Disclaimer: I don't own it. Will I ever?
A/N: Real quick note: I know JK said Blaise was a guy, but in this he's gonna be a she cose I like those one's better. In case you think it's gonna be B/H, I doubt it. Not unless there's an amazing amount of support for it. If you want me to then tell me in your review – but at the rate we're going, I don't think so.
Chapter Six – The school year
"Something had just occurred to me. It's come rather suddenly, so don't be surprised when it makes minimum sense to you. Tell me exactly why I'm not in classes at the moment"
"The 1996/1997 school year has yet to begin, Harry, classes will not be started until such a time as September the first. Currently it is August 5th. Therefore class will start in just under a month. Is there a problem with that?" The professor asked gently, her tight knot of hair a little more loose than it normally was when the students were prone to wonder the corridors.
Harry nodded, piecing something together in his mind.
"Of course, I'm sorry, I must admit, I hadn't given much thought to the calendar I was so exited about all this" Minerva nodded, a slight curl of her lips giving her amusement away.
"I don't doubt that was the case Mr Potter" for a moment there was silence as both seemed to consider the conversation.
"I think it would be best if I adopted a new name, to... distance myself from the Potter's of this universe. I understand that my previous behaviour has probably not been very inclined to the idea, but I hope that I can change that. I mean, my influence in this world... it might get messy. You're probably thinking that I couldn't cause as much trouble to worry you too much, but I think it would be best" he trailed off with a sigh, waiting for the surprised professor's reply.
"I think I quite agree with you Mister Potter. Do you have any suitable suggestions?" this time it was Harry's turn to start at McGonagall's words, but after a few moments of consideration a slow smile spread across his features. He tapped a finger to his lips as he thought, considering the question.
Like every child, Harry had played the game.
It was the game where you dreamt up a world, and simply lived there, never leaving until you grew up. You assumed a new identity, became a new person with new abilities and new ways of doing things that you couldn't do in reality. You created friends who played with you everyday, enough food to feed a third world country, cute and furry things, because every day dream needed them, as well as parents who would love you.
In The World you had magical powers; sometimes you could fly, sometimes you were more inclined to be invisible, and slip by people unnoticed. Sometimes you could speak to animals and sometimes you could breathe underwater.
The persona's you adopted stayed with you. An alias and a joke name, a sort of longing that curled around your heart... you didn't want to be who people knew you as, you wanted to be you. That laugh name you made up when you were half asleep and built up and built up until you had your own marble castle, or glass box.
His smile was radiant, reducing the sixteen year old so much and taking away so many hard gained years that he looked like a young boy about to receive his wand, as he replied to the somehow pitying transfiguration teacher.
As he told her, Minerva felt her own lips curl up into a, for once, unrestrained smile.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! I hope that you have all had an enjoyable summer holidays" Dumbledore beamed at the hall in general, his eyes settling on Cody and Gypsy for a moment longer than they normally would. No one seemed to notice this, although Draco Malfoy's eyebrow twitched slightly.
But Harry Potter was not concerned about any of that, not that he could see any of it anyway.
The voice of his headmaster was floating through the wooden doors, somewhat subdued by the thick door, but nonetheless there. He was suddenly nervous as the time approached. Before, he had been cool as a cucumber– after all, he was only being sorted – but now, that had suddenly changed.
Stage fright, McGonagall had told him with a slight smile as she walked out, seemingly not caring in the least that she had just stepped out to be the main focus of almost one thousand students eyes.
Well, maybe she had been right, but Harry wasn't about to admit as much, to himself or to her.
"Before we begin the feast however, there is one more person who needs to choose a house in which to be placed" the irony of the words barely struck Harry, but his lips curled automatically nonetheless.
"...An exchange student from Canada will be staying with us after the school he comes from expelled him at the end of last year" Harry blinked. Where had that lie come from? His subconscious however, kicked him, and he felt a reluctant grin of envy tug at his lips. Dumbledore was good; by telling the school he had been expelled, any investigation to see which school he had really come from could be cut short with just a few well chosen words 'I don't want to talk about it' 'I'm sorry, but I don't feel like discussing it' and 'not just now' would all be viable excuses – after all, why would he want to chat about a school he had been thrown out of.
Not to mention, if someone (such as Hermione) were to get really serious about it and somehow contact whatever school he was supposed to have gone to, it would not be so suspicious if they denied knowing anything about him – after all, they did kick him out.
He felt like banging his head against the wall with the intricacy of it all, but found, to his absolute horror, that some part of his brain was (cackling evilly) enjoying the complex makings of the lies.
"...If you are wondering why he has not yet been sorted, then here is the reason; I am not sure you would have taken so kindly to a stranger sitting amidst you with no warning" Harry briefly wondered why it was that Dumbledore was giving out so much (false) information. So many lies would be easier to see through.
He again got a rather painful kick from his Slytherin side.
It was so he wouldn't be questioned too much and so forced to come up with lies, much more transparent, on the spot.
He began to wonder wether Dumbledore really had been a Gryffindor, or if, perhaps, the old man had come from Slytherin, or Ravenclaw at the very least. It would make sense if he wanted to spread the rumour around that he didn't have to brains and only brawl.
This in itself was a very odd way to think of Dumbledore.
Harry quickly discontinued his thoughts, and tuned back in to what the Headmaster was saying.
"...Feel free to torture him for information about his previous life as much as you like, and if he does not wish to talk then I would suggest asking professor Snape for assistance, but for now, I would like to introduce you to Sebastian Jamison" there was polite amount of scattered clapping; Harry guessed that by now most people had lost interest in him, another Dumbledore ploy, no doubt, and he stepped out into the hall.
Having spent the last couple of weeks at Hogwarts, the great hall did not amaze him as much as it could, and would, have. So instead of gaping around him like a jelly fish, he concentrated all his energy of not hiding from all of the eyes that were focused intently on him.
He walked up to the stool and sat down, waiting for McGonagall to put the hat on him. After a view moments his view of the hall was hidden as the age old sorting hat flopped down over his eyes. He held his breath, waiting to see what the sorting hat made of him.
Mr Potter, why hello! I'm quite surprised Harry felt like laughing giddily, at least the hat was talking to him, rather than just screaming out any old house before Harry had the chance to try and stop it from placing him somewhere he didn't want to be.
Like Slytherin, for example.
Hello he said, knowing that the hat would read his relief and no doubt be all the more curious.
Yes, yes. Now let's have a look in here why don't we Harry could feel the hat digging around in memories, and he had to suppress the urge to throw it off as it rooted around, looking for monumental events in his life that had changed him. Eventually he felt the foreign awareness come closer to the current timeline and then...
My, my Mister Potter. I can see that you've had quite a shock over the last few weeks and certainly learnt a few things, although I think that all the questions that have been answered have just produced ten more query's for each, I hope that I will be able to contribute to the shock as much as possible! If Harry hadn't been silently begging the hat not to place him in Slytherin, he would have been glaring at it. Instead he settled for begging the hat mentally and glaring at the general hall.
No, no, not Slytherin Mr Potter, you've far outgrown Slytherin now. I think perhaps... Gryffindor...Harry sighed in relief, unconsciously slumping down; the look on his face clearly told the hall that the two intellects had come to an agreeable decision.
Thankyou so much... erm... Hat? The hat chuckled.
I never did have a name Mr Potter, but I wouldn't be so hasty to assume it will be Gryffindor you're sorted into... For it is true you have a very Slytherin way of thinking... Hmm...
But haven't I outgrown Slytherin?
Mr Potter, you take me so literally! Even though you have outgrown it... I simply met the normal expectations of Salazar's Slytherin's there was a pause in both minds
Like... Being evil and slimy? The hat chuckled again and Harry supposed that his words had been rather childish, and certainly very Gryffindor... not that that was bad or anything.
Well, noo... not really. But I have to agree, this time I don't think its ready for you, no, no indeed, it will have to be...
"RAVENCLAW"
As before, with the last time Harry was sorted, the last word the hat spoke was shouted out to the great hall with a great, ear drum shattering voice.
The whole hall saw the socked expression that settled on his face, and most of the Ravenclaws gave him a slight glare, before mellowing as the shocked look turned into one of enthusiasm.
Although he would have preferred to be sorted into the house of the lion, perhaps this was better. Although why the hat had chosen Ravenclaw of all the places it could have put him... After a quick re-assessment of his 'qualities' Harry had pinpointed the recent happenings of his transportation to this 'alternate universe' just might be the cause.
As he placed the hat back on the stool, not even bothering to thank it, he decided that he was going to make the best of a not-the-best situation.
Sitting down at the end of the Ravenclaw table he gave a hesitant smile to the two girl's sitting across from him, before turning to look at the person he was sitting next to him also and then back up to Dumbledore as the old man stood up to give his speech.
"Welcome Sebastian! I hope that you have a wonderful time in your new house, if you have any questions then I hope you will feel free to ask the prefects" Harry internally scoffed; he probably knew more about Hogwarts than all of the prefects put together! Not to be cocky, or anything.
He smiled up at the old man, fighting the urge to raise an eyebrow. Mind you, he had specifically asked if he could be treated the same as any other student would be. It was certainly true that any other student transferring would know nothing about Hogwarts and probably actually be so inclined as to ask the prefects for help.
Harry turned to his plate, which had filled itself up to the brim, and started eating.
The Ravenclaw next to him started to introduce herself and as he turned to look at her properly, he suddenly realised who she was. He had to consciously stop his mouth from dropping open, but no matter how hard he tried, couldn't stop the shifting of eyes towards the Gryffindor table.
The girl laughed, obviously noting his look at the red and gold table.
"Yeah, I've got a brother in Gryffindor at the moment, and five more who've already graduated. Don't even ask me why I'm not in Gryffindor with them though" she laughed and Harry found himself comparing this vibrant girl to the somewhat withdrawn (comparatively) one of his universe. The blonde across from Harry interrupted with a silly giggle.
"I can though; Ginny's the smartest witch in our year. She gets 100 in almost everything and she's not obsessed with quidditch, like all her brothers are – hasn't been his with the bludgers so many times" she stuck out her hand "Sassi Parker. My parents couldn't agree on a name, so Sirius Black got to name me – he's my godfather. You can call me Sass" Harry shook the offered hand, way past the point of surprise.
Apparently, in this world, anything was possible.
"Sebastian Jamison, but you already knew that right?" the two girls nodded and smiled, before Sassi pointed at the girl sitting next to her.
"This is Blaise Zambini, and her sister over there" she pointed two seats down from Ginny "is Miranda. We call her Minty. They don't really get along all that well, Minty's far more the sociable type while Blaise..." she trailed off and shrugged.
"Most people thought that she'd get into Slytherin. But she got Ravenclaw instead, and we're happy to have her. She's in sixth year, same as you and me, Minty's in fifth with Ginny and her pals" Harry nodded, vaguely recognising the golden-blond sitting next to Sassi from his own universe, although he thought that she had been in Slytherin.
"Just talking to you guys has got me lost, you know?" the two of them frowned and shook their heads, awaiting his explanation. After all, one did not throw seemingly flippant comments like that up and then leave them unexplained.
"Well, I got the message that all Ravenclaws were totally obsessed with reading and studying and barely even knew each other they never took their noses out of their books..." he trailed of grinning.
Ginny shook her head at him in mock sadness.
"You must have been thinking of Granger – she's the picture Ravenclaw" Harry barely noticed the look of warning that crossed Sassi's face before the girl changed the subject quickly, ignoring the subject of one 'Granger'. He also noticed that Blaise, who up until that point had been ignoring them, had twitched at the mention of his bushy haired friend and seemed to have silently tuned into the conversation.
"No way! I guess we study quite a bit, but it's not much, I mean, basically we're just not lazy. We don't do all of that stuff excessively, and I guess I like to read in my spare time sometimes... but we're not only reading books" Sassi grinned at him, and Harry let the matter about Hermione slip past.
After the deserts had been cleared from the tables and all the plates were again sparkly clean, Dumbledore stood up for the announcements.
"Lady's and Gentlemen before you go to sleep I have a few beginning of term announcements I'd like to announce" he beamed at the sleepy students before continuing "for one, the duelling class shall be re-starting, but only for the sixth and seventh years" there was a ripple of talk through the hall before it quietened as Dumbledore stood patiently.
"The quidditch cup will also be re-started, but training must be supervised at all times by an adult professor, and any students found outside after curfew will be severely punished" Harry noted that the headmasters eyes had flickered towards the Gryffindor table and landed on Cody and Gypsy.
The two were looking entirely too angelic.
"And last, but certainly not least, after much talk during the summer break with the student council representatives" this time the whole hall looked at the two Potter children, who had abandoned the angelic look and were now posing as mini devils with huge grins covering their faces. Next to him Ginny was bouncing up and down muttering under her breath
"They did it! They actually did it!!" Harry assumed this was something that the twins had been planning on for a while. He waited curiously for Dumbledore to continue.
"You will no longer need to worry about school becoming too monotonous as once a term there will be a" he paused as if to savour his next word "'mufti' day. However only once a term. We will also be celebrating holiday's with a" he shot another look at Cody and Gypsy, a silvery eyebrow raised as it saying 'this is your last chance to back out' the two just nodded enthusiastically
"...'ball' although I am assured that each one will have a different theme that will be advertised a month before the ball. I have been asked to inform you that the first term ball will be in the style of... an authentic muggle ball. Dress robes will be strictly banned and anyone found wearing any will be expelled from the party as soon as they arrive and not be allowed in until they are appropriately dressed. That will be all" Harry's mouth was almost touching the ground as he switched his gaze between his headmaster and his two siblings.
Both Ginny and Sassi were bouncing up and down in unison, obviously exited about the 'ball'. Harry felt vaguely ill, but noticed with relief that Blaise was looking at the two girls in a similar way to the way he was, although she also had a slightly distracted air.
He caught her navy eyes and made a spewing motion.
He was rewarded when she smiled slightly, but she still looked worried about something else, other than the fact that they were going to have to go to a ball.
He decided that he would kill his siblings if they ever came with in a foot of him.
Too late.
"Do you like the idea for our ball, Sebastian" Gypsy stressed his name ever so slightly, but out of the corner of his eye he could see Blaise again focus her attentions on him. He looked at the dark haired girl flatly, wishing she had just left the sudden name change alone rather than feeling the need to prove she understood what was going on.
"Gypsy" he said by way of greeting "out of everything you have ever done... it is the worst of the lot" the girl nodded, twirling a blue streak of hair in her finger as she blinked sweetly up a the ceiling.
"You do me wrong, Bass" He could see Blaise looking at him intensely.
"You do me wrong, Gypsy" He imitated her, but she only laughed and ruffled his hair. Cody came up behind her, peering over her shoulder to see who she was talking to.
"Sebastian! I haven't seen you for ages!" Harry was thankful for fifteen year-old as he grinned and gave him a gruff hug.
"It wasn't that long ago, surely?" Cody shrugged and slung an arm around his shoulders. Harry noticed his eyes flick to Blaise and was relieved to realise that his brother had noticed the interest Blaise was bestowing upon Harry; and the suspicion.
"Well, we did meet up in Canada. You didn't tell me you were expelled but"
"You know, there's a reason for that" the message was clear to any one who was listening, as a few people were, that questions about his old school and expulsion would not be welcome. Cody shrugged.
"Fair enough. But Ravenclaw, Seb? Ravenclaw? I think I see you as more as a Gryffindor, even a Slytherin or Hufflepuff" Harry fake glared at him.
"You saying I'm not smart mate?" Cody laughed and patted him on the head
"If you can't figure it out, then I'm saying whatever you think I am. I gotta go though, I'm meant to be helping the first years up to the dormitories, so, I'll see you later mate" Harry nodded and waved as his brother grabbed his sister and headed towards the doors where the Gryffindors were leaving by.
He stood there for a second, before suddenly realising he wanted to ask his brother, or sister, something.
He shouted after them, and jogged over to where they waited.
"Listen, just before you go up, could you tell me where about Hermione Granger is please? I didn't see her sitting at the Gryffindor table and I heard one of the Ravenclaws mention her..." he trailed off, feeling his stomach sink as both Gypsy and Cody's faces paled. Foreboding swept over him as the two exchanged glances.
"You mean... you don't know?"
A/N: The reason this chapter is out so soon (for me) is because I have exams at the moment and therefore study periods scattered around everywhere. To most people that wouldn't make sense at all (exams? Well you're studying – right?) But to me...
This chapter is pretty demented, especially the beginning bit (even though it's true, I've got this whole fantasy world in my mind – please don't say I'm mad – but I thought that was normal...). Scratch that – very demented. You may not see it (which is unlikely) but I sure do, and it makes me want to cry; what happened to my dreams? My aspirations? My visions of greatness? All trampled to the ground in the form of this totally pathetic fic.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't review.
(REVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEW REVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEW REVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEWREVIEW REVIEWREVIEWREVIEW please)
(My next exam is science, and I'm a bit worried – but I don't think I'll fail it, yay!! I could be moved down if I don't go well tho, since I'm in the top science class for my year (yay!) but that was such a fluke... Wahhh!!!)
Cheeeeeese!!!
Pre
(If you're wondering where Hermione is, no sweat, she'll be mentioned. But her image will be a bit ::mad scratching on the page:: a LOT different ::giggles:: funfunfun...)