Dazai whined, rolling onto his 'back 'and tossing a textbook aside. 'Please. 'I 'm 'begging you. Shut up for five minutes. '

'

Hoot! '

'

I 'm trying to focus, you know. '

'

Hoot,

hoot

! '

He groaned, planting both hands over his eyes in bitter defeat. Lazily sitting up, Dazai glared down the charcoal-colored owl preening on his dresser. It barely spared him a glance before

hooting

once more.

Dazai fixed the skirt of his dress. 'I could kill you. Mori 'wouldn 't 'blame me 'I'll 'just tell him 'it 's 'a wizard thing. Or 'or I could throw you in a dumpster and tell him you flew away. '

It blinked. '

Hoot! '

'...

you 're right. He would never fall for that. '

Dazai pouted when the owl only continued to clean itself. 'I don 't even need an owl. Aren 't you just here to make reading difficult, then? '

'Actually, the 'owl is how 'we 'll 'be communicating, Dazai. Please refrain from killing it. '

Mori waved 'amicably 'at the doorway.

'Even worse. ' Dazai said, picking his book back up. 'When did you get back, anyway? '

'I see you 're wearing one of the dresses I got for you. ' The doctor said, completely disregarding the annoyed glare Dazai sent him at 'being ignored. 'I 'll admit I 'm a bit surprised! Usually I have to force you into such cute outfits! '

'I 'm just being proactive. '

Mori raised a brow. Dazai noted with a frown that the doctor looked amused regardless. 'Oh? How 's that? '

'I 'm skipping the part where you ask to dress me up and I try to stab you in the thigh. '

Mori hummed. 'Ah? But you don 't try to stab me when we play dress-up! '

Dazai rolled his eyes. 'That takes a lot of self-control. ' He looked away, glaring two angry holes into the owl. 'I 'm too tired for that right now, so I won 't be holding back if you try anything. '

'...Thank you for your consideration. ' He cleared his throat. 'So? How was your day-trip with that professor? '

'Fine... are you sure I can 't get rid of this thing? '

The owl

hooted

.

----

'Look who it is! '

'Snape 's favorite student is here! '

Ah, Dazai knew those voices. He glanced away from the bustling station, squinting at the large print '9 ' and '10 ' with a pout. 'Fred, George. Fancy seeing you here. '

Fred chuckled. 'Been standing here awhile, actually. '

'Mom 's getting emotional about sending Ron off. Only one kid left, after him. '

Dazai glanced behind the twins, where Mrs. Weasley fussed over Ron 'mussing up his hair and holding him tight. The mafioso snorted at the affectionate gesture.

'Is Snape not with you again? '

'He doesn 't know how to take a joke. ' Dazai said lightly. 'I think he 's fed up with me. '

The twins laughed. After a second, they started walking back towards the other Weasleys, so Dazai followed with a lazy 'gait.

'Hello, Mrs. Weasley. Ron. ' The mafioso greeted.

'Oh, hello dear. ' When she pulled 'off of 'Ron, the boy shot Dazai a look like he had just parted the sea. 'Have you got all your things? '

'Yes, Ma 'am. ' Dazai beamed.

Ron took a 'quick few steps 'toward Dazai until they were side-by-side. He shot a wary glance toward Mrs. Weasley 's open arms. 'Great! Dazai here 's been very worried about getting a seat on the train so we 'll be going now! '

'I have been? '

'Yes! Bye Mom! Bye Ginny! '

Fred and George broke out laughing as their younger brother started pushing Dazai through the false wall.

Dragged along, Dazai stumbled when 'instead of smashing into brick 'he fell straight through. There was 'a brief moment 'of 'disorientation, followed by Dazai 's wide eyes searching all around the station. The train 'was surrounded 'by dozens of young wizards and their families. However, he only had a second to look over everyone before Ron was guiding him onto the train. Dazai let himself 'be dragged 'from one compartment to the next.

Finally, Ron pulled open a compartment door and promptly fell into an empty seat. 'Thanks, man. ' He said, breathing heavily. Dazai set his things down and took the seat across from Ron with practiced casualness.

He blinked. 'For helping you avoid your family? No problem. '

'Yeah. Mom can be really 'overbearing 'sometimes... And don 't get me started on those hideous sweaters. '

'Sweaters? ' Dazai fished around his suitcase for a book. After a moment of silent consideration, he pulled

Magical Drafts and Potions

onto his lap. 'Maybe he 'could brew a poison to drink.

'Every Christmas. ' Ron whined. He watched Dazai flip through the book before saying, 'Are your folks not like that, then? '

He glanced up from an entry on Herbicide Potion, smiling slightly. He tried to envision Mori or his father knitting a sweater. 'Not exactly. '

Ron pulled a face. 'That 's right. They weren 't at 'Diagon 'Alley, either. '

Dazai waved off the suspicion with a stray hand. 'Mori is busy and I can 't stand him, so it 's not a big deal. '

' 'right. Rotten luck getting stuck with Snape, then. ' Ron said, expression taught like wire. 'You call your dad by his name? '

'Sure. '

Below them, the train started to shift and move. The red-head cleared his throat. 'Say, you 've got a pet, haven 't you? '

'Oh, right. ' he hummed, pulling a face. 'I 've got an owl. '

'An owl! Lucky you, all I 've got it this pathetic rat! ' From out of his pocket, Ron withdrew a sickly-looking black rat. It sat deathly still in the boy 's hands and blinked up two wide, violet eyes at Dazai.

'What 's a rat going to do for you? ' He asked in reply. When Dazai reached out to pat the sorry-looking thing on the head, it scurried up Ron 's arm to sit on his shoulder. 'Can 't carry any letters. '

'You 've got that one right. I was going to ask for an owl this year, but got stuck with this thing instead. '

Dazai watched the rat, and the rat watched him back. What 'intelligent 'eyes for such a pathetic creature!

'Used to have another rat named 'Scabbers, but he up and died last month. Just my luck this one shows up and 'won 't 'leave my side! Dad said I didn 't need an owl since Angel is so attached to me. '

'Angel? '

'His name 'my sister Ginny named 'im. ' Ron tried to flick the rat on his side, but Angel jumped out of the way. 'Not much of an angel if you ask me. Looks a bit like a skeleton. '

'Ah, you really wanted that owl, huh? Well, he 's kind of cute, I guess. '

'Cute!? 'You 're 'only saying that ' 'cause 'you got an owl! '

Dazai felt his expression tighten and vague memories of his stupid owl screeching washed over him. 'Something like that. '

Grumbling, Ron leaned forward in his seat as if the 'jealously 'was breaking him. 'You 'll have to let me see your 'owl 'sometime, mate. Maybe if it sends my folks a letter, 'they 'll 'realize what 'I 'm 'missing out on... say, what sort of 'owl 'is it? '

'Ah, it 's just a regular owl. Noisy thing. '

'Right... ' Ron shot him an almost disappointed look. 'Well, that 's you, I guess. You get that arm looked at? Mom was worried sick when the twins and I told her. '

'All healed up, unfortunately. '

'Unfortunate? '

'Sure, ' Dazai said, drumming his fingers on the potions book with an amiable smile. 'Bleeding out seems like a pleasant way to die!

Unfortunately,

the wound wasn 't fatal. '

Ron blinked, then blinked again. 'You can 't want to die. ' His nose scrunched up, creasing a wrinkle into his brow. 'You 're joking, right? '

'A pure, cheerful, and energetic suicide 'those are the words I live by. '

Ron 's mouth opened to say something.

Probably something

tedious

, Dazai thought 'mutely. However, before the pale boy could say anything of worth, the compartment door slid open.

'Anything off the trolley, dears? '

Dazai blinked up lazily to see a gentle-looking woman at the doorway. She was pushing a cart filled to full-capacity with sweets.

'No thanks. I 'm all set. ' Ron replied. Despite his polite demeanor, however, Dazai noted a distinct melancholy in the way he held his packed 'lunch.

Puffing out a breath, Dazai rooted around in his pockets for coins. 'I 'll take something. Hey, Ron, what 's good here? '

'Anything but Bertie 'Bott 's 'Every Flavor Beans! George reckons he had a bogey-flavored one once. '

Dazai quirked a brow, then returned to his selection. 'One of those frog-looking things then.

Chocolate frogs

? '

'Good choice. ' Ron pouted, casting eyes at the sweets he 'couldn 't 'afford. 'Be careful, or else it 'll hop away! '

Trading off his coins for the frog, Dazai waved the trolley-lady goodbye until she slid the door shut behind her. 'Is that a 'normal 'thing? 'Candy 'that runs away? '

'Just for these ones. Well 'go on! Open it! '

With a chuckle, Dazai complied easily. However, before he could reach in and pull out his treat, a little brown frog crawled out onto the 'wrapper.

'It 's kind of cute! ' Dazai preened. 'Does it 'squirm 'when you eat it? '

'Don 't talk! Catch it '! '

Suddenly, the frog bounded 'off of 'Dazai 's lap, hopping directly onto Ron 's shoulder. The ginger flailed. Despite both boys reaching for the chocolate, it was Angel who caught it 'trapped beneath two flimsy, skeleton-thin paws. The black rat blinked lazily down at its captive prey.

'Hey! Get off that! That 'isn 't 'yours, stupid rat. '

He shook his head, pulling a face. 'Ah, never 'mind... 'you can keep it. I don 't know where that rat of yours has been. '

'...Are you sure, mate? '

'Positive. '

Ron beamed, prying the chocolate out from underneath Angel by giving the rat a flick on its side. In his grip, the frog went limp. 'They only really have one good hop in them. ' He explained, popping it into his mouth with a certain glee, 'T 'anks... 'wha ' 'cawd 'du 'ge '? '

'What on Earth are you saying. '

Ron swallowed the chocolate down and cleared his throat. 'What card did you get? Chocolate frogs come with a collectible. '

Dazai sighed, somehow managing to keep the disgusted look off his face. Before Ron could be a good subordinate, 'he 'd 'have to learn a few manners first! Until then... ' He picked the frog 's container up and squinted down at it. 'Oh! That old guy is here. '

'

Dumbledore. '

Ron corrected, voice pitching a bit. 'I 've got about six of him. '

'...Want to make it seven? '

'No. '

'Oh ' '

'Has anyone seen a toad? '

Dazai 's playful expression froze in place when a third voice interrupted from the doorway. At the 'entryway, a young girl with thick, curly hair frowned down at them, eyes searching. At his side, Dazai noticed Ron shoot him a 'peeved 'look at the interruption.

'A boy named Neville 's lost one. ' She finished.

Ron 's face scrunched up. 'No. '

Dazai shrugged, trying for a passive look. He was starting to think he 'd been too quick to judge his stupid owl as a bad pet if everyone else was going around with

rats

and

toads.

Still... 'Are you sure he 's just not seeing it? I bet toads are a quiet, respectable pet! The type that doesn 't 'hoot 'when you 're trying to read. '

The girl 's eyes 'widened somewhat, landing on the open book on Dazai 's lap. 'Getting ahead in your studies?

I 've

already 'read through 'all the first-year books, you know. But I guess it can 't hurt to start now. ' Grinning, she stuck out her hand. 'I 'm Hermione Granger! And who are you two, then? '

'Ron 'Weasely. ' The red-head said, taking her hand and shaking it. Despite the 'pleasantry, he wore an expression closer to annoyance than anything else.

'...Pleasure. '

Dazai smiled, taking Hermione 's hand in his own. He raised it to his lips, relishing in the way she flushed scarlet 'immediately. 'Dazai Osamu. ' Meeting her blown eyes, he added, 'Would you like to commit a double suicide with me, my lady? '

'W-what?! '

Ron chuckled under his breath, and Hermione scrambled back into the doorway. 'He 's joking. ' he clarified, smiling with a pinched expression, '...You 're joking, right? '

'I mean... '

'He 's joking. ' Ron said again, more harshly this time.

Hermione glanced between the two 'boys, 'face still tinted red at the edged. She swallowed. 'Y-you two better get changed into your robes. I expect we 'll be arriving soon. '

She quickly 'departed, and Dazai smirked at her 'flustered 'exit. Beside him, Ron raised a brow. 'You shouldn 't joke about things like that, Dazai! Besides, it 's not right to tease a girl like that! '

'She 'll be fine! Besides, I thought she might appreciate a grand, romantic gesture. 'That 's 'how you make friends, isn 't it? '

'You can 't be serious. '

Dazai shrugged. He took the book from his lap and returned it to his suitcase with a certain regret at not being able to read it. Now that he thought about it... Ron was really no better than his owl, right? Neither would shut up when he was trying to work. At least his owl could deliver mail 'although the messages would be from Mori, so maybe Ron

was

the superior pet.

Brushing off Ron 's 'befuddled 'gaze, the bandaged boy rustled around in his suitcase until he could find his school robes. Seeming to take that as a cue to get moving, Ron stood. Angel 's little claws tightened on Ron 's sleeve at the sudden movement, drawing a 'snort 'from Dazai.

'A toad... ' Dazai hummed, glancing at the black rat. '...Almost as useless as a rat. '

Angel stared at him with 'amethyst 'eyes that almost looked humored. Somehow, Dazai was almost convinced the black rat was smiling.

'...Wanna 'trade? I 'll take your owl, you take Angel? '

'No way. Besides, I refuse to call that thing an angel. It 's glaring at me 'see? '

Ron blinked, twisting his neck to get a better look. 'What are you on about? He 's dumb, not evil! '

'I don't know. It definitely stepped on that chocolate frog just so I couldn 't have any. '

'...Right. '

Any creature with eyes that sharp 'wasn 't 'fit to 'be called 'Angel. 'Maybe the 'name Demon was more apt.