Chapter 2: Hogwarts Again
Harry was dog tired the next day as he climbed onto the Hogwarts Express. Morning had come much to early for the young wizard and he had barely slept a wink. He climbed into an empty compartment and began to doze off. No sooner had he Ron and Hermione gotten comfortable did someone else arrive in that compartment. He had flowing red hair and wore a school uniform of a dark pink.
" Terribly sorry," he said, " Didn't mean to intrude. All the other compartments are full. Do you mind if I crash here?"
" Not at all." Harry replied. He was glad to have a little extra company rather than Ron and Hermione.
" Thanks very much." He said. He set his stuff down next to his seat and stowed his trunk in the overhead compartment. He then started to rebuke himself as if he had done something criminal. " My apologies. Where are my manners? I haven't introduced myself. My name is Richard Rosewald. And you are?"
" I'm Ron Weasly." Ron piped up.
" My name is Hermione Granger." Hermione replied.
" Ah," Richard said, pulling a rose from his pocket, " And a flower for such a lovely young lady as this."
Hermione started to blush. Whoever this guy was and wherever he came from he was not lacking in the charm department.
" And this man needs no introduction. I stand before the famous Harry Potter." Richard said, kneeling in front of Harry.
" Please, there is no need to do this." Harry assured him.
" The modest one, aren't you?" Richard said as he rose. " Even I have heard of your exploits against Lord Voldemort."
The three of them were stunned. No one except Harry and Dumbledore ever called Voldemort by his name.
" You are surprised." Richard stated. " I fear neither Dark Lord nor his name. The Dark Lord feeds off fear. I will not give sustenance. He will pay for the crimes he has committed, I swear it."
" You're quite the honorable type." Hermione stated. " I'd like to see him fight Millicent Bestrode."
" Sorry," Richard replied, " You won't get that chance. Harming females is against my code of honor."
" I'm starting to like this guy." Harry said. " Your parents must be very proud."
" My father has raised me over the years." Richard said. " My mother when I was to young to remember her."
" Ooh, sorry." Harry apologized.
" It's quite alright." Richard reassured him. " I never knew her. My father isn't that concerned for me either. I guess you could say I've been living on my own for these many years. I learned to cook when I was seven. My father thought it was a useful skill to know. I have no pets now, except for one. I hope Youko will know where to find me."
" Youko?" Ron asked.
" My pet fox." Richard clarified.
" Oh, I love foxes." Hermione squealed.
" Then you are certain to love Youko." Richard finished. " He should be able to find me. All he has is trace my scent, and that hasn't been a problem for him in the past."
The train ride went smoothly for the most part. When they were an hour from Hogwarts the train began to jerk a little.
" What in the bloody hell was that?" Ron inquired.
" I don't know." Harry answered.
" The train's about to go over a cliff!" Richard screamed.
" What!!" Harry exclaimed.
" The train had to make a tight turn." Richard answered. " Apparently it failed. I think it's time I show you some magic of my own. I'll be right back."
He rushed to the back of the compartment and opened the door. Outside there was nothing but train tracks for miles. Richard hopped out of the train and pulled a rose out of his hair.
" What's he going to do with that?" Ron asked.
" Rose Whip!" Richard shouted. All of a sudden, the rose in his hand became a long whip. He tightly secured it to the axle of the train's wheels. He then proceeded to try and haul the train back onto the tracks. He couldn't do it alone, however, and he soon began to lose his grip. But just a minute later he felt a second pair of hands on the end of his whip. It was Harry struggling with all his might to help Richard pull the train up.
" This doesn't make sense." Richard said, trying to contemplate what was going on. " I realize that those two mean a lot to you, but not everyone on that train shows you the respect you deserve."
" It's true that Ron and Hermione are the only real friends I've ever had at Hogwarts." Harry responded. " But there is one person on that train that means more to me than anything in the world, and I will not stand by and watch her die."
Richard sensed something from Harry just then. A feeling of strength and courage he had only seen displayed by one other person. He then understood. " Very well, then. Let's make sure we succeed."
They both pulled with every last once of energy they had. They managed to finally rerail the train and they were off once again to Hogwarts. Richard couldn't help but watch Harry. 'This Potter boy has more Spirit Energy than he can comprehend. Perhaps I should keep an eye on him.'
" So Richard," Hermione said, breaking his train of thought, " Are you new to Hogwarts?"
" Yes, in a way." Richard replied. " The mailing service screwed up a couple years back. I should really be in my sixth year. Professor Dumbledore agreed to let me have my class with the sixth years if I could study the material I missed over the summer, and I have. I will still need to be sorted however."
" Oh, good, so you'll be with us." Hermione said.
" Yes." Richard answered. At that point the train slowed to a stop. They had arrived at the train station. They made there way to the castle. Once there, Harry, Ron and Hermione took their seats at the Gryffindor table. Richard stood in the corner of the Great Hall, looking calm as ever, twirling a rose between his fingers. Harry knew now how important that rose was to Richard's survival. The Sorting Ceremony began immediately (For the sake of time, I won't go through it all). When Richard's turn came, the whole Great Hall was silent. Harry was relieved when the sorting hat yelled "Gryffindor" at the top of its lungs. Richard took his seat with them at the Gryffindor table. When the time came, they all headed for the Gryffindor common room. There was, for some reason, a smell of rotten leaves and dirt in the air.
" What is that?" Hermione said with disgust in her tone.
" A thousand pardons." Richard said with a smile on his face. " Youko seems to have had a long journey through the woods."
Richard held in his arms a gorgeous silver fox. Every girl in the room crowded around to get a good look at Youko. Harry was tired as anything from not sleeping the night before, and from hauling a train back on the tracks. He went to the boy's dormitories and went straight to bed.
Monday came as a welcome to all Hogwarts students. Harry was especially excited because he didn't have any classes with Snape today. Harry sat at the Gryffindor table and began to scarf down his breakfast. He glanced over at the Ravenclaw table and saw Cho Chang sitting with some of her friends. The morning post arrived. Hermione immediately tore into her copy of the Daily Prophet to read what was said in Harry's interview. When she was through she looked up at Harry in complete shock.
" Harry this is beautiful." Hermione said to him, nearly in tears.
Harry stole another glance over to the Ravenclaw table at Cho. This time Richard had noticed. He immediately got the idea and went back to his breakfast. Harry continued to look in Cho's direction. She was reading the Daily Prophet. He then glanced at the letter in her hands. It was his letter. His stomach began to lurch in all different directions. The bell rang to signal the start of classes. He walked off toward Transfiguration with McGonagall. He wondered what Cho thought of his interview and his letter. And even more, did he say too much.
Harry was dog tired the next day as he climbed onto the Hogwarts Express. Morning had come much to early for the young wizard and he had barely slept a wink. He climbed into an empty compartment and began to doze off. No sooner had he Ron and Hermione gotten comfortable did someone else arrive in that compartment. He had flowing red hair and wore a school uniform of a dark pink.
" Terribly sorry," he said, " Didn't mean to intrude. All the other compartments are full. Do you mind if I crash here?"
" Not at all." Harry replied. He was glad to have a little extra company rather than Ron and Hermione.
" Thanks very much." He said. He set his stuff down next to his seat and stowed his trunk in the overhead compartment. He then started to rebuke himself as if he had done something criminal. " My apologies. Where are my manners? I haven't introduced myself. My name is Richard Rosewald. And you are?"
" I'm Ron Weasly." Ron piped up.
" My name is Hermione Granger." Hermione replied.
" Ah," Richard said, pulling a rose from his pocket, " And a flower for such a lovely young lady as this."
Hermione started to blush. Whoever this guy was and wherever he came from he was not lacking in the charm department.
" And this man needs no introduction. I stand before the famous Harry Potter." Richard said, kneeling in front of Harry.
" Please, there is no need to do this." Harry assured him.
" The modest one, aren't you?" Richard said as he rose. " Even I have heard of your exploits against Lord Voldemort."
The three of them were stunned. No one except Harry and Dumbledore ever called Voldemort by his name.
" You are surprised." Richard stated. " I fear neither Dark Lord nor his name. The Dark Lord feeds off fear. I will not give sustenance. He will pay for the crimes he has committed, I swear it."
" You're quite the honorable type." Hermione stated. " I'd like to see him fight Millicent Bestrode."
" Sorry," Richard replied, " You won't get that chance. Harming females is against my code of honor."
" I'm starting to like this guy." Harry said. " Your parents must be very proud."
" My father has raised me over the years." Richard said. " My mother when I was to young to remember her."
" Ooh, sorry." Harry apologized.
" It's quite alright." Richard reassured him. " I never knew her. My father isn't that concerned for me either. I guess you could say I've been living on my own for these many years. I learned to cook when I was seven. My father thought it was a useful skill to know. I have no pets now, except for one. I hope Youko will know where to find me."
" Youko?" Ron asked.
" My pet fox." Richard clarified.
" Oh, I love foxes." Hermione squealed.
" Then you are certain to love Youko." Richard finished. " He should be able to find me. All he has is trace my scent, and that hasn't been a problem for him in the past."
The train ride went smoothly for the most part. When they were an hour from Hogwarts the train began to jerk a little.
" What in the bloody hell was that?" Ron inquired.
" I don't know." Harry answered.
" The train's about to go over a cliff!" Richard screamed.
" What!!" Harry exclaimed.
" The train had to make a tight turn." Richard answered. " Apparently it failed. I think it's time I show you some magic of my own. I'll be right back."
He rushed to the back of the compartment and opened the door. Outside there was nothing but train tracks for miles. Richard hopped out of the train and pulled a rose out of his hair.
" What's he going to do with that?" Ron asked.
" Rose Whip!" Richard shouted. All of a sudden, the rose in his hand became a long whip. He tightly secured it to the axle of the train's wheels. He then proceeded to try and haul the train back onto the tracks. He couldn't do it alone, however, and he soon began to lose his grip. But just a minute later he felt a second pair of hands on the end of his whip. It was Harry struggling with all his might to help Richard pull the train up.
" This doesn't make sense." Richard said, trying to contemplate what was going on. " I realize that those two mean a lot to you, but not everyone on that train shows you the respect you deserve."
" It's true that Ron and Hermione are the only real friends I've ever had at Hogwarts." Harry responded. " But there is one person on that train that means more to me than anything in the world, and I will not stand by and watch her die."
Richard sensed something from Harry just then. A feeling of strength and courage he had only seen displayed by one other person. He then understood. " Very well, then. Let's make sure we succeed."
They both pulled with every last once of energy they had. They managed to finally rerail the train and they were off once again to Hogwarts. Richard couldn't help but watch Harry. 'This Potter boy has more Spirit Energy than he can comprehend. Perhaps I should keep an eye on him.'
" So Richard," Hermione said, breaking his train of thought, " Are you new to Hogwarts?"
" Yes, in a way." Richard replied. " The mailing service screwed up a couple years back. I should really be in my sixth year. Professor Dumbledore agreed to let me have my class with the sixth years if I could study the material I missed over the summer, and I have. I will still need to be sorted however."
" Oh, good, so you'll be with us." Hermione said.
" Yes." Richard answered. At that point the train slowed to a stop. They had arrived at the train station. They made there way to the castle. Once there, Harry, Ron and Hermione took their seats at the Gryffindor table. Richard stood in the corner of the Great Hall, looking calm as ever, twirling a rose between his fingers. Harry knew now how important that rose was to Richard's survival. The Sorting Ceremony began immediately (For the sake of time, I won't go through it all). When Richard's turn came, the whole Great Hall was silent. Harry was relieved when the sorting hat yelled "Gryffindor" at the top of its lungs. Richard took his seat with them at the Gryffindor table. When the time came, they all headed for the Gryffindor common room. There was, for some reason, a smell of rotten leaves and dirt in the air.
" What is that?" Hermione said with disgust in her tone.
" A thousand pardons." Richard said with a smile on his face. " Youko seems to have had a long journey through the woods."
Richard held in his arms a gorgeous silver fox. Every girl in the room crowded around to get a good look at Youko. Harry was tired as anything from not sleeping the night before, and from hauling a train back on the tracks. He went to the boy's dormitories and went straight to bed.
Monday came as a welcome to all Hogwarts students. Harry was especially excited because he didn't have any classes with Snape today. Harry sat at the Gryffindor table and began to scarf down his breakfast. He glanced over at the Ravenclaw table and saw Cho Chang sitting with some of her friends. The morning post arrived. Hermione immediately tore into her copy of the Daily Prophet to read what was said in Harry's interview. When she was through she looked up at Harry in complete shock.
" Harry this is beautiful." Hermione said to him, nearly in tears.
Harry stole another glance over to the Ravenclaw table at Cho. This time Richard had noticed. He immediately got the idea and went back to his breakfast. Harry continued to look in Cho's direction. She was reading the Daily Prophet. He then glanced at the letter in her hands. It was his letter. His stomach began to lurch in all different directions. The bell rang to signal the start of classes. He walked off toward Transfiguration with McGonagall. He wondered what Cho thought of his interview and his letter. And even more, did he say too much.