Chapter 1 : Chance Encounters
This is my first fanfic, so be nice, please? Constructive criticism is welcome. Pls review I need friends
Also, this has been edited. Plus, the little gray 'line breaks' you see aren't the real ones. Only the bold black ones are. EDIT- OK SO I REALIZE THE LINES WEREN'T VISIBLE SO I FIXED IT.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
LINE BREAK
Charlie Weasley wasn't exactly sure about when, exactly, they became friends. A stereotypical Slytherin and a Gryffindor weren't even supposed to be able to have a normal conversation.
It's a good thing Aurelio Cabral wasn't a stereotypical Slytherin, then. At first glance, he certainly looked like a pureblooded, Slytherin bigot. High cheekbones, all-together perfect face, he was handsome. Not the tallest person, standing at 5'7, two inches below Charlie, but still handsome, and wearing his Slytherin tie with pride. If you looked a little closer, though, you'd notice some things. His face was a little feminine, for starters. His hair wasn't short and well-kept, it was a silky dark brown, with bangs framing his face, a stubborn piece of hair sticking up on the side of his head, and his low ponytail hanging over his other shoulder. His uniform wasn't kept perfectly, his tie was messily put together, and his shirt was untucked from his pants. His black jumper covered his arms, but his hands, clearly visible, wore black, fingerless gloves. He also bore converse on his feet, instead of the usual black, shiny, and well-kept shoes.
Charlie would later learn this was because it was easier to run in converse.
Perhaps the most striking thing about Aurelio was his eyes. They were cat-like and golden, but not like a molten gold. They were a lot lighter than that. His color skin also made him stand out. While most of the population had pale skin, as the result of little sunlight, Aurelio had a Spanish-like tan, clearly marking him as a Portuguese individual. His last name, Cabral, was a mark of the " Ancient and Most Noble House of Cabral."
So, it was safe to say that the last place Charlie expected to meet the Pureblood was in a broom closet.
Charlie had been completing his usual rounds around Hogwarts, as a Prefect, when he'd run into Filch. While it was not unusual to see the wheezy old git, but that didn't mean Charlie was used to him. That agitated look Filch was wearing (though Filch hadn't even spotted him yet) meant he was looking for an excuse to get any student in trouble, so even if Charlie had liked Filch, he probably would've reacted in the same manner.
Which was sprinting as fast as he could in the other direction. A rather justified reaction, if you asked him.
Though it was his sixth year and he knew his way well around the castle, he still managed to abandon all sense of direction and just pray for a convenient hiding spot.
How nice that someone answered his prayers. There, lo and behold, stood a broom closet, big enough to fit two people. Which was also convenient, because there was somebody already in there. He did not notice this at first, being in a blind panic and all. He only realized the fact after he shoved his own, stocky body in the small space, and calmed down enough to assess his surroundings. When he turned his head, he jumped when a pair of golden, catlike eyes stared back at him, in curiosity.
"So... are you hiding from Filch, too?" The ruffled looking boy asked, quite calm for a person who looked like he escaped hell.
No matter who says it, Charlie did not yelp. Absolutely not. And if he did, it certainly wasn't because he thought the eyes belonged to Mrs. Norris, the caretaker's cat.
"I'll take that as a yes. What did you do, anyway? You looked bloody terrified," the unnamed boy observed, his slightly unnerving eyes still staring at Charlie.
"Just... doing my rounds. Prefect, y'know. I wasn't really doing anything Filch looked angry, and I didn't want to face that."
"Ah. That may or may not have been my fault. Apparently, Filch does not like dogs. Or highly trained German Shepherds, for that matter."
"...How did you get access to highly trained German Shepherds?" Charlie asked, fearing the answer.
"Gotta love Americans," the boy answered, winking.
"Dear Merlin."
"Hey, it I was going to do it, I was doing it all the way."
Before Charlie could respond, or begin to question the boy's sanity, the door was thrown open violently. Filch stood in the doorway, Mrs. Norris beside him, wearing a disgustingly proud look.
"Yes! Oh, we've got them now, my sweet! Now, let's see what-"
What Filch was trying to see, Charlie would never know, for the mystery boy grabbed Charlie's hand, and took off down the corridor. Charlie stumbled, trying to keep up with the rather fast pace they were traveling at. Once he regained his footing, he gathered enough sense to ask the student where they were going.
" No idea!" He responded, wearing a slightly insane grin.
How assuring.
Eventually, when the boy seemed satisfied that they were far enough away from Filch (though Charlie was pretty sure they lost him by the Charms corridor), he let Charlie go, and turned toward him. Charlie couldn't help but notice that even though he himself was wheezing, the boy seemed barely out of breath.
"Alright, well that was fun! See you around, Lion!" He said, cheerfully.
"You, too, ...Snake? Wait, you're a-"
But he was gone.
Charlie was forced to hurry back to the Gryffindor common room, as he wasn't sure whether or not Filch was still lurking. He eventually made it there, and was able to wake The Fat Lady from her deep slumber.
"Urgh...password?"
"Lurttlebird."
Her portrait swung open, and Charlie stumbled to the dorms. Upon entering, he flung himself into bed, not bothering to throw on his pajamas or even take his shoes off. He really needed to find out the boy's name.
Preferably soon.
LINE BREAK
Their next encounter was eerily similar to the first, and Charlie was starting to get the crazy idea that this happened to the boy a lot. The only thing he heard, at first, was a shout.
"RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"
Huh? Charlie turned from his Transfiguration notes, where he had been studying in the second floor hallway, to see the Slytherin boy he had seen two nights before, skid around the corner, right himself, and take off again at a furious speed. To see Professor Snape chasing after him was a big surprise. Didn't he favor his Snakes? But, apparently, this wasn't the case this time. The look Snape wore was pure loathing, which was actually understandable in this situation.
After all, Snape normally doesn't wear the Gryffindor colors. It wasn't just Gryffindor colors, oh no, that wouldn't be enough. It was the Gryffindor Quidditch uniform, of course.
Oh, Charlie was starting to like this Slytherin. Gryffindors and Slytherins normally don't get along, but this obviously wasn't a normal Slytherin. After all, he mused, watching the bat try (and fail) desperately to catch his pupil, who was still running, no normal Slytherin would replace his Head of House's clothes with a Gryffindor Quidditch uniform.
Charlie turned toward his younger brother, Percy, a third year, who, upon seeing Snape, had made a mysterious choking noise, as if trying to stifle laughter.
"Do you know who that is?"
"Y-Yeah. That's Aurelio Cabral, a Slytherin and pureblood from the Ancient and Most Noble House of Cabral. And," he added, suppressing another snort, "A known troublemaker."
To say Charlie was surprised to see his strict brother actually laughing at the poor fate of a teacher was an understatement. He was baffled. Still, his reaction was justified. Based on what he'd seen so far, this Aurelio Cabral was going to become something of a Hogwarts legend.
That's when it dawned on Charlie. He thought back to those 'little pranks' that had started around his first year. Normally, it wouldn't have stood out, but...
The cat nip found in Professor McGonagall's desk (in which she was not amused).
The time Filch was found in a wedding dress (a memorable day).
The (terrifying) elephant seals found in the Black Lake...
The time the kitchen elves sang nursery rhymes for three days to Professor Snape...
Charlie felt a sudden, strong need to befriend the Slytherin now. After all, if he has access to elephant seals, Charlie would be willing to bet it's safer to be Aurelio's friend rather than enemy.
Of course, he'd have to find the Slytherin first. After all, he seemed the type to keep himself subtle, as Charlie had never noticed the Slytherin before now.
Ah, that issue would solve itself.
LINE BREAK
Okay, Charlie thought, this is not the way I thought I'd be meeting him again...
Charlie and Aurelio stared at each other, both too startled to move.
Charlie had been out for a midnight stroll, carefully avoiding the areas he knew Filch would be. He couldn't help but think that Percy would have a heart attack if he found out how casually Charlie disregarded the rules.
That was when he heard an odd noise. Sort of like a squeaking, but also with the sound of wheels rolling underneath. And all he could do was stare as Aurelio Cabral emerged from the corner, clad in his plaid pajamas, pushing a trolley full of delicious, steaming food. Apparently, the boy had found the kitchens.
As soon as Aurelio caught sight of Charlie, he paused. Then, realizing Charlie had seen him, got the look of a deer in headlights.
Their staring match had continued for five minutes, before they were disrupted by an impatient bark from behind Aurelio.
A Scottish Terrier emerged from behind the Portuguese boy, and barked once more, for no obvious reason. The dog was ginger in color, and well groomed. It also wore a gray collar with a bone-shaped dog tag that Charlie couldn't read.
"Alright, Rueben, I'm going..."
Aurelio seemed to prepare himself for a long sprint. Before he could go, however, Charlie shook himself out of his stupor and called out:
"Wait!"
The Slytherin turned.
"Yeah? Whatcha need, Charlie?"
"Uh..." How'd he know my name? "Do you want to visit Hagrid with me tomorrow?"
"...I have no friends, so sure!" Aurelio replied, ever cheerful.
Well that's lonely."Right, you got me. Meet us in his cabin at eleven tomorrow."
"A.M or P.M?"
Charlie gave him an 'Are You Serious' look.
"Right. A.M it is. See ya!"
Aurelio turned and walked off, Rueben following loyally, but not before giving Charlie an impressively scathing look. Charlie didn't know little dogs could look so threatening. After they left, Charlie cast a quick Tempus.
1:16 a.m.
Shit.
LINE BREAK
Alright, edited and shit. I tried, y'know.