Luffy woke with a start, with the feeling that an intruder was in the dorm. He raised his head at the same time as Ron began to scream.
The shadow near the bed of the redhead, with a knife, was all Luffy needed to see to jump out of his bed.
The man went away running, but Luffy didn't let his prey go.
Before he could even realize it, he was already in the corridor, following a dog with a voice similar to the one of the man that had attacked his friend.
He was almost there when…
-Arrrgh!
-Leave him be, Luffy, hissed Ace who had just grabbed his brother by the waist. Marco will take care of him.
-Demo…!
His protestation cost him a bump on his skull. Throwing his brother on his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, Ace turned back toward the dormitory, tapping in the hand of Marco when they crossed path. The young commander turned around just for one moment to see Marco go after the man and went back to the portrait of the Knight, who was replacing the Fat Lady.
-Halt, pirate! the walking metallic canister roared.
-Open this door. Now, hissed Ace, not in the mood.
-Ye-ye-yes…
And the paint revolved, before McGonagall could even open it, from the other side.
-Well, where were you? the Head of House asked them.
-Luffy wanted to go after the guy. I just caught up to him before he could do something stupid. Oi, Zoro! I give you back your captain!
And Ace threw his sibling who land in Zoro's arms.
-I hate you Ace! Luffy huffed when his first-mate released him.
-I know, Lu', I know… sighed Ace.
Maybe they should have told Black that Pettigrew wasn't in the castle anymore, because of Shayna and Crookshank… It would have avoided them this mess.
-You are very lucky to have been one of my students, Black, because if you weren't, I would have killed you without remorse, yoi! hissed Marco dragging Black behind him in the Howling Shack.
He easily threw him in the only bedroom, on the ground, while putting his foot down on his chest.
-Give me one good reason to not kill you.
-I'm innocent! Sirius defended himself.
-I'm a pirate Black. Innocent or not, it doesn't mean anything to me! I want to know why you left your hiding place to do this stupid things, when two peoples already proved you that they were taking care of this! You really want to be caught by the Dementors, yoi?!
-I… I want to catch Peter…
-He isn't in the tower anymore, since a while ago. A cat was accused of eating him, but the truth is that Crookshank and Shayna, the snake of Sabo-kun, tried to capture him a lot of times and forced him to run away. To find the hair of cat is easier than to locate something to accuse a snake, yoi.
Marco took his foot off Sirius chest.
-We wouldn't be there if you lot had listened to me, pointed out Marco.
-I know, professor… but Dumbledore…
-ENOUGH! Dumbledore did nothing to pull you out of Azkaban, when he knew you weren't the Secret Keeper, since it's he, himself who advised you to exchange with Peter ! You won't tell me that you will continue to follow this bastard, against all!
Point to the pirate.
-We have a revolutionary who is searching the pieces' necessaries to reopen your investigation. So, I beg you, lay low, yoi. Potter need a decent family, and you are the best candidate for it. So, don't go kill yourself stupidly, and let those who want to help you do it.
Luffy stayed his shin on the table, a pout on his lips.
His siblings, even with his insistence, refused to tell him what was happening. Why couldn't he go after Black? If they let him do, he would have found him and kicked his ass for going after Ron, but no, Ace and Sabo were punching his skull to make his lay low.
He sighed and glared venomously at Ace.
- Glaring at me like that won't make me change my mind. You won't go to Hogsmead today, Lu', Ace grumbled without raising his eyes from the report he was reading.
-I hate you.
-I know Lu', I know. But I, I love you, little brother, and that's why I refuse to let you go to Hogsmead today.
Ace raised his head when the portrait opened letting in a Harry with a dark face.
-Well, there is one who is in a bad mood. What happened to you? Your escapade didn't go well?
Harry stumbled on a sofa beside Luffy who looked at him puzzled.
-I was caught after I pranked Malfoy. The professor Lupin seized the Maraudeur's Map; I didn't even know that he knew what it was.
-Oh. Don't worry, he won't destroy it or anything. And there is a good reason for which he knows of its existence.
-Which one?
-We had the misfortune of telling it to the twin, as he wanted that it stays a secret, Luffy mumbled.
-Oh.
Harry fell back into the silence.
Chopper crossed the park in direction of where Buck was kept. In front the hippogryph, he bowed and waited for the animal to bow back. When Buck was inclined, Chopper presented him some ferrets as gifted which would please the condemned.
-The world is unfair, Buck. You are not guilty, but nobody does anything to help you.
The animal made a little cry before going back to his ferrets.
-He won't be alone, Chopper assured. Potter, Granger and Weasley will make sure that he will be better. And there is still Aragog in the forest.
Buck said something from his meal that made Chopper laugh.
-Yes, maybe we should have let you end him, but Malfoy took a monumental slap, recently, and the twins, with Ace and Sabo, treat him with some horrible pranks. This morning, Malfoy came to the infirmary because he was acting like a sea-lion.
Chopper giggled with Buck.
-Yes it was really funny!
He continued to talk during a moment, until Marco came out of the forest with Ace.
-They will close the doors, Chopper, Ace stated.
-I'm coming. Bye, Buck.
Buck answer back and Chopper stood up to join the two pirates. Ace put him on his shoulders and they made their way silently.
-There really nothing we can do? Chopper asked sadly.
-Now, nothing more… if we act, Hagrid will be accused and punished, yoi, Marco sighed. But when the time come, we will do it. He won't kill him.
Marco closed his fist determined.
He won't stay doing nothing while they killed Buck.
Hermione was just coming out from a class of Divination angry, when she crossed Sabo in a corridor.
-Sabo?
The blond came toward her and took out from the collar of the young girl a Time Turner that she was hiding. She paled.
- Who gave this to you? Sabo asked softly.
-The… The professor McGonagall. Under the advice of Dumbledore.
-Kuso… It's a dangerous object, Hermione-kun. Very dangerous. Did you look at yourself in a mirror, recently?
-Why?
Sabo took her by her shoulders and lead her before a window. He passed his hand on the surface, transfiguring it in a mirror, and moved away, allowing Hermione to look at her reflection.
-Even zombies look better than you, Hermione-kun. You won't keep running for long. You work too much. The human body can't support so much stress. And more than that, you're playing with the Time. It's bad, very bad. You are only one hair from losing it. So, before it's too late, stop these idiocies and give this item back to McGonagall-sensei. She should know that Time Turner are forbidden for underage wizards by a signed accord of the ICW two centuries ago. Think well, Hermione-kun. Your life, or the knowledge?
Sabo tapped gently her shoulder, and walked away, leaving Hermione with her reflection showing her pale skin and the shadows under her eyes.
Hermione looked at Marco stunned.
-What do you mean, you refused me in class? She asked.
-I have every right. I strongly advise you of going to the infirmary before you collapse of exhaustion. To practice in your state is the worst thing to do, yoi. The magic depends of the state of your health. If you want to kill yourself, jump from the Astronomy Tower, it will be less painful than to play with your magic in your state, yoi, her prof told her dryly.
-But…
Marco turned away from her and whistled for Ace, who was playing with the Whomping Willow.
Ace stopped his foolishness and came to join Marco.
-Make sure that she sees Pomfresh or Chopper, yoi.
-Aye, Marco, Ace agreed.
He took the miss and pulled her on his shoulder, ignoring the fact that she was hammering his back with her fists, and dragged her in the castle, under the surprised stares of everyone.
-And take advantage of this to explain to her the influence of the body on the magic! yelled Marco.
Ace raised his thumb to say that he had heard.
-What is happening? Neville asked Harry and Ron.
-No idea, the two other admitted.
-Will you put me back on the ground? Hermione asked, exasperate.
-Not as long as we are not in the infirmary, Ace told her. Relax, I'm not interested in women.
Hermione's jaw dropped.
-You're gay?
-Yes. And I already have someone in my life, the young man said patiently while entering in the infirmary. A problem with that?
He pointed Hermione to Pomphrey, who was busy with Zoro who had almost knocked himself out while trying to lift some weights heavier than intended. The Healer showed a bed to Ace and the young man walked toward it.
Ace let her fell on a bed.
-None… it's…
-Surprising?
Hermione blushed, making Ace chuckle. He pulled a chair and sat down backward, facing the miss. Time for the lesson.
-Well, you heard the saying 'A sane spirit in a sane body'?
-Yes, and?
-For the magic it's the same. If your body is perfectly healthy, your magic will answer correctly. But if he isn't, don't count on it. Imagine a wild animal facing you. If he knows you are strong and powerful, and if you prove him that you can control it, he will obey you. If you're using your wand it's like you had impeded him before. But if you're not healthy, and you persist in wanting to use wandless magic, she will defend herself sneakily to free herself. And you can be hurt in the process. And it's not nice to see.
-For example, what can happen to me?
-Do you know how many ribs the human body have?
-Yes, we have twelve pairs of them, why?
Ace stood from his chair and lift his shirt. He took one of Hermione's hand and posed it on his right side. Under her fingers, she felt a scar. Pressing a little, she realized that he missed something. She continues to go below, and sensed again something hard.
-It's me or the tenth and eleventh aren't there?
-And I don't have the ninth on the other side, anymore, too, Ace completed. I don't remember exactly what happened. It was just before Ji-chan took us. Sabo was hurt. Luffy and me tried to protect him, but we were exhausted. I forced with my magic. I didn't control her totally at this time. I was just praying for her to protect the three of us. And I was in pain. I was in blackness, and just pain. When I gain back my consciousness, I was covered in bandages. Luffy was pale and scared to death because he believed that I wouldn't wake up anymore. It was this day that I met Rayleigh. He explained to me that my body almost exploded under the magic, and that he had intervened just in time to avoid this. If I hadn't had a logia, I would be dead, at this time. But it's a good reminder. I usually forget my state. If I'm tired and I want to push myself, I just have to move to realize that I miss something and I recall how I lose it.
Ace released Hermione's hand and sat back.
-All of this to say that you are not in any state, Hermione, to continue Natural Magic like this. Sabo told me about it. Be glad that Luffy don't know anything, because, knowing him, he would have taken it from your neck and destroyed it. Do whatever you want with your life, Hermione, but use your brain, before doing something stupid. You won't be as lucky as me. Magic isn't a toy, Hermione, that's why someone created schools. And that's why few people use Natural Magic. Pure Magic, if misused, can be deadly for the user. I hope you will remember this lesson.
And Ace stood up to walk away, and a few minutes later Madam Pomphrey came forward, letting Chopper scold Zoro like he was misbehaving kid.
In the end, the exams came.
Marco judge Hermione physically fit to pass the exam of Natural Magic, but kept an eye on her at every time, ready to intervene if there was any sign indicating that she didn't have the control. And too bad if she had to pass the exam again later, there was no way that he put a student in danger.
A trained eye would also have remarked a growing nervousness in Percy Weasley, the more the end of the year was coming. And he passed a lot more time with Sabo, strangely.
-What does your brother want with him? Ginny asked Luffy.
-I don't want to know, Luffy stated.
- Why?
-Because I already asked him and he made himself clear that I didn't want to know.
Nobody could know what exactly Luffy was talking about, but he had a dark air on his face, as if he had guessed something that he didn't like.
And just seeing the expression of Luffy, it was easy for the rest of the pirates in the castle to suspect something.
-I think that Percy will soon enter the service of Luffy's father, Chopper told them. The subject is… sensitive for Luffy. Ace has a tendency to set on fire a lot of thing when we talk about this man. And Sabo destroy everything he find on his way if this man tries to contact Luffy.
-Why? Harry wondered.
-Ace's father has the excuse of being dead. Before he was executed, he was sick, yoi, Marco explained to them, who was with Chopper who was examining his shoulder. Luffy's father doesn't have this excuse. He dropped him to Garp and didn't bother with him until he came here.
He transformed his arm in a wing when Chopper demanded, and then the doctor made the articulation of the shoulder work. He didn't need to hide from the trio.
-Don't bother with these stories. Concentrate on your exams.
Hermione glared at Luffy at the end of their last exam: the one of Defense Against the Dark Arts.
-Remind me who is scared of his grandfather! Hermione hissed. And after that, I'm scolded because I'm scared of having a bad note in Transfiguration!
-Jii-chan can kill me with a simple punch, if he wants to, Luffy pointed. I have more reasons to fear him, than you Minny-sensei!
-Don't let McGonagall ever know that you named her that, or you will pass the rest of your life as a glass! Ron snickered.
-She would never do that! Luffy choked, panicked.
Harry was going to say something when they arrived at the end of the stair and saw Fudge and Garp (who had, in passing, Ace seemingly unconscious on his shoulder) speaking together.
-Uh-oh… said Luffy.
And he ran away, followed by the screaming in Japanese of his grandfather, who didn't have the intention of letting him ran away like that.
-I always knew that they were crazy in this family, Fudge sighed. Hello, Harry (lets ignore the two others, it's alright!), you just finished your exams, I suppose?
-Yes, I just had the last one, Harry answered.
When they arrived at Hagrid's hut to support him, they were surprised to see Sabo there.
-I'm hiding, Sabo answered. The jiji didn't think yet to come here to search for me. Either that, or he is busy enough with the scolding of Ace and Luffy without having them escape. And also, it's an occasion to say a last good bye to Buck.
Hagrid began to sob, breaking the milk jar. Hermione tidied up the things and went to take another jar in a cupboard.
-Dumbledore will be there, Hagrid was saying. And the professor Fushisho too. He promised me to bring a drugged ferret for Buck. He will fell asleep almost instantly… He won't suffer.
And he sniffed noisily.
-You have to go back to the castle, he continued. I told you, I don't want for you to look at that… anyway, you shouldn't be there, more of all you, Harry.
-Oh my god, Ron!
Sabo turned toward Hermione and swore. Too nervous because of Garp, he didn't think to search the aura of Pettigrew, and now he was going back in Ron's hands. He didn't have any time to say anything that the Minister, Dumbledore and Marco arrived, accompanying the executioner and Malfoy.
They slide out of the shack by the back door under the invisibility cloak. Sabo transformed in a hawk and perched himself on the window, giving it some blow to catch the attention of Marco who just entered. Meanwhile, the Golden Trio escaped unseen.
-What is? Malfoy asked looking at the bird of prey.
Marco opened the window and authorized Sabo to climb on his wrist. The revolutionary bird squawked a moment and pointed with his beak the three students walking away under invisibility.
-Arigatou. Ike.
Marco released Sabo who flew off and searched his target with his Haki.
He almost crashed in surprise when he saw the black dog that he knew to be Black throwing himself on the student, and then dragging Ron with him toward the Whomping Willow, before disappearing under the roots. Hermione and Harry reached, with a little difficulty, the same passage.
Sabo was going to follow when he saw Lupin arrive, picking up a branch and use it to push the knot of the roots and pass at his turn. Snape followed just after, picking up the cloak and followed the rest. Puzzled, Sabo rushed after Snape who didn't notice him.
Keeping his magic ready to be used, he followed the ascension of Snape in the Shrieking Shack thanks to the cracking of the wood under the steps of the man. Sabo almost smiled, taking back human form in silence. Even if he was a Slytherin, he didn't know every secret of being discrete, the poor Snape. Maybe he should have listened to the Sorting Hat and go there, instead of choosing Ravenclaw… no, bad idea, he was a muggleborn. I would have turn the entire house un a bloody pulp.
From where he was climbing the stairs, he heard some outburst upstair.
-But Scabbers is only a rat! A simple rat! Ron was saying.
-He lived long for a simple rat, Sirius pointed.
Snape made a move to open the door, but Sabo had a smirk and gave him a good blow in the neck, knocking him out.
As he fell, Snape opened the door, surprising everyone.
-Shitsurei shimasu! Sabo smiled.
He grabbed Snape's wand and threw it to Sirius, before picking up the invisibility cloak and began to fold it.
-What are you doing here, Sabo? Hermione exclaimed, surprised.
-I was wondering why everyone want to do a reunion of old classmate in the Shrieking Shack. Oh, and thank you to not kill Pettigrew. Without him, everything I brought together will be useless, for a possible trial for you, Padfoot-san.
-You knew? Harry wondered.
-Yes, since a while. I followed Black-san here, the Halooween night, while Ace was looking out for me with the Maraudeur's Map. The day Ace came back to the castle, he passed here quickly, to give some clothes and food to Black-san. For the incident of the Gryffindor Tower, it was Marco who took Black-san by the skin of the neck and placed him back here. We all know that he is innocent, we were just searching how to prove it and we didn't though that Pettigrew would hide here. The Haki should have discovered it, but now that I think about it, we all found your rat strange, Ronald. Even Shayna says that he smelled more human than rat.
Sabo gave the cloak back to Harry who looked at him stunned.
-We also all know for the furry little problem of Lupin-sensei. That's all I have to say. Before you get upset, I remind you that I am a revolutionary and that my brothers are pirates. I never said that I am in the side of the law. That's all? Perfect.
And with amusement, he dragged Snape behind him to lead him outside of the Shrieking Shack.
Sabo jumped awake, the screaming of the villagers wanting to mob Ace and Luffy diminished slowly. He tried to calm himself, the eyes on the roof.
He was hearing Dumbledore talking to Harry and Hermione, telling them of a way to save Black.
What had happened?
The memory came back to Sabo.
It was the full moon and Remus didn't drink his potion. He transformed. With Sirius, he had tried to control the lycanthrope, and was hurt grievously at the shoulder by a claw, before succeeding in making Lupin run away. It was then that the Dementors came. Too many for Sabo to win against. He must have lost consciousness one moment or another. When a key turned in the lock, Sabo sat in the bed, taking note of something: Dumbledore had manipulated them from the start. Everyone. When they had thought they acted against him, it was revealed he was a perfect puppeteer and all was happening following his plan.
-Sabo? The two young students said, surprised to see him awake.
-Do what you have to do… the Revolutionary told them, a dark thundering face. I didn't hear anything and I don't know anything.
-Huh?
-Go before I change my mind.
Hermione hurried to pass the chain of her Time Turner around Harry's neck and they disappeared quickly. The following moment, another duo of Harry and Hermione came, out of breath.
-In your bed, Sabo advised jumping from his.
The two said nothing, and were grateful that Sabo didn't ask anything. To be frank, the Ravenclaw had the air of someone wanting to commit a murder.
When Dumbledore came, with the Minister and an enraged Snape, the Revolutionary didn't go for subtlety.
In a few seconds, he sent a punch in Dumbledore's face, laying him out, with a broken nose. Sabo took his things and, without listening to the healer, went away.
As he supposed, he found Marco and Ace in the office of the professor of Natural Magic with Robin.
-He got us, Sabo hissed closing the door behind him. He did everything. We play the role he was waiting of us!
He punched a wall who broke totally under the blow, revealing the bedroom more than frugal of Marco.
-Thank you but I prefer to keep this wall, yoi, Marco commented as he did a simple gesture to make the wall come back at his place.
-What is the conclusion? Ace asked.
-Black-san ran away with Buck, Robin remarked. And Luffy won't be happy that we hide all this story.
-Barf, like usual, I will be happy to explain to Lu' why we didn't tell him anything.
Sabo left out a sigh and let himself fall against the wall with a headache.
-Beautiful right hook, Sabo, Robin smiled.
-Thanks, Sabo grumbled.
This year was hard. He massaged his nose and looked at Ace sitting on Marco's knees, talking with him a smile on the lips.
At least there was someone happy, in this story...