KITTEN AND WIZARD

CHAPTER 2:

SHIRONE

Shirone felt like the past few years had been like a dream. Not quite a nightmare, though it should have been. Her sister was a fugitive, declared a Stray Devil no doubt for killing her King, and Shirone had no idea about whether she still had to fear pursuit herself. Her memories, somewhat mercifully, had been locked away at the time.

Yet when that Dementor came, she relived all those horrible memories as a nightmare. And whatever curse the Devil hit her with was broken. She had mixed feelings about that. After all, the wizarding world was not known for its tolerance of sentient magical creatures. Even in Japan, the Japanese wizards often looked down on Youkai.

And yet, she had found kindness and affection with Harry and his friends, to say nothing of that eccentric blonde who started last year. What was her name again? Luna Lovegood? The one whose name sounded like a Bond Girl? And at least she wasn't stuck in the Underworld. That would have been worse.

And now that the cat was out of the bag in more ways than one, well, she was heartened by Harry's reaction. No staring at her like she was a freak or a monster, no contempt. Just bemused curiosity and compassion, and while she knew that saying about what curiosity killed, it was better than hatred or fear.

The same went for Hermione, though the bushy-haired girl was clearly holding herself back from asking what would have been a veritable blizzard of questions. Then again, the girl was herself a cat lover. Who else but a cat lover would like that rather ugly part-Kneazle that looked like he had his face panel-beaten?

Still, the chocolate she had was pretty good, and helped clear away the lingering aftereffects of the Dementor's aura. Best chocolate she had had, and to be fair to the Naberius family, they had some excellent chefs, including a master confectioner. Or maybe it was because she hadn't had any chocolate for years that it tasted so sweet.

"Now, Mr Potter, would you or Miss Granger like to stay with Miss Shirone?" McGonagall asked, having been briefed by Pomfrey. The old stern witch smelled like a cat, though Shirone already knew she was a Cat Animagus. "I can have food brought up to you. Poppy, will Miss Shirone be able to eat?"

"As long as it's in moderation…for a Nekomata, anyway," Pomfrey said.

As if punctuating that remark, Shirone's stomach growled, and she blushed in embarrassment. "I'll stay," Harry said with little hesitation.

"As will I," Hermione said.

"Very well. I'll make arrangements with the House-Elves," McGonagall said. "And Miss Granger, I'd appreciate it if next time you did the research before coming to a conclusion."

The bushy-haired witch winced, as did Harry. Shirone remembered the little crusade Hermione had kicked up last year after learning about House-Elves, and Harry had to try and explain to the young witch about the symbiosis involved. Hermione meant well, but she was quixotic.

"Now, Miss Shirone…do you have a last name?"

Shirone shook her head. "My people usually do not. My mother's name was Fujimai, and my sister's name was Kuroka. My father was a human, but I don't remember his family name."

"Very well. I know this has been a trying and traumatic experience for you, Miss Shirone, but as the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, my responsibility is to the student body. A Youkai suddenly appearing in Hogwarts is a matter of no small concern, given that we are practically on the other side of the world from Japan. In addition, Poppy told me you were suffering from the lingering effects of a curse inflicted on you by Devil magic. Could you please explain your presence at Hogwarts?"

After a moment, Shirone nodded, albeit reluctantly. It had been three years since she was separated from her sister, and she didn't know if Kuroka had been captured or killed or what. As painful as it was, if she wanted to remain here, in a place of relative security and safety (the Basilisk notwithstanding), she needed to at least tell her story in brief.

"My parents died when I was almost too young to remember them," Shirone said. "Not long afterwards, we were approached by a Devil of the Naberius family. He claimed that our parents had worked for them, and offered us shelter if my big sister became his Bishop."

"Bishop?" Hermione asked.

"High-Class Devils have what are known as Peerages, groups of servants taken from other races, and converted into Devils through enchanted chess pieces," Shirone said. "Bishops have enhanced magical and mystical abilities, and my sister took his two Bishop pieces, meaning she was very powerful. We…had a good life, even if my sister was experimented upon. I didn't have to join a Peerage, thankfully. But…one day…she killed him, and took me with her as she fled. She said…something about him wanting to hurt me. We were escaping the Underworld, when she tried to send me to Kyoto, to safety, and to seek out Lady Yasaka if she couldn't catch up. Only…a Devil tried to attack me as I was going through the portal."

She shivered, even as Harry gently patted her hand in reassurance. McGonagall listened, her lips pursed in contemplation, before she nodded. "I see. Was this about three years ago?"

"I think so. Why?"

"While the wizarding world tends to stay out of the affairs of Devils for various reasons, I did hear through a friend of mine that there was a…pogrom against the Nekomata in Kyoto, with a number of Devils to blame," McGonagall said solemnly. "I'm sorry."

Shirone cringed. Not content with coming after her sister and herself, those damned Devils, or at least the Naberius family and their lackies, had attacked Kyoto? She saw horror and sympathy in the expressions of those present.

Eventually, McGonagall said, "In any case, I will have to speak with the Headmaster on this matter. He will have the final say, but…if you are telling the truth, it may be possible for you to stay here for now, at least until we can find a way of tracking down your sister. I'll go and make the arrangements for your food. Please tell me your preferences. We don't have Japanese fare, but if you have any other preferences, I'll let the House-Elves know…"

They ate the meal in silence, McGonagall leaving for now. As much as Harry wanted to eat in the Great Hall, he also wanted to be with Shirone, if only to reassure the catgirl. That being said, she wolfed down her food with a speed Ron would envy, even if she was somewhat more mannered in the way she did so. For such a slender girl, she ate a lot. Maybe it was because she wasn't human?

Still, if she was telling the truth, she went through a lot. True, she hadn't told the whole story, but she had told enough of it. He'd never truly believed Devils or Angels were real before. He'd ask more questions, but Shirone had gone through enough already.

Even so, she was smiling a little as she ate. Which was promising. Despite the feline features, she seemed more like a normal girl about their age, albeit a touch withdrawn and wary.

After everything was finished, Hermione began asking questions, though clearly restraining herself. "How can you speak such excellent English?"

"My sister learned it, and taught me when she became a Devil," Shirone said. "Devils and Angels can speak and write any human language and understand it. But I had to be taught. It helped that I listened here at Hogwarts, so my English is fairly good."

Hermione nodded, before saying, "Hajimemashite, Shirone-chan."

She blinked, before replying to Hermione, "Arigato. Nihongo ga dekimasu ka?"

Hermione shook her head. "Only a little Japanese. Sorry."

The Nekomata shook her own head. "Don't be. It's been years since I've heard a word of Japanese, not since…not since Kuroka and I were separated. And thank you for saying you're pleased to meet me. The wizards of Japan do not always have the best of relations with Youkai. And I heard the British wizards were not much better."

"My parents were murdered by the wizard equivalent of a Neo-Nazi," Harry said. "Hermione is a Muggleborn, born to non-magical parents. As long as you're a good person, Shirone, why would we look down upon you? Besides, you're pretty cute."

At this, the catgirl blushed, frowning. Hermione huffed in irritation, though for what reason, Harry didn't know. But the bushy-haired witch said, "He's right. If you're a good person, then it doesn't matter what kind of person you are. And I've had to put up with the Purebloods calling me a Mudblood, so I know what it's like to be sneered at because of supposedly being lesser. We'll do what we can to support you if you do stay."

Eventually, Shirone smiled, a small tentative thing, but it really lit up her face. "Thank you…"

It was about an hour later that Shirone got to finally meet Dumbledore. Oh, she had crossed paths with him in passing in her cat form, but this was the first time she had met him in her Nekomata form. Even now, while her eyes burned from the clashing colours of his robes, she knew, due to the innate ability to sense mana and ki innate to her people, that he was immensely powerful, even despite being over a century old.

He still looked like some pantomime Merlin, though.

His blue eyes twinkling behind his glasses, his expression seemed to be a mixture of impish amusement and solemn seriousness. And that beard, so long it was tucked into the old man's belt. The man's fashion sense was weird, but when you're one of the most powerful wizards in the world, Shirone guessed he earned the right to dress however the hell he wanted.

He gently had Harry and Hermione sent away for now, promising them that they could come to visit her in the morning. Shirone was reluctant to see them go, but she understood why. It was getting late, and Hogwarts had a curfew for many of the younger students.

"So, Miss Shirone…Professor McGonagall told me about your story. I am sorry you had to go through that. While I am aware that many Devils are as human as you and I, regardless of how much human blood you have, there are too many that act like the Biblical Devils of old. And I am sorry for your separation from your sister. I…know what it's like to be separated or estranged from loved ones."

Shirone nodded warily. "Thank you, Headmaster, but…may I ask you to get to the point, please?"

She winced at her own rudeness, but Dumbledore merely emitted a sad chuckle. "But of course, my dear girl. As it happens, as Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, I have had occasion to meet with the Shinto Faction in Kyoto, and the Youkai living there, including Lady Yasaka. I could contact her if you wish, and I am sure she would expedite your gaining sanctuary at Kyoto. She would be glad to find another Nekomata who survived that horrid pogrom by the Naberius family and their supporters."

"Will the Naberius family attack Hogwarts if I remain?"

Dumbledore pursed his lips in thought. "In theory, they should not. I have met with the three leaders of the Biblical Factions, well, viceroy in the case of the Archangel Michael. Michael, Azazel, and Sirzechs Lucifer are all reasonable people, as is that rather delightful Leviathan woman, Serafall. However, there is an unofficial agreement between the Biblical Factions not to interfere in the wizarding world, for fear that to do so would be to cause another Great War by proxy, or even cause the Great War itself to erupt anew. They do meet with a number of figures in the wizarding world, but aside from that, and some clashes wizards and witches have with the Vatican and other Judaeo-Christian organisations, we are left to our own devices. I doubt a single Nekomata would be enough to breach such an agreement, unofficial though it is. Perhaps more pertinent to your stay would be your ability to follow classes. I presume you wished to enrol as a student?"

"If that was possible. I did overhear some of the lessons, and I was with Harry, Hermione, and Ronald as they did their homework on occasion," Shirone said.

"Then you'll need to catch up, and to choose what your electives are. There are alternatives, though. Professor Lupin and Professor Hagrid may need an assistant to help them with lessons, and while you are young, you might be able to help. Just keep what you notice about their smell to yourself, especially Professor Lupin."

After a moment, Shirone realised that she knew where she wanted to be. It helped that she had been welcomed by a pair of relative strangers. "I'll stay for now. I may go to Kyoto another time, but…I want to be with Harry and his friends." She then frowned. "Professor Hagrid?"

"Ah, yes. Professor Kettleburn has retired, to enjoy his time with his remaining limbs," Dumbledore said. "You didn't overhear this?"

Shirone shook her head. "Are you sure he's capable of teaching? Hagrid's a good man, but…he's a bit simple, and doesn't understand that some things are dangerous to normal humans."

"I have every faith in him, Miss Shirone."

Like you do in that bastard Snape? she nearly retorted, but she kept her tongue. Snape seemed to have Dumbledore's confidence for some reason. The greasy-haired prick, however, treated Harry and his friends like shit. That being said, the few times their paths had crossed, he treated her with, if not affection, then some small kindness, even giving her a little milk and something to eat.

Eventually, she said, "Okay, Headmaster. But may I study for enrolment into this school during that?"

"Of course you may, Shirone. Though if I may…what surname would you like to be known by? I know Youkai tend to be more lax when it comes to family names, but it would draw more attention if you do not have a last name. I don't need you to have one, it would just make things easier."

Shirone thought about this. Oddly enough, a brief flash back to when she was training under one of the Naberius family's servants, a martial artist. She'd become curious about his fighting style, and he had trained her, partly to give her something to do while her sister was off with her King. And he had called her a wonderful Rook in the making. It was a joke in (she thought) bad taste, as she didn't want to join a Peerage unless she had to. And yet, something about the observation stuck with her. She was strong and tough, despite her petite frame, and a Rook Evil Piece would only amplify that.

"…Toujou," Shirone decided. "Call me Shirone Koneko Toujou."

"…Koneko meaning 'kitten' in Japanese, and Toujou meaning…'castle'?"

Shirone smiled despite herself. "A bit of a bad joke, really…"

CHAPTER 2 ANNOTATIONS:

So, there you have it, Shirone has bonded with Harry and Hermione, and discussed her life, while Dumbledore offers an unconventional solution. And Shirone gains a variant of her canon name. Yes, I know the Japanese don't have a middle name, but Shirone is banking on most British wizards not knowing that.

No numbered annotations this time.