Fiery dancer

"Oh? What happened to 'I'm not here to make friends'?" he asked with a smile.

"That didn't change. But it's better to be on good terms with someone." I said flatly. He didn't seem to mind and shook my hand with a warm smile on his face.

"The name is Thomas Knight by the way."

"Well Tom, what brought you to this school?" he asked as he made himself comfortable on his seat.

"I decided to see what the famous Ilvermorny school of witchcraft and wizardry was all about," I said. I was technically not lying since that was a convenient byproduct of my first, more important goal.

"Mmm, you won't be disappointed. The thing I'm most intrigued about is, what statue will pick you." He said while cupping his chin with his hand.

"What do the four houses represent?" I asked. I had a clue but who knew if there were any differences.

"Well, the four Ilvermorny Houses are said to each represent a different part of a human, these being; Horned Serpent represents the mind and favours scholars; Wampus represents the body and favours warriors; Pukwudgie represents the heart and favours healers; Thunderbird represents the soul and favours adventurers" he described.

I contemplated his words. I definitely wasn't a healer or a naturally 'good' person. So, I doubt I would be selected by the Pukwudgie. I would love to go on a long adventure around the world so the thunderbird might be an option but not the most likely. If anything, it would be between the wampus and the horned serpent. And since they both sounded just like Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, I will probably choose the horned serpent this time round.

"What house would you want to go into?" he asked curiously.

"Wampus or horned serpent. But I'm currently leaning towards the horned serpent." I answered.

"Oh? that's surprising." He said to my puzzlement.

"Why is that surprising?"

"Well because I would expect the boy who took down 6 men all at once to want to go into the wampus house. Since it has a strong affinity for warriors." He said with a knowing smile.

"Tch, how many people know about that?" I asked.

"Ha! Everyone man. A doubt anyone doesn't know. After all, it's not every day something so incredible goes down." He said with slight awe as he looked at me.

"What's with that look?" I asked, slightly creeped out.

"Teach me, that flame magic thing you did. They say it's a new spell never before seen. A lot of people are curious about its origins. It will be both a blessing and a curse if they know it's you." He said seriously.

"You mean this?" I asked as I faced my palm to the ceiling. A small black flame coalesced into the shape of a dancing woman. I wanted to do that since it reminded me of that fire dude from suicide squad. What was his name? ah yes, 'El Diablo' great name if I say so myself.

Percival was entranced by the dancing woman made of fire.

"Yes, that's the one. Can you teach me?" he asked with anticipation. But I shook my head.

"Nah man, this isn't teachable. I was born with it. you can learn to manipulate fire, but it will probably take you a while. This here isn't a spell." I said truthfully. Percival was visibly disappointed. But his happy cheerful self soon came back.

"Don't worry about it man, it was worth a try. So, you were born with it huh? That's an odd gift you have. You're quite lucky. I would kill to have that." He said jokingly. But I couldn't help but get slightly sad.

"Trust me, I paid too much for this 'gift'. If I could give it back in return for what I lost, I would do so in a heartbeat." I said while gazing down at the dancing figure that seemed oblivious to the shift of atmosphere. She continued to perform elegantly on my palm. I soon lost myself in the scene. The face of someone popped into my head.

"Wow, she changed appearance." Exclaimed Percival who awoke me from my odd state. When I looked down again, I saw that it had indeed changed. I had modelled the figure after my mother, but now it looked like…

"Who is she? She looks so realistic; you must have been with her often to make it so vivid." He said as he focused on the fiery image. I smiled at the dancing figure that twirled around in circles with a classic book held tightly within her arms.

"Yeah, she's annoying as hell, but a great friend of mine," I said half absentmindedly as I continued to watch.

"Oh wow! For you to call them a friend, they must be important to you?" he asked with a smile.

"Yes… she is… Anyway!" I shook my head and the figurine disappeared in a puff of smoke.

When I looked up I saw Percival looking at me with a cheeky smile.

"What's that look for?"

"I know a dude with a crush when I see one man. Who is it? someone from your home country?" he asked. I was stunned, what was he talking about? crush? Was it a crush? Do I like her?

'Oi Drak, Achlys, Alfred, give me your opinions on this. I need an outsider's perspective that isn't this idiot's.' I said in my head.

[Could be, I mean, she seems to pop into your head often. Which means you miss her. Maybe she had more of an impact on you than you initially thought.] Drak analysed.

{Honestly, I have no idea who this chick is, so don't ask me.} Achlys said. Just like him to say something like that.

(It would be her honour to be liked by young master. only an idi-) 'that's enough Alfred' i said in my head with a sigh. the book licking was too much. But I pondered over Draks words for a while.

"Hello!… Oi Tom!… Earth to Tom! Are you listening?" Percival waved his hand in my face. His words slowly snapped me out of my thoughts, and I focused again.

What?" I asked.

"Man, you're weird. Who is it? someone from your home country?" he repeated.

"Yeah, I met her last year when I attended my first year at Hogwarts. She's one of the very few people I enjoyed being around. Except for when she hits me. She's a brute like that. Starts swinging at the first grievance." I said with a grim expression.

"Why are you rubbing your shin?" he asked. His words made me realise what I was doing. The girl really has traumatized me.

***

"ACHOO! Who could be talking behind my back?" exclaimed Hermione as she walked down the magical district in France.

"Could it be Tom? Better not be, or I'll kick him again." She mumbled with a mischievous grin.

***

I suddenly shivered involuntarily.

"Are you cold or something?" Asked Percival.

"No, it's something much worse… much-much worse," I said with a dismayed sigh.

"What?" he asked with a puzzled look.

"a woman's intuition."