Harrikles

Shaking his head, Harry felt the memories fade back into his mind as he refocused on the present and his friends. “Hey Harrikles, how are your classes going?” Ron asks. “Well Iolair, the only ones that are truly struggling are the first years, 5th and 7th years. But that's normal this close to the beginning of the school year.” As Harry went on in more detail Hermione and Draco showed up just as their food and drinks were delivered to the table. “Hey everyone! Sorry it took us so long. Katash has some last minute reassurance to do for a case of his and I had a meeting run later than I wanted.” Hermione babbled on as she and Draco took their seats. “Hey Honey, Katash. We placed our orders not too long ago. Yours included. Iolair should be going to collect them soon?” Harry said with a smile as Ron left to go get their lunch with a mock glare on his face. Coming back with food, the small group chat about their new lives and jobs as well as talk about the chaos they wrecked during their school days. “How is Sirius and Remus Harry?” Ron asks. “Good. The new version of Wolfsbane is out and, according to Remus, there is less pain than when he was teaching 3rd year.” Harry explained. “I have news about the Rat. He is due for the Kiss in a week.” Ron piped up after catching Pettigrew for the final time. At the mention of the rat, Harry started to remember when Pettigrew was first found.

*September 1st came and it was time to go to the train station. “Hurry up Harrison! We need to leave in 10 minutes if you want to get to the train in time!” Petunia called up to Harry. Collecting last minute things, was running around his room tossing the very last pair of socks in his trunk and started heading down the stairs. “I’ve got it all packed Aunt Petunia!” Harry said as he clambered down the stairs with his trunk thudding loudly behind him. Looking over at Harry, seeing he was not in his robes, dressed in a graphic tee of Grunnings (of all places), jean pants, generic tennis shoes and a ball cap to help hide the scar leftover from that night even though it has faded from getting it dealt with from the goblins.

Once he was downstairs and his belongings were at the door, Harry made his way to the kitchen to grab something for breakfast before they left. “Nope. We are going to be late if we don’t leave the house now. Your aunt packed you food.” Vernon said as he turned his nephew around and herded him out the door. Stopping by a McDonalds for a quick breakfast, the small family made their way to Kings Cross Station and saw two familiar faces in the crowd of commuters.

“SIRIUS!!! REMUS!!! You were able to make it!!! Are you gonna help us get through the portal?” Harry rattled off in rapid fire as he ran over to his godfathers (Or as Sirius would say dogfathers). Laughing at the wild and highly energetic preteen, Sirius says “Yes Harry. I know Petunia knows which pillar holds the portal but she, Vernon and Dudley will need our help to get through it. Why don’t you take Dudley with you through the portal and Remmy and I will help the adults?” Nodding, Harry takes Dudley’s hands and places them next to his on his trolley and they start to run toward the pillar. “Close your eyes but keep running as we get closer.” Harry whispered to Dudley as they started to run towards the portal in the pillar.

Running towards the portal, Dudley shut his eyes just before they “hit” the wall. Mentally counting the steps till they crashed and when he met that number and didn’t feel anything but a small tingle, Dudley opens his eyes and sees a magnificent scarlet red Great Western Railway 4900 Class 5972 Olton Hall steam locomotive with the golden lettering Hogwarts Express painted on the side of the engine. Walking off to the side and turning around to wait for the adults, looking up Dudley sees a small placard with a bold numbering of 9 ¾. In just a couple of seconds after the boys went through, Remus and Vernon came through and two seconds after them was Sirius and Petunia.

 Both of the adults, especially Petunia for when Lily was going off to school, were in awe of the beautiful train and the magic that created space for such a momentous occasion for all young wixen who go to Hogwarts. “All right Harry, time to give hugs and go find a compartment. If I had a copy of our Map I would give that to you. Hell, if I could find your dad’s copy I would give that to you. But oh well, so you have your family’s Cloak?” Sirius asked and said. Nodding Harry and his small party all climb aboard on the train to help put the trunk up in an empty compartment as well as explore for, possibly their only time to ever see something like this. Finding the compartment once again Dudley starts to remind Harry about sending letters to him during the year as well as to Petunia and Vernon. “You are coming home for the holidays right?” Dudley demanded. “Yes, Dad. I’ll be home for the holidays.” Harry nodded with fond exasperation and sarcasm at his cousin as they went back to the platform to say goodbye to the parents/guardians.

Walking over to the adults, Harry gives hugs to Vernon, Sirius, Remus and finally Petunia with all eyes glistening with tears that have yet to fall from all members of the small party. “Stay safe my little King. Write always and behave for all of your professors. Get to Sev if you feel unsafe.” Petunia said softly when Harry gave her a hug as a family of red-heads came barreling through the portal and started rushing to get on the train in time. “Yes auntie. I’ll write to all of you tonight after the sorting, as well throughout the rest of the year. I promise. See you all during the winter holidays.” Harry said as he ran to the train and the compartment his stuff was at.

Taking a seat and closing the door, Harry relaxes for a few moments before a knock on the door causes him to jump in his seat. “Come on in!” He calls out to the person on the other side of the door. Seeing a red-head poke his head in and ask, “Is there room in here? I’m also trying to run away from my older brothers.” Nodding Harry let the other boy in and helped him put his trunk up in the storage compartment.

Once the trunk was up and stored away both boys sat down on the opposite benches. A few awkward moments passed before the red-head spoke. “My name is Ron. Ron Weasley, and my patron deity is Athena for her battle wisdom and strategies. Oh and this is Scabbers.” Ron added as a rat’s head popped up from his hiding space in Ron’s breast pocket. Once seeing Harry and smelling Sirius on him, Scabbers squeaked out in fear and dove back into the pocket. “Odd. That is the most energy I have ever seen him use. Oh well. I’m sorry, but what did you say your name is?” Ron asked. “I didn’t introduce myself before your pet came out. I’m Harry. Harry Potter. And what do you mean by patron goddess?”

With that question in the air, Ron went on to talk about how many wixen worship the old pantheons. Greek, Roman, Norse and Celtic. Those are the ones he knows for sure, but some muggle born worship the Judean-Christian God and those are the ones who have the hardest time transitioning to the wixen culture. “In my family we have Hera, Loki for the twins and Athena. Hera for the whole family since she is the Greek goddess Queen of family, marriage and women. Loki is the trickster god and the Twins follow him along with Hera but mainly Loki. And I follow Athena. I actually have been blessed by her in strategic thinking. I’m the best chessmaster in my family, second only to my great uncle Billius. Who I won the family chess board from.” Nodding slowly, Harry understands a little bit and as Ron talks his understanding grows.

Having heard her patron goddess being spoken about, a young girl with a wild mane of hair burst into the compartment. “Who here was speaking about Athena? I will not have anyone talk bad about her!!” ”WHOA! Calm down! I’m praising her! Not speaking bad about her. Geez.” Ron exclaimed. “What’s your name by the way?” He asked politely, when he could practically hear his mom yell at him for the lack of manners. “Oh. I’m Hermion Granger. Blessed by both Athena and Hecate. Athena blessed me with wisdom and crafts. Hecate, because I have magic.”

Not quite hearing the two have a conversation, Harry started to feel off and faint. Not seeing the soft blue glow surrounding the compartment, all Harry was able to hear was the cries from Ron and Hermione. “HARRY/HERAKLES!” Something in Harry woke up at hearing the name Herakles, “Athena, please be quiet? My head is pounding and your screaming doesn’t help the pain.” Harry’s voice sounded like his own but not his own at the same time. “Herakles?” Hermione asked with some trepidation in her voice. “Now there’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time.” Harry murmured as Ron and Hermione helped him back into his seat that he had fallen out of when he fainted.

A knock at the door caused the three to look and in a moment freeze. “Can you open up please? I lost my toad and I want to see if he is in this compartment.” A timid voice called out Hermione being the closest one to the door, opened it up and revealed Neville. “Hey Aknuk, and the answer to your question is no. We haven’t seen a toad here. Maybe ask a prefect for help.” Harry said “My older brother is one. Head down the way you came from and knock on the 5th door. Ask for Percy and say Ron sent you for help.” Ron piped up as he gave directions to the Prefect compartment. “Thanks, and may I come back after getting Treavor, my toad?” Three heads all nodded in agreement.

Shortly after Neville came back with Treavor in his pocket, with a charm to keep him there as well as a cooling charm to keep the toad happy. The four fell into easy conversation and then the topic of houses came up. “I don’t know what house I’ll be in. My parents, godfather and one of my honorary uncles were in Gryffindor, but my second godfather is a Slytherin.” “Who’s the second godfather?” Ron asked, unknown to the small party a blond was hanging around the door, trying (and failing) not to eavesdrop “Severus Snape. He and my mum were best-friends and kinda adopted each other before they went to Hogwarts.” Draco burst into the compartment a little undignified and demanded “What do you mean your godfather is Severus Snape? He’s mine!!!” Causing the four to jump at the sudden intrusion of an irate Draco. “Just as I said, Uncle Severus is basically a brother to my mum and she made him my second godfather without his knowledge even though she tried to get in touch with him a few weeks before she did.”

Mouth hanging open at the revelation Draco quickly snapped out of his stupor and quickly asked “What were you talking about when I rudely burst in. I am truly sorry about that.” Ron was shocked that a Malfoy was apologizing to a Weasley, albeit he was apologizing to the whole compartment, but A Malfoy was NEVER nice to a Weasley. Seeing the shocked look on Ron’s face, Draco quickly understood what he was doing and had a similar look on his face. “You’re good Katash. May I introduce Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, aka Aknuk and I’m Harry Potter. Yes, THE Harry Potter. And, if you don’t mind my asking, what is your real name Katash?” “Oh Potter, don’t you remember. We met in Diagon Ally. At Madam Malkins.” Draco said with a haughty tone.

Recognition lit up in Harry’s eyes “Oh, You’re Draco Malfoy. I remember you. Briefly before I kinda blacked out. And before you came bursting in, we were talking about which houses we want to go into. Do you know which one you want to go to?” Scoffing, “A Malfoy always goes into Slytherin. As well as Blacks. Well, most Blacks go into Slytherin. Mum’s cousin Sirius went to Gryffindor.” Shaking her head, “Herakles asked which house YOU want to go into. Not what is expected of you.” Shrinking a little under the gaze of this small girl, who is starting to scare him and remind him of his mother as a powerful witch, “I don’t know which one I would like to go to. I only know what is expected of me. Maybe I’ll take a, what is the phrase, a page out of Sirius’ book? And go into Gryffindor.”

Nodding her head, Hermione said, “That is the right saying, ‘Taking a page out of someone else’s book’. And if you need help I’m sure this Sirius Black would be more than willing to help” Harry nodded in agreement about Sirius helping out. “I’ll write to him as well in the morning after we get sorted. That is if your parents throw a fit about your placement. I’m sure Uncle Severus won’t be mad. Considering I might go into that house as well. Ron, Hermione and Nev, which houses do you think you’ll go into?” Thinking it over for a small period of time, Ron pipes up, “Maybe Gryffindor or Slytherin. And I think that is just because of Athena blessing me with strategic thinking. So I can go either house, and I’m kinda in the same situation as Malfoy, Weasley’s are always a Gryffindor. But, I don’t know.” “Ravenclaw for me for sure.” Hermione claimed as-a-matter-of-factly. “I don’t know. Gran told me that dad and mum were in Gryffindor. But what if I feel better in a house like Hufflepuff? Gran would disown me.” “Well, I’m calling bull on that Nev. I know for a fact that your mum was a Hufflepuff. Uncles Remus and Severus and Sirius all claimed that Alice was a Hufflepuff. And that your dad was a Hufflepuff in Gryffindor colors. Loyal to a fault and hardworking. One of the better Aurors the Ministry ever had.”

Blinking like an owl for a few moments, a smile broke out of his face. “I think I’ll go into Hufflepuff then. To be like mum and dad.” A lull came through the compartment when Ron finally noticed how freaked out Scabbers was by how often Sirius Black came up in the conversation. “Scabbers, what is the matter? OUCH!!!! He bit me!!!!” “Did he have a missing toe?” Harry asked, the question seemed rather odd and came from left field. “Yeah. Plus he’s been in the family for years. Percy had him before I did.” “Ron, common brown garden rats only live for 3-4 years. Max. How long has Scabbers been in your family?” “About 10 years…That’s not a normal rat is he?” Heads shaking no as horror began to take a hold on Ron’s face. Bolting out the door to go see Percy, Ron looked a little green in the face as well. “PERCY!!!!! Do you know the spell to check if an animal is actually an animagus?” A shocked Percy goes over Ron takinging in the fact that Ron has almost never gone to him for help ever as well as the sick green coloring on his face. “Yes…why do you want to know Ronald?” “I think Scabbers is an animagus. Garden rats only live for about 3-4 years. Scabbers has been with our family for 10.”

The shock, horror and illness washed over Percy’s face as he whipped out his want and called out “Accio Scabbers!” Hearing a continuous squeak growing louder as the “rat” flew into Percy’s hands. Once Scabbers felt hands close around him and kept him still he tried to squirm out but was hit with a stunner before he could bite the hands and break free. “Gemma, can you please transfigure a cage for this rat? Gabe, can you cast a patronus and alert the professors that we have a stowaway?” Percy started commanding orders as he held a tight grip on the unconscious rat. Nodding the other two prefects that were sitting with Percy did as they were commanded in silence due to shock from the sudden revelation that the dearly loved rat that Percy adored until he became a prefect was held with such hatred and contempt. “Professors, we have an illegal animagus aboard the train as a rat. Please get a hold of the Aurors?” Gabriel Truman, the Hufflepuff male prefect in his 6th year, told his patronus of a dolphin and sent it on its way to warn the professors.

Keeping a constant eye on the “rat”, each prefect cast a stunner on him every time he started to stir. Once they reached the school, Sirius Black, Amelia Bones and a few of the professors were waiting at the station. As soon as the train came to a complete stop, Sirius stepped aboard and said “Point Me: Percy Weasley.” Following the small pulses from his wand as they grew stronger the closer he got to the rat till the point of his arm was starting to feel numb with how strong his wand was vibrating from the pulses of magic. Opening the compartment door, a flash of red that indicated a stunner was cast. Sirius flew the door open and saw the rat slump over as if he was stunned (Shocker!!) “Well done kids. Now I shall take that traitor off of your hands and Madam Bones and I shall make sure he gets his trial and punishment.” With a swish of his robes Sirius grabs the cage as he turns around and leaves the train.

All of the students who hadn't left the train were standing in the doorways in awe of watching an Auror at work. Shooting Harry and his small company a wink as the snarky Auror walked by with the pest locked away in a cage. Grinning as his dogfather left the train and showed the head of the DMLE the “rat” both turned on their heels and disapperated away and back to the Auror office at the Ministry of Magic. The first years and the rest of the students who were still aboard the train were carefully climbing off and headed towards the carriages for the second years and up while a thundering voice called out “Firs’ years! Over ‘ear!! Firs’ years!!” a towering man of 12 feet tall (but in reality only 8 feet and 6 inches) was holding a staff that held a lantern at the end, while the little eleven year olds all flocked toward the light like moths to a flame. “Alrigh’. Follow me and I’ll getcha to the school." The gentle giant led them to a dock where there was a small fleet of boats waiting for the new students to climb aboard and take them across the Black Lake. “Righ. No more ‘an four a boat. Everyone settled? Righ’ Forward!!” Hagrid called out to the boats when he saw that everyone was safe and secured. Coming up to a small earthen bridge Hagrid called out “WATCH YER HEADS!!!” As the little boats passed under and the students sat back up their eyes were drawn up to the great and majestic castle of Hogwarts.

After the small fleet had docked and the first years had made it to the antechamber outside the Great Hall. “‘Ere ya are ‘fessor. This year's newest students.” Hagrid said with pride as he gestured to the first years. “Thank you Hagrid. Head on in for the feast while I get the students all settled in.” Minerva McGonagall was a stern woman at school. Her no-nonsense attitude kept some of the more harmful pranks that were played in the school come to a halt during her tenure as Transfiguration Professor. “Welcome to Hogwarts,’ said Professor McGonagall. ‘The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room. ‘The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. ‘The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting.’ As McGonagall stepped through the doors to the Great Hall for a few moments to let students straighten robes, hair (Just not Harry. His hair was a hopeless case) and other things.

A few moments later McGonagall came back to collect the students. Once the students were in front of the platform where the head table was located at the fr with a ragged and old looking pointed hat. A rip near the brim of said hat opened and out came a wonderful song.

"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

A round of applause erupted in the hall when the song ended. McGonagall stepped up next to the stool and hat with a scroll in her hand. After opening it, she started calling out names in alphabetical order. Starting with an “Abbot, Hannah.” who was sorted into Hufflepuff and she went down the list, when she got to the G’s Hermione was practically vibrating with something while she stood next to Harry who quietly laughed at his new friend’s excitement. “Granger, Hermione”, the young girl basically ran up and sat down with great enthusiasm that made a small tittering of laughter from both teachers and students. As Hermione hoped was a calm and collected demeanor (it wasn’t) she climbed onto the platform and sat on the stool to be sorted. “Well, here is a mind that rivals Rowena in wisdom and knowledge. Rowena would come back and haunt me if I placed you in any other house. Best keep with your new friends alive with that wisdom and wit young lady. You and four others will change the world.” Aloud for the rest of the Hall could hear the hat call out “RAVENCLAW!!!” The table with the blue and bronze colored robes cheered loudly when a new student came to their house. Hermione happily skipped over to the table and sat down with a massive smile on her face.

Just a short time after Hermione was Sorted, Neville could feel a change in the air and was excited. “Longbottom, Neville”. Confidently Neville strode up to the stool and sat down and sat tall. “Well, well. Look at who we have here. A Godric Gryffindor for this lifetime. You and four others will change the world. Many blessings to you and your friends.” “GRYFFINDOR!!!” The table with scarlet red and golden robes went wild with joy and cheered on their newest member.

A while later once the names got down to the M’s, Draco was shifting nervously on his feet when his name was called “Malfoy, Draco”. Nerves still shaken, Draco was able to swagger  up to the stool and sat down. “Ahh. A Malfoy who dares to be different. Just like your cousin Sirius Black. I know where you belong, and you will be a great help to your friends.” The outer seam that is the hat’s mouth opens and cries out, “GRYFFINDOR!!!” All of those in Slytherin jaws dropped in shock. Severus stood up and started the applause and kick started the chaos that is known as the Gryffindor Table. Shocked at the placement, but when he saw Severus standing, clapping for him and with a rare smile on his face. Draco’s confidence skyrocketed as he swaggered down the step to the platform and on his way to the Gryffindor table. Sitting down next to Neville, Draco already felt safe and ready to take on all those who would piss him off. May Themis guide him.

Harry was growing anxious as he watched both Draco and Neville get sorted into Gryffindor while Hermione was sorted into Ravenclaw. But once he heard “Potter, Harry” be called, Harry moved up to the stool and sat down to be sorted. “Greeting Herakles, or shall I call you Mr. Potter?” The hat chuckled. “Hello Alistair. I’m both new and old to this kind of process. Place me where I’m best suited.” Harry said as he and Alistair conversed. Laughing, the hat calls out “GRYFFINDOR!!!” And quietly to Harry, “You and four others will change the world. I, for one, can’t wait to see how you do so.” the Great hall erupted with such noise and chaos from the Gryffindor table very few could hear the chant of “WE GOT POTTER! WE GOT POTTER!” from the Weasley Twins. Heading to the spot in between Draco and Neville, Harry sat down and was about to ask them if the Hat said anything interesting to them as they got Sorted, but was shushed and turned his attention back to the other students waiting to be sorted.

The wait for Ron was pure agony and he was starting to hate being a Weasley, just because he was one of the last two kids to be sorted.so when he heard, “Weasley, Ronald”. Ron practically ran up to the stool and sat down with excitement coursing through his veins. “Another Weasley I see. Just how many of you are there?” Alistair said with laughter hiding in his words. “I’m the last son but there is one more. My sister. Out of us kids, She’s the Queen. I’m her Knight.” “Ahh. A mind for strategies. That makes you difficult to place. Very difficult indeed. But I do enjoy a good challenge. Let's see, your whole family has been sorted into Gryffindor for as long as you can remember on both sides of your family. But with how your strategic mind works you are very cunning and highly ambitious so Slytherin would be a good house for you.” Alistair processes “But you are hard working and very loyal to those in your family like you said about being your sister Knight. So Hufflepuff would be another good choice. But you are courageous and chivalrous as well. So Gryffindor would work too. But the way your mind works would drive some of the Ravens mad along with the Badgers. Cunning, but cunning for personal gain or ambitious enough to truly survive in the Snake pit. So that only leaves…” “GRYFFINDOR!!!!” “you and four others will change the world. I await with grace to see how you all do so.”*