James made it a point to sit in on every class the rest of that week, not just Professor Lockheart's.
"Every time I turn around, you end up in trouble." He had said with a sense of amusement. "Need to up my game, or Stevie will get jealous."
This also, surprisingly, helped keep the First Years from openly staring, asking to pet Cloudjumper, inquiring about Dexter, or-to Lockheart's annoyance-requesting autographs whenever they saw Hillevi.
Fred and George had taken what she said in Professor Dumbledore's office and ran with it, basically making her the patron saint of the weak and persecuted, along with informing every Gryffindor First Year of exactly who she was and what she had done the year before.
The whole experience was pretty surreal, honestly.
At least Cloudjumper enjoyed all the attention, and Dexter had a great time cataloguing all of their Pokemon, so Hillevi had weathered the new popularity as best she could.
"Mister Weasley, I understand you have problems with that rat of yours, but whatever did it do to justify having that vile concoction poured down its throat?"
Turning in her seat at Professor Snape's words, Hillevi winced at the brown sludge in Ron's beaker as Cloudjumper buried her face in the clean folds of her turtleneck to hide from the smell.
This particular potion was meant to be blue and a liquid, which was very much not what he had made, and Drumfire vocally scolded him for it while joining his fellow in hiding within Hillevi's sweater.
"I would take away points from you, Mister Weasley, but I believe that you are the first person ever to create a poison more lethal than Arbok venom." Professor Snape drawled.
"Really?"
"Dunderhead." The professor snapped, earning a fresh cringe from the boy. "Twenty points from Gryffindor for creating something that is clearly an affront to nature."
Sharpshot slanted a look that way, her tail-flame held steady as always, Stormfly swaying on the Charmeleon's horn with an unhappy little chirp.
"Now then, Mister Potter, please look at Miss Davis' potion. Describe it to me."
"Uh…"
Harry twisted to look at the Slytherin girl's potion.
"It's a blue."
"I know it's blue, Mister Potter!" The Potions Professor snapped a second time. "What else?"
"It's a clear blue?"
"It's a liquid."
Professor Snape proceeded to pick up the test tube and turn it over, the solidified contents landing on the desk with a THWUNK.
"I suppose if you were trying to create a suppository, this might qualify as acceptable. Someone please educate Mister Potter in what he did wrong. Mister Malfoy."
Draco smirked, clearly enjoying this.
"Clearly, Potter didn't mix his potion properly."
"No."
Multiple jaws dropped in the ensuing silence, and Hillevi carefully set aside her finished potion, raising a hand.
"Miss Haddock."
"The flame burned too cool." She answered, looking at the results. "There's probably a build-up on the neck of his Bunsen burner. An easy fix."
Professor Snape raised an eyebrow silently, and she stared back, sure in her deduction.
Since she had politely declined continuing her apprenticeship this year-mostly to focus on her new baby Dragons-, there had been a quiet agreement to not test each other in any way, out of respect.
She wondered how far that went.
"Exactly. Ten points from Gryffindor failing to check equipment. I also want five hundred words on what other dangers could arise from not cleaning your equipment properly before working on a potion."
The man whirled around to stalk towards his desk, waving a hand dismissively.
"Get out of my sight, all of you. You sicken me with your incompetence."
Even the Slytherins rushed out, not wanting to draw the attention of their Head of House at the moment, and Hillevi followed her friends out of the door after recalling Sharpshot, James right on her heel.
After the week they had endured-where Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick had settled on a date, September 30th, for the Honor Battle-, the weekend was like a shining beacon of light at the end of a dark tunnel.
"I hope they have a big meal planned for tonight. I could out-eat a Munchlax!" Ron voiced, stomach grumbling.
"How can you possibly still be hungry after making that brown gloop?" Hermione demanded, disgusted. "I could smell it all the way across the room!"
"I find that it's better to remove bad sensations with good ones!" The Weasley explained with a shrug. "The sooner I eat something delicious, the sooner I can get rid of the memory of that smell."
"That oddly makes sense." Harry admitted, James nodding in agreement.
"No, it doesn't!" Hermione argued. "Neville, tell them it doesn't make any sense!"
Neville was hardly paying attention, since Flora was wiggling and barking in his arms.
"I know, I know, we'll get your medicine in a moment."
"BULBA!"
With a little whirr, Dexter dove into the boy's bag and emerged with the baby bottle of pain medicine, which Flora latched onto gratefully.
"She's still getting evolution pains?" Hillevi worried, brow furrowing as Stormfly and Drumfire peeked out of her turtleneck.
"Yeah, and they don't seem to be ending soon. At least they aren't getting worse."
"Well, that might be a good thing." Ron offered. "Didn't Mister Lupin say that the longer it takes a Pokemon to evolve, the stronger they are?"
"I don't care if Flora is weaker than a Feebas, I just want her better…"
"My cousin's Pancham was the same." Hillevi admitted, running a hand down Cloudjumper's neck. "He could hardly sit still for days, and would always snap at him."
"Demon was grumpy." James stated, eyeing his Houndoom fondly as the canine gave him an adorable doggy-smile. "Nearly ripped my arm off."
"That's…not exactly what I meant." The Valhallan replied, glad that the Gryffindor common room was in sight.
But just as Hermione reached to key in the password, several strong hands steered them away, the Gryffindor Gauntlet team leading the group further down the hall as Angelina offered Hillevi a smile.
"Wanna come with?"
Considering the offer, she shrugged in agreement, sensing James' amusement as they willingly went along with whatever the upperclassmen had planned.
"Sorry, ickle Secondies." Fred said with a grin, guiding Harry by the shoulders. "We have other plans."
"Don't worry, we already packed some appropriate clothing." George assured, shoving Ron along. "And a nice supper to eat on the way."
"Don't worry, you're completely safe." Katie told Hermione as she led the girl along.
"Abandon all hope, ye who enter here!" Fred joked, leading the way into a dark classroom.
"Mostly safe." Oliver agreed, herding Neville in. "Your bags are over there. We have jackets, boots, and hats. Get changed, and we'll pass out the gear."
Seeing her own thick leather jacket and hiking boot, Hillevi decided to play along, the others doing so with varying levels of suspicion and uncertainty.
"Guys, what's going on?" Harry wondered, kicking off his shoes to pull on his hiking boots. "Is this some sort of hazing thing?"
"Nah. We haven't done hazing since that incident with the cream pie." Angelina answered.
"We didn't mean for it to blow up!" Fred and George defended themselves, looking properly ashamed.
"Please tell me it was the pie that blew up, and not a student." Hermione replied, tugging on a heavier jacket.
Oliver clapped his hands, and the group slowly circled around the Gauntlet Captain, the Second Years exchanging some uncertain looks while James just watch, beyond amused.
"Now then, it has come to our attention that you, Harry Potter, will be battling Cho Chang in an Honor Battle at the end of the month. Three days later, we'll be taking on the Ravenclaw Gauntlet Team, which has Miss Chang as their Runner. It's been decided by us, your teammates-"
"Oliver, you're putting us all to sleep." Katie chided playfully, shoving him aside. "Okay, so here's the deal. We want you to win, Harry. More than that, we want you to crush her. It'll either throw Chang completely off, or have her become so aggressive that she'll make stupid mistakes and net us the win in our first match. We've all talked it out, and we decided the best way to net a victory is to get you a Pokemon Chang isn't expecting."
"That's right." Alicia Spinnet agreed. "The Claws love to study up on their opponents. They make up little lists, and try and figure out what moves you might use. They have a tone of practice battles where they lay out strategies in hopes of having a complex counterattack ready. Nothing will surprise them more than a Pokemon they didn't know you had leaping out. Claws hate the unexpected."
"How do you plan on getting me this Pokemon?" Harry wondered, rightfully suspicious.
"My dear brother and I happen to know a secret route that can get us to the Forbidden Island undetected." George answered, puffing up with pride.
"But that's not allowed!" Neville objected fearfully. "It's forbidden! It's even in its name!"
"No risk, no reward." Fred waved off. "The Forbidden Island has a tone of rare and powerful Pokemon on it. We're all going to go and capture a new Pokemon!"
"Ollie already let Professor McGonagall know that we're going to be doing some late-night training, so she'll be none the wiser." George informed them.
"And I convinced Chloe to look the other way and not report that we weren't in by curfew. She'll keep our prat brother occupied while we get down to business." Fred finished.
"Okay, so I get why Harry's here." Ron voiced. "But why is Neville here?"
"Neville is Harry's partner in the Honor Battle. He needs a new Pokemon, too. Plus, that makes him an honorary member of the Gauntlet Team."
"You do mean honorary as in I don't ever have to compete, right?" Neville hoped.
"So you brought Harry and Neville because they're gonna be in an Honor Battle." Hillevi clarified, rubbing Drumfire's sensitive ears as he squeaked. "You brought Ron and Hermione because they would have noticed those two missing and probably snuck out after you anyway. So why are me and James here?"
"Rare and powerful Pokemon, remember?" Oliver reminded her. "You're a Valhallan with two Legendaries and two powerful Pokemon, and he's the Winter Soldier. If I could choose who to have watching my back out there, you two would be at the top of that list."
"Okay." Ron accepted. "Then why is Ginny here?"
Said girl gave the startled group a cheery wave, and Cloudjumper giggled uncontrollably at the rush of laughter coming off James.
"Because Luna didn't want to go alone." She explained as Luna stepped into the room, looking around with wide eyes.
Oliver opened his mouth to protest, and Ginny wagged her finger.
"Uh uh. You even think of telling us to go back to the dorms, and we'll go crying to Professor McGonagall."
The youngest Weasley bit her lip, tears forming.
"I…I tried to stop them, professor, but they were so mean!"
As fast as the tears had come, they were gone, and Ginny smiled triumphantly.
"If they're like the Power Rangers, then we're Tommy." Luna stated. "I'll go summon the Dragonzord."
Ginny caught her friend's arm before she ran off, and Katie shrugged.
"They did manage to get the drop on us, and they were part of this whole thing already."
Oliver rubbed the bridge of his nose, fighting back a headache.
"Fine, you two can come. But stay out of trouble, and never leave our sight. We do this right, and this will go off without a-"
"NO!" The group hollered, horrified.
"…Hitch."
Hermione held her head in despair, Ron sent up a prayer, Neville debated a runner, Hillevi recalled Stormfly and Drumfire for their own safety, James considered what he had done to deserve this, and the Weasley Twins smacked their captain upside the head.
"Well." Harry stated, deadpan. "That jinxed us."
"Thank you, girl." Fred cooed, stroking the giant Tentacruel's head.
Ginger, as she was known by most at Hogwarts, was an anomaly not just for her size, but for her temperament.
She was sweet as any of Bruce's Pokemon, and, when given the right treat, was more than willing to tug their boat silently over the lake to the Forbidden Island.
"We'll be right back, pretty girl." George said, tickling the giant Pokemon between the eyes and earning a watery peal of laughter. "You stay in the area, and we'll call you."
With a final wave, Ginger sank into the water, leaving hardly a bubble.
"Alright, we have about two hours before we'll need to get back." Oliver voiced, rubbing his hands together. "Our main goal is to get Harry and Neville each a new Pokemon, but if you see something after that you want to grab, feel free and go after it."
"Can't help but be tempted by the forbidden fruit, can you Ollie?" George noted as he released Minun, who dug a pair of binoculars out and joined his brother in a tree to scout.
"I'd be foolish not to." Oliver admitted as James released all four of his Pokemon, Sting happily curling around his ear. "But my main goal, once again, is Harry and Neville."
He looked towards the boys as Hillevi released Sharpshot and Meatlug, swinging up onto the latter's back while Cloudjumper looked around curiously.
"Don't be greedy, but don't be skittish either. We don't have a ton of time to wander about, and I don't want to have you two come back emptyhanded."
"And don't just go for the biggest and strongest thing you can find." Alicia reminded them. "Sometimes, the strongest Pokemon is a young one you raise for a long time."
"Besides, it would be horrible to pick out a Pokemon that doesn't respect you as a trainer and refuses to follow you." Katie added.
"You all are ruining the fun of this!" George complained. "We're on the Forbidden Bloody Island! This should be an adventure!"
A roar filled the air, and the group slowly turned to the tree Plusle and Minun were perched in.
The pair of Electric-types looked at each other, and then the old oak they were sitting in, which started to shift and sway.
Fred and George caught their Pokemon as they tumbled free, watching in silent horror as the tree shook violently, eyes opening in a glare as the bark cracked, revealing dark ectoplasm.
"Trevenant!" Katie shouted, backing away from the forest's edge as more trees ripped their roots from the ground with angry roars.
A Heat Wave sent the horde stumbling back, a rush of Icy Wind and an added Inferno convincing the Elder Tree Pokemon to retreat.
The students turned to Hillevi and James in surprise, and the super soldier raised an eyebrow as Demon and Sharpshoot chuffed sparks and Princess brushed off her fur daintily.
"Be careful."
Oliver released his Talonflame while glaring at the twins, silently chiding them.
"The Forbidden Island has a very dense ecosystem. There are Ghost-, Psychic-, Dark- and Electric-type running around here, and that's just what we know of! Pokemon Trackers like to send Hogwarts rare species they find in hopes that their populations can increase on this island. There's a reason Professor Dumbledore says this place is forbidden, students aren't supposed to be here! The Pokemon here are willing to attack if needed, and will do so violently. This isn't like strolling down Route One or anything. The Pokemon here live in isolation for most of their lives, and have no issues with attacking trainers, violently if needed. Stay alert."
Katie called forth her Rapidash and leapt on, pulling Luna up after a moment's consideration, the Fire Horse dimming her mane as the blonde stroked her neck.
"I'll go first." Hillevi decided, Meatlug already lumbering towards the forest. "James can take the back."
With the great sense of being put upon, the super soldier looked to the group, blank.
"Don't leave the path. Stay with someone older than you."
He paused here, mulling the thought over.
"Except the twins."
"We'd be insulted, but you have a point." George conceded.
With that said, the group plunged into the shadowy depths of the Forbidden Island, in search of adventure.