DARKNESS! Just kidding…I'm not that edgy.
Here's more of Dark Animetopoeia.
I do not own Harry Potter or Hunter x Hunter.
"You idiot!" Leorio shouted at Gon, "If we hadn't grabbed your legs, you would have drowned in the ocean."
Harry had nothing to say on the matter and mostly just kept out of the way.
"Honestly." Kurapika crossed his arms, "How reckless can you be?"
"But you did catch me." Gon said.
"Eh?"
"You both caught me." Gon said with a smile.
"Well…I guess…" Leorio said dumbly, obviously wondering what the heck was with this kid.
Katsu then ran over to them, thanking all three of them for saving his life.
It seemed that the bitterness between Kurapika and Leorio dissipated. The two of them made up and apologised to each other.
The captain then drew all of their attention by letting out a laugh as Harry finished up tying a rope. He jumped down and joined them.
"I like you guys." The captain decided, "I'll take responsibility by taking you four to the port nearest to the exam site."
"Really?" Gon asked excitedly and obviously quite grateful too, "What about your test?"
The captain was half way up the stairs, he turned around,
"Like I said, it's my choice to make." He grinned, "The four of you pass!"
"Yatta!" Gon jumped in the air, giving a cheer.
….
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The four of them arrived safely at Dolle Harbour about two hours later. Gon shook the captain's hand and Harry gave a bow,
"Thank you for delivering us safely, captain."
And really, the man deserved some credit. Harry had been pretty sure more than once that he was going to have to enact some sort of emergency evacuation.
That boat really should have sunk…
"Ya! Don't mention it." The captain grinned at him.
"Yes, thank you." Gon said, "I had a great time."
"Ah, I had a lot of fun too." The captain said.
This man really loved his job, Harry thought. And the captain's idea of fun…was just a little disturbing.
"Right! As a token of my appreciation." He took his pipe out of his mouth, "I'll give you some advice."
"Am I allowed to listen to this?" Harry asked the captain.
"Of course!" The captain chuckled. He pointed off to a hill, "See that cedar tree at the top of the hill?"
"Un." Gon nodded.
"You should make your way there first. It's a shortcut to the exam site."
"That's some pretty great advice." Harry said with a grin, then looked at Gon, "Shall we go then?"
"Un." Gon agreed, then turned to the captain, "Thanks for everything, captain."
"Good luck to both of you!" The captain waved them off.
Harry and Gon left, making their way back over to Leorio and Kurapika.
A way down from the port, they stopped at a map, trying to figure out where everything was and which route was fastest.
"Hm, that's strange." Leorio said.
"What is?" Gon looked up at him.
"According the information I got, the exam is supposed to take place in Zaban city." Leorio pointed to the map, "Right now, we're here. That tree is in the opposite direction of Zaban city."
Kurapika looked down at Gon,
"Perhaps you misheard him?"
"I don't think so." Harry cut in, "I think…if anyone could just make it to the hunter's exam it would be easy, right?"
This test…was a test for the elite in this world. He was starting to sort of understand what a hunter was, so…
"The information we have says the exam is somewhere in Zaban city, but…maybe we need to find out where it's supposed to be in the city specifically somewhere else. Keep in mind, all the people that failed the exam probably have the same information as us." Harry supplied helpfully.
"That's a good point." Kurapika cradled his chin between his fingers, "Alright. If you both heard him say to head to the big cedar, then I think that's probably where we're supposed to go."
Leorio looked hesitant a moment, then seemed to cave,
"I guess that makes some sense…and he only told us about it too…Fine. I guess I'll go along with you." He said, raising his chin in the air.
"My hero." Harry said dryly.
Kurapika chuckled at his sarcasm.
They started their walk. The cedar tree at the top of the hill was a long way away. It would take them a while to get there.
"I wonder what sort of exam the hunter's exam is." Harry said, hoping to get a little more information off of them.
"Eh? You don't know?" Kurapika asked him.
Harry decided to lie,
"I was just told that taking it would make me stronger."
Kurapika hummed,
"That's probably true. The exam is a very dangerous test. Some applicants die every year. Most rookies, like us don't even pass."
"Eh…" Harry trailed off.
"I sure hope there aren't any written exams." Gon said worriedly, "Math is my weak point."
"I'm actually pretty good at written exams." Harry paused, "Except for history. If it's anything else, I'm golden."
Because this world seemed a lot more different from his own world, or from the world where he'd been in the assassination classroom.
He probably should find a history book somewhere…just to catch up on the current events and things that normal people around these parts knew.
"I think the exam will be more physical." Kurapika informed them, "You need to be strong to survive the hunter's exam."
"That's a relief." Gon let out a sigh.
So, Gon didn't know too much about the exam either, Harry observed. Kurapika seemed to be the wealth of information.
Harry hummed a bit, thinking a bit about the people he was with. Kurapika wanted revenge and Leorio wanted money. Neither of those goals seemed particularly noble.
But who was he to judge? Harry was starting to realize…these people were a lot like him.
He wasn't a force for good, but Harry didn't think of himself as evil. Perhaps the end result of his crusade would be good for the people of Britain…but any good he did was purely coincidental.
The longer he talked to his three companions, the more of a feel he was starting to get for them.
Harry's eyes traveled to the side.
Someone had been following them for quite a while now. He didn't sense any bloodlust, but he still had his guard up anyways.
Partway up the mountain was a village. It seemed to be abandoned. No, wait…there were people there. A lot of people.
They were stealthy. He hadn't even heard them at first. But every now and then he'd hear a slight 'creak' of wood. Or sense a bit of movement.
"This place is creepy." Leorio said, "I don't see a single person."
"I know." Harry agreed, "I really wish they'd just come out already. I'm already a bit tense from the guy who's been following us."
Leorio looked surprised,
"What? Following? Where?"
"Not one for subtlety…are you?" Kurapika observed dryly.
Leorio crossed his arms defiantly.
A door off to the side suddenly opened up, causing them all to stop. A wooden wagon was rolled out. A woman was sitting in the very center. She was really old, with long grey hair and half-lidded eyes.
The people around her, and Harry was pretty sure they were minions, all had either red or blue hair, wore white masks and long, white robes.
"Doki doki…" The old woman said in a quiet voice.
"D-doki doki?" Leorio repeated.
"Doki doki." The old woman repeated.
Leorio swallowed hard, tensing up.
"Doki doki two choice quiz!" She shouted at the top of her lungs.
A trumpet was played by one of the masked people. Symbols crashed and there was a bit of a drum roll.
Harry wondered what expression he was supposed to make right now. His companions seemed to favour one of bewilderment.
"You boys are headed for the tree on the hill, correct?" The old woman spoke after the noise had calmed down, "To reach that tree, you must pass through this town."
"Eh?" Gon wondered.
"I shall administer a single question quiz." The old woman continued.
"H-hold on!" Leorio seemed to break out of his stupor, "What's going on here?" He looked around in confusion.
"You'll have five seconds to state your answer." The old woman ignored him completely, "Give the wrong answer and you're disqualified. You'll have to give up on taking this year's hunter's exam."
"I see." Kurapika said, "Then this is part of the hunter's exam."
"I see how it is." Leorio set his briefcase down, "I happen to be a quiz expert…Wait, only one question!?"
"Your answer will be either number one or number two." The old woman said, "Any other answer will be considered incorrect."
"Hold on!" Leorio stopped her, "All four of us share one question? So, if one of them answers incorrectly, I'm disqualified too?"
"As if that would happen." Kurapika crossed his arms once again, "What I'm worried about is the vise-versa happening."
Gon gave an awkward chuckle.
"What was that?" Leorio growled.
"But you know!" Gon stopped them, "This way is easier, since only one of us needs to know the correct answer. I'm no good at quizzes." He confessed.
"I suppose…" Leorio trailed off.
He did have a point, Harry thought. If they got a history question, no doubt one of them would know the answer to compensate for his own lack of knowledge. While, if they got a math question, he could probably be able to solve that (he was confident in that area).
"Hey there, hurry up." A man approached from behind. He had wooden bars strapped to his back (some sort of weapon?) and wore a gi, torn at the sleeves and casually open to reveal a blue shirt.
"Or else I'll answer the question first." He smirked.
"Who are you?" Leorio wondered.
"He followed us here." Gon said, "All the way from the port."
"I told you, didn't I?" Harry reminded him.
"Huh? Seriously?" Leorio shot him a dirty look.
The man shrugged,
"Sorry, kid. I happened to overhear your conversation."
"What will you do?" The old woman asked them.
Harry got the sense that she didn't really care what they decided.
"He seems eager to take it." Leorio decided, "Why not let him go first? This way we'll know what kind of question to expect."
"I don't mind." Gon agreed.
The four of them decided to move out of their stalker's way and allow him to go first.
One of the robbed people put a pedestal with a red button for pushing over in front of the challenger.
"Here is your question." The old woman folded her fingers together, "Evil villains have captured your mother and your lover. You can only save one. Select one for your mother. Two for your lover. Which will you save?"
Harry's eyes widened.
What?
How was he supposed to answer something like that? How was anyone supposed to answer something like that?
"How is this even a quiz?" Leorio asked disbelievingly.
There had to be a trick here somewhere, Harry thought. He tried to go over in his head what the old woman had told them. Only one or two were viable answers. She would accept no other answer…
What was the trick?
But the man smirked. He pressed the button,
"The answer is one."
"Oh?" The old woman said, looking bored, "Why would you say that?"
The man shrugged,
"Because you can't replace your mother. But you can find another lover."
Harry tensed up, feeling a little ill at the answer. That was horrible…mother or lover…could either really be replaced? It was like…choosing between Ron or Hermione. There would never be another Ron and there would never be another Hermione.
He wouldn't know what to do if something like that ever happened. If he needed to make that choice…
Oh…maybe that was the point of this quiz.
In the path Harry was going down, a situation like that really might arise…and then what? He would want to find a way to save both…but what if there was no way to save both?
"You may pass." The old woman gestured with her thumb over her shoulder.
What? Harry thought, but…if there was no answer, how could that be correct?
Harry could feel his brain twisting up into knots.
The man smirked at them,
"You just need to tell the old lady what she wants to hear. Adios!" He started jogging off.
"Oy!" Leorio said angrily (he had a temper worse than Ron!), "That's bull! How was that the right answer? We're supposed to give the old lady the answer she wands…and that's the right answer!? Oy, say something!"
But the old woman was unmoving, expression never changing.
"Che. I won't put up with this sham. I'll find another route!" Leorio decided, starting to march off, only to be stopped when the old woman spoke.
"It's too late! Refuse to take the quiz and you're disqualified."
There were several sharp intakes of breath.
Leorio looked like he was about to lose it. This wasn't something he was good at, Harry thought, keeping an even temper.
Obviously, the man was not an assassin, Harry thought back to his own training in the assassination classroom. You needed to keep an even temper when under those circumstances. Even Karuma had learned that.
"Different people would expect different answers!" Leorio accused, pointing at her sharply, "There is no right answer!"
Kurapika let out a gasp,
"No right answer…"
Harry looked over at him. He knew the trick. He'd figured it out. Harry still didn't know the trick to the quiz yet. He did know Leorio was right though. There was no right answer.
"Leorio!" Kurapika tried to gain his attention.
"Wait!" The old woman stopped him, "Not another word from you. Say anything but the answer and you're immediately disqualified."
Anything but the answer? Harry thought and then realization struck him. What if he gave no answer at all? His eyes traveled over to Kurapika. He'd know they were thinking the same thing if he didn't give an answer either.
His eyes traveled back to Leorio. The only problem was that guy.
"Here is your question." The old woman said, "Your son and your daughter have been kidnapped. You can only rescue one. Select one for your son. Two for your daughter."
Harry felt the blood drain from his face.
And now the old woman had managed to somehow get him to think of something else he hadn't thought before.
He wanted his own family. He wanted it bad. But…this life of his…he wouldn't be allowed kids…right? If anything, they'd be put in danger. If he had kids only for them to wind up dead in a trap meant for him…
Harry closed his eyes.
If that happened…it might just be the last straw for him. His heart…would probably shatter.
Leorio was looking even angrier. He walked over to the side of one of the buildings.
"Five." The old woman counted down, "Four."
Leorio picked up a long, bar of wood. Was he going to bludgeon her to death? Harry wondered. He might need to step in here…
"Three…two…one…Bzzt. Time's up!"
Leorio jumped into the air, ready to strike her down, only to suddenly be pulled back by Harry who had grabbed him by the coat. Kurapika parried his strike.
The old woman…hadn't even flinched.
"She's an old lady!" Harry hissed at him, "And do you really want to waste our correct response!?"
"Eh?" Leorio was broken from his rage, "Correct response?"
Kurapika explained it to him,
"We gave the right answer. Silence was the correct response."
"Silence?" Leorio repeated, "How's that?"
"You hit the nail on the head." Kurapika was now calm as well, crossing his arms once more, "Precisely." He spread his arms, "There is no right answer."
"I think we might have been lucky." Harry said, letting go of him, "Being grouped together for this quiz, I mean. I don't know that I would have been able to figure it out if it weren't for you. That being said…I'm not sure I would have been able to give an answer anyways, even if I didn't know. That was…rattling. If I had a son or a daughter…I doubt I'd ever be able to choose between the two." His eyes dimmed slightly, "I wonder if I might freeze up."
They all tensed, then looked at Harry, a bit surprised.
The old woman allowed a small smile to cross her lips briefly.
And that was the real purpose of the quiz…to think about that question. An impossible answer…
"But…" Leorio broke from his stupor, "What about the other guy? He passed?"
"Ah, but she never said he was correct." Kurapika smirked knowingly, "She only said, 'you may pass.' In other words," He turned to face the old woman, "This path is the wrong path."
"Precisely." A faint smile played on the old woman's lips as she got up and walked out from off the wagon, "The correct path is here." The doors to the side, where the wagon had originally come from opened up, revealing a tunnel.
"This path leads directly to the cedar tree. Walk two hours and you'll reach the top."
"Oh." Leorio said weakly, "So that's what this is about…"
The woman turned slightly to look over at them,
"A couple lives in the cabin beneath that tree. They serve as navigators. If you meet their standards, I believe they will guide you towards the exam site."
In other words, expect another test, Harry thought.
Leorio dropped the remains of the wooden stick he'd been about to use to attack her.
"Gran, I'm sorry for my rudeness."
"Don't be. I don't mind." She said with fondness in her voice, "I do this job because I enjoy meeting people like you."
"Eh?"
The old woman turned to him and smiled far more broadly than she had before,
"Do your best to become a good hunter."
…