- Hello you two, did you have a good holiday? Hermione greeted when she came back to her friends the day before class resume.
- Hello Hermione… we didn't find anything, Ron grumbled letting his head fall on the table, depressed.
- Well, I think that my Christmas was more productive than yours! she sat down at their table and put down a pack of paper.
- In this packet is everything I could find about Nicolas Flamel and Devil Fruits. You could say that my lucky star presented itself while I was moaning about my lack of success in my research…
- You found that much information?
- It even has a description of Ace's and Luffy's akuma no mi and my guesses on the professor Fushisho's, and Nico Robin's, a woman I met. I can tell you that next year won't be boring! Did you know that Salem exploded?
- Salem? Exploded? No, I didn't know that, Ron said, surprised.
- What's Salem? Harry asked.
-It's the best of the American magical schools, the redhead replied. Did you find anything else?
- It's really simple… for Nicolas Flamel, we were searching in the wrong place. He is the man who found the properties of Dragon blood and created the Philosopher's stone, a legendary stone that can change metal into gold and give immortality. The man is more than six hundred years old. We wouldn't find anything in modern history! I think that it's what Fluffy is guarding.
- Not surprising that Snape wants this stone, Harry commented. Immortality and wealth in one stone… who wouldn't give anything to have this? And, what are Akuma no mi ?
- Fruits that give powers.
- You're joking, right?
-No, not at all. Luffy's uncle himself asked me to tell you about this. If you take the news well, not reject Luffy and Ace, he won't have to Obliviate you.
- And you? The green eyed boy asked.
- Seeing what I told Luffy, my answer is clear. I didn't see Ace yet, but he'll know fast enough what I think about it. Well, make yourself comfortable, because I'll try to make what I found understandable for two idiots like you.
- Hey, we may not have all the classes' books in our head, but we're not that stupid! Ron said, offended.
- Calm down, Ron. We'll listen to you, Hermione.
- Imagine a strange fruit, which only one bite would give you a random power, from the less useful and ridiculous to more dangerous and marvelous. The received powers can be anything you think of, or even those you'll never think about. Imagine an unknown power, inside one simple fruit, who can sentence you to fear the sea and the bodies of water a little too deep. It's this, the devil fruit. Depending the one you consume, your bodies can change drastically. The people with their abilities become a fruit user. For most of the people, these changes are seen as a burden and a curse, because the people around treat them almost always like a monster. On the black market, depending of the rarity and the type of the ability, the price can get very high for a slave who's eaten a devil fruit. They're not even treated like human beings, but as monsters. For the Zoans, whose powers are like the wizard's animagus, if they are treated on the same level as their animals they take the form of, it's already high treatment.
-...I understand why Luffy tried to avoid us, Ron said.
- I met with their third brother, it was him who gave me all these explanations on Devil Fruits. He has a pretty bad scar on his face, he told me that he got it from a rock that hit him in the face while he was protecting Luffy from people who were trying to kill him, one of the rocks just passed right through Ace's head. This happened when the people from the city where they lived at the time discovered their powers. They are as mistreated as witches and wizards were during the Middle Ages.
Ron almost choked.
- How can a rock pass through someone's head… unless they're a ghost! Harry whispered.
Hermione sighed and explained:
- There are three main categories : Zoans, who are like our animagi. I think that Professor Fushisho is one. After, there are the logias, who have powers from the elements. Ace ate the mera mera no mi, the Flame fruit, it make him a fire man. He is made of fire. Do you think you can hurt fire by throwing a rock at it?
- No, it's impossible… Ron mumbled.
- It's all clear! The other boy understood. His wand is resistant against fire and specialized for this, the water boiling at dinner when he was in a bad mood. The temperature, too!
- Exactly, Harry. Because of how difficult it is to hurt a logia, they are on the top of the list for rarity and value. And the last category is the paramecia type. All that don't fit in the first two are in this one. That's Luffy's.
- The power to infinitely stretch his arms? Ron asked.
- No. He's a rubber man. His body possess the properties of a rubber band. It's not only his arms. I saw the way his uncle pulled his cheek affectionately.
She pinched Ron's cheek and pulled it.
- Owww! He whined.
- If you were Luffy, I would have been able to continue to pull it until I reached the other side of the common room without any side effects or pain.
She released his cheek.
- It's creepy, all of this… Ron commented rubbing his cheek.
- I don't see how. It's like magic, but they received it from an exterior source, Harry answered.
He understood them well. Too well. He had been treated as a monster because of his magic, and they had been seen like this because of something they probably didn't ask for.
- It seems like muggles can eat one safely and have a power too. And last, they can only eat one fruit. If they eat another one, they die. The body can't support two powers.
- Even if they can do strange things, they're still nice. We have to find a way to tell them, Harry sighed.
- Even magic has limits to what can be done, Ron grumbled. I don't know…
- What do you know, Ronald Weasley?! Who said that it wasn't stuff yet be discovered! Hermione said, offended.
- Nobody, I'm just saying that it's a little strange, that's all. Luffy's my friend with or without it! Ron defended himself.
- Hmph.
The common room painting opened, at this moment, on the two brothers mentioned. Seeing the way Ace's brows were furrowed and the other was smiling suspiciously, we could guess that the younger had done something stupid that didn't please the older.
Luffy glanced nervously in Hermione's direction. She gave him a thumbs-up in answer with a big smile.
The boy then placed himself before his brother, who was moving in the dorm's direction, and sink one of his finger in his abs, saying something with a huge smile and making the older furrow his eyebrows even more.
- Keep saying that and I'll throw you in the lake, Monkey D. Luffy, Ace threatened.
- Come on, don't say that it didn't cross your mind.
- There's a limit to discretion! Even if I wanted to do that, there is no way in Hell that we can do that and above all, where would we go after? Salem went boom! Maybe because we spoke Spanish and Portuguese good enough to find a school in South America or in Spain, but there will be an investigation and…"
Click!
Ron and Harry could see that Luffy had closed a strange bracelet around Ace's wrist, who paled almost immediately. He stumbled for an instant on his legs and looked at his brother with surprise, but Luffy kept his huge smile.
- Kairouseki? Naze? Ace breathed.
He jumped when he sensed two arms closing around his waist, telling him that someone just hugged him from behind. If he didn't have the sea prism stone bracelet on his wrist, he would have flamed up in self-defense.
- Got you! Luffy giggled.
- Hermione, Ace is a little too old for you! Fred joked in his corner of the common room, with Lee and his brother.
Ace blinked a moment and tried to keep his voice calm:
- What have I done to get you throwing yourself at me, Granger?
- Nothing particular, was the answer he received from the girl, her cheek posed against his back. You have a wonderful brother, you two. You really are lucky.
- She spoke with Sabo, Luffy explained removing the bracelet, immediately wrapping it back up. She knows everything and it's what she does.
Ace took brusquely the rolled bracelet back and delicately released himself from the young girl's arms to go back to his dorm.
- See you Saturday for your next Natural Magic tutoring, he said with his back turned.
- You see! Luffy giggled. I think that Uncle told me that he sent a letter to Professor Fushisho, so it should be alright.
- Ron and Harry were telling me what they got for Christmas, you want to join?
-Yep!
With a smile like they had never stopped being friends, Luffy came to sit with them.
They talked about non-important things, telling the others of what they did during the holidays (neither boys believing Luffy when he told them he joined his pirate crew for a short adventure during the festivities). The young D. was surprised learning about the existence of the invisibility cloak, and this didn't pass without a scolding from Hermione. But well, what do you want to do about it…
-Why did Ace was absent for Christmas and New Year's? Hermione asked.
- Oh, well, for his fifteenth birthday, old man Whitebeard decided to let him join the crew a little early, so he can see how things are done in the second division before he becomes the commander, since that's what will happen in two years. Ace is the one who was nicknamed the little genius of piracy, and it isn't all name. But to be part of the crew, means he wears his captain's mark.
- Luffy, be serious, pirates don't exist anymore, Ron told him.
-Aceeee~!
Ace who had come back a little before, and was plotting with the twins and Lee for some pranks, looked at his brother.
- What do you want, now? Ace groaned.
- You still didn't show me the mark!
Ace raised an eyebrow and unbuttoned his shirt, to the wolf whistles of his three comrades. He pulled it from his back, and presented his skin to his brother, showing a big purple tattoo with a strange skull, like on the pirate flag, wearing a shark grin and a large white mustache.
-What an incredible mark, Ace!
-Yeah, yeah, can I put my clothes back on now?
Luffy threw himself at his brother and stole his shirt, before running away from his sibling into the common room, then outside, under the offended commentary of the Fat Lady.
Ace put his book down, sitting close to the door of the castle where he was waiting for Harry to come back after the last Quidditch match. Hermione, Ron and Luffy were talking beside him.
-The hero of the day is here, Ace pointed, marking his page.
Effectively, Harry was coming in, looking perturbed.
- Harry! Where were you? Hermione exclaimed.
- That was a great match, Potter, Ace commented, to Luffy's giggles.
- We won! We won! And Ace put Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle down with one glare! You should have see it, they even wet themselves! Ron gloated tapping Harry's back hard. We really showed those Slytherins! Everyone's waiting for you in the common room, we're having a party, Fred and George stole some cakes and a lot of other things from the kitchens!
- It's not hard, Luffy snickered with sparkling eyes when he heard about the food.
- We'll see about this later, Harry said hastily. We have to go to somewhere private, I have a lot of things to tell you…
Everyone looked at the boy with a little surprise and followed Ace who quickly found an empty room, where he closed the door behind them.
- Enjomo.
A wall of fire appeared before the door, surprising three of the others.
- It's just a security measure, I'll put them out when we're done, Ace assured, going to sit on a table.
His brother sat beside him, curious, waiting for Harry to talk.
- Firstly, do you know what there is below the three headed dog, in the third floor's forbidden corridor? Harry asked.
- Yes, I know, Potter, Ace admitted.
- And why don't I know it? Luffy asked, pouting.
- Seeing how well you can lie… I'm not that irresponsible... You can't lie even to save your own life. Remember the Bluejam.
- Not true, Luffy mumbled as sweat poured down his face and he chewed on his lips.
- Exactly what I mean. So, what do you want to tell us about the Philosopher's stone, Potter?
Harry told them all his theories on Snape and his desire to steal the stone, then he described what he knew.
- Snape wants to steal the stone and is forcing Quirrel to help him? Ace murmured, thinking.
- Yes, there must be more to protect the stone apart from Fluffy. A lot of charms, probably, and Quirrel must know how to neutralize them, Harry breathed.
- That means that to protect the stone, Quirrell would have to stand up to Snape, Hermione said worriedly.
- If it's the case, it will disappear soon, Ron stated. What do you think, you two?
- I don't like Quirrell… I don't know why… Luffy confessed.
- Even with all the hatred and bitterness I have for the potions teacher… no, something's not right. I'll talk to Marco about it, said Ace.
- Do you have to refer to him about all you do? Asked Harry, not understanding.
-When I agreed to wear the mark that is on my back, Marco became my superior. In the hierarchical chain, he is the second highest one, and I'm the newbie, so yes, for now, I have to. He is less suspicious than us to ask questions. No worry, Potter, Marco is a genius.
Marco sighed deeply and massaged his temples after hearing Ace's report.
- Potter, Weasley and Granger definitely can't stop themselves from putting their nose everywhere, yoi, the teacher grumbled.
- What are my orders?
- Keep an eye on them, but don't prevent them from continuing their searches, if that's what they want. If it keeps them occupied… And Quirrel too, keep an eye on him. He is your priority, but don't do anything, unless I give you orders.
- I'll borrow the map from the twins. Anything else?
- Good work, Ace. You can go back to your tower, yoi. And good night.
Ace smiled blindingly, bowed, and went out happily to his bed.
Luffy looked out the window with longing, admiring dreamily the beautiful day.
- Monkey D. Luffy, study, Hermione threatened.
Luffy shared a look with the other two boys, but got a slap on the back of his head from his older brother, who was hanging out a lot with them these days.
- Okaaaay, the boy whined before going back to his studies.
Ace smiled a little and continue his own reviewing, looking sometimes at a parchment half hidden by his books. And strangely, he was the first to notice the intruder in the room:
- Konnichiwa, Hagrid.
The first years looked up to see the half giant appear, hiding something behind his back.
- Hagrid! What are you doing in the library? Ron exclaimed.
- I simply came to take a look at some books, the half-giant announced with an unnatural stilted voice. And you, what are you doing? I hope you stopped your research on Nicolas Flamel.
- Hagrid… you hide secrets about as well as my brother can lie, Ace stated with a provoking smile.
- And it's been a long time since we found what we searched for, Ron said with a sure voice. And we know what the dog is guarding. It's the philosopher's sto-
- Shhhh! Weasley! Ace growled.
- Shush! Not so loudly! Whatcha think you're doing! Hagrid said nervously.
- Nobody's listening, anyway, Luffy mumbled, letting his chin fall onto his books, depressed.
- But it's good that you're here, we want to ask you some questions, Harry intervened. We were wondering what was protecting the Stone, apart from Fluffy.
- Shhh! Hagrid repeated. Just come to see me later. I don't promise anything, but stop talking about this subject, the students shouldn't know about this. They will think that I was the one who talked about it.
- See you later, then.
And Hagrid went out with heavy steps.
- What was he hiding behind his back? Hermione asked thinking.
-A book. It's a library after all, ne? Or it could be meat…! Ouch ! Ace!
Luffy pouted, massaging his skull.
- It can only be a book, it's true, since we're in a library, unless Mrs Pince hides something else here… stay there, I'll go see in what section he was in, sighed Ace before standing up from the table.
And he walked away, letting the other four wait patiently. When he came back, he had a stack of book in one hand, which he put on the table when Marco was passing by them.
- Hello, Professor Fushisho, greeted Harry, Ron and Hermione.
- You're interested in dragons now, yoi? The teacher wondered aloud, seeing the books.
- No, I'm still passionate about phoenixes… Ace's smile was distinctive, but only Luffy and Marco seem to understand the meaning. Hagrid had a relapse. Can I do something for you, Taîsho?
Marco great the others, and let a voluminous newspaper fall on Ace's things.
- I finished reading it. When you have some time, update what we know about the bounties, yoi. However, don't kill yourself with the work. Oh, and Mugiwara… congratulations, one hundred millions, it's a pretty big sum.
- Thanks ! Luffy grinned.
- I'll see you later, Marco said and left.
- What did you mean when you said that Hagrid had a relapse? Ron questioned.
- This is all the books he consulted and they are all about dragons, Ace stated showing the different books while Hermione was looking at the newspaper.
- Hagrid has always dreamed of having a dragon, Harry stated.
- But it's against the law, Ron remarked. Dragon breeding is prohibited by the wizard convention of 1709, everyone knows that.
- Really? Luffy wondered picking his nose.
- Luffy, you're exasperating. Ace sighed. Hermione, it's all in Japanese about what happen out on the sea. You'll not understand a thing.
- After I finish this mountain of homework I will look for a translation spell… if you've finished what you have to do with your paper, of course, Hermione said.
Ace shrugged.
- Why are dragons prohibited? Harry asked.
- How do you expect us to stay secret from Muggles if we keep dragons in our garden? Plus, they're impossible to train, it's very dangerous. If you saw Charlie's burns from wild dragons in Romania! Ron pointed out.
- Vegapunk is trying to do some artificially, as if there wasn't enough in the wild already, Ace grumbled.
- There aren't wild dragons in Great Britain, right? Harry asked.
- Of course there are, Ron nodded. You've never heard of the Welsh Green or Hebridean Black?
- The ministry works well enough that our dear friend Potter, who, in case you don't remember, Ron, lived all his life with muggles, doesn't know, Ace stated with a sigh.
- I really wonder what Hagrid is planning, Hermione breathed. Also, who is Vegapunk?
- A scientist. No idea if he has magic or not. It's said that the humanity would need a hundred years before they reach his level, with his genius. Think of him as the new Einstein. He also does research on the… well, you know what.
The three nodded, understanding that he meant Devil Fruits.
- It's rumored that he's the guy who made it so inanimate objects can eat them, Luffy mumbled.
- That's possible? Harry asked surprised. I mean, we're speaking about objects.
- With Vegapunk, anything is possible. Can I borrow this page, Hermione? It's talking about Thatch, one of the commanders of my crew, Ace said, taking one of the pages of the newspaper from Hermione.
- How many are there? Ron asked.
- We have the captain and fifteen division commanders, since the second division leader died a few years ago. It's him who asked that I take his place when I'm old enough. There are about 1,600 members of the crew total, though."
- Ne, Ace, if you're all brothers in the Whitebeard pirates, does that mean they're all my brothers too? Luffy asked.
- You, no. Me, yes. You don't have the mark and Oyaji doesn't recognize you as his son officially. I guess they're more like cousins for you.
Ace made a hand gesture for the other three, telling them that it wasn't important, and the trio shrugged. This stories about piracy was giving them headaches. Ace took a look at the parchment and paled.
- Luffy, stand up! Take your things and come with me!
- Why? asked the straw hat wearing boy.
- The old geezer is talking with Professor McGonagall!
Luffy opened scared eyes and hurried putting away his things with his brother who had took back the whole newspaper.
- You'll tell us what is happening with Hagrid when we come back, ne? Well, if we're still alive… Luffy asked nervously.
His brother took his wrist and pulled him out of the library with him.
- What just happened? Ron asked.
- Who knows? Hermione mumbled, Let's go see Hagrid.
On the way, they passed an imposing man in uniform, talking with Professor McGonagall.
- Ah, you three, there. Do you know where your classmates Portgas and Monkey are?
The trio shared a look, wondering, and shook their head.
- They were with us not long ago, while we were revising, and then Ace panicked and ran away with Luffy. We don't know why, or where they are, Ron explained.
- Why, professor? Hermione asked.
- It seems like they sensed your presence, Garp, the transfiguration teacher laughed softly.
- Bwahahaha! I'll find them fast, those two brats! You know them well, you three?
- We get along well, yes… Harry said. We're more friends with Luffy than Ace…
- He's a little difficult to grasp, but we still get along with him better than most Gryffindors, he has a peculiar character… Hermione smiled nervously.
- But he like to hang out with my brothers Fred and George and their friend Lee… they do a lot of big pranks together, Ron added.
- That's my boys! Well, I'll go find them! Garp said.
- Do not break any walls, Garp, thank you ! Minerva yelled after him.
She received only a gesture of his hand, which made her sigh.
- Professor, who is that guy? Ron inquired.
- Monkey D. Garp. Your comrades' grandfather. Vice-admiral of the International Marines. If you'll excuse me, I must warn Professor Fushisho of the presence of that man in the castle. Good day, you three, McGonagall said, leaving.
- Their grandfather? Ron wondered.
- He does sort of remind me of Luffy, Harry noted.
- That's the only thing that shock you? Hermione huffed. I'll remind you that they are pirates, you two. And this man is from the Marines. I read about it, the International Marines are the sea cops, or aurors for you, Ron. It's them who chase pirates. That's why they were so nervous! If he finds them, not even the fact they're minors will save them from prison or execution. And this man is not anybody. I read something about him, in the library, but I totally forgot to ask Luffy about it after I saw they had the same family name. This man is the one who took their uncle's captain to the scaffold. And that man wasn't anyone. It was Gol D. Roger.
- Gold Roger? The two boys repeated.
- No, Gol D. Roger. He was the first to conquer the Grand Line. It seems like some parts of the world allow access to some sort of sea that's been hidden, even from wizards. The dangers of this sea, the Grand Line, is said to be uncountable and this Roger was the first to conquer it. That's the reason why he became the Pirate King. This Garp is the one who arrested the Pirate King and sent him to the scaffold. We have to warn them!
- Nick! Ron called.
The ghost, who had contented himself by floating there and there, came in their direction and waited politely to know what they wanted.
- Did you see Ace and Luffy, by chance? Harry asked.
- Yes, they went into hiding, but I swore to not tell anybody where they were. They don't want Garp to find them, answered the Nearly Headless ghost.
Hermione let out a relieved sigh.
- Sorry to have disturbed you, we were worried about them, Harry apologized.
- No problem! Good day!
A panther laughing.
It's not something you see everyday.
In this case, the trio had just told what was happening with Hagrid to the two brothers, who were in a corner of the common room during an empty hour. Ace, in his animal form at the moment, serving as a plush (voluntary or not, it was still unknown) to his little brother who was reading an article about a Soul King Brook, was rolling on his back while laughing, while Luffy was laughing just as hard.
- That's your reaction? Hagrid wants to raise a dragon by himself and that's your only reaction? Hermione huffed.
- He can do whatever he want, why should we stop him if it's what he wants? Luffy said, picking his nose.
The panther stretched, yawning wildly and Ace took human form again.
- What's bothering me, it's the traveler… We don't go around like that with a dragon egg in our pocket… And exactly when Hagrid goes to get a drink, he meets someone bad at poker with a dragon egg on him. It's fishy, Ace noted.
- We agree with that, Ace, Harry sighed.
- Hagrid's been here for a long time, he knows a lot of things, and he can be very naive. It's easy to get information from him. Really easy.
- I don't like what you're saying Ace, Luffy pointed.
- Something is coming…
Harry stopped before Hagrid's hut and wait the signal from Ace to knock on the door. The panther looked around them, and turned back to his human form, letting Harry take off his invisibility cloak.
- It's us, Hagrid, Harry whispered.
The half giant opened the door and made them enter quickly.
The scene inside…
- I've seen ships after battles that are tidier than this, Ace stated.
Some debris were burning in a corner, and some identified piece in another, ripped apart by the fangs and the claws of the baby dragon who had decided to mark this shack as his territory. It was a wonder that nobody noticed anything yet!
And the responsible for everything, Norbert, was chirping on the table.
- Yes, mummy is here, darling! Hagrid reassured him approaching.
He took the little dragon, who turned around in his arms and hiccoughed, setting the gamekeeper's beard on fire.
- Oops! Keep him a moment, Ace, please!
Ace found himself with the dragon in his arms without time to say anything, meanwhile Hagrid was stopping the fire on his beard.
Norbert chirped a little, hissed himself on one of Ace's shoulder and rolled up himself around his neck.
Harry tried to not laugh. Ace was totally still, not knowing how to react.
- It seems like he likes you ! Harry giggled.
- I'm not into creature with scales, the young man mumbled trying to take the dragon away who only rolled himself around his neck even more.
- You want to be his godfather, Ace? Dear Norbert likes you so much! an enthusiastic Hagrid said.
- That's sick, Hagrid, really sick, Ace commented trying his best to move away Norbert. Raaah! Someone help me!
Harry let himself fall on a chair unable to do anything other than laugh. He had to tell that to the others! Norbert had found a new mother in Ace!
- You should think about adopting him, Harry teased, while they waited for Ron to return. He likes you, Ace.
- Of course. I'm fire, I'm the closest thing to a dragon's mother with my temperature, the dark haired man stated, trying to recover from a narcolepsy attack.
- You should adopt him if Charlie doesn't want him, Luffy proposed. Chopper and Usopp would be too afraid for me to take Norbert on the Merry."
- We live on a wooden ship. I'm the only fire allowed to be aboard. Also, dragons aren't meant to live on the sea.
- Even more reason for Ron's brother to accept, Hermione sighed.
The portrait ended up opening and Ron appeared, coming from nowhere after pulling off the invisibility cloak. He complained that he had been bitten while waiting for Spade, who they had sent with the letter from Romania. When the eagle came back Ace went to open the windows and take the letter.
- That's nothing, Luffy stated with a smile, pointing to the injured hand.
- Nothing?! You call it nothing!?
- I was eaten by a lot of crocodiles when I was a kid.
- And you would still be in their stomach if Sabo and me weren't there to save you, you idiot, Ace grumbled holding out the letter to Harry.
He let himself fall on a sofa and stroked the feathers of the bird, before creating a flame on the tip of a finger. A flame that the bird of prey happily ate. That explained the reason why Ace was the only one who could feed him.
The others three read the letter at the same time.
- We have an appointment with Charlie at midnight, on the highest tower. It shouldn't be too difficult, we can go under the cloak keeping Norbert between us, if there're two of us, Harry stated.
- I'll go with you. With my fur, I blend into shadows well enough, Ace said.
- Can I come? Luffy asked with puppy eyes.
- No, you don't know what it means to be stealthy, Luffy, so don't even think about it.
At Ron's bedside, there wasn't anything else to do than curse Malfoy. He knew of the dragon and the appointment place.
And Luffy made the mistake of getting caught trying to prove to his older brother that he could be discreet the night before. He didn't have the detention date, but it shouldn't take much more time.
So, Saturday, when midnight was close, Harry and Hermione followed the almost invisible figure of the feline through the corridors to Hagrid's hut. Under the tearing farewell of the gatekeeper, the case containing Norbert was hidden fast under the cloak with the two first years and they went in the castle's direction. There, Ace showed them the way easily between ghosts, secret passages and sleepwalking teachers to the astronomy tower, a smile on his lips after seeing Malfoy get caught.
At the top, they took the cloak off and Ace took human form.
- Malfoy in detention! This is something to be happy for! Hermione happily danced.
- Better not to, Harry advised.
- One more detention won't change anything for me, Ace snickered.
So, they contented themselves by giggling as silently as possible.
Ten minutes later, their liberation present itself under the form of four brooms. Charlie's friends came and relieved them of the dragon. After a handshake, they went away, leaving the three students alone on the tower.
- I'll wait for you downstairs, Ace stated.
And he took his animal form again to go down the stairs.
But when he found himself with Filch. The groundskeeper looked at him, smiling, and talked to him and the two others who forgot the cloak… well, it seems that McGonagall wouldn't sleep anytime soon.
- Can I know why you were on the top of the astronomy tower at one in the morning? McGonagall asked, still keeping Neville's arm in her hand.
Hermione kept her head down, with Harry.
- It's my fault, professor. I wanted to teach Potter Armament Haki by using of the dragon path, lied Ace knowing that McGonagall wouldn't know it. Granger learned what we were about to do and tried to stop us. I was with Potter on the tower, explaining what Haki is when she came. We then decided to go back when Filch found us. Longbottom must have heard and misunderstand what we said. I didn't want to embarrass him, too. If someone must take the blame, it's me, not them, professor.
The three first years were surprised. Whoa, Ace was saving them?
- I'm surprised by you, Portgas, I didn't think you were that attached to Potter to teach him this peculiar technique. However he is still eleven, and doesn't have any interest in learning this Haki. If you wanted to teach him so bad, you should have done it like how you help Granger already, and do it in a calm place during the day. The three of you: Longbottom, Potter and you, Portgas, fifty points from Gryffindor. Never was I this embarrassed by my own students.
- Not even in the Marauders time? Ace asked stepping on Harry's foot to keep him from protesting.
-...You are not as bad as them, true. However, the four of you will have a detention. Yes, even you Miss Granger, because even if your intentions were praiseworthy, you were out after curfew. Mr Portgas, to have tricked Mr Malfoy out of his dormitory, voluntary or not, you will have a week of detentions."
- Okay, Professor.
- Your younger brother will be in detention with you. Now, go to bed!
The four students didn't wait for it to be said twice.
- Sorry, Longbottom, we didn't think you would want to help, Ace apologized.
- There was never a dragon? Neville wondered.
- Yes, there was, but we were helping Hagrid, Harry sighed. Ace, thanks for the cover.
- You didn't have to. You just gained a week of detentions, Hermione mumbled, embarrassed.
- I get tons of detentions every year. I've gotten less this year since I'm trying to keep Luffy out of trouble. It's not something I'm afraid of, you know, Granger. And for the points, Potter, it's not important. It's only points. Imagine what would have happened if Charlie hadn't taken the dragon!
- The others won't be happy, Neville grumbled.
- One time, I made the house lose the double in one night, last year. They're used to it, I think. Although, since it's Slytherin ahead, it could go bad for everyone, but the exams are coming so it will soon be forgotten.
Filch furrowed his eyebrows when he saw the Gryffindors approaching where he was waiting with Malfoy, dragging a sleeping Ace on the stone.
- He had an attack on the way, Luffy explained. He had his straw hat on his head, wearing his normal clothes: vest, shorts, and sandals.
- I hope that this time it will be a good lesson of what happens for going against the rules of the school. Let's go! The caretaker growled, taking them outside and raising his lamp to see in the night. Work hard and suffer! It's how you learn best, believe me! It's a pity that the old punishments aren't used anymore! In the old days, we were hanging you from the ceiling by the wrists, in the dungeon, during some days! I still have the chains in my office…
- I'm sure you can when the Nazis return, Ace growled, coming back to consciousness.
Luffy released his foot and everyone waited for the young man to stand up and come to their side, fixing his shirt. He put back his hat on his head.
- Of course you have found out what this detention is about you two, Filch scowled at the Ds.
- Easy, we had to find you in the hall. I even took my hunting knife, in case we need it. Konbanwa, Hagrid!
That's right, they were stopped at the side of Hagrid's hut. He greeted them, under the barking of the dog. He was with Marco, in his normal clothes… who had a large knife on his belt.
- We go in the forest and look for what this time? Ace asked.
- We're going into the forest? Malfoy panicked. We can't go in there at night! There's a lot of dangerous things in there, and even werewolves, from what I was told!
- You should have thought of that before sniffing around what wasn't your concern, young man, yoi, Marco told him, still casual. Filch, you can go back to your bed, come back at dawn.
Mumbling, Filch went back.
- I refuse to enter this forest! Malfoy stated.
- It's this, or you say goodbye to this school, Malfoy… Ace told him calmly.
- I don't have to listen to you! This is servant's' work. If my father heard-
- We've done it like this at Hogwarts since centuries back, Malfoy. Make yourself useful or you go home. If you think your father would prefer that you go home, feel free to do it, Hagrid said to him.
Malfoy looked at him, then Marco, before looking down.
- Well, now, listen to me, because what we will be doing is dangerous. I want you not to take any risks. Professor Fushisho, if you would…
Marco raised a hand and blue flames sparked in his palm. He lighted up the way until a path, at the entrance of the forest, and stopped there.
- This is… Ace breathed furrowing his brow, squatting before a sticky and silvery substance.
- That's right, it's unicorn's blood, yoi.
- Somewhere in there is a wounded unicorn. It's the second one this week, I found one dead last Wednesday. While Professor Fushisho searches for what is attacking them, we will search for the poor thing. We may have to end its suffering.
- And if we see the thing that's killing the unicorns? Malfoy asked nervously.
- You pray, and you stay near Hagrid and Fang. I'll go first, yoi.
And Marco went into the forest.
- Well then, let's form yer groups…