Yei! 101 followers, 73 Favorites, and 20 reviews. You do not know how happy that makes me! So thanks for all your support, even that small "pls update" or "love it" get me so excited, that I keep writing , even though I have a lot of work...
Disclaimer: One Piece and Harry Potter does not belong to me, each belongs to their respective author.
Challenge by TheBlackSeaReaper.
Beta: TheBlackSeaReaper
-.-Diagon Alley
Next morning Hagrid woke with a powerful headache. How irresponsible on his part, he told himself, he was send on an important mission and the first thing he did was drink.
His gaze tries to find out Harry. No, he told himself, not Harry, Ace.
Ace D. Portgas.
It was amazing to think that the boy had decided to change his name and to one as curious as that. What would that D mean?
Now with more calm, Hagrid looked well where the child lived, and could not help but be grateful that this was temporary, but worried about how the other places where he spent the night would be.
The house was falling apart, it was a fortune that it had not fallen already. A blanket and a backpack served as a makeshift bed, next to this was the culprit of Hagrid headache. The backpack was open revealing part of its contents: a compass resting next to a map, while still inside the backpack Hagrid could see a book of pages worn by use, with the title: "Treasure Island"
"Oh, you woke up," said a voice from the doorway.
"Oh, Ace, there you are" said Hagrid, and that's when he could observed Ace closely.
According to Dumbledore's sources, the boy was the spitting image of James Potter, or at least that was a year ago. Ace D. Portgas was a thin child, with small green eyes that reflected a completely opposite view of Lily Potter, Ace's gaze was hard and always seemed with furrowed brow, his forehead was broad and on one side you could see the lightning-shaped scar that made him famous, that was slightly covered by a few strands of hair. Ace's hair was a funny thing, it was longer than Hagrid had imagined, it was wavy, and fell on both sides of his face parted in the center of his head. He also had freckles on his cheeks. How was that the child had freckles when neither parent had them? That was a great mystery.
But it was not the little resemblance to James and Lily that had surprised Hagrid.
Ace that morning was wearing shorts and boots, wearing no shirt on, so his chest and back was completely uncovered. There, as clear as water, was a sun-shaped scar, it was large and took up most of his chest, the center was almost red and on the edges it was a dark pink.
Ace moved towards Hagrid "Today's there is fish for breakfast" said the boy holding out four small fish that was carrying on his back and were now cooked.
Hagrid didn't look at the fish, his eyes remained fixed on the scar of Ace.
"Ace, where did you got that scar?"
Ace just looked down and took his free hand to the mark on his chest. For a moment he recalled those moments when he did not thought and just acted. Luffy's eyes were perfectly imprinted in his memory. Ace slowly looked up and with a big D-smile told Hagrid. "I've always had it."
"Oh well" and realizing the fish Hagrid took the food that was offered "Did you have breakfast?"
"Yeah, a while ago"
"Then I'll hurry, we have many things to do today: We have to go to buy your equipment."
"Just let me get dressed."
Hagrid gazed after the boy; in his back he had a scar similar to the one on his chest. Hagrid did not like it at all.
Ace meanwhile, tried not to think of Hagrid's eyes fixed on his back, or the memory of how he acquired that scar.
Once dressed in a sleeveless shirt, like those he used as a child ... in his other life , Ace noted the money he had saved and looked back at Hagrid, while placing gauze over the scar of his forehead. "Hagrid, how much money will I need? Because I don't have a lot." He could always steal some on the way, but he doubted that he could do so accompanying by Hagrid.
"Do not worry, Ace" said Hagrid "you do not think your parents would leave you with nothing."
"The Potters? But the house ..."
"Your parents did not keep their gold in the house; they kept it in Gringotts, the wizarding bank."
"Wizards have banks?"
"Only one and it's Gringotts, it's directed by Goblins"
Only one bank, all the gold of the magic community in a single bank, but...
"Goblins?"
"Yes, one would have to be crazy to try to steal Gringotts"
Oh, was this a challenge?
(Scene Break)-.-
Hagrid took Ace to the train station. While they wait, Hagrid pulled out a newspaper, which he began to read.
Meanwhile, Ace, bored, began to create small fire rings with mouth then let them rise to the sky.
"Why should one be crazy to rob Gringotts?" Ace asked after think hard on the matter...
"Spells, Ace, Charms" said changing the page "They say there are dragons guarding maximum security values. Plus you have to know the way; Gringotts is hundreds of miles under London, well below the subway. Would die of hunger trying to get out, even if you had managed to steal something."
Ace considered the information. The food was no problem, even underground there was always something to hunt, the problem here was...
"Dragons? Do you really exist?" Even in the Grand Line they were a myth.
"Of course there exist" he said as he let out a sigh "I wish I had a dragon."
"A pet dragon?"
"Yes, I wanted one as child." And he returned the view to the newspaper.
Ace then again got lost in thought. The dragon was not an issue; with his Mera-Mera fruit it would be easy to stop them.
"The Minister of Magic is confusing things" Hagrid said "as always."
"Minister of Magic?"
"Yes, and it's the worst we've had. They wanted Dumbledore to be minister but he refused to leave Hogwarts, so they put Fudge in charge."
"And what is supposed to do a Minister of Magic?"
"Well, their main job is to prevent muggles to know that there are still witches and wizards across the country."
"Muggles?"
"Not magical people."
After that, the train that would take them to London arrived. Everyone watched them and that was expected, with Hagrid being twice a normal person height and pointing to things totally common.
"The things that Muggles invent" he murmured, only to find Ace with his head drooped back and mouth open, completely asleep. Thinking it was his fault for not sleeping the night before, Hagrid let the boy.
(Scene Break)-.-
Ace woke up just before reaching their destination in London. Hagrid, not wanting to awake him up, had carried him from the train, on the subway, to the crowded street full of shops.
Ace had never been to London, but simply watching the shops and people he could imagine they would not find the material on the list easily. But there was another thing that intrigued him: and that was the same Hagrid.
Ace was not sure what was what made him so confident of Hagrid, after all Hagrid was a stranger, but still could not help but follow him.
"The Leaky Cauldron. It's a famous place. "
Ace entered the room, followed by Hagrid; of famous this place had nothing. Instead it was dark and sinister, but the style of the place was that of a classic bar of the Great Line, and Ace liked it.
By habit, Ace advanced to the bar where the bartender was stretching for a glass.
"The usual, Hagrid?"
"Can't, Tom" Hagrid said, touching his head "I'm on Hogwarts business"
The bartender looked down at Ace, which was curiously watching the place.
"He comes to buying his equipment?"
"That is right."
Tom and Hagrid continued talking, while Ace carefully watching place. Where could they sell wands and cauldrons?
"Are you hurt?" Asked a voice trembling, getting Ace out of his thoughts "Blows on the head can be very dangerous. Let me check you. "
Ace could not see the man who had appeared next to him, and took his hand to the boy's forehead where the gauze covered the scar.
"Do not worry, it's nothing" exclaimed becoming back, falling from the bank in the process and leaving the gauze in the hand of the strange.
"Good Lord" muttered Tom
The view of everyone in the bar was on Ace or more specifically in the lightning-shaped scar decorating his forehead.
"Fuck" mumbled the boy while multiple chairs crawling on the floor.
One by one all the people in the local approached to shake hands with Ace, or from the perspective of Ace, all rushed to shake his hand. Some even cried as they welcomed him. Ace could feel a little vein in his forehead pounded and became more visible.
"Harry Pott...
"Finish that and I'll cut your tongue" Ace said to Tom, while releasing himself of the hands. "I'm Ace D. Portgas, that's my name and I will not accept any other."
"Ha-rry P-potter" for a moment Ace thought the tips of his hair were to burst into flames.
"Oh, Professor Quirrell" Hagrid said "Ace, Professor Quirrell is a professor at Hogwarts"
"I-I can n-not ex-press how de-delight-ted I am to meet y-ou" the man said as he shook the hand of Ace.
"Likewise" Ace muttered as he took the gauze from the hand of man "What subject you teach?"
"Defense against the dark arts, not that you need it"
Ace replaced the gauze, that was a pity, that subject had attracted his attention.
"Well, we gotta go. Lots to buy" Hagrid said as he led Ace to the back of the room.
"See, I told you were famous" Hagrid said "Even Professor Quirrell was nervous about meeting you, but always nervous"
Ace was still adjusting the gauze, it was uncertain it could hold in place the indefinite time he would be surrounded by wizards "Is he always like that?"
"Yes, brilliant mind, he was well while studying books, but he wanted to have a close encounter and when he returned was not the same. Afraid of the students, scared of his own subject ... Now where is my umbrella?"
It will be a genius, but Ace did not like him, he was sure that the thing with the gauze had been on purpose.
He directed his gaze to Hagrid who was counting the bricks on the wall before beating them three times, and before his eyes a space opened revealing a long, twisting street.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley."
Now Ace knew where they sold everything. He was sure it would take to go around, and know everything at least six or seven more visits.
"First we will go to bank" Hagrid said as he began to move, followed by Ace.
There were herbs on one hand, cauldrons on the other, and owls on one direction and brooms on another. Everything was new and so strange that he did not know where to start.
"Gringotts" said Hagrid as they reach a large white building. They entered the building where they found a pair of silver doors with an engraving.
"Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed
For those who take, but do not earn
Must pay most dearly in their turn
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there".
"As I said: You'd have to be crazy to rob Gringotts."
But the D was equivalent for madness, or at least in most of the cases.
Ace could feel his blood in flames, possibly literally, at the excitement. He had to steal that place, it did not matter how but he must do it. The warning was just an invitation to Fire Fist Ace.
Hagrid was arranging with a counter, while Ace watched the place: which door people entered, in which door only goblins, where they got valuable things, where they got very valuable things.
"Also I have a letter from Professor Dumbledore" Hagrid said with importance, something that Ace did not ignore. "Is about you know what in vault 713" Ace, could only watch as the goblin read the letter carefully.
"Very well," said the goblin "I'll have someone to accompany you to both values. Griphook!"
Another goblin approached them and asked them to follow him to one of the many doors. On the other side of the door, Ace came across a cave, a cart and a rail.
This was going to be fun.
Ace ran up to the cart, followed by Hagrid and finally Griphook.
ZOOM
For a moment, Ace felt like in a Gomu-Gomu no Rocket, just sitting and in a completely dark. The cart suddenly had shot out at high speed descending to a world of complete darkness.
They descended faster and the cold was increasingly, not that this bothered Ace, they could needed a snow fall for him to start feeling cold. The road was confused and Ace thought he could need his compass.
When the car stopped, Hagrid got down quickly while Ace feel disappointed that the trip was over. Griphook in turn opened the door of the value, from which a green and thick smoke appear and when it dissipated Ace could see mountains of gold coins, silver and bronze, perfectly placed inside.
"All yours" said Hagrid.
Ace had seen more gold in his life than this, but he could not help wonder at the thought that this was lawfully his. Hagrid quickly helped Ace to put the coins in a bag before heading to Griphook.
"Now, value 713, but could we go slower."
Behind him, Ace frowned in disapproval as he put the money in the bag and pulled out his compass discreetly, he wanted to go faster.
"One speed only."
Ace smiled.
They were going even deeper now and gathering speed, each time it was colder and Ace began to think that he would need a jacket.
The compass was useless, the needle turned from side to side and it was impossible to follow. Ace liked this, he love challenges.
"Value 713"
The goblin went to the door and step one of his thin fingers through the door, this vanished immediately.
"If someone other than a Gringotts goblin does that, he will be sucked inside."
"How often do you check to see if anyone's inside?" Ace asked
"Every ten years"
While Hagrid entered the vault, Ace took the opportunity to talk with Griphook while he watched Hagrid discretely.
"That sounds scary" said Ace in a very well acted surprise voice "I guess this must be one of the most valuable and safe vaults".
"It is true that this vault is valuable, but not the most valuable, the lower in the cave and higher the number of the vault, the more valuable and more secure is this"
"There's more? I don't want to imagine what kind of security these vaults will have"
The goblin smiled important.
"You can be sure we have the best security in the world, we have spells and creatures guarding Gringotts and anyone who tries to steal a value will not succeed."
Bingo. "Enchantments and creatures". No dragons, but creatures. Which mean that they not only had dragons, there were more things watching the values.
Hagrid returned with them, not knowing that Ace had noted that the contents of the vault now rested in one of the many pockets of Hagrid.
What was in that little package?
(Scene Break)-.-
Once outside, Ace did not know where to start, so much to see and so much to discover, it was impossible to decide.
"We'd better go to get your uniform"
Hagrid guided Ace to a store to say "Madam Malkin Robes for All Occasions"
"Ah, Ace, you mind if I disappear to the Leaky Cauldron, hate those cars Gringotts"
"Sure" said Ace as he went and entered the store.
Once inside it was Madame Malkin who welcomes him.
"Hogwarts, dear?"
Ace was led to the back where a boy, blond, pale and with thin face was seen by another witch.
When they put the robe on Ace, he could not help exclaiming: "You have to be kidding? This is the uniform?" Ace asked looking at the long robe. "It's so ... so ..."
"Boring" said a voice next to Ace, the boy's voice.
"I was not going to use that word, but, yeah, it is boring"
"I know," he said in a tone of annoyance "Other schools have uniforms more interesting than a simple black robe"
"If I could have another color that would be better"
"My name is Draco, Draco Malfoy"
"Portgas D. Ace"
"I've never heard your last name. What does the D mean?"
"Who knows, everyone in my family have it"
"And your parents have not told you what it means?" Asked the boy, clearly intrigued by what kind of secrets would keep such a family.
"They're dead"
"Oh, sorry," said the child, without feeling in the least "But they were of our class?"
"Class?"
"A wizard and a witch"
"Does it matter?"
But before he could answer, Madam Malkin said, "That's you done, my dear,"
"Oh, thanks" Ace replied as he removed his robe "You really can't put flames on the edges"
"They are 7 galleons"
Ace paid for the rob and as he left the boy said:
"Well, I'll see you at Hogwarts, I suppose"
Ace just raised his hand as he walked to the exit.
When Ace left the store, Hagrid approached with two ice creams.
Once they finished with the ice cream, that all they did was open Ace's appetite, they went for the rest of Ace's equipment.
They bought parchment, ink and quills. Later they went to buy his books in Flourish and Blotts, Ace have never seen so many books together, while Hagrid asked for the books in the school list, Ace saw other books he could find interesting.
"Ready, Ace, let's go" and left the store, nor Hagrid or the shop owner noticed that Ace's backpack had a curious square shape.
Ace thought to repeat the action of Flourish and Blotts with a cauldron of solid gold, but Hagrid saw him and had to pretend he was just watching it.
"It says pewter on your list" said Hagrid.
They later went to that was quite interesting Apothecary, and while Hagrid called for a supply of basic potions ingredients, Ace had taken out the book "One Hundred herbs and fungus" to see what might be appropriate to buy.
Once outside, Hagrid checked Ace's list.
"Just your wand left - A yeah, an' I still haven't got you a birthday present."
Ace was thrilled, but Makino's voice echoed in the distance.
"You don't have to" said the boy.
"Of course I don't" Giant said "I'll give you an animal, not a toad these went out of fashion for years, and I do not like cats, they make me sneeze. I'll get you an owl, they are very useful carry your mail and everything"
Inside the store Ace could not decide what owl he wanted, they all looked so fragile and delicate. Suddenly his eye fell on a larger figure. The light filtering through a window gave a reddish tone to the feathers, his eyes were a deep black color, and the sharp claws were nailed to a wooden log. A red hawk.
"You like it?" Hagrid's voice asked.
Makino's voice could stop him.
"Yes"
Minutes later, Ace left the store with the red hawk in a cage.
Ace couldn't stop stammering his thanks to Hagrid; he did not know how much you have to thank someone that give you a present like that.
"Do not mention it" Hagrid said "Now let go to Ollivanders"
Hagrid took Ace to the last store, where once inside he could only watch the book shelf filled with boxes accommodated on each other in perfect order.
"Good afternoon" Ace almost jumps.
"Hello"
"Ah yes," said the man. "Yes, yes. I thought I'd be seeing you soon. Harry Potter. You have your mother's eyes. It seems only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand." Ace could only listen to the man as he spoke of the Potter, even when he wanted to said that he did not want to know about them, that they were not his parents, but those big eyes as big silver moon and the way he spoke made it impossible to speak. "Well, I say your father favored it - it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course."
Mr. Ollivander had come so close that he and Ace were almost nose to nose. Something that was quite uncomfortable for the boy.
"And that's where..."
Mr. Ollivander touched la gauze on Ace's forehead with a long, white finger.
"I'm sorry to say I sold the wand that did it," he said softly. "Thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands... well, if I'd known what that wand was going out into the world to do..."
He shook his head and then, to Ace's relief, spotted Hagrid.
"Rubeus! Rubeus Hagrid! How nice to see you again... Oak, sixteen inches, rather bendy, wasn't it?"
"It was, sir, yes," said Hagrid.
"Good wand, that one. But I suppose they snapped it in half when you got expelled?" said Mr. Ollivander, suddenly stern.
"Er - yes, they did, yes," said Hagrid, shuffling his feet. "I've still got the pieces, though," he added brightly.
"But you don't use them?" said Mr. Ollivander sharply.
"Oh, no, sir," said Hagrid quickly. Ace could not help grinning when he noticed Hagrid gripping his pink umbrella very tightly as he spoke.
"Hmmm," said Mr. Ollivander, giving Hagrid a piercing look. "Well, now - Mr. Potter. Let me see." He pulled a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket. "Which is your wand arm?"
"Er - left-handed?" said Ace. And what do that had to do.
"Hold out your arm. That's it." Ace immediately reached out and the man began to take measure without meaning to Ace, and then let the tape measure keep measuring while Mr. Ollivander was flitting around the shelves, taking down boxes.
"That will do," he said, and the tape measure crumpled into a heap on the floor. "Right then, Mr. Potter. Try this one." He tried one, tested two, three, four. The pile of tried wands was mounting higher and higher on the chair, but the more wands Mr. Ollivander pulled from the shelves, the happier he seemed to become. Ace had no idea what Mr. Ollivander was waiting for, but he was starting to feel foolish.
"Tricky customer, eh? Not to worry, we'll find the perfect match here somewhere - I wonder, now - - yes, why not - unusual combination - holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."
Mr. Ollivander ran his wand and Ace, tired of trying so many wand, took it whit out encouragement. Almost immediately he felt a suddenly warmth in his fingers, he moved the wand rapidly from one side to another through the dusty air and in its way left little fireflies that after a while began to burn in small tongues of fire.
Hagrid whooped and clapped and Mr. Ollivander cried, "Oh, bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. Well, well, well... how curious... how very curious... "
He put Ace's wand back into its box and wrapped it in brown paper, still muttering, "Curious... curious..
"What's curious?" unable to control his own little curiosity
"I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr. Potter. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather - just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother why, its brother gave you that scar."
Ace raised an eyebrow as if to say: "This man is completely crazy."
"Yes, thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Curious indeed how these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember... I think we must expect great things from you, Mr. Potter... After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things - terrible, yes, but great."
It was official, he didn't like Mr. Ollivander; he was too creepy for his taste.
Ace did not hide the pleasure he fell from being able to get out of that dark store, and once having all the equipment from the list, Hagrid led the boy back to the Leaky Cauldron, where Hagrid made the huge mistake inviting dinner at Ace.
That was a big advantage that all expenses are paid Hogwarts, because otherwise Hagrid would be in huge trouble.
Ace probably had requested more dishes than Mr. Ollivander tested wands.
"Um ...Ace?" Hagrid began
"Mmmm" Ace said as a sign that he listened
"You'll stay here for the rest of the summer" Ace stopped mid bite and Hagrid could feel him looked sideways "right?"
"Why?" Ask the boy.
"Well ... it's not safe to walk by yourself for all England" Hagrid said, but quickly regretted it said, a huge cool climb down his spine. "And with all your equipment for school, did not think carrying it for all England"
Ace even glancing at Hagrid, considered what the giant said, He had to admit it was a very good point; he could not travel with such a trunk from side to side. Moreover, this was the perfect opportunity to explore London and further explore Diagon Alley.
"Hogwarts will pay for all expenses" Hagrid added sure that at the end of summer Dumbledore could regret giving that instruction.
"It's okay by me" As if Ace would refuse the idea of free food.
After eating and settle in what would be his room for a month, Ace accompanied Hagrid to the Leaky Cauldron fireplace, mainly out of curiosity.
"Well, Ace, this is your train ticket, any problems you send me your hawk ... he ... he'll find me."
"Ok"
And with that Hagrid entered the flame and threw some powder into the fire, shouting: "Hogwarts" and disappeared into a huge green flame.
Ace remained static before the fire, while the flames returned to normal.
Yet despite his surprise, he could only say one thing: "I feel like I forgot something"