Friendship
“Hey Schlatt go on ahead, I just… saw something.” Phil murmured. Schlatt gave him a weird look, but went on to get the butter beer. Phil approached the alleyway, green robes swirling around in the wintery breeze. It was cold outside, but it never seemed to bother the boy much at all. He walked up to the girl with bright white wings curled up against the stone wall of one of the shops.
“Hey… can I talk to you?” Philza said softly. The girl didn’t make any move to acknowledge his presence. He could see drops of red around her and began to wonder who exactly she was.
“Don’t bother, kid.” another occupant of the alley murmured to Phil. “I haven’t heard that one talk at all since she got here.”
“Who are you?” Phil asked, looking over to see an older woman with peculiar golden wolven ears and tail.
“Call me False. Lotta less fortunate people end up here out of a home. Me and some of the others look after things.” False replied. “You can call us Hermits. That one’s been here for about two years. She doesn’t talk but she’s warmed up to some of us. Likes Grian’s more upbeat nature. What do you want with her.” It was clear False wasn’t exactly happy about Phil’s presence, but was willing to give him a chance at the very least.
“I’ve just never seen anyone else like me.” Philza replied, spreading his wings out, tips curling around as they hid the stone sides of the alleyway. It blocked out some of the light, creating an angelic silhouette within the alleyway. The girl looked up at him for the first time, dark brown eyes looking up at him. Her hand reached out slowly towards the tips, fingers running down the grey tips of his black feathers. Her own wings began to expand too, seemingly without her noticing. They were a blinding white with grey dapples close to their base. She had a pair of old and damaged looking robes overtop of some muggle looking clothes. He could see the blood had been dripping from the base of her wings, the fishers where they connected to her skin a sensitive red.
“Can I- can I heal you?” Philza asked softly. He’d always been efficient at healing people after all, and this didn’t look too hard at all. He held up his wand at attention only for her to back away in fear, wings wrapping around her body. “I’m not gonna hurt you I promise. I know there were people who did.” That was very true. Until the age of seven when the operation was busted Phil was ‘given’ his wings through experimentation. The only positive was that they at least didn’t fuck up the wings and he wasn’t ever in any pain because of their presence, unlike this girl.
Her wings slowly unfurled as her eyes pierced into Phil, her stance relaxed ever so slightly as he bowed her head allowing him access to her wounded back. With a simple flick of his wand the wounds began to glow and heal themselves. He could see the girl’s facial expression relax a bit as she took a sigh of relief.
“Hi, my name is Philza, it’s nice to meet you.” he said, reaching a hand out to shake with her, not expecting a vocal answer.
“A-ari.” a shaky cracked voice came from the girl, brown eyes peering up at the boy and shaking his hand slowly. She didn’t quite catch False’s smile from the other side of the alleyway.
“Maybe I’ll see you again next time we visit.” Phil replied with a smile before walking dead into none other than Jonathan Schlatt.
“What the fuck bird brain!”
Dream, Techno, Punz, Sapnap, Ranboo, Ant, and Awesam waited in their lines from the previous day for Ari to arrive. The classroom was the same except for one large cupboard now in the back of the room. Soon enough a white dove flew into the window and transformed into their teacher, yet again adorned in white robes that shined on chocolate skin. The clicking of high heeled boots filled the room as she ventured to the front of the class.
“I plan to do more one on ones today so just do some practice duels while you’re waiting. Dream I’ll see you first.” Ari said. Whilst the rest paired up, Sapnap and Punz, Techno and Ranboo, and Ant and Awesam, Dream walked over to Ari’s desk.
“Slug, horse, dove.” she said flatly, looking at Dream attentively. His body contorted to first a slug, dark black with a lime green stripe across its back. Next a horse, black with a white main and tail and a deep green dorsal stripe. Finally Dream managed the dove, black with white and green flecks over it. Finally he transformed back, knees a bit weak from the exertion.
“Again.” Ari said. Dream gave her quite the look of surprise, but she didn’t seem to be joking. Slug was easy, horse was harder, no chance on the dove.
“Again.” Slug again, horse with a slimy stomach and no head.
“Again.” Just a slug, nothing else.
“Again.” Nothing, absolutely nothing. “Disappointing. I was hoping we could get at least two full rounds.”
“Well this is hard!” Dream yelled, exasperated.
“Of course it’s hard, now step up to the fucking challenge.” Ari replied. “Stamina is important, kid. Life or death situation and you can’t get out cause’ you were a little bitch in this class that couldn’t do shit.”
“I-”
“Again.” Dream’s face twisted in anger. Slug first, easy. Horse second, coat’s a bit janky but it will do. Dove last. As he transformed back Dream could feel the sweat dripping down his back. “Dream let me make something clear to you. I don’t care about you, I don’t care about anyone in this class. I’m going to push you until you break and then build you back up properly. So you can yell at me, cry at me, think I’m a devil I don’t care. Go switch out with Ranboo.”
Ranboo was visibly nervous standing before Ari. Shifting from foot to foot as his eyes glanced anywhere but at her face. His ears twitched ever so slightly and his hands were clammy. Arms behind his back gripping his fingers together like a lifeline.
“Jesus kid, I don’t bite most of the time.” Ari commented before she went to the corner of the room where the cupboard sat.
“Do you know what a Bogart is?” Ranboo nodded, staring at the cupboard. “Alright well you’re going to face one right now, yes?” Another nod and Ari tapped the cupboard twice with her wand for the bogart to spring out from it, snarling. Ranboo immediately stepped back, wands shaking in his hand.
“You see yourself don’t you kid.” Ari said, looking at Ranboo with the smallest bit of sympathy. “Fight it kid, prove you’re not afraid. Don’t let that fucker win. Take it on, I don’t care how, but win.” Ranboo’s hand steadied, eyes shining with determination. Ari smiled. He began to massacre the monstrous form of himself. The transformed mutation of his own body being plundered by spells. The bogart began to shift back, unable to keep up.
“Well done kid!” Ari said, hands clapping together. “Ridikkulus!” Ari said, sending the bogart back into the cupboard. It genuinely seemed happy to be there. Ranboo was panting, but he seemed happy that he’d succeeded.
“Good job kid, I’m proud of you. Go and Grab Awesam.” Ari said. The class went on pretty normally after that. Sam was given a magic powered redstone lock that he had to disable and pick at. A few light burns later and he had it open. Antfrost was told to sneak around the castle during class and that he best not be caught. Sapnap was made to create fire as Ari increasingly made his body colder with her own magic, which- to her delight- he succeeded at well. Punz and Techno dueled Ari together. Techno was forced to work together whilst Punz needed to show compatibility with any teammate he had.
“Very good everyone, I’m happy with this improvement. Lastly there will be no words to any Ilvermorney students about this class.” Ari said, before once again transforming to a dove and leaving out the window. Other than Techno, who was grumpy about having to ‘carry’ Punz and still losing to Ari, everyone else was pretty happy about being accomplished too.
“Dude why are you hanging out with some homeless grunts.” Schlatt said in a sing-song tune, laughing at his winged friend.
“Oh shut up Schlatt, you don’t know what they’ve been through.” Phil replied. And here lies the difference between the two kids.
“Well they obviously fucked up if they ended up here.” Schlatt replied.
“It’s not always their fault!” Phil yelled back only for Schlatt to shove him into the stone alley wall.
“Oh shut up you saint Don’t tell you do-” Schlatt began before he was yanked down into the snow. Phil looked over to see Ari on top of Schlatt, knife pointed to his throat with the wings arched around him like a cage.
“Hey Ari, it’s fine you don’t need t-” Phil began.
“Kid come on, he’s not worth your time. Just some elitist trash from across the sea.” False cut in, placing a hand on the girl’s shoulder.
“So why not I get rid of it? It’s not like I haven’t killed before.” Ari shot back, voice cutting through the air like a blade. “I’ve killed far more innocent people than him just because they told me to. I want to do it under my own free will.”
“We don’t do that here kid.” False said sternly, “Just let it go.” Ari slowly stepped back from Schlatt, standing up straight- wings still at attention waiting to strike.
“What the fuck Phil! You making friends with fucking crazy people!” Schlatt yelled at Philza, only be pinned against the wall by his own friend.
“Schlatt do you know where I come from? That I’ve killed people just like she has. That maybe we might be one in the same?” Phil could see the fear in Schlatt’s eyes.
“Hey, idiots!” Connor’s voice cut through the tension. “Let’s maybe not get into a brawl so we aren’t invited back, kay? Just settle down and have some butter beer.” Schlatt gave Phil a look that cut like daggers before stalking away towards Connor. Phil gave Ari one last look before leaving with his friends.
Wilbur, Niki, Fundy, Jack, and Eret were having a time dealing with Tommy and Tubbo (mostly Tommy). They were all prefects, so Phil had put them in charge of dealing with the younger students. One might think that outnumbering the two would be an advantage, but it seemed Tubbo’s cunning was able to cover for Tommy half the time. As sweet as the boy might appear, there was a reason Tubbo was in Slytherin. Niki, Jack, and Eret were also a bit less of a help considering that Tommy and Tubbo weren’t in either of their houses anyways. Wilbur was pretty good about keeping Tubbo under control, but Fundy was having… issues with Tommy.
“Come on Big man, whatcha gonna do?” Tommy yelled as Fundy tried to get him to put on nicer robes for their entrance into Ilvermorny. After thirty minutes everyone was together when Philza picked them up with a chariot pulled by Thestrals, though only Wilbur and Tommy could see them. They looked in awe as they peered out to see the lights of Ilvermorny school pierce through the clouds as the chariot glided down to the front of the castle. Ilvermorny students were lined up waiting to greet them to the school.
Philza stepped out first. Wings spread in a grand display of power. Whispers about ‘the angel of death’ flooded through the crowd. Wilbur, Tommy, and Tubbo came out next, the adopted children of the renowned Headmaster of Hogwarts. Wilbur was the most well known for being a master legilimens, even better than his father, but Tommy and Tubbo weren’t really unknowns either. Tommy was known for being the last person to wield the sword of Gryffindor since Nevil Longbottom, and Tubbo was known for being a distant relative of the Gaunt family and thus a parseltongue.
Nike, Eret, Jack, and Fundy came next. Niki was known for her healing abilities that even surpassed the great Philza Minecraft, Eret was actually royalty, a relative to the Queen, and Fundy was a redstone expert, and very skilled in muggle computer science. Jack was known for interning as an auror and taking out multiple high class criminals before even graduatingNeedless to say, they were all pretty recognizable.
Philza smiled, shaking hands with Bad as he was welcomed to the school. Bad apologized saying that Schlatt couldn’t make it, but Phil assured him it was absolutely not a problem. They were also greeted by the Charms Teacher Skeppy, who was often considered Bad’s second in the school. They exchanged formalities, but as they spoke Phil’z eyes drifted through the crowd, landing on a familiar winged woman.
Schlatt grumbled to himself as he bought some candy from a stand about how Philza was acting like a fool trying to make friends with some hobo assassin. He paid for his candy and began to walk down the street. He was alone since Connor was sick which only added to his bad mood.
Schlatt heard heavy footsteps behind him, but before he could react he was pushed into a side alley by a bunch of older Griffindors. Schlatt just rolled his eyes, wasn’t he a bit too old for them to haze anymore? He stood still until he was hit across the face and knocked to the ground.
“Fucking American scum. You don’t belong here.” So that was it. Growing tensions in the wizarding world between Europe and America somehow meant that he was some spy. Schlatt remembered that there’d been police brutality against some black Europeans on vacation in America, and he assumed that was it. “Come whatcha gonna do. Shoot me? Fucking lock me up for no reason?”
“What’ve I got to do with any of that?” Schlatt shot back only to receive a kick directly in the stomach.
“Stop.” a female voice bounced off the walls of the alley as Schlatt looked up to see a familiar winged girl. “Stop before I make you.”
“Fuck off you homeless bitch.” one spat. Ari drew her knife and charged. The bullies weren’t even able to draw their wands before Ari had knocked each of them to the ground. She grabbed Schlatt’s hand, dragging him back into the spaces behind shops, weaving them through until they were back at the very front of Hogsmeade.
“Uh… thanks I guess.” Schlatt said nervously. Ari just remained silent. “Alright I’ve got to ask, why’d you help me?”
“Friend of my friend.” Ari said. Schlatt thought for a second, before digging into his pocket.Ari immediately went into a fighting stance.
“Woah woah woah, relax, it’s a gift.” Schlatt said, pulling out his old wand from his pocket. It stopped working for him about a year ago and he had to go to Olvianders for a new one. “I don’t know if it'll work for you, but you can try it.” Schlatt handed her the wand with a smile, and Ari slowly took it, smiled, and the walked away.
“Well, well, well, the Great J. Schlatt was saved by the crazy homeless monster girl.” Phil’s voice rang out behind him with a laugh. “Come on let’s get some butter beer.”
Philza met Ari’s eyes for only a moment. Piercing blue meeting deep chocolate brown for the first time in years before both glancing away immediately. Phil wanted to talk to her, to think of something to say, but there was nothing. The only thing he noticed was the wand that stuck out of her pocket was an all too familiar one.
“Ayyyy Blade! What’s going on!” Tommy was the first to break the ice, giving Techno a playful punch in the shoulder.
“Hi Tommy, Wilbur.” Techno said, trying not to unveil his happiness about seeing his friends again.
“Who are these guys Techno?” Dream asked from behind the hybrid.
“Oh, I used to play video games with them when we were younger.” Techno explained. He didn’t see how Ari raised an eyebrow from across the plaza.
“Well how’s it been Big T? Still wrecking the competition?” Tommy continued. Before being yanked back by Wilbur.
“Tommy talk later, we’ve got to go with the rest to get settled.” Wilbur cut in before giving Techno a nod and draggin Tommy back to the group.
“They look like quite the pair.” Dream commented.
“Oh, they are.” Techno replied with a small smile. “You shoulda seen them when they were younger, it was hilarious.” Techno had a look of fondness on his face Dream hadn't seen from the hybrid before. How close was he to these kids?
Ari waved the wand in the air. She was alone in the woods, left to practice her skills. She didn’t know the name of the spells she cast, but they just felt right. She had been using a bunny to practice. She could make it float and freeze up. She could make it feel immeasurable pain and control it’s mind. And finally, she could kill it with one simple spell. It was the only spell she knew. Her captors had used it, the ones she escaped so long ago.
The Hogwarts students walked through the school like a Greek battalion. The four prefects surrounded the two children in the middle like shields. Every turn was another nasty look from an American student. This wasn’t going to be a good week. Wilbur headed the group, often returning those stares with nothing more than a blank slate face. They finally reached the rooms in the South tower, everyone letting out a sigh of relief.
They all began to unpack their things. Wilbur has brought his guitar. Tubbo brought his pet snake named Bee. Phil had the sorting hat, which he brought for Tommy. Eret had his pride flags and crown. Fundy brought a computer and a copy of Treasure Planet. And, finally, Niki brought a magic bag with a kitchen inside that she could climb into. Jack had brought a picture of their friends back home so they could talk. Little things that made the strange place a bit more like home.
“Tubbo, who do you think will get picked by the goblet.” Tommy asked his friend. They were alone in their shared room whilst the rest unpacked their things.
“I think Wilbur and Fundy will. Historically Gryffindors and Slytherins get picked.” Tubbo replied. “Although I’d say all of them stand a chance. After all we’re doing four instead of three right?”
“Yeah two from each school. Uneven representation would’ve been bad.” Tommy replied. Guitar strumming could be heard from the main room of the tower and the two boys walked in to Wilbur tuning his guitar. Niki was sitting next to him and watching Wilbur work.
“Which one will you play?” Niki asked.
“I’m thinking Vienna.” Wilbur replied. “It’s not a great day, but it isn’t shitty enough for Jubilee Line.”
Meanwhile, Philza settled in his own room. It was a spare teacher’s office that had been fixed with a bed and dresser. It was relatively close to the South Tower where the kids were staying which put him at ease, but he was still puzzling over Ari’s presence. After all, they’d never seemed to leave each other on a good note...
“Freak! Hybrid scum! Half-breed!” the other boys screamed at Phil as they kicked him and ripped out his feathers. He’d been going to find Ari, but ended up trapped in an alley with some older men who didn’t take kindly to his wings. “Fucking filth, get out of our town!” Phil just curled up and took it. It hadn’t been the first time, after all it was his sixth year now. Suddenly one of the men began to keel over in pain, but nothing seemed to have hit him.
“Get out.” Phil recognized Ari’s voice immediately. He looked up and saw Ari with her wand pointing at the man. He was beginning to whimper now, small screams leaving his mouth.
“Ari what are you doing?” Phil said, eyes widening with the realization of what she was doing. The Cruciatus curse- unforgivable. “Ari stop, you’ll get in huge trouble.” But she didn’t stop. With another flick all three men were pushed out onto the main road in front of everyone- including local law enforcement.
“Stop!” Phil screamed, but it was too late. Ari had immediately been seized and knocked out cold. It was the last time he’d see her for years. All he knew is that she escaped, killed five people, and was never seen in England again.