Hello, everyone. ThunderReborn from 2025. This chapter has originally been edited by Darklord331. Finally, in April 2025, this chapter was edited again by my current beta reader, Waroyer123. Thank you and I hope you enjoy the story.
The following is a fan-based parody.
Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo, TV Tokyo, Viz Media, Studio Pierrot.
Harry Potter is owned by J.K Rowling.
All other references of characters or abilities are not mine.
Please support the official release.
"Hello." – Normal talking
"Hello." – Ichigo's thoughts.
"Hello." – Zanpakutō speaking
"Hello." – Zanpakutō thoughts.
": Hello Human. : " – Goblin Language
": Hello :" – French.
"$: Hello :$" – Parseltongue
Chapter 43:
"I believe we should ask the previous owner what we should do with this," Kaien said.
"Previous owner?" Artoria questioned.
"He may be referring to me," a voice said. They turned to see a ghost floating nearby.
"Hello, Gray Lady," Kaien greeted.
"Hello, Kaien, Artoria," the ghost replied. She glanced at the diadem in Kaien's hands. "I see you've found my mother's diadem."
"Your mother?" Artoria asked.
"My name is Helena Ravenclaw, daughter of Rowena Ravenclaw," the ghost introduced herself.
"I did, and it has been purged of all the dark magic Tom Riddle placed on it," Kaien said.
"I see..." Helena responded.
"What do you want me to do with this?" Kaien asked.
"In Ravenclaw's Common Room, there lies a large statue of my mother. I wish for that diadem to be placed there, with a few enchantments around it to prevent anyone from trying to take it," Helena requested.
"Sure," Kaien agreed.
"But not right now. The House of the Ravens doesn't deserve it yet."
"How come?" Kaien asked.
Helena sighed.
"Please go to the West Wing… that's all I can say," she said as she floated away. Kaien and Artoria exchanged a look before heading down the corridor. Kaien tucked the purified diadem into his bag.
Artoria tapped into the wards, then abruptly stopped.
"What's wrong?" Kaien asked.
"Someone is badly injured in the West Wing," Artoria said as she started running. Kaien followed closely behind. They soon arrived at an empty classroom. Artoria grabbed the door and tried to open it. The door was magically sealed.
"Open!" Artoria commanded. The door shuddered but didn't budge. She tried again with more force, and the door finally cracked open. They entered to find an unconscious girl lying on the floor. She had straggly, waist-length, dirty blonde hair, and her Hogwarts uniform was crumpled and torn. She was missing her house tie, socks, and shoes, and it looked like she'd been in a fight—and lost.
Kaien pulled out his wand and cast several diagnostic spells.
"She has bruising on her back," Kaien observed. Artoria pointed her wand at the girl.
"Rennervate," she said. The young girl opened her eyes, her gaze dreamy, as though she wasn't fully present.
"Hello, Defier of Fate and the Tyrant of Knights," she said. Kaien and Artoria were taken aback at being addressed by one of their titles.
"How do you know that?" Artoria demanded.
"I think I know how," Mysteria said, her voice echoing within their connection. "It appears that she has a pair of Mystic Eyes."
"But how?" Artoria asked, surprised, as she was aware that magi and witches/wizards rarely interacted—Myrddin being one of the few exceptions.
"It doesn't matter," Kaien said, turning his attention back to the girl.
"My name is Kaien, and this is Artoria. Who are you?"
"Luna Lovegood," the girl replied.
"What happened?" Kaien asked.
"Oh, some Nargle decided to attack me and steal my clothes," Luna said. Artoria looked confused.
"What is a Nargle?" Artoria asked.
"Nargles are small magical creatures that are mischievous thieves," Luna explained. "Don't worry, the Nargles are scared of both of you." Kaien narrowed his eyes.
"Based on what Helena said, I think a Nargle isn't a magical creature," Kaien theorized.
"But, in fact, 'invisible' bullies in Ravenclaw," Artoria finished.
"Luna," Kaien said.
"Yes, Defier of Fate?"
"Are the Nargles located in Ravenclaw's Common Room?" Kaien asked. Luna's dreamy expression faltered.
"You can't defeat the Nargles. They prevent me from entering their home," she warned. "I tried to defy them, but they managed to escape and get their revenge on me," Luna admitted. Kaien's eyes hardened as he stood up.
"Are you going to them?" Artoria asked. Luna's eyes filled with fear.
"Y-you can't," she stammered.
"Watch me," Kaien said, turning toward the door and heading out. Artoria and Luna quickly followed him.
They soon arrived at an eagle-shaped knocker on a door.
"I wish to enter the Ravenclaw Common Room," Kaien said. The eagle-shaped knocker looked at each of them.
"To enter the Ravenclaw Common Room, a riddle will be told," the knocker said. It turned to Luna. "Unfortunately, she isn't allowed to enter." Kaien grabbed the knocker and forced it to look at him.
"Just tell us the riddle before I break you," Kaien growled, tightening his grip. The knocker panicked under his pressure.
"All right! All right!" it said. "Just let go of me!" Kaien released it, and the knocker coughed before reciting the riddle.
"It can't be seen, can't be felt, can't be heard, and can't be smelt. It lies behind stars and under hills and fills empty holes. It comes first and follows after, ends life, and kills laughter. What is it?"
"The Darkness," Kaien said.
"Correct." The door creaked open, revealing Ravenclaw's Common Room. The space had graceful arched windows, walls draped in blue and bronze silks, and a domed ceiling painted with stars. The midnight-blue carpet echoed the theme of the heavens. Tables, chairs, and bookcases filled the room, and a white marble statue of Rowena Ravenclaw stood by the door. The chairs were occupied by various Ravenclaw students. One student glanced over.
"Kaien-senpai? What are you doing here?" the student asked. Several others turned to look.
"Hey, it's Loony," another muttered. Many Ravenclaws looked puzzled at Luna's sudden reappearance in the common room.
"What are you doing here, Loony? We banished you from the common room," a girl said, dressed in the standard Ravenclaw uniform with a small golden "P" pin on her dress shirt.
"Stop calling her that," Kaien said, glaring at the girl.
"That is her name. Loo—" Before the girl could finish, Kaien appeared in front of her.
"I happen to dislike bullies," Kaien said, his glare making her flinch and turn away.
"Be that as it may…" another voice interrupted. Kaien turned to see a young man, also in a Ravenclaw uniform with a golden "P" pin.
"I am Marcus Turner, a prefect," the boy introduced.
"Anyway, how was this done?" Kaien asked.
"Indeed. I wish to know as well," another voice said. Everyone turned to see Professor Flitwick and the Gray Lady enter the room.
"Professor," Marcus said.
"I said I wish to know more about this," Professor Flitwick said, his tone cold and calculating. The students immediately recognized the change in his demeanor. Gone was the cheerful Charms professor, now stood the Dueling Champion.
"By a majority vote, Loo—" He was interrupted by Kaien's cold glare.
"Luna Lovegood was banished from the house for speaking about creatures that have no credible evidence of existing," he finished.
"When did this become a thing in Ravenclaw?" Professor Flitwick questioned.
"It's a policy for Ravenclaws who speak about things that lack credible knowledge," he answered.
"How did you manage to hide this from me?" Professor Flitwick asked.
"Oh, that's easy. A curse is placed on those who are banished, preventing them from revealing the existence of their banishment or any reasons behind it. We thought it'd be hilarious to slightly alter the curse. She wouldn't be able to speak or write about us. Instead, she'd blame Nargles for doing it." Suddenly, he realized what he had just revealed.
"Why did I explain all of that?" Marcus thought.
"You're probably wondering why you revealed all of that," Kaien said as he pointed above his head. Marcus looked up and saw a golden rune above him.
"That's Ansuz. When used, it forces someone to tell the truth. When you weren't looking, I cast a babbling curse on you."
Marcus' eyes widened in fear. Professor Flitwick turned to Kaien.
"Thank you for your help." He approached Luna and scanned her with his wand. He quickly found the curse on her. With a few swipes of his wand, he broke the curse.
"Bully," she whispered. Her eyes widened as the word came out of her mouth. "Bully," she repeated. Slowly, she realized this wasn't a dream. "Bully!" Her eyes filled with tears. "BULLY!" Tears of joy and relief began to fall.
"Kaien, please take her to Madam Pomphrey for a medical checkup and keep her there until I get there."
"Very well, Filius," Kaien said. Artoria gently helped Luna walk out of the Ravenclaw common room.
": May those without honor get what they deserve. :" Kaien said in Goblin language. Filius showed a vengeful grin, sending a chill through the surrounding Ravenclaws.
": May those without honor get what they deserve. :" he repeated. Kaien nodded and left the common room.
They arrived at the Medical Wing and explained what happened to Luna. Madam Pomphrey quickly ushered her behind a privacy screen and began her examination. As they sat there, Helena slipped in.
"Thank you for telling us what happened," Kaien said.
"It's something I dislike doing, especially against my own house, but it needed to be done," she replied.
"So, when they are worthy, you want the diadem placed on the statue in the common room?" Kaien asked.
"Indeed," she said.
The door to the Medical Wing opened again as Professor Flitwick entered, followed by a floating trunk.
"She's over there, getting medically examined," Kaien said.
Flitwick nodded and lowered the trunk. He turned around, ready to return to his office.
"Filius," Kaien called.
"Yes, Kaien?"
"Please place this on the statue of Rowena Ravenclaw when you feel the Ravens are worthy of it," Kaien said as he took out the diadem.
His eyes widened. "Is that...?"
"Yes. My mother's diadem," Helena said.
Flitwick's expression softened in realization. "I see…" he said as he gently took the diadem. "I will guard this with my life and do as you requested." He hid the diadem in his robes and walked away.
"With the diadem acquired, should we focus on the ring or the locket?" Kaien asked.
"Hm…" Artoria thought.
"I believe the locket would be the next best option," Kyōka said. "According to Harry, he's currently a spirit. From what I've gathered, there is a weak link between each soul fragment. Based on that, I can tell he's somewhere in Britain, though I don't have an exact location. But, I'm certain that he will be able to detect us trying to retrieve the ring before the locket."
"Okay then. We'll go after the locket at night," Kaien said.
The medical curtains were pulled to the side, and Luna walked toward them.
"How are you feeling?" Kaien asked.
"Good," Luna replied. Her eyes seemed distant. "My fate and many others' have deviated from its original path. The new path is uncertain." Kaien nodded, expecting this. Madam Pomphrey approached them.
"So, will Ms. Lovegood be staying in your quarters?" she asked.
"If she wants to," Kaien replied. Luna looked at him.
"I do," she said.
"Is she physically fine?" Kaien asked.
Madam Pomphrey nodded. "She suffered from minor bruises and cuts. Other than that, she's fine."
Kaien nodded and levitated Luna's suitcase, leading her to his quarters. As they entered, they saw Harry and Hermione surrounded by parchment.
"Kaien-sensei," Hermione greeted.
"Kaien-sensei," Harry quickly said after her.
"Good afternoon, both of you. How's the reply process going?"
"It's good, bad, and horrible," Harry groaned.
"Oh? How so?"
"A lot of students at Hogwarts sent me letters or drawings when they were younger. When they found out we were back, they begged me to burn them, embarrassed by what they had drawn or written." Kaien cracked a smile.
"I see… anything else?"
"There is. According to Gringotts, some people wrote to me in their wills. They were grateful for what I did and left me their remaining valuables since they died without an heir," Harry said.
"I see…" Kaien said, understanding the sadness in Harry's voice.
"So, what's with the girl behind you?" Harry asked.
"Ah, this is Luna," Kaien said. "She'll be staying with us for the time being," he added. They accepted his answer.
"Hi Luna, I'm Hermione Granger."
"Hello, Hermione. I've heard about you," Luna replied.
"Oh? Nothing horrible, I hope?"
"Oh no. Many Ravenclaws are jealous of your intellect and would have bullied you if not for Heir Potter," she said.
"I see…" Hermione replied with a frown.
"Come on, Luna, let me show you your room."
"Coming, Kaien-sama," Luna said as she followed him.
"You don't need to call me Kaien-sama. Just Kaien, or Kaien-sensei if you need to be formal," he said.
"Very well, Kaien-sensei," Luna said. Kaien showed her to her room, which was next to Hermione's. She placed her belongings down and took a few minutes to settle in. They returned downstairs to find a giant stack of letters on the table.
"I assume you're going to the owlery?" Kaien guessed.
"We are. We'll meet you at the Great Hall," Harry said. They grabbed the letters and left.
"I think we should go pick up the others," Kaien suggested. Luna nodded, and they headed to the library. They arrived to find all the champions in the Shiba Study Room, tutoring various students. Kaien noticed the students were paying close attention, even Fred and George. He also realized that none of the Ravenclaws were present.
"Looks like all of you are doing well," Kaien remarked. Everyone turned toward them.
"Kaien-sensei," they all greeted, including the champions.
"It's almost dinnertime," Kaien said. The students packed up their belongings and left the library. They all arrived at the Great Hall and went to their respective tables. Everyone was talking among themselves about the same thing: Where were the Ravenclaws? That question was quickly answered when the Great Hall doors opened. Professor Flitwick entered with a frown, a rare occurrence for the usually cheerful professor. Behind him were the missing Ravenclaws, but something was different. None of them wore their Ravenclaw tie or emblem. They all appeared emotionless and quietly sat down. Professor Flitwick pointed his wand at his throat before beginning to speak.
"May I have your attention, please?" he said. Everyone quieted down and looked at Professor Flitwick. "Thank you. Many of you are probably wondering what happened to these Ravenclaws," he began. "I've recently discovered something terrible. The entire house of Ravenclaw participated in bullying one of their own for the last three years. I apologize to that student for failing in my role as Head of House of Ravenclaw." He said. Everyone was stunned by his words. "And so… for the rest of the year, the entire Ravenclaw house has lost the rights to their colors. Their uniforms will now show only the Hogwarts crest and a black tie. They've lost their rights to visit Hogsmeade, and they've lost all their House points, which will not be regained until the next school year," he finished. He walked to the Professor's Table and sat down. The food quickly appeared. Everyone, except the Ravenclaws, began talking among themselves.
Kaien and the others continued eating when he noticed Professor McGonagall walking toward them. Kaien stopped eating and looked at her.
"Anything I can do for you?"
"I do. It's about a message for the other champions," she said.
"Okay, go ahead." She turned to face the champions. Everyone paused and paid attention to her.
"On the 13th, we need the champions to meet us in the empty classroom on the second floor," she announced.
"How come?" Harry asked.
"We will be conducting The Wand Weighing Ceremony."
"What's that?" Harry asked again.
"It's a short process to ensure all the champions' wands are in proper working condition," she answered.
"I see…"
"I also need to speak to Mr. Shiba privately," she requested.
"Let's do it here," Kaien said as he created a privacy bubble around them.
"What is this?" she asked.
"This is a privacy bubble. It prevents noise from leaving the bubble. It also obscures the images just enough to let people see the general outline of figures but not enough for them to read our lips," Kaien explained.
"Interesting spell," she commented.
"Anyways, what do you need from me?"
"It's about George Weasley. He didn't show up to any of his classes today. Some students saw him with you earlier."
"He was with Fred, getting ready for the tournament," Kaien explained.
"I see…" Kaien could see that Professor McGonagall was conflicted. "Would it be possible for his teachers to owl him the assignments he missed and have him turn them in later?"
"Why?"
"From what I've heard, the twins like to 'prank,' right?"
"They do."
"And if both are focused on the Tournament…" Her eyes widened.
"Then they won't be bothering with pranks."
"Correct. Though they may do some after each task, as a way to celebrate their accomplishment."
"Hm… very well. If Fred and George don't commit any pranks except for the two days after each task, then George will not have to attend class as long as he's with Fred."
"Agreed." They shook hands, and Kaien lowered the privacy bubble. They returned to their respective seats.
"Um… what happened here?" Fred asked. Kaien cast the privacy bubble around the entire table and shared what Professor McGonagall had told him, as well as their agreement.
"I guess Kaien-senpai was right. We'd focus all our energy on the tournament instead of pranking the schools," Fred said.
"And thanks to Kaien-senpai's actions, I don't have to worry about Mum's complaint letters about my grades," George added. Kaien lowered the privacy bubble, and they soon finished eating. They stood up and left the Great Hall.
Fred and George headed to the Gryffindor common room while everyone else walked to Kaien's quarters. Fleur and Viktor went to their room. Luna and Hermione worked on homework while Harry read a book explaining the importance of a Lord.
"I think it's time we leave to get the locket," Kaien thought.
"I agree," Kyōka replied.
"Artoria, I will be gone for a few hours," Kaien said.
"Very well. I'll do my best to cover for you," Artoria replied.
"Thank you," Kaien said as he walked to his room. He entered his spirit form and quickly left Hogwarts.
He shunpō'ed toward the coastline. With Tom's old memories, Kaien soon found the cave. He could sense all the wards and enchantments he'd placed on it. Kaien walked toward the 'entrance' of the cave and soon arrived at a dead end. Kyōka appeared.
"According to the memories, you need to smear some blood on the 'entrance' to reveal the true entrance," Kyōka instructed. Kaien summoned Yorugetsu and cut his palm. He smeared his blood on the 'dead end' of the cave. The cave shuttered as the wall moved down, revealing the true entrance. Kaien quickly healed the wound and entered the cave. He immediately sensed the dark magic, the cries of agony from trapped souls, and the smell of decaying bodies. He continued down the path. His senses were heightened more than before. Kaien soon arrived at a lake and shunpō'ed to the island. He spotted the basin.
"According to the memories, the basin is cursed to prevent anyone from touching, vanishing, transfiguring, or charming the potion. He intended the potion to be drunk, which induces fear, delirium, and extreme thirst," Kyōka explained.
"Did he charm the basin to prevent the potion from being dumped?" Kaien asked.
"Um… not that I can tell," Kyōka replied, followed by Kaien using Yorugetsu to chop the basin down. The potion spilled out. Kaien picked up the locket. He couldn't sense the soul fragment from the locket.
"It's fake," he said, handing the locket to Kyōka.
"I see…" Kyōka said as she returned to the mindscape. Kaien summoned Longinus and walked to the edge of the lake. He dipped the spear into the water, releasing a ripple. He could sense the dark magic reacting to the disturbing lake, forcing the inferi to rise and swim toward the island. Kaien leaped above the island, covering the spear in Holy Fire. The inferi began to emerge from the lake, invading the island.
"HOLY FIRE'S JUDGEMENT!" Kaien shouted, throwing Longinus onto the island. The spear slammed into the ground, releasing waves of Holy Fire that consumed the inferi. They screamed in pain as their decayed bodies were incinerated. The Holy Fire spread into the corrupted lake, burning both the water and the remaining inferi hidden below. Kaien watched, still and silent. Slowly, souls began to rise, many crying out in relief as they were freed from their prison. They all turned to face their savior. Zangetsu, Kyōka, Shirayuki, Suzumebachi, Katen, and Kyōkotsu appeared, their blades in hand.
"It's time for all of you to finally rest and move on," Kaien said as he summoned Yorugetsu. The group began performing Konsō on the spirits. Soon, only one spirit remained.
"Before you send my spirit away, I must ask a favor," the spirit said.
"What is it?" Kaien asked.
"It concerns the fate of the true locket," the spirit said.
"You mean this locket, Regulus Arcturus Black?" Kyōka said, holding the open locket in her hand.
"It seems that I've been revealed," the spirit remarked.
"Tom would've never expected you to betray him," Kyōka observed.
"Tom?" Regulus questioned.
"Voldemort's real name is Tom Marvolo Riddle, the son of a Gaunt Squib and a Muggle," Kaien revealed. Regulus was shocked, then chuckled, before laughing aloud.
"So, the Dark Lord, who spits the Pureblood mantra, is, in fact, the very thing he hated," he mused.
"Indeed," Kaien confirmed.
"Back on track," Kyōka interjected. "Where should the locket be?"
"Before my death, I ordered Kreacher to return home and destroy the locket," Regulus said.
"Is it possible for you to call for Kreacher?" Kaien asked.
"Hm… I'm not sure, but I can try," Regulus said. He took a deep breath. "I, Regulus Arcturus Black, command Kreacher, the house-elf of the Ancient and Noble House of Black, to appear before me!" Regulus commanded. Moments later, an old house-elf appeared, dressed in a dirty pillowcase.
"Who dares call for Kreacher?" the elf demanded.
"It's been a long time, old friend," Regulus said. Kreacher looked up, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"M-M- Master Regulus. Is that you?"
"Indeed," Regulus answered. Kreacher fell to his knees, slamming his forehead against the ground.
"Kreacher is sorry! He couldn't finish Master Regulus's order!" he cried, repeatedly slamming his forehead to the earth.
"Kreacher, stop it!" Regulus quickly ordered. The elf froze. "Look at me." Kreacher hesitantly raised his head to meet the ghost's gaze. "Kreacher, do you still have the locket?"
"Kreacher does!" the elf replied.
"Please bring it here so we can finish what we started," Regulus said.
"Yes, Master Regulus!" Kreacher said, disappearing. He reappeared with a similar locket.
"Hand the locket to them. They will be able to destroy it," Regulus instructed. Kreacher nodded and handed the locket to Kaien, who carefully took it. He pulled the soul fragment from the locket, placing it in his black-gloved hand. Regulus and Kreacher stared in shock as Kaien worked. Before the Soul Fragment could react, Kyōka bound it in kidō and sent it into Kaien's mindscape.
"What was that?" Regulus asked.
"That was one of Tom's soul fragments," Kaien explained.
Regulus's eyes widened. "He's insane… Wait, you said one of... He made more, didn't he?"
"Don't worry about it," Kaien reassured him. "We're working on taking care of the rest of them."
"Wouldn't it be easier to destroy the locket?" Regulus asked.
"Normally, yes, but this locket is very important to Hogwarts," Kaien replied. Regulus glanced closer at the pendant, noticing a snake shaped like an "S."
"Wait... is that the missing Locket of Slytherin?" Regulus asked.
"Indeed. Tom decided to use the lost artifacts of the founders as his Horcruxes," Kaien confirmed.
"I see..." Regulus muttered. He couldn't comprehend the madness that the Dark Lord had unleashed. He gently placed the locket on the ground. Kaien summoned Longinus back to his hand and tapped the locket lightly. It began to glow gold, releasing holy energy.
"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin, and concentrate your holy energy into purifying them," Kaien recited. The holy energy engulfed the locket, purging the dark magic from it. Kaien picked up both the real and fake lockets and knelt before Kreacher.
"Kreacher, I believe you deserve a reward for protecting the locket. You may choose either the real locket or the fake one Regulus placed in the basin," Kaien offered.
Kreacher looked to Regulus for guidance.
"The choice is yours," Regulus said.
Kreacher pointed at the fake locket. Kaien handed it to him, and the elf carefully took it, hugging it as though it were his most treasured possession.
"I think it's time," Regulus said.
"Time for what, Master?" Kreacher asked.
"Time for me to leave. To finally rest," Regulus answered. Tears welled up in Kreacher's eyes. Regulus turned to Kaien.
"Are you sure, Regulus?" Kaien asked.
Regulus nodded. Kaien gently tapped the hilt of Yorugetsu to Regulus's forehead, sending his soul to the afterlife. Kreacher cried once more, mourning his fallen master, but also relieved that his master's final wish had been fulfilled. Kreacher turned to Kaien.
"Kreacher asks for Master's savior's name."
"Kaien Shiba," Kaien replied.
"Kreacher will remember Kaien Shiba, the man who was Master's savior," Kreacher said as he disappeared from the cave.
"I guess we should return to Hogwarts," Kaien said. The Zanpakutō spirits nodded and returned to Kaien's mind. Kaien shunpō'ed out of the cave and back to Hogwarts.
He quietly sneaked into the castle and returned to their quarters, finding Artoria sitting in her pajamas, waiting for him.
"I guess the mission was a success?" she asked.
"It was," Kaien replied.
"Good. Another piece of that mongrel down," Artoria remarked.
"You're channeling your inner Gil," Kaien joked.
Artoria glared at him, smacking him on the shoulder. "Come on, we've got morning exercise tomorrow," Kaien said as he went to the bathroom and changed into his pajamas. He entered his headspace, and Artoria quickly followed. With a snap, they were surrounded by darkness.
Scene Change: Headmaster's Office
Albus Dumbledore sat in his office late at night, lost in thought. On his desk were three letters. Two were from Gringotts. The first informed him that his personal vault and the Order of the Phoenix vault had been seized due to connections with fraud and theft. The third letter was from Molly Weasley, explaining that her personal vault had been seized as well, and asking if Dumbledore could do anything to help.
"So, it appears that Mr. Potter had his vault audited," Dumbledore thought. "That would explain what he did at Gringotts yesterday and why the spells I placed on him were removed." Dumbledore glanced at the various broken trinkets on his wall, magical artifacts designed to monitor Harry's life, location, and magic. All of them had failed yesterday. "It's that Japanese wizard. He's interfering too much," Dumbledore thought, irritation creeping into his mind. "But how can I disrupt his influence over him?" His thoughts were interrupted when someone walked up the stairs to his office. According to his spells, it was Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime. "What do they want?" he thought, as they knocked on his door.
"Come in," Dumbledore called. Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime opened the door.
"Ah, Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime. What can I do for you this evening?" Dumbledore asked, maintaining his usual calm demeanor.
"We need to stop that Japanese wizard. He's currently training our champions," Professor Karkaroff said, urgency in his voice.
"If the media finds out that he's been helping them throughout the tournament, it'll reflect poorly on all of us," Madame Maxime added.
"So, what would you suggest?" Professor Dumbledore asked, leaning back in his chair.
"We should duel him. Show our champion that we're much better wizards than him," Karkaroff proposed.
"Ahem," Madame Maxime interjected.
"I mean wizards and witch," Karkaroff corrected hastily.
Dumbledore sat in thought, considering the proposal. "From what I've heard during the Teacher Meetings, many of the younger students respect him and consider him one of their own professors. By doing this, we show them that we're better than him… If we cause him lasting damage, I might be able to regain control of Harry."
"While the idea shows promise, how would we convince him to accept our challenge?" Dumbledore asked, his brow furrowing slightly.
"You could threaten to kick him and his students out of the castle," Madame Maxime suggested. "After all, our schools aren't living in the castle."
"I wish it were that simple," Dumbledore thought. For a while now, he had sensed the castle itself and its inhabitants were hesitant to follow his orders, especially when it came to him or his sister.
"What if he decides not to show up?" Professor Karkaroff asked.
"We could use that to our advantage, saying that a challenged opponent is dishonorable and forfeits the challenge," Madame Maxime proposed.
"We could do that. We could also frame it as an educational purpose," Dumbledore suggested.
"Agreed… but who will duel him?" Professor Karkaroff asked. All three of them knew that a three-on-one duel would be unfair.
"I would say Dumbledore should duel him," Madame Maxime said. The other two looked at her, waiting for an explanation. "It's quite simple, really. Everyone is aware of Karkaroff's and my opinions on him, but you haven't publicly shown it. More people would believe this is an educational duel, not one out of spite."
"Hm... So the challenge needs to be done privately, but the duel publicly," Professor Dumbledore said.
"Correct."
"Very well then," Dumbledore said, pulling out a quill and beginning to write the challenge letter. Soon, the letter was finished. "Fawkes, if you please," Dumbledore said. Fawkes let out a cry but continued to groom itself. "Well, Fawkes is currently preoccupied, but he will deliver the letter once he's done," Dumbledore remarked.
"Very well," Karkaroff said, impatient.
"With that done, I believe I have a duel to prepare for tomorrow," Dumbledore said. Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime nodded in agreement. With a polite goodbye, they left his office. Dumbledore cracked a small smile as he left his office and prepared for bed. Fawkes shook his head, grabbed the letter and something else, then teleported away in a ball of fire.
Scene Change: Early Morning
It was early in the morning at Hogwarts when Kaien and Artoria woke up.
"I see both of you share a room," a voice said. They turned to see Gideon, the Sorting Hat, in their room. Artoria summoned Excalibur, pointing it at Gideon.
"Hello, Gideon. While it's nice to see you, I think you should tell Artoria why you're here before she obliterates you," Kaien said, with a smirk.
"Hello to you too," Gideon said, unfazed by the black blade in front of him. "I wanted to tell both of you something interesting I overheard in Dumbledore's office."
"Go on," Artoria said, her glare unwavering as she kept Excalibur trained on him.
"Karkaroff and Maxime met with Dumbledore last night. They want to find a way to discredit you, show the students that they are better than you, and that they should seek them for guidance, not some stranger from a distant land," Gideon said.
"So how are these mongrels planning to do that?" Artoria growled. She was furious that anyone would even think to discredit Kaien. She had seen his power firsthand and knew that without her help, he could easily destroy them all.
"Artoria, it's fine," Kaien said, trying to calm her down. He turned to Gideon. "So how are they planning to do that?"
"This letter here is a formal challenge to a duel. It will be a public duel, but the students will be informed that it's an educational display on how to properly duel," Gideon said, pulling out the letter.
"What happens if I refuse to show up or decline the challenge?"
"Then you'll face public ridicule for not being honorable, and Dumbledore would try to kick you out of the castle, though it likely won't work," Gideon said.
Kaien stood up and walked to the table, where an unopened letter sat. He opened it, read through the contents, and chuckled before handing it to Artoria. She sneered at the letter.
"I think it'll be a little fun," Kaien said. "They never considered their plan backfiring on them." He summoned a quill and wrote his reply to the challenge. The letter briefly glowed. "Well, since we're already up... let's get our morning exercises started."
Artoria chuckled and nodded as she got out of bed to change.
Time Skip
After three hours of morning exercise with the students, they were all eating breakfast in the Great Hall. News of the upcoming duel between Professor Dumbledore and Kaien-sensei spread quickly. The students and many of the staff discussed who they thought would win. Most believed Dumbledore would easily triumph. A few, seeking revenge for what happened at the Quidditch World Cup Finals, wanted to see Kaien defeated. Others considered that Kaien might have a fighting chance against Dumbledore, as no one knew what to expect from him. Kaien ignored the chatter as he finished his breakfast.
"See you guys soon," Kaien said as he left the Great Hall. Soon, breakfast finished. Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick transformed the four wooden tables into a large elevated dueling platform.
Suddenly, Professor Dumbledore appeared in a ball of fire. He was dressed in a royal blue robe adorned with white stars as if wearing the night sky itself. The flames of the fire contrasted sharply with the colors of his robes.
"Good morning, everyone," Professor Dumbledore announced. "Now then, for this demonstration, I will need an assistant." Some students eagerly raised their hands. He chuckled and motioned for them to lower their hands. "I've already selected my assistant. Let me introduce my assistant, Mr. Shiba."
The Great Hall doors opened as Kaien walked in, dressed in an untucked white dress shirt, the sleeves rolled up to above his elbows, and the neck button undone. He wore black dress pants and shoes. To many muggleborn or half-blood students, Kaien looked like a male runway model. The students weren't sure whether they should move or not. Kaien decided for them, walking on air as if it were a set of stairs. The students gasped in amazement at this feat. Soon, Kaien arrived at the center of the stage.
Professor Flitwick appeared, ready for the duel to begin.
"I will be the judge for this event," Professor Flitwick announced, raising his wand and casting a dueling barrier around them, ensuring the nearby students would be safe from any stray spells. Kaien and Dumbledore exchanged a brief bow, then moved 10 meters (32.8 feet) apart. Both turned and drew their wands.
Kaien held Mysteria in its wand form in his right hand. His eyes widened when he saw Dumbledore's wand.
"Looks like Dumbledore has one of the artifacts as well…" Kaien cracked a small smile. "This should be more fun than I expected."
"Duelists," Professor Flitwick continued, "the duel will not use any spells the ICW has labeled as Dark Magic. The duel ends when the wizard is unconscious or admits defeat. Nod if you understand these rules." Both Kaien and Dumbledore nodded. "The duel will begin on the count of three."
"One… Two…"
Their grips tightened on their wands.
"Three!"
Both wizards pointed their wands at each other.
"Sepulcrum Petram [Rock Tomb," Kaien shouted. Large boulders materialized above Dumbledore and began to fall.
"Nice presents. Allow me to send them back." Dumbledore raised his wand. "Saxa animalibus [Rocks to Animals]." The boulders transformed into massive stone lions that roared and charged toward Kaien.
"This seems oddly familiar," Kaien thought as he aimed his wand at the charging lions.
"Ventus Terebro [Wind Drill," Kaien cast. A powerful blast of pressurized wind shot through the first stone lions, tearing through them.
"So, he has access to elemental spells as well," Dumbledore thought, using the destruction of the stone lions to his advantage. He vanished from sight, using a Disillusionment Charm.
Kaien continued to fire blasts of wind, piercing through the stone lions. However, he soon noticed that Dumbledore had disappeared.
"Once again, this seems oddly familiar," Kaien thought, closing his eyes to sense his reiatsu. He quickly located Dumbledore, still wrapped in a powerful Disillusionment Charm.
"Gotcha." Kaien pointed his wand at the empty space where Dumbledore stood.
"Globus Igneus [Fireball]!" A massive fireball shot from Kaien's wand toward Dumbledore's invisible form.
"He caught on fast," Dumbledore thought as he dropped the Disillusionment Charm and fired his own fireballs at Kaien. The two attacks collided with a burst of flames and smoke.
"Ventus Forum [Wind Strike]!" Dumbledore cast. A strong gust of wind shot out of the smoke, aiming for Kaien.
"Fulgur Percutiens! [Lightning Strike]!" Kaien shouted. A bolt of lightning shot from his wand, slicing through the wind and striking toward Dumbledore.
"Murum Petram [Rock Wall]!" Dumbledore conjured a stone wall in a desperate attempt to block the lightning. The bolt struck the wall, creating an explosion of dust and debris. When the smoke cleared, Dumbledore stood, slightly singed, but unharmed, his robes covered in dirt and ashes.
"I've had enough of these games!" Dumbledore thought. After reading Kaien's file the previous night, Dumbledore had expected an easy victory. But nothing had prepared him for this.
With a wave of his wand, Dumbledore sent the burnt rock and dust swirling around him, forming a sea of flames.
"Stagnum ignis [Sea of Fire]!" he cast. The fiery wave rushed toward Kaien, crashing against the dueling barrier.
"That should have done it. He shouldn't have been able to dodge that," Dumbledore thought, his confidence high. He didn't expect anyone to avoid his attack. However, when the flames cleared, Kaien disappeared. Unbeknownst to Dumbledore, Kaien stood behind him, his wand already aimed.
"Expelliarmus," Kaien said with a calm voice.
"NO!" Dumbledore shouted as his wand flew out of his hand. He tried to summon it back, but it was too late. The Elder Wand landed in Kaien's outstretched hand.
"Stop!" Professor Flitwick shouted. "The duel is over. I repeat, the duel is over." The dueling barrier lowered as Professor Flitwick, floating on a pedestal, arrived next to Kaien. "The winner of this duel is Kaien Shiba," he declared, attempting to lift Kaien's arm in victory.
Kaien hesitated before raising his hand. The students, still in shock, stared at the unexpected outcome. Artoria rolled her eyes and began to clap. Harry, Hermione, and Luna quickly followed, and soon the entire hall erupted in applause.
Kaien subtly sent the real Elder Wand to his mindscape and replaced it with a fake one. Dumbledore stood frozen, shocked by what had just happened.
"I must get it back. He has no idea what he's done," Dumbledore thought as he walked toward Kaien, using Occlumency to calm his thoughts.
"Congratulations," Dumbledore said, extending his hand.
"Thank you," Kaien replied, shaking his hand.
"My wand, please."
"Sure," Kaien said, handing the wand back, the handle facing Dumbledore. He casually grabbed it, expecting to feel the surge of power he had felt when he won the wand from Gellert Grindelwald. But he felt nothing. No rush, no emotion.
He looked up at Kaien, who was already walking away.
Dumbledore's mind raced. "Maybe the wand doesn't acknowledge me as its master because I didn't win its allegiance. Kaien must have properly claimed it when he disarmed me." He slipped the wand into his dust-covered robes. "I'll need to speak with Ollivander about this when he arrives for the Weighting of the Wands."
As Dumbledore joined the celebration, Kaien thought to himself "I guess he didn't realize the switch."
Kaien walked out of the Great Hall, followed by his students. They didn't speak until they returned to their quarters.
"Everyone, sit down in the living room," Kaien said as he went to his bedroom to change out of his clothes. One of the house elves brought snacks and drinks for everyone. Kaien returned dressed in casual attire. "I want each of you to tell me your opinion of the duel, starting with the oldest/most experienced duelist," Kaien glanced at Victor, "to the youngest/inexperienced duelist." He gave a brief look at Harry and Hermione.
"I guess I'll go first," Victor said. "Both you and Professor Dumbledore performed similarly to my practice duel with you." Fleur nodded in agreement.
"Indeed," Kaien replied. "In a duel, knowing your enemy's capabilities is essential, but you must also be aware that the enemy knows this about you."
Victor sat down as Fleur stood up next.
"Both of you used a variety of spells—conjuring, transfiguration, and elemental magic," Fleur said.
"Indeed," Kaien agreed. "Before he became Headmaster, he was the Transfiguration professor, so he must have mastery over Transfiguration. What's less known is his proficiency with elemental magic." Kaien added, "From what we saw during the Halloween Feast, he can control fire." The students thought back to the incident when Dumbledore extinguished and reignited the candles with a flick of his wrist.
"There are also old newspaper articles about his duels with Grindelwald and Voldemort," Kaien continued. The mention of Voldemort made Fred, George, and Hermione flinch. Kaien rolled his eyes and continued. "During those duels, Dumbledore used a lot of Transfiguration magic, but also his expertise in Defense Against the Dark Arts and his fire elemental spells."
Fleur sat down, and Fred stood up.
"What I noticed," Fred began, "was that you managed to use Professor Dumbledore's arrogance to your advantage."
The students stared at Fred in shock, with Kaien clapping his hands.
"Good job, Fred," Kaien complimented. "Keep in mind, the key to winning a duel or surviving a fight is to outsmart your opponent. Look back at the duel—did you notice any signs of Dumbledore's arrogance?" Hermione quickly raised her hand. Kaien waved at her.
"When he transfigured your boulder," Hermione answered.
"Correct," Kaien said. "Explain how."
"When you conjure something, you are using your own magic to transfigure the air around you into the object in question. For Professor Dumbledore to do what he did, he needed to overpower the magic you used to conjure it and then use more of his magic to transfigure it into whatever he wanted."
"Once again correct," Kaien said. He turned to Victor. "In our practice duel, what was your response to the boulders I summoned?"
"I destroyed them," Victor answered.
"You did," Kaien said. "Now then, Dumbledore could have easily done what Victor did, but he didn't. Why didn't he?" Fleur raised her hand. Kaien nodded to her.
"Intimidation," she said. Kaien motioned for her to continue. "Professor Dumbledore did that to scare you, to show you that he is much more powerful than you are."
"Correct," Kaien said. "In a normal case, this would be an effective action to intimidate your opponent. But there is a way this can also become your downfall."
"If you purposely underpower it," George said with sudden realization.
"Correct. I purposely underpowered that spell, making Professor Dumbledore believe I wasn't that strong," Kaien said.
"What about when Professor Dumbledore used that fire wave spell?" Harry asked.
"Also a good point," Kaien said. "The Stagnum ignis spell is dangerous because it can harm everyone in the nearby area. He was aware that the dueling field would protect the students from the attack. In a normal duel, this wouldn't be an effective spell because of how much magical energy it consumes and would give the opponent at least second-degree burns. When he used the spell, he expected me to lose against it."
"But you didn't," Hermione pointed out.
"Exactly. Because Dumbledore believed that I was magically weaker than him. He thought the spell would be too powerful for me to handle. This arrogance caused him to believe he won, and as a result, he calmed down."
"And you used that opening as a chance to take him down," George said.
"Correct," Kaien said. Everyone sat there, understanding the reasoning behind Kaien's actions. "Now then, are all of you ready to try out your strategies to get past a dragon?" Victor, Fleur, and Harry nodded. Fred shook his head. Kaien turned to Fred.
"The items haven't settled yet. They need more time," Fred answered.
"I see…" Kaien said, remembering their Plan A to get past the dragon. "What about your other plans in case the first one fails?"
"We do have two other plans, but we're not sure they will work."
"Good," Kaien said. "Let's head to the training corridor." They all nodded and walked upstairs.
They soon arrived at the training corridor, which led back to Kaien's quarters. "Relax here. Allow me to explain what's going to happen now," Kaien said. They all sat around him, noticing a door in front of them. "One by one, each of you will enter the door behind me, and you must get past the dragon by using your strategy," Kaien said. They nodded. Kaien pulled out a small bag and shook it. The sound of keys rattling echoed from the bag. "Each of you will reach inside the bag and pull out a key with a number on it, depicting the order." They all nodded. Fleur reached in and pulled out a key with the number three. Fred was next, pulling out the number four. Victor reached in and pulled out the number two. Harry sighed as he pulled out the number one.
"With the order decided, I believe we can get this exercise started," Kaien said. Harry nodded and stood up. Hermione ran to his side and gave him a quick hug. Kaien opened the door for Harry to enter. The door closed behind him.
Harry walked in and immediately noticed a large dragon with white scales and blue eyes.
"What type of dragon is that?" Harry thought.
"$ When will I get out of this confined room? $" the dragon roared in rage. Harry used his arm to block the blast of wind from the dragon's roar. He lowered his arm when the roar subsided.
"$ Um… Hello, Dragon. $" Harry said in Parseltongue. The dragon glared down at Harry.
"$ Hm… A two-legger that speaks the tongue of the land slithers. What do you want? $" the dragon asked.
"$ Hi. I was wondering if I could walk past you. $" Harry asked. The dragon glared at him.
"$ WHY! Are you planning to steal from my nest? $" the dragon roared.
"$ No! $" Harry shouted. "$ I just need to walk behind you. I promise I'm not going to steal or touch your nest. $" The dragon glared at him. Harry stood there, trying to act confident.
"$ Fine. $" The dragon growled and moved to the side, allowing Harry passage. Harry quickly ran straight, making sure to avoid the dragon's nest. Soon enough, Harry reached the end.
"Good job," Kaien said as Harry pushed the door open. Harry entered the room to be greeted by a hug from Hermione. He was alone with Kaien and Hermione. "Now then, how did you think you did in the challenge?" Kaien asked.
"I believe I did well," Harry said. Kaien nodded.
"Indeed. Your plan to use Parseltongue to talk with the dragon is probably the smartest and simplest way to get past the dragon," Kaien said. "Now then, the door beside me will take you back to your fellow champions. But be warned, you are under a temporary tongue-tied curse, preventing you from telling your fellow competitors what they are about to face," Kaien explained.
"Oh," Harry said. They walked out of the room and found their fellow competitors waiting for their turn.
"Victor, I believe it's your turn to enter," Kaien said. Victor stood up and walked to the closed door, inserting his key into the lock. The door opened, and they entered.
Victor walked in and immediately noticed the large dragon with white scales and blue eyes.
"What kind of dragon is this? I've never read about a dragon with this kind of description," Victor thought, just as the dragon let out a mighty roar. He blocked the wind with his arm. As soon as the roar subsided, he pointed his wand at the dragon.
"Rosea oculus [Pink-eye]!" he cast. The dragon waved its arms, blocking the curse. It blasted a stream of white flames at Victor. Victor quickly rolled to the side and hid behind a stone pillar. He pointed his wand again.
"Rosea oculus [Pink-eye," he cast again. The dragon either moved its head or blocked the attacks with its arm. Annoyed, Victor kept casting the curse. The dragon swung its tail at the pillar Victor was hiding behind. He jumped to the side just as the dragon's tail destroyed the stone pillar.
"I need to get away," Victor thought, running away. He continued casting the Conjunctivitis curse at the dragon. The dragon shot a stream of white fire at him.
"Depulso!" Victor yelled as he pointed his wand behind him. The blast of magic propelled him forward, dodging the white fire. Victor crashed to the floor and looked up to see a door. The dragon roared again and charged toward him. Victor stood up and ran for the door, grabbing the handle and quickly exiting. He slammed the door behind him and slid down, seeing Kaien standing there.
"What... what was that dragon?" Victor asked.
"I'll explain about her in a little bit," Kaien replied. "Anyways, how did you think you did?"
"It was horrible. I didn't hit the dragon with the curse at all."
"What did you expect, the dragon allowing you to hit her?" Kaien said. Victor shook his head. "Anyways, good job for improvising when your Plan A failed." Kaien extended his hand to Victor, who grabbed it. Kaien pulled him up. "Now then, the door beside me will take you back to your fellow champions. But be warned, you are under a temporary tongue-tied curse, preventing you from telling your fellow competitors what they are about to face," Kaien explained. Victor nodded as they returned to the others.
"Fleur looks like it's your turn," Kaien said as he stood up.
"It's my turn to show Kaien what I can do," Fleur thought as she stood.
"Good luck," Victor said.
"Thanks," Fleur replied as she followed Kaien. She inserted her key into the door and opened it.
She entered and immediately noticed a large dragon with white scales and blue eyes. The dragon let out a mighty roar, sending blasts of wind toward her. Fleur quickly jumped behind a stone pillar.
"That's not a normal dragon," Fleur thought as she couldn't recall reading about a dragon with that description. She pointed her wand at herself.
"Corium Inaderet [Hide in plain sight, Tollere Oder [Remove smell, Silencio." Fleur cast. She turned invisible, removed her natural smell, and silenced her footsteps. She quickly began to move, staying at the edge of the room. The dragon continued to roar and stomp around, trying to find its hiding prey. The dragon used its tail to destroy some of the stone pillars. Fleur pointed her wand at the destroyed rubble.
"Saxa animalibus." The stone rubble transformed into bulls.
"Charge towards the dragon," Fleur ordered. The bulls obeyed her will. The bulls charged toward the dragon. Fleur used the distraction to her advantage.
"Sommeil Profond [Deep Sleep]." She began to cast repeatedly. The dragon glanced at the charging bulls and fired a blast of white fire at them. The bulls didn't stand a chance against the dragon's fire, and they burned away.
"The spell didn't work?" Fleur thought as the dragon let out a victorious roar. She glanced back at the charred remains of her transfigured bulls. "This isn't going to work," she thought. "Plan B then." She quickly ran toward the door. The dragon raised its head and let out an even louder roar, shaking the room. Fleur tried to stay standing, but she quickly lost her balance and fell. As she stood, the dragon charged toward her. Her eyes widened in shock when she realized her spells had worn off. She began to run. The dragon locked onto her, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake it off. Fleur ran behind stone pillars, but the dragon barreled through them. Soon, she spotted the end of the room. She sprinted toward the door, yanked it open, and ran inside. She slammed the door behind her and leaned against it, exhausted, both magically and physically.
"What… what is that dragon? I've never read anything about a dragon like that," she said, trying to regain her strength.
"I'll explain later," Kaien replied. Fleur was too tired to argue. "Anyways, why did you think your Plan A failed?" Kaien asked.
"Was it because of the bulls?" Fleur guessed.
"What about the bulls?" Kaien replied.
"I ordered the bulls to charge toward the dragon, which made the dragon stay on guard," Fleur realized.
"Exactly. With the dragon on guard, it would have been much harder to put it to sleep," Kaien said.
"How could I forget a simple thing like that?" Fleur thought, remembering a few paragraphs about a dragon's behavior from her readings.
"Are you ready to return to the other champions?" Kaien asked.
Fleur nodded, and Kaien extended his hand to her. She grabbed it as he helped her back to the first room. He assisted her in sitting on the couch. Kaien turned to Fred.
"You're the last one. Are you ready?"
"Would it help if I said no?" Fred replied, standing up. Kaien didn't respond but walked Fred to the door. Fred inserted his key into the door and opened it.
He entered and immediately noticed a large dragon with white scales and blue eyes.
"What type of dragon is that?" Fred thought as the dragon greeted him with a loud roar. Fred quickly jumped behind a nearby stone pillar. He immediately cast several charms on himself.
"Corium Inaderet. Tollere Oder. Silencio," Fred cast. The dragon swung its tail and destroyed a nearby row of stone pillars.
"According to Charlie, many dragons like to eat sheep or cows," Fred remembered as he pointed his wand at the nearby rubble. "Saxa animalibus." The nearby stones turned into sheep and cows. The dragon turned to the animals and began to eat them. Fred used this distraction to move to the other side of the room, transfiguring more sheep and cows as he went to continue distracting the dragon. Soon, the dragon had enough food and let out a loud burp, followed by a blast of flames. Fred, who had managed to avoid detection, was suddenly hit by the surprise fire attack.
"GAH!" He screamed in pain. Fred pointed his wand at himself. "Episkey." The burns healed quickly, but Fred glanced back to see the dragon glaring at him.
"Shit!" Fred thought as he stood up and began to run. The dragon let out a mighty roar and charged after him. Fred raced toward the door, adrenaline pumping through his body. He reached the door, opened it, and entered just before the dragon could reach him.
George ran to his brother.
"Fred, are you okay?" George asked.
"George, let me see him," Kaien said. George stepped aside. Kaien pointed his wand at Fred and began to heal the burns.
"Thank you," Fred said, sitting on the couch. George quickly followed behind him. Kaien turned to them.
"I assume this was your Plan B?" Kaien asked, recalling their Plan A.
"It was," Fred said. "When Charlie was home, he would tell us stories about his interactions with dragons at the Romanian Dragon Reserves."
"One of those stories was about a time they had to perform a medical evaluation on a violent dragon. To do this, they used a combination of drugged food and gorging to make the dragon fall asleep, allowing them to perform the evaluation safely," George said.
"But… what did you learn now?" Kaien asked.
"That the dragon could act purely on instinct or reflex," Fred said.
"Indeed," Kaien replied. "I believe both of you heard Professor Moody's lessons on constant vigilance," Kaien said. Fred and George nodded, remembering their classes with Professor Moody.
"Anyway, are you ready to meet with the other champions?" Kaien asked. Fred and George nodded. They walked out of the chamber to find the other champions sitting there. Fred and George quickly sat back on the couch. Kaien snapped his fingers.
"All right then. The tongue curse has been removed," Kaien said.
"What was that dragon?" the champions asked. Kaien smiled.
"I'll let each of you guess the dragon," Kaien said.
"Is it an illusion?" Harry guessed.
"Nope," Kaien replied.
"Is it something you transfigured?" Victor guessed.
"No," Kaien said, glancing at Fleur.
"Is it Artoria's animagus form?" she guessed. The other champions looked around and noticed that Artoria wasn't there.
"Close, but nope," Kaien said, glancing at Fred.
"Is it a real dragon?" Fred asked.
"Correct," Kaien replied.
"WHAT!" they all yelled in unison.
"Kisara, if you please," Kaien said. Suddenly, the entire wall behind them was destroyed as Kisara, in her dragon form, charged in. Everyone pointed their wands at the dragon. Kaien glanced at Kisara.
"Was that necessary?"
"No, but it was fun," she replied. Everyone froze, shocked to hear the dragon speak English.
"Could you turn into your human form?" Kaien asked.
"Fine," Kisara said. She began to glow white and, as she shrank, transformed into her human form. Kaien turned to his stunned students.
"This is Kisara, my dragon familiar, who can also take on a form similar to a human."
"Hello, everyone," Kisara greeted. The champions stood there, still in shock at the sight of this extraordinary being.
"Um… Kisara?" Fred began.
"Were you a dragon first or a human first?" George finished.
"I was a dragon first, but due to a unique situation with the familiar bond, I gained this form," she explained.
"I see…"
"This would explain the need for Occlumency and the oaths," Hermione said, realizing the implications.
"Indeed," Kaien said. "None of your books mention a dragon that can turn into a human. If word got out about Kisara's existence, people would try to capture her to figure out how it's possible."
"Not that they'd succeed," Kaien thought. The respect his students had for him grew as they grasped the magnitude of the secret he had entrusted them with.
"Anyways…" Kaien said, regaining their attention.
"Many of you may not have realized it, but I was already aware of your Plan A," Kisara admitted.
"What!?" the champions shouted in disbelief.
"Now then, why did I have you face Kisara?" Kaien asked.
"Because you wanted us to improvise in case our original plan failed," Fred answered.
"Exactly," Kisara confirmed.
"Dragons, like any other animals, are completely unpredictable," Kaien said. "It's best to have multiple plans in case the first one fails." The champions nodded in agreement.
"From now until dinner, I want you to focus on creating backup plans in case your initial ones don't work," Kaien instructed.
"I will be available to help with ideas for new plans or provide feedback on your old ones," Kisara added.
"I'll ward off a portion of the room for each of you, so you can have peace and privacy while you work on your plans," Kaien said. "If you need Kisara's help, you'll have to leave your bubble and wait for her to join you." The champions nodded and quickly got to work, brainstorming new strategies for the first task.