Second Comings
Chapter Two
Another New Beginning
Disclaimer: I do not own the HP world that belongs to JK Rowlings she just graciously allows us to play in it. And her characters are hers she just lets us have our own spin on them. All the characters you do not recognize our mine. I own Alianna, Adiann Akurse, Victoria Talons (Tori), and Tyler Griffith. Julia White owns Devon Aingeal and Shanka Nosizwe. So leave our original characters alone Do Not steal them please. If want a more indepth look at whats going on with the trio and such go read Harry Potter's Worst Fear by Julia White. Our fics are interconnected. Ok sorry on to the story…
Eight years before…
"Alianna! Alianna!"
"Sorry."
"You should be. Now pay attention this is very important. The Headmaster at Hogwarts has accepted you as a new student. Dumbledore is a good man for taking you in because frankly if he wouldn't you'd have no place to go after this. Americus simply won't keep you anymore. You don't talk, you won't excel like you should, you want do you homework."
"I do to do my homework, but they want me to do out the formulas!"
"Why don't you write out the formulas?"
"Because I do them in my head."
"There's no way you do them in your head. You are not even at the Standard Wizard Achivment Level yet! You're just lazy and irresponsible and I pray for the teachers that have you at Hogwarts. This is going to be your sixth school and sixth country. Try not to mess this up!" She slams down my folder. A dove flies into the window and drops a heavy vanilla envelope with green ink on her desk.
"Well it's here." She hands me the thick letter with a red seal. "You can go by Floo or portkey. It's your choice. Your things have already been sent."
I smile and take the letter. A swift tug at my stomach and I fall forward in front of a trash can. I look around to see trains and people bustling around. Bloody Headmistress sent me to a train station and I don't even know where I'm supposed to be. It's not like I can ask one of these muggle how to get to Hogwarts. I look up at the lit numbers nine and ten on either side of the platform. Well at least she put me right where I need to be except on the wrong day.
"Excuse me miss, but are you Alianna by any chance?"
I shake my head yes as he helps me up.
"Well then this trolley is yours. Have a good day."
He hands me the bar with my trunk attached to it. I stand trying to decide what to do next. I could simply gather my things and head off into the street of London or go to the Leaky Cauldron like I'm supposed to. I walk around staring at faces, listening to accents and words, hearing conversations, taking a mental note on everything. I've learned to adapt to my surroundings pretty fast and slink into the back so not to be seen. The street busy with people and cars doesn't notice me and my unusually large trunk heading to the corner the street and holding out my wand. A loud crack and a purple triple-decker bus comes to a slow. More people crowd around me. At first I think them to be muggles only they react when the bus stops right in front of us.
"Hello I am Stan Shunpike and this is the Knight Bus…" his voice trails off as more people get in front of me and begin pouring into the bus. A light click and he tears off a piece of paper and hands it to each person as they climb on.
"A'right Ern move 'em out."
The pimply guy Stan grabs onto the rail and the bus slowly starts to move. Muggle crowd the corner as they start to cross the street. I try to push through them dragging my trunk behind me. The wheel on the trunk catches a crack in the cement. It's going to leave with out me. A shoulder knocks into me and I fall over my trunk.
"Hey…hey…Hey…Hey wait for me! Please wait!" I hold my wand back up.
"Hold 'er Ern."
As if crossing the sea the people spread apart when Stan walks over to me.
"Whatcyo hidin' forr down there?"
"I wasn't! I got knocked over my some muggle."
"Why'd you let 'em knoc you overr forr?"
"I didn't let them…It was an accident."
"Muggles." He looks out into the sea of them walking around us with no concern. "Don' listen properly, Never notice nuffink, they don'. Just look at 'em! Walkinn' aroun' with no conerrn. Her'e." He pulls me up with a sweaty hand and grabs my trunk.
"Wher'er you headed?" He hands me a slips of paper as I sit down in an armchair close to the door.
"The Leaky Cauldron. That's in London." I brush my black hair over my shoulder.
"You remind me er' some on'. Take er' away Ern." With another crack the bus goes off.
I smile and lean back into the chair. The bus crowded with witches and wizards. Some in muggle clothes some not. I wonder if any of them are on their way to this school. Of course it's just another school to back into a corner at and then get shipped away to another just as fast.
"Mum can I have a Sickle for some gum when we get to Diagon Ally?" A little girl dressed in bright pink robes asks her mother. I reach into my pocket and realize I don't have any wizard money with me. How am I going to get out of this one? The bus stops so hard I almost fly from my seat. Stan throws up his arm and catches me with even moving his eyes from his paper.
"The Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Ally." He yells as the people start to file off. I grab my trunk and begin to walk out the back when he yanks me back by my shirt.
"You havern't paid ye'."
"Oh um…" I look down to the floor. Think Alianna, think!
"Good morning Stan. I'll be taking care of this." A very kind voice says behind me.
"Yes o' corse' Lupin."
He shoves some coins into Stan's hand and my trunk floats behind him. His brownish hair is to one side and I notice three deep scares across his face.
"Follow me Alianna, please." He says wisely. We go through the Leaky Cauldron and to some winding steps so fast all I have time to do is smell the coffee brewing from the kitchen. We go down a long and lit hall with ugly carpet until we stop at a door with the number fifty on it. He stops dead in his tracks before going for the door handle.
"Please forgive. My name is Remus Lupin. Professor Lupin. There is just so much going on right now. If you'll forgive me I have to be on my way, but this your room. You are not to go outside of The Leaky Cauldron or Diagon Ally. I've got to get back to some people I'm looking after so I'm sorry this visit isn't what it was supposed to be. I'll have someone else fill you in on what you need to know." With a light pat on my shoulder he turns down the hall. I go to open my door when there's a loud crack and Lupin is gone. Inside I push my trunk to the end of the bed and fall onto the somewhat dusty blankets. I really don't care though. I gather my thick hair into a knot and lay with my hands under face. Lupin seemed a bit frazzled, but nice all the same. I think I like him. For once in my life I'm going to like a teacher.
The morning comes all too fast as I wake up in my clothes from the day before. I open my trunk and brush out my hair, slip on an American muggle shirt, a jacket, and wash my face before heading down the stairs for breakfast. Coffee brewing fills the air with eggs, bacon, and toast. I sit down and before I can even say a word a witch comes by a sits a plate full of food in front of me. I got to ask for coffee, but she sets a mug down where the spoon is already stirring in sugar and cream.
"Thank…" She turns and walks away before I get it out. Now to eat. No knife. I push my seat back and swing around it.
"Oy! Watch it there!"
"Sorry." A hand reaches down to pick up my chair which he and I both tripped over.
"It's ok just be a bit more careful there…um what's your name?"
"Alianna." I look up at the tall figure. Thick brown hair sets over one soft eye. His smooth cheeks stretch as he smiles at me. I've never been smiled at like that before. He leads me back over to another chair and my coffee slides to my hand from across the table.
"Well. You are just the person I was supposed to knock into. I'm Tyler by the way. Tyler Griffith. Professor Lupin told me I'd find you here."
I simply nod and smile. He holds his mug in the air as a pot comes by and fills it. The witch passes by again and waves her hand so my plate comes to rest in front of me. I don't want to eat in front of him, but then again I haven't eaten in probably two days. I don't care for food, or sleep, or much of anything. Right now all I care about is hearing this guy talk more. His voice is like nothing I've ever heard.
"So Lupin told me you came here from Americus School for the Magically Gifted. I have a cousin who goes there. He enjoys it although you have the stupid Americans to deal with. The Wizarding levels are so confusing there. Their Defense Against the Dark Arts programs lack more than any in the world. Well it's not like we have it all together here though. I mean look what happened last year with the Minister of Magic! Look I'm boring you. You spent a year there so you should know plenty more than me."
"Your fine."
"So have you ever been to Hogwarts? Didn't think so. It's truly the best school in the world. I visited a couple when I was young with my father, but nothing comes close to Hogwarts. The system there is perfect. Do you know what house you're in yet? Didn't think so. I'm in Ravenclaw 6th year. Chaser on the Quidditch house team. Do you like Quidditch? Who doesn't I mean really? No muggle sport can touch it. You don't talk much?"
"You talk enough for me." I whisper.
"You need to eat something. Not like eggs and bacon?"
I sake my head lightly as not to let the witch serving see me.
"Me neither. Let me take you out for something you'll like in Diagon Ally. Follow me."
His smile could melt the icebergs in the North Pole. I walk beside him as he chatters on about the stores, clothes, new classes, people he knows, until we stop in a book store called Flourish and Blotts. Books from top to bottom stack onto each other to the ceiling it's only by magic that they stay up. I look over familiar covers and to my surprise some all too not familiar.
"See anything you like?"
"I've read most of these. Except this one." I pick up a book bond in red leather with an inch of dust on it. Learning to Master the Skill of Writing: A Journal into the World of Expression By Nerbert Thincus.
"Self help books. Rubbish. Now here is a book. Power: The Down Fall of Major Wizards Through the Ages By Clide Prouden. Don't you need to get your book list for school? Oh wait never mind Professor Lupin had those ordered and sent to your room this morning. Here let me get that for you and we can be on our way." His hand grazes my arm. My arm jerks away at his slight touch, but he doesn't notice.
"Do you like ice cream maybe? Any favorite dish?"
"No. Never stay in one place long enough to have a preference. I conform to whatever is given to me."
"Well that's no way to live. You need to make your own choices. Here I'll get you one of everything and what you don't like we know you don't like and what you do like you'll know you do like it. Make sense?"
I shake my head no and he laughs.
More people continue to fill The Leaky Cauldron for the next couple days. I meet with Tyler every day and go out in Diagon Ally. When I hear him talk I'm no longer afraid of this new school and all the fear it holds in me. I know most of the teachers, classes, and his friends even though I haven't met them yet. Though today instead of our normal stroll in Flourish and Blotts he takes me to the side with his eyes red underneath.
"There has been an attack…On a family. Their dad died not to long ago and now…Deaths Eaters got to their mom. It's horrible what they've been through. It's got everyone pretty shook up. I'm friends with Ron. It's just so horrible. No dad, no mom. All because of him! Because of Voldemort!" He screams and punches the side of the building. Blood sprouts from his knuckles. I take his hand and mutter a light spell to stop the bleeding.
"You know you're not supposed to magic outside of school." He tries to laugh it off.
"Not in America. I guess that why teenagers are so wild over there."
"Your accent is beautiful. Have I told that yet? Its bit muddled though. A little of everything. British, Irish, French, and a sprinkle of American. British is your dominate one though. Grew up mostly in Britain? Thought so. I used to spend the summers in Germany some times so when I was younger I had some accent traits. Lost them though a while back. I guess I better get you back to your room to pack. We'll be leaving tomorrow. See you then."
He turns around and begins to walk away.
"Wait! Will you…will you sit with me? On the train I mean. On the way to Hogwarts?" I speak a little louder than a whisper.
He smiles and a piece of hair falls down at his right eye.
"Of course!"
I throw everything in my trunk and look around the room as to make sure I've got everything. I grab my red leather book Tyler bought for me and place it on top all my new clothes in my trunk. The fashions being quite different in robes than the last school I was at. Casual clothes are about the same though. I slip on my jacket and begin hauling my heavy trunk down the stairs. I grab a piece of toast on my way out The Leaky Cauldron before heading to the corner of the street and holding out my wand. A loud crack and the purple triple decker bus comes into view.
"You beat me to it a?" A hand rests on my shoulder and I flinch.
"Sorry did I scare you?" His soft voice asks. I shake me head yes as he takes my trunk and walks onto the bus passing the conductor Stan. About twenty or so more people come onto the buss all looking about school age. I follow Tyler up to the second floor and we take a seat in two yellow arm chairs.
"I e'spec all you er' headinn' to Kings Cross?" Stan says with a strained voice putting another person's heavy trunk down. All the people around us agree. He yells down to the driver and disappears. A loud crack followed by a sharp jolt and we're off to Kings Cross.
"I usually don't like riding the Knight Bus for the simple fact…" A fall forward and he catches me. "For this very reason." I get back in my chair.
"They don't have Knight Buses in America or Ireland."
"Really? Didn't know that. What do they have?"
"In America they have Wizard Taxis in most muggle cities. And in Ireland about the same. I hated Americus."
"That's the most you've said this whole time I've met you."
I smile and push my hair away from my face.
"Kings Cross fer' all you Hogwarts students!" Stan's voice yells and we all begin filing off.
On the train we all push through and try to find an empty seat. I reach down in my pocket to grab some lip balm when someone knocks into me and we both go down.
"Watch it you idiot!" A tall boy with white blonde hair yells brushing himself off.
"Sorry." I look up to his sneering face. He lets out a little laugh and people begin to stare because we're holding up people trying to get to some seats.
"Well look what we have here guys. It Harry Potter's twin sister. Or maybe Potter has turned into a girl! Don't supposed you're an orphan too? Maybe you and Potter can start a little club."
I grip my wand. Tyler takes my shaking hand that begins to get higher in this guys direction and lowers it.
"Lay off Malfoy. You don't even know her."
"Like it matters Akurse? Look at her black hair and green eyes. All she needs are the funny looking glass!"
"Draco Malfoy! Adiann Akurse! Go find a seat right this instant! Tyler Griffith you and…Who are you?"
The blonde boy goes one way and the other one another.
"Alianna." I whisper to a very stern looking woman with square specs.
"Oh yes. I'm Professor McGonagall. I'll need to talk to you for a moment please. Follow me."
"May I come Professor?"
"No Mr. Griffith. This is a matter between student and teacher. You go find a seat. Come along Alianna."
We pass many students as they fill the compartments laughing and carrying on about what they'll do first at school. I keep on hearing the sorting hat and a feast. Many young kids around eleven look to be terrified at the sound of this hat. We pass onto another car toward the front where many older students are dress in freshly pressed robes with P's on them. We pass through those to a head car with big compartments. Huge couches and tables sit within them.
"Here we are. Come on in."
She waves out her hand and goes to sit behind a desk. I've never seen an office in a train before.
"Have a seat. Now Alianna seeing as how you are transferring from Americus you know the Wizarding levels are different? Well you've been to many schools with different Levels I see." She looks down at a heavy file scanning through her square glasses. I nod my head yes.
"Well now this seems to be a problem. In Americus you were going to be taking your S.W.A.L.s very different from the O.W.L.s. I'm sorry to say if you are to pass you are going to have to go into fifth year at Hogwarts not sixth as you should."
"I don't understand. I'm not a stupid witch."
"Yes I know that. I know you claimed to be able to do S.W.A.L. formulas without writing them out, but you didn't take them and before you go into the sixth year you have to have your O.W.L. scores. There shouldn't be a problem adjusting I assure you. Just understand you are not being held back because you are daft. There is also the matter of you being sorted. This is usually done with first years right before the beginning at the feast. It is not tradition to have someone of your age be sorted during the ceremony, but Dumbledore thought it would be nice. That way you can be introduced in a way. So you will be sorted after all the first years. Also depending on what House you go in I will be setting you up with a student tutor to help you."
"I don't really need one. I pretty much know-"
"Well you may think that know, but you are getting one all the same. It's good I see you have made friends with Tyler Griffith. He's in Ravenclaw and has a good head on his shoulders. I can see why Remus put him to the task of keeping an eye on you whilst your stay at The Leaky Cauldron."
"You mean he wasn't just there to tell me about school. He was watching me?"
"Yes we couldn't have anything happen to you! Well go and find a seat, lunch should be on its way."
"Thank you Professor."
I walk along the cars trying to get back to the student cars. He wasn't really my friend. He was a babysitter and nothing more. I cross my arms searching for a corner to crawl into. How could of been so bloody blinded not to see it? No one has ever just wanted to be my friend. Stupid Americans just worry about how cool they are, the French try to make sure they look perfect, and now in Britain I'm just some burden to be taken care of. I stand in the corridor and look out at the passing scenery. The hills become bigger and the clouds a bit darker as we go.
"Alianna, I've been looking for you. What did McGonagall have to say?"
I shrug my shoulders and get my arms cross even though another long piece of my hair has fallen into my face. Tyler moves it behind my ears and I jerk away.
"Are you ok?"
"Why didn't you tell me you were sent to 'Keep an eye on me' uh? That I was just some kid you were supposed to look after? You had to pretend to just like me and become my friend. Listen we are almost to school so you can cut the act and go back to your real friends."
"Hey look at me. Alianna look at me. No act…see? I am your friend. I like you. Don't think such things ok? Come with me so sit down. It's time for lunch anyways. And I want you to meet some of my friends"
He holds his hand to the direction of our compartment.
"Ok." I say softly and he smiles.