Harry Potter and the Soul Shifter
By: Alex Lyons3
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter and everything in the wonderful world of Hogwarts. Disney owns Brooklyn, the gargoyle. I own Jessica "Jess" Cotten.
Author's Note: Originally, I started on a story about Harry's sixth year before J.K.R. released OotP. Sadly, when Sirius died, so to did my ability to write that fan fiction. So, I've salvaged some characters and added some cross over points and re did the whole thing. I really didn't expect Sirius to die. Truthfully, I should have. Just for the record, the time line is going to be a bit iffy since most people put it up as Sirius died in 1996. I'm going to say that Harry didn't even start Hogwarts until 1997, so Sirius didn't die until 2002. Did I lose anyone? *A few hands are raised* Okay! Simply, first book published in 1997. So, that's when Harry starts as far as I'm concerned. Harry's fifth year would be 2001-2002, so Sirius (at least in my mind) does not die until 2002. Okay? Anyway, on with the story.
Chapter 12: The Sorting Hat's Really Weird Song
When the train finally made it to the Hogsmeade Station, "The Great Gryffindor Trio" had not seen nor heard the last from "The Great Slytherin Prat" and his cronies. They were just beginning to get out of their carriage, which was guided by thestrals, when Malfoy, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle, was seen sneering in their direction.
"Well, well, well! They don't have a teacher this time to fight their battles for them!" Malfoy said as Crabbe and Goyle sniggered. Malfoy sneered in Hermione's direction in a rather babyish voice, "You didn't decide to stay home with mummy and daddy, little mudblood?"
Ron was about to take exception to Malfoy's face, but a cold voice stopped him.
"Is there a problem here?" Brian snarled as he glared at Malfoy. It was obvious, even to Crabbe and Goyle, that he had over heard Malfoy.
"Why no, sir. Er..." Malfoy stopped and looked up at Brian's lean face with wide, innocent eyes.
"Professor Brooks, I'll be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts with Professor Cotten. Mr.?" Brian said coldly.
"Malfoy." Draco said pompously.
"Malfoy?" Brian said rather incredulously. "Surely, you can not be The Great Morgan Malfoy's heir! Are you?"
Malfoy sneered as though he loathed the name that Brian had used.
"Yes," he said hauntingly, "I am, but he's really not that great." Draco spun around on his heels and marched off with his back ridged.
Harry, Ron and Hermione turned to Brian and looked up at him.
"Pro...Professor?" Hermione said timidly, since Harry and Ginny had told her and Ron what they thought about Brian.
"Hmm?" Brian said snapping out of whatever trance he was in.
"Who...who's Morgan Malfoy?" Hermione asked quietly.
Brian noticed the trepidation that Hermione felt towards him and suddenly felt very worried.
"Morgan Malfoy was the very first Malfoy to attend Hogwarts over a thousand years ago. Back then, The Four Founders chose the students and Morgan was chosen by Godric Gryffindor." Brian said then stood a little straighter, "Well, come on then, what are you all waiting for we've a feast to attend and a sorting to watch, don't we?" He said in a cheerful voice that hid all other emotions.
"The Great Gryffindor Trio" watched Brian's retreating frame in shock. So, not every Malfoy had been a Slytherin. The trio went in to The Great Hall, luckily, before The Sorting Ceremony had even started and found seats at The Gryffindor table.
Professor McGonagall came in followed by some very terrified and very young looking first years. She set the stool down and put The Sorting Hat on top of it. A tear at the base of the hat opened wide and the hat began to sing.
"Once, when I was new, not old,
I was not the Keeper of the Secrets I now hold.
Once, there were great wizards four,
who built this castle's halls and doors.
When they ruled here,
there was nothing to fear.
Until one of them became consumed,
and forgotten in the gloom.
The others did not realize his fall from grace,
until the last Championship Race.
When Slytherin chose a Gryffindor true,
to carry on his deadly taboo.
Then the other three decided that I should be,
keeper of a magical key.
That I should choose the best,
while The Founders found their eternal rest.
Send the wisest here to me,
cried Ravenclaw and that is how my decision shall be!
Send me the courageous and the bold,
yelled Gryffindor and that is how my decision shall hold!
Send me the most cunning,
Slytherin hissed and that's how my decision shall be running!
Send me all the true,
called Hufflepuff and that is how my decision shall be held to!
So, then the three sent Slytherin to and fro,
but there was no where safe for him to go.
Some say he went to a western isle,
where it's said he left after a while.
The others worked in harmony and peace,
until each left this world at least.
Now, later on, I corrected a mistake,
one that crafty Salazar did make.
I knew the soul of that very boy,
that Slytherin used and discarded like a child does with a toy.
I placed him in Gryffindor which was best,
and let's hope he's enjoying his now justly given rest."
The Sorting Hat became still to the very quiet room. Not a single person clapped or shouted when The Sorting Hat finished it's song. Everyone just stared at it, looking as though their jaws were going to become unhinged.
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and called, "Applebee, Amelia!"
Amelia came forward shaking with fright and sat down on the stool. The hat was so large that it practically covered her entire face. The Hat took a few seconds then shouted, "RAVENCLAW!"
The Ravenclaw table clapped and cheered in a rather subdued tone.
One by one the first years were called to the stool and one by one all twelve were seated at their respective tables. Each time, the house that was called gave rather unenthusiastic cheers and clapped hollowly.
Dumbledore stood up to get everyone's attention which he got immediately, some of the older students were hoping that he might have an answer to the Sorting Hat's strange song. However, that was not to be the case.
"Hello and welcome, to both new and returning students, to Hogwarts! I'm very please that perhaps this year the students can remember that using magic in the corridors is strictly forbidden! As is going into the Forbidden Forest! Also, Mr. Filch has a rather extensive list of things that are unallowed in the school and which will be confiscated if he sees any of you with them. As for this year, I'd like to welcome both Professor Cotten and Professor Brooks to the Hogwarts staff. They both shall be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, which shall now be a double period. Now, let us eat!"
The plates at all of the tables filled with food as Dumbledore sat down and the students began to fill their lates and their mouths with food.
"Crikey!" Ron exclaimed as noise finally returned to The Great Hall, "That had to be the weirdest song that's ever came out of that hat!"
Most of the other Gryffindor's agreed. That was indeed the weirdest song they'd heard from the hat in all their years at Hogwarts.
The food at the tables was soon cleared as the students got up to go to their dorms for a well earned peaceful sleep. Harry hung back as he watched Ron and Hermione, along with the new prefects Colin Creevy and Marie Merryweather, lead the new first years out of the Great Hall. Harry watched Brian converse with Professor Sinistra, he shook his head and walked out of the Great Hall before anyone could notice that he'd been watching the Head Table.
Harry thought about what Ginny had said to him on the train. Was it possible that he could be like Tom Riddle from the diary? Could it be possible that he was being too nice just so he could get closer to Harry and kill him? Brooks was nice, but Ginny was right he was too nice and now that he was a professor only made Harry worry more. He now had to be even more careful than before. With Umbridge it had only been the Ministry that Harry had to keep at bay, but if what Ginny said was true Brooks could be working for Voldemort and Harry didn't like that idea at all.
Harry reached the portrait of The Fat Lady and said the password, "Gluttonous Gargoyles." Whoever thought that password up was totally warped in the head.
* * * * *
To RogueFanKC: Ooooo! You hit the nail on the head, with Jess. Yeah, there is something more than you think going on with her. As for your question, the answer is eventually, though not right away. To be quite honest, I don't think all of the teachers know everything about Brian. Also, Umbridge, yeah I do intend on bringing her back and coming in during one of the Defense lessons. I just haven't decided who'll be teaching the first part, yet. :) The thought of what those two could do to her...I find most...amusing. As for why I didn't make Malfoy more pissed is because I figured after a couple of months he probably have gotten over it. He's really never struck me as the passive-aggressive type. If that were the case he'd have not tried to hex Harry so many times.
To Samantha: Hey, there is nothing wrong with Elisa! Elisa was my second favorite female character (what can I say, I liked them all, but decided that I liked some more than others) Demona was and still is my first, probably because she was a bit more of an in-your-face kind of character than Elisa was and the general action/adventure heroine was more or less brainless (try Batman or Superman for examples), so I chose Demona for her brashness if nothing else. *chuckles* I don't know about Brian and Snape. Seeing that I like both they probably will, but I'm kind of typing this as I go. As fir Harry, Puberty has this lovely way of zinging you from one spectrum of the emotional field to the next. Sirius' death has definitely done that to Harry. He's depressed, he might even be suicidal. *shrugs* At this point we'll just have to wait and see what my mind comes up with. There already is a pairing there, but I haven't gone into it that much yet. Harry & Luna? Oh now there's one I haven't seen yet! Hmm, I don't think so, Luna and Harry are okay as friends but I really don't think they'd do well as a couple. Sorry. I don't know about HP characters yet. I thank you! *huge grin* That was a great review and it was needed. It got my creative juices flowing again.
Dreamer43: *gasp/faint/twitch* Okay! I relent! I relent! You're right on both accounts! Now, can you figure out how that's possible? Thanks for your review!