Pray Chapter 4: Year Four, a Harry Potter + Bleach Crossover fanfic

Again, having way too much fun. WAY TOO MUCH…

And just because I got a few reviews about it, yes. I watch Hellsing Abridged. It is hilarious. I eagerly wait for Halloween so I can watch episode four.

On the subject of this story, we all know what is bound to happen now. I think it has been pretty obvious, but we shall see. I've been kind of wanting to get to this chapter really bad. I expect it to be a lot longer than the last one even.

Now let's quite wasting time with notes and get on with the story!

Remember, folks, I like making Nnoitra gay for Szayel. So yes, Nnoitra is gay. No heavy yaoi in this story. Maybe hints to some and a few little touch-of-yaoi scenes, but no heavy stuff.

Disclaimer: If you recognize it, then I do not own it. End of Story.

"Talking"

Thinking

Zanpakutou speaking

Also, a few parts in here are going to take place in Nnoitra's mind. I will let you know when those parts show up, so try not to get a little confused with this key and with those scenes. When those scenes come up, they're just "Talking".

Chapter Start

Santa Teresa is a highly paranoid zanpakutou. After all, with a master like Nnoitra, someone has to be wary of everything around. Even within the forest that is his inner world, she is observant of everything around. Trees may block certain areas from her vision, but she knows something is out there. It has been there since her master was a year old, ever since that fateful night his parents were murdered and he was hurt.

Whatever it is uses the trees to hide from her. This, in a sense, pleases her. After all, it means it fears her. Yet it does not stop her from hunting this being down. This is the mind of her master and lately, it has been acting up and disturbing her master's rest. She will not tolerate it.

In the distance, she heard voices. No doubt Nnoitra can hear them as well, considering this is his mind and whatever happens here sometimes gets through to him in his sleep. She knows what those voices are. The other being in this forest is sending her master a vision.

She slid behind a tree with pink-tinges leaves and looked around the trunk. There was the being she had been hunting ever since she first realized he was there. A door was open in front of him, showing a conversation between Wormtail and a second person with a cold voice.

"I found you," she taunted, revealing herself from her hiding spot.

The soul fragment of Voldemort jumped and whirled around to face her, scared stiff and paled face. "Uh, yeah, I was just leaving," he stammered.

She was suddenly in front of him. "I think not," she replied, grabbing his arm. "What are you doing to my master? Why do you disturb his rest? Do not know what happens when Master does not get his rest?"

"Well, uh… please don't hurt me?"

With a quirked eyebrow, she released his arm. "You will stay where I can see you and use you however I see fit," she told him before vines were wrapped around him suddenly. "I could always use a bit of…target practice."

The being in front of her paled as she smirked. "Eep."

Nnoitra groaned and rolled over, hand covering his eyes. "Fucking hell," he complained, flashes of his dream running through his mind. The scar on his forehead stung, but he ignored it. "Okay, that's fucked up."

He knows the last time it hurt, Voldemort was near him. Voldemort can't be in the house, much less in the neighborhood. Santa Teresa would say something and he would be out there, kicking Voldemort's ass.

Maybe you should ask someone about it.

Or I can go with plan B.

What's plan B?

Say 'fuck the world' and go back to sleep. Worry about letting someone know when it's actually morning.

And with that, he closed his eyes and was back to sleep in no time.

Inside his mind, Santa Teresa sighed and looked at her victim. "Kind of lazy, isn't he?" Voldemort asked.

"Just you wait until he finds out about you," she warned him, the scythes untucking from her arms. "Now get into that dress! It's almost time for tea!"

Because of the school nurse at Dudley's school insisting that the boy is too overweight (and nothing the Dursley couple said seemed to excuse it), Petunia put the entire family on a diet plan. When Nnoitra got his unsweetened grapefruit quarter, he tossed it over to Dudley and dug around in the fridge for some real food.

"What are you doing?" Petunia yelled at him.

"Eating shit that is good," Nnoitra replied without a care in the world, pulling out a few eggs. "And something you would not fucking stomach." He cracked open all three eggs and dumped their contents into a glass. Not even stirring the yolk and egg white together, he brought the glass to his lips and drank them. He smirked when he saw their green faces.

I wonder when they will realize they have no control over you?

They know it, they just want to keep fighting it.

That makes sense.

Vernon was summoned to the door when the bell rang. While he was gone and Petunia was occupied, Dudley stole Vernon's grapefruit.

Moments later, Vernon was back with a livid look on his face. "You. Living room. Now."

"Fucking make me," Nnoitra dared.

"Now!" Vernon nearly roared.

Nnoitra flipped him the finger and grinned. "Fuck off, asshole."

Vernon made to grab him, but Nnoitra evaded the hand and grabbed Vernon's arm. In a split second, his foot connected with the man's huge stomach, a very hard target to miss.

"Try that again," Nnoitra hissed out, teeth clenched as he squeezed Vernon's arm. Then he noticed the purple writing paper in Vernon's hand. "What's this shit?" he asked, snatching it.

"A letter," Vernon coughed out. "About you!"

Nnoitra scanned over it. Well, up side, he can get away from the Dursleys' early. Down side, he would be stuck with stalker's family. A hum escaped him. Getting away from his relatives seemed better than anything else. "Fine. I'm going. That's that." He released Vernon's arm and shoved the man away.

Was all that necessary?

Yes. They need to be reminded who is boss…constantly.

He made it to his room and his eyes landed on Teresa looking very annoyed by something. "What's got your feathers ruffled?" he joked before a feathered ball of energy hit his head. "Ow! Shit! What the hell was that?!"

Nnoitra couldn't help but laugh. All three Dursleys were stunned as voices came from the boarded up fireplace.

"Ouch! Fred, no – go back, go back, there's been some kind of mistake – tell George not to - OUCH! George, no, there's no room, go back quickly and tell Ron-"

"Maybe Harry can hear us, Dad – maybe he'll be able to let us out – "

"Does anyone else hear laughing?"

"Knowing his sense of humor, it's probably Harry."

"You guys are fucking awesome!" Nnoitra yelled, clutching his sides as he laughed. Even he wasn't expecting this.

"What is this?" Vernon growled. "What's going on?"

"Quit being a jackass and unblock the fireplace," Nnoitra said. "They came by Floo powder. They travel by fire, through the damn fireplaces."

"Harry? Harry, can you hear us?"

With a roll of his eyes and a snicker, Nnoitra went to the fireplace. "Yeah, I can fucking hear you," he replied. "Look, fireplace was blocked. Not easy to get through there."

"Damn!" Mr. Weasley swore, making Nnoitra's eyebrows rise. He hadn't heard him curse before. "What on earth did they want to block the fireplace for?"

"They got a damn electric fire," Nnoitra answered with a scoff.

"Really?" Mr. Weasley sounded pleased and excited. "Eclectic, you say? With a plug? Gracious, I must see that… Let's think… ouch, Ron!"

Nnoitra resorted to slapping his own forehead. Why is he here?

To make your life miserable.

"What are we doing here? Has something gone wrong?"

"Oh, no, Ron," Fred replied sarcastically. "No, this is exactly where we wanted to end up."

"Yeah, we're having the time of our lives here," George added on.

"Hey, at least you guys got the right fireplace," Nnoitra pointed out. "Getting the hell out is the trick."

"Boys, boys…I'm trying to think what to do… Yes…only way…Stand back, Harry."

Nnoitra wisely stepped to the side of the fireplace. Vernon, however, stupidly stepped forward. And barely got out of the way as the electric fire flew across the room.

"Fucking awesome."

"Did he eat it?" Fred asked him as soon as he came through the fire.

Nnoitra grinned. "Hell yeah, fatass can't keep his hands off anything sweet. What was that, anyway?"

"Ton-Tongue Toffee," Fred replied with a smile. "George and I invented them, and we've been looking for someone to test them on all summer…"

Charlie reminds him of someone who isn't afraid of anything. After all, the guy deals with dragons despite them being a hundred times his size, and still seemed so good-natured. Bill, though, took Nnoitra by surprise. He was expecting a older version of Percy, but he wasn't. He had long hair tied in a ponytail, a fang earring, and dressed like he was going to a rock concert.

"I may actually like you two," Nnoitra stated after shaking their hands. "Depends."

Then Mr. Weasley showed up and started to yell at Fred.

Nnoitra tuned out the conversation between Percy and his father mostly. He was mainly asking Charlie how it was handling dragons and Bill about working with goblins, as a Curse Breaker. Both sounded like fun. Then Nnoitra heard something familiar.

"Oh Bertha's hopeless, all right," Percy spoke. "I hear she's been shunted from department to department for years, much more trouble than she's worth… but all the same, Bagman ought to be trying to find her. Mr. Crouch has been taking a personal interest, she worked in our department at one time, you know, and I think Mr. Crouch was quite fond of her."

"Probably was fucking her," Nnoitra commented with a snicker, earning a couple chuckles from the oldest Weasley brothers.

"How dare you say such a thing!" Percy exclaimed. "Mr. Crouch is a very faithful man."

"To who? You?" Nnoitra continued on.

"We're waiting for the wedding announcement," Bill stated, chuckling.

"Any day now," the twins added on.

"Anyway," Percy interrupted before the taunting could go on. "We've got quite enough on our plates at the Department of International Magical Cooperation without trying to find members of other departments, too. As you know, we've got another big event to organize right after the World Cup." Percy cleared his throat and said loudly. "You know the one I'm talking about, Father. The top-secret one."

Nnoitra snorted in amusement. "Real fucking discreet."

You know…this may end up concerning you.

When doesn't it?

Nnoitra wasn't bothered by the walk or the climb up the hill. Everyone else was, though. "I cannot be the only one in damn shape around here," he commented in shock.

Wizards are lazy and depend on their magic to do everything for them.

No wonder.

"Whew!" Mr. Weasley panted. "Well, we're made good time – we've got ten minutes… Now we just need to find the Portkey. It won't be big… Come on…"

A couple minutes later, someone was shouting out to them. "Over here, Arthur! Over here, son, we've got it!"

"Amos!" Mr. Weasley greeted with a smile as their whole group went over. Both men shook hands. Nnoitra noticed the man's son. "Everyone, this is Amos Diggory. He works for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. And I think you know his son, Cedric?"

"Regulation and Control?" Nnoitra repeated with a scoff. "Seriously? Half the shit I see, you assholes can't control."

"Excuse me?" Amos spoke in shock.

"He's just always been like that," his son placated. "Don't let it get to you, dad."

Amos shook his head and looked at Arthur. "Long walk, Arthur?"

"Not too bad," Mr. Weasley replied. "We live just on the other side of the village there. You?"

"Had to get up at two, didn't we, Cedric? I tell you, I'll be glad when he got his Apparition test. Still…not complaining…Quidditch World Cup, wouldn't miss it for a sackful of Galleons – and the tickets cost about that. Mind you, looks like I got off easy…" Amos looked at them all. "All these yours, Arthur?"

"Do we look related to him?" Nnoitra shot out.

"Only the redheads," Arthur answered. "This is Hermione, friend of Ron's – and Harry, another friend-"

"Not."

"Merlin's beard! Harry? Harry Potter?"

"Uh, yeah. Don't fucking start!"

"Ced's talked about you, of course," Amos stated. "Told us all about playing against you last year… I said to him, I said – Ced, that'll be something to tell your grandchildren, that will… you beat Harry Potter!"

Nnoitra looked at the sheepish Cedric with a bland look. "Really?"

"He's like this," he pointed out. "Harry fell off his broom, Dad. I told you… it was an accident…"

"Yes, but you didn't fall, did you? Always modest, our Ced, always the gentleman…but the best man won. I'm sure Harry'd say the same, wouldn't you, eh? One falls off his broom, one stays on, you don't need to be a genius to tell which one's the better flier!"

"Oh, you fucking asshole! I'm going to kick you ass!"

"He doesn't mean anything by it, Harry!" Cedric quickly tried to placate as Amos backed up a bit in shock. "Dad, I told you not to say something like that! He's got a…er…short fuse!"

"Fuck the fuse, it's gone!" Nnoitra yelled. "Move it!"

Calm down. They are ignorant.

Just means I gotta beat some fucking sense into them!

"Seriously?" Nnoitra sighed heavily hand on his forehead. The Weasleys are a hopeless lot. "Can't even put up a damn tent… Fuck this, I'm wandering."

"Wait up, Harry! We'll come with!" Ron yelled out after him.

"Whatever, you get hurt, not my damn fault," Nnoitra explained quickly, walking away.

Ludo Bagman looked like someone Nnoitra wanted to punch…as hard as he possibly could. He could just feel the obnoxious vibes coming off the man in waves. Not to mention, he was more noticeable than the old man in the flowery nightgown saying something about enjoying the breeze around his privates.

That was disturbing.

But funny.

"Arthur, old man," he said with glee. "What a day, eh? What a day! Could we have asked for more perfect weather? A cloudless night coming… and hardly a hiccough in the arrangement… Not much for me to do!"

Percy, despite not liking Bagman, came forward with his hand held out, wanting to make a good first impression.

"Ass kisser," Nnoitra mocked.

"Ah – yes," Mr. Weasley started off. "This is my son Percy. He's just started at the Ministry – and this is Fred – no, George, sorry – that's Fred – Bill, Charlie, Ron – my daughter Ginny – and Ron's friends Hermione Granger and Harry Potter."

With annoyance on Nnoitra's behalf, Bagman did a double take and glanced at his forehead, looking for the scar. Nnoitra smirked and gave him the finger. The man started to sputter.

"Everyone, this is Ludo Bagman, you know who he is, it's thanks to him we've got such good tickets-"

Somehow, this ended up with accepting a gamble. The twins betted that Krum would get the Snitch, but Ireland would win. Nnoitra didn't really see the chances of that happening, but anything was possible.

"Wild!" Ron exclaimed while testing the Omnioculars. "I can make that old bloke down there pick his nose again… and again… and again…"

"You…are…bored," Nnoitra said bluntly and kicked his feet up on the railing of the Top Box, leaning back. He ignored most of what was happening around him until Fudge showed up and greeted him like an old friend. Nnoitra just rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Harry Potter, you know," Fudge tried to tell a obviously foreign man. "Harry Potter, oh come on now, you know who he is…the boy who survived You-Know-Who… you do know who he is-"

Nnoitra was more focused on who was next to the foreign man, whom seemed to suddenly realize who Nnoitra was. A boy of average height, sixteen years of age, with black hair and deep green eyes. His face, just like Nnoitra remembered, was blank.

"Hey, Emospada!" Nnoitra greeted with a grin.

"Harry," the boy greeted in return, approaching Nnoitra. "Do you mind if I sit next to you?"

"Hell man, have a seat," Nnoitra said with a wave of his hand.

"You understand English?" Fudge asked in disbelief.

"Yes," the green-eyed boy replied. "As does my father, but he finds your attempts at communication humorous. I, however, find them immature."

"Stick up the ass, as always," the former Quinta commented.

"Excuse me, but who are you?" Hermione politely asked the boy.

He looked at her with no expression then turned around. "Alexander Oblansk," he replied, mainly for Nnoitra.

Hey, Murcielago!

Hey, Santa Teresa!

Aizen fucking help me, go to Ulquiorra's head!

"And now, without further ado, allow me to introduce…the Bulgarian National Team Mascots!"

"Word of the wise, Harry," Ulquiorra started. "Cover your ears and close your eyes."

"Fuck that shit, you know I don't care," Nnoitra pointed out as a hundred beautiful women glided out onto the field.

"They are Veela," the former Cuatro pointed out.

"Who affect straight men," the other shot back as the women started to dance and music flooded the stadium.

"Ah, yes, I forgot about him."

"You? Damn…"

"It happens."

"Still pining after Pet-sama?"

"Harry, please shut your mouth."

Nnoitra cackled.

"Ouch, that's gotta fucking hurt!" Nnoitra said as Lynch flew straight into the ground.

"Wronski Defensive Feint," Ulquiorra supplied. "Something I would expect you to do."

"Did it a few dozen times with a Nimbus Two Thousand, and some more with a Firebolt."

Ulquiorra hummed gently. "I can believe that. Oh, he is back in the air."

"So you know Krum or what?"

"We go to school together," he replied with a shrug. "His only talent is flying. He is basically trash."

"Now, Alexander, none of that talk," Ulquiorra's father gently scolded in heavy accented English.

"It is the truth, Father."

"Damn, you're still such a hard-ass."

"Please do be quiet, Harry."

"Krum got the Snitch," Nnoitra said blandly.

"He is a good player," Ulquiorra nodded in agreement.

"Vell, ve fought bravely," the Bulgarian Minister stated with a gloomy tone.

"It does not matter, Father. The better team won. Viktor has obviously noticed that our team would not catch up before he got the Snitch. He ended it on his own terms. He tends to do that. It gets quite annoying."

"Smacked him a few times, Alex?" Nnoitra asked with a grin.

"Many," Ulquiorra admitted. "It tends to make me feel a little bit better."

"Why do you think I do it all the damn time?" They were silent for a moment as the Irish team was reintroduced down below. "Wanna come to our tent and catch up?"

Ulquiorra looked at his father, who nodded once. "Very well."

Ulquiorra did not stay around long. Soon enough, his father called him out of the tent and they went home. Santa Teresa was very sad to see Murcielago go.

Nnoitra tuned out most of what happened between then and when he fell asleep, singing and celebrating echoing into the tent from the outside. He woke to Santa Teresa screaming at him.

Danger, Master! Danger! Get your ass up and out of here! Danger!

I'm up, I'm up. What are you freaking out about?

"Get up!" Mr. Weasley shouted, waiting everyone in the tent. "Ron! Harry! Come on now, get up, this is urgent!"

"I'm fucking up," Nnoitra groaned, then suddenly aware of the sounds outside. Screaming and rapid footsteps, like running. Panic. "What the fuck is their problem?"

"No time, Harry – just grab a jacket and get outside – quickly!"

Get moving!

Nnoitra was outside in seconds, looking around in confusion. People were running into the woods, away from a group of cloaked figures. Above them, four struggling figures. Two were small. It took him a moment to realize that the figures were Muggles

"Fucking sick," Nnoitra commented

"We're going to help the Ministry!" Mr. Weasley shouted over the loud screams as the three eldest Weasley boys ran into the fray. "You lot – get into the woods and stick together. I'll come and fetch you when we've sorted this out!"

Stay and fight, or run away…

Don't even think about it, Master! They have years of experience with magic against you!

…Tempting…

Master, just get away!

Fine! Geez. Overgrown mother hen!

"MORSMORDRE!"

Nnoitra looked up to the green light, a skull with a snake coming out of its mouth. "Really original," he mocked, ignoring the screams. "Seriously?! It's not fucking hurting anyone!"

"It's the Dark Mark, Harry!" Hermione exclaimed. "You-Know-Who's sign!"

"What the hell is wrong with saying Voldemort?" Nnoitra asked as he yanked himself out of her grip.

Down, Master!

"Duck!" Hermione screamed before flashes of red lights flew over their heads.

"Stop!" someone yelled. "STOP! That's my son!" The red lights stopped.

It's okay to get up now.

Gee, thanks for that bit of obvious information!

"Ron – Harry – Hermione – are you all right?"

"Fuck no, we're not all right!" Nnoitra shouted. "What the fuck were you assholes attacking us for? We didn't do shit!"

"Out of the way, Arthur," a very cold and curt voice ordered. Mr. Crouch came forward with rage on his face. "Which of you did it? Which of you conjured the Dark Mark?"

"You mean that unoriginal piece of shit in the sky?" Nnoitra scoffed. "Not us."

"Do not lie, sir!" Crouch shouted, eyes popping and looking slightly mad. "You have been discovered at the scene of the crime!"

"Man, if you go on that information, there must be a lot of innocent people in your damn jail," the former Espada scoffed, crossing his arms.

"Barty," a witch in a woolen dressing gown whispered. "They're kids, Barty. They'd never been able to-"

Hey, look at that! A government official that is not corrupt in any shape or form!

Such a rare find, indeed! We must document this moment!

…You are such a smartass.

You started it!

"Where did the Dark Mark come from, you three?" Arthur asked them quickly.

"Over there," Hermione shakily answered, pointing the direction the voice came from. "There was someone behind the trees… they shouted words – an incantation."

"Stood over there, did they?" Crouch turned his mad eyes to the young witch now. "Said an incantation, did they? You seem very well informed about how that Mark is summoned, missy-"

"And you seem like a mad piece of shit about to have a nervous breakdown, now fuck off."

"We're too late," the witch sighed. "They'll have Disapparated."

"I don't think so," Amos Diggory replied. "Our Stunners went right through those trees… There's a good chance we got them…"

"Amos, be careful!"

He disappeared into the darkness. Second later, he yelled out. "Yes! We got them! There's someone here! Unconscious! It's – but – blimey!"

"You've got someone?" Crouch yelled is disbelief. "Who? Who is it?"

Mr. Diggory came back through the trees, carrying a tiny and limp figure. Winky, Barty Crouch's house-elf.

Drama…

Someone's in trouble...

"That's my fucking wand," Nnoitra said with a glare when they showed the wand while interrogating the house-elf. "Dropped it somewhere."

"You dropped it?" Mr. Diggory asked in disbelief. "Is this a confession? You threw it aside after you conjured the Mark?"

"Amos, think who you're talking to!" Mr. Weasley defended before Nnoitra could say anything. "Is Harry Potter likely to conjure the Dark Mark?"

"Hell to the fucking no!" Nnoitra shouted.

Behold, another government asshole that is an idiot.

You're getting kind of harsh…Cool.

"You've been caught red-handed, elf!" Diggory roared. "Caught with the guilty wand in your hand!"

"Amos," Mr. Weasley loudly attempted to calm. "Think about it. Precious few wizards know how to do the spell. Where would she have learned it?"

"Perhaps Amos is suggesting," Crouch spoke with cold anger. "That I routinely teach my servants to conjure the Dark Mark?"

"Mr. Crouch… not… not at all…"

"You have now come very close to accusing the two in this clearing who are the least likely to conjure that Mark! Harry Potter and myself! I suppose you are familiar with the boy's story?"

"Hey, asshole," Nnoitra broke in. "Stop calling me a damn boy. I'm fourteen. I'm a fucking teenager. And you accused me first, so you don't get to say shit!"

"Harry, please stay out of this," Mr. Weasley

"Death Eaters?" Nnoitra repeated in confusion. "What the hell are Death Eaters? And can they come up with a better name?"

"They're You-Know-Who's supporters and followers," Bill explained. "I think we saw what's left of them tonight – the ones who managed to keep themselves out of Azkaban, anyway."

"We can't prove it was them, Bill. Though it probably was."

"So I should have stayed behind and kicked their asses?"

"No!" everyone shouted at once.

"Damn."

Even hearing just a little bit about Rita Skeeter, Nnoitra got the urge to hunt her down and skin her. She sounded like a downright bitch.

If you ever meet her, go ahead and punch her.

Planning on it!

The confrontation between Ron and his mother, Nnoitra had to admit, was quite humorous. He even found some popcorn.

"I'm never wearing them!" Ron said with finality, throwing his way-out-of-date dress robes onto the bed. "Never!"

"Fine," Mrs. Weasley snapped at him. "Go naked. And, Harry, make sure you get a picture of him. Goodness knows I could do with a laugh."

"I'll get the picture and then erase my own memory of the event," Nnoitra replied with a smirk as Mrs. Weasley left the room. A spluttering noise came from behind them, Pigwidgeon choking on a oversized owl treat.

"Why is everything I own rubbish?" Ron asked in fury.

"Because your life sucks and God hates you."

"Harry!" someone yelled out as the Weasleys said their good-byes. Arms were suddenly around him and the form holding him was shaking. "I read in the Prophet about the World Cup! What happened?

"Colin, hands off," Nnoitra said plainly.

Tesla let him go. "Sorry."

"Colin? Where are you?"

"Over here, Dennis!"

A eleven-year-old boy made his way through the crowd and finally reached Tesla. "You disappeared! I got scared!"

Nnoitra raised an eyebrow and looked down at Tesla. "My little brother is a wizard, too," he explained. "He's starting school this year. And Dennis, this is Harry. Remember what I told you about him?"

"Don't bother him?"

"Exactly."

"So from what I've managed to catch in those conversations, some kind of shit is happening this year," Nnoitra sighed heavily after listening in on the Weasleys' conversations. "Chances of me getting involved?"

"Very high, considering," Tesla replied with a smile and a shake of his head. "Who knows? Maybe you'll have an easy year."

I doubt it.

So do I.

"Why is he so happy that he fell into the lake?" Nnoitra asked before the Sorting started.

"I told him about the school and he thought it would be cool to see if the giant squid is real."

"So he's insane?"

"Basically. You can't choose your family, after all."

"Tch. Fuck that."

"There are house-elves here?" Hermione asked the ghost in shock. "Here at Hogwarts?"

"Why does she seem so shocked?" Tesla asked, leaning over to Nnoitra.

"Watch."

"Of course," Nearly-Headless Nick answered, surprised Hermione didn't know. "The largest number in any dwelling in Britain, I believe. Over a hundred."

"Damn," Tesla and Nnoitra said in unison. Dennis looked at his brother with wide eyes.

"I've never seen one!" the girl stated.

"Well they hardly ever leave the kitchen by day, do they? They come out at night to do a bit of cleaning, see to the fires and so on. I mean, you're not supposed to see them, are you? That's the mark of a good house-elf, isn't it, that you don't know it's there?"

"But they get paid? They get holidays, don't they? And – and sick leave, and pensions, and everything?"

"Sick leave and pensions? House-elves don't want sick leave and pensions."

Hermione refused to eat another bite. Ron was about to say something, but Nnoitra spoke first.

"You wanna be a stubborn bitch and starve yourself, fine. Let me tell you something, the damn elves don't give a fuck."

"If anything, you're insulting them," Tesla pointed out.

"Slave labor," Hermione commented. "That's what made this dinner. Slave labor!"

"Ignore the bitch," Nnoitra snorted with a shake of his head.

"It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year!" Many complaints came from almost all students at this announcement. "This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy – but I'm sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts-"

The Great Hall doors banged opened, making many students jump. With a clunk every step, the newcomer limped over to the Headmaster. A flash of lightning highlighted his features. Heavy scars all over him, every bit of skin that was visible. A chunk of his nose appeared to be gone as well. One of his eyes was perfectly normal, but the other was large, an electric blue, and swiveled endlessly in the socket, never stopping.

When the man was seated and eating, Dumbledore introduced him. "May I introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher? Professor Moody."

"Mad-Eye Moody?" Ron muttered.

Nnoitra didn't really give a shit, so ignored him.

"As I was saying," Dumbledore went on. "We are to have the honor of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event that has not been held for over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."

"You're joking!" the Weasley twins yelled out, earning laughed from nearly everyone in the Hall.

"I am not joking, Mr. Weasley. "Though now that you mention it, I did hear an excellent one over the summer about a troll, a hag, and a leprechaun who all go into a bar…" McGonagall cleared her throat and looked at Dumbledore sternly. "Er – maybe this is not the time…no…Where was I? Ah yes, the Triwizard Tournament."

As Dumbledore explained it, Nnoitra grinned. "Sounds like fun."

"With that age restriction, though, I don't think you'll be able to get in."

"Hey, at least there's a chance of no bullshit happening to me this year."

Famous last words.

Shut up.

Herbology with bubotuber pus then Care of Magical Creatures with Blast-Ended Skrewts, Nnoitra was glad for dropping Divination. He hated that class. Then lunch and a short break. Of course, Malfoy, as always, had to rile someone up.

Knowing that if he upset Nnoitra or Tesla he would end up getting punched, Malfoy targeted Ron and started to insult his mother.

"So fucking weak," Nnoitra sighed uncaringly. "Mother insults? Asshole needs to come up with better material." He scoffed and muttered. "Watch this." Then he looked over at Malfoy. "Hey! Daddy's bitch! You know your mom? How much did your dad have to pay her to be his whore and birth your sorry ass?"

Malfoy gapped at him. "How dare you insult my mother, Potter!" he yelled.

"Yeah, well, fuck you," he shot back with a grin. "So, how much was she? I may just buy her. She looked like she needs a real man. Doesn't look like she enjoys you two very much. Kind of had that ugly look on her face, like she was smelling shit. Hey, maybe she was just smelling you!"

Malfoy pulled out his wand and then a bang rang out over the area. Something white-hot grazed his face and he grinned. Before he could get to his feet and give Malfoy a beating, a second bang echoed and a roar followed. "Oh no you don't, laddie!"

It was quite comical to see Malfoy turned into a white ferret then tossed around in the air. It was also quite humorous to see McGonagall scolding Moody like he was a ten-year-old.

"I think I'm gonna like this fucker," Nnoitra commented with a grin.

For their first lesson with Moody, three curses that are 'heavily punished by wizarding law'. He asked around if the students knew any first. Ron knew about the Imperius Curse. Nnoitra didn't like that one as he watched the spider do Moody's bidding. Most of the class laughed, but Nnoitra hated such a curse.

No control over yourself. All freedom stripped.

Good thing Aizen didn't have that.

Yeah, but still had something similar.

"Think it's funny, do you?" Moody growled. "You'd like it, would you, if I did it to you?" The laughter died.

"Fucking try it!" Nnoitra dared.

"Not now, Mr. Potter. Now, the Imperius Curse, total control. I could make this spider jump out of the window, drown itself, throw itself down one of your throats."

Ugh, the image.

Don't put that in my head!

Neville was picked for the next one, the Cruciatus Curse. Constant pain. Hermione screamed at him to stop it. Neville was pale, his hands clenched, and his eyes wide.

"Damn, that looks like fun," Nnoitra stated with a smirk. "How much pain?"

"I do hope that is sarcasm, Mr. Potter," Moody replied.

"Hell no, I'm a masochist."

This earned him some incredulous looks from everyone else.

"What?!" It wasn't that strange in Hueco Mundo for a few Arrancars.

Hermione was chosen for the last one. Instead of saying the curse name, she said the incantation.

"Yes," Moody said. "The last and worst. Avada Kedavra…the Killing Curse." The third spider was used to be the example, shot by a green light and then was dead. "Not nice. Not pleasant. And there's no countercurse. There's no blocking it. Only one known person has ever survived it, and he's sitting right in front of me."

He looked down at Nnoitra. It probably unnerved Moody that Nnoitra just looked right back like he didn't care.

"Just tells you how badass I am," he chuckled.

"What the fucking hell is spew?" Nnoitra asked, though felt like he would regret it.

Then Hermione and Ron got into an argument over whether elves like enslavement or not.

Tesla flicked a badge to the side. "Sounds kind of stupid," he stated.

"Excuse me!" Hermione huffed.

"It is dumb," Nnoitra agreed, tossing his badge away. "If they haven't done anything by now to get their own damn rights, then enslavement isn't fucking bothering them. If it ain't hurting, don't fuck with it."

An argument was about to be blown out of proportion when a tapping was heard on the window.

"Teresa's back," Tesla noted.

Nnoitra let her in and took her letter. She rested on his shoulder and groomed his hair as he scanned over the letter. "Oh, that fucker! That damn idiot!"

"What is it?" Tesla asked, looking over Nnoitra's arm to read the letter as well. "Oh, your godfather is coming back." He looked up at Nnoitra. "At least no one besides us and Professor Lupin and Dumbledore knows he's an Animagus."

"One fucking bright spot."

The next class of Defense, Moody was using the Imperius Curse on them. Dean Thomas hopped around the room three times and sang the National Anthem.

Good hopping.

Tone deaf.

Lavender Brown imitated a squirrel.

Not the right cheeks for it.

Neville did some gymnastics that he would not have been able to do if he was of his normal mind.

He has chances for flexibility.

Not enough confidence and too much weight.

But you can move like that easy.

So can Szayel.

Now is not the time for sex thoughts.

It's always time for sex thoughts!

"Potter, you next."

This will either end very good or very bad.

If I fall under this curse, don't do something stupid.

"Imperio!"

Nnoitra just stood there, mentally in la-la land while Santa Teresa shook her head. A voice echoed through his mind ('Jump on the desk') and she took over momentarily.

In control over her master's body, she turned around and put hands on hips. "You go jump on the damn desk, you old ant-dick asshole!" That sounds like something Nnoitra would say.

Alright, you got a point for that one.

Santa Teresa, ten. Master Nnoitra, six.

Oh, shut up!

The day the other schools were to arrive finally came around, and many teachers were harsh as to the appearance of the students. McGonagall especially. "Weasley, straighten your hat. Miss Patil, take that ridiculous thing out of your hair."

They were eventually all outside waiting for the foreigners. Nnoitra just sat on the ground, Tesla behind him playing with his hair. McGonagall tried to get them up, but gave up herself when neither listened to her.

After a while, Dumbledore spoke. "Aha! Unless I am very much mistaken, the delegation from Beauxbatons approaches!"

"Where?" many students called out.

"There!" a sixth year yelled, pointing to the sky.

"It's a dragon!" a first-year shrieked.

"Are you a fucking idiot?" Nnoitra yelled to her.

"It's a flying house!" Dennis exclaimed.

Whatever it was came closer and closer until they were finally able to see what it was. A large, powder blue carriage drawn by a dozen winged horses that were the size of elephants, each.

"He's got a point," Nnoitra offhandedly said as the carriage landed with a crash.

"You're doing the point system again?" Tesla asked as he got to his feet.

"Yeah, I get bored," Nnoitra stated as he got up as well.

Once the carriage had landed, a boy in pale blue robes jumped down from the carriage and pulled down golden steps before opening the door. A large woman stepped out, olive-skinned face looking around at the wide-eyed mass of Hogwarts students. Her large black eyes matched her black satin robes, opals around her throat and on her fingers.

"My dear Madam Maxime," Dumbledore greeted, taking her hand and gently kissing her knuckles.

"Dumbly-dorr," she greeted in return. "I 'ope I find you well?"

"In excellent form, thank you."

"My pupils," she said, waving a hand to the dozen boys and girls in their late teens gathered behind her. All of them were shivering in their fine silk robes, except for one who seemed to have done a bit of research about the climate, since that one was wearing a thick coat with fur lining, hood up to hide the face.

I sense someone.

Who?

One second. Hey, Verruga! You sense it, too?

Yeah. I was letting Tesla know.

Okay, both of you, out of my head!

He can't stand having more than one zanpakutou in his head.

Too bad! I'm hanging out!

"I will strangle Verruga," he muttered low enough so only Tesla heard him. Tesla just chuckled.

"The lake!" Lee Jordan cried out. "Look at the lake!"

A whirlpool seemed to form on the lake surface, but instead of sucking anything in, it was pushing something out. Slowly, a large ship emerged from the whirlpool that disappeared as soon as it was done. When the ship was anchored, a plank was lowered to the bank and people started to disembark. At first glance, they were large. When they got closer, they saw that the students were wearing thick coats.

Ron seemed excited about one student in particular. Nnoitra was scanning for Ulquiorra. He probably didn't come along, being sixteen. Then he spotted him by the Durmstrang Headmaster, next to Viktor Krum.

Murcielago!

Santa Teresa! Verruga! Long time no see, guys!

Murcielago, sexy as always.

Why, Verruga. Handsome and flirtatious. As always.

Damn it all to Aizen, get out of my fucking head!

Everyone was gathered in the Great Hall now, the foreigners scattered amongst the tables. Most of the Beauxbatons sat at the Ravenclaw table while a majority of Durmstrang students seemed unsure as to where they should sit.

Ron tried to call Krum over to sit with them. He didn't. Nnoitra rolled his eyes at Ron's disappointment. Tesla, as always, sat at Nnoitra's left while Ulquiorra sat to his right. The three were silent, not really needing to talk. Then Nnoitra felt a presence behind him and smirked. He knows this presence. Hermione, though, spoke first.

"Can we help you with something?" she asked the person behind him.

Judging from that look on her face, cold and calculating eyes landed on her. "No, you cannot," he answered smoothly, a fake smile on his lips. Only Nnoitra could ever get a real smile that wasn't mad from this one. "He can, though." He felt those eyes go back to him.

Tesla actually looked and his eyes went a little wide. Ulquiorra moved over a little bit, giving the other person enough space to sit.

"Empty seat right there," Nnoitra offered.

"I will take that seat as soon as you look at me," the smooth voice ran through him.

Nnoitra grinned and turned around. It surprised him that the other person's hair is still pink and his eyes that same golden hue. White half-frame glasses hung over his eyes. The thick, navy blue with white fur trim coat he wore covered his frame.

"Better?" he asked with a grin.

"Much," Szayel replied, taking the seat Ulquiorra vacated.

"Damn well better be." He turned back around before Szayel managed to get Nnoitra's arm over him and snuggled into the taller teen's side. Ron and Hermione seemed shock, looking like they were ready for Nnoitra to smack Szayel away. Yet Nnoitra made no move.

"So, darling, what have you been up to over the years?" the pink-haired teen asked.

"Parents got killed, live with assholes, fought Voldemort two years in a row, killed a damn basilisk two years ago, found out I have a godfather who is an escaped murderer and best friend of my parents last year, and now I'm waiting for some kind of shit to happen."

Szayel hummed lightly then looked at Tesla. "He's had fun, then?"

"Constantly."

"Who the bloody hell are you?" Ron rudely asked.

"Ah, excuse my manners," Szayel brushed off like a master. "I am Gabriel Ranimer. I am pleased to meet you."

"Right, so, dipshit is Ron, bitch is Hermione, guy next to you is Alex, and this one is Colin."

"Harry," Hermione sighed heavily.

"What?!"

"Oh, just ignore him," Szayel told her. "You get used to his crude manner and more attracted to his…bedside manner."

Nnoitra grinned and put his head on top of Szayel's. "Messing with peoples head is so much fucking fun, ain't it?"

"You know me too well."

It was just then when the staff filled up the top table followed by all three Headmasters. As Madam Maxime entered, all Beauxbatons students rose to their feet. Some Hogwarts students laughed, but the French students were not embarrassed by this. As soon as she sat, so did her students.

"What's that shit about?" Nnoitra asked as soon as Szayel sat back down, this time on Nnoitra's lap.

"We must show respect to our Headmistress," Szayel explained with a wave of his hand. "Deserving or not."

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, ghost and – most particularly – guests," Dumbledore started. "I have great pleasure in welcoming you all to Hogwarts. I hope and trust that your stay here will be both comfortable and enjoyable."

A Beauxbatons girl clutching a muffler around her head laughed derisively. Szayel looked over and shot her a look, shutting her up immediately.

"The tournament will be officially opened at the end of the feast. I now invite you all to eat, drink, and make yourselves at home!"

The dishes in front of everyone were suddenly full of all kinds of food, domestic and foreign. With a small smile, Szayel took some bouillabaisse. "The only downside is that all their little legs and heads are gone," he complained when he pulled out some bits of shrimp. "Eat some, Harry. 'Tis good."

Nnoitra smirked and took the bit of shrimp that Szayel was holding up, still dripping the juices of the soup, with his teeth. He threw his head back and dropped the shrimp from between his teeth into his mouth. "Alright, it's good," he admitted.

Szayel then leaned over to Ulquiorra. "So tell me a bit about yourself, Alex," he said, prying for some knowledge. He may know Ulquiorra, but he did not know Alex, and this was a perfect chance to know each other so that it would not be as strange for them to group together.

"My father is the Bulgarian Minister and I am in my second to last year at Durmstrang," Ulquiorra replied. "Karkaroff would have left me behind at school, yet father told him to bring me along. He thought it would be good for me to go and meet new people and be exposed to different cultures."

"Fascinating," the former Octava commented.

"How about you, Gabriel?" Tesla asked this time, understanding what Szayel was doing. Both Nnoitra and Szayel already made it known that they know each other, but if Nnoitra started asking about Szayel's home and family, it would seem strange.

"French Nobility, more from the Muggle side than anything else. See, my mother is a witch and my father is a minor Muggle Lord, but he still has his fair share of power and influence. Mother taught me plenty about the Wizarding World, and had to explain to Father as to why my hair and eyes were constantly changing colors depending on my mood. I excel at potions and transfiguration. Amazing subject, by the way. I'm working on an Animagus transformation, but being a metamorphmagus, it probably dims my chances of having an animal form."

"Meta-what?" Nnoitra asked in confusion, looking down at the older but shorter teen in his lap.

"A metamorphmagus is a witch or wizard who can change their appearance at will," Hermione answered as the other teen was about to. "Their hair, their eyes, even their mouth and nose."

Szayel did not seem pleased about being cut off like that. "You're quite intelligent, aren't you?"

Hermione blushed, thinking of it as praise. Ron spoke. "She's the brightest witch at school." Her blush deepened.

"Oh, I wasn't complimenting," he stated. "Sometimes, 'tis smarter to not be such a little know-it-all. Showing your intelligence like that tends to make others find you insufferable or make them fear you. Take my word for it." Hermione now looked confused and insulted.

"So that chick over there knows that?" Nnoitra asked, nudging his head towards the girl that laughed during Dumbledore's talk. She was already on her feet and seemed to be coming to the Gryffindor table.

"Fleur had to be taught the hard way."

Ulquiorra sighed and put down his fork. "What did you do?" he asked, rubbing his forehead.

"Nothing!" Szayel exclaimed with mock innocence. Nnoitra snorted. A true actor to the end. "Just tested out a potion I invented on her. It didn't leave any lasting effects, but it did make the other students leave me alone."

The girl seemed a little hesitant with Szayel right there, but she approached anyway. "Excuse me, are you wanting ze bouillabaisse?" she asked softly, her voice light.

"Fleur, we are supposed to be polite guests," Szayel scolded her, grabbing her arm. "Not laugh at the Headmaster of the hosting school. Learn to control yourself." He pushed her arm away and turned his attention elsewhere. "Take the bouillabaisse if you want it so badly. And for crying out loud, control that allure of yours!"

A little ashamed, she picked up the dish and carefully took it to the Ravenclaw table.

"Wasn't that a bit harsh?" Hermione scowled.

"Not at all," he replied with another fake smile. "Her grandmother was a Veela. Sometimes, they need to be taught their place. They are not better than anyone else around them, despite what they think."

Everyone was silent as Dumbledore went on about the tournament, introducing both Bagman and Crouch. Then Filch brought in a casket. Dumbledore went on explaining the tasks that the champions would have to do, but never saying what those tasks are. Then the lid to the casket was opened and an large wooden cup with blue-white flames dancing to its brim.

Nnoitra had to hold onto Szayel so he wouldn't rush up there to examine it with a scientist's eye.

The headmaster then went on about the Goblet of Fire and that he would put an Age Line around it to ensure no one under seventeen would put their names in.

"Wanna spend the night at our dorm?" Nnoitra offered as Karkaroff gathered his students (Ulquiorra included) and herded them back to the ship.

"Why not?" Szayel replied with a sly grin. "We still have much to catch up on, dear."

Nnoitra grinned as a shiver ran up his spine.

The next morning, many students had already put their names in. Madam Maxime marched her students in and had each of them put their names into the goblet. As soon as Szayel threw his name in, he went straight over to Nnoitra, who was watching to see if anyone else would attempt an Aging Potion.

"Did I miss anything?" he asked, sitting next to the taller teen.

"A pair of identical twins attempted to put their names in after ingesting Aging Potions," Ulquiorra, who was seating a few feet to Nnoitra's left, stated. "The Age Line rejected them and they grew beards."

"Happened to everyone who tried that method," Tesla pointed out, reading over a book.

Hermione suddenly showed up with her box of badges. "Well, let's go visit Hagrid!" she chirped. "I need to ask him if he would like to join SPEW."

"SPEW?" Szayel and Ulquiorra repeated in confusion.

"Don't," Nnoitra groaned as Hermione launched into her speech about how house-elves were treated unfairly and were basically slaves.

"Well of course," Ulquiorra stated once Hermione was done. "Yet we had not heard a complaint from one and they all seem to enjoy their work, from my own experience. Why alter something that has been the way it is for years? I see no reason."

"They're slaves!" Hermione stomped her foot. "They don't get holidays! They don't get paid! They don't get sick leave!"

"They don't care," Szayel shot back. "You know, I thought you would be someone I could have an intelligent conversation with, but you're just too…simple-minded."

She looked insulted once again. Szayel had that effect on people. "Dobby was freed and he went over the moon in happiness!"

"Dobby was a fucking weirdo who thought hurting me was protecting me. Remember the damn Bludger? Yeah, that was that asshole Dobby's work."

"Who's Dobby?" Szayel asked.

"Damn house-elf I freed from the Malfoys for helping me out…without me fucking needing that kind of helping out, but he was informative."

Everyone was in the Great Hall, watching the Goblet of Fire. Szayel once again took claim to Nnoitra's lap, much to the amazement of his fellow students and his own Headmistress. To the stunned confusion of the Hogwarts students, Nnoitra didn't shove him off, only wrapped his arms around the smaller teen and held him in place.

"Well, the goblet is almost ready to make its decision," Dumbledore announced. Szayel started muttering under his breath about how an inanimate object could think or decide anything, then listed multiple theories as Dumbledore went on. "I estimate that it requires one more minute. Now, when the champions' names are called, I would ask them to please come up to the top of the Hall, walk along the staff table, and go through into the next chamber where they will be receiving their first instructions."

Master, I have a bad feeling about all this.

Why?

Knowing how the past few years have been, do you really need to ask?

…Yes…Yes I do…

Fornicaras, do you see what I deal with every day?

Oh, darling, you should spend a day in Master Szayel's mind if you want to complain.

"Why the hell do they always go to my head?" he muttered, earning a chuckle from Szayel. "Seriously? My damn head?"

"Be careful about saying things like that out loud, Harry," Ulquiorra commented from his spot next to Nnoitra. "Others may think you are going insane because of you hearing voices."

"Shut up, Emocar. Besides, for the record, last time I heard voices no one else heard, it was a fucking basilisk. So ha!"

"Now, now, children, play nice," Szayel chuckled, patting Nnoitra's hand. Tesla shook his head and just watched the goblet.

The flames suddenly turned red and shot out a tongue of fire, a charred piece of parchment fluttering out of it. Dumbledore caught the paper and announced loudly, "The champion for Durmstrang, Viktor Krum!"

Applause and cheers rang out over the Hall. "Bravo, Viktor!" Karkaroff yelled boisterously as Krum vanished through the door Dumbledore indicated earlier. "Knew you had it in you!"

"No need to guess as to who is Karkaroff's favorite pupil," Ulquiorra sighed, reading over a book.

Nnoitra snorted as the clapping and cheering died away and silence reigned once more. Another tongue of flame shot out, releasing another charred piece of parchment. Dumbledore, just like last time, easily caught it. "The champion for Beauxbatons is Fleur Delacour!"

She stepped forward with a swish of her silver-blonde hair. "It's tiresome as to how dramatic some of my schoolmates are," Szayel sighed heavily, hand over his eyes so he would not have to see the others cry because none of them were chosen.

"That's the pot calling the damn kettle black."

Bad feeling getting stronger.

Your bad feelings always get stronger.

Not the point!

"The Hogwarts champion is Cedric Diggory!" Dumbledore happily exclaimed after catching the third parchment piece.

The Hufflepuff table exploded with cheers as Cedric managed to make his way through them, grin bright on his face. He, too, eventually disappeared into the room.

"Excellent!" Dumbledore happily called as the Great Hall eventually fell silent. "Well, we now have our three champions. I am sure I can count upon all of you, including the remaining students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, to give your champions every ounce of support you can muster. By cheering your champion on, you will contribute a great deal-"

He stopped and everyone saw why. The Goblet of Fire turned red again and shot out another tongue of flame. Dumbledore, as though an automatic reaction, grabbed the paper fluttering downwards after being so viciously thrown out.

He stared at the paper, which only made his own students anxious. Then he cleared his throat and announced quietly, with shock, "Harry Potter."

Every head turned to look at him. Szayel leaned away a bit and gave him a look that told him everything. He didn't believe it at all. "Fucking bullshit!" Nnoitra protested loudly. "I didn't put my damn name in that fucking cup!"

"Don't protest," Szayel placated. "Go into the room and see what they will do. I'll even come in and vouch for you."

"Fine," Nnoitra sighed heavily as Dumbledore called him again.

Told you so.

Do me a favor and just shut up for the rest of the fucking night. I feel like I'm going to end up with a headache.

"What is it?" Fleur asked. "Do zey want us back in ze Hall?"

"Do I look like the fucking messenger?" Nnoitra growled at her, hands in his pockets as he made his way over to a wall and leaned against it. There was a tense silence for a moment before an excited Bagman came into the room.

"Extraordinary!" Bagman exclaimed happily. "Absolutely extraordinary! Gentlemen…lady. May I introduce – incredible though it may seem – the fourth Triwizard champion?"

"Don't fucking touch me," Nnoitra snarled at him when the man reached for his arm. Bagman wisely backed off.

Viktor straightened up and his face darkened, eyes scanning over Nnoitra. Cedric looked uneasy about this new development. Fleur smiled and tossed her long hair. "Oh, vairy funny joke, Meester Bagman."

"Joke?" Bagman repeated. "No, no, not at all! Harry's name just came out of the Goblet of Fire!"

"But evidently, zair 'as been a mistake," the girl went on. "'E cannot compete. 'E is too young."

"Shut the fuck up, your voice is annoying," Nnoitra scoffed.

Bagman started to babble, though what he said was still clear. Nnoitra will have to compete. Then the door opened and more people came in. Dumbledore first, then Mr. Crouch, Karkaroff, Madam Maxime, McGonagall, and finally Snape.

"Madam Maxime!" Fleur whined. "Zey are saying zat zis little boy is to compete also!"

"Bitch, I'm fucking taller and tougher than you, so call me little boy one more fucking time, I will cut your damn vocal cords!"

"That is enough, Harry," Dumbledore told him as Maxime rounded onto the older wizard.

"What is ze meaning of zis, Dumbly-dorr?" she asked.

"I'd rather like to know that myself, Dumbledore," Karkaroff added, steely smile in place and blue eyes like ice.

Nnoitra mainly tuned out the conversation going on about him until Dumbledore came to him. "Did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire, Harry?" he asked.

"No," Nnoitra answered harshly.

"Did you ask an older student to put it into the Goblet of Fire for you?"

"Fuck no!" Nnoitra shouted, looking appalled at the very idea of asking someone to do something so trivial for him.

"Ah, but of course 'e is lying!" Madam Maxime cried out.

"No he is not!" an angered but smooth voice protested.

"Gabriel, you should be back out zair with ze rest of ze students!" Maxime chastised him.

"He didn't put his name in nor did he ask anyone to do so," Szayel told her firmly. "I was with him ever since we came here. I did not hear him ask anyone to do so, and he did not leave bed last night either."

"Ixney on the edbay," Nnoitra sighed when he got a few weird looks. Hey, he's fourteen, hormonal, and finally has his mate back. Leave him the hell alone!

"Oh, shut up," Szayel told him with a wave of his hand. "It would have gotten out eventually. I'm a screamer, what can I say?"

"Silencing Wards!"

"Now those are no fun!"

"Gabriel, the fucking important thing going on right now, please?"

"Oh, right," Szayel coughed uncomfortably before turning back to Madam Maxime. "As I was saying, I was with him all night. And I am a very light sleeper. He never got up. I would have known and dragged him back to bed."

"Little guy can do it, too."

"I heard that! Do not call me little!"

In the end, it was decided that because of a magical binding contract, Nnoitra must compete. Madam Maxime and Karkaroff both seemed to believe Nnoitra did it somehow, despite Szayel's and even Ulquiorra's protest. When the former Cuatro heard about the accusations, he even argued with Karkaroff about how 'Harry' may be the type of person to do dangerous things, he isn't smart enough to get past an Age Line.

Nnoitra tried not to take offense.

Brushing off his own Headmistress, Szayel joined him and Tesla on his way back to the Gryffindor tower. Ulquiorra joining them seconds later. Everyone inside was celebrating him being chosen that they ignored everything he said.

"Fuck you all, I am going to bed!" he shouted over the noise. "No, George, I don't want any damn food! Leave me the hell alone!"

He stormed to his dorm, the other three former Arrancars following him. To his displeasure, Ron was in the room. Ron started off friendly, but with Nnoitra's comments ("Fuck off, no one likes you anyway.") and saying he didn't do anything, he got a little more hostile and eventually went to bed.

"Is everyone in this school trash or narrow-minded?" Ulquiorra asked, sitting on Nnoitra's bed.

"Yeah, but he's a stubborn dick that won't listen to any shit that people try to tell him," Nnoitra scoffed as he dropped onto the bed. "By the way, Gabriel's sleeping with me. Where you going?"

"I noticed there's a spare bed in my dorm," Tesla offered. "You can sleep there if you don't want to go back to the ship tonight, Alex."

"Thank you, I think I will stay here for the night."

Nnoitra sighed heavily. "So thoughts on this whole shitty situation?"

"I think what that man Moody said is correct," Szayel stated, laying next to the tall teen. "You are Harry Potter, after all. And with Death Eaters popping up at the World Cup and all the things that we have out there to hide or disguise ourselves, someone could have easily put your name in it. Someone who wants you dead."

"Great, another fun fucking year." He banged his head on the headboard. "Colin, when this year is over and if I see Voldemort or someone who works for him again, remind me to just kill anyone who tries any kind of bullshit."

"Yes, sir."

Besides Szayel, Tesla, and Ulquiorra, the only people who believed him were Hermione, Hagrid, and Dumbledore. Everyone else was against him or believed he did put his name in and supported him someway. And somehow, within a couple days, nearly every student had badges on their chests that said 'Support Cedric Diggory, the Real Hogwarts Champion!' And when pressed, they flashed a green message of 'Potter Stinks!'

How rude!

Malfoy tried shoving that in his face, but Nnoitra ripped it off of the brat and punched him in the face.

"When will he learn?" Tesla sighed heavily, hand on his forehead.

"Daily occurrence?" Ulquiorra asked.

"Most likely," Szayel answered this time. "Harry, you must get to class before you get into trouble."

"Too fucking late," he commented as Snape came forward. "Fuck off, this isn't any of your damn business!"

"Twenty points off Gryffindor for your language," Snape drawled out then looked at Malfoy. "Explain."

"Potter attacked me!"

"You fucking deserved it, you little piece of shit!"

Szayel joined him for Potions class, mainly because he was curious about the lab. There were very few true Potion Masters out there, and Snape, Nnoitra refused to believe it, is one of them.

Though when Szayel entered the room, his reaction was funnier than Nnoitra anticipated.

"What is this mess?!" he shrieked. "Ugh, grime and dust and filth everywhere! This is not a safe place to brew potions! Anything could be contaminated, and easily! Do you have no brain?! Look at all this! And these tables are far too close to each other! These students are at war with each other! Do you want to make it easier for them to sabotage each others work?! All it takes is one tiny thing to go wrong or one idiot ruining someone else's potion and you have a mass explosion!" And he went on and on and on.

Nnoitra was laughing in the background as Snape got a total tongue lashing from Szayel. He was always obsessed with cleanliness. Whenever Nnoitra tracked even a grain of sand into his lab, he was on him like white on... well, anything in Las Noches.

To Snape's credibility, he didn't stagger or do anything as Szayel ranted, only stood there with a blank stare and was probably wondering if he could do anything to shut the teen up.

Chances were very high that he never would be able to.

The next time he got to Snape's class, though, the whole room sparkled. And Szayel seemed very content with himself.

Tesla came in during the middle of class and after a short conversation with Snape, Nnoitra was allowed to leave. Szayel, who was working on a potion of his own creation that even had Snape curious about it, stopped his work and set it aside before following after. The potion needed to cool for a while anyway before he did anything else to it.

"Why the hell do they want photos?"

"Probably for the Daily Prophet," Tesla answered.

"Are you going to stick around, Tesla?" Szayel asked him.

"No, after this, I need to get back to class."

"Fucking sucks."

Rita Skeeter was worse in real life than she was in the papers. Nnoitra really wanted to punch her as soon as he laid eyes on her. She reminded him of nothing more than a little bug to crush under his shoe.

"I wonder if I can have a little word with Harry before we start?" she asked Bagman, already grabbing Nnoitra's arm. Szayel turned livid, but the taller teen gripped her arm tightly and made her let him go. "The youngest champion, you know…to add a bit of color?"

"Certainly!" Bagman agreed. "That is if Harry has no objections?"

"I am going nowhere with you, bitch," he growled at her.

Weren't you gonna punch her or something?

Waiting for the perfect moment.

…There's a perfect moment?

"Lovely," Rita said, ignoring his comment as she grabbed his arm again.

Szayel stopped her this time, right as Nnoitra started to pull back his fist. "I believe Harry just told you no," he pointed out. "So by law, you must release him without an interview. And if you try to print anything he says, he can easily sue you."

"It's just a small interview," she told him cheerfully, ignoring Nnoitra yanking her hand off of him again. "No harm done."

"He said no. No means no, not do whatever you want. It means no."

"Now, now, this is important-"

"I just so happen to be of noble blood, Harry just so happens to be friends with a foreign minister's son, and I also just so happen to have read all laws concerning this country. I know them like the back of my own hand. Now, he can sue you if you continue to force this issue. Back off and keep your hands off of him."

Rita Skeeter blinked at him before smiling her sickening sweet smile. "And may I ask what your relationship with Mr. Potter is, young man?"

"No, you may not," Szayel told her with a look that he would reserve mainly for his unfortunate future experiments…or Gin when he got up to pranking someone with any of Szayel's chemicals. "Now back off or you won't have to worry about him punching you. Because I will do it instead."

"May I introduce Mr. Ollivander?" Dumbledore told the champions as he sat with the other judges. "He will be checking your wands to ensure that they are in good condition before the tournament."

Fleur went first. He twirled it between his fingers and shot pink and golden sparks from the tip. "Yes," he started. "Nine and a half inches…inflexible…rosewood…and containing…dear me…"

"An 'air from ze 'ead of a Veela," Fleur finished. "One of my grandmuzzer's."

"Told you," Szayel whispered. Nnoitra shook his head.

"Why are you even 'ere?" Fleur asked him. "Zis is for ze champions!"

"Because I feel like it and unlike you, Fleur, I am ahead in my studies enough that I can afford to miss a few lessons," Szayel shot back. "I am, after all, top of the class. Class that are far more advanced than the ones you attend."

"And yet, I was chosen for ze champion."

"That does not make you better. For I am smarter than you. You just happened to be slightly better at spells. I prefer leaving field work to the useless trash, anyway."

"How dare you!"

"Zat is enough, you two!" Madam Maxime chastised.

Get the feeling those two are rivals?

Hey, it's plenty of fun watching them.

Cedric handed over his wand next. "Ah, now, this is one of mine, isn't it?" Ollivander said quite happily. "Yes, I remember it well. Containing a single hair from the tail of a particularly fine male unicorn…it must have been seventeen hands; nearly gored me with his horn after I plucked his tail. Twelve and a quarter inches…ash…pleasantly springy. It's in fine condition… You treat it regularly?"

"Polished it last night," Cedric answered with a grin.

"Suck up," Nnoitra commented. Szayel snickered behind his hand.

"Mr. Krum, if you please."

Viktor Krum stepped forward with a noticeable slouch and handed over his wand.

"Hmm… this is a Gregorovitch creation, unless I'm mistaken? A fine wand-maker, though the styling is never quite what I… however…Yes…hornbeam and dragon heartstring?" Krum nodded. "Rather thicker than one usually sees…quite rigid…ten and a quarter inches…Avis!" A bang and then small birds flew out of the wand's tip, flying right out the open window. "Good. Which leaves…Mr. Potter."

With a roll of his eyes, Nnoitra walked over and handed his wand to the old man. "Aaaah, yes. Yes, yes, yes. How well I remember." Nnoitra ignored him until he made a fountain of wine flow from his wand.

"What spell did you use? I wasn't paying attention."

"You're much too young to drink right now, Mr. Potter."

"You really don't know him, do you?" Szayel commented with a smirk.

Evidentially not.

You're not gonna say anything about how I shouldn't drink, are you?

Will you listen?

No.

Then what is the point?

"So this is Hogsmeade?" Szayel asked as he looked around. Nnoitra asked him and Ulquiorra if they wanted to come along for the weekend. Tesla got permission now from his parents.

"Yep," Nnoitra answered as he led them to the Three Broomsticks. "Anyone want a butterbeer? My treat."

As usual, the small pub was crowded. It was hard to find a table for all four of them to sit. Tesla led Szayel and Ulquiorra to a table he found while Nnoitra went to go buy the butterbeers. With much practice of ignoring the looks people gave him and the comments they made, he made his way to the table and passed out the butterbeers amongst them.

"Interesting flavor," Szayel commented as he sipped his. "I wonder if I can take some home and see what I can mix it with to add a bit more."

"You never change," Nnoitra chuckled before drinking some.

"Is she doing that spew thing again?" Ulquiorra suddenly asked. The other three looked the same direction he was looking and saw Hermione wondering around with her notebook and saying something they could barely hear.

"Damn, when is that bitch gonna give up?" the tall teen growled, recognizing the notebook she held. "Ignore her."

"So what was that letter about?" Szayel asked, randomly changing the subject.

Nnoitra thought for a moment then remembered Sirius's letter. "Oh, yeah. Well, my godfather wants to talk to me face-to-face in the commons tonight. One in the morning. I know the chances of him being found are slim that late at night, but it's still bullshit. He's worried about me being in the damn tournament."

"Godfather?" Ulquiorra repeated.

"Yeah, Sirius Black," Nnoitra replied with a nod. "Was in Azkaban for twelve years without a trial. Escaped last year, supposedly after my ass to murder me, but was instead after some other little shit who betrayed my parents. He's innocent, but no one knows it yet."

"They convicted an innocent man for murder?" Szayel asked in surprise. "With no trial?"

"Government is corrupt and full of idiotic assholes."

"Explains everything."

"Why would Hagrid want you to meet him at midnight tonight?" Tesla asked, finishing his butterbeer.

"Must be important," Ulquiorra commented.

Nnoitra shrugged. "I'll probably go anyway," he stated with a wave of his hand. "Wear the damn cloak and figure out what the hell he wants."

"You may miss Sirius," Tesla pointed out.

With a smirk, Nnoitra pointed at the younger boy. "Which is why if I am still out past one, you will be there with him until I come the hell back. He knows you."

"Well this should be quite interesting," Szayel commented. "You wouldn't mind if I came along, would you?"

"Sure. If it's boring, we can make it interesting," Nnoitra replied with a lecherous grin.

"He slanders French," Szayel commented with a huff while crossing his arms harshly.

Nnoitra shook his head and put a hand over Szayel's mouth. "It's an fucking Invisibility Cloak, not a damn Silencing Cloak." His lover hummed gently before nodding once in understanding. "You're gonna invent one of those now, aren't you?" Szayel nodded again.

The two silently followed after Hagrid and Madam Maxime as they entered the forest. She, apparently, did not know about the destination either. "Wair is it you are taking me, 'Agrid?" she asked him.

"Yeh'll enjoy this," he replied. "Worth seein', trust me. On'y – don' go tellin' anyone I showed yeh, right? Yeh're not s'posed ter know."

"Of course not," Maxime replied with a flutter of her eyelashes.

Nnoitra and Szayel both mock gagged at the flirtatious action.

After a while, when the castle and lake were out of sight, roars echoed through the air.

…Oh shit…

'Oh shit' may be right.

Hurrying around the large couple, the two teens peered through the trees. Four dragons, fully grown in an enclosed fence, roaring and shooting fire at everything they could. A group of wizards tended to each dragon, trying to control them.

Someone yelled out to Hagrid. "Keep back there, Hagrid! They can shoot fire at a range of twenty feet, you know! I've seen this Horntail do forty!"

"So your first task will be dragons," Szayel whispered under all the noise surrounding them.

"…Well…fuck…"

"You're just in time!" Tesla said when the two came back into the Common Room. "Sirius just showed up in the fireplace. I told him you would be back in a couple of minutes. Everyone else is already in bed and asleep."

"Good," Nnoitra sighed, going over to the fireplace. Sirius's head was sitting in the fire, patiently waiting for him. "Fucking hell, what if someone came down here and saw you?"

"Well I got lucky, only that boy right there has seen me," Sirius replied.

"He looks remarkably like Stark," Szayel commented, sitting in front of the fire.

"We said the same thing."

"Who is Stark?"

"No one important," Nnoitra waved Sirius off. "So Gabriel, this is Sirius. Sirius, Gabriel."

"Pleasure," Szayel said with a slight bow of his head. "I promise not to tell anyone about this."

"Nice to meet you as well and thank you. So, Harry, how have you been?"

"Fine. Everyone around are being dumb as hell fuckers who won't listen to a damn word I say and I just found out I'm facing some damn dragons for the first task, but I'm fucking perfect!"

"Dragons, we can deal with, Harry, but we'll get to that in a minute – I haven't got long here. I've broken into a wizarding home to use the fire, but they could be back at any time. There are things I need to warn you about."

"Figures," Nnoitra scoffed, walking around the room. "Alright, what the fuck do I need to know now?"

"Karkaroff. He was a Death Eater. You know what Death Eaters are, don't you?"

"Yes, I know what a fucking Death Eater is!"

"Alright, calm down. Anyway, he was caught, he was in Azkaban with me, but he got released. I'd bet everything that's why Dumbledore wanted an Auror at Hogwarts this year – to keep an eye on him. Moody caught Karkaroff. Put him in Azkaban in the first place."

"Why did they release him?" Tesla asked before looking over at Szayel. "Think maybe Alex knows about this?"

"Possible," the pink-haired teen replied, flicking his fingers.

The conversation went on about how Karkaroff made a deal with the Ministry to be set free, then to Bertha Jorkin's disappearance, and finally the dragons. Sirius was saying something about a simple spell before Szayel held up a hand to silence him. Then all four heard footsteps.

"Shit, someone's coming!" Nnoitra hissed. "Beat it!" Sirius was gone in an instant before Ron came down the stairs. "Well, fuck, it's dipshit."

"What are you all doing down here?" Ron asked, looking at the three.

"None of your fucking business, so get back to bed like a good little shit," Nnoitra growled at him. He hated watching drama, but now Ron seemed determined to have him in a drama. "Don't need you sticking your damn nose where it doesn't belong."

Ron's face turned red. "Sorry about that. Should've realized you didn't want to be disturbed. I'll let you get on with practicing for your next interview in peace."

"What fucking interview?" Nnoitra snorted as Ron stomped back to the dorm. "I didn't give a damn interview in the first place!"

"Uh, Harry, I think you should sue," Szayel said, holding out a paper with Rita Skeeter's article on it. Nnoitra briefly saw the article about his 'tragic past' and other things that did nothing more than piss him off.

"Fuck suing, I'll skewer her."

Don't you think you should at least tell Cedric about the dragons?

Nope.

It would be fair and would give him time to plan.

If he can't think on the spot, then he's fucked either way.

At least a small warning.

Why should I?

So you aren't such an asshole.

Point not to do it.

Fine! Fornicaras!

Szayel won't do it, either!

Damn. Murcielago!

Master Ulquiorra says to keep him out of it.

…Verruga?

Tesla's on it.

Tell him I forbid it!

Too late!

Damn you all to Aizen!

"So…got any ideas how you're going to get past your dragon?" Moody asked him.

"One," Nnoitra admitted.

"Well, good," Moody said as he limped around his desk. "Then let me just give you some good, general advice. Play to your strengths."

Nnoitra chuckled. "You have no fucking clue as to what you just told me, do you?"

"You know you'll do well," Szayel told him, once again sitting on Nnoitra's lap.

"Though knowing you, you will probably do something drastic to prove a point of sorts," Ulquiorra commented as he picked at his food.

"I can't wait to see you in full action again, sir," Tesla giddily spoke, vibrating in his seat. "This will be amazing!"

"He still looks up to you like a child," the former Octava chuckled, leaning his head back and leaving a light kiss on Nnoitra's jaw. "Try not to disappoint. Or burn up. And if you can get me some dragon blood, or skin, or something, that would be great."

"You do realize I don't have my damn hierro anymore, right?" Nnoitra asked, looking down at the pink-haired teen, who only grinned at him. "No promises."

"Sure," Szayel drawled out with a smirk.

"Potter," McGonagall called to him, suddenly behind him. "The champions have to come down onto the grounds now…You have to get ready for your first task."

With a pout, Szayel removed himself from Nnoitra's lap before the taller teen stood up. "Fine," Nnoitra sighed heavily, stretching his arms.

"Good luck, Harry," Szayel told him as McGonagall led the tall teen away.

He was led out of the Great Hall, ignoring all the eyes on him as he left. McGonagall, for as long as he had known her, never looked more anxious. "Now, don't panic," she told him, her hand on his shoulder. He brushed her off. "Just keep a cool head… We've got wizards standing by to control the situation if it gets out of hand… The main thing is just to do your best, and nobody will think any the worse of you… Are you all right?"

"I'm fucking fine, it's everyone else going to damn pieces around here," he replied with a scoff. "By the way, those assholes on stand-by? Don't let them interrupt."

Bagman had explained their task, collect the golden egg. Within minutes, students filled the stands. Soon after, Bagman opened the purple silk bag and started to pass it around. Fleur went first, pulling out a model of a Welsh Green, a number two around its neck. Krum went next, pulling a Chinese Fireball with a three from the sack. Third was Cedric, taking out the Swedish Short-Snout with a one on its neck. Finally, Nnoitra reached into the bag and grabbed the last model, the Hungarian Horntail, numbered as four.

He grinned. He got the biggest and most dangerous. This will be fun.

A whistle was blown and Cedric walked out first. Nnoitra closed his eyes and listened as the crowd cheered, screamed, gasped, then finally the cheering of Cedric completing his task. Fleur nervously went next. Her turn took less time than Cedric's. Finally Krum was called and Nnoitra was alone in the tent.

Very soon now.

I'm ready, Master Nnoitra. Let's show them what we got.

Krum was soon done and the whistle was blown again, signaling him to emerge. He rose and left the tent, walking towards the enclosure where his opponent will be. He twirled his wand in his hand calmly, as though he was not about to go and fight a dragon.

Then he was in front of her black form. She was large, though crouched low, protecting her eggs. Her wings were only half-furled and her yellow eyes watched his every move. Her long tail thrashed hard, leaving marks on the ground.

He shook his head. "One chance, bitch," he growled at her. "Back the fuck off, and I won't hurt you."

She snarled at him, fangs bared and tail lashing once more.

"Have it your way then," he chuckled, lifting his hand as he continued to twirl his wand. A quick incantation and a barrier was around the enclosure, keeping everyone out and both him and the dragon inside.

"What is this?" Bagman's commentary started. "Why has Mr. Potter put up such a ward? If this goes downhill, he won't have anyone able to come help him!"

"That's the way he likes it!" two voices yelled out.

With a grin, Nnoitra stopped twirling his wand, holding it level in front of him. "Inore, Santa Teresa."

Pressure built up inside the enclosure, even pushing the dragon down a little bit. Dust rose from the ground, concealing Nnoitra's form. Though everyone could see a silhouette of the teen, or what they thought was the teen. Soon the dust thinned out and vanished, showing his transformation. Even Bagman was silenced in shock.

Nnoitra now had four arms, each hand holding a long staff with large scythes at one end of each of them, the scythes reminded some of a praying mantis's appendages. White armor covered his arms, thin at his wrist and getting thicker until it reached his elbow, then repeated from his elbow to his shoulders. A yellow X was marked on his face. Something shaped like a crescent moon was on his head, one side higher than the other.

He lowered himself to the ground, still grinning like a mad man. "Well then, bring it!" he shouted, shocking the dragon into shooting flames at him. He dodged easily, but instead of leaping to the side, he leapt forward. The Horntail raised her head as he got closer, ready to bite down on him.

Instead of flesh, she bit metal. Nnoitra used one scythe to stop her from biting him, then used the other three to slash her neck. She pulled back with a roar as her blood sprayed from the sudden deep injuries. Nnoitra fell to the ground, landing on his feet. Enraged, the Horntail swung her tail down onto him, but he blocked with all four of his weapons. She raised her tail and stuck again, repeatedly trying to hit him but only damaging her tail more since he didn't use the blunt edge to block. One spike on her tail cut his shoulder, but he didn't yell in pain. He only smiled more.

Her tail hit again and when it landed on his scythes, he quickly sliced. The Horntail drew back her tail with a screech, blood flying everywhere, coating the inside of the enclosure and even Nnoitra himself. Part of the spiked tail landed not too far from him, cut off from the dragon.

From the corner of his eye, he noticed some wizards trying to get in past his barrier. "Fuck off, this is my fight!" he yelled at them.

"You're only supposed to get the egg, not kill the dragon!" Charlie Weasley yelled back.

"I'm not gonna fucking kill her!" Nnoitra shouted as the dragon lunged for him. "Maybe."

Two scythes went up to strike from above while the other two went to the side. As she drew closer, so did the scythes. The two from the sides hit first, stopping her from getting any closer. The tips dug into her neck and the more she struggled, the deeper they went. The two from above went down into her front paws that tried to reach for the other scythes.

She let out a shriek unimaginable. Everyone in the audience was stunned into silence by the sheer brutality. He wasn't even trying to go for the nest, he was just hurting the dragon. With a jerk of her head, she pulled back, pulling the two scythes in her neck from Nnoitra's hand. She shook her head side to side, dislodging the weapons. Both scythes fell to the ground with a loud clang, both cracking before disappearing. This did not seem to bother Nnoitra at all.

With a roar, she shot fire at him once again, trying to hit him. He pulled the two scythes from her injured feet and used them to block, then two more suddenly appeared in his hands and were added to the defense.

This is very hot, Master.

I fucking know that!

Once the fire stopped, he threw the scythes to the dragon. One hit her head, cutting her face diagonally. A second hit her neck, shocking her into opening her wings a bit more. The last two dug into her wings and kept going back until both appendages were pinned to the wall of the enclosure.

She roared and shrieked continuously, trying to move her wings. But every time her wings moved, the scythes tore them up even more. Seeing Nnoitra approaching her nest, she tried to snap at him, but with two scythes in hand, he pinned her head to the ground, the sharp edges pressing against the side of the dragon's head. She didn't dare move.

"Fucking dragon, weak piece of shit," he muttered as he picked up the golden egg. "Not even worth killing! Seriously, out of all that, I just get this damn cut? You're so fucking weak."

No one cheered as he grabbed his golden egg. No commentary as he fought the beast. Even the judges were pale in shock at what they had just seen.

"Way to go!" he heard Szayel yell out.

"Amazing job, Harry!" Tesla was next.

"I was expecting a bit more blood!" This earned Szayel some shocked and disgusted looks.

"I'm covering in this shit, what more do you want?!" Nnoitra yelled at him.

Szayel just laughed and clapped with Tesla and Ulquiorra, two out of the three cheering happily.

"That was simply amazing," Szayel commented as Nnoitra sealed Santa Teresa, the zanpakutou disappearing back into his mind. "I don't understand why everyone was so quiet, though."

"They were stunned by Harry's strength and power, that's why!" Tesla happily cried out.

"No, I believe it was because none of them were expecting such a show," Ulquiorra corrected.

Madam Pomfrey tabbed some purple liquid on Nnoitra's shoulder, right over the long yet shallow cut. "Now, just sit quietly for a minute – sit! And then you can go and get your score." She bustled off out of the tent to check on another patient.

"Well, I think everyone now knows I'm not some weak little shit," Nnoitra chuckled.

"You were absolutely, bloody insane!" Hermione screamed at him as she entered the tent.

"Ah, no, who the hell let her in?" Nnoitra groaned, waving a hand to her and Ron, who came in after. The other three just shrugged.

"Do you have any idea what you just did?!" she went on. "You nearly killed that dragon! No one was expecting injuries like that! A spell to the eye like Krum did, sure. But you slaughtered her!"

"If you actually saw him slaughter something, you wouldn't call that a slaughter," Szayel pointed out as he carefully removed some dragon blood off of Nnoitra's skin and put it into vials. "Thank you, dear. I can do much with this."

"You're bloody insane!" Ron yelled this time. "I was just talking to Charlie! He's looking over the dragon now! Said she would be lucky to fully heal from those injuries!"

"Well her own damn fault," Nnoitra scoffed. "She had her chances to stand down and she didn't. Damn lucky I left her alive. Was starting to piss me off."

"Don't pin this on the dragon! You were a… a…" Hermione seemed to be at a loss of words.

"A what?" Nnoitra scoffed. "A brute? A psycho?"

"A beast!" she screamed.

Nnoitra tensed, as did Szayel and Tesla. Ulquiorra looked at her with a blank stare. "Get the fuck out," the tall teen told her. For a brief second, he saw Nel there instead. "Both of you."

"Look, Harry," Ron started.

"I told you both to get the fucking hell out of here!" he shouted at them, getting to his feet. "You don't even fucking care, you asshole! You stopped following me around ever since my name flew out of the damn cup! Your fucking true colors showed! And guess what? So have mine! If you don't like what you see, then get the fuck out and leave me the hell alone!"

Hesitantly, the two left.

Szayel sighed as he placed his hand on Nnoitra's arm. "Let's go get your score then," he offered.

Amazingly, despite nearly killing the dragon, his score was the same as Krum's, the two tying in first place. Many students, though, didn't dare look at him now, too scared of angering him. He got a four from Madam Maxime, probably from being so cruel against the dragon, while Karkaroff surprisingly gave him a eight. Bagman, for reasons unknown, gave him a ten. Crouch surprisingly gave him a nine and Dumbledore, to the shock of many, also gave him a nine.

They probably think that our show was an advanced form of magic.

Let them.

With the other three around him, he went back into the tent. Szayel conjured up some water and soap and started to try and wash some of the blood out of Nnoitra's hair, much to the taller boy's chagrin. Tesla sat at Nnoitra's feet while Ulquiorra sat in a nearby chair, reading a book quietly.

"So much blood wasted because of it being in your hair," Szayel complained. "At least there won't be much contamination getting it from your skin. I can clean it out easily. Thankfully, I don't have to worry about much dirt."

"You done complaining?" Nnoitra asked as the pink-haired teen squeezed some of the water out of his hair. It poured off red.

"No!" Szayel stated firmly and started to wash the hair again. "You are getting none tonight if you still have this blood in your hair, by the way."

"Damn it," Nnoitra muttered then smirked. "You may need to help me with that."

The other three champions came in at the same time. The only treatment noticeable on any of them was the orange cream covering half of Cedric's face. Cedric looked like he was now scared of Nnoitra. Fleur backed away when Szayel gave her a stare. Krum just watched the small group of four until Ulquiorra made eye contact. With a slight nod, Krum turned away.

"Well done, all of you!" Bagman exclaimed as he bounced into the tent. "Now, just a quick few words. You've got a nice long break before the second task, which will take place at half past nine on the morning of February the twenty-fourth – but we're giving you something to think about in the meantime! If you look down at those golden eggs you're all holding, you will see that they open…see the hinges there? You need to solve the clue inside the egg – because it will tell you what the second task is, and enable you to prepare for it! All clear? Sure? Well, off you go, then!"

"Good," Szayel scoffed, slapping the back of Nnoitra's head. "You need a shower. A long, cold shower."

"Why a cold one?" Tesla asked, looking up at him.

"Because you know how he is after a decent fight."

"But that wasn't a fucking decent fight."

"Cold. Shower."

There was no party for him because of the fear he installed with that one fight. People have seen him hit others, even punch a teacher, but they had never seen him that violent. He did not really care so long as it meant the idiots lefts him alone.

"So, want to open it now?" Tesla asked, holding up the egg.

Nnoitra shrugged as he took it from the younger teen. "I'm almost hesitant to open the damn thing," he admitted.

"Well you will have to sooner or later," Szayel pointed out from his spot behind the tall teen. "Why not sooner?"

"You might as well," Ulquiorra added. "The sooner you open it, the sooner you receive the clue, and the more time you have to find out and prepare for your second task."

"Fine," Nnoitra sighed before digging his fingernails into the groove and prying the egg open. It was hollow and empty, but made the most horrible shrieking wail imaginable. As quickly as it was opened, it was closed. "The fuck?"

What the hell was that?!

Where have you been?

I was sleeping. Until I got the very rude wake up scream!

Wasn't my fault. I got pressured into opening the damn egg.

"A banshee, maybe?" Tesla asked. "But they can't do much other than scream at you, so why send one after you?"

"No, that wasn't really a banshee wail," Szayel stated, tapping his chin in contemplation. "I recognize the sound from somewhere, but I can't seem to remember where."

"Well, please do inform us when the knowledge re-enters your mind," Ulquiorra commented. "For now, I am off to bed."

He remembered hearing about the location of the kitchen and how to get in, so he was quite curious. Tesla, Ulquiorra, and Szayel accompanied him for the visit.

"What if you open that door and that little girl is in there?" Szayel asked as Nnoitra tickled the pear.

"To hell with her," he replied as the pear giggled and turned into a knob. "I could care less."

The room was large, the size of the Great Hall it seemed, with mounds of glittering pots and pans. He didn't get long to look around until he was tackled to the floor by a small creature yelling out, "Harry Potter, sir! Harry Potter!"

"Fucking hell, Dobby!" he shouted, shoving the little house elf off of him. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Dobby has come to work at Hogwarts, sir!" the house elf squeaked, seeming to ignore the other three people looking at him. "Professor Dumbledore gave Dobby and Winky jobs, sir!"

"That's fucking nice, stop tackling me," he stated as he got to his feet. "So this is Dobby, guys. Dobby, this is Colin, Gabriel, and Alex."

"The house elf you freed from the family of that arrogant blonde with the superiority complex?" Szayel asked.

"The one you punched?" Ulquiorra asked this time.

"Yes," Nnoitra and Tesla both answered.

Dobby told them his own story just from a gentle question from Tesla, who Nnoitra smacked on the head. Tesla commented that he wasn't expecting a life story from a simple question. Szayel's reply to that was that everyone gave a life story to a simple question. Then Winky went on about how her poor master must be doing without her and Bagman being a bad wizard.

Nnoitra raised an eyebrow at that. Bagman was the type of guy he wanted to maim. But a bad wizard? He really isn't seeing it.

"Thank you," Szayel told a house elf as it refilled his tea cup. "So, is your curiosity satisfied now?"

"For the moment," Nnoitra replied with a smirk as he munched on a grilled chicken leg. "May come down here a bit more often."

"I have something to tell you all," McGonagall told their class moments from the bell signaling their release from the room. "The Yule Ball is approaching – a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and an opportunity for us to socialize with our foreign guests. Now, the ball will be open only to fourth years and above – although you may invite a younger students if you wish." One girl started to giggle while another tried to make her stop. "Dress robes will be worn and the ball will start at eight o'clock on Christmas Day, finishing at midnight in the Great Hall. Now then, the Yule Ball is of course a chance for us all to – er – let our hair down."

"We need a damn reason?" Nnoitra scoffed, leaning back in his seat. The girl laughed even harder, hand pressed against her mouth.

"But that does not mean that we will be relaxing the standards of behavior we expect from Hogwarts students. I will be most seriously displeased if a Gryffindor student embarrasses the school in any way."

"You're always fucking displeased when any Gryffindor does any kind of stupid shit," the tall teen pointed out.

The bell rang and everyone started to gather their things and leave. "Potter, a word, if you please."

Nnoitra sighed and rolled his eyes. "I am not going to do a damn thing about my fucking language."

"That is not the issue, though I hope for the sake of the ball, you will try to curb that tongue of yours. No, this is another matter. The champions and their partners-"

"Partners?" Nnoitra repeated with a quirked eyebrow.

"Your partners for the Yule Ball," she clarified coldly. "Your dance partner. Traditionally, the champions and their partners open the ball."

"Right, well I say fuck that."

"It is tradition," McGonagall firmly stated. "You are a Hogwarts champion, and you will do what is expected of you as a representative of the school. So make sure you get yourself a partner, Potter."

He sighed heavily. "Does it have to be a girl?" he asked. "Or will I get a lot of shit if I bring a guy?"

"Personally, Potter, after what you did to that dragon, I don't think anyone would try to argue with you about your decision. Silently judge you, maybe, but not say anything out loud. And let's face it, Potter, you really would not care."

"No, I really wouldn't."

"Hey there, sweet thing," Nnoitra greeted with a husky voice as he leaned over Szayel, who looked up from his book with a smirk. "So, hear about that ball yet?"

"Why yes, I have," Szayel replied, blinking flirtatiously as he pressed up against the wall behind him.

"Has anyone asked you yet, beautiful?"

Terrible acting skills, master.

Shut up.

"I just so happen to be waiting for a certain someone to walk up and ask me, but it seems that he would rather be a bit of an asshole and leave me hanging." He sighed dramatically and twirled a strand of hair around his finger. "I suppose I will just have to accept the next person who asks me instead, just to piss him off."

"Well then, mind if you come to the dance with me instead of that asshole?"

Szayel chuckled, placing a hand over his mouth. "I'll meet you there. Christmas Day. Eight o'clock." He pushed away from the wall and started to walk off but paused momentarily. "Actually… six o'clock? That would give us a couple of hours to just have some fun, dear. "

"I know a good place where we can have fun," Nnoitra chuckled, grinning widely. "Come see me at six and I'll show you."

"Oh, mysterious and romantic. Hmm, brownie points."

"Why am I not surprised?"

"Because, Colin, it was entirely predictable."

"I suppose so."

"…Well then, I suppose that you would wish to go as well."

"Well, it would be nice. I mean, how often does a dance like this come around?"

"Then I invite you to accompany me as a companion."

"Thank you, Alex. I appreciate that."

"Hey, I though Gabriel and I were the only gay ones!"

"Harry, I invite him as a friend, not as a date."

"…Same damn difference."

Christmas arrived and many students were excited about the Yule Ball happening that night. Nnoitra boredly looked around as students searched through the large crowd for their partners. Some girls were gathered together, giggling behind their hands.

"Hey, Harry?" a meek voice called.

Nnoitra growled lowly and looked at Ron, who was dressed in the old dress robes with frays on his neck and sleeves. "What the fuck do you want?"

"I…I…" He sighed. "I wanted to apologize for being such a prat earlier this year."

"Apology not accepted, now get the hell out of my sight," he stated as he scanned over the crowd.

"Look, Harry-"

"No," Nnoitra said firmly, glaring at Ron from the corner of his eyes.

Finally taking the hint or just giving up for a later date, the redhead left.

"What was that about?" Tesla asked, coming up from behind with Ulquiorra next to him.

"Wanted to apologize for earlier this year, told him to fuck off," Nnoitra answered with a smirk. "Hey, either of you seen Gabriel while getting here?"

"He was hiding around a corner, deciding on whether he should keep his hair pink or turn it a different color," Ulquiorra replied, pointing over his shoulder.

Nnoitra sighed heavily and went to locate his wayward lover. He was around the corner, a mirror in his hand and muttering to himself as his hair flipped through several colors. Students around him gave him a wide berth. "Gabriel," he called.

Szayel looked up, his hair a royal violet. "Sorry, but I can't decide!" he complained then went back to his mirror.

While he was staring at his reflection, Nnoitra took the mirror out of Szayel's hands as his hair shifted to a dark blonde. Confused, the shorter teen looked back up at him. "You look great, but keep the pink hair. I'm not used to you walking around with anything but pink hair. Only you can pull that off and still look sexy, in my opinion."

With a small and shy smile, Szayel willed his hair to return to its pink color as he tucked it behind his ear. "Well, thank you," he replied, though was mentally thinking about how ivory colored dress robes didn't go well with pink, but he knows better than to argue. Then again, his dress robes are nearly white, so it shouldn't be that hard to pull off.

"Now, you done being a drama queen?" Nnoitra asked as he held out his hand.

"I am never done," Szayel replied as he placed his hand into the other's. "I am a natural actor, my dear. It's just the way I am."

As he led the other teen back to Ulquiorra and Tesla, the doors opened and the rest of the Durmstrang students entered, led by Karkaroff. Krum was at the head of the party, though, with a pretty girl dressed in blue.

"My, my," Szayel chuckled. "Even a bookworm such as her can be impressive."

"Wait…" Nnoitra trailed off, looking at the girl. "That's the bitch?"

"It would seem that way," Ulquiorra replied.

"Never thought she would look that beautiful," Tesla said in awe, his eyes combing over every detail, from her sleek and shiny hair to her non-buck-toothed smile. He was even taking in the dress she wore and her straight back, no longer slouched from the weight of tomes.

"Champions over here, please!" McGonagall called.

"We shall see you inside," Szayel told the other three as he and Nnoitra went with the other champions. Ulquiorra nodded and Tesla gave a small bow.

McGonagall, noticing Nnoitra's date, wisely said nothing.

The feast was enjoyed without any problems. Krum told Hermione about his school until Karkaroff cut him off. Fleur bragged about the beauty of Beauxbatons, until Szayel told her to shut up in his own way, polite to the ears of those who don't know him, but insulting to the ears of those who do. Fleur even blushed in embarrassment.

Soon enough, the band was set up and picking up their instruments. Szayel had to pull the disgruntled Nnoitra to his feet, who looked like he would rather just sit there with his pink-haired lover in his lap.

Get up. Go dance.

"You know I don't dance," he told both Szayel and Santa Teresa as he finally stood.

"I know," Szayel told him, placing one hand on the taller teen's shoulder as Nnoitra put one of his own on Szayel's hip. Their other hands were locked together. "But you still had quite a few moves back in the day."

He has a point.

Nnoitra chuckled as the music started. "Let me rephrase," he started. "I hate dancing without a good beat. And this song is slow as hell."

Szayel chuckled and slowly shook his head as other pairs joined in the dance with the champions. "They're working on it."

A little confused, Nnoitra waited until the first song was done, and apparently, so did whoever Szayel was talking about. The band 'Weird Sisters' were suddenly knocked off the stage, making many panic and look around, trying to pinpoint who did it.

"Alright, slow shit out of the way. Time for a part-ay!" someone yelled out, their voice amplified.

In place of the band were four people, all with very noticeable features. One Nnoitra recognized as Santa Teresa. If he didn't recognize her, he would be in trouble. Next to her was another woman with pale skin, red hair, and dressed in a tight, skimpy white dress, her breasts nearly popping out of the top and the bottom trimming barely passing her thighs. If one looked close enough, the pink designs on her dress and skin moved like folded wings. At the tips of her fingers were long red nails, almost claw like. There were some red markings around her half-lidded honey eyes. At Santa Teresa's other side was a black-haired woman covered mostly in black fur, except for her stomach and back. Her form was very…for lack of better words, a gift from God to the average man. The thing, though, that was most noticeable about her was her large wings, long ears, and whip-like tail. In front of the three women was a sandy-haired man, grinning widely. He looked mostly human, except for his bulging muscles and hoofed feet. He was dressed enough to cover certain areas, his lower half completely covered by grayish-brown fur.

"Alright, alright, alright!" he went on. "Seems to me you wizards aren't exposed to good music! So, give me a beat, girls!"

Fornicaras smirked and, modifying her own voice, started off. "There's a place downtown, where the freaks all come around. It's a hole in the wall, it's a dirty free for all." A beat started up, electronic sounding. Nnoitra, Szayel, and Tesla all cheered. Not exactly what Nnoitra would listen to, but better than the Weird Sisters. Grabbing Szayel, they started a dance that Nnoitra was more used to, plenty of beat to move both of them. Tesla soon joined them. Ulquiorra preferred softer music, so he stayed at a table and watched as others joined in as the song went on.

"When the dark, of the night comes around. That's the time, that the animal comes alive. Looking for something wild. And now we lookin' like pimps in my gold Trans-Am. Got a water bottle full of whiskey in my handbag. Got my drunk text on, I'll regret it in the mornin'. But tonight I don't give a…I don't give a…I don't give a… There's a place downtown, where the freaks all come around. It's a hole in the wall. It's a dirty free for all. And they turn me on. When they Take It Off. When they Take It Off. Everybody Take It Off. There's a place I know if you're looking for a show. Where they go hardcore and there's glitter on the floor. And they turn me on. When they Take It Off. When they Take It Off. Everybody Take It Off.

"Lose your mind. Lose it now. Lose your clothes in the crowd. We're delirious. Tear it down 'til the sun comes back around. N-now we're getting so smashed. Knocking over trash cans. Eurbody breakin' bottles, it's a filthy hot mess. Gonna get faded I'm not the designated driver so I don't give a…I don't give a…I don't give a…There's a place downtown, where the freaks all come around. It's a hole in the wall. It's a dirty free for all. And they turn me on. When they Take It Off. When they Take It Off. Everybody Take It Off. There's a place I know if you're looking for a show. Where they go hardcore and there's glitter on the floor. And they turn me on. When they Take It Off. When they Take It Off. Everybody Take It Off.

"Oh, oh, oh! EVERYBODY TAKE IT OFF! Oh, Oh, Oh! EVERYBODY TAKE IT OFF! Right now! TAKE IT OFF! Right now! TAKE IT OFF! Right now! TAKE IT OFF! Oooh. Right now! TAKE IT OFF! Right now! TAKE IT OFF! Right now! TAKE IT OFF! EVERYBODY TAKE IT OFF!

"There's a place downtown where the freaks all come around. It's a hole in the wall. It's a dirty free for all. And they turn me on. When they Take It Off. When they Take It Off. Everybody Take It Off. There's a place I know if you're looking for a show. Where they go hardcore and there's glitter on the floor. And they turn me on. When they Take It Off. When they Take It Off. Everybody Take It Off."

No surprise, most of the half-bloods and Muggleborns cheered and clapped at the end of the song. The Purebloods just looked confused until realizing that they were now listening to Muggle music. Many of them removed themselves from the dance floor.

"Aww, don't be like that!" Verruga scolded playfully, grin still wide on his face. "Let me hear one, ladies and gentlemen. Call one out!"

"Last Resort by Papa Roach!" someone yelled out.

Verruga grinned and looked at the three behind him. "Shall we, ladies?"

"You're singing this time," Murcielago told him with a flick of her tail.

"Well, duh! I'm the only guy in this group!"

"Hold it right there!" someone yelled out. Nnoitra scowled as Dumbledore, Maxime, and Karkaroff all went to the group of four materialized zanpakutous. They could not reach them sooner because of the mass of dancing half-bloods and Muggleborns.

"Yeah?" Verruga asked uncaringly.

"I demand to know who you are and how you managed to get into this school," Dumbledore told him firmly.

Fornicaras giggled madly as Santa Teresa shook her head. Murcielago just cackled and Verruga smirked. "We've got our own little secrets, buddy," he replied. "See, a little birdie told us this would be a boring party, so we decided to chip in and make it more exciting."

"You have no business here!" Dumbledore went on.

"Shut it, you old goat," Murcielago chirped happily. "Hopefully, you won't see us again after tonight. For now, we're here to make this ball a rave!"

Many students cheered and whooped.

"So, glad you didn't ditch last second?" Szayel asked as Verruga started singing Last Resort. He was, surprisingly, a great singer.

"Hell yeah! This is fucking awesome!"

The zanpakutous completely took control over the party, no matter what Dumbledore or any teacher did since all four were great at evasion and still making it look like a part of the performance. So far, they had sung The Bad Touch (to the staff's horror), On the Floor, Evolution, even going into foreign languages like Reich Mir de Hand, and other songs like S.E.X. (again, to the horror of the teachers). Sometime during Where's My Angel, both Nnoitra and Szayel stepped outside.

"That was fucking great," Nnoitra chuckled as the pair walked around in the gardens outside.

"Well, they were actually planning that since they heard the word 'Ball' and connected it with 'boring'," Szayel explained with a small smile. "We just decided to keep it from you."

The taller teen threw his head back and laughed for a moment.

Tesla found the pair when they came back in from their walk outside, choosing to ignore the confrontations they overheard. At the moment, Murcielago was singing Follow Me Down with Verruga.

"Diggory wanted me to pass on a bit of advice," he stated.

"What?" Nnoitra asked, his body already moving with the beat.

"He said to take a bath with the egg."

Nnoitra actually paused and looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "The fuck?"

"Are you insane?!" Szayel yelled at him, bundled in his thick coat as he watched Nnoitra swim into the lake. "You'll get hypothermia or pneumonia! Get out of the water this instant!"

"Relax!" Nnoitra waved off, egg in his hand. "Hey, if I'm not back up in a minute, drag my ass out."

"NNOITRA GILGA, IF YOU DROWN, I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!"

"Good thing no one else is this far from the castle," Tesla commented as Nnoitra went underwater with the egg. "No one to hear that."

"If someone at the castle did not hear him, I would die of shock," Ulquiorra replied as he read his book.

After a while, Nnoitra finally broke the calm surface, inhaling deeply before shaking the water out of his shoulder-length hair. Catching enough air in his lungs, he finally swam back to the shore. "So," he said, his feet finding the ground and letting him walk the rest of the way to dry land. "What the fuck screams above the water but sings below it?"

Tesla blinked at him. Ulquiorra looked like he didn't care. Szayel, however, had a beaming smile on his face. "Mermaids," he replied. "Ugly things, really, nothing like the Muggle portray them. What was the clue?"

"Some bullshit about taking something important from me and having a damn hour time limit to get it back."

"Well, we need to figure out how to make you breathe underwater."

"Gillyweed," Ulquiorra suggested offhandedly.

"The fuck is that?"

With a roll of his eyes, Ulquiorra turned the book he was reading around and tapped at the page he flipped to.

"Perfect!" Szayel chirped, clapping his hands once. "Now, we just need to get some!"

The day of the task was soon upon him. He was content to just lay in bed, nice and warm, instead of swimming in a cold lake. The next thing he knows, Ulquiorra is shaking him awake. Szayel woke with him.

"What the hell do you want, Emocar?" Nnoitra groggily asked. Szayel noticed no one else was in the dorm other than themselves.

"Tesla is gone," Ulquiorra pointed out. "I believe he is the important item you are to regain from the mermaids in the lake." Then he held out his hand. "I also managed to locate some gillyweed from the greenhouse of aquatic plants."

Nnoitra scoffed. "First damn thing is my mouth today is gonna be a pile of fucking rat tails. Fun…"

"You are also running a bit late for the task."

"Fuck them all…"

Szayel slapped Nnoitra's side. "Grab the damn gillyweed and get down to the lake so you can rescue Tesla. We'll be right behind you."

"Fine… And for the record, if he's conscious, Tesla does not need rescuing. The fucking merpeople will."

Everyone was already gathered outside, just waiting impatiently for Nnoitra to show up. He just casually strolled up to the line of the other three champions, ignoring Percy's near outburst at him. At the moment, all he wore was a pair of tight pants, not tight enough to hug his lower body, but not loose enough to be snagged by underwater flora.

Which put his back and chest in view of everyone.

"My goodness!" Bagman gasped. "Harry, were you attacked by someone?"

"What the fuck are you going on about?" Nnoitra scoffed with a roll of his eyes.

"You have cuts everywhere! Is that a burn on your chest?!"

Blinking, Nnoitra looked down at his torso then shrugged with a smirk. "It's just some rough love. Wait until Gabriel gets into Filch's torture equipment. He's almost there, too." He snickered at the looks on everyone's faces.

Those are some ugly motherfuckers.

Makes you wonder how normal people got the idea that merpeople are beautiful.

Many of the merpeople watched Nnoitra warily as he just floated there and stared at them blankly. Then his gaze went to the statue that Tesla and three others were tied to. He recognized Hermione right off, a second girl he saw was Cho Chang, and the third girl was young, but no one he knew.

Well there they are.

Just give me a minute. I wanna sit here and freak these assholes out for a bit.

After a moment, Diggory came into the mer-village with a large bubble around his head. He pulled a knife out of his pocket, cut his hostage free, then swam away with a confused look on his face as Nnoitra just stared down the merpeople.

You're going to come in last at this pace.

Hold on a second. They're starting to twitch.

Santa Teresa sighed then grinned slyly. Is this your way of discreetly waiting to see if the other hostages will be saved?

Hell no!

He swam over to Tesla and with a sharp tug, the weed snapped, surprising and scaring many of the merfolk. Grabbing Tesla as a shark-headed Krum swam over to Hermione, Nnoitra headed up to the surface.

Tesla, as soon as they broke the surface, woke and immediately clung to Nnoitra. Being a boar-based Arrancar in the past, he could not swim very well in the first place. And unfortunately, it seemed that passed on into his rebirth.

"Mind not choking me?" Nnoitra asked with a quirked eyebrow.

"Sorry, sir," Tesla muttered, loosening his grip around Nnoitra's neck. Then he noticed the injuries on Nnoitra. "I take it Szayel was trying to pull out everything on you last night. Wasn't he?"

"You should have seen the looks everyone had," Nnoitra cackled as he swam to shore, Tesla still on his back. "They thought I was fucking jumped!"

"Well, you were in a way."

See? It's always time for sex thoughts.

See? You're a terrible influence on Tesla.

See? You're both fucking crazy!

…Verruga…get the fuck out.

The merpeople had to return the little girl, Fleur's sister. Nnoitra tried not to snicker when Fleur called out her sister's name in relief.

"Your name and her sister's name…" Nnoitra started, towel draped around his neck as Tesla tried to cover as much of himself as he could.

"I know…" Szayel sighed as the judges gathered for point discussion. "Hers in the more feminine version, though. Oh, poor Colin. I'll make you something nice and warm once we get back inside. What do you say?"

"You're going to spike it with something, aren't you?" Tesla accused with narrowed eyes.

"Maaaybe…"

"I'll pass."

Bagman then started to talk, announcing each champion, what they used for their underwater rescue, and how many points they received. In the end, Nnoitra and Cedric were tied.

"…You know what? I could go for some fucking kink…"

Szayel looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Last night wasn't enough?"

The other champions and whoever else was around them went wide-eyed as Nnoitra gestured to himself and complained, "This is nothing! Where were the damn needles and acid? Come on! All you brought were a fucking knife and a lighter! You didn't even penetrate the muscle!"

"You needed those muscles for the task."

"Would have been fine as hell with them hurt."

"You are both insane," Ulquiorra sighed, turning around and walking away like a wise man.

With a grin, Szayel yelled out a short explanation. "He likes pain and I like dishing it out!"

"Again, you are both insane."

A few days after the task, a note too small to be called a proper letter came to Nnoitra from Sirius, telling him to meet him at Hogsmeade and to bring a lot of food. Nnoitra just resorted to muttering under his breath about how stupid his godfather is and went on to class, skillfully ignoring the clutters of females around the castle, giggling at something in a magazine.

"Witch's Weekly," Szayel noted as he followed the taller teen. "Such poor taste, hardly informative. Oh well, whatever pleases the female population, I suppose."

"You know, following me around like this, I bet you're bored," Nnoitra stated. "Not that I'm complaining."

Szayel chuckled. "Well, my love, I will have you know that I do tend to enjoy following you around. You do the funniest things and maybe I'll get something new to experiment with or on if I stay near you. Besides, you're on your way to Potions and I want to talk to Master Snape."

"Master Snape? Something I need to fucking know?"

Don't act so jealous. Szayel is way above cheating.

A wave of a finely manicured hand. "Not in that sense. I meant Potions Master Snape, just easier to say Master Snape. See I'm thinking of becoming a Potions Master myself, but I need to be apprenticed to a Potions Master first. So I want to ask if he will take me under his wing."

Nnoitra snorted. "Good luck."

"And think about it, if I can convince him yes, I will be here. In Hogwarts. Just a few floors away from you. During my entire apprenticeship."

A grin quickly grew on the taller teen's face.

After a threat of Veritaserum, which Nnoitra skillfully shot off with smart-ass comments, Szayel confronted the local dungeon bat.

I'm telling Murcielago.

Just whose side are you on, anyway?

From what he managed to catch, so long as Szayel puts his studies before anything else and can make a list of potions without messing one up at all under Snape's supervision, he will have his apprenticeship. Giddily, Szayel took the list and went to work right next to Nnoitra.

"He also said that I shouldn't be around you at all, but I informed him that Colin and I are the only ones keeping you happy, calm, and sane. He backed off."

Sometime near the end of class, Karkaroff came in. Both reincarnated Espadas watched him confront Snape for a few seconds.

I wonder what he's so nervous about.

Kind of reminds me of Quirrell's fake behavior…

Santa Teresa did a quick browse of Nnoitra's memories. …That's…not a good thing…

…Voldemort involvement?

Most likely.

They found not a man, but a dog waiting for them at the stile. Ulquiorra raised an eyebrow as Tesla ran up to the dog and scratched it behind the ears. "Oh, Sirius, you are pathetic," Nnoitra commented as Sirius melted under Tesla's touch. Not that he could blame him. Tesla had great hands and gave amazing massages.

"How often have you been in that situation, I wonder," Szayel playfully sighed as Sirius pulled away from Tesla's scratching hand and sniffed the bag in the other.

He panted happily then trotted off. Without another word, they followed after him. After a climb up a stony path that was steep and winding, they made it into a fissure where Buckbeak was laying.

"A hippogriff," Szayel spoke in awe, bowing lowly to the creature. Nnoitra did a slight bow of his head as Ulquiorra and Tesla bowed to the creature as well. After a brief moment, Buckbeak bowed back and Tesla was at the creature's side, rubbing his feathered neck while Szayel thoroughly examined the hippogriff.

"See, this is why I don't get you things," Nnoitra stated as Sirius changed back into his human form.

"Hi, Sirius," Tesla greeted, holding out the back of chicken, bread, and pumpkin juice. "This is all we managed to take, so sorry."

"Better than I would have thought," Sirius reassured. "Thank you."

"So what the fuck are you doing back here?" Nnoitra asked as Sirius bit down into a chicken leg.

"Fulfilling my duty as godfather," Sirius replied. "Don't worry about it. I'm pretending to be a lovable stray. By the way, who are they?"

"Excuse our manners, I am Gabriel Ranimer. You and I met through the fire. And this is Alexander Oblansk. I suppose you can say we're old friends of Harry's that he hasn't seen in a long time."

After scanning the two Daily Prophets Sirius had handed him, he scoffed. "Drama," he pointed out. "Making it sound like the asshole is dying or some shit like that."

"Well he did look quite ill when your name flew out of the Goblet," Szayel pointed out from his spot against Buckbeak, hand gently caressing the hippogriff's feathered neck.

"Did I just lose you to an animal?" Nnoitra asked with a blank stare.

Szayel smirked playfully. "You'll never understand our love!"

"It's called bestiality," Tesla threw in with a grin, trying not to laugh.

"Am I missing something here?" Sirius suddenly asked, looking back and forth between Szayel and Nnoitra.

"You're right, he isn't Stark."

"You doubted me?"

"Harry is gay and is currently in a romantic relationship with Gabriel," Ulquiorra explained briefly with a small sigh.

Nnoitra scoffed. "Romantic. We fuck each other."

Wrong thing to say, Master.

Why?

"You're fourteen years old, Harry!" Sirius exclaimed. "And he's seventeen!"

That's why.

"Point being…?"

Sirius groaned and dropped his head into his open hand. "When did my godson become so corrupted?"

"I've been corrupted! I don't know what the fuck took you so long to figure that out!"

"Harry, my love, stop trying to break your godfather."

"Too late."

After a brief explanation of what happened at the Quidditch World Cup, Sirius went silent in thought. "When the Dark Mark was conjured, and the elf had been discovered holding Harry's wand, what did Crouch do?" he asked lowly.

"Went digging through the bushes," Nnoitra answered. "Like he was looking for some other little shit to take the blame."

"Of course, of course. He'd want to pin it on anyone but his own elf…and then he sacked her?"

"Poor elf," Szayel sighed dramatically. "Except for that one, Dobby I believe you said his name is, have you ever seen a elf's reaction to being freed like that? It just breaks their poor little hearts. They devote their entire lives to the family they are bound to. So why would he sack her just like that?"

"That is a good question," Ulquiorra stated.

At this point, Sirius was up and pacing, muttering to himself. He gave them a brief explanation of Barty Crouch, then told them about how Crouch rose to power only to fall from it because of his son being caught amongst Death Eaters.

"Daddy wasn't paying little baby boy enough attention," Nnoitra chuckled tauntingly. "So little boy turns into dumbass rebel and gets into trouble. Did Daddy get him out?"

"No," Sirius replied, surprised Nnoitra summarized it that easily. "Gave him a trial that was just an excuse for Crouch to show how much he hated the boy, then he sent him straight to Azkaban."

"Harsh," the tall teen commented. "So he still there or what?"

"No," Sirius replied with a slow shake of his head, probably remembering his time in Azkaban. "He died about a year after they brought him in."

"Typical," Szayel sighed uncaringly, twirling a strand of hair around his finger. "So anything important to add on other than a dead boy?"

"Snape was a Death Eater?" Tesla asked in surprise.

Nnoitra shrugged. "Makes sense," he commented with a wave of his hand. "Karkaroff was freaking out about something to Snape all the time. Hell, just the other day, he was trying to show that fucker something on his arm."

"Possibly the Dark Mark," Ulquiorra threw in. "I heard Voldemort marked all his followers with it, generally on their arms, but it was also more than a simple mark. He could summon them through those marks."

Nnoitra was reminded about the numbers branded on them back when they were in Hueco Mundo. Every Arrancar marked by Aizen, like they were his property. He hated it.

Sirius looked at him in surprise. "Where did you get that information?"

"I attend Durmstrang. We learn many things about Dark Lords. I, on the other hand, wish to learn something else."

"You are not going to find out what the heart is by attending a school," Szayel chuckled.

Ulquiorra simply refused to reply.

"What's the time?" Sirius suddenly asked after talking about Bertha Jorkins.

"Half past three," Szayel replied, looking at the sky outside.

"I will never understand how the hell you can do that," Nnoitra sighed as he got to his feet and stretched his arms.

"You'd better get back to the school," Sirius told them as he got to his feet as well. "Now listen. I don't want you sneaking out of school to come see me, all right? Just send notes to me here. I still want to hear about anything odd. But you're not going to leave Hogwarts without permission; it would be an ideal opportunity for someone to attack you."

"You truly have no clue as to who he is, do you?" Tesla blandly stated.

"Anyone's welcome to fucking try it," Nnoitra pointed out with a grin. "I'll tear them a new one."

"For some reason, I don't doubt it," the escaped convict sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Just get back to the school, all four of you! And listen, if you talk about me amongst yourselves, call me Snuffles. Got it?"

A snort escaped Nnoitra. "Couldn't come up with a better name?"

The interrogation of Winky did not go as well planned as they had hoped, especially since the girl Nnoitra so fondly called 'bitch' was there as well. All they got out of the House Elf was that Crouch had some sort of secret, but she wasn't saying any more than that. And they realized how drunk a House Elf could get off of butterbeer.

Then Winky passed out and was covered up. Nnoitra snickered when he remembering doing that to a few Arrancars after getting them totally wasted then dumping them somewhere completely random. Szayel always found those little pranks funny as well. They would sit together watching the monitors as the pranked Arrancar tried to find their way around or panicked when they realized where they were exactly.

Of course, Hermione had to open her mouth and try to force her views on House Elf treatment onto them, which resulted in all of them being shoved out of the kitchen.

"Why the hell am I being blamed for your fuck up?" Nnoitra growled at her. "You know, for a smart bitch, you're dumb as hell."

Szayel stared with a raised eyebrow at the stack of mail in front of him. Ulquiorra actually put his book down, curious about the pile. Tesla and Nnoitra were looking towards the snickering Slytherin's. He remembered a while back, there was an article by Rita Skeeter coming up with all kinds of things about him and Szayel. Apparently, after the Yule Ball, word truly got out.

"People must have nothing more to do with their pathetic little lives," Szayel sighed as he opened one. "Honestly, saying that I'm turning you into a…my! What words!"

"Burn 'em," Nnoitra suggested casually.

Szayel hummed then threw his opened letter on top of the stack before pulling out a vial filled with a reddish-orange liquid. "I've been wanting to see how well this works, anyway." He uncorked it and poured the potion onto the pile. Once it touched the insulting mail, the scent of burning invaded the surrounding nostrils, many students covering their noses. When the entire vial was empty, the pile was on fire. "Hmm, too slow at creating the fire. I need to see what can be done about that." He pulled out a notebook and started writing neatly in it.

"A potion that sets whatever it touches on fire?!" Hermione shrieked in shock.

"Yes, would you like me to test my next batch on you? No? Then shut up."

"How long is it going to burn?" Ulquiorra asked, watching the fire grow and engulf the mail.

"Don't know, we'll see."

Nnoitra stared at the Quidditch field with a quirked eyebrow. Hedges were growing all over it.

"Don't worry," Bagman reassured cheerfully. "You'll have your Quidditch field back to normal once the task is over. Now, I imagine you can guess what we're making here?"

"A fucking maze," the tall teen scoffed. "Real original, make a maze out of some damn shrubs."

"Yes, a maze," Bagman confirmed. "The third task's really very straightforward. The Triwizard Cup will be placed in the center of the maze. The first champion to touch it will receive full marks."

"We seemply 'ave to get through the maze?" Fleur asked.

Before Bagman could answer, Nnoitra burst out laughing. "You're a right dumb bitch, aren't you? Nothing is ever that damn easy. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if there were creatures and curses in there."

Bagman nodded. "Yes, Hagrid is providing a number of creatures, spells that need to be broken, all that sort of thing." He went on explaining the order of the champions' entrance before they were dismissed.

Master, there is something going on in the woods.

None of my fucking business, I am going back to my little pink-haired, menacing lover.

Santa Teresa sighed heavily. Very well.

"So I heard the Triwizard judge Crouch was in the forest and attacked Viktor," Ulquiorra spoke at breakfast the next morning. "By the time anyone got there, Viktor was unconscious and Crouch had disappeared."

Szayel hummed as he ran his fingers through Nnoitra's hair, once again sitting on his lap so he can perform this task. "How interesting," he commented. "Learn anything from that rumor?"

"Karkaroff spat at Dumbledore and accused him of trying to thin out the competition, making it easier for a Hogwarts victory. Also, apparently from what Viktor has said, the man was mad. He was speaking to a tree and calling it Weatherby then whenever his attention went to Viktor, he spoke in broken sentences, repeating that something was his fault and he needed to see Dumbledore."

Nnoitra rolled his eyes. "Fucker went nuts, that's all there is to it."

See? I told you something was going on!

Nothing fun other than a raving lunatic…wait, I could have killed that guy…

His zanpakutou slapped her forehead in disbelief.

It was his break. He laid on his bed, curled up under the covers and catching up on some much needed sleep. His dream was very odd, though.

There was a huge snake and a short, balding man Nnoitra easily identified as Wormtail.

"You are in luck, Wormtail." The voice cold and high pitch. "You are very fortunate indeed. Your blunder has not ruined everything. He is dead.

Wormtail sniveled on the floor. "My Lord! My Lord, I am… I am so pleased…and so sorry."

"Nagini you are out of luck. I will not be feeding Wormtail to you, after all… but never mind, never mind… there is still Harry Potter…" The serpent hissed. "Now, Wormtail, perhaps one more little reminder why I will not tolerate another blunder from you…"

"My Lord… no… I beg you…"

"Crucio!"

"Fucking shit!" Nnoitra yelled, pain searing from his scar. "Damn it all to Aizen and back!"

Santa Teresa stared at the other entity in her masters mind, eyes narrowed. "I told you not to do that," she told him, casually walking up to him. "I told you what would happen."

"Please…no…" the fragment of Voldemort's soul whimpered as Santa Teresa pulled out two outfits.

"School girl or French maid?" she asked with a grin. "It's time for my pampering again!"

"Quite odd how your scar hurts when he is angry," Szayel commented, thumb tracing over the scar on Nnoitra's head.

"Any ideas why?" Tesla asked, sounding worried about this.

"Many," Szayel sighed heavily. "I will need much time for research."

Nnoitra stared at him blankly. "You spend all your time researching some kind of shit."

"That's not true! It's either research or sex with you."

The ever silent Ulquiorra rolled his eyes and shook his head before walking off.

"I spy with my little eye some little shit acting weird," Nnoitra commented.

Szayel quirked an eyebrow and peered over the top of his tome then hummed gently. "Yes, I wonder what he is doing exactly."

"Almost looks like he's on a walkie-talkie," Tesla observed, noticing Malfoy's hand close to his mouth.

"I don't see anything on his hand," Nnoitra pointed out with a scoff. "He's up to some kind of shit."

"He always is."

"…Point for Colin."

Four pairs of eyes scanned over the newspaper as the Slytherin's taunted. "Let's see, disturbed and dangerous," Nnoitra muttered under his breath. "Short temper…violent tendencies…Parseltongue…"

"Fascinating," Szayel commented. "Also bloodthirsty, must be about your fight with the dragon…wait a moment…"

"How did she know your scar hurt?" Tesla asked, looking up at the older teen.

"One second," Nnoitra sighed as he got to his feet and went over to the jeering Slytherin's. "Any of you fuckers wanna see how fucking violent I can get?!" The Slytherin's, for once in their short lives, wisely shut up. "I fucking thought so. Now shut the hell up or you're all my fucking punching bags. I've had enough of your bullshit and quit dragging my into your fucking meaningless drama. You can all go fuck yourselves!"

Szayel sighed with a shake of his head and a soft smile. "He can only stand my drama," he chuckled. "Anyone else and he wants to kill them."

Tesla nodded in agreement, as did Ulquiorra. "Though I must admit," the former Cuatro started. "His temper has improved."

Ron and Hermione, who overheard the other three, sputtered. That's an improved temper?!

"I don't got any family I want to see, so no point in dragging my ass there," Nnoitra pointed out then walked away from the stern McGonagall.

How about to mingle?

With who? The only people I mingle with are Szayel, Tesla, and Ulquiorra.

…Okay, you win that round.

Nnoitra fifteen…

I still have twenty-two.

Damn you straight to Aizen.

Well, at least Kyoka Suigetsu isn't so bad. I have more fun with Shinso, though. He's so random!

"Ladies and gentlemen," Dumbledore started announcing. "In five minutes time, I will be asking you to make your way down to the Quidditch field for the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament. Will the champions please follow Mr. Bagman down to the stadium now."

"Good luck," Tesla said as Nnoitra got to his feet.

"No such fucking thing as luck," the tall teen chuckled. "It's all skill."

"Well, at least your did practice some magic," Szayel sighed. "Santa Teresa can only get you so far."

Nnoitra shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Hey, been getting me pretty damn far for the past couple years!"

The maze was so painfully easy to navigate. Las Noches was harder. Half the time, he couldn't find his own room. He often thought Szayel was just playing with him since whatever corridor he took led him right back to the Octava. Though this time, there is no horny mad scientist changing the white halls. There is only green grass and hedges and the dark night sky.

Occasionally, he heard something but just brushed it off. He really did not give a damn. Eventually, he spotted something glowing in the distance.

Something does not feel right, Santa Teresa noted as her master approached the Cup.

When does it ever?

Hey, how often have I said that and it's true?

Way too many times.

Exacta!

He stood in front of the Cup, debating with himself on whether he should grab it or not.

It's a trap.

Most likely.

…You're planning on it being one, aren't you?

…Maybe…

His hand reached out and grasped the Cup before the feeling of a hook in his navel jerked him away from his spot. Next thing he knew, he was in a graveyard.

Well…shit just hit the fan…

You don't say?

Knock it off.

He rose to his feet and looked around. Dark and a little bit misty. "Creepy," he muttered under his breath before he was suddenly thrown into a tombstone and bound to it. "…Fuck…"

"Bone of the father-"

"Hey, asshole!"

"-unknowingly given-"

"Worthless piece of shit!"

"-you will renew your son!"

"I'm talking to you, shit face!"

Wormtail held his hand over the cauldron and a knife at his wrist after the bone was dropped in. "Flesh of the servant-"

"Fucking coward!"

"-willingly given-"

"Fucker, I'm trying to tell you something!"

"-you will revive your master!"

He cut through his wrist, his hand dropping into the water.

"I was gonna offer to do that for your sorry ass. I would take great pleasure in it!"

He approached Nnoitra with the dagger in his tight grip. "Blood of the enemy-"

"You're an asshole."

"-forcibly taken-"

"You can go fuck yourself."

"-you will resurrect your foe!"

"Fucking dramatic," Nnoitra muttered as the blade dug into his arm and blood was collected. "Yeah, you done yet?"

"Will you stop interrupting me?!" Voldemort yelled at the smug teen.

"I have heard way too many fucking life stories this year, spare me! By the way, you're so ugly, even your mother wouldn't want you around. Oh wait, she's dead, ain't she? Probably killed herself when she saw your ugly ass."

Master, you are very suicidal.

No, I'm just having fun.

"So is your mother, Potter, but I killed her."

"And that is supposed to bother me how?"

Voldemort looked at him with critical eyes. "You're very odd."

"I'm generally called very crazy."

The Dark Lord simply shook his head and waved his hand, easily silencing Nnoitra from interrupting again as he went on with his story. Nnoitra watched blandly.

Can you do anything about this?

One second…working on it…and…done!

"Shut the fuck up, you fucking piece of shit!"

…Yeah…you're suicidal.

"You've been taught how to duel, Harry Potter?" Voldemort asked with a taunting smirk.

"You wanna duel with swords or with wands? I'm better at swords. You know what, fuck it." He pulled out his wand, knowing a sword fight would not be fun at this point since his opponent knew nothing about any weapon other than the stick in his hand.

"We bow to each other, Harry," Voldemort went on, bending little. Nnoitra gave him the finger. "Come, the niceties must be observed…Dumbledore would like you to show manners…Bow to death, Harry…"

The Death Eaters laughed until they saw Nnoitra throw his head back and laugh loudly. "You think I'm scared of death? Hahahaha! Oh, you're funny!" He stopped laughing suddenly, but his piano-like teeth gleamed in the firelight, his eyes wide and maniacal. "You're a down right moron, fucker! I don't bow to shit!"

Angered, Voldemort pointed his wand to the teen. "I said bow!"

Nnoitra fought the feeling of an invisible hand pushing him down. "I said, I don't bow to shit, especially fuckers like you."

"Crucio!"

Nnoitra let the curse hit, feeling the searing pain of a thousand needles jabbing his skin, fire burning in his veins, electricity surging through his body. He smiled, though, and taunted. "That all you got? I'm just barely getting hard over here."

The Death Eaters were stunned. Voldemort was shocked.

"My turn!" He rushed forward, hand going straight for Voldemort's throat in order to crush it. The Dark Lord moved back to evade the attack. "You should die and stay dead sometime," Nnoitra chuckled. "You might learn some things!" He ran forward again, this time kicking out his leg. Once again, Voldemort dodged, but stumbled a little bit. "What's the matter? Can't you move that fast?"

"Crucio!"

The curse hit him again and Nnoitra laughed. "When will you fucking learn?"

"Avada Kedavra!" Master!

"Fuck…Expelliarmus!"

Can't school teach any fucking useful spells?!

Green and red clashed.

Three ghosts emerged from the tip of Voldemort's wand, some old man, Lily Potter, then James Potter. Them telling him to 'hold on' and 'don't let go' was kind of annoying.

"When the connection is broken, we will linger for only moments," his father told him. "But we will give you time. You must get to the Portkey. It will return you to Hogwarts. Do you understand, Harry?"

"Run away from a fucking fight, I should just cut his damn head off," Nnoitra grumbled under his breath. "Save me a lot of shit later."

"Do you understand, Harry?" James Potter repeated.

"Fine, for fuck's sake!"

Lily looked at him disapprovingly. "I'm just going to blame your language on my sister and her family."

"Do whatever the fuck you want."

"Do it now, Harry!"

Nnoitra rolled to the side as he tucked his wand away, the three apparitions swarming towards Voldemort. Death Eaters tried to get in front of him, but he quickly dispatched them. "Weak assholes," he commented as he summoned the Cup to him. That same feeling of a hook in his navel and he was back at school, outside the maze with music blaring in celebration.

"Knock that fucking shit off!"

"Something happened," Szayel commented as he ran up to Nnoitra, Tesla behind him. Ulquiorra was a bit calmer. Dumbledore was trying to speak with Nnoitra without him saying a curse every other word. "Harry, that cut on your arm…it doesn't look like something from a wild animal or a stray curse."

Nnoitra blinked at him then at his arm. "It's not," he answered plainly. "Cup was a fucking Portkey. Took me to some damn graveyard and that fucker Wormtail tied me to some tombstone. Some kind of fucked up ritual with bone of the father, flesh of the dumbass servant, and blood of the enemy. Oh, by the way, Voldemort's back and has his own body."

Ulquiorra shook his head. "Only you can announce something like that so casually."

"It's a talent," the tall teen commented with a grin.

Moody managed to get him away from the crowd. He shared a look with Szayel, who nodded once in understanding.

Something is very wrong with him.

As you have been telling me ever since he showed us those three curses.

Just stating fact.

Moody began asking him question after question. Playing along, Nnoitra answered, yet he noticed one thing. Everyone called Voldemort 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named' or 'You-Know-Who'. Very few call him by name. This guy, however, keeps calling him 'The Dark Lord'.

"You suck at infiltration," Nnoitra commented. "Only Death Eaters call him the Dark Lord."

The older wizard stopped at looked at him. "Yes, it was I. I put your name in the Goblet of Fire under a different school. I frightened off every person who might try to hurt you or prevent you from winning the tournament."

"Don't need any help there."

"Shut up! I nudged Hagrid into showing you the dragons! I told Diggory to open the egg underwater, trusting that he would pass on the information to you in order to repay you for your warning about the dragons."

"That was all Colin, I was just gonna leave the fucker alone."

"Shut up!"

"Yeah, you done with the life story yet?" Nnoitra boredly asked, flicking dirt out from under his nails as figures in the For Glass became a little more sharpened. "I'm getting kind of tired of those." He sighed heavily as Moody snarled at him in irritation. "By the way, you're a fucking asshole."

Quickly, he shot his hand out and disarmed him of his wand, also breaking his arm in the process. Moody screamed in agony as Nnoitra continued to squeeze and twist the damaged arm until the door opened. Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape stared at him in shock.

"I've taken down tougher assholes than you," he told the screaming man before looking at the three professors. "Someone want to take him?"

Barty Crouch Jr., insanely faithful to Voldemort and insane just in general. With Veritaserum in his system, he spilled everything from his father taking him out of Azkaban because of his mother, to breaking free of the Imperius at the World Cup, to capturing the real Mad-Eye Moody, then to killing his own father.

Nnoitra leaned against a wall the entire time. "Fine, can I fucking go now? I'm tired and just don't have enough sense to give a shit."

"Not yet, Harry. You and I must have a discussion."

Damn it all to Aizen!

Why do you damn everything to Aizen?

Because he's worse than Hell.

Szayel paced outside the room where the three professors went, Tesla leaning against a wall and Ulquiorra just staring out a random window. The door finally opened and Nnoitra was the first one out, cussing at the teachers to leave him alone.

"Harry!" Szayel snapped. "Be polite!"

Nnoitra gave him a blank look. "Really?"

The pink-haired teen shrugged. "Worth a shot. How did it go in there?"

"Mad-Eye Moody is actually a fucking Death Eater drinking Polyjuice Potion so he looks like Moody. He's actually baby Barty, and he was the asshole who put my name in the damn goblet and has apparently been indirectly helping me win this fucking tournament."

The other three teens stared at him. Tesla sighed. "Wow, you really know how to sum things up."

"Another useful talent!"

"Harry, go to the damn hospital wing and get some sleep!"

Three pairs of eyes looked at the cursing one. "Damn, Gabriel."

"They are too loud," Ulquiorra commented as Nnoitra slowly drifted back to the world outside of sleep.

"I know that voice," Tesla added on softly so he wouldn't wake up the taller teen. "That's Fudge."

"Who?" Szayel asked.

"A fucking arrogant asshole who believes whatever the hell he wants to believe," Nnoitra replied as he sat up. "I really want to punch him in the face."

"Oh, you're awake!" the pink-haired teen chirped before the doors opened, allowing Fudge and McGonagall to enter the room, arguing nearly at the top of their lungs. Then Dumbledore came in and started demanding an explanation for all the noise.

Nnoitra actually waited for a moment, trying to wake up, when he heard about the Dementor going near Barty Crouch Jr. "Are you fucking insane?!" he yelled at the minister. "A fucking Dementor?! You are so fucked up in the head! I can't fucking believe this shit!"

"Now you listen here, young man," Fudge started, stammering a little bit.

"No, you fucking listen, you fucking pile of shit! You just signed your fucking death warrant! Believe it or not, Voldemort is back! And he's going to come after your sorry ass! And you just brought in a fucking Dementor that just turned your only fucking witness into a fucking vegetable!"

"I lost count of all the fucks he just said," Szayel calmly announced as he rose to his feet and up to the minister. "He's very cranky when he is woken so rudely, but when he starts up these types of rants, he's very angry. I, personally, don't blame him for his anger."

Fudge humphed in a very poor dignified way, straighten his coat. "Well Crouch is no loss anyway," he started. "It seems he has been accountable for several deaths."

"But now, he cannot give testimony, Cornelius," Dumbledore told him. "He cannot give evidence about why he killed those people."

"Why he killed them? Well, that's no mystery, is it? He was a raving lunatic! From what Minerva and Severus have told me, he seems to have thought he was doing it all on You-Know-Who's instructions!"

"You're a fucking idiot," Nnoitra grumbled as Szayel sat beside him and Tesla behind, gently combing through his hair. Damn them for distracting him like this. Ulquiorra just stood off to the side and watched in silence.

"Lord Voldemort was giving him instructions, Cornelius," Dumbledore argued. "Those people's deaths were mere by-products of a plan to restore Voldemort to full strength again. The plan succeeded. Voldemort has been restored to his body."

The argument went on between Fudge and Dumbledore. Fudge called the idea of Voldemort's return preposterous, Dumbledore tried (and failed) to make him see sense. When Nnoitra's name was brought into the conversation, he flipped Fudge off when the minister looked at him.

"He's a dumbass," Nnoitra finally said after Fudge and Dumbledore argued some more. "Fine. Want to live in your lala land of sweet shit and fucking sparkles? Fine. In the end, you will feel despair when the weapon of your enemy is at your throat. When he stands over you victorious and you nothing more than a sniveling little pile of shit that you are, you will be filled with despair. So much of it. Because you're too fucking retarded to listen when people try to give you a fucking warning. Because you are so weak and he is too strong for you to handle.

"Despair will fill you because you are weak, and will be weak when Voldemort has you on Death's doorstep."

We don't have a doorstep. We have very big trees and white sand. I don't know, maybe the Shinigami have doorsteps?

…Not the point…

The foreigners had to leave the same day as the last school day. Szayel pouted and refused to leave Nnoitra's lap. "I refuse to go home!" he snapped at his headmistress when she attempted collection of her students. "I absolutely refuse! I have waited too long to see Harry again, and I refuse to leave him again!"

Ulquiorra noticed his fellow schoolmates gathering and rose to his feet. "Farewell, Quinta, Octava, Lindocruz."

"Later," Nnoitra muttered, arm wrapped tightly around Szayel's waist.

"Farewell, Cuarta," Szayel said to him.

"Bye," Tesla spoke last.

"Gabriel, it eez time to go," Maxine told him firmly.

"No!" Szayel protested until Nnoitra grabbed him by his chin and kissed him hard. When they broke apart, Nnoitra had a smirk on his face and Szayel seemed a little daze. "I'll see you next year when I come back for my Potions Apprenticeship."

"See you."

Szayel slid out of his spot on the taller teen's lap, straightened out his features, then looked up at his stunned headmistress with half-lidded eyes and a lazy smile. "Are we leaving or not?"

Inside Nnoitra's mind, Santa Teresa facepalmed.

Tesla suddenly looked at Nnoitra with realization. "I forgot to tell you, I gave your winnings to the Weasley twins and told them that you want them to open their joke shop soon."

Nnoitra shrugged. "Fine with me, those guys are awesome."

Wow, I cannot believe it took me this long to get this chapter up! I was hoping to put a chapter up every month…so much for that idea. I blame you, PS3. Just got Mass Effect trilogy and am having way too much fun with it. But if someone can tell me why my ME1 save won't import into my ME2 game, I would appreciate and explanation and solution. It's kind of pissing me off.

Anyway, I apologize for any grammar mistakes. I tried to go over it a multitude of times to make sure there were none, but I'm sure I missed a few. And FYI, this chapter is 58 pages long. I am amazed.

Now I won't promise a chapter next month. I can't. With work and other things (one of them mentioned above), I don't know when I will get it out or if I can even motivate myself into writing it. I hated Order of the Phoenix simply because it was such a slow book and kind of boring. Hopefully, Nnoitra and the gang can make it more exciting, ^^