Katakuri shot you a glance as you hurried into the changing room, cheeks flushed for the run and broom in your hand. He didn't comment though, hinting towards the bench.

All the other team members were already aligned in front of him.

You immediately sat beside Killer.

«...as I was saying,» the captain cleared his throat «last year we lost because of our intra-rivalry. If we want that cup, we have to stick together, be a true team. And yes, Vinsmoke, Eustass, I'm talking to you.»

The two redheads exchanged a glare (and a growl).

«So you decide.» Katakuri grunted «Victory, or your stupid ego. Just let me know sooner this time, so I won't waste too much time on it.»

Although none of them answered, you could physically feel the air burning on the bench.

With a rapid gesture of his hand, Katakuri dismissed the gathering and the players started off towards the field. You took the chance to put on the rest of your uniform.

Law's words were still swirling in your mind.

"Whoever of you is responsible for it, I will unmask them"

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

"Beware your hausemates"

Trafalgar Law was a peculiar element, but he was smart. It wasn't like him to pick up random fights.

«L/n?»

You blinked, suddenly brought back to reality.

«Is everything okay?»

You turned to Katakuri, who lingered in the room with you.

«Oh, yes! Sorry, I'll hurry.» you blabbered, throwing the T-shirt over your head.

«Actually, I wanted to mention something quick to you.»

«Ah?»

You adjusted your tracksuit and looked up to him.

God he was huge.

His serious gaze fixed on yours.

«I know it's a lot to ask, but I'd like you to be the glue of this team.»

You felt your eyes widening.

«What?»

«You heard me. You're the only one who has a decent relationship with all the players, and they respect you. Can you try to keep them together?»

«I...» you scratched your nape «No offense, captain, but I'm no natural leader or anything. Why should they listen to me?»

«The rivalry I mentioned, they feel it towards me as well. I'm afraid that this year, with the selection for the Tournament, it will be even worse. But you are neutral ground.»

You frowned, lightly chewing your inner cheek.

«I don't want you to yell stupid slogan or anything similar.» he continued, noticing your concern «Just do what you can, okay?»

«I'll try my best, but I doubt those hotheads will ever listen to me.» you murmured.

Katakuri nodded.

«Good. Now let's go.»

The afternoon was grey, and an annoying thin rain covered the whole training session.

Katakuri was smart enough to start with individual training, so the competitiveness couldn't rise too high from the beginning and everyone had the chance to warm up their own skills.

Being the seeker of the team, you spent most of the time flying around, trying to spot the snitch and grab it as fast as possible. So you didn't know how the first fight broke off.

When you landed for a break, Niji was trying to snap Kid's head.

«I swear this asshole sent the bludger right in my face!» Niji roared, with a very visible bleeding nose.

«Bullshit! You cut through my field of action!» Kid roared back.

Katakuri was not even attempting to calm them down. He stood a few feet afar, pinching the bridge of his nose. The rest of the team was scattered around.

Does he expect me to stop them?

Nevertheless, you jumped down your broom, moving it on your shoulder, and walked over with a resigned sigh.

«Oi, oi, you two.»

«Stay out of it, Y/n!» Kid barked, murdering eyes still locked on Niji's face.

I'm not up for this shit.

«Fine.» you growled «Eat off each other's snout. I don't care.»

You grabbed a can of coke from the cooler at the border of the field and opened it.

«You guys can lose your time and go on sucking. I'll win the cup for you little angry birds. All I have to do is catching the damn snitch, right?»

Everyone turned to you.

You shrugged their glares off with a smirk.

Your inner guts were twitching, but cockiness was the only language they could understand right now.

«Fly down, squirt.» Yonji snapped.

«Then stop being such babies!» you pointed a fingers on the two contenders «Who cares whose fault it is? Kid's job is to knock people out with the bludgers, and Niji has to avoid them. Can we please, please win the cup this year?»

After a few seconds of silence, Killer nodded.

«I'm with Y/n. We have very good chances if we learn some teamwork.»

«I agree.»

You blinked at Ichiji, surprised.

The redhead placed his hand on Niji's shoulder.

«Let's save this for the Triwizard Tournament. On this ground, we're a team.»

You smiled.

«"Slytherin will help you on your way to greatness".» Katakuri quoted.

Slowly, Kid's fists relaxed too.

«Fine. For Slytherin.»

«For Slytherin!» you repeated with a grin.

As the players returned to their roles, you failed to notice Katakuri's eyes fixed on you.

The rest of the training proceeded with no further clashes.

Out of the changing rooms, you ran into Kid and Killer.

«Hey.» you attempted a smile «Are you pissed at me?»

Kid grunted, starting to walk towards the castle.

«You should watch your mouth more.»

«I know.» you sighed.

«He's not pissed.» Killer said «He's just annoyed because a girl shushed him.»

«I'M NOT! SHUT UP!»

You muffled a giggle with your hand.

It was already time to join the rest of the students for dinner.

The training sore your muscles after months of inactivity, and you plopped exhausted on your seat beside Perona. As if it wasn't enough, Tuesday was the day you had Astrology lesson till midnight, and with Gryffindor. So you didn't speak much during dinner.

A few more people put their name in the Goblet of Fire (Apoo, Bonney, Wiper, Fukaboshi and others), but nothing more happened.

The Astrology lesson proceeded smoothly as well.

Prof. Marco was cool and able to catch the class' attention, plus he was a Ravenclaw and treated everyone fairly.

You went to sleep immediately after.

The day after passed without any major drama.

There was another disastrous lesson of Herbology, one hour with Prof. Crocodile, and finally Potions with Professor Caesar Clown.

He was also from Slytherin, and he liked to pick on Gryffindor students.

The potion you had to prepare today, a concoction meant to trigger nausea in any human being, was a 2-3 people job, so you split up in small groups.

Like every time, Ace and Sabo tried to sabotage the Vinsmokes' potion, while the twins tried to do the same.

You glanced at them, before going back to cut some roots.

«So, what is it, F/n?»

You lifted your eyes on Perona, who was working on your same kettle.

«What do you mean?»

«Oh, please. You have been absent-minded the whole day. Plus, those are radish's roots, our potion is ruined already.»

You stopped, quickly checking the recipe on the bookstand.

«Oh, shit!»

She shrugged.

«It's fine, Prof. Clown won't care.»

You pushed the chopped vegetables away with a tired gesture.

«If I tell you, you have to promise this stays between us. Seriously.»

She nodded.

Perona could appear like a light girl, but there was a reason she was your best friend. You knew you could trust her.

«Later then.»

Going for lunch, the two of you trailed behind the rest of the students and turned to a desert isle of the castle to gain some privacy.

You told her about Law's warning. At first, she was indignant. Then she agreed he must have said those words for a reason.

«Anyway, keeping this from Katakuri is not good.» she observed «It's an unspoken rule that we have to report him accidents like this when the House is concerned.»

«Trafalgar clearly said to pay attention to my mates. And I don't really know Katakuri, he's my senior.»

«You told me.»

«I trust you. Plus, you're not smart enough to plot something without me noticing.»

«Thanks.»

«You're welcome.»

You were considering talking with Reiju about it, but at the same time you didn't want to put her in a difficult position.

«You know whom you could talk to?»

You looked at Perona, following the flow towards the lunch.

«Who?»

«Killer. He's pretty knowledgeable and wise.»

«Yeah, and everything you tell him you're basically telling Kid too. And Kid would just straight up kill Trafalgar.» you sighed.

She shrugged.

«He did threaten us, after all.»

«But why would he...»

«Y/n-senpai!»

You swallowed back your words at the sight of Momonosuke waving at you, joining the group of students.

«Hey!» you smiled at him, patting his head «How is your first week going?»

«It's great! Everything looks so exciting!» he uttered with bright eyes.

«I'm happy to hear it.»

«You didn't tell me you were gonna compete in the Duelling on Friday!» the child said.

«Hum, because I'm not.»

He blinked at you.

«But the pairings of the first round are out already, and you're on it.»

You stopped.

«What?»

«They are hung outside of the Great Hall.»

You looked at Perona, who shook her head.

«This isn't happening.» you growled, speeding up.

A dense cloud of students was gathered at the entrance of the hall, studying the duelling table in excitement.

«EXCUSE ME.» you shouted, pushing them aside to reach it.

DUELLING CLUB TOURNAMENT

Round 1

Portgas D. Ace vs Longarm Ideo

Scratchmen Apoo vs Don Boo

Soap Kalifa vs East Bartolomeo

Shandia Wiper vs Vinsmoke Sanji

Monkey Koby vs Mink Carrot

Jewelry Bonney vs Blue Gilly

Edward Weevil vs Don Sai

Hyena Bellamy vs Eustass Kid

Basil Hawkins vs Neptune Manboshi

Vinsmoke Ichiji vs Neptune Fukaboshi

Charlotte Myukuru vs Vinsmoke Reiju

Owl Fukuro vs Heart Penguin

Trafalgar Law vs Fuoco Heat

East Yosaku vs Giraffe Kaku

Diez Drake vs Plain Gin

Ago Wire vs Monkey D. Sabo

Shimozuki Tashigi vs Donquixote Dellinger

Charlotte Katakuri vs Jean Bart

Whiteknight Cavendish vs Edward Haruta

Rhaba Abdullah vs Charlotte Raisin

Roronoa Zoro vs Kuja Margaret

Kamazo Killer vs Rhaba Jeet

Dragon Koala vs Vinsmoke Niji

Charlotte Cracker vs West Johnny

L/n D. F/n vs Artic Shachi

Neptune Ryuboshi vs Charlotte Smoothie

Beast Sheepshead vs Monkey D. Luffy

Jaya Laki vs Whiteknight Suleiman

Morgan Hermeppo vs Syrup Usopp

Vinsmoke Yonji vs Yuba Koza

Your eyes widened.

«What. The actual. Fuck.»