CHAPTER 6

The beginning!

Ichigo had already packed every that he would need. The material was all stocked in his bottomless bag. Hades was sitting on his shoulders, purring, looking like he didn't even know the world depressed and lonely. Hades nothing like the scared little baby dragon that he had first seen through the bars of the cage. He looked much healthier. Even his color seemed to be more radiant and bright. The only thing that Ichigo had trouble with was his weight. Off course he had known that when Hades began eating again that his weight would increase, but this was an extreme change. Not only that, but Ichigo somehow had the feeling that not only the weight had increased, but also the size. It was almost as if he had gotten bigger, but that couldn't be true, dragons didn't grow that quickly, right? He wasn't so sure.

His nightmare hadn't decreased Ichigo's paranoia one bit, now he even felt like his dragon was mocking him with sudden growth spurts. He hated surprises. Ichigo looked to the right, where he huge mirror was positioned. He gave a sigh about how bad he looked. He had huge sacks under his eyes and looked very, very tired. His scowl deepened some more. He quickly dressed himself and went downstairs, toward the living room where breakfast was waiting. The others that were all waiting for the rest to arrive needed only a singly glance to know that they really should stay away from him till his mood had improved. Mrs. Molly almost screamed in fright when she had seen his face. The back sags under his eyes, combined with the deepened scowl almost made him look like some being from hell that you definitely didn't want to mess with. If his dark and irritated looking face still wasn't enough of a warning, then at least his aura, even thought one could only feel it, promised a long and painful death to anyone who even dared to step into his vicinity.

Even thought Ichigo didn't notice the aura even he had the feeling that whoever even dared to annoys him would never be found. They were on their way to platform ¾, a dog or maybe a wolf was running next to them and Ichigo was pretty sure that this wolf was no other than a transformed Sirius Black who, at least in his opinion was happy about finally getting out. It was understandable when one lived in such a house and Ichigo believed that he had been trapped there for a long time, without being able to leave. It was a miracle that he still hadn't lost his sanity.

Harry was quick to follow the wolf when he entered a cabin. Ichigo knew that they were talking with each other, but for once didn't have any interest in listening on them. That was private, family matters and he sure as hell wouldn't interfere with that. They talked for a few minutes before the returned, both looking much happier, even thought it was hard to tell with Sirius. He was able to almost perfectly read humans, animals not included. They spoke with their body language and were often much easier to understand than humans, but a human turned animal was a bit harder. Still if Ichigo looked at Sirius tail, it really wasn't that hard. It was wagging with much more vigor. Ichigo was puzzled when they stopped right before a wall, even thought it didn't take him long to sense the reiatsu before him and figure it out. They stood before the wall between the platform three and four. Ichigo, who was already able to look through the barrier, could see the other end and quickly moved through without any encouragement. The others quickly followed, even though they still had puzzled looks on their faces, probably still trying and failing to figure out the enigma called Ichigo Kurosaki.

"Hey Ichigo…" Ron finally had gotten enough courage to ask "…how did you know that you were supposed to run through the wall?" Ichigo decided to answer truthfully.

"I sensed the magic that was coming from the wall. It didn't take me long to be able to look through the barrier and see the other side, this platform I quickly went through it, so the others would hurry up and follow. The train is about to leave! Did I misinterpret something?"

"No, but how could you see the through the spell? No one is able to see through it. The spell is supposed to stop anyone from noticing or even seeing through it!" This time it was Hermine who started to questioning him.

"Where I come from, everyone is able to detect and see through spells, at least most of them. We can feel each other through our magic and quickly know where the others are and when we don't want to be found in that way, we can control the magic outflow that is leaving our body. One needs to be able to magic without a wand to be able to do that however!" Ichigo tried to use a dismissive tone, but Hermine wouldn't let go that easily from finding out something new.

"So you would be able to tell our exact locations even when we are out of your eye sight or on another continent?"

"Yes I would be able to as long as I have at least met you ones. I can't detect something that I don't know now can I? I also used my powers when I followed Herry and Mr. Weasley. Still my powers only show me where and not how to get there, so I was lost in the maze you call your ministry. The problem is that I am not a ghost and also don't have their abilities. I can't run through walls, even thought that would have been very helpful since I would have arrived in no time."

Ichigo knew that he wasn't supposed to tell them, but he also knew that he had to at least leave a few hints so that he could later on confuse them when they tried to figure out what he was. His game was just beginning and it would be no fun without a challenge within it. It was also amusing to see them stare at him like he was from outer space. He would have smirked if he hadn't been so tired so without any further explaining, he went into the carriage (Hogwarts express) to find a compartment and sit down and maybe even sleep a bit. It happened when he finally found one that he overheard a conversation between Lupin and Moody that stood near his window..

"Moody, what do you think of Ichigo?"

"I don't know. I have a feeling that he doesn't tell us the whole truth."

"Is he trustworthy?"

"He hasn't done anything to let us think otherwise and to be real, his eyes seemed to tell his story for him. They show pain and misery that even a war veteran doesn't possess, but they also show a strong will and protectiveness. When I got my first real look at his eyes, I couldn't help but shudder. I had the feeling that he possessed knowledge and maybe even age above as all. It was like he was able to look straight through me. It was almost like he could see my soul and was analyzing it."

"I don't know why but I had that feeling when our eyes first met at well. It was like he was judging me. Not if I was an enemy or an ally, but if I deserved something or not. It was almost like he could see all my wrongdoings." Moody sighted as if he knew that feeling all too well, then he began to talk again.

"At least for now, let's see him as an ally and hope that he doesn't become an enemy. I think we can consider him of trustworthy. Now on a different matter, have you listened when he told the trio a few, because I don't believe that those were his only ones, of his abilities? He told them that he was able to locate about anyone as long as he had met the person at least ones. He might even be able to locate Voldemort after he had met him and survived what more, he can see through magic spells and barriers. We need to be careful not to let him fall into the wrong hands."

At that, Ichigo started to chuckle. He was right about Moody. Moody was sharp, a good thinker and even a good judge. Just to have a bit of fun, he coughed Moody's eyes and waved him toward him. Then he quickly whispered into his ears:

"You are good at judging characters, but you still haven't figured out the most important part right? That means that the game has just begun! Do not worry I will look after the trio and protect them, if I must, even with my life, but as exchange I hope you will figure it out soon. I hate boredom!" Ichigo didn't use Shiro's voice, that would have been too easy, but his voice had gotten stronger, the voice of a leader, one with knowledge and experience. Moody could only stare after him when he waved cheerfully out of his cabins window, the express beginning to move right after he had finished. Harry and the two that had quickly come in after him, they later introduced themselves as Neville and Luna, who had started to settle down, gave him a few weird looks, but let him be.

Ichigo had started to doze off. Hades, after quickly adapting himself to the new neck position followed him quickly after. He almost didn't have time to protect himself when Neville poked his plant and exploded in their faces. Ichigo quickly had used his "wand less magic" to create a barrier to protect Hades and himself. The others hadn't been spared and to Harry's great mortification even someone he seemed to like came by and saw him covered in slime. Ginny, she seemed to have settled down in their cabin as well, quickly used a cleaning spell while Harry had still noticed that Ichigo had been spared and threw him hateful glares, which Ichigo ignored and dismissed with a quick roll of his eyes.

In the end the trip was uneventful and Ichigo slept through most of it. He awoke through Harry, who told him that it was time to change. It wasn't even seconds later that, Ichigo could tell at first glance, three idiots that couldn't hold their mouths came into their cabin.

"Look who is here, Harry Potter." The boy, (with the almost white hair) spat out. Ichigo almost found it funny how the gorillas behind the white haired boy couldn't think of any insults and were just able to glare and nod their head.

Ichigo stopped Harry from retorting.

"No manners these people here in England! They don't even know that they are not supposed to enter a room that isn't their own without knocking."

"Do you know who I am?" The white haired person asked puffing his chest out.

"No, as I have said, you have no manner, you didn't even introduce yourself"

"You also didn't introduce yourself or did you?"

"I do not know you, but I knew that you hadn't even noticed me. How are you supposed to introduce yourself when the person before you wouldn't even listen?" Ichigo said that almost emotionless and even Harry was surprised that Ichigo was able to stop Malfoy from insulting him.

"If you really want to know, what I am sure about, since you have finally asked, I am Ichigo Kurosaki, a transfer student from Japan. It is nice to meet you."

Malfoy a bit confused answered back: "Malfoy Lucius, likewise." Then Malfoy remembered why he had first come here and was about to start insulting Harry when he stopped himself. This Ichigo beside him gave of an aura of discipline and order. He wouldn't tolerate such behavior and somehow Malfoy also knew that he wouldn't want to get on Ichigo's bad site.

"It has been nice getting to know you Ichigo Kurosaki and nice seeing you again Harry Potter, Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottem, but as a perfect I have my duties and must leave now." He gritted his teeth while saying this, but he was almost relieved when Ichigo nodded his head in approval. This man could be nothing else but pureblood. He was probably a noble and if his father heard that he had treated another noble he would live through hell, even thought he somehow got the feeling that he really should be more scared of Ichigo than even his father himself.

"Likewise, I do hope we will be seeing each other again and maybe even talk. I am an outsider here and still do not know everything." Malfoy nodded his head before, not running, quickly moving out of the cabin, quietly closing the door behind him. Malfoy didn't know why, but suddenly he let out a sigh of relieve. He seemed to have held his breath.

Ichigo himself was about to leave the cabin as well, since they were almost at there destination when Harry stopped him.

"What was that?" He asked with awe and accusation at the same time. Ichigo response was the deepening of his scowl before he started to lecture Harry before his friends, even Hermine and Ron that had arrived right before his talk with Malfoy.

"Harry, do you even know what you had almost done?" Ichigo said with furry, something they had never truly seen coming from him. "You almost retorted and that would have meant that you would have fallen to his level. Since you would have insulted him first, he would have an excuse to fight back and all the fault would have fallen on you. When you talk to someone, you are never allowed to fall to their level. You ARE hotheaded Harry that will never ever bring you anything. It will only always cause you trouble since in most cases, the fault will be pushed toward you with the punishment.

If and only if he had insulted you first, then you could have started a verbal and only verbal fight. If not you will show him that you are not in the mood for his petty words and that you will have nothing but discipline coming from him, because otherwise, you will not acknowledge his existents. Understood!"

Ichigo remembered his first years of his reign over hell and how hard it had been for him. This rule, that just now he had told Harry, he had learned in hell the hard way. One shouldn't let himself fall to the level of others; it could and would be disastrous.

Harry nodded his head, because right know he could understand why Malfoy had not insulted Ichigo. One really didn't want to be the cause of Ichigo's bad mood or on the receiving end of his furry. Ichigo could be really scary.

"Good, the next time you will think before you talk." With that said Ichigo left the cabin, the others silently, or as silently as they were able to, followed him in save distant.

It wasn't long before they stood before a coach with bizarre looking horses. Ichigo could fell the aura of death coming of off them and wanted to ask someone what those horses were , but no one seemed to really notice them, so Ichigo would stayed quiet for now. It was a little unnerving when he noticed that the horses had all started to stare at him. He was trying to decide what to make of them when Harry abruptly stopped his train of thoughts with his question:

"What are these horses?"

"What horses Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Those horses that are pulling the coach", Harry pointing at them.

"Harry these coach aren't pulled by horses, they are moved through magic."

At that Harry just stared back with a blank face. Ichigo knew how it was to see thing that others weren't able to and be on the receiving end of their stares so he decided to calm Harry down and help him. He was about to speak when someone else was quicker and said:

"I can see them too, don't worry you aren't crazy!" It was Luna, an interesting girl now that Ichigo finally really looked at her. Her eyes seemed to be special, but in what way Ichigo didn't know.

Harry gave her a doubtful stare and was about to ask something else when she had already moved on and disappeared in one of the coaches. Ichigo decided that then was the best time to reassure Harry that he wasn't seeing things. He started to talk.

"Don't worry, sometimes a few human can see, what others can't. That doesn't always mean that you are crazy. Even when others think you are a lunatic, they are sometimes more of a lunatic than you, even though they can't see what's before their eyes. It isn't changeable, but at least you aren't alone in your discoveries and those discoveries are sometimes more important and more life changing then you think at that time. These changes may be good or bad, but you should always thing positive if possible and try to make the best out of it. Because you just have this life and even if you forget about it, it won't change who you are and what you want to be."

Harry was a bit surprised that Ichigo would talk to him, after he had just been so angry, but relaxed even thought the confusion only grew. He received a nod when he asked Ichigo if he was able to see them and he soon found his lips slowly moving upwards. He was about to try and think about the enigma called Ichigo when a big man that he quickly indentified as Hagrid. Hagrid waved Ichigo toward him and Ichigo quickly said his goodbye before moving away.

Ichigo himself liked this bog man at first sight. His reiatsu was warm and comfortable. He gave the man a small smile and even if just for a second his scowl disappeared. The man though noticed the change and gave a smile on his own. Then the exchange of information begun:

"You must be Ichigo, my name is Hagrid and I am the one that was ordered to inform you that you need to go with the first years."

"Arigato Hagrit-san, could you lead the way?" Hagrid was a bit puzzled over the word but let it be and nodded.

"Of course, come on."

It was a short walk. Ichigo soon arrived and stood between the first years and to other transfer students from French and Russia. The first years all looked up to him, till one asked:

"Is your hair color natural?"

At that Ichigo smiled. He liked children so much because they didn't make rumors and asked when they didn't know something.

"Yes my hair color isnaturall." He had never notice that his smile would influence others so strongly, that it had such effect others. That soon was made clear when they suddenly surrendered him. They all started to crowd around him, asking him questions like 'where he came from' and 'what his family was like' till even questions like 'how the magic school in Japan was' appeared. He patiently answered every question. The question season was quickly transformed into a 'who gets to pet the dragon' season when one had noticed Hades curled around his neck. Hades, still not very trusting toward other people tried to avoid them by climbing on his head where he curled himself together into a tight ball. Ichigo quickly explained Hades reaction before the children were able to start trying to climb him as well.

Ichigo and probably Hades, if he had been able to make such a sound, made a sigh of relieve when Hagrid finally came back with the last first years. They moved toward the boats and everyone found a seat to sit down. The boats started to move toward the huge castle that was supposed to be Hogwarts. When they finally arrived, they quickly went inside, the responsibility to take care of them given from Hagrid to an old, but graceful woman, who walked up to them and led them upstairs. Mc Gonagall stopped before what Ichigo believed to be the entrée door. She told them to behave themselves while she would go in and announce that they had arrived. She was about to leave when she suddenly viewed Ichigo and with that also Hades that still had a tight grip around his neck.

"What is that dragon pelt doing on your shoulder Mr. Kurosaki? Pelts of mystical creatures are not allowed on our school. It may be so in yours but here you need to follow the rules of this school." She seemed to have misinterpreted that Hades was a only a pelt, Ichigo was about to correct her when a first year spoke up.

"Mrs. McGonagall, that dragon is alive" said one of the first years.

Ichigo understood the second her gaze met his again, that this condition of the dragon was just as bad. "You are also not allowed to bring a living dragon with you! Only the ones on the list are allowed to be brought to Hogwarts and a dragon definitively isn't one of them."

"I am very sorry McGonagall, but this dragon is an exception. He is still very young and had had bad experience with other humans, so he doesn't trust anyone except me. If I were to leave him at home, he wouldn't eat or drink anything, so I just can't do so, when that would mean that he would have to die." The children stared at him and Hades in shock before giving McGonagall their best puppy dog eyes. She could have probably resisted, but she seemed to be reluctant to do so when that would mean that the baby dragon would die.

"I will believe you for now. When what you said is true then you really couldn't do anything else about it." Ichigo gave a small sigh of relieve, before giving McGonagall a small smile to show his gratitude.

"Thank you McGonagall and also many thanks to you kids. You really helped me with my problem here."

The children gave him big smiles with a chirped "No problems" quickly following them, some giggled.

McGonagall decided that she had wasted enough time and left with quick strides toward the door and beyond it. It didn't take long before she all called them in. It was easy to see that the first years were very agitated and nervous, but also very excited. Their first school year was about to begin. It didn't take the group long before they all stood in the front, before a stool with an old hat sitting on it. Ichigo didn't pay it any attention. He found himself looking at the beautiful ceiling. He hoped that he could learn that spell and do something similar for his ceiling. At least then he wouldn't have to stare at an unmoving wall all the time. He could also see a bit of the human world and that would already make it worth. His interest in the hat was awakened when it started to move and even sing:

In times of old, when I was new,
And Hogwarts barely started,
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted.

United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.

"Together we will build and teach"
The four good friends decided.
And never did they dream that they
Might some day be divided.

For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw,

So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there, so I can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.

Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those
Whose ancestry's purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest."

Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name."

Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot
And treat them just the same."

These differences caused little strife
When first they came to light.
For each of the four founders had
A house in which they might

Take only those they wanted, so,
For instance, Slytherin
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning just like him.

And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor.

Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest
and taught them all she knew,
Thus, the houses and their founders
Maintained friendships firm and true.

So Hogwarts worked in harmony
for several happy years,
but then discord crept among us
feeding on our faults and fears.

The Houses that, like pillars four
had once held up our school
now turned upon each other and
divided, sought to rule.

And for a while it seemed the school
must meet an early end.
what with dueling and with fighting
and the clash of friend on friend.

And at last there came a morning
when old Slytherin departed
and though the fighting then died out
he left us quite downhearted.

And never since the founders four
were whittled down to three
have the Houses been united
as they once were meant to be.

And now the Sorting Hat is here
and you all know the score:
I sort you into Houses
because that is what I'm for.

But this year I'll go further,
listen closely to my song:
though condemned I am to split you
still I worry that it's wrong,

Though I must fulfill my duty
and must quarter every year
still I wonder whether sorting
may not bring the end I fear.

Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
the warning history shows,
for our Hogwarts is in danger
from external, deadly foes

And we must unite inside her
or we'll crumble from within
I have told you, I have warned you...
let the Sorting now begin

Ichigo didn't know what to think of that sorting hat. It looked like it had a soul on its own, but that soul was trapped in the hat. It didn't seem to mind that fact and when the first names where called up, it did its duty without complain. Everyone was sorted expect Ichigo. He was the last to step forward. He quickly, but to others still gracefully, sat on the stool. When the hat touched his head they both quickly moved toward his inner world, leaving everything that was connected with the outside world.

"This is weird; I was never in such a place like this before. Where are his memories supposed to be stored?"

"So you look into the memories of a person to see what house would suit him best, based on the character you are able to see through the memories."

The hat only that it didn't really look like a hat anymore, quickly looked around only to find something that looked like a human. It resembled the boy that it was supposed to sort, but it also looked completely different. It could almost feel and even see the power that was radiating from this being. Even the voice had sounded powerful and old, with knowledge that no human being possessed. Still he had a job to do so he asked "Are you the boy that is wearing me right at this moment?"

"Yes I am. I want to ask you a few questions before I let you access my memories. Are you able to tell others about what you see here? Are you a soul that is trapped inside the hat or are you the soul of the hat that took form?"

The hat could only stare in astonishment when, what had looked like only a human being with too much power and knowledge was starting to change. It almost looked like the human being before had only been an illusion and slowly the illusion was disappearing to reveal the true form of this being. He had long orange hair that reached his waist and even beyond. Shocking was what the horns that were poking out between his hair, powerful but still somehow graceful flowing toward the back of his head. He had, what looked like fur going around his neck, arms and feet joints. Tattoos were all over his body seeming to gather in the middle of his chest, where they all formed a black circle, but those tattoos seemed to be almost alive, like they were moving even thought he couldn't really see any movements. The clothes he was wearing looked old and ripped, but like the shadows looked like they had a mind of their own, since even without wind they were moving, almost looking like shadows that had only decided to gather to form these pants. Still even that was nothing in comparison to the eyes. When they had first grabbed his attention he believed that he could never have the strength to stop staring at them. He just couldn't look away, they looked so horrifying and still so beautiful at the same time that they seemed to put him into something like a trance. They resembled the eyes of the boy that was wearing him, but at the same time, like the appearance, they looked completely different. His eyes were a beautiful and deep color of brown, shimmering and showing such deepness in them that one had the feeling to get lost. Then, the resemblance to human eyes ended. Where the white should have been, it had been replaced with black and instead of black pupils, they were golden, intense golden pupils that seemed to be liquid and flowing, resembling the sun, warm and beautiful to look at, but also deadly if one decided to move to close to it The hat shuddered. He definitely didn't want to make this being angry at him. He quickly answered:

"I am not able to tell anyone about what I see or hear in the 'inner world'. Those are private information that only the one who possess them is allowed to share. To your second question, I am the soul of the hat that was created by one of Hogwarts' founders."

"No, that founder didn't create your soul, maybe your form, but not your soul. No one can create a soul and if they would succeed the soul would still be lifeless, only a shell, something that resemblance a soul. Humans will never be able to truly create souls, only imitations. Enough of this, I have your words and that is enough for me to let you access into my memories, but I will warn you, they are not all beautiful memories and most of them would be better off not seen."

With this warning given, Ichigo brought the hat to his memory base, where all his memories where stored. It was heavily guarded with all kind of fences and spikes. Ichigo, since he had created the defense system himself, opened a small part to let the hat enter. He himself stayed outside. He didn't want to live through his memories a second time.

When the hat had entered and looked at the memories he finally knew what the boy had meant when he had said that some memories are better of forgotten. Some of them were sad, others horrifying and not many where happy. He also felt the pain of the wounds Ichigo had suffered and he just couldn't understand how the boy, no the man, had been strong enough to be even able to stand all those times when he had been wounded so badly. He wanted to stop watching them, he wanted to scream for the boy to just stop standing up and just lay down, he had done enough, but he watched, since it was his job and he somehow felt obligated to watch it till the end, even if the pain would become unbearable. Still he wasn't able to. He stopped watching when Ichigo, couldn't leave the gates of hell, and could only watch how the gates closed before him and stopped him from seeing his beloved ones. The pain was unbearable and he just couldn't go on. He had seen enough to be able to sort him. When he left the house of memories, he was greeting with a sight of Ichigo, who was looking at him sadly, as if he was hurt even thought he didn't have to live through the memories again.

"I'm sorry that you needed to watch them have you at least found what you where looking for?"

"Do not feel sorry, I was obligated to watch them. But now I understand your words, sometimes memories are truly better forgotten. Still now that I have watched them I stand before a different problem, I do not know where to put you! You possess all aspects for every house. I can't sort you."

Ichigo didn't know what to say. That would be troublesome. The hat signaled Ichigo that he was leaving and so Ichigo quickly followed. Outside the hat said:

"I cannot sort him. This is the first time I don't know where to put a person. He has all qualifies and can join any house. It is his decision"

Ichigo thought about it, but for him it was logical to go to the house where the people he needed to protect were. So he said aloud:

"I will join Gryffindor!" It was said with such a final tone that no one would ever question his decision.

The whole Gryffindor table cheered. The first years, at least those that had also been sorted into the Gryffindor house, bounced toward him and hugged his legs, at least the girls, the boys just looked happy. The one girl that had told Ms. McGonagall that his dragon was alive was the one that seemed to be utmost happy with this outcome, happy that she at least knew one person from her house that she liked. Ichigo gave her a small smile that was rewarded with a pull on his arm, when she dragged him toward some open seats. 'This should be an interesting year' Ichigo could only think when he looked around him.

Ichigo's character changed pretty much and I am sorry for this, but in my opinion he should have grown up and be able to control his anger, at least most of the times. I hope you still like the story.

Please review and tell me if the story has gotten better or worse, thank you very much for reading it!