Harry guided the group down to the great hall and now the girls got an actual good look at it. Noire had to say she was impressed by the magic at work, especially the ceiling mimicking the Sky, or the flying candles. Although there was one thing that confused her and it wasn't about the room. "Harry, why are so many people glaring at you?" Her brother's face became sour and his eyes narrowed.
"Well…most think I willingly put my name into the goblet, even my two friends Ron and Hermione." They sat down at the Gryffindor table, Noire and Harry on one side and Nep and Uni on the opposite side.
"Why would they believe that? Aren't they you're friends?" Asked Uni while looking around the four tables. The people mostly glaring at Harry were the students in green and yellow. Some of the ones on their tables glared too, especially a redhead that was just stuffing his face full of food. The only table that seems indifferent was the blue one.
"Ron's a jealous prick! He hates that I'm famous and got money while his family is poor. So as he put it, this was the last straw and he's sick of me grabbing all the attention and throwing my money around! Tsk…that's how he thanks me for trying to help him." His hand clenched into a fist while holding his fork, slightly bending it. But when Noire then asked about the other friend his mood changed. Instead of just angry he seemed...sad. Hurt. Maybe even heartbroken.
"...in order to prevent people under 17 from entering, Dumbeldore put an age line around the Goblet and well…I managed to get past it. I DIDN'T put my name in though, I didn't even put a piece of paper in, I used a small rock! And I looked up the rules and it very clearly says it needs a name! But I used a random pebble I found in front of the Castle! Yet…she refuses to believe me. She yelled at me last night how she's sick of my reckless irresponsible behavior all too cling to my fading fame!" He got angry again and jammed his work into the bread. But quickly it once more changed to a rather solemn look.
"I couldnt care less about my fame. Its not worth what I lost…." Neptune looked at him funny.
"What didya loose? I mean if you're really that famous it can't be—" But Harry, barely containing his anger, glared at her and had to assert any ounce of self control he had too not shout.
"I lost my twin sister you moron!" Neptune flinched back realizing yeah okay she could have seen that one.
"Sorry dude…didn't think of that. But hey! Ya got yer sister right there next to you so…yay for sisterhood! Btw who's that bushy haired girl and the red headed pig that are glaring at you from down the table? I guess there Bon and Hermole?" Harry snorted at how horrendously Neptune butchered his friends' names and soon started to laugh.
"What do I spy with my little eye; dear brother, is our champion laughing again?" Spoke a voice suddenly.
"Seems so, oh less handsome brother of mine. After the face he made yesterday I expected a few days of gloom around him but it seems this lovely lady got him out of the funk." Out of nowhere two redheaded, identical looking boys appeared behind Uni and Neptune, both grinning brightly.
"Allow us to introduce ourselves, we are Gred and Forge Weasley, Prankster extraordinaires and avant followers to the Marauders name!" Spole one twin.
"And charmer of the ladies!" Spoke the other while giving Noire a wink, although she just raised a single eyebrow.
"Are those two friends of yours?" She asked as she looked at Harry, who nodded.
"Those are Fred and Gorge Weasley, they're Ron's older twin siblings. Don't ask me who's who, I haven't the foggiest of clues and I am frankly certain they switch it up constantly anyway and just identify as both. Guys, this is Noire, her little sister Uni, and her friend Neptune." Both gave comically large bows.
"We are glad to be in your presence, our visitors from the grave beyond. Its not every day Hogwarts has dead people visiting."
"Well dead people that are still solid, it kinda has a lot of dead people here of the more intangible kind." Before the girls could ask what they mean, multiple transparent ghosts appeared in the great hall, leaving the three girls slack jawed.
"WOW! Actual ghosts!" Said Nep, sounding excited.
"Yep yep, multiple Ghosts in the non-flesh. Most are quite the charming fellas. Except the Bloody Baron. And Peeves. And the Gray Lady. And Myrtle and…you know brother thinking about it besides the Fryer and Nick, they're all kinda dicks."
"I mean they ARE dead, I can't imagine it being all that fun of an experience. BUT putting aside the boringness of an unliving life, I have to say for someone being dead for so long your sister is quite the—" But Fred, or George who knows, shut his mouth when they felt a deadly Aura behind him.
"She is quite a what boys? You really wanna finish that sentence?" Sirius had arrived in the great hall and was now glaring at the boys while also having a creepy grin on his face, twirling around his wand. The boys start sweating before quickly muttering they have to order some Lees and hang out with their materials and then quickly sprinted away. Noire…didn't really appreciate that.
"I don't really need to be protected from two boys who just tried to flirt with me" Sirius shrugged, sitting down next to Neptune, Remus following close behind, rolling his eyes.
"He knows that, he just REALLY wants to play the "Overprotective father" role. Let him get it out of his system and he should be fine." Sirius looked poutingly at Remus.
"But I HAVE to protect her from boys! Who knows what they would try if she ever goes out with one!?" The two started bickering, or rather Remus calmly eating while Sirius was overdramatic, when the bushy haired girl suddenly stood up, grabbed Harry and attempted to pull him away.
"We need to talk! Come!" But she didn't get far as Noire stood up and slapped her hand away.
"Who are you to just drag him away like this? Maybe ASK him first? You did nothing but glare at him while sitting with piggy over there so I don't think you got any right to demand anything from him." The girl just narrowed her eyes at Noire.
"It's even less the business of you! Harry! Come!" Noire wanted to say something again but Harry was faster.
"No. Whatever you have to say, you can say it here. Noire's right Granger, you made your point yesterday abundantly clear." Ah so that must be Hermione, thought Noire.
The bushy haired girl took a deep breath before talking. "I…admit I overreacted last night. I was just…my emotions got the better of me and I said some things I really shouldn't have. This is really important Harry so can we please go to a more private place?" Harry sighed but decided to go.
"Be right back guys." The two left the great hall and just before the door closed, Noire followed them. The two had gone just a bit away from the doors into a small corner and Noire was easily able to hide and overhear what they were saying. She frankly wasn't sure why she was doing this but…something just…didn't feel right. She didn't know if it was just her being overly on edge or heck maybe even sisterly instincts kicking in towards her younger (for her 20 years have passed, for Harry only nine, so by all accounts she's the older sibling now) brother.
"So what did you wanna talk about Mione." Asked Harry curiously, using her nickname again as he was happy his friend came to her senses.
"You have to stay away from those girls!" Harry…stared at her for a few seconds.
"Come…come again? Why?" Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Three weird girls appear out of nowhere, one claiming to be your dead sister, which I for a fact know you want more then anything to be alive again. Harry this…this is a obvious trap! I get you wanna see your sister again. I…I really do…but Rose is dead. Reincarnation DOESN'T exist Harry! I read all about it, and while there were some cases where Wizards managed too APPARENTLY reincarnate it was later revealed all they managed was somehow bind their memories to their magic, causing their descendents too have flashbacks or feelings of Deja Vu but no real, actual reincarnation was ever archived. This girl cannot be Rose! MAYBE she simply believes it to be true, I don't want to outright accuse her of lying but…it's just not possible!" Harry was silent throughout her explanation.
"Sigh, Mione she explained it to us, she made it very clear she IS Rose. Even Dumbeldore thinks so. I mean…she was able to remember Padfoot and Mooney's nicknames, she even remembered the rats. I just…don't believe she's lying. I…I can FEEL it. I can't explain it but…looking at her…it's like my magic itself tells me she is who she is. I appreciate your concern but I'm not gonna stay away from her. Also I frankly am more concerned about the tournament then her." Hermione's eyes had narrowed but she gave a short nod.
"Fine, but I will keep an eye on her. But you are right, making you survive the Tournament is more important, I'm STILL mad that you put your name in it but—" Harry's anger suddenly flared up and so did Noire's. Didn't this girl just apologize for that? Did she just lie to get him alone?
"WHAT?! HERMIONE I DIDN'T PUT MY BLASTED NAME INTO THE GOBLET! YOU LITERALLY JUST APOLOGIZED FOR THAT!"
"NO I DID NOT AND DON'T LIE TO ME POTTER! YOU BRAGGED HOW YOU GOT PAST THE AGE LINE! YOU YOURSELF, ALL SUMMER TALKED ABOUT BEING IN THE TOURNAMENT! I apologize for accusing you of only doing it for fame! Harry please stop lying! Or I WON'T help you!" Noire had heard enough. This…this girl had the gall to deny a friend help just because he wouldn't admit to something she thought was the truth?! She came out of her hiding place, got between Hermione and Harry and before anyone could say something Hermione got slapped in the face. The corridor grew silent, a few people had heard the shouting and came too see what was going on. Hermione stood there shell shocked, a red handprint on her left cheek. Harry just stood behind Noire looking dumbfounded.
"How…DARE you…and you call yourself his friend? He tells you he DIDN'T put his name in, and instead of believing him, instead of TRUSTING him you deny him your help in a deadly tournament? I may not be an expert when it comes to friendship…but I know enough to be fully aware you are NOT a friend. Just a bossy brat that is upset if she doesn't get her way! Stay away from my brother, got it?!" And with that she grabbed Harry and pulled him away, with him not offering any resistance as he was still quite shocked at what just happened. Hermione meanwhile put a hand on her now burning cheek before glaring after the girl that ran away with her best friend.
Noire dragged Harry back inside where the others expectedly looked at them. "Soooo, shit hit the fan?" Asked Neptune while stuffing her face full with her breakfast.
"That…that girl wanted him to stay away from us and STILL accuses him of entering his name in this blasted tournament." Said Noire and Harry just nodded.
"Yeah…she slapped Hermione, said she should stay away from me, and then called me brother…so at least one good thing happened" Neptune startet to grin, whereas Noire blushed.
"T-That was a one t-time thing!? I-It's not like I just s-suddenly accept you as family!" She looked away whereas Harry was confused.
"It means she sees you as family. Noire is a super tsundere that's never open about her feelings. It's why she doesn't have many friends." Said Neptune teasingly.
"SHUT IT! I have friends!" But Neptune's grin just widened.
"I said you don't have MANY friends, never anything about none at all"
"You! I! GRAAAA!" Noire just threw her arms in the air and sulked while Nep was just smiling. Harry and Sirius startet laughing, Uni rolled her eyes and Remus looked at the group with a smile.
They continued their breakfast until it was time to leave. Harry would accompany them, as it was a Saturday and therefore no classes. It also would allow him to check out some stuff he may need for the tournament. They gather outside the Castle.
"So how are we getting to this…Diagon Alley?" Asked Noire.
"Well the easiest way would be Floo Powder but…in all honesty after what happened to Harry a while ago…" Sirius grinned while Harry loudly groaned, remembering his horrible mishap back in his second year where he was with the Weasleys and accidentally floo'd into Knockturn Alley, "…we are not so sure it's such a good idea risking it with three people new to this. Side by side apparition would frankly take too long, and would be too much of a risk. On top of that you just ate, and most people vomit their first time. So we're gonna take the Knight Bus." The girls had no idea what most of those things were. Remus, seeing their confusion, explained.
"Floo Powder is a magical way of traveling between two fireplaces. You have to be very clear in your pronunciation and in all honesty…Neptune has already proven a bad habit of pronouncing names so we won't take that risk. Apparition is basically what the Muggles call teleportation. It's…honestly not a pleasant feeling and it's also dangerous. Way too risky with you four who don't have a licence. You actually can leave body parts behind. The Knight Bus…well, you will see." Sirius lifted his wand and with a loud PENG, a large, three story high purple bus came into view.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus, I'm Stan Shunpike and your conductor! Oh my Lord Black! Where to sir?" Spoke the lanky young boy that greeted them. He didn't seem very old; late teens, early twenties at the most.
"To the Leaky Cauldron, Stan." Sirius threw a large gold coin at Stan. "Ya can keep the change." Stan looked at the Coin and grinned, letting the group onto the bus.
"Better hold onto something" Warned Harry, and the three girls looked confused as Sirius, Remus and Harry grabbed onto whatever they could, and Sirius even applied some kind of charm to his feet. Noire was about to ask why when suddenly the bus moved forward with another loud PENG. The three girls were thrown off their feet, landing on the ground, flashing their undergarments in the process. When they got back up they saw out the window with what ridiculous speed the bus moved! It was insane!
"Urgh….this…oh god…" Said Uni, clinging to one of the seats while almost vomiting from how much this bus was shaking. Neptune too, who normally enjoyed such thrill rides, didn't fare much better. It only took around ten minutes when the bus stopped again but for the girls it felt like an agonizing eternity.
"Leaky Cauldron!" Announced Stan and very quickly the girls got off the bus, ignoring the amused face of Stan. Honestly the pay was shit, but in Stan's eyes, seeing first timers' reactions almost made up for it. The three Wizards came too and looked amused at the girls. Uni and Neptune wheare supporting each other, both green in the face, where as Noire was leaning against a lampost.
"Never! Again! No! This was….horrible!" Said Noire, the pained moans coming from her comrades making their agreement known. Sirius started laughing.
"HAHAHAHA! Ah, this never gets old!" They glared at him but started to recover, then they noticed their surroundings.
"Wowy! What a stark contrast to the Castle! Oh my this looks a bit like Lastation! Just…gray instead of black and less steam." The three eyed the Muggle buildings around them.
"Look at the cars. They are…wow, I haven't seen cars like that outside of a preservation museum." Said Uni and the other two nodded.
"It seems I was right. They ARE more advanced than the Muggles, but still less than Gamindustri." Sirius and Remus shared a look at what Noire said. Did she just say the Muggles were…more advanced than them? Harry wasn't so surprised. While not an expert, he went on quite a few excursions into the Muggle World with his mum so he was aware of their ACTUAL level of advancement. Sadly even people like Remus and Sirius at times did not fully comprehend how advanced Muggles have become.
"Hey there Noire, whatcha mean? Sure they have some nifty stuff but the Muggles aren't more advanced than us." All three girls gave him baffled looks that made it clear what they were saying. Are you for real?
"Ahm…you guys don't even have electricity. Or television. Ore FREAKING VIDEO GAMES! Which…is just…a crime against nature itself ya hear me!? So yeah…no I highly disagree!" In case you're wondering how Neptune knows they don't have this stuff, well the lack of any electricity in Hogwarts made it wary clear, so even SHE could piece that together.
Sirius just shrugged, not intent on arguing the point, as frankly he didn't care that much. Maybe it was true, maybe not. "Well girls, let's forget that for now. This is the entrance to Diagon Alley." He turned around and pointed at an old run down pub...the girls had mixed reactions. Neptune looked bored, Uni disgusted, and Noire just…raised an eyebrow.
"Yes I know it looks like shit, and the inside aint much better, but apparently this is to help keep non Muggles out, in case any of them ever WOULD see it." They went inside and yep…it definitely didn't look much better. Sure it had a somewhat…rusty and medieval feel to it…but it was still dirty and dimly light.
"Ah Sirius! Remus! The usual? Oh and Mister Potter a pleasant surprise!" They looked at the counter where a toothless man was smiling at them.
"Later Tom! Got some business to do, but for lunch, we sure will be here!" The man, Tom, nodded and continued cleaning a glass. They went into the back of the pub and Sirius tapped on the stones in a certain way with his wand. Suddenly the wall jumped alive and created an archway.
"Welcome to Diagon Alley!" Said Sirius grinning brightly. The girls were surprised. It truly was like stepping into a different world, compared to the concrete jungle that was London. The buildings looked medieval and honestly some made no sense, obviously being supported by magic, as otherwise they would just collapse. Yet…they weren't impressed. As this place, even with its obvious magical nature, did not hold a candle too Lowee.
Sirius noticed their…less than impressed reaction and his face fell. "Geez girls at least look amazed!" He said grumbling.
"Sorry but ahm…compared too Lowee this isn't really that special." Said Uni sheepishly.
"Yeah its just…regular old buildings. No giant magic mushrooms, candy blocks, or whacky awesome stuff. Just…buildings." Explained Neptune. Harry, Remus and Sirius all stared at them as if they had grown a second head, but after a few seconds just…shrugged it off and continued on to Gringotts.
When they arrived, Noire read the golden sign with the rhyme. "This sounds like it's both a challenge and a warning." She said and looked at one of the two goblins guarding the entrance. He grinned and nodded.
"Both, but if you've got any brains in that head of yours, you wont try." Noire just nodded, she had no desire to steal anything from them. Sirius went straight to an empty counter and handed over the note from James.
"I'm gonna go with the girls down to the vault, Harry and Remus you better wait here." The two nodded, Remus looking grateful. The Goblin guided them further into the bank to a…cart?
"Wowy! Is that some kind of roller coaster?" Asked Neptune as they sat in the cart.
"Ayup…hold tight girls." Before they could ask what he meant, the cart started to move, speeding up with a ridiculous amount of speed.
"WHOHOOOO!" Screamed Neptune loudly, clearly enjoying it.
"OH MY GOD MAKE IT STOP PLEASE MAKE IT STOP!" Screamed Uni while hugging Noire fire comfort, who also looked ready to just vomit again. When the wagon finally stopped they came tumbling out.
"First that blasted bus now this?! What is it with you magical people and vomit inducing travel methods?!" Asked Noire annoyed, making Sirius laugh loudly.
"THAT is a question even Dumbeldore to this day is trying to figure out, so far without any success! NOW! Come along." They followed the Goblin to a large door and when it opened, their mouths fell open. Mountains on mountains of Gold, other trinkets even some swords!
"WHOWZAS! Noire your family is LOADED!" All Noire could do is nod. Sirius showed a lot of money into a WAY too small bag while explaining how the currency works…then Noire and Uni ground when they realized they had to use that Rollercoaster thingy again. At Least Neptune had fun.