Chapter One
The room was large, dark and bare except for a single chair in the very center of the room which sat a young man with dark matted red hair, a single green eye narrowed in pain while the other was hidden by an eye patch. He had dirty tight black jeans stained in blood, but his chest was bare and showed several scars, old and very new while some oozed blood. His mouth was bruised and bloody but hadn't swelled. His hands were tied behind him, to two long spread poles. The rope was embedded into his wrists which were already soaked in blood.
His body begged for mercy, his stomach was empty and begging him for food while his lungs begged for clean air. He would get food whenever the Noah brought him something to eat. The young man was well aware that he might not make it out of here. His master would not tell the Noah anything. The young man was positive his master had already found a new apprentice and moved on to Canada or America. He'd already wiped his hands clean of the young man.
The only door squeaked open, entering two Noah. One was Sheryl Kamlot and the other was Fiddler.
"I'm sure you can guess why we are here, Lavi Bookman Jr. Your master refused to speak yet again and so...well, you know. We get to have fun with you for a few until that damned monk tells us of where my daughter is and what her relationship is like with the damned Fourteenth and that brat, Allen Walker."
Lavi blinked his own good eye slowly. He was slightly drowsy, but sleep wouldn't come to him. And it was bad enough he was going to be tortured yet again. Lavi allowed his head to slump down as he waited to be tortured.
Suddenly there was a big clap and Lavi jerked his head up to see a man and a woman appeared. One was much older, with white hair and a beard that went almost down to his knees while the woman had severe gray hair in a tight bun. She wore a scowl but it softened when she saw the injured Lavi.
"H-help." he softly whispered, his throat parched from not having water in the weeks except whenever it rains.
"Tend to the child, McGonagall." the old man said.
"Of course, Dumbledore." the woman said as she whipped something like a stick and whipped it around and the tension that held his arms behind him suddenly slackened. As Lavi began to fall forward, the woman, McGonagall reached forwards and gripped him around his chest.
"Help..."
"Shhh. Don't strain yourself. That's the last thing we need." Then she called over her shoulder," Albus, the child is unstable. I need to bring him to Madam Pomfrey."
Lavi strained his head up and saw the old man flick the stick in his hand before saying in an commanding voice,"Anteoculatia"
A pair of antlers sprung from the top of Fiddler's head. Fiddler's eyes widened as he tried to remove the antlers.
"What type of witchcraft is this?" Sheryl exclaimed, raising his hand to use his Noah power, but the old man, Albus just flicked his wand and strange bonds tightened around Sheryl's body and held him in place.
"Dammit, old man!"
Lavi smirked," It's 'bout time someone else got their ass whooped."
"What is your name, child?"
"Lavi."
"You don't have a last name?"
"Not really. I'm tired." Lavi began to mumble under his breath.
McGonagall leaned in close and checked his pulse. Lavi's eyes began to flutter close and he suddenly went limp.
Dumbledore reached down and picked the limp boy up. Lavi's head lolled to the side, exposing the eye patch. Albus reached down and removed the eye patch. His expression didn't change as he replaced it.
McGonagall hadn't seen," What was that?"
"Nothing. I'm sure the eye patch is there for a reason." Dumblefore said.
McGonagall understood and nodded. Suddenly, their surroundings changed and replaced with a small town called Hogsmeade. Dumbledore briskly took the boy through, as the owner of The Three Broomsticks Inn walked over and offered to take care of the injured boy but Dumbledore shook his head.
They briskly walked to Hogwarts, where Madam Pomfrey raced out, having been warned by Snape as Lavi was relocated to the hospital wing.
Currently, Dumbledore and McGonagall were in his office. Dumbledore sat behind his deck while McGonagall took one of the seats. Soon, Madam Pomfrey and Snape entered. Pomfrey took the exra chair while Snape just stood off to the side.
"That boy...where did you find him?" Snape said.
Dumbledore gestured to a sheet of parchment on the corner of his desk. Snape reached forward and gripped the paper. He looked at Dumbledore before looking down at the paper:
Warning to Albus,
I am afraid that my idiot apprentice, Lavi has gone missing. I am in a deep problem and I cannot get the foolish boy myself. We are in the clan of Bookmen and I want to offer my apprentice to you as a teacher or student at your school. I can comfirm for you that you have met me before. While you were a professor. I was a former teacher at Hogwarts for two years myself. I taught Anicent Runes. I went by the name Vosbran then. Though, I am sure you have forgotten about me. I am sorry about that. Please go to Alesom Street in England and fetch the fool. He is probably chained with the Noah guarding them. When you do save him, tell him I was killed in an attack along with all of the other Exorcists. Please, keep him safe, I beg you. Give him the other note attached to this, please.
Sighed,
Bookman
Snape put the parchment down and turned to Dumbledore," Bookmen? What are those?"
Dumbledore took the parchment and put it on top of several pieces of parchment under a novel. Dumbledore folded his hands before looking back up at Snape," The Bookman Clan are people who record history. I do remember the man now. He was like Professor Flitwick, just as small as the man."
"You mean, Professor Anglashn Vosbran?" Pomfrey asked.
Dumbledore nodded," It's amazing to know that the man is still alive. Pomfrey, how is the patient?"
"He's getting much better. Though, with a few days he should be back on his feet and doing things a normal teenager should do. But, do you think he can handle the news?"
Dumbledore nodded," He will have to. It is the only way that anything could actually happen, you know? We need him to stay with us, even if it means lying to him. It is his master's wish. Can you see what this man is doing for the sake of a single lad?"
Pomfrey nodded," I suppose I could conjure something up for depression. It will happen sooner or later."
Dumbledore nodded," I am well-aware of that."
"Do you want one of us to keep an eye on him?" Snape asked, sounding concerned. Causing McGonagall to toss a confused glance over at him. But Snape ignored it, looking directly at Dumbledore.
"Of course. Keep an eye on him if you must. McGonagall and Pomfrey, please escort yourselves out while I speak to Professor Snape."
Both women nodded and left, leaving both men.
"Sir?"
"I would like you to tell Lord Voldemort of this. I don't know how much trouble this boy is going to be."
"Of course, sir."
Snape stood but didn't leave," Sir, you do know that this is Potter's fifth year. Is it almost time for you to tell him?"
Dumbledore shook his head," No. I'm not going to bother the boy yet."
"I see." with a swish of his cloak, Snape left the room.
"What do you plan to do, Professor Dumbledore?" asked one of the paintings behind him.
"I want the child as a teacher. But, I have no clue what class to put him under."
"Perhaps History of Magic?"
"But-"
"It's time Binns finds something else to do. Perhaps, become like the others ghosts for once. When I had him, he was boring and put most of us to sleep anyhow."
Dumbledore laughed.
"But, isn't that what a Bookman does? Record history? This might help both sides get to know each other. Force the lad to tell students about the Order."
Dumbledore jerked around," Order?"
The man in the picture nodded," The Black Order. Demon creatures known as Akuma. Exorcists to cleanse the demons. Innocence that makes weapons."
"Weapons?"
"Did you see anything odd on the boy?"
Dumbledore nodded," A small hammer. But, would that be considered a weapon?"
"Perhaps it changes into something else."
"Yeah, perhaps."
"You need to tell the other professors about the lad. Make sure they don't tell him anything."
"Of course."
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His eyes flew open. His head was pounding but the other pains were gone. As if they never even existed. He began to sit up, but a gentle voice made him look into the eyes of a woman with grey hair pulled into a bun held together by a white sheet with blue eyes and fair skin. She was perhaps in her early fifties. She pressed a small hand to his chest and made him lie back down.
"Where?"
The woman smiled," You are at Hogwarts. I am the Healer here. My name is Poppy Pomfrey. You are in the hospital wing. You were pretty banged up there. You've been out for the past three days. Can you tell me your name and where you are from?"
"Me? I'm Lavi Bookman Jr. I'm from Asia, but I moved around alot and my most recent place to live was in England."
"What did you do in England?"
"I was an Exorcist." Lavi said, his mouth working but unknown of the words he was saying. What he was very unaware of was a potion that Snape had brewed only minutes earlier had been drained down his throat. Nor was he aware of the people on the other side of the curtain, listening to his words.
"What was an Exorcist?"
"Do you want a book term or a simple person's term?"
"A book term would be lovely."
"The Bookman Clan is an organization dedicated to recording and maintaining the true history of the world. We have a history of allying ourselves to various sides of world-wide conflicts, both the "good" and the "bad"."
"Is that all?"
"We have enhanced memory, we have our own language, and we have worldly knowledge."
"Describe them." Pomfrey commanded.
"Our memory is enhanced because we exist to record detailed, accurate description of the world's history, it is necessary for any Bookman to posses perfect memory. Se woike nou nol jorgui. And, because when we travel, Bookmen are inclined to possessing knowledge known only to a select few, as well as mastery of highly techniques, such as Bookman's knowledge of acupuncture. Don't ask me why. But my master was very good with acupuncture. We are very good with combat, but mostly only for defense and survival."
Pomfrey's eyes widened," Very impressive, Mr. Lavi."
Lavi nodded, staring up at the ceiling, his thoughts wandered until he heard a second pair of feet come up towards him and recognized the man from earlier.
"I have some unfortunate news, Mr. Lavi." Dumbledore said. Dumbledore produced a note from his pocket and handed it to Lavi.
Lavi sat up, flicking his hair to the side and accepted the paper and unfolded it.
To The Last Bookman,
I am sorry. But I don't have much time left. Fiddler hadn't been pleased and ended up poisoning me after you were caught by those strange people. Listen to me, forget about me and the non-existent Order. They are all dead. A new Akuma had been born. Allen Walker is now a Noah and become one with the Noahs and the Earl. Lenalee was killed by the Noah called Jasdero, as was Krory. Kanda was killed by Allen. The others were killed by the Earl. Forget about everything and do your duty as a Bookman successor. This is something that I would never tell you, but understand this; when this letter gets to you, I will be dead. This place your at now, record and save. Become whatever they want you to.
Do your duty,
Bookman
Lavi's eye widened, and then soon tears were pouring. He clutched the letter close to his chest, in hopes his heartbeat will go to them and give them life. Dumbledore placed a steady hand on Lavi's shoulder and Lavi forced himself to stop crying. Wiping the only visable eye with his uninjured arm he looked up at the man before him.
"You are at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Since you have no place to go, please accept position as a teacher here. Our former teacher for History of Magic has gone on finally and left his class in needs for a new professor. Would you like the job?"
Lavi just stared for a few moments. His single eye lowered before nodding," I accept. But, I'm no wizard..."
"You are a Bookman. Students around their last year learns about them, but since you are here, tell them about them and this Order. I'll give you books for the magical part so you can teach properly."
Lavi nodded," When does school start up?"
"Tomorrow. Do you think you can cram everything in?"
Lavi smirked," That's a challenge worth less than me!" He allowed the smile to stay, but knew if he stopped, he would cry again.
His friends are dead now. His master was dead. His old life was dead. But in starting life here would be an upset for him. It would be like saying that he didn't care that the people he cared about were dead. What happens if the ones that are here become close to him and they die? How would he ever forgive himself for staying?
As if Dumbledore read his mind, he said," If you need to think this over, then please do, but we are witches and wizards and we can certainly handle ourselves. You don't need to worry about us!"
"Are you sure?" Lavi asked.
Dumbledore nodded," I'm sure! And, I would be pleased to invite you as a new professor here at Hogwarts. But I'm willing to give you time to think it over."
Lavi thanked the man and he turned to leave. Madam Pomfrey stood to follow, but called over her shoulder," Get some rest."
[][][][]
Lavi had accepted and was currently in the History of Magic classroom. Dumbledore had informed him, to Lavi's dismay, that the room was once used by a ghost. His former office/room had been all dusty, but with a wave of his wand, the dust and messiness had been replaced with a studious room fit of a Bookman. It was mostly booksleves that lined the walls and in the very center, an old oak desk with four chairs. One on the farthest side, to the three in front. There was a room branching out, which at another set of bookshelves and a much smaller desk and a medium sized bed. A closet stood off to the side and on the silk blankets was a black robe that fit him perfectly.
"Do you like your room? I was sure that you need books to be a Bookman. There are parchment papers and ink. You can record whatever you need to."
Lavi nodded," What about my master?"
"When he was younger he was the former professor before Binns. He left claiming he was needed on some other side."
"Some other side?"
"The Noahs as I believe they are called."
Suddenly, Lavi felt this overwhelming urge to curse Bookman and everything he stood for.
"You said you had no last name. correct?"
Lavi nodded.
"Is there a different name you'd like to go by?"
Lavi considered for a moment, and nodded," My former name, Daek."
"Professor Lavi Daek. Not horrible, considering. Let's meet the other professors and get your class ready for tomorrow."
Lavi nodded, forgetting that this strange school starts the very next day. And not a week like he would have hoped. But as being a Bookman Clan successor, he was quite quick at learning.
He walked into the Great Hall with Dumbledore leading where four long tables stretched out. At the back of the room were small four steps that branched all the way across the room where a podium stood overlooking the four long tables, behind it was a much shorter table meant for the teachers, where they all sat.
Dumbledore didn't stop, but Lavi did, as he studied the room. His Bookman sense working overtime as he stared up at the ceiling.
"Is it enchanted?" Lavi asked.
Dumbledore nodded," It's enchanted."
They continued on. Lavi stepped up the small steps and stopped.
Dumbledore continued on and around the table before sitting in a much grander looking seat. Lavi noticed that there were no chairs left until Dumbledore nodded to the woman who'd help save him as a chair was conjured up beside her. He bowed slightly before jumping over the table, much to everyone's shock, into the chair.
He stared around sheepishly and said," I'm sorry. I just didn't feel like walking around the table just to get over here."
Dumbledore shook his head," No worries. We are all aware of your position of you not being a wizard. But being a Bookman is pretty extreme."
Lavi nodded," Some people know about us but I never expected that witches and wizards knew."
The woman beside him clapped her hands and said," Well, let's do introductions! I am Assistant Headmistress Minvera McGonagall. The house I represent is Gryffindor. And I teach transfiguration."
"Pomora Sprout! Head of Hufflepuff, and I teach Herbology."
"I am Professor Snape, I represent Slytherin and I am the Potions Master here."
"I am Filius Flitwick, head of Ravenclaw and I teach Charms."
"I am Dolores Umbrige, I'm also a new professor here. I will be teacher here too, for Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Nice. I'm pleased to meet all of you. Thank you for making me feel so welcome!"
Dumbledore smiled," You are most welcome, Professor Daek."
"That name...where is it from? I know no pureblood families with that name." Umbridge said.
Dumbledore shook his head," Nor have I. Care to explain, Professor?"
Lavi smiled," Daek isn't my real last name. It's Bookman, but it reminds me of the past and I rather not use it."
Umbridge nodded, the look of false concern and compassion in her ugly green eyes as she looked at him. Suddenly, Lavi felt the overwhelming feeling that something was off about this woman. She seemed...too kind for his liking. Almost like the Earl if he hadn't known how evil he was in reality.
[][][][]
Lavi had set his office, room and classroom to his standards before walking to the hospital wing for a check up ordered by Pomfrey.
"Ah! Good morning, Professor Daek. Looking forward to meeting the students today?"
Lavi had forgotten that today was the first day. Thankfully, he did what he had to with his classroom, hopefully can be proven to be a good teacher. The others had warned him that most of the students ignore the class that he teaches. Lavi would have to fix that to make it one of the best classes around.
She looked him over and nodded," You are okay! Get down to the Great Hall and await the arrival of the new students and old."
"Of course. To meet the students will be fun. Thank you."