Chapter 2. Arrival to Hogwarts
Five years passed almost in the blink of an eye, several things changed in that time, but most of it was a well-known routine: Every morning the five children walked to the school in their district, returned home for lunch, and then helped each other get to the magic-school, where Leo, Paige, Billie and several others taught them and other magic children about their magic powers and how to use them.
By then the powers each of the 'Charmed-Children' and their companions possessed was clear to all of them:
Wyatt's and Chris's powers were the same, those of a white-lighter, with the exception of one: the power of healing; that power they could only use it when being together, and it still took its toll on them as it required a lot of energy. Of their mother they had inherited the ability to cast spell, but that's as far as it went. And yet when they had been offered to become official white-lighters they declined, they much preferred the idea of hunting demons, like most of those in their family did.
Melinda was practically the opposite to her brothers, she only possessed two of the known abilities of white-lighters, and those were to locate others and communicate with them, and the power of regeneration (which serves to repair things and heal persons). Besides that he had inherited her mother's gifts as a witch; abilities once again her brothers lacked.
Henry was a white-lighter in all the expression of the word, he had inherited all the powers his mother possessed with one exception: the healing. He had gone as far as to be able to repair things with that power, but he couldn't heal.
Padme and Pamela, Henry's twin sisters had shown very little powers thus far. Some believed it may be because they had inherited more of Henry's (their father) traits as mortals. They could cast spells, but they had to be holding hands to combine their powers, they could locate others, and communicate telepathically to those with whom they shared some kind of bond (like family), but that's as far as it went.
Phoebe's and Coop's girls were another thing entirely, the Elders and other white-lighters had given them the name of 'The Fates' because they were the best when it came to making predictions, they could see the past, present and future, for active power they had inherited their father's ability to teleport. But about their others powers, rumors could be heard in the magical world, that together they had a power equivalent to a Destiny-Angel.
Hermione had several powers everyone there knew well: like the telekinesis, except she did it completely with her mind, some said that with some more training one day she would be able to damage anything that used energy to function (any kind of energy); she also had the power to levitate, some say it was normal, as it could be considered like instead of moving something she was moving her own body; and finally she also had the Astral Projection, though thus far she would only be seen by those who had a very strong magic themselves, and her physical body fell lax when she used it.
Harry was perhaps the only one who had all the traits as a white-lighter, and really all of them, including the power of regeneration with both objects and people; and also possessed some more powers of his own, like manipulating pure energy (and no, it's no demonic power, it's pure energy), and becoming invisible.
These were their powers, very great indeed. But they were still children, the oldest fifteen, the youngest seven; they had no reason whatsoever to be involved in magic wars at such an age and risk themselves, or was there?
.---.
Things took certainly an unexpected turn the morning when two strange-looking birds arrived to the Halliwell household.
It was the day Harry would be going back to England, to his family, for the summer. He could already orb all the way there, even if it tired him, but usually one of the older boys would go with him, just in case.
However, the real surprise was the arrival of the two birds, brown owls, as they entered the Halliwell Manor and flew straight to two certain ten-year-olds' hands: Harry and Hermione. Both looked at the letters, written in parchment that looked very much like the older pages of the Book of Shadows, and there were also wax seals.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Wyatt urged them. "Open those letters already."
The kids did as they were told, Hermione was the first to read her letter and she immediately gasped at the contents; Harry just stared at the piece of paper in shock.
"What is it?" Piper asked looking worriedly at the children.
Throughout the years she had gotten really attached to those two, they were as much of her children as Wyatt, Chris and Mel, and she would do anything that was needed to protect any of them.
"They're inviting us to a Magic School…in England…" Hermione mumbled in a low voice.
"A magic school?" Chris asked confused. "But you already attend a Magic School."
"It's not the same." Wyatt interrupted, he had read Hermy's letter. "This is Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Mel asked, still not understanding.
"Well, Hogwarts is just the most famous magic school in the whole magic world." Wyatt replied in a sarcastic tone.
"More famous than the school we attend?" Chris asked raising a brow, not believing that to be possible at all.
"It's not the same." Leo interrupted them. "Magic School, the one you attend is a school for people like you, those who have the magic in themselves and know how to use it. Schools like Hogwarts teach other kind of magic, one that requires the use of a wand to do the spells, that's because the wizards don't have the magic in them, they need to put their energy into the wand, and then the magical core of the wand transforms their energy into the magic they use."
"That's a hell more complicated than what we do…" Chris complained.
"That's true." Leo nodded. "But that's why normally the Wizarding Community doesn't relate too much with us. We're certainly different."
"Then why are Harry and Hermy being invited to that school?" Wyatt asked.
"Well, we all know Harry's parents use magic, they use that kind of magic in fact, so it's normal that we would be called to attend that school." Piper reasoned. "On the other hand, Hermione too was born there in England, maybe when she was born they detected her magic and for that decided to include her in the list."
"But she's one of us, not one of them." Mel insisted. "I mean, she's our cousin, daughter of Auntie Prue…"
"Only in soul Mel." Piper reminded her daughter, while looking at Hermy melancholically. "Even if Hermy is Prue's and Andy's daughter, in a sense she's also the daughter of that couple of English people that took care of her before we arrived."
That was perhaps one of the things that made Hermione's existence so complicated at times. Even if it wasn't exactly popular knowledge, those involved in the situation knew that her soul belonged to the daughter of Prudence Halliwell and Andy Trudeau, a daughter that died before birth and was later given a second chance at life. Even when that time she was born to a very different couple: Emma and Herman Granger, both dentists that resided in London, England, and who named her Hermione Granger; deep down she was still the same Patricia Trudeau. That was how, when beginning to show her telekinetic abilities at age three, the Charmed Ones found her and after explaining everything to her 'parents' arranged some adoption papers; the girl then went to live to the Halliwell manor and became officially known as: Hermione Patricia Granger-Trudeau.
"I can't go." Harry declared suddenly.
"What?" The declaration was so sudden it took everyone by surprise.
"I said I can't go." Harry insisted.
"But your parents will be wanting you to go, your brother will be going." Piper told him while trying to understand his decision.
'I'm not sure if my parents even care what I do anymore…' Harry thought in a sad tone. 'All my life it's been almost as if Harvey is their only son.'
"I'll be going." Hermione declared right then.
Once again, they were all shocked.
"You already heard Billie, Uncle Leo, and all our other professors at Magic School." Hermy tried to explain them her decision. "They've already taught me everything there is to know, all I can do now is practice until I reach expertise, I can do that anywhere. It's not that I don't like being here, because I love it, I love everyone; but I would really like to know what I can learn in a school like Hogwarts."
They all nodded, even at such a young age, they had always let the children made their own decisions, like when Chris and Wyatt decided they wouldn't be white-lighters and would use their powers to fight demons. It was their life, they deserved the chance to decide what to do with it.
"Then I'll go as well." Harry declared.
By then everyone just sighed. It was well known already that the green-eyed would always be going everywhere and anywhere the amber-eyed girl went.
"You sure?" Hermy asked. "I don't want you to do this only because I said I wanted to go. You don't have to if you don't want."
"It's okay." Harry assured her. "As my charge, there's no way I will leave you alone and well, you're also my friend. As you said, it might be interesting."
Hermione nodded with a smile.
It had been decided.
.---.
So as the kids were on summer break, and declaring it was a good time to close the restaurant and hire someone to do some remodeling Piper and her family went to London. The others couldn't leave their respective jobs, but Paige did accompany them with her husband and children for one week, which was the most Henry could take off from his job. Though, when Paige and her family returned to San Francisco their son stayed behind, after moving some strings they had arranged for little Henry to attend Hogwarts as well, so he could be near Harry and Hermy and help them in any way they may need.
The shopping at Diagon Alley was certainly something, as those who recognized the Potters immediately wanted to greet them, and especially their son: Harvey; it was almost as if no one knew that there was another son.
Harry didn't really care, he was taking that chance to show his surrogate family the place, all they had there, it was just incredible for them. They went to Gringotts, where Harry was given a pouch with money by his father and Piper exchanged some money to buy the things Hermy and Henry would be needing. It was strange for those from San Francisco, but they dealt with the differences.
Getting a wand was the first thing in the list. It was a great surprise for everyone when they heard Mr. Ollivander say that the wand that had 'chosen' Harry was sister to the one the Dark Lord possessed. Though, as Lily and James had left immediately after seeing it that Harvey got a wand, they didn't get to know this.
Hermione and Henry got their respective wands as well, and then they went on to get the rest of the things they would need.
Pets was the last thing on the list, and after much thinking Harry bought a white-feathered and blue-eyed bird that he called Hedwig; Henry refrained from buying any pets, seeing as it was likely that his mother would freak out if he did; Hermione said she didn't find any that called her attention, maybe some other time.
.---.
Time passed fairly quickly after that. The 1st of September arrived and the Halliwells went to see the three kids leave in the Hogwarts Express before returning themselves to San Francisco. There's no need to say that all three children staying behind (Piper's kids), left it pretty clear that they expected to receive a letter from their 'cousins' at least every other week, to keep them informed of everything going on with their lives.
Harry jokingly told them to make sure they didn't get their heads blown up by some demon before the next vacation.
The trio had to walk down almost the entire train before they found an empty compartment, it was in fact the last one. There they put their trunks in their places (using some of Hermy's telekinetic power). And then they sat to chat.
Harry heard how his brother entered the compartment next to his and almost immediately befriended a boy that had asked to stay there. That was something he had always admired from his younger twin, how he seemed to have no problem in making new friends or getting along with complete strangers. Harry didn't believe himself capable of doing such things, he knew his best friends were all the Halliwell kids, and he had gotten to meet them thanks to his godmother, because she had had the idea of him studying in San Francisco.
"Remember no one must know what we truly are." Henry reminded them.
"You make it sound almost as if we're some sort of aliens Henry." Harry said jokingly.
"For them, maybe." Henry replied in the same tone. "You must remember what Uncle Leo told us, this magic community and the one we grew up in, they just don't mix. Even if they know each other exist, and some details, they have never gotten along, we can't risk ourselves to be discriminated or to put our families in danger."
The other two knew he was right. None of them carried the Halliwell surname, so even if the wizards knew anything about the Charmed Ones they would have a hard time relating them to the kids, and still, they had to be careful. They didn't know what would happen if someone were to know the truth about them, but they weren't about to risk it and find out.
"What if somehow a demon finds us here?" Hermione asked.
"We do what we've been trained to do." Henry replied seriously. "We vanquish it, we protect the innocents. Remember, we must do our best not to be discovered, but if there's no other way…Our main priority is to protect the innocents, we'll deal with consequences later."
Harry and Hermione nodded, they knew he was right, it was like some sort of law or mantra between the Charmed Ones and their families: "Your magic is to protect the innocents, not to punish the guilty ones." They would always honor that code.
.---.
Harry had to admit he was quite impressed when he saw the inside of the Great Hall once in Hogwarts, but on the other hand he had seen Billie and everyone in the Halliwell family do things that were certainly a lot more impressive.
Thus far things had been alright: Hermione had gasped when seeing Hagrid, the Keeper of the Keys and Grounds in Hogwarts, though it wasn't like she hadn't seen bigger beings before since she belonged to the Halliwell family.
Right before entering the Great Hall they had witnessed an incident with a blonde boy that had tried to convince Harry's brother of becoming a part of his 'gang'. And even when none of the kids there were empathic or that kind of thing, they didn't need those powers to know that boy was no good.
Once inside they were explained how they would be sorted into Houses, that would become the groups to which they would belong for the duration of the school year. Kids began being called, but Harry wasn't really paying attention, not until one of his best friends and charge was called:
"Granger, Hermione." McGonagall called.
The girl went and followed through the motions she had seen everyone else do, it didn't take long until she could hear a voice in her head.
Well, well, well…what a great power I sense in you. The voice of the Hat told her. And a great knowledge as well.
You're the essence of the Sorting Hat, aren't you? Hermione asked in return. The one that is supposed to see the potential we have and then decide in which house we'll be able to do our best with that potential, right?
That's right. The Sorting Hat agreed. Like I said, a very vast knowledge. Even if I do feel in you an essence greater than of anyone that wore me before I think that, at least for now, you'll do well in: "Ravenclaw!"
Hermione mind-thanked the hat, took it off and slowly walked to the table where she could see people cheering.
Some more students passed, until it was timed for the first of the white-lighters to step up:
"Mitchel, Henry." Professor McGonagall called from the front of the room.
Henry walked to the front, sat on the stool and let the hat cover half of his head, like he had seen the rest of the kids do, however, he wasn't expecting the voice in his head:
So…what do we have here? A voice asked in his mind. You're quite an interesting one I may say, though not really a wizard, right?
You are some kind of being with telepathy, like my twin sisters. Henry was amazed.
I'm a magic object kid, in case you didn't notice. The voice of the 'Hat' replied, though it didn't sound offended, more like amused actually. I'm the Sorting Hat.
I figured that out. Henry replied. So…you'll just decide to what house I'm supposed to belong, and that's it?
Yes, that's it. The Hat nodded. And you aren't that hard to put actually. You have a great sense of justice and of loyalty to those you care for, greater than I've ever seen in one as young as you; may I know the reason?
Let's just say it's what keeps me alive, and my possible charges…though thus far I haven't been assigned any official charge so…
You're a clear-guide. The Hat internally gasped when realizing this.
We like more the term of white-lighters. Henry replied easily.
I see. The Hat nodded. Then I'm now really sure of where I'll put you. You belong in… "Hufflepuff!"
With that Henry walked to the table McGonagall told him too, though instead of trying to engage in some sort of conversation with his new classmates, he kept his attention on the front of the room, knowing it wouldn't be long before his last friend was called.
"Potter, Harry." McGonagall called.
And right before the Hat covered his eyes the young boy could notice the look of disbelieving many of those in the room gave him; it was just like he had always thought it would be, most in the room didn't even remember the 'Boy-Who-Lived' had a twin brother.
Well, another special kid is blessing us with his presence right now. The Hat said in his mind. You must be the third tonight. Though I sense uneasiness in you.
It's nothing. Harry lied. Just my plain, simple, boring life.
I certainly doubt your life has ever been boring, 'Boy-Who-Lived' The Hat declared.
I'm afraid you have the wrong Potter, the 'Boy-Who-Lived' is my brother Harvey. Harry replied. You'll be having him here next.
Oh, but you know that's not really true, whose the one who truly deserves that title, I mean.
How can you know about that?
Because I can see what's inside you boy, your essence, your great power…
I would prefer it if you left that a secret, no one if supposed to know.
Ah yes, you're another clear-guide, or is 'white-lighter' better?
Yes.
Well, I think you would do very well in Gryffindor, you have all the needed qualities to be there. But perhaps you would prefer another House?
As a matter of fact, yes. I would like you to put me with my charge, if it's not much to ask.
Your charge, that would be the Granger-girl right, I felt her soul full of light before. Very well, if that's where you wanna be then you'll become a… "Ravenclaw!"
With that Harry returned the hat to its stool, and as he took a seat next to Hermione he could hear his brother being called forth, only to be assigned to Gryffindor some seconds later.
And so, after Dumbledore's usual speech, the Feast began.
.---.
At that very same time, in San Francisco, a certain Charmed One was having some trouble concentrating in the column she had to write.
"Are you alright, love?" Coop asked his wife worriedly.
"I'm fine Coop." Phoebe replied. "It's just that I'm not sure if it was a good idea for Harry, Hermy and Henry to go to that magic school."
"You know it's what they decided honey." Coop reminded her.
"I know, but I can't help but worry. They're still young and inexpert. What if some demon were to find and attack them? They're too far away for us to get there fast, even with the different types of teleportation some of us may have."
Coop was about to say something else, when unexpectedly three kids entered the room.
"Don't worry mommy." The oldest girl said.
"Our cousins will be alright." The second continued.
"You have nothing to fear." The youngest piped in.
"Destiny has been set into motion." The three finished in chorus.
Phoebe and Coop turned to look at each other, they had no idea of what was the meaning of that, but just considering that all three girls had agreed on something they could be sure at least of one thing: it was going to be something big.
And here we are! True to my word, I decided that six reviews were good enough for the next chapter to come. I will be expecting the number to increase with time, I'll let you know that. And also I warn you, right now I can update quickly, because as I said before I have a few chapters written already (up until the twelfth of thirteenth chapter I think), once I reach those it'll depend also on how soon I can get the inspiration to write (but we'll worry about that until then so…).
As you've seen I've already explained the kind of powers the main characters of this fic have, characters such as Harry, Hermione, Henry, Mel, Wyatt, Chris, etc.
Some of you might notice that I didn't give much importance to the five years Harry spent studying in SF with the Charmed Ones and their families, I apologize if you were expecting more on that part; but as I've explained to Brilliance of the Moon, the main part of this story is the war against Voldemort (that doesn't mean the Charmed-Families won't be important).
I hope the explanation I gave about Hermione's situation is understandable, I wanted to give her an important role, as Harry's girl, and thought it was a good idea to be this way.
I also hope you liked how their arrival to Hogwarts went. As you've seen, even if the twins are once more in the same place they aren't in the same House (it would have been too complicated to have both trios in Gryffindor, and I had already contemplated giving importance to all four houses by putting important characters there). There's also the fact that they are all now in an environment where Harry's existence won't be ignored the way it has for most of his infancy, and that will have certain effects…
For those who want to know what to expect in future chapters I'll give you two clues: the first one is more of a warning, the following three chapters will be sort of a quick overview of the events in the first six years of them all; as most of it will remain the same I saw no need to write too much about it, the only long scenes there will be of the things that will be changed (as I had already said before). And number two, the only clue I'll give you, at least for a time: pay close attention to the things the Sorting Hat said to our new trio, they are important, and they hold certain facts of things that will be important in the main plot of this story.
Well, that's all for now. Leave reviews soon and you'll know of me again soon as well.
Adieu.
