Disclaimer folks I still own nothing.( Stole a good chunk of parts of this chapter from chapter eleven of Order of the Phoenix)
"Talk" 'Mental Hat Talk' 'mental talk'
They all left the warm train for the cool air of the night, Harry shuddered a bit but the others continued on as of nothing was different. They quickly lost sight of each other in the crowd of students, though Peter was able to track Harry and Kitty fairly well, and managed to meet up with Harry by the old witch who was brushing Harry off at the moment. "Excuse me, but I'm new here where do I go?" Peter asked the woman since, Harry looked like he was crossed between being to angry and to worried to say anything right now, and wouldn't be much help.
The old witch shone her lantern in his face and examined him. "Hmm, they didn't say, are there any other new students here?"
"Just Kitty." Peter said, nodding toward Kitty who was making her way toward them.
"I think you better go with the others on the carriages, just wait in the entryway for a teacher to tell you what to do next." The old woman said, as she began leading the first years down a path toward the lake. Shrugging the two made their way toward the carriages, and found an empty carriage, but were soon joined by the twins and some of their friends.
"Interesting horses this school has got." Peter said nodding toward the black horses with bat like wings.
"You can see them?" Katie Bell asked in surprise.
"Yeah, sure why not?" Kitty said, as she looked at the things curiously.
"Because those things are Threstals, only people that have seen death can see them." Angelina explained to the two.
"Huh, that's crazy." Kitty said, wondering how she was going to explain her ability to see these things, she had killed a great deal of things and even a couple of people."
"Um, I'm a freelance newspaper photographer." Peter said quickly. "I've seen a lot of death because of what I do, New York isn't the safest place in the world you know." He added with a cocky grin.
"And I've done a lot of traveling, I've seen things that you wouldn't believe in." Kitty said, wondering just what the exact kill count she actually had was, if she were to count some of the beings that she had helped to destroy as well. The number was not one she really wanted to think about.
Peter grinned weakly at Kitty, he could tell that she had some major thinking going on right now and understood that. After all, he thought of all the people that he had just missed saving or moved wrong to save. Both of the Stacey's had died in his arms, and those were not deaths that he would ever forgive himself for. He also knew that the X teams fought people a lot worse than the thugs and B list villains that he fought against all the time. They battled real threats to the world and universe, him he fought against threats to the neighborhood and city with occasional cosmic battle. Kitty had probably seen more life and death situations than he had despite his greater experience. Peter shook himself out of his musings, as he finally noticed they had stopped. He followed after the others until they walked into the great hall, while he and Kitty waited in the entryway for someone to show them the way.
The two waited a few minutes, Kitty even had a few whispered words with Lockheed whom she had not released not trusting in the services here not to become Lockheed's supper if what the others said was true, then Hogwarts was run off a bit of slave labor when it came to cleaning and preparing meals. The two sat silently and watched, as McGonagall ushered the first years to the doors that were now closed. She left then came back and was about to lead them into the great hall when the two made their presence known.
"And where would you like us professor?" Kitty asked cheekily.
The witch spun around with her wand drawn, only to have Peter and Kitty at different places and holding their own wands out and ready. "Oh its you two, I suppose you should be sorted after the others so if you'll wait in some corner or other until I call you." The two nodded, and slipped through one of the open side entrances.
"Who are they?" One of the first years asked with a tremor in his voice.
"They're students obviously." Another said sniffing at the boy as if he smelled bad.
"Correct, now then if you'll follow me. The assistant headmistress said, as she pocketed her wand and led the group of children out before all the others. The students of Hogwarts all watched silently, as the magical hat sorted each student. After all of that was done, and a number of the students and teachers eyes shifted to the headmaster, but McGonagall merely cleared her throat again.
"Parker, Peter."
Peter smirked as he detached himself from the shadows, startling several people as he made his way into the light of several people. He bent down and picked the hat up, but didn't bother sitting in the chair and look like a fool. He did turn to look at the twins who were busy looking innocent as he held the hat in his hands before he placed the hat on his head.
'Hmm,' a voice said echoing in his head, 'you are indeed most difficult Mr. Parker, your mind is protected by what appears to be a natural mind shield and a conscious mind shield, to properly sort you I need you to let me in.'
"And why should I do that? My mind is my own, and I have no reason to trust you either.' Peter pointed out to the hat.
'True, but I can sense the sorrow and power in you. Why deny me a look? I mean no harm, the sorting is merely a way to figure out where to best place you so that you may grow to be the best that you can.'
'You haven't given me a reason to trust you yet though.'
'And what kind of promise would you take from a hat?'
'I don't think that there is any that I would willingly accept at the moment.'
'A cautious one then, one that plays things close to your heart then eh? A perfectly good Slytherian method.'
'It has nothing to do with wanting power or anything like that, it comes from experience, letting something in my head the last time nearly killed me.' Blurred images of his time with the symboite came up.
'A tragedy to be sure.' The hat said with a new piece of respect in its voice as it sensed the barely averted tragedy.
'Thank you.'
'But it doesn't mean that you wouldn't do good in Slytherian.'
'One more thing for you to see.' Peter returned, 'soon the memory of uncle Ben sitting in the car across from him came up. "Peter with great power comes great responsibility". I have done my best to live up to those words the best I can.'
'Wise words from a wise man I have made my choice. Being raised by a person like that you can be only one thing! You belong in the house of,'
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Peter pulled the hat off and grumbled. "Next time you want to do something like that please lower your voice."
"We'll see chap now lets see if your friend is as hard a nut to crack as you". Peter nodded and tossed the sorting at in the air. Several people let out hisses of air and watched as the hat sailed through the air and landed right on Kitty's head. The twins gave a polite applause.
"Pryde, Katherine!" McGonagall said, while giving Peter a steely-eyed look that promised suffering that all students should fear. Peter merely bowed at her in an exaggerated manner, and made a 'come and get me' gesture at the transfiguration teacher that had most of the muggleborns gasping at his nerve. Most people were ignoring Kitty and the hat.
'Well I must say that I am rather disappointed Miss Pryde, two people that can naturally block me out, what is this world coming to? Lets see, you have a natural shield like Mr. Parker, only it's shaped differently. My, my, it's as if your mind is here yet its not. Then there are the active mind shields that you employ as well Miss. Pryde if anything, they appear to be even more solidly built than Mr. Parker's and his are incredibly strong.'
'I had good teachers.' Kitty quipped at him, as she thought briefly of Ray and the Professor.
'Interesting looking people.'
'The best.' Kitty said, 'and stop trying to follow the images for more memories.' she said, 'just put me with Peter please.'
'What is good for him may not be good for you though.' The hat argued.
'Right, so you just put one of the most secretive people in the world in the Gryffindor house for no reason right?' Kitty asked with amusement.
'All right,' the hat seemed to grumble, 'he showed me something that showed me he had the right mind set to be a Gryffindor.'
'Really? You got more than most people do.'
'Thank you.'
'All right, you want a reason then how about this?' Images of Ogun swam through her mind, her nearly killing him but stopping at the last moment, then the words of Logan, though she made sure that when she thought of him he was wearing a gi instead of his uniform. She thought how she had been told the difference between her and Ogun Killer and fighter. 'Not enough, how about this?' She changed the memory to talking back to Rev. Stryker as the man held a gun on the image inducer form of Kurt during Stryker's rally, and how she slipped between the two of them and argued with him on what he was doing.
'All right all ready, that little show is enough to prove to me that you're a,'
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Kitty and Peter grinned as they made their way to join the other Gryffindors the two ignored the looks of irritation that were sent their way by other tables as they sat down with the twins and their group of friends. "Great to see that you two decided to join us." Fred said.
"To true oh brother of mine, it is a great thing to know that the Gryffindors have gotten even more trouble makes." George added.
"Hey, we're not trouble makers, you must have us mistaken with someone else." Kitty said with an innocent expression.
"Mm hmm." The twins said with disbelieving tones. "Then it was another couple of American muggleborns that thought it would be a good idea t insult Draco and call him what was it?"
"An albino?"
"Well technically he's not an albino, since his eyes are the wrong color if they were pink then we might have good reason to throw that insult out." Kitty said, "and since we so obviously know that difference it couldn't have been us that called him that."
"Oh well, it looks like the headmaster is ready to give his speech I guess that this conversation will have to be shelved for later." Peter said with a smirk, as he turned to listen to the professor who gave his customary short greeting and introduction.
"Now that that's over with, how many girls can knock back the two great and powerful wizards Crabbe and Goyle?" Lee asked as he snagged a couple of kidney steaks having heard of the humiliation the twins had received from Kitty through owl post. The twins looked surprised that neither of their new housemates seemed the least bit impressed by the way the food came.
"Well lets see, there's Hermione, Ginny more than likely all of the 7th years maybe some of the 6th years and."
"That can use their hands and feet and not magic." George growled out playfully, as the two Americans continued dodging the questions, though it did give them a bit of insight as to how fast the two friends were with the way they came up with distractions and counter arguments. It was really a shame for them that they were dealing with Hogwarts reining masters of distraction.
"Wonder what Ron said this time?" Fred interrupted, as they watched Nearly Headless Nick float away from the Gryffindor trio in a huff and settle between a fourth and third year. "Those are the Creevy's Peter." Peter nodded, but focused more on the trio when he wasn't watching the various ghosts and eyeing the ceiling and rafters with an almost longing look. Kitty focused on the entire room but watched the various people at the other tables more carefully between her bites.
"You two trying to figure the best way to break in or something?" Katie asked as she watched the two.
"Not really, just trying to get an idea of the place." Kitty said, as she eyed the place. "For a thousand year old castle the place is n pretty impressive condition."
"Yeah and the ghosts ain't to bad to look at either." Peter added in. "I've met a few meaner ones in New York, so this group are actually nice to see. Think they'd like it if I serenaded them with Ghostbusters?"
"How do you bust a ghost?" George questioned.
"It's a song, don't tell me you've never heard of it? That would be like not knowing 'We Will Rock You' or what Cricket is."
"Crickets are bugs." A confused Lee said.
The girls began laughing. "Sorry to disappoint you boys, but Cricket is a British muggle game and the other two are fairly popular songs one's from a movie don't ask just listen, the other is just that a song."
"Brits that don't know what Cricket is; wait till I tell Brian. Next thing I know your going to tell me you guys don't know what the Super Bowl is." Kitty said shaking her head in amusement.
"How can a bowl be super?" Fred asked with confusion.
"Or is it a kind of soup?"
Kitty looked horrified at this. "How can you live without something as important as the Super Bowl?" The girl said in shock and horror. "Its broadcast to numerous countries, sure the Cubs don't have to good a chance this season but."
"Kitty breathe." Peter said sternly as he held onto her in case she tried to jump over the table and teach them. "You guys aren't going to convince her that you all aren't idiots now." Peter added with a smirk at the group. "Kitty is as devoted to Football and her Cubs as Ron is to his Cannons."
"Bloody hell." The three boys groaned all having dealt with Ron and his team obsession for years.
"Oh, and you don't watch Football?" Kitty snarked.
"More of a New York Rangers fan actually, but that doesn't mean I don't mind watching the occasional Giants game either." Peter added with a smile and a faraway look on his face. "It's just a matter of where I'm swinging by." The rest of the meal was spent over discussing the pros and cons of American muggle styled sports versus British magical styled sports, by the end of dessert Quidditch, Football and Hockey were judged as the best of the various sports. They then watched as the last bits of the food disappeared and settled down to listen to what the headmaster had to say.
"Well, now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start of term notices. First years ought to know that the forest in the grounds is out of bounds to students – and a few of our older students ought to know by too." The group around the two Americans all gave innocent smiles, as Dumbledore's eyes roved up and down the tables, as he met the eyes of various students who either blushed, ducked their heads in embarrassment, or smirked amongst themselves at the gentle reminder.
"Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells me is the four hundred and sixty second time, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between classes, nor are a number of other things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list now fastened to Mr. Filch's office door."
"We need to consult that list and see what new items have been added onto the list to torment old Filch with." Lee said with a whisper to the twins who merely nodded in agreement, as they pulled out a scroll with a list of various items that were banned from Hogwarts.
"We have two changes in staffing this year. We are very pleased to welcome back Professor Grubby-Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons, we are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, Our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
A round of polite applause greeted the two teachers, though their was a bunch of muttering from the Gryffindor table Hagrid may not be the best of teachers but they knew that the half-giant was a teacher that would at least support them and let them go at it from time to time unlike their own Head of House.
"So what's the bet on how long she'll be here?" Fred asked, as he looked Umbridge with distaste.
"She won't complete the year." George said confidently
"Complete it, but leave before the end of year feast."
"Something you guys not telling us?"
"The DADA position is cursed, no teacher no matter how good or bad they are at it has survived more than a single year at the job."
"So why hasn't Dumbledore given it to Greasy then?" Peter asked innocently getting some snickers from the others.
Dumbledore continued as if he had not noticed the less than enthusiastic applause. "Tryouts for the House Quidditch teams will take place on the--"
He broke off, looking enquiring at Professor Umbridge. As she was not much taller standing than sitting, there was a moment when nobody understood why Dumbledore had stopped talking, but then Professor Umbridge said, "Hem, hem," and it became clear that she had got to her feet and was intending to make a speech.
Dumbledore only looked taken aback for a moment, then he sat back down smartly and looked alertly at Professor Umbridge as though he desired nothing better than to listen to her talk. Other members of staff were not as adept at hiding their surprise. Professor Sprouts eyebrows had disappeared into her hair, and Professor McGonagall's mouth was a dangerous thin line that no one wanted to see aimed at them.
"Thank you, Headmaster," Professor Umbridge simpered, "for those kind words of welcome." The group shuddered at the high pitched and girly voice. They all looked distrusting at the woman and Peter couldn't help but feel as if this woman was here to make his and Kitty's job all that much more difficult.
"That woman could easily pose as the mother to the Toad." Kitty whispered to Peter who chuckled at the comparison.
"Muggle reference." Peter explained quietly.
Hem, hem the throaty voice interrupted. "Well, it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I must say! And to see such happy faces looking back at me! I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all, and I'm sure we'll be very good friends!"
"Is she for real? Cause if she is shoot me now."
"Don't tempt."
The woman started again though her tone had changed to a dull montonus sound like someone who had practiced a speech for way to long and was simply saying what had been practiced. The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. The rare gifts with which you were born may come to nothing if not nurtured and honed by careful instruction. Peter Kitty the twins and their friends snorted at this. The ancient skills unique to the wizarding community must be passed down through the generations lest we lose them forever. The treasure trove of magical knowledge amassed by our ancestors, must be guarded, replenished, and polished by those who have been called to the noble proffesion of teaching."
The woman that could have passed as the relative of some of the grosser people that the two heroes then began talking about the need for both progress and tradition claiming how they were both needed but also were more important than each other.
The twins tuned the woman out and turned their eyes to Peter. "Now then dear Peter, do tell us how you performed that dye job earlier." Fred said with interest.
"Yes please do." George added with a glint in his eyes. "Unless of course you want that we should force it out of you."
Peter shrugged innocently. "Not much of a trick really, it was a magical bomb that held bleach, and some water to mix it in good."
"And where would we find some of this bleech?" George asked, "we have never seen it in any potion ingredient."
"It's a regular world chemical." Kitty explained to the two brothers. "It's normally used to clean stuff with, but it can have a certain effect on hair as well. Making you either blonde or white haired depending how much you use and what color your hair is."
"A venue that we shall have to investigate shouldn't you think brother?"
"Oh yes, it should be most interesting to examine what effects it would have."
"Just be sure not to get it into your clothes it's a pain to get out and sometimes it doesn't, and might eat through some of the cloth." Peter warned the two.
"Dragon hide should take care of the protective issues." Fred said, waving the concern off.
"Probably." Kitty agreed.
"Now then,"
"What about,"
"That shield?" The twins asked.
Peter smirked at them. "I found the idea for it in a one of Moody's books that he gave me, it's about combat styles and all. Anyways, it mentioned how one Potion Master like to use potions in his fights, but because he could only use the throwing kind he was always trying to make a method of safer delivery so that he could throw anything he wanted at his opponents. Unfortunately for him, he was crap with Charms barely passed his O.W.L's as I understand. I merely examined the bubblehead charm and the shield charm and combined the two of them into something that works. First few times I tried it out the shield was a bit unstable but I finally managed to find a decent delivery method."
"Don't suppose that you would show us or sell us the spell."
"Sell you the spell?"
"Sure, I'm sure the Aurors would love your spellwork to."
"Maybe I'll sell it to the Ministry later." Peter said, "what are the patent laws in the wizarding world like anyways?"
"What are those?"
"Shush," Kitty said elbowing Peter in the ribs, as Umbridge finally began winding down from her speech.
"…..because some changes will be for the better, while others will come, in the fullness of time, to be recognized as errors in judgment. Meanwhile, some old habits will be retained, and rightly so, whereas others, outmoded and outworn, must be abondend. Let us move forward, then, into a new era of openness, effectivness, and accountability, intent on preserving what ought to be preserved, perfecting what needs to be perfected, and pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited."
A sigh of relief seemed to echo throughout the great hall as the woman finally sat herself back down. A smattering of applause was the only answer she got for her longwinded speech.
"Well gotta say, that this is an interesting turn of events wouldn't you say?" Lee asked the others.
"Yes it is. That is one of the reasons I really hate politicians, they're always doing their double talk or going after someone they should just leave alone." Kitty said angrily.
"Don't kick her ass until you don't have a choice alley cat." Peter warned the mutant. "We do have to hang around here for at least a little while."
The conversation was cut short when everyone began getting up Dumbledore had obviously dismissed them. "Come on, we'll show you how to get to the common room. Unless you want to go with the ickle firsties and have Ronnikins and Hermione show you that is."
"Lead the way McDuff." Peter said, clapping the redhead on the shoulder. The twins laughed and lead the way toward Gryffindor tower. The others were so busy talking about Umbridge and her speech and their upcoming classes that they never noticed the two Americans fiddling with their equipment or the satisfied smirks as Kitty managed to activate her communicator and tell Kurt that they were good for the moment
"So much for technology not working eh?" Peter asked grinning as his own communicator came on line.
"Too true." Kitty said with a smirk of her own. The two followed the others through a picture of a large woman in a hideous pink dress.
"So where do we sleep?" Peter asked, as he looked around the room, which had a fireplace a few couches and a few tables scattered around.
"Boys that way, and girls that way, don't try and going up the girls staircase though Petey guys can't go up there they're magicked to keep guys off of them. For some reason they thought that the guys weren't as trustworthy as girls."
Peter smiled at that. "Sounds like a challenge I'll have to take one of these days, just to show them how wrong they are."
"Your welcome to try mate, just don't blame us when you fall on your arse."
"We'll see. Now where do I sleep since I'm not in your year?"
"With the other fifth years probably."
"Thanks, though I wonder if it will be different since I probably have some classes with some of the younger years as well most likely."
"Who knows mate, all we do know is that you managed to cram some thing like three and a half years worth of information into your brain in a single summer that has to be some kind of record, not even Hermione can do that."
"Yeah, and your Arithmancy scores were tied with Hermione's, and she does sixth and seventh year Arithmancy sometimes."
"Its math." Peter said shrugging, "really screwed up math, but still a kind of math." The group parted as Peter headed into the fifth year dorm, and was just in time to see Ron and Seamus glaring at each other while Harry was holding his wand in readiness and the other boys just watching.
"Enough both of you." Peter growled as he strode in. "Both of you back to your corners before I knock the both of you through the window without a broom."
"You and what army?" The Irish boy asked defiantly, not noticing Ron backing up a few steps.
Peter didn't say anything as he grabbed the front of the Irish kid's pajama's, and tossed him one handed at an empty bed. Peter winced as he saw the guy slam into the wall. "Any other questions?" Peter asked, as he looked at the boy. The teen glared but shook his head no. "Good, now what's going on here?"
"Difference in opinion mate." a dark skinned kid said, as he pulled on a pajama shirt.
Peter nodded, "fine, now what happened?" He hadn't failed to notice that the kid had managed to get his hands on his wand, and had hidden it in his sleeve.
"Oi I was taking care of it." Ron said, as he seemed to come out of his surprise at Peter casually throwing Seamus onto his bed.
"Sorry Ron, but you looked like the two of you were about to come to blows, and I doubt that Seamus would want to start the year off by getting into a fist fight with a Gryffindor prefect." Seamus eyes flicked to Ron's chest where his shining badge was flashing in the candlelight. "Look, can you all can this fight slash conversation till tomorrow when you won't be so tired? Then you can all try and act as semi-civilized people and talk this out." Harry and Seamus nodded, and reached across and reluctantly shook hands. "Good, now we can get to sleep and talk tomorrow." Peter said with relief, as he turned to his own four-poster bed with red and gold coloring. He collapsed onto the bed after loosing his clothes and pulling on some pajama bottoms.
Peter waited till the others were asleep before he finally opened the letters that he had gotten from Brian. Matt's letter was impressive and informative, it was a detailed letter that described the going ons in New York without implicating Matt one bit, in fact it was actually a war journal letting Peter know what was happening in his old city. On the other hand there was enough information about Matt's personal life that he was able to actually connect with the man. He read the news hungrily, it seemed that Kraven had gone up against Wolverine and Dare Devil when he couldn't find Spiderman, Luke Cage and Iron Fist had been on hand when Rhino had been stopped in a team up with Shocker of all people, and a handful of other people he was responsible for dealing with had busted out recently. Basic crime was also increasing without Spiderman's presence as well, not just superhuman crimes. Osborne had also been sighted a few times, but when Spiderman failed to appear and another hero did, the man had quickly left to try to draw Spiderman out somewhere else.
Peter smiled, it was nice of Matt to include this, it was an important part of his life, and this helped some. He idly wondered what would happen if Spiderman began patrolling the halls of Hogwarts, but quickly tossed that idea, nothing anyone here could do really impress him right now and didn't need his type of justice to it. He might walk the halls out of boredom or when he was training with Kitty, but other than that he doubted that he would do a whole lot. He pulled open a letter from Logan and sat up a bit as he read it.
Dear Web Head I want to make something completely clear to you.
As of now you are responsible for Kitty's staying healthy, if I find out she got hurt while you two were on this little trip to the magic world of yours I'll shred you to bits and then toss you into the Danger Room set it to lethal and put your worst nightmares in it. Keep her safe and you won't have to worry. If I find out you let her date some wizard and she gets her heart smashed though you better do something about it or I will deal with you and the wizard. As of now I am appointing you her official overprotective cousin do not fail me or you will regret it when I find out and I send you to the other side of life.
Logan
Peter shuddered, Logan was probably a lot more capable than what he had written, and was probably going light on him this time around, if he screwed up though, he was probably all sorts of dead. As if his job wasn't hard enough, now he had to deal with watching out for Kitty, unless he wanted to be turned into a spider shish kabob that is.
He reached for the next letter, and grinned as he recognized Johnny's handwriting. He quickly tore the envelope off and smiled as he read the letter.
Hey Spidey this is odd Reed and Sue are telling me that you've just recently lost you family and that the only bit of family that you do have left is in England. They're also saying that your new so-called guardians thought it would be best if you were shipped off to a special boarding school. So what is up with that Spidey? How come you're letting some idiot who probably doesn't know half as much as you do ship you off to school?
You Spidey should be here in New York where you belong, with the Iceman and Human Torch, tearing up the town, and taking on idiots that think they can handle our power, not stuck behind a desk in a stupid suit and tie. Besides do you really think that any of the people there are going to really know how you feel?
If you need to have an insult-o-thon or even talk about the newest babe that you met head for the nearest phone and call me if I'm not stuck helping the others in the FF save the world that is. You know I want to help you man, the three of us we're different than the other heroes and we have to stick together and even occasionally work together to take on all comers no matter what. Even if I am better than either of you, you both make great sidekicks.
The Snowball says hi by the way, our little get togethers are different now that you're no longer around to rein us in from time to time. Seems we spend more time dealing with elementals than toughs that want to take on the junior league as some people called us the fact that Dare Devil has been forced to bail us out of trouble a couple of times just adds to the embarrassment though. Try and make it back at least for the summer please Spidey the three of us can get together and cause as much havoc as we want and the others might even ignore us for a while.
Your hero buddy Johnny Storm, AKA The Human Torch, founding member of the Fantastic Four, Protector of the Universe and Negative Zone, Champion of Earth, and reserve member of the New York Vigilante Super Hero Association.
Peter smiled as he read this letter; it was nice to know that Torchie and the Snowball were in his corner. He folded the letters up and hid them in his trunk before finally nodding off to sleep. He was well aware that at least two pairs of eyes were on him. Seamus and Ron both seemed put out that he had stopped them from doing whatever it was that they were getting ready to do to each other. Harry, Neville and Dean were already asleep though.
Dumbledore sat in his overstuffed chair behind his desk and looked over the test results of both Miss. Pryde and Mr. Parker. Their results were confusing to him to say the least they had scored well uncommonly well especially for people whom had never studied magic before. Then there was the fact that Miss. Pryde had come in from seemingly nowhere and none of his informants in the world could tell him much, though there had been a couple of American mages who said that she was under the protection of the X clan whoever they were and that he should tread carefully, while some Japanese wizards had said they did not give out the names of the daughters of the best if they truly wished to live. Mr. Parker on the other hand had no such connections it seemed, except for a Seer that had warned him about trying to weave a web around a natural web spinner. That was the problem with Seers, even when they were aware of what it was that they said they made no sense, preferring to talk in riddles that were full of double meanings. He placed the impressive test results down and turned to a shelf that might hopefully hold some of the answers to his questions.
"Do not look at me Albus, there is nothing that I can tell you that will help you in this." The hat said, still miffed that it had only been allowed to see what the two teens had wanted it to see.
"Surely you can enlighten me in someway though my friend."
"Unfortunately not, the mind shields of those two were impossible to slip through, all they let me see were what they wanted me to see, and the girl I know changed the scenery somehow in at least one of her memories."
"Changed the scenery?"
"Yes, the wording was all correct, but there was something off about the clothes."
"I didn't know it was possible to alter memories like that, perhaps they should teach Harry how to occlude his mind if they are so adept at it."
"Possible." The hat said in agreement. "Something tells me though that these are not simple followers, but are loners that you might do well to leave alone."
"I wish I could old friend, but I fear that they have both the minds and spirits to give Harry the push that he needs to act more like James."
"I have my own theories on that." The hat replied stiffly. "Come now, it is time to try me on so you can learn all that you can about your newest students." Dumbledore nodded, as he summoned the hat and placed it on his head, this was the only way that he could remember all of the students that were under his protection and that was to have the hat pound the knowledge into his mind.
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