Chapter Five: Lasting Friends

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. There is a bit at the end of this chapter that is almost directly from cannon, and I am not claiming it as mine either. Obviously it was changed and it is not an exact quote, but it was close enough that I felt that I needed to place this on here, again

A/N: There are a lot of changing views throughout this, but I think it's distinctly clear. I usually hate changing point of views this often in one chapter, but it was necessity. Enjoy. MdK

- - - -

Havenwood House stood proudly amongst the lush growth of the British countryside. With its massive grounds, dense forests, fresh clear lake that flowed went along side the property, Havenwood House was breathtaking. It even boasted a bird house, where the penguins lived.

Christina sighed at the sight. This was her family's house, but she had never felt at comfortable here. She'd never felt comfortable anywhere, come to think of it. And the letter she had received this morning might have been able to explain this.

She glanced down at her letter, clutched tightly in her hand. Sitting down on the grass, she tucked her feet underneath her and opened it again, pulling her blond hair out of her eyes as the wind kicked up.

Dear Miss Windsor,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry…

Witchcraft and wizardry? she thought. Is there really suck a thing?

She certainly hoped so.

Why she couldn't be more refined like her brothers. They carried their titles with pride and respect. She had always tried, but it was always foreign to her. Things didn't happen to her siblings like things happened to her. They never caused the polo balls to sprout legs and run away from their attackers or turned an annoying reporter's hair bright pink.

Christina smiled at the memory. Father had been furious and apologized profusely, though no one was sure how it had happened. One thing was for sure, it was Christina's fault. No one knew why, but everyone knew that is was. It was always Christina's fault.

"Christina," her father would say. "I don't know what it is about you, but you had better behave. Your country expects more of you as a princess, and if you weren't in line to be the Queen, I wouldn't care, but this family doesn't need anymore rumors and scandals flying around!"

Will and Harry don't have these weird things happen to them, Christina thought bitterly. She liked her brothers well enough, and was not jealous of their more immediate succession to the crown of England in any way. She just felt like she was born to the wrong family.

Though she didn't know how everyone would react to having a witch in the royal family.

- - - -

Dudley felt his draw drop and didn't even attempt to care. This was amazing.

"This is your school?" Dudley asked, his eyes darting every which way, trying to take everything in.

"What?" Harry asked as placed his glasses back on his face. "Oh, yeah, this is Hogwarts."

"This is amazing," Rigel stated. "Salem Institute was more of a campus, multiple buildings, and different dormitories and such. Hogwarts is a castle."

Ron and Ginny chuckled but Dudley couldn't agree with him more. Harry, his freak cousin, attended school in a castle.

"Its like from a fairy tale," Dudley said as Professor Dumbledore ushered them along the corridor.

Harry laughed. "Yeah, we even had fire breathing dragons a couple years back."

"Dragons?" Dudley asked, sure that he was having a go at him. "You're kidding right?"

Harry shook his head. "Not in the slightest."

Dudley looked at his cousin in awe. Magic wasn't weird, or unnatural; it was cool. It was amazing. It was intriguing and interesting and everything that his Muggle life had not been.

No matter what it takes, Dudley thought to himself, this is going to be my new life. I have nothing to go back to anyway, and this is who I am supposed to be. I vow to work as hard as possible and do whatever it takes to learn and practice and master magic.

"We have different dormitories," Ron said to Rigel. "They're just all in the same building. We call them Houses."

"What House are you all in?" Adara asked.

"Gryffindor," the three Gryffindor replied simultaneously and then laughed at themselves. They explained the other three houses to the three new students and Dudley decided that he didn't want to be in Slytherin.

"Professor Dumbledore," Professor McGonagall called and rushed down the hall.

"Yes, Minerva?" Professor Dumbledore asked, stopping in the middle of the hall, the students halting behind him.

"Headmaster," Professor McGonagall said, showing him a slip of parchment. Professor Dumbledore's eyebrows rose as he reads through the note, and a thin smile appeared on his face.

"Really?" he asked, looking at Professor McGonagall. "How interesting. Well, we shall need to go about this delicately, then."

"How are we to meet her parents and explain?" Professor McGonagall asked. "It's not like we can just knock on the door."

"I agree," he replied and thought for a moment. "Let me think one this one. Too bad Ms. Granger's parents aren't letting her leave the house; she would be good at this sort of thing."

"I'll owl them, Albus," Professor McGonagall said. "Because of the family in question, they might let her accompany us."

"Let me know what Rupert and Victoria say," Professor Dumbledore replied. "I'll be in my office."

Professor nodded at the students and took off down the corridor.

"What do you need Hermione for, Professor?" Harry asked before he could top himself.

"There is a Muggle born witch that received an acceptance letter to Hogwarts," Professor Dumbledore replied and they began walking again. "Her family is a rather large and of a well known lineage, and convincing them of the need for her to attend Hogwarts might prove difficult. Hermione is a Muggle born witch and has knowledge of said family, and bringing a current student with us when we visit this family might make Hogwarts not see as…" Professor Dumbledore paused, trying to think of the correct word.

"Weird?" Dudley suggested.

"For lack of a better word, yes, Mr. Dursley, weird."

Ron and Harry snickered and Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Ah, here we are," Professor Dumbledore asked as they approached a large stone gargoyle. "Abba Zabba."

This was apparently some sort of password because the stone gargoyle jumped aside, revealing a set of circular stone steps.

"After you," Professor Dumbledore said, indicating that they were to enter first. Harry seemed to know what was going on, and as he stepped onto the first stone step the stairs began to move upwards, circling around a stone pillar. Ron and Ginny jumped on a step after Harry, and Rigel and Adara did the same. A little uneasy, Dudley stepped onto a stone step with Professor Dumbledore right behind him.

"This is just like an escalator!" Dudley cried as the stone stairs carried him upwards.

"A what?" Ron asked.

"And escalator," Dudley repeated. "You know, one of those things they have at shopping centers and such?"

"I've heard of those," Ginny replied. "I think Hermione mentioned once."

"Oh, it's a Muggle thing," Ron said, and that seemed to explain everything to him.

The six students entered their headmaster's office and Professor Dumbledore went to fetch the sorting hat.

"You all right, Harry?" Ginny asked.

He nodded. "Just a little uncomfortable."

"You shouldn't be after all the time you've spent in here," Ron said.

"Last time wasn't very pleasant," Harry replied.

Dudley was about to ask why his cousin had been in the headmaster's office numerous times and why the last time wasn't pleasant when Professor Dumbledore came back into the main room with a stool and an old hat.

"Will we have to listen to it sing?" Ron asked.

"No," Professor Dumbledore replied, though Dudley had no idea what it was talking about. Then a great spit went though the hat, Dudley had taken it for a fold, and the hat spoke.

"No, Master Weasley, not quite yet," the Sorting Hat drawled. "I need to make some finishing touches on my song before I perform at the start of term."

"Ah," Ron replied. Dudley was beside himself. The hat talked! And no one else seemed to think this was odd!

"Now I've explained to the Sorting Hart the reason for this little visit," Professor Dumbledore explained. "I have not told him your names, just that there are three new students transferring at the beginning of term and needed to be sorted immediately. So how wants to go first?"

Rigel and Adara exchanged a look and before either of them had moved, Dudley made a decision and took a step towards the stool and the old talking hat.

"Splendid, Mr. Dursley," Professor Dumbledore said smiling and Dudley took a seat on the stood, realizing that he fit better on the stool than he had, and the headmaster sat the hat on Dudley's head.

"Well now," a voice said and Dudley looked around frantic.

"Who said that?" he asked out loud and the three Gryffindors snickered.

"No one else can hear me," the voice said. "It's only in your head that I can see, so it's only in your head that you can hear me.

The hat is talking to me, Dudley thought. In my head.

"Perceptive, aren't you," the Sorting Hat drawled. "Now let's see here… Yes, you've not a bad mind, defiantly a lot of courage in you. You're awful full determination as well. You'd make a good Gryffindor. But I also see a lot of treachery in you, and a great load of ambition. You defiantly want to prove yourself. You might not make a bad Slytherin."

What about the other houses? Dudley thought, remembering there were two others Harry had told him about.

"Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff?" the Sorting Hat asked. "Yes, you would make a loyal Hufflepuff, but I don't see enough patience in you. And as Ravenclaw, your mind and wit would be tested and I don't think that would suit you well. So, where to put you?"

I'd like to go to Gryffindor, please.

"Gryffindor, eh? Well now, isn't that bold request?" the Sorting Hat chuckled. "And why is that?"

My parents just died, and Harry is all I have left. I think we might even become friends eventually. And I don't know anything about the magical world. I'd like to stay with my cousin. I'd like to give it a go to make amends with him. We've had a rough start, and with all this new magic stuff, I'd like to have a go at magic, and have a go at becoming friends with him.

"That is a very courageous thing to want," the Sorting Hat replied. "But I see it in you, and it's a genuine want. Making the decision to take on years worth of material, wanting to work to catch up, its takes bravery you know. And what you did at the end of your last term, standing up to a friend because of what was right. That was a very Gryffindor thing to do. Right then… GRYFFINDOR!"

- - - -

Adara watched Dudley sit on the stool with the Sorting Hat. His face scrunched up as he listened to what the hat had to say. Salem Institute didn't have a sorting hat, and whatever dormitory you were placed in was based on a preliminary interview you had before your first year. They looked at everyone's personalities, study habits, strengths and weaknesses and placed you with your dorm mates based on those attributes. Salem Institute did have a spell that each teacher cast upon you towards the end of your second year. It helped determine what subjects you had a natural ability for and allowed you to make course decisions.

But this was something completely different.

From what Harry and Ron had told her, all she had to do was try on the hat, and it would look into your head and determine from what it saw in you what House you were to be Sorted into.

"And this happens when you're eleven?" she had asked. "That's absurd, how does anyone know who they are when they're eleven?"

Harry and Ron had shrugged.

"Apparently it does," Ron replied. "There are some students who could go either place, but I've never seen it make a mistake with someone."

Well I know where I want to go, Adara thought. She had known her mother her entire life, but knew nothing of her father. She knew he had been in Gryffindor, when the rest of his family had been in Slytherin. She wanted a chance to know that part of her father, to experience what he had in that House. Quidditch matches, waving red and gold flags, cheering at the Gryffindor table. She needed that part of her life fulfilled. It helped staying in the house of Black, but being in the House that he loved, the one that had been home to him, that would mean everything to her.

Adara saw Harry's face light up when the hat's rim split open again and shouted Gryffindor into the silent chamber. Dudley grinned and Professor Dumbledore took the Sorting Hat off of Dudley's head and Dudley stepped down the stairs to stand beside his cousin.

"Congratulations, Dud," Harry said and Ron clapped the larger teen on his shoulder.

"Welcome to Gryffindor," Ron said.

"Rigel, Adara?" Professor Dumbledore asked and Adara stepped forward. He placed the hat on the dark haired teen and stepped back.

"Well now, isn't this a surprise?" the Sorting Hat stated. "Didn't expect to see anymore Black's to appear beneath my rim. Well, now you have a great deal of your father in you, but your mother seems to give you a calming nature your father greatly lacked. Immense amounts of courage and bravery in you, no you wouldn't back down from a fight. You've got a superb mind also; you would do well in Ravenclaw. But no, I think it's clear where you heart is, and apparently there is no arguing with you. All right then, GRYFFINDOR!"

Adara's face split into a huge grin as she hopped off the stool, her dark hair swishing along her back.

"Yay!" Ginny squealed and engulfed the girl into a hug. "Too bad you aren't going to be in my year!"

"But at least we're in the same house," Adara replied, grinning at the red head. She and Ginny had become friends over the past weeks at Grimmauld Place, and Adara was grateful for it.

She met her brother's smiling eyes as he stepped towards the stool. She knew her brother's thoughts on being in Gryffindor, and knew that he was as stubborn as she was. She doubted the Sorting Hat would have much of a problem sorting him the same way.

- - - -

Rigel glanced at his sister, willing himself not to be envious of her.

She's already been sorted where she wants to, he thought. Don't let her down.

"Well now," the Sorting Hat said as it was dropped onto his head. "I had suspected you'd be following your sister shortly. Good Heaven's look at your mind! It seems you want to know your father as well, but don't you think that Slytherin would suit you better?"

Not a chance, Rigel thought. Father wasn't a Slytherin. The Blacks were, but he wasn't. And I'm not.

"Don't let your temper get to you," the Sorting Hat chided. "You're only proving my point. No, you're right, there's not enough greed and self preservation in you for that House. Hufflepuff would bore you, I'm afraid, as would the Ravenclaws. It seems the only place to sort you would be into Gryffindor. You'd make a lot of friends there, and you would feel at home. Much like your father did."

I never knew him, Rigel thought. Gryffindor was his home, and I want it to be mine.

"Very well," the Sorting Hate replied. "GRYFFDINDOR!"

Adara's face was the first thing his eyes made contact with and she beamed. Rigel stepped down the few stairs and smiled at his new housemates. The other five Gryffindors were applauding loudly, each had proud and excited smiled plastered across their faces. At bit numb, he realized what it mean to him to be Sorted into their House, into his father's House, and he hadn't known it would mean this much to him. These people, with the exception of Dudley, knew his father and loved his father. Harry had been like a son to him, they had said. And now knowing that he was to be apart of that, well, it made him incredibly happy.

His twin threw her arms around him and he could feel silent sobs escape from her. He hugged her back, fighting his own tears.

Remus had been right. There were people here willing to make them apart of their family. And he was grateful.

- - - -

Hermione sat at the kitchen table surrounded by books. In fact, if someone were to walk into the kitchen, she wouldn't be seen. Not that anyone would be walking into the kitchen, her parents were both a work, and Hermione was an only child.

She sighed and put down her quill. Her Transfiguration essay could wait a moment or two. She was annoyed at her parent's sudden overbearing attitude. They were being ridiculous in her eyes, and not allowing her to visit her friends was killing her. She missed Harry and Ron terribly. She and Ginny had become good friends over the years and Hermione found Ginny a wonderful source of girl time when Ron and Harry became too much to bear. Her friends had kept her up to date with the summer's events and Hermione was extremely curious about Dudley's sudden magical abilities and she also wanted to meet Sirius's son and daughter.

The thought of Sirius brought tears to her eyes and she subconsciously rubbed the scar across her chest. She had Antonin Dolohov to thank for that. She shuddered at the thought of the Death Eater and a strange anger continued to fester in her. She felt her breathing speed up, becoming unstable and uneasy.

"Calm down, Hermione," she instructed herself and fought against the feelings of hatred. It was a side effect from the curse the Death Eater had hit her with. She took her potions when she was supposed to, and was healing properly, but this was something she had to fight on her own. The nature of the spell was hatred and it was hurled at her with a strong hatred force, and she would have to fight the feelings now corrupting her heart.

She thought of Ron and Harry and their faces brought her breathing to a calmer pace. She would have to wait till she got to Grimmauld Place, or worse, Hogwarts, till she could research the spell and a way to fight it. After the attack on Diagon Alley, she was not able to go to the bookshop to search for a book. Being on their Most Valued Customer List had its advantages, but nothing in their inventory list looked like it would contain the information she needed.

She sighed again, wanting desperately to get out of her house. Her parents had forbid going to Grimmauld Place until things settled down. She had pleaded with them, and explained that things weren't going to settle down for a while and insisted that her friends needed her, and that Grimmauld Place was safe. They didn't budge and she was furious. She didn't speak to them for the first two weeks of term, and only when they mentioned a possibility for her to go to Headquarters for Harry's birthday, and only Harry's birthday, had she begin to calm down a bit. Maybe if she buttered them up they would let her stay through the end of August.

She jumped as an owl tapped on the window, and nearly spilt ink all over her parchment. She stood and crossed the room, letting the owl into the kitchen. Confused at the sight of a school owl, as she had gotten her O.W.L. results a few days earlier, she untied the letter. Giving the owl a treat, the owl clicked at her until she slid open the seal and read through the letter.

Hermione's face grew into a very large smile before running into the hall and phoning her parents at work. They just had to let her out of the house for this!

- - - - -

Harry blinked his eyes forcing them to readjust to the summer sunlight. He stepped out of the Hogsmeade location of Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions and glanced up and down the street. There were other Hogwarts students shopping with their families. It was the most crowded that he'd ever seen Hogsmeade, actually.

"Coming, Harry?" Ron asked and Harry nodded, following the other students, and their Order minders, down the street to the Three Broomsticks. They had just spent the past two hours in Madam Malkin's, fitting the six Hogwarts students for new school robes. They had already been through the makeshift store that Flourish and Blotts had set up, and visited the local apothecary for some of their supplies. Other supplies would need to be ordered by owl.

"Where am I to get a wand, Harry?" Dudley asked.

"At Ollivander's, I s'pose," Harry replied, looking around and back down the street. "But I didn't see one."

"He's set up at the very end," Tonks said. She had surprised them at the Hogwarts gates with long blond hair and a long aristocratic nose. Harry had at first thought she was a Malfoy, until Tonks laughed and changed herself back to normal. Well, normal for Tonks was brightly colored blue hair. Harry had never seen what her natural form was. Harry had been introduced to the other four Order members who were their minders for the day, though he didn't know any of them or remember any of their names once they had begun walking towards the village.

"Let's go get you a wand before we eat," Harry said to his cousin. "Tonks, would you like to accompany us?" He knew she was going to even if he hadn't asked.

"Of course," she replied. "Quickly, though. Its hot and I need some refreshment."

Harry, Dudley and Tonks turned and walked back up the street towards the building Ollivander had rented out.

"Ah, Mr. Potter," Mr. Ollivander said as they came into the shop. "I hadn't been expecting to see you for another couple years. What can I do for you?"

"Mr. Ollivander, this is my cousin, Dudley. He needs a wand."

Mr. Ollivander eyed Dudley who stared back at the elderly wizard with interest.

"I can't say that I've never heard of you, Mr. Dursley," Mr. Ollivander said. "I just wasn't aware that you were a wizard."

"Neither was I," Dudley replied. "I found out after my mum and dad died."

Mr. Ollivander didn't say anything, and turned on his heal to the back of the store. Dudley eyed Harry, and Harry tried not to smile.

"I think that means he likes you," Harry replied in a hushed whisper. "See, he's coming back now with some wands for you to try."

"Here we are, Mr. Dursley," Mr. Ollivander said, placing several boxes on the counter. "Maple, eleven inches, core of unicorn hair. Give it a go."

Dudley took the wand from the older wizard and stared at it.

"Well, give it a wave," Ollivander said. Dudley looked embarrassed but swished the wand through the air as he had seen his cousin do.

Nothing happened.

Mr. Ollivander frowned, his bushy white eyebrows joining as one in the center of his forehead giving the impression that there was a very large and long white caterpillar on his face.

"Definitely not that one," the old wizard said and handed Dudley another wand.

"I have to try another one?" Dudley asked.

"It is the wand that chooses the wizard, Mr. Dursley," Mr. Ollivander replied. "If we must, we shall go through the entire inventory until we find one best suited for you.

Dudley sighed and waved the second wand.

Nothing.

After another three wands of the same result, Tonks excused herself to sit outside, and Harry sat back on the bench beside the door.

Maybe there had been some mistake, Harry thought. Maybe the Silencing charm was a fluke. Maybe I cast the charm without intending to. But he could see Hogwarts… and the Sorting Hat…But Harry knew that he wanted his cousin to a wizard. For some reason, it felt too right. Harry and Dudley had been getting along great the past couple week or so, and Harry found it, well, nice to be able to have his cousin for a friend. He hoped that Dudley was a wizard, so that they continue to be friends.

"Tricky customer aren't you?" Mr. Ollivander said and took the twelfth wand from Dudley. "But no matter, we always find a wand."

Mr. Ollivander went to the back of the store again and Dudley turned to Harry, looking deflated.

"Maybe I'm not a wizard," Dudley said.

"Of course you are," Harry replied. "Besides, I doubt the Sorting Hat would have sorted you if you weren't."

Dudley nodded but didn't look convinced. Mr. Ollivander came back with another stack of wands and they began the process again.

Still nothing. This went on for the next thirty minutes. Each wand that Dudley touched and waved around didn't react to him at all. Harry knew that you never got the same results from someone else's wand that you would with your own, but nothing at all? No broken vases, or smashed windows or anything?

"Lets try this one," Mr. Ollivander said and handed Dudley the wand. "Oak, 11 ½ inches, hair from a unicorn's tail."

As Dudley's hand grasped the wand a great wind swept through the room, scattering papers and empty boxes. A great light came out of the end of the wand, and it seemed to be radiating from Dudley himself. It lasted only a few seconds and then faded, leaving Dudley's blond hair looking wind blown.

"Wow," Dudley said.

"Interesting," Mr. Ollivander said and Harry fought the urge to roll his eyes. If Ollivander found something interesting, nothing good could come of it.

"Does that always happen?" Dudley asked.

"Everyone reacts to their wand differently, Mr. Dursley," Mr. Ollivander said. "Your cousin's first reaction to his wand was a spectacular display of red and gold sparks, much like a firework show."

"That what was interesting?" Dudley asked.

"I told you the core was from a unicorn tail," Mr. Ollivander replied. "And I remember every wand I've ever sold. And it just so happens that your Aunt Lily's wand core was also from a unicorn."

"Was it from the same animal?" Harry asked suddenly.

"No, Mr. Potter, actually, the core of your mother's wand was from a beautiful beast named Palma. The core from Mr. Dursley's wand is from Palma's sister's son."

Harry and Dudley both stared at each other. "So, Dudley's wand is my mum's wand's nephew?" Harry asked.

"It seems so," Mr. Ollivander replied and handed Dudley, who was still clutching his wand, the wand box.

"What's your wand core, Harry?" Dudley asked.

"Erm, phoenix feather," Harry replied and paid Mr. Ollivander.

"Find a wand, boys?" Tonks asked as they stepped out of the wand shop.

"Yes," Dudley said, proudly showing her his new wand. Dudley chatted Tonks' ear off as they made their way down the street, and Harry could help feeling like there was more that Mr. Ollivander wasn't telling them about Dudley's wand and its relation to Harry's mum's.

Harry shook his head, not wanting to think about it anymore. Instead he opened the door and followed Tonks and Dudley into the Three Broomsticks.

"Took you long enough!" Ron said as they sat down. "Did you get lost?"

Harry laughed. "No, Dudley just took some time choosing his wand. Or the wands took their time choosing him, rather."

"But you got one?" Ron asked, looking at Dudley.

"I guess this confirms that I'm a wizard," Dudley said and showed everyone his new wand. Neither Harry nor Dudley mentioned the connection between the wand cores.

Maybe it's a family thing, Harry thought. I mean, Dudley is related to my mum. And if I didn't have all this prophecy nonsense I might have ended up with a different wand.

Though not a comforting thought, the idea did make sense and Harry decided not to dwell on it further. It didn't matter what core Dudley's wand contained, just that his cousin had a wand. That idea was still something to get used to.

Harry was careful not to gulp down his Butterbeer when it arrived, though he was thirsty enough to drink an entire careful. Instead he sipped at his beverage and listened as Dudley told of his experience in Ollivander's Wand shop like it was a crusade.

As Harry took the last swig of his drink, a foul stench reached his nose and he swallowed before he chocked.

"Urgh," Tonks said. "What is that?"

The smell seemed familiar, yet disgusting to Harry and as his mind placed where he knew the smell from he looked at Ron, who was realizing the same thing.

"First year," Harry stated and Ron nodded.

"Halloween."

"Trolls!" a screaming voice came as he ran into the pub. "Trolls in the village, at least fifteen of them!"

Before anyone could tell them not to, or realize what they were going to do, Ron and Harry bolted from the table and onto the street. A gigantic mountain troll was walking past the front of the Three Broomsticks, dragging his club behind him, leering at the screaming patrons running in front of him.

"Stupefy on three," Harry said and Ron nodded. "One… two… three! Stupefy!"

Ron and Harry cried the spell at the same time and hit the troll squarely in the face. His eyes glazed over before falling forward, nearly missing a mother clutching her toddler.

"Cool," Ron said. "Must easier than levitating his club and knocking him out that way."

"And much more efficient and time saving," Harry replied. "Come one, that bloke said there were fifteen of them."

"Well, there's one down," Rigel said behind them and Ron and Harry spun around.

"Come on," Ginny said from beside Rigel. "We're going to help."

"No, you're going to go back inside and-" Harry began but soon found himself with Ginny's wand pointed directly between his eyes.

"No, Harry, I'm going to come and help, because I am fully capable of doing so. All you did was cast a Stunning Spell. We learned that in what, second year?"

Harry didn't feel like arguing, nor did he like being on the receiving end of Ginny's wand.

"Fine, let's go," he said.

"Dudley is inside with Tonks," Adara explained as they trotted down the street. "The other four took off out the back door. They weren't too pleased that you took off."

"Well, they can deal with it," Harry replied. "I'm tired of being treated like a first year."

"There's one," Ginny said and pointed down the street that lead to the Shrieking Shack.

"You think five stunners would be too much?" Ron asked.

"I think it depends on the troll," Adara answered. "We learned a lot about them last year."

"Lets try two then," Harry replied and locked eyes with Ron before casting the Stunning Spell at the troll again. They hit him in the back and he fell over onto his face.

"Two down," Rigel counted. They five of them split up as they made their way down the street. Other wizards and witches seemed to notice what they were doing and soon the street was filled with Stunned trolls.

"I've counted at least thirteen," Rigel said. Harry could see Ginny and Adara helping people to their feet up the street a ways.

"Where do you think the other two went?" Ron asked.

Harry shrugged, not taking his eyes off Ginny. "Dunno. We never had a confirmed number, we just went off what that wizard in the pub said."

"He could have counted wrong, I guess," Ron said. "Still weird though, how they just showed up like that. Wonder what they were here for."

"Think about it Ron," Harry replied.

"Oh yeah."

Ginny was dusting off her robes and as the sunlight caught her hair, Harry was amazed at its beauty and brilliance of color. Ron's hair is never that color, Harry thought. She turned and looked in their direction and their eyes met. Harry smiled at her and she returned the smile, all the time Harry was vaguely aware of Ron and Rigel talking behind him. All he knew was Ginny.

Suddenly her face was full of fear and Harry felt himself thrown to the ground. Ron and Rigel had dropped beside him and they all nearly missed being hit by the club the twenty foot troll was swinging at them. Harry rolled onto his back and then to the left, pushing Ron to the side, as the club came down between himself and Ron, and Rigel.

"Stun it!" he heard Ginny yell and saw five Stunners hit the troll. It didn't faze him. Ron and Harry got to their feet quickly, and threw their own Stunners at the troll but still it didn't affect him.

"Something else!" Harry yelled and jumped aside, flattening himself against the building as the club came down again.

"What?" Ron asked, looking around. "What else could work?"

"Dunno!" Harry cried and pulled Ron around the corner of the building, nearly missing the club. The troll seemed to be aggravated that his smash subjects weren't holding still, and began swinging more forcefully and more frequently.

"Rigel!" Adara yelled. "Full Body Bind him!"

"Petrificus Totalus!" Harry heard Rigel yell and the troll paused and blinked a few times before shaking his head and swinging again.

"Rigel, on three!" Harry yelled. "One…two… three…"

"Petrificus Totalus!" the three Gryffindors roared and the troll stopped moving. His arms and legs snapped together and he fell over sideways, the ground shaking under his weight as he fell. Rigel was standing on the other side of the troll, his wand out, dirt on his face and looking incredibly terrifying.

No one said anything for quite sometime. Rigel, Ron and Harry just stood and looked at each other, each feeling a bit embarrassed and awkward.

And Harry knew right then that he and Rigel were going to be friends for a very long time. There were some things that you can't share without ending up with a lasting friendship, and knocking out a twenty foot mountain troll was one of them.

- - - -

A/N: HRH Princess Christina Windsor is completely made up. She doesn't exist. I needed a character in that exact place in her family, and so I made her up.

Also, I know I just gave Gryffindor three new members, but it was seriously the only way to do it. I deliberated back and forth about doing that, and even tried placing them in different houses. Adara almost went to Ravenclaw. But with the nature of the story, and things to come, I needed them all close to Harry, and Gryffindor was the best place for that.

I can't for the life of me remember when they learned the Stunning Spell, and if it wasn't second year, please let me know and I'll fix it. I don't have access to my copies of the Harry Potter books and the Harry Potter wasn't very helpful. It is a great source of HP information, and at the number one spot in my book, but for this it didn't help much. So if anyone remembers when they learned it, let me know and I'll fix it.

Lastly, the last stanza of this chapter is a modified passage from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone/ Philosopher's Stone, and the original was written by J.K. Rowling. The lines fit, so I put them in. It made a connection to cannon and I liked it.

Please review.

MdK