Chapter 4
Harry was getting annoyed by Ash’s attempts to leave. He kept saying that he wanted to explore the Alola region, but he knew they would leave for Hogwarts in one week. Pikachu, his pokemon, even helped him to a degree. The electric mouse pokemon only stopped when he was shocked one too many times from the wards Kukui and Burnet placed on their home.
“Ash, that won’t work, remember you tried that two days ago.” Harry said exasperated.
“Maybe they lifted those stupid wards.” Ash said, stubbornly.
“Yeah, right. Why would they do that? They know you want to leave and McGonagall won’t be happy if you don’t arrive next week.”
“I would still be there, I just want to see what kinda pokemon are in this region. I only have Pikachu here.”
“Sorry, Ashy. But that just can’t happen.” Kukui said while he walked in the room Harry and Ash shared for the time being. “You are a flight risk, and the professor tasked us with keeping you here.”
“How are we even supposed to go to Hogwarts next week?” Harry asked.
“Well, the students from Alola always gather at the Hau'oli City Marina, so you can take the boat to Paldea where Hogwarts is. From there, either Hagrid, the games keeper, or one of the professors will welcome you there.” Kukui explained. He was also grabbing Ash, for he tried to jump through the window again. “But we are going to eat now, so clean up and come to the dinner table.”
The next day, Harry had finally decided on a name for his Rowlet. He would name her Hedwig, which was a name he read in the History of Magic and Pokemon book he was required to have. He also spent a bit of time learning about Hogwarts from Kukui and Burnet, at least while one of them wasn’t preventing Ash from escaping.
The final week was finally over and Ash’s escape attempts reached above the hundred. How did that boy have so much energy? They would finally take the boat to the Paldea Region. On the morning that they would need to leave, Harry woke up early. His temporary roommate was still drooling on the other bed. To thank Burnet and Kukui for taking him in, Harry decided to make breakfast for everyone. As soon as he was done, Kukui and Burnet came out of their room.
“Harry, you didn’t have to do that. This is your last morning here.” Burnet said motherly. “Did you finish packing your trunk already? And where is Ash?”
“Yeah, I’m already done. Ash was still sleeping when I left the room. If I’m right, he would be waking up soon because of the scent of food.” As soon as Harry said that, Ash came stumbling out of the room, with Pikachu trailing behind him. He was still in his sleeping clothes.
“Morning Ash, how did you sleep?” Kukui asked.
Ash only grumbled as an answer. This was actually more of a response than he gave the rest of the week. He was a really slow waker. Normally he didn’t even realise when someone spoke to him. He sat down and began to eat without acknowledging anything else happening around him. Burnet told Harry that they needed to leave at half past ten for them to take the boat at eleven. Ash, at that point, had woken enough to understand that he needed to rush packing his stuff. He quickly ran into the room and decided to just throw anything in the trunk he was forced to buy, as if the trainer bags with unlimited space weren't enough. Burnet soon came inside the room and fixed his trunk.
At half past ten, they stood at the Hau'oli City Marina, and they were joined by a few others waiting for the boat. One of those who joined them looked younger than the initial ten years old. Her name was Luna Lovegood from the Ancient Poni Path. When Harry walked up to her, a cloud like pokemon that had red cheeks.
“Hi, my name is Harry.” Harry introduced himself.
“I know who you are. You are curious about Cosmog, aren’t you? Well, I was lucky to find a shiny one, and decided to take it with me. Professor Flitwick allowed it, even if it is technically a legendary pokemon. Where is your pokemon?” Luna asked, with a dreamy look in her eyes.
“Hedwig, my Rowlett is still in her Pokeball, I will let her out on the boat. May I ask how old you are? You don’t look like you are ten.”
“Correct, I’m nine. But because I have a shiny and have stronger magic because of my connection with Cresselia, I have been allowed to start a year earlier. The same is with a good friend of mine. She lives in the Johto region and was chosen by Lugia, the Guardian of the sea. Kinda weird if you ask me, she has a mean streak a mile wide.” Luna explained.
Ash was subtly trying to get away, but was once again stopped by Burnet. When the boat arrived, she had to force him on, while he was complaining that he just got there and wanted to see what the gyms were like. Harry stayed close to Ash the whole trip to Paldea, especially when they stopped in the other regions. They first stopped in the Sinnoh region and were joined by a few friends from Ash. Harry was introduced to Dawn and Barry, two trainers that met Ash while he was travelling the Sinnoh region. The next stop was the Unova region where Harry was introduced to Iris, from Opelucid City. An Axew popped up out of her hair to greet them. A blond boy with a pointed face followed Iris too, and tried to stay away from the grizzly haired girl that came aboard with them. Next on the list was the Hoenn region. Here once again, Ash introduces someone to Harry. This time it was a girl called May, who was a gym leader's daughter. She introduced a boy named Brandon, who apparently was the son of professor Birch. Next they were supposed to stop in Galar, but there were no trainers there, so they went to Johto instead. Here Luna introduced a few people. Ron and Ginny Weasley were two of her friends, with Ginny being the nine year old of them. They both had Cyndaquil as a starter, only Ginny had the shiny of them. The final stop before Paldea was the Kanto Region. Six children got on the boat here. One spotted Ash and began to smirk.
“So, Ashy-boy has finally been dragged away from his travels.” the brown spiky haired boy said.
“Gary! What are you doing here?” Ash asked in wonder.
“What does it look like, Doofus. I’m going to Hogwarts.” Gary said in a superior voice.
“Well, hopefully we can battle sometime soon again, how long ago was it again?”
“It was six months, Ashy. That isn’t that long.”
“Yes, it is. You were already studying to become a pokemon professor at that time. Why do you even go to Hogwarts now?”
“Well, Hogwarts is the school for magic to go to. While we both already have experience with training and travelling with Pokemon, we don’t know what could happen with our magic.”
Suddenly the boat reached the shore of the Paldea region. They were greeted by a giant man that called himself Hagrid. He took them to the school, which had two sides. One side was for the non-magical, Uva Academy. The other side was Hogwarts. They shared the same space and were supposed to only be accessible to the trainers that were enrolled there. Reaching the door, they were greeted by McGonagall.
“Welcome first years.” the professor said. “This will be the first year of your journey. This school was founded by four friends and Chosen Children. Their names were Godric Gryffindor, chosen by the Legendary Pokemon Solgaleo, Rowena Ravenclaw, chosen by the Legendary Pokemon Articuno, Helga Hufflepuff, chosen by the Legendary Pokemon Raikou, and Salazar Slytherin, chosen by the Legendary Pokemon Rayquaza. When we go inside, you will be sorted into one of their Houses. You will sleep with your housemates, eat with them and even study different subjects with them. They are supposed to be your family, but could just as be the enemies you don’t want. I will be back in a few minutes, please make yourself presentable. Oh, and mister Ketchum, if you try to start exploring, we will hunt you down with all our might.” With those last few words, she went inside and left us alone.
As soon as she left, people began to laugh at Ash. Suddenly, the blond pointy boy stood before Harry. He had beautiful grey eyes that looked knowledgeable and cunning. Harry was enthralled with the prospect of the different emotions those eyes could present.
“I heard Giratina’s chosen would be starting this year. I’m Draco Malfoy, and you should be Harry Potter, am I right?” the boy said with an air of importance.
“Yeah, I’m Harry. Pleased to meet you.” Harry said politely.
“Are you friends with that buffoon that needed to be warned not to explore? Maybe you should think of better friends.” Draco said while sticking his hand out.
Harry shook his hand with a glare. He only shook it, because Kukui and Burnet told him not shaking a hand would be seen as an insult. “I can decide for myself who my friends are.” Harry said with a cold tone in his voice.
At that point McGonagall returned and brought them inside. On a stool was an old hat that looked like it was attacked by a Houndoom that wanted to play. Suddenly the hat gained a sort of mouth and began to sing.
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 folk 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!
As soon as the hat stopped singing, everyone began to clap politely. McGonagall unrolled a parchment and began to call upon names. The first name was Hannah Abott, who was sorted into Hufflepuff.
A few names came by which Harry didn’t recognize until Ash was called up. At this point he was at the back of the line, trying to get back outside. McGonagall used a Flareon to bring him back to the front.
As soon as Ash was beneath the hat he heard a voice inside his head.
“So, you are the Chosen of Ho-oh, not that anyone has figured that out. You are brave enough and have loyalty to spare. You do have ambition, even if you are not cunning. Wisdom is something you completely lack. So either Hufflepuff or Gryffindor is best for you. Looking at all your adventures, I would say that there is only one house perfect for you. And that is” “GRYFFINDOR.” That last one was shouted for the entire Great Hall to hear. Ash’s robes turned into the red that hung above the right most table. That table bursted into applause for Ash, while they welcomed him.
The next on the list was Luna, who before the head touched her was already sorted into Ravenclaw. She joined her table and began to hug her Cosmog. Next was Draco, who had just as quick a sorting as Luna, but placing him in Slytherin. Then came a few names that Harry didn’t recognize before he himself was called up.
“So this is the presumed Chosen of Giratina, not that Giratina has claimed you yet. You are smart enough, which you must have lived with those despicable forms of a human family. You are loyal to all pokemon, but you are brave for standing up in your final moments at that house and getting away from them, shows that self-preservation is present. You can have a pick yourself.”
“Please send me somewhere I will make friends and a family.”
“Friends and family, huh. Well it will be hard, but then there is only one house possible for you. And that is” “GRYFFINDOR.”
Soon the sorting ceremony came to an end. Everyone was seated at their tables. At that point the old man with the long beard stood up while a bird in black flames arised behind him.
“Welcome to a new year here at Hogwarts. For those who don’t know who I am, I’m the Headmaster Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. The bird behind me is Moltres, which I nicknamed Fawkes. Before we can start eating, I have a few announcements. To start the Forbidden Forest is like the name says forbidden for all unless you are accompanied by a professor, like in the Care of Pokemon classes. Secondly, mister Filch has asked me to remind you all that you are forbidden to use your pokemon outside the classrooms or your common room. He also has a list of forbidden items, so please take a look at those for me. Now it’s time to eat with these final words. Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!” As the headmaster sat back down, the tables were filled with food.
Harry, who finally began to eat normal portions of food, slowly began to eat. Ash, the glutton that he was, began shovelling the food inside. Beside Ash, was a boy that was equally quick in his eating. While he was eating, his sister, the one who was introduced by Luna as Ginny, looked disgusted at him. She was even trying to make him slow down, which failed. He only slowed down when two twins came over and told him to slow down, as their mother wasn’t here to berate him about his eating habits. At the end of the table, there was a boy called Seamus, who was telling those who would listen that his father was kinda shocked to learn that his wife and son had magic, but he didn’t. A boy named Neville told that while he could communicate with plants his whole life, his family didn’t believe he had magic, until an uncle of his literally threw him from a cliff.
Soon the plates were cleaned and they were sent to their common rooms. The one to lead them there, was Percy Weasly, another older brother of Ginny. He led them to a portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress, who was weirdly called the Fat Lady. She asked for a password, and when Percy gave it to her, she let them in. For the first month the password was Pyroar, after it would change.
Harry and Ash shared their dorm with four other boys. Their names were Ron, Ginny’s older brother, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigin and Neville Longbottom. They each took a bed and fell asleep. Harry began to dream about a world that was defying the laws of physics with a pokemon inside it that looked trying to speak to him, but no words would reach him. When Harry woke up, he would sadly not remember anything about it.