September 1st saw a lot of activity in the Potter Manor. So they wouldn't have to wait for anyone to arrive, the girls and their families spent the night in the Potter Manor guest rooms. The first one awake was Elijah. He went through his morning routine and waited for his students to wake up from their slumber, sending Daphne to wake up Harry without waking the entire house. Once Daphne returned with a soaking wet Harry, who Elijah fixed up with a drying charm, Elijah had all of them run outside and begin running laps around the manor. As the children were running, he noticed Lily walk into the foyer. "Hopefully they're not too surprised when they get to Hogwarts."
"Don't know about Luna and Daphne," said Lily. "But everyone else will be surprised we managed to keep this a secret."
"True. Still can't believe we're going through with this."
"Believe it. Better than doing nothing all day while they get a subpar education."
"Subpar? What happened to Hogwarts being the 'best wizarding school in the world'?"
"It still is, better than Ilvermorny anyways."
"Let's agree to disagree. It's not like Ilvermorny's beaten Hogwarts when it comes to number of classes, number of subjects, broader range of discovery and number of campuses to house more students."
"More doesn't always mean better."
"No, it just means more people with a better understanding of magic, not just the basics like Hogwarts teaches, and never expands upon."
"It… well… "
"No come back. No answer that'll save your claim. That means I win."
"You are insufferable."
"So people tell me." He turned to the children as they came jogging back in, Daphne in the lead.
"I win!"
"You cheated," said Harry right behind her, followed by a barely panting Luna, Susan and Tracey behind her, slightly panting, and Hermione trailing behind a few seconds later, breathing heavily. Elijah went up to her.
"I thought I told you to keep up your exercises while you were at home, Hermione."
"You… did… wasn't… really motivated to run." Said Hermione as she tried to regain control of her breathing.
"Well, once you get to Hogwarts, Harry and the others will make sure you keep up your exercises."
"Oh… grand…" she said, turning pale at the prospect.
"Breakfast will be ready in 20 minutes," said Lily. Your parents are already up and getting ready for the day, I suggest you finish whatever packing still needs to be done before breakfast, so we can be on our way."
"Yes, ma'am!" said the kids. They went back up to their rooms to shower and finish packing as Astoria came down, yawning.
"Good morning Astoria, happy to have the house to yourself once Daphne is in Hogwarts and your parents are at work?"
"Won't be by myself," she said, pouting. "Grandmum is going to stay with me."
"That's too bad," said Elijah as he reached into his pocket. "But, I've got something that'll cheer you up." He pulled out a Silver Wand and watched as her eyes widened in surprise and glee.
"A Silver Wand?! You mean I can use Soul Magic now?!"
"Yes you can. Sorry it took so long to make. Silver Wands aren't like normal wands. They Wilt after so many uses and making a new Silver Wand for a novice like myself takes months, close to years to finish. But in the end, they are worth it. Do you want to use it now or wait for everyone to come down."
"I've waited this long. What's a few more minutes?" She smiled as they went into the dinning room and waited for everyone else to come down. As soon as everyone was seated, Elijah stood and smiled.
"Before we start eating, and before we head to the Hogwarts Express, everyone, it is time for young Astoria, to earn her eyes." Astoria smiled and held up the Silver Wand. The kids smiled as everyone else clapped. "And Amelia, I believe this will be your first time witnessing an Awakening. You were at work when Susan had hers, not long after was the… attack. I'm sorry again, for not being able to save them."
"We've told you several times," said Susan. "It wasn't your fault. Voldemort's insane followers wanted to strike one last target and grandpa, grandma, mom, dad, and everyone else was… just in the wrong place at the wrong time." She and Amelia held each other's hands as they grew quiet, mourning for their lost family. Astoria lowered the wand as she frowned.
"No," said Amelia, smiling sadly. "Don't let our grief get in the way of this, Astoria. This is a happy occasion. It's time to earn your wings, after all."
"Right," said Astoria. She went over and hugged them both before standing. She had a look of determination in her eyes as she went through the motion she saw her sister use when she was younger. Amelia's words rung in her mind, and thoughts of protecting her extended family soon joined them. When the silver light died down, Astoria found herself not on the ground, but floating in the air. Above all of them. She smiled brightly.
When everyone's vision cleared, Astoria wasn't where she was standing a moment before. Everyone looked around frantically. "Astoria?!" called Daphne, trying to find her baby sister.
"You rang?" said Astoria. Everyone looked up and gasped. Astoria was hovering in the air with her light blue eyes now with silver lines running through the irises, and silver wings sprouting from her back. Elijah looked amazed.
"Magical constructs? Incredible! Astoria! You magnificent young girl!"
"Great," said Daphne with a smirk. "Going to be hearing about that from now on."
"I can do something you can't!" chanted Astoria as she flew in circles over their heads. The other children watched in amazement as Martha and Cyrus looked on with pride for their youngest daughter. Astoria floated herself down to the ground and smiled as her wings disappeared.
"Astoria," said Harry. "You've got to tell us how you did that."
"I don't know, as I was going through the motion, Amelia's words stayed in my head. 'Earn your wings' I also wanted to make sure what happened to her and Susan, doesn't happen to us again. I wanted to help protect everyone. Next thing I know, I'm in the air!"
Hermione tried replicating wings of her own, hoping her stubbornness would come through again. She frowned when she couldn't do it. "Astoria, please teach me how."
"I thought you were afraid of heights, Hermione." Said Harry.
"No, I'm afraid of flying with you! If I can make wings fly myself, I wouldn't need to ride on a broomstick with you controlling it." She stuck her tongue out at him as he rolled his eyes.
"I dive bombed one time!"
"I'm sorry," said Lily. "Care to repeat that?"
"I mean…"
"We'll talk about this later, Harry James Potter."
"Ooh," said Elijah. "All three names. Never a good thing."
"Stuff it, Crowe." Said Harry. Elijah smirked and ruffled his now white hair before walking to Astoria.
"Come on Astoria, let's test out those wings, see how much we can put them through."
"Yes, sir!" Astoria saluted, mirroring her sister and closest friends. She followed him out. Harry went to follow them before Lily pulled them back.
"No you don't. You're going to sit down, eat your breakfast, and tell me about you divebombing on your broom. When I said later, I meant when Elijah and any other excuse left."
"Ah, crap baskets."
Outside, Elijah watched as Astoria flew around and started gaining speed. "Very good, Astoria! Now try and do some tricks!" He watched as Astoria clumsily attempted to do a roll. "Slow down! You'll find it easier to control your flight path!" Astoria listened and followed his advice. After a few minutes, she could feel the wings weakening and landed beside him just as they disappeared. "How did it feel?"
"Amazing! I've never felt freer!" She smiled, her eyes glowing slightly as her emotions spiked. "I just wish I could fly a bit longer."
"Using Soul Magic is like working a muscle, the longer you exercise it, the stronger it gets. You just need to keep at it. You'll be able to keep your wings out much longer. Now walk me through it, you said that you were focusing on how you wanted to make sure we don't lose anyone else, right?"
"Yes, but it was more than that. It was the feeling I had. Sadness for Amelia and Susan, anger at the Death Eater bastards that killed their family, sorry for the language."
"I don't mind, you're not my kid." She smirked before remembering what else she felt.
"I also felt, a strange mix of determination and hope, like my whole soul was singing along with my emotions." She looked at him and saw Elijah with his eyes closed. Elijah looked into his own soul and remembered a powerful memory, one from his early childhood. He held out his hand and pictured a machete in it. Astoria stepped back as a silver machete slowly appeared in his hand.
"Whoa." Was all she could say. Elijah opened his eyes and saw the construct. He looked it over and smiled. It started to fade, and he stopped channeling his magic into it.
"It's like a Patronus. It requires either a strong enough emotion, or a powerful enough memory."
"That's why it was easy to construct the wings again. I just remembered how it felt to be flying, and how the wings felt on my back."
"This will take me a while to master. And everyone else just as long."
"So, what you're saying is… I'm a prodigy?"
"Not in as many words, but…"
"YES!" Elijah smiled as she cheered to herself.
"Unfortunately I won't be here to help you catch up with everyone else, and neither will Lily."
"What?! Why?!" Elijah made sure none of the other kids were eavesdropping and told her the secret they've been keeping. She looked at him surprised. "I'll leave a teaching grimoire with basic instructions for you to study while we're gone. I trust you will keep up your studies, right?"
"Of course! I'm not about to let them leave me in the dust!" Elijah smiled and led her back inside.
With breakfast finished, and everyone packed and ready to go, they made their way to King's Cross Station. As they were making their way inside, Elijah was speaking with Lily. "So, to get to platform 9 ¾, you have to run through the wall of a pillar between platforms 9 and 10?"
"Yes."
"Then why the hell isn't it Platform 9 ½?"
"Because wizards lack common sense," said Harry as he ate an apple while dragging his trunk on a trolley with Hermione's and Tracey's. "You've both been around them more than us, you know it's true." Luna nodded in agreement from on top of the trolley. "And Luna, get down!"
"You can stay up there, Luna," said Susan next to him. "Just be careful." She gave a thumbs up to the Bones' Heiress and kicked Harry in the back and pointing forward.
"I'm not a horse, Luna. Nor am I a pack mule, Tracey! Hermione!" Tracey smiled holding her hands behind her head as she walked behind the trolley and Hermione just kept reading a book while skillfully avoiding people walking in front of her. "Still would like to know how you do that."
"Do what?" Hermione asked as she looked up from her book and collided with a pale blonde boy. The group watched as she crashed to the ground with deadpan looks. Harry caught her book as it flew to him.
"Oi!" Shouted the boy as he got up. "Watch where you're going!"
"Don't yell at my friend, ferret." Said Harry as he stepped between Hermione and the boy after helping her up. The boy seemed unnerved by Harry and hurried away. He turned to Hermione. "You ok, Mione?"
"Yes, I'm fine. You don't have to step in every time someone gets angry at me. I can take care of myself."
"I know you can, I just don't like seeing people yell at you. At any of you." The girls smiled and hugged him, making him blush. Elijah started discreetly using his magic to drag the trolleys behind him as they went to the pillar Lily told him.
Elijah looked at the signs on the pillar. "Ok, even with notice-me-not charms, this still seems more obvious to any observant No-Mag. And I'm still fixed on calling it Platform 9 ½."
"It's Platform 9 ¾. Now shut up and go." Said Lily. She went through, and all of the children followed, Luna having to push a reluctant Hermione. Elijah sent the trolley's through first before he followed them through. They'd arrived early and were the first on the train. Tracey picked the car at the very front and Harry packed the trunks in the compartments. They went back out to the platform just as Neville and Hannah had arrived.
"Hey, Nev," said Harry.
"Hello, Harry. How's your morning been so far?"
"…eventful."
"Harry's upset because Astoria had her Awakening, and instantly learned a new trick we never knew she could do," said Luna. "Daphne's as upset as him and Hermione are, but she isn't showing it."
"Shut up, Luna." Said Daphne, flicking a lock of hair behind her shoulder.
"What was the trick," asked Hannah as her parents talked with Neville's Grandmother and Lily.
"Heh, heh." Said Astoria as she smiled, smugly. "I've got wings."
"Wings?"
"Mmhmm." She looked around making sure there wasn't anyone paying attention and grinned. "Watch." She regrew her wings, drawing the attention of the Abbot's and Augusta Longbottom, while Neville and Hannah watched in amazement. She made them disappear and gave an ojou-sama laugh. "It's about time I've put these peons in their place!" Daphne gave Harry a deadpan look.
"You let her watch anime with you, didn't you?"
"It was that or have her keep bothering me. How was I supposed to know she'd act like this?"
"The fact that she imitates things that amuse her, and you know this." They watched her give another laugh as Hannah smiled. Harry turned to Neville.
"We're in the first car, mate. You can take yours and Hannah's trunks in there."
"Alright Harry, mind helping?" Harry turned to Astoria and saw Luna join her in the laugh.
"Might as well." Harry helped Neville carry the trunks aboard as Augusta talked to Astoria about the wings. "Astoria's going to keep lording this over me until I can get my own wings."
"Serves you right. Always showing off every new trick you learned."
"I can't help it if I like doing these things. I've been learning these techniques since I was 5. It's fun." They placed the trunks in two lower compartments and left the car again. "Still don't want to join us, Nev?"
"Nah, it doesn't seem right for me. I'd rather work with plants over learning Soul Magic."
"Alright, it's your life." They made their way back to the group and saw Daphne in an argument with Astoria. "Nev, how long until the train starts?"
"Another 45 minutes."
"Bollocks. 45 minutes of Astoria being smug. Not sure I'll survive it."
"You've survived worse, literally."
"Thank you for reminding me why I can't go out in public often, Neville."
"Just stating the facts. Anything else happen today?"
"Just Hermione's amazing autopilot."
"She was walking while reading again, wasn't she?"
"Yes. Didn't even stop until we distracted her, causing her to run into some bloke."
"What do you mean, 'we'?" asked Susan, carrying her egg again.
"Fine, I distracted her. I just want to know how she does that."
"I don't think she even knows, mate. So it's pointless asking her." They looked at Hermione and found her reading again. Harry decided to test out her reaction and tossed a small pebble at her head. She ducked, still reading and the pebble hit Elijah in the back of the head. He turned around and saw Hermione go back into her original position. He walked over to Harry.
"What are you doing?"
"Trying to figure out her autopilot thing."
"By chucking pebbles at her?"
"She dodged it."
"Something you seem to have trouble doing. Dodge." Harry groaned as Neville and Elijah smacked him upside the head. "Work on that. Later though. For now, help me pull the sisters apart."
"Alright," Harry sighed. Harry Pulled Daphne away from the argument as Elijah picked up Astoria and carried her over to Cyrus and Martha.
"Stay." Astoria pouted and crossed her arms as Luna joined her.
"Daphne, be the bigger girl and drop it."
"Telling me what to do, Potter?"
"Merely giving you a suggestion, I know never to order you around."
"At least that's one lesson I won't have to nail into your head." They grinned at each other. The rest of the time was spent waiting and talking. Soon, it was time for the train to head out. The kids said goodbye to their parents and mentors and climbed onto the train. Elijah and Lily, along with the rest of the adults, waved at them as the train sped off. Luna looked at her watch and dug into her bag before handing Lily a new hat.
"Luna? What's this for?"
"Mom said to give you that. Give them a bit of a bigger reveal."
"You two almost make this not fun, but then you add your own mischief." Luna smiled as she stood next to Astoria. She turned to Cyrus and Martha. "Can you take Luna back home to the Rookery? We'd do it ourselves but…"
"Don't worry about it," said Cyrus, aware of their secret. "We'll take Luna home. Have fun you two."
"Ready," asked Elijah.
"Of course. Let's go, Mr. Crowe." Luna waved as the two disapparated from King's Cross.
On the train, Harry and the girls, along with Hannah and Neville, were talking when the door was pulled open, and a red headed boy was standing in the door way. "Do you mind if I sit here? Every place else is packed."
"Sorry guy," said Harry, gesturing to them all. "Here's not much better. Maybe try further back in the train?"
"Harry, he shouldn't move between cars while in transit." Said Hermione.
"Magical train, Hermione. No-Mag rules don't necessarily apply here."
"No-Mag? What's a No-Mag?"
"He means Muggle," said Neville. "You'll have to forgive him, he was tutored by an American and picked up on their words for things."
"I'm just saying, No-Mag sounds less offensive than Muggle." He turned to the boy. "You look familiar, do you have two older twin brothers?"
"Yeah, Fred and George, why?"
"Met them about a month ago, nice blokes."
"'Nice'? I'm pretty sure we're not talking about the same twins then."
"Tall, red hair, twin speak, penchant for pranks?"
"What does penchant mean?"
"It means, dear brother," said a voice behind him. "That we have a special regard for them." Fred looked into the car and grinned. "Oi, George! Look! It's the Prince of Mischief! How goes it my liege?"
"'Prince of Mischief'?" asked Susan. "Oh no. Don't tell me Sirius actually convinced you to start doing pranks."
"Not fully. Everyone, meet Fred and George Weasley. Which makes their brother there Ron."
"Right you are, Harry," said Fred.
"This is our brother…" said George.
"…Ickle Ronnikins!" They said together. Ron just ignored them and left before they could bother him more. Fred and George bade farewell to the group and made their way to their own car. Soon the snack trolley came by and everyone bought themselves some treats for the ride.
"So," said Harry. "Anyone have a clue as to how they decide our houses?"
"Not a clue," said Daphne, munching on a pastry. "Mum and Dad wouldn't tell me when I asked." The others all said the same. "They must really want us to have an authentic Hogwarts experience."
"I still say we don't need to do this." Said Harry. "We already know magic, wandless and silent spells. Heck, we even know spells to disrupt other spells."
"Yes," said Hermione. "But remember what Elijah said. We can't draw too much attention to ourselves, not yet. We can't let everyone know everything we can do."
"Voldemort is still out there," said Tracey. "We need every advantage we can get. That means pretending like we don't have extensive knowledge."
"We know you want to get at him," said Susan. "But we need to be smart about this. Think like a Slytherin, not a Gryffindor."
"You're right. Sorry. But this… monster pretending to be a man killed my father, killed Susan's family, and will come back to finish the job and try and kill me at some point in time, and if not me then everyone I care about. I'm not about to let him hurt any of you." The girls smiled at him and Tracey and Susan placed their hands on his shoulders. Soon the door was opened again, and the boy Hermione tripped over at King's Cross was in the doorway, two boys behind him.
"I'm looking for Harry Potter. Have any of you seen him?" Harry looked at him and sighed.
"Oh, it's the ferret. Come to apologize to my friend?" The boy seemed braver with back up behind him and glared at Harry.
"Do you have any idea who you're talking to?!"
"No, nor do I care. You are interrupting a conversation with my friends, now kindly leave before I make you leave." Harry made his eyes glow slightly, making himself look more intimidating. The boy backed away instinctively and Harry shut the door on his face.
"You did the eye glow, didn't you?" asked Daphne.
"Only way idiots stop and think. Glowing things means trouble, it's lodged in the back of everyone's mind."
"Harry," said Neville. "Do you know who you just spoke to?"
"An idiot?"
"No. Well, yes. That was Draco Malfoy. Son of 'alleged' Death Eater, Lucius Malfoy."
"Oh, him. The one who bribed his way out of life in Azkaban, along with other people claiming to be under the Imperius Curse."
"In other words," said Susan. "Enemy number 2. A person we need to watch in case Voldemort decides to contact him." A few hours later, with no more intrusions, Harry saw it was getting dark and checked his watch.
"Ok Nev. Let's get out of the girls' hair so they can change. We're approaching Hogsmeade village."
"Thank you, Harry." Said Susan. After both boys and girls had changed, they waited a few minutes before the train came into the station. They brought their trunks to where Susan, using Soul Sight, saw a few house elves standing next to trolleys. They smiled at the elves, thanked them for their assistance, baffling the elves not just for their kindness, but at the fact that the kids could see them.
"Firs' years over 'ere!" They heard coming from the docks of the lake. They saw a large man standing near the boats and waving over the first year students. "Four to a boat! Not one more!" Harry and the others walked over to him.
"Who's going with whom?" asked Harry.
"I'll ride with Hermione, Hannah and Neville," said Susan. "You, Tracey and Daphne take a boat with whoever."
"Sounds like a plan," said Tracey. Harry helped Tracey and Daphne in before stepping in himself. Next to Tracey, an olive-skinned boy climbed in. Daphne smiled at him.
"Oh, hello Blaise."
"Hmm? Oh, it's you Daphne. Nice to see you again."
Daphne gestured to Tracey and Harry. "Blaise Zabini, meet two of my best friends, Tracey Davis, and Harry Potter."
"You're Harry Potter?"
"The one and only."
"Thought you'd look differently."
"Black hair and green eyes, yeah?"
"Exactly. Looking like the books described you."
"Which reminds me," said Tracey. "Why haven't we dealt with those?"
"Because they draw attention away from how Harry really looks." Said Daphne.
"Let them cling to their preconceived notion of what Harry looks like. Just means he's not bothered in public that much anymore."
"Problems in the past?"
"A lot of them," sighed Harry. "Me and Mum couldn't leave Potter Manor unless we were disguised or spending our time in the Mundane World. Which I sometimes preferred to the Wizarding World. And yes, my Mum is alive. It's a long story that I don't want to say with so many people around."
"Alright then, I'm holding you to that, Mr. Potter." Blaise shook his hand as they turned a bend. All of the students watched amazed at the sight of Hogwarts Castle before them.
"Amazing," said Tracey. The others could only nod in agreement. Seeing something move in the water, the Soul Magic users turned and activated their Soul Sight. They watched through the dark shadows and water as the Giant Squid their parents, and for Hermione mentor in Lily, told them about. Harry skimmed his hand across the water and smiled as the squid brushed his hand with a tentacle. The boats soon docked at the castle undercroft, and the students climbed to shore. As they were climbing the stairs, they encountered a stern looking woman who would seem like a proper witch to one not from the Wizarding World.
"Welcome to Hogwarts." She said. "In a few moments you will pass through these doors and join your classmates. But before you can take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. While you are here, your House will be your family. Your triumphs will earn you points. Any rule breaking, and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points, is awarded the House Cup. The sorting ceremony will begin, momentarily." She then turned around and left through the doors.
"That must've been Professor McGonagall," said Hermione.
"No doubt about it," said Harry. "Same stern expression everyone described."
"And a look of kindness behind her eyes," said Tracey. They waited there for a few moments, all wondering about the Sorting Ceremony. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry spotted Draco Malfoy looking at all of the students, no doubt looking for 'Harry Potter'.
'Idiot doesn't even realize he already met me.' Soon Professor McGonagall returned and escorted the first years into the Great Hall. She had line up in two lines between two of the House tables. They saw a stool with an old hat sitting on top of it. The first years stared at it for a moment before it started twitching. Harry and the girls watched as it sprang into song. (Not writing the hat's song, we've all read it a million times either in the books or fan fiction)
Professor McGonagall stood by the hat. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted." She pulled out a roll of parchment with names on it. "Abbot, Hannah?"
Hannah swallowed nervously and went to the stool. She placed the Sorting Hat on her head and sat down. It was a few moments before it spoke up. "Hufflepuff!" The Great Hall was filled with applause as Hannah smiled and joined the Hufflepuff students at their table.
"Bones, Susan?" called McGonagall. Susan smiled and made her way to the stool. She sat down and placed the hat on her head.
'Hah!' shouted the hat in her mind. She jumped as she heard it. 'Soul Magic! I never thought I'd feel this ever in my life! It's incredible! You and your bond mates are truly wonderful children, Ms. Bones!'
'Oh, thank you.'
'Think nothing of it. But it seems I can't place you in any one House. Because of your Soul Magic, you, and your friends, fit all of the Houses equally. This is because your Awakening balances out all of your attributes, making you pure representatives of all House traits.' The hat switched from speaking into her mind to speaking out loud. "In light of a new discovery, and according to the ancient Hogwarts charter, which I still follow even though it has long been forgotten by humans over the years, a new House shall be formed! Congratulations, Susan Bones, you are the very first member of House Anima Mea! The House of the Soul!" The stunned silence was disturbed as the other Soul Magic users clapped. A table appeared between the House tables and the Head table It was small and round, large enough to fit 5 people. Soon the other Houses slowly started to applaud as well as Susan made her way over to the new table. She cast a glance at her friends and smirked slightly sharing a knowing look.
After a seconds pause, McGonagall resumed the Sorting Ceremony. People started getting sorted into the original Houses until McGonagall called out; "Davis, Tracey?" Tracey strolled over to the stool and placed the hat on her head delicately. 'Hello, Miss Davis! Another Soul Mage! Grand! I doubt you care for the explanation, so I'll keep it brief. The Awakening has made you compatible with all four Houses. So that means you'll be in…' "Anima Mea!" There was more confusion from everyone as the same group clapped, with the rest slowly joining.
McGonagall got over her shock faster than last time and continued calling out names until she called out; "Granger, Hermione?" Hermione made her way to the stool confidently, sat down and placed the hat on her head.
"Another one! Marvelous! You Ms. Granger have a very keen mind! I can see why you wanted to be in Ravenclaw. As I stated with Ms. Bones because of your Awakening, your soul is fully balanced, and you fit all four original Houses equally. So I see it fit to sort you into…"
"Anima Mea!" Once again the group started the applause and everyone else followed faster than last time. Daphne was next up and was given a faster sorting, due to her being impatient and the hat quickly moving things along.
Dumbledore was amazed. 'A new house created, Anima Mea. The House of the Soul. Interesting. And it seems young Miss Bones has found herself in it along with Miss Granger, and Miss Greengrass. This may bring her family closer to the Light. I wonder why these three were selected, and who else will join them. Considering it's known as the House of the Soul, I can only presume they will be sided with the Light, rather than the dark.'Albus' attention was then drawn to a young boy with snow white hair and silver eyes. 'Peculiar, he seems familiar somehow. He looks like our new Magical Understanding and Strengthening teacher. I wonder if he's his son.' It was as Sally-Anne Perks was being sorted that Dumbledore finally noticed something on the white haired boy. A small faded scar above his right eye in the shape of a lightning bolt. 'No, it can't be…'
Quirinus Quirrell was looking at all of the new students, trying to pick out Harry Potter. 'Have you found him?' Whispered a voice in the back of his head.
'Not yet, my master. But he should be seen soon.' Quirinus kept an eye on all of the students as Sally-Anne Perks was called up. 'Where is he?! Is he even attending Hogwarts?!'
'Look closer, fool! The boy at the front! The white haired one!'
'But, it can't possibly be…'
"Potter, Harry?" called McGonagall. Everyone whispered as no one stepped forward at first. 'Let them sweat for a bit. I want a grander entrance.' "Harry Potter?!" called McGonagall again. Harry smiled as he finally stepped forward. The girls rolled their eyes at his behavior. The eyes of both Albus and Quirinus were instantly on him as soon as he was called the first time. Albus was initially relieved when he didn't step forward, but all of his hopes were shattered as he stepped forward after being called a second time.
'It is Harry. What on Earth has happened to him? And why does he look similar to the new teacher?!'
'Master, I'm confused. I thought he was supposed to look like his father and have eyes like his mother.'
'Quiet, you fool! I need to concentrate! I must know what this power I feel is!' Both Dumbledore and Quirrell's Master tried using Legilimency to read the boy's mind, only to be met with a powerful magic draining presence protecting his mind, and quickly withdrew. 'What the hell was that?!'
'My word, I've never felt something like that, what on Earth was it?'
Harry sat on the stool and placed the hat on his head. "Let's get this over with."
'Couldn't agree more Mr. Potter. Should I continue with the assessment or skip the formalities?'
'Whichever suits you.'
'Then we'll skip to the…' "Anima Mea!" This time the applause came much quicker, with more groans coming from the Gryffindor table about losing Harry Potter. As Harry went to the new House table, he glanced at the Head table, meeting the gaze of Albus Dumbledore. Albus felt a slight anger directed at him when he met the young boy's gaze. He also felt it coming from the Anima Mea table as well as the door behind the Head table.
'What was that? Why was such anger directed at me?' Other than that, there were two other first years sorted outside of the immediate group. The first was Padma Patil. She seemed relatively surprised by this, as were the current members of Anima Mea. The table extended so it could include more people. The Soul Magic users smiled and accepted her with open arms. The next student to be admitted was Blaise Zabini. His only show of surprise was a quirked eyebrow before he calmly stood up and walked to the table, shaking hands with Harry, and sitting next to Padma. With all of the first years sorted, and an irate Ronald Weasley complaining about not being put into the new House. Dumbledore stood to say something but was stopped by the Sorting Hat.
"Forgive my intrusion, Headmaster, but, I'd like to call Cedric Diggory up to the stool please!" A confused fourth year boy with short blonde hair stood up and made his way to the stool. He placed the hat on his head like he did in his first year. 'Listen here boy, I had planned to open Anima Mea in your year, but to my dismay, you were the only one who fit the qualities of every house in your year, well, you and one other. Because of the unique circumstances of Anima Mea, I will be transferring you over to the House of the Soul.' "Welcome, Cedric Diggory, to House Anima Mea!" There was a stunned silence until the Anima Mea table started applauding, welcoming their newest and oldest member into the House. Cedric merely smiled uneasily and made his way to his new House table. "Now, will Penelope Clearwater please approach the stool.
Already guessing what would happen, Penelope hurried to the stool and hurriedly put the hat on. 'Does this mean what I think it means?'
'Indeed it does Penelope. When you first put me on three years ago, I read your soul and saw you shared attributes from all four Houses the same as Mr. Diggory. But you two were the only ones in your year and have been since. Until now, that is. Your excitement is clear, as it should be. This is an honor never before bestowed on anyone. Now then, Miss Clearwater, I feel it only right to be the first to say… "Welcome to Anima Mea!" The House of the Soul applauded once more, and soon the rest of the Houses joined in. "That is all, Headmaster. You may resume your announcements."
"Yes, thank you. Now, as I was about to say before our, rather shocking, interruption, there are a few announcements that I'd like to make. The first is our dear, Mr. Filch has once again posted a list of contraband items not allowed into Hogwarts, you will find the list on outside his office. Next, the Forbidden Forest is, of course, forbidden for anyone to enter without an escort from the faculty. Third, the third floor corridor is off limits to anyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
Suddenly, Hermione perked up. "What's wrong Hermione?" asked Harry before smirking. "Excited to do some exploring in the forbidden corridor?"
"No. And shut up. We're not going in there and that's final. No, I felt something familiar nearby. For some reason I can't place it, but I know it's a person, and they seem very annoyed and angry for some reason."
"Keep an eye out," he said, glancing around. "We should look for anything peculiar."
"I don't think that's necessary," said Daphne with the ghost of a smirk.
"Why…?" asked Tracey, knowing when her life-long best friend is hiding something.
"Oh, you'll see."
"And finally, we have a new subject being added into the school's academic program. Magical Understanding and Strengthening. A new subject, brought over from Ilvermorny Academy for Magic in the United States."
Harry, Hermione, Susan, and Tracey turned to Daphne. "He didn't…" said Harry.
"He wouldn't…" said Tracey. Daphne merely grinned and looked back at Dumbledore, drawing the other's attention back to him.
"Please join me in welcoming our newest Professor, and your instructor in Magical Theory, Professor Elijah Crowe!" He gestured to the door as Daphne leaned to her friends.
"He did." As she finished speaking, Elijah dropped from his hiding spot in the enchanted ceiling, silver wings on his back, and dropped into a superhero landing, drawing everyone's attention to him as he slowly stood up, wings flaring, with a smirk.
"Hello Hogwarts. My name is Elijah Crowe," he said as his wings disappeared. "I'm your new Magical Theory teacher, and this…" he gestured to the door Dumbledore gestured to just a moment ago before he made his entrance. The door opened, and a woman walked in wearing a hat that concealed her face from everyone. Harry and the girls noticed red hair with white streaks in it. Harry's eyes widened as Daphne's grin grew. "Is my wonderful assistant…" The woman removed her hat and revealed a face that very few students didn't know, and every teacher recognized, especially four. "Lily Evans Potter. The Mother-Who-Won!"
"Nice to meet you everyone! And it's great to be back here in Hogwarts!" There was a stunned silence for a few moments before a rather loud exclamation came from someone from the Anima Mea table with white hair.
"OH, COME ON!"