*~* Chapter Five: Business as Usual *~*

"Oy! Harry!"

"Hello, Ron." Harry greeted when he'd located his friend, "Hair back to normal yet?"

"Unfortunately, no." Ron said with a wince, lifting his hat a few inches, "But almost. When Fred and George make a product, they sure make a product. Oh, and they have their shop up in Hogsmeade now, did you know? Impressive, really. Got it all set up over the summer! Of course, them being able to use magic now . . ."

The Hogwarts Express gave a shrill whistle behind them, causing the two boys to hurry with their trunks. Once they'd said goodbye to their significant others, found a compartment and settled in, they resumed their conversation

"You know who always comes to mind when I look in the mirror at my hair?" Ron asked. Harry shook his head. "KayKay. Remember that time when you had a bet, and she lost so you had her dye her hair red and gold for a month? Just imagine if this had been patented before then!"

Ron was laughing, but stopped abruptly at the look on Harry's face.

"Come on, mate. You'll see her again. So why not laugh at the good times, eh?"

"Yeah. I guess. Where's Hermione?" Harry asked, both to change the subject and because he hadn't yet seen her.

"I'm not sure. She said something about needing to talk to Ginny. I haven't the slightest clue why . . . probably just girl talk. You know, clothes, hair . . . you know the way girls get . . . why?"

"Just wondering . . ." then, remembering the book he'd packed near the top of his trunk, Harry added, "and I have something I want to show the both of you."

"Really? Well, what is it?"

"I'll tell you when Hermione—"

"Yes Harry?" the subject in question asked, entering the compartment and sliding the door shut behind her. "Colloportus!"

"Oh, hello Hermione!" Harry said in surprise. "Well then, just let me get it . . ."

"What was that for?" Ron questioned Hermione as Harry stood and opened his trunk (a difficult task, it being on the luggage carrier).

"Well, if you want Malfoy to . . ."

"No, no, definitely not. Thank you, Hermione." Harry supplied, sitting back down with the Animagus journal in his hands. "Now, this is what I wanted to show you guys. Hermione, we'll need your help especially. You're the smart one."

"The 'smart one'?" Hermione questioned, looking at Harry with amusement.

"Of course! Just like Harry is the brave one!" Ron laughed. "But then which one am I?"

"Well, we all need a good laugh now and then." Harry joked. Ron feigned a hurt expression.

"Well, thanks a lot. Good to know who your mates are." He said, slumping in his seat, causing Harry and Hermione to only laugh at him more. Ron joined in after giving up his sad pretense.

"Well Harry, what is it anyhow?" Hermione asked when their laughter had died away.

"Well . . . this." He said indicating the journal in his hands. Hermione made a motion for him to hand it over to her, so as she flipped through the pages, Harry explained.

"It's where Sirius and my dad recorded how they went about becoming Anamagi. He and Remus gave it to me for my birthday . . . I've read it all, but it's still a bit confusing to me. All I can understand so far is that we have to do some sort of test to find out what kind of animal we should try to turn into."

"Harry, we can't do this! It's illegal!" Hermione unsurprisingly protested.

"Yeah, but so is brewing Polyjuice Potion in a Girls Lavatory." Ron grinned.

"Not to mention using a Time-Turner for activities that don't have ministry approval . . ."

" . . . And helping a convicted murderer escape . . ."

" . . . Oh, and don't forget that third-floor corridor . . ."

"Okay, okay, I got it!" Hermione exclaimed, winning a crooked grin from Harry and a smug one from Ron. "But still, those were important . . . necessary."

"Yeah, and who's to say that being able to . . . to fly away or gallop away or something won't come in handy? You never know, Hermione!" Harry reasoned. "And we can register once we graduate . . . maybe . . ."

"Oh fine, fine." Hermione said with a large sigh.

"Oh, admit it Hermione, you're secretly glad that we were right and that you have to go along with it." Ron said.

"Maybe . . ." she said suggestively, looking down at the book again. "Anyhow, we'll have to brew a potion first. Lots of complicated measurements and ingredients, but nothing we won't be able to get. Let's see . . . it has to simmer from one full moon to the next . . ."

"There's a full moon tonight!" Harry exclaimed. "We can start it now!"

"No we can't, Harry, we'd never get it ready in time! We'll have to start on . . . when's the next full moon? The twenty-sixth?"–Harry and Ron shrugged—"As I was saying, then we add the last ingredients and let it sit in a bottle for two weeks to gain potency. We then separate the potion between us and add a drop of our blood—"

"Our WHAT?!" Ron exclaimed, looking disgusted.

"Our blood. Oh, just a drop Ron, stop wincing!"

"And then I suppose we drink it?"

"No, Rainbow Hair" Hermione countered. "We take an enchanted parchment and put one drop of the potion on for each year we are old. So that would be sixteen. After that, the parchment will become patterned . . . we'll have to sneak a trip to the library, to find out what the patterns mean, James, Sirius, and Peter only put the patterns of what they got . . . oh, but they also wrote down what book they used, that's great—"

"Lunch cart!" Ron interrupted, jumping from his seat to unlock the door. Hermione rolled her eyes and shook her head, burying herself in the journal. After Harry and Ron had bought enough Cauldron Cakes, Pumpkin Pasties, Chocolate Frogs, and other sweets to satisfy themselves, Hermione continued.

"Well, once we find out what animal we are, we need to get a bit of that kind of animal's fur, feather, hair, something . . . some essence of them . . ."

"Sounding like Polyjuice Potion again." Ron muttered through a mouthful of Jelly Slugs.

"Not!" Hermione snapped. "Then we need to . . . oh my, it'll be difficult . . . and dangerous . . ."

"Well? What is it we'll have to do?" Harry asked with a bit more civility than Ron.

"We'll have to infuse the essence's DNA with our own . . . or vice versa . . . and then—this is the part where people usually go wrong, either this or the DNA, they scramble their own DNA by accident—we perform an advanced human transfiguration charm . . ."

Hermione continued to chatter, easily filling the much of the trip to Hogwarts.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

"Chad!" KayKay greeted brightly, throwing an arm around her unofficial brother and causing him to stagger back a few steps. She'd ambushed him as soon as he'd stepped off of the street trolley that transported students from the Floo Station to the gates of Escondito.

"Whoa, hi there, kiddo," he laughed, hugging her back, "still as mature as a Firstie, eh?"

"Oh, stop it." She said, giving him a light punch on the arm. "So, any-who, how was your summer?"

"Oh, good, good." He said as they began to walk side by side up the hill towards the school, arms loped casually around each other's necks, the very picture of friendly siblings. "Went camping up in Canada fer a while, don'cha know, eh?" he added in a cheesy Canadian accent.

KayKay joked back, "Aye, tell me aboot it." They both laughed, and KayKay warned, "I live much further north than you, and in Minnesota. Don't get into an accent contest with me!"

"Oh? Should I be scared now?"

"Oy vey" KayKay rolled her eyes, then glanced over at Chad. She stopped walking.

"What is it?"

KayKay shook her head and smiled, running a head from the top of her head straight over. It touched Chad's forehead. She grinned wider and kept walking.

"I'm catching up to you" she said smugly, "I'm almost as tall as you now."

"Yeah, but we're on a hill, and you were a step ahead of me."

"No my friend, you were a step ahead of me. I stopped walking before you did."

"I'm sure." Chad deadpanned. KayKay laughed again then looked up at the sky.

"I'm glad that it's clear tonight," she commented, "remember last year when we had to stand in the pouring rain for the sorting, and then we had the picnic on the Dining Room floor?"

Escondito being in a wonderfully warm climate, beginning and end of year feasts were picnics outside. People either sat at picnic tables or on the cool grass, but before feasts began, the new kids were naturally sorted.

The sorting was very simple . . . but rather unlike Hogwarts. Instead of putting on a talking hat, one at a time the first years would be sorted by an enchanted redwood tree that had the founder's essences fused into the ancient wood.

A redwood tree, KayKay theorized, was a wise choice. Normal ones live so long, just imagine how long a magical one can last!

KayKay could remember her sorting very clearly. A song, so enchanting that it seemingly floated on the wind, reminded everyone of the school's history, the different teams, and the necessity of working with one's team. KayKay, being close to the beginning of the alphabet, was called at what seemed to be far too soon. She walked close the tree and placed a trembling hand on the trunk, warm from the sun.

What happened next was a bit more similar to the sorting hat. A warm, kind voice filled her head and lifted her heart.

Ah, the tree had said to her, and she comes at last. It does one good to feel the future. But the knowledge! What shall you do with the knowledge?

KayKay was confused to say the least.

"What . . . what do you mean?" she had murmured quietly, eyes closed tightly against the setting sun.

The knowledge, the tree repeated cryptically. Knowledge and power . . . but ah, a good heart. No, no, Hisidance would not have you. I am inclined to say . . . BRAVENHEART.

With that solitary word, the leaves of the tree shone blue and one fell, floating softly to the ground where KayKay picked it up. The rest of the leaves turned back to green but the one on the ground kept it's abnormal color, and KayKay went quickly to where the cheering students sat at blue tables or blue picnic blankets, tucking the leaf into her pocket as she went . . .

"KayKay . . . Escondito to KayKay . . . anybody home? Hellooo . . ."

"Oh, what? Stop that, Chad!" KayKay shoved Chad's energetic hand away from her face.

"Then come on, let's sit down before there's no more room at the table!" he exclaimed, grabbing her by the wrist and steering her through the crowd.

"You know, I've been talking all about my summer, but . . . you haven't said a word about yours. So what happened?" Chad asked once they were seated.

"Well, let's see." KayKay began counting on her fingers, "New baby I had to take care of. Escape with my friend to an amusement park for my birthday. A beating from Joe—"

The water Chad was drinking from his glass came back out of his mouth with a sputter. "He did WHAT?!"

"Shhh, I'm not finished yet!" KayKay admonished, handing Chad a napkin. "Joe smashed my guitar, Sue enrolled me in boot camp—"

" 'Boot camp' ?!"

"I said, shhh! Couldn't send a letter to you, Megan, Ron, Hermione, Lupin or Sirius, so I started sending them to Harry. Got caught halfway through writing one—we're only supposed to write them to our guardians—and it turns out that Norwood checks all the hawks going out, so none of my letters were sent. I was given obstacle course laps—"

"What does an obstacle course have to do with—" Chad began, but stopped when KayKay glared at him.

"I then ran into Professor O'Connor . . . literally . . . and she brought me here . . . mind you, the General wasn't very happy that I got released early, but there you go . . ."

"But, why?"

"I didn't know at first. O'Connor wouldn't tell me anything. Finally, after being here for a week she told me." KayKay said, pausing at this point in her tale to look at Chad. He still appeared clueless.

"Well . . . ?" he prompted, "What was it?"

"Chad, you ah . . ." she leaned back on the bench and looked up at the sky, biting her lip. "You didn't happen to keep up with the wizarding news over the summer, did you?"

"Well, of course I did, who didn't?" Chad asked, looking at KayKay in confusion. "There wasn't much, the Weird Sisters had a falling out, Ireland won the Quidditch cup again, and there were only a couple attacks by . . . oh, no." His eyes widened in realization.

KayKay swallowed hard and nodded her head, still looking up at the sky. She jumped a little as Chad enveloped her in a comforting embrace.

"I'm so sorry, KayKay," he said softly, "nobody should have to go through something like this even once in their lives, but you . . ."

"It's my fault." KayKay interrupted. "It's all my fault. He went there to get me, that's the only reason he would have done something so random—"

"No it isn't KayKay!" Chad insisted, pulling back and putting his hands on her shoulders. "It isn't!"

KayKay simply blinked at him. "Chad, if it wasn't for me—"

"If it wasn't for you, this world wouldn't stand a chance! KayKay, as long as you and Harry are still alive, Voldemort hasn't won. And KayKay, you can't blame yourself for what Voldemort did!"

"Well why not? You can't tell me that you honestly think he was going to my house for tea and got angry when Sue ran out of finger sandwiches!"

"No KayKay, he—"

"Then what?! Why would he go out of his way, why would he attack my family, why would he have done it all if he wasn't trying to get to me?"

Chad exploded. "Because that's the way his mind works, KayKay!" Looking around and seeing fellow students looking at him strangely, Chad lowered his voice.

"He likes to kill people, KayKay! It makes him feel strong to be able to end other people's lives! I'm not saying that you weren't who he was looking for, but you weren't the one who whipped out their wand and yelled out the killing curse at them, were you?"

"Well . . . no . . . but still—"

"It wasn't you fault he killed people in Saliente, was it?"—KayKay shook her head—"And it still isn't your fault that he killed your cousins. It isn't your fault, none of it ever was your fault, and none of it ever will be your fault. And KayKay, if you can't understand that, then well . . . you're just stupid!"

Something in Chad's speech triggered her memory . . . KayKay tried to grasp it, but it wriggled away before KayKay could begin to sort it out.

"All right, KayKay?" Chad asked with an air of concern.

In spite of herself, KayKay smiled. Even back in her first year, Chad's second, Chad had stepped into the role of "big brother", gladly taking KayKay under his wing and looking out for her at school. He never stopped helping her out, and in every sense he was almost as wonderful as the older brother she'd lost along with most of her family.

"Yeah." She said, giving him a grateful hug. "Thanks, Chad."

Just then, Professor O'Connor cleared her throat, successfully gaining the attention of all the students. The first years looked at her, but the rest of the students were gazing raptly at the tall redwood behind the headmistress. An unearthly song rose to the sky, giving KayKay shivers as she allowed it to wash over her.

In a time not very long ago,

There were magicians five

Whom for a magic institute

Did with perseverance strive.

Bravenheart, Sphinxanor,

Hisidance and Cillphonowyn.

And don't forget the last;

Helpful Desirlamorden.

With nothing but spare change

And a pocket full of dreams

Did they build this lovely institute

And teach children magic things.

Yes, they did play favorites

And thus forms the teams.

And since by now they have all gone,

'Tis I who make the means.

Bravenheart, the leader.

To those with courage through and through

This shall be the team

That is just right for you.

Sphinxanor, the planner.

For those cunning and those wise

This is the family

That you shall come to prize

Hisidance, the sly one.

Those determined and wily

Hisidance is the best team

For anyone like thee

Cillphonowyn, the cautious.

If you plan ahead and venture slow

This is the kindly team

That you will come to know.

Desirlamorden, the helper.

Those with helping hands always

The most neutral of the teams

Desirlamorden is your way.

To all: coexist in harmony.

Though rivalry is your style,

Hard times affect all

But peace helps deal a while

Step forward, be true,

I haven't misplaced yet.

Your family is waiting,

And it's about time you met.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *~ * ~ * ~ *

The Great Hall burst into applause as the Sorting Hat finished his song with a small bow. Per usual, Professor McGonagall stepped forward and unrolled a long scroll of names. Surveying the mass of students over her glasses for a moment, the strict teacher then cleared her throat and read the first name.

"Aaron, Michael"

A sandy-haired boy separated from the rest of the group and, looking nothing short of petrified, started tentatively up the steps and sat on the old stool.

"So, how many O.W.L.S did you both get?" Hermione whispered as the hat contemplated its decision.

"Enough" Ron answered evasively, concentrating on the hat with feigned attention. ("HUFFLEPUFF!") Hermione rolled her eyes impatiently and instead focused on Harry.

"Well?" she inquired after he'd simply stared back at her, "How did you do?"

Harry sighed and sat back a little.

"Not as good as I'd have hoped," he admitted. "I think I made the classes I really need to become an Auror though, and that's the important thing."

Hermione nodded in agreement as "Airde, Innes", a boy with green eyes and rusty brown locks of curls, was sorted into Ravenclaw

"How about you?" Harry asked Hermione. "Oh wait, what am I saying? Of course you got 'Outstanding' on them all . . ."

Hermione blushed with pride and pretended to return her attention to the girl sitting on the stool to be sorted.

"I'm still confused as to why they didn't make you Prefect last year." Harry continued, making Hermione look at him again.

"No one was chosen for Prefect last year, Harry. They choose from the Fifth Years every other year. I just missed my chance by a year, is all. I can still be Head Girl next year. Speaking of Prefects, did you see who got the girl's badge this year for Gryffindor?"

"Who?" Harry asked, looking around. Hermione nodded down the table at Ginny, who was wearing the shiny badge with pride.

Harry was barely surprised but, having nothing to say, looked back to the sorting.

Sabrina Dawson, a confident-looking girl with long brown hair and dark eyes was the first to join Gryffindor and was greeted with loud applause.

"Hi guys," a voice greeted softly as someone slid into the chair next to Hermione. "Just Flooed in. What did I miss?"

"Hi Megan. You didn't miss much, only one girl sorted into Gryffindor so far." Hermione nodded down the table at Sabrina, "How was your holiday?"

"Oh, can't complain." Megan replied, flipping her hair over her shoulder and leaning farther in towards the center of the table to better see the Sorting. Karen Fisher, a short, brown-haired, brown-eyed girl with braces was sitting tentatively on the stool, and the hat had to consider a while before deciding to place her in Slytherin. Megan looked back at her friends and continued.

"Rather boring, but after last year a bit of calm was more than welcome. But . . ."

"But what?" prompted Harry, who was only listening with one ear.

"Well, I'm just . . . well, did any of you get letters from KayKay? I didn't get any at the orphanage, but that isn't very surprising, truth be told . . ."

Harry's head jerked back to Megan, his attention now on her in full. Hermione was first to reply, however.

"Well no, but I didn't expect any. I'm not sure why it worries you . . . I mean, if she normally doesn't write you anyhow."

"The attack." Harry said simply. Megan looked at him in surprise, then nodded.

"I read about it, but it didn't say any names. I expected another article once they figured out the identities . . . I mean, how long could it take? But then no other article came out, and I'm beginning to wonder if You-Know-Who didn't somehow silence the Ministry." Megan shook her head, "I mean it could be a coincidence, but how likely is that?"

Harry felt a pang of despair, "Not likely."

Hermione had always been the logical one of the group, so it was no surprise that it was she who put their minds at ease . . . slightly.

"Harry, you and I both know how she's connected to you. Wouldn't you have felt something? And even if you hadn't, Dumbledore would have told you, security around you would have risen very conspicuously, and there wouldn't be any doubts of it. Now lets pay attention to the Sorting. Please?"

Megan and Harry admitted the intelligence behind Hermione's words and turned their attention to the First Years again.

The Sorting went pretty fast after a girl with raven hair and striking violet eyes named Jaymi Krysallis was Sorted into Ravenclaw. Not long after, Aki Nomiko, a girl who looked Japanese was sorted into Slytherin and her twin brother Kitsune, with almond shaped eyes and jet-black hair identical to his sister's, was sorted into Hufflepuff. Pretty soon "Rolands, Lynn" was sorted into Gryffindor. The girl hopped off of the stool and joined her fellows, hazel eyes sparkling behind her glasses.

Finally, with, "Zinwar, Paul" being sorted to Hufflepuff, the Sorting ended and the feast began. To Harry, it seemed like only a few minutes later that he walked upstairs and staggered into bed.

Little did he know that the next day, the real trouble would begin.