Well, hello there, you guys! I'm...quite sorry that I've basically ignored this site for such a long time. I sometimes just lose motivation to write, and you know, you basically leave this place in favor of other things. Shit happens.
But!...I've gotten lately the inspiration to write again. Not only am I invested in an original draft, I'm also invested in writing fanfic again. And this one is slightly inspired by those popular Hogwarts AU fics and art that float around the Internet. I thought what would it be if I did a crossover of my own with the characters that I like in a Hogwarts setting, and this came off. This is written purely for fun, so don't take it too seriously. ;)
Every character that appears in this story belongs to their respective owners. I own nothing except a few minor characters here and there and the overall idea of crossing them over.
Of Spells and Curses
Chapter 1
The owl stood perched at the windowsill, staring back at him.
For a moment, Hiro didn't know what to do. He stood frozen in the threshold of his dormitory, staring more at the owl and wondering what would the animal do next.
The bird screeched at the boy and then stretched its wings, and before leaving in the same way that it entered, it left a letter on Hiro's bed.
Hiro jumped, as if he'd been scolded, and rushed towards his bed; attempting to grab the letter. A million thoughts swirled past his head, yet the one that stood out to him the most was a very simple one.
My birthday's in a week. He would turn eleven years old. How could he had forgotten it? With Tadashi leaving every September and returning every June, carrying parchment rolls everywhere he went, talking to Aunt Cass and Hiro about vanishing cats and flying broomsticks, and how he promised Hiro he'd be there with him next September...
The boy jumped out of his room and went in search of his brother.
-TADASHI! TADASHI!- He screamed as he jumped down the stairs- The letter's arrived! The let...-
He paused as he saw his aunt at the table in the living room, immersed in a book. Aunt Cass raised her head at her nephew.
-Don't scream, darling, we're not deaf! Tadashi's at the garage if you're looking for him. I think he's busy fixing the bike, but I'm sure...-
He ran past his confused aunt and didn't stop until he stumbled onto the garage, where his older brother was occupied with their red bike. He didn't want to seem rude to Aunt Cass; in fact he would show her the letter afterwards, but he felt Tadashi would understand it more than her.
The elder boy looked at Hiro when he appeared beside him.
-Just in time, Hiro! I finished with the brakes and...- He paused as he laid eyes on the parchment in Hiro's hands. He stood silent for a minute, his mouth and eyes widening as he began to understand.
And he jumped over his little brother, squeezing Hiro and cutting off his breath.
-You did it! I can't believe it, it finally came! And for the longest time I thought it wouldn't come, and that I would have to accept you were a Squib...-
-I'll show you a squib, nerd! My punches can still hurt you!- The younger brother exclaimed, though he had a wide grin on his face. Tadashi's joy was contagious enough to make Hiro even more excited than he already was.
A sound was heard at the door, and Aunt Cass's figure appeared in it, carrying Mochi in her arms and looking at her nephews alarmed. The cat stared at her in annoyance, trying its best to free himself of her arms.
-What's with all the fuss? You boys sound like you won the lottery!
Tadashi gave a quick look at his aunt, and then his gaze returned to Hiro, his mind slowly figuring out her words, like a puzzle.
-What, you didn't tell her?
-Well, I felt like you should know first...
-Know what? Another fight with the bots?- Her Aunt titled her head slightly in Hiro's direction, attempting to get a confession out of him. Instead, Hiro gave her a grin and showed her the yellow parchment.
Her screams alarmed the cat in a way that Mochi ended up scratching her forearms, but Cass Hamada didn't care. She cried and bounced and fluttered all around her nephews while messing Hiro's hair.
-I CANNOT BELIEVE IT! My two boys, my two little wizards! Oh, Hiro, you too!
After much rejoicing and cheers, the Hamadas entered back into the house and sat down in the living room, ready to open and finally read Hiro's letter. His fingers nervously played with the seal wax before he opened the letter. Written in green ink in the outside of the parchment was this direction:
Mr. H. Hamada
The left room on the upper floor
The Lucky Cat Cafe, number 23,
San Fransokyo
-You gotta love these wizards, they're always all about the details, aren't they?- Aunt Cass commented, giggling a little to herself as she tapped the letter. -Your letter was just like this, Tadashi.
He had forgotten it, but now that his aunt mentioned it, Hiro did recall the day that Tadashi's letter had arrived; four summers ago, and it was in the same manner: a strange yellow envelope with very precise directions written over it. The Hamadas were worried of it at first, and thought it was a bad prank; that was their thought until more letters arrived, and the woman in the blue gown knocked at their door, and told them the truth.
-It's probably the same thing as mine. Come on, open it, it's not a Howler.- With his brother's reassuring smile, Hiro felt more confident and ripped open the envelope; revealing two pieces of parchment filled with green ink ready to be read. He decided to read first the letter on the right, and he read loudly.
-Dear Mr. Hamada, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! -Tadashi and Aunt Cass cheered- Blah blah blah...The professors wait for you...Blah blah...School year starts the 1 of September...Prepare all your things...They'll be waiting for my owl?
Tadashi answered to his question quickly:
-Use Fujin for that. They want your reply, if you got the letter and if you wanna go to school.
Hiro stared amused at his brother at the last sentence. Why wouldn't he go to school!? Ever since his brother has received his own letter Hiro was awaiting for the day he was allowed to go to that magical school, and be part of that world; besides just staring in amazement in the shops and at the train station while Tadashi was the only one allowed to say funny words and move around his wand.
Aunt Cass, who found herself filled with energy all of the sudden, rose from the couch and went straight to her room while directing her nephews.
-Well we better get ready! Send the reply right away and in an hour or so we're leaving for Diagon Alley.
Tadashi stared puzzled at his aunt for such direct orders.
-But wouldn't it be better to wait for a day? Diagon Alley is far from here, and it'd be better to organize and for Hiro to look at his supply list.
Aunt Cass came back into the room carrying a chocolate cookie in her hand and she munched on it as she replied:
-Oh, well! It's late anyway, there'll be too much traffic to get over there. No, we better do something special for Hiro tonight. - She shrugged and then smiled widely at Hiro- What do you say we make an Ultra Buffet?
-An "All-you-can-eat-and-more" Buffet courtesy of the Lucky Cat?- The two boys' eyes glittered with enthusiasm at the prospect of eating all of their favorite dishes that night.
-Sure enough! It's a double celebration, boys! Not only is our little Hiro turning eleven, but now he'll be able to carry around a pointy wand and throw spells everywhere! - She finished the cookie and turned towards the kitchen- But if we're gonna eat big tonight you boys better start helping me.
Her nephews nodded, and Hiro began walking towards the kitchen, until he felt Tadashi's hand over his shoulder.
-You better write to them now. Use Fujin for it.-
Hiro understood immediately what his brother meant, and before his aunt took notice he dashed to Tadashi's room. In there, a beautiful grey owl stood a top a perch looking oddly at him, as if his sudden entrance into the room was unexpected.
-Good news, Fujin, I'm coming too. - The owl screeched and flew towards Hiro, excited to go out.
Hiro grabbed a paper and a pen that he found in Tadashi's desk and wrote a small letter towards the Hogwarts staff. He wasn't sure of what to write at first, if maybe they expected a courteous, long response (to make a good first impression) or something short that got to the point.
School hasn't started yet, they can't classify me by this note. So he decided to go with the short answer telling them of how he already received the letter and soon enough he would be buying the school supplies.
After scribbling on the note he whistled and Fujin landed in front of him, the owl making soft noises as he tied the letter to its left talon.
-Send this to Hogwarts, they'll know what to do with it.- And Fujin, as if he had understood Hiro's comment, bit him softly on the knuckle and then flew by the window, leaving the same way the school owl did.
Hiro felt relaxed and very calm, and he thought it was bizarre his reaction. He had just been accepted into Hogwarts, he should be ecstatic! But after writing the letter, he just felt as if it was something very simple, something not worth fretting for, just a case of waiting...Waiting, and packing, and ordering things...
He heard footsteps behind him, and turned to see Tadashi's figure in front of him; giving a smile to his little brother.
Hiro took out his letter again, and looked at second side of the page where there were more paragraphs he hadn't seen before. He looked at the text and the list below to understand that it was the school's supply list, and began reading out loud:
-I already sent Fujin, and here's a list of things I gotta have by tomorrow: herbs, books, my own wand...-He paused at that- And I can bring a pet if I want...
He stopped reading at his brother.
-Do you think it'd be okay to bring Mochi?
Tadashi paused to ponder his brother's question, and shook his head slightly before answering.
-We better leave Mochi here. Aunt Cass will feel a little lonely here once we leave, and Mochi could bring her company. She'll need that, squirt.
Hiro felt slightly red and turned; how could he be so careless as to forget about his aunt? No, Mochi was needed here more; Aunt Cass' happiness was more important than Hiro's wishes.
The boy looked again at his brother, and surprised he saw that Tadashi was grinning at him.
-But...You're getting a pet.-
-What, you're gonna lend me Fujin? Oh yeah, because that's totally my pet.
-Fujin is useful, he can deliver mail and bring you packages.-He paused- Much more useful than a kitten, unless you really want a little baby to take care of...-
And he went and messed with Hiro's hair as the little brother playfully nudged him in the chest. It didn't hurt him at all (seeing how tall he was, it was impossible for him to be hurt); but it was one of the brothers' playful gestures they had between them.
-You better go to sleep early tonight. Tomorrow we'll be all day in Diagon Alley, and I don't want you to get up late and miss the ride!
-Look who's talking, you're such a heavy sleeper you carry around the sheets as clothes!
But Tadashi was right; going to Diagon Alley was a yearly activity that Hiro always looked forward to, and considering that now it was his time, he was more excited than usual.
And if he was more excited than usual, he would have a harder time conceiving sleep...And if he didn't conceive sleep he would find himself being so tired tomorrow morning...And yet, the night offered endless possibilities and thoughts that plagued his mind: what would be the core of his wand? How would the school uniform fit him? In what house would he be selected?
Many and more thoughts fluttered through his mind as he laid in bed and covered himself with the sheets; thinking that in a few months he wouldn't sleep on that bed for 9 consecutive months. The thought would have saddened in another situation...But not now.