Blake Potter & The Orb of Excalibur

Chapter 2: Paige and Addison

The next morning Blake was the first one up. He had no problems what so ever getting McKenzie and Samantha out of bed. Although Hermione had lost some of her fire from the previous day she was still edgy and no one wanted to push her in the wrong way. The trip to Kings Cross went quite smoothly. After Hermione, McKenzie, and twins got their suitcases all stowed away they went back to the platform to say goodbye. Harry hugged the three kids and they quickly zipped off into the train. Harry was holding Zoë, and Nathan stood next to him. Hermione, who had been standing back, looked at him with an expression he couldn’t read. I bet she is still upset about yesterday. Slowly Hermione made her way towards him and when she was close enough he saw tears glistening in her eyes. Harry was down right shocked. She had been acting very strangely lately! Harry gently set Zoë on to the ground and told Nathan to keep an eye on her. He held out his arms and Hermione came willingly. Suddenly she burst out into tears. Harry patted her head and tried to speak comforting words but he didn’t know what to say, and said only,

“What’s the matter?” Harry was expecting to hear, ‘I’ll miss you’ or ‘I can’t stand the thought of being apart’, but she said neither of these.

“I don’t know! I just don’t know…maybe its stress….”

“Shhhh…It will be okay.”

The Hogwart’s Express started to whistle and Harry practically had to shove her onto the train. He took Nathan and Zoë and headed home feeling very puzzled.

Hermione sat in a compartment with Blake and Samantha, Samantha sleeping peacefully with her head on her mother's lap, and Blake deeply absorbed in a book. Hermione leant her head against the window, her thoughts beginning to drift, when a girl zestfully came up to their compartment.

"Hi!" she said, with great energy, “I just talked to McKenzie, my sister Katherine and her are friends. She said she had a younger sister and so here I am!" Extending her hand to Hermione, the girl continued, “I'm Paige by the way, Paige Remmington. I'm a first year." For a moment Hermione had a fleeting thought of slapping the girl’s hand away! She didn’t want to be touched! Hermione shook her head hard, What’s gotten into me? She reached out and took the girl's hand, and before she could introduce herself, Blake looked up from his book and Samantha was stirred from her sleep. Paige eagerly introduced herself and convinced them to go to another compartment with her.

Hermione smiled as a million memories came back to her; the sight of the three of them was as heartwarming as it would be to see Ron again. Seven train rides came back to Hermione; when she, Ron and Harry weren't even friends yet, and Neville had lost his toad; when Harry and Ron missed the train and Hermione was forced to sit with Neville, yet again. When Dementors made their way onto the Hogwarts Express. All memories, but none were as vivid as the train ride before her seventh year.

Hermione remembered every detail perfectly; the sky had been gray, and tiny droplets of rain slid down the windows. Ginny had been going through emotional trauma, no doubt about a boy she liked, and Ron felt obliged to sit with her and tell her what a jerk that boy was, even if he wasn't.

Harry and Hermione had the whole compartment to themselves, and yet there were no words spoken. They were sitting next to each other; each of their hands folded tidily in their own lap. Most of the train ride had been spent in this fashion, and glances toward the window or the floor had been most common. After what seemed like an eternity, Hermione had looked down at her own hands and found that they were intertwined with Harry's! Hermione looked up at him; really looked at him for the first time, and knew then that her crush had developed into love. His face showed that he was guilty in taking her hand in his. She leant forward to kiss him, but before she could she began to draw back. Harry released one of his hands from hers and pulled her forward to him. He pressed his lips up against hers, and Hermione returned the kiss. That kiss changed everything.

The train stopped, and Hermione was pulled out of her reverie, a blissful smile on her face. Stop it Hermione, she thought to herself sharply, you are beginning to think like an old woman! Hermione walked off the train, her head still slightly in the clouds, and stepped into a horse-less carriage. Turning her head, she saw Blake, Samantha and Paige laughing and stepping into a boat. We were just like them, she thought dreamily, just like them.

*

     Blake was ecstatic to row across the water! It was tradition for first years to go across the lake to reach Hogwarts for the first time. Sam and Paige giggled and chatted nervously; he himself was more interested in seeing the giant squid he had heard about. An idea came to him. This would be his only trip across the lake and he wanted to make it very memorable. Blake stood up.

”Sit down, Blake!” Samantha said, slightly worried. He turned and grinned at her. Paige giggled,

“I know what you’re going to do!” Blake winked at her and before Samantha could fathom what was going to occur, he dived in! Blake was a strong swimmer, his grandfather, Andrew Granger, had taught him well. Blake dived deep enough under the water so that the paddles of the other 1st years wouldn’t knock him in the head, but was close enough to the surface so that he could come up for air easily. At first, when Blake opened his eyes the water stung them, but he quickly got used to it. Though his vision was blurred he was still able to see a few very weird sea creatures, which he wouldn't exactly call fish, swim past him.

    Blake entertained thoughts of going deeper in search of the squid but he decided that he definitely did not want to be expelled before he was even sorted! Blake was abruptly unable to move further. His foot was stuck; some kind of weed had grabbed onto it! He started to panic. He groped around in his robes for his wand and when he pulled it out, he couldn’t think of a single thing to do! He had learned very few spells and his mind was too fuzzy from lack of oxygen. In desperation Blake shot red sparks from his wand, something that he was taught by his worried parents. Right before he passed out, he heard what sounded like a splash, and felt arms grab his.

     Suddenly Blake awoke by gagging, and spurting water everywhere. He raised a sleeve and wiped his lips and chin dry. His eyes stung and he was chilled to the bone. When he had finally refocused his eyes he saw that he was looking into the face of Paige Remmington. A few strands of wet blonde hair fell into her face; her brow was furrowed with concern.

“P-Paige?” He was slightly confused and still coughing up water. Paige’s devilish blue eyes danced with laughter.

“Blake Potter! I hope you don’t attempt to drown yourself too often! It’d be a pain in the neck to have to save you all the time!” Paige smiled slyly at him then planted a kiss on his cheek. Blake’s pale face turned bright red as he mumbled thanks under his breath as he stood up.

“Alright der Blake?” asked Hagrid as he helped the last two kids out of their boat.

“Yes,” he said with a nod. The color in his face started to turn back to its normal shade. He had to push his sopping wet hair out of his face a few times, but Blake was all smiles. Soon he stood in a huge hall, slightly shivering from the wet, with the rest of the 1st year students. Paige came running up to him, dragging Sam with her.

“Blake!” she said with a laugh. “You should hear Sam go on and on about the sorting! She is so nervous.” Sam shot a disapproving glance at Paige, then shrugged her shoulders carelessly, as if admitting to the truth.

A tall man dressed in flowing black robes with greasy black hair and a hooked nose suddenly appeared before them.

    “As soon as we enter through these doors you will be sorted. Your house, whichever one you are unfortunately put into, will be like your ‘family’. You will have the pleasures of breaking the rules to take points away and disappointing your fellow house members, as all first years inevitably do. However, despite the many blunders of young students, one house must win the cup and to do so, try to lose as few points as possible!”

Suddenly Snape caught the eye of Blake. His startling emerald green eyes made Snape recognize him immediately. Snape took in the drenched boy and commented under his breath,

“Ah, Mr. Potter. Trying to live up to your name? Thought you’d make a big impression if you swam into Hogwarts?” Snape smiled smugly. “Unfortunately you haven’t been sorted, or I’d have taken points away for that little excursion. Though, you will doubtlessly be in Gryffindor.” Snape eyed Paige who was also soaking wet. He opened his mouth to comment but shut it. Blake glared angrily at him but had no time to reply as the doors to the Great Hall opened and Snape beckoned them all to follow.

Blake’s stomach did start to twitch slightly. What if he wasn’t put into Gryffindor? What would his parents say!? Blake looked up at the big table and saw his mother sitting there. She looked up at him and smiled proudly. Blake felt a little bit better. Many of those around him seem to be shaking with anxiety. Blake had to grin at the look of utter panic on Samantha’s face. He then shot an envious look at Paige, who though soaked and freezing, seemed to be really enjoying the whole thing. Just then Snape brought out a small stool and placed an old frayed looking hat on it. Suddenly, what looked like a rip in it formed a mouth and it burst out into song:

I’m the sorting hat, the founders did make me

To sort young wizards, putting me on is the key

To brave Gryffindor the ones he does adore

Are those who are courageous and honorable to the core

Dear Ravenclaw the smart ones she did treasure best

All those who are intelligent and who would never a fail a test

Lady Hufflepuff choose friendly faces who weren’t afraid to work

Toiling the grounds and around the greenhouses they did lurk

Sir Slytherin preferred the cunning, ruthless, and sly

Anyone with out pure blood he would surly deny

So give it a try, put me on

I will know where you belong!

Applause rang out from the student body, the loudest coming from the 1st years, who of course hadn’t ever heard any sorting songs. Snape picked up what looked like a list and began calling out names. They would sit on the stool and Snape would place the hat on their heads.

“ARROWSMITH, Adam.”

“GRYIFFINDOR!” The table to the right of the room burst out into a hefty applause.

“ASHFORD, Rae.”

“Gryffindor!” A pretty girl with red hair made her way to the same table, which of course was a applauding, and Blake could have sworn he had heard some wolf whistles.

“AYDEN, Matthew.”

“Hufflepuff!” Blake’s attention was suddenly taken away from the sorting as the boy to his left began to wiggle around nervously, and then hop.

“What are you doing?” hissed Blake, slightly annoyed that he was interrupting Blake’s attention.

“I’ve had to go ever since we boarded!”

“What?” asked Blake, confused. Then a dawning of understanding hit him like a train. “Oh God.” The boy nodded, and Blake prayed he would be called soon so he could get to a bathroom. He had never seen anyone over the age of five act like that boy was now, so it must mean he had to go in the extreme.

“CRABBE, Arnold!” A massive heavyset boy with a unibrow, rather large knuckles, and short cropped brown hair slowly made his way to the stool.

“Slytherin!” roared the hat.

“DALTON, Levi.” At this the dancing boy made a mad dash for the stole and shoved the hat on his head. Blake was both relieved for himself as well as Levi.

“Hufflepuff!” Dalton took off like a forest on fire, as he ran off the platform, and to the surprise of everyone but Blake, out of the Great Hall.

Wow, sorting is easy, just place the hat on your head, and two seconds later your in your house! thought Blake, to himself. However his theory was quickly abandoned, as “Davies, Paul” was called. Blake watched curiously, as he seemed to be having a mental conversation with the hat. After a long while the hat finally called out, “RAVENCLAW!”

Blake’s mind began to wander with thoughts of his own sorting, he only half heard as, ‘Davin, Donavan, Douglas, Esteban, Fitch-Fletchley, and Finnigan’ were called, after that he was completely obvious, until Sam nudged him. Snape had just gotten the ‘P’s and his name would be called soon…

“PAYWEN, Anderson.”

“Hufflepuff!”

“PEDER, Amethyst.” A young girl stepped out of the line and took the stool.

“SLYTHERIN!” yelled the hat after it had barely touched her head.

“POTTER, Blake.” Blake stepped up to the stool and gave a defiant look at Snape as he placed the hat on his head.

-… A Potter. Always hard to place…you’re not smart like your mother…-

Blake gaped stupidly at the hat, had it just insulted him?

-Hmmm…yes…just like your father…but…-

The hat seemed to pause as if it sensed something wrong. Just as Blake’s hand clutched his orb protectively the hat went on

-…Yes…anger…jealously….Slytherin would be right….- Blake quickly released the orb. -…You are daring…courageous…-

“GRYFFINDOR.” As soon as Blake stepped down, his sister stepped up. The hat only took a few seconds to decide with her. This troubled Blake. It was funny that the hat had considered Slytherin when he held his orb but when he dropped it, the hat immediately changed its mind to Gryffindor. Blake sighed, maybe he was just reading to far into it. Soon, to both Blake and Sam’s delight, Paige joined them. Blake stared hungrily at the empty plate in front him and was starting to wish the sorting didn’t take so long. After another twenty minutes they were only in the Ws.

“WALKER, Addison!” The boy sat for a long while, much longer than anyone else had, including Blake. The boy and the hat seemed to be arguing fiercely, and Blake was curious as to what was up. Finally after what seemed like a good twenty minutes (though in reality it wasn’t that long) the hat proclaimed,

“GRYFFINDOR!”

A tallish boy with short black hair and smoke colored eyes came up to Blake,

“Mind if I sit here?” He asked.

“No, not at all.” They sat in silence for the rest of the sorting, which ended when “Zuke, Grace” was a made a Ravenclaw. Blake then turned to him,

“Blake Potter by the way.” Blake was somewhat surprised when the boy’s eyes didn’t so much as flicker when he had announced his last name. Usually people would

look at him funny or make weird noises or get over excited and say, "You father is Harry Potter! Why, he nodded at my cousin once!"

“I’m Addison Walker. Nice to meet you.” Before anymore could be said, Professor McGonagall, the headmistress, stood up and gave a few announcements at the end of which she added,

“We would like to welcome the addition of two new teachers this year. For Defense Against the Dark Arts, Professor Fadel Karwielde.” McGonagall waited for the polite applause to end then announced with a slight streak of pride in her voice, “Hermione Grang…Potter for Transfiguration!” The applause was a little bit more enthusiastic this time, no doubt many of the students had heard of her from their own parents. Not too long after McGonagall's speech, the food instantly appeared on the plates and Blake stuffed himself to the rim. After everyone had eaten their fill, the prefects began to lead their houses up to their common rooms.

As the Gryffindors passed the Slytherins, Blake overheard one of the boys saying, “…a mudblood for a teacher! Honestly, if they had done any better they would’ve had a muggle! But no, no, this isn’t just any mudblood; it’s the wife of that muggle-loving fool, Harry Potter… ” Blake’ temper flared up. He reached for his wand and said the first thing that came to his mind.

“Shockolimpara!” The shocking spell instantly took effect, running through the boy’s whole body. He stood up angrily and walked over to Blake.

“Why you stupid…” The boy abruptly realized who he was talking to. “Potter…didn’t enjoy our remarks did you?” Blake growled at him. “You better watch yourself. My name is Oswald Colligan. You’ll do well to remember it.”

“Blake! You’ve made a new friend, how cute!” Paige had instantly seen the trouble brewing and had decided to intervene. She pinched Oswald’s cheek and gave him a charming smile. She bowed out dragging Blake with her.

Blake and Addison split off from Sam and Paige once they reached the dormitory. Blake decided he was too tired to stay up in the common room like many 1st years were doing, and headed up to bed. Addison followed.

“It’s so wonderful to be here.” Blake commented.

“Yea…” said Addison as he looked out the window. Blake waited; thinking that Addison would say something else. When he didn’t, Blake jumped into his bed and fell asleep, spitefully dreaming of Oswald Colligan.