Chapter 6 – Dementors and the Sorting
Yugi looked out the window what he saw made his blood run cold, mostly because he thought with Sirius Black and his name cleared that most of the events in Prisoner of Azkaban would be prevented. The major one was preventing the Dementors from showing up at Hogwarts. Casually glancing down at Ron's lap at the rat in every sense of the word sleeping away oblivious to the world around him. Looking back out he saw six hooded figures gliding toward the train he also saw one of the most loathsome men in the Minister's employ casually walking toward the train after having stopped it. "Idiot," he muttered standing and moving toward the compartment entrance pulling out trap card, "Activate Gravity Bind," he whispered before setting the card down just behind the door he turned to the kids behind him. "Do not leave this compartment for any reason; I will return shortly, the card I just laid down will protect you."
"What's going on, Professor?" Hermione asked.
"Another Auror has stopped the train, they're looking for Pettigrew and..," he paused looking at them grimly. "They've brought Dementors," he saw most of the magically raised children seemed to shrink back in fear while Harry and Hermione looked puzzled. "Just remember don't leave this compartment." With that the star haired young man left the group alone sliding the compartment door closed behind him.
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Harry turned to Daphne who was gripping his arm tighter than before, "What are Dementors?"
"Foul loathsome creatures, Harry. They take up the darkest corners of the world and suck up anything that's considered good, till your left with nothing but every horrid thing you can imagine turning you into one of them," Blaise stated with a shudder. "They guard Azkaban."
With a silent Harry sat back feeling more than a little trepidation waiting for the train to start up again. He did however feel comforted Daphne snuggled closer to him; he looked up getting a smirk from Ron. But all the warmth seem to come crashing down seconds later, as he could see Ron's breath begin to steam, he looked to the windows watching in morbid fascination as ice slowly began to incase them. He turned to see a shadowy figure seemed to glide towards the door to the compartment, the figure was hooded and cloaked. On instinct Harry moved to block Astoria's view as the creature slowly opened the compartment door. The moment it glided over the threshold it was sent violently crashing to the floor not able to move. Yet even immobile the Dementors's presence was enough to begin slurping all of Harry's happy memories before twelve years of abuse and neglect began to surface followed by the images of a green flash, a hideous maniacal laugh, and a woman screaming.
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Yugi snarled summoning the Dark Magician and the Dark Magician Girl as he walked, "Sweep the train, destroy any Dementors you find, Mana go back and make sure Harry and his friends are alright." The two summoned beings nod splitting off a few seconds later Yugi could here inhuman screams of pain. Reaching the front of the train he saw Andre Dawlish standing and arguing with the engineer. "Dawlish you ass, what are you thinking bringing Dementors to an enclosed environment with school children!" he growled.
Andre Dawlish was a long time Auror who happen to be corrupt, stupid, and a Death Eater though the last was hidden, he was also one of Fudge's two bodyguards assigned by the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, the other being Kingsley Shacklebolt who wasn't present. "Did Umbridge send you on this little run?"
"Yes, she ordered me to check the children's familiars to see if one of them might be Pettigrew. So what if the little darlings get a little under the weather," Dawlish drawled he then saw a green flash. "What was that?"
"Two close friends that are killing those things as we speak," Yugi stated.
Dawlish's eyes flashed, "You ain't got the right, I can run ya in for obstruction I can."
Yugi grabbed the man's jacket, "These children are under my protection as a member of the Auror's, you go back to that toad and tell her that. You may be assigned to Fudge to keep your ass safe from the Wizengamot, but if you ever pull one these stunts again so help me, you'll regret it. Now get off this train!"
"Fudge will hear about this," Dawlish snarled jumping off trying to compose himself.
"So will Bones, rest assured she won't like it when she finds out that there were Dementors on the same train as her niece," Yugi stated giving a single glance to the engineer who started the train up. "Next time that asshole tries to stop the train run him over, one less pain in the world." The engineer nods a smirk on his face as Yugi heads back to his compartment, the Dark Magician better known as Arcana and Mana appeared. "The two of you stay active, I'll need you and several of the others to keep watch at the school when we arrive."
"Yugi, Harry collapsed I guess even at a distance they can affect him," Mana replied looking upset.
Yugi grimaced nodding, "Okay get the prefects to walk the halls, if they ask who you are tell them you're Professor Moto's aides. I want no word spread about what occurred in that compartment, go." Both nod and take off while Yugi slowly walked back to his compartment.
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Harry woke feeling cold and numb; looking up with his vision was filled with decidedly the most angelic sight he has ever seen before. The compartment lighting was filtered through Daphne's hair alighting it in an almost holy like light, her blue eyes showing worry. "Harry are you okay?" she asked.
He found himself laid out on a compartment seat with his head in Daphne's lap, new and old friends surrounding him. "Who screamed?" he asked trying to sit up only to have Blaise and Ron hold him down.
"No one screamed mate," Blaise stated.
Ron nodded, "I might have if that card hadn't kept that thing pinned to the floor, as it is I'm still having a difficult time trying to feel cheerful again." He looked back to compartment entrance where notice a pile of ash.
"What happened to the Dementor?" Harry asked giving up on sitting up.
"Probably the prettiest witch I've seen to date in some strange robes appeared using the strangest blasting spell I've seen and blew up the Dementor," Blaise explained then noticed the glares he got from Daphne, Astoria, Tracey, and Hermione. "What?"
Ron elbowed him with a smirk leaning into whisper, "What ya say mate, girls don't like it when ya compare especially when in ear shot."
Blaise nodded and return the smirk, "Got it, still that one was hot wasn't she."
"Yeah, makes Morgana Le Fey look like a hag," Ron whispered.
Yugi returned a few minutes later picking up his card then turned pulling out a several chocolate frog packages, "Here eat these, they'll melt away the cold numb feeling," he walked up to Harry feeling the boy's head.
"Professor why did the Dementor affect Harry more than the rest of us, I mean it was unpleasant but aside from the fact that I had revisit my grand's death we didn't collapse or convulse," Tracey stated sounding worried both for her new friend and her best friend.
"Harry's experiences have been harsh according to Professor Dumbledore, and though he doesn't remember it consciously because he was too young his subconscious remembers every detail of the night of his parent's murder and his own attempted murder at the hands of Voldemort," everyone save Daphne, Astoria, and Harry flinched at the name.
Harry bit into the chocolate frog and immediately began to warm; he slowly sat up but edge closer to Daphne, who wrapped her arms around his. "Is there anyway to defend against Dementors, while I've always wanted to hear my mom's voice that wasn't the way I wanted to go about it."
"There is a way to repel a Dementor, it's called the Patronus Charm it's a N.E.W.T. Level spell," Yugi mused a second then smiled, "But there is nothing in the rules saying I can't teach it a good four years early. I was wondering what I would teach at the start of term, at first I thought about the anti-boggart charm, but I'll start that the second week."
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The rest of the train ride was done in relative silence, Daphne sat quietly next to Harry watching him out the corner of her eye while taking to Tracey. The whole incident involving the Dementor made her remember a nightmare that she had shortly after the start of term in her first year. The nightmare had shown her going through her life married Draco Malfoy, while Harry married Ron's sister, her parents never meeting or taking in the boy who lived, her marriage cold and emotionless until eventually she ended her life. She shuddered and reviled at such a thought, holding Harry's arm tighter he looked at her, "You okay Daphne?" he asked.
Daphne nodded, "Just some lingering effects from the Dementor Harry, I'll be fine," she closed her eyes willing the image of her nightmares away; it would no longer be a factor. She was with her true betrothed now and she would do everything to see herself stronger, to be the witch that would walk side by side with the Boy Who Lived and face the foulest Dark Wizard in modern history and bring him down. She also yearned for Harry to look at her and know how much he's come to mean to her. But she knew she had to take it slow, be a friend, a confidant, and a shield for Harry. Her simple crush she had for him in her first year had evolved, and now with him so close she wanted nothing more than to find the nearest broom closet or empty classroom and snog him senseless. She was patient however, cunning, and resourceful, she'd bide her time wait for the moment when Harry would look at her with the same gaze she gave him when he wasn't looking, then she'd strike. Need to stop thinking like that makes me sound like one of those cheesy muggle comic books Astoria likes to read. Daphne snickered mentally looking at her younger sister who was busy trading chocolate frogs with Ron, both had their collections out, she wasn't too surprise her sister was a bit of tomboy considering, while she grew up trying to look her best, Astoria grew up with a desire to play Quidditch, collect cards, and dress in shorts rather than skirts.
"Ron did ya here the Cannons sacked their general manager a few weeks ago," Astoria stated flipping through a stack of cards while looking at her list of extras.
"Bout time I say the man was rubbish, heard he was taking bribes to keep the team in last place," Blaise replied earning looks from his longtime friends. "What, don't you know who owns the Cannons?"
Tracey shook her head while Ron shrugged, "Do you?" Tracey asked.
Blaise smirked a bit, "Should I tell or do you want to?" looking over at Harry.
"How do you know?" Harry asked.
"Dad works for Ludo Bagman, in the Department of Magical Sports and Recreation, should have seen my dad's face when he found out, it was priceless," Blaise chuckled. Everyone one apart from Harry, Daphne, and Astoria were giving the dark skinned Slytherin a confused look. "Go on Harry tell 'em."
With a sigh pinching his nose under his glasses, "I'm the owner of the Chudley Cannons."
Ron face looked like he just discovered Nirvana, "Harry can you get me season tickets," the red haired boy asked grabbing his friend into a fierce hug.
"Easy there Ron, didn't know you batted for the other team," the boy who lived smirked slightly. "You already got them, but your mom added a stipulation."
Ron both blushed and groan, "What she want?"
"She wants you to get at the very least Exceeds Expectations on every subject this year or she'll confiscate them," Harry stated with a grin watching Ron's face paled which was quite the trick considering his skin was already pretty white.
"I'm doomed," Ron moaned causing Astoria and Tracey to giggle, Hermione to roll her eyes, Blaise to snicker, Daphne just smiled. "Harry how could you?"
"Aunt Marie said the same thing about the Quidditch World Cup next summer, so I figure if I got to be miserable this term I got let my best mate join me," Harry smirked.
"Very Slytherin of you Harry," Tracey giggled.
"Thank you," Harry chuckled no longer concerned with being associated with Slytherin as he use to, the Sorting Hat told him that he was difficult to place, he could have easily ended up in Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff as well, as he had traits from all four houses. "But when I get to school I'll need to find my inner Ravenclaw," this got everyone laughing.
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Astoria Greengrass was nervous waiting with thirty-nine other first years in front of the doors that led into the great hall. Her nerves weren't on the sorting itself but rather what house she would be sorted into, while Harry had reassured her that she be looked after in all four houses which was very sweet of her brother to be, it didn't change facts. Her mother had been in Ravenclaw and her father Slytherin the odds of her getting put into the house she wanted were not in her favor, while she liked the idea of being with her sister in Slytherin, the idea of being leered at by people like Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle made her shudder. She doubted the threat of losing his trust would curve Malfoy from taking actions against her to not only get back at Harry but Daphne as well. Bet the great ponce's father already had a marriage contract ready for dad to sign the moment Harry married another girl. With the way Daph looks at Harry now, next year tops she'll snog him senseless, fifth year they'll probably be married. Astoria came out of her musings when McGonagall reappeared opening the doors in grand fashion. She and her fellow first years followed behind the elder witch looking around the hall in awe and wonderment. She scanned the tables finding Harry, Hermione, and Ron sitting at the end of their table where all the empty places for the new students, she saw the same for Daphne, Tracey, and Blaise at the Slytherin table, translation wasn't necessary they made sure she would have a place to be where she would be comfortable. McGonagall made her speech about the Sorting Hat, shortly after the hat broke into a song. Once finished the elder witch began calling the first years. The names went alphabetically, two new Slytherin, three new Hufflepuff, a Dennis Creevey joined Gryffindor, following him two more Hufflepuff, and three Ravenclaw. "Astoria Greengrass!"
The young girl walked up the stairway and sat down on the stool, as McGonagall placed the hat on her head, "Yes, a Greengrass, hmm you are an interesting one, yes, crafty as your father and sister, but with a good head on your shoulders like your mother, you have great courage no doubt from your meeting with Potter," the hat muttered in her mind.
"Is it possible to be put in Gryffindor?" Astoria asked hopefully.
"Attached to your brother to be already I see," the hat stated. "Very well, GRYFFINDOR!"
The entire Slytherin table was stunned minus Daphne, Tracey, and Blaise, everyone had naturally assumed that Astoria would be put in Slytherin, as every Greengrass before her had including her sister. To be placed not only a different house but the house of their hated rival, it left many Slytherin seething and they drew only one conclusion that somehow it had been Harry Potter's fault which was only confirmed when Astoria sat next to Harry and gave him a warm hug. The Slytherin's then slowly turned to Daphne who gave them all her traditional cold expression, she stared them all down until they turned away and left her alone.
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Dumbledore stepped forward raising his arms after the final student had been sorted, he was pleasantly surprised to see Astoria Greengrass get sorted into Gryffindor. He address his normal start of term rules, "This year we will be playing Guests to the Dementors of Azkaban, please stay clear of them, they do not feel pity or remorse will do you great harm. I also like to meet three new teachers, Professor Rubeus Hagrid will be our new Care of Magical Creatures teacher," a round of mild applause as the burly half-giant stood to greet the students accidently knocking over his goblet. "Professor Yugi Moto who will be your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," as the young star haired man stood many of the girls seventeen and older swooned. "With him are his aides Mana and Arcana," both the Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl gave nods to the students. "Lastly, we have a new History of Magic teacher, Professor Narcissa Black." Narcissa stood giving all the students a friendly smile before she sat down. She never so much as glanced at the Slytherin table. "Well now that is done, tuck in!"
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Harry turned to his sister to be once they entered the common room, "You asked didn't you?"
The blonde haired girl nodded smiling shyly, "While I love my sister and her friends I wouldn't feel safe in Slytherin I could already feel that git Malfoy sizing me up like I was a meal."
Harry chuckled crouching down slightly kissing her forehead, "Well best get off to bed, see you in the morning." Astoria nodded hugging him before joining her fellow first year girls.
"Stirred up the snakes something fierce," Ron stated with a grin, "Did you see their faces when she was put in Gryffindor, it was like you told them they lost the House Cup already."
Hermione giggled, "Well Astoria was the first to break a long standing tradition, every Greengrass since the time Hogwarts was founded has been in Slytherin," she shook her head. "But that wasn't the funniest thing, did you see Draco's face when his mother was announced as the History of Magic Professor."
Harry nodded, "He looked confused and angry, if I hadn't told him what happened on the train might had an outburst right there, imagine the points he could have lost."
"Yeah shame Blaise, Tracey, and Daphne are in Slytherin now I'll feel guilty everytime that git gets into trouble and loses points for Slytherin, imagine that," Ron stated yawning slightly.
"They'll make it up, all three of them are smarter than their whole house combined," Harry stated looking a bit guilty about something else.
"What's the matter Harry," his bushy haired friend asked.
"Kind of feel guilty not taking Care of Magical Creatures now," the boy who lived stated.
"Why didn't you?" Ron asked.
With a minor shrug, "Considering I was nearly killed by a Basilisk, a Cerberus, and a giant spider in my first two years, kind of puts me off most Magical Creatures, plus the man who betrayed my parents turns into a Rat, I'm just a bit prejudice," Harry stated.
"Remember Harry, Ron and I face that dog too, and Ron faced the Spider with you and he loathes spiders," Hermione reminded him.
Harry nodded yawning himself, "Let's get to bed you guys can row on me in the morning," he chuckles.
Author's Note: I've reached Hogwarts, now the main plot is coming into play right now though the Yugi pairing has reached a three way tie with Narcissa, Tonks, and Mana, need some more votes to break that up. I do apologize to the United Kingdom readers, for putting way to much cliché lines and butchering the accents. At present I've reach over 2,300 views and over 1,200 views of this story so I feel great, and thanks to all my reviewers for pointing out the brothel/betrothal mix up I didn't catch it, at a later date I'll mix it and repost.