Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter, wouldn't Amira and Rigel have been in the original story?
Fred flung open the door to the compartment. A black haired boy and a redheaded boy were talking in the corner.
"Hey, Ron." The redheaded boy looked up. "Listen, we're going down the middle of the train — Lee Jordan's got a giant tarantula down there."
Sweet! That must have been what was in the box. Oh I so had to look at that later. Just imagine all the trouble we could get into with a large furry tarantula.
"Right," mumbled Ron. Ron began to chew his nails. He obviously had issues with 8-legged creatures.
"Harry," said George, "did we introduce ourselves? Fred and George Weasley. And this is Amira and Rigel Tonks. See you later, then."
"Bye," said Harry and Ron. Fred and George slid the compartment door shut behind them leaving Rigel and I to face the unknown.
"Are you really Harry Potter?" Ron blurted out.
Harry nodded.
Wait this guy was Harry Potter! As in THE Harry Potter! The focus of many random childhood adventures! "Oh my gosh! This is so cool!"
Harry grimaced. He must get this a lot but still this is Harry Potter. I bet everyone wants to meet him. Well almost everyone, there must be a decent population who wants to kill him.
"Oh — well, I thought it might be one of Fred and George's jokes," said Ron. "And have you really got — you know…"
He pointed at Harry's forehead.
Harry pulled back his bangs to show the lightning scar. It was really there. I thought it might have been a myth.
"So that's where You-Know-Who —?" Does this boy have any tact?
"Yes," said Harry, "but I can't remember it."
"Nothing?" said Ron eagerly. It's official. He has no tact. Absolutely none.
"Well — I remember a lot of green light, but nothing else."
"Wow," said Rigel. Oh great I'm losing him to the amazing and slightly irritated Harry Potter. Both boys were staring at Harry in awe.
"So, how's life?" It was an innocent question. It was also random but I wanted the staring to stop and preferably soon.
Harry looked taken aback. As though Ron had suddenly realized what he was doing, he looked quickly out of the window. Rigel gave me annoyed look.
"Err, fine I guess." Harry seemed incredibly self-conscious. "Are all your family wizards?"
"Sort-of. Dad's muggle-born. He loves to tell stories about how he found out about Hogwarts," Rigel answered for me.
"They're funny if you think about it. Our aunts and uncles thought he was going mad."
"Wow, I think so. I mean that we're all wizards. I mean Mum might have a second cousin who's an accountant but we never talk about him. I heard you had to live with Muggles. What are they like?" Ron edged forward in his seat as if this was really interesting. I mean they're just Muggles.
"Horrible." Harry said. With a look at Rigel and my faces he added, "Well, not all of them. My aunt and uncle and cousin are, though. Wish I'd had three wizard brothers."
"Five," said Ron. For some reason, he was looking gloomy.
"I'm the sixth in our family to go to Hogwarts. You could say I've got a lot to live up to. Bill and Charlie have already left — Bill was head boy and Charlie was captain of Quidditch."
Rigel began to crack his knuckles at the mention of Charlie Weasley. I could feel my face going red. No one could break Nymphy's heart and get away with it. He just had to go to bloody Romania.
"Now Percy's a prefect." Wait he's related to that irritating prefect! Ron is really not helping himself here.
"Fred and George mess around a lot, but they still get really good marks and everyone thinks they're really funny."
That's of course just because they haven't met us yet. Oh Hogwarts be afraid, be very afraid.
"Everyone expects me to do as well as the others, but if I do, it's no big deal, because they did it first. You never get anything new, either, with five brothers. I've got Bill's old robes, Charlie's old wand, and Percy's old rat." And that's somewhat depressing.
I pulled out some parchment and a quill. I'm bored and that's not usually a good thing. Okay take out the usually, that's never a good thing. Maybe Rigel can help me think of some prank ideas…or he can continue talking to Harry and Ron like I'm not here. I love you too.
It didn't matter. I could think of some all by myself. I grabbed the work of masterpiece out of my bag, Mayhem and Marauding: A Guide to Pranking. I flipped through the pages looking for something useful. Tongue-tying jinx, that could be interesting. I'd have to practice that. Quick Color Change Charm, I dog-eared the page. I'll come back to that one. I just had to find the Slytherin common room first. I know its somewhere in the dungeons, Mum mentioned it once. Limerick Potion, absolutely brilliant! I now have our April Fools Prank! Just imagine a whole day where every one else was stuck speaking in silly poetry! I wrote that down. I absolutely had to try that.
"… and until Hagrid told me, I didn't know anything about being a wizard or about my parents or Voldemort —" Ron gasped. I involuntary shuddered.
"What?" asked Harry.
"You said You-Know-Who's name!" said Rigel and I together. Ron was almost talking over us, "I'd have thought you, of all people —"
"I'm not trying to be brave or anything, saying the name," said Harry, "I just never knew you shouldn't. See what I mean? I've got loads to learn… I bet I'm the worst in the class."
I was at a loss for words. This was Harry Potter! Harry Potter thought he would be bottom of our year! After everything he had done when he was a baby. I don't think it was possible for him to be the bottom of anything.
"You won't be. There's loads of people who come from Muggle families and they learn quick enough. Dad got the highest score on his transfiguration exam in his 7th year." As usual my twin is reassuring and kind while I sit there like an idiot.
A great clattering came from the corridor. A smiling dimpled woman stuck her head in, "Anything off the cart, dears?"
Rigel and I jumped up. We had each been given a fair amount of pocket money before we went to Diagon Alley. Rigel and I had pulled our allowances and gotten a fair amount of pranking supplies and extra reading books but we still had enough for some candy.
"I'll have a couple of Licorice Wands and some Chocolate Frogs, please." I paid her a couple Knuts. I found Muggle money slightly easier to deal with but it wasn't too hard.
"I'll take some Pumpkin Pasties and Cauldron Cakes," Rigel said. She handed him the individually wrapped cakes. "Thank you!" He paid her and went back inside the compartment.
I think you can tell a lot about a person from the type of candy they eat. Someone who enjoys Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans is adventurous. Chocolate Frog eaters liked to collect the cards. Droobles Bubble Gum chewers typically were obnoxious or cared little for their hair. Those bubbles would get huge and then pop right on the back of your head. I watched Harry order some of everything and my theory went right down the drain. I helped him carry the sweets into the compartment. We dumped them on an empty seat.
"Hungry, are you?" Ron asked
"Starving," said Harry as he took a large bite out of a pumpkin pasty.
Ron had taken out a lumpy package and unwrapped it. There were four sandwiches inside. He pulled one of them apart and said, "She always forgets I don't like corned beef…"
"Swap you for one of these," said Harry, holding up a pasty. "Go on —"
"You don't want this, it's all dry," said Ron. "She hasn't got much time," he added quickly, "you know, with five of us."
"Go on, have a pasty," said Harry. He tossed a cauldron cake at Ron but the boy-who-lived doesn't have very good aim. It swerved and hit me in the head.
"Oi!" I picked up the cake and passed it to Ron. He bit into it hungrily.
"What are these?" Harry asked us. He had picked up a pack of Chocolate frogs.
"They're not really frogs, are they?" He looked slightly queasy at the thought.
"Nah! It's just chocolate enchanted to look and move like a frog. Rigel just can't get over the fact it moves. He won't touch them." I said trying to be reassuring. Rigel sent me death glares.
"See what the card is. I'm missing Agrippa."
"What?" Harry looked absolutely bewildered.
"Oh, of course, you wouldn't know — Chocolate Frogs have cards, inside them, you know, to collect — famous witches and wizards. I've got about five hundred, but I haven't got Agrippa or Ptolemy." Wow. How'd he miss those two? I have at least 5 Ptolemy. Agrippa was the first card I ever got.
"So this is Dumbledore!" said Harry peering at his card.
"Don't tell me you'd never heard of Dumbledore!" said Ron. "Can I have a frog? I might get Agrippa — thanks —" He tore off the wrapping incredibly fast.
Harry turned the card back over and saw, that Dumbledore's face had disappeared. "He's gone!"
"Well, you can't expect him to hang around all day," said Ron. "He'll be back. No, I've got Morgana again and I've got about six of her… do you want it? You can start collecting."
Ron's eyes strayed to the pile of Chocolate Frogs waiting to be unwrapped. "Help yourself," said Harry. "But in, you know, the Muggle world, people just stay put in photos."
"Do they? What, they don't move at all?" Ron sounded amazed. "Weird!"
It wasn't weird at all I tore open one of my chocolate frogs and bit of its head. The frog "died" over and over again in my hand. I ripped off a leg and stuck it in my mouth. I could tell Rigel didn't like it. His reaction to Chocolate frogs was Nymphy's fault. She had told him they were actual frogs. He refused to ever take a bite. I had already found I enjoyed them and so wouldn't stop eating even after Nymphy tried to trick us.
I looked at the card. It was a bearded German wizard. "Ron, I got Agrippa. Do you want him?"
"Really! Oh wow! It really is him! Thanks so much Amira!" Ron looked like he wanted to hug me and I would really prefer if he didn't.
I chewed my licorice wands as Harry, Rigel and Wand tried different Bertie Botts Beans. It was amusing to watch. I had a knack for recognizing what flavor the beans were. They were Dad's favorite wizarding sweet. We had them often enough at our house.
"Uh! That's awful! Sardine!" Harry's face was so grossed out I began to laugh.
"They really mean every flavor." Rigel and I said between our laughter.
There was a knock on the door of the compartment and a round-faced boy came in. He looked tearful.
"Sorry," he said, "but have you seen a toad at all?"
When we shook our heads, he wailed, "I've lost him! He keeps getting away from me!"
"He'll turn up," said Harry.
"Yes," said the boy miserably. "Well, if you see him…" He left.
"Don't know why he's so bothered," said Ron. "If I'd brought a toad I'd lose it as quick as I could. Mind you, I brought Scabbers, so I can't talk." The rat was snoozed on Ron's lap. It was disgusting.
"He might have died and you wouldn't know the difference," said Ron in disgust. "I tried to turn him yellow yesterday to make him more interesting, but the spell didn't work. I'll show you, look…"
He rummaged around in his trunk and pulled out a very battered-looking wand. It was chipped in places and something white was glinting at the end. I honestly don't think it'll work as well as it should. "Unicorn hair's nearly poking out. Anyway —"
He had just raised his wand when the compartment door slid open again. The toadless boy was back, but this time Hermione was with him. She was already wearing her new Hogwarts robes. She looked a lot calmer than she was this morning.
"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one," Rigel and I exchanged looks.
"Are you sure you won't take my bet?" Rigel asked.
"Positive."
"We've already told him we haven't seen it," said Ron, but Hermione wasn't listening, she was looking at the wand in his hand.
"Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see it, then." She sat down. Ron looked startled.
"Er — all right." He cleared his throat. "Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow."
He waved his wand, but obviously nothing happened. It wasn't a real spell. I had the real spell in my book and was just dying to use it. Scabbers stayed gray and fast asleep.
"Are you sure that's a real spell?" said Hermione. "Well, it's not very good, is it? I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school of witchcraft there is, I've heard — I've learned all our course books by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough — I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you?" She said all this very fast. Someone must have had a lot of chocolate frogs to get this sugar high.
"It's not a real spell. Hi, I'm Rigel Tonks. We met this morning. You were trying to get on to the platform." Rigel extended his arm. Hermione took it and shook.
"I'm Amira Tonks." I shook her hand as well. I pulled out my wand. It already had fingerprints all over it. "I think the correct incantation is Henderirita Lacus."
Scabbers turned neon yellow. Now we so had to try it on the Slytherins. Hermione looked incredibly impressed. "Do you think you could teach me how to do that? It wasn't in any of the course books."
Naturally it wasn't in any of the course books. The teachers would have problems already with Rigel and I knowing the spell.
"Sure I can but I have to warn you, I haven't memorized the textbooks yet."
Two sighs of relief came from behind me. Harry and Ron hadn't either. Hermione turned back to them. "I'm sorry but you still haven't told me what your names are."
"I'm Ron Weasley," Ron muttered.
"Harry Potter," said Harry.
"Are you really?" said Hermione. "I know all about you, of course — I got a few extra books, for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."
"Am I?" said Harry. He looked dazed almost like he was going to faint.
"Goodness, didn't you know, I'd have found out everything I could if it was me," said Hermione. "Do either of you know what house you'll be in? I've been asking around, and I hope I'm in Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best; I hear Dumbledore himself was in it, but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad… Anyway, we'd better go and look for Neville's toad. You two had better change, you know, I expect we'll be there soon."
And she left, taking the toadless boy with her.
"Whatever house I'm in, I hope she's not in it," said Ron.
"Do you plan on being a Ravenclaw?" Rigel asked.
"No. I want to be in Gryffindor like my brothers. "Mum and Dad were in it, too. I don't know what they'll say if I'm not. I don't suppose Ravenclaw would be too bad, but imagine if they put me in Slytherin."
"That's the house Vol-, I mean, You-Know-Who was in?"
"Yeah," said Ron. He flopped back into his seat, looking depressed.
" You know not all Slytherins are bad right?" I asked not exactly sure what I was going on about. I didn't want to be in Slytherin. I was more just defending Mum.
"Really name one. They're all stuck up about blood purity and-"
"Our mother was a Slytherin. She married our dad who's muggle-born. A person is not defined by their house. Though I'd never want to be one." I added hastily looking at Ron and Harry's shocked faces. "Now, they're a whole bunch of idiots with bad priorities and lame insults."
We all laughed even though I'm pretty sure we hadn't met any of this year's Slytherins yet.
"So what do your older siblings do now that they've left, anyway?"
"Nymphy's training to be an Auror, you know a dark wizard catcher." Harry looked puzzled.
"They're like policeman," added Rigel.
Harry nodded his head like he knew what we were talking about now.
"Charlie's in Romania studying dragons, and Bill's in Africa doing something for Gringotts," said Ron. "Did you hear about Gringotts? It's been all over the Daily Prophet, but I don't suppose you get that with the Muggles — someone tried to rob a high security vault."
Harry stared. "Really? What happened to them?"
"Nothing, that's why it's such big news. They haven't been caught. My dad says it must've been a powerful Dark wizard to get round Gringotts, but they don't think they took anything, that's what's odd. 'Course, everyone gets scared when something like this happens in case You-Know-Who's behind it."
Ron said this all as if it were the simplest thing in the world, instead of a one time phenomenon.
"What's your Quidditch team?" Ron asked.
"The Wimbourne wasps. Though they're not nearly as good after Bagman left. Wish I could have seen him play. He was supposed to be amazing. That would have been amazing. Still 3rd in the League is nothing to laugh at."
"I guess they're not too bad. I prefer the Cannons," said Ron.
I honestly didn't know why anyone in their right mind would like the Chudley Cannons. They were bottom of the league and had the worst chasers Quidditch as ever known.
"Er — I don't know any." Harry confessed.
We began describing Quidditch, all its rules and the fouls. It was the most fun I had all afternoon. Ron, Rigel and I were basically talking over each other. Harry seemed to be absorbing it fine though. We had finally reached the point where we were describing how the leagues and the international teams worked when the compartment door opened again. But it wasn't Hermione, Neville or the twins this time.
Three boys entered. A smaller blond boy stood between two incredible trolls. They were massive and looked like they didn't have a thought in their heads. The larger boys stood like bodyguards.
"Is it true?" the small boy said. "They're saying all down the train that Harry Potter's in this compartment. So it's you, is it?"
"Yes," said Harry. He was looking at the trolls. I could understand why. They dominated the compartment.
"Oh, this is Crabbe and this is Goyle," said the pale boy carelessly, noticing where we were looking. "And my name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."
I had heard the name before. I just couldn't place it. I looked at Rigel. Understanding was evident on his face. I'd have to ask him later.
Ron gave a slight cough, which might have been hiding a snigger. Draco Malfoy looked at him.
"Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask who you are. My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford and who are you?" He turned his calculating gaze towards Rigel and me.
"Amira and Rigel Tonks." We said together standing up. We were taller than Malfoy but not nearly as tall as the oafs Crabbe and Goyle.
A look of understanding flashed on his face too. Am I honestly the only one who didn't know the connection here?
He turned back to Harry. "You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there."
He held out his hand to shake Harry's, but Harry didn't take it.
"I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks," he said coolly.
Draco Malfoy didn't go red, but a pink tinge appeared in his pale cheeks. "I'd be careful if I were you, Potter," he said slowly. "Unless you're a bit politer you'll go the same way as your parents. They didn't know what was good for them, either. You hang around with riffraff like the Weasleys, my cousins and that Hagrid, and it'll rub off on you."
Wait I'm related to this kid! What did I do to possibly deserve this? I must have kicked puppies, babies, kittens and any other possible cute thing you could think of in some previous lifetime.
Harry and Ron joined us, standing up too. "Say that again," Ron said, his face as red as his hair.
"Oh, you're going to fight us, are you?" Malfoy sneered.
"Unless you get out now," said Harry.
"But we don't feel like leaving, do we, boys? We've eaten all our food and you still seem to have some." Goyle reached toward the Chocolate Frogs next to Ron — Ron leapt forward, but before he'd so much as touched Goyle, Goyle let out a horrible yell.
Scabbers the rat was hanging off his finger, sharp little teeth sunk deep into Goyle's knuckle — Crabbe and Malfoy backed away as Goyle swung Scabbers round and round, howling, and when Scabbers finally flew off and hit the window, my cousin and his two idiots disappeared.
Perhaps they thought there were more rats lurking among the sweets, or perhaps they'd heard footsteps, because a second later, Hermione Granger had come in.
"What has been going on?" she said, looking at the sweets all over the floor and Ron as he picked up Scabbers by his tail.
"I think he's been knocked out," Ron said. He looked closer at Scabbers. "No — I don't believe it — he's gone back to sleep." And so he had. The yellow rat lay curled up. It was like he never moved. "What did he mean by my cousins?"
"Oh that, " I'm not exactly sure. I looked at Rigel to explain
"Our mother's name was Andromeda Black before she married our Dad. When her family found out, she was disowned. She had two sisters, Bellatrix and Narcissa. I guess that's Cissy's boy. Bellatrix is in Azkaban still. She went searching for you-know-who after he fell, tortured some people trying to get information."
Ron turned to Hermione, who was still standing in our compartment. "What do you want?"
"You'd better hurry up and put your robes on, I've just been up to the front to ask the conductor, and he says we're nearly there. You haven't been fighting, have you? You'll be in trouble before we even get there!"
"Scabbers has been fighting, not us," said Ron, scowling at her. "Would you mind leaving while we change?"
"All right — I only came in here because people outside are behaving very childishly, racing up and down the corridors," said Hermione in a stiff voice "And you've got dirt on your nose, by the way, did you know?"
Ron glared at her as she left. I grabbed my robes and headed towards the bathrooms. I had had one exciting ride.
A.N: I know I said last chapter that I would get to the sorting but I had a lot to cover. Thanks for reading! And a special thanks goes out to sara253xxx and ILoveLuke98 for their awesome reviews as well as to all my subscribers/favoritors.