The subject was drop since that night. Nami had lost it when she had saw the scar that Luffy was hiding (which he was able to drop the bands in October). During that time, Harry though about the idea under all the angles.
Sometimes, he liked to imagine what he would like to teach to the others.
Finally, the idea didn't seem so bad.
Also, Hermione told him about a meeting, a little before Halloween, at the Hogshead, during a Hogsmeade week-end. Meeting with a few people.
The Hogshead was the shadiest pub of Hogsmeade. An old signboard made of wood suspended to a rusted pole, showing a real boar's head cut which had soaked the white sheet on which he was put in blood. The wind was making the sign creak.
Perfect for a horror movie shoot!
In front of the door Harry, Ron and Hermione hesitated.
«Well, you're coming? » Said Hermione in a slightly worried voice.
Harry entered first.
The inside was like the outside. The room was small, dingy, filthy and permeated in a strong smell that reminded them of goat. The protruding windows were so dirty that the daylight had a hard time passing through. The only light was coming from piece of candles put on the wooden tables. At first, the ground seemed to be made of clay but, when he put his foot on it, Harry realized that there were stones under the dirt who seemed to have accumulated with the centuries.
Harry scanned his surrounding, not reassured. After all, hiding his face seemed like a trade in this pub. Between a man with band around his head, two guys looking not unlike dementors from afar and an old witch with a veil, otherwise was unthinkable. The only client with her face unveiled was a woman with dark skin and emerald eyes with almond shaped pupils behind rectangular glasses. Her pointed ears remind him of the elves from Tolkien, with her long white dreadlocks, when she must be less than twenty years old, reunited in a ponytail, made her someone strange enough to have her place here. And she got a mysterious smile when she saw them arrive. She elbowed the one sitting beside her, sleeping, but he didn't wake up, keeping his head in his arms, making the woman sigh.
The barman was beside her, in fact. The woman whispered something while pointing toward them and the man came toward them with his strange steps. Old with a surly air around him, an imposing gray beard and long hair of the same color. Tall and thin. All of this gave Harry an impression of déjà vu. Not that it reassured him a lot, since he had the same impression with the woman.
«What? » Grumbled the owner.
« Three Butterbeers, please. »
The man went toward his bar, followed by the trio. He took from under the bar three very dirty and dusty bottles which he loudly put in front of them.
« Six Sickles » he stated.
Harry rushed to give him the money. The eyes of the barman wandered on the face of the boy-who-lived, lingering a little on the scar before turning around to put the money away, leaving the trio to take a seat in a corner.
«So, how many people will join us ? » Asked Harry.
He ripped the rusty cap of his bottle and took a sip of his butterbeer.
«Oh just two or three peoples, » repeated Hermione who glanced at her watch and threw a worried look toward the door. «I told them to come at about this time and I'm sure they know how to find… Ah, look, it's probably them. »
The door of the pub had just opened. For an instant, a thick ray of sun pierced the dust and divided the room in two, before disappearing, hidden by the crowd that was entering.
First, there was Neville, Dean and Seamus, with Lavender and the Patil twins (who looked at the woman with white hair a little puzzle). Following came (Harry sensed his stomach jump and he was ready to swear that the strange woman was mocking him) Cho with one of her giggling friends. Luna Lovegood after them, still as dreamy as ever. The rest of the Quidditch team of Gryffindor came with the Creevey brothers, Ernie Macmillan, Justin Flinch-Fletchley, Hannah Abbot, Susan Bones (recognizable by her long braid), three boys from Ravenclaw. Came then Ginny and a boy from the Hufflepuff Quidditch team and finally, closing the group, Fred and George with Lee, all three with arms full of big paper bags full of products from Zonko. Luffy, Vivi and Nami arrived a little late. Luffy threw a puzzled glance toward the table of the white-haired woman, but didn't comment as he went to sit with the group.
«Two or three people? » Rasped Harry to Hermione. «Two or three?»
«In fact, it seems like the idea had quite the success » answered Hermione happily. « Ron, can you try to find more chairs»
Meanwhile, Fred was giving out the drinks to everyone and the Patil twins came back toward the group without talking to the white-haired woman. Harry was sure that he had seen the wand of the woman move under the table just before the girls walked back.
Harry watched with stunned eyes the students take their beer from Fred's hand and search their robes in search of some coin. He couldn't really imagine the reason why all those people came until a horrible though came to his mind: maybe they were expecting some speech from him? Harry then turned toward Hermione.
«What did you tell them?» He said his voice low. «What are they expecting from me?»
«I told you, they simply want to listen to what you have to say,» answered Hermione in a soothing voice.
But Harry continued to stare at her with such an expression of fury that she hurried to add:
«You don't need to do anything for now, I'll speak to them first.»
The Boy-Who-Lived had his mouth extremely dry, while the students were taking seats by group of two or three. Progressively the silence fell and all eyes turned to Harry.
«Well…», said Hermione whom her nerves made her voice slightly higher than normal. «Well… hum, hello…»
The group reported their attention on her, but the eyes were regularly coming back to Harry.
«So, hum… well, you know why you're here. Well… so, Harry had the idea» – Harry send a glare to Hermione – «I mean that I had the idea… that maybe it would be good if the people who want to study defense against the dark arts, and I mean really study, not just the idiotic things that Gamabridge is making us do…» - there were some snickers at the nickname that seemed to have already gone around the castle and it allowed Hermione to gain more confidence in herself- «…because we can't call that lessons of defense against the Dark Arts…»
« Well said!» Cheered a boy.
«So, I though that maybe we should do it by ourselves.»
She made a pause, and threw a glance to Harry before continuing:
«I mean by that to really defend ourselves, not only in theory, but by really casting spells…»
«You still want to pass the OWLs defense, don't you.» Said another boy.
«Of course!» Hermione answered immediately. «But more than that, I want to follow a true defensive training because… because…» - she took a deep breath before ending her sentence – « because outside, it won't go easy on us, and there is more than one danger. Lord Voldemort is only one of them.»
The reaction was immediate and predictable. High pitch screams from Cho's friend, a twitch from Boot's side, squeak quickly turned into a caught from Neville. The Patil twins stayed their head high and tried not to react, but their skin paled an instant. Everyone, however, quickly turned their eyes toward Harry with hunger, except for the Gryffindors who knew his position on the subject… or on the back of who Luffy fall on. Either one, one not preventing the other.
«Well, at least, it's our project», Hermione continued. «If you decide to join us, we will need to see how we will do…»
«Where is the proof that You-Know-Who is back?» Asked the blond player from Hufflepuff rather aggressively.
«Well, Dumbledore believe it…» began Hermione.
«You mean that Dumbledore believe him,» said the blond with a sign of his head to Harry.
Harry brusquely remembered him. Smith.
«It's not the subject of the gathering…» answered Hermione.
«Leave it to me, Hermione» said Harry standing up.
He understood why so many people came here. Hermione should have thought of it. Most of them hoped to hear an exclusive interview of what had happened to him.
«What is making me say that Snake Face is back?» He asked looking Zacharias straight into his eyes. «It's because I saw him. But Dumbledore already retold to all the school last year what had happened and if you didn't believe him, then, you won't believe me, and I really don't intend to lose my afternoon trying to convince you as to who you should believe.»
Everyone seemed to hold on their breath as Harry talked. He had the impression that even the barman was listening. He saw him drying the same glass with his dirty dishcloth, dirtying it more with each gesture. The woman leaned with all her weigh on her table, resting her shin on her hand, eyes half closed but staring at them. Even the sleeping man had woken up and was watching them above his arms, his face hidden by an orange hat that was rather familiar, but that he couldn't replace.
«All that Dumbledore told us last year,» replied Zacharias with disdain,« is that Cedric Diggory was killed by You-Know-Who and that you and Portgas had bought back his body to Hogwarts. He didn't give us any detail, he didn't explain to us how Diggory was killed and I think that we would all like to know…»
«If you came to hear me talking about what happen exactly when Voldemort kill someone, I can't do anything for you,» interrupted Harry.
The anger ready to explode that stuck to his skin was coming back full strength.
Harry took a deep breath, trying to take back the control of his emotions.
«I saw someone be killed in front of my eyes. And you want me to talk about it like that?! Cedric was a Hufflepuff, we can say that it's admirable the way you respect the memory of your late comrade. The fact is that I don't want to talk about Cedric Diggory, okay? So, those who came for this can go back now.»
No one stood up, even Zacharias Smith who had stopped staring at Harry since he had reminded him that he should respect a little more the memory of the dead.
«Next, anyone daring to accuse Ace of killing Diggory can pick their things and go too. He saved my life that night, and I won't allow anyone to spit on him.»
«He is Roger's son, it's normal-»
«ENOUGH! He could be the son of Voldemort himself that it wouldn't change anything to the problem! In what way the fact that he was born from the last pirate king must influence who he is?! He is not his father! He may have chosen a similar path to his, but that's normal for him to be there when we know that there are people like you who judge without knowing and refuse to give a chance because of an accident of birth! Ace is a friend! He is a formidable guy! His mistakes and blood won't change anything to those facts! He took a Cruciatus for me, last year, in our escape! He put himself between Voldemort and me to keep me alive! He worried for me for each of the tasks, not even considering what he would himself do! He was ready to leave the Cup and the victory to Cedric, just to help me with my injured leg! And he proved that he was ready to sacrifice himself for those he cherishes… How many of you would be ready to throw yourself between death and your loved ones, well?! How many? Ace isn't stupid to the point of thinking an instant that he had a chance at survival, he acted and that is it! A miracle made it so that he still is alive, but it's certain that had he not acted, Luffy wouldn't be there with us today! »
Luffy sighed discreetly and since he was sitting close to Harry, he patted him on the arm, seeming to say that's enough. Harry tried to calm himself. For a good minute, he stayed silent before saying, with a calmer tone:
«And, you won't tell me that you're naive enough to believe that there is only Snake Face as a bad guy in this world. Even if we exclude the muggle conflicts that will ended up touching us one day or another, and the pirates that are mostly on the Grand Line»- the pirates in the room snickered- «want it or not, and despite my respect for your aunt Susan, I doubt that all the Death Eaters are in Azkaban.»
«My aunt inherited the problem after the Crouch and Lestrange case, I'm not offended.» assured Susan.
«We have no idea of the number of dangers that exist in this world. We must be ready for all eventualities, and I refuse to walk with blinders and saying that the world is beautiful and clean. I have not lived long, yet. I don't know the world well… but I know he is dangerous. »
Harry sat down and Hermione stood up with a voice that was once again very high.
«So… as I was saying… if we want to learn to defend ourselves, we must be organized, to decide of the frequency of the classes, the place where…»
«Is it true that you can cast a Patronus?» Asked Susan.
An interested murmur raised from the group.
«Yes» Harry answered defensively. «The professor Lupin taught me. I could have asked a pirate, at that time, but they are already busy enough with their training.»
«A Corporal Patronus?»
«Your aunt told you about the disciplinary hearing?»
«Yes» smiled Susan blushing.
«Yes, I can cast a Corporal Patronus… like, Luffy, no?»
«Yeah, and Nami too! Shihihihi!» Grinned Luffy.
«And why don't I know that?» Huffed Lee.
«Mum asked Ron to not spread the matter», explained Fred smiling at Harry. «She says that you draw enough attention like that.»
«She isn't wrong» muttered Harry.
There was some laugh.
The veiled witch moved a little on her chair and the elf settled more comfortably and sipped her glasses again. Her comrade didn't move, but Harry had the impression that he was amused.
«And you really killed a Basilisk with the sword that is in Dumbledore's office?» Asked the one named Terry Boot. «It's what one of the portraits told me when I went there, last year…»
«Well, yes..; that's true, but the Professor Fushisho helped me a lot at the end.»
Justin whistled, the Creevey exchanged wide eyes and Brown said a "wow" her voice low. Harry was feeling some heat in his neck, but was avoiding at all price to look in Cho's direction.
«At the end of our first year», Neville said to everyone, «he saved the phenomenal stone…»
«Philosopher,» whispered Hermione.
«Yeah, that, from You-Know-Who» finished Neville.
Hannah opened eyes as wide as galleon.
«And we can't forget,» said Cho -Harry's eyes turned instantly toward her. Cho was looking at him smiling and his stomach did another jump- «all the tasks he accomplished last year during the Triwizards Cup – facing dragon, mermaids, acromentula and the rest…»
An approving and admiring murmur raised around the table. Harry sensed his gut form a knot. He forced himself to control the expression on his face and not to seem too happy. Cho's praises made it infinitely harder to say the words he had sworn to say in front of them.
«Listen» he continued and everyone went silent immediately. «I… I don't want to act with false modesty, but I always got a lot of help when I did all those things…»
«Not with the dragons, at least,» said Michael Corner right away. «That, that was an amazing demonstration of flying… Well, it's true that Portgas did a blazing thing» he looked puzzled when they tried not to laugh the twins, Hermione, Luffy, Nami and Vivi «and it's hard to compare anything with that show, but I must confess that you did a good show.»
«Well, okay» admitted Harry sensing that to deny it would do nothing.
«And no one helped you getting rid of the dementors last summer.»
«Yes, that's true too, but…»
«You're trying to weasel out from showing us what you can do? » Intervened Smith.
«I have an idea for you» said Ron before Harry could answer. «And if you kept your trap shut? »
«What! » he said. «We all come here for him to teach us things and now, he tells us that he can't do anything! »
«Harry didn't say he could do anything, he had the merit to say that he had received help» pointed Nami.
«Exactly, that's what he said» grumbled Fred.
«You want that we clean your ears? » Asked George as he took from one of the Zonko bag a long metallic tool that looked suspect.
«Or any other part of your body, we're not selective, we're ready to stuck that where you want», added Fred.
Luffy began to guffaw like an idiot.
«Right, so» Hermione continued, trying to go on. «The first point is: do we all agree to follow lesson that Harry would give us? »
There was a whisper of general approval. Zacharias crossed his arms without saying a word, probably to busy watching the tool in George's hand.
«Good» said Hermione, glad that something was finally decided. «So, the next question is, what is the pace should we meet? I think that we need at least one meeting a week, or, it wouldn't be worth it…»
«Wait a little» cut Angelina. «We must be sure that it won't cut on our Quidditch training.»
«Nor with ours» said Cho.
«Nor us» added Smith.
«If I have to keep it secret from Sabo and Robin, we need to avoid it from cutting my training, or Nami's» pointed out Luffy.
«I'm sure that we can find an evening that will be good for everyone» said Hermione a little irked. «You know, it's rather important, it's about learning to defend ourselves against the dangers of the external world, be it thieves, murderers or rapists, or even Voldemort's Death Eaters…»
«Well said! » Barked Enrie Macmillan (Harry had expected him to intervene earlier). « Personally, I think that this is very important, maybe even more than all we will have to do this year, even with the OWL's awaiting us! »
His gaze lingered, pressing as if excepting everyone to say "surely not!". But seeing that no one was saying anything, he continued:
«For me, I don't understand why the ministry placed a teacher as incompetent in such a critical period. Visibly, they deny the return of You-Know-Who, but to pretend that the world is without danger and give us a teacher that deny us the use of defensive spells…»
«We think that the reason why Umbridge don't want to train us in defense against the dark arts » said Hermione « It's because she has… that sort of crazy idea that Dumbledore could use the students of the school to form a sort of private army. She thinks that he intends to mobilize us against the Ministry. »
Everyone or almost everyone seemed stunned. All except Luna Lovegood who threw in:
«I agree. And as for OWLs and ASPICs it will always be the critical year of someone. If it isn't this year, it would have been next year, and it would be two other generations touched. Then, let's see things under a logical angle. If we die, there is little chance that we could pass our exams and the result to be used. »
Who could challenge such logic? Finally, Luna wasn't a Ravenclaw for nothing. Then she drifts off a little…
«It's rather normal, after all, for him to be scared. Karamelu, oops, I mean Cronelius Fudge has his own army himself. »
« What? » Exclaimed Harry, puzzled.
« Yes, he has an army of Heliopath » stated solemnly Luna.
« No, that's not true » replicated Hermione in a tired voice.
« Of course, it is » insisted Luna.
« What are Heliopath? » Asked Neville intrigued.
«They are fire spirits » answered Luna, whom wide eyes rounded giving her a face crazier than ever. «Big blazing creatures who gallop straight in front of them burning everything in their path…»
«Those creatures don't exist, Neville » affirmed Hermione in a scathing tone.
«Yes, they do! » Protested Luna with anger.
«I'm sorry Luna, but do you have the proof of their existence? » Demanded Hermione.
«There is a lot of testimony and they are talked about in a book in the Restricted Section of the school. You're so narrow-minded that you always need to have everything presented to you for you to believe it…»
«Hermione… Ace did meet some Heliopath in the Shin Sekai » smiled a sympathetic Nami.
«Hum, Hum! » did Ginny in such a good imitation of the Professor Umbridge that some of them turned around with afraid face before bursting laughing. « Were we not deciding the rhythm of our defense classes? »
«Yes» said Hermione immediately. «You're right Ginny. »
« Once a week, it seems good» approved Lee Jordan.
« So long as…» began Angelina.
«Yes, yes, we know for the Quidditch » interrupted Hermione in a tense voice. «Good, another thing to determine, is the place it will take place…»
The question was harder and everyone stayed silent. Harry briefly though of the so-called Room of Requirement, where the pirate passed their time training. Seeing the look that Nami and Hermione threw him, they must have though the same.
«In the library? » Suggested Katie after some time.
«I don't think that Mrs Pince would be happy to see us practice jinx in her library » said Harry.
«Maybe an unused classroom? » Proposed Dean.
«Yes» approved Ron. «Maybe McGonagall will let us use hers, she already did it when Hary was training for the Triwizard Tournament. »
But Harry was sure that McGonagall wouldn't be has accommodating this time. What they were preparing was a little too subversive.
Luffy and Nami exchanged a glance, then Nami talked:
«I may have an idea on the subject, we just have to make sure it's free to use. »
«Very well, we count on you, Nami » said Hermione.
She searched in her bag, took out a quill and some parchment, then hesitated an instant, as if she was going to say something that wouldn't please everybody.
«I believe that we should write our name simply to know who was present t this first meeting. But I also think that we should promise to not scream to everyone what we intent to do. So, if you sign, you engage yourself not to reveal anything of what we are preparing, neither to Gamabarge, nor anyone else. »
«We can count on you for this list not to fall on bad hands? » asked Vivi stepping forward.
And she signed.
Luna came following, with the pirates.
Little by little, everybody signed and when the parchment disappeared in Hermione's bag, a strange feeling filled him. It was as if he had signed some sort of contract.
Slowly, the room emptied. Cho seemed to want to take her time to talk to Harry, but her friend rushed her.
«Maybe you should talk to her » proposed Hermione in whisper to her friend, making him blush. «After all, she was eyeing you intensely. »
Never before had Harry realized that Hogsmead was so beautiful.
They walked out of the bar with the pirates and the twins.
«We leave you without surveillance and now you create a subversive club… good god, what will we do with you? » Sighed someone.
The group turned around to see the two young of before just behind them. And when he saw who it really was, Harry understood the familiarity he had in front of the hat.
«ACE!» Called happily Luffy throwing himself at the waist of his brother.
The woman with white hair removed her glasses and a necklace around her neck, and her appearance changed. Her dreadlocks became feral black hair, and her emerald eyes became amethyst with milky pupils. The twins almost tackled their older sister to the ground.
«Ace-san a pleasure to see you again» smiled Vivi as Luffy tried to smother his brother with just the strength of his arms (and could maybe kill him).
«Same here, Vivi-kun. Everyone, it's a pleasure to see you again…»
Ace hadn't changed a lot since last year. Other than the bad scar on his left eye reminding the one of his uncles on the other eye, and another on his chest left free by his short sleeve shirt. A spot of clear skin in the middle of his chest and big enough to have touch his heart.
«What are you doing here? » Wondered Ron.
«I had a thing or two to do at Hogwarts, about some pink horror. Marco also wanted to know how Sabo was doing with the job. Izou stayed at the castle to drink a cup of tea with Robin and Sabo. I thought about going for a drink with Kal', hoping to see ya and… tada!
«You'll be in trouble » pointed out Hermione worried.
«We're used to it » smiled Kali, her sisters still holding her.
« And our network told us that the admirals are too busy in the Shin Sekai. We shouldn't stay like that in the middle of the street…
The group went toward the Howling Shack and sat around it. There was no one, fortunately.
«Harry, Hermione… I learned that you went to see Shakky, this summer, in hope of helping me. Thank you» said Ace. «And thank you for defending me, earlier. I'm very moved by it».
«You are our friend, you helped us more than once, we couldn't stay doing nothing» blushed Hermione.
«I begged my father to intervene, but the Marine wouldn't hear him» whispered Vivi.
«Thank him for me, but I think that Alabasta should lay low. I know for Pluton.»
Vivi's eyes widened.
«Crocodile talk in his sleep, his cell wasn't far from mine… I doubt that anyone else than me, Jimbe or some prisoners, who if I understood well, died a little later, know about it.»
Vivi still stayed worried.
«If the Government search for Pluton, and Marco will fly to your help. Don't worry» assured Ace.
«I won't let them come after you! » Huffed Luffy, offended.
«What is that, Pluton? I don't have the impression that you're talking about the planet here» asked Padma looking unsure.
«An old story dating from the Lost Century», Kali told her. «It's a battleship with the power to wipe of the map a country in its entirety. There is only one person able to wake up this Ancient Weapon in this world : Nico Robin, your history professor.»
«That's why she is wanted since she was a child» explained Nami.
«Talking about weapon, ahou gomu… I have something for ya. » said the Commandant.
Ace removed his mitten and took out a wand.
« My wand! » Recognized Luffy taking the object back. «I thought I had lost it at Impel Down! »
«Magellan picked it up. Which mean that the old geezer found it. Read any of his letters? »
«No, you?»
«Nay. That's why he send it to Ji-chan who passed it to me when I told him I was coming to see ya. Try to not lose it, 'kay.»
«Shihihihi! Hai!»
«I'm wondering why you're not scolding us about what we are preparing » commented Hermione.
«Why do that? » Asked Kali. «I agree that you need, more than anyone else, to know how to defend yourself. Add to the fact that you are on the black list of most purist, you are young, so easy preys… but you also are close to pirates. »
«I have enemies and they could come after you, because we are friend » pointed out Luffy.
«Same for you two» said Kali to the twins.
She was almost smothered by her sisters when they tightened their grip around her.
«One more reason to take classes with Harry» smiled Parvati.
«Portgas, thank you for taking care of our sister» thanked Padma with a smile to Ace.
«Oh but it's a pleasure» assured Ace with a grin. «We take care of our nakamas. We are a very big family.»
«You are the worst brother ever, with the survival instinct of a rock» commented Kali.
«Nay, I have a worm, don't mistake».
It made them laugh.
«Oh, Ace, I remember something» recalled Luffy, suddenly serious.
Ace threw a puzzled look at his brother.
«You remember the program of botanic in sixth year? »
«No luck, since I gave up botanic, if you remember. Why? »
«Rumor say that the subject of akuma no mi is on the program for four years now» stated Ron.
The twins stepped away from their sister when they sensed her stiffen.
Ace had lost his colors and Luffy was looking at his flip-flop silently, hands in the pockets of his coat.
«Karasu, please. »
Crac!
The house elf appeared, armed with a crooked baseball bat.
«Ray-san just came back with big debt, Karasu was taking his head off » explained the house elf with an indifferent face. «Karasu can do something for Ace-kun? »
«Hit Sabo veeeeeeery strong on his head, to not having shared with me an interesting point of the botanic program of sixth year, please. »
The vicious smirk on the lips of the elf made Luffy shiver. He almost pities his brother.
«With pleasure! » And the elf disappeared.
«I understand now the strange letter you send me» commented sharply Kali to her sisters.
«We tried to make them understand what an akuma no mi meant, in someone » sighed Nami.
« That's what I hate the most right now» spitted Ace hugging one of his leg against his body, still sitting on the root of a tree that was around.
«Why? » Asked Ron.
«It is the reason why Thatch was almost killed, this summer. In one of our hauls, Thatch found himself with an akuma no mi in his hands. He wanted to sell it. He didn't want to lose his capacity to swim. Teach» – Ace had said the name with so much hate that it surprised the Golden Trio and the Patil twins – «wanted that fruit… Yami Yami no mi. He stabbed our brother in the back, almost killing him, to run away with the fruit. If we didn't have magic, Thatch would be dead today. It's without mentioning the fact that he goes after the noryokusha, sorry, devil user, to steal their power… and I know that I don't have the strength need to do anything if he come after my crew. Despite appearance I still have problem fighting. »
Ace closed his fist which went aflame.
«Ace, flames » reminded Kali. «I don't want to have to explain to Izou-Taishou and Marco-senshô why you burned down the village. »
Ace shook his hand with annoyance, chasing the flames.
«Stupid question, I thought that you could only eat one of those fruits… why is he trying to find others» pointed Harry.
«For his new crew to have it. »
«Can you go slowly for us? » Asked Parvati with a moan of despair.
Ace and Luffy shared a glance, then looked at Kali.
«My sisters »said Kali, cutting Ace who was opening his mouth. «I'll take care of it. »
«As you wish. »
Kali sighed and joined her hands on her knees, stopping playing nervously with her purple sari.
«It is about a strange fruit that is said to be the present of the demon of the seas given to mortals. Each fruit is unique and have a power. Either the fruit is listed in one of the rarest encyclopedias, either we can guess what power it contains. Or, we bit in it praying not to have a ridiculous power. All that is existent and nonexistent can be a power of the fruit. You just need a bit, to receive the power, after, the fruit is only a despicable thing that make the most disgusting thing you ever ate something coming from a five-star restaurant. But there are several down points. If you ate it and you don't like the power you gained, you'll keep it until you die. And you'll also be damned to be unable to swim. For each fruit, so, the powers, other disadvantages can be added. All of this led to the fact that you won't be entirely human anymore. »
«And that's without talking about slavery, of course. Or the locals of some islands that see badly those sort of power » growled Ace.
«Three years ago, I ate one» stated Kali.
The twins looked at her from head to toes.
«You don't seem different from someone normal… even if I didn't remember that you had pointed ears…» commented Padma.
«It's one of the consequences of her power. I have one too, and Ace too. We have this power since we were kid, both of us» muttered Luffy still staring at his toes.
«My volatile character has a logical explanation » chuckled bitterly Hiken.
«You seem normal» pointed out Parvati.
For all answer, Ace flamed fully, before turning back to normal. The 'cool' of the twins made him smile. When Luffy stretched his cheeks, the girls stayed perplexes. Parvati even stood up and pulled one, before bursting laughing in front of the result.
«Luffy is as rubbery as Ace is fire», explained Nami.
«It's intriguing…» confessed Padma who had her head leaning on one side, her brain of Ravenclaw spinning at full speed. «But you really don't seem strange, Kali. Portgas is always very hot and with a volatile character, and everyone at school know that Luffy is the most flexible boy there is… but you, other than your ears…»
«I really seem normal? » Asked Kali.
And she opened her mouth wide. So wide that someone could fear that she would dislocate her jaw. She lowered her head back allowing to see that her canine above were replaced with snake fangs.
«We're not certain of the classification of my fruit. Some say that I am a bird type, other a reptile, even divine» stated Kali. «Personally, I prefer this classification…»
Kali stood up to walk to the Howling Shack, just behind Ace. She sat on the ground, facing everyone, putting her legs in her sarouel. Progressively, she began to change. A crest of golden feather began to form in her black hair, emerging from very low on her forehead, accompanied with vivid and warm feather in her hair, plus some scale of sand color on her skin forming strange arabesques. Her eyes took on a reptilian color. From her sarouel came out a powerful snake tail, color just as sandy, allowing her to stand on it. To complete the look, two wings, emerald on the outside and red on the inside, with the feather at the end very longs and white, appeared on her back. She wagged her tail in a dry gesture, making it produce a slight noise reminding some bells.
«Mythical Zoan kami kami no mi, model Quetzalcoatl, the feathered snake god, god of winds, morning star. The sage and seer. Patron of the Priests.»
Her snake tongue came out an instant outside between her lips.
«Do I still look human?»
Parvati let herself fall on a chair of the common room, and took her face between her hands. Ron passed beside her looking at her strangely, then went back to the dorm. Face to his reaction to the power of Kali (he didn't try to hide his disgust), Hermione had taken on herself and cast a memory charm on him, cleaning his memory of their meeting with the two Shirohige.
«Will you be alright?» Asked Harry sitting beside Parvati.
«Yes, except I worry twice more about her… and to say that Luffy is like that…»
«Oh, it isn't as impressive as your sister or Ace» said Harry. «You get used to it. Sometime, it surprises you, but we're all different.»
«How long did you know?»
«It's Luffy who rid us of the troll in first year. I must say that it was… strange, to see his arm stretch longer than three meters. And it's Sabo, meeting by chance Hermione in a muggle library that told us what it was. The professor Fushisho didn't like to know that we were researching on the subject, and Ace was well on his way of burning us to ashes. »
Parvati sighed and looked in front of her.
«It's funny, don't you think? » She ended up saying.
«What? »
«In the Hindu mythology, Kali is a goddess. Kâlî the Black. She is represented with six arms, dancing on the body of the God Shiva. It's the destructive mother of the universe, she is associated to time, generally. She is the ferocious aspect of the Supreme Goddess. She fights evil, ignorance, jealousy, and passion. And she is also associated to the god of fire, Agni. »
Parvati giggled.
«There is a lot of parallel between my sister and the goddess to which she borrowed the name. Other than her dark skin, she has a physiognomy and godly powers, she is capable, I'm sure, to render powerful men powerless and she is associated to fire with her link to Ace. »
Harry rubbed her back in the hope to comfort her. After all, she had supported him against the others students, since the beginning of the year.
«Tomorrow, I'll begin to research the subject. I want to understand better. I made a mistake, with Padma, last year. I tried to understand why she went away, before worrying about her health and happiness. I won't lose her a second time because of my foolishness. It doesn't matter that she is some sort of funny snake with feathers, a pirate or even a cannibal… she is my big sister. »
Parvati offered a smile to Harry.
«Thanks for the comfort. »
«We're friend, aren't we? It's what friends do.»