Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Please Read & Review!
Remember when I said: To those Pottermore users out there, such as me, you know that there is a lot about wand lore on that site. I chose the wands in this story (now and later) with those facts in mind. EVERYTHING MEANS SOMETHING. Look that stuff up! ~Well, it applies again here! We find out Arran's wand.
AN: We meet a boy named Eric in this chapter. Remember him!
...
The ride to Hogwarts started with an awkward silence, with Charles, Jacob, and Holly fidgeting and playing with their hands, by habit, Dalia reading The Daily Prophet, Valerie brushing her hair, and Arran staring out the window.
Finally Dalia broke the silence, "I love the way you charmed your hair Holly. It looks as if you've died the tips of your hair. It's pretty."
Holly blushed and spoke slowly, "I didn't charm my hair, I was born with it like this. I'm ginger like me mum, bleached-blond like me dad. Must be genetics…"
Arran turned away from the window, and glanced at the wand Holly was clutching in her lap, "I was wondering Holly, if you had a holly wand? It seems fit."
Holly held up her wand and peered at it, "No, it's laurel. With unicorn hair, I think. What's yours?"
Arran held up his wand similarly to the way Holly had, it was black, and a bit shorter than hers, "It's made of ebony, with phoenix feather. It was a mistake when we took Billy wand shopping for me. He broke out crying when mum told him he couldn't have a wand for two more years."
Arran smiled slightly, in remembrance. It was the first time Holly had seen him with what looked like a genuine smile.
They heard a knock on the door and a boy came in: He was very pale, with black hair, and embarrassed brown eyes, he was tall, and skinny, "Hello, um, I'm Eric Rid- I mean I'm Eric Viridian. I'm sorry to bother you, I was wondering if this compartment was empty- but it isn't, so I'll leave." He left hurriedly.
Charles watched as the boy left, "Wonder what's bothering 'im? Seemed awfully nervous there, didn't he?"
Holly suddenly yawned, and Jacob poked her in the ribs, "What's up with you? Why so tired?" Jacob himself had bags under his eyes.
Holly tilted her head, "What, you don't remember the thousands of letters you sent me last night about how you couldn't sleep and felt ill? Did you not get my replies? We're both exhausted." At that they both yawned and everyone else laughed.
Charles groaned, "Come on guys; if you're that tired take a nap. Besides, if you don't you'll pass out in the middle of the sorting and embarrass the family."
Jacob and Holly looked at each other, looked at Charles, shrugged, and within ten minutes, they were both asleep. Another awkward silence fell. After a few minutes, Valerie slapped her forehead and groaned, causing them all to jump.
Dalia looked over at Valerie, "What's wrong Valerie? You okay?"
Valerie grimaced and looked over at the small girl, "I just remembered that I didn't check the calendar back at home to see when the full moon was this month! For all I know it could be tomorrow and we'd get a nasty shock!"
Arran, who had turned pale, said with bitter sarcasm, "Oh it isn't tomorrow. You know that at least. We've got some time. Although I wish that we did know when the moon rises… there'll be ways to find out at the castle. You know how Aunt Dominique is, she'll tell us."
Charles didn't understand, "Why would Dominique be at the castle?"
They both peered at him, as if they had forgotten he was there, and Valerie said apologetically, "Of course, your father was Dominique's cousin, why didn't he tell you? Dominique is returning as the Transfiguration teacher, and Louis is coming in for Defense Against the Dark Arts. I also heard down the grape vine that Aunt Lucy is teaching Charms. You know, Percy's younger daughter."
Charles nodded, thinking of it, "Yes, but won't that mean having three Professor Weasleys? I can't remember if Dominique and Lucy ever got married!"
Dalia looked up, "Aunt Roxanne told me she'd be helping out with Qudditch this year. I think that Lucy and Dominique did get married from what she's told me, Lucy married Andrew Imago, and Dominique married someone named Paul Macmillan, both were blokes from Ravenclaw." The train sped up and woke Jacob and Holly up.
Holly, unaware of what was going on as she was still half asleep, was thrown sprawling onto the floor and in surprise morphed into her animagus form, the large sparkling white wolf. She let out a yelp as she spun and hit the floor. She landed on her stomach, with her ears pressed flat against her head.
Dalia squealed and stood in her seat, Valerie looked down with an amused twinkle in her eyes, and Arran tore his eyes from the window to give a look of wonder.
Charles and Jacob were up in an instant, ready to help if something went wrong. For, unfortunately, it normally did. Holly, as a troubled young witch, even had a problem with her animagus form. If she was shocked or scared badly, she could, in a way forced by habit and nearly involuntary, transform into a wolf as a way of defense. That wasn't really the problem however. If she willing changed into an animagus, and did so not forced by shock, nothing was wrong. But when she was forced by shock, her mind went with the change, resulting in the brain of a helpless and loyal wolf pup, much like a young dog. Frightened, but if provoked and angered, deadly animalistic instincts took over.
The only way to be sure Holly wouldn't hurt you was if you were already close to her normally. Lily, who had done research on problems relating to Holly's, told her it would be better once she got older, and stronger. Lily and Scorpius had both decided not to register Holly as an animagus.
So, this was bad, as there were three kids who had just seen her change. When Holly opened her eyes and saw Arran looking at her with deep interest, she let out a frightened yelp and scooted backwards.
Jacob was instantly on the floor stroking Holly's head, saying calm words. Only Holly's family knew about it, but Holly had overheard Scorpius telling Lily that he had told all of the Professors at Hogwarts about her being an animagus, and that they would vouch for her if anything like this happened.
Dalia was terrified, "What just happened?" She screeched shrilly.
But Arran was still intrigued by her wolf form, "She's an animagus!" he breathed, delight overcoming his features.
Charles sat down next to Holly on the floor of the train and let her lick his fingers, "Please don't say anything like this to anyone guys, only the teachers can know! She's an unregistered animagus."
Arran sat down on the floor, "Of course I won't say anything! And neither will Val, right Val?" he said, with a sharp glance at his sister who replied, "Sure. She's fine by me. As long as she doesn't bite my fingers off."
Dalia sat down, trembling, "She's in control right?" Jacob and Charles cast glances at each other, and Jacob said, "Yeah… sure."
Dalia nodded, satisfied, "Okay. Your secret is safe with me."
Arran reached out his hand to pet Holly but Jacob grabbed his wrist, "I don't think you should do that Arran. She's… not right in the mind right now. She could hurt you." But Arran came over and pet her anyways.
He seemed to have relaxed, and was very happy, "She's a wolf. She's awesome!"
Dalia had regained calm, and said, "How long will she be like that?"
Charles shrugged, "Dunno. Hard to tell. Sometimes it's really fast, but once we spent the week after Halloween with her like this after some kid freaked her out." At that moment Holly turned back into a human. She looked utterly bewildered but was fine otherwise.
Although, Jacob noted, that her green eyes were wide with shock. She scrambled up into the seat, "What the – oh no – did you see that? I'm so sorry if I scared you!" The other three muttered that it was okay.
They looked outside, and Valerie said, "Oh, we should change! It's getting dark; we need to get into our robes!"
They all scrambled to get ready. Before they had time to ask Valerie any tips, the train stopped.
They looked out, shocked, and saw that it was dark out, and that they were there – at Hogwarts.
...
We have Holly, Jacob, Charles, Arran, Dalia and now Eric going to Hogwarts in their first year! What houses will they get? Will they all be in the same house? What do you think? And what was with Eric in this one? Any guesses?
