A/N: Realization hit me hard when I realized that I still have a story to write! And now that schools out I have all the time in the world to write!
Sirius: Yeah! We are going to work hard from now on. At the very least one chapter a week.
Alexa: But that doesn't mean rushed and bad chapters. These are going to be the real deal!
Sirius: Now let's get on with the disclaimer!
Disclaimer: Alexa Black owns,… Oh why bother! You know the drill by now, right?
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Thanks so much:
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Chapter Four: Platform 10 7/8
The rest of the summer was very much fun. He loved playing Quidditch, playing pranks on Sirius and Remus, and just being with his godfather. They had gotten very close in the time they spent together, and Harry was kind of sad when it was almost time for the school year to start again. He was going to miss having them around all the time. (A/n: Remember, he doesn't know about the new jobs.)
But that didn't mean that he wasn't excited. He couldn't wait to get back to school! He wanted to get back to Gryffindor Tower, all his other friends, the ghost, his classes, minus Potions, and everything else. He couldn't wait to be going home.
Harry was packing his things the night before September first when an owl flew in his open window. In it's beak was a Hogwarts letter. Harry took the letter and read:
Dear Mr. Potter,
I hope that you summer has been enjoyable and that you are ready for another school year.
There has been a slight change of plans this year. There has been an accident, so in order to get onto the train, you will now have to get on Platform 10 7/8. The same procedure will be used to get onto the Platform.
Thank you for your cooperation,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Head Mistress
Harry finished the letter and shouted, "Sirius! Remus!"
***
The following morning the three of them were up, rested, and ready to get to the train. Or, they w if would have been if they hadn't over slept and Sirius hadn't been missing.
"Hurry up Harry! It's 10:40! We're going to be late!" Remus was running around the house while shouting at him. He hatted the morning of September 1st. There was always so much mess. "Harry!"
"I can't find my Charms homework!" his voice came from upstairs. "And were the hell is Sirius!"
"The note said he had to meet Dumbledore about something!" Which isn't entirely false, he thought. "And check under Hedwig's cage!"
"What's Dumbledore want? Found it!"
"I'm not entirely sure!" Okay, now I'm lying.
Harry came downstairs dragging his trunk and Hedwig's cage behind him. "Alright, I'm ready. I sent Hedwig to Hogwarts just a few minutes ago."
"Great! I'm going to apparate us to Kings Cross Station. Hold on tight. We only have fifteen minutes." He took Harry's hand and apparated them to the station.
"Grab a trolley, Harry." Harry did so and followed Remus to the area between platforms 10 and 11. "You first. We don't want a house elf to prevent you from getting through. I don't have a flying car for you to drive."
Harry glared at him. "I regret ever telling you that story." With that he ran through the platform. Remus appeared behind him a few seconds later.
"Hurry! It's leaving in two minutes!"
"Bye Remus!" He said getting on the train.
"See you in a few hours!"
"What?!" Too late. The train already left.
Harry sighed and went down the train looking for any sign of Ron or Hermione. There wasn't one. He decided to just wait for them, so he found an empty compartment, and sat down. He had a few things to think about. Why did they have to take a different train? What did Remus mean by 'a few hours'? And what was Sirius doing?
"Harry, there you are!" Harry looked up to see Ron and Hermione. "We must have searched the entire train, twice! Where were you?"
"I was looking for you, but gave up after about ten minutes."
The two sat down next to Harry and just started talking. They talked about Quidditch, their summers, the school year,…
"So why do you think Lupin said he'd see you in a few hours?" Ron asked after Harry explained it to them.
"Well isn't it obvious?" The boys looked at Hermione with confused looks. Hermione sighed. "He's coming back to teach. Probably Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"But what about his being a werewolf?" Harry asked. "Wouldn't the parents want someone else teaching their kids?"
"Well it's that he's teaching or he is positive that you will be expelled within minutes of arriving at school." The three of them laughed at the possibility. They spent some time creating even wilder and funnier ideas. Before they knew it, they were at the school.
***
They entered the Great Hall and took their seats. A few minutes later, McGonagall entered with the first years behind her. Once they made it to the front of the hall, the hat started to sing:
"I'm a bone-legged chicken
I'm a knock knee hen
Haven't been so happy since I don't know when
I walk with a wiggle
And a giggle and a SQUAK!
Doing the Tennessee
Huh? Oh, this is the sorting! Sorry. Ahem." A few students giggled at the hat, but were soon shushed as the real song began.
"Over a thousand years ago
When I was clean and knew
Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Slytherin
They gave me something to do.
Now my job is to sort you
Into a house just right
So put me on your head
And you'll be sorted tonight!"
The hall clapped and McGonagall started to read off names.
"Amelia, Rica"
"Ravenclaw"
"Campbell, Olive"
"Hufflepuff"
The sorting continued, but Harry wasn't paying attention. He just wanted the feast to begin. He looked up at the teachers table out of boardem, and nearly fell out of his chair at what he saw. Remus Lupin was sitting in the chair that Hagrid normally occupied (it was shrunk down to be smaller) and was talking quietly to he man next to him, who must have been the new Defense teacher.
"Zwick, Zeddidia"
"Ravenclaw!"
The students clapped as the last of the new students was sorted. When the hall calmed down, Dumbledore stood up to speak.
"Welcome everyone to another school year. Now before we begin the feast, there are a few things I would discuss with you."
A shout came from the Gryffindor table, "Aw Man!"
"Relax Mr. Weasley, it shouldn't take more than five minutes. Now first I'm sure you are wondering why you had to take a different train than usual. There was a sort of enchantment on the tracks that did not allow the train to move any more than a few miles from the station. We are still working to figure out how it got there and how to remove it, but it's nothing to worry about.
"Second, I would like to introduce three new teachers. First of all our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, Hagrid, will be away for the first few months of school. So taking his place while he is away is an old friend, Professor Lupin." Almost the entire school clapped and cheered. Apparently, many of the students had also favored him.
"Our newest Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year is Professor Heart." The school clapped again, but not as loud. They had grown quite suspicious of the Defense teachers over the past few years.
"Finally, our Potions Master, Professor Snape will not be able to teach for the first two terms,…" He had to stop for a minute to let Gryffindor, Huffelpuff, and Ravenclaw stop cheering. It was hard to tell who was cheering the loudest, but Harry had a feeling it was his own House.
"As I was saying, your new Potions teacher will be his sister, Professor Lydia Snape." The hall clapped politely while the Slytherins cheered. The Gryffindors wouldn't have clapped at all, but this teacher seemed nice. She Had short black hair that shiny and clean. She had light brown eyes and had a small tan. But most of all, she was smiling.
"And now it is time that we welcome our new exchange student from America. She will be joining the fifth years. Please welcome Alexa Black.
***Alexa P.O.V.***
Okay, here I go. Why does everyone have to look at me. Whatever.
"What do we have here."
I'm a girl, silly. You've sorted several of them a few seconds ago.
"Very funny."
I thought so.
"Just let me do my job."
Fine.
"Fine."
Fine.
"Fine."
Fine.
"Fine."
Just get on with it!
"Fine. Now, you have plenty or courage, intelligence, kindness, and… WAIT! KINDNESS! We certainly not to me!"
Um, you just said that to the whole hall.
"What!"
Just kidding.
"That's it! If you're anything, it's characteristics of SLYTHERIN!"
That's the plan.
***End P.O.V.***
Most of the hall groaned at what the hat shouted. A few "What a waste of a transfer." could be heard. But almost all was forgotten when twice as much food than usual appeared on the tables.
"Whoa" Ron gasped.
"Probably because of the transfer, right Harry. Harry? Harry!" Hermione yelled at him.
"What!" he asked joining the land of the living.
"You alright Harry? Incase you didn't notice, food is served."
"Oh. Sorry, I just spaced out."
"`O `Ow we no wa` `Upin `ent," Ron said through a mouth of potatoes.
"Don't talk with your mouth full, Ron," Hermione said.
Ron opened his mouth and showed her what was inside. "Gross!" She grabbed a roll and shoved it in his open mouth, causing him to choke on it and the half eaten food.
He swallowed the food and said, "Sorry. I said, so now we know what Lupin meant."
"Yeah," Harry said looking towards the teacher's table. Remus was chatting happily with Professor Heart. "So what do you think is wrong with our Defense teacher this year?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, We've had a Death Eater, an idiot, a werewolf, and another Death Eater."
Ron thought for a minute. "Well,… If the pattern continues, then I say this year we have another idiot!"
"No way!" Seamus said, joining the conversation. "It's probably a Vampire!"
"Maybe he's a ghost."
"Dork! Does he look like a ghost to you?"
They continued to argue over this, but Harry started to space out again. His thoughts drifted to the transfer student. Alexa Black. The new Slytherin. Alexa Black,… wait, Black! She couldn't be! She's in Slytherin. Besides, there could be hundreds of people with the name Black. Get a grip Harry.
But still, he couldn't help but wonder.
***
Alexa: Alright. That's it for this chapter! Next we get to meet Alexa and the first day of classes!
Sirius: Yay! Can I help again?
Alexa: Why are you even asking? You know you'll just go ahead and help even if I refuse!
Sirius: Yeah… But it's still nicer to ask.