Author's Rant- Ahoy mates! This is a new fic that has been bugging me for quite a few days, so I ended up putting it up. I know I should focus on DIMENSIONS first, but believe me, this one was seriously bugging me.
Alright so here it goes, HARRY POTTER franchise belongs to JKR, Bloomsbury publishing and Warner Bros...not me. This one line goes for all the future chapters as I won't be putting it every time. Now keep your lawyers off my peaceful threshold.
General Info for the fic-
Starts- First year but from age 13 onwards. Meaning first years will be starting from 13 years of age.
Main Characters- Harry Potter and a few...revealed with time.
Inspired from- None. I know there are quite a few fics like this one, but this one is solely mine (although part of it can be traced from Oblivion by ChaosEmperorNex).
It IS my fic, so things WILL go my way, but your suggestions are valued and can be put up if I do find it interesting and employable. As always, I am habitual of writing things through. Therefore this fic is also well written in my notes.
So if I am late in publishing a chapter or the time intervals are long, then I am not having a writer's block or have lost my muse, it might be because it's life and it gets busier by the days. Also, please bear with my spelling and Grammatical mistakes because neither is English my first language nor do I have a BETA reader.
Out with my rant, Here you go!
"I am Talking"
'I am Thinking'
Spells
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
They say I am a man lost in memories, they forget they haven't given me anything else either.
-R-Kade
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Silence of the Winters
-by Dev Sagittarius Black
~~Chapter 1: Arrival of the Cold Prince~~
Platform nine and three-quarters, the legendary platform built by the Goblins and Dwarves in the early 19th century when wizards and witches of Great Britain caught up with the knowledge of steam trains that worked wonders in transporting large groups from one place to another. The point of all of it was that, it was way safer than side along apparition or the thousands of portkeys that they had to procure just for the students.
There was one problem, they needed a starting and an ending point. They just can neither open up a train in the middle of an alley way as they had done with The Leaky Cauldron, acting up as the gateway to the busiest magical alley in Britain: Diagon Alley, nor could they just stop the train at Hogwarts, as even though it was made for students won't it be odd to have a huge train come inside the great hall all of a sudden?
Also there was the problem of accomodation of that big thing on Hogwarts grounds...it was doubtless that students would protest for that.
So in the end a new station was made just for one single magical train which will be having only two stoppages, one at the busiest and oldest station in London, The King's cross Station and the other will be the newly made Hogsmeade Station.
Still they had to somehow bring all their students and yet keep all others out, which meant that another opening portal should be in there which was visible to the knowledgeable people only. Meaning that just like The Leaky Cauldron, this portal too had to be under Fidelius Charm with all of the wizarding world as secret keepers...or just a simple magical portal with muggle repelling and secrecy wards sewed in it.
Yet again, creating a new thing out of scratch at such a busy place, it was a sure thing that they world readily be noticed by the mundane populace and therefore the idea of choosing a new portal instead of creating became more supported.
Finally, the portal chosen was the third pillar out of the four that were between the platforms Nine and Ten, which subsequently led to the naming of the platform as The legendary Platform Nine and Three-quarters.
Over the years, the platform was regularly renovated and new features were added to it like the five floos at the far end of the station or the portkey and apparition points that straightaway landed you on the platform instead of running all the way through the magical barrier.
The third out of the five floos flared a vibrant shade of green and out stepped a boy. The boy was actually not having a single luggage with him and was instead standing there in blue faded jeans, a plain white button down shirt with its sleeves rolled to three-fourths.
His hairs were raven black and combed in a soft pompadour that also managed to reveal the thin lightning bolt scar just above his right eye. His face was completely edgy with the the rich aristocratic look of being blessed with cupid bow lips that had slight uptwist at the ends and thick jawline with mild high cheekbones. But through all of this, the most captivating feature were his Green eyes that were as Green as the glowing emeralds of old and were currently scanning the huge platform.
Finally nodding to himself he strode out of the floo snapping his fingers and clearing off the soot in an almost lazy way as he took in the look of the busy life at the platform what with students and their parents bustling around.
Some chirping excitedly while some were whispering with a strange excited glint in their eyes. Some telling their summer stories while some younger ones looked scared holding their parents tightly who were constantly giving words of encouragement.
The boy ignored all of that and instead took strong purposeful strides with equal gaps between his steps as he walked towards the huge red and black steam engine that was giving out smoke meaning it was ready for departure.
The child wizard entered the compartment and started looking through the open cabins for an empty one. Finding one at the end of the train, he took it and looked around himself getting each and every detail of the cabin ingrained in his brain. Shutting off the door to prevent the noise he went straight to the window seats and sat with a straight yet relaxed posture.
Looking out of the window to see a few families still bustling. One such family was a gaggle of redheads, six, if he counted them right. All had the same clothing sense and were laughing joyously, mostly the twins were laughing and teasing while the others except for that little girl were rolling their eyes and/or grumbling incoherent syllables, the little girl for that matter looked confused between crying or laughing which he deduced was because she was actually upset at being the last one while at the same time laughing at all of her brothers' antics.
Ignoring all of that he pushed his hand in his jeans pocket and pulled out the latest book he was reading, Arithmetical Mysteries for you by Dobenmouse Chillards, opening the dog-eared page he got himself comfortable and started reading it, he loved to solve mysteries...they gave him a completely different sort of thrill.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Take care of my little girl, will you?"
"Ofcourse I will, any other demands?" The answer was accompanied with a roll of grey eyes.
"Yes, one more, leave all your tensions and enjoy everything to the fullest. Make good, lifelong friendships that will always help you no matter what happens."
"You know I am good with friends aunty, plus I will have my group there with me."
" Yes, and that's what I am proud of. Go Suzy, enjoy your year. And beware of attention seekers, they might just befriend you cause you are-"
"I know aunty, I know. They will befriend me because I am the sole niece and family of the Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. We have gone through this for the thousandth time now!"
"I know dearie, but as they say, precaution is better than cure. Now enough of all this, come give your old woman a big hug, so big that neither of us misses each other for the next ten months."
Saying so the older redhead woman hugged the younger one and finally with a forehead kiss, she sent the apple of her eyes off to the place where her little girl would finally become a strong woman. And as much as it hurts, she knew she will miss the bubbly girl every moment from now on. She closed her eyes and gave a silent prayer to whichever god was listening, to protect her child from all the harm and danger and turned away towards the apparition points.
.
"This time it's your turn."
"Yeah, I know, I still don't understand why they can't sit with us."
"You know them, they are our sisters but they also have family duties."
The two girls sighed before the blonde headed one gently knocked on the closed cabin door and waited patiently for any voice.
They waited
And waited
And...waited...but no voice was heard.
"Do you think it's empty?" The Blonde one asked her redhead friend who shrugged in response and knocked a bit louder. Still no response came and so they decided to peep in.
Sliding the door open, they saw a boy, their age wearing blue faded jeans and White button down shirt with one of his leg crossed over the other as he read a book. The opening of the door might have roused him up as he looked up from his book and the most alluring emerald eyes Susan Bones had ever seen, landed on her...scrutinizing her worth.
Finally after what seemed like eternity to her did he speak one single word that was so cold yet smooth at the same time that it chilled her bones yet comforted her both at the same time, "Yes?"
That sound seemed to brake the two girls out of their trance as they flushed beet red and spoke in a hurried manner, "we have-" "can we-" then they both stopped and looked at each other before the redhead nodded and took a stand "We have been looking for an empty cabin for quite some time. This one looks as empty as we could find on this journey, can you please share it with us?" She said in a firm tone and tried to exude confidence.
The boy shrugged his shoulders "sure" he said and saw them give a sigh of relief as they came in dragging their trunks behind them, the blonde had an owl with her that was currently sleeping.
Susan took the other window seat and her childhood friend Hannah Abott sat beside her, with a friendly smile on their faces.
" Susan Bones, sorry for disturbing you and thank you for allowing us settle in with you, and she is my friend, Hannah Abott." Susan said nodding towards Hannah who nodded as a show of faithfulness.
The boy nodded slowly, "Harry, pleased to make your acquaintance. And don't worry about me. Here, this will give us all the privacy we need." Saying so the boy flicked his wand and muttered something creating an all to familiar bubble around him. The same bluish privacy bubble that her aunt used when she was deeply engrossed in some case.
Susan and Hannah both looked at each other before shrugging, after all they do respect other's privacy.
.
Harry was deeply engrossed in his book reading through a paragraph on magical numbers and why they were so important when he felt a tingle from the privacy bubble. The tingle meant that the one who had casted it had known of how to rouse him up from his studies in a calm manner instead of just bursting the bubble by stepping in or poking it.
He looked up to see both the girls watching him a bit uneasily and removed the bubble, quirking his left eyebrow simultaneously.
"The driver announced that it was just thirty minutes before we reach the station, I though it better to rouse you since we still have to change in school robes." Susan said with the same firm tone and Harry looked out to see that it was indeed dark outside, which means he missed the food cart and thus has been hungry for the past 7 hours.
The sole wizard of the cabin nodded and dog-eared his current page before pushing it in his bottomless pocket and moving out towards where he supposed the boys toilet would be.
.
Harry re-entered the cabin when he got the inhabitants' permission and saw both the girls had changed to the Hogwarts black robes too. It was now just ten minutes left and so, opening his book again would be a waste. Therefore he instead chose to sit quietly and observe everything.
That was when he saw Susan fishing out a fistful of candies towards him, as he quirked his left eyebrow again she blushed before answering, "you were busy reading your book, so instead we bought it for you. Although its of no use as we will reach Hogwarts pretty soon, Aunty says it's still an hour from the station, so if you are feeling hungry, you can have these."
Harry knew that the girls were giving this without any desire for getting anything back, still he politely declined them for two reasons, one that they had bought it and so it was completely theirs and second, no matter the age, he was certainly not going to take eatables from someone he had met just a few hours ago.
So instead he looked out of the window at the intense darkness and the passing flashes of lamps or different sources of illumination.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
They reached the point where 11 small boats were floating in still water, each having a lamp hanging on a wooden stand that helped in faint visibility in and around the boat.
"No more tha' fer in a boat!" The half giant said aloud as he took one complete boat all to himself.
The students started hobbling in the damp Stoney dockyard to get one boat or the other. Someone tapped him from behind and he saw Susan and Hannah looking uneasily at him "Err...Harry, we have to sit with someone else. So we will see you later?" She asked hesitantly.
Harry gave a non committal shrug, it wasn't as if he was dying to meet them, he would be perfectly happy to just be left alone to his devices, but speaking that aloud to someone who had done nothing but respected his privacy was most surely not a good thing.
Therefore when he saw the two move away towards a boat with two girls, he himself took up a boat with a bushy brown haired girl and protruding teeth, a nervously shaking boy with baby fat holding his big brown toad and a petite girl with her features depicting her Asian descent, sitting proudly exuding confidence even though Harry could see that she too was as nervous as others.
"Hermione Granger, pleased to meet you, and he is Neville, Neville Longbottom." The bushy haired witch said and the boy bobbed his head a bit frantically as the boat gave a lurch.
"E'erione in? A'right! FORWARD!" The half giant boomed and all the boats started moving in tandem with their huge guide's one.
"Su Li, from the ancient and noble house of Li, the pleasure is mine." The Asian girl said smiling.
He wasn't in mood to entertain them but since they stared him he spoke out his name, "Harry".
"Just Harry? Isn't there a surname?" Hermione asked him.
"There is." He said and without any thing else, started staring above, in the starry sky.
There was a beat of uncomfortable silence, not for Harry mind you, but for others which was broken again by Hermionie.
"Err, okay, which house do you think you two will be in? I have been asking everyone, and so far Gryffindor sounds best. It was also the house of Albus Dumbledore, the greatest wizard since Merlin the great. Although Ravenclaw sounds good too. Neville here says that both his parents were in Gryffindor so he would try for it, although he is not very sure of it." Harry was surprised that she was able to say all of that in one breath and still sit calmly...well not calmly, she was having an excited gleam in her chocolate brown eyes but she wasn't panting for air so yes, calmly.
"I think I will be in Ravenclaw, we have been in the house for many generations with the other houses every two or three generations." Su said and yet again they looked towards Harry who just shrugged "Haven't thought."
"Ye all see tha' bridge o'er there? Tha's the point after which you'll see yer first glimpse of Hogwarts. DOWN!" He boomed the last word and ducked as the huge bridge swept over. And although it was only him who needed to duck, everyone else still followed suite.
The fog around them cleared a bit and Harry's eyes widened as he felt the ancient Hogwarts wards take him in. The ambient magic of the four leylines with the magical concentration of over a thousand years, it was enough for anyone who had a bit of magical sensitivity to guess that what was about to come was a huge magical palace with its walls thrumming with raw arcane magicks.
And true to the Giant's words, the huge castle came in view with all its turrets and towers standing proudly, declaring themselves as an unconquerable palace that has fought with time and came out as the unquestionable winner. The towers with their windows lighted up giving off a majestic view as the castle bathed in pure unadulterated moon light.
They slowly reached the dockyard and stepped out of the little boats which Harry was sure we're just working on magic as the planks looked soiled through the years of taking students to and maybe fro bundled up near the huge gates and the man raised his hand, his palm as big as a professional basketball, and knocked the door three times.
The door opened and an old witch wearing green robes that somehow reflected the lights thrown on her by the torches and lamps came out, she had a large black pointed hat and looked down on the students with a stern expression, her lips thinned as she saw a few students from her rectangular spectacles, in the end she nodded and thanked the giant as he told her about the number of students.
The old witch closed her eyes and prepared herself for what Harry thought to be a well practiced speech, "Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and wizardry, I am professor Minerva McGonagall, the deputy headmistress and transfiguration professor. Now moments later you will be inside and will be sorted into one of the four houses, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff, the sorting will be done according to your characters, your interests, your desires and your way of thinking."
"Your house, will be your home and your housemates your family for the next very important seven years of your life. You will have time for everything and wether it be your free period or after curfew, you will be staying in your common rooms, where you and your housemates can mingle and share any and everything."
"You will also be awarded points for your good deeds and points will be deducted if you manage to find yourself in sticky situations where you are breaking school rules. Total points will be tallied up and the house with maximum points will be awarded the house cup. So I would suggest that you don't try to lose points deliberately. Now, wait here for a few minutes, and smarten yourselves before you are taken in to face the whole of school including your seniors, the teachers and Headmaster Dumbledore himself." Saying so she walked inside and closed the door again.
Two things that Harry derived from this situation were, first, this lady was not to be crossed and second, not to be trusted either. The "headmaster Dumbledore himself' part was said with so much of a hero-worship that he was sure she would blurt out any and everything he did to the headmaster and wood never stand against THE Albus Dumbledore.
"So Weasley, not here with your master? Did he not like you enough to take his pet with him?" A voice drawled behind him and Harry turned a bit to see a pale faced, bleach blonde hair boy with silverish-blue eyes and an 'I-am-way-better-than-you' smirk. The person beside him, a tall lamky, red haired boy with a smattering of freckles and something black on his nose growled, apparently he was that particular 'Weasley' whom the pale face boy had taunted.
"Watch it Malfoy, you don't know where you are, your daddy won't help you here." Weasley growled
"Oh yeah? Trying to sound promising? Hollow threats you moron, my Father is on the board of governors and Minister's personal friend, just one call and you lot would be like a thrown dish wash rag, not that you are any better anyways." He drawled and laughed alongwith two huge buffons who looked more gorillas than human.
Weasley growled again and pulled his wand out glaring Malfoy who immediately did the same, but the supposed duel came to an abrupt end as the doors reopened and McGonagall cleared her throat in an irritated manner, glaring the two boys.
Harry walked inside behind a sandy haired boy and saw his surrounding. He had to admit it, Hogwarts was good in its own sort of eccentric way. It was not the majestic Beauxbatons Palace or like his residence but it was good. The Huge hall had four large tables that were filled with students, the ceiling was charmed to show the clear night sky which thanks to the bushy witch he came to know was done by Rowena Ravenvlaw herself. There were large torches placed at regular intervals and ever-burning floating candles lined the walls and the ceiling.
There was another table that was present on a raised Dias which had the professors seated on it. There was just one seat empty beside the golden throne on which sat The Supreme Mugwump, Grand Sorcerer, Chief Warlock and the Headmaster of Hogwarts School - Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.
Who also happened to be a very cunning politician meddling with everyone's life and yet looking like the friendliest human on earth. He was currently sitting with his overflowing silvery white beard, wearing purple robe littered with moons and stars and was smiling at everyone looking down from his half- moon spectacles covering his twinkling blue eyes.
Harry didn't knew how but soon enough they were standing in front of a three legged stool with a tattered looking black hat sitting on it. The crevice just above the rim of the hat opened and in a grumpy voice the hat started singing,
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 folk 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!
(*Taken from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone)
After finishing his song the hat bowed to each of the four tables and fell silent as the students and the teachers clapped. "I will now call out your names and you will come here one-by-one for your sorting." McGonagall said out loudly as she roll-openned the piece of parchment in her hand.
"Abott, Hannah"
Harry saw the blonde girl who was there on the train with him move forward hesitantly, almost as slowly as if she would rather run back than face the sorting. She sat on the stool and the hat was dropped on her head. Ten seconds, that was the whole time the hat took before shouting out, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Bones, Susan."
The redhead who had accompanied him was the next one and Harry was very sure that she would be joining her friend. And like always he was right! It was four seconds this time before Susan Bones have a brilliant smile and joined her friend on the Hufflepuff table.
"Boot, Terry"
.
.
"Patil Padma"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Patil Parvati."
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Potter, Harry."
Everything went to pin-drop silence mode and a hush went throughout the hall as the name was called out. Every student looking forward and in the group of first years to look for the boy.
Harry knew this would happen and that is why he had been determined to just give out his first name and maintain his anonymity as much as he can, maybe the time was up now. Therefore without any further ado, he waved his hand and removed the disillusionment on the Potter and Peverell family crest stitched in his robe just beneath the Hogwarts school crest, and stepped out. He saw the headmaster lean a bit further in his seat and inwardly shook his head at the blatant display of nosing in another's business.
Harry gave a respectful nod to the deputy headmistress and sat down with a regal pose on the wooden three legged stool, the hat was placed on his head, the last thing he saw before his vision was covered was the curious faces of his year mates.
('The Hat's voice in mind')
'Hmm...curious, oh so curious!" A voice sounded in his mind and he knew all his occulomency barriers had crumbled under the hat's penetration power.
'Ofcourse they have Potter, what do you think? I was charmed by the four founders themselves.'
'That's pure lie. You might have been charmed but no one can keep it for that long. You have been instead sewed up in castle wards and therefore using the castle's magic to sustain.'
'As brilliant as ever Potter. I can see many instances in your life where you have used and sharpened your intelligence for example the enhancement ritual. Oh and what is this? A parselmouth? Merlin's beard! Such cunningness...old master Salazar would have begged for you.'
'And...oh MY MERLIN! An elemental?! A bloody elemental in Hogwarts? After so many years? You are full of surprises aren't you Potter?'
'You are not going to tell anything to anyone else.' Harry said forcing his emotions into calming down.
The bloody hat chuckled, 'And what if I do?'
'You won't see the next sunrise...I don't think being burned will help you much.'
The hat chuckled again 'Threats like that...everyone gives me threats like that. But don't you worry Potter. I am laced with secrecy spells, I can't give out anything to anyone else.'
'So was it all?...oh wait, that's not all, is it? No, not at all! You have an eidetic memory! Mistress Rowena's gift. And such love for books. You are not good for Gryffindor, you have bravery but you aren't headfirst into anything. Instead all your steps are well calculated. Aaaand...no, Hufflepuff isn't good either, you are not having 'that' sort of loyalty in you.'
'Confusion-confusion...where to put you? Your cunning-political mind begs for Slytherin and yet it will be a blunder if you are to put anywhere else but Ravenclaw with that level of Bibliophily... Anywhere you want me to put you? Any particular choices?'
'Aren't you the one who is supposed to put me in a house? Why are you asking me?'
'Yes, yes I am the one, but in places where even I am confused it's good to consider other's opinions too.'
'In that case, I too don't have anything to say. Decide whichever you want. Just tell me which one gives more privacy?'
'Both have the same privacy levels.'
'Then anywhere works for me.'
The hat stayed silent for a while and Harry could hear murmurs of being a hatstall.
Finally the voice came back in his head 'You have been a tough one Potter, you have the potential and can become both, an instrument of evil or the embodiment of goodness...use your choices wisely for one can desire great things from you. Better be...'
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Ending note- So, there you have it. The first chapter of this new fix that has been bugging me. Please review! I need reviews to keep going, as they work like fuel for my drafted tractor brain cells. Those who haven't guessed it by now, this is an AU, starting in first year with a cold, elemental, very intelligent WBWL Harry Potter.
Yes, he won't be all supreme, he will train hard, but right now, he is superb. Also, as you can see I haven't given out the house. That's because I can take your help. There's a poll out there on my profile solely for this part. And although I have decided the house in my notes, it can be changed if the reasons are good. Therefore with joined hands I request you to help me out with what house you want him in, and give out just one reason for your choice. Point to be noted, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff are also an option, the story is changeable.
Thanking you for reading the story. And ignoring my spelling and grammatical mistakes.
Waiting for your tasty reviews (even if they are critics...cause I love constructive criticism. Although don't mention two things- spelling mistakes- cause I don't have a spell checker or grammatical errors cause neither is English my first language nor have I got any BETA reader and secondly for the length of the paras...sorry but I am trying to make it look like a novel.)
Regards,
Dev Black