Other than the rustling of pages from a book and soft whispers, their compartment had a peaceful air hung over it. Allen had fallen back asleep and they didn't want to wake him again, so everyone decided to be as quiet as possible. Hermione, Neville, Luna, and Ginny were reading while Harry and Ron talked about quidditch in hushed, excited voices.
Their peacefulness was ruined when their compartment door was rudely slammed opened and arrogant voice filled the room. Draco Malfoy stood in the entrance of the compartment with a wide smirk painted on his face.
"Well, well, what have we here? Looks like a compartment of blood traitors and freaks!" Malfoy said snobbishly.
"Where are those apes you call friends?" Harry mocked. "Still trying to figure why books don't taste good?"
"I told Crabbe and Goyle to stay behind. No point in having to make people with a good bloodline wade through all the filth in this compartment." Malfoy shot back.
"Then why are you here Malfoy?" Harry asked angrily reaching for his wand incase Draco tried to do something. Draco ignored the comment when he noticed Allen slumped against the seat sleeping.
"I see you've picked up another freak!" Malfoy said gleefully.
"Allen's not a freak!" Ron said standing up in a rage looking like he was ready to get into a brawl.
"Yeah right. Tell me, how many young people do you see with white hair?" Draco asked him tauntingly. Before anyone could respond, the pureblood continued on.
"I bet he's another filthy mud-" His statement was cut off when a gloved fist punched him in the face. Allen had woken up, and accidentally put a little too much energy in his arms when he stretched them. He certainly didn't expect for his fist to run into someone's head. To say the least, Draco was down on the floor, struggling to stand up rubbing at his eye that was quickly turning black. Holding his eye, Draco glared at Allen when he stood up.
"How dare you!" Malfoy hissed at him darkly. Allen blinked for a moment trying to comprehend what happened in his still sleepy mind.
"I'm sorry! It was an acc-" he cut himself off when he saw Malfoy leave the compartment. Allen quickly got up and followed to the door.
"Wait! I-"
"JUST WAIT UNTIL MY FATHER HEARS ABOUT THIS!" Malfoy yelled in an almighty roar that left Allen's ears ringing as the boy went back to his compartment, slamming the door loudly.
Allen sighed sadly, as he softly shut his own door. He turned around curiously when he heard a snort of laughter. Ron and Harry were both biting their lips trying not to laugh, their heads were down and their shoulders were shaking in mirth. The rest were grinning ear to ear. Allen sighed as he sat down and spoke out loud to himself.
"I'll have to apologize next time I see him." It was then that both Harry and Ron burst into laughter at the simple statement.
Harry and Ron both got off the train with tears of laughter streaming down their faces. They were laughing so hard, they had to hold onto each other like drunks. Neville, Luna, Ginny, and Hermione were also laughing, but to a lesser extent. As for Allen? Well, he was blushing brightly and had a guilty look on his face. Ron, through his laughter, managed to see this.
"Relax, mate! That jerk needed a good knock in the head!" He said as he and Harry went into another bout of laughter. Allen blushed harder at this.
"But I…" Hermione, noticing the troubled look on his face, took pity and decided to reassure him.
"It's all right Allen, we know you didn't mean to hit him. It was an accident."
"The best accident I've seen in some time." Ginny piped up when she saw Draco Malfoy among the crowd of students, recalling the incident in her mind making a little giggle slip out.
Harry and Ron's laughter soon died down, though they were still smiling broadly. When they reached the carriages that were to take them to the school, the laughter died completely when Harry noticed something strange.
"What is that?" Harry questioned out loud pointing near the front of the carriage. Ron and Hermione looked at each other, than at Harry in confusion.
"What's what, Harry?" Ron asked his friend.
"That! The thing harnessed to the carriage!" Harry shouted in both fear and anger.
"Harry, there's nothing there." Hermione told him, worry clear in her voice. He caught it immediately and green eyes shot her an angry glare.
"I'm not seeing things." He hissed at her. She shrank back in shock and a little hurt at his tone. Ron was about to step forward when a dreamy voice interrupted them.
"Of course you're seeing things Harry." Luna said softly, "I can see them too. Thestrals are such lovely creatures, don't you think?" She asked as she went up and caressed one.
"More like a decaying horse carcass without the smell." Harry muttered as Hermione let out a gasp of excitement.
"Thestrals! Of course! How silly of me. I didn't even think of the notion that they pulled the carriages. I wonder how Hogwarts managed to get so many; they're very rare." She blurted out in a big gush of air.
"Hold on Hermione!" Ron yelled, making her stop to look at him. "Slow down. Now, what's a threstral?"
"A thestral is a winged horse. It's invisible unless someone has seen somebody die. Urm, I've heard they rather skeletal looking. I can't really describe them accurately seeing as how I haven't seen anyone die." She trailed off, her excitement dead, when she realized why Harry could see them. "Oh, Harry, I-"
"Don't worry about it." He told her with a fake smile. 'It wasn't your fault. You didn't kill him. You didn't kill Cedric.' Harry told himself even though he didn't believe it. He was suddenly thankful that Dumbledore had allowed him to stay with the Weasley's this summer. They had really helped him out a lot more than the Dursley's ever would have. He had wanted to be with his Godfather, but several people told him to give the man a little more time to adjust. Next year he would be allowed to stay with and he couldn't wait. "Let's get going before we're counted late." He said as he climbed into the carriage.
Allen had become silent when he saw what was taking them to the school. A few weeks before, he had read about the thestrals in one of his text books. A normal person who had seen death would have made a big deal out it by staring at them but since Allen had been able to akumas souls, the thestrals didn't really bother him. All the way there Ron and Hermione tried to lighten the mood with chit-chat but the air was still tense. When the ride was over with, they were standing in front of Hogwarts.
"We'll have to go on ahead since we're already sorted; I hope you get into Gryffindor!" Harry yelled to him, his mood becoming more cheerful now that he was back at Hogwarts, as he walked away with Ron and Hermione. Allen smiled to himself and waited patiently with the first years.
He waited for about ten minutes, chatting with nervous eleven year old's when a strict looking woman he had been introduced to when he first arrived, came and told all of them to follow her. They stopped in front of a door, where to woman introduced herself as Professor McGonagall and then began to explain about the four Houses, rules, point system, and so on. Finally they were allowed to go inside the Great Hall, where Allen was currently looking around in curiosity. Allen almost fainted from shock when he saw how many students the school had. During his stay here he hadn't really explored the place. What with all the akumas and his habit of getting lost, it just didn't seem smart. He sighed silently in relief that his eye wasn't detecting any akumas. That would be fun to explain to the students who saw his eye change color.
They're safe for the moment...
Professor McGonagall began to read names off a list and the first years went up to get sorted by a hat. Soon he was the only one left and everyone was staring at him. Allen was getting nervous with all the eyes on him; he felt like he was in his underwear in front of everyone. Dumbledore's lips formed into smile as he stood up. Instantly everyone turned their undivided attention to him.
"Hogwarts has the honor of having a fifth year transfer student this year. However, before I introduce him, there is one important matter that I must share with you." The old man told them in a somber voice, and immediately all the eye on him holding grave looks, expecting the worst. "The Forbidden Forest, as I say every year, is off limits as its name implies. I have said in the past that anyone caught there would be expelled unless with an adult." He took another breath, "I have been lenient with that particular rule but this year will be different; for you see my dear students, the stakes are higher than ever. I'm sure most of you have heard of the disappearances happening near the school. Many believe that the thing responsible for these disappearances is in the forest-but we do not know for sure!" He quickly assured as the worry rose in the hall and panicked whispers broke out.
"However, it is a possibility. Therefore, protective wards have been set up around the forest. No detentions shall be done in the forest and any student seen near the edge will automatically receive a detention. If a student is caught in the forest it is an automatic expulsion. No exceptions." He ended and Harry squirmed as blue eyes turned to him. He had a feeling that was aimed at him. The Headmaster then regained his smile. "I trust you'll all be kind to Allen Walker who has been gracious enough to come to our school all the way from the Academy of B.L.A.C.K." Dumbledore cried to them, and then sat back down.
"Allen Walker." McGonagall called out. Walking down to the hat, Allen heard several whispers along the way.
"…He has white hair…"
"…what a cutie! I wonder if..."
"..What's with the scar?"
Allen smiled, recalling the first time he'd been to the Black Order, and he heard the guards talking about it. When he reached his destination, he sat down and the hat was put on top of his head. A voice filled his head, nearly making him yelp out loud in surprise.
Allen Walker, eh?
'Y-Yes'
Well, I don't believe I've ever had the pleasure to sort an exorcist before. Should be interesting where you end up. The old hat rumbled. I say, you're quite the disturbed individual, aren't you?
'I am not.' Allen protested and felt the Hat snort in amusement. 'Well, maybe a tad.' He admitted.
Now, now, being disturbed isn't a bad thing necessarily. You are an extremely hard worker, but I have a distinct feeling you'd frighten the Hufflepuffs if they ever saw your black side. As for Ravenclaw, you are smart but this is the first time you even been in an actual school is it not? Hmm, putting you with the elites might cause a break down. I don't think anyone wants that. Honestly, you're most like a Slytherin. The only difference is you mask your feelings with smiles and polite phrases. They on the other hand, erect cold shields and insults to guard their hearts. So you would fit, but you wouldn't. Does that make sense?
'Yes, it does. So Gryffindor it is, then?' Allen asked, tired of sitting on the stool. His butt was going numb.
You do have great courage and I've seen your sacrifices. Yes, I believe you should go to…Wait. What's this? The Sorting Hat mumbled as it squirmed on his head, digging through his memories. Good heavens! You're quite the cheat aren't you? It said, sounding both shocked and amused.
"Only a little." Allen muttered out loud, slightly embarrassed.
And black mailing someone as well! The Hat said as it looked at the memory of Allen threatening to tell Komui about Bak's secret photo collection of Lenalee.
'One time!' Allen protested in his head.
Maybe you should go to Slytherin. The Hat mused.
Allen looked over to the table decorated in green and silver. Draco Malfoy, surrounded by two thugs, was sharpening his dinner knife in a rather homicidal looking way, due in part to the grin on his face.
'Please don't put me there.' Allen pleaded pathetically. 'I have a job to do and I can't do it if one day I wake up to find a student dismembered my body.'
Alright, no need to beg. I wouldn't put you there anyway. I think you would revert back to the way you acted when you worked at the circus. The world does not need that again.
'No it doesn't!' Allen agreed eagerly.
Better be. . .
"GRYFFINDOR!" The Sorting Hat yelled out loud. The said table immediately burst into cheers and clapping. Allen said thank you to the Hat and sat down next to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. When the food popped up nearly every first year leaped backwards in surprise. However Allen, who had a mild obsession with food, just sat there with his eyes lit up in joy.
"Am I seeing things?" Harry heard him whisper and had to hold back a chuckle.
"Amazing isn't it? No matter how much you eat, more food is always there to take its place. Er, Allen? You alright?" He asked when he saw the other boy's eyes water up.
"I must be dead. Nothing this beautiful exists on earth. Only Heaven." Allen whispered in a reverent voice. Harry, who had no right to judge others for having weird moments, just ignored the statement and began to help himself, so Allen followed in suite. Everyone around him watched in shock and amazement at how much he ate. He wasn't a slob and he wasn't stuffing his face with so much food that he might choke. It was one of those things where you see Allen with a full plate, turn to look at something, and then two seconds later look back at Allen to see he's dishing up another plate. Amazing really.
"Has anyone noticed there's no one in the DADA seat?" Hermione asked her friends as she shot a look towards the head table. 'Ah, she's been sneaking glances' Allen realized. Hermione had been doing it for the last 10 minutes but he just thought she had a bad twitch or something.
"I'm sure we'll have a teacher, they're probably just running late or something." Ron said between mouths full of food. As if hearing their conversation, Dumbledore stood up. Once again, Allen was amazed that everyone stopped what they were doing to look at the Headmaster.
"I forgot to mention earlier, we have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, he seems to be running late-"The side door where the teachers enter from suddenly burst open, successfully cutting off Dumbledore's sentence. Dumbledore smiled when he saw who it was.
"It seems like our professor and his two assistants have arrived. Everyone please give a warm welcome to Professor Cross and his assistants Ravi and Kanda, also from the Academy of B.L.A.C.K.!" Clapping erupted in the hall once again.
Allen who had been busy eating, suddenly stopped dead in his tracks when he had heard those names. He was afraid to look up and see if it was them.
'Please don't let it be who I think it is…' He prayed silently and willed himself to look at the table.
Sadly his silent wish wasn't granted; his eyes traveled up and saw the long red hair and half mask of his master. The man saw his disbelieving stare and smirked at him. Allen was also met with the sight of another red head with an eye patch who was smiling cheerfully and a pale Japanese man with long black hair in a pony tail glaring at everyone. There was no doubt about it; Ravi and Kanda were here as well. 'Damn, why didn't we do the Slave idea? Right, it's outlawed.' He thought sadly.
"Allen! You didn't tell us that one of your teacher's was coming!" Hermione scolded him good naturedly.
"I didn't know!" He feebly responded, digging into his soup. "That man teaches the higher grade levels so I've never had him."
"I wonder why he needs two assistants? The other professors don't." Hermione questioned out loud.
"Don't worry about it. Hey Allen, you alright? You look a bit pale." Ron asked.
"Huh? Oh, it's nothing, just thinking that's all." Allen replied. It was a true statement too. He was reminiscing on his apprenticeship with Cross Marian. Not exactly his most cherished memories that's for sure. He only hoped that his Master wouldn't be too harsh on all the students here. Allen looked up at the table again, where Cross, Ravi, and Kanda were sitting, when he felt a pair of eyes on him. His Master was grinning evilly at him. It was then that Allen realized that the phrase 'too harsh' wasn't in his Master's vocabulary.
'REALLY wished we had done the Slave idea. I should have pushed harder for it.' Allen thought mournfully as he and the rest started heading towards their common room.
Bonus Story: He Did it Out of Love
He didn't know how it happened, but somehow he had ended up in the Black Order. The moment he realized this, he got out the bed he was in and went to Komui's office where scattered paper work reigned supreme. As he opened the door he saw Komui talking to Kanda and Ravi.
"Oh, I see you're finally up." Komui exclaimed when he saw Cross.
"Cut the crap Komui, why am I here? And why is there a gate above your desk?" Cross bit out, annoyed to the core. Komui smiled at him as he began to explain.
"A Finder found you passed out drunk on a street on the way back from a mission. He decided to bring you with him. Good thing you were close to headquarters." It was then that Cross silently vowed never to get drunk anywhere close to the Order again. In fact, maybe he should just not drink at all in England to avoid this kind of situation. Naaaahhh. Worse comes to worse, he still had his hammer. It worked on his stupid apprentice; it should work on these fools. "As for the gate, Allen's on a mission and this was his way of telling me he's not very happy with me."
"Che that kid did shit like that to me all the time." Cross grumbled. "Dumping out all my alcohol, ruining my smokes, telling women stupid made up rumors about me- he's like that cat that throws up in your shoe to show when it's pissed at you." The general ended seriously.
"Ohhh, did you beat him up for doing that?" Ravi asked curiously from his seat, while Kanda was doing his best to stay awake next to him. These missions and hearing about Moyashi bored him.
"Hell no! I did that daily. I tossed his ass in the river during flood season. Asked him how he felt being dumped without a second thought." The man told them, still angry on the behalf of his fallen liquor.
"Whoa. Allen wasn't lying- you are brutal!" Ravi exclaimed feeling sympathy for his friend.
"Thanks, I'll be leaving now." He said gruffly, turning towards the door but Komui stopped him, by blocking the door before he could leave. Which was almost impossible because Komui had just been behind his desk. Either he was really hung over or Komui was secretly a ninja.
"Wait! You can't leave yet, I have a favor to ask of you." Cross tilted his head to the right a little and echoed.
"Favor?" Komui nodded his head frantically.
"Yes, you see we need you to pretend to be a teacher since your-"
"No. Now get out of my way." Cross didn't feel like teaching a bunch of snot nosed brats at the moment. He had pushed Komui out of the way and began walking down the hall. He stopped dead in his tracks though when Komui yelled to him.
"Allen's undercover as a student there!" Cross quickly turned back around and walked into the office. He sat down next to Ravi.
"Tell me everything." He demanded. Komui quickly explained.
"A few weeks ago, a wizard contacted us by letter explaining about all these disappearances that had begun recently in their community. He suspected it to be the work of an akuma. I sent Allen to check it out and he confirmed through Timcampi that there is akuma activity; much more than expected." Komui stopped to take a breath before continuing, "I'm sending in back up because at the rate things are going, Allen will be wearing thin soon. We're treating this mission more delicately than most because the akumas are in a forest surrounding a prestigious school. Appearances need to be kept so as not to cause any mass-hysteria."
"Ravi and Kanda are both too old to be students, yet too young to be teachers, so if you decide to go they'd be your assistants." Cross nodded, and then asked.
"Will Allen be in my class?"
"Yes, the class you'd be teaching is mandatory for students." Cross smiled evilly at this.
Excellent.
"I'll do it." He then stood up and swaggered towards the door. Yeah that's right: swaggered. 'Cause he's that cool.
"You'll be leaving in two days." Komui yelled to him. Cross only nodded his head. If Komui hadn't mentioned Allen, he would have refused and left. Actually, he would have refused anyway but then the memory of all his fallen alcohol and smokes was brought up and suddenly he was itching to make that idiot boy pay (despite already punishing him). Cross chuckled sinisterly at the thought.
This is going to be fun.