Regina, the Queen of Random: Hi there! For those of you who don't know me,
I am Regina, the Queen of Random, but you can just call me Regina. I enjoy
watching television, building websites, and writing fanfiction. I mainly
write stories for X-Men: Evolution, such as 'Role Reversal' and 'Beauty and
the Beast', but I have been wanting to write a Harry Potter fic for some
time now (some people have suggested that I write a humour fic called
'Harriet Potter and the Reversal of Roles). Now that you know a bit about
me, let's just get on with this story, and the disclaimer.
I do not own Harry Potter. At all. I own nothing of the stuff mentioned in this story, save the OC Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher (but really, does that count?). I also own the Casket of Souls - although you probably don't know what it is. Does sound like a cool thing, though, don't you think?
Oh, and if you are a fan of X-Men: Evolution, be sure to mosy on over to the stories I have written for that topic. And be sure that if you like this story, review it (please!) and put me on your Author Alert thingy.
Harry Potter
and the Casket of Souls
Chapter One: A New Beginning
The familiar sounds of Platform 9 and 3/4 made Harry Potter smile. The beginning of his sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was off to a good start, as he had arrived at the platform without incident. Amazingly, his uncle and aunt (the most horrible Muggle family who ever existed, in his opinion) had made no fuss in driving him to the train station, and he was glad, as he had no other way of getting to the station otherwise. Unlike some of the previous years, Harry had ended up spending the whole summer at his relatives' home, without anything remotely magical happening. This had been a good thing, as it had allowed him to grieve for his godfather, Sirius Black, who had died at the end of the previous school year. The wound that had been made when Sirius had died was still raw, and so Harry appreciated the distraction a familiar voice gave him as he loaded his things onto the train.
"Harry!"
Harry turned around to see his two best friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasly, running towards him.
"Hi," Harry said when they reached him.
"It's so good to see you," Hermione said.
"Yeah," agreed Ron. "Now I have someone to talk to about stuff."
"Hey!" Hermione sounded slightly hurt, but she smiled. Turning back to Harry, she asked, "How was your summer?" Then she stopped. "Oh, Harry, I'm sorry. I can't believe-"
Harry cut her off. "It's all right. Why don't we find some seats inside?" he suggested, gesturing to the train, which was getting ready to depart, as it was nearly eleven o'clock.
"Good idea," replied Ron, and the three of them got onto the train.
*
Surprisingly, the train's compartments had already been taken over by the crowds of students heading back to Hogwarts after the holidays. The only one that appeared to have any room contained an occupant. Engrossed in the book she was reading, she did not notice the three standing at the door.
"All right if we sit here?"
The girl looked up, fixing the three with her bright blue eyes. "Go ahead," was all she said, before going straight back to her book.
Harry, Ron and Hermione sat down in the compartment, and Harry got the chance to look at the girl. She looked older than the three - probably a seventh year from another house, he assumed - and she seemed to be very studious (probably Ravenclaw, then). She was dressed casually, in jeans and a denim jacket. Harry could not see the design on her dark green T-shirt clearly, but that did not bother him.
"What're you reading?" Hermione asked. The girl positioned the book so that she could read it, but that the three could see the cover. "'He Flew Like a Madman'?" Hermione asked. "What's it about?"
"It's the biography of 'Dangerous' Dai Llewellyn," Ron answered, saving the girl from speaking. "He was a Quidditch player," he added, seeing the confused look on Hermione's face.
"Want anything from the trolley, dears?" asked a voice. The old witch who sold food from a trolley was standing at the doorway.
As Harry fished around in his pocket, he noticed the girl doing the same, and as she searched her jacket pocket he could finally see the design on her T-shirt clearly. It was a golden talon.
Once they had all paid for their purchases, Ron asked the girl. "Are you a Harpies fan?"
The girl looked down at her T-shirt, and smiled. "You could say that. What about you?"
"Chudley Cannons," Ron said glumly.
"Sorry."
"Sorry?" asked Hermione. "What's wrong with that?" Although it appeared that Hermione did not know, Harry did.
The girl put her book down. "I feel sorry for the supporter of any club that changes its motto from 'We shall conquer' to 'Let's all just keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best'." She grinned, and Harry couldn't help but grin back. She leaned forward and extended a hand. "I'm Aubry."
Harry took the hand. "Harry, and this is Ron and Hermione."
Aubry grinned again. "Of course you are. You three are famous. Some think you're even crazier than Dai." She gestured to the book, but only Ron laughed. "If that's true, don't go to Greece for a holiday." Again it was only Ron who laughed.
"What?" asked Hermione. "What's so funny?"
Ron grinned. "'Dangerous' Dai was famous for taking risks. He died when he was in Greece. Got eaten by a Chimaera."
"You must be from a magical family, then," said Hermione, "if you know things like that."
"Not quite," said Aubry. "I'm part Muggle. Like most witches today." She brushed a strand of black hair from her eyes before continuing. "But it's a couple of generations back, so I'm more witch than Muggle."
That was how their conversation began, and by the time the train pulled in at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it appeared that Harry, Ron and Hermione had found a new friend at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
*
Harry, Ron and Hermione were forced to leave Aubry at the entrance to the Great Hall, but they were reunited with all their friends from Gryffindor House, such as Neville Longbottom, who was busy stuffing his face with food. Ron's younger sister, Ginny, was there, too, and she was proudly flashing her Prefect badge.
"That's another one in the family. Mum's been going on about it for ages," Ron muttered to Harry. "But that hasn't distracted her from telling me to aim for Head Boy, like Bill and Percy." Ron made a face, causing Harry to laugh.
Harry could hear snatches of conversation floating down the length of the Gryffindor table. Dean Thomas was animatedly talking about the most recent issue of 'Which Broomstick?'. "Have you seen it? The front cover's got a photograph of the Harpies' captain, and it comes with a huge poster! But the thing is, she's taking the year off, for some reason."
Harry thought about this for a moment, making a mental note to ask Aubry what she thought if he saw her around the corridors, but that note flew out of his head as Hermione asked him, "What do you think?"
"Huh?"
"We were talking about the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher," Hermione explained. "What do you think?"
"No idea," Harry replied truthfully. "But maybe they'll bring Professor Lupin back."
Harry looked up at the vacant seat up at the teachers' table, just as Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster, rose to his feet to make an announcement.
"I know that a great many of you students have been wondering about the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts this year," here Harry got the feeling that Dumbledore was looking directly at him when he said that, "and so this is why I am glad to introduce your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. We are very lucky that this individual gave up a year of work to teach here, and I hope you will make her very welcome."
The mention that the teacher was female started up a riot of whispers amongst the students. They all were thinking about the teacher of the previous year, Delores Umbridge, and her - unusual - teaching methods. Harry's hand hurt just thinking about it. Dumbledore ignored the whispers and continued. "So I would like to introduce to you, your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher," here there was a swish of robes as a figure walked up to the teachers' table, and took a seat. Harry, Ron and Hermione all looked at each other in surprise as Dumbledore finished his speech, "Aubretia Derild!"
From up at the teachers' table, Aubry caught the gaze of the three sixth years, and smiled.
I do not own Harry Potter. At all. I own nothing of the stuff mentioned in this story, save the OC Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher (but really, does that count?). I also own the Casket of Souls - although you probably don't know what it is. Does sound like a cool thing, though, don't you think?
Oh, and if you are a fan of X-Men: Evolution, be sure to mosy on over to the stories I have written for that topic. And be sure that if you like this story, review it (please!) and put me on your Author Alert thingy.
Harry Potter
and the Casket of Souls
Chapter One: A New Beginning
The familiar sounds of Platform 9 and 3/4 made Harry Potter smile. The beginning of his sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was off to a good start, as he had arrived at the platform without incident. Amazingly, his uncle and aunt (the most horrible Muggle family who ever existed, in his opinion) had made no fuss in driving him to the train station, and he was glad, as he had no other way of getting to the station otherwise. Unlike some of the previous years, Harry had ended up spending the whole summer at his relatives' home, without anything remotely magical happening. This had been a good thing, as it had allowed him to grieve for his godfather, Sirius Black, who had died at the end of the previous school year. The wound that had been made when Sirius had died was still raw, and so Harry appreciated the distraction a familiar voice gave him as he loaded his things onto the train.
"Harry!"
Harry turned around to see his two best friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasly, running towards him.
"Hi," Harry said when they reached him.
"It's so good to see you," Hermione said.
"Yeah," agreed Ron. "Now I have someone to talk to about stuff."
"Hey!" Hermione sounded slightly hurt, but she smiled. Turning back to Harry, she asked, "How was your summer?" Then she stopped. "Oh, Harry, I'm sorry. I can't believe-"
Harry cut her off. "It's all right. Why don't we find some seats inside?" he suggested, gesturing to the train, which was getting ready to depart, as it was nearly eleven o'clock.
"Good idea," replied Ron, and the three of them got onto the train.
*
Surprisingly, the train's compartments had already been taken over by the crowds of students heading back to Hogwarts after the holidays. The only one that appeared to have any room contained an occupant. Engrossed in the book she was reading, she did not notice the three standing at the door.
"All right if we sit here?"
The girl looked up, fixing the three with her bright blue eyes. "Go ahead," was all she said, before going straight back to her book.
Harry, Ron and Hermione sat down in the compartment, and Harry got the chance to look at the girl. She looked older than the three - probably a seventh year from another house, he assumed - and she seemed to be very studious (probably Ravenclaw, then). She was dressed casually, in jeans and a denim jacket. Harry could not see the design on her dark green T-shirt clearly, but that did not bother him.
"What're you reading?" Hermione asked. The girl positioned the book so that she could read it, but that the three could see the cover. "'He Flew Like a Madman'?" Hermione asked. "What's it about?"
"It's the biography of 'Dangerous' Dai Llewellyn," Ron answered, saving the girl from speaking. "He was a Quidditch player," he added, seeing the confused look on Hermione's face.
"Want anything from the trolley, dears?" asked a voice. The old witch who sold food from a trolley was standing at the doorway.
As Harry fished around in his pocket, he noticed the girl doing the same, and as she searched her jacket pocket he could finally see the design on her T-shirt clearly. It was a golden talon.
Once they had all paid for their purchases, Ron asked the girl. "Are you a Harpies fan?"
The girl looked down at her T-shirt, and smiled. "You could say that. What about you?"
"Chudley Cannons," Ron said glumly.
"Sorry."
"Sorry?" asked Hermione. "What's wrong with that?" Although it appeared that Hermione did not know, Harry did.
The girl put her book down. "I feel sorry for the supporter of any club that changes its motto from 'We shall conquer' to 'Let's all just keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best'." She grinned, and Harry couldn't help but grin back. She leaned forward and extended a hand. "I'm Aubry."
Harry took the hand. "Harry, and this is Ron and Hermione."
Aubry grinned again. "Of course you are. You three are famous. Some think you're even crazier than Dai." She gestured to the book, but only Ron laughed. "If that's true, don't go to Greece for a holiday." Again it was only Ron who laughed.
"What?" asked Hermione. "What's so funny?"
Ron grinned. "'Dangerous' Dai was famous for taking risks. He died when he was in Greece. Got eaten by a Chimaera."
"You must be from a magical family, then," said Hermione, "if you know things like that."
"Not quite," said Aubry. "I'm part Muggle. Like most witches today." She brushed a strand of black hair from her eyes before continuing. "But it's a couple of generations back, so I'm more witch than Muggle."
That was how their conversation began, and by the time the train pulled in at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it appeared that Harry, Ron and Hermione had found a new friend at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
*
Harry, Ron and Hermione were forced to leave Aubry at the entrance to the Great Hall, but they were reunited with all their friends from Gryffindor House, such as Neville Longbottom, who was busy stuffing his face with food. Ron's younger sister, Ginny, was there, too, and she was proudly flashing her Prefect badge.
"That's another one in the family. Mum's been going on about it for ages," Ron muttered to Harry. "But that hasn't distracted her from telling me to aim for Head Boy, like Bill and Percy." Ron made a face, causing Harry to laugh.
Harry could hear snatches of conversation floating down the length of the Gryffindor table. Dean Thomas was animatedly talking about the most recent issue of 'Which Broomstick?'. "Have you seen it? The front cover's got a photograph of the Harpies' captain, and it comes with a huge poster! But the thing is, she's taking the year off, for some reason."
Harry thought about this for a moment, making a mental note to ask Aubry what she thought if he saw her around the corridors, but that note flew out of his head as Hermione asked him, "What do you think?"
"Huh?"
"We were talking about the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher," Hermione explained. "What do you think?"
"No idea," Harry replied truthfully. "But maybe they'll bring Professor Lupin back."
Harry looked up at the vacant seat up at the teachers' table, just as Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster, rose to his feet to make an announcement.
"I know that a great many of you students have been wondering about the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts this year," here Harry got the feeling that Dumbledore was looking directly at him when he said that, "and so this is why I am glad to introduce your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. We are very lucky that this individual gave up a year of work to teach here, and I hope you will make her very welcome."
The mention that the teacher was female started up a riot of whispers amongst the students. They all were thinking about the teacher of the previous year, Delores Umbridge, and her - unusual - teaching methods. Harry's hand hurt just thinking about it. Dumbledore ignored the whispers and continued. "So I would like to introduce to you, your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher," here there was a swish of robes as a figure walked up to the teachers' table, and took a seat. Harry, Ron and Hermione all looked at each other in surprise as Dumbledore finished his speech, "Aubretia Derild!"
From up at the teachers' table, Aubry caught the gaze of the three sixth years, and smiled.