Well everyone, for those of you reading my other Harry Potter fanfic "Saving Me", you're probably seriously pissed that I decided to start something new rather than updating that story. I sincerely apologize for that, and I'll be updating that story within the week, I just happened to get an idea for a story that I had to put down. I know the idea has probably been done before, but I don't care. This is my version, and I have yet to read any of the stories revolving around this theme, so it's safe to say my ideas will be my own.
Summary: Hogwarts has been chosen by the Ministry to test out a new form of class, online correspondence courses! Each student is equipped with a laptop, memory stick and email address that they must use in order to mimic the learning habits of muggles. Before long anonymous relationships begin to form, and everyone is lost to the wonders of the technology age.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter series, or any computer/internet related things I mention here.
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The Hogwarts Express slowly came to a stop in the station, the shrieking wheels waking any students that had fallen asleep on the way to the mystical school. One Harry Potter woke up with a start, whacking his already pounding head off the compartment door he had been leaning it against. "Bloody hell!" he cursed, closing his jade eyes for a moment before opening them again and meeting the grumpy face of Ron.
"Mate did you have to curse so loudly? You woke me up." Ron grumbled out, stretching his arms over his head and cracking his shoulder blades. The train wasn't known for its comforting qualities, that's for sure. "So I suppose that means we're here…" he stood up, opening his compartment door and glancing down the corridor as it started filling up with students lugging large trunks behind them.
"Should we wait a few minutes before we even attempt it? I don't really feel like fighting through the crowd right now." Harry said after a quick glance over Ron's shoulder. He slumped back down in his former seat, giving a long yawn. "So why was Hermione called to come to school a week early? Seems kind of cruel to force people to come to school early." He grinned suddenly and said "But then again, Hermione can't wait to get back to school, she's probably trying to get sneak peaks at lesson plans so she can get a head start on the reading."
Ron took his seat and chuckled "They probably needed some help re-organizing the library or something, she'd be perfect for it, and she could recite where every book is down to the barcode." The both of them shared a laugh, knowing that it was completely true. "Well mate, it looks like the corridor is clearing out. We should get going before we get stuck in a carriage with second years or something." The two of them stood and grabbed their trunks, dragging them out of the compartment and slowly made their way out of the train.
They left their trunks outside the train, and hopped into a carriage, filled with second-year girls. 'Damnit' both of them thought at the same time. They were stuck with the giggling girls for a good 30 minutes before the carriage rolled to a stop outside the huge castle. They stepped out, and started walking towards it, noticing some strange things. There was a big brown metal box on the side of the castle. It was locked with a padlock, and had a small sign on it. Neither of them could read it from where they were, so they merely continued walking.
When they finally stepped into the school, they instantly took note of some changes. There were some wires twirling around the portraits, leading in every which direction of the school and disappearing into the walls themselves and leading into classrooms. The wires were green, and made to look like vines twirling on the walls. There was a strange humming sound in the air, not loud enough to distract, but distinctly there. Everyone was glancing around, trying to find the source, but to no avail.
"Everyone into the great hall please! First years, follow me!" McGonagall shouted from the top of the stairway. Immediately everyone departed into the main hall, with the exception of a rather small group of first years that scampered up to the top of the stairs, clearly glad to get away from the taller and rather intimidating students below.
Harry and Ron walked into the hall, and their jaws dropped almost instantly. Instead of the enchanted ceiling, there was what appeared to be a huge screen instead, showing 3d images of stars and dragons. Where there was usually banners hanging around each table showing the house crest, there were narrow screens dangling above, showing animated images of each animal that represented the house. There were lights all around the tables instead of floating candles, each with a coloured light-bulb that represented house colours.
Overall, the whole place looked like some sort of muggle banquet hall. Though students from wizarding families would have no idea about many of the new things surrounding them, those raised in muggle homes recognized everything, though they were filled with confusion as to why it was here.
Soon the doors to the side of the staff table opened, and the staff members all filed in and took their seats. Dumbledore marched up to the podium at the front and waited for everyone to absorb the strange surroundings, and take their seats.
"Good evening and welcome back everyone!" he stated enthusiastically, this eyes twinkling. "As you can see, Hogwarts has gone through some major changes since you were last here. This is all because of a tester program the Ministry has started, in which all classes will now be held via computer technology" at the rise of confused murmurs from students unfamiliar with the term, he smiled and said "Basically, a computer is a box with a screen that is connected to another box that allows everyone to communicate. It's very common in muggle households, and we are determined to keep in contact with our non-magical friends by adapting to their ways!"
The whispers increased tenfold, but he merely raised his hands and said "Ladies and Gentlemen, I welcome you to Hogwarts School of Witchcrafts, Wizardry, and Technology!" he shouted out finally.
Well that's the first chapter. Would have made it longer but I'm being kicked off in 10 minutes and I wanted to upload this tonight. I'll update this tomorrow at sometime.