Hello! I apologize for not updating this in awhile. I've been really busy with school. Anyways, as I previously stated, Harry will now be known as Haru. I'm gonna pretend that he kinda went by both throughout the story, and now that he's kinda been forced back into the Britain Wizarding World, he's gonna be more insistent about everyone calling him Haru since he wants to distance himself from what Dumbledore wants to mold him into as much as possible. Anyways, please enjoy this chapter! :)

Haru's POV
I groaned as I was disrupted from my normal Thursday activities by a summons from Hogwarts. It seems as though my presence was required for a press day. Also, the champions were meant to bring their families with them. My brothers, Sanemi, and Masachika were quickly summoned and we all made their way to Hogwarts using the floo system. Sanemi was scowling at anyone who looked at him, while Masachika simply smiled pleasantly, and Kyojuro and Senjuro were openly gawking at everything.

My principal had placed a spell on the four that allowed them to be able to detect magic just like a normal wizard would, as well as one that would allow them to temporarily speak and understand English for a time. My siblings had only known a little bit when I'd met them, and I was well-enough spoken in Japanese to speak just fine to Masachika-san and Sanemi by the time I met them. I had decided to continue staying fluent in English just in case, and in this case it paid off. Meanwhile, I was enjoying the stares as they registered that I, in fact, had a very real family. Even though Ruka-san and Shinjuro-san's absences were feeling like daggers right now, I looked at the four who did come and realized that I wasn't alone.

The first person to openly greet our little gaggle of oddities was a tall witch, grey hair pulled back into a tight bun. I recognized her from my surprise summons to Hogwarts. She clasped her hands together as she regarded us.

"I am Professor McGonogall. I have been assigned to lead you to where the other champions and their families have gathered for the wand-weighing ceremony. Now, if you would all please follow me..."

She turned on her heel and began to lead us to a large room, where I could see the other champions gathered. I gave a cheery smile and waved. Krum, the Dumstrang student, scowled and looked away. Fleur, the Beauxbatons student, gave me a sharp look. Cedric, the Hogwarts student, smiled and waved before looking back at the Ministry officials at the front of the room.

After what felt like an age, it was my turn, and my wand was carefully handed to an old man who was introduced as a legendary wand-maker. I watched carefully as he examined it, giving a delighted chuckle.

"My my... I see you have... blackthorn! And yes, there is most definitely a warrior's spirit within you, young Harry... and yes! I see we also have a thestral hair core, am I correct? How perfect for one who has survived the Killing Curse..."

I decided not to comment, having heard most of this spiel when I first chose my wand. However, I knew that my thestral core was more related to the fact that I faced death on a near-daily basis due to being a Demon Slayer than me surviving a curse when I was an infant. However, since most people here probably don't know about Demons, I decided to stay quiet for now.

The instant the wand-weighing ceremony (which I did not see the point of at all besides wasting my time) was over, the press interviews began. I very nearly allowed my utter horror and disgust to show as I was approached by a horrid-looking woman. She had obnoxious glasses, an obnoxious outfit, and an obnoxious personality. I hated her immediately. For some reason, she seemed especially interested in me. As soon as she could, she tried to drag me (a minor!) away from my companions. I had never been more grateful for Masachika-san than I was in that moment.

"Haru is a minor," my mentor insisted, pulling me away from the vulture. "As his guardian, I do not permit you to be alone with him."

The woman gasped, seemingly affronted.

"My, my! Aren't you prickly? And so rude as to not refer to Harry with his proper name."

I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms.

"Masachika-san is correct. I am a minor, so you cannot be alone with me unless you have his permission... unless, of course, you'd rather face charges for trying to be alone with a minor against his guardian's wishes?" I paused. "Also, I would prefer to be called by my adopted name, Haru."

She huffed in disappointment, but seemed to get the message and stopped trying to drag me away. She didn't stop calling me Harry though.

Her bias was even more apparent when she started the interviews. She seemed to almost entirely ignore the others in favor of interrogating me about me whereabouts since I've been in Japan. I was able to answer those questions just fine without mentioning Demons, simply mentioning that I had been adopted by the Rengoku family, but Masachika-san was now my guardian as that made training much easier.

"Now then," she smirked at me. "If you were adopted by such loving parents, why are they not here?"

"My adoptive mother is dead and my adoptive father is very sick and cannot move from his bed." I deadpanned, irritated with this line of questioning.

Unfortunately, this information only served to fuel her. She let out the most dramatic gasp I'd ever heard.

"Oh my! I had no idea! To lose both of your mothers... and your father...I'm sure that must be horrible for you to be an abandoned orphan once again!" She faked a sniff, pretending to be sympathetic.

I snorted. I wasn't an orphan.

"I'm not an orphan. I still have my adoptive father and Masachika-san, here. I also have my brothers and Sanemi."

After the worst interview in the history of the world, I'm sure, she finally moved on to the other champions, although she spent a noticeably short amount of time on them. I couldn't care less about what was in the paper tomorrow though. I was ready to go home.

It took ages to leave, mostly because everyone kept trying to hound me, trying to either talk to me like they knew me, or pester me about my supposed "feats". Seriously, did these people not have anything better to do!? Finally, after some welcome assistance from Professor Snape of all people, we were able to escape the crowds and make it back to Mahoutokoro in time for supper.

Since everyone was famished, we all ate at the school. Kyojuro, who had tried to hold in his excitement for my sake (which I was incredibly grateful for) finally started talking everyone's ears off about all the magical stuff he'd seen at both Hogwarts and here. A shy Senjuro started slowly joining in, expressing that he'd really like the moving paintings. I smiled at Senjuro's remark, deciding to see if I could find a good one for his birthday that was coming up in a few months.

Masachika-san didn't have much to say about Hogwarts. His main focus had been keeping me away from the vultures.

Sanemi made a trademark remark about how all the magical stuff was "alright", but I saw how he was eyeing some of the artifacts.

I did have to admit, Hogwarts was pretty impressive. However, it was also severely outdated. There was not a single modern appliance there. Of course, magic usually didn't mesh well with technology, but there were loopholes around that. Case in point, the entire school of Mahoutokoro was outfitted with regular lightbulbs instead of candles. We also no longer used elves for cooking and cleaning, but hired highly competent staff that used both magic and regular washers and dryers, and cooks who used both magic and a score of ovens. These staff were paid very well, and there was enough of them so that they weren't overwhelmed.

Once the others were about return to their Demon slaying duties, Masachika-San pulled me aside for a brief moment. He knelt down closer to my eye level, locking eyes with me.

"What that vulture was saying, calling you an abandoned orphan, is wrong. I'll always be here for you, alright?"

I blinked. I hadn't really given her comment much thought at the time, but now that it came flooding back, I suddenly felt sad. I had technically been through two sets of parents, and I was only 14. I gave into the urge to hug him tightly around the neck, trying not to sniffle. We stayed like for a minute or two, until he finally pulled away, giving me a kiss on the head before he rejoined the others. Holding my hands close to my chest, I smiled. That vulture was wrong.

I was not an orphan.

Hello! I most certainly did not expect to finish this chapter so quickly. I hope y'all like my choices for Haru's wand! I was thinking that giving him a wood that hinted at a warrior's spirit and a core that hinted at someone who's constantly ready to face death was fitting for him.

️❤️DaughterofHalt️❤️