Chapter Two: Chance

O-o-O

Kakashi had survived alone for two weeks. It seemed that the house in which he stayed was empty, for no one had returned after he entered the house. It was old and the wallpaper was peeling, and layers of dust covered all the furniture, but it was shelter enough for the runaway shinobi, whose blood was still pounding with adrenaline after his mad dash out of Fire Country.

When he was awake, Kakashi split his time between exploring his shelter and scavenging for food. The clothes he had brought were few, but he wore them for several days at a time, so it did not matter, but the pills that he brought did not appease his rumbling stomach, even though they gave him strength.

Time ceased to mean much to him. Each hour slipped by unnoticed as Kakashi sank deeper and deeper into his mind, relieving the guilt and the sorrow and the crushing sense of failure. He spent most days staring blankly at the walls, his mind replaying scenes of horror and blood and death. Sometimes, he simply stared at the ceiling for days, ignoring the protests of his stomach, rising only to drink and to use the bathroom.

Three weeks had passed before Kakashi realized why he felt so listless. He had never experienced a permanent length of time in which he had absolutely nothing to do before. Always, it was missions, missions and more missions, and even on the days when he was allowed to rest, Kakashi usually trained alone in the training grounds until he could collapse at home into bed. This luxury of having nothing to do was foreign to Kakashi, who could not find an activity to fill his days with, and keep his mind off dark memories.

Somehow, he knew—without knowing how he knew—that Minato-sensei, Rin, Obito and Bridgette would be absolutely disgusted at how he was degrading his health and mind and person. He had run away with his tail in between his legs while they stood and fought, right to the very end, even though it was their end.

The full consequences of his betrayal took its time to crash down around him. Kakashi knew Konoha would never accept him back as a shinobi, not when he had betrayed them in such an unexpected, spectacular manner. He had very nearly dragged down another—Anko—with him, but she had remained steadfast and loyal. He was not certain how to return to the shinobi lands, for the seal only existed at the border of the Fire Country, and when in the wizarding world, the dimensional-travel key must be constructed via a Portkey, and no matter his grasp of magic, Kakashi did not know how to Charm a Portkey.

Kakashi examined his options carefully, chewing on a bit of bread that he had stolen from the neighbors. There weren't many, and none were pleasant.

One: he could stumble around in the wizarding world for the rest of his life, but his lack of knowledge regarding this world and the rebirth of the Dark Lord two years ago would complicate his lonely existence, not to mention that Kakashi himself couldn't bear turning away from Konoha forever.

Two: he could starve himself to death, but Kakashi still wanted to live, despite his guilt.

Three: he could go to Hogwarts—wherever Hogwarts was—and seek help from Dumbledore, consequences of that be damned. Kakashi was quite sure he could convince the eccentric Headmaster to let him stay on at Hogwarts instead of going home. And it would be nice to have a roof over his head and house-elves attending to his needs again. For, no matter how much he'd like to deny it, Hogwarts was still the closest thing Kakashi can call home in this unfamiliar world.

"Damn," Kakashi muttered as he came to this conclusion. It looked like he had many days of travel ahead of him again. But where will he find Hogwarts? According to Hermione, Hogwarts was protected by spells so that it would be undetectable, and also, England was a vast place. He could spend the rest of his life searching fruitlessly for the castle.

Almost absent-mindedly, Kakashi began to sift through the bag he had brought, wondering if he had enough food to last him for the next few days. As he dug deeper, his fingers brushed against something that felt like soft parchment. Curious, he drew it out.

It was the Marauder's Map that Harry had given Kakashi as a parting gift two years ago. The wizard had insisted that Kakashi take the map, even though it was an essential tool for Harry's nighttime wanderings in Hogwarts. Kakashi still remembered why Harry told him to take it: "I still have my Invisibility Cloak. And so, um, when you're bored or anything, and don't have missions, you can take this out, say 'I solemnly swear I am up to no good' and watch us wizards go about our business on the map. Just so you won't forget us, you know?"

Kakashi had thanked Harry rather awkwardly and stuffed the map into the depths of his bag and forgotten about it. But he rather thought now was what Harry defined as a 'bored or anything' circumstance, for he certainly was bored and his lapse in training had already begun to show itself. It would be a relief to do something as simple as watching dots scurry across a magical map, and it would keep his mind off unpleasant memories as well.

He concentrated chakra in his right hand and tapped the parchment experimentally, saying the required phrase of: "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." that he had seen Harry mutter so many times before.

Kakashi waited a moment, and then black ink began to run across the parchment, forming shapes. Yet, as he leaned closer and inspected the dots, they did not form the cohesive image of Hogwarts as he imagined it would. Instead, upon the aged parchment there was a dot labeled 'Hatake Kakashi', and it sat unmoving in a house. There were other houses down the road, showing the whole neighborhood, and as Kakashi's eyes wandered to the other parts of the map, his heart leapt and began to dance the tango, for in the far corner of the parchment was the inked version of a building labeled 'Hogwarts.'

Kakashi had no idea how or why the parchment showed him the way to Hogwarts instead of the goings-on within the castle itself, but he was certainly not complaining. After a quick survey of the house, Kakashi was out the door with his bag on his back and the map in his hands, ready to traverse the many miles to Hogwarts.

O-o-O

Professor Albus Dumbledore idly considered his blackened hand as he stroked the head of his magnificent phoenix, Fawkes. His face was lined with age, but there were lines of sorrow as well, recently deepened as Sarutobi had told him that he had been reinstated as Hokage, but at a terrible cost: the death of a gifted young leader, adored by his people and feared by other nations.

Dumbledore sympathized with Sarutobi then. It would be hard to manage a village that just lost a leader it loved. He briefly let himself wonder how Hogwarts would manage itself once its Headmaster was dead and buried—but he could only place his trust in Severus and hope that the man would keep his word.

He sighed as his fingers rubbed at Fawkes's feathers. The phoenix cooed softly, sensing his discomfort. Not only was Minato dead, but rebellion had spread like fire in Konoha. While the situation with Voldemort was bad enough in the wizarding world, Dumbledore worried for Sarutobi. The village lacked many good shinobi that had died for its defense when the demon attacked, and those who remained resented the child that Minato had sealed the demon within. What was more, several shinobi—mostly young ones with little emotional control, or veteran shinobi that lived through the Third Great Shinobi World War and were broken inside out—had chosen to quit active duty, commit suicide or betray Konoha. Dumbledore remembered the sadness and tiredness in Sarutobi's voice when his friend had contacted him last month.

There was a single knock on the door.

Dumbledore looked up. It was not like Minerva, Severus or Pomona to visit him at such a late hour, but the four of them—plus gamekeeper Hagrid, matron Pomfrey and caretaker Filch with his cat—were the only ones on Hogwarts grounds, for it was still the holidays and no student was in school. He doubted that any student would enter his office at such a time anyhow.

"Enter," Dumbledore called, his fingers leaving Fawkes's head to reach for his wand.

Dumbledore's eyes narrowed first when he did not see Minerva's tall figure, Severus's black shadow or Pomona's flyaway hair standing at the door. The shadows cast by the light momentarily hid his face, but Dumbledore saw the silver hair and the flak jacket clearly enough. Bright blue eyes widened as he recognized the battered young man who stood over the threshold of his office—for perhaps five seconds, the Headmaster was utterly stunned.

Then he blinked and shook his head, taking out his wand and striding towards the silver-haired boy. "Kakashi?"

The boy looked lost, exhausted and near defeated, and Dumbledore saw the white of bandages peering out from underneath his sleeve, stained with red. Alarmed, Dumbledore hurried to catch Kakashi as he stepped over the threshold and his knees gave way.

"Kakashi," Dumbledore helped the tired shinobi into a chair, before ordering Fawkes to fetch Madam Pomfrey. "Sit and rest. You must be tired."

He did not attempt any interrogation. Kakashi looked ready to faint, and Dumbledore suddenly realized why. The enchantments around Hogwarts had been strengthened over the past few weeks, but Kakashi somehow got past them. It had probably cost him his strength, and the injury must have been the one inflicted by the Kyuubi, the one Sarutobi had mentioned when he listed the missing ninja to Dumbledore. It had sapped his strength. A brief moment of admiration flashed in Dumbledore's eyes as he realized that Kakashi had made it into the castle despite all the security measures, before worry for the boy killed the moment of admiration.

Dumbledore continued to analyze Kakashi's state as Madam Pomfrey knocked timidly before entering.

As with the Headmaster, it took the matron of Hogwarts several moments before recognition dawned on her. When it did, she bustled over to Kakashi, scanning him with a practiced eye. Thankfully, she did not question the Headmaster as to the shinobi's sudden appearance in Hogwarts, but it was because she had caught sight of the reddening bandages as Dumbledore did, and her attention was completely focused on them.

"Here, let's get your sleeve up, shall we?"

Madam Pomfrey was already rolling up the sleeve as she said it, revealing the badly bandaged wound beneath. She paused for a moment, analyzing the damage, before clicking her tongue impatiently. "Whoever treated you bandaged the wound badly—and it looks infected as well, since your bandages are probably not clean enough. I'll fix you up as well as I can, but you look as if you haven't eaten for awhile. Headmaster, I will need to monitor him for a week or so. You watch yourself too, get it?"

As she spoke, Madam Pomfrey was waving her wand and healing Kakashi's arm, muttering incantations every now and then between her chatter. When she was finished, she bandaged Kakashi's arm up again (with fresh bandages that she had summoned from the hospital wing) and then pushed a mug of steaming hot chocolate (also summoned, but from the kitchens instead) into Kakashi's hands, and bade the pair goodnight. Dumbledore dismissed her and moved to sit down across from Kakashi.

"How do you feel?"

The silver-haired shinobi gazed wearily at Dumbledore. He looked emotionally and physically spent, but replied in a steady, if somewhat strained voice, "I'm fine."

"Sarutobi told me of Minato and Rin's deaths. I am sorry."

At that, Kakashi's head snapped up. He looked fully alert as he set down the hot chocolate without drinking it. "They are part of the reason I came here."

"You escaped to our world when you betrayed Konoha."

Dumbledore observed that Kakashi flinched at the word 'betrayed'. The shinobi scowled. "I had to leave. I couldn't bear to stay, not with their deaths upon me."

"Why? You have seen countless shinobi die."

The single eye flashed. "I could not stand the guilt of surviving. And I…I was forced to bear an obligation that my conscience would not let me release."

"Oh? Do tell." Dumbledore's tone was curious, but the Headmaster was interested as well. What was this obligation?

"I have something to tell Professor Snape." Kakashi deadpanned, obviously annoyed.

"Is it about Bridgette? Sarutobi did not say she was among the dead after the attack."

"She wasn't, but I have to tell him that his daughter is dead." Kakashi's expression was pained, but he hid it swiftly behind a façade of blank emotion. "Killed during the course of a mission, which is why Sandaime did not tell you about it."

Dumbledore bowed his head. "I am truly sorry for your loss, Kakashi."

They fell into an uncomfortable silence, but Kakashi broke it by blurting out, "I want to make a request of you, Dumbledore."

"Do tell," the Headmaster raised his eyes to meet Kakashi's.

"I want a teaching position here, in Hogwarts."

Surprised, Dumbledore looked down again. He reviewed the teaching posts currently available, and the pros and cons of having Kakashi in a position of power instead of as a student. "I am sorry, Kakashi, but the teaching posts currently available require an experienced wizard's expertise, and though you are capable of much, this is not possible."

Kakashi's eye flashed again. "I can't go back, Dumbledore. Regardless of whether Konoha accepts me back or otherwise, I need to stay away for awhile, and Hogwarts is the only place where I can consider myself closest, yet away, from home. However, I will not accept charity."

Dumbledore's expression became thoughtful. "While the Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts posts are both available, I already have in mind wizards for both. Would you like to retake Minato's former subject, Self-Defense? It has been dropped last year, but if you'd like, I can have it reopened."

Kakashi's reaction was predictable as he winced and flatly refused. "No. It will bring up memories I'd rather keep buried."

There was another, shorter silence.

"Very well. The only post I can think of that's left to offer you is Divination." Dumbledore said, looking at Kakashi with an unreadable expression.

"Divination?" Kakashi's tone was surprised. "But isn't that Trelawney woman taking the classes already? Surely, they will not need a second teacher to complicate the subject."

"There is already a second teacher teaching the subject," Dumbledore corrected. "I employed him last year, so you would not know of it. He is the centaur Firenze, expelled from the Forest that was once his home."

Kakashi's eyebrow rose in question. "Why add a third teacher, then?"

"Just between you and me, Kakashi," Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling as he smiled. "Neither Sybill nor Firenze can teach Divination as it should be taught. Sybill is a true Seer, but she is no teacher. Firenze can capture the students' attention, of that I have no doubt, but stargazing is not part of their syllabus, and those who take it for O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s will surely fail. However, I believe you are capable of changing that."

Kakashi's expression was incredulous, but he sensed that this was the only offer he could get. He nodded.

Dumbledore smiled, his voice becoming businesslike. "Good. I will let you take the sixth- and seventh-years, while Firenze can take the third-years and Sybill the fourth- and fifth-years. You will receive the day-offs and the salary as all professors have, and you are guaranteed the same amount of authority and power over the students as any other teacher. You are allowed to give and take away House points, hand out detentions and the like. Your schedule for the year will be given to you along with a list of students willing to continue the subject to N.E.W.T.s at the start of the school year. Understood?"

Kakashi nodded, a wave of gratitude overwhelming him. "Thank you, Professor."

Dumbledore smiled again, and then gestured vaguely towards the door. "While we have been enjoying each other's company, Fawkes has helped me arrange with the house-elves for your quarters. I thought that you would not like to have your old rooms returned to you—" At that, Kakashi shook his head minutely. "—so I have asked for them to prepare rooms near Gryffindor Tower. It will be easy for you to ask for help from Minerva, if you need it anytime, as she stays within the Tower itself, and entering it will not be a problem for you."

Kakashi rose, bowing deeply towards the Headmaster. "I am in your debt, Professor."

"Nonsense," Dumbledore brushed it aside, "If it weren't for you and your companions, why, Harry might not have lived through his fifth year. Your training has had a significant impact on his fighting style."

At that, Kakashi paused. It was a tempting topic, but he was tired and hurt and all he wanted to do was fall into one of Hogwarts' magnificent four-poster beds and sleep for as long as he wanted.

Dumbledore seemed to read his expression. "We can discuss it tomorrow. I'm sure you are tired after your journey, so hop off now. Your bed awaits."

Kakashi bowed again. "Thank you, Professor. Goodnight."

O-o-O

Kakashi drifted through the castle like a ghost, not quite registering his surroundings, but trusting his feet to lead him to wherever Dumbledore had given him. He found himself outside of Gryffindor Tower quickly enough, and after scanning the empty corridor with his Sharingan, detected the glowing, magical painting hanging on the walls of the corridor that allowed him to slip into his rooms. He hadn't noticed it before, but then the last time he was here, he rarely used his Sharingan—

Thinking of those memories brought pain, so Kakashi shoved them away with effort. He padded quietly into his rooms.

They were much better furnished than before, with a four-poster bed in a bedroom that opened into a private washroom, his own study, shelves of books, a living room and kitchenette. The curtains had been drawn across the windows, and lit candles flickered in their holds, casting a warm glow over the place. And this time, it was all his. He would no longer be in a bed facing Bridgette and Anko opposite him, the two of them curled up like cats, or Guy on the floor, or Minato-sensei dropping off while leaning against the doorframe, or Rin's warmth by his side—

Kakashi pushed the memories away again.

He was tired and sore and Dumbledore was right to let him rest, for Kakashi was too exhausted—mentally and physically—to even change out of his dirty, blood- and sweat-soaked clothes. He quietly slid the secret doorframe shut behind him, hearing the audible click of a lock, then drifted into the bedroom and curled up under the bed sheets of the four-poster bed, finally letting the tension of the past few weeks slip away from him.

And for the first time in what felt like an eternity, Kakashi slept without nightmares or tossing or guilt or anything disrupting his much-needed rest. He turned in his bed and buried his face in the pillows, inhaling their musty, magically-induced, lavender-tinted scent.

It smelled like home.

O-o-O

End of Chapter

O-o-O

Chapter Three: Familiar

O-o-O

Kakashi drifted down the now-familiar corridors of Hogwarts, nodding to his fellow colleagues and ignoring the whispers as students passed him. Dumbledore had warned him already that the first night of school would be hectic.

He shrugged, testing his new turtleneck shirt. Dumbledore had commissioned new ones specially for Kakashi when he found out that the shinobi did not like the robes wizards wore. The shirt fitted him well; except for a slight smoothness in the quality of cloth, it was almost exactly the same as his old ones.

Kakashi entered the Great Hall, pausing by the door to greet McGonagall. "Hectic, isn't it?"

She looked up from the list of new student names, and smiled thinly. "It is the same every year, Kakashi, and always they settle down quickly. Now, why not you leave me to do my work in peace and save this old lady a chair, hmm?"

Kakashi's mouth curled upward slightly, and he raised a hand in farewell as he moved forwards into the Hall, making his way to the staff table. Only Dumbledore and Sprout were seated—in their best robes. All the other seats were still empty, but then half the school was still making their way towards Hogwarts, and the teachers liked to take their time in the dressing room.

Kakashi refrained from snorting as a mental image of Snape came to mind, peering into a closet of black robes and carefully selecting one, before he powdered his face with oil and greased his hair. "Ha," he let himself say under his breath as he settled into his own chair—three seats down from Dumbledore and next to McGonagall and Sybill. He wondered if his eccentric colleague of Divination would grace the table with her presence this night. She had been withdrawn and even more eccentric than usual after Dumbledore introduced Kakashi to the staff the morning after he arrived—eliciting a scowl from Snape, a cry of joy from McGonagall and surprised acceptance among most. Sprout had protested due to his young age, but McGonagall had stood up for him—over and over again—and it was her unwavering faith in him that helped him gain respect in the eyes of his colleagues.

The last few weeks had been a storm of activity. Kakashi had never planned classes before, and required the help of McGonagall to sort out his schedules, and she did not often have the time to aid her colleague as she too was busy with her own classes and her House affairs. But in time, Kakashi was on a first-name basis with all his colleagues, even Snape, and they regarded him with respect and the barest trace of wariness.

O-o-O

"It's been two years." Harry said, gazing out of the Hogwarts Express into the distance. "It seemed only yesterday."

Hermione exchanged a glance with Ron. "But they left us with good skills. We survived last year."

"We might not survive this year though," Harry replied, turning away from the window.

"We will, mate." Ron said.

Hermione's glance at the both of them was amused. "Of course we will."

"Together?"

"Together," they said it at the same time.

O-o-O

Harry raced into the Great Hall hoping no one would see his bleeding nose, but whispers and exclamations followed him. Suppressing a groan, he dropped into his seat and let Hermione tend to the injury, muttering explanations quietly to her that Malfoy had ambushed him on the train.

There was a poof, subtle, in front of Harry on his plate, and in astonishment he saw the words Your tendency to get into trouble is strong still, Harry before the words faded from the plate. He stared, then instinctively glanced up at the staff table. The silver gleam was unmistakable.

"Kakashi—" Harry's cry of joy and greeting was choked down as the shinobi turned to speak to McGonagall, his sleeve falling open slightly to reveal the white of his bandages.

Harry glanced at Hermione. "Why is he here?"

"We don't know, mate." Ron replied, gesturing at Dumbledore, a rather hopeless look on his face. "We'll know soon enough."

And indeed they did. As the clatter of spoons and forks died away, Dumbledore rose and opened his arms to the school, revealing his blackened hand. Harry had known of it already, but whispering spread across the House tables like wildfire—confused, frightened. Dumbledore dismissed their worries and proceeded to rattle off his usual list of school affairs.

Harry was as outraged as everyone else when Dumbledore announced that Snape was to leave his longtime position as Potions master and take on Defense of the Dark Arts, while Slughorn took Potions. The noise only died down when the students heard Dumbledore talking of Kakashi.

"Most of you would recognize Professor Hatake here—"

"Professor Hatake?" Ron whispered disbelievingly. Harry and Hermione watched, silent.

"—is one of the champions who took part in the Triwizard Tournament held two years ago. He has come back to Hogwarts—not to study or observe—but to teach. I give him the position of Divination for all who wish to take the sixth- and seventh year education in this subject. Professor Trelawney and Professor Firenze will be allocated the third-, fourth- and fifth-years accordingly. That is the end of announcements. I know you are tired and it is late, your beds await, warm and welcoming. Off you go!"

Half the school remained in their seats, too stunned to move. Only the first- and second-years rose, staring in surprise as their seniors continued to look toward Dumbledore almost blankly. Then a great roar of approval rose, the clapping and clamoring nearly raised the roof.

Harry clapped until his palms were red, still a little overwhelmed by the unexpected staff arrangements, as Kakashi rose and with a familiar wave acknowledged the welcome given to him. His lip was curled upward in a half-smile that Harry remembered as thought it was only yesterday, and beside the silver-haired shinobi, McGonagall was smiling broadly, patting him on the shoulder. He thought that he had never seen his Head of House look this happy.

Dumbledore let the students cheer for another minute, before he clapped his own hands loudly, calling for quiet. Gradually, the noise died down.

"I am delighted at your enthusiasm, but I repeat: your beds await. If you want to be bright and alert for Professor Hatake's classes this week, you must sleep well! Now, goodnight!"

The students rose slowly, the chatter deafening as they talked excitedly of their new teacher. They filed out of the Hall.

O-o-O

Kakashi watched them go with a light heart. He had thought that the students might reject him for his youth and foreign blood, but they had been glad of him. He supposed that in the dark times now approaching that none could deny, they were glad that his presence assured greater safety, even in the halls of Hogwarts that was much their home.

Faintly, he registered that McGonagall was still patting him awkwardly on his shoulder in congratulations.

Kakashi leaned into McGonagall's touch slightly, a brief acknowledgement of her constant presence. "Thank you for your support, Minerva."

She removed her hand, amused. "It's what friends are for, isn't it?"

Kakashi started to nod, but then the image of brown and purple and the flash of sunshine and a young boy's cry of protest and a stir of wind and water rushed into his mind, and he flinched away from McGonagall.

Her eyebrows shot up, and she quickly laid her hand on his shoulder again, squeezing it. "Sorry, Kakashi. It was tactless of me."

Kakashi just shook his head, too overwhelmed by emotions he had suppressed daily to speak. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that most of the students had left already. "It is alright," he gasped, "You did not mean it."

McGonagall eyed him critically, rising as she did so. "We will need to look into your condition, Kakashi. It's too unstable for you."

Kakashi rose as well, noticing that most of the teachers were already leaving. "Condition?"

"Yes, Kakashi, condition. You cannot be crumpling every time something triggers your memory. Undoubtedly your classes will want to know what happened in these two years—you can even bet that Potter, Weasley and Granger will find out—and what happens if you collapse in front of them?"

It was an inevitable question. "It would be an awkward scene indeed, and Madam Pomfrey would probably have my neck for it. She did tell me to not strain my injury."

McGonagall shot him a sharp look as they exited the Great Hall and began to make their way to Gryffindor Tower. "You know what I meant, Kakashi. Don't avoid it."

Kakashi sighed. "What would you have me do? You cannot understand the pain, Minerva—it eats me up from inside out, and I fear for my sanity."

"Kakashi," McGonagall's voice was unusually gentle, "I can understand. We lost Sirius last year to the Death Eaters, and he was a close colleague of mine in the Order. We lost Lily and James to You-Know-Who sixteen years ago. We lost so many people then, and many were friends of mine. Of course I know your pain."

Kakashi was momentarily distracted from the topic at the mention of the Order; he knew Dumbledore would ask him to join it sooner or later. A topic for a later day, he decided. "What would you have me do, Minerva?" he repeated.

McGonagall smiled, quickening their pace. Her voice was light as she said, "You can talk to me about it, or to Albus. Neither of us would think any less of you if you cried, or do anything else you consider shameful. You can relive all the good memories you had of them, and the bad memories, and just…talk. Find someone to share your burden with."

Kakashi stared at McGonagall in wonder. "You would do that, Minerva? You would sit and listen to me cry and laugh and talk of memories long past? Surely you have better things to do."

McGonagall's smile broadened. "Anything for a friend, Kakashi. I was quite close to Minato as well, having noted him as a boy and reaffirming our friendship when he taught here two years ago. I won't mind."

Kakashi suddenly felt a wild urge to hug the Transfiguration professor, but he swallowed the urge, instead saying, "…thank you, Minerva. Thank you so much; you have given me all this help since we arrived…I wouldn't have been able to do all this without you."

They had reached the corridor that led to the portrait of the Fat Lady and beyond, Gryffindor Tower. McGonagall shook her head, "Anything, Kakashi, really. Don't be afraid to ask." Privately, she hoped that he will seek her out, both for her confidence and her companionship; no matter his abilities and burdens, Kakashi was still a sixteen-year-old child in McGonagall's eyes and her heart ached to think that he might have been one of her students carrying such a weight at his tender age.

Kakashi couldn't help it; he smiled, and a weight seemed to roll off his heart. "I won't. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Kakashi." McGonagall replied, giving his shoulder a last squeeze before setting off further down the corridor as Kakashi slipped into his rooms by way of the secret door.

The lock clicked audibly—as always—behind him, and Kakashi drifted into his bedroom, undressing methodically. He flopped down on the bed. Already he noticed a slight layer of fat covering the muscles of his arms. I need to get a workout sometime, he thought, before filing away the information in his mind.

Kakashi rose then, and went to sit by the windowsill, where he stared out at the stars. "Would you agree to what I have done, sensei?" he asked, almost to himself. "Obito, would you have wanted me to come here to find peace, to heal? Rin, would you have been angry that I didn't manage to save you? And Bridgette…I know you would have been furious that I betrayed Konoha—loyalty was always high on your priorities—but would you have forgiven me? Would all of you have forgiven me?"

Kakashi looked up, fighting the tears. It was probably his imagination after the excitement of the day, but he thought the stars shone brighter in approval as he turned away to go to sleep.

O-o-O

End of Chapter

O-o-O

Chapter Four: Lesson

O-o-O

"Professor, Professor!"

Minerva sighed before turning to look at whichever student it was calling her now. There was apparently what Professor Slughorn had called a 'Head-of-House-attack' going around, in which students from all Houses approached their Heads to ask the passing grade into Kakashi's sixth- and seventh-year Divination classes.

She was surprised that Harry and his two friends hadn't sought her out yet. Maybe they already heard, or they asked Kakashi directly, or—

"Professor, may I ask the passing grade into Professor Hatake's Divi—"

Minerva sighed. So much for hoping, she thought to herself.

"There is no passing grade for any of you to get into Professor Hatake's Divination class," she tiredly told the anxious Harry, Ron and Hermione in a voice that is a little sharper than normal. "As I have told hundreds of other students. Professor Hatake will be given a list of students who wish to enter his classes, and he will select those he wishes to teach from there. You may indicate your interest to me and I will submit your names if you want."

Hermione instantly grew anxious. "Professor? What if I have not taken Divination for O.W.L.s but would like to enter his class?"

Minerva hid a smile. "Miss Granger, you would have to submit your name to me with a reasonable explanation for this sudden desire in this subject."

Hermione flushed. "Yes, thank you, Professor."

"Um," Harry began hesitatingly.

"What is it, Mr. Potter?"

"What…um, what will Professor Hatake take into consideration when he finally selects the students?" he blurted out.

Minerva's lip curled. "Professor Hatake will select based on several criteria: firstly, of course, is your O.W.L. grading." She noticed that Harry had flushed red. "However, he will also judge based on class performance and his own experience of your individual temperament as observed when he was here on the exchange program two years ago. He will also select based on the feedback of past teachers, and teachers of other subjects. He will take a total of fifteen students for each class, making it thirty students only, since he is a new teacher and Professor Dumbledore did not want him too pressured. Your Divination lessons will—because of this selection process—only begin next week, when the names of selected students have been put up on the notice boards."

"Can you indicate our names, Professor?" Ron asked almost too eagerly.

Minerva nodded to them, and then continued making her way to the teachers' table. Breakfast would soon be over by the time she finished answering questions from her House.

O-o-O

"We'll never get past the selections," Ron groaned as he watched McGonagall walk away. "Fifteen students out of all four Houses in one year? Fat chance."

"Not to mention the two of you failed Divination, and I didn't even take the subject." Hermione said glumly.

"But Kakashi knew us before! He trained with us...surely he'll let us in?" Harry asked desperately. He hadn't felt this strongly about a subject in ages.

Hermione gave Harry an almost pitying look. "Harry, Kakashi is a professor now…he'll have to take into consideration other factors, not just a friendship we used to have. That would be favoritism."

"So what? Snape favors the Slytherins all the time." Harry said darkly.

"But Kakashi isn't Snape, Harry." Hermione said patiently. "He's always been strict on us…oh, it would be a great academic advancement if we get to study under him…"

"Get over it, Hermione." Ron yawned. "Chances are he's going to pick the students with the highest Divination scores—you reckon anyone scraped a pass?"

Harry doubted it. Trelawney and Firenze had been terrible teachers; he had learned nothing of Divination under them.

"Let's just eat," Harry said, sitting down. "We can't influence Kakashi's decision anyway."

"Damn straight, Harry." Ron grumbled, helping himself to bread and jam.

O-o-O

Minerva faked a glare at Kakashi as she settled into the seat next to him. "Because of you, Severus, Pomona, Filius and I are being ambushed by students everywhere, asking about details to your class."

Kakashi smirked. "Well, since there were only three people who passed Divination in the sixth year, I could hardly make a class out of them, and this way, I can get Harry into my class. I suspect that's what Professor Dumbledore wants me to do?"

Minerva glanced down the table at Dumbledore's empty seat. "He would not ask it of you, but he does hope that you might guard Harry if possible, given your free time when not conducting or preparing classes. As you know, Harry is in even more danger now than ever, and we all worry about him with the coming of war…you've seen the newspapers, haven't you?"

Kakashi nodded. "It's a grim sight. In my world, bloodshed is operated quite openly, compared to the sneaky methods Voldemort shows here."

Minerva nodded. "Indeed. He Who Must Not Be Named does not show himself openly at all. He operates through deceit, cunning, lies…you know the drill, I assume?"

"Yes, I do." Kakashi glanced about, before pulling down his mask quickly to gobble an egg. "It is applied quite often in my world, though I for one better appreciate outright bloodshed. It is much simpler, though not as interesting."

Minerva's reply was clipped with disapproval. "I would rather no bloodshed at all, Kakashi."

The shinobi blinked, unfazed. "Bloodshed is unavoidable in my world, Minerva. You know this. The gold that comes into the pay of a shinobi village is earned through bloodshed."

"Your sensei once told me it was earned through catching the 'lost' cats of unobservant daimyo's wives."

Kakashi laughed, before stopped abruptly, eyes wide. He had just laughed talking about Minato-sensei. The last time his thoughts wandered in that direction, it had caused him so much pain and grief. What was happening?

"You are healing, Kakashi."

Minerva's voice interrupted his thoughts. He looked at her quizzically; she was smiling, and was that a triumphant gleam he saw in her eye? "You must gradually contend yourself with the happier memories you have of those who have passed on. It is nostalgia, and you will always hurt to think of their deaths, but you know they went down fighting for what they believed in, and that is all that matters."

"It still feels like…like…" Kakashi mumbled, unable to find a good excuse.

"Like betraying them?" Minerva asked.

Kakashi's head shot up, his single visible eye wide. "How did you—?"

Minerva rolled her eyes. "I am neither stupid nor unobservant, Kakashi, but your fine shinobi skills seem to have gone blunt as of late. Of course I would know. Healing after a death will always feel like betrayal to you, but consider this: do you think Minato, Rin and Bridgette would want you to be a crying mess just because they died?"

Kakashi considered. "No." A smile tugged at his lips, and he surrendered to it. "They—most probably Obito—would have given me a good kick in the ass."

"I would too, if I was in their position." Minerva replied lightly. "Speaking of which, you mentioned the other day that you might like to spar. When would such a time be available for the both of us?"

"What?" Kakashi nearly dropped his spoonful of mushroom soup in surprise. "You agree?"

"I can see that our food has been fattening you up, Kakashi." Minerva replied dryly. "You need someone to make you run around a bit."

"Weren't you the one who stopped my spar with Bridgette two years ago, citing 'too much attention' as a reason?" Kakashi grinned, shoving away the pain at mentioning Bridgette and instead pushing forward his suddenly light mood.

Her eyebrows rose. "You remember? It was a long time ago."

"I remember many things, Minerva." he assured. "Some are good memories and ease my mind of the pain; but most are dark and foreboding. Maybe it is a remnant, a ghost of the reminder that I am what I am, but somehow I cannot shake off the feeling that death is coming to Hogwarts, and it will happen swiftly—within a year, likely."

Minerva looked troubled. She knew enough of shinobi instinct to trust what Kakashi had just said. She had found this 'death signal' trait among the battle-hardened and toughest of the shinobi when she last visited Konoha in answer to Sarutobi's plea for help from Albus. The 'death signal', as she called it, was the unease a shinobi feels when one they knew was about to fall. The trait had been a rare and almost unknown myth before the start of the Third Great Shinobi World War, but after it, there were many who admitted to being able to sense the coming of death.

Minerva frowned. In Kakashi's world, this unease would have been easily dismissed, as death came swift and often for the shinobi of all villages. But in the wizarding world, the warning of a death was unsettling. Her unease was further heightened knowing that the trait was only triggered when someone the shinobi knew was about to die. Kakashi did not know very many people in the wizarding world. Was death coming for a student here?

"Do not be so troubled, Minerva." Kakashi said softly, jerking the Transfiguration professor out of her musing.

She blinked. "Why not, Kakashi? It seems prudent to worry."

He appeared to stifle a bark of laughter. "Minerva, you have lived long and seen many things, but in my fourteen years, I have learnt one thing: that hope never fades, and when hope still exists, there will always be someone out there who will fight back the darkness. Trust me on this." He rose, having finished his meal, and bowed courteously to Minerva, who looked bemused. "Enjoy the rest of your meal, Minerva. I shall see you later."

And he left.

"That was abrupt," Pomona interrupted Minerva's thoughts from further down the table.

The Head of Gryffindor nodded. "Yes. I thought he seemed edgy of late. Let him work off some tension by himself."

Pomona nodded, and appeared to push the matter aside. "How many students of yours have signed on for his classes, Minerva?"

The Transfiguration professor allowed herself a smirk. "Oh, you have absolutely no idea, Pomona."

O-o-O

One Week Later, Sunday Morning

O-o-O

"Harry! Hermione! Harry!"

Ron's shout brought Harry and Hermione stumbling down from their dormitories, rubbing the sleep from their eyes. The Weasley was standing at the foot of the stairs, still dressed in maroon sleepwear and looking as if he had been awake for quite awhile.

Ron grinned up at his friends. "The list is up! Don't you want to see it?"

"What list?" Harry mumbled, still half-asleep. But Hermione's eyes had widened, and she scampered down the stairs quickly, almost falling over her nightdress.

Dean and Seamus came out of the boys' dorm at that moment, and began to yell as Ron had done, running down the stairs. The girls' door slammed open and out poured Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil, both with sleepy eyes but hopeful smiles.

In no time at all, there was a small crowd in front of the Gryffindor notice-board, some groaning in dismay and others whooping in glee. Harry, Ron and Hermione could barely squeeze through the crowd to look at the notice-board.

Harry swept his eyes up and down the list pinned to the board, and he didn't know whether to laugh or to frown.

STUDENTS ADMITTED INTO PROFESSOR HATAKE KAKASHI'S DIVINATION CLASSES

Sixth Year:

Abbott, Hannah

Bones, Susan

Brown, Lavender

Boot, Terry

Corner, Michael

Finnegan, Seamus

Longbottom, Neville

MacMillan, Ernie

Malfoy, Draco

Patil, Padma

Potter, Harry

Smith, Zacharius

Thomas, Dean

Weasley, Ronald

Zabini, Blaise

The seventh-year list was directly under the sixth-year one, but Harry stopped reading. On one hand, happiness and relief and curiosity flooded him as he realized he was actually admitted into Kakashi's class, but on the other hand, Hermione's application had been rejected, and he was unsure of how to comfort her.

Luckily, he was saved from his dilemma.

"Congratulations, Harry, Ron!" Hermione told them, a smile hiding the dismay in her expression. Her tone was light as she said, "You have to teach me everything he teaches you!"

"Hermione," Harry interrupted, distracted. "Are you okay? You weren't chosen for the class in the end…"

"Of course," Hermione waved aside Harry's questioning concern, then smiled as his expression remained unchanged. "Harry, yes, I am rather upset, and a little disappointed, but since you and Ron are in Divination, I can ask Kakashi all the questions I want through you guys."

Harry remained unconvinced, until Ron pulled him and Hermione away from the crowd and complained, "Hermione, we are not going to help you ferry your questions to Kakashi. You can go to the staff room and ask him yourself!"

"I was talking about personal questions, not academic ones!" Hermione snapped back, exasperated. "Do you think that even with a different teacher, I would express interest in Divination? It's a fool's subject!"

As Ron opened his mouth to retort, Harry pulled them both away from the crowd towards the fireplace, where they were offered better privacy. "What do you want to ask Kakashi, Hermione?" he asked quietly.

Hermione looked incredulous. "Don't you want to ask him too?" she demanded. "Like maybe why he comes back here, alone and unaccompanied? Remember what Professor Namikaze told us two years ago? Ninja never go on solo missions unless it is highly dangerous or absolutely necessary, to improve the chances of survival. Or maybe why he suddenly decided to teach Divination when he knows we all hate the subject, instead of Self-Defense? Or even perhaps, why he comes here wearing bandages under his sleeves, and why didn't he say hello to us, and why he suddenly decides to become a teacher instead of a student, even though he's sixteen? Why? Why did this happen? I want to know!"

Hermione's voice had been low but fierce, and there was a fire blazing in her eyes as she met Harry and Ron's startled gazes. "Don't you think it's fishy that no one in the Order told us anything about it, even though they should have, knowing that ninja are invaluable as fighters? Isn't it weird that he shows up again here, when You-Know-Who is taking over? Isn't the whole situation too absurd to be a coincidence?"

"You're saying that Kakashi is a Death Eater spy?" Harry frowned.

"No, I'm saying he's not here to teach, or to offer peace, or anything like that." Hermione's eyes narrowed. "He's going to lie to me, to you, to everyone. He won't tell us what's really going on. I know it."

"How?" Ron asked, reaching over to pop someone's abandoned Every-Flavor Beans into his mouth.

Hermione sighed, and gave them a look as if to say they were being stupid. "Remember the last time he was here, with Professor Namikaze, Bridgette, Rin, Anko, Guy and Shikaku? Their official reason was because the Ministry had invited them to participate in the Triwizard to forge stronger bonds between the two worlds, but as we know, the actual reason was because they were here to protect you, Harry, and to repay Dumbledore the favor he did them last time."

"But we can't expect Dumbledore to start telling us what's going on, even if I'm having lessons with him this year." Harry muttered.

Hermione's expression became thoughtful. "I'm sure someone in the Order must know. Professor McGonagall, maybe?"

Ron snorted. "The moment she starts spilling secrets to us is the moment Snape would adopt Harry."

Hermione's eyes took on a shine that Harry and Ron had quickly become familiar with; it was the shine that appeared when she swore she would get back at Malfoy for messing up her homework, when she talked of passing the exams with flying colors, when she wanted something very badly, and wouldn't think to stop her pursuit. And true enough, when she spoke, her voice was full of determination, "I'll find out. You'll see!"

Harry and Ron looked at each other, and the redhead muttered, "I am not envying Kakashi when Hermione's done with him."

Harry could only nod his agreement.

O-o-O

Kakashi was fidgeting as he sat in his chair in the staff room. His Divination books were stacked neatly and his notes were in his bag, and he was ready to leave, to get to his tower early, but he just couldn't.

What if they didn't like his teaching style? What if something went wrong? What if his seal failed and someone was lost forever, or even if they recovered, scarred? What if…what if they hated him and Dumbledore sent him away, back home, back where he didn't belong anymore?

"Kakashi, calm yourself."

The silver-haired teacher leapt out of his seat and whirled, kunai flashing into his hand and a jutsu already on his lips. His eyebrows rose as he caught sight of the black-robed man leaning casually on the wall. His guard did not waver.

"What do you want?"

Snape pushed himself off the wall and sat in the seat Kakashi had placed there for McGonagall. He seemed extraordinarily calm for a man who almost had his heart cut out five seconds ago. "Do you not welcome the father who is grieving as you are for his daughter?"

"You didn't know Bridgette," Kakashi spat bitterly. And you'll never get a chance to do so now.

Snape remained impassive. "No, I did not. A year in her company—nine months of which was spent believing she was merely a transfer student of little interest—is not enough time to get to know her. But you can tell me about her, as you do with Minerva."

"And why should I?" Kakashi flung the words at Snape as though the wizard was to blame for Bridgette's death. "Why should I confide in you, when you couldn't even face your daughter after she found out about her parentage?"

"How was I to face her?" Snape's voice held the barest hint of anger. "How was I supposed to react to the fact that a daughter I did not know I spawned suddenly came back to me and told me that I was her father, and that she had been searching for me for many years? How?"

Kakashi snarled at him. "You hurt her deeply with your rejection. She was never the same again."

Snape's black eyes blazed. "Neither was I. But I still wish to know her, as you have done."

"Why?" Kakashi's anger receded slightly and he took deep, controlling breaths; Minerva had told him before, the anger was not good for him to bottle up. Memories of Minato-sensei and Rin he could share with Minerva, but the witch did not fully comprehend how he regarded the ANBU senior.

She had been Kakashi's childhood friend, and later, his senior in ANBU. She had led him into and out of danger on missions countless times, and she had placed her life in his safekeeping as many times as he did her. There was a powerful sense of comradeship between them; it had never been love. Bridgette knew his heart belonged to Rin, and likewise, hers belonged to Konoha. They were the greatest of friends, and Kakashi knew that she would always trust him with her back, just as he trusted her with his.

Kakashi turned away from Snape's questing look. "I might tell you later," he declared abruptly, gathering up his books. "Excuse me, Severus. I have a class to attend to."

And with a quiet poof, he vanished.

O-o-O

Everyone was looking around with interest as they chose seats. Kakashi's classroom—still the hideously long climb up to the Tower of Divination—was much changed from Trelawney's days. Harry heard that the Seer had been given classrooms on a lower floor, to give Kakashi privacy as he taught.

The five smooth, polished wooden tables were arranged to face the front, where there was a typical teacher's desk with the accompanying blackboard. There were three cups of strange, greenish liquid placed upon the desks, still steaming. Harry thought their smell was rather fragrant, but after years of being in the wizarding world, he would have been a fool to drink it. The three windows had been opened, and a stack of books was placed on the teacher's desk. The chairs provided were high-backed, and softened with white cushions. There were three chairs for every table. The students quickly filled them. Harry and Ron sat near the front.

"Good morning, kids."

Everyone nearly leapt out of their chairs as Kakashi appeared with a poof in front of the teacher's table. He was wearing his typical turtleneck shirt and trousers, but Harry noticed the bandages peering out from under his sleeve.

"Good morning, Professor." was the murmured reply.

Kakashi looked confident as he sat on his desk and looked around at the class. "Congratulations," he said, smiling slightly. "You are the fifteen lucky ones who managed to get into my class through a combination of good grades, former acquaintance, recommendation by teachers, and luck."

"Sir?" Dean Thomas had raised his hand.

"Yes, Mr. Thomas?"

"Why did you select us based on this, instead of our results?"

Kakashi laughed, but Harry was horrified; the laugh was high and false and forced. "Because among you all, only five passed your O. W. L. s, and I could not teach a mere five pupils."

"Five?" Ron exclaimed incredulously, before going red as Kakashi's unwavering gaze shifted to him. "I…I just thought more would have passed, sir."

Kakashi waved aside his stammering apology. "No matter. I know most of you very well, from our acquaintance two years ago, and you know me. I know you have your questions for me, but I ask that you hold them for now. I am your professor and you will treat me with the respect and dignity that you show every other professor here. For the record, I am allowed to give and take House points from you, as well as hand out detentions, so behave yourself over there, Mr. Malfoy."

Everyone turned to see Draco Malfoy drop the arm that was pointing a wand at Lavender Brown's back. He turned a deep shade of red, but his eyes glittered angrily.

"You will address me as 'sir' or 'professor'," Kakashi continued, as though there was no interruption. "I will be teaching you a vast array of techniques concerning Divination; if you had cared to open your textbooks before coming to class, you would know that the syllabus for the sixth year revolves mainly around illusions and dream interpretation, so I will put great focus on them, among lesser sub-topics. Your textbooks will not help you much here, but I suggest you read them in preparation for your exams. Also, there will be minimal wand-work going on, so you may put them away."

There was a rustle as everyone slipped their wands back into their pockets, disappointed. However, Harry's eyes caught the very familiar wrinkling of the mask as Kakashi curled his lip—and he realized that wand-work or no wand-work, he was going to enjoy this lesson.

"As I said," Kakashi called over the murmuring that had begun again, "this year we will concentrate on illusions. However, I have researched the work that both Professors Trelawney and Firenze provided with you, and I must say that they were not enough. And with regards to your Dark Lord invading everywhere in this world, I am going to give you real-life stimulation."

There was a sudden hush as everyone stared at Kakashi, wide-eyed. He looked back at them calmly.

"You have never experienced it before, but I assure you that it is safe, and will cause no lasting damage." Kakashi said, "We will first spend fifteen minutes discussing recent dreams, and according to your responses, I will put the lot of you under an illusion, and I will instruct you from there. Mr. Weasley, you may begin."

Ron blinked. "What?"

Kakashi's reply held a hint of amusement. "Describe to me your most recent dream."

"What if I don't remember it?"

"Choose another dream that you can remember. Ms. Patil, you will follow after. Everyone, please note down the dreams that you find particularly interesting, for you will have need of it later. Mr. Weasley, if you would begin."

"Um," Ron cleared his throat awkwardly, "I…I don't usually remember my dreams, but there was this one where I fell into a bucket of soapy water and…um, I was rescued, but I didn't know who it was."

Kakashi seemed to contemplate this for a moment, before saying, "Keywords: fall, bucket, soapy, unknown identity. Please copy them down if the dream had interested you. Next?"

And so it went on for the next fifteen minutes. Harry recorded down seven of his classmates' dreams, and saw Ron busily writing away as well. After every dream, Kakashi would give them keywords, which he said would help interpret the dreams. Harry had lied when it was his turn. He didn't want to tell them that he had been dreaming of his parents' deaths again, so he made up some nonsense about finding himself on a beach with Malfoy and watching the Slytherin get dragged into the sea by a shark. This was met with a gale of laughter and even Kakashi consented to laugh a genuine laugh, albeit quietly. Keywords for that had been beach, dragged, sea, and shark.

"Alright," Kakashi called as Lavender Brown finished her narration of her dream, which involved her with a past boyfriend, "I'm sure you are all curious about what's going to happen next. First, put away your books, yes, and fluff up your pillows. Sit as comfortably as you can."

Kakashi waited as they did so. Many relaxed back into their chairs as though it was the most normal thing in the world, and he was glad. He pulled his headband up, though he kept Obito's gift closed and hidden from their sight.

"Oh my god, Professor, what happened to your eye?" Padma exclaimed, shock and horror in her voice. The whole class swiveled to stare at the scar that ran vertically down Kakashi's left eye.

He grimaced. "One of many injuries I received during the course of work in my profession. It is nothing but an old scar, and it has healed many years ago." Though the pain never really goes away, he added silently. Or the guilt.

"Now," he clapped his hands. "Please look at me, and meet my eyes."

Everyone obeyed, and he paused a moment, half-tempted to teach them a lesson about trust. Then he shoved it away and opened his Sharingan eye. "Genjutsu status: activate."

And instantly they were sent spiraling into a world of illusions.

O-o-O

Harry blinked, disorientated. One moment he had been staring with utter shock into the blood-red eye of Professor Hatake, and now he found himself in a forest-like surrounding, alone but for Susan Bones standing next to him, eyes closed as though in sleep.

Harry rushed over to her, shaking her by the shoulders. "Susan? Susan, answer me!"

"Mmph…Harry?" Susan seemed drowsy; it took her awhile to realize who Harry was. "Where are we?"

"That is a very good question." Harry muttered, looking around.

The forest was nothing like the Forbidden Forest; the trees were tall and the boughs high above them, so high that Harry could barely see them, but sunlight spilled through the canopy of green leaves and there was a safe, yet mysterious feeling to the woods. Harry felt no fear, but a strong curiosity. What did the woods hide in them?

—You are within my illusion.

The voice made both Harry and Susan spin around, wands drawn; they did not lower them as Kakashi flickered to life in front of them, and Harry thought the professor was just an image, and not real. His form was insubstantial, translucent, and it wavered occasionally, but his voice was clear.

—I have cast an illusion upon all of you, Kakashi repeated, and it seemed as though he was talking to others as well as Harry and Susan, even though Harry could not see them, for Kakashi's eyes were wandering.

—Do not panic, for in reality, your bodies are still safe and snug within your chairs in my Tower. No harm will come to you if you do not attempt anything foolish or stupid. The worst that can happen today is that you will leave my class with a tremendous headache, but I have notified Madam Pomfrey and she will give you a healing draught if you need to take it.

Kakashi paused, and seemed to look around at the vast expanse of greenery.

—I set upon you today's exercise: find all your other classmates. This illusion was inspired by the forests in my homeland and it is huge, but you are all not very far from one another, and if all fifteen of you gather together at one location, the illusion will break and your minds will be released. Do hasten, for the longer you remain in this plane, the greater a headache you will have when you return. We will experiment with more complex illusions as time passes and you grow used to them, but for now, just find your classmates. Good luck, and stay safe.

And with that, the image vanished.

Harry blinked. "What was that?"

"Weird," Susan replied. "C'mon, Harry."

O-o-O

Kakashi observed his students carefully, both with his good eye and his mental eye. He could track all their progress quite easily, and he was very much tempted to add obstacles. No, he thought, banishing the notion. That will come in time.

He had started off with a simple exercise: just wander around until you bump into each other. Granted, it could take a long while, but he had sealed off portions of the forest so that the fifteen students were all within two miles of each other, and he had made sure that each student had a partner.

The partnership had been randomly chosen, but for a few: he could not resist putting the Malfoy boy with Ron, given their long and difficult relationship. Perhaps it would help if they had to work together to break his illusions.

He watched them as they struggled to find each other. In their chairs, many tossed or moaned, but luckily none of them kicked, or else the tables would have been overturned. Kakashi was timing them, hoping that they would finish in half an hour so that he would have fifteen minutes for recovery and debriefing, but from the looks of it, they would be cutting it close.

He could see them wandering. Some had already joined up, forming larger groups of fours and fives, but there were still too many lone pairs.

Ten minutes.

Fifteen minutes.

Twenty-five minutes.

Kakashi sighed. He had given them the forest theme in a moment of inspiration, remembering the forest surrounding Konoha. He had loved traveling through it, leaping from bough to bough, with Rin at his back and Obito next to him, and Minato-sensei in front, the wind whistling in his ears.

Kakashi's heart twisted, and he instinctively took calming breaths, inhaling, exhaling, as Minerva had taught him. It would not do to let the illusion waver. He noticed that the pain had been receding already, and though it still stung, there was a wave of mingled nostalgia and affection that was gradually healing the wound. Kakashi knew that he would never feel right anymore, but this was as close as he was going to get.

Thirty minutes. The half hour was up.

Kakashi checked their condition, and smiled. There were only two large groups moving about now. The moment they meet, the illusion would break. He could not help a self-satisfied smile. Ever since working this plan out, he had been practicing daily on creating such illusions, and they were near-perfect. The structure of the illusion was such that unless the conditions he had set were met, no one but him could break it. At first the prolonged mind technique drained his chakra, but Kakashi had quickly put in effect the drills Minato taught two years ago on increasing chakra capacity, and now he could easily bring an illusion to his fingertips. Another pang threatened to tear at his heart. Oh, Kakashi wished that Minato-sensei and Bridgette could see him now. They would have been so very, very proud of him, and Rin would have made him some of his favorite cakes, but they weren't here to see it now.

Kakashi closed his eyes momentarily. He wished that he had brought something of theirs from Konoha, besides the memories. Perhaps his sensei's Tale of a Gutsy Ninja, or Rin's favorite apron, or even Bridgette's treasured wolf mask with the black insignia inscribed upon it, marking her as an ANBU senior, just something to remember them by. He needed nothing of Obito's, never had and never will, not with the Uchiha's eye embedded into his own. Through you, I will continue to see the world, Obito had choked, those last moments of horror before his death. I will see the world through your eyes, Kakashi, as brothers.

The silver-haired ninja shook his head. I have failed you miserably, Obito. I ran.

He jerked out of his contemplation as his students came back to themselves, groaning and blinking. Some moaned loudly in pain and stretched. Kakashi gave himself a little shake, and then stood up.

"Welcome back, everyone." He greeted, slipping into his casual tone. "Drink the tea; it will help with the headaches."

The students gulped it down gratefully—some choked at the bitter taste—but most swallowed it, and indeed felt their heads clear. "Thanks, Professor."

Kakashi glanced at his watch, a new one with stars and moons that was slipped to him by Hagrid, "Eh present from Dumbledore," he has said gruffly. The Astronomy teacher—Sinistra, he could never pronounce her name properly—had taken pity on his confusion and taught him to read the time on the wizard dials, but he had only ever worn the watch for show, until he needed it to time his students in the illusion.

"Thirty-seven minutes, students. Not bad for a start, but I was hoping for twenty-nine or less, actually."

They all groaned, and Ron spoke up. "That forest was bloody big! How were we to find anyone in thirty minutes?"

Kakashi shrugged. "I will teach you to track, and to find, and to locate. To vanish in an instant and to reappear without noise is another skill I may teach you, if you are proficient in the basics. Once you have mastered them, we may advance to a higher level of illusion."

"I don't understand." Lavender Brown whimpered.

Kakashi stopped himself from rolling his eyes. "You will not be learning how to create illusions. You will be learning how to detect, throw off, repel and shatter them, and you will learn to do it in and out of the illusions I will create for you. Due to the coming of your Dark Lord, I shall perform the illusions myself, and place you in varying situations of increasing danger and difficulty, and you will work your way out of them before breaking the illusion. This will keep you in a safe environment where your body is not harmed but you gain battle experience as well as class work. I am aware that last year there was the formation of a group called Dumbledore's Army, who taught themselves defensive magic. I cannot teach you Defense Against the Dark Arts, as it is Professor Snape's job, but you may apply the skills in my lessons. I will ensure that the practical aspect only occurs often enough that you gain experience but do not go back to your dorms daily with a massive headache. We will also study the interpretation of dreams through the recounts of your classmates. I will also give you accounts of dreams by famous wizards of the ages—such as Merlin and Professor Dumbledore—and you will learn to interpret them. Do not worry, I will guide you throughout."

His students merely stared at him, some still holding their teacups, before Hannah broke the silence with a sincere, "I think you will be a very good teacher, Professor Hatake."

Kakashi felt warmth bloom from somewhere deep within him, and he smiled at Hannah. His reply was just as sincere, "Thank you, Ms Abbott."

He was quickly aware of the speed at which this debrief was dissolving, and so pulled back, wiping the smile off his face. Kakashi cleared his throat to regain professionalism, and said, "Good. Now that you have all experienced the effects of an illusion, we can advance to greater levels, one step at a time. Your homework would be to use your textbooks to divine and interpret the meaning behind the dreams of your classmates. I expect it to be handed in by next lesson, which will be held next Monday, as your timetable informs you. And I would expect it to be at least a passable piece of work." He eyed them sternly. "I might be the same age as you, but I am your teacher and you would work as hard for me as you would for your other teachers. I will only accept quality work, and any that does not pass my standards will be returned to you, and you will rewrite it for me and hand it in the day after. Thank you for your attention, and class dismissed. Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, if you would stay back for a short while, I would like to speak to you."

The class stirred as though awaking from sleep, and they murmured 'thank you' and 'good day's to their professor, before filing out of the tower. Some glanced back at Harry and Ron, who had not moved from their seats, but then shrugged and continued out.

O-o-O

"I'm sure you two are very curious about my reasons for coming back to Hogwarts."

Harry exchanged an uncertain glance with Ron as Kakashi pushed himself off his desk and went to shut the trapdoor. The shinobi's feet made no sound as he crossed the room.

"We are." Harry replied, wondering where this was leading to. "In fact, Hermione has quite a lot of questions for you, Kakashi."

"She was going to make a bloody list of questions," Ron muttered.

"Get into the habit of using 'Professor', Harry, or you might raise suspicion." Kakashi walked back to the desk and folded his arms. He seemed to size them up for a moment. "First, let's get this straight: I'm not on another mission to guard you."

Harry breathed a sigh of relief. "Good, because I have too many bodyguards as it is."

Ron looked confused. "Why are you back, then?"

"Good question, Ron, but I am not going to answer it." Kakashi held up his hand to stop their protests. "That is private, between your Headmaster and me. Know that I will not help or hinder you this year, Harry, unlike in your fourth year, when we tailed after you all day."

Harry nodded. "Why are you back alone?"

Kakashi hoped his voice was steady as he replied, "Circumstances forced me."

"What circumstances?"

"I will not tell you."

"Cannot or will not?"

"Both."

Harry and Ron sighed. Kakashi was being his usual annoying self again. "How is everyone back in Konoha?" Ron asked, thinking to change the subject. "You know, Professor Namikaze, Rin, Bridgette, Anko, Guy and Shikaku?"

Kakashi had anticipated the question, but his voice was heavy with regret as he answered bluntly, "Anko and Guy are well; Anko's being personally trained by our T&I head and Guy is as youthful as ever. Shikaku has been promoted to the top—he's chief advisor to the Hokage, and he's doing his job well."

"What about-?"

"Minato-sensei, Rin and Bridgette are dead."

"What?" Harry and Ron yelled at the same moment.

Kakashi nodded, trying to push back the pain and keeping his voice clinical. "Killed in action, all three of them. Their names will be inscribed upon the village memorial and they will be honored above others—mostly because Minato-sensei was Hokage, Rin was a well-respected medic and Bridgette was ANBU senior—but rest assured that they died for the village, and they would not like you agonizing over their deaths."

"How are you so calm about this?" Harry asked, half-angry and in shock. Professor Namikaze, dead? He couldn't believe it.

"I have confided in those I trust already. My time of grieving is over." Kakashi lied easily.

"Even so, I—"

"Stop it. I have more pressing matters to deal with than your silly questions. Firstly, Professor Dumbledore asked me to pass a message to you, Harry. He told me that your lesson will begin next Monday at eight, after supper, and that he would like it very much if you can bring Acid Pops with you."

"Acid Pops?" Ron choked.

"It's the password into his office!" Harry exclaimed, and then flushed as Kakashi directed a stern look at him. "Sorry, Kaka—I mean, Professor."

"Secondly, I am to accompany you to all your trips into Hogsmeade. I know that I am not your bodyguard, but Dumbledore requested this of me and I cannot refuse him."

Harry sighed, miserable. Ron gave him a sympathetic look.

"Lastly, I'd like to see you three in my office tomorrow evening, along with Ms Lovegood, Mr. Longbottom and Ms Weasley. I am sure that you have a fascinating tale to tell me."

Ron looked at him oddly. "You wanna know about the Department of Mysteries?"

Kakashi inclined his head. "Dumbledore's descriptions were not perfect. I might consider joining the Order if I can learn more of the Death Eaters."

O-o-O

Notes for Returning Home:

Kakashi later met with Sarutobi (who had visited Hogwarts specially) and was given two years of leave from Konoha, with orders to report back to the Hokage regularly. His status as a missing-nin or KIA will be revoked or changed appropriately once he was fit to return to active duty. He continued teaching Divination, and in doing so he trained the students to - if not physically, then mentally - be capable of responding to battle stimuli. Later on in his lessons, he merged some of his less gory memories from the Third Shinobi World War into the illusions, and the students had to fight off a certain number of opponents in a given time frame in order to break the illusion with a minimal headache. The rest of the events in HBP proceeds as per canon, and I had not yet planned so far out to Dumbledore's death. However, Kakashi consented to join the Order of the Phoenix, and sometimes he would participate in meetings and raids of Death Eater haunts. Kakashi kept up a personal training regimen and would sometimes spar with Minerva McGonagall in a magic-versus-chakra duel and on one rare occasion, with Albus Dumbledore. I know Kakashi stayed on in the wizarding world until after Voldemort's death, and then afterwards he returned to Konoha, but as for what happened to him in between, who knows?

Okay, so the story ends here. It was as far as I managed to get the last time I was actively writing. Again, thank you to all my readers for your kind understanding and support. This is the end of The Hand of Friendship/Returning Home story.