Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Prince of Tennis!
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"Parseltongue"
"Regular speak"
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Hari smiled at Ryoma who was smirking at her confidently and Hari knew very well that Ryoma had a reason to smirk. He was winning, but that wasn't anything new. She was determined though, she would at least get a few points from him.
"Mada mada dane, Hari," Ryoma called over the net to her.
"Whatever, Ryo-chan!" Hari called back. "I still have a chance!"
He just smirked and she felt the need to wipe it off his face. He looked just like his dad when he smirked like that. Something she told him and she laughed at the horrified look that crossed his face as he spluttered at her.
"What…I…No way…! You can't say something like that, Hari!" Ryoma spluttered.
Hari took advantage and hit the tennis ball back and managed to spin it so that Ryoma didn't reach it making her take the game.
"That's cheating, Hari," Ryoma whined.
"Eh? What did I do?" Hari asked innocently.
Ryoma glared at her telling her enough that he didn't buy her innocent act.
Nanjiro who was seated in the small bell tower reading his magazine while also watching his kids (he still grinned at the thought) play tennis chuckled amusedly as he listened to their bickering. He knew it wasn't serious just fun between the two. It was also good to see Ryoma loosen up a little more, around Hari he would act more like his age.
Nanjiro watched as Hari tried her best to stop Ryoma and with her speed, she would be a challenge when she got her technique sharper. She had taken large steps, though, from where she had been when she first arrived.
"Mada mada dane," Ryoma said again when he took the last point he needed to win the match.
"I'll win next time," Hari poked her tongue out at him.
"Real mature, Hari," Ryoma snorted.
Nanjiro laughed when Hari just smirked at Ryoma.
...
Hari was at the library working on her homework while Ryoma was at tennis practice. She had almost gone to watch him play, but something held her back. She didn't feel like going back there just yet, while she didn't regret quitting it was still a little painful to remember how they treated her there.
She blinked when she heard the scraping of a chair close by and looked up to see a boy and a girl sitting down at her table. They looked familiar, but Hari couldn't quite place them.
"Hey Echizen-san," the girl smiled.
"Hey," Hari said the greeting is slightly dragged out as she eyed the two.
The girl was looking at her with round hazel eyes hidden behind thick glasses and a mane of brown hair that was roughly tied back in a messy ponytail. She had the usual school uniform, no surprise there, and Hari noticed a bracelet around her left wrist with some charms on it.
The boy had half-long brown hair and grey eyes that were staring at Hari curiously making her want to shift in her seat as she felt she was being studied. He looked a little goofy with a small gap between his teeth.
"I'm Nakashima Sora," the girl smiled at her. "You can call me Sora if you want."
"I'm Nakashima Hiraku," the boy followed up and waved at her. "You can call me Hira."
Twins? Hari blinked and looked between the two. She remembered them now, they were in her class.
"Echizen Hari," Hari said and smiled slightly, "but you already know that. Call me Hari, though."
They smiled at her and she gave them a curious look. She wasn't sure what they wanted or why they had sat down at her table.
"We know," they both said and she was suddenly reminded of Fred and George making her smile a little nostalgically. She did miss those two.
"We thought you might be lonely sitting her alone," Sora said.
"So we decided to come and sit by you," Hira added.
Hari looked at them for a second longer before she relaxed her shoulders slightly and gave them a small smile.
"I see," Hari said.
"Are you doing your homework?" Sora asked.
"Yeah, almost done though," Hari nodded. "You?"
"We're done," they both said. "We could help you if you like."
"Oh, um, you don't have to," Hari said quickly.
"We want to," Sora told her.
"Yeah," Hira nodded beside her.
"Okay," Hari accepted. "I do struggle slightly with the literature class."
Both Sora and Hira nodded and started to talk about the book they had been assigned to read and Hari nodded and was soon pulled into their discussion of the book helping her to finally understand it a little better.
When they finished it was starting to get darker outside and Hari glanced at the clock. The tennis practice should be over soon and she wanted to meet Ryoma before he went home.
"Thank you for your help," Hari said when she had packed her books back into her bags and had put the bag over her shoulder.
"You're welcome," they smiled at her.
Hari shook her head as she again shook the resemblance (of manners) to Fred and George off as she looked away from them.
They walked out of the school together and Hari thanked them once more before telling them she was going to go and find her brother before going home.
...
Hari was walking up to the tennis court where the late practice was just finished and Hari could see that they had even gotten the chance to change and get ready to go home. She spots Ryoma next to Momoshiro like normal and she also noticed Fuji next to Tezuka.
"Hari-chan!" Kikumaru beamed and bounced over to her attaching himself to her neck.
"Sempai," Hari complained. "Breathe…"
"Eiji!" Oishi snapped and pulled the redhead back.
I seemed like it was going to become a normal occurrence every time Hari showed up and she sighed resigned knowing it was nothing she could really do to stop the excitable acrobat. She ignored the voice in her mind telling her that she liked it.
"Ryo-chan," Hari waved over at her brother.
"Hari," he nodded. "Deciding to wait for me?"
"Yeah," Hari shrugged, "I did my homework."
Ryoma nodded in understanding. "And you didn't want to get lost on your way home."
Hari scowled at him.
"I wouldn't get lost," she protested.
"You would," Ryoma snorted.
"No, I wouldn't!" Hari denied. "I could have gotten home by myself!"
"You get lost at least once a day, Hari," Ryoma gave her a look.
"I don't," she grumbled.
Momoshiro was laughing as he watched the two siblings bicker and the annoyed look on Hari's face. He could see Fuji looking amused as well and the rest of the team was also looking amused and some were chuckling as they watched the two.
"Hari-san," Tezuka spoke up bringing the bickering to a stop as both Echizen's turned to look at the captain. He was watching Hari with a contemplative look on his face like he was seeing her for the first time or something like that.
"Hai?" Hari asked confused. Tezuka had never really addressed her before.
"Come to practice tomorrow after class," he said and with that, he gave a short nod and walked away from them like he hadn't just ordered her to come to practice the next day.
Hari looked confused after him blinking a few times before looking back at Ryoma and arched a brow.
"You know what that was about, Ryo-chan?" she asked.
"No," Ryoma shook his head. "I don't."
Hari turned to look at Fuji who was (surprise, surprise) smiling at her. His smile only widened when he saw her looking at her.
"Fuji-sempai?" Hari asked. "You know why he wants me at practice tomorrow?"
"Saa," he smiled. "I think you know as well, Hari-chan."
Hari shook her head and frowned when the older boy just laughed before leaving as well. He knew - Hari was sure of it.
...
The next day had Hari curious and confused in two equal parts as she tried to figure out why Tezuka had told her to come to practice. There was no reason for it as far as she could tell, but it was clear that he had meant it.
Ryoma had been no help at all, just told her to come and see what he wanted. She had told him that she wasn't even a part of the tennis club so he didn't really have a say in what she did or didn't do, but Ryoma had just shrugged.
"I don't even know why I'm going," Hari mumbled to herself.
"Because you're curious," a voice said beside Hari making her jump slightly and her head snapped to the side to see Fuji (of course it was him) having joined her without her noticing it.
Hari rolled her eyes and focused in front of her again as she made her way through the school and scowled when she saw a couple of the girls from the girls' team glaring at her. She felt tense and a flash of a stone corridor and whispers following her hit her making her stumble a couple of steps.
Fuji reached out to steady her but she flinched away from him and he pulled his hand back with a small frown and eyes opened as he looked at her. When she glanced over at him he quickly closed his eyes and smiled.
"You okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine," Hari mumbled and felt like hitting herself for allowing something like that to affect her. She had gotten away from that, from Hogwarts. She was free of the whispers and rumours, and she was not known as the Girl-Who-Lived here, she was just Hari and anonymous.
Or so she liked to believe.
She was grateful that Fuji didn't ask anymore or attempted to carry a conversation with her. She found that she didn't really mind his presence next to her either, it was almost like having Ryoma or Ron or Hermione there. She felt safe around him and that…that startled her almost enough to make her stumble again. Luckily she caught herself and quickly schooled her face that she was sure had shown a moment of shock as she had come to that realisation.
...
Hari stood beside Ryoma and waited for Tezuka to show up to explain just why he had asked her to come. She was aware that Fuji was watching her, but she ignored him the best she could. She smiled as Ryoma nudged her and gave her a look.
She listened to the team chatter around her and let their cheerful voices relax her and she was pulling into their chatter and laughter. She dodged Momoshiro trying to tickle her, she laughed as she managed to trip him making him fall to the ground pouting up at her.
A little while later Tezuka and Ryuzaki entered the court, both looking around until they spotter Hari. Ryuzaki gave a thoughtful look as she watched Hari interact with the regulars of the boys' tennis team and she realised that it already looked like she was a part of them.
"Oh, gomen ne," Yoshida's slightly breathless voice sounded interrupting the easy-going teasing and chatter going on as they became aware that they had company. "I'm late."
Ryuzaki noticed that Hari stiffened when she spotted Yoshida and that her green eyes flickered from Yoshida to her and to Tezuka quickly as she clearly thought. It was curious to see the sharp look in those green eyes as she looked between them all clearly calculating.
"It's alright, Yoshida-san," Ryuzaki said.
"Sensei, what is going on?" Momoshiro asked curiously with a large smile on his face.
Ryuzaki glanced at Hari who had narrowed her eyes as she watched her.
"Hari-san," Ryuzaki said. "I want you to play a game against Fuji."
The team stilled and gaped in surprise as they stared at Ryuzaki. It was silent and it was a wonder that no one had spoken yet, but Ryuzaki knew it was only a matter of time.
"Eh?" Momoshiro gaped.
"What if the dynamic individual ate the fault?" Kaido hissed.
"Why, sensei?" Kikumaru asked curiously as he bounced lightly on his heel.
Hari didn't say anything as she stared at Yoshida who squirmed slightly under Hari's stare. Ryoma had gone quiet and still beside her, but it was clear to see that he was worried as he glanced at Hari with worry in his eyes.
"You'll see," Ryuzaki said and focused on Hari. "Are you ready to play, Hari-san?"
Hari looked away from Yoshida and to Ryuzaki who met her eyes calmly.
"Why?" Hari asked. "I don't see why I should play against Fuji-sempai."
"You don't want to play me, Hari-chan?" Fuji teasing voice interrupted her. "Saa….I'm hurt."
Hari scowled at him, "sure you are."
He smirked.
"Well, you can make it better and play a match against me," he said looking serious but yet amused at the same way. Hari wasn't sure how he managed that. "If you're not…scared?"
Hari glared at him. She knew what he was doing, but she couldn't stop herself from reacting. She cursed herself for falling into his trap. Because that was what this was. A trap. He was goading her and she fell for it despite knowing better.
"Fine," she snapped. "I'll play you."
He laughed and picked up his racket. Hari blinked when Ryoma gave her his racket since she hadn't brought her own.
...
"I'm confused," Momoshiro muttered as he watched Hari and Fuji getting ready to play.
"About what?" Kawamura asked from beside him.
"Why does Ryuzaki-sensei want Hari-chan to play against Fuji-sempai?" Momoshiro asked.
Kawamura shrugged but he had always been more likely to just wait and see trusting that he got the answers when it was time. Momoshiro admired that about him.
"Just watch, Momo-sempai," Ryoma spoke up and Momoshiro turned to look at his friend to see him watching Hari with an intense look on his face. "I'm sure you'll understand soon."
Momoshiro huffed but he didn't say anything else.
"Oishi, Oishi," Kikumaru nagged at Oishi who was trying to ignore him. "Why are Hari-chan playing Fujiko-chan?"
"Wait and see, Eiji," Oishi finally said and pushed the hyper boy slightly away from him as he had been leaning on his shoulder.
...
Hari gripped the racket a couple of time getting the feel of it as she watched Fuji on the other side of the net. She was curious about playing Fuji, she could feel the challenge burst through her body in bursts of adrenaline making her almost twitchy and unable to stand still.
Yet…she knew she was being tested for something and it irked her. She didn't like now knowing what was going on and while she could deal with the unknown, she didn't particularly like doing it. Not if she could help it.
She saw Ryuzaki seated in the elevated chair to act as the referee for the match while the rest of the regulars and some of the non-regulars as well were gathered outside of the netting fence watching them curiously.
...
Tezuka stood beside Oishi with a stoic expression on his face as he studied Hari on the court. She looked relaxed yet focused; her eyes sharp behind her glasses as she stared at Fuji. Tezuka had a distinct feeling that she was trying to read him and noticed all the small details that were about him.
The game had started with Fuji starting to serve. Tezuka was glad to see that he took it seriously enough, but also kept it open so he could test Hari's abilities. It had been unnecessary for Tezuka to ask Fuji to do this, he would be interested and curious enough to do so by himself.
Fuji hit a ball back over the net and it was on the opposite side of where Hari was and Tezuka was sure it would result in Fuji getting the necessary point to win the game, but Hari was moving and threw herself forward with the racket in front of her managing to hit the ball much to Tezuka's surprise.
Fuji didn't return it as it landed just over the net and Tezuka could see him staring at Hari who was pushing herself off the ground not caring that her knee was scraped and bleeding slightly. Her eyes determinedly looking back at Fuji.
"Wow," Tezuka heard Momoshiro say and glanced over to see the second year stare wide-eyed at Hari. "I didn't know she could play like that!"
"Me neither," Kikumaru agreed. "Hari-chan is good!"
Tezuka looked back at the game and saw Hari and Fuji back at playing for the last point of the game. Fuji served the ball again and Hari managed to return it. They rallied back and forth for a little bit before Fuji managed to get the ball past Hari and won the first game.
If Tezuka thought that Hari would show disappointment over the loss of the first game he would have been surprised because all he saw was a new determination as she narrowed her eyes as she watched Fuji. Fuji who was smiling but looked pensive as well.
Tezuka arched a brow as he saw Hari grab the racket in a continental grip. He watched her do a close to perfect slice serve to make Fuji nearly miss the ball, but he managed to get it and hit it back. Tezuka knew that if Fuji had to work to get it, then others would miss it.
Throughout the game Hari used the continental grip and used the slice serve, while still needing work it was pretty good.
...
Finally they finished the match and Fuji won 6-4 and Hari was breathing harder than normal and looked tired as she dumped down on the court without looking over at Fuji or the watching team. Her eyes were focused on Ryoma's red racket that she still had in her hand.
The match had been rough, but fun. Hari could still feel the thrill going through her as she fought to keep up with Fuji. Oh, she knew he was purposely dragging the match out.
"Hari," Ryoma said as he came up to her.
She looked up and gave him a tired smile.
"Ryo-chan."
"Hari-chan!" Momoshiro and Kikumaru both yelled as they came running up behind Ryoma and stared down at her.
"You never said you could play tennis!" Kikumaru whined. "Hari-chan! Meany!"
"You played well, Hari-chan," Momoshiro said a little calmer than Kikumaru.
Hari just shrugged and blinked when a water bottle was pushed in front of her and she looked up to see Kawamura smiling down at her.
"Thank you, sempai," Hari accepted the bottle gratefully and took deep greedy mouthfuls of water feeling the cold water pass down her throat.
The regulars plus Yoshida was gathered around her now and Fuji had also joined them looking like he hadn't just played a match. That annoyed Hari as she gave him a glare. The smug tensai just smiled at her.
Hari felt a little better and got back up on her feet. She looked at Tezuka and Ryuzaki who was watching in silence as the others talked and asked questions.
"Okay," Hari finally gave in and raised her hands to make them stop asking questions. "I'll answer. Yes, I play tennis. Yes, I have for a few years. Yes, it was Ryoma who taught me."
She felt like laughing when she saw the blinking they did when she listed up her answers like that. But she didn't feel like elaborating, so she kept it short and to the point.
"You should have told me," Momoshiro said. "We could have played!"
Hari smiled and nodded, "we could have. I just wanted to get a chance to practice a little before playing any of you because it had been a while since I got to play and I needed to get a little better before I could start playing against any of you. Getting trashed by Ryo-chan and Nanjiro every day is enough."
Momoshiro snorted but he nodded and gave her a grin, "we will play soon!"
Hari gave a nod of acceptance and looked at Ryuzaki who was watching her with a calculating look. She smiled when she caught Hari's eye, though.
"So…what was this all about, sensei?" Hari asked. "Why have Fuji-sempai test me?"
"You figured it out?" Ryuzaki asked but she didn't look surprised.
"It wasn't exactly very hard to see that," Hari shrugged and pushed her hands into her pockets. "Why, though, that's a different matter."
Her eyes strayed over to Yoshida who seemed to swallow and took a determined step forward. Her shoulders tense and hands wrung together.
"I told her to," Yoshida said. "Echizen-san."
"Why?" Hari deadpanned.
"Because you're too good to quit tennis," Yoshida said.
Hari stared at her for a moment ignoring the surprised murmurs around her as she looked at the other girl. She finally gave a sigh and looked away from her.
"Just because I quit the team doesn't mean that I'll quit tennis," Hari said. "I can play in different ways, Yoshida-san."
Yoshida looked slightly surprised at that.
"You quit tennis?" Kikumaru repeated confused and for once not bouncing in his shock. "Wait, does that mean that you were actually in the tennis club?"
"Good data," Inui muttered.
Hari glanced over at him and nodded.
"I was," she said. "But I quit."
"Why?" Inui asked with his notebook ready and Hari noticed that he had been scribbling away the whole time.
"I don't need to be on a team that doesn't treat you like one of them," Hari said blankly. "I did that once and won't do that again. It's better to be on your own than to do that."
The loneliness of being surrounded by others that shut you out and talked behind your back and whispered about you, the feeling of being so alone and small was not something Hari wanted to do again. Then it was better to just be alone and not under the pretence of being in a team that looked out for each other.
They looked at her with frowns and Ryoma was scowling and clenched his fists.
"I…I'm sorry," Yoshida spoke up again making the other look at her having forgotten that she was there. Hari didn't reveal what she was thinking as she looked at her. "I didn't know…I should have stopped them from doing it."
Hari saw that the older girl was sincere in her apology and felt bad about what had happened, something that Hai hadn't really expected.
"Alright, but I don't see why I had to play Fuji-sempai, though," Hari said. "Even if you're sorry about what happened."
Ryuzaki stepped forward again then and smiled warmly down at Hari.
"Yoshida-san came to talk to me and Tezuka and Oishi," Ryuzaki said. "She explained what happened and told me she wanted to resign as the Captain of the girls regular."
"Nani?" Hari blinked. "Nande?"
"Because she felt she doesn't have what it takes to be a leader," Ryuzaki said making Hari frown slightly. "She also asked us to allow you onto the boys' team."
"Nani?" Hari asked again despite the fact that she was just repeating herself. She was just so surprised and caught off guard that she couldn't find another word.
"She suggested having you play someone to see if you were good enough," Ryuzaki continued like Hari hadn't interrupted her. "Tezuka agreed and suggested having Fuji play you."
Hari glanced over at Fuji who looked calm and smiling like normal. She wondered if had been asked beforehand.
"Saa, you could have told me that, Tezuka," Fuji commented and answered Hari's unasked question.
Tezuka didn't answer, but Hari was sure he hid a smile.
"So…" Kikumaru looked around and started to bounce again. "Hari-chan is joining us?"
Hari startled and looked at him before looking back at Ryuzaki and Tezuka. She was…but she had lost so she wasn't, right? She wasn't good enough, not yet. Maybe not ever.
"Yes," Tezuka said making Hari's head snap up again and stared at him with wide eyes.
"Eh?" Hari said. "But…I lost."
Ryoma smirked next to her, but he looked pleased.
"You have a place on the team if you want it," Tezuka said coolly. "Hari-san, you played one of the best on the team, so you managing to win four games were very impressive. You showed much talent and potential and proved that you have a place on the boys' team."
"But…" Hari frowned and looked over at Fuji who arched a brow at her. "He didn't go all out. He held back and if he had been serious from the start he would have crushed me completely."
"You saw that?" Tezuka asked.
"Well, yeah, of course," Hari said. "It was obvious."
"Not to everyone," Tezuka said. "He tested your skills and potential. You didn't need to win to convince me that you are good enough."
Hari shook her head slightly and looked at Ryoma who smiled at her.
"You're good, Hari," he said, "I've told you that before."
Hari felt confused and hopeful and…scared.
"You'll have to play for a place as one of the regulars like the others," Ryuzaki said.
Hari wasn't sure what to think or act as she looked at the coach trying to figure out if it was some kind of plot. So, okay maybe she was a little paranoid, but didn't she have a right to be? But she was unable to find anything as she stared at the older woman.
"I…" Hari was normally not one to get lost for words or not know how to act.
"Come on, Hari," Ryoma nudged her shoulder. "We'll be your team."
Hari noticed Tezuka look at Ryoma for a moment before he looked back at her, but she looked at her brother and remembered the talk they'd had just a few days ago. Was it possible she could have a team with Ryoma? That way she could be a part of something like him, the same thing as him?
Hope flared in her chest and she repressed a smile from breaking free.
...
"Okay," Hari said deciding to give it one more chance. Give Ryoma and the others a chance to prove that she could be a part of a team, a good team. "I'll accept."
"Good," Ryuzaki nodded. "You will join us for practice like the others and know that I won't show any leniency because you're a girl. I will expect the same of you as I will of them, ok?"
Hari nodded, "hadn't expected anything less."
Ryuzaki nodded once more and turned around and left them alone. Hari blinked after her not really sure what just happened. A sudden attack had her stumbling slightly as she suddenly had Kikumaru attached around her neck and being hugged tightly once more broke her out of her thoughts and was pulled back (again) by Oishi who was wearing a resigned look on his face.
"I'm so happy you're going to join us, Hari-chan!" Kikumaru beamed.
Hari stilled for a moment and she tried to keep her face as blank she could manage, but a smile did break free and she was sure a small blush was colouring her cheeks. Happiness fluttered in her chest as she looked at the team around her and all of them were smiling at her. Even Tezuka (even if it was only a small one) much to her shock.
"Thank you," Hari said feeling shy.
"Does the tops captain rock," Kaido hissed making her startle and fight not to laugh as she turned to look at him. He gave her a sort of smile and she was sure it was meant to be encouraging but he was still scowling so it looked a little awkward, but she smiled back making him blush embarrassed and looked away.
...
Nanjiro and Rinko looked up when they heard the door open and footsteps entering the house. They could hear the laughter coming from Hari and Ryoma's low voice was barely reaching them but it was clear that he had said something that made Hari laugh.
Rinko smiled pleased that Hari was laughing and sounded lighter than she had in a while. She had been worried about the girl and still was, but she was also hopeful that she would be able to fully settle in here and have the life she deserved.
"Tadaima," Hari smiled at them when she entered the living room slightly in front of Ryoma.
"Okaeri," Rinko smiled back. "How was your day?"
"Good," Hari said with a shrug while Ryoma rolled his eyes behind her.
"Ryoma?" Nanjiro had obviously seen the eye-roll as well and called him out on it with a teasing smirk, "something to add?"
Hari turned slightly and narrowed her eyes at Ryoma.
"Hari made the tennis team today," Ryoma stated.
Nanjiro and Rinko blinked and looked at Hari who blushed slightly and shrugged trying to look like she was not affected at all.
"I thought you quit," Nanjiro asked and a small pout was on his face since he hadn't liked the idea of her quitting. Though, he had understood when Ryoma explained the reason why. Rinko had been a little surprised (though she really shouldn't have been) when Nanjiro had gotten really serious and actually cursed and threatened to go down to the court to teach the girls a lesson. Hari had stopped him, though.
"I did," Hari said.
"Ryuzaki-sensei and Tezuka-Captain both arranged for her to join the boy's team after watching her play against Fuji-sempai," Ryoma explained when Hari didn't say anything more.
"Oh?" Nanjiro asked leaning back and grinned. "The old hag arranged that?"
Hari arched a brow at him, "rather rude, don't you think?"
"Nah," Nanjiro waved it off. "So, how did it go?"
"I lost," Hari scowled making Nanjiro laugh. "I'll work on it. I'll beat him one day when he's not testing me for some reason or another."
Nanjiro laughed again and smirked at her before suddenly he frowned.
"I'm happy for you, sweetie," Rinko was saying when Nanjiro suddenly straightened up and stared at Hari with wide hazel-brown eyes.
"He's a boy," Nanjiro suddenly said making the others stop and look at him like he was crazy.
"Well, yeah," Hari said slowly.
"He's a boy and you're a girl," Nanjiro proclaimed.
Hari looked from him to Rinko who was looking like she wanted to laugh and trying to hold it in.
"Dear, I think everyone knows that," she told him.
"You're going to be surrounded by boys all day when you play tennis with the boy's team," Nanjiro wailed, "you can't! You just have to play tennis with me and Ryoma here away from the teenaged boys!"
Hari glared at Ryoma who laughed and looked way too amused while Rinko also let out a small laugh.
"No way," Hari said.
"Hari-chan!" Nanjiro whined. "You can't be around boys! They're the enemy!"
"Ryo-chan is a boy," Hari said.
"He's your brother," Nanjiro defended.
"So, Fuji-sempai is my friend," Hari shrugged, "and the others could be as well."
Nanjiro sank back looking forlorn and sulking, but Hari just shrugged and allowed a small smile cross her face. Especially when Nanjiro gave her a rather pathetic look but sank back when he saw her looking amused.
"Ryoma! You're tasked with keeping Hari safe from those boys!" Nanjiro declared seriously and pointed a waving finger at his son. "Understood?!"
Ryoma blinked before he huffed looking resigned at being pulled into the mess his father created. While Hari and Rinko looked amused, well, mostly, Hari also looked a little worried. She hoped he wouldn't do anything drastic.
...
Hogwarts
Hermione sighed as she closed the book and looked around the common room. It was half-filled and starting to empty out as it was getting late. Though, not all had a rush to say goodnight and go to bed for the day.
She was seated in the best seats by the fire and Ron was in the chair next to her staring at the fire with a forgotten book opened on his lap. His blue eyes had that faraway look that he so often had these days and she knew what was bothering him. How could she not when the same thing was bothering her?
She sighed again and pulled a hand through her bushy hair wincing slightly as she got stuck in a knot, but she managed to work it out and wished she could have asked Hari to help her brush her hair with that magical potion. She could do it on her own, but it was something Hari often had helped her with and something they had bonded over.
"I wonder where Hari is," Ron said breaking the silence that surrounded them. He didn't look at her, but she knew he was directing his words to her knowing that she was next to him.
"Me too," Hermione confessed quietly.
Dumbledore and McGonagall had both called them to their office and asked if they had any idea where Hari was. Hermione had been worried and scared when she realised that Hari had left her aunt and uncle's house in Surrey and that no one had any idea where she had gone.
They hadn't.
Dumbledore himself had gone to see Hari's aunt and uncle but from what Hermione could tell had been unsuccessful in finding something. She had heard Flitwick and Sprout talking after one class one day saying that the Dursley's had moved and was unable to find them in the muggle world.
Anyway, back to the point, no one knew where Hari was and Hermione worried.
"Do you think," Ron turned to look at her and lowered his voice as he glanced around to see that no one was close by, "that Sirius picked her up and they're together?"
Hermione thought for a moment. That wasn't completely out of the question; she knew he had asked Hari to move in with him when they thought he would be cleared. But, he hadn't been and he had gone on the run. Honestly, she thought it would be too dangerous for Hari to join him. Being on the run wasn't a life for a thirteen-year-old girl.
"I don't think so," Hermione finally said. "I don't think Sirius would be able to take care of her. To keep her safe while on the run from Dementors. I can't see him putting her in danger like that."
Ron's shoulders sagged as he nodded.
"I don't know where she would have gone, though," Ron complained. "We're her friends and does she even know anyone in the muggle world?"
Hermione gave a helpless shrug. She hated not knowing, she hated not being able to answer a question. Especially when it was about her best friend's safety.
"I don't know," Hermione admitted. "She did talk about one friend once, but I don't think she had any contact with him since before Hogwarts."
Ron sighed and nodded.
"Professor Dumbledore thinks we know more than we say," Ron said.
"I know," Hermione nodded. "But we don't and I'm not sure I would tell him if I did."
Ron arched a brow at her, "what am I hearing? Hermione Granger wants to withhold information from the headmaster?"
"Shut up," Hermione scoffed, but she smiled slightly. "Not if I thought that Hari was safe and happy. I hope she's both."
"But what if…" Ron frowned.
"I can't think about that," Hermione shuddered and looked pained.
Ron nodded and looked back into the fireplace again. He frowned as he thought. Hermione had learned to rely more on Ron the last few weeks, he had been strong for her as they missed Hari. She knew Ron also missed Hari something fierce, but he had managed to give Hermione strength and support.
Though, he could be a little hot-headed at times.
...
Hermione ignored the stares and whispers that followed her out of the Great Hall the next morning as she made her way to the Charms class with Ron and Neville. They were silent as they walked and Hermione noticed Ron scowling as he noticed the stares. He didn't like the attention, and while he had often envied Hari for that attention he seemed to now understand that it wasn't easy or even a good thing to always be stared at and whispered about.
It wasn't anything new. Since Hari was suspended they had been stared at, gossiped about, cornered to find out why Hari was suspended from school. Why the Minister of Magic himself had interfered and pulled strings getting the suspension to get past the Headmaster and stick.
Hermione had ignored them the best she could, but the almost hostile whispers were getting to both her and Ron. The way many seemed to think that Hari was getting the worst punishment and that they had thrown her (as the muggles say) under the bus.
That wasn't true at all. They hadn't, and they never would. She would have taken the same punishment as Hari if necessary but the professors had said it was out of their hands and Hari wouldn't have wanted them to be suspended as well.
Hari had looked relieved when she learned that Ron and Hermione weren't getting suspended, but there had been a look of resigned defeat in her emerald green eyes. Something Hermione didn't like and make her worry for her friend even more.
Dumbledore had asked them not to write to Hari, and Hermione had never seen Ron so angry before. But the headmaster had remained set in his ways and stood by his decision, saying that the less attention they brought to Hari from Fudge the better.
They had kept their word for the first weeks and hating themselves for it. Until they had broken it and used Errol to send a letter, but he had returned with the letter unopened and worrying the both of them.
They had tried a school owl, but she had come back as well with the letter tied to her leg. It seemed like it was impossible to get a letter through and Hermione had no idea why. She had tried to research the reasons, but she hadn't found anything in her books. Finally, she had somehow managed to ask Flitwick in one of his class (masking it as simple curiosity) about letters being returned unopened and what it meant.
The Charms professor had given her a look before he had said it was some wards that could be put up to keep owls from getting through, but it was rare to be used.
Hermione and Ron were conflicted about what they thought. Were the wards around the house Hari stayed at in Surrey or was it just Hari sending the letters back unopened because she was angry at them? Did she blame them for what had happened?
"She could be her noble-self and purposely be pushing us away to keep us away from situations like this," Ron had said one night and Hermione had to admit that it was a likely explanation.
...
"I still think we should do something," Ron muttered as he sat by her side in Charms. They were sitting by themselves since no one from Gryffindor really wanted anything to do with them anymore. Again a feeling on how it had been for Hari when she had been blamed for things outside of her control.
"Like what?" Hermione snapped frustrated.
"I don't know," Ron snapped back.
Hermione inhaled deeply as she tried to calm herself down. It wasn't Ron's fault. She shouldn't take her frustration out on him. She listened to Flitwick explain a charm and demonstrate it, but half her mind was thinking about Hari and how to find her. There had to be some way they hadn't thought about, something so simple that they really should have seen it… But what could they do? Especially being stuck at Hogwarts and away from the muggle world where Hari most likely was.
"I have an idea," Hermione said making Ron look over at her with a hopeful look in his eyes.
...
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AN: Finally a new chapter ready! What do you think? :)
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More Yoshida in the next chapter because I didn't have room to have more of her on this one. So, next chapter. :)
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Hope you liked the peek into the magical world and seeing how Ron and Hermione are dealing without Hari. I will not have peeks into the magical world every chapter, but once in a while. :)
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Thanks for reading and supporting the story! Feel free to let me know what you think or if you have questions or anything down in the reviews and I'll do my best to answer you as fast as I can :) Love hearing from readers!
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Japanese words used:
Hai - yes
Gomen ne - I'm sorry
Saa - filler
Sempai -
Sensei - teacher, coach
Tensai - genius
Nani - what?
Nande - why
Tadaima - I'm home
Okaeri - Welcome back