The bookstore was crammed full of people. It was wall-to-wall books and back-to-back wizards. Dazai 's breath caught in his chest as he struggled for something like an even breath. But the flat look on his face betrayed none of the tension in his spine. Dazai shot a quick glance at Snape. For whatever reason, once he saw the professor standing at his side, it was a little easier to pretend he wasn 't sweating.

Ugh. Too many people. All the noise wasn 't helping his headache, either.

Catching Dazai 's eye, Snape 's frown twitched. 'I have something to take care of. ' he said, suddenly. 'Buy your books while I 'm busy. '

'Hah? ' Dazai gaped. He could feel the people all around them 'their mere presence made his skin crawl. 'Aren 't you supposed to help me? '

The professor rolled his eyes. 'It 's a bookstore. I 'm sure even a

child like

yourself can figure it out. '

'What makes you think that? I stabbed myself like ten minutes ago. '

Severus clicked his tongue and put his hands on Dazai 's thin shoulders with a grip like a raven 's talons. 'Behave. '

Distantly, Dazai thought,

this must be important.

Amidst the foreign, tense atmosphere of a crowded place, at least the subvert threat 'in the professor 's voice was familiar. As if he were a well-trained dog, Dazai nodded and breathed out a sigh.

Don 't fight back,

his brain supplied easily over the buzz of 'energy 'in the air. That sort of mentality never failed him before.

'Good. Buy your books and do not leave the store. ' He turned and grabbed the door-handle. 'And for Merlin 's sake, don 't stab yourself, boy. ' With that, he shut the door behind him.

Dazai pouted at the doorway, watching as the shadow of his guide disappeared on the other side of the glass in the direction of Gringotts. How curious. What sort of business did the professor have that he would abandon his duties so easily?

Hmm... he 'd just take his time browsing the books in the meantime. Sneaking out to spy on Snape now would just land him in trouble before the fun had even started.

Anyway, ever since Mori told him to start researching the magical community, he 'd been

dying

to pick up some of their literature. He hated to give them kudos, but wizards certainly knew how to keep their documents under wraps. Dazai glanced down at the pouch of foreign coins in his hand 'he 'd stolen some extra money from Mori before Snape had come to pick him up this morning. It was probably enough to buy everything on his list and then some...

Information first; spying on professor Snape later!

Suddenly feeling a bit eager to be moving, Dazai skipped into the bookstore faux-merrily. In his excitement to inspect all the books for sale, he could almost convince himself the place wasn 't so crowded. Still, a deep breath and a focused head would help to pretend all these strangers weren 't rubbing up against him in the aisles.

He briefly skimmed the required book list. There were quite a few! At the very least, they 'd be interesting for a beginner like himself. Still, it 'd be prudent to save those ones for last.

But before he grabbed the books he needed, Dazai wanted to look at some of the higher-levels texts that weren 't required. He scanned the shelves passively, gaze searching as the tomes grew thicker and more complex down the aisle.

Travels with Trolls, Gadding with Ghouls, Holidays with Hags...

Were these written for children? Dazai passed them all with only a raised brow and the conscious thought of,

I expected better.

Once he got to the very back of the shop, however, he stopped.

Confronting the Faceless, A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration...

Now

these

ones looked interesting! Honestly, why mess around with the beginner books when he 'd probably be fine jumping ahead? Gathering as much information as possible was extra important 'especially because Mori was so clearly hiding something from him. Bastard.

Suddenly, Dazai 's legs locked into place, his eyes blowing wide at the sight of a red-

spined

book poking out the 'the 'shelf.

'The Complete Guide to Wizarding Suicide '

He plucked it off the shelf like a bird snatching a mouse and flipped open to a page at random, eyes wide in anticipation. Wizarding suicide! Dazai buzzed with barely concealed excitement. He couldn 't wait to try '

'Well, well, ' a voice interrupted.

A different voice finished, 'A young trouble-maker? Shouldn 't you be up front reading the kiddie-books? '

Dazai whirled on his feet, tense and ready for '

something.

He hadn 't even heard them approach! He was so distracted with the books and with how many other people are crowded around, Dazai had stopped paying attention to each individual person. He could hear Mori berating him now.

Waltzing down the aisle, one 'no, two 'people approached in a casual stride. They looked identical. When the tall, red-headed boys stopped about a foot from Dazai, they were each grinning ear-to-ear and wearing matching looks of mischief.

Dazai blinked up at them, then smiled emptily. 'Ah, I 'm being harassed. Is this bullying? '

'Come on, we 're just playing around! '

'Although I do wonder why you 're back here. Got lost? '

Holding up the book, Dazai chuckled. 'Looking at books, of course. '

This time, it 's the boys who were caught-off guard. 'A suicide manual? '

The other wore an odd expression. 'I don 't that 's meant to be for sale. '

'Just my luck, then! Do you think it 's free? '

For a moment, the boys shared a look. They seemed to come to a decision when one plucked the book from Dazai 's hand and the other put his hands on Dazai 's shoulders, guiding him out from the back section. Flustered, Dazai let himself be pushed into the aisle for first year books.

'Mom! ' The two 'brothers, evidently 'yelled with one voice, 'We found a sad-looking kid! '

A plump-looking, ginger woman turned form the shelf. Her eyes passed over the brothers, then Dazai with a look concern. 'Fred, George 'what have I said about harassing other students? Let go of the poor boy, Fred! '

'Ah, come on, Mom! ' The boy 'Fred, whined. Still, he took his hands from Dazai 's shoulders.

Dazai untensed easily and plastered on a pleasant smile.

'We 're just making sure he 's not lost. ' George chimed in. Then, with a frown, he added, 'He was looking at some weird book in the back. '

Fred nodded, enthusiastic.

The woman 's lip twitched down and she gave Dazai a searching look. 'You 're a first year, aren 't you? Honey, all of your books should be up here. What 's your name? '

'Dazai Osamu. ' He beamed. 'It 's a pleasure to meet you. '

'You can call me Mrs. Weasley. ' She replied, looking pleasantly surprised by Dazai 's manners. 'I assume the twins introduced themselves? '

'No Ma 'am. ' But they did steal my book and kidnap me. ' Dazai said, matter-of-fact. He shot a quick, subvert smirk to Fred and George.

Mrs. Weasley balked. 'Boys! '

While she scolded the brothers, Dazai tried to stifle his laughter. Ah, meddling was fun. Dr. Mori and the others at the Port Mafia were no fun to mess with 'he had the scars to prove it. But regular people can be manipulated without much consequence. It 's not like any of these people are smart enough to know he 's screwing with them, anyway.

Fred and George, despite being berated by their mother, returned Dazai 's grin two-fold.

He 'd love to stay and mess around, but Snape would be coming back soon and he 'd rather stay in the man 's good graces at least until school started. Dazai cleared his throat. 'I should get going then Professor Snape will yell at me if I 'm not done when he gets back. '

The twins startled. Fred coughed, looking jokingly quite aghast. 'You 're here with

Snape!? '

'Poor kid, ' George put a hand over his heart, 'What 'd you have to do to get stuck with him? '

Did Snape have a bad reputation at Hogwarts? He 's the only teacher Dazai knew so far 'probably by virtue of his being muggle-born from Japan. 'Is he that bad? '

'Is he that '!? ' Fred started. '

Yes

he 's that bad! Absolutely terrible to every house except Slytherin! '

'No fun at all. Takes pranks too seriously. '

Mrs. Weasley cleared her throat, looking every bit a reprimanding mother. 'Didn 't I say not to prank teachers? '

'Hmm ' no I 'm sure I 've never heard that. Does that sound familiar, Fred? '

'Not at all, George. '

She sighed and turned the attention back on Dazai, who had been snickering quietly to himself. 'Why don 't you shop with us until Professor Snape comes back? I 've got another son your age starting at Hogwarts this year too 'Ron! '

'What? '

Dazai blinked, stepping closer to a bookshelf as another red-head appeared. This Ron character was a bit taller than him, Dazai noted with a pout.

'Oh. ' Brows pinched together, he greeted. 'I 'm Ron. Ron Weasley. '

'Dazai. ' He waved and offered a pleasant smile in return. No reason to be hostile, really. Besides, he had some time until Snape got back. Having a loyal follower at Hogwarts would probably prove useful (assuming he actually

had

magic, like Mori said, and he didn 't get kicked out for being a fake).

Mrs. Weasley cleared her throat, turning back to the twins. 'We still have your brother 's old copies for most of these... but this one here 's new. ' She pointed at something on her list, 'Go off and find it now, boys. And don 't harass any other students this time! '

'Never! ' They chimed before vanishing out of sight. Dazai watched them go with an empty, bemused smile.

'Don 't worry 'bout them. ' Ron said under his breath, 'You haven 't gotten your books yet, have you? I 've got to use

Perce 's

old first year books, but I can still take a look with you. '

'Perce? '

'Percy. ' He 's a prefect this year. Won 't shut up about it. '

'Prefect. Right. '

Ron blinked owlishly while Dazai skimmed his 'letter. After a moment, he looked up to scan the shelves.

'...you don 't know what a prefect is. ' The

ginger

said, matter-of-fact.

'Well, ' Dazai double-checks a title then pulls a book off its shelf. 'It 's a school thing. I don 't bother with boring details like that. '

Rons nods, like this makes sense. 'Right? I don 't know why anyone could ever be so excited 'bout being a prefect. I 'm much more interested in learning spells. '

Dazai spares him a wayward glance, smiling slightly in jest. 'Eh, really? I was thinking history would be fun! '

'Don 't even joke about that! Fred once told me the history professor will cut out the tongues of any student who talks in class! '

'...right. Are you sure he isn 't messing with you? '

That 's what I would do.

'

Well... '

'Those twins seem the type. Hey 'help me find this book, since you 're just standing around doing nothing. '

'Oi! I 'm trying to be 'nice! '

'Standard Book of Spells 'where's that? ' Dazai talked over him, looking around energetically.

Seeming to realize arguing was a lost cause, Ron heaved a sigh. 'Up front. C 'mon then. '

Dazai offered an easy beam and trailed after the ginger like an eager mutt.

'Here. ' Ron said after a moment, turning on his heels to drop a book on top of Dazai 's growing pile. Two down, six to go!

'Thanks... what about this one? '

He heaved an aching sigh. 'Over here... I 'm not just some dog to order around, 'y 'know. '

Magical Theory '

could be an interesting read. Dazai took it, 'replying airily, 'Hmm... well, what are you then? Hey, what 's the human equivalent of a dog? '

Ron blinked, affronted.

'Someone who 's loyal, obedient, and imprints quickly ' '

'Hey! '

'Oh. Are we friends now? What sort of things do friends do? '

"

Wha

'!

Friends

are not the same things as

dogs

! '

'Are you sure?" Dazai frowned and shot an assessing, thinned glance to the Weasley. 'I don 't see the difference. Anyway, where 's this

Fantastic Beasts

book? '

A moment passed before Ron finally sighed. 'You 're standing next to it. '

'Oh, thanks friend! '

'...whatever. '

Dazai made a light humming noise, feeling vaguely triumphant, and reached out to run his finger over the book spines.

'

Merlin

! '

Ron suddenly shrieked. 'What 's wrong with your arm?! '

Dazai blinked, looking around for a moment before realizing who the ginger was talking to. 'Oh, right. ' He plucked the correct textbook from the shelf and smiled aimlessly. At the corner of his vision, Dazai noticed the twins return with their books. 'A gruesome tale. Maybe I shouldn 't say. '

'What? ' Ron paled, 'What happened? '

He hummed, pulling a face like he was lost in thought. Dazai paused to grab another book, if only just to leave Ron hanging for a moment longer. 'I was attacked. ' He said finally, speaking in a low, grim tone. 'There 's a charming criminal wandering around with a knife, I guess. He 's very handsome and is very talented with a knife! He asked if I wanted to commit a double suicide, and I was going to agree, but I was a little busy. 'So 'he stabbed me. '

'Really?! Why didn 't you report it!? Let 's go tell my mom ' '

'I 'm kidding. '

The twins

burst out into laughter.

'Did you really believe that? ' Dazai chuckled, 'I 'm just messing with you. '

Ron 's mouth dropped open and his brows drew together in something like a mix of amusement and irritation. '

Wha

'then what really happened? '

Fred and George finally wandered over from the end of the aisle, wearing matching looks of humor. If there was an undertone of concern in their eyes, Dazai didn 't pay it much attention. 'Did Snape do that? Wouldn 't surprise me! ' Fred asked.

'Oh! I wonder if a dragon got loose somewhere ' '

'There are dragons around here? ' Dazai

interrupted

, blinking amicably at George.

'Ah, guess

not.

Well, what did happen, then? '

Dazai waved them off (as best he could, with six textbooks in hand). People were only ever good for overreacting 'back home, Mori would have just rolled his eyes and pulled out the bandages. 'Who knows. ' He replied evenly. 'There could be a stab-happy criminal around here. You wouldn 't know. '

Ron raised a brow. 'So 'are you kidding or not? '

Beside him, Fred and George shared a look. Whatever passed between them, Dazai wasn 't sure, but it wasn 't a look of amusement.

If only Dazai had someone he could silently communicate with like that... Maybe if he works on this Ron kid

enough

he can have a subordinate that picks up on telepathic cues!

'I 'm always kidding. ' He said

instead,

laughing easily. 'That

Ollivander

guy wanted my blood for something. '

Three pairs of eyes blinked back at him.

'For,

y 'know

, ' Dazai adds, 'a wand. Unless he 's a vampire. Are vampires real? '

'Yes? ' Ron answered. 'Don 't you know that? '

'Now that you mention it, Snape is pretty bat-like ' '

Dazai reached for another book, only rolling his eyes when Ron suddenly startled.

'

Wa

it 'are you a muggle?! '

'You sound surprised. ' He snorted, then considered the question by glancing back at Ron, 'Is that such a bad thing? '

'No! Well... '

George chuckled lightly. 'I mean, 'Dazai ' isn 't exactly a well-known family name for wizards. '

'Right! Didn 't you notice, Little Brother? '

'I 'he could be from a well-known foreign family! '

Dazai stifled a choked out laugh at that. Was the mafia like a family?

Port Mafia

was

a famous name back home. Well, infamous. While Ron continued to flap his arms around noisily, Dazai mused over how strangely accurate the boy 's guess was.

He 'd make a good subordinate yet. If only they could work on that telepathy...

Ron caught his eye and stopped bickering with the twins haltingly.

Encouraged, Dazai narrowed his eyes, nearly glaring a hole into the red-head and thinking,

go find my last book, go find my last book, go find my last book '

'

What? ' Ron squeaked, flinching back a step, 'Why are you looking at me like that? '

Was the thought too complicated?

Book, book, book, book '

'

Scary! '

At his twin 's declaration, Fred put on the look of a hardened detective, leaning in close to Dazai 's face. 'He 's really upset about that muggle thing,

Ickle

Ronnikins

... have you considered apologizing? '

'What for?! '

Dazai blinked. 'I 'm not mad. '

'Then what are you 'doing..? '

He waved them off, sighing too-loud and shrugging off to the other bookshelf. 'Never mind. ' They 'll have to work on it. Or maybe this subordinate is no good. Either way... 'Ah! Here 's my last book. '

'Wait, wait, wait! '

Dazai quirked his head sideways.

'You can 't just say

Ollivander

wanted your blood and leave it at that! ' Ron gasped, 'That 's not a normal thing! '

'For a wand! '

Fred and George chuckled. 'Your new friend is mysterious, Ron! '

Grinning sloppily, Dazai allowed himself a small laugh at the Weasleys ' antics. He opened his mouth to speak when a shadow suddenly fell over him. Immediately, Ron straightened and cleared his throat. At his side, the twins also perked up. Dazai himself felt a breath catch in his throat and his mouth go cold. Who '?!

'Professor! ' Fred greeted. 'How lucky we are to see you here today! '

'Indeed. ' Snape replied in a low voice, looking down at Dazai. 'I see you didn 't wander off. '

Dazai glanced up faux-lazily, brow raised and still reeling from being caught off-guard. He lifted the books mutely. 'Did you finish your secret side-quest, Sir? '

'What did I say about asking questions? '

'Right. ' Dazai hummed.

----

(When he returned to Mori 's home, Dazai cleaned and re-wrapped the fresh wound with his eyes closed. Looking at the raised

cemetery

of marks there would only make him sick.)