Wizard and Deat Reaper: Hogwarts
Chapter 22's

Harry and the Weasleys waited impatiently at Grimmauld Place number 12. Albus Dumbledore sent them to the Black family's house which was closer to St. Mungo than The Burrow, thus, they would have had easier access to get there faster. No one spoke as long as they waited; Fred and George had forced Sirius to allow them to go to St. Mungo, which Harry's guardian strictly forbade because it would be too suspicious for outsiders. It was Ginny who was silent and sitting on one of the old armchairs in the kitchen that stopped the quarrel. And now their uneasiness is growing with each passing second, wondering when Mrs Weasley will come.

Harry also had another panic filling his mind. What happened to Toushiro? Why did Hagrid find him in the woods? And the weapon Hagrid said was found with him. Is it true that the white-haired little fellow was injured in his duty, as was Mr Weasley?

Harry was gripped by guilt and fear. Two people in one night were injured for doing covert work to protect her.

Five o'clock past ten in the morning according to Ron's watch, they all jumped in shock when the kitchen door opened. Mrs Weasley walked in with an unusually pale face, but she smiled weakly upon seeing them. Soon Harry and the Weaasleys approached him.

"He will heal," said Mrs Weasley weary, while George and Ginny poured into his arms; Fred was stunned in his chair with a face in his hand and Ron let out a strange, trembling laugh. "He's sleeping now and we can see him together later. Bill's looking after her; she's on leave this morning."

And since the sun had risen in the eastern horizon, Sirius acted wisely to prepare breakfast for them. Harry hurriedly helped Sirius, not wanting to be questioned by Mrs Weasley about his dream. However, the Weasley sisters mother hugged him, thanking him for Harry's vision and his actions to go straight to the Principal, Mr. Weasley was able to be saved.

After breakfast and a short nap; Harry made himself sleepless by leaning on the edge of his hard, cold bed, afraid that if he slept he would attack anyone (the dream he became a snake and attacked Mr. Weasley was affecting him so badly), they prepared to visit Mr. Weasley at St. Mungo. The trip to London was fun. A thick Christmas atmosphere was felt along the crowded street. Who would have thought that in the middle of where the Muggles walked to and fro to shop in the shopping center there was a magic place that dealt with magic diseases and injuries.

They met Mr. Weasley at the dreary Dai Llewellyn Ward in St. Mungo. Harry was relieved to see the Weasley children's father was not as bad as he had seen in his dreams. He still looked pale, yet he excitedly welcomed them all.

Harry's happiness was a little disturbed. As he and Weasley's children waited outside while some of the Order members escorting them visited Mr. Weasley, they stole Harry's frightening hearing. It was frightening that Lord Voldemort might have possessed him.

On the way home, Harry did not speak to anyone, prompting Mrs Weasey to question her anxiously.

"Are you sure it's okay, son?" the question was anxious, when they were close to Grimmauld Place number 12. "You're so pale.. Did you sleep this morning? Maybe you can go back to sleep if you don't feel well until dinner?"

Harry nodded. He was happy to be given a reason to stay away from others.

The next day everyone passed to put up Christmas decorations. Sirius happily led this decoration action, maybe so happy because he had a friend on Christmas vacation after a long time confined in this cramped house alone. Only Harry, who did not participate in the enthusiasm of Christmas, still felt miserable because of the conversation-stealing-heard yesterday. He chose to shut himself up in Buckbeak's room, the Hippogriff, feeding him a dead rat. He was shocked when someone banged on the door hard.

"I know you're inside" said Hermione. "Please dong, come out, I want to talk to you!"

"Why are you here?" harr asked in surprise, opening the door for the girl. "I thought you were skiing with your parents?"

"I don't really like skiing, but don't tell Ron" Hermione added. His face was cold pink and there was snow in his hair. He explained that he was at Grimmauld Place after 'tricking' his parents if the children at Hogwarts lived in the castle to study.

"I came on the Knight Bus" the story was cheerful, bringing Harry down into the kitchen. "I heard from Dumbledore about Ron's father, but I had to wait until the school year was officially closed before leaving. Umbridge was furious that you disappeared in front of her nose, but Dumbledore gave you permission to leave and she couldn't do anything…"

"What about Toushiro?" ask Harry.

"Ah, that.." Hermione looked rather grim. "Dumbledore didn't want to tell him what was going on, and Madam Pomfrey stopped me and Neville from seeing him. But Ichigo came here, we can ask him directly."

Sure enough, when Hermione opened the kitchen door, her gaze immediately caught a bright orange hair that was brighter than the Weasley children. The kitchen was also rather full; Mrs Weasley and her children (minus Bill, Charlie, and Percy, of course), Sirius, Lupin, and Mad Eye Moody were there. Seemed to be talking to Ichigo. The young man had clearly just arrived. His skin was a little pale in the cold, and there was snow in his fabulous hair. He wears a cool brown-brick army jacket and the same dark gray scarf as his trousers. His black boots were wet, but with a light swing of his black magic wand, the snow that soaked his clothes disappeared instantly.

"Yo, Harry" he said cheerfully, as he watched Harry and Hermione enter the kitchen. "It's cold, huh? How are you?"

Harry only answered her with a light nod. If observed, Ichigo's face looks tired and the pain on his forehead is still the same depth.

"So," asked Harry after sitting down, "why are you here? Not that…"

"The mission remains mission," Ichigo said kalem. "Our contract also looks after you in addition to keeping Hogwarts."

Harry felt worse hearing that. He is not a child to be looked after! "But Toushiro…"

"Well, we're just getting there" Fred said curiously. "What's the matter exactly? I see Hagrid hastily searching for Urahara-sensei…"

"The Arrancar attack," Ichigo said seriously, startling them all. "After the LD meeting, Toushiro and I felt a sense of presence, but we can't say, can we? Because it was only Toushiro who went to handle it, while I took you to the Gryffindor Tower and waited. But he fought for hours and didn't come back. His reiatsu was also weakened, so I went out to see him and, well. He almost died."

"W-what happened to him?" ask Mrs Weasley in horror. "terribly injured?"

"Actually no," Ichigo said, sighing. "He's experienced worse than just being slashed so. But it turns out that Arrancar was a poison user; I never thought he could be that reckless as he didn't realize it. Fortunately there was Urahara, he could make his antidote quickly. For a while he couldn't get out of the hospital; he was so upset."

"Eh? Is he okay?" ask Ginny.

"yeah. Can't walk yet, anyway; the poison attacks the nervous system because. But if he can do this, and say," Ichigo frowned deeply, narrowed his eyes, then lowered his voice, imitating Toushiro, I'm fine and get me out of this damned place!' that means he'll be cured soon."

Ginny giggled weakly.

"I didn't know Urahara could heal and concoct an antidote... Why not Snape?" ask Lupin.

"Well, Arrancar's poison is different, witches don't know what it's made of yet, do they?" ichigo said, taking off his scarf. "And actually, Urahara-san is not a real teacher, remember? He's a former 12th Division Commander, Research and Technology Division. He's a scientist, one of the most genius shinigami ever," Ichigo snorted exasperatedly at having to acknowledge his mentor's abilities. "There's nothing he doesn't know, just his strange behavior. Fortunately he also participated in the mission this time, Toushiro's life was helped again because of his discovery, although the previous one was a danger as well anyway." said Ichigo, whose last sentence was more aimed at himself.

"Huh? The one before?" ask Sirius.

"Yeah, he took the risk by transferring hollow abilities on some commanders who lost his bankai in battle, and Toushiro was one of them…"

"Hollow?" ask Hermione horrified. "Don't you say it's your enemy? A monstrous monster with a strange white mask?"

"Yep."

"Shinigami with hollow power?" reset Lupin. "How can it…"

"Well, don't ask me, I can't explain it well. Urahara was the first person to know about this phenomenon, perhaps he could explain. Clearly, fortunately the ability was only temporary, so Toushiro and three other commanders 'clean' of the hollow infection after the duration of the strange drug ran out."

"And that's why when you first came here your Supreme Commander said Toushiro was wounded." said Mrs Weasley.

"Ah, yeah. But now those wounds have healed." Ichigo scratched the back of his head. "The last attack of his enemy in the war was quite good as well, and he was stubborn, pushing himself past his limits, unwilling to give up on protecting Hi-aha! Let's just let go of this messy topic!" many were astonished to see Ichigo suddenly divert the conversation. ""How's Mr. Weasley doing? I'm not with anything about him."

"In the meantime Ichigo," interrupted Lupin, "I want to ask.... With respect to Toushiro's injury, what alibi did you make for him? I haven't heard anything from Dumbledore about this."

"The story," Ichigo said, seems a bit amused now, "Toushiro intends to ask Urahara about next semester's lessons and his chances of returning home to Japan for the Christmas holiday. But, on the way, he is ambushed by an unknown alien creature who drags him into the Forbidden Forest. The creature attacked him with poison before leaving him dying in the Forest. Toushiro could not see it clearly because he was attacked from behind, and inside the Forest was too dark to see anything. Nice story, eh?"

The witches were stunned to hear the fake alibi. Especially, what about the relaxation Ichigo told them.

"Creepy" Fred commented.

"But it's brilliant!" added George, who then exchanged a grin with his twin brother.

"Yeah, even Umbridge believes in that story," Ichigo cheered.

"What's he saying?" ron was interested.

"'The ministry will make sure attacks like this don't happen again. We will do further investigation to solve it, and capture the creature.bla, bla, bla, bla," Ichigo replicates, mimicking the face of the Umbridge toad that he failed to do; the shape of Ichigo's face is tapered, and the shape of Ichigo's face is not, not a strange round like it. "Finishing what, Toushiro has already cleared up the creature. If you want to go, go to hell. Ha!"

"Eh?" the witches are dumbfounded.

"Detect?" reset Lupin.

"Yes." Yeah." Ichigo looked back at the shocked faces of the witches. It is not clear, if the task of shinigami is to clean up, the rough language of purifying hollow, whether in any form? He was sure that Toushiro and himself had already explained this to them. But he then realized, it was not anyone's fault that they were fooled by Toushiro's appearance. "Then, what's the story?"

"Well," said Mrs Weasley, not wanting to discuss how little Toushiro Hitsugaya fought the monster somehow, "They managed to save Arthur. Stay in St Mungo. We'll see him again for Christmas, you can come, Ichigo. Arthur must be happy to see you again."

"Sure, sure," Ichigo said lightly. He liked the Weasley children's father enough, after all. The people are warm and friendly. Even if you talk about the life of Ichigo who falls into the category of Muggle life will generate excessive enthusiasm for Arthur Weasley. Ichigo believes he sees a glowing glow that reminds him of his father's eccentricity when it comes to punching switches, electricity, dynamos, and satellite systems. Ichigo really wished Mr. Weasley had not asked about how to make a game. He himself would rather play it than know how to make it.

"Is your family in Japan not concerned about you not coming home for Christmas?" ask Mrs Weasley for attention.

Ichigo smiled half-heartedly. "No problem really. They understand. Besides, since I've been a substitute shinigami, to be honest, I've rarely been home; no one knows when the hollows showed up, right?"

The adult witches exchanged meaningful glances. They realize that Ichigo is only seventeen years old. As young as it is – is even younger than the spirit age of Toushiro – he has had such a great responsibility.

"You make me wonder, Ichigo," Sirius said solemnly. "You're young, and I'm sure there aren't as many people at your age who would want to get involved in spirit matters as you do. Doesn't that incriminate you? Well, you know, teenagers usually want the freedom to hang out with their peers.." Sirius remembered a little how his youth was spent being a troublemaker with James Potter.

Ichigo, strangely enough, chuckled. "I'm still human, really," he said lightly. "Normal teenagers too. Who says because I'm a substitute shinigami I can't have a little fun, eh? I can still study in class.. still can also go together with my friends.. play games.. read manga.. part-time work.. Still can also fight with other school children and…"

"Fight with other schoolchildren?" repeat Mrs Weasley shocked.

Ichigo immediately scratched the back of his head, nervous. "Hehehe.. I'm not too straight either…"

"Great!" fred and George together.

"Then" said Fred, his eyes glittering ignorantly.

"… does it also include…"

"… dating a girl?"

Ichigo chokes on his new tea. Sirius laughed at Ichigo's startled expression, while the others held their laughter back with curious smiles; moody shook his head. Harry himself was curious. Ichigo is older than her. After all, the orange hair had a good looking, with a tall body and athletic body supported by a thin face but firm and handsome typical of East Asia, he said, more than enough capital to attract the attention of girls. And if he has experience approaching girls who knows Harry can ask – even though he knows this would be ridiculous – tips to approach Cho Chang.

"What kind of question is that?" ichigo Sedak.

"Oh, come on," grinned George.

"It's none of your business!" ichigo Gerrick.

"I heard that Japanese girls are pretty, when there's nothing you're attracted to?" added Sirius, grin.

"I told you it- eh?"

Ichigo's words came to a sudden halt. They were all silent, able to hear the sound of vibrations coming from Ichigo's jacket pocket. The orange hair pulled out his black phone, whose screen was on and flashing, a sign of a call.

"Who?" ask Hermione. They see the apparent, though faint, fatigue on Ichigo's face vanishing instantly. Cheerfully he stood up.

"My sister. I'll take the call upstairs."

Ichigo leaves the kitchen. His somewhat irritated voice of being seduced by the twins was replaced by a much more friendly tone, disappearing as soon as he closed the door.

"He's more mature than he looks" Lupin commented.

"I wonder who the girl that made him say it's none of our business" Sirius said. "Is that Rukia who was talked about yesterday? Which brother came here?"

"It seems so," said George.

"He always avoids being mocked. There must be something…"

"Already, Fred, George," rebuked Mrs Weasley. "It's not good to interfere in people's personal affairs. Now, I need your hands to prepare dinner."

Harry, though somewhat reluctant to be in this crowd inevitably had to help Mrs Weasley as well. He avoids talking to Ron, but Hermione repeatedly makes him and Ron engage in conversation.

After dinner, everything was better. The Golden Trio plus Ginny have been discussing the possibility of Harry being possessed by Voldemort among conversations at a crowded dinner. Because Ginny is the only person Harry knows who has been possessed by Voldemort through a diary, Harry understands because he did not experience it. He still remembered what he was doing, and he did not feel that he had empty periods without realizing it. He still did not understand why he could get the terrible vision, but for now, he was relieved not to be confused to know that he was not possessed.

The days leading up to Christmas are now filled with merriment. Sirius is a kind and friendly host, making anyone at Grimmauld Place number 12 feel the same Christmas happiness, even more, as if they were at Hogwarts. He managed to make his family home leave most of his gloomy impression. A series of holly and gold and silver ribbons decorate the house. Glittering magic snow mounds piled up on the thin old carpet of the living room. The huge Christmas tree that Mundungus Fletcher got out of nowhere has been beautifully decorated, complete with real fairies flying around happily. Even the fairy headdresses on the walls were decorated; they all wore hats and had Santa Claus beards.

Ichigo's Christmas Day starts nine hours faster due to the time difference between England and Japan. He did not complain, of course, because he got a phone call that woke him up suddenly in the room he lived in alone; last summer he was in his place with Toushiro, you see. Even though he could not celebrate together as usual, he was quite amused to hear the congratulations from Yuzu and Karin, even his strange father. Afterwards, he received greetings from Orihime, Chad, Uryuu, Tatsuki, Keigo, and Mizuiro.

He was rather surprised to see a pile of presents at the foot of his bed when he woke up at six in the morning. It turned out that members of the Order and some of his Hogwarts friends were giving gifts for him. He got Hermione's Practical Use of Curses and Spells, Harry's set of magic checkers, and Ron's Chocolate Frogs and Candy of All Flavors. Mr and Mrs Weasley presented her with a hand-knitted maroon sweater and a delicious meat pie. Lupin and Sirius gave him a book as well, about Defense Against Black Magic. He was surprised to get a shipment from Ukitake, which contained an expensive dark blue kimono. As if Ukitake was a pure Japanese, would not bother with the culture, beliefs, and celebrations of other nations. Apparently, not so.

After that, he was ready to go down, wearing a new sweater that turned out to fit perfectly on his body. He met the others in the kitchen, wishing each other a merry Christmas.

"Thank you for the sweater, Mrs Weasley," Ichigo said sincerely. "It's so good."

"It's okay, dear, it's okay," said Mrs Weasley fondly.

After Christmas lunch, they – minus Sirius, of course – prepare to visit Mr. Weasley in St. Mungo. Ichigo seems happy to be outside the Black family home. However, Harry suspected that his joy was because he was outside the territory of magic, seeing the life of ordinary humans who had been more familiar to him. In fact, he immediately pulled out his own mobile phone that could only be activated outside the magic field of Grimmauld Place number 12. When asked what Ginny did, Ichigo said that he was playing an online game.

"What's that?" ask Ron wonder.

"In-screen games that can be played over the internet," said Hermione. He sighed looking at Ron's confused look. "Eat him, Ron, read Muggle Studies every once in a while so you understand…"

"Well, to put it simply, I'm playing a game on this phone with the help of a 'muggle magic' connection'." Ichigo often uses the term Muggle magic to replace the word technology. "It's been three months that I haven't played it, it's itchy to break the record again. And read my favorite shounen manga…"

Harry and Hermione exchanged glances, while Ron looked at Ichigo in confusion. Although Harry and Hermione were most familiar with Muggle life, they did not understand much about games and manga. Harry has always been banned from touching Dudley's games and will surely be raided if he dares to look at his cousin's comic stack. While Hermione, well, she wouldn't know those things; if it was outside the magical territory of Hogwarts, her time was filled with reading books.

The road leading to St. Mungo that afternoon was deserted. There are not many pedestrians around the shopping area in London on Christmas Day. Ichigo turns off his phone as soon as he approaches an old-fashioned convenience store of red bricks that read Purge & Dowse Ltd. Not wrong again, this building is a – hospital building – camouflaged magic, given Ichigo's phone signal shrinking drastically.

Ichigo is told by Lupin that to get to St. Mungo's reception room he must walk through a glass display case where a bad mannequin in nylon green was in the old shop in front of him. And, as soon as they all arrived at the reception room, they found the place decorated with many strings of holly, Christmas trees, snow and twinkling strands of magic ice.

The magic hospital was deserted by visitors, probably because it was Christmas. They met Mr. Weasley who was sitting leaning against a pillow, looking happy to see their arrival.

"Everything okay, Arthur?" asked Mrs Weasley, after they all greeted Mr. Weasley and gave their gifts.

"Well, well," said Mr. Weasley somewhat exaggeratedly. "You, uh, haven't met the Smethwyck Healer, have you?"

"No, yet" said Mrs Weasley suspiciously. "Why?"

"It's okay," said Mr. Weasley lightly. He was clearly trying to cover something up. Damn, his wife was really persistent in finding out. They all now know that Mr. Weasley tried to use one of the Muggle methods of treatment, stitches, unbeknownst to Mrs Weasley.

The next thing Ichigo knows, he is pulled out of Mr. Weasley's ward by Ginny, just as Mrs Weasley's voice rises ominously. The Golden Trio rushed up behind him. They intend to go to the cafeteria on the fifth floor to catch up with Bill, Fred, and George who have gone first to recognize the danger sooner. They could hear Mrs Weasley shouting angrily at her husband as they walked away from the ward.

"Khas Dad," said Ginny shaking her head in amusement. "Satan…"

"Stitching is actually quite useful for healing wounds not magic" Hermione said. "But maybe there's something in the snake can disperse it. Where's the cafeteria, huh?"

Harry remembered the clues near the reception desk downstairs, then led them up to the fifth floor. Along the corridor, paintings of Healers lined up incessantly call out to them, diagnose that they all have strange diseases, and suggest even more bizarre drugs. Ron was utterly humiliated when one of the paintings, a medieval magician who chanted that he was suffering from severe spattergroit. Ichigo is furious at the painting of a wild-looking witch who accuses him of a deadly curse with symptoms of bright orange hair and a deep pain that will lead to a terrible transformation.

"IT'S A NATURAL COLOR AND BACK THERE TO YOUR OWN PAINTING, OLD HAG!" raung Ichigo wrath.

No one bothered to stop laughing at Ichigo's behavior. His pale face reddened with anger, with rich grunts and swearing the word gliding in rows along the embroidery marked INJURY DUE TO SPELLs. Perhaps Ichigo's scream was heard by a patient near the place. A man confronted them sharply from behind the window of a room. The man then disappeared, and appeared again at the open door. The man had curly blonde hair, with bright blue eyes and a big smile showing off his misshapen white teeth.

"Geez!" exclaimed Ron in shock. Hermione was also surprised to see him.

"Hello everything!" greet the man cheerfully. "You want to get my autograph, okay?"

"Huh?" Ichigo blinked. "Who is he?"

"Gilderoy Lockhart's. He's our former Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher" Harry explained. "He used to be – uh – got a wrong spell, so lost memory so…"

Ichigo looked at Lockhart with an unconvinced look. He thinks the man in front of him is not fit to be a teacher. More like a pretentious model advertising man in a magazine that offers hair care products.

Just then a motherly-faced Healer appeared from behind the door. His warm smile and the prejudice that Ichigo and the others came to visit Lockhart thwarted their initial goal of going to the cafeteria. They had to follow the Healer into the ward. The Devotee then left them to care for the other patients, while Lockhart raved obscurely about the fans while busy signing his selfies with a series of broken letters like a small child's writing. Occasionally he throws strange comments at them, including Ichigo.

"… you can't put that horrible look on everyone, Young Man," she said pretently. "Many smiles, in my experience, are simple methods that will make you famous and loved by women, and the rest of your life would be nice to sign your own cool photos for your fans and…"

Ron chuckled stifled, while Ginny giggled amusedly at the babble. Ichigo. He was preached by the Healer painting, now commented on by the self-obsessed memory-lost patient! Ichigo did not change his frown, crossing his arms in front of his chest while leaning back into the chair Ginny had occupied, as if he was challenging Lockhart if he still wanted to comment on his appearance again. But Lockhart did not see it, looking down seriously to sign another stack of photographs with a quill pen.

Their attention was shifted when the Healer who was spreading Christmas gifts to his patients called a familiar name. Ichigo and the others turned their heads, seeing Neville Longbottom at the end of the room, between the two beds that had been covered by a curtain. Beside her stood an old female magician whose appearance showed respect.

Neville seemed very surprised to find his friends there. His face instantly turned pale and looked depressed.

"Neville! Look, Lockhart is here!" ron said cheerfully. "Eh? Who are you visiting?"

"Your friends, Neville?" neville's grandmother asked kindly, looking at them all. Neville did not answer, choosing to look down at his feet with a purplish face. Neville's grandmother didn't see him, greeting them one by one.

"Ah, yes, Son. I know who you are" Grandma Neville said with a friendly smile, "Harry Potter. And you guys," he took turns to greet Ronn and Ginny. "The Weasley brothers. I know your parents, good people. And, uh, Hermione Granger?" Hermione looked a bit blushed seeing the old granny knowing herself. "Neville told me about you, you used to help her with lessons, right? And," Mrs Longbottom looked at Ichigo, who bowed politely, then greeted her. "you're one of the transfer students Neville told me about, aren't you? Orange hair, you must be Ichigo Kurosaki."

"That's right," Ichigo said politely, his pouting expression for Lockhart had already vanished.

"I'm sorry if Neville is troubling you; I heard he often gets help from you and the other kid…"

"Ah, it's nothing," Ichigo said lightly.

Mrs Longbottom smiled, glancing at her grandson. "He's a good boy. Too bad he doesn't have his father's talent." He turned his head towards the end of the room.

"What?" Ron looked at Neville in surprise. "Your father's there Neville?"

"What's this?" Mrs Longbottom said in a sharp tone, surprising them all. He looked at Neville who looked guilty. "Have you told me what happened to your parents, Neville?"

Neville's silence was a sufficient answer for the grandmother.

"It's not embarrassing!" snapped Mrs Longbottom mad. "You should be proud, Neville, proud! They don't sacrifice their health and sanity to make their only child ashamed of them!"

"I'm not ashamed" said Neville softly. All of them, except Harry, looked at Neville in surprise.

"Then the way you show it is weird!" Mrs Longbottom turned her eyes on them. "My son and his wife were tortured to the point of being psychologically disturbed by a follower of You-Know-Who."

Hemione and Ginny were suffocating quietly; ron turned his back in shock. Ichigo looked at Neville who still did not look at any of them.

"They used to be Aurors," Mrs Longbottom said again, "who were highly respected in the magic commuities. They're good people, talented, and – yes, dear Alice, what's up?"

A woman in a cream-colored nightgown moved closer to them. The woman looked skinny and tired. His eyes were large and bulging round, and his hair lost most of its black color, a dull, thin white color. Although they looked pale and sick, they could see the same round face shape as Neville. That woman is Neville Longbottom's real mother. The woman made a shabby and timid gesture towards her son, thrusting something into his thin hand that stuck out. Neville received it trembling, apparently an empty pack of Drooble's Best Blowing gum.

"That's great, dear," said Mrs Longbottom in a self-contained voice as she stroked Alice Longbottom's shoulder, who then turned to leave them while humming without rhythm. Neville clasped the empty wrap in his hand tightly, staring at his friends with stiff faces, as if waiting for them to poke at him. But they just kept quiet.

Then, Mrs Longbottom left. Neville just nodded his parting signs, then rushed after his grandmother. They saw Gryffindor's round-faced friend stuffing the bubble gum wrapper his mother had given him into his pants pocket instead of throwing it in the trash as his grandmother had ordered.

Ichigo looked at Neville's missing back behind the door. Now he knows the reason why Neville wanted to hit Draco Malfoy that day. What the blonde Slytherin said touched her, made her angry and sad, made her think of her parents who would never remember her again. Ichigo keeps a mental note in his mind; if something similar happens a second time, he will not prevent Neville from hitting the culprit. That may sound childish, but according to Ichigo, it was the way Neville stood up for his honor and his parents.