Chapter 9 : The underground club

The end of the holidays went smoothly for Akira after the departure of the twins at Christmas and the explosive gift they sent her for New Year. After this two-weeks break, the school year was able to resume at the beginning of January while the third year students quickly found themselves overwhelmed with homework with the extra classes they were taking.

Anyway, that wasn't what they had in mind as an Hogsmeade visit was scheduled for the last Saturday of the month. This prospect enchanted Akira who didn't enjoy her last expedition there as she was fearing at that time that something bad would happen to the twins who were staying in the castle while she was away. But now that her teammates had left the school, there was nothing to stop her from enjoying Honeydukes or drinking a butterbeer as she had forgotten the taste it had.

Arcturus was excited too to return in this village. He even already decided the places he wanted to go back to, namely almost all of them. He also wrote on a piece of parchment what he wanted to buy before judiciously tracing the items he couldn't afford and those that were superficial. In the end, there was only one word left on his long list covered with scribble.

"A… Sneakoscope ?" Akira read on his piece of parchment as they were both standing in line for Filch to check their permission form before letting them go to the village. "What's that thing ?"

"Just a dark magic detector." He informed her while putting his list back in his pocket. "Very handy in these difficult times."

Indeed, even if the students were confined in Hogwarts which was reputed to be the safest place in England due to the presence of Dumbledore, it didn't go unnoticed to them that danger lurked in the wizarding world around the school. This wasn't new since not a day passed without the Daily Prophet reporting the actions of Voldemort and his followers. Akira might not be familiar with this dark wizard that she had never met but she knew what his subordinates were capable of as some of them almost succeeded in killing her last year. The only reason she was still going to Hogwarts to follow her studies was that Konoha wasn't better for her well-being, especially with her ninja status that forced her to face all the dangers during her missions.

Akira and Arcturus passed Filch's control – not without a hitch as Arcturus mistakenly gave him his shopping list rather than his signed permission – and followed their comrades to the village which was covered in snow and ice as the temperature of the air was freezing at this season.

This awful weather made Akira and Arcturus review their visit's planning as it was a nightmare to face the biting cold that reigned outside. They didn't waste time and went to buy Arcturus' Sneakoscope which was more expensive than expected, forcing Akira to pay some of it as Arcturus was running out of money to do so. Once they left the store, the latter insisted on sharing this object with her since she had contributed to its purchase. She gladly accepted as it could prove to be useful in the future. Now that Arcturus' list was fulfilled, they decided to take refuge at the Three Broomsticks which was crowded with students and teachers.

After more than an hour spent in the warm while enjoying a good butterbeer, they took their courage with both hands and went outside in the street to have a look at Honeydukes. But the store was hard to find as the wind was throwing the snow accumulated on the ground right into the eyes of the unfortunate passerby until they couldn't see anything except a thick white mist. It wasn't ideal to distinguish where you were stepping and covering your eyes with your hands wasn't really helpful. Indeed, that didn't help Akira and Arcturus to find their way as they got lost in the middle of the street, being unable to read the stores' signs around them.

"I think it's over there." Akira guessed once they spotted the dark shape of a house looming in front of them.

But as they approached to check that it was indeed Honeydukes, a group of approximately ten people detached itself from the wall to come to meet them.

"Get her !" One of them ordered as Akira froze in place while recognising Slytherin students from various years.

She didn't try to resist by using her ninja abilities as two of them grabbed each one of her arms. The last thing she wanted was to make a fuss before knowing why they were after her. However, she got a bit tense when she saw a big guy going towards Arcturus before taking him by his collar.

"What are we doing with this one ?" The big guy asked while turning towards the student standing in the middle of the group and who was certainly their chief.

"I don't know. Just keep him quiet while I'm talking with the Mudblood." The latter replied with exasperation.

The big guy did as he was said and put his wand under Arcturus chin to prevent him from opening his mouth. Akira decided to not make things worse against so many opponents with their wand pointed towards them, even if she dreamt of punching them all in the face for threatening her and her friend.

"So, the traitor's not with you ?" The leader asked her out of the blue.

"Who ?" Akira asked while frowning.

"You know, that foreign student who befriended us before changing of side. Where is he now ?"

"That's none of your business." Akira replied sharply as the only foreign student from Slytherin that was friend with her was none other than Matsuo.

"You came here on his behalf, right ? He told you we would meet here ?" The chief added, being more enigmatic than ever.

"I can't answer to that question. I don't even know what you're talking about !" Akira told him honestly but the leader didn't seem to believe her.

"You're not cooperating ? Cause I know that you're not telling us the truth. If he didn't tell you anything, then why are you here with that Blood Traitor ?" He added while pointing his wand briefly at Arcturus who still couldn't speak.

"We got lost in this mist. We wanted to join Honeydukes, not being in trouble." Akira informed him.

"Of course. That's what everybody says when they're threatened. Keep that excuse for incredulous people and stop taking us for fools." The chief replied with hate.

"Come on. Just kill her and let's go drink something. I'm beginning to be thirsty." One girl of his group complained.

"No. That's not how we planned it. Let's just make her want to stop looking around for our group." The chief intervened as he seemed a bit frightened by this dark advice. "So, who's voluntary to cast the spell ?"

"You can do it since you're the one who got the idea of it." A rachitic boy told him.

"Why do I have to do everything ? I found the spell, now someone else can cast it."

But he gave up when he noticed that no one would take this burden.

"Fine. Let's just get rid of it." He added without enthusiasm. "Crucio !"

The spell hit Akira and was just as horrific as the first time she had experienced it, namely last year against a Ravenclaw student who had sought to eliminate her. The pain shot through each of her nerves like electric shocks and she suddenly found herself sprawled in the snow as her legs gave up and both Slytherins that were holding her still finally let her go. However, the pain suddenly disappeared as quickly as it came when a stranger stepped into the fight to put an end to it.

"If I see your face again near my pub, you'll get a taste of that cruciatus curse of yours !" A gruff voice that Akira didn't know threatened.

"Say that for yourself ! Soon, you won't be able to do as you please when the Dark Arts will rule the world." The leader of the Slytherins group replied to Akira's saviour but in a whiny tone before fleeing with his cronies at full speed in the mist.

"Are you all right ?" The man then asked Akira with his grumpy tone while approaching her.

He was tall, old, with long grey hair and beard. He was wearing glasses that were as dirty as his clothes and his apron and he seemed rather annoyed to have to step into the cold weather to go to her help even if she didn't ask it.

"I'm fine." Akira answered while taking the hand that he was holding out to her before he pulled her back on her feet with strength.

"At the same time, it will serve you as a lesson. My pub isn't the right place for students who want to stay out of trouble." The man informed her sharply as if he was accusing her for all the mess that happened. "Normally, I let people deal with their own issue but you seemed to be needed some help. And after getting hit by such a curse, I can offer you a butterbeer but that's it."

"I didn't try to…" Akira said to defend herself before being interrupted by Arcturus who was now free to talk as the big guy that was threatening him fled with his group.

"A free butterbeer ? That's exactly what I needed !" He stated happily.

"That offer doesn't apply to you." The man told him before going inside his inn without worrying about whether they would follow him or not.

Akira was very tempted to leave the place – both the man and his establishment looked more than shabby – but he had protected her from cruel Slytherins. It would have been rude to run away.

She therefore approached the pub but stopped when she saw that it was the Hog's Head Inn which she hadn't recognized due to the poor visibility caused by the snow flying in all directions. This place had a very bad reputation among the students who were saying that it was the most poorly frequented place in the whole village. And the gossip about his landlord was rife as everyone thought he was weird and the type of person to avoid at all cost. However to Akira's eyes, he seemed to be more like a grumpy old man who couldn't help but act when someone was in danger.

"Yuck, it's the Hog's Head Inn. I would prefer to face again the Slytherins rather than going inside this filthy place." Arcturus announced with disgust as he was staring at the boar's severed head hanging over the door and resting on a blood soaked rag.

Akira ignored that remark and went in, forcing Arcturus to do the same as they were freezing outside. It wasn't much warmer inside but at least, they were sheltered from the wind. They walked between the tables occupied by suspicious people that were hiding their face. Eventually they arrived in front of a dusty bar where they took a seat while the owner was standing behind it to prepare orders for his customers. Without asking, he handed them each a bottle of butterbeer whose label had become unreadable from the dirt that had accumulated on it with years.

"How long have you had them ? The expiration date must have passed ages ago." Arcturus inquired as Akira wasn't more reassured than him to drink this thing.

"What's this concept, "expiration" ? I bought a stock of that beer and would sell it as long as I have it on my shelves. The rest doesn't concern me." The bartender snapped at him as food safety seemed to be the least of his worries. "These butterbeers don't sell well because they're not to the taste of my clientele. Only students like you enjoy such a sweet drink but they rarely come to my inn, only to hatch plans like the Slytherins who attacked you earlier."

"I know a place where there's plenty of students who would buy your beer." Arcturus told him mischievously. "Hogwarts ! Why don't you sell them there ? And I could be your go-between. It would sell well for events like Quidditch celebrations."

"Nope. I run this establishment on my own and I don't need a bulky sidekick in my business." The man replied firmly.

"Come on ! I don't take much. Let's say, fifty-fifty on the sale ? Thirty-seventy for you ? Well, twenty-eighty but I can't go any lower because I would be doing most of the work going to everyone to resell your butterbeers."

But the bartender didn't even bother to answer him when he had just told him that this market didn't interest him. As silence was growing between the three of them, Akira jumped at the opportunity to come back to what the man had just told them.

"These Slytherins who attacked me have already come to your pub ? What were they talking about here ?"

"It's none of my business. I just serve anyone who sets foot here and that's it. Now, drink your butterbeer and get out of my inn before going on my nerves. I don't have time to answer your silly questions all day."

"I'll pass on the beer." Arcturus answered while pushing away his disgusting bottle that he hadn't even tried to open. "It may be free but I don't want to spend the next week in the Hospital Wing for food poisoning."

"Me neither." Akira added before the bartender could remind him that his bottle wasn't free unlike her own. "Thank you for your uh... hospitality but we have to go."

They both got up from their seat and were ready to leave when the bartender turned around to face Akira.

"Don't mess with the Slytherins you met outside. They won't be afraid to kill you right away next time." He advised her in a serious tone.

"I know." Akira replied as she became used to be the target of evil people in this wizarding world.

After that, Akira and Arcturus left the dirty place even though the storm outside hadn't stopped.

"Did you hear that ? Those Slytherins we briefly met gathered in that inn to plot amongst themselves." Akira told Arcturus as they were wandering aimlessly down the empty street covered in snow. "It's suspicious. Really suspicious. And what's more surprising is that Matsuo was put in the confidence and didn't tell me anything about it. I wonder if he knows exactly what this club is doing."

"Surely bad things since they were waiting in the cold to ambush you so that you would stop looking for them." Arcturus commented.

"You're right. They wouldn't have used that awful spell on me if they had nothing to be ashamed of." Akira stated as she was wondering what these Slytherins were plotting behind everyone's back.

"But that's over now. As long as we don't cross their path again, we'll be out of trouble." Arcturus said in an attempt to reassure her and especially himself.

"Nothing's over. I want to know what they're doing and I should perhaps send a letter to Matsuo to learn the truth."

"We're getting in big trouble again." Arcturus whispered anxiously.

"I'll be in trouble. You don't need to get involved if you don't want to." Akira told him as she didn't want to put him in danger but wasn't that focused on her own safety.

"As if I was going to leave you alone on that case. If you're in, then I'm too." Arcturus informed her but with a slightly shaking voice. "So, do you need help to write that letter ?"

"Yes, we can go write it right away." Akira proposed before an icy wind came to sweep them away. "Or we'll do it when we go back to the castle because right now, my hands are too shaky to write anything. Let's go find a place to take shelter."

"To do so, we should perhaps go that way. It's opposite to the Hog's Head Inn so we won't run into it again." Arcturus offered as Akira was sharing his dislike for this place.

They followed his advice and eventually stumbled across Honeydukes as the visibility was still not good. They didn't really have the strength to leave Hogsmeade and the warm places they could find there to go back to the school. However at the end of the day, they eventually had to do it and it was a miracle that they found their way towards the castle in the middle of the white fog caused by blown snow.

Once they reached the Gryffindor common room, Akira took a quill and a piece of parchment and they settled at one table away from the other students who were there. They quickly wrote a letter for Matsuo - in English so that Arcturus could understand it - to ask him what he knew about the mysterious Slytherins gathering that happened in Hogsmeade.

Akira was curious about the answer he would give them as she was attaching the letter to the leg of an owl in the owlery. Arcturus didn't seem so eager to know but he didn't stop her from letting the owl go to find its receiver that was at the other end of the world.

Hello dear readers,

That's it, a new conspiracy is happening in Hogwarts. People say that this castle is safe but that's far from reality. More accidents happen there - and severe ones - than in the rest of the world, you only have to see what Harry went through each year in the books to get a proof.

Akira's life isn't so different but I wonder what she might learn from Matsuo. Perhaps this Slytherins gathering is symply a private club that they create to act cool as they choose their members really carefully. Or perhaps it's something darker. We'll see that in the following chapter.