Platform 9 ¾
A/N- Ok, thank you people for reviewing! (Even though 2 of them were from the co-authors. Heh) The characters will have flaws like normal people. If you want to see their profiles they are in my profile. (Does that make sense?)
"…" – talking
'…' – thoughts
Disclaimer- We do not own anything affiliated with the Harry Potter Empire. (Except for stuff we bought:) Although we would love too…
Also this story will probably be considered Alternate Reality since we won't be taking much from the 6th book. Not that it wasn't good, but it would change a lot of things we planned.
Everywhere, there was the sound of whistling trains and the chattering of passengers getting on and off trains. Among the chaos Harry, Ron and Hermione were together chatting, as they put their belongings onto the trolleys.
"Oh, I can't believe we are in sixth year already, we have to keep on schedule for our NEWTs, which means no skipping homework you two." Hermione looked at them sternly, before continuing. "There is going to be so much to study this year, we are probably going to get a lot of homework, Harry I don't care if you were made Quidditch Captain…you are going to do your work…."
Ron and Harry looked at each other; 'Hermione is on a rant' was going through both of their minds. The trio pushed their trolleys to the gate of Platform 9 ¾, Hermione still going on about the NEWTs and Ron and Harry, silent. Once through the gate, the noise changed. It was still cheerful and light, but instead of hearing about the weather or what time the train to Worcester leaves, there was about Quidditch and new potion ingredients.
"Come on then, we have to find a compartment." Harry said gamely as he began to drag his trunk down the rows of carriages. This broke Hermione out of her rant.
"Oh, Harry we can find a compartment with you but we have to go to the Prefect's carriage" explained Hermione with a rueful grin. "But it's only for a little while, remember? Then we'll come sit with you until we have to patrol."
"Yeah, sorry about that mate." Ron said sheepishly.
"Oh, yeah, I forgot about that….it's alright…" mumbled Harry as he pinned on a grin, "You guys have your job, so I guess I'll see you later then." He finished as he set off to find a compartment.
"Oh, will he be alright?" asked Hermione worriedly.
"He'll be fine…." replied Ron.
"Wow, I can't believe we are finally going to Hogwarts." exclaimed Maddy.
"I can't believe I am finally back in England! It feels good to be home." grinned Rizzy.
"Yeah, well we better get to the train, what was the gate again?" inquired Maddy.
"It's Platform 9 ¾ and don't worry we have time."
"Yes, but don't you want to get a good seat?"
Rizzy shrugs, "As long as we are on the train it doesn't matter….but yeah, I would like us to be able to find a compartment."
Maddy and Rizzy walked along the platforms at Kings Cross, "Ok, platform two…three…four." Maddy counted off the platforms.
"Do you need to count them all?" Rizzy asked exasperatedly.
"No…" Maddy said guiltily, looking up at the newest platforms. "Hey, here is nine and ten. So…" she paused for a second to look around, "How do we get through again?"
"We walk through the barrier, as inconspicuously as possible." Rizzy whispered back, looking nervously at the bustling Muggles around them.
Rizzy and Maddy began chatting about nonsense things as they headed toward the gateway. With a faint whoosh they were through. All of a sudden their ears were assaulted by a tumult of noise. Owls hooting, the train whistling, students chattering, parents reminding their children not to go crazy, just to name a few.
"Now, Neville don't forget to write….." An older woman to their left said as she kissed, what looked like her grandson, on the cheek. Rizzy casually glanced at the boy before being dragged away toward the train.
"Wow…..look how many people there are….there wasn't this many at Salem…." Maddy's eyes were huge.
"You forget, Hogwarts is much larger than Salem. Come on, let's get a compartment" clarified Rizzy.
The two friends dragged their trunks onto the train, and hurried down the crowded corridor, peering into the compartments as they passed. They were looking for an empty compartment, and it took a while but they finally found one. They carefully stored their trunks above them.
"Finally!" Rizzy plopped down onto the seat closest to her, "How long till the train leaves?"
"About two minutes…" Maddy answered, checking her watch.
They felt the lurching of the train, as it began to move. Maddy looked outside the window as the English landscape began to go by. After a few moments of nonsense chitchat, mainly about what had happened in Diagon Alley, silence fell. Maddy's mind did not seem to be with her at the moment. Rizzy, who was tired of looking at Maddy stare out the window, broke the silence.
"Alright! Well I'm gonna find the bathroom. Be back in a few."
"Ok." Maddy said indifferently.
Rizzy entered the corridor, which had become quiet after the train took off.
Hmm where is it?
Ron was heading back to the compartment Harry and Ginny had picked out. Hermione had already left the meeting, but the Head Boy and Head Girl asked him to stay behind. They had wanted to talk about "acceptable behavior of Prefects". They had made it clear that if he, at the least, could not get along with Malfoy in order to do Prefect duties, then they would seriously think of taking away his badge.
"Lousy, unthinkable…me get along with that ferret? Never!" mumbled Ron to himself. Then he hit something.
"Oof..."
Thunk
"Ow…what hit me?" Rizzy looked up.
"What hit you? You hit me!" Ron seethed. He knew he probably shouldn't but he wasn't in a really good mood now anyway.
"No, you hit me!" Rizzy retaliated.
"No, you did!"
The two of them glared at each other, and sparks flew (angry ones).
Ron wasn't in the mood to deal with this and knew the Head Boy and Girl would definitely not be happy with him if he fought now, so he just walked past the infuriating girl.
Rizzy's jaw dropped.
Of all the nerve!
She had half a mind to go back and curse him good, then she realized something and a smirk appeared on her face.
Oh yes I have all year to deal with that problem…
With that in mind she continued her quest.
"Oh, you're back! What did they want?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Warning me not to get in anymore fights with Malfoy or else they would take my badge." He ground out.
"Oh...did they issue the same warning to Malfoy?" she asked.
"I dunno…They better have or I'm going to…never mind." He shook his head angrily. "Then someone ran into me and had the…the ..nerve to say it was my fault."
"Really? And what did you say?" asked Hermione, a faint glint in her eyes.
"It wasn't my fault they ran into me…so I just came back here."
"Ah, forget about it for now…here have a chocolate frog." Harry handed him the proffered frog, while giving Hermione a look.
"Thanks, mate"
Hermione gave an exasperated sigh "Already getting into trouble…and we aren't even at school…"
"…."
Neither of the boys had an answer for that.
The trio plus Ginny sat for a few moments, before Ginny asked the question they had all been wondering about.
"So, do you think we'll have a DADA teacher this year? After everything that has happened so far…I would believe it if Dumbledore said he couldn't find a willing teacher."
"Yeah, I know what you mean…" mused Harry.
"So that means no DADA lessons? Well Harry, guess you're going to just teach again." said a grinning Ron.
"Oh, honestly! If Professor Dumbledore doesn't find a willing DADA teacher, then Professor Snape will be able to have the position, and all Dumbledore has to do is find a Potions master. Since the Potions post isn't "cursed" he'd probably find a new Potions Master." explained Hermione with a faint roll of her eyes.
Both Harry and Ron's faces looked stricken. It looked like all the blood was draining from them. The horror! Snape? As the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor? Ginny repressed a giggle at the look on their faces. Although, she too, was a little worried about what would happen.
"That would mean…" "Oh my remember how awful he was during that one lesson…" "..having him teach us defense…" "That would be mad…he could…Oh! He could do what Moody did with the Imperius Curse…" "He would rub it in about the werewolves and Lupin." Both Harry and Ron had been talking at the same time. (AN: for simplicity Harry will be in bold in that convo, and Ron, normal.)
Hermione and Ginny looked at each other. Then they looked at the boys.
"I'm sure Professor Dumbledore would have rules… about what he could teach." Ginny said meaning to reassure.
"He never had rules for the other ones, what makes you think he'll start now?" Ron asked slightly panicked.
Rizzy reentered the compartment to find Maddy still staring out the window. Right now, the train was passing a farm, so you could see horses, sheep and cows. Maddy looked up at the sound of the door opening. She smiled at her friend before noting the stormcloud look on her face, plus the mischievous glint in her eyes.
"What's wrong Rizzy? You have this look…it kinda scares me…"
"Oh, some baka ran into me in the hall, and refused to….argh…he said I was to blame…Oh, but don't worry though, we have all year to deal with him…" Rizzy sat down opposite Maddy, looking triumphant.
"Oh, so that look is the mischief look." Maddy grinned, knowing this would be fun for them but not their adversary.
The night was dark and the train pulled to a halt at the station. There was a rush as students began to gather the treats they had purchased from the trolley, and then they all began pouring out of the compartments.
"FIRS' YEARS THIS WAY" "FIRS' YEARS OVER HERE…"
"Um, Rizzy we go over there right?" Maddy said, clutching onto the cage that contained Leo, her new owl.
"Yeah we go with the first years." Rizzy replied, taking into consideration how odd they looked with a bunch of eleven-year-olds.
Rizzy and Maddy walk over to the man yelling for First Years.
"Hi, we are supposed to come with you too. We're the transfers from Salem." Maddy explained.
Rizzy looked at the man for a moment…
"Hey! I recognize you! You were outside Gringotts Bank." She smiled at him.
"Yer the one who talked for awhile in one breath! Nice ter see ya again. Go get inta one o'the boats and then you'll get ta Hogwarts."
Maddy and Rizzy grinned before heading to an empty boat. A few minutes after they go into the boats, two slightly shaking first years got in as well. Rizzy and Maddy smiled warmly at them. The first years did not smile back.
Within a moment or two, the fleet of boats took off from the shore. Maddy and Rizzy looked around appreciatively.
"Wow….." everyone looked at the huge castle in awe. It seemed to sparkle in the night.
"It is most definitely huge…." Maddy murmured.
She saw Rizzy nod next to her. "Huge, yeah…."
Once they clambered inside the castle they were gathered into a room. Rizzy and Maddy looked at each other, exchanging nervous glances. All the first years seemed nervous, and although they were older, some of the nerves were starting to rub off on them, although the two hadn't started pacing like one kid was. The doors opened, and in walked a stern looking woman.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, the sorting ceremony will begin soon. There are four houses and each one has its own history, they have all produced outstanding witches and wizards. While at Hogwarts your triumphs will bring your house points while your mistakes take them away." Professor McGonagall explained to the new students. "I will be back in a few minutes to bring you out." 1
Everyone began talking it was a low buzz of conversation. All of them seem nervous. A boy in the corner was talking about his father being a Slytherin. A small group of first years stood around him listening intently.
"I wonder if we will be sorted with them or separately. What do you think Rizzy?"
"I think you need to shut up…you're making me nervous….." Rizzy hit Maddy's arm, hard. "And would you stop doing that?"
Maddy had been twisting her fingers together, nervously. Immediately, she dropped them to her sides, looking embarrassed.
The doors opened again and Professor McGonagall came back into the room. "All right form a line. Oh! Where are our exchange students?"
Rizzy and Maddy raised their hands, thinking it was a bit odd that Professor McGonagall couldn't already see them.
"You're to be sorted with the first years. Come along." Rizzy and Maddy looked at each other and shrugged and they joined the line. All the first years seemed to be huddling together as though for protection.
The term safety in numbers comes to mind, Maddy couldn't help but thinking.
The doors to the Great hall opened and they were greeted with lots of staring eyes. To keep themselves sane, they avoided looking directly at the people. Instead they looked up and were greeted by the night sky, or rather the ceiling that looked like the night sky.
Maddy and Rizzy could feel the rest of the room staring curiously at the two girls who were obviously not first years. A small buzz filled the room, before Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loudly. They could see a worn old wizard's hat sitting on top of a three-legged stool. Maddy gave a little jump, as the brim opened wide, as if it were a mouth. Suddenly, a reedy voice echoed through the hall, in song.
Oh, I may be old
But as you've been told,
With age comes wisdom
You see?
For many may say,
They're well on their way,
To becoming as smart,
As me.
But try as they might,
They'll never be right,
In a job such
As this.
My gift is to sort,
But please don't retort,
For I have yet to make
A miss.
Do you belong in Gryffindor,
With courage and friends galore,
But when it comes to making them
You're certainly quick to judge.
Or maybe you are a Hufflepuff,
Where working is just enough.
But when it comes to fighting,
Surely you wouldn't budge.
Perhaps Ravenclaw is the one for you
The house of wit and learning, it's true!
But when it comes to crossing together,
You're already across the moat!
Lastly, Slytherin, the house of the sly,
Where cunning and clever truly lie.
But, when it comes to things gone bad,
You're always the known scapegoat!
So there's nothing to fear,
Just wait till you hear,
The name of the house I call
For you.
I have never yet been wrong,
Just listen to my song,
Closely, until we're
Through.
"All right, when I call your name come up and put the hat on." Professor McGonagall said.
"Ali, Kent"
"HUFFLEPUFF"
The table on the right clapped. A couple of the people stood up and shook his hand. The boy looked relieved to have the experience done and over with.
"Benson, Renée."
"RAVENCLAW"
The table on the far right clapped.
"Simpson, Lynne"
"SYLTHERIN"
The table furthest to the left clapped, while the girl just smirked.
"Wood, Keith"
"GRYFFINDOR"
The table second from the left clapped. "We got Wood's brother" Harry and Ron were chanting.
Dumbledore stood up, and cleared his throat. "I would like to announce for the first time in many years, that we have transfer students. I would like you to welcome our sixth year transfers from Salem Witches Institute." He smiled before sitting down again.
"Black, Madeleine" Professor McGonagall's voice rang throughout the hall.
All of a sudden the entire hall went silent. Maddy looked around bewildered. She was filled with the awful suspicion that everyone knew something she didn't know, again. She put the on the hat, shutting out her view.
"You don't think she's…." Hermione started.
"Hermione…" Ron gave Hermione a look, glancing nervously at Harry.
Harry stared at the girl under the hat. Ginny looked at him worriedly, but did not say a word.
"GRYFFINDOR"
Maddy walked to the Gryffindor table, which was still silent. The silence was starting to get on her nerves. Then, a person began to clap, and others slowly copied.
"Raven, Rizika"
Rizzy walked up with confidence putting the hat on. At the teacher's table, Professor Snape, who had been gazing intently at Maddy, snapped his focus on to Rizzy.
"Hey that's that girl who….who ran into me on the train!" Ron exclaimed "She's….she's annoying…." Ron faltered as Hermione turned to him quickly.
"Ron! That's my friend Rizzy!" Hermione said, whacking him on the head. Ron's head hit the plate then bounced hitting a fork. "I haven't seen her in ages…"
"Oww…Hermy that hurt…what…I'm bleeding." The fork had poked his cheek making a small puncture wound.
Hermione pressed her fingers against Ron's cheek and peered at the wound. "Oh, Ron, don't be ridiculous…you'll be fine."
Maddy looked at Rizzy and crossed her fingers.
Please Gryffindor, please Gryffindor. Maddy chanted mentally.
"SLYTHERIN"
Maddy's jaw dropped. 'NO'
Rizzy was shocked as well, as she had thought she would be in Gryffindor. Snape had a look of mingled shock and approving on his face. She walked over to the table and sat down, slowly.
"Figures…and you were friends with her Hermione?" hissed Ron.
"Yes! She's a very nice person, Ron!" Hermione hissed back at him.
"Now, I would like to welcome a new staff member." Dumbledore said in his mystic voice. Everyone's eyes turned to him, except Maddy and Rizzy, who were looking at each other. Their eyes were sending secret messages to meet up later. Then, they turned their attention to their Headmaster.
"Your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher will be Professor Tsuki." They looked at the new person at the staff table, surprised it is female. The students had only had one female Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and she had been absolutely horrid.
There was some applause mostly from people who weren't in Slytherin, because they were pleased that Dumbledore hadn't had to put Snape as the Defense teacher. Professor Tsuki smiled lightly.
"Now that introductions and sorting are over….I have two words…Dig In!" 2
The plates and goblets filled with food and everyone dug in. Ron and Seamus began pilling food onto their plates. Most of the chattering was over, seeing as their mouths were occupied with food.
Both Rizzy and Maddy took one look at the food and knew they wouldn't be eating tonight.
It's chicken…eww… Rizzy thought.
It's…poultry…the one thing I don't eat and they have it…eww… Maddy grimaced.
There are other foods on the table but the main course was chicken, so they both decided not to eat. After all the plates were clear, Dumbledore stood up again.
"It is now time for bed, so I wish you all a good night, so you will be rested and ready for your lessons tomorrow." With that he left the room.
"Come on Ron we have to lead the first years to the dorm."
"Oh, yeah, come on shorties."
"Ron! You can't call the first years that!"
"What! They are short."
Hermione sighed. This was a never ending battle between them.
The two lead the first years up to the dorms albeit, Ron was reluctant.
Hermione approached the portrait "Canis Minor" The Fat Lady obliged by opening.
Rizzy followed the Slytherin first years and the Prefects down to where the Slytherin dorms were.
Malfoy walked to a supposed wall and said "Purity".
They entered the Slytherin dormitory, decorated in green and silver. There was a fireplace at the far end that didn't seem to generate any heat, and a couch and some chairs. Pansy leads the girls, one direction while Malfoy lead the boys in another, to their dorms.
"Hey, Rizika, since you're a sixth year, you're not with them. You're with us." Pansy said as she led her to the sixth year's dorm. Sure enough Rizzy found her belongings. She sat on her bed a few moments before going to the bathroom to change.
Maddy followed Hermione as she brought her to the dorm. "This is where we sleep, since you're also a sixth year, you sleep here."
"Ok, thank you…." Maddy found her bed, and sat on it, wondering what Rizzy was up to. She sighed and headed to the bathroom to change.
Both girls were lying on their beds wondering what the other on was up to….
Harry and Ron were sitting on their beds…
"That was a good feast, mate." Ron grinned. "One of the best ever, if I do say so myself…"
"Yeah…." Harry replied absentmindedly.
"Harry, is something wrong?"
"No…but that girl….her name was Black…..do…do you think she's related to…"
"I dunno…"Ron pondered this thought for a moment. "But Harry even if she is, she isn't him. You gotta remember that."
"Yeah…" Harry nodded, "Yeah…I know."
1 This comes from the first book, mostly. I changed a few things but it is still similar.
2 Dumbledore says something like this in one of the books.
Oh, yes that part about the DADA teacher was written before the 6th book came out. I had no clue that Snape would really be the teacher….scary.
Okies that is all for this chappie! What do ya think? It is pretty long….
Please Review! It only takes like two minutes…and if you review and tell me a story you've written I'll go read yours and Review it! I like all sorts of stories….so please review?
Well, until next time Sayonara!