Chapter Text
When the first stirrings of something distinctly other began to pull in the back of his mind, settling into the pit of his stomach like a boulder, Nyx wasn’t certain on what to think. Perhaps there’d been something off about the last meal he’d had, but as his meal had been split three ways and the other two who he’d been dining with weren’t affected, Nyx doubted that it was a spoiled meal that was upsetting him so.
Then the faint, albeit insistent, stirrings began to affect him in more than just mood and a somewhat upset stomach. It began with when he’d set out to play tag with the Hyperactive Child-Lady who was called Niffty who occasionally hung around him and was overcome with a sudden overwhelming sense of dizziness when he took one of his usual sharp-turns and fell face-first down a flight of hotel stairs. The Flying-Cat who was Like Him but Humanoid and called Husk had been called to do a wellness check on him, and while the Husk had grumbled about being a barkeep and not a vet, Nyx had been tenderly taken care of and set aside on the bar counter. It didn’t look like his vitals were wrong, but there was definitely something going on. Perhaps just a nasty flu? It was about the right season for it, but he had once again reminded people that he was a gambling alcoholic and not a vet. Just because they were both winged cat-creatures did not mean they functioned the same.
Then Nyx’s illness progressed to being unable to keep anything down. Not the wet food that Master Red- Alastor, but Nyx liked the slight twitch of irritation ‘Master Red’ would earn him if he vocalized the name- set aside for him, nor the treats the Hotel Princess (a literal princess! Charlie, she liked to be called, but she’d giggle when Nyx had called her ‘’Madam Hotel Princess’, so the nickname stuck around) would sneak him, nor the small plate of broth that was eventually given to him by Husk. Whatever was going on, Nyx didn’t know, and trying to convey his every hurts to Master Red’s companions wasn’t helping, judging by their increasingly upset frowns.
(Not even sweet Keekee’s gentle, but firm, nudging was helping him. He appreciated her presence by his side, and the rumbling purrs sent pleasant vibrations throughout his body, but it wasn’t helping his nausea or the pain.)
Then he began to hear the whispers. A voice that niggled something in the back of his mind, something familiar and something terrible. Something that had him both yearning for something he refused to name - hope was a dangerous thing, in Hell , and he refused to give in to such desperation, and set off a terrible urge in him to hiss and lash out in anger.
A promise broken, a hope defiled. A dream shattered with simple words from someone who should have cared, but didn’t.
When Nyx conveyed the new bit of information in between bouts of consciousness, it was the Princess who came up with a possible answer. Something she’d seen in other demons and sinners who were summoned for the first time and were instinctively trying to fight the summons, or by some human who didn’t know what they were doing and were doing the summoning all wrong.
A summoning. Someone was summoning him. Of all the beings in Hell, someone was trying to summon him . If he wasn’t in such pain, he’d laugh at the absurdity of the situation. He appreciated Keekee doing it for him.
Why him, however, was a question that everyone at the hotel had. After all, it wasn’t like he was some powerful being. A Sinner he might be- maybe, there were some serious doubts about that from all sides of the equation- but he was basically powerless. His only claim to power was that he was often seen in the vicinity of Master Red, who was a Sinner that almost no one wanted to go up against.
(Something about an Overlord? Nyx didn’t pay attention to politics. He was a literal cat with wings , why would he bother with that stuff? No one paid him any mind unless he was on Master Red’s shoulder, and even then it was usually to dismiss him as just an ordinary Hell-Cat of sorts. Or one of Master Red’s shadows given physical form and left to be unreasonably chummy with its master.)
What human would want something from Nyx ? No, he was pretty certain that there was a mishap somewhere. There had to be- but the familiarity of the growing whispers in the back of his head-! If this was a mishap, why the fleeting connection?
It was the Princess who came up with a solution. She knew how to coax first-time demons into no longer fighting their instinctive urge to resist a sudden summons. Master Red, however, had an even better idea- if this insistent human wanted to summon his cat (and Nyx was Master Red’s cat until the two mutually decided to part ways), why, then he would simply have to visit this foolish human himself! After all, Nyx was not only his , but also practically a member of the hotel staff. Since harm had befallen Nyx- the form of harm Master Red was to protect the Hotel Residents from had not been declared, but rather left open to interpretation on the side of both parties- it was his duty to see this particular error mended.
(If Nyx had been in the right frame of him, he’d be flattered that Master Red was willing to humor him so. As it was, it was almost impossible to keep his eyes open without feeling the need to hurl the contents of his empty stomach back up as the world kept trying to spin without him.)
Nyx didn’t know the specifics of what was said, or what was done, but he could feel Master Red grab at him, could feel himself settle into being held, and then a flash of light. The whispers, which had slowly been growing in volume, sharpened like a knife through softened butter and momentarily defended him as the world around him blurred into shades of gray, red, and black. A moment of static, the calm before the storm, and then…
Everything righted itself. The rolling nausea that had been plaguing him for hours before eased off- instead of a raging inferno under the skin, a shimmer of heater oil. Still upset, but less painful. Ready to lash out, but momentarily contained.
The world stopped spinning, spinning, spinning , but the sensation was still there.
The smells that assaulted the senses, of old musk and wet rot, of something home and familiar and welcomebackwelcomebackwelcomehome-!
Nyx had no shame or a more proper sense of timing when it came to passing out, secure in the embrace of Master Red and with the knowledge that Master Red would deal with the offending parties that were trying to summon him , of all beings.
Him ! Like he could do anything more than hunt bugs with Niffty and fly with Husk. He couldn’t hunt large prey like Master Red, nor was he eloquent enough to converse with like the Princess. He wasn’t brave enough to face up against his weight range like the Princess’s guard.
The most he could offer up was hacked up hairballs and molted feathers, and even those were pretty rare now that he’d recovered his health. Maybe he could even sit on someone and purr, but that was about it.
So, yeah. Nyx passed out and entered the blissful respite of the awaiting shadows, comforted by the fact that Master Red was right there and- probably- wouldn’t let anything harm him.
(He was Master Red’s, after all.)
Alastor took in his surroundings with half-interest, only taking a moment to acknowledge the robbed person (in white? Who even wore white to a demon summoning? A loose-barreled angel? Ha! What a laugh.) who no-doubt had been the cause of his feline companions' distress. The room was dreadfully plain, being all stone with little in the way of texture, but he would give them a solid C Minus for the attempt since the high-rise vaulted ceilings were a nice touch that made the room seem a little less claustrophobic. It even did a little to liven up the place, but he doubted that his little kitten was summoned to this room because a bunch of humans wanted a cat's perspective on dungeon décor .
(He was pretty certain that the little thing couldn’t even see that far. He really needed to get a moment of time to himself to see if he couldn’t fix that little issue- it wouldn’t do for his enemies to target the dear thing and have it die because it couldn’t see clearly . What an insult to the both of them- the Great Alastor’s pet cat, defeated from afar because it was nearly blind.)
Still, he was off topic, and annoyed. If his words were overlaid with a little more static than usual, it really was nobody's business except his own. It was just a stroke of fortune that his little fiend had passed out after their impromptu travel to the Human Realm. It tuckered out most demons on their first summon, but was curious that the bundle of fur cradled in his arms was capable enough to be summoned in the first place. He hadn’t even been aware that the poor thing had been collecting souls of his own. This little bundle of mysteries was just becoming even more entertaining-!
“ Greetings, mysterious summoner! It’s been some time since someone has had the gall to so carelessly summon me-, ” Alastor began, his ever-present smile stretching even further when the human before him began to emit the subtle, intoxicating , smell of fear- oh , now the summoner was realizing what they had just done? Ha! - Nowhere near the levels he was used to for people seeing him first-time, but he could work with that. That it was even there simply meant they were human .
(Insulting, too, he noticed as he glanced at the summoning circle he was supposed to be ‘trapped’ in. It was all wrong, all wrong -! Where the runes to bind were supposed to be, walk was located. Where safe was supposed to be, offering was instead. The entire section about no harm unto the one who calls was gibberish that basically rendered the entire thing pointless. If it weren’t for the ever-present hum of pure energy that lay within the surrounding walls, floor and ceiling that made up the room, he would have assumed this person to be an amateur. No- this was someone practiced, but an idiot. Which was even better for him, but all the worse for those who were trying to bargain with him.)
(No, not him. They were trying to bargain with his kitten, who was weak enough after his first summoning that the misplaced runes probably wouldn’t have mattered. With him, however? He was strong enough that the placement of the runes mattered . One single rune out of place, and the summoning circle would never hold if he so much as touched the flimsy barrier. An entire layer built upon nonsense? Ha ! The circle was basically being held together with faith and spit, and Alastor would enjoy tearing it apart once he figured out why his kitten was called.)
(But- this was curious! And for all that he was annoyed, he was also willing to see if the potential for amusement was here. Besides- how did such a summoning circle even function when it was basically nonsense?)
“ - much less after so long of being ignored ! It’s a pleasure to meet someone so endearingly stubborn! Tell me who stands before me, so resilient in the face of my reluctance to be called to the human realm? ” A little misdirection wouldn’t hurt, and since the base for do no harm was utter nonsense, an outright lie was permitted in the dealing phase of this summons. Besides, it wasn’t like the original target of the summons was capable of responding, and since the little furball belonged to him in all ways that mattered , he would cover and permit this misdirection using himself as the target. It wasn’t like Nyx was all that ambitious when it came to making the rounds throughout the Pride Ring, and potentially powerful souls would be a waste to turn aside.
Alastor was expecting demands instead of answers. For this human to show their arrogance. For him to be annoyed at its antics, slaughter it (maybe even have it bargain its soul away to him before slaughtering it-!), and then return to Hell in the worst case scenario. He had better things to be doing, things that were more entertaining and engaging, like his business at the Hotel- ah, but his little pet. How had they managed to find the sigils to summon one whose only power practically came from being known as a known associate to the Radio Demon?
(Actually- now that he was looking at the summoning circle, it looked like there was no target sigil . How had they managed to get anything more than dust motes and etheric backlash? Either these people were the luckiest bunch of dips he’d get to know topside, or there was something extremely suspicious going on.)
(Wait. The summoning targeted his cat . Intent mattered a lot in summoning, yes, and could potentially override a sigil, but not unless you know the demon's true name. Either its current name and the accompanying sigils, or the true name from when they were still alive . Oh , this was definitely getting interesting. Now, how could he get more out of this situation?)
He got… Well, he certainly got his answers.
“Forgive me, but I’m in a bit of a bind and reaching out for aid using one of the only avenues available to me that I haven’t yet tried. I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster to a School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in England. I’ve come calling because, well, I’ve lost someone and need them found. It is imperative that they are returned to me alive and unharmed.”
Alastor hummed, but allowed the man to continue to speak. The more this- this Dumbledore - spoke, the more he would learn. People tended to like to speak, after all. And if they were desperate enough? They’d spill more than they were intending. That this man would so carelessly summon a demon , of all beings, to aid him, however, was telling. And listen he did.
Fifteen minutes later, and now Alastor had just shy of a full story. After all- he knew full well his little kitten wasn’t just a kitten. No, no no no. His kitten was a Sinner, stuck in the body of a cat creature: Whereas Sinners were supposed to get a humanoid demonic form, his little kitten had the body of a literal winged cat. Curious, yes, but perhaps these people had an answer for him?
The man calling himself Albus Dumbledore - and did this man know not to give demons your name until after a deal has been struck and signed?- rambled on a fair bit. Something about his missing student being crucial to some big prophecy-plot, and- oh , did Alastor want to poke that sleeping tiger! A reliable prophecy? Made by a human? Ha! What a barrel of laughs.
(Also- his feline was underaged? That explained a little about the occasional naivety that Nyx would display. So much like Charlie, but more tempered by the knowledge of how ugly the world could truly be. Tempered by the knowledge of something in his past that jaded him enough to the point that their very first interaction was nothing more than beaten-down, hissing fury and near-blind lashing out with claws.)
(Nyx’s understanding of the ugly truth of the world was something he hoped Charlie learned one day, but he didn’t want to see her lose that jovial heart and smile of hers- oh no. No, no. The higher she climbed in her goals, the more she tasted that sweet, sweet release of a dream starting to come to fruition, the more glorious her despair would be when she realized that her dreams would never be able to pan out like she hopes. Sure- the girl can redeem Sinners left, right, and central, but it won’t change the fact that they were Sinners . Not only would Heaven silence those ‘Redeemed’ Sinners to prevent hysteria- after all, logic dictates that a redemption path can also work in reverse - but why would Sinners willingly give up their status quo and risk losing their comforts or powers for what is otherwise unknown ?)
(And yet, at the same time, Alastor hoped that Charlie’s unrestrained, genuine kindness could soften some of those sharp edges in his kitten’s heart and soul. He was a demon, yes, but not a monster. He knew his manners, thank you very much. It wasn’t his fault he cared more for what belonged to him than someone who didn’t.)
But , back to the matter at hand. A little more needling revealed a name for this ‘mysterious student’: Harry Potter, and oh did Alastor feel a stirring of something exciting begin to bubble up inside. Like the thrill of a hunt, the exact unknowns and little things that could go wrong or right to make a chase the most thrilling suspense with unforeseen endings or the most anticlimactic play to ever be made live.
Harry Potter . His little unconscious feline furball was named Harry Potter . A first and last name, all obtained in one single swoop (and, seriously, did Albus Dumbledore not know anything about demons? He was being awfully free with the names, but Alastor wasn’t going to stop that. Not when it benefited him greatly ). This Dumbledore had been trying to find his missing student, and with said missing student in Hell , had summoned the missing student to him. Only, the kitten was claimed by a Master who refused to lose such a delectable prize to someone who seemed to be losing grasp of reality.
Alastor had a choice to make, but the choice really was made once the puzzle pieces started to snap together in his head. Oh, he’d owe the Princess an apology for taking so long to resolve the issue of his kitten’s summon, but- oh the potential for amusement! An ocean of potential power, surging like the tides through his fingers. He’d be a fool to waste this opportunity. All he needed to do was be patient and he could snap it all up for himself- there were benefits to being an Overlord in Hell, even if his territory wasn’t physical like everyone else’s.
A little more needling created a contract with something a little more substantial than simple ‘find person x, return to hell without reward’. Because of course it did- Dumbledore had, perhaps accidentally, revealed himself in need of a teacher for Defense, and how he didn’t have time to be searching for both things.
(Besides, why would he ever make a deal on behalf of his cat without letting it benefit either of them?)
So, a little negotiation later, Alastor hummed a cheerful tune to himself as he walked himself to the new room he’d be staying at for the duration of this ‘school year’.
Find a missing Person? Check. Already done. Bundled up nice and secure in his arms, unconscious to the world. Sleeping off first-time summoning fatigue.
(Admittedly, he did realize that the only reason his kitten was still asleep was probably because the summoning was using its energy to pull both of them across. Alastor was many things, he knew, but he was powerful . The stronger the demon you pulled through, the more power was required on the other end. Without a target sigil, Dumbledore’s summoning had probably used his kitten’s innate power for both sides of the equation. That the cat was still breathing only meant that Alastor hadn’t rejected Nyx’s attempts to pull the two of them through- which was a pretty remarkable feat all on its own, and Alastor wondered just how strong his little bundle of fur actually was.)
Return the missing person to Dumbledore? Well, the man had done that himself, even if he didn’t know it. Checkmark number two completed. There was nothing in the rules stating that Dumbledore had to be aware of the missing person being returned in another form. Or that Alastor was supposed to keep them by Albus Dumbledore's side. He just needed to retrieve the missing student and bring them to Dumbledore- done. Quite beautifully done, too, if he might add. So rarely does his side of a contract complete itself the moment its been signed.
Teach a bunch of magically-inclined children how to wield magic to defend themselves? Oh , that had the potential for much entertainment- and why did this Dumbledore person seem so confident in allowing what he knew was a Demon to teach a bunch of very impressionable children? Sure, there was the caveat that he couldn’t intentionally bring physical or mental harm to the students, but there were ways around that- he was a demon, not a monster, thank you, and he also had a strict code of conduct on who he tortured and children tended to fall way down at the bottom of list, often not even on it to begin with. That said, isn't the best way to learn how to protect yourself to know what it feels like to be in genuine pain so you’ll do what’s necessary to prevent that pain again? Besides- he’d taught Niffty, and he’s been teaching Charlie (not that, he was certain, she realized it yet. Oh, Vagitha knew, but she had no reason to put a stop in his plans since he was only helping her grow ). He’d even taught Nyx quite a fair bit, when he realized that his little bundle of feathers and fur was more than he seemed. He was pretty certain between the three of them, he had enough experience in getting people to learn.
( Behave? Oh , he’d only need a single misbehaving person for that. Causing no intentional harm to the students left a lot of leeway in things, still. Dumbledore really didn’t understand how to make deals with demons, but Alastor was not going to be the one to correct that mistake.)
Complete all three points of the contract? There was an entire wizarding prison just waiting to be taken and given to him to do as he pleased- not that Alastor bothered to explain why he wanted them. He’d need to do a little research beforehand, but he’d been assured that since these people were in this Azkaban place, they no longer had rights that were supposed to be inherent in all people.
Sure, there were some little kinks in the contract, things that were implied but not outright stated, but overall the deal really was in his own favor. This had the potential to be quite the show, and all he had to do was take a step back and let things play out as they will.
(It was almost intoxicating. A need to hunt was bubbling up, and oh , was this going to be glorious -!)
(Idly, he wondered if Nyx would be interested in finally taking those last few steps and joining him fully- but ah, that was a thought to explore on another day. Today was a day to settle down and get a feel for what Hogwarts truly is.)
(If there were now green chains, only visible by himself, now connecting Dumbledore’s neck to Alastor’s wrist, well. It really was nobody's business except Alastor’s. Let the old man learn the hard way that demons weren’t to be bargained with, and why mortals were supposed to be very careful about the sort of deals they made with them. And with that information they let fly around a Demon.)
(Let Albus Dumbledore learn the hard way why Overlords of Hell weren’t to be summoned under all costs. Sure, he wasn’t the original target of the summons, but he’s what the man got.)
(Actually- did Dumbledore even realize that he got an Overlord of all Demons for a teacher? Oh, to be a fly on the wall when the man finally has his realization moment!)
The first thing that Nyx noticed as he began to wake back up, was that he was warm and bundled up in something soft. The second was the awful-strong stench of the sludge that Master Red called coffee . The third thing he noticed was the peaceful-familiar background noise of a crackling radio- something that Master Red did habitually when he wasn’t broadcasting himself, and something that Nyx found comforting.
The fourth thing Nyx noticed, once he opened his eyes, was Master Red himself. Sitting in a chair off to the side of a room, reading a newspaper with moving images on it. Such a simple scene, but it was enough of a profound comfort that Harry couldn’t help the pitiful mewl that escaped him.
“ I see you’ve awakened, little one. ” Master Red didn’t bother looking up from what he was reading. “ You’ve been out of it for a few days. No more than three, don’t worry, however we need to have a conversation. ” Master Red paused for a second, glanced over to where Nyx was laying down on what he was now beginning to realize was an incredibly plush bed .
Then, the warm and fluffy feeling was dispelled with two simple words. A name.
His name . A name he hadn’t used since he’d ended up in Hell. A name he was pretty darn certain he’d never told anyone. How had Master Red-?
“Sir?” Nyx questioned softly, stopping the spiraling of his thoughts, uncertain of what the sharp look in Master Red’s eyes could mean. Coupled with the ever-present smile- which was also sharp at the edges-, Nyx was… concerned? Worried? Terrified? All of the above, but still believing that Master Red would not hurt him. He hadn’t back when they had first met and Nyx was nothing more than skin, bones, and blood-matted feathers, hissing and clawing and biting at anything that came near him out of fear of being hurt further.
(Being, perhaps, the smallest Sinner in all of the Pride Ring came with serious downsides. For one- everyone was larger and physically stronger than you. Second- just about everyone could just scruff you and suddenly you were 100% defenseless.)
(Even Nifty was taller than he was, which was impressive because she was the second smallest sinner he’d ever met. The egg boys- and Nyx really didn’t understand if they were sinners or hellborn- probably didn’t count.)
“… Am I… in trouble?” Nyx- he was Nyx, Master Red’s feline friend, not Harry Potter, the Freak that was locked the cupboard! - attempted to shuffle himself out of the blanket he was rolled up in, but Master Red raising a hand and making a stop motion halted his actions. Wearily, Nyx waited for whatever it was that was going to be said. He could feel his wings twitch, constrained by the fabric he was swaddled in, but was unable to release the tension that was beginning to build up in them.)
(Why couldn’t they just be Master Red and Nyx? Nyx didn’t like thinking about what life was like before. Sure, he now lived in literal Hell, but Master Red was kind. Why was his past relevant now? Now, when he was finally in a place where he could afford to let himself forget about the starving. Forget about the beatings. Forget about the cupboard that Freak lived in, where he was supposed to stay to not exist-!)
“ No, no, no, you aren’t in trouble, little one. It is always a wise move to not tell Demons the name you used in life, especially when they have the power to control you using only that name! As far as I’m concerned, you are Nyx: My little spitfire of a cat. However, a certain Dumbledore summoned you using intent via your name from when you were alive, and I played interference. Tell me, what is your connection to that man? ”
Nyx frowned, and slowly blinked at Master Red, letting himself relax and stretch out, untensing muscles that had been coiled to take off in fright.
“Hm… Who? The name sounds familiar, but I’m afraid I’m not placing it.”
“Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of the Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Elderly man who could stand to have a meeting with Rosie if he were so inclined, I’m sure. He informed me, quite freely I might add, that Harry Potter- is - a student of said school. One who has gone missing over the summer. One who should have been at his aunt and uncle’s home without leaving it. ”
Nyx frowned- the closest simile to one a cat could physically make, at any rate- and thought about it, ignoring Master Red’s soft chide about smiling. He- …Yes. That sounded about right? But- that meant he’d have to tell Master Red about his death. But… it was Master Red, and it wasn’t really being demanded of him.
(Besides, Master Red basically owned him until the two of them mutually decided to split ways. Nyx wasn’t certain about how Master Red felt about the not-quite soul-binding deal between the two of them, but Nyx didn’t want to leave Master Red.)
Weakly, he whispered out his answer, shame and guilt warring within him. Master Red was patient, listening to Nyx speak without interruptions or signs of irritation. The soft static of his background music dimmed, but did not vanish.
“... I think it’s coming back to me… I don’t really want to talk about it, though. Yes, he was my headmaster while I was alive. I begged him, telling him I’d do anything in exchange for never having to go back to the Dursleys. That they did not treat me like a human and actively hated me. He told me that my view on my relationship with them was a… small misunderstanding. But I was just Freak there! Or Boy! I was always stuffed into the cupboard before my Acceptance Letter arrived on my eleventh birthday. Then it was the spare bedroom with all the broken things Dudley didn’t want, and I couldn’t put them away anywhere because Dudley might want them later. I basically did all the household chores since I could walk because I was just the unwanted nephew. I… I recall that… That my owl, Hedwig, I recall her name being, was making too much racket. I couldn’t let her outside because it was the middle of the day and the neighbors might see, and that would ruin the perception of normality that… that Aunt Petunia had been building up for herself. But Hedwig was hungry upstairs because there had been a house party the night before and I couldn’t let her out because the neighbors would see that the Freak Boy had an even more unusual pet, and it just wasn’t done. I was downstairs making lunch for the Dursleys- never myself, not unless I could dig it out of the trash afterwards- and Hedwig… She was amazing. Stubborn and steadfast, and the best friend I could ever ask for. My first one, really, perhaps the only real friend I had, too. But when she wanted something… she let everyone know until she got it. Uncle Vernon… he didn’t like it one bit. He killed Hedwig to get her to be quiet, then beat me because it was my fault for bringing ‘that damned pest’ into the house. I was stuffed into the cupboard and left there… I don’t know how long. But the cupboard was locked, and I grew more and more hungry. I just… fell asleep and woke up in Hell one day after that.”
Nyx was practically shaking at this point, face buried into the blankets that surrounded him.
“ I see. ” Master Red hummed, an off-tune lilt to his voice for the briefest of moments. His gaze wasn’t focused on Nyx, but that was alright. He might be a spoiled-rotten cat-like creature of Hell, but even he knew better than to demand the attention of the Radio Demon for longer than Master Red wanted to give it. Besides- he liked their relationship and was seriously hoping that this nasty little business wasn’t going to change that. “ Then I suppose it’s for the best that I made the contract I did in your place. In fact, I’ve already completed two of the three requirements without having to do much more than lift a finger! All that’s left is to teach the students this year of… what did he call it, ‘Defense against the Dark Arts’? ”
Nyx’s ears perked up at that. “What contract, sir?”
“ Just a little business where Albus Dumbledore wants me to find you, retrieve you- alive and well-, and teach the students of Hogwarts how to defend themselves against dark magic and creatures. In exchange, I get whatever persons are being imprisoned inside of this… Azkaban place… to do whatever I want with. I wonder if his brain isn’t just a little addled from whatever he’s on. ” Nyx chuckled, vaguely remembering being baffled and just a little intimidated the first time he heard of and saw Albus Dumbledore, but then slowly realizing that the man was just a little out-of-touch when it came to people in a modern setting. Sure, he tried, and Nyx would absolutely give the man credit where credit was due, he might have bias that swayed things more to a Gryffindor Red than a Slytherin Green, but he did try to hear out both sides of an argument before issuing punishments and rewards. Didn’t mean that Nyx was going to forgive the man for directly being tired to the reason he died and ended up in hell.
(Although… ending up in Hell allowed him to meet Master Red. Allowed him to heal and learn to be free . Was that enough to forgive Dumbledore, though…?)
(No , a quietly spiteful part of his brain whispered, which sounded not-so suspiciously like the gurgling chitters of one of Master Red’s more commonly-conjured Shadow Minions. Let the man suffer for what he’s done-!)
“ Tell me, Nyx. ” Master Red was now looking at Nyx, that sharp smile had softened a degree, but the amusement in his eyes was plain to see. It was right there alongside just a degree of malice, and it took Nyx a second to place that it wasn’t directed at him . “ What would you say to a good ol’ fashioned game of cat and mouse. Let's liven up this old place with some entertainment worthy of retelling to our Hazbin Friends! ”
“... Am I the cat or the mouse in this equation, sir?” Nyx couldn’t help the huff that left him at his own question.
“ My good fellow, you’re already a cat! Why change what’s already working? You’re also the bait! I wouldn’t say anything against a little torment of Dumbledore’s person, either, if you get bored. What’s better drama than someone desperately trying to find a lost child, then the knowledge that they don’t know the very child was under their nose the entire time? Admittedly, we’re all actors in this place, but I don’t see that stopping either of us! ”
Nyx snickered a little at the mental image of a miniature Dumbledore being batted around by a black cat on a theater stage, and nodded. The knowledge that he and Master Red could pull one over on Dumbledore- and give the man repayment for his stance which got him killed- it was… well, Nyx felt something warm stir in his chest.
“I can be talked into this play, sir. What exactly would I need to do?”
“ Why, just be your darling self, little one! For now it’d be wise to stick with me or stay in either this room or whichever classroom I’ll be using. I need to do some research before we come up with a more detailed plan, but there’s time before the first day of classes. Now, I do believe there’s time before today's meeting with the Headmaster over scheduling and lesson plans, so why don’t you show me around the school you once studied at? ”
“I was only here for a year, sir, but alright. We can definitely explore some of the places I know of. Maybe even find some places I didn’t know about!”
“ There’s that adventurous spirit I knew was inside you! Now, what are we waiting for? The day isn’t getting any younger! ”
Hogwarts was different from what Nyx recalled, but that may have been because of a myriad of different reasons. The lack of students in the hallways had the whole of the castle feeling lonely in an oppressive sort of way, and the lack of soft, idle chatter left the click-click-click of shoes upon stone echoing like raindrops against a steel plate roof. Rooms that once held physical warmth simply due to the sheer amount of people in them were now chilled with a jarring sort of absence.
The two had explored the places that Nyx had known well in life, leaving off the Common Rooms from the impromptu tour under the assumption that Professor McGonagall would not appreciate it for either of them to break into the place her students were to call ‘safe’. The quidditch pitch had been something that Nyx had been excited to show off, if only because he was proud of what he’d done. Youngest Seeker in a century, Nyx had exclaimed softly, mindful of the proximity between himself and Master Red’s ears, and Master Red listened to Nyx go on a little about the history of Quidditch when prompted for more information.
(It didn’t hurt that Madam Hooch was on the field, getting it ready for when the students would arrive in a week, and allowed Master Red to take to a broom and fly alongside Nyx. Stretching his wings felt phenomenal and it was kind of fun to attempt to show off some of the maneuvers that the Husk had taught him when he wasn’t managing either the bar at the Hotel or playing at one of the Casinos.)
(Also, it was hilarious watching Master Red attempt to use a broom the first time. He’d gotten a couple inches off the ground after about fifteen minutes of struggling before deciding that the broom itself just wasn’t suited for being ‘ridden like that ’ and simply changing it using his own powers. What had once been a simple broomstick with nothing adorning it now had a padded seat and footrests, all done with a single wave of the hand. If Madam Hooch felt the need to say anything about Master Red fundamentally changing one of the school brooms without so much as asking for permission, she was at least wise enough to not say anything about it.)
The Great Hall wasn’t exactly empty when they arrived, but the House Elves were smarter than people tended to give them credit for, and they did everything in their power to avoid being around Master Red, who took to the terror he was inflicting upon the elves without having to do anything more than simply stand in the room with them with glee. The four house tables, devoid of the occasional straggler who wanted some peace and quiet to work on their assignments or just wanted to hang out without having to go outside, stood as a testament to the amount of students Hogwarts taught. The table where the teachers sat lacked chairs at the moment, but Nyx could very vividly remember Professor Quirrell.
(How funny. The last Defense Professor had tried to kill him, and now the new one would protect him. When Nyx had snickered, Master Red asked if he was allowed in on the joke, and Nyx explained as best as he could recall. Professor Quirrell’s rather pointless lessons that became redundant, the forbidden hallway that had- in hindsight- been a trap, and the fact that some dark lord who had murdered his parents was possessing Professor Quirrell. Even the little tidbit of the basically-parasite that was the supposed dark lord on the back of Professor Quirrell’s head.)
(Master Red got an odd gleam in his eyes at that, but Nyx didn’t dwell on it. If Master Red felt the need to let Nyx in on his knowledge, he would. As it was, Nyx still wasn’t certain what Master Red did during the night when he was asleep in Master Red’s bed and the man himself was researching something. As far as Nyx was concerned, he’d just given the man either a new puzzle to unravel or a missing piece to one of his puzzles.)
Introducing Master Red to the black lake was rather anticlimactic. No giant squid came up to say high, nor did any mermaid rumored to live there decide to say hi when they dropped by. The same could not, however, be said of Master Red’s visit to the forbidden forest. No- that trip had been quite an eye opening experience, and Nyx was thrilled to have witnessed it firsthand.
At first, nothing had really happened. Nyx had mentioned the place off-handedly when talking about places around Hogwarts, and Master Red inquired further into the forest.
“ Any place dangerous enough to be qualified as forbidden is worth investigating, little one. Besides- how better to teach these to-be students of ours to defend themselves then to put them into the arena, so to speak. ” So, off the two went to the forbidden forest to figure out why exactly it was forbidden. While walking the stone-lined path of worn-in grass, Nyx told the story about he came across the dead unicorn. The centaurs, and the man-eating spiders. About Draco Malfoy- and there was that interested gleam in Master Red’s eyes again- and of Hagrid- who Master Red had met- and the irony of why a group of first-year students had been sent into the forbidden forest late at night with a gamekeeper who had no legal permission to be casting magic: being caught out of their dormitories after curfew.
At first, there was nothing unusual about the forbidden forest. It was dark, it was cold, and the shadows loomed and lingered in ways that would have worried him if not for the knowledge of Master Red’s mastery over shadows. These shadows were familiar to him- they were friends of his. He could swim through those shadows to hide from danger, to spy on others, or even travel massive distances faster than his wings could carry him- only when Master Red let him- and they knew him well. He had no reason to fear them, and thus, for the time being, he paid them little mind.
Then Nyx began to notice small things. Usually when Master Red was allowing his shadows to roam freely, nature stayed away from him. An unnatural creature of destruction would always be known to creatures of nature, and they would avoid him like a plague out of self-preservation. It was useful as a quick bug-repellant down in Hell, as Nyx had discovered.
Except, Nyx’s wings beat against his skin in slight irritation, he was currently having his ears assaulted by the humming buzz of thousands of mosquitos and flies. They weren’t trying to nibble on him, thankfully, but it was curious that they were so close to Master Red’s obvious unnatural presence. He could hear past the noise of the bugs and hear the scattering of distant spiders, and the uneven cloven-steps of hooves against the ground. The distant crackle of a fire. The screeched cry of some wailing bird, sorrowful, rang out for a brief, precious moment, before trailing off to uncertainty and then fading entirely from the chorus of the forbidden forest.
Master Red’s shadows were not driving away the wildlife like they were supposed to, and Nyx was fascinated . As was Master Red, Nyx quickly learned, because he started to laugh. Not a simple ‘oh, this is funny’ sort of laugh that people give one or twice to be polite, or a just-as-easy ‘i’m going to laugh because doing anything else would ruin the illusion i’ve worked to create’. No, this was full on belly laughter, and Nyx wasn’t certain if it was good or bad.
(It was always delightful when Master Red was in a good mood, though. Those days tended to be the ones where Nyx could get away with batting a few stray shadows into Master Red without the worry of retaliation. But this? This was unknown territory for him.)
“ Oh, this place is a treasure trove. ” Master Red spoke up after his laughter died down, the gleam in his eyes gloriously manic and grin all too sharp to be mistaken as friendly. Whatever it was that Master Red had learned from here, Nyx isn’t completely certain that he wants to know. “ It appears that our dear illustrious Headmaster has far too many secrets buried out here that appear to be chomping at the bit to get even. ”
Nyx really didn’t want to know, now, but also… the possibility of using whatever so-called-secrets were buried here against Dumbledore was an intriguing one. He would keep it in mind and ask at a later date, however, because Master Red continued his walk, now humming a rather jovial little tune. If it was important enough, Master Red would let him know so Nyx could use it against Dumbledore. All in the name of entertainment, you see.
The briefest of meetings with the spawn of the man-eating spider didn’t deter Master Red in the slightest. What were once terrifying creatures to gaze upon and made him fear for his life were no more than simple annoyances with Master Red being in charge. The larger, talking, spider either was busy or wanted nothing to do with Master Red, but the smaller ones were more than happy to attempt taking bites out of Master Red. Usually they wouldn’t get close enough to bite down, shuffled off with a flick of a shadowy tendril, but occasionally a few would manage to get a literal drop on them- for all of half a second before they were flung back into the air with more force than their siblings.
Despite keeping an ear out for them, however, Nyx couldn’t locate which direction the centaurs were in. Which was fine by him- he had enough of them the first time he’d run into them the first time and he wasn’t fancying a repeat performance. Firenze had been kind to him, yes, but confusing. And just a little bit intimidating- although Nyx now wondered if he’d be as intimidated as last time since he’d been through Hell and had Master Red by his side.
The somewhat pleasant jaunt through the forbidden woods soon came to an end as Master Red’s meeting with Dumbledore and the other Hogwarts professors began to draw near, and Nyx was curious about what it would look like. For the professors who were able to reside for more than a single year, Nyx expected that they had a structure in place for what they taught, when, and how. But for the Defense position? The one rumored to be cursed- and Nyx realized that he should probably mention that to Master Red when they were safely out of hearing range of Nyx’s voice. But for that position? Nyx doubted there was an actual structure in place. After all, every person taught differently, and Nyx couldn’t recall a single upper classmate ever mentioning going into the forbidden forest to learn.
“Ah, Alastor.” Dumbledore’ voice cut through Nyx’s thoughts, and Nyx focused his attention on reality. When did they- oh, Master Red probably shadow-traveled the two of them a fair ways into the castle. “I see your pet has woken up, that’s good. How fares your lesson plans?”
“ It’s quite a predicament you’ve gotten, my good sir! Regrettably, I find myself unable to make a solid lesson plan without knowing what the students actually know. What they should know is standard throughout the nation, I see, but with what I’ve been hearing about the subpar Defense education being received here? I shall have to play teaching my second-year and above students by ear in the beginning. ” It was obviously not the answer that Dumbledore was looking for, and it was extremely obvious that it upset all the other teachers in the room- some whose faces Nyx could recall with clarity and others he could barely recall if he’d ever met or heard of them- but Dumbledore would not hear of it when some of the others began to question Master Red’s ability to actually teach the Hogwarts Students.
“I’m certain that we’ll see promising results with Alastor teaching them,” Dumbledore dismissed before turning to the other professors and beginning to discuss lesson plans and strategies with them.
Honestly, Nyx began to tune out the chatter- so much so that Master Red had put him on the ground and told him to ‘have fun exploring the grounds without him’. And truthfully? Nyx was curious about the rumors of there being a Kitchen in the dungeons that was run entirely by the school’s House Elves.
So, without any fanfare, Nyx hopped into one of Master Red’s many shadows and took off out of the room, slipping by the numerous magical barriers without so much as a thought. Not that anyone was paying attention to him, dismissing him as just a cat. Oh well, Master Red could have that conversation with the rest of the adults without him.
A week later, Nyx still hadn’t found the kitchens, but he’d found the common rooms of every other house in Hogwarts- as well as a private library that connected to Dumbledore’s office. He’d even found a little mystery- a bathroom that liked to flood, and a fancy central sink that had wind whispering through its pipes when the water wasn’t running. That mystery, however, was pushed to the back of his mind in favor of restraining his absolute sheer delight at Master Red’s teaching methods.
The First Years had been granted the rights to use chairs and tables for the first half-semester, to help them get used to the basics and theorems. All that coursework was strictly book-based, to help even out the underlying understandings between those raised in magic-rich environments and those that favored the more mundane lifestyles. The First Years, after all, could be corrected of their- as Master Red best said it- fundamental misunderstandings in the basic nature of what magic is and is not with gentle prodding and corrections.
The Second Years and up, however, did not get that luxury. Between classes, Master Red had his shadows move the tables and desks to the side, stacked up nice and sturdy in a corner to avoid being knocked into accidentally. The upper years, according to Master Red, would require a much more stern touch to correct.
(After all, wands were simply a medium for channeling one's magic. It helped a body get used to using a new source of power, like relearning how to use a formerly-paralyzed limb after an incident rendered it lame. That the wizards and witches of Hogwarts limited themselves to such a focus was not acceptable. Dumbledore wanted Master Red to teach the Defense Against Dark Arts class to the best of his ability? Master Red would make sure those who learn under him would thrive once he was done with them. If that meant making certain that by the time the school year came to a close the students could cast at least two defensive and two offensive spells without the use of such a medium, then that’s exactly what he would do .)
It was just Nyx’s great fortune that the first class that wasn’t a collective of first years consisted of faces that he could just vaguely recall. Red and Green, and scents that were bittersweet. It was just a shame that they very obviously did not get along.
A fact which Master Red noticed all too easily, and was even quicker to decide he wasn’t going to permit within his class. Instead of letting the class split up with the Slytherins and Gryffindors on opposite sides of the classroom, he had them partner up one-to-one with someone of the opposite House before giving his introductory greetings.
“ Good afternoon, students! If you don’t remember me from the Opening Feast a few days ago, I am Alastor- your new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor for the semester! I hope you all are pleased to be here. I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but I doubt you’ll ever get a better professor than I when it comes to the so-called Dark Arts. ” Master Red chuckled to himself, and Nyx had to fight to stop himself from chuckling alongside the man. As it was, the usual laugh-track that accompanied Master Red was notably absent- the Radio Staff dismissed from the physical planes of reality.
The class full of students shuffled in uneasy silence for a few moments before Master Red took mercy on them and continued on without a care to the world, telling them a bit about how his class was going to be structured and that they would be required to do some legwork outside of class if they wanted to keep up with his lessons- but that it wasn’t strictly required if they paid attention in class, asked questions, and participated in the frequent group-assignments he was going to assigning.
Everything was going fine until Master Red mentioned that the textbooks the students had bought for this class were going to be more supplemental material than actual coursework, and that the books were really just there for reference for the students to help them if they wanted to study outside of his class. That there was no need for them in the classroom when their practice was going to delve into something more practical than theoretical , and that the best way to learn anything was physical repetition.
It was a young Gryffindor with bushy hair and dark brown eyes that took offense to Master Red’s statement with a rather pointed ‘Excuse Me?!’. It took a little uncomfortable staring for Nyx to realize why he knew this person- why there was a nudge of something familiar in the back of his mind when it came to her.
Hermione. Her face was flush with a bit of faint-pink anger, and her arm was waving around in the air. She even looked upset, and Nyx could easily figure out why- Hermione loved her books and was always getting onto him and Ron- who was also in the class, now that he was looking for him, standing off to the side and looking uncomfortable next one of the Slytherin Students- to put their noses back into a book. He adored her, really, but her insistent need to have them study when they could instead take a small break to relax had him hesitant to ask her questions about magic.
Which is exactly what her outcry was about: the lack of reliable reading material assigned to the class to help them learn the material. How every other class had bookwork assigned to them in class to expand upon what was taught to them in class, so why would a Professor worth their weight assign books that weren’t going to be used?
“Come now, surely you don’t blindly believe everything that’s written down, yes? ” Master Red asked, amusement dancing in his glittering eyes. Nyx couldn’t fully suppress the purr that left him at the sight. It was always good to see Master Red in such a good mood- a bored Master Red was a destructive Master Red, and a destructive Master Red was a Master Red who would create his own amusement. Usually at the cost of others. “ I have nothing against self-learning. It’s always great to see young ones with such moxie and drive for their futures, but the best way to learn how to flex your magic for Defending yourself against danger is to experience it. Besides- magic isn’t so rigid that you only have one way to cast a spell."
“Excuse you?” Hermione’s face flushed a nasty shade of pink that made her look more sunburnt than anything else, but Nyx could clearly see the indignation and pride that began to swell in her eyes. Good- a lesson was about to be taught, and from what little Nyx could recall of his former best friend, perhaps it was a lesson that would stick. Let her have more friends than Ron and a memory ghost.
“ You heard me, dear. Let’s use the example from the book, shall we? Protego. A somewhat difficult defensive spell used to protect the caster from harm. It can be used to stop spells in their tracks, or even weaken stronger spells that pass through the barrier. There are alternative versions of the spells, such as Protego Totalum, which can be used to cover a much larger area than its default version, and Protego Diabolica, a spell infamously used by Gellert Grindelwald to tell friend from foe on the battlefield. Now, tell me, do you know the requirements to cast the default Protego, dear? ” There were a few snickers from somewhere else in the classroom, but one of Master Red’s shadows shushed that real quick, judging by the startled yelp that neither Nyx or Master Red turned to face. Good - let it be known that this class was a safe place to ask questions. How can anyone learn if they don’t ask questions?
“The wand movement is a straight downward slash, while calling out for the Protego spell, Professor.”
“ Hmm, yes, I suppose it is. But I wasn’t talking about the wand movements, dear. Anyone can wave a stick and make the proper incantations, ” Here, Master Red waved his hand and it made a couple of students snicker. Nyx couldn’t understand why- Master Red hadn’t gotten to the really interesting bit of magic yet. “ But what about what really gets magic moving? What are the little things that make or break a successfully cast spell? ”
“I… The textbooks say that magic is a gift inherited from Lady Magic that allows witches and wizards the ability to influence the world around them in specific ways.” Hermione’s bravery seemed to falter a little at the question, and it was obvious that she was a bit on the uncomfortable side, but it apparently wasn’t enough to stop her.
Master Red hummed, letting the static drag out a little longer than absolutely necessary. A twitch of his fingers and the chalk for the blackboard that had remained started to write. There were a few ooh and aah’s that came from the peanut gallery, but Nyx was focused on Master Red.
“ Nyx, remind me to locate which textbook says that after class and remove it from the syllabus and course. Clearly, I can’t trust the standardized list for this class. No no, it simply won't do to be poisoning such bright youths with such lies. ” There was an outcry at this from everywhere in the class, and Master Red waited until everyone was done shouting at him about how it wasn’t just the textbooks for this class that said them, but every class in all of Hogwarts that taught about what Magic is .
Behind him, the blackboard now sported the title of ‘Introduction to Magic’ up at the top, and the chalk was now hovering, ready to write more things down at Master Red’s silent nudge.
“ Well, then it appears that I’ll be teaching all of you far more than just Defense Against the Dark Arts, ” Master Red spoke up once everyone was done. “ Because if the definition that Miss Granger just gave me is verbatim from the introductory textbook for this class, it is critically incorrect. Thank you for making me aware of this error- and have a point for your house, Miss Granger, for your answer-, but now I have a question for the class. There’s no penalty for a wrong answer: What. Is Magic? Go on, you can even ask your classmates! ”
The class shuffled in place, the awkward tension rising in the air, and Nyx left his perch on Hermione’s feet to return to Master Red’s shoulder. His ears flickered as he listened to whispers and soft mutters that students were actually willing to discuss the question with the students around them. Occasionally someone would wander off on a tangent about something- or just outright not even bother with the question that Master Red- but Nyx let it go. Eventually, something had to give.
A Slytherin student who Nyx knew neither the name or face of was the first to speak up. They were smug in their answer, and Nyx was curious about how Master Red would deal with that.
“Magic is a gift from Lady of Magic herself for those who honor the old ways.” Nothing wrong with the answer- it was just a cop-out answer, Nyx had learned long ago. One uses by those who have either forgotten or chose to ignore the reality of Magic.
“ An interesting response, sir. Take a point for your house. However, it doesn’t really answer the question, does it? Magic being a gift from Lady Magic makes sense- it’s part of her title, after all, but what is Magic itself? Anyone can say fancy words on certain days after following a set of instructions, but what about the act itself is Magic ? ”
Another round of whispers, and Nyx could pick up the frustration that was beginning to build up in the class. Meanwhile, in stark contrast to everything, Master Red was standing straight at the front of the classroom and genuinely smiling, eyes still warm.
A Gryffindor- also unknown to Nyx- answered this time, voice extremely hesitant. Nyx had to give them props, though- they did speak up and answer the question.
“Is it- um, what we want to have happen?”
“ A half answer, but I suppose I can toss out two points for it. ” Master Red hummed, pleased. “ Magic as you children understand it is very different from what it actually is . Magic is Intent and Will made tangible. It is Focus, and Determination. It is Faith- in yourself, and in the world around you, and in the very nature of power that flows through your souls. When you’re first being taught, spells are often categorized with pronunciation and wand movements to help you little ones visualize and see your results. Seeing is part of believing, after all. However- Magic is much more than wand movements and pretty words and strict lists, and its history is both deep and rich with powerful information for those who only wish to see and utilize it. ” Here, Master Red held out a finger and swiped it to the right, trailing off into a little fluttering, semi-mocking, display, wordlessly conjuring up the Protego spell around him that was mentioned earlier.
Unlike a traditional Protego , Master Red’s shield was a dark red with flecks of black and ethereal green speckled throughout it. Shimmering like a heat-borne mirage, Nyx had to fight the urge to hurl himself into the barrier. Not only would full-body contact with that barrier hurt, it would hurt the entire time he was busy being flung backwards through the air while having his blood boil. That said, he didn’t hesitate to hurl a decently sized ball of fire at the shield from the other side of the classroom.
There were a few shrieks and a few people were smart enough to move out of the path, but Nyx had deliberately aimed the fireball at an angle to avoid hitting the flammable hairs of the children- just because Master Red had given Dumbledore assurances that the students would be safe from him didn’t mean they were safe from Nyx . That said, Nyx had no reason to be making enemies so soon, or to be putting the man who has been nothing but patient and kind towards him in any sort of uncomfortable position.
Didn’t mean he couldn’t have fun helping Master Red show off some of the potential of magic.
The Fireball that Nyx had hurled at the shield exploded into a harmless firework of embers the moment it made contact without so much as wavering, and everyone got to watch as the black flecks within the shield condensed and shot out towards Nyx- who allowed the shadow tendril to latch onto him and pull him back towards Master Red. He was harmlessly deposited onto the floor by the base of the shield, and Master Red dismissed the shield without fanfare.
“ In this class, I will teach you to defend yourselves against these so-called Dark Arts, and to do that requires a degree of flexibility with your own innate magic- you can’t defend against what has been modified beyond recognition, after all. However, it appears that we’ll be needing to redefine some terms and practices concerning the function of magic. So, if there’s no further interruptions, I’d like to begin with the basics. ” Master Red motioned to the blackboard behind him, with its singular title introducing Magic and one bullet point about one's own will and focus and belief in themselves.
Nyx felt it was going to be a very educational year for everyone at Hogwarts with Master Red teaching, and he was here for it. Chaos and all.