Chapter 3
"Tenth are you okay?" Gokudera shouted bringing Tsuna back to his senses.
"What happened?" he asked breathlessly as the strange sensation faded from his chest
"You looked like you were going to pass out." Yamamoto provided looking worried
"What the hell was that that?" Gokudera snarled at the girl who was putting away her book.
"L-Look!" Tsuna squeaked as a green orb of light that had appeared in front of Gokudera's chest began dancing around wildly leaving a stream of strange shapes behind it.
"You have one too Tsuna." Yamamoto pointed out gesturing at a smaller stream of shapes appearing in front of Tsuna while at the same time another green orb danced in front of Yamamoto's chest. Suddenly the red haired boy began to speak while at the same time a blue light danced in front of him creating what Tsuna immediately recognized as Japanese, writing clearly, "Bloody hell! It actually worked."
The bushy hair girl replied snappishly at the red head while Tsuna watched in amazement as the blue light in front of her formed the words "Well of course it worked what made you think it wouldn't!"
"Wait a minute!" Gokudera exclaimed more green shapes appearing before him. "Boss I think…I think these are kind of like subtitles."
"You mean like in those foreign movies?" Yamamoto asked ignoring his new collection of green lights. The raven haired boy after reading their green scribbles began to speak.
"That's right, Hermione cast a spell so that we would be able to understand each other it's only temporary though." Tsuna, after reading the boys "subtitles" glanced at his friends who merely shrugged in reply.
The bushy haired girl after putting away her wand turned to them and said, "Now that we can communicate properly my name's Hermione this is Ron." She gestured at the red haired boy just as Tsuna finished reading, "and this is Harry." She continued pointing at the raven haired boy who had spoken earlier, "What are your names?"
Yamamoto who finished reading first replied. "It's very nice to meet you. My name is Yamamoto this is Gokudera and Tsuna."
"Were you blokes from anyway?" Ron asked
"Japan."
"Are you exchange students then?"
"You could say that." Gokudera replied.
"So is that other guy from before who was beating up Malfoy a friend of yours?" Harry asked
"You mean Hibari? Well yeah he's from the same school but he's not all that friendly. There are a couple others that came with us too" Tsuna said nervously.
"You know it's kind of odd I've never heard of Hogwarts having exchange students before." Hermione stated as the blue letters in front of her burned brightly.
"Fudge is probably doing it for publicity trying to get on the other country's good side."
Harry's light declared.
"What school are you guys from anyway?" Hermione asked
"School?" Tsuna faltered staring at her question stupidly.
"We go to Namimori." Yamamoto replied smiling.
"I've never heard of that school before." Hermione frowned
"Well it's not well known and we are pretty well hidden from the community." Tsuna said hurriedly
"Hermione you can't expect to know every single school out there, anyway about your friend Hibari was it? He really beat the snot out of Malfoy!" Harry grinned obviously more interested in the fight.
"I haven't seen him run like that since Mad Eye turned him into a ferret! I thought he was going to piss his pants!" Ron added excitedly
"I guess you guys don't like that Malfoy guy much do you." Yamamoto stated rather than asked
"Let's just say he's not our most favorite person." Harry replied
"Oh but you guys were awesome! Especially you Tsuna, no offense mate but when I saw you step in I didn't think you stood a chance but man you really proved me wrong!" Ron said excitedly
"Uh-thanks" Tsuna replied meekly
"I wonder why they weren't using magic though." Harry added
"Well Hibari has always been more of a physical type of guy." Gokudera put in remembering all the times Hibari had supported that sentence.
"What was the fight even about?" Hermione asked
"Uh-he didn't say but it doesn't really take much to piss him off." Tsuna mused
"Ha ha isn't that the truth!" Yamamoto agreed
"He really shouldn't carry around weapons though someone could really get hurt." She said disapprovingly
"You go right a head and tell him that then. Besides people get into duels with their wands all the time at least with those-those, what were those things anyway?" Ron asked
"They're called tonfas." Gokudera supplied
"Right! At least with those tonfas he can't hit you from far away. Unless he throws them at you, or uses a spell to stop you from running away, or beats you up with magic and then…"
"My point exactly!" Hermione interrupted bluntly
"Well good luck with that Hibari doesn't listen to anybody and he probably doesn't take criticism all to well either." Gokudera replied lighting a cigarette.
"Hey what are you doing you can't smoke in here!" Harry's subtitle exclaimed. Gokudera stared at him blankly taking a long drag off his cigarette. "Why not?"
"Oi mate smoking isn't allowed at Hogwarts at least I've never seen anyone smoking." Ron added coughing a little from the smoke.
"Yeah well our school doesn't allow it either."
"You know that's really bad for you and your far to young to smoke does your mother know you do that?" Hermione chided. Gokudera stared at her words for a moment then huffed irritatedly. Tsuna watched nervously he could see Gokudera was getting mad.
"I can smoke if I want to and my parents hardly care if I'm alive so who cares." He snapped
"Well I care! Will you please put that out? If not I'll have to report you to a teacher." She retorted sternly.
"Oh yeah!" Gokudera began angrily, glaring at Hermione causing her to shrink back a bit.
"H-Hayato you really should put it out its rude to the others in the compartment." Tsuna said carefully. Instantly Gokudera calmed putting out the cigarette with the bottom of his shoe.
"Sorry boss I didn't mean to upset you." He said apologetically
"Its okay I just don't you to get in trouble." Tsuna replied
"Hey what time does this train arrive?" Yamamoto asked changing the subject. Harry glanced down at his watch.
"We'd better change we'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes."
"Then we should get ready too." Yamamoto suggested. Quickly they grabbed the packages Reborn had given them and went to change. As soon as they left the compartment the green orbs vanished into little puffs of smoke. Tsuna was surprised to find a custom (Leon) made uniform sitting neatly in the package accompanied by a long black cloak and the Vongola sky ring looped on a heavy metal chain resting on top. 'If Leon made these then Reborn must be expecting us to be taking a lot of damage' Tsuna thought ominously
"Aw cripes the ring is here to I thought I left this at home! I guess it's safer to have them with us though." he sighed
"Mine is here too." Yamamoto stated smiling as he slipped the chain over his head. Gokudera who had already been wearing his ring grunted through his shirt as he struggled to find the head opening. When they returned to the compartment Harry, Ron, and Hermione were already dressed. Tsuna couldn't help but notice that all three of them had a gold and red crest with a roaring lion on each of their cloaks.
In less then five minutes the train lurched to stop its whistle shrilling loudly. Tsuna and the others clamored off the train into the cool night air. While Harry, Hermione, and Ron headed strait for a set of black carriages Tsuna and the others were making there way over to Reborn who was waiting patiently with Hibari, Chrome, Ken, and Chikusa. Behind him he heard a loud bellow he then turned to see that the source was the largest man he had ever seen, with a wild mane of hair covering most of his face, holding a lantern.
"Holy hat that guy is huge!" Tsuna exclaimed
"His name is Hagrid he's the grounds keeper here." Reborn explained, "Come on we're riding with him." The baby hit man announced walking over to the giant and tugging on his pants leg. The man named Hagrid looked down and boomed what Tsuna supposed was a greeting and the two began to exchange in conversation.
"I didn't know Reborn new English." Gokudera mused
"Should we go over there too boss?" Chrome asked
"Uh-I guess so." Tsuna replied
"They had better have decent accommodations in this damn place." Hibari growled to no one in particular as he shouldered past. Quickly the others followed joining the large crowd of younger looking children that had already gathered around Hagrid. Eventually they reached the edge of an ink black lake were several small boats waited.
"This way." Reborn ordered as they head toward the nearest boat. Silently the eight of them climbed in, Hibari getting the back seat to himself, Tsuna yelped in surprise as the boat began to slowly glide over the water on its own accord.
As they rounded a corner emerging from a sheet of hanging vines Chrome gave a sudden gasping sound Tsuna and the others who had been watching the shore behind them turned to see a magnificent castle with many turrets and towers cutting into the velvet sky. Its many windows glistened like the stars that already filled the night. A small wisp of cloud floated between the towers half covering the moon and casting sporadic rays of light that striped the castle in a magical glow. They all stared at it in stunned silence even the usually aloof Hibari seemed transfixed by the sight. Reborn who was standing at the front of the boat tipped his hat and smiling said, "Welcome to Hogwarts."
It wasn't long before the boats came to a gentle stop on the opposite shore. Immediately Hagrid began leading the troop of first years out of the boats up a flight of stone steps to a large oak door. Tsuna and co. brought up the rear, the ride though short would have been beautiful if not for the fact that halfway across Gokudera and Ken had gotten into an argument about personal space and in their excitement fallen over board into the lake. Now sopping wet they drudged along at the back of the group weighed down by their water logged clothes.
Next to them Tsuna shivered violently, also soaking wet, he had taken a trip in the lake while trying to pull a frantic Gokudera out of the water who was shouting something about seeing a giant squid. Hagrid knocked loudly on the door and was immediately replied by a soft click as the door swung open behind it stood a tall, dark haired, woman with a stern face.
"That's Professor McGonagall." Reborn reported. Hagrid and McGonagall exchanged a few brief words then once again the group was ushered forward this time by McGonagall. Once inside the castle she gave a short speech and even though Tsuna couldn't understand her words he listened intently. As soon as she finished Reborn led them to the front of the group towards McGonagall. Noticing his approach she gave a tight nod and with a few short words to the other students led Tsuna and his troop through a door.
Here they were greeted by an elderly man with a crooked nose and flowing silver hair, much like Squalo's Tsuna noted, he also had a long silver beard/mustache. Sparkling blue eyes that seemed to look through you rather than at you twinkled from under his half moon spectacles. Reborn greeted the man with his usual, "Ciaossu." giving a small bow.
'Wait, Reborn bowed?' Tsuna floundered mentally
The man acknowledged in tern with a small dip of his head then reached into his sleeve and pulled out a small wooden stick or "wand" Reborn had later corrected. Tsuna took a wary step back remembering the painful sensation from before. Oblivious to Tsuna's fear the man smiled, flicked his wrist, and shouted. Instantly seven orbs of light burst from the wands tip and slammed into each of their chests. Tsuna cringed and buckled to the ground as the strange feeling from before began to form in his chest. Then as soon as it came the feeling was gone Tsuna stood a little shakily confused by how strange and fleeting the sensation had been.
"Nothing happened." He stated breathlessly when no glowing orbs appeared like before
"Oh, but something did happen." The silver haired man replied cheerily
"Eh? The old man can talk?" Ken exclaimed
"Of course he can talk you idiot!" Chikusa spat
"Shut it pom-pom head!"
"Ahem, perhaps I should introduce myself." The old an interrupted catching their attention.
"I am Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts. The spell I've placed on all of you is a bilingual spell that will allow you to speak English. It's permanent so consider it the easy way out of learning a new language. Of course any other languages you know are still there as well. You can search for the tattoos later."
"T-Tattoos?" Chrome asked
"Professor we need to hurry." McGonagall pressed glancing at a clock on the wall.
"Quite right, quite right! I will meet with all of you after the feast and get you situated with wands. But first since you will be acting as students while you here you must be sorted into your houses."
"Now if you all would follow me." McGonagall instructed heading towards the door.
"Oh, just one moment Minerva." Dumbledore called. With a quick flick of his wrist he produced three purple ribbons that shot out and began spinning rapidly around Tsuna, Ken, and Gokudera.
Ken and Gokudera shouted in anger and surprise both swiping at the relentlessly spinning ribbons who continued on oblivious to their meager threats. Tsuna however stood stock still the hairs on his neck rising once more and even though he was nervous he felt no threat or malice from the strange ribbons. If anything he felt a growing warmth spread through his limbs as the ribbon circled one last time then disappeared into nothing.
"Much better don't you think?" Dumbledore announced smiling.
As McGonagall led them back through the door Tsuna realized suddenly that his close were now perfectly dry. For a moment he wondered about the strange feeling he got when ever they had experienced magic it certainly was different from the dying will flames. Oh well he would have to talk to Reborn about it later.
"First years this way." McGonagall called to the waiting students as she led them through a large set of double doors into the great hall. In front of him Yamamoto whistled loudly, and for good reason. The vast room before them was lit by thousands of candles floating lazily over four long tables were the rest of the students were sitting.
Glittering brilliantly upon the tables was a congregation of golden plates and goblets. At the end of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting, Dumbledore and Reborn were already there.
"Magnifico!" Gokudera whispered. Tsuna looked over to see his friend gaping at the ceiling, confused he glanced up only to be greeted with the sight of a black velvet, sky spotted with twinkling stars while a full moon peeked out from behind the edge of a stray cloud. McGonagall led the first years to the front of the hall were a solitary stool waited with nothing but a tattered looking hat perched on top.
"What do you think the hat is for?" Tsuna whispered
"I don't know…Didn't the old man say something about being sorted into houses?" Gokudera whispered back. Suddenly the ratty old hat twitched and the room fell deathly quiet. After a long moment it twitched again then without warning a jagged rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth, it was then that Tsuna began to realize how much the folds and creases looked like a face, while he pondered this the hat began to sing.
Tsuna stared at the singing hat only partially surprised he had seen a lot of strange things since Reborn intruded into his life, at least the hat didn't seem to have any intention of killing him (God knows everything else did!). Finally, after what Tsuna had decided was the longest and most strung out song he had ever heard, the now dubbed sorting hat finished, giving deep hat-like bows to each of the clapping tables.
Professor McGonagall stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment. "When I call your name you will place the hat on your head and be sorted into your houses." She stated then began reading off names quickly. "Abercrombie Evan."
Tsuna watched intently as the terrified boy stumbled forward and put the hat upon his head. The hat's "eyes" scrunched as if it were thinking deeply then reaching a decision shouted "GRYFFINDOR" the table to their right burst into applause. Steadily McGonagall read down the list the appropriate tables clapping vigorously every time they received a new member.
"Dukuro Chrome." Trying to hide hear shaking nerves Chrome pushed through the crowd of first years. Tsuna waved encouragingly as she walked by earning him a small smile. Finally she reached the stool and slipped the hat onto her head. The silence was longer than usual probably due to Mukuro's presence Tsuna decided. At long last the had opened it mouth and shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF"
The Hufflepuff table burst into excited applause being the first house to get one of the foreign students. It wasn't long until Gokudera was called; determinedly he stomped up to the stool and rammed the hat onto his head. "GRYFFINDOR" Soon after Hibari was placed in Slytherin; Tsuna couldn't help but notice the small but no less malicious smirk on his face when he sat down at the cheering table. The boy named Malfoy, and his thuggish friends, only two seats away looking paler than the moon above their heads.
After a while Tsuna began feeling a sense of unease creep into his gut. 'What if I'm not with my friends? Or what if the hat rejects me? I am no good Tsuna after all. And what about that weird feeling I keep having the others didn't say anything about it does that mean I'm the only one who noticed? What if I trip on my way to the stool? Or-'
"Sawada Tsunayoshi" Tsuna snapped to attention as his name was called. With his legs heavier than lead he numbly shuffled forward avoiding the gazes of the other students. Feeling like the weight of the world was pushing down onto his shoulders he lowered the hat onto his head with shaking hands. The inside of the hat was complete darkness and he could hear the hat whispering inside his head.
"Hmmm…another foreigner eh? You're not very brave and yet you're not afraid to stand up and fight when needed. Not very courageous either only some times, how odd." The hat mused
'Odd? I don't want to hear that from you! You're a talking hat!' Tsuna retorted in his mind
"Ooh touché! Well your decently smart but certainly no genius, you have no ambition, you're clumsier than a two legged toad, no self confidence, and you're a bit of a spaz."
'Shut up! Your just a hat what gives you the right to be so-'
"Honest? Well that's my job. So let me finish you are also extremely loyal and have a powerful cense of justice and if you applied yourself you could really be something. Now were to put you…"
Tsuna waited silently disgruntled by the hats sharp remarks even though Reborn said similar things to him all the time. He was just about to ask what was taking so long when the hat shouted "GRYFFINDOR" Surprised he removed the hat from his head and blindly walked over and sat at the cheering table next to Gokudera who was thoroughly excited by his presence. Tsuna tried to be as enthusiastic back but couldn't help but feel his stomach grind as he went over the hats final words in his head. Sitting on the stool just before his house was called the hat had hissed into his ear, "You will have to be brave if you are to face the blood that stains the hands of the Vongola."
'W-what do you mean?' Tsuna gasped
"I'm afraid you will have to learn quickly the lives of the family rest in the hands of their boss."
The hat had refused to say more instead calling out his house name forcing him to leave the stool. Perhaps the hat was just trying to scare him, yes that must be it the had was just trying to get a rouse out of him. But how did he know about the mafia? Never mind that there's not going to be a problem because he refused to become a mafia boss so there was nothing to worry about.
Pushing his thoughts away he clapped loudly as another person joined their table. The minutes dragged by as the hat sorted the dwindling students. Both Ken and Chikusa had gone to Hufflepuff and Yamamoto joined them in Gryffindor. After the last name was called the hat was taken away and Tsuna began to realize how hungry he was.
Suddenly the hall fell completely silent as Dumbledore stood to give a speech. "Welcome students new and old! There are times for making speeches and now is not one of them so tuck in." All four tables burst into a hungry applause and no sooner did Dumbledore settle into his seat, did food start appearing on the tables. From pies to breads to whole hams as well as many different drinks and deserts simply came to be atop the tables.
"This is amazing!" Tsuna gasped
"I don't even know where to start." Gokudera exclaimed reaching for a chicken leg.
"They even have chopsticks." Yamamoto stated picking up the pair in front of him. Tsuna looked around and realized that while everyone else had forks and knives only the three of them had chopsticks. Once everyone had eaten their fill Dumbledore stood once more and once more the room elapsed into silence.
"Now that we are all well fed I have a few announcements to make. First years and new comers need to know that the forest is off limits to students. Also I wish to inform you that we have seven students from Japan attending our school through a new experimental program approved by the ministry. I hope that you will welcome all off the with smiling faces." He paused for a moment his twinkling blue eyes boring into Tsuna's for a moment before moving on.
"We also have two changes in staff I am pleased to introduce Professor Reborn, the new Practical Needs teacher as well as our new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher, Professor Umbridge. Moving on, tryouts for the Quiditch team will take place-" Dumbledore broke off unexpectedly looking over at professor Umbridge who had risen to her feet implying that she wished to speak.
Hiding his surprise he sat down and gestured for her to begin. She then proceed to give a speech about how happy she was to be here and how she hoped they would all be the best of friends. However her talk seemed to have an ever growing hidden hostility as she began to speak about the influence and whims of the ministry of magic.
Tsuna, who had immediately thought that the woman greatly resembled a toad, felt a strange vibe from the woman before him noticeably similar to his mist guardian Mukuro Rukudo, though Mukuro's was much more menacing. Nevertheless he made a mental note to watch out for this Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher. After what seemed like an eternity, the Sorting hats song was minuscule in comparison, she finished her droning speech and returned to her seat. The crowd gave a very unenthusiastic and pathetic excuse of an applause.
"Thank you Professor." Dumbledore said rising to his feet. Now as I was saying Quiditch-"
"That was terrible." Gokudera complained quietly
"Yeah that was pretty bad; it almost sounded like a threat." Yamamoto whispered solemnly
"-Now prefects please escort your houses to your dormitories and will our new exchange student please meet me by the door for a quick word." Dumbledore finished promptly, sleepy students rising to their feet and following their houses out of the hall.
"Guess that's us." Tsuna sighed, also tired and very much wanting to go to bed. As quickly as the crowd would allow the three friends headed toward the door were the others already waited.
"Ciaossu."
"Ah, Reborn." Tsuna exclaimed turning to see his home tutor and the headmaster standing behind him.
"This way if you would." Dumbledore replied cheerily leading them down the hall. After about ten minutes or so they approached the statue of a gargoyle staring broodingly out at them.
"Liquorish whips." He stated randomly, staring at the gargoyle
Tsuna was just about to ask what he meant when the statue suddenly sprang to life moving aside to reveal a spiral staircase waiting behind it. Silently he led the troop up the stairs through a wooden door and into a very strange looking office where three teachers already waited one of which was McGonagall.
"Now let's get down to business!" Dumbledore announced clapping his hands together as he turned to face them. "Here are your wands." He said producing seven small sticks and handing them to the students.
"But we can't use magic!" Tsuna blurted out defensively as he received his
"Right you are Vongola the tenth, but have no fear I have a solution. Now do you all have your rings?" he asked then without waiting for an answer continued. "You see even though you can't use magic you all have the uncanny ability to access your dying will flames, some more than others." He smiled at Tsuna, "Now these flames you all poses are exceptionally similar though much more potent to our magic. By using a very rare and powerful spell I am going channel the power of said flames to your wand. However in order to do that we need something for them to channel through as a mediator otherwise the potency of your flames would simply shatter the wand. Understand so far?" he asked pausing
"Um…Ken and Chikusa do not have rings." Chrome piped meekly
"Yes Reborn has told me of this and while it does complicate things I can still create a channel for them to use the two of them will just have an extra tattoo is all."
"Tattoo?" Chikusa asked suspiciously
"Oh well yes there are some side effects to this spell and also the language spell as well. But don't worry they usually show up in tasteful places. Although that one French spell did show up in a rather promiscuous place." He added absent mindedly. "That and their magic won't be as strong as the rest of you since this way of channeling only lets a minimal amount flow through. Well then without further ado let's continue."
Still smiling he rolled back the sleeves of his robes and pulled out his wand. In what was clearly not English, now that they understood it, he began reciting a stream of complex words while twitching his wandback and forth. Suddenly the familiar hair raising feeling began to come back again, and while Tsuna was trying to pay attention the only thing he seemed to be able to think of was 'A tattoo? Mom will kill me if she finds out!'
The Vongola sky ring hanging off the chain around his neck began to burn fiercely. Tsuna's entire body began to itch and he desperately wished to yank the chain from his neck but for some reason he could move his arms in fact he couldn't move at all. He glanced over at his friends who were standing stock still with a mixture of bewildered, fearful, and angry faces. A hollow feeling began to pit itself into his chest and a seeping pressure began to grow.
Suddenly it changed and his heart felt as if it were glowing. A rushing sensation much like the feel of an army of microscopic spiders crawling underneath his skin was spreading throughout his body into his fingertips and disappearing into both the ring and the wand. Feeling movement come back to his limbs Tsuna let out a loud sigh soon followed by the sounds of relief from his friends.
"Is that it?" Hibari asked breaking the silence.
"That's it." Dumbledore chirped
"So we can all do magic now?" Gokudera asked inspecting his wand
"Yes. Well I think we should call it a night it is late after all. Oh I almost forgot this is Professor Snape." Dumbledore announced gesturing at a solemn, pale, greasy haired man who had been watching the process from the back of the office with an irritated look on his face, "He is the head of the Slytherin house and one of the few teachers who know your true purpose here. And this," he gestured to a woman with well tanned skin and fly away hair, "is professor Sprout she is the head of Hufflepuff and also knows why you're here. And if all of you don't mind I wish to have a quick word with the Gryffindor students the rest of you may go."
Nodding Professor Sprout and Snape escorted their students out the door. "Ah yes Mr. Sawada, Reborn has informed me that you are the head of the family."
"Uh no I-"
"I wish to thank you personally for bringing your guardians and your self to assist us especially on such short notice. I am in your debt, and if you should need anything at all you only need to ask." He said humbly dipping his head.
"Ah, um thanks you." Tsuna replied surprised
"To think that one so young is the head of a Mafia family." He mused grimly
"But I'm not-" Tsuna tried again to explain
"Oh my look at the time! Minerva will you please escort these three Gryffindors to their dormitory tomorrows a big day after all."
"You better rest up I have big plans for class tomorrow." Reborn warned
"I can't wait." Tsuna replied sarcastically as he was led out the door. Once in their dormitory Tsuna collapsed heavily onto his four poster bed. After a while he forced himself to get up and change into his pj's. Then laying back down he listened to the sound of the other sleeping boys around him and tried to do the same. The events of the day had taken their toll and his mind was a buzz with worried and confused thoughts but no longer able to stay awake he shoved them back and let the heavy weight of sleep wash over him. After all tomorrow was going to be a big day.
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