Here you go the next chapter, I don own anything and hope you enjoy.
A new Sorting, and Ace had to keep his foot on one of his younger brother's, to assure himself that he wouldn't stand and go make sure that Harry and Hermione were alright.
Finally, the two absents arrived, and while Harry sat between Ron and Luffy, Hermione found herself between Ace and Sanji.
-What did she wanted? George asked bending above his plate to see Hermione, which he was separated from by his twin and Ace.
-To discuss my timetable. I will need Sabo, this year, do you think that he will have some time to help me? Harmione said while the Sorting ended.
-Sabo won't refuse to help you, assured Zoro, from the other side of Luffy.
Dumbledore stood up and the silence fell.
-Welcome to all of you, he said, his beard sparkling under the light of the candles. Welcome for a new year at Hogwarts! I have some little things to tell you and, since one of them is serious, it would be best to do it now, before the good food drove us in a euphoria not favorable to the gravity… Like you could see when you saw them search the Hogwarts Express, the school had to accommodate some dementors of Azkaban who was send to us by our dear minister of Magic.
The pirates growled some swears in japanese, even if Luffy didn't comment his shin on the table looking at his plate full of hope.
-They are posted at each entry of the estate, Dumbledore continued, and so long as they stay here, everyone must know fully that it is strictly prohibited to leave the school without permission beforehand. The Dementors aren't fooled by disguises and others ruses, not even invisibility cloaks.
-And it amuses him? Ace hissed angry.
-Shhh! Hermione placated him.
-The Dementors' nature don't make them take in consideration – it was at this moment that Ace had a narcolepsy attack that everyon but the first years ignored – the excuses or pleadings. So I advise each of you to never give them an occasion to harm you. I talk particulary to the prefects, and also to the Head Boy and his homologue the Head Girl, for them to watch over the students so that no students contrary the Dementors.
He stopped to stare at the students, and began again:
-To continue on a more happy note, I am happy to welcome two new teachers. First, the professor Lupin, who accepted to give the classes of Defense Against the Dark Arts.
The claps weren't very warm, except from those who were in the compartment, who clapped happily.
-Sore wa Moony, kimi-tachi… Luffy whispered toward the twins.
-You're not serious?! The twin whispered back looking at him like he had a second head.
-I am!
-Luffy! Silence, Dumbledore didn't finish! Hermione huffed outraged.
Harry could see the pure hatred that Snape was feeling for the new professor, and the poor smile on Marco's lips taken between the two teachers. Something was telling Harry that the professor will have to, it seems, play the mediator.
-And for the second nomination, Dumbledore said, I have to first inform you that the Professor Kettleburn, who was teaching Care of Magical Creatures, retired to be able to take care of his last limbs. I am however happy to announce that this discipline will be from now teach by Rubeus Hagrid who accepted to add this responsibility to his functions of Keeper.
-We should have guessed, Ron noted slapping his fist on the table. Who else could have make us buy a book who bit.
Every fingers were pointed on Luffy, who had a sullen look before his plate still empty, and Ace, still deeply asleep in his.
-I think that the essential was said. That the feast begin! The headmaster concluded.
And the meal appeared on the tables, quickly awaking Ace.
A new year at Hogwarts was beginning.
Marco raised his eyes from some reports when someone knocked on the door.
-Come in, Remus-kun.
-Good evening, professor, Lupin greeted bowing. I saw that you had one of your man in the school.
-Portgas? Sixth year Gryffindor. On his way to steal their glory to the Maraudeurs. You should wait for the Weasley twins to be after you, they have the map, yoi.
-Oh? Flitch still didn't seize it?
Marco shook his head and signaled the chair.
-I presume that you came to talk about Ace, didn't you. What do you want to know, yoi?
-One or two information, so that I don't do anything bad during classes…
Remus took place, while Marco searched his drawers, before taking a file which he held to his colleague at the other side of the desk.
When he opened it, the Defense's professor discovered the records of some students.
-They are all the pirates present in the castle, yoi.
-I see. So, I'll avoid to make them face creatures like Boggarts.
-Sabo Silver, a Ravenclaw in sixth year, is also a revolutionary.
Remus nodded while reading the file and stopped before Ace's record.
-Oh, so my suspicion was correct.
-About what? Marco inquired.
-The young Portgas. I was thinking that he was like you… and I see that he have the... Mera mera no mi. I was surprised that he feared to eat some chocolate, after the confrontation with the Dementor, on the train.
-Oh, he is a fire man. If he had accepted normal chocolate, it would have immediately melt between his fingers, yoi.
Remus shrugged.
- After a fire phoenix, nothing surprise me. However, I saw the bounties, isn't it a little exaggerated?
The look of Marco mean everything.
-Question for you, Remus-kun… why didn't you try to contact the Potter kid, all these years, yoi?
Remus stopped his reading.
-Well, Dumbledore informed me of his desir to let him out of the magical world until his coming to Hogwarts, and once he came back, I sent him letters, but I didn't receive any answer, so…
Marco looked up from his report, frowning.
-Potter didn't receive any letter.
Remus looked surprised.
-He received a letter sometimes from Hagrid, but nothing else, yoi.
-Really?
Knock knock.
-Come in, Ace.
Ace entered and closed the door, saluting his superior, almost amusing Remus.
-Taïsho? The boy said.
-Before we began talking about important things, I would like for you to confirm something to me and Remus-kun.
-If I can be of use, to you and Okami-sensei, I'll do it, Ace assured.
-Did you see Potter receive any mail from Moony here, yoi?
-Iie. No letters. Sometimes, Hagrid send one to invite him to his shack for tea, but nothing else.
-Moony pretend that he sent letter when Potter arrived to Hogwarts… as a future Taïsho, what do you think?
-Either Okami-sensei is lying, but I don't think so, either the letters weren't received at the usual hours for the mail, and here I can't do anything, or someone find funny to intercept Potter's mail.
-What do you propose?
The grin of Ace mean everything.
-Investigation in the crazy manipulating old man's office!
-Find those letters and leave the mark of our family, yoi.
-Aren't you going a little far? Remus worried.
-Potter need a family… and with a godfather wrongly accused on the run, you are the nearest, Ace pointed.
- Ace is one of the stubbornest man on the sea… I wish you a good night, Remus-kun. And if Severus is obnoxious, give me a sign, yoi.
With a small sigh, Remus posed back the file and stood up, wishing a good night to the others two.
-What do you want, Ace? Marco asked. Private or mission?
-For the two. For the mission, Sabo told me that he sensed something fishy in the compartment. The presence of a second adult man. The space was too little to be hidden under an invisibility cloak or a charm.
-So ka… we will have to search all the castle to find the intruder. Anything else,yoi?
-Luffy heard the castle's voice telling him that there was something bad in her walls. In the end, I just wanted to tell you good night.
Ace looked away, embarrassed, slighty blushing and scratched his cheek.
Marco stood up with a smile and came to take Ace's face between his hands to kiss him tenderly.
-Welcome, a veiled voice said, coming from the shadow. I'm happy to finally see you in the physical world.
Harry had the impression to be before a big gleaming insect. It was only the professor Trelawney.
She introduced herself, scaring on the way three student, and made them began the studies of tea leaves, making them study in pair.
-Well, so, Ron told him, while he opened the book at the right pages. What do you see in mine?
-Something brown and slack, Harry deadpanned.
The smoke coming from the kettle clouded his mind and mad him want to sleep.
-Open your minds, my dears, let your eyes see things beyond the appearances! The professor claimed in the shadows.
Harry tried to wake up.
-There is a form of a cross, which mean that you will know 'trials and sufferings', sorry. But there is something else who could be a sun. So, wait, I look… 'big happiness'… So, you will suffer, but you will be happy in the end…
-You should verify your Third Eye, if you want to know, Ron said.
They swallowed a chuckle under the piercing eye of the teacher.
When Ron tried to interpret the cup of his friend, the professor came by and took the cup from the redhead hands… and began to chain the bad omens:
The hawk for a mortal enemy… here go Voldemort.
The club, so someone will attack Harry… since Harry still had to pass a normal year at Hogwarts, it was probable.
The skull… seeing the way the two first years at Hogwarts passed, we could wait some danger on the way of Harry.
But the last omen caused a start and a scream from the professor who fell on a chair, in the most dramatic pose.
-My poor… poor boy… No, better not say anything… Don't ask me…
-What did you see, professor? Dean immediately asked.
-My poor dear… the professor Trelawney said opening big eyes full of tears. The Grim is after you!
-The what? Harry asked
After a short explanation, a moment of panic and Hermione who gave her feeling and ended being rebuff, Seamus commented while balancing his head left and right to see the cup:
-It look like a Grim if we look like that, he said, the eyes half-closed, but like this, we could also see a donkey, he added lifting his head on his left.
-When you will have decided if I will die or not, you will tell me, Harry declared, looking surprised at his own words.
Now, no one dared to look at him.
The class ended at this point, and a prediction of Neville being late the next time.
Luffy didn't really understand the lack of reaction of the class when presented by this beautiful example for the lesson on animagus.
-You have an idea of what happened? Luffy asked Neville beside him.
-Right, you don't take Divination, but Muggle's Studies, Neville whispered. The prof of Divination announced Harry's death.
Meanwhile, Hermione explained the situation to McGonagall… and the word divination seemed to explain all the scenery.
-Ah, I understand, McGonagall cut frowning. No need to go further, Miss Granger. Tell me who must die this year.
The students shared a look stunned.
-Me, Harry answered.
-I see. You need to know, Potter, that each year since her arrival, Sibylle Trelawney predicted somebody's death. But, until now, everyone stayed alive. She always begin the school year finding death presages. If I didn't have for principle to not say bad things about colleagues…
The professor McGonagall interrupt herself an instant, trying to stay master of herself.
-The divination is one of the most confusing branch of magic, she said calm again. I won't hide that I feel some annoyance before these practices. The real seers are extremely rare, and the professor Trelawney…
Her silence was very explicit.
-You seems to be in good health, Potter, so, I have the regret to tell you that you won't be dispensed to do your next essay. But if you die, I promise that you won't have to give it to me!
-The luck! Luffy moaned while the class laughed.
-I promise you that if you die on the sea, young man, you won't have to give the essay back either, McGonagall told him with a thin smile.
Immediately the boy straightened, grinning.
-I have a question, sensei, on the Animagus! Luffy said.
-I listen…
-Are the partial transformation possible?
McGonagall took her time to think about the question, before saying:
-You want to do a parallel between the professor Fushisho and the Animagus? No, it isn't possible, at least, nobody did it until now, so we say that it's impossible. Does this answer your question?
-Haiii!
Midday came, but Ron continued to insist on the danger of the Grim during the meal, and ended upsetting Hermione who went away.
- I don't see where is the problem… Zoro noted. We all die one day or another.
-Th k'ssou marimo is right, for once, Sanji said taking a seat.
-They finally accepted to let you help in the kitchen? Nami asked sitting at the Gryffindor table with Sabo.
-Haiii~! Nami-swaan~!
-Ignore him, Sabo smiled. What is the problem?
-A Grim, in the bottom of a tea cup, in Divination, Harry resumed. It's a death presage.
-And?
Ron choked seeing the lack of reaction from Luffy's blond sibling.
-Death is a part of life, Ronny-kun. We pass our lives avoiding the grave, Ace told him. And Luffy has an opinion that most should follow, ne Lu'?!
-Shihihihi! What more beautiful death can we have, so long as we die fighting for our dream! The boy grinned widely.
-I… we… wow… commented Harry.
-We all almost die so many time that it is normal for us, Sanji said. So long as we fight for what is dear to us and our dreams, death is only… hmmm… possibility.
-It's hard to imagine you fighting for your lives, Ron stated.
-Did you know that Madam Hooch have a brother? Sabo asked.
-What does it have to do with this? Ron inquired.
-This man called himself Dracule Mihawk, AKA Taka no Me…
Zoro loosened his tie and unbuttoned his shirt, letting a view on a bad scar crossing his chest.
-She go from the shoulder to the hip, the swordman informed closing his shirt. I have this scar from Mihawk. I should have died this day. And still, I'm here.
-All is question of will. If you have some to hang on, you can survive, Ace commented. I'm going. Good class, all of you…
-What do you have? Sabo inquired.
-Charm. And you Sab'?
-Robin, the blond answered.
-Why continue History? It's useless, even if the prof is stunning, Ron commented.
-If you don't want to discover why I have a bounty, don't ogle Robin-chan, Sanji growled.
Sabo shook his head and told him:
-The humans have a tendency to do the sames errors than in the past, because they don't know what has been done. If I learn it, I can make sure to not do these errors myself.
-And this is a reasoning that more should follow. Ten point for you, Mister Silver, McGonagall commented. Mister Weasley, I don't see the twins, where are they?
-No idea, confessed Ron.
-A message to pass on? Zoro asked standing up from their table with Sanji. I'll see them at the next class.
-This. This is their detentions. And be sure to not unleash your swords in the corridors out of your trainings, Mister Roronoa, or I will seize them.
-Force of habit, my dear Minerva, Robin said passing near by. Luffy, could I talk to you before your next class? What do you have?
-Care of Magical Creatures! Luffy answered, grinning.
-Perfect. Sabo, can I see you at the end of my class?
-No problem, the blond assured.
-Ja na! Luffy waved happily.
And he accepted the sandwich that Sanji hand him, after he improvised it, to follow Robin out of the room.
Once outside, they slow down their steps, and walk calmly toward Hagrid's shack.
- {The revolution began to press me}, Robin stated in Japanese.
Luffy gulped his snack and slide a hand in his back, to take out of his robe his hat, which he put on his head.
-{I won't let them harm you, Robin. You are my nakama.}
-{Dragon have more means and experience than our crew, Luffy. I'm not saying that I will gave him the secrets of the Poneglyphs, only that we must be careful.}
-{But we have something they don't have either. Powerful allies and, with Sabo, we also have a foot in their affairs.}
Luffy stopped an Robin turned toward him.
-{Nobody harm my Nakams. And I don't care that I have the blood of this man. If you say no, it's not because he is said to be my father that I will allow him to do what you don't want. We are behind you, Robin.}
Robin smiled and bended to kiss him on his cheek.
-Arigatou, Senshô!
And she went away smiling, crossing path with the Golden Trio who joined Luffy.
-What did you do for her to kiss you?! Ron exclaimed, jealous.
-Ronald Weasley, you're an idiot! Hermione told him. She didn't seem to be alright, what was this?
-Just need to remind Robin that she is my nakama and I'll always be by her side to defend her. I proved it at Enies Lobby, and will prove it to the Revolution if need, while Sabo will eat some pop-corn with Ace to assist to the show!
-Can I have a seat at the first row? Harry asked.
And Luffy burst laughting. Like this, the four friends took the road toward their class.
XxX
Silence.
-How did you open your book? Neville asked gobsmacked.
Harry took out his own, opened too.
-As ridiculous as it seem, you just need to rub a beast the right way, it calm her, Harry noted.
Hermione tried and her book ceased to stir, allowing her to open it.
-Good, no open your books, I will go take our subjects of study for today!
And Hagrid went into the forest.
-Really, this school fell low, Malfoy said loudly. Now this good for nothing became a teacher! My father will have a stroke when I will tell him that…
-What will you do when your father isn't here to cover your idiocies and feed you? Luffy asked.
Silence fell onto the class.
-You tell that you're better than us because your father have money and power. My jiji have ten time more than him, and that don't mean that I go to him when idiot like you insult my friends… so, you leave Hagrid alone and you shut up.
-Or what, what will you do? Complain?
Malfoy's merry band laugh hard.
Luffy punched a tree and…
Craaac…
Everyone looked stunned the tree uprooted knock down chocked.
-I think that this answer your question, Harry remarked seeing Malfoy pale before the action.
The "Ooooh" of Lavender diverted the attention of everyone on the animals who just appeared in the fence.
-Sugoii! Hippogriffs! Luffy exclaimed.
-Ten points to Gryffindor for recognize the species! Hagrid congratulated. Aren't they beautiful?!
While Luffy was nodding like mad, star in his eyes, the rest of the class was… septic. But the show of Luffy jumping of excitation had the value of gold. Some courageous men step forward while Hagrid gave the instructions. Then, Hagrid searched for voluntaries.
-Me! Me! Me! Luffy exclaimed raising his arm, still jumping like a kid on a sugar rush.
-Very well, go on young man, Hagrid told him with a laugh.
Luffy let his things and his robe back, before jumping ahead of the rail, to find himself before the hippogriffs. Before the gamekeeper could assign one to him, the creature reacted in a way which left everyone speechless:
In the same move, the beasts had taken a step forward, to bow before Luffy.
-By Merlin's beard, what is that? Ron asked.
Luffy bowed before the group and steps forward to scrath their feathers, not stunned at all.
-Tell me if I'm wrong… You have the Royal Fluid, don't you? Hagrid asked, at the same time surprised and wondering.
-I still don't control it, but yes! Luffy smiled.
Hermione's reaction was enough to tell that there was some writings explaining the creatures' reaction.
-I see, then that explain it! The animals are organized in a chain of power! And when faced with a human who have this Fluid, some sense it and know instinctively that this person is high in the chain! Hermione explained. They then show some sign permitting to tell that they aren't aggressive and respectful!
-Ten points for Gryffindor! It's a good explanation, Hermione! Hagrid smiled.
-That's shit… a Royal Fluid, what else? Malfoy mumbled. They just don't know how to recognize important people and turn toward an idiot!
-An idiot? I knew two people with the same comportment as Luffy and the same Fluid. Knowing their achievements, I would advise you to be careful, or you won't even have your eyes to cry, Hagrid warned the blond.
-Who are you talking about, professor? Parvati Patil asked.
-This young man's grandfather and his eternal rival, the two of them Gryffindors. Monkey D. Garp and Gol D. Roger.
Hermione raised an arm, mentaly thanking Marco and Sabo to have shared with her the informations on their surrounding of pirates and revolutionary.
-Yes, Hermione? Hagrdi questioned.
-I know that Care of Magical Creatures isn't the ideal class to talk about the Haoshoku no Haki, or Royal Fluid, but I wanted, for the only personal survival of Mister Malfoy, to state that there is a muggle who only need a sneeze to destroy a country who possess this gift. We have it or we don't. If we have it, we can do great things and leave our mark in the History. That a creature recognize the owners of this Haki isn't a big surprise. I'm sure that if we drag Ace here, all the hippogriffs would bow, like for Luffy. Now that it's said, I think we could go back to the lesson. I'm curious to approach the hippogriffs.
-Me too, Harry assured.
-Same here… Neville stuttered.
And soon, Luffy found himself sitting and laughing before the braves who took his place before the hippogriffs. Until Malfoy acted like an dumbass.
The claws of the beast traveled through the air…
Clang!
The metallic noise warned everyone that something was happening. Every eyes turned toward the scenery, showing Draco on the ground, Luffy between him and the hippogriff Buck, having intercepted the blow with the same staff in metal that Sabo usually used.
-Calm yourself! He is an idiot, don't listen to him! Luffy told Buck.
Buck shook his head and moved away, going back to the herd.
The incident was closed.