Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling. I wish I was, or at least able to write as
she does. Oh well. I also own nothing you recognize.
I know that this is a real chapter in OotP. This story is based on Ootp. I tweeked the story line in some places. That is all I did.
Pussin Boots: Thank you! I loved typeing the last chapter, and I'm glad somebody liked it. I'm sorry that the "101 ways to annoy Lord Voldemort" didn't come out as a list....I hope you enjoy this one. It's not as funny, but it's more of an informative. And, as to the Chimerea info you gave me, GOOD JOB! That was from "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" by Newt Schamander, wasn't it? It's been a while since I read that...
The Sorting Hat's New Song.
Artemis and her friends got off the train, and were finally faced with the decision on weather or not to go with the first years or with Harry and co. Finally, a veritable giant stepped up to them.
"You're the new students from Tokyo, aren't you?" He asked them.
They all nodded.
"Professor Dumbledore wants to see you. He told me to tell you to go with the other fifth years up to the castle. He will meet you in the Great Hall."
They all nodded again, and ran after Harry. He looked back at them, and smiled slightly. Then he motioned for them to move ahead of him into the carriage.
They would have moved into them, but they saw the animals pulling the carriages. Artemis and Harry stopped dead. The other girls, in an effort to not seem out of place, had moved into the carriage without paying more than a glace at the reptilian horses in front of them.
To Harry, they looked eerie, like something out of a Scary PG-13 movie. To Artemis, they almost looked like yoma, but somehow beautiful in their own way. Harry leaned over to her.
"Am I the only one seeing these?" he asked.
Artemis shooke her head, then stepped forward. She stretched out her hand, and the horse looked at her. She cocked her head, but extended her head a little further.
Her fingers came in contact with the creature's skin, and she instantly fell the ground fall out from under her.
HARRY'S POV
She touched the strange horse's skin, and, well, collapsed. I caught her, and saw that her eyes were wide. As there are no windows in the carriage, none of her friends could see her. I was on my own. Only problem: I had never taken a first aid class, and had no idea on what to do.
ARTEMIS'S POV
Colors and shapes rushed past me. Horrid images of people screaming and fleeing in every direction. I started to panic, but, somehow, relaxed. I realized that I was experiencing my first vision. Apparently the horse, the Thestral, was a strong enough trigger to see this one.
Suddenly, I was thrust into a scene of flying thestrals with Harry and his friends on their backs. Then they were at a place that I somehow knew was the Ministry of Magic. They went in an explored the area. Then Harry was lifting a dusty spun glass ball. A voice sounded from the corner, one that I recognized a Lucious Malfoy's.
From there, I saw only flashes. Sadly, background music played in my mind that had just *happened* to come from the LOTR: Return of the King trailer on the internet. I saw a blond girl blow up a model of the planet Pluto. I saw Ron battling a brain. I saw a great purple 'X' zoom at Hermione, and she went unconscious. Then I saw a man start to fall into a veil held up by a great crumbling archway. Then, just like in the trailer, I saw somebody scream "NOOOOO!!!!" Only it was Harry's face instead of Sam's.
I started to come out of it. Now that all of the pictures had come past, I began to feel the information pile into my brain. But the thing that stayed with me was the prophecy, made by Sibyll Trelawney: "THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD APPROACHES. BORN TO THOSE WHO HAVE THRICE DEFIED HIM, BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES. AND THE DARK LORD WILL MARK HIM AS HIS EQUAL, BUT HE WILL HAVE POWER THE DARK LORD KNOWS NOT. AND EITHER MUST DIE AT THE HAND OF THE OTHER FOR NEITHER CAN LIVE WHILE THE OTHER SURVIVES. THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES."
HARRY'S POV
Artemis had only been out for a minute, but it felt like it had been hours. I'd put her on the ground, and called to her friends. Annette and Hope had come out, and they where now crouched next to me beside her.
After about 2 minutes, Hope started to reach out her hand, but Artemis had grabbed at the wrist. She shook her head, then wispered something in her ear. Hope's eyes widened and she retracted her hand quickly. I gave her a questioning look, but they ingnored me.
Finally, Artemis's eyes started to flutter open. I breathed a sigh of relief.
Her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. She lept to her feet, and went into a strage attack posture. She looked all around, as if searching for an unseen enemy. Then, if possible, her eyes grew even wider. Her hand flew to her throat, and searched the neck of her robes.
Apparantly, she found what she had been looking for, because her face relaxed slightly. She tugged on the now-visible silver chain, as though to make sure that it was really there. Then she tucked it back under her robes.
ARTEMIS'S POV
I was relieved. There was nothing around to attack my friends and pricipal, and my charm was stll there.
Call it ironic, but my name IS Artemis, and the charm was a cresent moon. To make it look normal, a chemical had been added to make it a glow- in-the-dark.
I climed into the carriage, lost in thought. I had collapsed next to Harry. The vision had been about him, but the Thestral had activated it. And what did Harry think? Was I seeming out of place already? Would I seem like a total freak to him? If that was the case, my job of keeping an eye on him would be extra-complicated.
But, what did he think? I had fallen down next to him, saw his future, and then woke up to see him, as well as Annette and Hope leaning over me. Did I seem like a freak attraction? I know Mom said that I wasn't supposed get on a personal level with him, but I felt drawn to become his friend.
What foul thoughts were these? I am a fully trained warrior from Jupiter, a planet know for turning out amazon-like warriors for centuries. I've faced down monsters that would make this Lord Voldemort an ant under a magnifying glass.
I would remain a spectator to Harry, and remain annoymous in my help. If I go, he will not miss me.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ::In the Great Hall::
Dumbledore was indeed waiting for the girls in the great hall. They gathered around, and followed him to his office.
~*~*~ In Dumbledore's office~*~*~*
Artemis walked past Fawkes the phoenix, who bowed his plumed head to her. Artemis was shocked for a second, but recovered herself and inclined her head. Then she approached the head master with the team behind her.
"I was told that there were nine of you. Where is the other one?" Artemis stiffened. Rini. He thought that Rini was still alive. What was she thinking? Of course she was still alive. She just wasn't here. She had dissapeared. But she would be back.
While Artemis was lost in thought, Cherlyn stepped forward.
"In one of our last battles, our leader, Rini, was killed in a battle. As she is Sereina's daughter, we know that she will come back. We just don't know when."
Dumbledore nodded, as if this statement confirmed a theory of his. "I take it that your mothers have already taken care of breifing you on your mission and givin you a crash course on 4 years of magic?" nods all around. "Then there are a few things that I must tell you about. You will have, because of who you are, special privalages. The teachers know about this already," Here Artemis noticed a twitch that his face made, as though to signal that MOST teachers knew.Most, not all. "You will be allowed to do magic in the corridors, skip a class if the castle or your principal is under attack, etc. basicly, you are all a kind of step up from the head girl or boy position. The Head Boy and Girl, know this. However, they do not know the reasons behind this. Now, you have to be sorted. You will stand off to the side of the Great Hall, and wait to be called up. Do you understand me?"
They all nodded again, then filled out the door. Artemis paused just before she exited, wondering....Nah. she didn't need to seem like more of an oddball on her first day. She followed her friends out the door.
~*~*~*~*~THE GREAT HALL, HARRY'S POV*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry looked around, wondering where Artemis, Annette and the others were. He stood up, but didn't see them at any of the tables. Then He spotted Professor McGonagal bringing in the sorting hat. A rip opened at the rim of the hat, and the hat began to sing.
It went on about how the founders were the best of friends, the values of the different houses, and then the departure of Slytherin and how the different founders turned against eachother. Then it said that the houses had to bind togeather again like times of old, or they would crumble from within. The hat finished, and the sorting began.
Harry lost intrest. He just wanted the food to appear. He caught the look on Ron's face, one of a half starved person that could litterally eat a dragon and still have room for more. Then again, Ron always looked like that around food. Then he heard Artemis's name.
"Skyfox, Artemis" rang out Mcgonagal's voice.
*~*~*~*~ARTEMIS'S POV*~*~*~*~*
I couldn't help it. I was shaking all over. I stepped up to the stool, sat down, and Professor lowered the hat onto my head. Automaticly, my mental defenses came up, sheilding anyone and everyone from entering my thoughts.
"Well, that's defenatly a sign of a true Ravenclaw. But you have to let me in so I can sort you. I swear by Godric Gryffindore's head that I will not give any information that I find to anybody."
I could sense the hats truthfulness. I opened my mind to it, but only enough that it could sort me and not enough to give it any of my private thoughts.
The hat went through my abilities like a striking snake:VERY quickly. "Interesting" it said. "very difficlut to place. You seem to be even with all the qualities. Not an easy thing. I know that there is a place to put you, but I can't think of it....Oh, yes. That's it. PHOENIXFLAME!"
The last word was shouted to the rest of the Hall. Silence. Nobody clapped to welcome me to their table. Then she remembered. There were only 4 main houses. In one of the many books she'd read, the house of Phoenixflame was the one for those who did not fit properly into any of the other catagories. "What had the book been called? {Founders Four yet Five}? Yes, that's it." I thought. "The rarest of the books on the founders. It had been all about the four houses, but it had also mentioned a Fifth house."
I retured to reality when she saw Marissia and Annette heading twoard her. Still no appaluse. The other students stared at the trio. Then Crystal, Hope, and Cherlyn came over and joined them. "Well, to late to remain inconspicuous. We belong to a totally seprate and pretty much unknown house. Seriously sore thumbs in the mass of students. We have to tread VERY carefully from here." I thought.
Hannah and Devonny joined us, and they all stood to the side of the Hall. Many people were still staring at us, though some still had the mind to clap to welcome the new house members. The sorting ended, eventually. Then Dumbledore rose to greet the students.
"Welcome, students, to another year. To our new people, I hope that you have a wonderfull time here and learn as much as you can. To our old hands, welcome back. And, yes, you are still here to learn. Even you seventh years." Here he eyed the older stidents. "I understand that there may be some confusion about the eight students that were sorted into a house called Phoenixflame. In a nutshell, this is a house set up by the founders for the people that did not properly fit into the orriginal houses, and/or have powers that are considered rare and are almost never seen amoung wizards. It is not supriseing that this house has been forgotten over time, as nobody has properly fit into the requirements in hundreds of years. Because of this, the students were granted a few privalages and rights not givin to other students. Because there have never been that many students with the ability to call themselves phonixflames, they were never givin their own common room or table. They have been granted the choice to mingle with any house they wish. Yes, they will be allowed to compete in the House and Qudditch Cups. They wouldn't be a house without these privalages. So, girls, if you will please join the table of your choice?"
I looked at the others. "Ok, hows this,"I asked the others in wispering tones. "Crystal and Cherlyn, you go with the Ravenclaws. Marissia and Hope, your with the Hufflepuffs. Hannah and Devon, you go with the Slytherins. Annette, your with me at the Gryffindore table. We split into the assigned houses for the night, then meet at five AM at the lake tomorrow morning., right? Ok, lets go. Good luck to all of you." We split, heading for their assignments. Meanwhile, Dumbledore was introducing the new DADA teacher, Professor Umbridge. The woman gave a frivilous little cough, then stood up and started talking to everyone as though they were Pre-K students.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*@ the Gryffindore table*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Everybody accept Hermione wasn't paying attention. Artemis and Annette pulled out their iPacs, (palm pilots) and set them to record everthing that the toad-like woman in front of them said that adressed the student body.
"Phoenixflame, huh? Kind of strange that Professor Binns never mentioned it." Said Ron to Harry. "Not that we ever really listen.." Harrry replied.
"I wonder why they aren't all over at one table or another. " "Maby they wanted to find out which one they like best and go from there." "I believe that I am speaking for the whole of my house by saying that we would appreciate not being talked about behind our backs." Annette threw in, cooly.
Harry and Ron wheeled around. They han't realized that Artemis and Annette where standing behind them. The girls sat down next to Hermione, and did their best not to look bored. Annette even pulled out her CD player and started listing to an album done by the WEIRD SISTERS.
Eventually, the speeches of Dumbledore and Umbridge ended, and the food appeared. Artemis looked around at all of the food, but didn't really see anything overly healthy or something that she'd recognize. She caught Annette's eye, and Artemis saw that Annette didn't see anything that she could go for without having to run around the lake to work off either. Then Artemis thought of something. She looked at her bowl, and said, simply, "Shrip-flavored raman, please." And raman appeared. The others looked at her strangely, but contined eating.
After the feast, the houses split up and headed to their seprate common rooms. Artemis and Annette took off, and reached the portrait hole before anyone else. They approached the fat lady, who lloked down to them.
"Password?" she asked.
Artemis looked at Annette, and Annette took center stage.
"I'm afraid that we don't know it yet, as nobody has told us and probably will not untill they lean that the members of the House of Phoenixflame can be trusted—"
Annette had said more than she had to. At the mention of the word 'Phoenixflame', the fat lady looked astounded.
"You are members of the fifth house? Please, forgive me. I didn't know. However, I cannot trust everything I hear. Please show me a sign to prove that you are who you say you are."
Annette went up to the fat lady, and STEPED RIGHT THROUGH THE PAINTING. A moment, she returned. The fat lady looked convinced about Annette, then she looked at Artemis.
"Well?"
Artemis walked up to the fat lady, and held up her hand.
"Please hold up your hand." She asked the fat lady. The woman in the portrait did so. Artemis pressed her palm against the lady's painted one, and closed her eyes.
*~*~*~*~*~ Artemis, 1st person*~*~*~*~*~*
I made contact with the fat lady's hand. As proof as to who I was, I summoned the many images that ran through my mind while I was sleeping. Images of battles won and lost. Pictures of fear, terror, and loss. Feelings of hurt, sadness, and the many feelings I had when I had to lie to my friends in order to keep them safe and out of this war that had somehow become my life. And yet, under all of the misery, and hopelesness, there was the knowlage that we would make it trough, and that no matter what happened, My friends would always be at my side, ready to help me, as I would be there for them. In other words, I sent the fat lady images of everything that had happened to me, but I also sent her the knowlage that under all the darkness, there is always the smallest light of hope that will never go out.
The fat lady gasped and pulled away. She had tears in her eyes, but nodded and swung forward to admit Annette and me. *~*~*~*~*~ 3rd person POV*~*~*~*~*~*~*
At the other end of the corridore, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had just come around the corner in time to see Artemis make contact with the fat lady. They saw the fat lady pull away, and saw Artemis and Annette enter the common room.
Harry looked conceradly at the fat lady, then curiosity and determination took over. There was definitely something strange with these members of "Phoenixflame".Even though they had been friends on the train, he couldn't help but feel that there was more to be known, and he would do his absolute best to find out what it was. Yes, they could still be friends, but that wouldn't stop him from finding out everything he could.
OK, OK. I know I kinda made Harry look like an insentitive little git, but that can't be helped. Wouldn't you be suspicious if a group of girls showed up out of nowhere and were grouped into a house that you had never heard of and had powers and rights/privalages never granted to anyone else? I would. Then again, I'm the weird kid at school that is counsidered lower than dirt, even though I have aqaintances in the higher circles of popularity. I am the weird and out of place one.
I hope that you liked this chappie, and I hope that some really do start reading and reviewing. Not that Pussin Boots's reviews aren't appreciated. Those have been very helpful. Mabey I should ask some of my favorite authors to read this story...
To those who want some really good and sometimes funny rading material, read the stories by Siriusly Padfoot 12. particularly the one called "hard to get" that one had me cracking up for 15 minutes at a time. Seriously!!!! I had tears in my eyes during the 3rd chapter!!! GO SIRIUSLY PADFOOT 12!!!!
PLEASE REVIEW!!!!
By the way, the enxt chapter is going to be called: Classes, Discoveries, and Mysteries
The title is pending, and is subject to change at ANY time.
I know that this is a real chapter in OotP. This story is based on Ootp. I tweeked the story line in some places. That is all I did.
Pussin Boots: Thank you! I loved typeing the last chapter, and I'm glad somebody liked it. I'm sorry that the "101 ways to annoy Lord Voldemort" didn't come out as a list....I hope you enjoy this one. It's not as funny, but it's more of an informative. And, as to the Chimerea info you gave me, GOOD JOB! That was from "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" by Newt Schamander, wasn't it? It's been a while since I read that...
The Sorting Hat's New Song.
Artemis and her friends got off the train, and were finally faced with the decision on weather or not to go with the first years or with Harry and co. Finally, a veritable giant stepped up to them.
"You're the new students from Tokyo, aren't you?" He asked them.
They all nodded.
"Professor Dumbledore wants to see you. He told me to tell you to go with the other fifth years up to the castle. He will meet you in the Great Hall."
They all nodded again, and ran after Harry. He looked back at them, and smiled slightly. Then he motioned for them to move ahead of him into the carriage.
They would have moved into them, but they saw the animals pulling the carriages. Artemis and Harry stopped dead. The other girls, in an effort to not seem out of place, had moved into the carriage without paying more than a glace at the reptilian horses in front of them.
To Harry, they looked eerie, like something out of a Scary PG-13 movie. To Artemis, they almost looked like yoma, but somehow beautiful in their own way. Harry leaned over to her.
"Am I the only one seeing these?" he asked.
Artemis shooke her head, then stepped forward. She stretched out her hand, and the horse looked at her. She cocked her head, but extended her head a little further.
Her fingers came in contact with the creature's skin, and she instantly fell the ground fall out from under her.
HARRY'S POV
She touched the strange horse's skin, and, well, collapsed. I caught her, and saw that her eyes were wide. As there are no windows in the carriage, none of her friends could see her. I was on my own. Only problem: I had never taken a first aid class, and had no idea on what to do.
ARTEMIS'S POV
Colors and shapes rushed past me. Horrid images of people screaming and fleeing in every direction. I started to panic, but, somehow, relaxed. I realized that I was experiencing my first vision. Apparently the horse, the Thestral, was a strong enough trigger to see this one.
Suddenly, I was thrust into a scene of flying thestrals with Harry and his friends on their backs. Then they were at a place that I somehow knew was the Ministry of Magic. They went in an explored the area. Then Harry was lifting a dusty spun glass ball. A voice sounded from the corner, one that I recognized a Lucious Malfoy's.
From there, I saw only flashes. Sadly, background music played in my mind that had just *happened* to come from the LOTR: Return of the King trailer on the internet. I saw a blond girl blow up a model of the planet Pluto. I saw Ron battling a brain. I saw a great purple 'X' zoom at Hermione, and she went unconscious. Then I saw a man start to fall into a veil held up by a great crumbling archway. Then, just like in the trailer, I saw somebody scream "NOOOOO!!!!" Only it was Harry's face instead of Sam's.
I started to come out of it. Now that all of the pictures had come past, I began to feel the information pile into my brain. But the thing that stayed with me was the prophecy, made by Sibyll Trelawney: "THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD APPROACHES. BORN TO THOSE WHO HAVE THRICE DEFIED HIM, BORN AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES. AND THE DARK LORD WILL MARK HIM AS HIS EQUAL, BUT HE WILL HAVE POWER THE DARK LORD KNOWS NOT. AND EITHER MUST DIE AT THE HAND OF THE OTHER FOR NEITHER CAN LIVE WHILE THE OTHER SURVIVES. THE ONE WITH THE POWER TO VANQUISH THE DARK LORD AS THE SEVENTH MONTH DIES."
HARRY'S POV
Artemis had only been out for a minute, but it felt like it had been hours. I'd put her on the ground, and called to her friends. Annette and Hope had come out, and they where now crouched next to me beside her.
After about 2 minutes, Hope started to reach out her hand, but Artemis had grabbed at the wrist. She shook her head, then wispered something in her ear. Hope's eyes widened and she retracted her hand quickly. I gave her a questioning look, but they ingnored me.
Finally, Artemis's eyes started to flutter open. I breathed a sigh of relief.
Her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. She lept to her feet, and went into a strage attack posture. She looked all around, as if searching for an unseen enemy. Then, if possible, her eyes grew even wider. Her hand flew to her throat, and searched the neck of her robes.
Apparantly, she found what she had been looking for, because her face relaxed slightly. She tugged on the now-visible silver chain, as though to make sure that it was really there. Then she tucked it back under her robes.
ARTEMIS'S POV
I was relieved. There was nothing around to attack my friends and pricipal, and my charm was stll there.
Call it ironic, but my name IS Artemis, and the charm was a cresent moon. To make it look normal, a chemical had been added to make it a glow- in-the-dark.
I climed into the carriage, lost in thought. I had collapsed next to Harry. The vision had been about him, but the Thestral had activated it. And what did Harry think? Was I seeming out of place already? Would I seem like a total freak to him? If that was the case, my job of keeping an eye on him would be extra-complicated.
But, what did he think? I had fallen down next to him, saw his future, and then woke up to see him, as well as Annette and Hope leaning over me. Did I seem like a freak attraction? I know Mom said that I wasn't supposed get on a personal level with him, but I felt drawn to become his friend.
What foul thoughts were these? I am a fully trained warrior from Jupiter, a planet know for turning out amazon-like warriors for centuries. I've faced down monsters that would make this Lord Voldemort an ant under a magnifying glass.
I would remain a spectator to Harry, and remain annoymous in my help. If I go, he will not miss me.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ::In the Great Hall::
Dumbledore was indeed waiting for the girls in the great hall. They gathered around, and followed him to his office.
~*~*~ In Dumbledore's office~*~*~*
Artemis walked past Fawkes the phoenix, who bowed his plumed head to her. Artemis was shocked for a second, but recovered herself and inclined her head. Then she approached the head master with the team behind her.
"I was told that there were nine of you. Where is the other one?" Artemis stiffened. Rini. He thought that Rini was still alive. What was she thinking? Of course she was still alive. She just wasn't here. She had dissapeared. But she would be back.
While Artemis was lost in thought, Cherlyn stepped forward.
"In one of our last battles, our leader, Rini, was killed in a battle. As she is Sereina's daughter, we know that she will come back. We just don't know when."
Dumbledore nodded, as if this statement confirmed a theory of his. "I take it that your mothers have already taken care of breifing you on your mission and givin you a crash course on 4 years of magic?" nods all around. "Then there are a few things that I must tell you about. You will have, because of who you are, special privalages. The teachers know about this already," Here Artemis noticed a twitch that his face made, as though to signal that MOST teachers knew.Most, not all. "You will be allowed to do magic in the corridors, skip a class if the castle or your principal is under attack, etc. basicly, you are all a kind of step up from the head girl or boy position. The Head Boy and Girl, know this. However, they do not know the reasons behind this. Now, you have to be sorted. You will stand off to the side of the Great Hall, and wait to be called up. Do you understand me?"
They all nodded again, then filled out the door. Artemis paused just before she exited, wondering....Nah. she didn't need to seem like more of an oddball on her first day. She followed her friends out the door.
~*~*~*~*~THE GREAT HALL, HARRY'S POV*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry looked around, wondering where Artemis, Annette and the others were. He stood up, but didn't see them at any of the tables. Then He spotted Professor McGonagal bringing in the sorting hat. A rip opened at the rim of the hat, and the hat began to sing.
It went on about how the founders were the best of friends, the values of the different houses, and then the departure of Slytherin and how the different founders turned against eachother. Then it said that the houses had to bind togeather again like times of old, or they would crumble from within. The hat finished, and the sorting began.
Harry lost intrest. He just wanted the food to appear. He caught the look on Ron's face, one of a half starved person that could litterally eat a dragon and still have room for more. Then again, Ron always looked like that around food. Then he heard Artemis's name.
"Skyfox, Artemis" rang out Mcgonagal's voice.
*~*~*~*~ARTEMIS'S POV*~*~*~*~*
I couldn't help it. I was shaking all over. I stepped up to the stool, sat down, and Professor lowered the hat onto my head. Automaticly, my mental defenses came up, sheilding anyone and everyone from entering my thoughts.
"Well, that's defenatly a sign of a true Ravenclaw. But you have to let me in so I can sort you. I swear by Godric Gryffindore's head that I will not give any information that I find to anybody."
I could sense the hats truthfulness. I opened my mind to it, but only enough that it could sort me and not enough to give it any of my private thoughts.
The hat went through my abilities like a striking snake:VERY quickly. "Interesting" it said. "very difficlut to place. You seem to be even with all the qualities. Not an easy thing. I know that there is a place to put you, but I can't think of it....Oh, yes. That's it. PHOENIXFLAME!"
The last word was shouted to the rest of the Hall. Silence. Nobody clapped to welcome me to their table. Then she remembered. There were only 4 main houses. In one of the many books she'd read, the house of Phoenixflame was the one for those who did not fit properly into any of the other catagories. "What had the book been called? {Founders Four yet Five}? Yes, that's it." I thought. "The rarest of the books on the founders. It had been all about the four houses, but it had also mentioned a Fifth house."
I retured to reality when she saw Marissia and Annette heading twoard her. Still no appaluse. The other students stared at the trio. Then Crystal, Hope, and Cherlyn came over and joined them. "Well, to late to remain inconspicuous. We belong to a totally seprate and pretty much unknown house. Seriously sore thumbs in the mass of students. We have to tread VERY carefully from here." I thought.
Hannah and Devonny joined us, and they all stood to the side of the Hall. Many people were still staring at us, though some still had the mind to clap to welcome the new house members. The sorting ended, eventually. Then Dumbledore rose to greet the students.
"Welcome, students, to another year. To our new people, I hope that you have a wonderfull time here and learn as much as you can. To our old hands, welcome back. And, yes, you are still here to learn. Even you seventh years." Here he eyed the older stidents. "I understand that there may be some confusion about the eight students that were sorted into a house called Phoenixflame. In a nutshell, this is a house set up by the founders for the people that did not properly fit into the orriginal houses, and/or have powers that are considered rare and are almost never seen amoung wizards. It is not supriseing that this house has been forgotten over time, as nobody has properly fit into the requirements in hundreds of years. Because of this, the students were granted a few privalages and rights not givin to other students. Because there have never been that many students with the ability to call themselves phonixflames, they were never givin their own common room or table. They have been granted the choice to mingle with any house they wish. Yes, they will be allowed to compete in the House and Qudditch Cups. They wouldn't be a house without these privalages. So, girls, if you will please join the table of your choice?"
I looked at the others. "Ok, hows this,"I asked the others in wispering tones. "Crystal and Cherlyn, you go with the Ravenclaws. Marissia and Hope, your with the Hufflepuffs. Hannah and Devon, you go with the Slytherins. Annette, your with me at the Gryffindore table. We split into the assigned houses for the night, then meet at five AM at the lake tomorrow morning., right? Ok, lets go. Good luck to all of you." We split, heading for their assignments. Meanwhile, Dumbledore was introducing the new DADA teacher, Professor Umbridge. The woman gave a frivilous little cough, then stood up and started talking to everyone as though they were Pre-K students.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*@ the Gryffindore table*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Everybody accept Hermione wasn't paying attention. Artemis and Annette pulled out their iPacs, (palm pilots) and set them to record everthing that the toad-like woman in front of them said that adressed the student body.
"Phoenixflame, huh? Kind of strange that Professor Binns never mentioned it." Said Ron to Harry. "Not that we ever really listen.." Harrry replied.
"I wonder why they aren't all over at one table or another. " "Maby they wanted to find out which one they like best and go from there." "I believe that I am speaking for the whole of my house by saying that we would appreciate not being talked about behind our backs." Annette threw in, cooly.
Harry and Ron wheeled around. They han't realized that Artemis and Annette where standing behind them. The girls sat down next to Hermione, and did their best not to look bored. Annette even pulled out her CD player and started listing to an album done by the WEIRD SISTERS.
Eventually, the speeches of Dumbledore and Umbridge ended, and the food appeared. Artemis looked around at all of the food, but didn't really see anything overly healthy or something that she'd recognize. She caught Annette's eye, and Artemis saw that Annette didn't see anything that she could go for without having to run around the lake to work off either. Then Artemis thought of something. She looked at her bowl, and said, simply, "Shrip-flavored raman, please." And raman appeared. The others looked at her strangely, but contined eating.
After the feast, the houses split up and headed to their seprate common rooms. Artemis and Annette took off, and reached the portrait hole before anyone else. They approached the fat lady, who lloked down to them.
"Password?" she asked.
Artemis looked at Annette, and Annette took center stage.
"I'm afraid that we don't know it yet, as nobody has told us and probably will not untill they lean that the members of the House of Phoenixflame can be trusted—"
Annette had said more than she had to. At the mention of the word 'Phoenixflame', the fat lady looked astounded.
"You are members of the fifth house? Please, forgive me. I didn't know. However, I cannot trust everything I hear. Please show me a sign to prove that you are who you say you are."
Annette went up to the fat lady, and STEPED RIGHT THROUGH THE PAINTING. A moment, she returned. The fat lady looked convinced about Annette, then she looked at Artemis.
"Well?"
Artemis walked up to the fat lady, and held up her hand.
"Please hold up your hand." She asked the fat lady. The woman in the portrait did so. Artemis pressed her palm against the lady's painted one, and closed her eyes.
*~*~*~*~*~ Artemis, 1st person*~*~*~*~*~*
I made contact with the fat lady's hand. As proof as to who I was, I summoned the many images that ran through my mind while I was sleeping. Images of battles won and lost. Pictures of fear, terror, and loss. Feelings of hurt, sadness, and the many feelings I had when I had to lie to my friends in order to keep them safe and out of this war that had somehow become my life. And yet, under all of the misery, and hopelesness, there was the knowlage that we would make it trough, and that no matter what happened, My friends would always be at my side, ready to help me, as I would be there for them. In other words, I sent the fat lady images of everything that had happened to me, but I also sent her the knowlage that under all the darkness, there is always the smallest light of hope that will never go out.
The fat lady gasped and pulled away. She had tears in her eyes, but nodded and swung forward to admit Annette and me. *~*~*~*~*~ 3rd person POV*~*~*~*~*~*~*
At the other end of the corridore, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had just come around the corner in time to see Artemis make contact with the fat lady. They saw the fat lady pull away, and saw Artemis and Annette enter the common room.
Harry looked conceradly at the fat lady, then curiosity and determination took over. There was definitely something strange with these members of "Phoenixflame".Even though they had been friends on the train, he couldn't help but feel that there was more to be known, and he would do his absolute best to find out what it was. Yes, they could still be friends, but that wouldn't stop him from finding out everything he could.
OK, OK. I know I kinda made Harry look like an insentitive little git, but that can't be helped. Wouldn't you be suspicious if a group of girls showed up out of nowhere and were grouped into a house that you had never heard of and had powers and rights/privalages never granted to anyone else? I would. Then again, I'm the weird kid at school that is counsidered lower than dirt, even though I have aqaintances in the higher circles of popularity. I am the weird and out of place one.
I hope that you liked this chappie, and I hope that some really do start reading and reviewing. Not that Pussin Boots's reviews aren't appreciated. Those have been very helpful. Mabey I should ask some of my favorite authors to read this story...
To those who want some really good and sometimes funny rading material, read the stories by Siriusly Padfoot 12. particularly the one called "hard to get" that one had me cracking up for 15 minutes at a time. Seriously!!!! I had tears in my eyes during the 3rd chapter!!! GO SIRIUSLY PADFOOT 12!!!!
PLEASE REVIEW!!!!
By the way, the enxt chapter is going to be called: Classes, Discoveries, and Mysteries
The title is pending, and is subject to change at ANY time.
