Disclaimer: I do NOT own Harry Potter OR Children of the Red King, and do not feel free to think so, even though I'd appreciate the compliment.
Author's Note: If you thought I was going to abandon this fic, you're so wrong! I would never leave this one! It's one of the most brilliant ideas I had! Read on, or Cathy here will pounce on you. (Catherine grins maliciously)
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"So what's the school called again?" Charlie asked on the train ride to Hogwarts.
"Hogwarts," Fidelio answered exasperatedly for the hundredth time. "Will you ever remember anything?"
"Yes," Charlie replied simply. "There's a Dark Lord called Voldemort that's taking over the earth. We're supposed to help these people stop him with our powers, and to do that, we have to pretend to be transfer students here and learn magic."
"So you can remember something," said Kristy. "That's good, I guess."
"Let's just hope he remembers it when the time comes," Gabriel said, grinning.
"So when we get there, we're supposed to put on a talking hat, and then get sorted into one of the 'Houses'. What were they again?" Tancred said, scratching his head.
"Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin," Lysander recited, smiling. "You're even worse than Charlie, Tanc."
"Ha-ha. Very funny, Sander," Charlie said. Billy laughed.
"I'm trying to get some sleep here, people," Olivia said sleepily, taking out her wand. "Kristy and I know a lot of spells already."
"And how is that?" Emma questioned enviously.
"We have our ways," Kristy said knowingly, a smile playing on her lips. Her green eyes sparkled mischievously.
"You two are just weird," Billy said, taking out his huge wand. "I don't even know how to hold this thing."
"Here, I'll help you," Tancred offered. He turned the wand the other way around. "There you go."
"Tanc, he was holding it right before," Kristy said, flipping Billy's long wand over. "Now you've got it."
Just then the door slid open. A girl with dark, midnight black hair streaked with purple appeared. She had the darkest eyes they had ever seen. She was fairly pretty, and looked about sixteen, the same age as Kristy, Gabriel, and a few others. A handsome boy the same age with white blonde hair and cool gray eyes was behind her, as well as a sixteen-year-old with jet-black hair and bright sapphire blue eyes.
"Who're you?" Kristy said bravely to the three musketeers.
"I'm Draco Malfoy, this is Blaise Zabini, and this beautiful young lady over here," Draco said, motioning graciously to the girl with navy eyes, "is the Queen of Slytherin, Lady Catherine Morgan Artemis Saber."
"Miss Saber to you," Catherine added, smirking. "Now the question is, who are you?"
"I'm Gabriel Silk, and these are my friends Charlie Bone, Fidelio Gunn, Billy Raven, Tancred Torsson, Lysander Sage, Emma Tolly, and Kristy Twirl," Gabriel said rather kindly.
"The transfer kids," muttered Blaise, running a hand through his dark hair. Catherine leaned on his shoulder.
"Do you know what houses you'll be in?" she asked, looking directly at Kristy.
"We don't know yet, but I expect we'll find out," murmured Tancred. Lysander nodded.
"Well, ta-ta!" Catherine said brightly, waving as she stepped back gracefully. "Hopefully we'll see you in Slytherin." The compartment door shut behind them.
"I didn't like her much," Charlie said quietly.
"She is pretty, though," sighed Tancred.
"Hey!" Kristy said, bright eyes flashing. "I'm right here, ya know, Tanc."
"I don't want to go into Slytherin," said Fidelio nervously.
"You won't have to, Fido, because you're going in the same house as Charlie and me," Olivia announced. "And Emma, too."
"Maybe we'll all be in the same house," suggested Lysander.
"Who knows?" Kristy said excitedly. The adventurous young girl was all smiles. "I'd like to teach that Catherine girl a lesson."
The train stopped at Hogsmeade Station. The nine students from another world got off and climbed into the thestral-drawn carriages to Hogwarts. When they got to the Great Hall, they couldn't help but gape at all the decorations and things.
"Wow," Emma breathed. "I think I'm going to like it here." The others agreed silently and lined up with the first years.
After the first years' sorting, Dumbledore called them up. "We have nine transfer students from America. Please give them a warm welcome," he said, smiling.
"Bone, Charles!"
'Lots of bravery in here, I see. Not a bad mind, either. But what should it be? Surely not Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw. You're too unique. Slytherin is just out of the question. So it'll be—'
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Gunn, Fidelio!"
'Plenty of wits and bravery. You can be cold and harsh when you need to. Lots of loyalty. It's obvious where you should be put—'
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Raven, Billy!"
Billy marched up nervously to the stool and sat down. The hat whispered in his ear. 'Ah, a transfer student, I see. Lots of brains, cruelty hidden behind the young,innocent façade. Loyal to your friends, are you? Filled with bravery to the brim. Better be—'
"GRYFFINDOR!"
There was a loud applause for Billy.
"Sage, Lysander!"
'Lots of courage and brains. Little loyalty, but it can grow strong for the ones you know well. Pure innocence, is it? Lovely.'
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Silk, Gabriel!"
'Your friends were easy to put, but you are different. It's difficult. Difficult. Your mind is split into four parts. A lot of courage. Even more brains. Loyalty to the end. Cruel and cold when you ought to be. But you've made friends with more, adventurous people that can be horribly nasty. To even it out—'
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Tolly, Emma!"
'I don't need to think about this at all. It's evident you need to be placed in—'
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Torsson, Tancred!"
'Nervous, are you? Well, that proves your courage. Not much brains in there, I'm afraid. But loyalty makes up for the lack of knowledge. You can be cold and cruel, but you don't really mean it, and feel sorry. No for Slytherin. Ravenclaw is out of the question. Hmm. I'll put you with your little musical friend—'
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Twirl, Kristina!"
'Why'd you put Gabriel in Slytherin?' demanded Kristy.
'You're the first transfer student that has thought to me after Miss Catherine Saber over there. She turned out well. Maybe you'd—'
'Answer me!'
'My job is to sort. And I did just that. Now for you. Don't interrupt. Plenty of wits and courage. Oh, a thirst for learning. Loyalty beyond imagination. But there's more in here. Stubbornness. Iciness. Cruelty. You'd do lovely in Slytherin.'
'Don't put me in that horrid place!'
'Ah, but your friend is in there.'
'Gabe. He can't be in there alone, with that horrid Saber girl.'
'You've made your choice. I've taken enough time already. Now you'll get to be in—'
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Vertigo, Olivia!"
'Easy enough to see where you belong. Time is running out, anyway. Better be—'
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Olivia ran to the Gryffindor Table to Charlie and Billy, grinning. The Sorting Hat and stool were put away.
"So you have come to Slytherin," a female voice said approvingly behind Kristy and Gabriel. Kristy turned icy eyes to the familiar figure of Catherine Saber.
"Shut up. It's not like we meant to come here, you know," she replied coldly.
"She'll last, Cat. No need to worry," Blaise told the girl, making her sit down.
"Last? What do you mean?" asked Gabriel curiously.
"You should have been put in Ravenclaw," sneered Draco. "Well, to last in Slytherin without getting your reputation ruined or anything 'bad' happening to you, you have to be cold and cruel and strong. Unlike you."
"Draco, as long as I'm Queen of Slytherin, I won't tolerate you making fun of newcomers," said Catherine sweetly but sternly.
"Yes, Catherine," grumbled Draco, turning to his turkey.
"We don't need your help," Kristy snapped, taking a swipe of pumpkin juice. "Why do they have to give us this horrid stuff anyway?"
"Fancy a bottle of butterbeer?" Catherine said, grinning.
"A what? No, thanks. We don't drink," Gabriel answered.
Catherine rolled her eyes. "I mean this," she said, taking out a bottle of honeylike liquor. "It makes you feel all warm and tingly inside. It's a welcome present. I was a transfer student once."
Kristy looked at it suspiciously, then tapped it with her wand. It glowed white. She shrugged and opened the cap. She then drank the contents of the bottle. Then, "Wait a second. Why are you giving this to me anyway?"
Catherine smiled fondly at her. "I've taken a liking to you two," she said softly. "If you need any assistance, I'm at your beck and call."
"Believe me when I say that is unusual," muttered Blaise.
"Shut up," Catherine snapped, slapping the back of his head.
"Ow!" Blaise cried, wincing in pain. "What was that for?"
"You know perfectly well, Blaisie-boy," Draco cooed.
"Now this is entertainment," Catherine said, satisfied.
Gabriel merely shrugged, digging into his food. He was starved, even after the feast of candy he had on the train. Kristy watched Draco and Blaise in fascination. "Is it always like this?" she questioned, warming up to Catherine.
"Sometimes it's even better," Catherine said pleasantly, grinning from ear to ear. She stuck out her hand to Kristy and Gabriel.
Kristy took it, and Gabriel after her. "It's settled," the dark-eyed girl announced. "Drake, Blaise, dears, welcome Kristy and Gabriel."
"What? Those baboons? They—"Draco started, but Catherine glared daggers at him. Then she smiled lovingly.
"If you don't accept them, I'm afraid you're out, Draco. Which is it?" she asked in a sugary voice.
"Fine," groaned Draco.
"Good," Catherine answered. "I wouldn't want to lose you or Blaise. You're too horribly cruel to lose."
"I'm sleepy," yawned Gabriel. Catherine smiled.
"To the Slytherin Common Room it is," she said. "Come on, Gabriel, Kristy, Draco, Blaise."
And on they went.