Wishfull-star: Yep! I like fanfics where the ASL trio are together doing anything! Thanks for the comment!
LeeMania:
Well, I'm not going to give spoiler regarding the first question. They can or cannot have. Also, one thing to be kept in mind is that Haki is the will of mind so certainly they would have it.
Yeah, Dumbledore is evil but not totally. You can take him as an old man who wants to remove Voldemort from their world and according to the propehcy Harry Potter will do it. So, he is an obnoxious old man in this fanfiction. Also, he needed to separate the brothers all because Lily Potter(as in the original story) had supposedly casted a spell on her sister's house, to not let any harm come to him. But for the brothers who were separated by the old man the man is evil.
About the name change... I have been thinking about it and lately, right now, I am deciing on adding the strawhats in the show. And it won't be fair for the good characters to enter the show. Some evils do need to enter! So, taking on their name or taking a part of it, can give them away.
I am also not sure how to tackle with so many characters. It's never been my tendency to add a lot. As a matter of fact, I still don't know how to change personlaities quickly according to the characters and that wil drown me soon if I don't improve. So, I am deciding on adding the charcters slowly, that way I will have some control on the fanfiction. And about Luffy's future guardian... well, I guess I will think about it.
About being original charcters... well that sounds fun. That way I can have good villians in the story too. Thanks for the brilliant idea!
And about including Hancock, I am not sure.. It's not that I don't like her or it will be difficult to write about her, it's just I don't know. May be she can be added later on. But most probably not in Book 1 of Harry Potter.
Well, you don't need to be sorry. I kinda like if people can suggest me how to proceed. It helps truly and makes me feel confident to continue writing. And yeah, I guess I am going to take some of your suggestions.
FanFicReader7913: Thank you so much!
Chapter 3
"Want to greet our crybaby?" Ace grinned at Sabo, who felt the bright aura rushing toward them.
"Nah, let's wait," Sabo said mimicking the grin on Ace's face. The boys didn't need to wait for long, when the rubber boy opened the door of their cabin, panting, looking at them with teary eyes.
"ACE! SABO!" The boy cried and flung himself on the two boys, who caught him with practiced ease. The boy was sobbing, his eyes flowing with streams of tears, and covering their clothes with snot. But neither boy cared, they had finally got a part of them back. The boys held on to each other as if in a second the other would disappear.
"I missed Ace and Sabo!" The boy cried, snuggling into their chests.
"Aww, our little brother is still a little crybaby, huh?" Ace cooed at the little ball, who was crying.
"Am not!" The boy said separating from them, wiping his tears with his sleeves harshly.
"You are!" Ace poked his tongue out.
"Am not!" The boy cried in retaliation.
"You are!" Ace teased once again.
"Sabo! Ace is being mean!" Luffy smuggled into Sabo, making Ace pout.
"Knock it off you two!" Sabo laughed holding Luffy closer, poking his tongue at Ace, who pouted more. It made them feel nostalgic.
"Are you three, ok?" Asked the first twin who just came in. The second twin pushed inside what must have been Luffy's luggage which was left outside the compartment.
The brother's attention went to the identical twins standing in front of their cabin.
"We are fine," Sabo replied. He didn't want their reunion to be disturbed by someone. "Thanks for your concerns."
The train started moving, making Luffy jump from his human chair and run to the window to look at the houses which flashed past it. He was bouncing in his place, all his attention on the twins forgotten.
"Alright, we're going down the middle of the train, if you need something you can find us there," said the second twin, and off they went.
The brothers smiled at each other and closed the door of the cabin, and stood beside Luffy who was looking outside.
"I was weak, I'm sorry, Ace and Sabo. I couldn't save you both," Luffy said in a low tone, which was nothing like Luffy. The said brothers placed an arm around their baby brother and pulled him closer.
"It's fine, Lu," They said looking ahead.
"We are all together now. Aren't we?" Luffy nodded.
"But you both! Don't you dare protect me again with your lives!" Luffy said seriously with an angry look on his face. The brothers could only chuckle at that 'cause they knew if anything happened to any one of them, they wouldn't hesitate.
Having each other in their hands, was the most comforting thing that had ever happened in their new short lives. The presence of the other was enough for them to relax, which they hadn't done for years.
But one thing was buzzing Sabo. Haven't they gone through this conversation when they were little kids? So, why was Luffy acting as if it was the first time he was seeing them?
"After you were taken from us, we were sent to Grimmauld Place," Ace was telling their story when Luffy gasped.
"I was with you both? When?" He asked and Sabo felt a fear crawling through his bones. Luffy knew the past world, he knew them, then why didn't he know that they had met when they were kids? Did he have a concussion or amnesia? Did his scar caused it? That was possible but if that would have happened then Luffy would have not remembered them that time!
"When you were with your new mom and dad and we came and," Ace was babbling. He himself was not able to comprehend what had happened. How the hell did Luffy completely forget that they were there? Alive? In the world?
"Ace," Sabo stopped his babbling. "His memories of that time are erased." Sabo gritted his teeth. That was the worst thing Dumbledore could have done. The memory of a loving parent, which Luffy got for the first time was erased, it was erased! There was no other way to remove someone's memory, other than the memory charm. That was unforgettable for whatever reason the old man had used!
"It's ok," Luffy shrugged. "I've Ace and Sabo now."
The twins took a deep sigh. This was Luffy they were talking about. This had to happen. Well, if he doesn't care then they won't even but they fill him with that life and talked about what they were up to in this life. Ace and Sabo told Luffy about the earlier years of their life, telling him how they were separated and how they were not able to him any sooner.
"Shishishishi!" The said boy laughed it off when the boys felt that he would be angry. "I was traveling all over, no doubt Sabo and Ace couldn't find me."
"Travelling?" Sabo asked, feeling dread crept inside him for the second time. Ace raised his eyebrows not getting what got Sabo riled over. Luffy also tilted his head in confusion.
"With whom?" Sabo asked again.
"Ah," Luffy banged his left fist on his right hand but soon started sweating and looked away from them. "I-I wasn't not traveling alone."
Ace froze. The brother who hated being alone and preferred being tortured more than that, was all alone. And they were sitting in a well-packed place?
"How long, Lu?" Sabo asked holding Luffy's shoulder, making him face him.
"I wasn't five when I started," Luffy lied again, sweating badly.
"Lu, why?" Ace asked through his coarse throat. "Weren't you taken care of by someone?"
"I didn't like them so I left," Luffy said in a low voice.
"We should have-" Luffy cut whatever Sabo was about to say.
"But now I have Ace and Sabo, so, it's fine, right?" The brothers took their baby brother in a hug responding to his question.
"I wasn't scared at all. I knew Ace and Sabo would get me one day." Luffy mumbled.
Ace and Sabo looked at each other, fury building in their eyes. They will never forgive that old man. He dared to separate them and then let Luffy grow as a street kid. Their minds counted on another mission in this world. Freeing their Dad and teaching the old man a lesson for his life.
Clattering of a cart from outside the compartment bought their attention. A smiling, dimpled woman slid back their door and said, "Anything off the cart, dears?"
The smell of sweets, candies, pasties, cakes hit their nose, making them instantly scramble to the lady.
"Can we be get the whole cart?" The smallest one said with shiny eyes, already drooling from his mouth. The woman chuckled at the question the boy had posed but looked at the other occupants. The owl which had been in the compartment settled on the youngest boy's shoulder looking her curiously.
"Hell yeah!" The freckled face boy said, already fishing out some coins.
"It will be good snack," The blonde said looking over the freckled, who seemed to be counting coins.
"Oh," The woman's attention went to the youngest boy. "I also have those!" He grinned and fished out a whole pouch of gold coins and gave to the other boys, who shoved it back to the boy.
"Nah," The blonde said to the youngest and returned his money and handed over thirty coins to her. "We have enough." He completed.
"Are you sure?" The woman asked with wide eyes. At first she had thought the boys were joking but now she thinks they were probably going to waste food.
"Yeah," The blonde boy said thrusting the coins in her hands.
"But in the cart there is at least twenty of each kind," The woman pointed out. Even though the boys looked well stocked, they wouldn't be able to completely eat it!
"That's too little," The freckled and the littlest one moaned.
"F-Fine," She managed to stutter out and started filling the snacks in the bag and handed over to them once done.
"Thank you!" The three chorused with a little bow.
"Have a safe trip," She said and took out the empty cart from the compartment.
Luffy sat on the floor and hurriedly emptied the contents of the bag in front of them. The boys opened the wrappers of the candies and lunged into the pastries and cakes, laughing and fighting for the candies. They fit together as if they were never separated in the first place. Even Merry was tossed some soft food which she could eat.
"We should introduce ourselves," Ace said with a mouthful of pumpkin pies. "Our new names, I mean."
"But why?" Luffy asked titling his head, and hands roaming to the candies Sabo was opening.
"Because," Sabo opened the wrappings. "We shouldn't draw much attention in public." He swatted Luffy's wandering hands but let him take one or two of them.
"But it is not like anyone knows us," Luffy said pointing him with a choco stick.
"Just for caution," Sabo gave a warm smile as he stuffed another cake in his mouth and gave some pieces to the owl who ate it. "I'm Felix Black and Ace is Asher Black."
"Fet, no, Fe-Felix," Luffy repeated the word getting a nod from Sabo. "Ace- no, As-Asher," Ace nodded at the name.
"But Ace and Sabo are Ace and 'Bo!" Luffy grumbled.
"Ace is passable for the short of Asher," Ace shrugged as he picked up a chocolate frog and tossed the card without seeing to the bag of wrappers.
"But 'Bo is not a shortform for Felix," Sabo pouted at that. "But you can use only 'Bo if you can't remember the original name, ok?"
"Ok!" Luffy chirped and said, "This is Merry!" He said petting the white owl who hooted happily.
"Wait! Why did you name an owl on your ship?" Ace asked curiously.
"What do you mean?" He asked as he looked at Ace. "She is Merry as in the Going Merry!"
"That explains why she isn't in cage or flying away," Sabo said with a smile and petted the hooting Merry gently. He had heard the stories of how their ship's Klabautermann had helped them in Enies Lobby and had shared them to Ace.
"And, I'm... Happy Pot!" He said with a wide grin with all teeth. Sabo and Ace took a moment for what their brother said before laughing at the blunder with the name.
"Try again," Ace said to encourage and see what else Luffy would say next.
"Not that?" Luffy pouted finishing the chocolate frog in one go. "Hatty Popper!" That was more funny than the former!
"Don't laugh!" Luffy whined. "Ace and Sabo are mean!" He crossed his arms on his chest and pouted visibly.
"Once more, Lu! Once more!" Ace cheered, while Sabo tried to lower his laughter.
"Fine," Luffy whined. This time he thought harder and absently ate the cakes as the twins waited for another hilarious name. "It's... Hanky Potty!"
"Hahahahahaha!" Ace and Sabo burst out laughing hard, even choking on their snacks, making Luffy whine.
"I remember he never was able to say his name even as a kid!" Ace said with a bright smile on his face.
"Yeah, that time when he introduced himself as Hap Poo and Hissy Pissy. They were the hilarious ones!" Sabo said wiping the tears which came with laughing so hard.
"I can say my name!" Luffy puffed his cheeks like a chipmunk, making the brothers internally coo at him.
"You get this, if you say it correctly!" Sabo said showing the last box of candies which was left.
Luffy brightened up at the thought of more candies and sat in a meditation position with his hands on his side of temple. "It's Ha- Har- Harpy Por!"
Ace and Sabo were sure they would be getting stomach aches. Not from all the sweets they ate but from the entertainment Luffy was giving them.
"No, no," Ace said shaking his index finger. "It's Harry Potter!"
"That's what I said," Luffy said and lunged to the candy box, making the brothers fight for it. In the end, Luffy got some extra candies from it while Ace and Sabo ate the rest.
It was after a few minutes talking and eating, that Luffy had fallen asleep, that the brothers could talk about what to do. Which was simple! They wouldn't let Luffy go back to wherever he was living but they doubted if he even had a roof over his head.
They would take Luffy with them to 12 Grimmauld Place. Or if Luffy decided that he didn't want to stay there, they would stay with Luffy, wherever he would want to. But this time they won't let Dumbledore do whatever he wants to do! And if he interferes this time they would happily kick his ass.
The door of the compartment slid open once more, and in came a red head.
"Anyone sitting here?" The boy asked. His eyes locked on the sleeping body of Luffy sprawled in their laps. "Everywhere else is full."
The twins doubted that was the truth. As it was already an hour past since the train had started.
"Suit yourself," Sabo said shrugging, and Ace gave a final glare to the boy who was looking at Luffy curiously.
"Is he your brother?" The boy asked eyeing their little brother.
"Yeah, and stop staring at him," Ace said bluntly, ignoring the flinching boy.
The rest of the ride the boy did well in not opening his boy. He should have seriously gone off to wherever he came from. But they didn't mind that much. After all, the brothers were together and that was the best thing that could ever happen to them. Ace also soon fell asleep, leaning on Sabo. Sabo sighed but didn't do anything to remove the two leaning boys from him.
There was a knock on the door of their compartment and a round-faced boy, which the boys in the compartment had seen once, came in. He looked tearful.
"Sorry," he said, "but have you seen a toad at all?"
When they shook their heads, he wailed, "I've lost him! He keeps getting away from me!"
"He'll turn up," said Sabo giving the boy hope.
"Yes," said the boy miserably. "Well, if you see him..." The boy trailed off and left.
"Don't know why he's so bothered," the red hair in front of him said. Sabo gave a smile, to encourage the boy to speak. At least he can gather some information and he was getting bored. He could sleep, but letting his guard down in front of the boy? Well, that is not acceptable, especially when both Ace and Luffy are sleeping too soundly.
"If I'd brought a toad I'd lose it as quick as I could. Mind you, I brought Scabbers." He said while petting the snoozing rat which he had kept on his lap.
"But isn't rats not allowed in Hogwarts?" Sabo asked the boy. It was clearly written in the Hogwarts list of necessities that they needed to bring a cat or a toad or an owl.
"Well, Scabbers is my best friend," The redhead said looking at the rat fondly. "He has been with us for more than eight years."
That was some information to take... Rats don't have a long lifespan. Domesticated pet rats normally live for 2-4 years and the longest one lived for seven years. This rat was about to make in Wizard records unless it is given some life expansion potion or is something else. Sabo was not getting any good vibe from the rat and if Luffy would be awake he could have been able to pin point it. Since, mythical zoans have good sense at recognizing an animal and all.
"Do you not have your pets?" The red hair asked breaking his attention on the rat. There was only Luffy's owl, which he had claimed as Merry, seated on the couch and sleeping. There was no other animal in the compartment.
"No," shrugged Sabo. "It wasn't necessary so we didn't want to get one."
"Oh," The red head said. "You know, I tried to turn Scabbers yellow yesterday to make him more interesting, but the spell didn't work. I'll show you, look."
He rummaged around in his trunk and pulled out a very battered looking wand. It was chipped in places and something white- which looked like unicorn hair- was glinting at the end.
Sabo was interested in seeing the talkative boy doing the magic trick. But just as the boy raised his wand the compartment door slid open again. A ginger head came in. She was already wearing her new Hogwarts robes.
"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one," she said. She had a bossy sort of voice, lots of bushy brown hair, and rather large front teeth.
"We have already told him we haven't seen it," said Ron, but the girl's attention was at the wand in his hand.
"Are you doing magic? Let's see it, then," she said and made herself comfortable beside Ron, as the other side was full with two sleeping boys.
"All right," said the boy nervously. He cleared his throat and chanted the spell his brothers have taught him. "Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, turn this stupid, fat rat yellow."
He waved his wand, but nothing happened. Scabbers stayed gray and fast asleep. Sabo chuckled at that. The spell wasn't real and the boy was being made by someone.
"Are you sure that's a real spell?" said the girl. "Well, it's not very good, is it? I have tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school of witchcraft there is, I've heard. I've learned all out course books by heart, of course, I hope it will be enough." The girl rambled.
If Ace and Luffy would be awake, they would be sticking their pinkies in their noses and looking somewhere else and not the girl.
"By the way, I'm Hermione Granger and who are you?" She asked. Ron looked stunned at the girl.
"I'm Ron Weasley," the red head, now Ron, said.
"Felix," said Sabo introducing himself.
"As in?" Ron asked, staring at him with a slight dark expression. Well, their name was not that famous as that of Harry Potter, or any other wizards, but mostly most of the Wizarding families knew their names all due to their grandma who took them to attend functions where pure blood wizards and witches would gather.
Sabo sighed. Well, this would only mean the boy would leave and they will have the compartment for themselves. Well, that's a good thing.
"Felix Black," Ron's eyes widened and it soon darkened.
"And those?" He pointed to his brothers. Even Hermione was looking curiously at Ron's change of behavior.
Sabo was not obliged to give any answers to the boy, who was surely giving him and his brothers look of hostility. But he could protect them easily, if the boy resorted to fighting.
"That's my twin," He pointed to Ace. "Asher Black."
"Wow, you two look nothing like twins," Hermione said in a futile attempt to break the icy atmosphere but the redhead's frown was widening.
The red head got up from his seat, pulling his trunk with him. "I have nothing to do with traitors." The boy said and went off.
"What was that?" Hermione asked seeing Ron run away. "Ah, whatever. I'd better go and look for Neville's toad. You should get them awake and get changed, you know, I expect we'll be there soon."
"Yeah," Sabo gave a small smile at the girl and off she went. Well, they still had some time, but knowing Luffy he will looking for food, even though he had eaten lots of candies, and then will mess with robes. It's better to wake them up right now.
"Ace!" He shouted in the ear of the freckled brother, but the boy didn't bulge. He really didn't want to resort to this, but seems like he needs to. "Luffy's in danger!"
The freckled boy sprang up from his place and panicked. "Luffy!" He held the said boy shaking him and checking if he was okay. After he had done it, he turned towards Sabo and gave him a glare.
"Meanie," He muttered crossing his arms on his chest. Sabo giggled at the adorable expression on Ace's face, but he wouldn't say it if he loves his life.
"Get crybaby up, please," He said getting up. "He would be hungry."
"I am also hungry," whined Ace, making Sabo roll his eyes. This version of Ace, which wasn't too hot headed and was chill, which was the best!
Well, they need food, he would better start getting things ready. He unzipped the trunk where they had kept the three lunch boxes, which were not eaten yet.
"Luffy! Food is ready!" Ace said and within seconds Luffy was up drooling.
"FOOD!" He cheered bouncing from his seat to Sabo, who handed him his
They sat down together enjoying the snack. Their laughter bloomed from the compartment as they tried to take the other's food. After their stomach was partially filled, Ace picked up his and Sabo's robe while Sabo gave Luffy his robe.
"We need to dress up," Sabo told Luffy, who scrunched his face at the robes but nonetheless copied. They were finished when the compartment door opened again, but it wasn't the ginger head or the redhead.
Three boys entered, which Ace and Sabo have seen in one of their Noble parties long ago. After their grandma's death they didn't attend any of those, but they remembered the boy. He was Draco Malfoy, son of Lucius Malfoy, who were the first one to return from the side of the Voldemort.
"Is it true?" He said, coming in with his goons. "They're saying all down the train that Asher and Felix Black are in this compartment." He smirked and then his eyes landed on the other boy, who was blinking at him. His lightning scar which was peeking from his bangs gave him who he was.
"Ah, I see even Harry Potter is here," The boy said with interest. Luffy was looking at the other two boys who were standing on either side of the pale boy, and looked like bodyguards.
"Oh, this is Crabbe and this is Goyle," said the pale boy carelessly. "And I'm Draco Malfoy."
"Are you a dragon?" Luffy's eyes sparkled at the mere mention of the name Draco.
"WH-" The boy spluttered at the sheer naivety the boy who lived showed to him. He can't believe this was the boy who defeated the Dark Lord.
"No, Lu, he isn't a dragon," Ace said to Luffy, making him pout.
"Sorry for my his behavior," Sabo apologized politely.
"I-It's ok," Draco was losing his edge the more he was staying with the boys and he didn't like it at all! His parents had portrayed the twins as death eaters, and cruel and Harry Potter as the most dangerous wizard, but everything which he was seeing claimed the opposite. The twins were claiming Potter as their friend. Didn't their parents betrayed Potter's parents? So, why? Well, who knows? It could be that the twins would be sticking to Potter's side to take on revenge.
But the more he stayed here, the more his head was paining. What was up with this 'Lu'? He doesn't want to stay with the boys a minute more even. He can take care of them in the school, and right now is not the right time.
"Well, see ya in the school then," He said with a mean smirk, getting a dark glare from Asher and a tight devil smile from Felix. He felt as if he was standing in front of some devil. He didn't stay a second more and turned his heels from the compartment.
"Look there!" Luffy squealed, showing them mountains and forests under a deep purple sky.
"It's beautiful," said Sabo, meanwhile Ace tried fixing Luffy's robe which was hanging from his shoulder.
Soon, a voice echoed through the train, "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."
The brothers grinned enthusiastically. They packed off whatever they had brought out in their hassle and after a few minutes, the train finally stopped.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" A voice boomed across the platform. Hagrid was standing in front of the last car, an old gas lamp in his right hand, while he waved his left hand for the students to see.
The brothers walked forward with Luffy in the middle and kept their Haki on, incase Luffy wanders too far. They slipped into the crowd and followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side of them that indicated the presence of thick trees. Nobody spoke much. Some were afraid of the dark, some were crying like Neville who kept on losing his toad, and some were thinking of coming back to the forest like Ace, Sabo, and Luffy.
"Ye' all get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over, making the brothers remove their eyes from the trees and look forward. The narrow path opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.
"That looks much better than books showed it to be," Sabo muttered under his breath.
"That smells of adventure!" Luffy said with his eyes fixed on the castle atop the mountain.
"It's more amazing from the front," Ace said pulling his brothers and hoping in a boat. The fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. The silence which had enclosed was comforting as the students gawked at their new home.
The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there. She had a very stern face. Luffy trying to peep inside, at once saw the nice lady. He grinned as wide as he could and uttered 'Cat lady!'. The lady saw him and couldn't help but give him a small smile.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." Professor McGonagall gave the first years a stern look, before beginning to explain the details of the selection of Houses and what was expected from each one of them.
The professor sharply looked at Luffy and then at another boy, both of their cloaks were not fixed properly.
"I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly."
"Will we fight someone?" Luffy asked while grinning at his brothers, who helped him fix his robe and unruly hair. They knew that Luffy was not liking the way he was dressed nor did the brothers, but they had to do it.
"No," Sabo said motioning Luffy his robe which was once again sliding from his shoulder. "There will be something else."
"And that's a mystery!" Ace completed making the youngest boy pout. Ace fixed Luffy's hair properly so that his scar would be hidden under his bangs. He didn't want his brother to be gawked like a museum artifact.
"Mystery!" Luffy's eyes sparkled in childish wonders, making the brothers chuckle before their attention was caught by the screams from the frightened students, due to the 'ghosts'. Luffy's eyes sparkled with excitement and he rushed forward, immediately bombarding them with questions.
"What are you? Are you ghosts? Can you pass through walls? Can you poo-" Before the question could be completed Luffy's face was planted on the ground with a big bump on his head.
"Don't ask such questions!" Ace growled. They didn't need much attention on them, which was already there. They can see people getting away from them as if they were the plague. But they didn't care. Sabo was chuckling when Luffy sprang up like a spring.
Then, suddenly the doors opened and Professor McGonagall returned. She checked over to the boys and girls in front of her. Once she thought that the students were ready, she waved her wand. The doors opened wide to reveal a big hall, illuminated by hundreds of candles floating below that seemed to be the open sky. To the sides were the four tables of houses: Gryffindor and Hufflepuff on the left, and Slytherin and Ravenclaw on the right. In front was the teacher's table, and in front of that was a stool with an old and patched magician's hat.
Professor McGonagall led the children to the center of the room, all eyes on them. They stopped about ten feet from the magician's hat, which suddenly came to life, like a character from fairy tales, and began to sing.
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again.
Professor McGonagall stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Abbot Hannah!"
Luffy was fidgeting beside his brothers as they stood in a small crowd of first years, waiting to get called up to the front where they can be sorted.
"Lu, calm down," Ace whispered.
"I want to wear the mystery hat already," Luffy whined. He was hearing the mystery hat talking to some people in their head! It was so cool!
"Do you think we will get into the same house?" Sabo asked Ace and Luffy, mainly to distract Luffy from bouncing in his place. Ace glances at him, but Sabo's eyes are trained forward.
"Definitely!" Luffy bounced. "If I'm not with you both then I don't wanna be here!" Luffy frowned.
"Aww, Lu!" Ace ruffled the younger's hair. "We will make it. Right, 'Bo?" Sabo chuckled and nodded.
"Black, Asher!"
"See ya soon!" Ace said to his brothers who gave him bright smiles.
"Slytherin for sure," The red head sniffed. But Ace wasn't sure if he would be there.
He walked through the silent hall. The silence was nerving. He felt himself being a child again in his previous life, standing in front of all those rascals who bad-mouthed him. He literally had to try to breathe. He remembered Sabo's words about why they were here. They needed power, they needed clues, and everything they could find. To break Sirius out of Azkaban. To get him back. To be together with Luffy. To be strong.
Taking a deep breath, Ace sat on the stool, his hands trembling a bit. He looked at Sabo and Luffy who were smiling at him. He steeled his nerves and sat on the stool, waiting for the sorting to be over.
The hat settled a little above his eyes and he waited for something to happen. When it does, he barely holds back a gasp of surprise.
'Well now, you are an interesting one, aren't you?'
'Woah!' Ace thought in his mind. 'Sabo wasn't joking!'
'Well, you have many qualities to choose from. Hmmm, I'm torn between Hufflepuff and Slytherin, to be honest.'
'No!' Ace shouts in his mind. 'You can't separate me from 'Bo and Lu!' His throat constricts slightly at the hot jolt of anxiety that shoots through his body. Luffy would never like to be in Hufflepuff and Sytherin? He doesn't even want to go there!
He hears the hat sigh and feels light amusement coming from the hat. 'If you let me speak, my little prince, 'Fire Fist' Gol D. Ace-'
'SHUT UP!' Ace's eyes darkened. Ace gritted his teeth after hearing the cursed name. 'If you don't want to be burnt!'
'Ah, feisty are we? Well, I'd let you know that while you would indeed make a great Slytherin, but you fit Gryffindor just as well. And I'd never be so cruel as to separate the three of you after you so recently reunited again.'
"GRYFFINDOR!"
McGonagall slowly removed the hat from Ace's head, while sending a worried look to the principal. It was not planned. Beside Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape had spilled his glass. With a wave of the wand and the damage disappeared, but not his tense face. Just like Sirius whose rest of the family were in Slytherin but he himself was in Gryffindor, the son got into Gryffindor.
Ace took a deep breath looking at the hall. He heard loud claps coming from his brothers as he went to join the Gryffindors serenely. At first, he received applause from the Muggle descendants, who probably didn't know much, then the Weasley twins began to applaud him warmly, filling the role of the entire table. Ace's balled fists relaxed a bit as he gracefully made his way to the table and sat a little away from the rest.
"But it can't be! It can't! A Black in Gryffindor?! They belong to Slytherin!" Ron sneered from his place.
Sabo really had to hold his urge to incarnate Ron Weasley for disrespecting Ace. His brother had done well to not explode into an angry ball of himself, so he had to hold his anger down even. They were prepared when they had decided to go to Hogwarts. They were prepared for the distrust and hatred that would be shown to them. Luffy was about to shout on the redhead, but Sabo caught him right at the moment.
"Lu," Sabo said giving a tight smile, which turned into a soft one at his baby brother's face. "Promise me, you won't get angry when it's my turn?" Sabo knew that Luffy had controlled himself once but won't do it twice. Luffy bit his lip and nodded when Sabo's name was called.
"Black, Felix!"
"See ya soon, crybaby," Sabo said making Luffy's frowning face turn into a spluttering one.
The halls were silent, completely still once again when Sabo stepped forward. He didn't mind it. He was used to it by now. But his thumping heart was saying something else. Sabo sat on the stool and waited for the hat to sort him.
'Another one, huh? That's interesting,' mused the hat.
'You really can speak!' Sabo exclaimed with surprise.
'Well, you would definitely fit well in Ravenclaw- much to learn. You are clever but you would never hesitate to put yourself in danger for your brothers, just like the other one.'
'You mean, Ac- Asher, right?'
'Yah, I was torn between Slytherin and Hufflepuff for him, but the boy wanted Gryffindor. And I assume, you, 'Flame Emperor' Outlook Sabo, want the same?'
Sabo grimaced at the old family name, which he hated just like Ace hated his original, but he didn't react violently.
'Ya!' he said.
"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat yelled, making Sabo give an honest smile. Sabo walked gracefully to Ace, who was clapping loudly followed by Luffy from the other side. Soon some Muggle born and the Weasley twins also started clapping for him.
He looked at Luffy, who had a frown on his face and judging him, he wanted to shout on someone, most probably Ron who was looking at them with disgust. Well, it can't be helped.
TO BE CONTINUED!
A/n:
So, another chapter is over! Um, its not as big as the previous one but still it is near 5000 words. I wonder how many didn't like the character of Ron. Well, I won't say Ron was bad in the original cannon, but here due to the lack of enemies in the story, I needed at least some people to be on the other side.
And, yeah, I think I might add the strawhats and some of the friends of Ace and Sabo. Well, I am not sure about it still. But you can look forward for it and if you don't want it just tell me in the comments!
Next chapter launches on: 3rd August 2023! Stay tuned!