Journey Over to the Dark Side

CHAPTER ONE

"Welcome back, my students!" said Albus Dumbledore, headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. "I hope you all enjoyed your summer. Now, as you all know, a former student from Durmstrang has joined us here at Hogwarts and will be here for the remainder of his schooling years. As all of you had, he shall be sorted into a House. So please, Mr. Adam Grant, would you kindly stand up so everyone can see you?"

Professor Albus Dumbledore was giving his welcome back speech like he did every year to the students of Hogwarts. The new first years had already been sorted, but before he could let anyone eat the big welcome back feast, he had made this special announcement.

Harry Potter's best friend, Ron Weasley, wasn't too happy about this. After being on the Hogwarts Express train all day, he was starving...even after he ate all that junk food on the train.

When the new student, known as Adam Grant, stood up, a bunch of girls all around the Great Hall started giggling. "He's so cute!" Harry heard them whispering.

Adam had dark, curly brown hair and deep, dark brown eyes. He was well built, and Harry wondered if Adam had played Quidditch at Durmstrang. Adam, in height, seemed much taller than Harry - over six feet. Adam was smiling awkwardly, and Harry could tell he was a bit nervous.

"Adam will be joining the sixth year students," Dumbledore continued. Harry and Ron, who were both in their sixth year as well, just gave each other who-cares-about-that looks. "And now, Adam, if you don't mind, will you come up to the stage as you saw the first years do so, so you may be sorted into your House?"

Adam nodded, and slowly walked up to the stage. He sat down on the stool and Professor McGonagall, the Transfigurations teacher and head of Gryffindor House, placed the old Sorting Hat onto his head.

Everyone watched closely to see what House he would be sorted into.

"Let's hope he doesn't get sorted into Slytherin," muttered Ron to Harry. "But knowing that he came from Durmstrang, he probably will be."

The hat seemed to be taking a lot longer than usual.

Finally, the hat screamed, "GRYFFINDOR!"

The Gryffindors started cheering loudly, as Adam Grant, the student from Durmstrang, went to go sit with them at their table. Harry's other best friend, Hermione Granger, suddenly started blushing when Adam sat in the empty space next to her. Ron just rolled his eyes at this. He and Hermione were dating, but Harry could tell Hermione had a crush on Adam. And when Adam smiled at Hermione, Harry had a feeling Adam liked her, too.

When everything finally calmed down, Dumbledore said, "Now let the feast begin!" A whole huge assortment of delicious food appeared on every table as Dumbledore clapped his hands. Everyone oohed and ahhed (especially the new students) and they all dug right in.

But when Harry brushed his hair off his forehead, Adam (who was sitting across from Harry) noticed the lightening bolt scar. His face lit up. "Hey, I know you! You're that Boy-Who-Lived...Potter, right? They were always talking about you at Durmstrang, especially ever since you beat Krum in the Triwizard Tournament..."

Ron nodded. "Yup. He's Harry Potter, and I'm his best friend, Ron Weasley." Adam reached out and shook Ron's hand.

"Wicked," he said. Then he turned to Hermione (smiling at her again), and asked, "And who are you?" Hermione, who was blushing again, snatched up her book which she had brought with her, and pretended to read it, hiding her face from Adam.

"That's Hermione Granger...my girl," said Ron proudly.

"Ron!" Hermione finally said furiously. She was blushing even harder when she removed her book, as she was trying to frown at him.

Adam looked taken aback. "Oh. I didn't know she was already taken."

"I'm not taken!" Hermione insisted in a huff. "Now if you don't mind, I am going to the library."

"Now? Already?" asked Ron in shock. He never understood how Hermione could spend so much time in the library. Hermione, obviously mad at Ron, stomped off.

"She's sort of a brainiac," Ron explained to Adam.

"So what brings you here to Hogwarts, anyway?" Harry asked, changing the subject.

Adam looked at him. "Oh, right. Well, um, my father got a new position at the Ministry of Magic and we had to move out here so he could take it."

"Really? What kind of position? My dad works with the Ministry of Magic, too - in the Muggle department," said Ron.

"Oh well, it's kind of hard to explain," Adam replied. For some reason, Harry got the feeling that Adam just didn't want to talk about it.

* * * * *

When dinner was over, the students all went up to their dormitories. Hermione was still at the library, so Harry and Ron ended up showing Adam where the Gryffindor dormitory was.

"Password?" asked the Fat Lady in the portrait when they arrived at the Gryffindor dormitory entrance.

"Stupideous," said Ron, snickering at the silly password. The door swung open to reveal the insides.

"Well, here's your new home, er, I guess," said Harry, introducing Adam to the dormitory. They were inside the Common Room. A fire was blazing warmly in the fireplace. It was the same as usual, and some of the other Gryffindor students were hanging around.

Lavender Brown and Parvati Patail, two sixth year girls, got into a giggling fest the moment Adam walked into the room. They kept stealing peaks over at Adam and whispering to each other.

"The sixth year's boys' room is up here," Ron said, running up the stairs. Adam and Harry jogged up after him. When they got to the top, Ron swung open a door and they went inside. Neville Longbottom and Seamus Finnigan were already inside, getting ready for bed.

"Tired already?" Harry asked them. Neville, who was kind of chubby and a bit of a klutz, was getting into his bed.

Neville yawned. "Yup, that really long train ride can really make you sleepy."

Seamus saw Adam. "Oh, you must be the new Durmstrang student. I am Seamus Finnigan...and that's Neville Longbottom. We're sixth years, too."

Adam nodded in reply. "Pleased to meet you," he croaked.

Thinking about sleeping, Harry wondered where Adam was going to sleep. The only bed left in the room was an old, half-broken bed that Mr. Filtch kept saying he would replace it and fix it, but never did.

Suddenly, just as Harry went over to his usual bed, he realized that it wasn't his bed. Harry's things have been removed from it. In their place, lay unfamiliar luggage.

"Er, guys - did you noticed my stuff got removed from my usual bed?" Harry asked them. The four boys looked at him.

"Hey - that's my stuff," said Adam, walking over toward Harry's bed.

"Then where's my stuff?" Harry demanded, a little annoyed that he got removed from his bed.

"Hey, here it is Harry - over here," said Seamus, pointing at Harry's luggage laying scattered all over the half-broken bed.

"Looks like Harry's got the broken bed," Neville joked. Seamus laughed, even Ron chuckled a little. And Adam smirked at this.

Whoever brought their luggage up to their rooms, probably just threw Harry's things all over onto his new bed.

Harry sighed, and went over to the bed.

"Hey, if you want, you know - we can switch beds so you can have your old one back," Adam offered.

Harry shook his head. "Nah, you have it." He didn't really mean it, but he didn't want to look selfish in front of Adam. "I'm going to bed, you guys."

Harry slid under the covers of his very uncomfortable new bed, and (despite the uncomfortness) he was soon fast asleep.