Harry Potter & the Child of Phoenix

Disclaimer: We've discussed this. I don't own anything! Except for the plot and the characters you've never heard of. They're mine. Mine.

Chapter Seven: Band of Brothers

Young wizards and Celestials exchanged nervous glances as Professor Dumbledore welcomed the students and professors to Hogwarts.

"I warmly welcome all to our humble institution of magical education, and expect that you are all weary from your long journey out of Olympus. More will be said," his eyes twinkled warmly at the students. "But I find the sun falling quickly. Were I to make a speech on these steps, we would find ourselves not only asleep, but also encircled in darkness. If you will kindly follow the instructions of your professors, we may dismiss to the Great Hall for our welcoming feast. Headmaster Chiron?" Dumbledore turned to the man beside him with the dark head of hair. With an accepting smile, Chiron faced his uneasy students. They shifted slightly, glancing back and forth between their headmaster and the wizards and witches craning their necks to see them.

"Students, please detach your trunks and animals." He ordered lightly. Loud shifting was heard as the young Celestials complied with their headmaster. "Professors, if you would kindly assist those students in need, and Virgil, please take care of their belongings?" An older-looking, portly, bald man with black eyes and faded blue robes nodded enthusiastically, collecting trunks from the weird transport vehicles and stacking them accordingly. Many professors moved to help the students, unlatching the luggage and handing it to the bald man.

"Argus, can help, Alekos," Dumbledore spoke to the Celestial headmaster. "As it is, he knows where most of the luggage for the students are stored." An odd look crossed Chiron's face as he looked at Dumbledore.

"Argus still works here? Thought he'd long gone already…" he stated, shrugging gracefully. Dumbledore called for the trudging Filch, and together he and the one called Virgil stacked trunks and animal cages together. Ron nudged Harry as a few professors from Aripedes pulled out familiar slender rods from their robes.

"They've got wands?" he whispered. "How've they got wands?" Harry merely shrugged and continued to watch them at work. Both headmasters were chatting amiably in silent tones, while the Hogwarts professors surveyed the rest of the scene in silence. Virgil and Filch stacked the last of the trunks and cages, Filch speaking in growling tones to the Being. The bald man nodded to Chiron and the headmaster smiled.

"Students, please banish your riders." Before his very eyes, Harry watched as hundreds upon hundreds of the small triangular sails disappeared in small flashes of white light, leaving only the black-cloak clad students. When all of the transports were gone, Headmaster Chiron whispered something to Dumbledore, to which the older man expressed a wrinkled smile and nodded. "Heads of houses of both Hogwarts and Aripedes, I bid you attention." Harry noticed Snape stood straighter and McGonagall pursed her lips. Professor Flitwick settled between the Ravenclaw first years, which were all much taller than he.

"As there are the four famed houses of Hogwarts, so it is with Aripedes Academy. By the friendships forged between our eight founders, each house of Aripedes is counterpart to those of Hogwarts. We sincerely hope you will find friendships with your new housemates. Gryffindor," he started. The Gryffindors found themselves nervous and standing upright. Harry nervously waited as the man eyed his students and the wizards respectively. "Your new housemates are those of Paraffin." McGonagall bowed her head and the Gryffindors gave quirky grins. Harry forced himself to smile at the group of students. They all looked the same, with their black robes with the Aripedes crest. How were they to know who the Paraffins were? Ron voiced his thoughts quietly.

"They all look the same. How do we know who's who?"

"I don't know." Hermione answered, glancing around in confusion.

"You know, you've been saying that a lot lately." He commented to the scowling witch.

"Hufflepuff," Chiron continued, "your housemates are those of Brittlebore house." The Hufflepuffs beamed and nodded, but Harry could see they were just as baffled as the Gryffindors in finding out which people they would befriend. "Ravenclaw, you will find great partners in Voltaire." The Ravenclaws nodded in respect, their eyes giving away their puzzlement. "And Slytherin," the Serpent House stiffened, keeping on cool expressions. "May you find cunning and friendship with the house of Aves. Harry noted Malfoy's smirk and Snape's slight nod. The dark-haired Celestial in the front gave his blonde companion another look, before raising his eyebrow at the Slytherins.

"Heads of houses, if you will please meet briefly to greet each other, while Professor Chiron and I converse." Dumbledore eyed his heads of house quickly.

"Professor McGonagall," a formidable looking female ascended the steps, her wizened face and hazel eyes wildly accenting her gray hair, which was in a tight bun. She wore velvet robes of navy, and a silver brooch was pinned on the front. As she passed Harry, she smiled in a business-like way, before reaching her destination. "Minerva, it's been years…." She greeted McGonagall with a warm grin.

"It truly has, Alcina. It truly has…." Harry, Ron and Hermione watched the exchange, as well as the other heads of houses meeting. An elderly, short, Asian man with a long mane of silky white hair (with a thin, kempt beard rivaling Dumbledore's) knelt before Professor Flitwick, shaking hands with the dwarf of a professor; a short, fat, professor of Latin descent shook porky hands with Professor Sprout, who had just moved down the stone steps; a dark looking man with jet-black hair reaching his chin, but slicked back and a neat beard grasped hands firmly with Professor Snape on the other end. The two looked like dark shadows in their black robes.

"Boy," whispered Ginny. "When he said 'counterparts,' he really wasn't joking." Harry agreed with Ginny; the heads of houses complimented each other very well—he'd thought the head of Paraffin house was another version of McGonagall. And with longer greasy hair, a bigger nose, and removal of the beard, the counterpart Slytherin head of house could have easily been another Snape.

Harry took this time to study the vivid crests on the Celestials' robes. From his place, he could identify four animals: a violet and silver hawk, a black and white lemur, what seemed to be an orange and yellow leopard, and a periwinkle and navy phoenix. He surmised them to most likely be the house animals of Aripedes. Squinting a bit harder, he read the words etched in a gold ribbon under the crest: 'Patiens Caelestes Semper Prosperitas Infissum.' The Gryffindor seeker would have turned to Hermione to ask her to translate it if she could, but the Celestial heads moved back to the silent students at the bottom of the stairs.

"Now that we have gotten to better acquaint ourselves with each other, we shall off to the Great Hall. Professor Chiron?" Dumbledore queried expectantly. The raven-haired headmaster looked to the students in the front.

"Sixth year prefects, please lead your Celestial houses behind those of Hogwarts. Follow them closely. Seventh year prefects, assume the rear. Fifth year prefects, help where you can." Chiron instructed. There was a clamor of voices and footsteps as Hufflepuff left first, their Brittlebore complements trailing them with whispers. Ravenclaw followed them, with the Celestials known as Voltaires, Harry noticing the Asian Entity with spectacles leading with her blonde female partner.

"Oy, Malfoy's taking this pretty seriously." Ron prodded Harry in the rib to watch the Slytherin prefect. Malfoy was shining and adjusting his bottle green prefect badge, Pansy doing the same. Snape lead his Slytherins back into the castle, both the Slytherins and Aves following in his stead. The head of house for Aves brought up the rear of the Beings and Entities. Several of the Aripedes and Hogwarts professors walked with the students, making sure they assembled quickly into the Great Hall. Finally, McGonagall called for the Gryffindor seventh year prefects to lead the first years and rest of the house back to the Great Hall. Harry obeyed, but occasionally glanced back to watch the remaining Paraffins budge along the lawn and up the steps. The ginger-haired male and his dark-skinned friend surveyed the group behind them before following a few fourth years up the steps.

"Bloody hell," exclaimed Ron. "They're our counterparts." Hermione shot him a knowing look.

"Obviously, Ron. D'you think they'll actually be in the dormitories with us?" she asked of her friends. Harry, Ron and Ginny shrugged.

"Dunno. Expect we'll find out from Dumbledore." He replied. The four whispered various theories to each other as they made it back to the Great Hall. Upon entry, Harry had come to realize he had never seen the dining hall so full; the wizards and Celestials sat comfortably at the extremely long tables, enough room to fit more. Chancing a quick glance around the hall, Harry noted many of the Hufflepuffs integrated themselves with the Celestials, mixing both races throughout the table. Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbott encased a Being and an Entity, both of which had shiny orange badges. Malfoy and Parkinson sat with the black-haired boy and blonde girl Harry had spotted earlier at the front of the arriving Celestials, both of which seemed slightly tense between the Slytherins. Ron followed his gaze.

"Ah. And here I thought all Slytherins were fond of each other." He squinted at the Slytherin/Aves quartet. "If I didn't know better, I'd say those Celestials weren't really enjoying themselves." Harry simply nodded before sitting between Hermione and Ron. The Celestials had trailed behind them, filling in empty spots where they could. Parvati and Lavender spoke in hushed tones to an Entity beside them; Dean and Seamus spoke with a muscularly built, tanned Being across from them; even Neville nervously started a conversation with a beautiful brunette girl who was giggling gaily. The young Gryffindor eyed Ginny, a few housemates away from him, merrily chatting with what seemed to be three identical Celestial triplet girls, not much other than second year.

"She makes friends fast, don't you think?" Harry asked Ron. The prefect looked at his sister and nodded.

"I expect it's because she grew up around all brothers, without a sister to share things with." Hermione suggested. Ron quickly looked at his plate and said nothing.

"Do you think we'll be able to make friends with them as quickly as she?" Harry questioned, seriously doubting it would take less than ten seconds. Ron gazed upward to answer, but was cut off.

"Here's our big chance." He whispered. Harry vaguely wondered what his best friend was talking about before six Celestials took seats opposite them, smiling confidently. He recognized two as the boys on the front row, but the other four he couldn't place. As he turned to furtively study the unknown four, he thought one of the boys looked familiar. He had curly brown hair and light freckles sprinkling his face. But he just couldn't place him. The other boy sat beside the Black prefect, and had short, wavy blonde hair and eager brown eyes. The medium-sized girl beside him had straight blonde hair, barely brushing her shoulders, and bright chocolate eyes. He would've studied the last girl longer, but by then the professors had assembled and taken their seats at the head table. It seemed so full of life, now that there were several more bodies. Headmaster Chiron sat to one side of Professor Dumbledore, and McGonagall in her usual seat at his side. Hogwarts' headmaster rose, earning silence from the chatting teenagers in the hall. His eyes twinkling proudly, glinting sheer happiness, he raised his arms in a gesture of welcome.

"Colleagues, students…friends, I welcome you once more to Hogwarts School." Applause was met by the students, and ceased just as quickly. "I speak the truth when I say I never would have expected for the schools to be reunited after quite some time. Though the euphoric emotion stirs within me, I must attest to the fact that students always retain knowledge and information of some sort when their stomachs are full." Ron's stomach gave a quiet rumble of accord as its owner patted it genially.

"Well said, Dumbledore. Now, on with the feast." He whispered, earning sniggers not only from Harry, but also from the Celestials across from them. Hermione's scowl at the prefect only served to further their snickers.

"So I beseech you, eat to your hearts content, and make a fresh comrade while you stuff your eager faces. Let the feast of alliances, begin." Food immediately appeared before the starving students, and Harry was impressed; the house elves must have worked especially hard tonight, and probably will all night. There were roasts of all kind, including pork, chicken, and beef. Potatoes, rice, vegetables, pastas, gravy…it was all here. Even a few dishes he had never seen in his life looked scrumptious. The Celestials sat unfazed as the food appeared, as though they had seen it many times before. Ron quickly dove into the food, showing no uncertainty before their guests. And even they didn't mind. Hermione looked at the Gryffindor keeper in disgust before primly eating her food.

"Honestly, Ron. You've no class." She condemned, slicing her mutton. Ron licked a bit of potato from the corner of his jaw.

"Oh, lay off Hermione. We've only eaten sweets all day, and that bloody prefect meeting lasted forever. You expect me to hold back when I see food? Have you ever known me to hold back?" He retorted. She frowned at him for beginning an argument in the presence of future greatness. The Celestials merely looked on in interest.

"Well, at least eat civilly and not like swine."

"Says you, eating like a bloody pigeon."

"Food's pretty good today, wouldn't you say?" Harry cut off Hermione's impending snarky comment. Ron unceremoniously ripped off a piece of flesh from a chicken leg.

"'Ou bet." He swallowed the chicken seconds later. "The elves've outdone themselves." Hermione glared at Ron before vigorously carving into her cutlet. He rolled his eyes.

"You're not still on about that 'spew,' thing, Hermione! You've met loads of elves who—"

"It—is—not—'spew'!" she hissed.

"Sorry. You've not given up on S.P.E.W.?" he queried tiredly. The blonde-haired Entity across from Hermione perked up.

"What's S.P.E.W.?" her soft voice intoned. Hermione brightened at the prospect of another member.

"It's some organization she's started to free house elves." Ron rambled uninterestedly while spooning more potatoes onto his plate. The girl cocked her head to the side looking between the two. "Though the resident genius of the school, she still can't seem to figure out the fact the elves are happy with working." The female prefect scrunched her face in irritation, before smiling at the girl.

"I'm Hermione Granger." She introduced. The Entity smiled.

"I'm Nikola. Nikola Smythe." Ron's fork clattered loudly against the gold salver. Harry narrowed his eyes slightly at the girl before looking to his best friend. But Ron wasn't looking at him. He was staring wide-eyed at the girl.

"You…you're…are you related to…Spiridon Smythe?" he asked. Harry's thoughts rushed back to the mysterious black-haired, blue eyed man he assumed was a wizard. The girl nodded suspiciously.

"You know our father?" she asked. Hermione lowered her eyebrows.

"'Our?'" she asked. Nikola pointed to the boy beside her with wavy blonde hair and brown eyes. It made sense; they looked completely alike. They had to be brother and sister, though they looked nothing like Spiridon. The redheaded Paraffin prefect locked eyes with Harry. Silence passed between the two for a few seconds as Harry felt odd. Not a bad odd, but a warm, friendly odd. As if he had seen the boy before, or even knew him. The Paraffin blinked, a smile creeping over his face.

"I'm Kaltagonus Smythe. And these are my twin brother and sister, Nikola and Starbuck. We're triplets." He stated. His blue eyes were striking, and his light ginger hair messy, but stylish, like Harry's, and he glanced at Ron and Hermione. Ron had a slight apprehensive look on his face, Hermione's face identical to his.

"I know," said the wavy-haired boy. "He looks nothing like us. He inherited some weird traits from our father's side."

"Speaking of which, how do you know him?" Nikola inquired. "Celestials and wizards had no contact with each other for years." The trio glanced nervously at each other. Surely they couldn't tell these strangers about the Order. Even if they were Spiridon Smythe's children.

"Our parents," Hermione half-truthed.

"We've met." Ron ended. This seemed to satisfy the Beings and Entities as they went back to the feast and conversations. "So your father's a Celestial."

"Yeah." Starbuck answered, chewing on pork.

"I'm Ron Weasley, by the way."

"This is Icarus Inigo," Kaltagonus' introduced the young Black prefect. "And Yorick Kaenslar." This was the curly brown haired boy on Kaltagonus' other side.

"Well, Kaltagonus…"

"Call me Kaltag." He requested. Harry nodded nervously. Was he as much as a hero in their world as he was in the wizarding world?

"Harry Potter." Kaltag smiled warmly.

"Nice to meet you, Harry Potter." Harry was relieved they didn't scan his fringe for his famous scar. Kaltag languidly chewed his roast beef, taking a quick peek at the head table. Harry absently followed his gaze to focus on the professors.

Dumbledore was chatting with Headmaster Chiron, the two making wild gestures with their utensils; McGonagall and the one called 'Alcina' composedly carried on conversation, tittering lightly and blushing. Hagrid was talking to a thin male, with wild, short gray hair and olive skin; on the other side of Chiron, a young, dirty-golden haired male spoke animatedly with the sullen-faced, sulky Aves head of house. Snape sat near him, neither saying much to one another. Kaltag emitted a light chuckle at the scene of their professors, acting very human. Nikola and Hermione started on a long conversation about elf rights, and Ron had taken quickly to Icarus and Starbuck. Yorick conversed with Dean and Seamus, with Neville adding his commentary. Harry swirled his potatoes, reflecting on the day thus far. His back didn't hurt anymore since his fall earlier this morning, and he was truly grateful for Mad-Eye's potions. The ride to Hogwarts was rather uneventful; the only thing gnawing at Harry's mind was the arrival of the Beings. What were they riding on, and why didn't they use a train or some other form of transportation?

Dessert appeared after the plates were cleared, and Harry chose his token treacle tart. Other foreign pies, pastries and sweets were spread out along the table, which the Celestials quickly dove into. Different thoughts flitted across his mind, mostly about their new housemates. They were born from Celestials; and Celestials was a watered-down term for 'Greek gods and goddesses.' Surely there was some truth behind the famed Celestials of mythology. If there was such a race as Celestials, then there must have been reality in the individuals.

"Er…Kaltag?" He asked uncertainly. Blue eyes met Harry's emerald ones.

"Harry?" he mockingly called. They smiled in hilarity before Harry settled down confidently. Thousands of questions hurled about his mind, but he didn't want to burden Kaltag with all of these questions. As if he could sense Harry's dilemma, Kaltag raised an eyebrow.

"You have anything to ask me?" he queried. Harry scoffed, taking in another spoon of his tart.

"I have thousands of questions." He murmured. Kaltag nodded in understanding. A few seats down, Dean was avidly chatting about football.

"You don't know where to start, huh?" it came out as more of a statement than a question.

"Right in one." Harry confirmed. Kaltag bobbed his head in pensiveness before he concluded.

"Okay, let's start with the basics." He suggested. "I'm Kaltag Smythe, a proud member of Paraffin house, a prefect, I'm seventeen, a sixth year, and I have siblings. My middle name is Lucien, for my godfather—who I've never met, by the way—and I'm the Being of the Elements." Harry took all this in, filing the information in different sections of his mind.

"Wait—what do you mean, 'Being of the Elements?'" he had no idea what he meant by such a phrase. Kaltag swirled his spook in his pudding.

"It means my forces—or powers—specialize in controlling the elements. Greeks usually phrase it 'so and so, goddess of snarky gits.'" He clarified. The elements….

"So, that means you can control fire, water, air, earth…"

"And create it. I control electricity to some extent, mostly through lightning, and last year, I found out I can control the sun a bit. Not too much, though…" he trailed sadly. Harry nodded, sipping some of his vanilla pudding.

"Reckon it's my turn. I'm Harry Potter, Gryffindor, obviously. I turned sixteen at the end of July; I'm a sixth year, without siblings. I have this horrible cousin, though. Er…I'm a wizard, seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and my middle name—James—is from my father." He enlightened. The Being of the Elements sat in thoughtful silence, without a doubt surveying the information.

"When's your birthday?"

"July 31st."

"Interesting."

"How so?" Harry munched on a Cauldron Cake.

"That's my birthday." The Boy-Who-Lived choked the cake down quickly, looking at the ginger-haired boy before him.

"Seriously?"

"Get this," Kaltag leaned in closely as if telling a secret. Harry moved forward to listen. "I was born at 11:59 PM July 31st. Nikola and Starbuck were born after midnight on August 1st." Harry and Kaltag sat back up, the former's face etched with curious awe.

"That is interesting." Kaltag nodded, eyeing Harry furtively.

"You've forgotten one fact." He told Harry. The wizard furrowed his brow. How could he have forgotten anything else of importance?

"And that is?" Kaltag rolled his eyes playfully.

"You really must not like fame, then?" he asked, confusing a suspicious Harry even more. Did he know?

"You've lost me."

"Boy-Who-Lived?" Harry's heart sunk a bit. So, this was why they became fast friends. Kaltag watched Harry's reaction and tried to remedy the situation. "Must bite to have so much scrutiny on you." Harry perked up a bit.

"It really does." Kaltag agreed.

"I know. Every time, the Herald is always after me. Starbuck and Nikola get off easier than normal." He mumbled, picking at a pastry. Harry sat straighter. Here was a boy around his age, which was no stranger to fame. And like Harry, he couldn't stand it.

"So why are you so famous?" Kaltag scowled lightly.

"A variety of things. Parents, grandparents, extracurricular activities…" he dangled, playing with a hidden necklace under his robes. Harry raised an eyebrow. "My parents, for instance. Two of the most recognized Celestials throughout Olympus. One is the commander of the highest and most respected Celestial militia in all of Olympus." Harry tried to think back to the time he saw Spiridon at Grimmauld Place. The laid-back, gentle man did not come off as the high-handed, militaristic type. At least the young Being didn't have a crazed Dark Lord after him. "And in the Muggle world, he's well known as a near billionaire." At this, the Being rolled his eyes. Hermione ceased her conversation with Nikola, to stare at Kaltag. A flicker of realization passed over her brown eyes.

"Of course!" she exclaimed. "Smythe Enterprises. Your father is the CEO!" The triplets nodded.

"Though, it's only a cover for their real operations: tracking peculiar Celestial activity and creating innovative technology for Celestial advantage." Starbuck applied knowledgeably. They returned back to their individual conversations.

"So, you're the heir of millions, I take it?" Harry concluded. Kaltag looked nervous. "Something else?"

"My mother," he continued. "Is one of the most famous Entities in Olympus. She is also grandfather's favorite child, and thereby, his heir." Harry tried to piece this information together, to get more from the young Paraffin's scraps.

"And you're firstborn. So, you stand to inherit from both worlds." He decided. Again, the boy hesitantly concurred. This wasn't all. "And…your mother is…?" Kaltag sighed deeply, as if an extremely heavy burden was placed upon his young shoulders.

"Athena." Ron coughed violently after choking on one of the foreign pastries. Hermione thumped him on his back hard, allowing him to breathe.

"That's—that's Harry's…" he breathed deeply, clutching his throat. "Harry's godmother." The Paraffin triplets looked shocked at the information, and Kaltag stared at Harry for a short while. The Boy-Who-Lived quickly digested the rest of his vanilla pudding, trying to keep from commenting on Ron's stupidity.

"Mum always said she had a godson, just never told us he was a wizard." Nikola digressed. She turned back to Hermione. "So, you say the house elves refuse to accept wages….?"

"My godfather is a wizard, you know," Kaltag divulged quietly. "I haven't seen him for years. I don't even remember what he looks like." Harry thought back to his godfather stuck in Grimmauld Place. He wondered what Sirius was doing to pass the time, now that the teenagers were at school. Before Ron could possibly blurt out that Harry's godfather was a known convict, Harry changed the subject.

"Those things you were riding on," he aimed his spoon at Kaltag. "What are they?" The Paraffin prefect smiled brilliantly before answering.

"Those were wind riders, or as we call them, fins."

"Do you normally travel to school in them?" Kaltag shook his head.

"No. We usually use them for Sliatyckx." Harry shook his head in puzzlement.

"I'm sorry, what?" He thought he misheard the boy.

"Sliatyckx. The Celestial sport." Ron, Icarus and Starbuck immediately ceased conversation and avidly joined them in interest.

"You have a sport?"

"Of course," Icarus stated. "What else are we to do, hang around and do homework all weekend?" Ron agreed with Icarus.

"Well, what is it?" he asked.

"A game, played up in the air on wind riders." At Ron's baffled expression, Starbuck explained to him what they were.

"A wind rider, or fin, is a tool used for travel or more commonly, sport. Its top is shaped like a shark's topmost fin, and it the center of one side is a horizontal bar to hold on to. At the bottom of the wing (the giant shark fin), there is a dense bar attached to an oval board, which we stand on and ride. During a game of Sliatyckx, one may rid oneself of the giant fin and ride horizontally or vertically on the flat, oval board. It's quite fun." Starbuck clarified.

"How is it played?"

"Like your Quidditch, only much more extreme." Icarus expressed.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked.

"Well, in Quidditch, you have three basic hoops, all worth ten points, right?" The Black prefect queried. Harry and Ron nodded. "Well, we have three geometric-shaped goals on one single pole. The goals are a circle—worth ten points, a square—worth twenty points, and a triangle, that's thirty points."

"And instead of seven players, we have nine." Starbuck pointed out. Ron looked at the boy curiously.

"Why nine?" Kaltag inhaled deeply, as if preparing himself for a long explanation.

"There are nine players," he began. "One fenzer—"

"Your keeper," Starbuck added.

"Three Sliats—"

"Your chasers..." Icarus continued.

"Four orbers—"

"Your beaters plus two..." Starbuck took over.

"And a seeker."

"...that seeks the Silver Scepter." Icarus finished. Harry open and closed his eyes. If he didn't know better, he'd have thought the three rehearsed this. Icarus, Kaltag, and Starbuck were like Fred and George. He wondered if they were pranksters like Ron's older brothers, but his notion was shot down as he remembered Icarus and Kaltag were prefects.

"What do they do that's unlike us?" asked Ron.

"And why do you have so many orbers?" Harry continued.

"Well, the fenzer guards the three hoops, from the opposing teams Sliats. They use the Sliotaur—"

"Your quaffle…" Starbuck put in.

"—which is bright yellow in color, round, and has this black symmetrical shape on the side. The orbers have a tough job. They have bats—"

"Like your beaters..."

"—and hit the orbs—"

"Your bludgers..."

"—toward the other players. Orbers can hit one through a goal and get ten points out of each hoop. There are four orbs, white in color, one per player. The balls aren't harmless like your bludgers, though..."

"'Harmless'?" snorted Kaltag. "Bludgers can be dangerously tricky, mate."

"Yes...but when your bludgers hit a player, do they suck the player into their shadowy white confines?" Starbuck queried. The others looked dumbfounded.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked with trepidation. He didn't like the sound of a bludger not just intent on breaking your bones, but sucking an entire person into it.

"When the orbs touch a player, that player is sucked into the ball. They remain there until the game is over." Icarus clarified. "So, the team continues to play with one less player. It can capture Sliats, Orbers, and sometimes the Fenzers, but it can't touch the Seekers. Depending on which player they have taken, the orbs change to the color of the house they have captured. After that, the orbs can be used to mainly deter your opposition."

"Well...where do they go? After they are...taken?" uttered Ron, uncertain how to phrase his words.

"Just a holding place. We don't really know where it is. We nicknamed it the White Pit, because you're surrounded by white and weird smoke. Until the game ends, that's your temporary home." Icarus reported.

"Which brings us to the seeker." Starbuck continued. Kaltag brightened considerably at his brother's announcement.

"The seeker's job is to find and capture the Silver Scepter. It is small, much like the Golden Snitch, but a bit bigger and silver. It doesn't have wings, but ancient Runic carvings, and it leaves a sparkling silver trail..." Kaltag explained, scooping up some of the Cauldron Cake to appraise it.

"So it's pretty easy to find, right? Just follow the silver trail." Harry stated matter-of-factly, twirling his spoon in his empty saucer.

"Ah, on the contrary...the scepter has the will to turn into any of the balls on the field. It can become the Sliotaur or an orb." Starbuck narrated.

"So there would be an extra Sliotaur on the field, or a fifth orb, and it makes it difficult to find. It can sometimes abandon its silver trail and become another ball, but it must switch back to its original state sometime." Kaltag replied knowingly. "Seekers have this thin, metallic, silver stick, with an open-clawed end. When we're chasing the silver scepter, we catch it with either our hands or the scepter holder of the silver ball. Difficult, but fun. Games can go on for hours, but we've managed to shorten our game times for quite a bit."

"Do you think you'll play it here?" Harry asked. The game was very intriguing. He only hoped he was able to watch one.

"We should," Starbuck spoke.

"We did bring our fins with us, so we have to." Icarus corrected.

"Wow...wicked game." Ron finally spoke. "So what positions do you play?"

"Fenzer." Starbuck proudly stated.

"I'm Orber number two." Icarus grinned.

"Seeker." Kaltag ended.

"Kaltag is assistant captain," Icarus pointed out. "Gills, over there," he gestured to an olive-skinned male with dark brown mid-length hair, sitting nearest to the head table. "Is our captain."

"And I'm assuming you two play Quidditch?" Both Gryffindors nodded.

"Harry's the seeker, and I'm the keeper." Ron presented. "We've got a few members on our team, as mostly all graduated last year."

"Wonder when we can hold try-outs." Harry murmured to himself. He glanced over the Gryffindor table to eye prospects. Sloper and Kirke were a long ways down the table, near the doors. Ginny was giggling madly with the triplet girls, pointing at something in their desserts. Harry's emerald eyes wandered over the hall. The Hufflepuffs and Brittlebores were roaring with laughter and amiability, while the Ravenclaws chortled regally with their Voltaire counters. He noticed the prefects between Draco and Pansy were more relaxed around them now, their cool façades matching the sixth year Slytherin prefects.

"Malfoy's enjoying himself," Hermione stated with slight disgust. "I'd've thought they were hassles to the prefects of Aves." Kaltag turned to follow their gazes and rolled his eyes. Harry didn't ask him anything, but watched the Slytherins carefully. Quite suddenly, the desserts disappeared from their plates, leaving shiny, spotless golden dinnerware. Dumbledore stood up with a wide beam, his blue eyes twinkling in merriment.

"Our stomachs are full, as are our arms linking with our new friends. I trust that now you all will be able to preserve this information from a feeble, old codger such as myself." He kidded. Several sniggers were heard at his comment, and even the professors laughed. With the exception of Snape and the Aves head of house. Kaltag leaned across the table to the Gryffindor trio.

"I like your headmaster. I can see why he and Professor Chiron are such good friends." He murmured.

"As you probably have learned from our young Beings and Entities, we are all human, yes, with exceptional capabilities and a controlled advantage." Dumbledore commenced. Ron leaned forward a bit.

"I've forgotten to ask you," he spoke under his breath. "Why do your professors have wands?"

"We all have wands." Starbuck stated, pulling his slender oak wand from his robes, before tucking it back in the fold of his satin, black robes. Nikola bent forward toward Ron.

"Celestials are basically wizards and witches with a divine purpose and special forces to aid them." She explained quickly.

"Though we are all the same, inwardly. And your Celestial houses hopefully expressed such through their actions and expectations." He stared down his colleagues before continuing. "I would like to introduce to everyone, Professor Alekos Chiron, headmaster of Aripedes Academy." Chiron stood slightly and bowed his head, as applause and loud cheers (from the Paraffins, mostly) met his ears. "And Deputy Headmistress, Alcina Thetis." The old woman around McGonagall's age inclined her head in greeting to kind applause. "With time, you all will come to know the rest of Aripedes' professors, as you all will be sharing classes from time to time." Thrilled, light chatter erupted around the hall at the wizened wizard's announcement.

"We're sharing classes?" Ron strained his voice excitedly.

"Must you always repeat his answers?" Hermione retorted, but Ron wasn't paying attention.

"Wicked!" Ginny pumped her fists at her sides. At Dumbledore's throat clearing, the chatter ceased.

"Furthermore, I would like to introduce to all, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Liam Kenward." Gentle ovation was heard throughout the hall as the plaid cloaked man waved briefly at the hall. Young girls were tittering annoyingly, and clapping hard for the young man. "Be safe, and good fortune be with you." Small laughs scattered around the Great Hall, and several girls were on the verge of swooning. Hopefully, this man wasn't another Gilderoy Lockhart.

"Oh, brother." Ron rolled his eyes at the girls. Luckily Hermione didn't find anything but his credentials interesting.

"He had better be a step up from Umbridge." She hissed the toad-faced woman's name with revulsion.

"That's for sure."

"Classes this year will begin on September third—" deafening cheers and applause cut off the headmaster, but he merely smiled in amusement. Harry was among those who clapped especially hard, along with Kaltag, Icarus and the ecstatic Ron. Hermione sat dejectedly, near tears since classes were postponed until the day after tomorrow.

"We've got a free day! Bloody brilliant!" Ron was barely audible over the dull roar of sound.

"You have us to thank for that!" Icarus reminded jokingly. The whoops ended seconds later, and the old headmaster was met with countless shining faces.

"And you will receive schedules tomorrow. Sleeping arrangements have been made; you will notice as you explore the castle, that many places have been enlarged to house everyone. Common rooms and dormitories have been expanded to accommodate everyone comfortably. Your respective years will sleep in the same rooms, share the same lavatories, and perhaps, the same classes. You are all families, now. As such, your triumphs will still earn you house points, and your misbehaving, will sadly lessen your points." He turned to the empty hourglasses behind him, identical to the ones in the entrance hall. Harry blinked rapidly at the glasses; instead of just rubies in the Gryffindor hourglass, there were now rubies and light blue gems, also. The Slytherins had green and violet gems, the Ravenclaws, navy and diamonds, and the Hufflepuffs, amber gems and orange ones.

"As families, you will learn together, and embrace all the qualities of a true family. Trust, respect, cooperation, loyalty…everything a real family entails. Good luck to you all, our young wizards, Beings, witches, and Entities. Proudly go on through your year. Dismissed." Clamoring was all that was heard as hundreds upon hundreds of students stood, emptying out the Great Hall.

"Ron, we've got to help the first years," Hermione reminded him. The prefect rolled his eyes.

"As we've got to get our first years," Icarus told Kaltag. "We don't even know where your chambers are." Hermione looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Ron, you take care of Kaltag and Icarus. I'll handle the first years with Colin and Victoria." She ordered, pushing her way through the crowds to Colin. Ron smiled at his new friends.

"First year Paraffins!" Kaltag called out.

"Paraffins, year one!" Icarus bellowed. "Gather 'round, ankle biters!" Nikola lightly punched the man, who squeezed his arm and hissed. The blonde Paraffin rolled her eyes.

"I barely tapped you!" Icarus' eyes widened.

"Nikola, a light tap to you is the equivalent of a full-blown jab." Starbuck clarified sarcastically.

"What do you mean?" Ron asked him.

"FIRST YEAR PARAFFINS!" Kaltag yelled. "Where the bloody hell are you all?" he added in an undertone.

"Nikola, is the future Entity of Intellect." Starbuck explained. "What is it that Chiron always say, 'know you strengths, inners and external…?'"

"She's also going to supervise all of Olympus' armies, one day." Icarus rubbed his arm gingerly. "Her powers are super strength and speed. FIRST YEAR PARAFFINS, IF WE HAVE TO CALL FOR YOU AGAIN—"

"Ah, here they are." Kaltag pointed to a small cluster of mousy-looking children, all wearing the same black robes as the older years. They were easily distinguished as first years because of their short heights and nervous expressions. "Gather 'round, and stay together." Kaltag ordered them. "Ron, of you would please?" The Gryffindor prefect nodded, eyeing the rapidly emptying hall. They were the last group still at the tables. The professors stood to watch the students leave, and Harry saw Malfoy and the other prefects push roughly past a few Hufflepuffs and Brittlebores.

"Boy, they learn quickly," Nikola commented sarcastically. "Slytherins and Aves to the last." Ron looked at the girl.

"So are Aves as bad as the Slytherins?" he queried. They seemed similar, but were they really like Malfoy and the others?

"Depends," she began. "Are Gryffindor and Slytherin the best of friends?" Ron and Harry pulled disgusted faces and shook their heads vigorously.

"The worst of enemies."

"Huh," Starbuck scoffed. "No wonder we're complements of each other. Paraffins and Aves are the bitterest of enemies."

"Dark Celestials usually come out of Aves." Nikola voiced. As the last of the Hufflepuffs and Brittlebores filed out, Ron clapped his hands together.

"Well, let's on to Gryffindor tower, eh?" he stated. "Follow closely, because this'll be your first unofficial tour of the castle. Where you'll learn trick steps, portraits to avoid, and many other interesting facts along the way."

"Enlighten us." Icarus stated, taking charge of leading the small students, alongside Ron at the front. Harry fell in step beside Kaltag, at the rear of the group, monitoring the children. Nikola and Starbuck joined the leading prefects, the four amiably chatting along the way.

"We've much to discuss," Kaltag told a silent Harry.
We've got as many questions as you have." Harry chuckled.

"I'm sure the dormitory wouldn't mind a late night discussion. After all, there are no classes tomorrow." The Boy-Who-Lived reminded. "What do you say we tour the castle tomorrow?" Kaltag nodded.

"All right."

"Oy, how about we sing a song to pass the time?" Icarus called to the others behind him. The nervous first years said nothing. "Oh, I'm an ickle firstie, yes, I'm an ickle firstie, watching out for the older years to toss me in the trash bin…" The others laughed goodheartedly, making a few of the younger children quake.

"Knock it off, Icarus," Kaltag admonished. "You're scaring them." Icarus furrowed his brows, his face set in thought.

"Ninety-nine Paraffin firsts on the wall, ninety-nine Paraffin firsts," he sang awkwardly. "Use your force, they're a sore loss, ninety-two Paraffin firsts on the wall…" Harry was certainly aware they were still in the great hall, in the presence of their professors surveying the exiting group. Icarus was singing quite brashly, and his voice echoed along the walls of the dining area. He glanced back nervously, and sighed when he noticed most had amused smirks on their faces.

"Madame Syrna would rip out her hair if she heard you right now," Nikola told the boy. Harry vaguely wondered who 'Madame Syrna' was, before Kaltag answered his questions.

"She was our first and second year Voice instructor. Choir." He uttered with distaste. "It's a required class for all first and second years. You drop it as soon as you can." Harry sniggered silently, imagining the first years dying of boredom in the class.

"She's not bad at all, Kaltagonus. You just never liked her." Nikola accused.

"And with good reason." Kaltag furrowed his brows in aversion.

"Eighty-one Paraffin firsts on the wall, eighty-one Paraffin firsts. Pop your wand, six in the beyond, seventy-five Paraffin firsts on the wall…" the Black Sliatyckx orber continued.

"Icarus Ilias Inigo, leave them be." Kaltag warned lightly. Harry sighed. Icarus sure was a joker. Like Sirius and his father when they were younger….

"One more." He begged. They were near the end of the hall, due to their slow pace. "I told the Rem teacher, 'I want a first year stew.' And the Rem teacher, he told me what to do. And he said, 'you see, Icky-C, chop them up, and stir 'em in your cauldron. You see, Icky-C, chop 'em up and stir 'em in your cauldron—with your wand!" A loud snicker was heard behind them, but was quickly stifled. It had to be one of the professors, since they were the last people in the hall.

"Do you enjoy thoroughly panicking the first years?" Harry heard Ron ask.

"Yep!" Nikola glanced back at the jittery first years and frowned.

"Mind you, your own little brother is in this group. And look, you've got Arum all frightened." She gestured to a brown-haired boy with freckles. "Your parents and Yorick won't be pleased."

"Yorick?" Starbuck countered in disbelief. "Forget about him! Amara and Kiden won't be happy. I'm sure Kiden'll take that orb of hers and knock it at your head a few times."

"I'd like to see her try." Icarus challenged smartly.

"Do you want me to tell her that?" Nikola drawled sarcastically. Icarus simply threw her a frightened, yet defiant look and said nothing.

"Guess that means 'no.'" Ron chortled, leading the group to Gryffindor tower.

ooooo

"…so your father's actually Hercules?" Ron asked Thanos Theion in disbelief. He was the muscular boy with brown eyes and dark brown hair talking to Dean and Seamus earlier.

"He's usually called 'Herakles,' but yeah, he's my father." The deep-voiced male answered. Harry gazed around the sixth year boys' dormitory. It looked the same, except it was much more larger than normal, to fit a total of twelve beds. Five Gryffindors, and seven Paraffins. All the males warmed up to each other quickly, as they introduced themselves and shared countless jokes and embarrassing stories. He had never felt so comfortable with strangers.

A word that could hardly describe the dozen now. Even Neville was more outgoing compared to his usual, quiet, edgy self. There was no distinction between wizard and Celestial. They were all boys.

Brothers.

Not too close, but close enough.

There was Yorick Kaenslar, the curly-light-ginger-haired boy with freckles Harry and Ron had recognized from Flourish and Blotts. He was a member of the incredibly large family purchasing their books. Scanning the room quickly, Harry tried hard to imagine the young boy and his siblings in their dormitory.

All eleven of them.

Apparently, the Weasleys weren't competition anymore. Yorick had ten siblings, boys and girls, and he was the third oldest. He stood to become the Being of Harvest, which explained his rustic features and laid-back composure. He came off as a sarcastic, yet sensitive slacker, but he was not one to fool with; Icarus had stated the Being was a seriously great Orber for the Sliatyckx team, which earned him the nickname, 'Yorick the Terrible.'

Thanos Theion was the only son of Herakles and Megara. He explained how he was a Sliat for the Paraffin Sliatyckx team, and quite a topic for the young Entities. His future title would include Being of the Wizarding World, making sure nothing got out of hand among the wand wielders.

Erec Hamon, another Black boy, was the reserve Orber of Yorick; for the most part, he was quiet, and very timid, yet intellectual. One thing was for sure: Erec was proud to have his younger brother, Alistair, join him at school as a first year. Basil Montgomery, a thin, black-haired boy was born of Muggle parents. It was uncommon among the usually pureblooded Celestials to have Muggle parents, but it indicated somewhere along Basil's lineage, a Celestial-Muggle marriage or affair occurred. He, like Erec, was the reserve Fenzer for Starbuck.

Yes.

They would definitely be close this year.

"…wonder if the girls are doing the same thing at this very moment." Starbuck spoke, staring at the ceiling.

"Well, they aren't playing Sliatyckx, that's for sure." Icarus murmured from his bed between Ron and Neville's. The Gryffindor prefect tossed a pillow at the boy, effectively nabbing him in the face.

"Must you always be so sarcastic?" Kaltag asked, from his bed beside Harry's.

"Yes." Icarus grinned toothily, lobbing a pillow at the other Paraffin prefect. Kaltag skillfully blocked it, sending it flopping to the floor.

"This from the third highest student in our year," Yorick muttered.

"Is there anything else we should know about your world?" Seamus asked, scratching his head. "It's getting a bit late."

"We've no classes tomorrow." Dean reminded the Irish wizard "And it's near two in the morning. Surely you can't be tired." Dean and Seamus began to carp and nitpick back and forth between each other.

"What are your professors like?" Yorick questioned, sitting on the edge of his bed. Harry picked at a Chocolate Frog he snuck from the feast and chewed an arm before answering.

"McGonagall's very strict. Professor Sprout is nice, and very fair." He began. "Flitwick has quite a sense of humor if you get on his good side…"

"Lest we forget Snape." Ron murmured disparagingly, scowling at his other wizard mates. "Lucky you two didn't get into potions." He frowned at Neville and Seamus.

"I got an E," Neville proudly told them, before his face fell. "But Snape isn't accepting anyone that isn't 'O' material."

"Slimy git." Seamus mumbled. There were a few moments of silence only to be broken by Icarus.

"I take it you five don't like this, 'Snape'?" The five boys immediately broke into angry ravings.

"He hates all students—"

"Only likes his Slytherins—"

"He's got greasy black hair—"

"Scowls, sneers, and seethes at all Gryffindors—"

"Deducts points if you answer his questions correctly—"

"And he barks and yells at you—"

"Malfoy's his favorite, of course—"

"—and this ugly crooked nose—"

"He hates Harry, of course—"

"He likes to humiliate me—"

"Totally evil, I tell you!"

"—yellowish skin and—did I mention the greasy hair?" At once the descriptions died down. Their descriptions were met with silence. Harry noted Kaltag appeared a bit thoughtful during their rant, as if he was considering their bias answers.

"Real piece of work, then?" Erec asked.

"Something like that, yeah." Harry responded. Basil and Erec yawned, deciding to turn in for the night. Waving their wands to draw their hangings, no sound was heard from their beds after they slept.

"History is completely boring. The professor's a ghost." Ron described. "Yet, you get the best naps in his class. The books are so soft, especially if you bewitch it with a Cushioning Charm."

"At least you get to sleep in history." Thanos spoke, a hint of anger and irritation in his voice. "Our teacher's a downright git. Hates us all, the Paraffins."

"Hmph," Harry hummed. "Sounds like a Celestial Snape." The mere thought of Snape as a Celestial made the Boy-Who-Lived quiver. It definitely wasn't one of his more pleasant thoughts.

"He is. Forces us to stay awake all the time, gives out random quizzes, does unfair things, favors his house, Aves." Yorick complained, then smirked widely. "Luckily we have someone on our side. And I'll bet he'd even dish out free points to Gryffindor." Ron quickly sat up.

"Who?"

"Our Remedies—"

"Your potions—"

"Shut up, Icarus." Starbuck snapped. "Our Remedies instructor. Solid Paraffin, gives out points if you put your right foot before your left. He's that easy." Neville lowered his eyebrows.

"He can't be that easy." He challenged.

"Aye, but he is." Yorick answered. "Remedies is a hard subject, but he gives us points for our efforts, and he always takes time to teach us how to create potions. He's the perfect teacher." Harry furrowed his brows and stared at his hands. Not even Snape taught them exactly how to make a potion. The man just assumed they read the first year guide and spells instructions on the board. It's a wonder so many probably didn't make it into the N.E.W.T. level class.

"Celestial Remedies are more advanced than Potions," Kaltag stated. "By our second year we were brewing such concoctions as Veritaserum and Draught of the Living Death."

"You're pulling our leg, right?" Dean questioned uncertainly. "I mean, second year…" Thanos shook his head.

"Nay, Dean." Yorick answered. "We've been brewing level four potions since we hit puberty."

"Yikes." Neville expressed with an uneasy face. Kaltag toyed with his silver chain.

"The price you pay for being a Celestial student." Kaltag vocalized.

"Bloody Merlin, enough about our school." Icarus ended, gripping the footboard and grinned mischievously at Harry and Ron. "Tell us about the witches of Hogwarts…."

ooooo


A/N: Revised chapter.

A/N 2: And as a side note, I wanted to let you know Celestials start school when they are twelve, go on for six or seven years, and continue until they are eighteen or nineteen. The seventh year is mainly for extra testing to have a better chance at a solid career and utilizing their inner forces. At the end of the three years are tests, unlike Hogwarts, who only have O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s.

Chapter Eight Clues

1). The new friends spend the free day amongst themselves.

2). We learn exactly how well Aripedes complements Hogwarts.

3). We begin classes.