Chapter Seven: A Look Into The Mind

When Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered the Great Hall for breakfast the next day, the first thing that they saw was Draco Malfoy, who seemed to be entertaining a large group of Slytherins, the two Americans included, with a very funny story. As they passed, Malfoy did a ridiculous impression of a swooning fit and there was a roar of laughter.

"Ignore him," said Hermione, who was right behind Harry. "Just ignore him, it's not worth it…"

"Hey, Potter!" Shrieked Pansy Parkinson, a Slytherin girl with a face like a pug. "Potter! The dementors are coming, Potter! Wooooooooo!"

Harry dropped into a seat at the Gryffindor table, next to George Weasley, who was talking to one of the Americans. Sarah, if Harry remembered correctly.

"New third-year schedules," said George, passing them over. "What's up with you, Harry?"

"Malfoy and his bloody gang of Slytherins," said Ron, sitting down on the other side of George's other side and glaring over at the Slytherin table.

George looked up in time to see Malfoy pretending to faint again.

"That little git." He said calmly. "He wasn't so cocky last night when the dementors were down at our end of the train. Came running into our compartment, didn"t he, Fred?"

"Nearly wet himself," said Fred, with a contemptuous glance over at Malfoy.

Sarah, from her place across from George, spoke up, her southern accent rolling across the table with ease. "Don't worry about it, Harry. Al and Logan are probably just there to get info for us!" She grinned at Harry, who didn't look convinced. "I've known the two a good portion of my life, they'd never do anything against you!"

Hermione blinked at Sarah. "'A good portion of your life'? You're all siblings though… right?"

Sarah just grinned at them, but another American, one who looked a lot like the brown-haired Slytherin spoke up. "Yeah, we are… kind of, but not by blood." He tilted his head a bit. "Most of us are adopted. But some of us, like Logan and I, are actually related by blood. Carson, Taylor, Sarah and Juan are cousins, but Dad adopted them. Sooo… we're like family, but not family."

"Yeah," a new voice spoke up. It was another American Gryffindor, Joshua(?). He put his hand on the twin's shoulder, who Harry remembered was Brandon. "Being family doesn't just mean blood. Family is someone you love and trust with all your heart." He grimaced a bit. "Though, I can't say I trust Al completely." The boy shivered with a teasing grin on his face. "He's so much like Ivan at times it's scary!"

A shot rang out across the Great Hall. Harry turned to see one of the Ravenclaws, the one with bright green eyes, half-moon glasses, and blond hair, holding a gun pointed to one Hufflepuff girl, who was talking to Sean, the boisterous Hufflepuff from America. The girl, Susan Bones, reeled back from the bullet hole that was now in the Hufflepuff table. Sean just turned his head to glare at the green-eyed Ravenclaw.

"Dad!" Sean yelled out, getting up from his seat at the table to walk over to the taller Ravenclaw, who in turn scolded the Hufflepuff.

The American Gryffindors chuckled, causing the other Gryffindors around them to turn. Seeing their stares, Sarah explained. "That's Thomas. He and Chris, or Virgy as we call him, basically raised Sean when Dad wasn't home." Sarah chuckled again. "Uncle Francis thought it would be funny if Sean would call Thomas 'Dad' and Chris 'Mom', so the names always kind of stuck."

The other Gryffindors' eyes were wide, Harry and Ron staring with their mouths open and forks dropped. George was the first to recover.

"That's… that's different." The Weasley twin smiled at the Americans. "Well, go over to McGonagall if you want your schedules. I'll see you 'round!"

The Americans all looked at each other. "We should probably go, too. We need to talk to Dumbles about our schedules." Sarah smirked at them. "See ya'!"

After a quick good-bye from the Gryffindors, Fred and George left the Great Hall, while the others got their siblings. Harry helped himself to some sausages and fried tomatoes, while listening to Hermione at the same time.

"Ooh, good, we're starting some new subjects today," she said happily.

"Hermione," said Ron, frowning as he looked over her shoulder, "they've messed up your schedule. Look - they've got you down for about ten subjects a day. There isn't enough time."

"I'll manage. I've fixed it with Professor McGonagall."

"But look," Ron said, laughing, "see this morning? Nine o'clock, Divination. And underneath, nine o'clock, Muggle Studies. And" - Ron leaned closer to the schedule, disbelieving - "/look/ - underneath that, Arithmancy, nine o'clock. I mean, I know you're good, Hermione, but no one's that good. How're you supposed to be in three classes at once?"

"Don't be silly," Hermione said shortly. "Of course I won't be in three classes at once."

"Well then -"

"Pass the marmalade," said Hermione.

"But -"

"Oh, Ron, what's it to you if my time-table's a bit full?" Hermione snapped. "I told you, I've fixed it all with Professor McGonagall."

Just then, Hagrid entered the Great Hall. He was wearing his long moleskin overcoat and was absent-mindedly swinging a dead polecat from one enormous hand.

"All righ'?" He said eagerly, pausing on his way to the staff table. "Yer in my firs' ever lesson! Right after lunch! Bin up since five getting' everthin' ready...hope it's OK...me, a teacher...hones'ly..."

He grinned broadly at them and headed off to the staff table, still swinging the polecat.

"Wonder what he's been getting ready?" Ron asked, a note of anxiety in his voice.

The Hall was starting to empty as people headed off towards their first lesson. Ron checked his schedule.

"We'd better go, look, Divination's at the top of North Tower. It'll take us ten minutes to get there..."

They finished their breakfast hastily before heading out of the Great Hall. As they passed the Slytherin table, Malfoy did yet another impression of a fainting fit. The shouts of laughter followed Harry into the Entrance Hall.

:)T(:

DC rested his head in his hand. His brothers and sisters sat around them, some actually listening to Dumbledore (Virginia, Maryland, Alaska, North Dakota, Mississippi), while the majority of them just sat around being bored out of their minds.

He couldn't believe Dad had shot a gun at him that morning! Yeah, he gets that they've been protective ever since 1812, but he was old! Older than some of the other states, infact! But noooo, you get burned to the ground one time and suddenly he needs to be wrapped in bubble wrap and be spoon-fed. He was just trying to make a friend with a fellow Hufflepuff. yet he can't even have one human friend, can he?

The American Capital sighed into his hand, eyes glancing over to Maryland and Virginia. The two of them were close to each other, and despite Virginia constantly saying that they're not a couple, they so were. Everyone could tell.

DC smiled before going back to his day dreaming. Yup, his mom and dad were awesome. Overprotective, yes, but still awesome. He couldn't ask for a better family.

:)T(:

One more small AN! Hey guys, I really want to go back and edit the first chapter (I cringe every time), but I don't know how to! D:

Can someone PM me and tell me how one edits stuff without deleting something? And I also really want to post this on Wattpad, so how do I do that, as well? I'm so lost in all this! D:

But yay! We're actually in the book now! And boy, is it making me slower! XD

So yups. I still need a beta! Please, I will literally take anyone who wants the job. PLEEEAAAASSSEEEEEE! D:

Anyways, thanks for all your awesome reviews! I love all of them! :D

Lukas Le Stelle: Yes, they will be getting lots of action ;)

LetThemHaveGermanRumCake: Hehe, yeah, he really is, isn't he? But I really didn't want to use the Sorting Hat! It just didn't seem right :(

Love2081: Thank you! I try my best ;D

Seshat-Ra: You're welcome and thank you! I'm glad you're happy with the results! It's hard to make sure the states don't act too much like adults o.o

freyiejj: Aww, thank you! I'll try not to, but that first chapter… ugh. I think I'm gonna puke. D: Hae! I didn't know that. That'd be fun to use for the Halloween chapter… ):33

Lukas Le Stelle: Hehe, you're here again! 3 And you're welcome. I've always enjoyed killing people's sanity. And DC is basically their love child! :D (Florida's just and awesome liar.)

Yeah, sorry about not responding sooner. Please send random facts! I'm trying to use them, but… meh. I forget things easily DX

… maybe that's why I'm failing Algebra…

So yups! Bye bye, have a lovely Wednesday! :D

-Mermaidhorse =^-^=