A/N: Just a quick notice to say that if you recognise it, I don't own it. And if you have a question about Tear It Up, review and I will do best my answer it. And also thanks to all reveiwers! And on with the chapter...
"You know, this place is really...shit," Chris announced loudly, surveying at Kings Cross Station over the top of the sunglasses he had shoved on his face that morning. A look of annoyance crossed Mrs Weasley's face, but since the party she had not really spoken to Chris, and she wasn't sure if giving him into trouble in the middle of a busy London train station was the best way to start a conversation.
A nearby huge black dog turned and growled at Chris, obviously not happy with the language used either. Chris smirked. "Down boy, don't want me to call the dog-catchers on you, do ya now Scooby?" he asked, making eye contact with the dog, who as Chris well knew, was really Sirius. The dog growled once more, then turned round to face his godson and his daughter. Chris rolled his eyes. "What a sickening display of family time," he muttered lightly, thinking Sirius stupid for risking capture just to see two annoying brats off to school. He turned to look at the red train that was to take him to his new school with a severe scowl. To put it simply he wasn't looking forward to it.
Hearing the rest of the group behind him begin to make their goodbyes was Chris' signal to quickly board the train the train. He stepped forward onto the train without looking behind him, as he had a funny feeling he might have been pulled into a hug if he did. And that was definitely not something that he wanted. He began walking through the narrow aisle of the train, peering into the different compartments along the way. Near the end of the train he came across an almost empty compartment save one girl. She had straggly, waist-length, dirty blonde hair, very pale eyebrows, and protuberant eyes that gave her a permanently surprised look. But apart from her the compartment was empty, and since she seemed to be absorbed in her magazine, Chris saw no harm in sitting in that compartment.
He pulled open the door and sat down in one of the seats. The girl looked over her magazine at him. "There's a Nargle at your ear," she commented lightly.
Chris blinked.
XXX
After being left by Ron and Hermione, Harry and Ginny had thought it wise to try to find a compartment for the four of them. At the very last carriage of the train, they came across Neville Longbottom who had also been having difficulty finding a compartment to sit in. "Hi Harry. Hi Ginny … every where's full … I can't find a seat …" he had greeted them. Ginny found this to be slightly odd, and squeezed past Neville to look in the compartment behind him.
"What are you talking about," she questioned him, looking into the compartment "There's room in this one, there's only Loony Lovegood in there and…" here she paused, puzzled at what she saw, "…And Chris."
Harry pushed past Neville, ignoring his question of who Chris was, to look into the compartment for himself. As Ginny had said, there was Chris sitting with the girl Ginny had called Loony. What was surprising, to Harry at least, was that Chris seemed to be involved in what could pass as a civil conversation. Shrugging slightly, Harry slid the door opened, and helped Ginny to pull the trunks inside. Neville followed them, still unsure about whom Chris was.
Chris turned at the sound of the door opening, and scowled at the people who entered. "Oh look, it's the Scooby Gang, tell me, solved any mysteries lately?" He looked closer at the group. "Wonder Boy, you're missing your two lanky sidekicks. Don't tell me they finally gave into temptation and are currently screwing each other in the bathroom?"
Harry glared, while Ginny and Neville blushed, at Chris' words. Chris didn't seem bothered by these reactions, choosing to stand up and walk towards the door. "Lunar, loved the chat, we gotta do it again sometime. You're like a drug, I don't understand a freakin' word when I talk to you," he drawled. Luna gave a small smile towards Chris, which drew an eye rolling from the boy.
"Are you not staying then, Chris?" Harry asked, once again trying to make friends with the stranger whom he had spent time with at the summer. Chris looked over his sunglasses, which were still on, at Harry, one eyebrow raised. Harry began to realise the absurdity of his question.
"Wonder boy, let me say this slowly, you might actually get it that way," Chris started. "No. Freakin'. Way. Am. I. Going. To. Spend. More. Time. With. You. Than. I. Am. Fuckin'. Made. To." As he spoke, Chris punctuated each sentence by holding up a finger as if counting the words off. When he was done he simply stepped out of the compartment, and began walking through the carriages to find a new one.
It was Neville who found his voice first. "Pleasant bloke isn't he?"
XXX
The hours of the journey passed, Chris wasn't sure if they passed quickly or slowly, all he knew is that they passed. After he had kicked a group of what he had assumed where incoming first years out of their compartment he had found himself lazily reading a book which he had stolen from the Wonder Boy's lanky female sidekick. The book bore the title 'Hogwarts: A History', though Chris thought it glossed over the nastier aspects of the school and made it seem like a five star hotel rather than a moulding old school. It was a good way of killing a few hours though.
Eventually he killed time by just staring out of the window, and was one of the first on the train to notice the tall spires of Hogwarts come into view. "Looks like a dump," he muttered, staring at the slightly gothic building. Slowly the train did slow down, and Chris could hear the sounds of his now fellow students gathering their things together. As the train came to a complete stop, Chris stood up, waving his hand over the book and orbing it away. If he needed it later, he would orb it back. He then joined the throng of students making their way towards what he had heard where horseless carriages.
What a pity what he had heard didn't match up with what he saw.
The creatures standing between the carriage shafts were completely fleshless, black coats clinging to their skeletons, making every bone visible. The heads were dragonish, and the pupil-less eyes where white and staring. The wings of these creatures would have looked more in place where they on a giant bat. Chris frowned and looked around himself cautiously. No one else seemed to notice these creatures. Well almost no one else.
"I can see them too," the voice of Luna drifted towards Chris' ears. He walked over in her direction, seeing her speaking to Harry, obviously both of them could see the creatures as well. "I've been able to see them ever since my first day here. They've always pulled the carriages," Luna explained in a kind tone of voice.
"What are they?" Chris asked, coming to stand behind them, staring at the creatures with a morbid curiosity. "They look like they're dead," he commented not taking his eyes off the creatures.
"No, they're quite alive," Luna smiled. She turned to Harry and smiled faintly, "Don't worry. You're just as sane as I am," she reassured him, climbing into the carriage. Harry turned to Chris, a grin on his face, clearly amused by Luna.
"You joining us then Chris? It'll be a bit of a squeeze but I think this is the last carriage," Harry said, still grinning. Chris turned and frowned, looking as though he had never seen Harry before in his life. His head turned back to the creatures then back to face Harry. He blinked a few times before speaking.
"…What did I say about the spending time with you thing Potty? Anyone would think you had a crush on me with all the time you want me to spend with you," instantly Chris was back to his usual self. Or at least the self he showed around others. "I'll make my own way to the dammed castle. And if I'm late then b o o h o o." Harry frowned.
"I was just saying this is the last carriage…" he started rather pitifully. Chris continued to glare.
"Well wonder boy in case you haven't noticed I have got these rather long appendages that I like to call legs. Attached to them are feet. Now this is amazing but apparently with legs and feet you can do this thing called walking." Harry sighed. Chris was turning out to be as bad as Malfoy.
"Like you would say, whatever. See you at the feast I guess," he muttered, climbing into the carriage. Chris watched with a small sense of satisfaction as the strange new creatures pulled the carriage away. He was going to find out exactly what those creatures where, and if all the students at Hogwarts were as easy to annoy as Harry Potter was, he was going to have fun. Still watching the carriage going ever further away, Chris closed his eyes and orbed to the entrance of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry.
XXX
The Entrance Hall was long and, in Chris' opinion, no where near as cool as the halls in Magic School. He followed the crowd into the Great Hall, hoping to just sink into a corner somewhere. A faint ringing was echoing in his head, something which he was only slightly used to. "I'm not answering you so fuck off," he growled softly, recognising the source of the ringing, or at least the person who was causing it. The ringing persisted, Chris rolled his eyes. "I said fuck off," he muttered once more, this time the tone of his voice slightly more commanding. The ringing stopped. Chris smirked. He began to look at his surroundings, deciding that the Great Hall was nothing more than trying to be grander than it was. Although that could have just been his set in hatred to schools in general kicking in once more.
He watched as the students made their ways towards their House tables, realising that he had no idea where he was supposed to sit himself. Although he didn't consider that as high on his list of priorities, Chris was in no mood to stand for the rest of the night. He looked around, trying to find a seat but it seemed as though the benches were packed tightly. "That's expected," he muttered, leaning against the wall, and sliding down till he sat on the floor. Slowly the buzz of the Great Hall died down, and a group of new first years were brought into the room and lined up along the staff table. They looked terrified of their surroundings.
Only a few seconds later someone, who Chris assumed was a teacher in the school, entered carrying in their hands a stool upon which sat an ancient wizard's hat. The hat was heavily patched and darned, though there was a wide rip near the badly frayed brim. The stool was placed in front of the first years, with the rest of the students leaning forward expectantly. Chris frowned, just what were these people expecting this hat to do? Sprout legs and perform a dance for them?
No apparently, they were waiting for it to start it's song. Chris blinked once in mild curiosity when the wide rip near the brim of the hat open wide like a mouth, blinking again when it burst into song.
In times of old when I was new
And Hogwarts barely started
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted
United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning,
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
'Together we will build and teach!'
The four good friends decided
And never did they dream that they
Might some day be divided,
For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there and so can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale
Said Slytherin, 'We'll teach just those
Whose ancestry is purest.'
Said Ravenclaw, 'We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest.'
Said Gryffindor, 'We'll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name.'
Said Hufflepuff, 'I'll teach the lot,
And treat them just the same.'
These differences cause little strife
When first they came to light,
For each of the four founders had
A house in which they might
Take only those they wanted, so,
For instance, Slytherin,
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning, just like him,
And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest,
And taught them all she knew,
Thus the houses and their founder
Retained friendships firm and true.
So Hogwarts worked in harmony
For several happy years,
But then discord crept among us
Feeding on our faults and fears,
The houses that, like pillars four,
Had once held up our school,
Now turned upon each other and,
Divided, sought to rule,
And for a while it seemed the school
Must meet an early end,
What with the duelling and with fighting
And the clash of friend on friend
And at least there came a morning
When old Slytherin departed
And though the fighting then died out
He left us quite downhearted.
And never since the founder four
Were whittled down to three
Have the houses been united
As they once were meant to be.
And now the Sorting Hat is here
And you all know the score:
I sort you into houses
Because that is what I'm for.
But this year I'll go further,
Listen closely to my song:
Though condemned I am to split you
Still I worry that it's wrong,
Though I must fulfil my duty
And must quarter every year
Still I wonder whether Sorting
May not bring the end I fear
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
The warning history shows,
For our Hogwarts is in danger
From external, deadly foes
And we must unite inside her
Or we'll crumble from within
I have told you, I have warned you …
Let the Sorting now begin.
The applause which broke out over the Hall when the Hat sat motionless once more was uneasy, punctured with muttering and whispers. Chris stared at the Hat, mulling over the last few lines of its song. Personally he thought it was a slight waste to gift a hat with brains and then force it to sort students, especially when it seemed as perceptive as this particular hat. But those last few lines … that Hat seemed to be too perceptive for it's own good. If anyone were to find out about his mission … he couldn't risk it. Studying the sorting of the first year carefully, he assumed that the Hat was given some form of telepathy to communicate with the students. Interesting, but pretty run of the mill when he thought back to schooling at Magic School. He watched as the Hat would sit on top of the students head, then the rip would move silently, unreadable even by the greatest of lip readers. It would then announce in a loud voice to the whole school which house the student belonged in.
It was after watching this process a few times, well twice, that Chris turned his attention to the four different houses in Hogwarts. Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each one so different from the last, yet in a way connected. After all, bravery required cunning, cunning require intelligence, and intelligence required patience. Chris couldn't help but wonder how many other of the students in the school had managed to work this out. He assumed very few, judging by the hostility the different houses seemed to show to each other. Okay so it wasn't all out warfare, at least not yet, but it was uneasy. Even just slightly, but the unease was there. It would only take a spark to ignite a huge fire.
Even so, if he had to be sorted, Chris began to muse, he thought he'd quite like the idea of Ravenclaw. He would probably find someone in there with half a brain to talk to. Though, his persistent laziness and general attitude to work would most likely not go over well there. Gryffindor, well that was automatically a no go area. There was no way he would sit around with a bunch of goody goodies, talking over good deeds and just generally being a paragon of good. Once upon a time Gryffindor would have been his dream house at Hogwarts, it had been Mel's. But not now. Hufflepuff was out for the same reasons. Chris smirked, he had liked the sound of the founder called Hufflepuff, taking in every witch that came to her. Very fair, but it was too good for him. Far too good. That left only one house…
Chris turned to look at the green and silver bannered Slytherin house. He vaguely recognised a few of the students there, the same as he had students in the other houses. And they thought it was only Slytherin that was evil. Hah. Though he had to admit, that particular rumour about that house intrigued him. Did every student who passed through it turn evil, or was it just a generalisation due to Tommy?
The Sorting drawing to a close made Chris returned his attention to the front of the Hall. The last student, a Rose Zeller, was currently being sorted. Chris watched with mild interest as the Hat announced the girl's new 'home' was to be in Hufflepuff. He watched as the small girl walked over to the table, to be greeted warmly by her new housemates. It was almost sweet. If it didn't happen to every single student. The teacher at the front of the hall, Chris still didn't know her name, made no effort to move away. She looked back down at the list, and then looked back up and began to speak in a loud clear voice. "Chris Ha…"
"Yeah I'm here do I get a medal?" Chris called out from his position on the floor at the back of the hall. The whole student body turned as one to face him, their faces portraying their shock at the way in which Chris had addressed the teacher. The teacher in question did not give out a reaction, save for her lips growing thin.
"Come forward to be sorted at once," the teacher commanded, her chin raised in authority. Chris smirked, standing up slowly, and sauntering up to the front of the room as slowly as he could. "Sit on the stool," the teacher instructed Chris when he finally reached the front of the Hall. Saluting the teacher in a sarcastic manner, Chris sat down on the stool.
"I hope that thing's been disinfected. I don't wanna catch nits of the snotty little brats who just came here," he said casually. The teacher ignored him as she placed the hat on top of his head. Chris rolled his eyes at how theatrical she made the simple act seem.
'Well the world does love a show,' a soft voice spoke in his head. Chris smirked, the Hat chuckled softly. 'Why what dark thoughts, now lets look here and see where you should go.'
'I'll tell ya what, put me in Slytherin and I'll make sure you get disinfected,' Chris said mentally to the hat. 'It's really a win-win situation,' he continued, his smirk still firm on his face. The Hat gave another soft chuckle, amused by Chris' efforts.
'I see a great thirst for knowledge, but also a great tendency to slack off. No patience and your loyalty is…offered to the highest bidder?' Chris shrugged at the Hat's statement, neither confirming it or denying it. 'Ah your cunning is to be admired, young witch, but it is your bravery that shines true,' the Hat finished.
'What bravery? I'm an idiot who gets by on luck alone. And I wanna be in Slytherin,' Chris finished, his smirk disappearing. There was no response from the Hat. 'You listening to me you mouldy piece of cloth? I wanna be in Slytherin.' Again there was no response from the Hat. Chris' eyes narrowed, wondering just what the hat was up to. He looked around at the students in the hall, who eyes were fixed on the Hat. Chris assumed the rip had opened once more. He waited, preparing himself to move over to the Slytherin table. He waited …
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"NO FUCKIN' WAY!"
