Chapter Three.

Disclaimer: From here on, let it be known that I own none of the recognizable characters, settings, etc. that appear in this story, and I do not and will not ever claim to. Let this apply to all of the chapters before this one and all of those to come.

Kayton isn't staying, so don't worry about her presence.

"It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting it on a level with his own."

-Sherlock Holmes.

In all the excitement, Allen and Masa were able to steal away off to themselves. After passing the gates, they veered off the path that the carriages stood on that would take them to the castle. They walked a way into the eerily silent woods, not particularly worried about any kind of attack, but ready even if there were. They didn't stop until they felt they were far enough away, but not too far so they could rush back before all the carriages were gone.

Allen made quick work in summoning the Ark, and soon the large white entrance materialized. He opened the door and stepped inside, motioning for Masa to wait as he went to fetch their comrades.

The forest was quiet. An occasional hoot had Masa glancing around him for any unwelcome company, but not a thing stirred in the dark woods. For a few moments, Masa even had to wonder if anything lived in that forest when a rustling caught his attention. His brown eyes flickered over to the bush that caused the disturbance, and a black four-legged creature emerged beyond the dark green leaves. It looked hesitant; something Masa didn't overlook as the dog crept itself into the clearing that harbored the Ark's door.

It stared at the white structure, confusion written clear across its face. Masa approached it warily, curious as to why a large dog looked so… human. Was it a wizard thing? The dog snapped its head to Masa as he got closer, and took on a defensive stance. The exorcist stopped himself, not wanting to startle the dog into attacking – not that he would have had a problem defending himself against such a small creature. He'd dealt with worse and more dangerous things, both with Allen and with them.

He kneeled, holding a hand out to the feral looking animal in a peace offering. If Masa hadn't known better, he could have sworn the dog lifted a furry eyebrow in amusement, approaching the boy's hand with less caution than before. The dark snout of the creature touched the boy's hand, wet nose causing an involuntary shiver to run down his spine. The dog barked playfully, as if trying to startle the boy, and then licked his hand when Masa hadn't jumped in fear. It barked once more, sounding eerily similar to laughter. Masa shook his head. Wizard creatures sure were interesting.

A noise interrupted their moment as the Ark opened, and voices filtered into the quiet. The dog yelped and ran off before Masa could say a word to it, and four silhouettes lined the white light of the Ark.

"It's Allen! A-L-L-E-N!"

"Sure it is, Moyashi-chan!" the familiar voice of Lavi replied, stepping out behind the young General. Following them was Kanda and Lenalee. They touched the ground and were met with Masa's bent form, hand extended out to nothing.

"..Sooo. What'cha doin', Masa?" Lavi asked, amusement flickering in his eyes. Masa's eye twitched as he straightened himself, dusting off any dirt on his knees.

"Playing with a dog," he answered casually, walking back towards the road they had come from, "your loud voice scared it away." Lavi pursed his lips, wanting to say something but Masa was ignoring him as he walked off. The four more experienced exorcists followed behind him, none willing to trust Allen to take the lead.

They found the road relatively quickly, and claimed the last carriage as their own just before it was about to take off. None commented on the odd, bony winged creatures that pulled the carriages, passing it off as another wizard thing. The night was quiet, and the ride went without a hitch. Before they knew it, they were approaching a large, awe-inspiring castle that had each exorcist gaping – Kanda far less openly – and speechless.

"It's so beautiful!" Lenalee finally said, breaking the silence. "It almost reminds me of home." The others agreed, though not out loud, and the carriage pulled to a stop outside. They all stepped out and into the crisp night air once more, surveying the gorgeous grounds around them; lush grass, thriving – yet ominous – forestry surrounding the perimeter, a large willow tree atop a hill, and a shining lake not far away. The boats of the first years were just rounding the corner, so the fivesome hurried into the castle.

They were met with the stern face of an older woman. Graying brown hair was tucked neatly beneath a deep, green hat, and robes that matched – this woman looked like one not to be messed with. Her eyes settled upon the exorcists, and she beckoned them forward.

"You are the transfers, I assume?" she questioned, though she obviously knew the answer.

"That's correct. My name is Allen Walker, and these are Lenalee Lee, Yuu Kanda, Lavi, and Masahiko Hara." She nodded her head curtly.

"My name is Minerva McGonagall. I am the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts. If you would please wait here, the first years will be joining you in just a moment." The fivesome did as instructed, and stood quietly to themselves as they waited. Masa and Kanda stood perfectly still, the latter with a scowl present on his features—not that this was unusual. Allen shifted from foot to foot, allowing himself to favorite one side when the other got tired. Lavi was taking in their surroundings, and Lenalee was looking highly antsy as she bounced on the balls of her heels and looked around her.

Loud voices broke their awkward moment as they reverberated around the stone walls and met the well trained ears of the exorcists. Kanda "che'd", obviously not liking the idea that they would be surrounded by children. Not to mention none of them had any idea what "House" they were going to be in.

~*~B-R-E-A-K~*~

Kayton Oliesi glanced around herself nervously as she followed fellow first years into the large castle. Being a muggle-born, she had had no idea what to expect. However, this wasn't what she had anticipated at all. In fact, it was so much more. The castle broke the sky like a knife, cutting into the very clouds above. The interior was old, ancient even, and she had to pinch herself to remind her that she really was there. It was all too much like a dream.

People around her had already made friends, or already were with friends they knew before. Kayton was alone. She felt like no one would like her, and she would be forced to spend the next seven years in solitude.

Her lonely thoughts were disrupted when the group finally made it up the first set of stairs inside and guided into a hallway. Before her, five teens and an older woman stood waiting. Four of the teens were boys; the shortest two wore hoods over their heads, so she couldn't make them out, but the taller two were both in plain sight—and what a sight they were. One had dark hair that was longer than even hers was, and a scowl decorated his pretty face. The other had vibrant red hair unlike she had ever seen, with a green bandana that held his bangs away from his face, and an eye-patch covering one eye. The last person was a girl. She had shoulder-length green-black hair and envious long legs that were shown off by a short skirt.

Kayton couldn't help but be completely awed by them. And then the woman spoke. She told them of what was to come and how they would be sorted, and Kayton couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. She had been so worried about the sorting that she almost didn't even get off the train. Some of the other first years had been saying such terrible things about it, and the older students only made it worse. Thankfully, those were but cruel rumors made to scare first years.

The woman, Minerva McGonagall she had introduced herself as, led them further down the hallway and to large, decorative double doors. She pushed them open with an ease that Kayton didn't expect—they looked so heavy!—and she was met with the most amazing sight.

"Such a beautiful room!" she heard the older girl in front of her say as the fivesome stared in awe along with the rest of the first years at the room—and especially at its ceiling.

"D'you think they'll have enough food?" one of the hooded boys asked. He had such a soft voice, and his question nearly made Kayton laugh.

"Perhaps not for you," the other hooded boy answered shortly. If she thought the first boy's voice was timid and quiet sounding, then this boy was even worse—and neither of the two had bothered to even turn their heads in Kayton's direction yet, so she couldn't even get a glimpse at them. However, she wondered if they could really be first years at all, especially the two taller boys. They looked to be seventh years, in her opinion.

When the group reached the front of the room, Kayton's nerves returned. Professor McGonagall, who had led them the entire way, placed an old ratty hat upon a stool, and she was ready to question it when a seam ripped loudly on the hat and began to move, acting as a mouth and letting forth a song. Kayton watched the strange teens some more, as their actions at that moment were quite interesting.

The red head looked excited, and hummed along with the hat's odd song. The girl looked like she was trying to ask him something, but to no avail, as he was ignoring her. The taller hooded one was whispering something to the shorter one, but she couldn't hear over the hat what it was they were saying. The scowly pony-tailed one was… ignoring all of them and scowling.

When the thing finished singing, Kayton began seriously thinking about what house she could be placed in. She couldn't apply any of those traits to herself very easily, and she wondered how a hat was going to be able to manage it.

It took a while of standing around, but finally her name was called, just after a boy who had been placed in Hufflepuff. She stumbled up to the stool nervously, sitting down and waiting for the ragged thing to be placed on her head and call out her house. Everyone was staring at her—it was the most nerve-wracking moment of her life, and then…

"RAVENCLAW!" it finally called out. She sighed in relief as it was now finally all over. The clapping table of blue and bronze beckoned her, and she ran to them happily.

Several more people were called before the only ones left were the five strangely dressed ones. She looked back at Dumbledore, who only nodded slowly at her in some odd speechless communication. She turned back to the curious student body before her and began speaking.

"This year, Hogwarts will be hosting five transfer students from another school, who wish to broaden their horizons and have graced us with their presence. They will be sorted into houses, joining their respective years, so please treat them with respect and welcome them any other," she said. Whispers broke out, but were quelled as she called out the first name.

"Kanda, Yuu."


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