Disclaimer: I do not own "Harry Potter". It is hereby © to J.K. Rowling. I wrote this story when I was 12 years old in the year 2003. So, "Half-Blood Prince" wasn't out yet either. It didn't exist at this point. Again, errors in spelling and grammar have been intentionally left in to preserve my skills as a young writer. This story is complete. This is a repost.
Chapter Nine: The Transfer Students
They stepped out of the carriage, crossed the Entrance Hall, went into the Great Hall, and took their usual seats at the Gryffindor table. The rest of the school filed in and took their seats at the house tables. Quiet chatter broke out and as the minutes went by, a door opened and McGonagall strode out with the usual first years, only two of them were much too tall to be first years. McGonagall stood at the front of the Great Hall and cleared her throat. The chatter died immediately.
"This year we have two transfer students. They will be entering their sixth year and they will be sorted. Let me introduce them, Thomas Felton, Cianna Kelsey, please step forward." McGonagall said.
The two tallest in line with the first years walked toward McGonagall and into the light.
"Now, tell them all a little about yourselves and then I will place the sorting hat on your head and you will go to your house table." McGonagall explained.
The two nodded. The boy, Thomas stepped forward.
"Hi. My name's Tom. Yeah, I know she called me Thomas, but I'm Tom…anyway, I came from another school in America and I transferred here to Hogwarts." Tom said in his American accent.
Cianna stepped forward in Tom's place.
"Hello, my name is Cianna Kelsey and I came from a smaller magic school in London. It's an all-girls school, but I learned a good five years worth of magic. I am happy to be here at Hogwarts. I am sure I will have a great time." Cianna said in a soft voice.
"Felton, Tom, sit on the stool and put the hat on your head." McGonagall instructed.
Tom sat on the stool and put the sorting hat on his head. A rip near the brim opened wide.
"SLYHTHERIN!" The hat yelled.
The Slytherins started applauding loudly.
"Kelsey, Cianna."
Cianna sat down on the stool, and put the hat on.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Everyone at the Gryffindor table applauded. Cianna made her way over and sat next to Cho. She looked around her and saw Harry. Her pale blue eyes flicked to his messy hair and to his lightning bolt scar. Her wavy black hair stood on end and her pale skin flushed.
"Oh my God! It's Harry Potter!" She exclaimed.
"Uh…yeah…hi…" Harry said uncertainly.
Cianna got up and hugged him. Harry was too shocked at what was going on, that he didn't hug back. Cho was watching Cianna very suspiciously. She cleared her throat.
"Oh, I'm sorry! Are you two…?" Cianna asked.
Cho nodded.
"Oh my gosh! I'm sorry! I just got a little too excited. You see, I've heard rumors that Harry Potter went to this school, and now that I've met him, and the rumors are true, I just couldn't contain my excitement." Cianna apologized quickly.
"Well, that's quite alright, I mean, you just got here, so you don't know what's going on…" Cho replied, smiling. "Welcome to Gryffindor. Once the feast is over, I'll show you the dormitory…Oh, the first years are getting sorted…and the hat's about to sing…"
"What d'you…?" Cianna tried to ask.
"Just watch." Cho whispered.
The sorting hat's brim opened wide as it broke into song.
"Young, new minds, welcome here,
Unfortunately I couldn't find a good song for this year,
So I shall tell you about our school instead…
In a house you shall be, just put me on your head,
Snug and tight about your ears, now about our houses here…
Ravenclaw, where those of smarts and ready minds are key,
Gryffindor, where bold hearts and knowledge will lead them to victory,
Hufflepuff, where true and loyal friends are found,
And Slytherin, where the expectation of great power is bound!
So come along and gather 'round,
I will choose your house where you will remain safe and sound,
Step right up, and never fear,
Your house will be your family for years and years and years!"
Everyone clapped and cheered. Cianna was amazed at the hat.
"Wow! That's amazing!" Cianna exclaimed, her blue eyes round as saucers.
"When I call your name, please step up to the stool, place the sorting hat on your head and go to the house table it calls." McGonagall said.
"Armstrong, Abigail."
She walked forward and put the hat on her head.
"Hufflepuff!"
"Ashwood, William."
He stepped forward.
"Ravenclaw!"
"Edwards, Heath."
"Gryffindor!"
"Evenworth, Joseph."
"Hufflepuff!"
"Germen, Rose."
"Ravenclaw!"
"Heaton, Michelle."
"Gryffindor!"
"Hilton, Nancy."
"Gryffindor!"
"Isaacs, Wren."
"Ravenclaw!"
"Lee, Tram."
"Gryffindor!"
"Li, Sandra."
"Gryffindor!"
"Mitchell, Randy."
"Slytherin!"
"O'Hara, Meagan."
"Hufflepuff!"
"Parnell, Louis."
"Slytherin!"
"Smith, Heather."
"Hufflepuff!"
"I wish they'd hurry up!" Ron complained.
"Tran, Jeannette."
"Gryffindor!"
"Tran, Kevin."
"Ravenclaw!"
"Tran, Phuong-Tham."
"Gryffindor!"
"Tran, Tony."
"Gryffindor!"
"Vi, Randy."
"Ravenclaw!"
"Zhuong, Dao."
"Slytherin!"
McGonagall rolled up her roll of parchment and whisked the stool and hat away. Dumbledore stood up.
"Ah, another year, for those of you who don't know me, I am the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. And for those who know me already, welcome back for an excellent year. I do hope our transfer students enjoy themselves here…now, Quidditch try-outs are next week Saturday. Also, Mr. Filch has added a number of things not allowed in the hallways and the new list can be viewed on his office door. All students are prohibited to go visiting in the Forbidden Forest. And all students are not to be on the grounds after ten o' clock in the evening, except on balls…speaking of which…We have two events this year. This Halloween, we will have a Halloween Dance. Dress robes and costumes only. Students that are third year and above may attend. But If older students ask first and second years, they are allowed. On Valentine's Day, we will have a Valentine's Ball. Students fourth year and above may attend. First years can attend, but we warned, I have heard that there are quite a lot of couples here in the school…and finally, tuck in." Dumbledore said as the empty golden plates and goblets filled themselves with food.
Ron grabbed all the food and ate like he hadn't eaten in years. Chatter rang through the hall and no one had a care in the world. Everyone ate and drank until they thought they would burst. Soon the plates filled with delicious custards and puddings and assorted bowls of ice cream.
"Oh I'm stuffed! That was quite a lot of food!" Cianna said. "I couldn't possibly eat another bite! The food was excellent, by the way."
"Ron, swallow, you're going to choke!" Hermione said, slightly worried.
Ron's mouth was full of food and every time he tried to speak, bits of food flew out of his mouth, spraying the people around him. Ron had swallowed the food with difficulty and took a swig of pumpkin juice.
"Better?" He asked Hermione.
"Much." Hermione said in approval.
The plates were wiped sparkling clean and Dumbledore stood up to make another announcement.
"Now that we have all eaten, it is time for bed! Prefects lead your house to the dormitories and lessons begin tomorrow. Good night!" Dumbledore said.
Hermione stood up.
"Gryffindors follow me!" She shouted.
Everyone at the Gryffindor table stood up and followed Hermione. She led them up two staircases then made a right, then a left and walked straight towards a portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress.
"Password?" The fat lady asked.
"Fizzing Whizbee." Hermione answered.
The portrait swung forward and revealed a large, circular hole that they all stepped through.
"Boys dormitories are upstairs to the left and girls upstairs to the right." Hermione said shortly.
The first years and Cianna nodded. Cho yawned and stretched her arms.
"I'm so tired…" She said to Harry. "I'm going to bed…and I can show you the dormitory, Cianna."
Cianna nodded and followed Cho up the staircase and into the girls' dormitory.
"G'night Ron." Harry said.
He walked up the staircase and went into the boys' dormitory before Ron could answer.
-
The following morning Harry woke early. It surprised him when he saw Cho come down from the dormitory a few minutes after Harry did. Harry was sitting in a chair next to the fire and Cho sat in the chair next to him.
"You're up early." Harry said.
"So are you." Cho replied.
"It's too early to go to breakfast and I can't go back to sleep."
"Same here…"
They were silent for some time.
"Harry…I'm not sure about Cianna…You know how my parents said that the initials of the Angel of Darkness was 'CK'? I think it fits, but I'm not sure…Cianna Kelsey…but she's so nice…I don't want to believe it…I won't believe it. Cianna is too nice…she's such a good-hearted person. And even if she was my enemy, she would have to be in Slytherin."
Cho started mumbling nonsense that Harry couldn't understand. He pressed a finger to her lips and touched her face, pulling it closer to his face, and then he kissed her tenderly, then she brought her self closer to him, the kiss deepened as they held each other tightly. When it ended, both were breathless.
Ron came out of the shadows from the staircase and was snickering.
"I'll just leave now…I know now to not leave you two alone in a room. Who knows what you both would do…" Ron said laughing his head off.
"Hey wait! What-you were spying on us?" Harry yelled after Ron who had darted back up the staircase.
They heard a roar of laughter in the boys' dormitory. Obviously, Ron had told Dean, Seamus, and Neville what he had seen. The boys' dormitory door creaked open as four heads poked out. Four sets of feet tiptoeing to the railing where they could see the entire common room.
"Nothing's happening." Seamus whispered.
"We're not blind. We know you're there. It's not like we'd try anything while the four of you are watching." Cho said coldly.
"Well do something! We didn't come downstairs for nothing!" Seamus replied.
"Uh huh…yeah right…" said Harry.
"According to Ron, he said that you kissed her. He saw everything…" Seamus said, laughing.
The girls' dormitory door opened and Cianna and Hermione tripped over the four boys. The six of them tumbled down the stairs. Hermione was lying on Ron, Cianna was tangled between Dean and Seamus, and Neville was underneath all of them.
"Ow…" They all moaned.
"Why were four there right by the staircase? We could've broken our necks!" Hermione scolded.
"Really, what were you guys doing there? We honestly could have gotten hurt." Cianna asked.
"They were trying to spy on us." Cho answered.
Harry and Cho held out their hands to help Hermione and Cianna up while the four boys untangled themselves from one another and got up.
"Thanks." Cianna said to Cho as she dusted off her robes.
"Yeah thanks, Harry." Hermione said as she brushed some dirt off of her sleeve.
"We should go to breakfast now." Cianna said.
"Agreed." Said the eight of them.
Akira and Ginny came down.
"Going to breakfast?" Akira asked.
The eight of them nodded.
"Then let's go!" Ginny said.
"Wait. I'm waiting for Mez." Akira said.
"Who?" asked Cianna, Ginny, Seamus, Dean, and Neville.
"Her new boyfriend." Cho responded.
"He's not my boyfriend!" Akira snapped, flushing red.
"Yeah, sure…whatever you say." Cho said, not believing her.
Liam came stumbling out of the boys' dormitory and saw Akira.
"Mez!" Akira exclaimed, running up to him and giving him a hug.
"Yeah…hi Akira's boyfriend!" Cho said, waving excitedly.
"He's not my boyfriend! We're just friends!" Akira retorted.
"Whatever…can we go to breakfast now?" Cho said, changing the subject.
No one had a response, to they all walked out of the portrait hole and down to the Great Hall. They took their usual seats and scanned the teacher's table and saw that Fleur was still their Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and finally sat down at their table. Everyone helped themselves to porridge and toast. They ate in silence. Occasionally Dean and Seamus would try to talk about what Ron had seen earlier in the common room, but each time they got close to the subject, Harry or Cho, even both of them sometimes, would give Dean and Seamus a swift kick in the leg under the table. McGonagall handed out schedules to each of them. Cho glanced at hers then at Harry's.
"Hmm…9:00 Double Divination, 10:00 Double Potions with Slytherins, 11:00 Defense Against the Dark Arts with Slytherins, 11:30 Charms, 12:00 Lunch, 1:30 Herbology with Hufflepuffs, 2:00 Care of Magical Creatures with Slytherins, and 2:30 Stunt Flying Lessons-Quidditch Teams only…" Cho read. "It all sounds good except for the Potions part…"
They finished breakfast. Harry, Cho, Ron, Cianna, Dean, Seamus, and Neville headed to the North Tower while Hermione headed to Arithmancy. In ten minutes, they reached the classroom, panting and sweating. They opened the trapdoor, ascended the silver ladder, and entered the stifling hot classroom.
"Is it usually this hot in here?" Cianna asked.
"Yep. Every day…every minute…" Cho replied.
Harry, Cho, and Ron sat down at their usual table in the back. Cianna was looking for a seat, but could not find one. She saw one next to Ron and joined their table. Dean, Seamus, and Neville had taken a table to themselves and were waiting for class to start. Professor Trelawney appeared from her office and took her seat in her golden winged armchair.
"This year class, we will be testing for ESP. Extra-sensory perception. Extra-sensory perception occurs in wizards and muggles, if I'm not mistaken…There are three main types of ESP. Telepathy, Clairvoyance, and Precognition…We'll be starting with telepathy this term. I am going to hand you two sets of twenty-five cards. They are marked with five symbols. A star, cross, square, circle, and three wavy lines that represent water. Now when you get your cards, try to send each other through your thoughts, the symbol of the card that your partner draws. Who would like to demonstrate for us…if they can…?" Trelawney said to the class.
Cho raised her hand.
"Miss Chang. You believe you can do this?" Trelawney asked her.
'I know I can. Go ahead, test me.' Cho answered with her mind.
Trelawney gasped. "You-you can…you are…?" she stuttered.
'Yes.' Cho said, still in telepathy. 'I am not the only one capable of these abilities…'
'Cho shut up!' Harry said fiercely in his head.
Trelawney had heard him and she swooped over to their table in the back. All eyes were on the two of them.
"I am going to test you with the cards, Miss Chang. Weasley, test Potter." Trelawney instructed.
She took out two decks and gave one to Ron. Both of them drew the top card.
"Now guess." Trelawney said.
"Star." Cho replied, almost bored.
Trelawney looked from Cho to the card in disbelief. The rest of the class was listening with bated breath.
"She's right." Trelawney said, still shocked.
Harry and Cho ran through the deck five times, each symbol they called was the right one. When Cianna was tested, she got all of the symbols correct, but could not run through the deck for a fifth time, because she had complained of a headache.
"Headaches are very normal for telepaths. If they hear too many voices or thoughts at one time, it can damage their brain," Trelawney said. "My goodness! Look at the time! Class dismissed! All of you hurry and run to your next class! Only four minutes until the late bell rings!"
Everyone burst out of the classroom.
"I have an idea. Ron, take Cianna's hand, Cianna, take my hand, Harry, take my other hand and Ron's other hand. We're going to apparatate." Cho said.
They did as instructed. Harry and Cho closed their eyes and imagined the corridor right before the stairs to the Dungeon. Then with a small pop, they vanished and reappeared in the corridor.
"That was amazing! How'd you do that?" Ron asked.
"Rings." Harry and Cho answered immediately.
They walked down the steps into the Dungeon and got to Potions just in time. The rest of the Gryffindors had arrived on time and they all quickly took their seats. Professor Snape closed the door and walked to the front of the room.
"Today we will be brewing a complicated potion…it is a love-sensing potion. When brewed properly, the drinker will say the words 'The one I love is…' then a smoke-heart will come out of their cauldron and show a clear picture of the one that they love. Then the drinker will say the name of that person that they love. One more thing, the secrets revealed in this class aren't to be discussed. And I mean it. We won't want a loss of house points over of quarrel of students fighting because they were teased about the one that they fancy…now, the instructions are on the board. Begin. You have half an hour." Snape explained.
'Just great!' Cho hissed to Harry in her mind.
'Yeah, I know, really! This is only the best class ever!' Harry replied sarcastically.
'This will be so fun! Yeah right…'
Both set to work and brewed their potions. They had correctly added everything and double and triple checked. They were satisfied with their results and waited quietly.
"Time's up. Scoop some of your potion into a vial and set it next to your cauldron. We'll be going through everyone today…now who should go first? A proper demonstration…Malfoy, drink the potion in your vial.
"Yes Professor." Malfoy said, almost terrified.
He uncorked his vial and drank it.
"The one I love is…" Malfoy started to say, almost in a trance.
A smoke heart appeared from his cauldron, showing a clear picture of none other than Alyssia Rosiak.
"The one I love is…Alyssia Rosiak!" Malfoy finished.
"Very good. Ten points to Slytherin…now who's next…Hmmm…Chang…you next…" Snape said.
Cho flushed red, uncorked her vial nervously, and drank it. Her hands were shaking. Harry took her hand under the table and Cho gave it a quick squeeze. Then the potion started to take effect.
"The one I love is…" She said…
The smoke heart appeared showing Harry inside it.
"Harry Potter…" She whispered.
Then the potion wore off its effect and the Slytherins were laughing their heads off.
"That must've been hard…being forced to say something like that…it isn't right…" Hermione whispered to Cho.
"Weasley! You next." Snape barked.
Hermione turned pink and Ron's ears started to turn red. He quickly uncorked the vial and drank it down. The effects came immediately.
"The one I love is…Hermione Granger…" Ron said.
The smoke heart appeared showing Hermione in it. Again, the Slytherins roared with laughter.
"This should be interesting…Felton…you next." Snape said.
"Which one?" Whitney and Tom said together.
"Tom." Snape replied.
Tom drank his potion and the smoke heart appeared instantly.
"The one I love is Whitney Felton!" He said loudly. "And we're not related…" he added.
"Now this…should be a good one…Potter…your turn…" Snape said evilly, watching Malfoy smirk.
Harry was nervous as Cho was. It was almost like the day Snape had threatened him with the Veritaserum. Only this time it was worse. The entire class would know the knowledge he had been trying to hide forever, it seemed. He took a deep breath, uncorked his vial, and drank every drop. Cho's hand was still in his and he held it tightly.
"The one I love…" Harry started to say.
All the Slytherins were laughing their heads off, as silently as they could.
"Yes, Potter, who?" Snape asked, seeming mildly interested.
"Is Cho Chang…" Harry finished very quietly.
The Slytherins started chanting "Potter and Chang! Potter and Chang! Potter and Chang!!! POTTER AND CHANG!!! POTTER AND CHANG!!! POTTER AND CHA-!"
"SHUT UP!" Cho screamed.
The Slytherins stopped immediately and looked terrified. Harry soon saw why. Cho's eyes were red again and they glowed and stood out in the darkness of the dungeon.
"Professor! Make her stop! She's freaking us out!" Alyssia whimpered.
"Professor Snape!!! Please!!! Make her stop!!! She's going to kill us!!!" The Slytherins all shouted, terrified.
"Chang! Stop your infernal dark magic!" Snape roared.
Cho turned to look at him, her eyes glowing brighter.
"Let's go." Cho whispered to Harry.
They took hands and apparratated out of the class. Cianna sat in her seat still, seeming amused.
"At least I didn't get fed the potion…or Cho would've killed me…I like Harry…and Harry and Cho are in love…Oh how I'd love to just have one kiss…" Cianna said to herself.
"Class dismissed!!!" Snape bellowed over the screams of the terrified Slytherins.
Half of the Slytherins had already left the classroom. The rest of them and the Gryffindors filed out.
Cho and Harry had reappeared in the Gryffindor common room.
"I hate them!" Cho said as soon as they reappeared. "It isn't my fault that I freaked them all out. Those stupid Slytherins pushed me to my limit!"
Cho had sat down into an armchair, her arms crossed and an angry expression on her face. Harry sat on the arm of the chair, grinning at her. Cho smiled at him. Her eyes stopped glowing and the red in them was quickly fading away. Cho pounced on him while he wasn't looking, knocking the chair over, both of them landing on the floor.
"Ow…" They both said, rubbing their heads.
"They're here…the rest of the Gryffindors." Harry said suddenly.
Sure enough, they heard several pairs of feet coming towards them. Both got up off the floor and put the chair they knocked over right side up and they both sat in chairs facing the portrait hole. They heard Hermione's voice say the password and watched the portrait swing forward and watched Hermione, Ron, Seamus, Cianna, Dean, Neville, and the rest of the sixth years walk into the common room.
"How'd-" Seamus, Dean, Neville, and everyone else tried to ask.
"Apparratated." Harry and Cho answered.
"That's impossible!" Dean said.
"No it isn't…anything is possible…" Cho said, bored. "How much time until Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
"Ten minutes." Hermione replied.
"Oh good." Cho said.
A black owl with blood red eyes tapped on the common room window. Cho and Harry glanced at it nervously. Cho crossed the room and opened the window as the owl flew in and dropped a letter and landed on Cianna, pecking on her head.
"Ahh! Get off! Go away!" Cianna cried, shielding herself with her arms. "Ow! Quit it!"
She started waving her arms frantically, trying to make the bird go away. Cho handed Harry the letter and took out her wand. Cho ran over to Cianna and cast a banishing charm on the owl. The owl flew out the window.
"Harry! Shut the window!" Cho yelled.
Harry slammed the window shut as the owl tried to fly back in the common room.
"Whew! Thank you, Cho!" Cianna sighed with relief.
Cianna lowered her hands, her hand was bleeding. Cho took out her handkerchief and tied it around Cianna's bleeding hand. Cianna tried to give it back, but Cho shook her head.
"No, you keep it." Cho said reassuringly.
"Thank you. You are so kind. You're a true friend, Cho." Cianna said, giving Cho a sisterly hug.
In the Slytherin common room, however…
"Oh come on! I mean really! He admitted that he loved you in class, so go and talk to him!" Alyssia said.
"No! I'm too nervous!!! I can't! I don't know what I'd say or anything!" Whitney hissed at her.
"Well, he's probably as nervous as you are. He knows that you know he loves you, and he's afraid of rejection, so just go talk to him. And if anything goes wrong just take your wand out and put it behind your back and shoot a red spark or something, ok?" Alyssia said pleadingly.
"Oh all right!" Whitney said, giving in.
Tom had turned away from Draco and was walking towards Whitney. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Alyssia backing away.
"Hi…" Whitney said nervously.
"Hi…so…uhh…are you going to the Halloween dance?" Tom asked.
"Yeah…are you?" Whitney replied.
"Yeah…do you want to go with me?" Tom asked her, wringing his hands.
"Yeah, sure. Of course." Whitney answered, relaxing.
"Whitney, until I met you, I thought love at first sight didn't exist. But I met you, and now I believe in it. Do you believe in it too?"
Whitney nodded. Tom smiled. He took her hand and kissed her, taking all her breath away. Tom broke away.
"Sorry love, but we need to get to class." He whispered in her ear as he went upstairs to get his bag.
Whitney stood there, dazed. Alyssia and Draco were blinking and staring. Both of their jaws dropped to the floor. Alyssia came to her senses, rapped Draco sharply on the shoulder, who came to also. Alyssia had to shake Whitney repeatedly to get her out of her dream world.
"It was amazing…" Whitney said, sighing.
Back in the Gryffindor common room…
"Ok, let's go head for Defense Against the Dark Arts." Hermione said.
Cho flung her bag over her shoulder, so did the rest of the sixth years. They all exited through the portrait hole and headed to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom and arrived early. Fleur was waiting for them at the front of the classroom. The Slytherins walked in. They were about to comment on something mean about Harry, when Cho looked over at them, her eyes glinting red. The Slytherins were silent and sat down in their seats for the lesson.
"Last year we did Mist Demons…this year we will do something different…But first I need to make an announcement. It has to do with the Halloween Dance. Now, listen carefully. There will be a king and queen for the dance. There will also be the same for the Valentine's Ball. If all goes well for Halloween, there will be a Christmas Party. Please be sure to look your very best and be respectful of others. And I did happen to hear that the best behaved house will earn their house fifty points, per student…" Fleur explained.