A/N: Hello there. This time there wasn't almost half of year break before new chapter. Fortunately. It seems that I am starting to get things back together. And I am glad to hear you guys are still alive and well. Thanks for reviewing again, got more reason to continue.

"Hollow speaking"

"Zangetsu speaking"
"Thoughts"
English is not my mother tongue, so if there's some major mistakes, note me. Thank you.

So now, without any unnecessary blabbering, let's get back to story.

War after the War: Chapter 19

Ichigo went back to house and slumped on the big armchair, first making sure it wasn't alive. He silently watched Horace as he waddled around the room collecting his stuff. He obviously wanted to ask something from Ichigo, but couldn't bring himself to do it.

"What is it?" Ichigo asked with same raspy voice as before. This seemed to scare old man because he dropped a bottle he was putting in the bag. Carefully he picked it up, and put it where it belonged before slowly turning around. Ichigo, who was boringly leaning to his hand, waited Horace to say something. When this didn't happen, he repeated: "I have had a gut feeling that you want to ask something, so go on. I don't bite."

"Usually." he continued in his mind, causing hollow to snicker.

Old, walrus-like man got himself back together and huffed from under his moustache: "Who are you?"

"I thought Dumbledore introduced us. I am Ichigo Kurosaki." he shrugged.

"I don't mean that. I mean how do you know Dumbledore? Based on your name, you are from Japan." Horace waved his wand and rest of his stuff flew in his bag.

"I work for him." Soul Reaper stated simply, not bothering to go into details.

Horace, who knew he wouldn't get better answer, turned lights off and left the building. Dumbledore hadn't left this man here if he didn't trust him completely. That was enough for him for now, though he was going to find out more about that person. He seemed interesting. Muffled footsteps told him that Kurosaki was following, though he was keeping a distance.

"Ah right."

Horace looked at Ichigo questioningly and saw him scratching his head: "We can't use apparition this time." Before Horace had time to ask why, he continued: "The apparition seems to leave some kind of crack in the air. A crack that can be tracked. We can't take a risk that Death Eaters follow us, can we?"

Old man blinked few times. He hadn't thought about that.

"So what are we going to do then?"

"I have my own ways. I can't apparate in the first place so I need other transportation methods." he waved his black katana and with ripping sound a huge, black hole appeared in the air.

"I am sorry about using this one. I would have liked a senkaimon as well, but I have made too many today and they take much more energy than a garganta." he shrugged apologetically. Ichigo made a glowing blue path in the darkness and went first in: "And I forgot to mention, but don't step outside the blue line. If you drop down, there's no coming back, so I would appreciate if you watch your step, okay?" Horace, who hadn't understood a thing other one said, sighed, picked his bags and followed hooded man in the hole. "Well, at least if I die here, it will be quick."

Harry had arrived to the Burrow couple hours ago. After being fed by Molly, he climbed upstairs, just to bump in the Ron and Hermione, who were curious about his doings. They were slightly disappointed when he told that he hadn't done anything extremely thrilling with Dumbledore, just visited Horace Slughorn. But when he mentioned Ichigo, their eyes lit up: "Ichigo was there?" Hermione asked: "Really? Any of us haven't seen him after semester ended." Harry nodded: "Yeah, seemed that Dumbledore didn't know either what he had been doing. He asked from Ichigo and he said it was classified information. Something to do with Voldemort."

Ron and Hermione exchanged worried glances. Harry bit his lip. He didn't want to tell how Ichigo seemed so different. Actually, he couldn't even tell them what had happened in the Ministry when Voldemort had summoned a hollow to attack them. Magical energy he had felt, was so dark, so intimidating that it easily rivaled Voldemort. When Dumbledore asked about it, Ichigo only forced them not to tell about it to anyone. Harry also asked from other Soul Reapers, but they said that it was Ichigo's job to tell. Frustrated, he had given up and waited if Ichigo was going to say something.

Ron and Hermione watched as Harry sank deep in his thoughts and brown-haired girl said softly: "Don't worry, I am sure that Ichigo is all right. He's the war hero, remember?" Harry lift his gaze and gratefully nodded at her. They were interrupted when Ginny walked in the room: "Hey Harry."

"What's the matter?" Ron asked lifting an eyebrow. Ginny slumped next to him: "Her."

"What did she do this time?" Hermione asked empathically. Red haired girl grimaced: "I can't stand how she talks to me! She seems to think I'm three years old!"

"Oh, I can feel your pain. She's so full of herself!" Hermione sighed. Harry had lost track of situation. Why is Hermione speaking like that about Molly?

"Who are you talking…?" Harry started but got an answer when room's door opened once more: "'Arry!" Blond, long woman stood at the doorway. She was immensely beautiful, it seemed like air had disappeared around them.

"How nice to see for long time!" Fleur Delacour floated to Harry and gave him kisses to cheeks: "Remember my little sister Gabriella? She 'as been talking about you forever!"

"Oh, is she here as well?" Harry asked, cheeks still red. Fleur's blue eyes widened and she turned to look at Mrs. Weasley who had arrived to room: "You 'aven't told about it yet?" she pouted.

"Well, I haven't had time since he just arrived some time ago." Molly frowned and Fleur turned back to Harry: "Bill and I are getting married!"

"Re-really?" Harry stuttered: "Congratulations!"

Fleur gave her sparkling smile for him before disappearing to downstairs. Harry brushed his cheek, still a bit confused.

Soul Reaper stood in the coast of lake next to Hogwarts. Quietly he gazed over waters, wind slowly swaying his robe. It was going to rain. Gray clouds gathered on the castle and he could feel first droplets hit his hood.

"King, let's go somewhere else! It's freezing in here!" Shiro complained in his mind. He could feel hollow's shivers. "Soon, I just need to make sure that Horace has made it in the castle." Ichigo responded. Since all new security spells, he had to leave him at gates. He didn't want to take responsibility if old man freezes outside when doors won't open. Carefully, he sharpened his senses and followed from distance how his spiritual pressure faded a bit. Sign that he had passed the security spells successfully.

"What are you going to do now?" Zangetsu asked. Ichigo thought a while: "I don't know." he said out loud, mostly to himself: "I really don't know…"

Now he couldn't even get close to the castle anymore. Even this close made him feel tingles all over his skin.

"It's best if we leave to Spirit Government now." Zangetsu suggested: "The spiritual air will help you. And didn't they say that Research Department has something for you?"

"You are right. We can go to visit them right away. There's still some time before meeting."

Ichigo glanced Hogwarts for the last time before jumping in the garganta.

In the Burrow, wedding day was getting closer and closer. Harry mostly spent his time in the garden, and holiday would have been great if there wouldn't been all news about missing people. Remus Lupin came to visit them someday, having even more gray hair and scars than last time.

"Dementor attacks has been increasing", he said tiredly: "And Igor Karkaroff's body was found from the north. I am surprised he has been alive even this long after he left Death Eaters." this made Molly frown worriedly: "Have you heard about Ichigo lately?" Harry and others turned at her, but Remus only shook his head: "No, unfortunately not. It seems he escorted Horace Slughorn to Hogwarts and after that he disappeared again. Most likely he went back to Spirit Government. His friends went back to Japan after semester ended and we don't know when they come back."

"I heard that they have been having problems with Voldemort." Harry said and some of people twitched. Remus lift his eyebrow: "Really? What kind of problems?"

He shrugged: "I don't know. When Dumbledore asked, he just said it was classified information." People exchanged curious looks. What could it be so important that it had been classified?

"Ah, by the way", Molly cut them: "That reminds me that we need to go to Diagon Alley for new school materials. We have been postponed it long enough."

"We go in Saturday if your dad gets a free day from work. Without him I am not going."

"How about if we try to get Ichigo to watch over them? He's more than enough and we can ask newest news from him as well." Remus suggested. Molly thought a while: "But no one can contact him. How are you going to ask?"

"Dumbledore knows how to contact him." Harry said a bit bitterly, since Ichigo didn't give him any method to contact him.

"Really? Well… Then it could work. Remus, would you ask from Dumbledore?" Molly asked and Lupin nodded. "It's settled then. Let's get back to work everybody!" Mrs. Weasley pushed them back outside to clean the yard for wedding.

When Saturday broke, Harry and others left to Diagon Alley. They got cars from Ministry since Harry had gotten the highest security level. They still didn't know who was waiting for them at the Leaking Cauldron, but Harry wished it would be Ichigo. He had to disappoint but there was another surprise waiting: Hagrid was the one to guard them. He proudly said how Dumbledore had assigned him there and trusted that he could keep them all safe. He had heard that Ichigo had too much work to do.

They passed Leaky Cauldron, and arrived to Diagon Alley. It had changed, a lot. Colorful and glimmering windows were now covered with black posters and notices of missing persons. It was awfully quiet and all lively chattering were gone. No one was shopping by themselves and everyone had same, worried look on their faces as Mrs. Weasley had.

Harry looked more closely about posters, noticing that dark purple ones where same security instructions Ministry had sent to every home.

They decided to split up. Hagrid, Harry, Ron and Hermione went to buy new robes when others went to bookstore.

Ichigo blankly stared at eerie blue eyes at other side of the table. He was waiting for Headmaster to start explaining why he had called him in middle of his work, again. Dumbledore didn't hurry, he finished a letter he was writing before putting pen away and leaning towards Ichigo.

"I believe that you want to know why you are here."

"No shit, like I don't have anything else to do." Ichigo thought and Headmaster seemed to read his thoughts. He chuckled and watched Ichigo through his crescent shaped glasses: "I know that we all are busy, but unfortunately this matter couldn't wait any longer."

Ichigo lift his eyebrow, though other one couldn't see it.

"But first, I would like to know why we couldn't meet in my office?" Dumbledore asked tilting his head. They sat at Hog's Head, small and quiet pub in Wizarding village. Soul Reaper glanced around, checking that there wouldn't be anyone near them: "Hm, let's say that I get very uncomfortable in there."

"Uncomfortable? In my office?" Dumbledore was utterly astonished.

"I don't mean only your office. Whole Hogwarts." he leaned back, not wanting to tell more than necessary. Headmaster seemed to understand that and dropped the topic.

"Okay, but I believe that you will solve that problem before semester starts? We still need person in charge of security." Ichigo quickly nodded before Headmaster continued: "So the thing I wanted to discuss with you… It's about Draco Malfoy. Do you know him?"

"Isn't he Lucius Malfoy's son?"

"Yes. I would like you to keep watch on him next year, like you keep watch on Harry. Is that okay?" Dumbledore frowned. You seldom saw such worry in his eyes. This made Ichigo to nod.

"It would be very important to keep it as secret. Don't let him, or anyone else to suspect anything. Tell me what you see, but not interfere in his doings."

Curiously, Ichigo nodded again. What was Malfoy doing to get Dumbledore speak so cryptically? He was very curious indeed.

"But Ichigo…" Zangetsu whispered to him: "How do you plan to manage next year? Yes, researchers get the thing ready before that, but still. No one guarantees it will work."

"I'll figure out something. And we must trust that everyone in Research Department aren't lunatics."

"Hmmh. How do I get an outsider feeling in here?"

"Because it's basically your fault!"

"Hey! That's enough! I haven't done anything and I would do if I could…" Shiro's voice got quieter and quieter before it vanished.

"I know, I know… Sorry. I am just so stressed out right now. Please forgive me Shiro."

"Apology accepted."

Headmaster watched amusedly when Soul Reaper dozed off while most likely talking with his inner spirit. What they were talking about, he could only guess. More importantly, why would Ichigo avoid Hogwarts? So many unanswered questions.

"So are we done now?" Ichigo asked when Dumbledore just stared at him. He slowly nodded: "Yes… But why don't we drink a mugs of something warm before going back to chilly morning? You wouldn't refuse old man's wish."

Ichigo reluctantly nodded and Dumbledore conjured two mugs. "I prefer own glasses in here though." Ichigo couldn't but agree.

Harry, Ron and Hermione had gotten themselves in a trouble, again. After visiting Fred's and George's shop, they saw how Malfoy had sneaked to the Knockturn Alley. Of course, they had to know what he was doing. Now they stood in the front of Borgin and Burges, shop what sold dark magical stuff. Harry remembered how he had accidentally gotten there few years ago. Malfoy was waving his hands and explaining something to shopkeeper.

"I wish we could hear what they talk about!" Hermione sighed. Ron's face brightened: "But we can!" he pulled out couple pairs of Extendable Ears.

"Ron you are wonderful!" They took them and Ron feed long, yellow strings under the door. "Listen!"

"…Can you repair it?" Malfoy asked from Borgin who just smiled: "Maybe… Maybe… I just need to see it first. Could you bring it here in the shop so I can get a closer look?"

"I can't", Malfoy said: "It needs to stay there where it is. You just have to tell what I need to do." Borgin licked his lips nervously. "Without seeing it, it's almost impossible task. I can't promise anything."

"Really?" Malfoy laughed: "Maybe this will change your mind." he showed something to Borgin, who immediately froze up. Unfortunately group couldn't see anything but Malfoy's back.

"Tell about it to someone, and you are dead. Do you know Fenrir Greyback? He's an old family friend, and he will come from time to time to check how you are progressing."

"…That's not necessary…" shopkeeper started but Malfoy cut him: "I decide what is necessary. Just remember that you are not going sell that."

"Maybe you take it with you now?"

"Of course not, idiot! How would it look like if I was carrying something like that in the streets?"

"Right, sir", Borgin bowed deeply, like Harry had sawn him bow to Lucius Malfoy once.

"And not any word to my mother, is that clear. And no one else either."

"Naturally, naturally…" Borgin said, still bowing. After a while, bell clanged at the door, revealing smug looking Malfoy. He passed them and disappeared back to Diagon Alley.

"What the hell was that all about?" Harry wondered out loud.

"Let me to try", Hermione took invisibility cloak off. She was going to go inside, but just before that they heard a deep voice: "What the hell are you doing here?"

Hermione froze, while Harry and Ron took cloak off as well. Hermione backed from the door. They blinked few times confusedly, before Harry breathed: "Ichigo!"

Ron and Hermione turned at Harry with disbelieving looks before turning back to long, hooded man.

"Well?"he growled roughly sending chills across their backs: "Wait, no, I don't even want to know. Most likely you have picked something interesting to follow. Butterfly this time?"

"We… Actually… We…" Harry started to explain, but Soul Reaper just sighed and scratched back of his head: "I don't have time to listen your explanations. You won't tell me anything anyway." Ichigo half-smiled under his hood.

"Now go. I will escort you back." Soul Reaper waved at three kids: "And I know you have the cloak. Still, I can't get peace of mind if I leave you here." he added when Harry lifted his invisibility cloak.

Group followed him silently, not daring to say anything.

Harry hoped that Malfoy would be gone already. He didn't want to bump into him in here. He was nasty, yes, but you couldn't imply he was stupid. Malfoy would immediately put pieces together and know that they had followed him.

"Umm, are you going to come to the wedding?" Hermione asked from Ichigo. She was so curious why he would use such warm cloak in the middle of summer.

"Of course I will", he nodded: "It's wonderful that there's still things like this, even in middle of war."

They fell in to silence once more, and soon reached the Diagon Alley. Ichigo, who stepped out of Knockturn Alley startled people standing near its entrance. Well, he had had same style black coat as Death Eaters and he had threatening aura around him.

"T-thanks, I guess", Harry lifted his glasses and looked at him: "We can manage from here."

"HARRY! RON! HERMIONE!" they heard a scream from behind them. It was Mrs. Weasley.

"Where have you been!? We have been looking for you! We thought that someone had kidnapped you!" Molly circled around them, making sure they weren't hurt. After her arrived Hagrid and other Weasleys. It was Arthur who noticed black hooded person standing next to them: "Who are you?" he asked warily.

"…"

"What are you doing with them?!" Molly demanded and group went to reassure them.

"Wait! It's Ichigo!"

All of them turned to look at him: "Ichigo?" Arthur repeated.

Ichigo coughed to clear his throat: "I just happened to bump into them here." he said quietly, since his throat felt dry as ever. Molly frowned worriedly at his raspy voice: "Are you okay? We haven't seen you for ages!"

He nodded: "There's been some problems with work… Haven't had time to spent time in Living World", he had suddenly a coughing fit for few seconds before being able to continue: "But I am coming to wedding, then we have time to speak."

"Have you gotten a flu?" Molly asked and rummaged her bag: "I have good medicine for that!"

Ichigo waved his hand: "No no! Don't bother, this is nothing like a flu, I assure you!" he smiled at over motherly person. Unfortunately, that caused even more confused looks.

"Are you in hurry?" Arthur asked: "We could use some guarding help here, since you saw how these," he pointed at Harry, Ron and Hermione: "Managed to escape from us." he talked like they were shepherding sheep. Ichigo tilted his head, thinking: "I guess I can stay a little while. I am ahead of time anyways. But I have a meeting afterwards."

"Great! Great… Well, what we had to buy then?" Arthur rubbed his hands together.

Hope you like it. And I would be delighted to get some thoughts about how this story is developing.