6
"Is everything ok Hermione? You are looking a little down." Hannah asked the brunette.
Malia looked up from Ron and Neville's game of exploding cards. Thankfully, none exploded.
Yet.
Malia made a mental note to ask her mom about sending her Pokemon card deck. As far as she was concerned, that was a much safer game to play and a fun way to teach her new friends about her culture.
The brunette was biting her lower lip, a worried look on her face.
"Hermione?" Malia was concerned as to why Hermione seemed so worried. After that prat of Malfoy and his grunts had left their compartment, the group spent the next couple of hours hanging out and getting to know each other.
One of the first things they did was try to figure out where Neville's toad, Trevor, would be hiding. Susan proposed asking an older student, preferably a seventh-year student, since they could use magic freely, for help.
She and Neville had barely opened the door when a small green shape hopped inside and jumped into Neville's hands.
All of them stared gobsmacked at the image of the runaway frog sitting calmly on Neville's hands.
The giggles and laughter that followed cleared the air from the gloomy and depressive stench that Malfoy left behind.
After securing Trevor and closing the door, they all relaxed and began to talk.
Malia and Hermione compared notes about their book list; Malia found most of the books interesting, in particular Potions and Defense against the Dark Arts, while Hermione found Transfiguration fascinating. Neville chimed in hesitantly, saying that he liked Herbology, with Susan mentioning that the shy boy had a natural green thumb, much to his embarrassment.
Susan and Hannah both liked Charms, finding the subject interesting and important for everyday life. Transfiguration, they said, while interesting, was incredibly difficult both in practice and theory.
Ron mumbled that he hadn't really bothered to read most of the books, mostly skimming through the pages.
Malia had giggled at Hermione's affronted look; the brunette seemed ready to scold the redhead over his words. She changed the course of the conversation by asking Ron what kind of hobbies he had.
Ron had brightened out, cheerfully talking about Wizards Chess and Quidditch, his two biggest pastimes.
Malia listened interested about the wizards' primary sport, a game with only seven players per team, where wands were barred and brooms were the principal piece of equipment.
Hermione thought the game was too violent, mostly because of the Bludgers and the fact their only function was to bodily harm the players, whether they impacted against a member, torso, or head not mattering.
Malia found it weird that, unlike the muggles, the wizards just had one sport. She and Hermione talked about football, rugby, basketball, lacrosse, etc. Malia found it fascinating that her world shared so many common sports and games with this world; the only difference was that hers involved the use of Pokemon.
She shared that back in her country, Alola, one of their main activities was Mantine Surfing and Sharpedo Surfing.
While talking about children's games, the wizard-raised talked about Exploding Snap, with Neville showing his deck and beginning a game against a happy Ron.
Which brought them to now.
Hermione seemed hesitant to talk, like she didn't want to disrupt the happy mood of the room, but Malia wasn't willing to let her new friend mull over whatever dark thoughts she had.
Malia moved closer to the bushy-haired girl, Pichu jumping from her shoulder to the other girl, snuggling her cheeks, trying to cheer her up.
Hedwig flew from the top compartments to sit on Malia's lap, cuddling closer to her trainer.
"Hermione, whatever it is, you can tell us." She gave her a warm smile, hoping to convey strength and trust through it.
Hermione didn't speak for a few seconds; her fingers twitched and she rubbed Pichu's ears without thought.
Finally, she spoke.
"I. I don't want to sound childish." She confessed, embarrassed.
"We are kids, though." Ron pointed out bluntly. His bluntness made the other girls snort; even Hermione cracked a small smile.
"Statistically speaking, the chances we are all placed in the same House are extremely low, practically null. I am concerned that if we are all in different Houses then we won't be able to hang out as friends. From what I read in Hogwarts History, students can't enter the dorm rooms from the other Houses, and between classes and homework and other activities, who knows how many hours we will be able to spend time together." Hermione
Malia blinked a couple of times; she had never thought of something like that. Although she was worried, not about Hermione's thoughts, but about why she had them. Why was she so worried that they would be placed in differents Houses?
"Well, yeah, there is a good chance we might not be placed in the same House. Me and Hannah want to be in Hufflepuff, like our parents were." Hannah nodded in agreement with her best friend's words.
"If I don't make it to Gryffindor, I will never stop hearing it from the twins." Ron groaned.
"My gran expects me to enter Gryffindor, like my dad." Neville grimaced, his face paling considerably.
The others stared at Malia, waiting for her own opinion. The rookie trainer shrugged her shoulders; she honestly didn't care much about which House she got sorted into.
"My parents think I would do well in each house. I like to study, don't shy away from challenges, am ambitious, and am a hard worker." She revealed, not really bothered, that she had the main attributes for each House. "Besides, it doesn't matter which House I'm sorted into; I still plan on hanging out with you guys." She said bluntly.
"I mean, if we have classes together, we can still sit next to each other. Oh, and we can create a study group; that way, the teachers might let us use an unused classroom." Malia proposed excitedly.
"You think so?" The brunette asked shyly.
"Of course. It's not like the teachers expect us to just be friends and only interact with those that are in our House, right?"
"My older brothers, Bill and Charlie, were pretty popular when they were still at school. Both had friends in other Houses, and Charlie once dated a girl who was on Hufflepuff and the Quidditch Team too!" Ron exclaimed. Seeing the confused looks on Malia and Hermione's faces, he elaborated, "Quidditch rivalry is a big deal, especially in school. The twins made tons of jokes at Charlie when they learned he was dating a rival player. It was mostly for fun, and Charlie got them back for messing with him, but still."
"Oh. Right. Like interschool rivalry whenever there is a football competition." Hermione nodded in understanding.
"Yeah, we got those too at home. And we only have a couple of schools on each island. Mom got barred from attending any type of school event after the big football game between Melemele Academy and Akala's Elementary Institute." Malia shuddered at the embarrassing memory of her mother arguing with the referee and the other team parents.
"What did your mom do?" Susan asked curiously.
Malia grimaced. Despite not being a trained Pokemon, her mom Munchlax was pretty destructive when he wanted.
"Believe me, there truly are times, when ignorance is bliss."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Ok?"
"Anyhow, I don't see why we can't still be friends even if we got split." The trainer shrugged, a confident smile on her lips. Inside, however, she frowned.
Malia wondered why both Hermione and Neville seemed so relieved by her deductions. Why were they so worried about not being able to keep being friends with them?
"Wow, that has to be the biggest man in the world." Hannah breathed out at the sight of the giant black haired bearded man leading the first years away from the other students.
When the Hogwarts Express reached Hogsmeade Station, Malia and her new friends stepped down the train, their trunks left behind in the compartment. Someone else would retrieve them afterwards.
The group of six found themselves in a sea of black robes, some their size, most taller. They were wondering where they had to go when they heard a man loudly calling for the first years.
Ron's face squinted in thought before he brightened. "I think that's Hagrid!" The redhead lowly whispered, "Charlie told me about him. He is the Groundskeeper and a creature's fanatic. Charlie said that he would spend hours talking with Hagrid about dragons."
Malia's eyes widened. So that was the person that both Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall mentioned.
There had been some concerns about how to keep both her and whoever became the newest Pokemon teacher's Pokemon healthy and comfortable in Hogwarts. Leaving them in their pokeballs all the time wasn't a feasible option; Pokemon thrived outside their pokeballs, with their trainers and companions at their side.
Even lazy species like Slaking and Snorlax would rather sleep surrounded by their friends than alone.
Professor Dumbledore assured all those gathered that his staff was well prepared to handle anything that may come their way. Their greenhouses were more than capable of growing the wide variety of vegetables and fruits used to produce their food and potions.
The elder wizard had chuckled, saying that Professor Sprout, the Herbology teacher, would be thrilled to work with a new type of plant that was literary alien to her.
And he was certain that their Potions teacher would find them intriguing too, especially for the healing abilities that most berries had.
Professor McGonagall added her two cents in, saying that both their professor of Care of Magical Creatures and Groundskeeper would be thrilled when they learned of the Pokemons and most certainly would hound Malia and the new teacher with thousands of questions.
Hagrid the Groundskeeper was a big man; he could reach a full-grown Bewear without problem. His black hair was long and unkempt, reaching his shoulders and mixing with his beard and moustache.
His clothes were ratty, pieces mended together with needle and thread. Malia found it odd that, with all the magic this world had, the man had to sew his clothes instead of buying some type of magical enlarged clothing.
"Firs' years! Firs' years this way!" Hagrid motioned the confused students, guiding them away from the platform and towards a large lake where a group of boats floated aimlessly, waiting for them.
"Four a boat! Here!" The large man pointed to the small boats, keeping an eye on the students, making sure none of them slipped.
The girls claimed a boat for themselves. Ron grumbled a little, but he and Neville joined two other boys and started chatting with them easily.
"Ev'ryone in? Then lets go!" With a motion that she couldn't see, the boats began to row on their own. Malia saw neither paddles nor a motor; magic was moving them.
Malia stared at the dark water, deep in thought. It was so strange. Back home, she would have already found dozens of Pokemon following the boats, poking their curious heads around, maybe splashing water to their faces to mess around.
Not seeing even a single Magikarp, the most common water type found in almost every river, lake, and sea, was surreal.
The rest of the trip was quiet, with only hushed whispers and the quiet lapping of the water against the boats breaking the silence.
The boats sailed smoothly over the dark waters, until finally they crossed under a cobblestone bridge.
When they found on the other side, left them in awe.
Malia was raised in a land filled with amazing creatures. She had seen two of the Ruins from afar, seen the power of the Z moves, Ultra Beasts and Ultra Umbrals.
And yet, seeing Hogwarts was a completely different experience.
When she had heard that the school resembled a castle, Malia imagined a fortress like the ones depicted in Pokewood's films, or pictures of the few remaining castles still standing in Kalos and Galar.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was a collection of towers and spires interconnected at the base by large buildings, nestling on top of a hill.
The image was awestrucking, like entering a fantasy world.
"C'me on! This way!" Hagrid disembarked from his own boat, his large arm holding the lantern way above their heads, illuminating the path ahead.
Giggling behind her made Malia turn her head. The black-haired girl scowled at the Snubbull nosed girl who was laughing and mocking a staggering Neville, who was only kept upright because Ron and another boy were helping him get down from their boat.
A glance at his hands showed the reason for Neville's lack of coordination. His hands were busy holding Trevor, making sure the toad didn't escape. Again.
"Hey kid! You alrigh'?" Neville nodded at his question. "Good! Then lets go!"
And with that, they followed him through the underworld tunnel until they stepped outside and in front of the castle doors.
The students stood silently behind Hagrid, who knocked loudly to the giant front doors. It took a few seconds for a familiar figure to emerge from inside the castle.
"The firs' years Professor." "Thank you Hagrid. I will take it from here." Hagrid nodded and smiled encouragely at the students.
The doors were opened, showing a large hallway, wide enought that a family of Bewears could have enough space to play with a school of Wishiwashi.
Malia noted that all the light came from torches, lit by what she assumed must have been some type of magical fire, since it lacked smoke and smell.
The first years followed Professor McGonagall to another room, anxiousness and aprehesion palpable.
"Good evening. I am Professor Minerva McGonagall. I will be your Transfiguration teacher, Deputy Headmistress and Head of House Gryffindor. In a few moments, you will enter the Great Hall and be sorted into one of our Houses: Gryffindor, Huffelpuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Your House will be like your family, your home during your time in this school. Points will be given based on achievements, be from Quidditch or academics achievements or simply extraordinary deeds. However, rule breaking will lead to losing points and detention if needed. The House with the most points will be rewarded with the House Cup, a great honor."
The witch gave a stern glance at the students. When her eyes found Malia's, they softened slightly before regaining their edge.
"Please wait a moment while we finish with the preparations." With that said she entered the Main Hall again.
Hushed whispers broke among the first years. Most wondered how they would be sorted. Next to her, Hermione kept muttering spells she must have read from the textbooks while Ron said that his twin brothers said they had to battle a troll to be sorted.
Malia snorted at that one. She doubted that the wizards would be foolish (or mad) enough to make kids who had never held a wand fight against some type of magical creature.
A sharp cry made them all turn their head towards the hallway, where floating transparent people talked.
Ghosts.
Those were actual, real ghosts.
Not ghost-type Pokemon.
Human ghosts that spoke and probably could remember not only their mortal lives but also had been witness to only Celebi knows how much.
Malia stared excitedly at the ghosts. She had read about them in her copy of Hogwarts History; that the magical school had one of the largest ghost populations on the British Islands.
But reading and seeing were two different things.
"First years! Ready to be sorted, right?" One of the ghosts asked. The man had a jovial smile and wore monk robes. At the few hesitant nods, he only smiled more. "Well, I hope to see a few of your faces on Hufflepuff, my old House!" The ghost cheerfully waved at the astounded students.
"Everyone." Professor McGonagall called. The Deputy Headmistress waved the ghosts off and turned back towards the students. "Lets go."
And with that said, she led them back to the Entrance Hall and to the Great Hall.
If the Entrance Hall was big, then the Great Hall was enormous. A Wailord could fit there.
Four large tables under their respective banners covered most of the Great Hall, all packed with students. At the head of the room lay a fifth table, where the staff sat. Malia recognized the Headmaster easily, sitting in the middle of the table, his eyes glinting and his fashion style still resembling what a classic wizard would look like.
Looking up, she smiled awed at the thousand floating candles that illuminated the dining room. The roof was spectacular, resembling the sky so much that it felt like they were truly outside.
"Malia, look! Just like it said on Hogwarts History!" Hermione gripped her arm tightly, excited by the accuracy of the book.
Malia shared her enthusiasm. Yes, back on her Earth they had holograms that could do the same thing, but this was magic.
Magic.
There was just something amazing about it.
The first years followed Professor McGonagall until they reached the front of the hall, where she stopped at the side of a stool that had a ratty old witch's hat.
Malia wasn't surprised when the hat moved and the fascimime of a mouth and eyes formed between its fold. Her dad worked with Rotoms, and for some weird reason ghost-types liked her and played pranks around her.
Seeing inanimate objects move wasn't new to her.
Hearing it sing a capella was a new thing, though.
Rotom just downloaded music or syntonized to a radio station.
When the apparently named Sorting Hat stopped singing, the hall broke into applause.
Behind her, Ron grumbled curses at his older brothers for scaring him.
"When I call your name, you will sit on the stool, and the Sorting Hat will be placed on your head. Then, he will announce your House." Professor McGonagall lifted a parchmeant and began calling their names in alphabetical order.
"Abbot, Hannah!" Hannah walked forward and sat on the stool. A few seconds after the Hat was placed on her head, it spoke.
"Hufflepuff!"
The second right table erupted in applause. Hannah walked happily to her new House shaking hands with her new housemates.
"Bones, Susan!" Susan took her place with a hopeful expression. Like Hannah, it didn't take long for the Hat to make a decision.
"Hufflepuff!"
More cheers came from the badger house. Hannah called her best friend next to her; both girls hugged each other happily.
And so names were called, and students were sorted. The next two kids went to Ravenclaw, then a girl to Gryffindor, and another to Slytherin. The lion's house was definitely the loudest when it came to cheering.
After a couple of names, which included Malfoy stooges (both of whom made it to Slytherin, much to the chagrin of two other first-year girls who stared at them like they were scum), it was Hermione's turn.
"Granger, Hermione!"
Hermione paled and began to breathe quickly. Malia stepped closer to her bushy-haired friend and whispered in her ear.
"No matter the House, remember?" Hermione gave her a shaky nod and straightened.
It took a couple of minutes for the Sorting Hat to make a decision. She could see that Hermione's lips were moving, like she was talking to them. Maybe poking its brain? Did it have a brain?
Finally, it spoke.
"Ravenclaw!"
Hermione went to the blue-tailored table, smiling at Malia and thanking her.
Malia waved at her, not caring about what others thought.
"Kukui, Malia!"
Malia let out a long breath and walked to the stool. Professor McGonagall gave her a subtle squeeze on her shoulder before placing the Sorting Hat on her head.
The rim of the hat blocked most of her vision; all she could see was the dark interior of the ancient hat.
"Interesting, very interesting. Bravery, ambition, hard work, and intelligence. Truly a challenge Miss Kukui. Much like your birth mother."
Malia felt her heart skip.
"Did, did you knew her? My birth mother?" She whispered, curious about her.
"Only what I could glimpse when it was her time to be sorted. Brave, smart, loyal, with a deep thirst for knowledge. A strong desire to learn as much as she could and to prove that she belonged among the wizards. You remind me of her. Both of you could fit easily in any of the Houses."
Since learning of her adoption, Malia has wondered about her birth parents. Mostly about why she had been left abandoned on Melemele's beach.
When she learned that they had died, that a madman had killed them and almost murdered her, the desire to learn more about them intensified.
She wanted to know how they were at her age, how they met, who their friends were, what they liked, when they started dating, when they got married.
She had thousands of questions and only a handful of answers.
"What about James? My birth father?" She asked, not minding how long her sorting was taking, eager to use this opportunity to learn more about them. About the couple that, on another life, would have raised her.
She loved her adoptive parents, she did, with all her heart. But that didn't change her curiosity.
"A pure Gryffindor, that boy. It took me only a few seconds to sort him. Oh, he was a sharp boy, and from what I heard, he became a great man, but his heart was the heart of a lion."
Hearing about her birth parents sorting made her wonder about where she would be sorted. Was she a Gryffindor like them? Did she want to?
A part of her wanted to be connected to them, but another one, the one raised by supporting and encouraging parents, knew that she didn't want that.
She didn't want to be her parents' copy. Neither her biological parents nor her adoptive parents.
"I see. I can see clearly now what truly brought you here—to Hogwarts. A deep thirst for knowledge, a desire to learn more and to see beyond the known. Yes. It is obvious. You belong in… Ravenclaw!" The Sorting Hat shouted loudly, the second left table clapping and cheering for their newest member.
Malia hopped down from the stool, a wide smile on her face. She gave Professor McGonagall the Sorting Hat back, bowing her head slightly.
The older witch smiled back. If she was sad that Malia wasn't sorted into Gryffindor, then she didn't show it. All the young witch could see was pride in her eyes.
Malia walked to her new House merrily, sitting next to a beaming Hermione.
While the rest of her new classmates were being sorted, she felt like a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
She truly felt like she could forge her own path, away from her parents' shadow.
"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! And a special welcome to our first years!" Professor Dumbledore began his speech after the sorting was done and all students and teachers were in their seats. "Before we start our splendorous feast, let me say a few words: Nitwit! Blubber! Thank you!" With that said, the old wizard sat back on his seat, never once missing his smile.
Malia blinked in confusion at his words. Was he senile?
"Malia, aren't you hungry?" Hermione asked her, pointing at one of the many plates filled with food that suddenly appeared on the table.
Malia's eyes widened at the banquet spread throughout the hall. She could see plates of different kinds of meat, including beef, chicken, and pork; sausages; fried and mashed potatoes; various bowls of gravy; and salads. And more.
Despite her hunger, Malia didn't overindulge herself. She tried to pick foods close to the diet she was used to, not wanting to bother her stomach on her first day.
While they ate, the new claws chatted among each other. Malia learned that both Padma Patil and Su Li were from immigrant magical families. Both girls had dual citizenship, from their families' countries and from Britain, making them eligible to go to either Hogwarts or their families' country magical school.
Their parents chose to send them to Hogwarts, claiming that they wished their children to learn more about the world, one of the main reasons they originally left their countries.
Padma´s twin sister got sent to Gryffindor instead of Ravenclaw, something that didn´t surprise the girl. Despite being physically identical, they were opposites when it came to likes.
Malia felt like she could get along with her fellow eagles. The girls were either polite or shy, all excited about learning spells and finally being able to perform magic with their wands.
Su Li was particularly interested in Potions and Herbology, citing the close relation both subjects shared. Malia guessed that the chinese witch would lose her head when she learned of the many berry seeds that would be planted on the greenhouses, to be studied by the teachers.
While enjoying her dinner, Malia noted that most of the ghosts wandered aimlessly, passing through tables and students without care. Except four of them.
Four ghosts tended to stay close to the students' tables, one ghost for each house, she realized.
"Excuse me, the four ghosts that wander close to the Houses, what significance do they have?" She asked an older student, a brunette with freckles.
"They are the resident Houses ghosts. Each one was a former student who, after their death, chose to come back to the school as ghosts." The older witch pointed at each one. "Sir Nicolas for Gryffindor, the Fat Friar for Hufflepuff, the Grey Lady is ours, and Slytherin has the Bloody Baron."
Malia nodded and thanked her. Her fellow Ravenclaw nodded and went back to her own conversation.
After everyone had their fill, the plates disappeared and were replaced by delicious desserts.
Malia felt guilty that neither Hedwig nor Pichu could enjoy such delicious food; both Pokemon were in their pokeballs, she had refrained from releasing them, not wanting to draw too much attention. The three of them were too tired to deal with hundreds of questions.
When the desserts were removed, the Headmaster got up again and began to speak.
"I would like to say a few announments, now that we are all full with such a delicious meal and ready to go to bed.
First: the new students should know that the forest that linders around the school is forbidden. This is a reminder to some of our old students, too." Malia followed his eyes and saw that he was staring at Gryffindor table, very close to where Fred and George Weasley sat with impish grins.
"Our caretaker, Mr Filch, would like me to remind you that magic shouldn't be performed during recess and in the hallways.
For those interested the Quidditch tryouts begin after the second week of term. First years cannot participate. Team captains, please talk with Madame Hooch to coordinate hours and schedules. I would rather we avoid the same incident that happened last year.
And as a last thing the right hallway of the third floor is currently forbidden unless someone wishes to suffer a painful death."
Malia's eyes widened at the last announcement.
As a trainer she was aware that there were dangerous areas, places that people could and have died in the past.
She didn't expect that a school, even a magical one, would have something like that.
"Is it common? For one place of the school to be considered deadly?" Hermione asked worriedly at an older student.
The boy grimaced a little, "A couple of years ago there was an incident with some ancient curses that everyone thought were just a myth. But it was stopped. Maybe it is a leftover from then." He explained grimly.
Malia frowned, she was about to ask more about it when the Headmaster brightened out and happily proclaimed that it was time to sing the school song, much to the obvious disdain of his fellow teachers.
Ravenclaw's common room was located on the west side of the castle, on the aptly named Ravenclaw Tower. To enter the dorm, the students had to answer a riddle made by the an enchanted bronze knocker with the shape of an eagle.
The interior was a flying type trainer's dream room. Spacious, with arched windows, blue and bronze silks draped along the walls, the floor was covered by a midnight blue carpet with stars that reflected on the domed ceiling.
Blue and bronze were a prominent color. The tables, chairs, divans and couches were in those tones.
On one extreme was a roaring fireplace, warming the common room. On the other a library, filled from top to bottom with books.
At her side, Hermione had her eyes glued to the library. She could swear that her friend wasn't blinking and was that drool on the corner of her mouth?
Penelope Clearwater and Harrison Lewis, the fifth year prefects gave them the tour of the common room, showing them around and pointing at the various portrait of former famous claws and the entrance to the boys and girls rooms, two snail staircases, with a Statue of Rowena Ravenclaw herself in the middle.
They also warned them that the staircases had secure measures to prevent boys from entering the girls rooms.
Malia eyebrow's scrunched in thought. There was something wrong with that sentence.
Boys couldn't enter the girls room, but girls could enter the boys rooms?
Right, school founded in medieval times. Back then no girl would willingly risk her "purity" before marrying.
Not a problem for most trainers. Their nesting instincts were basically shut down and buried thirty feet down until they were done traveling and ready to settle down in one place.
Malia and the rest of her new classmates left for their dorms. Between the food in their bellies and the crash of adrenaline falling, she was exhausted. She was glad that her trunk and bag were already placed in front of what she guessed would be her bed.
After brushing her teeth and changing into her pjs, she fell into her bed, closed her blue and bronze drapes, and released her Pokemon.
Hedwig and Pichu snuggled her and the three went to sleep, eager for the next day.
"Hermione?" Malia was surprised to see the bushy haired girl awake so early; the rest of their roommates were still snoring in their beds.
"Malia! Oh, hi Hedwig, hi Pichu. I was so excited from our first day of classes that I couldn't sleep one more second!" Hermione was close to hopping in place like an overexcited Azurill.
"Shame we don't have a map of the school. I planned on going for a morning run before breakfast. But, considering the amount of stairs we climbed and the fact that the stairs love to change position I think I will have to wait until I get a good layout of the school."
"Not a bad idea. You could risk getting lost and missing classes."
"Yeah, I don't want to get in trouble on the first day."
"You shouldn't want to get in trouble." Hermione pointed out.
Malia shrugged. First rule of rookie trainers, always expect at least some difficulties in your journey.
Talking with Hermione helped a lot to ignore the whispers and pointing at her Pokemon.
She understood, they were curious, didn't help that their House was one where curiosity was encouraged.
Malia ignored them. After convincing Hermione that she didn't need to bring all her books for breakfast, they left the common room.
During the day Malia was able to get a better look at the interior of the castle.
The portraits were easily the most amazing part, more than the armours that would shift and sometimes leave their post or the moving staircases. She found them more fascinating that the ghost.
They didn't just move and talk, they interacted, they could think.
Unlike the photos that were more like looped video printed, these portraits resembled more a rough initial version of an AI.
The magical word was proving to be more and more interesting. She couldn't wait to have her first lesson.
"I didn't think a mouse would like bacon so much." Malia rolled her eyes at how her classmates stared in awe at Pichu, who was demolishing by himself a plate of bacon.
Whispers and murmurs rose when Malia entered the Great Hall with Pichu and Hedwig on her shoulders.
Only her fellow Ravenclaws were, ironically, blunt enough to ask her about them. Malia explained that in her country it was part of their culture to have one or more creatures called Pokemon as companions.
She was able to avoid further questioning when the mail came and hundreds of owls flew to the Great Hall from a top window.
The students were surprised when more than half of the owls carried copies of the Daily Prophet and distributed them among the four tables on large quantities.
Malia smirked at the increased whispers the more they read the first page. The more they read, the more they glanced at her and her Pokemon.
When the whispers began to get louder and louder and suspicious looks came her way, Professor Dumbledore spoke.
"As confusing and fantastical as what its written on the Daily Prophet might seem, I can assure everyone that what it says is true." Silence broke at the Headmaster's words.
"During the past summer, representatives of another word came in contact with our Ministry and therefore with the magical community. Ever since then we have been in diplomatic talks, to share knowledge and maybe more between our communities.
One of their own indeed chose to come to our fine school, to learn magic with us when it was proven that she had the ability to learn it."
Malia didn't need to look up to know that everyone was staring at her.
"Questions surely abund in your minds, not a surprise, I still have many. So I am pleased to introduce a new teacher."
Like clockwork, the main doors opened and a young man, in his twenties, entered with a cocky grin and approached the main dias.
He was a brunette with spiky hair, wearing muggle cloathing much to the shock of the wizards, a pendant necklacke and a belt filled with six pokeballs.
Once he was next to Professor Dumbledore, the young man shook his hand and turned towards the still astounded students.
Without losing his cocky grin he grabbed one of his Pokeballs and enlarged it.
"Hello all. I am Gary Oak, Pokemon Trainer and your new Pokemon World teacher. And this," with a twitch of his finger he released one of his partners, "is a Pokemon."
A full grown Blastoise appeared in front of the entire Main Hall.
Trainer and Pokemon looked smugly at the witches
When I started to plan this story I realized that I didn´t want Malia to be in Gryffindor. Harry was in Gryffindor because he had bias against the Slytherins and because the few nice people he met were all in Gryffindor. His upbringing made him latch to those that were nice to him and to reject those that reminded him of the Dursleys.
Malia isn´t like that. She has no problem making new friends, she just doesn´t like bootlickers and sycophants. And more, the reason she accepted going to Hogwarts was because she was curious about the magical world, not because she wanted to escape from an abusive environment.
She has some certain points in common with canon Harry, like her protectivness towards her friends and temper. But she isn´t as explosive like Harry.
Oh, and by the way I always wanted for Gary to be the Pokemon Teacher. Even after maturing he still act like a smug little shit, and I can´t wait to explore how he won´t tolerate the purebloods superiority complex.
Kukui is in Alola, fulfilling his duties as the Regional Professor and planning the Alolan Pokemon League. Burnett is with a team of scientists in the Ministry, working on the portal.
I hope everyone likes this chapter. Smell ya later!