Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Prince of Tennis!
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...
Sanada frowned as he watched Seiichi. He was sitting rather listlessly at his desk, looking out of the window, not paying attention to the class at all. He had scarcely said a word to anyone since they returned from Tokyo three days ago, and it worried Sanada.
He hadn't been at tennis practice either, and Seiichi never skipped practice. Or almost never. But the only time he had done that was when he had been sick and hadn't known if he could return to play tennis at all and the time right after his surgery and in recovery. Other than that, he was always at practice overseeing everything.
Not now, though. He had pulled away and Sanada wasn't sure what to do because he hadn't seen this side of Seiichi before. He had tried to talk to him, but he was either ignored or dismissed with a vague excuse.
When the class ended Sanada got up and looked after Seiichi who was already out of the classroom clearly decided to keep avoiding him. He sighed as he made his way to practice, feeling heavy and worried.
The loss against Seigaku didn't hurt as much as watching his best friend struggle like this. It wasn't as if he didn't know why he was struggling. It was very clear, and it made Sanada even more frustrated.
It was the match between Kirihara and Hari. They never should have allowed that match to happen. It had been a mistake, and now Seiichi was paying for it. He wasn't sure if Seiichi had talked to Hari at all, but somehow he doubted it. And that would create trouble too.
What should he do? Should he do anything?
"Hey, Sanada," Yanagi said.
"Yanagi," Sanada nodded and looked around to find the rest of the regulars already there. The only one missing was Seiichi.
"No Yukimura today either?" Nio asked.
"No," Sanada said shortly.
"Hm," Yagyu frowned. "He's not dealing with this very well, is he?"
It was more a statement than a question. Kirihara looked away and frowned but didn't say anything as he kicked at the ground.
"Does anyone know how Hari-chan is?" Marui asked hesitantly.
"Sadaharu say she's fine," Yanagi said before Sanada could say anything. "She had to use crutches for a couple of days to give her knee a rest but other than that she's fine."
"That's good," Jackal said.
"Though…" Yanagi grimaced and Sanada looked at him.
"What?" he asked.
"She's pretty upset," Yanagi admitted. "Sadaharu said that she won't say anything but they all know she's upset about Yukimura. He's not responding to her calls if I understand him correctly."
Great, Sanada thought. Seiichi would really mess this up…
"Enough," he said. "Get started with the practice."
They gave him a look before they did as they were told and they left Sanada to his thoughts.
...
"Have you heard the talk about us now?" Yagyu asked Nio as they practised together.
"That we're the big bad monsters of tennis?" Nio asked as he returned a ball. "It's nothing new, is it?"
"Well, it's more vicious than before," Yagyu said. "It's more talk about how we need a proper coach."
Nio frowned, "a proper coach? We have Yukimura and Sanada, that's enough."
Yagyu nodded in agreement, "but I heard someone from the administration talk about how it might be time to have a coach train our team."
Nio frowned unhappily.
...
The next day was much the same as always. It was four days since the match now, four days since he had talked to Hari, four days since he had ruined everything. Time moved slowly, but Seiichi knew he deserved to feel as miserable as he was.
"Hey, Yukimura!"
Seiichi stilled as he was making his way down the corridor and up to the roof. He wanted to be alone and away from everyone else, but the voice made him pause.
"What?" Seiichi asked without turning to look at Kirihara, who was now behind him.
"I… I wanted to say that I'm sorry," Kirihara said.
Seiichi flinched and turned to stare at the boy who was standing there and all he could see was Hari's pained look as she was lying on the court holding her knee, or unmoving because of the tennis ball to her face.
"What?" Seiichi repeated quietly.
Kirihara shifted on his feet and swallowed nervously.
"I wanted to…" he started but Seiichi couldn't hear it and suddenly grabbed Kirihara and pushed him against the wall and held him against it not letting him move. The shock of the sudden move stopped the words coming out of the other boy's mouth.
"Shut up," Seiichi snapped. "I don't want to hear it! I made excuses for you long enough and you repay me by hurting my girlfriend!"
"I…" Kirihara's eyes were wide.
"She got hurt because of you," Seiichi snarled. "I… I never thought you would go that far against her!"
"Seiichi," Sanada was suddenly there and pulled him away from Kirihara, who looked stunned. Seiichi pulled away from Sanada with a sharp movement and took a step away as he glared at Kirihara.
"Stay away from me," Seiichi said coldly. "I can't look at you right now!"
"Seiichi," Sanada tried again. "We need to talk."
"No, I need to be alone," Seiichi said. "I can't deal with this now."
He turned to walk away and Sanada gave Kirihara, who still hadn't moved, a look before following Seiichi to the roof and the garden that was up there.
"Seiichi," Sanada called again. "You need to snap out of it."
Seiichi ignored him.
"Have you talked to Hari-chan?" Sanada asked and noticed how Seiichi flinched. "She's been trying to call you, right?"
"She shouldn't," Seiichi said. "I got her hurt."
"No, you didn't," Sanada protested.
"I did," Seiichi said. "I am not good enough as a coach or a captain for this team… I couldn't even control one of my own players, my friend, who hurt her. How can she ever be able to even look at me again?"
Sanada frowned, "what are you saying?"
Seiichi shrugged and focused on the flowers.
"What point is it for me to continue with tennis if this is the result?" Seiichi asked. "I'm not worthy of it anymore…"
"Seiichi," Sanada said, stunned and unable to find words. "You…"
"Please leave, Genichiro," Seiichi said. "I want to be alone."
...
Hari grumbled as she hopped off the train and for once she knew she had ended up at the right place right away. She recognized the station and remembered the time she had met Seiichi here and how they had gotten talking. To think they hadn't really known each other then, but it was one of Hari's fondest memories because it had been the start of her relationship with Seiichi in many ways. While it wasn't when they started dating it had been when they had talked for real for the first time and he had become someone she could talk to.
It was strange how connected she had felt with Seiichi from the start.
But right now she was just feeling worried, and it also made her feel frustrated and annoyed because Seiichi was avoiding her and hadn't picked up her calls at all since the match. She had given him space now and time, but this was getting ridiculous and, honestly enough.
If he didn't want to be with her anymore, then he would have to tell her and she would not hide away anymore. She worried that he didn't want to be with her anymore, but to wonder like this was just too much…
She forced herself to think about something else and her mind went back to her meeting with An and smiled slightly. At least they had made up now…
...
"Hey," An said, and Hari blinked as An stood in front of her.
"Hey," Hari said warily.
An shifted on her feet and Hari could tell she was nervous but she didn't say anything because she wasn't sure why An had sought her out at practice like this. She saw Momoshiro and Ryoma watching from behind An and while Momoshiro looked concerned Ryoma looked suspicious. Kikumaru was straight out staring from where he had been practising with Oishi, who pretended to not look over at them but still threw concerned looks over at them. Fuji and Kawamura were also watching and looked intrigued and concerned, respectively. Inui was taking notes while Kaido was scowling.
"I wanted to apologize," An finally said.
Hari blinked, "apologize?"
"Yeah… for how I've acted," An said looking at her with a pleading look in her eyes, "I really am sorry, Hari-chan. I shouldn't have taken my anger and worry out on you. I shouldn't have blamed you for what happened."
Hari looked at her for a moment and thought back at how hurt she had felt since the fight. It had hurt that An had blamed her for how Kirihara had played and how the rest of Rikkai Dai had acted. It reminded her a little too much about how things were at Hogwarts. How easily she was blamed for things going wrong.
"No, you shouldn't have," Hari agreed, and An looked down. Hari sighed softly to herself, knowing that her soft heart wouldn't allow her to not accept the apology. She knew An was sincere in her apology, it was clearly written all over her and Hari had missed the other girl.
"I know," An said looking back up. "Hari-chan, I know I did wrong and I shouldn't have blamed you… I have thought about what you said and I know you were right. It was just easier to be angry and blame you and them than to accept that we weren't strong enough. And Kirihara went too far, but I know that it wasn't your fault."
Hari nodded, "okay."
"Okay?" An repeated.
Hari shrugged and half-turned away. "Okay. I guess I will need a little time to sort through it, but I accept your apology."
"Thank you," An said gratefully.
Hari shrugged again, feeling self-conscious, and glanced around at her watching friends and rolled her eyes.
"Come on," she said and motioned for An to follow her. She mentally cursed her crutches, knowing that she had another day to use them before she could get rid of them for good. It was annoying since she didn't really need them anymore but had to in order to keep up appearances.
"Where are we going?" An asked curiously as she followed her.
"Somewhere the others won't stare at us like we're some sort of show," Hari grumbled, annoyed. Her patience wasn't the best at the moment. "They have been giving me looks all day."
"You okay?" An asked concerned.
Hari shrugged and didn't say anything. They ended up by the lake behind the school and Hari didn't even mind missing the last part of the practice. It wasn't like she could really take part in it, anyway.
They sat down, and Hari sighed.
"What's wrong?" An asked sounding a little apprehensive as she did.
Hari glanced at her and considered what to tell her.
"Sei-chan hasn't talked to me since the match," Hari admitted after a moment.
"He hasn't?" An asked surprised. "Why?"
Hari shrugged, "no idea."
An was watching her and Hari tried to ignore it. Her mind back at Seiichi and wondering if he was okay and why he hadn't answered her calls… maybe she shouldn't call him anymore. He clearly didn't want her to, but could she just let go?
"Maybe he doesn't want me anymore," Hari whispered.
She hadn't said the words out loud before and it made her go cold just hearing it said out loud.
"I don't think that's it," An said.
Hari looked at her, "you don't like him, though."
"I don't like how he allowed Kirihara to do what he wanted in the match," An said quietly. "I still don't like that, but I… I watched him during your match against Kirihara and even while he looked calm and collected he also seemed worried about you and scared."
Hari frowned, "scared?"
"Didn't you hear him when he called out to Kirihara and demanded that he didn't use one of his serves?" An asked, making Hari frown in thought. "My guess is that he feels guilty."
Hari looked back over the lake and frowned. She wasn't sure what to think… could it be that he was feeling guilty? Well, it made sense in a way. Some things clicked in place, and she sighed.
"Idiot," she murmured making An blink and look at her.
...
After having talked with An, Hari had decided that she would go and see Seiichi for herself. She had to wait a couple of days before she was allowed to go. Her parents hadn't been too happy about it but in the end, Rinko had agreed seeing how much it meant to Hari.
Hari decided to take a taxi to get to Rikkai Dai faster and without getting lost. She knew it was already rather late in the day and she could only hope that Seiichi was still there and hadn't left for the day.
She was also going to make sure she got a hold of Sanada's phone number because it would be much easier to get this arranged if she could have called him and gotten his help. Or at least tried to get his help, she hoped that he would have helped her to track Seiichi down.
Hari walked through the gates to the school, it was a much larger school than Seigaku and Hari wondered how she would ever find her way through this… she noticed that there were still some students around.
"Excuse me," Hari said, and a girl stopped and looked at her.
"Yes? May I help you?" She asked.
"I was wondering if you could please tell me where the tennis club is located," Hari asked.
"Oh, sure," the girl said and described the way and Hari tried her best to follow the descriptions.
"Thank you," Hari said when she was done.
"You're welcome," the girl said and continued on her way.
Hari sighed as she walked, hoping that she wouldn't waste too much time getting lost in this maze of a school.
...
Sanada was still thinking about what Seiichi had said as the practice was going on. He couldn't help but wonder if Seiichi really was serious and if he meant to quit playing tennis. He couldn't mean that, could he?
Maybe he should try to contact Hari himself, Sanada thought. He didn't like getting involved, but watching Seiichi like this wasn't helping anyone and he was feeling helpless. Something had to be done in order to get Seiichi back to himself again.
But should he interfere, though? Would it make it worse if he did?
"What's on your mind, Sanada?" Yanagi asked.
"Seiichi," Sanada said.
Yanagi nodded, "I'm worried about him too."
"I just wish I knew what the best choice is," Sanada admitted knowing that Yanagi would understand. He had been a large part of forming this team with him and Seiichi back when they were freshmen at this school.
"Kirihara is not acting like himself either," Yanagi commented. "Jackal is worried."
Sanada sighed, "he cornered Seiichi."
"Ah," Yanagi said. "That was probably not a good idea."
"No, it wasn't," Sanada said stoically.
"Seriously, do you need to attend such a confusing school?!" A voice interrupted them and Sanada jumped slightly before he turned to see Hari coming marching up toward them looking frustrated. He blinked and was pleased to see that it wasn't only him that looked surprised at seeing Hari coming up to them. Yanagi also showed surprise as he stared at Hari.
"Hari-chan?" Sanada asked almost incredulously.
"Who else?" Hari frowned at him. "I hope you aren't always this slow, Sanada-kun. But do you know how confusing this school is? It took me forever to find this court!"
"You've been wandering this school for long?" Sanada asked.
Hari shrugged, "longer than I should. I was worried that I would miss you all."
She looked at around and Sanada saw her face fall slightly, "he's not here?"
Sanada grimaced.
"Hari-chan!" Marui and Nio exclaimed at the same time having noticed her and came rushing over with Jackal and Yagyu following more slowly. Kirihara kept his distance but was watching her.
"Hey," Hari nodded at them and smiled slightly before looking back at Sanada. "Well?"
"He's… not been at practice since the match," Sanada admitted.
Hari frowned and rubbed her chin, and Sanada eyed the fading bruise on her chin.
"I'm fine," Hari said, noticing his eyes. "It's nothing."
"Good," Sanada said. "Um… what are you doing here?"
She looked at him like he was stupid and Sanada thought maybe he was.
"Looking for Sei-chan," Hari said. "Where is he? And why hasn't he been at practice?"
"Well, he's… upset," Sanada winced and Hari frowned again.
"I gathered that," Hari said. "That's why I'm here because he doesn't pick up the phone and I'm tired of waiting."
Sanada looked at her for a moment and felt his lips twitch and nodded.
"He's on the roof," Sanada said. "It's where he normally goes lately."
Hari nodded, "okay. Guess I'll go and see if I can find him then."
"I'll show you the way," Sanada offered and Hari glanced at him. "Otherwise you probably will miss him leave while getting lost."
Hari snorted but didn't protest.
...
Seiichi sighed as he put the watering can down and watched the flowers and for once didn't feel anything at all watching them. It didn't offer him comfort or distraction, but only reminders of his girlfriend who was hurt. He knew he should pick up her calls, or at least text her back, but he just couldn't do it.
He was a coward.
He knew that and it nagged at him. But every time he closed his eyes he saw her pained expression, or unmoving body, or Kirihara's vicious smirk that threatened to hurt everything in his path.
A path that Seiichi had directed toward Hari.
How could he ever forgive himself for that? He just couldn't. He wasn't good enough anymore.
This way of playing tennis was wrong, and it hit him harder than almost anything else. Had their previous opponents been right when they called the monsters? When they said that their strength was too much?
Was he a good leader? Was he being a good enough Captain? He was sure Tezuka never would have allowed something like this to have happened with Seigaku…
Seiichi sighed as he sat down on a bench and rubbed his knee slightly feeling a little stiff because he had been crouching over the flowers for a longer period of time and while his legs were better and he was almost ready to train again according to his doctors, he still got a little stiff.
The student advisor and someone from the administration had called him into a meeting the next day and Seiichi knew they would talk about the team and how they had… messed up during the last match. He didn't have the energy to worry about it too much, but he would make sure that the others didn't suffer for his mistakes.
His mistake that led to Hari being hurt…
Promise of happiness. Right. What a fool he was to think he could promise her that… He heard the door to the roof being opened and sighed. Again. Sanada was back again, he supposed. He appreciated that his best friend looked in on him, but really… he just wanted to be left alone. He wanted to think.
"Genichiro, I told you I wanted to be alone," Seiichi called out.
"That you have made clear," another voice said and Seiichi jumped to his feet and turned to see Hari coming toward him looking annoyed but also hurt. Her green eyes glared at him and he swallowed, wondering what she was doing here and how she had found him… His eyes were immediately drawn to the bruise on her chin and he flinched slightly.
"Hari," he said.
She narrowed her eyes at him, "that's it? You've got nothing to say?"
He watched as she walked, no stalked, up to him only stopping when she was close enough for him to reach out to touch her if he wanted to… and he wanted to but he didn't.
"I… I can't," he said.
"Can't what?" Hari asked. "Pick up a phone?! Send a text to let me know that you're all right?!"
He stared at her.
"I thought you would be angry…" he started.
"I am!" she interrupted him loudly, and he grimaced and looked away. He knew it… she was angry at him and he had ruined it all… "You keep ignoring me! Of course, I'm angry!"
He looked back at her and saw the tears in her eyes, but they didn't fall as she glared at him. Her hands were fisted at her side and he noticed that she was shaking slightly.
"Are you really that upset we won? Did the match really change how you…" she paused and the words seemed to pain her and he instantly wanted to hug her but kept back as she seemed to shake herself out of it and glared at him again, "how you feel about me? If so, tell me! If you don't want to be with me anymore then at least do me the favour and tell me! Don't make me sit by the phone waiting for you to call! We promised we would let each other know if we needed space, right? So, answering one text shouldn't be that difficult!"
He blinked at her as he processed her words… it didn't seem like she was angry at him because of Kirihara… but how could that be?
"You're not angry at me because of Akaya?" Seiichi asked, unable to stop it from slipping out.
Hari frowned as she looked at him for a moment.
"What?" she finally asked and Seiichi repeated the question almost urgently.
"Why would I be angry at you for that?" Hari demanded. "That wasn't your fault, Sei-chan! It was a match, and you didn't control what happened."
He couldn't help but stare at her.
"But… but you were injured because of him and me," he protested. "I know you had to use crutches so don't tell me it was nothing, and the bruise on your chin…"
"I'm fine," she interrupted him, scowling. "The crutches were just to give my knee rest for a couple of days. I don't have to use them anymore and my knee doesn't hurt anymore either. And the bruise is just a bruise. It will fade away."
He wanted to protest, to say that it didn't change the fact that she had been hurt and that it was his fault.
"You mean you really have been avoiding me because you think I'm angry at you because of the match against Kirihara?" Hari asked her voice calmer now but the anger was still there.
"How can you not be?" he asked challengingly. "I'm the one who set the matches up and…"
"And you don't necessarily decide the order Ryuzaki puts us in," Hari pointed out. "You didn't decide that I would play Singles 2. I bet you thought Shu-chan would play that."
Seiichi pushed back his scowl at the mention of Fuji and focused on her words. It was true… he had expected Fuji to play Singles 2.
"Still…" he wasn't ready to let it go.
Hari waved a hand and she let out a frustrated sound and gave him a look.
"Ugh! You're so frustrating!" She snapped. "Listen to me, it's not your fault!"
...
Hari did her best to calm down as she stood in front of Seiichi. She knew she shouldn't have lost her temper, but she had just felt so frustrated and upset and worried that when she saw him it had just poured out of her.
She was honestly confused when she realised that he thought she was angry at him because of Kirihara. No matter what she had considered before, she hadn't really thought it was because of that… but in a way, she guessed it made sense.
She hadn't really considered how the match would have looked from the outside. Seiichi had been looking worried on the bench, An was right about that, and Hari had seen it but she hadn't thought… she grimaced as she realised that she should have made the connection herself and not dismissed it. It was obvious.
"Hari-chan…" he said, and she looked back at him and saw how pale he looked and hurt. Her heart softened, and the anger slipped away as she dove forward and hugged him, hiding her face against his shoulder. She felt how he stilled before his arms went around her waist and he hugged her back.
She counted that as a win.
"I was so worried," she muttered against his shoulder not caring that her words were barely audible.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean for you to be hurt."
"Idiot," she muttered. "It's not your fault. And it's not like it's the first time I've gotten hurt while playing tennis. I'm fine, Sei-chan."
He didn't say anything for a moment, just held her tighter and focused on her warm body against his and how her breath tickled his neck. He ignored the hair tickling his chin as he smelled the flowery shampoo she'd used.
...
They sat down on the bench and talked. Seiichi couldn't stop the words from spilling out as she turned those green, amazingly warm green, eyes at him and asked him how he was. He told her about the last few days and how he hadn't been to practise because he couldn't face it and how he felt guilty for her getting hurt.
She listened and didn't comment as he talked and talked, and Seiichi wondered briefly how the words kept flowing out of him like this because he didn't normally allow himself to open up like this. Maybe it was because he had kept it inside for days and that being faced with her anger and hurt and then forgiveness (not that she seemed to think there was anything to forgive) had him spill it out to test if she really meant it.
"You're too hard on yourself," Hari said when he stopped talking.
"No," he protested. "I'm not…"
"You are," she said. "Sei-chan, Kirihara is responsible for his own actions. You're not the one who played the game, and you tried to stop him when you saw him using a serve that was dangerous. I noticed, you know."
Seiichi scowled, remembering the knuckle serve. "It was dangerous."
Hari nodded in agreement, "but I handled it."
"You did," Seiichi agreed.
She smiled slightly, and he smiled back, noticing the relieved look that crossed her face as he did. Before he could say anything else, the door opened again and this time it was Sanada who came out. He seemed relieved when he saw Seiichi sitting close with Hari, and obviously having talked.
"Genichiro," Seiichi said.
"Seiichi," he said and looked at Hari. "You got him to talk."
Hari just shrugged and Seiichi shook his head, "she did."
"Good," Sanada said. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," Seiichi reassured his best friend feeling guilty for having made him worry. "You're still here?"
"I thought I should check on you," Sanada said stoically. "And let you know that the school close soon."
"Right," Seiichi said getting to his feet and pulled Hari to her feet.
...
"I'm sorry I have to leave right away again," Hari said when Seiichi and Sanada followed her to the train station.
"It is the middle of the week," Seiichi said.
"Yeah…" Hari said, looking at him for a moment. "Um… I guess I should apologize for being angry earlier…"
"No," Seiichi shook his head. "You have nothing to apologize for. I deserved it. I shouldn't have avoided your calls and texts. I am sorry about that, I just didn't want to face it if you said you didn't want to be with me anymore. I was a coward."
Hari looked at him for a moment before she smiled and leaned up to press a kiss to his lips and he blinked, surprised before he pulled her closer and kissed her again. She smiled up at him when he pulled back and he reached out to push her hair out of her face like he always did and she felt her heart skip a beat knowing that she had missed him doing that.
"I really like you, Sei-chan," she said shyly.
"I really like you too, Hari-chan," he smiled back. "And I'll try to not be a stupid fool anymore."
"Good," she said.
The train arrived then and Hari sighed, knowing that she had to leave now. She wanted to spend more time with Seiichi, but right now she had to go home again.
"Okay, I have to go," she said pulling back from him and looked over at Sanada who had been waiting behind them without a word. "Thank you and sorry for making you go out of your way."
"No problem," Sanada said. "Thank you."
Hari smiled and looked back at Seiichi again before she waved and walked over to the train and stepped up onto it. She turned and watched her boyfriend standing with his best friend watching her.
"Oh, and I have Sanada's number now," Hari said looking at Seiichi, "so from now on you won't be able to hide from me that easily!"
...
Seiichi laughed amusedly as Hari disappeared into the train with that parting remark and looked at Sanada, who didn't betray anything with his stoic look.
"Right," he said. "You're allying yourself with my girlfriend now, eh?"
"She seems to be better at getting through your thick head," Sanada deadpanned as he turned to walk back out of the station. Seiichi followed, feeling lighter than he had in days.
"Well, she's kind of scary when she's mad," Seiichi admitted wryly.
"I bet," Sanada said. "She seemed… annoyed."
Seiichi grimaced and nodded. "I deserved it."
Sanada glanced at him but didn't say anything but Seiichi knew his best friend well enough to know that he agreed. He was lucky that Hari had calmed down so quickly and that she hadn't ended things because Seiichi knew she could easily have done so and he wouldn't be able to blame her if she had.
"So, you're coming to practise tomorrow?" Sanada asked.
"Yes," Seiichi sighed. "I also have to meet with the school tomorrow."
"They're serious about this?" Sanada asked.
"I think so," Seiichi said. "And I don't know if I can argue against it, not really. This has proven that there are some situations that are too difficult to handle even for me."
He grimaced, and Sanada frowned.
"And what about Kirihara," Sanada asked.
"I don't know," Seiichi said. "But he can't keep playing like this."
Sanada nodded.
"I just… I don't know how to be around him anymore," Seiichi said. "I'm… angry."
Sanada glanced at him, "that's all right, but you can't go around attacking him."
"I know," Seiichi said. "I just need time to think and figure it out."
"I'll talk to him and tell him to stay away from you for now," Sanada said. "But you will need to talk to him at one point."
Seiichi nodded and thanked him.
...
England
...
Crouch Jr smirked as he marvelled of the naivety and plain idiocy that some people showed. People were stupid, he thought as he opened the door to the Burrow and stepped inside. The wards, few and weak as they were, was easily disarmed, and he knew that no one would ever know he had been there.
He had been patient. He had waited and today he had been lucky because everyone was out of the house and he could sneak inside without worrying about being seen.
They were naïve and had too much faith in people. That was normally the good guys' weakness, and he wasn't above using it against them. He sneered at the clock that showed the family's whereabouts rather than time.
The house was chaotic, just as he would have imagined from his watch from the outside. It reflected the family living inside rather well, messy, chaotic and loud. Even the mess seemed loud somehow.
He made his way to the stairs. He knew he had to start looking at the youngest boy's room. He was the one likely to have a clue about Hari. And he didn't have much time. He didn't know when the family would be back.
He looked into each room as he walked up the stairs, but none so far had seemed to belong to Ron, not until he reached the top and saw the orange room and grimaced. Chudley Cannon posters and colours everywhere and Crouch Jr knew that the boy supported them from his time watching him with his brothers on the quidditch field.
He stepped into the room and looked around quickly. Where to look? He moved to the desk in the corner and saw the closed school books and the parchment filled with messy writing, his attempt as his school homework Crouch guessed.
He flipped through the papers and saw nothing that could tell him where Hari Potter was. Not a letter or anything. He scowled as he put the notes back where he found them and looked around again.
He noticed the trunk by the bed and made to move toward it when he knocked a book off the desk and he bent down to pick it up and noticed something falling out of it. He arched a brow as he pulled it out and saw that it was a letter.
Headmaster Dumbledore.
Why had Ron written to Dumbledore and not sent it?
Crouch glanced at the door, knowing that he should get out soon, and pocketed the letter as he put the book back. He took a quick look through the trunk, but there was nothing there.
With a muttered curse, he walked out of the room and closed the door behind him before starting on the way down. He considered going through the other rooms as well but thought it was best to get out before someone got back. Who knew how much longer his luck would last.
...
Crouch Jr apparated into the large, empty hall in the manor where he was currently hiding. He immediately pulled out the letter and opened it.
...
Dear Headmaster Dumbledore
I know I'm making a mistake writing this letter to you and that Hari will hate me for it forever, but I don't want to see her hurt or killed because of her own stubbornness and unwillingness to admit that she's wrong.
She is not safe here like she thinks, because she places her safety at the hands of muggles and they can't help against magic. If You-Know-Who comes for her then I fear what will happen to her and she will blame herself for getting her friends here hurt.
I know you've asked us where she is many times, but honestly sir, we have been undecided whether you've been out for Hari's best interest or not. You've kept her in the dark and you've allowed her to get into dangerous situations at school. But I do think you can keep her safe from You-Know-Who better than muggles can.
So, I am writing this to tell you that Hari is with a family that she has known since she was a child and they're currently in Japan….
...
The letter cut off and Crouch Jr turned it, despite knowing that there was nothing written on the back. Since it had been stuck inside an envelope, he didn't think there was anything missing, but it rather looked like Ron had been interrupted writing it and hadn't gotten back to finishing it. Probably changed his mind about sending it off.
He reread the letter again and smirked. There was a lot of information in this and he felt the thrill of a new clue go through him and he couldn't wait until he told his master about this. He would be rewarded!
Though, it was too bad it hadn't actually said where in Japan she was, but it was a start.
He made his way up the stairs and heard the hissing from Nagini and looked down to see the large snake slither past him and into the opened room just above the stairs.
"Come inside," a cold voice hissed. "Nagini tells me you are here… Barty."
"Yes, my lord," Crouch Jr said stepping into the room preparing to tell him what he had learned. "I have news."
...
...
AN: What do you think? XD
They made up! XD I just couldn't have the tension between Seiichi and Hari drag out any longer than this. Hari is the type to take matters into her own hands when she really wants something so I wanted her to go and find Seiichi and knock some sense into him. He wasn't going to get there this fast on his own, so he needed her to come and find him before he ruined everything by hesitating and second-guessing himself. He might still struggle a little with tennis, but at least he's facing it now.
And news from Britain... They're getting closer... :S XD
Thank you for reading! XD