Matou Shinji and the Philosopher's Stone

A Harry Potter / Fate Stay Night Story

Disclaimer: Though I wish it were otherwise, I do not own or in any way, shape or form hold a legal or moral claim to elements of either the Nasuverse, the Potterverse, or other works I may reference in the course of this story.

Summary: Ladies of Eternity, magi of the past hiding in the present, with ancient, nigh unfathomable crafts at their command. That is the destiny of a Witch in the Moonlit world, with the female child of a witch bearing the destiny of inheriting the blood and history of their line without any exceptions, upon which the mother will expire, her task done. But this is a story of a Witch's son – a boy tossed aside by destiny – a boy determined to become someone special, with blood, sweat, and wand. This is the story of Shinji Matou, and his newfound path in the Wizarding World.

Chapter 13. Stone Cutter Society

After thoroughly checking the dungeons, where they had deployed en masse after Quirrell's warning about a loose troll, only to find nothing, the teachers had begun a sweep of the castle, as a troll wandering the halls could be very dangerous indeed. This was why the Great Feast had been cancelled – why the Prefects of each House had been ordered to lead students back to the dormitories.

Now, some might consider this unwise, as Slytherin House's dormitory was located in what some would consider the dungeons, but with the teachers providing something of an escort, it was deemed to be safe enough.

And in the event the teachers were not there, with six prefects per house, it was believed that that would be enough to stall – if not subdue – a troll.

Fortunately, that theory had gone untested, as there was no sign of the troll in the dungeons.

Apparently, it had escaped, with no one having a clue where it was – until a series of explosions, roars and screams of pain had oh-so-helpfully pointed the way, with Heads of House Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Flitwick charging to the rescue, hoping they weren't too late.

…none of them had expected to find the troll already defeated. No, not just defeated, dead and half sunken through the floor, with Peeves singing about killing and pretty little bombs, while doing a very obscene act to the massive headless corpse.

Also unexpected were the five students who presumably had been responsible for subsuing the troll with extreme prejudice, their wands pointed towards the carcass in case it so much as twitched.

Two were first years, one being of course, the Boy-Who-Lived, and the other the boy from the East, as he was coming to be called.

Two were the notorious Weasley Twins, the troublemakers who everyone at the castle suspected of being responsible for the recent epidemic of pranks.

And one…one was a prefect.

Someone, to Professor McGonagall's mind, who should have been in his dormitory as an example to the rest of his House. Someone who had been entrusted with a modicum of power by his Head of House – and who by being here had apparently betrayed his trust and duty.

"What on earth were you all thinking?!" asked Professor McGonagall, her face pale with fury and anger in her voice. "You're lucky you weren't killed. Why aren't you in your dormitory? Especially you, Hillard – you should have helped lead your House to Ravenclaw Tower and stay there. The Weasley Twins I can guess, but I expected better of you, as a Prefect. Likewise you, Misters Potter and Matou."

Snape gave Harry a swift, piercing look, disappointed with one of his Slytherins for having willingly sought danger. Or worse, in his mind, seeking glory.

Harry looked at the floor.

"Minerva, perhaps we should give them a chance to explain?" Filius Flitwick commented, wanting to get to the bottom of what happened before any censure was made. "After all, I'm sure that they have a reasonable explanation for being here. Members of Ravenclaw House are not known for rushing into danger, and I don't recall seeing Prefect Hillard at the Halloween Feast, so he could not have heard the order to return. Now then, Prefect, if you could explain all this?"

Robert Hillard pocketed his wand and stepped forward to face the three teachers, his robes and hair messy from the fight, his face somewhat scratched up.

"Professors Flitwick and Snape, Deputy Headmistress McGonagall," he began, looking at each of the teachers in turn and noting their stern faces. "As a prefect of Ravenclaw House, I take full personal responsibility for the incident, and will willingly accept whatever punishment you see fit, including any you may wish to give the others."

As the person with the most authority on the scene before the arrival of the teachers, it was his duty to shoulder the blame if there was any to be had. Whether or not the Professors found his explanation reasonable, he was a Prefect – a leader among students – and he knew that because of that, they would censure him worse than any of the others. The least he could do, after the others had come to help, was to spare them punishment.

"No one is casting blame or doling out punishment, Prefect Hillard," Flitwick said reasonably, impressed by his Prefect's willingness to come forward. "Explanation first, if you please."

"As you wish, sir," Hillard acknowledged, giving his Head of House a small nod. "As the Deputy Headmistress mentioned, I was indeed not at the Feast, having been delayed by personal issues. Prefect Clearwater knows of my concerns, given the recent rise in the incident of pranks."

"Continue."

"During the course of a quick patrol, I encountered the Troll, which proceeded to attack," he said, remembering how the hulking figure had come upon him in the halls, and those first, desperate minutes of fighting. "Retreat was not an option, given the lack of opportunity to disengage and the fact that had I done so, the troll would have headed for the Great Hall, down this corridor. As a Prefect, it is my highest duty to protect the students – especially the students of my house – from danger. The Weasley Twins found me as I was attempting to hold it back and lent their efforts to the cause."

McGonagall blinked at this. This sounded much more reasonable than the scenario she'd had in mind so far, but…

"What about the first years, Hillard?" she asked, as she found it hard to believe first years would simply be wandering the halls instead of going to the Halloween Feast.

"Potter and Matou encountered the three of us shortly after we had disarmed the troll – you will find the club back that way – and seeing that our efforts were not enough, did what they could to help," the prefect noted tonelessly. "Their contributions played a decisive role in stopping the troll."

"I see," Flitwick said, picturing the action in his head as he noted the bog in the intersection, the destroyed, blackened troll, and more. "Impressive spellwork, certainly. And if a prefect is vouching for the Weasley Twins, I suppose that something in itself."

"A question, if I may," Snape chimed in, his eyes looking into Harry's. "Potter, why were you not at the Feast?"

"…because my parents died today, sir," the Boy-Who-Lived whispered, with the expression of the others – who hadn't thought about that – softening. "Celebrating that wouldn't have been…right."

"Yes…we understand, Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall said a bit more gently. She remembered that night ten years ago, that terrible night when You-Know-Who had been stopped at last. "But may I ask why you decided to fight the troll? You and Matou both. The wise thing for a first year to do would have been to go for help."

"…with all due respect, Professor," Harry answered quietly, his eyes still haunted by what he had seen in his dreams these past few weeks. "I didn't want to let someone die in my place. Again. Not when there was something – anything – I could do."

"Good heavens, Mr. Potter," McGonagall replied, finding his tone – his gaze – unsettling. "Whatever are you…"

"I remember,"the Boy-Who-Lived answered, his expression a terrible thing. "He – Voldemort – came for me."

Those words chilled those who heard it to the bone – the Professors because they either could not conceive of it – or knew very well why the Dark Lord had come for Harry – the students because this did explain why an eleven year old boy would hurl himself into danger.

"And you, Matou?" McGonagall said more quietly. "Why did you fight the troll?"

"Harry is my friend, Professor, as is Hillard," Shinji responded evenly. "I wasn't at the Feast either – the food upsets my stomach. But with respect, if they were going fight something that big, I wasn't going to abandon them."

Not and become the Boy-Who-Turned-His-Back or the Boy-Who-Ran.

"Professors," Prefect Hillard spoke once more, "without their help, the Weasleys and I would have lost. So if you wish to punish them, punish me instead."

"One moment, Prefect," Professor Flitwick said, nodding to the one he had appointed, thinking he had not chosen wrong. "Minerva, Severus – I don't think they've done anything wrong, do you?"

Snape harrumphed but said nothing.

McGonagall's lips remained tight and drawn, but she waved for Flitwick to continue.

"First, none of them were at the Feast, so they couldn't have heard the order to return to the dormitories. Second, the fact that a group of students so decisively took action to protect others – actually defeating a troll in the process – should be commended, not condemned, don't you agree?"

None of the others said anything to counter him, so Flitwick went ahead.

"20 points for each of you then, for outstanding spellwork and courage beyond most," the Head of House Ravenclaw announced, taking some amusement from – but also slightly disturbed by - the stunned expression on the students' faces. "Taking on a fully-grown mountain troll is no small task, even for most wizards. And Prefect Hillard…"

"Yes, Professor?"

"…an additional 10 points for you for going above and beyond the call of duty."

Flitwick felt this was justified. These students had fought against something that should have outmatched them with no expectation of reward or glory. In fact, they'd thought they would be punished for their deeds – but had fought anyway, to protect the school and protect each other, in a startling display of interhouse unity.

"Professor Dumbledore will be informed of this," McGonagall added. "Now, if you're not hurt, you'd best be off to your dorms. The students are finishing the feast in their Houses. Dismissed."

The group of five walked together for a time down the common corridor, away from the troll they had brought down. There was some talk about returning to their common rooms, then of throwing a party for their victory – and for the points they'd won – in one of the rooms, but which one?

Slytherin had never been too welcoming of outsiders; Gryffindor was not somewhere Harry wanted to be, after his encounter with the youngest Weasley brother; Ravenclaw had never been known for its parties.

Still, it seemed they would have to choose one – until Fred and George came up with a better idea, pointing out that there was one other place they knew of which would be good for a party.

After some further, not entirely reputable, hijinks, the five found themselves in the great Kitchens of Hogwarts, a vast, high-ceilinged room with five tables identical in detail and positioning to the ones in the Great Hall above. It was certainly like no kitchen Shinji had ever seen, with large quantities of pots and pans heaped around the stone walls, presumably on counter-tops or stoves, and a large brick fireplace at the other end of the hall from the door.

After Shinji had voiced his complaints about the usual food at Hogwarts' – even the non-pranked versions, and Harry had mentioned he would like something not quite so festive, given what else had happened that day, the twins had merrily led the group down a tangled set of corridors to a painting of a bowl of fruit.

One of the twins had tickled the pear in the painting, which had then squirmed, laughed, and transformed into a green door-knob, much to Shinji and Harry's surprise. Hillard didn't seem overly surprised, but then, the twins had to have pranked Ravenclaw's food somehow.

But if Shinji was surprised by the size of the Kitchens or how one got there, he was even more surprised by the cooks - by the fact that they were not human.

House elves, Fred and George called them, little creatures a meter tall at most, with spindly arms and legs and over-sized heads and eyes. They certainly didn't look much like the elves of Tolkien or modern lore, but they did resemble what some of the old tales said about faeries, with pointed, bat-like ears, bulging green eyes, and high, squeaky voices.

And interestingly, what they wore seemed almost Roman, with towels or pillowcases repurposed into what seemed like togas.

"These are the cooks who make all of our food," Fred explained, gesturing around at the droopy-eared creatures, some of which were scrubbing pots and pans, some of which were cooking, and a few of which were looking at the newcomers curiously. "Never seen a house-elf before?"

"None where I grew up," Harry admitted.

"We don't have them in Japan," Shinji chimed in, looking at these creatures curiously. "Can they do magic? Do they need wands?"

He figured that he could pass off any ignorance of certain magical traditions by noting that they were British traditions, with him being much better versed in those of the East.

"They don't need a wand—

"—to do their magic. In fact, its—"

"—illegal to give them wands," the twins explained, before going over to the grouping of house-eleves.

Hillard elaborated that the Code of Wand Use, passed by the Wizards' Council (predecessor to the Ministry) in 1631, barred all non-human creatures from carrying or use a wand."

This Shinji found ironic, given that he didn't think these practitioners of witchcraft were entirely human either…

But he didn't have time to think further, as one of the house-elves padded over to the group and bowed.

"How is Kizzy be helping young masters today?"

"We're having a party, and we need—"

"—lots of food."

They waved Shinji forward, with the eastern boy mentioning how the normal meals were too heavy for him. There was a bit of back and forth, with Shinji laying out what he normally ate, the House Elves being profusely apologetic at not having most of the ingredients to make them. No seaweed. No pasta of any sort – though it could be made, as they had flour. No rice. Little in the way of eastern fare.

The others looked on in fascination as he questioned, haggled, suggested, went back and forth with the elves seeming to think of how they could meet his needs.

In the end, they settled on something a main dish of salt ramen, with hand-made noodles, fresh local vegetables (carrots, leek, and corn sliced very thin), thick slabs of deliciously marbled roast pork, all garnished with ginger, garlic, and butter. On the side would be a chicken curry pie with succulent chunks of tender meat and fresh just-cooked vegetables swimming in a rich golden-brown sauce, along with a potato croquette.

And for a drink – tea of course.

The house elves thought the request was utterly strange but…

"It is being no stranger than young masters' wanting worms," the house elves had said, with the little beings bustling off to do as they were told.

In the meantime, more traditional platters of baked pumpkin, golden brown potatoes, chips, and roast meats were set in front of the others, with Shinji helping himself to a bit of shepherd's pie, quite enjoying the roasted mashed potato crust, the nicely spiced minced mutton and pea filling, and the fried tomato slices on the side.

'Ah, finally a meal I can enjoy.'

When Shinji's custom cooked meal finally arrived, the others remarked on how good it looked and ordered helpings as well, with them finding the dish absolutely delectable.

But then, it was hard to find a teen who didn't like ramen, particularly the hand-made kind and not the instant rubbish one found in various markets.

Over food they talked of various things – the first order of business being an armistice to this latest Prank War. Given the fact that all parties involved had planned on finishing this by Halloween, and that on this day, they had become brothers in arms, fighting together against an massive evil-shaped foe and defeating it through creative use of spells – and judicious application of deadly force, the honor of all three houses had been satisfied.

So the Weasleys and Hillard agreed, and neither Potter nor Matou were going to gainsay them, especially with Shinji having no ofuda left at the moment. He'd have to rebuild his stock, and probably branch out into other areas.

Elemental spells could be useful, after all – he hadn't missed how ice spells had been very useful in keeping the troll off balance.

With that in mind…

"Why just an armistice?" Shinji asked then, thinking of something.

"Hm? You have a better idea, Firstie?" George – or was it Fred – asked.

"We'd love to hear it," the other twin filled in.

"Well…I want to learn some of the tricks you used," the Matou boy noted, looking pointedly at the redheaded prankster duos. "And I'm sure you're curious about what I did to slow down the troll."

"I'm kind of curious myself," Hillard mentioned. "That dark cloud you conjured, and the strips of paper - this has something to with your Eastern Arts, right?"

Shinji nodded.

"I won't show it off to someone who might use it against me," he said. "And an armistice means a war could break out again, so..."

"He has a point, brother of mine."

"He does indeed."

But it was Harry who got the idea first.

"You want some us to make kind of pact," the Boy-Who-Lived surmised. "Something so you won't have to worry about being pranked again."

"Hm, that's not a bad idea," Hillard commented, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "And clearly each of us have skills the others are curious about – I, for one, am curious about how the Weasley Twins seem to know so much about the castle."

"Ah, that—"

"—is a bit of a secret."

"Just as much of one as my paper Craft," Shinji replied, looking at everyone. "Unless we agree never to prank each other again - and can trade something useful for it."

He didn't fancy suddenly catching on fire in the future – not unless he learned to fireproof Ofuda somehow, and he didn't want to just give away knowledge. That went against every principle a magus had.

"Well, we all have the pride of pranksters, so I think just agreeing to that is out," Hillard noted, closing his eyes for a moment.

"How about…joining a group then?" Potter asked, frowning as the group's attention fixed on him. "Or making one?"

A place where he could belong.

"That's…"

"…not…"

"…a half-bad idea, Potter," the three elder pranksters noted together.

"A group for mutual support and aid," Hillard noted.

"To share the art and skills of pranking—

"—but never to prank each other."

"To keep our secrets, but pool our strengths," Shinji concluded. "Like we did today."

"Well, as a prefect, I suggest we register ourselves as an interhouse study group, so we can get credit for our…learning," Hillard said, his lips pursed in thought. "That way, we can induct others into the group more easily in the future, or draw on others' expertise if we need to. We can even set the kitchens as our meeting place for extra incentive. What say you, gentlemen? Weasleys? Matou? Potter?"

"Hmm…would this be open to anyone—"

"—from any house?"

"As a club at Hogwarts, it would have to be open to people from all houses, though we can limit membership to people we vouch for, or with certain skills."

"Only people with something to contribute," Shinji insisted. "I don't want…well…"

"…toerags like Malfoy?"

"…right, or people who just want to learn our secrets and have nothing to offer in return."

"Ouch. So not, say—

"—ickle Ronnekins then…"

Potter made a face at the mention of the youngest Weasley brother.

"…I don't want to learn how to melt a cauldron," the Boy-Who-Lives groaned, thinking that would be a horrible skillset to have. "By accident, that is."

The twins facepalmed.

"For someone related to us, he's not all that bright."

"We think the brains went to Ginny, the youngest."

"Even if she's barmy about stories of the Boy-Who-Lived."

Potter flushed scarlet – something Shinji hadn't really seen in a boy before. He thought it was rather amusing.

"It needs a name," Hillard spoke, chuckling at the antics of the Gryffindors twins and the much younger Slytherin. "Somehow, I don't think Interhouse Study Group will be very exciting."

"The Council of Four Houses?" Shinji proposed.

"…there's only three houses here, and that sounds like what a prat like Malfoy would come up with."

"The Troll Slayer Society? For both the grade and actual trolls, that is," Hillard suggested.

"Too—"

"—obvious."

That it was a bit cheesy and might raise a few eyebrows, even from the brave Gryffindors, who thought it was a way to show off, was another point in disfavor.

"The SOS Brigade?"

"No."

None of them really wanted to be committed to defending everyone, everywhere, and reserved the right to prank others if needed.

"How about the 'Stone Cutter Society'?" Potter suggested, a name that wasn't immediately objectionable to anyone.

"You know…"

"…I kind of like it."

"It does take hard work to cut stone…" Hillard mused, a considering 'hmm' on his lips.

"Breaking stone is a demonstration of skill in Martial Arts…"

"And Trolls are made of stone, right?"

"…close enough."

"Alright then," the prefect said with relish. "The Stone Cutter Society, led by its five founding members, with…oh, let's say, Potter as the president."

"…me?!" the Boy-Who-Lived exclaimed. "But…why me?" he asked, in a somewhat more subdued voice.

"Because you've already begun learning from Matou here, unless I miss my guess, and frankly, no one will join a club led by the Weasley Twins…"

"Oh, that burns, brother of mine, that burns, Gred!"

"I resemble that remark, Forge!"

"…Or a Ravenclaw prefect, since they think we're all stuffy," Hillard sighed. He was beginning to wonder if this was a bad idea. Still, they were almost done, they thought.

"Well, Percy might, but he fancies one anyway …"

"…we don't know why he was put in Gryffindor."

The twins shrugged at that.

"As for you, Matou, well, if a first year is going to be the official leader..."

"No, I understand," said Shinji, waving off the explanation. For he did understand, and it would honestly look better. Just as he had planned, after all, the higher Potter ascended, the higher he could rise too. At least in public, it would be bad for him to appear the dominant one in their friendship.

"Well, are we agreed, gentlemen?"

"Why not?" Shinji said, and the group of five proceeded to shake on the agreement – and then began talking about what they wanted to know.

Shinji was curious about some of the creatures of Britain and Europe in general, since quite frankly, the magical beings of Europe were not those found in the East. In particular, he wanted to know about house-elves and goblins, as well anything else that had a humanoid form, and their forms of magic.

He learned from the conversation that house-elves were domestic creatures immensely devoted and loyal to the one designated as their master, and that they didn't require wands to do their brand of magic – mostly domestic spells and Apparition. They were prized servants as well, symbols of wealth and prestige among pure-bloods, and loyal to the very word of their oaths.

They had no rights, however, and many were abused, due to their absolute obedience to orders. The ones at Hogwarts were not, of course, as Helga Hufflepuff herself had apparently laid down standards of how they should be treated, and they were out of sight enough that students didn't even think about them, even if they moved baggage, cleaned dormitories, and made the meals.

Goblins, he learned from Hillard, were a similarly small-statured but much more vicious race of intelligent creatures who co-existed with the "wizarding world." They apparently were quite adept at metalwork and finances, to the point that they were trusted to mint coins for the currency of the western wizarding world – the confusing system of knuts, sickles, and galleons

But even so, they were seen as second-class citizens under the rule of the Ministry, and in accordance with the Code of Wand Use, were not allowed to use wands. When Shinji wondered why that was, Hillard had just said they didn't need wands to do their magic, and that they had kept their own magic secret from wizards.

…this information, Shinji thought, gave more credence to his earlier speculation as to the hybrid origins of these practitioners of witchcraft.

For if goblins, house-elves, and these practitioners of witchcraft could all use the same kind of magic – as there would otherwise be no reason for goblins to keep their craft secret from humans, or for these human practitioners to keep the use of wands from the other species.

And given that at least goblins and humans were interfertile – as evidenced by Professor Flitwick's mixed ancestry - didn't that mean they were likely related? Very closely related in fact?

Perhaps they had all originated from a common line of human/faery hybrids, with three general variants. To him, it seemed very likely that Goblins had once been the dominant line, but that due to the human-line's ability to interact with other humans – perhaps early magi? – and learn of Mystic Codes and rituals, that line had managed to gain ascendance over the others.

Complete dominance over one – the house-elves, and then perhaps using the race they'd subjugated to gain incomplete dominance over the goblins, who retained a separate culture now.

Especially as the wand cores – as he remembered from the brief encounter with Hijiri – were usually specimens from living – or formerly living – "magical" (phantasmal) creatures.

Which would mean that, as he'd thought before, wands were not just amplifiers – they were resonators that – catalysts that enhanced a practitioner's own abilities.

And if this was usable by any of the lines…well, cursing by Merlin would be right. That…would explain where what had happened to the less than human hybrids, and why some of wizarding society seemed so fanatical about pure blood.

…because their blood had never been pure to begin with – because they had been mixed from the start – and they were afraid that their secret would be exposed.

…or that further mixing would create a breed that might inconvenience – or worse – supplant them?

In a way, that would explain the extreme prejudice of the society – the need to keep those they viewed as "lesser species" from getting regarded as equals, because once they were, people might start asking inconvenient questions. And if the right ones were asked and goblins perhaps obtained access to wands, well…

…they were at risk, weren't they? Risk of being crushed? Being betrayed? Being brought down as they had betrayed the others.

Shinji couldn't think of any other reason for goblin bitterness, after all. And he knew full well that it was those who had betrayed others who feared a knife in their back the most.

But the group was talking now of different things. Finances and currency, and whether this was the same in Japan?

"Not really, no," Shinji said, frowning a bit. "Much of what we teach doesn't need wands, and we don't use Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts at Mahoutokoro."

"Blimey," one of the Twins replied. "What do you use then? Not Muggle money, I would think."

Crystalized prana, Shinji thought. But he didn't say it.

"Magic. Magic in its rawest, purest form," he said instead, remembering the small orbs and beads of light Touko had used. "Magical energy infused and stored into stones."

"Wow…" Harry murmured, picturing a world where magic itself was money. "That sounds wicked."

"Huh," Hillard said, blinking as he tried to mull that over in his head. "Your goblins must be out of work, eh?"

"Well…" And here was where Shinji was guessing, but was reasonably sure he was right, still. "We don't have Goblins in Japan."

That made the rest of the so-called Stone Cutters pause.

"…what kind of creatures do you have there then?" one of the twins asked, with Shinji only too happy to tell what he knew – or at least as much as he could that sounded reasonable.

Instead of goblins, elves, centaurs, and other western creatures, Japan had others:

Kitsune – mischievous, powerful fox-spirits (normally female) who could take on human form, and had often seduced men. They were said as well to be excellent at curses and the use of elemental fire.

"Hmm, not unlike the Veela of Europe," Hillard noted. "Please continue."

Inugami – creatures of black magic which were created by cruel rituals to serve as familiars and protectors

"…is that like a dark version of the Patronus or something?" one of the Twins asked.

The Tengu – the spirits who lived in the mountains and the forest, vain and proud, but powerful in both magic and the arts of war.

"Oh, like Hippogriffs…or a Sphinx or both put together!"

"…only kind of."

The Oni – spirits of power and heat who manifested as giants – something of a cross between the fey, trolls, giants, and what have you.

…not that any full blooded Oni existed now, just hybrids like the mighty Tohno-clan.

And then there were the mischievous Kappa, who weren't too unlike the Kelpies of Europe.

The four Westerners had never considered such creatures might exist before, as their curriculum didn't cover them – and why would they? The British Ministry of Magic was only concerned with creatures in the European sphere of influence, the only ones its "wizards" might be exposed to on a regular basis.

They talked of other things as well, including wands, common cores and the like, and in the end, even laid out a few basics of spells and things to share at the next meeting.

And then the group of five, the brothers in arms, broke for the night, with returning their respective dormitories via House Elf apparition. After all, they reasoned, if the elves could apparate in to do the cleaning or to deliver food (for the interrupted Feast, for example), they could bring a few students back to the dorms.

With a distinctive Crack! Hillard and Shinji reappeared in Ravenclaw tower, with Shinji wobbling about, hitting all fours as he appeared on the carpet.

That…had been terrible.

Everything had gone all black when the elf had grabbed him, with pressure crushing him from all sides. He felt as if he could not breathe, as if iron bands were tightening around his chest, his eyeballs being forced back into his head – as if he was being squeezed in to a far too tight tube.

Before light, sound and color had returned, with the elf heading back to the kitchens.

Shinji felt like throwing up, but Hillard's hand steadied him.

"First time, eh?" the prefect quipped, though the Matou boy was too queasy to appreciate it. "Yeah, it's usually that bad the first time. Sorry – just thought you'd want a faster way of getting back, since it's late."

"Why…yes, it is late, Robert," came a voice from one of the chairs by the fire, as the blonde and angry form of Penelope Clearwater stood and strode lithely to confront them. "Hillard, where in Merlin's name have you been? That useless Defense Professor, Quirrell, saw a troll in the dungeons. We had to take the students back to the dormitory – but you weren't there, and you weren't in the tower. The students were worried. I was worried."

"Penelope—"

"No, don't give me that," the other prefect ranted, her face flushed with emotion. "Your love of pranking is one thing, and Merlin knows I've held my tongue during these last two weeks, but your duty as a prefect—"

"Penelope."

"—what?" she asked, irritated at the interruption. "Robert Hillard, if you think you're going to sweet-talk your way out of this one, you've got another—"

"We killed the troll."

"—thing co…" But she trailed off, as what he said hit her. "…what did you just say?"

"The Weasley Twins. Myself. Potter and Matou," Robert explained quietly. "We killed the troll, together."

The blonde looked at her fellow prefect in shock and disbelief, trying to find any trace of deception, any sign this might be a prank, a bad joke…but there was none.

"Nimue, Morganna and Maeve!" she exclaimed, collapsing into a nearby chair. "You…you…killed a troll." She repeated heavily.

Then she started to laugh, a hollow, almost hysterical sound echoing from her lips.

"What?" she said, her body shaking – whether in rage or fear or what, she didn't know. "What, was it 10 points to Ravenclaw or something? Tell me you didn't go looking for it. Even if it's a lie, tell me that much at least."

"20, to each person involved," he corrected, walking over to her and putting a hand on her shoulder. "And no, I didn't go out looking for it."

"…you'd better not be lying to me, Robert," the blonde murmured, "Or I can make your life very difficult."

"…I was the first to run into it, however," he admitted.

"…and you didn't think you could run away?"

"No. It would have headed right for the Great Hall. For the students – and for you."

"…Merlin." She sighed, leaning forward to cradle her forehead in her hand. "And then I guess the others joined in when you were having a hard time?" She didn't wait for an answer before continuing. "You boys always did love to make a splash."

"I can't say you're wrong, Penelope. No one was hurt though."

"…and the little prank war is over then?" she asked searchingly.

"Yes. It's amazing how many grudges get washed away when you risk your lives together," Robert commented, receiving a swat on his shoulder for his trouble.

"It's not funny, Robert…but…I'm glad you're alright."

"Me too," he admitted, lowering his head. "Until the Weasleys showed up…I didn't think I was coming back." And then his tone turned teasing. "And that would have ruined your first Hogsmeade weekend with Percy this year."

"Prat. I was worried about you, and not because of that," Penelope grumbled, shaking her head. "That's why I stayed up, hoping you two would get back safely. Granger was up for a while too, waiting for Sokaris – those two only went to bed about an hour ago."

Hearing that Sokaris had actually returned to the Ravenclaw Common Room, it didn't surprise Shinji too much that the purple-haired girl was waiting for him in the corridor shared by the study rooms.

"Matou Shinji," she greeted him with a nod. "Congratulations are in order, I see."

"Sokaris," Shinji replied, thinking it was strange how her eyes seemed almost red in the light, though he supposed it was just post-battle fatigue confusing him because on second glance, her eyes were their normal purple color. "You were out late?"

"Indeed, though my night was not as eventful as yours," the girl noted as she leaned against the wall. She was tense for some reason, almost…wary.

"Eventful is…one way to put it," Shinji conceded. He didn't actually feel like going—

"Indeed. I admit to being impressed that you defeated Quirrell's troll."

"Heh, well—" And then Shinji froze as his mind caught up to his mouth. "…Quirrell's troll?! How—"

"I saw him do it."

…Quirrell had…what…

Shinji had not thought anything of how the troll had gotten into the Castle, which was supposed to be difficult to breach at best. Unless…someone brought it inside?

"…tell me," he all but demanded, though his voice was hushed. "Please," he added. The boy from the east had had to risk his life tonight, and to use up all his ofuda besides.

"Professor Quirrell released a troll into the school – or rather, from the dungeons into the main area of the school," Sokaris relayed, her eyes hard. "He further announced in the Great Hall that a troll was in the dungeons, pretended to faint, and then disappeared in the chaos. The students were asked to go to their dorms, but I followed him."

"…so when I saw you going up to the Third Floor…"

"I was pursuing Quirrell."

Given that, it did not take a genius to deduce where both of them had gone.

"…the Forbidden Corridor," he breathed.

Was that it, then? Was the troll a distraction to allow Quirrell a chance to get to the Corridor while everyone else was preoccupied?

"Indeed, it was there he went," Sokaris related, frowning slightly. "But he did not get far. A Cerberus barred the way, and another pursuer stopped him from continuing. Professor Snape, head of Slytherin House."

Putting it that way, it seemed that the Third Floor Corridor was a trap, designed for Quirrell.

"Sokaris…" Shinji asked, more direct than usual. "Do you know what's hidden at Hogwarts? What was taken out of Gringotts?"

"I am not certain," Sokaris answered – which was the truth. "I have my suspicions, however."

"Anything you can tell me?" the boy from the East asked.

Anything she knew was probably more than he did. Especially if it fell into her area of interest.

Renkinjutsu…Alchemy.

But what could it be?

"I would prefer to verify my suspicions first," the purple-haired girl answered, looking at Shinji intently. "You are free to speculate as you wish. You may even be correct, but research would be useful."

In Alchemy, the only relic of note that he knew of was what every magus knew of, that mythical item Alchemists considered the Holy Grail…

'…no. It can't be. Could one of those actually be at Hogwarts?!'

This would require further investigation, but for now...

"Can you at least tell me where you've been?" he inquired instead, not wanting to come out with his own suspicions.

"The Kitchens, for meals," she replied.

'Huh. Well, that answers one question.'

"…that's how you charmed the Weasley's food," Shinji concluded. "But how did you find the entrance in the first place?"

"Binns."

"Binns," Shinji repeated, thinking the name sounded famil...wait. "As in…the ghost who teaches History of Magic?"

"The same. All of the teachers know of the Kitchen's location," the purple-haired Ravenclaw informed the Boy from the East. "And for an apparition, he is most accommodating for those with an interest in history."

Shinji digested that for a moment, then nodded.

"…and for sleeping?" he followed up. "No one has seen you back at the Tower."

"That is because I have not been back. I have been using something called the Come and Go Room."

Since the Halloween Feast had been canceled due to threat of Troll, with the students dismissed to their dormitories, the Ghosts of Hogwarts had decided to throw their own party. This year however, the party – resembling a Deathday Party – was in honor of Peeves, the Castle Poltergeist, of all unlikely fellows.

For once, the poltergeist had done a glorious thing, after all, defeating an enemy of the school in open battle – something which they could all admire. Even the Bloody Baron, who usually grew exasperated by the rude spirit of disorder's antics – had raised a glass to his name.

But Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, known to most as Nearly Headless Nick, resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower, was not enjoying himself. It wasn't that he was jealous, of course.

Well, not jealous of Peeves, even though, if there was a party, it really should be in his honor, since it was his 499th Deathday – the 499th Anniversary of his death by near-beheading.

It probably didn't help that once again, Sir Patrick Delaney-Podmore, leader of the "Headless Hunt", had denied him admission to the elite group of beheaded ghosts for the 498th time.

And all for what? A centimeter of skin holding his head to his neck?

So really…he was jealous of the troll. Why? Well…

"How and why in Merlin's name did even a bloody, blasted troll get beheaded more professionally than I was?!"