In some ways, the Great Hall was easy to describe. A massive room, long and tall, with five tables; four which ran its length filled with students and a fifth at the head, running the width, filled with staff. Harry noticed Hagrid, and sitting next to him was a rather uncomfortable, lost-looking blonde man Harry suddenly realized was Gourry, his armor either missing or hidden beneath a local-style rich blue robe. He saw the sword of light at his side, but realized quickly that the metal blade and scabbard were absent.
In other ways the hall was impossible to describe. The illusion of the night sky above their heads was as complex as the real thing, the multitude of floating candles spaced unevenly throughout the air, and so many other details and bits of magic Harry had never even seen before…it was awe inspiring.
Lina’s thoughts were much the same, although she smirked slightly. She knew that this was not typical magic, even for this world. This room, whether it be so enchanted for the day or woven into the structure for as long as it stood, had but one purpose. To impress its occupants the sheer power of magic wielded by the staff, their predecessors, and anyone with any connection to such a legacy. And it was quite effective at that.
The tattered old hat that sang a song, however, was much less impressive to look upon. As Hannah Abbott was sorted into Hufflepuff, followed by Susan Bones and then Ravencloaw gained Terry Boot, Lina’s mind wandered to what the hat had said about the houses. Bravery, diligence, intelligence, and ruthlessness seemed to be their defining traits. But Lina knew so very well that a sorcerer needed all in good measure to be successful. Indeed, a lack of any one trait could be quite devastating.
As Crabbe and Goyle were sorted into Slytherin, Harry decided the house of ‘cunning folk’ also catered to toadies and lackeys for bullies like Dudley. “‘Real friends’ indeed,” he snorted. Pity; he rather liked snakes.
“Inverse, Harry!” McGonagall called.
Harry was glad of his decision not to reclaim his birth name as he walked in front of everyone. Only the teachers seemed to be giving his particular attention. Dumbledore – Harry recognized him from his chocolate frog card – seemed particularly interested in him.
Then the hat was on his head, and a voice was in his ear. “Talent already realized, at your age? A disciplined mind, already shaped by study. A hard worker too. You could do well in any house, boy, yes you could indeed.” A memory flashed quite unbidden through Harry’s mind. Not old at all, but quite recent, facing Malfoy on the steps. “Outnumbered and against the high ground, you didn’t even feel the fear did you? With courage like that it can only be GRYFFINDOR!”
Harry took off the hat and smiled slightly as he walked to the Gryffindor table, only to see Fred and George cheering “We got Potter!” He sat down near Fred and felt his head hit the table with a groan. He just knew no good would come of being ‘Harry Potter.’
“Inverse, Lina.”
The tables grew quiet at this. The school had just put together that “Harry Inverse” was the famous Boy Who Lived, and now a girl with strange jewelry on her robes had the same name?
For her part, Lina was well-pleased by the attention. She wasn’t receiving her due, yet, but it was better than mindless fear like she got around what used to be Xoana and Sairaag.
Then the hat was on her head and she, too, heard the small voice. “Oh my. Ohhhh my. Where to even begin? Where to end? Ambition you have in spades, greed too. A thirst for knowledge that’s led you here from further than any other student. And loyalty, oh yes, willing to sacrifice much more than your life for one man. Ah, here we are. To carry the power of the Lord of Nightmares herself would break all but the bravest. My dear, I name you GRYFFINDOR!”
Harry applauded with the rest of his house as Lina came by to join them.
One by one the students were sorted. Longbottom to Gryffindor, Malfoy to Slytherin, Ron sat down opposite Harry, and the sorting was over. Dumbledore stood and cleared his throat. “Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I have a few words to share. But as I have already said quite a few already, I’m afraid the rest will have to wait a bit.”
Harry and Lina stared at eachother. They had been expecting a stuffy, self-important, bureaucratic-minded guild leader. What they got was…everyone cheering after the Headmaster had essentially said nothing at all. “Is he a bit mad?” Harry asked.
Lina shrugged but an older boy – Harry recognized Percy as soon as he opened his mouth. “Mad? He’s a genius. Best wizard in the world! But he is a bit mad, yes.”
Harry decided Percy was the type to respect authority, the perfect follower. How he had ended up in Gryffindor instead of Hufflepuff was forever to be a mystery. A mystery to be tackled later, as quite suddenly the tables were filled with food. Harry hurried to fill his plate before Lina noticed.
“FOOD!” she yelled, not even bothering with her plate until her mouth was full. The Gryffindors stared, although if it was at the quantity or quality of Lina’s eating technique was a mystery. Percy especially looked horrified.
Harry sighed and dove in himself. His appetite was no less pronounced, although it was a fair sight prettier.
Ron stared at Harry. “Blimey, and I thought I was hungry,” he muttered. Apparently the Inverses ate more when presented with more food. He did hope there wasn’t a charm to replenish the food, or they’d never stop!
At the staff table, Gourry was having nearly the same effect, however Hagrid had apparently informed him that it was important to show some dignity, and a decent percentage of his meal actually touched the plate for a moment before entering his mouth.
Lina was going through her fourth or fifth distinct course when McGonagall came by. “You two, Mr. and Miss Inverse,” she said quietly. “We haven’t been able to find your things on the train.”
Harry frowned. “They didn’t find anything of ours?”
McGonagall shook her head. “I’m afraid they only found some strange clothing for each of you.”
Harry smiled in relief. “That’s just fine then. Our things are in the capes.”
“Don’t try to look for them,” Lina begged. “My clothes aren’t safe to search. I can demonstrate the enchantments if you want.”
McGonagall looked between the two freshly minted Gryffindors. “Perhaps later, Miss Inverse,” she said primly. “And I must ask you not to wear such jewelry in the future. The broach is acceptable, however the bracelets are not.”
Lina frowned and turned to face McGonagall. Harry decided to jump in. “Sis’s talismans are magic, Professor,” he said quickly. “Very old magic. Irreplaceable. I don’t think she’d feel safe without them.”
McGonagall looked from Harry to Lina. “We’ll discuss this later,” she said, and left.
Harry breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to his meal.
All this came to a stop when St. Nick stuck his head up through Lina’s plate. “Hullo there, welcome to EEK!”
Lina’s reaction to the ghost had been to ready an Elmekia Lance, but her casting was foiled by Harry, who grabbed her hand and wrenched it up. A malformed burst of magic flew towards the ceiling. For a moment the masonry was visible as the undeveloped spell interfered with the skyscape, but it resolved itself a heartbeat later and you couldn’t tell that anything had happened. This of course brought all stares to Lina and Harry, who grinned sheepishly.
It was only a few minutes later that Dumbledore took to speaking again. “Now that we are all sated and our bellies full, I have a few start of term announcements. First, the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all students.” His eyes traveled to the Weasley twins. “Additionally, our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.” Now his eyes settled on Lina for a moment.
Lina was unhappy.
Dumbledore continued. “Further, the third-floor corridor, on the right-hand side, is out of bounds to anyone who does not wish to die a most painful death.”
Harry knew enough not to question painful death openly, but looked around to gauge reactions. It seemed it was serious after all.
“And now on to lighter news,” Dumbledore declared. “I daresay you are all aware that among our new students are practitioners of strange magic.”
A nervous chuckle rippled through the hall. Everyone had seen Lina’s half-spell shoot to the ceiling like a flare gone wrong.
“Harry and Lina Inverse have come from far away. Their magic is quite different from ours, and I am sure we all welcome their choice to learn our ways and will treat them with all the respect,” he was staring directly at Malfoy, “that they deserve.” His tone lightened again. “The Inverses have brought with them our new Assistant Groundskeeper, Gourry Gabriev.” He gestured to Gourry and applauded him, joined by most of the staff.
Gourry blinked dumbly.
“Yogurt brain,” Lina muttered. Unfortunately for Gourry, Fred heard her.
Dumbledore turned his attention back to the students. “And now Prefects, please escort the First Years to the dormitories.”
Harry and Lina stood up and fell into line with all the other first years as Percy (and a few less pompous older boys) ordered them into line and up through the castle.
Lina and Harry were perhaps the most confused first years ever to visit Hogwarts. “It’s not even a matter of how they move,” Lina said, staring at all the paintings. “It’s why. How is this possibly a reasonable use of magic in a world with so little to spare?”
Harry was focused on other matters. “Would someone care to explain why there are trick stairs? They aren’t secret, they aren’t going to stop an invader for long, and they’re actually quite annoying.”
“Is there a law that says magic needs to make things inconvenient to balance out the useful bits?” Lina wondered.
While their classmates were getting a right laugh – and a second look at things they had just accepted – Percy was rather frustrated. “First years shouldn’t question such things!” he declared.
Then he was hit in the head with a stick.
Harry raised an eyebrow. “Enchanted sticks that hit idiots in the head. That’s useful.”
“PEEVES!” Percy barked, looking around madly.
“I think it may have damaged him slightly,” Lina said conversationally.
One of the other prefects gave Lina what was almost a reproachful look, but it was ruined by a snort of laughter. “Hem. Peeves is the local poltergeist.”
“Oh,” Lina said flatly. She looked around with a more exacting stare.
“Ickle Firsties!” cackled a disembodied voice. There was a soft pop and suddenly a little man was floating just off the staircase.
“Elmekia Lance!” Lina cried. This time she wasn’t interrupted; Harry cast the same spell. A ghost calmly introducing himself and a cackling poltergeist messing with people were two very different things. Peeves yelped and took to dodging the two beams of green energy shot from the ‘ickle firsties.’
“Box him in,” Lina called.
“Right. Elmekia Lance!” Harry replied. Several more lances cut off Peeves various attempts to escape, forcing him into an increasingly limited space.
Lina prepped an Elmekia Flame to rid them of the nuisance for good when she suddenly realized that Percy was shouting at them. “…no magic in the corridors! What are you two doing!?”
Lina looked to Percy. “Um, exterminating a poltergeist before it causes serious harm?” she asked. “What’s wrong? I wasn’t going to charge my usual fee or anything.”
Percy’s mouth worked uselessly for several minutes. In fact, it wasn’t until the next day that his brain had sufficiently rebooted to respond to further questions.
Ron looked at his older brother and then at the Inverses, torn between vast admiration for successfully shutting Percy up and being scared to death of his new friends. “Um, I’ve heard stories about Peeves,” he said. “He’s been here forever. He’s harmless.”
Harry looked at the cowering specter and then at Ron. “He hit your brother with a stick,” he pointed out.
“Okay, mostly harmless,” Ron allowed. “But I think getting rid of him would annoy someone.”
Harry looked at Lina. Lina shrugged. “Fine. Just as long as he gets the ground rules straight.” She pointed at Peeves and put a cocky grin on her face. “No one messes with Lina Inverse, the Beautiful Sorcery Genius!”
“Yes ma’am,” Peeves squeaked, and then he vanished.
The prefects (except Percy) got their wits together enough to lead them the rest of the way to Gryffindor Tower.
Harry’s first impression was that the password was for once not an unnecessary bit of security. While he doubted Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were any more or less trustworthy than Gryffindors, he felt much safer knowing that the likes of Malfoy could not get near his things.
Lina had much the same opinion, but her thoughts were on the possessions still hidden in their enchanted clothes. While she had no doubt that all of the students had things that would be dangerous if misused, her gear was just as doubtless in a class by itself. The exploding jewels were really just the start of her anti-theft measures.
The Fat Lady had barely swung shut when the entirety of the Gryffindors spun around and stared at the Inverses. “What in Merlin’s Beard were you two doing?” asked an older boy, sounding awed.
Harry groaned but Lina was in her element. “The Elmekia Lance is a basic attack spell, shamanism, astral subtype. Yes, I know you don’t know what that means. No, I’m not giving you a full lesson right now – it’s been a long day and I would really rather get to bed. No, I’m not going to teach anyone magic until I know how it’ll interfere with your official lessons. Yes, I have taught students before. Yes, I will ask the professors about it. Any more questions?” Lina didn’t stop talking to wait for an answer. “No? Good. Where’s my bed?”
“Er,” said a prefect intelligently. “Boys’ dormitory to your right, stairs up and down. Girls’ same on your left. All your things have been brought. From the train, I mean. Um, goodnight.”
Harry and Lina both found their stuff at the top of the tower, though they didn’t know that they slept on opposite sides of the same wall. Harry roomed with Ron, Neville, and a few other boys he didn’t know while Lina bunked with Hermione and a gaggle of giggling girls.
Both Inverses were glad to see their clothes intact and calmly extracted their contents to the amazement of their new friends, but before long the day’s events caught up with them and they slept.
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(Posted Tue, 09 Aug 2011 08:08)
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