Chapter Six: Why Would China Make This?!

Texas, also known as Taylor Jones, could only stare as her siblings were 'sorted' into their Houses. After Alek was sorted into Slytherin, the others were nervous to step up to the plate. Well, Virginia was more pissed than scared, but he doesn't count. Mississippi, the next to go after Alek, walked over to Dumbledore after he called her human name ("Jones, Annabeth!"). She looked as if walking over to the older man was the last thing she wanted to do. After putting the Amulet of China on, she paused before her mouth opened in a silent scream. A black and white badger growled from behind the state before disappearing in a shower of golden sparkles.

"Hufflepuff!" Dumbledore called out, taking the Amulet from a shaking Mississippi. He paused for a second, allowing the 20th state to hurriedly walk to the badger table. He smiled at the other states, eyes twinkling, "Jones, Brandon!" He called out to North Dakota.

The Northern brother was gripping his Southern counterpart's hand shaking his head a bit. With a gentle push of his open hand, South Dakota sent his twin over to Dumbledore. With a betrayed look thrown in South Dakota's direction, the 39th state walked over to Dumbledore, looking like a kicked puppy.

The old man put the Amulet of Death, as Texas has now dubbed it, over the state's head and onto his neck. With a small scream, North Dakota summoned a roaring lion that shot across the Great Hall before disappearing in a shower of red sparks.

"Gryffindor!" Dumbledore called out gleefully before he beckoned the next state, California ("Jones, Carson!").

Is he enjoying this?! Texas thought with anger. If he is, I swear to all things holy, I will burn his stupid body to a crisp.

Texas was yanked from her thoughts when a giant bronze eagle appeared behind California, cawing as it spread its wings to fly, only to shatter into blue sparks, much like the other's had.

"Ravenclaw!" Dumbledore yelled out, once again, before calling out to Virginia ("Jones, Christopher!"). An eagle and blue sparks marked Virginia a Ravenclaw, and the process was repeated for Alabama, AKA Joshua Jones, except he was Gryffindor instead of Ravenclaw.

This is kind of boring… Texas thought, catching the sight of Louisiana's Gryffindor red sparks before slipping back into her own mind. She checked up on her people and economy. No use in getting sick on her first week, right?

Dumbledore's call of the younger of the Jones twins pulled Texas out of her (incredibly) unorganised mind and into the present time. The brunette state looked up just in time to see the dark brown haired twin be put into Slytherin.

Ouch. She thought. I hope North'll be okay without South to keep him company.

"Jones, Mia!" Texas watched as Hawaii walked over to Dumbledore, trying to look confident and unafraid. Except that the 50th state was kind of failing. A shower of blue and a cawing eagle later; there was only four more states to go and one more Ravenclaw thrown into the mix.

"Jones, Sarah!" The Sunshine state, in all her blonde glory, attempted to stride like a douche over to Dumbledore, only to trip. Fortunately she caught herself before she hit the floor, but unfortunately for her, everyone else saw. And oh, how the states laughed at their sister's misplaced feet. And to the joy of the lions, a new one joined the Pride.

"Jones, Sean!" DC, for all of his eternal youth, was shaking as he walked over to Dumbledore and that bloody amulet. Texas glanced over to her left, curios to see how Sean's Ravenclaw parent was taking this. Long story short; Virginia looked like he wanted to go punch Dumbles in the face, while Maryland (who was behind Texas, last in line to be sorted) was attempting to calm his lover with looks and silent pleads to /not/ punch the annoying old man in the face. Though, Maryland clearly wanted to punch good ol' Doubledoors himself.

When Dumbledore finally put the Amulet of China over DC's head and onto his neck, he let out a girlish scream as blazing golden sparks surrounded the giant badger behind him.

"Hufflepuff!" Dumbledore announced, taking the amulet before calling out Texas's human name. "Jones, Taylor!"

With a sense of false bravo, Texas walked over to the younger man, shooting finger-pistols into the audience of students. I hope I get into Slytherin with Al… Texas thought as she put the Amulet of Disappointments around her neck.

A pain, so intense, entered her mind, forcing past all the souls of her people, against all the stereotypes that made Texas… Well, Texas. In the back of her exploding mind, the 28th state's Texan logic whispered "It's looking for your personality… not the stereotypes… Not your people's… yours." And while, Texas might appreciate this later, for once she really wanted to just stick a ratty old hat on her head instead of this. Anything but this.

Out of the corner of her eye, the brunette state was able to see red sparks, a clear sign of Gryffindor. And Dumbledore's voice only proved her to be correct.

Texas, as if in a daze, slowly took that cursed amulet off before walking over to the red and gold lion den. She was barely aware of Maryland being sorted into Ravenclaw, or Dumbledore finishing his speech, something about Care of Magical Creatures, whatever that may be. Nor was she able to focus on the amazing scent of the food that appeared in front of the Gryffindors. Or that North Dakota was trying to get her attention. She noticed none of it, her mind stuck in 1836. Memories of the war, the hurt, the loss, the death. And she couldn't do anything about it. She had to watch as her people died before her. Back then she was called a different name, one she couldn't even remember. She was at the Alamo now. Her citizens were next to her as they fought off the Mexicans. She was pushing to leave while they could, but no, they must stay to fight. And their stubbornness soon ingrained itself into Texas, so much that most Texans were naturally stubborn. All from that one idiot who hesitated to send the letter. Yet, who was Texas to scold people about hesitating? During that same war, in the same damn missionary, she had hesitated to step in and save a little boy. If she hadn't hesitated, then Juan would have lived. But no, Texas can't even save a six year old boy.

Suddenly, Texas stiffened. There was a familiar warm that surrounded her. Just like Mexico would do during the stormy nights during the war with Spain. Mexico, who wouldn't just give Texas her freedom. Mexico, who should just go and di-

Texas's thoughts were suddenly cut off by the familiar voice who whispered sweet Russian into her ear.

"Не волнуйтесь. Где бы вы ни, я там. Я буду защищать вас. Успокойся, Техас." /Don't worry. Wherever you are, I am there. I will protect you. Calm down, Texas./

"I'm okay… I'm okay, Al." Texas breathed out, leaning into her brother's warm embrace.

"Good." Alaska whispered.

:)T(:

Alaska, while he was shaken and unprepared for the Amulet of China, could tell his reaction wasn't going to be as bad as the other's. His personal history wasn't quite as bad as Texas's or Virginia's, for example, nor did he have that many citizens that the Amulet needed to push past to reach him. So when Alaska saw Texas strut over to Dumbledore with a grin on her face and finger-pistols flashing, the 49th state chose to ignore the pale boy next to him and to instead watch his sister. This, of course, pissed the boy off but Alaska could care less. And what pissed the boy off even more was when North Dakota came over to the Slytherin table to ask Alaska if he could possibly calm Texas down.

"What are you doing here?" The pale Slytherin asked the 39th state.

North Dakota blinked. "I'm here to talk to my brother." He said, confused, before turning to face Alaska. "Hey, Al, can you come help Te - er, Taylor out? She's stuck again."

Alaska opened his mouth to reply to the older state, but the (annoying) pale boy spoke up. Again. "Your sister is stuck? Where, in her seat?"

The last Frontier glared at the pale boy. "Do not insult Taylor like that. One more word out of your mouth and I will personally make sure you never use it again." Alaska got up before the other Slytherin could say anything, instead following his older brother, who was joined by his twin, to the Gryffindor table. Alaska could see Texas shaking, eyes wide behind her glasses, clutching the table like it was her lifeline. The other Gryffindors were too focused on Taylor to notice the two Slytherins. That is, until Alaska wrapped his arms around Texas and brought her into a hug. Kyra, being the awesome dog that he was, joined Alaska and Texas in the hugfest, causing more stares to be pointed in their direction. But Alaska didn't notice as he started to whisper calming Russian in Texas's ear. He knew better than to speak in Spanish when Texas was having a flashback. That was one mistake that he would never make again.

"Не волнуйтесь. Где бы вы ни, я там. Я буду защищать вас. Успокойся, Техас." /Don't worry. Wherever you are, I am there. I will protect you. Calm down, Texas./ The silver-haired state whispered, slowly rocking them back and forth.

He looked down at Texas, watching as her eyes cleared, slowly gaining more light in her sky-blue gaze.

"I'm okay… I'm okay, Al," Texas breathed out, leaning into Alaska's embrace.

"Good." Alaska whispered. He smiled at her, and she smiled back. "It would suck if you had an attack so soon in the year."

Texas let out a little laugh, the two oblivious to the furious Gryffindors around them. "Yeah, it would." She reached over to Kyra and patted him on the head. "Hey, bud."

Kyra let out a small whine at Texas. He was asking if she was okay.

The brunette grinned at the silver and white husky. "I'm fine."

Alaska opened his mouth to speak, only to be cut off. Again.

"What do you bloody Slytherins think you're doing g over here? This is the Gryffindor table, in case you were too stupid to tell." A redheaded boy spoke to Alaska and North Dakota, glaring at the two states.

"Ron!" A girl with bushy brown hair scolded the boy, Ron. She turned to the Americans. "I'm so sorry for Ron, he just can't seem to get it through his thick head that you were helping her out." She stuck out her hand in greeting, a wary smile on her face. "I'm Hermione Granger, third year. It's a pleasure to meet you!"

South Dakota glared at her, but with a small nudge from his older twin, he relented, shaking hands with Hermione. "Logan Jones, third year."

Alaska smiled at Hermione. "I am Alek Jones," he pointed to Kyra. "And this is Kyra. We are in the third year as well."

Hermione grinned at them, not as hesitant now.

Ron, who was watching from beside Harry, snorted before mumbling something and going back to his food. South Dakota shot a glance at Ron before speaking to Hermione. "Well, Al and I might want to head back to our own table. I can tell when we're not wanted." He nodded to his twin before doing an about face back to the Slytherin table. Alaska gave Texas once last, small, squeeze before getting up and walking back to his own table, Kyra following close behind. One thought echoed through the mind of the watching students and states.

They were in for another crazy year.

Small AN! I'm sorry that I haven't been posting a lot (I mostly write during the breaks, and we can't use phones and crap at school so I can't write then, so I haven't been writing that much! Also, I might post a little blooper thing for this fic. It'll basically be all the ideas that I had for this fic that won't work out. If you guys want me to post them, I will! :P

Uuuh, guys? I reallyneed a beta. I don't care if you've never been one before, I just need something other than Google to correct my mistakes. Please. I'm digressing a lot when I write these days… :(

So, here's a small sneak peak at what might come during our spooky Halloween chapter: (maybe)

Virginia turned around, his hair flying in his face. Why had he ever agreed to wear this stupid thing? It made the state feel off-balance and he did notlike it. Not one bit.

"Ar, me arty!" California laughed, jumping in front of a dressed-up Virginia. "Ye ready fer me awesome shin-dig, ya landlubber?"

"Carson, I'm not in the mood." Virginia glared up at the other state. "I still don't know how Thomas got me to wear this stupid thing!"

California just laughed a very pirate - like laugh. "It be the touch of a lover, eh?"

"You can drop the act you know!" Virginia yelled at the sandy-haired state, whom was running off laughing like a mad-man. "Get back here!"

You guys excited? 'Cause I am! :D

Also, holy mother of crap, you guys's comments on China! XD

Aaah, I laughed so hard I peed myself. -3-

Anyways! Be on the lookout for chapter 7! :D

Also, you guys are so lucky. 2 updates in one day. I've never done this before! :O

-Mermaidhorse =^-^=