Author's Notes: This story has been redesigned with three characters being replaced. Also, this is an AU, and an OC story. Anyone who doesn't like either, turn back now. Flames will be ignored, but constructive criticism is welcome. Oh, and if this story is ever reviewed in an anti-sue journal, can someone let me know? I'd like to see that entry. That said, enjoy:
Harry Potter: And the Return of the DarknessSummer had once again ended for Harry Potter, and it was with great delight that he boarded the Hogwarts' Express to start his fifth year. The Dursleys seemed to get increasingly worse as the years went on, and not even the fact that Dudley was going to Smeltings could alter their feelings for Harry. "Only two more years," he whispered to himself. "Two more years and I'll finally be free."
"What's that, Harry?" Ron asked, tearing his gaze from the window.
"Nothing Ron," Harry said quickly, smiling at his best friend. Even though Ron and the rest of the Weasleys knew the horrors he lived with (and had saved him from countless times), it still didn't seem proper of Harry to badmouth them. Suddenly the door to their compartment opened, and Hermione Granger walked in.
"So here you are," she said with a sigh. "I've been looking all over for you two. I have the most amazing news to tell you."
"What is it, Hermione?" Harry asked, glad for the interruption.
"We're getting exchange students at Hogwarts this year. All the way from America." The smile on Hermione's face couldn't have been broader.
"Where'd you hear that from?" Ginny Weasley asked as she entered the compartment. Hermione sat down next to Ron, eager to tell her friends what she knew.
"Well, over the summer, I received an application to be an exchange student to the Salem Institute of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I was so excited about seeing America and learning from new people, that I sent the application back the next day."
"Gee Hermione, then why are you still here? I thought they always took the smart people on trips like that?" Ron wondered.
"Well Ron, if you must know, there was a lot of extra studying I would've needed to do. We take our O.W.L.s this year, and I would've needed to take them over the summer before leaving. America doesn't have those tests, but they take different ones, and the Ministry didn't want the students to be confused between the two. Not that I would've minded finishing my O.W.L.s early, but I had so much other studying to do that it just wasn't possible. Besides, Professor Dumbledore wrote me a few weeks later letting me know that I was going to be a prefect this year."
"That's great, Hermione," Harry congratulated his friend.
"It beats having Percy," Ginny teased.
"American wizards at Hogwarts? Blimey," Ron said, eyes widening.
"Are they first years?" Harry wondered.
"Don't be daft, Harry," Hermione scolded. "First years don't leave their school, much less their country for a whole year. I heard they're our age, and at the top of their classes."
"Maybe we can all study together then," Ron suggested. Last year's final exams had been hard enough, but this year was probably going to be worse. Now that Defense Against the Dark Arts was being emphasized more, the teachers would be pushing the older students to know their counter-curses.
"Will they be assigned houses?"
"Oh, I hope so," Hermione answered Ginny, smiling again. "Maybe we'll be lucky and get one in Gryffindor."
"I just hope the Slytherins don't get any of them," Ron said darkly.
The Great Hall was alive with activity and talking students. Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table, talking to the new first years that had just been sorted. Nearly Headless Nick was recounting an old tale to a few of the new girls, and seemed quite happy to have their full attention. Ginny had one eye on Harry and other one on the entrance to the Great Hall. Hermione was also keeping an eye out for the exchange students when Professor Dumbledore stood up to address the school. "As some of you might have heard, we at Hogwarts have been honored to take part in an exchange program. We have sent six students and one teacher to the Salem Institute of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In return, they have sent us six students, and a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I'd like you all to meet Professor Regan." The woman who stood up was wearing dark-red robes and a matching pointed hat. Her salt-and-pepper hair hung loosely to her shoulders as she waved and smiled at everyone. The Slytherin table began sniggering at the rather small woman, but a stern look from Dumbledore shut them up almost immediately.
"She doesn't look like much," Ron whispered.
"Actually," Hermione said in her know-it-all tone. "I read about her in Defensive Magical Studies. Professor Regan helps the Ministry of Magic. She's an auror."
"Really?" Harry asked. But before Hermione could answer, Professor Dumbledore continued with his announcements:
"Because these new students will be staying with us for the year, it seems only proper that they should fully experience Hogwarts. To this end, we have decided to sort them into houses." The stool with the Hat on it was brought forward again, and six teenagers stepped into the Great Hall and marched up the center aisle. All of them were wearing the black robes of Hogwarts, but they seemed slightly disinterested in the proceedings.
"When I call your name, sit on the stool and place the Sorting Hat on your head. It will tell you which house you belong to, and simply follow the cheers to find your house table," Professor McGonagall told them. It seemed that the entire school leaned forward to watch this ceremony. "Augustine, Amelia." A girl with waist-length, dark-brown hair smiled brightly and sat down, placing the Hat on her head with a flourish.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the Hat shouted, sending up cheers from that table as Amelia beamed and took her seat.
"DeFay, Dawn." A short, skinny girl with bright-red hair raced up to the hat and stuck it on her head. After a minute or so of silence she looked worried, but the Hat shouted:
"HUFFLEPUFF!" Dawn sat down among them, shaking a few hands and hugging Amelia, but kept her eyes on the rest of her schoolmates. Amelia, Harry noticed, also looked back at the other Americans.
"Johnson, Amber." The last girl, pale-blonde hair falling to the middle of her back walked stiffly over to the Hat, taking a deep breath before putting it on. Almost immediately the hat shouted:
"GRYFFINDOR!" Again Harry heard the wild shouts, but Amber only sat down and looked everyone over. Her eyes swept over the table, and they were a blue so pale they seemed to be made of ice. A few people shivered under her piercing stare.
"Shields, Slade." The first boy, dirty-blonde hair sticking up slightly, shook his head and dropped the Sorting Hat onto it like he was bored. A moment later he rolled his eyes as:
"RAVENCLAW!" echoed throughout the room. He sat down and nodded to a few of his new housemates, but kept his eyes on the other two boys and didn't bother shaking hands.
"Starr, Jason." The boy who stepped forward resembled a small version of Hagrid, though with a lot less hair. His large arms rested powerfully on his thighs as he sat down and placed the Hat over his shaggy, dark-brown hair.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the Hat shouted almost instantly. Cheers went up from the third table as Jason carefully placed the Hat back on the stool before striding over to the table. A few people giggled as he gave Amelia a quick peck on the cheek before shaking as many hands as he could reach.
"Finally," Professor McGonagall said, "Tremore, Lotus." The last exchange student moved over to the Hat like he was stalking prey. Harry couldn't make out his eyes, but his body had gone taught and alert, like he was ready to pull his wand out in case of a surprise attack. Light-brown hair grew down to the base of his neck, and he brushed thick bangs out of his face. No sooner had the Hat gone on his head than it shouted:
"SLYTHERIN!" Harry saw Amber's eyes follow Lotus as he sat down at the Slytherin table, ignoring Professor Snape's smile but shaking Draco's outstretched hand.
"Well, at least those gits only got one," Ron whispered.
"Yes, but his schoolmates don't seem very happy," Harry said. Along with Amber and Slade's dejected looks, Amelia and Dawn wore shocked expressions, and Jason was shaking his head.
"Most of them seem friendly, but ours doesn't," Hermione complained, staring at Amber.
"Maybe there's a reason," Harry ventured.
"We'll talk to her when we reach the tower," Ron said, all smiles.