An Exchange Student at Hogwarts

Ichigo just grinned at her when she said that. It was okay. It didn't really matter. He would do it in secret. Away from people and in private. It would given him some privacy, away from everyone else. He ignored that comment of hers as he was thinking about exactly what was going to happen about this little testing thing to sort him or whatnot.


“Oh I see. That is more simple than the other tests I have been though. What will it do? It will look through my head, won't it? I mean that could be the only explanation for it. Oh that's just great.” He mumbled and listened to the list of traits from each house. The traits he had more of was from Gryffindor and Slytherin, with the loyalty from Hufflepuff and the intelligence and knowledge from Ravenclaw. It would be very interesting to see where he would be placed.


Once the hat was placed on his head, he gasped as he was pulled into himself. Into his inner world. There he saw Shiro, the carbon copy of himself only in white; Katsuro, Juha, two newcomers and another that didn't feel right being here. “Who are you?” He asked, and the man in question turned to him and gave a sheepish smile. It turned out that it was the hat. The hat that was placed on his head was sentient. Had a soul of his own. Which didn't surprise him at all. All of his soul pieces right here were the same thing. Sentient. After some threatening on Shiro's part and Juha's the hat was on his way looking through his memories and Ichigo sat on one of his side way buildings. It took a while before the hat came back, looking visibly shaken. “I am sorry by what you saw. Can you just tell me where I am and please don't repeat what you saw.”


“Just like your mother. She was a Slytherin herself. Her whole family was. But she was one of the good ones. Don't let them cloud your judgement on that house. You had a tie between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Both will serve you well. I suggest that you choose which one you'd like to be in.” Then he disappeared.


Coming out of himself, he looked at the two and scratched the back of his head. “Ah he says Gryffindor or Slytherin. Though I think being in Gryffindor will be my best bet. He said that my mother was in Slytherin as was her whole family. I think I scared and traumatized the poor man.”

Hermione watched the sorting. The hat stayed quiet a rather long time, which was nothing new. It happened rarely but it happened. Back in her first year, she had been chosen between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. Somehow she had ended up in Gryffindor and never regretted her decision to do so.


Dumbledore lifted the hat away from Ichigo and placed it back on the shelf, where he normally kept the sorting hat. "I am sure the hat has seen worse within his time here at Hogwarts.", Dumbledore said truthfully and turned back towards Ichigo. "So, Gryffindor it is or do you prefer Slytherin?", he asked Ichigo again as something told him the boy in front of him wasn't sure yet.


Hermione stayed quiet the whole conversation not want to interfere his decision. She had made her own experience of the Slytherin house especially with people like Malfoy but she didn't want to influence his decision, which house he preferred. On the one hand she wanted to befriend Ichigo, which was only possible, if he chose the Gryffindor house. But on the other hand she needed to stay out of this sorting process.

At the question, he had to think about the decision that he was given. The mission of his was to get intel on Tom Riddle and it some how involved the Potter boy. So his best bet would be to go into the Gryffindor House so that he was close to Potter and his friends. It wouldn't do good if he had to try and gain his trust. But on the other hand, he wanted to be in the house that his mother hand been in. And there was something about the two houses. Like a rivalry going on between them two houses. Going into one will exclude him from the other. Sighing lightly, he was unsure of his decision. “I am unsure of which house to go into. On one hand, Gryffindor will help me succeed in my work but will exclude me from Slytherin. Slytherin, I will be closer to my mother and the house she was once in but will exclude me from Gryffindor and will make this year harder. Somehow I feel I need access to both.” Ichigo said, thinking about which would be better for him in the long run.


Closing his eyes for a moment, he consulted those tucked away in his head. Which would be better in the long run. And he really didn't know what to go for. It was almost like choosing which man should win his heart, and in this case he went for both of them. Forming a triad bonding which was perfectly fine back at home. This was one of the hardest thing that he had ever had to do. Which would be better for him. “I don't know what would be better for me. What is your own take on the situation, Jii-san?” He asked the old headmaster.

"Sometimes we have to take away our personal preferences for the greater good, Mr. Shiba-Kuchiki. I am afraid that despite of the fact that you are our guest, I can't grant you exit to both common rooms. Unfortunately, the rivalry between the both houses is to big and other students of this faculty would come to me asking for allowance to enter their siblings common room for example. This isn't a decision easily made but you have to choose wisely. Both houses have their advantages and disadvantages. No one can help you with this decision but you have to choose with your heart. As far as I can tell both houses would welcome you with open arms and stay loyal to you.", he spoke as he took a seat across from both students and he continued "Miss Granger here for example might be able to help you and is, as myself back in my days at Hogwarts, a true Gryffindor. You must understand that both houses take great pride in themselves"


Hermione looked confused at Dumbledore and asked "Help him with what, Sir?". "Oh that matter must be explained by Mister Shiba-Kuchiki not me, Miss Granger.", he replied with a soft smile at Hermione but looked empathetically at Ichigo. Dumbledore knew that Hermione might be for great help for Ichigo but the boy would need to discover that for himself or else he wouldn't consult her and ask for her help.

If he had someone in both houses that he could talk to then he would go for where he would need to. If he didn't have anyone he could go to in Slytherin then he would place himself there. That's probably what he would base it on. “Okay, I think I have my mind made up, but only after you answer this question. Is there anyone I would be able to talk to in Slytherin, should I choose Gryffindor?” He asked the headmaster, wanting to know that before he decided. Then he turned to Granger. “If I choose Slytherin would you be there to help me in my mission. I need the confirmation before I do anything. To have the balance of both.” He told them, an explanation in his questions that he needed the answer. If he had to let someone in on the situation, it would be easier to let the girl in. That way he could control what she knew and what she didn't. This way would be the best thing for him to do.


“I will only tell you if you promise me not to tell anyone else what I tell you unless I say that it is okay. Jii-san swore me an oath. I think he called it an unbreakable vow or something like that. If you can swear to me that you talk of it to no one, I shall tell you. The war and everything.” He said softly, reaching his hand up to rub his neck. The bond marks were there and it somehow calmed him down. “I'll answer any questions that you may have of me.”

"Well, yes, I would still talk to you, if you were in Slytherin", she answered calm before continuing truthfully "But the question will be, if you'd like to talk to me after being sorted into Slytherin. Let's just say that those people in that particular house don't like Muggle-borns." Hermione thought about all the times when Malfoy or other Slytherins had bullied her because of her being Muggle-born. Dumbledore interfered the question regarding Slytherin "I don't know, if there'd be someone to talk to", he answered truthfully and continued "you have to keep in mind that both houses have different views on the world and how it should be ruled. It might take some time to win the trust from the other house.", the headmaster concluded.


Hermione crinkled her mouth at both question. It was much for a stranger to ask her to do the unbreakable oath. After all she didn't even know him that well. Yes, she had tried to do conversation with him but swearing the unbreakable vow to a stranger was more than reckless. Especially if he decided to go to Slytherin. "I - I don't know if I can swear an unbreakable vow.", she finally answered and looked straight at him. "I mean you have to understand that I don't know you and my loyalties are with Harry. For all I know you could be on the other side - the dark side of the war.", she replied and continued "I can promise you that I won't tell anyone but right now, I would rather not swear the unbreakable vow to a stranger. Hell, I might not even swear it to Harry or Ron!"

Ichigo looked at her confused and he frowned her. It was annoying that just because they were in a different house, they weren't supposed to talk to each other. What sort of a rule is that? “Why would I not want to talk to you? Just because I choose Slytherin does not mean I would stop talking to friends. That needs to change. That would get you killed sooner or later. Who cares that you are a muggle-born, whatever that happens to mean? And who cares that about what I am? Back at home, there are about four different species back at home that shouldn't ever talk to each other. And yet I 'broke' every rule to befriend them all. We are stronger this way. Not segregated. And why should I care what each house has in view of the world. Just because I choose Slytherin, doesn't mean I will join Tom Riddle. And just because I choose Gryffindor, doesn't mean I will join your side.” He told them. The house you were put in meant nothing about what you'd do with it.


“Look it's not like I was asking you to do anything dangerous. Just that you not mention what I would tell you. I do know the consequences and I really don't care for them. If it happens, it's just a little sooner than I thought. Why would I go to Tom's side, when I am here to stop him and make sure he never enters the reincarnation cycle ever again. A soul as destructive as his should never be allowed to reborn into another life.” Ichigo told them and sighed. This was becoming harder and harder than he thought. “There is nothing more to this that I want. That other professor knows and helped in this so I suppose he would be a good bet to go to. Was he a Slytherin? The black haired professor.”

"That's what I was trying to tell my students all along. But they chose to rather ignore it than to slowly stop their childish ways. We need to become united for the threat", Dumbledore replied with a small sigh as he knew that this was a bigger problem than one would think at first. "The problem here is that you can't force people into doing something they don't want to do themselves. No matter how long you persuade them - it will first work, if they actually believe i themselves.", he said while he looked at Hermione solemn. "You mean Professor Snape?", the old wizard asked him before continuing explaining "Yes, he was a Slytherin back in his days at Hogwarts. Now, he is even the head of said house."


Hermione knew that Dumbledore had a point. With the war and what ever it would bring along it was better to be united against You-Know-Who. She sighed as she thought and looked at him. "If I do said vow, I won't swear more than not telling someone what happens. I - I guess I have to trust you on the part that you want to stop You-Know-Who.", she slowly replied and continued serious "But I want to make the exception that it only counts as long as we fight for the same cause. I will help no matter what house you'll choose, but I openly say that I think the better house would be Gryffindor than Slytherin. You haven't lived in this castle for long enough to know what they are doing." Her last sentenced earned disapproving gaze from the headmaster "Now, Miss Granger. He is correct that you need to forget about those foes but become united!", here scolded her in a gentle yet serious voice.

“Oh, not really. If I can apply what I did back at home here, I would force them to do that. Force them to work together. Take away the one thing that makes them different, e.i. their wands, and make them find a way to work together to solve the problems. Team building exercises will go far with this lot of idiots. This way, you mix people that don't normally work together and you force them. Once a week should suffice in it and will hopefully make people understand one another without all this bad blood. Magic, in my family comes from both sides. My mother being a witch, and I guess you could say that my father is a Wizard. Has been for generations, and yet you see me here not giving a shit about how things have gone on. Somehow I have managed to change centuries of laws and traditions, all because of one invasion.”


After that question that had been answered for him, he had already decided on where he would go. Make it much easier for the mission that he was set. No doubt that Yoruichi would have his head if she found out what he was doing. Which reminded him he hadn't seen the were-cat in ages. Ever since they arrived actually. “That is all I ask of you. That you tell no one unless I deem it worthy and beneficial to my motives of being here. It's not like I am going to defect over to Tom's side no matter what he offers. Even if it means going after my family. I'd leave them behind for the so called greater good. For the overall bigger picture. It's not like I care for what they do. As long as they don't get in my way, they can do what they want. After all it is them that will suffer in the end. Any way, I have made my choice. This Professor Snape knows of my true intentions, as do I of his. He'll help me when I want to know something. So I will stay in Gryffindor for my stay.”

"I am afraid that between those feuds are more than simply one side having something the other side wants, Mr. Shiba-Kuchiki", he replied and continued "Part of the problems might vanish with some team building exercises but not all. This also has something to do why Tom Riddle finds so many supporters in Great Britain. It has something to do with the way not only pureblood families see the world. They think that witches and wizards like Ms. Granger are not worthy to become a full magician and enjoy the same treatment as they do. Because their blood is 'filthy' to put it in those words." He sighed and shook his head "But that is my trouble not yours. You will concentrate on your actual task. I'm afraid that I can't release you from your task as student, if you want to keep the pretence of being a student from another country. Therefore, you'll need to do homework and follow the rules of Hogwarts.", the headmaster explained with a sudden sense of authority.


Hermione nodded "I can do that. Stay quiet unless you say otherwise." It felt strange agreeing to something like that especially because normally she shared everything with her two best friends. She might be the brain of the Golden Trio but that didn't mean that she didn't share her ideas and thoughts with them. After all, they had experienced a lot during their time in Hogwarts.


Dumbledore nodded. "Gryffindor it is. I'm sure Miss Granger will be gladly able to help you, finding your way around.", he answered and handed him over a schedule "I have taken the liberty of arranging a schedule for you. It's less packed than some of the students but that doesn't mean you don't have to attend those courses. Of course, in your leisure time, you have the freedom to do what you want to do as long as you don't contravene against the School rules. One last advisory though. Unfortunately this year, the Ministry has decided to send someone from their ranks to Hogwarts to fill the position of teacher for Defense against Dark Arts. She is not someone you can joke around with." His voice had remained normal but Hermione could feel that he was warning Ichigo.

“But it's it all about promising something to someone? Well that and a mad man wanting to become ruler of all. It's all the same thing in the end. One wants to change the world for the better or for the worse. The monster that I ended up fighting went beyond anything that I could imagine but we saved the world. I saved everyone in the three worlds. And it was one of the hardest things that I had to do. Thankfully that war ended a few months. But in those months, there was a lot of death and destruction.” Ichigo laughed out bitterly, his eyes seemingly distant. “That sounds like the nobles back at home. While I was not born in their world, I would be seen as a pureblood even though I would rather consider myself only half-blood. But they have reasoned it as that I came from two pureblood clans, hence my continued status of such. And as such, I had reinstated my clan to their former position as a noble clan. I do need a place to train. There is a forest I saw that would be perfect, but Granger-san said that it was off-limits... Would there be another place I could 'claim' as a training ground?” He asked the old man.


Hearing what the girl said, he nodded his head. “Arigatou.” He thanked her, and gave a small smile. “I cannot let so many people know about this seeing as my kind are meant to be a secret from you mortal people. I have to keep everything under wraps. Besides Yoruichi would have my head if she found out I was telling more people that absolutely necessary.”


“I am sure that she would be able to help me get around. And I am sure that she would be a great help in what I need doing.” Taking the time table, he looked at it and memorized it. “Well I would use my free time either working, catching up on school work back home and the damned paperwork, Jii-san sends for me to complete. And training of course. Don't want to be killed in a so called friendly spar when I return back home. And don't worry about her. She is none of my concern. If she asks for a demonstration I can always show her something, allow her see something that would shut her up for a while. Get her off my back. I know what to do to deal with people like her. Don't worry about it. I am not concerned.”

"There are a lot of abandoned class rooms as well as some secret rooms within this school. I'm sure the both of you will figure something out", he smiled at both and his eyes twinkled lightly over to Dumbledore as like he had a hidden message behind his words. He smiled at both students for a moment. "You will see that this castle has to offer quite some quips to those who actually wants to discover the grounds of Hogwarts.", he reasoned with a gentle smile.


Hermione was confused about what both Dumbledore and Ichigo were talking about. What room? And 3 worlds?, she wondered confused as well as who all those people were Ichigo talked about. But stayed quiet over the many questions in her head. This was not the time to interfere with her questions. So she simply nodded and smiled back at Ichigo. "You're welcome...", she replied.


Dumbledore nodded with a stern expression regarding Umbridge. "I hope you're correct with that.", he replied being in thoughts this time. He randomly looked at the clock in his office "If there aren't anymore questions, you two are dismissed. As I see curtains will begin soon and you probably also have some questions towards Miss Granger.", Dumbledore said with a gentle smile towards both of them.

Ichigo gave him a smile. “I will certainly keep that in mind. It makes perfect sense that a place like this would have rooms not many know about.” The twinkle in his eyes really started to bug him but kept himself in line. There was no use to getting into trouble over something as annoying as a twinkle. “Well thank you for the idea of that. I will certainly take the time to explore the castle and grounds to see what it has to offer me.”


Standing up, he looked towards Hermione and nodded his head in her direction. He knew there would be many questions that he would be asked about what exactly was going on. Not to mention that he would have to deal with Gama-basu, which he hoped would be perfectly fine. He supposed that if he somehow got both sides on his side, he would be able to make this work. He has done it once before. Another time wouldn't be so different. “Those team building exercises should definitely be made into something. It would at least start to reform something.”


Smiling at the headmaster, he nodded his head. “If she does get on our nerves, I can always send her on a little trip. I doubt she'd be right for days after that. Not many have survived to tell the tale against them. And they listen to me, so they won't hurt her. Just rough her up a bit.” He grinned an almost sadistic grin, before he nodded at him. “Yes, I am sure I would have some questions. Now we wouldn't want to get into trouble before curfew starts. We might as well go to wherever we have to.”

"I would welcome it if nothing like that happened towards her. I prefer talking with Cornelius about this than sending Professor Umbridge to Merlin knows where.", he told him with a polite smile and continued "That is not a way we try to solve our problems in Hogwarts. Especially because this is pure politics, I'm afraid." He nodded at them leaving with a smile and spoke "Well, good night Miss Granger and Mister Shiba-Kuchiki"


Hermione arose from her chair and nodded "Good night, Professor Dumbledore.", she replied and walked to the door, opening it for Ichigo. Her head was spinning from all information, which she wasn't able to understand completely. It gave her an head ache and she sighed slightly. It was too late to worry about all of this and the library would have to wait for tomorrow. She followed Ichigo out of the office and turned to him. "Well, the password for the Gryffindor tower is Mimbulus Mimbletonia.", she told him and sighed. You need to remember that or else the Fat Lady won't grant you access to the common room.“

Ichigo frowned at that and scratched his head. He wasn't exactly supposed to say that, or with the smile he had given. Well at least they weren't scared by it. All he hoped that he didn't go out of control while he was here. Nodded his head at the man, he made his way out after Granger had opened the door. What was wrong with him? It was just a momentary lapse in his concentration. Not that he would actually take over and kill everyone, but he was still a hollow. And anything could happen.


“Tomorrow is Sunday so it means no lessons right?” Ichigo asked her as they made their way towards wherever they were going. But then she said something about a password. “Well that is alright I guess. If I ever forget it, I'll come through a window or something.” He murmured and shrugged his shoulders, a smile on his face. “But I won't forget it. Well I'll try not to. I will try to answer any questions that you have before I have to go for work.” He tells her, watching all of the pictures that they passed. "I will try to answer as truthfully as I can." The orange haired teen said, groaning as he felt a weight on his shoulders. And claws digging into said shoulder. "Well hello to you to, Yoruichi."

As Hermione stepped out she of the door, she looked a last time at Dumbledore. The headmaster seemed to be busy with the documents on his desk but Hermione knew that he was eyeing Ichigo. He was obviously reasoning over his new student because of the sudden outburst regarding Umbridge. Hermione followed him outside and nodded at Ichigo's question. "Yes, tomorrow's Sunday, which means no lessons. We don't have classes on weekends.", she explained and added "Once in a month everyone from 3rd class on is allowed to go to Hogsmeade on the weekend. Hogsmeade is a small village full of wizards near Hogwarts. It's actually a nice place to go to and relax from your everyday life at Hogwarts." Afterwards she continued her duties as Perfect explaining the password to him.


He suddenly groaned causing Hermione to turn her head towards. She looked confused at him and asked "What's a Youruichi? And what did you mean with 3 worlds? I mean there's only one, isn't there?". Hermione was leading him back to the staircases and started to walk upwards where the common room was located and stopped in her movements, looking curios at Ichigo. It seemed like she was allowed to ask questions instead of having to do a research, now. Nevertheless Hermione might still read her way through the library just to make sure.

“Well that is great because depending on how you are at the Academy, which I am still trying to get through by the way, we have lessons on the weekend. It means I can catch up on school work, stupid paperwork that I don't even want to do, and actually make sense of that file I received.” Ichigo said and sighed. “Well that is good. At least I would have some time to relax as such. Maybe get something for my sisters or something. They'd like that.” He nodded his head at himself, fining their way to the common room that was Gryffindor's. Everything made some sort of sense so it was okay. So it was okay.


“You don't see her? The black cat on my shoulders? Digging into my flesh?” Ichigo asked her, staring at the black cat that seemed to definitely be on his shoulders. He gripped the cat by her fur and brought her to show her. “Can you honestly not see her?” Then he shook his head and shrugged. “There are three worlds. The World of the Living, this world we are on right now. The Soul Society, the world of the dead. And Hueco Mundo, the world of the Hollows. Three world. Two cannot be seen or accessed by you living mortals.” He told her. “To you there is. To me there is not.” He said, trying to explain it to her. “By Hollows I mean soul eating monsters that need to be purified by the Soul Reapers.” He told her, taking a deep breath, going to sit down in front of the fire.

Hermione turned to Ichigo and looked confused over suddenly having a cat near. "Wait... Where did she come from?", she asked surprised as she hadn't seen her earlier. She watched the cat for a moment before gently showing the cat her hand to smell before she attempted to pet her. "I have a cat as well.. His name is Crookshanks. But he doesn't like strangers that much and prefers to stay alone", she told him with a smile.


Listening to his explanation, she nodded slowly. "But if living people can't enter those worlds, why can you?", she asked him confused before eyeing him suspicious. "Wait are you a zombie or something?", she suddenly asked him as it somehow was the only explanation she had to that. "And if Voldemort came back from death... Does that mean he came from one of those worlds?", she continued to ask while she tried to solve this puzzle on her own. It was confusing as hell to her.


Soon they arrived in front of the portray of the Fat Lady. "This is the entry to our common room. You will need to tell her the password each time you want to enter the Gryffindor tower.", she told him in a matter of fact before whispering to him "But be careful... She can be pretty moody and/or talkative. So she doesn't allow you inside until she's finished talking.". The portray eyed both of them. "Who's this?", she demanded to know before continuing "He hasn't been here before and I doubt he's a Gryffindor.". Hermione gave the Fat Lady her best smile as she explained "This is Ichigo. He's an exchange student from Japan and has just been sorted into Gryffindor in Dumbledore's office. So, can we go inside, please?". The Fat Lady eyed the orange haired boy for a moment before asking "Password?" "Mimbelus Mimbletonia.", Hermione replied and the portray swung open, revealing a Scarlet red room.


(Sorry that I didn't reply earlier. I'm busy studying for this term's exams. So, I kind of slow down on replying a little for the rest of the week)

The cat in Ichigo's hands immediately batted at the hand without smelling it. “Yoruichi is a very clever cat. She trusts you.” He said, hoping that it was an okay explanation and that she wouldn't ask any more questions about that. That was Yoruichi's secret that she would tell if she wanted the girl to know about her or not. After a few moments of her playing with the hand, she turned and swiped his face, leaving scratch marks. “And she hates me.” He added after putting her on the floor, nudging her with his foot. “I think she is warning me or something.” He huffed, ignoring the cat but she was following them.


“I am a very messed up person. With my genetics, I shouldn't exist in this world or the next, but I do. Both my parents, at the time of my conception, were both spirits and living people. Essentially, I have the best and the worse of both worlds. But they weren't always both to begin with. A mad man with an ego of a god changed their biological make up for a long time. And I became a mix of all of these. I am a hybrid. There is no name for what I actually am. I am human, a wizard, a Shinigami, a Hollow and a Quincy. I am a hybrid with no name to my species.” Ichigo sighed lightly and shrugged. “But I don't care what I am, just that I am it and I have the power to protect.


“He wasn't dead to begin with. He disappeared, yes; but I don't think he actually died. And there is only a few places where one would get a false body to occupy. Plus if he stayed here all this time, he would have already turned into a hollow. And I am sure if he went through the Academy and into the squads, Jii-san would know. Seeing as none of that has happened, it suggests that he never actually died. The anchor that his soul has is still here. And my people are working on it. That report, it just so happened that it was one of the leads that my squad has been following.” He said and smiled at the portrait that began talking to them.


“If it was me, I would have replaced her if she continued talking and talking without letting me in.” Ichigo said to her, his eyes turning gold on black with a distorted and watery edge to his voice before it disappeared. “Sorry about him, he happens to have an even worse temper than me.” The orange haired male stood just inside of the portrait, being distracted by something. “Oh yeah, I should introduce myself to you. I'm Ichigo Kurosaki Shiba-Kuchiki, Head of the Shiba Clan and consort to the Kuchiki Clan, Captain to the third squad of the Court Guard squads of the Soul Society.” He said, bowing to her.


((Don't worry about it. I completely understand.))

She recognized that he hadn't really answered her question, which made her arch her eyebrow for a short time. Maybe she would push forward on this topic another time. But she had enough going on in her mind without thinking about a cat. She played a little with her paw and stroke her before the cat changed her behavior. Hermione blinked over the sudden change in the cat's demeanor. "Do you want me to take care of that?", she asked him as she pointed gently at his scratch mark. She knew the perfect healing spell for that.


"Protect who from what?", she asked him eyeing him for a moment as he explained who/what he was. It confused her but she thought that she understood at least a part of it. It was more complicated than she had thought and until now she had been totally fine knowing that there was only one world. "If you can 'switch' between those worlds, does that mean other people can do that too? Or is just because you're -- How did you put it? -- a hybrid?", she asked him.


Hermione looked at him after the comment and wondered where those sudden behavior changes came from. It was a little unpredictable like the one, which he had suggested bringing Umbridge somewhere else. It was a bit like there were more than just one person. She would keep an eye on Ichigo to make sure no unpredictable things were going to happen. Hermione stepped inside the portray as it swung open but realized Ichigo hadn't entered with her. "Very nice to meet you, young boy. And now, get inside before I change my mind and keep the entrance closed", she told him.

“Oh, this...” He said touching the scratch on his face. “It's nothing. It's already healing.” Ichigo told her, a white substance covering it before turning as hard as bone. Soon it cracked at there was no scar or evidence that he had ever been hurt. “See? Nothing that I can't handle.” He said, shrugging about that fact that he got hurt and healed himself in a matter of moments. “I see what Byakuya said about here. She is a were-cat.” The orange haired said, the cat scratching at his leg and he sighed. “I'm sorry, Yoruichi.” He muttered out.


“Protect my family from harm. I swore to that when my mother died. I was only nine but it was still my fault that she was killed. If only I had known... If only I had seen that it was a trick she would still be here. I swore to keep all my friends and family safe from harm.” Ichigo told her, nodding his head at the portrait as he hurried inside of the hole in the wall. “And that is what I will continue to do until my life ends.” He told her. “We have just finished a war with a very mad man and I was the key to stop it. And only because I hadn't seen the power that he had shown everyone else.” The teen sounded very bitter about it, like he hated talking about the war. “It lasted a few months at the most but there was so much destruction and death and blood that we lost a lot of people.”


“Well the people that can are Soul Reapers, they can travel between the World of the Living and the Soul Society. The Hollows can travel between Hueco Mundo and the living world. The Arrancars and Vizoreds can travel between Hueco Mundo, the World of the Living and Soul Society.” Ichigo told her. “These species are all souls. And are theoretically the only ones that can. Seeing as I am half a spirit, I can easily travel. It is much harder for humans to go through seeing as they have to go through a special reishi converter. It can happen but Jii-san doesn't like so it doesn't happen often. I could so you my forms if you'd like.”

She watched his face and looked surprised as it healed within an instant. Of course she had seen Madame Pomfrey heal wounds worse than his healing within minutes but nothing had worked without magic. "Well, this must come in really handy.", she told him as his wound was already healed. Hermione looked at the cat for a moment than back at Ichigo and back to the cat. "No worries about that. I won't tell anyone. In fact one of the nicest people, I know, is a werewolf. I even consider him as a friend.", she told the cat hoping it would make matters better.


Hermione listened as he talked about the war. She thought about things had changed since Voldemort came back. Of course many people hadn't believed Harry when he first told about it and some had lost their lives. Now, You-Know-Who was successfully taking over the Ministry despite of the tries from the Order to stop that madness. "Dumbledore always said You-Know-Who was never really dead but waited for the right time to come back...", she told him thoughtfully.


All those new information was confusing for Hermione and she looked around heading for the couches in front of the fire. She sat down with a sigh. "Do you think there will be books on this kind of topic in our library?", she asked him feeling a little tired. "Do you mean spirit as some sort of ghost or what exactly?, she asked him and nodded slowly as he offered her that bit. "That would be nice in fact.", she said and continued "but maybe not tonight... I have some things to wrap my mind around, now."

“I suppose it does come in handy when he allows me to use it, but I cannot regenerate or heal my organs or brain. If they are destroyed, well then so am I...” He said softly, shrugging his shoulders a little, before scratching his face a little. “Not in that way. Well I suppose so. I don't know... She can turn into a cat at will but she loses all her damned clothes and loves to tease me with it. She can talk in that form as well.” Ichigo said before slapping his hand on his mouth. “Damnit!”


Ichigo nodded his head when she said that and tilted his head for a moment. “Hmm, he has never been dead to say the least we would have known about it. In fact that Potter friend of yours, he feels odd. Like not himself. Almost like he is like me. Two souls in one body. But it is not his. Not made of his own soul. Like it is not meant to be there. His life energy feels weird.” He said, before shaking his head. “I don't know. It feels really odd. I can't explain it. I'm not the best person to explain something like that...”


When she brought up books, he doubt there would be. “I don't think there will be any books on them. We are a very secretive race and community. There may be whispers of it in books, but there won't be any solid information on it. And I advice you not to write a book either. I'll be killed for it.” Ichigo told her, and nodded his head at that. “I won't actually change into said forms, it is very destructive when I change and I'd rather not do that. It is very... Plus I have limiters placed on me. It will be shown in a mirror of myself. But you are right. I should show you it later. When there are not many people around.”

Hermione looked at him. "Like I said no worries... I really don't intend on telling someone. Besides I told you I would keep your secret, haven't I? And to me is things like that part of it. You have to trust me sooner or later ", she told him slightly amused by his slip but she remained serious nevertheless. "Besides something similar to this are animagi... Just with the difference they will keep their clothes as soon as they turn into an animal.", she explained.


Hermione blinked and looked worried over Harry. "Is that dangerous?", she asked him, worried of her friend. Harry had enough worries without having to worry about 'two souls' in his body whatever that meant. Maybe she could do a research about that as well. In the Forbidden part of the library as she doubted something like that would be in the regular part. Maybe she could find something out, if she was lucky.


"I'm not intending to write a book. I have other things to worry about right now.", she replied, being in her own thoughts. Hermione had guessed that were wouldn't be any books or else she might as well have read about it by now. "Don't worry that can wait.", she said patiently and looked at him "Anything you want to know about this school or me? I shouldn't be the only one with question....", she told him.

“I know that you did. I just have to be sure. Yoruichi and Central 46 will kill me several times over. And I wish not to die again. It wasn't nice the first time round.” Ichigo said and sighed lightly. “I just really do have to be sure...” When she said that, he nodded his head and was glad that no one was able to sense Yoruichi as another person and as just a cat. “Animagi? That sounds to more of what she is like. Were-cat, it's just a nickname that Byakuya has towards her. Apparently she was his mentor when he was a boy and that was a very long time ago.”


When she looked over to her friend, he shrugged. “I have no idea. We haven't had a problem, other than the plotting to take over our body and kill everyone in sight, but your friend is not like us. So I don't know. That thing is not apart of his soul. It's like something has latched onto it, feeding from your friend to keep itself alive. But this is not my area of expertise. I deal with inter-species relations, since no one else will do it.”


When she asked the question, he thought for a little while. Then something came to him. It was always something that his sisters had said. “Do you have unicorns and other creatures and hybrids?” He asked her, not really caring for the school as such. He'd be able to find his way around. Not only that but he was also a hot-headed teen. Which wouldn't go right right with Umbridge. He stood up for what he thought was right. He'd defend his honour and everything else. Even if that meant talking back to a teacher.