Dumbledore sat quietly in Inoues' guest room. The older brother had insisted that Dumbledore be allowed to stay. The Headmaster liked that about Japan. The extreme lengths that people went through to show their hospitality expanding beyond the simple offer of coffee you get in Scotland, and even then, they never used the good coffee and weren't very polite about anything else.
The room was as well furnished and clean as the others, though it didn't show too much sign of having been used. The bed was very comfortable, though Dumbledore had no intention of using it. He had fully expected to have been extremely busy on this trip, and so had taken a rejuvenating potion in order to help in stay energized, even after the time change. So he wouldn't be sleeping for another two days.
He doubted he could have slept in the first place. This girl, Inoue Orihime, was extraordinary, truly extraordinary. Her healing ability was like nothing he had ever heard of in his entire life. The list of possible applications of such a skill was endless. He couldn't even begin to image what could be done. The ability to undo any event; a power like that could possible even reverse death. It was beyond the range of ordinary magic, brushing up against the doors of godhood.
Not only that, but the spirits themselves that she interacted with, they weren't forms of transmutation or a conjured force, they were actualized spirits.
All magic, regardless of type, worked through the 'Animism Theory'. In it, spirits are similar to atoms in the muggles Atomic Theory, in that they are the source of everything, the fundamental building blocks of the universe.
Every object, no matter the size, shape or purpose, has a spirit. This spirits tells the object what it is and how it interacts with the world around it. For example, a rock has a spirit of a rock, it tells the rock that it is supposed to fall down because of gravity, it tells it that it is supposed to reflect the color grey when hit by light, it tells it that it is hard, and that if it breaks it becomes small pebbles.
Magic works by using the spirit of the wizard or witch in order to change the spirit with the power of suggestion. The different types of suggestion being the different types of magic.
Charms works off of bending the rules for interactions placed down by the spirit. Going back to the rock example, one could tell the rock that it is supposed to fall, but to the side, not down. Or that when it is broken that it becomes rocks of equal size to the original instead of pebbles. A house could be made to believe that it is supposed to be larger on the inside than on the outside. The only limit being that it has to come from an interaction that the spirit already has.
Enchanting takes a quality that the spirit already has and enhances it. One could enchant a sword which is already sharp, hard, and durable and convince the spirit to be even sharper, or harder, or resistant to ware. Again, limited to the traits the spirit already holds.
Transfiguration and conjuring both worked by forming a pseudo spirit and having it over right the old one. Convincing the beetle that it was actually a button, or the matchstick that it was a needle. Though the pseudo spirit cannot last forever, so if the original spirit does not take to the new spirit's natures, the process will reverse itself.
A jinx places new traits or interactions upon the spirit, though under conditions. A man could be jinxed so that his mother's back breaks every time he steps on a crack. Or a clock can be made to spin according to the conditions of the people connected to it. Or that the DADA teach will somehow lose their job within one year. The conditions are usual rather odd, making most jinxes rather useless, and most turn out to just be spiteful or downright evil. Thus jinxes have a bad name.
Hexes are another type of spell that has a bad name, as they are the opposite of enchantments, weakening an existing trait. Causing stones to disintegrate, crops to wither, emotions to be drained. They can be used for good, but they using are very unpleasant.
Curses are even more so, as they destroy an existing trait or interaction, causing horrible damage to the spirit involved. So while a well placed curse could disable a poison, it could also end someone's life, or remove their ability to resist a command. While these days, jinxes, hexes and curses are named based on just how harmful they are, they began as being different things entirely, with some gentle versions referred to as counter curses or jinxes, or simply charms, just to not scare off the average witch or wizard.
However, none of these descriptions matched what the girl was doing. Taking ordinary objects and producing independent spirits from them.
Spirit Actualization, a magical trait as rare as finding a Parseltongue with True Sight, and was also believed to be connected to one's bloodline. In short, it was the power to take the spirits within objects and grant them a level of independence, letting them form themselves and choice their own properties using the magic allowed to them by the witch or wizard. Dumbledore had read about this trait before, but he had never actually seen one.
The most famous individual with this trait had been Helga Hufflepuff herself, though her more resent descendents didn't show it. Dumbledore himself was starting to doubt that the Smiths actually were descendants of Helga, as they were rather disloyal, self interested, rude, and lazy. No one could demand that they prove it though, so they just never tried to have a blood test and continued to claim statue through familiar ties to the old blood. It simply meant that the Hufflepuff vault was off limits to them, not that it really mattered, since they were fairly wealthy without.
Spirit Actualization was the power that had made Hogwarts what it is, a living castle, able to adapt and survive as the years went by. The sorting hat was another example of this magic. Changes in the nature of the spirit that excided what could be produced by mere charms and jinxes, because the host spirit was not fighting the change, it was embracing it, and helping it along.
The 'Shun Shun Rikka', Six Princess Shielding Flowers, spirits who had changed their nature in order to guard their holder, gaining abilities that transcended normal magical limits in order to do so. Dumbledore had hit the jockpot.
The guilt of such selfish thoughts was kept at bay by the curiosity of the girl's powers. How she could adapt and grow in his school. The origin of this known blood trait in a girl who was supposed to be a muggle.
Perhaps she was a true descendant of Hufflepuff. Her burnt orange hair made her look more like a Weasley than a Japanese girl, and crystal blue eyes were definitely uncommon to Japan.
Dumbledore casually stroke the long neck of his Phoenix, Fawkes. The magnificent bird, whose feathers were all the colors of the most brilliant of fires, had come with him as a means of transportation and had taken to the small girl immediately. The Phoenix was actually rather unwilling to let the girl go to sleep, even though they would have to be up around two at night to make up for the massive time difference between England and Japan.
Fawkes's head kept shifting towards the wall between his room and the one Orihime was sleeping in. "You really do like that girl, don't you?" Dumbledore mumbled to the bird. "Or perhaps you just wish to make this old man feel jealous. Maybe I should find myself a nice youthful owl..." Fawkes gave an indignant sound before huddling closer to Dumbledore who chuckled. "I only jest. Don't worry." He laughed as the bird pulled at his beard in vengeance for the poor joke. Dumbledore looked down at Fawkes. "Tell me old friend, how would you feel about giving just one more feather?"
Fawkes's head tilted to the side before it gave a beautiful call and nodded. It was a clear yes. Dumbledore grinned, his usual playful twinkle in his eye. "Then we best hurry, if we want it done on time." He said before conjuring some parchment and ink and writing off a quick letter.
'My dear Ollivanders-'
"Come on lazy bones!" Tsubaki shouted as he pulled on the sleeping Orihime's hair, pulling her head up off her pillow.
"Iteeh! Please let go, Tsubaki-kun! I'm up! I'm up!" Orihime cried as her more rambunctious spirit pulled at her long hair.
"Tsubaki, there is no need for such brutishness." Hinagiku, the lean and bald spirit scolded as Orihime cried out. Hinagiku was one of the more clever of the spirits, though his cartoonish space alien appearance did make it a little hard to take him seriously, a trait he shared with the other two points on Orihime's shielding formation.
"Shut up! If she is going to do this witch thing, then she better take it seriously! We don't have time to waste with random nonsense!" Tsubaki shouted.
"We have three years, there is no need to be so harsh." Baigon said. The last of the male spirits was rather slow and gentle, being the largest spirit. He had a tiger tail type hair cut and seemed less of a talker than most of the others. He was actually a lot like Chad in that way.
"With that kind of attitude, we won't be able to make any difference at all!" Tsubaki shouted, turning on the speaker.
"It's alright Tsubaki-kun." Orihime said, getting her spirits to stop fighting amongst each other. "I know this is taking a chance, but we need to expand beyond what we could do before. I am going to take this seriously, so don't worry." She said, giving the black themed spirit her wide smile.
Tsubaki looked at her for a moment before grumbling. "Just keep in mind what you are fighting for. Your determination is all of our strength." Then his eyes moved towards the door where they could sense Dumbledore standing just outside. "Are you going to just stand there ease-dropping, or are you coming in!" Tsubaki shouted.
The door slowly opened, relieving Dumbledore standing there, just a little embarrassed. "It looks as though I have been found out. I apologize, I was coming to make sure you are awake but I didn't want to intrude with such a heated debate going on." Dumbledore said as he stepped into the room.
Orihime shook her head. "It's alright Dumbledore-sensei, we'll be ready in just a minute." Orihime said with her usual cheerful way.
"Ah, then I will meet with you in the kitchen when you are ready." Dumbledore said, returning the smile and bowing his head before leaving again, closing the door behind him.
"I don't like that guy." Tsubaki grumbled, not loud enough for Orihime to hear, but loud enough for the other spirits.
"Tsubaki-kun doesn't like anybody." Lily giggled the pink haired spirit as she flew around.
"Well I especially don't like this one!" Tsubaki continued, crossing his arms as he glared at the doorway, keeping track of Dumbledore's spiritual energy in order to make sure he wasn't still behind the door. "The bastard reminds me of Ichimaru! We can't trust him!" The other spirits looked at each other, each thinking of that silver haired rogue Captain and his unreadable grin.
"We will just have to keep a close eye on him, to protest the Princess." Hinagiku whispered, getting an agreement from everyone.
They all noticed Orihime yawning and flew over too her. "Orihime-chan, maybe we should return to the hairpins. You are going to have a long day, no reason to waste energy." Shun'ō said softly to the girl as she had her new shirt half way on.
"No... I need to get stronger, and if I can get more used to having you all out at once, then maybe that will help." Orihime said as she managed to pull the tshirt over hear head. "This will be my training for today."
"I guess that is all we can do for training, isn't it." Tsubaki said, nodding his head in approval. "Alright, we'll push the limit, but don't hurt yourself. We don't need to waste time with you recovering."
Orihime smiled knowing full well that was as much gentle caring as Tsubaki would let himself show. "Don't worry, I'll make sure to keep it together." Orihime said with a nod as she went for the door.
Sora was sitting at the table when Dumbledore entered the kitchen. "Ah, it is good to see you up." Dumbledore said with a cheerful smile as he waved his wand towards the fridge and stove. A pan came out of the cupboard and landed on a running burner as a few eggs came out of the fridge. As the eggs flew over the pan, the shells dissolved and they fell into it.
Sora watched the entire display with half dazed, half disturbed eyes. "I... couldn't sleep." He said in a quiet voice. "A lot to take in."
"Yes. I suppose it is. If it makes you feel better, you are taking it better than most I have seen." Dumbledore said giving the man a wink which did nothing to ease the old brother.
"Not really what I meant." Sora replied with a shake of his head. "I mean... Orihime-chan was able to do... whatever it was that she did. She never told me. I never had the slightest hint that their was anything like that going on." He sounded guilty as his shoulders sank. "I had only expected that she might have been getting bullied in school. I was talking to the neighbors to try to find out. I felt like I could fix something like that. But this, this is beyond anything I could have imagined."
Dumbledore nodded. "We see only what our eyes can see. Only the foolish and the enlightened dare to look beyond that. But you know now, does that make you feel any differently for your sister? Do you resent her?" Dumbledore asked Sora watching at the horrified look in the boy's eyes.
"Never." Sora gasped.
"Then there is nothing to be guilty about. You are a good man, though admittedly rather young. You took a heavy burden onto your shoulders and have managed it well. You sister is a fine young girl." Dumbledore said nodding his head as he moved his wand again to flip the eggs. "When things change, it is too easy to get caught up in wondering about what we don't know. Those truths that lurk in the darkness. Just concentrate on the light ahead of you and never let it out of your sight."
Sora gave a sad smile. "Thank you Dumbledore-sensei, but that might not be the best advice to give someone who almost died in a car crash."
Dumbledore gave a good natured chuckle at the bad joke. "No, I suppose it isn't."
"Nii-san! I'm ready to go!" Orihime said, running around the corner and skidding to a halt in the doorway. Her big smile filled her entire face, cheering her older brother up considerably. Dumbledore's eyes were more interested in the six little people who were flouting around her head.
"Good morning, Orihime-chan." Sora said, returning the smile as Dumbledore finished off the preparation of breakfast.
"Good morning, Nii-san, Dumbledore-sensei." Orihime said as she took her seat next to her brother.
"Now, Orihime-san, I forgot to enquire if you were skilled at speaking English?" Dumbledore asked, as he cut into his egg.
Orihime frowned for half a second as she switched what language she was thinking in. "I can get by, though it isn't my favorite." She said in nearly flawless English, her accent was there, but it wasn't too heavy to understand.
Sora chuckled weakly. "I feared it been severn yers sinse I lat spoke English." Sora said, his English far worse than his sister's. It was hard to even decipher what he said. He looked a little ashamed about it.
"Ah, that shouldn't be too much of a problem, just make sure to stick close." Dumbledore said, nodding his head. "I will try to translate anything you are unable to understand." Fawkes returned in a burst of flames that didn't seem to burn anything. Sora jumped in shock but Orihime just laughed as the bird circled about before landing on the back of her chair. "It seems as though our ride has returned. Now are you two ready?" The siblings nodded as they got up. "Well then let's go."
"Oh wow! We managed to get all the way around the world so fast! Nii-san, this is all so incredible!" Orihime shouted as she looked from window to window, looking as excited as many muggleborn children on their first time to Diagon Alley. She seemed blissfully unaware of her brother's worried looks. Or maybe she was putting on this show for his sake, in order to try to comfort him.
Dumbledore felt sorry for the young man. The Headmaster of Hogwarts had seen many children in his time, and many sad pasts, so he had a feeling he knew the story. Inoue Sora had been abused as a child before running away with his little sister in order to protect her. A noble, and brave act, and one that paid off, as Orihime skipped happily through the street, but sadly, the turmoil from his time under the same roof as his parents still showed.
He was nervous and uncomfortable with the sudden change of pace. He was putting on a brave face for his little sister, enduring everything that came, but it was extremely hard on him. Everything that happened was not good for a man of his temperament. Dumbledore made a small mental note to get the man some anxiety potion while they were out shopping. Something to take the edge off of things.
"Um, Professor Dumbledore." Orihime said, practicing her English. "Where are we supposed to be going right now?"
Dumbledore smiled, using Japanese for the sake of Sora as they walked along. "First things first, we need to get some currency to help with the shopping. After that, we will see about getting you your own wand." Dumbledore said, glancing around the street and up towards Gringotts, the wizarding bank. "Right over there will be our first stop." Dumbledore said, pointing to the large structure.
As they walked through the streets, several dozens of people called out to Dumbledore by name in order to greet him. The elderly man exchanging some small talk with some of them, but never taking long as they moved along.
"You seem to be quiet popular." Sora said in surprise.
"Well, I am the Head Master of the most prestigious magic school in Great Britain." Dumbledore said with a smile. "Though admittedly, it is the only magic school in Great Britain." He added with a chuckle. "Most of these people were once upon a time my students." He said, sounding rather proud of that fact.
"I... I see. You must have made a lasting impression, Dumbledore-sensei." Sora said, nodding as he followed the older man. It made him feel a little better to know that the man had a good reputation among his peers. Though that good feeling was put through the ringer as they walked into Gringotts and past the squat, wrinkled creatures with huge noses.
"They're goblins. Don't worry, they are mostly harmless. Not really any reason for you to be afraid. Just don't try to cheat them out of anything. They really don't like that." Dumbledore said, seeing Sora's reaction to the goblins.
"Enter, stranger, but take heed; Of what awaits the sin of greed; For those who take..." Hinagiku mumbled as the spirit read the sign that hung above in the hallway. "Probably a good thing your brother cannot read this, Princess."
"Not too worried about scaring away costumers are they?" Shun'ō agreed.
"Hm... maybe if they had a giant pair of arms holding it up..." Orihime mused, earning a sigh for her spirits. They loved the girl to death, but she wasn't the kind of person who could take things seriously, and her preferred company of Rangiku, Yoruichi, and Kukaku Shiba did nothing to help that.
Dumbledore led them up to one of the front desks and smiled at the goblin behind the counter, the goblin only returned a sneer. "How may I be of service, Mr. Dumbledore?" Sora shivered a bit a the sight of the goblin's teeth, though Orihime grabbing his hand and gave him a reassuring smile.
"Well, we will be needing to exchange some money so that Orihime here can get some school supplies." Dumbledore said cheerfully. "But before that, I think it might be a good idea to check her bloodline."
The goblin looked down at the girl before giving a small huff and jumping down from his seat. "Follow me."
"Bloodline? Why would we need to check Orihime-sama's bloodline? She doesn't have any magical family." Lily asked as the group followed the goblin towards a back room full of papers.
"We, it is unlikely, but there's no harm in checking." Dumbledore said with a small shrug, trying to brush off the question. "It only requires one drop of blood on some charmed paper, and then we can know for sure."
"There is something you ain't saying." Tsubaki said angrily. "Spill it."
"Well then I suppose I might as well." Dumbledore said, not wanting to get the spirits angry with him. He did dislike using needless amounts of time explaining his plans when they may not even work out, especially when it would be faster to just check and move on. He had long since realized that information was power, a power greater than any single spell. So he ended up as a bit of a hoarder of secrets. "I believe that Orihime may be a descendent of one of the founders of Hogwarts. Whether she is or isn't does not matter really, but I have to admit I am curious, and as I said, there is no harm in trying."
"Then why bother looking at all? 'Curiosity' isn't exactly a good enough motive if you ask me." Lily said as she flew along in a laid-back position. She was being more subtle than Tsubaki about her questioning. "What makes you think our Orihime-sama is descended from this Founder person anyways?"
"It doesn't seem likely. I was born in Japan." Orihime said, shaking her head. "And I'm pretty sure none of our family were magical before me."
"Actually, it is your power that makes me believe. Helga Hufflepuff had a similar ability involving the manifestation of spirits other than ones own, and it is very rare." Dumbledore said, glancing at the spirits again. "Whether or not you really are her descendant will have no effect on getting you into school. However, the descendants of the four founders of Hogwarts are considered to be something close to nobles in wizarding Britain. Something that might come in handy for Orihime later on in her life."
Orihime blinked at the word nobles. It brought back memories of Rukia, and a sense of loneliness along with it. She missed her old life and friends. She remembered the days they spent together, going shopping or training, sometimes just hanging out, talking about mundan things that seemed to interest the girl who was still getting used to the mortal world. It hurt Orihime a little, the knowledge that she never even got a chance to say goodbye.
Feeling the sudden sadness, Ayame flew down next to Orihime's cheek and pressed herself up against her in order to whisper in her ear. "Don't worry. We well see them all again, and it will be even better this time around." The shy spirit whispered to her.
"Right. We need to make sure that they will all be happy." Orihime said as she perked herself up.
Dumbledore watched this small exchange, wondering, not for the first time, what they were taking about. The girl was completely incomprehensible at times, giving small hints of her life that didn't add up, but at the same time, he wasn't able to ask her anything directly because the spirits would get upset with him.
She had been in contact with both the thought to be gone Quincys and the ever aloof Death Gods. She had claimed to have been friends with some of them, but hadn't even known that Wizards existed. She had moments when she started saying that she had to prepare for something, but Dumbledore couldn't understand what. Could it be that she also had a form of True Sight and knew of some horrible event that was to come? It was very unlikely, though not impossible. Though a bloodline magical enough to have both Spirit Actualization and True Sight somehow going dormant was extremely unlikely.
The goblin got out a piece of paper and a needle and held them out the Orihime. "Just one drop on the paper will do it." The goblin said, seeming a little less than interested.
"Alright." Orihime said as she took the paper and pressed the needle into her left thumb before putting it down onto the paper before handing it back to the goblin.
The goblin's eyes scanned over the paper before widening, eyebrows going up so far as to shift his entire bald head backwards by a few inches. "I see... what would Lady Inoue be requiring of us today?" He said, trying his best to smile, which ended up showing more teeth than Sora would have been comfortable seeing, though Orihime herself hardly noticed. She had been pretty close to Captain Zaraki for a few days. Very little could compare to him on the scary scale, and she thought he was kind of nice, once you got to know him. Something that never stopped making people slack jawed.
The paper was passed back, and Dumbledore smiled as he caught a glance. Sure enough, there on the page was the name Hufflepuff, in the middle of a short list of ancestors that had been registered with the bank. "I... ah... well I'm..." Orihime stumbled, not really knowing what they were supposed to be doing. She had kind of just been following along. She scowled herself a little for not being more in control of things. "Well, what can I do?" She asked, trying to seem confident. Something that was hard to do when you had the body of a twelve year old, and using a language that wasn't your native one.
"Well, as the only proven descendant of the Noble House of Hufflepuff, you hold the right to reopen its vault." The goblin said.
"Alright... I guess we could do that." Orihime said, not really sure what he was talking about.
The goblin nodded before making for a large filing cabinet. He looked over some of the tabs and opened on up to reveal a twelve foot long drawer before pulling out a small stack of forms. As the filing cabinet closed, the goblin waddled back to them and presented Orihime with the papers. "Sign here, please." He said, pointing to a spot on the page.
Orihime did as she was told, and the moment her signature was on the page, a bass key materialized out of it, falling into the goblin's waiting hand. "Would you like to see the vault now? I believe you said you wished to withdraw some monetary funds."
"Um... yes, I do need to make a withdraw, thank you." Orihime said giving the goblin a grateful smile and a bow, leaving the squat creature a little taken aback.
"Very well, would your entire party be joining you in visiting the vault, or do you wish to go alone?" The goblin asked, his eyes looking over Dumbledore and Sora.
"I believe it would be for the best if we sat this one out." Dumbledore said placing a hand on Sora's shoulder.
"Wha? What did he say?" Sora asked in Japanese, he had been unable to follow what had been going on.
"Our good man here is going to lead Orihime-chan to her vault, though it might be for the best if you not join her. The goblin's methods of transport have been known to be rather jarring, and I am afraid you already look quiet uneasy." Dumbledore explained to the man.
"Vault? What vault? Nothing dangerous is going to happen, is it?" Sora said looking to his sister, clearly worried.
"Don't worry Nii-san, I'll be fine." Orihime said with a wide smile. She must have been aware of how out of sorts her brother had been after all. She turned to the goblin and nodded, so the goblin started to lead her back into a side passage.
"Orihime..." Sora said, not wanting to be left alone in this strange place where people didn't even speak Japanese.
He nearly jumped when Dumbledore placed a hand on his shoulder. "While we are waiting, I believe we should visit a local potions shop I know. Get you a translation potion, and perhaps something to take the edge off of your nerves." Dumbledore said, giving the young man a pat on the back.
"A... translation potion?" Sora said, not sure he had heard correctly.
"Of course, this is the magical world Inoue-san, you will find that nearly everything is possible." Dumbledore said as he lead the young man back out.
Pridetooth was not sure what to think of the tiny girl who know followed him with a smile back into the back of the bank and towards the wagons. Her face was innocent, with large shining eyes and a chipper smile. Her dress was like a muggles and she seemed perfectly content with being around a nonhuman creature. But the thing that was getting to him, was her smell.
Goblins might not have been the most magically talented of creatures, but the thing that allowed them to work safely in the magical mine field like Gringotts was their noses. To put it bluntly, they could smell magic.
Pridetooth could honestly say that he had never smelled anything like the girl in his long years working for the wizarding bank. It was potent, and much stronger than any wizard that the goblin had meet before, with the possible exception of Dumbledore himself. She smelled like an entire field of wild flowers in full bloom, it was actually making the goblin feel ill standing next to the child. The strength of the smell compared to the greater beings that would come down to Earth from time to time after some stupid child goblin got a little too close to the dragon on a bet or some such rubbish, the Soul Reapers.
Those shepherds that come after death to pass on the souls of people who did not become ghosts. They were not unknown to the magical world, though they had always chosen to avoid the mortals politics. Something that was probably a smart idea. The minions of the one true god of death never stayed for long, but no goblin could stand to be in their presence.
"Right this way Lady Inoue." The goblin said, gesturing towards a rather unsafe looking coil mine wagon perched on very old rails.
"You don't have to address me like that." Orihime said a little flustered from the over the top formality. "Just Inoue will do, or you can call me Orihime if you want. I'd like that." She said giving her wide smile. The goblin twitched as the scent of flowers grew even stronger.
"Very well Ms. Inoue. Could you please step into the wagon?" Pridetooth said, pointing to the wagon once again.
"Yessir." Orihime said, climbing into without any question as to the safeness of the transportation. Something that was unusual among first timers. Pridetooth climbed in after her as tapped a finger on the metal surrounding the cart, causing it to speed forward on its tracks.
The Hufflepuff vault was not really very deep into the tunnels, since their had been a lot of expanding over the years. But it still had quite a few twists and turns to get through before one actually reached it. Enough to make most young goblins' heads spin, but the small orange haired girl was laughing the whole time, and seemed completely at ease with herself in the cart that most sane people would call a death trap.
Just another one of the oddities to add to the growing list for the girl. But if Pridetooth thought that was odd, he hadn't seen anything yet. For Hufflepuff was one of the oldest and most guarded vaults, and as such, it was guarded by a dragon.
"Where is that *****?" Pridetooth swore under his breath as they had reached the end of their trip, only to find that the goblin in charge of this particular dragon was missing. Not that he could have really blamed the old fool who was in charge of it, no one had gone to this particular vault in centuries, so skipping off to have a sleep was probably an easy to sneak off for a wink between rounds. Sadly, he had the horn that would scare the dragon into submission. "Please wait here. I will fetch a ho..."
"He's hurting." Orihime said, snapping the goblin out of this thoughts as the dragon's roar filled the chamber.
The dragon itself was nearly scales and completely blind, its wings and legs were covered in the cuts from the training it had received in order to break its will. Long brass chains covered in runes held it down to the ground. It was a revolting and dangerous thing. "Don't pity it, it is a monster that would kill you if it got the chance." The goblin spat, but his words fell on death ears. Orihime started to walk towards the dragon. "What are you doing, child!?" The goblin shrieked in panic.
The dragon sniffed the air and turned its head towards the approaching girl. It growled before tilting its head back. "I reject." It sounded like only a whisper, but it echoed through the empty cave.
As the white hot dragon fire poured out towards the small girl, three of the spirits that accompanied her formed up in front of her and orange and gold triangular shield made of pure light. The scent of flowers was overpowering and making Pridetooth dizzy as the fire struck the shield, moving around it at the edges as if it had it an unmovable wall.
No... that wasn't it. The fire wasn't pushed around the shield. All of the fire that came into contact with the orange and gold light simply disappeared, as if it never existed.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you." Orihime said gently in Japanese as she drew closer to the dragon. The beast gave another cry before lashing out at the girl with a claw, but the shield still stood, even all the strength of the weakened dragon wasn't enough to cause even the slightest damage to the girl's barrier. The dragon itself seemed to be starting to panic as Orihime got close to it, moving to the ends of its chains to get away from the girl.
Then it stopped. Orihime had placed a hand on its chest. "Don't worry. It will all be okay." Orihime whispered to the dragon. "Sōten Kisshun, I reject."
"There, hopefully that hit the spot. How do you feel?" Dumbledore asked Sora after feeding him the two potions.
"I... I actually feel much better." Sora admitted in perfect English. "Thank you, Dumbledore-sensei."
"Do not meantion it my boy. It was such a little thing after all, and we do want you to feel comfortable." Dumbledore said, glad to see that the anxiety potion was working well enough. "Now let's go see if your sister has returned from her little trip, yes?"
"Of course." Sora said, hurrying to keep up with the older man. "I must admit, I am still not sure if leaving her alone there was a good idea. Are you sure she isn't hurt?"
"Don't worry. I assure you she could not be safer." Dumbledore said, waving off the older brother's worries.
They were just out side of Gringotts when the earth began to shake and people came pouring out in a panic. Before either man could ask what had happened, the roof of the building was torn off and a large black scaled dragon flew out into the sky, spewing firing from its open mouth as it screamed in a cry of release. Both Sora and Dumbledore's jaws dropped as the dragon turned and flew away.
After it was gone from sight, Sora fell to the ground in a dead faint, a wet patch appearing between his legs.
"It would seem we needed a stronger potion." Dumbledore mumbled as he waved his wand at the man to dry him and lift him up off of the street, carrying him into the bank in order to find out what had happened.
I'm in Australia right now, so I don't really have much time to write or steady access to the internet. So I'm posting while I can.