Harry Potter and the Lance of Longinus

Harry Potter and the Lance of Longinus

Chapter 2

Harry trudged upstairs with Ron. "You saw him during dinner, right, he thinks he's so suave - like Don Juan or Casanova. And Hermione was practically throwing herself at him!"

"Why do you care so much? It's not like you and Hermione are going out," Ron said.

Harry licked his lips nervously - Ron didn't know how he felt about Hermione. "I know. I just don't want her getting hurt."

Ron spoke sarcastically. "Oh yeah, I think he's a mass murderer and he ran away from Japan looking for new victims."

"You know what I mean! He seems like the kind of guy who sweet talks girls...to get around...you know in their pants."

"I still stand by my first comment that I think he looks gay."

"The way he was talking to Hermione, I don't think so."

"I think Hermione was doing most of the talking."

Harry opened the door to the Gryffindor common room.

"You're good at this Hermione." Kaworu's voice almost purred from the corner of the room.

Harry looked over to see Hermione giving the ivory boy a shoulder massage. Hermione blushed. "Thank you. Do you often have back pain?"

"About every night actually, but it goes away."

"And you say it's between your shoulder blades?"

Kaworu looked a bit nervous. "Yes...probably from lifting or something."

"Are you...very strong?"

"Not particularly." He let out a content purr again as Hermione's hands worked expertly between his shoulders.

Harry, disgusted, went up the stairs two at a time. "I don't possibly see how this could get any worse!"

Ron opened the door first. "Oh...it's worse."

Harry peeked to see the room with the familiar four poster canopy beds with the deep red velvet curtains - three of them - unchanged since the year before. His and Ron's things had been brought up and placed at the foot of their beds. At the foot of the bed closest to the wall were other trunks - covered in Japanese stickers and writing. Harry was practically seething with rage at this point. He had to share a room with a boy he despised. Well, he thought. I guess it could be worse - I could have to share with Draco.

Ron and Harry changed into their pajamas. Harry sat on his bed. "He's spending a bit too much time with Hermione, don't you think?"

"It's only been ten minutes," Ron informed him.

Harry didn't have time to respond before Kaworu walked in. He smiled at the two. "I'm glad I didn't get lost...it's a big school. Luckily Hermione showed me around...she's very nice."

"Yes, she is." Harry told him, forcing a friendly tone and smile. The scent of pine again found Harry's nose...why did Kaworu smell like pine? Was it a type of cologne?

The Japanese boy picked up a long case that looked as though it was for a sword, he looked inside and then closed it, locking it, putting it under his bed and mumbling an incantation that Harry didn't recognize. He saw Harry and Ron's inquisitive looks. "Kore wa himitsu," and a mysterious smile was Kaworu's only explanation.

Harry watched as the crimson-eyed boy shed his clothing revealing his slender, lithe body. He wasn't very muscular but was in shape. Kaworu put on a pair of sweat pants and a loose tank top.

"These are very comfortable," he said as he got into bed. "In Japan, we use futons which are on the floor. They're kind of hard, but save space because our houses are small. We don't even have a bathroom in our flat."

Ron's eyes grew as wide as saucers. "What do you do when you have to pee?!"

Kaworu laughed. "Oh...we do have a toilet and a sink, but no bathtub. We go to the public baths across the street."

"Like, bathing with other people?"

"Yes, it's a communal bath...of course, we wash outside of the tub area - which is like a big pool with shallow water - and then get into the warm water to relax. Bathing inside the pool is considered unclean and rude."

"So...there's naked women there too?" Ron asked with a hopeful hint in his voice.

"Well...there are, but males and females are separated by a wall. So unfortunately unless you want to climb a tall wall, you won't see any naked women."

"Darn...hey, is it true that Japanese toilets are pits in the ground?"

Kaworu thought for a moment. "There are places where it's still like that, but most places now have western toilets. In Japan there are even fancy ones with heating options and water fountains and such. Of course we only have a normal one."

"Why would anyone want a heated toilet?" Harry asked.

"They do get kind of cold in the winter," Kaworu told him.

Harry wondered if he had an answer to everything. "I guess they do."

Kaworu rotated his shoulders, reaching around rubbing an area between his shoulder blades.

"Hermione's back rub didn't last?" Harry inquired.

"No...I'll feel better in the morning." He stifled a small yawn and lay down, closing his eyes. "Oyasumi."

"'Night," Harry answered. "Good night Ron."

Ron's only reply was a light snore. Harry yawned and lay down. He was almost asleep when a flapping sound jerked him awake again. A white feather fell onto his pillow. He turned his gaze up to the poster where Hedwig was perched. "Was that you?" he whispered.

The white owl hooted quietly and Harry closed his eyes, never realizing the sound of the wings revealed them to be too big to belong to Hedwig.

* * *

"Tabemono wa totemo aware na..." Asuka's voice came from the Ravenclaw table as she made a face.

Hermione sighed and shook her head. "Is she always like this?"

"I don't know her too well," Kaworu said. "But she is from a rich family. So she'll only take the best of the best. I happen to think the food is wonderful. So does Shinji." He laughed at the brunette who was hurriedly eating at the Hufflepuff table.

Ron had a goofy grin on his face. "I think Asuka is hot."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "She's a snob. What about Rei, she looks nice."

Harry looked at Rei who was at the Slytherin table eating slowly while trying to ignore Draco once again. "She's kind of...antisocial."

"Well, wouldn't you be if Draco was talking to you?" Ron asked.

"Touché."

Kaworu sighed. "No...Rei is shy and quiet. Asuka's bossy, Shinji's very sweet, but I have a feeing Ron doesn't go for that sort of thing."

Ron blushed deep red as Hermione laughed. "I certainly don't go for guys!" Ron exclaimed.

"Good, then I'll resist the urge to hit on you," Kaworu joked.

Ron looked a bit scared but gave a nervous laugh. Harry wished Kaworu was gay - it would spare him a lot of trouble.

* * *

Ron and Harry rushed into Defense Against the Dark Arts class a couple minutes late. Panting they took their seats.

Professor Ikari was writing something on the blackboard. "Those who are late to my class will have their toes cut off and kept in a little jar on my desk." He turned around glaring at them dangerously and pushed up his glasses. "Don't let it happen again!"

Harry jumped. This teacher was scarier than Snape. Harry glanced over at Shinji who sitting up straight carefully paying attention and taking notes. He also noticed the boy's hand shaking a bit.

"Mountain trolls..." Professor Ikari pointed to the board with his pointer. "Pray you never meet up with one."

Harry raised his hand. "I've actually..."

"Did I say you could speak?!" The professor roared.

Shinji yelped and there was a small clatter as his ink well tipped over spilling its dark contents all over his paper. The fear was evident in his eyes. Professor Ikari glared at his son. "I will not tolerate sloppiness in this class..." He turned his icy gaze to Harry. "Nor will I tolerate speaking out of turn. You two will stand in the hall until class is over."

"But how will we..." Harry started.

"OUT IN THE HALL NOW!!!"

Shinji gathered his things, spilling a bit more ink and hastily ran out to the hallway. Harry picked up his belongings and walked out the door joining Shinji. "Is he always like this?"

Shinji looked up, unshed tears glistening in his eyes. "I can never meet his expectations...I just want him to praise me once."

Harry recalled his life with the Dursleys. "I know how that is. My aunt and uncle did that...but it's been better recently, I guess. What about your mother?"

"She died...when I was four. I hardly remember her."

Harry put his hand on Shinji's shoulder and the other boy jumped, pulling away. "I'm sorry, my mother is dead too."

"I know. I heard."

Of course he has, Harry thought. I'm famous...whether I like it or not. "I miss them...my parents...even though I never knew them."

"Sometimes I wish it had been my father instead of my mother...but then that's awful to say. Maybe if it was me...if I died..."

Harry's heard thudded in his chest. "You don't really mean that?! Do you?"

Shinji kept looking at the floor. "My father would never miss me. And I'd be with my mother."

"But...your friends...Asuka...Rei..." Harry managed to get out.

"No one cares about me...I should have never been born."

"That's not true! I'm sure people care about you! You shouldn't want to die! I used to...then I came here...maybe you'll find new friends here!"

"And if not...the towers are very high..."

Harry could feel his heart dropping to his knees. "No...you can't do that. That's wrong...there must be someone who would miss you...maybe you'll find that person here."

"And if not...the towers are high..." Shinji grabbed his supplies and walked off down the hall.

* * *

"I'm serious, he's completely suicidal," Harry told Ron.

Ron looked at him in disbelief. "Shinji? Are you sure?"

"He was talking about jumping off of one of the towers just today."

"Tell his father."

"That's just it, his father is the problem."

"Maybe he's just having a bad day...maybe..."

"Are you sure?" McGonagall's voice came from around the corner.

Harry and Ron pressed themselves up against the wall listening as Dumbledore spoke. "I'm afraid so...the Lance of Longinus has gone missing."

"If it falls into the wrong hands...the very world could be doomed."

"It is a very powerful and holy relic. No doubt You-Know-Who will be after it."

"We must find it. Immediately."

"The ministry is on it. No need to alarm the students with such a thing. I will contact Hagrid in the mountains and ask him to report any suspicious activity to me at once."

"I'll alert the staff." McGonagall said.

Harry and Ron quickly walked the other way. "What's that they're talking about? What's the Lance of Longinus?" Ron asked.

Harry shook his head. "I don't know...but I bet Hermione would...if we can get her away from Kaworu for two seconds."

* * *

"What do you mean you don't know?" Ron asked. "You know everything!"

Hermione gave him an icy glare. "I'm not Miss. Perfect, no I don't know everything. And I've never heard of this Lance of Longinus."

"But you know everything!" Harry shouted.

The other students in the library looked over at the trio. Hermione glared at Harry and Ron. "Look, I'm not an encyclopedia!" She snapped. "But I'm sure there's one in here!"

Kaworu came back reading a book about advanced spells. Hermione glanced up at him. "Do you know anything about the Lance of Longinus?"

Kaworu seemed a bit nervous. "I might know a little about it...why?"

Harry felt rage well up in him again. It didn't seem to be Hermione but Kaworu who had the answers to everything. Harry stood up. "Thank you but we don't really need your help. We were just curious."

"But Harry...you said..."

"We were just curious...it's not important." Harry walked off.

Ron looked from Harry to Hermione to Kaworu and then back at Harry. "Um...bye." He got up and followed his friend out of the library. "Why didn't you at least listen to him."

"I don't need his help." Harry said, huffily.

They saw a gathering of students around a few papers attached to the wall. "They put up the Quidditch team lists today," Neville told them.

"That Japanese kid is our new seeker!" A Hufflepuff girl said. "He's so cool!"

Draco looked smug. "We got our Japanese student as a beater."

"Well we'll see if she's any good come next week." Ron countered.

* * *

Harry sat on his broom watching the Quidditch game unfold and keeping an eye out for the golden snitch. They'd won against Slytherin two weeks earlier, however Draco had been right in bragging - Rei had known the game well and Gryffindor would have lost had Harry not caught the snitch at the last moment. He looked across the field watching Shinji hovering on his broom. Turning his gaze downward he saw Professor Ikari with the teachers watching the game, but showing little interest, as his eyes moved up again, he noticed Shinji zoom of after the ball that caught the sun's rays glistening as it flew.

Harry followed the other boy. His broomstick was faster than the school issued one that Shinji had, but Shinji weighed less than Harry. His robes flapped in the wind as he sped after the snitch. The Japanese boy looked down towards the teachers briefly, then resumed chasing the ball.

His father... Harry realized. Shinji's trying to impress his father - to win his praise. Harry slowed down enough that Shinji could get ahead, but not enough that the audience would notice.

Shinji leaned further forward, his hand outstretched, moving fast, finally letting his fingers close around the ball.

Harry stopped, resisting the urge to smile.

"Shinji Ikari catches the golden snitch!" The announcer exclaimed. "Hufflepuff wins the match!"

Cheers from Hufflepuff and disappointed groans from Gryffindor met Harry's ears at the same time. Shinji landed to be surrounded by the students from his house. Harry landed close by, walking up to the other boy, extending his hand after the crowd dispersed a little. "Good game."

Shinji beamed. Harry thought it was the first genuine smile he'd seen on the boy's face since he first came to Hogwarts. "A-arigato gozaimasu." Their hands met and briefly shook.

Harry and Shinji looked over in the direction of the teachers at the same time. Professor Ikari still wore his stern mask and shook his head in their direction. Shinji's smile melted away as he turned, handed the golden snitch to the Hufflepuff captain and walked back into the castle.

* * *

"That was totally unfair...he was wonderful! And his father doesn't even acknowledge it!" Harry vented to Ron later that night before bed.

Kaworu sat on his bed, one hand keeping a book open and the other massaging a sore shoulder. "Professor Ikari cares more about academics than sports."

Ron looked over. "Surely he sees that Shinji is a great athlete."

"Of course, but it doesn't matter to him. He has a point though, a good education can carry you your entire life but eventually your body won't support you in sports. Shinji's not a terrible student, I've been tutoring him and he seems bright enough, what he lacks is confidence." Kaworu told them.

"Is that why you didn't try for the team?" Harry asked. "Because you believe more in academics?"

"No...I...uh...you won't tell anyone?"

Harry and Ron shook their heads. Kaworu smiled. "I don't fly much. I have this terrible fear of heights."

Harry almost shouted out in excitement - his nemesis did have a weakness! Of course, a promise was a promise, but at least he knew that this boy wasn't perfect. He smiled. "Your secret is safe with me."

End of Chapter 2

Japanese Translations Chapter 2

Kore wa himitsu - This (object) is a secret

Oyasumi - Good night

Tabemono wa totemo aware na - This food is pathetic

Arigato Gozaimasu - Thank you very much (the last u is silent, Masu sounds like mas)

Why Does Kaworu Smell Like Pine?

No, he's not the woodsy outdoors type and it's not cologne either. His name comes from a legend in Japan about a warrior named Kaworu. The name means 'fragrance' and supposedly this warrior always had a sweet fragrance of pine incense. I decided for the purposes of this story, that this Kaworu should have the characteristic too. Even though his name means 'fragrance of the seashore' I happen to think the smell of pine is better than seaweed and rotting fish. ^.^