Thanks again for all the reviews, everybody! Not much to say other than I did the Dumbledore-Dursleys scene, which takes place at the end of July, then it skips to England's September 1 (it would still be August 31 in the US).
Enjoy!
Chapter 3
Little Whinging, Surrey
July 31, 1991
The night was still warm as Albus Dumbledore, dressed in his Muggle finest (a gaudy purple suit), stepped up to the door at Number Four, Privet Drive. He wasn't aware of the eyes of all the neighbors, or if he was, he didn't show it. Instead, he rang the doorbell, smiling pleasantly.
The man that came to the door was extremely large, both in girth and height. His mustache wobbled on his upper lip, and his face seemed to slowly turn to puce.
"What do you want?" he growled, barely leaving the door open a crack.
"Vernon Dursley? I'm Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of-"
"Get in here before the neighbors see you!" With a speed that should have been impossible for someone so large, he flung open the door and all but yanked the venerable man inside.
Internally, Dumbledore frowned, but did not let it show. "As I was saying, I am the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and I wished to check up on young Harry."
Vernon's beady eyes narrowed in concentration. "Who? Oh, you mean the boy. He isn't here."
"Out with friends, you mean? When might he be back?"
Vernon scoffed. "I mean he isn't here. Haven't seen him since he got taken away, not six months after we took in that ungrateful brat. Couldn't be happier, to tell you the truth."
Something clenched tightly in Dumbledore's chest. "What do you mean, he isn't here? He should have been due to the blood wards that protect this place as long as he calls it home…"
"Well, he isn't here, is he? And we're better off for it, at that. Taking food straight out of our Dudders' mouth before he was taken."
"Who took him?"
Vernon scratched his head. "Don't rightly remember, actually."
Dumbledore wanted to ask more; wanted to know if the man could recall anything else, but everything the man said about Harry, about being better off without him…
Well, he'd just have to get some people on it, see if this 'person' meant Harry ill or harm, and if they even had a chance of finding him alive after nine years. The weight of the wizarding world rested on the boy's shoulders too much to not try.
O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O
King's Cross, London
September 1, 1991
"Boys got everything?" Barry asked as they stood at the brick wall by Platforms 9 and 10 at the train station. "Books, wands, robes, underwear…"
"Uncle Barry!" Wally moaned, burying his face in his hands. "Stop it! You're so embarrassing."
"That's the point, kid," Barry said, ruffling his nephew's hair. "So, you've got it all, right?"
"Yeah," Dick said, giving his best friend a consoling pat on the shoulder. "We're sure."
"Dick, hand over the bag in your back pocket," Bruce said, looking around the station. "I told you that you won't need weapons while you're there."
The black-haired boy sighed, handing over the small weapons' cache. "How'd he know?"
"Maybe because you tried sneaking everything from your belt to your short pants in, Short Pants?" Wally offered, all traces of his uncle's previous ministrations gone.
Dick punched his friend on the arm in retaliation as the clock rang quarter to eleven.
"Time to go," Bruce said. "No traces of anything, just need to watch for civilians."
"He's way too far into Bat-mode today," Dick whispered as they casually leaned against the wall like Snape had told them to.
"Ya think?" Wally muttered back, swinging the cart with his trunk on it around. "Wha-dude, look at that!"
The platform was relatively quiet, all things considered, but the train was what had caught Wally's eye. It had a large scarlet engine, steam rising from the front smokestack. The name, Hogwarts Express, was written across the side in swirling calligraphy, and the Hogwarts Crest was on the front and sides.
"Whoa," Dick breathed in agreement.
"You two just gonna gawk all day or what?" Barry asked. "There are people behind us, you know."
Dick recovered first, giving Wally a push in the small of his back. "Dude, you're holding up the brick wall," he muttered.
"Huh? Oh, yeah." The two boys managed to get the trunks up on the train with their mentors' help, and were waiting on the platform a few minutes later.
"Now, remember boys, you're at school. No heroics!" To Dick, Barry seemed entirely too chipper for this. "Brush your teeth, do your homework, change your underwear every day…"
"Uncle Barry!" Wally moaned, face as red as his hair, as Dick dissolved into laughter. "What are you, my mom?"
"Well, since she was the one who told me to remind you…" Barry jumped out of the way of Wally's lunge. "Too slow, kid!"
"Dick." The sound of Bruce's voice got his attention immediately. "Robin can't fly at Hogwarts, you know that, right?"
"I know, Bruce." Honestly. Dick would have thought that Bruce knew he knew that by now. They were on Lecture 1, number 578 (he'd counted), and Dick swore he knew it by heart.
"Just checking." Bruce smirked. "In that case, hand over the Bat communicator. And don't forget about your wrist computer. Electronics don't work at Hogwarts."
"All the more reason to see if I can get them to work," Dick muttered, but handed over the requested items. "Say, Bruce?"
"Yeah?"
"I-" It was then Dick caught sight of the sea of redheads that flooded the station. "Whoa! Since when have there ever been so many redheads in one place?"
"Don't forget, your biological mother Lily was a redhead."
"What?"
The train whistled loudly, and Dick barely managed to wave to Bruce before he was dragged onto the train by an impatient Wally.
"Dude, come on before my uncle loses it and turns into my Aunt Iris," Wally said, dragging Dick to the compartment their trunks were in.
Dick looked out the window as they set off. The redheaded mother was waving and crying, and Dick managed a half-hearted wave at Bruce before they were out of sight.
Shutting the door behind him, he sat down across from Wally, who was glaring at the wall moodily. "Dude, what happened?"
"It's just…" Wally gave a frustrated groan. "My uncle can be so overbearing sometimes. And, well…"
"I know," Dick said, patting Wally's arm. "Your dad just doesn't know what he's missing."
They sat comfortably in the compartment, chatting lightly and watching the countryside flash by, when a bushy-haired girl opened the door.
"Hello," Dick said.
"Hello. Have either of you seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one."
Wally shivered. "Toads. Almost worse than spiders."
"Says the kid who used to keep them as pets," Dick fired back. Turning to the girl, he said, "Sorry, we haven't, but we'll help look."
A round-faced boy came up to the girl, tapping her shoulder. "Thanks, Hermione, I found him." The boy glanced in their compartment, then looked away and nearly ran back down the train.
"He's a bit shy. My name's Hermione Granger." She came in and sat down next to Wally.
"Dick Grayson and Wally West, at your service," Dick said, giving her a nod.
"You're American, aren't you? What are you doing in Britain?"
"We were both born here, but were raised in America," Wally said, giving a quick glance at Dick. "To be honest, I thought this was the only wizarding school."
"Oh, no! Don't you ever read? There's a school of magic in almost every country!" This seemed to be the catalyst she needed, and she started talking about all the different schools there were, and Wally shot Dick a pained grimace.
"Uh, Hermione?"
"Yes? Oh! That reminds me to ask: Are you the Dick Grayson who is Bruce Wayne's ward?"
Dick had barely stuttered out an affirmative when the conversation took an abrupt turn and she began spouting off facts about Bruce Wayne that she had read in this or that book until Wally turned to her.
"Don't you ever shut up?"
Her mouth snapped closed, and her eyes began to shine with tears. Without a word, she stood up and nearly ran from the compartment.
"Dude, that was not cool!" Dick said, glaring at his friend. "You don't make girls cry!"
"Well, she wouldn't shut up!"
"Still!" Dick hauled Wally out of the seat, marching him out of the compartment and down the packed hall. "Come on, we need to go find her."
"What? Why!"
"An apology, that's why."
They still hadn't found her the farther they went, and they were almost to the end of the train when they walked into three boys and Hermione. Two of them were big, reminded Dick of two of Joker's bigger henchmen. The blond was the one picking on a still-crying Hermione.
"Hey!" Dick said loudly, feeling unnaturally bold. "What are you doing?"
All three boys whipped around, the blond with a sneer, and the two gorilla-like boys with blank looks. "Stay out of our business. Just who do you think you are?"
"Dick Grayson and Wally West, here to kick your butts," Dick said.
"And save the girl," Wally added.
"Crabbe, Goyle," the blond ordered, and the gorillas moved to go after them.
Too late, Dick remembered his promise to Bruce, and shot a panicked look at Wally. The latter winked at him, turning his attention back to the brute. Dick stepped back a couple feet, watching Wally's fist curl around the door to the compartment next to him, and just as the one nearest him would've reached out a fist, Wally flung open the door, stepping inside and leaving a foot out to trip the other boy. He fell on his face, and Dick heard something crunch.
Getting the idea, Dick did the same with the compartment next to him, sending the other lackey to the ground.
Blondie looked panicked for a moment, before his face turned back into a sneer. "Grayson and West, eh? You haven't heard the last from Draco Malfoy, that's for sure. You've made some powerful enemies. Crabbe, Goyle, let's go."
Malfoy's wingmen picked themselves up. The one Wally tripped had blood running down his face, and Dick's had a bruise starting to form across a cheek. All three stalked back down the hall, pushing unsuspecting students out of the way.
"Thank you," Dick heard, and he turned to see Hermione looking sheepishly at them. "You didn't have to do that, especially since it might get you in trouble."
"Hermione, we were coming to find you anyway. Besides, what kind of heroes would we be if we didn't do something heroic once in a while?" Dick grinned at her.
"Besides," Wally added. "It was kinda fun."
Hermione frowned, opening her mouth to no doubt tell Wally off, but Dick interrupted her. "Wally has something to say. Don't you, Wally?"
"Oh, yeah. I'm sorry for snapping at you; it's just that, well, you're a bit of a show-off with your knowledge."
"What my speaking-challenged friend is trying to say is that you don't have to show off to get someone to like you," Dick translated, shooting a wry look at his friend. "What do you say, friends?"
"All right." She took his hand, smiling shyly at him. Dick nudged Wally's ribs, and the redhead reluctantly held out his own hand.
"Come on, let's get changed before we get there and aren't ready."
O-o-O-o-O-o-O-o-O
Hogsmeade Platform, Hogsmeade
September 1, 1991
A voice overhead told them to leave their trunks on the train, and, one by one, Dick, Wally, and Hermione slipped through the doors and onto the crowded platform. Off to one side was a bobbing light, with a loud, gruff voice calling, "Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All righ' there?"
Dick, whose eyes were quickly used to the mild twilight, saw that the voice belonged to a giant man. He had black eyes and wild masses of hair, and other students that seemed to be about his age were crowded around the man.
"Got everybody, then? All righ', to the boats! No mor'n four to a boat!"
Dick and Wally managed to secure a boat together, but Hermione was separated and bundled into another boat with the round-faced boy, Neville, a sandy-haired boy, and a dark-skinned girl. In his and Wally's boat was a pair of dark-haired twins.
"I'm Padma Patil, and this is my sister Parvati," the one on Dick's left introduced.
"Dick Grayson and Wally West," Dick replied. "Pleasure to meet you."
"And you as well. You don't sound like you're from here."
"We're both from America, but we were born in Britain," Wally supplied, obviously not wanting to be left out.
"Ev'rybody in a boat? Righ', forward!"
Dick glanced over the side of the boat. The inky blackness of the water was made reflective by the light on the bows of the boats, and he could see himself, anticipation written all over his face.
"Duck yer heads, and you'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts jus' around the bend."
They ducked down under the hanging ivy curtain, and the boats rounded the bend to find a magnificent castle. It perched on top of a hill, the lights reflecting off the lake and making it glitter. The lights themselves seemed to flicker, as if made by actual candles and firelight.
"Dude, you think this outdoes the manor a bit?"
Dick could only nod at Wally's whisper as the boats bumped into the shoreline.
"Ev'rybody out, now. Stay together and follow me." The giant man led them up the grounds to the huge entrance doors, which swung open as if on their own, and into a huge entrance hall. Dick could see several peoples' mouths drop open and had a hard time not doing so himself. From what he remembered of the size, Haly's Circus could've set up all their tents and still had room for parking if they wanted to do a show here.
"The firs' years, Professor." The man stumped through the doors to the right into a grand hall. The other students from the train were all sitting at long tables, at least that Dick could see before the doors shut.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. I am Professor McGonagall. The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before that is the time-honored tradition of the Sorting. This Sorting will determine what house you are in, and this house will become your family for the school year. You will have classes with your housemates, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend a majority of your free time in your house common room.
"There are four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each has a noble history and each house has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn you points, and rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the House Cup will be awarded to the house with the highest number of points, and it is a great honor to win it. I hope that each and every one of you will do your houses proud.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in just a few moments in front of the school. I suggest you smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."
Her eyes seemed to drift across the crowd of first years, lingering slightly on Neville's poorly-done tie, and someone else's crooked cloak.
"I shall return when we are ready for you," McGonagall finished. She gave them all one last look before she too entered the hall.
Almost immediately whispers broke out. "I wonder how we get Sorted?" Dick murmured to Wally. Hermione, standing on Wally's other side, looked nervous as well.
"Anyone here know where Harry Potter is?" Draco Malfoy, the boy from the train, swaggered through the crowd. "Isn't he supposed to start this year?"
"Get off your high horse, Malfoy, he probably doesn't want to deal with the likes of you," Wally called back, laying a hand on Dick's arm. "I certainly wouldn't."
"West," the blond sneered, but no one else had a chance to say anything as someone pearly and translucent drifted through the wall.
Someone screamed, and Dick had a hard time believing what his eyes were telling him. Around twenty ghosts had come in, from the floor, the walls, even the ceiling. A fat little monk-like ghost was saying, "Forgive and forget, I say. We should give him a second chance-"
"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves more than enough chances? He gives us ghosts a bad reputation, which isn't saying much as we already have one most days, but he isn't even – I say, what are you all doing here?"
No one answered the ghost in the ruff and tights.
"Oh, first years!" the Friar said, clapping his hands. "I do hope you end up in my old House – proud to be a Hufflepuff!"
"Move along now, the Sorting's about to begin." McGonagall had come back, and Dick let out a small sigh of relief. The ghosts drifted into the dining hall, and McGonagall said, "Everybody form a line and follow me to the Great Hall."
In a semblance of a line, they followed her into the Hall, where all eyes were upon them. Dick was somewhat used to this, as Bruce often garnered this look at his parties (and, being his ward, Dick was dragged along with him), but it still made him slightly uncomfortable. Wally seemed to be in awe of how much magic was going on, and Hermione had his left arm in a death grasp ahead of him.
They were led to the front of the hall, where a stool and a hat sat waiting. No one said or did anything for some minutes, until the hat's brim opened and began to sing.
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see.
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart.
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil.
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've got a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning
Will always find their kind.
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
The entire hall burst into applause at the conclusion of the song, and the Hat gave a bow to each of the tables before it sat still.
"All we have to do is try on the hat?" Hermione looked slightly less tense, and she let go of Dick's arm. "That sounds easy enough. A couple older students kept telling me I had to wrestle a troll."
Dick felt relief in the pit of his stomach. He hadn't noticed, but he had been slightly anxious as well. A man with a white beard sat in the center of the table, frowning as he scanned the line of first years. His eyes lingered on Dick, and he shivered; the blue eyes seemed to see right through you.
"When I call your name, you will come up to the stool. I will place the Sorting Hat upon your head, and when it calls out your house, you will go sit down." McGonagall unrolled a scroll. "Abbot, Hannah!"
Dick watched a blond, pink-faced girl stumble up and sit on the stool. Even with her pigtails, it fell down past her eyes. They waited a moment, before…
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
The table with yellow lining their robes clapped enthusiastically, and Hannah went to sit on the end. She was followed a moment later by Susan Bones, and Terry Boot became the first Ravenclaw. Mandy Brocklehurst followed him. Lavender Brown was the first new Gryffindor, while Millicent Bulstrode sat on the stool for almost a minute before the hat proclaimed, "SLYTHERIN!"
Dick could feel the anxiety in his stomach as Justin Finch-Fletchley went to Hufflepuff. He would be soon; what if the Hat couldn't Sort him? He knew he'd be difficult – just from Robin's critique, he had been called all those qualities and more. Finally, it was Hermione's turn, and she nearly tripped on the way there before sitting. The Hat was silent for a few moments before calling, "GRYFFINDOR!"
"Grayson, Richard!"
Scattered mumblings reached his ears; apparently, only a few people had heard of him, and that was the way Dick wanted it. His last view of the Hall had a view of Hermione crossing his fingers before all he saw was the inside of the Hat.
"Well, well, Mr. Potter. Ah, yes, it's Grayson now, isn't it? Your mind is rather empty of memories of being Harry Potter, isn't it? No matter, we aren't Sorting you based on name!
"Your mind is quite difficult. Loyalty in spades, fairness, but you're not a Hufflepuff to say the least with your parents' deaths hanging about you. Ravenclaw yes, you have quite the mind. Bravery about, lad, what do you do in that crime-riddled city of yours? A nice thirst to prove yourself, oh my, this is difficult. Now, where to put you? Too bad your cunningness isn't much; the only time you've ever wanted something more than anything in the world was when your adoptive parents were killed, so Slytherin is a second runner. Any preferences?"
"Somewhere Wally can come with me," Dick whispered, squeezing the stool tightly.
"I suppose I'll meet him in a little bit? You shouldn't go to a house for your friends, but your loyalty to him is astounding. Too bad you're not Hufflepuff material; I suppose we'll have to go with GRYFFINDOR!"
The last word was shouted to the hall, and the table with the red-lined robes exploded into cheers; when he took the Hat off, he could see a pair of redheads doing a jig, and Hermione was beaming. He gave Wally a thumbs up before heading to sit next to his bushy-haired friend.
The rest of the Sorting was going slowly. Neville Longbottom, with nerves written all over his face, was also Sorted into Gryffindor, along with Parvati Patil, until finally it was Wally's turn.
The Hat caught itself on Wally's ears, and Dick snickered along with some of the rest of the hall. Wally had barely been up there a minute when the Hat yelled, "GRYFFINDOR!" Dick clapped loudly, waving Wally over to the seat next to him. The redhead plopped down, his red face slowly draining of the color.
"Glad that's over," he whispered, putting a hand to his stomach when it growled loudly. "I'm starving!"
"When are you not?" Dick asked, glancing up to scan the table. The stool and Hat had been moved after Blaise Zabini had gone to Slytherin, and McGonagall took her place next to the white-haired man. Farther down the table he spotted Snape; the man gave him a cool nod, black eyes glittering, but the man next to him was what caught Dick's attention.
He wore a purple turban, of all things, and he seemed to be stuttering nervously. Dick jerked his head to the man in the center – the one with the long white hair and beard – as he loudly proclaimed, "Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!" and food materialized on the table.
"He must be mad," Dick said, taking a little of everything as it was passed along.
"No worse than that clown," Wally mumbled through a mouthful of food.
Hermione glared at him. "Don't talk with your mouth full, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with clowns," she snapped.
Dick rolled his eyes at the two of them. If they didn't eventually get together, he'd been imagining Ollie and Dinah's lovers' spat.
geek179, I didn't forget our conversation from your review on chapter 2! Did you catch my hint about that particular bit of information?
Don't be fooled by their easy start: Dick, Wally, and Hermione's friendship will not be this smooth.
For their houses, I ended up tallying all of the suggestions and taking the highest for each one (and I took all the suggestions, so if you made more than one for a character, that's why). The final results were (excluding Hufflepuff):
Dick: 3 for Ravenclaw, 4 for Slytherin, 6 for Gryffindor
Wally: 1 for Slytherin, 4 for Ravenclaw, 7 for Gryffindor
Funny how they landed with one between them? And I agree with a couple of you who think Gryffindor gets boring; just think, though, won't it be funny when Dumbledore realizes he's had his "golden boy" all along? *gets boos* Sorry, sorry. Let me know what you think of their placements, please?
