Harry Potter and the Prince of the Enchanted Forest

Chapter 2

In Which Cats Get Sorted

"What's going on?" Morwen asked. She picked up the card and made a face. "Oh my, of all the . . . ARGELFRASTER!!" The wizard on the card started to shrink. He dropped his staff and looked down at himself. Before he disappeared from view, he shook a threatening fist at Morwen.

Ron stared at her. "You killet hid?!" he said in amazement.

"I melted him. Unfortunately, it's not the same thing. He'll put himself together in a few days, but he won't . . . come . . . back . . .to . . . this . . . card!" With each word, Morwen gritted her teeth and tore the card up.

"Hey, we didn't even get to look at his stats!" Harry cried.

"He's a wizard from my home, and he's long gone. A dragon ate him years ago. Something tells me that was a present from one of your enemies."

"Oh, great, someone's trying to kill me, again," Harry mumbled

"Well, actually, someone was trying to take all your magic. Don't worry; we won't let that happen."

"But by bas I sneesing?" Ron sniffed.

"You know, that was odd. The only other creatures I saw react to an absorbing spell with an allergy attack are dragons."

"Dragons? Dragons are ildeagald."

"Well--"

"Let's not switch subjects now," Hermione broke in. "You're saying that wizard in the card tried to steal Harry's magic?"

"Exactly. That staff he was holding absorbs any magic that happens to be nearby. Those who are born with magic find it quite uncomfortable."

"So, how do I get it back?" Harry asked.

"It'll grow back. We just need to make sure nobody takes way too much of your magic. Tell you what, to make reparation for that card, would you like some cider?"

"Oh, that's very nice of you to offer, but--"

Harry stopped as he saw Morwen pull out a whole jug of cider out of her robe's sleeve as well as three glasses. She casually poured a glass and handed it to Harry. "That is one handy spell," said Ron (he got over his allergy attack finally). "We've got to learn it!"

"Calm down, dear. I'll teach it to all of you in time. Right now, let's relax and just chat."

Harry took a sip and was amazed at the tangy, fizzy taste. "Wow! This is better than Butterbeer!"

"Oh, thank you. That's quite a compliment. You'll be glad to know that it's not alcoholic."

Hermione took a sip as Morwen handed her a glass. "I got to have this recipe!"

"Yeah, Mom would want it too," Ron said.

"Well, it is a family secret, but since I'm--well, I think I could give it to you. Would you like it too, Harry?"

"No, thank you. The Durseleys would never hear of it, and even if they did, they would give it all to Dudley."

"Oh, I think I understand."

"So, how did you're cat get that unusual coat?" Hermione asked.

"Oh that's Genie. She's just a kitten. She chased a butterfly around the house and knocked over a glass bottle of magic pink smoke. She just sat in the middle of it, and most of it stuck to her coat. My husband was pretty angry, but I thought it was interesting. She looked a lot like a genie being summoned from a bottle, so I named her Genie."

"Oh, you're married now?" Immediately, Hermione clamped a hand over her mouth, with a look saying, "Why did I ask that?"

"Yes. In fact, I'm married to one of your teachers, Telemain the Magician."

"Magician?" Ron said wrinkling his nose. "They're letting a magician teach at Hogwarts?"

"Why? What's wrong with that, young man?"

"Well, I don't mean any disrespect, but . . ." Ron leaned back and sighed. "My father has told me about magicians. They're false wizards. They claim to know magic, but they only perform tricks and illusions. Of course he sees them as poorly misguided Muggles, but nearly everybody else in the wizard community says they're a disgrace to our heritage and our power."

"Well, aren't there any wizards that pass as Muggle magicians?" Harry suggested.

"Yes, but it's really rare. Most wizards and witches won't stoop that low."

Hermione gave an exasperated sigh. "Honesty, you boys never read." She pulled out The Magic Behind Magic and turned to the first few pages. "It starts off with a definition, which is consistent with the definition in my technical dictionary. I quote, 'Magician. Derived from Greek word "Magus." An individual who devotes his/her life to the study of the plethora of facets that embody thaumaturgy.'"

"Say what?" Ron cried. Harry also looked confused.

Morwen just laughed. "He talks like that all the time."

"It means he studies many different types of magic," Hermione said in a you-idiots-should-know-this voice. "He claims wizards only know one type of magic. Personally, I disagree. We've all learn different types of magic at Hogwarts. But you see why this is an advanced course."

"Oh yeah," Ron nodded.

"And we actually were talking about that the other day," Morwen added. "He actually thinks you're like mini-magicians. Of course, he's aware what magician means to you so he won't say it to the class. Wizards are completely different us where we're from."

"So, do you have any children who will be students with us?" Harry asked.

"Oh no. Telemain and I have been married for only about five years. We don't have any kids yet. Telemain's very busy, and he says he's not quite ready yet. So, my cats are my children."

Genie was sniffing at the Every Flavor Beans.

"No, no, Genie, those aren't for you," Morwen said picking up the kitten.

"Mew," Genie replied softly.

"Are you sure? Alright, but just that one." Genie jumped down and nibbled at one gray jellybean. "She says it's sardine flavored."

"How does she know?" Ron asked.

"Cats are strange like that," Morwen said, shrugging.

"So, where exactly are you from?" Harry asked.

"Now, there's a long story."

"We got time." Ron said.

Immediately, the train pulled in to the front of Hogwarts. "Me and my big mouth," Ron muttered.

As everyone got off, they saw Daystar waiting at the train station. He held two kittens in his arms, one with gray stripes and white paws, and the other had several black spots on its gray coat. Genie sauntered over to him. "Hey guys!" he called to the trio. "Have a fun trip on the train?"

Several students saw Daystar as well. "Hey, it's that guy who did that spell!" They crowded him and asked him all kinds of questions. He acted coolly, though.

"How'd I do it? Well, the best person to ask really is Telemain. He's over there." Everybody looked over and saw Hermione talking to a man in a dark black beard, a multicolored robe, and a vest with lots of pockets. He also wore five rings on each finger. As he talked, a book Hermione was holding was rapidly turning pages by itself. It must have been her dictionary. Everyone ran over towards Telemain, except for Ron and Harry.

"Hi, Daystar. How was your talk with Dumbledore?" Harry asked.

"It went well."

Hermione caught up with them. "Wow, that dictionary did came in handy. Morwen was right, he does talk like that all the time. Telemain was an amazing guy to talk to, though. I'm sure I'll get used to it."

"So, how did Daystar do it?"

"You know, I got an answer, and I didn't at the same time. Telemain essentially said he helped put the spell together, along with Daystar's father, Dumbledore, and several other professors, but I didn't quite catch how it worked."

Daystar sighed. "Well, I guess I can tell you guys. I have a sixth sense for magic."

"You can see magic?" Harry gasped.

"No, I can't see it; I'm just aware of it. I can feel it, and hear it a little bit. I sense it so well, my brain can decipher the pattern. For instance, Hogwarts over there is blanketed with a net and shielded by an egg-like structure."

"That must be the spell that blocks out Muggle magic," Hermione said.

"It probably is. Anyhow, since I can sense magic, I can use it directly. It's an ability that makes me as powerful as ten wizards."

"Then what's you're point in coming here?"

"Well, I have more than one reason, but probably the biggest one is, there is always more to learn."

Hagrid's voice hollered out, "Firs' years! All firs' years over here! No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid continued. "Hey, Daystar! These all yer kittens?"

"They're Morwen's actually, and they're first years, too."

"They're swayt, they are. Right, get 'n the boat!"

Harry and his friends joined the upperclassmen getting in the coaches heading for the Great Hall. Peeves was waiting for the coming students, pranks ready. Something, oddly enough, made him stop short as he saw the new students. "'Ello, what's this?" He flew down right in front of Genie. "'Ey, Bubble Gum."

"Mrow, EEEEEEEEYOW!"

"Genie! Neat. I always wanted to be a genie; never got passed the board, though. Genies have such a fun nature. So, what's your real form?"

"Meow."

"Oh, I see. Well, if that's it, that's fine. Say, you want to make some mischief later?"

Genie nodded.

"Great! See you then!" With that he floated away.

"Well well well, Genie," Daystar said rubbing her fur. "You made a new friend already."

Soon, all the students made it to the Great Hall, and the Sorting began with the yearly Sorting Hat Song:

Everyone applauded, but Daystar looked uncertain. It seemed like he didn't know if he should trust this judge. "We're going to listen to a hat?" he said to himself.

Then, Prof. McGonagall called out names of all the new students. Around the beginning of the list, she called out simply "Daystar!"

Daystar sat on the stool and put the Sorting Hat slowly on his brow, as if it were a crown. "GRYFFINDOR!!!!! BY ALL MEANS, GRYFFINDOR!!!!!!!!!!!!" There was a loud cheer from the Gryffindor table. Daystar walked toward the table and slapped a high five with Ron and Harry. "Uh, milord, I don't necessarily need to come with you," said a voice. Then Daystar realized he was still wearing the Sorting Hat.

"Oh, sorry." He took it off and gave it to Prof. McGonagall. The Sorting went on as normal until--

"Fflam, Flewddur."

The gray-striped kitten ran up to the stool. Some people laughed, but most were too confused. The hat nearly covered his whole body. "HUFFLEPUFF!!!"

The kitten, without an utterance, ran up to the Hufflepuff table. Many were asking if he was an animagus, but he didn't answer.

"Genie."

Harry and his friends knew what was about to happen, but everybody else was unprepared. They couldn't believe a pink kitten was being sorted! Genie perched on the stool, but before Prof. McGonagall could place the hat on her head, Genie hissed and brandished her claws.

"N-n-n-nice kitty," the Sorting Hat said softly. Genie hissed again, and he said, "All right, all right, GRYFFINDOR!!!"

Genie held her head high and walked for the Gryffindor table. Daystar shook his finger when she came over. "Naughty girl, cheating on the Sorting like that!"

"Yow," Genie answered.

"Well, it may be that important to you, but that doesn't make it right!"

"How do you know how to talk to cats?" Ron asked.

"Oh, Morwen taught me that spell already."

Near the end of the list was the final cat. "Wachoo!"

Everyone giggled at the cat's unusual name, but they stopped in wonder as he leapt from the line straight onto the stool. He turned to the students and bowed his head, but few people applauded. They must have feared he had problems or something.

As the sorting hat covered the cat's body. The Sorting Hat looked in deep thought, considering what he saw almost the same way when Harry was sorted. Suddenly, the hat started bouncing around. "Stay still!" the Hat cried. "Right, I guess the best would be SLYTHERIN!!!!"

Harry looked uncomfortably at Morwen. If she could talk to cats, why would she have one in Slytherin? He watched as Wachoo walked over to the Slytherin table and situated himself next to Goyle and Malfoy. Goyle tried to pet the kitten, but Wachoo leapt over his face and started jumping around the table. Morwen went over and reprimanded her kitten, but Harry was already in giggles, as was much of the school. Wachoo was certainly going to be the Slytherin weirdo.

The Sorting was soon over, and the Grand Feast was served. Dumbledore made his usual speech, instructing the First Years not go into the Forbidden Forest and other general rules. Then he got to new business. "And now something of interest to everyone. We are indeed honored to have our first ever Honors Program here at Hogwarts. Many of our regular teachers are going to teach those with the highest marks some of the most advanced courses. We are also grateful to have two first time teachers to join us. Telemain is going to teach Magic Theory in our Honor's Program, and his wife Morwen is our new Defense of the Dark Arts teacher."

"MORWEN'S TEACHING?!" Harry, Ron, and Hermione said together.

"She didn't tell you?" Daystar replied. "She's anxious about teaching magic; it has been her secret dream. She couldn't wait to get started."

"That's wonderful," Hermione said.

After the feast, they all went to the dorms. Now, Fred and George Weasley had planned to use their Weasley Wheezes to play pranks on the first years. During the Sorting, they decided to make Daystar their target, but they didn't know that Harry and the others were friends with Daystar.

"Hey sir, you dropped your wand!" Fred called.

Daystar turned and looked at it. "Thank you, but that's not my wand. In fact, I think that's your--" He made a twisting motion with his fingers around the wand, and it turned into a "--rubber chicken."

Several students laughed at the backfired prank. Fred just stared with a sheepish expression mouthing, "How'd he know?"

George ran up to him. "Hey there! I made some welcoming pudding for the first years. You, being the oldest, are free to have the first taste."

Daystar looked closely at the pudding. "Do me a favor, would you? Put it some place cool and save it for me. I think I'd prefer to be a bird another day."

George stared at Daystar as he walked up to the dormitory. "Um, ok, thank you," he stammered.

"That Daystar is something else, isn't he?" Harry commented.