Disclaimer: One Piece and Harry Potter does not belong to me, each belongs to their respective author.

Challenge by TheBlackSeaReaper.

Beta: TheBlackSeaReaper

-.-Quidditch

As they entered November, the weather turned very cold. The mountains around the school became icy gray and the lake like chilled steel. Every morning the ground was covered in frost. Hagrid could be seen from the upstairs windows defrosting broomsticks on the Quidditch field, bundled up in a long moleskin overcoat, rabbit fur gloves, and enormous beaver skin boots. And all students avoid the freezing courtyards...

Well, all except Ace and his friends.

It was really lucky that they had Hermione as a friend. One mourning, the girl conjured them a beautiful little blue fire that each keep in a jam jar to carried it around. It was nice and warm until the twins used it to scare a first year Hufflepuff, and Hermione refused to conjure another one. But the twin didn't need one; soon they discovered that even in the freezing courtyard Ace was as warm as the fire that heats the common room.

One Friday the six were out in the freezing courtyard during break, it was the day before the first Quidditch match of the season: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. And that means, of course, Ace's first Quidditch match, and the first time many could see him play because Wood had decided that nobody see him play, because he was their secret weapon, unfortunately Ace was many things but a secret, somehow the news had leaked, and every single person on school knew who the new seeker of Gryffindor was.

But let's go back to the real topic in hand.

Friday. Courtyard. During Break. The kids were sitting in a circle; Ron, Neville and Hermione shared Hermione's blue fire, while the twins sit side by side of Ace, the young Fire fist reading a book: Quidditch through the Ages. Hermione had lent it to him so he could learn more about the game. The twins were commenting the origins of the snitch, when Snape crossed the yard, and Ace couldn't help to noticed at once that Snape was limping.

Hermione, Ron and Neville moved closer together to block the fire from view, not sure if it wouldn't be allowed.

Unfortunately, something about their guilty faces caught Snape's eye. He limped over. He hadn't seen the fire, but he seemed to be looking for a reason to tell them off anyway.

But Ace saw that, and was faster.

"What happened to your leg?"

Snape freeze.

"That is none of your business, Portgas"

"Well, it's just that it's bleeding again" All looked toward the tunic, while Snape turned around to avoid further questions.

"Mmm ... interesting"

"Wonder what's wrong with his leg?"

"That's too much blood for normal and simple wound" Ace said.

"Dunno, but I hope it's really hurting him," said Ron bitterly.

"Soon will be dinner time" began Fred.

"Yes!" Jumped Ace "I'm starving"

"Of course, with that bottomless stomach who doesn't" George muttered.

"I'm growing up" the pirate fought "also I need my strength, I'll go visit the dog tonight," Ace said suddenly, "Who comes with me?"

He had not finished saying that, when Neville was already shaking his head frantically, Ron where debated between whether go or not; a part of him wanted to go, the other part, that he thought of his safety, saying no. Hermione meanwhile reacted in a more explosive way.

"No, Ace, you have a match tomorrow"

"Calm down," he said in an expression of complete serene "It will be really simply, I without a doubt catch the snitch tomorrow"

"No! You have to follow your sleep schedule, I read in the book, which I lent to McGonagall, you have to maintain a regular sleep schedule" He paused for air, and Ace was going to say something but then the girl continued. "Tomorrow you have a match, what are you're going to do if you fall asleep while you're flying." She said no more; there was no need to say it, in the mind of all, they looked clear the scene of Ace falling to the ground, fast asleep.

"I've spent years with that thing; nothing is going to happened simply because I know what it's called."

"You've never ridden a broom before"

Meanwhile the twins had their own conversation.

"When we will have a chance like this?" said George.

"Maybe never," said another, "also this could serve to check the theory"

"The Leg Theory"

"And the trap door"

With a knowing look they turn to Ace who were still listening to Hermione.

"You will go direct to bed and tomorrow morning you took your potion."

"You thing taste awful"

"Ace" the twins said "we'll go with you and see the dog"

"You will not," said Hermione

"Why, it is perfect, we will make sure Ace return to bed early"

The girl gave them a look that seemed to scream: "I doubt it"

"We also have a theory to verify" Fred add.

This caught the attention of all "What theory?" Neville ventured to say.

The twins approached the smallest of the group, turn everywhere looking for anyone who would be listening, and with a knowing look they began to whisper:

"Do you remember the Halloween Event?"

"Where you fought the troll"

"And you left us behind"

"Yeah, yeah," Ron said, "You had thrown that at us at least once a week"

"Yeah, well, that day," George continued, "let's say we had a little thing with Snape"

"Nothing too fancy"

"You played him a joke" Hermione broke

"Technically, no"

"He was too skilled and managed to dodge it"

"But that's the point"

"You should use a better joke?" ask Ace.

"No" said the Twins

"He was not limping" Fred said.

"And the next day he was" George said.

Pause

"Then he got hurt at Halloween, big deal!" said Ron "The castle was in chaos, we had a troll in the bathroom"

"A troll that Ace defeated with one punch" said Neville.

All eyes focused on Ace, hoping that the guy say something. The event of that night had been quite incredible to be able to articulate the question, Hermione had tried, but the words sounded so ridiculous in her head that she didn't dared to speak them.

Meanwhile, Ace hadn't noticed the disaster he had caused, for him knocking a troll was very normal.

"We saw Snape, while we were searching for Hermione, going up to the third floor" Everyone's mind began to work connecting the dots, before Ace even finish "That bite could from the dog"

"You know what this means?" Ron finished breathlessly. "He tried to get past that three-headed dog at Halloween! That's where he was going when we saw him ... he's after whatever it's guarding! And he let that troll in, to make a diversion!"

Hermione's eyes were wide.

"No… he wouldn't" she said. "I know he's not very nice, but he wouldn't try and steal something Dumbledore was keeping safe."

"Honestly, Hermione, you think all teachers are saints or something,"

"No, but there is no probe"

"That's why we want to go with the dog" Fred said, or was I George.

"We have to look for evidence"

Neville, Ron and Hermione looked at each other, as if trying to see what the others would answer.

"So, that's it," said Ace "Let's go and see the dog tonight"

And nobody dare to say no.

-.-

The Gryffindor common room was very noisy that evening.

Ace, Neville, Ron and Hermione sat together next to the window after dinner. Hermione was checking the boy's Charms homework for them. She would never let them copy, but by asking her to read it through they got the right answers any way.

Ace was anxious; he needed that time to flow faster. The guys refused to go with the dog yet, arguing that they wait for the teachers go to sleep so they didn't find them; the twins had said that they would take care to tell when it was safe.

There was still time, and now Ace was hungry.

"I'll get something to eat" he said as he stood up.

"You just eat," exclaim Hermione.

But Ace did not listen, and she made no more effort to stop him.

'She is probably tired,' Ace thought as he wait for the elves to bring him food.

Many things had happened since that fateful Halloween night, starting with Hermione who had taken the task of taking care of Ace in his Narcolepsy. Heavy meals were banned, take the potion every morning was a priority, and he should follow a nap's schedule. Ace did not follow any of these routines, he forgets to take his potion, he still eats the same as always, and he let his narcolepsy decide the schedule of the naps. Hermione reminded him that he had to take a medicine, with the food she knew by now that it was a lost cause, and insisted that he take naps.

Ace took his bag of provisions, at least now he have something to entertain himself as they wait, he was leaving the kitchen ready to return to the common room before Hermione and Neville began to worry that someone found him.

"What is a Gryffindor doing lurking around so late in the night, far from his common room?"

Damn! Just what the guys didn't want.

Even with a loaf of bread in his mouth, he turned around. There was no a teacher who was in the hall, it was a student, who must have been fourteen or fifteen years, carrying the black and yellow of Hufflepuff, in a perfectly neat uniform.

Taking a piece of bread out of his mouth to speak, Ace answer: "The same could I said of you"

Boy readjust his pack on the shoulder "My common room is near," he said, pointing with his thumb behind him, where you could see the end of the hallway and large barrels arranged.

"Oh, the Lucky common room"

"Lucky common room?" repeated the boy, as if trying to see if he was serious or it was a joke.

"Sure," exclaim Ace "You have the kitchen nearer"

The boy began to laugh: "Well we can say that this is a small advantage"

"It's a huge advantage" said in a matter of fact way "You know how far is to come down here?"

The boy continued to laugh, "Well, there must be some advantage against the great view of the towers"

"As we spend so much time in the common room," the pirate replied sarcastically.

"So, you are that famous first year: Potter?"

Ace glared at him. Everything was going so well "Easy there" said the boy "I thought they were just rumors but now I think it is true"

"Rumors?"

"You sent someone to the Hospital Wing, just because he called you Potter"

"Ah!" "Sure, my name is Portgas D. Ace, not Potter"

The boy got near, "Pleasure to meet you" said as he offer his hand to Ace, who, after a moment, grab it and shake it "My name is Cedric Diggory" and Ace smile he was a good kid. "Well, I should be going, before someone catches us here"

"Right"

Both boys turn around ready to leave, but Cedric stop and add: "By the way. Good luck in tomorrow's match"

"I don't believe in luck" and then shoot a D's smile "But thanks any way"

-.-

"I think we are lost," muttered Neville followed by a community "SHHHHH"

"I think I hear footsteps" Hermione whispered, "We should turn back."

"We're not lost," said Ace from the front of the group.

"And no one is awake in the entire floor" said Fred situated behind the group just behind George said.

"How do you know? There is no way you know it" Ron said, while Fred jealously secured something in his robe.

"The next one who talk back that want to go back, will return alone to the tower without seeing the doggy" hiss Ace.

"Of doggy he doesn't have anything," Ron mumbled.

"Someone said something?" Ace said without even looking at them.

"No, no one" said the little three kids.

They had left the tower when the twins had given the signal that all was clear, how did they know? It was a mystery. They had walked for a few minutes before Neville extern his nervousness, which quickly spread to Hermione.

"Here we are" said Ace pausing at the door "Hermione, want to do the honors again"

Hermione looked at them before realizing that the honor meant to open the door, and timidly raised his wand at the door muttering, "Alohomora"

The door made a click.

"Well, ladies first," Ron said.

"Ron!"

"Little brother, where are your manners," said George in a mocking way.

"Well, who's going in?"

Ace then pushed the whole group on the door "Come on, we don't have all night"

Before they could register what was happening, they were in the third-floor corridor, face to face with the three-headed dog, who growl loudly.

"Hi, doggy. I'm back"

The three heads seem surprised, while Ace stepped forward. The left head roll his eyes while, the central head keep growling and the other two followed him.

"We have to do this every time I come?" muttered Ace "Stop that" Two of the heads stop growling, but the head in the center keep growling and glaring at Ace. "I said STOP" the head stop growling.

"See, easy" said the boys, before heading back to the dog "My friends here have a question"

The central head turned to one side, as ignoring the boy, the head on the right looked at his colleagues before focus his attention on the children.

Fred and George decided to speak:

"We want to know," said Fred

"If no one has come recently come to this room"

"Besides our crazy friend here"

"Crazy is good" Ace said offended.

The heads of the ends looked at each other; the central head looked at Ace now.

"Boys, it is a dog, he does not understand" said Hermione, who only managed to direct the attention of the dog at her in a threatening way, he was offended.

"Come on, Hermione," Ace said with his back to the dog "he might not seem like that but he is a very smart guy"

Suddenly and seizing the moment, the central head attacked Ace.

Hermione shouted, the twins took steps backwards before falling to the ground, while Ace get out of the way, however once the head was at ground level he jumped and hit the dog on the head.

The heads of the sides gasp, while the central head placed his paws over the spot where he had been hitter.

"I said: stop," said the pirate standing tall in front of the dog.

"Wait, Ace" said Hermione "I think I saw something"

"Something like what?"

"Something black in his jaws"

Everyone looked at the dog, and the central head stared at Ace, waiting to see what he would do.

"Ok, doggy, open up"

The head did not move, but gulped nervously.

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way," said the boy "Obviously for you, I am anxious to try the hard way"

The dog didn't move.

"Ok, suit yourself"

Ace walked toward the dog and to everyone's surprise began to open the jaw of the dog, only to then place himself into the jaw to fully open it.

Hermione was the first to react, "There" she said while pointing something between the teeth of the dog and in her euphoria she walked toward the dog and in a moment of doubt quickly reached out and took the black object.

Ace jumped from the jaws and got closer to Hermione, while the dog muzzle opened and closed in an attempt to shake the strange feeling he had left.

"It looks like a cloth" Hermione said, as he handed the object to Ace.

"It's a fabric, and seems to be from a tunic, look it has the seam of the hem"

The others had come closer.

"It could be from anybody," Neville said "we all use black"

"But we know who is injured," said George

"That's the part of the hem has to be the bottom edge of the robe" Fred finished.

"It's too big to be sleeves" Hermione added.

"Guys" said Ron "Sorry to bring this to all of you, but look up"

All they did, only to see the right head over them, looking curiously at what everyone saw.

Children fell back, minus Ace, who simply observed the dog, and said "Good job, you defended well the treasure"

The three heads seemed to smile, satisfied.

Half an hour later, while all returned to sleep, Ace pondered at his own words: Treasure.

What kind of treasure required a three-headed dog, one thing was certain: it was not gold.

The next morning dawned very bright and cold. The Great Hall was full of the delicious smell of fried sausages and the cheerful chatter of everyone looking forward to a good Quidditch match.

Unfortunately it seemed that there was not going to be that way.

All the attention was stood at the Gryffindor table where Portgas D. Ace was sleeping on the table with a toast still in hand. Around him were the Twins, Ron, Neville and Oliver Wood.

"I say we wake him up just like that," Ron said.

"No, Ron," Hermione exclaimed, sitting across from Ace, with the big white hard cover book "he suffers from a disease, we must take all possible precautions, what if from awaking him so suddenly, we causes him some brain damage"

All looked at each other. "I do think we will notice the difference"

"Have you found something" asked Wood, who seemed to be using all his self control to stay calm.

"It says nothing, is truly rare."

"Surely it is because you do not need any special treatment," said Angelina who had come and looked at the book from behind Hermione, "I say we wake him up, we'll have a game to win"

Hermione looked upset while Neville looked nervous.

"Don't worry we will handle Ace" and the twins left with the sleepy boy.

The group left the great hall in direction to the Quidditch field.

"You two, calm down," said Ron "Ace will be fine"

They were entering the field, Dean and Seamus went before them commenting on the banner that Dean had drawn.

"How do you want me not to worry, the seeker, by statistics, are ones that get most hurt," the girl said as they climbed the stairs.

"Good thing that Ace did not hear that" Neville muttered.

"It will not affect him," Hermione said, "On the contrary I think that will thrill him"

"I would not be surprised if he did not get out of the path of a Bludger" Ron said as he searched for a seat.

"After the troll nothing surprises me"

"That was amazing"

"But illogical" continued the girl.

"But it was amazing," Neville said as he sat on the bench.

"Nobody can beat a troll with his fist and leave it unconscious!"

Ron and Neville turned to see each other. "You saw him, Hermione, it was real"

"Yes, but that does not mean that I accept it like that and not ask: How did he do it?"

"Magic" Neville suggested.

"He wasn't holding his wand, just a pipe" the girl sighed "I should have asked at the moment"

"And why didn't you do that?"

"I was about to die by a troll I was not thinking properly, and then entered McGonagall, it became difficult question it out without rising suspicion"

At that moment loud cheers erupted as the teams walked out the field. Madam Hooch was refereeing. She stood in the middle of the field waiting for the two teams, her broom in her hand.

"Now, I want a nice fair game, all of you," she said, once they were all gathered around her. Ace noticed that she seemed to be speaking particularly to the Slytherin Captain, Marcus Flint. Ace out of the corner of his eye he saw the fluttering banner high above, flashing "Portgas for President" over the crowd.

He smiles.

"Mount your brooms, please."

Ace clambered onto his Nimbus Two Thousand. Madam Hooch gave a loud blast on her silver whistle. Fifteen brooms rose up, high, high into the air. They were off.

At that time Ron's whole attention was focused on the game.

"And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor" The Weasley twins' friend, Lee Jordan, was doing the commentary for the match, "an excellent Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive, too ..."closely watched by Professor McGonagall

"JORDAN!"

"Sorry, Professor."

And the game continues.

" and Johnson back in possession of the Quaffle, a clear field ahead and off she goes ... she's really flying ... dodges a speeding Bludger... the goal posts are ahead... come on, now, Angelina … Marcus Flint fly to her … wait, what was…?...Keeper Bletchley dives ... misses...GRYFFINDORS SCORE!"

Gryffindor cheers filled the cold air, with howls and moans from the Slytherins.

"For a moment I thought Flint would stop her, but Potter ... I mean ... Sorry ... do not look like that… Portgas passed quickly near Flint, have he seen the Snitch?"

"Excellent, it's not a fault, he just passes very close," Ron muttered.

Ace stood few feet from the ground, with a grin in his face, like a child who just made mischief of the year.

"Ace, return to your position," cried Wood from the goal post.

"Aye, Aye, Captain"

And at a sick speed, Ace rose up again.

"Well done, Ace, well done" said Ron.

"He could have kill himself" said Hermione

"He wants to train the dog; dive that way should be a game for him"

Way up above them, Ace was gliding over the game, squinting about for some sign of the Snitch. This was part of his and Wood's game plan.

"Keep out of the way until you catch sight of the Snitch," Wood had said. "We don't want you attacked before you have to be."

Really boring if you ask me, maybe that's why he moving from here to there.

"Budge up there, move along."

"Hagrid!"

Neville Ron and Hermione squeezed together to give Hagrid enough space to join them.

"Bin watchin' from me hut," said Hagrid, patting a large pair of binoculars around his neck, "But it isn't the same as bein' in the crowd. No sign of the Snitch yet, eh?"

"Not sure" answer Neville "We think Ace saw it"

"Ace just dive and it was…"

"... It was crazy" interrupted Hermione to Ron.

"It was amazing" said Ron

"He should Kept outta trouble, though, that's somethin'," said Hagrid, raising his binoculars and peering skyward at the speck that was Ace.

"I fear that Ace is not for people who stay out of trouble"

"If any case he run at them"

"Like at this moment" said Neville

Ace, in a great rush of excitement, had dived downward after the streak of gold. Slytherin Seeker Terence Higgs had seen it, too. Neck and neck they hurtled toward the Snitch -all the Chasers seemed to have forgotten what they were supposed to be doing as they hung in midair to watch.

Harry was faster than Higgs ... he could see the little round ball, wings fluttering, darting up ahead - - he put on an extra spurt of speed –then he saw Flint, flying to block Ace on purpose. WHAM! A roar of rage echoed from the Gryffindors below like angry lions, as Marcus Flint blocked Ace. "Foul!" screamed the Gryffindors.

But Ace did not stop, using his body, throw down Flint and leaning on the boy he use the momentum to reach the little snitch.

He landed on the field rolling and quickly he stood in one motion.

"He is fine," said Ron, he could not say the same for Flint.

Suddenly the crowd saw Ace clap his hand to his mouth as though he was about to be sick ... coughed ... and something gold and smoking fell into his hand.

"I've got you" he said to the snitch, with a grin at the little smoking snitch, and the game ended in complete confusion.

"He didn't catch it, he nearly swallowed it," Flint was still howling twenty minutes later, as he was taken to the Hospital Wing, but it made no difference ... Ace hadn't broken any rules and Lee Jordan was still happily shouting the results ... Gryffindor had won by one hundred and seventy points to sixty.

Ace heard none of this, though. He was being made a cup of strong tea back in Hagrid's hut, with Neville Ron and Hermione. While the twins were in charge of preparing everything for the party in the tower.

"Snape surely will be unbearable all week"

"It has not been a good time for him, first dog and now this "Ace said casual.

"Dog?" Hagrid asked "What dog?"

"The three-headed dog." Answer Ace "He tried to get past that dog on Halloween. It bit him. We think he was trying to steal whatever it's guarding."

Hagrid dropped the teapot.

"How do you know about Fluffy?" he said.

"Fluffy?"

"Yeah ... he's mine ... bought him off a Greek chappie I met in the pub las' year ... I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the…"

"Yes?" said Ace eagerly.

"Now, don't ask me anymore," said Hagrid gruffly. "That's top secret, that is."

"But Snape's trying to steal it."

"Rubbish," said Hagrid again. "Snape's a Hogwarts teacher; he'd do nothin' of the sort."

"So why did he just try to hid it?" cried Hermione. "We find part of his rob in the dogs jaws"

The evidence certainly seemed to have changed her mind about Snape.

"I'm tellin' yeh, yer wrong!" said Hagrid hotly. "Now, listen to me, all four of yeh... yer meddlin' in things that don' concern yeh. It's dangerous. You forget that dog, an' you forget what it's guardin', that's between Professor Dumbledore an' Nicolas Flamel..."

"Aha!" said Ace, "so there's someone called Nicolas Flamel involved, is there?"

Hagrid looked furious with himself.

-.-