Flamel Manor
1 st September
"So, Mrs. Dursley how are you this fine evening?" Asked Penny as she sipped on a hot chocolate with her husband.
Lily shot her a filthy look as the Polyjuice wore off "will you please stop with that I am having enough trouble as it is."
"Of course, you have but on the bright side you get to raise a 7-year-old harry". Replied Penny with a bright smile.
"Yeah, I guess, Dumbledore certainly suspected something but he's gone for now. The scapegoat is quite scared and quiet but I will mold him into what harry had thought him to be." Replied the redhead as she took her own hot coco.
"And what would that be?" Penny asked curiously.
"The harry potter the world expects, the harry potter these pathetic sheep want. Harry potter, the perfect son of James and lily potter". Replied Lily as she took the paper from Penny's hands and took her own seat on the breakfast table.
Penny scowled and rolled her eyes and said "what about what he wants?"
"It's a scapegoat Penny, you can't get sentimental about a fucking decoy."
"You're talking about him as if he doesn't have any feelings," said Penny heatedly.
"Look Penny I get it alright? I get it and I am trying, trying to love him and give him comfort and everything that he deserves but you can't very well tell a child that his aunt that previously loved to watch him get tortured for the previous three years has suddenly become compassionate with him. Do I provide him comfort? yes. Love him? Yes, but letting him make himself open up to me? He has suffered too much for that. My harry was lucky that he escaped these monsters at an early age and all the damage that they did to him was repaired but the scapegoat has suffered too much, his mindscape has been ruined penny! He can't even learn Occlumency even if he wanted to. I can't tell him that his mum is alive and is sitting in front of him or the goatfucker will ruin my Harry."
"Hey chill lils, I was just joking, besides I wasn't expecting you to give me 'your' harry as you called him to me." Replied Penny and gave Nicolas a look that made him go away to cassie.
"Yeah well it is what it is and besides it is currently the best option for him. I particularly never cared about the Potter name and considering he has lived his past 3 years with you, I can't complain really that to the world he is now known as Harry Nicolai Flamel. He is ambitious and rightly so but I will ensure that his roots always stay connected to me." Said Lily as she watched Nicolas and Penny go away.
"What about Evra?"
"What about her?"
"From what I've heard, you've given her some task to do?
"Yes, I have."
May I know what it is?
"Well she is a brilliant enchantress and this would be the first Christmas I spend with harry."
"So…... a gift?"
"Yeah kind of."
Little Paradise
(1 day before going to Hogwarts)
Evra was not having a good time. Grindelwald had left her to be and even having Victoria and her friends cheering her up, she wasn't having the best of the time.
She missed Harry. Yes, she missed that goddamned criminally handsome boy who had made her feel like she had a family and a chance to live again but when he had stopped her from hugging him, something broke inside of her, she wasn't ready for Harry to leave her like that and Lily wasn't giving her a chance to make amends.
It wasn't like she had taken advantage of Harry yet and whatever she was going to do was for the benefit of both of them. Now she was stuck here making a silly black costume with her best charms and enchantments on the request (read orders) of that read headed devil.
Yeah it wasn't the best of the times.
It was nearing night and she was making dinner with Vic when the sound of a portkey startled her.
"Stay inside Vic I'll see who it is. She said and got out of the paradise."
She wasn't expecting him. It could've been a million trillion people outside her house but it had to be that someone who had hurt her without even knowing it. Wait! He was looking nervous, that gave her hope! Hope and faith that she could still improve and salvage whatever they had.
Harry took a deep breath and ran forward to hug her; she also couldn't stop herself and launched herself at him. They both met in between and their heads collided.
"OUCH!" They both groaned in unison and then shared a laugh.
"So, I take it you missed me Ev?" Asked Harry as his arms slithered around her waist and both his hands met behind her back.
Her breath hitched in her throat. No one had called her Ev for as long as she remembered, his green eyes looked extra bright in the night. He was a tad bit shorter than her but her arms easily moved around his neck.
"I am not the only one" replied Evra while letting escape a laugh.
No one came back after they came to know of her betrayal. Heck her own brother thought that she had actually joined noirs for money. Latest example was of course Grindelwald.
They all left her. No one even asked her why. No one came back and after all her sacrifices and hard work all she got were looks of betrayal.
Why didn't they understand her reasons, her situation, her motives?
But this young boy with such a sexy smirk on his face came back and his hands were on her waist in the most loving way possible, other hands she had had on her body instantly started to map out and grope her but these were caressing her waist in the most tender way possible.
This asshole was not supposed to make her feel this way. His striking eyes were not supposed to judge her soul just by looking in her eyes.
"Cat got your tongue bunny?" asked Evra as he moved out of his stupor.
"Oh, now I am the bunny? eh babe" replied harry as he futilely refused to blush.
"Well since you were giving out nicknames, I thought why shouldn't go for it as well, besides babe? Really? I have actually seen you since you were a babe!" Said Evra quite amusedly.
Harry gave a small laugh and then his expression turned serious "I am really sorry Ev, I…I really couldn't argue with mom about you, you…"
Evra put a finger at his lips, smiled a genuine smile and said "there is nothing to be sorry for harry as long as we are friends, I don't care who thinks what about us."
Harry gave a sigh of relief and hugged her tenderly and Evra returned his hug wholeheartedly.
"You're going to make many girls fall for you Harry". She stated in a teasing voice.
"Well then it's a good thing that I know the cushioning charm isn't it?"
"Oh, you prat! But seriously keep that smile for yourself and your friends only harry, you don't know the effect you have on people."
"Oh, really please do tell me the effect I have on pretty women like yourself?" he asked innocently as once again their eyes met.
"You make them fall in love with you, slowly and then all at once." She said with a small smile.
Harry expected her to laugh after saying that but she wasn't laughing and for all the 5 years Harry had seen her, she was looking genuinely serious and happy.
"That doesn't make any sense Ev." Harry told his savior that had saved him from the mental damage that Dursleys had done on him.
"Love rarely ever makes sense Harry".
Evra then slowly leaned in and brushed her lips against his, Harry pulled the Caribbean goddess closer and she leaned in.
It was nothing magical, no sparks flied but Harry could feel her tender lips, if for a second only and oh boy were they heavenly.
Even though none of them deepened the kiss, their breathing fastened after that.
"Have a nice term Harry and please do visit for Christmas to begin the hunt." She said as her hands creeped inside his shirt where she pressed her index finger against a dog tag which was against his chest.
Before Harry could actually enjoy the feeling of Evra's hands on his chest she kissed his cheek for a last time before whispering "be a ghost." and Harry was whisked away into the silence of the bright moonlight.
She sighed and smiled as she touched her lips where their lips had met.
Harry might not have felt the sparks but she most certainly did.
She moved inside the house to finish the project that Lily had given her with more vigor than ever before.
She didn't notice a grey eyed slender girl with a look of longing and jealousy peeping from the window.
1st September 1988
Platform 9 ¾
Kings Cross London UK
It took a moment too late for Harry to move towards his first friend as a mob of students came rushing through the barrier. They were following an extremely athletic looking girl with muscular arms and rich brown hair with the head-girl badge pinned to her loose top. She was wearing expensive sunglasses and a watch and looking every bit of celebrity Harry had ever seen.
As soon as the crowd cleared there was no sign of Tonks or her friends, in fact most of the students had moved inside the train leaving behind a handful of students and the 3 of Harry, Ramona and Penny.
"That was Gwenog Jones, the new beater of Holyhead Harpies". Said Ramona as she looked in awe of the famous quidditch player.
"She went pro without even graduating Hogwarts?" asked Harry incredulously.
"Oh, she was signed in her fifth year by them. Her skills are quite mad." Said Ramona as she pushed her trolley towards the train.
Harry looked deep in thought as he hugged Penny one last time and promised to write regularly.
They both entered the train and noticed that the crowd had dispersed somewhat and a red-headed family was arguing near the entrance about being late.
"Let's find a compartment Harry" said Ramona as she pushed her trolley inside the train and came to a stop in front of the second last carriage.
She moved inside and shrieked loudly.
Inside there, another girl shrieked loudly
Then listening to them, Harry joined in and shrieked loudly.
The girls had exclaimed out of joy but Harry's shriek was out of pure fear.
Let it be known, never excite Ramona and her friend when in close vicinity.
You might lose your hearing or your bladder or both …... depending on your willpower of course.
"WHAT THE DUCK RAMONA?" Shouted Harry as he got his bearings back.
"Sorry Harry just lost my bearings there, here meet Irina Noir, the girl I told you about who sent me my drum set and my only friend in the States". Said Ramona as she hugged Irina.
Irina had green hair(dyed) with a pixie cut, sharp blue eyes, ageless face and a very very pale skin, she was looking around 11 but Harry had had enough experience of how looks can be very deceiving for age .
She was a fucking vampire!
So, this was why she was disowned from the Noir family, she was a non-human and would've likely been ostracized in public.
"A beauty if I ever saw one." Said Harry as he took Irina's hand and kissed it. It was very cold, noticed harry.
"Where did you find this charmer?" asked Irina as she sat down with Ramona and Harry sat on the opposite seat as them, Harry could see that she was amused and slowly licking her long and pointy canines.
"Oh, you wouldn't believe, I was with the Delacours and suddenly they introduced me to this Flamel heir and you wouldn't believe me, this guy has mad skills with a guitar and can sing any genre!" Gushed Ramona
"Really?" Asked Irina, looking skeptical.
"Yes! Oh god, I knew you wouldn't believe me, Harry show her!"
"I promise I'll show her when we reach Hogwarts." Replied Harry as he ran his hands through his currently green hair, if Irina noticed his changed hair color, she didn't say anything.
And by that statement Ramona knew that Harry was planning something. Something really big for Hogwarts if his smirk was any indication.
He was going to get them both in detention before they even get sorted.
Well it was alright as long as this stunning bastard was with her.
"Enough about me, so aside from being sexy and making hearts melt, what do you do in your free time?" Harry asked Irina, with a grin trying to chat her up.
"Well I like to suck bodies dry and leave them to rot." Replied Irina with a wry smile but the way she said it made Harry shiver and he had an inkling she was not lying in the slightest.
"Ah, so not in the mood eh? Well anyways, will you now tell me why aren't you screaming or withering on the ground and shouting bloody murder?" asked Harry and Ramona looked horrified that her friend's secret was revealed that she was a vampire.
"Well I am a daywalker, we aren't that much affected by the sunlight and don't require only blood for survival." Replied Irina with a shrug and pulled her pullover close.
"Nice, never heard of those"
"Well we are quite rare and hard to find."
Suddenly the train began to move as he saw the large plump red headed woman kissing her son as he got on the train.
While he did wish that his mother was here with him to see him off, he knew that a simple bye-bye at the platform was not worth risking his mother's identity.
As the train had almost left the platform, he thought he saw a doe, standing at the platform smiling at him.
For some reason, the doe had green eyes and red fur around her neck.
He smiled back and rested his head against the window.
All while this happened Ramona was talking with Irina in hushed whispers and they laughed and blushed at some intervals.
After some time, Irina asked "you don't have your trunk with you?"
"Well I prefer briefcases to trunks" replied Harry as he took out his remodeled briefcase out of his pocket and resized it, with now only a baby blue paint on it and opened it to take out his mother's 1 st year transfiguration book.
"Huh, fair enough". Replied Irina but was not able to keep the awe out of her voice when she saw him resizing the briefcase once again to make it small and putting it back in his pocket.
More time passed as they chatted more about MACUSA and its effectiveness over no-majs (muggles) and overall control over wizards, its laws on creatures and Ilvermorny's faculty and grounds.
As far as the British ministry was concerned, they both knew that it was controlled by pureblooded bigots so there was no important point to discuss really.
As much as Harry wanted to run through the train and look in each and every compartment for Tonks, he knew he shouldn't and it would quite possibly become quite awkward for both of them.
Around half past twelve there was a great clattering outside in the corridor and a smiling, dimpled woman slid back their door and said, "Anything off the cart, dears?"
Harry went out into the corridor and asked both of them whether they wanted something or not.
Irina had had quite a large bloody breakfast (literally) so she politely refused but Ramona was all in for each and every chocolate he could pick. He was ready to buy as many Mars Bars, kit-Kats and ferrero-rochers as he could carry — but the woman didn't have any of those things. What she did have were Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Liquorice Wands, and a number of other strange British chocolates.
"I didn't quite get your name my lady". Harry asked with a kind smile.
Her eyes widened as Harry spoke those words and just jerked her trolley forwards, muttering "don't remember, been too long, have to serve Hogwarts and make cakes."
Quite weirded out by the experience, he moved back and dug in.
Irina stared as Harry brought it all back into the compartment and tipped it onto an empty seat.
"Hungry, are you both?"
"Starving, besides I am a metamorph I need to eat to maintain my metabolism" said Harry, taking a large bite out of a pumpkin pasty while Ramona had attacked the cauldron cakes.
Harry then opened the chocolate frogs and gave the cards to Ramona; his collection was complete except for Dumbledore and hers wasn't.
Not because he didn't get Dumbledore yet but because he didn't believe Dumbledore was nearly as accomplished as Agrippa or Ptolemy.
Meanwhile Some Compartments Away
"So, you made your mum believe you were really at my home?"
"Of course, I did Hes besides she really doesn't question me much after I say the H-word".
"The H-word?"
"Homework Hes, homework."
"Yeah well I am not buying it Tonks your mums not that gullible"
"Believe what you want to anyways what are you doing sulking there Rowle?"
"I am not sulking." She snapped.
"Yeah? Well you're holding your charms book upside down and looking as if you're finding a cure for world hunger."
"Hey! I was just thinking about this wizard I saw at the station….
"WIZARD"! Shouted Tonks and Hestia in unison grinning.
"For fucks sake listen first please, he was looking in our direction, specifically at you Tonks as if you were his long-lost friend or something.
"Really? What did he look like?" Asked Tonks impishly.
"Well he was looking like he was 13 or 14 maybe, wearing slightly ripped jeans and an untucked baby blue t-shirt…
"Must be a muggle or a transfer from a different school" added Hestia.
"Well he had quite a hairstyle and looked quite handsome."
"Really? Even more so than Charlie?" Asked Tonks.
"Easily, like they aren't even in the same league Tonks!" replied Rowle haughtily
Not many purebloods liked Weasleys.
"Well I wasn't able to see him…
"Of course, my bloody sister came in acting like she bloody owns the place" Huffed Hestia
"Um well she is the youngest player ever to play as a beater in a professional team." Supplied Tonks timidly not wanting to offend her friend.
"Oh, come off it, she was given the bloody head-girl despite her fucking abysmal grades."
"Well she did get an EE in divination…" said Rowle.
"1 fucking EE, Bruke got better grades than her and she's a fucking snake like you".
"Not this again". Groaned Tonks as both her friends started arguing.
After a few minutes of bickering about houses, Rowle got up and left for prefect duties.
"Do you really have to do that every time Hes?"
"Well she is a snake!"
"And a year above us and can give detention now that she has got that prefect badge!"
"Whatever, up for some exploding snaps"
Tonks rolled her eyes at the deliberate subject change but agreed "Might as well".
Second Last Compartment
A girl named Rowle with the prefect badge pinned to her chest came knocking in and was surprised to see the handsome boy was in this compartment, now sitting in between 2 girls one of which had fallen asleep on his lap and the other was flirting quite blatantly with him.
With a devoted disciple like Harry and an accomplished teacher like Evra, this scene was quite possible in barely 4 hours.
"Ah um... we will be arriving soon so please pack your things and change into your robes. Said the Slytherin witch as she stared at the boy with now green hair which matched the other girl's hair color perfectly.
"Well would you like a show mam?" Asked Harry as he slowly unbuttoned his shirt.
"N…n...no" she stammered blushing deep red.
"Then please give us the privacy we require." He said, grinning wickedly.
She muttered an incoherent apology and stumbled out of the compartment.
Irina burst into a fit of giggles, waking up Ramona.
"You really had to do that?" Ramona asked, slightly irritated.
"Uh well we are almost there, why don't you both change first while I wait outside".
"You really don't have to wait outside; I would be willing to give you a show monsieur" said Irina with a saucy wink.
"Maybe next time madame" replied Harry with a tinge of red to his cheeks as he moved out of the compartment to the raucous laughter of both the girls.
Soon after a few minutes they both came out dressed in the Hogwarts robe, they were quite boring dull but a comfortable and snug fit.
Soon he went in and left the 2 girls outside. Harry peered out of the window. It was getting dark. He could see mountains and forests under a deep purple sky. The train did seem to be slowing down. He pulled over his black robes and checked his reflection in the window, giving himself a once over and a sly grin he thought about what he was going to do after he departed from the train and laughed. This could quite frankly lead to his expulsion without even stepping inside the castle. A voice echoed through the train: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."
Soon the girls came in and together they moved out, the train slowed right down and finally stopped. People pushed their way toward the door and out onto a tiny, dark platform. Harry pulled Ramona and Irina towards a steep and narrow path cutting in between the sea of other Hogwarts children, soon they came out in a clearing of a big lake and dodged a giant that was coming their way.
"Ready Ramona?" Asked Harry as he took out his wand from his sleeves and muttered " glacio" , ice started forming in a cuboidal fashion near the lake and soon there was a platform made out of pure ice moving according to Harry's will.
"This is a bad idea!"
"It's not!"
"This is a bad idea!"
"It's not!"
"We will get expelled!"
"We are not students yet!"
"What are you both talking about?" asked Irina confused
"He wants to perform in front of whole HOGWARTS!"
"Hell yeah, fuck it I'm in, lets see what you got Flamel" said Irina as she stepped on the floating platform with Harry.
"Sometimes I really doubt both of your sanities".
That was really weird coming out of Ramona's mouth but she stepped on the platform anyway and took out her drums shaped keychain and resized it into actual drums as Harry took out his guitar chained necklace.
Harry moved his platform as he saw the giant man bringing students towards them.
"Which one?" Asked Ramona as she tested and tuned her drums.
"AC/DC baby, you know how we do!" replied harry
Ramona rolled her eyes but readied her sticks whirling them in her right hand.
Harry started with the electric guitar with the volume of his voice and guitar intended to max as his song reverberated through the castle walls and the other students' ears.
Soon enough after 8 seconds or so Ramona joined in with drums in perfect sync.
"Living easy, living free
Season ticket on a one-way ride
Asking nothing, leave me be
Taking everything in my stride
Don't need reason, don't need rhyme
Ain't nothing I would rather do
Going down, party time
My friends are gonna be there too, yeah"
"Why do they get an ice cube of their own?" Whined Flint as he sat down with Felix Rosier, Avery and Shafiq on an old dingy boat.
"Well they made their own ice cube." Replied Rosier
"My father will hear about this!" ranted Flint.
Shafiq rolled his eyes at the rantings of his friend.
Meanwhile the students in the carriages were bewildered, they had never seen a concert or anything remotely related to it at Hogwarts.
But this boy with what seemed like 2 witches was rocking it and they had got the best seats in the house with the top view
Muggles on the carriages went totally wild singing with Harry now.
"I'm on the highway to hell
On the highway to hell
Highway to hell
I'm on the highway to hell"
Meanwhile Inside the Castle
"Is that good music that I hear Minerva?" Albus smiled as he heard the beautiful melody.
"This… this is not proper decorum Albus I must investigate it this instant." Said Professor McGonagall and left towards the black lake harbour.
"Well it is certainly better than the shit that you make the school sing every year." Drawled snape while vibing to the popular muggle tune.
He might be a greasy git but even he could appreciate good music. Dumbledore couldn't help but agree with it.
Babbling, vector and Aurora were already singing along with Harry.
Pomona while appreciated the music but couldn't really bring herself to vibe along it
She was more of a weird sisters' gal really.
"No stop signs, speed limit
Nobody's gonna slow me down
Like a wheel, gonna spin it
Nobody's gonna mess me around
Hey Satan, payin' my dues
Playing in a rocking band
Hey mama, look at me
I'm on my way to the promised land, woo"
Harry sang as his platform moved, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was cheering, staring up at the great castle overhead and listening to good music. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood. The first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the platform carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbour.
Harry simply didn't care and Irina was beyond impressed by now.
He was using magical music.
He continued-
"I'm on the highway to hell
Highway to hell
I'm on the highway to hell
Highway to hell
Don't stop me, eh, eh, ooh
(guitar and drums solo)
I'm on the highway to hell
On the highway to hell
I'm on the highway to hell
On the highway to
Yeah (highway to hell)
I'm on the highway to hell (highway to hell)
Highway to hell (highway to hell)
Highway to hell (highway to hell)
And I'm going down
All the way
Whoa
I'm on the highway to hell"
Harry quickly melted the ice as his song ended and the clambered up to rocks and pebbles.
"That was the best cruise of my entire LIFE!" shrieked Irina as she got off the cube and hugged Harry and Ramona.
"Yeah, no big deal, at least, if we're expelled, you would come with us." Said Harry as the hug ended and they resized their instruments.
Then they clambered up a passageway in the rock, coming out at last onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle. They walked up a flight of stone steps and stood around the huge, oak front door which was opened and a very irate looking Minerva McGonagall was waiting for the 3 students who had disrupted their sorting ceremony.
The twitch of her lips gave her away though, she was not that pissed.
"So, if the path you three came along was 'highway to hell' then Hogwarts would stand for hell wouldn't it?"
Despite his best attempts to not to laugh, Harry laughed a full belly laugh and soon the other 2 girls joined in.
McGonagall wasn't amused and told them to wait for the boats to arrive and gave them a full-blown lecture on discipline and decorum
"She is sexually frustrated." Stated Irina in a matter of fact voice.
"Yes, she is." They both agreed sagely.
Soon enough they were engulfed in the babble of children, some were in awe of the 3 of them others were jealous the rest were too much anxious to think about the sorting to care really.
Hagrid gave them an amused smile before carting off the boats and knocking on the door 3 times.
Whatever the other students might think Harry had just made them the most popular kids in the school without even entering the castle.
The door swung open once again. Minerva McGonagall stood there.
"The first' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." She pulled the door wide. The entrance hall was so big you could have fit the whole of the Dursleys' house in it. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors.
They followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. Harry could hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right — the rest of the school must already be here — but Professor McGonagall showed the first years into a small, empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, standing rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall.
"The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your Houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your House will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your House, sleep in your House dormitory, and spend free time in your House common room. "The four Houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each House has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your House points, while any rule-breaking will lose House points. At the end of the year, the House with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever House becomes yours. "The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting." She left the chamber.
"I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly."
"She seriously needs to get laid." Remarked Harry as she went away.
"Yeah well I don't think many people are there to take her up on that". Replied Irina slyly rubbing her fingernails with the hem of her skirt.
"Will you stop that I am getting jitters and I am really thirsty!" Said Ramona as she waited for the professor to arrive.
A muggle pair were talking about sorting as Harry heard them.
Carl Johnson, brother of Angelina Johnson swallowed. "How exactly do they sort us into Houses?" he asked Angelina.
Carl looked way older than the rest of the students like 14 or 15 much like Harry with the only difference being that he was actually 14 and not looked like one.
"Some sort of test, I think. Dad said it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking." Carl's heart gave a horrible jolt. A test? In front of the whole school? But he didn't know any magic yet — what on earth would he have to do? He hadn't expected something like this the moment they arrived.
He looked around anxiously and saw that everyone else looked terrified, too. No not everyone, this one dude who looked really cool and everything was hanging around with 2 girls and acting like everything was really chill.
That scared him even more for some reason.
He kept his eyes fixed on the door. Any second now, Professor McGonagall would come back and lead him to his doom.
Then something happened that made him jump about a foot in the air — several people behind him screamed. "What the —?" He gasped. So did the people around him.
About twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to one another and hardly glancing at the first years.
They seemed to be arguing. What looked like a fat little monk was saying: "Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance —" "My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost — I say, what are you all doing here?" A ghost wearing ruff and tights had suddenly noticed the first years.
"We're all waiting for our execution at the sorting ceremony, I just can't wait to see my head roll in front of the other students so that I can join you." Replied Harry with false cheerfulness.
Ramona snorted and Irina hit him on his shoulder.
Friar gasped and so did many of the other ghosts but Harry heard a single distinguishable sound that suspiciously sounded like "lucky bastard".
"Move along now," said a sharp voice. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start." Professor McGonagall had returned.
"See here comes our executioner, please do make sure my head is cleaved into two, I wouldn't want to end like him". Said Harry pointing towards Sir Nicolas.
By this point Harry was quite sure almost all the muggle-borns and those who didn't know about sorting had almost pissed themselves.
"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" said the Friar. "My old House, you know." He said pointedly ignoring Harry and went away with the other ghosts.
Professor McGonagall glared at him but he was unaffected and just made childish choking noises.
"Now, form a line," Professor McGonagall told the first years, "and follow me.
Carl or CJ as his buddies at grove street called him looked oddly as though his legs had turned to lead, he got into line behind a boy with black hair and grey eyes who had introduced himself as Cedric Diggory, with his sister behind him, and they walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.
CJ had never even imagined such a strange and splendid place. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in mid-air over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting.
These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them.
The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver. Mainly to avoid all the staring eyes, CJ looked upward and saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars. He heard the cool boy whisper to his friend, "It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts: A History."
It was hard to believe there was a ceiling there at all, and that the Great Hall didn't simply open on to the heavens. CJ quickly looked down again as Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years.
On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty. Maybe they had to try and get a rabbit out of it, CJ thought wildly, that seemed the sort of thing — noticing that everyone in the hall was now staring at the hat, he stared at it, too.
For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth — and the hat began to sing:
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So, put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again.
"So, we've just got to try on the hat!" CJ whispered to Angelina.
"I'll kill dad, he was going on about wrestling a troll." CJ smiled weakly. Yes, trying on the hat was a lot better than having to do a spell, but he did wish they could have tried it on without everyone watching.
The hat seemed to be asking rather a lot; CJ didn't feel brave or quick-witted or any of it at the moment. If only the hat had mentioned a House for people who felt a bit queasy, that would have been the one for him.
Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said.
"Avery Oscar!"
"Slytherin"
He got up regally and sat down under the green banner of which Harry was descended from as the rest of the House cheered
"Davis Roger!"
A pink-faced boy with brown hair stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right down over her eyes, and sat down.
A moment's pause — "RAVENCLAW!" shouted the hat.
The table on the right cheered and clapped as Roger went to sit down at the Ravenclaw table.
Harry saw the ghost of the Grey Lady waving merrily at him.
"Diggory Cedric!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat, and Cedric scuttled off to sit.
So, the sorting continued and he saw as Shafiq, Rosier and Flint were all sorted in Slytherin.
Ramona and Irina went to Hufflepuff.
He tuned out after that and was just wishing the hat to put him in Hufflepuff.
"Ferno Jhonson Carl" came McGonagall's voice
"SLYTHERIN" shouted the hat, the muggleborn let out a deep breath as he moved under the green banner.
"Ferno-Jhonson Angelina"
"GRYFFINDOR"
She walked off timidly towards the golden and red banner.
"Flamel-Nicolai-Harry" Said McGonagall and Harry was brought out of his stupor.
As Harry stepped forward, whispers suddenly broke out like little hissing fires all over the hall.
"Flamel, did she say?"
"The Flamels?"
"He looks so hot!"
"Is he an ickle firstie really? Doesn't look like one."
"He was the one who sang!"
"OH GOD! Finally, someone good looking!"
"They don't make them like that at Hogwarts anymore!" shouted a female voice.
The last thing Harry saw before the hat dropped over his eyes was the hall full of people craning to get a good look at him.
Next second he was looking at the black inside of the hat.
He waited. "Hmm," said a small voice in his ear. "Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent, oh my goodness talent like no other, at least for your age, yes — and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting. . .. So where shall I put you?"
Harry gripped the edges of the stool and thought, Hufflepuff, Hufflepuff.
"Hufflepuff, eh?" said the small voice.
"Are you sure? You could be great, you know, it's all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that — no?
Hufflepuff please thought Harry desperately
"Well fuck you I don't care what you think. I am the sorter you wanker, you aren't."
"SLYTHERIN" Harry heard the hat shout the last word to the whole hall.
And he lost it.
He took off the hat and threw it on the floor and stomped on it.
"I" *stomp*
"WANTED" *stomp* *stomp*
"HUFFLEPUFF" *stomp* *stomp* *stomp*
The entire hall went silent as he picked up the hat and kicked it in the air.
The hat went flying backwards and by some miracle settled on Dumbledore's head.
"SLYTHERIN" shouted the hat.
The teachers who were silent and shocked before went totally slack jawed at that exclamation.
After harsh words from McGonagall and 20 points deduction, he went to sit next to CJ.
No one clapped.
Except for Hufflepuffs of course. Those assholes were loyal no matter who.
The sorting continued after a very embarrassed dumbledore gave the hat back to McGonagall. Soon it ended and Dumbledore spoke-
"Welcome!" he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! "Thank you!" He sat back down.
Everybody clapped and cheered except for Slytherin. Harry didn't know whether to laugh or not. "Is he — a bit mad?" he asked Rowle uncertainly.
"Mad?" said Rowle airily. "He's a genius! Best wizard in the world! But he is a bit mad, yes. Potatoes, Harry?" Harry's mouth fell open.
The dishes in front of him were now piled with food. He had never seen so many things he liked to eat on one table: roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, fries, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup, and, for some strange reason, peppermint humbugs.
They had some weird ass food combos.
And wait for it.
No fucking French food.
This really is hell!
The defence against the dark arts teacher this year was an auror who was retiring after his last field duty which was today, so he wasn't on the feast.
Finally, he finished his food and desserts and moved over to the Hufflepuff table to say his goodbyes.
"That's some scene you caused there." Said Irina as he reached the Hufflepuff Table.
"Well that's me for you". Said Harry as he hugged Ramona.
"You've got some mad skills on guitar Monsieur Flamel," said Hestia from across a few students.
"Yeah well I am willing to give you a private performance if you ever want one miss-.
"Jones, Hestia Jones." She replied blushing madly and annoyed that he was so easily able to make her blush.
"Licensed to kill?"
Ramona and Irina groaned simultaneously.
Harry tried to subtly look for Tonks but found that she was talking and laughing loudly with a burly redhead who he had seen on the station.
For the first time in his life he had a very different feeling towards a girl and a boy with whom she was talking to.
The green envy monster was waking in his gut to kill that red head who was talking to her.
But why?
He was just talking right?
Anybody could talk to anybody in a school, it was a school after all.
But then why was he feeling this way.
"You know Tonks?" Asked Hestia curiously as she caught him staring.
"No, but I want to". Replied Harry and quickly said his goodbyes to follow Rowle and Yaxley who were heading towards the dungeons.
Harry and the other first-years followed two prefects to the Slytherin common room. Harry walked at the end of the group with CJ and Avery but no one said a word, they were too busy gazing at everything around them. The portraits that moved. The ghosts that floated above them. All of Hogwarts' massive architecture.
The two prefects led them into the dungeons of the castle and through an opening in a stone wall that opened with the correct password, they finally came into the Slytherin common room. It was illuminated by greenish ball lamps, and the lake could be seen through the windows. They were under the lake, in the dungeons Harry realized! High armchairs were scattered throughout the room, and shrink heads accessorized small tables.
A basilisk head motif was planted in the middle of the room.
Soon Harry went up to the boys' dormitory and finally found his room where Flamel was written on a golden plaque right next to CJ.
Well he did get his own room at Hogwarts so he wasn't complaining …...
Much.
He took out his briefcase from his pocket and plastered all his rock band, playboy and Mario posters that Ev had given him.
He changed into his night suit and slipped into bed after keeping the briefcase on the study table.
He was quite sure that SLYTHERIN got their own room because they were cunning and ambitious….
Yeah right. Wealthy and influential purebloods had no role in that.
Soon he fell asleep and dreamt of killing a certain redheaded boy in the realm of Morpheus.
PYRENEES MOUNTAINS
FRANCE
ACADEMIE DE MAGIC BEAUXBATONS
Fleur slept in her room peacefully In her room, as she was inducted in Beauxbatons and was missing both her friends Harry and dare she says it but Ramona too.
Alain had told her about a girl. A girl that Harry was staring at but was not able to make any contact.
That was good. Very good.
But suddenly something happened in her room, something very weird. She started feeling drained, terrible drain and pain in her body and suddenly a silver light engulfed her.
She woke up suddenly and summoned her wand wordlessly, and caught it in mid air as it came hurtling from her drawer.
Something was different about her now, she had instincts now, instincts of a person who had been through war.
Eyes of a person who had seen death.
Lips of a person who had seen love.
Face of a person who had been betrayed.
And a vow, a vow to set things straight with the only person she had truly loved in the 109 years of her previous life.
"Harry Potter" came out of her lips as she looked out of the window towards the pale moonlight.