The Hocus Pocus Hoedown
Background Info: This is going to be a short story about an Au where the gang attends Hogwarts. Well, almost all of them, Amy and Bernadette will have attended Beuxabatons in France. The only major differences are the ages (obviously they're 17-18) and Amy is French (though with a American Grandfather. More on that later). Emily is the only one who I have no clue on how to work into this story, so for now she's a 6th year Gryffindor, I haven't decided anything else about her. Also, all Harry Potter characters still exist in this story.
Note: For the shenny readers, I will warn you already, this is a shamy fic. However, since this an Au, I'm willing to make Leonard and Penny only friends and set them up with different people (though I will not character-bash Leonard). However, I'll need at least five people to support this compromise in the reviews by the time I post chapter three; otherwise, I'm sticking with writing Lenny. All other relationships will be canon.
Suggestions welcome and needed!
Hogwarts, 2014-15
"So, have you started thinking about the Yule ball yet?" Howard leered at the rest of the group. It was the first day of the new school year at Hogwarts, and the year of the Triwizard tournament. Once again, Hogwarts was hosting, though the other two competing school has yet to make an appearance.
Leonard adjusted his glasses and, gritting his teeth as he replied to the Hufflepuff, "It's only September, we got several months, and I would be a little more focused on your NEWTS than getting a date." Howard groaned. He and Raj, an Indian transfer student in Ravenclaw, were both in sixth year and therefore still struggled with the NEWTS, while Leonard and Sheldon had a slightly lighter load. Actually, all four of them were transfer students, as Leonard, Sheldon and Howard were American, (from New Jersey, Texas and California respectfully.) Still, new exchange students were certainly an intriguing thought.
"Still, Beauxbatons! Gorgeous French girls and you're not the least bit interested! Come on, Raj, Sheldon. Oh wait, I forgot who I am talking to," Howard through his hands up in the air.
Sheldon pursed his lips. "Flirting with these girls will be an exercise in futility once they hear of your reputation as a boundary-less pervert," The Slytherin replied in response at the jab. Howard squirmed in his seat. "Besides, it's not just girls but guys as well, if you've forgotten."
"I'll have to side on Howard on this," Raj stated as he defended his best friend. "Where in the rulebook does it say we can't be friends with them? After all, sitting at this table are two Ravenclaws, a Hufflepuff, and a Slytherin. Before the second wizarding war this would be unthinkable," he pointed out. Howard nodded in agreement. One of the major changes in Hogwarts after the war was the change of tables. Instead of the long stretched tables, that forced children to sit only with their houses, there were smaller 8-person tables that theoretically allowed people from any house to sit together. Their tight-knit group was the one of the few exceptions to the rule though. Most continued to stick with their houses. Sheldon was one of few Slytherins that ate with other houses, but that was due to his so-called "muggle-born" status. He was born to a religious mother who had mixed feelings on his magical abilities, before coming to terms with it, determining it as a "gift from G-d." While if you asked an American wizard what his blood status was you would instead either get a blank look or a blood type {prejudice unfortunately still existed, but it leaned toward race and social class instead}, at Hogwarts Sheldon often faced ridicule in the UK for being a muggleborn. Thus, he turned to a fellow American for support and kinship.
"You three forget that I'm from the south. Before I came to Hogwarts, my mother forced me into cotillion training. Now even an ocean away it appears I cannot avoid cavorting with strange women. Do you know how unsanitary it is touching other people?" Sheldon gripped his fork as images of that dusty wooden dance room appeared in his head. It was times like these when he hated his eidetic memory.
"We're wizards! If we get a cold or fever we could just take a potion!" Howard threw his hands up in the air in frustration.
"What about Dragon pox? Or Splattergroit?" Sheldon countered.
"Calm down. They only arrive on October 30th, so don't get too excited just yet," Leonard compromised. "Though I will ask, are any of you going to enter the tournament," Raj and Howard shook their heads no, while Sheldon tilted his head.
"I'll certainly throw my hat in the ring, there has to be someone competing in this tournament who isn't some Gryffindor numbskull like Penny or Zach," he shook his head in disgust. Penny was an attractive but slightly clueless seventh year, and one of the Chasers on the Gryffindor team. Meanwhile Zach also played on the team as beater, but his intelligence suggested one too many bludgers to the head.
"Or Jimmy and Barry from Slytherin," Howard added. Sheldon nearly banged his head the table. It didn't take a Genius to realize that Sheldon detested those two. Jimmy repeatedly bullied him and Leonard, while Barry always had a barge of insults waiting for him in the Slytherin common room, sometimes teaming up with Leslie as well.
Finally, Headmaster McGonagall stood up at the podium, after the final first year had walked off, searching for a table. "While I understand that many of you are eager to eat," cue Leonard's stomach growling, "I must first address all of you, so I require your attention. Welcome, first years to Hogwarts, and I do hope you enjoy it. I expect all of your fellow students to accept you with open arms. Second, this year we are once again hosting the Triwizard tournament. The rules are mainly the same as last time we hosted, if not tighter. Only those 17 and older are allowed to enter, and you may only enter your name. We do not want another fourth year entering like last time." McGonagall paused for a moment to glare at them before continuing.
"On October 30th, our guests from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will arrive, and I ask all of you to treat our visitors with the upmost respect. The main difference from last time is that all schools will enter two champions instead of one. The six champions will complete three tasks, each more difficult than the last. Also, we are increasing security, again to prevent incidents like last time. That's all, though posters will be posted with more information. Now, enjoy," instantly, steaming-hot food appeared on the tables, and the students eagerly dug in.
Later that Night…
Knock-knock-knock "Leonard," the Ravenclaw groaned, flipping over and covered his head with a pillow. Ever since they were in first year, Sheldon had always answered the knocker's riddle and snuck into Leonard's separate room to avoid the bullies in his own house. Knock-knock-knock "Leonard," Sheldon repeated, dragging out the last syllable. Knock-knock-knock "Leonard!"
Finally, the Ravenclaw got up and opened the door. In Ravenclaw it was only 3 to a room, and while Raj occupied the second bed, there was a spare that Sheldon used. Most other students couldn't stand Leonard's snoring, though Sheldon seemingly slept better with it, as he called it his "white noise machine."
"Whaddya want Sheldon," Leonard asked tiredly, a Jersey accent (the real accent, not the obnoxious accent used on The Jersey Shore) slipping in.
Sheldon swallowed. "I am having difficulty going to sleep. May I try your room? Besides, I didn't like the way Barry was looking at me."
Leonard exhaled. "Of course Sheldon. Just go to sleep." Sheldon quickly scampered over to the spare bed, pulling the blankets.
After a few minutes, Sheldon spoke up, flipping over to face Leonard. "Leonard?"
"Yes?"
"Do you think the Beuxabatons and Durmstrang students will be nice?" The naïve, childlike tone of voice surprised Leonard.
"I'm sure they'll be fine, Sheldon. If they try to pick on you, I'll try to help. But I will not be a human shield like that one time in fifth year," After a few beats, Leonard hear soft breathing indicating Sheldon had fallen asleep. The Ravenclaw smiled despite himself, and laid flat on his back, before dreaming about the Tournament.
Complete List of Characters who may appear (or will be mentioned at minimum) and their houses
Hogwarts Students
Leonard Hofstadter- Ravenclaw, American (New Jerseyan) could considered Half-blood (mother and siblings are wizard) 7th year
Rajesh Koothrappali- Ravenclaw Pureblood (from Mumbai, India) 6th year
Howard Wolowitz- Hufflepuff could be considered Muggleborn (?) (Mother's a muggle, father's status unknown) 6th year
Sheldon Cooper- Slytherin, American (Texan), could be considered Muggleborn, 7th year
Penny Carter- Gryffindor, American (Nebraskan), Chaser, 6th year (17)
Emily Sweeny- Gryffindor, Chaser
Zach Johnson- Gryffindor, Beater, 7th year
Stuart Bloom- Hufflepuff, 6th year
Leslie Winkle- Slytherin, 7th year, Head Girl
Priya Koothrappali- Ravenclaw, 5th year, Seeker, Perfect
Barry Kripke- Slytherin, 7th year
Jimmy Speckerman- Slytherin, 7th year, Beater
David Underhill- Ravenclaw, 7th year, Head Boy *
(Also, there will be cameos of the next generation Harry Potter characters.)
Teachers
Headmaster Minerva McGonagall
Professor Eric Gablehauser- Potions Teacher, Head of Slytherin
Professor Neville Longbottom- Herbology, Head of Gryffindor
Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson- Astronomy, Head of Ravenclaw
Will Wheaton- Defense against the Dark Arts
Eric Foner- History of Magic (this is so he never writes Give Me Liberty in this universe, aka my US history textbook, which I despise with the fury of a thousand suns. In some cases, it goes too in-depth, while it completely misses other information.)
George Takei- Muggle Studies
Professor Janine Davis- Transfiguration
Arthur Jefferies- Charms, Head of Hufflepuff
Beuxabatons
Amélie Fowler- 7th year
Bernadette Rostenkowski- 7th year
Stephanie Barnett 7th year *
Alice Laurent 7th year *
Durmstrang
Kurt Darrell- 7th year (held back)
Yvette Boyko- 7th year
Dimitri Rezinov- 7th Year
Kevin Luca- 7th year *