Chapter 2 In Which Cats Get Sorted

"What's going on?" Morwen asked. She picked up the card and made a face. "Oh my, of all the . . . ARGELFRASTER!!" The wizard on the card started to shrink. He dropped his staff and looked down at himself. Before he disappeared from view, he shook a threatening fist at Morwen.

Ron stared at her. "You killet hid?!" he said in amazement.

"I melted him. Unfortunately, it's not the same thing. He'll put himself together in a few days, but he won't . . . come . . . back . . .to . . . this . . . card!" With each word, Morwen gritted her teeth and tore the card up.

"Hey, we didn't even got to look at his stats!" Harry cried.

"He's a wizard from my home, and he's long gone. A dragon ate him years ago. Something tells me that was a present from one of your enemies."

"Oh, great, someone's trying to kill me, again," Harry mumbled

"Well, actually, someone was trying to take all your magic. Don't worry; we won't let that happen."

"But by bas I sneesing?" Ron sniffed.

"You know, that was odd. The only other creatures I saw react to an absorbing spell with an allergy attack are dragons."

"Dragons? Dragons are ildeagald."

"Well-"

"Let's not switch subjects now," Hermione broke in. "You're saying that wizard in the card tried to steal Harry's magic?"

"Exactly. That staff he was holding absorbs any magic that happens to be nearby. Those who are born with magic find it quite uncomfortable."

"So, how do I get it back?"

"It'll grow back. We just need to make sure nobody takes way too much of your magic. Tell you what, to make reparation for that frog, would you like some cider?"

"Oh, that's very nice of you, but-"

Harry stopped as he saw Morwen pull out a whole jug of cider out of her robe's sleeve as well as three glasses. She casually poured a glass and handed it to Harry. "That is one handy spell," said Ron (he got over his allergy attack finally). "We've got to learn it!"

"Calm down, dear. I'll teach it to all of you in time. Right now, let's relax and just chat."

Harry took a sip and was amazed at the tangy, fizzy taste. "Wow! This is better than Butterbeer!"

"Oh, that's quite a compliment. You'll be glad to know that it's not alcoholic."

"Great!" Hermione took a sip as Morwen handed her a glass. "I got to have this recipe!"

"Yeah, Mom would want it too," Ron said.

"Well, it is a family secret, but since I'm-well, I think I could give it to you. Would you like it too, Harry?"

"No, thank you. The Durseleys would never hear of it, and even if they did, they would give it all to Dudley."

"Oh, I think I understand."

"So, how did you're cat get that unusual coat?" Hermione asked.

"Oh that's Genie. She's just a kitten. She chased a butterfly around the house and knocked over a glass bottle of magic pink smoke. She just sat in the middle of it, and most of it stuck to her coat. My husband Telemain was pretty angry, but I thought it was interesting. She looked a lot like a genie being summoned from a bottle, so I named her Genie."

"I see."

"Where exactly is your home?" Ron asked.

"Now, there's a long story."

"We got time."

Immediately, the train pulled in to the front of Hogwarts. "Me and my big mouth," Ron muttered.

As everyone got off, they saw Daystar waiting at the train station. He held two kittens in his arms, one with gray stripes and white paws, and the other had several black spots on its gray coat. Genie sauntered over to him. "Hey guys! Have a fun trip on the train?"

All kinds of students saw Daystar as well. "Hey, it's that guy who did that spell!" They crowded him and asked him all kinds of questions. He acted coolly, though.

"How'd I do it? Well, the best person to ask really is Telemain. He's over there talking to Hermione." Everybody looked over and saw Hermione with a man in a dark black beard, a multicolored robe, a vest with lots of pockets, and wearing five rings on each finger. As he talked, a book Hermione was holding was rapidly turning pages by itself. It must have been her dictionary. Everybody ran over towards Telemain, except for Ron and Harry.

"Hi, Daystar. How was your talk with Dumbledore?" Harry asked.

"It went well."

Hermione caught up with them. "Wow, that dictionary did came in handy. Telemain was an amazing guy to talk to, though."

"So, how did Daystar do it?"

"You know, I got an answer, and I didn't at the same time. He essentially said he helped put the spell together, along with Daystar's father, Dumbledore, and several other professors, but I didn't quite catch how it worked."

Daystar sighed. "Well, I guess I can tell you guys. I have a sixth sense for magic."

"You can see magic?" Ron gasped.

"No, I can't see it; I'm just aware of it. I can feel it, and hear it a little bit. I sense it so well, my brain can decipher the pattern. For instance, Hogwarts over there is blanketed with a net and shielded by an egg-like structure."

"That must be the spell that blocks out muggle magic," Hermione said.

"It probably is. Anyhow, since I can sense magic, I can use it directly. It's an ability that makes me as powerful as ten wizards."

"Then what's you're point in coming here?"

"Well, I have more than one reason, but probably the biggest one is, there is always more to learn."

Hagrid's voice hollered out, "Firs' years! All firs' years over here! No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid continued. "Hey, Daystar! These all yer kittens?"

"They're Morwen's actually, and they're first years, too."

"They're swayt, they are. Right, get 'n the boat!"

Harry and his friends joined the upperclassmen getting in the coaches heading for the Great Hall. Peeves was waiting for them, pranks ready. Something, oddly enough, made him stop short though. "'Ello, what's this?" He flew down right in front of Genie. "'Ey, Bubble Gum."

"Mrow, EEEEEEEEYOW!"

"Genie! Neat. I always wanted to be a genie; never got passed the board, though. Genies have such a fun nature. So, what's your real form?"

"Meow."

"Oh, I see. Well, if that's it, that's fine. Say, you want to make some mischief later?"

Genie nodded.

"Great! See you then!"

"That's unusual," Harry said, "Looks like Peeves got a friend."

Soon, they all made it to the Great Hall, and the Sorting began with the yearly Sorting Hat Song:

Welcome, students, one and all! You made a great decision, For Hogwarts is the best school to hone Your magic to precision. But first of all, you need to know Where you will do your living. Are you not sure which house to choose For house points you'll be giving? Perhaps you're best for Gryffindor, A house that prides the brave. Or would you prefer smart Ravenclaw, Where brains are what they crave? Maybe you will enjoy Hufflepuff A house for those who work hard, Or Slytherin, if you would rather Deal Ambition's card. Still don't know? Then come to me! Put me on; don't budge! I'll look inside, and I'll decide. Trust me, I'm the judge!

Everyone applauded, but Daystar looked uncertain. It seemed like he didn't know if he should trust this judge. Then, Prof. McGonagall called out names of all the new students. Around the beginning of the list, she called out simply "Daystar!"

Daystar sat on the stool and put the Sorting Hat slowly on his brow, as if it were a crown. "GRYFFINDOR!!!!! BY ALL MEANS, GRYFFINDOR!!!!!!!!!!!!" There was a loud cheer from the Gryffindor table. Daystar walked toward the table and slapped a high five with Ron and Harry. "Uh, milord, I don't necessarily need to come with you," said a voice. Then Daystar realized he was still wearing the Sorting Hat.

"Oh, sorry." He took it off and gave it to Prof. McGonagall. The Sorting went on as normal until-

"Fflam, Flewddur."

The gray-striped kitten ran up to the stool. Some people laughed, but most were too confused. The hat nearly covered his whole body. "HUFFLEPUFF!!!"

The kitten, without an utterance, ran up to the Hufflepuff table. Many were asking if he was an animagus, but he didn't answer.

"Genie."

Harry and his friends knew what was about to happen, but everybody else was unprepared. They couldn't believe, a pink kitten being sorted! Genie perched on the stool, but before Prof. McGonagall could place the hat on her head, Genie hissed and brandished her claws.

"N-n-n-nice kitty," the Sorting Hat said softly. Genie hissed again, and he said, "All right, all right, GRYFFINDOR!!!"

Genie held her head high and walked for the Gryffindor table. Daystar shook his finger when she came over. "Naughty girl, cheating on the Sorting like that!"

"Yow," Genie answered.

"Well, it may be that important to you, but that doesn't make it right!"

"How do you know how to talk to cats?" Ron asked.

"Oh, Morwen taught me that spell already."

Near the end of the list was the final cat. "Wachoo!"

Everyone giggled at the cat's unusual name, but they stopped in wonder as he leapt from the line straight onto the stool. He turned to the students and bowed his head, but few people applauded. They must have feared he had problems or something.

As the sorting hat covered the cat's body. The Sorting Hat looked in deep thought, considering what he saw almost the same way when Harry was sorted. Suddenly, the hat started bouncing around. "Stay still!" the Hat cried. "Right, I guess the best would be SLYTHERIN!!!!"

Harry looked uncomfortably at Morwen. If she could talk to cats, why would she have one in Slytherin? He watched as Wachoo walked over to the Slytherin table and situated himself next to Goyle and Malfoy. Goyle tried to pet the kitten, but Wachoo leapt over his face and started jumping around the table. Morwen went over and reprimanded her kitten, but Harry was already in giggles, as was much of the school. Wachoo was certainly going to be the Slytherin weirdo.

That was it. The Sorting was soon over, and the Grand Feast was served. Dumbledore made his usual speech, don't go into the Forbidden Forest, the teachers, and all that. "We are indeed honored to have our first ever Honors Program here at Hogwarts. Many of our regular teachers are going to teach those with the highest marks some of the most advanced courses. We are also grateful to have two first time teachers to join us. Telemain is going to teach Magic Theory in our Honor's Program, and his wife Morwen is our new Defense of the Dark Arts teacher."

"MORWEN'S TEACHING?!" Harry, Ron, and Hermione said together.

"She didn't tell you?" Daystar replied. "She's anxious about teaching magic; it has been her secret dream. She couldn't wait to get started."

"That's wonderful," Hermione said.

After the feast, they all went to the dorms. Now, Fred and George Weasley had planned to use their Weasley Wheezes to play pranks on the first years. During the Sorting, they decided to make Daystar their target, but they didn't know that Harry and the others were friends with Daystar.

"Hey sir, you dropped your wand!" Fred called.

Daystar turned and looked at it. "Thank you, but that's not my wand. In fact, I think that's your--" He made a twisting motion with his fingers around the wand, and it turned into a "--rubber chicken."

Several students laughed at the backfired prank. Fred just stared with a sheepish expression mouthing, "How'd he know?"

George ran up to him. "Hey there! I made some welcoming pudding for the first years. You, being the oldest, are free to have the first taste."

Daystar looked closely at the pudding. "Do me a favor, would you? Put it some place cool and save it for me. I think I'd prefer to be a bird another day."

George stared at Daystar as he walked up to the dormitory. "Um, ok, thank you," he stammered.

"That Daystar is something else, isn't he?" Harry commented.

"Yeah," Ron said. "I wonder what's the deal with him."