HP: The Arcane Thief-Chapter 57: Arrival

The night before the arrival of the Delegation. Not long after the dinner was over, while everyone was still excited due to Dumbledore's announcements, Axel silently got up and left after eating his fill.

"Axel!" Someone called him out as soon as he left the great hall.

A sigh escaped his mouth when he recognised the voice. "What is it?" He asked, even though he already knew exactly what it was.

Patricia stood behind him with a somewhat unnatural expression. Her breathing was rugged and her face was flushed. "I really, really want to win now. Anything… I'll give you anything! Please join the team." She pleaded.

Axel thought about it. Even after he took Daphne's advice, he hasn't given her a definite answer during these days. It's just one of those things you entertain the idea of doing but never really act on it. Even at this moment, Axel was still thinking whether he should go for it or not.

"So? Will you give it try? You don't even have to waste for time in training or anything. I already researched, you can fly decently. You just have to show up at match…" Patricia desperately continued pitching.

'What to do….' wondered Axel. It was tough choice since his life might be in danger. But suddenly, Axel snapped out of his thoughts. What the heck is he doing? Since when has he been so indecisive?

Wasn't it all clear? He wants the Organization and he wants to do the mission. Then why hesitate? If he has to do it, he'll do it, and kick ass while doing it! If he can't even handle the Organization, is he supposed to just roll over and die when Voldemort conquers this world?

"Alright."

"And I'll even handle if anyone tried to bother—what did you say?" Patricia paused in her pitching as soon as she heard him.

"I said I'm in, Captain," said Axel decisively.

"!!!!" Patricia's face lit up with joy. She was so happy that she rushed up to hug Axel.

But… she hugged nothing but empty air as Axel suddenly disappeared and appeared a meter away.

"Not everytime," he muttered with his back to her, already walking away. He was already somewhat used to these girls' attack called 'hug'. Not just any random girl can trap him.

…

"Hogwarts!" With a shout and pinch of floo powder, Nymphadora Tonks arrived at Hogwarts floo station.

"How things have changed…" she muttered, looking at the floo station. She still remembers the time it was being built. It used to be a boys toilet near the Quidditch pitch before that. But now, the Quidditch pitch has turned into a Quidditch stadium and this thing has transformed from a boy's toilet to a floo station.

Whoosh…Whoosh…

The other aurors had arrived while she was looking around. Frank Longbottom, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Hestia Jones, and around a dozen others.

"Blimey, things have been changing too fast," muttered one of the Aurors.

"Well, it's still quite similar…" observed Tonks. They didn't even have to change it much. Just had to replace the urinals with a fireplace. Otherwise, it looks the same. The other auror agreed to her statement but, he seemed to have missed an important point here.

"And how in the Merlin's pants, do you know how this boy's toilet used to look like?" Asked Hestia Jones, Nymphadora's friend and fellow auror trainee, emphasizing the word "boy's"

Nymphadora grinned, "Well, let's just say that being a metamorphmagus has its perks," she said with a wink.

"...." Hestia had to take a few seconds to digest that, "So… you can actually grow a pair."she said and the two of them burst out laughing. Some other Aurors who were listening in on the conversation also had to suppress their sniggers.

"Enough!" Said Frank Longbottom, making the Aurors flinch. "Don't forget that the two of you are on active duty."

"Yes, boss!" Replied Tonks, once again cursing the involvement of Frank. This man was the head of magical law enforcement and more importantly, he was very strict and a pain in the ass. She was glad he was here only for today to welcome the delegation. They were currently under Kingsley Shacklebolt.

"Aurors, Listen up!" Said Shacklebolt, gathering everyone's attention. He then began briefing them on their duties. Someone was supposed to keep a look out on the wards, someone was supposed to patrol the castle, someone was supposed to keep an eye on the students and prevent any major disputes from happening, etc.

"Trainee Tonks!"

"Yessir!"

"It has been speculated by the Headmaster that the Girl-who-lived is going to be targeted during this time. Your mission is to guard her 24×7. Is that clear?"

"Wow—I mean Yessir!" Tonks couldn't help but grin. She can spend her time chilling with her cute cousin Rose.

Frank frowned. "She's just a trainee. I don't think she can handle high level threats," he stated, questioning Kingsley's decision.

"Well…" the Aurors exchange glances. None could really blame Frank. After all, how would he know? That behind this cute and ditzy facade, was a monster personally trained by the Minister.

…

By the next day, the news of Axel joining the Slytherin team as a seeker had already spread far and wide at Hogwarts. And people had quite different opinions on it.

"He's just a cripple! There's no way he can be a seeker!" Was Draco Malfoy's opinion, who was still woefully unaware and wrong at many levels. He was enraged.

"He's going to destroy them..." was what Daphne was thinking. It seems like she'll be supporting the Slytherin team this year. But still, she was worried. Why did agree? It's not something he would do. Was it... because of that beautiful captain of Slytherin?"

"Why would he do this?" Was what Rose wondered as she sat at the Gryffindor table for lunch. Why indeed would he do this? It was understandable if it was something like Dueling, but isn't playing Quidditch quite hopeless for him? As a seeker herself she didn't feel right playing against him.

Neville, who was quite proud to see both his father and mother sitting at the Professor's table, simply scoffed. "I bet it's because I taunted him last time. He couldn't accept the fact that he'll never beat you at Quidditch."

Meanwhile, Nymphadora, who was sitting with Rose looked at the Slytherin table curiously. "Which one is he?" Who was this guy for whom Aunty Bella and mom are so concerned about?

Rose didn't even have to look over, "Corner of the table from left."

"Damn..." muttered Tonks as soon as she saw him. She then looked at Rose in a new light. "So, you hate him?"

Rose nodded. "You have no idea. Hate can't even cover half of it!"

Nymphadora grinned as she shook her head. 'Sweet Merlin, is this what I think it is?'

"Oh? Why exactly is he annoying?" She asked Rose.

"That... because... he's such an idiot! Why is he even trying when he knows he can't win? And there are so many other reasons!"

"... Is that so?"

Rose grew annoyed, "Yeah. And what's with that shit-eating grin of yours?"

Tonks' grin widened as it stretched up to her ears, literally, just to troll her Ickle little Rosie. (metamorphing for win) "Nothing. Blimey, Isn't it hot in here?"

….

The portal opened, and an old man wearing a yukata stepped through, his eyes appearing almost closed. This was Yamasaki Hiroshi, the principal of Mahoutokoro School of Ninshu and Jutsu.

The man had a walking stick in his hand even though he walked in an upright manner. His head was bald, and his eyebrows, beard and mustache were white and long.

Behind him came the Teachers and students of Mahoutokoro. While the headmaster looked quite harmless and peaceful, these people gave out strong and intimidating vibes as they looked around curiously.

Unlike Hogwarts' students who were wearing long-ass impractical robes, these people were wearing clothes that were easy to move in and each of them had a forehead protector which was carved with a symbol that signifies their specialization. Fire, water, wind, and earth.

"Yamazaki."

"Dumbledore."

Dumbledore greeted Yamazaki Hiroshi familiarly while the other students and teachers of Mahoutokoro looked around curiously. When they looked at the students, their eyes showed traces of disdain. This somewhat guaranteed that the upcoming months weren't going to be as peaceful as some would have liked.

"You've grown old, Dumbledore. I no longer see that fire," said Yamazaki, tapping his cane on the ground.

Dumbledore smiled, "I can say the same for you, my friend. The you of 40 years ago would have already bombarded me a few times."

"Then, let me see if you still have it in you," said Yamazaki before his hands formed a series of hand signs and his face turned up towards the sky.

In the next moment, Flames erupted from his mouth, forming a giant dragon as they reached high enough.

Dumbledore sighed, "I'm too old for this, my friend." He pointed his wand at the giant dragon. Even though he said this, both the old fogies knew that this was the right move. Both sides needed to show the students what the other side had to offer.

Now, there were many ways Dumbledore could have dealt with this, but to dispel the Mahoutokoro's disdain and condescension, he had to make a demonstration. A flaming phoenix burst out from the elder wand and went toe-to-toe/talon-to-claw with the giant Dragon.

*BOOOOOM*

"Holy Shit..."

"Bollocks!"

"Is this....the power of—"

The students looked the giant Dragon and Phoenix fighting it out in awe.

On the other hand, Axel was trembling with excitement.

[Arcane Eyes]

[True Invisibility]

[Presence Reduction]

[Blend]

"Fuck..." He had opened his Arcane eyes just in time when the old fogie had warned Dumbledore of his attack. And the results.... were exciting.

'These two are really monsters,' he thought, looking up at the sky. He has a long way ahead of him if he has to match that one day. Compared to Voldemort who is supposed to be even stronger that this, he'd prefer whoever the organization sends who'd would underestimate him as a 12-year-old.

[Magic Hands]

That being said, he has to improve fast in order to survive. His hands quickly formed a series of symbols, trying to exactly copy what he'd seen just now.

*ding*

[You have unlocked...]

A laugh along with a small burst of flame escaped his mouth.

This year, is going to be interesting.

....

Organization Headquarters: Atlantis

In an unknown location, a group of individuals sat at a high table as they gazed down at a bespectacled man who was reporting to them with his head bowed.

"—And the king's poor health hasn't improved. The fight for succession is starting to get intense."

"Good," said one of the men sitting at the high table while some nodded in agreement. This was good development as it was in line with their plans. Without any proper heir to the throne, they have a good chance of taking over. "Next."

The bespectacled man looked at the report in his hand, "The magical schools of Britain and Japan are holding a type of joint education program. We're suspecting that the Britain's ministry is trying to get Japan's manpower on their side behind the scenes."

The leaders discussed this matter among themselves. Usually, it wouldn't have been any of their business, but Britain's ministry seems to have a vendetta against them. After some discussion, they came to a conclusion.

"Keep an eye on their movements and report everything to us. Anything else?"

The man hesitated, but then tentatively affirmed, "It concerns the traitor."

This got a reaction out of the members. The mention of anything related to the traitor was all but forbidden in the organization. The atmosphere of the room seemed to have turned gloomy just by the mere mention of this person. And for good reason.

So many years of research, so many years of planning. And when they were about to succeed, a trusted member betrays them and destroys everything. Due to him, now they have to take such drastic measures.

"What is it? Don't tell me he has returned? The key was clearly destroyed before they disappeared."

The man shook his head, "No, but we have discovered that... before running away to chase after that man... the princess was actually pregnant."

"!!!!!"

Everyone present was taken aback as they realized the implications of that statement. When the two of them had returned to stop the organization's plans, the woman was clearly no longer pregnant.

This can only mean two things. The princess either had a miscarriage, or....

....

A.N.: title: Axel, the OP Ninja?

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