The Gryffindors were back in their common room when a shrill scream warned them. And to their absolute surprise, they saw Luffy rush down the dormitory where he had put his pajama, protecting his head from a rod in kairoseki charmed to hit his head.
«Yamero! » pleaded Luffy avoiding the attack.
«Humph! »
And to the huge surprise of everyone, it was a house elf who had charmed the rod. A rather old house elf, in a grey kimono with black feathers drawn on it. A very neat kimono, in fact.
«Oh, Karasu! » Recognized Nami. «You want some help to beat a little common sense in this idiot's brain?! »
«Nami! Tasukete! » Whined Luffy.
«Karasu doesn't need help to take care of foolish boys. Karasu managed to handle Gol-sama and Ray-san! It's not this idiotic pipsqueak made of rubber that will give me a hard time! »
And with a emphatic move of his arm, he ordered the rod to change its target: Luffy's buttocks. Luffy had to use his Haki to avoid the metallic rod that had hurt him enough as it was.
«Karasu! Karasu! Karasu! » Cheered Fred and George.
«I'm going to complain to Ji-chan! » Warned Luffy.
«Karasu is just waiting for this ! »
The Golden Trio stared at the scenery with surprise.
«It's the first time I see a house elf act like this with a wizard, » whispered Vivi, not so far, fighting a smile.
«It's impossible…» commented Ron.
Luffy ended up falling on the ground, and Karasu caught the rod in his hand to put it under the pirate's neck who winced at the contact of the kairoseki.
«What did Ray-san told you when you went away? » Asked the elf.
«To not attract attention. To be good. »
«And how is defying your potion teacher swallowing a poison just in front of him, then ditch your defense class, match with not catch attention and behaving ? »
«It's Ji-chan who asked you to scold me? »
«No. If it was him, Karasu would have probably hit a little harder. It's Sabo who asked Karasu this service. And after, if your comportment doesn't change, Karasu will have to wander in the Shin Sekai…»
Luffy paled.
«You won't talk about it to Ace?!
The smile of the house elf pure was sadism. Delighted, he told to the young pirate:
«Karasu will show you, you'll see. »
One last blow on his skull to mark his point and Karasu made the metal rod disappear before bowing.
«In the name of the Silver, Karasu ask you to accept his apologies for this scene. »
«Hey! Karasu! If you don't have anything to do, could you give something to Ace for us…» said Fred crouching in front of the house elf.
«You have to go see him to complain about Luffy's behavior anyway, so…» commented George.
«Karasu is sorry, but he is of the same mind as Ray-san about pranks. Ace must grow up and it's not by playing prank all day that he will do so. Either way, as the fuku-senshô, Karasu doubt that he has anytime to do them. »
Karasu released a nostalgic sigh.
«Aaaah, it was the good time, when Ray-san was still in that world. He had a good head on his shoulder and was responsible! Today, he is a foolish skirt chasing compulsive gambler…»
«Luffy…» said Neville. «That's…»
«Ji-chan's elf…» mumbled Luffy straightening. «You had to hit that hard? »
«Karasu could have targeted there, and you would have a real reason to complain. »
Karasu pointed a finger to the center of Luffy's chest who held his hand instinctively there. The house elf arranged his kimono with a lot of dignity and went to see Nami and Vivi. He bowed before them seamlessly before straightening.
«Karasu hope that you will be able to keep him out of trouble, Nami-kun, Hime-sama. »
«Karasu-san… that's a secret…» breathed nervously Vivi.
«My apologies, Vivi-san. »
Karasu bowed once more.
Nami bowed before Karasu with a smile.
«I'll do all that I can, Karasu. »
Karasu nodded then went to see the Golden Trio. He bowed in front of them.
«Karasu want to wish you luck in supporting Luffy this year. »
«Well… thanks…?» answered Harry, totally stunned by the dram that had taken place in front of him.
«You are a free house elf? » Asked Hermione.
«You don't ask this sort of thing, ojou-san, » said Karasu, taking offense.
«Answer her, what does it cost you», urged Luffy, massaging his bumps.
Karasu sighed and began to think, before shrugging his little shoulders and look straight at the young witch with his grey eyes.
«Karasu doesn't know. And he doesn't care. »
That answer stunned Hermion.
«As far back as I remember, the Silver took great care of Karasu and his family. We always had a roof above our head, excellent food in our stomach, decent accommodation, compared to a lot of our race, true clothes to put on our back. When the little Ray-san decided to sail the seas, Karasu followed him curious… and had a lot of fun. Gol-sama treated me as an equal. Karasu has a good life. Why change?»
«Wait a second… You are the elf of the Silver family, and if I'm not mistaken, the 'san', is to say Mr or Mrs, right? » Pointed Harry, realizing something.
«Exact. When he behaves, he is Ray-san. When Karasu is annoyed with him, it's 'Ahou Mei-Ô'. »
There must be an inside Joke around that, seeing the smirk on the lips of the house elf and the laugh escaping those speaking Japanese.
«But isn't 'sama' for… »continued Hermione frowning, understanding what Harry had noticed.
«Gol-sama may not have been my master. He may have treated me as an equal, like his son is still doing… but he was the Pirate King, the Lord of the Seas. To not recognize this would be to spit at all his accomplishment in spite of his sickness who ended up killing him. If you'll excuse Karasu, he is going tell Sabo that he accomplished his mission, now. »
He turned to Luffy, throwing a glare that made the boy shiver, before disappearing.
«There is nothing normal in your family, Luffy, sorry to tell you that, » sighed Katie Bell.
«I know, » said Luffy shrugging.
«What is the joke that we missed? » Asked Ron the still laughing girls.
«Ahou! Ahou! » Cawed Luffy.
«The crow just left, Luffy, but we still can call him back», warned Nami.
«Nawwww! »
Satisfied, Nami nodded, then grabbed the collar of her captain to lead him to a table and force him to work.
«What did we miss? » Asked Ron.
«Karasu means crow. His cry, is ahou… which actually mean 'idiot'», explained Vivi with a smile.
«Strange name for a house elf, » commented Ron.
«No stranger than Winky or Dobby, » pointed out Harry.
«I'm still stunned by his behavior, »sighed Hermione. «No house elf in Hogwarts act up like that. »
«My family has house elves at their service, » Vivi told them. «A part of our home is reserved to them. We always treated them right, at least, that's what they tell us. They are friends, to me, almost like family. I probably was ten years old when two of them came to me crying to tell me that a revolutionary wanted to free them. I believe that the revolutionary must have been surprised by the fierce resistance he had to face. »
The Golden Trio listened to Vivi talk with surprise.
«All of that to say that to have a house elf to serve you is a great honor, and we must give it back by treating them right. Be correct with them, and they will give it back. Karasu's case seems to be the result of an elf who was seen like a family member entirely, contrary to a servant…»
The blue girl had a dreaming smile.
«Father will be surprised when I will tell him. But in front of that, I want to do everything to make sure that the house elves serving my family for close to a thousand years are as happy as Karasu. But not only that… I want to see Alabasta as happy! »
«You consider politic? » Questioned Hermione thinking.
«Maybe…» smiled mysteriously Vivi. Sorry, but I have homework to do.
And she stood up to take a seat at Ginny's table to work.
McGonagall gave the instructions and handed out the snails to her students. She looked worriedly at Luffy. Sabo had told her that it wouldn't bother him so long as the task wasn't too hungry in energy and that his brother didn't overwork, but it didn't mean that she wasn't worrying. She always had trouble apprehending the natural magic. The students in her career, before Marco's coming to the school, who had tried to do wandless magic, had all ended up in the infirmary. With the classes, the students were more careful when they tried, but Minerva was still keeping memories of students throwing up blood on their desk that she had years before.
She released the breath she didn't know she was holding seeing that Luffy had stopped staring at his snail to make him disappear with a snap of his fingers, attracting a startled look from Hermione who was trying to help Ron. In defy, Hermione did the same, and of course, her snail disappeared. With a sigh, Harry put his wand back on the desk and with a lazy gesture of his hand, his snail disappeared too.
To Minerva biggest surprise, Neville succeed in doing it with the same flippancy and wandlessly.
No student threw up blood, nor showed any sign of pain.
Teaching Natural Magic was a good thing. Augusta wouldn't believe it when she would tell her how Neville had just done the exercise wandlessly.
Sabo smiled as he welcomed the fifth years in the class of Natural Magic.
«Hello to all of you! »
«Hello professor Silver! » greeted the young with enthusiasm.
«I'll immediately reassure you… I don't have any intention of working any differently to what the professor Fushisho did before me. The word genius was invented for this man… why give myself a headache? If I judge that we have to adapt something, I'll do it, but I doubt that. »
Sabo's casualness relaxed those that were always a little nervous, like Neville or Hermione.
«I'll pass the speech on the OWLs, I know that it was already given to you a number of times… I'll tell you something that will please you. I'll just tell you that you will be tested in Natural Magic at the same time than your classical tests. If you risk it, you will be asked to put your wands on the table and to do the test without. »
Sabo put his hands on his hips and stated with a wide smile:
«However, from this year, I will push you past the limits of your imagination. Until now, you work with, for base, the spells you already studied in class. But from today, it's different. You'll discover the true magic. »
Padma raised immediately her arm.
«A question, Padma-kun? »
«The incantation, if only though, isn't it necessary to form the magic and get an effect? »
Harry frowned, remembering the graveyard and the way he had fought Voldemort. He had thought of any incantation at that moment. He had acted more following his instinct, and had shamelessly taken inspiration from the programs that Dudley watched on the TV at one time.
«Harry-kun, if I judge from your frown, you seem to disagree with Padma. Do you want to talk about it? » Asked Sabo.
Harry blushed and cleared nervously his throat saying:
«At the end of last year, I… I used Natural Magic… and did some things for which I didn't know the spell need to reproduce it. I'm not even sure that I could do it again right here, right now. »
«With adrenaline and under pressure, some people are able to do amazing things, I know. Hermione-kun, you are the brain of this school, I think, no? »
Hermione blushed under the compliment.
«Do you know one or several spell allowing me to do this? »
The wind seemed to form a mini whirlwind beside Sabo and formed a man reasonably tall, with a good belly… a ridiculous man, knowing that he had the headgear of a pharaoh on his head, little bat wings in his back, and that he was shirtless. He had two fans in his hands and was doing a ridiculous dance that was making laugh more than one student.
«It pains me to tell you that there is a transfiguration spell, that can do this feat. Coupled with a good Tarantallegra, and I think we can reproduce this funny show, » smiled Herrmione.
«Shoot. Sorry Hannyabal, you're useless », sighed Sabo, falsely desperate.
His creation disappeared and Sabo passed a hand on his face. The next moment… he wasn't Sabo anymore. He didn't even have his usual clothes. He was a strange, almost human, creature with blue skin, strange teeth, palmed hands, and black hair with blond at the end, almost white, strange marks in his neck. And huge, oh, yes, he was huge.
«And that? » Asked Sabo.
Even his voice had changed, taking a strange accent and a deeper tone.
«What is that thing? » Asked someone.
«A gyojin, recognized. It's Jimbe, I believe.» Zabini.
«Ten points to Slytherin, I am indeed impersonating this fishman. But it's not my question. Is there a way for magic to do that? »
«Polyjuice? » Proposed Ron, wanting to be seen well.
«Beeep, bad answer. »
Sabo melt to take the appearance of someone Harry knew well. The appearance of a vampire he had once seen briefly.
«Fish-man, not just man, Ronald-kun. The polyjuice only work on human. And the livings, of course. »
«You're human, right now, » pointed out Ernie.
«Comander Izou of the sixteenth float of the White Beard, » Hermione answered him. «His bounty passed, during the break, on the muggle information. »
«Izou is in fact a vampire. The vampires are dead, and, the polyjuice doesn't work on dead people, so, I can't take the appearance of a dead man even less Izou's with polyjuice. The only option for that, is the magic. »
Sabo melted again to transform back into himself with a careless hand gesture, changing the kimono into his classical clothes.
Zabini immediately raised his hand.
«And if you were a Devil User? You could pull our leg and just change your clothes. »
«What is he talking about? » Asked Hannah Abbot to her friend Susan Bones.
Sabo's eyes darkened for an instant. So fast that a lot wondered if it had happened.
«Where are you from? » Asked the blond.
«From here, but my mother is from Water Seven. »
«So ka. »
Sabo kept silent an instant and told him:
«Maybe she should have told you that speaking about this subject out of the Grand Line isn't the best thing to do. But you have the excuse of being young, so, I'll let it pass and will answer your question. You know how it works, right? A power already in use, no need to search the same, ne? »
«Yes, and? »
«Someone named Bon Clay could have done what I did, to the difference that he is a muggle, so, he couldn't have changed his clothes like that. And before you tell me that I am this Bon Clay, you'll know that he was arrested and is in Impel Down. He was sent there after the Baroque Works case and it's traffic of Dance Powder which was trying to remove the sovereign of Alabasta. If you're not convinced, I can always go for a swim in the lake to show you that I'm not a noryokusha. However, it's neither the subject of today, nor of my class. If you were in botanic, I would have understood, because it's at the program of the sixth' years from four years now. You'll also know that the noryokusha can't be imitated by polynectar neither. With that said, Hermione-kun, you know a spell for all I did? »
«No… the clothes, at most, but changing so quickly and easily your appearance… I don't think so ».
«You'll only reach this level after a lot of work. But it's a good objective. »
Sabo found his smile again, if a little forced.
«Give up the rules that you know, let your imagination talk. Come on, it's time for the exercise. »
«Eh?! »
Luffy stopped eating after hearing the question from Parvati. Nami and Vivi stopped their discussion, too.
«What is that story about Devil User ? » repeated Parvati.
Neville became more attentive, too.
«Why do you ask me? Demanded Luffy. »
«I asked Hermion, but she refused to answer me. So, I'm asking someone who know the Grand Line. Nami and Vivi were talking to each other, and you were only eating… »
Luffy put his forks back on the table, fidgeting.
«The Devil User are common in the Grand Line, it's a fact, » pointed Nami. «But there is something to know, before going further in this talk. »
«What? » Asked Neville.
«A lot cease to be seen as human once they gain this power, » murmured Vivi with a dark face. «On the black market, a Devil User is sold for a fortune. The rarer and impressive the power is, the more the auction rise. They become a freak show… »
«If they're lucky, they are originally well surrounded and when they gain their power, the people surrounding them don't change. Or else, like in the marines, it's a recompense given after a very well done job. »
«It's a poisonned gift from Davy Jones… » muttered darkly Luffy. «Be it dangerous, useless, ridiculous or who know what… it'll stay here until your death. »
Luffy tightened his fist on his chest.
«Luffy, you're alright? » Worried Hermione.
«Yes, I am, don't worry. »
Parvati sighed and took her head in her hand.
«Why do I feel like I step on a landmine each time I try to understand something? »
«It's a different world, with different rules, » pointed Vivi.
«Rumor say that it is to the program of the sixth year in botanic, for the last four years, » informed Harry.
Luffy lose all colors and turned toward Nami.
«You will need to give me something beforehand for me to hold down Sabo for you, » warned Nami.
Luffy finished his plate and stood up.
«Where are you going? » Questioned Ron.
«I'm not hungry anymore. »
«You just finished your plate, pointed Neville.
«On the sea, you learn not to waste any food. I'll see you in detention, Harry. »
And Luffy walked away.
Sabo caught Nami's eyes and articulated something.
With a sigh, Nami turned toward the young students and leaned forward, making sure that no one else could hear them.
«Marco has one. »
«You mean, the professor Fushisho? » Wondered Neville with a low voice.
«He doesn't have anything peculiar, other than the head of a pineapple, » commented Parvati.
«He doesn't have a family name. It's normal with us, it's my case too. I made up mine for the sorting, like Sanji-kun. Fushisho, it's a reference to his power… it means phoenix. Marco has the power to change into a fire phoenix. »
«What is the difference with an animagus? » Asked Parvati.
«The change is deeper. It goes to change the behavior of someone, his personality, his view of the world. Some zoans lost control of their power. They became crazy for some. Other lost sight of their humanity and now are just the animal in them, explained Vivi. «I personally know two zoans and they explained this to me. »
«His power is mythical. In a rather numerous parts of the population, he is one of a rather little category. And even in this little group, he is at the top in rarity, » clarified Nami.
«For shameless nobles, he is nothing but a strange bird. Lot would ruin themselves to put Fushisho-san in a cage. I've personally never seen his animal form, but rumors are quick on the sea, even more when it's about someone as important as this man. »
«How would you live if it was Kali-chan that risked to be put into a cage because she was lucky or unlucky enough to fall on this sort of rare pearl? »
«Slave trade is forbidden! » Neville huffed, offended.
«The world is corrupted, Neville-san, » sighed Vivi.
«Our crew put a term to one to save one of our friend, whom is a nice sea mermaid. A girl, if a little absentminded, who is adorable and no more different than you or me, other than her capacity to talk to the fishes, breath under water and to have a tail where she should have legs. I saw the Tenryuubitos call her fishy and try to kill her to keep us from saving her. And after, we were the culprits, because Luffy punched the face of one of those guys. You see the logic of this world, Neville-kun? »
«Parvati? » Harry asked worried when he saw his friend shaking.
Parvati raised a pale face toward Nami, eyes teary.
« They wouldn't do that to her… not Kali… not to my sister… » she hiccupped.
Nami sighed.
« I don't want to lie… but it's a risk. Beautiful girls are sold as slave, too. Without a care for their age. Even children have a chance to pass there. You only need to be unlucky… and it's hell for the rest of your life. »
Parvati burst into tears and Harry tried to comfort her awkwardly.
« Allow me? »
The students raised their head to see Robin at their table. She took Parvati by her shoulder and led her out of the Great Hall, after a move of her head toward Padma who rushed after them, puzzled.
« Didn't you go a little too far? » Asked Ron.
« She must know that the risk exists. She recognizes Kali as her sister, she must accept the risks that go with it, » Nami told him. « My own sister knows what she risks. »
« It must be hard for your family, » commented Hermione.
« Probably. I have an important correspondence with Nojiko, but I choose my path, and she accept it. For Luffy, you know how it is. Zoro… I don't know if he has family. He never talks about it. Sanji, him, he grew up with an ex-pirate, among rather unconventional cooks. Usopp lost his mother when he was a kid, and his father became a pirate before that. He left his island to some kids who were attached to him and the love of his life, I would say. Robin lost her family the day her island was turned into ashes. Franky… he was abandoned at Water Seven by his father, a pirate from South Blue. The carpenter who raised him like a son is dead, condemned to life imprisonment because he had made the famous Oro Jackson, Gol D. Roger's ship with which he conquered the Grand Line. I think we can consider Iceburg-san, the mayor of Water Seven and chairman of the Galley-La-Compagnie like some sort of brother… then, there is the Franky Family who was yelling to all that Franky was their aniki… Brook… he's more worried for Laboon than any family, so, I don't think he has one anymore. »
Vivi straightened and looked at Nami with surprise.
« Laboon… like… »
« Yes, » smiled Nami.
Vivi paled, hand in front of her mouth, as if horrified.
« What is it? » Asked Harry intrigued.
« The story of our meeting, » snickered Nami. « Miss Wednesday here had to kill a huge wale who would hardly fit in the Great Hall. Wale that was revealed to be the nakama of our Soul King Brook. »
« He doesn't know, ne? » Asked Vivi with hope in her voice.
« No, but if you advance the money, I'll make sure that I'll never breach the subject with him… »
The bright eyes with a golden spark of Nami meant everything.
« You're a monster, » Hermione told her.
« Why, thank you! »
Luffy was going to be sick.
One glance toward Harry, and he was sure that his friend was feeling the same about the decoration of Umbridge office.
With a sigh, he grabbed the feather.
I must not tell lies.
His scars were lies, maybe?
He began to draw his sentence. He didn't go further than the I. His rubber skin tore apart and he began to bleed a lot, making him drop his quill. He closed the cut between his teeth, swearing mentally.
Where Harry had a slight cut on his skin, as if done by a scalpel, there, it was like someone had tried to open Luffy's hand. Umbridge didn't understand what was happening.
« Don't come closer! »
Umbridge froze.
Karasu had just appeared.
« Since when do house elves allow themselves to speak like that too wizards? » She demanded.
« Since you attack Ray-san's nephew who is Karasu's friend » the house elf told her climbing on Luffy's desk.
He crouched down and pinched Luffy's skin between the hands and the teeth of the boy, without worrying about the blood that was staining his kimono.
« Show to Karasu. »
Luffy released his skin and let Karasu examine the wound.
« This detention is over, » stated the elf.
« It will be over when I decide so! It's not a house elf who will tell me what I have to do! »
Umbridge raised her wand, threatening…
Luffy look at her in her eyes, and Umbridge took a step back, suddenly scared.
It was at this moment that the door burst open.
« What is it, Karasu? » Asked Sabo, worried, his bô in hands, ready for a fight.
« Luffy's hand brusquely opened », Harry summarized. We had to write lines with this strange quill. »
He showed the quill to Sabo who turned white with rage.
« Blood quill use is forbidden since the end of the Renaissance by the ICW! » Hissed Sabo.
« I have the authorization from the minister to use of all pedagogical tools necessary to teach, » answered Umbridge puffing up, trying to seem intimidating.
Hard to do. Sabo was much taller and seems to be out of his mind.
« It's not to a simple minister of magic to give this sort of authorization! It's to the ICW! This detention is over! »
Sabo took the quill in his gloved hand and put it in his pocket, with Luffy's.
« Infirmary, and no objection, Potter » ordered Sabo.
« I didn't say that they could go! » Huffed Umbridge.
« You want to defy me, perhaps? » Hissed Sabo.
The ground under his feet crackled slightly and his magic gathered around him, forming a strange blueish aura.
Realizing that her life risked to be quickly shortened, were she to continue, Umbridge stepped back behind her desk.
« They will finish their week of detention helping me in the forest, » stated Sabo. Luffy, you're alright?»
« 'Saw worse with Akainu »
« Compared to Akainu, it sure is hard to do worse. »
Luffy took back his skin between his fingers, and Karasu dropped it sighing. He looked as Luffy stood up from his seat and followed the group out of the office, before throwing a glare toward Umbridge.
The group joined the infirmary, and Pomphrey was surprised to see them.
She fulminated against Umbridge as she gave a bowl full of Mutlap Essence to Harry, before turning toward the hand of Luffy.
« Blow may not be very effective against you, but you are more affected by this sort of wound… » muttered the healer as she put on the cut a salve. A blood quill… this horrible woman thinks that to be in the minister put her above the laws… the outlawed can't make her disappear? »
« If only, » sighed Sabo. I received news about her saying that if we did, we would have someone worse.»
« Who? » Asked Pomphrey.
« Avery. »
« A Death Eater? » Choked Harry, remembering the name.
« Right. »
« This school goes from bad to worse… » muttered the woman bandaging the wound. Since you're here, young man, I want to see the state of your other wound. »
Since Pomphrey had put them on the same bed to treat them, Luffy didn't have any way to hide it from Harry. Resigned, he removed his robe, then unbuttoned his shirt. As he made it slid, he showed a case on one of his forearm containing his telescopic bô. But the most notable was still the huge band around the chest so slight yet still muscled. Luffy untied a part of the bandage and began to roll it around his hand, slowly showing what there was under it. A big wound dressing that the nurse removed. Harry felt almost sick when he saw what it was hiding.
A huge scar in form of a cross. Almost as if someone tried to open his chest with chainsaw. The wound seemed just closed, with the skin still raw, and a little bloody.
« You understand why I try not to change in front of everyone » smiled nervously Luffy.
« How can you still be alive with that? » Asked Harry who couldn't move his eyes away. « -How did you survive the avada? »
« Mister Monkey has a point, Mister Potter, » counted Pomphrey as she began to clean the wound. Except that in Mister Monkey's case, he was lucky to have immediate healing and given by a very good doctor. »
« It's sure that Law did a miracle… » mumbled Sabo.
« How… »
« I don't remember… I… I have no memories of what happened. I remember Ace taking a blow for me… when I believed that he was dead… and loose consciousness. When I woke up, I was at Amazon Lily, and I learned that Ace was alive. Karasu, if I do it myself, Madam Pomphrey will be angry, you can… »
Karasu took the bô from Sabo's hand with joy and hit his head.
« Ugh! What was that for?! »
« Even if you had been here, you wouldn't have changed anything, Sabo, » Luffy told him.
« We will never know, Luffy. »
A swish of Pomfrey's wand, and a new band aid was in place. Another, and the bandage was around Luffy who was able to put his clothes on.
« Come on, to bed, and faster than this, » ordered Karasu.
Luffy was tempted to protest, but the house elf still had a weapon in hand. So, survival instinct was telling him to avoid angering him.
Ace almost lost his footing when something passed through his head. Turning toward the crow nest behind him, still balanced on one of the spars of the vessel, he saw Spade perched on the rail, looking innocently toward him.
« Do that one more time, and I put you into the sea, warned Ace. « Wait for me to finish and I'll release you from the mail, 'kay ? »
Ace knotted the rope for which he was originally here, then came back to the look out spot. He removed the letters tied to the leg of the eagle and let himself slid to the deck with agility.
« Kali! Mail for you, stated Ace holding a letter in the air. »
The young woman turned away from the roll of rope that she was wrapping and received the thrown letter.
« The sail is fold, » stated Ace to Marco who was holding the steer.
The blond thanked him with a nod.
« Stop forcing yourself to act as if everything was okay, and go. Out of here, I don't want to see you on the deck anymore, go rest, yoi », Marco told him.
Ace pouted, but walked away opening his mail. He scanned the letter from Sabo and paused on the spot, shocked.
He immediately turned around, trying to keep his power under control and stood in front of Marco. For all answer to his silent question, he showed him the content of the letter. Marco read it and his frown was enough.
« If I tell you no, you'll go anyway… not alone, at least. »
Ace nodded and went to prepare his things.
« Kali! You're with me! Izou, what do you say about a trip in Scotland? »
« Oh, but with pleasure! » Answered his vampire nakama.
Ace looked one last time Marco who approved his choice with a nod. When his young second disappeared with the men of his choice, the Phoenix had an almost vicious smirk.
He expected that one of this Umbridge's weekend wouldn't be very funny.
Angelina threw herself at Sabo's feet and kissed them, not caring that she was totally ridiculous like this. Harry couldn't believe what Sabo had just said.
« I really can? » Inquired the Boy-Who-Lived.
« I don't agree with the why of your detention? So, I decide that for tonight, you'll be on the Quidditch field, but I except you Monday at my office for your last detention. »
« Thank you… » cried Angelina.
She stood up leaping and turned to face Harry, fists on her hips.
« What are you waiting for to go take your things! »
Harry didn't wait for a second and rushed to take his Quidditch relate things.
« Good luck! » Luffy told them with a smile, before following his brother to finish his punishment.
Harry thanked him and followed his team.
Never would he have believed that exploring the Forbidden Forest could be fun. Sabo had told them that Proust needed some plants that only grow there and in a place too dangerous for her to go herself. In normal time, she would have asked Hagrid if he could go for her, but the half-giant wasn't back yet. Sabo had volunteered.
What was the Forbidden Forest when you knew the Grand Line and the Shin Sekai?
At first, Harry was worried and skeptical.
But Sabo had turned the thing into an exercise of Natural Magic which remind strangely the young man of the test of Defense Against the Dark Art in third year, and the obstacle course that Lupin had organized.
On his side, Luffy was acting like a monkey, stretching joyously his members from one tree to the next. And next to them that, Sabo was supervising the exploration.
Hard to think that it was a detention, in the end.
"If I let you have so much fun, it's because you don't deserve to have this detention." Sabo had told them.
It was sure that more than one person would have winced learning that two young were having their detentions in the Forest, and Umbridge had seemed almost satisfied.
If she only knew…
For once, when Harry took off on his broom for the start of the selection, he thought that for another evening like that, he would have no problem going back in the Forest with Sabo, next Monday.
Hermione stayed one instant worried when she saw Luffy come back with some scratches, after his passage in the Forbidden Forest.
« You were with your brother; how could you get hurt? » Asked Ron.
Luffy gave him a proud smile.
« I gave him a black eye! Shihihi! »
Nami released an almost exasperated groan in understanding. She went back to her table covered with books, under the puzzled stare of Vivi.
« Let it go, those idiots trained. That's why Luffy is like that. If Chopper could see you, he would have a panic attack. »
« Shihihihi! »
« Luffy… really… » sighed Vivi, reassured with the explanation.
« Didn't he go a little too far with you, still? » Worried Hermione.
« It's needed, Hermione-senpai, » Vivi told him with a sad face. As a pirate, Luffy must be strong, even more so if he wants to sail in the Shin Sekai. »
« Akainu, Kaidou or Teach won't have any mercy for me, because I am a teenager, » commented Luffy removing the pine needles from his hair. « The only thing they'll do, maybe underestimating me, and even, I doubt that. I have to be able to hit stronger than them, and take it better than them. If I can surpass my brothers, I'll be closer to my objective. »
Luffy gave a ferocious smirk.
« To hurt Sabo is a great feat. I'm almost at their level. And yet, Sab' has more merit, he doesn't have Ace's power. »
« If Ace learns what you just said, he would kick your ass to Raftell, » pointed out Nami with amusement.
Harry had listened to all that silently and shook his head.
He had resigned himself a long time ago with the comportment of his friend.
Sirius was talking quietly to his godson, trying to lift his moral in front of the absence of Hagrid when he heard a loud 'bouh', almost giving him a stroke. And seeing that the kid who had done that was just in front of the fire place… they were in deep shit.
« You're mad! » Moaned Ron, one hand on his heart.
« What? You all seemed super serious… » muttered Luffy.
« How did you come in? » Asked Harry suspicious.
« The window. How do you want me to do? »
« Normal people use doors » pointed Hermione.
« Tell that to Garp, you'll see what he tells you. Hello head in the fire place! »
Sirius told himself this time that the kid was an idiot.
« Luffy is like that, Sirius… » sighed Harry. He is Ace and Sabo's little brother. »
« Oh? A pirate then? I don't risk anything staying here? »
« You do, you risk getting caught. Sabo said that the fire places were monitored. Not that it changes anything, he prefers the denden or mobile. But you're a grown man, do what you want, I don't care. I'm tired, I'm going to sleep. »
And his three classmates watched him go back to the dormitory.
« He doesn't seem to sleep well… » commented Hermione.
« He comes back to the tower before anyone wake up, » pointed Harry.
« Sabo may be training him too much, » proposed Ron.
« Ace and Sabo wouldn't do that. Well, Ace is an idiot, he doesn't really know the limits of the body and the mind of a human, but he wouldn't go that far. And for Sabo, he is too responsible for that. I'll see with him tomorrow. »