A kid, no older than 11, was leaning against the railings of a ferry while looking out into the distance. It was a bit before sunrise. Said teen had long, light brown hair tied into a ponytail. He was wearing a black sweater and light blue jeans. His handsome face was set in contentment, a calming sigh on his lips. His most striking feature, were his teal green eyes that shone with power.
He was not alone though.
A Treecko was perched on his shoulder like a bird, watching the sunrise with its trainer.
"Not long now" the kid said quietly.
The small ferry arrived at Gadabout Port of the Avalon Region. Gadabout Port was the main import and export point for trade in the Avalon Region. Therefore, many boats, ferries and the like would depart and arrive there.
The teal eyed teen stepped off the ferry after returning Treecko to its pokéball. Many pirate looking men worked around the cargo and ships with their fighting type Pokémon to help lift heavy boxes. He leisurely walked through the port while glancing at the small stores for anything that caught his eye.
Nothing did end up catching his eye by the time he he got to the edge of the port. He would need to take a bus to get to his real destination in the Avalon Region or start walking the entire way. He wouldn't have minded the latter but it would take too long.
The bus left the furthermost station of its destination, leaving the teal eyed teen to walk his way through the city.
Galahad City appeared before him with its breathtaking view. Tall buildings, vibrant shops and chattering citizens. The teen strolled through the streets while silently ogling and marveling at the sophisticated architecture. The bright city seemed to never end until he arrived at his destination.
The train station was packed with parents and children running around. Today was the day the Hogwarts Express was leaving the station with old and new students boarding to go to Hogwarts. It was ten thirty, which meant that there was still half an hour before the express left. Mothers were crying and smothering their children with hugs while fathers wore proud smiles and did the same more carefully. Kids weaved through crowds, searching for their friends.
Teal eyes watched passively as he weaved in and out of the crowd and dodging running children. He stepped into the second carriage and started looking for an empty compartment. By the time he reached the end of the carriage there were no open compartments so he moved onto the next carriage in search for a place to claim. He eventually found one at the end and settled into it by the window.
The teen locked the compartment door and shut the blinds for some privacy. He hoped that the walls were soundproof enough to not be disturbed by any loud noises. He then took out a few pokéballs from his belt and released his friend.
Treecko, dubbed Grover by his trainer appeared on the seat next to him with a smile and cheered a bit when he realized he had been released. The kid smiled back at him fondly. Grover was his best and only friend.
An hour later, the teal eyed kid was scratching Grover behind the ear. He was holding a book with his free hand about Mega Evolution. It was another stage of evolution that was only temporary and changed the appearance and attributes of the Pokémon. It was not very common, as the trainer and Pokémon needed to have a strong and unbreakable bond. The book explained more in depth about the science behind the recent discovery and the different Pokémon the were able to do so.
A knock on the door woke Grover out of his trace and startled the kid as it interrupted his reading. The boy sighed and looked at his friend.
"I'll let you out later," he said. Grover nodded as he was returned to his ball.
The teen eyed the door warily before unlocking it and sliding it open. He groaned internally when he saw his uninvited guest.
"Hey, get out of my compartment," a blond boy said with a sneer. Two hulking figures stood behind him menacingly.
"I don't really understand how this is your compartment. I was in here first," He answered coolly.
"I don't care, get out of my way," The blond ponce tried to push his way in but received an elbow to the chest for his efforts.
Blondie glared fiercely at his assailant. "You will regret this!"
Teal eyes smiled. "No I won't," he said and promptly shut the door, locking it right before the thuds and shouts reached his ears.
He sighed and released Grover once more.
"What a waste of time," he grumbled to his partner, the Treecko nodding along despite knowing nothing about the previous confrontation.
The scenery was beautiful.
I was in one of the small rowboats on the Black Lake heading to Hogwarts with the first years.
We had all just disembarked from the train, which had arrived at Le Fay's Crossing, the station in Hogsmeade where the students would be dropped off. A giant of a man called over all the first years and led us down a beaten path towards the lake.
"No more than four ter a boat!" The giant hollered.
The rowboats were piloted by an assortment of water types. I saw a few Marill, Buizel, and even a Lombre, all using water gun.
As the boats reached a bend around the last bit of land, Hogwarts was displayed in all its splendor. The stories and pictures I had seen of this place did not do it justice. The ancient stone bricks rose up dozens of feet tall. The spires and towers layered onto the castle looked as if they reached the skies. It's was truly a magnificent sight.
Soon, the boats reached an alcove under the castle where we all disembarked. A poor boy holding a Bulbasaur nearly slipped and fell down while the blond ponce looked at him in disdain.
As we walked up a set of stairs in the cove a large door swung open revealing a older woman in green robes. She cast her critical eyes over all of us children and nodded when she found what she was looking for.
"Thank you Hagrid, I will take them from here," she said.
We walked through a couple of hallways, each of us taking in our first glimpse at the interior of the castle. Torches along the walls illuminated the hallowed halls where many portraits were hung.
The woman brought us into an empty chamber beside a giant door which held many voices behind its frame. Once we were huddled up inside, she began to speak.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. My name is Professor McGonagall. The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding trainers, researchers, trackers and more. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn you house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."
She then left the chamber and left us alone. Many kids scrambled to tidy themselves up, adjusting their hair, tucking their shirts, and in the case of a red haired boy, rubbing dirt off his nose.
And then the drawl of an annoying blond reached my ears.
"Ah, Weasley, how could I miss you? Hand-me-down clothes, red hair, dirt on your face, I almost didn't recognize you. You've reached a new level of filth," he said in an arrogant drawl. I closed my eyes. Don't involve yourself.
"And you Potter, if I were you, I'd reconsider who I'd choose to be around. You wouldn't want to be hanging around with the wrong sort." Don't.
Thankfully Potter defended himself just fine. "Thanks, but I think I can tell just who the wrong sort are by myself."
Malfoy turned red, but before he could reply McGonagall returned and made us form a line. We were then led into the Great Hall.
The Great Hall was huge. It housed four long tables with a staff table risen on a stage. The stone walls were lit with torches that cast a glow on the entire hall. The most impressive thing though, was the glass painting on the ceiling. Every known Legendary and Mythical Pokémon were painted in a beautiful masterpiece.
McGonagall went on stage and released a Pokémon.
It was a bipedal Pokémon with what looked like a Shellder/crown latched onto its head. It was primarily pink, with a pale yellow muzzle and scaled belly. Its feet and hands each had a single clawed digit, while the hands also had a clawless thumb. Around its neck was a spiny ruff with alternating red and white stripes.
"The Sorting Slowking will now place you in your Houses. When I call your name, please step forward." She started calling names but I quickly droned it out.
A really long time later, McGonagall read out a name that gave everyone pause.
"Harry Potter!"
The hall instantly went so silent, you could hear a pin drop. No one moved or said anything.
Then, a boy with shaggy black hair and emerald eyes stepped forward nervously towards Slowking. The Pokémon put its hand on Harry's shoulder, and nothing happened for a whole 10 minutes. Everyone was shifting anxiously by the time Slowking had made its decision.
"Gryffindor!"
The table of red cheered in madness at getting the Boy-Who-Lived in their house.
McGonagall kept going through names, before, when there were only a few kids left, she called my name.
"Lucas Wildfire!"
I sighed in relief and walked up towards the Slowking. When I got right in front of it, it's eyes glowed purple and the world around me faded to nothing.
When I opened my eyes again, all I saw was black. Before I could panic, I heard a voice telling me to do the exact opposite.
"Do not panic," a deep voice rumbled.
Slowking materialized in front of my face without warning. "We are inside your head. I will examine your memories and then dictate where to sort you."
Slowking faded away, leaving me to my own thoughts before I could even say a word.
A short time later, Slowking started speaking again. "I am in a dilemma. You have many qualities that would put you in any house. Your future is very uncertain. All I know is that you play a pivotal role in the chaos to come. All I will tell you is, you can aid me in choosing which house to place you in." Slowking faded away but four figures appeared in front of me.
The four people were all me.
The first one presented me all grown up, with hazy figures of other people and tiny Pokémon surrounding me.
"Hufflepuff will be the house that will show you the love and companionship you have been craving your whole life. You have never felt family growing up, and this path will lead you to the family you deserve."
The next one showed me in a white lab coat, hunched over a desk looking through research notes.
"Ravenclaw will aid you in your pursuit of knowledge and truth, two things that you value greatly. This path will help you uncover secrets and learn things about the universe few can even dream of."
Then, a man in red looked back at me, grinning in what looked like a jungle outfit.
"Gryffindor will bring out your adventurous spirit and bravery. This path will nurture your willingness to explore and face new challenges. You will truly be a credit to this house."
Finally, there was me in green, with a smirk on his face and an unrecognizable pokéball in his hand.
"Finally, the house of Slytherin. You learned early on that you must hide your true self from others to get what you want. Many think that this house is one of evil, but they are so very wrong. Salazar's house is one of cunning and adaptation, something you thrive in. You will be a force to be reckoned with in this house."
Slowking then quietened, allowing me to think on my choice.
These were four outcomes of choosing any particular house. I looked at the four doppelgängers and went deep in thought.
Hufflepuff was ruled out. I had nothing against them, and I'd be a fool to count them as worthless, but they didn't seem like the type of people I'd hang out with. And I'm sure I'd be able to find some semblance of family in any other house, right? Ravenclaw might be cool, but I was afraid they'd all be uptight and worry about schoolwork too much. Research can be done in any other house, and solving mysteries seemed to work out more with the adventurous Gryffindor.
That left Griffindor and Slytherin. Even though Slytherins might be a bunch of stuck up dicks like the blondie, most of the Griffindors could be annoyingly bullheaded and held no respect for others. These were just theories but from the people I saw being sorted, I might be right. With these thoughts in my head, I gave Slowking my answer.
After weighing the options, I felt a pull toward Gryffindor. While every house offered something valuable, Gryffindor's emphasis on bravery and adventure resonated most with me. I was drawn to the idea of facing challenges head-on and finding a place where my courage could shine.
"I choose Gryffindor," I thought, my decision firm.
Slowking nodded, the glow in its eyes brightening. "A brave choice. Gryffindor will be your new home."
The darkness faded, and I found myself back in the Great Hall, the eyes of the entire student body on me.
"Gryffindor!" Slowking announced.
The Gryffindor table exploded with cheers and applause, welcoming me warmly. I made my way over to them, my heart pounding with excitement and relief. As I sat down, Harry Potter, who had been sorted just before me, gave me a friendly nod.
"Welcome to Gryffindor," he said with a grin.
"Thanks," I replied, feeling a genuine smile spread across my face. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I was where I belonged.
Authors notes: This is my first time writing any sort of fanfiction. I took inspiration from Mr. Choas' series to start this story. It may not be great, and I can guarantee that it won't be perfect, so any sort of criticism will be happily received. Especially on how to blend these two worlds into a story with a plot that makes sense.
Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon nor Harry Potter.