Chapter 10: Interlude 1
Chapter 10 is here. It is not proof read. I am still looking for a beta reader. It will help me get chapter out faster. Also, the pm system in ff dot net seems to be broken. I use the app on my phone and the app dosent seem to show any pms. I have to check it on my computer to see the pms. If someone could help me out with the pms on the ffdotnet android app, it would be great. If you have written a pm and not received a reply, it was probably for this reason.
Ron Weasley
Ronald Weasley was a simple young boy. He did not have too many expectations from life. He wanted new clothes, new books, a new trunk, good food and a powerful starter pokémon. He didn't think it was asking for too much. He had grown up in a very busy house, called the Burrow. He had five older brothers and a younger sister. His brothers were all doing well for themselves.
His eldest brother, Bill Weasley was an explorer and an archaeologist. He was currently working with Gringotts exploring ruins in Hoenn.
His second eldest brother, Charlie Weasley loved working outdoors and with his hands and was also a very good quidditch player. He was currently working as a pokémon warden in the pokémon safari in Johto.
The third brother Percy was currently in Hogwarts in the fifth year. He was an academic genius, always getting perfect grades and was currently a prefect in Gryffindor and on his way to becoming the head boy.
The twins Fred and George were in their third year and were pranksters. They were funny, well liked and played quidditch for the Gryffindor team.
People always expected that just because Ron grew up in a big family, he should have been the centre of attention because there were always people around him. This was not always the case. His mother was always very busy, either managing the household, cooking or wrangling the twins. His other family members always did their own thing. Bill and Charlie had moved away as soon as they could after finishing Hogwarts. Percy was too pompous and he was always lecturing Ron on proper behaviour or maintaining decorum or studying. Ron mostly tuned him out. The twins were always causing trouble, more often than not, Ron was a target for their pranks. When they were not, they were always busy with each other, huddled together not caring about anybody else. When he was 7 years old, one night while he was sleeping, the twins had replaced his teddy bear with a spinarak. He had suddenly woken up and staring at the beady eyes of the arachnid pokémon, he had screamed and his parents had come rushing in. The twins were berated harshly by their parents for the prank, but they were forgiven in a day or two and everyone went back to things as if nothing happened. Ron still held minor resentment for the twins over the pranks. He had a phobia for spiderlike pokémon and couldn't help shrink back in fear on seeing one.
Ginny and him had been close when they were kids but as she grew up, she became more girly and became friends with the Lovegood girl who lived close by. They started hanging out together more often and did not include Ron in their games. Even at home, their mom started paying more attention to Ginny and spending time with her because she was a girl and needed "feminine guidance" in a house of males.
To be honest, Ron was rather lonely in a house filled with people. He was looking forward to attending Hogwarts, to make a name for himself there. Two of his major goals in life was to differentiate himself from his family, the be not just another red haired Weasley. He did not have that many options where to excel, such that he would sufficiently individualize himself and become rich. His Dad worked in the ministry, Percy would soon follow, the twins wanted to own their own business. Bill was an explorer; Charlie was an adventurer. The only path Ron felt was becoming a battling trainer. He wanted to be Hogwarts head boy, quidditch captain, and ultimately a pokémon champion. Maybe even play professional quidditch, he didn't think he was expecting too much. On the other hand, Ron hated studying. He didn't see the point in studying if he was to become a pokémon trainer.
Another expectation was that because Ron grew up in a pureblood trainer family, he would always be surrounded by pokémon. This was also not the case. His mom had a few grass type pokémon, who mostly helped her with cooking and gardening. There were a few grass and normal types pokémon in the forests around the Burrow and they mostly kept to themselves. His brothers didn't let him interact much with their pokémon whenever they were home. His mom would always yell at them to keep them in their pokeballs in the house.
Ron was always in awe of Harry Potter. Ginny and him had heard Harry Potter stories growing up and while Ginny had a crush on Harry Potter. Ron was maybe envious, he was everything Ron wasn't, he was a hero and well loved as a baby, he had adventures as a kid, and he was rich. When Ron heard Harry Potter would be in the same year as himself in Hogwarts, he was excited. His mom also told him that Harry had grown up in East Albion and did not have much knowledge of pokémon and knew very little about our world. She had encouraged Ron to befriend Harry Potter and guide him through our world. This made Ron even more excited. He had spend those few months before Hogwarts dreaming of becoming friends with Harry Potter, having adventures, becoming famous and eventually becoming rich. In his young preteen mind friendship with Harry Potter would lead to all his goals without much effort. And surely Harry would want to be friends with him, they would both be in Gryffindor, both would be master trainers, both would be brave and bold and love adventure and Ron was from a light family. He would help Harry with pokémon and share all the information he had, that Harry surely wouldn't have. He would help Harry make friends and introduce him to all the cool places in Hogwarts, he had heard about from his brothers over the years. He wouldn't just be friends with Harry, they would be best friends.
Ron's problems started the moment he got his starter a week before Hogwarts. He had expected to go to Ollivanders to get his starter, but had forgotten the fact that Weasleys never went to Ollivanders. They were a poor family and Ollivanders was expensive. Except Bill all the other Weasley children starters were either caught by their parents or acquired by his father from one of his friends in the ministry. He was disappointed when his father handed him an old pokeball. When Ron released the pokémon inside, his disappointment grew exponentially. It was a sentret. Just a common sentret, He had seen plenty of those in the forests around Burrow. He didn't show his disappointment, because his parents had always insisted that no matter how common, a pokémon is always special. He quietly returned the Sentret, put the pokeball in his pocket and walked away with his head down not even listening to what his Dad was saying.
Going to his room, and he was thankful that he had a room of his own. Earlier he shared a room with Percy but now that Bill and Charlie had moved out, Percy had taken Bills old room. Laying on his bed, Ron put the pokeball under his pillow, Ron stared at the ceiling. A lot of unpleasant thoughts came into his head, maybe his parents didn't think he was good enough for a better pokémon, maybe his parents didn't think he was responsible enough. He shoved those uncomfortable thoughts aside and reasoned. This was purely a monetary decision. His parents did not have much money so getting a flashy starter was a no go.
Only a few days were left before Hogwarts, Ron just heard that Fred and George were getting an Evee as their second pokémon. He once again felt stressed, ugly thoughts reared its head but his dad noticing his stress placed a hand on his shoulders. This action alone was enough to calm him down. Out of all the members of his family, Ron felt that his dad was the one who got him the best. They didn't talk much because his dad was always busy but his dad made sure to take out sometime every week to spend some time with Ron. Ron and his Dad would spend time in the garage tinkering with whatever new gadget his Dad had acquired. Since most of his family were always busy doing their own thing, Ron cherished the time he spent with his Dad. They didn't talk much, but his dad had an aura of quiet calmness around him which Ron wished he would be able to implicate as he grew older.
On the train Ron was thrilled that he had stumbled upon Harry sitting alone in a compartment. he was so excited on meeting the Harry Potter that even before introducing himself, he had remarked about Harrys scar which obviously Harry did not like. Before he could apologize and introduce himself, the twins had barged in and scared the Arceus out of him with a spinarak.
It took him a few moments to get himself together. Before he could try to introduce himself again, he had spotted a Houndour which was Harrys pokémon. He could not believe it. The boy-who-lived with a dark type pokémon. He again had a knee-jerk reaction and had insulted the pokémon which resulted in Harry sitting quietly ignoring him.
A few days later Ron with a cooler head would agree that Harry was right to be unhappy with him. Ron had no right to insult another person's pokémon. He wasn't a blood purist or one of those pure bloods bigots, who thought they were better than others.
Before he could introduce himself again, he was interrupted a second time by the door opening and two girls walking in. They wanted to sit with Harry and him. He had immediately refused, not because he disliked them but mostly because he didn't want to share Harrys time, but Harry had accepted. Of course, he would accept. It was the gracious thing to do and there was plenty of space in the compartment. But it had happened just as Harry had feared. The girls had started talking to Harry and Ron had become side-lined as Harry was still angry about the houndour.
Again, Ron didn't get a chance to introduce himself as a pokémon came barging in the compartment followed by another student.
Frankly Ron was intimidated by these new additions to the compartment. They all had powerful pokémon, wore nice looking clothes and talked all proper and Harry was quickly becoming friends with them. He just sat quietly in a corner and listened to the other people talk. Harry did not at all seem ignorant about pokémon as his mom had suggested. His houndour knew way too many attacks and Harry had fought in real pokémon battles.
Harry and him had made up after candy cart arrived. Harry had even offered to share his candy with Ron, which obviously meant that they were friends. At first Ron was jealous when he saw Harry pull out frankly a ridiculous amount of money from his pocket but when Harry offered to share, all was forgotten.
Malfoy had come and gone. Ron had heard about the Malfoys from his father. They were a bad lot. His dad would often complain about his job to his mom, saying how Lucius Malfoy was creating problems for him at work. Hearing the junior Malfoy talk was aggravating. He had insulted everyone in the compartment. However before Ron could jump up and defend himself, Susan Bones had already sent him on his way. Ron wanted to laugh knowing the fact that Malfoy was searching for Harry Potter, while Harry Potter was sitting right here!
Another buck-tooth, know it all girl had also barged into their compartment. She was bossy, lectured them and talked rather rudely. Thankfully Harry had not invited her into their compartment as well. Honestly the girl was a nightmare and Ron hoped that he was not in the same house as her.
When the train arrived at Hogwarts, Ron intended to stick with Harry but they had gotten separated in the confusion and excitement at the train station. He had gotten on the boat with three other kids and only then saw Harry on the boat with Neville, Susan and Hannah. He instantly felt a pang of sadness. He was in the same compartment as Harry and had failed to become his friend. Harry had already made his first friends at Hogwarts and Ron wasn't one. He had blown his chance. He was awed at seeing Hogwarts along with other students.
When they arrived at the alcove for sorting, Ron had mistakenly said that they would have to fight a Snorlax for sorting. In hindsight Ron realized that was very stupid. He had heard so from the twins and they were always jesting around him. Some of the first-year students had started panicking. And Harry had chided him. Ron much to his horror realized that Harry didn't even know his real name. He had called him "Ronnie-kins Weasel" for Arceus sake. Ron as angry both at Harry and then at Malfoy for needling him constantly. But he got some vindictive. joy in Harry rejecting Malfoys offer of friendship. As usual, it was only later that Ron would realize that Harry didn't know his name, because he had never managed to introduced himself in the train.
The sorting was a mixed bag for Ron, He sighed when the buck tooth girl was sorted in Gryffindor and was happy when Harry was sorted into Gryffindor. He was sorted into Gryffindor himself. He had met a giant Slowking when the crown was placed on his head. The slowking prattled on something about loyalty or bravery. Ron didn't pay much attention. He was hungry and tired and excited. He wasn't even surprised when the walls of the great hall shouted Gryffindor. Like it wasn't obvious. He was a Weasley, where else would he go.
His brothers clapped and welcomed him to the Gryffindor table. He wanted to sit next to Harry but places next to him were already occupied. That didn't bother Ron much. Now that they were in Gryffindor, surely, they would become the best of friends. Instead Ron concentrated on the food. There was so much of it and everything tasted so good.
The first week of Hogwarts was unlike anything Ron had experienced in is young life. Being home schooled up till now, Ron had lived a mostly non regimented life. Ron hated waking up early in the morning and running for breakfast. He hated living his life on a schedule. The classes were long and boring. And his mission of becoming friends with Harry Potter was not going well. Harry always sat in the front rows of classes and sat with Susan and Hannah during meals. Ron had hoped that now that the girls were sorted into Hufflepuff Harry wouldn't associate with them any longer. Didn't he know that Hufflepuffs were duffers and losers. The house of the leftovers. He had tried to tell this to Harry once. Even invited him to sit with the Gryffindors at the Gryffindor table. But Harry had glared at him and told him to go away. Thanks, Arceus, that Ron had not called them duffers and losers in front of Harry. Even after classes Harry would insist on doing his homework instead of hanging out with Ron. Harry Potter was turning out to be not very fun. Sure, he was a great trainer and his houndour was powerful, but Harry was not fun. Meanwhile Ron had his own problems to deal with. The teachers had already started giving homework and Ron was having to study however reluctantly. Malfoy was a pain in the ass and would always taunt Ron in the hallways or in the great hall. Ron gave back as good as he got, but he would loved to have more support in his arguments with Malfoy. He had made friends with Dean and Seasmus, but they kept out of his verbal battles with Malfoy. One thing Ron had noticed was that Malfoy would always shy away from their confrontations whenever Harry appeared. It made Ron laugh thinking that Malfoy was scared of Harry.
Harry and Neville had invited Ron to training on Sunday but Ron had passed on it. He was going to sleep on Sundays. Thus, passed Ron's first week at Hogwarts. His mission to make friends with Harry Potter was still ongoing. But everyday it seemed less important.
Draco Malfoy
Draco Malfoy had lived a lavish life. All his life he never wanted for anything. His house was a manor with lots of rooms, rich furnishings, and a large expansive garden. His dad was a powerful figure in the ministry and was friends with the minister and other important people Draco didn't bother remembering. His mother was a Black and she was a powerful and beautiful woman in her own right. His mother had assured him that Draco would become the black heir upon reaching his majority. Draco was sure that his parents loved him because they showered him with expensive gifts and never et his any needs unfulfilled. He was friends with other pureblood kids who were a part of respectable society.
His father would never shy away from his thoughts and often expressed in front of Draco how the ministry's and Dumbledores policies were ruining their society. The mudbloods from East Albion were a stain on West Albion. His dad would often say that the mudbloods would try to introduce their new ideas in their world. And good honest purebloods were losing money because Dumbledore would bend over backwards to accommodate these mudbloods. Mudbloods who had no knowledge of pokémon would come into their world and pollute it with their ideas such as inclusion and open economy and equal rights for humans and pokémon. Mudbloods didn't deserve pokémon and they were taking pokémon away from the good, honest, hardworking pure bloods.
His mom on the other hand would always advise him to listen to his father but form his own opinions. She would say that while mudbloods were a bane to the society, they were a necessary requirement, to do all the menial jobs. She would advise Draco to never say the word "mudblood" in polite company.
Draco obviously ignored most of what his mother told him. His father was always right. He didn't understand a lot of what his father would say, but one thing Draco understood that mudbloods were bad and they would ruin everything if not stopped.
Draco was 11 and it was time for Hogwarts. His dad wanted to send him to Durmstrang academy. It was a respectable school and according to his dad did not cater to mudbloods and was not lead by that muggle-lover Dumbledore. His mom had argued that Durmstrang was too far, that Hogwarts was closer and it was tradition and Malfoys did not go against tradition. His dad had relented. Draco did not care either way. He just wanted to own a pokémon and start training.
Draco was begging his parents for his own pokémon since he was 8. It was the only time that his parents had not acquiesced to his wishes. His dad would have agreed but his mom was firm that he first pokémon would be a starter from Ollivanders. His dad had promised him to get his starter from one of his contacts, a starter worthy of a Malfoy. He wouldn't have to go to Ollivanders like a commoner. It wasn't like Draco hadn't been around pokémon. There were plenty of fliers in the manor. There were a few mail hoothoots, a few pidgeots and even his fathers Scizor, Shiftry and Zangoose. He would often ride the Pidgeots, thought his mom would berate him every time he would fly high, so he stuck close to the ground. His fathers pokémon creeped him out, so he kept his distance from them.
It was time for Hogwarts. He had the best clothes money could buy, the best trunk, the best equipment and an exotic starter. His father had gotten him a skorupi from his contacts in Sinnoh. His dad had advised him to train his skorupi carefully and diligently. Skorupi evolved in Drapion which were very powerful pokémon. Draco couldn't wait to brag to his friends and see their faces. Greg and Vince had geodudes. Hah!...
The train was the first time Draco had met a mudblood. Draco was sitting with his friends, Greg, Vince, Theo and Maximillian when a buck toothed, bushy haired girl had barged in the compartment asking about a cyndaquil. She was loud and rude and annoying. She had the audacity to say that just because she had a pet meowth, she knew all about pokémon. She had prattled on and on about decorum and manners and all that, while being completely uncouth and mannerless herself. Draco had told her to get out. He had half a mind to sick Skorupi on her and her pathetic Azurill. This had confirmed his fathers words in Dracos mind. Mudbloods were dirty and pathetic.
Draco had searched for Harry Potter on the train. His father had told him to make friends with Harry Potter and if possible, guide him away from the ideals of the muggle loving fool Dumbledore and that Harry Potter supporting their cause would be a boon for the purebloods.
He was unable to find Potter on the train, but had spotted him in the alcove as they were waiting for the sorting to begin.
Potter had insulted the weasel. Draco laughed out loud. "Ronniekins-Weasel", he would have to remember that. Draco had offered his friendship to Potter but Potter had turned him down rather rudely.
Draco was flabbergasted. He was a Malfoy; Potter should have been honoured to be his friends. Instead he chose to be friends with the Longbottom, bones and Abbott. In hindsight Draco would realize, they were not a bad group of people to be friends with.
Draco had already started plotting to retaliate against Potter. He was sorted into Slytherin with all his friends. His father would be proud. Everyone in Slytherin was respectful him as they should have been. Classes were easy. His mom had already taught him much of what to was expected of first years. Greg and Vince still hung around him all the time. They woke him up for classes and carried his books around the castle. It was getting back at Harry Potter that was turning out to be more difficult than Draco expected. Potter was rarely ever alone and Draco had trouble spotting him around the castle. He was always with Longbottom on his way to classes or surrounded by people in the great hall during meals.
Draco wouldn't admit it ever but Potter also kinda scared him. After his performance in Prof. Flitwicks class, Draco was apprehensive of both Potter and his houndour. Draco had heard from his father plenty of times that dark types were difficult to control and were dangerous pokémon. Zabinis sneasel was proof enough of the fact. The pokémon barely tolerated Zabini and even Max's murkrow was impulsive and prone to tantrums. However, Potters Houndour followed him around like a puppy.
Even though Draco couldn't reach Potter. Belittling and taunting the Weasley was a lot of fun. Draco sometimes wished Potter would come to the aid of his fellow Gryffindor but Potter was busy minding his own business. It was Saturday night when Draco heard that Potter was holding some kind of a training session with his friends. He scoffed…. As if… What did Potter know about pokémon? Apparently, they were also asking around in other houses if people were willing to train with them. No self-respecting Slytherin would lower themselves to train with Potter.
So, he was seething when he learnt the next day that Daphne Greengrass and Tracey Davis had attended Potters training session. He confronted them in the common room. While Davis sighed away, Greengrass insulted him in front of the common room, asking to mind his own business and it wasn't Dracos job to monitor who they associated with.
Seething Draco returned to bed. He had a shit list and Greengrass and Potter had just made it to the top of the list. He had enough of pussyfooting around Potter. He was going to humiliate Potter and teach him a lesson about what happens when someone messes with a Malfoy. Greengrass would come next.
Daphne Greengrass
Daphne was born a female in a world where being a male was of paramount importance. However even if Daphne's dad was disappointed on not having a male heir, he treated Daphne no different. Daphne got the same training any male heir would get. Her dad made sure that she knew from a very young age, that as a female head of the house the world would be ready to judge her, challenge and question her every action. Vultures would always be circling around her to take advantage of her gender. Daphne was to show no weakness and give no inch to her detractors. Thus, from a young age Daphne had developed a rather cold and aloof attitude. This allowed her to study people while shielding her own thoughts and personality. Give no inch, her father had said and that is what Daphne would do. Daphne was ambition and hard working. She would take this misogynist and sexist society and turn it on it heads. Let people underestimate her, she thought. Her victory would be all the sweeter for it.
She had two friends growing up. Tracey Davis and her sister Astoria. Tracey and her father were business mates and that is how Tracey and her met. Compared to her both Astoria and Tracey had rather upbeat attitudes. In the beginning Daphne found it a chore to hang out with Tracey. She would rather be studying or working on her lessons, but Tracey's persistence wore her down. Soon they became best friends. And Daphne realized that having friends was a lot of fun. She appreciated Tracey's company and shared all her secrets and ambitions with Tracey. Despite Tracey's outgoing gregarious attitude, Daphne came to realize that Tracey could be subtle, cunning and clever when the situation called for it.
Daphne wanted to become an ice type pokémon master. Her family was predominantly a business family. They worked in the import and export business and managing the family business had made their family very wealthy. However, Daphne had ambitions of her own. She was always enamoured by her great aunt Astrid Greengrass. Astrid Greengrass was the black sheep of the Greengrass family. She was the younger sister of Daphnes grandfather and was a late baby and thus Even though she was Daphnes great aunt, she was rather young.
After Hogwarts instead of marrying into a family and increasing the family influence as her station in life required. She had chosen to defy both her parents and her elder brother and run away to Johto to become a battling trainer. She had become a powerful trainer and an ice type expert. It was rumoured that Lorelei the ice type elite four of Kanto had apprenticed under her. Even though she was the black sheep of the family, Daphne could see the pride in her fathers and grandfathers eyes when they talked about Aunt Astrid.
She had come by to visit a few times over the years and Daphne loved her ice type pokémon, especially her Froslass and Alolan Ninetails. They were so elegant and beautiful and Daphne couldn't help but admire them. She was the one who had inspired Daphne to become an ice type expert.
Tracey would often joke that her obsession with ice type pokémon and her cold and aloof attitude, she would make the perfect ice-queen.
Years later Daphne would reminisce about the origins of her title. "Ice-Queen-Greengrass."
It was time for Hogwarts and somehow Astoria who was not even attending this year was way more excited than Daphne. Daphne meanwhile was anxious about her visit to Ollivanders. It was rumoured that Ollivander would pick the perfect pokémon for an individual. Surely for Daphne that would be an ice type pokémon. Tracey and her parents had decided to accompany the Greengrass family for the shopping trip. They had decided to delay Ollivanders till the end of the trip and Daphne was perfectly fine with it. Her stomach was tied in knots with stress. Finally, the trip was done and they had entered Ollivanders. After prattling on for some time that Daphne was too stresses to listen too, Mr. Ollivander handed her a pokeball. With shivering hands Daphne released the pokémon within and lo and behold, it was a Snorunt, a female Snorunt. Daphne was so happy that she could scream in happiness. For a moment Daphne forgot her composure and hugged both the pokemon and Mr. Ollivander. The pokémon was not impressed and blew freezing hair on Daphnes face causing Daphne to break out of her happy trance. Daphne embarrassingly released Mr. Ollivander and glared at Tracey which meant "Talk about this and you die." Her parents meanwhile were busy laughing at her predicament.
Tracey got a rather excitable pikachu that was somehow even more energetic than Tracey. Mr. Ollivander really knew to pick the perfect pokémon for people. Daphne in her mind vowed to never speak ill of Mr. Ollivander again and defend him always.
Hogwarts was just as Daphne had expected. It was enormous and glorious and Daphne and Tracey had both been sorted into Slytherin as they had expected. Her dorm mates were mostly annoying. Lillith Moon and Sophie Roper hung out together and were always giggling about boys and make up and what not. Meanwhile Pansy Parkinson was busy swooning over her future husband Draco Malfoy. Millicent Bulstrode was mostly quiet and followed Pansy around like a puppy.
Draco Malfoy was a major annoyance. On the very first night and every night since, Draco would try to assert his "dominance" over the Slytherins. Most of the Slytherins would just humour him and listen to his showboating, but Daphne and Tracey had better things to do than listen to Malfoy brag about the greatness of his father.
The first surprise of Hogwarts was meeting Harry Potter in the very first class. Harry Potter was intelligent and had a houndour that was basically a giant puppy. He was way more knowledgeable about pokémon than any first year had the right to be. Daphne was interested and just for a moment her mask had slipped and Tracey had noticed. She would not let Daphne live this down.
Daphne spend the next few days collecting information on Harry Potter. She had heard of his Houndour's performance in Biology class from a few gossiping Ravenclaws. She obviously did not tell Tracey as she would not hear the end of it, but the mystery of Harry Potter deepened. Potter would spend most of his time with his friends Neville Longbottom, Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott. She had noticed Dracos Malfoy pathetic attempts to engage in verbal banter with Potter, but Potter always ignored. The foursome seemed too busy with their own thing than to pay attention to Malfoys nonsense.
She was familiar with Bones, Abbott and Longbottom at least tangentially. They had met a few times over the years in various functions and such so when Susan Bones invited her and Tracey for a training session led by Potter she was intrigued. This was a golden moment to collect intelligence. She would think for a few moments and agree, just to appear mysterious. But much to her chagrin Tracey immediately agreed on both their behalf.
Daphne was looking forward to the training session, just so that she would learn more about Potter and not because she had "the hots" for him as Tracey had put it. She did not have "the hots" for anyone.
They had met up with the rest of the people outside the great hall. It was clear that Potter wasn't expecting this many people to show up. Daphne was surprised there weren't more. Potter had gained quite some notoriety in the first week and there were rumours that he was even collaborating on a research paper with some of the professors.
With the informal greetings and the hesitancy to lead it was clear to Daphne that Potter was clearly unused to attention and apparently also pure blood traditions. He was the Potter heir surely; he would have been better trained in traditions. It was perplexing to Daphne because he clearly had pokémon training. His houndour appeared way too self-assured to be a regular starter. He was well trained and powerful.
Draco had tried to spread rumours in Slytherin that the houndour was weak and sickly and that is why it accepted Potter as its master. But looking at Houndour up close it was clear it was anything but that. The houndour was very healthy and had an excellent relationship with Potter, so much so that very little verbal communication was required between the two. Potter guided Houndour just with looks and nudges something she had only seen Aunt Astrid do before. Malfoy was clearly full of shit.
As the training session progressed, Daphne could see Harry geeting more and more confident. He was clearly in his element. It annoyed Daphne that Harry made them run around like muggles, but his advice sound. She remembered Aunt Astrid training alongside her pokémon. She hated robes and dress shoes. She observed Su Li and Susan Bones it was clear that they were better dressed for the activity. She made a mental note to approach them later and ask them where they got the exercise clothes. She observed the others around her and it was clear she was no the only one struggling with the physical exercises. Pretty much everyone other than Harry himself was struggling. And Harry was doing at least five times the amount of exercises.
Harry Potter was fit. Daphne thought with a blush. And as fate would have it, Tracey caught her again blushing and staring at Harry. She was fuming at herself and gave Tracey her patented glare.
After physical training they proceeded to practise moves and once again Harry surprised them all with his deep knowledge on moves and relationship between pokémon and trainers. He also admitted to learning this information yesterday, so maybe the rumours about him collaborating with professors on a research paper?
She was again surprised that Harry did not know about the pokémon encyclopaedia. There were glaring gaps in Harrys knowledge of their world. It was like one second, he spoke like a seasoned pokémon trainer and then the next he was as clueless as a muggleborn.
Harry helped them individually as they practised their moves offering helpful tips along the way. She observed his houndour who she learnt was named Nero off practising on his own, further leading credence to her theory that Nero was far from an ordinary pokémon. Few starter pokémon have the discipline to train diligently on their own.
They also practised some battling when Prof. Hagrid was ready to supervise them. Apparently, Harry was also on first name basis with the professor. Would mysteries never cease. She battled Padma Patil and her Staryu. Even though she and Snorunt lost, she was satisfied with her performance. Prof. Hagrid even praised her performance.
The climax of the evening was however the battle between Prof. Hagrid's Arcanine Fang and Harry and Nero. Arcanine batteled unassisted and Daphne was amazed by the amount of competency Harry and Nero displayed. Despite lacking in decades of experience compared to Fang, Harry and Nero held their own atleast for a while. It was the most thrilling battle Daphne had watched live. Their tenacity even in the face of a clearly losing battle was very admirable.
After practice the group had decided to meet again, twice a week on Saturdays and Sundays. Daphne agreed eagerly, clearly because she was only interested in the betterment of her pokémon and not in Harry Potter, not matter what Tracey was implying. The group also decided to meet up in the library as their schedule permitted to work on their homework.
Daphne was the happy mood for the whole day was spoiled by Malfoy as soon as she and Tracey entered the common room. Malfoy had the audacity to dictate terms with them. Order them around. He may be a Malfoy but she as also a Greengrass. She berated and embarrassed Malfoy in front of the everyone in the common room. Frankly she had been rather kind to the blonde asshole. She could have been way more cruel had Tracey not pulled her away. Daphne heard the blonde shit muttering something about getting revenge on Potter as he sulked back to his room. Daphne was sure Malfoy would do something bombastic like challenge Harry to a battle in the middle of the Great Hall. Well, it was his funeral. She had seen what Harry and his Houndour were capable of and Daphne was sure they could challenge a third year and still win.
Despite Malfoy soring her mood, thinking about the day still bought a smile on Daphnes face. And since had she stared thinking of Potter as Harry. Welp! Looks like she has more friends now. Atleast Astoria would be proud of her.
I hope you liked my depiction of Ron Weasley. Ron was my favourite character from the cannon, not because he was the most heroic or the most intelligent, but because he was the most real. Rowling wrote Ron as a real teen, most of the other characters Harry included were stereotypes, molded to fit the role, they were supposed to. For me Ron was the most real, and the one who experienced the most growth. I also identified with Ron a little bit, because just like Ron, I come from a middle-class family and attended a boarding school full of rich snobs.
Draco Malfoy is also a pretty complicated character and I will try to address his personality but he will be a dick. There is no pity for Draco Malfoy from me.
Daphne Greengrass is more fanon than cannon because cannon doesn't mention her at all. I still tried to give her some personality and some background. More will be explored in future chapters.
Harrys other friends such as Susan and Neville will be explored in the main story itself.
Harry is better than his year mates simply because he has spent more time with Nero and a part of my head-cannon is that pokémon become more intelligent the more time they spend around humans. His year mates will catch up and Harry himself will continue to get better but Harry is not and will not be an overpowered monster taking down Lance and other experienced pokémon trainers.
There will be no level system and when I talk about levels it will mostly be in relation to experience and not a specific number. For the pokémon themselves I am going for a mixture of anime and games. In such that no pokémon is really weak and with the current mixture of tactics and foresight even a seemingly ordinary pokémon can beat a more powerful pokémon. However, this will have its limits, a new pikachu will not beat a trained and experienced Dragonite. No Way!
Evolution will also be like the games. Pokémon will evolve slowly atleast while they are in Hogwarts because they gain very little battle experience. Dragon pokémon and pokémon that evolve slowly in games will evolve slowly. Also, I will subscribe to the bleach theory that "the soul evolves faster when it is mortal danger".
And Finally, there will be no legendary pokémon shenanigans in my story. No trainer will catch legendary pokémon. Legendary pokémon will be just that, Legendary! One might show up here and there but no trainer will own one, there will be no training from a legendary pokémon. None of those. I hope you enjoy my story. Please read and if possible leave reviews and subscribe.