Chapter Three.
Hogwarts.
Dee pulled her trunk up to the red haired family with similar trunks: "Excuse me, do you think you could tell me how to get to platform 9¾?" The kind looking woman turned to face her and smiled: "But of course, dear, it's Ron's first time as well. All you have to do is walk straight through the barrier between platforms 9 and 10, better do it in a run if you're nervous." Deirdre did as she was told and in a moment she saw a majestic train. It was a very deep shade of red. She went into the train, lifting her trunk with ease. Her tiger followed.
Once she was comfortable, Dee took out the egg she bought and it was really hot. It shattered to pieces and Deirdre found herself looking at a shadow phoenix. The bond formed at once. The girl called her new familiar Andromeda, Romi for short.
The compartment door slid open and revealed a girl of her age with brown bushy hair: "Excuse me, can I sit here? Everywhere else is full." Dee gestured for her to come in: "Sure, by the way, I'm Deirdre Trans Gemini Potter, but everyone calls me Dee. What's your name?" The girl shook the extended hand: "I'm Hermione Granger, nice to meet you. Are your relatives magical? Did you say Potter?" Deirdre smiled: "Yes, I did. I'll explain, but first tell me, do you want to be my friend?" The girl thought for a moment then smiled: "Sure, I'd like that, I never had a friend before." Dee frowned: "Strange, you seem to be a nice person." Hermione bit her lip: "I like reading… a lot and my classmates didn't want to be friends with a know-it-all." Dee smiled at her: "I don't mind, I like reading as well, the important thing is to like other things too. Like Quidditch. I've never flown on a broom yet, but I'd like to. Yeah, my story. My name is Deirdre Trans Gemini Halliwell Potter. I'm Harry Potter's cousin, although until a month ago we thought we were siblings. My mother was forced to give me away. She was a light witch, while my father was a high level demon, Balthazar. So basically I'm Deirdre Potter, or Trans Gemini. I'm a hanyu, a half demon. By the way, we're related." Hermione blinked: "Really? Wow… I never would have guessed that I had magical relatives, does it mean that I'm not a muggleborn?" Dee nodded: "Yep. Welcome to the ancient and noble House of Warrens. Nowadays it is represented by the Halliwells and the Grangers. You, my dear, are descended to Rowena Ravenclaw herself and related to the Charmed Ones, of which I'm a proud member of."
The next couple of hours were spent in peaceful reading, when they were interrupted by a blond boy, flanked by two gorilla-like idiots: "Another pair of mudbloods? Where is Hogwarts going?" Dee gritted her teeth: "Watch your mouth, jerk." He narrowed his eyes: "Oh really?" Deirdre answered coldly: "Get lost." Hermione looked from one to another, but didn't know how to break the tension, so she kept silent. The tension was broken when two red haired boys appeared: "Leave the girls alone, Malfoy." The blond sneered, but left none the less. Dee smiled at them: "Thanks, guys, I was beginning to loose my temper. I'm Deirdre Trans Potter Halliwell, that's Hermione Jane Granger, my cousin." They smirked: "We're Fred and George Weasley. Nice to meet you two. What did those jerks want?" Hermione rolled her eyes: "Trying to make a bad impression I'd say. Thanks for helping." The twins winked at her: "It's nothing. What house do you expect to be in?" Hermione smiled: "Ravenclaw, I guess." Dee rolled her eyes: "Griffindor for sure."
The two boys sat down and they played cards for an hour or so, before another boy came in. He was very shy: "Excuse me, have you seen a toad around here? His name's Trevor." Hermione gave him a smile: "Maybe you can give us your name and we'll all go and look for your toad, it can be faster this way." The boy blushed: "Oh, yes, I'm Neville Longbottom." Hermione shook his hand: "Hermione Granger, that's Deirdre Potter, George & Fred Weasley. Nice to meet you."
They left Neville in the compartment and went to look for his toad, checking one compartment after another. In one of them they met Harry and Ron Weasley, his new friend. The Potter heir was surprised to see them: "Oh, Dee… Nice to see you. Is there something you wanted?" Ron looked from one to another: "Harry, you know them?" Fred cocked his head: "Ronnie, you know us yourself, your brothers, remember? These are Deirdre Potter and Hermione Granger, our new friends. Have you seen a toad? Neville lost it again." Hermione spotted a wand in Ron's hand and beamed: "Oh, you're doing magic, let's see then." Ron's ears turned pink, as everyone's eyes were fixed on him. Deirdre listened to what he was saying and asked Fred in a whisper: "Is that an actual spell? Sounds like a stupid poem…" George snickered: "'cause it is just a stupid poem… we didn't think he'd buy that." Dee sighed: "It means that you have a moron for a brother." Ron blushed when nothing happened: "But… they gave it to me." Fred chuckled: "Ron, we thought you'd see that it was only a poem, well you would have seen, if you had read at least some books."
It was late in the evening when they finally reached the station in Hogsmeade, a wizarding village. All of the first years were met by Hagrid and went to Hogwarts in boats across the Black Lake, while the other students rode in carriages.
The castle was truly majestic and everyone was entranced by the sight. Dee saw the wards bow to her and connect with her magic and tune to it. It was an unique sensation. Deirdre felt Trans' power grow bigger and her personality calmer.
Professor McGonagall met them at the front door. She turned out to be a strict, elderly woman. They waited at the doors in the hall, as they were told. It was then that Dee and Hermione met Malfoy again. He sauntered up to them, but spoke only to Harry: "So it's true, the great Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts. You'll soon find, that some wizarding families are better, than others, I can help you there." He extended his hand, which Harry eyed quizzically: "I believe I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thanks."
The first years lined up and waited. Then the deputy headmistress called out:
"Abbot, Hannah" – Hufflepuff!
"Braun, Lavender" – Ravenclaw!
"Crab, Vincent" – Slitherin!
"Goil, Gregory" – Slitherin!
"Din, Thomas" – Hufflepuff!
"Finnegan, Seamus" – Hufflepuff!
"Granger, Hermione" – Griffindor!
"Longbottom, Neville" - Griffindor
"Malfoy, Draco" – Slitherin!
"O'Connor, Liam" – Ravenclaw!
"Patil, Padma" – Hufflepuff!
"Parker, Solveig" – Ravenclaw!
"Parkinson, Pansy" – Slitherin!
"Potter, Harry" – Hufflepuff!
"Potter, Deirdre" – Griffindor!
"Zabini, Blaze" – Slitherin!
Then the chatter broke out, it turned out not the way everyone expected – Harry Potter in Hufflepuff… And Dee, well, she felt all eyes traveling from her to Harry and back to her and she didn't like it.
Hermione snickered: "You know, somehow it makes me feel uncomfortable…" Dee wanted to say something, but the headmaster began his speech: "To our new students, welcome, to our old ones – welcome back. Another year has started and we are glad to have you back. This year we have yet another DADA teacher. Please welcome professor Quirrel. Let's hope he'll be more lucky than his predecessor. Then we have a new subject. It's called self-defense and it'll be taught by professor Raid. Next, I want to warn you, that the third floor corridor is off limits to anyone, who doesn't wish to die a most painful death. Our care taker, Mr Filch, asked me to remind you, that doing magic in the halls is forbidden and the list of all banned things hangs on the door of his office. You are welcome to read it. Now, let the feast begin!"
In an instant the empty plates were filled with most delicious meals. Dee turned around and snickered at Harry's awed face. She shrugged and continued eating. After the feast they all went up to their dormitories.