Disclaimer: I am not J. K. Rowling or Jenny Nimmo. I don't own Harry Potter OR Children of the Red King, though I wish I did!

Author's Note: A lot of people may be a little, well, okay, a LOT OOC, but that's the way it goes. Don't look at me! I'm just mentally challenged!

Another Author's Note: Kristy Twirl is a character from another one of my fanfics (A Mission, to be exact). Let's pretend she didn't get hypnotized or anything, or that the case was solved and she went back to normal and everything was perfectly fine.

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Chapter One: The Wizard Guy

It was a cool autumn day at Bloor's Academy. Everything was normal, well, at least as normal as it could be at Bloor's. Charlie Bone, Fidelio Gunn, Olivia Vertigo, Tancred Torsson, Lysander Sage, Billy Raven, Emma Tolly, Gabriel Silk, and Kristy Twirl were sitting on the cold stone floor of the dreary old Ruin, talking. Then suddenly a shimmering blue portal appeared right behind Charlie.

"Er, Chazz," Olivia said. "There's a big portal-thingy behind you." Charlie turned around and screamed.

"Yikes!" he exclaimed. He leaped out of the way. To everyone's surprise, the portal slowly moved until it was floating in front of Kristy.

"Kris, move," Tancred whispered to her. Kristy shook her head.

"Someone's trying to get through the portal, Tanc. And they want us to go with them when they leave," she said, her pine green eyes bright and alert.

"Kristy! Watch out!" Gabriel cried. A very, very old man came out of the portal. He had twinkling blue eyes behind half-moon spectacles, a long, white beard, and shiny blue robes.

Fidelio, Lysander, and Emma screamed. The man turned to them. "Please do not be afraid. I have no wish to harm you. I have only come to ask you a favor.

"Who---who are you?" Billy asked, very frightened.

"I am Professor Albus Percival Brian Wulfric Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from the Wizarding World," the man answered simply.

"Hello," Kristy piped up. "I'm Kristina Alexandra Stephanie Twirl, and these are my friends Charles Lyell Bone, Emma Christine Tolly, Tancred Terrian Torsson, Lysander Jeraldo Sage, Billy Raven, Gabriel Conterre Silk, Fidelio Oliver Gunn, and Olivia Trinity Vertigo."

"Fidelio Gunn and Olivia Vertigo?" Professor Dumbledore asked, confused. "But they are not endowed."

"How did you know---"Lysander began, but Dumbledore interrupted him.

"I will explain later. We have wasted enough time already," he said. "The seven of you need to help us win the War between Voldemort and Harry Potter. Miss Vertigo and Mr. Gunn may also come, if they wish."

"Wait a minute. You want us to help?" Fidelio asked.

"We need more time to think about this, Professor, er, Dumbledore," Emma said. Most of the others agreed.

"It's now or never, Miss Tolly," Dumbledore said calmly.

"I'm going, and no one's gonna stop me," Kristy declared, her green eyes determined. "I don't care if I go alone. It's a chance of a lifetime."

"If Kris is going, so am I," Tancred said. Kristy smiled triumphantly.

"We're going too, Tanc," Gabriel and Lysander said, standing next to them.

"I want to go," Olivia said brightly. "It's a great chance, and as Kristy said,, we're only going to get it once in our lifetime."

"Heck, we're outnumbered anyway. Let's go to Pogyorts," Charlie said. Fidelio grinned.

"It's Hogwarts, you big dope," he laughed. Charlie just shrugged and laughed.

Kristy and Tancred stepped in first. Then Lysander and Emma. Fidelio and Olivia. Charlie and Gabriel went in next. Billy smiled.

"Goodbye, Bloor's," he said softly. His words were barely audible. Dumbledore and he jumped into the portal and went whirling through different worlds. The portal closed shut behind them. A tall boy appeared with his ginger-haired sidekick.

"We were too late," Manfred Bloor growled. "But mark my words, Bone. I will find you." He disappeared into the shadows of the ruin, Asa Pike following after him, yellow eyes gleaming menacingly.