CHAPTER 2 - OLD LEGENDS, LEGENDARY WIZARDS AND NIGHT TALKS
"I really can't believe they let Lawliet teach at Hogwarts! It's a shame that headmaster Ruvie is still under the influence of Quillsh Wammy!" Kyiomi Takada was expressing her feelings on the matter, while they were sitting on the Hogwarts Express train.
"I think it might be interesting, having an actual Auror as a teacher." Mikami opposed. The dark haired man was sitting next to Light and Kyiomi was opposite to them.
"I agree, Lawliet is legendary." Light said and gave Mikami a sweet smile. Mikami smiled back at him. Light knew his slytherin classmate had desired him… well, both of them actually. And he was considering both of them as potential mates. Mikami was an alpha, Kyiomi beta.
Kyiomi pushed her lips together: "Lawliet is a problem… He is doing what he wants, he doesn't play by any rules. My mother said that he even let some of the most wanted dark wizards go, just to get other ones. Who gives him the right to decide who gets to Azkaban who doesn't? Those people were once sued and his job is to bring them to justice… and he is making allies of them! Such a person simply can not be a teacher! He shouldn't be even an Auror!"
Light raised an eyebrow. Kyiomi was not always this expressive. She was smart but very easy to manipulate. Which only meant one thing: her family must have been very loud with their opinions on Lawliet in past weeks, and Kyiomi simply took their thoughts as her own. That's why Light was considering her as one of his potential partners. She was smart, pretty, careerist but still, easy to manipulate.
"I know his methods do not make him honor, but on the other hand, how many of the dark wizards would be still on a run, if it wasn't for him?" Light asked her, just to plant a seed of doubt.
Kyiomi narrowed her back, but her voice was not as convincing as before: "There should be a line for everything and everyone…"
Yes, Light internally agreed with that. And he knew Lawliet's methods were harsh and sometimes pretty much over the line but… his father respected the man highly. Which meant, Lawliet probably had good reasoning and was able to justify his act. And if it was enough for his father, it was definitely enough for him.
Light folded hands on his chest: "As long as he is helping to clear the Wizarding World from the dark magic, I am alright with him… and besides… would you act differently?"
Kyiomi opened and closed her mouth. She was not thinking about it like that. She was just about to answer when Mikami leaned in to the train table between them and made a gesture for them to come closer too. When they were close enough he whispered: "I heard Lawliet might have a different reason to be at Hogwarts this year."
Light frowned: "What did you hear?"
"I heard he is after Kira…"
Light chucked: "Don't be ridiculous… Kira is a legend… just a tale to scare teenagers."
Mikami slowly shook his head in disapproval: "I am afraid you might be wrong this time Light… Kira might have been a tale for more than thousand years, yes but… in the last few years there are more and more cases of murder that acually fits Kira's style. And from what I've heard it was L Lawliet who realized it first… the fact that he is coming can only mean that his lead leads to our school…"
There was a moment of silence between them. All of them were deep in thoughts about what Kira's magic might mean to the Wizarding world.
Light was the first to recover from initial shock. He decided to keep his cool, leaned against his seat and crossed his arms on his chest: "I don't believe it. It's simply impossible. Look at it from the logical side: the spell that Kira used in the legend does not exist. There is simply not a way to kill a wizard through his bond with another dying wizard. It was always a legend to keep younglighs from bonding with someone harshly when they come through their first heats. So even if there is some dark wizard Lawliet is up to, it has nothing to do with Kira and his power."
Mikami shrugged: "I don't know Light... I have this information from my father and you know he is a high politician. He has his contacts at the Auror's office."
Light rolled his eyes: "Auror's office is legendary by releasing false stories to make cover for their actual work, I am sure this is not any different."
"If it was true, it would be highly unsettling." Kyiomi finally let out her opinion.
Light chucked: "I will believe in Kira's magic in the moment, someone proves that wands have minds on their own."
They all laughed at the joke and then changed the topic. But Light was only faking his cool and his mind was deep in thoughts. He was not sure if he should believe Mikami or not. His father never mentioned anything like that. It could only mean that the information was fake and covering for something else or… and that was the really unsettling thought: there were murders in the Wizarding world, with such a unique signature and the Ministry of Magic was so scared of it that they kept it top secret. But if Mikami knew about this, it couldn't stay a secret for a long time. Especially when Kyiomi Takada was the daughter of the head editor of Daily Prophet.
Two chairs behind the teachers table were empty. And there were no new faces amongst the teachers, much to Light's disappointment. The first years were sorted to their houses and headmaster Ruvie held his every year preaching on safety and compliance. It was long and boring. Light looked over to Slytherins table and held eye contact with Mikami who rolled his eyes at it. Light smirked. He really liked the guy. He was getting more attractive every year and his family's position in politics could be a great help to Light. Then headmaster Ruvie started speaking about the new teachers coming to Hogwarts and Light immediately shifted his attention to him. Headmaster was really nothing nice to look at. He looked like a walking skeleton, he was obviously very unhealthy and he was not exactly a great wizard. But according to Light's father, he was a great compromise for both the wizarding community and Ministry of Magic. His predecessor and friend Quillsh Wammy was a great wizard and legend as a teacher of potions. He was beloved by the students, but constantly in conflict with the Ministry so he was eventually forced to step down from his post. He was replaced by Roger Ruvie, a man who was Wammy's right hand by that time. Ruvie somehow managed to keep the balance between old Wammy's methods of teaching and the demands of the Ministry which was a magic by itself.
"As most of you know, our potion teacher, Miss Gerevalde, decided to leave and her post will be now taken by its original master and previous headmaster of this school, professor Quillsh Wammy."
The hall gasped. The younger students were looking at seniors, because they had no idea, who was the headmaster talking about and the older students were whispering amongst each other. Light instinctively searched Slytherins table again and his eyes met with Kyiomi this time. She was only slowly moving her head from one side to the other in disapproval.
As Light was thinking about it, he realized it made sense. He knew from his father that Quillsh Wammy was cooperating with Auror's office and therefore he could really have his fingers in placing Lawliet to Hogwarts, as Kyiomi was indicating earlier. But why would he come back by himself? When his career at Hogwarts already achieved its peak in the past? Why would he come back as a simple potion teacher? Was he cooperating with Lawliet on the case? Does it mean the situation is so serious that there have to be two of them?
"Silence!" headmaster Ruvie stopped the whispering in the hall.
"Also as most of you probably know… because secret never stays secret for long at Hogwarts… the position of teacher of Defence against the dark arts will be taken by auror L Lawliet."
This time, gasps came only from younger students whose faces were lit up by the information. Most of the noise came from the 14 years old devil named Mello, who was sitting with Light's sister by Gryffindor's table. The boy almost yelled in happiness and then exchanged smirks with his red headed friend from Hufflepuff. Light didn't remember his name but knew these two were inseparable, much to Sayu's annoyance. The girl was following the blonde head everywhere.
The older students stayed silent. Because everyone knew already.
Headmaster Ruvie raised an eyebrow: "Just as I thought… professors Lawliet and Wammy will be joining us in the morning. Right now I am officially considering the new school year started."
With that headmaster Ruvie clapped his hands, the food appeared on tables.
Light needed to think. He needed to sit down and go through all the things he found out in the past few days. So after the feast was finally over and all the lost first years were in their beds, Light headed to his secret place.
He found it soon after his first heat, in the time he had a need to hide from the world. Back then he was moved to omegan part of the Ravenclaw tower, which was also the highest place. Only a few meters above his own private bedroom (as he was the only male omega in the house) the staircase ended. But there was also a door to the attic, which was locked. Well only until Light unlocked it by an advanced unlocking charm. Simple Alohomora didn't work there.
In the attic, Light spent many long nights, thinking, looking at stars and sometimes even dreaming. He dreamt about his career, about all the good he is going to do in this world and sometimes, very rarely he allowed himself dreaming about meeting a soulmate. Someone who would understand him, challenge him and break his solitude. But now he knew, dreaming was all that's left, because he needed to pick a mate in just a few months and his school was lacking a person like that.
With these thoughts he opened the door to the attic, ready to think through his plan but he found the attic window opened and heard voices coming from the outside.
Light frowned. No one else was going to this place. And the door was locked when he came so how did they get there?
He came closer to the opened window and tried to stay as silent as possible. He leaned to the edge of the window but didn't see anybody. He could only hear them. He couldn't imagine where those personnes were.
Could they sit on the roof?
"I was wondering, Helena... did you miss my company?" A very low male voice asked with a cocky expression.
"I did not." A female voice answered and Light immediately understood who was the woman: Helena of Ravenclaw, the ghost of Ravenclaw tower. That made sense. She was floating in the air. But where was he? And most importantly who was he?
"That's a pity. I definitely missed you. You were a good companion up here." he told her.
"I wasn't even talking to you most of the time." she opposed and sounded offended.
The man chucked: "Yes, and that is your greatest virtue."
"Don't mock me or I'll curse you." Helena told him harshly.
The man only chucked. Then there was silence between them.
Light wanted to see where they were and who he was. So he leaned out of the window a little and looked in the direction of voices. Then he saw them. Helena was indeed floating in the air and the man was sitting on the chimney with legs in front of his chest and his thumb near his mouth. He was looking straight in front of himself, somewhere far behind Helena, so Light only saw his profile. He couldn't see much of man's features as it was dark, but the silhouette of his face was sharp.
After a moment Helena started speaking again: "And besides… I have another companion here."
"Really?" A man asked with a bored voice, not even trying to fake interest.
"Yes a boy from the house is coming to this place, just like you did and he is making me a company."
Light's eyes almost fell off his eyeholes.
Could she be talking about me? But I didn't even know she was coming here… I dont think I ever saw her here...
"Hmmm...is it the one who is hiding by the window?" the man asked and Light realized he was revealed. So he decided to act and stood at the windowsill with his wand aimed at the man.
The ghost of Helena Ravenclaw flew through the air and disappeared. Which was not surprising, given the fact that Helena was extremely shy.
Light was not reacting to her and kept his eyes on a man, who still didn't bother to turn to him.
"Perhaps you two are not as close as Helena was implying…" The man said and turned his face and body towards Light.
Light almost gasped as he saw his big dark eyes. The man looked like a demon, or a dark magician. And his skin was unnaturally light… almost like silver. Light was worried for a moment that he was actually holding a wand against the vampire but as the man spoke again, Light realized there were no fangs in his mouth.
"Put the wand down, you might hurt yourself." he told Light.
Light did not listen to him but made a step closer: "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same question." Said the man and tilted his head.
Light pursed his lips: "I am a Hogwarts student and Ravenclaw prefect. You on the other hand are obviously an outsider so answer my question."
"Student or not, the attic was locked by an advanced spell, you shouldn't be here."
"And you should?"
The man ignored the question and ran his thumb against his lower lip: "But perhaps it serves Hogwarts to honor that its students are able to handle magic which is not in the school curriculum." The man said and Light was getting more nervous by every second. He hated when someone was ignoring him: "Will you finally answer my question, or should I come to get you down from there?"
The man smirked: "That could be interesting. But I would probably have a hard time explaining to headmaster Ruvie why one of his students is smashed flat under the Ravenclaw tower...so I'd rather answer your question… I was once a Ravenclaw student too and this was my favourite place."
Light clenched his free fist and the other hand gripped around his wand: "You still didn't tell me your name…"
Then the wind blew in Light's direction and as he breathed in, his lungs were filled by the most amazing scent he ever smelled in his life. It was a mix of sweetness with something spicy and pungent. In that moment Light realized that the man is an alpha. He held his breath because he started feeling lightheaded and his legs were trembling.
L still didn't answer the question but watched as the boy shivered and held his breath. He frowned as he realized what was going on. The boy came from inside the tower, which meant he was an omega.
But how could he smell me? L was asking himself. He knew he was a master of suppressant magic. Maybe Watari's potions are canceling effects of suppressant charm.
"Hmmm… Interesting." The dark haired man said with a frown.
Light managed to compose himself in the meanwhile: "I am asking you the last time, who are you? Tell me your name or I'll neutralize you!"
The man was staring at him, his eyes were not saying a thing.
"I am afraid I must refuse, young man. But it'll be nice if you will stay silent about our meeting in front of your classmates. In return I will stay silent about you coming to this place in front of headmaster Ruvie." The man said and then whispered something Light didn't understand. Before Light could blink, the wand appeared in man's hand and he was gone.
Damn it! Light thought.
The wand was a portkey!
But how the hell did it appear from nowhere?
And who was the man?
What is going on here?