The Second Chance
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing of J. K. Rowling and Kurinoone's universe. This story is written with permission from Kurinoone, and is based on Kurinoone's fabulous, beyond awesome story- "The Darkness Within" (which was inspired by Project Dark Overlord's wonderful story- "The Shattered Prophesy").
Chapter 7: Back To Hogwarts
After the spell was cast, Ron and Damien were allowed to stay for the rest of the Order meeting. It turned out that James was too busy with the Ministry and Order to be the Professor of Defense Against Dark Arts at Hogwarts anymore; so was Lily. Oddly, Damien felt disappointed that his parents weren't going to Hogwarts with him anymore. When they were teaching at school, the youngest Potter had complained about being restricted because his parents were professors. Yet as the realisation that James and Lily would never frown at him from behind the school desk brought about a sense of loss.
"But who will teach us Potions and Defense?" asked Ron before Damien could put it into question himself.
The rest of the Order members looked grim; but Sirius put on a knowing smile. "Ah, we can't indulge you in these secrets before the time is right, can we?"
Damien and Ron scowled simultaneously.
"Professor Dumbledore will make the announcement during the Great Feast on your first day at Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall.
"Yeah you have no reason to know beforehand," added Sirius annoyingly.
"Is it someone you know?" said Damien suspiciously, scrutinising his uncle severely. "Is it Uncle Remus? Tonks? Or..."
Damien stopped short. Ron seemed to come to the same conclusion as the youngest Potter did; both swivelled around to face Sirius, their faces barely containing excitement.
"Blimey! Is it you, Sirius?" asked Ron, a suggested laugh in his voice. "You, our Defense Professor?"
Damien was grinning, as though they had confirmed the point. James, however, butted in, looking disapproving.
"Look what you've done Padfoot," he reprimanded his best friend. "Nice misunderstanding you've created here."
Sirius sighed. "I thought it'd be annoying. No, Damy and Ronnie, as much as you'd love to have me, I'm sorry- your new Professor is not me, and is not someone I know well either."
Ron's scowl deepened at the name 'Ronnie'.
Dumbledore steepled his fingers before he spoke. "Since you both are already here, I shall briefly explain the security regarding your journey towards Hogwarts," he began. "This year, Portkeys will be delivered along with your Hogwarts letters. All students or parents are no longer required to arrive at King's Cross station. All Hogwarts Portkeys will be in the form of quills with red and blue tips. Be sure not to mix them up with the others," he added, his twinkling gaze resting on Ron and Damien. "The Portkey will be activated for a duration of three minutes. In your Hogwarts letter, we have detailed the exact time you must touch your Portkey in order to be transported directly to Platform Nine and a Three Quarters; within the barrier, of course."
Ron stifled a yawn and Damin nudged him.
"Of course, this year, you may bring your pets and owls if you wish, but sending letters, be it to guardians, friends or parents are strictly prohibited within the school walls. Exceptions however can be made for unique circumstances. Also, the letter will be intercepted before sent for security reasons."
This time, Ron sat up, paying the professor extra attention. "Professor," he started, raising his hand. "If letters can't be sent from the students in the school, does that mean letters from our parents won't reach us either?"
Dumbledore smiled, the twinkle in his eyes returning. "Yes," he replied. "I'm afraid you won't be able to contact your parents throughout the year until the next term. Any means of communication, such as the two-way-mirror are not allowed in the grounds of Hogwarts."
"Oh," said Ron, but Damien could tell hints of a smile in his friends' voice.
"As the rest of the Order members know," Dumbledore continued. "I have received many requests for Hogwarts to accept quite a few transfer students, most of them from abroad. Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, asked me to accept them into Hogwarts to establish an unofficial international relationship with France, America and other countries. After reviewing the case with the public, my final judgement is to agree."
By then, Ron and Damien were barely listening; tired and sleepy they were for staying up so late at night. Lily caught their yawns, so did Professor Dumbledore, who smiled slightly at the sight.
Five minutes later, the meeting was adjourned. As they got up to leave their seats, to Ron's great surprise, Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall came to congratulate him. Feeling bewildered, Ron did not take their proferred hands.
Dumbledore laughed lightly at Ron's comical expression.
"I take it you have not read your Hogwarts letter?" he asked, bemused.
"Er... no sir," replied Ron truthfully, still eyeing the Professor's hand uncertainly.
Dumbledore merely nodded at him, then left with a nod and a smile, acknowledging Damien.
"What was that all about?" whispered Damien to Ron.
"No idea," replied Ron, his eyes fixed on the Dumbledore in a slightly suspicious manner.
"Not that," said the younger of the pair. "I meant your question to Professor Dumbledore just now. Why did you seem so... pleased that we won't be receiving letters from our parents this year?"
"Oh, that," grinned Ron. Making sure his mother had her back turned, he whispered specifically to his friend, "Imagine, all the pranks we can feel free to play at school! Dumbledore can't complain to Mum, nor can Mum send me Howlers with the postal service suspended!"
Damien laughed as he surveyed his excited friend. "You're getting as bad as the Marauders."
Hermione greeted them anxiously once they arrived at the Burrow. Damien had barely greeted Ginny a 'hello' before the bushy haired girl had pushed both Ron and Damien into the kitchen.
"It's done, isn't it?" she whispered, looking worried.
"Yes, it is, so you can stop worrying now, Hermione," Ron said, rolling his eyes.
"That's all the more reason to worry!" hissed Hermione back at Ron, trying to keep her voice down. "I've searched through entire stacks of books, but according to Barriers of the early 20th century, it is simply not possible to combine blood and magic in a barrier. In 1979, around twenty powerful wizards had tried and failed. Some were even killed in the process. Apparently they did not have sufficient power to supress the negative force created when both spells - "
"Hold it, hold it, hold it!" moaned Ron. "What was that again?"
Damien rolled his eyes. "You needn't be that dramatic. It wasn't that complicated yet."
"Oh really! Let her continue and it will, trust me," shot back Ron. Hermione scowled.
However, Molly appeared at the kitchen doorway and put an end to the conversation. Damien said a hurried goodbye to the rest of the Weasleys before following his parents back to Potter Manor, stifling a yawn as he did so. After all, it was already past midnight. Normally, Lily would have forbidden him to sleep this late.
Ron watched as the flames turned a flaming red again before turning around. Ginny was standing behind him. When both of their eyes met, his youngest sister's face promptly turned into a barely suppressed scowl before she turned on her heels and stalked away. Ron's temper flared.
"What's it with you now?" he said loudly, clearly irritated.
Ginny turned back to face him. "Now, that's the question I'd like to ask you instead," she said heatedly. "What's it with you and Percy? He already said sorry. Can't you be at least, civil?" She spat the last word at him.
Ron stared at his youngest sister, anger and surprise chasing across his features. "You and Percy are the ones that are weird," he answered back. "Days ago you were fine. Then all of a sudden you go apologise to Percy, of all people! And the next morning onwards, both of you are the world's best buddies! You are... just, beyond alarming."
"Alarming?" flared up Ginny. "Alarming, am I? Now, talking to my own brother is alarming is it? I wonder why I'm still talking to you!"
She stormed up the stairs. Ron, however was the one with longer legs, and he could ascend the steps three at a time with lightning speed. "Halt there!" he said, barring the way to Ginny's room. "You haven't answered my question. What happened between you and Percy? Did he place a curse, spell, jinx on you or what? Does he want something from you? To help him in the Ministry or something? What made you this different since yesterday night?"
"What's it to you!" the youngest Weasley shouted back at him. "You never cared about what I or Percy ever did, so why start now? You have your own group of best friends don't you, with Hermione and Damien and you whispering away in another room! Well, I don't care what you do either, so you stick your nose back where it belongs!"
Ginny pushed her brother away roughly, entered her room and slammed the door behind her.
Ron felt as though he had found the answer to everything through his sister's behaviour.
"It's simple jealousy," he confided to Damien the next day, when the youngest Potter dropped by for his usual visit. "Ginny's sour because we didn't include her in the secret. She envies the fact that I have a group of friends while she does not. That's why she's gone and stuck with loser Percy, just out of spite, to annoy me. And Percy's all alone and sorry, so naturally when Ginny came with her fireworks and apologies, he- "
Hermione was glaring daggers at Ron.
"What now?" said the red- headed boy exasperatedly.
"You really can't read emotions, can you? You're just plain thick when it comes to this area," she started furiously. "You're the one that is spiteful! All Percy made was a mistake, albeit one that brought fatal results-"
Here, Ron snorted.
"But," the bushy- haired girl pressed on. "But he never meant it. Everyone makes mistakes, Ron. It's not fair to blame Percy just because the results of what he did was more severe than others'. It's high time you forgave him, before you need to beg for forgiveness instead. What Ginny did was simply what a sibling should, unlike you!"
Damien felt caught between both of his friends, but decided it was wiser to simply say nothing.
"Beg for forgiveness! I don't think so! If the Wizarding World found out, they'd think as I do. Just for attention, attention!" Ron spat. "He sold out his friends and family!"
"He never meant- it was just a mistake, Ron," started Hermione, her voice quieter.
"Mistake! Just a simple mistake, was it? Someone died, Hermione! And just in case you never noticed, that someone happens to be one of our best friends!"
"And just in case you haven't noticed, that someone's brother is sitting right next to you," said Damien dryly.
Ron quietened at once, looking abashed. Damien took the silence as an opportunity to speak. He exhaled slowly, choosing his words carefully.
"I don't blame your brother Percy, Ron," he started. "And you shouldn't, either. Do you remember that day, when Harry tried to kill my dad, and framed Uncle Siri for the crime? How do you think I felt? Betrayed? It was way worse than that. But still I never blamed Harry for it."
"Easy for you to say- that's because Harry's your brother," argued Ron.
"And Percy isn't your brother?" shot back Damien. "Or is it you just don't see him as your brother anymore?"
"He doesn't see me as his brother either!" returned Ron. "All he does is boast about his being the stupid Head Boy, although that was centuries ago, being perfectly spiteful, annoying and boring."
"And I wonder why," started Hermione, starting flare up again. "Let's see, maybe because you covered him with warts, gave him a fox's tail, made his eyebrows- "
"Come off it Hermione, those were just pranks- for fun!" Ron groaned. "Isn't this ever going to end?"
"Maybe, they were supposed to be harmless pranks, but you hurt Percy's pride," Hermione explained, as though to a student.
"With a pride like his it isn't hard to. Come on, Fred and George do it more frequently than I do. Go pick on them why don't you?" Ron sounded extremely annoyed.
"They do it out of fun; it's a joke to them," Hermione continued. "You do it out of spite."
"And how would you of all people know that?" Ron said through gritted teeth.
"Your actions," she said simply.
The red- headed Weasley exclaimed in frustration and seized the nearest object to squeeze, in an attempt to relieve his annoyance at both his friends. What was the point of the entire lecture? Percy had caused Harry to die, and they let it go just like that?
Suddenly, there was a searing pain in his right thumb. Withdrawing it quickly, he noticed that a small pool of crimson blood was oozing from a new wound on his flesh.
"Ouch! That really hurts," Ron yelped. "What was that?"
"Your Hogwarts letter," replied Damien, taking the stained envelope. "Looks like you pricked yourself with the needle of the badge inside it."
Ron was bewildered. "Badge? What badge?"
Damien grinned, thumping his friend on the back, trying to restrain his laughter. "Congratulations, Ron. You're the Head Boy now."
28th August 1997 dawned bright and clear.
Just as the Potters and the Weasleys were shopping at Diagon Alley for books, quills and new robes, Voldemort was teaching his son the art of Legilimency. Both he and Harry had been practising both the mind shield and mind screen constantly, in preparation for Harry's eventual departure to Hogwarts.
"I still don't like the idea of placing you in Hogwarts," said Voldemort over lunch break. "As much as I hate to admit it, Dumbledore is a strong Legilimens Master. Your Occlumency skills can barely shield your mind against me."
Harry did not reply. He had not mentioned the letter, nor the singed parchments that contained detailed descriptions of the Blood-Magic Wards found in his room to his father. If he had, his father would surely stop him from going to Hogwarts. The main reason Harry wanted to enter Hogwarts was no longer only for revenge, but also to know the absolute truth. He needed to know what exactly he had done in the past year, when he had been Imperiused. Since Voldemort wouldn't tell him, he'd just have to find out for himself. It had taken two weeks for Harry to convince Voldemort. Only yesterday had the Dark Lord agreed to let him enter Hogwarts and carry out the mission himself.
His father started talking again.
"Remember, when you enter Hogwarts that night, focus on the task at hand. Once you break the wards, give the signal and we'll attack the very next night. Revenge only comes to those who wait for the right opportunity. Understood?" Voldemort's tone was stern and serious.
"Yes father," replied Harry absently. To avoid looking his father in the eye, he lifted his goblet to drink.
"This year, two of our spies have been elected as Professors in Hogwarts," continued the Dark Lord. "Severus Snape is teaching Potions; Rodolphus Lestrange is teaching Defense Against Dark Arts. It is my hope that the school will fall before the end of this year. We'll take revenge against all of them within the year of 1997."
Harry stopped. "Rodolphus... Lestrange?" he echoed, his emerald eyes suddenly snapping alert.
"Yes. Bellatrix's husband," replied Voldemort, scrutinising his son for a reaction.
Harry allowed his gaze to drop to the table, but he said nothing. He stood up and drained his goblet, his expressionless mask falling back into place. Voldemort sighed. His son was learning from him.
"Lessons begin at two thirty," Voldemort reminded Harry. "Lateness is not tolerated."
Harry nodded curtly. "I know," he replied, turning on his heels and walking out of the hall, his cloak billowing behind him. He wanted time to be alone.
Only one single mention of Bellatrix stabbed him with another knife of guilt. He never failed his father, nor Bella, ever. Of all the missions! He'd failed to bring Bellatrix back safely. He'd left her there to die.
However, whatever alone time Harry might have been looking forward to vanished at the sight of Lucius' figure approaching. Harry stopped short and turned to walk towards the other end of the corridor. He could tell by Malfoy's face that Lucius had something to say. But he hadn't the heart to hear it. He just wanted to be alone; even for a few precious minutes would do.
"Prince!" called Lucius breathlessly. "Prince, I have something to tell you."
"Later," Harry replied, his tone cold.
Lucius recogonised the mood. "Just one minute," he persisted, following behind.
Harry stopped. "Fine," he said, trying not to let his frustration show. "What now?"
"I'm not sure if you have heard, but Rodolphus Lestrange... he has been appointed as Hogwarts' Defense Professor," said Lucius, reducing his voice to barely a whisper. "He broke out of Azkaban recently and has rejoined the Dark Lord in the Inner Circle."
Harry was surprised. "Wasn't father the one who broke Lestrange out of the prison?"
Lucius hesitated a bit, barely hidden fear chasing across his features before he answered shortly, "No. He broke out himself this year."
Harry nodded. According to his fahter, there had been a massive breakout from Azkaban since the Death- Eaters had taken over the Ministry. "So... how does Rodolphus Lestrange concern me?" Harry asked, trying to keep his tone light.
"H-He seems to think that... well, you caused the death of Bellatrix," Lucius' voice faltered.
Harry's eyes darkened. "I did," the Dark Prince said, cold anger in his voice. "I as good as killed her."
Lucius seemed to struggle on the verge of speech. "I'm not sure if the Dark Lord will approve of me saying this to you... but my personal advice to you is to be careful around Lestrange," Malfoy said, not looking at Harry. "He... I suspect that he is plotting something unknowest to the Dark Lord, to gain revenge against you. As long as the Dark Lord warns him, surely Lestrange won't dare to try anything... but I-..." Lucius stopped, and this time grey eyes met green. "Just be careful," he told the younger of the pair.
The Dark Prince's eyes had returned to their original emerald as he took in the elder man before him. Harry allowed himself a small smile in Lucius' direction to reassure the man.
"Don't worry. I will."
The first of September took its time to arrive. Books and robes were bought; school trunks filled; pets secured safely in the cages, yet the much awaited day did not come. The Order members triple- checked the security every day a week before the first, and undercover Ministry Aurors patrolled King's Cross station from time to time to ensure the barrier to Platform Nine and a Three Quarters remained sealed until the Hogwarts Express had departed. As this year, the students would be transported by Portkey directly onto aforementioned platform, the barrier would not be lifted.
But when the first day in which Hogwarts would reopen did arrive, Damien found himself horribly unprepared.
"Mum, did you see my socks? The drawers are empty!" he yelled down the stairs, his voice panicky. After all, the Portkey would be activated any time now, and he still had two important things to do.
James came to his son's rescue. "Accio socks!" he cried, sounding much like a hero.
"Thanks, dad!" Damien shouted a hurried response towards his father as James' magic did its work.
Various pairs of socks zoomed out of James' cupboard into his son's trunk. James' eyes widened. "Oh no! I never meant- Damien, hey, come back!"
But his youngest son never heard him. Damien was already racing downstairs to find Hedwig, his heavy footsteps thundering across the floor. Lily sighed in frustration. "I told you to get ready a week ago!" she reprimanded as Damien ran past her.
Damien held the red and blue quill, which was the Hogwarts Portkey, tight in his palm even as he raced down to Harry's training grounds, dragging his trunk and Hedwig's cage with him. Just in case he did not manage to get Hedwig in time, at least he wouldn't miss the Portkey altogether. Meanwhile, James was still trying to follow his youngest son to retrieve his socks. In one single hour, pandemonium was wrecked in Potter Manor.
At last, Damien reached the snowy owl. Hedwig glided gracefully across the room and perched lightly on Damien's offered arm. She was just in time too. The Portkey began to glow a bright blue, sending excitement travelling through every pore of Damien's body. At last, he was going back to Hogwarts! How long he had awaited the day.
"Bye dad!" the youngest Potter yelled at the top of his lungs.
James just managed to catch sight of Damien and wheeze "My socks!" before his son vanished altogether in a pool of blue light.
xXx
Damien arrived spinning like a top on Platform Nine and a Three Quarters. Immediately, an arm steadied him to prevent him from crashing to the ground altogether. Gratefully, he looked up and found himself meeting the gaze of Professor McGonagall. Immediately, Damien jumped. His foot, however, had the misfortune to get caught on his trunk and he ended up sprawled over the platform all the same.
The Professor looked cross. "There was no need to overact so, Potter," she said. "Hurry up and heave your trunk and yourself into the train. It's getting started." With a last withering look, she swept away.
Damien grimaced as he picked himself off the floor. He had landed directly on Hedwig's cage! No wonder his back felt so badly bruised he didn't think he could lie down for the moment. The snowy white owl was also, squawking madly in the cage, trying to spread out her wings but failing miserably to do so in the cramped space.
"Sorry," Damien apologised to the bird.
There was a chortle slightly to his right. Pursing his lips, the youngest Potter looked up and found an unfamiliar looking boy staring down at him. The boy was smirking slightly, and somehow this irritated Damien extremely.
"What do you want?" snapped Damien. It wasn't until it had left his mouth when he registered what he was saying. Part of Damien was apalled by his own behaviour. Normally, he wasn't this rude to strangers. But what the boy said cancelled out any regrets Damien had for being impertinent.
"Can you only commuinicate civilly with someone who has the same mental level as you?" the boy said scathingly.
"What's it to you!" snapped back Damien, straightening, but sadly his height barely reached the unknown boy's shoulder.
The boy merely shrugged, smirked again, and walked away. Damien scowled after him as he bent down to retrieve Hedwig's cage. No sooner than when the youngest Potter had heaved himself and his heavy trunk up the steps when he heard a familiar voice hailing him from behind.
"Damy!"
Damien turned around and caught sight of Hermione, Ron and Ginny running towards him, identical grins on their faces.
"When did you arrive?" Ron started talking at once. "I nearly missed my Portkey- Pig wouldn't come when we whistled."
A familiar tiny owl zoomed about in an owl's cage slung carelessly over Ginny's shoulder. The youngest Weasley offered Damien a smile in greeting. "Did you get a new owl?" she asked, indicating Hedwig, who was staring at Pigwidgeon through the bars of the cage with a disapproving expression.
Damien looked at Hedwig, unsure of what to say. "Kind of," he said vaguely.
"Cool!" Ron didn't seem to notice his friend's uncomfort. "Come on, let's go find an empty compartment and introduce Pig to your snowy. What's your snowy's name anyway?"
"Hedwig," replied Damien, hefting his trunk behind him as they peered into every compartment, hoping to find one empty.
At last, they managed to find one near the end of the train. By then, the train whistle was blaring, and the Hogwarts Express was preparing to leave Platform Nine and a Three Quarters behind. Hurriedly, they helped each other heave the trunks onto the racks and slid into their seats as the floor began to vibrate. But no sooner than five minutes after the train departed, Hermione tapped Ron on the shoulder and gave him a meaningful look. The red- headed boy immediately groaned out loud.
"No, not now, Hermione!" he moaned.
"Immediately," ordered the bushy haired girl sternly. "Come on, we'll be late if we don't hurry."
"Where are you going?" asked Ginny, looking at both of them in surprise.
"Don't tell me," said Damien teasingly. "They're off to maintain the discipline of the students, eh? Imagine Ron with his shiny, gleaming Head Boy badge! Oh pardon my mistake, we don't need to imagine the scene after all."
Ron flushed slightly as he followed Hermione out of their compartment.
"I didn't ask for this you know!" Ron said as a departing word.
Damien chuckled as the compartment door slid shut. "He still seems rather embarassed but proud of being the Head Boy," the youngest Potter observed. "Anyway, it's just what Ron needs. A little confidence booster to stop him from moaning how useless he is."
"Oh, stop talking like an old man," said Ginny, lying down stretched across three seats comfortably. "You're only fourteen for goodness' sake."
They fell into companionable silence for a while, before Damien broke it. "Is Ron okay with Percy already?" he asked.
"No," replied Ginny, not looking at her friend. "They're still not talking to each other. But at least they're not fighting anymore. Fred and George seems okay with it now, though- they keep up with their pranking and joke around like usual around Percy. Bill and Charlie don't acknowledge Percy much." Her tone sounded sad.
"It must be nice to have so many siblings," joked Damien. "Sometimes I wish I could have a younger brother since I've already lost the elder."
The rest of the day was spent eating sweets, lazing around, talking, sleeping and an attempt at reading. It was only around two o' clock did Ron and Hermione reappear, both looking tired and disheveled. Damien sympathetically tossed them pumpkin juices each, which they accepted gratefully. Three pumpkin pastries were hurriedly devoured before Ron gave his story.
"Me and Hermione went to the Prefect's Carriage to meet Professor McGonagall, as instructed in our Hogwarts letters," he began. "When we reached there, all the Prefects, new and old, were waiting for us already. And guess what! We were supposed to give an impromptu speech!" Ron moaned the last sentence loudly.
"I take it your speech didn't go very well?" laughed Damien. Ginny grinned at her brother's expression.
"Surely Hermione did better?" she said, purposely.
"Of course she did!" wailed Ron. "I made a mess of everything. I said 'Good afternoon' instead of 'Good morning', and knocked over Professor McGonagall's hat when I bowed, and... it was truly a disaster. My reputation is tarnished forever."
"When did you have a reputation?" asked Ginny cheekily.
"A reputation for eating, more like," teased Hermione, smiling.
Ron ignored this comment. "Did you know Draco Malfoy is here too?" he said in a hushed whisper, his eyes resting specifically on Damien. "I saw him when we patrolled the corridors. It's a bit of daredevil of him, isn't he, to come to Hogwarts like this? He should be in hiding!"
"I don't see why he shouldn't return to school- Hogwarts is the safest place on Earth," said Hermione, looking disapproving. "Just because you don't like him, Ron..."
"Was Draco Malfoy alone?" Damien cut across the banter. Somehow, he didn't think Malfoy's old cronies Crabbe and Goyle would be allowed to mix with Draco, who had proved himself as a traitor to Lord Voldemort in front of all the wizards in Hogsmeade. Or perhaps Crabbe and Goyle hadn't returned to Hogwarts at all.
"Not quite alone," replied Ron. "There were a couple of noisy Hufflepuffs in his compartment, but he just cast a Silencing Charm around him and stared off into space like a zombie."
"Oh. Crabbe and Goyle?"
"They're just in the next compartment," Ron tilted his head towards the right. "Together with the rest of the slimy gits- Mulciber, Rosier, Nott... you get the idea. They were bad- mouthing Malfoy when I passed by."
"You mean, when you eavesdropped," corrected Hermione.
"Quite true," admitted Ron.
"Did you see a new boy around here?" asked Damien, recalling the unfamiliar face that smirked at him when he had apologised to Hedwig. "He was blonde, had blue eyes, fairly tall..."
"New boy? A transfer student, you mean?" said Ron. "There're plenty. According to Professor McGonagall, twenty transfer students just enrolled in Hogwarts and were accepted."
"Twenty? That many?" Damien said in disbelief. "Hogwarts is going to be real crowded. Have the transfer students taken their exams yet?"
"No, Damy, don't get Hermione started," warned Ron, feigning a scared look in Hermione's direction, but it was too late.
"I wonder what we're going to do about our studies," Hermione said worriedly. "We haven't even completed our NEWTs last year when Hogwarts closed down! Ginny hasn't sat for her OWLs, either. How can we cope? I wonder what they have planned for our curriculum?"
This drew three collective moans.
"Typical Hermione," muttered Ron, earning a smack in return.
Five hours passed slowly. During most of the time Damien spent with his friends, he was able to forget his elder brother temporarily, but the feeling never lasted longer than three minutes before the memory of Harry would hit him with sadness, every time like the first. It hadn't escaped anyone's notice that the youngest Potter seemed to laugh, joke and talk less than usual. If it were last year, he'd have rattled on and on about Quidditch together with Ron, and nothing could have stopped them. But this year, as the train chugged on its journey, Ron was the one that did most of the talking.
As the scenery changed into a dark mass of wilderness that flashed by, Ron and Hermione left to patrol the corridors again. Damien reached for his trunk for his Hogwarts robes, before remembering he was not wearing Muggle attire. They had Portkeyed straight onto the Platform, so putting on the Muggle act was not called for this year.
As the train slowly screeched to a halt, Damien and Ginny heaved down their trunks and made their way down the train together. Once the youngest Potter stepped out their compartment, however, he bumped into someone. Damien looked up and immediately recogonised the infrutiating blue eyes, which were eyeing him with mock amusement. From the way Mulciber, Crabbe and Goyle were standing and talking with him, Damien gathered that the unknown rude boy he met just now had been mixing with the Slytherins just now, on the way to Hogwarts.
Damien shifted his gaze and pushed past the Slytherins, ignoring their jeers and calls.
"Pity that new student got himself stuck with slime," remarked Ginny as they descended together.
Damien did not reply. He never had a good impression of the boy, anyway, so he didn't feel as though it was much of a pity.
Professor McGonagall quickly gathered the mass of students around. After ensuring that none of them were missing, the students were escorted by the Professors towards the school. Quite a number of Ministry Aurors and Order members had appeared out of nowhere as they walked the distance towards their school. However, Damien was disappointed- for true to what his parents had told him, both James and Lily were not assigned to guard Hogwarts, and therefore wouldn't be seeing him until next year. This thought brought about a sense of homesickness, and the previous elation of returning to Hogwarts dimmed somewhat.
After dragging his heavy trunk for approximately seven minutes, Damien started to wonder if they would ever reach their destination. Perhaps Professor McGonagall would make them swim through the lake to Hogwarts as a safety precaution! As water doused magic, it would be a pretty effecient way to get rid of any glamour the Slytherins were wearing, just in case some of them were Death- Eaters in disguise. Before he managed to say anything however, his worries were put to rest.
"Halt!" cried a voice sharply.
Ginny jumped; so did most of the students. Professor McGonagall raised her hands for silence, wand held aloft as she addressed the crowd.
"This is where the barriers are cast," she said, her thin voice carrying over the silence easily. "Those who enter the barriers before registering may suffer from severe shock, if not death itself, as the magic used by Professor Dumbledore to cast the spell is extremely advanced and dangerous. However, once you have registered your blood under the protection of this barrier, you are only allowed entry into Hogwarts. Any student in Hogwarts that tries to exit the school grounds without permission will also suffer from severe shock or an unfortunate death. Therefore, I warn you not to go near the barriers at all, if your life is of value to you." With these words, Professor McGonagall directed a jet of red light at the barrier. The invisible barrier immediately glowed a fiery shade of red.
"I will start with the First Years. Now, when I call out your name, step forwards so I can register your blood under the protection of the barrier," she said. "Alson, Clarrisa!"
Professor Sinistra was in charge of the Second Years, Professor Snape for the Third- Years, Professor Grubby- Plank for the Fourth Years, Professor Sprout for the Fifth- Years, Professor Flitwick for the Sixth- Years and Professor Dumbledore himself was in charge of the Seventh- Years. As the crowd of students shuffled into their respective groups according to their age, Damien noticed that the rude transfer student he met was the same age as Ron and Hermione. Ginny then waved Damien goodbye and slipped off to where the Fifth Years were standing.
It took a long time for Professor Grubby- Plank to reach 'Potter, Damien!', so when she did, the youngest Potter's eyes were already glazed over, deep in his day- dream. It was only when someone nudged him from behind did Damien stumble forwards.
"Hold out your hand," ordered the Professor.
Damien did as he was told. Professor Grubby- Plank directed her wand at Damien and drew a few drops of blood from his hand. Fiery red words appeared with another flourish of her wand 'DAMIEN JACK POTTER' before the barrier glowed a brighter shade of red, and Damien was permitted entry.
"Wait in the carriages," the Professor told him, before she called out the next name on her list. Damien obediently dragged his trunk behind him and trudged up the familiar steps of the carriage. When at last all the students were registered, the carriages slowly rose into the air, weightless and unsupported. Ginny managed to find Damien and they sat together for their journey towards Hogwarts, but Hermione and Ron were sadly still occupied with their duties, whatever they may be. It turned out being a Head Boy and Head Girl wasn't as easy as it seemed to Damien.
Fifteen minutes later found an extremely ravenous Damien seated at the Gryffindor table, impatiently awaiting the Great Feast. But alas for the youngest Potter's growling stomach, the transfer students and First Years needed to be sorted before the Great Feast could begin. And even after that, Professor Dumbledore still had his grand opening speech to make.
Ron slid onto the bench beside Damien as the transfer students queued up before the stool in which the Sorting Hat was placed on. "I wish they'd start the Feast already," Ron whispered to his friend. "My stomach's rumbling so loudly I feel as though even Professor Dumbledore can hear it."
Damien smiled in agreement. He really had much in common with his friend.
Like the past few years, the Sorting Hat burst into song before the Sorting started. A couple of First Years shivered visibly as the hat's voice bounced across the walls, reverberating across the Great Hall of Hogwarts. Damien smiled slightly, remembering the his first day of school. He'd been so anxious to be in Gryffindor, he'd proclaimed himself one even before the Sorting Hat was placed on his head. Ron had immediately taken a liking to the First Year Damien Potter, and they had quickly became friends.
"I will first start with the transfer students," this was Professor McGonagall's voice. "When I call out your name, please step forwards and place the Sorting Hat on your head. The Hat will Sort you to your respective Houses." She paused for a moment as she consulted her list. "Abell, Davidson!"
The Sorting went on. Damien had his eyes fixed on the rude boy he'd met previously. The boy seemed to regard himself superior to the others; he stood erect and tall, his eyes darting around. Visibly he looked relaxed, not to mention the infrutiating confident smirk the boy wore lightly on his lips. Damien scrutinised the perfect posture, the piercing blue eyes.
"Must be a Slytherin," he told Ron. Ron merely shrugged.
"Mason, Kit!" Professor McGonagall called out.
The boy, Kit, strode forwards and took his seat on the three- legged stool, then placed the Sorting Hat on his head. Silence descended over the Hall as everyone waited for the Hat to make its desicion.
From where Damien was sitting, he could see Kit's expression changing; his confidence melting into something that resembled... horror?
"GRYFFINDOR!" the Hat cried.
This time, Kit looked outraged; stunned, no doubt about it. But as the rest of the Gryffindors clapped, Kit quickly arranged his expression and displayed a friendly, polite smile. Frankly, Damien hadn't expected this outcome either. That rude boy had seemed Slytherin to his very bone. He'd even made acquaintances with the Slytherins on the train! If there was one thing good about Kit being Sorted into Gryffindor, it was the priceless looks of disbelief on the Slytherins' faces.
"Wrong on that count, mate," Ron said to Damien, looking amused. "As they say, don't judge a book by its cover."
Damien scowled deeply.
A/N: Thanks for reading! That was an extra long chapter for you. Please drop me a thought; reviews are greatly valued and appreciated!
Take care,
Epsilon Scorpii