Book 3 – Prisoner of Azkaban

Chapter 9 – A Splendid Start

It's been six years since he came to this country, since he worked for these people. Yet it never felt natural, especially when it came down to jobs he got from the Head of the department for devils. He ignored the stares from humans, not wanting to lose his position over a small fight he was bound to win. This place was meaningless to him, just another building; they all were ever since he lost everything. His reputation, his fame, all for a single failure.

And now, dressed in rags and covered by a tattered grey cloak he had to follow the rules of humans. Without knocking he pushed open the door and saw the man that betrayed his race. The damned bastard that still dared to refer to himself as a devil. "Anthony," he spat out, not really having any patience for the devil.

Anthony smirked slightly, annoying the hell out of him. What pissed him off the most was that Anthony was devil in everything but nature. Powerful, as greedy as the light he commanded and just as lustful as his flames, but he had a sick desire to make devils that lived in this world, or at least this country, submit to humans.

"Gliver, my friend, what took you so long?" Anthony raised his arms as he leaned back into his chair.

Gliver rolled his eyes at that. He was never going to be friends with this man. "Aside from imagining your head exploding?" he put it as bluntly as he could. "What do you want? I don't have time for your rambling."

Anthony chuckled, not at all affected by Gliver's words. "Straight to the point, huh? That's what I always liked about you," he slid a piece of paper across the table. "Here's your target. Find and kill Sirius Black, no matter what he can't reach Harry Potter," his voice was suddenly serious, it wasn't a request, it was an order and Gliver knew it.

"Consider it done," Gliver replied. Another job, another life to take. It was like the old times, only in reverse.

~X~

Severus woke up, feeling slight fatigue after a long night of potion making, courtesy of Dumbledore's request. Of all the people he was making it for it just had to be none other than Remus Lupin; it would be so easy, just to make a poison instead, and maybe it would be worth it, but he resisted the desire.

Looking outside of his window he saw Vergil sitting on the ground, cross-legged as usual. There were several orbs of lightning and darkness spinning around him rapidly, which was the reason why Severus wasn't quite sure how many there were. It helped Vergil improve his concentration when he was focusing on controlling them like he was at the moment, or so the boy said. It also meant he was nearing the end of his night-long training and would soon be going to sleep.

"If only he wasn't a cambion," Severus sighed, there wasn't much Vergil would be able to do after he finished Hogwarts, of course, if he got to the seventh year in the first place. On the other hand only a cambion would be able to face the Basilisk at the age of thirteen and survive without any outside help. Severus saw the hall after Vergil was petrified, he saw the blood, and the damage Vergil undoubtedly caused with his lightning. According to Potter the beast had a large cut on the right side of its head and it was missing an eye. A small smirk appeared on Severus' face.

Even if Vergil didn't slay it, he did do better than Potter would have if he was in Vergil's situation.

Lightning and darkness vanished and Vergil got up, he was done with his training.

~X~

About a month away from the next school year Vergil finished brewing a new dose of Dreamless sleep potion as Snape read newspapers.

"Anything interesting that happened lately?" Vergil asked as he poured the potion into vials.

"Someone escaped from Azkaban," Snape stated, he sounded like that was nothing too special, but his voice seemed to lack the vocal capabilities to express when, if ever, he was impressed.

"That Sirius Black person?" Vergil asked as he glanced at the front page.

"Obviously," was that sarcasm in Snape's voice or was Vergil just hearing things.

The boy brushed it off. "Azkaban? That prison they sent Hagrid to last year?" Vergil remembered. He was petrified for roughly half of the school year, but Draco told him everything that happened after the celebration feast.

"Yes," Snape replied.

"Guess it's not as secured as I've heard last year," he commented, "Besides the obvious appearance…" he was referring to Black's waxy white skin and sunken face. "He seems to be around your age. Do you know him?"

When Snape sent him a glare Vergil raised an eyebrow. That was enough of a response to the white haired boy. Snape probably knows Black and more than anything he made clear that he did not want to talk about it.

"So… Any idea on who the next Defense Against the Dark Arts professor is going to be?"

Another glare made Vergil sweat drop.

'Struck a nerve, eh? Twice in a row… Awesome,' Vergil mentally sighed. "I'm going to bed. Sweet dreams," he grinned sheepishly and bolted to the bedroom he slept in. Three hours of sleep and then he'd get to his usual routine.

From the corner of his eye he saw Snape pinched the bridge of his nose. Vergil grinned at that, even if Snape would rather die than admit it he was fond of Vergil.

~X~

Hogwarts express and the journey to Hogwarts were so far quite pleasant to Vergil. This time he was in compartment with the rest of the Slytherin boys in his dormitory.

"Does anyone want to bet on how bad the Defense teacher is going to be this year?" Nott suggested.

"Don't bother. I've already seen him," Draco said, pretty much seeking additional questions.

"What's he like?" Zabini asked, taking it upon himself to be the one to satisfy Draco's attention hunger.

"His robes are all patched up. Bet he's going to be ridiculous," Draco assumed right away.

"If the state of clothes is a sign of a good teacher then Lockhart would have been amazing," Vergil pointed out. Feeling a headache just by thinking about Lockhart's classes.

"If he was any good he'd be able to at least afford something decent," Draco argued and then smirked. "And at least Lockhart was easy to get points from," he reminded them.

"Fair point," a confident grin crept up on Vergil's face. "I'll take that bet. And I'm betting he'll be at least competent."

"How about we wage ten Galleons?" Draco offered confidently.

"Sure," yet his fellow Slytherin wasn't losing the confident look on his face.

They shook each other's hand and the bet was made just as the train began slowing down.

"Are we there already?" Zabini was taken aback by how quickly they arrived.

"We shouldn't be," Nott pointed out and stood up to look into the corridor. He wasn't surprised to see other students popping their heads outside their compartments as well.

"I can't see much," Draco said, the darkness of the compartment unnerved him.

"Calm down," Vergil sounded calm but he was a bit unnerved when he saw something outside, boarding the train… "Doubt there's anyone foolish enough to try and attack. Either way Lumos," the tip of his wand illuminated the compartment.

"Nice thinking," Zabini said as the white haired boy stood up and began making his way to the doors.

"Where are you going?" Draco asked, both puzzled and obviously not pleased with Vergil leaving anywhere.

"To check what's going on," Vergil looked back at his best friend. "I'll be back in a bit."

Just as he reached out for the doors they slid open. And there it was, a cloaked figure towering all the way to the ceiling, the face hidden underneath the hood and a hand protruding from the cloak, glistening, scabbed, grayish. The hand was withdrawn under the cloak. A sound of long, rattling breath slowly being taken in was heard by the boys and the temperature dropped

Everything stopped for a moment, the time itself seemed to freeze at the cold around him. His instinct tried to force his body into acting but he couldn't move. He felt everything just being drained from him, anything positive he had in his memories, just being pushed all the way back into the corners of his mind.

The sounds that shouldn't in any circumstance be around him clearly boomed in his ears. The rumble of thunder, explosions, the sounds of battle, the earth itself splitting, wood burning and buildings crashing down…

Why?

It was stopping, but a new sensation that made his blood run cold replaced it. The desperation of his barely six years old self returning. He opened his eye, he saw it, that devil, the monster that killed his mother, standing there. Vergil tried to reach out, to stop him. But his vision was blurry, he couldn't move, he felt as if he was pulled away. He was being pulled away…

And then it all stopped, just like it started.

~X~

"-gil! Vergil!"

He heard shouts, someone calling his name. 'Draco?' he barely recognized the voice, the memories still fresh in his mind. 'It's over so just wake up!'

Abruptly he sat up, gasping for air as if he nearly drowned. "What the hell happened?" he gasped, somewhat frantically looking around, seeking proof that what he saw wasn't real. And he got it, he saw the looks of concern on the faces of five boys around him. Next thing he registered was an adult standing above him as well. Finally, his senses came back to him, he was on the floor and the train was moving again. He tried to push himself back up but the weakness was still present and he couldn't will his body into moving just yet.

"Say something. Are you okay?" Draco kept asking as he reached out and helped Vergil get back into his seat.

Vergil looked down on his hands, they were trembling. He clenched his fists and took a deep breath. "I'll be fine. I'm just tired for some reason. Thanks," he looked at the unknown man he guessed was the new professor, how many adults were on this train anyway. "Can you tell me what happened?" the question was directed at the man and Vergil finally took in the man's appearance.

He seemed tired, perhaps even a bit sick, his brown hair was already greying and he had scars on his face.

The man broke a slab of chocolate into pieces and handed Vergil a rather big one. "Here, eat it. It'll help."

Vergil looked at the chocolate, unable to comprehend how it would help. "If you say so…" well it couldn't hurt, right? He took a bite as Professor gave the other boys chocolate as well. To his surprise the chocolate really did help, he felt warmth coursing through his body. Which was odd because he really wasn't the biggest fan of sweets.

"What was that?" Vergil persisted.

"A dementor. Guard of Azkaban. I need to check if anyone else was attacked, excuse me," the professor left the compartment.

"If the rest of the school year is as pleasant as this… Hip hip hooray," he said dryly pumping his fist up in the air with no enthusiasm whatsoever. He suppressed the feelings caused by the dementor, it wouldn't do him any good to dwell on that any longer.

"You really scared us there. We all felt cold and unhappy because of that thing, but you fell unconscious," Zabini told him, still looking at Vergil like he was going to faint.

"I'm fine, don't worry about it," he grinned at the worried boys around him. He was touched by their worry, he really was. Judging by their states none of them were affected to the extent that he was.

"Draco tried to pull you away but… there isn't really much place in here," Nott grinned sheepishly.

Vergil turned and smirked at Draco who refused to meet his eyes. "Are you going soft?" he teased and lightly jabbed Draco's shoulder. "That could have been dangerous you know," the tone of his voice shifted into a more serious one.

"Well what else was I supposed to do?! Professor came here and made it go away but I couldn't know he'd show up," Draco hissed. A thank you would have been nice, instead he was getting lectured.

"I know. Thank you, I appreciate it," Vergil grinned, feeling fine, happy even. The effect that thing had on him completely blocked out, he acted as if it happened a long, long time ago.

~X~

When they finally reached the school Vergil saw about a hundred stagecoaches pulled by those horse-like skeletal creatures he saw back in the first year. Along with the rest of the boys he climbed up into one and waited for the arrival to the school. A cold air around him made him look outside, those things were here as well…

There were rumors about Potter losing consciousness as well, Vergil grunted knowing that Draco would eventually go and tease Potter about it. But perhaps it wouldn't happen tonight due to Vergil also losing consciousness.

Finally, they reached the Great Hall, but the night was far from over for Vergil.

"Leonidas, to my office," Snape called the moment he saw Vergil, which wasn't very hard, the white hair made his stick out like a sore thumb.

Vergil followed Snape into the dungeons and then the professor's office. "Professor Lupin-" there definitely was some animosity. "-sent an owl ahead to say you, along with Potter, were taken ill on the train."

"Spectacular," Vergil groaned, annoyed that him losing consciousness was still the topic.

Barely a minute later Madam Pomfrey came into the office adding oil to the flames of annoyance burning inside of Vergil.

"Another dementor?" Pomfrey closely observed him.

"So I've been told," Vergil replied, just wanting to get this over with quickly.

Pomfrey went to feel his forehead, proceeded to check his pulse. "Terrible things, they are, the effect they have on people who are already delicate."

Oh, the cambion took great deal of offense in that phrasing. "The hell is that supposed to mean?" he asked, his voice ice cold.

"He should have some chocolate. I hear Professor Lupin had already given them though," Pomfrey pretty much ignored his question.

"Are you absolutely certain you feel all right, Leonidas?" Snape asked when the woman left his office.

"I am," Vergil assured him, still feeling bitter about being called delicate. "Can I go now?"

Snape observed him for a few moments before finally replying. "Yes."

~X~

Vergil went to the Great Hall and sat down next to Draco.

"Did something happen?" Draco asked him.

"Nothing important," Vergil assured him as Dumbledore stood up.

"Welcome!" Dumbledore greeted both the new students and the ones who already spent some time in the castle, the candlelight shimmered on his beard. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast-" he cleared his throat. "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business."

He certainly didn't look happy about this and no one could blame him. They didn't even start the school year and those things were already causing trouble for students.

"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," Dumbledore continued. "While they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises, or even Invisibility Cloaks."

Vergil's eye widened. 'The hell? Did any student in this school even possess one of those?'

"It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors," the old headmaster looked very seriously around the hall, his eyes met with lack of both motion and sounds.

"On a happier note, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

The applause that followed that statement wasn't particularly enthusiastic, which was reasonable after at least two years, as far as Vergil knew, of utterly incompetent teachers filling that position. Vergil's applause was honest; the man so far seemed competent. But as he looked at Snape it was clear that his suspicions of Snape harboring some animosity toward Lupin were correct. The Potions master looked like he loathed Lupin.

"As to our second new appointment," Dumbledore continued once the applause for Professor Lupin died away. "Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties."

That was a bit of a surprise. Now that he thought about it Snape did tell him he'd be taking Care of Magical Creatures as well as Ancient Runes as electives. Well, he didn't really choose them but Snape did it for him. Vergil didn't care about that which was probably why Dumbledore allowed Snape to deal with that.

Draco seethed at the news. "That oaf? Teaching us? Wait until my father hears about this."

"Well, I think that's everything of importance. Let the feast begin!" and so the food and drinks filled the plates and goblets. The feast was pleasant, filled with laughter, talk, the dementors were for the moment forgotten.

~X~

The following morning Vergil found himself entertaining his housemates. "And I was like," he dramatically raised his left arm and put the back of his right hand against his forehead before leaning backwards. "And then I fell back so hard Muggles registered an earthquake," Vergil joked around causing a roar of laughter around him.

"He's lying! He was actually swooning as well," Draco did a rather ridiculous impression of a swooning fit causing another roar of laughter.

Vergil smirked, swaying a bit to play along with Draco's performance.

"Looks like Potter's a bit sensitive," Blaise whispered giving Parkinson an idea.

"Hey, Potter!" Parkinson yelled, a bit too loud for Vergil's liking. "Potter! The dementors are coming, Potter! Wooooo!"

"Cut it out," Vergil commented, smirking a bit at the dark haired girl. "It's no fun if he's not being a good sport about it," well, not that he could blame his housemates for the reaction. Potter walked in, seemed like he assumed they were mocking him and this was the result. They fainted, so what, life continues. No one was harmed, there's no reason to dwell on the thought, and hell might as well make a joke about it.

"What's fun in that? It's Potter," Draco sneered.

Vergil leaned back. "It's no longer a joke if the fun is one-sided," even as he said that he could feel a glare coming from behind him. Turning slightly, he saw Hermione, looking anything but happy at the moment. Well, as far as she was concerned he was making fun of her best friend.

This was going to get more difficult as time went on, he knew it. She knew he cared about her and he knew she cared about him, but that wasn't a thread that could hold them together for much longer on its own. Not when everything else was working against them, their houses, their friends, she would be as welcomed by his friends as he'd be by hers.

And neither was willing to make a change.

And would it really be worth it? No. For neither of them.

~X~

When it came to subjects one of the first classes Slytherins had was Care of Magical Creatures and it was with Gryffindors. Vergil sighed, this class could be troublesome. He wasn't sure how the creatures would react to him.

Vergil's lack of enthusiasm was complete opposite of Hagrid's enthusiasm. The large man looked extremely eager to get started as the two groups approached his hut.

"C'mon, now, get a move on! Got a real treat for yeh today! Great lesson comin' up! Everyone here? Right, follow me!" yeah, definitely too eager.

Hagrid led them by the edge of the trees for five minutes before they ended up outside of a paddock. They didn't see anything specific.

"Everyone gather 'round the fence here!" he called and the students complied. "That's it, make sure yeh can see, now, firs' thing yeh'll want ter do is open yer books-"

"How?" Draco pretty much demanded, his tone cold and filled with disdain for even picking the subject.

"Eh?" Hagrid was confused by his question.

"How do we open our books?" Draco repeated. He proceeded to take out his copy of 'The Monster Book of Monsters', which was bound shut with a length of rope.

Other students shared Draco's lack of knowledge on how to open the books as they took out books showing that some were bound by belts, or crammed inside tight bags. Vergil himself found a decent solution in shocking the book, literally.

"Hasn'… hasn' anyone bin able ter open their books?" Hagrid looked crestfallen at the revelation.

The response was unanimous no in the form of shaking their heads.

"Yeh've got ter stroke 'em," to Hagrid it seemed like the most obvious thing in the world. "Look," he took Hermione's book, ripped the spellotape that bound it and the book immediately tried to bite. Hagrid ran a forefinger down its spine causing it to shiver and open, now calm and quiet in his hand.

"Oh, how silly we've all been!" Draco sneered. "We should have stroked them! Why didn't we guess?!"

"I, I thought they were funny," Hagrid sounded uncertain as he spoke to Hermione.

"Oh, tremendously funny! Really witty, giving us books that try and rip our hands off!" Draco continued making Hagrid feel less confident about this.

Vergil sighed, this wasn't going good, the man told them to get books that were moderately dangerous because he thought it was funny. He was bound to show them more aggressive creatures as well…

"Shut up, Malfoy," Potter hissed, trying to defend their new teacher.

"If you've got any argument that defends the assignment of this book, or if you find it funny, Potter, I'd like to hear it," Vergil challenged, turning his attention from Hagrid to Potter and more specifically the book. "Considering it's still bound by that belt… I think you don't," he motioned at the book.

Potter was about to reply when Hagrid spoke up again.

"Righ' then, so, so yeh've got yer books an'… an'… Now yeh need the Magical Creatures. Yeah. So I'll go an' get 'em. Hang on..." he strode away into the forest.

"I want Hagrid to have a good first lesson," Potter narrowed his eyes on Vergil.

Vergil raised an eyebrow at that, mentally slapping himself for realizing too late he did in fact have half his face covered up. "Wait, you're telling me you really never complained about any teacher, did you?" he asked incredulously.

"That's not the same," Potter made an absurd argument.

"Why should he be exempt from complains? Draco's got a point, and the least Hagrid could have done is give us some clue on what to do," Vergil pointed out.

"Both of you stop it. There's no point in this," Hermione stood in between them before Potter could respond, fearing that the situation could get out of hands.

"Fine, fine, I'm backing down," Vergil complied, raising his hands up a bit. It would have been a surprise to everyone, if they hadn't seen the way he and Hermione hugged last year.

"He's got a soft spot for that girl and it's going to get him into trouble," he heard Zabini whisper from the back.

"He's being ridiculous," Draco muttered, obviously not happy.

Hermione smiled a bit, completely unaware of what Vergil's fellow Slytherins were saying. "Thanks," the smallest bit of tension from the morning was gone for the most part and Vergil knew this would keep happening.

Before Vergil could think about what Zabini said he realized Hagrid was coming back, with downright majestic creatures he brought along.

The creatures trotting toward them were a dozen of creatures with the bodies, hind legs and tails of a horse and the heads, front legs and wings if a giant eagle. Their beaks were the color of steel and their eyes were a brilliant shade of orange.

But they looked dangerous, if talons half a foot long were anything to judge by.

Regardless the beasts had thick leather collars around their necks, each of the collars was attached to long chains, all of which were held by Hagrid. The man led them to the fence and most of the class drew back slightly.

"Hippogriffs!" Hagrid roared happily, he clearly got over Draco's comments, or at least looked like he did. "Beau'iful, aren' they?"

Majestic may have been a proper word in Vergil's opinion, the beast looked proud, powerful… Truly a magnificent creature.

They each had a different color, from stormy gray, bronze, chestnut and ink black all the way to pinkish roan.

"So," Hagrid began, he was rubbing his hands together, beaming at the students. "if yeh wan' ter come a bit nearer."

His invitation was accepted only by cautious Hermione, Potter and Weasley.

"Now, firs' thing yeh gotta know abou' hippogriffs is, they're proud. Easily offended, hippogriffs are. Never insult one, 'cause it might be the last thing yeh do."

Well, the talons were not something Vergil wanted to see being run through his flesh.

"Yeh always wait fer the hippogriff ter make the firs' move," Hagrid continued. "It's polite, see? Yeh walk toward him, and yeh bow, an' yeh wait. If he bows back, yeh're allowed ter touch him. If he doesn' bow, then get away from him sharpish, 'cause those talons hurt."

'You don't say…' Vergil thought, not really sure if anyone in their right mind wouldn't realize that.

"Right, who wants ter go first?"

Not even Potter stepped to the front right away and Vergil certainly wasn't going to try out his devil's luck when he had no idea how the creature would react to him.

"No one?" Hagrid had a pleading look on his face.

"I'll do it," Potter finally decided.

Vergil had to hand it to him; he was recklessly loyal to his friends. The Halfling observed as Potter climbed over the paddock and Hagrid pulled the gray hippogriff away and slipped off the leather collar. Most of the class held their breath as Hagrid instructed Potter.

Things got ridiculous when Hagrid told him to bow. It was a fool's bet, leaving yourself open to a potentially dangerous creature. It was one of the first things Vergil learnt, never expose your neck.

Demons, especially devils, never allow anyone to casually reach out and touch their neck. Doing so expressed surrender, acceptance that they were at that individual's mercy. It was an unwritten rule, an instinct engraved in their very nature.

Potter stopped bowing and the hippogriff still stared haughtily at him.

"Right… back away, now, Harry," Hagrid sounded fairly worried but then the hippogriff suddenly bent its front knees and sank into an unmistakable bow.

"Well done, Harry!" worry turned into happiness as Hagrid praised the boy. "Right, yeh can touch him! Pat his beak, go on!"

Potter moved slowly toward the hippogriff, cautiously he reached out and patted the beak several times. The applause roared through the class.

"Righ' then, Harry, I reckon he might' let yeh ride him!"

Vergil's eye widened at that. There was a fine line separating between teaching and putting students in danger and Hagrid was really crossing over it. And the beast didn't like being pulled by the feathers. Where was he even supposed to hold on to?

Either way Potter had no way of getting out of this, the beast took flight. So far he was doing fine so when he finally came back down most of the class cheered.

Vergil clapped good-naturedly. Potter deserved it.

His success encouraged the others and the entire class approached the herd.

Vergil joined Zabini and Nott with the inky black hippogriff. The two boys bowed and were granted with the chance to pat it. Vergil just stared at it, clearly showing no signs of wanting to stomp on his own instinct by bowing down to such an extent. He lowered his head slightly, but he didn't feel like going beyond that.

"I knew it must have been, if Potter could do it... I bet you're not dangerous at all, are you?" Vergil heard Draco saying and he glanced ahead to the boy. The red eye widened, the telltale signs of potentially threatening behavior were there. "Are you, you great ugly brute?"

Draco screamed, in a rather high-pitched voice and it was over in an instant. The entire class instantly looked at the scene, most of them gasped. Draco was on the ground, blood dripped onto the grass and Hagrid was pulling the hippogriff, Buckbeak, away from the scene. The hippogriff still strained to get to the boy glaring at it with a menacing red eye.

"Vergil?" Draco finally recovered from his shock.

"You damn," he took a deep breath. "Imbecile."

He managed to get there in time, just in time to pull Draco and throw him back, but he took an extra step. All he could do was to raise his right arm.

"Y-You're dying!" Draco yelled as the class panicked. "Look at you! It's killed you!" and he had a reason to panic. Vergil had three gashes on his right forearm. And then there were the other three gashes, in his dash to get to Draco the upper part of his body was somewhat hunched forward. Buckbeak's long talons cut into his shoulder and went to his chest before finally exiting the flesh. The wound was about half an inch deep and the blood was gushing out.

"It didn't you dumbass!" Vergil yelled at him. Adrenaline still pumping in his veins and dulling the pain.

"Buckbeak! Calm down!" Hagrid was still trying to calm the beast down but it was still trying to get to Vergil.

Vergil greeted his teeth; the pain was slowly getting stronger. The blood was drenching his robes. And the pale looks on everyone's faces were infuriating.

Finally, Hagrid managed to calm Buckbeak down and rushed to Vergil's side. "Someone help me. Gotta get him outta here…!" he looked as white as a sheet.

"You're gonna regret this. You and your bloody chicken!" Draco openly threatened as Vergil looked at Hagrid.

"I can walk on my own," Vergil insisted as he gripped onto his shoulder, he paid extra care on making sure others didn't see it as he slowly attempted to numb the wound with small sparks of electricity.

"You can't. Vergil let him help," Hermione ran up to him and looked him in the eye, her pleading brown eyes met with his red one. It was obvious she wanted to reach out to him, try to help him somehow but for once she had no idea what to do. He could see it in her eyes, this little stunt reminded her of their last year.

"Yes, come on. Let me help yeh," Hagrid reached out to lift him up.

Yet the boy's pride was immense. The pain from this kind of wounds would not make him seek or accept help. He was a part devil. He was trained to fight. And before anything else he was Grom's protégé!

He jerked away, ignoring the way it worsened the pain. "I'd rather bleed out than forsake my pride," he hissed and stepped away from Hagrid. The red eye hardened, void of anything but determination. "I can go to hospital wing, correct?" it was a question that further took the surprised professor aback.

"Y-Yes, of course," Hagrid told him.

Vergil nodded and fought the pain with his pride; he wouldn't dare lose to wounds like these. He couldn't lose to a pain like this. He began walking with Draco right next to him. The boy was adamant on staying right next to Vergil. Hagrid still followed him, fearful for the student. Hermione quickly ran to hold open the gate for them.

"Vergil, please," she tried one last time to reason with him.

He stopped for a moment and actually grinned. "Don't worry. I'm fine," he wasn't, the pain was still there, he was for the most part immune to electricity because of being able to use it. He couldn't properly numb his wounds in this situation.

"Don't waste your time! You'll die!" Draco panicked again.

"Why am I the calmest one?" Vergil groaned.

"Because you're delirious from pain!" Draco reasoned.

"My best friend is an absolute idiot," Vergil slapped his forehead with his right palm, jolting the pain in his forearm and then realizing what he just said.

The gravity of his words was obvious with the way Draco stood there, silent. Even Hermione was downright surprised.

It was the first time Vergil openly, in front of Draco and a hell of a lot of people called Draco his best friend.

And then Draco grinned in a rather infuriating way.

"If you say a single word I swear I'm going to push, and not pull, you next time." Vergil made sure his promise was clear as he picked up the pace and walked by the still grinning Slytherin.

~X~

The wounds were still bad enough to warrant Vergil staying in bed until tomorrow and the white haired boy was bored out of his mind.

"Just for five minutes," he heard Pomfrey's frustrated voice outside and then the doors opened for Draco and Zabini, for some reason, to walk in.

"Are you feeling better?" Zabini asked.

"I feel awful. I'm bored out of my mind," Vergil complained as he sat up.

"He's perfectly fine," The two commented at the same time earning a grin from the white haired boy.

"Well spotted," Vergil said.

"I'll make him pay, both him and his chicken," Draco suddenly declared.

That certainly wiped the grin off Vergil's face. "I don't want that. Forget about it."

Draco rolled his eyes at that. "You forget it. I already sent letter to father, he'll make sure there's hell to pay for this," there was no way Draco was backing off, that much Vergil knew.

He didn't like it, he really, really didn't like it. But neither did Draco last year when he offered to help Vergil find out about the Basilisk. Vergil sighed. "I don't like it, but if that's what you want," besides, he did get hurt. Regardless of Draco's actions that kind of creature for the very first class of Care of Magical Creatures wasn't the smartest idea to begin with.

~X~

Double Potions were the last classes for third year Slytherins on Thursday mornings and this was the first one. Once again they were grouped with Gryffindors. They were making a Shrinking Solution, potion Snape already walked Vergil through once thus letting the boy tune out the instruction.

Neville looked to his right where Vergil was and sure enough his nervous glance was quite notable to anyone who paid any attention. To the Gryffindor's small relief Vergil stood next to him and grinned.

Hermione was next to Neville and that gave the boy slightly more confidence that maybe the lesson wouldn't be so bad.

Vergil set up the ingredients needed and began silently chopping the daisy roots. Neville glanced at the white haired boy and observed the way he cut the roots.

"Be more precise," Vergil whispered when he noticed Neville's roots. That couldn't exactly be done with the way Neville's hand was shaking.

"I can't," Neville whispered back and looked at Hermione, pleading for some sort of help.

To his surprise Vergil reached out with his left hand and held Neville's right wrist. "Easy. Just relax," he guided Neville's hand up and down while Snape was walking behind them. This made him slow down with cutting his own roots but it was worth it so far. A part of Vergil was sure Snape caught what he was doing.

With the roots cut Vergil proceeded to peel the Shrivelfigs. Hermione made sure Neville got that part right from the corner of her eye.

With the ruby blood of two Shrivelfigs added to his cauldron he began to stir slowly.

"Slower," he muttered making Neville slow the stirring down.

With potion slightly heated he added the daisy roots and five hairy caterpillars. He began shaking the wormwood.

"Five Neville," Vergil heard Hermione whispering as he added the wormwood as well.

Stirring the potion vigorously wasn't much of a problem; Madam Pomfrey didn't have much trouble healing his wounds. There was still a bit of pain but it was barely noticeable.

Vergil juiced four leeches and was about to add them when he saw Neville about to juice the fifth one.

"Four," his whisper made Neville halt and look at him, a silent, fearful thank you was clear on the face of the boy that was on the verge of having a nervous breakdown.

With the juice added he continued stirring slowly, cautiously while shaking rat spleen. He added it to the cauldron and let out a sigh as his left hand shot above Neville's cauldron to catch the three spleens. Neville jumped back and nearly fell down as his heart drummed inside of his chest.

Vergil shook his hand. "One, Neville, just one," Vergil dropped the spleen into the so far correctly made potion and lowered the remaining two onto the table.

"Y-Yes," the timid boy mumbled.

Vergil nodded and added a splash of cowbane; he went to stir slowly before finally rising the temperature. Once it was ready he just waved his wand and completed the potion.

The lesson was coming to an end and Snape strode over to Neville who's heart skipped a beat.

Man sneered as he looked at the acid green potion in Neville's cauldron. "Well, Longbottom, shall we test the potion on your toad?" that was new and it caused Neville to gulp as he watched Snape fearfully, pleading with his eyes not to give the potion to Trevor.

But Vergil knew the potion was fine so he suppressed his grin.

"Everyone gather 'round," Snape said as his black eyes glittered. "And watch what happens to Longbottom's toad. If he has managed to produce a Shrinking Solution, it will shrink to a tadpole. If, as I don't doubt, he has done it wrong, his toad is likely to be poisoned."

While the Gryffindors were fearful Slytherins looked excited, Vergil kept his face blank but he still had to put some effort into suppressing his grin.

Snape picked up Trevor in his left hand and dipped a small spoon into Neville's potion. He trickled a few drops down Trevor's throat. The toad gulped and with a small pop Trevor turned into a tadpole and began wriggling in Snape's palm.

Gryffindors burst into applause and a grin finally broke out on Vergil's face as Snape pulled a small bottle from the pocket of his robes. He poured a few drops on top of the tadpole, causing Trevor to grow back to his original size.

"Five points from Gryffindor," Snape's declaration wiped the smiles. "Next time do it on your own. Class dismissed."

Vergil thought about staying behind but eventually decided against it. When he stepped out he was met by Neville and Hermione.

"Aren't they waiting for you?" Vergil glanced over to Potter and Weasley.

"Yes. I just wanted to ask you if you're feeling alright," Hermione sounded concerned, they didn't have much of an opportunity to talk this year, between Vergil's injury and already small number of classes they shared as well as Vergil not going to the library this week they just didn't come across one another.

"I'm fine. Yeah, I had better days but it's nothing to worry about," Vergil assured her with a small smile on his face. "Thanks for asking."

"Don't mention it," she smiled back and then there was a bit of comfortable silence between them.

"Hermione! Come on!" Weasley interrupted the silence that Neville was a witness to.

Hermione looked back at Weasley and Potter, the former seemed rather impatient. "I'll see you later then," she said to Vergil.

"Sure," Vergil nodded.

With that she turned to leave.

"Hey! Hermione," Vergil suddenly called her. She turned around, slightly surprised. "You took Ancient Runes as elective, right?"

"Yes, I did," she replied, slightly confused with where he was going with it.

"Do you have anyone to sit with?" Vergil asked.

"No, not many took it as elective. No one from Gryffindor," she told him, a smallest hint of a smile coming back to her face as she realized where he was going with it.

"No one from Slytherin either. Want to, I don't know, sit with me…?" for the first time since Hermione met him he wasn't completely blunt. Sure he didn't beat around the bushes but he didn't sound as confident as he usually did. The only other time that came close to this was back in the first year, right before he finally stopped calling her by her last name.

"Of course," the answer was obvious to her, but the way he asked her still caught her by surprise.

And Vergil grinned. Not in the way he usually grinned. Not in his confident, half smirk half grin. It was just a happy, wide grin.

"Hermione!" Weasley nearly shouted this time.

"I've got to go. Bye," she went to join her friends.

"So… It's a nice weather today," Vergil pointed out as he and Neville were left alone.

"Huh? Oh, it is. Thank you for helping me," Neville looked anywhere but at the white haired boy.

"Don't mention it. How about I help you out with potions, outside of lessons. We could meet up at the library or somewhere and I'll see what I can do to help you. Hell, Snape will let me use the classroom so we can make some potion," Vergil suggested.

"You'd do that?" Neville asked, obviously shocked.

"Of course, as long as you want me to," Vergil assured him, the round-faced boy certainly needed hell of a lot of assurance.

"I-I'd like that. Thank you Vergil," Neville looked at him.

Vergil patted him on the back lightly. "Don't mention it."

Well, after a brief pause here we are, the third book. I'm happy we got here, we're now one book away from where I last left off. There will definitely be some things I need to rewrite for this book, but it definitely won't take a completely different route as the second book did.

Answers on reviews:

deathcornfive – Thank you, well, here's your answer.

Flame Wolfe – I'm glad I managed to make that a bit of a surprise.

Guest – Thank you, here's the chapter.

Guest – Thank you.

Lady Keiko Niwa – Thanks for explaining. I can definitely see where you're coming from. I'll be the first to admit this version has a different tone compared to the original and while the original had that warrior returning to civilian life feel that you mentioned it also had Vergil as a mostly passive character. Fun fact, when I started the rewrite, one scene I knew was going to be absolutely taken out was the polyjuice potion related plot. Vergil isn't human, it was a plot hole.

Guest – Thanks.

Silver Wolf – I'll be completely honest; I haven't really thought of that. Although, Vergil has never been described as having reddish skin as you mentioned. If anyone felt offended by Vergil in any way, I sincerely apologize and it wasn't my intention in any way. Vergil has always been an anime-based character and that's all there ever was to him. Anime-like appearance, anime-like powers, influenced heavily by Devil May Cry games, plain and simple as that.

ABEBOABDU – I mean; would you really want me to write Vergil just stealing all the spotlight from every single character? I agree he could be more involved with the main plot, but the first two books really aren't as flexible as others. Still, thanks for reading.