A goddamn explanation
“So, see, uh, where to start....” Skull began.
”The beginning would be good,” Lal said drily.
Skull nodded weakly as the others looked at him expectantly. Viper had even paused in counting their money. Skull took a breath and started to spill.
”OK, so, I’m a wizard. And just before you ask, no, not that kind of wizard in fairytales that kidnap girls and stuff. I mean a real life, spell casting wizard from a society of wizards. See, all witches and wizards, once they turn eleven, have to go to a school to train them in their magic. Because if they’re not trained... things get nasty really quickly. Take the medieval witch trials for example.
”Anyway. So once I turned 11, I went to Hogwarts. I made friends. Pulled pranks. Got top grades. The usual for the crazy genius. But uh, things started to go downhill pretty quickly in my fifth year. Long story short, as soon as I graduated I took my stuff and ran. Changed my looks, name and personality and boom. Skull de Mort was born.
”But I ran into a year mate one time, after the curse, and I found out people were looking for me. We talked, and then some witches and wizards found us talking. I didn’t... I didn’t have my wand with me at the time, and my magic was limited in my Acrobaleno form. The year mate could’ve helped the others bring me down. Could have claimed the money from my bounty. But he didn’t. He helped me take down those bastards and then helped me fake my death.
”After that, we parted ways, but not before I told him I owed him. He shrugged, we went our own ways. The thing is, about... 14 years ago, this... madman went to kill a kid. A baby barely even a year old. This madman... he had delusions of making the world the wizards’ world.”
At this, Viper’s head snapped up, and Skull could just feel them staring at him.
”...Voldemort,” they whispered softly, and Skull nodded, noting the fact that Viper wasn’t afraid of saying the man’s name.
”Sorry,” Lal interrupted, hitting Colonello who was struggling to keep his laughter in. “Did you just say Voldemort?”
Skull grimaced and said, “Uh... yea. See, everyone was terrified of him. Then I thought, fuck this, I’m not scared of some guy who’s name rhymes with mouldy-shorts, so I took part of his name, got the name ‘Skull’ from his insignia, and made it into my own.”
Viper’s mouth twitched upwards a little, but that was it. The others though, they were either openly smirking or nodding in approval. Skull cleared his throat.
”Right, anyway. Back to the topic at hand. There was this prophecy or something containing the madman’s downfall and stuff. Voldemort decided ‘nope’ and went to kill the guy who was supposed to kill him when said saviour was still a itty bitty baby. To make things simple; the killing spell backfired. Voldemort went poof. But the baby was left an orphan.
”But, when the kid turned eleven he was sent a letter, like all other wizards. And bam, Hogwarts for you kiddo. At least, that’s what I think happened. I haven’t really been in contact with the wizard in world for a long time.
”So, the thing is now, the kid is in his fourth year at Hogwarts, and the year mate I told you about called in his favour. He has a bad feeling about this year. Something to do with Triwizard Tournament, which is a tournament with three school competing for a prize. It’s stupid, really. But pretty wicked at the same time. And... I have to go be a teacher’s assistant from... the first of September to the... last week of June. Yea.”
Skull nodded. “I think that’s it.”
There was a moment of silence as everyone digested his words. Then Fon coughed.
”Well, what I want to know is what subject you’ll be assisting in,” he said, and there were mourners of agreement around the table.
”Oh... Defence Against the Dark Arts, or DADA for short,” Skull said, shrugging. “I was pretty adept at duels. Pretty much beat my teacher to the ground when we went up against each other.”
”Which house?” Viper asked, much to the confusion of others.
”In Hogwarts students are divided into four houses,” Skull explained. “There’s a magical singing hat that looks into your brain and sorts you into a house. There’s Slytherin, where the ‘ambitious’ people go. But a lot of people think they’re the ‘evil’ house because the madman was in that house. Of course, people also don’t like them because most think purebloods, wizards and witches born from witches and wizards, are superior to muggle-borns- witches and wizards born from non-witches and wizards.
”There’s Hufflepuff, where the loyal ones go. They’re seen as the left overs and the no-goods, but I’m telling you, they’re not. Most of the Aurors, they’re like the magical policemen, are made of former Hufflepuff students.
”Then there’s Gryffindor, where the brave ones go. But uh, some of them are so brave that’s its honestly rather stupid. Like they say; there’s a fine line between bravery and stupidity. A lot of Gryffindors cross that line a lot. Kind of egoistical and the jocks of the school.
”Finally there’s the Ravenclaws. The smart lot. Top grades in theory, but sort of... lacking in the actual practical lessons. A lot of people find them annoying. But they’re the people you want on your side in a battle. Always one step ahead of their enemies.
”As for your question, Viper, I was a Hufflepuff. Though the Sorting Hat had a really hard time deciding me between Hufflepuff and Slytherin!” Skull said laughing. “In the end, it just gave me a quiz to solve. It got me in Hufflepuff. Best house ever I say! And I bet I broke the record for the longest time of just sitting on that stool for the Hat to sort me!”
Viper nodded slowly. Then Colonello suddenly slammed his hand down onto the table.
”Wait! How come you never told us before, kora?!” he yelled.
”The same reason you can’t tell civilians about the mafia,” Skull said.
Verde still looked sceptical, but apart from him the others seemed to be warming up to the idea.
”What about proof then? Do you have proof that ‘magic’ honestly exists?” Verde asked. Skull grinned and put his hand on the table.
”Watch,” he said. “I’m a metamorphagus. It means I’m someone can change my appearance at will without the help of a wand or potion.”
All eyes turned to his hand and Skull concentrated briefly. His hand turned bright pink and Reborn swore softly as his nails turned into sharp claws and purple spotted pink fur began to grow. Skull let them marvel over it for a few seconds, and then turned it back.
”...it’s not an illusion?” Verde asked; Skull rolled his eyes.
”Did you sense any Mist Flames?”
Verde grudgingly went silent, and Fon cleared his throat.
”However, I do believe Skull told us this because, in his own words, he ‘would be going poof’ for a while,” he said in amusement.
”One of us is going with you,” Lal ordered immediately. Skull frowned, sinking in his seat.
“How did I know you’d say that?” he asked no one in particular. Although, he really should be grateful that only one would be going with him, not all six of them. “That’s fine, that’s with me.”
Skull shook out the jitters in his hand. “So who’s coming with me?”
There was silence. And then seven hands shot up into the air, then the argument started. Skull cursed softly in his head. Of course, he should have expected this.
“Can’t we all just go?” Fon pointed out.
”I, uh, took the liberty of contacting the year mate, saying only one of you would be coming,” Skull admitted as all eyes turned to him. There was a collective groan.
Then Reborn slammed a hand down on the table.
”Its either me of Fon,” he said darkly, and held up a hand as people began to protest. “Lal and Colonello need to plan their official wedding, which will be taking place in just a few months. So they need to stick together. Viper, Mammon, whatever, is part of Varia. I doubt they’d take kindly to them taking a year long break. Verde... I think we all agreed a few years back on not letting him near Skull-”
”I said sorry,” Verde muttered under his breath, and Reborn continued on like he hadn’t heard the scientist.
”-so it’s either me or Fon.”
Fon smiled, and shook his head.
”Reborn can go. I now realise I have, ah, a few things to do,” he said.
There was silence and everyone looked at Skull, who had his smile frozen on his face. He was... abnormally pale.
”...Skull? Are you alright, kora?” Colonello asked.
Meanwhile in Skull’s brain...
Fuck. Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck. I’m gonna be alone with Reborn-senpai for a whole year. Yessssssss. Thank you Fon-senpai. Wait. Oh shit. Does Fon know. Holy cow. Ohmygod. Yessss. Notice me Reborn-senpaiiiiiiii!