Harry Potter and the Keeper of Friendship.
Chapter 1 - For Every Door.....
By Starrysapphire, Taito Empress
Disclaimer - Digimon belongs to somebody, Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling and Bloomsbury. I don't own either of them and there is no point suing me because I have no money and all you will get are empty chocolate raisin packets and fluff from under the bed. So don't waste your time. Oh and the title is part of a quote from somewhere but I'm nor sure where so thanks anyway.
This fic is set in Book 5, Harry Potter and just after Season 1 Digimon. To make this work, we have to pretend that all the Digidestined learned English sometime. There are hints at TAITO (well, actually whacking great jabs at it). And eventually.... THIS FIC WILL CONTAIN HARRY/DRACO!!!!! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! Also, character death and torture and a couple of other nasty things.
Yes, I KNOW that in whatever-that-episode-was-called, the crests were destroyed and they discovered that it was all in their hearts, blah, blah, bliddy-blah. Well, this was written before I saw that episode and I couldn't care less, I'm not changing it now, it'll ruin half the story. So please suspend your disbelief and pretend that they kept their crests. Thanks.
Matt stared at the English countryside flashing by. It didn't look all that special to him. He'd rather be back in Odaiba with the others.
Stupid summer camp! Matt was blaming all his problems on that! When he'd gone to summer camp, he'd been expecting boredom but with the slight pleasure of spending time with TK. Instead, he and TK were sucked into the Digital World, along with Taichi Yagami (Tai), Sora Takenouchi, Koushiro Izumi (Izzy), Mimi Takihawa and Joe Kido. Later, they'd been joined by Tai's little sister, Hikari Yagami (Kari) There, they'd met their Digimon, little Digital Monsters who'd been waiting for them to arrive. Eventually, they had then discovered that they were the Digidestined and had to save the Digital World and their own world from destruction.
Matt reached up and touched his crest. The Crest of Friendship. He'd promised TK he'd keep it with him even if the others at the school thought he was a sissy.
The school....Matt scowled. After he'd returned from the Digital World, he'd thought his problems would be over. No such luck. For one thing, he'd suddenly become aware of his growing affection for Tai. He'd noticed it in the Digital World but he'd been able to ignore it, to a certain degree.
But when they'd returned to the real world, Matt had realised that the feelings weren't going to go away. In fact, they were increasing daily. He missed Tai all the time and Matt couldn't help wondering if his feelings for Tai went beyond friendship.
Then, the letter had arrived.
Dear Mr Ishida,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in England.
In another letter, specially enclosed for his parents, it was explained that normally Hogwarts didn't extend their range as far as Japan but Matt had shown exceptional talent and as there was no official school in Japan, they would be happy to invite him to Hogwarts and even pay for his air ticket to get there and come home for the holidays. After long discussion, his parents had jumped at the chance.
Matt had not been included in the discussion.
So now, after buying books, robes, a cauldron, a tawny owl (called Ryo) and a wand (rosewood with one unicorn hair) Matt was travelling on the train towards Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
And he wasn't looking forward to it one bit.
"Hi! Mind if we sit in here?"
Glancing up, Matt saw two cheerful looking girls. One was dark skinned with long black hair that fell to her waist. The other was smaller with blonde hair and blue eyes.
"Sure, go ahead," he said.
"Thanks!" the dark skinned girl said "Are you new?"
Matt nodded.
"So are we," she said "I'm Abetzi Littlewood and this is Talitha Lions. What's your name?"
"I'm..." Matt was about to say Ishida Yamato but he remembered that in England, they put their surname last "I'm Yamato Ishida."
"Yamato," Abetzi repeated "That's a nice name. Do you have a nick name? Everyone calls me Abby because Abetzi is too long for everyday."
"Matt," Matt said, wishing that the girl would shut up and leave him alone.
"Are you pure blood or half or Muggle born?" Abby asked.
"What?" Matt said, beginning to feel very much out of his depth.
"Sorry. You must be Muggle born then," Abby said "A Muggle is what we call non-magic users. If you're Muggle born, there aren't any other magic users in your family or at least, not for a long time. Half bloods are where one parents a wizard or witch and the other's Muggle. And pure blood is where both your parents are magic. I'm pure blood," Abby said.
Matt stared at her. Abby had barely breathed in that sentence.
"I'm half blood," Talitha said softly "My father's a wizard but my mothers a Muggle."
"Do you know what House you'll be in?" Abby asked Talitha.
"I'm not sure but Mum thinks I'll be in Gryffindor."
"I don't know either but I do know that my Mum'll kill me if I'm in Slytherin!"
Matt tuned the girls out and went back to staring out of the window, thinking about the others. More than anything, he wanted to go back home. Even the Digital World was preferable to some strange school where they learned magic. Magic! What on Earth could you do with magic? Matt was sure it was some sort of mistake and he didn't have any talent at all. And being so far away from his friends...how was Matt supposed to carry the Crest of Friendship with none of his friends around him?
"Hey, what's that?" Abby demanded suddenly.
Matt realised that he'd been absent-mindedly playing with his crest as he'd thought about everything and it was in plain view. Curiously, Abby reached out and before Matt could stop her, she caught his hand, looking at it.
"Isn't it strange?" she said "Can I have a closer....OW!"
Matt jerked his hand away and slapped her across the face. Abby gave him a shocked stare, her cheek bright pink.
"Don't you touch it again!" Matt shouted "It's mine and it's private! You hear?"
"Well there's no need to over-react!" Abby said sounding angry "I was only looking!"
She turned her back on Matt and began talking to Talitha. Matt hid the crest again, making sure it was out of sight. He didn't want anyone else pawing at it.
* * * *
When they arrived, they were taken across the lake by a giant man named Hagrid. Abby and Talitha ignored Matt and he ignored them. Matt had to admit that the school was a little awe inspiring but he still didn't like it. They were met by Professor McGonagall who told them that they would be sorted into the Houses shortly. They were then led into the main hall where the others were and sang at by a hat. Matt was surprised that he didn't find this surprising. He couldn't help feeling nervous about putting it on his head after it had sung at him. He listened absently as McGonagall read out the names until she eventually shouted.
"Ishida, Yamato!"
Matt walked up to the stool and put the hat on his head.
"Hmmm," a little voice remarked in his ear "Oh this is interesting....very interesting. Very difficult too.....Courage, I see courage.....but friendship is more important to you.....There's talent, oh lots of talent.....but there's darkness, oh dear, plenty of darkness, even if it is lighter than it once was....and lots of anger, oh yes, plenty of anger in here.....and love and affection in plenty, although very deeply buried....so, where to put you?"
"I don't care," Matt thought at it "Put me wherever you like."
"Don't care, hmmmmm," the hat said "That's a pity....well, the obvious choice for you is Slytherin....but something tells me that Slytherin wouldn't help you grow and develop the way you need to.....certainly not a Ravenclaw.......not the right calibre for Hufflepuff either.....no, I suppose, for you, it had better be GRYFFINDOR!"
Matt slowly removed the hat from his head. As he did, he distinctly heard it mutter "Oh, but I don't like the choice, oh dear, no..."
Irritably Matt put the hat down and walked over the Gryffindor table, where they all applauded him. He sat down and looked around, then continued listening to the Sorting. To his annoyance, Abby and Talitha were both put in Gryffindor. When the last person was done, the food appeared. Matt nearly had a heart attack and vaguely wished they'd had something like that in the Digital World. Remembering several nights where they'd gone to sleep hungry made him feel hungrier than ever and he began to help himself, listening to other people's conversations. He could hear Abby's voice from where he was sitting, even though she was at the other end of the table.
"Isn't she a chatterbox?" one boy sitting near him said with a snicker.
"She's pretty too, isn't she?" another said.
Matt remembered TK saying something about that to him about Mimi. He hadn't thought Mimi pretty and he definitely didn't think Abby was. Anyway, the remark wasn't addressed to him so he kept his mouth shut, except to eat.
* * * *
After breakfast the next day, Matt tried to work out how to get to his first class, Charms. He tried walking up a staircase.
"OW!"
One of the steps had given way beneath his foot. Matt looked down. While the stair looked like it was there, it clearly wasn't.
Around him, people were laughing as Matt struggled to pull his leg out. It was stuck.
"Here, let me help," a girl said. She had bushy brown hair and looked older than him. She and one of her friends (a red headed boy) pulled him out of the step.
"Are there lots of steps like that?" Matt asked.
"Not very many," the girl said encouragingly "You'll get used to it."
She and her friends went on their way. Matt looked after them for a moment.
"I'll never get used it," he mumbled.
A wave of homesickness washed over him and he quickly continued on his way, blinking sudden tears away.
* * * *
By the end of the week, Matt had learned a lot about the school. He could actually find his way around parts of it without getting lost which was more than most of his year could do. On the other hand, most of his year thought he had an attitude problem and was a trouble maker. Matt had a feeling he deserved his reputation. He knew he had an attitude problem, he'd noticed it ages ago. And as for the trouble maker part....
Matt had already been in four fights and had had two detentions. The most notable fight had been on the second day.
He'd been coming out of a Transfiguration lesson, juggling desperately with loads of notes he'd been taking when he walked straight into another boy who was carrying a load of books. Both boys fell over and the books and papers went flying. Matt swore loudly in Japanese and began frantically gathering everything up. Glancing over, he saw that the boy he'd knocked over was older than him with a pale, pointy face, silvery blonde hair and grey eyes. He was looking incredibly annoyed.
"Sorry," Matt said.
"Can't you watch where you're going, you idiot little Mudblood!" the boy snarled.
Matt had no idea what Mudblood meant but he knew it was rude because several people gasped and Abby (who had hated Matt ever since the train) said angrily "You should watch you mouth Malfoy, Yamato didn't mean to knock you over."
Malfoy ignored her and glared at Matt who glared back. Then Malfoy picked up his last book and stalked away, flanked by two large boys.
"Who was that?" Matt asked Abby.
"Him?" she said "He's Draco Malfoy, a Slytherin."
"What's a Mudblood?" Matt asked.
"It's a rude word for saying you have Muggles for parents," Abby explained "It's dirty blood. See?"
Matt narrowed his eyes.
"Oh, I see," he said.
Abby looked at him, slight worry on her face.
"You don't want to start anything," she said "He's a fifth year and Crabbe and Goyle flank him all the time. Anyway, the Malfoy family have bad blood in them, everyone knows that."
Matt nodded but he wasn't really listening. So he was a Mudblood was he? No one was going to insult him and get away with it!
He got his chance for revenge in the afternoon. As he and a group of classmates were heading towards the Great Hall, Matt crashed into Malfoy again.
"You again!" Malfoy yelled, looking infuriated "Learn to open your eyes Mudblood!"
That did it. Raising his fist, Matt punched Malfoy full in the face. Malfoy sat down with a bump, blood streaming from his nose. Instantly Crabbe punched at Matt who dodged.
"What's that matter?" he said tauntingly to Malfoy "Can't fight for yourself, baka?"
Malfoy had no idea what a baka was but he knew it wasn't a compliment. Crabbe punched at Matt again. Matt only just managed to dodge this time. He knew that if Crabbe and Goyle got into him, he would be squashed like a bug. He also knew that there was only one place nearby where he would be safe. Before Malfoy realised what was happening, Matt was on top of him, wrestling with him. Enraged, he fought back. Matt rolled them over and over, making it impossible for anyone to get a good grip on them. Crabbe and Goyle couldn't get involved because they'd probably wind up hitting Malfoy. Also, large groups of Gryffindors had gathered around them, making it hard for them to move. Everyone around was yelling as the two boys punched each other.
"WHAT IS GOING ON?"
Matt and Malfoy were wrenched apart by a furious Professor McGonagall who glared at them both. She dragged them both down to her office where she shouted at them, took fifteen points from each of them and gave them detention. Then she sent them out.
When they got out, Matt looked at Malfoy. He felt very satisfied to see that not only did Malfoy have a nose bleed, his left eye was turning a beautiful black and blue and he had a bruise on his cheek as well. Matt could feel his own lower lip swelling.
"I'll get you for this, Mudblood," Malfoy hissed "You wait. You'll be sorry!"
"Not half as sorry as you will be if you try anything," Matt hissed back.
Malfoy stormed off in the other direction. Matt looked after him for a moment, then shrugged. He wasn't afraid of Malfoy. He was sure that he could beat him anytime.
But Matt didn't know Draco Malfoy. He didn't realise it, but he'd just made an enemy and was making a mistake thinking that he'd get away with it.
* * * *
Some days later, TK received his first letter from Matt.
Dear TK,
This place SUCKS! I'm not kidding. It's incredibly big and it's taken me this long to work out how to get to the Great Hall to Gryffindor tower. Gryffindor is the House I'm in. There are four Houses, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. I've accidentally made enemies of every single Slytherin in the place because I punched this boy, Draco Malfoy. Apparently, he's very popular in Slytherin but all of the Gryffindors hate him and some of the older kids actually approached me and congratulated me on giving him a black eye. On the other hand, they haven't appreciated the other fights I've been in. And there have been several. Later, Malfoy's cronies got me and started giving me a good beating. Luckily, I was rescued by the Weasley twins (red headed lunatics in their last year) before they broke all my ribs. DON'T TELL MUM!
How are you? And how are Tai and the others? I miss you all loads. I don't expect the others are even thinking of me.
Inanimate objects are animate here. It's very strange. The pictures talk and go and visit each other which is slightly disturbing. I think they probably spy for the teachers so it's probably not a good idea to say that Prof So-and-so is a rotten freak around any pictures. On the third day, someone tripped me and this suit of armour started laughing at me! Well, no rusty tin-can was going to get the better of me so I kicked it downstairs. It really hurt my foot but it was worth it. Unfortunately, the caretaker, Filch, saw me, and threatened me with instant expulsion or being turned into a mouse for three hours so his cat could play with me. I was about to request expulsion but then Prof. McGonagall turned up, 'rescued' me and gave me yet another detention. Detentions aren't as boring as they could be but you do have to do some pretty weird things.
Some of the teachers aren't so bad, but Prof. Snape is a nightmare and really hates me for punching Malfoy (I'd do it again in a minute and punch Prof. Snape too!). He's always giving me more homework for no reason! Prof. McGonagall is really strict but she's not so bad. Most of the other teachers are just annoying and one of them (out History of Magic teacher) is a ghost called Prof. Binns. He is the most boring person - sorry, ghost - on the planet and if I knew a way, I'd exorcise him!
Everyone keeps going on about someone called You-Know-Who. I pointed out that I didn't know who and eventually someone explained that he was a dark wizard who everyone is scared witless of. He was originally defeated by a boy called Harry Potter who's in fifth year but apparently, he recently rose to power again and is wrecking havoc (don't worry though, I'm quite safe here) His real name's Voldemort. Naturally, I say it all the time now to scare everyone. Names don't scare me.
The letter said some other things but they weren't so important. TK looked at the letter gloomily. He showed it to Kari in school. She read it, frowning.
"Poor Matt," she said "He must be feeling lonely or something. I wonder why he doesn't mention any of his friends?"
TK shook his head.
"I don't know. He thinks we've forgotten him," he said.
"Well, Tai hasn't anyway," Kari said with a little giggle "He's always going on about Matt."
She paused and looked around.
"TK," she said in a whisper "Do you ever think that Tai and Matt like each other in THAT way?"
For a second, TK didn't get it. Then he stared at her.
"You mean.....like THAT?" he said.
"Uh huh," Kari said "THAT way."
"I dunno," TK said "I mean, I always figured they were really good friends but...do you think Tai does?"
"Well, he talks about him an awful lot," Kari said "And he got all huffy when Matt said in the letter that he betted we weren't thinking about him at all."
The two looked at each, wondering.
* * * *
Matt finally began to settle in at Hogwarts, at least vaguely. He spent most of his spare time in the library, pouring over books, causing great confusion among his classmates as he never really tried in the lessons (most of them were sure that Matt knew how to sleep with his eyes open and he was always skiving off History of Magic). When he wasn't in the library or lessons, he was usually to be found staring out of the window in Gryffindor tower, his eyes far away. The boys in his dormitory had heard him crying out in his sleep, mentioning strange things and names such as 'Gabumon' and 'Devimon' and 'Etemon' and 'Myotismon'. Nobody understood but Abby and her posse decided that Matt was seriously disturbed and most people left him on his own. This was what Matt wanted. He didn't want their company. He stopped fighting so much although at least every other week, the gossip going round the tower was 'Matt Ishida punched so-and-so in year so-and-so!' Everyone got used to Matt climbing though the Portrait Hole, dripping blood and nursing bruises.
Matt had all but forgotten Malfoy's grudge against him. Everytime he saw Malfoy, he made a point of glaring but it was instinct now and he never really thought about it. But Malfoy was planning revenge.
He got his chance one day when he spotted Matt waiting to get into the History of Magic classroom. He was leaning against the wall, half asleep. As Malfoy looked at him, he spotted a chain around Matt's neck. Stepping forwards, he murmured a spell. The clasp opened and Malfoy stepped forward and snatched it.
Matt felt the snatch and woke up in a hurry. Draco Malfoy was backing away from him with something clutched in his fist.
"Well, look here," he said loudly "Little Yamato Ishida wearing a girly necklace."
'Girly neckl - oh NO!' Matt thought, his hand shooting upwards.
The Crest of Friendship was no longer round his neck.
Malfoy was examining his treasure.
"Pretty stupid," he said "What's it supposed to be? Some sort of Muggle design?"
"Give that back!" Matt yelled "Give that back right now!"
"Come and get it Ishida!" Malfoy said tauntingly.
"GIVE IT TO ME!" Matt bellowed, lunging at Malfoy who playfully held it above his head. He was taller than Matt and Matt couldn't reach it "Give it back Malfoy! Give it to me!"
"Say please," Malfoy said teasingly.
Matt gritted his teeth.
"Please give me my crest right now before I smash your face in!" he snarled.
Malfoy snorted.
"What's so important anyway?" he asked "It's just a stupid necklace."
"You could never understand!" Matt yelled "Give it to me!"
Malfoy looked considering.
"Go fetch!" he said suddenly and threw the crest at the wall which it hit, shattering into tiny pieces.
For a second there was a shocked pause. Then Matt raced over, dropping to his knees in front of the broken crest.
"Oh no..." he whispered "Oh no, no, no...."
Frantically he began gathering the shards together, knowing it was pointless. Some of the pieces were so small....
Dropping the few he'd gathered, he began to shake. The Crest was all he had left of the Digiworld and his friendship with Gabumon. Now Gabumon would never digivolve again. And Tai would be so disappointed with him...
Tears began to pour down Matt's cheeks. Hunching down, he cried into his knees.
Abby Littlewood who had been watching realised what was happening when she saw Matt's shoulders shaking.
"He's crying!" she heard someone gasp.
Abby had never seen Matt cry. Many times, she'd seen him come though the portrait hole, bloodied and bruised from yet another fight. But she'd never ever seen him cry.
For all she was a chatterbox and often quick to judge, Abby had a very good heart. Instantly, she stepped forward.
"That was a rotten thing to do Draco Malfoy!" she shouted, her eyes blazing.
Talitha had already rushed over and was carefully gathering up the shards. Abby went over and put an arm round Matt.
"Don't worry," she said soothingly "I'm sure it can be fixed! Maybe there's a spell. Hermione Granger's very clever, perhaps she can do it...."
Matt looked at her. His face was blotchy and tears were still running down his face.
"You think?" he croaked.
Abby nodded "Sure! Hermione's a terrific witch, there's nothing she can't do! At least, that's what everyone says. Talitha will get all the pieces, she's got really delicate fingers. You'll see, it'll be okay."
Others were beginning to gather round now, picking up little pieces that Talitha had missed, glaring at Malfoy. Abby helped Matt to his feet.
"C'mon Matt," she said "Let's find Hermione now."
"We have to go to Charms," Matt said.
"It'll only take a minute," Abby said "Anyway, you always bunk off lessons. You've been caught in the library loads of times! And what are friends for if not to bunk off with you?"
"Friends?" Matt said.
"Friends," Abby said firmly.
Matt gave her a watery grin.
"Thanks Abby," he said "It's so nice of you....and I've been so mean."
"Yeah well," Abby said with a shrug "Pals now right?"
"Right," Matt said, nodding.
Talitha suddenly gave a yelp. Turning, Matt and Abby stared. The shards of crest was glowing brightly in Talitha's hands. Everyone backed away from her, looking confused. As they watched, the light suddenly increased. When it faded, the crest lay, completely intact in Talitha's hands.
"Wow!" someone said.
"That's cool!"
"How did that happen?"
Talitha handed Matt the crest. Quickly, Matt slipped it back under his robes. The door for History of Magic opened and everyone began to move inside. As Malfoy shoved past Matt, to Matt's amazement, Malfoy muttered "Sorry Ishida."
It didn't make Matt feel much better. But it was possibly the first time Draco Malfoy had ever apologised to anyone of his own free will and Matt took some comfort in that.
* * * *
After that, Matt, Abby and Talitha were friends. Matt refused to clarify about the crest and the girls wisely didn't pry. Although Matt was always somewhat of an outside when Abby was with her posse, when it was just them he was fully in the mix. It was impossible to make him concentrate properly in lessons and he still got into fights. But he got into less now he had Abby and Talitha behind him. Also, he came out of his shell more. He 'accidentally' turned Melissa Fernbody's hair green making everyone laugh, even Melissa. He also succeeded in melting his cauldron into a twisted lump and flooding the Potions lab with Invisibility Potion meaning that everyone spent the rest of the day unable to see their feet, including Professor Snape. This earned Matt brownie points with nearly everybody as it was very funny to see Snape walking round without feet. Matt's letters home became more upbeat and cheerful and TK began to relax, sure that his brother was happier in the school now and things would all be fine.
How wrong he was.
Matt had teamed up with Abby and Talitha in Potions. They were struggling to make a Solidifying Potion.
"What use is it anyway?" Matt grumbled, peering into the cauldron at the gloupy green slime "What's it supposed to Solidify? It certainly isn't solid unless we really did something wrong."
Talitha shrugged.
"I think we probably did do something wrong as I'm the only person who knows what we're doing and I don't know properly," she said "It's the chopped up bryony roots now, right?" she said.
It was Matt's turn to shrug.
"You think I was listening to his instructions?"
"Good point. Abs?"
Abby shrugged too.
"I think so," she said "Well, let's try. What harm can it do anyway?"
Talitha tipped the bryony roots in.
"Okay. Now we remove from the flames and we add the crushed dung beetles."
"Guys?" Matt said "Was it supposed to do this?"
The three leant over their caldron. The potion had turned clear for a moment, then became an unpleasant black colour and was bubbling violently.
"Uh oh," Abby said.
Suddenly, the potion began to let off a thick white smoke which rose in a straight up column. Everyone backed away, watching it nervously.
"What have you done now?" Snape demanded.
"It's not our fault!" the three chorused which was their standard reply if teachers thought they were getting up to anything.
"LOOK!" Melissa shouted suddenly from her table "LOOK!"
Everyone looked. The smoke in the column was swirling rapidly. Then Matt realised that in the centre of the smoke, a shape was forming.
"What is it?"
"It looks like a person!"
Matt frowned. There was something vaguely familiar about that shape....
He stepped forward, trying to get a closer look.
Then he felt his blood freeze.
Although it was shaky, not solid, he recognised the figure instantly.
Myotismon.
"Uhhnnnh...."
Matt made a faint noise at the back of his throat, fear washing over him.
"Matt?" Abby asked "Matt, what's wrong?"
Her friends face was white as a sheet. His hands were clenched into fists and he was trembling slightly, staring at the thing in the smoke.
"Matt?" she said again.
Matt couldn't hear her. All his attention was fixed on the Digimon in the smoke. Slowly, Myotismon turned towards him. He smiled then passed his hand over Matt's head. Then he held out his hand, palm upwards. Matt blinked. There was something on Myotismon's hand. Tiny little figures....
It was TK. TK and Gabumon and the other Digimon and Digidestined....
Then Myotismon snapped his hand closed, crushing the tiny figures. When he opened it again, Matt could see his friends lying splintered and dead in Myotismon's palm.
Then as he watched in horror, the figure began to grow more solid, more real...
Matt began to scream.
The End - of this part.
Any problems with this? REVIEW!
Chapter 1 - For Every Door.....
By Starrysapphire, Taito Empress
Disclaimer - Digimon belongs to somebody, Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling and Bloomsbury. I don't own either of them and there is no point suing me because I have no money and all you will get are empty chocolate raisin packets and fluff from under the bed. So don't waste your time. Oh and the title is part of a quote from somewhere but I'm nor sure where so thanks anyway.
This fic is set in Book 5, Harry Potter and just after Season 1 Digimon. To make this work, we have to pretend that all the Digidestined learned English sometime. There are hints at TAITO (well, actually whacking great jabs at it). And eventually.... THIS FIC WILL CONTAIN HARRY/DRACO!!!!! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! Also, character death and torture and a couple of other nasty things.
Yes, I KNOW that in whatever-that-episode-was-called, the crests were destroyed and they discovered that it was all in their hearts, blah, blah, bliddy-blah. Well, this was written before I saw that episode and I couldn't care less, I'm not changing it now, it'll ruin half the story. So please suspend your disbelief and pretend that they kept their crests. Thanks.
Matt stared at the English countryside flashing by. It didn't look all that special to him. He'd rather be back in Odaiba with the others.
Stupid summer camp! Matt was blaming all his problems on that! When he'd gone to summer camp, he'd been expecting boredom but with the slight pleasure of spending time with TK. Instead, he and TK were sucked into the Digital World, along with Taichi Yagami (Tai), Sora Takenouchi, Koushiro Izumi (Izzy), Mimi Takihawa and Joe Kido. Later, they'd been joined by Tai's little sister, Hikari Yagami (Kari) There, they'd met their Digimon, little Digital Monsters who'd been waiting for them to arrive. Eventually, they had then discovered that they were the Digidestined and had to save the Digital World and their own world from destruction.
Matt reached up and touched his crest. The Crest of Friendship. He'd promised TK he'd keep it with him even if the others at the school thought he was a sissy.
The school....Matt scowled. After he'd returned from the Digital World, he'd thought his problems would be over. No such luck. For one thing, he'd suddenly become aware of his growing affection for Tai. He'd noticed it in the Digital World but he'd been able to ignore it, to a certain degree.
But when they'd returned to the real world, Matt had realised that the feelings weren't going to go away. In fact, they were increasing daily. He missed Tai all the time and Matt couldn't help wondering if his feelings for Tai went beyond friendship.
Then, the letter had arrived.
Dear Mr Ishida,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in England.
In another letter, specially enclosed for his parents, it was explained that normally Hogwarts didn't extend their range as far as Japan but Matt had shown exceptional talent and as there was no official school in Japan, they would be happy to invite him to Hogwarts and even pay for his air ticket to get there and come home for the holidays. After long discussion, his parents had jumped at the chance.
Matt had not been included in the discussion.
So now, after buying books, robes, a cauldron, a tawny owl (called Ryo) and a wand (rosewood with one unicorn hair) Matt was travelling on the train towards Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
And he wasn't looking forward to it one bit.
"Hi! Mind if we sit in here?"
Glancing up, Matt saw two cheerful looking girls. One was dark skinned with long black hair that fell to her waist. The other was smaller with blonde hair and blue eyes.
"Sure, go ahead," he said.
"Thanks!" the dark skinned girl said "Are you new?"
Matt nodded.
"So are we," she said "I'm Abetzi Littlewood and this is Talitha Lions. What's your name?"
"I'm..." Matt was about to say Ishida Yamato but he remembered that in England, they put their surname last "I'm Yamato Ishida."
"Yamato," Abetzi repeated "That's a nice name. Do you have a nick name? Everyone calls me Abby because Abetzi is too long for everyday."
"Matt," Matt said, wishing that the girl would shut up and leave him alone.
"Are you pure blood or half or Muggle born?" Abby asked.
"What?" Matt said, beginning to feel very much out of his depth.
"Sorry. You must be Muggle born then," Abby said "A Muggle is what we call non-magic users. If you're Muggle born, there aren't any other magic users in your family or at least, not for a long time. Half bloods are where one parents a wizard or witch and the other's Muggle. And pure blood is where both your parents are magic. I'm pure blood," Abby said.
Matt stared at her. Abby had barely breathed in that sentence.
"I'm half blood," Talitha said softly "My father's a wizard but my mothers a Muggle."
"Do you know what House you'll be in?" Abby asked Talitha.
"I'm not sure but Mum thinks I'll be in Gryffindor."
"I don't know either but I do know that my Mum'll kill me if I'm in Slytherin!"
Matt tuned the girls out and went back to staring out of the window, thinking about the others. More than anything, he wanted to go back home. Even the Digital World was preferable to some strange school where they learned magic. Magic! What on Earth could you do with magic? Matt was sure it was some sort of mistake and he didn't have any talent at all. And being so far away from his friends...how was Matt supposed to carry the Crest of Friendship with none of his friends around him?
"Hey, what's that?" Abby demanded suddenly.
Matt realised that he'd been absent-mindedly playing with his crest as he'd thought about everything and it was in plain view. Curiously, Abby reached out and before Matt could stop her, she caught his hand, looking at it.
"Isn't it strange?" she said "Can I have a closer....OW!"
Matt jerked his hand away and slapped her across the face. Abby gave him a shocked stare, her cheek bright pink.
"Don't you touch it again!" Matt shouted "It's mine and it's private! You hear?"
"Well there's no need to over-react!" Abby said sounding angry "I was only looking!"
She turned her back on Matt and began talking to Talitha. Matt hid the crest again, making sure it was out of sight. He didn't want anyone else pawing at it.
* * * *
When they arrived, they were taken across the lake by a giant man named Hagrid. Abby and Talitha ignored Matt and he ignored them. Matt had to admit that the school was a little awe inspiring but he still didn't like it. They were met by Professor McGonagall who told them that they would be sorted into the Houses shortly. They were then led into the main hall where the others were and sang at by a hat. Matt was surprised that he didn't find this surprising. He couldn't help feeling nervous about putting it on his head after it had sung at him. He listened absently as McGonagall read out the names until she eventually shouted.
"Ishida, Yamato!"
Matt walked up to the stool and put the hat on his head.
"Hmmm," a little voice remarked in his ear "Oh this is interesting....very interesting. Very difficult too.....Courage, I see courage.....but friendship is more important to you.....There's talent, oh lots of talent.....but there's darkness, oh dear, plenty of darkness, even if it is lighter than it once was....and lots of anger, oh yes, plenty of anger in here.....and love and affection in plenty, although very deeply buried....so, where to put you?"
"I don't care," Matt thought at it "Put me wherever you like."
"Don't care, hmmmmm," the hat said "That's a pity....well, the obvious choice for you is Slytherin....but something tells me that Slytherin wouldn't help you grow and develop the way you need to.....certainly not a Ravenclaw.......not the right calibre for Hufflepuff either.....no, I suppose, for you, it had better be GRYFFINDOR!"
Matt slowly removed the hat from his head. As he did, he distinctly heard it mutter "Oh, but I don't like the choice, oh dear, no..."
Irritably Matt put the hat down and walked over the Gryffindor table, where they all applauded him. He sat down and looked around, then continued listening to the Sorting. To his annoyance, Abby and Talitha were both put in Gryffindor. When the last person was done, the food appeared. Matt nearly had a heart attack and vaguely wished they'd had something like that in the Digital World. Remembering several nights where they'd gone to sleep hungry made him feel hungrier than ever and he began to help himself, listening to other people's conversations. He could hear Abby's voice from where he was sitting, even though she was at the other end of the table.
"Isn't she a chatterbox?" one boy sitting near him said with a snicker.
"She's pretty too, isn't she?" another said.
Matt remembered TK saying something about that to him about Mimi. He hadn't thought Mimi pretty and he definitely didn't think Abby was. Anyway, the remark wasn't addressed to him so he kept his mouth shut, except to eat.
* * * *
After breakfast the next day, Matt tried to work out how to get to his first class, Charms. He tried walking up a staircase.
"OW!"
One of the steps had given way beneath his foot. Matt looked down. While the stair looked like it was there, it clearly wasn't.
Around him, people were laughing as Matt struggled to pull his leg out. It was stuck.
"Here, let me help," a girl said. She had bushy brown hair and looked older than him. She and one of her friends (a red headed boy) pulled him out of the step.
"Are there lots of steps like that?" Matt asked.
"Not very many," the girl said encouragingly "You'll get used to it."
She and her friends went on their way. Matt looked after them for a moment.
"I'll never get used it," he mumbled.
A wave of homesickness washed over him and he quickly continued on his way, blinking sudden tears away.
* * * *
By the end of the week, Matt had learned a lot about the school. He could actually find his way around parts of it without getting lost which was more than most of his year could do. On the other hand, most of his year thought he had an attitude problem and was a trouble maker. Matt had a feeling he deserved his reputation. He knew he had an attitude problem, he'd noticed it ages ago. And as for the trouble maker part....
Matt had already been in four fights and had had two detentions. The most notable fight had been on the second day.
He'd been coming out of a Transfiguration lesson, juggling desperately with loads of notes he'd been taking when he walked straight into another boy who was carrying a load of books. Both boys fell over and the books and papers went flying. Matt swore loudly in Japanese and began frantically gathering everything up. Glancing over, he saw that the boy he'd knocked over was older than him with a pale, pointy face, silvery blonde hair and grey eyes. He was looking incredibly annoyed.
"Sorry," Matt said.
"Can't you watch where you're going, you idiot little Mudblood!" the boy snarled.
Matt had no idea what Mudblood meant but he knew it was rude because several people gasped and Abby (who had hated Matt ever since the train) said angrily "You should watch you mouth Malfoy, Yamato didn't mean to knock you over."
Malfoy ignored her and glared at Matt who glared back. Then Malfoy picked up his last book and stalked away, flanked by two large boys.
"Who was that?" Matt asked Abby.
"Him?" she said "He's Draco Malfoy, a Slytherin."
"What's a Mudblood?" Matt asked.
"It's a rude word for saying you have Muggles for parents," Abby explained "It's dirty blood. See?"
Matt narrowed his eyes.
"Oh, I see," he said.
Abby looked at him, slight worry on her face.
"You don't want to start anything," she said "He's a fifth year and Crabbe and Goyle flank him all the time. Anyway, the Malfoy family have bad blood in them, everyone knows that."
Matt nodded but he wasn't really listening. So he was a Mudblood was he? No one was going to insult him and get away with it!
He got his chance for revenge in the afternoon. As he and a group of classmates were heading towards the Great Hall, Matt crashed into Malfoy again.
"You again!" Malfoy yelled, looking infuriated "Learn to open your eyes Mudblood!"
That did it. Raising his fist, Matt punched Malfoy full in the face. Malfoy sat down with a bump, blood streaming from his nose. Instantly Crabbe punched at Matt who dodged.
"What's that matter?" he said tauntingly to Malfoy "Can't fight for yourself, baka?"
Malfoy had no idea what a baka was but he knew it wasn't a compliment. Crabbe punched at Matt again. Matt only just managed to dodge this time. He knew that if Crabbe and Goyle got into him, he would be squashed like a bug. He also knew that there was only one place nearby where he would be safe. Before Malfoy realised what was happening, Matt was on top of him, wrestling with him. Enraged, he fought back. Matt rolled them over and over, making it impossible for anyone to get a good grip on them. Crabbe and Goyle couldn't get involved because they'd probably wind up hitting Malfoy. Also, large groups of Gryffindors had gathered around them, making it hard for them to move. Everyone around was yelling as the two boys punched each other.
"WHAT IS GOING ON?"
Matt and Malfoy were wrenched apart by a furious Professor McGonagall who glared at them both. She dragged them both down to her office where she shouted at them, took fifteen points from each of them and gave them detention. Then she sent them out.
When they got out, Matt looked at Malfoy. He felt very satisfied to see that not only did Malfoy have a nose bleed, his left eye was turning a beautiful black and blue and he had a bruise on his cheek as well. Matt could feel his own lower lip swelling.
"I'll get you for this, Mudblood," Malfoy hissed "You wait. You'll be sorry!"
"Not half as sorry as you will be if you try anything," Matt hissed back.
Malfoy stormed off in the other direction. Matt looked after him for a moment, then shrugged. He wasn't afraid of Malfoy. He was sure that he could beat him anytime.
But Matt didn't know Draco Malfoy. He didn't realise it, but he'd just made an enemy and was making a mistake thinking that he'd get away with it.
* * * *
Some days later, TK received his first letter from Matt.
Dear TK,
This place SUCKS! I'm not kidding. It's incredibly big and it's taken me this long to work out how to get to the Great Hall to Gryffindor tower. Gryffindor is the House I'm in. There are four Houses, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. I've accidentally made enemies of every single Slytherin in the place because I punched this boy, Draco Malfoy. Apparently, he's very popular in Slytherin but all of the Gryffindors hate him and some of the older kids actually approached me and congratulated me on giving him a black eye. On the other hand, they haven't appreciated the other fights I've been in. And there have been several. Later, Malfoy's cronies got me and started giving me a good beating. Luckily, I was rescued by the Weasley twins (red headed lunatics in their last year) before they broke all my ribs. DON'T TELL MUM!
How are you? And how are Tai and the others? I miss you all loads. I don't expect the others are even thinking of me.
Inanimate objects are animate here. It's very strange. The pictures talk and go and visit each other which is slightly disturbing. I think they probably spy for the teachers so it's probably not a good idea to say that Prof So-and-so is a rotten freak around any pictures. On the third day, someone tripped me and this suit of armour started laughing at me! Well, no rusty tin-can was going to get the better of me so I kicked it downstairs. It really hurt my foot but it was worth it. Unfortunately, the caretaker, Filch, saw me, and threatened me with instant expulsion or being turned into a mouse for three hours so his cat could play with me. I was about to request expulsion but then Prof. McGonagall turned up, 'rescued' me and gave me yet another detention. Detentions aren't as boring as they could be but you do have to do some pretty weird things.
Some of the teachers aren't so bad, but Prof. Snape is a nightmare and really hates me for punching Malfoy (I'd do it again in a minute and punch Prof. Snape too!). He's always giving me more homework for no reason! Prof. McGonagall is really strict but she's not so bad. Most of the other teachers are just annoying and one of them (out History of Magic teacher) is a ghost called Prof. Binns. He is the most boring person - sorry, ghost - on the planet and if I knew a way, I'd exorcise him!
Everyone keeps going on about someone called You-Know-Who. I pointed out that I didn't know who and eventually someone explained that he was a dark wizard who everyone is scared witless of. He was originally defeated by a boy called Harry Potter who's in fifth year but apparently, he recently rose to power again and is wrecking havoc (don't worry though, I'm quite safe here) His real name's Voldemort. Naturally, I say it all the time now to scare everyone. Names don't scare me.
The letter said some other things but they weren't so important. TK looked at the letter gloomily. He showed it to Kari in school. She read it, frowning.
"Poor Matt," she said "He must be feeling lonely or something. I wonder why he doesn't mention any of his friends?"
TK shook his head.
"I don't know. He thinks we've forgotten him," he said.
"Well, Tai hasn't anyway," Kari said with a little giggle "He's always going on about Matt."
She paused and looked around.
"TK," she said in a whisper "Do you ever think that Tai and Matt like each other in THAT way?"
For a second, TK didn't get it. Then he stared at her.
"You mean.....like THAT?" he said.
"Uh huh," Kari said "THAT way."
"I dunno," TK said "I mean, I always figured they were really good friends but...do you think Tai does?"
"Well, he talks about him an awful lot," Kari said "And he got all huffy when Matt said in the letter that he betted we weren't thinking about him at all."
The two looked at each, wondering.
* * * *
Matt finally began to settle in at Hogwarts, at least vaguely. He spent most of his spare time in the library, pouring over books, causing great confusion among his classmates as he never really tried in the lessons (most of them were sure that Matt knew how to sleep with his eyes open and he was always skiving off History of Magic). When he wasn't in the library or lessons, he was usually to be found staring out of the window in Gryffindor tower, his eyes far away. The boys in his dormitory had heard him crying out in his sleep, mentioning strange things and names such as 'Gabumon' and 'Devimon' and 'Etemon' and 'Myotismon'. Nobody understood but Abby and her posse decided that Matt was seriously disturbed and most people left him on his own. This was what Matt wanted. He didn't want their company. He stopped fighting so much although at least every other week, the gossip going round the tower was 'Matt Ishida punched so-and-so in year so-and-so!' Everyone got used to Matt climbing though the Portrait Hole, dripping blood and nursing bruises.
Matt had all but forgotten Malfoy's grudge against him. Everytime he saw Malfoy, he made a point of glaring but it was instinct now and he never really thought about it. But Malfoy was planning revenge.
He got his chance one day when he spotted Matt waiting to get into the History of Magic classroom. He was leaning against the wall, half asleep. As Malfoy looked at him, he spotted a chain around Matt's neck. Stepping forwards, he murmured a spell. The clasp opened and Malfoy stepped forward and snatched it.
Matt felt the snatch and woke up in a hurry. Draco Malfoy was backing away from him with something clutched in his fist.
"Well, look here," he said loudly "Little Yamato Ishida wearing a girly necklace."
'Girly neckl - oh NO!' Matt thought, his hand shooting upwards.
The Crest of Friendship was no longer round his neck.
Malfoy was examining his treasure.
"Pretty stupid," he said "What's it supposed to be? Some sort of Muggle design?"
"Give that back!" Matt yelled "Give that back right now!"
"Come and get it Ishida!" Malfoy said tauntingly.
"GIVE IT TO ME!" Matt bellowed, lunging at Malfoy who playfully held it above his head. He was taller than Matt and Matt couldn't reach it "Give it back Malfoy! Give it to me!"
"Say please," Malfoy said teasingly.
Matt gritted his teeth.
"Please give me my crest right now before I smash your face in!" he snarled.
Malfoy snorted.
"What's so important anyway?" he asked "It's just a stupid necklace."
"You could never understand!" Matt yelled "Give it to me!"
Malfoy looked considering.
"Go fetch!" he said suddenly and threw the crest at the wall which it hit, shattering into tiny pieces.
For a second there was a shocked pause. Then Matt raced over, dropping to his knees in front of the broken crest.
"Oh no..." he whispered "Oh no, no, no...."
Frantically he began gathering the shards together, knowing it was pointless. Some of the pieces were so small....
Dropping the few he'd gathered, he began to shake. The Crest was all he had left of the Digiworld and his friendship with Gabumon. Now Gabumon would never digivolve again. And Tai would be so disappointed with him...
Tears began to pour down Matt's cheeks. Hunching down, he cried into his knees.
Abby Littlewood who had been watching realised what was happening when she saw Matt's shoulders shaking.
"He's crying!" she heard someone gasp.
Abby had never seen Matt cry. Many times, she'd seen him come though the portrait hole, bloodied and bruised from yet another fight. But she'd never ever seen him cry.
For all she was a chatterbox and often quick to judge, Abby had a very good heart. Instantly, she stepped forward.
"That was a rotten thing to do Draco Malfoy!" she shouted, her eyes blazing.
Talitha had already rushed over and was carefully gathering up the shards. Abby went over and put an arm round Matt.
"Don't worry," she said soothingly "I'm sure it can be fixed! Maybe there's a spell. Hermione Granger's very clever, perhaps she can do it...."
Matt looked at her. His face was blotchy and tears were still running down his face.
"You think?" he croaked.
Abby nodded "Sure! Hermione's a terrific witch, there's nothing she can't do! At least, that's what everyone says. Talitha will get all the pieces, she's got really delicate fingers. You'll see, it'll be okay."
Others were beginning to gather round now, picking up little pieces that Talitha had missed, glaring at Malfoy. Abby helped Matt to his feet.
"C'mon Matt," she said "Let's find Hermione now."
"We have to go to Charms," Matt said.
"It'll only take a minute," Abby said "Anyway, you always bunk off lessons. You've been caught in the library loads of times! And what are friends for if not to bunk off with you?"
"Friends?" Matt said.
"Friends," Abby said firmly.
Matt gave her a watery grin.
"Thanks Abby," he said "It's so nice of you....and I've been so mean."
"Yeah well," Abby said with a shrug "Pals now right?"
"Right," Matt said, nodding.
Talitha suddenly gave a yelp. Turning, Matt and Abby stared. The shards of crest was glowing brightly in Talitha's hands. Everyone backed away from her, looking confused. As they watched, the light suddenly increased. When it faded, the crest lay, completely intact in Talitha's hands.
"Wow!" someone said.
"That's cool!"
"How did that happen?"
Talitha handed Matt the crest. Quickly, Matt slipped it back under his robes. The door for History of Magic opened and everyone began to move inside. As Malfoy shoved past Matt, to Matt's amazement, Malfoy muttered "Sorry Ishida."
It didn't make Matt feel much better. But it was possibly the first time Draco Malfoy had ever apologised to anyone of his own free will and Matt took some comfort in that.
* * * *
After that, Matt, Abby and Talitha were friends. Matt refused to clarify about the crest and the girls wisely didn't pry. Although Matt was always somewhat of an outside when Abby was with her posse, when it was just them he was fully in the mix. It was impossible to make him concentrate properly in lessons and he still got into fights. But he got into less now he had Abby and Talitha behind him. Also, he came out of his shell more. He 'accidentally' turned Melissa Fernbody's hair green making everyone laugh, even Melissa. He also succeeded in melting his cauldron into a twisted lump and flooding the Potions lab with Invisibility Potion meaning that everyone spent the rest of the day unable to see their feet, including Professor Snape. This earned Matt brownie points with nearly everybody as it was very funny to see Snape walking round without feet. Matt's letters home became more upbeat and cheerful and TK began to relax, sure that his brother was happier in the school now and things would all be fine.
How wrong he was.
Matt had teamed up with Abby and Talitha in Potions. They were struggling to make a Solidifying Potion.
"What use is it anyway?" Matt grumbled, peering into the cauldron at the gloupy green slime "What's it supposed to Solidify? It certainly isn't solid unless we really did something wrong."
Talitha shrugged.
"I think we probably did do something wrong as I'm the only person who knows what we're doing and I don't know properly," she said "It's the chopped up bryony roots now, right?" she said.
It was Matt's turn to shrug.
"You think I was listening to his instructions?"
"Good point. Abs?"
Abby shrugged too.
"I think so," she said "Well, let's try. What harm can it do anyway?"
Talitha tipped the bryony roots in.
"Okay. Now we remove from the flames and we add the crushed dung beetles."
"Guys?" Matt said "Was it supposed to do this?"
The three leant over their caldron. The potion had turned clear for a moment, then became an unpleasant black colour and was bubbling violently.
"Uh oh," Abby said.
Suddenly, the potion began to let off a thick white smoke which rose in a straight up column. Everyone backed away, watching it nervously.
"What have you done now?" Snape demanded.
"It's not our fault!" the three chorused which was their standard reply if teachers thought they were getting up to anything.
"LOOK!" Melissa shouted suddenly from her table "LOOK!"
Everyone looked. The smoke in the column was swirling rapidly. Then Matt realised that in the centre of the smoke, a shape was forming.
"What is it?"
"It looks like a person!"
Matt frowned. There was something vaguely familiar about that shape....
He stepped forward, trying to get a closer look.
Then he felt his blood freeze.
Although it was shaky, not solid, he recognised the figure instantly.
Myotismon.
"Uhhnnnh...."
Matt made a faint noise at the back of his throat, fear washing over him.
"Matt?" Abby asked "Matt, what's wrong?"
Her friends face was white as a sheet. His hands were clenched into fists and he was trembling slightly, staring at the thing in the smoke.
"Matt?" she said again.
Matt couldn't hear her. All his attention was fixed on the Digimon in the smoke. Slowly, Myotismon turned towards him. He smiled then passed his hand over Matt's head. Then he held out his hand, palm upwards. Matt blinked. There was something on Myotismon's hand. Tiny little figures....
It was TK. TK and Gabumon and the other Digimon and Digidestined....
Then Myotismon snapped his hand closed, crushing the tiny figures. When he opened it again, Matt could see his friends lying splintered and dead in Myotismon's palm.
Then as he watched in horror, the figure began to grow more solid, more real...
Matt began to scream.
The End - of this part.
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