Disclaimer: me? Own something? Don't be ridiculous.
Harry Potter and the Elements of Magic
Summery: OotP SPOILERS!!! A 6th year fic. Voldemort's quest for the weapon, which is being protected by the order, continues. Strange events start happening at Hogwarts and the students all suspect the new exchange students are to blame, but Harry, Ron, and Hermione know better... (H/Hr, R/OC)
Rating: PG-13 (just in case)
A/N: *gasp* I used shorthand in my last ch. I am ashamed of myself; I usually catch these things. I guess I need to edit more carefully.
Besides that (notice I didn't say 'anyway'? I'm good, I know…) the chapter of the Hogwarts Express is upon us! Yaaaaaaaay! We *meet* the OC and get explanations of part of the summery and all that good stuff. I'm probably going to combine the H.E. with the starting feast, we'll see how it goes.
So thank all of you for reviewing, I'm glad so many people actually like it! =)
Without further ado, here is chapter 4.
Chapter Four
Boiled in Bubotuber Pus
A loud clap of thunder sounded outside the Burrow and both Harry and Ron abruptly woke up. Once awake, Harry realized that the rain was coming down so hard it was difficult to hear anything else.
"It's really coming down out there isn't it," half-shouted Ron, "it's only 5 o' clock too! I was hoping to get more sleep. Oh well, we can probably use the time to pack."
Harry nodded unenthusiastically and struggled to keep his eyes open. After he got his bearings straight he realized that it was September first and started searching for his scattered belongings. Every so often a bolt of lightning would strike and was briefly followed by a clap of thunder. Around seven o' clock all of their belongings were packed into their trunks and the boys headed down to breakfast.
"Good morning boys, have some breakfast before you get packed," greeted Mrs. Weasley handing each of them plates of bacon, eggs, and toast.
"We already packed," said Ron groggily.
"Oh, did the storm wake you up?" the boys nodded, "it woke the girls up as well, they had breakfast earlier though. I suppose they're still upstairs packing."
Shortly after Harry finished his breakfast, the two girls walked in looking as tired as he felt.
"'Morning," called Hermione who only received drowsy grunts in response.
"We finished packing," added Ginny.
"That's good dears," said Mrs. Weasley, "we can leave as soon as the boys finish breakfast then. I've ordered some of those… oh what do you call them again? This is the type of thing I need Arthur for…"
"Taxis?" answered Hermione.
"Yes, that's it. They'll be arriving at eight so we have to be completely ready by then."
Although the group was indeed ready by eight, there was a great deal of commotion upon actually leaving the house. Pigwidgeon was causing his usual racket and Hermione was nearly clawed to death by Crookshanks as she tried to shove him into his basket. When the sopping wet group was finally in the two taxis (after many trips by Ginny who had forgotten several very important pairs of shoes) they sped off quickly to King's Cross station.
Once arriving, they casually walked through the barrier to platform nine and three quarters. Harry, Ron and Hermione were glad that they arrived early at the station for once when they actually found their own compartment.
"Well, we had better… er… be going to the prefect's compartment now…" said Harry nervously.
"It's ok, really. I don't want to be a prefect anyway," Ron lied unconvincingly.
Harry and Hermione exchanged nervous glances, "we'll be back soon I promise. The less time we spend with Malfoy, the better."
"Yeah sure, just go. You don't want to be late do you?" asked Ron.
"Well no but—"
"Then GO!"
"Ok," and with that the two damp prefects left the compartment.
The duo walked awkwardly down the hall to the prefect compartment immersed in idle chitchat. 'Ok, the butterflies have really got to go. I can't get like this whenever I talk to Hermione, she's my best friend for God's sake!' thought Harry and before they knew it, they were at the front of the train.
"After you," said Harry opening the door chivalrously while wondering what had gotten into him.
"Thanks," said Hermione looking slightly puzzled but giggling nevertheless.
Once inside the compartment, Harry found the other prefects (the only difference was that Pansy was replaced by Blaise), the head boy and girl, the 5th year prefects and…
"Ginny?" asked Harry completely bewildered.
Ginny was about to respond but the head boy cut her off.
"Welcome, prefects, new and old," he greeted with the same pompous air of Percy, "now that we are all here, we can review some of the basic rules and give you your common room passwords."
"First of all, you are not to abuse the privileges of your badge by giving unearned detentions, refusing to give students the new password, or any other unjust or unkind actions. Second, you are to lead the first years to the common room after the feast and give your house the new password. It may also be wise to post the password on your house notice board incase a student forgets it. And don't forget that it is your duty to set an example for your fellow students and anyone failing to rise to this challenge will have their badge revoked. I think that's about it, right Ted?" stated the head girl.
"I believe so, Jessica, now to give out the passwords. After you receive the new password for your house, you may leave. Gryffindor could you please come up now?"
Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and to Harry's disgust Colin Creevy walked over to Ted.
"Ok your new password is zenith. You may now go," he said.
The group of four exited the compartment and Ginny was bombarded with questions.
"You're a prefect?" asked Hermione.
"Yup," replied Ginny simply.
"Why didn't you tell any of us?" inquired Harry.
"You saw the way mum is whenever there's a prefect in the family. I didn't want to draw attention to myself. It would make Ron feel even worse if mum was showering me with affection and he wasn't even a prefect anymore. Besides, I'd really rather not be showered with affection in the first place. I'm not Percy, you know," explained Ginny.
"She's going to find out eventually," said Hermione.
"Yeah I know. But why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?" the red head replied, "well I should go, that's my compartment."
Ginny went into the compartment to the left and Harry caught a glimpse of Dean through the briefly opened door; he decided it would be better not to tell Ron.
Once back to their own compartment they filled a still dripping wet Ron in about everything at the meeting.
"Ginny's a prefect?!?" he said loudly as the rain pounded loudly on the window.
"Yes that's what I said but--" Harry was cut off as the compartment door slid open.
Framed in the doorway was a tall girl about Harry's age who he didn't recognize. Her shoulder length light strawberry blonde hair was hanging in slightly damp clumps around her face framing her piercingly green eyes.
"Hey, I'm Kelly Caraway," she greeted cheerfully with a slight wave, "every other compartment's taken. D'you mind if I join you guys?"
"Not at all" replied Ron quickly.
"Thanks," she said brightly and sat down in the empty seat next to Ron.
"Well… aren't you going to introduce yourselves?" she asked.
"Oh, right. I'm Hermione Granger, that's Ron Weasley sitting next to you over there, and that's Harry."
"Hasn't he got a last name?" she asked smiling.
"Er… I'm Harry Potter," he said waiting for the familiar glance up to his forehead but it never came.
"Cool," said Kelly simply.
The trio exchanged glances all thinking the same thing, is she really that clueless?
"What, is he some kind of celebrity or something?" she asked.
"Er… kinda actually…" Harry replied uncomfortably.
"Oh hang on a minute, that does sound familiar… don't you have something to do with that Lord Voldie-whats-it that just came back?"
Slow nods from around the compartment and a look of comprehension dawned on Hermione's face.
"Ooh, you're not from Europe are you?" she asked.
"Nope, straight from New York well… Salem Institute for Witchcraft and Wizardry if you want my school," the blonde one replied.
"Then why are you here?" asked Ron.
"New exchange program 'to bring cultures together in these new days of darkness' or something like that. I wanted a change of scenery," she said matter-of-factly and shrugged.
"Yeah, Dumbledore always wants to strengthen ties between nations… this makes sense… so… what's your old school like?" Harry reasoned.
"Well… it's this big stone castle thingy in the woods near Salem, Massachusetts. Trees are everywhere and it's kinda on a mountain… great Quodpot teams—"
"Quodpot? What about Quidditch?" asked Ron thickly.
"Well… the Quidditch teams are alright but Quodpot's a lot more popular, I'm on my house's team," she explained.
"You have houses too? What are they? We have basically brave Gryffindor, clever Ravenclaw, loyal and kind Hufflepuff, and evil… I mean… ambitious Slytherin," said Harry.
"Well there's Pogner, that's my old group, that has the tough- skinned 'street-smart' people… I think probably a mix of you're Gryffindor and Slytherin--"
"WHAT? There is NO way that you could possibly get a mix of Gryffindor and Slytherin… they're complete opposites! You're not evil are you?" interrupted Ron.
"No personally I'M not evil but some of the people in my category are. We're just all generally brave and often ambitious. Is that such a crime?" said Kelly defensively.
"No, of course not it's just… wait a minute… why are you saying your 'group' is generally brave and you played on your house team… wouldn't your group be the same as your house?" asked Hermione.
"Of course not! That wouldn't make any sense… could you imagine putting 500 dreamers, by the way that's Auber, in a room and expect anything to get done? What a nightmare! We find out what group we're in then get mixed up into our houses. You put everybody the same in your houses? That must get boring… I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have Confasons (they're the brainy book smart type) in my house to help with homework. And the Faithasards are life savers… always real nice and breaking up fights… couldn't live without them either."
Ron looked completely lost, Harry was pensively deciding what to think of the new system and Hermione had, of course, already made her decision.
"You know, that actually makes a lot of sense. Here we got our houses all the same because the founders all wanted to teach people like themselves. Although that works out within the houses, the separation of our personality types causes rifts among the students in the long run; a perfect example is Slytherin and Gryffindor or on a personal level, us and Malfoy. Mixing up personalities would help balance out their strengths and weaknesses and add a more united feeling to the school though they are still separated into houses to add some competitive spirit. How do they decide what group you're in?"
"Well, they give us a test as soon as we get there. They give us all Veritaserum first of course so it's accurate. Then once the results of your group are in you get lined up alphabetically within the groups and they count you off by four. Completely random," finished Kelly who dug her hairbrush out of her bag and started taming her now dry hair.
"I guess that does make sense. I'm curious to see what house you're put in since your old one was apparently a mix of Gryffindor and Slytherin…" said Harry as the compartment door slid open once again.
"Well, well, well if it isn't potty, weasel, the mudblood, and… who do we have here?" greeted Malfoy.
"Kelly Aideen Caraway at your service," she greeted formally getting to her feet.
"And Draco Malfoy at yours," replied the Slytherin taking her hand and gallantly kissing it causing Ron to turn a pale shade of green, "one would wonder, though, why a beautiful young lady with such a fine pureblood name as yourself would be wasting her time with such pathetic losers."
"Oh, well, all the other compartments were full," she said simply.
"I think I could make some room in mine," he offered.
"Oh, Draco, I would love to," she said sweetly before her eyes turned frightfully cold, "but it's guys like you that make me want to boil myself in bubotuber pus."
"W-what?" asked Malfoy dumbfounded.
"I said 'it's guys like you that make me want to boil myself in bubotuber pus,' and I've got enough of the stuff to do it too. It wouldn't be a very pleasant thing to do of course with the scorching hot liquid goo and undiluted it causes rather unpleasant boils…"
"I'll be going now then, Caraway, I have business elsewhere…" said Malfoy walking out the door.
"I'll be seeing you around, Malfoy," Kelly called while shutting the door behind her, "ugh, what an annoying little slimeball."
For a moment the group just stared at her and Harry decided to break the ice.
"So… you're a pureblood?" he asked.
"Yeah, raised as a muggle though. Both my parents were in the ministry over here before I was born. Then when I was a baby my mom was killed by those Death Eater freaks and my dad got real depressed… he couldn't face the wizard world anymore. Sometimes I think of him as rather weak but whatever. Anyway, we moved to New York, he went to muggle night school and got a successful job on Wall Street… he was always good with divination. Long hours though, I had to fend for myself a lot of the time."
"Do you know anything else about the exchange program?" asked an eager Hermione.
"Well, Salem isn't the only school participating in it. I know that at least the other American school, Katia, is sending some students along too. I'm sure there'll be other schools in it that I don't know of though," Kelly answered.
"There are two American schools?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, Salem was the first one and it was the only one for a while but when the country's population grew, so did the population of magic folk. One school couldn't hold us all so they built Katia. I don't know much about it except that it's somehow bewitched so it's on a cloud so it's location always changes. It's all white too so that muggles can't spot it from airplanes. It's rumored that you get there by winged horses… I almost wish I went there. Flying all the time," she finished with a small sigh and Hermione shuddered.
"Hey," said Ron speaking for the first time in a while, "you said you played Quodpot… there's three empty chaser spots on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, if you get sorted into Gryffindor you should try out."
"Yeah, I think I will…" she said thoughtfully.
The rest of the train ride passed without event as the four sixth years chatted casually. When the Hogwarts Express pulled into Hogsmeade station the rain was still coming down in sheets.
"It's been raining for ages!" said Ron exasperatedly.
"I suppose we moved north with the storm on the train. I'm just glad I'm not a first year," said Hermione.
"Why do you wish you weren't a first year?" asked Kelly.
"Well, they always have to--" began Harry before he was cut off by Hagrid's booming calls.
"Firs' years an' exchange students this way if you will. Firs' years AND exchange students please"
"Ouch," said Ron, "well, have fun."
"What are you guys talking about?"
"You better get going… you don't want to miss the sorting…" said Hermione.
"…Ok…" said Kelly worriedly as she walked over to Hagrid's enormous mass.
"I hope she doesn't drown… she seemed pretty nice," said Hermione.
"Yeah," said Ron dreamily looking after the American blonde.
Harry snorted.
"What?" asked Ron indignantly.
"You only know the girl a few hours and you already fancy her!"
"I don't fancy her," he said quickly.
Harry shook his head and Hermione rolled her eyes, "Ah, well at least you waited a little longer than you did with Fleur."
The group walked quickly over to the thestral drawn carriages, Ron scowling heavily all the way. They were just about to close the door of their carriage when none other than Luna Lovegood came panting towards them.
"Oh no," muttered Hermione.
"Hey guys," she said clambering into the carriage and shaking her head getting them all even wetter.
"Er, hello Luna… how was your summer?" asked Harry wiping water off his glasses. He had a newfound respect for her after their chat at the end of the previous year.
"It was ok," she said staring at Ron who, as always, didn't notice anything, "we didn't find the Crumple-Horned Snorkacks but we think we have a better idea of their whereabouts…"
The rest of the thankfully short carriage was spent discussing the Crumple-Horned Snorkacks in question. Though Hermione's face showed visible strain from the lunacy of the topic, she managed to stay civil and almost fake an interest in it. It wasn't until the group got to the Great Hall and sat at the Gryffindor table that they could get rid of her.
"I swear," Said Hermione exasperatedly, "that girl wouldn't know the truth if it were written in Quibbler."
"Well, I think she would if it was in there but anywhere else she wouldn't," corrected Harry, "oh here come the other students… they might as well have drowned… they're certainly wet enough…"
And he was right. Like in their fourth year, the new students appeared to have swum across the lake instead of ridden on a boat. They arranged themselves into a longer line than usual (there were several new students in what seemed like almost every year) and waited with the rest of the school for the sorting hat's new song. The new students looked quizzically at the old and ragged hat Professor McGonagall had placed on the old wooden stool in front of them when out of the blue it began to sing:
It was a great many years ago
When I was clean and new.
It was the exact time that Hogwarts
Had been founded by those noble few.
Almost instantly the need for me
Became painstakingly clear,
For even at this early stage
They brought the end a bit more near.
Gryffindor outright refused
To teach anyone but the bravest
While welcoming the kindest hearts
Is what Hufflepuff thought the wisest.
Slytherin on the other hand
Welcomed those with pure blood and ambition
While Ravenclaw took only the ones
Who used logic not intuition.
These rifts were their fatal flaws
Though they did not know it then
And even 'til this very day
They destroy us from within.
It's not too late to learn from our mistakes.
Some here have already found
Better methods to organize themselves
And keep them from burning to the ground.
So heed my warning once again;
Please do not drift apart
Come together as a school, community
And aid a brand new start.
A wave of uncertain applause filled the Great Hall as last year and Harry raised his voice above the din.
"Another warning," said Harry thoughtfully, "at least more people will listen this time knowing Lord Voldemort's back."
"I certainly hope so… I think he might have mentioned the other schools in it too… I know he was referencing to Salem when he said how other schools knew it was a bad idea to separate in the first place and thought of a better method," said Hermione equally as loud, "and for heaven's sake, Ron, will you put your eyeballs back in!"
"What are you talking about? I am most certainly using my eyes…" said Ron distantly and Harry knew that Hermione would have continued but the applause had died down and Professor McGonagall started calling off names.
"Alberts, Tracy," quickly scurried up to the hat that almost immediately shouted out, "Hufflepuff!"
The sorting went on through the first years until the last small and terrified face, Scott Whitby, got sorted into Ravenclaw. It then began sorting the older students.
Casey Anderson became a Slytherin, Michelle Barrington became a Hufflepuff, and Kentaro Benshi became a Ravenclaw.
"Caraway, Kelly," called Professor McGonagall and the familiar face walked up to the stool with as much dignity she could manage considering she looked half-drowned.
She sat on the stool with the sorting hat perched in her head (it looked odd on her for it actually fit unlike with the first years) for quite a long time. Harry instantly remembered when it had been determining his fate between Gryffindor and Slytherin and connected to how she must have been feeling… on the inside at least. The Kelly on the stool, however, remained nonchalant as though she did not care where she ended up. After about five minutes of complete silence the sorting hat finally called out, "Gryffindor!" and Kelly joined Harry's table to thunderous applause.
"About time we got a new Gryffindor," said Seamus.
"Yeah, had me worried there," said Ron immediately engaging the newly decided Gryffindor in conversation.
Harry and Hermione caught each other's glance and rolled their eyes before watching the rest of the sorting.
When Kara Zhao was finally sorted into Hufflepuff, Dumbledore rose to make his speech.
"Welcome, all of you, to another year of Hogwarts! As I'm sure many of you have noticed, we have several new students in our midst as well as some old missing. If you haven't already heard, Hogwarts is taking place in an exchange program this year with several schools from around the world. You may recognize students from schools of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang as well as some other schools you may not of heard of such as Salem Institute, Katia School, Beijing Academy, and Badlands Brainery just to name a few.
"As I'm sure you also now know that very dark times are upon us all. It is for this reason that this exchange program has been organized. As we go forward into these days of despair we must learn to accept new people and ways and forget old prejudices and come together as a school and as a community.
"Having gotten that out of the way, I would like to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Desdemona Acerose," the previously unnoticed teacher gave a smile and a small wave to the school before Dumbledore continued, "who has never worked at the Ministry of Magic so we don't have to worry about that.
"The Forbidden Forest at the edge of the grounds is still indeed forbidden contrary to what some of the students seem to think. And kind old Argus Filch has added spitting inkbottles to his list of banned objects. The complete list, now containing a record of four hundred and fifty items, is on display on his office door.
"I believe that takes care of all important matters so let the feast begin!"
With that the golden plates on the house tables filled with every food imaginable. The students ate happily as the night went on until it was time to go to bed.
"Now that we are all filled to the bursting point," said Dumbledore as the last trace of food vanished from their plates, "I believe it's time for bed. Chop, chop! I daresay you will need your energy for classes tomorrow."
Harry got up and stretched. He was indeed very full and sleepy and could think of nothing he would rather do than get up to his nice comfy four-poster.
Hermione's voice broke through his lazy trance, "Harry, we have to show the new students the way to the tower."
"Huh?" he said as his insides gave an unpleasant squirm, 'not now', he scolded himself before answering Hermione, "oh yeah, I guess we do. Ginny, Colin, d'you want to help show the way?"
Ginny shrugged and gave an encouraging sounding, "meh," before heading over to the two elder prefects' aide while Colin was a tad more enthusiastic.
"Would I ever! Ok first years and exchange students, this way if you will," he said gleefully and started leading the group to Gryffindor Tower with so much spring in his step Harry couldn't help but wonder if he was restraining himself from skipping.
Harry, Hermione, and Ginny drifted to the back of the group and were shortly joined by Kelly and Ron.
"Chipper little fellow isn't he…" commented Kelly nodding towards Colin who was currently pointing out and naming each of the suits of armor.
"Yeah… you could say that… he was a rather large fan of Harry's in his first, second, and third years…" said Hermione politely.
"He was his stalker more like it," corrected Ron causing Kelly to stifle a laugh.
"Definitely… wait, skip the seventh step here… yup there he goes …" added Harry who had already gone over to Neville to help pull him out.
"Thanks, Harry. I don't know why I always miss that one," said Neville thankfully.
"No problem, Neville, just try to remember it next time."
The group had successfully gotten to the Gryffindor common room, they found the rest of the group waiting there.
"Oh thank goodness you guys got here! I… er… forgot the password…" said Colin bashfully.
Hermione sighed, "zenith," she said loudly and the Fat Lady's portrait swung open.
"It's about time someone got it," the pink clad picture replied.
Several students spent no energy covering up their grumbles of frustration as they clambered in through the portrait hole and into the circular common room. Most climbed the spiral staircases to their dormitories but Kelly was not among them.
"Everyone's going to sleep already?" she checked her watch, "but it's only nine o' clock!"
Ron who was already halfway up the stairs came swiftly back down saying, "You're right! Who could possibly sleep at this hour?"
"Oh please, Ron, you're always one of the first people to conk out at night," said Harry.
"Well if no one else is staying up I might as well get to bed," sighed Kelly eying the empty common room.
"Here, let me show you our dormitory," said Hermione coaxing the blonde one up the stairs.
"Ok," She agreed.
The two boys watched the girls climb the staircase and sighed when they were out of sight. They abruptly turned to each other in unison and said, "What are you looking at?"
***
A/N: whew this chapter's finally done! It took me a while didn't it… I'm sorry for the wait… again… heh heh.
OVER 50 REVIEWS!!!!! WHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! I'm so happy! Lol.
Now you still have to review and tell me what you think of Kelly! And… WHY DOES THE STUPID SORTING HAT HAVE TO SING??? Argh. Oh well tis written now and I'm glad that part's over with. Now to respond to some reviews…
No One- yes I thought it was a good idea to have Harry and Hermione have a crush on eachother too… especially since it's a H/Hr. fic ;-)
Windwaker59- er… I'm not sure if a duel with a death eater would have been the smartest thing to do… but he probably would have if Ginny hadn't stopped him.
jessica black- I'm glad you like it so far! Hmmm… what *IS* good ol' Voldie up to? I guess you'll just have to read on to find out =)
Hermione 'DB' Granger- hey you get ANOTHER response! Now you have to feel special! Lol. Yes, you're position on h/hr. fics is indeed rather alarming but I'm glad you don't hate it. Hehe I couldn't just forget about the cupcake so soon, the whole argument just sorta seemed in character so POOF it magically appeared in my fic. And thank you for aaaaaallllllllwwwwwaaaaayyyyssss reviewing everything! Lol.
John- I DON'T LIKE IT WHEN PEOPLE TALK IN ALL CAPS! IT GETS RATHER ANNOYING. I'M GLAD YOU OBVIOUSLY LIKE THE STORY THOUGH SINCE YOU ARE INDEED REVIEWING.
LaLa- nah you're right… you aren't making much sense… but neither does Luna so she got in! I'll try to work her in later too cuz I agree… she really CAN make things weird which is actually rather cool.
Becca- I'm glad you like it so far and you dint think it was too corny. Thanks for the good luck, I do indeed need it.
Now to start the next chapter! I know, it's a vicious cycle ;-) we see good ol' Snivellus… er… Professor Snape again and how he reacts to having Harry in his NEWT potions and we get to meet the new DADA teacher. Possibly Quidditch tryouts as well but I'm not guaranteeing it.
Ta Ta For Now,
Emerald Earth