I've begun writing again. I don't know how many of you will still read this, but here it is. My writing style has changed a bit, but I hope it's still okay for all of you. Thank you.

Christmas was coming. One morning in mid-December, Hogwarts woke to find itself covered in several feet of snow. The lake froze solid and the Weasley twins were punished for bewitching several snowballs so that they followed Quirrell around, bouncing off the back of his turban. The few owls that managed to battle their way through the stormy sky to deliver mail had to be nursed back to health by Hagrid before they could fly off again.

No one could wait for the holidays to start. While the Gryffindor common room and the Great Hall had roaring fires, the draft corridors had become icy and a bitter wind rattled the windows in the classrooms. Worst of all were Professor Snape's classes down in the dungeons, where their breath rose in a mist before them and they kept as close as possible to their hot cauldrons.

"I do feel sorry," said Draco, one Potions class, and Byakuya rolled his eyes.

Why does he insist on speaking? The noble sighed. Senbonzakura answered, He needs attention or he'll explode. It's a Pure-Blood thing.

Malfoy continued, "for all those people who have to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because they're not wanted at home."

He was looking at Harry as he spoke. Crabbe and Goyle chuckled. Byakuya raised an eyebrow, "What makes your tiny brain think I'm staying here for the holidays?"

Malfoy sputtered, "E-everyone knows your family hates you!"

Byakuya smirked, "Did I ever say I was spending Christmas with family? I have real friends, unlike the ones your parents bought you."

The Slytherin went back to his cauldron, which Byakuya could tell was already wrong. The young blonde had been teasing him, or trying to, even more since the Quidditch match. Realizing that everyone was too impressed with Byakuya's flying to support him, Malfoy simply insulted things like his wardrobe. This was pointless because they all wore basically the same thing.

When they left the dungeons at the end of Potions, they found a large fir tree blocking the corridor ahead. Two enormous feet sticking out at the bottom and a loud puffing sound told them that Hagrid was behind it.

Byakuya pulled out his wand. "Step back, Hagrid."

As soon as the half-giant did, they all heard a voice. "Would you mind moving out of the way? Trying to earn extra money, Potter? Hoping to be gamekeeper yourself when you leave Hogwarts, I suppose –"

Byakuya turned to Malfoy. "Why do you insist on speaking to me? I know you're an attention whore, but this is a bit much. You are not going to redeem yourself. Besides, being gamekeeper means I would not be leaving Hogwarts, so what you just said did not make sense. Move along before I hex you. Or worse."

The three pushed past the tree, and Ichigo walked up behind Byakuya. "I hope they got sap all over their expensive robes."

Byakuya chuckled, and spoke, "Locomotor tree."

The huge fir rose off the ground slightly, and Byakuya guided it to the Great Hall. Neville tagged along with the two Gryffindors and Hagrid upstairs, and Ichigo took pity on the boy. "Neville, do you want to spend Christmas with us?"

The boy's face lit up. "Really?! I mean, I'll have to ask my Gran if it's okay… but yeah, I'd love that! Thank you, Hermione!"

He hurried off to send an owl, and Byakuya tilted his head curiously. "You want him to come with us?"

She shrugged in return. "Why not?"

Once they got the tree set up, the two Shinigami took the time to look around the Great Hall where Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick were busy with the Christmas decorations.

It looked spectacular. Festoons of holly and mistletoe hung all around the walls, and no less than twelve towering Christmas trees stood around the room, some sparkling with tiny icicles, some glittering with hundreds of candles. Byakuya walked over to McGonagall, and spoke softly, "Professor, if I were to hex a certain student, would I get in trouble?"

Thinking for a moment, she said, "You wouldn't as long as you don't do any permanent damage."

Ichigo and the Captain walked away with smiles, and couldn't wait to get back to Japan.

The next day is when the holidays started. That morning Byakuya, Ichigo, and Neville rode the Hogwarts Express back to Kings Cross, and were silently cheering that Ron had to stay at the castle because his parents were visiting his brother Charlie in Romania.

They found an alley, and turned to Neville, who was slightly confused. "Neville, you're going to learn a lot of information. Are you ready?"

The Gryffindor nodded, and Byakuya took out Senbonzakura, using the wand to open a Senkaimon. Neville looked on in fascination as the doors opened. "You're going to be going to Japan. It's where we really live."

First, the two of them popped in their Soul Candy, and told their Mod Souls to go to their families. Noba was to go with Ririn. Seeing their soul-form, Neville was amazed. "You guys really are something special…."

Ichigo grabbed him and slung the chubby wizard onto her back, and they used Shunpo to get to Soul Society faster.

Immediately going to Kuchiki Manor, Rukia greeted them, "Byakuya-san!"

He hugged her tightly. "Ohayo, Rukia-chan."

Ichigo set Neville down and gave Rukia a hug as well. Byakuya cast a translator spell so Neville would understand everyone. "Rukia, this is Neville. He became a close friend during the first part of the year."

Said pre-teen was wandering around the manor, taking it in. Ichigo set a hand on Neville's shoulder, "I've noticed you in Herbology…. Do you want to see the garden?"

With bright smiles, the pair wandered off, leaving Rukia and Byakuya. Holding out his hand, Byakuya began to wander Soul Society. "I trust you have maintained the division in my absence?"

Rukia nodded, "The men finally respect me. I mean no disrespect, but why did you make me your Lieutenant?"

Byakuya sighed softly, "I need someone I can trust running the division. I would have chosen Ichigo, but she went with me for this mission. Once I come back, I'll put in the paperwork for you to be transferred to Jushiro."

She hugged him tightly. "Thank you."

Ichigo and Neville sat in the garden, not speaking until Neville broke the silence. "So, what is your real name?"

The ginger smiled at him, "Ichigo Kurosaki, Death God and kick-ass soccer player."

Neville laughed loudly. "That's so cool. What about the real Harry and Hermione?"

Ichigo cracked her neck as she stretched. "If you want I'm sure we can go find them. They're around."

The two Kuchiki ran into Ichigo and Neville leaving the manor. "What are you both up to?"

Neville responded to Byakuya, "Looking for the real Harry and Hermione."

Rukia smiled, "They're with Geta-Boushi in his shop right now."

The four of them walked to the Senkaimon, and Byakuya picked Neville up. They ran through before coming out in Urahara's basement. The man was waiting for them. He tipped his bucket hat, and sent them a grin, "How are you guys?"

Neville stepped forward and held out a hand, "Hi! I'm Neville Longbottom!"

Urahara shook his hand. "Hello, Neville. I'm Kisuke Urahara, owner of Urahara Shoten."

Smiling at the exchange, Rukia set a hand on Neville's shoulder. "He wants to meet Harry and Hermione."

At the mention of their names, the two flew down the long ladder that led up to the shop. As the dust cleared, they heard a boy's voice.

"Yo, Rukia!"

She smiled, "Heya, Harry."

The pre-teen walked out of the dust and grinned at them, hands in his pockets. Urahara ruffled Harry's hair, who in turn let loose a low growl. "Don't touch me."

Neville smiled, walking forward. "Harry? I'm Neville. I thought I went to school with you until yesterday."

Bending over as he laughed, Harry shook Neville's outstretched hand. "Well, that's a twist. Hello, Neville!"

Hermione shook his hand as well. "I guess that means it was explained to you?"

Neville nodded as he motioned to Byakuya. "He's treated me well. I've gained a lot of confidence and friends because of him and Ichigo."

Setting a hand on the shorter boy's shoulder, Hermione spoke. "Ichigo and Byakuya have given you mental strength. Over Christmas break, if you want, the six of us will give you physical strength. Three weeks to get you started."

Neville looked around at the group. "The six of you?"

Harry nodded, "Hermione, Byakuya, Ichigo, Urahara, Rukia, and me. We've trained, some longer than others, but all talented. From what I've been told, some Slytherin boys have been causing you trouble."

Neville nodded enthusiastically, but Urahara held up a hand, "Before we start, you should know that these next few weeks will be some of the most difficult of your life. You will be pushed beyond your limits, and then you will be pushed more."

Swallowing thickly, Neville nodded, "Let's do it."

Neville smiled, even as his throat felt like it was closing up. He relaxed into the hot spring, and sighed gratefully at the ice water Byakuya offered him. "You have finished your second week. For being pampered your whole life, you've done well adjusting."

Chuckling, Neville rolled his neck, "I'll take the compliment."

In the two weeks Neville had been in Karakura, he'd begun to develop a more muscular body, losing his baby fat. The boy had been a natural with wielding a wand to fight when they introduced him to it. He still had some clumsiness to get over, but they were all convinced that it would go away as Neville got older.

With one day left in their vacation, they threw a small Christmas/New Year's celebration. Byakuya had presents at Hogwarts, which were brought over, and they sat in front of a small decorated tree. Once presents were distributed, they were opened. Byakuya opened the whittled flute from Hagrid, the fifty pence from Vernon and Petunia, the Weasley sweater from Molly, and they all stared at the invisibility cloak. Byakuya read the letter that came with it aloud. "Your father left this in my possession before he died. It is time it was returned to you. Use it well. A very Merry Christmas to you. It looks like Dumbledore's handwriting. I doubt it was left with him, though."

They all nodded, and Rukia passed Neville a present. "This is from all of us."

It was a small box, like for a ring. Opening it, Neville pulled out the small pill. "What is this?"

Harry pulled an identical pill from his pocket. "It's a Mod-soul. It allows your spirit to be ejected from your body so you can use your Reiatsu like we've been teaching you."

After they opened presents and a small meal, they went their separate ways, and Ichigo asked a question as they entered London again. "What about Sirius? We both know he's not guilty. Hell, you were there!"

Byakuya smirked, "Shall we stage a breakout?"

The three of them Apparated to just outside of Azkaban's walls, and they gave Neville a second because he wasn't used to Apparating. Byakuya and Ichigo looked at Neville. He ate the pill, and felt himself get ejected. They looked back at his body, and Ichigo smiled at the Mod-soul. "Kurodo, feel free to go wherever. We're going back to Ichigo's house after this."

Looking at Neville, the Shinigami spoke, "Neville, Byakuya and I will watch you closely. He'll have his invisibility cloak in case we're seen. You remember what we taught you about walking using your Reiatsu to form a solid platform under your feet? That's what we'll be doing here."

They avoided the patrolling guards, and got to the cells. Getting to Sirius, he looked at the three of them. "Who the hell are all you?"

Stepping to the cell door, Byakuya spoke with his British accent. "Hello, uncle Padfoot."

The scraggly man scrambled to the cell door. "Harry! Is it really you?"

Nodding, he chuckled, "I've learned to sneak around. Guess it's only fair knowing who my family is."

Sirius smiled, and stuck a hand through the bars, which Byakuya took. "You remember my nickname?"

Rolling his eyes, Byakuya nodded slowly, running his free hand through his hair. "Moony, Padfoot, and Prongs. Truthfully, I never liked Peter."

Laughing, the prisoner patted Byakuya's cheek. "Harry, who are you living with?"

Looking away, he responded, "Vernon and Petunia in the cupboard under the stairs."

Sirius squeezed Byakuya's hand briefly. "I bet Dumbledore sent you there. Those were the very last people James and Lily wanted you to live with. I can't believe he didn't at least send you to Remus!"

Byakuya leaned his forehead against the bars. "What's done is done. I'm happy at Hogwarts. These are my friends Hermione Granger, a Muggle-born, and Neville Longbottom."

Sirius looked at Neville, "Frank and Alice's boy…."

Nodding, Neville scratched the back of his head, "Yeah. St. Mungo's has been making a lot of advances lately, so I'm hoping they'll be getting better."

Sighing, Sirius shook his head, "For your sake, I hope they do. The two of them were some of the best friends I've ever made."

Byakuya set a hand on Sirius' shoulder. "The guards are starting their round. We'll break you out. Tonight isn't the night. I need to find out what Dumbledore has in store."

Nodding, Sirius chuckled, "Seeing you has restored some of my sanity. It's nice to know the whole world doesn't think I'm a murderer. Especially my best friend's son. Go now."

The three pre-teens ran until they were well away from Azkaban.

Ichigo looked between the three of them. "Ready for school tomorrow?"

Thank you for reading. Let me know what you think!