by Sun Wolf
Chapter 1
The Wager
In a dark and musty tavern, two men argued over which of the two was the better. One was dressed in green trousers and tunic, with a prismatic cloak over it. His face was partially hidden by the hood, so only the man's mouth and nose were visible. The other man was dressed in red robes of the local wizards' guild. His hood was up as well, so that his face was equally hidden.
"You're a fool," the man in the cloak spat at his rival. "I am the Supreme Master of the New Order Kai. A wizard could never best me!"
"Don't be so sure, Sun Wolf," the wizard returned as he finished his third mug of ale. "You may have your training, but there are some spells to which even you have no defense against. And I am the Master of Magic and Wisdom, after all."
"More like the Master of Idiocy!" Sun Wolf jeered. "I've spoken to Korin, and he's told me all sorts of things you've done."
"Can I get you another drink, Altashir?" came a feline's voice.
The wizard glanced over to the waitress standing next to him. "Yes Kitty," the wizard acknowledged as he handed her his empty mug. Placing the money on her tray, he added "and another for my friend as well."
"You got it, sweety!" Kitty piped up with a smile. Altashir watched as Kitty strode over to the bar to get the drinks. She was rather attractive, for a weretigeress. Altashir suddenly felt rather grateful that his wife wasn't with him. He didn't really feel like sleeping on the couch for the foreseeable future.
"So how are we to settle our dispute?" Sun Wolf asked Altashir, bringing him back to their quarrel.
Altashir thought for a moment, and then remembered about something he had heard a while ago. "I know," he said absently, "I heard about a boy who's parents were murdered by a dark wizard a few years back. The wizard tried to kill the boy as well, but somehow he managed to live against all the odds. Now I know it goes against everything we stand for, but..."
"Whoever kills the boy, wins?" Sun Wolf interrupted. "A race, then?"
"No," Altashir replied. "Killing the boy would be far too easy for a pair of gods like us. My challenge is that we take turns killing him. We'll revive him after each death. Once a method has been used to kill him, it can not be reused by either of us. Each of us gets five turns, and the one who's kills are the most interesting and imaginative, wins."
Sun Wolf considered this. Nodding his approval, he asked "Who is this this boy, and where do we find him?"
Kitty arrived and placed the drinks down on the table. Altashir placed ten Ninya in her tip cup.
"His name is Harry Potter," Altashir answered after Kitty went over to another customer, "and he lives in a world that practices magic on a low level. He attends Hog warts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
"So he's a wizard in training?" Sun Wolf asked. Sun Wolf was liking this more and more by the minute. "So who goes first?"
Catching Sun Wolf's enthusiasm, Altashir simply smiled. "We'll flip a coin," Altashir replied, "and no using your Kai techniques to control the coin!"
"Fine," Sun Wolf grumbled. "I call Heads."
Altashir flipped a silver coin, and let it land on the table. As the coin settled, both looked to see what came up.
"You might have won the coin toss," Sun Wolf remarked, "but I'll win the game. We'd better reduce our physical ages so we can get in to that school. It would be a shame if I won because of you not getting in."
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Three months later, Sun Wolf and Altashir got their acceptance letters from Hogwarts. They looked over the list of school supplies.
"Looks like I'm just about set to begin with," Altashir chuckled as he patted the silver box hanging from his belt. Gesturing to the Nyris Scepter that was also hanging from his belt, he added "and I'll just use my scepter as my wand. How about you, Sun Wolf? Need anything on that list?"
"I don't have anything on this list," Sun Wolf grumbled. "I thought you said this world used magic. I don't see any place that supplies any of this stuff!"
"Don't worry," Altashir assured him, "I have plenty of supplies to spare. You can take your pick from my personal collections."
"Thanks," Sun Wolf replied gratefully. "I guess all that's left, is to get to our train."
With a wave of Altashir's hand, the two were standing on platform 9 3/4. Showing their tickets to the conductor, they boarded the train.
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The train was loaded with students of all ages as it steamed its way towards its destination. Harry Potter, Ron Weasly, and Hermoine Granger were sharing a compartment together. As usual, Harry had bought out the sweets trolley for his friends and himself. That's when the new boy showed up.
"Would it be all right if I ride in here?" the new boy asked. The new boy had long golden hair, bright blue eyes, and a sort of impish look to him. He looked like a first year student, because he was a first year student. Standing there in his shimmering robes, he had a bit of a sparkle that mesmerized the three that were already there.
Harry was the first to snap out of it. "Of course you can ride with us," Harry told the first year student as he gestured towards the vacant seat. "It wouldn't be right to turn away a young lady when there's room for her."
The first year student looked rather indignant. "But I'm a boy," he grumbled as he sat down next to Hermoine.
"You're a boy?" Ron asked the boy. "I'm sorry, but at first glance, I thought you were a girl, too."
Hermoine turned to look at the first year student. Extending her hand in greeting, she said "I'm Hermoine Granger. This is Ron Weasly, and this is Harry Potter." Ron and Harry waved at the appropriate times during the introductions. "And what is your name?" she asked the boy.
"My name is Kai Skarn," the first year student told them, secretly proud of his mastery of the language of Dessi. He wasn't sure if he wanted them to know his name in Somlending. He decided that the three of them didn't need to know that 'Kai' meant 'Sun', and 'Skarn' meant 'Wolf' in Dessi. He looked at Harry and his friends, who were wearing their school clothes with the Gryfindor emblem on them. "Is that the school crest?" Sun Wolf asked them.
Harry smiled as he answered the question. "No," he informed the Kai Supreme Master. "This is the emblem of Gryffindor. There are four houses in Hogwarts, and we are in the house of Gryffindor."
"What house will I be in?" Sun Wolf asked Harry. "My letter didn't specify."
"You'll find out at the sorting ceremony," Hermoine answered before Harry could speak.
"By the looks of him," Ron whispered quietly to Harry, "I'd say Hufflepuff!"
As Harry smirked at Ron's pointed remark, Sun Wolf simply stated "I heard that."
Another first year student poked his head into their compartment. This one was dressed in red robes that were only out done by his long crimson hair. His robes had an emblem of a staff and sword, crossed under a book. His almond eyes scanned the room, and the boy entered.
"We're full," Hermoine told him.
"That's okay," the new arrival replied, "I'm only going around to meet everyone before we arrive. I'm Rubicant Danusty, and you are..?"
"I'm Ron Weasly," Ron piped up. "This is Harry Potter, Hermoine Granger, and Kai Skarn." As he spoke, Ron pointed to each of the others respectively.
"Is this your first year at Hog warts?" Harry asked Rubicant. Rubicant nodded.
"Oh you'll love it at Hogwarts," Hermoine enthused. "Just don't get into the kind of trouble Harry usually gets us in. You might get yourself killed, or worse, expelled."
Rubicant just looked at Hermoine for a moment, and then asked "Are your priorities always this muddled?"
"I said just about the same thing during our first year," Ron told Rubicant. "I'm glad somebody agrees with me."
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The train came to the station, and the students disembarked. All the first year students were called to the boats, and they were taken to the school that they would call 'home' for the duration of the school year.
After the group made their way to the main hall, and the announcements had all been made, the sorting ceremony began. One by one the sorting hat was placed upon the heads of the first year students. This one to Hufflepuff, that one to Slytherin, another to Gryffindor, and so forth. Soon, it was Rubicant's turn. Rubicant (who was really Altashir) sat and waited for the decision.
"I sense great power in this one," the sorting hat muttered in wonder. "Why are you here? You could probably teach Dumbledor a thing or two..."
The Master of Magic and Wisdom just sat smugly, and waited for the hat's decision. Finally, the decision was reached. "Ravenclaw!" the sorting hat decided.
Sun Wolf watched as Altashir sat at Ravenclaw's table, and the ceremony continued. Sun Wolf was reading the qualities just as easily as the sorting hat was. As each went to be sorted, he read as well so he could determine exactly which qualities would get him into Gryffindor.
When they got to the S's, Dumbledor called out "Kai Skarn!"
Sun Wolf was ready. Calling upon his mental defenses, he used Mindblend to block and hide all qualities that would keep him away from his goal. The only qualities he allowed to be sensed, were the ones in the Gryffindors. The sorting hat was lowered to his head. Before it even touched him, it called out "Gryffindor!"
As Sun Wolf sat at the Gryffindor table, he and Altashir exchanged glances. Having made it this far, the rest would be easy. The two nodded and simultaneously said to each other telepathically, "Let the games begin!"