Hillevi had never been in a room solely dedicated to teaching before.

Valhalla was not exactly known for academia, and she was used to sitting on the floor as an older Viking lectured on how best to take down a Dragon, if anything at all.

Even Gobber had been a very hands-on teacher, preferring to physically take her and her Pokemon through the steps rather than explain with words.

Sitting in a classroom, surrounded by others her own age, Hillevi had no idea what to do with herself.

Hermione was practically merging with her Pokedex now, reviewing some notes, and Neville sat quietly, Flora taking an after-lunch nap on his desk.

Once he was done complaining about the pudding they could have eaten, Ron started talking with Seamus and Dean Thomas about some team for the Gauntlet Tournament, and Harry seemed to be people-watching, feeding bits of a dinner roll to Eevee.

Trying to relax, Hillevi dug out a few more iron scraps, a lopsided smile taking root as Meatlug rumbled, glancing towards the other half of the classroom.

Unlike last class, where they had been alongside Hufflepuff First Years, this was a joint Slytherin lesson, and she could not help taking quick stock of the situation, fingers twisting in the chain around her neck.

Draco Malfoy was the center of attention, leaning back in his chair and lazily waving a hand as he spoke, his Snivy turning up a nose at everyone, while a Slytherin girl, Pansy Parkinson, fawned over every word while her Treecko lazily chewed on a sprig of straw, uninterested.

Behind him were a couple of boys who reminded Hillevi of a silent, much bigger Ruffnut and Tuffnut, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, with their Sawk and Throh flanking on either side.

"Where's Professor McGonagall?" Hermione hissed, finally shutting her desk and releasing little Ralts.

The baby Pokemon glanced around for a moment before spotting her girl, hurrying over with a giggle and would have fallen if Meatlug had not slid in to catch her.

"Ralts!"

"Leave it to a clumsy new blood to have a pathetic Pokemon!" Draco laughed, and Hermione cradled her Pokemon, glaring.

"What is your problem? Ever since I met you, you've been a jerk!"

"My problem?"

The sneer was palpable as the Slytherin slid from his chair.

"My problem is that they are handing out Pokeballs to any fool that walks up to a counter with some Pokedollars in their pocket."

Snivy leapt up onto his shoulder, a similar habit to Sharpshot, and Hillevi frowned as the chain bit into her skin.

"Pokemon belong to those who have it in their blood to train them, not to new bloods like you. It's people like you that are robbing trainers of their good name."

"No."

Everyone turned in surprise at the firm denial, and Hillevi stood, gold sparking in the dark green of her eyes.

"The only person robbing trainers of their good name here is you."

"And what do you know, cripple?" He shot back, going for the cheap shot. "I bet you lost that leg trying to prove you aren't a failure and got exactly what you deserve."

Oh, but that hit a deep, half-healed wound, and Hillevi actually stumbled, blinking back tears.

"I…"

"I don't get any of you." Draco continued, turning to the boys. "Longbottom, your family has been training for generations. Doesn't it upset you that this girl is daring to think she's on the same level as you? And Potter…Well, I warned you about hanging out with trash."

"Trash?" Ron shot back, incensed. "You're full of shit, you know that, Malfoy?"

"A Weasley jumping to the aid of filth, I'm so shocked."

"At least my dad became a Gym Leader the honest way." Ron snapped. "Everyone knows the only reason your father's Gym is official is because while he was being 'forced' to help Voldemort, Harry's dad was actually fighting him-"

"My father won accreditation fair and square!" Draco roared, Crabbe and Goyle stepping up. "Maybe if Potter's father had been a better fighter-"

Hillevi jerked forward, rage and an old grief filling her chest as Meatlug roared.

"You-!"

"You shut your mouth, Draco!" Harry thundered, leaping up as Eevee bared needle-sharp teeth.

The whole room fell silent, shocked at the sudden switch from quiet to furious, and Hillevi stared at the boy with new eyes.

"You know, I heard once that actions speak louder than words. You're always talking about how great you are, and how wonderful. How about you prove it, right here, right now?"

"You want to battle me?" The Slytherin asked, taken aback.

"Harry, don't." Neville warned, tugging on the boy's sleeve.

"Yes, unless you're scared." Harry challenged, undeterred. "You can't weasel your way out of it if you lose. Everyone will see just how much of a liar you are, and that scares you to death, doesn't it?"

The Gryffindors burst into cheers as the Slytherins chanted encouragement, and Hillevi opened her mouth to intercede-

Snivy yelped as a white shadow slid between the Houses, and the Valhallan let out a deep breath as James looked coolly over the First Years, Absol eyeing the tiny Grass-type.

"Didn't know calling people names was acceptable here." The older boy noted, monotone. "Figured the whole point of this set-up was to make friends, not enemies."

Before Draco could open his mouth-likely to turn everything into someone else's fault-, a growl rolled through the room, and the students pulled back as a Liepard padded from the shadows, looking upon them with sharp golden eyes.

James did not so much as twitch, not even when the Pokemon rose up on her hind legs and shifted to reveal Professor McGonagall, Purrloin in her arms.

"It is not, James. Mister Weasley, ten points from Gryffindor for cursing. Thirty points from Slytherin for name-calling. I would suggest that, unless you want to add detentions to that, you sit down and think about how you represent yourself, Mister Malfoy."

The whole class sat, stunned, and Hillevi caught the super soldier's eye as he slid back, head tilted just so as Absol slid around the edges.

Nodding back to the question, she rested a hand on Meatlug's back to calm her rumbles as Professor McGonagall began her lesson.

"What you just saw is a technique called Pokemagnus. One of the rarest feats, there are only a handful of trainers that are able to perform it. Would anyone like to take a guess why?"

Hermione raised her hand promptly.

"Due to the difficulty of joining and separating two minds?"

"While that is true, it's not the answer I was looking for. Miss Greengrass?"

A blond-haired Slytherin smiled, Vanillite floating around her head.

"You have to have a high level of trust between you and your Pokemon to ensure they will allow a bond."

"Ten points to Slytherin. Nothing you learn in Hogwarts will matter if you do not have the trust and respect of your Pokemon, and they do not have yours. To try and do anything with either of you being on different sides or working towards different goals will only lead to failure."

Some of the Gryffindor First Years glanced towards Hillevi at that, remembering that morning.

"It doesn't matter how rare or powerful a Pokemon is, if it doesn't trust you, it is no better than a newly hatched Magikarp."

Professor McGonagall recalled her Purrloin, and every Pokemon in the room cried out as she removed a ball from her desk.

"Please quiet your Pokemon."

Even Absol reacted, backing away from the horrible smell, and James reached down to thread his right hand through soft white fur as he crouched, looking into his Pokemon's blood-red eyes quietly.

Meatlug wailed, scuffing the desk as she tried to retreat, and Hillevi pressed her forehead to the Pokemon's cool steel mask, encasing the tiny Pokemon with her whole body.

"It's okay, Meatlug, we're fine, I promise, just breathe, breathe with me, bud, it'll be over soon, just breathe, I promise…"

Murmuring assurances, the whole world narrowed down to just them in that moment, hearts beating in time with shared pain-

All at once, it was over, and Meatlug sagged against her girl with a rumble, blinking slowly.

"You did great, sweetheart." Hillevi whispered, pressing a kiss to the Aron's forehead as the class quieted once more.

"What you experienced here was a moment when your Pokemon were in a state of panic. Max Repel is designed to make Pokemon flee an area. It's not their fault they reacted this way."

The professor shot a scathing look at the louder students.

"And screaming and yelling and bullying them did nothing, except give them something to remember the next time you need them to help you. In my class, you will learn how to gain your Pokemon's trust, and how to ensure that you and they are on the same page. It will be hard, but it will open up avenues you could never imagine. Now then, turn on your Dexes and scan your Pokemon."

Running a hand over Meatlug's armor one last time, Hillevi pulled out her black-red-yellow Pokedex and allowing the infrared to scan.

Aron, the Iron Armor Pokemon.

When it evolves, it sheds the steel carapace that covered its whole body and develops a new one.

Type: Steel/Rock

Attacks: Tackle, Harden, Mud-Slap, Headbutt, Metal Claw, Rock Tomb, Protect, Roar, Iron Head, Rock Slide, Take Down, Metal Sound, Iron Tail, Iron Defense, Double-Edge, Autotomize, Heavy Slam, Metal Burst, Earth Power, Shock Wave, Superpower, Water Pulse, Dig.

Nothing that she did not already know, to be honest; you spend nearly about a decade training with a Pokemon, you tend to know what they're capable of.

Still, seeing the long list of moves, Hillevi realized for the first time how strong the tiny Pokemon really was, even unevolved.

"You're amazing, Meatlug." She whispered, tears welling up as Meatlug whined, pressing into her palm. "I'm so sorry…"

Toothless vibrated in his Pokeball as the Aron rose up on her hindlegs to touch foreheads, staring into her girl's watery green eyes.

After a moment, Hillevi nodded, rubbing at her eyes with a shaky breath.

Crying was not going to change anything.

It never did.


The Gryffindor common room was full of chatter, students relaxing and enjoying a night free of homework, comparing Pokemon and sharing stories of their summers.

Curled up on an armchair, Hillevi watched Skullcrusher and Lockjaw wrestle in circles on the floor as Sharpshot refereed, Stormfly and Meatlug dozing off in her lap.

A pair of Seventh Years were trading information on a pair of Poliwhirl nearby, Percy acting as mediator, when Fred and George plopped onto the couch with the others.

"Trading."

"Trading?" Harry voiced, confused by the non-sequitur.

"You didn't think that just because you catch a Pokemon, you're stuck with them forever?" Fred replied, shaking his head with a smile. "To be that young and naïve again."

"You're still naïve." George pointed out good-naturedly.

"True. A lot of people trade Pokemon. They might have caught one that doesn't work well with their team, or captured a spare with the purpose of trading for a Pokemon they don't have. Some do it because certain Pokemon will only evolve when sent to someone else, kind of a reward for friendship between trainers."

The Weasley smiled, leaning back.

"So, how are the ickle Firsties enjoying their first day?"

"Other than Professor McGonagall scaring Ralts…" Hermione muttered, running a hand along the little Psychic-type's back so she cooed.

"Better that than dealing with Draco." Ron argued, scowling.

"Why does he act like that?" Harry wondered.

"My running theory is that, as a baby, a Bonsley crawled up his buttocks." The youngest Weasley snorted.

"Ronniekins and Draco don't get along." George stage-whispered, as if that was not obvious.

"He's his father's son." Neville pointed out, checking Flora's bulb. "Lucius Malfoy is a million times worse."

"That's no excuse for being a jerk." Hermione pointed out.

"You knew Draco before Hogwarts?" Harry asked Ron, intrigued.

"Me and Neville both. We-"

"Neville and I." The female Gryffindor cut in.

"Huh?"

"The proper way to say it is 'Neville and I'."

"Whatever, Miss Dictionary." Ron retorted, missing the glower Ralts sent his way. "Because our parents and guardians are gym leaders, we get stuck together whenever there's a party or gathering. Draco has it in his head that he's the greatest thing since Merlin discovered beard detangler, and he lets us all know it."

"He told me once that we could have been friends if I had just learned my place…" Neville admitted. "To him, friends aren't really friends, they're just Pokemon that don't go into balls."

"That explains Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum." Hillevi noted, running a hand down Meatlug's back as she started to growl.

"Crabbe and Goyle." George named with a smirk. "They're like shorter, stupider versions of us."

A finger wagged in Ron's face when his mouth opened.

"Now, now, baby brother, don't even consider making a joke. That's our job."

"Well said. Now-"

A scream filled the common room, and everyone stared as Plusle and Minun ran off with Katie Bell's shirt.

"GEORGE! FRED!"

"You know what they say, brother."

"Indeed, brother."

The twins took off for the teleporters at breakneck speed.

"When the going gets tough, the twins get going!"

Snickering at the scene, Sharpshot whapped Skullcrusher on the snout with her tail for shoving Lockjaw on his back while Ron rose, cracking his knuckles.

"Well, I need to go see Professor McGonagall. She said it was my turn for a one-on-one session."

"Have fun, Ron." Hermione replied, standing with Ralts toddling on her heels. "I'm going to go through my notes again. I'll see you in the morning."

"Night, Hermione."

Spotting a new shadow in the corner of one eye, Hillevi smiled as she got up.

"I'm gonna see if I can, uh, call my dad. Come on, you little rascals."

With a little whining, and another whap from Sharpshot's table, the hatchlings waddled after as the Valhallan slipped around to a quiet corner.

"Hey, James…"

The super soldier blinked slowly as Mawile smiled in greeting, articulating her second mouth to the hatchlings' immediate delight.

"You okay?" He questioned, the barest inflection at the end to make his statement a question.

Flushing at her own reaction to Draco's blind swing, Hillevi bit her lip, gaze dropping.

"Yeah, I'm…I'm fine."

Sharpshot huffed smoke, tail-flame flaring, as Meatlug rumbled low at the reminder.

A long moment of silence, and James nodded.

"Okay."

Both of them knew that it wasn't.