Hogwarts
The quintet headed back into town with their small bags, Komui, Lavi and Howard following behind. It took packing up all of their belongings to realise that they didn't really have anything at all. The life of a warrior was a pitiful one. McGonnogal waited by the clock tower as promised and waved them all into the town centre.
"Is this place always deserted?" she asked, looking around the empty square. Komui nodded,
"Pretty much. It's why our HQ is here" he answered. She smiled and looked over at Kanda.
"You cut your hair" Kanda nodded and the pair seemed to have a silent conversation before she turned to the rest of the group.
"Are you ready to leave?"
Timothy quickly turned and pulled Howard into a tight hug.
"I'll visit when I can. And I'll write lots" he mumbled into the man's hair. Howard patted his head, which was harder now that Tim had outgrown him,
"I'll do the same as well. And I hear that Scotland is a beautiful country" he replied and Timothy grinned before dragging Lavi into a similarly enthusiastic hug. Lenalee, Alma and Allen were calmer with their affections, hugging the three men and also promising to write often. Komui and Lenalee cried but broke the hug with a smile. Kanda awkwardly stood and Lavi grinned at his introverted brother,
"Come here!" and pulled the man into a headlock hug,
"Gerroff!" Kanda growled, half-heartedly struggling out of the hold. When he was finally released, he stood awkwardly in front of Howard and held out his hand to shake. Howard brushed the arm out of the way and gave the man a quick hug before pulling away just as fast. Komui smiled at the man and ruffled his hair.
"Take care of them. You're the oldest after all" he instructed.
Kanda blinked,
"Of course I will." he mumbled before turning back to the professor who was now holding an old bookend.
"Please hold onto this. And I'd recommend closing your eyes, portkey travel can make you sick" she instructed.
"Portus" she said and suddenly the group disappeared. Komui smiled as his sister and her friends vanished. "Have a safe trip" he whispered before heading back up the hill. Lavi tucked his hands behind his head,
"And that was that. Come on Blondie, let's go home" and he headed back to HQ. Howard stood in the square a while longer before following his friend out of town.
Minerva landed safely outside the Hogwarts gates on the Sunday afternoon and watched the others join her. Lenalee and Allen stumbled slightly but managed to land on their feet. Timothy and Alma landed in the dirt, the latter looking incredibly pale. She was surprised when Kanda not only landed without a stumble, but managed to keep his eyes open without throwing up. The noise coming from the youngest showed that the others weren't as lucky.
"I never want to do that again" Timothy grimaced as he held onto Allen for support.
"Here" Kanda helped Alma from the ground. Lenalee patted Tim on the back as he groaned.
"So this is Hogwarts" Allen looked up at the gate and the castle that lay beyond it. The others joined him in admiring their new home.
"Now that you've all recovered, let's head inside." Minerva beckoned them to follow her.
"Professor? Are these the apprentices?" a voice from the side made Alma jump into Kanda's side.
"Oi oi" Kanda steadied Alma before looking at who had approached them. A young teen girl with a mass of brown hair and curious brown eyes stared up at them.
"Ah Miss Granger. Yes, these are the apprentices we mentioned yesterday." Minerva turned to the exorcists, "We wanted to make sure that people knew you were coming," she explained.
"That's okay. Nice to meet you, I'm Allen Walker" and Allen held his hand out to shake.
The girl looked at him for a moment, as if wary before smiling and taking his hand.
"Nice to meet you too." There came a cry of 'hurry up' from the distance and the girl gave an apologetic smile "Ah, I need to go" and the group watched her run after a red headed boy that reminded them of Lavi.
"Who was that?" Ron asked, looking over at the adults with Professor McGonnogal. Hermione followed his gaze,
"The apprentices that Professor Dumbledore mentioned yesterday. Now come on, I want to get Harry some chocolate before the good ones are all gone" and she pulled him into Hogsmeade. Ron rolled his eyes at his friend's enthusiasm but grinned, he wanted to get something for Harry too.
"Yeah, yeah. I couldn't get him much for Christmas, but I want to grab him one thing from Zonkos. Something cool" he told her. She looked disappointed for a moment before shaking her head with a smile,
"Boys" and the pair walked into town, following the other students, keeping an eye out for presents for their missing third party.
"She seemed nice" Alma remarked. McGonnogal's eye twitched slightly,
"Miss Granger is a good girl. Though she gets in an awful amount of trouble for such a studious pupil" she remarked and Kanda looked at Allen,
"Sound familiar?" he quipped and Allen shushed him, making the others chuckle.
"Ah we'll have our hands full then" McGonnogal smiled before leading the group inside the castle.
"The portrait moved! Wait, they all move!" Timothy jumped at the pictures lining the corridor walls.
"Ah apologies, I should have warned you" Minerva glanced behind casually.
"The portraits contain an imprint of the personality that keeps them moving when painted with magic" Kanda told the boy. Tim glowered at him,
"Why didn't you say something sooner?" the teen pouted and Kanda shrugged. Alma frowned,
"How did you know that?"
"Master Tiedoll is obsessed with art. Of course he knows about magical paintings" Kanda stated, walking ahead. Allen chuckled,
"I thought you ignored his lessons"
Kanda sighed, suddenly tired, .
"I tried my best but some things stuck" he complained.
The group followed the professor through the many corridors and moving staircases to a statue of a Griffin.
"Why did they have to move?" Alma stood on shaky legs, holding onto Kanda for support.
"We're here. Fizzing Whizbee" Minerva told the Griffin who moved aside to reveal a staircase, "The headmaster is waiting for you" she gestured them up the stairs, following after them.