5
"Leafage Hedwig! Block her sight!" Malia ordered her starter. Hedwig hooted in agreement; the owl Pokemon waved her wings, green energy coalescing into sharp leaves that struck against her opponent.
"Treecko, evade it and use Leer!" The other starter nodded and skipped away from the attack. The gecko sneered maliciously at his fellow grass type; Hedwig flinched slightly, her defenses lowering slightly.
Malia remained calm; they still had the advantage. Hedwig was safe, hovering in the sky, and she doubted that Treecko knew any range attacks.
After all, Mallow had only received the Hoenn starter a couple of days ago. This was his first real battle, a way for Mallow to safely test his moves and skills. All her other Pokemon were too strong to work as training partners for her newest Pokemon.
Fortunately, Malia was too willing to help one of her friends before leaving for Hogwarts.
"Hedwig, let's finish this! Get close and try our new move!" Malia needed to finish this fight before Treecko could lower Hedwig´s defenses any more.
"Evade it and Pound Treecko!" Mallow ordered.
Treecko jumped sideways, avoiding Hedwig´s tackle. Treecko got cocky and followed the owl, jumping and twisting in the air, his tail aimed towards Hedwig´s back.
"Hedwig high!" Hedwig beat her wings furiously, barely missing Treecko´s powerful tail. Once she was above him, Hedwig looped down and aimed right at the gecko Pokemon, her beak shining with flying-type energy.
"Koo!" Treecko screamed in pain when Hedwig's beak connected with his head. The Hoenn starter fell on his back, grunting in pain from the super-effective attack.
"Again Hedwig!" "Row!" Hedwig´s beak shone again, and once again she struck against her opponent. This time, Treecko didn't get up.
"Auu." Mallow pouted. "Well done Treecko. We will win next time." Mallow returned the fainted Pokemon to his pokeball, a small smile on her lips. "That was a great battle, Malia. Hedwig has grown really strong. Keep training like this and you will beat the Island challenge in no time." Malia blushed at Mallow´s compliments. At her side, Hedwig puffed proudly at her victory.
Malia, too, felt proud of themselves. Even if Treecko was Mallow´s new Pokemon and had the least training, he still belonged to a captain. And she was still a rookie who only fought against other rookies and folks that battled for fun.
"Thanks Mallow." She said, crouching to hug Hedwig close to her chest. Her starter pecked her affectionately. Malia rubbed the top of her head in response.
Mallow gave them a weird look and then started to giggle.
"What's so funny?" She asked the grass-type captain.
"Sorry, it's just that I can't believe that it took you two months to realize that your Rowlet is female and not male." She chorted out.
Malia flushed beet red.
"That's because dad didn't have a Rotom to create my Rotomdex and I said that I could wait until he got one. And between all that craziness with the wizards dimension and my birth name and all that crap about being a celebrity for simply surviving a terrorist that killed my birth parents, it just slipped our minds." She defended herself.
"Hey, hey. It's ok. I´m not making fun of you. Tapu Lele knows that without a dex I cannot tell a Pokemon's gender. I think that Mew wanted to laugh at our reactions when she started to create Pokemons." Mallow whispered conspiratorially.
Malia let out a chuckle at her crazy idea. Mallow´s cheery demeanor and empathy were some of her best traits. The captain of Akala was only a couple of years older than Malia, having completed her trial when she was eleven, much like Lana, the water-type captain of Akala, and their other best friend.
Malia had met both girls when she was five years old while enjoying a family day on Hano Beach. One moment she was enjoying a malasada, and the next a Bounsweet and a Popplio were at her feet, giving her puppy eyes.
Young Malia was just blinking in confusion when two slightly older girls barged in and grabbed their Pokemon, one of them admonishing hers for running off while the other just laughed at how fast they moved.
After some introductions, the three girls became lifelong friends, video chatting, playing games, and spending as much time as possible together.
It didn't matter that all three girls lived in different cities or that both Mallow and Lana spent one year traveling all over Alola, capturing Pokemon and training hard; or that shortly after completing their Island Challenge, both were chosen by Tapu Lele to be the newest captains. The girls maintained their friendship strong, often catching up with each other and talking whenever they could.
Malia frowned. She would miss both girls. They were her best friends in the entire world.
"Hey. Why so Gloom? Pfft, got it? Gloom?" Malia let out a weak chuckle at such a bad joke. Take it to Mallow to try to cheer everyone up at the sight of a frowny face.
"I…" She hesitated. She felt so childish. "I'm going to miss you." She admitted it out loud. "You, mom, dad, Lana, Kiawe, Aunt Olivia, Aunt Lusamine, Grandpa Hala, Hau. I-I. I'm going to miss you all so much." Malia sobbed.
"Mals." Mallow whispered. The older trainer hugged her tightly, letting her cry against her shoulder. "You know, Mals. Back when I left on my trial, I was pretty anxious too. I missed my brother and my dad, and I missed you and Lana a lot. I have no idea how Olivia and your dad made it when they were our age. You know, back when mobiles didn't exist and they had to write letters and send them with flying types. Crazy, right?"
Malia chuckled. Mallow always cheered her up.
"Besides. You think that just because you're leaving for a fancy magic school in another dimension, I´m not going to pester you with cooking videos and make you test my new recipes? Think twice. You, me, and Lana? Best friends forever." Malia shook her head at her best friend´s tone.
"Mom and her group are bringing a Porygon Z to the wizarding world. They did some tests with the Porygon line and Rotoms, and it turns out that magic doesn't interfere with electronics if they are inside them." Malia pointed at her new Rotomphone, who was hovering on the side, hanging out with Pichu and the rest of Mallow´s Pokemon.
Pichu and Comfey were playing around with Rotom, Tsareena was sunbathing with Lurantis and Talonflame. Toucannon was keeping watch like the mother hen he was. And Trevenant and Shiinotic were on their pokeballs, those two were more fond of the darkness than the sun.
"See. In a couple of months, I will be sending you so many texts that you will feel like I'm right next to you."
Malia grinned. "Careful, I still have to keep my grades high or they won't let me bring my team."
"Pfflease. From what Olivia said, those guys were practically begging you to go to their school. You should have asked for more privileges, girl." Mallow shook her head good-naturedly. "It's my fault. I was such a great role model that, of course, you have to copy my manners and grace."
Malia didn't bother containing her laughter. She laughed so hard that she bent over. This time, her tears were not of sadness but of happiness.
"Come on, miss witchy, Lana should have caught those delicious fishes that I need for my masterpiece by now."
Malia and Mallow recalled their Pokemon and called for a Pokemount.
The rest of the day, the young witch spent it with her best friends.
After all, the next day she would finally leave on her great adventure.
"Fiuuhhh! This thing has certainly gotten smoother." Malia's father whistled at the improvements made to the Ultra Umbral that brought them from the Aether Foundation to the secured room in the Ministry of Magic.
"Any dizziness, nausea, headache, lack of memories, muscular pain, or anything else that feels strange?" One of the scientists asked her, while a witch checked her vitals.
The monitoring was, thankfully, quick. Malia was amazed at how swiftly the wizards and the scientist worked together. Especially since they had just started working together for one month.
After some tests and questions and some wand waving, Malia and her parents were declared healthy and shuffled to a hallway where a familiar face waited.
"Professor Kukui, Professor Burnett, Miss Kukui." Madame Bones greeted them. "This way, please." The witch led them through the hallway. "Professor McGonagall explained how the students travel to Hogwarts, right?"
"Yep. A train station hidden by magic named Platform 9 & ¾. Gave us a tour of the muggle side and all." Her dad answered.
"Good. Most families either apparate or use the floo network to reach King Cross Station. A few own muggle cars. In our case, we will use a portkey. It's usually safer when traveling in large groups, less risk of splinching or of anybody ending up on the wrong chimney."
Malia's eyes widened at Madame Bones words. The magical means of transport sounded more dangerous than she thought.
Madame Bones noticed her alarm and reassured her. "Don't worry, Miss Kukui; those accidents are not that frequent, but they can happen if the person using them is unfamiliar with them."
Malia nodded. It made sense in a way. Like when tourists tried Mantine Surfing without paying attention to the instructors.
Boy, was it funny to see how they fell on their asses while trying to do a simple trick.
Malia and her parents followed Madam Bones to another door that wasn't too far away. When they entered, they found a sparse room with just a table that had a book on top of it and two other people inside: a young redhead the same age as Malia and a tall black-skinned man with purple robes.
"Kingsley, thank you for keeping Susan company."
"My pleasure, Madam Bones." Kingsley replied with a small nod of his head. "Have a great time at Hogwarts, Susan." The redhead, Susan, nodded shyly at the wizard. The man gave a nod towards them and left the room.
Madame Bones approached her niece, and put one of her arms around her shoulders.
"Susan, these are Professors Kukui and Burnet and their daughter Malia. Professor Burnet will be working on an important project with us. Malia has chosen to attend Hogwarts for her first year. Professors, Miss Kukui, my niece Susan Bones."
Susan waved at them; her face blushed when her dad winked at her. Her mom slapped his chest and rolled her eyes.
"Alola Susan." Malia greeted her. Susan blinked, confused at the typical greeting of Alola.
"Sorry, it's how we say hello back at home." Malia chuckled. Susan hummed in understanding and repeated the motion clumsily.
Malia smiled, happy that the other girl didn't make fun of her customs.
Madam Bones gave her niece an approving glance. The head auror motioned towards the table, where a single book lay.
"This portkey is keyed towards a hallway inside King Cross Station that is layered with powerful Notice Me Not charms and muggle-repelling wards. There are a couple apparition spots protected on the muggle side to avoid drawing attention." Madame Bones explained.
"Why don't we simply teleport to the platform? Won't it be easier?" Malia asked.
"Between the many wards and enchantments that hid Platform 9 & ¾, there is one that prevents any form of magical transport. It was added as a precaution against magical attacks from other countries."
"Only magical? What about the non-magicals?"
"Oh, they can't cross the barrier. And if they try to destroy it, then the emergency protocols will activate, and people will be able to apparate or use the floo network to escape." Susan pipped in.
"Indeed. Well explained, Susan." Madame Bones praised the redhead. "I believe that Professor McGonagall already explained how they worked."
"More like she gave us a new appreciation for psychic types." Her mom scoffed, shuddering at the memory of how portkeys worked.
Malia shuddered too. Only her father had somehow enjoyed the world-flipping, twisting sensation that the portkeys produced.
In fact, he was looking at the book with too much glee for her comfort.
Malia sighed. Thank the Tapus that Pichu wanted to evolve into a Raichu. She was so going to teach him Teleport once he reached his final evolution.
"Come on, babe, I know you love me, but there are little kids here." Malia´s father grinned shamelessly at her mom, who was on top of him. Somehow, during the spinning and falling, her mom collided against her dad and ended up dragging him to the floor, in a compromising position that Malia wished she had never seen.
Her mom didn´t bother to answer his tease. She got up on her own, dusted her clothes, and gave him a sweet and cold smile.
"I will be more careful with your teasing, honey. After all, who knows what type of interesting potions the nice ladies of the Ministry could teach me? I´m especially interested in potions that could be useful to teach funny lessons to annoying husbands." Her father gulped loudly at her threat.
"Are you ok Malia?" Susan asked her. Both girls hadn't been able to land on their feet, however, they hadn't clashed against each other like her parents. Their trunks and trolleys were safely held by Madame Bones, the only one who had managed to land on her feet without a single stumble.
"Yep. Gym class was harder." She wasn't lying. Her old gym teacher was a sports maniac. And his overly enthusiastic Primeape was just crazy.
"Professor Burnet, may I remind you that I am an officer of the law and legally obligated to protect your husband against any harm that may come from the magical world?"
"That's not necessary, Madam Bones. I will just use my usual methods." Madame Bones nodded at her mother´s reassurance. On the floor, her dad grumbled but didn´t protest or joke anymore.
Malia was relieved. For some reason, her parents sometimes used weird threats as flirting. It was so weird and gross. When she had asked Aunt Olivia about it, the Kahuna just laughed like a Gengar and said that it was a grown-up thing and not to think too much about it.
Adults were weird.
"Well, let's get this show rolling, ladies!" Her dad got up and clapped his hands. Madame Bones smiled at his behavior. Malia and Susan grabbed their trunks and thanked the older woman.
Once they were all dusted off and ready, they left the warded area and entered the train station.
Malia hadn't realized until that moment, but being on this Earth's muggle side was jarring. These people didn't have magic; therefore, they used technology, just like on her planet. But there was a big difference between them. Because her home had Pokemon, and this world didn't.
It felt surreal, seeing a version of what her home could be like if Arceus didn't exist and hadn't chosen to not only bring life to a planet but also create Mew, the legendary responsible for creating all Pokemon (legendaries excepted, of course).
At her side, Susan was glancing at the non-magicals with wide eyes. It occurred to Malia that the other girl probably had never spent too much time around the muggle world.
Susan blushed when she saw that Malia was staring at her.
"It's ok. You should have seen the look my parents and I had when Professor McGonagall showed us Diagon Alley. We probably would still be there if she hadn't been so firm." Malia told her.
Susan frowned. "Really? Is that different from the ones in your home?" She asked.
"You have no idea." Malia chuckled, remembering the Pikipeks and Fletchings that liked to perch on top of the fruit stands, waiting for an opportunity to grab a juicy berry. Or the Machokes and Machops that carried all the heavy packets.
"I can show you some pictures if you want." She hesitantly offered.
"If my best friend can see them too, then yes, sure." Susan agreed.
After a few minutes, the group reached a column right in the middle of platforms 9 and 10.
Madame Bones glanced down at Susan, a proud smile on her lips.
"Ready?" "Yes auntie." Susan looked nervous but resolute.
Susan gripped her trolley tightly and started to walk towards the column, first slowly, then faster. Then, when she should have crashed against the wall, she disappeared.
Malia blinked, amazed not only at the display of magic but also at the fact that nobody else seemed to notice anything wrong.
"Malia, I will stay behind with your parents, just in case the barrier doesn't let them cross. I doubt it will happen; for some reason, our wards and charms seem to treat those born in the Pokemon World as squibs." Malia nodded.
She looked at the column. This was it. If she crossed it, then she would be going on a journey that no other Pokemon Trainer has ever done. Maybe it won't be a grand adventure like the ones her dad had, but she didn't care.
This was her Pokemon Journey. She would do it however she wanted.
She breathed in and out and ran towards the barrier.
When she emerged, the first thing she heard was Susan's excited voice.
"Malia! Here!" The redhead was standing next to a blond girl their same age and what seemed to be her parents.
Malia smiled, glad that Susan wasn't brushing her off at the first opportunity.
"Malia, this is Hannah Abbot, my best friend since we were on nappies. Hannah, this is Malia Kukui; she and her family just recently moved from another country. Her mom is going to be working on some project with the Ministry that my aunt has been liptighted about."
"Hi" "Alola" "Huh?" "Sorry, it's how we greet each other back at home." Hannah nodded, her hands clumsily imitating the moves she had shown her.
"Marcus, Virginia, lovely to see you." Madame Bones greeted Hannah's parents, a blond-haired couple that strongly resembled their daughter.
"Amelia! We are glad that you could make it." Virginia Abbot hugged the other witch, who hugged her back.
"Amelia, it has been a while. The Minister has been keeping you busy?" Marcus Abbot shook her hand.
"Something like that." Madame Bones vaguely answered. "These are Professors Kukui and Burnet and their daughter Malia."
"A pleasure. This is our daughter, Hannah. She is starting Hogwarts this year." Hannah´s father stated with a puffed chest, proud of his daughter. Hannah blushed and looked at her feet in embarrassment.
"Just like our little kaikamahine." Her dad ruffled her hair. Malia squeaked out in protest, grumbling about embarrassing dads and reworking her braid.
"Malia." Her dad kneeled in front of her, a proud smile on his face and sadness in his eyes. "I want you to know that your mother and I are incredibly proud of you. Not many kids are brave enough to do what you are doing. This may not be the most common of journeys, but it is yours."
Malia paid complete attention to her father´s words, not even caring that they could draw attention.
"A Pokemon Journey has nothing to do with winning competitions or defeating other trainers. Is about following your dreams. About making new friends and lving adventures you will never forget. I know you are unsure about what type of trainer you wish to be. Just remember, for us trainers, choice is just an empty word. We don´t choose, we become. Our experiences lead us towards our true path, even if its something we never thought about." Her dad winked at that last part.
Malia nodded. She remembered the stories her dad told her about his travels. How, when he had been a rookie himself, he had wanted to become the next Grand Champion of Alola and protect it alongside his best friend. He had never once thought of becoming the regional Professor or starting a family.
And yet, that was what later happened.
Her father became the first Grand Champion in decades, the last one having been Grandpa Hau, and then poured all his savings to get his Master and PhD in Pokemon Studies and Biology, which led him to pursue a title as a Pokemon Professor with his speciality being Pokemon Moves.
Certainly not the career that his ten-year-old self would have pictured out.
Malia surged forward and hugged him, his arms encasing her tightly. Immediately, she felt her mom joining the hug, both of her parents encasing her in a tight and comforting hug.
"Thanks." She murmured. "For adopting me. For giving me a home and a family."
"Hunny. The day this dork found you, it was the day we truly became a family." Her mom smiled brightly at her.
Malia didn´t bother to hide her teary eyes. She didn´t care if it made her look like a little baby. She had the best parents in the world.
Ever.
"What about this one?" Susan asked them, pointing at an empty compartment. Hannah and Malia nodded, not seeing anything wrong with it. The three girls grabbed their trunks and worked together to place them on the baggage racks.
They had been struggling for a few minutes when a boy´s voice interrupted.
"Hey Gred, there are more firsties here!" "Wrong Forge, they are ladies firsties." "My mistake, my good brother. See here, Ronnikins; this is how a gentleman acts in front of a lady." A pair of redhead twins older than them were standing on the open doorway, another redhead boy their age standing next to them.
"Do you need a hand, little ladies?" "Why not four?" The twins spoke one after the other, impish grins on their faces. Malia let out a giggle at their antics.
"Sure." She accepted. With the boys' help, they had the three trunks safely tucked in. After thanking the redheads, the twins shrugged it off.
"No problem, little ladies." "We are just doing what any gentleman should do. "Wait, are we gentlemen?" "Well, mom did beat those manners into our thick skulls." "Still, we have up our game to not be confused with lawful avaiding citizens." "Indeed my not so handsome brother." "What are you talking about? I am the handsome one between the two of us."
All three girls giggled at the twins bickering; even their younger brother had a grin on his face.
"Hmh" one of the twins coughed. "Anyhow. Would you, nice young ladies, allow our youngest brother to accompany you?" "We would do it, but Lee Jordan has a wicked tarantula, and we definitely want to see it."
Malia saw the younger redhead visibly shudder and turn paler at the mention of the spider. She glanced back at Susan and Hannah, who shrugged and nodded.
"Sure. Malia Kukui." She introduced herself. The redhead grinned and shook her hand.
"Ron, Ron Weasley."
"I thought you sounded familiar." Susan suddenly said. "Your father is Arthur Weasley, right?"
"Yes. What of it?" Ron asked defensily.
"My aunt always spoke highly of him. Says that he is responsible and a hard worker, and more trustworthy than others."
All three Weasley boys straightened out at Susan's praise for their father. The twins grinned at her.
"Well, someone earned herself a one-month free prank period." "Agreed, my less intelligent twin. Ronnikins, behave and don't do anything we wouldn't do."
With that said, the twins left their wagon.
"Is it true? What your aunt said?" Ron asked Susan.
"Yes. Its true." Ron nodded and pulled his trunk inside the compartment. The redhead was taller than the girls, and with his help, it was easier to lift his trunk and place it with the others.
"Your brothers could have helped before running off." Hannah grumbled in her seat.
"Fred and George enjoy messing with me. I have been their personal guinea pig for their pranks since I was born."
"Now I'm glad I'm an only child." Malia said.
"Nah. Bill and Charlie are ok. And Percy is a stuck-up brat, but he never messes with anybody."
"Wait, you have five brothers?" "Worse, I have five older brothers and a younger sister."
"Wow." Six siblings. What a crowded home.
"And they are all at Hogwarts?" Hannah asked him. Ron shook his head.
"Bill is in Egypt; he works as a cursebreaker for the goblins, exploring old tombs. Charlie is in Romania; he is a dragonkeeper."
"That´s so cool!" Malia exclaimed. Dragonkeeper reminded her of the Breeders and cursebreakers of the archeologists and historians like Champion Cynthia.
Ron grinned a little. "Yeah, it is. Charlie was over the moon when he got that letter from Romania. Mom, not so much. She thinks their jobs are extremely dangerous and that they should work at the Ministry where it's safer."
"Only if you work behind a desk and never touch the field." Susan crossed her arms. "And believe me, nobody gets a promotion that way. My aunt has been Head of the Auror Department for years, and she still grabs her wand and goes to crime scenes if necessary."
"I know! Dad always comes home more cheerful when he has a big raid instead of simply shuffling paperwork." Ron agreed with the other redhead. Then he got gloomy. "Mom just worries because of what happened to her older brothers back in the war." Ron looked down at the floor, sadness on his face.
"Auntie Amy is the only family I have left." Susan shared, Hannah grabbed her hand in support. "I can't even remember my own parents; I only know what they looked like because of pictures that Auntie was able to save. Sometimes I wonder…"
"What would life be like if they were alive." Malia finished her sentence. The others stared at her in confusion, Susan especially.
"I learned that I was adopted a couple of years ago." She shared, "The only thing I know about my birth parents is that they are dead and that they loved me. I love my parents, my adoptive parents. They gave me a home and a family. They raised me as if I were their own blood and not a kid they literary found on the beach. But, sometimes I wonder if I would still be me if my birth parents were still alive."
A gloomy atmosphere fell over the group. One second they were chatting happily, and the next they were sad.
"Well, I think your parents look cool. Your dad, especially. Those glasses are so fashionate." "And your mom´s hair! Is it naturally white, or does she dye it?"
"Natural white. Has it since she was a kid. Having weird hair colors is pretty common back at home. Some people have it natural, and others dye it. Teens mostly." Malia was grateful for Hannah´s interruption.
"Oh, what´s with those small marbles on your belts? Is it a cultural thing like the salute or more of a fashion statement?" Susan pointed at the pokeballs hanging on her belt.
Malia hesitated. On one hand, she wasn´t supposed to say anything about coming from another dimension, at least not until the official press release that was bound to happen in a couple of hours.
On the other, nobody said anything about showing off her teammates.
"More like a culture thing." She grabbed them and pressed the button to enlarge them. The three kids eyes widened at the sight. Malia smirked. If that surprised them, then the next thing might make them faint.
"These are Pokeballs, they contain Pokemon." With that said, she released her two friends.
"Row!" "Pi!" Hedwig accomodated on her lap, pecking her hand for pets, while Pichu jumped on top of her head.
"These are Hedwig the Rowlet and Pichu. They are my Pokemon."
THUD.
"Huh. Didn´t expect all three to faint." She said to her starter.
"Row." The owl nodded.
"Let me get this straight." Ron pointed at Malia. "Pokemon are creatures that can look like animals, human, or even objects, that have some type of magic of their own that lets them do special attacks and other weird things." Malia nodded, her mouth busy devouring the food that Mallow had cooked.
"And the people of your country can catch them and train them and use them for fights." "Use them is not the right term. We work together to grow stronger. And not all choose to be battlers." She corrected.
"And kids our age can do it as long as they pass an exam, which you did." "Yep." "Then why in Merlin´s balls would you want to go to a school instead of traveling all over the world?!" He asked incredulously.
"And miss the chance to learn magic? No way." Shesaid deapnaded. "Besides, we are not in a rush. Both Hedwig and Pichu want to take their time before evolving, Pichu mostly, his species can evolve really fast once they like their trainer a lot." She scratched his chin, making him purr in delight. "Constant battling would have him evolve super fast, giving us less time to get the bases for his line's most powerful attacks."
"Wow, being a trainer sounds more complicated than I thought." Ron mused before taking a bite of his own malasada.
After her new friends had awoken from their impromptu nap, Malia quickly explained what she could about Pokemon and trainers. And they had no idea that magic existed until Malia got her letter. She didn't say anything about other dimensions or her true origins. She just said that they lived separately from the rest of the world (kind of true) and that the official story would be released tomorrow.
Despite their nagging and questions, she didn´t relent, choosing instead to grab her bento box. When they saw that she wouldn't give in, they chose to follow her lead.
All had sandwiches to eat, but while Susan and Hannah enjoyed their meal, Ron looked at his in disgust. When Malia asked him about it, he admitted that his mother had once again given him a sandwich of corned beef, which he hated.
At his look, Malia offered half of her malasadas. Ron protested, but she insisted, showing the group that she had two bags of them. At their looks, she explained that Hapu, her "cousin", so to speak, was obsessed with the food and had given her the bags for the trip.
To make sure that she would share the deliciousness that were the malasadas with others.
She missed that malassada-obsessed dork.
The group enjoyed their meals after that, chatting aimlessly and joking around. When the trolley witch passed, Ron looked longely at the candy, so Malia insisted that she had to try at least one thing from each since she had never tasted magical snacks.
Why did wizards think that food that could run away was a good idea, she had no clue.
At least Ron was happy and enjoying it; his boxed corn beef sandwich left forgotten inside his pockets.
"Ugh, Dumbledore again. Why can't I get Agrippa?" Ron showed the wizard´s card that had come with his chocolate frog, the animated chocolate figure being eaten by a happy Pichu. The baby mouse had chased the frog like it was a game and was now enjoying the spoils.
"Do you want it Malia? You can start your own collection." Malia accepted the card; it sounded fun, like collecting those gatcha Pokemon figurines.
She inspected the collectible; the front showed Dumbledore´s picture and the back had written a small description of his deeds. She blinked when she saw that Dumbledore had disappeared.
"What the?" "Something happened?" Susan asked her.
"Dumbledore disappeared." "Huh?" "Look, he is gone." She showed them the card, the Headmaster still missing.
"You can´t expect him to spend the entire day there." Ron said nonchalantly.
"Wait, wizards' pictures can move?" "Muggle pictures don't?" "Not unless they are recordings." "Weird."
Before they could talk any longer, a knock sounded, and the door opened.
A brunette bushy-haired girl and a timid boy were standing on the doorway. The girl spoke first.
"Hi, has anyone seen a toad? Neville lost his." "No, unless the chocolate frogs count." Malia joked. The girl's lips twitched, whether to frown or to laugh—she didn't know. Before she could speak again, Susan interrupted them.
"Hi Neville." "Oh, hi Susan." He greeted her timidly.
"You know each other?" The girl asked him, Neville nodded his head but didn't speak.
"My aunt and his grandma work together in the Wizengamot. We have seen each other at some functions." She explained.
"Oh." The girl nodded in understanding, then her eyes widened. "I´m sorry, I never introduced myself. I´m Hermione Granger; it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Susan Bones." "Hannah Abbot." "Ron Weasley." "Malia Kukui. These are Hedwig and Pichu. They are my partners." Her Pokemon waved in greeting.
"Wow. Are they magical creatures? Where are they from? Do you have permission to bring them?" Hermione asked quickly; interest and concern mixed together.
"They are Pokemon. They are kind of magical creatures. And yes, I can take them to the school. Had to sign a few forms and ensure that they wouldn't go on a rampage and harm the other students. Well, as long as no one tries to hurt me or them, of course." She explained, avoiding mentioning their place of origin.
"But, where do they come from?" Hermione asked again.
Malia wanted to curse. Why was everyone so obsessed with that?
"Don´t bother asking her that. Malia is really liptighted about it. She promised not to say it until the news shared it." Hannah grumbled goodnaturedly.
"It's just one day. It's supposed to be in the papers tomorrow morning. You lot can wait that long." She insisted, not budging a bit.
Hermione opened her mouth to speak again before another voice cut in.
"Is Malia Kukui here?" A boy asked. Malia didn't get a chance to reply when Hermione and Neville were violently shoved to the side by two brutish boys.
"Well, is she?" The same voice asked again, its owner a blonde boy standing between the other bigger boys.
Malia´s eyes widened in recognition. It was the same kid she had seen in Madam Malkins, the rude boy who acted like he was Arceus chosen.
"I am. Who are you?" She asked.
"Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. I understand that you are new to Britain and the magical world, Miss Kukui. It would be my pleasure to show you our customs and ways. In our society, it is important to have the best connections, after all."
"Good thing then that I already met Susan then. After all, her aunt is the Head of the Auror Department. What better person to teach me about the laws of this world." Malia pointed at the redhead with a grin.
Draco didn´t like her words; his face scrunched into an ugly sneer.
Malia wasn´t an idiot. The moment she heard his last name, she understood perfectly what was going on.
Lucius Malfoy told his son to befriend her. And the kid thought that she was some dumb, easily impressionable girl that could be bought over with some fancy words.
Idiot.
The moment he approached her so bluntly, he lost any chance of friendship.
"Please." He scoffed. "My family has more power than the Bones. And more living members." Only he and his grunts chuckled at his so-called joke.
Malia stiffened. She stood, Hedwig and Pichu on each shoulder. Both Pokemon had hard looks on their faces, and both stood ready for a fight.
"Never utter those words again in my presence." She said it coldly. "Never."
"Get out. And before you try to smooch in with me or my family again, learn some manners." She motioned with her head towards the open door.
Malfoy shook in rage, his face red beet. "How dare you speak to me like that!? When my father hears this!"
"Blah blah blah. If you want to look really threatening, then don't simply use daddy's name. It makes you look like a daddy's boy." She sat back on her seat, not paying him attention.
The boy fumed in rage; at his side, his grunts cracked their knuckles.
"I would suggest you leave Draco. If I recall correctly, prefects do rounds around the train. You wouldn't want to get into trouble before even entering the school? Right Draco?" Susan said, not an ounce of emotion on her face.
Malfoy scowled but left. His two goons right behind him.
"Sue." Hannah hugged her best friend. As soon as the three boys had left, Susan collapsed against the blonde girl, tears falling through her cheeks.
"That insufferable boy! How dare he say things like that!?" Hermione ranted, furious at Malfoy´s behavior.
"He is a fucking snake. He and his father. My dad says that Lucius Malfoy only avoided Azkaban because he claimed he was imperiused." Ron grunted.
"Azkaban?" Hermione asked.
"It's our prison. Many Death Eaters were sent there when You-Know-Who fell. The ones who avoided it claimed that they were victims of a powerful curse that forced them to join the Death Eaters. My gran says that maybe a couple were true, but that most were liars. And it's incredibly difficult to prove who is imperiused and who is not." Neville spoke with a grave tone.
"Sue, he is a little shit, not worth two cents. In ten years, you will be at the top of your career while he continues to moan about his father this and his father that. You have us. He only has those two Primeape wannabes." Malia tried to cheer her friend up.
Susan let out a tiny chuckle. Her eyes were red and poofy, but a tiny smile was visible.
The rest of the trip, all six kids stood together, joking and talking. Even Neville and Hermione chose to stay with the group, at least until they had to change into their robes.
By the time they reached Hogsmeade Station, Malfoy and his cruel comments were well forgotten.
All they thought about was the castle that lay beyond the lake.
Ok, I want to get a few things out. Malia is not going to glue herself to the first kind person she meets. I want her to have a large friend pool. A true friend pool. And more important, the House divisions? Malia will give a shit about it.
Also Amelia is not using Susan like Lucius is with Draco. She truly wants Susan and Malia to be friends because of their similitudes. In this universe both are orphans who don´t remember their birth families and that despite loving their lives, sometimes do think what if.
Well, I´m off to rest a little and then work on what has to be my craziest crossover idea ever. Stupid muse wouldn´t leave me alone.
Hope you all enjoy this chapter, also since the site went crazy a while ago I made an account on ao3. Same username, same stories. Just in case the site crashes again or something.