I'm gratified at the reviews Rara Avis got (and that title might change), but I also found some controversy with my story choices. Please understand, my story choices are mine to make. If you don't like them, you don't have to read the resulting story. And this isn't the only Sekirei story I have planned, and they won't all be Potterverse crossovers either. But this is the story idea that won't rely on prior knowledge of the details of the plot of Sekirei. It's a pilot story of sorts.

Now, I should apologise, as this chapter has a lot of exposition through dialogue. I intend to post the third chapter (which features Takami and Karasuba) at a later date to show where the story goes and how much it improves. Plus, the third chapter has a variation on the prank Ranma pulls on MBI in the Sekirei/Ranma 1/2 crossover Anything Goes Game Changer by Vimesenthusiast, which I recommend.

It also shows my take on Dumbledore. As my frequent readers will know, I try to vary his portrayal in my stories, usually to suit the plot. Here, he's got a decent relationship with Harry, despite declaring the wrong Boy Who Lived.

EDIT: I've decided that this chapter is way too wordy over exposition we already know, and I will revise it for the final story, cutting much of this version of the chapter out and replacing it with Harry discussing things afterwards with a few of the other characters.

RARA AVIS

CHAPTER 2:

THE UNEXPECTED CHAMPIONS

In the silence that followed, it was Miya who broke it. "Professor…how has such a thing come to be possible?"

"I don't know. I can only suspect," Dumbledore said.

"Then perhaps you can tell us while you have a nice cup of tea," Miya said.

Dumbledore nodded. "That would indeed be lovely, my dear lady. It is late at night back home, and I would not say no to some caffeine."

As Miya smiled and, along with Remus, retired to the kitchen, Tsukiumi asked, "May I ask thee for thine name?"

"Ah, yes, I beg your pardon. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Professor Albus Dumbledore. I have too many titles and too many duties, including Headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in Scotland. May I have your name, young lady?"

"Thou may, considering thine manners are excellent for a human," Tsukiumi said loftily. "I am Number 9, Tsukiumi, and the true wife of Minato Sahashi."

Harry nodded. "Minato and Yukari are Dr Sahashi's children, and they're both Ashikabis too. Unfortunately, they have a certain madman as a father as well, though they don't take after him. And despite Tsukiumi's opinion, Minato also has Kazehana and Musubi in his Flock, 03 and 88 respectively. You've met Musubi, and Kazehana…is sleeping off a hangover. That boy next to Yukari is 107, Shiina. You know Tonks, and that guy next to him is 06, Homura, her Sekirei. You've met Matsu and Akitsu, and I've Winged Matsu since I saw you last. This here is Haihane, 104, another part of my Flock, and this cute little bundle is 108, Kusano. And no, she's a little sister to me, not anything else."

Dumbledore shook his head. "I would not believe that of you, Harry, my boy. I do remember Haihane, though. She was with that most appalling woman Karasuba when I was sent to Dr Sahashi to discuss how the ICW were going to integrate the Sekirei into society. I believe you were taking the equivalent of your NEWTs at Mahoutokoro at the time."

"Karasuba's mellowed since I first met her," Harry said. "She's practically a Marauder. It takes a lot more to get her to slice someone up."

"I'm not sure whether that is reassuring," Dumbledore said. "I believe this place has been remodelled since I have been here last. To accommodate more people?"

Matsu nodded. "Yeah, it was starting to get crowded. Yukari's going to university, and Minato's now an intern at Wagtail, though he's got to start right at the bottom, with as little help from Takami as possible. He mostly does paperwork relating to Sekirei registration and tracking. He also has to liaise with the Discipline Squad."

Minato shuddered. "Don't remind me. Between Benitsubasa chucking hissy fits and Karasuba being…well, Karasuba…"

"I'm surprised you didn't mention me, Minato," Haihane said.

"You're nice when you don't have your claws on you," Minato said.

Miya and Remus brought in the tea at that time, and placed a cup in front of Dumbledore, who took it, and sipped from it. "Ah, divine. I always enjoy the tea you make, Miya, green or black," Dumbledore said. "I feel refreshed already."

"Thank you, Professor," Miya said, hiding her gentle smirk behind the sleeve of her kimono. But then, her face became serious. "Now, the Tri-Wizard Tournament? We've been reading the paper in this household, and we know it is being held at Hogwarts. What we'd like to know is how my son got chosen to be in it."

"That is, indeed, the question, Miya," Dumbledore said. "The truth is, I don't know how or why. I can only speculate. You may not be aware, but the means by which the Champions are chosen is an enchanted artifact known as the Goblet of Fire. The prospective Champions write their name on a piece of parchment and put it into the Goblet. Then, at the time of the drawing, the names corresponding to each school are selected and ejected by the Goblet itself. It is intelligent, even aware to a small degree, not unlike a low-level artificial intelligence, to use Muggle terms. An age restriction was put into place for this Tri-Wizard Tournament: only wizards over the age of 17 could participate. I enforced this via an Age Line enchantment, whereby any students intending to enter would suffer a mild magical backlash if they attempted to fool the Goblet via Ageing Potions and the like. The Goblet also knew there are only three schools."

"Someone grab a cushion," Tonks muttered, "because I sense a 'but'."

"Indeed," Dumbledore said. "Three Champions were initially selected. The Beauxbatons Champion is someone you know, Harry: Fleur Delacour."

Harry nodded. About a few months ago, sometime after Minaka was toppled, Fleur had come over with her father, an expert on magical bonds and a specialist in Veela bonds. That was partly because he was married to a half-Veela. The part-Veela girl, while almost as haughty as Tsukiumi, had warmed to Harry when they met with Miya and the other Sekirei staying here during the Delacours' stay in Shin Teito. "What about Durmstrang? The Daily Prophet reckoned Viktor Krum would be the Champion."

"And they were correct, but broken clocks are right twice a day," Dumbledore said with a brief wry smile. "And the official Hogwarts Champion was Cedric Diggory, whose father works in the Ministry. But then, here's the curious thing. The Goblet spat out two more pieces of parchment. One had your name, your birth name, on it. The other had your half-brother's name on it."

"So Charles is in the Tournament as well?" Remus asked. "Did he look like he expected that?"

"No," Dumbledore said. "In fact, he looked quite surprised, and a brief bit of surface Legilimency showed that he had nothing to do with it. I suspect other agencies involved, but all I have is speculation. I took every precaution against a proxy entry, or so I thought, given the three schools restriction. As it was, Alastor believes that a powerful Confundus was used against the Goblet to fool it into believing that there were more schools."

"Alastor? You have old Mad-Eye at Hogwarts?" Tonks asked in disbelief. "Lemme guess, he's teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts?"

"Yes. We had James teaching it last year after considerable insistence from him, but he left because…well, his stated reason was that he wanted to return to the DMLE, but in truth, he was not that good a teacher, sadly."

"Neither is Severus or Binns," Remus pointed out.

"Sadly, James snatched that crown from them both. For all of his faults, and I will admit Severus has many, Severus is not incompetent. Whereas James is not a competent teacher at all. He is good at learning and using, but not teaching. He didn't even devise a curriculum properly, which is something Severus can do, he favoured Charles to the point even Charles hated it, and he alienated a number of students with his anecdotes about being in the Marauders. When a rather prodigious Muggleborn called Hermione Granger called him out on it, he just told her to remember her place as a student and that she had no right to judge him, as he was with the Light faction."

"He's the same as ever, if not worse," Remus muttered.

"Sadly, I wish I had paid more attention during your school years, Remus," Dumbledore said sadly. "I have made many mistakes regarding James Potter and his family and friends." He looked at Harry pointedly.

"Look, I forgave you for that when you first came here, okay?" Harry said. "You at least had an excuse of juggling three positions, so you couldn't keep an eye on me. It's Prongs and Padfoot I can't forgive. They sent me off to the Dursleys. Merlin knows what that would have been like if the Dursleys hadn't taken me to Japan. I have my father, my real father, and I have a mother who loves me as much as Lily would have if she was still alive. I have family and friends, and I have stakes in two of the biggest companies in Japan. What more can I ask for?"

Dumbledore smiled. "Thank you, Harry."

Miya cleared her throat quietly. "Professor, surely there is provision in the rules of this Tri-Wizard Tournament for Harry to withdraw?"

"Originally, yes," Dumbledore said. "However, Crouch and Bagman closed every loophole that could be used to withdraw Harry from the Tournament when they revised the rules for this Tournament. I should know, as I went over the rules over the past hour before I came here. When I asked Bagman about it, he claimed that he had thought there would be adequate protections against underage students participating."

"What about magical signatures?" Remus asked. "Surely the person who entered Harry into the Goblet would be the one who stands to lose their magic?"

"No. The Goblet, from what I understand of its workings, works on the name regardless. It focuses on the person the name was intended for, and while Potter is a not unusual name in the Muggle world, and so too is Harry and Charles, I believe from my own researches that it can discern the identity from the intent of the writer. So Harry's magic, not to mention Charles', is still at stake, as much as it galls me to say so."

"Damnation," Tsukiumi muttered, summing up the thoughts of most of those present (save for Musubi, who would have been thrilled to be in a tournament to show her skill, and Kusano, who couldn't quite follow what was happening) in a single succinct word.

"Do not despair," Dumbledore said. "Harry only needs to be present and make a concerted effort to complete each Task, as well as certain occasions. Namely, the Weighing of the Wands, and the Yule Ball. He can return to Shin Teito if he wishes in the meantime. As he has completed the Japanese equivalent of NEWTs, he doesn't have to stay at Hogwarts if he doesn't want to, and given that James Potter or Sirius Black will be present for much of the time…and there is the somewhat disdainful attitude of some Purebloods to Sekirei. Even now, some of the Blood Purists view them in a similar fashion that they do Veela and even House Elves."

"When's the Weighing of the Wands?" Harry asked.

"November 5, and the First Task is on November 24th," Dumbledore said. "I must warn you, though, Rita Skeeter will probably be there. She'll focus on Charles, but given the scandal around your parentage, she may target you."

"She can try. Professor, can I ask something? Seeing as I'm going to be trapped in this, can I request that I represent Wagtail Industries? Mahoutokoro might take umbrage at a non-Japanese fighting in the Tournament under their name, but I'm sure Dr Sahashi will appreciate the extra publicity for the Sekirei."

"I'll speak to the other school Heads. Please be advised, Harry, that you will only be able to take your wand into the First Task. Your Sekirei cannot join you for it, or for any other Tasks. They will be spectators. I cannot say anything more about the First Task, as it requires courage in the face of the unknown. Would you like me to arrange a Portkey at the correct time to come to Hogwarts?"

"That would be great, thank you," Remus said. "Have you made any headway as to who would put Harry's name in the Goblet?"

"I only have suspects, but no proof," Dumbledore said.

"Hmm. Hey, Akitsu," Haihane said, looking at the Sekirei once known as the Scrapped Number. "If we do find the guilty party, would you like to participate in some art? I'd like to try my hand at carving an ice sculpture with my claws, but I will need you to provide the ice."

"Ah…I will consider it," Akitsu said.

"My dear ladies, there is little need for violence," Dumbledore said. "We will find the culprit or culprits. I intend to spare no effort, because I believe that either Charles or Harry have been targeted by agents of Voldemort."

Remus looked up sharply. "Are you serious?"

"Deathly so," Dumbledore said solemnly. "Remember, he infiltrated Hogwarts to steal the Philosopher's Stone. Voldemort currently exists as a shade, and I am currently working on a plan to put paid to him for once and for all. On another note, Harry, if you do bring your Flock to Hogwarts, please ensure that they are in…modest attire, and comport themselves with decency."

"I'll help…encourage them," Miya said with her usual sweet smile that belied the threat beneath. "Do you wish to stay?"

"As much as I would love to, Miya, I have much work to do, and sleep to catch up on back home. I will keep you apprised of any major developments, and I will have the Portkey sent soon."

After Dumbledore made his farewells and left, Harry pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed quietly. "I am so not looking forward to this. I manage to stop one dubious and dangerous tournament run by an idiot, only to get caught up in another. And that's not the worst part."

"Is it the family reunion?" Tonks asked.

"Well, it's a reunion, but I wouldn't call them family," Harry said. "This is my family, right here at Maison Izumo. I'm not a Potter, and I don't want to be one. Plus, Dumbledore thinks that Voldemort might be involved. If he ever finds a way to regain a body, odds are he'll come after me, even if I'm not the Boy Who Lived. Lily died saving both me and Charles, and he'd want to spite her. And the problem is, he's also one of the most powerful wizards of recent times, so I can't even say whether Sekirei can stand up to him unless they're a Single Number. And even then, I doubt Sekirei are immune to the Unforgivables." Then, after a moment's consideration, Harry added, "Well, I'd say Karasuba would enjoy the Cruciatus curse."

"Yeesh," Matsu remarked with a grimace. "Yeah, I can see her reaction to that even now. It's going to give me nightmares."

"Best not describe them in front of a child, Matsu," Miya said sternly, her eyes flickering over to look at a bemused Kusano. Her gaze then softened when she looked at her son. "And you won't stand alone. Your family and friends will stand with you."

There were a number of nods from around the table, and Harry smiled. "Thanks, people. I really appreciate it. Come on, we'd better get ourselves ready for this…"

CHAPTER 2 ANNOTATIONS:

So, Dumbledore's told them what's going on, and Harry's resolved. Yes, a lot of exposition and not enough action. But some of it was done both to fill in the backstory a little, as well as to address various plot points people have made in fanfics about the Tri-Wizard Tournament.

Dumbledore's past with Harry will be explored further in later chapters. While he is still a manipulative control freak with issues about keeping cards close to his chest, in this story, he's a well-meaning man who is ultimately on the side of good, close to canon. What's more, he and Harry have more of a grandfather-grandson relationship than in canon. Harry actually respects Dumbledore in this story, in spite of his past experiences.

No numbered annotations for this chapter.