I'm back! Yes yes I know I know, it's been far too long since I last updated this story. I am fully aware of the fact and I'm sorry about it. My only excuse is I really just didn't feel like writing. I'm hoping I got through some of the writer's block and I'll be able to update this and Captains Turned Wizards soon but I really don't know.

It also doesn't help that I've got another idea for a Bleach/HP fic racing around in my head that I really want to roll out but I told myself it would have to wait until I finished Captains. I'm also concerned because it has some plot similarities to another story someone else wrote but also many differences so I'm unsure if I can write it and not be accused of stealing ideas.

I am done with school so it's not like I don't have any free time, I have loads, I just can't seem to get in the mood for writing or if I am in the mood, I have no ideas. But I'll do my best.

Anyway, it's a rather short chapter unfortunately, about half of this was written weeks ago but I couldn't manage to finish it. I ended it short because I liked the place I was at and would have smashed my head into the desk if I had to try and lengthen it.

I own nothing except my unreliable but sometimes helpful, full of insane things mind. Hope you like.

Ichigo growled to himself as he climbed the unnecessarily large number of stairs up to the Headmaster's office. He was definitely not in a good mood after having to sit through the First Task and the rather pathetic excuse for fighting the four 'Champions' had done. Ichigo could have done the task in half the time the quickest one of them had took, and could have gotten out mostly unscathed even without using Duro.

The Task had only served to prove him right about the combat abilities of the magic users, which was to say, none at all. He knew they would argue of course, that they learned from their Defense Against the Dark Arts classes how to fight 'properly' as wizards and witches. Ichigo could do better without even using magic than they could. His speed alone would be enough to dodge the dragon and get to the egg in record time. And he could be even faster with magic.

I don't get why none of them thought to just Accio the egg to them. Potter used it to get his broom when it wasn't even close by, how much harder would it be to say "Accio golden egg?" Seriously, these wizards are a joke.

Ichigo wasn't looking forward to having to deal with the Champions and the three Heads of schools in a bit, because surely that was why he had been summoned. Not that he had a choice in the matter. He didn't want to deal with the accusations and suspicion that he was about to face, because of course the stupid prejudiced Europeans couldn't just accept something at face value. Not that Ichigo wholly blamed them, since it was a bit suspicious, but they could clearly see that his spell truly didn't do any more than protect the target, they should be thanking him. Oh well, he'll make them see, or at least leave him alone about it.

He cringed slightly at the creak the door made as he opened it, walking into the room to everyone's eyes on him. Let's just get this over with. He took a slight breath in and resigned himself to his fate, "You wanted to see me Headmaster?"

The old man smiled at him, eyes at full twinkle, much to Ichigo's irritation, "Yes my boy," the name made Ichigo grit his teeth and forcefully restrain himself from glaring at the man, "I'm afraid our guests are somewhat worried about your use of an unknown spell. If you could just reassure them and perhaps explain what it does so there are no concerns it'd be appreciated."

As if any of you'd let me leave the room without explaining, Karkaroff alone is so focused on his Champion he'd probably hunt me down until I told him. Guess they do have reason to be concerned since I am still mostly an unknown; at least these wizards aren't complete idiots.

"I told you already, I cast a spell called Duro, all it does is strengthen the target's skin by making it somewhat thicker and tougher, its only purpose is to lessen injury, that's all." He glanced around at each Champion, quickly assessing their physical state, "Which I would think you'd be thanking me for, if I hadn't have used it the injuries they did get could have been much worse. They would have been twice as bad at the very least; it might just have kept them from being much more seriously injured, to the point of not being able to continue the tournament even with medical attention. So I think I deserve some thanks, and a little less suspicion would be nice, not like I wanted anything to do with this joke of a competition in the first place." He grumbled the last bit, the only ones able to hear what he said being Dumbledore and Harry, who were standing nearest.

The Headmasters exchanged looks while the champions came to their own conclusions. Finally Dumbledore nodded and turned back to Ichigo, giving him a friendly look that the teen did not return, "I dare say we do, thank you for your assistance in protecting our champions when you did not necessarily have to provide aid."

Ichigo nodded absently and scanned the expressions of the people in the room once more, "No problem. Is that all then? Because I was in the middle of an assignment when I had to come for the Task and I'd like to get back to it."

Dumbledore looked a bit troubled by his apathy towards them but nodded, "yes that is all. How long do you plan on staying in the dorms?"

"I was planning on leaving after talking to Luna. I want to focus on my studies so I don't want to be here more than necessary." Ichigo was firm on catching up to the seventh years since he was already going to be older than his classmates when he did graduate, he could handle the workload no problem.

"I would like you to spend the week before end of this term at the castle if possible, there will be some additional lessons that you will need to attend I'm afraid, and I would like to attend the final two Tasks."

Gold-flecked brown eyes stared into sparkling blue for several long seconds, weighing, measuring, and finally giving in, "Fine, but I still don't have to like it. I'll be back on the 21st, see you then." And with that he whipped around and strode out of the office, his robes flaring in an effect eerily reminiscent of Snape while somehow seeming more violent.

Dumbledore turned to look at the others in his office and regarded them quietly, "Was that sufficient? I do not believe Mr. Kurosaki means any harm; he is a good student, just very focused on his goals. He will not be present very often during the year in any case as he is very serious about his studies."

The other Headmasters nodded and left, their champions in tow and Harry followed Cedric out after one last look at Dumbledore's contemplative expression, his own mind whirling.

Arriving in the Griffindor Common Room to excited yells and cheers effectively distracted him for a number of hours until bed. In fact he completely forgot about the ginger transfer for the weeks leading up till end of term, focused on classes and homework as well as the upcoming next Task that he still had no clue about.

Harry found it very easy to forget about the tall student when said student was not actually present and he did not remember that the student would be back until McGonagall was announcing the date and instructions of the Yule Ball, specifically the fact that it was to take place before the end of term and would require dance lessons for those attending. Didn't Dumbledore say Ichigo had to come back for lessons? Was he talking about dance lessons? Does he even know that Ichigo wants to attend?

He brought it up with Hermione and Ron (who he had thankfully made up with after the Task) the Monday before the Ball. Ron and Harry were trying to avoid thinking about asking out dates while Hermione just flat out ignored their frustrated mutterings, Harry only brought it up to try and distract himself from the inevitable embarrassing event that was asking a girl to a dance.

Hermione seemed interested, "So he's coming back this week? I wonder if anyone told him about the Ball before hand."

"I sure wouldn' want to be the one to tell 'im he came all the way just for a dance," was Ron's muttered input, he was still a bit put out after his spectacular failure of asking Fleur to the dance.

Harry thought Ron had a valid point, he certainly wouldn't want to be made to go cross country just to find out it was for a dance that he had to take lessons to attend.

The trio were on their way out of the Great Hall when an approaching blaze of orange distracted them into stillness, Ichigo Kurosaki was back.

They watched as the tall boy paused as he was approached by a younger girl with wavy platinum blond hair, Harry thought he recognized her from somewhere.

"That's the girl who was giving him broom lessons!" Ron exclaimed somewhat quietly and then Harry remembered, he also thought that maybe Ginny had mentioned something about her, Lu- something, Lucy maybe? Anyway at the moment Ginny was nowhere to be seen as the Lucy girl talked to Ichigo, gesturing vaguely to the Great Hall and making the boy scowl fearsomely.

It wasn't until they moved a bit closer that they could hear what they were discussing:

"What the hell do you mean I have to attend some Ball? Why do I have to do that? I didn't come halfway around the world to go to some stupid dance."

The older boy seemed close to actually growling, his voice tense with irritation and making those nearby cringe cautiously but Lucy didn't even flinch.

"I think it's required. Those attending the Ball need to attend lessons in dance and invite a date. Those under third year can't go unless an older student asks them to go but everyone going needs a date." She didn't hesitate to explain the situation that made a fair number of the male student body nervous; she even did so with a dazed blank look on her face.

Ichigo actually snorted derisively, a wholly unimpressed look on his face, "as if asking someone is going to make me nervous. You're over third year aren't you Luna? Got a date yet? If not want to go with me?"

The girl, Luna according to Ichigo, looked even more dazed than usual at the abrupt proposal, blinking several times to process what he had said. She wasn't the only one flabberghasted at the completely out of the blue question, none of the students nearby could even imagine being able to ask someone out so confidently, even uncaringly, as he had.

Luna's lips spread into a small smile at the older boy who was looking down at her with an aloof expression, "No I don't have a date yet, I think it would be nice to attend with a friend."

Ichigo smirked at her, "great, we can meet later to discuss dress colors and maybe practice some. Do your best in dance lessons; don't let me surpass you when you've gotten a head start on me, though I doubt you'd be able to beat me."

She smirked so slightly up at her date, a teasing tone entering her voice, "I don't think you will be able to catch up, it has been nearly a week since the announcement after all."

"We'll have to see now won't we? I'll catch you later Luna, if you can't find me just send Tsuki with a message, she'll find me." With a whirl of black robes the tall student was gone, merging into the crowds easily despite his attention grabbing hair and height.

"Well he sure isn't shy, he didn't hesitate at all!" Hermione seemed impressed at the ease with which the older student asked Luna out while Ron and Harry were still trying to get over how uncaring and unabashed he had been and wondering if they could manage it. Not likely. They'd just have to figure something out on their own.

They didn't see the tall transfer student until later that day during the first dance lesson for the Gryffindors, being held in one of the smaller halls.

Harry was laughing as quietly as possible with the boys around him at the almost panicked look on Ron's face as the latter was called to demonstrate the dance with Professor McGonagall. Clearly he wasn't being quiet enough because his friend kept shooting him glares, a peek at the other side of the room proved that Hermione was enjoying Ron's discomfort just as much as he was, if not more. She was clearly still upset with him for assuming she didn't have a date to the Ball until the last minute.

He was trying to smother his laughter as Ron beat a hasty retreat once being released by McGonagall when the loud snickering of an unfamiliar deep voice caught his attention. Clearly the sound was loud enough for the rest of the room to hear and the students glanced around trying to find the source. The laughter was just dying down when Harry locked on to the unknown amused person, it was Ichigo Kurosaki.

He stood leaning half against the closed doors to the hall, snickering into his robes not at all discretely, his shoulders shaking in mirth. He kept laughing to himself, not noticing or ignoring how everyone in the room was whispering with their neighbors about his sudden presence. Even though he had already been a student for over a year there were a large number of people who hadn't seen him close up, since he kept to himself and rarely associated with anyone, even those of his own House. For the Gryffindors in the hall he was a pretty rare sight, since those not in his year had almost never seen him from a closer distance than across the Great Hall at meals.

"Is there something you find amusing Mr. Kurosaki?" McGonagall's dry voice broke up the chatter and brought an end to Ichigo's private laughter.

Ichigo shook his head with one last chuckle, looking at McGonagall with an expression of dry humor on his face, "Just how uncomfortable Weasley looked during the demonstration, you'd think he's never had contact with a woman before."

Harry glanced at his friend out of the corner of his eye and saw his ears go red in embarrassment but kept silent, gaze trained on the foreign student.

McGonagall seemed a tad confused at his statement, "well I would think most students are not well accustomed to those of the opposite gender, is that not the case with you?"

Ichigo snorted at that, "Hardly, I've got twin younger sisters and my best friend is a girl. Also I used to know two women who liked to mess with me by smothering me in their chests. I'm not exactly body shy."

McGonagall just blinked, trying to digest what he'd just said, as was the rest of the room. Who in the world does he know? Why would they act like that? And why doesn't it bother him?

"Well then, I suppose I can see why you are not embarrassed. Why are you here though? I am certain lessons for the Slytherins is being held in another hall of the castle, are you lost?"

"Nah, just didn't feel like dancing with those pricks, damned Purebloods look down on anyone who wasn't taught dance because they grew up with it. So I figured I'd take lessons with one of the other Houses, unless that's a problem?"

"Not at all, so you have no prior knowledge of dance?"

"Not much use for it in Japan, and the dances where I live are different. I'm told I learn very fast though so I'll be done after today."

"Today? That is a bit too quick don't you think?" There was no way he could learn the dance perfectly in only one afternoon, even if he was a fast learner.

Ichigo just rose a thin eyebrow and stepped further into the room, approaching McGonagall, "yeah? Well let's just find out then, shall we?"

McGonagall started the music again and instructed him where to place his hands and what steps to take. Ichigo took her hand and placed his other at her waist with no hesitation or discomfort of any kind, waited for the right beat, and swept the teacher into the dance.

McGonagall was stunned at how well he danced for a beginner, maybe he wasn't one..? But no, he made beginner mistakes, even if his movement and balance were even better than hers, he really was a quick learner.

They danced for nearly an hour, McGonagall making slight corrections whenever Ichigo made a mistake, but mostly serving as an example of a properly executed dance. Ichigo only needed minimal instruction before he picked up the proper form and movement almost as if it was natural for him, and within the hour of his arrival, he was done. The room watched as a whole as the tall foreigner sauntered out of the room without a backwards glance. He really was impressive.

So there you have it, chapter 11. This is going to be my longest fic yet I think. I'm alright with it but I do get stumped rather frequently. I'll try not to succumb to the evil writer's block but it happens.

Hope you liked it and leave reviews saying what you liked or what you'd like to see in the story in the future. Just so you all know, I have no plans for any of the Bleach characters not already used to be in the story as anything other than simply being mentioned in passing. This really is more on the Harry Potter side of the crossover, save for Ichigo's presence in the school. Sorry if you don't like it, but that's what I've decided for now. Remember Ichigo doesn't have his powers in the story.

I'm kind of temped to write out that other Bleach/HP story just so it stops taking up my head space, but I'm not sure if anyone would be interested. How bout I give you all a little rundown of the story and you tell me if you'd read it or if you have any suggestions. It would be a story where Ichigo is a wizard, the only ones who know are his family and Snape. Ichigo attended teh Japanese magic school and met Snape there while Snape was doing some extra studies, Snape took Ichigo on as a private student while he was in Japan and afterwards kept in contact with letters. So the story would open during Order of the Phoenix where either Harry first arrives at the Order or after he gets back from the trial, only to see Snape, who is talking to Dumbledore about a foreign exchange student, when Ichigo arrives. And the story goes from there. I know another author just started a story like this and there was another a year or so ago that hasn't updated in a while but honestly they aren't the best written and are lacking several key details. Several differnt things about mine will be it occurs when Ichigo is 18, has his Shinigami powers under control, and it has several mentions of Yokai and the non-shinigami spirits of Japan.

So let me know what you think about it and the chapter. Next chapter will be the Ball so look forward to it! Also, I can't find any pictures of Luna's Yule dress or if she even went, so dress ideas? Colors that would look good on her and Ichigo please! Kay I'm done now. Until later everyone!