Chapter 10: Ch 10: First day draft - part 2
Kouchi moved swiftly through the hallways, keeping his steps light as he made his way toward the Headmaster's office. He was determined to meet Dumbledore and get clarification about his mission, but as he turned a corner, he was abruptly stopped by a familiar, mischievous voice.
"Oi, Hufflepuff! Where do you think you're going?"
Kouchi turned, his gaze cool and unwavering as he saw the two troublemakers approaching. The Weasley twins. Fred and George, of course. They were grinning ear to ear, their eyes gleaming with the same mischievous light Kouchi had seen in their previous antics.
"What's it to you?" Kouchi replied flatly, unbothered by their sudden appearance.
Fred nudged George with his elbow, his grin widening. "You know, we've got a little proposition for you. We could use someone with a bit more… finesse. You'd be perfect for a prank we're planning."
George's eyes lit up. "Exactly! We need someone who can slip past people unnoticed, someone who can handle the pressure. You've got the right… vibe for it, mate."
Kouchi raised an eyebrow, silently acknowledging the subtle compliment, but he wasn't interested. He wasn't here to make friends, and he certainly wasn't here to get involved in childish pranks. His mission was far more important than any foolish game these twins could play.
"I'm not interested," Kouchi replied coolly. "I don't do pranks."
Fred's grin faltered, and George's eyes narrowed. "Oh, come on. It's not like we're asking you to do anything dangerous. Just a bit of mischief here and there. Help us out with one, and you won't regret it."
Kouchi's gaze flickered over their faces, reading their expressions. He could tell they were persistent, but that wasn't the problem. The problem was that they were getting too close to him. The last thing he needed was these two getting curious about his abilities or his past. He didn't want to get entangled in their schemes, no matter how harmless they seemed.
"I don't think you understand," Kouchi said, his voice now taking on a slight edge. "I don't have time for your games. I've got other things to do."
Fred raised an eyebrow, his voice suddenly serious. "Oh, you've got other things to do? What's so important that you're blowing us off?"
Kouchi didn't respond immediately. He was already calculating his next move, assessing the situation. He didn't have the time or the patience for these two, and if they didn't stop pestering him soon, he'd have to make a quick escape.
George seemed to sense the tension. "Alright, alright. No need to get all cryptic on us. But if you change your mind—"
Before he could finish, Kouchi used the moment of distraction to slip away, blending into the shadows of the hallway. The twins looked around in confusion, but by the time they registered that he had disappeared, it was too late. Kouchi was already gone, moving like a whisper through the maze of corridors.
Fred turned to George with a frown. "What the bloody hell just happened? Did he just vanish?"
George scratched his head. "I swear he was right there a second ago…"
They both glanced around, clearly baffled. Fred muttered under his breath, "He must be some kind of ninja or something. Sneaky little bugger."
George chuckled, albeit reluctantly. "Well, we can't blame ourselves for that. Who'd have thought he'd be so hard to catch?"
They stood there for a moment, still trying to piece together what had just happened. Neither of them had seen Kouchi move so quickly or so quietly, and it only fueled their curiosity.
Meanwhile, Kouchi, having successfully evaded them, took a deep breath and continued his trek through the school. He couldn't afford any more distractions. The sooner he met with Dumbledore, the sooner he could get back to his true mission.
But as Kouchi rounded another corner, his attention was caught by a strange noise. He froze, listening intently. There was something going on up ahead—loud voices, a commotion. He slipped into a nearby alcove to observe.
As he peered around the corner, Kouchi saw Fred and George again. Only this time, they weren't alone. Their mischievous expressions were gone, replaced with panic as they tried to explain themselves to a stern-looking teacher. Behind him, a large cat with sharp yellow eyes glared at them.
"I saw what you two did," Professor Flinch said in his characteristic growl. "You think you can sneak around and pull pranks without consequences? Not on my watch."
The Weasley twins exchanged frantic looks. "It was just a bit of fun, Professor," Fred said, his voice surprisingly nervous.
George quickly added, "We didn't mean to—"
"Save it," Professor Flinch snapped, his cat growling in agreement. "You're both getting detention. In my office. Now."
Kouchi couldn't help but watch the scene unfold. He had no particular love for the twins, but he wasn't entirely heartless either. Still, there was something strangely satisfying about seeing them finally caught for their mischief.
Fred and George tried to argue, but Flinch wasn't having it. The cat hissed at them as they were led off to detention, their heads hanging in defeat. Kouchi stayed hidden in the shadows, silently watching the whole ordeal.
Once the twins were out of sight, he allowed himself a small smirk, though no one could see it. "Not so clever now, are you?" he thought. "Too bad. They might've actually been useful for something… but now they're just a couple of fools."
Kouchi lingered for a moment longer, contemplating whether he should head to the Great Hall for breakfast. He had an hour before classes started, but meeting with Dumbledore was far more important. As he thought about the situation, something inside him clicked. He'd seen enough. He couldn't afford to be distracted by these antics any longer.
Without a second glance at the scene behind him, Kouchi turned and walked purposefully toward the staircase that led to the Headmaster's office. He needed answers. The sooner he got them, the sooner he could finish his mission and leave this place behind.
The twins, meanwhile, had no idea what had just happened. They had failed in their first attempt to recruit Kouchi, and now they were facing the consequences of their own antics. But as they trudged toward detention, the thought of their failure didn't even seem to faze them. They would find a way to bounce back. They always did.
But as for Kouchi, the day ahead held far more pressing matters than pranks. The Headmaster was waiting.