Candrala: Obviously, I don't own Avatar or the ideas from Harry Potter that are tied to this story.
Chapter 1: Black-hole Sun
The summer air was beginning to cool, creating silent promises that autumn would soon be arriving. Students would soon be pouring into the doors of Ba Sing Se, hoping to advance their knowledge of their elemental powers or other various activities kids got in to.
Trunks littered the large yard in the front, waiting for their owners to arrive and claim them. Inside, the school was bustling with last minute preparations.
Teachers were collected in small groups scattered through out the main hallway, discussing the action they should take if conflict accord between houses, which was an all year guarantee. The nurse was ringing her hands, gliding down the hallway as she worried if she had enough supplies to make it through the year.
Aang putted along beside Katara, clutching his glider in his hand. He was convinced this was going to be the best school year ever. He looked over at Katara, a huge grin spreading across his face, "Are you excited? I love school! And I get to see Gyatso again!"
Katara smiled softly, twirling her fingers through her hair. She couldn't help but mimic her friends enthusiasm, it was contagious. "I'm pretty excited. It'll be nice to work with Master Pakku again. I hope to become more advanced with my healing." Katara blinked, slowly looking around, "Now that I think about it, where's Sokka?"
Aang blinked rapidly, turning around in mid stride and resting his hand above his brow, hoping it would enhance his vision. "Good question!"
Clear at the end of the group of students trying to make their way to Ba Sing Se, Sokka grumbled to himself, clutching a bunch of papers to his chest. "Why did I bring so much..." and his musing continued.
"Do you need some help?"
Sokka paused in his footing, looking up at the person speaking to him. "Oh, Zuko..yeah that would be..." Sokka's eyes widened dramatically as he exclaimed, "WAIT! Why does the mighty Zuko wanna help me?" Papers fluttered to the ground as he threw his arms up in his shouting.
Zuko crouched, neatly piling the papers in his hands, "It's nothing personal, you just looked like you could use some help." He glanced up at Sokka, his gold-brown eyes glimmering in the sun. "Is that so horrible?"
Sokka knelt in front of Zuko, hurriedly scraping his papers together before standing up again. "Yes, it is horrible," he stated matter-of-factly. He ripped the remaining papers from Zuko's hands and marched on.
Zuko stood up, looking after Sokka and running his fingers through his feathered dark hair. This was going to be a very long year, indeed.
"OH! There he is!" Aang shouted as he waved his arms over his head, jumping up and down so Sokka would spot him. Katara looked over her shoulder. "Geez, Sokka you look like hell."
Sokka glared at her, brushing off her comment then looking at Aang. "I saw you from like a mile away, ya know. Bald kid in an orange pancho? Not hard to miss." Aang smiled widely, taking Sokka's comment as a compliment.
Katara gently grabbed Aang's elbow, ushering him forward, "C'mon. We're almost to the school."
Sokka walked quietly behind the group, pondering over why Zuko would even bother to stop and look at him. Zuko had always had a grudge towards Sokka and his friends, so why did he offer his help? Sokka shook his head dramatically, clutching his fingers in his hair. "AAAAAGH!"
Katara looked back at him, her eyebrow raised slightly. She knew better than to question her brother's outbursts, so she continued forward, her hand still resting on Aang's elbow.
Dusk was hanging heavy in the sky when the students finally arrived at Ba Sing Se. They gathered in the front yard so they could begin their typical welcome party.
Roku stood at the top of the many stone steps leading up to the entrance of the school, the house masters on the steps below him. His eyes were cool as he looked over the students. He extended his hands, "Welcome back to Ba Sing Se. We all hope this year will be successful as all the others, maybe more. Make the most of your stay here, for you are our future."
With that, Roku lowered his hands and turned, entering the school. No one would probably see him for the rest of the year. He rarely made an appearance.
The house masters stepped down the stairs, Pakku at the front. His voice was calm and carried over the spanse of the yard. "Your belongings have been seperated by which house you stay in. Water, you are here," he motioned to the position he stood in.
"Earth is here with me!" Boomie giggled, raising his hand so all the students could see.
"Fire, here," Iroh rested his hands inside his sleeves, smiling happily at the children.
"Air," Gyatso's voice was perhaps the most calming. He waved impishly when he noticed Aang jumping up in the crowd and throwing his arms around.
"And of course," Hakoda motioned to the bags in his area, "the warriors." He smiled proudly over at his son. Sokka didn't notice though, he was peering around towards where the Fire house's kids usually gathered. Of course, Zuko wasn't with them. He never associated with anyone.
Pakku's voice echoed in the trees again. "Quickly gather your things and follow your house master your rooms. Tonight it is expected you unpack then collect in the dinig hall. It is not required you sit by house name. Once dinner is finished, you are to return to your rooms and get to bed."
Iroh spoke up, "Please, returning students, help the first years out if they need it."
The house leaders chatted among themselves as the students noisily collected their belongings. They had to share their summer adventures, and it simply couldn't wait until dinner.
Aang held his satchel and flung his glider over his back. "Did you guys get your things?"
Katara nodded, holding a few bags, "Yes, I did." She turned to ask Sokka if he had gotten his. "Oh not again... where did he go this time?"
Candrala: I apologize for the rocky start. I promise it will start to flow better once I get going with more chapters! But please read, review, and enjoy.