beforehand."
"Yes, of course, Commander." Ichigo bowed slightly and stepped back to the line.
"Now, we have some matters with war itself", commander frowned: "Hollows. It seems that this won't be only wizards' problem anymore."
Ichigo wandered in streets after the meeting. He didn't want to get back to the office yet and decided to give others more time to chat. He wore a scarf around his neck, resembling Byakuya's, but it was pitch-black. Well, it was a birthday present from other Captain, but Ichigo never thought he would use it. Air was getting colder. Or am I just imagining things? I have always been warm-blooded, why it now feels so… Chilly?
Captain shivered.
"Ehh…" hollow gulped silently.
"What is it?"
"I dunno 'bout you, King, but we hollows have always been vulnerable to cold." Shiro shrugged mentally.
"Well, that has nothing to do with anything." Ichigo lifted an eyebrow.
"Think about it, Ichigo", his mentor's, and sword's voice joined discussion: "Even if you are two entirely different persons, you are still the same. Like two sides of same coin."
"So basically you are saying that I am cold because of Shiro. But that hasn't happened before!"
"I have a theory, but you are not going to like it…" Zangetsu sighed.
"You must be kidding me…" Ichigo grimaced, heading back to his office. Meeting times were over now.
Later on, Hagrid got his old job back, and he returned to Hogwarts. Harry, Ron and Hermione went to see him right away: "Are you okay Harry?" giant had only heard about events, and was worried about them.
"Yes, I am, Hagrid." Harry smiled: "Better than you would think." he had glowed like the Sun itself after visiting Soul Government. And why wouldn't he feel like that? Finally, after all these years, he had met his parents. It still felt like a dream, and every morning he needed to check that things really were true. The Prophet finally admitted they had been wrong, and the Voldemort was back in business. People didn't gossip about him anymore, not with bad tone anyway.
Ichigo in other hand worried everybody. When he had gotten back from the meeting, he was literally emitting bad mood. Black reiatsu lingered around when Captain had told that visiting hours were over now. When they had asked, what was wrong, he had just grunted something nonspecific.
He complained how cold it was everywhere, and when Severus suggested flu, Ichigo had assured that it wasn't anything like that.
Yes, the year had been interesting, and Harry watched melancholically how Hogwarts disappeared behind the woods when train took them back to home.
Thing, that members of the Order were seeing him off in train station, got Harry even happier if possible. For a first time ever, he left with Dursleys back to number four of Privet Drive with smile on his face.
Yes, this is the end of the fifth book. Hurray!
Still, there's so much going on.
If there's enough interest, I will continue with sixth book, even if this was ment to be one-book-story (Oh well). Review, my dear readers, I wanna hear your opinions about any continuation of this story.
I'll be back.
Or not.
It's up to you.