Summary: Harry never expected something so strange to happen, especially one clad in odd clothes with few too many piercings. Or maybe it's just him.
Rating: Rated M, because I don't think I could ever make this have a lower rating xD
Disclaimer: Characters are not mine, well, except for Aaron Grimmel and Gabriel Pyrennth. Those two hotties are mine, and so is the plot. And Abby (Absentis Memoria). She's my character too, and anything made upxD HP characters belong to JK Rowling, and her publishers, or something like that.
Pairings:Harry Potter/ Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger/Ron Weasly, Gabriel Pyrennth/Aaron Grimmel, and a surprise pairing that will make you go WTF. :3
A/N: Yay, reviews! xD –bows- And the WTF pairing will come soon, do not worry!
Incendio – Chapter 3
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After having woken up at seven o'clock sharp every day like clockwork, it was a wonder Harry managed to sleep two hours over that time. He was greeted by a rather enthusiastic Gabriel, and a still sleeping Aaron.
"He'll prolly sleep for another hour or so," Gabriel informed Harry when he noticed he had been looking over at the half Japanese boy resting under the tree. Harry nodded, squinting in the harsh sunlight. It took a while for his eyes to adjust, and by the time they did, he noticed Gabriel had abandoned him, and was now crouched in a small turf of grass, looking at a flower of sorts.
"Hey, pansy, what're you looking at?" Harry called out to Gabriel, wandering over to join him.
"Bachelors buttons, not pansies" he said gesturing to the cluster of blue-purple flowers. "There's a few monarchs," he said, peering into the stalks intently. Harry crouched down beside him, seeing what appeared to be a huge colony of butterflies. "Though, I'm not sure why they're in this patch – butterflies are usually more attracted to colours like red," he murmured as an afterthought. "Oh, well," he gave one of the stalks a jiggle, and the butterflies took flight, the sky momentarily painted by the streaks of orange and black.
Gabriel paused, watching the butterflies, and then looked over at Harry with an indignant look splayed across his features. "And I am not a Pansy!" He retorted to Harry's earlier words.
Harry snorted. "Are too! You know the names of flowers. You're a poof if I ever saw one." He grinned, watching as Gabriel's brows drew together in a frown.
"That's mean," he complained, earning another snort from Harry. "What would you do if I called you a pansy? You wouldn't like it!" Gabriel stuck out his tongue, causing the piercing in it to catch the suns rays, glinting. "And besides. I'm bi," he muttered.
Harry snickered. "Whatever you say, Gabe." He replied easily, standing up. "And besides, I'm straight. I'm no… flower!" This earned a snort from Gabriel.
"Everyone has a little daffodil inside them! You just sort of attacked yours and tore it to pieces. Poor daffodil," he said, flopping back onto the ground.
Harry shook his head, casting the flowers a glance. "You're insane," he muttered.
"Oh, no, you ain't seen nothing 'till you seen Aaron on Lebanese coffee. Dark." Gabriel shivered, as if the memory brought back a horrible nightmare. "Now that is some crazy strong as shit if I've ever seen any!"
"Lebanese coffee?" Harry inquired, wondering what the… well, just what it was!
"Coffee dumb bass," Gabriel said, snickering. "It comes from Lebanon. Syria. Middle East. Totally owns up Starbucks, but then, everything does. Starbucks is crap. Tim Hortons, now that's drinkable coffee." He grinned widely at Harry's lost expression. "Never mind," he said as an afterthought.
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"Gwah, no, it's blinding me! Aaron! Save meee!" A bellowed cry came from Gabriel, who was still lying on the grass, even after a few hours. Though he did get up and start bothering Aaron, he eventually lost interest and went back to his place on the grass. "It buuurrrns!" He exclaimed, even louder this time.
"Do not fear, Aaron is… ack, I'm coming," Aaron grinned at Gabriel's childish display, raising an eyebrow as he passed Harry.
When they neared the white haired boy, they saw he was now writing in mock agony, though, surprisingly, still managing to stay clean. "What are you, some vampiric being from some distant land?" Aaron inquired with a snicker.
"Yes, the sun, it burns!" Gabriel opened one eye to see Harry and Aaron attempting to bite back laughter. "Hey, c'mon guys! It's bright!" He sat up, and then fell back down. "Oh no, the sun has rendered my legs useless! Aaron!" Gabriel began again with his incessant wailing.
"Oh, shut up, you Pansy!" Aaron said, lightly kicking Gabriel in the foot.
"Traitor!" Gabriel said, casting a glare at Harry, and earning nothing but a shrug. "Aaron, carry meeee," he said, pushing himself up on his elbows.
"Fine," Aaron muttered, picking up Gabriel as if he were nothing more then a young child. "If I don't agree now, he'll never shut up," he said, sharing a grin with Harry.
"My saviooor!" Gabriel crowed, wrapping his arms around Aaron. Aaron simply rolled his eyes. Harry coughed, slightly grinning at the boy's antics. "Horrid sun, that thing. Right in my eyes, I say – I was just lying there, minding my own business, and VACHOOM, the sun is directly above! Not fair says I," Gabriel pouted. "But Aaron saved me," he continued with a big grin, and awarded his 'savior' with a peck on the cheek.
"Stupid, not out here! What will our fans say? They'll be all 'oh noes, and I didn't bring my camera!' and we'll have to be all 'sorry girls, we hate to disappoint you,' and then, and then where will we be?" Aaron relinquished his grip on Gabriel momentarily so he could whack the other boy in the head.
"Ow," Gabriel muttered. "Well, then, Harry, it's noon, so you best be off, yeah?"
"Err," Harry fumbled for a reply, finally managed to stutter a "yeah," before giving them a wave.
"Tata, Harry dearest!" Gabriel shouted, blowing Harry a kiss.
"What's this?" Aaron pretended to look aghast. "Are you cheating on me now?"
"Oh, yes," Gabriel purred. "Me and Harry are long time friends, and we had an amazing reunion party last night, isn't that right, Harry?" Gabriel winked seductively, earning a jaw dropping stare from Harry. "See? I told you, Aaron!"
"Well, I'm not sharing!" Aaron retorted.
"Greedy little bastard, aren't you?" Gabriel said with a snicker.
"Damn straight, Pyrennth," Aaron replied, with a grin and wave, to Harry as they set off, in the opposite direction Harry was going.
Harry began walking, but turned around when he heard the two boys shouting, though their words were garbled, and it seemed as though they were conversing in another language. Apparently, Aaron had decided Gabriel could walk on his own, and now Gabriel reminded Harry a lot like a puddle of goo, simply laying on the ground without moving a muscle.
"Idiots," Harry said with a grin.
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"Boy!" The screech of Uncle Vernon's voice reached Harry's ears even before they were uttered. "So, you came back? Crawling back, like the filthy bug you are, eh?" Vernon grinned viciously. "Too bad, eh, Dudley?" Harry's cousin voiced his consent. "Well, you may as well get yourself in here before the neighbors see," he stated with a slightly apprehensive look. Vernon made to close the door, and grunted when he found he could not. Harry turned around fearfully, seeing the silver sheen of a steel toed boot protruding from the opening between the door and the wall. "Whos'ere?" Vernon barked unintelligently.
"Just a couple of Mr. Potter's associates," came the smooth voice. Harry restrained a gasp – it sounded like Gabriel, but there was no jest or joke in his voice. The door was thrown open abruptly, revealing both Aaron and Gabriel. They didn't look any different from the way they'd appeared only moments ago, but they were both wearing t shirts now, and looked far more menacing then when he'd last seen them. "We're here to help our friend Mr. Potter help you keep his best interests at heart." He crossed his arms, the left fore arm bandaged from wrist to elbow contrasting with his dark shirt in stark, whiteness. His other forearm was decorated with a tattoo, teals and orange flames mingling, looking very much alive. Aaron stood beside Gabriel, silently, a haughty expression crossing his face. His mixture of sandy brown and pure black hair stood up at all angles, but still managed to look like a fashion statement. Harry wondered why his hair wouldn't do that.
"…and I should hope that you don't always speak so lowly of your only nephew," Gabriel said, breaking into Harry's thoughts. He realized he'd missed part of the boy's words, but could tell from his relative's reactions that it hadn't been very kind. "And furthermore, I should think you'd be, ah, honoured to be housing such a young man. After all, if your honour does not carry you through, you will have Aaron and I to answer to. Aaron sneered; casting the Dursley's a look of raw hatred. Even if he didn't hate them he made it seem so rather convincingly.
"Filth," was the only word Aaron muttered before the two retreated, leaving the Dursley's open mouthed, and staring in shock. Harry quietly tiptoed away they could notice he was gone.
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The summer had seemed to drag on, but once again, Harry found himself receiving the letter to attend Hogwarts once more. There had been an extra note, from Headmistress McGonagall. Headmistress… it had all seemed to confirm what Harry had been dreading, trying to dissuade himself from this entire summer.
Harry sighed, throwing down the letter, lying down on his bed. He stared at the ceiling for a few minutes before drifting off to sleep, only to be haunted by his nightmares.
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McGonagall's voice rang out through the great hall, prim and clipped, and thoroughly aware of the circumstances surrounding her being the headmistress of Hogwarts. She greeted everyone with a strong voice, and announced the first years, which was surprising in itself. Harry didn't believe anyone would want to send their beloved children after what had happened there previously. He bit back a bitter glance towards Ron at this thought, well aware of how his friends large family contrasted to his own pitiful excuse for one.
"And I am pleased to announce that we will be having three new teachers at the school," McGonagall continued, waking Harry from his own lacuna of a reverie. "Professor Tonks will be our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," McGonagall said with a dramatic pause, leaving Harry to wonder who the other teachers might be. A new Potions Professor, perhaps? He relished the idea of being rid of Snape, even under the wretched circumstances. "…and Professor Grimmel and Professor Pyrennth will be our new Professors, as the fitness and physical defense teachers. They will also be assisting in students taking Muggle Studies and Arithmancy. I hope you show them as much respect as I should hope they deserve. That is all, students; you may head to your dormitories." McGonagall swept away, leaving Hagrid to bark out a loud "You heard her! Get a moving!" who also followed suite and exited.
Harry found himself rather lucky that Hermione and Ron were there; otherwise he would have been left behind in the swarm of students attempting to exit the hall.
"You okay, mate?" Ron inquired peering down at his friend. "Y'look sort of funny, y'know?" He asked rhetorically, earning a nod from Harry. "Alright, lets go then," Ron finally said, and pulled Harry to his feet, then abandoned him to join Hermione as they directed students in their house towards the exit.
"Colin, honestly, most would think you knew where a door was when you saw one!" Ron shouted at the boy in an exasperated tone after Colin had walked into wall near the door. Harry snickered, following Ron and Hermione out of the hall, but still determined to talk to them later about all this.
He forced his mind onto other topics, seeing as if he even stopped paying attention to where he was going for a moment, he'd most likely end up the way Colin had – squashed, and sent to the hospital wing. Apparently, he'd started gushing blood, and they'd found a fourth year to accompany him to see the nurse.
Harry managed to find some first years on his way to the common rooms, looking horribly lost and rather fearful of their surroundings. Of course, it could be the damn staircases – whoever built the place must have been on something to think a staircase (of all things!) was a good idea to move around and about.
Harry approached the group of first years, noting that there were about four girls and two boys in the group, one trying to show them the way, but failing miserably.
"Guys, we have to go this way – remember what the prefect said? Past the man with the dog in the portrait, then up the staircase with a purple stain, following the long and narrow picture frames, and then up a few more flights of steps." The girl shook her head, now looking thoroughly aggravated, the motion sending dark locks of ebony hair flying in every direction.
"U-up those s-stairs?" One boy managed to stutter, staring at them in fear. "What if we fall? Wouldn't we…" he took a large gulp, then managed to whisper, "die?"
"That's only if you don't step on the stair!" The girl was now looking rather annoyed at the boy. "And if you fall, I'm sure he'll do something about it," the girl gestured towards Harry. The group of first years all turned towards Harry, excluding then speaker. Jaws dropped, and one even managed to utter his name.
Harry decided it would be better to simply skip the formalities and head straight to the point. "She's right, you know," he said bluntly.
"You mean you would save us?" One girl stared openly, and her look soon turned to something else, a blush crossing her face.
"Err," Harry stuttered inconclusively.
"He means that the only way up is by taking the stairs, and I'm sure he, or any of us, would let you die if we could help it, Erik." The girl shot Erik an annoyed glance, and steered him towards the stairs.
"Uh, well, shall we go?" Harry asked.
"We have to wait for the stairs to come back here," the girl said dryly, eyeing Harry.
"Oh, yeah. When they do, I mean," he said, face flushing slightly. The girl raised an eyebrow, and glanced at her friends before looking back at Harry.
"Abby," she said, thrusting out a hand.
"Harry," he said, shaking it, knowing she knew exactly who he was.
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The group managed to make it to the common rooms, and faced no dangers, except for the risk of Erik wetting his pants. How could a kid afraid of… stairs make it into a house like Gryffindor? He seemed more suited to Hufflepuff, if anything. But then, many said Hermione would have made a better Ravenclaw, so you really couldn't judge thinks like that.
They entered the common rooms, and were greeted by a loud cheer, which was more like a steady throb of noise then anything.
"Harry!" Came Hermione's shout, and he managed to find her sitting at 'her' chair by the fireplace. Harry gave a small wave, making his way towards Hermione.
"Oh, heya, Hermione," Harry said greeting her. "Ron," he said, a nod directed to his friend.
"Where were you? What took you so long?" By now Hermione had put her book down, and was studying Harry intently, as if she expected him to break down any minute, and inform her he'd been crying in a hallway.
"Oh, I found some first years. They were having a bit of trouble navigating their way here," he replied.
"But I gave the group perfectly clear instructions on how to get here! And surely, it wasn't that difficult," Hermione protested, looking slightly put out that she had made an error in something.
"Oh, the directions were beyond adequate; it was more the members of the group that proved insufficient, contrast to your instructions." Hermione turned around to see Abby standing there, hands clasped behind her back, standing on the tips of her toes so she could see over the back of the chair.
"Oh, uhm, thank you," Hermione mumbled. Ron and Harry shared a grin.
"A friend of mine was simply having doubts on the direction we were going, and the, ah, safety of our route." She rolled her eyes haughtily, as if saying And he even bothered to doubt me!
"Don't you belong in Ravenclaw?" Came Ron's blunt reply.
"Actually, it was more of a toss of Slytherin and Griffindor. The pudgy hat insisted that I'd be more suited to Griffindor then any other house, so I relented." She gave a non committal shrug. "Well, I'd best be off. I have a bit to unpack, and a few things to set straight. Might any of you know a decent warding charm, perhaps?"
Hermione lit up, bringing her book (which happened to be this years Potions text), and informed Abby that she knew quite a few handy ones. After a light discussion, the two set off into the girl's dorm, leaving Harry and Ron to themselves.
"A right mirror image, ain't she?" Ron finally said, earning a grin from Harry. "And Hermione was even reading the Potions textbook. Not reading, reviewing she'd said. She's already been over it a million times, and she's probably done some research on the topic, even." He rolled his eyes. "She's far too motivated. It gets annoying," he muttered.
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"Wow, she knows everything," Abby informed Ron and Harry after she'd descended down the stairs of the girl's dorm. Her face portrayed no emotions of amazement, or surprise, simply a look that could only be classified as the internet acronym of WTH, or What the hell? Harry and Ron grinned at the girls words, nodding in agreement.
"You should have seen her today! She was-"
"Reviewing her text? Yes, I sure heard," Abby said, rolling her eyes. "Honestly, I'm all for knowing things ahead of time, being prepared and whatnot, but this is school. People are supposed to teach you this! The way she goes about it, all she'd need is a few books and she'd have learned everything that'll be taught this year." She paused, a solemn look crossing her face. "She'd put poor teachers out of their jobs! Oh, think of it, if the rest of the world were like her!" She sighed dramatically, falling onto the couch in front of the fireplace.
The odd group of Gryffindors laughed at her display, and then fell silent. Harry decided to break the tension with a bit of small talk, perhaps.
"So, why'd you not… want to be in Slytherin?" He finally asked.
"Ugh, it's those two's house," she said in mock disdain.
"Who's?" Ron piped in, now attentive to the new conversation.
"Aa- Professor Grimmel and Professor Pyrennth's house," she said, with a roll of her large, silvery eyes.
"You know them?" Harry asked, suddenly.
"Know who?" Hermione came down the stairs of the girls dorm, looking from Harry to Abby.
"Grimmel and Pyrennth's house," Harry replied.
"Didn't you send me a letter about a Gabriel Pyrennth, Harry?" Hermione asked, a frown creasing her face.
"Oh, yeah, I did," he said, having forgotten about that.
"Wait, how do you know them?" Abby said, finally.
"I, uh, found Pyrennth sitting in my house eating a sandwich," he said, earning a burst of laughter from Ron. "I'm serious, it's true! It-"
"It sounds like Pyrennth," Abby said, crossing her arms.
"What?" Harry, Ron, and Hermione joined in, their combined voices making the words a shout.
"Gabriel Pyrennth – that dope, and Grim and I know one another. I'm sort of their adopted daughter, but not really. More like Pyrennth's 'shadow,' as he calls me, which is a fitting title." Harry blinked dumbly.
"So, you know them, then?" He asked.
"Yes, I do!" She sounded rather annoyed now, but managed to stop herself from shouting. "About two years now. They're both idiots, and are rather clueless about magic. Or, were, since McGonagall asked them to start a new course here, mandatory to anyone that is a fourth year or higher. So, they had about two months to figure out what magic is, and how to do it."
The trio simply stared. "How'd they manage that?" Hermione finally asked, looking rather annoyed.
"Sheer luck and talent, I'm guessing," replied Abby. She shrugged.
"Wow," said Ron. Hermione shot him a disapproving glare. "What?" he asked, but was ignored.
"So what is their class, anyways?" Harry asked. And as an afterthought, added another comment. "And why wasn't there a book we had to pick up?"
"Oh, they said you wouldn't be using textbooks," Abby replied. Ron let out a whoop, and Hermione frowned. "You'll probably be copying notes, but not much is going to be paper and pencil. Err, parchment and quill."
"But what is the class?" Harry persisted.
"You heard the headmistress - fitness and physical defense." With that, Abby left the trio, headed for her dorm. Harry and Ron decided to follow suite, and headed to the boy's dorm after they'd bade Hermione good night.
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Bwarr. Review, perhaps? I'm still new to this whole 'writing' thing, so please be kind ;D Should I continue? What do you think:3 And thanks to those who reviewed! -bows- I was actually ready to post this chapter a day ago, but there was a glitch, and it didn't happen. So, I wrote some more, and got an even longer chapter! Oh, goody.