Chapter Four: A New Job
AN: Just a quick note, the books or movies never said anything about teacher's sleeping quarters, so I'm just inferencing on this chapter and chapters to come. Every teacher has seemed to have their own private office next to or near their classrooms, so I assume their bedrooms are connected to those offices. Again, this is an inference and for all I know the teachers go home every night using floo powder and come back in the morning.
I don't own Harry Potter. Or Fairy Tail, for that matter. . .but maybe I could. . .mwah ha ha ha ha! (Lol I definitely do not and never will own either product.)
Um, let's just start. . . .
"Hey Hagrid, where are we going?" Wendy ran up to the big man as they walked towards the towering castle.
"The castle." Hagrid said.
"But you said the castle was off limits." Wendy said, flashing back to when the group had exited the forest.
FLASHBACK
The group exited the Forest, all of them excited to see their Master. "Whoa." They all breathed in unison.
A magnificent castle stood before them. Ramparts and turrets and sky bridges, the whole package. It put the Edolas Castle, up in Edolas of course, and maybe even Mercurius, Fiore's Lumineria Palace, to shame. (Though not the entire city of Crocus, of course. . .it still had a ways to go before that. . . .)
"Hagrid, do you live there?" Wendy asked excitedly.
Hagrid shook his big furry head. "I live there." He pointed a thick finger at a small-for-Hagrid's-size-big-for-normal-human size hut.
"Then who lives there?" Lucy wondered, facing the castle.
Hagrid stopped before answering. He didn't know how much he was allowed to reveal. So he gave the part truth. "Some nobles live there." That was kind of true, in the sense that the wizards and teachers in there were well known. "Tomorrow, they will have a feast for lots of friends." This was true. Except the students weren't really friends of the 'nobles.' "The friends will be staying for a while, and we shouldn't go up there to disturb them. In the morning, before the friends get there, I'll talk to the main guy. We'll see what to do with you guys. But until then, the castle's off limits."
"Okay." Everyone nodded, satisfied, for now, with the hasty explanation.
END FLASHBACK
"Yes, I would like to know why you are going back on your words as well." Erza said.
Hagrid sighed. "Professor Dumbledore told me to keep an eye out for someone named Makarov Dreyar. Him and his team. Well, here you are, and the Professor would like to meet you."
Makarov's eyes widened at the first name. "Dumbledore?" He asked sharply. "Percival Dumbledore?"
"Albus Dumbledore." Hagrid corrected. "Percival was his Dad."
"Oh." Makarov scowled. Another brat. He thought bitterly.
Behind those two, as they made their way up to the castle, four of the small five were pestering the fifth.
"Luce, where'd you get those clothes?" Natsu whined.
"Yes, Juvia would like to know as well, Love Rival." Juvia held her over large clothes up distastefully.
"A change of clothes that fit would be nice. . . ." Gajeel hinted.
"Yeah, its hard to walk around in these." Gray said, stripping, and using his shirt as a makeshift belt for his underwear.
"Not like you need clothes!" Lucy's eyes bugged out at him. Then she turned to the others with a sigh. "Besides, I got these from the spirit world. I had Virgo get them for me. But I'm still not sure about that Hagrid. There's something he's not sharing. So I'm not about to go using my magic in front of him. Otherwise I would gladly get you guys some clothes."
Natsu growled. "Stop explaining, just do it!" He whined.
"I'm explaining that I won't do it!" Lucy yelled. "Gray put your clothes back on!" She yelled at Gray too.
"I dont wanna." He whined.
"Do it." A dark aura surrounded the petite girl.
"Yes ma'am!"
"Love Rival is scaring Juvia's darling Gray!" Juvia growled, ready to pounce.
"Haha! Stripper's afraid of little ol' Luce!" Natsu laughed.
"Little ol', huh?" A tick mark was evident on Lucy's head.
"Who're you callin' a stripper?" Gray yelled at Natsu. The two (metaphorically) locked horns.
"Now the person Love Rival should actually be with is threatening Gray!" Juvia gasped, getting ready to save her darling.
"Geehee! This looks fun." Gajeel shoved his face into the middle.
"These guys are idiots." Lucy frowned. "Oh, I know!" She clapped her hands together, then waved. "Erza!"
All the fighters froze, looking at the waving Lucy.
"Yes Lucy?" Erza slowed her pace so that she fell behind the rest of the group and was within earshot of what was going on back here.
Lucy glanced at the the now happy, hugging, and completely clothed group behind them. "I just wanted you to see how happy these guys are. I know you like it when we get along, so I figured you'd love this."
"Yes, that makes me very happy." Erza agreed, before turning to catch up to the front of the group.
Lucy faced the other four,who were all glaring at her. "Stop fighting. I dont care if you hate me, I will get Erza or the Master." Then she faced the front and stomped up to rest of the group while happened to just be reaching the front door.
"Stupid Luce/Lucy/Love Rival/Bunny Girl." They all said, the four saying the respective nicknames they'd given the blonde (or no nickname, in Gray's case).
. . . .
Dumbledore had again stayed up late in his office. It was maybe eleven o' clock. Perhaps it is time to ah. . .hit the sack I believe those youngsters call it these days. He thought, standing from his desk. Just as he was traversing up the stairs in the back of his office to his sleeping quarters, a loud tussle that soon quieted, followed by a loud knock sounded at his office door.
Recognizing the knock to be Hagrid's Dumbledore quickly cleared his throat and walked back to his desk. As he sat down, the knock sounded again. "Come in." He said.
In walked Hagrid. The half-giant's wide girth prevented Dumbledore from seeing what was behind him. "Professor Dumbledore sir. He's here. So's his team."
The big man moved out of the way to show. . .an old man, two young ladies, a teenager, five, no six, children, and. . .cats. Three cats. Well, kittens.
Dumbledore was a shade away from white.
The old man approached first. "Hmmm. . . ." He said. "I see what Hagrid meant. No, you are not Percival, though you look a lot him. Definitely his son." The man nodded his approval. Although you look very similar- or at least how I think he would have looked when. he was your age."
After getting over the shock of what lay before him to protect his school, Dumbledore regained his composure. "I assume that you are Makarov Dreyar?"
Makarov nodded. "That I would be. Albus, correct?"
Dumbledore nodded back in confirmation. "Hagrid, fetch the Heads. Only the Heads. No other teachers or staff." He said, before looking at Makrov. "Yes, my father was Percival Dumbledore. I am his eldest child of three, Albus Dumbledore."
"Hmm." Makarov hummed. "Good to know that Percival has been leading a good life. Can I see him?"
Dumbledore sighed sadly. "Alas, my Father passed many years ago, in that demonic prison Azkaban." He managed to keep the scowl off his face.
"Oh." Makarov frowned. Then he scowled, then let out a light chuckle.
"Master, what's so funny?" One of the women asked, the one with white hair.
"Of course that idiot died in prison. It's just like him. He was always getting arrested by the Magic Council, normally as a scapegoat, but it was always him. What was he in for?"
"My younger sister, Ariana, was being tortured out of her mind by some muggles, and my father retaliated by attacking them, therefore breaking the Statute of Secrecy, and landing himself in Azkaban."
"He was protecting someone he loved?" Makarov grunted. "Well, that is how we do things in Fairy Tail." The entire group smiled widely (except the white cat, who only grinned a bit, but seemingly with the same meaning as the rest of them, and the black-haired buff child, who tsked, but also seemed to agreed).
"Yes my father would sometimes tell me stories about Fairy Tail. But that is not important. I expect you all wish for an explanation to how and why you are here?" Dumbledore asked. They all nodded eagerly.
"Professer, what is going on here?" Mcgonagall entered through the door, followed by Flitwick, Snape, and Sprout.
"Ah, Minerva. Severus, Pomana, and Filius are here too. Very good. Hagrid." Dumbledore acknowledged the big man that had entered after the Heads.
"Professor." Hagrid nodded.
"Now I may explain in full." Dumbledore said with a satisfied smile.
. . . .
Lucy found the situation slightly suspicious. They were pulled into a new world and were expected to trust the first people they found? Although. . .the old man seemed kind and trustworthy. The twinkle in his eye sparkled brightly.
"Now I may explain in full." He said, seemingly satisfied with the arrival of. . .what were their names? Filius, Severus, Pomana, and. . . Minerva. Goosebumps still erupted on her skin at that name. The torture she had endured during the Naval Battle. . .no. She couldn't think of that now. She had to focus on the explanation. Besides. She added mentally before giving Mr. Albus, or Professor Dumbledore, as Hagrid had called him, her undivided attention. This woman looks too kind to be anything like that Minerva. And even if she was anything like that Minerva, then I've got Natsu and the team. Especially Erza and her Nakagami Starlight spell.
"I suppose I shall start at the beginning." The Professor began. "You are here because I, and my school, require protection. Because while our school has some of the best magical protection that can be provided, there are several loopholes that, sadly, cannot be closed."
"School?" Levy cut in, eyes shining.
"Yes." Professor Dumbledore said. "This is a boarding school of magic. It is called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am the headmaster, Minerva is my deputy headmistress, and I suppose you could call Severus, Pomana, and Filius deputy deputy headmasters, or mistress." He chuckled at his own joke, while one or two of the Fairies laughed weakly.
Most of the group turned to Hagrid. "You said this was a noble's castle, and that they would be having guests tomorrow!" Natsu said, pointing an accusing finger.
Hagrid shrugged. "A play on the truth. Term begins tomorrow, and I assumed these guys-" he gestured at the Heads and Dumbledore, "-were either pretty busy preparing,or asleep, so I didn't want to bother them. Technically they could be called nobles because of their social status in the wizarding world, and the students are technically guests in this castle, sooo. . .yeah." He shrugged again.
"Oh." Natsu said, though still didn't seem to get it. But the others seemed satisfied, so he played along.
The Fairies faced Dumbledore again. "Anyways, I felt the school might require some extra protection, especially since a certain student is coming this year, as well as we are housing a special item. That was the main reason I have had you come here. To be bodyguards and protectors. I will explain that part a bit more fully when I've finished with the simple part of everything else.
"I'm sure you wish to know how you are even here, as well as where. You got here by a spell that my father left me before leaving to prison. He left me several other things that you will find crucial. I will get to those later. The spell was activated when someone spoke it out loud, in the correct order, and pronounced correctly."
"I still say that Natsu shouldn't have read the spell." Lucy said.
"Speaking of which," Dumbledore added, "we all need to introduce ourselves. I am Albus Dumbledore, as you already know. This is Minerva Mcgonagall, Severus Snape, Pomana Sprout, and Filius Flitwick."
All the Fairy Tailers introduced themselves one-by-one.
"I am Makarov Dreyar." Makarov nodded to the four teachers.
"Lucy Heartfilia."
"Levy Mcgarden."
"Erza Scarlet."
"Wendy Marvel."
"Juvia Lockser."
"Gajeel Redfox."
"Gray Fullbuster."
"Mirajane Strauss."
"I'm Natsu Dragneel!" Natsu finished excitedly.
The group turned to look at the Exceeds, then at the Master.
"Hagrid already knows. . . ." Levy said hesitantly.
"If he already knows, then they will find out eventually. But only to this group. No speaking in front of anyone else." Makarov sighed. He nodded to the Exceeds.
"I'm Happy!" Happy waved.
"Carla." Carla sniffed disdainfully.
"I am Pantherlily, but you are all more than welcome to call me Lily." Lily's deep baritone voice spoke last.
"Talking cats!" Flitwick squeaked in interest.
"Exceeds, actually." Carla frowned.
"How. . .interesting." Snape murmured, torn between his normal indifference and disdain or a chance of interest and excitement.
"So, you were saying that we got here because Natsu read the spell out loud?" Wendy cut in, wanting Dumbledore to continue the explanation without being too blunt about it.
"Yes. When Mr. Dragneel read the spell, it was activated. Although, I personally must wonder, and please do not think me rude, but why was a child allowed hold of a spell that important?"
"Well, we're technically all around eighteen. Twenty-five, if you count the years on Tenrou Island. Except for Wendy. She's actually twelve. Or nineteen counting Tenrou." Lucy said.
(I'm not sure Wendy's actual age, but I've always assumed it was in between eleven and thirteen, so. . .yeah)
"Nobody does count Tenrou Island, Lu. We were all stuck in stasis. We didn't age or anything." Levy giggled.
"Although not that anyone should've let Natsu anywhere near that spell anyways." Gray snorted, while Juvia nodded vividly in agreement with her love.
"Well, I was saying if- yeah never mind." Lucy shook her head dejectedly. "Anyways, us being this young looking is just- I'm assuming this- a side effect of the spell. But why didn't those five"- she pointed at the Master, Levy, Erza, Mira, and Wendy, -"age?"
"I get it now." Dumbledore said. "Makarov did not age because the spell was meant to transport specifically him. Anyone in the nearby vicinity would have been transported at well, but been subject to any side effects. Did you happen to have been holding anything or have eaten something recently before the spell was cast?" He directed the last question to the four girls that were still their normal age.
"No food," Levy answered. "I had actually been thinking about how hungry I was before Natsu read the spell." The other three nodded in agreement.
"I don't think we were holding anything. . . ." Erza added.
"Except Master's necklace." Mira said, casually, not quite realizing what she had said.
"Master's necklace!" They all said.
"That's right, we were all admiring it when Natsu read the spell." Wendy said.
"That's one mystery solved." Dumbledore chuckled.
"So, let me sum this all up." Gray said. "We're here 'cause Flame Brain read the spell. Now that we are here, you're asking us to help protect your school and a certain kid, right?"
"Yes." Dumbledore nodded.
"Where is here anyways?" Gajeel looked around the room. "I know that we're at a school, but where is the school?"
"In Great Britain." All the Fairies gave Flitwick a quizzical look.
"Is it a new continent? Or one that's been kept secret from Fiore, or maybe it's a really tiny island like Stella, but doesn't produce anything like Stellanium and that's why we've never heard of it?" Gray tried.
"It's an entirely new world altogether." Dumbledore said bluntly.
Everyone lapsed into a dumb silence for a moment.
"So it's like Edolas?" Lily finally said.
"Edolas is another another world." Happy added helpfully.
"Exceeds like us originated there." Carla said.
"If Edolas is another world, then I suppose you could say that Earth is like Edolas, in a way." Dumbledore said. "My father told me stories about Earthland. He explained to me the guild system. He also explained the job system within guilds. I suppose you could say I am offering you a job.
"I must ask, do you accept this job? Everything you may need is supplied. I cannot promise any sort of reward. I will explain more if you accept." He finished. "Although keep in mind that you will be here for seven years, as that is how long Harry Potter will be attending this school."
"Seven years!" Mira gasped.
"Is Harry Potter the student we'll be protecting?" Juvia asked, though her question went unanswered.
"We cannot accept if we will be here for seven years." Makarov growled. "We left our guild for seven years once, never again." Everyone nodded in stubborn agreement.
Dumbledore smiled. "That is already taken care of. For as long as you are here, time has slowed to a stop in Earthland. I suppose that life will go on as if you had disappeared, but when you return, time will rewind, and the reality where you had disappeared will become an alternate reality where the spell had not stopped time. The simple explanation is, time will be exactly as you left it upon your return. I assume that any side effects, and any physical harm that happened as an effect of the spell will be reversed when you return as well."
Satisfied, Makarov said, "Give us a moment to talk it over."
The group huddled together. "Wa' da ya think kids?" Makarov asked. "Keep in mind, majority vote wins."
"I say we should do it!" Natsu and Gray said in unison before glaring at each other.
"If Gray will do it, so will Juvia!" Juvia declared.
"There's three out of thirteen."
"I dunno," Lucy said, "there's still some things that don't sit well with me. For example, what about our magic power? I assume there's no ethernano here, so how will we replenish our magic power?" She placed a hand on her head. It was aching from being unable to replenish the power she had used to summon Virgo.
"I apologize for listening in, but it is a rather small office, and I couldn't help but hear the question you just asked, Ms. Heartfilia." Dumbledore called. "My father left me some special crystals, crystallized ethernano, he called it in his letter, that will always keep your magic power at one hundred percent, or as close as it can. I also have various types of necklace and bracelet chains and ring bands that they can be set in."
Lucy looked at the group. "That's really all I was worried about. They seem nice and trustworthy enough. Mr. Dumbledore seems like he will explain very well. I'm in."
"That's four."
"I had the same thoughts as Lucy. I would like to accept this job." Mira raised a hand.
"Five to nill."
"I'm still suspicious. . . ." Erza said. "Sure, they seem nice, but still. You never know. I vote no." And there's no reward. She thought in her mind, despite never really caring about that.
"Five to one, favor of yes."
"I want to do it." Levy said. "This will be a great chance to learn more about alternate worlds! I mean, I was stuck in the lacrima during the whole Edolas thing, so yeah, this is a good chance."
"If Shrimp wants to do it, so will I." Gajeel grunted. The 'I don't care, do whatever the eff you want' effect he was going for was lost with how insanely adorable Gajeel seemed to be as an eleven-year-old.
"Aww, Gajeel's doing what Levy's doing. How sweet. Ah, young love." Natsu teased, as Makarov said,
"Seven to one. That is majority, but I want to know what the rest of you think."
"I think it sounds fun." Wendy said. "I'm all for it."
"If Wendy/Natsu/Gajeel does it, I do it." All the Exceeds said in unison, saying the names of their respective dragon slayers.
"So that's. . ." Makarov did a quick finger count. ". . .eleven for it and one against. And I already said majority wins." He turned to face Dumbkedore and the huddle broke up.
"We accept your job." Makarov declared.
AN: I just realized that I forgot to add a disclaimer! So I am going to start now and put a disclaimer every five chapters (I.E, chap. 10, 15, 20, etc.,). I'll put one here:
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter OR Fairy Tail. They belong to J.K. Rowling and Hiro Mashima respectively.
Also, if anyone can tell me what Flitwick's first name is, that'd be great.
I mis-named the previous chapter "Hagrid." That was the original name, but I decided to change it to "The Forest" (pt. two), and I forgot about that when I posted it. Oops! Anyways, it's fixed now, but I thought I'd apologize just in case.
Also, if someone wants to betaread for me, I'd welcome it :-) (PLEASE I have very little confidence in my writing skills).
So, now it says this story is four hearts and five follows, but because my email app is being STUPID *glares at app* it won't tell me who.
But! I do know that a maseta has favorited amd followed. Thank you!
Reviews are butter to my boring old bread!
Also, HEY SISTER OF MINE IF YOU WANT ME TO MENTION YOU REVIEW MY FRACKING STORY. NOW.
Anyways, Xiao!
-Ember M.
