Well, a little later than what I though it would be, so sorry for that, but I offered myself a present (a puzzle of 1500 pieces) and I wanted to do it so it took me some time. Even so i finished this chapter before the puzzle so I don't know when the next chapter will be out. Good news a new chapter of this story was out some day ago in french so I have a little more material. Good reading...
Smoker refrained himself from groaning when he saw who was at the Head table. He was regretting to only be the vanguard, and that those who will come after will only be simple soldiers, other than Hina.
-Nico Robin and Fushisho Marco… tell me that it's a joke… Smoker grunted as he walked toward his seat, Tashigi following not far away.
Robin giggled and Marco raised an eyebrow.
- Sorry, but I'm the professor of Natural Magic of this school since a while already, yoi. And my colleague came to us from Salem to teach the History of Magic, the Phoenix answered with amusement lacing his voice.
-And I am Genkotsu, Smoker growled.
Smaker let himself fall on his seat, as Tashigi took her place between him and Snape, who was listening closely while fighting back his amusement.
-Oi, Minerva!
Marco had leaned forward to call his colleague at the other side of the table, when she stood up to welcome the new first year.
-What is it?
-Would this castle resist the return of Genkotsu for a full year?
-Don't talk to me about things like this, I will have nightmares… the woman whimpered as she took her head in her hand.
The two pirates chuckled.
The students began to enter. Tashigi was the first to react:
-Roronoa!
She was going to stand up when she sensed something grab her waist and force her to sit down.
-I advise you to stay in your seat, Robin smiled calmly without a glance.
She waved her nakamas who gave the sign back (Zoro tried to hide from Tashigi, without any success). Luffy went directly toward the table of the professors. He glared at Dumbledore and smiled at Smoker who was massaging his nose, gritting his teeth.
-It's been a while, Kemuri-chan! How are you since Alabasta?!
-Mugiwara… Smoker muttered with all his exasperation and his frustration.
The kid who was a pain in his ass for so long was here, and he couldn't even arrest him!
Luffy sniggered and went to see Marco with a worried expression.
- I wanted to tell you that Ace refused to come on the train this year.
-I know, the Phoenix calmly smiled. He will come a little later… you will understand quickly, yoi.
-Robin, everyone is doing mysteries… Luffy complained.
Robin had a giggle.
-It will end soon, the brown haired woman assured. Meanwhile, Hermione-chan is worried sick for you.
-Oops!
And Luffy ran to join the Gryffindor's table to reassure Hermione.
Smoker now knew why the girl didn't like the knowledge that Marines would be in the castle this year…
-Luffy, it's not prudent! Hermione hissed.
-What? Luffy said, confused.
- Didn't already told you to lay low, sighed Sabo coming to seat with them.
-You should ask to change House, George told him.
-True, you pass more time with us than with the Ravenclaw! Fred added.
-I'm not crazy enough to go in Gryffindor, Sabo muttered.
-Where is the bad thing in saying hello to the Kemuri? Luffy asked, perplexed.
Nami punched him behind his head which made him ram the table.
-He is a marine! We are pirates! You don't see the logic?! Nami got angry.
Then she sighed, wondering once more why she had accepted to follow this degenerate. Ah, yes, he had saved her life and allowed her to advance in the road of her dream.
-You know him? Ron asked.
-For some time already, Sanji mumbled while popping a lollipop in his mouth, since he couldn't smoke in the castle ground. We met him before our entry in the Grand Line, before we met Chopper. Do you know Loguetown?
-They talk about it sometimes on the muggles news, Harry remembered. There is a conflict between us and France to know to which country the island is the property, no?
-Yeah. It's one of the four islands in the world where you can find an entry to Grand Line. It's where we went from… and it was here that Smoker was posted… he tried to prevent us from setting sail, Zoro grumbled. And Luffy frightened us that day.
-Shihihi! I really thought that I would die!
-Only you can laugh about this sort of thing… Sabo sighed, exasperated.
-What happened? Hermione asked, curious.
-Loguetown is an important island for the pirates, because we call it the island of the Beginning and of the End. It was there that Gol D. Roger were born, explained Nami. And it was there that he was executed ant the Golden Age of the Piracy was born. The scaffold where he was killed is a very visited monument…
-And this idiot… Sanji pointed with his finger his captain who was laughing… found nothing better to do than to climb it. He was trapped by a thug, Doke no Buggy, who wanted to kill him. If the thunder hadn't fell at this moment, Luffy's head would have fallen; The lightning fell on Buggy and destroyed the scaffold. Luffy survived. It's the only day I thought that God may exist.
Luffy was still laughing his head off from the memory.
-Ahh! I really thought that I would die that day!
-Crazy. Really crazy… Ron muttered.
-You get used to it, Sabo deadpanned.
-Hungry.
Harry jumped and stared at the head of a snake coming out of the sleeve of Sabo, who raised an eyebrow before is pet.
-Sabo… was your snake somewhere around the Quidditch World Cup this summer? Harry asked looking at Shayna sliding her tongue between the finger of her master to taste the air.
-Shayna was with a comrade on a mission, Sabo told him. Usually, I should obliviate you, to cover the traces of my colleague. Avoid speaking about it, ne?
Harry nodded, ignoring the comments of Ron who still didn't like the snake.
-I'm thinking about it… where is Ace? Hermione asked noticing the absence of the oldest sibling.
-You will soon know why he isn't here, smiled Sabo.
The news students came and the sorting began, before Dumbledore finally let them eat.
And the subjects of conversations turned toward others things. While Sabo and Hermione were talking in low voices about the case of the House Elves ("Hermione, in comparison to how the slaves of the Tenryuubito live, the house elves are lucky, but it is in the objectives of the revolutionaries to improve their life's condition."), while the others were trying to know how, from the Grand Line, Zoro made it in the countryside where the finale took place.
Finally, the meal was over and Dumbledore stood up to make some announcements. He was at why there wouldn't be Quidditch this year when the door opened.
Marco straightened frowning.
He already had to deal with Mad-eye Moody in the past, but this man… this man, even with all the appearances were screaming, and the voice, wasn't the paranoid ex-auror.
The change of comportment of the pirates and Sabo told Smoker that neither them were reassured by the auror.
-Paranoid? Smoker sneered toward Marco.
-Learn the Haki, gakki, and we will talk again, yoi, Marco replied.
He stood up and went to see Severus who looked at him with surprise.
-Keep an eye on your stock of ingredients in the future. In particular those used in the Polyjuice… Marco whispered.
The Master of Potions nodded and Marco sat back the instant when Dumbledore introduced the man.
-So, I was saying, Dumbledore said, we will have the honor to host during the next months an event that we didn't see since a century. I have the very great pleasure to announce that the Tetra-Wizard Tournament will take place this year at Hogwarts.
-YOU'RE KIDDING! Fred exclaimed.
The tension that was present since the arrival of Moody disappeared with the yell of the Weasley. Dumbledore himself seemed amused.
-No, I am not kidding, Mr Weasley, he said. But if you like jokes, I've heard a very good one this summer. It was a troll, a harpy, and a leprechaun who entered in a bar…
The professor McGonagall cleared loudly her throat to call Dumbledore back toward his task.
-I prefer personally the one with the Nordic, the Chimer and the Dwemer… Robin whispered to Marco who raised his eyes skyward.
-You were corrupted, yoi. The Phoenix told her.
-So, we will receive the reopening of the Tetra-Wizard Tournament. Only those who are above seventeen before October the Thirtieth will be able to participate (Sanji and Zoro groaned, Sabo snickered). We will receive a French delegation from Beauxbâtons and one Bulgarian from Durmstrang. We will also have, like the tradition want it, a delegation pirates. I know that the majority of you think that they don't exist anymore, but I must disabuse you, since I count six in this room alone, without including our Revolutionary friend (Sabo did the finger to Dumbledore) and our assisting healer who isn't present at the feast. Even if they are students like you, they still are criminals, so I ask of you to not go search troubles with them. To make sure that Hogwarts won't become a battlefield with the possible rivalries, we will receive like for each times some marines, who will be led by the Commodore Smoker and his first mate Tashigi.
The two marines stood up. Tashigi bowed clumsily, and Smoker just bowed his head.
-Would you like to honor us with some words? Dumbledore proposed to Smoker.
Smoker shrugged and leaned on the table, making himself easily heard.
-As one of your classmate remind me on the train, the worst criminals of the oceans are authorized to follow classes in the Wizarding Schools, in the hope that they will come back on right side of the law. They are unfortunately protected by the law, in this case. Even if those I see here, I know them enough, if not personally, their reputation, to not disillusion myself on their allegiance, still I am a representative of the law and am obligated, even if it bothers me, to bow to it. What I'm asking you, it's easy. Don't search any of them, some won't hesitate to kill you for some shits. I am the highest in rank who is available, and I doubt that you want an admiral to come assure the security. I say that as much for you and the pirates present here… Aokiji would blame you if he was forced to work.
Robin lost all her colors when Aokiji was mentioned.
Marco just raised one eyebrow, like he was saying "Bring him on !".
But the simple mention of the admiral had make the criminals become serious.
-Oi, minna… Luffy called his voice low.
His friends and brother glanced at him.
-We lay low. For Robin, Kemuri isn't bad, so, let's try to not found ourselves with Aokiju on our backs. For Robin.
His men nodded.
-Why for the Professor Nico? Harry asked.
-It's for us to know, and for you to ignore, Potter, Nami told him. I'm going to sleep, Luffy, Good night everyone.
-I'm going too. I have someone to inform, Sabo stated.
He looked at Marco at the Head Table who was standing. The two blond shared a glance and Marco pointed himself with his thumb, making the Revolutionary nod.
Zoro ran in the crowd before Tashigi could get a hand on him.
-Shitty Marimo we won't find him again… Sanji grumbled.
-Robin! Luffy called as the brown haired woman walked toward them. Tell Chopper about it. And don't forget…
-I know, Luffy, don't worry, Robin smiled closing her eyes.
This year will be stressful.
- Now we know why Ace isn't at Hogwarts this year, Hermione commented as they came back from their Cares of Magical Creatures' class and went to their first class of History of Magic of the year.
-Ace will be a part of the pirates' delegation…. He is so lucky; I would have liked to participate… Luffy mumbled with a pout. And Zoro was almost able to…
-When will he be seventeen? Ron asked.
-In November. Sabo will try his luck. I hope that he will be chosen as the Hogwarts champion!
-It's true that it would be cool… we would have a chance to win if it was him, Harry smiled. Hey, why is Zoro trying to run away from the marine girl?
-Tashigi? She wants Zoro's swords. She decided to gather all the meitôs who are in the hand of outlaws and bounty hunters. Zoro has three of them. The Sandaï Kitetsu, the Shunsui and the Wado Ichimonji.
-What is a meitô ?
-Very valuable swords, Hermione exclaimed.
And she went in a rant explaining the different types of meitôs, their origins and their particularities. Ron and Harry ignored her, preferring to stare at Luffy risking the overheat of his brain.
-Luffy?
-I'm trying to think…
-On what?
-I think that a supernova has the required age to participate at the Tournament.
-Exact.
They raised their heads to see that they were before Robin's classroom, who smiled at them.
-Eustass "Captain Kidd", three hundred fifteen millions berrys, is eligible to be a part of the delegation.
She took a thinking face.
-I wonder what it would have been if Trafalgar-san had been eligible himself… but he is slightly too old for that, unfortunately.
She giggled and signaled them to enter.
They sat on the first row and waited for the rest of the class. Finally, when the last ones were sitting, Robin closed the door and went back to her desk.
-Before we begin the class, I would like the attention of everyone, she told them seriously. I don't have any reason to hide, since I am very proud of this, and I will tell you of what immediately. I am, like the professor Dumbledore pointed it so well, one of the pirate in this castle. I had a bounty on my head before I could even go to a wizardry school; If you refuse to receive any teaching from me, I won't hold it against you. I won't kill you, I'm not a blood thirsty beast. You can pick your things up and joins the class of the professor Binns.
Nobody moved, staring at Robin with wide eyes.
-I graduated in archeology when I was eight. And I am the last person alive able to read some fragments of a century of History that our world wanted to mute. For this only reason, I am seen as a dangerous woman. In following my classes, you must be conscious of this. Be conscious that the Government may judge one day that you know too much, and will want to make you disappear. You are not the first to who I do this sort of speech, and as long as my captain will be in school, I will repeat this speech to others than you. The choice is yours. To learn the History from me, knowing that I will force you to think by yourself and to look behind the known facts… what happen behind those… or to have the professor Binns. If you want to go, it's now or never. Stay, and I will consider that you are ready to assume the consequences. I especially think about you, Miss Bones. Your aunt may not agree for you to follow my teaching.
-My aunt told me about the slaughter of Ohara this summer, when she learned that I would have you in class. And she encouraged me to follow your classes, blushed Susan.
-Give my thanks to your aunt, then, smiled Robin softly.
Luffy snickered.
Some students picked their things and walked out, joining Binns' class. Robin had no particular reaction and waited for everyone to make their choices, before smiling to those who stayed with her.
-Very well, so, I will tell you how it will happen. Each week, I will do my class, but I am waiting from you to research what I am talking about. I won't give you essays to do, but I am waiting of you to verify the facts. Sometimes, I will put some wrong information in the course, and will wait from you, the next week, a roll of parchment saying what information was wrong and what really happened. And it is useless to look at me like that Luffy, you are not dispensed of homework. I don't do any favoritism. The others should have told you so.
Luffy pouted which made his classmates laugh.
-Like Dumbledore also told you, we have a Revolutionary in the castle… I guess that some of you know who he is, but I would ask them to not scream it out too loud… I think he would be unhappy if he found himself with a bounty, after all his effort to not have one. The fact is that, with his cooperation, I will show you in class a non-official point of view, some reports from the archives of the Revolution. What I want, it's that around the second trimester, we could be able to talk about the History. See a fact, an event, a period, and talk about it, together. You have the right to tell your opinion, your point of view, so long as it adds something to the class. I turn toward those, especially, who had a muggle education, or who still follow the History from their sides; It is still very interesting to see a same event under different angles. Questions?
Hermione immediately raised her hand.
-Yes?
-Will you teach us some things about the Lost History?
-Only some benign facts. I can't allow myself to place in your hands something like that, even if it is a part of the History.
-Why?
Harry turned around surprised.
Whoa, Zabini stayed in the class?
-Because, Mr Zabini, it's because of this portion of the History that my native island was erased from the maps of the world. I'm not irresponsible enough to share a knowledge that caused the death of so much people. Unless you wanted to do your own research on this, knowing the risk you're taking. In this case, I strongly advise you to gain in strength. The majority of the information will be unattainable in your actual state of power. I, myself, renounced to try alone when I crossed path with a mugiwara boshi. Some questions?
-You said that your captain was still at school, who is he ? Lavander Brown asked. He is at Hogwarts?
For all answer, Robin giggled and pointed Luffy, grinning, at the first row.
-If I was talking of favoritism with Luffy, it's because he is my captain. But I doubt that the member of his crew interest anyone here. We are here to talk of the History. If you are good, maybe I will tell you about the History of the Piracy… Like of Gol. Roger, the Pirate King, who also came to Hogwarts, with his first mate. Shall we begin?
As it was predictable, Luffy was almost attacked on the why he was a pirate, and how it was that he was a captain, and others things, after class.
- I don't see how it is shocking… Luffy muttered. After all, your sister is one too.
He told that at Parvati Patil, who stared at him with her twin like he was crazy.
-I am not a pirate! Padma huffed.
-I'm not talking about you! I'm talking about Kali…
The two sisters froze and shared a look, as if she didn't believe what they just heard.
Luffy continued walking, catching up to Nami at the corner of a corridor.
-You have another sister? Neville asked to the twins.
- A big sister… she… she would be in her last year at Hogwarts… but she ran away from home when she was ten, Padma whispered.
-She is our half-sister. She is from the first wedding of our father with a Mexican. He had a boy before her. We don't know what happened to her mother… Parvati mumbled. She didn't like her name, so, she had chosen another one. Kali. Our father and our uncle refused to use it, but us, with our brother, we ended up forgetting her true name, to use this one… then, one day, she disappeared.
-We don't know what happened really… from Father's side, our brother lost his mind, and kill himself and our uncle in a fight between them. It's after their death that we left India to come here.
-It's a horrible story… Hermione breathed, eyes wide with horror.
-But we never thought we would ever hear about her, Padma commented. Least of all, from Luffy, who tell us that she is a pirate.
Some screams surprised them and they saw stunned a ferret jump grotesquely in the corridor, following the movements of Moody's wand…
Until Marco intervened, grabbing the ferret in the air.
-Generally, we don't transfigure the students into ferrets when they do something stupid, yoi, Marco muttered. We give them detention.
There was a pouf! Followed by some smoke and a pale and scared Draco appeared, suspended at the fist of Marco who was holding the collar of his robe.
-I would appreciate if you don't intervene in the discipline, we're not on one of your damn ship… Moody growled.
Marco tilted his head on one side, raising an eyebrow in defy, and pushed Draco in McGonagall's arm who had just came to see what was happening.
-Take care of this kid, Minerva. Attempted assault on a classmate and magic in the corridor.
And Marco walked forward, defiant, toward Moody. Nobody noticed the smoke take form in a corner becoming Smoker, who held himself ready to take his jitte of his back.
-I am a pirate, so a barbarian, if I believe the society, yoi. However, Oyaji himself would have threw out anyone transfiguring one of his men into a ferret, under the pretext to show discipline, yoi. It's at the limit of the abuse, if I believe the laws.
-What does a criminal know of the laws? Moody growled without backing down.
-If I want to play the nice teachers, I have to respect some laws, don't I? So it may be necessary to know a minimum of them, yoi. You can release your jitte, Smoker, I won't kill anyone, I'm just making something clear with this moron…
Marco grabbed Moody's collar and leaned toward his ear to whisper something, making the man pale instantly.
-Bullshit! The ex-auror hissed.
-Say what you want, you can't fool me, yoi.
And he released Moody, who walked away.
-The show is over, kiddies, go away!
The students rushed away, leaving the Golden Trio with the professor McGonagall still holding Malfoy, Marco and Smoker.
-Should I inform the Headmaster? Minerva asked.
Marco shrugged. The deputy headmistress sighed and went away, holding Draco by his ear.
-Fushisho Marco who lose his legendary composure… I would have never thought I would see this… Smoker commented releasing his weapon.
-I didn't have enough coffee this morning, yoi, Marco said shrugging. What are you still doing here, you three?
-Euuuh… Ron said.
-I have a question for you professor, Hermione stated moving forward.
-On my class or on my job outside of Hogwarts?
-I would like to know if you know a pirate named Kali.
-Of course he must know her, Smoker grunted. Haiiro Kali or Kali the Grey in English, is the most cynical woman in the Grand Line. She is a part of the crew of this pineapple head.
-Thank you, Smokey, I still know who are my nakamas, Marco hissed. This girl is in Ace's fleet; I must have her bounty somewhere in my office. She is, with Ace and my own first mate eligible for the Tournament. Why this question?
-From what Luffy said, she is the sister of the Patil twins, Harry explained.
-And?
The lack of reaction from Marco surprised them, making him laugh softly.
-We all have skeleton in our cupboards, he said as he rubbed his back. In the Shirohige, it's simple. We don't care from where you are or who you are, so long as our senshô see us as one of his son, our personal history doesn't have importance, except if we give it one. Kali never talked about her home, her family life, other than her hate for her uncle, if I remember right; She is one of ours, today, one of our sisters. I doubt that the Kali they remember is the same that the one that, like Smoker said, is the most cynical woman in the Grand Line,yoi. Whoever we are, we only are Shirohige's children.
He smiled and looked at Harry.
-If Oyaji wanted to make you one of his sons, you would cease to be the Boy-Who-Lived, and you would become the "just Harry" that you so dream of being.
-The dream… Harry whispered.
Which made Marco chuckle.
-Well, Smokey, you don't have something else to do, yoi? The Phoenix asked turning toward the marine.
-I'm surveying the most dangerous person in the school… Smoker grunted.
- I am the Lord of the Skies, marine. Come back in a century or two.
-Your head is too big to be able to quit the land, Pirate.
-You want to bet, Kemuri-chan? I heard that Ace kicked your ass last month, what did you do to anger him?
-This damn Portgas placed himself in my way.
-The other way, probably, yoi…
And Marco walked away with light steps.
The Golden Trio hurried to leave seeing Smoker beginning to smoke in anger.
They had the impression that this year wouldn't be easy.