The Division of Worlds – Chapter 10: Finding Answers
Story Started: March 6 2005
Chapter Started/Completed: September 18, 2008/September 30, 2008
CCD

A/N: So my computer officially died on me and I've been busy, busy, and busy! This story was number one once again, so I tried to write this as soon as possible. I also am working with changing the layout of my stories. I know that this story has been a bit slow lately, so I'm hoping that the plot will pick back up again. I hope you enjoy!

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE! (For the three stories you want updated the most that is. Check out my poll on my Bio page!) This story was number one again! Keep it up!

The sun began to rise over Hogwarts castle causing the sun to shine on the fresh layer of snow on the ground. Christmas time was around the corner and the students were preparing for their exams and making plans to return home for the winter.

A red haired teen sat on the branches of one of the trees in the courtyard watching the school wake up. He pulled his robes closer around himself and readjusted his scarf to keep himself warm. He knew that he was expected in the dungeon later on to watch the NEWT Potions class. Professor Snape had reluctantly allowed him back into the class, and Kurama had assured the Slytherin head that he would not do anything like he had the first day.

He walked down the stairs and entered the classroom. Professor Snape sat behind his desk. There was a mutual understanding between the two and for the most part, they ignored each other's presence. Kurama placed his bag on the floor next to his chair in the corner and proceeded to take off his scarf. He settled in his chair as Snape rose and went to open the door to allow the students in.

Green eyes watched as Harry, Hermione, and Ron sat down at their table and set up their stuff. Memory of his last serious talk with Harry was fresh in his mind. He did want to help the boy, but he wasn't sure what he could do to accomplish what they both wanted. It frustrated him to no end.

The problem is that Voldermort was an unknown factor in all of this. There wasn't a lot of information on his past. As it was, his name was taboo in the wizarding world and so what little that was know about him and his activities before he "lost" to baby Harry, couldn't be confirmed by any solid source. With her abundant spare time, Genkai had been researching it for some time now, but even she kept hitting road blocks at every lead she got.

Kurama was brought out of his thoughts when Professor Snape slammed his book on the table Harry and his friends shared. He had missed what had started the altercation, but from the look of it, the Slytherin head was fuming.

"Detention Potter! I expect to see you Saturday night in my office. You may all leave," Snape turned and looked directly at him, "I mean you as well, Mr. Minamino."

Kurama allowed himself to smirk as Snape turned to head back to his desk and prepare for his next class. Snape dismissed him every day with Harry's class. He gathered his things and walked out to see Harry, Ron, and Hermione waiting for him. It was becoming a routine for the four of them. The young wizards didn't have another class, so they would return to the Gryffindor common room to hang out and work on homework.

"Why did you provoke Professor Snape, Harry? You knew that was going to happen," Hermione said.

"I don't know why you always ask that, Hermione. He's just going to do it anyway," Ron replied before Harry could say anything.

"Snape has had it out for us since we got here. I might as well do something to really deserve it," Harry said.

"It still isn't right," Hermione said, "Don't you agree, Kurama?"

The red-haired demon glanced at the sole female in the group. She always wanted his opinion and in some cases, he really didn't want to give it. Kurama had seen it before with his fellow classmates in Japan. It wasn't a fun place to be, but at least he knew how to handle it.

"I don't know if I really agree. I'm kind of mixed when it comes to Professor Snape."

"What do you mean," Hermione asked with disappointment in her voice.

"I've lived for over a thousand years and I've seen resentment like that before. I don't know why he singles out Harry…"

"…Because he and my father didn't get along," Harry cut him off.

"…That and he was a death eater and anyone who followed You-Know-Who is crazy," Ron added.

Kurama took a second to take in that information. He filed it away to check out later before continuing.

"Let me put this in another way, I know that the three of you haven't forgotten what I did on the first day with the poison antidote potion."

They nodded confirming that they remembered.

"I proved to Snape that I cannot be bullied. I proved that I know equally as much as he does. Right now, he holds a grudge against Harry, and I don't really care the reasons why, but until Harry proves that he is an equal to Snape, this will go on. Because of that, I cannot say who was in the right and who was in the wrong when they do what they do, but I believe that you should go your own way regardless of the consequences. That way there are fewer regrets. After all, even if you should become equals, the two of you probably wouldn't admit it."

They had reached the portrait outside of the common room. Ron muttered the password and the quartet entered the room to find it empty, which was uncommon with the winter weather.

"And what does that have to do with him provoking Snape?" Ron asked.

"It actually has everything to do with it. Harry has to make himself known to Snape and he has to fight to be an equal. He may not be going about it in the best way, but it's better than not doing anything at all."

Kurama took off his gloves and rubbed his still cold hands before holding them towards the fireplace to try to warm them up. He glanced over his story to see Hermione's small smile and Ron's clearly unhappy expression. Harry's back disappeared as he went up the stairs to the 6th year boy's bedroom.

He returned a moment later with a few other textbooks and the two wizards and witch began to work on their coursework. The young apparition smiled before he went upstairs for his own coursework. His school in Japan thought he was studying abroad, but he was still going to be enrolled in the school. He sent his coursework to his mother who turned it into the school every week. Kurama had been lucky that she hadn't noticed that his mail was being carried by an owl or his mother would say something in her letters to him. In her last letter, she did say something about the strange mailman with what looked like a pacifier in his mouth; that of course, made him smile.

He opened his trunk to grab one of his school books, when he noticed the envelope on his bed. The red-head looked up and approached it carefully in case it was one of the usual pranks from another house, namely from Malfoy and his gang. Written in small, elegant handwriting was 'Mr. Minamino.' Kurama didn't recognize it, but deeming it safe, he picked it up and opened it.

Mr. Minamino,

I understand that you and Miss Genkai are looking into the past of Lord Voldermort. I would be delighted to help you out, but only if this is kept between the two of us. Please come by my office next Monday at 8 PM. I look forward to seeing you then.

Albus Dumbledore

P.S.: I like Acid Pops.

Kurama was in awe over the letter. He had noticed by sitting in the Headmaster's Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, that nothing escaped Dumbledore. The man was very brilliant and at the same time, utterly confusing.

"Hey Kurama, what are you doing? We're waiting on you downstairs."

The red-haired teen froze. He hadn't heard Hermione come up the stairs or open the bedroom door. Recovering quickly, he slid the letter into the book in his hand and stood.

"I'm sorry Hermione, I got caught up re-reading the last letter my mother sent me. I'll be downstairs to join you in a moment."

The brunet teen nodded and turned to go back down the stairs. He pulled the letter back out and placed it at the bottom of his trunk and gathered his books, he returned downstairs and the quartet began to work on their work.

"Hey fox boy, get your butt out here before I rip this portrait off the wall, shoot the door down, and come in there and drag you out myself!"

The quartet as well as many other Gryffindors glanced at the back of the door that held the Fat Lady. Some gave the door dirty looks. Kurama sighed. Typical Yusuke…

"Well, I better go see what he wants. I may or may not be back," Kurama said with a smirk.

He rose and pushed open the door to the Gryffindor common room to hear a smack and a curse. He frowned and walked around the door to see Yusuke there holding his nose. Blood was coming out between the Spirit Detective's fingers.

"Damn it Kurama, why did you do that?"

"Why were you behind the door?"

"I was about to go through with my threat."

Kurama sighed and grabbed Yusuke by the arm.

"Come on, let's get you to the infirmary."

Kuwabara's laughter rang throughout the infirmary. Yusuke sulked as the bandages around his nose were forcing him to breathe through his mouth. Apparently Madam Pomfrey had stepped out of the infirmary which left Kurama to patch Yusuke up. They had run into Kuwabara and Hiei on their way and the bigger teen hadn't stopped laughing since he was told what happened.

"Why don't you shut up?" Yusuke said in a distorted voice, though it was drowned out by the laughter.

"Fool, don't you know when to stop laughing like a hyena and listen," Genkai's voice called out from the doorway.

Kuwabara froze and choked down his laughter. Though he would have insulted Hiei for making a similar comment, Genkai was a human and could hurt him, badly.

"Dimwit, what did you do?" she asked turning to Yusuke now.

"I didn't do anything you old hag, Kurama slammed a door open in my face."

"Ok, I really don't want to know any more," Genkai replied before turning to Kurama, "Have you found any information, yet."

Kurama paused, he knew Dumbledore wanted him to not tell anyone about their meeting on Monday, but couldn't he trust his team.

"No, I've run into nothing but dead ends and no one is willing to talk about him, with the exception of Harry Potter and his friends and they don't know much. They were infants when Voldermort last reigned in terror."

"I see," the old mentor said.

Kurama turned his head away. He looked at each of his comrades and thought about his options. He couldn't trust all of them with what he knew. Yusuke and Kuwabara would try to handle it in a noisy, obnoxious way. Hiei wouldn't care, so there was no reason to tell him anyway. Genkai would probably insist on doing this as a team, though it wouldn't be in their best interest.

He was just going to have to do this on his own…