"Because I'm famous and he seems to fancy chasing me around!"
"Right. Remind me to wait a bit before following you to class!"
"Thanks a lot."
Harry and Tonks burst into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom less than two minutes before class was set to begin. Once again, they had run afoul of Peeves, who had tried unsuccessfully to drenched the duo. The two looked around as they caught their breath. Harry frowned.
"Looks like we won't be sitting next to each other this time." He said quietly, noting that only two spots were open - one next to a boy with frighteningly long, black hair, the other next to a girl with blonde hair and entirely too much makeup.
Harry and Tonks exchanged a glance.
"I'll be your friend if you take the girl." Harry murmured quietly. Tonks rolled her eyes and grumbled, "Fine, fine...but you owe me."
The two seperated, each filling one of the empty seats.
As Harry sat, the boy beside him offered a tired sort-of smile at
him. Harry returned it politely. "Ravenclaw, too?" Harry asked softly.
The boy nodded, brushing a rogue strand of hair away from his eyes. Eyes, Harry noted now, seemed to almost be a golden color.
"You'd be Harry Potter, then?" Asked the boy.
Harry nodded. "And you are...?"
The boy paused, making a bit of a face before replying, "My full name is Solieyu Reinhardt, but... please, just call me Leon..."
Harry cocked an eyebrow. "Impressive name."
"To everyone but myself." Leon said, grinning crookedly. "I'm afraid my mother went a bit overboard when it came time to name me..."
"Sounds like it. Don't think I've seen you around..." Harry said, looking over Leon's shoulder at a grimacing Tonks.
"Yes, well, I tend to keep to myself a lot. I tend to sleep poorly, so I'm usually up, reading, at night." Solieyu explained, leaning back in his chair. "We share the same dorm, I just tend to fall asleep down in the common room..."
"Ahh..." Said Harry. "I haven't really gotten to know anyone else in the dorm, truth be told... I...guess I'm trying to wait for some of this... fame, or whatever, wear off..."
Solieyu chuckled. "Don't care for the attention?"
"Hate it."
As Solieyu was about to reply, the door to the room opened and Professor Quirrell entered, looking more than a little dissheveled. Staggering to the desk at the front of the classroom, Quirrell licked his lips and turned to face his students - a mixture of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff children, to be exact - and attempted to smile. "W-Welcome to D-Defense Against the D-Dark Arts." He said in his stutter. "M-My name is Professor Quirrell..."
Harry and Tonks exchanged another glance across the room as the nervous teacher attempted to spit out what the year's lesson plan would be. It took a good ten minutes for him to explain that it would be little more than a general overview and introduction to the subject and, as long as he was there, no practical tests would be performed.
He then dissolved into a painfully-long speech about what, exactly, the Dark Arts were. "N-Now... D-Dark Arts are just that - Dark. I-I hope none of you ever h-have to deal with them, b-but...my job is to p-p...prepare you in case the need arises..."
Quirrell had the class open their books to page 13, where a history of Dark Arts began. The class read the next few pages to themselves as Quirrell busied himself with something on his desk. After a few moments of reading, Harry heard Solieyu let out an almost inaudible sigh. Leaning in close, Harry whispered, "Something wrong?"
Solieyu blinked at Harry as if he had a giant wart on his face. Recovering quickly, however, he shook his head and mouthed, 'boring.'
Rolling his eyes, Harry resumed reading. He didn't think the subject was boring. In fact, he found it rather intriguing. But then, he was beginning to think that he would find all the subjects interesting. He blamed his horrible background for it. And, somewhere in the back of his mind, he had a lingering desire to figure out what twit came up with the Avada Kedavra curse that had deprived him of having parents.
Class seemed to pass much quicker than McGonagall's had, much to Harry's dismay. With a good five minutes left, Quirrell looked up and said, "C-Class, I want all of you t-to reread the pages that w-we've just gone over before tomorrow. I'll be asking q-questions after class begins."
The bell sounded then, bringing the class to a close. Harry stood, gathering up his book and tucking it away in the bookbag Andromeda had bought for him. Harry wasn't sure when she had attained the thing, though. It certainly hadn't been during their trip into Diagon Alley.
Beside him, Solieyu did much the same, turning and offering Harry another tired smile. "It was nice meeting you, Harry. You were...different than I had imagined."
"Is that bad?" Harry asked.
"Not at all. In fact, from the stories I had heard, I assumed you might be arrogant. It's nice to see that I was wrong." Solieyu said, hefting his backpack over one shoulder.
"Thanks. I...think." Harry said.
"Wow... it musta taken years to grow that out." Came a familiar voice from the other side of Solieyu. He and Harry turned to see a blonde-haired Tonks smiling at them. Indeed, now that Solieyu was standing, one could see just how long his jet black hair was. Waist length, if not just slightly longer.
Solieyu smirked slightly. "It's my pride and joy." He said. "Usually, I put it back into a ponytail, but...I was running a bit late today."
"Impressive." Tonks said. She concentrated for a few moments and, with a faint 'pop,' her hair (still blonde) was as long as Solieyu's.She swayed her head back and forth a few times, getting a feel for it, before changing it back to short and spiky. "Best of luck to ya, then. Too much upkeep if y'ask me. So, Harry, ya gonna introduce us, or what?"
Harry blinked. "Uh? Oh... oh, this is going to be fun. Solieyu Reinhardt, meet Nymphadora Tonks."
Quickly, Tonks grumbled "Just 'Tonks,' if ya please. I don't--"
At the exact same time, Solieyu murmured, "Please, call me 'Leon' - my full name is--"
Harry snorted as Solieyu and Tonks blinked. They turned to look at him, causing him to grin. "I'm beginning to think I'm the only one who actually likes his full name." He said.
Tonks rolled her eyes. Solieyu chuckled.
"So, Leon, whatcha got planned for the night?" Tonks asked as the three headed out of the Defense classroom.
Solieyu sighed, shaking his head. "Work, probably. And... ah... I promised my mother I would write. She worries a bit too much. Sends letters if I don't write regularly..."
"Sounds loads o' fun." Tonks said.
"At least me and Leon are getting on well. What happened with you and that girl?" Harry asked.
Tonks
scowled suddenly. "Don't get me started. Hufflepuff, she was. Had the
most nerve-grating voice I've ever heard, even in a whisper.
Kept asking me stupid questions, too. Like I'd know what on Earth
advanced Dark Arts are..."
"So, I take it that you two know each other?" Solieyu asked, glancing from Harry to Tonks.
Harry nodded. "Yeah... since the middle of summer. Around then, anyways. She... uh... kinda helped get me out of a bad situation."
"Harry's relatives are prats." Tonks explained simply.
"That isn't a nice thing to say." Solieyu said.
"No, she's right." Harry said, raising his eyebrows. "Worse than that, actually, but... I'd rather not talk about that in the middle of a hallway..."
"Noted." Solieyu said.
As the trio entered the Entrance Hall, Solieyu shifted his backpack to
his other shoulder and smiled at the two. "I need to go to the library.
I'd like to get something other than my school books to read when I'm
up at night. It feels a bit too much like studying otherwise..."
The group parted ways then. Solieyu going up the main staircase while Harry and Tonks headed for the front doors of the school. "What's he mean?" Tonks asked.
"Guess he suffers from insomnia or something." Harry replied, shrugging. "Said he tends not to sleep well and goes to the common room to read. Now that I think about it, I don't think I've seen him in the dorm..."
"Strange." Tonks said, nodding solemnly as the two walked across the grounds and towards the lake. The giant squid wasn't flinging mermen all over the place anymore, but it was still a relaxing place to visit. Several other students were gathered at various points around it, as well. Some looked to be reading, others attempting to wade in the rather cold waters. Some looked half-asleep.
"The sleepers have the right idea." Harry said as they approached.
"Don't you fall asleep out here, Harry Potter." Tonks warned, giving
Harry the evil eye. "I know how deep you sleep when you wanna, an'
I'm not luggin' you back to the Tower."
"I'm not that heavy." Huffed Harry indignantly.
"You're no feather, either." Tonks said dryly as the two sat.
Harry set his bookbag down and stretched out on the slightly-chilly grass, inhaling deeply and smiling. He might not have been at Hogwarts for very long, but he liked the lake. It was more relaxing than the common room seemed to be. Though, he thought as he looked up at the slightly-darkened clouds overhead, it might not be calm for long.
Rain looked like it was going to set in before the day was through. Harry had a bit of a love/hate relationship going with rain. On one hand, he used to hate the sound of it falling, back when he was trapped inside his cupboard back at Number Four. It made him think of the outside world - one he never thought he'd get to go and explore.
But ever since he had met Tonks, his view of things had changed somewhat. Now, the thought of rain was comforting. It reminded him of the day he had made his first friend. Harry laughed suddenly, causing Tonks to look down at him and ask, "Wha's so funny?"
Harry opened his eyes and grinned. "Just thinking. I must have looked awful when you found me..."
"Found you? What, y'mean that day in the park when we first met? Yeah, you did look pretty bad. Figured the 'famous Harry Potter' woulda been more... I dunno..." Tonks said, vaguely gesturing with one hand.
"Arrogant?" Harry supplied, smirking faintly.
"Arrogant? Nahh... Actually, I figured you'd look and act a bit like
The Royal Ponce does..." Tonks said, rubbing the back of her neck.
"Y'know, a high-and-mighty attitude an' all."
"And instead of the prince, you get the pauper." Harry said.
Tonks blinked.
"Muggle story. Heard it on the TV one night after dinner..." Harry explained. "They kept the bloody thing so loud, it drowned out practically every other noise...doorbell included."
"Lovely lot, your relatives." Tonks said, leaning back on her arms.
"Indeed. Remind me to get you something really nice for your birthday, Tonks. For getting me outta that place an' all..."
"I'm gonna holdja t'that." Tonks said.
"By all means."
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
"That's two classes down." Tonks said as she and Harry returned to the common room after supper. "Flitwick an' Sprout tomorrow."
"And all we need to do tonight is reread what we went over in Quirrell's class. Which...wasn't much." Harry said, flopping down into a chair towards the back of the room. Tonks sat down in the one opposite his.
"Yeah. Looked like you spent more time talkin' with Leon than actually listening to Quirrell." Tonks said, smirking.
Harry shrugged. "We only talked when Quirrell was stuttering his way to the point..."
"The fact remains."
"Oh, you're just bitter that you got stuck next to that Hufflepuff girl."
"Quiet, you."
"You know, if you two keep going everywhere together, people...will start to get the wrong idea." Said a voice just a few feet away. Harry and Tonks looked up to see one Terry Boot leaning back against the couch, grinning like an idiot.
"Wrong idea?" Harry asked, blinking.
"You know!" Terry said, looking around and speaking in a stage whisper. "That you two are dating!"
Harry cocked an eyebrow and looked back at Tonks, who was looking at him with a similar expression. Looking back to Terry, Harry shook his head and replied, "No way, we're just best friends. No offense, Tonks."
"None taken. It'd be like datin' my nonexistant brother, besides." Tonks added, crossing her arms.
Terry rolled his eyes and hefted himself up straight, heading towards
the staircase to the boys' dorms. "Whatever you two say. By the way,
Harry, we're gonna be getting together on Saturday night. Gonna sneak
out and explore the castle after-hours." He said, grinning as he looked
over his shoulder at the duo.
"Who's 'we'?" Harry asked.
"We! Y'know, me, Leon, Gary, an' Chris!"
"Who?"
Terry rolled his eyes and sighed melodramatically. "Your dorm mates, you thick prat. It wouldn't hurt to get to know who you're gonna be spending your sleeping hours around, y'know."
"Er...sorry." Harry said, lowering his head slightly. "I guess I've just been--"
"Avoiding people. Yeah, we've noticed. Anyway, you in?"
"Sure, I guess. What harm could it do?" Harry said, shrugging one shoulder.
"It could lose Ravenclaw a ton of house points, for one." Tonks said. "And there's the chance of detention."
Harry gaped at his friend.
"What?" She asked, huffing. "I wanna beat Slytherin, that's all! I don't care if you lot go get detentions or somethin'. But count me out. Filch caught me changing my hair around yesterday on my way back from the lav - he's right scary, he is. Better evil eye on him than I could muster."
"Girls." Terry said, rolling his eyes again. "Right, I'll go let the others know, then!" And with that, Terry left the common room.
"Men." Scoffed Tonks, pulling a face. "I could take him out in one swing if I wanted. No way he weighs more'n I do!"
Harry, wisely, kept himself out of the conversation until Tonks had ranted herself out.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
"Well, nice that everyone's decided to show up." Terry said as Harry entered the first year boys' dorm later that night. Harry surveyed the room quickly. Solieyu and the two other boys that were named Chris and Gary were sitting on their respective beds, apparently waiting for Harry's arrival.
"Wasn't aware I was needed." Harry grumbled, heading for his own bed and sitting on the edge. "I'll assume this is about Saturday?"
"Bingo." Terry said, smirking. "Figured I'd wait until everybody got in here to discuss what we'd be doing."
"Well, I dunno about us, but you should keep clear of Tonks for awhile." Harry said, a ghost of a smile on his face. "Isn't too happy with you at the moment."
"Er...right..." Terry said, frowning. "Anyway, since we haven't all been properly introduced - I'm Terry Boot, that's Chris Ericson, that's Gary Haskit, an' that's Sol--"
"We've met." Solieyu said with an equally ghostly smile.
"You have?" Terry said, blinking. "Well, that's good. Anyway, this is our ever-elusive fifth wheel, Harry Potter! Say hello, Harry."
"Hello, Harry." Replied Harry in a monotone. He was beginning to get annoyed at Terry's perpetually upbeat personality.
"Right then, now that that's out to the way, on to business! I thought, as first years, we should get ourselves a bit more acquainted with the castle! So this Saturday at midnight, if all of you can stay awake that long--" Here, Terry glared at Chris and Gary, who bowed their heads to avoid his gaze --"we'll sneak out and explore for an hour or three! With five of us out, the chance that Filch'll catch all of us is pretty slim. If he does get sight of us, scatter like your lives depended on it! With any luck, only one or two of us'll wind up with detention!"
'Hope it's you'. Thought Harry, darkly.
"Are we just gonna roam about aimlessly, or didja actually have a route set, Terry?" Asked Chris Ericson.
"Glad you asked, mate! We are gonna go explore that off-limits corridor that Dumbledore talked about!" Terry said, excitement positively oozing from his voice.
"Lovely, so you want us to not only risk getting detention and/or house points being deducted, you want us to risk our lives. Real nice, Terry." Gary Haskit commented, rolling his eyes.
"C'mon, don't be thick, do you really think Dumbledore's got somethin' up there that could kill us? They wouldn't have something so dangerous here! It's a bloody school, mate!" Terry said, rolling his own eyes.
"And if they do have something that dangerous?" Piped in Solieyu, who was sitting with his arms crossed and his eyes shut.
"We'll cross that bridge if we come to it!" Terry said.
"I'm not." Said Eric. "And the resta you lot will be, too, if you've got any sense in ya."
"Traitor!" Terry said, pouting. "Come on, Eric, where's your sense of adventure!"
"Trapped by my sense of survival, I'm afraid." Replied Eric. "Thanks, but no thanks."
"Anyone else gonna wimp out on me?" Terry asked, slightly annoyed.
"I'm not sure I'll, ah... be quite up for it." Solieyu said, eyes opened halfway now. "It... depends on how my health is, I suppose."
After a moment, Terry nodded. "Yeah... I guess we don't want any sick people coming with us. Don't wanna spew and give our location away or somethin'..."
Solieyu made a face. "I'm going to bed soon, Terry. Could we please not go down this road right now?"
"Ah, whatever... Gary? Harry? You two still in?" Terry asked, his eyes pleading as they moved from Harry to Gary and back again.
"Ah, why not?" Gary said, grinning. "Can't let you go off and get killed on your own, now can I?"
"Too right. Harry?" Terry said, turning to the boy in question.
"I'm with Leon. I didn't come here to go places that might cost me my life. I've put up with too much to throw it away. You should've said something earlier." Harry said, slowly. "I'll think it over, but I'm not going down that corridor."
"Hmph. Cowards, the lot of you!" Terry said, outright scowling now. "At least Gary isn't a chicken."
"There's a difference between cowardice and stupidity, Terry." Said Solieyu, voice calm. "If you go there and manage to come back intact,then, perhaps, we'll go. However, I don't really see the point in blindly throwing ourselves into a potentially dangerous area if we don't have to."
"Lotta big words." Eric said, laying down and stretching out on his bed. "But he's got a point."
Harry nodded in agreement and, ignoring Terry's muttered comments
about his, Eric's, and Solieyu's lack of manhood, layed down as well.
Crossing an arm over his head, Harry groaned. It was going to be a long year with this lot. Briefly, Harry hoped that Professor Flitwick
would teach them some silencing charms at some point.
He was going to need them.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Author's Notes: I know, short chapter. I needed to get it outta the way, though. Now then, I figured I'd go over a couple of points that I've seen in my reviews.
1) Why do Harry and Tonks dislike Snape if they haven't even been to one of his classes yet? It's Snape, man! Look at him! You see that face staring at you the wrong way, you'd instantly get bad vibes from the guy, too. Remember, our duo is still young. What you hear from other people can go a long way into how you judge a man.
2) Why is Tonks the same age as Harry? Simple - it's an AU fic. I couldn't convincingly think of a plot for a canonical pairing of the two, even though I love 'em. So the solution was to simply (Simply? Hah!) rewrite all the books with a twist - Tonks gets to be the same age as Harry. Age regression at its finest, ladies and gents! Besides, writing Chibi-Tonks is so much fun! She speaks her mind and isn't afraid to tell people what she thinks. And I get to throw a bit of slang-y speak in there. Tomboy!Tonks, huzzah!
3) What's up with Ron? Wellll, he never met Harry on the train, now did he? Harry only just MET Ron at the school. Rumors spread fast around the school, and the way I see it, Ron just wanted to get a good look at the guy to see what he's like. I openly admit my dislike of Ron as a character, but I'll TRY to keep him as canonical as possible. Though if he does happen to randomly sprout rabbit ears and is forced to hop around school all day. well...
Anyway, that's enough of my blathering for this chapter. Next chapter features Charms and Herbology. The one after that gets History of Magic and the Flying Class (Yay!) and then... then we get to the fun stuff. Potions on Friday with the Great Git himself!
I'm utterly amazed at the amount of reviews I've gotten in such a short time. And as I've said elsewhere, they really do help to keep me going. This is gonna be a LONG haul, folks. I'm gonna redo the chapter guide tonight now that I've thrown Solieyu into the mix (cookies if you guess where all three of his names come from!)-- because I've got something special planned for him. More cookies if you can figure out what it is!
February 06 update: Jeez, now I see what people meant by awful formatting. I honestly have no idea what happened here. The first 9 chapters were fine and then SPLAT, here we are. Gonna go back through and fix this. Stupid FFN must've changed how formatting works or something, because things honestly looked fine to me when they were uploaded. Ach, I've got a long bit of work here...