A/N: Warnings for discussions of prejudice through pretty much this entire chapter.
Warning for extreme anxiety: if you want to skip go from the word "Alone." on a single line to "Oh, don't stop deep thoughts on my account"
ooooooo
Oikawa poked at his dinner, not feeling particularly hungry.
Not that the food wasn't fine. It was a stew-the same kind he could buy at the store back home, or-even better-that Iwaizumi's mom sometimes made when he was over for dinner.
So, yeah, just stew, which was fine
...Only, well, he supposed it wasn't quite the same because there was some kind of weird sprig things on it that tasted wrong and...and Oikawa had asked about it and Matsukawa had told him it was just some dragon root, no worries, like in Potions, remember…..and Oikawa knew what dragon root was in Potions-he did!-he just didn't know that wizards-that they, we?--used it in cooking, too. Only maybe they didn't because apparently elves did the cooking and he'd found that out when he asked an older student and, then, she'd laughed and told her friends and….and the books didn't mention house elves! Not outside the magical creatures section! So, how was he supposed to-
Oikawa took a deep breath and tried to make it look normal, controlled.
He took a sip of pumpkin juice and ignored how the taste clung thickly against his tongue in a way that soft drinks never did.
So, anyway, he'd made it through his first week of Hogwarts and….
Oikawa finally smiled.
….and he loved it. He loved it, it was everything he'd hoped it to be, everything he'd spent late nights whispering about under the covers with Iwa-chan. It was beautiful and larger than anything he could imagine and he could feel it….
He could actually feel it!
Like the magic-his magic-running through his wand. Like the nods and smiles he'd started getting from the professors. Like the way more of his classmates' eyes had started to follow him, asking for help after a particularly good spell. It felt like….
It felt like…
One time, in primary school, Oikawa was six and still a little bit unsure if this whole magic thing wasn't just a story, a lie, that would one day fade and disappear even from memory, like a man with brown eyes that looked like his and a face he couldn't remember….And one day, Iwa-chan was sick which meant it was the worst day. Especially because there were a couple of older kids who didn't particularly like Oikawa, but did like it when Iwa-chan wasn't there to protect him.
What Oikawa remembered was crying, standing beside the big oak tree with fat angry tears because he was mad and there was nothing he could do about it and there was nothing Oikawa hated more than not being able to do anything. So, he glared at them both and shouted dumb insults because it's what he had even if Iwa-chan would probably have told him he just made it worse.
He remembered being scared.
He remembered the way the tree root moved up.
He remembered how it wrapped around the first boy's ankle, a hair away from too tight and, more importantly, stopping him from getting any closer. He remembered how both of them ran away scared while Oikawa was still staring in shock.
And, most of all, Oikawa remembered how it felt-like he could do anything. Like he'd found something on his own and no one could take it away, no matter what.
He remembered feeling like he'd always be able to do something, like he'd never be helpless again.
That was what Hogwarts felt like.
And Oikawa would never give that up for the world.
There was a crumple of silverware and Iwaizumi fell into the seat next to him.
"Hey, Iwa-chan!" Oikawa beamed. "How was History of Magic?"
Iwaizumi grunted.
"Sorry?" Oikawa cocked his head. "What was that in non-caveman language?"
Iwaizumi rolled his eyes, reaching for a goblet that instantly filled on touch. Iwaizumi took a sip before making a face. "Still not crazy about pumpkin juice. I don't care what Dad says."
"I think I'm getting used to it." Oikawa smiled, taking another drink and swirling the liquid around once. "Yep, it's definitely growing on me. Needs a bit of apple, though."
Iwaizumi shook his head. "Weirdo."
Oikawa stuck out his tongue. "Hey, I'm-"
"Mr. Oikawa."
Both Oikawa and Iwaizumi looked up to find Professor Irihata.
"Professor," Oikawa greeted politely, nodding a bit.
Irihata gave a wry smile. "Actually, acting as your Head of House, currently." He sighed. "You've gotten a request for an interview. Several, actually. You're lucky the reporters still haven't figured out quite where to send their owls."
"An interview?" Oikawa glanced at Iwaizumi, who looked just as baffled. "Why, Professor?"
"You're the first recorded muggleborn in centuries, Mr. Oikawa." Irihata seemed to be contemplating his words. "It's….an important moment for many people...in, I'm sure, a number of ways."
"Oh…," Oikawa nodded quickly, "oh, right. Okay, that makes sense."
Irihata gave a small smile. "I'm here to see if you wanted to accept the interview. As a first year, I would-of course-be there with you the entire time. Also, please understand, you are allowed to reject the interview request."
"Reject it, sir," Oikawa asked.
"If you don't want the attention," Irihata clarified.
Oikawa blinked, the same time that Iwaizumi snorted before quickly covering it up in front of the professor.
Oikawa's grin grew cocky. "Why wouldn't I want the attention?"
ooooooo
Oikawa was livid.
His blood felt thick and cold in his veins, numbing everything except fury that swirled deep in his chest to howl like icy winds, cracking apart forests and stone and anything that came in between.
Vaguely, in the small fragment of his mind that wasn't solely directed at the front, he noted that he had never been quite this angry before, not with Ushijima, not with Sora, not with Tobio, not even in first year with-
"Oikawa." Suga grabbed his arm and pushed. "You need to go up front."
Oikawa stayed stiff and frozen in his seat. "No."
"Tooru," Suga was increasingly insistent and somewhere Oikawa was aware that the scattered applause had broken off and people were beginning to stare.
Good. Let them stare.
"I didn't enter," Oikawa hissed back. "Suga, I didn't-"
"I know," Suga pushed on his arm, voice near pleading. "I know, so talk to them, see what they can do. But, Oikawa, you need to go."
Oikawa sighed and felt the noise crack down his chest like splintering ice.
"Fine."
Oikawa stood, face blank and eyes flat, and he heard the applause start back up again, confused and halting.
He didn't bother looking, continuing on to the front without pause and without acknowledgement to anyone as he strode away from the Hall and to the adjoining chamber where the other Champions waited.
The other Champions.
Because Oikawa had been chosen. Because some bloody cup had spat out his name as if Oikawa would simply be content dancing to the tune of over inflated dinnerware and the stretched, smiling faces of the Ministry and school officials.
Not likely.
Ushijima frowned as Oikawa strode into the room because, truly, the one thing that could make Oikawa's night more perfect was that Wakatoshi Ushijima, the Miracle Boy of Durmstrang, with a face that drywall called boring and a personality like a bezoar had been left to rot, was here to witness it.
"So, you did decide to enter," Ushijima considered. "That's unexpected but fitting, I'll looked forward to prevailing over-"
"Oh, shut up!" Oikawa glared. "I don't have the time or patience to deal with you right now."
Ushijima did look immediately offended so that was a minor win.
"Um," Hoshiumi blinked, looking in between them, "so, you're the Hogwarts' champion?"
"I'm not the Hogwarts' anything," Oikawa said bluntly just as the headmasters walked through the door, followed by the Minister and some tournament official that Oikawa honestly couldn't care less about.
"I'm not doing it," Oikawa raised his voice, put every inch of ice he had into it. "Find another Champion!"
All of the assembled officials pulled back, blinking at the outburst.
Headmaster Hibarida was the first to recover, coughing lightly. "I'm afraid you have to. Once you enter your name into the Goblet-"
"Yes, great, excellent," Oikawa interrupted, "an ancient magical contract powered by Merlin or Morgana or an entire bloody unicorn herd for all I care! I heard the speech, too. But, one problem, I didn't enter!" Oikawa hissed the words like poison. "How are you going to hold me to a contract that I didn't enter?"
The rest of the room stopped.
"I didn't enter," Oikawa repeated.
"Wait!" Hoshiumi jumped in front, hands on his hips and staring up at him, "why wouldn't you want to enter? It's the Triwizard Tournament! It's like once in a generations, super cool, chance of a lifetime, amazing-"
Oikawa's stare was withering. "Nothing I'm interested in."
Oikawa stepped around him, continuing to glare at the headmasters. "You can't force me to compete."
"This sounds like an absolutely terrible predicament and I am truly sorry for this violation to your free choice to enter." Minister Masaru's face was a mask of contrite sympathy even if his eyes gleamed analytical. "However, I believe that the rules of the Goblet are tied to the name entered, not the person who entered the name." He looked at the tournament official for confirmation.
The official nodded. "It's tied to the older tradition where school heads chose the students they wanted to enter rather than the students deciding for themselves." The official winced as Oikawa's glare focused on him. "I'm sorry, but, the effects of not competing would be the same as breaking an Unbreakable Vow which means…."
"A forfeit of the magic by the vow breaker," Washijo said bluntly. "Death."
Oikawa met his eyes, feeling his magic hiss under his skin, running up his veins like patterns of frost, ready to call at will to become daggers.
It felt comforting, like the protection of being ready, like a strength that was his to wield, like the feeling of never being helpless.
Minister Masaru sighed. "It's an uncomfortable situation, no doubt. But, I still think it's for the best for all the Champions if this minor detail slips the eyes of the press. You know, just in case," he waved his hand as if thinking of words, "well, we just wouldn't want them thinking the worst of our Champions."
"Worst," Oikawa demanded, words quiet and barely held under control.
The Minister looked pitying. "Yes, the worst, never know what people might think these days-always looking for an….unfortunate angle, even for children. Absolutely despicable, of course."
Oikawa's stare was venomous.
Headmaster Ukai sighed, speaking for the first time since he'd entered the chamber. "I believe what Masaru is alluding to is that many will find it difficult to believe any eligible student made the choice not to participate in the tournament, much less one with you and your friends'...propensity for noteworthy heroics."
"They'll think I'm lying." Oikawa narrowed his eyes. "Why? What possible reason could I have to lie about entering?"
Minister Masaru hummed. "Oh, you know the news. An attempt at modesty, maybe. A good story made even better. An attempt at the humble hero. They can think of anything these days, really."
Washijo folded his arms. "It doesn't matter what they come up with. They'll always find the worst to think about a muggleborn-especially if given an opening."
"People can still be so horrible, unfortunately." Masaru shook his head before smiling at Oikawa. "No worries, though, the Ministry believes you. And I'm sure everyone in this room will be fine keeping this a secret."
There was silence, deeply uncomfortable and grating.
Oikawa dug his nails into his palm, feeling his wand like a cooling balm held between the flesh.
No one had looked away.
The tournament official stepped up. "Well if that's," he winced, "settled."
"Settled?" Oikawa repeated flatly.
"Then, we should probably move on to the details before the first task," the official continued quickly. "First is the Weighing of the Wands ceremony in two weeks. It'll be after class so no need to check with your professors. Just bring your wands and be ready by six p.m sharp."
"A few papers have also requested to do introductory interviews then," Masaru chimed in.
"Of course, they have," Headmaster Ukai said, ignoring the look that the Minister gave him in return.
"The first task will be held a month from the last full moon," the official said, now seeming to get back into the flow of things. "As is tradition, the details of the first task are to remain completely unknown. A way to," he very studiously did not look at Oikawa, "test your courage in the face of unforeseen circumstances…."
Oikawa's glare darkened purposefully just to see the way the official had started to sweat. He felt a stare at his back and glanced over his shoulder to see Ushijima had begun to frown disapprovingly.
Oikawa smiled back with more teeth to really be comfortable.
"R-right," the official stumbled through the rest of his speech, looking anxiously at the clear tension between the two champions, "so that should be all you need before the First Task." He glanced back at the Headmasters. "You should be free now to return to your school mates to celebrate your success at, um, at being chosen."
"Fantastic," Oikawa said dryly. "Great really, then as this was absolutely useless, I'll be-what was it?-'celebrating my success at being chosen' by looking up ancient blood rituals, I suppose. Not to mention how to break them without bloody dying. Have a lovely evening, everyone."
He turned on his heel before Headmaster Ukai's voice
"Mr. Oikawa," Ukai's voice rang out, "if you could wait for me in my office, please."
"Oh, I'd love to," Oikawa said, voice chipper and smile plastic, "but, I've learned quite recently that I have a lot on my plate this year so I just don't know if I can schedule you in."
Headmaster Ukai gave him a flat look that so very clearly said 'spare me the theatrics' that Oikawa could hear it echoing against his head.
"...what's the password," Oikawa asked.
"Cornix," the Headmaster answered.
"Fine," Oikawa said shortly.
He stalked out of the room, wand still held tight and anger jagged and waiting for a target to strike. The other champions followed him more slowly.
"This is wrong," Ushijima stated as soon as they left the room and the words were so unexpected that Oikawa jerked his head back, stopping so suddenly that Hoshiumi had to skip a step back to keep from running into him.
"What," Oikawa demanded.
"This is wrong," Ushijima repeated before adding, "you shouldn't compete if you didn't enter."
"No, I shouldn't have to!" Oikawa shouted back before taking a deep breath, tilting his head. "No offense, Ushijima, but I didn't expect the voice of reason to come from you."
Ushijima nodded, frowning. "It's unfair."
And wasn't this…..just an unexpected surprise on top of a night of unexpected horribleness. But, at least this didn't make Oikawa want to hex everyone in sight.
He gave a tight smile to Ushijima, saying the words that he would never expect to say even minutes before. "Thank you."
"If you didn't even want the opportunity, it's unfair that you were the one to receive the honor of Champion rather than someone who strove for it. Even more so because they're attempting to hide the circumstances," Ushijima said, voice deep and blunt as ever. "It's wrong that you still get to serve as Champion of Hogwarts. The Headmasters should at least attempt at finding another Hogwarts student to compete alongside us. Someone who deserves it."
Oikawa froze as suddenly as Ushijima had slapped him.
Even Hoshiumi winced, casting wary eyes between the two of them.
"Deserve," Oikawa whispered with a smile, voice a facsimile of polite.
Ushijima nodded. "Those who do not seek opportunities do not deserve them."
Oikawa laughed brightly, stepping forward until he was barely a handful of centimetres away.
"Ushi-chan," Oikawa sing songed, twirling his wand in his hands, "do us all a favor and shove a broomstick so far up your-"
"HEY!" Hoshiumi shoved in between them, knocking both back. "Look why don't we just-"
"What I said was true," Ushijima stated. "Being a Champion is an honor. If you didn't try for it, don't even seem to appreciate it, then there are many who deserve it more than-"
"Yes, well in case you took too many curses to the head," Oikawa hissed, pushing forward. "It's not my bloody fault that some idiotic goblet-"
Ushijima's expression darkened further.
"Really? Really?!" Oikawa yelled in exasperation. "You're getting mad for the cup's sake now, are you?"
"If you're not going to respect the traditions of the tournament, much less our Headmasters," Ushijima said bluntly, but his face was coloring a bright red in anger, "then, Hogwarts deserves another champion that will."
"I respect the people who deserve it," Oikawa felt the chill running up his arms and sharpening his words. "Excuse me if I won't lay my life on the line for someone else's idea of honor."
"Another man would call serving others chivalry," Ushijima said and the anger was finally slipping through, the tension in his jaw. "Heroic."
Oikawa laughed. "Then, he would be a fool, too."
Ushijima's hand tensed on his wand.
Oikawa was ready.
Golden sparks exploded between their faces and they both reared back.
"Yeesh," Hoshiumi hands were on his hips, wand still sparking gold as he glared up at them. "What is wrong with you two! At least wait until the tournament before you start whaling on each other! Ugh, you guys are the worst!"
Both Ushijima and Oikawa stared at the shorter boy.
Oikawa sniffed. "Well-"
Hoshiumi's wand was shoved right under his chin. "Nope! I'm done! Not doing this anymore! Just go off to your Headmaster's office or whatever!" His wand swung over to Ushijima. "And you go back to your ship! That's it!"
Hoshiumi dropped his wand arm and huffed. "Or fight, I guess, I don't really care. But, I'm going back to my dorms because there's still a lot of people I still really, really badly want to rub this whole Champion thing in their faces. So, please, try not to get penalized out of the competition before I even get the chance to beat you guys, alright?"
They both stared at him blankly and Hoshiumi nodded like that was the answer he wanted.
"Great!" And with that, Hoshiumi was off, a near skip in his step as he set off for the deserted halls and off to Beauxbatons' carriages.
Ushijima and Oikawa were left in silence.
They looked back at each other and there was a long moment of stillness, long enough that Hoshiumi's steps faded away and they were left truly alone.
Oikawa's face fell back into a tightly, controlled smile. "I'll be off, then."
Ushijima nodded, the same stiffness still held in his shoulders.
Oikawa turned away, heading to the Headmaster's Tower before Ushijima could say anything else to set him off.
Oikawa kept up his stride, souls of his shoes hitting hard against the empty hallways as the evening slowly sunk in and the ringing in his ears died down enough that he could hear the echo of being alone.
The quiet enough to finally hear his thoughts, to reflect.
Alone.
….which really was the worst possible thing that could have happened.
He made it to the Headmaster's office. He could do at least that.
And, then, he was in the antechamber, tucked away out of even the portraits' view, and he was alone, the ice that had settled around his mind finally melting away and he was drowning.
He sat hard against the floor, pulling his legs to his chest and breathing hard in quick short breaths as he tried to get the air back in lungs that felt like they were being filled too quickly.
He squeezed his eyes shut, pressing his face into his knees.
The Goblet of Fire had burned out his name.
He was the Hogwarts Champion.
He was competing in the Triwizard Tournament.
...he didn't bloody want to compete in the Triwizard Tournament!
He wanted to….he just wanted….
It didn't matter.
Oikawa squeezed his eyes tighter and forced the next breath, trying to think even if it felt like his thoughts were going too fast to grab onto.
Okay…..okay, he was competing in the tournament. Or...or he could try to find a way out, that was still a possibility, right? A way to break a blood ritual that was powered by Merlin himself and risking his own magic in the process-his magic and-
Oikawa felt his stomach roll. Focus.
Pull it back.
What did people see? What were they looking at?
A muggleborn had just been chosen as a Champion. A Slytherin muggleborn, the Slytherin muggleborn. How many purebloods entered? How many Slytherins had? What did they see? How would they react? Where was the danger? What would the papers write? What were the threats he needed to focus on first?
Alright.
Oikawa's nails dug into his legs.
The Minister and Headmaster Washijo were right. Response would be divided, Oikawa could already guess how. Fine, nothing new there, just more. Would it be worse or better if they knew he didn't enter?
And, finally, Oikawa did laugh even if the sound was shaky.
Like it mattered?
The air in his lungs was finally getting easier to breathe and Oikawa tipped his head back, running a hand to straighten out his hair until it rested back perfectly.
So, how many people already knew that he didn't want to enter? How many would think he just changed his mind? How many would think he'd lied?
As if he would. As if he cared about some make believe sense of pride, like it had ever been something that could be won with a trophy. Like pride was a conclusive victory instead of bloodshed without falter. Those were ideas for Ushiwaka and….and…
Oikawa's hand stuttered and stopped.
Iwaizumi.
Iwaizumi had entered, Iwaizumi wanted to be chosen.
Oikawa had been chosen.
Oikawa drew his knees a little bit closer, suddenly feeling a lot smaller and quite a bit younger.
But, Iwa-chan knew he didn't enter. He wouldn't…..maybe he'd be upset about not being chosen, gruff hurt but hidden, that seemed like Iwa-chan but….Iwaizumi would always believe him because it was Iwaizumi so…..
He'd understand.
Right?
Would the others?
Suga said he believed him, but Suga didn't enter the tournament, so what about-
There was a rustling from the shelves across from him and Oikawa shot to his feet, locking into the movement even as his thoughts melted back behind a mask, inscrutable.
"Oh, don't stop deep thoughts on my account," the Sorting Hat rumbled, resetting itself on its perch.
"I didn't see you," Oikawa said dumbly.
"Most don't until they need me," the Hat replied.
Oikawa kept his eyes on it.
"And what about you," the Hat continued. "A muggleborn Slytherin, the boy who chose pride over happiness. I remember you quite well."
"Don't act like it was a choice," Oikawa muttered back.
"There's always a choice." The Hat huffed. "Children always choose what molds them, for better or for worse. I'm just the one that puts them on their way." The Hat moved, folds ruffling and Oikawa couldn't help the feeling that it was raising a brow it didn't have. "So, what brings you here tonight, deep thoughts and all?"
Oikawa's smile was a bland thing. "Apparently, I'm a Triwizard Champion."
"Ah," the Hat continued to give the impression of staring, "yet, I feel that congratulations are not in order?"
"It was a mistake," Oikawa said. "I didn't enter."
The Hat sounded amused. "You know that Goblet is one of the few things I can say is older than me, yet, I've never once heard it making a mistake. The Goblet doesn't choose those that are unworthy, boy."
"And what about those that don't want it," Oikawa replied sharply.
"Hmm, well, want is a rather different thing now, isn't it?…..As is regret." The Hat shifted again. "Answer me a question, will you? Something to help me in the future."
Oikawa sighed. "Yes?"
"Your choice, last time we talked," the Hat said, "tell me, do you regret it? Now, that you've walked it, do you wish you chose the easier path? Happiness over pride?"
Oikawa paused, the answer rolling behind his teeth.
Oikawa didn't need to think; but, he did anyway.
He opened his mouth.
"Mr. Oikawa."
His head jerked up to find Headmaster Ukai standing at the top of the stairs.
"Headmaster," Oikawa said, following his figure as the Headmaster strode forward to sit behind his desk, gesturing for Oikawa to sit in the visitor's seat.
Around him, the portraits of old Headmasters had started to snore and vaguely Oikawa wondered how long it had been since the ceremony that felt like a lifetime ago.
Oikawa met the Headmaster's eyes and tried to make his words politely neutral. "You wanted to talk with me?"
"I do." Headmaster Ukai rummaged in his desk, seemingly unbothered. "I have for awhile, actually."
Oikawa frowned, narrowing his eyes. "Why?"
The Headmaster shrugged. "I've taught at this school for nearly a century. You know what I've learned?"
"The best passages to Honeydukes and the thanklessness of the teaching profession," Oikawa guessed dryly, propping his head on his hand.
Ukai snorted. "Save that mouth, Mr. Oikawa, I can promise you I'm better at it. No, I've learned that no student's quite the same, no matter how much they might fit the mold." Headmaster Ukai hummed, eyes keen under his short cropped hair. "And, yet, sometimes I can't help seeing similarities…."
"And who do I remind you of," Oikawa asked.
Headmaster Ukai leaned back in his chair. "And that's the real question, isn't it?"
Oikawa stood the stare down for another few seconds before sighing heavily, tipping his head back.
"Headmaster," Oikawa said flatly, "no offense, but, I really don't have the patience for riddles tonight. If you have something to tell me, say it."
Headmaster Ukai's grin was a blunt instrument as he sat a small vial in the center of the desk, half filled with clear liquid.
"Am I supposed to guess what that is," Oikawa's eyes flickered up, keeping his shoulders relaxed.
"Of course not. You're one of the top Potion students in your year, I'm sure you already have guessed." Headmaster Ukai threaded his fingers together and leaned back, waiting. "Veritaserum, though a moderated version that Irihata's been working on. Doesn't force answers, just makes it impossible to lie when the person who takes it decides to speak. He's hoping to get it approved by the Unspeakables by next summer, though I have my doubts."
He met Oikawa's eyes. "I'm sure you know that regular Veritaserum is highly controlled by the Ministry, not even used in trials since it's subject under forced confession. Unfortunately, the other major option's Legilimency; but, even that's only approved in the most dire of circumstances and only with an approved Legilimens like yours truly. Even the use of Veritaserum must be based on both the complete consent of the person meant to take it and the-"
"Oh, for Merlin's sake, I get it!" Oikawa snatched the vial of the desk and knocked it back in one gulp. "There! Ask away."
Oikawa could feel a pop in his ears and the sudden swoon of nausea before the feeling settled like murky water running down his spine.
Oikawa fought the feeling to wrinkle his nose in distaste.
He huffed instead, glaring back at Ukai. "I'm not hiding anything about the bloody tournament."
"Needed to make sure. I'll tell you why in a moment." the Headmaster met his eyes. "Did you enter your name in the Goblet?"
"No," Oikawa spat back.
"Did you ask someone else to do it?"
"No."
"Were you aware your name had been entered?"
"Absolutely not."
Headmaster Ukai drummed his fingers on the desk. "Would any of your friends have entered you without telling you?"
Oikawa snorted. "Never."
"Do you know who did enter your name?"
"No."
"And if you did know who it was, what would you do," Ukai continued.
Oikawa narrowed his eyes.
"I'm not sure," he answered honestly before the next words were pulled out of him, "but they'd regret it."
Ukai's smile was thin like it was the answer he'd been expecting. "Do you know why anyone would enter your name?"
"No!" Oikawa rolled his eyes. "To see me suffer, probably. What other reason could they have?"
The Headmaster tilted his head. "You are aware you're highly prominent among muggleborns, right?"
"Yes. It's come to my attention," Oikawa said acerbically. "How many more questions do you have before you'll tell me what you know?"
"Just one I believe," Headmaster Ukai looked at him directly. "If you were going to enter the tournament, how would you do it?"
Oikawa blinked, thrown off. "I didn't want to enter."
Ukai continued to wait.
"I don't know. I'd just put my name in like everyone else?" Oikawa stared at him. "How else are you supposed to do it?"
"Put your name in," The Headmaster repeated. "That's it."
Oikawa wrinkled his nose. "Yeah, why?"
"Because it means I can tell the Minister and the other Headmasters you're cleared from all suspicion of interfering with the Goblet," Headmaster Ukai said, shoulders finally relaxing.
Oikawa's breath caught in his chest. "Someone interfered with the Goblet?"
The Headmaster nodded.
"So," Oikawa felt a sudden stirring of hope with something else mixed in along there, "am I not the Champion? Someone else can represent Hogwarts? My magic's not tied to this?"
"I'm afraid we didn't get that lucky." Ukai rubbed at his temples. "The opposite, actually. It looks like your name may have been the only one entered for Hogwarts."
Oikawa blinked. "...What?"
"We found a simple fire charm, set to light along with the Goblet's flames," Ukai answered. "It was modified to only recognize paper with Hogwarts written on it. When it did…." He snapped. "The paper was incinerated before it actually entered the Goblet. Ingenious, really, if only for its simplicity. For Hogwarts, the Goblet only had one choice."
"Then, how did my name get in there," Oikawa blurted out.
"Whoever made the charm must have made one exception," the Headmaster said simply.
Oikawa opened his mouth before closing it, trying again. "What does that mean?"
"It means, Mr. Oikawa," Headmaster Ukai watched his expression, "that whoever entered your name must have really wanted you to be Champion."
Oikawa stared. "Why?"
"A question only they can answer." Ukai's mouth was a firm line. "In case it wasn't clear, you're the only one who's been told this. I expect it should be obvious why myself, the Minister, and the other Headmasters have decided to keep this a secret. Even from the other Champions."
Oikawa nodded numbly, thoughts jumbling together as they tried to make sense of everything.
"If it helps…."
Oikawa's head jerked up.
"The Goblet only chooses names it believes are worthy," Ukai continued in a measured tone, "if it didn't believe that could include you, Hogwarts wouldn't have a Champion tonight."
There was a moment of absolute quiet before the Headmaster stood. Oikawa followed the motion in jerky movements.
"Good night, Mr. Oikawa," Headmaster Ukai said, retrieving the empty vial from the desk. "The Veritaserum should wear off in another thirty minutes so I suggest being very careful with your words until then. Feel free to wait in the office if you'd like."
Oikawa shook his head, feeling like if he had to spend any longer sitting in a tiny room with only portraits and his own thoughts, he might go mad.
The thought shook off the worst of the shock, leaving another question in their wake.
Oikawa cocked a brow at the empty vial. "Would you have trusted me without that?"
Headmaster Ukai considered the question. "...I hope I would have. But, then again," the vial slipped back in his pocket and when he met Oikawa's stare, Ukai's face was grim. "I led a war in between that century of teaching-a war with and against the former students I had taught for years. I can promise I've had to make a lot worse choices than guaranteeing honesty." He sighed. "And it's my hope that I'll never have to make those choices again."
Oikawa stared back at him.
"Good night, Mr. Oikawa," Ukai said pointedly.
Oikawa inclined his head in a nod, finally turning and heading back to the stairwell.
He paused in the antechamber, just for a second, as his eyes landed on an old worn out hat.
"No," Oikawa answered quietly, "I don't regret anything."
ooooooo
The walk back to the Slytherin dungeons felt endless-only partly because Oikawa was walking aimlessly, dragging his feet as the weight of everything pulled down at his shoulders.
The Hogwarts' Halls were empty and dark, far after curfew. The portraits were dozing along the wall with faint moonlight trickling through the windows, making the entire walk feel more dreamlike than anything.
And Oikawa wasn't quite sure he wanted to wake up yet.
Why would someone want to enter him? Why go through the trouble of only putting in his name?
Before, he'd almost gotten a handle on why someone would enter his name to the Goblet under the expectation he wouldn't be chosen -a prank gone wrong, something to hold against him maybe. Possibly even one of the even the prickish purebloods could've entered him to bring up later and hold the fact that he wasn't chosen against him. As if he would care. It was idiotic, a stretch even for them, but at least Oikawa could wrap his head around certain idiots going out of their way to make his life difficult.
This he didn't understand. This was too much trouble to go to for a prank. This took planning, knowledge of Charms. This….
Oikawa knew what to do with people entering his name as a joke; he didn't know what to do with someone wanting him to be Champion. Much less taking steps to guarantee it.
He didn't understand why?
Oikawa really hated not knowing the why, he hated even more not having a plan for what to do now.
There were too many questions and he felt like he was being buried alive under them. He didn't know what he was going to say? Which parts to explain and which to keep covered? He didn't want to do the bloody interviews or play nice with the visiting officials.
And the worst part was that he was supposed to be good at this.
Oikawa had long got past the eeriness of feeling stares and whispers, he encouraged them, strove to get the highest grades, be the perfect student, mold his magic into something as terrifying as it was impressive, and then watched his Housemates' faces as they saw their worse beliefs crumbling before them.
Oikawa was not humble; he wouldn't resign himself to be, would never let anyone touch his pride. Not for anything.
But, there was the difference, was't it?
Oikawa was done letting others force him into what they thought he should be.
And he didn't want to be a bloody Champion.
He closed his eyes and breathed, drawing up his magic and feeling it thrum through his blood.
Like he had a choice.
Fine.
He breathed out slowly and his magic soaked back to shiver deep in his bones.
He'd make his own choice, then, even if he had to do it alone. He'd done it before.
His steps picked up as he headed back to the den of snakes with his back straight and eyes forward.
He was caught before he made it.
"There you are," Suga whispered, wand lit and standing right in front of the Slytherin entrance. "Come on, we gotta keep quiet!"
Oikawa didn't get a chance to ask anything before Suga was grabbing his arm and all but running them up another flight of stairs and then rushing them two halls over into the lesser used wing of Hogwarts.
"Sorry, Prefects were about to make another round soon," Suga said, back to a normal volume, before pulling him into a classroom and calling out, "Got him!"
"Finally!" A familiar voice answered and Oikawa blinked, eyes adjusting. "Bo was starting to fall asleep!"
"Was not," Bokuto denied immediately, even as he shot to his feet from where he had clearly been hunched over, eyes drifting.
Oikawa stared before his brain caught up. "What are you doing here?"
Bokuto, Iwaizumi, and Kuroo all stood around the unused classroom, a couple lanterns lit between them, enough to light the room without drawing excess attention.
"Waiting for you," Kuroo rolled his eyes. "What do you think? Took long enough by the way!"
"But, it's after curfew," Oikawa blurted out.
The four all looked like him like he was an idiot, even Bokuto….which under further consideration, Oikawa thought might be fair this time.
"Oh no, curfew!" Kuroo fake gasped. "That'll be the worst trouble we've ever been in, won't it?"
Iwaizumi came to stand by Oikawa, giving him a look. "What? You thought we were going to wait until morning?"
"I…..," Honestly, Oikawa didn't particularly know what to think right now. "Maybe?"
"Seriously?" Bokuto shook his head vehemently. "No way! After this, I don't think I'm going to sleep at all like all night!" He jumped lightly on his toes. "I'm too hyped up!"
"Didn't look like it when you were passing out on my shoulder a minute ago," Kuroo said dryly.
Bokuto stuck out his tongue. "Fine, now, I'm too hyped up!" And with that, Bokuto was apparently done waiting, head jerking back to Oikawa. "So, what happened? Who put your name in? What are we doing next?"
Oikawa blinked. "...What?"
Suga was frowning, leaning against the desk. "I think the real question is can you get out of it? The library was closed already so we couldn't check; but, the Goblet runs on a ritual system, right? Sacrifice for power? That would mean your magic's still tied to it?" Suga chewed on his lip. "Unless there's a way to get you out based on consent to enter."
Oikawa was still staring.
"You asked, yeah?" Kuroo rolled his shoulder, already pulling out a parchment and quill. "What did Headmaster Ukai say? Or Minister Masaru, actually, he's gotta know the ins and outs of magical contracts."
"Um," Oikawa managed. "I…."
Iwaizumi laid a hand on his shoulder, giving him a look, and the warmth of the hand sunk all the way down through Oikawa's robes. "Hey, you alright?"
Yes, Oikawa wanted to say, meant to say.
"...No," Oikawa's heartbeat felt too fast and his words slow. "I don't think I am."
He looked at his friends and said the words that he had to say, that he had to make them believe. "I didn't enter my name."
There was quiet; but, only for a second.
Kuroo snorted. "Well, no duh. We know that already, dumbass. In case, you've missed it, we've already moved on to getting you out of it. Catch up!"
Oikawa's breath left him quickly enough that it felt like it had been punched out.
Suga came to Oikawa's other side, looking concerned. "What is it?"
Oikawa felt like his knees had gone unsteady so he sank down slowly, leaning his back against the old desk.
Iwaizumi had leaned down next to him. "Hey, Oikawa, what's wrong?"
Oikawa almost laughed because there were so many ways to answer that question and too many of them would be too much of the truth.
"I'm just glad you believe me," he said and his voice was rough.
All four of them stopped short.
Bokuto tilted his head like a confused bird. "Why wouldn't we?"
Oikawa shook his head, looking up to Iwaizumi. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." Iwaizumi's hand was still warm on his shoulder and he was looking at him with the same pinched expression he got when they were kids and Oikawa had a fever.
Oikawa breathed it in like the ground under his feet.
"Of course," Iwaizumi continued. "What's wrong?"
And Oikawa did laugh this time, light and relieved, as he tipped his head back to lean on the desk and closed his eyes.
"It's just been a really long night," he admitted quietly.
With his eyes closed, Oikawa couldn't see it; but, he felt the weight of four sets of eyes, all focused. For once, the weight was a comfort rather than a shackle and Oikawa smiled, just to himself.
Then, he pinched the bridge of his nose, taking another breath and getting back to work. Oikawa opened his eyes and looked at his friends. "Alright, I think I'm a bit better now. Let's do this."
His friends exchanged a weighted look, but slowly sat back down on the ground, forming a loose circle.
Kuroo put the parchment and quill in the middle and Oikawa glanced at it before his eyes flickered to Suga.
"You were right about the ritual," he told Suga, "Old school ritual, though, one that's less finicky about the whole consent thing. According to the Headmasters and Minister, my magic's tied to it until the bloody thing goes out again."
Suga grimaced before tilting his head in thought. "Your blood's not tied to it, though. Well, not yet."
"Nope, name and magic," Oikawa confirmed.
"The old Champion used blood," Kuroo said, more to himself than anything. "When we watched him light the Goblet-it was magic, name, and blood. That could be an opening?"
Suga shook his head. "Blood's a stand in for body. The Goblet doesn't need the blood for that, it's got the tasks. That's the bond-magic and name are already tied by entering, completing the tasks adds body and finishes the ritual." He considered for another second. "With the winner, of course, being the one the Goblet accepts as its next master."
Bokuto's eyes lit up. "I got it! So, we just ask the old dude that won the last tournament to get the Goblet to let Oikawa out of the bond. Then, we're fine, right?"
"No." Suga shook his head. "He can't, he already relinquished his claim on the Goblet when he lit it for this tournament." He sighed. "That's the trouble with rituals. Once they're started, they're almost impossible to end without some kind of sacrifice."
"In this case being my magic," Oikawa said flatly. "Which I'm not willing to risk."
"So, compete but don't compete," Suga suggested. "Be part of the tasks but don't put any work in-participation without competition."
There was silence.
"It might work," Kuroo admitted, "don't know if the Goblet would accept it. Magic gets all messed up when the intent's not there, you know. You gotta mean it."
"Plus," Iwaizumi frowned, "I don't know, it just seems wrong, doesn't it? To let yourself lose."
"Not to mention," Oikawa said bluntly, "if the other Hogwarts students knew I was doing that, they might actually try to kill me." He smiled at Suga. "Just because we don't care about the tournament doesn't mean the rest of the school isn't treating it like some kind of end all be all thing for school glory." He bumped his shoulder against Iwaizumi. "Like I said, some can be stupidly noble like that."
Iwaizumi just rolled his eyes while Suga nodded, conceding the point.
"Huh, yeah," Bokuto said, sitting butterfly style on the stone floor, hands on his toes as he thought. "That'll be a problem, too, right? I mean even if we do get you out of it, people are going to be pretty pissed if Hogwarts doesn't have any champion, yeah?" He cocked his head. "Or, hey, do you think the Goblet would just like pick another person? That would be okay, I guess."
Oikawa felt his stomach drop.
Suga grabbed the parchment from the middle, scribbling down questions to look at. "I suppose it would determine how the vow with the Goblet was established. That is an idea, though. Maybe instead of looking for for how to break the bond between Oikawa and the Goblet, we can look at how to get the Goblet to pick an alternative-a substitute even."
"Might just mean both Oikawa and the new person's magic is tied to the tournament, though." Iwaizumi rolled his shoulders. "Not to mention, that's if we find out how to convince the Goblet to do anything. I mean it's not exactly sentient, right? Hard to convince something without a brain."
Kuroo fluttered his eyelashes, smirk widening. "Speak for yourself, I'm very persuasive. Brain optional."
"Clearly," Suga teased, laughing when Kuroo kicked at him from the other side of the circle.
"...and there's another problem with getting the Goblet to pick another Hogwarts' Champion," Oikawa admitted quietly. "It can't. I was the only option."
Bokuto blinked. "What?"
Oikawa lifted his wand to cast privacy charms on reflex. "This can't leave the room. The Headmasters didn't even tell the other Champions." He waited for them to nod before sighing. "Apparently, someone tampered with the Goblet. A fire charm hidden with the rest of the flames-it burnt the rest of the Hogwarts entries before the Goblet could register them." Oikawa hesitated. "The Goblet didn't pick me because I was the best choice for Hogwarts, it picked me because I was the only choice."
There was a long moment when the words all sunk in.
Bokuto was the first to break it. "Aww, man! But my parchment was perfect! Even Akaashi said so! I pulled out the fancy calligraphy and everything! Are you telling me it just burnt up? Ugh, that's the worst!"
"Kotaro," Suga said softly.
"Right, right," Bokuto waved it off. "Sorry, back to focusing."
"That's…..a lot more serious," Kuroo said finally. "Timed charms are simple; but, they're not exactly easy. Much less one advanced enough to recognize parchments."
"I know." Oikawa nodded.
"Someone must have really wanted you to be Champion," Kuroo said.
Oikawa met his eyes. "I know."
"Who," Iwaizumi asked. "Who did it?"
Oikawa shrugged. "No clue. I don't even know why."
"Well," Suga coughed lightly, gesturing to the parchment, "I guess the good news is that we're rather good at finding who's and why's."
Bokuto perked up. "New mystery?"
"Looks like it," Kuroo said.
Bokuto's grin spread wide. "Sweet, I knew this year was going to be fun." He winced, glancing apologetically at Oikawa. "I mean, you know, except the part about you having to compete in the tournament and everything even though you don't want to. That part still sucks."
Oikawa snorted, feeling a large burst of exhausted fondness that he didn't even bother to fake annoyance. "Thanks so much."
"So, that's the first questions we got, right?" Kuroo picked up the parchment from Suga. "How and if we can get you out of the tournament? Who entered you in the first place and why?"
"Missed one," Bokuto pointed out. "How we're going to win?"
Oikawa jolted his head up at the same time Kuroo nodded, adding it to the paper. "Fair."
"Wait, win what," Oikawa asked.
Bokuto looked just as baffled. "Um, the tournament? You know the thing we were talking about."
Oikawa just blinked dumbly.
"What? You saying you don't want to win," Kuroo considered. "I mean I guess that's an option, too-lose without looking like you're trying to. The step up from Suga's idea." He wrinkled his nose. "But, come on, when's that ever been our style?"
"Our," Oikawa repeated. "We?"
Suga smiled, propping up on his hand. "Well, you don't think we're going to let you do it alone, right?"
Oikawa opened his mouth before closing it.
"Idiot." Kuroo smirked at him. "Champions are supposed to get help from their schoolmates, dummy. You just lucked out by having the best ones. You'll probably get knocked on your ass in the first task if not for us."
"Hmm, put that on the list," Suga joked and Kuroo immediately obliged with Keep Oikawa off his ass.
"Kinda cool, too," Bokuto chirped, far too cheerful for what had to be past midnight, "Like since apparently we couldn't get chosen through the Goblet, we still get to compete. Together."
Kuroo snorted without looking up. "Hufflepuff."
"I thought you'd be disappointed," Oikawa admitted, looking at Kuroo, Bokuto, and Iwaizumi. "You guys wanted to enter."
Kuroo rolled his eyes. "Come on, it's not like we didn't know only one of us was ever going to get chosen. Gotta admit, I'm still kinda pissed about the whole fire thing. That's just rude, not to mention possibly evil-not ruling out the possibility yet."
"Yeah," Bokuto complained. "If I'd known the parchment was actually going to catch on fire, I'd have just kept it."
"Hey." Iwaizumi poked him again when Oikawa had gone quiet. "You froze again. What's up?"
Oikawa shook his head, just smiling, not wanting to open his mouth and hear the too honest response.
"Okay, so Plan A is a go," Kuroo tapped the parchment before leaning back in a yawn. "Now, please, please, can we go back to our dorms and pass out. I got a feeling tomorrow's going to be loud enough already."
Suga grimaced, standing and dusting off his pants. "Good point." He looked at Oikawa. "What's the chances that Makki and Matsu are asleep already?"
"Slim," Oikawa said flatly. "What's the chances the entire House is still up and laying in wait?"
Suga grinned, pulling a shimmering fabric out for his bag.
Oikawa stared at it before actually groaning in relief. "Suga, I love you."
Suga tucked the Invisibility Cloak away. "Thought you'd say that. I asked Hinata for it before he left the Hall. I'll give it back next Potions' lesson." His smile went a bit mischievous. "Though, this will mean, you don't get to see Daishou's face yet."
Kuroo stopped mid-yawn, smirk suddenly back in place. "Suga, tell me what his face looked like at the Ceremony! Please tell me what his face looked like?"
"Like someone'd replaced his pumpkin juice with doxy toxin," Suga said and Kuroo beamed like the holidays had come early.
"I love you, too," Kuroo said.
"I'm very lovable," Suga answered without missing a beat. He blinked. "By the way, is someone going to take Bo back?"
They all looked over to where Bokuto, almost immediately as soon as they stood, had started ducking his head, looking halfway to asleep while still miraculously standing.
"I got it," Kuroo grabbed his arm and steered him out. "Hey, what happened to when you said you were nocturnal?"
"I am...noc...turnal," Bokuto slurred back, already leaning on Kuroo's shoulder. "Super nocturnal….like….like an owl!"
Kuroo shook his head, leading him off down the hall. "Come on, owl man."
Suga winked, grabbing the cloak and shrugging it on. "I'll go check for Prefects."
Oikawa smiled back at him.
And, then, it was just him and Iwaizumi.
Oikawa turned, leaning back against the desk and just watching him. "Hey."
"Hey." Iwaizumi stepped in front of him, "Seriously, though, are you-"
Oikawa wrapped his arms around him and pulled him forward.
"Hey," Oikawa repeated again quietly, burying his nose into Iwaizumi's shoulder and just closing his eyes, breathing in the warmth and the familiar smell of earth that always seemed ingrained in Iwaizumi's presence.
Iwaizumi hadn't reacted at all, not after the initial jerk when Oikawa had roped him in, and Oikawa's stomach clenched.
"What are you doing," Iwaizumi asked plainly.
"It's a hug, Hajime," Oikawa huffed, continuing to cling. "I know you know what a hug is, don't be dumb."
"...okay," Iwaizumi replied slowly. "And why exactly are you hugging me?"
A thousand answers sprung in Oikawa's eyes, half of them true and half of them lies that he still felt locking his tongue to his cheeks.
"Because I wanted to," Oikawa eventually chose. "I told you, it's been a long night. It doesn't have to be a big deal."
And, finally, he felt the puff of air that was Iwa-chan's version of giving in and arms wrapped around to awkwardly pat at his shoulders.
"You're so weird," Iwaizumi said, still sounding halfway fond. "You know that, right?"
Oikawa just hid his face even further in Iwaizumi's robes. "At least I know how to hug someone."
"This is a hug," Iwaizumi complained, doing the awkward shoulder pat again.
Oikawa judged him quietly even as he was smiling.
"Fine," Iwaizumi rolled his eyes, pulling away so Oikawa could see the full extent of it. "If I'm so bad at it, find someone else then."
"Didn't want to," Oikawa mumbled.
Iwaizumi gave him a look. "What's up with you tonight? I mean besides the obvious."
Oikawa rubbed his face. " Don't worry about it. It's probably still the Veritaserum I took."
"Wait? What?" Iwaizumi's face immediately went into a frown. "What Veritaserum?"
"Modified Veritaserum," Oikawa corrected, trying to blink the sudden tiredness from his eyes. "From Headmaster Ukai. Think it's starting to wear off, though. Good. That's just giving Matsu and Makki a chance."
Iwaizumi was still staring. "Headmaster Ukai made you take Veritaserum?"
"Made isn't quite the right word." Oikawa mimed flicking the word away with his finger. "I'd say I chose it. Small price for guaranteed belief, you know."
"That's….," Iwaizumi's frown had only gotten heavier, "that's still not okay."
Oikawa laughed, feeling almost lightheaded in the weight of the night finally being over and the last of the potion leaving his veins. "Really, Iwa-chan, that's what you're going to get all broody about? A stupid potion I chose to take?"
Iwaizumi glared. "Oikawa-"
"Hallways clear for the next two floors," Suga poked back in through the door, giving the strange appearance of a floating head.
"Excellent, I'm exhausted." Oikawa patted Iwaizumi's cheek, grinning wider when Iwaizumi tried to swat the hand away.
Iwaizumi caught his wrist before he could leave.
"You still shouldn't have had to do that," Iwaizumi said, words gruff and not entirely meeting Oikawa's eyes.
Oikawa blinked.
"Maybe," he finally allowed. "But, at least that one was my choice." Oikawa's next smile was sharp. "Trust me, Iwa-chan, there's bigger problems to think about."
ooooooo
"Merlin," Daichi swore, eyes wide.
It appeared that breakfast in the Great Hall had been summarily abandoned in favor of rampant, uncontrolled gossip.
Two epicenters staggered over the rest as a veritable swarm of people gathered around the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons Champions. A small group of Durmstrang students, with an almost military precision, had formed a semi-barricade around their Champion, allowing Ushijima to at least eat at a calm, regulatory pace. The Beauxbatons Champion was actually fairing better, the crowd forming a much more reasonably spaced circle around him, mostly likely due to the gold sparks shooting out of Hoshiumi's wand whenever they threatened to swarm him. He answered questions with an easy grin.
Beside Daichi, Asahi nodded. "And I thought last night was bad."
"Where's Oikawa," Ennoshita asked.
"Based on this," Tsukishima drawled the last word in disdain, "probably still fighting his way out of his dorm."
"Do you think it'll be like this all year," Yamaguchi asked, sounding apprehensive.
"It'll die down a bit until the tasks start." Tsukishima sighed. "Then, the real annoyance begins."
"I don't know," Daichi admitted, "I'm kind of looking forward to it. Should be fun to watch at least."
"I think Hogwarts might actually win," Yamaguchi said with a grin, utterly ignoring the betrayed look Tsukishima sent him for already getting into the excitement of the tournament.
"Well, it's Oikawa," Ennoshita said. "That means at the very least the rest of them will be with him every bit except the actual tasks." He elbowed Daichi. "In a way, guess your boyfriend just became a Champion vicariously?"
Daichi grinned a little bit dopily. "Hogwarts is definitely going to win."
"Noya, what do you think," Asahi asked.
"Huh?" As one, both Noya and Tanaka stuck their heads up from….whatever they had been doing with Flumpy, tracking his molting cycle quite possibly. The rest didn't particularly want to ask.
"The tournament," Yamaguchi reminded them.
"Oh, yeah, the tournament," Noya had already turned back to Flumpy, "it's, um….yeah, definitely happening."
"Wonderful observation," Tsukishima drawled. "Whatever would we do without you two's keen intellect?"
Tanaka stuck out his tongue. "Who cares about the tournament? When there's this miracle happening right in front of you!"
The entire group looked down at Flumpy.
"Um, molting," Asahi guessed.
"See, that's the thing," Noya held Flumpy closer to them so they could observe. "We thought the flakes were molting! But, actually, it's so much cooler than that!"
"What is it," Yamaguchi asked cautiously.
Noya beamed. "Dried mucus."
The entire table reared back immediately.
"Ugh," Tsukishima made a face of pure disgust, "that's-," he caught the look Ennoshita was giving him, "-so fascinating. Oh, please, tell me more."
"It is fascinating," Tanaka said proudly. "We looked it up! Flumpy here is producing more mucus than any flobberworm on record. A new record, guys!"
As one, the rest of the group looked at each other for something, literally anything positive to say about that.
"Oh, wow," Yamaguchi said woodenly.
"Yeah, that's why we changed Flumpy's babysitting schedule a bit," Noya said. "Cause we knew you'd want to see it, too. You guys don't mind watching Flumpy this weekend, do you? We think that's when the mucus buildup is going to be at its highest. Won't want to miss that, right?"
"...Right," Daichi managed with the smile of a dying man.
Tsukishima sighed. "Fine. Akiteru's coming this weekend so I guess that gives me a good enough excuse as any to ignore him."
Yamaguchi gave him a look.
"Saeko will be here, too," Tanaka put in.
"Oh, even better," Tsukishima enthused flatly. "Now, I have to deal with him besotted, too. Fantastic."
Tanaka, for once, actually looked like he agreed.
Then, conversation ground to a halt as the entire Hall broke into excited shouts and loud whispers.
The group looked up to see Oikawa standing at the entrance, his friends flanking him on either side.
Ennoshita winced as half of the crowd seemed to converge on the spot, the muted roar of the Hall breaking out into chaos. "I guess I should have expected they'd be even more loud when the Hogwarts Champion got here."
Yamaguchi had his hands up to his ears, speaking loud to be heard over everyone talking. "At least, everyone's excited!"
Tsukishima, meanwhile, had his eyes on the ones who hadn't stood up, small groups littered around the Hall that were watching the scene with pinched expressions, robes tight around stiff shoulders.
"...I wouldn't say everyone," Tsukishima muttered, too quiet to be heard.
ooooooo
The smile that Oikawa had carefully woven was beginning to stretch very, very thin.
"What's the first task," piped up a second year Gryffindor, trying to push forward but Kuroo just happened to step to the side, easily blocking him back before Oikawa could get swarmed.
Oikawa shrugged like it was easy, poking at food that he had a feeling he wasn't going to get much of a chance to eat. "Didn't tell me." He winked, smile widening when he heard a couple of Hufflepuff girls sigh at the side. "Guess it's going to be a surprise for all of us."
"Wow, I'd be so nervous," said a fourth year, smiling up at him nervously.
There was a small laugh and a few in the crowd finally looked away to see Hotaru Oishi, a seventh year Ravenclaw, standing with his books held lightly under one arm.
"Oh, I don't know about that." Oishi smiled at him with a particularly kind of smile that Oikawa recognized well. "I think the rest of the Champions should be the ones that are nervous, right?"
Oikawa smiled back. "Well, I'll try my best."
"Then, sounds like Hogwarts already won," Oishi finished smoothly.
Oikawa's smile widened. "Thanks for the support."
"Anything for our Champion." Oishi nodded before heading off down the Hall.
Oikawa shot a smug look to Iwaizumi, who only rolled his eyes. Behind them, Kuroo made a retching face that he quickly pulled back up to a wince when another student shoved forward.
"Wait," a fourth year Hufflepuff shoved forward, "but, what about-"
"Yeah, yeah," a voice broke in sounding particularly peeved and Oikawa smirked up to find Daishou. "What about the tasks this and the Yule Ball that." He shot a withering glare at the crowd. "Learn to wait like everyone else."
"Ah, Daishou," Oikawa said happily, "what's up? You seem tense. Didn't get your daily helpings of vermin today?"
Daishou snorted. "Weak and I think you've used that one before."
"Sorry, in case you haven't noticed, my mind's been far more occupied recently with infinitely more pleasurable company." Oikawa gestured cheerfully at the crowd.
"Ugh," Daishou said succinctly, looking disgusted and this was honestly shaping up to be the best part of Oikawa's morning. Exchanging a brief look with Kuroo, it looked like he agreed.
Of course, this was all rudely disturbed by Daishou grabbing his arm and pulling him up. "Come on, we're talking. Away from the too easily impressed masses, thank you."
"Hey!" A Gryffindor girl puffed up in offense.
Daishou just looked at her and she sunk back.
Oikawa meanwhile pouted as he was manhandled out of the Great Hall. "A little help?"
Suga, Iwaizumi, Kuroo, and Bokuto all exchanged a look before it seemed they unanimously decided that Daishou was not at all the kind of threat they were paid enough to deal with….not that they were paid at all, actually.
"Save yourself," Kuroo called back, happily taking his break to grab a plate. "I'm starving."
"The worst!" Oikawa shouted.
Bokuto beamed at him, not even looking a bit apologetic as he waved him off. "Have fun!"
"I've been abandoned," Oikawa slumped against the arm that Daishou was still using to drag him away. "This is it, it looks like you're the only one I can count on anymore, Daishou….or can I call you Suguru now since it looks like we're going to be best friends."
"I'd rather dive in a sewer," Daishou replied flatly.
"Well, to be fair," Oikawa gestured to his limp hair, "it looks like you already tried."
Daishou rolled his eyes. "I swear how is that you got chosen as Champion above me? Honestly, I think I'd even rather it have been Matsukawa and Hanamaki's stupid plan." Then, he grimaced. "I'd almost rather it have been Matsukawa and Hanamaki's stupid plan."
"You know, Daishou," Oikawa smiled up innocently, "I think it's your unwavering sense of optimism that Mika must be attracted to the most, don't you think?"
Daishou didn't even bother raising to the bait, shoving him off to a corridor by the east stairway.
"What's the first task," Daishou demanded bluntly.
Oikawa raised a brow. "What happened to waiting like everyone else?"
Daishou sniffed. "Since when have I ever considered myself 'everyone else'?"
Oikawa didn't actually have a response for that so moved along gracefully. "Unfortunately for both of us, I really don't know. The tournament official said it was supposed to be a surprise."
"And you just accepted that?" Daishou judged him heavily.
Oikawa huffed. "Yes, well, I had a lot on my mind recently."
"Useless." Daishou shook his head. "Fine. I guess I'll be helping figure that out, too. Incredible. If you don't start pulling your weight, I'm abandoning you to help the Beauxbatons Champion. Just so you know."
"Help," Oikawa scrunched up his nose, wondering if he was hearing things, "since when are you helping me?"
Daishou gave him a look like he was being deliberately obtuse for the sole purpose of ruining Daishou's life….Oikawa had to give it to him, Daishou was incredibly impressive at portraying absolute disdain just with a tilt of his lips.
"You're the Hogwarts Champion, more you're the Slytherin Champion," Daishou said as if speaking to a child. "And, due to what I'm still convinced is a cruel mockery of fate, you're one of my Dueling partners. All of which means that your actions reflect back on me." He glared. "You can't really expect me to just leave it up to chance and your bunch, can you? In case you haven't noticed, your track record is blowing up parts of the school, losing us two Defense professors, and getting yourself petrified." He shook his head. "Merlin, you haven't even bothered to figure out the first task yet. Looks like I really am going to have to do everything."
Oikawa blinked, still deciding on what part to be offended about first.
Daishou didn't bother waiting, grabbing a piece of parchment from his bag, quickly and elegantly writing a time and place, and shoving it in Oikawa's hands.
"Here. All of you meet me there in a week and I'll see what I can find." Daishou gathered his cloak around him, giving Oikawa one last measuring look. "Like I said, you're not the worst wizard out there, so, you should have a pretty good chance at not embarrassing me. Try not to prove me wrong, won't you?"
Oikawa took the parchment, folding it into his pocket. "Have you ever considered doing motivational speeches? Truly, such an inspiration. I've got chills."
Daishou tipped his head back and sighed, long and aggrieved. "I swear that bloody Goblet's gone senile."
Oikawa simply smiled, tossing a wave as Daishou stalked down the Hall.
Silently, looking around at the blissfully empty halls, Oikawa wondered how long until he absolutely had to go back and face the crowds again.
"Psst!"
Oikawa cocked his head.
"Psst, Oikawa, over here!"
Oikawa's eyes traced to a classroom hidden off to the side and he smirked.
"Looks like my morning's full of surprise visits," he said. "Hiding out in classrooms now, are we?"
"I needed to talk to you," Hinata said, meeting him in the hall and grabbing his hand to tug him in the direction of the class.
Oikawa let himself be pulled. "Doesn't everyone?"
Which made it all the more strange that once they were behind the closed door, Hinata just stared.
Oikawa winked back.
"If this is a confession," he teased, "I'm afraid-"
"You're the Champion," Hinata blurted out, brows scrunching down into comical puzzlement as if working out one of the great mysteries of life.
Oikawa laughed. "Astute observation, short stuff. But, some stupid wood cup kind of beat you to the announcement."
Hinata ignored him entirely. "I thought you weren't entering."
"So did I," Oikawa said wryly.
"What?" Hinata frowned. "So, you changed your mind?"
"Not exactly," Oikawa leaned closer. "Know how to keep a secret?"
The expression that passed over Hinata's face was decidedly odd. "Um, yeah."
"Looks like someone else took the liberty of entering for me," Oikawa said, not bothering to keep the coolness from hardening his eyes even as his easy expression stayed steady. "Rather insistent about it, too, it seems."
"Who," Hinata asked.
Oikawa shrugged, hopping up to sit on the old desk. "Too many picks to narrow it down yet. Someone who wanted to see me suffer, I assume."
Hinata's frown got deeper. "Why do you say that?"
"Oh, I don't know, let's see," Oikawa ticked it off with his fingers. "Entering my name without my permission. Stupid games with high possibility of maiming me. Having to see Ushijima regularly. The possibilities of torture are truly endless. Why you got a better suggestion?"
"Because they wanted to see you win," Hinata said, the tilt of his head suggesting it was obvious.
Oikawa snorted. "Sure, because that's our lives."
Hinata continued to stare at him.
Actually, there was something about that stare that was beginning to make Oikawa shift in his spot, peering closer to try to find what made it look so familiar.
The brown eyes sharpened and focused like they were trying to pin down any unfortunate soul that stuck in their way.
It was strange to watch, fascinating really, Oikawa lock his head forward-smiling with all his teeth almost on instinct.
And, then, Hinata spoke.
"I want to see you win," he said simply.
"Hmmmm," Oikawa asked, already focused on the new mystery that stood before him and lacked the normal buzz of movement that Hinata always carried around him like an electron cloud.
But, right now, Hinata was still.
The scattered energy was focused and it was entirely too intriguing for Oikawa to look away.
What in the world had he been missing with his favorite, little underclassmen?"
Oikawa continued to smile.
"I want you to win," Hinata repeated and the tone had changed, rolling past simple fact this time and cracking straight into declaration.
"How kind," Oikawa drawled.
"No." Hinata shook his head. "What I mean is when I heard your name, I wanted you to win. I really, really wanted it. So," Hinata's head tilted sharply, watching, "what if other people feel like that, too. I bet they do, actually. What if they didn't enter so you'd suffer, what if they wanted to see you win."
"Ah, I see." Oikawa tapped his chin. "First muggleborn Slytherin also becomes Triwizard Champion, a victory for muggleborns everywhere. Something like that?"
Hinata blinked, rolling the thought from one side of his mouth to the other. "I guess? I wasn't talking about headlines."
"No," Oikawa asked.
Hinata shook his head. "I meant people. I think…." He looked up again and the sharpness was back in his eyes, "I think a lot of people were really happy when you got chosen. I think it's important."
Oikawa inclined his head, conceding the point. "I'll admit I didn't consider someone entering my name for misplaced altruism."
Hinata's eyes scanned over the unsaid words. "You still don't think that's it, though?"
"I'm not an optimist," Oikawa agreed readily.
Hinata chewed on the words. "Does it matter?"
"My poor forgotten optimism?" Oikawa grinned, leaning back on the table. "No, I suppose not, but rude."
"No, I meant….," Hinata paused, thinking through his words in a way Oikawa couldn't particularly remember him doing before-interesting and more interesting. "You think someone entered you so you'd fail, right? I think it's the opposite. But, that's the point-it doesn't matter."
"And why's that," Oikawa asked in curious amusement.
"Because you'll win," Hinata said without hesitation. "Either way, you'll show them so it doesn't matter why they did it."
Oikawa paused, watching as the sun shone down through the window, catching fire in Hinata's hair as he refused to look away.
Ah, that's it, Oikawa realized suddenly, the last piece of familiarity sliding into place.
A lion.
Hinata reminded him of a young lion he'd once seen at the zoo, prowling against the cage and just beginning to snap at its bars.
Oikawa leaned forward. "That what you wanted to see me about?"
Hinata shook his head. "No."
"Then, what is it?"
Hinata rolled his shoulders back and, now that Oikawa had guessed it, he could see the move like a predator stalking its next meal. Seriously, Oikawa had seen him barely a week ago? What could have happened in a week and why the heck had no one invited Oikawa?
"...I talked to Headmaster Washijo," Hinata said slowly.
"Ah." A good chunk of Oikawa's entertainment took an abrupt cliff dive. "Crotchety old bastard, isn't he?"
"He told me Hogwarts wasn't the best place for me," Hinata said. "For muggleborns."
Oikawa sighed, propping his head in his hands and kicking his legs idly. "Yes, well, Washijo is a bit biased, isn't he?"
"What do you mean," Hinata asked.
"He did leave." Oikawa shrugged. "Easy to believe it's the best choice for everyone if it was the best choice for him. Can't blame him for that, I suppose."
Hinata watched him with those sharp, sharp eyes. "What do you think?"
"I think I'm a terrible role model and, as you've assured me multiple times, not your mentor." Oikawa dodged the question. "Think for yourself."
Hinata's annoyed little huff was at least familiar so Oikawa reassured himself that he couldn't have missed too much.
"You're an awful mentor," Hinata grumbled under his breath.
Oikawa spread his arms wide. "And yet you're here at my door."
Hinata rolled his eyes even as his brow was already pulling down in consideration.
"I already know what I think," Hinata admitted.
Oikawa gestured for him to continue.
There was something hungry in Hinata's eyes, something that gripped at Oikawa's own stomach.
Then, Hinata spoke. "I want more."
And all Oikawa could do was laugh.
Hinata's expression didn't change, waiting.
"Dang, I think I hate that stupid hat." Oikawa held up a hand to stall Hinata's next question. "Okay, how did it go?...Right." He snapped, focusing back on Hinata. "And is your pride really that important?"
"This isn't about pride," Hinata replied immediately.
"Everything's about pride," Oikawa's tone brokered no arguments, "and don't ever let them make you forget it."
Hinata frowned anyway. "Akaashi called it hope."
"Well, isn't that cute," Oikawa drawled.
"You're both wrong," Hinata insisted stubbornly.
Oikawa snorted, casual and easy even as Hinata's back was straight like live wire.
"What are you calling it, then," Oikawa asked.
Hinata answered with a question. "Do you believe in walls?"
"Of course, I do," Oikawa said without hesitation.
"No," Hinata huffed again, "I mean paths you can't go down, futures you don't get, obstacles like-"
"I know what you mean," Oikawa interrupted firmly. "Yes, I believe in walls. How could I possibly not?"
And, all at once, Hinata slumped like all his strings were cut, fire flickering out and sharpness dulling to blunt obscurity.
Oikawa waited.
…..and, maybe….maybe, this is where a nice person would have reached out, would have put a hand on Hinata's shoulder and drawn him forward with kind words, onto a different path. An easier path, where they believed Hinata could be happy.
Oikawa was not a nice person.
And, so, he waited.
He waited until Hinata picked his head back by himself, met Oikawa's eyes until Oikawa could see that the fire wasn't gone at all, that the lion wasn't just starving but hunting.
"You're wrong," Hinata said, no adornment, nothing fancy to blunt the impact, just two simple words to be aimed and released. "There's no such thing as an unbeatable wall and I'm going to prove it."
Oikawa was not a nice person.
He was the type that thought lions belonged outside of cages.
Oikawa smiled.
He hopped off the desk, patting Hinata's shoulder as Oikawa himself headed for the door. "Now, Shouyou, when did I ever say those walls were unbeatable?" He turned on his heel and winked. "Word of advice for when you're planning to start breaking walls. If you're going to hit it, hit it until it breaks."
ooooooo
A/N:
Thanks for getting through this long chapter, everyone, and-as always-thanks for all your support, guys. I really am continually amazed by all of your support, just truly thank you! Also, as a small note: my semester starts on Monday and I am most likely going to take a week off from posting either next week or the week after (depending on how work goes) so I can have time to focus on classes and to catch up on other projects. Either way, it will only be one week I just haven't really decided which one (most likely Sept. 5-6th will be the week with no chapter).
Next Chapter: Sunrise
Post Date: either Aug.29-30th or Sept. 5-6th