Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the contents therein. I do own Saiya, Yūki, and my other original characters and critters.
Harry Potter and the Guardians' Wyrd
By Zaion Indulias
Chapter 1: The Transfer Students
It was the first of September, and King's Cross Station was bustling as usual. Muggles filled the platforms while a variety of poorly and well disguised witches and wizards maneuvered their way to the barrier between Platforms Nine and Ten and onto Platform Nine and Three Quarters. It was into this mess that six figures stepped as they exited their train on Platform Nine. All six figures looked to be in their mid to early teens and were dressed completely differently from one another, but they were all pushing very large trunks and shared the same determined look.
The tallest of the figures, a young teenage boy dressed entirely in black and wearing a black trench coat, sniffed the air before he spoke. "Gah, London. The air quality here reeks like bantha poodoo." Certainly most of their soon-to-be classmates would not have gotten the young man's joke, but several of his companions did. One young man with short, dirty blond hair grinned, and the green haired girl next to him let out a snort, giving her tallest companion a wolfish grin.
"Yes, the air is much crisper at Durmstrang. And at Hogwarts, I am told." A burly young man with short dark hair and dark eyes had stepped up beside the tallest youth. "I suggest we get to the platform before some station worker notices what I am hiding under my robes. I would rather not have to conceal your ill-behaved mutt anymore than I have to, Saiya."
This earned him a glare from the wolf-grin girl and he let out a quickly muffled yelp as something nipped at his leg. The tallest youth grinned and started walking down the platform towards the barrier between Platforms Nine and Ten. After a few seconds, and a few glances around the area, the other five teenagers started after him, hauling their massive trunks.
As the group passed under a stream of sunlight their countenances were illuminated for a few moments. The tallest youth's fiery, spiky red hair glimmered as if it were on fire. His black clothes absorbed the light in counterpoint to his hair, and his eyes were a deliciously clear magenta color. He had a pair of saya, the sheathes for Nihon-style swords, strapped to his hip underneath his black trench coat, and at six feet even he stood a good four inches taller than even his burly companion in the fur coat, who appeared to be walking with a slight limp. In short, he stood nearly a foot taller than Saiya, despite their both appearing to be about thirteen or fourteen years old. He would have been considered tall anyways, but was especially so for his apparent age.
Saiya, all four foot eleven of her, was dressed in a pair of battered blue jeans and a black form fitting t-shirt that clung tightly to her developing curves, a pair of black combat boots, and a shimmering black and purple cloak. She also had a sword strapped to her back that nearly dwarfed her in stature. At fifty-four inches in length for the blade itself and fourteen inches for the tsuka the sword was a total of sixty-eight inches long, over half a foot taller than she was. Needless to say, the sight of this sword in its specialized saya strapped to her back was often intimidating, and had twice during the trip discouraged would-be muggers. In the light that streamed down upon them as they advanced towards the barrier her long green hair and yellow eyes seemed to glow faintly, and her wolfish grin glinted with hidden humor.
To Saiya's right walked a pair of young men, a dirty blond who stood about five and a half feet tall and was wearing black jeans, running shoes, a white t-shirt, and a tan coat, and a brunette who stood about an two inches shorter than his companion and who sported tan hiking boots, pants, shirt, jacket, and a hat, an ensemble that was stereotypically Australian outback. Neither of them was carrying odd blades on their persons, although the great hawk owl and red-tail hawk that they had caged on their trunks drew a brief glance or two from the occasional bored passerby or the terminally bored station attendants.
To Saiya's left walked their remaining two companions, the burly young man whose short dark hair barely peaked over the high collar of his massive floor-length black fur coat. He stood about five foot eight, and the hem of his large coat seemed to ripple oddly occasionally. Walking beside him was a young blond girl; about five foot four in stature. Her long blond hair hung down to her butt, flowing down the back of her white fur coat, which she was wearing over a white blouse, and a pair of blue jeans. She had a small smile on her face, and her brilliant blue eyes glinted in the sunlight.
The six young teenagers, who despite the stature of the two tallest boys couldn't have been more than thirteen or fourteen at the most, deftly maneuvered their trunks through the crowd and passed through the barrier onto Platform Nine and Three Quarters. The Platform was full of parents and siblings wishing young witches and wizards a good term. Saiya laughed slightly at a hapless brunette boy about their age chasing after an escaped toad, and the burly boy's robes let out twin low-pitched soft growls as a girl about their age with bushy brown hair pushed past carrying a very large ginger cat in a basket. Upon seeing it both Saiya and the redhead stopped for a moment and blinked as they sniffed the air.
"I could have sworn…" the redhead began.
"That I just smelt a Kneazle." Saiya finished the thought for him. "Hmm, this year looks like it might be interesting after all, Yūki. I wonder if the Kneazle will figure out what we are." Saiya gave the red-head another wolfish grin.
"It would certainly make the year more interesting Saiya." Yūki replied with an answering grin.
The six teenagers continued on to the train. Once on board the crowded train the sandy blond and brunette boys split off into the first compartment that was partway empty, joining a trio of young wizards in black robes with blue and bronze ties who were animatedly discussing Quidditch and waved good bye to their friends, who were continuing down the aisle to look for more open spots in compartments. As they did Saiya called back over her shoulder to the two boys.
"Hey, James and Michael. Don't forget to give your birds treats for being so well behaved. I know how much they hate being cooped up." The two boys grinned at her as the door to their compartment slid closed.
A few compartments further down the blond girl and the dark haired boy in the large coat split off into a nearly full compartment that was already occupied by two boys and two girls who were discussing their summer vacations. As they stepped into the compartment a silver and black streak suddenly shot out from under his cloak and shot off down the aisle towards the back of the train. Sighing Saiya turned and headed off down the train following the hyperactive puppy that had been concealed under the burly boy's coat.
"Well, sorry Andre, Annelise. Guess I better go with her then. I'll catch up with you two when we reach Hogwarts." Andre merely grunted assent as he opened his fur cloak to let his own pure-white wolf pup out from under his coat. Both girls in the compartment immediately stopped their discussion and began to fawn over the cute pup. Annelise even smiled as she opened her cage and let her raven out to perch on her shoulder. She smiled at Yūki cheerfully. "We'll be alright Yūki. If we need you we'll just follow the trail of that wild cub of Saiya's and I'm sure it will lead us right to you."
With that Annelise sat down on the bench in the compartment and joined in the girls' fawning over Andre's snow wolf pup while Yūki turned and started off down the aisle towards where Saiya had disappeared through the door into the next car.
They finally found the hyperactive silver and black Flickerwolf pup at the very end of the train, pawing and whining at the door to the very last compartment. As Saiya passed Yūki the handle of her trunk she bent down and picked up her fluffy black and silver companion and opened the door into the compartment, as all the others nearby were completely filled. Inside the larger end compartment they found only one man, who was quite clearly fast asleep and just as clearly ragged and worn, as if he had had a tussle with a wild animal. Peeling letters stamped on one corner of the shabby trunk above his head identified him as Professor R.J. Lupin. Being careful not to wake the sleeping man Yūki carefully stowed their trunks and took a seat in the corner of the compartment. Saiya sat down beside him and her charge promptly hopped across to Yūki's lap and curled up. Saiya giggled.
"Looks like Fubuki likes you, Yūki." Saiya winked at the slightly surprised redhead. "Who'd have thought that an Ōkami would like a Ryū so much?" Again Saiya winked before both of them broke into stifled laughter.
A pair of croons that came suddenly from a closed black box with air holes at even intervals that Yūki had set on the bench beside him caused Fubuki to stand up and happily sniff at it. But before Yūki could open the box and release whatever was inside the door to the compartment slid open.
Since the train had first begun moving Harry, Ron and Hermione had been looking for a compartment, but every single compartment except for the large one at the end of the train was completely filled. The only occupants, they noted as they glanced through the window into the compartment, were a pair of students whom they did not recognize and a man who was asleep next to the rear window of the compartment. They assumed the newcomers must be first years and yet they looked more like they could have been fourth or fifth years. The stranger on the other hand was wearing an extremely shabby set of wizard's robes that had been darned in several places. He looked ill and exhausted. Though quite young, his light brown hair was flecked with gray. The two students on the other hand were playing cheerfully with a small silver and black wolf cub while attempting to stifle their laughter.
A soft crooning from a black box on the bench next to the young boy with fiery red hair drew the two students' attention, but before they could open the box Ron, tired of standing in the corridor, pushed past Harry and Hermione and opened the door to the compartment. Both the young redhead and the green haired girl beside him looked up, smiling when they saw that it was just fellow students.
"Oy," Ron said, a little miffed that they got stuck in a compartment with two first years and someone who, as Hermione was quietly pointing out to Harry, was apparently a teacher. "This is the only compartment with any room left."
Hermione and Harry fully expected at least a dirty look from the pair at Ron's rudeness, but the girl only blinked and shifted her sword to make more room on their side of the compartment and the boy just grinned at Ron for a moment before standing up and bowing low to Hermione. "Here, allow me to assist you with that." Without waiting for an answer Yūki got a grip on Hermione's trunk and in one smooth turn swung it carefully and quietly up onto the racks above their heads. He was about to help the others when Ron gruffly pushed past him and lifted his own trunk with a bit more trouble than Yūki handled Hermione's, and Harry politely waved off his offer for help, instead carefully levitating his trunk onto an empty spot on one of the racks. Once they had all gotten their trunks settled and had taken a seat the introductions – and inquisitions – began.
"Woof." Before any introductions could be made Saiya's wolf cub sat up in her lap with a very un-wolfish smile on its face as it panted happily and looked at everyone who had just entered the compartment.
"Hehe," Saiya giggled softly and then continued in her soft, indistinguishable accent, "I guess I better start by introducing my pet here. This is Fubuki. Her name means "blizzard," and she is a-" Saiya didn't get a chance to finish as Hermione was already blurting out "A Flickerwolf. I've never seen one in real life, but I've read about them. They are supposed to be wicked smart, some say smarter than a pure-blooded Kneazle, but they are also extremely rare outside of Japan. How ever did you get one?" Hermione was leaning forward in her seat with interest, her own pet Crookshanks forgotten momentarily in his basket.
Saiya blushed, having momentarily forgotten that she showed more of her gaijin side than her Japanese side. "I'm… well, I'm part Japanese, and my clan is one of the few that raises and protects Flickerwolves. Fubuki was a gift on my birthday back in June. I'm Saiya by the way." She hastily added. "Saiya Kazeōkami. And this is Yūki Karyū."
Yūki bowed his head towards Harry, Ron and Hermione, giving them a bemused smile as he glanced at the basket in Hermione's lap.
"Now, miss…?" Yūki let his sentence trail off indicating that he was inquiring as to Hermione's name before he continued.
"Granger. Hermione Granger. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Yūki. And yours as well Saiya."
"Yes. Well, anyways, Hermione, if you don't mind, may I inquire as to what sort of creature you have in that basket on your lap? It smells like a Kneazle, but the smell is too faint for it to be a pure blood."
Hermione blinked for a few moments, the extremely intelligent witch taking in the deeper implication of what Yūki had just said.
"Um, did you just say it smells like a Kneazle? How can you possibly have a sense of smell that powerful? Or that exact for that matter?"
Yūki just blinked back at her with his magenta eyes. Hermione sighed.
"Well, I understand if you don't want to tell me. I will just have to research this in the library once we get to Hogwarts. Anyways," She opened the basket and pulled out a very large ginger tabby cat with a bottle-brush tail. Fubuki just panted happily and sat back down in Saiya's lap, intrigued by the new arrival. The cat just stared at her with disinterest. "This is Crookshanks, and according to the man at the shop where I bought him he is a half-Kneazle."
"Hmm, he is a beautiful animal." Yūki said before turning to Harry and Ron.
"We haven't been properly introduced. I am Yūki, of clan Karyū. Like Saiya here I am also part Japanese. The two of us have been studying in Japan at the Kyoto Academy of Applied Sciences and Magic, but because our parents moved to England for a project we were transferred, along with the other students whose parents had been pulled from around the world to work on this project, here to Hogwarts. So here we are, ready to start our third year of studying and curious as to this whole 'Sorting' business that we have been hearing about. Is it true that they read your minds and place you in a house based on your personality?"
Harry laughed and Ron grinned despite himself. "That's pretty darn close. I wonder who has been leaking the secret. Anyways, I'm Harry Potter, and this oh so cheerful chap here-" Harry motioned at Ron who smiled grudgingly and said 'Hello' "-is Ron Weasley. And you've already met Hermione Granger."
Yūki held out his hand and shook both Harry and Ron's hands in succession. Harry noticed that he wore a black dragon skin glove on his right hand, but his left hand was bare. He wondered at this, but other things quickly drew his attention off it.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Harry, Ron. I'm certainly glad I met a couple of blokes like you rather than those bullies we passed further down the train. You know, the ones wearing silver and green?"
"You mean Slytherin." Ron groaned.
"Oh, is that what the prat with the white hair is called?" Yūki replied amusedly. "I thought I heard someone call him 'Mucus Chiroptera.' Then again, that red-head was pointing a wand at him at the time, so maybe she was just casting a spell." Yūki grinned, his mixed accent shifting momentarily more British as he made the joke.
Ron however sat stark upright. "Mucus Chiroptera? Oh bloody hell, Malfoy is messing with Ginny."
Before anyone could say anything Ron had grabbed his wand, opened the compartment door, and shot off down the corridor looking for the aforementioned Slytherin prat. Harry and Hermione sighed and smiled ruefully at their new friends. Harry was the first to answer the unspoken question.
"Draco Malfoy is a Slytherin who takes particular joy in tormenting Gryffindors, especially when he can't get caught doing so. The red-head you saw must have been Ginny Weasley, Ron's younger sister."
"I don't know why Ron is worried." Hermione added. "If Ginny was casting her infamous bat-bogey hex on them I doubt Malfoy, Crabbe, or Goyle are going to be a problem for her or us anytime soon."
Speaking of, the compartment door opened just then and Ron returned looking a bit disheveled and put out.
"Well, no sign of Ginny or those prats, but I did find a trail of bogeys leading to a compartment near the front so I figure that Malfoy and his goons are trying to rid themselves of those bogeys."
"Well that's good." Hermione said. Harry just grinned, imagining a bogey-covered Malfoy trying to scourgify himself.
A sudden crooning from the black box that sat on the bench next to Yūki interrupted everyone and caused Yūki to look down with an embarrassed grin. "Whoops, you're entrance made me forget about my companions."
Yūki and Saiya both stood up, Yūki carrying the black box and Saiya setting Fubuki down on the bench with a cheery "Behave yourself."
"If you three wouldn't mind watching over Fubuki for a few minutes, we need to go talk to the other transfer students for a bit. Our letters from the Headmaster requested that we all demonstrate a little something that we were taught at our previous schools, and we want to make sure that none of us is planning to demonstrate the same thing."
Noticing Hermione's curiosity about the box he was taking with him Yūki grinned and added "And when we get back Hermione, I'll show you what is in the box."
Ron and Harry grinned at Hermione's momentary discomfiture at being read so clearly.
As Yūki and Saiya stepped out into the corridor and closed the compartment door Fubuki had already walked over to the man who they assumed was a professor at their school and sniffed him before hopping onto Harry's lap to look at Crookshanks. As Yūki and Saiya then started off down the corridor to find the other transfer students their improved hearing could hear Harry start to tell his friends something in low tones, although they couldn't quite make out the words. The pair grinned at each other, proud that their plan to leave Harry the time alone to speak with his friends that he had clearly wanted had gone off without a hitch.
As they continued down the corridor they passed the red-headed witch who must be Ginny Weasley and they both grinned at her. Ginny of course grinned back, knowing that they had witnessed her hexing the pants off Malfoy and his gang. The two of them continued off down the corridor in search of their friends, planning to leave Harry plenty of time to tell his friends whatever it was he couldn't say in mixed company. Yūki however did not notice the shifty looks Saiya was giving down the corridor, or else he probably would have insisted that she leave her zanbatou katana behind. But as it was, he didn't, and he didn't, so she didn't. Lucky for them, but unlucky for a little white ferret who just wasn't smart enough to leave well enough alone.
AN: First chapter of a project I've been tossing around in my head for a while now. Let me know what you all think. This story will likely be updated slower than my other projects. Jaa ne.