Wizard and Deat Reaper: Hogwarts
Chapter 23

The rest of the holiday at Grimmauld Place passed by so quickly, this time in gloom. The host's mood got worse ahead of the students' departure for Hogwarts. It seems that this is because Sirius will lose those who accompany him to stay in his family home without being able to go out freely. Sirius isn't the only one in a bad mood. His guardianship's son is just as grim. Harry, for the first time did not want to return to Hogwarts, because it meant he would be in the tyranny of Dolores Umbridge again. What made him feel even more miserable was the arrival of Severus Snape in the afternoon before their departure to Hogwarts. The Potion Master told Harry that he had been appointed by the Headmaster to teach him Occlumency.

"It's a complicated branch of witchcraft, unknown to the public, but very useful for protecting the mind from outside interference," Snape said as Hary asked in trepidation what Occlumency was.

Snape had compiled the extra lesson time, which was Monday afternoon at six in the afternoon. He had prepared the excuse for this secret lesson, so that Urmridge would not suspect them. Harry really welcomed her in lethargy, hoping that Dumbledore would teach her about magic. Snape always made her feel uncomfortable.

Finally the day of departure arrived. After a hasty breakfast, they step out of the Black family home into the January winter. Lupin and Tonks will be their bodyguards this time, setting off with them on the Knight Bus, a purple-colored magic bus with three levels. Sirius Black obviously couldn't take them this time. He let them go out of his gloomy and grim home.

A ride on the Knight Bus is new to Ichigo. His entire life, only this time he felt the ride of a vehicle that repeatedly issued a loud eruption when turning around the corner, he said, being able to overtake between two cars running side by side in front of him by sliding between the two cars, or through a red light as fast as lightning. Just this time he also felt many times almost toppled down because of the often magic bus braked suddenly. Once down in front of the gates of Hogwarts, Ichigo swears he will never ride the damn bus again.

Ichigo pushes Hogwarts' wrought iron gate to his friends, and together, they cross the courtyard towards the Front Hall. Ichigo stops suddenly, making Ginny hit her back until she almost falls down.

"ouch! Ichigo, don't stop suddenly, dong!" ginny.

"Sori," Ichigo muttered, looking straight ahead. They follow the orange hair's gaze, and find out who made Ichigo stand looking at him with widened eyes.

A middle-aged man was talking to Professor McGonagall in the middle of the corridor. Harry and the others did not recognize the Asian face, which was framed with snow-white hair that reached the man's waist. The man wearing a dark grey travelling coat turned his head, aware of their arrival. The kind-hearted fatherly face looked pale, but he smiled kindly at them.

"Kurosaki-kun! How are you?"

Ichigo hurried over to him. "Good news, Ukitake-san. I didn't know you were coming here…"

"Ah, just checking the situation," he said cheerfully.

"Toushiro is okay, right?" ask Ichigo. "Or is he why you came here?"

Ukitake laughed at hearing that. "I didn't come here just because of that! And can I just come if there's anything?"

Ichigo scratched the back of his head, then muttered softly. "Well, not really…"

"He's still in the hospital, Pomfrey-san insists on having him stay one more night there, but you know Shiro-chan. He hated it the most in the hospital for a long time. By the way," Ukitake looked at Harry, Hermione, and Weasley's children, "your friends, Kurosaki-kun."

"Yep. As well as the mission target."

"Be careful, Mr. Kurosaki," said McGonagall, looking around the quiet corridor warily. "Magic Ministers are here."

The young witches exchanged anxious looks. Hermione looked at McGonagall and Ukitake alternately, which the latter called serious once the topic was mentioned.

"Sir Minister?" ask Hermione.

"Do you want him here, Professor?" ask Harry.

"Investigating Toushiro's 'attack'" Ukitake said calmly. "They consider this a serious incident – of course it is the reality, but we can not talk about our real identity and also about Arrancar – and intend to conduct a thorough investigation. Hitsugaya-kun in this mission is one of the transfer students. If something goes wrong, the British Ministry of Magic fears this will undermine public confidence in their credibility, that the British magic zone is not safe."

"'And it is, with you-Know-Who out there." Fred said.

"I know," said Ukitake, still as calm. "Let the Ministry move as they please, they never know our movement. And for Hitsugaya-kun's case, they won't find anything. The arrancar was already dead and Urahara-san instantly cleared up his former battle without a trace. The only witnesses were some centaurs, but none of them wanted to speak to the Ministry. So, we're safe. Ah." Ukitake glanced to the end of the corridor. "Magic Ministers are coming. You better leave now. We can talk more casually later."

"Go," said McGonagall.

So, led by the Weasley twins they went to the Gryffindor Tower. It's true, that it's better they avoid meeting Fudge. It would be unwise to come face to face with a person of great power in this magical territory, who is also the same person who formed the public opinion that Harry was a child with a mental disorder.

"Who is Ukitake really?" ask Hermione slowly. "Commander too?"

"Yes. He, Juushiro Ukitake, Commander of the 13th Division," Ichigo said. "I also just found out that he came here Urahara or that Toushiro didn't tell me about their arrival. But, if your Ministry is serious about conducting an investigation, of course there needs to be an agreement with Shinou. Well, since Shinou's whereabouts should not be known, then I can understand why the Supreme Commander sent Ukitake-san." Of course Kyouraku trusts his best friend to clean up this kind of business. "He was intelligent, diplomatic, and arguably the most kind-hearted among other commanders, fit to face the Ministry's attitude."

"Don't you clean up your files yesterday and Toushiro? Mya Kuchiki?" ask Harry.

"Well, Byakuya can too, anyway," Ichigo said. They've reached the brothels to the Fat Lady's painting. "But maybe it wasn't him who came because it could have been that person was busy taking care of his clan. After all, we're putting together a scenario that Ukitake-san is Toushiro's guardian, eh? Of course the 'guardian' doesn't want anything to happen to his 'children'?"

Toushiro had not yet returned to the Gryffindor Tower. They found neither the white hair in the recreation room nor in the boys' room. However, during dinner, he appeared in the Great Hall, appearing paler than usual.

Many children looked at him in great astonishment. Because, unlike other children who have been wearing magic robes – even though not the official robe – Toushiro wearing Muggle clothes that he wore impeccably. He wore a cool dark blue coat with silvery buttons that glistened in the light of a candle. His black jeans were the same color as his boots which strangely hit the floor without a sound as he walked to the Gryffindor table. If only the passageway between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff's table was a catwalk track, Toushiro would have been a perfect fit as his model, with an expressionless face he put on and survived even after he had sat between Hermione and Ichigo.

"Ckckck," commented George, shaking his head with his twin brother.

"What are you guys, Japanese guys." said Fred.

"… know all about fashion?" keep George.

Toushiro raised an eyebrow, asking the meaning of the question without a word.

"You know, it's an appearance…"

"… which is even perfect for Muggles…"

"… And Ichigo is just as stylish as you are."

Replace Ichigo who shakes his head. "That's not a big thing…"

"Yes, anyway," interrupted Dean. He glanced at Toushiro who poured tea into the cup in front of him. "But look at the child. Where'd you get that cool jacket?"

"I don't know and don't care" said Toushiro flatly. "My friend got it for me. He has a hobby of shopping and I, unfortunately, also have the consequences."

"Rangiku-san?" chirps Ichigo. He grins. "Wow. He bought you a lot of good stuff, huh?"

Toushiro shrugged his shoulders, looking somewhat irritated. "Sometimes he thinks I'm a mannequin with a lot of stock…"

"But where are you from?" ask Ichigo. "Hospital? Ukitake-san said you want to go out today? Success then?"

"I haven't been there since morning. I went to the Ministry of Magic to testify to that."

"On ap-OH!" Dean stared at his white-haired friend. "So you were attacked?"

Toushiro just nodded unconcernedly.

"Are you okay?" neville asked somewhat anxiously.

"Yes," said Toushiro Short.

"What did Madam Pomfrey say about that?" ask Ichigo.

"Ichigo said you couldn't move because of the poison that attacked that nerve." said Hermione.

"It attacks the central nervous system."

The voice of a friendly man barely makes them, except for Ichigo and Toushiro. Harry looked. Juushiro Ukitake stood behind them, smiling cheerfully. Ichigo shifted to give the middle-aged man a seat, sitting between himself and Toushiro. Many children stared at his sudden arrival with great shock. Anyone will be immediately fooled that he is the father of Toushiro, when viewed from the similarity of hair color both. When you look closely, the difference is apparent. Toushiro's eye color is different from Ukitake's, and so is his shape; toushiro's eye is wider. In addition, the shape of their faces is not at all similar. The shape of Toushiro's jaw is not as firm as Ukitake's, although the character of his face clearly indicates that Toushiro is colder than his 'adoptive father'.

"Mr Ukitake." said Hermione, looking down awkwardly.

"Ah, don't be too official. Ukitake alone is enough," Ukitake said kindly.

"I thought you were home" said Toushiro flatly.

"Well, why can't I take longer to be with my own child?"

Ichigo tried hard to hold back his laughter, while Toushiro raised his eyebrows so high that it almost disappeared into the children of his hair.

"Really, you don't have to bother yourself…"

"I'm not bothered" said Ukitake calmly.

Toushiro sighed. "It's not the right time for you to come here. Winter is not good for you…"

"Don't worry, Shiro-chan, don't worry. Isane-san made sure I was well enough to visit you. God, you really startled me, with that horrible news."

"Don't call me that," sizzled Toushiro displeased as he poured tea for Ukitake.. "And you don't have to worry too much about me; I'm fine."

"You'll always say that" said Ukitake kalem, sipping his tea quietly.

"When did you come here?" ask Ichigo to know.

"The day before Christmas, isn't it Shiro-chan?"

Toushiro did not reply, clearly reluctant to hear the nickname Ukitake gave him.

"Then, Mr. Ukitake," said Hermione curiously, "about the poison…"

"Ah, yes. Well, it's a rare as well as dangerous poison. The poison attacks the carnial nerves that regulate both sides of the body's nerves, resulting in slow paralysis. In addition to iu, he also attacked the control and awareness system. It also interferes with the oxygen-binding activity by the blood, sending burning pain throughout the body. Urahara-san analyzed the poison quickly, she predicted that the poison would spread perfectly within three hours. Relatively long ago, but given the work of the poison, I think anyone affected will die slowly from the pain. It was fortunate that Urahara-san could make her antidote."

They looked at Toushiro. If their eccentric teacher wasn't at Hogwarts, there might be a funeral today.

"Similar to botulism caused by the bacterium Clostrudium botulinum*), eh?" chirps Ichigo. "Anaeerobic bacteria that can survive without air, produce toxins that inhibit the release of the neurotransmitter acetycholine from the nerves. Even in warfare, these biological weapons are prohibited from being used internationally."

Those who heard that looked at Ichigo in shock; even Toushiro raised an eyebrow. Only Ukitake looked calm.

"How did you know?" hermione asked in surprise.

"I didn't know you wanted to learn about it, Kurosaki," commented Toushiro.

"I can read any book I want" Ichigo grumbled offendedly.

"Well, well, well," Ukitake calms them down. He took out a flattened box, then gave it to Toushiro.

"What's this?"

Toushiro. Opening the box, found at least fifteen bottles of dwarf and complete with the injection device.

"You want me to wear this?" toushiro asked, his tone is rather high. He closed the box. "I'm fine and I don't need any medicine"

Toushiro gets a strange look from Ukitake. For some reason, Harry noticed a warning in Ukitake's gaze, which made Toushiro shut up instantly. Even if they were both commanders, obviously Ukitake was older than Toushiro, and Toushiro would definitely respect his colleague.

"good. It's up to you."

Ukitake smiled with satisfaction. "There are fifteen, one day one dose. Without any side effects, Urahara-san said so."

"Eh."

Ukitake just shook his head, smiling to himself looking at Toushiro who was stirring his tea with a whip. Some children watched the interaction dumbly. The cold Toushiro Hitsugaya could also be subdued by his 'father'.

"So" Ukitake looked around. He threw a friendly smile at the children who were rubbing with his eyes, making them hurriedly turn their faces away in shame, afraid of making the man offended. Some are polite enough to reply with a nod or a smile. "this is Hogwarts. Is everything okay as long as you two are here?"

"Yeah, it's pretty exciting too" Ichigo said. He believes the question is for him because surely during the holidays Ukitake has asked Toushiro a lot of things.

"I heard from Toushiro you were fighting with another child, Kurosaki-kun?" ask Ukitake lightly. From his tone, there was no angry tone, even amused, as if it was common to hear.

"Well, you know, sometimes it's hard to hold back., but you wouldn't tell anyone, would you?"

Ukitake shook his head. "To be honest, Kurosaki-kun, I don't need to tell anyone. Your friends in Karakura and at school would have guessed it; I actually heard that they bet how many times you beat up another kid in a month…"

"They did that?" ask Ichigo in surprise. How does he know that his shinigami friends make it a betting material. Ukitake just smiled.

After that, the rest of the dinner filled Toushiro and Ukitake to talk, in Japanese, of course, so that no one understood what was discussed. Despite this, Harry must be amazed by how the two commanders interact with gestures that are not at all suspicious. Even if there was not a single speech that could be understood from them, both Toushiro and Ukitake spoke as if in a relaxing tea – Harry was almost sure that the conversation was about their world. Harry glanced at the teacher's desk. Umbridge also did not often throw a suspicious look at the white hair duo, a sign he considered everything was going normal.

Harry turned his head right when Angelina came to them, sitting across from Toushiro.

"Your Christmas break is fun Toushiro?" sapanya. He looked at Ukitake, "and, er…"

"Johnson," said Toushiro immediately, "this is my father, Juushiro Ukitake. And tou-san, this is Angelina Johnson, my upperclassman, the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team."

Ichigo coughed softly hearing Toushiro mention Ukitake with tou-san. Fortunately, no one looked at him in wonder. Angelina gave a polite speech to the middle-aged man. In her mind, Angelina was somewhat astonished; the last name of Toushiro and his father were different.

"And to answer your first question: not really," said Toushiro flatly.

"Ah, yeah. I heard about you being attacked. I wonder if you're, well, you know, okay."

"Yes. I'm fine" said Toushiro.

"You sure? We'll start training once the new semester starts. If you haven't healed and can't fly-"

"Oh, hold on," Ukitake said. "Fly away?"

"Toushiro hasn't told you that he joined the team?" ask Ichigo. "But you know Quidditch, right?"

"Yes. Urahara-san told me. But you're on the team?" Ukitake looked at Toushiro, then shook his head. "Why don't you tell me?"

"I don't have to tell you everything, do I?"

"Ah, it should be. I'm your father."

Toushiro sighed. This father-son drama really sucks him. See how some kids look at him wonder now. They must be considering him a rebellious son now.

"So what's up, Johnson," said Toushiro.

"Last time I've had a pussy, you haven't got your own broom. I think you should order soon, otherwise you'll wear a school broom, and believe me, that's the last thing you'll – we – choose."

"Well, I'll buy it for you" said Ukitake cheerfully.

"No need, tou-san, I already ordered it before the holidays," said Toushiro kalem.

"Huh?" Ukitake looked at Toushiro rather surprised. "I thought I could give you something; I haven't given you a present for your birthday yet!"

"I'm not a kid who needs a gift…"

"And you don't have to use your savings for that either!"

"Yeah, people have a lot of money" Ichigo said.

"That's it," said Toushiro, somewhat annoyed. "I can take care of myself, okay?"

Ukitake. "All right." The stubbornness of Toushiro Hitsugaya is not an easy thing to completely subjugate. "You don't have to be fully grown, you know."

Toushiro glanced at the man beside him, then spoke in Japanese. "I should have. I'm a commander."

Harry did not understand why then Ukitake looked at Toushiro with a concerned look. Could it be that what Toushiro said in his original language was what made Ukitake so?

"Ah, well," said Angelina, seeing that there was an oddity between the father-son in front of her. "I guess if there's something we just talked about with the other members.'

Toushiro nodded. He finished his tea before leaving first. A few seconds later, Ukitake also went after him.

"Is everything okay?" neville asked worriedly, looking at the wide-open door of the Front Hall, displaying the night that had come down. "It looks like Mr. Ukitake is a bit anxious."

"Well, everything will be fine" Ichigo said slowly. He knew Toushiro was just uncomfortable acting like a child, something he did not like at all. Especially with Ukitake who plays his father. Since long ago the attention-fathers made him rattled, I don't know what the reason. Perhaps because they are technically co-workers; it is odd to think of friends as parents. "Maybe Toushiro just doesn't like it because it makes Ukitake-san anxious or bothers her."

"Is he really his father?" ask Angelina carefully. "What's the other last name?"

"Father lift," said Ichigo flatly. The Golden Trio who had heard this alibi was certainly not surprised, unlike the other Gryffindor children who were within listening distance. "Toushiro was orphaned, before being taken by Ukitake-san as his son, so."

"O-oh, I see," said Neville quietly. This is something he only learned from Toushiro. But, if you remember what the personality of the white hair looks like, it feels very clear that he will not tell anyone.

"He didn't want to overburden Ukitake-san," Ichigo said improvising. "Therefore, if there is something that can be handled by himself, he will do it himself. Although sometimes it makes Ukitake-san confused as well; Toushiro 'is his son, eh?"

For a few minutes no one spoke between Toushiro and Ukitake. The two shinigami were walking in a deserted corridor towards Urahara's office. There were no students wandering around them, not even ghosts. Arriving at the Japanese Classical Defense Methods teacher's office, they had been awaited by the one with the room. Kisuke Urahara was sitting on a silk pillow, on his round table had been waiting for a pot of tea that was puffing hot steam. Yoruichi Shihouin left his cat form this time, also sitting on one of the pillows while reading the magic newspaper; he lifted his head and grinned at their arrival. The former 2nd Division Commander folded his newspaper and threw it on the table.

"It's also the end" he said cheerfully, while Toushiro closed the door behind him and bewitched him so that no one would steal his hearing. "What did the Ministry say about your case, Hitsu-chan?"

"The usual empty muzzle" said Toushiro. He had already decided to let the likes of Yoruichi, Ukitake, and Ichigo call him with chan frills or with his first name as good as he could. "Nothing new. I'll just say they're gonna figure out who the assailant is that they won't find again."

"It's a pity that you have no more information than Arrancar than his name" Urahara said regretfully.

"He didn't give me a chance to chat much" Toushiro said, frowning.

"But this Arrancar is pretty good, before he dies he makes sure no one knows about it by trying to kill you" Yoruichi commented.

"I'm sure it's the sixth time you've said so" Toushiro grumbled. "I know I'm a little careless and don't pay attention to the attack…"

"You can be careless as well as it turns out," chuckled Yoruichi. Toushiro was wise enough not to retaliate, opting for a sip of his hot tea, hoping it would melt his frustration.

"You should be more careful, Hitsugaya-kun," Ukitake advised. He looked at the other two shinigami. "Possibly Arrancar's arrival at Hogwarts was their first move. In addition, I received reports that several hollow attacks occurred in five districts of Rukongai on the same day as Arrancar's arrival."

"Same day?" tanya Toushiro was on guard.

Ukitake nodded. "It disturbs the mind when we know something is happening but we don't know how or why. We can fight that hollow-hollow, sure. But, if they come on, die one behind a hundred, and with another conpaku that needs to be protected, it's really troublesome."

"Indeed yes, anyway," Urahara said. "Has Onmitsukido not found anything yet?"

Ukitake.

"It's weird" Urahara said seriously. "Whether what the Arrancars were planning, they made it very neat and secretive. I explained to Dumbledore-sama about this, and he agreed to add magic protection around Hogwarts. And I've also covered it with a kidou wall. It might not be very useful to just rely on kidou, because if hit by a cero as strong as Kurosaki-san who experienced holowfication alone can be destroyed, but at least it gives us time if there is an attack."

Ukitake sighed. "For a while, that's the best thing we can do. I'm going back to Seireitei tomorrow morning, and I'm going to report all this to my Kyoura."

The next morning, when Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ichigo arrived at the Front Hall for breakfast, they saw Toushiro and Dumbledore standing on the front steps with Urahara and Ukitake. Ichigo has informed them that Ukitake will be returning to Soul Society today.

"Good morning" Ukitake said warmly, as he watched them move closer. The Golden Trio answered him politely. "Are you going to start a new semester?"

Hermione answered him with a polite mutter. Afterwards, they bid farewell to Toushiro's 'father' before entering the Great Hall first. Ichigo and Toushiro are still left behind, Harry can hear some messages from the man for both.

"… take good care of the two of you; Kurosaki-kun, don't fight anymore. And-ah, Umbridge-san."

Harry sees Umbridge there, unmistakably wanting to show a false hospitality for Ukitake. Harry immediately took Ron and Hermione away from the place.

Ichigo frowned seeing Umbridge move towards them. He greeted Ukitake and made insignificant pleasantries with the 13th Division Commander, whom Ukitake calmly served. Juushiro Ukitake's patience has always amazed Ichigo.

"… thank you for your visit, Mr. Ukitake," kta Umbridge sweet. "I hope you enjoy this visit."

"Sure, sure," Ukitake said with a friendly smile.

"And we will investigate the case that befell your son. We will do our utmost to find out who is responsible for this unfortunate incident."

If only Umbridge had seen Urahara grinning behind his fan or Ichigo twirling his eyeballs, he would have known something was wrong. Lucky at that time the Great Inquisitor was busy giving a good impression on his guests.

"Oh, thank you, Umbridge-san. But really, don't bother yourself. I've been very happy because Toushiro is fine…"

After talking for a while, Ukitake left. They watched him walk quickly away from the Hogwarts courtyard. After his figure disappears behind Hogwarts' wrought iron gate, Urahara sends Ichigo and Toushiro back to their breakfast.

New semester. And could it mean new problems and enemies?