Bartenders and Books
Dazai made his way to the Leaky Cauldron after the black mafia-owned car dropped him off. It was getting dark out, and he wanted to be inside, preferably catching up on whatever news he’d missed over break.
He figured the Leaky Cauldron was the best choice, he already knew the barkeeper, assuming he was still working there, and he’d been able to get by there once before. He also didn’t know of any other taverns and while he was sure he could find one, he didn’t feel like putting in the effort.
He half-carried-half-dragged his things into the tavern. Unfortunately, his broken arm still couldn’t support any weight, so carrying his things was a very heavy balancing act that bumped and jostled the injury no matter what he tried.
His leg along with half his body also happened to hurt. He was used to it, but it would be much better once he could put his things down.
The Leaky Cauldron had quite a few customers, but luckily it wasn’t bustling. Dazai kept his head down. He didn’t need to cause a scene as the Demon Student. Though he doubted he looked at all suspicious, as he carried his things, desperately trying not to drop any of his too-heavy load.
However, despite what Draco had said, Dazai didn’t think the public would take too kindly to seeing him. A reputation like his doesn’t get washed away easily.
He hurried over to the counter, where Tom was cleaning glasses and putting them neatly away in a cabinet.
Dazai set Featherbrain’s cage down, more harshly than he’d intended, freeing his functional arm from the load. Featherbrain squawked at the sudden jolt, but calmed quickly as she realised there was now steady ground beneath her.
“Hello, how can I help you?” Tom said as he turned to face Dazai. “Oh! It’s you again. Looking for a place to stay until Hogwarts goes back?” he asked upon recognising the small boy in front of him. His eyes strayed to the gauze around his face all too quickly, and his face contorted into one of concern.
“Yup! My father will be paying, same as last time,” Dazai replied. He could only hope Tom didn’t ask the question, though after the first time everyone else saw, he couldn’t imagine the old barkeeper would hold off for long.
“Of course,” Tom rummaged for a key and began fill out the inn form. “What happened to your, uh, eye? Ah, we should probably get you out of sight, shouldn’t we? People still see you as the Demon Student after all.”
“Even after all I did to save Hogwarts last year?” Dazai pouted, completely ignoring the first question. He knew that he still had a reputation, and seeing as it was one that still served him, that small sinking feeling must be relief.
Tom sighed, “what you did last year was very brave and very reckless. Though, it did make the Daily Prophet go a little easier on you at least... I suppose you wouldn’t have seen the newer papers, would you?” he finished with the form and handed Dazai his room key.
“No, what are they saying now?” Dazai asked, ignoring the man’s clear concern about how Dazai went about his basilisk killing adventures. Of course, he had a decent idea of what people though of him from his limited experiences in the wizarding world so far this year, but reading the actual articles would give him a much better idea of what he had to work with.
“How about I bring some papers to your room?” Tom was glancing around now. The Demon Student reputation must still hold weight if Tom was this concerned about Dazai causing a scene in the middle of the tavern.
Dazai nodded, taking the key that Tom slid over to him. He pocketed it after glancing at the black number it was labelled with. Room 6 this time, before lifting reaching out to pick up Featherbrain’s cage. His left arm remained still and useless at his side.
Tom must have noticed this, because he quickly offered to carry some of his things for him.
“No, I’ve got it,” Dazai said, but he quickly proved himself wrong when he nearly dropped the cage. His right arm must’ve been more worn out than he realised after being relied on for the last few weeks.
Tom came around to help him carry his things to the room, despite Dazai’s protests.
Once Dazai had settled in his room, he prepared for the inevitable boredom that would soon come.
Other than buying books and checking new articles, Dazai’s plans for the week included, and were limited to laying on his bed staring at the ceiling until he had to catch the Hogwarts train.
He could always throw himself off a building like he’d wanted to last time, if he got too bored. Then again, walking wasn’t exactly pleasant with the massive, albeit stitched and bandaged gash in his calf.
As promised, Tom soon returned with the Daily Prophet articles that he thought Dazai would be interested in, and a plate of food. Wait.
“Here ya go, kid. I found some articles for you, and I brought you something to eat so you don’t go hungry in here like last time,” Tom said.
“Ah… I really don’t need the food,” Dazai said, looking at the plate with contempt.
Tom ignored him, placing it next to Dazai on the bed and handing him the pile of articles. Dazai made a face at the food, but took the articles happily.
“I’ve got to get back to the counter, but feel free to call if you need anything,” Tom said, as he backed out of the room.
He knew the small boy in front of him was unlikely to do any such thing, but he hoped he’d at least eat the food. The kid looked far too small for a third year, and he could see worryingly little baby fat around the boy’s face.
He could hardly understand how anyone could believe Dazai deserved the title of ‘Demon Student’, he couldn’t say the kid made for a very threatening image. He looked like a skeleton that had been dug up and used as a practice dummy for magic.
Tom hadn’t forgotten about the gauze around the kid’s eye, or the other hints of injuries that he was clearly trying to hide. He wanted to ask about them, it worried him that such a small boy was always so covered in injuries. He wasn’t sure Dazai would let him though, after ignoring him the first time.
Dazai flipped through his new stash of papers. The earliest ones he’d been given talked about him as some unpredictable wild-card, and were dated around the time Dazai killed the basilisk.
The Demon Student: A Hero or a Villain? One article questioned. It was dated just after Lochart had taken most of the credit for slaying the basilisk. Unfortunately, the insufferable man had told the press that Dazai helped, framing him as a hero.
As he went through the articles, it seemed there were less and less on him, until a few days ago, at which point they picked up slightly as they questioned what the Demon Student would do next, as the school term was to start soon.
The Daily Prophet seemed to be getting tired of him, he was old news now. He was pleased to discover that Lochart ‘quit’ teaching at Hogwarts in a quote in one article:
‘Now that I can be sure the children are safe and the Demon has been reformed, I can return to my adventures abroad, though I do feel for my poor fans at Hogwarts…’
The interview continued, but Dazai didn’t bother with it. He could almost hear Lochart’s annoying voice through the paper, and it was giving him a headache. He was glad he wouldn’t have to sit through those classes anymore though.
His reputation as a Demon had been diminished, which would mean he had to work to fix it. It wasn’t gone by any means, but the act that started the whole thing had gotten old by now, it seemed.
That was annoying, Dazai highly doubted he could kill another professor without getting expelled.
He did note, with some amusement, that the Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers never seemed to last more than a year with him at Hogwarts. He absently wondered who’d be taking position next.
After finishing with the articles about himself, Dazai moved on to the others that he’d flipped past at first, ignoring the plate next to him.
He immediately saw that a new story was taking over the Daily Prophet. Dazai almost felt bad for whatever poor victim they’d found this time. A prison escapee, it seemed.
One man, apparently a dangerous murderer, had escaped the most secure prison in the wizarding world. It mustn’t have been that secure if someone escaped, Dazai thought to himself.
He wondered what would’ve happened if he’d ended up being sent to Azkaban like those healers had wanted. Would he have escaped with this man or gotten out on his own? It didn’t really matter, he’d managed to avoid that fate.
IF YOU SEE THIS MAN, CONTACT THE AUTHORITIES AND DO NOT APPROACH! The papers said. Dazai doubted he was in any danger. Partly due to the fact that he himself had been marketed as far more of a threat than the crime he’d committed should have made him, and partly because even if this ‘Sirius Black’ was a real threat, magic wouldn’t hurt him.
Dazai should probably look into this news, Mori would want something new to focus on now that Dazai wasn’t considered the biggest threat to the wizarding world.
Dazai doubted that would relieve him of his job as villain, but it might buy him some extra time before the boss got back to nagging him about it.
As he finished catching up on the news, Dazai got up to move the stacks off his bed. It was late, and he’d have plenty of time to consider the news in the morning.
Once the stacks were moved, Dazai found himself staring at the plate of food Tom had brought for him. Cold chicken and vegetables, it seemed. Well. It was probably warm when Tom gave it to him, but it had been at least an hour since then.
He eyed the food, then begrudgingly picked up the smallest piece of carrot he could find and put it in his mouth. He chewed slowly but got in down.
Well. That was enough food for the day. Having decided this, he put the plate at the foot of his bed and turned in for the night.
Dazai chose not to call Mori the next day, deciding that he didn’t have anything to tell the boss that he wouldn’t already know. He knew that between Koyou and Mori, they would be completely up to date with the magical community.
Without much to do, Dazai let Featherbrain out of her cage so she wouldn’t cause a racket and plopped himself down on his bed, allowing the time to pass.
He eventually stirred to check the time, he couldn’t be allowing himself to lose track of time for too long after all. He must’ve fallen asleep at some point, because he wasn’t too tired, and it was early morning. He soon concluded that it was his third day at the Leaky Cauldron.
He figured he may as well go book shopping. He had another three days here, but there was no harm in getting it done early.
He cleaned himself up quickly, deciding to tie his arm in a sling. It would heal faster that way, even if it was a pain doing up the knot one-handed.
He still had some wizard money left over from last year, so he took it with him as well as his gloves on the way out. He only bothered with his right glove, his left arm wasn’t going to be touching or nullifying anything from its sling.
He kept his head down, despite the relatively early hour as he left the Leaky Cauldron. By now he’d figured out the magic needed to get to Diagon Alley and could let himself out.
There were relatively few people about at this hour, but it would likely soon become the bustling place it had been last time. Dazai kept his head down, he’d rather not be recognised even without many people around.
He made his way to Flourish and Blotts, hopefully he could get his third year books quickly and be on his way. He was disappointed, however, when he approached the building and discovered that it was still closed.
Dazai thought over his options. He could try to hang around and kill an hour out here, or he could go back and hide in his room for a while and try again later.
Dazai swiftly turned around and walked back to the Leaky Cauldron. Nothing interesting was open anyway.
“Hey kiddo, I didn’t see ya leave! Did you have a good walk?” Tom asked, and began preparing a small bowl of porridge for him.
“Uh, it was fine,” Dazai replied somewhat awkwardly. He found it strange that Tom would ask about it. No one would do that back home without ulterior motives, but Tom didn’t seem like the type. There was no threat in his tone or face.
Tom held the bowl out for Dazai, who tried his best to turn the offering down. He was unsuccessful.
Dazai sat in his room, picking at his food. He gave up quickly, leaving the small meal looking as if it had barely been touched, which given the amount that Dazai had actually consumed, was very much true.
He sat with his thoughts for a while, he didn’t bother keeping track of how long, before eventually rising again.
He left his room and returned to Diagon Alley. It was close to noon now, and the street was bustling and lively.
That was the exact opposite of what Dazai wanted. It would have to do though, because Dazai really didn’t want to have to make another trip all the way out here.
He kept his head down and somehow blended in with the crowd enough to make it to Flourish and Blotts without incident.
He looked through the window at the front of the store and did a double take. Where last time there had been beautiful, enchanted books on display, there was now massive metal cage. Technically, there were still enchanted books on display, only this time, they were in a cage fighting each other.
Dazai groaned internally, checking his list despite having it already memorised. He had a pretty strong feeling that these were copies of The Monster Book of Monsters, which unfortunately for him, meant that he would need to get one of those things out. He groaned internally.
He entered the store, accepting his fate. There was no way people were allowed to get those out themselves, and while he could pick the lock, it was broad daylight and the cage wasn’t exactly somewhere secluded.
He went about his business collecting the other books on his list, and only a few people recognised him. Luckily, they didn’t say much, and only hurried away to avoid him. He didn’t interact with anyone, and in turn, no one made much of a scene.
Eventually, Dazai had all of his books held tightly in his arm. All except one. He sighed and made his way to the counter.
The cashier recognised him instantly. His eyes widened as Dazai set down his books on the counter and looked up at him.
“Y-You’re the Demon Student, aren’t you!” the cashier looked scared, but thankfully was yet to draw too much attention.
“Yup, that’s me. I need the Monster Book of Monsters,” Dazai replied shortly.
“I’m not sure I should be giving such a dangerous book to someone with your reputation…” the cashier started. Fear was obvious in his eyes as he said it, like he was afraid Dazai would lash out at him for it.
“I need it. It’s on my book list for Hogwarts. I’m not going to use it to hurt anyone, if that’s what you’re thinking.” Dazai knew that was exactly what he was thinking, though his words didn’t seem to calm the cashier in the slightest.
The cashier looked unsure for a few moments, before giving in and leading Dazai to the cage. He unlocked it and quickly wrangled one of the monster books out and restrained it with a belt.
Unfortunately, the wrangling of a book was hard for a few people to ignore, and the eyes of other shoppers quickly shifted to the boy taking the squirmy book from the worker. They didn’t like what they saw.
“Demon!”
“The Demon Student is here!”
That sounded anything but good. The fact that Dazai was now holding an aggressive book probably didn’t make him look any less threatening. He scowled at the shoppers, which only made them louder.
Dazai wanted nothing to do with the situation as it was, but he knew he couldn’t just run away now. That would make him look tame, and Mori wouldn’t like that.
The cashier had yet to finish locking up the cage, Dazai could easily let some of the books loose, if they’d come past him…
He went to shift the book to his left arm, and abruptly remembered he couldn’t. Bother. Instead, he carefully slipped his gloved right hand over the belt, releasing the clasp and dropping the book.
Chaos ensued immediately. The book seemed to consider Dazai for a moment, before evidently deciding that attacking Dazai wasn’t worth it, moving away from him to terrorise other shoppers.
The book snapped and bit at the shoppers, and soon Dazai was surrounded by sounds of panic. People who weren’t in the immediate vicinity of the book snapped photos, and Dazai tried to look at least a little guilty.
He didn’t want this to result in his expulsion, so he tried to keep damage to a minimum. Most people were pushing away from the book, giving Dazai better access to it. He stalked over and stomped down on the book, holding it closed.
“Come here, you need to restrain this book again,” Dazai called out to the cashier, who was now looking at him in horror.
Understandably, he hesitated for a minute before coming over. He looked every second like he was expecting the Demon Student to do something to him.
Eventually, the book was restrained, and Dazai was holding it again. He brought it back to the counter and paid. The cashier looked positively terrified of letting Dazai have the book but was probably too scared to do anything about it.
Dazai left the store, causing nearby people to scatter at the sight of him. Everyone anywhere near him had heard if not seen the commotion, and understandably wanted to be nowhere near him.
Dazai’s entire body was tense as he hurried back towards the Leaky Cauldron. He could sense the ill-will of everyone around him. He cursed his father’s ghost, the eye that had been gouged out left him vulnerable and completely unable to monitor anything on his left side. This was especially true in such a busy area, not only was he unable to see, but all of the noise just blended together to the point that he couldn’t make out any individual person.
Dazai thought he saw a head of red hair moving through the crowd at one point, but he didn’t stop at acknowledge it. Hurrying back to the magical wall, he let himself back into the Leaky Cauldron and allowed his pace to slow slightly as he made a beeline for his room.
Once the door was closed behind him, Dazai allowed himself to relax. He put his books down next to his bed. He counted himself lucky as he watched his monster book settled on top of the stack, without resistance. He had no doubt that it would struggle if it were around anyone else.
With that, he settled on his bed, preparing to allow himself to rot for the next few days before his train ride.
Unfortunately, his thoughts weren’t pleasant. The memory of Mori’s scorn for his friendships bounced restlessly around his mind, along with the dull acceptance of the fact that he couldn’t just ignore and avoid anyone that didn’t approach him anymore. It sounded rather tedious to go around purposefully causing scenes to maintain his reputation.
Other than the occasional meal delivery from Tom, the last few days past in a restless blur.