Luffy woke up with a start and saw Nami leaning above him.
«You were having a nightmare» she told him.
Luffy sat on the sofa and rubbed his face while trying to give sense to what he had seen. Nami came to sit beside him silently. A silence that meant that she wouldn't force him to talk if he didn't want to, but that she was ready to listen.
«It's… it's not the sort of nightmare I usually have. I dream less of Marine Ford, now a day. »
«That's good to know. What was this dream to put you in this state? »
«I don't really know what was happening. It was blurry… there was a lot of people… screaming… I was angry in my dream. Something wasn't going fast enough...»
Luffy stared at Nami.
«I was someone else… someone horrible, Nami. I felt so much hatred… so much bitterness and disgust… so much loneliness… but there was this thirst for power running in my mind, enough to make me crazy… and… I was feeling incomplete. »
Nami ran her hand in Luffy's hair, trying to calm him down.
«You want to stay with Robin or Sabo, tonight? You need some rest;so it may be for the best. Although, Sabo said he would be out tonight, no…»
Luffy stayed motionless.
« Shayna? » called Nami.
The snake raised her head.
«We're going to see Robin, come on. »
The female slid under Luffy's t-shirt who shivered slightly, and went to coil up around his neck. Nami helped Luffy stand up and took him by his shoulder, leading him to the painting.
«Where are you going? » asked Hermione that was entering the common room.
« Hand Luffy to Robin. It'll do him some good, I think…»
Luffy was paler and paler, indeed, with bags under his eyes each day darker. Fortunately, he had his wand, or it would be hard in class.
«I'll warn McGonagall. You'll need to warn Sabo to.»
«No need, he isn't here tonight. Appointment with his boss. Come on Luffy.»
And the sixth year led her friend out of the common room.
« And the curfew, young lady! » The Fat Lady told her.
«I have to lead my captain to my nakama. The curfew, I don't give a damn! » Yelled Nami above her shoulder.
She took her Climat Tact from under her skirt and with one hand, without letting go of Luffy, she moved it so it would produce a mirage. Soon, the image of the two pirates blurred and disappeared.
.
.
Robin opened the door without asking a single question and let the invisible duo enter, before closing back the door of her apartments. Nami and Luffy appeared at this moment.
« Thanks Robin, Mrs Norris must have smelled us, she was following us. »
« It's nothing. You want to sleep here tonight too? »
Nami though about it for an instant, then smiled.
« One night without having to ear those idiotic sixth year girls? But with pleasure! Other than Katie Bell, they are all bimbo, to stay polite. »
« And if you were not...»
« I can't call them whore; I saw prostitutes with more manners than them. »
Robin smiled and led them toward her bedroom. A hammock was already put into a corner, not very far from the bed. With care, Robin helped a still in a daze Luffy to climb into the hammock and to lie down. The head of the pirate had just touched the pillow that he fell asleep. Nami put a cover on the young man and stepped back with Robin. Shayna went to take place, snuggling, on Luffy's stomach, protected under his t-shirt.
« When you have seen what he is able to do, you could almost forget that he is only human, » whispered Nami. « That he is sometime troubled like everybody, but also his ability to perceive things that go beyond our understanding. »
« I heard about what happened » Robin told her.
« You keep an eye on him, ne? »
« He is my captain too, of course. He saved me too, after all. »
The two young women watched Luffy sleep away.
« I take out a futon or you sleep in my bed with me? »
« I'll sleep with you, just like on the Merry! » Nami smiled at her.
Robin went to open the bed with a smile as the redhead transfigured her clothes in a pajama. Soon, the two pirates slid under the cover chatting, as they used to do on the ship, to end up finding their sleep, nostalgic of the sound of the waves, the smell of the sea and the creaking of the wood.
In his sleep, Luffy moved and turned over, a small serene smile on his lips.
.
.
Vivi smiled when Karasu led her in front of the painting with the fruit cup.
The elf opened the painting and Vivi entered in the kitchen. She frowned seeing what the elves were wearing.
« Old timers » Karasu told her following her gaze. « Come, Karasu will show you the elf that had the idea to continue to serve Japanese cooking at the Gryffindor's table. »
«Thank you very much, Karasu-san, » smiled Vivi.
The old elf chased away the gratitude with his hand and led Vivi with him. He caught a house elf passing by.
«Karasu search Winky. »
«With Dobby, like always. » the Hogwarts elf answered him.
Karasu tried not to sigh.
«And where is Dobby? »
They were showed the fire place.
«Arigatou Gozaimasu,» smiled Vivi.
The elf happily bowed and the duo walked toward the fire place. They found the elf wearing the most eccentric clothing possible, comforting a house elf that was in a bad state, drinking butterbeer in front of the fire place.
«Oi, Winky-kun, you have a visitor. »
The two house elves turned toward the duo.
«Dobby can do something for the Princess? » inquired the eccentric elf.
«It's nice of you to ask, but I am here to thank someone » smiled Vivi.
«It's Winky-kun the responsible, Vivi-sama » explained Karasu.
«Winky did something bad? » asked the small elf smothering a hiccup.
«No. I wanted to thank you. »
Vivi bowed deeply in front of the little elf, leaving the rest of the staff voiceless. Next, the young princess crouched down to the level of the house elf and smiled at her:
«I am not used to this country, and it warm my heart to find some familiar cooking on the table. It brings me back to my home, and at the good times. Just for this, I wanted to thank you for your initiative with the menu. »
«The pirates and the revolutionary already thanked Winky for this. » commented Dobby. But never Dobby would have believed that a Princess would do it…»
«Why not? » said Karasu while smoothing his kimono.
«To thank you, Winky, I have something to propose to you. You're not obligated to say yes, and I wouldn't begrudge you if you prefer to stay here, » continued Vivi.
Winky turned over her stool to look the princess with her big round watery eyes.
« I would like to propose you to become my personal house elf, and to enter the service of the Nefertari Line, in Alabasta. »
In the kitchen, a fly could be heard.
«Winky could never! Winky is a bad elf! Winky failed and her master was right to send her off! Winky…»
Winky stopped when Vivi put a finger on her lips and smiled.
«You can't be perfect, and I don't except of you to be. We all can make mistakes. Only Kami-sama is perfect. And when you see how the world is today, you can even question this. »
«The Nefertari elves have a good life, it's your chance » smiled Karasu.
«Winky doesn't want to listen to a bad elf like Karasu! »
«Karasu is too old to change. And Karasu served on the Oro Jackson. Karasu serve a pirate and doesn't care at all. Karasu beat Ray-san's skull when he comes back from his absences reeking of women and alcohol, and swallowed under debts. And Ray-san accept the blows with a laugh. This is how it work with the Silver and that won't change any time soon! »
« If we didn't already know it, Karasu, those words would just prove that you are crazy. » commented a house elf. «In fifty years, you haven't change at all.»
«Why should I? »
Vivi shook her head, smiling with amusement, then turned back to Winky.
« I leave you to think about my proposition, and when you decide yourself, come see me, okay? »
«The princess isn't joking with Winky? » asked the small house elf in a small voice.
«I am very serious. »
«Vivi-sama, the curfew», said Karasu as he took a pocket watch from his kimono.
«Oops, thank you Karasu. I hope to have your answer soon. »
Vivi stood up and bowed before all the house elves.
«Thanks to all of you for your hard work! » She smiled.
And she ran out escorted by Karasu who followed perfectly her rhythm, even if his getas made an atrocious noise.
.
.
Luffy was excited.
First defense lesson led by Harry in the Room of Requirement.
A.D.
He had a little pout when everybody voted for Dumbledore's Army, but had let it pass.
«What were you doing before we showed up? » Ron asked Luffy.
«I was training. »
Luffy straight slightly one of his fingers, stretching it discreetly. Easy to understand the message.
«Right, we'll begin with the Disarming spell. And before you complain, know that it was really useful to me last year. And try not to do it wandlessly. I'm not an expert, I wouldn't want to have any accident because of this. »
Harry paired them up and soon, they began to work.
«You're scared, Luffy? » asked Hermione with a wild smirk.
«You wish, ne? » snickered Luffy.
He blocked without a though nor a word the Expelliarmus that came toward him, before needing his Haki to avoid the assault of a red light that rushed toward him trying to touch him on diverse place on his person.
«My turn! Nihi! » grinned Luffy when Hermione stopped her play after her arm cramped.
Luffy's arm snapped when he threw the spell. Hermione released a little 'meeep' of surprise and found herself flying a little further away, her wand almost hitting Harry who was passing by.
«You're certain that I can teach you something, Luffy? » Harry asked as he helped Hermione stand up.
«Shihihihihi! I'm sure! »
.
.
Harry was rather satisfied with the results of the class. There was a lot of amelioration. He also discovered one of Luffy's problem (well, Sabo had whispered it to him at the end of a lesson) : his aim.
When it was his fists, he could do with it, but a lot of his spells were slightly off.
«I have the same problem with firearms. Ace is better at it than me. »
Nobody wanted to know how Luffy knew how to use a gun, nor against what he used them. The surprised expression on Nami's face told them that she had never seen her captain use a gun.
«I did, once, a big thing more to look cool than anything else, and he was shooting in the feet of Shiki's men. Not many bullets, so, he didn't play long.» she reply seeing there look of question.
The next class gave a good idea to Harry. Since they had two pirates, which meant two persons used to fight, he decided that the last five minutes of each lesson would be about trying to put Luffy and Nami down using all the spells they knew, so long as they didn't hurt them. This way of doing allowed everybody to progress. McGonagall and Flitwick commented endlessly the progresses of Neville in class, Colin was a master with the Impedimenta Jinx… and as for Parvati, Harry though to himself that he would never make her angry; since she could turn into dust a huge statue with a simple and single Reducto. To face Luffy and Nami made the class learn speed and precision, and made the two pirates work on their avoidance. Sabo thanked Harry for his work and gave him with Spades a good list of spells that would be interesting to study and a box with a good twenty chocolate frog with extremely rare cards.
Only negative point, for Luffy anyway, was that if it wasn't a week-end, he couldn't assist to the full lesson, because of his detention with Snape, and could only join the A.D. classes in the last hour, if he was lucky. To compensate, Harry made sure that his homework was done the day he received them and that Luffy did his just as fast, to have a private class with the pirate in the week-end, where his friend could totally let himself out, without needing to hide. He surprised Hermione and the Patil twins do the same too, which left Nami (lost in her books on meteorology in those time) laughing herself sick, and making Sabo's eyebrows ride high on his forehead.
.
.
Sabo took a hit from his brother without a word. Then another. And another.
Better this than him going after Umbridge.
Hermione had sat in a corner of the Room of Requirement with Nami and Robin, and the Patil twins. She raised an instant her eyes from the program she was writing down for Hagrid, who had come back the night before, to watch the fight.
«They'll hurt each other, no? » whispered Parvati, leaving her twin look over the program that Hermione had written.
«They've been through worse » muttered Nami taking some notes about something.
«This woman is vile. We really can't do anything against her? » asked Hermione.
«You prefer to have Avery, a Death Eater, maybe, in her place? » asked Robin as she raised her eyes from the copies she was correcting.
«Said like this...» mumbled Padma.
Hermione rubbed her head groaning and pushed away what she was doing to let her face fall with a moan on the table. The other girls looked at her puzzled.
«LUFFY! YOUR HAKI! » roared Sabo, turning the attention away from Hermione.
Luffy stopped his attack on his brother and let himself fall on his knees, his pink skin letting out smoke making him hard to see. The boy tried to calm himself.
«Mattaku, where is Ace when you need an expert in Haoshoku? Concentrate, Luffy, control yourself. You are the master! »
«I would like to see you try! » retorted Luffy.
And he jumped on Sabo, pushing him on the ground. The two brothers rolled from one side of the room to the other as they fought.
«It's worse with Ace » Nami commented as she turned back toward Hermione. «So what is it with you? »
«I can't take it anymore! With Umbridge that make Harry's life a living hell, who will do everything to throw Hagrid out because he is half-giant, and Luffy who has a hard time keeping his calm, I'll become crazy! » half screamed Hermione.
«Wanting to worry too much, you will gain white hair » Robin pointed out with some amusement.
«I'm worry too! » huffed the twins.
«You take care of yourself, Luffy is our problem. We are used to him. » pointed out Robin.
The door opened on Harry, mine as dark as the day before, after the match of Quidditch, Spades on his fist. He however stopped, when he saw the two brothers have their cat fight as they yelled at each other.
«What is going on with them? » he asked.
«Luffy has some trouble in keeping his Haoshoku under control, and Sabo is scolding him for this. Well, at least it was the case before they began to bicker in Portuguese.»
«Why in Portuguese? » asked Padma.
«Luffy is Brazilian » precised Nami. «Oi! You two idiots! Do I have to call Karasu for you to calm down, or what?! »
The brothers ignored her utterly.
«Harry, the door » demanded Robin as a vein began to throb on Nami's forehead.
Harry closed the door and Robin looked at the brothers. The next moment, a lot of hands appeared on the ground and separated the two.
«What is it, Robin? » asked Luffy in a bad mood.
«Spade is here » stated calmly the archaeologist as she went back to her papers.
The two siblings looked at Harry who raised the hand where Spade was perched. The eagle flew to Sabo and took a spot on his shoulder. Robin's hands released the two who seemed to have cooled down, allowing them to sit and read their mail.
«Where is Ron? » asked Hermione.
«He is moping in a corner because of yesterday's match » muttered Harry in an indifferent tone. «You do realize that Hagrid will be too stubborn to follow your program. »
«I must at least try. »
«I propose we send Ji-chan or Karasu to incite him to follow Hermione's program » muttered Luffy as he let his head fall on the table, between Nami and Robin.
«Why not your grandfather? » asked Parvati.
The glares from Luffy and Sabo was telling enough.
«I put my foot in my mouth, didn't I… sorry »
«Don't apologize, you couldn't know » Nami told her.
«This man isn't my grandfather anymore. He tried to keep me from saving Ace, and he pretend we are from the same family? Tch, don't make me laugh…» said Luffy bitterly. «What does the Matchstick who forgot the existence of t-shirts wants? »
«To know if he has to come back to kill Umbridge, and our plans for Christmas. It is a little early for that. »
«With the snow in the park, I don't think that it is too early » commented Harry.
« Aaaaaaaaaah, and it is in those moments that we would want to be at the time when your brother was having his angry fits that warmed the atmosphere! » Parvati laughed, making everyone laugh and Padma pout.
«That's not fair! We're so cold in Ravenclaw! » Huffed her twin with humor.
Luffy smiled. The twins were taking the Devil's fruits well and with humor. It was nice to hear. Even more so as they didn't see him as a monster. Not like Ron who was beginning to change about this subject.
Parvati was going to answer when Sabo, without raising his face from the letter, held a letter to her.
«From your sister. »
Nothing more was needed for the twins to shut up and began to read the letter of their older sister.
«I think that I am done, » sighed Hermione.
Robin put down what she was doing and took the program that Hermione had prepared to check it.
«Can I feel scared about Tuesday? » asked Harry.
«Hagrid has a good heart, but he is naive, » sighed Sabo. «He believes that nothing will happen so long as Dumbledore will be here, but he doesn't realize that the time is ticking and that Dumbledore won't stay here long.»
«The program is more than correct. He answers to the exigences of both the Ministry of Magical schooling, but also to those of the ICW, » approved Robin.
«I'll take this to him, and talk some sense into him. Luffy, if I fail, I think that we can send Ji-chan or Karasu after him. If not both. »
«We will need some popcorn then.»
Sabo stood up and grabbed his hat. He left the Room of Requirement as he put his cloak on. Tiding up his scarf and putting his hat on his head he moved down the stairs. Some level below, he crossed path with Umbridge.
«Professor Umbridge,» greeted Sabo as he pulled slightly on his hat as a salutation.
«My dear professor Silver,» smiled Umbridge with her toady smile. «I was wondering where you were! »
«With my little brother.»
«How is it that you look like you were fighting? »
«Maybe because my brother is a pirate and that he has to know how to fight if he wants to survive, and I promised to our oldest brother and our uncle that I would personally make sure of it so long as he is in Hogwarts. »
«You let a student beat you up? »
«Luffy isn't one of my students. He isn't in class of Natural Magic, he need it as much as me. Luffy is the future Pirate King, and for this, I must make sure that the future master of the Grand Line has the strength that come with the title. Will that be all, professor? »
Before Umbridge could even say a word, Sabo continued on his way. He went out into the park and held back a shiver. Where was Ace, sincerely, when you need a warmer?
Tightening his cloak on his shoulder, he traversed the park with an energetic stride in spite of the snow and went to Hagrid's hut. He wanted to scream miracle when he saw the smoke in the chimney. The blond finally reached the door and knocked. The barking inside made him smile This good old Fang. Maybe he should introduce him to Stefan, they would get along like a house on fire.
Hagrid ended up opening the door and Sabo got a shock.
«By Davy Jones, someone threw a Buster Call at your face or what? » Demanded Sabo.
«Sabo! How are you kid! I wasn't expecting to see you here! Come in, come in! »
Sabo entered and put his hat on the table while Hagrid closed the door.
«What bring you here? You miss the school so much that you came back? » smiled Hagrid.
A smile that was more like a wince.
«I am a professor here, Hagrid-san. »
«Professor? Look at that! And you teach what?!»
«The Natural Magic. »
«No, this, it is the good old professor Fushisho who does it. »
«Shirohige is dead. Marco can't be both captain and professor. I took his post since he chose his crew against Hogwarts. »
Hagrid looked at Sabo gobsmacked.
«You're serious? »
«When was the last time you read a muggle newspaper, Hagrid-san? »
«Well, at least twenty years… the professor Fushisho did a resume to all that wanted to know the last muggle news. »
Sabo stayed several seconds silent, his Haki searching his surrounding, then he sighed deeply as he recognized the type of voice newly arrived in the forest.
«I knew that even if you did it deliberately, you shouldn't have been that late, when you were only some kilometers away from Irun. »
«How do you know I was there?! » wondered Hagrid.
«It is my job to know everything! Hagrid-san, I don't know how nor why, you bought a giant here, but it is the worse year to do so. »
Hagrid was opening his mouth to ask him how he knew, but closed it, going to make some tea.
«Haki, eh? »
«Why Hagrid-san? You won't make me believe that you are naive enough to not understand that the plant from the ministry will eject you! »
«I don't risk anything, with Dumbledore here. »
«Dumbledore won't stay here for long. I bet you everything you want that he won't be here anymore at the end of January! »
«Hogwash! »
«It doesn't tell me why you bought a giant at Hogwarts. If Luffy and I, we can fight against a giant without a problem, and that Nami and Robin can take care of themselves, it isn't the case of the others peoples around. »
Hagrid sighed and put the water on the fire to heat.
«He is my brother. Well, half-brother. »
Hagrid turned around to see Sabo's expression soften and become sad.
«I see… that's his work, your face? »
«He doesn't know his force...»
«Neither did my brother, but I never found myself with my face as ravaged as yours. Even Ohara's ruins are least ravaged than you, it's to say. Well, do what you want. »
Sabo put Hermione's work on the table while Hagrid was serving the tea.
«What is this? »
«The work that Hermione judged necessary. She made you a program. »
«I don't need one! I know perfectly well what I will be teaching! »
«I know you, Hagrid-san. If I need to ask Rayleigh to come see you to shake you up and force you to follow this program, I'll do it. Hermione already has enough reason to worry about Umbridge in this castle. Spare her those white hair. »
«She doesn't need to worry; everything will be alright! »
Sabo accepted the cup with a sigh. He will put his uncle and Karasu against the half-giant to talk some sense into him.
«So, what happened exactly to this mountain of Edward Newgate for him to kick the bucket! When you listened to the professor Fushisho, it was almost as if the man was immortal! »
«War, Hagrid-san. The eternal conflict between the outlawed and the justice… except that my brothers were at the heart of this conflict. I'll give you the papers, I don't have the heart to talk about Marine Ford, even less after having almost lost Luffy and Ace. »
«Lose them? Those kids are reckless, but you don't need to exaggerate! »
«If you don't want to believe it, never look at Luffy without a shirt. It's like someone tried to open his chest with a chainsaw. »
«A what? »
Sabu rubbed his nose. He wasn't the professor of Muggle Studies, by Davy Jones! It wasn't his job to translate this in an understandable language for the wizards.
.
.
Luffy stopped and stared at Hagrid without batting an eye, as the man stated that they were going to work in the forest today.
«Ne, Hagrid! What happened to you? » asked Luffy.
«Don't worry, that's nothing. »
«Not worry? I'm sure I was looking better than you when Torao had finished sewing me back together! »
«Torao? » repeated Ron.
Hermione seemed utterly perplex and Harry shrugged.
«I kept this excursion in the forest for this year! I thought that you would like to see them in their natural home! Oh, and Luffy! You'll tell your uncle that he doesn't need to send me his crazy house elf, I know what I'm doing! »
«Karasu is crazy, it's a fact. But he obeys if he wants to. So, Ji-chan could get angry and become blue in the face that Karasu would still not give a damn, if he judges that he must annoy you for a reason or another. Sometimes, I tell myself that he is more a pirate than Ji-chan was! »
«More pirate than the Dark King… Why not? » commented Dean as he rubbed his forehead.
«Tss, unable to make his own servant obey...» sneered Malfoy as they followed Hagrid.
«Karasu isn't my servant. He is bound to the Silver family, and I am a Monkey. And also, he isn't a servant, he is a full member of our family. And if he hears you, it will be bad for you. »
«Oooh, you will defend you little house elf? »
The Slytherins snickered.
«Karasu doesn't need me to defend him, he can do it very well on his own… after all, he lived on the Oro Jackson, and saw worse things than you, teme. »
The simple fact of mentioning Roger's ship calmed the Slytherins.
Anyway, they had come to a halt. Hagrid let his half dead cow on the ground, and made a strange cry.
Luffy understood then the subject of the class, and his smile fell as a strange horse came around.
«Why does Hagrid not call another times ? » demanded Parvati.
«And here comes another! » stated Hagrid happily as a second joined the first around the dead cow. «So, who can see them?!»
Luffy and Harry raised their hands, with Neville and a Slytherin.
«I guessed that you would be able to see them, Harry. Oh, and you too Neville? Luffy, it is expected…»
«What are we supposed to see? » Interrupted pretentiously Malfoy.
«Look at the cow, ahou,» Luffy told him, his voice flat.
«Luffy? » breathed Hermione, worried by his voice.
Everyone watched the cow and there was an exclamation.
«What is eating it? » asked Parvati puzzled.
«Thestral » answered Hagrid.
«Oh my god! They are supposed to bring bad luck! It is a bad thing to see one! The professor Trelawney said…» Lavander said in a state of panic.
«That's a bunch of bullshit. See a thestral don't bring any more bad luck than to see any other horse, » cut Luffy, annoyed. «The only thing that it brings, it's a reminder of something you would have liked to keep in a corner of your memory and forgotten. »
«Exact! It's pure superstition! This group doesn't have a lot of work, because they just pull the carriages to the castle, or when Dumbledore go on a trip and doesn't want to Apparate… Ah, and others are coming! »
Indeed, some others had just came.
«Right, now, can someone tell me why some of you can see them while the others can't? »
Luffy raised his hand.
It was so rare to see him this serious that Hermione lowered hers to look at him.
«Luffy? »
«Those who saw someone die can see thestrals. Only while understanding what it means.»
«Correct! Ten points to Gryffindor! Something else? »
Crack!
Karasu appeared beside them. He bowed deeply in front of Hagrid.
« Karasu is sorry to interrupt your lesson, but he must borrow Luffy from you. He is summoned by the Headmaster. »
«Eh? Why? » wondered Luffy.
«Garp. »
The groan from Luffy was all was needed. Karasu took the boy's bag, then his hand, patting it gently to communicate his support.
«Good luck » cheered Hary toward his friend.
«Thanks, I'll need it. »
.
.
«Still alive? » noted Harry at diner when he saw him at the table.
«I showed up at his office, and then immediately walked out. Dumby didn't lock the door. I think he didn't want me to jump through a window like Sabo did when he convoked his progenitor…» Mumbled Luffy as he put together a plate full of meat.
Harry sat beside him, while the rest of the group joined the table.
«Did I miss something? » asked Luffy when he saw their dark mood.
Hermione retold him Umbridge's visit with hate. Luffy turned around on his seat to glare at the teacher. If they were on the Grand Line, he would already have kicked her ass, and Sabo wouldn't need to tell him to keep his head low.
«I think, Nami… didn't you tell me that one of your teachers at Salem was a big ass? » asked Hermione trying to redirect Luffy's anger.
«Exact » muttered Nami.
«Benn isn't a big ass! » huffed Luffy.
«He is! I never succeed in taking any berry from him! So, he is an ass! »
All was clear…
«You won't make me believe that you actually succeed in blackmailing Izou » pointed out Luffy.
«And end up on the Wall of Shame?! I have a reputation to hold up! »
And the meal continued like this, turning the minds away from the occurrence of their last class.