WOAH SEVENTY CHAPTERS!
How often do you see a fanfic with seventy chapters?! This is so amazing! Almost two years since I've started this story woo! Time sure does fly!
Thank you to all who have supported this story from the very beginning! Despite its... flaws and loopholes but it's still an amazing achievement, and I couldn't have done it without you guys!
Anywho enjoy!
Natsu leaned on his palm, staring out the window. The feather of his quill bounced up and down his paper, clear his mind was in a daze. He was bored. He sighed, looking back at the book he had to study. He had only been at it for five minutes, but he thought he needed a break, he couldn't think of where to start. He stood up and stretched, closing the book. He picked it up and tucked it under his arm heading out of the study hall, his robes floating as he walked. Maybe a change of locations could help….
His mind went blank as he walked aimlessly around the castle, wondering where to go. When he reached the edge of the castle, his mind automatically thought about the lake ten minutes away from the school. He gave a shrug and began making his way there.
He spotted the lake and smiled, hoping his mind would have peace to study. More likely to procrastinate. But at least he tried. "So Hagrid? How did it go? The hearing?" Natsu froze, hearing voices from far away. He ducked behind a tree and peeped out. He saw Hagrid skimming stones on the lake while three teens were talking with the half giant. Natsu didn't need to ask. He knew who those three were.
Hagrid gave a sigh, flicking another stone. "Well, first off, the committee members took turns talking about why we were there." He skimmed another stone, watching it skip the surface before it dropped to the bottom of the lake. "I got up and did my piece. Said how Buckbeak was a good hippogriff. Always cleaned his feathers. And then Lucius Malfoy got up. Well, you can imagine. He said Buckbeak was a deadly and dangerous creature who would kill you as soon as he looked at ye."
"And then?" Hermione asked. Hagrid stopped, looking out on the lake. Natsu peered out a little more, waiting for the response. "And then he asked for the worst, did old Lucius…." Hagrid said, trying to hold back his tears. "They're not sacking you!" Ron groaned. "No, I'm not sacked…" Hagrid reassured, flicking another stone. He gave a gasp, couldn't look at the children.
"Buckbeak's been sentenced to death!" He cried. Natsu gasped, dropping his book with a heavy thud. His mouth dropped, then his jaw turned to a grit. He turned with a sharp heel and sped walk back to the school. He was furious! First Norman then Buckbeak! He hated it! It wasn't right!
He stormed into the meeting room where Wendy and Gajeel were sitting, minding their own business. They watched Natsu burst it and stop at the door, fists clenched. "Grr…. DAMN IT!" He roared, side punching the wall leaving a huge crack. "Woah woah woah! What's wrong Salamander?! You can't just go punching walls like that!"
"What's going on?!" A voice called up above, Lucy and Gray leaning over the balcony. "This idiot just showed up punching the wall!" Gajeel yelled, pointing at Natsu. "What? Why?" Gray asked. "Did something happen?!" Lucy gasped, making their way down. "It's Buckbeak…" Natsu muttered, still looking down. "Buckbeak? You mean the Hippogriff from Care of Magical Creatures?" Gajeel asked, tilting his head. "The one that attacked Malfoy?" Gray finished, looking at Lucy and she looking at him. "Oh that's right… I heard that Hagrid was called into the Council today to discuss the incident." Wendy remembered.
Everyone looked at Natsu who was still looking down. "Natsu…. What happened…" Lucy asked, very worried. "The committee agreed that Buckbeak was dangerous…." Everyone in the room tensed up, waiting for him to finish his sentence.
"He's been sentenced to death…"
Everyone's faces paled. They couldn't believe it. "No way…" Lucy gasped. Everyone stood there in shock and silence, not knowing what to do. "What should we do?" Lucy asked in a whisper. "...We're rescuing Buckbeak!" Natsu declared, turning around. "Natsu no! We can't do that!" Wendy said, standing up aas her chair screeched under her. "Why not?! Hagrid already lost Norman! Now he's losing Buckbeak as well! Hasn't he lost enough?! I thought you and Gajeel would know that! Even Lucy and Gray too!" Natsu shouted, pointing at the latter two.
"Natsu, trust me, I know how hard this feels, but we're in a different world and on an undercover mission! We can't expose ourselves to anyone! If this world's Magic Council knew who we are and where we come from, we could put everyone here in jeopardy!" Wendy reasoned. "Then let's do it without getting caught!" Natsu yelled. "Natsu! Wait!" Lucy grabbed his wrist, stopping him from leaving the room. "We'll save Buckbeak, I promise. But for now we have to lay low." She explained calmly. "Otherwise we might put this school, the Wizarding World, and the Muggle World in jeopardy." She said. Natsu said nothing, still staring at the door.
Lucy took a deep breath and looked at Natsu again. "Look, I know it's been a few years since we've been here. I know you miss home and you miss everyone, and you're still trying to find Igneel. We'll find a way to save Buckbeak. I promise." Natsu didn't do anything for a while, then Lucy let go. "Natsu you okay?" Gray asked. "...I'll be in the Common Room." He said with gruff and made his way out.
Natsu stood outside the Fat Lady, still minding her own business. "Hey Fat Lady." Natsu greeted. "How are you feeling? Better?" Natsu asked. "Oh, well when one is attacked you can't forget. I don't think I ever will." She said with a bit of a scoff. "I see… at least you're unhurt." Natsu muttered. "Anyway, I need to get in." Natsu said sadly. "Password?" The Fat Lady asked. "You know I don't need one right?" Natsu said bitterly. "I know but I still need to hear it." She said with a bit of a smug. Natsu gave a deep sigh. "Fortuna Major." Natsu said. "There was that so hard?" The Fat Lady asked, opening the door for Natsu. Natsu rolled his eyes a bit, then went inside.
"Natsu wait up!"
Natsu turned around, Ron running up, Harry walking up behind him and entering before the door closed. "Hey guys! What's up?" Natsu asked with a smile and folded his arms, trying to show nothing was wrong. Harry stared at him, still annoyed and angry at him. "Uh.. We found this near the lake." Ron muttered, giving Natsu his book back. Natsu paled a bit, forgetting he dropped his book. "Oh! Thanks! I've been looking for this all week! Glad that I don't have to worry 'bout paying to return it." Natsu lied through his beaming smile.
"Natsu, we know you were there. We saw you leave the area. Your hair gives you away." Ron said bluntly pointing at his hair. Natsu felt a ping of guilt. He dropped the act and sighed deeply. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to listen in I was just trying to find a place to study was all." Natsu admitted. "You okay Natsu? You seem a bit down…" Ron noticed. "Yeah, it was just a shock for me when Buckbeak was sentenced to death you know…" Natsu said, looking at his book. "It wasn't his fault. Malfoy shouldn't have provoked him." Natsu continued. "First Norman now Buckbeak…. It's not fair…." Natsu gritted.
"Natsu… this isn't about Igneel is it?" Ron asked. Natsu looked up, wondering what he meant. "What do you mean?" Natsu asked. "Well, you seem to be projecting the loss of Norman and Buckbeak onto yourself somehow. And you did say so yourself that Igneel disappeared." Ron explained. Natsu looked down, thinking about it. The more he did, the more memories rushed to his head.
"I know it's been a few years since we've been here. I know you miss home and you miss everyone."
"Norman's scared! Don't take Norman away from mummy!"
"I-I can read and write! Igneel taught me how!"
"You said you wanted to be a member of Fairy Tail right? Well come on!"
He softly gasped, realising it. It just hit him, a tear rolling down his face. He missed home…. How stupid was he to have not feel it all this time! "Natsu are you alright?" Harry asked, looking at his friend with concern. Natsu rubbed his eyes and looked at them with a smile. "Yeah I'm fine." He reassured. "I better go study." Natsu muttered turning around to head to his room. "Oh and Natsu one last thing." Ron called out. Natsu turned around as he went halfway up the stairs.
"Hermione said that you might do something stupid and try to rescue Buckbeak." Ron started. "Wha~! Pfft! I don't do stupid things." Natsu said with a bit of a chuckle. Ron and Harry looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Natsu, don't you remember the Fire Crab incident that happened last week?" Ron reminded him. "Hey, that wasn't my fault!" Natsu defended immediately. "You said you wanted to have a taste and picked one up causing the incident to happen." Harry said with a straight face. "I still don't know what he means by that!" Ron whispered.
"Anyway! Hermione said not to do anything. At least not yet." Ron said, getting to the point. "Trust us, we want to do something as well, but this is the Ministry we're talking about." Ron reassured. Natsu tightened his grip on the railing. He wanted to yell at them for not doing something sooner, but his relationship with Harry was strained enough as it was. And Ron had a point. He had gotten in enough trouble as it is. "...Fine." Natsu sighed and finally made his way up. Natsu put the book away, resulting in a heavy sigh. He slapped his cheeks, refreshing himself and forgetting the horrible events of today. He plastered a big smile and looked over to Happy, who was sleeping. He looked at him and thought he himself needed a nap. He laid next to his fluffy and cheerful companion and began to drift off.
Dreaming of Magnolia.