- Remember, boy. One noise and…
Harry went back to his room on tiptoe. No problem, they won't hear him. With all the chores he had to do during the day, the boy still hadn't meditated. Other than the sport, it was the only thing he could do, about school, without doing wand magic or without taking anything from his trunk. He will also be able to read again the letters from Luffy. Whatever prevent him from receiving the ones from Ron and Hermione, it failed to prevent Spade from reaching him, and to give him news from the others… and to scare his cousin by the way.
The boy slipped into his room and closed the door the most silently he could manage, before moving to the bed to sit down and begin to meditate.
The problem was that someone was already sitting there.
If Harry hadn't see some bizarre things at Hogwarts, he would have already screamed. It was really close to happen, too. The small creature on his bed was strange, with ear like those of bats and green protruding eyes the size of a tennis ball.
While Harry and the being stay there observing each-others, Dudley's voice resonated in the hall:
- Should I take your coat, Mr and Mrs Mason?
Meanwhile, the creature let itself slide from the bed and bow so deeply that his nose touched the carpet. Harry remarked that he was wearing some sort of towel where he had cut some places for his arms and legs.
-Uh… Hello… said Harry uncomfortable.
He placed one hand on his chest, and reassured himself feeling the feather attached to a little string around his neck, hidden under his clothes.
It may be ridiculous, but it was reassuring. Even more so because a man had passed by at the beginning of the holidays, few moments after Harry had an altercation with his uncle which ended with a few hit for the young wizard. Harry may haven't know the man, but him, he knew him, and his gun between Vernon's eyes had been very explicit. He lifts a hand against his nephew and he will have a bullet in his brain. It was enough. For how long that Harry has this feather, he knew that he was protected.
Coming back to the aforementioned situation, he went silently to the chair of his desk and tried to understand what he had before his eyes.
The creature introduced itself as Dobby, a house elf.
He had a narrow escape before he took the situation between his hands, when Dobby almost alerted the guests crying in joy, just because Harry had proposed to sit down.
After having a very bad painting of the wizards that Dobby was serving, he finally talked about the subject of his visit.
-Harry Potter mustn't go back to Hogwarts!
Harry had done everything to find out who would be the culprit, he just had given an excuse to Dobby (without meaning to) to punish himself, which made Vernon come. Once his uncle gone, Harry showed how his place wasn't here, but he manages to obtain an information that he didn't like, when the subject of Hermione and Ron was breached…
Dobby had intercepted the mail from his friends.
If he hadn't achieved it with Spade, it was simply because the eagle seems to have strange powers and more than one protection, preventing anyone from intercepting him.
Following this was a pursuit in the house who ended in the kitchen, and the elf used his magic to throw Petunia's dessert on the ground. When he ran away, Harry was face to face with his Uncle Vernon and a letter who sign his hell.
A letter from the minister that told him that it was his only warning and that the next time that he would do magic out of school ground without being allowed, he would be expelled from Hogwarts.
All that Harry could do, was to pray that Spade came back fast, because he would need help, and soon.
…
Run away.
Harry had to quit this place and fast.
He clenched his hand around the feather tied around his neck on a string, hidden under a sweater, (tic developed under stress) while trying to escape from the not very pleasant witch before him.
It was then that a metal rod separated the two of them definitely. Rod in the hands of a young man wearing the clothes of a lord from the eighteenth century, but in blue shades.
The witch cowered and disappeared in a corner.
-Is everything alright? Asked Harry's savior.
He straightened, the rod lazily posed against one of his shoulders, while arranging his blue top hat on his blond shivering hair.
-Eh… yes, thanks, Harry breathed.
And the boy smiled before holding his free hand to him. He seemed familiar to Harry, but from where?
-My name's Sabo. You're lucky that I was passing by.
-Harry.
The two boy shook their hands.
- From your face, I assume that you're lost, am I mistaking? Continued Sabo.
- Floo's powder problem.
Harry couldn't stop a blush when the older boy laugh, revealing a missing tooth at the front of his mouth.
-Where did you want to go? The blond asked.
- Diagon Alley.
- We're not very far. Come on, I'll accompany you. Oi, marimo! Don't walk away, so that I don't have to come search for you again at the other side of the country!
-I'm not a marimo, growled a boy with green hair joining them.
-You're a marimo with the sense of direction of a spoiled mussel, Zoro.
-Tch.
Harry couldn't stop himself from gulping seeing the three swords on the boy's waist who just reached Sabo.
-Yo, mumbled Zoro.
-Harry, this is Zoro, my little brother's best friend and the main reason why I was here, since he's lost veeeery easily. Let's go!
Between the two older boy, Harry found back the daylight quickly, far from the tern light, dark and foggy of what was apparently called Knockturn Alley. From where they were, they could see Gringotts.
-Oh, you're a mess, can I? I'll tidy you a bit, or else, your parent will probably have a stroke seeing you like that, commented Sabo dusting him.
-I go search for the others, Zoro stated.
-No, you, you stay here. You don't move.
Zoro looked at him an eyebrow raised, like saying, "I would like to see you try", but Sabo brandished his weapon in his direction. Harry stared gobsmacked the silver metal slowly covering itself with slick black, threatening.
-Okay, no need for Haki against me, Zoro grumbled.
Sabo had a big smile and the black disappeared quickly. With a gesture, the rod retracted, to disappear in the sleeve of his owner.
-I thought that using magic out of Hogwarts was prohibited, pointed Harry.
-We're transferred to Hogwarts this year, Zoro told him while Sabo dusted Harry the best he could. And it's not really magic. About his weapon, it's a muggle invention. There is a switch to grow and retract.
-Ah.
-Should we help you find your parent, or you'll be alright? Inquired Sabo.
-I came with my friend's parent, and I'm not against some help. They have red hair. Very red, all red.
Sabo frowned, and raised his brows.
-Weasley?
-Correct!
-You know them? Asked Zoro to Sabo.
-The twin, especially. Come on, let's go. You should do something about your swords Zoro.
Grumbling, the green man took out some clothes pack with strap from his pocket and slide his swords inside it, before taking it on his shoulders.
-Like that, is it alright? Mumbled the marimo.
-Perfect! Assured Sabo.
The blond passed an arm around Harry's shoulders and walked in the road, searching for the Weasley. But it was Harry who was found first:
-Harry, Harry!
Raising his head, Harry saw Hermione waving her hand, from the stairs of Gringotts. And she ran in his direction.
-Oh! I didn't see you! Konnichiwa anata-tachi! Smiled Hermione in the direction of his friend's bodyguards
-Anata? Sabo choked, falsely outraged. Mushiro 'omae' ya 'kimi' o shiyou! Ore-tachi wa sempai da, Oji-sama ja nai!
-Sumimasen, blushed Hermione.
-We can say that you took Robin's challenge to the word, commented Zoro.
-I like challenges. Thank you for finding Harry, everyone was searching for him!
-You know them? Asked Harry.
-Yes! I met them last Christmas! Sabo Silver, he is Ace and Luffy's brother. Zoro Roronoa, Luffy's first-mate.
The two others shared a glance with a 'ooooh'.
Harry remembered them now, he had saw them at the station, coming back from Hogwarts.
- So it's you that my cute brother didn't stop talking about during these holidays, Sabo noted. I thought that I was becoming deaf. He told us about your little adventure at the end of the year, to save the Philosopher's Stone.
Harry blushed bright red.
-And congratulations for solving Marco's riddle. He could have found ones harder, but I understood that he was asked to not do too hard, the blond continued. To others things, did you see my idiot of a brother? The little one, I know that Ace isn't on ground right now, since I'm the one who have to buy his things.
-I didn't see Luffy but I did saw with Robin in Gringotts, Hermione stated. She passed by me less than five minutes ago, to go pick enough to pay for everyone's supplies. Your uncle's key I think.
-I have enough to pay for Ace's, he gave me his payroll for that. Well, look who is coming!
Coming in their direction, emerging with difficulty from the crowd, were the Weasleys.
-Harry! Mr Weasly exclaimed. We hoped that you didn't end too far away! Molly is going spare… ah, here she is!
He turns around to welcome his wife, while Ron questioned Harry about where he had landed.
-In Knockturn Alley, answered Harry his face shadowed.
-I found him there, Sabo smiled.
-Sabo, exclaimed the two twins. It's been a while! Ace is nearby?!
-Iie, still at sea. I wonder if he'll be in time for the train, or if Marco will have to take him here for the start of term, directly at the castle.
-I'll go search for Robin, Zoro state walking away.
-No way, I don't run after you again if you're lost again!
-I don't have any reasons to be lost, it's just on top of the stairs!
-You wouldn't even be able to find your way out of a paper bag, Zoro, I know you by now.
Zoro get away from them with a 'humpf'.
- However, you're lucky Harry, we were never allowed to go there, Ron commented envious.
-Ace go there every year, he is even more lucky, confessed the twins.
-And you better don't follow his example! Oh Harry, my dear! You could have found yourself god know where! Molly Weasley exclaimed finishing to clean the black hair boy, while Arthur repaired his glasses. Thank you to have taken care of him for us, young man.
-It was a pleasure, Madam, assured Sabo bowing.
-RORONOA ZORO! Roared a young woman's voice.
-If you would excuse me, I have to save a sword-man from the claw of a navigator who must have Harpy's blood in her veins, sighed the blond.
Hermione seemed to understand the reference since she tried to not giggle.
Sabo waved at them one last time with his hat and went away.
- This Sabo and Ace…
-… the night and the day…
- … and to think that they're brother…
-… it's crazy, commented the twins.
- What are talking about, you two? Asked Percy.
-It's Sabo Silver, the two D.'s brothers. Their…
- Common sense? Proposed Hermione with a smile.
-Exactly! That's it! Approved Fred.
-Isn't he the one who told you about the a… said Ron.
Harry crushed his foot, while Hermione was glaring at him, preventing him from continue.
-Yes, it's him, answered Hermione right away. And the man with green hair is Zoro Roronoa, Luffy first-mate.
-That's why he has swords, noted Harry.
-Katanas, Harry, we call them katanas, rectified Hermione. And they're not some plain katanas. They are meitô, very famous weapons. Since you refused to answer to my letter, I talked a lot to Luffy. Fortunately, he told me that you didn't received them.
- Fortunately, the house elf intercepting my mail didn't intercepted Spade too, because if not, I would have some very bad holidays. So, do you know who I saw at Barjow and Beurk? Malfoy father and son!
-He bought something? Arthur asked Harry, walking up the stairs of Gringotts.
-No, they want to sell.
-Perfect, it means that they're worried.
Harry, Ron and Hermione part way with the Weasley family to go around. After a small walk and an ice-cream, they went to Flourish and Botts.
And seeing the line, they weren't alone. It seems like the man who wrote half of the book in the list was signing autograph and he must be cute and famous for it to have so much woman of Ron's mother generation here.
It was here that they found Luffy, too, with his brother, Zoro, another blond guy with his hair falling before one of his eye, a young red head, and two adults in charge of them. One of them had a hood on his head, surrounding him by his gray's cape shadow, and the other was a woman with black hair bob cut.
-Konnichiwa minna-san! Greeted Hermione.
-Hello again, Granger-chan, smiled the black haired woman.
-Hermione! Ron! Harry! Hisashiburi!Luffy exclaimed, happy.
And he took a blow on the head from Sabo.
- Chibi kaizoku,please stay on the English, there is no need to attract more attention, the oldest told him.
-I'm not a chibi! Tell him, Ji-chan!
-I won't take part in this argument. Greeting, young lady, sighed the adult turning in their direction. You two must be my nephew's classmate. Nice to meet you, and my condolence for your parents, Potter-kun.
Harry was surprised. The man said that in a low tone, like to make sure that no one knows who he is. He hadn't acted like most of the people usually do. He had even given him his condolences!
-I know what it is, the suffocating attention that people give us, the man said. Even if not for the same reason. I'm Rayleigh. Rayleigh Silver, uncle of Luffy, Sabo and Ace.
-Oi, ero-cook, try to not do your usual act, you attract attention of everyone every times, Zoro commented with a smirk, while the blond walked to Hermione.
-What did you say, k'ssou marimo? He growled to Zoro.
Bang!
And a bump for the two idiots, from the red head woman.
- Sorry, they're always like that, the black hair girl apologized.
-It's nothing, assured Ron gulping before the murdering look from the navigator.
-The red head is my navigator, Nami! The black haired girl is Robin Nico, she is mainly an archeologist, but she will help Binns for history class! We will have her in four years. The marimo, it's Zoro Roronoa.
-For the anecdote, marimo is a green seaweed, the reason for his nickname, Rayleigh said with a smile under his hood.
-Not you too, groaned Zoro.
Rayleigh raised his two hands as a mark of surrender, while Robin hide a smile behind her hand.
-Zoro is my first-mate, Luffy smiled.
-Regrets from saying yes? Asked Sabo.
-No, even less knowing that without him, I wouldn't have obtained Shuisui or the Sandaï Kitetsu, Zoro grumbled.
-The blond who always provoke Zoro is Sanji, my cook, and the other blond is my brother, Sabo.
-Thanks again for helping me, before, said Harry.
-No problem, I was searching Zoro, at that time. Zoro, you don't go in there, we will lose you in the crowd.
-Tch, said the green haired man.
- I'll stay outside, too. It seems that there are photographs, I would like to avoid being recognized, said Robin.
Rayleigh sighed and arranged his hood on his head.
-Let's go buy these book, then, he sighed. Can I entrust you with buying the others things, Robin-kun?
- Of course, Silver-san, smiled the black haired girl.
-Luffy, stay outside, please. It would be bad if you were crushed. Yo know why, don't you?
Luffy made a face but went at the side of the shop with Zoro and Robin.
-You have your brother's pay? Rayleigh asked Sabo.
Sabo let a purse fall in his uncle's hand which made noise.
- You're alone, you three? Nami inquired to the trio.
-My parents must already be in the shop, Ron said.
- I'll escort you to them, Sabo proposed.
-I come too! Nami said with a large smile.
And the group slipped in the shop.
While Rayleigh and the others were in line to wait their turn, Hermione, Ron and Harry followed the two others. Nami bumped without meaning to into some peoples, and it made Sabo laugh. When they attained their destination, they leaved the trio, and came back to Rayleigh.
-Was the fishing good? Asked Rayleigh to the two youngster, with a knowing air.
For answer, Nami gave a big smile while Sabo whistle with an innocent face while playing with his pocket full of coins.
Everyone turned to the front when they heard Gilderoy Lockhart yelled:
-Oh my god, isn't it Harry Potter?!
And there were feverish whispers everywhere in the shop.
-I'm sad for him, sighed Sanji.
-Yep, unable to buy his class books without being mob, it's sad, as a life, Sabo noted.
-Nami, go near the photographer and take the films when he is finished with Potter-kun, Rayleigh asked looking at what was happening in the front with a dark glance.
-And what do I gain, in exchange? Asked the red head with a smirk.
-Some very rare book on the extreme weather of the Shin Sekai, will it be alright?
-We have a deal!
And furtively, Nami disappeared in the crowd, ignoring the loud compliments of Sanji on her business acumen.
Nami arrived at the photographer's side when Lockhart announced that he would be their next Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. The red head was sad for Robin. This man seemed to be a total idiot, and he will work with her friend!
With a wink to Harry, Nami subtly knocked over a bookcase on the photographer and took advantage of the confusion to steal the photo's film. Harry managed to escape, not without a tower of book in his arms, which he let fall in the cauldron of a little read haired girl.
And a bleached blond rather contemptuous show himself at this instant, beginning to mock Harry, and then Ron.
When Ron's father came by, the boy's father show himself too. And it degenerated into a fight… which didn't last long.
Something heavy spread in the shop, while the shadow seems to be alive.
-I think that's enough. You're in the presence of kids, you have to show how to act well, intervened Rayleigh separating the two adults.
The two patriarchs glared a long moment.
A very soft sound then came from where Rayleigh stand, and spread a little his cloak, the two men saw a weapon half put out of his sheath, a silent threat very explicit. Ron and Harry couldn't stop themselves from gulping. For all Gringott's gold, they didn't want to be at the other end of this blade!
- Magic isn't one of the method the most painful and effective to calm a situation. So, either you calm yourselves immediately and go out of this establishment, or I put this sword out and put it in your two stomach.
Lucius Malfoy threw the book he had taken in Ginny's cauldron to her and spit out:
-Take your book, miss, since your father will never be able to buy you anything better.
And he walked away, followed by his son.
-To answer to an insult, it's falling as low as the idiot who throw it, remember that sir, commented Rayleigh putting away his blade.
-What happened? Asked Sabo reaching his uncle with the others. You played with the shadows again, Ji-chan?
- It's nothing. Let's end with the shopping and go home. I don't even want to think about what Luffy could be doing right now.
And arranging his hood, he went back in the line.
-Sabo, your uncle is bloody brilliant, commented Fred, while he and his twin were sporting big grins.
-Still you didn't see him when he's angry… he doesn't have the name Mei-Ô for nothing, answered Sabo.
-Mei-Ô? Inquired Ron.
- One of the possibles translation of the name is the Dark Lord, informed Hermione. I made a lot of researches. If my Japanese improve, I'll try to take a subscription to the New Coo.
-I'll give you a registration form from a peculiar version, but full, of the newspaper. On that note, I think that I'll go back to my dear uncle's side, hoping to not pass under his blade. Did you do it, Nami?
-How dare you call into question Nami-san's accomplishment! Sanji scoffed.
Nami threw in her hand the film she had stolen, a smirk on the corner of her lips.
- We'll see again sometime soon, she waved the Weasley, Harry and Hermione.
And they went away.
- Incredible… she stole the film of the photographer, George whispered.
Harry heaved a sigh of relief. It seemed like he wouldn't be on the first page of the newspaper for a long time yet.
A new sorting.
And no Harry Potter or Ronald Weasley to be seen.
Closing his eye an instant, praying for Potter to have keep his feather, Marco concentrated.
His feather answered, quickly moving toward the castle, with Potter.
-Now that the first year are sorted, we will now proceed with the sorting of the student from Salem which we welcome here, after the unfortunate closing of their school, announced Dumbledore.
And the sorting began. Thirty new student overall.
By the half of the sorting, Nami walked toward the Hat, and Marco frowned. He took a glance to Luffy, already at the table, who clenched his hands, even with Ace whispering something in his ear, probably reassuring words.
-Severus, breathed Marco.
Rogue tilt his head toward his coworker, showing he was listening.
-With her personality, this girl has big chances to end in your house, but she isn't a Pure Blood. If it happens, could you make sure that your house leaves her alone, yoi? Not that I fear for her physical welfare, she doesn't need magic to defend herself against simple students… it's more morally that I worry.
- She don't have others possibilities? Snape asked frowning.
- She will have to negotiate with the Sorting Hat and make him chose Ravenclaw, the best house for her, other than Slytherin, Robin said in.
-Count on me.
On the stool, Nami crossed her arms, legs crossed too, and tapped her foot annoyed.
The negotiation had begun.
-Roo, if you want it so much! But that you argue this much against my choice is proof that you should go to this house! Okay, I shut up! RAVENCLAW!
And with a satisfied smile, Nami stood up, joining the aforementioned table.
-Arigatou Hat-kun~! The redhead singsonged.
A lot of student couldn't keep a shiver on their back, even if her tone was happy.
She raised a thumb to Gryffindors and Luffy answered in the same way, a big grin on his lips.
-It seems like it won't be need, finally, for us to worry about this young girl, stated Snape. I come back.
And he stood up to whisper something to Dumbledore, and walked out of the Great Hall.
Sabo sat on the stool.
And the Sorting Hat whistled.
-It's been a while since I had someone like you! You have everything for everywhere!
Sabo raised his eyes to the Hat on his head and shrugged. He crossed his finger an instant, and sighed deeply when he was sent to Ravenclaw too.
-Ala, it seems like Sabo-kun want a quiet schooling, smiled Robin seeing him sitting beside Nami. Or, he has a crush on Nami.
Robin straightened with a smile to Ace who was glaring dark hole at her, seeing the proximity that she had, a moment before, with Marco.
-Yes, it could be that, yoi, mumbled Marco.
And he raised an eyebrow at Ace, but the younger turned away to sulk.
He really was jealous. Marco had to change that quickly.
The two others friends of Luffy were sorted too, and they ended at Gryffindor.
-Welcome to Hogwarts, Nico-sensei, sighed Marco when the food appeared.
-Thanks, Fushisho-Sensei.
For one, they were late for the train.
For two, the ward of the station closed early.
For a moment, Ron and Harry didn't know what to do. Then Ron, had the idea to go to Hogwarts in his father's flying car.
Going back to the parking, they saw in a corner, a beautiful yellow motorbike with flame motifs, but didn't stop at this. But the strange pipes on the side of the accelerator and the fact that there wasn't any reservoir for the gasoline should have alert them.
The two young wizards entered in the car, once their things put away, and, nervously Ron made the car fly away and made her become invisible.
They then followed the train, even with the heat and hunger. The caramels in the glove compartment wasn't really appropriate for the situation…
There was also the fact that the button making them invisible stopped working. Which was pretty bad.
But the worst, it was when they were in Hogwarts, the car stopped answering them and didn't find a better thing to do than to land on the tree who gave back the punch. The only in the entire park.
The Whomping Willow
Happily, the only thing broken was Ron's wand, but seeing Snape waiting for them in the entrance Hall… they thought that they were going to be expelled.
Ace and Luffy couldn't stop laughing.
It was the best word to describe the comportment of the two brothers, while Ron and Harry recounted what had happened, under the reproachful glare of Hermione. Zoro was trying not to snicker, while Sanji was overcome with admiration before the anger of the young lady. Sabo (how did he managed to be in the Gryffindor's common room when he was a Ravenclaw), just shook his head with a small smirk.
-I wonder if between Potter and Harry, there isn't a little D. who should have been added, sighed Sabo.
-With a third D., I think that this school would be in the same state as Salem, noted Ace pushing Sanji from before him, when his dance put him on his way.
-D.? What is this about? Asked Ron.
- It's an initial who mark the world, answered Zoro. Gol D. Roger, Monkey D. Garp, and now, Portgas D. Ace and Monkey D. Luffy. Every D. make himself know with their accomplishments and the most surprising acts. They are the most famous name of today.
-Still, we just began, Luffy stated with a grin. But I would have like to do it with you.
-Steal Ace's motorbike, Zoro proposed.
-Don't touch my bike, growled Ace showing his teeth. You don't know how difficult it was for Blenheim to understand what I wanted, so it is out of question that Luffy go less than one hundreds meter near of the Striker.
- A motorcycle at your age, Ace? Hermionne wondered.
- I don't play in the legal side, I recall you, if you have a memory lapse.
-Maybe we should go to sleep, no? I see Percy coming our way, and he doesn't seem happy, the boy with glasses proposed.
-Oops, then, I should go too, I would like to avoid for him to see that a Ravenclaw found his way in the group, Sabo added standing up.
- I'll show you outside, Ace told him standing too.
-Oyasumi, minna! Waved Sabo, before hugging his little brother.
-Oyasumi, Sabo.
- Good luck with the witch, Zoro wished.
-Thanks, but I know enough about negotiation to face her well. I'll tell you if she traumatized all the House in one night!
And following Ace, he disappeared in the crowd while Harry and Ron went to sleep, letting behind Luffy with Zoro and Sanji.