Harry Potter and the Exchange Student
DISCLAIMER
I don't own Harry Potter and all characters and plot lines, these belong to J.K. Rowling. This is a profit free story that was written out of boredom and when that spark hit me. I DO own the character Angela Hayden and Eagles Roost Academy but that's about it.
A/N
Ok this took a while to write, I must have about a dozen drafts on my PC before I settled on this. It's probably twice as long as intended as and far better than the rest in my opinion. Hope you guys enjoy.
Hite owl,
A/N2
This is AU. So many things are different. People will not always be the same as they are in the books or even in the same place.
Prologue – Sortings and Meetings
Harry opened the door to one of the taxi cab that he, Hermione and the Weasleys had travelled to London in. Getting out, He went around the back, ignoring the odd looks people and taxi drivers alike were giving them as he pulled out several battered trunks, passing them to Mr. Weasley, a cat basket and two owls, who hooted indignantly as they were moved around. He loaded his trolley with Hedwig, the snowy white owl, and his trunks and turned in the direction of Platform 9 and 10. Here he would enter the barrier that would take him home to Hogwarts.
Harry walked along side his two best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, as Ron's twin brothers and younger sister chatted away with their parents in front. The trio didn't say much as they walked, all contemplating the events of the summer and how people at school would react to them. They approached a wall between platform 9 and 10 and casually walked through the invisible barrier, well as casually as you can walk through a brick wall without people realising you didn't crash into it.
In front of them appeared platform 9 ¾ and sitting in the station was the mighty red engine of the Hogwarts Express. The station was crowded full of parents, students, siblings, trunks and various magical creatures. Many of the students were hanging out of windows saying goodbye, while others were trying to lug their heavy school trunks onto the train. Harry, Ron and Hermione headed towards their usual compartment at the back of the train, while Fred, George and Ginny bundled their trunks on various points where their friends were sitting.
Once they had their trunks on the train, which took longer than people realise, they all met back up by the Weasleys to say goodbye. They still had 10 minutes until the train left. Mrs. Weasley hugged each of her children, Harry and Hermione included, and wished them well while Arthur waved and said a familiar warning to the group,
"Now, please keep out of trouble this year. We would like no letters home about any of you having been involved in anything that you shouldn't be. No trips into the forbidden Forest or the like. Harry that includes you. Dumbledore's been informed to send owls to us that involve you." He was smiling, but it was still a stern warning.
"Don't worry Mr. Weasley we always try to avoid trouble, but we seem to be a trouble magnet so it usually finds us." Harry said, apologetically. He was touched that the Weasleys would accept his punishment owls. He knew the Dursleys just burned then or cursed the fact he hadn't died yet.
"Yeah Dad," George piped in, "You can't blame us if everyone is hell bend on getting him expelled."
"George! This isn't a laughing matter." Mrs. Weasley scolded him. Horrified that they could joke about this sort of thing.
"It's true though Mum." Fred answered back, "Midnight duels, night time walks around the castle, escaped criminals. They all come after Harry. He would like nothing better than homework and Quidditch." Fred slapped Harry on the back causing him to shake his head,
"They've got a point. I honestly would like nothing better than that. But other people have different ideas."
"Well, just tell Dumbledore or McGonagall if there's any trouble and stay safe." She said, giving Harry a tight hug,
"I always try Mrs. Weasley. I guess we'll be seeing you at Christmas."
"I doubt it. You probably want to stay at the castle this year." Mr. Weasley answered with a sly grin. Again he hinted at something that he wouldn't tell them.
"Dad, enough with the hints. Either spill the beans or stop it. You know how badly we want to know." Ginny pouted, sticking he tongue out at her father, causing him to laugh.
"You'll find out later on tonight. I'm sure Dumbledore will explain everything. Now," The whistle sounded to signal one minute before the train was due to leave, "Get on the train quickly and we'll see you later this year. Probably before the summer."
The waved goodbye and jumped on the train. The door shut and magically locked and the group headed to their compartments, wishing each other a good trip. When Harry, Ron and Hermione entered theirs they waved out of the window to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley as the train began to pull away. They waved until they rounded the corner and the platform was out of sight.
They sat down and chatted away about what could be so important that Mr. Weasley would keep it so secret. Their ideas ranged from more Quidditch to a very special Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. They were joined along the way by various friends asking about their summer. Harry, Ron, Dean, Seamus and Neville spend a good portion reliving the Quidditch World Cup; Neville had been unable to attend so they told him everything from the Wronski Feint to the Death Eaters, while Hermione read her new textbooks. They left just before the lunch witch arrived with the usual array of pasties and sweets for their lunch. The trio sat and ate their share, Ron and Harry exchanging chocolate frog cards, when the snide voice from a certain blonder-haired Slytherin and his two troll like cronies drifted in from the corridor,
"Well if it isn't Potty, Mudblood and a Weasel." He sneered. Harry just sighed at the familiar insults.
"Malfoy, if you're going to try to insult us please us something original. Potty, Mudblood and Weasel. That's so first year." Harry said, pretending to yawn in boredom.
"I call you what you are." He snapped, knowing his answer made no sense, "I bet your ego is big enough to enter."
"Enter what?" Ron said irritated that Malfoy hadn't left yet.
"You don't know?" He grinned as he chuckled, "With a brother and a father in the ministry I thought you would know. But then they're so low down they probably don't get included in important matters."
"Shut up Malfoy." Harry said, beating Ron to the punch. Both whipped out their wands and pointed them at the three, Hermione looked up and sighed,
"Another train ride, another challenge to a duel. Harry, we know you could beat those three any day so there's no need to prove it." She flicked her own wand and the door slammed shut on Malfoy's foot. He jumped in pain and hopped away scowling at the compartment.
"Calm down Hermione." Ron said, smiling widely at the bushy haired girl, "You might break all his bones this year if you're not careful. You've already done the nose, and now the foot. Malfoy better be careful."
"Yes he had." She said matter of factly and began to read her book, while Harry and Ron went back to the old favourite by talking about Quidditch. The rest of the journey passed in quiet and before long they pulled into Hogsmeade station.
They left the train; all smartly dressed in their Hogwarts robes and quickly walked through the crowd towards the horseless carriages that would take them to the school. They saw Hagrid along the way and waved to their giant friend. They felt sorry for the first years that would still have to take the usual trip down the lake to the school, even as the rain got heavier. The shared a carriage with Neville and began the slow ride up to the school. They didn't talk much along the way, but sat there soaked to the bone. The carriages eventually stopped and they got out, quickly running into the Entrance Hall to get out of the rain when...
SPLASH!
Hermione shrieked as she felt something wet slam into her head. Harry and Ron looked at her then they felt a sudden rush of water come over them. They jumped and looked around, straight into the cackling face of Peeves, the school's resident poltergeist. He laughed at them before launching a fresh assault with his water balloons at Parvati and a group of second year Ravenclaws. There was a stampede as the gathered students ran into The Great Hall to avoid the attack. Professor McGonagall came out and yelling at Peeves, who simply stuck his tongue out and lobbed the rest of his arsenal at the nearest group, some fifth year Hufflepuffs, and flew off. The group finally entered the hall, even wetter because of Peeves, and took their seats at Gryffindor Table. Harry greeted various people, including Katie Bell, Alicia Spinnet and Angelina Johnson, his fellow Quidditch players. He avoided Colin Crevey, his number one fan who always saved him a seat, and took a seat near Seamus and Dean. They chatted quietly as the rest of the hall filled up. Once it was full they waited for the arrival of the first years. They didn't come. Harry looked at Hermione, who was wearing a face of concern,
"Where do you think they are?" He asked in a hushed whisper,
"I hope they've just been slower across the lake because of the rain but it could be worse."
Harry was just about to ask what could be worse when the door opened and Hagrid, McGonagall and a line of drenched first years followed in. Harry scanned the line of first years, remembering to well how scared he was when he went for his sorting, when his eyes fell on an older girl at the end of the line, who as it happened was completely dry. She looked about a head shorter than Harry, healthily slim, with her long hair reaching her lower back. It had blonde streaks
intermixed with the natural dark brown. She looked very nervous, knowing that people eyes would be straight on her as she was obviously older than the rest.
"Who do you think that is?" Harry asked, to no-one in particular.
"Probably a foreign student. Maybe her family moved to this country." Ron answered, "Bill had one when he was at Hogwarts and they had to be sorted with the first years. That's probably scarier than when we did it."
"She's a babe." Seamus said, whistling, "Hope she avoids Slytherin then I can pull the old Seamus charm on her."
"That hasn't worked, ever." Dean said laughing, "What makes you think it will now?"
"It's got to work sometime."
"Try on a banshee."
"No. Thank. You."
Their laughter was interrupted when Professor Dumbledore stood up, silencing the hall. He looked around, smiling at all the students.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I know I usually make announcements at the end of dinner but I have a certain one that must be made the exception. This year we would like to welcome, not just our first years, but a new forth year. I do apologize for the embarrassment Miss. Hayden. Angela Hayden has recently transferred from Eagle's Roost Academy in the United States of America to join us here today. I will ask one person to look after her and show her around as soon as she has been sorted." He nodded at the new girl who now looked positively terrified. She stood up, on rather nervous legs, and sat down on the stool in front of everyone. Professor McGonagall placed The Sorting Hat on her head and the school waited.
One Minute.
Two Minutes.
Five long minutes passed and the school was very anxious. Harry had never known the hat to take this long and by the looks of the people's faces around him they hadn't either. His own had only been about three minutes, although it had felt like an eternity to him. He watched as the longer it went on the more Angela could be seen to shake. Her nerves were about to break when...
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The table of red erupted in applause, cheers and cries of "Welcome" and "U.S.A." Angela took the hat off, allowing a small smile of relief, and was about to join the table when she heard Professor Dumbledore call,
"Mr. Potter if you please show our new friend around."
Angela walked down the side of the Gryffindor table to where she could see a group of people rearranging their seating to fit her in. A boy with dark, messy hair and bright green eyes smiled at her and motioned for her to join them. She nervously took the offered seat and watched as the boy gave a few glares at a few people, especially at a certain sandy haired Irishman. They had
obviously said something before she sat down next to him. He turned to looked at her and offered his hand,
"Harry Potter."
"Angela Hayden." She said nervously, and shook his hand. A number of people notice she didn't do the usual flick to the scar on his forehead, Harry included.
"Welcome to Gryffindor. You'll find us all a friendly bunch so you'll fit straight in. Just ignore most of what Seamus says," indicating the sandy haired boy who he had been glaring at a minute ago. Seamus just smiled sweetly and looked back at the head table, "and you'll be fine."
"Thanks. When it took so long for the hat to decide I thought it was going to throw me out."
"I know that feeling. I had the same when I sat down."
"Did it talk to you in your head?"
"Yup. Babbled on about what I had and where I belonged."
"It wasn't just me then. I almost screamed when it began to talk."
"Most people are shocked, siblings rarely tell how the sorting done. Ron's," He pointed Ron out to her, he nodded and went back to watching the sorting, "told us that it was something to do with fighting trolls."
"Oh my god! I couldn't have done that." She was shocked and laughed nervously. Harry laughed at well and smiled,
"Don't worry. Trolls are easy. You need two people. One to stick a wand up its nose while the other levitates the club to knock it out."
"You sound like you have experience." She was warming to Harry. He seemed genuinely nice to her, something which was strange to her,
"Well, sort of." He went a bit red, "I'll fill you in later." He motioned to the front where Professor Dumbledore was standing again. Angela fell silent and watched the aged Headmaster as he addressed the student body. A chill went down her spine as thoughts of her previous headmaster crossed her mind,
"Welcome new students, and old. Now I do have one rather important announcement but shall I tell you now or after our magnificent feast?" He said, eyes twinkling, and scratching his bearded chin,
"FEAST FIRST!" The Collective voices of Ron, Harry, Ginny, Fred, George and Lee called from the Gryffindor t table called in one loud voice. The room started laughing, while Angela looked at Harry oddly, He smiled sweetly and shrugged his shoulders, "I'm Hungry."
"Very well. Our resident food critics have spoken. Tuck In." This caused many laughs and cheers.
Angela gasped as the plates of different food appeared in front of her. She had never seen so much food on one table before. She looked at Harry and saw him reaching across for the mash potatoes.
"Is all Hogwarts food like this?" she asked, as Harry offered her the dish, which she accepted,
"Oh yeah, don't you have this sort of thing at your old school?"
"No," She grabbed a dish of mixed vegetables and added it to her plate, "We never got a choice of food. We just got given a dish of whatever they wanted us to eat."
"No way. That sounds like the Muggle School I went to."
"You're Muggleborn?" She asked, politely
"No." He gave a slightly odd look, and a small smile pulling at his lips. She really did seem not to know who he was. "My mum was, dad was a pureblood. Yours?"
"The other way around. My Dad was the Muggleborn one." She replied, not meeting his eye at this. Both Harry and Hermione spotted the flash of sadness in the new-girls eye; it was identical to what happened when Harry's parents were mentioned. Neither of them said anything though.
They both laughed and chatted quietly to each other about their different schools, teachers and subjects. Harry noticed Angela avoided certain subjects and changed it when darkness crept into her blue eyes. She picked up on his conversation changes quickly and was grateful he wouldn't press the matter at all. Ron and Hermione gave them odd looks but ignored them, only joining in the conversation when Harry prompted. After a while the food vanished and was replaced by the largest amount of dessert Angela had ever seen. She didn't know where to begin, it all looked so good. Harry smiled and whispered,
"The treacle tart is the best." As if my magic Hermione smiled sweetly and passed a whole treacle tart over to Harry. This caused everyone to laugh, and Harry to grow quite a large grin as he took it. Apparently it was well known that Harry only ever ate the treacle tart. She tried a slice and could easily see why. Before long they had finished the tart, and relaxed a little while the others caught up. Harry seized this opportunity to ask about his favourite subject,
"Angela, do you play Quidditch at all?" She shook her head and sighed,
"No. Eagle's Roost never let us even flies brooms. It was a really strict school. We reckon that the headmaster banned the sport so we couldn't fly away from the school."
"Was it really that bad?"
"Yeah. I'm glad I moved over here."
"You never said why you moved here." She head fell and he saw the same darkness tat had been there when her parents were mention appeared. Only this time it was really dark. Harry felt like a complete prat, "Sorry, It's a personal question I shouldn't have asked."
"No. It's ok. I've just never spoken about it."
"It's ok. You don't have to say, but I'm here if you want to talk, you know that?" He was glad she didn't feel too upset at his idiocy but was still annoyed at himself.
"Thanks Harry. You'll be the first to know." Here she was talking to a total stranger, but a stranger who had an aura of trust around him. She knew she should feel unnerved by it but she wasn't. She knew they would friends very quickly. Her first friend.
They sat in silence for a few minutes when suddenly the food vanished and all heads turned to Dumbledore for this major announcement. He waited a few minutes to increase the tension before standing up.
"Excellent. Now we are all well fed I am proud to say that Hogwarts will be proud host to the ancient Tri-Wizard Tournament this year." He looked excitedly at the students. A few looked mildly interested, one gasped in amazement (Hermione) but most were left with looks of bewilderment. "It is a competition between the champions of the three biggest Magical schools in Europe. A champion is chosen form each of these schools and will compete in three tasks to test their magical skill and power. The winner being crowned the Tri-Wizard champion and the school get, to put it bluntly, bragging rights." They all laughed at this before Dumbledore went on, "More details will be given on the 30th of October when your guest from Beauxbaton and Durmstrang will be arriving. Now off to
bed the lot of you. Prefects show the first years to their houses. Mr. Potter, Miss. Hayden could you come here please."
Harry stood up and followed Angela towards to head table while the others headed towards the Gryffindor Common Room, giving the two of them supportive looks. Harry stood in front of Albus Dumbledore, Angela a tad behind him. She was slightly nervous; her previous headmaster had been, to sum it up, a nasty piece of work.
"Harry, I trust you will look after Miss. Hayden and show her the ways of the school."
"Of course Headmaster." Dumbledore smiled at the pair, Angela even saw concern in his eyes as he looked at her,
"If you need anything Miss. Hayden please don't hesitate to ask either myself or Professor McGonagall."
"Yes Sir." She said rather meekly.
"Now, off to bed with you. After that much treacle tart you must be tired. Now, no jousting on your way." Harry chuckled and turned to leave, Angela quickly going to his side. The two left The Great Hall and Harry led the way to the common room. After a minute he turned to Angela and cautiously asked,
"Why were you scared of Professor Dumbledore?" She was stunned by the amount of concern that Harry spoke with. No-one had ever spoken to her with concern in their voices,
"It's just...I mean..." She tried to tell but her head was looking at her feet, Harry brushed it off,
"Tell me when you want to ok?"
"Yeah, thanks Harry." She looked up smiled at him, and was almost unnerved by the sincerity and genuine kindness that Harry offered. It seemed she had been right to think that he could be trustworthy, even though there was this sense of mystery about him. She was so caught up in this chain of thoughts she didn't notice a person step out of the corridor in front of them.
"You know you can do a lot better than hanging around with that scum." She looked up at the owner of the slimy voice. She saw a blonde haired boy of their age. Like Harry gave of the aura of kindness and trust Angela felt nothing but evil form this boy. She had an immediate dislike for him.
"This is where you pitch your friends over Harry right?" She said, in, a fake voice of interest, "I'd like to hear what you have to say. If you don't mind Harry?"
"Not at all. People should always pick there own friends. Isn't that what I said to you a few years back Malfoy?" Harry said, interested in what Angela would say or do. This girl was growing on him quickly.
"A small speech to make myself look better than Potty here?" He said, rubbing his chin, "Far too easy. He's an arrogant trouble maker who only cares about being the centre of attention. If you stick close to him and his group of moron friends then you will most certainly get hurt. You have the eyes and name of a pureblood, we should stick together."
"Do I get to counter pitch?" Harry said, turning to Angela, who mocked thought and nodded. "Well, I disagree with your claim that I am arrogant I just happen to be everyone else's centre of attention, which I hate as a matter of fact. You insult my friends when all you have is a couple of troll who only follow you because of money and you must be blind on top of that." He said, smiling at Malfoy, watching his face screw up in anger, "And yes I do get in a spot of bother every now and again but I always come out on top. Voldemort has never killed me yet has he?"
"Think you're brave because you can say that?" Malfoy had forgotten about Angela for the moment,
"Not really. It doesn't take much to say Voldemort does it." Harry said casually, his hand had moved and gripped his wand,
"You're stupid Potter. You'll end up the same way as your parents soon." Malfoy spat, his own hand reaching for his wand. Harry's face contorted in anger and before anyone knew what happened he had his wand pointed between Malfoy's eyes,
"Shut your mouth." Harry said slowly, and angrily,
"Well the choice is easy." Angela said, pulling her own wand out, Malfoy was about to smile when he found the wand pointed at his heart, "People who insult families are not what I'm interested in. Goodbye." Malfoy thought of a retort for a minute but decided that it would be better to leave. He gave Harry a rude gesture before disappearing down the corridor he had come from. Harry slowly lowered his wand, but not putting it away.
"Thanks. That guy is going to make me do something stupid if he's not careful." He said, slowly resuming the walk back towards the common room.
"No problem. I heard about the family from a guy in Diagon Ally before I came here. I know what their like." She said irritably, falling into step next to Harry.
They walked in silence for a while, Angela trying to recall the directions. It had numerous staircases and a few trips through tapestries, before Harry came to a stop in front of a large portrait of a rather fat lady in an ugly pink frock. Angela looked around, seeing no doors.
"Harry. Why did we stop?" She asked, very confused.
"Remember what Dumbledore said about jousting?" He asked in an amused voice,
"Yeah... What did he mind by that?"
"It was his subtle, yet obvious, way of telling us the password."
"The password? To where?"
"To here." He turned to the portrait and said, "Jousting." Angela gasped as the person nodded and swung open revealing a large, comfy room full of armchairs. "Ladies first." Angela nodded and entered and looked around in awe. She could see Ron and Hermione sitting on two chairs by the fire, obviously waiting for them. Everyone else seemed to have already gone to bed. He took a seat on the couch next to his friends, and offered the rest to Angela. She took it and looked around at the warmth this place had.
"This is far better than the dorms we had in Eagle's Roost. They were in the dungeons so were quite damp." She shuddered at the thought of that place that had caused her much misery.
"I knew you'd like it. Hermione will show you to the dorm, your trunk will already be there." He said, watching her yawn, "I suggest bed before you sleep down here. Trust me, the beds here are amazing." She nodded and the four of them stood up. Hermione led the way up the stairs and Angela followed, stopping only to give Harry a brief hug.
"Thanks Harry. See you in the morning." He nodded and she went up the stairs after Hermione. Harry turned to Ron who looked like he wanted to burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" He asked, frowning at Ron,
"You. Since when were you ever that comfortable with girls. You've never hugged any one, and can't even talk to Cho Chang with out stuttering worse than me when I had that babbling hex cast on he last year." He said, sniggering,
"Neither have you. I don't see the deal with a hug." He snapped. What was his problem? It was just a hug. It was the right thing to do after she prevented him from doing something very stupid with Malfoy.
"Mate, I think you just got over Cho Chang."
"I was never under Cho Chang." He groaned as he realised what he said, and caused Ron to burst out laughing, "I didn't mean that."
"I know mate, but I'm sure you would have liked to." He walked past Harry and punched him lightly on the arm, "She would suit you better than Cho."
"I only just met her!" Harry said, trying not to blush,
"Love at first sight." He sighed, in a mock romantic way. Harry followed him up the stairs and he began to quietly sing, "Harry and Angela sit..." He got that far before Harry slapped him hard on the head.
"Shut up Ron. Before I start an ugly rumour about you, Filtch and a can of Mrs. Skower's All-Purpose Magical Mess Remover."
"You wouldn't!" Ron said, horrified at the idea and then the images that punctured his mind,
"You'll stop singing?"
"Yes."
"No rumour."
They entered the dormitory and began to get ready for bed. Dean and Seamus joined in poking fun at Harry for his quick befriending of Angela. He threatened them with the same rumour that he had on Ron, causing them all to groan at the mental images flashing through their minds. They got into bed and settled down to sleep. For the first time that summer Harry had a dreamless sleep.
4750
A/N2
Ok, there's the prologue. I hope to get chapter one up soon. I can't guarantee a date as all future chapters will consist of one month of Harry's forth year. Chapter one is September so it's quite a long one. Please be patient as I want to make this good.
Please Read and Review!
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Timana