Chapter Five

Dinner had been finished for a couple hours now, and only the Weasleys remained at the house with Harry of course. Dumbledore had left for God only knows where. "Always busy, he is," said Arthur. "But he never misses a beat, does he? Always busy, yet always ahead of the game it seems."

"Yes, dear," said Mrs Weasley. "Oh my, it's so late!" Everyone, who'd been sitting in the living room, talking about their summer, looked at a large, brown, grandfather clock. It was a few minutes after ten o'clock.

"Well, it'll be off to home for you lot then," said Molly, standing up.

"Ohh, Mom, can't we stay tonight?" asked Ron. "Harry just got here. It's boring at home."

"That's a swell idea," said Fred.

"We can stay the night," added George.

"We can keep him company," said Ginny, nodding her head. "Come on, what's he going to do without us? He'll be bored, we'll be bored."

"Two birds with one stone," said Ron.

Molly argued it over in her mind silently. "I don't see why not," cut in Arthur. "It's a great idea. Who knows why we didn't think of it before? Then tomorrow we can go get our guests."

"I guess you're right," said Molly. "After all, they'd end up here soon enough. You all have a change of clothes here?" The sons and daughter nodded their heads. "Alright then. But straight to bed with you. I don't want you up late. We have to leave early."

"So there will be two more kids here?" asked Harry. "The students from America?"

"Yes," said Arthur. "They're actually arriving late tonight on their… err Arrowplane."

"Airplane," corrected Harry. The kids all laughed a little.

"Right," said Arthur. "There's only a handful of them. We'll be getting two out of eight that will be arriving. For the rest of the night and early morning, they'll be at a wizard hotel, and then we'll go to pick them up tomorrow morning."

"You'll get to meet them tomorrow and sort out all kinds of stuff when the time comes," said Molly. "But it is time that you go to bed. Off you get. Now." Harry, Ron, Fred, George, and Ginny walked slowly up their rooms, each receiving a hug and kiss goodnight from Mrs Weasley. Upon arriving in their newly decorated room, Harry shut the door, and they went to their beds, turning the light off.

"So what do you think about the new students?" asked Ron. "Are you excited."

"Oh yeah," said Harry. "I'm psyched, but more curious than anything. I mean, we've had exchange students from before, but America is a lot further away, isn't it? I mean, they've got to have loads of different customs than we do."

"I hear Americans are very rude people," said Ron. "They're arrogant, power hungry, and selfish, or so I've heard."

"Nah, they can't all be terrible," said Harry. "Who knows what they think of us? I hope they don't meet too many Slytherins before meeting decent wizards. They'll just turn tail and run back to their country."

They shared a minute of laughter over this topic, and when things quieted down a bit, Harry resumed talking. "What I'm most nervous about, or anxious or whatever, is how much they know about Voldemort." Ron surprisingly didn't give too much of a jolt.

"I thought about that too," said Ron quietly. "What do you reckon?"

"Well, to be honest, I have to question why they were allowed to come when we're obviously in such a terrible stat of turmoil," said Harry. "There had to be one hell of a permission slip to be signed."

"Yeah," said Ron. "But they might not know a thing about… Voldemort." Harry was pleased to find that Ron had gotten over his fear of his name, as Hermione had done the past year. "I mean, what if they know nothing, if they just think everything is honky-dory?"

"Well… I guess they're in for a very rude culture shock," replied Harry.

The next morning wasn't very chaotic. Everyone was awake and moving by eight while Molly prepared a nice breakfast of hash browns, eggs, and toast. They ate, and once they all felt fulfilled, Arthur announced that it was time to leave. It would be just him, Harry, and Ron going to greet their guests, as they didn't want to overwhelm them with an entire family of red heads. No, they'd save that for arrival at the home.

"Something just occurred to me," said Harry as he and the others got ready to leave. They'd be arriving by his favorite method of travel (Heavy sarcasm), Floo Powder. At least now he was familiar with it a bit more than he was the first time he used it, he reassured himself.

"And what's that Harry?" asked Arthur.

"Well, we can't just have students entering the secret house for the Order of the Phoenix, can we?" asked Harry. "I mean, this place isn't really supposed to exist. How do we keep that a secret?"

"They've already been interviewed for security," said Arthur. "At their previous school, they come highly recommended as being very trustworthy and righteous. They know the difference between right and wrong. Of course, just to be safe,"

"What?" asked Harry.

"They're going to put under a tight watch by members of the school community and the Ministry. Don't worry Harry. They'll be fine. Now let's go." He threw a pinch of what looked like sand into the empty fireplace, and a blazing green flame burst to life and enveloped him as he spoke the words, "London Magical Motel".

Harry stepped forward and took his own handful, stepping into the vacant fireplace. "Remember to speak clearly," joked Ron. "We don't want you to end up anywhere but the London Magical Motel."

"London Magical Motel!" Harry said as the green flames surrounded him. He disappeared while again feeling that sensation of being pulled away. He remembered his advice from the Weasleys in hi second year to keep his arms at his sides and not inhale too much of the smoke and ash. He clumsily stepped out of a nice fireplace in a large motel lobby. Arthur was waiting for him, and immediately afterward, Ron came plunging out also.

"Well then," said Arthur. "Good to see you made it all right this time," said Arthur. Harry blushed only a little. He was being teased, but he didn't care too much. He was still a bit nervous about meeting the new students.

Arthur led them to a receptions desk, where he cleared his throat loudly. A short, old wizard with a hooked nose and large eyes behind his spectacles looked up from some papers at his desk. "Ah, hello there Arthur," he said with a warm smile. "How you doing old chap?"

"Just fine Mark," said Arthur. "Of course, we're here to pick up the students from America."

"Right," said Mark, the old man. "I just called up to them. They'll be coming down in just a minute. They're on their way. Just have a seat if you will." Mark motioned toward the many couches and chairs in the waiting area. They each obliged and sat down then.

"Now boys, these new students might seem a bit strange to us," said Arthur. "But they probably will feel likewise about us."

"You don't have to tell us to be polite, Dad," said Ron. "Harry and I know about manners. We'll be totally cool with them."

"Oh," said Arthur, recovering from his derailing quickly. "Well then, I'll say no more. It'll be interesting to hear what life is like for them on the other side of the ocean, won't it?"

Harry nodded. There was a loud, sharp chime that sounded a little distance away. An elevator door opened, and eight teenage kids walked out, chatting with each other as they exited. The students looked around, wondering who it was that was supposed to be picking them up.

All eight of them wore what Harry supposed was their own school uniforms, which were grey button-down shirts and black pants worn under black and grey robes. The robes were all worn open, as if being worn like a large jacket or coat. They seemed to look like the typical teenagers.

"That'll be them," said Arthur, standing up and walking over to them. Harry and Ron followed on either side of him. The group stopped as they faced Arthur, Harry, and Ron. "Welcome," said Arthur heartily. "I'm Arthur Weasley. It's good to see you all arrived alright."

"No problems at all," said one of the males in the back, a tall one with long black hair. Some of them laughed lightly.

"Well then," said Arthur. "Where is… Leo and Blake?" Two males stepped forward. The first one that Harry noticed was someone a few inches taller than he, probably on the tall end of five feet, with dark blonde, shaggy hair and brown eyes. He didn't notice this person for his height, but for the instrument slung over his back. A leather strap was slung over his shoulder, and it appeared to be holding a long, flat case, about three feet long, maybe more, against his back.

"Name's Leo Arson," said the blonde, extending his hand to Mr Weasley. "It's nice to meet you Sir."

"Welcome Leo," replied Arthur. He turned to the other boy, a male only an inch or two shorter with spiky brown hair and green eyes. "You are Blake then?"

"Indeed I am Sir," said Blake. "I am Blake Stintley. Pleased to meet you." They shook hands, and Arthur introduced Harry and Ron.

"This is Harry Potter and my son Ronald Weasley," said Arthur enthusiastically. "They, of course, will be your fellow students."

"Nice to meet you Harry," said Leo, extending his hand. They shook hands. "I've read quite a bit about you from your Headmaster."

"You have, have you?" asked Harry with a smile. "Good things I hope."

"Albus Dumbledore spoke very highly of you," said Leo. "I don't know much about you though. I'm sure that will change quickly."

"Whoa," said Ron. "Harry, they have no idea who you are. They don't know you're famous."

"Famous?" asked Leo.

"We can talk later," said Arthur, "about that subject I mean."

"Well," said Blake. "Let's introduce our friends now. Of course you will be meeting them more properly at school, but we can still give you names."

"Right," said Leo. "This here is Gerald," he said, pointing to a shorter kid with orange hair and small spectacles. "Next is Jason." Jason was the tall male with long black hair in the back. "Of course, we have our ladies. Susie is the one with short blonde hair there. Anita is the brunette with long hair."

"And Marissa is there," said Blake, pointing out a girl with long blonde hair. "While here is Krista." Krista had long black hair that reminded Harry of Cho Chang, a girl he once fancied to be his girlfriend, but it didn't last long.

"Gerald, Jason, Susie, Anita, Marissa, and Krista," echoed Arthur Weasley. "It's very nice to meet you all."

The group all echoed their own thanks and that they too were pleased to meet him and the two boys. "So what houses are you guys in?" asked Ron. "What are your house names?"

"Houses?" asked Jason. "Umm, whatcha talking about?"

"They do not have houses," said Arthur quickly. "They all go to school together and share it as one body."

"Wow," said Harry. "Amazing."

"I'm sure that'll be explained in due time as well," said Leo with a smile.

"Indeed it shall," said Arthur.

"Well, we're the two that stay with Gryffindor," said Blake, speaking of himself and Leo.

"Jason and I are with Ravenclaw," said Anita, the long-haired brunette.

"I'm with the Slytherin students," said Marissa.

"As am I," replied Susie.

"I'm with Hufflepuff, is it?" said Gerald, the boy with orange hair. "With Krista."

Harry and Ron simultaneously turned toward the two girls Marissa and Susie. "Watch out for Slytherins," said Ron quickly. "Don't mess with them if possible at all."

"Yeah," said Harry. "It's part of the house system we mentioned. Be careful around Slytherins."

"Why?" asked Marissa, the one with long blonde hair. "Are they psychos or something?"

"Now, now," said Arthur. "Don't talk of fellow students. It's up to them to figure out how they like our school. Don't interfere."

"Just a word of caution," said Ron. "Their house always turns out the most dark wizards and witches. They are evil."

"That's enough Ron," said Arthur sternly. "We must be going anyway. My wife will be expecting us anytime, and I don't want to anger the Misses." There was some laughter out of the assembly of students. "Come Leo, Blake. Your luggage, of course, will be arriving shortly at home as well."

Harry, Ron, Arthur, and Leo and Blake walked away to the fireplace on the other side of the room. They waved as they left, and within the minute, all of them had disappeared into the fireplace, taken by Floo Powder to 12 Grimauld Place.

End Chapter Five

I am sorry that it's not very dramatic. It's not easy typing out the introduction of eight characters. It's kinda weird and jagged around the edges, but it's midnight, and I'm too tired to even breath, so I'm hitting the hay. Please R&R if you like this. If you don't, that's fine too…