Disclaimer: Neither I, nor my psychotic partner Emily, own any of the brilliantly awesome Harry Potter characters, except the even cooler ones that you've never seen before. Oh my God, oh my God, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban comes out in less than ONE WEEK! This isn't hilariously cynical, as I like to think all my other disclaimers have been, but seriously, oh my God! I mean like… oh my God! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh! –Bounces off walls excitedly– Wait…didn't I say in last chapter's disclaimer that I wasn't going to go nuts?... Eh well. To heck with that, wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Chapter Four is dedicated to ME! No, I dunno, I suppose this chapter can be dedicated to all our non-existent readers, lol! Eh well, how 'bout whoever reviews first gets the next chapter dedicated to them, eh?

Warning: Craziness Factor – Ummm… A LOT! – I am so tired... lol. But excited. Never forget excited.

This chapter of the zany FF, Harry Potter and the Green Flame Torch (GFT for short), brought to you by,

Emily

AND

Abby

Chapter Four

Of Strange Sortings And Disastrous Developments

Hermione nudged Harry. "Look, it's Hagrid," she gestured up to the staff table, waving. Harry and Ron followed her example.

"You don't reckon he still has Grawp in the forest, do you?" Harry asked innocently.

Hermione whacked his arm. "At least we won't have to look after him," she sighed contentedly. "Hagrid has that honour all to himself."

Ron glared at the table fiercely. "Why can't those bloody midgets hurry up?"

Hermione gave him an exasperated look and opened her mouth to lecture him but Harry nudged her and pointed to the hall doors where the first years were filing in after Professor McGonagall. The three of them watched in silence with the rest of the school as the Transfiguration Professor set the Sorting Hat down on its stool and it began to sing.

"The time of the Sorting is here again,

With new students here to teach

And we must all help them out,

So none fall out of reach.

You all know my role,

To Sort you into your proper houses,

Yet I am plagued with uncertainty

That this tradition should not be doused.

Ah well, the time for this is past

And we have much to do,

For my greatest concern at the moment

Is, if course, Sorting you.

Gryffindor leads the chivalrous

And daring of nerve,

With bravery to guide them

Around every one of life's curves.

Hufflepuff claims the loyal

And patient of heart,

Who, using the greatest of care,

Reign in stragglers by the cart.

Ravenclaw seeks the intelligent,

Who have no use for brawns,

But brains are rewarded frequently

And none are mistaken for pawns.

Slytherin rears only those of purity,

With sly cunning and determination,

Self-preservation aids them to achieve

Power, that may lead to condemnation.

Yet, who am I to judge?

I must put you in your place,

Even when this contradicts

What I believe will win us the race."

Harry's mind wandered as Professor McGonagall called out names and he noticed the girl he had seen on the train - the one who had dragged off the girl Hedwig had attacked - standing at the end of the line with a first year. Harry was still puzzled as to what had provoked his usually mild mannered owl but he was shook out of his thoughts when he heard Professor McGonagall say, "Evans, Mark."

The boy at the end of the line made his way towards the stool and Harry gave a small gasp. It was indeed Mark Evans, a boy who lived near the Dursley's house and was constantly picked on by Dudley's gang. He looked slightly nervous as he sat on the stool and the hat was placed on his head and Harry waited with baited breath for the hat's decision.

Hmmm, a voice inside his head murmured as Mark sat nervously on the stool. What have we here? Another Evans? I remember your father, the hat chuckled, he had quite a temper. A good Gryffindor, though. If I had put him anywhere else he wouldn't have done half as well. Of course as long as he had his sister he would've done well anywhere. She was also very impetuous and clever, and not lacking when it came to pride and ferocity. Hufflepuff might've worked out alright for either of them - Ravenclaw would have been too studious - steadfast and stubborn as they were. That's where I put your mother. She was an interesting young lady, courageous and smart and resourceful but loyal to the core. She would've done exceedingly well in Gryffindor or Slytherin yet Hufflepuff was always her home. But enough about the past. Where shall I put you?

Um, Mark thought.

The hat gave another dry laugh inside his head. Not too sure are we? Well, let me see, I can't find much Slytherin material in you, although you are fairly determined you've experienced too much cruelty first hand to ever have that sort of cunning and selfishness, the hat mused. Very like your parents. Ravenclaw … hmm, I doubt it, a good mind but you would much rather be out exploring or adventuring, very like your mother would've. Hufflepuff … eh, very loyal and stubborn but I think you would do best in -

Suddenly the hat's voice echoed around the hall, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Harry clapped loudly with the rest of his house as Mark smiled and hopped off the stool. The boy started heading for a seat at the end of the table but then his eyes met with Harry's for a brief second. Harry saw recognition cross his face and he changed directions and came to sit in the empty seat beside Harry.

"Harry? Harry Potter? What in blazes are you doing here?" he whispered.

Harry gave a wry laugh. "What's the school my aunt and uncle are saying I'm going to? Some Secure Centre or something, for 'Incurably Criminal Boys' isn't it?"

"Ah," Mark nodded in understanding. "That would be just like them wouldn't it?"

Harry raised his eyebrows. "You know 'em?"

Mark shrugged. "Nah, but I know Dudley."

"That's right," Harry replied thoughtfully. "Wasn't he picking on you last summer? What'd he do?"

Mark snorted. "Tried to beat me up, obviously. When I didn't start bawling at the top of my lungs he an' his cronies stole the money I had in my pockets. And you know what? Every last piece was fake, not even magical stuff, just the fake loonies and toonies they have across in America made of chocolate."

Harry laughed. "What d'you reckon he tried to buy with that, hmmm?"

"Chocolate?" Mark asked, lips curved into a smile.

Hermione had been listening in while Ron continued to glare moodily at the empty table. "Hey Harry," she started. "You going to tell us who your friend is?"

Ron gave a cough that sounded suspiciously like 'midget'. Hermione whacked his arm from across the table. Harry laughed and rolled his eyes.

"Hermione, this is Mark, he was one of the kids who lived near the Dursleys," Mark smiled at Hermione and she nodded in acknowledgement. "And Mark, this is Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. Don't mind him, he's just hungry."

Mark grinned widely and was just about to say something to Ron, no doubt payback for his 'midget' comment when Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loudly. The group fell silent and tuned back in to what the Professor was saying. She had finished with the first years and was giving a speech, apparently.

"Now, this year we have two," she glanced quickly over at the solitary figure standing in front of the stool now, "new students. They will be in their sixth year and have come to us all the way from Canada. I expect you to do your best to make them feel welcome and -"

Suddenly the doors to the hall burst open and a figure strode in, soaking wet and incredibly angry. Harry stared at her curiously, because it hadn't been raining when he had come in and none of the other students were wet in the least. Then he noticed that this was the girl that Hedwig had attacked on the train.

Her black and silver hair hung in wet tangles all around her face and her robes were hanging limply from her arm - revealing a white shirt with a red maple leaf and matching colored sleeves, and black pants with little maple leaves winking cheerily and 'GO CANADA EH!' imprinted in red and white on the sides of the legs. In her other hand she held her wand, which she was pointing towards the other new girl, the brown and gold haired one, her eyes flashing with anger and … barely controlled amusement? Harry thought, staring incredulously at the pair.

"ROSE!" the very wet teenager yelled.

"Eep," the quite dry witch squeaked, clearly trying not to break out laughing.

"Why, in the name of all things red and white, did you chuck my beaver-housed wand in the freaking freezing lake?!"

"Um," Rose replied. "Well, you see, I know how much you - erm - love swimming, Abby, and, uh, eh?"

Abby stalked menacingly up to Rose and seemed to tower over her small friend. "I had to dive down and steal my wand back from THE SQUID! ARE YOU INSANE? Well, that is to say, insaner - is that even a word? - than usual."

Rose grinned maniacally. "Nope, same as always."

Abby sighed. "Ack, why did I just have to get stuck with you?"

"Because -" but this time Rose was interrupted by Professor McGonagall, whose arms were crossed forebodingly as she waited for them to let her continue with her speech. "Oh," Rose replied, smirking, "um, sorry?"

The stern witch took out her scroll of names again and began. "Black, Rose."

Suddenly Harry was sitting rigidly in his seat, staring as Rose traipsed up to the stool. Hermione and Ron had whirled to face him and Mark was looking oddly perplexed. The rest of the school had broken into whispers, staring from the pale-faced Harry to the calm and collected Rose. If she heard this sudden disturbance she gave no sign of it, except to lengthen her strides somewhat and raise her head proudly.

Most of the Gryffindors were glaring at her in hatred while the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs looked fearful. The Slytherins, however, were watching her calculatingly, as though trying to peer into her mind and see where her loyalties lay. But that's just like them, some part of Harry thought as his eyes followed Rose. To see her as a potential ally. But if she is Sirius' daughter then she wouldn't … but why did he never tell us he had a daughter? Harry's thoughts were a confused whirl and he didn't even try sorting them out.

The hat had only been resting Rose's head for about five seconds before it yelled out, for the whole school to hear, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Silence. You could've heard crickets chirping if there had been any. But Rose ignored the lack of applause and strode defiantly towards the Gryffindor table. When she got close to some empty seats the people spread out so she would have to sit somewhere else. Rose shrugged indifferently and took the seat beside Mark when no other places were left.

"Serreda, Abbika."

The school turned as one to watch as Abby walked up to the stool, a puzzled expression on her face as she looked at Rose. Then she too took her seat and the hat settled down on her head.

The students waited. And they waited. Minutes passed. Finally the hat shattered the nerve-wracking silence with a yell of, "SLYTHERIN!"

The Slytherins applauded half-heartedly, but everyone's attention was still focused on the young Black. Harry noted vaguely that Abby had taken a seat beside Malfoy but his brain didn't seem to want to function properly. Dumbledore stood and gave his start of term speech but Harry heard none of it. The food appeared on the tables and while Ron began to wolf his down, Harry just sat, not making a move.

A hand tapped Harry lightly on the shoulder. It was Mark and Rose stood behind him. "Harry, Professor Dumbledore wants to see us in his office," the small boy informed him. "I dunno why, he just said to go to his office."

Hermione had been poking at her food absentmindedly when Harry stood. "Where are you going?" she asked, staring from him to Rose and back again.

"Dumbledore's office," Harry muttered, already heading for the door, Mark and Rose following behind him. Only one person noticed another figure slipping out of the hall after them.

"So …" Rose began after several corridors of silence. "Does anyone even know where we're going?"

Harry didn't reply but kept going.

"Um …" Rose was looking nervous. She wracked her brain for a subject. "D'you know why he wants to see us? I'm pretty sure I haven't done anything … yet. Well," she added, " maybe it's about chucking Abby's wand in the lake. But Mark had nothing to do with that, you neither. Anyone else got a theory?"

Mark shook his head and glanced at Harry, who was now standing in front of the gargoyle in front of Dumbledore's office and glaring at it. "Er, Harry, what're you doing?"

Harry was searching his mind for a likely password. "Start thinking up sweets," he said. "We need the password to get in. Uh … Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans?"

The statue didn't move. Mark caught on and helped out.

"Chocolate frogs?"

"Sugar Quill?"

"Ice Mice?"

"Pumpkin Pasty?"

"Pancakes with maple syrup?" Rose broke in, thinking of breakfast. The gargoyle sprung to life and hopped aside. "Cool," the girl murmured.

Before anyone could do anything Dumbledore himself came up beside them. He blinked in amusement when he saw the passageway open. "Ah, I see one of you guessed my password. Harry?"

Harry shook his head. Rose raised her hand, smiling widely.

"Maple syrup, eh? How Canadian of you."

The headmaster didn't seem surprised at all with that answer and smiled. He led the way up the spiralling stone staircase and took a seat in his chair, gesturing them into the three chairs in front of the desk.

"Lemon drop?"he asked them holding out the box. Harry shook his head, Mark said, "no, thank you," but Rose popped one in her mouth immediately.

Dumbledore sat still for a moment, staring at each of them in turn. Mark looked as could only be expected: confused. Rose appeared confused too but she also looked slightly anxious as if she knew all too well what this was about. Then there was Harry. He was pale, like he'd seen a ghost, which wasn't all that far from the truth. And he was avoiding looking at Rose.

"I suppose you are all wondering why I have asked you here," Dumbledore spoke at last. "It is for one thing and one thing only. Explanations. You three have all been kept in the dark about certain things for all your life. Of course, there are many other children such as yourselves in these dark days but your tales are quite complicated. And, as we have recently been reminded," Dumbledore shot Harry a quick glance, "hidden information can be very dangerous indeed."

Harry had gone even paler. Mark looked very interested. Rose went for anxious to apprehensive.

"So we will start with the less concerning of the two matters at hand. I'm sure that Mark recognises the last names Potter and Black, perhaps even Serreda," Mark nodded, "and I would like him to tell us what he knows."

Mark swallowed nervously. "Well, you see, sir, my mum has told me all about her days at Hogwarts and the adventures of my uncle - he wasn't really my uncle, but my mum always referred to him as her brother - and his best friends, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew and James Potter. Then of course there were her own adventures with her clan, Tori Ascah, Laraleie Serreda and Lily Evans. I didn't think Harry could have any relation to James at first - because he lived with those Dursleys - but mum said that the thing that distinguished Lily the most were her eyes … and they're like mine," Mark looked up at the professor, brilliant green eyes shining out of a youthful face.

Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, Harry is Lily and James's son, and I'm sure your mother would love to meet him sometime. But what Harry doesn't know is that Mark is the son of one Rowan Evans."

Harry looked at Mark incredulously. They did have the same eyes … "So Rowan would've been my mum's brother?" Mark smiled. "But I thought I had no family other than the Dursleys. Where have they been all this time?"

"Ah," Dumbledore sighed. "That is a question for Mark to answer later, if he is willing. But the other matter I would like to address is that of young Ms. Black." For the first time Harry looked at Rose. And when he did, he noticed that her eyes - like Sirius' - were a clear, pale blue.

"Now, I believe your mother wanted to be here for the explanation, but Harry and you both deserve answers now." The twinkling light in Dumbledore's eyes dimmed. "Harry do you know who this girl's father is?"

Harry was white as a sheet. "Sirius…" he whispered. Rose was looking at him with wide eyes, just as pale as he was.

"Yes, Rose Black is the only daughter of Tori Ascah and Sirius Black. Now, Ms. Black, I think I am right in saying that you know nothing about Sirius?"

Rose nodded mutely.

"Well, Harry, I shall need you to tell Rose all that you know of her father but that can wait for later. The most pressing matter for us to deal with is that of Sirius' … condition."

Suddenly there was a loud crash as Rose stood up and knocked her chair over. Her eyes were glinting with a wild, desperate light. "What happened to him?" she demanded, voice cold as ice.

Abby tapped her foot impatiently, standing beside the gargoyle outside the headmaster's office. She had caught Rose leaving the hall with two boys and had followed - but it was just her luck that she had been too far away to catch the password. So now she was loitering around the hallway, not doing anything, waiting for Rose and wishing she had thought to bring some food.

It had been several minutes when suddenly the gargoyle jumped aside and a small brown and gold haired girl hurtled past Abby and down the corridor. After her came Mark and the boy from the train - Harvanicus?Thought Abby. No, that's a stupid, made up name. Harry? - who both stood in front of the gargoyle and looked up and down the hall. Rose had vanished, which was surprising as the corridor was quite long.

"Which way'd she go?" asked Mark, head flicking back and forth from opposite ends of the hallway.

Abby frowned. "Now, what's all this, eh? What happened to Ro- oh, screw it, never mind." And with that she took off after her friend.

Harry took one glance at the other end but turned around and sprinted after Abby, Mark hot on his heels. When they had reached the end of the corridor she was out of sight.

"Which way?" Mark panted, looking lost.

"Dunno, they're both gone. We could wait for them in the Entrance Hall and then go back to Gryffindor tower."

Mark nodded. "'Kay. Lead on."

"ROSE! Hold up! Wait for m- oh, for crying out silently!" Abby was only a few feet behind her friend - who was running in the grounds, around the lake - when she tackled her and they both crashed to the ground. "Now, what in the name of Hades and the Elysian Fields is the matter?"

The first things Abby noticed were the tears trickling freely down Rose's face and the paleness of her skin. Then she noticed the petit girl's wide, frantic eyes and nervously clenching and unclenching fists. Rose made to scramble away but Abby grabbed her wrist and tried in vain to get her to sit down. Fed up, she kicked Rose's legs out from under her and they both sank to the ground again.

"No," Rose was muttering unbelievingly. "No, he can't, not know, not right when we finally came back, oh hell…"

Abby looked at her companion curiously. "Eh, Rose, what's up?"

"UP? What's UP?! NOTHING! The whole blasted world has fallen apart for bloody murder's sakes! GAAAAH!" Rose yelled, fighting furiously to stand.

Abby yanked her down. "What the hell -"

"Shut up! Agh, how can you sit there, so smug and serene and he's DEAD! I NEVER EVEN FREAKIN' MET HIM AND HE WENT AND -"

Abby had blanched suddenly, astonishing considering her already pale skin. "Oh no."

"Oh yes!" Rose went on, sitting back and glaring at the world through a tear stained face, ranting out all her anger, frustration and grief. "And you sit there, all high an' mighty, you with your mum and your own dad, somewhere, 'cause he ain't DEAD and me with just my mum … oh," Rose sighed, all rage used up. "I'm sorry, Abby. Neither of us deserves this … what?"

Abby wouldn't look at Rose. She stood up and began walking around the lake and Rose fell into pace beside her.

"Abby … you've been acting strange lately - quiet … and you never did tell me anything that happened after I left Canada. What is it?"

Abby shivered, despite the warm night and looked Rose in the eye - cold, sad blue met with tear-filled amber. "She's dead, too."

Rose gasped. "Lara?"

Abby nodded jerkily. She was pacing with strong strides, grinding her teeth in a sudden flair of anger. "We were out in the forest one day and I - I! - was stupid enough to get myself Bitten." Rose looked up in surprise and horror. "Mum got Flicker and we made a run for the Alihotsy Tree but … something happened … I was into the stage by then and didn't see it but something came out of the trees and knocked mum off the horse. We kept going and Cav found us and took me to the Tree while some of her friends took Flicker back home. On the way they - they found mum's body…" Abby paused and looked up at the waxing moon in the cloudless sky. "It was covered in the Bites. That's what they said killed her ... Those damned spiders! I wanted to go out and burn every last one of them …"

Rose reached out and grabbed Abby's shoulder to get her to keep still. "And then you came to Britain…" she murmured. "Didn't tell Cav or anyone, eh?" Abby shook her head. "And you didn't even bring Verglak … well, I left Vixie behi- oh, dang!" Rose smiled suddenly. "I left Vixie behind to look out for you, she is gonna be so ticked …"

Abby laughed and the two started to head back up to the castle.

"Well, what a way to start a new year."

Rose grinned. "This ought to be exciting."

"Never spoke a truer word. But ya know," Abby said thoughtfully. "I was listening to the guy beside me talk - he was talking to me, you know, but I just sat there, agreeing with everything he said 'cause I think he was a bit of an idiot - and he said that Gryffindors and Slytherins hate - no, they loathe each other with every fibre of their beings."

Rose raised her eyebrows. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"If you're thinking that messing with people's heads and playing mind games is fun, then yes."

"So, henceforth, I, Rose Amy Black, do solemnly swear to uphold the ancient -"

"Not really," Abby cut in.

"- and sacred -"

"I doubt it."

"- enmity between myself and one, Abbika Artemis Serreda."

"You got yourself a deal," Abby winked as she pushed open the doors to the Entrance Hall. She was surprised to find Mark and Harry sitting on the floor waiting for them. Well, Abby though, more or less just waiting for Rose.

Rose turned to look at Abby with a smirk that spread across her whole face. "Do you know the way to your common room, Abby, old friend?"

Abby stopped dead in her tracks. "Ah!" she turned and whacked her head against a wall. "How could I be so stupid?"

"It's what makes you, well, you!" Rose yelled from halfway across the Hall. She disappeared with Harry and Mark - Mark grinning, Harry looking bewildered - leaving Abby to ponder the infinite injustices of the universe for all eternity … or at least until breakfast.

Rose and Mark walked beside Harry, not having a clue where they were going. As they walked Harry scoured his brain for something to say.

"So, uh…"

Rose looked at him and smiled weakly. "Yuhuh?"

Mark broke the uncomfortable silence. "My mum says that silence is the worst thing in the world, apart from people who think they know everything. But of course, the way she says it, 'people who think they know everything are really annoying to those of us that do'."

Rose laughed. "She sounds like my kind o' person! Eh - why are we stopping?"

"This is the Gryffindor common room…" Harry trailed off. It had just occurred to him, what with all the excitement, that he did not know the password.

But obviously some divine deity was listening and Ron poked his head out of the portrait hole.

"Hey, Harry!" he turned back into the common room. "Hermione, they're here!"

The three walked into the room, decked out in red and gold and sat down by the fire, Rose and Mark looking around in awe. Hermione and Ron were the only other occupants of the room.

"Where is everyone?" Harry asked.

Hermione blinked. "Well, I suppose you didn't realise it, but we've been waiting for you for a quite a long time."

"But we were only waiting for Rose!" Mark stated indignantly.

"Hey, I was having a nervous break-down!" Rose winked at him. No one seemed to find this funny.

Ron glanced over at Harry. "So … is she who we think she is?"

"If you think I'm the Queen of the Universe, well, I'm very sorry to disappoint you but - ah, to heck with it, yes, I'm who ever you think I am."

Silence.

"Um, that was supposed to be funny, you know, a joke?"

"Anyways," Hermione turned back to Harry. "Is she?"

He nodded. Rose shifted uncomfortably under Ron's stares. Hermione elbowed Ron in the ribs. Then she looked at Rose.

"I never really thought about it before, but you do look a little like him, your eyes for instance," Rose raised her aforementioned blue eyes. "Sirius had blue eyes too."

"Can you … tell me about him?" she asked, mentally crossing her fingers.

Hermione and Ron just looked at her incredulously.

Harry stepped in. "She doesn't know anything about him," he said in a small voice.

Ron continued to stare and Hermione gave a startled little gasp before looking Rose determinedly in the eye. "Well, then," she started, no questions asked. "We'll tell you everything we know."

Then followed a long discussion, continuing on into the early hours of the morning. No one - least of all Rose, who stayed up even later thinking - got much sleep that night.

Back in the Entrance Hall a Slytherin girl called Blaise Zabini was walking down to breakfast early, as always. What was not as always was the lump of black robes sitting beside the doors to the Great Hall.

Blaise prodded the lump with her foot and gasped, vibrant red tresses swinging as she stepped back. The pile of robes had groaned loudly. "Hello?" she called, black eyes alight with curiosity.

Suddenly the girl that was the heap of robes jumped up and caught Blaise by the arm, amber eyes wild and silver-black hair tousled from a night on the floor.

"Quick! I need to know where the Slytherin common room is, now!"

And Blaise remembered seeing the girl, Abbika Serreda sneaking out of the Great Hall after Harry Potter, Mark Evans and Rose Black.

She raised an eyebrow amusedly but led the way back to the dorms. "Where were you last night?"

"Tying up some loose ends," the mysterious new Slytherin answered vaguely.

(A/N: Whew, another chapter, come and gone! But never fear, the next will come, so be ready for pranks, lessons, pranks, adventures and…more pranks!

Lol, I think we lost all our reviewers, but I hope that some will remember that Emily and I still exist. Please, please, please review! For MY sake! Lol. Anyhoo, I gotta go, my mum thinks I'm still doing LA homework, ; P.

Night!

Abby)