Harry Potter and the Lance of Longinus

Harry Potter and the Lance of Longinus

Chapter 5

"Tell me again why we have to do this?" Ron asked, standing in their room dressed in a traditional Japanese yukata.

Harry was wearing a similar outfit, only a different color and pattern. "According to McGonagall, New Year's is an important festival to the Japanese and since Kaworu and the others can't be home, the teachers want to make them feel as though they are. So just go along with it. It could be fun."

Ron made a disgusted face. "We don't have to eat raw fish, do we?"

Kaworu had slipped into the room unnoticed. "Sushi is quite good, don't knock it till you try it."

"It's not...alive though...is it?"

Kaworu laughed a little. "Of course not. It's dead and cut into slices. If you're squeamish about trying the raw fish, maybe you'd rather start out with shrimp or vegetable sushi and work your way from there."

"Do we have to use chopsticks?" Harry asked. "I don't think I've ever used them before."

Ron looked at him. "It's no big deal, if you don't know how, just jab your food with..."

"No!" Kaworu's voice sounded alarmed and his eyes almost scared. "You aren't supposed to use them like that at all. Manners for chopsticks are very detailed because they aren't just for eating they're used in funerals as well. Sticking the chopsticks into any food - especially rice - isn't proper. That's only done with food put on the alter for a deceased person's spirit."

Harry thought he almost sounded like Hermione for a second. "Anything else to know so we don't make complete fools of ourselves should we ever be in Japan?"

Kaworu smiled. "Let's see...don't pass anything directly from your chopsticks to those of another person...that's a lot like funeral rites too...don't play with them or wave them around or point to anybody or anything with them, when you're not using them you should place them on the table or on a dish. And don't move around bowls or plates with them."

Ron slipped his feet into the sandals provided. "Do the Japanese ever use forks and knives?"

"Only with Western food," Kaworu explained. "Sometimes spoons are used with soup, but usually one drinks soup directly from the bowl, fishing out solid pieces of food with their chopsticks."

Harry nodded, pulling on his own sandals as Kaworu shed his school uniform and donned his yukata.

"Do you always wear clothes like this in Japan?" Harry asked.

Kaworu tied his belt, holding the robe-like garment shut. "No, we wear Western clothes often times. Uniforms at school - but those are still shirts and slacks, skirts for the girls. Yukatas are often worn for relaxing - after baths or even on hot summer days, they're inexpensive and comfortable."

"I heard you're not supposed to wear underwear with them," Ron said.

Kaworu shrugged. "You don't have to...but if you're around other people, especially members of the opposite gender, it's a good idea - no one really wants to see that."

"Oh...right." Ron immediately rummaged through one of the dresser drawers searching for a pair of underwear.

Kaworu and Harry snickered but politely turned around as Ron pulled on his boxer shorts.

They walked down the stairs into the common room, bumping into Hermione on the way. She was wearing a lavender kimono with a lovely floral pattern. Harry couldn't take his eyes off of her.

She looked at the floor and blushed. "Okemashite omedeto gozaimasu." She gasped as though forgetting something and bowed deeply to Kaworu.

Kaworu bowed to Hermione. "Okemashite omedeto gozaimasu."

Ron tapped Harry on the shoulder and whispered. "What did they say?"

"I hope it was 'Happy New Year'." Harry whispered back.

They walked into the great hall. The ceiling was enchanted to look like fireworks were going off outside, paper lanterns hung above the tables, which had been lowered and instead of chairs to sit in, there were silk pillows on the ground. The regular dinning wear had been replaced with china bowls and plates with Japanese designs delicately painted on. Chopsticks were neatly laid by the bowls along with ceramic spoons.

"This is amazing..." Shinji's voice came from behind Harry as he entered the room.

"They really didn't need to do all this for us." Kaworu said. "But it's a wonderfully touching gesture."

Shinji nodded. "It's just like being home again."

Asuka looked less than impressed. "Subetemono wa nise no. Tabun Amerika kara."

Shinji glared at her. "Anata wa Amerika-jin, sorede anata wa nise no."

"Anata baka!!" Asuka snapped at him before walking to the Ravenclaw table.

Hermione went up to Shinji. "I didn't know she was American."

"Yep, born in America - German father, Japanese-German mother, but legally American," Shinji explained.

"Hey Shinji!" A boy from the Hufflepuff table called. "Iku iku!"

Shinji blushed up to his ears while Kaworu and Hermione both were overtaken with giggles.

Ron looked over at them quizzingly. "What's wrong?"

Kaworu stopped laughing after a minute or so and took a breath. "I believe he was trying to tell Shinji 'come here' or koko ikimashyo unfortunately, he used the wrong words and without knowing it just told Shinji that he was coming in a sexual sense."

Harry turned his attention to the Ravenclaw table where Asuka was snickering. "I wonder who told him how to say that."

Hermione put her hand over her mouth trying to stop the giggles. Kaworu put an arm around her shoulders. "Suwarimashyo."

Harry and Ron took their places across from Hermione and Kaworu. Harry again felt jealously bubbling in him, especially with Hermione looking as pretty as she did in the kimono.

The other boys and girls also wore yukatas and kimonos. Harry noticed the difference being that the kimonos had more layers and were made of fine silk while the yukatas were one layer of cotton, yet still decorated nicely.

There were two glasses in front of every student, a small one and a larger one. Harry noticed the small one was about half full with a clear liquid.

Professor Dumbledore stood at the teacher's table. "I know our Japanese friends would probably rather be home celebrating the holiday with their families, but I hope they will be happy celebrating with the families they have found here. If you'll all please raise your small glasses, which contain a small amount of sake."

"I know what that is - it's rice wine!" Ron said excitedly.

"Yes...that's had the alcohol boiled out of it, and you can't get drunk off a small glass like that." Hermione told him, picking up her glass.

"And so, to all of you, Okemashite omedeto gozaimasu, or Happy New Year." Professor Dumbledore raised his glass a bit higher. "Kampai."

"Kampai!" The students cheered raising their glasses and drinking a bit out of them.

Harry wrinkled his nose, not liking the taste of the sake. Looking into Kaworu's glass, it seemed he hadn't even had any. "Do you not like the taste?"

Kaworu shook his head. "I don't drink...that's for my father and step-mother."

Harry wanted to kick himself for forgetting that. "I'm sorry."

Kaworu shrugged. "Not much I can do about it. Except hang on until I can legally get out of home."

"Let the feast begin!" Professor Dumbledore said as the tables filled with all sorts of food.

Harry looked at the assortment of sushi - it looked almost like art, much too beautiful to eat. For the more daring people there was sushi made of raw fish but there was also sushi made of things like cucumber, other vegetables and egg. He picked up his chopsticks attempting to hold them like he saw some of the other students doing.

"Here, I'll show you." Hermione reached over repositioning the chopsticks in his hand.

Harry swallowed, her hands were soft and warm and he could smell the soap she's last used on them. "Th-thank you."

"Only the top one moves," Hermione told him. She was promptly hit in the face with a tempura shrimp as Ron attempted to use his own chopsticks.

"Sorry," Ron apologized.

She showed him how to hold his chopsticks.

"You said it's possible to pick up rice with these?" Harry asked Kaworu.

Kaworu sifted through his rice with his chopsticks. "This is not sticky enough for that. Just use the chopsticks to scoop it into your mouth."

"Gohan wa totemo aware na! To Nihon ni honmono sushi ga arimasu!" Asuka's voice almost whined from the Ravenclaw table.

Hermione slammed her rice bowl down. "Asuka-chan! Atashi wa anata no fuhei ni unzari shiteiru! Onshirazu no abazureon'na!"

Kaworu and Shinji both looked up at Hermione in shock, Shinji actually dropping his rice bowl on the table. Rei also glanced up but continued eating.

Asuka stood. "URUSEI!!"

"Iie!" Hermione shouted back, standing. "Kaiwa soto de tsuzukerimasho!"

Asuka sent her a dangerous glare. Professor McGonagall tapped her glass with her spoon loud and fast. "That is enough out of both of you! Really, Ladies, I would expect better behavior! Especially you, Miss. Granger!"

Hermione glared at Asuka and sat down. It took Asuka another moment to take her seat.

Harry rubbed his leg - the way he was sitting, perched like a bird, his leg was falling asleep. He wondered if he'd be able to stand, much less walk.

Ron poured lots of soy sauce on his rice. "Plain rice isn't very good."

Kaworu laughed a little. "In Japan we don't eat rice with soy sauce...it's always plain. We eat sushi with soy sauce."

Harry slurped some noodles out of his bowl. "These are...cold..."

"They're supposed to be," Hermione told him. "Soba or buckwheat noodles are served cold on New Year's. They're supposed to bring you good luck and prosperity if you eat them."

"Do these bring you luck with women?" Ron asked holding up a large pink bubble type food.

"Unfortunately, no," Kaworu said. "But mochi is eaten at New Years."

Ron took a bite. "Tastes kinda like...paste..."

Kaworu poured some soy sauce into a shallow bowl and then put sugar into it. "It's just made of rice; try it with that."

Ron dipped it and took another bite. "Not bad." He gestured to a small bowl of green foodstuff. "What is that?"

"Wasabi, but it's..." Kaworu didn't get to finish.

Ron scooped up a large bit of it on his mochi and stuffed it into his mouth. He screamed, fanning his mouth as his eyes watered and drool dribbled down his chin. Ron grabbed the glass of juice in front of him and drank the whole thing in less than a second, but he still seemed to be suffering.

"Is he all right?" Harry asked.

Kaworu smiled. "Wasabi is very hot...even for people who think they can handle it."

"Wish I'd known that sooner." Ron's face was still red and he drank a bit more juice.

Hermione snickered. "If you had let him finish, you would have known that."

Ron glared a little and seemed rather happy that dessert was balls of ice cream covered in uncooked mochi, which was a bit sticky, but delicious. Harry and Ron only tried the strawberry and vanilla flavors - and coffee, which they thought was chocolate, until they tasted it, but even that was good. Ron looked over as Kaworu ate a green ball of mochi ice cream. "That's not wasabi is it?"

Kaworu laughed a little. "Of course not, green tea."

Ron was still hesitant to try it.

* * *

"Valentine's Day already?" Ron asked. "Time passes too quickly."

"You're just worried about exams," Harry pointed out.

"And you're not?"

"Touché." Harry walked into the Great Hall with Ron to join the other students for breakfast. Everything was normal, except that ever since New Year's, Asuka was keeping any complaints about the food to herself, much the relief of everyone. He looked at Asuka who was dressed in a velvet red robe, apparently to celebrate the holiday.

Hermione turned her attention to Kaworu. "Is Valentine's day celebrated in Japan?"

"Actually, on February fourteenth, the girls give chocolate to the boys and on March fourteenth, which we call White Day, the boy returns the favor and give chocolate to the girls," Kaworu responded.

"That's a good idea!" Ron exclaimed. "Here, the boys have to give girls expensive gifts but get maybe a card in return. And then they expect us to remember all these stupid anniversaries, like the anniversary of the first time they ate apples together under some willow tree, girls are crazy."

Hermione rolled her eyes and continued eating.

A hooting and screeching of owls filled the room as the mail arrived. Packages and letters were dropped in front of students. Hermione got a bit of candy from her parents and Ron got a few crumbled up cookies. Fred, George and Ginny received the same cookies, obviously from their mother.

Harry found himself empty handed again, but Kaworu got a letter from his school. The other Japanese students seemed to be given the same letter.

"Kaji-sensei kara!!" Asuka squealed from the Ravenclaw table. She ripped open the envelope, tore out the letter and the happy smile on her face was replaced with one of complete devastation. "Kaji-sensei to...Katsuragi-sensei...wa...kekkon shimasu..." She threw the letter down and ran from the Great Hall. Harry thought he saw tears in her eyes.

Kaworu read his letter and exchanged glances with Shinji, they both went after Asuka. Rei remained seated. Ron, Harry and Hermione followed the Japanese students.

"...demo, Katsuragi-sensei?!" Asuka's voice seemed to echo through the halls. "Katsuragi wa nani ga arimasu an'na ni arimasen?!"

"Chichi kurushii ze!" Shinji exclaimed, putting his hands in front of his chest.

"Anata wa okama...doshite wa Katsuragi-sensei no chichi o mimasu ka?" Asuka asked.

Shinji shrugged. "Kaji-sensei wa komento o hanashimashita."

Asuka stuck her lip out in a small pout. "Kaji-sensei wa atashi no chichi o hanashimasen..."

"Anata wa chichi ga arimasen..." Shinji laughed.

Asuka punched him. "ZAKENNAYO!!"

Harry didn't understand exactly what happened, but he had since learned what 'zakennayo' meant. He walked up. "What's going on?"

Kaworu looked at him. "The teacher from our school who she's in love with..."

"And doesn't have a chance at..." Shinji interjected, receiving another punch from Asuka.

"Is getting married to the teacher everyone knows he's going out with," Kaworu finished.

Asuka sniffled. "Kaji-sensei was my first love..."

"He obviously wasn't meant for you," Hermione told her, trying to be compassionate.

"What would you know?!" Asuka shouted back. "You're too boring or ugly to ever get a boyfriend!!" Asuka quickly stormed off.

Shinji looked between everyone. "Uh...um...ano...Asuka-chan!" He turned running after the red-head. "Matte Asuka-chan! Matte!"

Harry and Ron turned to leave, Ron was already around the corner when Harry looked back seeing Hermione talking to Kaworu. She was blushing; he bit his lip and said something. She put her hands on his shoulders, standing on her tiptoes going to kiss him. Harry felt the jealously again, he hated Kaworu...every inch of his being. Angel or not...he wouldn't steal Hermione from him!

But to his surprise, Kaworu pushed her away gently. He took her hand and said something. Harry couldn't hear what he said but from the look on Hermione's face he knew that Kaworu didn't reciprocate her feelings. He smiled and touched her cheek saying something else, then walked off down the hall. Hermione leaned back against the wall, a tear falling from her eye.

Harry walked up to her. "I couldn't help seeing what happened."

"I spent so much time with him...I...I didn't know he was with someone else. I don't even have a clue who it is...maybe Rei, she seems nice." She sniffled.

"I've never seen him with Rei, he's usually with me and Ron or you or Shinji."

Hermione laughed a bit. "I don't think he's with you, Ron or Shinji."

"No." Harry smiled. "If you want to talk...you can come to me." He moved a piece of stray hair out of her face. She was so beautiful.

Hermione nodded. Harry leaned a bit closer, fully prepared to kiss her. Ron suddenly ran around the corner. "Hey Harry! I lost you!"

Harry cursed in his mind. He was so close. He stood up straight. "I'm coming. I'll see you later Hermione." He smiled and followed Ron.

* * *

"I hope Professor Ikari doesn't plan on staying permanently!" Ron said, exasperated. "Four exams in two weeks is a bit much!"

Harry shook his head. "I know...it's like he doesn't respect our free time."

"With him, we have no free time," Ron pointed out as they rounded the corner.

A group of students were surrounding the spot where Hermione had stood before. Harry and Ron ran to the front of the crowd. Hermione lay on the ground, her eyes wide open in horror, scratches like that from a wild animal on her cheek. Harry swallowed. Who or what had done this?

He looked up as the letters in blood appeared on the wall above Hermione.

Tabris - Give Me the Lance

"If you ask me, the mudblood deserved it!" Draco sneered.

Harry wanted to punch him. He whirled around to see Kaworu quickly leaving. His suspicions rose again. Could it really be possible...is Kaworu the enemy...

He tried to go after the Japanese boy, but bumped into someone and found himself staring into a pair of blood red eyes. "Rei!"

"Potter-san." Rei said simply, moving forward through the crowd.

Harry ran after Kaworu down the corridor he'd disappeared to. When he came to the end however, and looked all three ways, there was no sign that anyone had ever been there.

End of Chapter 5