A/N: I've gotten a few reviews about what pairings I'll have. I'm planning on having Rob/Star, Hermione/Ron, and Harry/Ginny. I might have others, but so far that's all I'm planning on. Another thing you should know is that this story takes place after the fourth season of Teen Titans. Also, I'm writing this quickly because I want to finish it before school starts, but I seriously doubt that will happen.
Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans or Harry Potter.
Chapter 4: Of Lessons and Hats
By the time the Hogwarts Express roared into Hogsmeade Station, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were back in their original compartment with Dick, Lupin was once again asleep, and Raven was still reading. As the train came to a stop, the students stood and started congregating on the platform. Hagrid waved to Harry, Ron, and Hermione as he called to the first years. The rest of the students headed for the carriages.
"Wow," said Dick approaching a carriage, "You guys use horses here?"
Harry stopped dead. "You can see them?" he asked.
Dick looked extremely confused. "Of course I can see them. They're standing right here," Dick said gesturing toward the horses.
Harry lowered his voice, "You can only see these horses if you've seen someone die."
Dick paled. "Are you joking?"
Harry shook his head. "I can see them, but most others can't."
Dick swallowed loudly thinking of the people he'd seen die: his parents and Terra. Dick silently wished that Beast Boy would not talk about the horses. He didn't know if Beast Boy could handle the memories of his own parent's and Terra's deaths being brought to the surface of his mind. As he thought about it, Dick hoped that the rest of the Titans would not mention the horses either. They'd all seen too much.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione climbed into the carriage after Dick. Thankfully, none of them asked who he'd seen die.
Professor McGonagall called to the first years and the transfer students in the Great Hall. There were seven transfer students in total. The Titans comprised five of the seven. Professor McGonagall led the first years into the Great Hall and the transfer students followed. Amazed expressions crossed the faces of the newcomers. Hundreds of floating candles illuminated the Great Hall showing its high ceiling spelled to look light the sky. Most of the new students stared at the starry ceiling slightly coated with clouds. A bright moon shone through the blend of black and dark blue. Raven, though, had to cover her eyes to begin with. Instead of a night sky, Raven saw an extremely bright light. The spells on the ceiling blinded her. Raven closed her eyes and chanted her mantra, focusing her energy on shielding the light from her vision. After nearly bumping into the boy in front of her, Raven opened her eyes. The bright light was gone, instead she saw the deep blue sky, but she could still see the symbols representing the spell covering the sky like odd stars. It simply added to the beauty.
The first years and transfer students took their seats along one wall. Professor McGonagall brought out a stool and an old patched hat. To most of the Titans surprise, the hat opened a rip near the brim and began to sing. When the hat finished singing, Professor McGonagall rose from her seat and called a name. A small boy with dirty blonde hair stood and came forward. He sat on the stool, and Professor McGonagall placed the hat on his head. "Ravenclaw!" it yelled. The table under a blue banner started applauding. Raven, though, turned extremely pale. She could not have something looking into her mind. It was too dangerous. The hat might unleash something terrible. While the first years were being sorted, Raven telepathically called to Dumbledore. She explained her situation. Dumbledore telepathically told her to decide which house she would like to be in and tell the sorting hat that she had Dumbledore's permission to choose her house. Raven sighed with relief.
Eventually, it was time for the transfer students to be sorted. Professor McGonagall said, "Anders, Kori." Starfire, now Kori Anders, rose and walked to the front of the room. She sat on the stool, and the hat descended onto her head. As soon as it touched her flaming red hair it shouted, "Hufflepuff." Kori squealed with excitement and ran to the applauding table after thanking the hat thoroughly.
"Brown, Francis." A tall boy with jet black hair and defined features was made a Slytherin.
"Grayson, Richard." Dick made his way to the stool confidently. The hat rested on his spiky black hair.
Hmm, it said in his mind. You're equally brave and determined, but I see you have friends in Gryffindor so I'll put you in "Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindor table clapped very loudly. Ron gave the thumbs up sign as Dick sat next to him.
"Logan, Garfield." Gar walked up to the stool cautiously. Professor McGonagall slipped the hat over his now brown hair. You are brave, not very determined, though. You're not really that clever, but you are very loyal to your friends. Definitely "Hufflepuff!"
Gar grinned widely and sat with his new friends at the Hufflepuff table.
"Roth, Raven." Raven's heart began to race in her chest as she approached the hat. Raven put up tons of mental blocks as the hat covered her violet hair. Telepathically she said, I can't let you into my mind.
The hat scoffed. Why not?
It's too dangerous. Just trust me. Dumbledore said I could choose my house. I want to be in Gryffindor. Raven had chosen Gryffindor because Dick was all alone in that house while Kori had Gar.
I do not believe a student should be allowed to choose her house. The hat sounded angry it could not do its job.
Fine, Raven said. She created a tiny hole in her blocks and let an image of her father ripping another daemon into tiny pieces slip through.
"Gryffindor!" the hat yelled hurriedly. It sounded frightened and disgusted. Raven smirked and handed the hat to Professor McGonagall. Most of the Gryffindors didn't applaud. The few that did applauded weakly. Dick clapped loudly and so did Harry, Ron, and Hermione. They liked this girl ever since she made Malfoy nearly wet himself from fear. Raven found a seat at the end of the table far from the other students.
"Stone, Victor." Vic was determined to be a Ravenclaw. The last transfer student was a Hufflepuff.
The feast came and went, and soon tired students were heading to their respective common rooms.
In the boy's dormitory of Gryffindor tower, Dick began unpacking his belongings and piling them into a trunk at the foot of his bed. Harry, Ron, and the rest of the dormitory's occupants were discussing Quidditch.
In the girl's dormitory, Raven opened the trunk at the foot of her bed. She whispered an incantation and her possessions that were sitting in another dimension appeared in her trunk. As Raven stood, a hand traveled in front of her face. "Hello," said the girl with bushy brown hair that Raven had seen on the train. "I'm Hermione Granger. We met on the train."
"I remember." Raven pushed past the girl disregarding the hand that still waited to be shaken. Raven sat on her bed and closed the bed hangings.
Hermione was annoyed by the girl's rudeness. She turned to walk to her own bed when she heard Raven chanting softly. Returning to Raven's bed, she heard the chanting more clearly. "Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos, Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos…" Hermione opened the bed hangings slightly and saw Raven sitting in the lotus position with her eyes closed.
"What are you doing?" asked Hermione.
Opening one eye, Raven looked at Hermione. "Meditating." Raven then closed her eye, and the bed hangings pulled themselves closed as Hermione was pushed back slightly by an invisible force. Hermione looked questioningly at the hangings. Unable to find an answer, Hermione retreated to her bed while the chanting continued quietly.
Hermione awoke at her usual early time the next morning. As she quietly dressed into her Hogwarts robes, she realized she was not the only one awake. Raven's bed was empty and made. Hermione hurriedly finished her morning routine and rushed down the stairs, hoping to get to know Raven better before the others got up. When she reached the last few steps of the spiral stairs, she called, "Raven!" Hermione was greeted with a loud thump and a groan. Jumping the last steps, Hermione entered the common room and rushed to the center. There she found Raven standing before the fireplace rubbing her back. Raven turned and glared at Hermione. She had been levitating while she meditated, and Hermione had made her lose her concentration thus falling four feet to the foot of the hearth.
"Thanks for the warning," Raven grumbled.
"What were you doing," asked Hermione.
"Meditating."
"Do you meditate all day?" the witch asked in amazement.
"Do you annoy people all day?" Raven snapped. She turned and headed for the portrait hole. Hermione caught up with her.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude."
"Whatever."
Hermione stopped and scowled. "But I suppose you do mean to be rude!" Raven paused and turned her cold stare on Hermione just before she reached the portrait hole.
"I don't want any friends. I don't need any friends." With that said, Raven exited the Gryffindor common room.
Raven left the castle and headed for Hagrid's hut. She found Hagrid weeding his pumpkin patch. "Want some help?" she asked as she stepped up behind the half-giant. Hagrid jumped and twirled around brandishing a weed as if it were a weapon. Raven chuckled.
"Oh, it's just you, Raven," said Hagrid looking relieved.
"And if I was a Death Eater I'm sure I would have run at your wild weeds of fury," Raven mocked smiling slightly.
Now Hagrid chuckled. "I guess that was kind of ridiculous." Gazing at Raven questioningly, he asked, "Why are you out so early?"
Raven frowned, "No reason."
"Sure," Hagrid said, his voice full of doubt. "I'll tell ya what, if you help me finish weeding, I'll make us a pot of tea."
Raven's eyes narrowed. "Make it herbal tea, and you've got a deal."
Hagrid laughed again, "Sure."
Hagrid bent over and started pulling weeds. Raven on the other hand levitated a few inches. Her eyes turned white, and she chanted, "Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos." She raised her arms and the rest of the weed in the pumpkin patch rose out of the dirt as if it was water. Returning to the ground, Raven put her hands on her hips and said, "Now, about that tea." Hagrid snickered as he led her inside his hut.
Once the tea was ready, Hagrid poured them both steaming cups and sat at the table with Raven. "I know something's wrong," he began. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Raven stirred her tea with a large spoon. Mist rose from the cup and filled her senses with the smells she loved so much. She sighed. "I guess Hogwarts is different than I expected."
"I know what you mean," Hagrid said. "I was an outcast at Hogwarts too."
"Really?" asked Raven surprised.
"Yeah," Hagrid leaned back and closed his eyes. "I was made fun of a lot. Never was very good at magic. But the main thing was the way I looked. No one really likes a half-giant, ya know."
"You're half-giant?" Raven asked. This made Raven happy. Hagrid was half-human just like her.
Hagrid noticed the look on her face. "Yeah, I am," he said suspiciously.
Raven smiled. She didn't feel so alone anymore. "Thanks Hagrid." Raven stood, finished her tea in one gulp, and then hurried out of Hagrid's hut.
"You're welcome?"
In the Gryffindor common room, Hermione was busy reading a text book when Dick came down the stairs.
"Hey, Hermione," Dick said. Ron came down after him.
Ron grumbled, "He is way too cheerful in the morning." Harry laughed as he followed Ron into the room. "What's up Hermiooooneee?" Ron finished his sentence with a loud yawn.
Hermione scowled. "I met that Raven girl. She is one of the rudest people I have ever met. I think Lavender was right, she does belong in Slytherin."
Now Dick scowled. "How can Lavender say that? She doesn't even know her."
"Whoa, Dick," said Harry in a very surprised voice, "calm down."
Dick's face softened. "Sorry. I just don't like people judging others."
Harry smirked, thinking of the time everyone thought he was Slytherin's heir. "I know what you mean."
Ron, attempting to change the subject, said, "Let's get to breakfast. I want to eat before Divination."
"Hmph." Hermione found that class a complete waste of time.
Raven climbed the ladder to North Tower and entered a room filled with plush cushions and incense. Raven almost coughed on the cheep aroma and thought, She might as well buy good incense so as not to kill her students. Raven found a cushion near the back of the room almost completely hidden by shadow. There she sat in the lotus position and opened her Unfogging the Future: Level Four.
Soon after Raven, the rest of the Gryffindor sixth years entered the tower. Harry, Ron, and Dick found some cushions in the middle of the room.
Professor Trewlany then swept into the room, her many necklaces jingling and jangling as she walked. The odd woman came to a halt in front of the large fireplace. Professor Trewlany spoke, "I see we have two new students that wish to understand the complexities of seeing into the future. Would those students please come to the front of the room?"
Dick hesitated when he saw Ron roll his eyes. Harry leaned over to Dick and whispered in his ear, "Professor Trewlany's nuts, but you should probably do as she says." Dick nodded and stepped to the front of the room. He then turned and looked for Raven.
Professor Trewlany was obviously doing the same. "Would the other transfer student please come forward?"
A sigh was heard from the back of the room. A figure stood and stepped out of the shadows. Raven tentatively came to stand next to Dick. "Let me see you palms." Dick lifted his palm as did Raven. Professor Trewlany looked at Dick's palm first. "I see great tragedy in your past and great tragedy in your future." Dick fidgeted a little. "I also see death!" Dick gasped. "Beware the one in a mask." Raven nearly laughed at that last bit of information. The Titans had known about Slade for a very long time now.
Professor Trewlany turned to Raven's palm, and Dick quickly walked to his seat. Professor Trewlany gasped. "I see chaos, destruction, stones, death! Beware the one with four eyes."
Raven stared at Professor Trewlany and said, "That problem resolved itself about six months ago." Laughter erupted from the students.
Professor Trewlany, trying to regain her authority, went on, "I see illness, much illness. Images, horrid images! This year does not bode well for you!"
Raven quickly pulled her hand from Professor Trewlany's grip. In her cold monotone, Raven said, "I'll keep that in mind." Raven then headed back to her seat in the shadows.
Dick, Ron, and Harry met up with Hermione after divination. "How was it?" Hermione asked Dick.
"I agree with Harry. That woman's nuts!"
Hermione looked smug. "That's why I quit while I could."
Harry broke up they're conversation, "We really should get down to potions. If we're late, Snape will be really pissed off."
The rest agreed, and the group headed down to potions. Dick and Hermione were still discussing how odd Professor Trewlany was when they reached the dungeons.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Dick found a table near the front, and Dick noticed that Raven once again was sitting at a back table half covered with shadow.
Professor Snape entered shortly after the students. Without even acknowledging his students, he wrote a formula on the board. "This is Illusionimortis. When drunk it causes the drinker to hallucinate. Make it. I will come around and check your work."
There was clanging as students pulled out their cauldrons and potion ingredients. Harry started chopping his mandrake roots and Ron waited to see what Hermione did first. Dick pulled out his mandrake roots and started chopping them the way Harry was. Hermione stopped him.
"Don't do what Harry does," she said pulling away his mutilated roots. "He's hopeless at potions."
"Hey!" Harry said indignantly, but he stopped cutting his mandrake roots and waited to see what Hermione told Dick to do.
In the back of the room Raven was making her potion easily. She had been taught how to make potions on Azarath, and she'd made this potion many times.
When class was nearly over, Snape came around and inspected the potions. He smiled as he came to Neville's. "I'm afraid your potion is completely wrong." Snape waved his wand, and Neville's potion disappeared. Neville hung his head. Snape moved onto Harry's table. Snape simply cringed at Ron's messy orange soup and shook his head at Harry's disgraceful potion. When he came to Dick's potion, Snape merely said, "Acceptable, though barely."
Dick sighed with relief and mouthed "Thank you" to Hermione.
Snape looked at Hermione's potion and nodded showing his reluctant approval.
When Snape came to Raven's potion, he was very surprised. The deep olive green potion was a perfect creamy thickness. It was just as good as Hermione's. Snape looked surprised. "Perfect," he said confused that two Gryffindors were better than any of his Slytherins. Raven looked at him with her deep indigo eyes. Snape moved away from her penetrating look and muttered, "Three points to Gryffindor."
A/N: Okay, the next chapter will have more about the other Titans. I promise. There is a little hint in this chapter as to what the ultimate plot will be about. See if you can find it.