SpellBound

(3rd P.O.V)

Finally arriving at Hogsmeade station, all the students came gushing out of the train like water. Soon enough it was empty, with only the driver left. Izaya and his friends hopped on one of the carriages pulled by Thestrals. Out of the group, Izaya so far was the only one who could see them. In all honesty, he was sort of intimidated by them. The rest of them didn't even know about the winged horses, so the teen kept quiet. Around six carriages behind were Draco and his gang.

"Who do you think are the new Prefects for Slytherin?" questioned Shiki, who was a Prefect himself.

"Aren't you one of the people who chooses the prefects?" Kadota stared at Shiki, who shook his head. "No, that's the Head Prefect's job."

"I was certain Izaya-kun would've been chosen..." Shinra mused, putting a hand on his chin.

"Nah, he's too quiet." Akabayashi pointed at the ravenette. "Just look at him now. Even around friends he doesn't talk."

"It's rude to point." Izaya stated. "And I do talk. I'm speaking right now, aren't I~?"

"Still! Even if you talk it's normally to insult someone or because you've been asked a question in class!" The red-head folded his arms and huffed. The teen shrugged his shoulders and started to watch the Thestrals pull the cariages, listening to the sound of their hooves. Soon enough, they were passing through the entrance gates to Hogwarts. The iron gates were as black as ever, the boar gargoyles looming above. The sound of hooves hitting cold stone resided as they pulled up at the entrance of the huge castle. Akabayashi stretched as he got out of the carriage, nearly hitting Kadota in the face, who frowned.

"Finally!" Shinra cheered and adjusted his glasses. "I'll be able to see my beloved Celty once more!"

"You still visit that thing?" the Red Demon of the school asked, incredulous. "It's just a stupid shadow monster."

"She is not a monster! Her name is Celty and she is a dullahan, as well as my one true love!" the brunette declared proudly, making a few other students roll their eyes. You get used to hearing his declarations after a year or so. After entering the castle and escaping the chilly air outside, they walked through the Entrance Hall. All of them then filed into the Great Hall and sat at their respected tables. As usual, the Hall was ablaze with torches and the ceiling was a starless night. The candles that floated around the table provided more than enough light. The house ghosts were wandering around the Hall, either greeting some students or talking among themselves.

Izaya, Akabayashi and Shiki trailed off to the Slytherin table while Shinra and Kadota split to their house tables. As they sat down Malfoy and his gang sat right in front of them. Blaise Zabini, Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy accompanied him, Pansy clinging to the blonde's arm. Shiki and Akabayashi started a conversation on their studies while Izaya tried to ignore the others, who were bickering. He gazed at over to the long staff table to see who was the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. His auburn eyes found a plump, mousey-haired woman who was wearing all pink that made his eyes hurt. The lady was wearing a false smile and was seated beside Professor Snape.

'She sort of resembles a toad...' The black-haired teen mused, staring a bit longer before looking away.

"That's Dolores Umbridge." Draco's voice cut in. Izaya blinked at the boy, wondering how he knew. "She works in the Ministry of Magic." Malfoy continued. "My father told me that Fudge thinks that Hogwarts needs a little supervision. So he sent Umbridge to deal with it." He scoffed. "In all honesty, I think he's right. I mean, who lets a bloody oaf teach Care for Magical Creatures? I'm just glad Professor Grubbly-Plank is replacing the twit." He cocked his head to where the 'supposed oaf' was meant to be sitting. In his place was indeed the Professor. The chatter in the Hall died down as the First-years entered, led by Professor McGonagall. She was carrying a stool with the Sorting Hat a top of it, which looked as frayed and worn as ever. The First-years lined up in front of the staff table while the Professor placed the stool in front of them, and then stepped back. Silence was listening to silence as the whole Hall waited. The hat's brim opened and exploded into song:

"In times of old when I was new
And Hogwarts barely started
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted:
United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning,
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
'Together we will build and teach!'
The four friends decided
And never did they dream that they
Might some day be divided,
For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there and so can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale
Said Slytherin, 'We'll teach just those
Whose ancestry is purest.'
Said Ravenclaw, 'We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest.'
Said Gryffindor, 'We'll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name,'
Said Hufflepuff, 'I'll teach the lot,
And treat them all the same.'
These differences caused little strife
When first they came to life,
For each of the four founders had
A house in which they might
Take only those they wanted, so,
For instance, Slytherin
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning, just like him, And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor.
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest, And taught them all she knew,
Thus the houses and their founders
Retained friendships firm and true.
So Hogwarts worked in harmony
For several happy years,
But then discord crept among us
Feeding on our faults and fears.
The houses that, like pillars four,
Had once held up the school,
Now turned upon each other and,
Divided, sought to rule.
And for a while it seemed the school
Must meet an early end,
What with duelling and with fighting
And the clash of friend on friend
And at last there came a morning
Where old Slytherin departed
And though the fighting then died out
He left us quite downhearted. And never since the founders four
We're whittled down to three
Have the houses been united
As they once were meant to be.
And now the Sorting Hat is here
And you all know the score:
I sort you into houses
Because that is what I'm for,
But this year I'll go further,
Listen closely to my song:
Though condemned I am to split you
Still I worry that it's wrong,
Though I must fulfill my duty
And must quarter every year
Still I wonder whether Sorting
May not bring the end I fear.
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
The warning history shows, For our Hogwarts is in danger
From external, deadly foes
And now we must unite within her
Or we'll crumble from within
I have told you, I have warned you...
Let the sorting now begin."

A round of applause echoed throughout the Great Hall but there was quite a lot few whispers and murmurs. Professor McGonagall was giving sharp glares to the students who we're muttering under their breaths.

"Well, the Sorting Hat went on this year." Blaise smirked. "Stupid, if ya ask me. Dunno about you, but I'm starving."

Draco rolled his eyes. "All I really care about is the Durmst-"

"That's all you talked about on the way here." Pansy exclaimed, finally letting go of his arm. "I can't wait to see what he looks like! I wonder if he's good a Quidditch? Blah, blah blah, blah. Seriously!" the girl imitated Draco's voice, and folded her arms. The teen frowned.

"Real mature, Pansy."

"Well right now, I want to know if Pansy here has won your heart Malfoy~. It certainly seems so when you came to our compartment in the train~." Izaya smirked at the look of shock and hatred from Draco and at how the Parkinson girl perked up at those words.

"Did he really talk about me?! What did he say?!" the female teen squealed, Izaya trying not to wince at the noise. "Oh, nothing much~." the ravenette said casually, examining a few strands of his hair. "Just that his parents were planning a marriage for the two of you~."

"Orihara..." Draco fumed. "I will personally stu-"

The chatter once again ceased as the Head of Gryffindor started calling out the First-years for Sorting. Izaya started trying to guess who went in which house. It was the only entertaining thing to do, after all. The first one was a boy called Euan Abercrombie, who was Sorted into Gryffindor. Slowly but surely, the long line of First-years diminished, finishing off with a girl being Sorted into Hufflepuff. For some reason, the Sorting Hat was not put away and Izaya noticed Professor Flitwick was nowhere in sight (not that you could see him leave the Hall when it was full of people). Dumbledore rose from his seat and stood at the eagle stand. Everyone looked at him with confused looks. He waited for a few moments.

"I am truly sorry about the delay but, we have another student who is running a bit late." Dumbledore was beaming his brilliant smile with his arms spread. Some whispers were soon shut down as he began to speak. The Charms teacher came rushing back into the room, huffing and panting. It looked quite amusing. He then spoke frantically to Dumbledore, who nodded. As the small Professor hurried back to his chair. The Headmaster turned back to the crowd.

"It seems he has arrived." A glint of mirth shone in his eyes. "This year we have a transfer from Durmstrang joining us." A few gasps from the students we're uttered. Dumbledore put up his hand up to silence them.
"He will be attending Fifth-year. As much as you welcome the First-years, please welcome Shizuo Heiwajima!"

'A Japanese name' Izaya thought as a small applause ensued. A tall, blonde-haired male walked in. He was wearing a plain white shirt and a pair of black trousers. His eyes were a mocha brown and his facial expression looked bored. Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on his head as he reached the staff table. He faced the audience with an uninterested gaze as he scanned the sea of faces. His eyes locked with Izaya's for a second but the blonde resumed looking around. In that second, interest had peaked inside of the smaller teen. 'I need to get to know him, I was right to think it would be an interesting year' he smirked as he sat back.

"GRYFFINDOR!!!"

The Hat's shout echoed around as a large cheer from the Gryffindor table soon followed. Izaya sighed unhappily. Now it was going to be slightly harder to get to know the mocha-eyed teen. Maybe he'd get Dota-chin to talk to him.

"Well, now we have Sorted our new student, you all must be hungry so, tuck in!" Food appeared on the plates in front of them as Dumbledore finished his sentence and walked back to his place at the table. The Hall was filled with chatter once more.

"Well, whatever I was expecting, I didn't expect him to look like that. Not that he's bad looking!" He said hurriedly when the rest of them stared at him. "He's Japanese like you guys, right?" Draco attempted weakly, trying to change the subject.

"Yeah, his name means 'Peaceful Island'" the older male said, taking a load of potato mash and dumping it on his plate. "Never thought I'd see him again, right Shiki?"

Izaya was surprised. They know this guy? "You guys know him?" he inquired, taking a bit of chicken.

"Not personally." Shiki replied. "But this idiot here got into a fight with him."

"Oi!"

"So, you like, bullied him." Pansy said, clearly disgusted. "That's not very nice."

"I wouldn't say we bullied him..." Shiki looked over to the Red Demon, smirking as he twirled a bit of spaghetti around his fork. "It was something stupid that Aka was pissed about. He ended up trying to take it out on Heiwajima. He was lucky enough to only have a broken arm and a few cracked ribs."

"Don't call me Aka."

"So 'Aka' beat the kid." Malfoy stated. "What did he ever do?"

"Other way round, Malfoy. Poor Aka, one punch sent him flying. Well I guess he got what he deserved."

"He fucking PUNCHED me and I went flying! How does that work?!" Akabayashi was now furious. "I mean he was such a skinny little shit! A punch isn't meant to fling people into the air like they're ragdolls!"

"I have to agree on that one. Thing is, he isn't normal. He always stayed away from other kids or other kids ran away from him. I wouldn't have thought he was a wizard, though." And with that, Shiki and Akabayashi resumed eating, Akabayashi now thoroughly pissed.

"Well, that was a cool story." Draco said, finally grabbing some food. Izaya wasn't listening though, he was observing the new blonde over at the Gryffindor table. Even though he was in the middle, the male seemed separated from the rest.

"Heiwajima Shizuo, who could you be?"

_______________to be continued...