After an hour in Gladrags Robe Shoppe, Duo and the other pilots were burnt out. Heero had a new set of robes, one black one blue. Duo got two black, Quatre a cream color and a light blue, Trowa a green and brown, and Wufei a black and grey. They all got dress robes, though Hermione said they shouldn't because they'd need them in House colors. (Heero got dark blue, Duo got dark violet, Quatre ocean blue, Trowa emerald green, and Wufei got a pristine white.) They all got wizard made dress shoes to go with them.
"Don't you think you all should change into a pair of your robes?" Hermione asked.
"No," the boys chorused. Hermione backed up and laughed nervously.
"Well, I suppose you can get your school robes tomorrow at Diagon Alley, and then you'll change ," she suggested.
"You'll have to," said Harry. "There'll be quite a few wizards and witches at this summer thing, and you wish to blend, I gather?"
"Yes," Quatre said simply.
"Personally, I think you guys are cool," Harry said, grinning.
"Yeah, like when Mr.Yuy stared down Malfoy? Smashing!" Ginny exclaimed, then blushed.
"Honestly, Virginia! You're beginning to sound like Ronald," Hermione scolded.
"Harry Potter thinks I'm cool? WAI!" Duo cried, closing his eyes and twirling in bliss. Ginny and Hermione giggled and Harry blushed.
"Duo!" Trowa snapped, raised his voice in warning. Duo immediately straightened and bowed sheepishly.
"I thought you said you didn't care that I was famous," Harry said somewhat warily.
"Oh, it's nuthin'. I'm just excited 'cuz of this whole place. Nuthin' cool ever happens to me," Duo said quickly, apology evident in his worry filled violet eyes.
"You'd think being in life and death situations would be thrilling, but nooo, Shinigami must have more," Wufei muttered darkly. Duo beamed so brightly the teens had to turn their heads to avoid blindness.
"Aww! Wu-chan made a joke! I'm so proud!" Duo crowed, glomping onto Wufei.
"My name is WuFEI!" the oriental pilot snarled. "Get OFF me, Maxwell!"
"Why is it that boy always seems to want to jump someone's bones?" Ginny asked, eyeing the struggling Wufei and giggling Duo.
"Duo's the touchy, feely type," Quatre answered.
"And what did Wufei mean by life and death situations?" Harry asked.
"We are soldiers fighting in a war right now. We have lived through four wars so far, and their is blood on our hands," Heero said bluntly. The group quieted.
"Don't mind Yuy," Trowa said. He said nothing else, but the mere fact he spoke made everyone calmer.
"What language are you speaking? You all keep saying stuff we don't understand," Hermione said. Harry nodded.
"It's Japanese," Quatre said. "I'm Arabian, Duo's American, Trowa's European, Wufei's Mandarin and Heero's half-Japanese, and speaks his native language fluently. When we first met he used to use it to insult us."
"So we took it upon ourselves to learn all we needed to know to counter Heero's insults," Trowa said. Heero just sighed and ignored them, clearly displeased with their course of action.
"What did you expect, Hee-baby? We're Gundam pilots. You know how we work. You do it all the time!" Duo said, suddenly appearing on Harry's left.
"Sometimes, Maxwell, I really do think you're Shinigami," Heero said. To everyone's alarm and discomfort, two fat, really adorable tears fell from Duo's wide violet eyes.
"Oh Hee-chan!" Duo cried, sniffing loudly. He threw himself into Heero's startled arms, the Wing pilot hugging him on instinct. "That's the sweetest thing anyone's ever said to me!"
"Sometimes, Maxwell, I think you are actually sane," Wufei said. "Then you do something twisted like this."
Violet eyes flashed as Duo spun on Wufei, still in Heero's arms. He was now pressed up against the Perfect Soldier, his back to Heero's front. "What would you know, Justice Boy? Always prancin' around screamin' at people and callin' 'em weak. At least Heero has a softer side."
"Well, his softer side seems to be in shock," Harry said, pointing at the silent pilot. Duo turned in still arms and gazed up into glazed Prussian blue eyes.
"Oi, Hee-babe! Anyone there?" he called, waving his hands in front of Heero's face. Not getting a response, Duo decided to take drastic measures. He screwed up his face and proceeded in a perfect immitation of Doctor J. "Remember the mission, 01.Inefficiency will not be tolerated. Carry out the mission at all costs. Do you read me, 01?"
"Ninmu, ryoukai," Heero said coldly, the glazed look in his eyes disappearing. He looked down in his arms and noticed Duo blinking owlishly at him. He shoved the American away. "Breach of protocol memorandem, section 5, column 3, paragraph 2--" He began.
"Invasion of personal space is detrimental to the mission unless specifically commanded," Duo, Quatre, Trowa and Wufei chorused. "We know, Yuy." Heero had the grace to flush a little and turn away. Duo's giggling filled the silence. Hermione looked down at her watch.
"Oh, Merlin, we're late! It's 6:10! Hurry up, boys!" Hermione said. She grabbed Harry and Heero's hands and dashed off toward the Three Broomsticks, Ginny and the others scrambling after her. They all fell through the door at the same time.
"It's about time!" said Blaise, sitting regally by an impassive Draco. Latched onto the blond was Pansy, and a few feet away were Lisa and Terry. Susan Bones sat alone at a table, head down and drooling, and Mitchell leaned against the wall near the fireplace. The five boys snarled when they saw him, and he jumped.
"Welcome back, children. I'm afraid you are a bit late, but no worries. Hogwarts commands the carriages, and I have a bit of authority over Hogwarts. It's still its own building, though," Dumbledore said, rising gracefully from a bar stool. "Miss Granger, I take it you remember where to board the carriages?"
"Of course, Headmaster. I was here but a month ago," Hermione said. She curtsied quickly to the Headmaster, then turned to her fellow teens. "Come along, children," she said. Most of them scowled but obeyed, unable to resist her matronly nature. Dumbledore chuckled. She would be the next McGonagall.
"Your trunks and brooms have already been sent to Hogwarts, along with anything you purchased today that you couldn't carry. I'll see you all at the castle," he said, smiling. As the students left, he allowed himself a fatherly smile, then a small frown. There was something about those boys. Something he was sure he knew but couldn't quite remember.
The carriage ride was uneventful, barring the incident when Duo tossed Wufei's katanas out the window in anger, forcing all the carriages to stop so the irate Chinese teen could retrieve them. If you looked close enough you could see Heero Yuy banging his head against the carriage wall discreetly. As if to hide and vent his frustration at the same time.
They arrived at the school and piled out of the carriages. All five boys and Harry stopped a moment to pet the thestrals that drew the carriages, then left the scaly cousins of horses to approach the castle.They were met on the steps by a cat with strange markings around its eyes. Duo eyed it curiously, then bent forward. He leaned down until his nose almost touched that of the unmoving cat.
"Professor McGonagall, ma'am?" he said questioningly. With a yowl the cat backed up, then began to morph into the slim form of a very stern-looking old woman with hair pulled back into a tight bun and wire-rimmed spectacles that matched the cat's eye markings exactly.
"However did you know me, young man? I've never seen you before, and you certainly weren't in my class last year," Minerva McGonagall said breathlessly as she straightened her rumpled robes.
"Apparently there are Muggle books about the wizarding world were he comes from, Professor," said Ginny. "It sounds very detailed, and it mentions everything from Draco Malfoy to Professor Lupin's lycanthropy."
"Is that so? Well, Dumbledore must know of this, most certainly," the Deputy Headmistress stated. She turned to Harry amd Hermione. "Hello, children. I see you have some Ravenclaws and Slytherins with you. And of course, Miss Bones." Susan Bones blushed and looked down, her slightly plump face red.
Draco sniffed disdainfully. "Professor, can you please be so kind as to move? Maybe Potter likes to hang out on Hogwarts' doorstep, but I would very much like dinner and a warm bed. It has been a tedious day," he said.
"Tedious? How is it tedious for you? What about the foreign students? They grew up as Muggles, then were thrust into the wizarding world!" Ginny exclaimed. "I admit you're a tad better, Malfoy, but you obviously have very warped views of what can be seen as tedious."
Draco, Harry, and all the others stared at Ginny, Draco's face flushed as if trying to decide whether to be in a towering rage or furious embarassment. Suddenly, before them, Professor McGonagall began clapping, Hermione, Harry and the five -well, four; Heero didn't clap - pilots joined them. Draco finally decided on injured disdain. He huffed and glided elegantly past the Headmistress. Harry unconsciously watched the blond's hips as he passed.
"Right then," said McGonagall. "Show me the foreigner Muggles, then?"
Duo stepped forward. "I don't believe we are Muggles, Professor. Why else would Dumbledore send us those letters? Also, Quatre and Trowa have shown undisputable signs of having magic in some form or other."
"Well said, um..." McGonagall began.
"Maxwell, Professor. Duo Maxwell. I run, I hide, but I never lie," Duo recited.
"Unfortunately," Wufei muttered. Duo immediately spun on him and he groaned.
"Love ya too, Wu-man. Despite the emmense stick up your ass," Duo said, grinning.
"Er, thanks?" Wufei said dolefully.
"Well, come along," McGonagall said, hustling the teenagers in. "Follow Miss Granger to the Great Hall for dinner and the sorting. Go on, now."
All the teens followed Hermione through the castle and into the Great Hall, an emmence room with a ceiling enchanted to reflect the sky outside and large tables to accomadate the students and teachers.
"That's the Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables, and the Head table for the teachers and such. When you're sorted you can sit at your designated table," Hermione informed them.
"When do we get to where the Sorting Hat?" Duo asked excitedly, his gaze darting around until it lit on an old, worn, completely unspecial stool near the Head table. His grin widened and the other pilots looked at him curiously. He just gave them mysterious looks.
"Right now, Mr. Maxwell. Welcome to Hogwarts," said a familiar grandfatherly voice. Everyone turned to meet the sight of Dumbledore dressed in puke green robes, his eyes twinkling madly.
"What happened, Albus?!" McGonagall asked, horrified. Dumbledore had impeccable taste. He would never normally wear such horrendous robes, and his eyes were a bit out of control.
"Well, Minerva, I was in the Dungeons with Severus when we got into a bit of an argument," Dumbledore said quickly and somewhat giddily. "I believe what he threw at me was a Hyperactive Potion and a Discoloration Potion. Mixed, they reap quite interesting results."
The group stared at the Headmaster, the only sounds of the students in the Great Hall beyond. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled faster.
"Albus, maybe you shouldn't give the welcoming speech. I'm sure Severus can handle it. Let me take you to your office and someone will send Poppy up," McGonagall said soothingly, as she led the Headmaster up the grand staircase and around a corner. Susan left the group to locate Madam Pomphrey, the school medi-witch.
Hermione turned to the remaining teens. "Well, come along. Go to your tables and anyone that needs to be sorted, line up in front of the Head table," she said, pushing open the massive doors. Blaise, Pansy, Terry, Lisa and Ginny entered and branched off, sitting at different tables. The pilots and Mitchell lined up infront of the Head table. The old, worn stool Duo had been eyeing now had an equally worn wizard's hat on it.
The Great Hall was already filled with more than half of the usual students staying over for the summer programme, mostly Gryffindors and Ravenclaws. The tables were slightly smaller than usual, and the Head table was already filled, Dumbledore, Pomphrey and McGonagall noticably absent. Receiving a whispered explanation from Hermione, Snape stood up and the Great Hall quieted.
"Students, professors, staff, welcome back, though it isn't like the professors weren't already here. It seems Headmaster Dumbledore is indisposed at the moment, evil smirk, so I, Severus Snape, will be conducting the sorting," said the greasy haired man. His hawk like black eyes scanned the six boys before the Head table. "You boys, see if you can get into alphabetical order while the hat gives it's riveting performance." Here the Slytherins snorted and Snape smirked again. The Sorting Hat opened it's 'mouth' and the six teenage boys began to move.
Why are students here?
Summertime is out there!
Is there a reason why
All of you are inside?
Oh wait, I remember
The summer programme
You're the children of parents
Who don't give a damn
Now don't mind me
I've had a bad day
Been locked up for a month
Now I'm in a dusty way
With a bit of fresh air
And a rhyme or two
I'll be sprite as a pixie
No more wizard's flu
Now who am I sorting?
Kids from another time?
Oh, to be able to see them
I'd give more than a dime
Come sit on my chair, lads
Put me on your head
Hurry up, move along
Quit moving like the dead
Just plop your arse here
I'll see what I can do
I'll choose the correct House
That's just right for you
As the Sorting Hat finished it's song, several students, including Quatre and Duo, clapped enthusiasticly.
"Silence!" The Hall quieted. Snape turned to the teens before the table. "Well? Budge up, boys. I haven't all night." The boys, now in alphabetical order, moved forward. It went Trowa, Duo, Wufei, Heero, Mitchell and Quatre.
"Bloom, Triton," Snape said. Trowa stepped forward, lifted the hat and sat in the chair. He glanced at Duo, who nodded, then plopped the hat on his head.
(Hm. Triton Bloom, eh? Not from this time, I don't think. Your great grandmother Marisa Bloom is a fine witch, let me tell you)
Don't you have a job to do? Trowa asked.
(Impatient, eh? Just like your great grandfather Triton. Same hair, too. Well, better get to the point, eh? You seem noble and brave enough, but more loyal and loving than anything else. I'd have to say HUFFLEPUFF!)
The last word was yelled and Trowa jumped, toppling from the small stool. Clapping from the Hufflepuff table erupted, and Susan Bones came forward to lead the recovering Trowa over to the table.
"Attaboy, Trowa!" came Duo's cheer. Trowa cracked a very small ghost of a smile. Duo grinned back.
"Cassell, Daniel." No one moved. "Cassell, Daniel," Snape repeated. Duo shifted very slightly. "For Merlin's sake, Mr. Maxwell!" Duo jumped, then looked uneasy. Finally, he sighed and headed for the chair, sitting in it and putting on the hat. The last thing he heard was Quatre's voice asking if Daniel was Duo's real name.
(Another Cassell, eh?)
I want nothing to do with them, Duo snapped.
(You don't, eh? Hm. I see a darkness in you that other Cassell's never had. You've seen too much death, taken too many lives. There is only one place for you...)
No! Don't put me in--
"SLYTHERIN!" the hat shouted.
The Great Hall went silent and Duo didn't move. Finally he removed the Sorting Hat and stood, looking back on Quatre. The small blond had a sympathetic look on his face, but also one of understanding. He knew why Duo was put in Slytherin. Whispers started up from all four tables as Duo went to sit next to Draco Malfoy. Seeing the seat taken by Pansy, Duo calmly pushed her to the floor and sat down. Pansy jumped to her feet, rage on her face. Before she could say anything, Draco waved a hand and Crabbe and Goyle dragged her away. Both Draco and Duo looked on, identical smirks on their faces. All speculation of why such a happy, carefree boy was in Slytherin promptly died.
"Welcome to Slytherin," Draco said cooly, allowing a small smile to grace his face as Duo grinned back. "Cassell? I've heard of them. They might be blasted Gryffindors, but they are a pretty prominent wizarding family. I would never have taken you for one of them."
"I don't want to be taken for one of those bastards," Duo said darkly, his smile fading. He saw the question in Draco's eyes and smiled softly. "I'll explain later, okay?" Draco nodded and both turned back to the sorting.
"Chang Wufei," Snape said. Wufei walked purposely forward and put on the Sorting Hat, sitting down.
Get on with it, he said immediately. The hat didn't hesitate.
Wufei nodded decisively and removed the hat, replacing it on the stool. Terry Boot came forward and showed him where to sit at the Ravenclaw table, beside a girl with blonde hair a strange shade and purple eyes that reminded him of their Alliance Medic, Sally Po.
"Nihao. My name is Suiren Zao Po of the Water Lily Clan," she said. Wufei looked taken aback, but then bowed in his seat.
"Chang Wufei of the Dragon Clan, Lady of the Water Lily," he said respectfully. Sandra giggled as Terry looked on in interest.
"Lowe, Odin," came Snape's voice. Heero stepped forward and slipped on the hat. He didn't bother sitting.
(Lowe? Is that you, young Odin? I remember sorting you so many years ago. I can't very well do it again.)
Accepted, Heero said.
(In that case, I'll have to put you in the House you began here in. Is that alright? I know you want to be where ever that Cassell boy is...)
Accepted, Heero said, preparing to remove the hat.
(All right, then. GRYFFINDOR!)
Heero removed the hat and replaced it on the chair, then headed to the table he saw Harry at. Harry made Ginny move down a seat, making room for him beside the Boy Who Lived. Heero slipped into the seat and began to study his illedged cousin out the corner of his eye. Black hair a shade darker than his own dark brown. Eyes a green a bit brighter than his blue. Same nose and cheeks. Someone elses chin and forehead. Definitely family. As Harry turned to talk to him, Heero decided to discuss his lineage with Harry later that night.
"Hey, Heero! You're in Gryffindor? That's great! Meet my friend Ron, and his girlfriend Parvati Patil. She has a twin called Padma in Ravenclaw," Hermione said rapidly. Heero turned his cold blue eyes on the boy with violently red hair and freckles beside her. He was holding the hand of a pretty dark haired girl and his blue eyes sparkled.
"Hullo, mate? You look kinda like Harry, didja know?" the redhead said. Heero looked startled for a moment before he schooled his features back into an expressionless mask. He merely nodded at the kid and turned back to the sorting. Mitchell was next.
"Pemberton, Mitchell."
Mitchell hurried to the hat and slipped it on, settling down on the stool.
(Oh...you...)
Is there a problem? Mitchell asked.
(Oh nothing. Just that I can see your future, and you aren't have the git then that you are today...)
I'm a git?! Why you--
(I don't know if I can stand being on your head very long. Better put you in SLYTHERIN. Oh yes, tell that adorable blond child he has no need to don me. He's in Hufflepuff.)
Shakily, Mitchell removed the Sorting Hat from his head and replaced it on the stool. He moved toward the Slytherin table, but stopped and turned to Quatre. "The Sorting Hat says that you are to be in Hufflepuff, so there is no need for you to put the hat on." With that, Mitchell stumbled to his seat and plopped down between Blaise and some blonde girl with forked eyebrows.
"Darline Catilia," the girl said cooly, a spark of interest in her cold blue eyes.
"Mitchell Pemberton," Mitchell said, slightly uneasy with the girl's regard.
"Are you related to that disgusting Hufflepuff, Rellina Pemberton?" Darline questioned, sounding anything but disgusted. In fact, she sounded intrigued.
"Y-yes," Mitchell said, trying to discreetly inch away from her. Darline just inched along with him.
"So why are you just coming to Hogwarts?" she asked. Mitchell prepared to lie and Darline's eyes glinted. "And don't bother to lie, because I'll find out sooner or later. Here in Slytherin we have our secrets, yes, but everyone else's is also ours."
"Rellina and I grew up seperately, her here in England with a distant cousin, and I with my wealthy uncle in France. I went to Beauxbatons while she went here," he said promptly.
"Really?" Darline said in a tone too oily for his liking. "Maybe later you could introduce us." It wasn't a question, but a command. All he could do was nod.
Meanwhile, Quatre moved over to the Hufflepuff table and sat between Trowa and Susan. He smiled at his lover, then turned a less intimate smile on the table. The smile froze and he almost choked on air as he spotted a sight he thought never to see here.
"What is it, little one?" Trowa asked quietly, as the blond girl Quatre was staring at turned to them and smiled.
"Relena," Quatre garbled, struggling to breathe around the evil stalker girl.
"Hi! How'd you know my name? Are you psychic? 'Cuz if you are that's cool. My brother's not cool. He's an arsehole, but I still love 'im. So are you really psychic? If you aren't, then lemme tell you my name. It's Rellina Pemberton-Dorci. When you said it, it came out all wrong, though I might name my kid that. Do you have any kids? Good, you shouldn't. You're too young to--" she rambled, finally cut off when Susan put a hand over her mouth.
"Sorry about her rambling, Mr. Quatre," she said.
"Please, just Quatre," Quatre said, mildly embarassed and still astonished at the sight of the girl with cornflower blue eyes that they had left behind in AC 196.
"Hey, Quatre, is it? Do you know that hot kid with the messy hair and cold eyes? He's gorgeous. Lowe something, right? I'd love to date him," Rellina rambled. Quatre groaned, then sighed sympathetically. Poor Heero.
Tsuzuku or TBC