CHAPTER 5.
TO HOGWARTS
After several phone calls and explanations and a quick drive to Harry's and Hermione's home to pick up their things, everything was arranged. Somehow Mrs. Weasley had gotten a hold of Albus Dumbledore.
"Probably by usin' Pig. I knew it looked like there was more than two letters she had." Ron insisted glumly.
At exactly five o'clock, an owl flew into the Weasley home from Albus Dumbledore, stating that the children would be setting off for Hogwarts the very next day at platform 9 3\4 on the Hogwarts Express, for Albus Dumbledore agreed with Mrs. Weasley in this matter. Mrs. Weasley proudly told the children that Dumbledore had in fact sent out emergency owls to all the students of Hogwarts school, announcing that the date for returning Hogwarts students would not be two days later, but the very next day due to the recent events. Therefore, there was hubbub and mayhem going about in the streets of Diagon Alley. Shops stayed open late for customers who had thought they could squeeze their shopping in the day before returning to Hogwarts. It was certainly a late night for all involved.
After Hermione carefully explained what was going on, her VERY confused parents allowed her to stay with the Weasleys, then go to Hogwarts the next day.
"Yes Mum. I know it's strange. But I want to get a headstart on my studies. Yes. Yes, I understand Mum. I'll send lots of owls. Yes. I love you too, Mum. Bye, Dad. Love you." Hermione said quietly as she hung up the phone in the kitchen.
She then slumped to the floor, settling her head on her arms. She wore one of Fred's old tee-shirts as well as some of Ginny's sweat-pants, the latter of the two which was much too big for her. Ron and Harry sat in the chairs at the kitchen table, eyeing the hot cocoa that Mrs. Weasley had set in front of them. Slowly, they turned to look at Hermione. Before Mrs. Weasley had called her in, they had told her all they had heard through the use of the "Ausculto" spell. To their surprise, she was not terribly shaken by it.
"Because after all, we don't even know what it is. And if we don't know what something is we shouldn't be afraid of it right?" Ron and Harry weren't so sure about that. But Hermione WAS shaken by the death of the Slytherin, Martin Wothes. "I;ts so unusual. If this, thing whatever it is, is after followers or well, whatever it wants, you'd think that Slytherins would be the first to go help." Hermione murmured.
"What are we gonna do?" Ron murmured. Hermione looked up at him and shrugged.
"We're doing what we should do. We're going to Hogwarts. Bill is right. Since Professor Dumbledore is there, that is probably the safest place for us, especially if You-Know-Who is involved." Hermione said quietly. The boys nodded.
"What's unusual is the fact that kids from the other schools are coming to Hogwarts. I mean, really, why Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
"Because we've got the most powerful wizard in the WORLD! That's why!" Ron said, pounding his fist on the table. Harry and Hermione stared at him.
"And who would that be?" Hermione asked sweetly. Ron stared at her indignantly.
"Dumbledore of course!" He said with disgust.
"He is powerful, but You-Know-Who is more powerful. He's simply the only wizard that You-Know-Who is afraid of. Thats where our security comes from." Hermione said sensibly.
"Oh whatever. I still think he's the most powerful wizard in the world." Ron muttered.
"Harry, have you told Sirius yet?" Harry stiffened as Hermione asked him the question. He had basically forgotten to tell Sirius. He would want to know if he was alright, if he was affected or anything of the sort.
"No, I forgot. I'll send him an owl tonight." Harry said stiffly.
"Can't believe you forgot. He IS your godfather." Hermione said sadly.
"I know." Harry said quietly.
"Oh good grief Hermione! Is that all you can do? Nag and whine about everyone else's imperfections? Good grief!" Ron exploded angrily. From her place on the floor, Hermione blanched, then turned red as she firmly looked away, but Harry noticed her small chin trembling slightly.
But Harry didn't have time to admonish Ron, for Ron's face softened visibly. He sighed and slipped down on the floor beside Hermione. She didn't look at him, and she quickly moved away. Ron cast his eyes on the floor.
"Look Hermione, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for yelling. I'm just worried about this whole thing and, and, I want Mum and Dad to come with us to Hogwarts. I don't want to leave them alone because, because I think that if I do, something awful will happen to them, and I don't know. I'm just worried, thats all. Worried about Bill and Charlie and Mum and Dad and, even Percy. I'm just worried and scared I guess." Hermione slowly turned to face Ron, whose head was now in his hands. Harry was speechless as he watched his friend reduced like this. Never before had Ron openly said what he was feeling, not even to him. Hermione looked at Ron sympathetically and gently put her hand on his back. Ron's head came up, and Harry noticed that it was bright red and the edges of his eyes were wet. Hermione smiled and patted his back gently.
"It'll be alright. You're parents will make it through alright. They're pretty powerful wizards in their own right. And so are Bill, Charlie and Percy. And we'll be with the most powerful wizard in the world, so we'll all be taken care of." She said with a smile.
Ron slowly returned her smile and nodded slowly. Harry watched them, and was jealous. Even with all their fighting and bickering, Hermione still was able to understand what Ron felt. And Ron could still tell when he'd hurt her. They had each other, such good friends, but Harry felt left out. He slipped to the floor beside Ron and looked at the two of them. They both smiled winningly at him. Now that Hermione had restored Ron to his happy, hopeful self, things seemed almost brighter, for when his friends had hope, they always passed it on to him.
"It'll be alright Harry. We've always been alright, and we'll be alright this time too." Hermione said simply, smiling gently. Harry returned it and sat back against the wall with his friends, just sitting, just being.
Harry sat up late that evening, sitting at Ron's writing desk, a piece of blank parchment under his hands, a dormant quill in his fingers. He didn't know what to tell Sirius. He wasn't even sure if he would even receive the letter. Who KNEW where he was. But still, he HAD to tell him. Otherwise, if Sirius came back, he'd wonder why Harry hadn't told him. No, it wouldn't do to not write him. Finally, he started to write.
Dear Sirius,
Hello! It's me, Harry. I just wanted to tell you that we're going to Hogwarts early this year. A boy got killed by something, something really terrible. Bill Weasley, Ron's brother, almost got killed by it. It must be really serious too, probably has something to do with Voldemort, because kids from the other schools are coming to Hogwarts. That will certainly be interesting. I don't know if this letter will even reach you, but I certainly hope it does. Don't come out of hiding. Stay where you are so you'll be safe.
Your godson,
Harry
**************
Albus Dumbledore was as good as his word. The next day, at Platform 9 3\4, the Hogwarts Express arrived exactly on time at 11 o'clock. As usual, the platform was filled with young witches and wizards and their families who came to see them off. Mrs. Weasley kissed Ron, Fred, George extra hard and Mr. Weasley gave them an extra hard handshake. The same went for Ginny, only Mr. Weasley held her tight in his arms before letting her go. Mrs. Weasley would not let Harry go without a hug or a kiss either, and Mr. Weasley wouldn't let him go without a handshake. The same went for Hermione. As Harry stood there on the platform, there was a mixture of envy and love. Envy for the family Ron had, the marvelous parents and siblings, love for Ron's parents that he had almost adopted as his own, even though they never could be the parents he had lost. They all stood by the window and waved frantically at the wizard couple as the train puffed slowly down the tracks, leaving them behind.
Ron sat down in the seat with a sigh, saying nothing. Hermione sat beside him and looked through her pockets to make sure she hadn't lost anything.
"Whatcha thinking Ron?" Harry asked. Ron said nothing, but simply shrugged. Again, that old familiar envy arose in his chest as he watched Ron's still form. Of course Ron had a reason to be uptight. He was worried, but still, Harry was his friend. He should confide in him. One of the twins poked his head into their compartment with a smile.
"Hey guys! Lee got a girl tarantula over summer break! He's gonna try to make it so that her and Hairy have babies while we're at Hogwarts so it'll drive Filch bonkers! Wanna see?" The aforementioned 'Hairy' was Lee's male tarantula that he had brought with him at Harry's first year of Hogwarts, causing utmost panic among the girls on the train.
"Nah, we're just gonna stay here." Ron said, waving his hand at his brother. His brother shrugged.
"Suit yourself." The twin's head ducked back out of the door and shut it.
"Now the only thing we need to make this journey complete is if Draco Malfoy comes in." Ron muttered. As if by magic, (no pun intended), Draco Malfoy stalked into the car, followed closely by his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle. Draco's blonde hair shone in the brilliant light filtering into the car, his eyes twinkling with an abnormally bright light.
"Well if it isn't the Weasel, the Chipmunk, and the," Draco turned to Harry with a smile and a fake bow. "The Celebrity." He finished. Crabbe and Goyle thought for a moment, then chuckled loudly as they finally got the joke. Draco rolled his eyes at their slowness, but didn't bother with them.
Draco bent down towards Harry and as he did, Harry's scar began to pain him terribly. He quickly put his hand over it to pretend like he was scratching it, but Malfoy wasn't fooled.
"Huh, funny how your scar is always hurting. Better get it checked out, Potter." Malfoy almost whispered. Their faces were barely a few inches apart and they simply stared at each other.
Harry! James, what about Harry?
Lily! Get Harry and get out of here!
I won't leave you!
Go!
The voices Harry knew as his parents' echoed loudly around the car, making Harry jump, but as far as he could tell, Hermione, Ron, Crabbe and Goyle did not hear it. Draco on the other hand,....... It was hard to tell. The Slytherin boy merely smiled and straightened.
"Like I said Potter, better get it checked out. Oh, and Weasley, looks like you fell in your Mum's carrot juice again. You wanna stay out of that, you know?" Hermione's hand quickly flashed out and grabbed Ron's arm as he tried to spring from his seat. Draco merely laughed loudly as he kicked at Crabbe and Goyle's shins, forcing them out the door. "Better get your head looked at, Potter, otherwise it'll be more than your head you'll need looking after." Draco laughed as he slammed the door shut. Ron glared menacingly at the door.
"I really hate him. I do." He muttered. Harry stared out the door, watching as Draco knocked a girl's parcel to the ground then stepped on it. He heard the crack of glass, then the cry of the girl as she fell to the ground, opening the parcel, seeing the shattered glass of her grandmother's vase, shattered glass, glass. Harry's eyes squinted as if trying to see something, for indeed he did see something. It was eyes, mirrored on the back of the seat across from him. They were wide open and intense, the only thing that he could see. They held his attention and he slowly leaned forward, but as he did, they disappeared. The sounds of the car continued, the crying of the girl sounding above them all. Ron looked at him curiously.
"You alright?" He asked. Harry got to his feet and nodded as he opened the car door.
"Just fine." He said.
He sighed as he stepped out of the car, then looked down the way where a crowd was gathering. In the center of them was a small girl sitting on the ground beside a large bit of brown paper. Inside it was shattered glass, all that remained of an elegant crystal vase.
"Oh why did you bring it, Jessica?" A voice cried out, obviously the girl's friend. The girl sniffed between her sobs, giving her enough time to answer, "Because Grandma said I could take it! Said that she got it from her Mama when she went to Hogwarts so it was only right that I should have it! I was supposed to take especial care of it, and NOW look!" The girl began to cry again. A tall red head leaned down towards her.
"Well you did take especial good care of it. Till Draco Malfoy came along. You can't blame yourself." Fred Weasley said sympathetically. The girl sniffed but didn't speak, just stared at the remnants of the beloved vase.
Harry bent down beside her. She looked up at him in surprise, her bright blue eyes glistening with shed and unshed tears.
"It was very special to you wasn't it?" He asked quietly. The little girl nodded. "You know, I can fix it for you if you like." The girl's eyes widened greatly.
"Really? You can?!" She breathed. Harry laughed.
"Of course! You're a first year aren't you?" He asked kindly. The girl sniffed again and wiped at the tears under her eyes.
"Will be, if I can get to Hogwarts in one piece. What's Mudblood mean?" She asked, tilting her innocent face to look up to him. A shudder went through Harry as he glanced up and saw the eyes of Draco Malfoy upon him, glinting evilly. He gritted his teeth and set his resolve firmly.
"Where'd you hear that?" He asked kindly.
"You know she heard it from me, Potter." Harry was surprised to see Draco push in through the crowd to stand in front of him.
Harry paid him no heed, but turned back down to the girl, who was nodded. "He called me it. What does it mean?" She asked quietly.
"Well, it's just a nasty word for calling people who come from Muggle families." The girl's face blanched and she dropped her head.
"I'm from a Muggle family. So I'm a Mudblood? Is that what they call people like me at Hogwarts?" She asked.
"Yes it is, because that's all you deserve!" Draco sneered. Harry shook his head, moving the girl's head away from Draco's face.
"No, it's not. There's no such thing as a Mudblood. If you're in Hogwarts, you're a wizard or a witch, no matter if you're a Muggle, part Muggle, or all wizard or witch. Not everyone calls people like you Mudbloods. Only people like him." Harry said, jerking his head towards Draco.
"Don't listen to him! He doesn't know anything!" Draco yelled loudly.
But the girl didn't listen. She simply turned her head to face Harry's, her eyes gazing into his trustingly.
"Will you fix the vase for me, please? I'll repay you someday if I can." She said hopefully. Harry chuckled and pulled her pigtail gently.
"You don't need to repay me. I'll do it freely." He said with a smile.
He turned his face down towards the shattered glass and immediately sat back on his heels. The eyes he had seen in the railroad car were there, amidst the glass, great and blue, staring at him with that strange open gaze. The eyes glinted, then raised upwards, then down again, upwards, then down again before they finally disappeared. Harry shook his head and blinked several times before he finally raised his wand.
"What's the matter, Potter? Forget that simple spell?" Draco jeered. Harry closed his eyes, removed his wand, then waved it over the glass.
"URNUS REPARO!" Instantly, the crystal pieces came back together in their natural figure. The girl clapped her hands excitedly, then quickly reached out and before Harry could react, she had put her small hands around his neck, hugging him tightly, then gave him a huge kiss on his cheek.
"Thank you so much." She whispered before letting him go.
Harry blushed, then stood waveringly to his feet. The little girl's friend surrounded her as they 'ooed' and 'ahhed' over the beautiful crystal vase. Harry's gaze met Malfoy's and the two colors clashed, gray and green. But there was something in Malfoy's eyes that Harry couldn't understand. It looked like defeat, but didn't. It looked like envy, but it wasn't. It was something else. It was only partially there, not completely there, just barely glinting under the cold surface of his gray eyes: wishing, wishing he could be like him.
But the look was gone, replaced instead by the old emotion, hate, that ruled Draco Malfoy so strongly. He scoffed and turned away, snapping his fingers so that Crabbe and Goyle fell into line behind him. As they walked away, Harry stared after them. He had felt it again, that pain in his scar. He couldn't explain it, and that was what was strange. Whenever Malfoy was around, it pained him. And now the eyes. He had seen those eyes before, but hadn't. He didn't understand.
Perhaps, you don't want to understand. The thought entered his mind, but Harry knew that he hadn't spoken it. It had been spoken by someone else, someone else in the railroad car. He turned around and jumped as he saw Hermione standing in front of him.
"Better get your robes on Harry. We're going to be at Hogwarts in a few minutes." She said. Harry nodded slowly, then turned back to look into the depths of the car, hoping perhaps to see the answer in front of him. But it didn't come.
A swell of joy hit Harry as he stepped out of the train and saw his old friend Hagrid standing on the platform. Hagrid beamed at him from his spot at the front of the group as he called the first years to stand behind him and follow him. But there was something else in Hagrid's dark eyes. Fear? Harry wasn't sure.
I don't seem to be sure about a lot of things these days. Harry thought to himself as he climbed in a carriage beside Ron and Hermione.
They arrived safely in the castle without incident, although Fred and George did try to tip carriages over several times while pretending that the magic in the carriages was faulty. This also caused their carriage-mates Alicia Spinnet and Angelina Johnson to cry out and smack them repeatedly, while Lee Jordan in another carriage laughed hysterically. But they weren't successful in getting the carriage to tip, much to the girls' relief.
Harry smiled and breathed the air in with satisfaction as he entered the Dining Hall of Hogwarts. The exquisite and mouth-watering smells tingled his nostrils as he simply imagined the delicacies that would soon be laid before them. But first came the Sorting Ceremonies. He, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George and Ginny all sat down at the Gryffindor table, impatiently waiting for the Sorting Ceremonies to start. Harry always thought that this was the most exciting, watching as new children entered into new houses. He glanced at the head table where the teachers sat. There was Professor McGonagall, watching over the crowd with a stern eye, Professor Snape at Professor Dumbledore's side, also watching over them, but with an eye to find trouble and to make it, for that was his specialty it seemed to Harry.
He'd do anything to get me in trouble. Even if it was at the Opening Ceremonies. Harry thought regretfully.
He came out of his thoughts though as Hermione gasped loudly. Harry and Ron both looked at what she stared at. Two lines of children were entering the Hall as they always did, but instead of all first years, there were several older children, some who were teenagers even. Fred and George eyed them with surprise.
"What's this all about?" Fred murmured.
"Of course! It's the children from the other schools who've come to Hogwarts." Hermione said knowledgeably, coming out of her state of surprise. The Sorting Hat was set on the stool and Professor McGonagall stepped forth with an exceedingly long list in her hands. But she did not begin to speak. Instead she looked to Dumbledore, who rose from his seat, raising his hands for silence.
"Welcome fellow students! Those of you from the past, and those of you who shall be the future! This year things will be running slightly differently, for we have with us several friends from our fellow schools of witchcraft and wizardry joining us for the rest of their schooling. Therefore, they must be sorted into their houses. I suppose you have guessed that already, but humor an old man." Dumbledore said with a wry smile, causing a few chuckles and several smiles. "Therefore, we welcome you fellow students and we hope that you will be at home here with us at Hogwarts! Sorting Hat! Proceed!" Dumbledore said, waving at the hat.
The Sorting Hat unrumpled and stiffened, working the creases of the hat that looked very much like a mouth. When Harry turned around, he noticed with a smile that several of the new students were staring in awe at it as it moved, then prepared to sing.
WELCOME TO HOGWARTS!
ONE AND ALL!
ALL ARE WELCOME,
TO COME FORTH INTO OUR HALL!
FOR I AM THE SORTING HAT,
THE SORTING HAT AM I!
AND I SHALL SORT YOU AS I WISH,
INTO THE HOUSE IN WHICH YOU WILL FIT.
PERHAPS YOU FANCY RAVENCLAW,
IF YOUR MIND IS QUITE ADEPT.
OR PERHAPS HUFFLEPUFF,
WHERE YOUR HEART IS RULED BY HOPE AND LOVE.
OR PERHAPS YOUR HEART LIES IN SLYTHERIN,
WHERE CLEVERNESS AND SLY WAYS ABOUND.
BUT THEN AGAIN PERHAPS YOU'RE FITTED FOR A DIFFERENT CROWN.
IT'S GRYFFINDOR THATS LEFT MY FRIENDS,
WHERE SEVERAL GREATS HAVE SAT.
COURAGE, HONOR, FRIENDSHIP, GLORY!
THATS WHAT YOU'LL FIND IN THIS STORY!
SO COME AND PUT ME ON!
I PROMISE I WON'T BITE!
SO DON'T PUT UP A FIGHT AND SOON WE SHALL SEE,
WHERE YOU SHALL BE!
There was loud cheering all throughout the Dining Hall as the students broke out in cheers and laughter at the utter glory of it. Professor McGonagall waved her hands for silence and called up the first child.
"AOLE, HENRIETTA!"
The children waited breathlessly for the sorting to be proclaimed.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
The Hufflepuff table quickly exploded into cheers as the new girl rushed to her table. Fred scoffed.
"Even I could have guessed that. With a name like that, it was obvious." He said.
"Well then, guess the next one." Ron challenged. Fred turned and took a good look at the boy running up to the Sorting Hat.
"I'm saying Ravenclaw." Fred said, crossing his fingers.
"RAVENCLAW!"
Cheers erupted from the Ravenclaw table as the boy streaked down to them and plopped down in his seat. Those of the Gryffindor table stared at Fred in surprise. He grinned and threw his hands out.
"What can I say? I'm just a lucky guy." He chuckled. Harry suddenly waved his hands as he saw the little girl he had helped on the train, become next in line.
"FAWNWEB, JESSICA!"
The girl nervously slipped one of her golden ringlets behind her ears as she sat down on the chair and the hat was set on her ears. Harry watched breathlessly as she sat there with the hat on her head. Finally the hat called out,
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table cheered loudly and Fred and George tossed their hats in the air.
"The first Gryffindor of the evening!" George cheered loudly. The little girl rushed to the table and stood off to the side shyly.
"Oh come sit by me! I'm Hermione!" Hermione said kindly, extending her hand out to the little girl. Jessica quickly took her hand and sat down beside her, smiling shyly at Harry and the others.
"You get your vase here alright?" Harry asked kindly. The little girl smiled appreciatively.
"Oh yes! Mister Hagrid took it for me and said that he'd get someone to put it in my room as soon as I was given my house." She said excitedly.
"Hey Hermione, he probably asked a house-elf to do it." Ron said pointedly, a grin on his freckled face. Hermione sniffed and stuck her nose in the air.
"Most likely Mister Weasley." Ron just grinned and turned away to look at the next person in line.
Harry eyed Fred and George as they stared at the next person in line. It was a girl, tall and almost regal in appearance. Her shimmering blonde hair, stretched long down her back, half of it tied back in a braid that rested on the remaining strands of hair, a few stray bangs falling in her intense eyes. Her hands were at her side, but her fingers ran over and around each other nervously as she waited her turn.
"THORNSHADOW, ARTEMIS!"
The girl stepped forward and George groaned loudly.
"What?" Ron asked as the girl stepped up to the hat.
"She's gonna go to Slytherin for sure with a name like THAT!" George moaned.
"Is that a bad thing?" Hermione asked. Both Fred and George turned on her, staring at her in disbelief.
"Of course it is. LOOK at her! She's got the build for Quidditch, and an eye for," The twins grinned at each other. "Mischief." They said together.
"Oh please." Hermione said, rolling her eyes. It seemed to take forever for the sorting to finish, but finally, at long last the house was called out.
"GRYFFINDOR!!"
Fred and George nearly fell from their seats as the girl leapt up happily, her gray-green eyes flashing triumphantly as she made her way over to the Gryffindor table. Harry stared at Fred and George as they waved excitedly towards her.
"Good grief! You look like you're flagging down a train! Now STOP! You're embarassing me!" Ron muttered as the girl approached. She stopped hesitantly, then grinned.
"You want me to sit with you or what?" She asked shyly. The twins grinned, but for once couldn't think of anything to say and instead pointed to the spot between them. The girl laughed merrily and shook her head.
"Don't think so. I think I'd get dizzy sitting between you two. Wouldn't know which is which. No, I'll sit at the head. That way no one gets jealous." She said with a smile, pulling a chair to the head of the table and plopping down in it, her black robes billowing around her lean figure.
The girl glanced at Harry, her gray-green eyes twinkling and she quickly extended her hand.
"Artemis Thornshadow." She said kindly. Harry took a deep breath, preparing for the girl's reaction to his identity and extended his hand.
"Harry Potter." He said quickly. Artemis smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, I noticed your scar. It's a real pleasure to meet you. Saw you in the Tri-Wizard Cup last year. Wicked moves when you went against the dragon! Wish I had been old enough to get picked." She said enviously. Harry blushed a deep red and shrugged.
"Oh it was nothing." Artemis laughed.
"Only the humble say stuff like that." She said, shaking her head. Ron coughed and extended his hand towards Artemis, who gladly took it.
"My name's Ron Weasley. That's my sister Ginny down there," pointing down the table at his sister, "And these are my brothers Fred and George." He said, rolling his eyes as Fred and George stuck their hands out at the same time. She grinned and after she shook Ron's hand, she stuck out both her hands and shook the twins' hands at the same time. The twins' faces lit up like lamps as they shook hands.
"A real pleasure!" Fred said happily.
"Welcome to Gryffindor!" George finished. Hermione stuck her hand out across the table and Artemis gladly took it.
"I'm Hermione Granger. It's nice to meet you. How are you doing in your studies?" Ron let loose a loud groan and thrust his head into his hands. Artemis smothered a chuckle as she turned to Hermione seriously.
"Well, pretty well. I've come from Durmstrang, so," Artemis didn't have time to finish for she was interrupted by a exclamations from the twins.
"Durmstrang! Really?" Fred yelled.
"Where is it? Do you use an invisibility spell or something?" George jumped in.
"Is it in a cave?" Ron asked.
"Or under the sea?" Fred asked. Artemis chuckled and waved her hands at the Weasley boys.
"Slow down! I can't tell you where it is because its a secret." She said with a smile. The boys' faces fell and they shook their heads.
"Thought you were gonna help us, Artie." Fred said dismally.
"Yeah, an' tell us everything 'bout where you live during summer vacations." George said.
"Artie." Artemis muttered under her breath before looking at the twins downcast heads with a sympathetic smile.
"Well I can tell you where I live during summer vacations." She said enticingly. The twins' heads immediately popped back up again, renewed vigor echoing in their faces.
"Really?" Fred yelled.
"Do tell!" George called.
"I've lived everywhere actually. I was born in England, but my parents move around quite a lot, so currently we live in Bulgaria for summer," This time it was not Fred or George who interrupted Artemis, but Hermione, who blushed red as she did so, for she knew she was breaking one of her most cherished rules of etiquette.
"Do you know Viktor Krum?" She burst out. Ron let out another groan that was slightly muffled from his hands. Artemis chuckled at Ron and smiled at Hermione.
"Oh yeah I know Viktor. He's a nice guy." Suddenly Artemis frowned.
"You aren't by any chance Hermione Granger, are you?" She asked. Hermione's head bobbed emphatically.
"Huh! That's funny. The one and only Hermi-own-ninny huh? Yeah, Viktor talked about you alot. Liked you, he said. You guys a couple or what?" Artemis asked slyly. Hermione shook her head, but blushed crimson.
"Oh no! We're not a couple, he asked me to the ball here, but," Ron gave a snort that startled everyone.
"Oh yeah! Just asked her to the ball, followed her around, asked her to come visit him in Bulgaria! Yeah, they're not a couple!" He bellowed angrily. Hermione stared at him in shock.
"RON!" She yelled.
"Okay, okay! Sorry I said anything! Sheesh." Artemis said, waving her hands in front of the two teenagers.
"You've gotta watch what you say around Hermione and Ron." Fred said.
"Yep, you say the wrong thing, an' it's playing with fire you are." George said meaningfully, winking at Artemis. Artemis sat back in her seat and grinned at the twins knowingly. Just then, Ron gulped and glanced up at Artemis, his ears suddenly very red.
"Are you, well, since you're from Durmstrang, well, not that THAT has anything to do with ANYTHING, but are you, well, part-veela?" Ron blurted out. Harry stifled the chuckle that rose to his lips, remembering Ron's few but disasterous meetings with Fleur Delacour, the half-veela. But Artemis didn't laugh at Ron. Simply smiled and shook her head.
"Nope! Don't worry! Not even related to a veela. There are some here though." She crinkled up her nose and frowned.
"So steer clear. I don't like veelas. Too tricky. So I'm certainly glad that I'm not part of the species." She said ruefully, glancing at two girls who HAD to be veelas, who now had the others' friend, Seamus Finnigan, in their grasp. Harry smiled as he took her figure in. He could get used to having her around. She was like the twins in their sense of humor and it even seemed that she could pull a few pranks of her own if she got the chance. Yes, she would fit in quite nicely.
The last name was called out and Professor McGonagall sat down beside Professor Dumbledore, who stood from his seat.
"Quiet please! Quiet. Its almost time for our food to be set before us. But before that happens, there shall be a change in the schedule for Hogwarts classes and teachers. Now don't worry! Its nothing cataclysmic! And for those of you who are new, you're lucky, for you won't notice the change at all!" Dumbledore said, casting a smile upon the newcomers of the congregation. Then he clapped his hands and shouted, "VENIO!!"
Instantly, papers fell down upon the students seemingly from the ceiling. The students caught them and began to read them, noticing with delight that the dinner was on the table. As they dug into their food, they read over the new schedule. Artemis grabbed a handful of salted peanuts and shoved them in her mouth as she eyed the schedule critically.
"Oh gory. I'm terrible at Herbology. I'll never make it." She muttered.
"Don't worry! You ever need help, ask Hermione! She might be young, but she's got all the answers." Fred said generously, making Hermione blush. Artemis grinned at Hermione and looked back down at her paper.
"But at least you DO have D.A.D.A. At least I'll fit in SOMEWHERE." She muttered.
"Oh don't worry Artie! You'll fit in everywhere!" Fred said kindly.
"By the way, what year are you in?" Harry asked. Artemis glanced up at him from her paper.
"Oh, fifth. Sorry, should have told you that before." Instantly, sad looks were given to her from Fred and George.
"What?" She asked. Fred sadly put his hand on hers sympathetically.
"This is our seventh year." He said sadly.
"We'll be leaving after this year!" George acceded. Artemis shrugged.
"So what? We'll have plenty of fun before the year's out." Fred and George brightened and grinned at each other as they glanced down at their sheets. Suddenly there was a loud outburst from Ron as he stared at his sheet, bugeyed.
"What is it, Ron?" Hermione gasped, surprised at his yell.
"Yeah Ron, what," Before Harry could finish, Ron's finger stabbed at a certain spot on his paper.
"Unbelieveable! I can't believe it!" Ron said excitedly.
"That's usually what 'unbelieveable' means, yes." Hermione said sarcastically. Ron shot her a nasty look then shook his head in surprise.
"What are you caterwauling about?" George asked him. Ron quickly pointed to a certain spot on the twins' sheet of paper. Soon the twins were exclaiming as loud as Ron had been.
"Wicked!!" Fred said excitedly.
"How great! Our last year and we get a GREAT Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher!" George said. Harry frowned and looked down at the listing for the teacher under the D.A.D.A. catagory. It read,
Defense Against the Dark Arts: Professor Rhiannon Flutterae
"Can't believe this." Ron murmured happily.
"Fred! George! Ron! Did you see?" Ginny exclaimed as she rushed up to her brothers, waving the sheet.
"Yeah Gin! We saw! Isn't it great?" George asked her.
"Bloody great!" She concurred, eyeing her sheet happily. Artemis threw her hands in the air.
"Okay! I give up! You wanna let us in on the joke?" She asked sarcastically.
"Yeah no kiddin', Ron." Harry said, turning to his friend. Ron finally moved his eyes away from the paper and sighed.
"Rhiannon Flutterae is an old friend of our family." He said.
"Yeah, she's the same age as our brother Bill. Twenty-four." George explained.
"And she's really nice and a bully teacher, I've heard! We haven't seen her in such a long time. Imagine what old Bill would think if we told him that Rhia was teaching at Hogwarts!" Fred said excitedly.
"And D.A.D.A. no less!" George finished.
"At last, we'll be getting TONS of points for Gryffindor." Ron said dreamily.
"How can you be so sure about that?" Hermione asked.
"Because she was a Gryffindor of course!" Ron exclaimed.
"Yeah and I can guarantee you that she'll give us back all the points that Snape takes away, guarantee it!" Fred said, pounding his fist on the table.
"Oh Snape doesn't like Gryffindor huh?" Artemis interjected. All the heads around her shook emphatically.
"No way! He HATES Gryffindor. He's in charge of Slytherin House. He hates our guts." Ron said seriously.
"Oh. Didn't know it was that bad." Artemis said with a wry smile.
"Hey Freds, remember when Rhia and Bill put dragon dung in Charlie's vocation potion?" George asked with a twinkle in his eye.
"Oh yeah! And then after that he decided to work with dragons!" Fred chuckled.
"'Member last time we saw her, you whined to her about how we turned your teddy-bear into a spider and then you and Rhia slipped a potion into all of our Canary Cremes and told us to try it because you had 'improved' them? And then it turned us into spiders rather than canaries?" George laughed loudly. Ron drew himself up proudly at the memory.
"Oh yeah! That was my payback!" He said proudly.
"Well if she's supposed to be teaching, then why isn't she here?" Fred asked with a frown, looking at the teachers at the head table. As if on cue, Dumbledore stood when the chattering had died down and clapped his hands.
"You shall have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher yes, but she was detained because of the sudden change of dates. Therefore she shall be here tomorrow morning, in time for all your lessons." After he said this, Dumbledore sat down.
Ron looked at the table and shook his head.
"Man, old Snape's got it bad eh?" He asked, turning to his brothers, who shook their heads.
"Whaddya mean? Just because Snape didn't get the job again?" Harry asked.
"Oh it's not just that. Rhia was his best student in Potions!" Ron explained.
"One of his best, besides a few others. But he didn't make her a pet like he makes Malfoy because she was in Gryffindor. Wouldn't do if he cooed all over her." George added.
"But he's still got respect for her. A grudging respect, but respect none the less." Fred finished. Suddenly Artemis laughed loudly.
"You all are going to have to fill me in on all the teachers because it sounds like I don't know everything I should!" She said, her gray-green eyes winking in the light. Enthusiastically, the people surrounding her filled her in on Snape, Dumbledore, McGonagall, and every teacher and incident that they felt worth mentioning, and before the night was out, Artemis Thornshadow was very well informed on the goings on at Hogwarts. That night before Harry slipped into sleep, Ron murmured quietly,
"Can't wait for D.A.D.A. tomorrow. Its gonna," There was a long yawn, then he finished, "Be a blast." Then there was silence in the room as Ron and Harry both fell fast asleep.
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Author's Note: Heh-heh. Crud, Fred and George have a friend. Oh......dear... what have I done? :-) Oooohhhh, sometimes I just wanna smack Malfoy in the face. But I think thats a universal thing. :-) *sigh* I love Fred and George and all the Wheezies. :-) Heh-heh, if you guys have read my LOTR story, you know where Artemis' name came from. I couldn't help it. Its such a cool name to only be used once. :-) OOHHHHH!!! THANK YOU!! YOU GUYS ROCK!!! Thanks for all your reviews. Keep readin' and reviewin'!!! Reviews taste like chocolate. Really EXPENSIVE dark chocolate. Did you know that? Now you know. You can have some too!! *breaks off EXPENSIVE dark chocolate for loyal reviewers and passes it out* You can have more too!! Luv ya!
Kora: Thanks luv! I know that you're not TERRIBLY fond of Harry Potter, but THANK YOU for all your reviews! Love you! I love your input! You're such a loyal fan and good buddy!!! ;-)
Sara Minks: Oh you're most welcome for the reviews! Your stories were really good! Keep writing! Thanx for reviewing this story! Its awfully nice of you! Luv ya!
Weezy_84: Thanx for the review! I'll try to update as much as I can and I can only pray that you can find it again!! ;-)
: Thanx for the reviews! :-) I like Ron and Hermione's bickering too. Its endearing, *wink, wink* Keep readin'!!
VyingQuill: Gosh, what a cool name!! I just had to say that! I think its just the awesomest name ever!! Yeah, I know awesomest probably isn't a word, but what the heck!! :-) Thanx for your reviews! *blushes* Oh thanks! Oh yes, it IS for the worst, although accidentally knocking out their brother doesn't seem beyond Fred and George, does it? :-) Keep readin' and reviewin'!
Iris: GGGGAAAAHHHHH!!!!!! IRIS, LUV!! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN????!!!!! I'VE MISSED YOU SO MUCH!!! I'm so glad you're reading this!! You don't know how much I love your input! *sniffle* Thought you forgot about me. You know whats funny? You've been a reviewer of mine since I started. AAAAWWW!!! I'M GONNA CRY!! :-) Love ya and I hope you can find this again! Well you can always go to my author name I guess. *shrugs* Heh-heh, I love Fred and George too. They rock. They're like my favorites. *sigh* I love my Wheezies. :-) Heh-heh. Yep, Ron and Hermione= TWUE WUV!! you've got a VERY good point. Draco IS VERY hot!! Don't worry, there's TONS of him. :-) NEVER mess with a protective mother!! Something to take to heart. Its good to have you back, luv!!