Hogwarts Part 7
Sights and Sorting
"FIRST YEARS! FIRST YEAR STUDENTS COME TO THE FRONT!"
Duo blinked at the sea of people swarming the fellow calling for first year students. If not for the people pushing past, he would have thought the entire train was full of first year students. "Hey... what's the deal?"
Quatre shrugged. "My guess is that the school's been closed for years, so all the students were in a state of limbo. Oh... leave your stuff, Duo. My eldest sister said that they'll deliver it to your room."
Duo nodded, but let Shi-chan out of her cage. "Now... if there are any other cats here, PLEASE try to get along with them nicely."
-Hmph! Forget me trying to be social. I'm staying with your stuff. Anyone try to take anything for keeps will get their hands scratched off.-
Duo smiled and scratched Shi-chan between her ears... just the way she liked. "Shi-chan... never let anyone tell you that a dog is better at guarding stuff. See you later." He followed the people towards the man holding a lamp.
"All right everyone! My name is Terrance... keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts. I'm glad that we finally reopened the school. This year is gonna run neck-and-neck with opening day for the record of most students in attendance, that's for sure. Okay, people... follow me to the boats."
Duo lost track of Quatre as people pushed past him, but he was used to being alone so he wasn't worried. He knew they were all heading to the same place. He doubted he'd see much considering how dark out it was. He kept pace and almost snickered when he sat down in what looked like a self-propelled boat. 'Please keep arms and legs inside the boat at all times.' He couldn't help but smile at his internal monologue. 'We ask that you refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and flash photography. Remember that the water is moving at the same speed as you are, only in the opposite direction.' Then he turned his attention to what he had thought was a bizarre constellation. "Oh man..."
Up ahead, shining with countless lights, was a castle right out of Duo's most wonderful dreams. It loomed there almost frightening in its size, but it offered a strange sense of comfort and welcoming as well. Duo wondered at its size. He figured that all five Gundams would have been able to be hidden in it comfortably. Duo shook his head of that thought. The Gundams were all gone. It was time for him to accept his new position in society. 'A wizard... I wonder what Father Maxwell would say to that.' That thought caused him to pause. True he had never been a religious sort, but the old priest's opinion had mattered to him. So did Sister Helen's, for that matter. The church looked upon those who practiced magic as practitioners of the devil's craft. Suddenly... going to school at Hogwarts didn't seem so grand.
*****
After disembarking, Duo followed the group of students entering the castle and climbing up the stairs. A willowy woman with long strawberry blonde hair flowing down her back and twinkling blue-green eyes stepped forward. She looked just as the storybooks and Halloween decorations had always shown witches to appear. A black dress and a cape with a crooked pointed hat. The only thing missing was a black cat.
The woman stepped forward. "Good evening, students. I am Professor Copperbottom, and I welcome you all to Hogwarts." Her voice was warm and inviting... like a mocha latte. "Now... after you go through these doors, you will be in the main dining hall. In there, you will be sorted into your houses. The houses are like your family. Now I must warn you not to expect to be placed within a certain house. You may be unpleasantly shocked. There is the occasional exception. Harry Potter was one, so long ago. Legend has it that he was originally to be placed in Slytherin, but was placed in Gryffindor instead." She shook her head as if realizing she was getting off track. "The four houses are Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin and Gryffindor. Rule breakers will cause their house to lose points, but the triumphs of students will gain points for their houses. At the end of each year, the house with the most points will win the house cup. This is a fine honor... not to be taken lightly. Now if you're all ready, we can go in." With that, she nodded and opened the doors to the main dining hall.
Duo's first impression was that the dining hall ALONE was big enough to house all five gundams. Looking up really took his breath away. Kitty had gone on and on about the dining hall at Hogwarts. Duo hadn't seen what the fuss was about... until that moment. It was like a shower of shooting stars were exploding into the most dazzling fireworks display he'd ever had the chance to see. Unicorns reared, Dragons breathed fire, there was even the occasional phoenix that took flight amongst the sparkling creatures that represented the four houses. Someone jabbed Duo in the back and Duo realized he'd just been standing there like a moron.
"They aren't real, dude. The ceiling is spelled. Man! They're going all out this year." The student smiled. "I'm Rick, by the way. Rick Cassidy. My mother calls me Richard, but I hate it."
Duo continued moving and spoke over his shoulder. "Duo... Duo Maxwell. I may run away and hide, but I'll never tell a lie!"
Rick nodded with a smile. "Good motto. It might look good on a coat of arms." He thought for a moment and then nodded again. "Fugure, Celare, Nunquam Mentiri." He laughed at the confused look Duo gave him. "It's Latin. It means Run, Hide, Never Lie. Your motto. I'll write it down for you sometime."
Duo smiled back, glad that he made an acquaintance so quickly. "Thanks! I'd like that!" He spotted Trowa and made his way to him and Quatre while someone was saying a silly rhyme. Had he been paying attention, he would have been shocked to see the rhyme was coming from a hat of all things. "I'll admit it... this place is amazing!"
Quatre chuckled. "It is better than I imagined." He nodded his head to Professor Copperbottom, indicating that she was about to speak.
"All right, students. When I call your name, sit in this chair here. I will then put the sorting hat on your head and you will be sorted into your houses." She looked at a list she was holding and started to call off names.
Duo watched with wide eyes as the hat yelled out the four houses in a random order. He guessed that the hat knew what it was doing since the students each look pleased with where they were being placed. When Catherine was placed into Ravenclaw, Duo grinned.
"Triton Bloom!"
"Man, Trowa. It's gonna take me time to get used to other people calling you that." Duo grinned at his tall friend.
Trowa smiled back and headed for the chair. His face remained calm as the hat was placed on his head, but he frowned briefly while it seemed to debate on something.
"RAVENCLAW!!!" The hat yelled out.
Duo turned to Quatre as Rick Cassidy was called. "I bet you're hoping to get into Ravenclaw as well, huh?"
It was another moment before the hat yelled. "GRYFFINDOR!!!"
Duo chuckled at Quatre's blush and was about to make another teasing remark.
"Wufei Chang!"
The remark died in Duo's throat as Wufei came into view. He couldn't help himself. "GO WU-MAN!!!" He put two fingers in his mouth and blew, causing a shrill whistle to sound.
Wufei froze and met Duo's eyes. After nodding in acknowledgement, he turned back to the podium and sat in the chair. A great deal of whispering was caused by his animal of choice. It was a bright emerald green dragon... just big enough to rest around Wufei's shoulders. It appeared to be asleep.
The hat was only on Wufei's head three seconds before it made a decision. "HUFFLEPUFF!!!"
Duo grinned as Wufei scowled at the name, but - from what he had heard - those in Hufflepuff were very honorable. Wufei would fit in without any problems. He decided to chat with Quatre for a bit while waiting to be called. They discussed the four houses for a while. Duo glanced over at the haughty expressions the students at Slytherin wore, and hoped he wouldn't be placed there.
"Duo Maxwell!"
Duo took a deep breath and felt as if every eye in the school was on him. He had to laugh at that thought. Every eye probably WAS on him. 'Paranoia... thy name is Duo.' He sat down and grinned wildly as the hat was placed on his head. He almost jumped at the quiet voice that started speaking in his mind. It felt ancient... as if the voice belonged to one who had been alive at the dawn of time.
((Hmmmm... where to put you. You're determined to do what it takes to succeed, but Slytherin would blow out that tiny spark awakening in you. The spark of hope and trust. It must be tended to carefully. Hmmmmm Hufflepuff would smother your free-thinking ways with their high ideals and Ravenclaw... well, you don't seem the type to dive into your studies. Oh hello? Oh my! Oh dear dear dear... yes yesyesyes... it's really the only choice for you considering what you've been through. I'll put you in...)) "GRYFFINDOR!!!"
Duo blinked as the hat was lifted off his head and numbly made his way to the Gryffindor table.
He made small talk and chuckled knowingly as Quatre was sent to Ravenclaw. He smiled as Quatre sat next to Trowa. They looked beautiful together, and he wished them the best. He turned to comment on something someone had said about Ravenclaw... but what happened took him completely off guard.
"Heero Yuy!"
Duo stared at the front as a familiar head came into view. 'No WAY,' he thought. 'What are the odds?' A part of him was elated that Heero was here. Then there was the part of him that was still on the vidphone staring at Heero's cold expression as Heero broke it off. No explanation, no regrets in his tone. It was just 'I'm leaving' and he had hung up. Just thinking about that moment hurt more than any beating ever had. He wasn't sure what he SHOULD feel, but the part of him that still loved Heero was screaming out a prayer that Heero would be in the same house. He jumped as Heero's prussian blue eyes looked into his own as the hat was lowered. Duo held his breath as he waited. It seemed to take forever for the hat to decide which house to place Heero in.
"GRY... WHA?!?!?"
Duo's breath caught in his throat. 'Gryffindor? Heero's gonna be in Gryffindor!? Why does it matter to me?' Then Duo snorted. 'Idiot! It's because, despite what he did, you're still in love with the jerk!' He was suddenly confused. 'Why did the hat stop? And why does it actually look... ANGRY?'
The hat DID look as if something was disagreeing with its system. The professors all stared at it in confusion. the hat had NEVER paused in the middle of placing the student. After another pause, the hat didn't yell out the house. It sounded almost... unhappy. "Slytherin."
Duo blinked in shock. 'No WAY! Heero does NOT belong in Slytherin!' He could make out Heero's lip movement... ninmu ryoukai. 'The BASTARD sees this as another mission! When I get my hands on him...' Then the hurt surfaced again. It was as if Heero was avoiding him.
He barely listened to the headmaster's speech, and he found himself bereft of appetite. He was just staring at nothing when he felt a gentle tug to his braid. He growled and spun to break the offending hand, only to freeze as Heero nodded and jerked his head in his way of saying 'We have to talk... NOW'. He excused himself and followed Heero.
As soon as they had left the sight of the other students, Heero turned back and yanked Duo into his arms. "Duo... Hilde was worried!"
Duo felt the hurt and anger bubble up. "HILDE was worried? Hilde was worried, but YOU weren't? Of course not! You NEVER worry!" He pushed away from Heero. "NINE MONTHS, Heero! You haven't seen me in nine months and all you can say is 'Hilde was worried'!? You son of a..." He pulled back his fist and punched Heero harder than he had ever hit anything. The crack that sounded satisfied the pain a little, but Duo hated doing it just the same. "You bastard! Do you REALIZE what you did to me when you left like that? You took away my hopes and dreams! You destroyed my trust in humanity!" He didn't notice the streams of tears falling out of his eyes, and wouldn't have cared that they were there if he HAD. "You almost KILLED me, Heero! Why? You never told me why!" The way Heero was looking at him cut deeply into his wounded spirit, and he found himself sobbing.
Heero wasted no time, and pulled Duo close again to comfort his one-time friend. To say he was shocked would have been an understatement. This was not the Duo who pretended to be tough to hide the hurt little boy inside. Something had broken Duo's mask, and it hurt that Heero hadn't been there when it had happened. He'd expected Duo to joke and laugh the time off. He'd expected to be welcomed back with open arms. He'd expected to tell Duo why he'd left and that he was willing to live with the character flaws because living without Duo had been hellish. He had never expected Duo to push him away. Of course... that stunt with the Sorting Hat probably hadn't helped. "Duo..."
"Heero... I'm really not in the mood to talk to you right now." Duo pushed away and wiped his face. "Look... if you want to be my friend, that's fine by me. But don't expect me to forgive and forget. If you want more with me, you'll have to work for it this time. You hurt me, Heero, more than anyone or anything ever had before. I can't... I mean I WON'T risk that again. I deserved better than what you did to me. I WON'T let you do it to me again. Do you understand me?"
Heero nodded dumbly.
"Good. I'm going back to dinner. See you tomorrow." With that, Duo turned and walked back into the main dining hall with his head held high.
TBC...
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