It's that time. I've been waiting a really long time to add this story, so I hope all of you will like it as much as I do. It is an HP/SM crossover. But the plot is far from what any of you could ever imagine. Hopefully my hints won't give it away too easily.
I'm not sure of the couple, but I'm leaning towards Harry and Serena, or none at all. Or maybe both. Who knows, I sure don't. If you do, give me a review. Hehe
Summery: It's just another year at Hogwarts with nothing out of the ordinary. Unless you count the new girl Serena Moon, a pale skinned and very timid girl, who goes out of her way to avoid making friends.
Warning: Serena will appear OOC, but only because I had to shape her into what the past I gave her, would create her. There will be a definite character bashing, mainly at the trio, hence the summery.
Information: This in the sixth year, so I am recreating that year into my own molding. I may add the other girls, and I may not. Depending if whether I can or not. There are no scouts, no talking cats, as far as I know, but a lot of drama, so beware.
--Now onto the story--Chapter one:
A Sorting Dilemma
Swallowing nervously, she reached into the small bag and produced just a pinch of powder. Turning to the orange flames that licked the top of hearth, she tossed it inside. With a roar, the bright flames turned emerald green before her eyes.
Still feeling anxious and just a little bit nauseated, she stepped into the flames. "It's all right," the tall man said to encourage her. "You've done this countless times."
Right, she said to herself. Twelve times this year to be exact. She let out a careful sigh, before shutting her eyes tightly. "Albus Dumbledore's office!" she said aloud.
With a tiny gasp, she felt herself being thrown off her feet and began to spin in a small tight spiral. It didn't matter how many times a year she did this, she never could get used to it.
Despite all her efforts to keep her eyes closed, they opened. She instantly regretted the action, as fireplace after fireplace whipped passed her face, making her skin turn just a shade of green.
She spun faster and faster, until she felt like she was trapped inside a muggle dryer, spinning out of control. Then just as quickly as she had been ripped from her home fireplace, she slowed, and landed in another.
With a grunt, she stumbled. Her knees shook from her landing, before they gave out entirely. She fell forward, landing on her hands and knees in a large circular room.
Noises from all sides confronted her as soon as she caught her bearings. Creations she had never seen before, stood on spindle legged tables, as they whirled, and shot out puffs of colored smoke.
Standing on wobbly legs, she braced one hand on the mantle behind her, as she gazed about the colorful room. Portraits of wizards and witches decorated the walls, some snoozing, while others peered at her curiously.
She whipped her head around and stared at the claw-footed desk, littered with gadgets of all sizes and stacks of papers. Behind the desk was a tall shelf in which sat an old hat. Turning away from it, she inspected the rest of the room.
The thing that caught her eye next, was the gorgeous bird with red and gold feathers.
Keeping herself back, she gazed at the bird from afar. Behind her, the mantel burst into flames and her tall companion gracefully entered the room.
"Bloody hell," he griped, as he dusted off his white robes. With a tired sigh, he turned his attention towards her. "Must be a bit early," he commented. But as he said this, the office door opened and an aged wizard entered the room, looking pleased about something.
"Oh welcome," he greeted, when he saw them. His smile widened, as he reached them.
Her companion held out his hand to the wizard dressed in dark blue robes with star decorations, and wearing a rather pointy, matching hat. He reminded her of a wizard from the fairy tales muggles liked to the read. His hair was white, and made her think of the winter that was soon to come. His beard was long, reaching his waist in its length, nearly as long as his hair was.
"Albus Dumbledore it is a pleasure to finally meet you," her white haired companion greeted the stranger.
So this is the Headmaster of Hogwarts, she thought gaily.
Albus Dumbledore took her companion's hand and shook it heartily. "Ah yes, Artemis," he said in return. "I wasn't expecting you until later."
Artemis nodded briefly and followed the old wizard to the desk. "Please sit," Dumbledore said, as he took a seat behind his desk. Artemis complied and she reluctantly followed. She sat down next to her guardian and shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"Tea?" the old wizard asked, as he motioned to the tea set she had missed in her inspection of the room. Artemis nodded, his smile small but the softness in his eyes told her he was content with being here.
That told her a lot. Artemis was not a trusting man, but to find him relaxed and content in someone's presence, meant she was safe. Now, if only her mind would agree.
She shook her head, when the wizard looked in her direction. Ducking her head, she set her eyes on her shoes that peaked out from beneath her finest black robes.
Dumbledore poured himself a cup and then poured Artemis his. After that, he reached into his robes and withdrew a small can. "Lemon drop?" he offered, before taking one for himself and plopping it into his mouth.
She lifted her eyes then and looked at the small yellow candies. She did like candies. Her fingers flexed at where they rested on the arm of her chair. Should she take one? Could she really?
"Go on," Artemis encouraged her. She licked her lips nervously, before her hand snatched out and stole a lemon drop, before any of them could blink. She had the candy in her mouth, before Dumbledore had realized she had helped herself.
The man looked surprised, but pleased. "Intriguing," he mused aloud, before he put the can away and sipped from his tea.
Sucking on her candy, she shifted it around in her mouth, before she said, "Thank you sir."
Dumbledore smiled warmly. "It's quite all right Miss Moon. I'm pleased to see you have finally decided to join our school."
She ducked her head again, her eyes looking anywhere but at the two men. Artemis reached over and placed a hand on her arm. "It's all right Serena," he said softly. He looked over at the old wizard. "We're glad that you would have us."
Serena could only nod in reply, not trusting herself to talk.
The old wizard climbed to his feet and moved to the shelf behind his desk. "Since you will be attending our school, Miss Moon, you will have to be sorted," he explained.
She looked up then, her eyes following him, as he took the shabby looking hat from its perch. He rounded his desk to approach her.
Stifling in her gasp, she made herself shrink back in the large chair she was seated in. Dumbledore placed the hat on her head and it quickly fell over her eyes.
Hmmm, mumbled a new voice, this one almost sounding like it was coming from her own head. Her eyes widened a fraction, before she slammed them shut in fear. Who-whose there, she asked fearfully.
Difficult, very difficult, the voice continued, seemingly ignoring her completely.
Thinking that she might finally be losing the last shred of her sanity, she whimpered. What do you want, she asked. I don't have anything left to give.
Oh but you do, the voice said in earnest. You have so much you can give.
Her bottom lip trembled. L-like what? She asked, her voice trembling, even though she was curious as to what this voice could see, while she couldn't.
Integrity, loyalty, the voice listed off. Compassion, and spirit.
You lie, she accused, her fear shoved aside for a moment in her act of rebellion.
No, it argued. I can see everything there is- there is nothing that is hidden from me that is up here.
Serena gasped, her anxiety slamming back into her with full force. E-even-, she said brokenly, her fear choking her. My-my…
Yes, the voice confirmed her fears.
You are a difficult case to sort, the voice continued. You're strong, but anxious. Loyal, but timid. Cleaver, but lazy. And you're most certainly not brave.
She nodded, knowing what the voice said was true. She had never been brave. Her strength had always frightened her. She didn't bother to make friends for those reasons as well. She could be smart if she put her mind to it. But when she missed so much time in classes and got so far behind, she slacked off.
Yes this voice knew her well.
But where to put you, the voice continued after a brief second of silence. You would never survive as a Slytherin, even with such power you hold within.
You would never make it as a Ravenclaw; you don't have the potential to learn even when the going gets tough.
And you would never fit in with Hufflepuffs, not with your determination to stay friendless.
As for Gryffindor, well its obvious why that wouldn't work out. Only the courageous good-hearted people can be placed there.
She knew the hat was mocking her. Any why shouldn't it, she thought angrily. Hadn't she brought this upon herself? Being scared of everything, going out of her way to avoid others. She deserved to be ridiculed. Her lack of spine was pitiful.
Ruthlessly, she tore the hat from her head and threw it across the room. Panting, her breath came out in short gasps. Both men stared at her in surprise, until Artemis went to his feet, to see if she was okay.
The hat that had hidden her in the dark landed near the handsome bird she had studied earlier when she first arrived.
She thought she could hear that voice laughing in her head. Mocking her still, even with her cheeks tainted pink and her lips pressed into a firm line of resolve. I will not have that voice, laughing at me, she thought angrily. I may be pathetic, but at least I'm not a bea- she cut herself off, unwilling to finish that last thought.
"GRYFFINDOR!" a voice shouted aloud, sounding much like the voice she had been listening to within her own head.
She looked around herself, wondering where it could have come from. The old wizard bent down and retrieved the hat she had thrown in her fit. He straightened it and placed it on its perch, the same place he had collected it from earlier.
Serena studied the hat, before looking over at her guardian, who was crouched next to her. "Well done Serena," he said with a smile. His bright blue eyes held hers for a second, before he looked towards Dumbledore. "I believe we should introduce her to the staff," he inquired.
The old wizard nodded and moved towards the door.
Artemis straightened and extended his hand out towards her. She took it and let him bring her to her feet and lead her out of the office. They stepped onto a staircase, which began to descend as soon as all three of them entered the small space.
Just when she was starting to think they were going to crash into a wall, it jumped aside, leaving a wide opening for them to exit through. Once out into a more brightly lit corridor, Serena turned to look at the way they had come. The wall jumped back into place and she was greeted with the sight of stone gargoyle.
Clever, she mused, before the tug on her arm had her turning back around to follow the two older men.
She was led down several intricate corridors, all seemingly like the last. After several staircases, most of which seemed to move after they had used them, they reached the ground floor.
Dumbledore led her and Artemis towards a pair of doors to the left of the last stairs they had taken. He pulled the doors opened and stepped aside to let them walk in.
Serena felt herself entranced at first glance. The room was grand all on its own. The four sets of tables that drew across its length and all pointing to a fifth table only accented its features. But to top it off, when she looked up, she actually saw the sky. Or at least a bewitched ceiling that told her, the sun had already set and time had passed while she had been inside the Headmaster's office.
In the inky blackness above her, silver stars dotted its bleakness, while surrounding a vibrant crescent moon. With a sigh, she looked away. Instead she directed her gaze at the table, Dumbledore was taking them to. They passed two long tables, before turning to follow their length to the table that fit the width of the room.
"Good evening," Dumbledore greeted, the witches and wizards who were seated behind the long table. Her eyes first landed on the two empty seats directly in the middle. One chair was made of what appeared to be gold. The chair next to it didn't appear nearly as grand though. Actually, there were four empty places at the table. On the far end from her, was an empty seat and on the other end the second seat from the last was empty.
The rest were filled with all sorts of strange figures. To her amazement, there was even a centaur seated at the table. He was situated near the two empty places in the middle of the table.
The three of them stopped in front of the table. In which had everyone at the table staring at them. "I would like you all to meet our newest editions," Dumbledore explained, as he turned to her and Artemis. "This is Serena Moon, and her guardian Professor Artemis. Miss Moon, has been already sorted into the Gryffindor house, while her Guardian has agreed to take the position as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."
Serena lifted her eyes from the floor, to look at the table once more. Carefully her eyes took in each witch and Wizard she saw. Catching her lip between her teeth, she worried it in her nervousness.
Artemis nudged her gently, trying to push her into action. Reluctant, but having no other choice, she said, "Good evening." Artemis sighed gently, his face set with a small frown.
With a short shake of his head, he lifted his eyes to the table. "Good evening, it's a pleasure meeting all of you," he said gently. "Serena and myself appreciate this opportunity."
Dumbledore smiled and nodded his head once, before he waved a hand to the table. "Artemis, please sit. Miss Moon your table is the last one," he said, as he pointed to the table on the very far end of the room.
Swallowing the forming lump in her throat, she nodded meekly, before turning away from the eyes. She hurried towards the table and sat down silently. During her wait, she stared at the golden plate laid out in front of her.
What am I doing here, she wondered. I don't belong here, I don't belong anywhere.
She licked her lips in her nervousness. She was rushing head first into the unknown. She had no idea where she was going, or why she was there in the first place.
She was torn from her thoughts when the doors to the large room swung open. Lifting her head, she craned her neck around to look. She paled considerably, as students, some her age and some even older, filed into the room. They began to take their seats along the four tables, some even going to the table she had been sitting comfortably alone at.
This was a crazy idea, she thought in a panic. Her heart began to throw itself against her rib cage, while her breath quickened. I-I can't do this!
She was hyperventilating, her breathing erratic, while all of her blood rushed to her head as if it could escape through her ears, nose, or mouth.
But it was too late. She had no choice but to stay now.
As frightening as that thought was to her, there was no other option.
I'm trapped, she realized. Something inside her raged at that thought. The part of her that was never meant to be caged.
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Wow here is chapter one. I hope you enjoyed it. This I think will be a great story. Too bad I didn't get it out before the sixth book. With all the things that happened in it, makes it hard to follow. But I think I might add some of its contents in here to spice things up, so things wont be thrown off by the end of this story.
There are a couple things I wanted to add before I go; I plan to write two endings. I want to see which one does better. One will be happy, while the other may be a bit sad.
Well enjoy the rest of your day.
LP