"Akira Kurusu," was the response that Akira gave to the suspicious grandfatherly wizard before him. He looks at the people claiming to be his parents, and the vague memory of the woman with bright red hair and the man with hair similar to his flashes into his mind. His dark grey eyes flicker to the emerald for a moment as the memory plays through again. Akira was conflicted; these people were his birth parents but they abandoned him. While it seemed like it was for a good cause, it didn't sit well with him - something seemed to be missing. On the other hand, Akira found his family and maybe he could meet this Unca Mooy and Padfoo.
"Oh! You have magic! How wonderful!" Albus comments, snapping Akira out of his memory.
"Hmm? Well yeah, how else did you think we were able to change clothes like that?" Akira snarks. James couldn't help but snort hearing Akira, definitely being able to see that this lad was his son.
"That's not how you normally change into those interesting outfits of yours?" Albus asks surprised.
"Not at all. But you don't need to know how. But my friends and I have many questions. First of all, can you send us back?" Akira asks.
"I'm not sure on that one. The ritual your father and I performed was a temporary relocation ritual. It was just to send you somewhere safe equal to the amount of magic we sacrificed. We're surprised your friends came along," Lily answers. She hid the sadness upon hearing her son wanting to go back.
"Alright, secondly, what's with that goblet and why did my original name come out of it?" Akira asks.
"We are uncertain why your name came out of it," Albus answers. "But the goblet is the Goblet of Fire. It chooses the champions for the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Three tasks are presented and each Champion must complete them. The winner receives eternal fame and glory."
"Well count me out. I'm not a wizard and I assume you already have three champions," Akira says.
"I'm afraid not my boy. Anyone who's name comes out of the Goblet MUST compete, or they will die," Albus says.
"What?! That's ridiculous! You can't expect Akira to compete in something he never wanted to be apart of! And what the hell kind of magic is that?!" Ann shouts, standing up from her seat.
"Yeah! That's bullshit! You gotta be able break it!" Ryuji says, standing up in anger. James sighs softly.
"In this world, a magic oath or contract cannot be broken. As Albus stated, if one was to break it, they would die," James explains. All of the Phantom Thieves scowl in anger - more injustice in this world and they were getting the short end of the stick. Akira closes his eyes and sighs.
"Fine. I'll participate in your stupid tournament. So where are we staying?" Akira asks, arching an eyebrow.
"Albus, I believe there are guest suites that we can put them in," a woman in emerald green robes says.
"Mmm. Good idea Minerva. I suppose everyone should get a goodnight's rest now. After all, the feast is over and our champions have been chosen," Albus says. He turns and goes to get the Champions.. Only to see them at the entrance, having heard every single word.
"If you all would follow me, I will bring you to where you will be staying tonight," Minerva says. The Phantom Thieves, including Akira, follow Minerva off. Lily and James watch their son walk off, knowing that they would have to wait to approach their son in the morrow when all of this had sunk in. One bushy haired female had been intrigued by the newcomers more than the other students and wanted to know more about them. She decided to follow at a distance and to find a place to hide so that her head of house wouldn't catch her out in the corridors when she shouldn't be. She heard them speaking in Japanese and wished that she could understand it and made that a mental note to learn Japanese or get the rune set that Professor O'Sullivan- rather Professor Potter had created.
Akira had noticed that someone was following them and he turned to the Phantom Thieves, informing them in Japanese that they had a little follower. They made a quick plan to confront their follower after Minerva left. They make note of the portrait that would be their door to their suite and that the password was Felix Felicis. Minerva heads back to her office, walking past the bushy haired student, not noticing her due to the disillusionment charm. Stepping out from her hiding place and dropping the disillusionment charm, the student approaches the portrait.
"Hello~ What are you doing over here?" came Akira's voice from behind her. She jumps in surprise and turns around.
"Erm, well I uh wanted to get to know you better. I'm Hermione Granger. I'm a fourth year," the girl, now revealed to be Hermione answers. Akira grins.
"See Morgana? Harmless," Akira says, looking at the cat perched on his shoulder.
"Like I said! Better safe than sorry Akira!" Morgana grumbles. Hermione gasps.
"He still talks while in cat form? That's so intriguing!" Hermione says. Akira and Morgana were taken by surprise.
"Wait, you can understand me?" Morgana asks. Hermione nods.
"Well, that's good. No translations necessary then," Akira says. He looks at Hermione. "Well, why don't you come join us?" he asks, offering his hand to Hermione. Hermione looks at Akira's hand for a moment before taking it. She was surprised at how soft his hand was but let him lead her into the suite. The suite looked similar to that of the Gryffindor common room but not as red. There was a common area and two doors that led to what she assumed were the bedrooms for both males and females. Sitting upon the couch was Ann and Ryuji while Yusuke sat perched on a chair. Makoto sat in a different chair and Futaba was seated on a pillow on the floor. Akira takes another pillow and sits while Hermione took the seat that sat her between Ryuji and Ann.
"Alright Phantom Thieves. This is Hermione Granger! She can hear me in this form!" Morgana says, leaping from Akira's shoulder to a table.
"Hello," Hermione says, waving a bit. "It's nice to meet all of you."
"You as well Hermione. I am Makoto Niijima," Makoto says with a smile.
"I am Yusuke Kitagawa," Yusuke says pleasantly.
"Ann Takamaki! Nice to meet you!" the blonde female says.
"Ryuji Sakamoto," Ryuji says. Futaba took a moment and after a nudge from Akira, she looks up at Hermione.
"Uh, I'm Futaba Sakura.. Nice to uhm meet you," Futaba says shyly. Hermione smiles what she hoped was a warm smile.
"So what do you want to know about us, Hermione?" Makoto asks. Her reddish-brown eyes lock with Hermione's honey brown ones, holding the young witch's gaze.
"Well, when you first introduced yourselves... You called yourselves the Phantom Thieves of Heart. What do you mean by that and stealing distorted desires?" Hermione asks, her eyebrows furrowing.
"Mona? I think you and Akira will be better for explaining this to Hermione here," Ryuji says. Morgana and Akira nod in agreement.
"Well Hermione, we do exactly as we said - steal people's distorted desires. Someone with a twisted heart that is causing injustice are our targets. We steal that desire of theirs and get them to have a change of heart. They confess their wrong-doings and whatever they were causing stops," Morgana explains.
"As an example, the first time we did this, it was me, Ann, Ryuji and Morgana and we stole the volleyball coach's heart at our high school. He was abusing the volleyball athletes and the female students had it far worse. So after we stole his heart, the piece of shit confessed and then the volleyball students were starting to fair better," Akira says. Ann looks down a bit, causing Ryuji to reach behind Hermione and grasp her shoulder. Hermione looks at Ann with a sympathetic look and puts a gentle hand on her knee. The blonde smiles gratefully at Ryuji and Hermione.
"That's.. horrible what he did. I see why you do this. Someone has to bring about justice to them," the Gryffindor says. "So how do you steal these people's hearts?"
"Well, we steal their desires quite literally. Their desires manifest into a physical representation and we are able to snatch it," Yusuke answers, making a snatching motion.
"And the best way to describe how we do it, Mione, is magic~" Akira says, making jazz hands. Hermione's face heated up a bit at the nickname Akira suddenly gave her. The raven haired male just smirks a bit. Futaba manages to pull the pillow out from under Akira and whacks him in the head, scowling playfully at his teasing nature. His glasses go flying. Hermione pulls out her wand and casts the summoning spell on them, the glasses zooming back to her hand. She then hands them back to Akira, who takes them back.
"I think you might need these back," Hermione says. Akira chuckles but just sets them on the nearby table.
"Thanks but I don't actually need them. More of an aesthetic sort of thing," Akira says.
"Akira is just really weird. I apologize for his weirdness," Futaba says, sticking her tongue out at Akira, who returns the gesture. Makoto sighs softly while Ann and Hermione just giggle at the interaction.
"However Hermione, I don't think we can let you tell others about this.. process of ours..." Yusuke says, looking at the witch.
"I'm in agreement with Yusuke. I have suspicion that there is corruption here too," Makoto says. Morgana nods.
"Agreed! Phantom Thieves! We have a mission tomorrow!" Morgana says. Akira moves closer to the couch. He shifts onto his knees and straightens up before gently grabbing Hermione's chin in his right hand, his left hand resting on her thigh. He holds Hermione's honey brown gaze with his currently dark grey gaze. Hermione was doing her best to hold back the blush that was threatening to appear on her cheeks.
"So Mione~ How do you plan on keeping this a secret hmm~?" Akira asks, smirking a bit. There were various reactions to Akira's rather flirtatious manner - Ryuji snickered, Yusuke, Makoto and Ann roll their eyes, Morgana face-paws and Futaba just shakes her head.
"I"ll perform an oath to keep quiet," Hermione answers, keeping her gaze locked with Akira. With her wand hand, she brings her wand up to her temple. "I swear upon my life and magic that I will not tell anyone outside of this room about the Phantom Thieves and their plans. So I Swear It, So Mote It Be." A faint flash of light courses through Hermione's body. Akira had then moved his hands to rest on top of Hermione's knees.
"Well. That's one way to make sure you'll stay quiet!" Ann blinks.
"Yes. As much as we enjoy talking to you Hermione, I think we all need to retire to bed. Will you be alright getting back to your dorm?" Makoto says.
"As long as I don't get caught by the prefects, any professors or the Head Girl and Boy considering it's after curfew. But I'll be fine!" Hermione says. Akira stands up and scoops Hermione up in one smooth movement.
"Nope. You're just going to stay with us," Akira says, holding Hermione bridal style. He starts walking towards one set of the doors.
"Akira! I don't have to stay here! And I can't go into the boys' dorms!" Hermione squeaked out.
"What's to stop me?" Akira asks, arching an eyebrow.
"The doors won't let you!" Hermione answers. Akira just waltzes right into the dorm and Hermione was surprised to see that there were enough beds to hold the Phantom Thieves. "So is the other door the bathroom...?"
"Yup! Besides, Akira likes to be a cheeky little shit, so there was no escape," Ryuji says from behind.
"It's better to just let it happen. Besides, Akira won't try to do anything," Futaba says with a soft smile. Hermione just groans.
"You're insufferable. I should hex you.." Hermione grumbles.
"Would a hex work on Akira if he has Arsene equipped?" Makoto asks. Akira pauses where he was and thinks.
"Well Arsene is resistant to curses... So maybe?" Akira says.
"That's something we can figure out tomorrow as well. For now, let's get some sleep everyone!" Morgana orders. The Phantom Thieves, plus Hermione, get ready for bed and get settled. Hermione couldn't quite escape Akira's grasp but part of her was alright with it despite all the protests she threw about. All she got was a shoosh and a finger to her lips. After a few more moments of trying to leave, Hermione just gives up and falls asleep next to the already sleeping Akira, a blush creeping up on her cheeks as Akira's arm was wrapped around her waist.
~The Next Morning~
Hermione woke up and almost let out a yelp of surprise had she not remembered the previous night's adventure. She was still in the same bed with Akira who slumbered on. In fact, the only one awake besides her was Makoto. Hermione looks at Akira and shakes him gently in attempt to get him to wake up. Eventually Akira wakes up and releases Hermione from his grip, allowing the witch to get up and Scourgify her clothes since she would not have time to go back to her dorm to get clean clothes. When everyone else was up, Hermione does the same since they only had their school clothes, or in Futaba's case her usual clothes, and their Phantom Thieves outfits.
"We'll have to get you guys more clothes while you're here... Though I would imagine Professors Potter might help you with that," Hermione says. "Also, when you're all ready, I will bring you to the Great Hall for breakfast."
"Sweet! I'm starved!" Ryuji says upon hearing food. Morgana leaps up onto Akira's shoulder. He then looks around at everyone before speaking.
"Alright Phantom Thieves! Time to follow Hermione to the Great Hall! Don't forget about our other missions we have to work on!"