Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Pokemon. The only thing I do own is the story idea.

"Talk"

'Think'

"Telepathy"

Pokemon attack

AN: Thanks for all the reviews and everything. I've also decided to hold off on putting in the X and Y legendaries until the sequel, as it would be just too much at this point. This chapter is dedicated to my cat, Shadow, who passed away a few days ago. He was 22 years old, but he was a spry little fellow. I'll miss you Shadow.

Chapter 10

Despite everything, what with the Pokémon appearing to him, forcing him to sleep when he merely wanted to play and the fact that Zoroark had yet to make an appearance, Harry still managed to have quite a lot of fun for the rest of the holidays. When he wasn't flying around with Ron and the twins, he was playing pranks on the family, as well as curbing Fred and George's need to continuously prank on their older brother Percy. He was also pleased to note that no one ever suspected him, always blaming the two older boys for any shenanigans that went on in the house. In return for taking the rap for the 'dirty deeds' as it were, Harry agreed to store some of their more…questionable pranking products in his trunk, so that Mrs. Weasley didn't go through and toss them all again.

Still, the date to leave reared up before them far too quickly and the end-of-the-holidays gloom settled around the house as the days ticked by to the somewhat dreaded September 1st. The morning they were ready to leave, the bright sunshine they had played in all summer was gone, replaced by torrential downpours and hefty clouds. It all practically screamed that summer was over. Sighing heavily, Harry pulled on jeans and a sweatshirt; they would be changing into school robes on the train, his mind quickly jumping to Zoroark. He hoped she was staying out of this awful weather. Double checking his trunk held all the things he had collected over the summer, he headed downstairs with Ron and the twins.

The lot of them had just reached the first floor landing when Mrs. Weasley appeared at the foot of the stairs, her hair in disarray and a worried expression on her face. "Arthur! Arthur, there's an urgent message from the Ministry!" She called up, before disappearing back into the kitchen.

Harry, along with the others, flattened themselves against the wall as Mr. Weasley appeared, running down the steps and jumping the last few as he tugged on a robe. It was backwards, but at least the man was dressed. Shaking his head, he walked into the kitchen to see Mrs. Weasley rummaging about in a drawer, muttering about needing a quill and Mr. Weasley was…talking to a floating head in the fireplace?!

Tilting his head, Harry eyed the scene before him, before glancing curiously back at the others. None of them seemed to bat an eyelash at the odd scene, so he chalked it up to it being something normal in the wizarding world. 'I really need to start reading more about the culture here,' he thought as he took a seat at the kitchen.

Amos Diggory's head was just sitting in the middle of the flames like it was nothing, reminding him vaguely of Hagrids black dragon egg from his first year. He was talking very fast, completely at ease by the sparks flying around him and the flames licking his ears."…Muggle neighbors heard bangs and shouting, so they went and call those…oh what's the world…please-men? Bubbies? I can't remember, Arthur, you've got to get over there-"

"Here!" said Mrs. Weasley breathlessly, pushing a piece of parchement, a half-empty bottle of ink and a crumpled looking quill into Mr. Weasley's hands.

"-it's a real stroke of luck I heard about it," said Mr. Diggory's head. "I had to come into the office early to send a couple of owls and I found the Improper Use of Magic lot all going off. Why if Rita Skeeter gets a hold of this one, Arthur,-"

"But what did he say, Amos? Mad-eye I mean," asked Mr. Weasley, unscrewing the ink bottle and loading up the quill as he prepared to take notes.

Mr. Diggory's head rolled its eyes. "Says he heard the intruder in his yard, yapping on about the man creeping toward the house, but the ambush was by his dustbins. Can you believe it Arthur, his dustbins!"

"What did the dustbins do?" asked Mr. Weasley, scribbling frantically.

"Other than make one hell of racket, nothing much. Mostly fired rubbish everywhere, far as I can tell," replied Mr. Diggory. "Sadly, one was still rocketing around when those muggle authorities showed up."

Mr. Weasley groaned. "And the intruder?"

Another eye roll was Mr. Diggory's response, "Oh you know Mad-Eye Authur!" he stated with a heavy sigh. "Someone creeping into his yard in the dead of night? More likely there is a very shell-shocked raccoon or cat somewhere, covered rubbish. But if the Improper Use of Magic lot get their hands on Mad-eye, he's had it. Just think of his record! We've got to get him off on minor chargers, something in your department…what are exploding dustbins worth, exactly?"

"Just a warning, I think," said Mr. Weasley, still writing very fast, his brows furrowed. "Mad-eye didn't use his wand? He didn't actually attack anyone, right?"

Mr. Diggory looked thoughtful for a moment, before doing a slight bob that gave the impression of him shrugging his shoulders. "It's Mad-eye. It's possible that he leapt out of bed and fired hexes and jinxes right out the window, but they'll have a hard time proving that considering there's no casualties."

Mr. Weasley sighed, before nodding. "Alright, I'm off," He said as he stuffed the parchment with his notes into his pocket, dashing out of the kitchen again. The floating head of Mr. Diggory watched him leave.

"Truly sorry about this, Molly. I know you have the kids to worry about and all," he said, looking a lot more calm now that the matter seemed to have been taken care of. "But Arthur is the only one who can get Mad-Eye off, and he's supposed to be starting his new job today. Why of all nights, he had to choose last night…"

"Never you mind, Amos," Mrs. Weasley replied, waving the matter off. "Would you care for a bit of toast or anything before you go?"

"Oh, yes that would be quite nice actually. Afraid I won't have much time for breakfast myself, what with everything going on," said Mr. Diggory.

Mrs. Weasley took a piece of buttered toast from a tottering pile of them in the kitchen and, utilizing a pair of fire tongs, transferred it into Mr. Diggory's mouth.

"Fanks," he said, voice muggled and with a tiny pop, he vanished.

Harry tilted his head once more, trying to figure out the mechanics of toast, fire tongs and floating, flame-licked heads, before sighing and shaking his head. It wasn't the weirdest thing he had ever heard of, or seen, in the wizarding world. Glancing up, Harry could hear Mr. Weasley calling hurried good-byes to Bill, Charlie and Percy, not to mention the girls and within five minutes, he was back in the kitchen looking more awake and properly dressed.

"I'd better be off, you boys have a good term!" said Mr. Weasley to Harry, Ron and the twins, before fastening a cloak over his shoulder and preparing to Disapparate. "Molly, are you going to be alright taking the kids to King's Cross?"

"Of course I will, won't be the first time I've done it," She said, "You just look after Mad-Eye. We'll be fine."

Mr. Weasley sent Mrs. Weasley a fond smile, before nodding his head and disappearing with faint pop. As soon as he vanished, Bill and Charlie entered the kitchen.

"What's this about Mad-Eye?" Bill asked as he helped himself to some toast. Blinking, Harry realized that while he had watched and stared at the drama unfolding before him, Mrs. Weasley had somehow set the table for breakfast. As the conversation continued on about the strange man called Mad-Eye, Harry helped himself to some food.

Throughout breakfast, Harry learned that Mad-Eye, whoever the man was, was a very strange, crazy old man, was friends with Dumbledore and had, at one point, worked with the Auror's to lock away dark wizards. Incredibly paranoid, the poor man didn't trust anyone and had a bad habit of striking first and asking questions later.

After breakfast, it was decided that Bill and Charlie would come and see everyone off at King's Cross station, but Percy, apologizing a bit, said that he really needed to get to work.

"I just can't justify taking any more time off," he told them. "Mr. Crouch needs me right now."

George snorted and quietly stated, "Yes, and maybe one day, he'll realize your real name."

Percy left for work, thankfully not hearing a word George had said and Mrs. Weasley, realizing that they couldn't floo to the station, braved the telephone in the village post office to order three ordinary Muggle taxi's to take them to London.

"Arthur did try to borrow some Ministry cars for us," Mrs. Weasley whispered to Harry as they stood in the rain-washed yard, watching the poor taxi drivers lug six heavy trunks into their cars. "But there weren't any to spare. Oh dear, they don't look happy, do they?"

Harry didn't have the heart to tell Mrs. Weasley that Muggle taxi drivers usually didn't transport owls, cats and fireworks and that it was likely that the poor woman would have a tough time ordering another taxi due to the hell these three men were going through. Sighing, he ran fingers through his damp hair and watched, with some amusement, as Fred's beloved fireworks went off and Crookshanks tried to claw one of the taxi driver's legs off.

He chuckled, before pausing and looking towards the small bit of woods that encircled the Weasley home. He was so sure that he'd felt…or sensed something. He made to move closer, but was thwarted as Mrs. Weasley wrapped an arm around his shoulders and dragged him towards the nearest car. "No wandering off dearie. We've got to go; we're behind schedule as it is!"

The journey was uncomfortable and Harry, having been unable to see what it was he had felt, was in a poor mood. He was damp, he was still curious over what he had seen and one of the trunks was jammed against his leg in a thoroughly uncomfortable fashion. Crookshanks took awhile to calm down from the fireworks too and by the time they reached London, Harry was counting back from a hundred and telling himself that it would ruin his friendship with Hermione if he punted her cat.

Still, the darn beast wouldn't be getting any leftovers from the feast from him that was for sure! Nursing the tender scratches, and glaring at the cat, they arrived at King's Cross, though it was now raining even harder than before. Which was just their luck, of course. None of them were spared and got soaked traveling between the busy road and the station, trunks in tow.

Harry sighed, wiping his sopping wet hair from his face as they trudged to the barrier that divided the Muggle station from the wizarding one. He, by now, was used to getting onto platform nine and three-quarters and barely blinked as he, Ron and Hermione (the most conspicuous, since they were with Pig, who wouldn't stop hooting and Crookshanks, who hissed at everyone) passed through the barrier.

As they did so, the platform appeared before them. The gleaming red Hogwarts Express was already there, puffing clouds of steam. Hoards of students and parents clogged the walkways and the noise was almost deafening. To Harry, it was kinda like going home and he relaxed, an easy smile gracing his face as they moved away from the barrier to let others through. The trio moved quickly, spotting an empty compartment half-way along the train where they stowed their trunks, before jumping off the train to meet back up with the others to say goodbye.

Bill looked wistful, though Charlie had a smile on his face that was almost mischevious. Hugging Ginny goodbye he said, "I might be seeing you all sooner than you think."

"Why?" questioned Harry curiously.

"Oh, you'll see," Charlie replied. "Just don't tell Percy I mentioned anything. Technically it's…'classified information'."

"Yeah, I wish I was back at school this year," said Bill, hands in his pockets as he sighed longingly at the train. "You guys are going to have one interesting year."

The twins, Ron and Harry by this point looked incredibly put out that no one would give them solid information on what would be happening at Hogwarts. Instead, they were ushered into the train by Mrs. Weasley as the whistle blew.

"Thanks for having us stay, Mrs. Weasley," said Hermione as they climbed aboard, leaning out of the window in their compartment to speak with her.

"Yeah, it was fun," Harry replied.

Mrs. Weasley beamed, "Oh think nothing of it dears. It was my pleasure. You have fun at school! I'd invite the lot of you over for Christmas, but I think you'd like to stay this year."

And that was that. Before any of them could question the witch on what she meant, the train gave another whistle and began to move. A half-second later and the train was rounding a bend, their last image of the Weasley's was the lot of them smiling and waving at them.

"Your family is entirely too good at secrets," Harry muttered as he threw himself onto a seat. Ron gave a grunt in agreement. The train ride passed pleasantly enough. Hermione had her nose stuffed in a book while he and Ron played a few games of Exploding Snap. They game broke up around noon for lunch, before the lot of them overheard a conversation between Malfoy and his cronies about a school called Dumstrung and how the brat had almost gone to it instead of Hogwarts.

The rain started to fall more heavily, with thick fat drops slamming against the window every few seconds. Several of their friends popped up as the afternoon progressed, including Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas and Neville Longbottom. The conversation topic was quickly decided to be Quidditch and Hermione, tired of the sports talk, once more buried her nose in a book; Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4.

"I wish gran would've let me gone. Sounds like you guys had a load of fun," Neville said, sighing slightly as he watched the figurine of Krum totter about Ron's palm.

"Oh it was grand! We even got to see them up close," Ron said. "We were in the Top Box –"

"For the first and last time in your life, Weasley."

Draco Malfoy had appeared in the doorway, a sneer plasted on his pale face. Behind him stood Crabbe and Goyle, his enormous, thuggish bodyguards, both of whom appeared to have grown at least a foot over the summer. Harry quickly put two and two together on why they had arrived. The slightly open compartment door, which had been left open by Dean and Seamus, had allowed the boy to overhear their conversation.

"Don't remember asking you to butt in, Malfoy," said Harry coolly.

Malfoy didn't seem to hear him, which pissed Harry off a bit, and instead pointed at Pig cage, "Weasley…what is that?!" he said as he watched a bit of moldy looking lace attached to the horrible dress robes that belong to Ron move with the motion of the train.

Ron made to stuff the robe out of sight, but Malfoy was having none of that. He moved quickly, seizing the sleeve and pulling it up for all to see. "Look at this!" he crowed, looking ecstatic. "Weasley, you weren't thinking of wearing these, were you? I mean-they were fashionable…back in eighteen-ninety!"

Ron was quickly turning into the exact shade of his horrid dress robes and Harry, who didn't really want Ron to get in trouble so early in the year, quickly chimed in before Ron got himself into trouble.

"Why Malfoy, I had no idea you found that to be your taste! I admit, the color would wash you out a little, but I think you could pull off the lace quite well. I mean, you look so happy holding it, that I'm sure even Ron would be happy to give it to you," he quipped, a slightly feral looking grin spreading along his face.

Complete silence spread in the compartment as Malfoy's cheeks pinked. "Oh you think you're so clever, don't you potty-"

"Oh yes, about as clever as your remarks there. Real clever. I thought, considering you came up with that in first year, you'd have something a bit new. At any rate, if you don't have anything to say, and you don't want Ron's lovely new dress robe, would you do us a favor and leave?" Harry asked, putting on a polite expression.

Malfoy looked to be close to jumping at Harry and strangling him with the robe, but seemed, after a moment, to get under control. A look of superiority quickly fell over his face as he tossed the robe back to Ron. "Better watch your back Potter," He stated as he turned to leave, before pausing and glancing back, an easy smirk on his face. "Oh, and do you know what's going to be happening this year? My father told me ages ago, so I'm just going to assume, Weasley, that with a both a brother and your father working at the Ministry, you probably know too. But then again, I'm sure they probably don't talk about important things in front of you…"

Laughing, Malfoy beckoned Crabbe and Goyle out of the compartment and left.

Ron got to his feet and with a snarl, slammed the door shut so hard the glass shattered.

"Ron!" Hermione said reproachfully, "Honestly, Reparo." And the glass shards flew back into the pane and back into the door. "And Harry, that was a bit…oh that was funny. How did you think that up so quick?"

"Oh you know…the twins I guess and it did make him leave a bit faster…and give Ron his robe back," Harry replied with a shrug, watching curiously as Ron muttered angrily to himself, squishing some of the Pumpkin Pasties into a pulp.

Ron's bad mood swallowed the compartment for the rest of the trip, making all of them remain silent. He, nor any of them, talked much as they changed into their school robes and Ron was still glowering when the Hogwarts Express slowed down and at last finally stopped in the pitch-darkness of Hogsmead station.

Unfortunately, it was still pouring when the train doors opened. Buckets of water was falling from the sky in great torrents, making Ron even more irritable. Hermione quickly bundled up Crookshanks in her cloak as they left the train and ran for the carriages, greeting Hagrid along the way.

Harry though, slowed and stopped, letting the crowd of students billow past him as the same feeling that he got around Mrs. Weasley's woods hit him then. He turned, eyes narrowed against the downpour, his glasses streaked with rain. 'What…is this…,' he thought as he spun around, his head turning this way and that as the feeling increased.

There was a woman suddenly, just at the edge of the station, her body obscured by a thick black cloak and the rain. Her hair was long and red and a small blue bead was tied near the end. Harry's eyes widened, "Zor-"

"Come on Harry, its freezing!"

He turned towards the voice and spotted Hermione leaning out of one of the carriages, her hand beckoning towards him. Harry hesitated, glanced back and felt his heart plummet to his stomach as he noted the woman, the illusion of the woman, was gone. "But…I…y-yeah, okay," He muttered as he dashed into the carriage, wiping water from his glasses as he settled inside.

"You alright there Harry?" Neville asked as, with a lurch, the carriage started up the sloping track towards Hogwarts.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Harry replied as he peered out the tiny carriage window, searching. But it was too dark and too rainy to see anything straight. Sighing, he sat back as, with a great rumble and splash, the carriages pulled them towards the Castle.

EverD: I thought, for a moment, about making this chapter really, really long as an apology for not updating, but ended up not doing it. Figured you guys would prefer a regular chapter update after almost three months of nothing. I'm really sorry about that though. A lot of things happened over the holidays that were a real drag. My grandmother had heart surgery, and then ended right back in the hospital on the same day they let her out! This happened again a week later. Following that, I tried to catch a knife that was falling and had that go through my hand. I couldn't type for a month! Still have some physical therapy to do, but I can type decently again. At any rate thanks for sticking by me and this story despite the long wait. You guys are great.