Disclaimer: See Chapter I
Also, I'd like to thank those of you who have taken some time to read and review my work (you know who you are). Your kind words have been felt and hope the wait hasn't been too long for this next installment as I'm trying to update my work every three chapters or roughly once every ten days. One final bit of thanks to the Harry Potter Lexicon that is quite the resource for anything Harry Potter related. Hopefully, I can beat the clock before JK Rowling and BK. V hit the streets, though considering how long it took to type this chapter, I may have to call my story an AU (alternate universe) pretty soon.
Chapter XIV: Surprises
The next several days passed uneventfully, as everyone seemed to be subdued with the end of summer approaching. Harry also got the chance to see Percy for the first time since the previous year. Percy still lived with his parents, but the last several days had he had been on assignment with Amos Diggory's special unit in Ireland. He had formally greeted Harry, and had refused to answer any questions about what he had been doing there. Indeed, it seemed part of Amos's attitude had gotten on to Percy for, besides asking a series of questions about his Uncle Alex, Percy didn't speak much to him and sounded quite aloof when Hermione asked why Percy was so concerned over Harry's uncle.
Harry, in the meantime, didn't care as he finished getting his kit prepared for Hogwarts. Charms and Spells Book V, Advanced Potions, and other weighty tomes he put in his trunk, along with the rest of his new school supplies when an owl flew in from Uncle Alex with a small package. It read:
Dear Harry,
I just wish to write to you to wish you a good school year. A certain dog and his best friend (you know who they are) send their regards, and apologize for not writing directly due to the nature of the business they and several others you may or may not know are engaged in abroad. This situation is truly on a worldwide scale. Now, the package I've sent you contains three boxes of Struan's cigars drawn from the company's finest stocks, a silver flask, and a very special book. This is an enchanted book with each page containing roughly four one-quart bottles of every liquor invented up to the date it was written, which was about two years ago and is fairly accurate. All you need to do to create a bottle is to tap the page with your wand and speak: I am not a drunken sot. I'm trusting that you will not abuse this privilege and know how to hold your liquor.
Alex
Harry opened the package, and sure enough, it contained a silver flask, three small boxes full of sweet smelling cigars, and a gray book the size of a dictionary. Opening the book, Harry discovered it was filled with such entries as Johnny Walker Black Label, Old Grouse, Smirnov's, and his particular favorites Beefeater Gin and Boccardi Rum. Harry carefully packed this into his magical box, as for some reason he couldn't fathom, he felt he was going to every shred of tobacco and every drop of liquor he had when school started.
* * *
Sunday rolled around, and Mr. Weasley arranged for Ministry of Magic cars to take them to King's Cross Station. Harry felt a strange sense of déjà vu as for the second year in a row it looked as though it were going to rain, and heavily at that. Mentioning this to Hermione and Ron as they loaded their luggage into the boot of a ministry car, Ron shrugged it off, "You know, I don't think it matters. What I do wonder is who will be our Defense against the Dark Arts teacher." Harry had been thinking the same thing, as it seemed that every year he had been at Hogwarts, they were going through a new DADA teacher. Discussing it, they wondered if Moody (the real one, not Barty Crouch, Jr.) would try again.
They hadn't gone very far when the cars stopped in front of the station. Getting out, Harry grabbed a trolley cart and loaded his trunk and Hedwig's cage on it and helped Hermione and Ron load theirs'. "Let's go everyone," This was Mrs. Weasley who led them into the station.
Just as they entered, they ran into Neville and his grandmother, a tall, old woman with a scarlet handbag, though she had omitted the vulture on her hat that which had set her apart previously. "Harry, Ron, Hermione," Neville called out as he ran over and clapped Harry on the back. Neville's grandmother followed shortly behind him.
"Hi, Nev. How's it hanging?"
"Great. Hey, I haven't introduced you to my grandmother, Mrs…"
"Patricia Longbottom, and a pleasure it is to meet you." She walked up to Harry and held out her hand. This confirmed Harry's view that Grandma Longbottom was, like Professor McGonagall, definitely not a woman he wanted to cross, as she radiated a persona of steel. Smiling, he took the hand offered, and replied, "The pleasure is all mine, Ma'am. Neville talks a lot about you at school to me, Ron and Hermione here. Let me just say, he's one of the bravest men I know." Harry was thinking how back in Wales, Neville had jumped the hedge and ran to give him his rifle, whilst under fire. As well as the time in school when he had confronted Crabbe, Goyle, and Malfoy, and yelled at them "I'm worth a dozen of you", ensuring a punch for his troubles.
"In that case, let me just say that I'm glad he has found such fine friends." Turning to Neville, "You take care, Neville dear, and do try not to embarrass the family as much as possible." She hugged him, ruffled his hair (even though he was fifeteen, his grandma still stood taller then him by a good couple of inches) and waved goodbye as she walked to the exit of the train station. Neville joined Harry, Ron, Hermione, the twins, and Ginny as they made their way to Platform Nine and Three Quarters.
Harry's sense increased as he heard a throaty, pleasant female voice ask, "Excuse me, sir, but can you tell me where I can find Platform Nine and Three Quarters?" Looking around, he saw that the voice was coming from a girl (A little shorter then Neville here, my age, black hair, Eastern European of some sort based on the accent, definitely has some gypsy blood in her, dressed in black with a fair sized bust and a decent looking rear. Not bad, not bad at all, Harry thought) who was asking, without much success, one of the conductors where Platform Nine and Three Quarters was at. Harry had once had the same trouble and thought of helping her out. It was then he had a thunderbolt of an idea.
Quickly, he nudged Neville and told, "Hey go help her out." Neville could see for himself how she looked, and was torn between hanging with his friends, and trying to hang with what was a very nice looking lady. Harry laughed, and pushed him forward; "Go ahead, Nev. We'll see you on the train." Neville grinned sheepishly and pushed his cart over towards the girl and asked, "I can help you, miss." Not wishing to intrude, Harry and the rest pushed on to Platform Nine and Three Quarters
Harry and the rest made their way over to the arch that magically led to the platform and entered in pairs in this order: the twins, the girls, and Harry and Ron, with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley taking up the rear. Harry, despite having done this several times before, still was awed by the sights of students and parents preparing to go to Hogwarts, and the sight of the Hogwarts express. In a way to Harry, it was more impressive then Diagon Alley, for Harry long felt his real home had been Hogwarts.
"Ginny!" This came from the excited voice of Colin Creevy who dashed forward to embrace Ginny. Harry leaned back and walked onwards, smiling as he heard Fred quip, "Oi, hands off my sister, you prat!" Reaching the train, he got on board, and moved his trunk into a compartment, and went to say his goodbyes to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Going back on to the station, he saw that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were saying goodbye first to Colin and Ginny, who went hand in hand to one of the forward cars. Soon everyone else said his or her goodbyes and it was Harry's turn. Hugging Mrs. Weasley, he thanked her for her hospitality, and was waved off as Mrs. Weasley told him; "You are always welcome at our home, Harry." With that she wished him a good school year, and asked him to not get in any trouble. Mr. Weasley shook his hand and warned, "Try not to take any risks, Harry, as things could get ugly."
"Yes sir," Harry replied as shook Mr. Weasley's hand, and got aboard the train. Going to his compartment, he saw Neville sitting next to the girl from the station; both of them seemed to be talking and generally enjoying each other's company. Harry smiled and thought that Neville really needed a girl, as the last four years had seen him establish new heights as the class idiot.
Stepping into his compartment, he found Ron and Hermione arguing. "Hey, what's this about? We've barely left the bloody station!" Harry asked exasperated. Hermione pointed a finger at Ron and said, "He was asking what I did in Bulgaria, and if Krum and I…." Ron shot back, "Yeah, just what did you and Vikie Krumm do?" Harry decided to end this here and now, "Look, just shut up the both of you will you?" Harry looked at Hermione and asked, "So, just to settle, is there anything between you and Viktor?" Hermione replied, "As I wrote earlier, I went to Bulgaria, we had a good time, and we left as friends. The way I thought we were friends." This last was directed to Ron, who looked as though he were going to say something just as scathing when Harry held up his hand, and told Hermione, "Look, if you know why, you'll understand. You ready to listen? And I promise you Ron will shut up after this." Harry looked over at Ron, who nodded. Hermione folded her arms akimbo and asked, "Well, go on."
Harry took a breath and explained, "Listen, you, Ron, and I have gone through some really crazy business together. You, surely, remember those occasions don't you? The madcap scheme to stop Professor Quirrell back when we were first years, the Chamber of Secrets affair, and the messy business with Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew; Ron over there is worried that our trio would be gone forever once you and Krum got together. Right so far, Ron?" Ron, who knew Harry was throwing him an easy way out of confessing his real feelings, started sputtering, "Yeah, it's just that…we've been friends so long…" He shrugged sheepishly, "I'm sorry I've been a stupid prat."
Hermione looked at him, and replied, "After what we have gone through these past years, we are, and always will be friends. No matter what happens." She smiled, "Even if, at times, one of us acts like a prat." Harry laughs, "That we do, that we do. Now, I got this great story of the time…" and started telling a story (one of the milder ones) that Rooney and Courtenay had told him back at Dwrryn Camp.
It was during this time that Hermione brought up something Harry had been able to largely forget. "Harry," she asked in a quiet voice, "are you having nightmares over the Triwizard Tournament." Knowing that he wasn't exactly a good liar (at least to his friends), Harry looked over at Ron and asked, "You told her, Ron?" Ron looked embarrassed, and replied, "Yeah, I mean, who else was I supposed to? I once tried talking to you after everyone was asleep, and you were muttering in your sleep and gripping the sheets, and you were barely breathing mate!"
Hermione asked gently, "You feel guilty over Cedric Diggory's death still?" Harry looked at her and nodded, "Not as much as I used to, but yes…Were it not for my uncle, I'd have lost it before now." Not giving them a chance to speak, he spoke in an impassive voice, "The day my uncle came to pick me up, I was suffering two or three nightmares, and getting very little sleep. I was becoming a true zombie, as I dreamed of Voldermort killing me, and the fact for a while before the Third Task, I was so jealous and hated Cedric… I believed it was my fault he had gotten killed, if I hadn't been so fucking melodramatic, so wanting to show Cho Chang that I as much as he was worthy of her, that he would be alive right now."
"My uncle, he took me aside and explained to me, in these exact words, 'When Cedric put his name in that Goblet, he knew he was signing his life away, that death might very well be part of the fucking bargain.' My uncle then taught me how to control it, for he's, in a way, worse then I am."
"How so?" Hermione asked, and Harry explained quickly what little he knew. Ron looked across at him, and spoke for the first time, "He's right, Harry. You had nothing to do with causing his death." He stared at Harry, "There are probably those out there who wished it were you and not Cedric who got killed. Not me, not Hermione, not Fred or George or Ginny. For Cedric may have been a good man, I would rather have seen a good man die, then lose a friend who meant a lot more to me."
Harry didn't say anything, as he felt his eyes mist, and looked at them. Finally, not really trusting his voice, he spoke, "Thank you." Nonetheless, Harry bent over to his trunk, opened it, and pulled out his silver flask. Opening it, he took one long pull, closed it, and put it back in the trunk. Hermione asked, "What was that?"
"Grog, which is watered down rum. My uncle told me nothing like a slug of rum can calm you down." Realizing Hermione was undoubtedly worried about, he reassured her and Ron he drank only after a nightmare, or when his nerves were frizzed and frazzled. Hermione, while clearly unhappy he was using a crutch in the form of the bottle, nevertheless went along it. Ron, besides asking for a drop of rum (which Harry refused to give), joked with Harry about becoming a drunk. Laughing, Harry got up and decided to change into his school robes and uniform.
In the bathroom, after he got dressed and was tying the gold and scarlet school tie, Harry took out the badge he had been given and looked at it. Part of him wanted to tell Dumbledore that he didn't accept the position, which he just wanted to live the normal school-wizard's life. Yet every time he did, Harry couldn't help but remember the sight of Cedric falling to the ground.
Setting his jaw, Harry gave himself one last once-over, before heading out into the hallway. There, he heard a thump, followed by a series of gasps and small cries further down the car. Wondering what was happening, Harry walked to the source of the problems, and unsurprisingly, it was Draco Malfoy and his gang of Crabbe, Goyle, and what looked like a pair of second years wearing the colors of Slytherin house. Draco had changed (Crabbe and Goyle looked much the same), like Harry, to the better, as physically he looked like a younger image of his father. It didn't look as though his attitude had changed, for his goon squad was holding down Neville as one of them pulled his head up by his hair, whilst Draco was pinning the dark-haired girl against the wall of one of the compartments.
Judging by the fact Crabbe looked as though he had trouble breathing (he had his legs crossed also), and the fact Goyle had an unusual lump on his forehead, Neville and the girl hadn't been bullied quietly. "Now, now, Longbottom, I didn't know you felt this way about her. Tell you what I'll do; I'll test this simple Undressing Charm I learned called Linenius Expectarom. So that we can all examine her 'charms'. All of them." He laughed, but was cut short as Harry had crept up behind him, drawn his wand, and placed it directly against Malfoy's blonde head.
"The only thing you will test, Malfoy, is my patience, so let the girl and Neville go." Harry ordered him coldly.
Malfoy's goons noticed him, and within a minute, four wands were pointed at Harry after placing a binding charm on Neville, who was now tied up by a series of ropes. Harry merely dug the tip of his wand into Malfoy's head, causing him to speak, "Well, Potter, it seems the year hasn't even started and you are already acting like the fool you are? Perhaps you are unaware of the consequences of assaulting a school Prefect." Harry, who had seen the list of House Prefects and Head Girl and Boy (Lee Jordan had somehow made it to Head Boy, to the delight of his best friends the Weasley twins), had been dreading such a drama as this happening since then.
"I'm sure you are aware of the punishment for, let's see: sexual assault, assault and battery, and a couple of smaller offenses thrown in for good measure."
"What sexual assault? All I was doing was conducting a thorough search of this individual, who isn't a Hogwarts student and not under the protection of those rules by the way, and a strip search involves undressing, don't you know? As for Longbottom, he was interfering in the operations of a Prefect, perfectly justifiable reasons for my fellow students here to assist me in my duties, and to subdue him with force."
Harry shook his head, and pressed the wand into his head harder. "I'm not warning you again, Malfoy. Let her go, or we'll see a replay of last year's ferret incident. Remember that? Or how about the last time we drew wands on this train? I'm surprised you and your toadies there had all of those hexes removed by now."
Malfoy, still holding on to the girl, replied smoothly, "Since you are as thick headed as your worm of a friend Weasley, perhaps you should count the number of wands pointed against you. You can count to at least five?" Harry thought, Outnumbered, this whoreson has me by the balls! This wasn't a good day out, but Harry didn't have much alternatives. All he could hope was that Ron and Hermione would wonder what was taking him so long, and join him. Until then he had to keep this bastard talking, but about what…
"Now, now Mista Mayfoy, don't you think four to one is too good in the odds department?" This came from right outside the compartment, speaking in a drawling accent, as though the speaker preferred to chew on every syllable he spoke. Using his peripheral vision, Harry saw a man about his height, maybe a year older then Harry, with close-cropped brown hair and wearing a brown business suit and bronze-and-leather bolo tie. He was smiling, and pointing a wand right at Crabbe, Goyle, and the rest of Malfoy's crew.
Malfoy glanced over at him, "Stay out of this, Yank, this doesn't concern you. Plus I don't think you're a crony of his." He jerked his head towards Harry.
The 'Yank' laughed, and shook his head, "Where I come from, insulting a lady is very, very, very much a no-no. You see, we find it very offensive when you do something like say, try to strip a woman naked in public, and as for him, I'm rather glad that there are decent folk out on this train."
Pausing for only a second, he continued, "Now, the odds are two to one, and where I come from, those are fightin' odds." Harry wasn't so confident, thinking, Shit! First day back, and something out of a Clint Eastwood western happens, only starring Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom, and some crazy fucking American. What Harry was thinking of was called a Mexican standoff.
The way they stood, Malfoy's goons couldn't curse Harry without cursing the girl, and their boss in the process. At the same time Harry couldn't do anything to Malfoy, as Malfoy had his wand out, pointed at the girl, and was still pressed against her. Harry knew that however fast he was with his spells, the girl would suffer also, and that made the whole exercise useless. The American couldn't do anything as he was covering the goon squad (who would move in on Neville if anything happened), and likewise stood in the path of any spells directed against Harry. None of them wanted to be the one who had to be hexed and generally injured this early on in the school year.
Neville, of course, was tied up, and couldn't do anything if he wanted to.
It was then Harry thought of an idea. "Right, Malfoy, the last thing you want at this rather early stage of the year is to destroy the Hogwarts Express. What you want is to get out of her without getting humiliated as after all, we have the rest of the year to play these silly mind games. So, tell your four intrepid companions to lower their wands and toss them over to the American one at a time. The American will then toss his and their wands out into the hallway. After that, you will hand your wand over to me, I'll put mine down, and then we back away from each other. You will back away from the girl, and I'll back away from you. Clear?"
"Why do I have to make the first move?"
"Because you know I'm too much of a do-gooder to shoot an unarmed man in the back. Even one as repugnant as you."
Malfoy took a moment to digest this then nodded to Crabbe and Goyle, who tossed their wands to the Yank, followed by the other two Slytherins' wands. The American caught them, and together with his wand, tossed them out into the hallway. As he did so, Harry hoped that "none of these pricks know wand less magic else we're really fucked". Harry motioned to Malfoy, "Your turn." Malfoy handed over his wand, and took a step back. Harry took one also and as soon as they were three steps away from each other, Harry pocketed his wand, and threw out Malfoy's. The girl rushed over to Neville, and started helping him out of his ropes. Harry, with a flick of his wrist, severed the ropes using a Severing Charm
"Now," Harry asked Malfoy, "What was the reason behind this entire scene?" Malfoy smirked, "Don't you know it isn't wise to be impudent to a Prefect?" He pointed to the silver 'P' badge on his robes. "Nonetheless, I'll go out of my way by telling you that I was merely doing my duty by 'examining' this foreign mudblood." Harry looked at him coldly, "What duty, that of your pecker? Also, mudblood? What the hell are you talking about?" Malfoy laughed at him, " Don't you know that this little tart is from the Grigorich Institute of Wizardry and Witchcraft? The place where they send those who are mudbloods and worse to get an education in eastern Europe? The ones that aren't accepted by Durmastrong? I don't know why our Headmaster wanted one of them as an exchange student." The girl and Neville had gone back to their seats, where Neville had a hand in one of hers, and both were glaring at Malfoy ferociously.
Harry was about to lose his temper when a voice called out, "WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE!!!" Harry thought it sounded like it was Lee Jordan, coming behind him. Sure enough, wearing the Head Boy insignia and sounding none too happy, was Lee Jordan, the school Quidditch announcer and easily the most profane student of the student body. Stomping into the compartment, he glared malevolently at everyone, before he settled on Malfoy. "Care to explain why I saw drawn wands, and heard allegations of some pretty goddamned serious offenses perpetrated by you and your cronies, Mr. Malfoy?" Not giving him a chance to continue, "Before you even think of some cheeky answer, remember just whom Prefects report to."
Malfoy glared at him, and replied, "There was no assault, just a scuffle that was settled." Jordan obviously didn't believe him when a cool, female voice spoke from behind, "I concur with him, Lee." A tall, dark-haired girl strode out, wearing the yellow and black of Hufflepuff house. Her name was Wilma Fawcett (she had a sister in Ravenclaw), Head Girl, and she spoke out, "As the impartial observer here, I'll pass punishment here, not you Lee, since there are Gryffindors involved." Jordan, obviously unhappy, nodded briefly, and continued glaring at Malfoy.
"Now, since no one was injured, and there is no evidence beyond unreliable eyewitness testimony ensuring nothing can really be proven… Mr. Malfoy will apologize to the lady he insulted. Mr. Potter will likewise apologize to Mr. Malfoy, and everyone shall return to their compartments. The school year hasn't started, so this will end here and now, and not mentioned any further. Understood?" Harry and Draco nodded, apologized to each other, and after Draco apologized to the dark-haired girl, Draco and his gang left the compartment. The Head Girl and Boy followed shortly thereafter, after warning Harry and the American to never ever draw their wands on anyone or heaven help them for they certainly wouldn't. Ron and Hermione burst in, with Hermione telling Harry, "Thank goodness we saw Lee and Wilma, otherwise we could have been expelled before the year started." Ron, who looked as though joining in the fray wands-first was what he dearly would have desired, glanced at Harry and shrugged.
Harry went over to Neville and asked, "You all right, Nev?" Neville grimaced, nodded, and told him, "Give me a few as they put a minor hex on me making it hurt when I talk." Hermione went over as Harry turned to the girl, who said, "Thank you, Neville tried to stop them but there were too many." Harry shrugged and told her, "It was nothing. Are you all right, Miss…" The girl stopped, and looked down, "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you my family name until after we are introduced at Hogwarts, my orders you understand." Harry shook his head smiling, "Can you tell me your first name then?" She brightened, and held out her hand, "Katrina, and again thank you for helping me and Neville despite how bad it looked." Harry turned to the American and held out his right hand, "You saved my ass back there, and also that of Nev and Katrina over there. You didn't have to do that." Harry made the last sound like a question.
The American, grinned brightly, and shook Harry's hand vigorously, explaining, "I don't like bullies or braggarts that much and your friend Mayfoy seems to fit the bill to a tee in those categories. Name's Beauregard Jackson Detibedeux, fifth year of the New Orleans Academy of Voodoo, Witchcraft, and Wizardry. My friends call me Doc." Pausing for a second, he spoke again, "You can call me Doc." Harry smiled, "Harry Potter, of Gryffindor house, Hogwarts." Doc looked at him askew, "Harry Potter, the Harry Potter." Harry started to squirm with embarrassment but nodded.
Doc grinned, "In that case, let me just say you are the coolest customer I have ever seen. You wouldn't by chance be willing to share that ice water you have in your veins would you?" Harry laughed, and replied, "No, but let me introduce to my friends Ron Weasley, the red head here." Ron held out his hand, and Doc shook it. "Hermione Granger is the brown-haired hair one." Hermione held out her hand, and explained, "Pleasure to meet you." "Pleasure's mine, Miss Granger."
Katrina stared wide-eyed, and spoke, "You're Harry Potter? I have heard so much about you, and this isn't what I really expected. Thank you!"
Harry, slightly embarrassed, introduced Doc to Neville and Katrina, and then with Hermione, who chatted with him about his school in America. Apparently, there were four primary schools of wizardry, with two smaller ones in Alaska and Hawaii. Schools were located in Maine (he said the New England-New York School had had to be moved at least twice in it's history, and was currently near some town called Castle Rock), Louisiana, Arizona, and Montana. Doc was in his fifth year, and had been tabbed as his school's representative. The other schools had, due to the tense situation after the World Cup and Triwizard fiascos, chosen not to send anyone. When Harry asked Doc why his school had sent him, Doc smiled, "Let's just say the Superintendent of my school felt a year away would serve to cool things down after an unfortunate incident I had had with one of the professors, and his daughter."
They all laughed, and Harry was about to ask Katrina about her school when the train stopped. "Well, looks like we're here. I've got to go help Dean control those first years. See you guys later." Hermione said to the group and took off. Harry looked at Ron, who shrugged, "Prefects."
* * *
Meanwhile, at Privet Drive, Alex Evans was in the master bedroom where he opened a trunk that hadn't been opened in years. Briefly looking through it, he picked a red-and-gold necktie. A Gryffindor school tie. Looking at it nostalgically, he spoke to himself, "Oh yes, Harry, you'll be seeing me soon enough."
* * *
Harry and Ron, after leaving behind Ron and Neville, and seeing Doc go back to his compartment, went back to their own compartment to see that Hermione had already moved her kit and left behind theirs'. Harry picked up his fedora, and put it on as he could see rain was starting to pour outside. Ever since he had got back, he had been keeping his hair cut short with a square back, and nothing touching his ears. British Army Regulation cut in other words.
"Christ, it looks as bad as it did last year." Ron muttered. Harry shrugged, and together, they dragged their kit outside, where the usual assortment of magical carriages (ones that didn't need horses) was parked. Looking around, Harry saw Hermione, Ernie McMillan, and Dean herding a group of first years towards Hagrid, who waved and yelled, "'Ello Harry." Harry waved set his trunk down and waved back. Doc ran up and asked, "Need a hand there, Harry?" Harry replied, "Thanks," as Doc helped him load his luggage aboard one of the carriages.
Since Crookshanks (Hermione's cat) was already stretched out on one of the seats, that meant Hermione was sitting aboard this one. Doc had loaded his as well, and together they went back and helped Ron. Hermione joined them and just as they were about to get on the carriage, Malfoy and his cronies Goyle and Crabbe walked by huddled under an umbrella.
Seeing Harry, Malfoy started to speak in a smirking, loud voice. "So anyways, Crabbe, Goyle, I was digging in through my mother's old notebook, and I found this nice little entry talking about the Gryffindor Whore. Apparently, it was about some tasty looking tart with red hair. Lille, Lilly something or another, her last name isn't with me right now." Leering at Harry, Malfoy continued, "Oh wait, it was Evans, I think? Or perhaps it was…Potter!" All three of them laughed and walked to where the rest of Slytherin house appeared to be gathering.
Harry felt the blood start pounding in his head, behind his eyes, and his hand darted into the pocket of his robes where he felt the familiar weight of his wand. It was fortunate that his Browning was packed away in his trunk, unloaded, along with the rest of his gear. Yet, angry as he was, he knew it wouldn't help any if he hexed or injured Malfoy as both of them would be sternly punished, and Harry wasn't in the mood to start racking up detentions this damn early in the school year. He rubbed his fingers along the wand, and suddenly felt something that gave him an idea.
Grinning coldly, he drew his wand and tossed it Ron, and told him, "Watch that for me, Ron." Walking in the cold downpour, Harry looked straight at Malfoy, who had seen him approaching and was staring at him with his usual loathing. Stopping a meter away from Malfoy, Harry barked out, "Malfoy!" The rest of the Slytherins, with a few Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws looking on curiously, watched him as Malfoy answered back, "What, Potter?"
Harry slid his hand into his pocket and replied, "Speaking of whores, Malfoy…" In a fluidic motion, Harry gripped a bronze Knut he had in his pocket, and tossed it to Malfoy. Malfoy caught it in midair and looked at Harry questioningly. Harry smiled, "Give your mother my regards, and inform her I'll pay her my usual two Knuts once she improves in the fellatio department." Malfoy's eyes started bulging, and became even more so when Harry (he had seen it done on some American science fiction show he had watched over the summer) held up his right hand, and waggled his fingers at Malfoy. Harry remembered that on the TV show the guy who did the gesture said he was going to do that once the bad guy he was talking to had his head placed on a pike. Harry wondered if he would get the chance to do that again, only with Malfoy's head on a pike. Without another word, Harry executed a sharp About Face (he turned on his heel 180 degrees) and strode slowly back to his carriage. He could see Hermione, Doc, and Ron looking at him.
Go ahead, you fuck, let's see if you have the balls to shoot a man in the back, Harry thought viciously. Walking in a cool deliberate pace, he made it to his carriage, got in and sat down next to Doc, whilst Hermione and Ron sat across from them and stared at him open-mouthed. Harry took off his hat, and asked Ron for his wand back. As Ron returned it, Doc spoke once again. "A cool customer, Harry, a cool customer."
Ron remarked, "Harry, that was...wow." Hermione looked unhappy, but nonetheless said, "At least you didn't attack, else I would have had to intervene." Harry smiled, and leaned back into the seat of the carriage, feeling drained by the encounter, as he had really believed Malfoy would try to shoot him while he had his back turned.
Listening with his eyes closed, he heard Ron and Hermione wonder if Neville had found something with the foreign girl Katrina. Harry jumped in, "Well, if there is, I hope the best for him since we all now the last four years haven't exactly been the easiest for him." Hermione spoke, "Yes, it would be sweet. One thing that is bothering me, and that is that girl reminds me of someone, I just can't remember who." Harry, who had had an eerily similar feeling, shrugged, "We'll find out in due course."
Soon, they passed under the stone boars of the Hogwarts gate and arrived at the front door of the castle. By now, it was raining even harder then at the station. Leaving their luggage inside the carriages (it would taken up to their rooms for them), Harry, Ron, Hermione and Doc ran up the steps and into the hallway where Professor McGonagall spoke to Doc, "Follow me please, as you and the other exchange student will be sorted into your houses shortly." "Yes, Ma'am" he replied and turned to the trio. Doffing his brown Stetson, he told them, "Thank you for the help, I'll probably be seeing you all afterwards."
After waving goodbye, Harry and his friend walked out into the Great Hall and saw the site to which Harry had become familiar. Four tables in front of a long horizontal table, golden candles hanging in the air, and the tables in the respective colors of their houses. Harry still remembered his awe when he first entered this room, and looked to the head table. Indeed, there sat the usual assortment of faces. Short, friendly Professor Flitwick, Headmaster Dumbledore with his smile and half moon glasses, and the stern visage of Professor McGonagall.
Looking around, he saw Doc Detibedeux and Katrina (Doc was in his suit for he had explained that was his school uniform, while Katrina had changed into school robes not much different from Hogwarts style, only the colors were cobalt blue lined with gray compared to the black of Hogwarts with the school insignia of an owl beneath a crossed wand and broomstick on a shield, all silver) sitting in a couple of chairs close door. Taking his seat, Harry continued his inspection of the staff, and found several things that were different from last year, and one of which worried him. First, it looked as though the tall, dark-haired woman sitting where Moody, Lupin, Lockheart, and Quirrell had sat before took the DADA position this year. Harry wondered who she was, but also noticed Professor Binns (the rather boring, ghost Professor of History whose sole purpose in life and death apparently had been to drone on and on about the Goblin Rebellions) was missing. Finally, and this was downright terrifying to Harry, Professor Snape appeared to be happy. He was sitting in his chair at the staff table looking towards the front door, with what appeared to be a smile on his face.
The last time Harry remembered Snape smiling, Sirius Black had nearly been killed. Harry hoped this wasn't the case this time.
Taking a seat, he noticed he wasn't the only one noticing anything different as Fred, George, Lee, and pretty much everyone else at the Gryffindor table were excitedly talking about the new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. "I hope she lasts longer then the last one we had." Fred said to the table. "Yeah, heavens knows she certainly looks better then the last four we had." This was George, as he was referring to the fact the last four DADA teachers had been male. Neville was the only one who wasn't joining in the discussion as he was staring towards Katrina as though his life depended on it. Harry grinned, but his thoughts kept returning to just what was going on, and didn't really hear much of the Sorting ceremony (clapping when everyone else did), or the Sorting Hat's song.
His attention was brought back to earth when he saw Dumbledore rise out of his chair and tap the side of one of the goblets at the staff table. "Before we eat, there are several notices I have to announce. The forest is once again forbidden to students, and a strict eleven o'clock curfew is in effect. However, visits to Hogsmeade shall continue as under their normal course, and Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has not added any newer objects to his list of forbidden items." An ironic cheer from Fred and George greeted this. "Yet, with the current state of the Wizard community, newer security measures have been emplaced. Notably, a regiment of goblins with a company of mercenary dwarves attached has been based here in Hogwarts and in Hogsmeade. Also, you may remember Professor Moody, who, together with former Professor Arabella Figg, shall have the responsibility of security for our school." Dumbledore paused, and looked at the student body. "As part of these arrangements, I have resurrected a student position which has been dormant since the Goblin Rebellion of 1745, and renamed it: The Student Head of Hogwarts Security, previously known as the Defender of Hogwarts."
This brought muffled conversation, as everyone began discussing who the new Head would be. Harry didn't join in the conversation, as he had the badge in the pocket of his robes that proclaimed what he was. Dumbledore spoke once again, killing the conversations. "This is a post which brings great power, and even greater responsibility. A Head of Hogwarts Security, like the Defender in antiquity, will have complete and total access to the school grounds, forest, and town of Hogsmeade at all days and times. The head will only answer to Professors Moody, Figg, McGonagall, and myself; no one else to include Prefects, and the Head Boy and Girl of our school. However, the head is, due to the strenuous and time-consuming nature of his duties, forbidden from participating in the inter-house Quidditch season, and has far fewer hours of leisure then a student. Indeed, the life-expectancy of a Defender has always been less than one school year, and over six hundred Defenders, Heads of Security, have lost their lives through their years defending this school against any and all comers."
Letting that information hang in the air for a moment, Dumbledore smiled, and spoke with a twinkle in his eyes, "After great thought and consideration, this Year's Head was chosen several weeks before the school year started. After the Head was informed of our offer, and accepted it, the Head was sworn to complete secrecy so that we could announce it today. Many of you are know your Head of Security, and will no doubt wish him the best of luck during his tenure in office." Dumbledore looked towards Harry, "Will the Hogwarts Head of Security please step forward and make his way to this table?"
Harry sighed, put his fedora on the table, got up, and began walking to the front table. Despite trying to keep his eyes forward, he could tell people were staring at him and whispering to each other. As he walked, he pulled out the leather folder containing his badge, opened it, and placed it (so that badge faced out, he had seen badges worn like this in plenty of cop movies) in a special pocket he had had sewn into his robes. Walking calmly, he looked around and saw Cho Chang looking at him with a deadpan expression on her face. Harry didn't want to think about what she was thinking, and returned his head and eyes forward, looking into infinity like old Tongue had taught him.
Stopping in front of the table, he turned and faced the assembled student body, and stared into infinity. "Ladies, and gentlemen, the Student Head of Hogwarts Security, Mr. Harry Potter." Harry felt gladdened as he saw Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Neville, Fred and George, even Doc Detibedeux rise and start clapping, followed shortly by the rest of the Gryffindors and then Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw house. A few hands clapped briefly, but were silenced quickly, at the Slytherin table. Harry looked to Headmaster Dumbledore, who nodded, and Harry walked quickly back to his table where his friends clapped him on his back and congratulated him, though Fred and George were worried as they had just lost their Seeker.
Dumbledore waited until Harry was seated before continuing. "The next announcement concerns several guests of our school this year. Our Defense against the Dark Arts teacher shall be Miss Ada Ramius, from the Grigorich Institute of Wizardry and Witchcraft. She has agreed to teach for the year, and has brought an exchange student with her." Ada rose, and smiled to crowd as they clapped. "Now," continued Headmaster Dumbledore, "We shall sort the two exchange students into their respective houses. First, it shall be our American guest, Beauregard Jackson Detibedeux, of the New Orleans Academy of Voodoo, Witchcraft, and Wizardry." Doc had risen as he heard his name, walked over to the stool and Sorting Hat (which had been left out there just for the purpose in front of the head table) and put the Hat on. "Mr. Detibedeux has high marks in Defense against the Dark Arts, Divination, and Potions. Additionally, he has led his class in terms of excellence in quidditch, and academic excellence, and will no doubt do credit to whichever house he is sorted into." At that moment the Hat yelled, GRYFFINDOR! Harry, Ron, and Neville especially started clapping as they welcomed Doc to the Gryffindor table. "Now that was quite a show, wasn't it?" Doc asked as he gently poked fun at the sorting hat routine. Harry wasn't watching as he noticed, Snape smile broadly and warmly, and started to rise his feet.
This was starting to get pretty damn strange for Harry, and everyone else as Ron whispered, "I wonder what that bastard is so happy about?"
"The next student hails from the Grigorich Institute of Wizardry and Witchcraft, where she is one of the top students of her class in Muggle Studies, Potions, Divinations, Arithmancy, and Defense against the Dark Arts. Additionally, she is the niece of Ms. Ramius, and" Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling by now, "the daughter of one of our own staff members. Miss Katrina Snape." With that Katrina rose, and walked to the stool and Sorting Hat. She looked to her father, smiled, and put on the hat.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, indeed the whole student body were speechless. This was about as unexpected as well, well, this had to be the most unexpected thing to ever happen in the recent history of Hogwarts, bar none. Snape… has a kid…a daughter…Jesus! Harry thought to himself. Looking at her, Harry saw the resemblance in the black hair (it seemed smooth, and silky, not oily the way Snape's looked), the hooked nose, the way her cheekbones were drawn. Glancing over at Neville, he saw Neville was still looking at her as though she were a brick of gold. Harry hoped that Neville had learned some guts over the summer, for if he was smitten with the Potion Master's daughter, then odds were he was going to need Kevlar guts and a set of brass nuts if he incurred the wrath of Snape.
Looking at Malfoy, Harry almost laughed, for the look on his face was exquisite. Fear, apprehension, all the things Malfoy tried to instill in others. Harry wondered briefly just what Snape would do if he knew what Malfoy had tried to pull on the train.
At the moment though, Snape looked proud and joyful, almost human as he looked at his daughter proudly. In short order, the hat cried out Gryffindor. Harry saw that Snape was unconcerned and seemed quite joyful as he started clapping. Neville had leaped to his feet and started applauding as soon as 'Gry' had sounded, and soon all of Gryffindor was applauding. Shortly afterwards, the other houses joined, including Slytherin (though only after Snape had shot one of his trademark icy glares at them). Katrina was beaming as she sat next to Neville and was welcomed by all of the Gryffindors, though everyone seemed stunned that the bane of Gryffindor was human enough to have a child.
Lavender Brown asked her, "We never knew Professor Snape had a daughter. Who is his wife, I mean your mother?" Katrina was un-offended by the question as she replied, "My mother was a witch who died not long after I was born, and I was raised by my aunt in Lithuania, though my father comes to visit me during the Summer and Christmas holidays. When my aunt was asked to teach here for a year, Headmaster Filitov agreed to send me here on an exchange trip."
Any further questions were temporarily halted as Dumbledore continued his speech. "Finally, it is my sad duty to report that Professor Binns has taken a leave of absence to research a book he plans on writing. Naturally, the subject is a complete history of the Goblin Rebellions." Laughter greeted this as Seamus Finnegan quipped, "No wonder he had us writing all those papers; bugger was cheating!"
"Nonetheless, our new Professor of History has yet…" It was then the doors to the Great Hall opened. Outside, the rain was pouring, though there was very little thunder. Two men dressed in black, hooded cloaks started marching into the hall, and around the tables. Harry watched them, knowing they weren't Death Eaters as Dumbledore looked unconcerned. Harry could hear the voice of his uncle speaking to him as he wondered who they were. Look, not glance, his uncle was telling him and Harry looked.
One man carried a black cane, and seemed to have a walk that was vaguely familiar. The other man was rather short at five foot two inches, and appeared to be on height with Mrs. Weasley. Harry watched the cane man, and noticed the shoes. They were black lace-ups, highly polished, and watched as rainwater slid off the shoes and cloak; the shoes looked identical to the pair he had on at the moment. Looking at him, Harry noticed something about the cane. It was black, and was topped with a miniature Maltese cross surrounded by a wreath, the insignia of Her Majesty's Royal Green Jackets. Harry also noticed how the left leg seemed to have more of limp then the right, and that the man seemed to walk straight-legged, as though using his knees pained him.
"My god!" Harry thought as he realized who it was. By then, the man had reached the front of the table, and tossed off his cloak, to reveal the grinning face of Alex Evans. He had on black robes not dissimilar to student's robes, and had a faded silk tie in the scarlet and gold of Gryffindor house.
Ron nudged Harry, "Isn't that your uncle?" Harry nodded. "As I was saying, this is your new Professor of Magical History, Professor Evans." Alex turned and nodded to the student body, and spoke to the Student Body, "My name is Alexander Evans, and this gentleman with me is my majordomo Billy Fish. He is Nepalese, a Ghurka, but his name is so hard to pronounce appropriately that he tells anyone who isn't from Nepal to call him Billy Fish. Billy's a Squib, but has relations in the wizard world, including one who works for the Nepalese version of the Ministry as its head."
"Tis true, Sahib." The shorter man had pulled down his hood to reveal a grinning, jovial Asiatic face. Harry thought he looked like a relation of Tinsigh Norgay, the Sherpa that had climbed Mt. Everest with Hillary, and the story of which had been a favorite of his in muggle primary school. Dumbledore motioned for Alex to sit in Binns's chair, and conjured up a spare chair at the end of the table for Billy Fish. "Now, I distinctly hear stomachs growling, so…Let's eat." With that, platters of food and drink appeared on the table and everyone dug in.
Except for Filch, who shot a hating glare at Alex before he moved the stool and Sorting Hat.
Harry took a roasted potato and some roast pork and started to eat. Yet, he really wasn't paying attention to his food as he considered the shocks that had just occurred. Exchange students, Snape actually happy and having a daughter, and my uncle being one of my professors, and has a servant, Harry thought, and wondered what else could happen this year.
Part of him was afraid of just what they could be.