Here is the last chapter for the book four. I hope you like it.
-I feel like I forgot something important, commented Harry as he came out of the infirmary the next morning.
-Really? Pondered Ace.
-Yeah… I don't know what, but I have this feeling.
-I have to go, I have an exam, stated Sabo.
-Ja ne! Said Luffy.
-And you have one too.
-Eh?
With a sigh, Luffy was caught by the scruff of the neck and led to the history classroom for his exam with Robin.
Ace looked at them smiling and walked toward the room with the breakfast. Harry noticed immediately the unknown guest at the Head Table, sitting beside Marco. Stranger who was receiving a glare from Madam Hooch.
-Who is he? Inquired Harry.
-Dracule Mihawk. The Shichibukai.
Ace grabbed an apple from the Gryffindor table and went to see the man, leaving Harry to caught up to the last news with Ron and Hermione.
-Ohayô Gosaimasu, Taka no me, greeted Ace.
-Konnichiwa, Portgas. Someone seems a little out of it, noted the man aiming his eyes of an hawk on him.
-Even Hiken no Ace can have hypothermia. Which is why I am covered today.
-Miracle, Marco commented, his voice full of sarcasm.
Ace stuck his tongue at him before telling him in a conversational tone:
-Oh, and Marco… Potter complained about having a hole in his memory, this morning.
Marco barely held back a groan that could leave someone thinking that he was going to shoot himself. He threw a glare toward the headmaster, and stood up.
-I don't have the time to take care of this, I have an exam to overlook, yoi. Have fun, Ace.
-Yeah! Assured Ace.
McGonagall approached him at this instant with Harry.
-Portgas, the champions have to gather in the backroom just after breakfast.
-Eh? I thought that the task was taking place tonight! Said Ace, eyes wide.
He glanced at Mihawk, for confirmation.
-If it was taking place when I arrived, I wouldn't be there killing time, Portgas, sighed Mihawk standing up from his seat.
He took his beautiful feathered hat and put it on his head.
-The families of the champions are invited to assist to the last task. It's just about telling them hello, explained McGonagall.
And she left them.
-Zoro has an exam, try to not distract him, Ace warned Mihawk.
The dark look that the Shichibukai threw him meant everything.
-Why did you come, though. They could have send… I don't know. Jimbe or Hancock… well not her, she would have been able to dispute the rank of most beautiful woman with the quarter veela.
-Akagami, that's why I'm here. He deafened me until I agreed to keep n eye on his younger brothers, as he says.
And he walked away.
-I will always be admiring of Shanks' ability to find a drinking buddy in this guy… sighed Ace.
-The Dursleys can't be there, it the most unimaginable thing to be… panicked Harry..
-I doubt that after the pirates were chased out, they let some come back, just to tell me hello, so, I am as panicked as you. The only family I have whom isn't a pirate, are Sabo and the Jiji.
Ace rubbed his forehead sighing.
-Let's go.
They went to the backroom, and were surprised when they saw the Weasley.
-Oh, and Charlie want to know the secret behind your taming ability! He didn't believe his eyes when he saw you send the Kinryû back to her nest.
-I can't help it, I was born with the Haoshoku.
-Oh, and Ace dear… I think that this woman is waiting for you, pointed Molly.
-Onna?
Ace turned around to see a young woman sitting in an armchair who stood up when the pirate faced her. She offered him a little smile and a wave.
-Eisu-kun. Hisashiburi.
Harry had never seen Ace, the one who is hard like a stone and wild, about to cry. Other than when Sabo had been petrified or when Marco had crossed path with the Basilisk in the corridors. And there, yet, he saw the tears in the pirate's eyes.
-Nee-san!
And he rushed in the arms of the young woman who received him smiling, rubbing his back whispering : yoshi, yoshi.
-Hisashiburi… Makino-nee-san… murmured Ace hugging the young wman.
-Girlfriend? Breathed out Molly to his son.
-Nee-san mean big sister, mom, sighed Bill.
A sister? Did this family had any limit?!
—
Ace had some difficulty realizing it was real.
Makino was here, in front of him. The last time they had seen each others, it was when she told them to run away in the jungle so that the villagers wouldn't kill them. A little before the accident that led to their meeting with Rayleigh.
She hadn't changed. She stayed true from his memories.
Ace took some steps back and whipped his eyes.
- You're crying, Ace-kun?
-Something in my eyes, refuted Ace.
-Of course… Ace never cry, he is strong like a rock. You make me visit the school?
-Come on ! Sabo and Luffy have an exam, so, we won't be able to see them before lunch…
Ace led Makino with in the hallways, talking about anything and everything. Some idiocies he did during his time at school, making his adoptive big sister laugh, and some anecdotes about the castle.
-Ne, Makino? Asked Ace, while they entered the trophy's room. You have no magic, so how are you here?
-Someone called Silver Rayleigh came to see me saying that he wanted to make a beautiful surprise for three boys very important to him. I'm happy that this man took care of you, even with Garp.
-The old man is crazy and Rayleigh is a good guy, even if he was a pirate.
-Garp do what he can with his own way, Ace-kun, don't judge him. What do you want to show me?
-Mitte.
Ace pointed the badge behind the glass, gathering the awards of the Hufflepufs. On the badge you could see written Head Girl, and the name Rouge D. Portgas.
-Oh, your mother came here… and she was Head Girl, we can't say that you inherited her sense of discipline!
She giggled when she saw Ace blush in embarrassment.
-Go away! Shoo! Don't want you here, Portgas! Roared Flich seeing them here.
-Uruse na… grumbled Ace with a pout. Come Nee-san… since the horrid caretaker don't want me here.
They continued their way and went to sit on the stairs.
-You're happy with your life, Ace-kun? Makine demanded brusquely.
-Yes… very happy… We are a big family, in the Shirohige and I'm going along with everyone. Sab' and Lu's became like sons for Oyaji, but don't tell them.
-Okay. And your brothers?
-Sabo… He doesn't talk much about what he does, but he has big ideas… change the world, but that's what he wanted. Luffy is happy. That's for sure. He has an awesome crew. They're almost all here. Before they were at Salem, in the U.S. but the school blew up.
-How is this possible?
-Who know… Everything is possible in a magical school.
-Some years back, I was worrying for your education. Garp-san wanted to send you to a training camp, at that time.
-Yeah, I remember. And the three of us are all at school, today. True, we don't learn things like grammar, calculus, or geography, like in a normal school, but we had adults to help us learn this sort of things.
Ace breathed a sigh and extended his legs on the step in front of him, ignoring the moves of the stair.
-Rayleigh didn't want us to come here. He was student here, when the actual headmaster was the Transfiguration professor. He didn't like him, he didn't trust him, that's why Marco is here. But Garp entered us, Luffy and me, without asking him. Since Sabo had been adopted more or less legally by Rayleigh, he was able to go to Salem, until the school exploded. On one side, I'm happy to go away, to not see the greasy bat of the dungeons who tecah potions, and this manipulative headmaster. On another side, there are nice professors and I'll miss them a little, and Luffy is here for three more years, still… Even if he has his nakamas, I worry about him.
-He'll get by. He was already taking the example of his brothers when he was a little boy, to become strong and surpass them.
-He'll do it, I know it. Luffy will become the Kaizoku Ou.
They shared a brief laugh, then Ace stood up.
-We should go to lunch. They'll be happy to see you.
—
-You seem happy with yourself, pointed Sanji to Sabo, giving a plate to Nami.
-I am happy with myself, I did very well. And I have every intention to do the same in History. To honor the seven years that Robin passed to make the History enter in my skull, smiled Sabo.
-Fufufufu… I feel honored with such determination, smiled Robin taking place at the Gryffindor table beside Luffy who was devouring everything he could grab.
-Why do you come hanging out here? Inquired Nami throwing a suspicious glance to Marco who dropped sighing beside Chopper.
-No peculiar reason. Despite the respect I have for Mihawk, he isn't the table seatmate I like the most, yoi, muttered Marco.
He seemed tired.
-Where is Ace? Asked Chopper
-Somewhere in the castle, about to answer the call of the black hole that is his stomach. Luffy, leave my plate alone! Said Zoro defending his plate from the hands of his captain.
No answer came.
Luffy had just let go of his fork and stared at the entrance of the Great Hall with wide eyes.
Sabo turned on his seat and put a hand to his mouth in surprise.
Impact in three seconds
Two seconds.
One second.
-MAKINO!
Makino who had just entered with Ace found herself prisoner of the arms of the overexcited kids and in tears.
-[Happy to see you again boys…] smiled the woman hugging them, while Ace continued his way smiling to let himself fall beside Marco who was trying to hold back a smile.
-Who is she? Asked Hermione.
-An adoptive big sister, smiled Ace, his eyes full of nostalgia, staring at his brothers pulling Makino to the table.
-She saved our lives! Smiled Luffy.
-Don't exaggerate, Luffy-kun, scolded gently the woman. Minna-san, konnichiwa!
-Konnichiwa, Oujo-san, greeted Marco inclining his head.
Makino asked him something which made Marco laugh. The answer made Ace growl and about die laughing those who spoke japanese. Even Hermione raised a smile, fighting against the hilarity.
-You're reputation just went to ashes,, Ace, or should I call you, the most undisciplined and trouble making Commander of all Grand Line's history, snickered Sabo.
-I hate you. All, hissed Ace. You above all, Marco. I'll make complain to Cassandra-san.
The scowl on Marco's face showed that the threat was effective.
Makino treated them with stories of the childhood of the three brothers ( from diaper to his six years for Luffy and from six to nine for Ace and Sabo). Luffy found himself often in the mouth of some crocodiles and his brothers had to save him. They served themselves without any remorse in the crops of the farmers, were chased by Garp and a lot more.
Harry wondered if all the big sisters had this wonderful power to lighten the dark days when everything were going wrong… to pull a smile from those who admired and loved her.
—-
While Harry took advantage of the afternoon to make Mrs Weasley and Bill visit, Ace took advantage to boast about his brothers abilities, sitting on the edge of the lake. Makino was smiling proudly listening, and burst laughing when a big panther topple over her, just in the hope to look enough like a plush and be given a hug..
—-
The meal was as animated as ever, and Harry and Ace had totally forgotten the task, their mind elsewhere, when Dumbledore stood up from his seat, at dusk.
-Ladies and gentlemen, in five minutes, I will ask you to go to the Quidditch pitch to assist to the third and last task of the Four Wizard Tournament. The Champion are asked to follow Mr Bagman who will accompany them to the place.
Ace swore when he remembered what was going to happen and stood up. He took his coat off, showing of his classical short under it and a yellow shirt sleeveless.
-Would you keep my coat for me, Marco? Asked Ace in a soft voice.
Marco raised an eyebrow, but took the coat in his hands.
Ace squeezed Luffy's shoulder who was looking his older brother go with worried eyes. He too had bad feeling when he looked at the champions leaving the room. A very bad feeling.
-You're okay, Harry? Asked Bagmn as they were going down the stone stairs. You feel ready?
-I'm alright, answered Harry.
Which wasn't false. He was nervous, but he reviewed in his mind all the hexes, curses and charms he had practiced and sensed a feeling of relief when he noticed he remembered all of them.
They soon penetrated in the Quidditch pitch who was now unrecognizable. A fence of six meters was surrounding it entirely with, in front of them, a sole opening which gave access to a huge maze. The path that was going through seemed dark and scary.
Five minutes later, the stands began to fill in. We could hear enthusiast exclamations and the pounding of the steps along the spans. The firsts stars had appeared in the black blue sky. Accompanied by Hagrid, the professors Moody, McGonagall, Flitwick and Fushisho entered in the pitch and approached Bagman and the champions. They were bearing big bright red stars on their hat, excepted for Hagrid whoo was bearing it in the back of his coat in moleskin. Marco didn't have a star. For a good reason, he was visible from far away, once transformed.
-We will patrol around the maze, said the professor McGonagall to the champions. If you find yourself in difficulty and you want to be saved, send red sparks in the air and one of us will come to you. Understood? The Professor Fushisho will oversee you from the sky.
The champions approved with a nod.
-Then, let's go, said Bagman in a happy tone of voice to the four patrolmen.
Ace shared a long look with Marco and they exchanged a hug.
-I'll keep an eye on Mad-Eye, stated Marco.
Ace nodded.
-Honor Oyaji's name, yoi, demanded Marco in a normal tone.
-Of course, Marco.
And Marco propelled himself in the sky, amazing the guests in his bird form.
-Good luck, Harry, whispered Hagrid and the remaining teachers went in different directions to take position around the maze.
Bagman then pointed his wand on his throat and muttered:
-Sonorus.
Instantly, his voice magically amplified rang out in all the stadium.
-Ladies and gentlemen, the third and last task of the Four Wizards Tournament is about to begin! Allow me to remind you of the ranking of the actual competitors! At the first place we have the Shirohige crew, the Second Commander, Portgas D. Ace, with one hundred and five points!
There were some clapping and Ace raised his fist in answer, a thin smile just visible under his orange fedora.
-In second place, ex-eaquo, with each one hundred and four points, Mr Cedric Diggory and Mr Harry Potter, from Hogwarts school!
Thrown into a panic by the applause and the cries of joy, the birds flew off in the Forbidden Forest and disappeared in the darkening sky.
-In Fourth place, with eighty points : Mr Viktor Krum, from Durmstrang Institute!
New applause.
-And in Fifth place : Miss Fleur Delacour, from Beauxbâtons Academy!
Harry caught a glimpse of Mrs Weasley, Bill, Ron and Hermione politely applauding Fleur Delacour in the stands. He gave them a little hand gesture and they answered with their own, with beaming face.
-Attention… on my signal, Portgas! Bagman continued. Three… two… one…
Ace took the position of a long distance runner and at the signal, rushed into the maze.
The fences surrounding them plunged the path into obscurity. Was it because of their height and their thickness or was it because they were charmed? In any case, the moment they entered the labyrinth, he couldn't hear the noise of the crowd.
He arrived at a crossroad the instant when the second signal sounded.
Cedric and Harry had just entered.
Ace stopped and took out a compass which he put on his wrist, after he had spelled it to adapt at any of his shape and size shifting. The next moment, the black panther was runing along, his feline eyes guiding him painlessly in the darkness. She raised her head when she saw a shining turquoise form passing above her head and showed her fang in a smile.
Marco was here.
—-/-/
Harry couldn't stop looking behind himself. He was feeling like he was watched. The maze was becoming darker as the sky became dark blue. He reached a new crossroad.
- Point me North, he whispered to his wand that was put to lay on his hand.
The wand turned on itself and stopped to point to his right, toward the fence. It was the direction of the north and he knew that he had to go toward the north west to reach the center of the labyrinth. The best thing to do was to take left until he could turn to the right whenever he would be able to.
—
Ace had heard Fleur fall, then Krum.
When the spell came toward him, he avoid it and turned toward the fence.
His Haki told him who was attacking, despite the numerous fences separating them.
Mad-Eye.
Ace shifted into his human form and moved slightly to avoid a Doloris. He raised graciously his hand, before him and tightened it, as if he was holding the neck of Mad-Eye in his hands.
Outside of the maze, Moody let his wand fall, feeling himself be held by the neck and lift from the ground. He was beginning to choke.
Brusquely, someone took his hands and cuffed them, before he was knocked out with a stupefix.
-Alright, Portgas, we got him! Yelled Smoker.
Ace loosened his magic and turned on his heels. He had a cup to find.
—-
Harry had just left behind him the Sphinx and was continuing on his path, surprised at doing so brilliantly.
Put on a pedestal, around one hundred meters away, the Four Wizards Cup was shining in the darkness. Harry had began to run when a shadow emerged abruptly from an adjacent path.
Cedric was going to arrive first. He was running with all he had toward the cup and Harry knew that he would never catch up to him. Cedric was a lot taller than him, he had longer legs…
Harry then saw to his left something huge rising above the fence and was walking forward quickly from a perpendicular path. The thing was moving so fast that Cedric was about to run into it literally. The eyes fixed on the cup, he hadn't seen anything…
-Cedric! Exclaimed Harry. Look out to your left!
Cedric turned his head just on time to throw himself forward and pass on the nick of time in front of the thing to avoid the collision but, in his precipitation, he tripped up. His wand escaped his hand whereas the giant spider was appearing from the path and was running toward him.
-Stupefix! Cried out Harry.
The spell reached the dark hairy giant body of the spider but had no more effect than if he had thrown a rock. The creature jumped, whirled around, and became disinterested from Cedric to go right toward Harry.
-Stupefix! Impedimenta! Stupefix!
But it was useless. The spider was so big, or gift with such magical power, that the spell just annoyed her more. Harry just had the time to see its eight black eyes and its razor cutting pincers before it was on him.
He fell himself being lift in the air by two front legs of the spider and struggled crazily trying to kick it. His leg hit on of his pincers and he felt a terrible pain. He heard Cedric cry out in turn "Stupefix!" but, this time again, the spell stayed without effect.
-Hibashira!
A huge pillar of fire hit the spider and it released Harry, before being send far away. The Boy-Who-Lived was surprised to sense strong arms catching him in his fall. Lifting his head, he saw Portgas looking at him.
-You're alright?
-Thanks… I really thought that she was going to eat me…
-You don't have enough meat for it to find you appetizing ! Ace joked letting him go down.
The moaning of pain from Potter told him that something was wrong.
-Oi! Diggory, you're still alive…
-Let me check… Yeah, I think, mumbled Cedric coming nearer.
He looked at Harry sitting against a fence and lifting his trouser.
Ace examined with his callous hands the hurting leg.
-You yanked your knee out of his socket. Okay Potter, it will hurt… at three.
Harry gritted his teeth.
-Three!
-AAAAAAAAAH!
Ace chuckled and didn't say anything when Harry hit his head.
-Where are the one and two?!
-You would have tensed even more, and it would have hurt even more.
He removed his shirt and used it to clean the wound from the sticky substance which was coming from the spider's pincers, before changing the side and to use it to band the leg.
-Avoid using it, for now,..
Cedric was just one or two meters away from the cup which was shining behind him.
-Take it, said Harry, his breath short. Come on, take it, you're almost there.
Ace didn't comment, occupied with treating his leg.
But Cedric didn't move. He stayed immobile, staring at Harry who was clinging to Ace in pain. Then he turned his head to contemplate the cup. At the light of the golden reflects shining on the Four Wizards Cup, Harry saw the expression of wish on his face. Again, Cedric turned his eyes toward him.
He took a deep breath.
-Take it, you, he said. It's you who should win. You saved my life two time in this maze. If you hadn't warned me in time for the spider, it would have crushed me like a bug.
-It's doesn't work like that, answered Harry.
He was sensing the anger raise in himself. His legs hurt, his fight against the spider had left him breathless, sore everywhere and, after all his efforts, Cedric had showed up before him, just as he was the first to invite Cho to the ball.
-The one who reach the cup before the others win. It's you. I assure you that I am unable to win a race in the state my leg is. Ace could, but he seems decide to play at being a nurse.
-Reflex, Potter. That's all. I don't give a damn about this cup. I participated at this tournament to have fun, nothing else, answered Ace knotting the bandage he had done.
Cedric took some steps toward them, moving away from the cup.
-No, he said shaking his head.
-Cease being the noble and generous knight, replicated Harry in an irritated tone. Take this cup, so we can go out of there.
Cedric was looking at Harry who was standing up holding himself on Ace to not fall.
-It's you who warned us for the dragons, he said. I would have been out from the first task if you hadn't tell Portgas, since he wouldn't have been able to tell me.
-I had help too, dryly answered Harry trying to clean with his robe some blood which had flowed. And you, you helped me for the egg, we are even.
-For the egg, I had help too, said Cedric.
-It's the others who recognized the cries of mermaids and it's Kal' who put a aguamenti in the egg… pointed out Ace.
-We are still even, assured Harry.
Cautiously, he tried to see if his leg could lift him, but she began to shake violently under his weight. He had a sprain on his ankle, when he had kicked the spider. Ace removed his robe and ripped it into band, removing his bloody sock to band his foot.
-You should have have more point for the second task, continued Cedric obstinate. You stayed to free all the prisoners. I should have done the same.
-I was the only one stupid enough to believe this song! Exclaimed Harry in a bitter voice. Ace should have had the maximum for the first!
-When you will have finished rejecting on the other who should tale the cup, I will tell you that I would really have deserved the victory of the first task if I had an Ice Dragon in front of me. I immune against fire, sighed Ace.
-Go, this trophy is yours, Cedric!
-No, answered Cedric.
He stride over the legs of the spider to join Harry who was looking at him walk forward toward him with wide eyes. Cedric was talking seriously. He was moving away willingly from the glory that Hufflepuf had never succeed in obtaining in all the centuries. Ace raised an eyebrow and ignored him, too concentrated on the task in his hand.
-Take it, Cedric said.
Visibly, this gesture was costing him to the last strength of his will, but his face was firm, decided. Arms crossed, he seemed unmovable.
Harry looked alternatively between Cedric and the Cup. During one shining instant, he saw himself come out of the maze, the cup in his hands. He saw himself lifting the Cup of the Four Wizards Tournament, under the cheers of the happy crowd. He saw more sharply Cho's face, shining with the light of admiration in her eyes… Then all those images blanked out and he only had before him the dark and obstinate face of Cedric.
-All three, said then Harry.
-What?
-Nani?!
-We take all three the cup at the same time. It's still a Hogwarts victory. We will be ex-eaquo.
-I represent the pirates, not Hogwarts! Huffed Ace.
-But whether you like it or not, you passed six years as a student here.
-Tch…
Cedric looked at Harry. He uncrossed his arms.
-You… you think?
-Yes, said Harry. We helped each other, didn't we? And we came until here together. So, we just have to take the cup together.
For one instant, Cedric seemed to not believe what he heard. Then a smile drew itself on his face.
-You're right, he said.
-I am alongside some crazy guys every days, however, I believe I have found a psychiatric asylum in the most improbable place… muttered Ace.
-Don't be a grumpy bear, Portgas. Let's go.
-I hate you, know this!
-We know, Ace! Laughed Harry.
Cedric and Ace took Harry by the arm and helped him walk forward limping toward the pedestal on which the cup was. All three held their hand toward the cup which was shining in front of their eyes.
-At three? Said Harry. One… Two… Three…
In one move, they each grabbed a piece of the cup.
At this instant, Harry felt the shaking somewhere around his navel. His foot had left the ground and he couldn't release the Four Wizard Cup which carried him like a whirlwind in a whirl of color, Cedric and Ace still beside him.
—
Marco arrived too late, shifting back into a human on site, the eye wide in horror, gripping Ace's cloak. He put a hand to his throat to cast a sonorus on himself and roared:
-The champions Diggory, Portgas and Potter disappeared! Someone substituted the Cup with a Portkey!
He distinctly heard the panicked cries of the two brother calling the oldest.
—
Harry fell his feet heavily land on the ground. His hurt leg giving in under him and he would have fell of Ace wasn't holding him firmly. This time, his hand was finally able to release his hold on the Cup of the Four Wizards.
-Where are we? He asked raising his head.
The expression of Cedric showed that he didn't know more than him. Ace had a thundering glare, frowning, all his body yelling that he was ready for a confrontation.
They weren't anymore in the park of Hogwarts. Obviously, they had covered a lot of distance, because the mountains surrounding the castle had disappeared. They were presently in a dark graveyard, infested by plants. To their right, behind a big yew, the shadow of a church could be seen. To their left, a hill was rising and Harry was able to see the silhouette of a beautiful old house on its top.
Cedric looked at the Cup of Four Wizards, then lift his eyes toward Harry.
-Had someone told you that the Cup was a Portkey? He asked.
-No, answered Harry.
-Portgas?
-Iie. Shit, I was tricked like a rookie, Thatch will remind me of this for the centuries that are coming…
He was gazing at the graveyard in which a total silence was reigning, slightly worrying.
-Is this part of the task? Asked Harry.
-I don't know, answered Cedric, not very reassured. You think we should take out our wand?
-Yes, said Harry, happy that Cedric had suggested it before he could.
-I doubt that it is part of the task. I read some things on the tournament, to see what I should except for the third task, commented Ace scanning around. It is always told that the Tournament ended wen the Cup is claimed by a winner.
Harry and Cedric took out their wand.
-Someone is coming, Ace said suddenly.
Peering into the obscurity, they made out a shadow of a man approaching them walking around the grave with a confident stride. Harry couldn't see his face but, judging by his steps and the way he held his arms, he was visibly holding something in front of him. Short in size, he was wearing a cloak with a hood on his head to hide his face. When he was nearer, Harry had the impression that it was a baby that he was holding in his arms… Or maybe it wad a simple robe rolled ?
Harry lowered slightly his wand and threw a look toward Cedric who seemed as puzzled. Ace was tense like a bow, trying to call his Haki, but something was interfering with his sense. All three turned again toward the silhouette who continued to walk forward.
The man stopped beside a high grave in marble who was only two meters away from them. During an instant, Harry and Cedric stayed immobile in front of the cloaked shadow who was looking at them. Ace fell to his knees, holding his head, shaking.
Then, without any warning sign, Harry brusquely sensed a pain so unbearable that he had the impression that his scar was going to explode. In all his life he had never sensed such suffering. His knee bent and he found himself on the ground, unable to see anything. It was like his head was going to split in two.
Very far above him, he heard a high pitched and cold voice.
-Kill the two spares, said the voice.
There was like a breeze of wind and a second piercing voice threw in the night these terrible words:
-Avada Kedavra!
Through his closed eyelids, Harry could see a green light and heard a noise of something falling beside him. The pain in his scar reach such an intensity that he became nauseous.
Ace straightened, eyes full of tears, with the impression that his skull was going to open under the pain.
When the wand was pointed toward him and the spell was thrown, he rolled on the side, before straightening staggering.
Where was the pain coming from?
A spell hit him in the back and send him kiss a grave.
The deafening crack resounding was enough to tell Harry that he was now alone.
—-
Harry knew that he was going to die. He saw it in Voldemort's eyes.
He was dodging the best he could, despite the state of his leg. He was taking advantage of the stones grave to protect himself. He used as much as possible what he knew of Natural Magic, imagining more than thinking about the spells. This gave some strange situations, like Voldemort almost ending skewered by some spike coming from the earth, but Voldemort was experimented and cunning, even if he didn't know this form of magic.
In the end, Harry threw an Expelliarmus and dodged just in time an Avada Kedavra. The beam of red light from Harry touched the green one from Voldemort on his way, when suddenly, Harry's wand began to vibrate as if she was run through by an electrical current. His hand was glued to it. Even if he had wanted to, he would have been unable to drop it. A thin beam of light was now linking the two wands, neither red nor green, but an intense golden color. Harry, stunned, followed with his eyes the beam of light and saw that Voldemort's wand was shaking and vibrating with the same intensity between his long tensed fingers.
Then – it was the last thing that Harry was excepting –, he sensed his foot lift from the ground. Voldemort and him were raising at the same time in the air, their wands still linked by this beam of shaking golden light. They flew off slowly above the graves… The Death Eaters had began to cry out, asking Voldemort what they should do. They came nearer, closing the circle around Harry and their master, the snake squirming at his feet. Some of them had taken out their wands.
The golden thread joining Harry and Voldemort divided suddenly. Their wands stayed linked to each other, but thousands of others threads were projected in the air, drawing a multitude of crisscrossed bow above their heads. Soon, Harry and Voldemort found themselves locked under a golden dome, not unlike a huge spider web, beyond which the Death Eater were closing their circle, like jackals, their cries strangely deafened…
-Don't do anything! Yelled Voldemort in a piercing voice.
Harry saw his red eyes widen in stunned disbelief before this phenomenon. He saw him force himself to break the thread of light that still linked the two wands but Harry tightened his grip even stronger, his two hands at once, and the golden thread stayed intact.
Then, a wonderful sound and supernatural rose in the air… it was coming from each thread of the light web that was vibrating around them. It was a sound that Harry recognized right away, even if he had heard it only once in his life… the phoenix's song…
For Harry, this song was one of hope… the most beautiful sound he had ever heard… He had the impression that the song was resounding not only around him, but in him… and that it linked him with his Natural Magic's teacher, like a friend talking in his ear…
He put one hand to the feather under his shirt which burned stronger than ever.
"Don't break the link"
It was the professor Fushisho's voice, he was sure of it.
But it was easier said than done, because his wand began to vibrate stronger than ever… and the beam of light that was linking him to Voldemort transformed too… it looked like big pearls of light sliding in both ways along the golden thread. Harry sensed his wand quiver between his hands while the pearls were slowly coming in his direction… little by little, the pearls were only sliding in one direction, from Voldemort to him, and the wand began to resonate furiously and he sensed the wood of his wand become so hot he feared seeing it burn the more the pearls were near, the more his wand was quivering in his hands. He was sure that it wouldn't resist to its contact, that it would exploded if it ever touched the pearl…
Eyes staring, animated with a furious glint, he concentrated with all his mind to send the pearl back to Voldemort, whilst the phoenix's song continued to sound in his ears… Then, slowly, very slowly, the pearls of light was brought to a standstill in a quiver then, just as slowly, began to slid the other way… now, it was Voldemort's wand who was shaking with an incredible intensity… Voldemort, who seemed dumbfound, almost scared, seeing one of the pearls of light flicker a few centimeter away from his wand.
Harry didn't understand why he was acting this way, he didn't know how it could end… but he focused more than ever to force this pearl to return in the wand of his enemy… Still as slow than before, it advanced along the golden thread… quailing for an instant, it then touch the wand…
At once, Voldemort's wand released cries of pain… One instant later – the red eyes of the Dark Lord widened before this vision-, a thin smoke forming a hand came out of the end of the wand and disappeared… it was like a ghost of the hand he had offered Wormtail… There was again pained screams… Then, something much bigger came out from the wand, lie a gray smoke of such a density it seemed solid… A head took shape… then a chest, arms… Cedric Diggory's bust.
Harry felt such amazement that he could have let his wand fall but, instinctively his hands tightened their grip more than ever and the golden thread stayed intact, while the gray ghost of Cedric was emerging entirely from the extremity of Voldemort's wand, as if he was extracting himself from a narrow tunnel.
It wasn't the only shadow… Came then the shadow of the old muggle that Harry had seen in dream during the summer, followed by Bertha Jorkins, all encouraging him, and swearing and threatening Voldemort
And as he had expected since the apparition of Cedric, his mother showed up too, reassuring him, asking him to hold a little longer and stating that his father was coming.
A new cry of pain from Voldemort's wand, and James Potter unfolded his shadow under the dome and talked to him in a low voice, in this same far away voice that was resonating in an echo:
-When the link will be broken, he said, we will only stay an instant… But we will help you the best we can… You have to return to the Portkey, it will take you back to Hogwarts… Do you understand, Harry?
-Yes, panted Harry.
He was fighting to keep his wand between his hands as she seems to slid between his fingers.
He had noticed the absence of a shadow that gave him some hope.
Portgas was still alive…
-Harry, whispered Cedric's shadow. Take back my body, please. Take back my body to my parents…
-Alright, answered Harry, the face closed under the effort that he had to give to held his wand.
-Do it now, whispered the voice of his father who was staring at something beyond the Death Eaters. Be ready to throw yourself on the ground… Now…
-NOW! Yelled Harry.
Anyway, he couldn't have held his wand anymore. He raised it suddenly, with all his force and the golden thread broke. The dome of light vanished right away, the phoenix's song broke off – but the ghostly shadows of Voldemort's victims remained and were surrounding their killer, abstracting Harry from his view who threw himself on the ground…
-Enjomo!
A wall of flames towered up between Harry and the Death Eaters and Voldemort, making them step back, the instant the ghosts vanished. In the flames, a human shadow began to appear, and suddenly, Ace was there, protecting him with his body.
-Oi, Potter. Yo feel yourself ready still? Asked Ace.
-Ace… whispered Harry. He… he has…
-I saw Diggory's body, don't worry, I heard the spell, despite the pain.
Ace's voice had became heavy with muffled rage.
-You're not dead, admirable… commented Voldemort.
-Just knocked out. I just woke up, but I'm a little confused… Who are you, Snake Face?
-Respect me, impertinent brat! I am Lord Voldemort!
Ace raised an eyebrow.
-Oh. Oyaji'll be happy if I bring your head to him, then…
-Who are you…?
-Master… whispered Peter. He is a pirate…
- Second Commander of the Sea's Lord, Portgas D. Ace. Call me Hiken. I am the one who will kick your ass.
He browsed through the row of Death Eater and he eyes fell on Peter. He narrowed his eyes and carried his look back on Voldemort.
-Ahahahah! You believe that you are able to defeat Lord Voldemort, little overconfident brat! Mocked Voldemort.
-Let's see this.
He held his hands on his side, two spears of fire formed in his hands.
-Potter… when I use the Haoshoku, you will take Diggory and the Cup, since it is what brought us here. I'll take care of the traitor. Wakatta? Whispered Ace squaring up.
Harry nodded.
For an instant, nothing happened in the graveyard. Then Voldemort attacked with a Cruciatus curse that Ace skittered with his knife that he had covered with Hai. The Death Eater threw themselves on the ground. Good idea because the next moment, Ace was striking the air with a kick, sending a fire Rankyaku in their direction, chaining with a cutting cursed that Voldemort blocked with a shield.
The two spears of fire pierced two big holes in Voldemort's robe.
Ace released the Haoshoku at this moment, sending unconscious a good numbers of the Death Eaters and to their knees, unable to fight, the others.
-Hiken!
Voldemort intercepted the fist of fire with his shield, but was send away flying. Harry was already rushing the best he could toward Cedric. Ace threw a hand toward Wormtail, who had transformed into a rat to try to hide, and the rat flew off the ground with a wordless accio to find himself prisoner in the fingers of the pirate. When Harry had the Portkey in hand, Ace threw himself on him and caught him. Protecting Harry with his body. He held back a scream of pain when a Cruciatus touched him in the back, but stayed hung with all his strength to the cup.
Harry sensed that he was landing flat on his stomach, nose in the grass, which the smell filled his nostrils. He had closed his eyes during the travel with the Portkey and he kept them closed. He stayed immobile, his breath short. His head was spinning so much that the ground seemed to sway like the deck of a ship. To try to make this feeling disappear, he gripped the Cup that he was still holding in one hand and the body of Cedric which he had the wrist in his other hand, tighter. He could feel Ace shaking against him, helding his arm firmly around his chest, Peter tossing in his hand. His other hand was so tight around Harry's which was around the Portkey, that he was sure that he would reduce it to mush. It seemed to him that, should something move, he was going to slip into the darkness that was surrounding his brain. The shock, the exhaustion was keeping him from moving. Smelling the smell of grass, he waited. Waited that someone took care of him… that something happened… and sensed during all this time his scar burn with a haunting pain…
Suddenly, a torrent of sound deafened him. A confused mix of voice, of footsteps, which were coming from everywhere, invade his head… he stay unmoved, the face tensed under the shock of all this noise, as if it was a nightmare which was going to end…
Then two hands grabbed him brusquely and pulled him on his back, separating him from Ace.
-Harry! Harry!
He opened his eyes.
He saw the starry sky and the silhouette of Albus Dumbledore crouched beside him. A crowd of dark shadows were surrounding him from everywhere. Harry sensed the ground shake under their steps.
He was at the exit of the maze. He could see the stands, which were under the stars, and shadows move along the benches.
-Ace! Answer!
Harry turned his eyes to see Ace rolled up in a ball further away, still shaking, Marco above him.
-He shows sign of the Cruciatus! Exclaimed Chopper's voice.
-Sen-sei…
Harry swallowed a gasp of air.
Marco turned his head to see Harry looking at him.
-He is back… a man… with… the… face of a snake…
-Sleep, Potter, we will take care of this later, yoi.
—-
Marco laid back his feather and turned around to look at Ace sleeping in the infirmary bed, his brothers snuggled each on one side of him.
With a sigh, the Phoenix rubbed his head.
Things were bad. The Minister was in complete denial and nobody will be ready when Voldemort will come back.
Marco was a good enough strategist to know that Voldemort would not show himself immediately. He needed information, and time to recruit in the shadow and place well his game. Sole positive point, he had been able to deliver Peter to Bones who had made certain that when Fudge will have a brain, Sirius will be proven innocent.
Marco skimmed his temple and pulled a copy of a memory that he put into a vial, which he slid into an envelop. He closed it, marking the wax of the emblem of his crew and spelled it so that no one, except Potter, could open it or destroy it.
He stood up and went toward Hermione and Ron who were standing at Harry's side who had been forcibly put to sleep, so that he could rest.
-Granger.
Hermione raised her head and took the letter that Marco gave her.
-Give this to Potter the day when Voldemort stop playing hide and seek.
-Why don't you do it yourself, sensei? She asked.
-I am a pirate. I could die tomorrow on the sea, and not come back to class. The risks of that happening to you are less. Dumbledore must not find this message, yoi.
-I'll do it professor, assured Hermione.
She put it in her pocket and stared again at Harry.
-They… they put Cedric's death on Ace's back? Asked Ron.
-No, thanks to Davy Jones. Ace was touched by the Cruciatus, which prove that someone using of the Unforgivables attacked them. The last spells showed by Ace's wand were benign spells, none were banned, yoi. The crime wasn't put on his back.
-What will happen, now? Whispered Hermione.
-Sa na. I think that Snake Face will gather his forces in the shadow. If someone don't pull him out of there quickly, then, it will be hard when he will fall on us, yoi.
-It will change anything for you? Asked Ron.
-As a pirate, no, nothing… as a teacher at this school, I have a strong urge to avenge a lot of my students… The Potter were only two of the young I taught, and who are dead today, because of this man, yoi.
They heard a slight burst of flame and turned around to see Fawkes on the chair that Marco had left. The pirate went to see him and rubbed his feathers under the beck with the end of his finger.
"Look after the kids, if I don't come back."
Fawkes, let escape a melodious note.
"Of course, blue little brother."
—-
A rather dark End of Term feast.
Everyone had taken dark colors, in sign of mourning.
-Another end of year has come, said Dumbledore.
He broke of and his stare stopped on the Hufflepuf table. It was the table that had been the most discrete of the evening, the table which had the saddest faces, the palest.
-There is a lot of things I would like to tell you, tonight, Dumbledore continued. But I have to first to pay tribute to a very honorable boy who should be here – he gestured toward the Hufflepuf table – to share the feast with us. I'll ask you to stand up and give a toast in the honor of Cedric Diggory.
In a scraping of chair and of bench, all the students stood up and raised their cup. In a same voice, like a rumble which echoed in all the hall, everyone said the name of Cedric Diggory.
Harry saw a glimpse of Cho in the crowd. Tears were running on her cheek. He lowered his eyes as he sat back with the others.
-Cedric incarnated a lot of qualities of the Hufflepuf House, continued Dumbledore. He was a loyal and generous friend, he was hard working and always showed fair-play. His death affected all of you, whether you knew him or not. So I think that you have the right to know what happened exactly.
Harry raised his head and looked at Dumbledore.
-Cedirc Diggory was killed by Lord Voldemort.
A panicked whisper ran through the Great Hall. The students were staring at Dumbledore with dumbfound and terrified eyes. Perfectly calm, Dumbledore waited for the silence to come back.
-The Minister of Magic, continued Dumbledore, doesn't wish for me to give you this information. The parents of some of you probably will be horrified that I did – either because they won't believe in the return of Lord Voldemort, or because they think that you are too young for me to tell you such a thing. I have, however, the conviction that the truth is generally better than a lie and that any tentative to make you believe that Cedric died because of an accident, or because of a mistake, would be an insult to his memory.
Stunned, frightened, all the faces were turned toward Dumbledore… or almost all of them. At the Slytherin's table, Harry saw Draco Malfoy whisper something to Crabbe and Goyle. He sensed a wave of voracious fury knot his stomach and forced himself to look at Dumbledore.
-I can't talk about the death of Cedric Diggory without naming others names, continued Dumbledore. I mean, of course, Harry Potter and Ace D. Portgas.
There was like a shiver in the Great Hall when some students turned their heads toward Harry and Ace before carrying their attentions back to Dumbledore.
-Harry Potter and Ace D. Portgas succeed in escaping Lord Voldemort. They risked their own life to bring back too Hogwarts Cedric's body. They showed, in all ways, a bravery that few wizards showed when facing Lord Voldemort and this is why I now want to pay tribute to them.
Dumbledore looked at Harry solemnly and raised his cup again, ignoring Ace. Almost everyone imitated him in the Great Hall. The students whispered their names like they had whispered Cedric's and drank in his honor. But Harry saw that Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and numerous others students from Slytherin had stayed sitting without touching their cup, in an attitude of defiance. Dumbledore, who didn't have a magical eye, didn't see anything.
When each were back sitting, Dumbledore resumed:
-The Four Wizards Tournament had for ambition to favor the rapprochement and the understanding between witches and wizards from all the world, and to show how similar we are, no matter what side of the law we are. Under the light of what happened – the come back of Voldemort-, such bonds become more important than ever.
Dumbledore looked at Madame Maxime and Hagrid, Fleur Delacour and her comrades from Beauxbatons, then Viktor Krum and the students from Durmstrang sitting at the Slytherin's table. Harry noticed that Krum seemed to be on his guard, almost scared, as if he was waiting for Dumbledore to say some harsh words. He looked then at Robin, Marco and Mihawk, and the marines at the Head Table, before pulling his eyes on Sabo, Ace, and the Mugiwaras.
-All the guests in this room, resumed Dumbledore staring at the students of Durmstrang, will always be welcome each time they will want to come back here. Once more, I will repeat it to you all, now that Lord Voldemort is back, the union will be our strength, the division our weakness. The aptitude of Lord Voldemort to sow dissension and hate his great. We will be able to fight him only if we show a determination just as strong, funded on friendship and trust. The difference of languages and culture are nothing if we share the same objectives and if we stay open with each others. I'm convinced – and never did I ever want more to be wrong- that we will know a difficult and dark time. Some, in this room, already had to suffer directly from the acts of Lord Voldemort; The families of a lot of you were ripped apart because of him. One week ago, one student was taken away from us. Remember Cedric. If, one day, you have to chose between good and easy, remember what happened to a boy that was good, brotherly and brave, simply because he crossed the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory.
The scrape of two chairs cut the speech of the Headmaster.
The two D. had stood up. They removed their respective hat, putting it on their heart.
-Umi wa mitte iru sekai no hajimari mo
Umi wa shitte iru sekai no owari mo.
Harry looked at them surprised, not understanding what they were singing.
The marines exchanged surprised glance.
It was one of their requiem, not a pirate one.
Marco and Robin stood up with the Mugiwaras and Sabo, a hand on their heart in sign of mourning, head low.
-Dakara izanau susumubeki michi e to.
Dakara michibiku tadashii sekai e.
Mihawk stood up with Tashigi, Hina and Smoker.
Everyone recognized the mourning song, without understanding it and respected the pirates' gesture. And even liked it.
-Itami kurushimi tsutsumikonde kureru
Ookiku yasashiku tsuntsunde kureru
Hogwarts students stood up too, but didn't sing.
It was the last honor to one of their that had gone to early.
-Umi wa mite iru sekai no hajimari mo
ma wa shitte iru sekai no owari mo.
Moshimo jibun g kiet to shite mo
Subete shitte iru no umi no michibiki.
Osorete wa ikenai anata ga irukara.
Obiete wa ikenai nakama mo matsukara.
Everyone quiet down, leaving the Revolutionary to end it:
-Susumaneba naranai aoki sonosaki e.
—
Ace held a jar for insect to Sabo.
-The Revolution will know what to do with her, assured Ace.
-Okay. Well… I'll see you again in the Shin Sekai, or September the First, if you come say goodbye to Luffy when he take the train alone, said Sabo putting the jar in his bag.
-Yep. Come on, go. I already said goodbye to Lu'.
The two siblings exchanged a last hug and Ace walked away, pushing his brother in the train.
-Ace? Called Marco.
-I do something and I'm coming.
Ace looked through the crowd and finally found Harry.
-Potter! One minute, please.
Harry looked at him surprised, but followed him a little further away.
-Firstly, when you see the twins, give them my winnings; They will know what to do about it. I don't want this money, said Ace putting the price of the Tournament in Harry's hand who had his in his trunk.
-Very well, I'll think about it, Is that all?
-No. You remember the promise I made you… about my name?
-When you would tell me when you would leave Hogwarts?
-Exactly.
Ace looked cautiously around, but the marines had already gone for some times.
-My true name is Gol D. Ace. I am the sole heir of Gol D. Roger, the last Pirate King. Therefor, I am in some way the Prince of Pirates, and the possible heir to the throne of the seas, title that I absolutely refuse. If I kept the secret for so long, it's because more than one person wanted to make me pay for what my father did… either on firm ground or on the seas, to have the name of Roger isn't the best thing to have. You understand?
-Yes… I… I didn't excepted…
Ace shook his head smiling and pushed Harry toward the train.
-I know you enough to know that you won't judge me. After all, you are one of the kids that risked being killed to restore your friendship with my very little brother.
He made Harry go in the train.
-We will see each other again, Ace?
-Davy Jones only knows. Survive Snake Face, Harry.
Harry gave him a wolfish smile and greeted Ace who pulled along the train to find the compartment of his brothers. Luffy waved at him from the window and Ace stopped before him. In the takeoff of his black coat, he put one knee and a fist on the ground, his hat on his heart, head low.
-I await you in the Shin Sekai, my King.
-Ahahahaha! You're stupid, Ace! Ja ne!
And the train moved away, leaving the pirates alone on the platform.
-Ikimasho? Asked Marco hugging his shoulders
-Aye! Ace smiled wolfishly.