Chapter 21
The Hatterene stayed where Harry had first spotted it, swaying in the breeze that sent a deep chill to Harry's bones, but he was almost there, he couldnt turn back.
So with a firm grip on his Pokéballs, Harry moved forward with all the confidence he could muster and tried to simply walk past the Hatterene, but the singular hand of the Hatterene moved out and barred his way forward. Harry swallowed his nerves and turned to look into Hatterene's eyes as they looked into Harry's emerald pools, then with a feeling like a fuzzy radio starting up, a voice enters Harry's mind.
"Greeting prospective student, I am Sally, i am the final test before you are allowed to enter these hallowed halls."
Harry braces himself and simply nods.
"I will now ask you a simple question, what does it mean to be a Pokémon trainer?"
Harry was momentarily stunned by the simple question, surely the final test to enter into Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizadry wasn't so simple.
But the longer Harry stood there with the Hatterene waiting for his answer the more it seemed that this was his final test, so taking a deep breath Harry calms down and thinks about what he believes it means to be a trainer. He thouhht back on all his times with his team and everything they fid to try and improve themselves and eachother every day, how he was proudest when they managed to push themselves beyond and become more then they where previously.
So with a fond smile and a gleam in his eyes, Harry straightens his back and stares deeply into Sally the Hatterene's eyes and gives his answer from his heart.
"To be a trainer is to be the driving force for your team to improve and grow, to drive them to farther heights and to be the best they can be."
After Harry finishes the Hatterene simply stares at him for a minute before with a nod, she moves to the side and motions Harry to head to the door, with another nod Harry wlaks past her and finally enters the doors to Hogwarts.
Dumbledore was surprised at the amount of paperwork that always comes with the start of the school year, especially now that the wizarding world was known to the muggle world.
But considering the mountian of paperwork he had to deal with as the supreme Mugwump this stack was mere childs play. But he wishses he was done already so he could be at the entrance hall to welcome all the new students, one in particular sprung to mind, but he wouldnt let his personal feelings get in the way of doing his duty to the school and studnets.
So with a weary sigh, Dumbledore pulls the last stack of papes for him to go through and sees it is from president Rose and has to do witth the intergration of a power system in Hogwarts to help with the new renovations that where planned for next year.
Dumbledore smiled since these types of documents was to be dealt with by the board of governors and thus Dumbledore was officially done with the paper work of the new school year.
So with a new found energy, Dumbledore almost leaps from his chair and with a spring in his steps heads out of his office and towards the great hall for the opening feast and the sorting of first years.
He couldn't wait to see what surprises the new school year would hold for the school amd just what legends may spawn from this new generation.
Harry saw the first years that had gone befor him standing in a huddle near another door opposite a large staircase with a rather familiar face standing at the lead with her usual dour look and disapproving stare on a few choice students.
Harry caught her and and gave a simple nod before receiving one and what could almost be called a soft smile, before he turns and begins to look for Hermione. He finds her soon enough near the front trying to get McGonagall's attention, Harry simply moves through the group to stand behind Hermione and decides to play a small prank on the girl.
"I don't think shes answering questions yet Hermione, so maybe you should save them for later."
Hermione jumps slightly at being startled by Harry's sudden appeeance before the bushy haired girl spins around.
"Harry!" Hermione squeaks out before she wraps Harry up in a bone crushing hug.
"If I knew scaring you like that would lead to dust for bones I would have just let Ria get your attention."
Hermione pulls back from the hug with a small blush on her cheeks before she lightly slaps his shoulder but a small smile was gracing her face. Before she could address Harry's sarcastic comment the doors to the entrance hall opens again and in walks a new student, but this one looked a little more banged up then the others and seemed to be in need of some light medical attention.
A woman in a medieval nurses uniform enter's from a side door neither Harry or Hermione had noticed, this women ushers the prospective student away through this side door to receive medical treatment.
Hermiones face had adopted a slightly concerned look but Harry placed a hand on her shoulder to try and comfort her as he simply tries to distract her from what had just happened.
So as time ticks by Harry and Hermione talk and simply wait for the rest of the students to arrive, of course Harry's team couldnt help but pop out to protect their trainer. Ria and John both took up positions on either side of the pair, while Ivan simpe stood behind the two with Hedwig standing upon his head seemingly watching everything around them.
Of course Salazar was with Hedwigand tried to look serious but kept getting distracted by all the other Pokémon and students standing around.
Lucia the Growlithe kept trying to get Ria to play with her while Hermiones Jangmo-o was content to stay in her bag and watch everything while randomly playing with bits of Hermiones bushy hair and making it even bushier.
As Harry and Hermione continued their conversation they where interrupted by another voice shouting out their names.
"Harry, Hermione, glad to see you both made it!"
Ron came running over with Tre rolling along after him and leaving behind a light dusting of coal as Ron finally made it to the duo. Ria and John both scrutinized Ron lightly before moving a little further out to allow him inti their protective circle of their trainer and his friend.
Tre rolled over to Lucia and started playing with her, distracting Lucia from her atttmepts to make Ria play with her.
As Ron finally joined them, they both noticed that Ron looked a little rough around the edges, some small singe marks on his sleeves and dirt all over his pant legs.
Hermione immediately began fretting over him while Harry was impressed that Ron had apparently hone through a rough tume during the test yet was still ok enough to not need to be taken by the nurse.
"Are you ok? You should see the nurse, even a small injury could lead to big problems."
Ron simply waved off her concerns.
"Im fine, most of this is from Tre getting to excited during certain parts of the trial."
The little rolycoly simply perked up at his name being called but was quickly distracted again by Lucia play tackling him.
"Well if your sure."
Hermione looked unsure but didn't want to press her new friend and make him hate her, after all Harry had worked hard at getting her to be less controlling.
Just before Harry could put his two cents in, a noise from the doors brings the entire group of first years attention to McGonagall who looked somewhat disapproving that it took them so long to quiet down.
"My name is Professor McGonagall, I am your transfiguration and Pokémon bonding teacher, I am also head of Gryffindor house."
A small murmer passed through the group of first years but a glare from McGonagall silenced it quickly.
"In the next few minutes as the last frist year makes it here, you all will enter into the great hall and recieve your house assignement."
The energy in the room became stifling as the students held themselves back from talking as they waited for McGonagall to continue.
"Your house will be like your family, there are four houses, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has produced great witches and wizards, your triumphs will earn you house points, while any rule breaking will lose your house points."
The students shuffled at trying to contain themselves as McGonagall continued.
"At the wnd of the year, the house points will be counted up and the house with the most points will win the house cup, which will mean the school will be covered in your houses colors and the feast will feature the classics from the founder's favorite meals."
Harry was surprised that the school would go to such lengths over something to make students obey the rules.
"Now i would suggest you all smarten up before you stand before your fellow students, some of you more then others."
With that, McGonagall turns and enters the doors behind her leaving the group of first years alone as a buzz spreads over the entire group. Questions about what house certain people will get or how they will be officially sorted from the test, while a handful of students, Ron included, began cleaning themselves up.
Hermione began rattling off facts and excerpts from the books she read, Harry just let the information spewing wash over him as he focuses on a potential problem make his way towards them.