Author Note: Okay... All I have to say is a big, fat, SORRY! - for all those who were looking forward to my story, and those who still read, still review. Without further delay, here is the next chapter!

...

Perception

by

oh-woah

Chapter Three: Charmed

The Great Hall was a burst of commotion early in the morning. Frankly, Natsu wasn't quite sure what all the commotion was about, all he cared about was eating his fill of the food that had appeared before his very eyes quite literally.

"Slow down, Natsu," Lucy - looking quite at home in her new uniform and Gryffindor tie - scolded lightly, nudging his arm. She ignored Gray's mumble of, 'Let him choke.' "What were you saying, Erza?"

The redhead seated across the table merely glanced in his direction before continuing. "... Classes. Did you receive your schedule?"

Lucy took out a piece of folded parchment from her pocket, flattening it out on the table in front of them.

Erza leaned in to take a closer look, the same time Gray put down his ice water and snuck a peek as well. "Charms," Gray observed casually, "...and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Sounds familiar. Aren't we taking something like that?"

The redhead nodded in response to his question. "We all have the same schedule. As it should be." She sighed lightly, as if burdened. "Of course, it would have been easier if we were all sorted into the same house... but the Headmaster couldn't control the sorting ceremony. Even if he could, I'm sure it would have caused quite an uproar, if four people of the same age were sorted into the same house," Erza observed wryly.

"So he's making it up and putting us all in the same classes," Lucy finished. "Ah."

Natsu looked up from his food with an expression that clearly showed his distaste for their so-called 'required classes.' "I thought we were supposed to kick some ass, not study." The simple comment launched a whole new argument among the four guild mates, and they continued to bicker, oblivious to the chatter of the student body around them.

"What are they doing?" Sitting at the Slytherin table, Draco Malfoy had a clear view of the group of four. Disgust evident in his voice, he scoffed. "Transferees," he rolled his eyes, spitting the word out as if it were a curse. "I never thought I'd see the day when Ravenclaws and Gryffindors finally became all buddy-buddy with each other."

Without another word, the blonde heir stood from the bench, abandoning his food. It was about time for his Charms class, anyway. Crabbe and Goyle, sitting nearby, stood as well, following their leader.

Meanwhile, at the Gryffindor table, Hermione gathered her books and nodded to her friends. "Ron, Harry," she called to catch their attention. "We should go - there's class in fifteen minutes."

"Sure, 'Mione," Ron agreed through his mouthful of food. "Just a 'sec."

"Ugh, say it, don't spray it, Ron," Harry chided, wiping away a fleck from his cheek. The Golden Trio made their way out of the Great Hall slowly, passing by the group of new students at the far end of the table, in the process. They sat near the first-years sat, except the small children had scooted away to give them privacy - out of fear or something else, Harry didn't know.

Truthfully, he felt guilty for not making more of an effort to talk to them the night before - it had just been a little awkward, not knowing what to ask them about. To make up for his blunder, Harry tapped the blonde girl as they passed. She turned curiously, glancing at the wizard. "Class is going to start soon," he smiled slightly, as her companions looked startled.

"Oh, thank you for telling us, Harry," Lucy nodded and smiled back. She gestured for her friends to stand. "We don't even know our way around here yet," she added sheepishly.

Hermione and Ron, who had noticed their friend stop, paused and heard their dilemma. The Head Girl frowned slightly at this news. "That's going to be an issue. I'll make sure you lot have a tour by the end of the day. But for now, we can help you find your way around. What class do you have?"

Erza answered for them. "We all have Charms. By a - " she glanced down at the paper she had taken out. " ...Professor Flitwick?"

Natsu, apparently tickled by the name, snickered. Even Gray, who rolled his eyes right on cue, looked amused.

Not paying much mind to their reaction, the Hogwarts trio shared a mutual look of surprise. Hermione was the first to snap out of it, anxiously glancing at the time. "Well, let's go then. We have the same class, and I'm sure the professor won't appreciate it if we're late."

They had reached their class on time, much to the group's relief.

However, halfway into the lesson, and Natsu was already bored out of his mind. He didn't understand a single thing their midget of a professor was yammering on and on about - and from the looks on his nakama's faces, they were in a similar situation. Well, they had come during the middle of the year.

Erza and Lucy were at least feigning interest, their gazes directed to the front of the classroom.

"Now I have explained the spell for today's lesson, please take out your wands," Professor Flitwick commanded in his high-pitched voice. "The phrase is 'Point Me.'" He demonstrated with his own wand, which floated out of his hand to hover in front of him. It clearly pointed North, acting like a compass, as the spell was designated to do.

Harry, who was already familiar with the spell from his experience in the Triwizard Tournament, had completed the spell. Hermione followed suit.

"Whoa! Where can I get one of those stick-thingy's?" Natsu blurted, watching his classmates and their levatating wands. Their teacher walked through the rows, approving of a students' spell or correcting a mistake.

"A wand, lad, not a stick," their professor corrected as he came to a stop in front the mage, eyeing him peculiarly, as Lucy elbowed the dragonslayer in the ribs. "Speaking of which. Where is yours?" He glanced at the fire mage as well as at Lucy, who sat next to him. "And yours as well, young miss?" He glanced at their particular row, finding that all the new transfer students did not, in fact, have wands. Nor was it hidden in the lapels of their robes - because they did not wear the standard black wizard robes, either.

The class, previously practicing the seemingly simple but actually difficult spell, stopped their work to watch the scene in interest.

"Barmy," Ron muttered under his breath, his voice taking on a joking tone as he turned to Harry. "No wands? What do they do, pull magic out of their arse?"

"Hear that?" Draco smirked and leaned over to Crabbe and Goyle. "Seems like the old coot has finally gone senile. Letting Muggles in. What a joke!"

Shaking his head, Professor Flitwick quieted the class down. This questioning was his mistake - he had vaguely heard Dumbledore mention this in a meeting - though he hadn't actually believed it was quite true. Wandless magic? The idea was preposterous, because not only was it incredibly hard, but it was also dangerous and difficult to control. From their lack of wands, though, it was apparent that these youngsters did indeed practice that magic. He trusted their Headmaster's judgement, and was more than a little curious to see their abilities for himself.

Now was not the time, however, and with a wave, he assigned their homework and dismissed his class for their next session.

The next class proved to be a more interesting subject to the pink-haired dragonslayer - Defense Against the Dark Arts - or DADA for short. The names in this world gave Natsu endless amusement to make up for the boredom.

Their teacher was new this year, as apparently there was a curse for DADA teachers - they never lasted longer than a year. He was a tall man with a rough and rude attitude. Natsu didn't mind, that was just fine with him, he dealt with these sorts of people all the time. The other students, however, seemed intimidated.

"Defense?" He had scoffed in class. "You just need to kick ass."

"And you would know anything about fighting, young man?"

"Enough to beat you easily." He couldn't help the taunt, he was bored - ignoring the gasps from the students and the glare he could feel from Lucy, Erza, and the ice bastard.

"He's dead," someone in the room muttered.

That was how he found himself standing on the duel platform in the classroom, readying himself for a spar with the man. He couldn't be bothered to remember his name - Natsu just referred to him as the 'Bear Man,' which fit his appearance and attitude.

"Ready?"

"I'm all fired up," Natsu grinned and cracked his knuckles.

Lucy sat with Erza and Gray on the sidelines, along with the rest of their classmates, watching as her gutsy teammate prepared to take on their teacher in a 'friendly spar'.

"So much for keeping a low profile," the stellar spirit mage muttered apprehensively.

Back on the platform, the man nodded. "Go on, lad," he gestured. "Take out your wand." After a pause, the professor seemed to remember. "Wandless magic - right. Well, let's start."

Natsu let the flames consume his arm, taking comfort from the heat. With a flash, he leapt.

To be continued

Author Note: Sorry it's short! I just wanted to see if people are still reading. I'm officially on break now, so I'll be uploading more frequently!

Read and review, and we'll see what happens, aye? ;)