Chapter 9:
A.N: Ok so it's decided – it's goin to be close friendship with some sex, no real romance. And no I don't intend to make Harry/Ajas find his soulmate, because I'm not good at these romantic craps and it will prolly end up waaaay toooo cheesy. Hope you like this chapter and sorry for the delay
As promised, Ajas went downstairs for dinner accompanied by Mai. She was already waiting for him at his doorsteps while he finished studying, her fingers dancing on the wall. When they reached the first floor, Ajas still wore his signature dementor cloak, rendering his face invisible. The first person to greet them was Linda, the blonde veela, sitting on the bar with a careless demeanor.
"Who's your friend, Mai?" She asked, before clasping her mouth. "Oh my! I'm sorry, I didn't recognise you Lord Mephysto"
"I convinced him to come for dinner" Mai spoke out, grinning. "Come on, have a seat!" She motionned towards a group of rectangular tables assembled together just for dinner. Most of the chairs were occupied by the prostitutes, speaking and laughing about diverse topics. Food already filled the plates and butterbeer flowed out from the barrels like waterfalls. Ajas's presence brought an end to the merry conversations as the witches looked at him ,expectantly. He could feel the slight quiver coming from some.
"This is Ajas Mephysto, you know, the owner of the appartment" Mai broke the silence with her jovial voice. Some of them still glanced uneasily at each other when a brunette in tight fitting dress decided to intervene:
"You've been here for three weeks, why don't you ever come down here?"
"Well let's say that I spent my time studying" Ajas answered, deciding to serve himself some beer.
"Mai convinced you to come for dinner?" another witch asked, winking at the blushing vietnamese.
"Yes, she's such a lovely girl, I couldn't resist" Ajas teased, making the prostitutes giggle. The mood lightened up as they all resumed their activities.
"Oh, I didn't introduce you to my sisters yet" Mai said, before continueing "This is Tanya", she pointed at the black haired women Ajas first met, "Olga, Natalya. They are from Ukraine. This is Maya, Lendie, Martha, Olive, Jen, Marie, Ophalie, Valeria, Valentine, Johnie, Alexandra, Helga, France, Liu Wen Qi…" She went on with the listing, pointing out at each of them. Ajas nodded in aknowledgement, trying to remember the names.
"So, whatchya studyin'?" asked the one named Martha.
"Bits of everything" Ajas told, making the witch quirk a questionning eyebrow at him. He sent a grateful glance at Mai when she poured some beef sauce to his plate.
"Why don't you take that hoodie off? Surely it ain't comfortable for eatin'" suggested one of the prostitutes. Ajas mhmed for a while and hesitantly pulled his hood up. The witches looked at him, their eyes round like saucers before bursting out in cackles, making Ajas and Mai share embarrassed stares.
"I wish most of my customers would look like you….I'd gladly give out a 60% discount!" Olga sighted.
"Getting tired of wrinkled cocks?" another girl spurted out, giggling.
"Now now" Linda tsked "Stop annoying the lovebirds", she said while slightly elbowing Mai, making the poor girl blush furiously.
Such a lovely little blushing maiden!
They continued to eat, joyfully bantering each other when dinner was interupted by a prostitute and a man entering the main room. Ajas grunted, recognising Nott. The man sat at the counter, pulling out his pouch and dropping some galleons in his escort's hand. He then left the brothel without a word, trying to look insconspicuous.
:Some other death eater activities: Ajas discreetly hissed in parseltongue, earning a chuckle from Balthazar. The auburn haired prostitute joined them at the table.
"How was it?" Ophalie asked. The newcommer shrugged, before declaring :
"Ugh…fucking lots of stamina BUUUUT a fucking tiny dick" she added, seemingly disgusted. That statement made Ajas stifle a laughter…He should really pull that on the man's face next time he fights him in a duel.
"Needed some tweezers to pick it up?" Martha asked, giggling loudly. The dinner continued on the same joyous tone where nasty jokes were included. Ajas picked up some useful informations ; they really knew what was happening all around.
Better than reading the daily prophet.
He overheard a conversation about duelling clubs and decided to interfere
"There's one in Diagon Alley, but it's really restricted; limited to light magic. There's another one, but I can't tell more. It's under the fidelius charm so I gotta ask the secret keeper if you wanna join. Mai can do it for you too, she's got access" Linda explained
"So, you're a duelist?" Ajas questionned, surprise being visible on his features.
"Nah, some of us girls just go there and cheer"
When the meal was over, the prostitutes reopened the brothel and a wave of customers rushed in. Ajas chose to sit there for a while, observing his surroundings, sometimes stealing a glance at the dbeautiful poll dancers. He picked up some drunken conversations when one spiked his interest. He remained in the shadows, listening to the group of man at the far left corner.
"Heard tha old Fandwick got the fear of his life. There was this lad coupla weeks ago, dressed like a dementor. But he didn't look like one, I'm bettin on ma life; He had limbs and walked normally like all othas, but bein' nearby was exactly like havin a dementor humpin ya'" One of them whispered
Ajas snickered before standing up, his eyes shuffling around looking for Mai. When he didn't find her, he headed to the kitchens. He saw her standing in front of the sink, magically dealing with the dirty dishes. He softly squeezed her shoulder and she turned around, her lips sporting her everlasting smile
"You think you can bring me to the secret keeper of that duelling club?"
"Yes, ofcourse. But I must finish cleaning up first…"She replied timidly, waving her wand around making the plates wash themselves. Ajas set up some other cleaning spells he learned with the Weasley matriarch. Mai's eyes widened at the display of wandless magic but she didn't comment any further.
After the cups set themselves in the cupboard, Mai wore a red cloak before beckoning Ajas to follow her. They went out and she walked swiftly down to Knockturn Alley. It was dimly lit, the street lamps casting creepy shadows on the street. It seemed like Mai does not venture around after dawn and Akas felt her fear. Some hooded silhouettes lurked at them, whispering to each other. Ajas could sense their malevolan intentions ; he pierced them with his gaxe, making them shiver and back off immediately. Mai noticed his actions and slowed her pace
"What did you do to them?" She asked, warrily
"Just some of my…abilities" He smirked, following her. She halted in front of the old Borgin&Burke insignia, knocking on the door. The shop looked like usual ; depraved and dusty.
"Mr Borgin sir?" She called out. The door creeked out, displaying an old oily haired man Ajas recognised as Borgin. The man glared at her distastefully before inquiring
"What do you want, girl?"
"Lord Mephysto here is a potential guest…" She whispered as Ajas left his hand trailing on the wall, showing his signet ring. The man observed them suspiciously before stepping aside, letting them walk past. He then turned around
"2 galleons for 4 hours. Or 70 galleons for unlimited access for a month"
Ajas pulled out his gringott's card, making the man's eyes lit up like a christmas tree. He transferred the money and the man declared:
"Repeat after me ; Elven Gates Duelling Club". Ajas did so and a wooden trapdoor appeared on the floor. Borgin opened it, letting Mai and Ajas climb down. They found themselves in a narrow stone tunnel with bare walls. Benches were disposed all along, where numerous cloaked man and women sat, some of them attending their injuries.
"Rules are simple ; no AK. We got healers to attend severe injuries. There's 4 categories of duellists and each categories got 2 duelling grounds. 3rd class, 2nd class, 1st class and Masters. Everyone starts of with 3rd class, but don't think it's easy. Up to you to prove yourself" The man trailed.
There were dark wooden doors on the side of the corridor. Ajas and Mai entered the one with the insignia 3rd class A, discovering a large circular room with seats placed all around, like an arena. It was filled with a whistling, lousy crowd, cat calling at the duellers ; There were at least 6 duelling platforms, each of them protected by a golden bulb. Spells flashed all around, none of them hitting the spectators, illuminating the place with blinding multicolored light. Screams echoed…Ajas liked the place. All the surges of feelings, the jolt of the masses…And he felt carried away by blissfulness. Such violent emotions around him, it tickled his senses and skin. His awareness of the surrounding exponentially grew and he tried coping with his internal excitement. He wanted all the souls…
An amplified voice knocked him out of his thoughts.
"Victor of 1st Platform, Mr Cardinson!". Clappings were heard and Ajas sat his eyes on the winning tall muscular mass. The man looked like a typical brute, made only of raw force. His jaws were clenched and he stared at everyone , disdainfully.
Arrogant….I'll make you swallow your own pride
"Who wants to challenge?" The commentator spoke out. Ajas jumped out of the seats, joining the 1st platform.
"Ah! There's a new opponent! Your name? And please take off all magical artifacts on you, except your wand ofcourse." The short blonde man inquired, handing Ajas the amplificator
"Ajas Mephysto" He spoke, before trespassing the boundaries of the golden orb. His brute of an opponent collided his fists together, sneering at Ajas.
"Think a little weakling like ya can win this?" He spat out.
"Precissssely" Ajas hissed out. He wondered if he should use his dementor abilities at all, but he decided against it. Not until he reached the 1st class arenas…
"Wands out, gentleman" the barritone amplified voice announced. Cardinson pulled out his wand and positionned himself, his knees slightly fletching.
"What? Don't have a wand? Don't know how to use one?" The man taunted, a predatory glint appearing in his eyes. Ajas remained in the same static position ;
"I don't need no wand" He spoke out, his voice trenching like the edge of a frozen knife. His opponent smiled smuggly before bending himself in a mock bow.
"May the duel begin" the jury decided.
The man, Cardinson, did not wait as he latched out dozens of spells. The lights whirled in all directions but Ajas dodged them all successfully, with a grace he did not knew about. He observed his enemy – the man was all raw force as well as in his spell casting. He did not plan out his moves and so Ajas decided to use an offensive tactic.
"Petrificus Totalus!" He muttered. Surprise crossed the man's features as he noticed the strong petrifying wandless hex and he countered it with a shield. The duel went on for several minutes ; Cardinson's face was crimson as he tried to hold on, sweat pearling while Ajas remained calm.
"Crucio!" The angry man cried out but Ajas was swift enough to avoid the spell. Playing with dark material now, are we?
"Conicio Postulo!" Ajas hexed with a wave of his hand, and hundreds of needles flought through the air, reaching the target. Cardinson eye's widened as he collapsed, crying of pain. The healer immediately reached the ground as Ajas was declared victor by the jury.
"You earned 0.75 golden point" The sand haired man said.
"How's the grading system?" Ajas asked and as an answer he received a flyer
Duelling grade system –
-Victory :
1 full point earned if duel lasts 0-5 minutes
0.75 point earned if duel lasts 5-15 minutes
0.5 point earned if duel lasts over 15 minutes
-Defeat:
1 full point lost if duel lasts 0-5 minutes
0.75 point lost if duel lasts 5-15 minutes
0.5 point earned if duel lasts over 15 minutes
3 types of points :
Golden point : when victorious over an opponent who won 75% of his duels
Silver point : When victorious over an opponent who won 50% of his duels
Normal point.
3 types of duellers
-Golden dueller : when wins 75% of his duels
-Silver dueller : when wins over 50% of his duels
-Normal dueller : neither golden or silver.
Conditions to access another class ;
-The appliant can be a golden dueller with at least 12 golden points
-The appliant can be a silver dueller with at least 4 golden points and 13 silver points
Ajas memorised the flyer's content ; it was in fact a fair and complicated grading system. He duelled some more after a break, earning himself 1.75 golden point and 2 silver points. He was glad of his performance – he had not lost yet. But then again, this is a 3rd class arena and Ajas was skillfull in DADA so it was expected. And surely his month of constant training did count for something and Ajas decided he should come to the duelling club everyday to improve his performances. He also felt a change in the spectators's general opinion about him ; they no longer considered him as a mere child because of his wandless magic. Some of them were flabbergasted and others found him eerie. Ajas took his magical devices back, including Balthazar. The snake hissed out his appreciating opinion as he coiled himself around Ajas's neck
He spotted Mai staring at him and she seemed impressed. She expressed it, giving him a hug and a peck on his cheeks and they walked back to the brothel.