Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of his friends.....Or anyone
else in the wizarding world. Actually, I really don't own anyone in our
world either, pity. If you recognize the character, I didn't think of it.
But my birthday is coming up in 3 months, 2 days and 16 hours. Gifts
appreciated...*winks*
A/n: Thanks to all of my past reviewers (in alphabetical order, because I'm a loser..) AlbinoDrow, aminmelanaur, Blueberrie, hermionegreen, Lux-soap, Nikki and Liz, and Wicked Kiwi.....Thanks! And keep reviewing!
Harry Potter and the Mage of Lemarac
Chapter 5: A Darkened Year
Harry took a seat in one of the compartments next to Hermione, near the window. Across from him Ron's brow was furrowed in concentration, he was looking over one of the new textbooks.
" This is really quite confusing," he said still completely engross in the reading, " It goes on about things I never remember learning, and this is just the review section!"
" Chances are that we did cover it, and you just weren't paying attention," Hermione said smugly, " How many times do I have to tell you? Priorities! Studying first, everything else later."
" You know, sometimes Hermione, there are things more important than studying, and homework and school," Ron replied, " I don't really think that our priorities are the problem, yours are. Wake up Hermione! He.....you-know-who is back, and all that you're worried about is stupid grades and exams. Maybe if you spent more time worrying about your friends and less about your studies, we would actually take your stupid lectures to heart." Harry pulled his gaze from the window, and looked over toward Hermione's face. Her usual posture looked slightly slumped, her mouth gaped open as all of her quick wit failed her. Ron's words had been harsh, even Harry realized this. He exchanged a brief glance with Ginny, who also looked slightly bewildered, before butting in.
" Ron.....don't you think that's a bit harsh? I mean, she didn't do anything wrong," Harry said, trying to judge Ron's reaction as he went, " We should work a bit harder in school, right?"
" Oh, what do you know, Harry?!" Ron snapped back. Hermione and Harry were both partly in shock, exchanging glances; they stared blankly at him.
" Is something wrong, Ron?" Hermione softly, now approaching all conversation with caution.
" No." he said sharply before pulling his textbook in front of his face.
" Because, if something was, you know that you can always talk to us about it," Hermione pressed. This comment didn't get much of a response, so she swiftly changed the subject. " I really forgot how long this train ride was...." Just then a familiar blond head appeared in the doorway of the compartment.
" Potter, had a dandy summer? Staying with the muggles again, I suppose? Like I care," Malfoy said casually, his two overgrown shadows, Crabbe and Goyle standing beside him.
" What do you want, Malfoy?" Ginny stated.
" Oh nothing of importance, or at least nothing that you could comprehend," Malfoy sniggered back, " I thought you of all people would know who you are talking to."
" I do. A stupid git," Ginny smiled, " By the by, how's your father?" Malfoy stiffened at these words.
" You don't know what you speak of, little girl."
" Malfoy, quit the crap. What do you want?" Harry said, wanting him out of here as soon as possible.
" Not much. Just thought I drop in, looking for some entertainment. Low class, but entertaining enough. Like watching monkeys."
" Well, you're not welcome here, Draco. Good day," Hermione replied, also pulling out one of her textbooks.
" It will be very interesting to watch you get stumped though, something I forward to, in fact," he said starting to turn around.
" What?" Hermione said, not quiet understanding his last comment. " I don't think you need worry about that, especially if the only people I go up against is you or your two apes," she smiled gesturing toward Crabbe and Goyle.
" Hmm.....from what I hear there's a new sixth year that could defiantly give Hermione a run for her money, not that's that hard. You're just a stupid mudblood anyway."
" Take that back!" Ron exclaimed, throwing his book to the ground, his hands curled into tight fists, " I said, take it back!" Malfoy didn't really seem to know what to do, obviously he hadn't expected any kind of reaction, or at least not one like this, he stood there speechless. " Do you want wake up in the infirmary tomorrow?" Ron questioned, taking a step closer to Draco, he was trembling in anger. Malfoy's friends Crabbe and Goyle finally seemed to notice what was going on, and leaned in closer toward Draco.
" Ron, stop. It's nothing....he's nothing," Hermione said softly, shooting a brief glare to Malfoy. Ron didn't move, his gaze never fell from Malfoy's face. Suddenly he spoke.
" You're right, Hermione. He's not worth it." Ron regained his composure, sitting back down, he once again pulled his book in front of his face. Even Harry could see Malfoy make a small sigh of relief, but the moment was brief and soon he covered his lapses with his usual look of disdain.
" Trying to fight your little girlfriend's battle, eh?" Draco said smugly before making a swift departure. A tense silence presided over the group. Ron and Hermione each went back to their books, and Harry took to looking back out the window. Ginny sat their quietly, before mumbling something about the bathroom and spending the rest of the train ride with some of her fifth year friends.
As soon as it became dark outside and the landscape of the land became less appealing, Harry tried to spark conversation. Both Hermione and Ron seemed quite content to spend the rest on the trip in silence, making it even more difficult, yet he made one last venture.
" So, did he say something about a new student?" Harry said, neither of them responding, he continued, " I didn't think you come to Hogwarts as a brand new sixth year."
" It's happened several times in the past, but it is rather uncommon," Hermione said, putting her book away, " Yes, and even then sixth year is really very late. If you come Hogwarts, and are not a first year, it's better to come as a second or third year. And you must have outside training to get you up to speed."
" Yeah, I heard of it happening once or twice, but the kids were always....well, weird." Ron smiled, now in a much better mood.
" How so?"
" I don't really know, that's just what I've heard.
" Come on you two," she said standing up, " We should be there in a few minutes, best to get in our robes." Each of them got into the black robes. Harry noticed that both Ron and Hermione still had their prefect badges on like last year, but decided not to comment. The train came to a stop, all of them exiting with a swarm of other students. Over the crowd Hagrid's booming voice could be heard calling out to all of the first years, he waved to the three before pulling his attention back to the group of gather student in front of him. Harry, Ron, and Hermione boarded one of the last coaches, pulling away toward the massive doors of Hogwarts.
Once at the school, along with the other Gryffindor's, they ambled toward the great hall for the sorting of the new students and beginning of the year feast. As soon as the students were all sitting at there separate house tables, a loud clink could be heard coming from the teachers table, as Dumbledore tried to get there attention. The room fell into silence.
" Thank you all for joining us another year at our beloved school, and the cycle of our time together begins again. I'm sure most of you had lovely summers, and the rest of you, well, I'm sure you must of like something about your summers too. But I'm afraid that I tend to ramble, go ahead professor." McGonagall stepped forward with a small stool, on it was placed a torn and many times patched over hat. The hall was now in complete silence in wait for the sorting hat's new song. Last years had been a tad unsettling, and no one could wait for what the hat would advise this year. The hat opened the rip that was called a mouth and began to sing:
The year now is dark with hate,
Students know not what to say.
We must be still and lay in wait,
For all our fate is to be weighed.
I speak of now the return,
All we fear is now at our door.
Be patient, be brave, or shall be burned,
For none is above this lore.
All are targets and none at peace,
Quiet in the shadow lie.
Silently the darkness sleeps,
When all our plans run a rye.
Hope in this time is few,
Which is why I offer mine.
And I turn my advice to you,
For now you have little time.
Are you to band together?
For that is what you need.
That is how you weather,
Both storms of hate and greed.
Keep them close, ever close,
Always on their toes.
For I do not want to boast,
But I, the sorting hat, surely knows.
The crowd waiting in silence, not quite sure how to respond to the dark message of the sorting hat, no one even seemed to notice the now petrified first years waiting for there fate.
" Well, that was interesting indeed," Dumbledore said breaking the tension, " professor, would you please?" McGonagall seemed suddenly back in the present and started to unroll a huge scroll of names.
" First, I would like to say, before I begin sorting, that one of our new students, Selphie Lyte, is to be sorted last because she is eldest. The rest of our new students will go in alphabetical order, as usual," she paused, " Alright. Amman, Richard." A small, frightened boy stepped up to the tiny stool, and placed the hat on his head. He was only seated a moment before the sorting hat loudly yelled out, " Ravenclaw!" Loud cheers cried out from the Ravenclaw table as they patted the poor boy on the back.
After a few more scared first years were welcomed into their houses, Harry's gaze drifted over the rest of the diminishing line. There at the end, stood a girl, taller than the rest, and obviously older. She looked strangely familiar. He poked Ron in the side, and he turned around to face Harry.
" What?" Ron said, barely talking above a whisper.
" That girl, the one at the end. Is that the new student, the one Malfoy was talking about on the train?" Harry inquired.
" Yes, she must be. Doesn't she seem oddly familiar?" Ron said, both of them staring intently at the new girl. That's when it struck Harry.
" She ruined my sweater!" Harry exclaimed, maybe a bit too loud, and most of the people around him at the table looked over.
*** *** ***
A/n: Bad place to stop, I know. Next chapter is going to be awesome, so if you like what you've read, review. If you hate what you read, review. I don't really care, I just want to know. Expect an update soon! ~Sticky Elf ^^
A/n: Thanks to all of my past reviewers (in alphabetical order, because I'm a loser..) AlbinoDrow, aminmelanaur, Blueberrie, hermionegreen, Lux-soap, Nikki and Liz, and Wicked Kiwi.....Thanks! And keep reviewing!
Harry Potter and the Mage of Lemarac
Chapter 5: A Darkened Year
Harry took a seat in one of the compartments next to Hermione, near the window. Across from him Ron's brow was furrowed in concentration, he was looking over one of the new textbooks.
" This is really quite confusing," he said still completely engross in the reading, " It goes on about things I never remember learning, and this is just the review section!"
" Chances are that we did cover it, and you just weren't paying attention," Hermione said smugly, " How many times do I have to tell you? Priorities! Studying first, everything else later."
" You know, sometimes Hermione, there are things more important than studying, and homework and school," Ron replied, " I don't really think that our priorities are the problem, yours are. Wake up Hermione! He.....you-know-who is back, and all that you're worried about is stupid grades and exams. Maybe if you spent more time worrying about your friends and less about your studies, we would actually take your stupid lectures to heart." Harry pulled his gaze from the window, and looked over toward Hermione's face. Her usual posture looked slightly slumped, her mouth gaped open as all of her quick wit failed her. Ron's words had been harsh, even Harry realized this. He exchanged a brief glance with Ginny, who also looked slightly bewildered, before butting in.
" Ron.....don't you think that's a bit harsh? I mean, she didn't do anything wrong," Harry said, trying to judge Ron's reaction as he went, " We should work a bit harder in school, right?"
" Oh, what do you know, Harry?!" Ron snapped back. Hermione and Harry were both partly in shock, exchanging glances; they stared blankly at him.
" Is something wrong, Ron?" Hermione softly, now approaching all conversation with caution.
" No." he said sharply before pulling his textbook in front of his face.
" Because, if something was, you know that you can always talk to us about it," Hermione pressed. This comment didn't get much of a response, so she swiftly changed the subject. " I really forgot how long this train ride was...." Just then a familiar blond head appeared in the doorway of the compartment.
" Potter, had a dandy summer? Staying with the muggles again, I suppose? Like I care," Malfoy said casually, his two overgrown shadows, Crabbe and Goyle standing beside him.
" What do you want, Malfoy?" Ginny stated.
" Oh nothing of importance, or at least nothing that you could comprehend," Malfoy sniggered back, " I thought you of all people would know who you are talking to."
" I do. A stupid git," Ginny smiled, " By the by, how's your father?" Malfoy stiffened at these words.
" You don't know what you speak of, little girl."
" Malfoy, quit the crap. What do you want?" Harry said, wanting him out of here as soon as possible.
" Not much. Just thought I drop in, looking for some entertainment. Low class, but entertaining enough. Like watching monkeys."
" Well, you're not welcome here, Draco. Good day," Hermione replied, also pulling out one of her textbooks.
" It will be very interesting to watch you get stumped though, something I forward to, in fact," he said starting to turn around.
" What?" Hermione said, not quiet understanding his last comment. " I don't think you need worry about that, especially if the only people I go up against is you or your two apes," she smiled gesturing toward Crabbe and Goyle.
" Hmm.....from what I hear there's a new sixth year that could defiantly give Hermione a run for her money, not that's that hard. You're just a stupid mudblood anyway."
" Take that back!" Ron exclaimed, throwing his book to the ground, his hands curled into tight fists, " I said, take it back!" Malfoy didn't really seem to know what to do, obviously he hadn't expected any kind of reaction, or at least not one like this, he stood there speechless. " Do you want wake up in the infirmary tomorrow?" Ron questioned, taking a step closer to Draco, he was trembling in anger. Malfoy's friends Crabbe and Goyle finally seemed to notice what was going on, and leaned in closer toward Draco.
" Ron, stop. It's nothing....he's nothing," Hermione said softly, shooting a brief glare to Malfoy. Ron didn't move, his gaze never fell from Malfoy's face. Suddenly he spoke.
" You're right, Hermione. He's not worth it." Ron regained his composure, sitting back down, he once again pulled his book in front of his face. Even Harry could see Malfoy make a small sigh of relief, but the moment was brief and soon he covered his lapses with his usual look of disdain.
" Trying to fight your little girlfriend's battle, eh?" Draco said smugly before making a swift departure. A tense silence presided over the group. Ron and Hermione each went back to their books, and Harry took to looking back out the window. Ginny sat their quietly, before mumbling something about the bathroom and spending the rest of the train ride with some of her fifth year friends.
As soon as it became dark outside and the landscape of the land became less appealing, Harry tried to spark conversation. Both Hermione and Ron seemed quite content to spend the rest on the trip in silence, making it even more difficult, yet he made one last venture.
" So, did he say something about a new student?" Harry said, neither of them responding, he continued, " I didn't think you come to Hogwarts as a brand new sixth year."
" It's happened several times in the past, but it is rather uncommon," Hermione said, putting her book away, " Yes, and even then sixth year is really very late. If you come Hogwarts, and are not a first year, it's better to come as a second or third year. And you must have outside training to get you up to speed."
" Yeah, I heard of it happening once or twice, but the kids were always....well, weird." Ron smiled, now in a much better mood.
" How so?"
" I don't really know, that's just what I've heard.
" Come on you two," she said standing up, " We should be there in a few minutes, best to get in our robes." Each of them got into the black robes. Harry noticed that both Ron and Hermione still had their prefect badges on like last year, but decided not to comment. The train came to a stop, all of them exiting with a swarm of other students. Over the crowd Hagrid's booming voice could be heard calling out to all of the first years, he waved to the three before pulling his attention back to the group of gather student in front of him. Harry, Ron, and Hermione boarded one of the last coaches, pulling away toward the massive doors of Hogwarts.
Once at the school, along with the other Gryffindor's, they ambled toward the great hall for the sorting of the new students and beginning of the year feast. As soon as the students were all sitting at there separate house tables, a loud clink could be heard coming from the teachers table, as Dumbledore tried to get there attention. The room fell into silence.
" Thank you all for joining us another year at our beloved school, and the cycle of our time together begins again. I'm sure most of you had lovely summers, and the rest of you, well, I'm sure you must of like something about your summers too. But I'm afraid that I tend to ramble, go ahead professor." McGonagall stepped forward with a small stool, on it was placed a torn and many times patched over hat. The hall was now in complete silence in wait for the sorting hat's new song. Last years had been a tad unsettling, and no one could wait for what the hat would advise this year. The hat opened the rip that was called a mouth and began to sing:
The year now is dark with hate,
Students know not what to say.
We must be still and lay in wait,
For all our fate is to be weighed.
I speak of now the return,
All we fear is now at our door.
Be patient, be brave, or shall be burned,
For none is above this lore.
All are targets and none at peace,
Quiet in the shadow lie.
Silently the darkness sleeps,
When all our plans run a rye.
Hope in this time is few,
Which is why I offer mine.
And I turn my advice to you,
For now you have little time.
Are you to band together?
For that is what you need.
That is how you weather,
Both storms of hate and greed.
Keep them close, ever close,
Always on their toes.
For I do not want to boast,
But I, the sorting hat, surely knows.
The crowd waiting in silence, not quite sure how to respond to the dark message of the sorting hat, no one even seemed to notice the now petrified first years waiting for there fate.
" Well, that was interesting indeed," Dumbledore said breaking the tension, " professor, would you please?" McGonagall seemed suddenly back in the present and started to unroll a huge scroll of names.
" First, I would like to say, before I begin sorting, that one of our new students, Selphie Lyte, is to be sorted last because she is eldest. The rest of our new students will go in alphabetical order, as usual," she paused, " Alright. Amman, Richard." A small, frightened boy stepped up to the tiny stool, and placed the hat on his head. He was only seated a moment before the sorting hat loudly yelled out, " Ravenclaw!" Loud cheers cried out from the Ravenclaw table as they patted the poor boy on the back.
After a few more scared first years were welcomed into their houses, Harry's gaze drifted over the rest of the diminishing line. There at the end, stood a girl, taller than the rest, and obviously older. She looked strangely familiar. He poked Ron in the side, and he turned around to face Harry.
" What?" Ron said, barely talking above a whisper.
" That girl, the one at the end. Is that the new student, the one Malfoy was talking about on the train?" Harry inquired.
" Yes, she must be. Doesn't she seem oddly familiar?" Ron said, both of them staring intently at the new girl. That's when it struck Harry.
" She ruined my sweater!" Harry exclaimed, maybe a bit too loud, and most of the people around him at the table looked over.
*** *** ***
A/n: Bad place to stop, I know. Next chapter is going to be awesome, so if you like what you've read, review. If you hate what you read, review. I don't really care, I just want to know. Expect an update soon! ~Sticky Elf ^^