Author Note: Next little bit of A Whole New World I did last night after dinner.
Albus Dumbledore was in a frenzy, "What do you mean you cannot resort them?"
"Once my decision is made it cannot be undone." The hat stated, "You know that as well as I do."
"But Harry Potter was supposed to wind up in Gryffindor. How could you not see that?" Dumbledore growled.
"He convinced me." The hat growled back, "You are the one arguing with a hat. If you wanted him placed there why did you got through with the whole sorting ritual? Oh yeah because the founders put it in the charter that all students HAVE to be sorted by me or the school will be closed."
Albus knew that. Which is why he had worked some very powerful magic he thought on the stupid hat. Only somehow his compulsions had been removed and the hat was now under its original programming as the muggles called it.
"Fine. Back into the cabinet you go until next year."
"See you then Albbie."
Albus was pacing as he considered how to recover from this unexpected bit of chaos. Not only had the Weasley boy been unable to make contact with Potter but he had been fed a chocolate frog with a sleeping draught and was barely able to wake up in time to get on the boats.
There was very little he could do but go forward from here and see what happened.
…...
Harry, Hermione and Neville looked around the Ravenclaw common room in awe and excitement. The room was painted with a tasteful light blue ceiling and walls fading from the light ceiling down to a midnight blue carpet that sparkled with what looked like a million stars. There were comfortable reading charis tucked near bookshelves in between large arched windows. Chairs and tables for study sat in clusters in the center of the room. Across from the entrance door stood another doorway with a brilliant white life sized statue of a regal looking woman dressed royally wearing a diadem on her head.
"Welcome to Ravenclaw. I am Penelope Clearwater. I am your introduction coordinator. If you have any questions about anything please feel free to ask me. We want to integrate you into our house and world as seamlessly as possible." A tall rather well built girl with long curly brunette hair had stood in the center of the room to introduce herself.
"As you can see the books are general reference works, copies of previous years textbooks as well as some basic literature. Feel free to read any of them. The tables are at a first come first served status as well as the chairs. Behind me you will see a statue of our house founder Rowena Ravenclaw. Beyond that are the spiral staircases up to each years dormitories. Boys are on the left and girls are on the right, lower years to higher years. There are no charms, curses or hexes on either staircase as the house operates on an honor system." She smiled as several of the older students chuckled or whispered to each other.
There were six other older students standing behind her, three boys and three girls, who all wore a silver and bronze badge with the letter P on them. "These are your prefects, Douglas Hanson, David Thornton, Alfred Goodfellow, Mary Albright, Maggie Graham, and Monica Burke. If you have any problems or need to discus something they are your first line before we go to the head of house."
Harry doubted he would remember their names but would try.
"Okay are there any questions?"
The tall girl named Daphne standing beside Harry raised her hand, when Penelope nodded she asked, "Do we get to decorate our portion of the dormitory in our personal style or do we have to remain uniform. Further do we have to remain in uniform outside of the class structure?"
She had asked that in a flat inflectionless tone of voice causing harry to wonder how much fun it was going to be having her around.
Penelope thought for a second then said, "Well as you have to share the dorm it'll be up to you and them to work out decorations and such. When you get into the dorm you'll see how they are laid out. As for clothing choices within the common room all we ask is that you are clothed in some manner. Outside of the common room of course school rules require you to wear a uniform to classes and meals except on the weekends."
Daphne nodded then seemed satisfied. Harry had a lot of questions but he didn't know how to articulate them as well as she had so remained silent. Neville just looked surprised to be here still but otherwise didn't say anything.
Penelope smiled, "Okay well unless there are any other questions I'll let you get settled in. Your things should have already been brought up from the train and placed in your dorms. Curfew is at 2200hrs. Quiet time starts a half hour later."
Harry, Neville and the other two first year boys made their way up the stairs. He hoped they would be nice to know.
Once in the boy's dorm harry was impressed. There was his trunk sitting at the end of his bed. A comfortable looking four poster bed with curtains of deep cerulean. A writing desk that doubled as a night stand stood on one side of the bed in front of a window while a tall wardrobe stood on the other.
"Well this is nice. My home back in Durham is not as well appointed as this." Stephen Cornfoot said, "Not to mention I live bloody close to a fen."
"A fen? There's a lot of really useful plants and such around fens." Neville piped up.
"Yeah, me mum's a herbalist and runs the shop. You interested in plants?"
Neville grinned, "A little bit."
"Well the two of you should get along swimmingly then." the boy named Kevin said. "Me I'm into rocks. Shiny rocks, dull rocks. All kinds of rocks."
"That's useful I guess." Harry said setting his things into the desk and the wardrobe.
"Absolutely. Considering how there is nothing in the world that doesn't come from a rock of some type. So You're Harry Potter eh?"
Harry sighed, "Yes I am."
"Well don't expect any hero worship. Until I got on the train I had never heard of you." Kevin stated with a shrug.
"Considering how until a month ago I had no idea I was a wizard I don't want any hero worship." Harry declared turning to look at the other boys.
"In that case want to see my rock collection?"
…...
Hermione and the other girls found their dorms to be a calm shade of sea blue with a bed, a writing desk, and a wardrobe. Their trunks sitting at the foot of their four poster beds stood ready and waiting.
"So what did ye mean when ya asked aboot decoratin the plaise?" the tall muscular girl with long curly red hair asked. When she was standing next to Daphne they were the same height.
"Why do you wish to know, Morag was it?" Daphne asked.
Pulling her tie and jacket off she shrugged, "Cause I had sometings I ah wanted to put up meself. If nunna ye minded."
Hermione shrugged, "I do not mind as long as its nothing too disturbing." Padma nodded her agreement.
Daphne pulled out of the trunk a short rather interesting looking sword. It was in a deep black iridescent sheath. The hilt was made from a dark wood that had a silver wire woven around the grip like vines. The pommel was a beaked hawk's head while the crossguard was slender and barely wider than the sheath was attached to a well oiled and worn belt that had strange runes and vines embossed into it but had been worn almost smooth by years of use.
"Now that's a pretty knife." Morag said admiringly.
"Iit is more than a knife. It is a family heirloom, given to the eldest daughter." Daphne said reverently. "I have been practicing with this blade since I could walk."
"Nioce." Morag said, "I prefer an axe meself. But what I wanted to hang was me clan tartan." She said moving a piece of large cloth to the end of the bed. It had a shield on it with what Hermione presumed was the Macdougal clan blazon.
"That is nice. You are related to the Lord of the clan?" Daphne asked. Her voice never took on any inflection as she spoke.
"Aye, he's me uncle." Morag declared changing out of her uniform into a simple night dress. When she was unclothed Hermione saw that she had a small design with futhark runes just above her heart.
"What's the tattoo?"
"Ah. A protection ward so that me heart is no' lost to darkness." Morag replied. "Ye know the runes?"
"No. But I would like to learn." Hermione said happily.
"Well my mother is a descendant of the Volva so that makes me one too." Morag declared sitting on her bed while Daphne rolled an intricately woven rug out to kneel on the floor before her sword while Padma joined Hermione in talking to Morag about the runic languages.
…...
The next morning Harry and his friends were walking down to breakfast when they were intercepted by Ronald Weasley.
"Hey harry. Wow. That was quite a shocker you getting sorted into Ravenclaw."
Daphne elbowed the red head hard enough he had to stop and catch his breath, "What'd you do that for?" He exclaimed once he had caught back up.
"You stepped in front of me and shoved Hermione to the side so you could speak with him. That was rude." Daphne coldly said staring at Ron like he was a bug.
"Yeah, well I wrote to mum and she's going to talk to dad to see what can be done to get you resorted." Ron said dismissing Daphne although from a few steps distance.
"I do not believe that is possible." Daphne stated.
"Agreed, in Hogwarts a History it says no student has ever changed houses once they are assigned." Hermione pointed out.
"Awe c'mon. You can't tell me you want to be stuck in with all of the bookworms?" Ron looked incredulously at harry.
Harry looked at the other Ravenclaws and said, "So far I don't mind."
"Geez. You are nothing at all like I was told you'd be like." Ron said then got a strange look on his face before he tried to cover it with a smile, "So you still like Quidditch right?"
"Since I have no idea what that is I couldn't tell you." Harry said, looking at Hermione who cleared her throat and began to discus the history fo Quidditch as played at the school, including various extraordinary players in history.
Ron was frowning but as Daphne had quickly stepped closer to him when he had opened his mouth he quickly closed it and did not interrupt Hermione's lecture. Putting his hands in his trouser pockets he looked glumly at the floor while she spoke. The result of this was him walking into a chubby dirty blonde haired girl wearing the yellow and black of Hufflepuff.
"Hey. Look out next time." She said as Neville helped her off of the floor.
"You got eyes too you know." Ron said standing up.
"Perhaps you should ensure you do not miss finding appropriate seating." Daphne suggested to Ron. Since she was almost a half a foot taller he snorted and walked into the Great Hall.
"Sorry about him. He's not too bright." Neville said with a smile.
"Oh that's okay. I'm Lavender brown. What's your name?" she asked with a broad smile on her chubby face.
"uh Ne-Neville Loongbottom." Neville stammered as he turned several shades of red.
She giggled, "It doesn't look that long."
He blinked several times before she shook her head, "Nevermind. See you around."
Kevin put his arm over Neville's shoulder, "Neville me boyo there goes a girl with potential."
Neville gulped, "Yeah."
Harry chuckled as they made their way into the Great Hall.
Dumbledore sighed as he saw harry walk into the hall with the other Ravenclaw students. Ronald Weasley had stomped into the hall a few moments before them, alone and glowering. Once again failing in his assignment to befriend Harry. The Weasley twins would not be appropriate in this as they were too uncontrollable and had no fear or respect for authority. Percy on the other hand had too much. The sycophantic brown noser would do what he was told without remorse or question. Maybe next year when the Weasley girl arrived he would find her a better cat's paw.
…...
They had Charms with the Hufflepuffs first thing after breakfast which Harry was looking forward to. Hermione was worriedly going back over the various spells she had already practiced.
"Relax Granger. Eitha ye know it or ya don." Morag reminded her.
Harry and the others all took their seats as Kevin pointed out a rather tall, rather wide and curvy girl sitting next to Lavender. She had coal black hair that fell to her waist and dark blue eyes. When Lavender said something she looked over at Neville and smiled with plump pink lips.
"My oh my. That's a whole lotta femaleness right there." Kevin whispered.
Neville nodded then turned to try and focus on the professor as he took attendance and then said, "Miss Bulstrode would you come and pass the feathers out."
The big girl stood up and moved like a tidal wave as she gathered the feathers and began to hand them out. When she reached Neville she pulled slightly on the feather causing it to run along his palm as she smiled at him coyly.
Kevin grinned as Neville stared blankly ahead. Harry tried not to laugh as he took his feather from the big Hufflepuff. The levitation charm was correctly performed by Hermione, then Daphne a mere moment later. Unfortunately Neville's feather shot so quickly upwards that it buried itself in the wood of the ceiling.
"Impressive Mr Longbottom. Perhaps a bit less power." Flitwick suggested. "Although you might be able to use that in defense class."
"Uh yes sir." Neville replied but came in last for performing the spell successfully.
…...
Transfiguration was an interesting class. Harry wondered why the professor looked at him strangely for a bit but soon was engrossed in trying to change his match into a pin. Hermione and Daphne of course were neck and neck in who got it first.
Herbology class that afternoon was where Neville shined for Ravenclaw. Stephen seemed to have a good footing for the material as did the Bulstrode girl. Hermione and Daphne had been in the top third. Harry was somewhere in the middle.
Ron approached Harry carefully at lunch, "Hey when do you have flight class?"
"Just before dinner why?" Harry replied.
"Well I was talking to my brothers and the school uses Shooting Stars. So if you're going to do anything know they pull to the left at high speed. Which is a stiff breeze on those things." He said derisively.
"Why would I do anything with them other than what the teacher wants?" Harry asked looking at Ron skeptically.
"Well like. I dunno. Cause it feels good to fly. And you know, your legacy." Ron prompted.
Harry sighed, "I have never flown so I'll figure it out later. And as for my legacy I have no idea what you're talking about."
Daphne looked up at Ron with her cold stare causing him to frown as he said, "Look just be careful of their turn. Some of them like to tuck under too."
"Thank you. I'll take that under advisement." Harry peevishly stated as he was already tired of the red head's presence.
After Ron had left, "Well ye 'ave ta gi'e him credit for being persistent." Morag observed.
"A fruit fly is persistent that does not mean I enjoy their presence." Daphne intoned.
Draco though observed Harry at lunch and all day when their paths crossed. Like he was trying to figure out why Harry was in Ravenclaw too. Or maybe there was something deeper harry wondered.
Just before dinner they had flight class as Harry had said. The students all lined up standing net to some rather used and worn looking brooms.
"Oh this is not good. I'm never going to get off of the ground." Millicent complained looking at the broom.
"The school brooms are Shooting Stars. First manufactured in 1955 by Universal Brooms Limited of Manchester. They have a lifting capacity of 800 pounds." Hermione rattled off.
"And how do you know that Miss Granger?" The professor asked as she strode across the courtyard towards them.
"A fellow student told us about them so I looked up their specifications in Which Broom weekly as well as Branham's brooms reference." Hermione explained.
"Very good. 5 points to Ravenclaw." Thge professor said, "Which means you will not have a problem with the broom being able to carry you."
Millicent looked like she was relaxing a little bit, "Good cause I only weigh 325."
"Well within the broom's abilities. And I am here to teach you how to handle the broom so you do not exceed the abilities of the broom or yourself." The professor declared as she began to pace in front of both lines.
This was the first time Harry had achieved a task first all day. His broom practically leaping into his hand and vibrating like it was a rocket ready to be launched and held back.
Neville had managed to get his broom to float slowly up into his hand while Hermione was still struggling to get hers to respond at all. Even Millicent had gotten hers to respond.
"I think it knows you're afraid of it."
"I am not afraid, I am just operating under a sense of prudent concern." She replied petulantly.
Finally Hermione got her broom to float into her hand and the class began to make short hops and slow maneuvers only a few feet off of the ground. Harry did have to admit he was curious to see what the broom could do but the professor did not seem to be the sort to allow horseplay or freeform flight.
All too soon the class was over and the brooms were being taken to a room in the castle to be locked up until needed again.
"Well that was fun." Millicent said walking with the others.
"Yeah it was." Neville agreed. "I could get used to it."
"You even managed to get your Loongbottom on it." Lavender teased giggling as Neville blushed.
…...
Dinner saw Ron looking disappointedly at Harry but not coming to speak with him. Which made harry happy. Kevin and Neville were having a discussion about whether Lavender and Millicent had a crush on him or not and what Neville should do about it.
Daphne and Hermione were comparing notes over the day's classes with Morag and Padma while planning for tomorrow's classes. Harry was wondering how potions would go as the professor Snape kept staring at him with his dark hooded eyes. Harry had a strange feeling that he was not living up to a lot of people's expectations.
…...
Review Responses
kimjo2: Oh we shall not be rid of Ron that easily. And Nev will flourish quite a bit more among the Ravens.
Ebonpurlight: That's what I'm hoping. The idea is rattling around in my head and blocking the other projects so here we go. Thanks and blessings and peace to thee as well.
TomHRichardson: We will see that a lot of people got placed in places other than their canon counterparts. This is fully within the AU realm although some timey-whimey cannot be ruled out. I have not entirely decided on the details firmly nor have the forces of the universe revealed them to me either. Lol. Good guess on the copulsions as this Dumbledore is a meddler. I have not decided how dark his motivations for meddling are but he has a plan and someone or something is wrecking it big time.
Dennisud: Thank you. My favorite story fish is a red herring..lol. As for the pairing I have other plans for Daphne and Neville.
Kellerdeath: It will be. It will be.