Disclaimer: This fic is purely fantasy. It has not happened, though if one believes in multiple realties, perhaps it has. For your benefit, and my legal obligation, the obligatory shall now be spoken: I DO NOT OWN THIS! JOE ROWLING OWNS HARRY POTTER! Thanks. Now, please reply. Thank you again.
And now, on with the show…For your entertainment and pleasure…
Hogwarts Diaries:
HARRY POTTER & ALEXANDER PRINCE
Alternate Sorcerer's Stone
By Zodiac Phoenix
Chapter Three
Alex glanced up as a bushy haired girl opened their door and slammed it, slumping to the ground and sobbing before she realized that they were there.
"Sorry..." She mumbled, climbing to her feet.
"You can stay..." Casey smiled. The girl frowned, before she nodded and sank, gratefully between Pan and Casey, both girls wrapping arms around her.
"Who upset you?" Alex asked, looking away as she fixed him with a watery stare.
"That Potter..." She shook her head. "He's not very nice."
"I think you'll find Harry will never be what you expect him to be..." Alex said, watching the passing scenery in the dying sunlight. "I think we should change..."
"How do you know Harry Potter?" John asked as they took down robes and Alex merely pulled the robe on, adjusting his red bandana before he started to adjust his robes.
"We are unfortunately related..." Alex said, grimacing as he saw a familiar shadow pass before the compartment door, Harry sticking his face in and looking directly at the girl.
"Well, speak of the Devil..." Alex siad dryly, letting his hand fall to his belt, where it fell on the handle of his dagger. Harry ignored him, trying to catch the girl's eye. She was stoutly ignoring him. "I don't think she wants to talk to you, Potter..." Alex said in a firm voice.
"Why don't you let her tell me, than, Alexander?" Harry asked in a sarcastic voice. Alex was in front of him in a flash, his fists closing around Harry's collar and dragging him outside. He was against the wall in a heartbeat, Alex's face barely a few inches from him.
"Always the heart breaker, aye Potter?" He asked softly. "Never one to please anyone but your own selfish need?"
"What the hell is your problem?" Harry said, shoving him away. "I only wanted to apologize."
"Well, wonders never seize..." Alex shook his head. "Unless you truly are blind, she doesn't want to talk to you."
"Fine..." Harry said, adjusting his shirt. "Not like I'd want to associate with the likes of you anyhow."
"Feelings mutual..." Alex called after him, scowling at him before taking a post across from John outside the door, the curtains bang pulled across to give the girls some measure of privacy as they changed.
Groaning came from a few compartments down. Alex took out his dagger, stalking over and yanking the door open. A trio of red haired boys was sitting up, holding their heads.
"What the heck happened to you?" Alex asked, muffling a laugh.
"Shut up..." The smallest red haired boy siad, before his eyes went to the dagger. "You aren't allowed to bring weapons to school!"
"Who said anything about a weapon?" Alex smiled, stashing it away. "You should probably change...Its getting dark outside."
He vanished, stepping back in with John as the compartment door slide open.
He unfortunately ran right into Casey again, who was holding her robes for some reason. They fell onto the ground, Pan giving a small yelp of freight.
"Would you please stop putting yourself in my path, Miss Gardner?" Alex groaned, getting to his feet and helping her up. "I don't mind running into you, but people talk..."
She flushed a deep red, ducking her head. Alex flushed, realizing what he had just said.
"I don't mean it like that..." he said quickly. "I mean...Rats, I'm making an arse of myself already..." He sighed, sitting down and tugging her down to sit next to him. She fell onto his lap, smiling to herself as her pendant fell out of her robes and sparkled in the compartment lamplight.
"Is that a star jewel?" The girl with bushy haired asked suddenly, sitting down and holding it, examining it like a professional jeweler. "I've read about these...They're wedding gifts..."
"My mother's main bridesmaid gave it to her...We haven't heard from her, and my mom died a few years ago on a trip to the Australian Outback."
"I'm sorry..." Alex said softly.
"It's okay..." Casey smiled. "She passed away in her sleep. Daddy said she had some sort of muggle disease..."
"You mean cancer?" John asked in surprise. "I didn't think wizards could have cancer..."
"Mom says very few wizards and witches contract muggle illnesses..." Alex said. "I mean...we all get the flu and cold...That's normal...but stuff like cancer and diseases that kill so many Muggles..." He shook his head. "What was it your mother had?"
"I think they call it lung cancer...I'm not sure..." Casey sighed, curling up against him. "You're warm..."
Alex felt himself grow red again as the two girls both giggled at this. He gently placed her on the seat next to him, standing up.
"I'm going to check with the conductor about something..." Alex said, stepping out and slumping against the corridor wall. He felt his heart slow down a bit, and he thanked the nameless powers that he had so many layers on. He didn't know why his body was responding to her closeness like this, but it frightened him to think a girl could do this. Tonks never did this to him. Why Casey?
Soon, the others joined him. He tried not to look at Casey who was watching him, playing with her necklace as they were joined by a thronging crowd as the train slowly lurched to a stop.
A voice echoing down the train spoke dully. "We'll be reaching the school in five minutes. Please leave your luggage on the train; it will be taken up separately."
Alex glanced around, noticing that those who were the youngest were all looking nervous and expectantly, while the older students looked both excited and expectant. He played with his necklace, closing his eyes as he counted to ten, reigning in his body as he wondered whether he would ever again feel different about a girl.
The cold air bit into his clothes as he jumped down, holding out a hand to Pan and Casey, helping both down. It was something his mother had drilled into his head. How to be a gentleman, something his father apparently lacked unless he was trying to impress a girl. Casey thanked him, tucking her necklace into her robes as they huddled together glancing around.
Harry glanced around, wondering where the half giant from the parties they went to was, when a lantern and familiar voice called out.
"First years! First years over here please!"
"HAGRID!" Amanda and Harry greeted, smiling as the gentle giant smiled warmly at them. Harry growled as a familiar presence neared him.
"Darion...Your grand father was asking about you..." Hagrid said, greeting the short, well dressed young man.
"Yes...The ride was fine, Rubeus..." Darion said, smiling to the half giant. "How is our senile old goat?"
"He's fine..." A soft voice spoke. Everyone greeted the headmaster as he walked over. Alex was nearby, drawing close to Casey, watching the old man with some concern. What was going on?
"Harry..." He nodded. He nodded back.
"What brings you down here, Headmaster?" Hagrid asked gruffly.
"Ahh...Someone wished to have a word with me before the Sorting. Insisted on meeting at the Three Broomsticks. I shall be there for the Sorting, don't worry..." he smiled.
Alex watched him pass, drawing himself a little closer to Casey. It wasn't that he didn't trust the Headmaster. He trusted him completely. It was just that the old man had the ability to make you feel like you were being judged without much effort.
"Who was that?" Casey whispered. "He looks so familiar..." She whispered. Alex rolled his eyes, handing her Nim as he dug through his satchel, in the front pocket were he kept his Chocolate Frog Cards. He found it by the light of Hagrid's lamp as the giant of a man led them off down a narrow path towards the lake.
He passed her the card, taking Nim back as the young pup squirmed, barking softly at Amanda, who smiled, petting him.
"You didn't tell me you had a pet wolf, Alex..." She smiled.
"I didn't...Not until I went to get my school stuff..." Alex said. He didn't like Harry, but that didn't transfer itself to his sister like his uncle had transferred his dislike for Harry from James and Sirius' torture from their school days.
"Oooh..." She smiled, playing with the wolf pup before examining the collar. "Orion Nimbus?" She asked with some humor.
"Nim..." He held the pup up so he could whisper loudly to it. "This is Amanda Potter...Be on your best behavior around her." He smiled, the pup braking and lapping at her hand as she tried to pet the playful pup. Alex smiled. Crups were known to be the canine versions of Kneazles, and when bred with the intelligent wolf, they were exceptionally intelligent, perhaps capable of thought and memory. Not that one could fault anything with no memory.
"You'll get your first sight of Hogwarts in just a sec!" Hagrid called, causing Alex to look up in annoyance. "Just around this bend in the road here."
"Must he shout?" Alex growled.
"You know how Hagrid is, Alex..." She giggled. "I saw Quinn when we were in the robe shop. How is he?"
"The same..." Alex shrugged. "Look...No offense, Amanda. But from the glare your brothers are giving me, I think we should part for now...We can talk later." He said, tapping the mirror on his belt. She saw it, giggling again as she nodded. Alex glanced skyward, his breath caught. It was a crescent moon tonight. Only a few nights before the next full moon, and he was here. He had been a help for the research. Now he felt a bit put out.
"No more than four to a boat!" Hagrid called.
Alex helped Casey, Pan, and Amanda into two separate boats. He climbed with John into the boat with Casey and Pan, while Harry and Draco splashed into Amanda's, who held it steady for the bushy haired girl who was stoutly refusing to even so much as glance at Harry.
"I'm sorry..." Harry said as the boats launched themselves across the lake. "I'm a butt hole...Okay?"
"Your a jerk..." She said shortly, before looking away. Harry merely sighed, glancing at Draco, who shrugged, Amanda making a noise of disgust in her throat.
Everyone ducked as the boats neared the large crevice in the face of the cliff upon which the towering castle was built, its windows sparkling against the black, starry night sky. Alex glanced around as the channel bore them swiftly along a torch lit tunnel.
"This is man made..." Alex whispered.
"Duh..." John said softly, smiling as Alex glared at him.
"So...It means this is under the castle..." He said.
"Your point, Captain Oblivious?" John asked, smiling as Alex slugged him gently in the arm. The boy merely winced.
"Means, we're technically already in the castle..." He siad, sticking his tongue out, very childishly, at Harry and Draco, as he helped the three girls get out. The bushy haired girl had climbed out, refusing any help. She tripped and ran into Darion, who caught her.
"Careful..." he siad, trying to smile as she looked very upset.
"Excuse me..." She huffed.
He let go, rolling his eyes. Girls...
They followed Hagrid through a narrow passageway in the rock, coming out onto the dewy, dark front lawn of the castle, its shadow causing shivers to run down Casey and Amanda's backs. Alex pulled himself closer to Casey as Harry drew Amanda closer, but only because Darion was trying to catch her eye.
"Everyone here?" Hagrid asked. When he didn't get any reply, he shrugged, turned and raised his fist, beating three times on the door.
"Creek….Mwa ha ha ha!" Harry mimicked an evil laugh as a stern faced witch fixed him with a glare. "Come with me my pretties…" He murmured, get a few scattered laughs.
"That is quiet enough, Mr. Potter…" She said. "This everyone, Hagrid?"
"Yes, Professor McGonagall…Is Professor Dumbledore inside?" He asked, shifting himself as he tried to peer past her.
:Yes Hagrid, he has just flooed back to the anti-chamber behind the Head Table." She turned to the others, pulling the door open. Hagrid past her. "Come along…" She said, turning and leading them inside. Alex peered into the double doors as they passed, the sound a hundreds of droning voices coming from within – the rest of the school were already there – and to a sort of anti chamber past the marble staircase. She stood aside as the passed, her eyes beadily watching them like a distant predator sizing up its next meal. She frowned at Alex's choice of clothing, making a noise in her throat as he adjusted his bandana.
"Welcome to Hogwarts…The start of the term ceremony will begin momentarily…" Harry zoned her out, glancing around. The mixture of fear, awe, and superstitious glances at smirking boys and girls made him wonder how many would be their house mates. One boy, the red haired boy he and Draco had stunned earlier, had a smudge on his nose that the bushy haired girl was trying, and failing, to subtly point out, but rubbing on her nose every so often. When McGonagall left, she took the opportunity to point at it.
"You have some dirt on your nose…Just there…" She pointed to it.
"I know that…" The boy snapped. "You think I'm a dolt or something?"
Three wands were out, pointing at the boy.
"Play nice, red head…" Harry said in low warning. "We know quite a bit of nasty spell work…Hate to have you spend your first week in the hospital…"
"Harry…Draco…Darion…Please…" Amanda pleaded quietly. Harry glanced around, feeling his face blanch as the Headmaster stood in the door quietly watching. He nudged the other two, tucking his wand away.
"This isn't over…" He hissed.
"If you boys are quite done…I believe we are ready for you all now…" McGonagall said, nodding to Dumbledore. He stood aside to allow her to take them out. He did, however, wink at Harry and his walk placed him between the two twins.
"I do commend you on standing up for you fellow students, Harry…But a tad more discretion…If you please…" he said smiling as Harry nodded. He walked a little faster, taking a seat as she had them line up with their backs to the High Table.
She set a four legged stool in front of them, and on top of that a hat. It was tattered, frayed, and a tad dirty. In fact, Harry wondered idly if the hat had wallowed in a vat of slimy mud before being brought here.
Harry couldn't help curl his nose a little. Can't the Hat of the Founders be a little cleaner?
He zoned out the song, knowing that the hat was charmed to tell the new students and remind the old that each house had specific traits that they personified. He just hoped his brother and sister would be sharing the same house as he did.
Alex watched with detachment as people were called forward. He kept his fingers crossed behind his back, biting his lip as he watched people around him disappear to either of the four tables. He did notice that the house to the right of Gryffindor was a bit larger than the rest. He almost snorted. Hufflepuff. The house of duffers, as his mother had called it. Not that she would fault Hufflepuff with any faults. They had their loyalty and patience. Not a think to mock.
He watched Casey walk over, having slipped him the necklace. "Good luck…" He called softly. She nodded. He played with the necklace absently, wondering what it was that made this necklace so special. Nim merely lay at his feet, his bright amber brown eyes following students to different tables, his tails thumping a soft tattoo into the stone with boredom.
"Gryffindor!" The hat shouted for Casey, to which he silently cheered. Johnathan was also sorted to the same house, as was Pandora, surprisingly. He would have placed her in Ravenclaw because she was smarter than she looked. When he heard P's being called down, he let his hands drop to his sides. He slipped the necklace into his pocket, glancing around as he watched the Potters trod over to place the hat on their heads.
Harry heard his name called after he watched his sister join Draco and Hermione Granger at Gryffindor table. When Draco had been placed there, he cheered himself silently. Yes! The family was staying together! He smirked as he walked over. Darion was placed in Hufflepuff. What a dolt. He didn't expect the boy to be in Gryffindor..
Amanda sat down next to Hermione as Harry swaggered up to the hat amid soft laughter and pointed stares. People were more interested in Harry than Amanda. He was, after all, the Boy Who Lived.
"Hmm…Difficult, Very Difficult…Plenty of Courage I see…Not a bad mind either…And there is talent…Ohh, yes…And a thirst…To prove yourself…So where shall I put you?"
Gryffindor…Please, Gryffindor…Harry chanted to himself.
"Why Gryffindor? You could be grate you know. Its all here…In your head…Slytherin can help you along the road to greatness, there's no doubt about that."
NO! Harry yelled mentally. You won't separate me and Amanda, and you will most definitely not put me in that DAMN house! Voldemort was in that house! I will never be part of that house!
"Are you sure? Very well…Better be…GRYFFINDOR!" Harry felt relief wash over him as he snatched the hat, sat it down, bowed slightly and patted the edge of the hat before sitting down, smiling at the headmaster as he raised his goblet in a silent toast.
Typical. Alex thought. All the Potters have been in that house. They are the personification of Gryffindor. Wouldn't be surprised if they were related, and not just by blood.
"Prince, Alexander…" McGonagall called. When he sat down, he smiled to himself. He must look very odd, a red bandana and a muggle outfit, wearing a black set of robes.
"Hello…I see you are set to be with your friends…Yes, I am noticing that lately…Well? Which House do you wish to be part of? You have Ravenclaws intelligence, the courage of Gryffindor, and all the loyalty and cunning of Slytherin and Hufflepuff."
Please, don't place me in Slytherin. My mother doesn't want me in Slytherin… Alex thought.
"If you are sure…Better be…Gryffindor!" The hat shouted happily. Alex smiled, patting the hat as he sat down, smiling as he looked up, seeing if the headmaster was intrigued or anything, but found his uncle as if he were about ready to explode.
"My necklace?" Casey whispered as he sat between her and Pan. He drew it, silently slipping it around her neck as she held her hair away. She tucked it under her shirt, smiling at him as he glanced around. He saw a few odd stares, and he merely shrugged. He felt a warm body rub against his leg and looked down, scratching little Nim as he plopped himself between them. Pan made soft cooing sounds, pulling him onto her lap as she played with the soft furry animal.
"What is that doing here?" A boy asked a tad coldly. He had a silver badge pinned on his robes. "You do know that animals are not allowed within this school?"
"Yes…Owls, cats, or toads…" Alex said, rolling his eyes. "I asked my mother to check, and the exact wording is that if it's a domesticated animal, than its okay to bring it…In fact, quite a few students have had canines over the years. As long as I don't lock him in the tower, he'll be fine…"
"He's half Crup…" Casey pointed out.
"He is?" Hermione asked in shock. "That's weird. I'd have thought Crups were unbreedable with wolves."
"Same could be said for Kneazles and large cats…Mom siad there was a successful crossing of a Kneazle and tiger…" He shrugged.
"Where?" Amanda laughed, looking interested.
"Africa…It was all over last weeks Creatures section of the Daily Prophet. Some sort of break through or something…" he rolled his eyes.
"Why on earth would Evelyn read the Creatures section?" Harry snorted.
"Because, Mr. Potter…My mother has more brains than my father…She's not just interested in the comics and crossword." He said rather emotionlessly.
"She was going to marry him," Amanda pointed out quietly.
"And who left whom?" Alex asked in a very quiet, deadly voice. She gulped, looking away as Harry glared at him. He merely smiled, turning away as they watched the last student, "Zambini, Blaise." Sorted to Hufflepuff.
Albus Dumbledore climbed to his feet.
"Welcome." He beamed, his voice echoing as he gave off the feeling of great energy. "Welcome to another magical year at Hogwarts. I have a few words to say before we begin the banquet. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
"Thank you.":
Alex, Harry, Draco and Amanda were one of the only ones who laughed the loudest and gave Albus an impromptu standing ovation. He merely smiled, blushing slightly as he waved them off.
"Is he alright?" Casey asked, nodding to the headmaster as food suddenly appeared on the plates.
"Who, Dumbledore?" Alex snorted. "Of course not. The man's a hundred and sixty something years old…He's completely off his rocker!" He smiled, laughing as Harry and Draco snorted. Despite himself, he did love the company of those he could consider family. Perhaps this forced house relationship would mend the wounds that divided them.
"Who are your friends, Alex?" Amanda asked.
"You heard them when they were sorted…" Draco said, helping himself to steak and mince pie.
"Pandora, Casey…This is Harry, Draco, and Amanda…They are kind, despite their rather violent pasts…" He smirked as Harry glared at him and Draco tossed a bun at him.
"No food fights, if you please…" A stern voice spoke. Alex leaned back to look up into the stern, if rather bemused face of one of his favorite Order members.
"Hello, Auntie M…How are you?" He asked in a childishly curious voice. She rolled her eyes, pushing him gently back up.
"You must refer to me as Professor, Mr. Prince…And I shall ask you only once to not wear that bandana to my class…"
Alex pouted, batting his grey eyes at her. Amanda snorted. If it was one thing Alex was very good at, it was giving the large eyed, pouty stare.
"No…" She said softly. He hung his head, eating dismally as he played with the tie behind his head. Locks of glossy raven hair stuck out underneath it, giving him a perpetual child like image, something he didn't seem to care too much about.
"Do you wear that to bed or something?" Draco asked with a snort.
"No, Drakkie…" Alex said in a sing song voice. "Unlike you, I don't have something I wear to sleep…" he siad, smirking as Draco colored, Amanda made choking sounds over, and Harry tried very hard not to laugh about.
"What does he wear?" Hermione asked curiously, her eyes alight as Draco turned a deep, and interesting shade, of scarlet.
"Ohh…nothing…Just a…" Alex started to say before Casey clamped a hand over his mouth, Alex wincing as he glared at Draco.
"Sorry, Casey…" he muttered. "Trying to kick him, not you…"
"Its perfectly alright…" She smiled. "You…" She pointed her finger at Alex. "Behave…"
"Yes, house mother…" Alex siad in a childish voice that made her smile, her blue eyes sparkling as he nudged her with his body, sighing as he pretended to rest his head on her shoulder.
"What?" Draco asked, glaring at Alex.
"Do you still have Mr. Snuffles?" He pouted. Draco nearly choked, glaring at Alex.
"No…" he said in a hiss.
"Whose Mr. Snuffles?" Hermione asked, her smile growing wider as Amanda had to pat Harry on the back, as he seemed to swallow something in his fits of silent laughter.
"My teddy bear…A griffon teddy bear…He stole it a few years ago…" Alex sighed. "Something Sirius gave me before he decided to go chasing ghosts…"
"Alex…You know as well as I do that Draco torched that griffon bear…And he apologized…" Amanda said. Alex merely pouted further, rubbing his head a little further into Casey's shoulder, trying to make a teary eyed look, and merely looking as if he were laughing as Casey none to gently pushed his head away.
"What?" He glared playfully at her.
"Nothing…I'm trying to eat…" She said.
"Yes…Please…We'd all like to eat…Sometime tonight…" One of the red haired twins said.
"Don't let me stop you…Not that I'd think it would fit…" Alex said the last sentence in a softer voice, shyly looking away as both fixed him with a deadly glare.
"Making friends fast, are we, Alexander?" Darion asked, leaning over to talk with him. "Whose pet wolf is that?"
"Mine…" Alex said. "Name's Nim…You know…after that owl we found…"
"Oh! Yeah…The black barn owl…Wonder what happened to it…"
"Probably far enough from the both of you to be on the safe side." Draco said in an undertone.
"Ohh…Posh…" Alex rolled his eyes, waving it off. "Hey…Nimmie…Come here…" He gently took the squirming wolf from Pandora, who was having to wrestle him to her stomach. The anxious wolf gave an excited bark as Alex laughed, taking a piece of chicken and breaking it down, handing feeding the wolf pup as he tried to eat something.
Conversations slowly droned out one another as dinner continued. Hermione listened to half humorous tales of the misadventures of a holiday at the Manor, a place where, apparently, a lot of witches and wizards just gathered every Christmas. She wondered if they were part of some sort of group, and Alex merely said they were.
"Like a club…" Amanda said, hoping to stem the girl's curiosity
"Speaking of clubs…" Alex glanced around. "Is there a dueling club?" He asked to the older students. The unanimous shaking head made him shrug.
"Guess we'll have to start one then…" Alex sighed.
"Why would you want to start a dueling club?" Hermione asked.
"How many witches and wizards do you know know how to duel properly?" Alex asked.
"Not many…" Hermione said. "But who would you ask to start it? And what would be the name of our group?"
"Defense Group…Dueling Club…Dumbledore's Army…" Alex smiled at the last one, laughing as Amanda rolled her eyes. "The possibilities, Miss Granger, are quite endless…"
"And would this be a purely theoretical group?" The prefect Percy asked. "I don't think they would allow such a group…Some people would think you were starting a gang or something." He snorted to himself.
"A gang is generally a group of close friends…" Alex told him. "Our group would be open to the other three houses…Yes," he said glaring at Harry and Draco as they both made noises of disgust. "Even Slytherin…Not all of them are bad…"
"How would you know?" Percy asked.
"Because, my mother was in Slytherin…" Alex said rather angerily. Percy eyed him, as the other two red heads eyed him and Ronald Weasley did. With some manner of disgust.
"What are you doing in this house then?" Ron asked in a huffy voice. "Shouldn't you be with your Slytherin buddies?" He asked, glaring at Alex.
"No…Because the hat said I belong here…Unless you are quite deaf…Which I don't doubt you are, to some degree…"
When Ron colored, Alex superstitiously tapped the side of his nose, causing the boy to color deeper and duck his head out of sight. Casey nudged him, glaring at him. He merely shrugged, rolling his eyes.
"Nim!" Alex sighed. The excited pup was making whining noises. He got up, walking with the pup out of the Great Hall amid stares and sniggers. He sat on the steps, watching the pup run around, chasing rainbow colored butterflies. He sighed, sitting back as Casey joined him, holding out a plate of cookies.
"They're serving desert…" She said, sitting down. The wolf pup was having fun, at least.
"Come on, Nim…" Alex sighed. The pup came running back, his ears flopping as he held a rabbit in his jaws. He gently plied the bunny from the wolf, letting it go. "You've had enough to eat, buddy...Come on…" Alex sighed.
"I don't think he has…" A soft ancient voice siad. Alex merely glanced behind him. The baby blue belonged to the silver beard as the headmaster lowered himself to sit between them, offering them a silent lemon drop, which they declined. He smiled, watching the wolf pounce on the rabbit.
"I am curious if you have received your birthday presents yet…" Dumbledore said.
"Not yet…" Alex sighed. "Just Nim and this mirror." He patted the bronze mirror with the glass reflecting the crescent moon. "Mom has it enchanted so Grandpa Monty and me can chat with each other…He said she was going to work with him this year more closely than before…"
Albus nodded.
"I wonder…If Quinn arrived tomorrow, would you mind if he stayed?" Albus asked.
"Why is he?" Alex asked tonelessly.
"He might…Evelyn said she wished him to stay here to watch over you and Harry. She feels there is someone out to harm you both…"
"When isn't there?" Alex asked dryly. "Is there a reason your out here, sir?"
"Just admiring the night, Alex…Just admiring the night…" He smiled. "Come along, I must make my announcements, and I daresay Minerva shall be concerned about her new Gryffindors…"
Alex smiled, lifting the rabbit bearing wolf into his arms, muzzling his face into Nim's soft furry belly, smiling as the wolf growled at him. Casey giggled, playfully giving the rabbit a gentle tug. The wolf let it go, panting as Albus scratched him behind his ears.
"A very beautiful pup you have here…" Albus smiled.
"Quinn nearly had kittens when he saw them…Wanted to purchase them all…Be the hen mother…" Alex rolled his eyes. Albus merely chuckled as he led them back inside.
"Now that we are all watered and fed, I have a few start of term notices I wish to announce." Professor Dumbledore siad, resuming his place at the center of the table.
:First years please note that the forest on the grounds is strictly forbidden to all pupils…And a few of our older students should please remember that…" His sparkling blue gaze fell on the Weasley twins.
"I have been asked by our caretaker, Mr. Filch, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors."
"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madame Hooch."
"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death."
Harry laughed, but he was one of the few who did. He noticed that Alex stiffened a little, his eyes narrowing as he glanced up at the head table as if he hadn't heard the headmaster correctly.
"He's not serious is, he, Perc?" Fred asked in a low voice. The boy's older brother shrugged.
"Must be…" He said, frowning at the Headmaster. "It's odd, because he usually give us a reason why we're not allowed to go somewhere – the forest's full of dangerous beasts, everyone knows that. I do think he might have told us prefects, at least."
Alex seemed strangely distant, as if he were recalling something.
"Anything you wish to share, Alex?" Harry asked. The boy shook his head, his face pale as he connected eyes with Dumbledore.
"Now…Of to bed you all trot…" He said, smiling as he turned and spoke with the teachers gathering around him.
The first year Gryffindors followed Percy as he called for them to follow him. He led them through the chattering crowds, out of the Great Hall, and up the marble staircase.
Harry felt his legs become like lead as they trudged up corridors, stairs, and doorways hidden by tapestries, portraits, or sliding walls. He nearly fell asleep on his feet, if it weren't for Draco's gently poking at him every time he felt his head dip towards his chest.
They finally arrived at a dead end corridor with a portrait of a very fat lady at the very end. She stirred as they neared, Percy glancing at them importantly.
"Password?" She asked.
"Caput Draconis…" he said, glancing back at them again as the portrait swung forward, revealing a hole in the wall. They all scrambled through it – Neville need a leg up – and found themselves in the Gryffindor common room, a cozy, round room full of squashy arm chairs, low sofas, and round tables scattered around the edge. A few cabinets were against the wall, and an old grandfather clock was upon the mantle of the great fire pit, a stash of firewood sitting just inside an alcove, protected by a fine mesh grate on three sides.
Percy directed the girls through one door to their dormitory and the boys through another. At the top of a spiral staircase – the were obviously in one of the towers – they found their beds at last: eight, four poster bed hung with deep red, velvet curtains. Their trunks had already be brought up, laying near the door. They all seemed to tired to talk much; Harry and Draco took the first two beds to their right, Ron and a short round faced Irish boy taking opposite beds. Alex took the one opposite the doorway, sighing as he flopped onto the bed. To his right, Johnathan sat down, and the other two beds on his left were taken by the other two, Neville and a dark skinned boy named Dean Thomas. Alex patted his bed, Nim curling himself next to Alex, who had enough strength to pry the robe from his body and take his jeans off. He fell asleep in his two shirts, black boxers, and red bandana. Draco merely rolled his eyes.
"Should we haze him?" Harry asked, sniggering.
"And what would you suggest we do, my partner in crime?" Draco asked, smirking as John quietly tugged Alex's limp body further on his bed before closing his curtains.
"Leave him be, you two…" he siad, changing into a pair of striped pajamas and crawling under his covers.
"You his mum or something?" Ron asked.
"No…I'm his friend…Its what you call two people who are associated with one another…" John siad. "Like these two…" He nodded to Harry and Draco, who both sent Ron identical smirks. "You stand up for your friends…Or up to them, when the time calls for it." He shrugged. "Don't you have a friend?"
"Yeah…" The Irish boy said glaring at him.
"Alright then…" John shrugged. "Don't make such a big deal about it."
"You sure you're in the right house?" Draco asked quietly, arching an eyebrow at Johnathan, who nodded. "You strike me as more Ravenclaw."
"Courage to stand up to that bloke would surely put him here…" Harry said, curling up as Amanda and another girl appeared in their room. She trailed over to Alex's bed, peeking in. She giggled, extracting a sleeping Nim and walking over, sitting at the foot of Harry's bed.
"Amanda…Girls aren't suppose to be in the boy's bedroom…People might talk!" Harry said, wincing as Amanda whacked him on the arm.
"Sorry, big brother…Just came to tuck you in…" She said, hugging him and kissing his forehead. "Try not to have any nightmares…Okay?" She asked quietly.
"I won't…I have the dreamless sleeping potion…" he patted his pocket. "Padfoot gave it to me."
"Okay…" She smiled, glancing around. "Sleep tight…Don't let the bed bugs bite." She smirked as Harry growled at her. She blew a kiss from the doorway, her hands on the raven haired girl's shoulders as she closed the door behind her.
"She has a point you know.." Draco said quietly. Harry glared at him. "You've been having nightmares again…" Harry nodded, sighing. He took a quick drink from the potion vial, setting it on the bedside table. He made a face as he slipped under the bed.