-Whouaw, was all Zoro could tell when Ron's Howler stopped yelling at them.
- It's not finished, pointed Ace with a little smirk.
That was right, a rather sturdy and strict owl was coming in their direction.
- Nii-chan! Luffy called to the Ravenclaw table.
Sabo turned away from his breakfast, and especially from Nami, who was again scaring her new dorm mates all this while counting some galleons she just gained, to look at his little brother.
- We have a letter from Garp! Announced Ace.
Sabo stood up immediately and joined them, while the owl landed before them... with a Howler too.
- What did you do to warrant that at the beginning of the year? Wondered Neville.
- I think he isn't happy with our achievements of this summer, stated Luffy when the bird went away and Ace opened the letter.
Marco spitted out his coffee when he heard a voice howling in Japanese, from the Gryffindor's table. A little more, and it would have gain a heart attack.
- Well, it's been a while, noted McGonagall. And to say that last year, Mr Portgas didn't received any…
Nobody understood what was said, but the one speaking Japanese. The voice already gruff and powerful in normal time of the old man, which was amplified, made most of the students go in hiding under the tables, all but the three brothers. Ace even found the mean to have an attack of narcolepsy in the middle of the Howler.
When the Howler spit in fire, Hermione seemed satisfied since she stopped sulking and glared at the trio of siblings who didn't look preoccupied at all by the letter they just received.
- As long as it isn't the old geezer himself coming to scold us verbally, it's alright with me, was all that Sabo said before walking back at his table.
And this was at this moment the schedules were hand out by the Heads of Houses. Ace went to compare his with Sabo's.
- Try to not lose your way in the corridors, Zoro! Luffy wished. Sensei!
-Yes, Mister Monkey? Sighed McGonagall, while she handed out the schedules to the second years.
- Zoro doesn't have any sense of direction. I thought that you needed to know that he will most probably often be late in class! Sanji, you show him the way?
- Oi, k'ssou gomu, I'm not his nanny! Huffed Sanji outraged.
- And if it's me who ask? Inquired Hermione, who seemed to have catch the blond's character very well.
- Everything you want, beautiful lady! Smiled Sanji.
- Urusai! Stated Zoro, blushing embarrassed.
Ace came back at the table at this moment.
- What did you do again, Sanji? He asked leaning to take his bag under the table.
- Hermione just manipulated Sanji to make him show Zoro the way in the corridors, explained Ron. You're sense of direction is that bad, Zoro?
- To explain this, an example would be better… on day, we had to go to the north to find something… and to do this, Zoro-kun thought that he had to climb to the top of a clock! Smiled Sanji. The north and climb a clock aren't the same thing!
Luffy make a sign with his head to the trio, and they ran away out of the Great Hall, to not burst out in laughter before the green haired sword-man.
He didn't have a very good sense of direction either but by staying with his friends, he won't be lost.
- Luffy, Zoro doesn't part from his swords, does he? Where are they? Asked Hermione.
- He shrank them and hide them in his back. Like me with my mugiwara boshi that I kept on my back, explained Luffy.
Sabo and Ace reached the classroom long before the bell signaling the beginning of the History of Magic's class.
- We sit side by side? Proposed Ace.
- Why not. Where do you sit usually?
- Generally, I sit at the end of the row, near the door, to make myself scare of Binn's class. But since it's Robin now… I see myself at the first row. You?
- Robin is a wonderful teacher, but her sense of humor…
- What about my sense of humor? Robin asked from behind them with a smile.
The two weren't fazed and answered with the same smile.
-Sab', if I have a fit, could you wake me up? Asked Ace. Or, allow me to take your notes?
- Don't worry, assured Sabo, while Robin leaded them in the classroom.
- Oh, while I think about it, Robin, I found something who made me think about you, this summer.
Ace put his bag on the table and searched in it to find a notebook, which he opened. He flipped some pages and teared out three of them, very cautiously, and handed them to the woman, while his brother sat down next to him.
Robin took the papers and studied them, eyebrows raised seeing the characters written on it.
- Thank you very much, Portgas-kun, thanked Robin with a soft smile.
And she went back to her desk.
- Oh, you have the Idiot? Zoro asked at midday.
- Professor Lockhart isn't an idiot! Shrieked Hermione.
- Absolutely, marimo! Don't upset a Lady! Defended Sanji.
- Unfortunately, it's the truth, sighed Nami sitting at their table with Sabo.
- We had him for our first class, pointed Zoro.
- Me, I'm just out of it, Nami said.
- And? Inquired Harry.
The trio sighed and, sharing a glance, Nami stated:
- Even Usopp could give better class.
- Ouch, I suspected that he was bad, but this much… winced Sabo.
- Maybe it just hard for you to adjust to the British teachings, that's all, said Hermione. This man did a lot of thing! He can only be an excellent teacher!
The pirates shared a look while the revolutionary sighed.
- Ah, naivety… sighed Nami standing up. I'm going, I have Potion.
- Electrify the prof for me. I pay your service just after the act, grumbled Ace. I go to Charm, with the Hufflepuffs.
- I have Botanic, with the Slytherins, groaned Sabo standing up. Hermione, remember what we said at Christmas. Don't believe what you didn't check yourself.
And the three went away.
- What do you have you two? Asked Luffy to his others friends.
-Transfiguration. Come on, marimo-kun, so that I don't lose you in the corridors, grumbled Sanji.
- Urusai, ero-cook, growled Zoro following Sanji out of the Great Hall.
- Well, let's go see ourselves what Lockhart is made of, sighed Harry standing up. Shall we go for a walk in the yard before?
The three others shrugged and walked out. Once outside, while Ron and Harry were talking about Quidditch, Hermione listened to Luffy translating her one or two things from a New Coo.
- Oi, omae… you have a problem with Harry to stare at him like that for so long? Asked Luffy looking, above his newspaper, a boy who was looking at them for a while.
The little newbie which was interpelled blushed brighly, even more when Harry looked at him with surprise. He had a camera in his hands.
- Hello Harry… said the little Gryffindor. I… I'm Colin Creevey. I'm in Gryffindor too. You think… Would it be a problem if… I take a picture of you?
And he raised his camera full of hope.
The group looked at each other's intrigued.
- A photo?
- To prove that I met you, said Colin with enthusiasm, coming nearer to him. Everyone told me how you survived to You-Know-Who when he tried to kill you, your scar and all that…
- Someone have, it seems, forgotten to precise that Potter may not like to be recalled of the night of his parent's death, yoi, intervened Marco debarking.
Collin made a little 'eep' and ran away before the intimidating teacher, who let out a sigh.
- Thank you… sensei, Harry said.
- I don't force anyone to use the Japanese term to address me. Professor is good enough for me. Well, young man, I had a letter from Rayleigh, he would like for me to began teaching you Haki… Marco said this time to Luffy. Show me your timetable, so that I can see if you have a free hour for this sort of things, yoi. And see with Sanji and Zoro if they're interested. I can't teach anything else than the Kenbushoku to Nami.
- Ji-chan want me to learn it this early? Wondered Luffy searching his bag for his timetable.
- What is the Haki? Asked Ron.
- The application of the spirit's influence on the matter, answered immediately Hermione. Sabo told me about it in his letters this summer. It is the action of forging your mind to repel its limits, in the goal of, on one side, influence your body and the other, perceive the lifes forms and the environment's movements.
- He didn't talk about the principal reason which is why I'll teach it to Luffy… Haoshoku, The Conqueror's fluid. Few are those who have it, yoi. The capacity to overturn weak spirits, mumbled Marco.
- Do you use Haki, sensei? Inquired Hermione passionately.
- Every Taishou must master it. Sabo and Ace know how to use it. They still have to get better with it, but they can do it, yoi. We see each other tomorrow night, after dinner, usual room, Luffy.
- Haiii~! Said Luffy. Ne, sensei, did you have Lockhart in class, when he was still here?
A depressive aura appeared above Marco's head.
- I think we will forget this question, noted Ron seeing his face.
- Thanks, sighed the man. Don't forget, Luffy. Teaching Haki is a difficult task, if you don't come to the class, then…
- I'll be there, assured Luffy.
- I'll remind him, promised Harry.
- I'll escort him, added Hermione.
The professor almost raised his eyes toward the sky to cry out about miracle, but keep himself from doing so.
- Oh, and sensei? Called Luffy, while the man had turned his back toward them.
Marco was going to go away when he turned toward Luffy.
- I saw your new bounty, it's enormous! Grinned Luffy. Congratulation!
Marco nodded and walked away.
Harry envied Luffy, sincerely. He was sleeping on his quiz, naturally, even with the disapproving glare from Hermione.
Honestly, he was right to do so, seeing the idiocies on it.
And Lockhart didn't even remark it, or else, he simply ignored it.
When the cage was revealed… Seamus' laughter awoke him.
- What did I miss? Mumbled Luffy rubbing his eyes.
- Cornish Pixies, Ron told him.
Luffy pouted and shrugged.
- Sabo said that it can't be eaten, so I can continue to sleep, grumbled the boy going back to the dream world.
His sleep wasn't long, since the pixies were freed and that two of them had the idea to stretch his cheeks… the problem was that they stretch the boy's skin way to much to be natural.
Reacting quickly, Harry threw his robes on Luffy's head, who was fighting to keep the pixies from stretching his skin.
Luckily, in the mess in the room, it passed unseen. Even more so with Neville suspended on the chandelier.
Lockhart was totally useless.
- ENOUGH!
Every pixies stopped moving hearing Luffy's voice… and fell unconscious where they were. The boy get rid of the robe on his head, since he didn't have pixies stretching his cheeks anymore.
Without a look for the others, he went away running, just seconds away from the bell.
- It's Luffy who did this? Asked Ron.
- He panicked and was very lucky that Harry act so fast, whispered Hermione.
They looked at Lockhart who give them the task of taking the pixies back in the cage, to go take his wand back, probably.
- But what is this with this man? Ron said indignant.
- He just want us to do some practical, said Hermione beginning to pick the pixies up, while Harry moved a desk to take Neville back.
- Practicals? You say it, he didn't have any ideas of what he was doing!
- You talk nonsense. Did you read his books? You saw all the big things he did?
- That's what he said! Grumbled Ron. Nothing broken, Neville?
- Thanks, I'm alright, answered Neville.
- Didn't Sabo told you to see the things by yourself or something like that? Harry asked to Hermione. We have class with Fushisho-sensei.
Marco looked, with a raised eyebrow, the student coming for the class, in the Qudditch pitch. It wasn't the fact that between the first and second years, some had stopped going to the class, no, that was predictable. It was more than the Gryffindors seemed depressed.
Harry went to the professor and asked him if he could talk to him at the end of the class.
- No problem, Potter. Well, everyone, we will began with meditating, today, and I'll give you an important lecture, before passing to the practice. Remove your shoes and your socks.
A little puzzled, the students did it.
After this, they had to stretch out and close their eyes.
- Breath deeply and place your hand on the ground, yoi, Marco said walking slowly between the stretched out students who lied on the grass. Open your minds, forget your body. Don't concentrate on anything other than the sensations you can perceive. Breath slowly.
After the chaotic class with Lockhart, it was… pleasant. It allowed them to calm themselves.
Harry sensed a little itching in all his limbs.
- How many of you have the sensation of being invade by pins and needles, yoi? Asked Marco. Just raise your hand, don't move more than that.
Harry raised an arm, without knowing who did it or not.
- Very well, I see that some of you will be able to, after Hogwarts, to think about abandoning the use of wands. What you're sensing is the magic in the environment. Of the earth, wind, everything around you. It's one of the source you can take from, yoi. Every spell cast send back the magic to the nature, once the spell dissipate itself. If you give up your wand, you could learn by yourself how to use this magic. But never forget this… disrespect this earth, and she'll give it back, yoi. And believe me, when it'll happen, you'll know it. Stand up and let's began the exercises. Run two laps around the pitch. Like always, I don't expect of you to do it from the first time, yoi. You have the right to do mistakes, you're here to learn, after all. But always give your all.
Harry stood up and without making a move to put his shoes back, like most of the students, he joined his classmates to run the laps around the pitch.
It was one of the reason why Marco was one of the best teacher of this school. His natural authority, without a doubt due to his position in his crew, did that everyone listened to him. But he was clear in his objectives and waiting. He didn't want perfection, just what the student can give him putting themselves to their limits.
So, when making them train for the transfiguration's spell they learned this morning, and where only Hermione had achieve it… a good majority of the class succeed, without wand, and some without incantation, in transforming beetles from a box at their feet in buttons.
Even Neville.
Marco had the gift of emerging the potential of his student, he knew their latent talent.
- Ten points to all of you who did their exercise and twenty for those who did it without a spell. Thirty for you, Mr Longbottom, to achieve it without doing any gesture, yoi.
And Neville could be proud of doing it.
- It was good Potter, noted Marco once he was alone with Harry. A silent spell and without wand, it's hard to achieve. You must have understood the principle, yoi.
- Thank you, professor. I trained the best I could, without magic. I awake early to run laps around my neighborhood, and when I knew that I was alone, I took my time to try to meditate.
- It's a good method. However, why did you want to talk to me?
- It's about what happened in Defense… I don't know if you already aware of it, so, I thought that maybe I should tell you, because of the subject.
- What sort of idiocies did this idiot, yoi?
- He released Cornish Pixies in the classroom. And two of them tried to stretch Luffy's cheeks. I threw my robe on his head, so that nobody saw him, but I'm not sure if anybody is really unaware of it.
- So ka. Thank you for telling me about this. And thank you for wanting to help Luffy, yoi.
- Luffy is my friend.
Marco smiled and nodded.
- Come on, let's go, or you'll be late for dinner.
Saturday morning, Harry was surprised to find Sanji, Ace, Zoro and Luffy, wide awake, just about to go out of the common room.
- Why are you awake? Mumbled Harry.
-We're going to train, Luffy explained. Does Wood wants to torture you by asking you to be awake at dawn?
- Don't tell me about it… you'll train in what?
- Sword, answered Zoro.
- Footwork, grumbled Sanji.
- And you two? Harry asked.
He had stopped waiting anything normal from them. It was as possible as convincing Hermione of the uselessness of a book.
For all answer, Ace made a flame appear in his hand.
- Haki too. We have to find Sabo and Nami with Marco, said Ace. Good luck. If one day, you want to, and have some time, come see us, we train often. Ask Marco before… he can be quite paranoid, sometimes.
- I'll think about it, thanks for the proposition.
The group walked away, and couldn't stop from feeling pity for Harry once he found himself with his stalker on his heels.
- You have hiccups? Sabo asked Ron at noon. You want to heal it the old way?
- He tried to throw a spell to Malfoy, explained Harry. With his broken wand. And he began to spit slugs.
This made some scowl appear on some people listening.
Apparently, everyone didn't care if some Ravenclaw came crashing at the Gryffindor's table, since nobody said anything about the presence of Sabo and Nami. Apart for the old students from Salem who weren't of the piracy or revolution. It seemed like Nami was very scary… but you just have to, to know why, see how she look at some students, who either ran away from the Great Hall in tears, or walked resigned to her too give the money, before walking away.
Well, it was better than having a Slytherin at the table… although, Nami had everything to be one, but the blood.
- BOUH! Ace said appearing behind Ron.
The poor boy jumped at least one meter on his bench, and looked at Ace, almost traumatized, while this one had problems standing with how much he was laughing.
- Malfoy… like the guy who must have fell in a bucket of bleach when he was kid? Asked Nami. What did he do?
Harry resumed the incident on the Quidditch pitch and, seeing the murdering look of the others, he didn't want them to be angry at him.
- This kid is disgusting, grunted Sabo pushing his plate away.
- He tried to insult my mother the same way, this year too, growled Ace. I think it's time I teach him a lesson.
- If you need help, I offer you my service free of charge, stated Nami. But first, I'll make thunder fell on his head.
- And how will you do it? Asked Ron, still with his hiccups.
Nami had a mischievous smirk and pulled out from her pocket three sticks in blue metal.
- See you later… smiled Nami.
And she went away. Once at the Great Hall's entrance, she hides in a corner and began her job.
Ron, Harry and Hermione jumped when the thunder fell on the Slytherin table, coming very close to Malfoy.
- Well, here it's done, commented Ace, while Snape rushed to his house to search the origin of the spell.
- Nami will be found if Snape trace the origin of the spell, won't she? Said Ron.
- It's not magic, it's science, simply. The mechanism is simple enough for the magic don't keep it from functioning, explained Sabo. Nami is a very good navigator. If she tells you that there will be a thunderstorm while everything shows the contrary, you can believe her.
- Mr Portgas! I finally found you! Said McGonagall appearing.
- Ohayou gozaimasu, sensei! Ace happily greeted.
- Here for you, and your brother, your detentions, the woman told handing an envelope.
- Which one? I have two brothers, sensei.
- Since it isn't the professor Flitwick who came with an envelope, I think it's obvious, isn't it?
And she gave the second one to Luffy.
- Mmh, I have to help Hagrid, once again. It's good for me, and you Ace? Luffy asked looking at his detention.
- Trophies room, answered Ace. Thank you, sensei.
- What did you do again? Inquired Sabo. No, rectification, do I want to know?
The two D. shared a look, and glanced at their brother again.
- I don't want to know, sighed the blond.
- When is it, Ace, your detention? Ron asked.
- Tonight.
- We'll be together, then.
Something was wrong
Really wrong.
Marco walked on the corridors, searching for the origin of his bad feeling.
He always sensed this dangerous presence, but it was always sleeping, in the heart of the castle… but now, it was awake, and he didn't like that.
Where does it came from?
- Sensei? Ace said coming back from his detention with Ron.
Marco saw that he too was nervous… he also sensed that.
- Go back to the dorms quickly… something bad is brewing. Portgas?
Sensing the change in his tone, Ace jumped to attention, surprising Ron.
- Taïshou?
- Keep your eyes open.
Ace nodded and grabbed Ron with him to evacuate the corridor fast.
Marco looked around him again, and went back to his bedroom.