A/N Thanks for your reviews and support.
Zoran Dawn-Eclipse: thanks for your review, my friend. I'm so glad you enjoy the fic.
Lazydraco 13: thanks for your review, my friend. Yeah, he is going to be the bully. Harrison has met the Malfoy's on occasion. We will see why later. The language was Greek.
DarkRavie: thanks for your review, my friend.
"Talking"
:Thoughts:
'Spirit Speak'
Harrison's POV
They went in alphabetical order to go greet the guardians of the school. Being a Potter, unfortunately, put him towards the back of the list. The boy who was rude to him in the store went before him. His last name was Hunter. XIII Hunter. It was a strange name even for the Wizarding World.
While they didnt hear about which House each student went into there were a few who failed. Unchosen by a guardian they were marched back through the doors. It was disconcerting to realize they could fail. That they could be sent home without ever learning anything.
"Potter, Harrison."
Harrison moved with the confident stride of his family standing. Every child whether the heir or not within a pureblood family was taught to be confident. While he preferred to stay away from people he would not show it here. If he showed any weakness he would be eaten alive.
The Hall was had long tables like he had heard about Hogwarts having. There were nearly a dozen of them and seemed to be mixed when it came to the Houses. Only the one on the far left seemed to have any Order. Faces of those who had been sorted before him sat there. It must be the first year table.
As he passed the other first years he caught sight of XIII. His robes now bore a white trim to it as did all the other first years. The crest caught his eye. It was a black wolf with its nose pointed to the sky. The crest of the House of Lupus his mind supplied.
Harrison didnt stop his walk until he was right in front of the head table. He knew from his time in the library that when greeting guardians it was better to kneel on one knee. Father gave him the basics of pureblood etiquette but never went any further. If it wasnt for the extensive library he wouldn't know.
Harrison took a knee before the table and said trying to mimic the Deputy Headmaster, "Epidióko na krithó apó ton lýko, to liontári, to fídi kai to poulí. Eíthe na vreíte tin kardiá mou katharí kai éna méros gia ména anámesá sas."
Magic surrounded him and a feeling of peace came with it. A wolf, lion, bird, and snake appeared from behind the Head Table. Each gazed at him in curiosity.
The bird which he assumed was a Nightingale began, 'This one is interesting. Another wolf trapped within human skin. Neither belonging on this side or the next.'
The snake snorted, 'It will be a miracle then if he makes it to his 16th birthday. Look at him he barely has any meat on him. I say send him back.'
The lion growled, 'Weak constitution or not he has the magical power to grow here. He is obviously one of the Garde. While he is not a lion he deserves the chance to stay.'
'I agree,' the wolf spoke for the first time and approached Harrison. Its voice was like being surrounded by a Patronus. Gentle and kind but at the same time powerful and unyielding.
Green eyes widened with surprise as the wolf placed its nose upon his shoulder. It said, 'I expect great things from you little wolf.'
The crest of the House of Lupus appeared on his shoulder. Then the magic left him making the boy almost fall back in shock. That was different from anything he had ever encountered before. His breathing was erratic and unsteady.
Harrison stood unsteadily and Headmaster Durant stood. All student's eyes turned to watch them. Silence radiating in the room.
Durant began coolly, "Another Garde to the House of Lupus. Good luck to the young Garde may you find Oraculi."
Harrison gave a shaky bow before he moved towards the table. He sat next to Zach as they waited to be sorted. Zach for his part was in the House of Leo. It would be interesting to see if they would have any classes together.
Beaumont became a member of the House of Styx. Good riddance, Harrison didnt need that boy around him. They might have classes together but probably wouldn't have the same electives.
Finally, they got to Jacob who didnt even take a fraction of the time it took for him. Almost immediately he was declared a member of the House of Ouroboros. With confidence befitting a pureblood Jacob walked over to them and sat. He ignored the stares of the other members of his house new and old.
There another two dozen students that were sorted into various Houses. Three were not chosen for a House and were sent on their way without further ado.
When the final student took their seat Durant stood. His voice was powerful as it carried across the hall, "Welcome new students to Nightingale. Old students, I apologize for pulling you from your work and apprenticeships but as you know all must be here for the greeting. Tonight as we feast we will share our magic with the Guardians. This will grant the wards that protect our school even greater strength."
So they would share their magic as well as eat. That was interesting. Were there runes that drew upon their strength? Or was there some kind of spell that did it?
Durant continued his eyes going over each table briefly stopping on him, "Now I will go over the rankings according to our esteemed professors as well as introduce the current King of Nightingale. For the third year in a row, Kaito Karasu of the House of Leo has held the title King of Nightingale. For you first years this means his Hosue practically controls the student body. It is in your best interest to obey the rules set out. Unless you have the ability and power to back up your words. There are four ranks within the school from highest to lowest we have King, Captain of the guard, Guard, and student. As of now, you are all students. If you want to move up in rank study hard and learn as much magic as you can. Anyone can challenge the King but know this. A teacher will only step in if it's life-threatening. Fighting amongst the students is not subject to disciplinary action unless you do permanent damage. Keep this in mind."
For a moment he wondered why. Then it hit him. They were told this wasnt your usual school. The Headmaster's words only solidified that. The professors would teach them but if they wanted to make a name for themselves then they were on their own. Fighting was nothing short of encouraged.
Durant continued on after a moment, "Here are the current rankings within the school. Leo is first, Ouroboros second Styx third, and Lupus last," several of the first year Lupus students groaned, "Your classes will be together based on rank. Class schedules will be given out tomorrow at breakfast. First years you have passed your first two trials. But there is still one more to come. By Christmas break which you leave here on the 21st to head home, you must have gained an apprenticeship with one of the masters. There are many masters within this school over many subjects. Some take only one student. Others will take many students at one time. It does not matter what apprenticeship that you have but you must have one. Otherwise, you will be expelled from the school and your memories locked away."
So they had to find an apprenticeship. That could be either very easy or very difficult. It all depended on how many masters took multiple apprentices. How long it took to finish an apprenticeship and how many masters in total there were.
If he had to guess every professor was a master of one thing or another. Some might even have multiple masteries. Harrison was nothing if not interested in finding an apprenticeship as soon as possible. He would have to ask the older students about what apprenticeships were available. All in all, he was excited for it.
The feast lasted two hours before they were sent to their dorms. The food was absolutely amazing. Even his mom couldn't cook that good. Not that he would ever tell her that. Prefects showed them the way to their dorms.
Lupus was on the east side of the caste and had three floors. Unlike what he had heard about Hogwarts dorms weren't password protected. When a student joined a House the Guardians' magic intertwined with theirs. That would allow only those belonging to the House to enter unless invited.
Rooms were single beds with a desk in one corner and a dresser in the other. They didnt have to share rooms as the school added more if they were needed. First-year rooms were near the top of the stairs while those in their final years were near the bottom.
The middle floor was a common room where students could get together. It had a warm open feeling that lessened any homesickness they may feel. Students were already there talking about classes or apprenticeships. Harrison noted a billboard with different activities on it. He would have to check it out later as they were lead down the stairs.
The final floor was a dueling room where they could practice magic. There were dummies that would show their mastery of any spell aimed at it. The best part was that they didnt need permission to use it. Every part of the room was protected by wards that unless you were on the dueling platform kept you from attacking each other.
That night Harrison fell asleep in his new bed a small smile adorning his face. This school was going to be different and he was going to love every minute of it.
A/N translation.
1. I seek to be judged by the wolf, the lion, the snake, and the bird. May you find my heart pure and a place for me amongst you.