A/N: Hello everyone! It has been a while.
I appreciate your patience. I have had alot going on lately with work, my old computer crashed etc. and therefore I haven't had time to continue. But with all amazing reviews I have decided to continue with the story. I have been writing this part for a while, but I still haven't been able to check it properly. Anyways, I believe that those minor mistakes will not bother you. Of course, if you notice any major flaw, please note me. My head has been full of many things and it's been a while since last time I have wrote this story.
Still, my mother tongue isn't English.
I was hoping this chapter to be longer, but I decided to post this so you know that I am still alive.
"Thoughts"
"Zangetsu"
"Hollow"
War after the war: Chapter 18
Summer started with anxious atmosphere. The Prophet tergiversated and now Harry was "The One". People put their last hope in him. Not all though, those who didn't believe in miracles, took their children and moved out of the country. Wizarding population weren't the only one to be wary, Harry noticed that Muggles behaved differently as well. There was a lot unexplained accidents, like collapsed bridge and that mist all over the country. After all what happened in the Ministry, no one couldn't deny what was coming. A war.
Ichigo walked down the dark road. Old, deteriorated buildings surrounded him. He almost felt how thick mist wet his clothes, making them uncomfortable. Spinner's End was neighborhood known as poor-stricken, and he hadn't seen anyone else in that part of town since his arrival. Well, no one would notice if these people had disappeared permanently. Not when there were other pressing matters, like collapsed bridge and hurricanes in West Country.
It was silent, only things Ichigo could hear were old curling sewers and rats' whining. Dim lights were only possible way to navigate in the fog. Brooding atmosphere was caused by dementors who had joined you-know-who.
Ichigo was heading towards Snape's home. He didn't get why Severus would want to live in a place like this. Well, you couldn't say that he was a person who liked crowded places, but still. Image of Severus wearing swimsuit and sunbathing at the beach appeared on his mind and Ichigo shivered. Yes, this was definitely a place where Severus would live.
Shinigami sighed. It had been a year already, but it felt like all this had started just now. A lot things had happened. And more were to come.
Ichigo's train of thoughts was interrupted by two female voices. He glanced around and pulled himself in the shadows, just before two women walked past him.
"Narcissa! Listen to me! What have you done!?" dark haired woman with burning black eyes hissed at other one.
"I know what I did." she turned to look at person behind her. She had long, blond hair and blue eyes. You could never think them as sisters: "And it's done, you can't change that anymore."
She disappeared with loud cracking noise. Brown eyed woman grimaced in disapproval before disappearing as well.
At that time, Ichigo was glad about dementors who spread this mist around, it was so easy to hide. He stepped out of the shadows he had been hiding, only couple meters away from the spot where two women had apparated away.
Ichigo knew he was only a block away from Snape's home, and wondered if they had had something to do with him. "You can't change that anymore…" Ichigo repeated in his mind and started to get worried about Severus. He decided to flash step straight to in the front of his door though it was really rude thing to do. You could distinguish it from other apartments easily since it was only place which had lights on. Others were full of of junkies or criminals. Fortunately Ichigo could feel Severus' spirit pressure when he arrived. It was weak, but probably because Severus' had many defensive spells around his house.
Soul Reaper knocked the door, listening Snape's vary footsteps to reach the corridor. A small silence before he pushed the door open.
"Ichigo, what are you doing here?" his black eyes checked soul reapers' hooded attire covering infamous bright orange hair.
"Hmm, I had some things to discuss with you. And if I were you, I would keep my mouth shut if you don't want Peter to find out who are you speaking with." Ichigo gestured at old bookshelf what worked as secret entrance to Pettigrew's room.
Severus narrowed his eyes, muttering something and pointed his wand at the shelf: "Now he won't hear what we discuss here." he waved Ichigo to sit down. He gladly sat on the big, soft sofa, but didn't take his hood off.
"So… Let me ask what brings you here." Snape took a seat next to him: "I haven't heard about you since last semester ended. And apparently no one else either."
Soul reaper snorted without answering: "I saw Narcissa and Bellatrix while on my way here." Snape looked at him with a terrified expression on his face but Ichigo continued: "…But they didn't see me. I guess you had pretty… Intense conversation here?"
Severus relaxed and nodded. He didn't want to tell him what it was all about, and luckily Ichigo didn't pry into something what wasn't his business. He just shrugged. When Soul reaper didn't continue, Severus was forced to ask him again: "So what are you doing here? I thought you had something important to tell me."
"Well, let's say that there's some very complicated things going on." Ichigo said, lowering his hood and causing Severus gape at him with widen eyes.
Harry Potter was snoring loudly. He had been sitting almost four hours on the chair in the front of the window in his room, and finally fallen asleep. Orange streetlight was only source of light, leaving most of his room in dark. Those lights often reminded him about Ichigo when he stayed up nights unable to get any sleep.
He was waiting Dumbledore. The headmaster had written a letter to Harry, telling that he would be picking him up later that day. Harry didn't even pack, it would be just too great to leave Dursleys only after two weeks. That couldn't be true. Anyway, he had been sitting in the front of window all evening.
When clock hit 11 p.m., one streetlight went out.
Sudden darkness acted like an alarm, and woke up Harry. He jumped up and started throwing his stuff in the big trunk. Streetlights died one after another and finally, someone rang a doorbell.
"Who the hell is there in the middle of the night?!" Harry heard his uncle's voice and remembered that he hadn't told them about this. Hell, he didn't believe either that he would be leaving today. Harry hurried down with two bags, but stopped before he was too close to his uncle Vernon.
"Good evening. You must be mister Dursley. I believe Harry has informed you that I will be picking him up today?"
At the door stood long, skinny man who had long gray beard and hair. He had his crescent shaped glasses and wizard's robe and a pointy hat. Vernon, who was still half-asleep, couldn't believe sight in the front of him.
"Figuring out from your surprised expressions, he didn't tell you", Dumbledore said friendly: "But let's assume that you have welcomed me in to your house. Nowadays it's not wise to linger at the doorway for nothing." he stepped over the sill and closed the door behind him.
"It's been a while since the last time. I have to say, your lilies are blossoming."
Vernon Dursley said nothing. But he wouldn't be silent for long, Harry could tell. Something just had hamstringed his breath and it might have been the fact that Dumbledore dressed very… Wizardly.
"Ah Harry, good evening." Dumbledore noticed Harry standing at the staircase: "Excellent, excellent."
Those words seemed to wake up uncle Vernon, it was clear that someone who watched Harry and said "Excellent", couldn't be a good person.
"I don't want to be rude…" he started with tone what leaked rudeness.
"…But startlingly often rudeness is accidental." Dumbledore completed the sentence: "Better not to say anything. Ah you must be Petunia." kitchen's door had opened and there stood Harry's aunt wearing only bathrobe. Her expression reflected a complete shock.
"Albus Dumbledore." he said when Vernon didn't introduce them. "And there's your son Dudley, am I right?"
When nobody said anything, Dumbledore smiled: "Well, let's assume now that you have invited me in to your living room."
Harry looked baffled: "Aren't… aren't we leaving?"
"I wish to speak about several things first. And I prefer doing that inside. We are going to misuse your uncle's and aunt's hospitality a bit longer."
At the other side of London, Ichigo Kurosaki on top of the radio mast. He scratched his neck and yawned loudly. It's not like someone would hear him.
He was hunting hollows. Or he tried to be, but there wasn't anything to hunt. All hollows had disappeared.
They had predicted that this gloomy mist would depress humans more than ever and cause more hollow activity, but apparently they were wrong. There was actually more hollows, but they were nowhere to be seen. Ichigo believed that Voldemort was behind it. He was collecting them somehow. That's the reason he let dementors wander in the streets.
He knew that Voldemort didn't know the real consequences about his actions. World needed hollows. Without them the whole system would go imbalance.
They could already see the effects at Soul Section.
Ichigo turned around and glanced at Big Ben. "It's almost time." he stood up, pulled hood on and opened a senkaimon to Budleigh Babberton where he was supposed to meet Albus and Harry.
"Where are we?" Harry was still trying to catch his breath after his first, horrible apparition experience. It felt like half of him was still at Privet Drive. He squinted his eyes to get rid of the feeling.
"We are in lovely muggle village called Budleigh Babberton." Dumbledore looked around: "This way."
He started walking swiftly and Harry had to jog to keep up with him.
"Tell me Harry, your scar… Has it been aching lately?"
Harry rubbed his scar unconsciously before answering: "No… I thought that now when Voldemort is back, it would be hurting all time."
"I thought otherwise. Voldemort realized how dangerous it is to keep that link open so now he is preventing his thoughts to get you."
"Ah! Here we are!" Dumbledore stopped so suddenly that Harry almost bumped onto him. Harry watched around and they seemed to stand next to small church.
"So… Where are we actually?"
"Right, I forgot to tell you, didn't I?" Dumbledore turned at him: "We are supposed to meet Ichigo over here, and then we go to visit old colleague of mine."
"Really?" Harry said hopefully. He hadn't heard about Ichigo for couple weeks. He actually had a lot explaining to his uncle and aunt because Ichigo had just disappeared when he did. They were sure that Harry's weird wizard friends had done something to him.
"So you are already here." Dumbledore said and Harry lift his gaze. Even if he was looking at Ichigo, he had to let his eyes to adjust to darkness because he was dressed fully in black and had hood on. You really couldn't tell where shadows ended and where Ichigo's robe started.
"Yeah…" His voice was quiet and a bit raspy: "Shall we go?"
Dumbledore nodded, and Harry watched Ichigo in fascination when he started lightly walk towards their destination.
"You seem agitated my friend." Dumbledore asked from Soul reaper. He had dark, intimidating aura around him. Ichigo glanced quickly at Harry before answering: "…I'm middle of the work."
Harry swallowed: "What kind of work?"
Ichigo walked few meters before saying anything. Then he brushed his sheath: "Let's say that there's some major problems with spirits right now. And it's because Voldemort." Harry noticed leather gloves Ichigo was wearing. Those he hadn't seen before. And it was warm night.
"Major problems… I haven't heard about that." Dumbledore wondered. Ichigo, whose eyes couldn't be seen, muttered something: "Classified information" and the discussion ended.
"So… Where are we going right now?" Ichigo leaned his head: "I mean, exactly who are we going to meet?" he turned to look at Dumbledore.
"He is an old Hogwarts teacher, and like you probably remember we have a vacant teacher position. Again." he watched Ichigo with his ghostly blue eyes and caused Soul reaper cough uncomfortably.
"Right…" Ichigo cleared his throat: "But why are we here?"
"I think I figure out something for you too. Don't worry." Dumbledore said mysteriously and kept walking. They passed few blocks before he suddenly stopped in the front of one house.
"Oh my…"
Front door was kicked open and whole house was pitch black. Ichigo straightened his arm and summoned his famous, long black katana. He waved it around couple times and walked in the house. Dumbledore lift his wand and lit it: "Follow me and be quiet."
Harry lift his wand as well and followed him. They couldn't be sure what was waiting for them.
There was total destruction waiting for them. Shelves had fallen down, mirrors broken… Harry couldn't even comprehend the destruction in the room. Ichigo was already waiting for them, poking broken piano with his sword.
Harry almost stepped on something sticky and red. Harry's shivering made Dumbledore to look at him: "It's not a pretty sight. Something horrible has happened in here."
Dumbledore took few steps forward, being careful not to step on shards.
"Maybe… Maybe here was a fight and then they dragged him away!" Harry suggested trying not to think how badly person would be injured with this amount of blood.
"Do wizards have living furniture?" Ichigo asked, causing both of them to turn at him.
"What?" Harry frowned and noticed huge armchair he was looking at: "I haven't heard about any."
"But this thing over here has wizard's reiatsu. I mean spiritual pressure I have told you about." Ichigo glanced at them and poked the armchair. Next what happened, startled two younger men: Armchair cried loudly, turning into old, fat man sitting on the floor.
"Be careful with your sword, will you?" man glared at Ichigo. "Good evening Horace." Dumbledore stepped forward and pulled his friend back on his feet.
Man called Horace looked at Dumbledore. He was bald but he had massive, gray moustache. "What are you doing here?" he asked from longer man who just shrugged: "We can discuss about that later. Do you need help with cleaning this up?" he pointed at messy room.
"Yeah sure…" they stood back-to-back, swinging their wands and slowly furniture and ornaments started repairing themselves. Blood disappeared from the floor and soon room looked like nothing had ever happened.
"What blood it was by the way?" Dumbledore asked. Horace examined bottle containing red liquid: "Dragon's. It's very expensive nowadays. Hopefully I can use it again." he put the bottle away, turning to Harry. Immediately his gaze jumped to scar: "Ohhoh!"
"Here, is Harry Potter. And this is my old friend and colleague Horace Slughorn." Dumbledore introduced them: "But we can't forget Ichigo Kurosaki either", he waved at hooded person: "who is tagging along tonight."
"Tagging along?" Ichigo sweat dropped: "Why am I even here?"
"I see…" Horace narrowed his eyes while looking at him. He couldn't see his eyes under the hood. "So this is how you are going to persuade me? No way! My answer stays the same as before." he said turning away. Dumbledore's tone stayed same: "But what if we drink glassfuls for old times before we leave?"
Horace thought a while but gave in: "Sure, why not." he said unfriendly.
When Horace went to fill glasses, Dumbledore point a chair for Harry. It was right next to hearth and Harry was sure that he wanted to set Harry in the most visible spot. It worked since Horace looked at Harry right away after he got drinks ready. Ichigo noticed same thing as well, retreating deeper in the shadows, being almost nonexistent and giving more space for dark haired boy.
Ichigo fell deep in his thoughts because he had a lot worse things to take care of than trying to get old teacher back to work. "Damn it. Like I don't have anything better to do."
He groaned mentally, cursing the old headmaster. "He's doing this on purpose…"
Soul Reaper was startled awake when Dumbledore suddenly got up and excused himself to bathroom. Ichigo could tell what he was planning. "That sly old fox…" He sighed tiredly, leaning to wall. As they talked, Horace's determination started to waver, Harry was natural with this kind of thing. He had some kind of charisma what people couldn't resist.
After a while, Dumbledore got back and told that they would be leaving. Horace blinked few times before asking: "Now? Already?"
"Well, I see that your decision is final. We can't do anything about it." Dumbledore shrugged. When they were making their leave, old man ran after them: "FINE! I will do it!"
Headmaster turned to look back: "But I want a rise in salary, do you hear me?" Horace continued. Dumbledore smiled: "Good to hear that. Ichigo, could you keep him safe and escort him safely to Hogwarts?"
Horace turned at Ichigo, whose existence he had forgotten completely. Ichigo nodded silently, watching as Dumbledore left with Harry. Horace leered at suspicious hooded person warily before starting to pack his stuff.
And here you go. Hope you like it.