Well I'm updating the chapter that were betaed because Zialema found some things that weren't right in her eyes the second come just after and she is doing the other two I thank betsybugaboo and Zialema.
Two owls, bearing a bundle of letters, landed on a tavern frequented by unsavory people. The majority of the people there were adults but there were also children, all just teenagers gathered around a living skeleton, a gorgeous young brunette woman and a cyborg. But the center of attention of the group was especially a young eleven year old boy with a big silly grin and a straw hat.
The owls landed on the bar in front of an elderly man with a long white hair, who, despite his age, was a lot stronger than he looked. The man put down his mug of alcohol and took the packet of letters.
"Post's here," he announced. "Here's some for you, Franky and Robin."
He threw two letters over his shoulder. They flew from his hand and floated to the brunette who put her wand on the table to take the letters, giving one to the cyborg.
"For you young people, too," said Rayleigh.
The boy with the straw hat stretched his arm and took the letters.
"For you, Chopper," he said distributing. "Sanji ... Zoro ... Nami ... Bet this' your acceptance letter to Salem, Usopp."
The last one, a boy with a long nose, took the letter nervously and a man who looked like him stood up from his chair and came looking behind his shoulder.
The letter was opened and a huge smile appeared on Usopp's face.
"Congratulations, son! You will do great at Salem!" The older man smiled.
The others congratulated the young boy, and behind him, a man with red hair and only one arm started to laugh.
"Sabo, here's your supply list for the next year," Rayleigh said, raising the letter.
"Thanks, Uncle," said the blond, standing up to take the letter.
"Now the Hogwarts letters…"
Everyone took the oportunity to express their displeasure. Few had a good opinion of this school. Well, mostly because of the headmaster of said school. He was a crazy, manipulating old man and the reason why Whitebeard had decided to keep an eye on him by sending his first mate to teach at the school.
A boy with shoulder-length hair and a face dotted with freckles rose from his seat, resigned, and went to retrieve the letter the old man handed him.
"Should I call Marco?" asked the young man.
"Since when you need to ask my permission to call the damn roast chicken, Ace?" Rayleigh inquired with raised eyebrows.
"Since you and Shanks have become paranoid."
"He's not wrong," a man in the back of the room pointed out, lighting a cigarette.
"Thank you for your support, Benn," Ace smiled.
"Wait a minute before you call, there's a second letter from the school- oh no-"
"Uncle?" asked the kid in the straw hat
Rayleigh waved him over. Leaning over the old man's shoulder, he read:
Mr L. D. Monkey
In 'Dead Horse' tavern
Grove 6
Saobady11
Grand Line
"No way…" Luffy whispered.
Ace and Sabo came to see what it was happening. Rayleigh opened the letter.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Monkey,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
"Dammit, Garp, ask me before you do this stuff." Rayleigh growled.
"What's going on?" asked Franky, putting down his glass of cola.
"Lu has just been accepted at Hogwarts," said Ace.
A heavy silence fell over those gathered
"I will try to negotiate with Salem. I will not let you go there without a fight," assured Rayleigh. "If all else fails, Ace, I'm counting on you to watch over your younger brother."
"Of course, Uncle," assured Ace. He nodded, determined.
Meanwhile, the mail came somewhere in England, in a much more ordinary house.
"Go get the mail, Dudley," said a huge man without looking up from his newspaper at the breakfast table
"Harry should have to go," replied the almost-as-big boy.
"Go get the mail, Harry," said the man in the same tone.
"Dudley's supposed to," Harry replied, a little boy, frail and also very thin.
"Hit him, Dudley"
The brunet boy escaped the blow and went to get the mail. Three letters, a bill, a letter from Uncle Vernon's sister and… a letter for Harry!
The recipient gazed open-mouthed, with his heart pounding in his chest. Nobody had ever written him. Who would have done anyway, since he had no friends, relatives (besides the Dursleys, but that didn't count) ... There was no reason for him to get a letter.
Yet the strange letter in his hands was addressed to:
Mr H. Potter
in the cupboard under the stairs
4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
Surrey
The boy examined the strange letter: it was on yellowed parchment, in green ink, no stamp, closed on the back with a very strange sealing wax.
He was roused from his reverie by Uncle Vernon and his not even funny joke. He returned to the kitchen without taking his eyes off the letter. He gave the letter to his uncle, absently, then unsealed his letter-
He did not have time to do more before his cousin noticed it,
"It's mine!" Harry protested, trying to take it again.
"Who would write to you?" Vernon asked with a tone full of contempt.
He shook the letter with one hand to open it and glance. The things that was on it had to be quite shocking because of the speed that his face's color changed. And all he could say was the name of his wife, and prevent Dudley to see what was written on it.
Aunt Petunia was equally shocked.
And when the two children finished at the kitchen's door, without knowing anything of what was written on the letter, Harry couldn't help but to ask himself some questions, or regret to not hide it to read it later.
"Ace, Luffy, please boys…" sighed Marco.
And he turn around to catch the two young boys who had tried to sneak out.
The D. brothers pouted.
"We're just here to buy your school's supplies, after this we go home, don't worry about it, yoi," Marco reminded them.
- My father didn't want me to go to Hogwarts! He didn't like Dumbledore! Why do I have to go? And why does Luffy have to go there, too?!" Ace protested. "He has his friends at Salem! Sabo is at Salem too!"
Every year, at the same time, Ace had to complained about the same thing ... in fact, it was a recurring topic since he had first received his Hogwarts letter when he was eleven. This year, however, he could do it for his little brother too.
And every time, Marco had to say the same thing over and over again:
"Because you need a magical education, I've told you a thousand times," Marco sighed, starting to drag the teens behind him through Diagon Alley. "And it's Garp who enrolled you… If he knew that I was there, he would have sent you to Dumstrang, yoi. So you should consider yourselves lucky. He didn't want you to go to Salem because Robin is a teacher there, like Izou and Beckman."
"But you could teach us!"
"I can't teach you everything."
"I want to go home…" Luffy moaned.
"I'm sure that Ace will be able to take you to visit all the restricted areas right from the first day, so, stop complaining, Luffy. Oh, Hagrid!"
Ace straightened and searched for the huge hairy man who was coming in their direction, easily seen in the crowd.
"Ah, professor Fushisho! I though that you were with your crew, during the holidays," said the huge man in a gruff voice, joining them.
"I am, this year again, on duty for Ace's school supplies. But this year I also have to get Luffy's, yoi," muttered Marco.
"Yo, Hagrid"! greeted Ace happily.
Hagrid was one of the few reasons that his schooling at Hogwarts was bearable.
"Ah! Ace! My favorite bad student! Am I going to have to run after you in the Forbidden Forest again this year?" said Hagrid smiling (which was almost impossible to see through his beard.)
"This year, I'll do a full tour of the castle with my little brother before taking trips with him into the forest. I want you to meet Luffy. Monkey D. Luffy! Lu' you remember, I talked to you about Hagrid."
Luffy giggled a little.
"What are you doing outside of Hogwarts? Are looking for a strange creature, yoi?" asked Marco.
"I think that you are the strangest creature existing, professor!"
"I'll take that as a compliment, then I won't lose the little of patience that I still have and finish the boy's shopping."
"Heee… Still as hard to manage, I see, Ace!"
Ace proudly stuck out his tongue at Hagrid.
"I am here at the request of Dumbledore. I'm helping the young Harry Potter with his shopping!" Hagrid put a hand on the young sickly boy, who about the same age as Luffy, who accompanied him. He had striking green eyes, pale skin and round glasses repaired with tape.
"Oh, yes, I heard about it last time. Great to meet you mister Potter, I'm Professor Fushisho Marco, professor of Natural Magic, an optional class that some student take from the first year. I also help the transfiguration professor and the flying instructor, yoi."
"Oh, nice to meet you," said Harry, a little nervous, shaking the hand before him.
"Natural Magic is wandless magic. Marco always explains what it is on the first day, but it's one of the coolest class that exists, with the best professor," explained Ace. "I'm Portgas D. Ace. I will be in fourth year in Gryffindor. And this is Luffy, my little brother, who starts this year."
Ace shook his hand, then Luffy.
"Well, why don't we do the shopping together, professor, you seem to have a hard time with these two," Hagrid proposed. "And I'm sure that Harry would be happy to spend his birthday with people his age!"
"Oh, it's your birthday!" Luffy exclaimed.
"Happy birthday," Marco said.
"Uh, thanks… said Harry," a little nervous.
"Happy birthday," said the two brothers.
"You probably have questions about Hogwarts. I would be happy to answer to them, but on one condition." Ace said.
"What condition?" Harry asked.
"You have to call me professor!"
Marco hit the back of his head. "You won't teach him anything that deserves that." Marco told him.
"I hate you, Marco," Ace grumbled rubbing his head.
"You're a professor and you let your students talk to you like that?" wondered Harry.
"I've know these kids since they were very small. Old habits die hard, yoi," Marco explained. "However, I require them to call me 'sir' in class. Anyone doing otherwise will have a detention. Let's go, then I can give them back to their uncle, and return where I have to be."
"I'm going join the crew after I finish my seventh year, don't you remember?" Ace asked Marco mischievously.
"And mine'll be more powerful than yours!" Luffy snickered, sticking out his tongue at his brother.
Marco seem to want to shoot himself, right there, right now.
"This year will be busy, I can feel it!" chuckled Hagrid. "Let's go, boys!"
And they went. Harry found himself between the two dark haired boys. He noticed that Marco still had his hand on Ace's shoulder, but quickly banished it from his thoughts to follow the explanations of the elder brother.
By observing the two brothers, Harry noticed that they were not dressed in wizard clothing (of what he had seen was the usual attire). The two teens had black shorts and an open shirt (orange for Ace and red for Luffy). The elder had a tattoo on one of his arms with his name, although the A and C were separated by an S with a line throug it. An error by the tattoo artist? On the opposite elbow, there was a L in the same style, adorned with a straw hat. The L probably stood for Luffy. They also had a tanned skin and hats. A cowboy orange decorated with two blue smileys and some red beads for Ace (he had a necklace of the same beads on as well), and a relatively normal straw hat for Luffy. They had their shirts open, showing their muscled, tanned chests. They looked as if they spent their lives always outside under the sun.
The professor was dressed differently too.
In short, Harry never would have dreamed that a man with such a sleepy air could be a teacher. His blond head vaguely resembled a pineapple and he had striking blue eyes. He was wearing a purple shirt, buttoned quite casually, letting a little golden skin on some parts be seen. He also wore mid-length pants with a turquoise sash made of a single fabric passed around his waist decorated with a strange golden jewel.
"Don't give him any bad ideas before he even gets there, yoi," grumbled Marco, looking at the list. "No way, you need another cauldron this year too ? But what do you do with all of them, Ace? You can't be eating them !"
Ace grumbled some insults under his breath. Just this made Marco sigh of exasperation.
"What is it?" inquired Harry.
"My colleague, Severus Snape, who teaches potions, has a tendency to favor some, yoi. Ace is on his black list, unfortunately."
"I don't do anything! He provokes me! I swear by Davy Jones I'm gonna get myself expelled from his class for the rest of the time I'm at Hogwarts!" Ace protested.
"And break your agreement with Professor McGonagall?" mocked Hagrid.
"She's the Transfiguration teacher, and Head of Gryffindor. Snape is Head of Slytherin, yoi," Marco explained. "Ace has a contract with Minerva ... as long as he attends classes and he does his homework, she will give him classes to become an animagus."
"Animagus?" Harry repeated.
"It is the ability to turn into animals. I think this is one of the only good reason for me to go to Hogwarts!" Ace chuckled. "Along with the food..."
"Especially the food," Marco corrected. "Here, for the books."
"Can I entrust Harry to you for a moment? I'm going to go do a little thing," Hagrid declared.
"I never should have entered the teaching job, yoi. Damn Pops and his stupid mission," Marco grumbled.
- Marco ! You just cursed your captain ! said the two brothers, shocked.
Harry was going to press the issue, but he found himself almost crushed by Ace. If Marco did not take him by the shoulder, the young man would have fallen on him.
"Ah, an attack of his… first of the afternoon…" Marco sighed. "Luffy help me, would you?"
Luffy helped Marco to haul the young man onto his back.
"Is he okay?" Harry worried.
"No problem, he's just narcoleptic! giggled Luffy. It's a pity that I don't have a pen…"
"What do you need a pen for?"
"It's my favorite hobby to give him a mustache during one of his narcoleptic attacks!"
The two boys burst out laughing.
Harry followed his two new friends and his future teacher into one of the shop. Because Marco had to support the sleeping older one on his back, he could not do the shopping, but carefully watched what Luffy was doing.
"Ne, Marco… is it true what Ace said about Defense Against the Dark Arts? That the post is cursed?"
"Well… I would have like to see Moony take the job, but well, we can't have all that we want. Quirell doesn't give me a great impression, but unfortunately I can't do anything aboutt the fact that he is your teacher this year, yoi."
"I met him in the Leaky Cauldron, today," Harry said.
"To be frank, I don't like him. Animal instinct, I can't do anything about it, phoenixes are naturally distrustful creatures."
"Why do you talk like you are one?"
"...We'll talk about that again if you prove yourself worthy, Potter."
A yawn make him stop.
"Did I fall asleep again ?..." grumbled Ace, waking up.
"Exactly! Now, get down so you can give me a piggy back ride! Shishishishi!" Luffy laughed.
They pass a pale boy with his parents on the road. The father of the family stopped in front of Marco. The professor crossed his arms on his chest and Ace place himself at his side, almost hiding Harry and Luffy behind him. One almost could think that he was standing to attention, he was so stiff, even if his hands were behind him.
"Professor Fushisho… How are you?" said the man to the professor with a sardonic smile.
"Lucius Malfoy… To what do I owe the displeasure of seeing you?" Marco sighed.
"Just coincidence. I was just doing some shopping for my son, Draco. He starts Hogwarts this year. I see that your favorite student is always at your side…"
"His godfather entrusted me with his life."
"What will happened when you find yourself in… what is the name again… Impel Down?"
"Whitebeard would raze it, yoi. I sincerely hope to not have your adorable offspring in class."
Lucius sneered and looked at Ace. "Do you know who looks after you, young man?"
"I know who I am, and what I aim to be, asshole. And I'm going to lead the second division. Davy Jones can fuck you dry for all I care, leave us alone."
"Portgas, language," Marco hissed.
Ace inclined his head reluctantly, as an apology.
"I have many things to do, if you'll permit...?"
Lucius left with his family.
"Keep it to yourself, Ace. I've told you a thousand times! You're not already in the crew to do this sort of thing," Marco growled.
"Who was that guy?" Luffy asked.
"A pure-blooded idiot. Not important, yoi. Ah, Hagrid's back."
Hagrid was coming back in their direction, a beautiful white owl in his arm.
"Happy birthday, Harry!" Hagrid said, giving him the snowy owl.
Harry gave a delighted smile and stuttered a 'thank you' to Hagrid.
"The Malfoys are here. Their son enters Hogwarts this year, yoi," Marco growled
"Damn."
"Well, we went around and got everything except Ollivander's, that's all we have left to do."
"Heh heh heh… Lu' will get his wand!" Ace chuckled.
"It's not a toy, Ace, yoi."
Ace shrugged, with a rather ominous smile.
So they headed for the wand shop and entered.
The bell rang in the back as they stepped into a huge dusty room. It was as gloomy as a church, but much more untidy, with huge piles of boxes up to the ceiling.
"Hello…"
Almost everyone jumped when Ollivander spoke. Only Marco and Ace weren't surprised.
"Ah, Professor Fushisho… still in no need of a wand?" said the owner.
"The day I need a wand, I think that I won't be any good for my teaching post as the Professor of Natural Magic, Ollivander," was the answer from Marco. "I'm from the old school, you know, I never need it…"
"Well, if it isn't Mister Portgas … forty two centimetres, flexible, with a cor dragon heartstrings, very nervous, ash wood… perfect for fire spells, non-flammable and one of the longer ones that I have ever sold. Your affinity, if I'm not mistaken, is fire. Did you manage to set your wand on fire?"
"No. It's my brother who needs one. Lu', step forward."
Luffy advanced toward the counter.
"Oh, Monkey D. Luffy, after the grandfather and the father,comes the last of the family.
"If you could keep yourself from mentioning Garp, that would help. I don't want to have to run after them if you scare them off. That man spend his time traumatizing them," sighed Marco, seeing the two brothers lose all their colors.
"Of course. So, you're a D., you'll need something ideal for fighting… a reactive wand, even nervous perhaps… so we will head for dragon heartstrings, like for Mr Portgas. Did you eat a Devil Fruit?"
"Paramecia. The Gum-Gum," Ace answered.
"Why tell him?" inquired Luffy nervously.
"Because that is even more important in your case. I can't permit myself to give you something that would react badly with your abilities."
Harry didn't understand what it was question of.
Ollivander took some measure… fairly surprising.
"How far can you stretch your limbs, Mr Monkey?"
"Several meters," Luffy answered.
"Eighteen meters last time we measured, but he's still growing so the number can change," Ace added.
Harry was now well beyond confused. He shot a look to Hagrid, who didn't seem to understand what was going on, either. Well, that didn't help.
Luffy ended up being given a wand thirty three centimeters long, elm wood, with dragon heartstrings.
"Very good! And in passing, professor… Care to donate a feather of yours?" said Ollivander, packing Luffy's wand into a box.
"If you want to set your shop on fire, it's your problem, not mine, yoi." Marco said to him. "Well, we are finished. We will see you again at Hogwarts, Hagrid. Mr Potter, I hope to have the pleasure to have you in class."
"See you, Harry!" said the brothers before following Marco.
Harry waved at them and advanced toward the counter, whereas the three men went away with their shopping.
"Let's go, so we don't hang around more than necessary on land," said Marco. "Ace, Luffy, be careful with your powers. Before talking to anyone, come consult me first. Luffy, your brother will tell you for the private lessons, yoi."
"Yeahhh," said the two brothers.
Rayleigh passed through the barrier after the boys.
He was annoyed that Garp had enrolled the boys without consulting him. Unfortunately, Roger had had enough trust in this man to talk to him about his son before he died, making sure that the old D. had had a say on Ace.
"Ace, Luffy, do your best," said the old man placing a hand on the shoulder of his boys.
The two young nodded and followed the man to the train.
"Ginger… ginger… ginger… where are they? They're not here yet, those two idiots?" Ace grumbled hauling himself up onto his tiptoe to observe the crowd.
"Don't forget to take you medicine, alright Ace?" Rayleigh asked. "If there is not enough, I will pass them to Marco, so don't hesitate to send a letter to tell me."
"Don't worry, Uncle," assured the older of the two.
"Luffy, I presume that you are going to mess around at school. You know the rules."
"Don't stretch my skin or my limbs in front of others," Luffy recited.
"Ace?"
"Don't sneeze on people or flammable objects, and don't set fires if I'm angry," Ace recited.
"Good, now, bring up your stuff."
With a strength surprising for someone his age, Rayleigh hauled the boy's luggage into the carriage and let them find an empty compartment.
Then he wave to them, smiling. Then, noticing the huge figure at the other end of the platform, crossed his arms, making the boys pale who hide themselves immediately.
The old man went home reluctantly.
He wasn't ready yet to serve a sentence at Impel Down, he had too much to do with his boys for the moment.
Ace and Luffy stayed sitting down on the floor, trying to hide out of the way of the window, praying to not be seen. When the menace moved away, they sighed and went to sit on the seat, before the door of their compartment opened on Harry.
"Hey, Harry! You're looking for a place?" Luffy asked.
"Uh, yes…" blushed the young man.
"Come on, there's plenty of room," Ace encouraged him. "Oh! Gred! Forge! My favorites pranksters ! Lu', take care of the luggage."
Luffy helped Harry carry his luggage into the compartment. Ace went out to greet the ginger twins, who took him each by one arm.
"Ah! Professor Ace! It's an honor to see you again this year!" said one of the twins.
"The pleasure is mutual, Fred," Ace assured.
"Hey, Luffy! Long time no see, little guy!" said the other.
"I'm not little, George!" Luffy took offense with a pout.
"Are you free for a Christmas on the Red Force? Shanks loves you!" asked Ace.
"Try convince our mother. Speak of the devil…"
Indeed, a female voice from the platform was shouting 'Fred'! 'George'!.
"I'll be back, Lu."
And Ace followed the twins.
"Ace took a liking to them because they are as crazy as us. Together, they do the best pranks ever," Luffy explained.
"You can tell them apart?" Harry asked
"Yeah, it was a little hard at the beginning, but we can do it!"
Ace took his cowboy hat off to kiss the hand of his friends' mother.
"Mrs Weasley, it's a pleasure to see you again," purred Ace with his most charming smile.
"What a shame! A boy this well-mannered like you has such a bad influence on my boys!" huffed the woman with a smile.
"Be careful to what you do Portgas," the oldest of the brothers growled arriving.
"I'm scared, mister prefect," Ace laughed. "No, seriously Percy, I won't eat your mother, you don't have to worry."
"Well, Ace, what can I do for you? Mrs Weasley asked.
- My captain asked for- what am I saying,demanded!- the presence of your twins on the Red Force for this Christmas. And I would really like to spend my birthday with them."
"Very well, if you accept to spend the coming summer with us! You can introduce us to your famous youngest brother, young man," the woman smiled.
"With great pleasure," Ace assured.
He had a smile when the woman kissed him on the cheek with affection.
The whistle rang out.
"Come on, hurry up, don't miss the train."
"Boys, I have to speak about the school to my little brother. I'll see you later at the tower, k?"
"No problem, Ace," assured the twins. "If you need help, you know how to find us! I heard that Lee has a giant tarantula, and he is in the middle car. Can we entrust Ron to you?"
"No problem! I'll guard the newbies! Let's go, Ronald Weasley!"
Ace hauled Ron's luggage up on his shoulder without a problem, like if it didn't weigh anything. The red haired kid followed the older brunet onto the train.
"I'm back!" Ace shouted
Harry looked with round eyes at the luggage on Ace shoulder.
"It's not magic, it's just a lot of training," smiled Ace. "Ron, come in and sit. I'll do the introductions, since you're all newbies."
Ace set Ron's stuff in the luggage rack above the seats.
"Then… this is Ronald Weasley! Next, we have Harry Potter and Monkey D. Luffy."
Ron opened round eyes at the announcement of Harry's name.
"Ronald, if you want to survive in this world, there are some things to never ask," Ace warned, abruptly serious.
"Sorry…" Ron said.
He knew from experience that Ace read him like an open book, thanks to the times that he had seen him during the holidays.
Harry didn't seem to really understand. They passed their time talking. Ron had a swarm of brother who were wizards, so, nothing new… like his old rat Scabbers. When the two D. brothers saw him, they had a bad feeling, but ignored it rapidly.
Harry talked about his uncle, aunt and cousin and presented his owl Hedwig.
"It's a beautiful name," Ace complimented.
It was the D. brothers turn : they were adopted siblings, living on a ship, where muggles and wizards lived together and running away from a crazy grandfather from time to time. Ace want to join a crew allied to the one where they grew up in, and Luffy wanted to have his own.
"Fred and George told me that they were funny, but it's what sort of crew?" Ron inquired.
"You'll have to ask Professor Fushisho. He's the first mate of the crew that I want to join."
"Say… what is a Devil Fruit?" Harry asked.
The two brothers stayed quiet, but Ron seemed to not know what it was.
Someone knocked on the door of their car.
"Enter!" Ace shouted
A boy entered in the compartment.
"Have any of you seem a frog, by chance? I lost mine…"
The boys shook their head and the door was closed.
"Don't talk about this to anyone please. It's not something we can talk about without problems," Ace asked.
Ron and Harry looked at each other, and nodded.
"Oh, I forgot! This is Spade! 'Cause our close friends and family are almost all the time on the sea, I have permission to have a sea eagle. He's a little eculiar and I'm the only one who can feed him."
Ace show the bird of prey in his cage.
"I'm going to put Scabbers away," Ron commented.
"He won't eat him, Spade has a special diet."
"That makes me remember a spell Fred and George taught me to turn Scabbers yellow."
He put out his wand on the rat, who was exploring a candy box put out by Luffy, when the door opened on a girl with bushy hair, already in her robe.
"You didn't see a frog, did you? Neville lost his."
"No," Luffy answered.
The girl didn't listen. She stared at Ron's wand.
"Are you doing magic? I want to see if it works!"
She sat down next to Luffy, who tilted his head to the side.
"Ron, don't do it, you will make a fool of yourself. It's your brothers who taught you the spell, it'll never work, they're just mocking you," Ace said to him, not wanting the young red haired boy to make a fool of himself in front of a girl.
"Oh! Who do you take yourself for, then?" The young girl took offense and glared at Ace.
Ace snapped his fingers and Harry's glasses restored themselves. He made a small gesture with his hand and a hot flame appear in the palm of his hand.
Luffy had a giggle and whispered something that sounded like cheater.
"I'm Portgas D. Ace, a Gryffindor fourth year. What's your name?"
"Hermione Granger! Is that Natural Magic!? It's fascinating! I read a lot of books on the subject, but I was disappointed to see that we weren't given any textbooks for this class, and-"
"Stop. We don't care."
Hermione's jaw dropped as she stared, offended. Then she saw Harry and called out to him. Seeing the boy was embarrassed, Ace make the flame disappear and stood up before the boy could answer.
"Can I take you back to your compartment, miss?" Ace asked.
Hermione stood up and went out of the compartment, Ace behind her. It could be sensed that she felt insulted.
"Change your clothes, boys," Ace said to them as he left.
"Ace is making enemies again," Luffy commented, closing the door.
"He makes them easily, then?" asked Harry.
"Very, he's really hard to befriend, if you take the wrong way to approach him."
"He doesn't seem like it," Ron commented. "Well, from what I've seen."
"Ace is a little strange, sometimes, but it's what makes his charm! Shishishi!" Luffy said with a grin that seemed anatomically impossible.
The door opened again, but it wasn't Ace who came back.
"Word around here is that Harry Potter is in this compartment. Is that true?"
The eyes of the blond made their way to Harry.
"My name is Draco Malfoy. Them, they're Crabbe and Goyle."
Ron had a discreet cough that seemed like a laugh. Draco looked at him immediately.
"My name makes you laugh? It's useless to ask for yours. My father told me that all the Weasleys had red hair, freckles and too much children to feed all of them. Be very careful to your company, Potter. If you want to avoid doubtful people, I can advise you." Malfoy offered a hand to Harry, who didn't touch it.
"I don't need your help to know who doubtful people are," Harry answered.
Spade woke up and began to move in a menacing way in his cage, making Luffy laugh.
"Spade doesn't like you! Shishishishi!"
Malfoy looked at the bird, then Luffy.
"Eagles aren't authorized as pets… what is your name?"
"Monkey D. Luffy. And my brother and me have permission."
"Well, the three of you, can I know what you're doing in this compartment? It's Gryffindor's domain here. Those who smell of Slytherin should think about changing places," said Ace who came back. "Oh, but isn't it the little boy who was with his dear daddy the other day!"
"Portgas, if I'm not mistaken… I heard about a woman, a Portgas D. Rouge, a mud-"
"Big mistake," Luffy commented.
Ace had taken Draco by the throat and tackled him against the wall next to the door.
"You should think very hard before speaking, little shit, because it could be the last thing that you ever do in your pitiful life. Muggle or wizard, never insult a D. Now get out of here before I decide to finish you permanently."
He let Draco go, who went out mumbling something into the line of 'when I'll tell my father about it'.
"He can go and see Garp The Fist. Tell him that you were going to bad mouth Rouge, you'll see what will happen!" Ace answered back.
And he entered the room closing the door curtly. "Well, we should change. We will arrive soon."