19 years later
"Where are they?" Ricky peered over his classmates on Platform nine and three-quarters.
"Where are who?" His mother asked. Phoenix Weasley, once famous for being The Lost Malfoy and the second recorded person to survive the Killing Curse, was now famous for being the wife of George Weasley. After the death of an Uncle Fred they never knew, George and Phoenix worked the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes company, spreading it around the globe. Of course, since his youth, his mother has worked at Hogwarts as the Transfiguration teacher, a blessing and a curse.
"My friends." Ricky answered absentmindedly.
"You promised you'd sit with the family this year." Phoenix reminded him. Ricky wasn't paying attention, he greeted his fellow Quidditch team members as they loaded onto the train. "Oh, where is Harry?" Phoenix questioned, "George? Do you see them?" George Weasley, missing an ear, but never better, looked over the crowd.
"I think I see James coming in from the portal." George answered her, "Yes, I'd recognize that mop of hair anywhere."
The group of five quickly weaved through the crowd. As they came out to an empty spot by the engine of the Hogwarts Express, they saw Harry Potter, aged nicely but with a few grey hairs. He was assisting his youngest son, Albus through the portal. Ginny and Lily came not too long after.
"Hi, Scorp." Ricky heard his little sister, Minnie, call to their cousin. Glancing back he saw their Malfoy cousin, Scorpius Malfoy, hugging his mother goodbye. Ricky stood to the side as his younger sister and cousins expressed their worry an excitement, peering over his uncle Ron's shoulder, he noticed his Uncle Harry had stopped to talk to Albus.
The train whistle blew, "Alright!" Ricky called to his cousins, "Let's go!" He paused when he felt a small tug at his jacket, looking back he saw his youngest sibling, Mikey Weasley. "James," He called to his cousin, "Take the others to a compartment, try to find Vi." James nodded and pulled at his little brother, who in turn pulled at Rose, who in turn pulled at Minnie, who pulled at Dominique, who pulled at Louis, and the troop marched onto the train gathering many stares and whispers. Ricky kneeled beside his brother, "What's up, champ?" he asked.
"When will I get to go to Hogwarts?" he asked sadly, "It seems like you've been there forever." Mikey frowned.
"Ricky, the train's getting ready to leave." Phoenix called.
"Next year," Ricky hugged his brother tightly, "I promise. You'll come in with Hugo and Lily," he promised, "Take care of mum and dad." With that, Ricky took off at a run after the train, his long legs carried him as jumped on the train. He turned back and waved out the side at his family retreating into specks on the platform as the train rounded the first bend in their journey.
Ricky lowered his hand and set off to find his cousins, all eleven of them in a compartment would be a tight fit. Even though he promised to sit with his frightened sister, he didn't think he could. Thankfully, when he got to the compartment filled with Whizbangs and exploding snap, he found several family members missing.
Those that were there included Dominique, James, Minnie, Louis, Albus, Rose, and Scorpius. Ricky winced and felt bad for Scorpius, only Minnie was being nice to him, the others ignored his existence. Ricky knocked on the door, "Everything okay?" he asked, not wanting to stay too long.
"Yes." Dominique stood up quickly, wanting to leave as well.
"Wait!" Louis cried out, "Aren't you supposed to stay with us?" he asked.
"Do you really need me to?" Ricky asked, "You've got James."
"Don't leave me with babysitting." James groaned.
"I'm gunna go say "hi" to the team," Dominique whispered and she slipped out past Ricky. Now left with the four first years and one third year, Ricky sighed.
"Can't you stay for an hour or so?" Minnie pleaded.
Ricky shuffled into the compartment and sat down, "Fine." he said, "But only an hour."
"Mum wanted me to remind you all that Hagrid invited us to tea this Friday." Albus mentioned.
Ricky sighed inwardly, Ricky, Dominique, James and Lucy were the only ones to visit Hagrid, but now that the first years were here, perhaps they could get out of visiting Hagrid so much and focus more on Quidditch Practice. Ricky ran a thumb over the Captain's badge in his pocket, he played as Keeper and had a near perfect record for blocking goals. Only when the other team played dirty did he miss, "Or that one year," Ricky thought, thinking back to the previous year. He shook his head, fourth year was not his best year.
"So," Minnie bounced excitedly, "Mum was telling me about a secret announcement this morning." Ricky looked at her curiously.
"Did she give any details on it?" Scorpius asked.
Minnie shrugged, "All she said was that the school was going to be very crowded this year." she gave a Malfoy smirk, something definitely inherited from being "Grandfather's little girl".
"You don't think they'd bring the Triwizard Tournament back to Hogwarts do you?" Rose asked.
"Of course they wouldn't." Louis said as though it were obvious, "It was held at Hogwarts last time."
"Well I was just saying." Rose huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Well you can just say all you want," James rolled his eyes, "I'm surprised," the first years looked at him curiously, Ricky shot him a warning glare, "Usually first years talk about what House they're going to be in."
"Right," Louis rolled his eyes, "Does it matter since we're all going to remain family anyways?" Scorpius shifted awkwardly on the seat.
"I for one," Rose spoke up, "Hope I'm not in Hufflepuff."
"What's wrong with Hufflepuff?" Ricky asked, "Aunt Audrey was a Hufflepuff, so was professor Longbottom's wife." he reminded.
Rose's cheeks turned red, "W-well,"
"It's the saddest excuse for "we don't know what to do with you" ever." Scorpius spoke up in a low voice.
"Well," Minnie squirmed, "Mum knew a Hufflepuff, said he was brave and kind…" Ricky frowned, their mother seldom mentioned her youth to them, what they did know they learned from their father or uncles and aunts, or from old newspaper clippings in their grandparents home.
"Still," Scorpius crossed his arms, "Waste of-"
"At least none of us will be in Slytherin," Louis pulled a disgusted face, "That's where all the bullies go." Scorpius's face twisted up and Ricky was reminded of the face Uncle Draco made when he smelled something foul. Ricky gave James a look, blaming him for planting the seed of hatred for other houses in their heads.
"Well," Rose spoke up, "Dad said I better be in Gryffindor or else."
"Rose," Ricky sighed, "You can be in any house you want. You know your dad wouldn't actually do anything." After the hour was up, Ricky left James in charge, "If I hear from any of them that you were planting more seeds of House discrimination in their heads, I'll be using that Beaters bat of yours for more than just practice drills." he whispered to the third year before he left. Ricky quickly walked the length of the train looking for his misfit gang of friends.
"Look, Brand." Ricky winced hurrying after his friends voice, "For the last time, we don't know where Ricky is!" Ricky squeezed by the Sweets Trolley lady. Sure enough Natalia Brand-the reason Ricky's last year was awful-stood by the compartment his friends were in. Allie was standing in the doorway blocking Natalia from barging in. "Ricky." Allie's blue-green eyes widened his shock. Natalia turned back in surprise, but smiled kindly when she saw him.
Ricky didn't return the smile, he peeked in around Natalia and Allie, "Hey guys." he nodded to Neo and Cli who nodded in return.
"Ricky," Natalia turned and blocked him from slipping in around Allie, "Can we talk?" she asked.
"Maybe some other time, I'm not in the mood to talk." Ricky pushed pass Natalia and Allie, plopping down on the empty seat across from Neo and Cli. He lifted his head as Allie sat down next to him. When he looked out to the hallway, Natalia was gone.
"What was that for?" Allie asked, looking down at Ricky as he laid his head on her lap, "And where have you been?"
"I just don't want to talk to her." Ricky sighed, "And I was with my sister and cousins."
"I thought you were obsessed with Natalia?" Cli asked.
"Yeah," Neo growled, "He was, it's why we didn't win any Quidditch games against Ravenclaw last year."
"Mum said the castle was going to be crowded this year." Ricky changed the subject, he got a flick from Allie for doing so.
"Wonder what that means." Neo chewed on his lip.
"Do you ever listen to dad?" Cli sighed, Neo blinked at him confused, "Other schools are coming to Hogwarts in a sort of school fair." The other three said nothing, "According to Dad, it's been a lot of trouble getting parents to allow their kids to stay at Hogwarts."
"Why has it been trouble?" Allie asked.
"Apparently some schools you go to daily," Cli explained, "They don't sleep in the castle, they just go there in the morning, and leave in the afternoon."
"Sounds like a waste of travel time." Neo scoffed, Cli only shrugged.
"Anyways, we're supposed to be learning from other professors this year, see what their curriculum is like." Cli explained.
"Sounds boring." Allie huffed and crossed her arms.
"Well there's a Christmas Fair, Spring Fair, and End of the Year Fair." Cli explained.
"Fairs all around, watch them be educational." Neo scoffed.
"Well, I know Dad said something about importing creatures." Cli tried to defend the schools, "And mum said something about dress robes."
"Dress robes?" Allie demanded, "No, that's sickening."
Neo cooed, "Allie has to wear a dress." he taunted.
"If you keep it up, you will too." Allie huffed. Ricky and Cli laughed, Neo just rolled his eyes and leaned back in the seat. The rest of the train ride was spent playing exploding snap, and discussing what classes they were taking.
"I hope Professor Alhaster's class is better than last year. Learning about unforgivable curses was the worst." Neo stretched as the sun began to set.
"I thought it was fun." Allie grinned, "I can't believe the headmistress was okay with us learning dark spells."
"Well we've got to be prepared, don't we?" Cli asked.
"For what?" Ricky inquired, "It's not like we're going to be attacked." The trip to Hogwarts always seemed to pass fast once the sun dipped beyond the horizon. Dressing in their school robes, the four stepped off the train onto the platform.
"First years, this way!" He could hear Hagrid call, after all these years, all Hagrid had to show was a few lighter strands of hair on his head and beard. Ricky glanced through the crowd and saw his sister and cousins obediently following Hagrid.
"Come on, Ricky, we don't want to be on the last carriage." Neo tugged at his sleeve. Ricky obediently followed and jumped into the carriage.
"How do you think the sorting will go?" Lucy asked, crossing her arms on the table and resting her chin on her arms.
"Easy breezey." Dominique waved it off.
"I hope so," James held his stomach, "I'm starving."
"You're always starving." Neo sighed, his head on the table. "All of you, it must be a Weasley thing." He grumbled, "Eat and eat and never gain weight or get stuffed."
"Something we all inherited from Uncle Ron." Ricky grinned at his starving friend who punched his arm. Suddenly the Great Hall doors opened, turning back, Ricky watched his mother escort the first years down to the front. Ricky remembered his sorting, how his mother had been the one to set the hat on his head. How she smiled proudly at him when Gryffindor was called. Tonight, she looked pale and frightened, Ricky frowned as his cousins and friend whispered his own thoughts.
"Just spread around up front," Phoenix instructed, she kept her hands in her work robes as she swept her arms out as an example. Ricky saw his sister and cousins stumbling with the other first years and smiled fondly, remembering him and his friends during their sorting. "Now," Phoenix stood by the stool with the ratty old sorting hat sitting atop it. "When I call your name, you will come up and you will be sorted." Phoenix pulled a scroll out of her robes, "Suzanne Abbot." a little girl with blonde hair nervously shuffled to the stool, Phoenix lifted the hat and held it over the little girls head.
"Hufflepuff!" The black and gold table cheered as the girl walked over.
"Alan Carter." Ricky spaced out, looking across the hall he spotted Allie. She was talking to one of her Slytherin friends, the other girl looked over and Allie pulled her back to the conversation they were having.
"Ravenclaw!" Ricky could barely see though the Ravenclaws that cheered, but he was sure Allie and the other girl was giggling. What were they talking about?
"Bernard Clause." Ricky continued to scan the Great Hall, Cli was welcoming the new first year to his table. His sister was clutching Rose's hand, both girls looked terrified, but Rose seemed more determined than ever to get to the stool.
"Slytherin!" Ricky watched Allie clap as the young black haired boy walked to the black and green table.
"William Earbert." Ricky watched his mothers fingers tremble, something was scaring her.
"What do you reckon it is?" Neo whispered.
"What?" Ricky whispered back.
"Ravenclaw!"
"That's got Professor Weasley all scared." Neo whispered.
"Daniel Hanson."
"No idea." Ricky frowned, he wish he did know. His mother shivered from fear, in all his years at a sorting ceremony, she'd never appeared this nervous. Glancing around the Great Hall, Ricky caught sight of Allie giggling at something her friend said, the corners of his lips twitched up, the room seemed to grow warming.
"Slytherin!"
Ricky noticed the temperature change, but remained immune to it as students began to fan themselves. Phoenix, however, seemed impervious to the temperature change. Ricky frowned.
Two more kids were sorted, both in Gryffindor, and then Phoenix called, "Scorpius Malfoy."
She smiled kindly to Scorpius as he tried to hold his head high walking up to the stool. Phoenix could barely lower the hat to his head when the hat cried out, "Slytherin!" Phoenix smiled and motioned for Scorpius to join the cheering table.
Another girl was sorted into Hufflepuff, a set of twins were separated into Slytherin and Ravenclaw, "Bird Orphie," Phoenix called. Ricky perked up as no one came to the stool. Then there was the clacking of something whacking stone and a girl carrying a red and white cane stumbled up and ran into Phoenix. Phoenix shot the Hall a glare as a round of giggles went out. Phoenix helped the blushing dark skinned girl onto the stool where the hat was slipped on her head.
"Hufflepuff, for sure." James yawned.
"Gryffindor!" Ricky cheered loudly as the girl was guided by an aged Mr. Filch to the cheering table.
He caught his mother giving him a pleased smile as she called, "Albus Potter." As she did with Scorpius, she gave Albus a reassuring smile. James cheered the loudest when the sorting hat called out Gryffindor, he looked so proud and ready to burst with happiness as Albus joined them at the table.
One girl was sorted into Ravenclaw, and another in Slytherin, "Louis Weasley." the silver-blonde head of Louis separated himself from Rose and Minnie, he beamed up nervously at Phoenix. Ricky glanced at Victoire, and Dominique. Victoire was seated beside Cli and looked more scared than when Ricky had been hit with a bludger his second year. Dominique was watching her little brother with unblinking eyes, her fist resting on her lap and turning white.
"Slytherin!" Louis frowned but obediently joined the table. Ricky glanced at Allie who quickly hugged Louis and said something to him that made him smile.
"Minerva Weasley." Phoenix said professionally, Ricky watched as Minnie stumbled up the stairs. She shook as the hat slipped over her eyes, Ricky chewed on his lip anxiously. Minnie was smart enough she could be in Ravenclaw, but she was very joking and cunning.
"Slytherin!" Minnie looked like she was going to have a panic attack as Phoenix slowly patted her back and got her off the stool. Minnie immediately sat by Allie who hugged her. Allie glanced over at Ricky.
"Rose Weasley."
"Thank you." He mouthed to Allie.
"No problem." She mouthed back, smiling.
"Ravenclaw!"
The last two students were sorted, one in Hufflepuff one in Gryffindor, and Headmistress McGonagall stood up. Though years had passed since Phoenix and George once walked the halls as students, Ricky had seen her nearly every year for as long as he could remember. "Good evening, students." McGonagall said calmly, everyone settled down, anticipating the feast that would soon be underway, "As a reminder to those returning, and a warning to those new: Our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds. Secondly, Hogwarts will not only house you this year." The Great Hall went up in whispers, Ricky could hear his cousins excitedly whispering to each other. He looked at the staff table, his mother sat beside Hagrid looking frightened to death, Hagrid was whispering something to her. "In order to strengthen ties in the magical world, four schools will come together at Hogwarts for a festival known as "Worldly School Fair"." Ricky glanced at Cli who looked proud of himself and was saying something to Victoire.
"Now," McGonagall said, the whispers died down, Ricky looked back up at the old witch, "In this fair, you will be taught by professors from the other schools. You are expected to behave as though they were your home professors. Now, I am pleased to announce," McGonagall threw her arm out towards the Great Hall doors which swung open, "The students from Mexico's School of Magic, and their headmaster Ricardo Rivera!"
Ricky looked back as a group of students walked in lead by their headmaster. Rivera looked comical with his long, curly, black moustache that dropped to his ankles and swayed around with his gold and white robes. His dark eyes looked young and overjoyed to be at Hogwarts as he swept up to the podium and gave a shocked McGonagall a hug.
"Gracias," He laughed, "Thank you for having us."
"Yes, well." Several students laughed as McGonagall steadied her flustered self, she waved them to the empty part of the Hufflepuff table. "Thank you." She mumbled, standing upright she waved to the Great Hall doors again, "And now, the East Coast Witchcraft and Wizardry Academy, and their Principal George Smith!"
Looking back, Ricky watched a bald man with sharp, blue-green eyes, pushed past Mr. Filch and marched down the hallway, the students following him all wore school robes of red, white and blue, including the Principal. However, they did not have long robes that Hogwarts had. Instead, the boys wore black suits with a red, white, or blue tie, and shining black shoes. The girls, however, wore red, white, or blue blouses, black skirts and black slip-ons. Principal Smith stood before McGonagall's podium, he gave a strange sort of salute then stood at attention. McGonagall only smiled at him politely and she waved him to the empty part of the Ravenclaw table.
"The Outback School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and their Headmistress Eileen Caston!"
A dark, curly haired witch trotted in, her pink and blue robes swishing about her as her students in white and black hurried to keep up. Caston hugged McGonagall and was motioned to sit at the Slytherin table. However, there were two squeals from a girl at Outback School and East Coast school, a girl in black and a girl in red ran across the hall to hug each other tightly.
"Smith!" The Headmaster of East Coast snapped, "Back to your position." The girl in red from East Coast school blushed furiously as she noticed all the eyes on her. She and the girl from Outback school shared something of a whisper at the front of the Hall, then they darted back to their respective schools. Ricky looked at his mother curiously, who looked just as confused as she did.
"And finally!" McGonagall swept her arms out as if to embrace a being, "The Mediterranean school of Magic, and their Headmaster Dimitri Vargas!"
"Better be finally," Neo groaned, "I'm starving."
Ricky watched as an old man with shaggy grey hair cautiously walked down the aisle, his hair and beard nearly overtook the whole front of his body, only a nose and tiny mouth were seen. His blue and gold robes seemed to shine as he shimmered past them, his students following. Ricky watched a girl in turquoise and gold-the schools colors he guessed-pass by him. She looked like she wanted to be anywhere but there. Her chocolate eyes glared at everyone as she passed them, she even scoffed and flipped her soft, curly black hair over her shoulder, it just barely brushing his forehead.
Ricky glanced at the table, his mother looked around fearfully as if expecting someone else to show up, but no one did. Mr. Filch closed the doors as the Mediterranean students sat at the end of the Gryffindor table.
"Now that we're all settled in, let the feast begin."
"Finally!"
"I can't believe Minnie and Louis got in Slytherin." Albus frowned that night, "And Rose got Ravenclaw." He looked up at James and Ricky, "Does that mean we won't be friends anymore?"
"Of course not." Dominique spoke up from polishing her Cumulo 2. "Victoire is in Ravenclaw, and I'm in Gryffindor, but that doesn't mean we're not sisters. Just because our brother is in Slytherin doesn't mean he isn't our brother."
"What about Minnie? She didn't want to be in Slytherin, did you see how shocked she looked?" Albus asked.
"Al," Ricky ruffled his messy black hair, "She'll be fine. Besides, I'm friends with a Slytherin, you remember Allie?"
"Allie's muggle born that's a difference." Albus protested.
"She's a great witch." Ricky argued.
"And what about Molly and Lucy?" Dominique asked.
"Don't drag me into this." Lucy called from across the common room.
"Molly's in Ravenclaw, and Lucy's here with us." Dominique ignored her.
"Yeah but how often does Molly even associate with us?" Albus asked, "When we're at school it's like she's not even a Weasley."
"Are you're not, you're a Potter." James reminded, "Look, Al, everything'll be fine, just relax." Ricky laughed with the others but as he went to bed, he couldn't help but worry about his sister who was probably down in the Slytherin common room scared out of her mind. She had wanted so desperately to be in Gryffindor like their parents and their fathers family before them, but she'd taken after their mothers family and ended up in Slytherin. He tossed and turned that night with worry, and had to drag himself out of bed and to the Great Hall the following morning.
"Good Morning, Mister Weasley." McGonagall tapped a scroll on his shoulder, Ricky lazily lifted his head and retrieved the scroll from her, "Sleep well?" she frowned.
"Not at all, Headmistress." Ricky yawned, "But I'm fine."
"If you need, I'm sure Madam Pomfrey will be glad to give you a pepper up potion." McGonagall looked at him concerned, Ricky glanced at the Great Hall doors and noticed his rambunctious family coming in.
"No, thank you, ma'am." Ricky declined politely, she nodded and turned to scold his family for being so loud. Undoing the scroll he'd taken, Ricky absentmindedly munched on his toast.
"So, what's your schedule say?" Neo slid into Ricky as he sat on the bench.
"I've got Defense Against the Dark Arts training with a professor Smith, says they're from the East Coast School." Ricky read, "We'll be having it with some East Coast kids and some Slytherins."
"Every Yankee seems to be "Smith"." Neo yawned, "I've got that class too."
Ricky didn't say, "Transfiguration with mum, some East Coast, and Mediterranean students.
"Same." Neo picked up Ricky's uneaten toast and munched on it.
"Potions with a professor Stacey from Outback, with Mexico and Ravenclaw." Ricky read.
"Yup." Neo took a drink from his own goblet.
"Lunch." Ricky bit into his toast, "Something called "Endurance Class" from the Mexico school with the Mediterranean students and the Outback students." Neo nodded his mouth full of bacon, "Care of Magical Creatures from the Mediterranean school, with Slytherins and Mediterranean students. And something called "Health" from Mediterranean with Mexico and Outback."
"This year is gunna be long." Neo groaned.
"No kidding." Ricky frowned, he'd been expecting a break in his schedule this year, however with the World School Fair going on, he expected they wanted to fill every students schedule. Glancing at the Ravenclaw table he noticed a frown on Victoire's glossed lips. "Yup," Ricky sighed, "Full for everyone."
"Well, where is first class?" Neo asked, standing up.
"No idea," Ricky followed, he felt as helpless as a first year, glancing back he saw his sister being helped by two Slytherin boys, he couldn't remember their names. Looking at the scroll in his hands he scanned the lines, "It says out by their car?" the two walked out of the Great Hall.
"Hey guys." Allie trotted up, "You got Defense with East Coast?" she asked.
"Yeah," Neo nodded, "You know where it is?"
"Yeah. I saw them park yesterday while we were walking from the carriage." Allie instructed them to follow her. Following Allie, the three made it to the grounds around the bend from Hagrid's hut close to the edge of the Black Lake. Several cars were parked in a circle, a large tent like structure raising from the inside of the circle. A door hanging from the tent was the only visible way in or out. Several students were already there waiting, among them was the blonde haired girl from the welcoming feast that hugged the Outback girl in the middle of the welcoming ceremony.
"I'm gunna say "hi" to her." Ricky whispered to Neo and Allie.
"Why?" Allie grabbed his wrist.
"Just to be nice." Ricky shrugged, Neo pulled Allie's hand off his wrist and Ricky weaved between the crowds over to the blonde haired girl. "Hi." he greeted gently, "My name's Ricky." he stuck out his hand.
The girl looked up at him shyly, but smiled and grasped his hand, "Hi, I'm Anna." Ricky dropped her hand and smiled.
"So, do you know this professor well?" he asked.
"Do I ever." Anna sighed and smiled gently, "The teacher's my mom." her accent was oddly bright and numb, as if she had a stuffed nose. Slightly annoying, but very kind. "It sucks having a parent as a teacher."
"I know how you feel." Ricky admitted.
The girl seemed to perk up, "You do?" she asked.
"Yeah, my mum's the Transfiguration teacher here." Ricky admitted.
"I have transfiguration next," Anna beamed, "Is she nice?"
Ricky tossed his head back and forth, debating, "Fairly." he grinned, Anna laughed and the tent door opened.
"Welcome," a red haired, green eyed woman in purple robes smiled warmly, "Come on in, sit down, make yourselves at home." Walking into the tent, Allie pulled Ricky across the room away from the East Coast kids. "I will be your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year, some of you know me," She looked at her East Coast kids, "And some of you don't." She looked at the Gryffindors and Slytherins. The round tent was much bigger on the inside, farthest from the door was a chalkboard on wheels, in front of that was a desk. Instead of grassy ground like Ricky expected, there was actually tile lined between the billowing tent walls. Instead of doubled desks there were several individual desks grouped in fours, however they were circled around the edge of the room, in the middle was a pile of cushions that the professor then went and laid on one.
"So, for our icebreaker this year, I'd like to throw this ball." she said sitting up and producing a ball from her slimming robes, "If you catch it, you say your name, something about yourself you don't think anyone else knows, and throw it, once you do that you sit down." Several East Coast kids looked excited at this, but Ricky glanced at the Hogwarts students and found that most were just as confused as he was. Most students were on the cushions in the middle, but a few were scattered along the walls. "I'm going to go first." Ricky could see where the slightly bright and numb voice Anna had came from. "My name is Mrs. Smith, and I am actually a natural bright red-head." She motioned to her fiery red hair that should not have been a natural hair color. She tossed the ball up in the air, several East Coast students ran to it, but a dark skinned boy with buck teeth caught it.
"My names Mace, and I have to wear fake teeth."
"Must be muggleborn." Neo whispered and he and Ricky held back gags and laughter as Mace showed off his fake buck teeth.
The ball was tossed and students introduced, the East Coast kids kept to passing the ball to each other, and then Anna caught it. "My name is Anna, and I self taught myself to not speak in a lisp." Anna grinned at Ricky and tossed the large, inflated ball to him.
"Uhm," Ricky twirled the ball in his hands, "My name is Ricky, and," He chewed on his bottom lip, Professor Smith was looking at him interestingly as he tried to think of something special about him. "Aside from my Weather Powers, god if mum and dad ever found out they'd lock me up forever." Ricky thought, "I am interested in magical law." He noticed Allie and Neo look at him surprised, he quickly passed the ball to Neo and sat down.
Once the ball got back to Professor Smith, she stood up, "Now that we all know each other, let's get down to the curriculum this year. This year, will be teaching you advanced versions of the spells you should have learned in your previous years, I am also going to be teaching you what to do incase you are attacked."
"Theoretical crap," Allie mumbled, "Apparently the states are too scared to actually show the truth."
"I'd like you to pair up with someone not from your school, and we're going to practice the hydro-kinetic spell." Anna immediately paired up with Ricky, grabbing hold of his arm, "Repeat after me, no wands, Hancenmotu hydro."
"Hancenmotu hydro." Ricky repeated with the others.
"Good," Professor Smith waved her wand, several tubs of water appeared between the pairs of students, "Now in order to perform this spell, you must point your wand at the water." She pointed her wand at the tub before her and the water lifted in a spiral, following her wand, "Today we'll just practice by flicking water at each other," she returned the wand to her side, the tie between her wand and the water severing and the water crashed on her feet, drenching the bottom half of the front of her robes. "Once we improve, we'll have a little fun."
"My mom," Anna sighed as she let them go about practicing, "She's something, huh?"
"Just trying to make it fun, I suppose." Ricky said, focusing on the tub of water.
"Hancenmotu hydro." Anna pointed her wand at the tub, a small blob of water struggled to rise.
"So, I have a question," Ricky posed carefully, Anna glanced up at him, the water nearly dropping back completely, "What was up with you and the girl in the Great Hall?" he asked.
Ana frowned and nodded understanding, "That girl is my twin, believe it or not."
"I don't." Ricky admitted, "Hancenmotu hydro." the water began to shiver and rise, but it barely moved a foot above the tub before it quivered and remained in place, no matter how hard he tried to raise it.
"My parents," Anna explained, making a blob of water jump up and down from the tub, trying to get it to separate from its water cord connecting it to the water in the tub, "Had different ideas on how to raise me and my sister…My dad wanted to go to Australia, live out his dream as trying to pass as a muggle archeologist." Anna sighed, "My mom, on the other hand, wanted to stay closer to family and have me and my sister go to the school our whole families gone to." Ricky said nothing as Anna told her tale, he lowered his wand, letting the water drop, "Well…My parents aren't exactly split…they just don't talk to each other or see each other…or…acknowledges the other exists anymore…" Anna sighed sadly, "They're still married, and I don't know why." Anna sighed exasperatedly, looking at her mother who was helping a student who couldn't even create a ripple, "But," Anna went back to focusing on her water blob, "Every summer mum and dad send me and my sister to Hawaii for two weeks with as much money as they can possibly send with us…and we just visit and catch up…and I didn't even know she was going to be here…My mom and dad are here, this is the closest we've all been since ever." Anna sounded excited and terrified at the same time, "I don't know why…but I want mom and dad to finally get together…I just want a family…a normal family." Anna sighed, the water crashed down on her feet, but Ricky wasn't sure she noticed as she was now crying.
"Hey," Ricky stepped around the tub of water, "It's okay, I can't promise anything, we've just met." Anna laughed, "But, don't cry." he used his sleeves to dry his tears. He sighed, not having advice for someone made him sick to his stomach, "Come on, you've got to be happy when you go to my mum's class, it's only fair." Anna gave another sad laugh and nodded.
SO!
Second chapter! New drama is stirring at Hogwarts!~ It's so exciting.
I know McGonagall should be retired by this time, however I love her character so much I had to keep her, eventually she'll retire but it'll probably be after the youngest Weasley leaves Hogwarts, I dunno. Since this is all non-canon (sorta) It'll take longer for me to update (not because it'll be harder but because I'll simply have no motivation to-sorry haha) so just bear with me guys.
The next chapter probably won't be out for a week or so because I'm leaving for vacation soon, it's like...a 5-7 day vacation and school will start up not long after that so updates will slow but I will not disappear for months on end like I did for Phoenix Malfoy, I promise!
ALSO!
I am on Pottormore now! I'm in the Slytherin house and my name is StoneSeer11476 (I don't know why I'm telling you all, but pretty much since the very first start of Phoenix Malfoy I wanted a Pottermore account, I just never got around to getting one, well now I have one and I'm so excited)
