Howdy again people, I just got out of school! (WOOOO! I'M OFFICALLY A JUNIOR! :D) And decided to write another fan fiction. This one is about England and America. I've read a lot of stories and heard many ideas, and even read a doujinshi on the subject, so I decided to write one version on my own. This story is about England and America, both students at Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry.
Please enjoy! (P.S. I'm sorry if I screw up a little on the Harry Potter references, I'm still reading the books)
NO HATER COMMENTS. I DO NOT OWN HETALIA, CHARACTERS FROM HETALIA, OR HARRY POTTER.
BTW: if you don't read the character bio's… Arthur Kirkland is England's real name, and Alfred F. Jones is America's real name, now that you know, please enjoy!
"Abigail Smith," Professor McGonagall read from the scroll of parchment that had the list of all the new students of Hogwarts. The Great Hall was filled with quiet whispers and greetings as friends welcomed each other back to school after a summer break. The candle light ceiling was welcoming and Dumbledore smiled down at his students as they walked up to the stool to receive their houses for their seven years living here.
"SLYTHERIN!" the sorting hat announced for the hall to hear. The Slytherin table clapped as they welcomed their newest member. Abigail took a seat next to the first years that had been sorted into the house before her and they turned their attention back to Professor McGonagall.
"Lennon Jones," read McGonagall as a short boy with black hair approached the stool hesitantly. "Come now, sit down." McGonagall beckoned as she placed the hat on top of his head.
"Mmhmm…" The hat stated as it gathered information from the young boy's mind to put him into the proper house. "I think you should follow with the rest of your family and be with RAVENCLAW!"
Lennon smiled and thanked Professor McGonagall as he was welcomed to the cheering students at the table for Ravenclaw.
"Welcome to the group Lennon!"
"We're glad to have you with us!"
"Who are your family members?"
Questions flew towards Lennon left and right from almost every student near his chosen seat at the table. Almost every student; except for third year student Arthur Kirkland who was too busy reading a novel he had borrowed from the library the night he arrived. For him, this was just another school event for him to make friends, but why bother? He didn't need any friends when he had his reading. Growing up for Arthur was difficult to say the least; with no parents he didn't have much love. But he did, however, have two older brothers. His brothers were significantly older than Arthur and when he was born, they never tried to keep close to him. Instead they jeered and sneered at him whenever the moment was right. Arthur did love his brothers, even if they didn't love him back. His childhood was lonely until one day, while he was walking alone in London at the age of six (his brothers didn't care much about his wear a bout's as long as he didn't do anything stupid to make them look bad while he was gone) he happened across a library. Inside he found wonderful stories of girl's with hair long enough to climb, tall green bean stocks that lead to a giants home when you climbed it, and stories of great wizards such as Merlin. He was captivated immediately.
At the age of 10, he received a hand written letter informing him that he had been accepted to the school of Hogwarts School of Witch Craft and Wizardry. He was enthralled! He excitedly informed his brothers, but they only responded with, 'It's about time someone took you off of our hands…" and "Why didn't I get accepted?" Shortly after receiving the letter, he followed a map that was attached to the envelope leading him to an Irish styled pub. Inside he found his eldest brother Ivan.
"What're you doing here?" He asked in a heavy Irish accent. "This is a pub, come back when you're older."
"I'm following a map to a place called…" He looked at the map again. "Diagon Alley. It says that that's the market place where I need to get my supplies for Hogwarts."
The pub went silent. Everyone turned and looked at the young Arthur. "What?" he replied.
"You'll want to go through that door and- well…here I'll show you." Said the bar tender from behind the counter where he was setting down a glass. "Follow me."
He led Arthur out of the pub as it regained its music and the drunken men went back to their beers. Through the door was nothing but a mere wall with a few bricks missing. He turned to look at the bar tender. "Is this a joke?"
"Quiet boy," the bar tender snapped. "I need to remember the pattern…"
Arthur did as he was told and stood quietly as he watched the man take a stick out of his sleeve. "Was it….no no… it was left, left, down, then right…. Or was it right, right, up then left…"
The man leaned forward touching the stick to the wall and moving it from brick to brick. He stepped back and nothing happened. Arthur wondered what he was doing, but kept silent, not wanting to be snapped at again. "Ah, yes." Sighed the bar tender. "Been too long since I've had to do this, can't remember the damn pattern." He laughed. He leaned towards the wall once more and made a pattern similar to the first but on the last brick instead of going right he went left.
He stepped back and sighed. "Well, there you go boy."
Arthur stood there stunned as it seemed that the wall…was moving. Every brick was turning to its side until there was a small gap in the wall. It was like he had been transported into one of his books. The gap grew to the size of a gate passage way then stopped. Beyond the passage way, Arthur could see a stone path leading down a market street. There were owls flying over the shops as families of children around Arthur's age made their way in and out of the shops buying goods and sweets.
"Well?" asked the bartender. "Off you go boy, go on…"
"Wait, how do I get back?" Arthur asked as he slowly stepped through the passage way cautiously; half expecting it to close on top of him.
"Don't worry," stated the bar tender. "I'll leave the passage open. Just come and get me when you're done. So don't take too long!"
Arthur nodded and turned to stone path and started his new life. As a Hogwarts student. He couldn't believe he had never had this much fun shopping before, but then again in London you aren't always asked if you want a discounted Guide to beginner Spells and Charms with a purchase of ink and quills. He went in and out of stores buying everything necessary for his new school. A cauldron, textbooks for Defense Against the Dark Arts, a black robe as well with the other clothing items for his uniform, ingredients for potions, and a wand the was comprised of a strand of a unicorn's mane. Last on the list was the option of bringing a pet. He had the option of an owl, a cat, or a toad. Arthur was never too keen with animals, but he decided to have a look anyway. He walked into a shop at the end of the first street he had come to. It was filled with cages of dark owls with bright eyes, screeching. Toads croaked from their cages on the shelves and the cats were sleeping to their content, not being held up in cages like the other animals.
"Hello boy!" said a smiling store manager with graying hair. "What can I do for you?"
"Umm…" Arthur replied. "I'm going into Hogwarts as a first year student and it says on the school's supply list that I have the option of bringing a pet if I liked…"
The owner continued to smile and walked out from behind the counter revealing an ensemble of dark violet robes. "Yes, I've had several others come in today looking for pets as well. SO! What animal do you seem happy with? How about an owl? We've got them for cheap today! Special discount for new students!"
"Err- Alright, sure…" Arthur answered as the owner went to a shelf and opened a cage to grab an owl. When he took his arm out he had a small owl on it. It had feathers of little brown with cream spots flecked across. His eyes were a bright yellow and he looked at Arthur steadily, without blinking.
"This one's been a favorite today, but he has a small nibbling problem. Tends to bite people when they get to close." The manager sighed thinking about all the sales he's missed today. "D'you want to hold him?"
Arthur was hesitant, the only animal he'd ever held before was a rabbit; and rabbits are much easier to hold than an owl… "I suppose…"
"Wonderful! Just keep still, and hold out your arm." He instructed before letting the owl climb onto Arthur's arm. His feet were small but had sharp claws that dug into the sleeves of his shirt. The Owl did not take its eyes off of Arthur. So far no biting…
"This is a surprise!" The owner stated. "He's usually nipped a student by now! There must be something about you he likes. Reckon' you want to purchase the little guy?"
"How old is he?" Arthur asked lifting his other hand to stroke the owl's small wing. He didn't stop Arthur, it seemed liked he welcomed it in fact.
"'Bout a year or so old. I found him when I was walking through the woods on the skirts of the alley, a baby, knocked out of its nest. Felt bad for him, so I took him to my shop and took care of him."
Arthur smiled at the little bird on his arm, he too is an orphan, and he knows what it's like to be alone. "I'll take him."
"Wonderful! And to show my gratitude, I'll give you a free cage!" He replied fetching the cage he had taken the small bird from.
"Oh! Thank you very much!" Arthur said with appreciation.
Together they walked over to the counter and Arthur counted out his galleons to buy the owl. "So, do you know what you want to name it?"
Arthur finished counting out the coins and looked at the bird. He had the same yellow eyes of the transforming dragon Balthazar in a book he had read last week. The name seemed like the right fit.
"I think Balthazar." Arthur answered as he took the bird's cage with the small owl in side. He screeched in reply with his tiny beak, as if to say he liked it.
"Hmm. I would've gone with spot. But then again, he's not my bird!" He laughed. "You take care!"
"Same to you!" Arthur replied as he left the store and walked back up the alley to the gap in the wall and into the pub carrying his supplies with him.
When he got back into the bar he informed the bartender he was back so that he could close the wall, and proceeded in looking for Ivan. It appeared as though he'd left. Arthur paid no mind to it and walked out of the pub and to the nearest station to get home.
Arthur sighed at the memory. It was such an amazing day for him as a child, he wished it could've lasted forever, but all good things come to an end eventually. It went downhill the day he had to arrive at platform 9 & ¾ to get on the Hogwarts express. He pushed his school bags and Balthazar on a cart and headed for platform nine. Along the way he passed other students pushing carts with owls and cats on top along with their parents whispering to them quietly that they'd better hurry or they'd miss the train and be stuck here. Arthur figured he was going the right way.
As he reached platform nine, he looked at the signs beyond it expecting to see one marked 9 & ¾…but there was nothing. "What the…" Arthur said to himself.
He walked further down the station, maybe the signs weren't in order…or maybe they had taken the sign down…so he looked for a train with young kids Arthur's age aboard waving goodbye to their parents, but found nothing. Confused he ran back to platform 9 and ¾ waiting for more students to come by, but to his misfortune, saw none. He looked at the nearby clock and saw that it read 10:55 a.m. He only have five more minutes to find the train, otherwise he'd be left behind.
He sighed and leaned against the nearest wall. "This is hopeless; I'm never going to find the train in time…" He looked at Balthazar with sad eyes and he returned the look with large yellow eyes that looked full of regret. "What should I do- WAHH!" Arthur screamed as he fell backwards. He hit his head on the floor as a train nearby let out a high pitch whistle. He looked up to see a deep black train labeled Hogwarts Express.
"YES! Balthazar! We found it!" He turned to smile at his owl, but realized he wasn't there. Arthur went frantic trying to figure out where his cart had gone, and then he looked at the wall. It must have been enchanted for the students and parents to get through to the train…that explains why he couldn't find the sign.
He put his hand on the wall and pushed. It went through, so he started flailing his arm around hoping to grab his cart, but wait… it may look odd if a small arm is coming out of a wall waving around like a mad man… Arthur had no choice but to walk through the wall grab his cart and hurry back to the train. So he did. Once he had successfully reclaimed his bags and Balthazar he ran to the train with two minutes to get his items on board and climb on. He knelt to the ground to secure his items on the baggage holders of the locomotive and squeezed them in tightly, for there was hardly enough room for a mouse, let alone a trunk filled with supplies and clothing, but it all packed in nicely. Satisfied, he closed the cabin, grabbed Balthazar and succeeded in boarding the train thirty seconds before it had left. He was on his way!
After the train was well on their path he climbed from cart to cart trying to find a seat. Finally he found an empty space with a large window to see the passing mountains and fields. He opened the closed door, climbed in and flopped down in his seat feeling anxious about what awaited him at the end of this trip. He opened Balthazar's cage and the owl climbed onto his arm stretching his mall wings. "There you go boy," Arthur said putting him on top of the cage. "You don't have to go back in until we arrive." With that he pulled out his latest book from inside his robes and begun reading.
After hours of reading, Arthur decided to put his book down and explore the other cabins, maybe even make some new friends. "Wait here Balthazar," Arthur pointed at the owl. "I'll be right back." He closed the door and he began to walk down the bus cart. He looked in the cabins seeing girls laughing and sharing stories, young boys sharing candy and pentagon shaped cards, then Arthur walked into something solid. He turned to see two young boys with brilliant bright red hair. "Sorry! I-I wasn't looking where I was going…"
"It's alright," said the boy on the left. "We didn't see you either, what's your name?"
"Arthur Kirkland," he stated. "Yours?"
"I'm Fred Weasley," He smiled then pointed to his twin. "That's George."
"Hey! I'm Fred! You're George!" the other boy replied to his brother.
"No, I'm Fred…"
"No…you're George! I'M Fred!"
Arthur stood there as the boys argued openly in front of him. He didn't know what to do…so he begun to back up and slowly walk away. When he was leaving he thought he heard one of the twins laugh and state 'I think we startled him.'
Arthur seemed content with the other students on the train so he headed back to his cabin. But once he got there he heard boys laughing and heard the screech of an owl. Arthur opened the cabin's door to find four boys grabbing Balthazar and trying to feed him to a tall, large owl on one of their shoulders. Arthur was shocked to say the least. "What are you doing?"
The four boys turned around and smiled smugly at Arthur. "Oh we just reckoned we'd give old Long Ears something to snack on." said one of the boys as he gestured to the tall owl on his shoulder. The owl turned and looked at Arthur with angry eyes as if to say, 'Why are you interrupting my snack?' The owl was white and taller than most other owls, he had long ears sitting on top of his head and his whole look together made him look like a toy for a kid that was discounted because it was too creepy.
"That's my bird!" Arthur protested. "Give Balthazar back!"
The boys threw their heads back and laughed. "What kind of name is Balthazar?"
While they were laughing and distracted, Arthur swiped his book and Balthazar from the boys hand and ran from the cabin.
"Hermione Granger," Professor McGonagall read out loud as a small girl with rather frizzy brunette hair stepped up to the stool.
Arthur shuttered at the memory, after that he arrived at Hogwarts and was sorted into Ravenclaw while the other boys were sorted into Slytherin. After that Arthur avoided the other students not wanting anything like that to happen to him again.
"GRYFINDOR!" announced the hat as she smiled and leapt off the stole and to her houses table with the other Gryffindor students. She chose a seat next to a boy with freckles and bright red hair. There were only two students left to be sorted.
"Alfred Jones," She read as a young boy with dirty blonde hair stepped forward and sat on the stool. He looked around at the Great Hall with bright blue eyes.
"Hmm…your thoughts are bold and noble…better be GRYFINDOR!" announced the hat as Alfred took it off and left it on the stool for the last boy. He sat at the end of the table, away from everyone and continued looking around the great hall as it went silent with whispers.
"Is that the boy you heard about?"
"Yeah, that's him!"
"I wish he'd talk! I want to hear his accent!"
"He shouldn't have been accepted here…"
Arthur looked up at the girls whispering across the table silently asking for quiet so he could keep reading, but he snuck a glance at the boy they were whispering about. Alfred was rubbing his stomach and looking at the table, probably wondering when they would get to eat. The whispers continued.
"It's not often an American gets accepted here…"
"I'm telling you, no one's going to accept him, you wait and see…"
The whisper came to an abrupt halt when Professor McGonagall read off the last name. "Harry Potter."
The room was silent and all eyes were on him as he stepped forward and placed the hat on his head.
"NOT SLYTHERIN AYE?" the hat announced to the hall. "You could be great in Slytherin! There's no doubt about that! No? Alright…better be…GRYFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table erupted into cheers and thunderous applause as the Weasley twins stood from their table and began running around to the other tables screaming, "WE GOT POTTER! WE GOT POTTER!"
The sorting was done and the food appeared on the table. Mountains of mashed potatoes topped with gravy, piles of biscuits and piping hot roast beef; with their mouths watering, the students dug in and Arthur put his book away. He had filled his plate with mainly roast beef and a biscuit and glanced once more at Alfred Jones sitting two tables across the hall from him; he we widened his eyes at the size of the pile of food overtaking the first year's plate, but Alfred seemed rather content for he was smiling as he chewed his food and looked around at the tables in the room. First he turned around to the Slytherins who were talking amongst themselves then he looked at the head table with the professors. He swallowed his food and went back for another fork full as he turned his attention to the Hufflepuff table in front of him, then he moved his eyes to the Ravenclaw table and met eyes with Arthur. Neither of them moved except for Alfred while he was swallowing the food in his mouth. Arthur picked up his fork and was about to turn back to his food when Alfred smiled brightly at him and waved frantically. Arthur however ignored him and turned his attention back to his roast beef.