Chapter 9: A Train Ride and Sorting
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter and am in no way associated with J K Rowling or Warner Brothers.
Erfolg woke up early the next morning to Amber on top of him crying into his chest. "What's wrong?" Erfolg asked worriedly.
"I, I don't think I can do this Erfolg." Amber cried, "I'm too scared of what could happen to me at Hogwarts."
"Why don't we go into the garden and I'll show you some of what we can do as dragons in human form." Erfolg suggested, "Would that help to calm you down?"
Amber nodded, but still didn't stop crying or let go of Erfolg. Together they walked down to the garden where Erfolg set up some cans as targets.
"Why don't you try and hit those cans from here?" Erfolg suggested knowing that even though it would have been years since she had done this her draconic memory would serve her well. Amber nodded and moved stand where Erfolg motioned. "Just let your fire flow through you as you did when we flew and you shot fire." Erfolg instructed. Amber nodded and without much effort on her part flames jumped from her outstretched hand and vaporized the cans. "Feel a bit better now?" Erfolg asked gently.
Amber nodded. "I think it was just the shock from yesterday about dragons being enslaved and tortured by goblins and wiped out by this Voldemort."
"While this is no excuse for the goblins to do what they do, the four of us are the last surviving members of an ancient race of dragons dating back to the ice age. The dragons that they capture are less resistant to magic and their scales are not nearly as tough as ours." Erfolg explained gently, "It would be an early Christmas present to see the goblins get tried and sentenced severely for their crimes against us." Amber could only nod. "There is one other thing that we can do that can be used to devastating effect."
"What?" Amber questioned intrigued. Erfolg smiled and transformed his hands into claws. "How, did you do that?" Amber asked.
"It is essentially the same as transforming into your draconic form except that you focus that energy on a specific body part and keep it at the same size." Erfolg replied, "Why don't we go and have a sit down on the deck chairs, I'm still a bit tired." Amber nodded sleepily.
It was a few hours later that Emma came out and found the two cuddling each other on the deck chairs. Emma smiled and went over to them. "Come on wake up, we need to leave for the station in an hour as it will take us an hour roughly to get there from here." Emma said gently.
Erfolg woke first and noticed that Amber looked a lot calmer now than she had when he first awoke. The affectionate look that he gave Amber didn't go unnoticed by Emma, but she decided to let it go for now. Amber then awoke and gave Erfolg a small kiss. "Thanks for earlier." she said softly.
"You are most welcome." Erfolg said.
"Minerva said that you had the option of buying food on the train so you can use what is left over from yesterday to pay for the food it should be more than enough." Emma said.
"Is everyone else up yet?" Erfolg asked.
"Minerva went out an hour ago to get to Hogwarts and finish getting her classes ready and Dan is sitting on the sofa." Emma said. In truth she was a bit worried about losing Erfolg's protection but she was hopeful that Dumbledore wouldn't have enough time now that term was starting.
"What's wrong Emma?" Erfolg asked sensing that Emma was worried.
"I'm just afraid that Dumbledore will try to get to us again." Emma said nervously.
"Oh I hope someone tries." Erfolg said with a wicked grin.
"What! Why?" Amber asked shocked.
"Well let's just say that anyone entering the property to cause harm to you physically or by magical means will find themselves donating themselves as food to the fish in the Atlantic Ocean." Erfolg said with a nasty grin.
Amber and Emma couldn't help it, they fell to the floor laughing with Erfolg soon joining them. This was the scene that Dan walked into and asked what was so funny, only to be told what had just been said. If it wasn't for Erfolg reminding everyone that they needed to get to King's Cross they would have missed the train.
When they eventually got to the station neither Erfolg or Amber knew where platform 9 ¾ was. It was Emma who came to the rescue as Minerva had told her that morning. Quickly going through the barrier they proceeded to say their goodbyes quickly so that Erfolg and Amber could find a secluded compartment so that they would at least have a bit of peace and quiet on the train.
They quickly chose the compartment at the rear of the train. They were in there for less than a minute when someone who could only be described as a pompous blonde idiot accompanied by two other people who looked like a slightly smaller version of Dudley.
"Well, well, well." the blonde said, "Who do we have here?"
"That." Erfolg said, "Is none of your business as of this moment. You will find out soon enough who we are."
"How dare you speak to me that way! My name is Draco Malfoy and I can see from the way that you dress that you are of filthy muggle blood." the boy spat.
This was enough to draw both Erfolg's and Amber's ire as they each unleashed their fire at the arrogant boy, intending to scare him away. This worked better than intended, one of the two mini Dudleys fainted and Malfoy and the other one tripped over him in their attempt to run away.
"I do not know what it was like at previous schools for you, but we are not people you can bully around and not get any consequences when that happens." Erfolg said in a very serious voice.
"If there is one thing the two of us hate it's people who bully others." Amber continued in a similar tone while holding a fireball in her right hand and casually tossing it from hand to hand. This was enough for the two bullies to wet themselves and hurry to find another compartment as far away as possible from these two. Their friend soon woke up and seeing the looks the pair's faces was more than enough to send him scurrying after the other two.
"Typical bullies." Erfolg spat.
"Why don't we have a game of fireball?" Amber asked.
"Sure, maybe other bullies will be scared off by the game." Erfolg grinned and immediately threw a fireball at Amber who was caught by surprise.
"Hey, no fair!" Amber pouted throwing a fireball back at Erfolg.
"Hey, it's not my fault you were caught by surprise!" Erfolg said playfully catching the ball of fire and throwing it back at Amber.
Amber was about to throw the ball of fire back at Erfolg when a redheaded boy burst into the compartment.
"Where the fuck is Harry Potter?" the redheaded boy bellowed.
Amber and Erfolg stood tall, sensing that the boy's intentions were much less than friendly, and in a cold, hard voice they asked "What's it to you?"
"He has to marry my sister and I have to make sure he dies after he does so that we can have all his money and I get his little bitch!" the redheaded boy shouted.
"Well I am who you think is Harry Potter, and I can tell you that I will not be dying for a long time yet. Also who the fuck do you think you are telling either of us who we have to marry!" Erfolg said heatedly.
"You have to." Was all the boy managed to say before Amber punched him in the stomach.
"You will never control either of our lives!" Amber growled menacingly, "Now get out!"
The redheaded boy just stood there crouched in pain holding his hands to his stomach. Erfolg finally lost his temper with the boy, picked him up by the scruff of the neck walked over to an empty compartment and tossed him in there.
"We are definitely going to have to be on our guard here." Erfolg said with Amber nodding grimly.
"At least Minerva is on our side, the rest of the teachers we will have to play by ear." Amber noted. The rest of the trip passed in silence as Amber and Erfolg considered what was going to happen and how to avoid Dumbledore.
When the train arrived at Hogsmede Station, Amber and Erfolg were out onto the platform almost straight away dressed in their school uniforms, but ready for any trouble that might show itself. Together they followed the rest of the students who were heading towards a massive lake surrounding the castle. Together they got into a boat with only two open spaces, and headed towards the castle.
They could see a good deal of detail through the darkness and were taking note of where different landmarks were so that they would know where to go, while the rest just gazed in awe at the sight of the castle.
Pretty soon they went through a cave with many twists and turns. They finally reached an embankment where the boats stopped and everyone got out. They were soon met by Minerva who Erfolg and Amber went over to immediately. As they walked through the corridors there were many that were gawking at the paintings moving, but once again, Erfolg and Amber were taking note of everything and building a mental map together through their bond so that they wouldn't get lost easily.
Minerva then halted near a pair of large wooden doors. "I will just make sure everyone is ready, then we will enter The Great Hall." She poked her head round the door and then indicated everyone to follow.
Everyone followed Minerva towards the back of the hall where the rest of the teachers were and stopped in front of an old hat. Amber and Erfolg couldn't help but notice Dumbledore sitting in the middle on an absurd golden throne. He was continuously scanning the crowd of new students unnoticed by all but Erfolg and Amber. Most of the students jumped in shock when the hat started singing.
"Oh you may not think me pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!" (Harry Potter Sorcerer's Stone)
Minerva then said "I will call your names out and I will put the hat on your head, the hat will decide where you will be sorted. Abbot, Hannah."
A blonde girl came forward and sat on the stool. Almost as soon as the hat was on the hat started muttering to itself. After a few minutes it shouted Hufflepuff. The next was also a girl this one called Susan Bones. She also went to Hufflepuff. A boy named Terry Boot went next and was sorted into Ravenclaw. Lavender Brown went to Gryffindor, Millicent Bullstrode went to Slytherin, Michael Corner went to Ravenclaw, one of the two mini Dudleys was called Vincent Crabbe and immediately went into Slytherin, a determined young girl named Tracey Davis was called next and went into Gryffindor much to her apparent relief, Justin Finch-Fletchley went to Hufflepuff, Seamus Finnigan went to Gryffindor, Gregory Goyle the other of the two mini Dudleys went to Slytherin, Daphne Greengrass was sorted into Gryffindor much to her apparent relief and went and sat next to Tracey Davis, Neville Longbottom was sorted into Gryffindor, Ernie Macmillan was sorted into Hufflepuff, Draco Malfoy was then up. The hat barely touched his head before he was sorted into Slytherin. The next up was Theodore Nott and Pansy Parkinson who were both sorted into Slytherin, Padma and Parvati Patil went to Ravenclaw much to their smug delight.
Then Minerva smirked and called out the next two names on the list. "Amber and Erfolg Potter, formerly Hermione Granger and Harry Potter, joined in bonding by dragon bond."
The hall went nuts. Dumbledore almost fell off his throne in shock, and heads were turning trying to get a look at the two pupils whose names had just been called. Amber and Erfolg walked forward as if nothing was out of the ordinary and had the sorting hat placed on their heads as it expanded to fit over the two of them.
"Well, well, well, this is a surprise." the sorting hat said in their heads, "I think the two of you could do with going in Slytherin."
"I don't think so!" Erfolg thought back, "We will be going to Gryffindor where my parents were and we will be having marriage quarters as well!"
"But, but, but." the hat spluttered.
"But nothing!" Amber said in a sharp tone, "If you don't do this, as is our right as bonded mates, we will leave you little more than a smoking pile of ash! Also, you will put that redheaded kid from the train in a different house from us!"
The sorting hat actually shuddered, while it knew it would stand up to spells such as incendio, it knew that the fires of dragons would over power it and leave it a smouldering pile of ash within seconds. It decided to act for its own survival and promptly shouted "Gryffindor, Married Quarters!"
The hall went into pandemonium. Through all this Amber and Erfolg calmly walked down and sat opposite Daphne Greengrass, and Tracey Davis. Amber and Erfolg didn't know what it was but something seemed important about them. Dean Thomas then went into Gryffindor.
The next bit of entertainment showed in the form of the red headed boy from the train, who was identified as Ron Weasley. The hat was on his head for a fraction of a second before shouting Slytherin and the boy promptly started screaming "No, no, no, this isn't possible! I'm supposed to be in Gryffindor!"
"Mr. Weasley you will go and sit at your house table immediately or be on your way home!" Minerva said icily.
With little choice the boy walked over to Slytherin and was soon joined at the table by the last student, Blaise Zabini. Amber and Erfolg couldn't help but chuckle.
Dumbledore then rose and the students became quiet. "Welcome, welcome to a new year at Hogwarts." He may have intended the words to be kind and gentle but this all came out in a very cold voice. "First years should know that the forbidden forest is out of bounds to all students. That is all tuck in to the feast." He then sat down heavily on his throne.
Daphne and Tracy went to start eating but Erfolg and Amber caught their hands before they could do anything.
"Don't." Amber said, "Dumbledore has been staring at this part of the table the entire time he was making the speech, almost as if he was commanding something to happen."
"Could you at least wait so I can run some analysis tests on the food and drink please?" Erfolg asked.
A now frightened and confused Tracy and Daphne nodded their heads. Erfolg and Amber started casting a spell from their hands that came out as a dull orange glow that spread around the food and drink of the area and leapt over to where Minerva was sitting as well. She too had noticed where Dumbledore had been staring and was going to proceed very carefully with the help of her draconic friends. The glow suddenly flashed bright red. Amber and Erfolg's expressions grew grim. Together they spread the spell over the whole of The Great Hall. At first the rest of The Great Hall remained the dull orange glow but then it became the bright red. The only area of orange left was Dumbledore's food, Ron Weasley's food, and the food of a greasy black haired teacher.
"What was that spell and what did it do?" Daphne asked in astonishment. She had never heard or seen of any spell like it.
"It analysed the food and drink and from the reactions from it, it looks like Dumbledore, Ron Weasley, and that greasy haired teacher over there were trying to feed us all loyalty potions." Amber said with much distaste in her voice.
"Come with us." Erfolg said to Daphne and Tracy, "It's your best chance to get out of this untouched by those three. We can protect you from them."
Daphne and Tracy nodded and got up to follow Erfolg and Amber up to the very front of the staff table. Minerva seeing this quickly got up and went behind them for the extra protection, just in case things turned ugly.
"Albus Dumbledore!" Erfolg spoke in a voice that reached every corner of the hall and demanded absolute attention. "You are walking a fine line with us as it is! You will cease your attempts or we will start making your life hell!"
"Let it be known that we consider Minerva McGonagall, Daphne Greengrass, and Tracy Davis, as well as their families under dragon protection." Amber continued, "In case you don't know what that means, it is essentially the same as putting someone under house protection in the wizarding world. However, you get better protection. You had better steer clear of them or you will find yourself in deep shit!"
"As they are under dragon protection they are by the very definition of your own laws, allowed if they wish to, live in our living quarters." Erfolg said.
Almost immediately Minerva, Tracey, and Daphne were nodding their heads accepting the offer of very serious protection from a very apparent threat. As one they turned and left The Great Hall.
"We'll follow you Minerva." Amber said. Minerva nodded and led them to the staircases.
"Just so you four know, the staircases move around from time to time." Minerva said as she led them up to the seventh floor. She stopped outside a picture of a cave. "You need to set a password." Minerva said.
Amber and Erfolg had a conversation in their heads tossing ideas around before settling on mix of two.
"Draconic Volant!" they said together and with that the passageway opened into a room.
The four of them stepped through the entrance and as soon as everyone was inside the passageway closed behind them. They found themselves in a small room with a double bed in each corner. Amber and Erfolg then used their draconic magic to enlarge the room to the size of a medium cave with the look and feel of a cave as well. The only difference was that the floor was still flat and there was a decent warmth in the room. Tracey, Daphne, and Minerva stared in awe around them at the now expanded space. With a final bit of draconic magic Erfolg and Amber made an entrance that would be impervious to spells and physical attacks. The only way through was if you were one of the four people in the room, which they then explained to the other three.
"It's been a long and tiring day so I think we will be getting some sleep." Amber yawned, "I don't know about you Erfolg but I would very much like to sleep in my draconic form while we are here, I would feel safer for it."
Erfolg nodded and to the awe of Daphne and Tracey they transformed into their draconic forms and went and laid down facing the entrance of the room, just in case someone did manage to infiltrate the room.
"We will talk more in the morning. Please don't hesitate to ask for any help from us if you need it." Erfolg said gently, "I know this is a pretty big shock for you Daphne and Tracey, but Amber and I will do our best to help you."
Daphne and Tracey nodded their thanks and went to lie down in a bed each along with Minerva. It wasn't long before the five of them were fast asleep.
A/N: Yes I know Tracey Davis and Daphne Greengrass went into Slytherin in cannon. The reason I did is that I want them to be able to interact friendly towards Amber and Erfolg, which wouldn't be possible if they were in Slytherin due to peer pressure. Ron is pretty self explanatory and if you don't get the gist of where this is going you will most likely find out next chapter. I also realise that Parvati went to Gryffindor in cannon, again this will be made clear soon enough but they will not have as much of an effect as other characters. I also realise that the sorting process was essentially quite a long list for the most part but I couldn't think of much that I could do to make this interesting for the most part considering many of these characters will have minor roles in the plot, or roles that I have yet to decide on. A few of them will have major roles to play. Hope this longer chapter was worth the wait. Thanks for reading and please review, it really does inspire me to write more. Next chapter will see the consequences of the sorting.