*rises from the dead* enjoy all
The following morning the Straw Hats felt… off, it was if the entire castle was holding its breath, preparing for something to happen, what it was…
They could not say.
Luffy frowned deeply, he turned to Sanji and Zoro, question poised on his lips. The two looked at him and without hesitation nodded.
They found out what was wrong at breakfast, "Ne, Sanji! This is delicious!" As per usual, Luffy was stuffing his face full, Sanji, huffed and muttered something about stupid rubber brained idiots.
The rest of the crew were calmly eating, waiting for whatever was to come.
The ceiling of the Great Hall seemed to be conveying the mood of the castle, that is to say, an ashen grey sky, rumbling ominously with the threat of rain and thunderstorms later.
It was then that Luffy frowned, he had been routinely checking out the castle – a good habit to get into, you never knew who was in the castle – when he noticed something, unusual in the hospital wing.
A voice was frozen in time, seeming to be emitting the same word over and over again, cold. And with a lot of overthinking he realised who it was – it was the Hufflepuff boy that had grouped with Hermione, Justine?
Who knows, the point was that he was in the hospital wing and seemed to be frozen, which was quite ironic given the word he was repeating over and over again.
It was worrying, that's what it was.
Robin turned to look at their captain in concern, he had stopped eating and was instead scrunching his face up in concentration. "Ne, Luffy, are you okay?" Usopp asked.
"Ahh! He's starting to steam get a doctor!" Chopper cried, jumping up from his spot next to Usopp, he starting racing around in circles of panic.
"You're a doctor!" Everyone cried simultaneously (sans Luffy and Robin).
"Oh right!" Chopper calmed down and hopped onto the bench directly beside Luffy, he placed a hand on his captain's forehead. "Ahh!" Luffy caught the little human's hand, frowning deeply, but when he recognised his friend he smiled.
"Sorry Chopper, I was just thinking! Shishishi!" Luffy laughed, causing the entire Gryffindor table to fall over in shock (and the entire hall).
"You idiot!" Nami cried, punching him in the head.
Don't make us worry like that you damn idiot.
Luffy smiled widely, even as he rubbed the already large egg on his head. She huffed and turned away.
It was reassuring how much his crew cared about him.
Shown through various acts of violence – I might add.
He refocused on the voices inside the hospital wing, there was another voice, but it felt less tangible, more like that of Perona.
And with a start he hit his fist onto an open palm. "Ah! That's who it is! Helpless Nicoline or whatever."
"I'm sorry but could you further elaborate Luffy?" Robin asked patiently, looking up from today's newspaper.
"Nikoras, is in the hospital wing, and so is Justine."
"Ahh, Nearly Headless Nick and Justin Finch-Fletchly, I assume." Robin smiled.
"That's what I said."
"What's a ghost doing in the hospital wing?" Usopp asked Luffy curiously.
"Ahh! Ghost!" Brook suddenly cried, hiding underneath the table.
"Geez, I didn't expect such a welcoming." And without a thought a ghost was sent through poor, poor Brook who began to mutter that he wished he had been born as an amoeba, an insignificant, microscopic creature.
"Hi ghost lady!" Luffy smiled widely at the goth girl who huffed in mock annoyance.
"What are you doing here Perona?" Zoro asked coldly.
"Don't talk to Perona-san like that dipshit!" Sanji cried in outrage and immediately started a battle with Zoro, in the middle of the hall, in front of everyone.
But, nobody even batted an eyelash, instead, they moved away from the duo so they were unable to be hit.
"Oh my god." Nami suddenly said.
"What's wrong Nami?" Chopper asked innocently.
"I just realised, Hogwarts has become used to stuff like this." She cried in fear.
Chopper tilted his head curiously before he began to panic. "Ahh! Brook's bleeding out!"
And so he was, he was still underneath the table…
He seemed to have quite an intense nosebleed, one with such force that left Brook with a small pool of blood beneath his head.
"Ahhh!" He moaned, quite comprehensibly too, I might add, for immediately Nami kicked the pervert boy out of his quite convenient hiding spot.
"That'll cost you three galleons you damn pervert!" She cried in outrage, punching him repeatedly in the head.
All that escaped from the ex-skeleton's mouth was, "Black, lace. Spotted purple and black."
Luffy tilted his head in confusion, "What's black, lace and spotted purple and black?"
Upon hearing such words Sanji, who had been trading blows with a swordsman seemed to simply turn to stone.
Ahh, what a beautiful day it is today.
Robin smiled contentedly, it was moments like this that she enjoyed the most being a part of this crew.
Although, that did bring up the question of what they were going to do once they were to exit school.
Would they become the first wizarding pirates?
Or would they find jobs at separate locations?
(She desperately wished the former).
Well, it would be decided in a few years' time. Robin concluded, sipping the rest of her black coffee in content, whatever her captain was to select, she would follow him (undoubtedly the rest of the crew shalt as well) until the end of time itself.
After all, he would need an archaeologist.
"So this is supposed to protect me from vampires and zombies?" Usopp questioned, holding up the garland of garlic in his hand, eyeing it sceptically.
"Of course!" The third year trying to sell it nodded vigorously. "You're going to need it."
Usopp carefully placed the garland down and tried to back away.
"That's pretty cool but I can defend myself, besides, the best defence against zombies is salt." Usopp recommended before realising what he had just said.
"Not it's not!" The third year cried indignantly before huffing and moving along to find someone else who was more gullible than Usopp.
The sniper sighed in relief and closed his eyes, glad that he had a reprieve from the annoying students desperate to make a pretty penny in the wake of terror.
Unsurprisingly a black market of amulets and various weaponry had sprung up in the days following the attack of Justin Finch-Fletchly and Nearly Headless Nick (word spread fast) right underneath the noses of all the professors.
Usopp was here to ensure that his fellow gullible idiots (a.k.a Chopper – Luffy would probably say he didn't need it and/or say it was for meat) didn't waste their money on buying useless trinkets.
"Really?!" A voice rang through the hallway and Usopp snapped his eyes open in horror as he realised his mission was going to end in failure.
"Wait Chopper no!" He shouted desperately, causing the little reindeer to look at him in confusion.
"Huh, Usopp, why shouldn't I buy these, they'll protect me from the big scary monster!" Chopper exclaimed, coins still in hand.
"Because, I, the Great Usopp, will protect you young one, and I can probably even call in a favour from Sogeking!" Usopp proclaimed, acting a whole lot more braver than he felt.
"Sogeking?! Awesome!" Chopper cried in pure joy, eyes turning to actual stars, the fifth year that had been trying to sell the first year an amulet that seemed to emit a white glow was slowly backing away.
Usopp sighed and let the poor soul run away.
Mission accomplished.
"Are you going to be staying this Christmas holiday?" Professor McGonagall was making her way around to all the houses and it was really no surprise that she had been unable to find the students who caused the most trouble.
So, instead of becoming troubled by it, she instead bombarded them at breakfast, struggling to keep her own breakfast down at the sight of Potter, or rather, Luffy, as his friends had dubbed him struggled to swallow a particularly large mouthful.
He then looked around at his friends, seeming to communicate without words.
"Yup, we're all going to." He smiled widely at that and Professor McGonagall couldn't help but reciprocate the smile.
Professor McGonagall was a very stern woman…
But, this tight knit group of friends (she had heard them refer to each other as nakama?) reminded her of days of her own youth where she watched on in envy of them.
But, she will confess, she was starting to worry for the brightest witch in her year, Hermione Granger, the girl looked like she was terrified. Hand shaking, face reminiscent of a white sheet.
Apparently, she hadn't needed to worry too much for within a second Potter was jumping up from his spot – still stuffing his face full, mind you – and racing over next to Hermione.
She smiled at him, subdued but smiling nonetheless.
And eventually the rest of the group followed, surrounding the two like it was perfectly normal – which for them, normal had been thrown out the window then buried six feet deep.
The professor sighed loudly, shaking her head lightly, she had heard one rumour that they spent their days in the Room of Requirement. While it didn't surprise her greatly, she wondered exactly how they found it.
She wondered about a lot of things, like why they called each other such odd names, they were far too abnormal to be a simple nickname.
After all, who called a child the second pirate king?
"Ne, Hermione, how are you?" Luffy asked, plopping down beside her, actually waiting to talk after swallowing.
What manners.
"I'm good Harry, or Luffy, which is it that you prefer?" She asked, curiosity getting the better of her, she set down her spoon, figuring that she might as well give up eating now that the boy – a constant source of attention – had decided to sit with her.
(that and the fact that she wasn't hungry – hadn't been since that).
"Eh, whichever you're more comfortable with." Luffy mumbled noncommittedly, chewing on a sour dough, salami filled sandwich.
"Okay, Harry."
"Shishi!"
Slowly, the rest of the crew gravitated towards the bottomless pit known as Monkey D. Luffy.
"Hermione-chan, how are you dear?" Sanji asked politely, setting himself in a position where he was in between Robin and Hermione.
Hermione was about to reply but, she was interrupted by the sound of hundreds upon hundreds of birds swooping in, each carrying something for their students.
Surprisingly enough, Southy plopped down on Luffy's head, letter between its' teeth?
What a weird bird.
"I have mail?" It wasn't from Hagrid, that much he was certain of, the writing was far too neat for that.
He shrugged and tore into the letter.
Dear Luffy,
We write to you requesting that you meet us at London's Cross, I'm not going to say who the 'we' in question is because that would ruin the surprise.
You can stay with us over Christmas if you want, and, bring your crew along,
It wasn't signed, but…
The actual letter itself reeked of a richness, one derived only those with enough wealth to spend money on quality paper and ink. Even the writing was in Japanese, very neatly written Japanese.
And besides, the mystery people knew who he and his crew was. It could mean that they were enemies but the letter seemed to have undertones of indulgence and didn't smell like a trap. Although, he could just be smelling the meat.
Then again, if it was a trap then he was fairly sure he could kick whoever's ass it was, and so could his crew.
(Unless it was them)
"Hey! Mrs Cat-lady!" Luffy shouted to the professor who was already up at the teachers' table, her eye twitched in response to his nickname but nonetheless shot him a questioning look. "Can we take our names off the list?"
The crew looked at him in confusion but then shook their heads, it was probably one of his crazy whims.
"Don't worry, the mystery people said that they can take us." He smiled brilliantly at them all.
"What 'mystery people', Luffy-san?" Brook asked, sipping his tea, without a word, Luffy handed his letter to the ex-skeleton.
"Ahh, I see." Brook said, then went back to drinking.
Nami snatched the letter and frowned, eyes scanning the words carefully. "You know, this could be a trap." She said in annoyance.
"Humph, if it is we'll just kick their asses." Zoro replied.
"Yeah! I'm not scared of some dumb trap!" Chopper cried, then he added. "I guess I'll have to write to my parents."
"Wait Chopper." Usopp interrupted. "You can't just say mystery people, say that they're friends of Luffy's."
"That was actually smart, I'm impressed." Sanji said earning a glare from the sniper and an indignant 'hey!'
"Fufufu, I do hope that we are not all lured into a trap and killed, or worse, tortured for information, after all, Luffy is wanted by many people." Robin stated calmly, smiling into her tea at the cries of how creepy she was from Usopp and Chopper.
"Yosh! We're going to see these mystery people and if it's a trap we'll kick their asses!" Luffy proclaimed loudly enough that people paused in their eating to spare a glance at him before shrugging and returning to their meals.
Hermione smiled at their course of action, she kind of wanted to go with them but she had that thing and despite knowing how strong they were she couldn't help but worry that she would do something to harm them.
So, she bit her tongue and instead agreed readily to their plan and politely declined Harry's offer for her to come.
(She also readily bit her tongue when he sent an all too knowing look her way)
Luffy decided that Hermione was coming with them one way or another, even if he had to drag her away.
He also decided that that stupid book was going to remain here, locked in the mystery room so it couldn't harm his nakama anymore.
(Or, he would destroy it, apparently he was very good at destruction – according to Nami).
A week and a half later they caught wind of a duelling club, immediately, Luffy declared that he would join.
"Hmm, it would seem that the first meeting is on tonight." Robin said thoughtfully, looking to the poster they had found on the notice board near the entrance hall.
"Yoho, I also wish to participate in the duelling club, it would be fine training for my wand work."
"Curly brow, this way we can find out which is actually stronger."
"Bring it shitty marimo, I can kick your ass even when you're using three wands to compensate for your obvious lack of skill."
"Why you…"
"Stop it!"
Both rubbed their heads, one in ecstasy the other in annoyance.
"Well, seeing as you're all doing it I guess I will." Chopper stood on tiptoes to see over Brook's shoulder.
"As will I! Then you can see the great skill of Usopp-sama!"
Sigh "I guess I will too then, who knows, maybe I can start a betting pool."
Seeing as they were all in agreement, at eight o'clock that evening they raced each other to the Great Hall, each laughing in joy and anticipation.
The long dining tables had vanished and a golden stage had appeared along one wall, lit by thousands of candles floating overhead. The ceiling was velvety black once more and most of the school seemed to be packed beneath it, all carrying their wands and looking excited.
"I wonder who will decide to teach us." Nami commented, fingering her climatact, even if she wasn't going to be able to use it she would always have it on herself, just in case.
"Shishishi, whoever it is I hope they're good!"
Suddenly, they were all groaning and eating their words as a certain DADA teacher made his way onto the stage, robes the shade of dark plum adorning his figure, and, accompanied by him was none other than Professor Snape, wearing his usual black robe.
Lockhart waved an arm for silence and called, "Gather round, gather round! Can everyone see me? Can you all hear me? Excellent! Now, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little duelling club, to train you all in case you ever need to defend yourselves as I myself have done on countless occasions — for full details, see my published works.
"Let me introduce my assistant, Professor Snape," said Lockhart, flashing a wide smile. "He tells me he knows a tiny little bit about duelling himself and has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration before we begin. Now, I don't want any of you youngsters to worry — you'll still have your Potions master when I'm through with him, never fear!"
Luffy stuck a finger up his nose in disinterest, he was starting to regret not just electing to remain in the mystery room to duel each other.
But then again, perhaps it would be most amusing to see Lockhart get his ass kicked by the sneering professor.
The two professors turned to each other and bowed, well, Lockhart did, in an overly exaggerated fashion, however, Snape simply nodded his head curtly.
Then they raised their wands in front of them as if they were holding a sword.
"As you see, we are holding our wands in the accepted combative position," Lockhart told the silent crowd. "On the count of three, we will cast our first spells. Neither of us will be aiming to kill, of course."
"That would be most unfortunate if one were to cast the wrong spell, it could end in a number of undesirable effects such as large boils or, pain so horrific you would wish for it to end in any way pos-"
"We get it!" Usopp cried in distress, realising what he had really dug himself into.
"One – two – three – "
Both of them swung their wands above their heads and pointed them at their opponent. Snape cried "Expelliarmus!" there was a dazzling flash of scarlet that hit Lockhart, causing the man to fly several feet and hit the wall.
Quite a lot of the female populace made wincing noises on behalf of the man who stood up shakily and dusted off his robes, he smiled charmingly (or as charming as a bat) and reassured them he was fine. "Well, there you have it!" he said, tottering back onto the platform. "That was a Disarming Charm — as you see, I've lost my wand — ah, thank you, Miss Brown — yes, an excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape, but if you don't mind my saying so, it was very obvious what you were about to do. If I had wanted to stop you it would have been only too easy — however, I felt it would be instructive to let them see . . ."
He cut himself off at the sight of Snape's glare and instead elected to tell them to choose partners.
Sanji and Zoro paired up, both glaring at each other.
Usopp and Chopper paired, both smiling to each other and Usopp reassured the reindeer that he wasn't going to go easy on him.
Robin and Nami smiled at each other. "You used to be an assassin didn't you?"
"Aren't you a thief?"
"That's not quite reassuring."
But nonetheless, they paired.
Brook turned to his captain and bowed. "Shall we Luffy-san?"
But, Luffy was staring at someone else, Brook followed his gaze and found himself gazing upon Hermione-san.
Thankfully, a fellow Gryffindor – Lavender Brown – decided to pair up with her.
But, Snape made his way through the crowd and sneered nastily at their group. "Time to break up the crew, I think.
"Longbottom, with Goyle. Colins, I think you shall pair with Bole."
Chopper squeaked when he saw the size of the Slytherin he was paired with.
Snape took one look at the heated glares that the Malfoy boy and the Finnigan boy were sending each other and decided not to interfere on their duel, it would be interesting to watch.
"Lovegood with Bulstrode, Weasley with Parkinson."
Robin smiled chillingly at Millicent Bulstrode, a girl that looked more like a hag than anything, she smiled nastily back. Parkinson sneered at Nami who sneered right back.
"Other Weasley with Nott and Potter with, hmm, how about Flint?" He glared nastily.
Luffy shrugged, the year difference wasn't a big deal, he was going to kick the other's ass anyways.
"Face your partners! And bow!"
Flint and Luffy locked eyes, each bowing their heads slowly.
"Wands at the ready!" shouted Lockhart. "When I count to three, cast your charms to disarm your opponents — only to disarm them — we don't want any accidents — one . . . two . . . three —"
Luffy prepped himself, he was going to try to do it without Observational however it was quite difficult to just turn off such an ability.
His eyes widened fractionally, his partner was going to attack on two. Then, his eyes hardened in resolve, already planning to defend, his wand hummed as if to say understood.
After all, in the real, ugly world, one's opponent would try and attack in any way possible, even if it meant playing dirty.
Within a second Luffy watched, eyes like that of a hawk as Marcus Flint whispered within his mind, 'Sagitto'. Immediately, arrows spewed forth from his wand, each aiming for Luffy.
He closed his eyes and in a sweeping motion created a barrier, and, in return he fired off the instructed spell.
Marcus Flint, realising his next course of action, tried to pull up a barrier, however, the spell shattered the barrier and his eyes widened in shock.
He immediately fired back, this time crying "Bombarda!"
But, Severus Snape had had enough and shouted. "Finite Incantatem!" Immediately, all spells were nullified and Luffy looked around to see Sanji and Zoro still glaring at each other, Sanji, covered in slashes and Zoro in burns.
Robin had Millicent in a headlock, smiling calmly but releasing her when Snape shouted. With a cry of outrage the Slytherin jumped at the much smaller Ravenclaw who lithely dodged. "Now, now, the duel is over."
And with a cross of the arms, multiple limbs protruded from Millicent's body, holding her tightly in a lock.
He turned to Usopp and was relieved to see that his friend had managed to dodge whatever spells came his way, and in return, his opponent was ensnared within an odd plant that disappeared.
Nami was smirking ever so slightly, having managed to send a bolt of electricity at her enemy, thus stunning them temporarily.
Chopper was rushing over to his opponent who was leaning up against the wall having been stunned, he was shooed angrily.
He stood there looking close to tears before he shook his head and moved away slowly.
Brook was laughing in joy but a second later politely asked if Theodore needed a hand up, he was denied, naturally.
Huh, Luffy thought, looks like their spells were similar to their fighting techniques anyway.
"I think I'd better teach you how to block unfriendly spells," said Lockhart, standing flustered in the midst of the chaos that had occurred. He glanced at Snape, whose black eyes glinted, and looked quickly away.
Lockhart was about to begin speaking when Snape interjected. "I have a volunteer pair. Potter and Flint."
"A sixth year against a second year? Come now Severus, that is quite advantageous in favour of Marcus." Lockhart replied, obviously flustered at being interrupted.
"He held his own against Flint just now, I have noticed." Snape replied, black eyes boring into Luffy's emerald.
"Oh fine, but only this once Severus." Then Lockhart did the unthinkable, he winked at Professor Snape.
The entire hall went silent.
….
…
"Never, ever try that again. Understood?" One very angry Potion teacher's voice rang through the hall causing most to take a step back.
"Yes sir!" Lockhart immediately saluted, probably doing so in the knowledge that if he were to ignore the livid look upon Snape's face then several things would happen to 'accidentally' harm him.
"Now, Harry," said Lockhart. "When Flint points his wand at you, you do this." He raised his own wand, attempted a complicated sort of wiggling action, and dropped it. Snape smirked as Lockhart quickly picked it up, saying, "Whoops — my wand is a little overexcited —"
Luffy, for the better part, simply ignored him, instead, he listened in on what the Potion's master was whispering to Flint's ear who smirked nastily.
"Scared?" Flint whispered out of the corner of his mouth.
"Nope."
"Three – two – one!"
Flint waved his wand and whispered. "Serpensortia!"
A snake curled forth from his wand, twisting this way and that, it coiled its way over to Nami who looked prepared to whip out her climatact to hit it so instead, Luffy cried "Leave her alone!"
It was accompanied with haki, not that anyone aside from Professor Snape and the Straw Hats could feel it. "Good Snakey."
He knelt down to the snake and stroked its head. "Luffy..." He looked up to see Nami's pale face. "Do you know what you just did?"
"Um, I kind of, you know, forced it away." He didn't feel like saying anything else in front of this many people but regardless he felt Snape's eyes narrow on him.
"No, I mean the other thing." At the shake of his head Robin further elaborated.
"She means to say that you spoke Parseltongue."
"Parsley lung?" He asked quizzically, allowing the now dubbed 'Snakey' to coil around his neck.
"Potter, please put the snake down so I can remove it." Snape interrupted, eyes calculating his every move.
"No! I like Snakey!" He said indignantly, the snake licked his face almost as a dog would in response.
"Yeah! I like her too, she says thanks by the way." Chopper said, gesturing to Flint.
Immediately everyone took several paces back from the ex-reindeer who looked confused. A few placed hands over their mouths in shock. "M-m-monsters!"
And without another word the school fled from the hall, leaving the two professors and the pirate crew.
"Huh? Are they calling me a monster?" Chopper asked, confused.
"Both of you are parseltongues?" Lockhart asked, pale as a sheet in his shock.
"Seriously! People keep on saying that but what does it mean?" Luffy huffed.
"It is the ability to talk to snakes, Luffy, Chopper, I suspect you are able to talk to her because of that." Robin replied calmly, seating herself cross legged on the floor.
Professor Snape huffed, obviously not used to being ignored like this. "Potter, the snake, now."
"But I want to keep her!" He replied indignantly, clutching Snakey closer to his chest.
"Luffy, if you want to keep her then you'd have to give up Southy, now choose." Nami said, crossing her arms.
Luffy looked forlornly at Snakey and after a lot of hissing which was probably a very depressing farewell Luffy passed off the serpent to the potion's master, who, without a word, banished the snake.
"Shall we?" Brook inquired, waiting at the door of the Great Hall.
Luffy huffed and muttered something about mean old potion masters but complied nonetheless.
"So, being able to talk the snake language is bad here?"
"Very much so, the last known parseltongue was Voldemort." Robin concluded.
"But Hancock was able to communicate with her snake." He pouted, not really understanding why it was such a bad thing, everyone was their own separate person.
At the mention of Boa Hancock, Sanji found himself slowly turning to stone and Brook began to profusely bleed from his nose.
"Yes, but her snake was most likely not normal and had a higher degree of intelligence." Robin admitted.
"Does that mean people will think I'm a monster?" Chopper asked, voice tinged with a hint of sadness, after a moment he declared loudly. "I don't care! If I'm a monster I can protect my friends!"
"Damn straight! Ne, Robin, who else is able to speak parseltongue?"
"It is rumoured that it is a trait passed down the Salazar Slytherin bloodline."
Luffy began to think, quite hard, his family were a bunch of crazy people after all, but, could they really be descendants of the Snake dude?
"But, it has to be possible that Luffy just has the power without being related to him right?" Nami asked. "I mean, his family is pretty crazy but to think that they are descended from a racist bastard seems absurd."
"Mm."
Eventually, before he could hurt himself too hard Luffy decided he didn't really care about bloodlines and the sort. After all, his brother was descended from a line of nobles and the other the son of the King of the Pirates.
The following morning a blizzard brewed so fiercely that it covered the entire grounds, cancelling their final Herbology lesson – Usopp was quite upset at that – so instead they were holed up atop Sunny and Merry.
The rest of the crew mayormaynothaveskippedalesson.
"Are we going to get a detention because of this?" Chopper asked curiously.
"Probably." Zoro replied, smiling at the reindeer.
"But it looks so cool!" Luffy cried, gesturing towards the snow that was beginning to pile up in the mystery room.
"Besides, didn't Madam Pomfrey say we could take a lesson off every once in a while?" Usopp asked, thinking hard.
In the hospital wing
Madam Pomfrey sneezed violently and felt a sudden wave of regret of letting some students have certain privileges.
Wait, what?
They gravitated towards the white, powdery beach and lit a bonfire, playing games around it. Eventually Robin stood and announced she had to go to the library to borrow a book. "Can I come with you Robin? I actually wanted to borrow some books on healing magic."
"Of course Chopper, shall we?"
"Wait Robin-chan, I will accompany you seeing as neither you nor Chopper have mastered kenbunshoku." Sanji cried.
Robin and Chopper thanked Sanji together and agreed to allow him to trail after them.
"See yas!" Luffy smiled, and Usopp, while the rubber boy was distracted attempted to tag him.
Luffy twisted out of the way and sent the sniper into the freezing water.
"Too slow!" He stuck his tongue out childishly. Usopp emerged from the freezing depths, face showing a developed stage of frostbite.
Wordlessly he pulled out his slingshot and loaded ammunition into it.
"Midori Boshi: Rafflesia!"
A peculiar looking flower bloomed near Luffy and emitted a yellowish odour.
Luffy was soon biting his laughter as the stench hit his nostrils and he comically froze for a second.
It was at that moment that Robin and Chopper decided that they should get out of there.
"If I may ask, Chopper, why is it that you have a camera?" Robin asked, gesturing to the aforementioned device hanging around his neck.
Chopper gazed at it for a moment as if he hadn't realised it was there. "I kinda forgot about it, if I'm totally honest. My parents… they didn't think that Hogwarts existed so they asked me to take plenty of pictures for them! But… as I said, I've forgotten to."
Robin smiled gently. "I'm sure there is still time to take some for you parents."
Sanji smiled around a cigarette, it was good that some of them had caring parents.
"How long does it take to get a few books?" Zoro complained whilst simultaneously lifting a weight that was easily thrice the size of his left hand.
"Hmm."
"I want some meat." Luffy complained, idly kicking his feet above his head, body lying flat on the snow, he didn't look it, but he was starting to worry, it was hard to focus with kenbunshoku haki inside the mystery room to find something outside the room.
It was like the room was part of an entirely different universe, ergo he couldn't feel or hear them.
Zoro sighed, loudly, startling most of the occupants of the room. He made to leave the room, ditching the weight beside his chair, when he was almost to the door he looked at them expectantly. "Well? Are you coming?"
With that the remaining Straw Hats left.
"Wait, should we really be following Zoro?"
They face faulted at their own stupidity and Zoro huffed, turning a bright shade of red.
"I do wish to find them before next period." Nami commented, immediately taking the lead.
"Damn she-devil." The green haired man in question muttered, still as red as a tomato.
"Can we go now?" Luffy asked impatiently, there was something… wrong.
He really didn't want to think of the implications of that for now. Zoro looked at him, blush fading, and, uncharacteristically softly muttered soft enough for only him to hear. "They'll be fine captain, they had shitty cook with them."
He nodded and followed Nami on their route to the library. It was at this moment in time that anticipation curled into their stomachs, unease filtering through their every move.
And, it was not unfounded, for barely five minutes in their walk a flustered looking Professor McGonagall was racing towards them. "I've been looking for you lot everywhere." She said, slightly panting. "Come with me."
They followed her without question, the teacher was much too nervous for them to disobey for the time being.
Nami's eyes widened minutely, this is…
This is the way to the hospital wing.
Professor McGonagall took them to the hospital wing as Nami had predicted. Luffy felt his breath hitch because he knew what he had been denying was true.
In there were his friends.
"I'm so sorry. We found them like this, your friend…" She trailed off, gesturing to two of the beds. "Madam Pomfrey will talk to you." She said before leaving (resolutely ignoring Colin Creevey).
No no no no no no NO!
He had said that he'd protect them, all of them, especially after what happened last time. He had sworn that it wouldn't be a repeat dammit!
But here they were, Sanji lying on one bed, Robin the other. Both were eerily still, as if posing in time, Sanji's hand held out in front of him – as if he were holding something and Robin with her arms crossed over her chest. Qithout consciously realising it, he moved until he was in between the two beds, reaching out to touch them.
"Luffy!" A ball of fur threw himself at the rubber man who reflexively caught the bundle. "Luffy! I'm so so sorry!"
Chopper sobbed out, clutching his red cardigan tightly, tears turning it a shade darker. Luffy shook himself from his shock to comfort the now reindeer.
"It's okay Chopper, you tried your best, and besides, they're only petrified, right?"
Chopper nodded, antlers poking into Luffy's chest.
"You're very lucky that they're only petrified." Madam Pomfrey said, approaching their group. "We found the boy with a mirror if it means anything."
She left after checking that her patients were stable – they would probably want some privacy. She resolutely decided that she had not seen the youngest turn into a reindeer – no, she'd let them go just this time.
(Besides, she didn't want to see the youngest of their group go to Azkaban for becoming an animagus)
"It seems that they were quite prepared." Brook said softly, eyes filling with emotion, taking in the faces of his nakama.
"Chopper, calm down and tell us what happened." Zoro said, eye twitching and face conveying his own sorrow for the loss of the two of them.
"We – hic – were going to the library like w-we planned and Sanji suddenly told us to stop because he said he could f-f-f-feel it around – hic – the corner." Chopper managed to stutter between sobs, he took a deep breath and continued having successfully stopped his tears. "After five minutes or so Sanji said he couldn't feel the snake anymore, he borrowed Robin's mirror to make sure and the next thing we know is he's suddenly frozen.
"We didn't react fact enough, Sanji hit the ground and was in the direct line of the basilisk, Robin grabbed him with her devil fruit but I think she saw it in the reflection of Sanji's mirror because the next thing I know she's also just as paralysed as Sanji. I don't know how both of them were petrified!"
They sat in a morbid silence, drinking in the information. "It wasn't your fault Chopper, there wasn't anything you could have done to save them." The words were bitter but true, Chopper bit his lip as fresh tears swelled in his eyes.
"Luffy-san is right Chopper-san, you mustn't blame yourself." Brook added, wiping the moisture appearing in his eyes.
"But I'm a doctor dammit! I should be able to heal them!" He cried, looking at them in desperation, how could they not blame him?
"Chopper…"
"Chopper, they'll be fine when the mandrakes are ready for the potion, even if you did know how to un-petrify them you'd have to wait just as long."
"But…"
"Usopp's right, it might suck that you can't do anything but instead we'll kick that snake's ass." Zoro proclaimed.
Luffy swallowed thickly from beneath his hat, he felt that if he were to try and speak it would most definitely not come out how he wished for it to. It just wasn't fair!
"We have to stay here over Christmas, I know that the letter was a trap but…"
These are our nakama, we will never leave them behind.
Luffy plopped down between the two beds, struggling to halt his tears.
"I wouldn't dream of leaving these two here anyway." Nami replied shakily, sitting on Robin's bed and entwining their fingers.
At their nods he smiled just a little, his nakama were the best.
But…
He was weak if he couldn't protect them.
I mean, what kind of a captain would let two of his crew mates be petrified.
He was so –
"Oi, knock it off."
He rubbed his head in the place where Ichimonji had come into contact with him, violently.
Luffy glared at his swordsman who simply stared back.
If it's not Chopper's fault it's not yours, stop blaming yourself.
But I should have –
The swordsman glared back just as violently, eyes darkening with a resolve harder than any kind of steel.
You couldn't do anything, it's nothing like last time so stop, who can we rely on if you are to falter?
…
Nami frowned at the pair, realising that they had just had a completely internal conversation, but even so, she could tell it had helped their captain. She wished that she was proficient in kenbunshoku haki, the only ones who would have been able to understand were Usopp and…
"Ne, Robin, Sanji, look after this for me." He said, taking off his treasure and placing it on the bedside table sitting between the two.
"Let's figure out where this stupid snake is and kick its' ass."
The Straw Hat pirates smiled indulgently, their captain would never change – that was for sure.
He was a constant, like the sun, constantly keeping them in an orbit, lighting their way through the darkness.
And if there were moments when he would falter then they would pick up where he had left on and guide him through the night.
After a while of sitting beside the duo they stood in a singular motion, Chopper smoothly changing into his human form.
They filed out of the Hospital wing with a silent apology to their two petrified crew mates.
"So… we have been unable to locate the hiding spot of this basilisk. And we now know that it can sometimes shield itself from even the most proficient haki wielders." Brook broke the silence, turning into the hall of the mystery room.
"Yes, it would seem so, but that also implies that there is someone else pulling the strings." Nami added, thinking that the only times one could hide themselves or others was when they understood the inner machinations of the will itself.
"So we just need to find whoever is responsible for controlling the snake?" Chopper asked, eyes following Usopp as he walked in front of the mystery room's wall seven times.
Wrought iron brought itself into creation from the stone, the salty scent of the ocean luring them into the safety that the room brought with it.
Unconsciously they sighed at the feeling of a light breeze ruffling their hair gently and the feeling of a warm sun beating down onto their tense frames incurred a relaxation of several coiled muscles.
It was unanimously decided that someone (Usopp and Brook) was going to raid the kitchens later for food that a. was free and b. edible.
It was another reminder of their loss…
But, they all had an iron will, and after a hearty meal from hands of the house elves they began to train and plan.
"Witch, you'll be trailing Hermione and stealing a black book off her."
Nami twitched a little at the nickname but nodded nonetheless.
"Usopp, you're the eyes and ears of any gossip about the Chamber of Secrets."
The sniper nodded firmly, he knew that he was not the ideal candidate for this but he would not fail!
"Chopper, I want you catching up to where Robin was in her notes."
The doctor smiled, he wouldn't let down his nakama anymore!
"Brook, I want you to work on whatever it is Luffy wants you to be focused on."
The musician glanced at the rubber boy who nodded firmly at him.
"Luffy, Perona and I are going to be actively looking for the Chamber's opening. Does everyone understand what they are to do during Christmas?" Zoro finally finished, having relayed the instructions to the crew.
At five affirmatives Zoro smiled fondly. "Let's find the Chamber of Secrets."
The day of the holidays dawned bright and early, many students eager to rush from the once comforting halls of Hogwarts.
The Straw Hats were quite glad with this development – it meant that they could creepily stalk around the corridors unhindered by questions from fellow students.
And, Hermione had also remained behind and was dutifully ignoring their very presence and keeping away from them at all costs.
The Weasley family also remained behind, Percy remaining strict on the two Weasley twins who took it upon themselves to hail Chopper and Luffy as the new heirs of Slytherin.
(They stopped when Chopper looked ready to cry)
Luffy laughed it off with them, he always enjoyed a good laugh and they weren't hurting anyone.
They even did it through the empty hallways. "All hail the might Harry Potter, heir of Slytherin!"
Well, they did until they were discovered by Percy who took them away for a quick 'talking to' on the level of appropriateness they were to exercise whilst in school.
The other person who didn't seem to appreciate it was Hermione who seemed to shrink away from them whenever she saw them.
"Hey, Nami, can you talk to Hermione? I know that she's a year above but I don't think she wants to talk to me." Luffy eyed the rapidly retreating figure.
"Sure Luffy."
(And for once it didn't even cost him anything).
"Hey there Hermione." Nami slunk up to the girl who was buried in books.
"Hi Ginny, how are you?" Hermione asked politely, mentally calculating the chances of her escaping the youngest sibling of the Weasly family.
"I'm good, anyway, I was just wondering if you could help me with this spell I've been having difficulty with."
(She didn't have any problems with it but right now she knew that the direct approach wasn't going to help anyone).
"Oh!" Hermione's face seemed to brighten tenfold at the prospect of helping someone perfect knowledge.
Nami smiled in response to the girls enthusiasm and soon the two were talking of other girly things.
"It's time for you two to leave." Madam Pince scowled at the duo as if they were the bane of her experience.
Nami giggled and gathered her things with Hermione. "We should do this again." She said to the bushy haired girl.
"Sure, we should." Hermione smiled warmly, cheeks filling with a tad of pink.
She turned and walked away, hastily shoving her books into her bag.
Nami felt she had achieved an accomplishment because it seemed that the poor girl was happier than before. It was a bit odd, talking to a girl of such an age and pretending to be younger than her but she figured that it would have to work. She smirked as she pulled out the black book she had snagged from Hermione's book bag.
Mission accomplished.
She left for the mystery room, scowling at the thought of the name. One day she would discover the actual name of that place and then they wouldn't have to call it such a ludicrous name.
She made her way past the ever-flowing movement of the paintings hopping from one portrait to the other, all merrily making their way about.
(Or was it hurrying in terror?)
"Stupid name for a stupid room." Nami thought, pacing past the door several times, grinning slightly when the wrought iron doors came to be.
She pushed open the doors, noting the monster tr- duo were sparring intensely, cutting and hitting anything that laid in their unyielding wrath.
Any second now Sanji would be flying towards her with a new creati-
And that's when reality came crashing down on her and she felt the smile that was gracing her features slide off like water. Sanji-kun, Robin.
"Oh, Nami!" Chopper cried at her and threw himself at her.
He had made a habit of doing that lately.
"Hi Chopper." She replied, petting his soft fur.
Luffy and Zoro collided in a spark of busoshoku on busoshoku. Neither had to say anything, the look in their eyes was enough to hold a silent conversation.
They leapt back from each other. Luffy flung out an arm, pumping it, immediately his body took on a pinkish tinge and began to steam.
Zoro placed wado ichcimonji in his mouth, smirking lightly.
"Ahh! I think I've come down with if-Luffy-and-Zoro-go-all-out-I-might-die-disease!" Usopp cried, looking at the two demons flying at each other. He knew they were both letting off steam but he sure as hell didn't want to be left in the cross fire.
Brook and Usopp began to casually inch away from the duo. They had been gloomy for a while, not doing anything when Luffy had announced. "Zoro, fight me."
And next thing anyone knew they were hurling sanbyakurokuju pound ho's and gomu gomu no pistol's at each other.
Nami realised what Usopp and Brook were doing and joined in, grabbing Chopper on the way (who protested until she gestured to Zoro and Luffy – it had the desired effect).
"Jet bazooka!"
"Senhachiju pound ho!"
A blur of pink raced its' way towards the green headed swordsman who sent a slice of compressed air flying at his rubber captain in return.
The two clashed, creating a shockwave strong enough to rock both ships immensely. All the relatively sane crew members screamed in fright.
Nami decided to stop this before third gear was engaged, that would have devastating results on the mystery room (twitch) and her own sanity.
She walked in between the two who immediately withdrew their attacks. "Stop it before you actually do some damage! I'll charge you both fifty million beris!"
"Tch, damn witch." Zoro muttered, he wasn't going to get caught in her money trap, again, he sheathed kitetsu, ichimonji and shusui, remorsefully, he really had wanted to go all out with his captain.
Luffy frowned but still came out of second gear, skin returning to its normal kind of tan. He looked at Nami intently, she had just come back from talking to a girl in possession of a potentially lethal object, and she had lethal object in her own book bag.
"You got it off her?" Luffy asked seriously.
"Of course, I am a thief after all." Nami held his intense gaze and was a teensy bit relieved when he seemed to nod at whatever he found.
She re-entered the circle of chairs and pulled out the black book she had pulled out of Hermione's bag, immediately, Luffy, Zoro, Usopp and Brook wrinkled their noses at the sight of it. "So, what are we going to do with it?" Nami asked.
It was Brook that replied. "It is made of the same deplorable soul attached to Luffy-san's soul, I am quite close to being proficient enough with my devil fruit to destroy them."
"So we lock it up for the mean-time?" Usopp asked.
"Yeah, Merry will guard it." Luffy declared.
In the end, the book was sealed below deck in a chest lined with charms to keep the interior dry, just in case.
"So what's the plan for tonight?" Usopp asked, returning to his seat, shaking off his sweat as if nothing had occurred.
"We're gonna sneak into the infirmary and stay with Robin and Sanji!' Chopper cried in response, saluting the sniper.
"We shall have a feast in their honour." Brook said, smiling at the youngest member.
"So it's decided, we'll eat with Sanji and Robin. Usopp, Chopper, Brook, I'll come with you to get the food." Luffy smiled.
"Yohoho, of course Luffy-san, we shall see you in the wing." Brook replied, turning to the others.
"Yosh, let's go!"
Usopp led the way to the kitchens, chattering amicably with Chopper, they were discussing plants, mostly what could be used as a weapon but also a medicine.
Luffy and Brook walked in comfortable silence, both watching the curious paintings lining the walls, a few cried out "Merry Christmas!" as they passed.
"Hmm, what food should we bring back?" Chopper wondered aloud as they reached the portrait of a bowl of fruit, Usopp tickled the pear and the portrait swung inwards revealing hundreds of small house elves rushing around, cooking fiercely.
"Young masters, might I ask what you will be needing tonight?" One of the house elves paused in their work.
They had asked because they all had heard of the petrification of the cook of their little group. They liked him, his family's reputation was unprecedented as rumours were whispered of their evil towards every kind of person sans purebloods, of course. But the youngest had taken the initiative to free some of them and was kinder than any other owner they had had.
"A feast! We want to go to the hospital wing and celebrate there." Chopper replied, smiling brightly at the elf that asked him.
"Is there any way you guys could help us get it up there?" Luffy asked, he didn't want to cause them any kind of struggle but he knew that to carry all that food…
It would be damn near impossible.
"Of course young master!" The house elf bowed deeply, Luffy huffed at the title, he wasn't anyone's master…
The house elves raced around the kitchen frantically preparing a meal fit for a king, they were here to serve the children of this school, honestly they were happy to help, two of the young masters had already proved to be trustworthy if the rumours that Dobby of the Malfoy family had befriended Master Potter were to be believed.
"Did I ever tell you the tale of my bouncing charm?" Usopp suddenly asked, breaking the silence they had lapsed into.
"Bouncing charm?" Chopper immediately asked.
"Yeah, you see, my family didn't seem to notice that I had magic, when I healed birds they assumed they had been seeing things, when I breathed fire they passed it off-"
"You can breathe fire!?" Both Luffy and Chopper squealed in delight.
"No, no, no, it was all part of my accidental magic, although, it would be wicked to breathe fire." Usopp admitted, at the crestfallen faces he quickly continued. "Anyways, my family thought I might be a squib so my Great-Uncle Algie decided he was to test me, first he threw me off the end of a pier, unfortunately it didn't really work and it was only because I knew how to swim that I survived."
"Your Great-Uncle did that?!" Chopper cried in horror.
"Sure did."
"Yohoho, how terrifying, my heart would have beat out of my chest, if I had a heart!" Brook knelt onto hands and knees and began to cry when he remembered that yes, he did have a beating heart in his chest.
Meanwhile, Luffy turned pale as he thought of the training Jiji had forced him to go through, before he had eaten his devil fruit, Jiji's favourite training pastime was to throw him into the ocean and try and force him to swim, he shuddered at the thought.
"Anyway, the second time he hung me out of a window by the ankles, he wanted to see if I was able to force him away or something crazy like that. My Great-Aunt Enid came into the room to offer him a meringue and he dropped me!"
"Wahh Usopp!" Chopper cried out in terror.
"It's okay! I survived! When I was falling, I thought – wouldn't it be nice to be made of rubber right now? And guess what?"
"What? What?" Chopper and Luffy asked impatiently.
"I bounced right off the concrete path!" Usopp grinned excitedly as he completed his tale.
"Ehh? You're made of rubber?" Chopper asked and to Usopp's chagrin started to pull on his face.
"Ow! Ow, no I'm not, it's just that I imitated it for a few seconds." Usopp rubbed his bright red cheek.
"Yoho, you are quite lucky Usopp-san, if you hadn't performed that accidental magic you would have been as flat as a pancake." Brook said calmly, sipping tea from his flask.
"Don't say such scary things Brook!" Chopper and Usopp cried, hitting him over the head.
"Shishishi." Luffy's smile stretched his face abnormally at his nakama's antics.
At that moment, the house elf who had originally spoken to them cried. "It's ready, shall we leave now young masters?"
"Sure, is there meat?" Luffy replied, drooling at the thought of his favourite food.
"Naturally young master. Now, if you'll allow me…"
The house elf snapped their fingers and suddenly they were in the hospital wing, a large oak table laden with food at the foot of Robin and Sanji's bed.
Chopper, Usopp and Brook jolted from the apparition, all three looking like they wanted to hurl. Luffy fixed his hat firmly on his head and smiled sunnily from beneath it, "We're back."
The house elf went to click his fingers again. "Wait! What's your name?" Luffy asked them curiously.
"Hooky, young master. Will that be all?" At Luffy's nod Hooky snapped their fingers and vanished, presumably back to the kitchens.
"Now, shall we start the feast?" Brook questioned, already procuring a violin he seemed to have stashed on his person.
At five enthusiastic nods Brook began to softly play, it was not a sad song, but it was not vibrant so he would not disturb the other hospital comers.
"Cheers!" They all clinked tankards of butterbeer together, Zoro said he had stolen them off shitty cook.
The night was a festive one, they stayed up the entire night, soaking in each other's company, exchanging stories about their life before Hogwarts and in the holidays.
And whilst it was a sobering thought that two of their nakama had fallen, it was guaranteed that both would rise once more, so, until that time would come then they would find the bastard who had put them in such a state and make them pay for an eternity.
Among the throngs of students spilling out from the train were two men leaning up against one of the platforms pillars, back to back.
"Where is he?" The black-haired man tapped his hand against his leg impatiently.
His companion didn't reply, already plotting ways of infiltrating the school to see the boy in question.
"What if he didn't get our letter?" The first man asked.
"Ace, you need to stop worrying, he probably had some sense beaten into him by his crew. After all, it was you who insisted we weren't to sign the letter." The brown haired replied.
Ace stopped tapping his fingers and turned to stare at the other man. "But it would have been better as a surprise!" He protested, and besides, if we had signed it there still wasn't any proof he would've come.
Ace was hit in the head by a pipe, "Ow, what was that for Sabo?"
Sabo glared fiercely. "I can already tell what you're thinking so knock it off." He sighed again. "Besides, if it was intercepted people would know how to exploit the three of us."
Ace sighed and rubbed his head. "You have a point.
"Well, he's obviously not coming unless he missed the train, so, do you or Koala have any idea how to get into the school?"
Sabo smiled, finally, a plan he could agree with.
Ughh, so, it's already been a month and a half eh? *sweats nervously*, I am so sorry guys! Ive been drowning in assignments then it was so hard to get back into the rhythm of writing, unfortunately, in term 2 its probs gon be worse bc of exams.
So I apologies once more, I hope you like it. And yes, I know the likelihood of both of them getting petrified are very slim – it happened, so, um, deal with it.
This chap was kinda more crackish and I feel that even though two crewmates were petrified that the Straw Hats would carry on bc they will be healed.
Anyways, cya next chap.