Wizard and Deat Reaper: Hogwarts
Chapter 15's

A major announcement was posted on Gryffindor's notice board on Monday morning. Harry, who had just come down with Ron, saw some of their dorm mates shrouding the notice board, whispering loudly. Just then Ichigo's tall figure burst out from the crowd, approaching Toushiro who was sitting on one of the soft sofas near the bookshelf. Obviously he told the contents of the announcement to the white hair. Harry and Ron approached the announcement first; ron read it easily because he was taller than Harry.

BY ORDER

GRAND INQUISITOR HOGWARTS

All student organizations, societies, teams, groups, and clubs have since been dissolved.

An organization, association, team, group, or club is a regular gathering of three or more students.

Permission to reshape the above can be requested to the Great Inquisitor of Hogwarts (Professor Umbridge).

No organization, association, team, group, or student club has been formed without the knowledge and consent of the Great Inquisitor.

Students found to be forming, or becoming members of, organizations, societies, teams, groups, or clubs not approved by the Supreme Inquisitor will be expelled from the school.

The above regulations are in accordance with Education Decree Number Twenty-Four.

Signed, Great Inquisitor of Hogwarts

Under the announcement was a wiggling signature and the name of Umbridge, along with a Ministry of Magic stamp that made it appear very official. Harry and Ron exchanged a glance.

"He knows" said Harry, clenching his hand. Exasperation and annoyance filled his mind.

"No way," Ron immediately.

"All possibilities remain," Toushiro's voice sounded behind them in a low voice. Both looking. The turquoise's eyes looked at the noticeboard with a twitch between his eyebrows, while Ichigo shook his head impatiently. "But Granger said he was bouncing the parchment, so if one of us had leaked the meeting, we'd know. But if you don't, it means you have to be on the lookout for the walls around you."

"We went down first" Ichigo said. "There's some letters coming for us today."

Harry and Ron waited for Hermione to descend into the Hall, discussing the unlucky announcement during the trip. Ron was really curious at the cursing effect on the parchment.

"About this," said Hermione, "in comparison, Eloise Midgeon's acne will look like cute spots. Let's go down to breakfast and see what the others say…"

"'Look at what the others said'," Ron repeated in a low voice, as they exited the painting hole. "Look-there-that-not-be-in-face is more appropriate."

The atmosphere in the Great Hall that morning seemed a little odd. The chatter and movement of the students no longer talk about Education Decree Number Twenty-Four. Ichigo and Toushiro sit opposite Fred and George, reading one of the sheets from a small stack of letters next to their breakfast plates. The two ignored the buzz of the conversation around him, engrossed in reading rows of foreign letters that Harry could not read.

"… We will continue to carry it out" Hermione said firmly. "Harry agreed too." Harry nodded. "What do you think?"

The two shinigami looked up from his letter. Toushiro nodded, then returned to his letter. Ichigo waved his hand lazily, answering calmly, "Sure, sure."

"Who's letter, anyway?" ron asked curiously, peering over Toushiro's shoulder towards the letter he couldn't read. "Well, I don't know what it is!"

"This letter is for me, not for you," said Toushiro flatly, still reading his letter.

"Let's make trouble again" Ichigo murmured, grinning as his eyes moved further and further down the letter. "Fight with the kendo boy, my God, and win! Ckck…"

"Kurosaki knows how to get in trouble" commented Toushiro, folding the last letter and taking all the letters on the table to keep in his pocket. He pulled out a plate with his sandwich.

Ichigo shrugged his shoulders. "At least he knows how to defend himself.but sometimes it makes you anxious too.." Ichigo seemed to think for a moment.

"Who's Karin?" ask Hermione.

"My sister."

"I just found out you have a sister" Neville said rather surprised.

"Two sisters, they're non-identical twins" Ichigo said, smiling. Harry caught a carefree tone in his voice.

"Beautiful?" ask Fred and George at the same time, the exact same grin that Ichigo intended to put on their faces. "What a wonder of our equation?"

Ichigo turned his back fiercely, making the Weasley twins laugh.

"The personalities of the two Kurosaki twins are opposite," said Toushiro flatly. "Sarin's tomboy, Yuzu's feminine, and they're not like you guys."

"You're really ruining the mood" Fred said, pretending to be hurt.

"I don't think Ichigo would mind because he wouldn't think too much about his sister if he had Lady Rukia who it was…"

George's speech was cut off Ichigo's frustrated growl. "There's nothing between me and Rukia!"

But Fred and George's laughter grew louder. "Even if it is good! At least there are guys who know how to attract girls!"

"Damn it," grumbled Ichigo.

"What about you, Toushiro? Is there a girl who's got nothing with you?" ask Fred nosy.

"Nothing," said Toushiro indifferently.

"Oh, yeah? I heard about you and Hinamori-san…"

Ichigo's words were cut off as soon as he saw Toushiro's expression. Ichigo cursed in his heart. Damnit damnit! He should not have mentioned Hinamori's name!

But the others were unaware of Toushiro's change in expression. They did not see the glint of sadness and hurt in the turquoise's eyes.

"Well, who's in-"

"Sorry, Toushiro, sorry," Ichigo said immediately, seemingly feeling guilty; harry realized that Toushiro was holding his fork so tightly that his fingers turned white.

The twins' grins froze; Harry and Ron exchanged puzzled looks. Toushiro dropped his fork, then without speaking, he left the Hall.

"Why him?" ask Neville worried.

Ichigo shook his head slowly, then sighed.

Toushiro could have been a commander, a shinigami who built the concept of not putting forward emotions. He also knows very well that Toushiro is not a typical person who shows his feelings like an open book. Hide, do not show, lest anyone know, is paraphrasing his cold demeanor. Opening up her emotions means opening up her weaknesses. Ichigo remembers seeing Toushiro completely out of control, as Aizen creates an illusion that makes the white hair hurt his most loved ones in Winter War some time ago. All the serenity, the self-control built up with the ice wall over his feelings collapsed, resulting in severe injuries and painful regrets to carry for his entire life. The wound grew as the Quincy army invaded Seireitei.

(Flashback)

Ichigo arrives at the Seireitei he barely recognizes during his training in the King's Realm with Zero Division. There were no Japanese-style buildings. There is no Soukyoku Hill. The center of Soul Society was replaced by a large Western-style foreign palace, like a square-roofed castle. The marble towers and buildings that should not have been in Seireitei replaced the scenery where his shinigami friends lived. Speaking of shinigami, at that time he almost had trouble recognizing their reiatsu. Their spiritual energy was not as much as he remembered.

Ichigo shunpo headed for the castle as fast as he could. Juha Bach is the one responsible for all this. He could understand the Quincy's intentions, their goals, their revenge, their anger, their disappointment. Soul Society has been brutal to their people, for the ridiculous thought that the Quincy exist as if to replace their duties as counterbalance and spirit fighters. But should bloodshed be the solution? Wouldn't that just make the Quincy as bad as the Seireitei centuries ago? And put that great disgrace on a generation that doesn't even know about the tragedy, except from the history books that only bother to be read by those who are resistant to dusty and musty old books?

And, Ichigo's lightning steps came to a sudden halt. He saw a familiar figure on top of one of the marble-colored skyscrapers. Toushiro Hitsugaya, painstakingly rested on the entire length of the building's marble fence with half of its ice wings slowly decaying. He gripped Hyourinmaru, half of which was replaced by ice, not steel. The condition of the young commander can not be said to be good – absolutely not. His face was deathly pale, his shihakusou and haori were torn here and there. A striking difference from it is something similar to gill fins in reptiles that appear on both sides of its head; the left eye is framed by a white slab of bone. And Ichigo felt that, despite Toushiro's weakened reiatsu, the familiar traces of negative energy could not be hidden. Holowfication. But, how is it possible…

"Toushiro."

With a slow movement, as if it was very difficult to do, the tiny shinigami turned his head. Ichigo immediately approached her, surprised that the close range made Toushiro look pitiful. His ice wings finally melted in the air; however the ice that complemented his zanpakutou was still there. He saw the condition of the shinigami in front of him, whose breathing was stingy, it felt like just waiting for the time he would completely collapse.

"You why?" ichigo asked, and he was sure Toushiro knew it wasn't a one-answer question.

"It's not important... for now," Toushiro said in a crumbly voice.

"It's important" Ichigo said firmly.

"Hollow mask.." Ichigo said.

"Hollowfication.. temporarily," muttered Toushiro, stupefied. A crack appeared on his hollow mask. Only Ichigo realizes the mask makes Toushiro as similar as his ice dragon. "Urahara.he made us. The commander who bankainya... stolen can. get it... get it back…"

Ichigo. But an explanation of that can wait. "I'll take you to Division 4. But where, yes, with everything changing like this." The last sentence was more about himself.

But before Ichigo prepared to leave, Toushiro held him by tightly gripping the front of Ichigo's robe. "Tu..wait...Matsu...moto…"

"Eh?"

Ichigo looked at the street under the building. Rangiku Matsumoto was lying motionless there with some severe injuries on his body.

"Bring her first…"

Toushiro's voice showed fear and anxiety. Ichigo confused not playing. As a superior, obviously Toushiro would ensure the safety of all his subordinates rather than himself. However, Ichigo, as his friend, sees Toushiro's condition as far worse than his lieutenants.

"Sure, but you were…"

"No!" reject Toushiro, "Matsumoto…"

Suddenly the ground shook, sending huge tremors to the buildings around them. Ichigo felt it, some reiatsu approaching them. And, Toushiro felt it too.

"Hina.mori…"

Ichigo can feel Toushiro's new fear. And then, everything happened so fast. Bazz-B, attacking a battered-looking Shinji Hirako. The fire-powered Quincy launches a huge burst of fire, but a new explosion prevents the fire from reaching Shinji. Toushiro gripped Hyourinmaru tighter as he looked at who made the explosion; momo Hinamori.

"Take me off, Kurosaki," said the raucous Toushiro, trying to get Ichigo's grip on her.

"No. You're not gonna fight for a"

But unexpectedly, with his unexpected strength still in his possession, Toushiro pushes Ichigo and darts away.

"Damn it!" Ichigo Overestimation. The fire-elemented Bazz-B was not a proper opponent for Toushiro, the then-vibrant Toushiro with the northern polar ice threatened by global warming! This is the same as suicide!

"Ah, Little Commander, still alive, it turns out," said Bazz-B in a derogatory tone. He grinned at the sight of Toushiro standing in front of Momo who was shocked to see him. "Even if you beat Cang Du, you're not my opponent."

"What are you doing, Hitsugaya?" shinji said, standing on his Sakanade. He was bewildered at the appearance of Toushiro who was even more severe than him; his eyes were fixed on the hollow mask that was still left on his face. Hollowfication meanwhile had reached its limit. Just getting here the Urahara experiment could save Toushiro's life. "Go from here!"

"Well, whoa, it doesn't really matter, Blonde. I also meant to finish him off, really. That arrogant boy needs to be taught a little lesson."

"Shiro-chan.." Momo said anxiously. "You…"

"What's wrong, Hinamori," said Toushiro softly, so that his broken voice was not too obvious.

"Don't be stupid, little" said Bazz-B. "I'm still pissed at you; you ruined my favorite coat. And that shitty Cang Du is interfering with my pleasure to repay you. Well, this time, I won't miss you."

Toushiro held up Hyourinmaru; shinji and Momo looked up at the broken zanpakutou.

"Oi! Hitsuga-hush!"

Bazz-B is moving fast. A huge fireball shot towards Toushiro. The 10th Division commander swung his zanpakutou; a thick ice wall was formed, but the fire quickly melted him.

"Ha! Your ice is no match for me, Little!" The triumphant grin was on Quincy's face. "Dead you. The Burner Finger 2."

Ichigo, Shinji, and Momo are glued to the spot seeing Bazz-B's attack hit Toushiro, sending him bouncing and slamming into one of the buildings; his hollow mask is shattered. Anger instantly bubbled within Ichigo seeing Toushiro motionless, his body drenched in blood.

"Shiro-chan!" momo screams, running frantically towards Toushiro. He loses fast; Bazz-B stands in his way. In horror Momo picked up Tobiume.

"Your fire is nothing compared to my fire, woman," grinned Bazz-B. he raised one finger. "You care so much about the little guy? Don't worry, you'll both die."

Ichigo sees Toushiro's eyes still open, set on Momo, implying a determination to be her protector, lamenting the paralysis that is blocking her. Ichigo immediately darted forward, intending to carry out Toushiro's wishes. However, Bazz-B really intended to finish it.

Shinji roared furiously; toushiro's turquoise eyes widened in fear. Bazz-B performs the same technique that leaves Toushiro sprawled.

Ichigo shunpo quickly, capturing Momo's body before crashing into the building. Burns damaged the left side of the girl's body; momo's left arm was badly blistered.

Bazz-B frowned at Ichigo's arrival, replaced by surprise.

"Ah, Ichigo Kurosaki's. Finally showed up."

Ichigo shunpo towards Toushiro. He caught a wounded look on Toushiro's pale face, a wound that was more painful than the one that crushed his physique. His eyes were fixed on the unconscious Momo. Ichigo understood the gaze; he had once put on the same expression, remorse for the failure to protect.

"Sorry," Ichigo said regretfully, "I couldn't go faster."

Toushiro's lips moved silently, calling out the name of the girl next to him. Her hands trembled trying to grab Momo's hand, while the turquoise's eyes glimpsed at Ichigo, before losing focus, then closing. The body and consciousness of the 10th Division Commander had succumbed to his pain.

"I finally got a lieutenant who has no talent for being a demon, and you want to eliminate him?" furious Shinji.

"You," Ichigo said, pulling the zanpakutou on his back, "will pay for it."

(End of flashback)

Ichigo sighed again.

"Ichigo?" ask Harry. "You know something ?"

"Yeah" said Ichigo grimly. "You can make fun of it after you hear Rukia's name, but not Toushiro because you know Hinamori-san's name."

"Eh?"

"Look," said Ichigo starting out, carefully. He looked at the Golden Trio, the twins Weasley and Neville were seriously listening. "Let's say, to make it easier. Hermione."

"What?"

"You're all Hermione's friends, right? You're gonna look after him, right?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"Of course."

"so. Well, let's assume you're in an event where your lives are in danger. There's an enemy attacking, and he's hurting Hermione."

The witches shuddered. They exchanged meaningful views.

"That's what happened to Toushiro" Ichigo said slowly. "There is an event that makes Hinamori-san still in a coma in the hospital. Toushiro's close friends; they have known each other since childhood, and Toushiro has always tried to take care of him. She was like.I can't forgive herself if she remembers Hinamori-san in such a state."

"How... could there be such an incident?" neville asked in surprise mixed with fear. He is unaware of the Golden Trio and the twins exchanging glances, while Ichigo looks at him with deep agitation. Neville doesn't know about shinigami. Who they really are.

"This world isn't what Dumbridge said, 'the world-where-nothing-you-wait-out-there's' or Lalala-land with the gold chest at the end of the rainbow, eh?" Ichigo looked at the ceiling of the Hall, the late autumn sky looking gloomy. "Black and white, right and wrong, good and evil, that's reality. Same with peace and war. And nothing is impossible in war, including loss."

"He won't lose, will he?" ask Neville. Ichigo looked at him once more. He realized something. Something important. He hopes Toushiro realizes it too – he is sure so even though Toushiro will not state it blatantly. The word that Neville was their friend was not a formality.

Ichigo smiled broadly. "I don't really know Hinamori-san, but I know she's a strong girl! Besides, if you live and know Toushiro longer than anyone, you'll be as stubborn as he is!"