Zane Cobalt, the Muggle-Born Slytherin
Hogwart's Express.
Zane woke up at five A.M. on the morning of September first with a smile on his face. his father was already off to work, but his mother watched him pack with glee. She looked back down at her coffee and sighed. Zane thought, as he carried the trunk he had purchased in Diagon Alley, that they had been rather distant since he had gotten back. Neither had really spoken to him quiet the same as they had before, probably because he wasn't acting like he had before.
Since he had returned he had immersed himself in his new school books. He poured over the theory of different spells and potions. He loved the sound of flying on a broomstick. He had been dieing to try spells he had been reading about out on different things, but he had been instructed by Prof. Granger that it was illegal for him to do spells when not at Hogwart's. All his life, Zane had wanted adventure and now he felt he would actually have it. He was in the dining room, eating breakfast and reading Hogwart's, a History, when there was a knock at the door. He whistled to Nevermore who fluttered to his shoulder. He had been taking her with him everywhere. He checked his watch, they still had fifteen minutes.
He opened the door and there stood Prof. Granger. "Sorry I'm early, force of habit." Mrs. Cobalt invited her in. the women sat in the living room talking about different activities at Hogwart's. Zane's ears perked up at the sound of the broomstick game "quidditch". "Plus," added Prof. Granger, "There is always a way for students to blow off steam." Here eyes went glassy as she remembered her own time at Hogwart's.
After fifteen minutes they were off too the station. Even being in London he didn't get into Charring Cross until ten o'clock. They hurried to Platforms nine and ten, and Zane looked about in a confused way. Then he caught a wisp of conversation. A tall lean woman had just said, "Always like this on the first. Packed with Muggles."
He turned to get a better look at her, she had long, bright red hair. Her husband was round and blonde, and the girl, Zane's age, had her mother's hair. Prof. Granger called out to them, "Gin! Neville! And there's my niece! How are you Shelly?"
The family came over too give hugs to Prof. Granger. Then "Gin" looked down at Zane and asked, "This one of the students you were picking up?"
"The only one this year. Zane these are my friends Ginny Longbottom, and her husband, Neville Longbottom. And this is their daughter, Shelly Longbottom." Prof. Granger's introduction was barely heard as he stared in awe at the new wizards, especially the girl. She had warm brown eyes and hair like a river of fire.
He swallowed the lump in his throat and thrust out his hand and said, "Hello, I'm Zane."
"Hello, my name is Shelly. Its nice to meet you."
After a lot of talking, Neville asked, "So Zane, have you decided which house you think your best for?"
"House sir?"
he had said, "Oh yes, with the her pedigree, Shelly is bound for Gryffindor . . ." before Prof. Granger hit him on the arm.
"Neville, it is Hogwart's tradition that they don't know about that!" she was fairly irked, and Neville sort of dropped his head. "Honestly Neville, I love you, but if you are going to work at Hogwart's you are going to have to think about things more."
"Mr. Longbottom is going to work at Hogwart's?" asked Zane.
"Yeah," chirped Shelly, "He is going to be the assistant Herbology teacher!"
Neville blushed a little at his daughters excitement. Then he shook his head and said, "Come now children, time for you to get on the train"
Zane looked around, and remembered that their train left from Platform 9 ¾, which he did not see. The he watched as Shelly aimed her cart at a solid wall which divided plat forms 9 and 10, and ran straight at it. He was about to call out, when she disappeared into the wall. His jaw simply disengaged. Prof. Granger leaned down and explained, "Through there is the platform we need to reach. I want you to do just like Shelly., and we will follow after you. Zane aimed his cart as ordered and began to run. At the last moment he closed his eyes, and expected to crash. Suddenly he felt himself hit something soft, that gave. Then he heard that something yelp, "Ow!"
He opened his eyes and looked, he was in a new place, and he had run into Shelly. "Sorry, Shelly, I'm really sorry." He apologized profusely, but she just waved him off and smiled.
That was when he saw it. It was an enormous old fashioned steam engine, painted scarlet. The sign on the side read, "Hogwart's Express". Soon the adults were through and helping the children load their trunks. Once they were settled in a compartment. The began to relax.
They chatted idly for a few minute each expressing envy of the other's life style, Zane wishing he had grown up wizard, Shelly wishing she had grown up Muggle. Then they heard a ruckus outside their door. They looked and saw two girls, obviously their age, sprawled on the floor, laughing their heads off, beside their askew trunks, with a foul smell emanating from an inky substance in a puddle near the door.
"Sorry 'bout the smell mates," said the first girl, who had dirty blonde hair and green eyes. "we slipped and Rachel's bottle of Stink Sap fell out."
Zane helped the girls gather their things, and helped them store the trunks in their compartment. Once all were settled down they introduced themselves. The blonde said, "My name is Lo-Ith Voluth. Yes I know that is a bizarre name, but you will need to take it up with my mother."
The other, who was sporting warm brown hair and bright blue eyes, said, "And I am Rachel Stonewater. Nice to meet you."
Shelly reaced out her hands and said, "Shelly Longbottom, and this is Zane Cobalt. May I ask why you had a bottle of Stink Sap?"
"Erm . . . well. . . " Rachel said.
"what Rachel is trying to say is that she was planning on putting it in the Potions' teacher's morning tea," Lo-Ith informed them.
Shelly looked appalled but Zane laughed, "That would be something to see. As long as you don't do it to the Transfiguration's teacher or the Assistant Herbology teacher."
"Why are they off limits," Rachel said raising a brow.
"'cause, the assistant Herbology teacher is her pop," said Zane, "And I got dibs on the Transfigurations teacher."
They started to talk on a number of topics. They taught Zane how to play exploding snaps, and gobstones. He told showed off Nevermore, who wanted out of her cage. But as on any train ride, peace cannot last.
"Damnit Longbottom," said an acidic voice from the door. They all looked up and saw the blondes. The girl continued, "You really should have more pride. Don't you know you are in a compartment full of mudbloods and half-breeds?"
Rachel looked like she was about to explode. Zane beat her to rhetoric though, "Who the hell are you?" he asked.
"I am," the girl responded, "Bellatrix Malfoy. And this is my brother," she said gesturing to the boy beside her, "Betelgeuse Malfoy. We are of a higher class than you can conceive." With that she turned her nose up and thought she would ignore him.
"Well, if you have all that class," he responded, "Then why the hell don't you act like you have any? Listen here is an idea; how about you two shut your smug ferret-like little faces and go bother someone else?"
Bellatrix looked stunned, no one spoke to her that way. She was enraged. She was about to wave her wand, when she realized that she had four pointed at her, and all she had was hers and her brothers. She turned on her heel and walked out. Her horrid perfume trailed behind her.
"Um," asked Lo-Ith as they started putting their wands away, "Does anybody actually have a useful spell we could have fired at them?"
"Nope," said Rachel.
Shelly said, "No, my uncles gave me a book on useful spells for first years, but I haven't read it yet. They are all for corridor fights." With that with that Shelly pulled out a book from her bag. The book was called, Basic Curses and Hexes for your first year, or the WWW way to survive Hogwart's corridors.
"I read some things in my charms book I would like to try," offered Zane, but he was ignored as Rachel snatched Shelly's book. "I love WWW products!" she called.
"Well, I'll pass along the compliments to my uncles then," said shelly as she pulled out her potions book.
"Wait, what do you mean 'pass along the compliments'? do you know the guys who created WWW?" Rachel grabbed Shelly's arms as she interrogated her.
"Actually yes, they are my mother's brothers." Rachel mock fainted at this point back into her seat.
"Um, ladies?" Zane asked, "What is WWW?"
"Weasly!" yelled Rachel, "Wizard! Wheezes! The absolute best in magical pranking goods. Created by the absolute geniuses Fred and George Weasly. They raised the dung-bomb to an art form!"
Lo-Ith was just laughing at her friend, and Shelly shook her head and said to Zane, "Actually my uncles are kinda idiots."
After talking about different they pulled, the legendary "Swamp incident", and the unforgettable "Fire-works Fiasco" which supposedly shutdown the entire school. they said that their had only ever been four other pranksters to stack up to them, but their names were lost to history.
After a few more hours, the train finally came to a halt at a station in a small town. "This is Hogsmeade," said Shelly, "Once we're third years, we can travel down here on certain weekends."
Then a familiar voice called out, "First years, over here please. First years I need you over here." They looked and there was Prof. Granger holding a latern. She lead them to a set of docks and said, "It is Hogwart's tradition that first year student reach the castle their first time by boat across the lake. Please try to remain in the boats, but if you are accidentally tossed out, which should not happen if you remain seated and behaved, do not fear, the giant squid will place you back into the boat from which you fell. Now every one in the boats."
"Did she say 'giant squid?'" Zane asked of Shelly, who just smiled and got in to the boat. Nevermore nudged close to his head and he stroked her. He assumed she might have a thing about boats. Rachel and Lo-Ith got into the same boat as Shelly and Zane, and the boat pushed itself off from the docks. Prof. Granger's boat lead the way and she lighted their way to the school. Zane watched as slowly, the shape of the immense castle took shape from the darkness. Lights in the windows danced and made the whole experience seem eerie. Zane involuntarily shivered. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder, it was Shelly's. she smiled and said, "It'll be okay. Nothing dangerous can happen at Hogwart's . . . can it?" they docked and walked to the main entry hall. It was then that Shelly received the answer to her question, a large suit of armour, with Mace raised, marched toward them, an eerie voice emanating from with in chanting "Kill! Kill!"
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TBC!! Please Review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Hogwart's Express.
Zane woke up at five A.M. on the morning of September first with a smile on his face. his father was already off to work, but his mother watched him pack with glee. She looked back down at her coffee and sighed. Zane thought, as he carried the trunk he had purchased in Diagon Alley, that they had been rather distant since he had gotten back. Neither had really spoken to him quiet the same as they had before, probably because he wasn't acting like he had before.
Since he had returned he had immersed himself in his new school books. He poured over the theory of different spells and potions. He loved the sound of flying on a broomstick. He had been dieing to try spells he had been reading about out on different things, but he had been instructed by Prof. Granger that it was illegal for him to do spells when not at Hogwart's. All his life, Zane had wanted adventure and now he felt he would actually have it. He was in the dining room, eating breakfast and reading Hogwart's, a History, when there was a knock at the door. He whistled to Nevermore who fluttered to his shoulder. He had been taking her with him everywhere. He checked his watch, they still had fifteen minutes.
He opened the door and there stood Prof. Granger. "Sorry I'm early, force of habit." Mrs. Cobalt invited her in. the women sat in the living room talking about different activities at Hogwart's. Zane's ears perked up at the sound of the broomstick game "quidditch". "Plus," added Prof. Granger, "There is always a way for students to blow off steam." Here eyes went glassy as she remembered her own time at Hogwart's.
After fifteen minutes they were off too the station. Even being in London he didn't get into Charring Cross until ten o'clock. They hurried to Platforms nine and ten, and Zane looked about in a confused way. Then he caught a wisp of conversation. A tall lean woman had just said, "Always like this on the first. Packed with Muggles."
He turned to get a better look at her, she had long, bright red hair. Her husband was round and blonde, and the girl, Zane's age, had her mother's hair. Prof. Granger called out to them, "Gin! Neville! And there's my niece! How are you Shelly?"
The family came over too give hugs to Prof. Granger. Then "Gin" looked down at Zane and asked, "This one of the students you were picking up?"
"The only one this year. Zane these are my friends Ginny Longbottom, and her husband, Neville Longbottom. And this is their daughter, Shelly Longbottom." Prof. Granger's introduction was barely heard as he stared in awe at the new wizards, especially the girl. She had warm brown eyes and hair like a river of fire.
He swallowed the lump in his throat and thrust out his hand and said, "Hello, I'm Zane."
"Hello, my name is Shelly. Its nice to meet you."
After a lot of talking, Neville asked, "So Zane, have you decided which house you think your best for?"
"House sir?"
he had said, "Oh yes, with the her pedigree, Shelly is bound for Gryffindor . . ." before Prof. Granger hit him on the arm.
"Neville, it is Hogwart's tradition that they don't know about that!" she was fairly irked, and Neville sort of dropped his head. "Honestly Neville, I love you, but if you are going to work at Hogwart's you are going to have to think about things more."
"Mr. Longbottom is going to work at Hogwart's?" asked Zane.
"Yeah," chirped Shelly, "He is going to be the assistant Herbology teacher!"
Neville blushed a little at his daughters excitement. Then he shook his head and said, "Come now children, time for you to get on the train"
Zane looked around, and remembered that their train left from Platform 9 ¾, which he did not see. The he watched as Shelly aimed her cart at a solid wall which divided plat forms 9 and 10, and ran straight at it. He was about to call out, when she disappeared into the wall. His jaw simply disengaged. Prof. Granger leaned down and explained, "Through there is the platform we need to reach. I want you to do just like Shelly., and we will follow after you. Zane aimed his cart as ordered and began to run. At the last moment he closed his eyes, and expected to crash. Suddenly he felt himself hit something soft, that gave. Then he heard that something yelp, "Ow!"
He opened his eyes and looked, he was in a new place, and he had run into Shelly. "Sorry, Shelly, I'm really sorry." He apologized profusely, but she just waved him off and smiled.
That was when he saw it. It was an enormous old fashioned steam engine, painted scarlet. The sign on the side read, "Hogwart's Express". Soon the adults were through and helping the children load their trunks. Once they were settled in a compartment. The began to relax.
They chatted idly for a few minute each expressing envy of the other's life style, Zane wishing he had grown up wizard, Shelly wishing she had grown up Muggle. Then they heard a ruckus outside their door. They looked and saw two girls, obviously their age, sprawled on the floor, laughing their heads off, beside their askew trunks, with a foul smell emanating from an inky substance in a puddle near the door.
"Sorry 'bout the smell mates," said the first girl, who had dirty blonde hair and green eyes. "we slipped and Rachel's bottle of Stink Sap fell out."
Zane helped the girls gather their things, and helped them store the trunks in their compartment. Once all were settled down they introduced themselves. The blonde said, "My name is Lo-Ith Voluth. Yes I know that is a bizarre name, but you will need to take it up with my mother."
The other, who was sporting warm brown hair and bright blue eyes, said, "And I am Rachel Stonewater. Nice to meet you."
Shelly reaced out her hands and said, "Shelly Longbottom, and this is Zane Cobalt. May I ask why you had a bottle of Stink Sap?"
"Erm . . . well. . . " Rachel said.
"what Rachel is trying to say is that she was planning on putting it in the Potions' teacher's morning tea," Lo-Ith informed them.
Shelly looked appalled but Zane laughed, "That would be something to see. As long as you don't do it to the Transfiguration's teacher or the Assistant Herbology teacher."
"Why are they off limits," Rachel said raising a brow.
"'cause, the assistant Herbology teacher is her pop," said Zane, "And I got dibs on the Transfigurations teacher."
They started to talk on a number of topics. They taught Zane how to play exploding snaps, and gobstones. He told showed off Nevermore, who wanted out of her cage. But as on any train ride, peace cannot last.
"Damnit Longbottom," said an acidic voice from the door. They all looked up and saw the blondes. The girl continued, "You really should have more pride. Don't you know you are in a compartment full of mudbloods and half-breeds?"
Rachel looked like she was about to explode. Zane beat her to rhetoric though, "Who the hell are you?" he asked.
"I am," the girl responded, "Bellatrix Malfoy. And this is my brother," she said gesturing to the boy beside her, "Betelgeuse Malfoy. We are of a higher class than you can conceive." With that she turned her nose up and thought she would ignore him.
"Well, if you have all that class," he responded, "Then why the hell don't you act like you have any? Listen here is an idea; how about you two shut your smug ferret-like little faces and go bother someone else?"
Bellatrix looked stunned, no one spoke to her that way. She was enraged. She was about to wave her wand, when she realized that she had four pointed at her, and all she had was hers and her brothers. She turned on her heel and walked out. Her horrid perfume trailed behind her.
"Um," asked Lo-Ith as they started putting their wands away, "Does anybody actually have a useful spell we could have fired at them?"
"Nope," said Rachel.
Shelly said, "No, my uncles gave me a book on useful spells for first years, but I haven't read it yet. They are all for corridor fights." With that with that Shelly pulled out a book from her bag. The book was called, Basic Curses and Hexes for your first year, or the WWW way to survive Hogwart's corridors.
"I read some things in my charms book I would like to try," offered Zane, but he was ignored as Rachel snatched Shelly's book. "I love WWW products!" she called.
"Well, I'll pass along the compliments to my uncles then," said shelly as she pulled out her potions book.
"Wait, what do you mean 'pass along the compliments'? do you know the guys who created WWW?" Rachel grabbed Shelly's arms as she interrogated her.
"Actually yes, they are my mother's brothers." Rachel mock fainted at this point back into her seat.
"Um, ladies?" Zane asked, "What is WWW?"
"Weasly!" yelled Rachel, "Wizard! Wheezes! The absolute best in magical pranking goods. Created by the absolute geniuses Fred and George Weasly. They raised the dung-bomb to an art form!"
Lo-Ith was just laughing at her friend, and Shelly shook her head and said to Zane, "Actually my uncles are kinda idiots."
After talking about different they pulled, the legendary "Swamp incident", and the unforgettable "Fire-works Fiasco" which supposedly shutdown the entire school. they said that their had only ever been four other pranksters to stack up to them, but their names were lost to history.
After a few more hours, the train finally came to a halt at a station in a small town. "This is Hogsmeade," said Shelly, "Once we're third years, we can travel down here on certain weekends."
Then a familiar voice called out, "First years, over here please. First years I need you over here." They looked and there was Prof. Granger holding a latern. She lead them to a set of docks and said, "It is Hogwart's tradition that first year student reach the castle their first time by boat across the lake. Please try to remain in the boats, but if you are accidentally tossed out, which should not happen if you remain seated and behaved, do not fear, the giant squid will place you back into the boat from which you fell. Now every one in the boats."
"Did she say 'giant squid?'" Zane asked of Shelly, who just smiled and got in to the boat. Nevermore nudged close to his head and he stroked her. He assumed she might have a thing about boats. Rachel and Lo-Ith got into the same boat as Shelly and Zane, and the boat pushed itself off from the docks. Prof. Granger's boat lead the way and she lighted their way to the school. Zane watched as slowly, the shape of the immense castle took shape from the darkness. Lights in the windows danced and made the whole experience seem eerie. Zane involuntarily shivered. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder, it was Shelly's. she smiled and said, "It'll be okay. Nothing dangerous can happen at Hogwart's . . . can it?" they docked and walked to the main entry hall. It was then that Shelly received the answer to her question, a large suit of armour, with Mace raised, marched toward them, an eerie voice emanating from with in chanting "Kill! Kill!"
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TBC!! Please Review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1