Contrary to some's often lamented beliefs, Oikawa actually did have a fairly well developed self preservation instinct.

Really, it wasn't his fault that sometimes instinct was not so easy to follow.

Case in point: as lovely as his common room was, Oikawa had the good sense to make his appearances there as scarce as possible in the weeks following the travesty that was the champion announcements.

And, so far, waking up early and studying late really had helped him avoid most of his House, outside of heavily populated halls and classes.

Even he knew that couldn't last forever.

He was halfway through the common room, forgotten book under his arm and striding purposefully but not quick enough to seem like he was running, when he was called.

"So, tell me," Kojima, one of the seventh year Slytherins, stood in front of him to block his path. "How'd you cheat?"

Oikawa sighed like even looking at Kojima was a headache. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean, Kojima. In case you haven't noticed the class rankings for the last six years, I'm not the one that needs to cheat on anything." His smile dipped in faux sympathy even as his wand hand slipped into his pocket. "Though, hey, if your grades are really that desperate, I'm sure Okamoto can tell you all about running to daddy for help."

Two steps behind and already leaning against the entrance in case Oikawa had plans to bypass the conversation, Okamoto's face darkened. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Oikawa laughed, a hand coming up to cover his mouth while the other stayed steady on his wand. There was a slight pause he made seem expectant. "Oh, sorry, are you not willing to give advice? I thought you'd be an expert for how much your family had to bribe the Board to keep you from getting expelled a couple years ago."

Okamoto stepped forward, hands gripped into fist. "What do you know, mudblood! I'm still here because they knew one of us had potential. Unlike-"

"Riiiiight," Oikawa drawled in polite doubtfulness. "Wouldn't want to run all that bright potential because of youthful mistakes. Wasn't that the argument?" He hummed thoughtfully. "I mean not enough potential to be champion; but…."

Okamoto was turning increasingly red and Kojima shoved forward, taking back the lead. "Shut up, mudblood, like you don't know what I meant. How'd you trick the Goblet into picking someone like you?"

Oikawa cocked his head. "Who said I did?"

Kojima scoffed. "How else would you have got chosen over us?'

"Oh, well, I'm assuming that it thought I was better than you," Oikawa smiled. "Harsh, I know. But, who am I to argue with Merlin's fancy chinaware or whatever the bloody thing is supposed to be?"

Okamoto pushed Kojima away, coming even closer just as Oikawa stepped casually to the side to avoid both of them.

"Come off it, as if the Goblet would choose you over a real wizard," Okamoto yelled, loud enough that the younger Slytherins in the room jumped before going back to pretending they weren't already listening in. "Everyone's already talking about how you had to have cheated to get your name chosen! Desperate, really! Like that's ever going to change anything about what you are."

"Calm down," Kojima said but his smirk was back. "He can't help it. My father said it's what we can expect from low breeding. Dirty tactics and not enough intelligence to follow through."

"I'm confused," Oikawa kept his tone of smooth disinterest. "So, your argument is I'm so stupid that I…..outsmarted a millennium old magical artifact made by Merlin himself and did it a way you still can't figure out with all your precious pureblood talent." He laughed. "I really don't think I'm the one you have to worry about disgracing the House, you seem to have it covered already."

"Stupid enough to keep talking when you're outnumbered," Kojima said, idly bringing up his wand.

Oikawa smiled. "Who said I was?" He looked behind them. "Done waiting? Because I really have better things to do today?"

"I just wanted to see if they could dig any deeper of a hole," Suga said, casually leaning against the entrance that Okamoto had abandoned guarding.

Kojima scowled, narrowing his eyes at Oikawa. "Think you're so smart, don't you? Everyone already knows what you are. You can't change that, mudblood. No matter how many tricks you try to play."

Oikawa yawned, walking past them to stand by Suga.

"Better watch your back," Okamoto threw in, unable to resist one final threat.

"I'm shaking," Oikawa said, holding up a completely steady hand. "Look, Suga, can you see how I'm shaking?"

Suga smiled sweetly. "It's fine. Really, I'm surprised they're the ones who can still be so calm, considering…."

Kojima snorted. "Considering what?"

The kindness in Suga's voice suddenly seemed frigid, smile steady as he looked behind Oikawa to Kojima and Okamoto. "Well, it's just the Slytherin dorms can be so unsafe, don't you think? And you have to sleep sometime." Suga's smile grew. "I'd hate for something to happen."

Oikawa gasped. "You're right, Suga! But, what do you think could happen?"

Suga's eyes assessed both of the seventh years coldly. "I'm still deciding."

"Something to look forward to, then," Oikawa grabbed Suga's arm, pulling them both out the door with a final jaunty wave to the forms of Okamoto and Kojima, still staring silently as they tried to think of a comeback.

Oikawa waited until the door was shut before grinning at Suga. "You're really terrifying when you want to be, you know that?"

"Thanks for the message," Suga said, holding up his charmed galleon that Oikawa had sent a message to specifically when Kojima had stopped him.

Oikawa shrugged. "Not that they were even worth it." He snickered. "But, did you see Kojima's face when you mentioned the dorms? He's not going to sleep all week."

Suga allowed himself a small smile. "I'll ask Makki and Matsu to plan something, too."

"See, it's that face that makes it terrifying," Oikawa remarked. "The sweet face! No one expects you to make the threats."

Suga paused, seeming to think about his response for a moment before he said anything. "I suppose…." He cut himself off before nodding once. "You're right, actually. People expect what they want to see. For the best and the worst."

"Might as well as use it to our advantage, then," Oikawa said.

Suga looked like he was considering. "Harder than it sounds. People still have expectations for the name Sugawara, too, and…..I'd rather not have to deal with those."

"We'll change them," Oikawa promised, slinging an arm around Suga's shoulders as they walked. "Just stick with the sweet face and the terrifying threats. That'll do it."

Suga laughed. "Only when they deserve it."

"That's still such a long list," Oikawa said under his breath.

Suga looked at him. "Has it gotten too bad yet?"

"No," Oikawa assured firmly. "It's nothing I can't handle. Sorry, I really shouldn't have called you for the Kojima and Okamoto thing, honestly. I just didn't want to be late and hear Daishou bitching about it."

"I'm glad you called me," Suga said. "...you would again if you needed help, right?"

Oikawa held a hand to his chest as if struck. "Don't I always?"

The look Suga gave him was answer enough.

"The lack of trust, the lack of faith," Oikawa skipped ahead, shaking his head sadly as they walked to the agreed upon practice room. "Suga, when are you going to learn that you're friends are mature and responsible wizards, completely capable of handling even the most dire of situations with poise and grace."

He opened the door.

Kuroo and Bokuto stared back at them, the later of the two hanging upside down off the desk while Kuroo was on the other side of the room, clearly trying to throw Bertie Botts beans directly in Bokuto's mouth.

"Poise and grace," Suga repeated.

Oikawa looked aggrieved. "Really? You two couldn't have waited until after my point?"

"We wanted to see if I could taste them better upside down," Bokuto argued.

Suga sat on the desk next to him, the right way up. "And you also had to do this by throwing them across the room because…..?"

"Fun," Kuroo said succinctly.

Oikawa tsked. "So easily amused."

"You saying you think you can beat us," Kuroo challenged back.

Oikawa exchanged a look with Suga.

"Bring it," Oikawa said, grabbing for the Bertie Beans box while Suga was already twisting to hang next to Bokuto without another word.

"Not too late to back out." Kuroo said like he wasn't already getting ready. "You know you're against two Quidditch players, right?"

"Geeze, that'll make it even more embarrassing when you lose," Oikawa said before deftly launching a bean.

Suga jerked his head up to catch it.

Suga chewed it before grinning. "Rutabaga!" He then frowned. "Wait, why did I agree to be on this side? I hate Bertie Botts"

Oikawa ignored him. "One to zero!"

Kuroo threw his, arching into Bokuto's mouth.

"Quill ink!" Bokuto shouted victoriously.

"One to One," Kuroo said back.

Five minutes later and about a dozen beans scattered across the floor, the door opened again.

Daishou stared before sighing heavily.

"No," Daishou said calmly, turning right back around. "I changed my mind. I can't do this, I have standards!"

"No, you don't," Iwaizumi said, grabbing his arm and pulling him behind him. "What are we starting with?"

"This! One sec," Kuroo dug in his pocket, smirking in a way that made everyone immediately suspicious. "Hey, Daishou, I made something for you in honor of how much you've helped!"

"I don't want it," Daishou said immediately before he could even see it.

"'Course you do," Kuroo held up what was legitimately the most lumpy clay star that had ever come into existence, the letters O.O.P.S. were scrawled across it in uneven gold letters. "Look, it's a badge!"

"I definitely don't want it," Daishou repeated vehemently. "My life is already worse just knowing it's in existence."

"Honestly, same," Iwaizumi said, frowning at the monstrosity.

Kuroo wasn't bothered in the least, sticking it on Daishou's chest before the other could dodge. "See, I'm deputizing you! You're now an honorary member of O.O.P.S! Something for the resume! By the way, that's a sticking potion on it."

Daishou looked at him sincerely. "I'll burn the entire robe."

Kuroo smiled. "You honestly don't think I didn't charm the badge against that."

There was a long beat.

"I despise all of you," Daishou said like he was announcing the weather.

"Yeah, yeah," Oikawa dumped his books on the desk. "Moving on. I gotta be at the dumb Wand Weighing Ceremony tonight so let's get to work while I'm still free."

Daishou eyed the books, an analytical gleam lighting behind his eyes. "You're working on spell redirection."

Oikawa nodded. "I looked up every write-up I could find for Ushijima's past duels. His spells may be high level but they're still focused on blunt power more than complicated strategy." He shrugged. "If he wants to be a cannon, let him. Knowing spell redirection would let me twist those same spells back at him with only a fraction of the effort."

"Exhaust him," Kuroo said bluntly. "Doesn't matter how powerful a duelist he is, even he can't maintain them forever."

"The problem, of course," Daishou drawled, "is that spell redirection is notoriously difficult." He waved a hand. "You have to know the type of spell, assess the basic power behind it, everything basically if you even have a hope of catching it to throw back. More than likely, you get caught up in that and his next spell hits you in the chest. There's a reason most people prefer shields, you know? Even if they do take more power." He eyed Oikawa. "Have you even practiced spell redirection?"

"No, Daishou," Oikawa rolled his eyes, "I've done nothing the past week and thought I'd just knock Ushijima on his ass with my smile. Yes, I've practiced it." He lowered his voice, disgruntled. "I've already gotten it to work on most of the more basic ones."

"Oh, great," Daishou said sarcastically. "As long as he sticks to Lumos and Expelliarmus you're fine, then. He's only his country's top duelist, I'm sure he'll be fine taking it easy during the Triwizard Tournament."

Oikawa huffed. "For some reason, that's why I thought you were here. To help me practice."

"Hey, I've been wondering something," Bokuto spoke up before Daishou could retort. "You've gotta be like really good at knowing the spell for spell redirection, right? What if Ushijima does two spells, though?"

"What," Daishou asked. "Like chaining spells?"

"Well, yeah….but, Ushijima can do at least some wandless magic," Iwaizumi said. "We saw it at the World Cup."

Daishou looked at Oikawa expectantly. "Wordless magic and apparently he knows how to chain his spells together. How are you expecting to redirect spells like that?"

Oikawa glared, pointing at the books. "Seriously, what do you think those are for? I'm trying to memorize the spells by appearance. Whether he says it or not, it can't change what it looks like! I find his favorites, I find the basics, I figure out what they look like and, then, I shove them right back in his face." He paused. "And, hey, who's to say I can't learn wandless magic, too?"

Suga winced. "Maybe a bit much for before the first task.."

"Ushijima already knows it," Oikawa said darkly.

"You don't need to know wandless magic." Daishou sat on the desk, thinking. "It would help; but…..I don't think it should be the first plan."

"What do you think should be the first plan, then," Oikawa demanded. "If you don't like my idea."

Daishou rolled his eyes. "The first plan should be spell redirection, obviously. You already said it."

"But, you-" Oikawa pinched his nose and breathed heavily. "Then, why were you even arguing!"

Daishou blinked innocently. "It's motivational. You should know how very far you need to go."

Kuroo shook his head, looking impressed despite himself. "You're such a dick."

Daishou hummed, adjusting his star pointedly.

"What about Hoshiumi," he asked. "That's a plan for Durmstrang; but, there's still Beauxbatons to think about."

Oikawa looked at Kuroo, who shrugged.

"Guy's a mystery," Kuroo said. "High up in his class ranks; but, he prefers broom racing over dueling. Can't find anything about what his style is."

"What about his plan," Daishou narrowed his eyes. "What are the Beauxbatons' students saying?"

Oikawa smiled. "You wouldn't be asking if you hadn't already looked and found just what we did. Apparently, no one knows. If he has a plan, he's keeping it to himself. Who knows if he even bothered finding someone to leak the First Task." He paused. "He seems like the type that likes surprises."

"An idiot, then," Daishou said bluntly.

"Rude!" Bokuto shouted and Daishou ignored him

"Only if it doesn't work for him," Kuroo argued more strategically. "He's a champion. That means the Goblet chose him for some reason. Guys that enjoy catching people off guard have to be pretty confident they can make it through. Might be he just thinks whatever the First Task is, he's good enough to handle it."

"Hmmm," Daishou considered, not sounding completely happy but not denying it outright either, "fine, guess we'll have to wait to see if it's baseless confidence or not." He turned to Oikawa. "What's your plan if he actually is good?"

Oikawa's smile was predatory in its ease. "He's not the only one that's good at adapting. Whatever he's coming with, I'll handle it."

Daishou paused.

"If you can get spell redirection down," he added, like it would actually pain him not to make a final jab.

Oikawa rolled his eyes, hopping off the desk and bringing out his wand.

He shifted into a dueling stance. "So, you going to be helpful or not?"

Daishou smirked.

ooooooo

The Quidditch stands were still covered with wet leaves and no matter how hard Hinata tried to spell them away, there was always one he missed.

Bleh.

Okay, so maybe there was a reason that the official Quidditch field was built higher up the hill where the tall stands could be covered from the worst of the elements. Their makeshift field this year was down by the Forest, meaning it was practically buried in leaves as the weather had gotten cooler.

Hinata made a face at another squelch of wet leaves under his palm and reminded himself he'd definitely had worse.

Midday, the field was deserted which meant it was the perfect place for Hinata to finally get a chance to read. The Great Hall and his dorm was still subject to chaos-the rest of the school seemed to have finally stopped asking why he wasn't playing, but that didn't mean the gossip had gotten any better. It might be kinda terrible; but, Hinata really couldn't wait for the first interviews with the champions so there'd be something else to talk about.

Kageyama still wasn't talking to him.

Was barely even looking at him, actually, which hurt-hurt worse than anything Hinata had ever expected-and was also just frankly annoying considering they still had to share the same room and Shibayama, Inuoka, and Sakunami seemed to be treating the entire dorm as an active war zone.

Yachi, Lev, and Kenma seemed to have come to an unspoken agreement to split their time between the two of them which was…..

Hinata rubbed at his face.

It was fine. It just also made it clear that there was one missing.

Hinata went back to his book, staring blankly at the page before groaning and staring up at the field.

See, the thing was Hinata knew he needed to get better. Duh. That was the whole point of everything!

That didn't mean he had the first clue how that was supposed to happen.

The most obvious solution was books. That's what Yachi did, what Kenma and Oikawa did, what Suga did. And they were the smartest people Hinata knew so he figured that was a good place to start.

Hinata…..Hinata had never really been that great at reading. Even when it was Quidditch, he couldn't really focus on it that long because then they started talking about plays and tactics and then he wanted to try and….uggggh, Yachi and Kenma always seemed to be able to look at a book and pull what they needed out of thin air, Hinata wasn't sure how any of this was supposed to work. What if he wasn't even reading the right thing? How did that work?

All said, when he saw another figure coming to the field, Hinata wasn't particularly upset about putting down the book and smiling. "Are you here to practice for the game?"

Aone gave him a small smile back and nodded.

Hinata cocked his head. "How are you going to practice alone?"

"Futakuchi's coming after class," Aone answered, voice deep and even despite rare use. He frowned slightly and Hinata understood it.

"Oh," Hinata waved the book, "I thought I'd come out here to read."

Aone waited.

"Yeah, it's….um, not really going great, but I still want to try," Hinata admitted sheepishly.

Aone stared back and Hinata held his breath, hoping there wouldn't be another question of why-if this wasn't working, why didn't he just go back to Kageyama.

But, this was Aone and Aone was always good about giving everyone the space they needed without pressure. Instead, he just nodded, looking down at the book again. "Defense?"

"Huh?" Hinata looked down at the title, proclaiming top defensive strategies of the last century. "Yeah, I don't-I mean I know about Chasers; but, I don't have any idea about strategies so I thought it might help."

"Futakuchi knows strategy," Aone said.

"Does he?" Hinata blinked, thinking back to how Futakuchi would pull in Aone and Koki during practice. "Huh, so, he normally thinks of the defensive stuff?"

Aone nodded again.

"That's really cool." Hinata grimaced. "I don't really know what they're talking about in the book. They keep talking about things like bunch blocking and field positions." He titled his head. "Why does where you're positioned mattered, don't you just have to go to wherever the Bludger is?"

Aone shook his head, frowning deeper as he tried to find the words.

"Oh? Is our Shorty finally learning defense?" Futakuchi ambled onto the field, swinging his bag uncaring down by the stands. He nodded at Aone before he folded his arms and smirked down at Hinata. "See, that's Chasers for you. Always following a ball like their lives depended on it." He waved a hand. "Beaters are different. There's two Bludgers for a reason, you know? We don't follow them, we watch for them to come to us." His smirk grew. "As for positions and bunch blocking, that's where it gets fun."

"Fun," Hinata repeated. "What's fun about trying to stay in one place all game?"

Futakuchi ruffled his hair while Hinata tried to smack away the hands. "Spoken like someone who's never seen the true terror on a Chaser's face when they're completely cornered and can't do anything to get away." He stretched his back, leaning down to get his Quidditch pads. "Chasers are focused on the Quaffle so they don't see it. Where the Beaters are controls where the Chasers can go-for both teams. Put the Beaters in the right place and you cut down on the Chasers' path." He rolled his eyes. "Unless, you got little oddballs like you that try to fly through it before the positions can reset."

"Still works," Aone insisted.

Futakuchi rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, just annoying." He looked at Hinata. "Think about it. Even when the other team's Beater's aren't fast enough to block you in, you still pick where you're going on where there's a clear path, right?"

"Yeah" Hinata frowned. "Why wouldn't I? I don't want to be blocked."

Futakuchi grinned. "Because you got me and guys like Kuroo who are predicting it. They make a hole in the defense just so they know where you'll go and make it easier for the Keeper to stop it overall."

"Oh."

Hinata fell silent, thinking back to all of his games where he felt like he was just a second or two too slow getting around the Beaters so the Keeper was already in place to stop him by the time Hinata threw to the goal.

"Oh," Hinata said again, blinking and looking back up. "Then, how do I stop it? Go faster?"

"Can you?" Futakuchi's expression twisted. "Ugh, that's terrifying! How are you such a little speed monster! Why do you gotta make it harder for good, honest Beaters like us, huh?"

Aone elbowed him.

"Right, anyway," Futakuchi put his hands on his hips. "No, if they're already there to block off the paths, going faster isn't going to do anything. You need to outsmart them. Figure out what they're trying to do before they block you in or find a different way through once you're in the middle of the block." He thumped the book cover. "Strategy versus strategy."

Hinata looked down at the book, too, trying to re-frame the ideas he'd read before…..it still wasn't simple; but, he thought he at least got what they were trying to do a bit more now.

"So, you playing or not," Futakuchi asked, nodding at Hinata's broom that he'd brought reflexively as it felt too odd to be on a field without it. "We should have a few hours before the actual team practices start. We were going to go over passing Bludgers; but, we could use someone to block against."

"I'm….," Hinata thought about it. "I was going to read."

"Your choice. Though, hey, maybe I can show you some of those strategies the book was talking about. See how well you can get out of them."

Hinata brightened. "Really? You'd do that."

"Sure, helps us, too." Futakuchi shrugged. "Besides, not like books are the only way to learn. Sometimes it's just practice. That's what this Quidditch League thing's supposed to be about, right?"

Huh, Hinata wondered suddenly if he might have been really dumb. He couldn't play with Kageyama, that wouldn't help anything with them both like they were now. But, that didn't mean he couldn't learn from everyone else, too. His main problem with Quidditch was that he needed to learn how to play his best with anyone, so…..why not play with everyone. Everyone he could talk into it and Hinata was really good at convincing when it came to Quidditch.

The Quidditch League had people from all the Houses, from two entirely new schools, all with different styles and skills and…..why had Hinata gotten so focused on what he couldn't do right now that he forgot all the new people he could play against?

To learn to stand on top of the world.

Hinata grinned up at Futakuchi. "Show me everything."

ooooooo

"Ha, finally found you!"

Tsukishima bit back a groan.

Then, he thought about who it was and changed his mind to give the loudest groan he possibly could. "Why are you here?"

"I work here," Akiteru answered cheerfully, sitting by him on the stands. He paused. "Well, technically I work for the Ministry and the Ministry assigned me here so, now, I have time to spend with my favorite little brother. When he's not avoiding me, of course."

"Some take avoiding as a hint," Tsukishima grumbled.

Akiteru rolled his eyes. "Still upset I took the job, huh?"

No. Tsukishima was not upset. Upset would imply he cared that Akiteru took a stupid, boring, menial job as a glorified Ministry goffer that Tsukishima knew was going to eventually hollow him from the inside out and if Akiteru would just think about it for half a second instead of being so bloody giving all the time then maybe…...Anyway, all of which Tsukishima didn't care about, obviously. So, no, he was not upset.

There was no point to caring when it wouldn't matter anyway.

"Of course not," Tsukishima grit out.

"So, why are you avoiding me?"

"Do I really need to pick a reason?"

Akiteru huffed, the sound fond. "Fine, fine, avoid me all you want, I'll just ask Tadashi when I really want to find you. He'll tell me."

Tsukishima grimaced. Yamaguchi probably would; the traitor.

Just thinking about it, Tsukishima aimed a halfhearted glare down at the field where Yamaguchi was practicing with his designated team for the week. Hinata was there, too-for some reason, since as far as Tsukishima knew the little menace wasn't even playing this week.

Irritating.

Pointless and irritating.

"So, when are you going to play," Akiteru asked, ignoring the scowl with the ease of long practice.

"I'm not."

Akiteru frowned. "Why not?"

"Why would I?" Tsukishima gave him a look. "They're not even real games. This entire thing is pointless, even more so than the House teams."

"Quidditch isn't about having a point, Kei." Akiteru waved the argument away. "It's fun. People enjoy it."

Tsukishima snorted, turning back to his book. "Oh, yeah, I'm sure you had so much 'fun' as a benchwarmer back when you were playing."

There was a long pause. Tsukishima didn't look up, refusing to feel guilty even if there was a tightness in his stomach.

He didn't care.

Akiteru sighed. "It's always going to be more fun playing than having to sit and watch other people do it; but, that doesn't mean I regret trying. Hufflepuff had a four time champion team during my years. It's not their fault, I never quite got good enough to be a starter." He looked at the field wistfully. "I kinda regret we didn't have something like this League back then. It would have been nice just to see how I'd do."

Tsukishima didn't say anything.

Akiteru smiled anyway, ever the Hufflepuff. "Which is exactly why you shouldn't waste the chance this year." His tone turned cajoling. "Come on, what do you have to lose? I know you enjoy it."

Tsukishima wrinkled his nose. "It's something to do."

"We play every summer," Akiteru continued as if he hadn't spoken. "You're good. Plus, your friends are doing it, too. What do you have to lose?"

"My patience and my sanity," Tsukishima said bluntly.

Akiteru made a considering noise. "...Kei, if we're being honest here, you never had much patience."

Tsukishima glared.

"Just try it once," Akiteru bargained.

"Pass," Tsukishima said. "I'd rather put my energy into something less stupid than overgrown sticks."

Akiteru gave up and groaned back, which clearly meant Tsukishima had won so Tsukishima was pleased.

"Kei," Akiteru said, "if you're not careful, one day, you're going to turn into an old miser that hates everything and I'm going to be there to say I told you so."

"If the Ministry doesn't work you to death first," Tsukishima said breezily.

Akiteru threw up his hands, standing up. "Forget it, you win. I'm going to go find Saeko and at least she'll appreciate my wonderful company."

"Good, why aren't you with her anyway," Tsukishima asked.

Akiteru was already hopping down the benches. "She wanted to see the flobberlump thing, apparently. She thought it was interesting."

Tsukishima frowned. "There's nothing interesting about Flumpy.

Akiteru shrugged. "I don't know, she'd know more than me so there has to be something interesting about him, right?"

Akiteru continued his way down and Tsukishima didn't stop him.

From everything he'd heard-including the many, many lovesick reflections of Akiteru-Saeko was very similar to her brother and Noya when it came to an inexplicable fondness of creatures that could kill a man within seconds.

Tsukishima didn't really like that all of them were apparently interested in Flumpy.

ooooooo

Oikawa twirled his wand through his fingers, slouching with a very pointed lack of care.

Ushijima was staring back at him, blank with that faint hint of disapproval.

Idly, Oikawa wondered what it would be like to lean his wand forward and jab that arrogant look right off of his face.

Instead, he flipped his wand over, snagging it gracefully out of the air just in time to see Ushijima press his lips more firmly.

"Problem?" Oikawa smiled.

"You should treat your wand with more respect," Ushijima said, mild tone contrasting with the heavy set frown.

"I do respect it," Oikawa twirled the wand again idly. "There's a difference in respect and treating it like it's made of glass." His eyes slid to Ushijima before he sighed. "What am I saying? You probably wouldn't know fun if it brained you in the side of the head."

Ushijima blinked. "Why would 'fun' attempt to injure me?"

"That's not-," Oikawa huffed. "Nevermind, why don't you just stand over there and I'll stay here and, if I'm very lucky, I can forget you exist."

Ushijima remained unruffled. He also didn't in fact leave Oikawa alone because Ushijima was a blight on his existence and no one could convince Oikawa otherwise.

"Have you decided to participate in the tournament fully, then," Ushijima asked.

"I've decided to kick your ass if that's what you mean," Oikawa bit back.

Ushijima hummed. "That's good to hear. Try your best."

Murder.

Oikawa was going to murder him one of these days and, with any hope, a reasonable court would call it justified.

His smile back was far too saccharine. "Thanks. You, too, Toshi-Toshi!"

Ushijima's eye twitched. Oikawa took the victory.

Hoshiumi walked up beside them, smoothing down his robes as he did.

"You're late," Ushijima said.

"How can I be late when they haven't let us in yet," Hoshiumi returned easily.

"Where were you," Oikawa asked, mainly so Ushijima wouldn't get a chance to start a conversation that Oikawa was sure would infuriate him.

Hoshiumi turned to him and Oikawa got the creeping feeling he was being assessed with sharp yellow eyes.

Then, Hoshiumi grinned and the feeling soothed back. "Dinner! Ugh, the Great Hall's a mess, right?"

Oikawa snorted. "Tell me about it. It only just got better, too, wait until the interviews come out."

"It'll be a nice opportunity to acknowledge the support our countries are giving us," Ushijima said.

Oikawa tilted his head. "Sometimes, I think you try to find the worst possible thing to annoy me."

Ushijima stayed quiet and didn't actually deny it. Oikawa glared.

Hoshiumi slid between them. "He's right, though. I bet all of Europe's watching."

"And?" Oikawa said, still glaring at Ushijima over Hoshiumi's head.

"Well," Hoshiumi continued, "that means it's important, it means people are paying attention to us." He smiled up at Oikawa. "You've already gotten a lot of attention for the muggleborn Slytherin thing, right? What do you want them to see?"

"Oh, I've got a plan," Oikawa muttered.

"What is it," Ushijima asked.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Oikawa finally turned back to Hoshiumi. "Truthfully, in my experience, it doesn't really matter much what I want. Whatever I do, some people will love it, some hate it. Can't stop it now, so I might as well piss off the ones who deserve it"

Hoshiumi laughed. "Good plan. Fan the flames, right?"

Oikawa snorted, smirking back. "Not like I can help it."

Hoshiumi's grin widened sharply and, dang it, Oikawa thought it might actually be starting to like the weird kid. He was exactly the kind of bad influence that Oikawa could appreciate.

Ushijima was still frowning.

"Come off it." Oikawa rolled his eyes. "Even you know I'm right."

The door opened before Ushijima could respond.

"Champions," Minister Masaru welcomed them in. "Good, you're all here. Come in, we've got one of the country's top wand experts here."

Oikawa noticed a fairly short witch with a contraption over her eyes that he thought might be some kind of spectacles if not for the fact that several lenses seemed far too strange to ever hope to see through.

A few reporters were lined around the side of the room while the three Headmasters stood a respectable distance back from the wand expert.

In the middle of the room was the same tournament official from the Goblet of Fire ceremony and he kept looking nervously at Oikawa as if afraid he'd suddenly try to hex him.

Oikawa smiled back innocently, twirling his wand again.

The official seemed to be visibly sweating. "A-as I'm sure many of you have guessed, the Weighing of the Wands is an ancient and much honored tradition of the Triwizard Tournament, where we as wizards can take note of the greatest magical tools from this wizarding generation. Of, course, there have many great wands over the ages, starting back with the failed experiments of the Brothers Peverell and inevitably leading to the staff of Elfric the-"

Oikawa tuned him out because, really, if he wanted a remedial course on wand lore, he'd have just stayed in the library.

Besides, pretenses about recording history aside, everyone knew that the Weighing of the Wands was actually just to check the wands against tampering and misconduct. It was an anti-cheating measure, same as the identity verification before all three tasks and the endless stupid rule book about what assistance was and was not allowed. So the countries could all pretend the tournament was some kind of noble and honorable endeavor.

Oikawa thought it was kind of funny that whatever fabled history of the tournament they were selling, it still essentially boiled down to three teenagers doing their level best to beat each other up.

Ah, tradition.

"-it is with this legacy behind us that we can finally come here today," the official finished, sounding much more heartened to be done with his speech. The rest of the room still seemed to be dulled to boredom, waiting for the real event to actually start. "Alright, then, if everyone is ready. Korai Hoshiumi of Beauxbatons, please step forward."

Hoshiumi stepped up, handing the wand over to the small witch with the odd glasses.

The witch spoke quietly, assessing the wand. "Hmmm, ten inches, extremely flexible, able to withstand heavy amounts of pressure without splintering the wood, good, that's good. Walnut for the wood-very fitting, that's the type that depends more on the knowledge of the wielder than the wand itself, you know? Oh! And Curupira hair as the core, how unusual!"

Hoshiumi smiled evenly. "It's a good wand."

"Curupira hair is very unpredictable," the witch said. "Any trouble?"

Hoshiumi shook his head.

The witch waved the wand, jolting back as a burst of gold sparks shot around the room, causing the reporters to duck before they were hit.

"Well, it seems to be working fine," she finished faintly.

She handed the wand back to Hoshiumi.

"Wakatoshi Ushijima of Durmstrang," the official called.

Ushijima nodded respectfully to both the official and his Headmaster before handing his wand to the witch.

The witch smiled. "Ah, this one's makings are clear. Acacia wood and Thunderbird tail feather, correct?"

"Yes," Ushijima confirmed.

The witch was already nodding happily. "A strong wand; but, very picky on who it chooses to be its master. You should be proud. Eleven inches, durable wood but inflexible. Now, let's see," she waved the wand and a stem suddenly broke through the desk, quickly flowering and growing before the witch rapidly cancelled the spell before a small tree could topple the work table. "Yes, perfect, in absolutely splendid working order. Thank you."

She handed the wand back to Ushijima, who took it with a nod.

"Tooru Oikawa of Hogwarts," the official called, giving one last hesitant look to Oikawa.

Oikawa grinned, honestly, it wasn't like he was going to start anything yet.

He handed over his wand to the assessor, ignoring that tingling feeling of loss and wrongness that always came when his wand wasn't near him.

The witch hummed, pausing a moment as she looked closer at the wand. "10 inches, hazel as the wood, moderate flexibility, but the core…." she looked up at him. "Who made this wand?"

"I got it at Diagon Alley." Oikawa shrugged. "The old Gregorovitch shop."

"Ah, that explains it," the witch nodded, turning back down. "Not many wandmakers would try to use sphinx hair with hazel, it's a tricky balance-too dangerous to throw off." She waved the wand and a thin layer of frost broke out along the desk, quickly trying to run up the limbs of the early formed tree and freeze it.

Oikawa smiled.

"However, it seems like the balance is in fine working order for now," the witch handed the wand back. "You must maintain it regularly."

Oikawa wasn't sure if that was supposed to be an observation or a warning; but, he nodded back anyway.

"Well, now, that we have that business concluded." Minister Masaru stepped forward, patting Oikawa's back amicably. "Our three champions have humbly agreed to do interviews for the next couple of hours. I'm sure you'll all be very respectful of minding your fellow journalist's time and proceeding orderly."

And that's all it took before pandemonium broke out in the rush to get to the champions first. Oikawa felt his wrist grabbed and didn't really see a reason not to be pulled along as it got him out of the crowd.

He was all but shoved into a broom cupboard when he finally got a look at either his savior or attacker, depending on the view.

Somehow, Oikawa wasn't even a bit surprised at who he saw.

He laughed. "Ever the opportunist."

Even freshly battled through a veritable mob, Kaori Miura's hair was still as perfectly immaculate as Oikawa remembered from five years prior.

Miura smiled in a way that Oikawa now could tell seemed exactly like a predator trying to mask their sharp teeth.

That was fine, Oikawa was a lot more dangerous now, too.

"Well, it only seemed fitting," Miura said smoothly. "After all, I did your introductory interview to the Wizarding World. How could I not check back in now that you've grown up to be champion? We, at the Daily Prophet, are all so very proud, of course."

Oikawa's smile was just as sharp. "And the paper sales of having a muggleborn champion don't hurt, of course."

"Of course," Miura admitted easily. "Business, you know? But, then again, I've always been more about the story than the sales."

"Uh huh." He met her eyes. "Last time, you got a really good story, didn't you? Using an eleven year old to force a political angle before I even knew the sides. Clever."

"Well, you were just so genuine-how could I not quote that? Not mad at me, are you?" Miura waved a hand easily. "You were the first muggleborn Slytherin in recorded history, darling. You were always going to get in the spotlight eventually. At least my story gave you a good angle."

Oikawa rolled his eyes.

"Always easier to have us working with you than against you," Miura said, inspecting her nails. "I do hope we can still have a good working relationship during this tournament mess."

Oikawa snorted. As if he hadn't had worse threats than a bad news story.

Still….Oikawa had an inkling of an idea that was probably absolutely terrible; but, he really wanted to do it anyway. Fanning the flames, was it? That should be fun.

"Of course, we can," he assured easily. "After all, I've got the perfect story for you."

Miura raised a brow. "Oh?"

"Sure," Oikawa said blithely. "For final check and approval before it's published, of course."

Miura watched him closely, dropping the act and going to business. "You want to check before it's published? Why would I agree?

Oikawa shrugged. "Because you're right, it is so much better to have a working relationship with someone I know. Especially since there's so many people wanting interviews with the tournament. It's good to know someone I can come to first, right?

Miura paused before the smile slowly returned. "Aww, you really are growing up, aren't you, sweetie?"

"Suppose I had to." Oikawa held out his hand. "Deal or not?"

"Deal." Miura shook the hand and pulled out her quill. "What kind of story were you thinking?"

Oikawa thought back to Suga's words earlier.

People expect what they want to see.

Oikawa grinned. Well, then he might as well have fun, right?

ooooooo

A/N: Hey, guys, thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed! Oddly enough, I don't really have any other notes this time. Ya'll are the best! As always, thanks for your support! Next chapter should be coming in two weeks :)

Next Chapter: Fame
Post Date: October 10-11
(Not next chapter but two chapters from now is the First Task, almost there!)