Inklings of Celebrity
Chapter Two: Arrival of Warriors
Harry yawned. For the first day, it was awfully monotonous. He wondered idly what the new Defense of the Dark Arts teacher would be like. He shuddered, imagining Snape as the new teacher. Hermione poked him, obviously trying to make him listen to Dumbledore's annual speech. He wondered why; it was always very similar, with all the 1st years coming in and being sorted into their new houses. Harry didn't care about things like that anymore. He knew he could be kidnapped and killed any minute, so if Gryffindor lost points nowadays, he wouldn't exactly cry out his life.
But there seemed to be something different this year. Along with all the 4-foot children, there were others who looked more around Harry's age. Actually, Harry looked younger than his fifteen years, so that wasn't exactly true. Ron poked Harry in his side. "Look at the girl there. The one our age," he hissed at Harry.
He looked, his jaw dropping as far as it could go. She was gorgeous, with ash blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes. All thoughts of Cho Chang left his head, and he resolved to start a new conquest. The only problem was that she seemed to be very protective of a silver haired boy with crimson eyes. Standing next to them, glowering at the other boy, was a raven-haired teen with sepia eyes. He had a sword at his belt, as did the other two. As he glanced over the Gryffindor table, he could see many people drooling over the attractive group. He giggled to see Hermione doing that.
Dilandau had changed from when he was last seen. He still liked to see people die, and fire, and he wouldn't mind seeing Van die. What had changed him was a fall- he had fallen, hard, head over heels in love with Selena Schezar. She had released him from her earlier on, but retained the power to put him in her body, then out to any place she wanted. They could communicate through each other's minds (telepathy?), and shared the same dreams at night.
When Van was placed into Gryffindor, he saw someone waving to him, someone who was very familiar: Hitomi Kanzaki. He broke out into a huge grin, and half-walked, half-ran over to see her and sit by her. Hitomi had been discovered as Van did near the end of her fourth year, and was sent to Hogwarts then.
Harry looked in surprise to their corner, amazed at the change in the quiet Japanese girl. She'd joined Hogwarts the year before, but had never been like she was then, happy and confident. Most of the girls were looking at her with poorly concealed envy. When Selena (who most of the boys thought was Veela) and Dilandau went over to join them, the whole fifth year was wondering about the strange group.
Van was surprised and angered to see Dilandau. He had suddenly appeared next to him during the arrival at the strange new school. He was planning to at least hurt Dilandau greatly, or kill him, when he wouldn't be noticed. Not all wounds heal. Selena had prepared for this, though. She started to lecture Van in a low voice, with a smile frozen on her face, "Van, don't dare to hurt Dilandau. For one thing, I could heal him, and besides, at this school, you're not the King. You're just a new student who will be greatly punished if any harm was inflicted on him. Look at the food! How are we supposed to eat it?"
She grabbed his arm suddenly, hissing, "Look who the new teacher at the school is; a ghost? I think not." She conveyed this message to Dilandau, who jerked out of his chair suddenly.
Up in the middle of the Great Hall, Dumbledore was introducing their new Defense of the Dark Arts teacher- Professor Folken deFanel.
The four students [whenever I say this, I'll usually mean Van, Hitomi, Selena & Dilandau], hustled to talk with the new teacher, finding him in an old deserted hallway. Everyone was lost by then, so they decided that the best thing to do when you're lost is to stay where you are, as to not risk getting further lost. As they sat in a little circle, everyone started to explain themselves to the others.
Dilandau started, "Selena put me back. And I'm not planning to die or kill anytime soon. I can't anyway; I'm under strict surveillance." He glanced at Selena. "We got here because we received letters, and were transported here afterwards. As the mailing and teleportation were probably automatic, we probably aren't going to be noticed as different."
Folken said quietly, "This is a magic school. You'll all have to study very hard, and not waste time. Also, they have broomstick flying here; if anyone falls, Van, try to catch them. I don't think these people know about Draconians." He smiled, continuing, "I'm sure you're all wondering how I got here. Well, I was still alive as the Zone of Absolute Fortune was set in motion. I was wishing for a better chance in life, landing up in a wizarding part of this country, England. The people didn't find anything amiss about me appearing. A shopkeeper took me on and found me this job. My metal arm is kept by the school, and they regrew my right arm for me."
The students were amazed, hearing that long explanation. Hitomi was feeling very stupid, as she had been the only one alive to witness Folken's 'death'. Van started to think that they should get back, but a teacher showed up in the middle of all this.
"What exactly are you doing here?" he barked. The teacher has a hooked nose, and dark, greasy hair. Folken started explaining that they got lost, and their theory of staying stationary. The teacher sneered at them, but let them all go, except for Folken, whom he said he needed to talk to.
When the foursome eventually got to Gryffindor, they were locked out.
A/N: You know how episode 26 of Escaflowne shows Folken with the cat girls? Screw that, forget that part, it totally wouldn't fit with this story! So, the students get locked out, which I thought would be a funny way to end. I'm not having Dilandau & Van totally go at each other; at least not yet, anyway. Can you imagine Dilandau in love? Read and review, and thanks to those who have reviewed: Toadie, Wings and Widow Wolfwood. If I left someone out, sorry! Any suggestions from the reader would be great...