Finals Mayhem
Yuu woke up and was happy to find his body was no longer sore.
It was a win in his books if he had any say in it, really.
Grunting he sat up, rubbing the back of his neck as he finally erased the last remnants of that horrible halloween nearly a month and a half ago.
After being chased for a solid two hours by his own damned dogs and then forced to clean up all of main street with his friends; he was finally no longer sore and his punishment has been served in full.
Grunting he heaved himself up out of bed, grabbing his robe idly as he walked out and to the kitchen where Luna had placed down his mug full of tea and the Icy Hot pack.
‘Don’t need it,” he commented, sipping at the tea while she smiled.
“Finally healed?”
‘Yup,” he grinned, placing the cup down as she giggled.
“I am sure the others must be the same then. You were all punished so harshly by Mr. Crewel.”
“Yeah…he overreacted in my opinion.”
“....Oh Really?”
‘Errrgh," Yuu flinched, his fight or flight reacting as he tended to run.
‘Don’t even,” his father warned him, coming into the kitchen with some paperwork in his hands. “I am still upset that you decided to go into the realm of the DEAD for a stupid HALLOWEEN PARTY!”
“I said I was sorry,” Yuu whined, resting his head on the table as Crewel snorted.
“I swear, you are so smart but you don’t have a lick of common sense,” Crewel grunted, sitting down beside his son who whined and curled into himself further while Luna smiled, plating her pancakes before moving to grab her toppings she prepared.
“Soooo…Why are you here? It’s Sunday and I know you like to visit but aren’t you busy preparing for the practical winter finals?”
“Yes, and I have come to ask if you want to be graded on your practicals.”
“....Eh?”
“Yuu, you have shown tremendous growth in utilizing your magic. Be it with a wand or a pen, and we have all decided that you are eligible to be graded on it. But we have also taken into consideration that you have just gained access to your magic, thus you may not feel fully prepared and might not want to be graded-”
‘No! No! I will do it,” Yuu shot up, looking so hopeful that Crewel gave him a small smile. “I’ll be in the first year group right,” he asked eagerly.
“Yes, you will,” he nodded, taking out a sheet with what was to be expected of him. “Winter break is in two weeks. Next week is all finals,” he explained, Yuu nodding as he overlooked his schedule for the upcoming week. “You have free reign this week to study as you see fit and practice your skills with other people as it will be split up into five practicals.”
“Flora, Pyro, Hydro, Cosmic and group,” Yuu commented idly, overlooking the plans for the upcoming days.
“Yes, the first four are all single practicals. You’ll be asked to show off your mastery of the four different types of magic in a combat setting against another student. The last will be an all out battle of 6 v 6, allowing you to use any magic you can think of. Other practicals go over what is taught in class and are simple demonstrations.”
‘Right…”
‘I’ll leave you to it,'' Crewel ruffled his hair as Yuu looked at the time table as if it was the greatest thing in the world and to Yuu?
Might as well have been.
“I will be heading to the library. I want to look at some spells. Anything you need from me Yuu,” Luna asked, but she received no answer. “Yuu?”
She turned only to find the space he was at gone, the tell tale sign of his office door closing and she smiled.
He seemed very happy.
She moved to head back into the kitchen only to hear him speak.
“I finally can hand Ace his ass to him after all his little remarks he’s made about me,” Yuu gave a dark chuckle as he held the paper in his hand as if it held all the answers he sought.
Oh….so this was a revenge thing…
Eh, it would be fine either way.
She was sure ... .not too sure about the damage that might come with it.
She went back to eating, not bothering to look up as the boy in question rushed out of the study to the front of the house.
“I’m heading out Luna,” Yuu called out, having dressed while she was preoccupied with her food and thoughts. ‘I need to speak to Dumbledore about extra training as well as some ideas I had to try and get used to Non-Verbal spells quicker.”
‘Can you ask him about my transfer? As well as telling Pr…Mr. Flintwick that I don’t want to come back to the dorms,” she had stopped calling them professors and adopted more of the NRC way of speech.
She also started attending the First Year classes with Ace and Deuce. She didn’t attend Gym because of how weak she was but she was getting training lessons from Vil and Jack to help her build up her strength to formally attend the class.
She was dedicated to say the least.
‘Yeah! I’ll make sure to mention it! Also make sure that you keep the systems up and stay in the house of the time being. I don’t care if they were your former schoolmates, they are assholes,” Yuu grumbled. “The twins should be stopping by later with Neville to work on some potions. Neville will be here to look at the growth of his plants.”
‘I also am looking into growing something. Is it fine if I use a plot of space,” Luna called as Yuu took all the paper back into a folder.
‘Yeah! Keep it next to Neville’s so the different magics don’t mix,” he called, rushing to put his shoes on as Luna nodded.
“I also have some other NRC students coming to the Gazebo later for some tea. They want to ask about my creatures I see,” Luna clapped happily, smiling bright as Yuu gave a happy sigh.
“Sam should be getting your phone soon, you’ll be under Crewel and mine’s plan,” he told her, fixing his hair as she nodded. “We might get some for the others who seem to be like you…by that I mean the Twins and Neville, since they are coming around so often; but make sure to get their numbers and make a group chat!’
“I can ask Idia for help if I need it right,” she asked, head cocked as she exited the kitchen to see him off.
‘Ask Cater or Ortho. Idia might have been talkative on Halloween but that was because of the alcohol,” Yuu deflated, Luna nodding as she followed him out the door.
‘Right,” she smiled, waving him off as he rushed down the path to the school.
“Ah! Luna! Luna! We have some old jewelry boxes for you to use for storing some of your items,” the smaller ghost called, the girl turning with a bright smile.
‘Thank you,” she nodded, closing the door as Yuu vanished from view.
The boy in question was happily jogging into the school, humming a merry tune as he thought of all the ways he would be able to cream Ace, Deuce and Sebek for all the time’s they gave him shit.
As he passed by various students, they could already tell that the rumor of him joining the finals was true and thanked their lucky stars they weren’t going to be going against him.
“40 Madol that he’s going to go after Ace for all the shit he gave him during the beginning of last school year.”
“I’m not making a bet I am going to lose!”
Yuu ignored them, or more precisely he didn’t hear them as he was off in la la land with how giddy he was to actually put his skills up to the test against people he knew were strong and who he knew wouldn’t hold back.
Oh! How it made him want to sing with glee!!!
With a skip in his step he made it to the lounge of the Hogwarts teachers, intent on getting Dumbledore to help him with his finals in the next coming week.
“Sir Dumbledore,” Yuu called out, looking all too happy and airy as he seemingly floated into the staff area without so much as a knock. “I have to ask a favor of you!!”
Silence.
Yuu opened his eyes, his face becoming one of disgust as he realized he was with all the other teachers aside from the one person he was looking for.
“...Where is Dumbledore,” he demanded, his voice losing its happy edge as they all turned to him with raised brows.
“And what could you possibly need with Dumbledore,” Snape asked, placing his teacup down as Yuu crossed his arms, looking bored as he surveyed the area with a bored glance.
‘None of your business. I need to speak to him about something and ask a favor.’
“A favor,” McGonagall scoffed, looking appalled as Yuu rolled his eyes. “What could a boy with barely any control of magic ask of Dumbledore.’
“...This is a waste of time,” Yuu grunted, moving to leave before stopping short at the being who stood at the entrance of the door. “Move,” he told Umbridge, not even bothering to be nice. “Or do you want me to hurt you?”
“...Such horrid manners toward your elders,” she tutted, Yuu snorting before pushing his hair back and glaring at her. She stopped her stride for a moment, his eyes glowing with pure hatred as he kept her gaze for another moment before dropping it.
“I have respect for those with intelligence and have something worth respecting. So far I see none of that from you,” he snorted, dropping his hand and pushing past her. “Your magic is neat and all but it’s nothing special,” he sniffed, opening the door as he turned back to them. “Sure it’s convenient but it’s nothing worth getting all up in arms about. Disarming? Confusing? Dizzying? A good kick to the head will do that to you, all in one if you time it right,” he smiled.
“We have no need for such needless violence-”
“You see fighting as something below you, but in the end knowing how to fight is a deciding factor in whether or not you live after a battle,” he hummed. “Even fae never only uses magic,” he commented, thinking back to Lilia and his harsh training.
‘Reliance on magic is a death sentence. If all you can think about once your pen is taken away from you is ‘where is it?’...Well, you’ve forfeited your life to the enemy before and around you. Best offer your neck to them instead of trying to find the pen.’
His words rang in Yuu’s ears as his face, blank and cold as no doubt it was in the wars, flashed in his view.
“Also…Luna doesn’t want to come back to the dorms for now. She has experiments she is working on that need constant attention…so stop sending those Howlers hmm,” he turned to the smaller man who looked affronted at his tone.
“What are you implying,” he demanded, affronted that the boy would assume anything about his house.
“...Wow,” was all Yuu stated before moving to fully leave. “Even if we don’t have heads of houses, our teachers are aware of our problems," he snorted, closing the door with a malicious chuckle.
“...That boy,” Flintwick huffed, stomping his foot before moving back to his paper he needed to have graded by the end of the day. “No respect at all.”
That all of Hogwarts could agree on.
“Oh, why is it so somber here,” Dumbledore commented, looking around as he entered the impromptu lounge.
“That boy was looking for you. Asking for a favor,” Sprout offered meekly, unsure if she should even mention it.
“Oh! I see, I see,” Dumbledore hummed, moved to grab a lemon tart. “Ah! Yes, he mentioned asking for training on controlling his magic in hopes he could do the practical exams coming up.”
‘...He what,” Minerva demanded, turning around in her seat as Dumbledore moved to pour some of his tea. “...Dumbledore, he has had no training!”
“...I train him,” Dumbledore hummed, grabbing a muffin as it went completely silent.
“Sir Dumbledore,” Dolores began, coming up as others were unsure of what to do. “Should you not be working on how to get us back to our rightful place…especially convincing that boy he is to come back to Hogwarts?”
‘Oh I am…getting us back. Young Yuu will not be coming back with us,” he informed them, smiling brightly as he sipped his tea.
“He has been abducted Albus-”
“He indeed was, but he is far better suited for this institution than Hogwarts. I see no reason to rip him from this place,” he offered in lieu of a true explanation.
“He belongs with his family and with his rightful peers. These…these…people,” Dolores spat out in pure disgust. “Have turned him against his family and his people!”
“...It’s best if you leave this subject alone. I know what I am doing-”
‘Are you,” Minerva demanded, getting up. “That boy has no family, his mother and father have no idea where he is and the people here have convinced him that he should stay! He is a child! He is supposed to be in Hogwarts but he is not because they have stolen him!
“I would be careful in how you speak Minny-”
“Oh do not Minny me! Albus! He needs to be informed of the dangers of this place, of these people! He needs to return to his parents and come to Hogwarts so we can right the wrongs that have been placed upon him,” she exclaimed.
“I would say that we are righting wrongs,’ Dumbledore murmured, Snape blinking at the words before Dumbledore shook his head. “I know what I am doing. I will not be dissuaded on this. If you will excuse me, I will need to set up the curriculum for his lesson today.”
“How long have you been doing this Albus? Albus? ALBUS!” Minerva yelled as he vanished out the door into Night Raven. “By the founders! We need to convince him to focus!”
“Indeed! That boy must be returned home! He needs to be with his people!” Flintwick nodded, others agreeing.
“That boy will need to learn his place,” Dolores growled, looking upset as she stared at the door.
Behind it three staff stood silent and still, fuming with rage before they all turned and stalked off.
“You're sure she is the one that is doing this? Without the staff’s knowledge?”
“I am 80% sure. She hides it well.”
“...Try and get confirmation from the students.”
‘On it.”
They left the hallway, fuming in silence as they prepared for their attacks in the coming days.
“Just the man I wanted to see,” Snape stilled at the obnoxious sound of the potions professor of that brat.
“I don’t recall asking for a meeting. Nor do I recall even asking you to seek me out for any reason,” Snape sneered, turning to see Crewel humming, leaning against the frame of the door as he watched him with cold eyes.
“Oh, trust me. I hate you as much as you hate me,” Crewel grinned, all teeth, moving away from the door and deeper into the potions room. “Tell me…Yuu would have been in your school had he been in your world…correct?” He hummed, looking around with thinly veiled disgust at the lack of technology and all the cauldrons.
Seriously? That was an accident waiting to happen.
‘...Unfortunately.”
“Seven,” Crewel snorted, looking offended for the boy. ‘What a waste of intelligence,” he laughed, looking over at all the prepared cauldrons. “How can you expect to brew good potions in such shitty things,” he demanded, tipping it over.
Neither reacted much when it crashed to the ground, both having eyes locked on one another in a heated battle for dominance over the other.
“I don’t know how you do things but potions are a delicate art. Not one meant to be used for spectacle or stupid pranks,” Snape sneered, the stupidly dressed man pursing his lips as he took stock of the other potions professor.
“...That we can at least agree on. But you're not helping these students,” Crewel chuckled, a dark look shadowing his face. “You're doing nothing but hindering them,” he pursed his lips. “You're not teaching them at all.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Oh, you heard me,” Crewel snorted. “You are setting them up for failure.”
“...Failure?’ Snape scoffed as if what Crewel said was some sort of joke that he hadn’t gotten the punchline for.
“Failure,” Crewel sneered, smirking in glee at his thunderous look. “You are setting them up for failure in the real world. Not the wizarding world, the REAL world.”
‘They are going to be fully prepared for the real world,” Snape sneered back, standing up to face his adversary in full. “Just like I was prepared during my time in Hogwarts, I strive for the same.”
“They aren’t,” Crewel chuckled, leaning up against a table. “They don’t know how to use a credit card, they don’t know how to budget or how to understand credit itself. They will be fighting for opportunities that are only there for show while those who have been there simply their whole life are handed it.”
“You don’t know-”
“I know enough,” Crewel interrupted him. “You don’t teach these children jack shit.”
“...And you do?”
“Oh indeed! How to manage and apply for a house, how to budget, how to apply for a credit card and a loan. How to apply for a job, how to do an interview, how to apply for a doctorate program,” Crewel listed off, walking off to the wall of potion ingredients that weren’t labeled. Ha! Making them memorize what they looked like? Useless knowledge. “How to cook, how to sew, and so many other life skills that you need to be taught and not simply use magic to do” He snapped, glowering at Snape who glowered right back.
“Experience is the best teacher-”
“And the worry of being homeless because stupid teenagers being thrust into the world who still rely on their parents are the one to do that,” he argued. “I don’t see the problem in that at all,” he snorted, rolling his eyes while crossing his arms. “Not at all,” he drawled, lolling his head around while crossing his arms.
“They need to struggle to understand it is a way of life.”
“Oh now you're simply projecting,” Crewel sighed, shaking his head in shame. “Just because you all are too afraid of the layman to even show them magic, allowing them to go between both worlds is the best way for them to thrive.”
‘And put them in danger?”
"And the muggleborns,” Crewel shot back. “They are pulled out of school, away from their friends and their family for a majority of the year to be taught magic and nothing more. Then they are behind in math, sciences and english! Have you even thought of the pressure that is on them when they are expected to go back to the muggle world and be retaught everything so they can blend in again?”
“It is on their parents-”
“Have you not thought of the fact they might not be able to? Or the fact that these muggleborns might have aspirations outside of being part of the wizarding community,” Crewel snapped, standing up with a fierce glare. “They are behind their non-magical peers and you act as if they should be grateful they have an opportunity to be in your shit school.”
“They should be grate-”
“At the behest of their livelihood? I don’t think so,” Crewel sneered, not even wanting to have Snape defend the school. “Be thankful for being seen as the idiots in a bubble when they go back home? I don’t think so!” He was hysterical at this point because he now understood that they where really fucking blind to this cycle of ignorance.
“I am teaching them what it means to be a wizard.” Snape ground out, glowering down at Crewel who gave one right back with just as much fury.
‘You should be teaching them what it means to be an adult and to live an adult life. That is what school is meant for! Not for magic and potions and…and…all other bullshit,” He snapped. “By the Seven above I am GLAD Yuu never had a chance to be ruined by you at all,” he hissed, eyes narrowing dangerously. “Because he would nearly be hopeless at this point! He would be so behind!”
“A child needs to learn-”
‘And it’s a teacher's duty to teach them! I don’t give a damn if you have failed in life and you are in debt or you are financially ruined, but we are supposed to teach them that they aren’t supposed to do that. We have to teach them. It is our duty to TEACH,” Crewel was so close to yelling to get it through the idiot's skull. “We don’t throw them out into the world with half of what they are supposed to know. By the Seven…you are asking to be found out!”
“We have precautions-”
“Teaching children to erase memories and live in fear of what people might do to them? Yeah, I see that works quite well when the muggleborns are forced to abandon a way of life for another that won’t be lucrative for them,” Crewel snorted, shaking his head. “You're teaching them to hide. Not to live.”
“It is the life of a Wizard in a world that is dominated by the non-magical,” Snape informed him coolly.
“That is the biggest jack of shit I have heard and I have heard a lot,” Crewel laughed, looking like Snape had told him the funniest joke ever. “By the Seven I am about to have an aneurysm,” he breathed, pacing as he seemingly was about to murder Snape.
“What benefit is there in not teaching them to control their magic, if I might counter this baseless attack on my world,” Snape demanded, slamming his book down. “I do not see anything other than greed and selfishness in your students. Your boy in particular, one who should realize his attitude will not take him far in life.”
“Oh, don’ you go attacking my pups,” Crewel growled, annoyed at the man and his tricks. “They know that they have the entire world for them to go out and experience. They don’t have to hide or to fear, they can be themselves and be happy about that. They don’t need to lie to their friends and their family, they don’t need to be under strict regulations that will strip them of magic in a small accident!”
“And you honestly think that such a world is fine? I doubt harmony was simple,” Snape snorted, looking put out as Crewel rolled his eyes.
"Of course not you dundering idiot,” he sneered. “But instead of running and shoving our hands into the sand, we persisted and fought for the reputation we have! We fought for harmony instead of running. We fought to have normal lives and we can live like this! We can have technology and innovation, ideas and all manner of things that seem impossible to you lot because you think magic will get you far enough!”
“Magic will always be superior to Muggle Technology-”
“And when it’s not,” Crewel challenged, looking happy. “When Muggle Technology finally trumps your magic….what will you do then? When your wands are away from you in battle and you can’t fire a spell…what will you do? Dependence on a singular option will always lead to failure if one is not prepared for all options possible.”
“...Reduce ourselves to muggles who reduce themselves to mindless beasts shooting and killing one another without a regard for others,” Snape gave a startled laugh at the implication Crewel had offered him. “That is below a wizard…no, that is below anyone with magic.”
Crewel was silent for once, looking deep into Snape’s eyes as he contemplated his answer before he struck.
As quick as a flash his leg shot out and hit the center of Snape’s chest, sending him into the table behind him; disoriented he shot his hands to the table to stabilize himself as his wand hand was caught in a vice-like grip. Something slammed into his chin, choking him before stilling at the feeling of cold steel.
A knife?
Looking down he blanched at the sight of a small pistol in his hands, finger hovering over the trigger and Snape’s mind when blank.
“Beretta 21 A Bobcat .25,” Crewel sighed, seemingly bored as he pressed the gun further into his chin. “Small things, easily missed during a quick glance at my person and very good in situations like these. I have your life in my hands, your wand can’t be accessed and I could easily snap it. Tell me, do you know how to fight? Know self defense? No? No, because you assume magic is going to get you out of situations like these and it’s pathetic really,” he snorted, releasing his grip on Snape.
He moved back before Snape could push him off, the man frantically reaching for his wand before his whole body went cold.
It wasn’t on him.
“Looking for this,” Crewel whistled, showing Snape’s wand in his hand. “Stupid looking thing really? So easily destroyed by a simple accident,” he hummed, rolling the piece of wood in his hand before Snape spoke.
“Accio wand!”
The want went zooming out of Crewel’s hand and into the hand of it’s rightful owner before promptly being turned on Crewel who still had the Beretta in his hand.
“Hmm,” was all Crewel said before holstering his gun, Snape freezing at the sight of another weapon on his belt before the fellow potions professor turned his back to him. “Anyways. I got what I needed from you. So thanks for this…but I do have a final question.”
‘Why should I even give you an answer. I should report you to your headmaster for attempted murder!”
“...As if that idiot, as powerful as he is, will do anything. Yuu is the one person who sees him for who he really is and I know for a fact if anything happened to me by his order, Yuu will abandon him forever. He won’t do a damn thing for me threatening you. He might give me a bonus for it really,” Crewel laughed. “Aside from that ... .What is Umbridge really doing in the school? I have heard some things from Yuu but why is the ministry interfering with the only school in your country.”
“I will not divulge anything about my school to the likes of you!”
“...Are you even paying attention to what she is doing?”
“...” Snape stayed silent and Crewel’s eyes narrowed.
‘I see…” Crewel murmured. “So Same was right…it’s a Slytherin only thing. The Targets are the other houses…”
‘What are you blathering about!”
“Nothing, later,” Crewel dismissed, leaving. “Also…” He turned as he was about to fully leave the room. “You might want to reconsider who you think is on your side…or the side of your house.”
“...What?”
“Goodbye,” Crewel brushed off, leaving fully.
“What the bloody Merlin was that about,” Snape hissed, rubbing his neck where the gun once was. The burn from the cool steel lingered.
He hated this place.
Most of all, he hated that man and his brat.
Especially those two.
Minerva pursed her lips at the boy, Yuu, laughing as he kicked one of his friends in the legs, sending him tumbling into the dirt before splashing him with water from his wand.
“Oi! Little bastard,” the spade printed teen yelped, the other jumping back as they began to run around the courtyard.
“What you gonna do about it, cauldron head,” Yuu snorted, the other turning red as the rest of the group laughed.
“Knock it off with the cauldron jokes,” he yelped, rushing his friend as the other shrieked, hiding behind the hybrid who rolled his eyes in response.
“Help me Jack! Juice is being mean to me,” he whined.
‘I say you are worse,” he snorted, the three squabbling as Minerva shook her head.
“Honestly,” she breathed.
“Oh and what do you have to say about students simply acting a fool of themselves like any other would,” a cool voice demanded. She whirled around, coming face to face with the older of the teachers, his maroon robes flowing gently behind him as he held his cat in hand.
“...”
“Oh,” he raised a brow. “Nothing to say,” he challenged, looking smug as the cat meowed in agreement. “Or are you simply hating on the fact that an 11 year old has shown so much more talent and progress than your students do in seven years?”
“...That boy is going to destroy his magical core. He is not suited for an institution like this,” she hissed, wound up taut as they were soon left alone in the hidden alcove overlooking the courtyard.
‘And he’s suited for yours,” Trein challenged, raising a brow once again in disbelief. “Can you provide all the needed material that he needs to be able to stay challenged and interested? Or will you simply let that talent rot as you drone on and on about procedure and the like. Hypocritical coming from me, but I know talent when I see it and I know it can’t sit still.”
“Talent needs to be nurtured by oneself and one’s own ambitions,” Minerva deflected. “I would never hinder a student-”
‘Oh but you do,” Trien snorted. “You destroy talents by stating that they should focus on school and learning spells they are never going to use. I admit, school is all about useless skills but it is up to the teacher on whether or not they teach the useless skill. The whole reason I focus on the fae wars is so that it never happens again. War between humans will always happen but if I can stop a war between human and Fae I will.”
“There should be regulations between this sort of thing,” she scoffed.
‘But I am not here for a debate about our worlds,” Trein sighed, moving to shift Lucius into a better position. “I am here to ask what you will do if you do manage to steal our boy.’
“...Steal? Steal,” Minerva scoffed. “If that boy is stolen, it has been by you,’ she snapped, eyes wide as Trein hummed in annoyance.
“He has had every option to go home, he has had options this whole time and he has not once taken them,’ He informed him. “He doesn’t want to go back. And now? Oh now he will never go back. Your school offers him nothing but shackles and constant surveillance.”
“He needs to be back with his family-”
“He has a family. Family that he actually loves and adores,” Trein scoffed. “You truly must be blinded by a savior complex to not see that. He has family, he has friends, he has everything and anything he could want and he has taken it by the horns.”
“You have manipulated that boy and are pushing him beyond his limits. He will collapse under the pressure of magical use he is not accustomed to,” She hissed, looking frantic as her hands clenched her robes.
“We have not done a thing to that boy. Any pushing done is done by him, if anything we attempt to stop him from burning himself out but he doesn’t listen. Because he has drive, ambition, determination, courage and respect for himself and the interests he has. He has respect for all things magical and will take every precaution and road to see it through,” Trein was getting tired of this.
Couldn’t she see that he was thriving and would be best suited here?
“I have a duty to the students under my care and even if he was never sorted he is a student of Hogwarts.”
‘Wrong,” Trein informed her dully. “He never stepped foot into the school, and from what he has informed me he never received his letter,” he hummed, petting Lucius who began to purr. “He was sorted here and has received letters of recommendations to continue his education here. Therefore he is first and foremost a Student of Night Raven College. He is also a Dorm Leader of the Ramshackle Dorm that prides itself on the Wills and Desire of Human Will and Intelligence. What does your house represent? Courage, Intelligence, Loyalty and Ambition? I can see him doing well in two of them, aside from that not so much.”
“I will not be lectured on what makes a Student of Hogwarts. He was placed upon the register upon birth and as far as I am concerned, he is a student of Hogwarts despite never being sorted or getting his letter.”
‘Now you are just reaching. Do you truly care for him, or do you simply want what was taken away to come back to you,” Trein demanded.
‘That boy needs to be with his mother and father. Be with his peers and others like him-”
‘He is with others like him and he is thriving. He is living and he is constantly evolving,” Trein was getting a headache, the conversation was going nowhere. “He is with people that he can be friends and comrades with-”
‘Which he would have had in Hogwarts.”
“Oh really? I know for a fact he would skip all his classes after doing all the work,” Trein snorted. “I’ve seen your curriculum. It’s aged and boring. You wouldn’t be able to keep his attention for a moment, much less an entire year,” he rolled his eyes with a smile. “That boy is a one and a million mind, one that has to be cultured and nurtured by those of similar mindsets and intelligence. Tell me, would you be able to provide that to him? Or simply state he was doing so well for a Muggleborn.”
“I don’t like your tone of voice,” Minerva bristled as she spat out the words.
“You're not denying it,’ he noted with a scoff. “If all you see is status, then brilliance will go to those who will see it. And I doubt anyone with a brain will want to lose out on something so stunning.”
“That boy will be with his rightful peers.” She whispered, looking sure of himself.
“And what do those…’rightful peers’ have to offer him,” Trein demanded, stepping up and scoffing in annoyance at the sight of her wand. “He far out classes them and they will only hate him all the more for it. One group hates him for his blood, one for his cruel nature, one for his intelligence that far outclasses their own and one for his attitude toward boorish impulses that have no gain for him?”
“He will see that Hogwarts will embrace as it has all others-”
‘Dumbledore tells me that the truly special ones in your world have a tendency to have brilliant ideas but are hindered by your incessant nagging. They often find themselves resentful of the system they have been bound to. Is it wise to make an enemy of the wise and intelligent? I see it as a surefire way to burn the whole world you so carefully keep held up right down to the ground,” he hummed, stepping back to lean against a pillar.
“Students learn that the world cannot always mold to their ideals, he has been catered too and doesn’t know the true cruelty of the world,” Minerva told him sagely, Trein resisting a scoff and roll of his eyes.
“Have you heard of Social Media? Models? Influencers? You even bothered to learn of this place and all it has to offer, you will see he is spared nothing,” Trein cackled, looking all too happy at his words. “Public Opinion will always be more powerful when the people can hide behind a wall and their anonymity. That is a Court that you lose in either way. No one is spared,” he sighed.
“I don’t care about any of that. The boy needs to be taught the proper way of the world and he will be taught that his behavior is not acceptable under any circumstance-”
“All you see is an unruly child to be tamed, not a mind searching for something to entertain it,” Trein marveled. “The Brain is the one Organ that must be used and stuffed with stimuli when it concerns people like Yuu. Useless information will turn that brilliant mind into nothing more than the drolls you call students,” he shivered at the possibility.
“My students are just as good, if not better than that horrid boy!”
“I seriously doubt that. You teach all children, you have an obligation too because you all decide hiding is the best way to live. We teach those who want to advance and who want to be something,” Trein stood up straight. “There is a difference in criteria for our schools that place us way out of your league.”
“Such blatant arrogance,” she scoffed.
“But not untrue,” he reminded her. “I am not one to be rude, but when it comes to my prized student I will do everything to ensure that he is cared for and has all he needs to be able to show his true potential. He will not succeed in Hogwarts. Here in Night Raven he can and I won’t allow a misguided hero complex take it away from him.”
“We care for our students!’
“....Do you now,” he hummed, seemingly not believing her.
“How dare you assume that I am nothing if not caring and observant of my students!”
“...Incredible indeed. You are either incompetent or your students don’t trust you,” he hummed. “Or you air your problems out to the world that your students feel as if they would be a burden to you. Given how they are and what we know, I believe that may be the case,” he contemplated.
“What in Merlin’s name are you going on about! What could you know about my students that I do not,” she huffed.
“Neville Longbottom only shows up for roll call before leaving the class and joining Yuu during his self study time. He is taking his own future by the horns. The Red Haired twins…genius’ in their own rights but nothing more than pranksters to you so not much attention paid…they leave classes and do the same thing. Miss Lovegood has all but abandoned Hogwarts classes. A few more are spending less time with their peers…but that is the obvious stuff…”
“...I…I…”
“Obvious to us, not to you,” he hummed, scoffing at how ridiculous it was. “As for what I truly meant…”
“...What,” she demanded.
‘You are supposed to care for these students and yet…” He shook his head. “And yet…”
“I would never harm them and neither would any of my fellow staff,” she growled, hand tightening on her wand.
“...Is that right,” he commented idly. “Is that right,” he snorted, turning to leave.
‘We are-”
‘Done. I have nothing more to say if you are going to be boorish and demand explanations all the while being ignorant to the problems of your students and staff,” he snapped tone full of hatred, his back fully to her. “Have a nice afternoon. And stay away from Yuu. We are taking things more seriously now.”
With that he left and Minerva was left fuming.
“That boy will be where he belongs. I won’t let you manipulate him any longer!’
That was a promise.
“Heya kiddos,” Colin and his brother both flinched at the voice, turning around to see the shopkeeper waving at them with a bright smile. “I have a few questions for you if you're up to it! I also have some sweets to sweeten the deal,” he chuckled.
“Ummm…I….we…” Colin swallowed, looking at his brother who looked scared as well.
“I just have some questions about that Umbridge woman and why all the houses expect the snake to fear her,” he asked, tone dripping into something dangerous as the brother’s felt their hearts freeze in fear.
“...Huh?”
“Come on know boys,” he sighed, moving forward as the shadows around him began to shift and move in agitation. “I know you kiddos are doing things to avoid seeing her and I know you lot are practicing spells in secret. My question is why?”
“Why do you want to know,” Dennis demanded, Colin gripping his arm in an attempt to shut him up.
“Call it curiosity but in reality we know something bad is going on and she’s using the fact that you can call no one to her advantage,” Sam crossed his arms, looking pissed off as the Shadows began to act in earnest.
“You’ve been spying on us,” Colin accused.
“...Hmmm, not really. It only recently came to our attention…the staff that is, it’s our students who noticed it first,” Sam admitted. “As much as you hate him, Yuu noticed it far before anyone else and he’s not one to sit back and allow others to be taken advantage of. He might act like a little bastard, but he’s always looking out for people.”
“...Yeah, I know,” Dennis admitted, Colin looking toward him in shock. “He stopped some Slytherins from taking me to see Professor Umbridge because she said I had detention but I had already left the room so I didn’t know.”
“...And what does the detention entail,” Sam questioned, motioning for his Shadows to grab the sweets.
“...Lines,” he whispered in fear, Colin swallowing as he nodded in confirmation.
“Lines? And what lines does she have you write?”
“...I won’t misbehave in class.”
“I won’t disrupt the class.”
Both gave their answers at the same time, Sam feeling as if something was wrong with what they were saying.
“And how many lines are you supposed to write?”
‘Until the message sticks,” Colin murmured, looking lost in thought as he relieved his memories in detention with her.
“And what does this have to do with the Slytherins?”
“...They are her…special task force,” Dennis sniffered, shaking as he was both afraid and confident in himself. He had a feeling that if he told this man than everything would change for the better, but if they went back in the end then Umbridge would target him for telling.
“Huh….makes sense,” Sam hummed, nodding to his Shadows as they handed the boys packages full of sweets and some toys to cheer them up. “Does she make you keep the lines you wrote?”
“Yes,” Dennis sniffed, fear consuming him as Colin reached into his satchel and handed him a small stack of papers.
Sam gingerly took them, turning them around to see the mass of lines on it, only to freeze at the color of the words.
Red.
Deep red that was akin to one thing.
Blood.
I won’t disrupt the class was deep red because it was written over and over in the color. Some of it had spilled into other words making it messy but it was so red.
‘I’m going to keep this,” Sam began, handing off the papers to his shadows who shook from the sight of the blood. “And I am going to ask you to stay away from that woman for the time being. If you need to run from her, come to my shop and ask for the Candy bag,” he informed them.
“...But they can use spells on us,” Colin told him and Sam clenched his fists.
‘Tell the NRC students that Sam wants you to help his shop and you know some good deals. They will help,” he told them, the saying used for those who had been abused by their family and needed a way out. “Trust me,” he assured them. “Now go to the dorms and rest up. Keep the sweets hidden and make sure to be careful.”
“...Can you all really do anything,” Colin demanded.
“...We can damn sure try,” Sam offered, ushering them off down the path to their dorms. He watched until they fully vanished, his smile dropping as his magic began to go haywire. “She in her office?”
His shadows shook their heads no.
“Take me there.”
In an instant he was transported into a mess of pink and he wanted to gag, not at the color but the feeling of pure unfiltered malice pouring into the room.
“For someone who presents a rather cheery persona, she sure is a vile woman,” Sam coughed, his Shadows nodding as they cowered beneath him. “Now…where is this feeling coming from?”
He set to work, combing through her stuff and coughing every once and a vile as the feeling became too much. He knew she was doing something horrible to these kids but he had no clue as to what she was doing. Opening drawers lead to nothing but reports filled to the brim with ass kissing and notes about how she hated the children.
“Nice lady,” he snorted, his shadows shaking in laughter too before one frantically showed a small stack of papers. “Huh, what is it,” he demanded, taking the stack and rifling through it. His blood went cold as he looked through the contents of the papers before he slammed them on the table. “Re-Education program…this is for Yuu,” He snarled, the shadows shaking in rage as he resisted the urge to crumple up and burn the paper. “Find that fucking tool and get it to me when you….” He trailed off, eyes catching something out of place in the room.
A black quill.
Deep black, almost like the void and completely out of place in the horridly pink room.
And something was very, very, VERY wrong with the quill.
“...What is that,” he murmured, handing off the papers to a Shadow before moving over to the desk and picking it up. Sam stumbled back at the pure malice and evil pouring from the quill, dropping it on the floor as his Shadows held him up. “The hell…?”
They looked between him and the quill frantically, all of them shaking their heads as he moved to grab it again; holding him back as he persisted.
“Get me paper, now,” he barked, pushing them all off and taking the cursed item in hand once more. He closed his eyes, hoping to stave off the feeling of evil that was making him lightheaded before a ruffle of paper forced him to open his eyes.
Swallowing he placed the pen on the paper and wrote a single word.
Yuu.
He felt the back of his hand tingle, arm locking up as the evil magic began to take root in the hand. He continued, writing Yuu’s name on the paper over and over again as the pain began to worsen with each name written out.
The red became more and more pronounced and after the 30th name Sam stopped, leaned down and smelled the paper.
Copper.
It was blood.
A shadow grabbed his hand and Same blinked as his glow was ripped off, carved into the back of his hand was Yuu’s name, deep and red; spilling his blood over the back of it as the Shadows worked to stem the bleeding.
“...What a bitch,” he breathed, looking fanatic as his other hand crushed the paper. “These are little kids and she’s torturing them as punishment; making other kids deliver those she sees as unworthy to her…”
The shadows exchanged looks, scared at their summoners rage before flinching as he set the paper he had used on fire.
“And now she plans to re-educate Yuu when she manages to ‘get him back’,” He laughed, eyes wide as the Shadows stepped back. “Come on you imps,” he called, walking past them all. “Let's report this to Crowley. I am sure he will be mighty pleased about what’s been happening under his roof.”
It was silent as Sam strode through NRC, face filled with righteous fury all the way up to Crowley’s office where he slammed the doors open to be faced with the two he wanted to see.
“Heya Crowley! Heya Lilia! Fancy seeing both of you here,” he grinned, laughing while striding in deeper into the office.
“You seem upset,” Lilia noted, eyes narrowed as the doors slammed up and the shadows fully emerged.
“Take a lookie here at this,” he held up the pen, both of the men tensing at the pure malice pouring off of it. “It’s a pen that uses your blood as ink, carving what you're writing into your hand! Not only that, it’s unstable so the magic could move deeper to your internal organs if not stabilized soon!”
“...”
Silence.
Pure silence.
“...What,” Crowely growled, standing up slowly as the room began to shake. “What did you just say?”
“That pink haired woman? Yeah, that one is using this as a method of punishment for the students she deems troublemakers,” he laughed, unhinged and angry. “Not only that, take a lookie at this,” he motioned the shadows to hand over the plans to the two. Lilia wasted little time in snatching them up and it wasn’t long before his magic joined with Crowley’s.
"That…that…I will kill her,” his voice took on a demented, cold edge and they both knew they were dealing with the infamous general of wars long since past. “...She…she…”
“Torture…torture in my own school,” Crowely murmured, eyes vacant and empty as he muttered it over and over.
“Does the staff know?”
‘I doubt it,” Sam snorted. ‘She’s the tricky sort.”
“...Well, we have leverage now. We have her torture method and she’s going to act out.”
“Winter break is coming, all of us have plans,” Sam reminded Lilia who cursed at the inopportune timing.
“We need a plan…and we need it soon.”
“We have her tool, she can’t act out if she doesn’t want to be caught,” Crowley informed them, back to normal now. “Top priority is ensuring that she can’t find some way or another to declare Yuu a student of the school. It seems like that is the only thing all teachers agree on.”
‘...Dumbledore could-”
‘I don’t trust him,” Crowley interrupted Lilia, the fae scoffing while crossing his arms.
‘Because he reminds you of you,” he demanded, Crowley narrowing his eyes at him in warning before turning back to Sam.
“Keep her under surveillance and ensure that any steps she takes to continue her torture is thwarted.”
“On it…but exams start tomorrow. She’s gonna be tricky to find.”
“Do what you must.”
“Right-o.”
Sam left, leaving Crowley and Lilia with the notes and the quill, both of them unsure of what to say before Lilia spoke up.
‘She comes for him, I will kill her.”
“I’m counting on it.”
FINALS WEEK
FIRST DAY-FIRE TRIALS
“Alright! Alright,” Crewel barked out the first day of practicals, slapping his crop into his hand. “It’s the first day of finals! Today is all about practical magic! It is going to focus on fire magic! Defensive and offensive. First half of today was simple deskwork tests, now it is onto the practical portion! It will be a 1 v. 1 battle! You will be allowed to battle one another for an allotted time of 5 minutes or until one of you is knocked out!”
“Is it going to be one at a time,” a Scarabia student asked.
‘Yes. As much as I wish it wasn’t, I can’t be there for the hiccups that are bound to come. Those who will be waiting are advised to go over notes and forms. You can also watch and get a sense of the flow of battle,” Crewel nodded, Yuu smiling as he fist bumped Ace and Sebek.
“Is today just fire magic?”
“Yes. The next days will be Water, Earth, Cosmic and then an all out with all different types of spells. These will also be team battles,” Crewel informed them all as they whispered about how draining the next few days are going to be. “I know it’s a lot, but this is how it is to be done and it’s to see how far you’ve all progressed in the handling of your magic.”
“How will battles be decided,” Aryyk, from Pomefiore, demanded, looking a bit green.
“...Lots.”
The air turned tense.
So…Yuu and the Disastrous first years didn’t have set partners!?
“I will begin drawing lots for the first practical exam,” Crewel sniffed, going to a box and pulling out a slip of paper. “...Ace Trappola.”
“Hell yeah, get it out of the way,” Ace cheered, fist pumping the air as he shot up and made his way down to the arena.
“Yes, yes. Your partner is going to be…Erin Werner.”
‘...Damnit,” the Octanville student cursed, getting up to face the explosive heart printed teen who gave a smile that was all teeth.
“Let’s do this,” Ace cackled, the other feeling his soul leave him as Crewel set up the timer.
“...BEGIN!”
“FIRE SHOT!!”
“GIVE ME A MINUTE MAN!!!”
First Year Group-1, Other Members-0.
“Jack Howl and…Devin Cowls!”
“Let’s do our best!”
“...Dude, I’m fucked.”
First Year Group-2, Other Members-0.
“Steven Mann and…Sebek Zigvolt.”
“You have to be kidding me.”
‘I WILL SHOW YOU WHAT LORD LILIA HAS TAUGHT ME!”
“Volume Zigvolt.”
First Year Group-3, Other Members-0.
“Aryyk White and…Epel Felmier.”
‘...Go easy on me?”
“Not a chance in hell.”
First Year Group-4, Other Members-0.
“Deuce Spade and…Yuu Fujimaru,” Crewel called out, blinking in shock at the pairing.
“Can’t use your cauldrons here Spade,’ Yuu taunted, jumping up with a grin and a stretch, arms up high while sauntering down the steps to the arena.
“Always gotta go for the Cauldron joke,” Deuce demanded, his face the picture of annoyance while he rolled his shoulders, everyone sliding back at the immense aura the two were giving out.
“You're a one trick pony,’ Yuu giggled, holding nothing back as they took their positions on opposite sides of the arena. “I call it as I see it!’
“You're gonna pay for that comment you know,” Deuce rubbed his fists with glee as Ace pulled out his phone to record, unbeknownst to them a bat had slipped in and watched with eager eyes as the two first years stood opposite of one another.
“Don’t…and I mean DON’T kill one another, you hear me,” Crewel warned, setting up the timer while the two showed off toothy smiles to the other. “...Begin.”
“Fire Tundra!”
Yuu rolled out of the way as a column of fire appeared where he was standing, grunting in annoyance before kicking back up and shooting off a spell of his own.
“Fire Shots!”
Deuce ran around the edge of the arena, avoiding the flaming fists being shot out to him, grinning maniacally as Yuu tried to keep up the barrage before letting go of concentration to block a similar spell Deuce had shot toward him.
“Why you!” Yuu grunted, being pushed back by the shots Deuce had fired toward him.
‘Is he gonna get one up on him,” Ace realized, looking excited as the bat shrieked in protest at the sight before him. Crewel gave him a side eye that told him he wasn’t to intervene at all as Yuu was forced to go on the defensive, Deuce grinning like a maniac as he realized he was one upping Yuu for the first time.
“Come on! I’m not losing today,’ he cheered, summoning more fire shots to deal with Yuu who grumbled at his cockiness, but not bothering to do anything about it.
“Yeah, yeah,” Yuu grunted, rolling out of the way agin to hide behind a column. “Damn it! He really isn’t letting up!”
“I am so going to pay you back for all those Cauldron Jokes,” Deuce cackled out maniacally, sending more balls of fire.
‘Man, you sure hold a grudge,” Yuu pouted, running between columns for cover as he began to prep his spell.
“They are running down the timer,” Some students noted, seeing they had only about three minutes left as the first year ground watched in tense silence.
‘Do you think Yuu is gonna win?”
‘He might, he’s been training like crazy…but then again he only started a few weeks ago…maybe a month or two ago…?”
“He might be able too if he can manage to throw Deuce off his tail or make him mess up…”
More speculation began as the timer ticked further and further down, the bat eyeing the two with a gleam that had Crewel ready to stop it as Deuce called upon a higher level fire spell.
‘Fire Hale!”
“Are you trying to kill me,” Yuu demanded, diving under a table as Deuce began to jump up and down in giddiness at winning something against Yuu. “You aren’t even listening to me!!!”
‘I win! I win! I win!” He cheered, arms up as 30 seconds where on the timer.
“As if Juice! FIRE FIST!”
‘Huh?”
Everyone flinched in collective pain as a fist made of pure fire slammed into Deuce’s middle, sending him flying into the mats on the side of the arena and knocking him out. It was silent as the Fire Hale was stopped and Yuu crawled out from his little shelter, dusting himself off in boredom as the dam finally began to crack.
“AHAHAHH! THAT’S WHAT YOU GET FOR BEING COCKY!” Ace began to bust a gut, Epel not far behind as everyone soon devolved into laughter. The bat above them shrieking in happiness while Yuu crossed his arms, a proud grin on his face all the while Crewel cursed his fate for the next few days.
His boy was a right menace.
“I am going to demand a bonus from Crowley as well as a TA because I am going on a vacation after this. I don’t have time for any of this,” he growled, ordering a medical check on Deuce who was unconscious on the mats but seemingly unharmed.
“Hell yeah,” Yuu cheered, high-fiving his friends who were laughing and speaking over one another, totally ignoring Deuce who they stood beside.
Even unconscious he was still a part of the group.
“Lord help me these next four days,” Crewel prayed, knowing he would need some Pepto Bismol and Alcohol to survive.
SECOND DAY-FLORA TRIALS
“I fucking hate this man,” students whimpered as they where faced off against the infamous first year group, the lots making each day horrible as no one knew who was going up against who.
So far in the Flora trials Ace, Deuce, Epel and Sebek have faced off against students from other dorms. And they have won every single time much like the Fire Trials, making their opponents crumple to the ground under a mass of vines and leaves.
Only two remaining were Jack and Yuu.
“Next match up is…Jack Howl and Yuu Fujimaru,” Crewel breathed, looking to have aged ten years at the simple declaration.
‘Hell yeah,” Yuu cheered, Jack smiling as he clapped his friend on the back. Both of them hopped down into the arena, moving to opposite ends as Deuce crossed his arms and pouted.
“I wanted a rematch,” he sniffed, Ace rolling his eyes at his friend.
‘You lost because you got cocky and underestimated Yuu,” Ace reminded him, dodging a swipe from his friend. “Jack isn’t like you, so I’m sure they are going to run out the timer and no one wins.”
“Yeah, that is probably going to happen,” Epel hummed, still brading the vines he had summoned as a way to have something to do.
He was the first one to go in the trials and has been bored to death since.
“I agree,” Sebek nodded, looking down at the two as they took their stances and Crewel called out to them to begin.
“Flora Shot!”
Yuu rolled out of the way of Jack’s spell, sending his own hale of vines down only to curse as the wolf beastman zoomed out of the way.
“Yuu’s going up against Jack,” a familiar voice asked.
‘Oh, hey Ruggie,” Ace waved, the hyena nodding before plopping down beside them with an intense gaze. “Yeah. One of the last few teams. Other guys were shitting their pants at the prospect of going against them.”
‘I mean after he creamed Deuce…”
“How do you know about that,” Deuce’s tone was horrified as he turned to Ruggie. “You were doing your own trials yesterday…”
Ruggie simply pointed up where a pink and black bat was hopping up and down happily, Deuce's face going lax as he recognized the bat.
“Lilia-Senpai,” he whimpered, the bat turning to look at him before letting out a little chirp.
“He’s been doing that for the first, second and third years you know,” Ruggie grumbled. ‘He’s like a fucking mother hen. I know he has files on all of us under stupid names and it’s embarrassing…but that knockout was hella good.”
‘Oh god,” Deuce whined as the others laughed at his misfortune.
“Oh! Jack got Yuu all tangled up,” Epel gasped, the group turning to the battle to see Epel was right. Yuu was all tangled up in a mass of vines, upside down and turning red as he struggled to get out.
“Unless you can get out in ten seconds, the match goes to Jack,” Crewel called out, Yuu struggling even more as Jack stood triumphant with a bright smile.
“Sea of vines!”
Jack yelped as he was soon flipped upside in his own mess of vines, his pen falling to the ground and finding himself in the same predicament as Yuu. Both of them were struggling to get out as people watched in confusion and awe at the sight.
“Seriously Yuu!”
“It was all I could think of,’ Yuu yelled back, red as he worked harder to get out.
“Time,” Crewel called, tired and ready for all of this to be over. “As both contestants are unable to move, this is a tie. But you both pass.”
“...Cool…help me pops,” Yuu demanded, Crewel cursing his life as he waved his crop and sent both boys crashing to the ground.
“...Ow,” Jack coughed.
‘I need a raise,” Crewel sighed as he went to call the final match of the day.
“Well..that was interesting,” Ruggie commented.
“I’ll say,” the rest grumbled.
THIRD DAY-WATER TRIALS
“Are you fucking kidding me,” Crewel sighed, the two names in his hand. “Not even the first match up and….Yuu Fujimaru and Sebek Zigvolt!’
“Oh this is gonna be good,” Ace laughed, Yuu nodding as he and Sebek walked down. “I already know what Yuu is gonna do!’
“He…no he would,” Jack sighed. “He would.”
‘He is,” Epel snickered, seeing the gleam in Yuu’s eyes as he fingered at his pen with an eager short of twitch in his movements.
“Powerful as you may be, I will go easy on you Human,” Sebek proclaimed, everyone groaning at his volume before they realized what he said.
“He’s fucking with us right,” some people whispered.
‘What an idiot,” others grunted to each other.
“...Thanks,” Yuu smiled, people shifting back as the ever present bat shook it’s own head at his boy’s idiocy.
‘Quite magnanimous, I know! But I consider you a friend and I will treat you as such in this battle-” Sebek had gone on a rant, Yuu turning to Crewel who gave the call to go ahead.
“Icy Falls!”
A column of freezing water fell upon Sebek, the reptilian fae’s unique magic fritzing out as his more reptilian side reacted.
“ACHOO!”
“Yuu wins,” Crewel sighed, Yuu smiling as Sebek began to lose a lot of color and began to shiver like crazy.
“H!...How dare you use my nature against me,” he wailed, shivering as a blanket was handed to him.
“Well…it was the Water Trails,” Yuu smiled, shrugging as the others began to sniffle and shiver.
‘I’m just glad he shut him up,” Ace commented.
The bat simply sighed before leaving, knowing that it was going to be like this for the rest of the trails know that Yuu had done it.
FOURTH DAY-COSMIC TRAILS
“Fuck, I want this to be over…” the teens groaned, drained and not wanting to fight the crazy bastard anymore.
“We’re only halfway done with cosmic day though,” people grunted, those who had gone happy to be over with it but dreading team day.
“Epel Felmier vs….Yuu Fujimaru,” Crewel sighed, dropping the papers and taking out a pink bottle. He unceremoniously opened it, downing a quick gulp of it before pocketing it and motioning for the two to come down.
“He’s gonna have an ulcer by the end of this,’ Epel snickered as they walked down side by side.
"Yeah, he’s set up a screening appointment for a week from today to see if he has one,” Yuu told the other, both of them snickering as Crewel took a swig from his flask.
He doesn’t care if the students are watching, he knows if they were in his position they would do the same damn thing.
“I have one more day of this hell, I have one more day and then I can rest and ignore all that has happened,” Crewel repeated over and over like a mantra as they two stood off against one another. “Begin…don’t kill one another,” he begged.
“VOID SHOT!” Both fired off at the same time, the two spells coming into contact with one another in the middle; sending both boys flying back into the padded walls that were added after the Flora trials.
“Fucking…these kids,” Crewel cursed as they both stumbled to their feet and did the exact same thing again, with the same results. “Are you trying to get concussions!”
“Not a lot of spells in the Cosmic Category,” Epel reminded their teacher before rolling out of the way of beams of void magic. He fired some back that forced Yuu to fall back, and it continued one like a back and forth as they both became feral little shits.
It was an entertaining fight to be honest, both of them at one point began to scuffle on the floor, rolling in the dirt as they abandoned the spells all together and wrestled one another. Cheers and bets were placed as they tried to dominate the other, Crewel beside them not even bothering to stop it as he felt the familiar pain in his stomach rear its head.
“I am going to ground him once this is all over,” Crewel promised himself as the timer reached its end. “Time's up! Stop your fighting and get back to your seats, you demon spawn.”
‘Who one,” they both demanded, Yuu being latched onto Epel’s back and arm wrapped around his neck.
‘I don’t care. You ran the timer out. Seats.”
“Damn,” they both whined.
“SEATS. NOW.”
‘Alright, alright,” they yelped, rushing up back to their seats as Crewel took another swig from the pink bottle.
“I will be in an early grave because of them.”
FIFTH DAY-TEAM BATTLES
“Final day, last day,” Crewel sighed in relief, everyone was tired and scared.
It was a team battle day with no restrictions on the type of magic.
“Given on the progress of certain students,” Crewel eyed the infamous First years who waved in good conscience to him. "They will be teamed up with one another and be facing off against the upper years.”
“THANK GOD!” Everyone else cheered, deflating in relief as the fear of facing off against them left their bodies.
“Man, and I’d thought we would get an easy grade,” Ace cursed, crossing his arms as the rest high-fived one another.
“The matches will be as follows! Epel Felmier and Jack Howl will face off against Riddle Rosehearts and Azul Ashengrotto. Sebek Zigvolt and Deuce Spade will face off against Jamil Viper and Silver Vanrouge. Ace Trappola and Yuu Fujimaru will face off against the Leech Twins.
“SAY WHAT!” Ace yelled out, Yuu grinning like a maniac beside him and ready to fight.
‘Hell yeah,” he whispered.
“Hell no,” Ace yelped.
“As for the matches. Trein will be monitoring Felmier and Howl. Vargas will oversee Zigvolt and Spade….and I will be overseeing Fujimaru and Trappola. The rest of you will be monitored by Sam.”
“...Are you okay Professor Crewel?”
‘....I’d rather not answer. Trappola, Yuu. Come on,” he sighed.
“Do we have to,” Ace whimpered.
“Let’s go,” Yuu cackled, grabbing him by the collar of his gym uniform and hauling ass to catch up to Mr. Crewel.
It wasn’t long before they reached their destination, Jade and Floyd were already there and boy, did they both have smiles.
“I have heard great things about your scores Yuu,” Jade commented before Floyd spoke.
"This is gonna be fun~ Don’t expect me to go easy on you Shrimpy,” he crooned, grinning all teeth, bright and dangerous.
“I’d be mad if you did,’ Yuu laughed.
“I wouldn’t be opposed to going easy on me,” Ace coughed.
“Five minutes. Try and survive or try to knock the others out,” Crewel spoke from his spot in the rafters. “...Begin.”
“Tidal Waters!”
“Sea of Vines,” Yuu yelled, just as a massive wave crashed into the wall of vines he summoned.
“Shit,” Ace yelled, grabbing Yuu as Floyd began to cackle and summon more waves of water.
“Shrimpy! Shrimpy! Shrimpy! Come on and play,” he called out, grinning as jade shook his head fondly, taking out his own pen.
“He’s fucking crazy,’ Ace whispered, taking his own pen out to deflect the Void Shot Jade sent.
‘Don’t forget about Floyd’s magic! He’s gonna be using it for sure,’ Yuu reminded Ace.
“Shit! I forgot about that! What do we do?”
“We need to wear them down and do duo magic!’
"We've never done one before,” Ace reminded the boy, firing off a few Fire Shots to the mer’s who dodged out of the way.
“Ah! Ah! Jade! Jade! Help me,” Floyd yelled as his shirt caught on fire, he was flapping his arms around frantically while his brother stared at him with boredom.
‘Brother mine,” he sighed, sending a jet of water to him. “Do be more careful.”
“I didn’t know that Crabby had it in him to do that,” he whined, pouting while Jade shook his head. “But it makes this much more fun though,” he smiled, Ace shivering as that gaze turned on him.
“We’re gonna die.”
‘No where not.”
“Yes we are.”
“No we are not.”
“Yes we are.”
“3 minutes left,” Crewel called.
“Hehehe. Aha, ah! Let’s get ‘em Jade,” Floyd laughed, demented as flora began to gather at his hands.
“As long as you enjoying yourself,” Jade offered up, powering up his own flora power.
“...run,” Yuu offered u, bolting after he said the word.
‘Oh come on,” Ace yelled in fear, following Yuu as a wave of never ending flora began to chase them.
‘Look! Look! They are swimming away Jade,” Floyd smiled.
‘Indeed, brother mine. And they haven’t given any resistance yet,” he commented, hand over his heart as their magic ended.
“Fucking dicks,” Ace panted. “Icy Tundra!”
Both mers grunted as they were swept up in icy water, grinding their teeth together as they worked to mold their bodies to the water before the spell ended. They landed in a heap, coughing at the impact upon landing on the ground.
“A minute thirty left,” Yuu told Ace.
‘Right, we can do this.”
“Leave this one to me, Floyd,” Jade told his brother, fire forming in his hands.
‘You got it Jade. What’re we doing,” Floyd grinned, the water turning to steam and obscuring the two’s view of them.
‘Follow me brother.”
‘Heheheh.”
‘Shit,’ Ace gaped.
‘Come on! Now Ace!”
‘Tch! Let’s do this Yuu!”
‘Make sure to follow my lead Trappola,” Yuu told him before they merged their void magic together and created a massive gust of wind to dispel the steam.
“...Where are they,’ Ace yelped.
“Oh crabby, shrimpy~”
“...Shit,” Yuu sighed.
“Void Shot,” both twins stated, the magic hitting the younger two on the backs and sending them sprawling to the ground.
“...Can either of you get up,” Crewel called, getting groans in return. “Leech Twins win. Good effort.”
“Mmmm, my pride is hurt,” Ace grumbled into the dirt slowly getting up with a hiss, Yuu beside him was rolling onto his back with a hum.
He had his eyes closed, taking in deep breaths before nodding and snapping open his eyes.
“Mannn…I got my ass handed to me,” Yuu laughed, smiling as he accepted the offered hand and grunted as he was helped to his feet. “But it’s nice to be able to participate,” he sniffed, brushing himself off as Floyd and Jade came up. “Man, I knew I wasn’t a match for the upper years, especially when you guys worked together. There goes the winning streak!”
“You did well. You were put up against us, a year above you. A testament to your skill with magic,” Jade commented, smiling as Yuu shrugged.
‘Man, Shrimpy almost got me,” Floyd whined, Yuu turning to look at a singed Floyd with a raised brow.
‘Really?”
‘Yeah, your duo magic with Ace was pretty cool~,” he gave a sharktooth grin that Yuu returned.
"At least we managed it,” was all Ace said, rolling his shoulders nodding to Jade who nodded back, speaking to him about how they did. They walked out of the arena they had used, other students doing the same as their finals trials ended for the day.
‘Really,” he gasped happily, looking loopy as the air turned tense and people began to stumble back. He didn’t seem to notice though, way too happy even as the sky began to darken in response to the presence shown.
Floyd and Jade even stepped back, eyes trained to the ground as Yuu continued to think about the battle that just happened.
“I mean I knew I was able to hold my own but against Floyd! I am so happy, I have a long way to go though-”
‘And you have plenty of time.”
“...Lady Maleficent,” Yuu gasped, whirring around to see the last remaining member of the Great Seven behind him, Diavel ever by her side as he presented him with a water bottle.
“Hello,” she smiled, ruffling his hair as he sipped the offered water. She cupped his cheek once he finished, a gentle smile on her face as she locked eyes with him. “You did good by using so much magic in such a short amount of time. You were resourceful and knew how to skew things in your favor, even if you did still end up losing.”
“Hehehe, thank you,” he grinned, not at all bothered by her or her presence or the hand on his cheek.
“I wish to speak with you personally though on a few matters…Alone,” she murmured, eyeing Umbridge who looked like she swallowed a lemon.
“...Sure,” he smiled, waving to Jade and Floyd who looked at the Fae with a bit of fear and awe.
‘Come,” she ushered him, everyone swallowing as Yuu acted as if nothing was wrong when one of the GREAT SEVEN was talking to him as if nothing was out of place or order. “I must say, you are adept at using magic now that you have. I see all those reading sessions you had did not go to waste.”
‘Oh! Yeah!” Yuu began to babble on and on about what he had done to be able to get to such a level, the trio walking down the long walkways of NRC as people pointed, cowered and shivered at the pure power the ruler of the Briar Valley exuded.
“My, you seem quite jovial,” she laughed, Diaval nodding to the knights who were surrounding the school. The Knights responded in kind, smiling at Yuu who waved to them as well before going back to speaking to the Queen.
“I am so happy to be able to be part of the school fully,” he grinned, laughing as he heard a bat screech and a cry of his name.
‘Oh! My little warrior! You did amazing against the twins,” Lilia crooned, appearing suddenly along with Malleus and Silver. “Not to mention Silver won his match against Sebek and Deuce, it was such a fight. They tried so hard, but they weren’t able to! Now that I think about…Epel and Jack were in the same boat! Oh, you all tried so hard, but you have a long way to go.”
“Sebek needs to know when to stop talking and actually take things seriously,” Silver sighed, shaking his head as he remembered his match.
“Not sleeping,” Maleficent teased, the silver haired boy blushing as he looked to the side. “Oh, he was such a cute chubby baby that would just be like a little loaf of bread-”
“My lady,” he coughed, blushing so red he matched Riddle’s Hair.
“Oh shush,” she clucked her tongue at him. “I have many photos of both Malleus and Silver as chubby babies! Sebek too! Oh how wondrous it was to be surrounded by youth-”
“My Lady,” Silver hissed, looking ready to pass out with how red he was. Malleus was trying to hide behind a column so his grandmother wouldn’t talk about him, looking down at Yuu with a warning look as he was holding back his laughter.
“Pooh, you always ruin my fun,” she pouted, Silver looking so stressed as Lilia looked too happy at the sight of his son. “But you were a cute baby,” she sighed, hand on her cheek. “Worried me to death when you suddenly passed out when you were playing in the toy room.”
“....Sorry,” he coughed, looking away but he was so red!
“You hit the ground so hard that I thought that someone had hit you with a spell! Goodness, it was such a shock, I rushed to the physician-”
‘My lady, are you not here for Yuu,'' Silver was grasping at straws now.
‘Oh! Yes, yes,” she laughed, Silver and Malleus deflated in relief. “But I will be expecting you all to be at the tea party later! Invite all your friends! It’s sure to be a joy!”
…They were doomed.
“Come now Yuu. We have much to talk about,” She smiled.
‘Are you getting me tutors,” he sighed, looking put out as they walked the long trek to Crowley’s office.
‘I see that your scores are high enough that you don’t need the classes. But Tutors can wait for now. Maybe later, but you have enough on your plate at the moment,” she informed him.
"Yeah, especially with the filming for the promo’s of the makeup brands…” he sighed, looking tired.
“I am sure it is going to be a success,” she informed him.
She already asked for the packages to be sent to her, so she wasn’t worried about missing it.
“Yeah, I guess…but why are you here? I mean, we all agreed to go to Harveston, we would have seen eachother in a couple days,” he remembered.
“I have…some concerns I need you and them for,” she gave him a somber look.
“...Them?”
“Them,” she nodded, the doors to the office opening to reveal Crowley and Dumbledore.
“...Headmasters,” Yuu nodded.
“Lady Maleficent. Yuu. Come in,” Crowley nodded. ‘We have much to discuss.”
Yuu nodded, knowing it was going to be a long afternoon; he turned watching as the doors were closed. He noted the mass of guards at the door, two at the entrance and many lining the halls.
Once the doors slammed shut he turned, locking eyes with Crowley who spoke.
“Let us begin.”