A hush went over the Great Hall when Albus Dumbeldore raised his hands.
"Welcome all newcomers and the esteemed 7th Year class. All of us are anxious to find out who is new in out house this year but before that happens, all of us must watch as the four exchange students from America are sorted." Three teens stood up, two women and one guy, from the back of the teacher's view point. "Katelyn Katane, Jared Heru, Amara Derres and…where's the fourth." Amara giggled as Alexander Core stepped onto the spotlight. "And Alexander Core."
"Yeah, the late Xander Core." Kate and Amara snickered at Jared's comment. Katelyn stepped over to the Sorting Hat and its stool. She lightly set the Sorting Hat on her head by herself.
Hmm, you're definitely a "Gryffindor!" The Hat shouted. Then it was Jared's turn. The Hat shouted Gryffindor as well. It did the same to Amara.
"Looks like you get the worst job." Kate said to Alex as he lingered to the Sorting Hat.
What the hell are you doing in this chair? You already know that you don't even belong here. Just get up and walk out. NO. What do you plan to achieve with this charade? They will find out, and then it won't be my fault that you are banished to the Forbidden Woods. JUST TELL THEM ALREADY! Fine. You choose. "Gryffindor!" The Hat yelled quivering. The four new students joined at the end of the Gryffindor house table.
"That was exhausting." Kate downed a bottle of Butterbeer. "Look, isn't that…?"
"Harry Potter." Alex stated with his arms crossed.
"Let's invite him over." Amara smiled. "And his two friends over there." She pointed to Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. "Come on, it'll be fun." Jared, Amara and Kate looked at Alex for the okay.
"Sure, why not. Not like I care." Alex smirked. "Hand me one of those butter thingies." Jared handed off a Butterbeer and watched as Kate and Amara went to talk with the famous survivor.
"So, you seem happy." Jared chuckled with a handful of Jelly Beans shoved into his mouth. "By and by, how's the leg?"
Alex stabbed Jared with a look. "You stupid ponce. It was better until someone had a spell backfire and nearly incinerated the school."
"I maintain that it was not my fault. There was a gremlin on the roof." Jared laughed. "Besides, you weren't supposed to jump into it. It was just a harmless little Repulso."
"Harmless? You destroyed most of the tendons in my leg." Alex was going to continue but the girls returned with three of the wizarding world's most notorious underage wizards.
"Hello. I'm-" The black-haired boy tried to finish but Alex interrupted.
"We know. You're Harry Potter and those two are Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. We all know each other by name at this point." Alex said snottily.
"Don't mind Xander, he's just having his daily mood swing. Care to sit?" Hermione smiled at Alex. Kate's offer was accepted and the two groups got together very nicely, not counting Alex who was in an evil mood and constantly chugging a Butterbeer.
"So you guys are here because your other school was closed?" Hermione asked Jared, who was blushing as deep as Ron's hair.
"It was quarantined because someone had a bit of an accident with monkshood and a Mummy Hand." Amara smiled broadly at her friend.
"So all of you went to an American Wizarding school?" Harry asked Kate.
"Yeah but Xander went through five different schools before coming to ours. All of them in England." Kate 'accidently' brushed her foot against Alex's leg.
"Ow." Alex said mutely to the blond witch.
"Well, time for chow." Jared hurried to say as the banquet magically appeared on the huge boards. Alex didn't really eat anything but he did finish off several bottles of Butterbeer before the food arrived. "We didn't have this much selection at our old school. It was basically MRE with a slight lemony twinge."
It was dark out and the dormitory was quiet. The fireplace was now dying embers but it didn't stop Alex from sitting in the armchair and writing letters to home. There was a light step behind him.
"I thought you'd be in bed by now." He boldly said.
"You know me. I like my quiet and with all the excitement in the Girls' Room I couldn't sleep." Kate whispered. "Mind if I sit down." Alex hid his letters and nodded. "So what was with the mood today?" Kate asked, sitting in a chair by her friend.
"Everyone thinks he was the greatest person who ever lived just because he could survive a flux."
"Who? Harry? He seemed kind enough." Katelyn looked at her friend. "Oh. This is because of Duskof, isn't it?"
"Kind of. He cast that same spell on me three years ago and I survived but does anyone care? Nope. They just think that it was a fluked spell, not the genuine article." Alex scoffed.
"Well, we were there and if it wasn't for you, then we'd be dead. To bad for Stephen." Alex exhaled loudly.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there but Ugresi was kicking my ass." Alex swallowed.
"That is alright. We weren't expecting him to be there." Kate looked deep into the coals. "It was our stupidity." Alex got up from is chair.
"Just remember, I'm always there now." He put his hand on her shoulder. "I'm heading to the Owlery." And he was gone.
"Damn that angel!"