One Tin Soldier

Chapter 19: The Valley People Swore

With the new school term well on the way, Harry spent most of his free time in the library with Luna Lovegood, tucked away in a back corner out of sight. It was about the only time he found any peace, as everyone seemed to be trying to get on his last nerve.

When he wasn't in the library he was in the Room of Requirement, training with Muramasa. After all he'd promised Ichigo and the rest of his many sensei not to ruin all their hard work by letting his skills get rusty.

Muramasa was glad to help; plus it was a good way to work out his frustrations and stored energy. His month in Japan had built up his strength and stamina, and now his body needed the physical exercise.

Sometimes Luna watched their training. She'd been impressed with how graceful and strong he was when he practiced his sword katas. It was peaceful to sit back and watch him.

Harry liked hanging around the blonde Ravenclaw. With Luna he could be himself and didn't have to maintain his noble masquerade. She seemed to blossom under his friendship and always had a smile and a word of encouragement for him, no matter what.

The problems with Hermione, however, were ongoing. Harry hated that she dogged his steps in hopes he would forgive her. What she didn't seem to realize was that the more she harassed him, the farther she got from forgiveness.

Ron, however, was a lost cause. The jealous red-head had joined up with Seamus Finnegan, which was fine with Harry, as he hadn't any time for the gluttonous menace and his childish behaviour.

The rest of Gryffindor went out of their way to ignore Harry, not that he really cared. He'd had enough of their past betrayals and didn't need so-called 'friends' like that.

When Harry was in Japan he'd discovered what true friends really were. The people he'd met there didn't care if he was the Boy Who Lived, the Chosen One, or even that he was a wizard. To them, he was just Ichigo's cousin Harry.

Ichigo found the whole title thing stupid. After all, he died all the time, as well as lived again...What was the big deal? To Ichigo, Harry's circumstances were nothing special; really rather normal, for the young Japanese teen that is. A fact Harry appreciated.

During his stay in Japan, Harry was able to use his magic in front of people and they didn't care. He was most appreciative of the freedom that gave him.

The Soul Reapers had their own form of magic and were even willing to teach it to Harry! Living in Japan for that month he'd learned more about himself and his magic than he had in four years at Hogwarts. He'd finally found friends he could actually trust enough to be himself.

How he wished Ichigo and his new friends could be with him at Hogwarts, they certainly would've helped relieve the boredom that was quickly setting in. His classes had been tedious, to say the least. A sudden smirk curved his lips; wouldn't it be hilarious to see how Ichigo would react to Dumbledore's twinkle?

However, in his opinion, potions had at least turned interesting. After the first class, and his futile attempt at occlumency, Snape and his Slytherins had thankfully left him alone.

Then there was Draco Malfoy, the amazing bouncing ferret, who, except for the first potions class, was surprisingly quiet.

Harry smiled as he remembered how the various and sundry things tossed at his potions bounced off the barrier he'd placed around himself and his cauldron. Harry snickered as he recalled Draco's face when the root he'd tossed at Harry ricocheted back into his...and the ferret's subsequent trip to the infirmary.

'Maybe he finally got the memo to leave me alone, or suffer the consequences?'

No one, not even Snape, bothered him or his potion after that. He'd turned in a near perfect vial of burn salve, much to the snarky professor's ire.