After a rude jab at Hermione and Neville from Malfoy, the groups swapped around. This time, it was Harry and Ace who found themselves with the Slytherin. And when Malfoy saw the annoyed panther's fangs, he stopped wanting to be a jerk.
However, Ace's feline eyes revealed themselves to be very useful since he found a trail easily enough, made of a lot of blood that they followed until they reached a glade where they saw the dead unicorn. With a shake of his head, Ace signaled them to stay hidden behind the tree, and silently sneaked into the glade. Slowly, Harry followed him, and froze when Ace brusquely let himself fall on the ground.
Something had moved in a bush and a shadow left it. It slid on the ground to the unicorn, like a beast tracking his prey. The young men and Fang were petrified. Ace crouch down, ready to jump when the time would be right. Malfoy yelled when the silhouette began drinking the blood of the animal and ran away with the dog. And Harry was spotted.
When the strange shadow threw itself at him, Ace acted, and in a roar, jumped on the silhouette while setting himself on fire. It was crazy... Harry understood that Ace was fire, but seeing him on fire...
He couldn't admire more before he began howling in pain, his scar was hurting him more than ever, almost blinding him. He moved back staggering, and could just perceive the noise of a gallop before something jumped over his head, making Ace retreat, taking back his human form. He took position before yelling something, throwing a flaming punch in the shadow's direction who escaped just in time. With a gesture, Ace called back the flames to avoid burning everything. Harry fell on his knees the moment the silhouette ran away.
"Thanks, Firenze," Ace thanked, bowing his head in the centaur's direction.
"Of course, young prince," the centaur assured.
Harry's thoughts were too obscured by the pain so he didn't hear what was said, nor did he see the scowl on Ace's face. He just sensed the hands of the young man on him. When he composed himself, once the pain calmed, it was to see a flash of blue and gold pierce the top of the trees and land... before taking the form of the professor Fushisho.
"Is everything alright?" The centaur asked helping Harry to stand up.
"Yes, thank you…" Harry whispered.
"Potter, Portgas, are you okay?" Marco asked, frowning with worry.
"We found what was attacking the unicorns. I know that I already smelled this scent somewhere... his smell, it's familiar, but I can't remember where," Ace reported.
"Which direction did it go, yoi?"
Ace pointed with his finger a direction.
"Be careful," the young man asked.
"They can't kill me. Firenze, can I leave them in your care, yoi?"
"Go, Phoenix, I'll take care of them."
Marco disappeared into the woods, his knife in hand, lighting his way with his strange blue fire in his other hand.
"What was that?" Harry asked.
Firenze didn't answer immediately. He stared at his face, his look resting on the red scar, and then said:
"You are the Potters' son. It would be best for you and the young sea prince to go back to Hagrid's side."
"The what?"
"Let it go, Potter, he's a centaur, they always talk in riddles," Ace mumbled glaring at the aforementioned centaur.
"Can you ride a horse? It will be faster. My name is Firenze."
Firenze knelt to let Harry climb on his back.
"The others will kill us if they see you letting a human on your back," Ace pointed out.
"I do what I want to, like your kind."
And like what Ace had predicted, others centaurs came and bickered with Firenze about letting a human climb on his back. Bane and Firenze argued because the latter had allowed someone to sit on his back, and he had acted against the will of the stars.
"I can carry him," Ace proposed. "My animal form can run as fast as you."
"It won't be necessary. Let's go."
Ace shrugged and transformed back into a panther, following the unbridled gallop of Firenze in the wood.
"Why is Bane angry? Is it because of the thing you saved me from?"
Firenze slowed down, letting the feline catch up. Some strange green fireflies lit their road.
"Thank you young prince. Tell me Harry Potter, do you know what the unicorn's blood does?"
Harry was surprised by the question. Thinking a moment, he confessed:
"No. In potions, we only use their horns or hairs."
"To kill a unicorn is a monstrous thing. To do such a crime, you have to have nothing to lose, and everything to win. The blood of a unicorn allows you to survive, even if you are on the verge of dying, but it has a heavy price. Because you have to kill a pure and defenseless creature to save your own life. And the instant your lips touch the blood, it's only a half-life, a cursed life."
"Who would be so desperate? If you have to be cursed forever, wouldn't it be better to die?"
Ace froze, a paw in the air, eyes big.
He emitted a strange growl, to which Firenze answered by a heavy nod. Ace lowered his head and started to walk again.
"Yes, it would be better, unless you only need to survive enough time to drink something else, something which give back your power, something which allow you to never die. Harry Potter, do you know what is hidden in the school, right now?"
"The Philosopher Stone! The elixir of life, of course! But I don't understand who…"
"Don't you know someone who have passed years watching out for an opportunity to get back his power, who clings onto his life, waiting for his chance?"
Harry felt like an iron hand just gripped his heart, remembering Hagrid's words about Voldemort.
He was going to ask some questions, when the fireflies disappeared. The moment after, they heard Hermione turning up with Luffy. Ace jumped on his brother and licked his face, making the little D. laugh.
"You aren't hurt, you two?" Hermione asked.
"Don't worry, we're alright. Ace protected me with Firenze. Thank you again. The unicorn is dead, Hagrid. She is in the glade, there."
Hagrid rushed in this direction, while Firenze was saying his farewells.
During all the night and until dawn, Harry walked like a caged wolf, retelling that Voldemort was waiting in the forest for Snape to steal the stone for him. Luffy was content to pick his nose, shrugging and saying that if it was true, he would just have to kick the teacher's ass. Ace, he was thoughtful.
"Is something wrong? Hermione asked, looking as scared as Ron.
"Even with all the hate that I have for the bastard... something isn't right... I just can't put my finger on it."
"While I think of it, Ace... Why did Firenze called you "prince"?"
Luffy stopped pick his nose to look at his brother, his face expressionless.
"I may tell you about it when I quit Hogwarts, Potter, not before, and even then. If you could act as if Firenze hadn't told anything, it would be better for me. It's not something that I can yell everywhere... if my Devil Fruit makes me a monster, what is making Firenze call me "prince"... It's the reason why I shouldn't exist for a lot of people. If you allow me, I'll go to bed. And I'll burn alive anyone asking questions to Luffy about this subject. Night, Lu"
"Night, Ace" Luffy said, when his brother went to sleep.
The trio looked at him, but Luffy made a sign like he had his lips locked.
"Let's go to bed," Hermione sighed.
And they parted ways in the common room. When Harry turned inside the blanket, he found his invisibility cloak with a little note: "just in case'.
Ace turned in Marco's office running, out of breath.
The teacher was preparing himself for a fight.
"Bad news! Hagrid babbled! The way to pass by Fluffy is out there !"
"Pop's order, and you're coming with me, yoi. I was about to come to take you. It's really bad, yoi. I normally shouldn't ask it of you, but your brother need to keep a lock on what could happen with the dog... The senile old man who runs this school went out ten minutes ago, he sent Fawkes to warn me, yoi."
"I'll tell him. I'll go change and I'll come back!"
"You won't be able to succeed alone, Harry," Luffy said, hearing his friend say that he would go after the stone tonight. "Marco and Ace are gone, they were recalled by their captain. And I'm the only one who can pass Marco's obstacle."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.
Luffy let himself fall on a seat with a grin. "I'm a pirate!"
"Do you think that the cloak will be big enough to cover the four of us?" Ron asked.
"The... the four of us?"
"I don't care if I get expelled. I'll be the Pirate King with or without magic."
"I'll think of something, professor Flitwick told me in secret that out of a hundreds questions, I had one hundred and twelve good answers," Hermione said. "We won't let you go alone. I'll read all my books, I may find something useful."
Neville tried everything to prevent them from going.
He was ready to fight.
Hermione intervened, casting a charm of petrification, and Luffy put Neville on the sofa, to keep him comfy.
After apologizing again to Neville, they went under Harry's cloak.
And this was only the beginning of the problems. They were already jammed under the cloak, the four of them, but they had to pass before miss Norris who followed them with her yellow eyes, and then Peeves who sensed that someone was there.
"Who's here? I know that you're there, even if I can't see you. Who are you? Gnomes, ghosts, or some brats?"
He raised from his task of folding the carpet to look closely at the corridor where they were.
"I should call Filch if something invisible is wandering by there... Maybe that brat of Portgas is back and trying to see the effectiveness of his animal form to hide in the night…"
Luffy swallowed his lips to not laugh.
Harry saved them with his brilliant idea of imitate the Bloody Baron, making the spirit run away. They finally ended where Fluffy was, and Harry tried again to dissuade them of following him, but nothing could be done.
Luffy went out from under the cloak and moved forward grinning before the three heads dog... who happily barked seeing him.
"Good evening, Fluffy! Ne, would you let us pass?!"
Luffy scratched each head passing by his hand and was licked affectionately by the dog, who let him open the trapdoor.
"I'll go first!"
And he jumped in the darkness, without trying to know what was under it. He fell during a moment, laughing, before finishing on something soft. From above, he could hear some music, one of the three other must have played something to calm Fluffy, who seemed to only like Luffy. The aforementioned one straightened himself and looked around, one hand on his hat. He seemed to be on a strange plant.
"It's okay! You can jump, it's soft here!" Luffy yelled.
Harry went first, followed by Ron, who wondered about the plant, and in the end Hermione, who escaped from the Cerberus.
"We must be really far under the castle," she said.
"A chance that there is this plant," Ron noted.
"A chance? Look at you?"
Hermione stood up with a jump and reach laboriously a wet wall. Laboriously, because the moment she land, the tendril of the plant who had softened the fall, long like tentacles, had began to grip around her ankles. For the boys part, some sort of creepers had already wrapped themselves around their legs without them noticing. Hermione had achieved to free herself before the plant had the time to immobilize her. She looked with horror at Harry and Ron who were trying to free themselves, but more they moved, more the monstrous plant's grip hardened. Luffy, him, just looked with curiosity at the creepers which were grabbing his legs, without doing him any harm.
"Don't move anymore!" Hermione ordered. "I know this plant, it's Devil's Snare!"
"I'm happy to know that, it helps a lot!" Ron commented fighting with a tentacle that was trying to wrap itself around his neck.
"Quiet, I'm trying to remember how to kill it," Hermione said.
"Hurry, because I'm having trouble breathing," Harry said, his voice wavering from the plant clutching his chest.
The plant ended up letting Luffy pass easily, since he hadn't moved at all and ended by changing his interest from the vegetable, who preferred to take care of the panicked one. He stretched his arms and grabbed the wall, under the sweat-dropped of the three others, before projecting himself against the stone, getting out of the way of the plant. It was true that Luffy was rubber. The two brother show their power so rarely that it always surprised them.
"How do we kill the plant?" Luffy asked to Hermione, placing his straw hat back.
That took Hermione back to reality and she hurried to think again.
"Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare... What did Professor Sprout say? It likes the dark and the damp-"
"So light a fire!" Harry choked.
"Yes - of course - but there's no wood!" Hermione cried, wringing her hands.
"HAVE YOU GONE MAD?" Ron bellowed. "ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT?"
Without worrying about taking her wand out, in urgency, she throw around her hand mumbling something, and a jet of blue flame, similar to the one who had burned Snape's robes but also to Marco's in the forest, sprayed out on the plant. The warmth and light made the plant free rapidly the others two, who went search refuge with their comrades.
"Lucky you pay attention in Herbology, Hermione," said Harry as he joined her by the wall, wiping sweat from his face.
"Yeah," said Ron, "and lucky Harry doesn't lose his head in a crisis - "there's no wood", honestly."
"Why did the plant let you free?" Asked Ron to Luffy.
"I don't know," confessed Luffy.
"You didn't panic, Hermione pointed out. "If once a prisoner of Devil's snare, you don't panic, it won't attack you."
"Hard to not panic when it's trying to choke you," Ron panted from his knee to take back his breath.
"It was trying to choke us? Really?" Luffy wondered, tilting his head.
The other three shared a look, and even in this situation, they couldn't help but giggle at Luffy's lack of intellect.
"Congratulations, Hermione, Ace and Marco's classes were fruitful, you did wandless magic," Luffy smiled.
Hermione looked at her hand and gave a beautiful smile to the three boys, really happy of her feat.
They took the road in a passage going underground, to a new room with some light... and the noise of wings.
On the other side there was another door.
Harry passed before, running the fastest he could, waiting to be attack by the bird, but they ignored him. The others three followed him and, after examining the door, it looked like they couldn't open it, event with the numerous spells that the young wizards tried.
"We could force it the old way... or simply destroy it," Luffy proposed.
"And how do you want to do it?" Ron asked.
"The same way I kicked the troll's ass," the boy smiled. "Out of the way!"
The trio shared a look and went a little back. With a little fear, they saw Luffy, who had stepped back a little, throwing his arms back. They stretched until they reached door they entered by, and released it all, the rubber making the arms come back, driving in the door really fast. This one broke, with some of the wall, making everyone smile a little... which disappeared fast when the wall and the door re-formed.
"Sorry, Luffy... it was a good try," Harry said posing a hand on his shoulder with compassion.
"And now?" Ron asked.
Hermione looked at the birds and said:
"These birds aren't here to be pretty."
"They're strange, these birds," Luffy stated picking his nose.
"They're not birds! They are keys! Flying keys! Look!" Harry pointed. "This means…"
He took a look around the room while the others observed the keys.
"There, some brooms!" Harry exclaimed. "We have to catch the key that opens the door!"
'But there are hundreds of them!"
"We have to find the one who look like the lock," Luffy pointed.
Ron examined the lock and commented:
"We need a big old key, probably silver, like the handle."
And in no time, they were all on a broom, and after a moment when Harry looked around, he took the lead, the target spotted. Ron would attack from above and Hermione below. Luffy would cut it of, while Harry caught it.
Potter wasn't the youngest seeker for a century for nothing!
And with incredible efficiency, the key finished against the wall, then they could open the door, before she could go, piteously.
"Ready?" Asked Harry, the hand on the unlocked handle.
Everyone nodded.
And they went in the following room.
First, there was nothing. And then, some light appeared from one side of the room, slowly, like the rise of the sun... on the sea.
The quartet was at the edge of what seems to be a beach, with clean water flooding on the white sand.
Turning around, they saw the door where they came from on the sand, without a wall, letting a view of the precedent room. However, all around, it was a desert island.
"Wow…" Ron and Harry whispered in awe.
"It's some powerful magic," Hermione muttered, dazed.
Luffy kneeled at the edge of the water and put his hands in it, and pull them up, letting the liquid flow between his fingers.
"It's Marco's obstacle," Luffy stated.
"And what do we have to do?" The bushy haired girl asked.
"Of what I know, well, of what Ace agreed to tell me, there is something hidden on the island with the weather…"
"The weather? How does the weather hide something?" Harry inquired.
"The mirages!" Hermione exclaimed.
Luffy closed his eyes and put his hands in the sky.
The air withered, before exploding in a noise of broken glass. A bridge appeared from nowhere, and disappearing in the distance.
"And there, it's done!" Luffy smirked.
"How did you do this?" Ron questioned
"My navigator likes to play with mirages. I know that if we change the moisture in the air, we can make appear or disappear mirages. I don't understand it all, but I at least know that sort of thing."
"Nami has talent…" Hermione commented.
"Marco even more, but he have experience and the instinct of a bird."
"He's what in the end?" Harry asked.
"Marco?"
"Yes."
"I can't tell. If he wants for you to know, he'll tell you."
Luffy let his arm fall, and started walking on the bridge, followed by the three others. The walked a while, before seeing some blood on the wood and the corpses of some strange monsters in the water.
"What is that?" Harry asked.
"Some Sea Kings. Seeing their size, I would tell they are from Paradise," Luffy noted, not really shaken.
"Paradise?" Ron repeated.
"It's the name of the first part of the Grand Line, isn't it?" Hermione told. "You went there?"
"Yeah. I'm waiting to get a little more experience in magic before going to the New World. And a new ship. We have a portkey ready to land us on the last island we stopped, when the time comes. We're here."
Before them, there was some sort of pyramid, like the ones found in Latin America. The bridge stopped at the foundation.
"We have to climb, don't we?" Harry asked.
"And avoid the traps," Luffy smiled.
"Traps?" Ron choked.
"It's Professor Fushisho's course, obviously it wouldn't be so easy," Hermione pointed out. "You know how to find them Luffy?"
"I have better! Hang on to me the best you can."
And Luffy threw his arms to the top, under the surprised look of his friends who complied. Once he had a good grip of the top of the pyramid, Luffy projected himself to the top, under the screams of the three others, before setting a foot at their goal. The trio let themselves fall on the ground, heart beating fast.
"Never again... never again will I listen to you…" Ron swore to himself.
"Huh?" Luffy asked not understanding what he was complaining about.
All while taking a breath, Harry stared at the place they were at. It was some sort of furnished terrace between the top of the pyramid and the remainder, between the pillars. In the back, we could discern two door.
"There is still something else ?" Hermione whined.
"It's Marco," Luffy said, like that explained everything.
The others three stood up and walked in the doors direction. The wall between them rippled and from the stone two creatures as tall as adults men appeared. They possessed the body of felines and the wings of birds, and the chests of beautiful women covered with jewels and feathers.
"Sphinxes," Hermione whispered.
The two creatures parted and stood before a door, before saying with identical and toneless voice:
"We are the guards of the way leading to a great treasure. One question and you will be able to pass. But you have to choose. One of the door lead to death, the other to wealth. One of us can only lie, and the other can only tell the truth. You only can ask one question to find the right door."
And they lay down before the doors, looking at the four students.
"A riddle?" Ron moaned.
"It's typical of Marco," Luffy noted picking his nose.
"Let me think," Hermione asked.
She part away from the group and paced around, beating her thumb.
"Why don't we guess?" asked Luffy.
"I would like to not die because of a fluke, Luffy," Harry commented forcing himself to smile.
Hermione stopped moving around and breathed deeply, before moving forward the guardian on the right and asked him with a voice slightly trembling:
"My request is the following one: point me the door leading to the Philosopher's Stone according to the other guardian, please."
"You're sure it's the right question?" Ron asked. "If it's the lying guardian…"
The sphinx stood up and answered:
"According to the other guardian, the door leading to the Philosopher Stone is the one behind me."
"Thank you!" Luffy grinned moving forward to open it.
"No, Luffy! It isn't this one!" Hermione told him.
She took his hand and led him to the other guardian.
"We will take this door," announced the young girl to the guardian at the left.
The guardian stood up and moved aside.
"How do you know it's the right one?" Ron asked.
"The lying guardian will always tell the opposite of the one of the truth, and the honest one will tell what the lying one would tell. In the two cases, since I asked the door leading to the Philosopher's Stone according to the other guardian, they would tell us the one leading to death. We just have to take the other door," Hermione explained.
"You're a genius, sincerely," Harry complimented.
Hermione blushed while they passed the door.
They made it to a dark room, soon lighten, revealing a game of chess with pieces even taller than them.
"What is it?" Luffy asked.
"A game of chess. I presume that we will have to play if we want to pass," Ron commented. Look across.
And he pointed to a door on the other side of the white figurines.
"And how do you want to play?" Hermione inquired.
Ron went to a black knight and touched it, immediately the stone animated itself.
"Hum... do we have to join you to pass on the other side? Ron asked.
The knight nodded.
"You're the best of us at chess, it would be for the best if you lead," Harry said.
"Yes, I'll do it. Luffy you'll take the place of the king. Harry the bishop, and you Hermione, you place yourself on the rook's case, there."
"And you?" Hermione asked.
"I'll be a knight."
And each went take the vacated places. The whites must have heard them because soon after, a white pawn moved forward two cases.
Ron gave order to the pieces, who moved forward according to them, without sound, to be crush by the whites and dragged on the edge of the board. After that, Ron avenged them by taking the same amount in their sides.
"It's the only way," Ron commented one moment.
Seeing the sight of the board and what their friend was about to do, Hermione and Harry protested.
"Ron," Luffy called.
Ron turned in his direction. Luffy looked at him with a smile, eyes closed to not give away his worry.
"Be careful of the fall."
"Thank you, Luffy," Ron smiled.
And he moved forward. Immediately, the queen was on him and knocked him out. Hermione screamed, but didn't move from her place.
Harry moved forward on his left, jaw tight, and stopped before the white king who threw his crown at his foot. The white pieces moved away, freeing the way toward the other door.
"Go, I'll take care of Ron," assured Luffy hurrying toward the red haired boy.
"Thanks, Luffy," the two others answered.
After a last look toward their two friends, Harry and Hermione ran toward the next room.
Luffy sighed and looked up seeing a silver phoenix made of flames flying toward him. His brother's Patronus.
"Tell Ace that we have someone hurt, and that we passed almost all the obstacles."
The bird nodded and went away. Hermione came back soon after and ran toward Luffy.
"Snape's obstacle won't allow the two of us to go. I came back so we would be able to take Ron to Madam Pomfrey! You'll do it, while I'll send Hedwig to Dumbledore."
"Ace and Marco are back," Luffy stated placing Ron on his back with help from Hermione. "Let's go!"
Harry wanted to yelled, but he couldn't emit any sound.
Learning that it was Quirrell that served Voldemort and wanted the stone, it was a shock, more so to learn that it was him who tried to kill him... but that...
Quirrel had taken off his turban during the conversation and turned around.
On his head, instead of the back of the scalp, there was a face, the most terrifying face Harry ever saw. As white as chalk, with bright red eyes and slots for nostrils. A face like an albino snake.
"Harry Potter…" the face whispered.
Harry tried to step back. His legs didn't answer him anymore.
"Do you see what I have become? Shadow and stream... I only took form by sharing another one body... Fortunately, there are still those ready to welcome me in their heart and head... The unicorn's blood gave me some strength back, these last few weeks... In the forest, you saw the devoted Quirrel drink it for me... And when I have the elixir of life, I'll be able to recreate a body for myself... Now... give me the Stone in your pocket."
So he knew. Harry suddenly sensed his legs moving again, allowing him to step back.
He would have to know how the Stone had passed between the Mirror and his pocket... Maybe Hermione would have an answer!
"Don't be stupid," said the angry face. "You would do best to save your life and to join me... or else, you'll know the same fate as your parents... they died begging me to spare them…"
"LIAR!" Be it his instinct or simply that he refused to believe it, Harry couldn't assimilate the idea of his parents begging for their life.
Quirrel moved to be sure that Voldemort didn't lose sight of him. The evil face was smiling, now.
"How touching…" he hissed. "I always like courage... Yes, my boy, your parents were braves... I first killed your father and he resisted with great bravery... And for your mother, I hadn't predicted her death... but she was trying to protect you... So, give me this Stone or she will have died for nothing."
"NEVER!"
Harry jumped in the only way possible for escape.
Obeying to Voldemort, Quirrel threw himself on Harry and grabbed him by his wrist, causing a big pain in his scar, like his head was exploding.
He yelled, struggling with all his strength and Quirrel released him, to the boy's surprise, decreasing the pain of the boy. Quirrell was bent in two because of the pain, his eyes fixed on his hands who were covered by blisters, like he was burned by a fire.
"Catch him! CATCH HIM!" Voldemort repeated.
Again, Quirrel drove on Harry. He made him fall on the ground and immobilized him, his two hands constricting his neck.
The pain in his scar almost blind Harry. He could however discern Quirrel who was yelling with suffering, like he was hurt beyond belief. He finished by letting his neck go, maintaining his body on the ground with his knees. His hands' flesh were raw, bright red, totally burned.
"Then kill him, idiot!" Voldemort squeaked with a high pitched voice.
Quirrel raised his arm to throw a deathly curse, but acting by instinct, Harry stood up enough to tackle his hands on the face of his enemy.
Yelling, Quirrell rolled on the ground, face totally burned. Realizing his advantage, and taking the opportunity, Harry jumped on his feet and grabbed his arm with all his strength. His opponent screamed in pain while trying to remove him and even with the pain his scar gave him and blind him, Harry kept his hold.
Above the yelps from Voldemort ordering Quirrel to kill him, he heard someone yelling: "Potter!".
All of a sudden, he sensed Quirrell's arm escape his hold as he slipped into unconsciousness, thinking that all was lost.
Marco arrived after Dumbledore's departure, and sat at the end of Harry's bed.
"Congratulations, Potter, you're a hero, yoi," Marco commented.
"I wouldn't have saved the Stone without my friends' help... and without Luffy, I doubt that we would have understand anything of your obstacle," Harry confessed. "Thank you for saving me from Quirrell. Professor Dumbledore told me it was you who had arrived when I thought that all was over, and that he would have obtained the Stone."
"You did most of the work, Potter, it wasn't a lot that I did, apart from finishing him, and bringing you back. You probably have a lot of questions for Dumbledore. Did you receive your answers, yoi?"
"Not all, but he said that I wasn't ready for some."
"I have a question for you, Potter... did you not remarked something while you were passing the obstacles?"
"What do you mean?"
"Think about it... The Philosopher's Stone is a valuable object, lots of people would have done anything to have it. Do you think that an obstacle course that some children, who just began learning magic, succeeded to pass with little difficulties, is effective as protection for an experienced wizard, yoi?"
Harry blinked a moment and frowned.
"Think on what I just said, Potter. I'll leave you, yoi. But before parting, I have a present for you. A lucky charm."
Marco, with a movement of his hand, let appear a long feather, covered in turquoise fire spangled with gold, that he handed to the young wizard.
"What is it?" Harry asked taking it.
"Don't show it to anyone. Nobody must see it, yoi. Seeing the road full of obstacles before you, you'll need it. It's the only protection against the death's curse, yoi. A feather of a very rare species of phoenix. I'll go, Weasley, Granger and Luffy hope to see you, and I fear that Madam Pomfrey fears that they'll tire you out."
"Can I ask you something, professor?"
"If I have the answer, I'll give it to you, if possible."
"Did you... did you know my parents?"
"Yes, Potter... I began to teach when they arrived at Hogwarts. I was the youngest teacher, since at this time I was as old as Ace today. It's with me that the wandless magic could be learned at Hogwarts, yoi."
"Do... do you know why Professor Snape hates my father?"
Marco sighed and looked at Harry who was turning the feather between his fingers.
"Yes. Severus don't come from an environment could we say... favorable. He had a lot of problem with his father. In entering here, he revealed himself as a brillant and studious student, not just in practice of potions, but in Defense Against the Dark Arts too... and unfortunately, he showed interest in Dark magic. But what made him hate James Potter was because your father, with his best friend, Sirius Black, had the bad habit of ridiculing and humiliating him. Their pranks against him were cruel, sometimes. One night, Black had the bad idea to think it would be funny that Snape find a werewolf and your father saved his life, after learning what his best friend had done, yoi. At the risk of breaking the probably heroic image you had make of your father, Potter, James was a pompous and arrogant prat when he wanted to be. And a big idiot. I sometimes wonder if your mother didn't punch him to set him straight, yoi."
"Thank you... thank you for being honest with me, professor."
"Don't forget what I said about the obstacles and never separate yourself from this feather," Potter.
Marco stood up and left.
Soon after, with intense negotiations between Harry and Madam Pomfrey, Hermione, Ron and Luffy got to see their friend.
Hermione restrained herself from hugging Harry with difficulty, under the giggles of Luffy.
Harry narrated to them what Dumbledore had told him, but kept to himself his conversation with Marco.
"So the Stone is no more?" Ron asked at the end of the tale. "And Flamel will die?"
"It's what I said, but Dumbledore answered me... hm, ah yes, "to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure".
"So what?" Luffy inquired, taking a handful of the candies that Harry had been left. "I don't see the problem with dying, if we die for our dreams."
"I always said that Dumbledore is crazy, but you, Luffy, you're even more," Ron stated.
"And you, what happened?" Harry asked.
"I had no problem with going back. Luffy took Ron on his back, and told me he had received a message from his brother telling that he and Professor Fushisho were back. We saw them when we were leaving the third floor. They rushed in Fluffy's direction, to save you. While Luffy went to drop Ron off in the infirmary, I went to the Owlery, but in the hall, I saw Dumbledore who seemed to know what was happening already. He just asked if you went join him, and he rushed out, too."
"Do you think he really wanted for you to go?" Ron asked. "Is that why he sent you back the invisibility cloak?"
"Gramps says that under his old sage act, he is a manipulator," Luffy stated.
"Professor Fushisho pushed me in that direction, too... It's true that a part from his obstacle and the one from Snape, if first years passed…"
"If it's true, it's horrible!" Hermione cried out. "You could have been killed!"
"That's not necessarily true," Harry answered thinking. "He's an odd character, Dumbledore. I think he want to let me a chance. He must know almost everything happening in this castle and I think he must have known about our project, but instead of stopping us, he tried to help us. I don't think it's a coincidence if he let me discover how the Mirror worked. It's a little like if he recognize I have the right to face Voldemort, if I could."
"Ace said that Voldemort couldn't have entered here using Quirrel if Dumbledore didn't want him to. Marco warned him more than once against this man, since the first time he saw him, before the start of the school year. The only thing the director did, was to ask Professor Snape to keep an eye on him," Luffy said. "Something isn't right."
"No mistake, Dumbledore is strange," Ron said thinking. "And now, listen: you have to be here for the end of year's feast, tomorrow. The count of points was done and of course, the Slytherins won the cup. You weren't there for the last match, and we were crushed by the Ravenclaws. But there will be good things to eat."
It was at this moment that Madam Pomfrey decided to show them out.
Ace came, a little before the feast, at Marco's side at the lake.
"There's something brewing Ace…" Marco breathed. "And I don't like it."
"What are my orders?" asked the young man, almost standing at attention, behind his superior.
"Be careful, and ask your brother to be too, yoi. I don't want you two to be hurt or killed. Even more you."
Ace fought a blush but assured him that he would be.
"It's almost time, let's go see the Slytherins be delighted once more for their victory," Marco sighed turning around.
He ruffled affectionately Ace's hair and kissed the top of his head fast, taking advantage of the fact that they were alone, before taking the road to the castle.
Luffy stood up on the bench to signal to Harry to join them, when he entered the Great Hall.
The boy made his best to ignore the whispers and the stares of everyone trying to see him better.
"Why did you have to leave, Ace?" Harry asked sitting at the table.
"The day of the attack against the Philosopher's Stone? Some of Kaido's men debarked at Hogsmeade, so with Marco, we went there. We cleaned them up quickly. Fortunately we were far from the residential area," Ace commented. "Not too hurt?"
"It was wonderful magic, Professor Fushisho's ordeal…" Hermione commented. "It really felt like we were at sea."
"Be happy that he wasn't powerful enough for what he was thinking of doing in the beginning, if not, I'm not sure that you would have passed it. He want to recreate the weather of the New World,"
"And what would it have been like?" Ron asked.
"Who knows? Maybe the laws of gravity doing what they want to, or lightning storms, or even a sea of flame! Well... there is the headmaster."
Indeed, Dumbledore arrived, making the hall fall silent.
"Another year ends," said Dumbledore happily, "And I will bother you again with an old man's babbling, before we begin the delicious feast. What a year! Fortunately you finish the year with your head fuller than at the beginning... and you have the summer to empty it again, waiting for the beginning of next year... I wanted to tell you in advance that at the beginning of the next year we will welcome some students from Salem school, after its mysterious destruction. I sincerely hope that you will welcome them.
Now the moment comes to give the House cup. The points count give us the following result: in fourth place: Gryffindor with three hundred and twelve points. In third place: Hufflepuff with three hundred and fifty two points. Ravenclaw obtained four hundred and twenty six points and Slytherin: four hundreds and seventy two points.
Of course, this table yelled happily and Hermione saw worried, that even with his impassible face, Ace's fingers tapped the table irritatedly, leaving the slightest hints of charring.
"Firefly," he breathed.
Some discrete green orbs appeared from one of his hands and disappeared in the room, under the perplexed look from the ones who saw him act.
"Yes, yes, well done Slytherin," Dumbledore said. "It must be done however to take in account some recent happenings."
There was a big silence, and the victorious smile became less victorious.
"I have some last moment points to give. First, even if it has nothing to do with Hogwarts and this isn't really... legal could we say, I would like to see Mr Ace D. Portgas."
With a surprised face, Ace stood up, arms crossed, a frown on his face, waiting for him to say what it was about.
"For your bravery, your spirit and your victory, during the attack on Hogsmeade... I give Gryffindor twenty points. Also, if you would, please tell Newgate hello for me."
Marco raised an eyebrow while the Gryffindors clapped for Ace who took his place back, as impassive as before.
"Couldn't this old man mind his own business?" Ace mumbled.
"Now, we should pass to what happened in the castle. I will begin with Mister Ronald Weasley."
Ron became red. He suddenly look like a radish with a sunburn.
"For the most wonderful game of chess ever played at Hogwarts in many years, I give Gryffindor twenty points."
Gryffindor's applause echoed loudly off the ceiling, and you could hear Percy bragging to the other prefects.
Then, the silence fell again.
"Next, I would like to give Mr Luffy D. Monkey ten points for his accomplishments in wandless magic and his instincts, which allowed him to disturb the weather and unveil the road through mirages and illusions."
Luffy just giggled as his brother affectionately ruffled his hair.
"I come to Miss Granger... for the cold logic she show face to formidable flames and before an enigma where death was at only one wrong choice... I give Gryffindor fifty points."
Hermione buried her head in her arms. It was easy to guess that she was crying because of emotions. Ace made his best to not do any comments, even if he hated crybabies. All around the table, the students couldn't contain their joy. After all, they just won one hundred points.
"At last, let's talk about Harry Potter."
The hall fell silent.
"For the composure and the exceptional courage he showed, I give Gryffindor sixty points."
The noise became deafening.
"We are exactly even with the Slytherins!"
"If only we had one point more," Ron sulked. "Just one."
Dumbledore raised a hand and the calm came back slowly.
"Courage can take various forms," he said with a smile. "You need a lot of courage to face your enemies, like Misters Portgas and Potter showed us, but there isn't any less needed to face your friends. And that's why I give ten points to Neville Longbottom."
"Congrats Neville!" Luffy cheered in the deafening racket.
The poor Neville soon disappeared under the hugs of his comrades.
And Malfoy's face was grim.
"It means, Dumbledore continued trying to cover the thunder of applause (the two other houses were very happy with the fall of the Slytherins), that we will have to change the decoration of this room."
"Fiery Doll!" Ace whispered with a mean smile.
Before Dumbledore could clap his hands, the green and silvers banners were on fire.
You just needed to see the discrete smirk of Ace and the almost exasperated look from Marco to understand what happened, but few did.
"Well, I would like to thanks the one who just eased my work," Dumbledore commented, slightly surprised.
He clapped in his hands and the rest of the banners transformed in the ones for Gryffindor, without any flames.
And it was a wonderful evening.
"How did you manage to pass in potions, sincerely, Luffy?" Ace asked, taking his place in the train for the return.
"No idea."
Ace sighed and looked again to the notes of his brother. He ended smiling and told him :
"I'm very proud of you, Lu. With all you're learning, you'll be amazing in the New World. You'll be the Pirate King."
"And you'll be the fiercest Second Division Commander in the history of the Whitebeard Pirates!" Luffy answered. "Ne-"
The door opened at this instant on the Golden Trio.
"Can we sit here?" Harry asked.
"If you want, but Luffy's singing will probably drive you off."
"Hey!"
Luffy gave Ace puppy eyes that would have made more than one person comply. Ace huffed, while the others took their place.
"No way!" Ace answered him, sticking out his tongue. "I'll leave you with my brother, I'll make a great hit on the train with the twins and Lee." He left.
The journey passed with much laughing and eating some snacks.
Soon, the train entered the station and found the muggles. Ace went apologize to the twin's mother about the cancellation of Christmas on the Red Force at the last moment, and told her that he had to see his captain to pass his holidays with them.
"Oi! Ace! Luffy!" someone called.
The two called turned around to see a young boy about Ace's age, blond, waving from the station's platform with Marco, who wearing muggle's clothes and had two motorbikes helmets in his hands, a boy with green hair, and an old man with a mischievous air.
"It's there that we separate, Potter," Ace said taking his shirt off to put it in his bag, without any worries about the passer-by who were staring. Good luck with these idiots. Marco is waiting for me, with Sabo and Rayleigh."
"Oh, that's your family?" Harry wondered.
"The blond, he's our brother, the old one's our uncle, and the mosshead, Zoro is my first mate," Luffy smiled.
"Don't call me a mosshead!" Zoro huffed.
"We'll see each other next year!"
And the two brothers walked away. The luggage cart was pushed between the pillars in the station.
Translator/Beta's notes: Welp, I'm seriously regretting this. Haruka has it written up to chapter 7, and once I finish that one I'm going to tell her I can't do any more. This fic is honestly a good representation of how a crossover can go bad: weeb Japanese, no solid or decently realistic explanation of how the two worlds are connected or put together, characters stealing the spotlight, and plot points losing significance or impact. For example, Marco's booby trap takes up the majority of the screen time, with the other scenes rushed and perfunctory. This also means taking away from Ron's heroic sacrifice, and thus losing its impact. Also, given that all current crew members are present, that means that Luffy did everything in canon up to at least Thriller Bark all at the age of ten or eleven. Did the original author forget what age he's supposed to be or something?
For some reason, the words 'sea king' and 'New World' were in Japanese, but Paradise isn't. The famous 'Are you a witch or not?!' scene is taken pretty much wholesale from WikiQuote, as in the original it's the same dialogue, except it's gone English French English.