The Spellcrafters

Chapter Eight: The Hogwarts Express.

Dawn broke on the first of September and Grimmauld Place was practically bursting at the seams. Mrs. Weasley had gathered everyone she knew and trusted there to escort Harry and the others to platform 9 ^3/4. It was eight in the morning and the students hadn't even woken up, Mrs Weasley and Mad Eye Moody had already given the Order members present their marching orders and sent them off to take their positions, which were scattered across the city.

She had started obsessing about getting Harry safely on the train, ever since his seizure a few days ago. The suggestion that had swam around in her mind after he had returned from St. Mungo's, that as long as she could get him onto that train safely no harm would come to him (by the grace of god) for another year. It had come back in full force and not even Mr. Weasley and Remus could deter her from achieving her goal.

The last days at Grimmauld Place had been incredibly tedious for Harry, though there was still a lot that needed to be done. He wasn't allowed to do anything on his own anymore, the adults feared that another seizure might come along and that he would injure himself. Remus would even follow him into the bathroom and Mrs. Weasley cut his pepper steak for him, refusing to let him come within two feet of a knife.

At nine thirty, the students and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were hustling and bustling; trying to get their trunks packed and closed (Ginny), looking under beds for that illusive stray sock (Ron), folding robes to make them fit into an overflowing trunk (Hermione) and shouting through the stairwell that they were going to miss the train (Mrs. Weasley). Everyone was busy except for Mr. Weasley and Harry. They were sitting quietly in the kitchen talking about another year at Hogwarts, while Harry was feeding Sirius.

Harry rather liked that he didn't have to worry about getting his trunk ready for a change. Mrs. Weasley had seen to that yesterday, spells had been flying all over the house gathering his things and packing them neatly into his trunk. 'Finally an upside to being coddled like a two year old,' he thought.

Half an hour later, all the trunks were neatly lined up in the hallway, Hedwig, Pig and Crookshanks in their cages and baskets on top. Sirius on Harry's shoulder (he still wouldn't budge an inch), patiently awaiting the arrival of the Ministry cars that were taking them to King's Cross. They were going in a long caravan this time. Mad-Eye Moody and Tonks were riding with Harry in the front car, Remus and Kingsley Shacklebolt with Hermione and Ginny in the second, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley together with Ron in the rear car.

While they were driving, Harry passed the time by looking out the window. He was regularly surprised by the appearance of familiar faces, when the Ministry cars would cross intersections or overtook other vehicles. It was as if Wizards had inundated all of London. He had recognised Mrs. Figg, posing as an elderly woman walking her dog when their convoy had stopped for a red light. A few minutes later the cars passed by Mundungus Fletcher, as they drove by a car on the side of the road, he was imitating a disappointed driver swearing at his apparently broke down vehicle. Harry also saw Bill Weasley, walking out of a clothing store for bikers, however Harry considered that that might just have been a coincidence.

"Tonks?" Harry asked curiously. "Just how many people are making sure we get to King's Cross in one piece besides you, Mad-Eye, Remus, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley?"

"Oh, about a hundred..." Tonks replied casually.

"A HUNDRED?" Harry shouted in surprise. "A hundred, are you all nuts?"

"Yes, a hundred. It was Mad-Eye's idea, Molly insisted on it, and Dumbledore liked it very much. So just sit back and relax. We'll be at King's Cross soon."

"Constant vigilance," was shouted out loud by Alastor. Who obviously thought that was the most important thing to say as he didn't say another word for the rest of the drive.

*****

At King's Cross, four porters popped up, seemingly out of nowhere, when the Ministry cars pulled up to the curb. In no time, their trunks and pets were loaded on their trolleys; the students and their escorts followed the porters through the gate between tracks nine and ten.

Being one of the first students to arrive for the Hogwarts Express actually paid off, because it didn't take them long to find an empty compartment, store their trunks and start to say goodbye to their family and friends to start a new school year. They wouldn't see each other again until Christmas came around.

Students continued to pour onto the platform through the gate, from seventh years, and the transfer students that had assigned seats in the back of the train down to the ickle newbie firsties that didn't know anyone. Every single one was ushered onto the train and at exactly eleven o'clock the whistle blew and the Hogwarts Express was off.

Alex and Max had started packing the day before. They couldn't believe how much stuff they had accumulated over a period of fifteen years. Soon they had started making piles, one pile for things they would take with them, another one for things that would be left at the compound to be retrieved later on and a pile of pure junk that made a nice bonfire that night.

By nightfall, the pile of stuff they were taking with them had been loaded into large trunks that Max shrunk to fit snugly into their backpacks. Before they left the next morning, Alex walked through the entire house. It had been 'home' to them, for fifteen years, she would miss it, despite the fact that it was only miles away from the edge of the earth. When she arrived back in the kitchen, Orion was sitting on the counter staring at the place where the fruit basket used to sit.

Alex had started worrying about how they were going to take Orion with them after they had finished packing; after all, he was a free and wild animal that had chosen to live with them. She wasn't completely sure about taking him with them at all. Was it really up to her? Was it really her decision to make? Did she really have the right to take him out of his natural habitat? All she knew for sure was that if they would have to leave him behind, she would miss him dearly. Even if he had only spent a month with them, it already seemed like a lifetime in her mind.

*****

When it came time to leave, the Portkey they were using (just in case Orion wanted to come), was set to go of at eleven o'clock in the morning. Alex and Max were standing in the meadow, holding on to an old straw sun hat just waiting for that exact time to arrive, when Orion walked over and just before the Portkey activated, grabbed hold of it.

Orion had watched all the commotion, over the past few days with a slight tinge of regret. Humans sure behaved strangely. Nevertheless, what had to be done, had to be done. If they did not leave, his purpose would never be fulfilled. As the leader of his little pack, for that's what he considered Alex and Max to be, he had a responsibility to protect them no matter what, or where he had to go.

When his people walked out of the house that morning, locking up everything behind them, he realised that the time to leave had come. Intelligent as he was, he had realised that holding on to things seemed to be a strange but novel method of transportation. After all, he had seen two people arrive that way. Professor Dumbledore with the use of a bracelet and Professor Snape by means of baseball cap.

He ran over to his humans and grabbed a hold of the hat just before the Portkey went of. He felt a strange tugging around his waist, not a painful feeling, just the strange sensation of being pulled to another place as if with a rope that was tied around your middle. When the tugging stopped, Orion looked around to find himself in a courtyard of a large stone building...

*****

Albus Dumbledore had been awaiting the arrival of his new Professors. He had set the timer on the Portkey himself and located the arrival point in his private courtyard at Hogwarts. What he had not expected was the arrival of a third passenger. He was, however, pleasantly surprised by its unforeseen presence. Orion would certainly keep everyone, especially Severus, at Hogwarts on their toes.

On the Hogwarts' Express, everything was going as it should. The countryside was rolling by at an even pace, revealing luscious and rolling hills, forests, fields with large herds of cattle and sheep and the occasional pond with its very own flock of ducks. The sun was shining down on the speedily advancing train and the students were all in high spirits, to be testified by the sounds of laughter and mirth up and down the corridors.

Shortly after the train had left King's Cross, Hermione and Ron, went up the train to the compartment preserved for the Prefects and the Head Boy and Girl, to receive their briefing for the new school year. Harry and Ginny spent the time talking, playing exploding snap and reading the 'Quibbler', a magazine, which due to its mostly make-believe contents made for an enjoyable read.

Friends regularly stopped by the compartment (no comma) to catch up on important summer events, share news, treats and simply say 'hi'. Neville and Luna stopped by, as did some of the other members of the DA. Dean and Seamus even stayed to play a few games of Exploding Snap.

When the Witch that ran the food trolley opened their compartment door, Hermione and Ron had finally returned from their meeting. The new Head Boy, a Ravenclaw by the name of Iason Graystone, had apparently given a very long speech about the responsibilities and perks of being a prefect, that had made even Hermione's eyes glaze over. Harry ordered a few Cauldron cakes, Pumpkin Pasties and lots of Chocolate Frogs. After he paid the Witch, they all dug in as if they hadn't eaten for four days.

The only moment spoiling the mood on the train ride took place at a quarter past two, when Draco Malfoy and his goons, Crabbe and Goyle, soiled the air of the Trio's compartment by opening the doors.

"My, my, would you look in here. If it isn't the Mudblood, the Weasel and the wannabe Hero," Malfoy sneered in his trademark fashion.

"Get lost Malfoy, go and find someone who gives a damn, to listen to you and your nonsensical dribble," Ron said adding under his breath, "you twitchy little white ferret."

Ron was incredibly annoyed by the blond boy's presence.

"Indeed Malfoy, go spoil someone else's air with your ranting," added Hermione.

Harry got up out of his seat and moved to the compartment door.

"Goodbye Malfoy, hope I never see you again, maybe you'll enjoy the outside of the door for a change," he said coldly, as he closed the door in his face.

Ginny chuckled and returned to her copy of the Quibbler, which was upside down. Harry figured she was doing the Arithmancy riddle that was always included in the magazine. He watched as Sirius chased a chocolate frog around the compartment. The little marmoset had taken quite a liking to them and enjoyed hunting the sweet candy down.

At Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore had shown Alex and Max where their quarters were, they had spent the past two hours putting away their belongings into the closets, desks, bookshelves, and cabinets provided for them. In total, their quarters counted six rooms - the bedroom, the bathroom, two studies, a living area, and a kitchen. Since Orion preferred sleeping in front of fireplaces, they had made sure there were three available he could choose from; One in the living room, one in the bedroom, and a last one in the kitchen. They had expressly applied for a kitchen before they accepted Dumbledore's offer after all, they had spent fifteen years on their own. Alex and Max thoroughly enjoyed being on their own once in a while.

Right now, Orion was nowhere to be seen. He had wandered off shortly after their arrival at Hogwarts, but the Crofts weren't worried. They knew he would more then likely pop up somewhere around dinnertime, when his stomach would rule his actions. Alex and Max were wondering how the students would react to the Demiguises presence. Moreover, vice versa, how Orion would react to that flood of new people to meet.

Alex hoped she wouldn't have to get up every morning to calm down students, who almost had heart attacks because of Orion's unique personal wake up call. She had lovingly named it the stare and scream technique, after Orion's encounter with Snape.

*****

Orion had left his humans and sauntered through deserted corridors and empty hallways, down huge marble staircases and up rickety wooden ones. Exploring his new territory was of the utmost importance, but when he picked up a familiar scent, he was temporarily distracted and walked towards its emitter.

He walked totally undisturbed and calmly into the private office of Professor Severus Snape, who was in the process of making the final additions to the Wolfsbane potion he had been commissioned to make for the Order. Orion felt a slight tingling, as he walked in between the doorposts and a distant voice saying, "turn around immediately, you have no business here." However, Orion paid it no heed.

It was a good thing that Orion had been so quiet, or Snape might have had to start all over again. When he did see the Demiguise, he knocked over his only container of Monkshood - the final ingredient to this difficult to brew potion, which had to be added in a purified state. The heap of powder now found on the floor amid shards of glass had become worthless.

Snape drove Orion out of the room, feeling terribly annoyed that he had let the animal get the better of him for a second time. He could have sworn that its attitude exuded amusement at his actions.

Orion didn't mind being driven out of the Potions Masters' office, because soon afterwards he picked up an even more interesting smell. The smell of food, which led him straight though the maze of corridors and hallways, to the Great Hall for a late lunch together with his humans, Professor Dumbledore, McGonagall, Flitwick and Hagrid. He grabbed himself a banana, an apple and a slice of bacon off the table and sat down in between the chairs to eat in peace.

Alex and Max were enjoying the company and were talking to their neighbours. When Orion walked into the Hall, the other Professors fell quiet.

"Ah yes everyone, I forgot to mention that the Crofts had found themselves a very peculiar pet. Allow me to introduce 'Orion', our new resident Demiguise," Professor Dumbledore said.

"You call that a peculiar pet Albus?" said Professor McGonagall adding under her breath, "Well at least its not a dragon." Glancing over at Hagrid.

Alex and Max spent the rest of lunch explaining why Orion was living with them...

When it started to get dark outside, Hermione and Ginny forced the boys to leave the compartment, to change into their robes, ordering them to do the same. Fifteen minutes later or so, the Hogwarts Express rolled into Hogsmeade station.

The voice of their good friend Hagrid was booming across the platform, "Firs' years an' transfer students follow me! Firs' years an' transfer students this way...!"

Harry waved at him, while leaving the platform following in the footsteps of Ron and Hermione, who were steadily heading for one of the Thestral drawn carriages. Harry wondered if they saw the skeletal horses now too, after the whole ordeal at the Ministry before the summer. If they did, they didn't show it. Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny shared a carriage, which was soon rattling its way up the road to Hogwarts Castle itself.

When the line of carriages grinded to a halt, the collective student body rushed its way through the giant entrance doors to the castle, hurrying through the hallway towards the Great Hall. Where they settled down at their house tables impatiently awaiting the arrival of the first years, and the transfer students that had generated quite some excitement. Hogwarts didn't usually accept transfer students, and this year no less than fifteen students of different ages from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons had requested transfers to Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft.

*****

The murmuring in the Great Hall fell silent when Professor McGonagall opened the entrance doors to enable the new students' entry. It was a very different view compared to previous years. Not only the little first years, Harry thought he even saw a few possible sixth and seventh years. Harry waved at Hagrid, who had now taken his seat at the Head table next to two new professors. He was wondering who would be the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, when Professor McGonagall brought in the three-legged stool and the ragged Sorting Hat.

The Hat opened the ragged tear that represented its mouth and started to sing. The transfer students looked at it with concern and excitement, wondering what had possessed a person to enable a hat to speak.

"Hear me! O students, teachers, and all. Hear me!

For another year has come.

A year of toil and trouble,

Which we will surely regret double.

"Head my warning,

Twice spoken now.

Without learning,

That if within you there is a row.

You will be defeated,

However, if you stand united.

All the houses of Hogwarts one,

Any enemy you face will soon be gone.

"I sort you into houses,

Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin,

Houses great and none alike,

Do not take their protective walls as dividing lines,

Gryffindor, the mighty and brave,

Hufflepuff, the loyal and true,

Ravenclaw, the witty and resourceful,

Slytherin, the cunning and the secretive.

"For one more year will I sort,

For I foresee a time when there will be no need,

For there will be nought

For me too sort

"If inner quarrel is not resolved

If you all continue to stumble

Over petty differences of no concern

The walls of Hogwarts will surely crumble."

An audible sigh resounded through the hall when the Hat finished his song, and murmurs popped up throughout discussing the ominous message it had delivered yet again. Hermione, the ever watchful, had even copied the song down on a piece of parchment; she was hoping that the predictions the Hat had made would not come true.

Professor McGonagall, trying to turn the attention of the students away from the rather disturbing song, called out the name of the first student to be sorted, "Evander Burns." He became a Ravenclaw. By the time all the first years had been sorted, Gryffindor had gained eleven new students, Ravenclaw gained nine, Hufflepuff twelve and Slytherin gained only seven new students.

Professor McGonagall then turned to introduce the first of the transfer students. Emma Darmalion, a third year transferee of Beaux-Batons, became a Slytherin. Harry lost his interest in the sorting very soon and was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the food. He only looked up when hearing the Hat shout "Gryffindor", which actually happened quite often. Out of the fifteen transferees, eight students became new Gryffindors, including two sixth year and two seventh years.

Slytherin only got that one extra student, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw both got three, and then the Hat was left alone on his stool. While Professor McGonagall carried it out of the hall, Professor Dumbledore stood up at the Head table and said, "I am sure you are all hungry, so I won't boar you with speeches now. Let's eat!"

Next thing, the tables were bending from the weight of all the food that had been heaped on. The house-elves had really outdone themselves this time....

*****

When all the golden plates were empty again, and everyone's belly's had been stuffed -not even Ron could say 'cow', Professor Dumbledore rose again.

"Welcome all, to another year at Hogwarts School for Wizardry and Witchcraft. It is a great sight to see so many new students here this year, as it is wonderful to welcome all of our long timers back again. To the transfer students among us: do not be afraid to ask questions to your dorm mates or prefects. They will surely be glad to assist in any way and explain how everything at Hogwarts works.

"I am also pleased to announce that this years Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Alexandra Croft. Professor Croft is accompanied here at Hogwarts by her husband Professor Maximilian Croft. He will be taking over the some of the teaching responsibilities for Professors McGonagall and Snape. I am very pleased to have them here; hopefully they will remain Professors here for many years to come.

"Give them a welcoming applause everyone..."

The Professor encouraged the students, as the two new staff members rose from their chairs and the clapping, that started tentatively grew to a roaring noise. The Gryffindor table was cheering and howling the loudest of them all.

"As it is late, and I am sure many of you are already falling asleep right here on your seats, I will not keep you for much longer. A good night to all of you and a fresh start for all of you in the morning."

The Hall erupted into a roaring applause and then started to get up and leave. The first years, which were totally exhausted, went first, following the prefects who called for the first years and the transfer students to join them, showing them the way to the dorms.

*****

Harry walked up to the Fat Lady and whispered the new password 'firefly' at her, the portrait swung open to reveal the welcoming common room that was mostly deserted. A fire was burning in the large fireplace and was adding a homely feeling to the room, a sensation that was incredibly welcoming to all students, whether they were new or not. Harry climbed the stairs to his dorm, which now had a plaque saying ' Sixth Years' attached to the door.

A sixth four-poster bed had been added to the room, to accommodate the new sixth year boy, who as soon as Harry walked through the door, introduced himself, "Milan Bourdean, nice to meet you."

Harry replied, "Harry Potter, same here." He extended his hand towards the new boy.

"Harry Potter, the Harry Potter? You are the Boy-Who-Lived, that Harry Potter?" Milan uttered very impressed by this world famous person standing in front of him.

Harry thought to himself, 'Oh no, not another one of those hero worshippers, please God, not another Colin Creevey,' and said as a jest, "Yes, that Harry Potter, but do you mind I'm trying to remain incognito, low profile you know."

"Yes, yes off course, I won't say a word," he other boy swore, a very serious look on his face.

"Hey hold it, oh man you're serious. Well, I wasn't, it was just a joke. It is not like I could've kept that secret for long at Hogwarts anyway. I'm just a normal person, no different from you. Don't you dare treat me any different," Harry added with a huge smile on his face.

Maybe the new boy wouldn't be so bad after all.

Chapter Nine, Overseers and Under-Achievers

British term for a fight or an argument