When Meatlug and Sharpshot had evolved, Hillevi had missed being able to take them with her everywhere.

They were too big to carry now, or have out in the crowded hallways, let alone any classrooms.

The Gryffindor common room, though?

It was the perfect size.

Sprawled across her Lairon's back, Brightclaw draped over her neck with Stormfly and Drumfire curled up on her belly, Hillevi reached up to swipe pages on Dexter's screen as she read through the Second Year Battle App.

Eevee, Sam, Cubchoo, Skullcrusher, Lockjaw and Blackstar were playing with a sparkly ball Neville had brought, while Cloudjumper cuddled on the couch between the boys with Flora, who was nursing another bottle of pain medicine, using her tail to tickle Togepi's belly as Ludwig hovered about anxiously.

Sharpshot glanced over as Hermione arrived on the teleporter, Ludwig darting over as she released Ralts and Snorunt.

"I'm fine, Ludwig, but thank you. I don't think you can help me with my problem."

"What's wrong, Hermione?" Hillevi wondered, sitting up as Harry shut off his Pokedex.

"I can't find one of my bags…"

"What was in it?" Neville wondered, watching as Dexter took the chance to make a circuit around the room to take more pictures of the Pokemon.

"Probably books." Ron voiced. "All of Hermione's bags are full of books."

"They are not, Ronald Weasley!" Hermione snapped, stomping her foot. "And even if they were, better to feed my brain than feed my stomach, like you do with all that food you pack!"

"At least what I pack is practical!" Ron argued, glaring. "If the Express had crashed, you would have thanked me for a Twinkie! No one would have been lining up to get one of your smelly books!"

"They might have lined up, but they wouldn't have gotten any Twinkies from you!"

"Are you saying I'm greedy?"

"No, I was saying you ate them all before we left the station, but greedy works, too!"

"Hey!" Hillevi shouted, Sharpshot butting between the pair physically and forcing them apart with a couple swipes of her tail. "There's no reason to be screaming at each other. Calm down."

The two glanced away from each other, clearly embarrassed, before taking seats on opposite ends of the couch.

"So, Hermione, what is missing?" Neville asked after a few moments of silence.

Hermione shifted uneasily, not saying anything.

"…It's books, isn't it?" Harry voiced dryly, elbowing Ron when he snorted.

"I can't find Professor Lockheart's books. I wanted to read up on some of his findings…"

"Why?" Hillevi wondered as Dexter returned to hover over her shoulder, waving his 'arms' for Drumfire to play with. "He's really not impressive at all."

"Today only strengthened my conviction that he's a tosser." Harry agreed.

"How could you not like him, mate?" Ron wondered, confused. "No homework! No textbooks!"

"Yes, textbooks, and yes, homework." Harry responded. "We're going to have to put a lot of effort into our sections, Ron. More work than we might normally put in, since now the entire class will be witness to our mistakes."

"Well, it is a bit unorthodox…" Hermione admitted. "But Professor Lockheart's not the first teacher to suggest that students learn better teaching themselves."

"But he is the first to use students to line his pocket." Harry countered. "None of you noticed just who wrote that app, did you?"

"It was Gilderoy Lockheart!" Dexter proudly informed them, smiling.

"So?" Ron asked.

"So? Don't you think it's weird that he would write our textbook, then decide to have us delete it? Why?"

"He was passionate." Hermione reasoned, worrying her bottom lip. "He was caught up in the moment."

"Everyone who deleted the app had to rebuy it." Hillevi reminded them, brow furrowing as the thoughts turned over down an ugly path. "That's already a quarter more he would make, just for the Second Years. If he did it in every class…"

"You heard Remus." Harry reminded Neville. "Don't you think all of this is a little shifty?"

"Well, yes, it is weird…"

"But isn't it possible that Harry and Levi are letting their mistrust of Professor Lockheart color their views?" Hermione challenged.

"That's also possible…Can't we just agree to disagree?"

The group turned to Ron, who shrugged.

"Hey, I'm just glad there's only one homework assignment."

Harry and Hillevi shared a frustrated look, and the Valhallan shrugged, conceding defeat.

"What about Professor McGonagall's assignment?" Hillevi brought up, turning the conversation down a different path.

The Partnership Professor wanted them to work on getting one of their Pokemon to select a certain colored ball without actually saying the color, and choosing the particular Pokemon would be important.

Hillevi had already settled on Stormfly, who was proving a very sharp-eyed little bird, and was hoping to get some search-and-rescue practice in to help with that.

"I think Eevee might be the best bet." Neville told Harry. "You've had him the longest, so your connection is going to be stronger."

"But Ludwig is a Ghost-type." Hermione argued, leaning over to join Cloudjumper in tickling Togepi. "I read an article a few weeks back where Professor Juniper theorized that certain Pokemon types are actually the same. They merely splintered off at one point and ended up focusing on two different parts of the same power base. She believes, for example, the Dark-type and the Fighting-type were once one and the same, but Darks, to counter Psychic attacks, began to focus on quick, distracting moves rather than powerful assaults. She also theorized that Psychic- and Ghost-types are related."

"So?" Harry wondered, not following her line of thought.

"So, Psychic-types are able to bond much closer with their trainers due to neural links. Ghost-types might be able to do something similar, which would make this task easier. We can do some research-"

Ron's Pokedex began to ring, and he happily answered the call to distract from any possible trip to the library.

"Ginny? What-?"

"Ron, please!" Ginny whispered, almost too soft for the speakers. "Please come here."

Hillevi sat up at the tone of her voice, Cloudjumper starting to bristle.

"Ginny? Ginny, what's wrong? Ginny?"

"Luna…I tried to stand up for her, but now they're coming after us both. Ron, please."

There was a loud noise, like a bang, and Ginny let out a yelp as the sound of laughter filtered through.

"RON!"

"Ginny!" Ron screamed as the transmission cut off.

Hillevi was already recalling her Dragons, even Cloudjumper, as Ron redialed and failed to get more than a ringtone.

"Bloody hell…Bloody hell, what do we-?"

"Come on, we have to find her!" Harry rallied, recalling Togepi. "Ron, send me her phone number now, and then go find your brothers! Neville, you go get Professor McGonagall-"

"I'm coming with you." Neville replied fiercely, stern.

"I'll find Professor McGonagall." Hermione offered.

"I'll send you our location as soon as we find her."

"Dexter, call James." Hillevi ordered as Meatlug followed Harry and Neville out of the door, Sharpshot swinging herself up behind their girl.

"Calling…"

"How are we going to find them?" Neville called out. "She didn't tell us where Luna and her were!"

"I know where they are." Harry replied, pulling out his own Pokedex.

"How?" Hillevi wondered, glancing at Dexter and silently demanding for James to pick up.

"A little something called The Marauder's App."

Dexter squeaked at the title, buzzing, as Harry spoke into the built-in microphone.

"I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good."

"Hello, Pronglet. How may I be of service?" A tinny voice answered, revealing another offshoot of Porygon that reminded Hillevi of J.A.R.V.I.S.

"Hello, Porygon. I need to locate the trainer whose phone number I just uploaded."

Hillevi turned her head as Dexter let out a 'click', trusting Meatlug to follow the boys.

"What's going on?" James asked, all business.

"Someone is attacking Ginny and Luna." She answered, Sharpshot crawling around to crouch on Meatlug's head as the Lairon turned a corner, nearly bowling over some Hufflepuffs. "We're on our way towards Ravenclaw tower right now-"

"I am detecting six Ravenclaw students outside the door of the classroom." The Porygon-M stated, drawing her attention away with a snap. "I believe they are trying to get to Miss Weasley and Miss Lovegood."

Neville snarled as a fire roared in Hillevi's chest, pushing faster and nearly leaving Harry in the dust and Dexter clinging to her shoulder, the jeering laughter of those Ravenclaws echoing down the hall towards them.

"Vine Whip!"

Flora knocked the group of girls away from the door they had been kicking and pounding on, leaving just enough room for Meatlug to slide in at the Bulbasaur's back, a wall of steel.

"What do you-" One of the girls started, cupping her cheek.

Considering she was also clutching Luna's purse and wearing her earrings, it was no wonder Harry failed to wait for an explanation.

"Ludwig, Eevee, Shadow Ball!"

The orbs sent her skidding across the floor, as one of the others pulled out a Poke Ball.

"Mienfoo, I choose you! Rock Smash!"

The Fighting-type cried out as Sharpshot intercepted the blow aimed at Eevee with a Flame Charge, smashing the smaller Pokemon into a wall before leaping free.

"You shouldn't have interfered!" The first Ravenclaw shouted, already inching towards the classroom door. "You or the Weasley girl! This is between us Claws and Looney! Who the hell do you think you are?!"

"I am Neville Longbottom."

"I'm Harry Potter."

"And I'm Hillevi Horrendous Haddock the Third." She finished, glaring down at the girl as Meatlug rumbled.

"Now get the hell away from our friends!"

The Ravenclaw sent out her Sneasel instead.

"Fury Swipes!"

"Flora! Vine Whip counter!"

Flora barely acknowledged the order, smacking the Dark/Ice-type away.

"Now move into a Vine Wrap!"

"Mienfoo, grab those vines and send the Bulbasaur for a ride!"

"Withdraw vines!" Neville commanded.

"Too late!" The second Ravenclaw laughed, her Mienfoo wrapping her paw securely around the vines.

"Good." Neville replied, smiling. "Flora, retract them now!"

Like an arrow from a bow, Flora launched herself at the unsuspecting Martial Arts Pokemon, pinning her opponent against the wall and using her full weight to keep the other in place.

"Ice Shard!"

"Sharpshot!"

A Flamethrower melted the ice before a mist could so much as tickle the Bulbasaur's back, and the Sneasel cried out as Sharpshot whipped her tail around in a heavy blow.

"Eevee, Tackle!"

Said Pokemon seemed to appear out of thin air, knocking the Sharp Claw Pokemon over and rolling to join Flora and Sharpshot, growling.

"How?" The Ravenclaw demanded, recalling her Mienfoo and pulling out a second Poke Ball.

The girls pulled back with a yelp when a rush of Icy Wind cut between the feuding groups, James staring them down icily with Abe and Princess flanking him.

"For a Ravenclaw, you aren't that smart." Fred called out from the end of the hall. "Plusle!"

"Minun!" George shouted, releasing his own Electric-type. "I agree. First, they think it wise to attack a Weasley. Everyone in Hogwarts knows we travel in packs!"

"Indeed, brother, and then they don't know about the Invisibility Ability!"

Percy strode forward, glaring at all the students.

"All of you, put your Pokemon away now!"

Glaring at the older girls, Hillevi reluctantly slid off and recalled Meatlug as Sharpshot returned to her side, Dexter hiding behind one shoulder after taking some quick snapshots.

Only Harry followed her example, recalling Ludwig and Eevee, while Neville scooped up Flora and the twins' Pokemon hopped up onto their usual perches.

"I'm only going to ask you this once." Percy told the Ravenclaws, truly angry. "Where-Is-My-Sister?"

"Percy!" Ginny called out through the abused door. "We're in here!"

Hillevi stepped aside as the door finally opened, anger flaring at the sight of Ginny's fainted Rattata and Luna in yesterday's shirt, jeans all covered in dirt, with no shoes and only a single sock on, trainer jacket, belt, and all spare Poke Balls missing.

"The Big Damn Heroes arrive." The blonde said softly, head tilting as she looked towards Neville. "Hello, Captain Malcom. I see you brought Jane."

"Luna…" Harry voiced, giving sound to her concerns.

"What is the meaning of all this?!"

The group turned to find Professor McGonagall storming towards them, Hermione and Ron following in her wake.

"I'm wondering the same thing, professor." Percy replied, his arms wrapped around Ginny as the girl started to shake from the previous rush of adrenaline.

With a nod of his head, the twins subtly flanked Luna while Ron joined Harry and Neville, James at Hillevi's back like a watchful shadow.

"I would very much like to know why my baby sister was trapped in a classroom by Ravenclaws acting more like a horde of Trevenants than trainers."

Professor McGonagall's lips pursed, her gaze flickering towards James, who raised an eyebrow coolly.

"I'm wondering that myself." He stated, tone blank and cold.

The professor pulled out her own Pokedex, typing in a few commands.

"Albus, could you please contact Professor Flitwick? I'm bringing several of my Gryffindors and a group of his Ravenclaws to your office. We need to sort out why they decided to engage in unsanctioned battles in the halls."


Hillevi had spent her whole life being bullied.

She had been called almost every name in the book, been beaten up, had her possessions taken and abused, been ostracized by her year-mates and neglected by the adults, and been told, over and over again, that she was not-could never be-a true Viking like everyone else.

She was Hiccup the Useless, Hiccup the Worthless, Hiccup the Fuck-Up, but never Hillevi, never herself, because she was not strong enough to be worth anything.

Watching the Ravenclaw girls-led by Third Years Cho Chang and Marietta Edgecombe-weave lies through fat crocodile tears, shirking blame, Hillevi had never felt more furious.

Dexter, the smart little Pokedex, had actually cut off his call function and started recording when they had come upon the Ravenclaws, and showed the assembled headmaster and professors the video he had captured of the six girls jeering and laughing when Flora had sprung into action.

Luna was silent as everyone told their side of the story, even her tormentors, and it made the rage burn hotter in Hillevi's veins, because she remembered that-

"I knew something was wrong when I saw what Luna was wearing, or wasn't." Ginny finished. "Especially her earrings. She would never give them to Cho or anyone else, not unless she was forced."

"You obviously don't know your friend that well." Edgecombe sniffled. "She's very friendly to us, and let us borrow her things."

"Even her shoes?" Hermione fired back, disgusted, as James glared the group of Ravenclaws down with icy rage.

"While I admit that is strange, your case is not helped by the fact that you three attacked my students, and Luna has said nothing to corroborate your story." Professor Flitwick informed them.

"Why would she?" George replied, rolling his eyes. "She tattles, and she's in for an even worse hazing."

Minun and Plusle agreed vocally, sitting behind Professor Dumbledore and making faces at the children to lighten the mood.

"Mister Weasley, that is-"

"Correct?" Fred cut in. "Right on the money? One hundred percent accurate? The most honest thing you've heard all week?"

"Strong words and a dangerous accusation." Professor McGonagall finished.

"Doesn't make it less true." Ginny insisted. "They're thieves and bullies. Wonder how they'd like to be tormented and tortured-"

"See how she acts?" Edgecombe practically wailed. "She keeps attacking us over and over, while these three stuck their noses where it didn't belong."

James grabbed the Valhallan's shoulder with his vibranium hand, forcibly holding her in place as Sharpshot bared her fangs.

"They stuck it in there because you and your little group of cowards were harassing one of your own!" Ginny fired back.

"We were not!"

"You were too, bitch!"

"Don't call me a bitch, bitch!"

"Bitch, bitch, bitch!" The youngest Weasley shouted, ignoring her Head of House's attempts to stop her. "Admit it, you're just a jealous bitch! Can't stand it that Luna is so much better than you, that people care about her more than anyone will ever care about you!"

"Who would be jealous of Looney Luna?!"

To everyone's surprise, it was Neville and Hillevi that had to be restrained at this outburst, the twins and James holding them back from getting in the girl's face as Cho leveled her friend with a lethal stare.

"Very friendly." Ron muttered, his sister looking triumphant.

Professor Flitwick looked at his students sadly, shaking his head.

"To say I am ashamed would be an understatement. I have always held my head up high as I walked down these halls, knowing that my House was one of unity."

"I am disappointed as well." Professor Dumbledore agreed with a sigh, leaning back in his chair. "I would have thought that you girls would have been smart enough to know that, once you make an enemy of someone, you lose them as an asset."

This, at least, had the Ravenclaws look ashamed of themselves.

"One hundred points from Ravenclaw for failure to show House unity."

The headmaster turned towards Harry, Neville, and Hillevi.

"As for you three, while I applaud your sense of duty when it came to defending your friend, there are proper and improper ways to do so. Fifty points from Gryffindor for battling in the halls."

"No."

All eyes turned to Harry, who stared back defiantly.

"Mister Potter?" Professor McGonagall asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No."

"Harry." Hermione hissed, her warning lost to Professor Dumbledore's next words.

"I don't understand, my boy."

"I said no."

"What does that mean?" Professor Flitwick questioned, confused.

"It means no. I do not accept the loss of points."

"Harry, my boy, I'm afraid you don't understand." The headmaster replied kindly. "You do not get a say in the matter."

"To take away points from us is to disgrace Gryffindor."

"That's the point, Mister Potter." Professor McGonagall answered. "You have disgraced your House. Another ten points-"

"We have not disgraced Gryffindor."

All eyes turned to Hillevi now, who stood tall at Harry's side.

"You say these girls disgraced their House, the House of Brilliance, by allowing their emotions to outweigh their common sense. In defending our own, we exemplified the strength of Gryffindor, helping those weaker and smaller than ourselves with no thought to the trouble this would bring us."

The Valhallan looked each of the professors in the eyes, fury burning in the gold stars of her irises.

"I spent my whole life being tormented and persecuted for not being the same as everyone else, for not being the perfect Viking, and I will never stand by while others do that to anyone."

"Miss Haddock-" Professor McGonagall began, pity flashing through her eyes.

"You called me the Dragon of Gryffindor for my actions in defending this school." Hillevi cut the woman off, Sharpshot growling sparks. "And I will uphold that title by continuing to protect those that cannot protect themselves. With or without your approval."

Professor Dumbledore and the Heads of House looked to James for some sort of support, and the super soldier was unable to fight back a sharp, tiny smile.

"Never could stop Stevie from getting into fights."

Neville leapt to his feet in that moment, pointing at Cho Chang.

"You have taken honor from my House!"

"Mister Longbottom, sit down!" Professor McGonagall ordered. "Gryffindor-"

"I'm not talking about Gryffindor." The normally shy boy retorted, fierce. "I am Neville Longbottom, Heir to the Ancient and Noble House of Longbottom. You six attacked Luna Lovegood, of the House of Lovegood, my intended."

Dexter let out a screeching burst of static as the whole room seemed to gasp, staring at the exchange in shock.

"Oh, Neville…" Luna whispered. "What have you done?"

"This insult cannot stand." He continued, squaring his shoulders. "I challenge you, Cho Chang and Marietta Edgecombe, to an Honor Battle."

All the fire left Hillevi at that, eyes going wide, as Dexter whirred and Sharpshot went quiet, staring.

"Two on one, Longbottom?" Chang replied snidely. "I knew you Gryffindors were stupid-"

"Miss Chang!" Professor Flitwick exclaimed.

"Harry will be my partner, Cho."

"He will?"

"I will?" Harry parroted. "I mean, of course Nev, but-"

"What are the stakes?" Edgecombe demanded.

"See here!" Professor McGonagall nearly shouted. "You cannot do this-"

"There is nothing we can do, Minerva." Professor Dumbledore explained sadly. "Mister Longbottom has invoked the right, and Miss Chang and Miss Edgecombe have accepted. To try and prevent them from doing this…"

"If we win, Ravenclaw will take all punishment that was leveled at Gryffindor." Neville answered. "They will also have to make a formal apology to Luna and return every item she requests back."

"Very well." Chang accepted, standing. "And when we win, you and Potter will have to deliver a formal apology, admitting that Looney over there was at fault for everything. Gryffindor will take all of Ravenclaw's punishment, and you will surrender your Bulbasaur and Eevee to Edgecombe and I."

Hillevi choked at that, heart doing a little twist.

"The same for you. The Mienfoo and the Sneasel."

"Do I get a say in this?" Harry wondered, raising his hand.

"It is finalized." Neville finished. "I will arrange with my Head of House a day and time for the battle. You do the same."

"See you then, Longbottom."

Watching the Ravenclaws leave-a few more quickly than others-, Hillevi looked up at James in open concern.

"What just happened?"