Swept Into Wind
By: Chococlateswirl88
Chapter Thirteen
Faerie Fireworks; N. Intense, explosive packet objects that explode when set on fire. Come in various shapes, sizes, and colors. Some are known for their ability to set off an extrodinary picture and sound. Beware: HIGHLY DANGEROUS.
Harry groaned. He should have known. Riley was a huge fan of faerie fireworks, that she was bound to have a couple dozen up each sleeve and pant leg. He was only too stupid not to think of it and check. Dumbledore would be far too interested in these fireworks for his own good, and then Hogwarts was in trouble.
The moment he stepped off the train, he wished he hadn't. There stood Riley, chatting like friends with the non-other Draco Malfoy. The pair spotted Harry intstantly. To his dismay, Draco waved him over whilst Riley grinned.
"Are you in on preparing Hogwarts for their new student?" He asked, an odd gleam over taking his ice-blue eyes. Harry studdied Draco carefully. The milky smooth skin, the bright eyes, and on the nape of his neck, the two little holes where he was bit. Draco was indeed a vampire. "Afterall, she is a bit of a handfull."
"Yes, I am." Riley admitted, grinning like a mad man just noticing a huge candy store to his left. Harry quirked an eyebrow.
"Yet she admits it." Harry muttered, dodging a fist that came out of nowhere. Behind him, he could hear the voices of the Weasleys and one Hermione Granger. He scowled in spite of himself. Riley peered over his shoulder, her eyebrows raising. This time, both of them.
"Apples and a bush?" She looked back at Harry who cracked a wide grin before returning her attention to the group again. They were laughing at something, not noticing Harry's exsistance whatsoever. However, Harry didn't seem phased by their presence anyhow. "You could have done better those few years before." She commented.
"Yes, I know that now. And I have, considering I have a Faerie for a best friend." Harry grinned as Riley hugged him tight, hugging her in return. Draco grinned as well, before stepping forward with his hand extended.
"And a Vampire." Both boys grinned as they shook anothers' hand. Draco suddenly pulled Harry into a hug, nearly squeazing the insides out of him.
"Not to mention Lolonda." Riley ducked as Harry's fist sought for a spot on her body. "Hey chill! I wasn't making fun of her this time!" She smiled as he seemed to belive this, then said, "But I still think she looks like a rabbit!" and tore off running down the platform with Harry and Draco in hot pursuit.
It wasn't long before they found themselves at the carriages. Harry, Draco, and Riley stopped and looked at the creatures. The boys had seen them before, but this was the first time Riley ever laid eyes on them. Sure, Harry had warned her about them, he figured she would be a little shocked by them, even if she pretended to be fine.
"Those are the beasts." Harry said, stepping forward and patting one on the head, ignoring some of the students that started whispering about him. "They're rather friendly, they were with me last year. Remember? I told you I rode one with Nevile to the Ministry. Speaking of Nevile, where is the bl-OW!"
"Behind you." A long, curly haired boy came around Harry's right, grinning wilding. "Nice to see you Harry." The boys hugged briefly and shook hands, talking happily. Riley and Draco studdied Nevile.
"He's not too bad." Riley commented, grinning at Draco. "I thought you said he was larger?"
"He used to be." Draco answered, running a hand through his hair. "And shorter. Looks like this summer did the lad some justice." Moments later, Nevile and Harry joined them and Harry introduced them all. Nevile accepted Draco into the group instantly, forgiving him of all taunts from earlier years. Draco also explained himself to Nevile, who seemed to accept his speciality.
They piled into a carriage and chatted while they journeyed up to Hogwarts. But mostly, Nevile was asking Riley questions, seeing how he was now friends with the girl.
"Where are you from?" He asked while absentmindedly playing with the hem of his robe. "I've not seen you before."
"That's because I'm from a world within a world." He raised an eyebrow, confused beyond belief. Riley grinned.
"You mean you're from a subworld?" Riley nodded. "So you're not human?" She shook her head. "What is it called?"
"Tatopia." Riley answered, reaching into her purse and pulling out a snowglobe. She handed it to Nevile, whom shook it, and watched as glitter and small flowers and butterflies floated down the sides and into small grooves. "I made that when I first moved here, to remind me of home. Though, I've not really needed it. I've had to spend a good several weeks there for sentimental reasons." Harry leaned forward, watching Riley's eyes carefully.
They didn't speak when Riley turned around to get her first glimpse of Hogwarts. She stared, her eyes moving rapidly, taking in as much as she could. They were, what seemed, to be several miles off still. Harry looked out one of the side windows. They weren't taking the regular path. The people in the carriage before them poked their heads out of the window, too.
"So why exactly were you in Tatopia? You told me you couldn't say, but I think its about time you did. You can trust us, you know." Harry said, convinced they would be in the carriage for a good few more hours. Dumbledore must have gone off his rocker again. Riley looked at him and sighed.
"Fine." She muttered, throwing the globe at him, which he caught instantly. 'The Queen of Tatopia is stepping down as ruler earlier than expected. I'm not her descendant, but I'm the next in line for Faeries who are considered Royalty. My mother used to work on the Counsil before she was killed. And the Queen always seemed to favor me. So that means I have a spot on the Counsil, and have to attend the meetings." Harry cocked his head to the side, curious to know more. "And just recently, Dumbledore found Tatopia's whereabouts and has penetrated the many charms and spells we put up to conceal the portal. They needed me to put up several ancient spells the looney can't break through." Draco rolled his eyes.
"Typical, Dumbledore can find anything it seems now a days. Does he know about you?" Riley shook her head.
"Not yet. And I don't intend him to find out. He'll force me to work for him in this war that you guys are currently in. I'm fighting, yes. Draco and I are leading the Vampires on Harry's side. Not the side of the light, but for Harry. " Harry smiled at his friend, grabbing her hand and squeezing it. "I've yet to convince Tatopia that we are as good as fighting in the war ourselves. The Counsil dosen't know I am fighting. Not yet, anyway. They're bound to find out, since half the counsil is made up of old bats that would rather stick with the old Parliament than our new system. If we're needed, I think Tatopia will fight on my side." Harry nodded, feeling a bit better about the war that was currently revolving around him.
The new quartet remained quiet as they finally approached Hogwarts. McGonagal was waiting for them outside, along with Snape, and Lupin. The moment Harry, Draco, Nevile, and Riley approached them, they were ushered inside. Harry rolled his eyes, realizing that Dumbledore and the Ministry admishered more safety on him. As if Voldemort would be waiting on the stoop of Hogwarts for him.
Remus smiled at Harry and clapped him on the shoulder. Since Sirius died, Remus had become Harry's Godfather. Severus became part of his life as well, posting as a sort of father figure as well. When they came to the huge double doors that lead into the Great Hall, Severus took Riley to Dumbledores office to have a private meeting with her. She would be sorted with the first years. Saying Good-Bye, Harry, Nevile, and Draco entered the Great Hall. The room went silent, and then burst into whispering.
"I think it would be best if I sat with the Slytherins." Draco muttered, shaking hands with two of his new friends. "We'll meet up after the feast is over. Any bets what house Riley will be in?" Nevile and Harry looked at eachother.
"I would say it would be a cross between Slytherin or Ravenclaw." Nevile said, glancing over the two tables. "She's too noble for Hufflepuff, and wouldn't quite fit in with Gryffindor." Draco grinned.
"I would say either of those houses as well. Let's just pray she dosen't get sorted into Hufflepuff. I'll threaten Dumbledore myself if she's placed in that ruddy mental house." Nevile and Harry laughed as they walked to their table, sitting closest to the teachers table, so they were in range of the professors eyesight."
The Great Hall was once again to its loud chatter level once again, seeming to forget Harry, Nevile and Draco's new friendship. However, Harry but couldn't help but over hear the convesation going on between the Weasleys and Granger. Nevile could hear it too.
Ron slammed his fist against the table, his eyes wild with anger. Hermione didn't look happy either, but she attempted to calm the red head down before he did something he would soon regret.
"Ron, calm down." She ordered, her patience was beginning to lessen with him each time he went through an anger spasm. "He stopped writing to us, remember? Why should we care who he's friends with? We're fine without him." She half belived her own words, considering she was the one who was hurt the most. After trying so hard to find out what was going on at the Dursleys only to be shot away, had left her with a scar that would never dissappear. Then when she finally realized he still wrote to Ginny, she knew they had something to hurt him. Her sadness had soon been overuled by anger.
"I don't care Hermione! He ditched us for HIM!" He made a rude gesture over to the Slytherin table at Draco, whom was chatting with a boy they had never seen before. "Potter's off his fucking rocker!" Hermione sighed and let go of Ron's arm, digging through her bag and retrieving the muggle mystery novel she picked up that summer. She sighed with relife as the conversation was blocked out by the many tiny black words began to etch themselves into her brain.
Nevile looked up. "First years are coming in." He retorted, sitting up straighter trying to find Riley. "She shouldn't be that bloody hard to find, no one else in the school has pure white hair. Not even Dumbledore." Harry crooned his neck to look as well. His stomach sank as the end of the line neared. She wasn't with them yet. That only meant..
Ka….BOOOOOM!
The entire school of Hogwarts Witch Craft and Wizardry was filled with a glittery pink strawberry smelling smoke for what felt like hours. As it faded and their vision was restored, Riley stood with a huge and gorgeous smile on her face.
"Good Evening!" She called. "What a wonderfull day for a sorting, wouldn't you say Norman?" No one had noticed the small figure hovering abover her right shoulder.
"Oh yes indeed!" He piped up, clapping his hands. "Onward!" Riley grinned again.
"Onward!" She mimiked, and strolled between the Gryffindor and Slytherin table up to the stool and hat that awaited her.
