Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ A Grim's Promise ❯ Chapter Four ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter books or Yu Yu Hakusho

Summary: Two years before his death a powerful psychic made Sirius a promise. Now Genkai and Yusuke travel to London to keep it and throw the British magical community for a loop.

Warnings: Some mild swearing

A Grim's Promise

Chapter Four

July 1st, Horntail Avenue

After putting his things away Yusuke started poking around the small living area that connected his and Genkai's bedrooms. Genkai had given him his Translation ring right after they got to their rooms so now he just needed the map. With that thing he could go exploring with out getting lost and looking like a total idiot. While he didn't find the map, he did see a stack of newspapers and an envelope addressed to Genkai on the coffee table. Putting the letter aside, he sat down on the couch and began looking through the newspapers.

It was weird. The first newspaper in the stack was from the twenty-third. That was over a week ago. As he flipped through the stack he noticed that all nine papers had front page articles about some guy named Harry Potter. It took Yusuke a minute before he remembered that was the name of the kid Genkai was taking in. The warning bells in his head started going off. He picked up the first paper and began reading. He could go exploring after he figured out what was going on.

Genkai came out of her room a few minutes later carrying a small money pouch and the map. She blinked at the sight of Yusuke bent over the coffee table reading a newspaper. When she got closer she saw he was frowning slightly. "Yusuke?"

"Oh, hey Genkai. This was here for you." Yusuke waved the envelope in her general direction without looking up from the paper. It took him a while to lower his hand after she took it from him.

Giving her distracted student one last look, Genkai opened the letter from the law firm.

Mater Genkai, (it read)

Once we received your confirmation letter Mr. Black wished us to inform you of any changes in his godson's status. Unfortunately a Mrs. Skeeter from the Daily Prophet has been hanging around our offices. Her presence made us reluctant to owl you before your arrival today. You have our sincerest apologies about the delay. Roughly ten days ago Mr. Potter ran away from his family. While no one currently knows where he is, we do know that he will be at the reading tomorrow. The newspapers left in your room should give you a better understanding of the current situation.

Sincerely,

Diana Whispersmith

"It appears Harry has run away."

"No shit!" Yusuke looked up from the paper, his eyes glowing in anger. "If what this thing says is true, I don't blame the kid. According to this he used to sleep in a cupboard for fuck's sake!"

Genkai sighed. "I know Yusuke. It's one of the reasons I agreed to Sirius' request."

"If you knew then why didn't you do something about it? Hell, why didn't this Sirius guy do something?" Yusuke was giving his mentor a death glare Hiei would have been proud of.

Genkai looked tired as she sat down next to Yusuke. "We didn't do anything because we couldn't. When Harry was a baby Sirius was jailed for a crime he didn't commit. He managed to escape two years ago but he was constantly on the run. Technically, he was the boy's guardian but he wouldn't have been able to give him a home. And I couldn't do anything about it because I'm not a blood relative. If I had tried to pull the boy from his Aunt's home I would have been thrown in prison faster than you can blink. Wizarding Laws are very strict when it comes to children, Yusuke. With out absolute proof of abuse no one would have been able to get him out of there." Genkai sighed. "You can thank Yukina and Botan for the fact that we can do something about it now."

That piece of information stopped Yusuke from going off. "You lost me Grandma. What do those two have to do with this?"

"When I told Yukina Harry was coming to stay with us, she confessed the whole scheme. Apparently she and Botan over heard my conversations with Sirius about his guilt about not being able to get Harry away from his relatives. Later, for some reason, Botan found out when Sirius was scheduled to die and accidentally," Genkai rolled her eyes, "told him. That combined with Yukina's subtle and not so subtle hints led to Sirius asking me to look after Harry." She snorted softly. "I always wondered what had prompted him to ask me."

Yusuke snorted. "That sounds like something those softies would do." He looked at the newspaper in front of him. "So where do you think he's hiding?"

"Dimwit. Didn't you feel that energy when we arrived?"

Yusuke blinked then looked at his mentor shocked. "Wait. You mean that guy behind the door was him?" He looked at the picture in the paper then back at Genkai. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. I'm old, not dead. My senses are working just fine." She looked at the teen next to her critically. "Would you recognize his energy signature if you felt it again?"

Yusuke thought for a second before nodding slowly. "I should be able too. He's the strongest person I've felt so far. I caught I glimpse of him as he was passing by the door too."

"Good." Genkai handed him the money pouch and map. "I want you to keep an eye on him today. I put three hundred Galleons in there. It should be more than enough. Check the bookstore first. It looks like that's the most interesting place here." She gave him a serious look as she stood up. "Introduce yourself as my student and only call him James. It's his middle name. He should answer to it. Be very careful Yusuke. There are a number of people who want this boy dead." Genkai started to head back to her bedroom.

"Got it." Genkai was almost to her room before he spoke again. "Genkai, about earlier…"

"You don't need to apologize Yusuke. Your anger is understandable. Just save it for tomorrow when you meet Dumbledore. He's the one who placed the boy there."

qpqpqp

Harry looked between the shelves when the door to the bookstore opened. His eyebrows shot up in surprise when he saw it was the guy he had seen at the hotel this morning. He didn't seem the type to be caught dead in a bookstore, let alone enter one willingly. Harry watched as the shopkeeper looked disdainfully in the teen's muggle clothing. She had given him that same look when he had first come in a few days before. Although, she had given him a slightly nicer look when she had seen his braid. This guy, however, just glared right back at her. Harry snickered softly when the woman backed down and quickly looked away.

Harry grew a little nervous when the guy began looking around the selves for something or someone. He grew even more nervous when the guy focused right on where he was standing and began walking around the shelves towards him. Harry was pretty sure the guy couldn't have seen him. He was in the back of the store after all. He pushed down the small voice saying the teen was looking for him and went back to looking at the books on animagus transformation. It was just his imagination.

"Hey."

Harry's head shot up. Okay, maybe it wasn't his imagination. "Um, can I help you?"

"James, right?" He smirked when Harry reluctantly nodded. "Good, I was hoping it was you. I'm Yusuke Urameshi, Genkai's student."

"Genkai's student?" Harry was confused. This guy looked old enough to be out of school. And just how did he know his middle name? The last person to call him that on a regular basis was his third grade teacher back in primary.

"Yeah, you know the old hag with the graying pink hair that arrived at your hotel this morning?"

Harry blushed slightly, realizing he had been caught. "I know who Genkai is, but student?"

"Well, if you want to get technical, I'm her successor. But that's a really long story." Yusuke looked down at his watch. It was a nine hour time difference so…"Look, it's almost noon so why don't I buy you lunch and we can talk. That sound good to you?"

Harry looked at the teen warily. That little voice was back and it was saying he could trust this guy. It was more of a feeling actually. The last time he had had this feeling about someone was when he met Sirius for the first time. Underneath all the anger and fear that little voice had said to trust him and it had turned out to be right. With a mental shrug Harry decided to go with it. "I guess so. Just let me pay for these first." Harry bent down and picked his stack of books.

Yusuke groaned. "Oh my god, another Kurama."

"Who?"

"I'll tell you once we get to the restaurant."

Grimmauld Place

Bill and Remus looked up from the map in front of them when Snape walked into the kitchen. He was carrying a large, smoking goblet of Wolfsbane potion. He placed the potion in front of Remus before sitting down.

"Don't spill any of it Lupin. I don't have any more."

"I know Severus." Remus grimaced as he drank the foul smelling potion.

Bill gagged at the smell. "Does that taste as bad as it smells?"

"Actually, Severus managed to improve the taste." Remus smirked slightly. "It used to taste much worse than it smells."

"You are far too kind wolf." Severus said sarcastically as he looked at the books, maps, and notes spread out on the table. "Now for the real reason we're all missing lunch, any luck finding Potter yet?"

Bill shook his head. "None what so ever. Tracking charms on the owls get disrupted before they reach their destination. The most they give us is that he's in muggle London somewhere. Same with the location charms. And when Dumbledore tried the Hogwarts quill it said Harry was still at Privet Drive." He looked at Remus oddly when he started chuckling.

"Please enlighten us Lupin. What is so amusing?" Snape asked, glaring at the werewolf.

"It's nothing really. It's just passive spells like that won't work. I don't know why Albus even bothered." Remus was still chuckling softly.

"Of course. The blood wards." Bill rolled his eyes at Snape's confused expression. "It's really quite simple. When Dumbledore tied the blood wards to Petunia Dursley he marked the house magically as Harry's home. Then later Sirius strengthened the markings by allowing Harry to stay there."

Remus glared daggers at the curse breaker. "Sirius didn't allow Harry to stay there Bill. He didn't have a choice in the matter."

Bill flinched. "Sorry Remus. But what I was trying to say is that no matter how strong the spell is if it's a passive one, it's not going to work." He looked thoughtful for a second. "In fact, now that I think about it, that's probably what's been throwing off the active spells too. Blood wards are some of the strongest spells around."

"Potter can't go running around muggle London like some tourist. We need to find him." Snape was rubbing his forehead trying to think of something they hadn't already tried. "Wait, didn't he send you his owl Lupin? Has anyone tried to have her track him down?" Snape scowled when Remus and Bill started snickering. "What is it this time?"

Remus smirked. "Moody already tried that. Hedwig about bit his finger off. She's fiercely loyal to Harry. I've had to use Errol or Nymph to check up on Harry since."

"And let me guess wolf, no clues in his letters as to where he's staying?"

Remus shook his head. "The only clues we've gotten from those is that he's staying at a nice hotel and that there's a bookstore within walking distance. Tonks has been checking all the upper class hotels in muggle London but no luck yet."

Bill looked at the clock and stood up from his chair. "Bloody hell, I'm late! I'll see you tomorrow Remus, Professor." Bill pushed his chair under the table and quickly walked out of the kitchen and to the Floo.

Snape ignored Bill and looked at the books and maps laid out on the table. "If both active and passive spells don't work and the owl won't help what in Salazar's name were you two doing?"

Remus picked up a long chain with a crystal hanging from the bottom. "Crystal scrying. Care to try?"

Snape buried his face in his hands, groaning. Maybe he should have just gone to lunch at the Smoking Ember like he had planned.

Horntail Avenue

Three hours later Yusuke and Harry were still sitting in the Smoking Ember talking. They had decided to trade off asking questions. So far they had covered who Kurama was, how he reminded Harry of Hermione, why Yusuke pummeled Kuwabara on a daily basis, how Malfoy became known as the amazing bouncing ferret, Yusuke's ex girlfriend Keiko, Cho, Botan's horrible flying, Quidditch, what Genkai was like, and how Harry had defeated the basilisk in his second year. Right now Yusuke was finishing telling Harry of how he had met Genkai for the first time.

"…and that's how I ended up in Grandma's boot camp from hell." Yusuke smirked at Harry's shocked face and took a swig of his butterbeer. "It's my turn now. Earlier in the bookstore, one minute you looked like you were about to bolt and the next you accepted my invitation to lunch. How did you know you could trust me? What changed your mind like that?"

Harry shook himself out of his daze and shrugged uncomfortably. "Sometimes I get feeling about things or people, have weird prophetic dreams, things like that. I got a feeling from you that you could be trusted I guess."

Yusuke looked at Harry closely. "Do you ever feel wards or sense ghosts?"

"Yeah, I have." Harry shivered slightly. "The first time I entered Hogwarts I could feel the castle's wards pressing down on me. And once I knew where the Bloody Baron was before I saw him. Why?"

"It sounds like you've got a high spiritual awareness." Yusuke nodded to himself. "A lot like it actually."

Harry raised an eyebrow. There was a name for it? "Spiritual awareness?"

Yusuke looked out the window, trying to think of a way to explain it. "Yeah, spiritual awareness or responsiveness. It's sort of like a sixth sense. You're energy is more in tune with the world around you. You can pick up on really weird things, know if someone is stronger than you or if they're a threat, sometimes know when something bad is going to happen, stuff like that. You might want to ask Genkai about it sometime. She could probably explain it better and help you learn to control it too." He looked back at Harry. "You know we've been in here a while. You wanna go somewhere else?"

"I'd like to, but there aren't that many places to go in Horntail Avenue."

"Is there a pet store or something like that?"

"There's the owl store a few buildings down. Why?"

Yusuke frowned slightly. "Just an idea I had. Never mind. What about a Quidditch Shop?"

Harry shook his head. "There's not one here, but there is one in Diagon Alley."

"Diagon?" Yusuke raised an eyebrow. That wasn't on the map. "So what else is in there?"

"Well, let me think. There's a pet store, an owl store, a book store, a couple of joke shops, the Quidditch store…" Yusuke cut him off.

"It's where all the interesting stuff is, huh?" Yusuke tilted his head to the side as he studied Harry. Genkai had told him to keep the kid safe but he was getting really bored just sitting here. Okay, the conversation had been interesting, but the waitress glaring at them for the past half hour had kind of put a damper on it. The kid didn't much look that picture from the paper. The brown eyes and long hair made a big difference. So, maybe… "You wanna go hangout there?"

Harry chewed on his lower lip, thinking. He had been bored for the past few days. And he really did want to check out the new broom that had just come out and maybe see the twins' new store. But if someone from the Order recognized him…ah, forget it. "Sure, why not."

"Great. Let's go." Yusuke tossed fourteen Galleons on to the table and dragged Harry out of the restaurant. On the way out, Harry just missed seeing a man in black robes floo into the restaurant.

Snape starred thoughtfully at the two teens heading towards the Diagon Alley entrance. The one with the braid had looked vaguely familiar but he just couldn't place him. He snorted to himself. He could figure it out later. His lunch had been put off long enough.

qpqpqp

A little over an hour later Yusuke and Harry were entering the Magical Menagerie carrying a few bags and Yusuke's new broom. The first thing they had done when they had entered Diagon was visit the small jewelry shop next to the Owl Emporium to get Harry a Translation necklace, charmed to allow him to speak and understand Japanese. Yusuke had insisted that he wear and use it around the Alley and now twisted his ring on and off to talk to shopkeepers. He had also convinced the younger teen to hold off the trip to the twin's new shop. Yusuke wasn't the most perceptive person around but he had noticed Harry's hurt look when he had mentioned their brother during their talk earlier and had quickly persuaded him to visit Gambol & Japes instead. The Magical Menagerie was their last stop before heading back to the hotel and Yusuke was determined to get Harry a snake. Harry's Parseltongue ability sounded like a great way to freak Kuwabara out.

Yusuke guided Harry all the way to the back of the store and stopped directly in front of the few snake tanks that were actually there. He turned to face the other boy wearing a very mischievous smirk. "Pick one."

"You've got to be kidding me! You want me to buy a snake?!" Harry hissed, looking at him like he was insane.

"No, I'm buying the snake. You just get to pick." Yusuke figured it was only fair that he, well Genkai actually, pay for the thing since he was planning on pranking Kuwabara with it. He just hoped Hiei didn't kill it when he found it.

"Now I know you're nutters. I told you earlier, people have fits when they see me doing that. And besides, we met, what, five hours ago and now you're going to buy me one of those? The cheapest one is fifteen Galleons." Harry said quietly, trying not to attract the shop owner's attention anymore than they already had.

"Look if it helps, I'm doing this partially for selfish reasons." Yusuke smirked again. "I really want to see Kuwabara's face when he sees you talking to one. So either you pick one or I'll pick one."

"You're serious?"

"Yep."

"I can't talk you out of this?"

"Nope."

Harry sighed in resignation. "Fine. Can you distract her for a moment?" He nodded his head to the woman watching them.

"Are you going to do what I think you're going to do?" Yusuke sighed when he nodded. "Alright, just be quick about it." He twisted his ring and made his way over to the curious shopkeeper and began asking about the oddly colored kittens by the window.

When the woman was far enough away that she wouldn't hear him, Harry tapped his translator with his finger and began focusing on the snakes. Once he could understand them he realized most of the snakes were making extremely rude comments about him, Yusuke and the shop owner. But there was one small black snake in a tank all by itself not saying a thing. Blocking out the other snakes, he made his way over to its tank and knelt down to get a closer look at it. It was actually kind of cute in a snake like way. It was only about a foot long and solid black. Harry read the small sign on the tank. He blinked in shock. An experimental poisonous breed and this woman was allowed to sell it! Was the ministry insane? He glanced towards the window to check and saw the two were still talking. He reached out and lightly tapped on the glass before speaking. "Excuse me?"

The snake lifted its head and tasted the air. "What do you want human?"

"I was wondering why all of you are hidden in the back like this." The other snakes looked over at the two curiously before going back to insulting the shop keeper and the kitten she was holding.

It hissed-laughed. "The woman worries. She believes if anyone saw us she would not sell any of her other animals."

"Oh." Harry was quiet for a second. "Doesn't it get boring back here?"

"Very." The snake looked at him curiously. "Why do you ask?"

"My friend insists on getting me a snake and you're the only one not being rude so would you like to come with me?"

"How do you know I won't bite you? My poison is extremely deadly."

Harry shrugged. "I don't. But if you do that someone will kill you and then you'll be dead instead of bored. At least with me you'd get out of the tank."

The snake nodded. "Alright human, but if it gets boring I reserve the right to bite you."

Harry chuckled and removed the lid from the tank, picking the snake up. "Agreed. I won't be able to talk to you again until I reach my hotel. Is that alright with you?"

"That's fine." The snake slithered under his coat and curled around his arm with just its head poking out of the sleeve.

Harry put the lid on back on the tank and tapped his charm once more to turn it back on. Just in time too. Yusuke and the shopkeeper were heading his way and Yusuke was holding a blue-green kitten? Harry started chuckling, ignoring Yusuke's glare. "Serves you right."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Did you find one?"

"Yep." Harry lifted up the sleeve of his coat and showed him the snake.

"Cool. Here hold this guy a minute." Yusuke handed him the kitten and turned to the extremely pale woman. Harry began petting the purring kitten while the other teen paid for the animals. His snake, who he had yet to think up a name for, stuck its head out to look at the kitten. He had to hold back a laugh when the small fuzz ball nuzzled the snake affectionately. The snake darted back into his coat, apparently shocked by the kitten's behavior.

"Um, James?"

"Huh?" Harry looked up from the kitten and blinked in shock at Yusuke's pale face.

Yusuke took his new kitten back, being very careful to avoid touching the sleeve the snake was hiding under. "Did you know that thing can kill instantly with just a bite? And that if actually uses its poison, the death is extremely painful?"

"Yes, I know. It was on the sign. Most magical snakes are poisonous though so it's really not a big surprise." Harry shrugged. "It doesn't matter though. We made a deal."

"What kind of deal?"

Harry smiled faintly as he picked up his things and began walking out of the store. "As long as he's not bored he won't bite me."

"Oh good." Yusuke sighed in relief. Then it hit him. "What?!" He grabbed his broom and ran after Harry. Genkai was going to kill him when she heard about this.

qpqpqp

Harry smiled as he put his new snake down on the bed. Today had been fun, especially Yusuke's rant about his snake. They were in the lift up to their rooms before he had calmed down enough for Harry to explain that the snake couldn't actually bite him. It was forbidden for any snake without an acknowledged master to hurt a Parselmouth. Yusuke had then started mumbling something about how he and Grandma were both evil and god help Kurama if they ever teamed up.

Harry was jolted out of his thoughts when he heard a tapping sound coming from the window. When he opened the curtains he found Hedwig sitting on the window sill waiting to be let in. He quickly opened the window and closed it as soon as she was inside and sitting on his shoulder. He pulled the curtains shut once more before reaching up to pet her. He smiled fondly when she began nibbling on his ear. "I missed you too." He looked at the snake on the bed who was watching the scene with interest. "No biting Hedwig."

The snake curled up on a pillow, preparing to sleep. "Your owl is safe. She's too big to eat."

"Ah, okay. Thanks." Harry sat down on the bed and held his arm out for Hedwig so he could pet her. When she hopped down she immediately stuck her leg out. He removed the small scroll and she flew over to his desk to sleep. Harry quickly unrolled the scroll when he saw Remus' hand writing.

Harry, (it read)

I know you asked me to keep Hedwig until tomorrow but this afternoon Mad-eye tried to get her to track you again and the results weren't pretty. Trust me; she'll be much safer with you tonight. As I'm writing this he's hunting around the house for her and muttering something about having roast owl for dinner. I will see you in the morning. Stay inside and stay safe. Not just werewolves are out during the full moon.

Remus

Harry looked at his owl with new found respect. "You attacked Mad-eye again?" Hedwig hooted proudly before tucking her head back under her wing. Harry snickered as he picked up his book on animagus transformation, absently rubbing his scar. Only his owl would do something that crazy.

tbc…

Author's Notes:

1) The laws Genkai refers to were created after Grindelwald was defeated. During that time many children of his suspected followers were forcefully removed from their homes by the ministry, supposedly for their own safety. This caused many pureblood lines to either die out or to just disappear. To prevent this from ever happening again laws were written stating that unless the child's parents named someone else their guardian a child should live with his or her blood kin. In Harry's case this works against him but they, along with some of the older inheritance laws, allow Sirius to name Genkai his new guardian. (FYI: These laws and the actions that prompted them are not from the books, they are my own creation. However I did base them on little things from the books. Like the fact that Harry was given to Petunia instead of a wizarding family, the way family history seems to be so important to purebloods, blood status, the ministry's stupidity etc.)

2) The books Harry bought are for the DA and for him to study Occlumency. He's also looking into becoming an animagus for two reasons. One; he would like to follow in Sirius and his father's footsteps and hangout with Remus during the full moon and two; because it could be useful later in the war.

3) Remus knows exactly were Harry is. He is purposely messing up the Order's efforts to find him.

4) 14 Galleons is roughly $103 dollars.

5) Yusuke's Translation ring is made up of two parts. He can turn it on or off by twisting the gold half left or right. When he turns it to the left it locks in place with the silver half and turns on, allowing him to speak/understand English. Harry's Translation necklace is a silver chain with a small Grim pendant. He can turn it on or off by tapping the small gold collar on the Grim. It allows him to speak/understand Japanese. Harry got it instead of a ring because it's easier to hide. All he has to do is tuck it under his shirt.

6) Yusuke's new kitten is an elemental cat. It won't get much bigger than it is now and controls/plays with ice and water. Harry's snake is actually a violation of the ban on experimental breeding. The ministry found it during a raid and later allowed it to be sold after they determined it to be mostly harmless. The snake knows he can't hurt Harry but he's not going to admit it.