Author's Note: Okay, this has been a long time coming, and I apologize. Real life happened and it threw my creativity for this into a nosedive, but that doesn't excuse the delay. I am still working on the fic, slowly. But yeah, updates are going to be sporadic.
Chapter 11: Preparing for Summer
June 8 - Alfheim - Yggdrasil City"So, your investigation of the World Seed is complete, but you are going to wait until next month to distribute it?" CARDINAL asked.
Kirito nodded at the AI's question. "Yes," he replied. "Part of it is so I can finish a little side project involving it, as the instructions and documentation you included with it would more than suffice for giving people the knowledge they would need to properly use it."
CARDINAL raised an eyebrow. "A side project?" She asked.
Kirito smirked. "Well, showing some virtual shots of what can be done with it using the basic tools would help give any users ideas," he said. "And I'll admit that that it allows me to finish creating a virtual home for the others, and that includes you, to log into and out of ALO from."
CARDINAL nodded, and Kirito could tell that she was interested. She may be less expressive than Strea and Yui most of the time, but being less expressive of one's emotions did not mean that she didn't express them.
Or even lacked emotions, for that matter. While someone being apparently emotionless was a trope in anime, Kirito knew full well that CARDINAL felt emotions. She could hide or suppress her emotional expressions, and quite well at that. Which was fitting for someone whose only existence was in Virtual Reality, but there were always tells. Even for a purely digital being, it was harder to fully suppress one's simulated physical responses, for one.
And while CARDINAL, much like Yui and Strea, was an AI created from the ground up to be so, she was an AI created in humanity's image. Kayaba, for all his sins, made sure that all three both knew what emotions were and had them. How they expressed them, of course, differed as much as their personalities did.
"So, how will you handle the distribution?" CARDINAL asked.
"It will be an open source distribution," Kirito said. "And there are some very reputable sites I have been looking at to distribute it from. At the same time, many of the sites are Japan based and hosting the Seed on any one of them would limit the distribution. Even the ones that aren't Japan based would still have limitations on where they can be accessed from."
"There are ways around that, you do realize," CARDINAL noted.
"That there are," Kirito replied with a nod. "They could access it via a VPN and I can always put a copy of the Seed on the Dark Web if needed."
"The question then is, would you?" CARDINAL asked. "And it is rather bold of you talking about this in the clear."
"I felt you put the Privacy Field in place," he said and then smirked as CARDINAL blinked. "CARDINAL, you don't really understand how SA works on the human user end. Why should you? You're an AI, a digital being. Being aware of the system around is as natural for you as breathing is for me in the real world, rather than something learned and developed via experience and exposure."
CARDINAL nodded. "A fair point," she admitted. "And yes, I did put up an additional Privacy Field to help further obfuscate anything we discuss. I have one up here as a matter of course, but it's more designed to resemble a tweak to the privacy settings. If the GMs really wanted to, they could penetrate that one easily, if not in a way that would be unnoticed by me. Or possibly even you and the others, for that matter."
Kirito nodded. "Maybe," he agreed. "Anyway, even with a place set up for you, I still need to work out a way to ensure that you all can come and go from it."
"You can try using AmuSpheres to serve as a connection point between here and there," CARDINAL said. "Simply having them connected to whatever system you use for this would serve, though there will likely be connection lag due to having to go through two separate and independent systems. It won't be much of a lag, not even noticeable to most human users, but to myself, Yui and Strea, probably Kizmel as well, it would be noticeable."
Kirito blinked. "Would the lag be a problem, then?"
CARDINAL shook her head. "Nothing we couldn't adjust to and it would be more an inconvenience than anything," she replied. "It could be mitigated somewhat by slaving the AmuSpheres, making them a part of the system in other words, though there would still be some slight lag. I used a similar method, though the AmuSphere MAC Addresses were on ones that were scrapped but not listed as such. I had to set up a lag protocol, though, as a precaution. The devs and GMs may not notice, but I am not so foolish as to assume that they won't."
"Wonder how you pulled that off," Kirito muttered. "They could have simply forgot to note the scrapped AmuSpheres, but I wouldn't be surprised if you did some creative hacking to find what you needed and… altered some records."
CARDINAL smirked but said nothing, causing Kirito to snort.
##
Asuna saw Kirito enter the tavern and waved to get his attention. She didn't call for him, as it would have been unnecessary at any rate with how the Sword's Rest Tavern wasn't overly populated at this time. If it was even half an hour later, the place would have been packed to the rafters as players came online to meet up and go on a quest, or to have a few drinks.
And if any ALO players thought that Agil, as an SAO Survivor, would give preferential treatment to his fellow survivors, they were quickly disabused of that notion. Or, as the SAO Survivors often joked, they're glad he isn't giving them preferential treatment, as it means he's not trying to swindle them out of their hard earned yrd even more than he already is. To which Agil replied that he could make an exception for them and double to cost, just for his fellow SAO Survivors.
Which, of course, led to snarkily joking replies that if he did that, they would take their business elsewhere and order the domestic piss that passes for beer in ALO, rather than the pricier imported piss he sold.
Well, at least until Harry found a beer that met his standards, that is. The moment the SAO Survivors learned of that, they basically flooded the Sword's Rest. Agil was able to make back what he spent on the place within the first week after that, if not sooner.
"So, I take it that your meeting went well?" Asuna asked as Kirito sat down across from her.
"Well enough," Kirito said before looking around. "Where are the others?"
Asuna shrugged. "Down in Arun," she replied. "The group we've been training wanted to make another attempt at the Grand Quest, thinking they might complete it this time. That was about an hour ago, so we should be finding out how it went soon." She smiled. "They've tried three times and each time they've done better. It helps that we've been watching the last two times, allowing them to get an honest review of how they've done."
Kirito nodded. "It's much like how raids in older MMOs work," he said. "You go in, wipe and learn from it, go over what went wrong and try to figure out why, and go back in to try again. Rinse, repeat, and you'll eventually succeed. We can't exactly use our standards for them, as our standards come from SAO. They are learning, they are improving, and they will manage it eventually." He smirked. "As you said, they've been doing better each time. Didn't they nearly make it to the cloud layer last time?"
Asuna nodded. She then glanced at the message icon that appeared at the corner of her HUD, noticing it was from Silica. "And it looks like they're done," she said. "Let me check and see how it went." She brought up the message and had a pleased smile after she read it. "They did it." She said. "Want to go over to the palace and wait for them to come out so we can congratulate them?"
Kirito grinned and nodded. "I bet that Keita and his group are riding high off this one," he said. "Kizmel would also be pleased by it, and not just because she completed it as well. She did give some training tips, after all." He stood up. "And how likely do you think it is that Harry is going to buy them all a drink?"
Asuna stood and chuckled. "Do you have to ask?" She asked in amusement.
##
"I'm buying a round or two of the good stuff for these kids," Harry said as he saw the twenty players congratulating each other. "They've earned it."
Silica nodded. "And you know that both Kirito and Asuna will ask for a moshi-moshi when you do," she said, her ears flicking in a manner that Harry had figured to indicate amusement. "Because they know you."
"What about us?" Keita asked.
"I know a good beer for you, though Ducker gets the Llama Piss Special for somehow grabbing the attention of thirty mobs and kiting them right to us," Harry replied.
"Hey!" Ducker said in protest, causing the rest of the Moonlit Black Cats to laugh.
"It was something I don't think any of us could have anticipated," Kizmel said. "So why give him a poor quality beer? Besides, you all had it handled from what I saw."
"Ducker tends to be the more reckless of them," Harry explained. "And yes Rain, I know that's rich coming from me." He said to the Leprechaun player as she opened her mouth.
"Take the fun out of it, why don't you?" Rain complained.
"So, wouldn't that mean that Hadrian deserves the poor beer just as much?" Kizmel asked.
"Oi!" Harry protested in mock offense before shaking his head and pointing between the rows of statues. "All right you lot, go that way to talk to Oberon to get the endless flight." He said once everyone's laughter subsided. "Once you're done, we will see you at the entrance and we're having a party at the Sword's Rest. First round's on me."
June 10, 2025 - HogwartsHermione let out a breath as she and Ron left the Headmaster's office. She hadn't known what to expect when he had Professor McGonnagal pass on that he wanted to talk with them after lunch. They were informed that they weren't in trouble, which reassured her somewhat. But still, being called into the Headmaster's office had been concerning.
And her concerns had shot up when she saw her parents in the Headmaster's office, with her father, Dan, talking to Arthur Weasley about something and Emma, her mother, having an animated discussion with the portrait of Headmistress Derwent about modern medical practices, with the portrait being very interested in what Emma was saying.
She had mentally gone over anything that could have warranted her parents being here, though she did ask how that was possible- Fawkes' amused trill in response to the question was explanation enough.
The prank last week on Pansy Parkinson wasn't her, but Tracey and Daphne, and they didn't do it in any way to pin the blame on her, so that couldn't be it. Not that she was upset that the bitchy fellow Fifth Year got pranked. She seemed to be willfully ignorant of the gradual changes being made to society that made the old Pureblood Ideals seem less, you know, ideal. The same ones which even Draco Malfoy had seriously toned down his rhetoric about.
She didn't think for a moment that he had a change of heart, but he was smart enough to realize that taking a different tack was probably a prudent move. So, rather than lord it over those of "lesser blood", he instead made it clear that they they would have to prove themselves worth his time. With the occasional remark to the muggleborns that their ignorance of wizarding culture was no excuse for their behavior and that they should take steps to correct it rather than remain in willful ignorance of the spoken and unspoken rules.
If he had that stance from the start, well, it would have still rubbed her the wrong way. But at the same time, she would admit that he wouldn't necessarily be wrong with such a stance. Especially after the Slytherins who had been a part of her project in documenting Harry's adventures in SAO began to educate her and others on how Wizarding Britain worked on a cultural level in order to smooth things out between them all.
And it only took five arguments and two fights breaking out for that to happen. Needless to say, the level of tension among them was considerably lessened afterward. And, as a bonus, they learned a number of things that they, the muggleborns, were doing wrong or badly that contributed to things.
"So, Harry wants to see if we can visit him in Japan," Ron said, distracting her from her musings.
Hermione looked at him. "Yes, Ron," she replied. "And he is also looking at accommodations for us as well. Remember the brochures that were with his letter?"
Ron nodded. "I read them and I am glad that they were in English," he replied. "The prices seemed decent, given that he provided a conversion between Pounds, Galleons and Yen. Still, it doesn't strike me as right that he should go through all that trouble, and do so out of his own pocket. I mean, yeah, my family wouldn't be able to afford a trip there, let alone staying there for some time, even if it was only me, but still..."
Hermione held back a sigh. She knew how Ron tended to take it if he felt as if someone was giving him a handout. For all that his family's finances were not the best, she knew that they prided themselves on making do with what they had and not asking for help.
And it wasn't as if they were poor. She knew that Arthur Weasley made enough money as a civil servant that, had it not been for the fact that he had seven children to care for, rather than one, two, or even three, the Weasley Family would be much better off financially.
With their eldest grown and living on their own, and the twins soon enough to follow- and she had no doubt they would be successful in their own ambitions as they weren't stupid despite their grades- the Weasley Family's finances were bound to improve.
Not enough for them to be wealthy, but comfortably making ends meet and without the sacrifices and compromises they've had to make.
"Take it as Harry wanting to do something for us," Hermione said. "And since he is the one who invited us, he would believe that it was his responsibility to cover the cost. Just glad that Sirius is helping cover the cost of anyone who comes with us, so it's not all on his sickle."
Ron nodded and then sighed. "So, do you think our parents will allow it?"
Hermione chuckled. "They would have told us otherwise if they weren't going to," she replied. "Or they would have but told us that they said 'no' to Harry's offer. Which, mind you, they would have if something wasn't put in place to ensure that we are properly chaperoned."
"Why would they want us to be chaperoned?" Ron asked.
"Because we're underage," Hermione explained. "As is Harry. Yes, Sirius would be there, but remember that, while rehabilitated when he was cleared of what he was thrown into Azkaban for, did not strike me as the type of person either of our parents would trust to be a responsible adult. Though the fact that Sirius offered to cover the costs for anyone who accompanies us shows that either he thought of this, or Harry mentioned that he could cover the cost and Sirius offered so that he wouldn't have to take all the burden on himself."
Ron hmmed in response. Hermione knew that it was a sign that he was thinking. "Probably Harry's idea," he said after a moment. "And Sirius offering to cover the costs of anyone extra on top of us is him helping Harry out."
Hermione nodded, that sounded about right to her, though she wondered how insistent Sirius had to be to get Harry to agree to splitting the bill.
Given how frugal Harry had been when he was still trapped in SAO, probably not that much. Had it only been paying for her and Ron, he would likely have been stubborn and insistent that he foot the entire bill. Anyone else coming with them? He wasn't going to refuse any assistance in paying the expenses.
"So, who do you think will be joining us?" Ron asked.
Hermione thought for a moment. "That's a good question," she replied. "At least one of the parents, for both of us, I'm sure. Other than that, I don't really know."
Ron nodded. "On my end, it will probably be mum as I doubt dad will be able to get a vacation approved in time," he said. "And with her coming, unless either Bill or Charlie decide to come by for a visit, probably Ginny as well. Percy moved out when he got a job at the Ministry. And for all that they're jokers, Fred and George can take care of themselves. She just won't trust them to look after Ginny properly. If I was staying home, that would be different. But it is what it is."
Hermione nodded, it was probably societal double standards, especially as she knew that Fred and George actually doted on their sister, and Ginny could handle herself quite well. But even muggle society tended to look poorly on a young girl staying with only males without adult supervision even when they were related.
June 13, 2025 - KamakuraLeon stepped out of the taxi after paying the driver, remembering not to tip him as he would have had this been back home and looked at the office building. It wasn't anything special in appearance, looking like any office building in the area, save for not having any signs of what was in it, not that the lack of any signage of what was in there was anything unusual in and of itself.
The building had legitimate businesses in it, so it was more than simply being the headquarters of an Intelligence Operation, after all.
And while the CIA would have preferred a purpose built SCIF built from the ground up for their purposes, that would have drawn more attention, he thought to himself. He may not be Intelligence per se, he worked with them often enough to know that once outside of one's own country, one had to make do with what was available and work from there when they set up outside the embassies, consulates and military installations. Besides, it wasn't too difficult to use measures to properly conceal the specifics of what was going on within from the locals. The generalities would be known, at least to the PSIA and any other organization that was competent with intelligence and counterintelligence operations, but not necessarily the specifics.
He entered the building and consulted his notes as to which floor he needed to go to. Let's see, seventh floor, Glowgen Systems, he thought as he read. And knowing Gabriel Miller, he would be doing something tech related in there, and as a legitimate business at that, to add to the cover. He had worked with the man before, and felt that he had a good understanding of how he thought. The man was a professional at the job, and would want to make sure that there was no reason for the authorities to look deeper than they would normally when a known intelligence agent was operating on its soil.
Leon introduced himself to the receptionist, stating that he had an appointment with some people in Glowgen in accented but careful, and probably more polite and formal than strictly necessary, Japanese and was politely directed to the elevator after a moment. He called down the elevator and stepped into it. He picked the seventh floor and turned his thoughts back to Miller.
There are several dark lords who would have loved to make use of him if they could see beyond their prejudices, He mused as he stepped into the elevator. If they could have convinced the man that loyalty towards their endgame would fit into his own outlook, that is.
A part of him shuddered at that thought, much like how he worried that some future Dark Lord would see beyond the prejudices that were a part of magical culture and recruit competent help from the No-Majs. Or worse, take over their society, either by legitimate means or otherwise, and then direct them towards magical society as useful tools. Despite the advantages magic provided, he had knew that magic was only that, an advantage. And not an insurmountable one.
His mother was from a No-Maj family and she kept in contact with them, he knew what they could accomplish when given sufficient drive and ambition to do so.
The elevator stopped at his desired floor and he walked out, taking a moment to orient himself before heading in the proper direction. Miller had provided information on which side of the building his offices were on when he called for him.
##
"Mister Miller, a Leon Graves is here to see you," came the voice of his front office manager over the intercom.
Gabriel looked away from the computer screen that held the data on the latest project. "Thank you, Alicia," Gabriel said after he keyed it. "Escort him to room three."
"Should I issue a Visitor's Badge, so others know he should be here?"
"Yes," Gabriel said. "And remain with him until I arrive so." Because after that, he would take over any escorting if needed, unlikely as it would be. Despite the time it had taken for Leon to come to Japan, there were no planned further briefings to give him, nor would he ask. Leon may do the occasional bit of work for the CIA, and had the requisite clearance and accesses, but he had been contacted and asked to come for a different purpose than to act as an asset, deniable or not.
More a facilitator, than anything else. Which Gabriel would explain when he briefed Leon.
##
Leon gave Gabriel a careful look as the man finished explaining why he asked for him to come. "So, you want me to find people who can subtly use their talents to convince RECT employees to leave vulnerabilities in their network security for your people to more easily exploit," he said. "I will admit that I wondered why you called me here, but to help you facilitate corporate espionage was not one of the things I considered."
"My people did manage to get in, but one of them got careless, or RECT's own people simply found the vulnerability that was being exploited on their own and closed that avenue," Gabriel said with a shrug.
Leon nodded. That was the problem with exploiting any vulnerability, whether they be magical or not. The other side either eventually found it, or someone got careless, but the result was the same. The hole in security was closed and, if you were unlucky, you were caught when they closed it. If you were really unlucky, they deliberately leave it open to trap you.
"I take it that your team is assuming that they were nearly caught?" Leon asked.
"The head of my Network Exploitation Team is operating on that assumption," Gabriel replied. "Her own opinion is that one should always assume that was the case, even when it wasn't."
"Smart of her to think that," Leon noted. "Thinking otherwise can make you overconfident."
"That's how she got recruited," Gabriel noted. "Even without proof or actually being caught, we knew it was her and that she knew we had her when we approached her with our offer. So, can you find someone?"
"Find someone?" Leon asked. "Yes. Recruit them? Maybe. It depends on how much time I have."
"Take as long as you need for now," Gabriel assured him. "If I see a need to have someone recruited sooner, I will inform you through our usual means."
Leon nodded, understanding what was unsaid. It was more having a possible asset in place to utilize in case it was needed, rather than a critical need. For now, at least. "I can work with that," he said. "Also, in case you haven't been informed of it, Eden Blake is here in Japan right now."
"I am aware," Gabriel said. "If you feel a need to delay beginning until she leaves or you have returned to the States, do so. You know my opinion of Aladdin and those who work for them, but I will not fall into the trap of thinking that they are stupid. Foolish and blinded by their own narrow view, but not stupid."
Leon nodded in response. He had no doubt that Eden Blake knew he was in Japan, and that he was meeting with Miller. If not her, her husband would have found out within the hour and passed it onto her. What she made of this meeting was in the air, but he knew well enough that she would likely be keeping an eye on him for the next few months.
Tokyo - Shiba Compound"So, Miller has called in Leon," Eden said as she looked over the coded note written on flash paper she received from Luke before incinerating it with a quick incendio. Like her, he was not on the job, but work didn't exactly end even when on vacation. For her, it was usually a daily summary of things in Aladdin routed through the embassy, which would allow her to quickly get back in the swing of running the Intelligence Branch of the organization when she got back. For him, it was usually a notification of any POIs that he would want to know were in the area and what they may be up to.
Leon Graves was one such POI. Not because he was someone Aladdin was monitoring for any actions which could harm the United States as a whole, but because he was one of the few who served as a channel across the divide between the Magical and Non-Magical worlds for the CIA. While such had not been outright prohibited outright for close to sixty years and was tolerated for twenty years before then, Aladdin still kept a careful eye on those who did such work.
There was a fine, and often murky, line to tread at the best of times, both for such individuals and Aladdin. Fortunately for him, Leon Graves was savvy enough to know the line was there and preferred to err on the side of caution with regards to that. While Aladdin hadn't had to use permanent, and often illegal, solutions to contain a breach of the statute in decades, the organization still kept those as options to use if necessary.
Coming back to Miller contacting Graves and the latter's coming to Japan to meet with him. What was it for and why would Gabriel Miller, a No-Maj who had a low opinion of witches and wizards, ask for such a meeting?
Not that Miller's low opinion of those of us who can use magic is without justification, Eden admitted to herself. And he is not above using us as tools to achieve his own ends. But what are they? Not knowing that is more concerning than the fact that he contacted Leon Graves and is probably using him to facilitate bringing in a witch or wizard, if not several, to be of use to him.
She knew Miller's type. For all his almost fanatic loyalty to the United States, the man was a sociopath. And more dangerously, a high functioning one one with strong convictions. He truly believed in the United States and its cause, had strong lines related to his beliefs that he wouldn't cross, but outside of that, it was anything goes. And she had learned through her own investigations on him, as well as having met the man, that his beliefs in the prominence of the United States and that it should be maintained were genuine, not a mask like with most sociopaths she had met as allies and coworkers in her line of work. Which, for all that he was a genuine patriot working within the framework of regulations and laws that came with being a member of any American intelligence agency, made him all the more potentially dangerous.
Sociopath or not, more than one man like him had gone astray because of how genuine their beliefs were. And even more ended up committing to actions that turned out the be the opposite of America's best interests over the long term all too often.
Not that he, or the United States Government for that matter, was unique in that regard.
There was a knock at the door. Well, on the wall right next to it, but the details were mere semantics than anything. "Mom, you done reading up on what was sent to you?" Came her son's voice from the other side.
Eden shook her head. She knew why August didn't enter. What was sent wasn't classified. but unclassified does not mean that it isn't potentially sensitive. Well, that and he knew that if he needed to know what was in the packet, he would be told.
"I'm done, August," she replied. "Nothing of import that need concern you. Now, come in."
"For now, that is," August said in amusement as he slid open the shoji door and walked in. "I didn't hear you cursing or declaring that you will wear Garret's guts like some disgusting scarf, so I take it that it isn't anything that would warrant a visit to the Embassy?"
"Not this time," Eden agreed as she stood up. "More a matter for the future for me to have people keep an eye open for."
August nodded, accepting the explanation. He knew that there was more to it than that, but recognized the phrase as saying that the matter is of little concern for the time being.
June 15, 2025 - HogwartsAlbus looked at the pocketwatch he had kept for with him ever since he had received it as a young boy from his father over a century ago. It had been with him through thick and thin and was still working just as well as it did when he got it, having become only slightly battered and scuffed. The only changes to it made being a slight bit of charms work to keep it from needing to be wound more than once a week, in which case, he simply had to reset the hands to the current time as per a clock that was almost as accurate as a modern timepiece that the Hogwarts Headmasters had been gifted from a muggleborn three centuries ago.
But the slight signs of damage also said a great deal of the history it had with him. Nicks and scratches that were the signs of careful transfiguration work on his part to repair damage from spellfire and, on one occasion, a bullet from a muggle firearm that it stopped when a nervous soldier shot at him. He was one to never put much stock in something as random as luck, firmly believing that planning and preparation in those dark days. But there were more than a few occasions where his simply coming out of it in one piece, let alone alive, was just that; pure and simple luck.
His final duel with Gellert at Nurmengard was one where his victory was as much luck as it was skill on his part. His skill managed to draw out the fight long enough for Gellert to be the one that made that fatal mistake, just as it was luck on his own part that he had been able to cast a spell that connected despite the storm making his exhausted grip on his wand tenuous at best that sent his one time friend into a cast iron fence right as lightning struck.
It may not have been his intent to kill Gellert, it was to capture if at all possible, but that was the end result. His actions had led to the man's death and he had learned that lesson. Taken it to heart, really. Whether you intend for something to happen or not; what happens, happens, and you still have to deal with the result.
The visitor he was waiting for, Harry Potter, had received the same lesson four years ago when his actions led to the death of Quirinus. He could have whitewashed it when he told the then boy, but he didn't. Sparing him that knowledge would have him no favors in the long run.
His musings were interrupted by the familiar sound of Fawkes coming in and he turned his gaze to see Harry Potter letting go of Fawkes' tailfeathers. He looked at the young man as he took a moment to get his bearings, noting that he has started to fill out slightly. Oh, he doubted that Harry would ever become muscular, Potters tended more towards lean and wiry builds, but the half-starved look that he had even several months after his ordeal in Sword Art Online finished was now gone.
The fact that the young man also missed Fawkes flaming away, meant that there may be a pleasant surprise for him shortly. Or maybe not, as Harry glanced at where Fawkes once was.
"Harry, my boy, welcome!" He said. "Take a seat."
Harry looked at him and gave a small smile. "It's a pleasure, Professor," he replied as he quickly glanced around and made his way to an available seat. One which gave him a clear line of sight to the door, Albus noted. "I apologize in advance for Sirius not being here, there was a full moon a few days ago and he spent that with Remus. Apparently, the Shibas pulled a few favors, so our intellectual wolf spends those times when he is going to transform among some canine yokai up in Hokkaido, mostly okuri-inu, but there are some inugami among them as well." He snorted. "And given that it's Sirius, he managed to get some attention among them, both positive and negative. He's still recovering from the mauling one inugami father gave him due to his daughter taking a shine to him."
"Mauling?" Albus asked in concern. "Tell me it wasn't too serious."
"No, it was Sirius," Harry replied and grinned cheekily at the unimpressed look Albus gave him. "And no, it wasn't that bad. It was mostly a father exercising his fatherly prerogative, as well as trying to beat Sirius black and blue. Or use him as a chew toy, for that matter. I heard that the two were seen trying to drink each other under the table towards the end. And it must have been a lot of drinking, and some strong alcohol at that, given that Sirius is still hungover." He smirked. "I made sure to be appropriately quiet there."
"So about as quiet as Messrs. Fred and George Wealey normally are?" Albus asked knowingly.
"About that," Harry agreed before his expression turned serious. "So, is there any word on my idea for the summer?"
Albus smiled as the fireplace flamed green. "If you would wait but a moment, you can hear it, yourself."
Harry gave Albus a suspicious look, clearly suspecting that the Headmaster had arranged this, before simply shrugging. "I should accuse you of arranging this," he said.
"I have no idea what you mean, Harry," Albus replied.
Harry was about to respond when both Molly and Arthur Weasley came out of the floo. The shocked cry of "Harry!" from Molly caused him to turn right in time to be swept up into a hug.
"Mrs. Weasley," Harry said, or at least tried to. It was kind of difficult for him to get the air into his lungs from how tightly she hugged him.
"Molly, give the boy a chance to breathe," Arthur said in amusement.
Molly let go Harry and gave him a sheepish smile as he took some exaggeratedly deep breaths."Bloody- Mrs. Weasley, I haven't been hugged that hard since that one time a mob in Aincrad decided that I needed one and didn't need my spine and ribs unbroken. Fortunately for me, Keiko got to it before long."
"And unfortunately?" Arthur asked knowingly.
"Not that time," Harry replied. "Of course, there were plenty of times where I did something stupid that she could tell me off for, or whack me upside the head." He gave a sardonic smile. "Those two weren't mutually exclusive."
"I seem to remember reading something in the Daily Prophet's gossip section about you riding a dragon while drunk," Molly said. "Since it is the gossip section, and under the pen name everyone knows Rita Skeeter uses for that, no one believed it to be true, but it was a fun and amusing read."
"Oh, that happened," Harry said. "Ended up in jail for that one, mostly because they didn't know where else to put us while they got Asuna to pick Kirito and I up. All the ladies had some choice words to say about that afterward. Well, Rain, the Half-Russian she is, seemed to be more upset that we didn't bring her along. Worth it though, as I doubt even Kayaba could figure out how we pulled that stunt off. Dragon was a little testy with us afterward when we went back there for another reason, though."
"Well, nice to see you were holding to the standards of Gryffindor there," Arthur replied with a laugh after a moment.
"We all did in a way," Harry said with a grin. "I may have been the only one capable of using magic amongst my group, but we all tended to exhibit several traits that the Founders would have loved and fought over the right to be their primary mentor. The fact that they are No-Maj would have been a minor consideration."
"No-Maj?" Molly asked.
"The American term for muggles," Albus clarified. "The Japanese use it as well, so Harry probably picked it up there and found it appropriate." He noticed Fawkes flame in with Dan and Emma Granger when Molly and Arthur had Harry distracted but hadn't called a welcome to them yet.
"Oh Dan, Emma, when did you arrive?" Arthur asked.
"Only just, I would say," Harry commented easily as he turned to look at the two new arrivals.. "And via Fawkes Flame Service if I miss my guess."
"Fawkes Flame Service?" Arthur asked.
"Well, considering that I learned from a Yank that the first letters of those words can be used to mean something different…" Harry said and smirked at the snorts from everyone, as well as the amused trill from Fawkes. "And my suspicions that our esteemed Headmaster has been planning this like the Troll we know he can be…"
"You know, I have been meaning to learn the meaning of that use of troll," Albus said. "I know that it can't refer to the creature, but is it fishing related?"
"It means that you're fishing for a reaction of some sort for one's own amusement," Harry replied. "And given that you like to give surprises and are often amused by them, it fits. I would have to ask Kirito, I mean Kazuto- bloody buggering- even after six months we all still tend to do that if we're not careful. Well, I would have to ask him if that works as an explanation."
"Ah, so it is along the lines of the fishing term, just trying to get reactions rather than fish," Albus said. "And I have no idea what you can mean about my fishing for reactions."
"Your choices in robes say otherwise," Harry noted.
"Why Harry, I have it on good authority that my robes are the height of fashion."
"Maybe back in the Middle Ages,," Harry shot back. "But we don't need confirmation that you were alive back during the Crusades and probably knew Robin Hood and his Merry Men personally."
"Friar Tuck is a most affable man," Albus replied. "You have met him, after all."
"Friar- you mean to tell me that the Fat Friar is him?" Harry asked before getting a thoughtful look. "Huh, I didn't expect that."
"No one ever does, though he admits that he was never a part of the Spanish Inquisition, as it was after his time." Albus replied cheekily.
Harry, Dan and Emma all chuckled at the reference, which Albus internally nodded to. He had been introduced to the humor of that quartet of gentlemen by students. While much of the humor wasn't exactly to his tastes, it was still amusing. And that one song of theirs, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, was one he believed he would request to have sung at his funeral.
"Well then," he said. "Shall we?"
Harry nodded before making his way back to the seat he had claimed. After everyone else was seated, he took a small breath. "So, I sent some information on what I had planned with inviting Ron and Hermione over to Japan a few days ago," he began. "Along with the explanation that I would be available to answer questions personally as well as to help refine the plan properly. So why don't we get the questions out of the way first."
Albus watched as the Grangers and Weasleys looked at each other for a moment before they began to ask Harry questions. Questions, the young man seemed to be ready to answer.
"I am aware that you would want to have us all chaperoned, which is why I allowed Sirius to persuade me to let him cover the costs of anyone else coming along. If he wants to spend his own money in this, I am certainly not going to stop him."
"The various hotel and ryokan flyers I sent were ones that came highly recommended to me from both the Shibas and the Saotomes, and yes, the Saotomes know of, and even stayed at a few of them. The recommended locations were from a list of places that were used to accommodating foreign magical and non-magical guests."
"Ah, Fred and George. Or is it Gred and Forge? Feel free to bring them along, Mrs. Weasley. I still owe them some payback for that one prank during my first year. Once they get over the shock of it, they will probably find it hilarious. By the way, how do you like the idea of having two extra daughters for a short period of time? What do you mean, three- oh. Right. Given everything, I can see myself getting caught in the splash for that, especially with me probably having to get Keiko's uncles in on this. They enjoy annoying me with that far too much and won't pass up a chance to do it when I am willing to get splashed to ensure someone else does as well."
"Oh, that? Let me show you and, huh, the battery is draining pretty quickly as it usually takes a few hours to get to the halfway point. Hmm, not like I had it charging before I got here and it's been a couple of hours. Well, anyway, here's a video of what Instant Jusenkyo can do, and it only last until it is reversed with warm water. Why yes, I do look a lot like my Mum when turned into a girl and… I see that look on your face Mrs. Weasley, you have an idea. Please, enlighten us all. Oh, that is cruel and evil, let's do it. Hmm, wonder if I can get Mrs. Saotome, as in Keiko's great-grandmother, not her grandmother, to find some nice yukata for all the ladies. And yes, I am including myself there, as this would be so worth getting splashed, if only for the amusement value."
Albus blinked as Harry seemed to go along with Molly's idea of coopting his prank against the Weasley Twins. Though he would admit, the two would find it funny being temporarily turned female once the shock wore off in all probability.
"Is it me, or does he find the prospect of being turned into a girl, however briefly, something to look forward to?" Dan asked Albus.
"Less looking forward to it, and more accepting that he's likely to get caught up in it, I believe," Albus replied. "And also taking Molly's idea and incorporating it. I don't think his fiancée will mind."
"Oh, she won't," Harry said, having clearly overheard the two men. "She gets far too much amusement at me getting turned into a girl and has taken me shopping for occasions like this. We found some clothes that work well for me. We even went and got swimsuits for if I get changed into a girl and we're somewhere like the beach, as her uncles will definitely see that as an opportunity and I was advised to have one on hand for that. Of course, I still have to learn how to swim, but with the summer hols coming up, I will think of something. Or one of the others will, even if it's toss me into one of the canals and have me figure it out.."
"Wait, you can't swim?" Emma asked.
"Never really had an opportunity to learn," Harry replied. "My aunt and uncle were… not inclined to have me take swimming lessons with Dudley." He shrugged. "And while the school does have a pool, it hasn't gotten used much yet, though it is likely to see more use as clubs start properly being formed after the Summer Hols. They've been inclined to ease us into everything related to a proper Japanese Academic Experience, rather than have us go into it full tilt." He scratched his chin. "Though Principal Kuno took Keiko aside for a moment last week to enquire if her grandfather was willing to observe any martial arts clubs being set up so as to help the school's staff, or simply give his own insights on how qualified some are to teach. Well, aside from Kendo, since Principal Kuno actually is rated as a master practitioner of that art and a few of the staff are qualified to instruct it as well."
Albus gave Harry a curious look and he knew the others were as well.
"It didn't take much digging to find out, but a lot of the staff have experience with schools that are… rather unique," Harry said, picking up on the curiosity. "I do know that my homeroom teacher was a classmate of Keiko's grandfather, and Principal Kuno was a student at the same school as an upperclassman. And one of the teachers is also responsible for ensuring that those who can use magic are getting taught properly. Sakimura-sensei will probably be the faculty guide to a club where all of those students who don't have tutors will be encouraged to sign up for proper instruction." He snorted. "A school club dealing with magic or the occult, but with actual practitioners of magic."
"But the Statute-" Molly began and stopped when Harry held up his hand.
"I asked about that as well," Harry said. "Japan's own traditions tend to help and it is apparently rather simple to simply ask someone to keep their mouths shut about magic. Doesn't mean that the source of the violation of the Statute isn't in trouble, as Professor Dumbledore knows. He was there when Keiko and I had to be told off by the head of the Shiba Family."
"Lord Shiba was rather polite in how he addressed you, Harry," Albus said.
"Professor, I've been using Japanese daily for over two years now, and one of my friends is very capable of telling someone off while being perfectly polite," Harry replied. "I've had practice in learning how to pick out a fair bit of nuance in subtext and word choice. He was less angry and more disappointed. Probably because he lost the bet of when they would either figure it out, or find out because I accidentally let it slip."
"Ah, I see," Albus replied.
"People were making wagers on when it would be discovered?" Arthur asked.
"Mr. Weasley, none of my friends are stupid," Harry said. "And they are all better educated than I am, at least when it comes to broad strokes. No offense to Hogwarts, Professor, it is the premier magical school in the world, but the education provided here is highly specialized."
"None taken, Harry," Albus said gamely. "I assisted Aurora and Charity, that is, Professors Sinistra and Burbage, with obtaining the necessary education to go to university and obtain degrees. Astronomy and Mathematics, to be precise. Those disciplines are relevant to the subjects they teach, after all."
Harry nodded."I am surprised that Professor Snape doesn't have a degree," he said.
"I made the offer to Severus and he declined," Albus replied. "He mentioned that potions is far too specialized to be helped as much from going to university, and he is a accredited Master of that discipline."
Harry nodded, though Albus could tell that he had his own thoughts on the matter, or more likely, Severus' ability to properly teach. Of course, it was more in terms of teaching the basics, not the more advanced aspects of potionmaking.
He sometimes wished Horace had not retired, as the man would have been an excellent fit for teaching the first five years. The man's inveterate networking habits and tendency to play favorites aside, he had an amazing ability to teach. Even those students he didn't favor still learned well under him.
Not that Severus was incapable of teaching the basics. It was that he did not have the patience to repeatedly go over them with those who didn't pick it up the first time. And he certainly had no patience for those who failed to follow simple instructions. More than one Potions Master called the brewing of potions both an art and a science, not just Severus.
He idly wondered if Harry had found someone to properly tutor him in that subject. A letter from Remus highlighted that he and the other tutor involved were not qualified in the subject and that the Ministry of Shugenja was not being as helpful in correcting that deficiency. Perhaps he could point Harry is Elder Cologne's direction.
If her other duties allowed it. Of course, with him being routinely subjected to the temporary form of the Jusenkyo Curse, she was liable to insist that he be female if she was to tutor him. For the sake of making a nod to propriety with regards to the culture of the Jokokusetzoku, and not for her own amusement, he was sure.