The Culinary Crucible...But Not Really
“I’m sorry….what?”
“Ahahahah….” Crowley whimpered as Urbi snarled at him, her husband beside her as he bounced his son on his knee smiling as he let her rage.
“Those little girls are….are…are…conspiring to kick Yuu out of his OWN DORM? The one me and my husband helped pay for,” she demanded once more, arms crossed as she stood over Crowley who debated throwing the title of Headmaster onto Trein for the X-th time.
Ahh, the older man would kill him but he thinks it would be worth it.
“And not only that, but that stupid eyesore of a woman thinks me and my people are animals? ANIMALS!”
“Sweetie, I think people can hear you,” Farena warned before whimpering as her gaze fell to him.
“Stay out of this!”
“Sorry!” He yelped, holding his son closer as Urbi turned to Crowley with an expectant look.
``Why hasn’t her headmaster done anything yet,” she demanded, stepping forward.
“...Something…had happened…” he began, unsure if he was able to explain things to her at all.
“And?”
“And I am not at liberty to discuss said…happenings,” he finished, flinching at the hand she slammed onto his desk.
“Why not?”
“Because it involves one of the students of Night Raven that you do not have any relation too.”
“Oh really?”
‘Yes, and as much as I am sure you all talk about me, I don’t just go on willy nilly telling you all about students that have nothing to do with you,” he defended, swallowing as she was staring right into his soul.
“...If it wasn’t about Yuu I would be impressed.”
“....Kingscholar.”
“Yes, because he thought it was important for me to know thaT we might need to intervene on the school's behalf,” Farena informed Crowley. “...What is the Mirror after?”
‘The fault lies with me and me alone. I have consulted the Queen of the Briar Valley and I ask of you to not ask,” he warned.
Both of the monarchs understood what he was saying and they backed off.
“...Is something happening with Unca Yuu?”
“Nothing Cheka,” Farena smiled as the boy looked confused at all the adults around him.
“I wanna go and have tea with him,” he spoke, nodding as he was sure of himself. He tried to jump out of his father’s lap and go to his guyard to take him to Ramshackle only for his father to hold him tighter.
“You can’t go to Ramshackle right now Cheka,” his father told him. “Yuu is having some troubles in the dorm he wants to fix up…”
“...But I wanna…” he began, bottom lip quivering.
“Yuu will have you for tea next time. It’s just we came at a bad time,” his father assured him, Urbi turning to Crowley with an intense eye.
“Why haven’t you made a separate dorm for them all? I understand that magic must happen within the bounds of the school, but there is no need for the boys to suffer with them all.”
“...I know…but if I ask for more funding or if a building pops up-”
“Just say it was for Yuu,” Urbi scoffed. “He and those boys he’s friends with are all geniuses in their own rights,” she reminded him. ``They are all going to go far…hell might as well allow them to make their own business right out of Night Raven,” she rolled her eyes.
‘...Are you sure I will be able to get away with it?”
“Isn’t there an open plot of land behind the school,” Farena asked, looking up as Cheka munched on a waffle angrily. “I am sure you can make the dorms from that plot of land and have it marked off for when any visitors come…”
“...Right…Right…” Crowley nodded.
“...What’s actually going on? Leona said that the Mirror said something about Yuu and it’s….it’a making Diasomnia apprehensive,” Urbi demanded.
“...Ha…It’s my mistake. I am working to fix it…but I…didn’t account for variables,” he began, sheepish as her eyes narrowed once more. “And it seems the mirror knew of what would happen if those variables where left unchecked and brought forth people to stablize them.”
“...Yuu has their magic?”
“...Yes.”
“And he was supposed to be someone without it?”
“Yes.”
“...Are you implying what I think you're implying?”
“...Yes.”
“Does his father know? Does Lady Maleficent know?”
“...No and Yes…”
“If this is not sorted out,” she spoke, her voice quivering in fear as Farena caught onto the line of questioning and its implications. “If he is not safe..I will ruin you and this entire school…the boys be damned.”
“Oh don’t you worry…Lady Maleficent will have a chopping block at the ready for me,” he told her plainly, not even joking.
“...Good.” She hissed. “Kingsguard!”
Boom.
The bottom of their spears hit the ground as the royal family stood.
“Where is Leona?”
‘Reports come in that he is with Yuu and the rest of his friends. My Queen,” Zazu informed her as they left, Crowley swallowing as he looked at the materials on his desk.
Wood, Magical items, tombs and more.
Essentials to wandmaking.
Wand Making…
The doors closed and the group of Royals made their way to the courtyard where Leona and Co where, all of them speaking with one another as they waited for the time to head to the Lunge for dinner.
“I saw your family…where did they go,” Yuu asked, his hair tied back in a low pony while they all loitered around.
‘Hell if I know. As long as that little leech is away from me I am fine-”
“Unca Leona! Unca Yuu!”
“Damn it,” Leona sighed as he coughed when something small hit his legs, sending him tumbling to the ground as everyone laughed.
“How cute,” Vil crooned, taping the whole thing for blackmail while he made kissy faces at Leona.
“I will get you,” he growled, Cheka climbing all over his uncle while Farena tried to pry him off.
‘Cheka! Your uncle needs to walk,” he tried to plead with his child who seemed to ignore him in favor of getting Leona to hold him on his hip.
‘Go with your father,” he hissed, trying to push the pest off of him while others laughed at the show they were receiving. “Off!”
“Uncle! Uncle! You were great,” he cried, ignoring both his father and Uncle as he clung to him, Yuu smirking before jolting when Urbi clapped a hand on his shoulder.
“...Is everything alright?”
“...Crowely,” he sighed, annoyed but not really as he figured that Leona had bitched about the situation to his sister in law.
“And Leona,” she joked, before turning serious. “Something had been done. They should be out by the end of the week.”
“Huh?”
“...You shouldn’t have to worry anymore,” she smiled, patting him on the shoulder before moving to help her two boys with her son. “Come on you rascal!”
Yuu blinked in surprise before shrugging, thinking she was simply trying to comfort him as he moved to catch up with them all before he heard a scoff.
“These…beastmen and now mer people? Have these people no shame or pride in their magic? Allowing…non-humans…”
He knew that voice.
“Get out here now,” Yuu demanded, turning around on his heel; silence reigned as everyone turned to him and then the archway where no one was…supposedly. “I heard you so don’t even try!”
“...”
“Oh my, it seems we have a stalker,” Rook commented, coming beside Yuu as the Savanaclaw trio began to growl.
They knew that scent.
“I could have you arrested for the supposed stalking of the Afterglow Savannah Monarchs! Come out,” Urbi demanded, Farena moving Cheka behind him while the Kingsguard rushed in to cover them. “...You have to count to three! One….Two…Th-”
“You have no authority over me or any human for that matter,” Dolores gasped as a Kingsguard grabbed her upper arm, hauling her out into the courtyard.
“I do if I have reasonable suspicions as is my right as a monarch and a donator to the school,” Urbi bared her fangs in warning while her Husband looked to Leona who was itching to sink his fangs into her neck. ``Just like any other human would,” she mocked.
Dolores looked like she wanted to say something before Yuu waved her off.
‘No need to bother with her. She’s nothing more than a broken record with cotton in her damned head,” he grumbled, Urbi giving him a disapproving look while Dolores looked ready to slap him. “She’s not worth the time and will just cry about going to the Minister or some shit like that.”
‘Language,” Urbi warned as Yuu rolled his eyes in response.
“Like I said,” he reminded her. “Not worth it.”
“...How are you able to fly,” she demanded.
“...This again,” Cater whispered, scowling as the rest shifted beside him.
‘Yuu might actually attack her,” Lilia murmured beside Malleus who nodded. “I am sure it will not be pretty…”
“Seriously,” Yuu demanded, body slumping in response as he wanted to punch her. “That is what you are following us about?”
‘You have no magic. Who allowed you in the game! By all right we should be erasing your memory-”
“I am sorry what,” Farena gasped, coming beside Yuu as Zazu called for more guards. “Yuu has magic! It’s blocked! Okay! Blocked!”
“He is already past the age of 11, it is simply impossible for him to be a wizard or whatever you lot are! He should not be in the magical world at all-”
‘Magical world…you seriously don’t tell laypeople about the magical world,” Farena demanded, Urbi grabbing Yuu who looked annoyed but allowed her, petting Cheka who hissed at the pink lady.
“W…Wh…This cannot be right! This cannot be right! You cannot! Cannot! Tell muggle about magic! It will cause a riot-”
‘I don't know, yeah?! Maybe like 300 years ago,” Farena interrupted her. “Are you seriously bullying a kid because you think he is magicless? How childish are you? Actually how childish are you,” he demanded.
“...How…How can this be! How can this be,” she breathed, rushing out as all of them stared at her shrinking form.
“...How can they survive,” Farena asked, everyone shrugging in response as Yuu finally gave in and hefted Cheka onto his hip.
“I want food,” Epel whined, yelping when Vil smacked him.
‘You little heathen,” he seethed.
“Food is good,” Urbi admitted, fingers pinching the bridge of her nose. “Come…food.”
“Right,” they all called.
“..Hey, aren’t you dorm leaders going to be in the culinary crucible soon?”
“...Uggggh….”
Seems he hit a sore spot.
“Well! I’ll be sure to come if not I can send Zazu!”
“Don’t even think about it,” Leona warned while Urbi hid her smile as the two brothers bickered like usual.
A FEW DAYS LATER
“...P…Pardon!”
Yuu looked up, recognizing the voice as his old informat.
‘Neville,” he said, closing his book and sitting up from his spot in the back corner of the library. “I haven’t seen you since the new dorms were created.”
‘...Yeah…” his whispered.
Urbi had been right.
They hadn’t bothered him anymore since they had been given dorms in the back unused lot behind the school, the dorms had been made quickly with the help of magic and a bit of the ghosts' help from Ramshackle.
They were tired of the girls as well and wanted them gone.
It was a sigh of relief to the whole school as they could get back to semblance of normality, but Yuu felt that it wasn’t going to last too long and he didn’t know why.
It was just a nagging feeling and he had strengthened his security since then.
“What is wrong? Is there anything you need,’ Yuu asked.
They boy was a bit shy, but overall he was quite nice…if a bit spineless if Yuu was to be honest.
How was he in the house of Courage at all?
“We…Well I want to try a new way of making a potion but I need help since I get nervous and…no one wants to be my partner. I know you have a private lab but I asked your…father to use the communiale one…”
“Oh, yeah, no problem. I am curious about your potions as well. I think it best if we use my personal labs though,” he smiled, trying to assure the boy he wasn’t going to bite his head off.
Umbridge…hell yes, give him a date and a time, it will be done.
Neville…he was like a scared puppy.
“Are you sure…?”
“Of course,” he smiled, nodding before he sat up, placing his book back in his bag and motioning for the boy to follow him. “How are the new dorms treating you all?”
“...Well everyone doesn’t like the new technology,” he began, both of them taking the path back to Ramshackle. “Our head of house told us to not even bother using them,” he informed the boy.
“Honestly, technology will come a long way soon and it’s going to be impossible to avoid it,” he informed the boy matter of factly. “I mean it’s stupidf to try and go your whole life without it because you will face it-”
“You sound like our pops.”
“Always one for Muggle Technology.”
“He’s a bit obsessed with it.”
“Right indeed.”
“The ginger twins,” Yuu deadpanned, turning on his heel to see them both side by side, smiles on their impish faces. “Fred,” he motioned to his left. “George,” he motioned to his right.
Both their faces showed their shock at him being able to figure out who was who, the look they shared downright comical as Neville gave a small laugh.
“Wow! First time anyone has addressed us without the other,” George marbled.
“It’s a day of celebration,” Fred nodded solemnly as Yuu rolled his eyes.
“Look, I am helping your classmate with something. Either leave us alone or tell me what you want,” he demanded, annoyed as he looked at his watch. Everyone was still in practical classes.
“And what is little Longbottom doing with the genius,’ Fred hummed, both of them coming on either side of them. Neville cowered for a moment, forcing himself to relax while Yuu rolled his eyes.
Jade and Floyd were MUCH more intimidating, even when they were being friendly in real life.
‘A little experimentation he wants to try out. Seems like he’s keen to trust me more than your actual potions professor,” Yuu snickered thinking they would get affronted only to raise a brow at their shrug of agreement.
“Snape got no love for Longbottom here,” Fred informed Yuu of as Neville turned red. “He’s boiled down, melted and exploded many cauldrons. Most not his fault.”
“Isn’t Snape the head of Slytherin? Your dorm's natural enemy?”
“Yup!” Both of them smiled with thumbs up.
“Un-Believable,” Yuu sighed. “Come on Neville,” he motioned for them to follow. “Allowing such a petty little thing to get in the way of ACTUALLY teaching his students.”
‘Snape has always been like that,’ George hummed as they exited main street and moved to head to the Mystery Shop.
“It’s stupid,” Yuu snorted, rolling his eyes as they entered the establishment.
‘IN STOCK NOW! Ohh! Yuu,” Sam smiled, approaching with a bounce in his step before he blinked. “Some Gryffindor Imps!”
‘He wants some help with potions. A notebook for his revisions.”
“Right over there,” he motioned Neville to the side as he nodded, confused but understanding it was for his betterment. “And I see you have something in mind,” Sam commented while Neville browsed the selection.
‘Us?”
‘...I know a trickster when I see one,” he winked. “I knew one myself. Kwit Trappola…hehe,” he giggled.
“Ace’s older brother,” Yuu asked.
‘Yeah, one hell of a prankster,” Sam nodded. “Left his impression during his final year here in Night Raven…that's for sure…” He let out some crazed giggle that Yuu was NOT going to ask about.
“Great, another thing to look out for when it comes to Ace,” Yuu deadpanned, moving to the makeup section. “Great.”
He could finally get back into his habit after dealing with all those girls.
“How’s about this,” Sam clapped his hands, turning to the twins who looked around in awe and confusion before snapping their heads to him. “You show me that prank book of yours…I might be inclined to help…so long as they are pointed at a certain…woman,” he grinned, waggling his fingers together while the twins balked for a moment before what Sam said registered.
“....Wicked.” They agreed.
“Come, come,” Sam ushered them over as Fred produced a thick leather bound book with some glee.
Yuu looked over, his eyes going to the book only to catch something in his hand.
I will not….ks? It was hard too see but from what Yuu could see….his skin…
Was that carved into his skin?
George took the book after that, Fred lowering his hand and shoving it into his pocket as Yuu a tap caught Yuu’s attention.
…One of Sam’s shadows?
The thing motioned to his hands, pointing to the twins with worry.
“Yeah I know…Fred….both of them,” he asked, the Shadow pointing between the twins with an eager nod. “They both have scars on their hands?”
Another shadow appeared, in his hand was a paper with many tally marks on them as well as a symbol of dark magic.
“...Are all of these tally marks students,” he demanded, going further into the shop to the produce section as they nodded. “And you divided them by house and year…this isn’t right…why is the Slytherin house not affected,” he demanded, looking it over. “...The younger years worry me…”
Both shadows nodded before motioning to the symbol.
“Someone has a dark artifact symbol on their person and is using it on them,” he whispered.
Another nod.
“Do you know who?”
A shake.
“You only saw them after they got treatment?”
A nod.
“...Damn…I’ll prod and ask Crowley to see if he can locate the item,” he nodded, the shadows giving him a thumbs up as Neville approached.
“Find one?”
“...Yeah,” he whispered sheepishly holding out a black notebook. “Sorry…”
‘It’s no big deal,’ Yuu assured him, pocketing the note with a mental note to himself to get to the bottom of this mystery. “Let’s pay and then head to the lab, yeah?”
‘Yeah…”
“Let’s go before those three make something that can level the school,” Yuu snorted, the two of them making their way up to the front where Sam was handing them package after package.
“I am afraid you will have to wait a few days for the last of it but it will be worth it,” he gave a manic grin, rubbing his hands together as the twins nodded eagerly.
“I was gone for two minutes,” Yuu deadpanned, Sam cackling with a shrug. “Can we pay for the notebook?”
‘Free of charge,” Sam called out. “These little imps are going to be paying for their stuff with well deserved revenge…” He cackled while the twins high fived.
“I have no part in this. I want no part of this. Let’s go,” Yuu sighed, heading out as Sam shook hands with the twins while Neville hastily followed.
“I will be sure to record everything,” Sam called out as Yuu waved him off.
“..I don’t want to know,” Yuu told them as they entered Ramshackle. “I really don’t.”
“Aww come on,” They giggled.
“No, no! I have enough to deal with, with my own group of…troublemakers!”
“As if you aren’t one yourself,” the twins challenged as they sat down at the table next to the cauldron.
“Hmmm,” he gave them a look before motioning Neville to pull out his book while the twins began to assemble their items. “So what help do you need…more accurately, what potion are you doing? I can spot ways to improve a potion with a simple read through of the instructions and an understanding of the components.”
“Ahh…can you really,” Neville marveled while Yuu smirked, snapping his goggles into place before winking.
“I am lauded as a genius for a reason, now show me that potion would you?”
“Oh! Um…well it’s the…ahh…it’s the Befuddlement Draught,” he showed him, Yuu’s face going blank at the description of the potion.
‘Seriously,” he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Just order them a few pints or something. Works just as well for less,” he grumbled, the three Hogwarts students snorting as he was correct. “Whatever, let me see the process.”
“Here,” Neville handed the book to him and Yuu took it, browsing over the instructions and ingredients quickly with a scan of his eye. He hummed and made gruttural sounds as he reached certain points before outright snorting at some.
“Tap your wand on the rim three times? You're not pulling my leg right? Nothing but placebo,” Yuu shook his head, placing the book on the table and grabbing Neville’s bag for his ingredients. “Let’s see, let’s see…”
The next hour was a blur of motion and movement, Yuu telling Neville about the process of emulsification and purification to get the most effective concentrate of each of the ingredients as well as various aspects to get rid of the potion entirely.
Neville soon would have three potions at varying levels of effectiveness that he was proud to have made.
The Twins on the other hand…
“I hate how we have to wait to get the gun powder,” Fred whined as he angrily munched on a banana.
“I know, I know. But so long as that pink women thinks we have nothing to do the more she will lay off of our backs,” George reminded his brother as he stole the banana from his brother.
“Magical fireworks,” Yuu asked, coming beside them as Neville worked to try another potions with the same processes Yuu had taught him.
“Yeah,” they both sighed, slumping in their seats at the spells they had made to imbue with the fireworks.
“Sam is getting gunpowder huh…I know a way that can allow you to make your own gunpowder. I have all the tools to begin the process,” Yuu smiled.
It had the twins hesitating though…
They didn’t like that smile he held on his face, something about it was very, very off.
“You do,” Fred chanced.
“Yes and you seem to be doing all the right things too,” he clapped eagerly, giggling while the twins shifted back a bit.
They definitely didn’t like this.
“And what do we need,” George asked, looking around and trying to catch Neville’s eye but he was too engrossed in his improvements.
“Potassium Nitrate,” Yuu clapped eagerly. “It can be produced naturally or synthetically, and it’s a substitute for gunpowder if you're in a pinch. It’s also used in food preservation, meat specifically so it’s safe for humans. But it’s also a controlled substance in many ways. It’s easy to make, but if not careful it can be dangerous,” he warned. “This is gunpowder we are talking about,” he gave them a look that they nodded at.
“What should we do to get it? Anything we need to gather,” Fred got up as Yuu nodded, moving around to try and find something.
“Potassium Nitrate is mainly composed of a few chemicals. Its main components being Potassium and Nitrate which is also heavy in Nitrogen,” he listed off as if it was expected. “Well, we need to get the potassium nitrate and while there are many foods heavy in them…we don’t have the proper means to extract it…distilling and refining it aren’t something we have the time for at the moment. So we have to go about the natural way…” he sighed with that creepy smile on his face again.
“Okay,” they both breathed as Yuu motioned them off to the side where he placed a large bucket down on the ground. “What do you want in return?”
“That we don’t ever speak of this again,” Yuu grinned, both of them blinking in shock at that.
‘What,” Fred asked, confused as George shrugged.
“We will NEVER speak of this again,” Yuu stressed. “Not to your siblings, not to your lovers, not to your friends…not to your teachers. NO ONE.”
“Are you sure that’s what you…want,” they trailed off, unsure if they should continue.
“Yes, I am sure.”
“O…Okay…”
“We need potassium to make the potassium nitrate and while we will need to putrefy the item in particular and it’s not in the way that you think it is. But now we need to collect it.” He clapped his hands, both twins nodding along while Yuu grinned.
“So what is this natural source anyways and why are you so…I don’t know? Insistent on not asking for us…for like cheats for the payment or anything.”
“Because to gather this ingredient I am…well I’m going to need you to piss in the bucket.”
“...What?” They both asked, unsure if they heard right, Neville whipped his head back; his face was the picture of shock as he looked between them all.
“I need you to piss in the bucket,” he motioned to the one he put between them. “Urine can have a high concentration of potassium if you eat an enriched diet of it. Putrefied urine can be an excellent source of potassium nitrate in reality. It’s quite simple. Just…ah…we’re going to need a lot since you're making it the muggle way.”
“...You're serious.” All three of them asked.
“You wanna get back at the toad,” he asked, the two nodding as he gave them a ‘there, that’s all you need’ look. “So…I suggest you either come up with something you have already done or you balls up and….well you’ll need to piss in the bucket.”
“Will you be helping us with this,” George demanded as Fred began to weigh the options they had before them.
“When I can. I have my own projects and this was a last minute thing to help you.” Yuu shrugged like he didn't really care. “But I have detailed notes on how to make the putrefied urine for the Potassium Nitrate and how to assemble a good firework. If you ask me I will come and help but I gave you everything you need. Any more chemicals you’ll need just come to me and I will help you make them in the future. It’s listed in the notes as well,” he handed them a small stack of papers with detailed notes. “Muggle chemicals aren’t something to mess with. So have a nice time.”
“And we’re never speaking of this right,” Fred decided to ask.
“It’s all up to you two. Anyways, good luck and hopefully things work out,” he smiled, brushing past them to the door, Neville stared at them, before scrambling to grab his stuff to follow Yuu. He rushed after Yuu, the boy winking at the twins who were standing like a bunch of idiots beside the collection bucket. ‘Don’t take too long and please…don’t make a mess,” Yuu winked. With that he left the two to their devices, the door slamming as they both stared at the empty bucket before them with trepidation.
“Well Forge?”
“Right Gred.”
Both of them sighed as they grabbed their belts and began the terribly awkward collection process.
The twins and Neville had a hard time looking one another in the eye after that for a bit, Yuu cackled at the sight of them for quite a bit along with his father who he told what happened too.
It didn’t help their feelings.
“I regret doing this,” Yuu admitted a week later as he held his spatula staring into his pan along with Azul and Vil.
“....Same,” both of them agreed as Yuu’s…charred mass of food sizzled in the pan.
“It seems cooking is not your skill ah,” Che Louis commented as he approached, hands rubbing together while Yuu gave him a dead stare.
“No…” Yuu admitted, deflating a bit while Louis laughed and ushered the other two away.
``Well, that is what this course is about, non?”
‘Yeah…”
“Let me help you and we can make improvements!”
“...Okay,” he sighed.
“At least I am not the worst,” Leona smiled, Malleus nodding alongside him as Yuu was being told step by step what to do in order to salvage his seafood dish.
“Who’s bright idea was it to do seafood in the first place,” Vil demanded, taking out his own pot to make the alfredo sauce he was going to use.
“Crowley after Yuu stated he missed food from his homeland,” Kalim reminded him. “Remember the sushi Yuu made?”
“Food from his homeland and seafood are very different,” Vil bemoaned, grabbing a few cloves of garlic along with a lemon, grater and shredded cheese.
“At least he tried,” Riddle chanced out before rolling his own eyes and watching his pasta boil.
“Whatever it is, this is lame and I want to be done with it,” Idia whined next to his own bot. “I’m sick of deboning all this fish.”
‘Well maybe if you actually tried in the beginning you wouldn’t be struggling,'' Malleus offered, but it only seemed to make Idia feel as if he was critically hit.
“Why…” he whimpered before yelping as his pot began to boil over and he rushed to stop it.
‘Honestly Shroud,” Azul began.
“Oh don’t you even think about it Azul, you are worse than me when it comes to cooking! Isn’t your mom a chef of a popular restaurant?”
“Oh don’t bring my mother into this you shut it!”
“Eeeehhh?”
The two began to squabble like they were in a Board Game club, everyone else ignoring them like they did every time someone else had a squabble in their group; which was a lot. Come on, it’s to be expected.
KNOCK. KNOCK.
“Pardon me,” Jade smiled, coming in with his usual grace. “Yuu, do you have a moment?”
‘Ehe? What,” he asked, putting his pan in the oven as Louis patted him on the back.
“Rook, Cater, Jamil, Ortho and I need to speak to you about the inquiry you asked us to look into,” he reminded the boy whose face lit up in understanding.
‘Ah! Right…I…Um…” he looked at his dish in worry before Louis waved him off.
``Go, go,” he assured him, Yuu bowing before rushing out to where everyone else was sitting in the hidden VIP booth.
“You were right to be suspicious,” Jamil nodded, handing over some photos where students had their hands wrapped with bloody bandages or they were getting treated. “Something is going on with their students and it seems like it’s affecting all of them except for the Slytherin group.”
“Weird. Anyone say anything or they run the moment you all come up,” Yuu asked, sitting down beside Ortho who was typing away the info into his servers for later.
“They ran the moment they saw us snooping,” Jamil admitted.
‘I will say this prey is elusive,” Rook smiled, but his lips were tight and eyes sharper than normal. “The wounds are constantly being reopened time and time again. They aren’t healing properly and with time will leave a permanent scar.”
“...I see,” Yuu hummed.
“From the gossip it seems like it’s a punishment of some kind,” Cater murmured, thumbing through his phone with a pursed lip. “I have a few people I think would be good, but then again we never know. The Pink lady for one, but then again she seems more than content enough o bug us and her own staff members, I doubt she has time to torture the students like this.”
“You might be right. She’s so focused on her duty to the minister and trying to ‘correct the wrongs of this place’ to be able to focus on students, much less monitor their detention,” Jamil admitted. “So we are looking at alumni from the Slytherin house but we aren’t in the know with them too much to know whose who.”
‘I heard a rumor that the heads of houses are all former members, so that might be one thing to look after. Might be the reason why the Slytherin house is untouched.”
‘I heard of picking favorites but this is ridiculous,” Yuu sneered, tossing the photos to Ortho who scanned them in. “Have you told our nurse about this?”
“Yeah, he tried to get in contact with their nurse but she is refusing all help and says that nothing like that is happening. So they are keeping it on the DL.” Cater placed his phone down. “I heard of not trusting your teachers, but that doesn’t seem normal.”
‘What about Dumbledore?”
They all shifted.
‘I won’t lie,” Jade began. “You are the only one that seemingly likes him.”
“...Really?”
‘Yes, he’s…he’s not the most approachable after all.”
‘I see,” Yuu murmured. “Then again…nevermind,” he brushed off. “I will ask him when I have a chance too. See if he is able to ask around.”
“...I never see him with his students…actually now that I think about it,” Jamil remembered. “Neither with his staff either. He’s either with Crowley or wandering off aimlessly on his own.”
“He is of an older type you know,” Jade reminded the vice dorm leader.
“I know but still, he’s the headmaster of a prestigious school. One would think he would be more involved and if rumors are true, he’s an alum,” Jamil defends, Ortho nodding as he records everything.
“Albus Dumbledore…he’s always alone yet never when I am trying to get a file composed on him,” Ortho hummed, going through his records. “All I have on him is his position, age and various other surface level things. He’s good at hiding behind a wall.”
“Right..I’ll see if I can get anything from him,” Yuu grumbled, geting up. “I need to head back, my food should be done. Make sure to share things amongst the more…inutive students and ask if they noticed anything during Hogwarts stay in the dorms.”
‘Right,” they all nodded, heading out…
Most of them.
“Ortho?”
“Yuu san…can you come to Ignihyde in a few days? Don’t let my brother know…I have…I have something I need to tell you. It’s in regards to the current state the school is going through in their world,” he began.
“With the guy who is trying to kick out all non-purebloods?”
“Yes.”
“...Okay. I’ll meet you in the communal computer lab?”
“If you would.” Ortho nodded.
“I’m free in a couple days. Thursday night?”
“I will make a note to come up with an excuse for my brother,” Ortho nodded.
‘Later.”
“Happy cooking!”
‘...eh,” Yuu grunted, trudging back to the kitchen in time for an explosion.
“LEONA!!!”
“THAT WAS OCTOPUNKS FAULT!”
“THAT IS A LIE AND YOU KNOW IT!”
“Boys, boys please!!”
“Imma die,” Yuu sighed, closing the door and sealing his fate for the night.
The rest of the week followed suit with arguments, fires, explosions and a marginally better increase of their cooking from person to person.
They were all pretty helpless though.
Honestly, they were just thankful that the judges were kind enough to not say what they really felt about their food to their faces and kept it to themselves.
They doubted they would be able to take the criticism of their shitty cooking too well.
Aside from Cheka…
He was ruthless.
But it was nice.
A few days everything was normal…aside from the lounge being closed as it needed a deep cleaning from the event before but that was neither here nor there.
Yuu and the first years were lounging in the courtyard, waiting for Yuu’s team to come and show him some mood boards for them all when they did their campaign for the makeup collabs. As well as his line that was coming out before that which was a winter theme of lip glosses and highlighters which Vil said was a good idea for him to start out with.
“So we are so doing so shoot by ourselves right,” Ace asked, leaning as Yuu as they all sat under a tree with a basket of food between him.
‘Duh! Naturally. Of course I gotta do some with the dorm leaders as well but then again it’s expected,” Yuu sighed, stretching as Deuce laid down on the blanket they were sharing.
“Oi! Prefect,” Yuu looked up to see a group of third years come over a mix of all dorms and circle around them with relaxed stances.
“Oh, heya,” Yuu waved.
“Hey, I was wondering if you had any more powdered beetroot? The ones from the greenhouse won’t be ready until a week from now and I am working to finish a potion assignment,” a Diasomnia student begged.
‘Yeah it’s in my workshop in the cabinet. You know the password.”
‘Thank you so much I owe you one,” he grinned, moving to head off.
“I want a sweet cake from your hometown! You don’t just share it with me and not tell me how to get it,” Yuu called out, the teen giving him a thumbs up as he vanished.
“You're not the only one he’s done that too. But real talk for me and Zayne, we need to ask if you would look at our thesis and see if it’s a good starting point for the essay we are doing,” the Heartslabyul student begged as he handed it too him, Yuu smiling as he looked it over before nodding.
‘It’s good, but just make sure that you keep to the points you alluded to in the thesis and use the writing center okay?”
‘Thanks!”
Yuu and the first years waved them all off as Hogwarts students who had been working, watched in confusion and uncertainty as the magic students asked the magicless boy for help with their homework and asked for potion ingredients with ease.
Shouldn’t they be…I don’t know…Ignoring him?
“Where is he! Where is he! OH there he is,” a cheerful voice called, all of them turning to see his PR team that Vil had assembled for him after he had officially become his partner. “Looking well rested, I assume you have been actually resting?”
“Haha,” Yuu grumbled. “What are you all doing here? I thought only Sebastian was coming.”
“We need to do a final fitting for the winter looks before we can have a go ahead for the promotional we need to shoot in a few days.” His stylist, Madame de la Grande Bouche, clapped eagerly as Yuu bemoaned his fate.
“Ooh, celebrity photo! Celebrity photo y’all,” Ace called out before Deuce punched him and Epel snickered at Yuu’s misfortune.
“And of course, we need these boys’ measurements for the other campaigns!”
“Ha,” Yuu snorted as they all groaned, flopping onto the ground while Bouche set out to have a few stations set up for all of them. “Come on losers, time for your fitting,” he mocked, popping up while they all groaned, moving up as well, Bouche’s assistants taking one of the boys with them for the fitting.
“Now, I need you to look over the catalog we did and pick what will go with the makeup look. We have the background done and a set list of 17 outfits we need to condense into 9 looks.’ she handed Yuu the portfolio they had created, the boy nodding as he went off to the side to look through the items.
“I know, I know. I am not new,” Yuu grumbled as Bouche smiled, shooing him off with a hum before going to her trunk which held measuring tapes, fabric swatches and the like.
Crazy woman.
Yuu moved to the side, sitting on the bench under the shade as he looked through the portfolio, humming over all the looks he was forced to shoot before coming to a stop at a few more…crazed ones.
All of them were inspired by Victorian, gothic and fantasy aesthetics.
Perfect!
He quickly grabbed all of them, pouting when he saw he was one short before grabbing the one that had him in an old library staring out into the snow.
That would be fine.
“Bouche!!” He called happily, the woman rolling her eyes at how fast he had chosen the promotionals before she glanced at them.
“...This isn’t winter themed anymore,” she yelped, looking through them all as Yuu smiled.
“Whatever! It still fits! I think it will look good,” he grinned, hands on his hips as she messaged Vance to tell him what Yuu had done, the boy winking at all his friends when they gave him a questioning glance.
“Always the rebel huh,” they snorted, all their measurements being finished up, Yuu shrugged in response not really caring about it much.
“I like it and I have always liked it. Might as well go all out and show people what they are getting,” he defended, his own seamstress coming over with a fond look on her face before she urged him to stand up straighter to recheck his measurements.
‘You are SOOO taking advantage that Vil and his dad are backing you,” Jack smirked, winking at Yuu who stuck his tongue at him in response.
“Vil’s dad also wanted me to tell you that his offer of you being the face of their athletic brand is still open, you know,” Yuu teased, Jack blushing as Epel gasped.
‘No way! Dude, you gotta do it!” Epel urged him, Jack’s ears falling onto his head as he tried to avoid his friend’s eager gaze.
‘He’s not!”
Vil’s voice screamed from far away, all of them turning to not even see him in the vicinity.
“That’s why I haven’t accepted it. Vil-senapi doesn’t want me doing it and my mom is a bit…eh on it,” he told Epel who pouted before shrugging.
He wasn’t even going to try with Vil and get caught in the crossfire.
“Well, all of you,” Bouche clapped, drawing their attention to her. “Thank you for today, we will be in communications with Yuu and Vil about the campaigns and what you should expect. I am also going to be seen around your dorms as we are thinking of using the dorms as the backdrop to the campaigns. If not, it will be in the homelands of the Seven!”
“We could do both,” Deuce called out, Bouche turning to them. “I mean…more modern here at night raven and like…more traditional in the homelands….?”
“.....” Bouche stared at Deuce who had begun to sweat in droves, unsure if he had annoyed her before she gasped.
‘That is amazing! I can see it! OH I can see it,” she gushed, clapping happily as she urged her assistant to write it down with another calling Vance.
Ace?
He smacked Deuce upside the head.
“Ow!”
‘Dude, you just gave us more work!”
‘And more money,” Yuu reminded Ace. “All photoshoots are paid and food is there on scene…for free?”
“....Good going Juice,” Ace smiled with a thumbs up.
“Dude,” Epel groaned into his hands while Jack and Sebek huffed in annoyance, both of them having their arms crossed before they all burst out in laughter, falling against one another.
“Well that was annoying, come on and let’s head to Scarabia now. Kalim and Jamil are holding the feast they wanted to hold a month ago and everyone is invited,’ Yuu winked, motioning them to follow him.
“Free food from Jamil, count me in,” Ace and Sebek chimed in, all of them giggling as they rushed to the hall of mirrors with eyes following them, judging and in disbelief.
“Malleus is going to be there, I am sure it is going to be an amazing banquet,” Yuu murmured, smiling at the thought of Malleus being invited to a function by others…willingly!
Despite everything, it was going to be a good year, Yuu was certain.
As they crossed the mirror into the Dorm of Scarabia, past the statue of the Sorcerer of the Sands into the grand hall where people were already singing, dancing and laughing; he knew that moments like these were going to be a dime a dozen.
And he was going to cherish them all.
‘There they are,'' Kalim smiled, sitting beside Malleus who was dipping his nan into various curries around him with a curious look on his face. “You guys were almost late!”
“Late, there was a time we were supposed to be here?” Yuu challenged with a smile on his face, Jamil snorting while he walked out beside Trey who looked very happy.
“You make some desserts from their homeland,” Ace asked, plopping beside Cater who was lounged out on various pillows and seemingly in a food coma.
“Yup! And it’s been great,” Trey was grinning ear to ear while Riddle happily piled his plate full of food, Floyd was in the back hitting it hard with the drums as the other band members tried to match his enthusiasm.
Azul was trying to push Jade away who held a plate piled high with fatty food, the other Leech frowning as he continued to push the good at his dorm leader and friend.
Silver and Lilia were by the windows, food between them as they played a game of chess, the two so engrossed in it that they noticed nothing around them. Silver’s pensive face was a sight to behold as he munched on some curry between moves.
Leona was napped, per usual it seemed while Ruggie was putting some food in a sampler container for later it seemed. They where lounging against one another, no doubt both drowsy due to the humid nature of the dorm and the smell of all the food.
Vil and Rook were talking about something with one another, the beautiful dorm leader was looking at something on his phone and Yuu made it his mission to avoid him and all the work that was coming from their little stint earlier for the rest of the day.
Yuu grinned, allowing himself to be dragged into an impromptu dance between some students, laughing as he was flung around into some of his friends that he dragged into the dance as well.
The rest of the night was a blur of food, drinks, dancing, laughter and warmth, Yuu having the time of his life like never before.
Well deep into the night did Yuu make his way back to his now empty dorm, laughing along the path to the dorm and it/s silence that he would be able to soak in and enjoy.
A beep pulled him out of his thoughts of a silent night, he looked to his watch, hitting the notification before his heart stopped.
Without a second look he took off down the path, going full speed enough to make Vargas and the Track team proud as he pushed, pushed, and pushed to his dorm.
He ignored the ghosts who were unsure of what to do as they ushered him to a securely locked room that he punched in the code for as well as unlocking the manual lock, slamming the door open to the mass of wires, tubes and medical equipment over what looked like neonatal until. He panted, stepping over all the broken bits he had thrown in a fit of anger when Grim showed…nothing.
But now…
Now!
‘Grim,” he panted, going over to the until that held his unconscious companion, hands on the glass as he watched his eyes move under his eye lids with a hopeful look on his face. “Wake up…you stupid little…You gotta wake up for me…” he begged, the cats’ head moving to the side slightly.
He moved!
He moved!
“He moved,” Yuu breathed happily, hands clenched together as he turned to the ghosts who smiled at themselves. ‘He moved! He…He moved!”
``Isn't it wonderful Yuu-chan,” Shoto smiled, coming over to hold him in his embrace. “Grim is getting better by the day! Your patience is paying off~!”
They all clapped while Yuu draped himself over the glass, sobbing as the steady and healthy heart monitor told him that they were right.
Grim was getting better.
He was!
“Grim…”
Yuu was in a down right….fucking wonderful mood next day to be honest.
The surprise with Grim was something that kept him up most of the night, so much so that he had decided that he would get work done in the room, keeping a hawk like watch over Grim and basking in the happiness that it was WORKING.
Grim was getting better and it…it would be soon that he would be able to have his annoying, tuna loving, pudgy fat cat back with him again.
And he felt pretty damn good to be honest.
“Neh! Can one of you get me the Poisoned Apple palette Vil made,” Yuu called out, dressing up in his uniform for the day. “I am in the mood for some makeup!”
“Ho, ho, ho,” the skinny one, Akira, smiled as he came down with the palette in his hand. “You are in quite the good mood.”
‘Heheh, I can’t wait to see everyone's face when I show them the video,” he grinned, clapping his hand eagerly as he took his brushes, applying the look of greens, golds and blacks with ease.
“A fox eye look…how nice,” Shoto cried out, looking happy as Yuu grabbed some lip gloss to top off the whole look.
“I want to look my best when I see all their faces fall off in shock,” he grinned, hands in fist as he stood determined between the ghosts. “Besides, I can finally do my makeup without having people screaming all around me for one reason or another, and not have to worry about them ruining it in the end.
“Well you look wonderful Yuu-chan,” they clapped as he grabbed his backpack, waving them goodbye with a smile.
“Ohhhh! Look at him,” some students called as he walked up the steps to the gate.
‘Ha-ha,” Yuu snorted, rolling his eyes as the wind blew, making him gag on his hair before he moved to where his friends were.
“Heya losers,” he called out.
‘Woah,” Deuce smiled, looking at Yuu’s face with a bright grin as Jack smiled at him.
“Oh seven, what are you peacocking about now,” Ace bemoaned, Epel snickering at him before waving to Yuu who waved back, accepting a hug from Deuce who wanted a closer look.
“Looking good,” he complimented before a hum was heard.
“Oh dearest trickster, the woodlands could only hope to hold such a beauty as that which encases your eyes. The deepest of blue surrounded by luscious golds and earthen greens!”
“Rook Senpai,” epel whined, the hunter coming out from behind a column, more eloquent words pouring from his lips.
“Ah! Youthful lips shining with the vigor and ripeness of youth,” he gasped, smiling as he kneeled down. “A picture of beauty that one could only hope to behold and I have been graced by it to this day!” he clasped his hands over his heart, grinning from ear to ear as Vil came out, humming at Yuu’s look.
“Strange for you to suddenly wear makeup without a reason, you didn’t during the opening of the Lounge…something happened,” he grinned, Yuu shrugging before a cough was heard.
“...What on earth?”
“...Can you like…leave,” Ace demanded, annoyed with Umbridge who stalked forward with a gaggle of Slytherins beside her.
``What the…what the Merling are you wearing,” Pansy looked offended at Yuu and his makeup as he was surrounded by all his friends.
‘Makeup. I can wear it too, you know,” he rolled his eyes. “And I quite like doing it too. So don’t ruin this for me.”
“But…but…makeup is for girls and women,” Pansy gasped as Daphne whispered in horror to her sister who hid behind her.
‘Says who,” Yuu demanded, many others coming out to see what was going on.
“Wow,’ Luna smiled happily at Yuu’s makeup look. “He looks good,” she commented to herself, seeing many others point to him in less than nice ways.
‘He’s got balls.” The Weasley twins commented while their brother Ron looked at Yuu like he was crazy.
“Why would anyone want to do that to themselves,” he asked Harry who shrugged in response. They watched as he continued to argue with the Slytherin girls and Umbridge who looked ill at the sight of Yuu who ignored her with ease.
If only they could as well…..
“Wowie! Yuu! You look amazing,” Kalim gasped, Jamil appraising his look with a grin himself as they both walked into the courtyard with various other Scarabia students.
“It works with your pale skin and your deep black hair, it’s a nice cool tone to say the least,” he commented as Ortho flew in.
“Amazing! Yuu chan really makes the best decisions!”
“But of course,’ Vil scoffed, Cater snapping a photo of Yuu when he wasn’t looking, the photo getting a bunch of likes and comments within its first five minutes. People were going crazy over the style, color, how he looked and everything and it seemed like they were trying to pinpoint what products he used or if it was a collab he hadn’t released yet.
‘Heh,” Cater smirked before he snapped his head up at the one thing he NEVER expected to hear in Night Raven.
“That means your a damned FAG!”
It turned deadly silent as everyone turned to Yuu who had taken a step back in response to Pansy’s scream at him, his hands clenching his bag tightly just as lightning struck.
“...What…did you call my dearest friend,” Malleus demanded, striding in with a furious Lilia and Silver on either side of him. “...What did you just say to him?”
“....” Yuu was in some sort of shock, Riddle rushing up to be beside him as Malleus continued to stride dorward, eyes narrowed in pure hatred while all of Diasomnia pulled out their pens, hatred on their faces all the while Hogwarts were quivering in fear.
“How dare you,” some Savanaclaw students roared out, teeth barred and hackles raised; their eyes were dilated and all were ready for the kill as Leona did nothing to stop them in the slightest. “You're gonna regret that!”
“...I wanna squeeze her till her eyes pop out Jade,” Floyd murmured chillingly beside his twin who merely hummed in response, Azul shaking between the two of them as memories of his own slurs coming back hit him.
“...They are disgusting,” was all Vil stated, Rook beside him with an unnerving smile upon his face and hand over his heart as if he was trying to stop himself from summoning his bow.
“Say it again,” Malleus whispered, leaning down to be eye to eye with Pansy who was frozen in her spoit. “I…said…Say. It. Again,” he ordered, the girl whimpering as his poison eyes bore into her own with unfiltered hatred.
“What in the seven…” Trein demanded, coming out with Sam and Vargas. “What is the meaning of this!”
‘They called Yuu a slur for wearing makeup! They called him a f…f…” Ace tried to say it but he couldn’t, shaking his head every time he tried in revulsions because he refused to say it.
But Trein seemed to understand.
‘How dare you not only discriminate against a rightful student of Night Raven but now call them an unclothe salur about their perceived sexuality or desired physical appearance,” he boomed as Sam shifted behind him.
“...” Vargas simply glared at the girl before pulling out his phone to alert Crewel.
“I will be having words ONCE AGAIN with your headmaster and I have the right mind to have you ALL kicked out of Night Raven. And you know what I think I wil-”
“Don’t bother,” Yuu interrupted, voice soft as Trein stumbled to a stop. “She didn’;t hurt me Tsunotaro.”
“....” Malleus backed off, Lilia grabbing onto him and his boy to hold them back before he turned to look expectantly at Yuu.
“But I can hurt you,” Yuu promised, coming up to be face to face with the 15 year old. “And I think I will.”
‘....What,” she asked through her tears.
“You're almost an adult but you’ve been coddled so much in your life I doubt you will ever make it in real life. Of course you will have mommy and daddy to fall back on but I am sure that it getting very old for them very fast,” he mocked.
‘...”
‘Your not a looker, I am sure you can tell with all the girls in your dorm and even those below your station. You have to rely on a marriage contract to be able to even get a man much less even be with one in such a way,” he snorted as she blushed a deep red. “Your personality leaves much to be desired, so much so that your sad sap of a husband will have wandering eyes and wandering hands to the maids who can satisfy him.”
‘Shut it-”
“You have no real skills to fall back on, no doubt a trophy wife in the end worth nothing more than being a machine to pump out baby after baby that will be subjected to your shitty parenting in an equally shitty marriage. Raising some fucked up kids am I right?”
“I said shut it-”
“But then again you are one as well. Given your cleft palate and slight signs of scoliosis from your uneven shoulders you are a product of inbreeding. First cousins as you aren’t a complete invalid and you don’t have any mental illness though I think the boys in your dorm will protest that one,’ he snorted as the Night Raven students choked out laughs.
“I don’t have to listen to the words of a magcialess no one-”
“You will find I am a very rich and influential person in this place that you think is so stupid. In fact I am quite famous outside of this place as well. I am an honorary member of the Society of Alchemists and Runes, so much so that my findings have been published in their ACCREDITEDjournals. So don’t try me,” he shook his head as she shook in her own place surrounded by her cronies. “And drop that stupid dream you have.”
“Dream?”
“Of fucking the little ‘prince of Slytherin’,” he snorted as people hooted and hollered around him. “I seriously doubt he even looks at you, the thought of doing it with you probably makes him shrink INTO himself. I doubt the playboy of the school and let’s be honest every school had one, even gets semi-hard at the thought of popping that cherry you have,” he mocked.
‘ENOUGH- '' Urmbridge was cut off as Yuu turned on her.
‘If you didn’t want this to happen, teach your damned kids huh,” Yuu demanded. “I’m late for class,” he grunted, turning on his heel and marching out with his head held high.
“...Fuck Yeah,” Epel said before he followed, the rest of the first years following as they thought of a way to cheer Yuu up.
“...Egg the dorms,” Ace offered up.
“...that should suffice,” Sebek murmured.
If Lilia and Sam gathered as much eggs as they could and delivered it to the first year group via Crowley’s Crows at lunch…no one said anything.
Thankfully at the end of the week they would start the October break they had.
And have a nice day at the beach before the weather starts to get too cold and the preparations for Halloween begin.
On the side, Fred and George worked to speed up the production of their fireworks, spells be damned at the moment. They had the rest of the year and now was not the time for something delicate, now was the time for something annoying.