Chapter III

"Well Sora, I have to give you some credit," Ken said with a smirk as he crossed his arms. "I didn't think you'd do this. Mother's going to be furious that she wasn't told."

"And you'd rather her here?" Sora replied with an equally smug expression. "So she could ruin everything?" she readjusted her grip on the covered cage in her hand. “I think not.”

"Ha!" Dai said before he mussed up her hair. "I'll bet ten Sickles that you get a Howler within a week!"

“Dai!” exclaimed in indignation as she fixed her hair with her free hand.

Harry looked at Alexandre as Sora started an argument with her brothers. "Thanks for seeing us off. Leiko doesn’t know….yet, right?"

“She’s out doing…something.” Alexandre said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "And it was our pleasure," Alexandre said. "You two are sure you have everything?"

"We have our owls, Sora's snake, and our trunks with school supplies, and money for the train. There's nothing we forgot Uncle Alexandre." Harry said, rattling the items off as they paraded through his mind.

"All right then.” Alexandre glanced in a window of the Hogwarts Express. “Your things have been taken on the train all ready. You two should do the same." Alexandre glanced back at Sora and Dai who were bickering and Ken, who was shaking his head in frustration. "Make sure to write if you need anything. I am expecting good grades, Harry; from the both of you."

Harry gave a mock grimace as he tugged on Sora's robe. "Come on Sora."

"We'll settle this when I get back!" Sora glared at Dai and Ken who were doing their best to look innocent. "Goodbye Father." Sora gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I'll write when I can."

"No kiss for us?" Ken and Dai called after her.

"Oh, how could I forget my dear brothers," she said as she walked back and gave them each a swift punch. “I don’t think I need to give you both another.” She said as she stalked towards the open door of the train.

"They grow up so fast." Ken said wiping away a mock tear.

"Make sure you write, dear!" Dai called, waving his hand in a girlish manner trying to not crack up with laughter.

Sora rolled her eyes and gave an exasperated sigh before she walked onto the train with Harry, cage brushing against her robes. The hallway was rather empty, as most people had found their seats already. Harry started towards his usual cabin.

"When does the food trolley come around?"

"About halfway through the trip. Don't worry." Harry glanced at the cage in her hand. "That's your snake, right?"

"Yes. He's not too fond of bright light." Sora stopped in front of a door. "Is this the one?"

"This one." Harry said as he opened the door and saw his friends. "Hello Ron, Hermione."

"Harry!" Ron and Hermione exclaimed at the same time

They rose from their seats and Harry found himself wrapped in a tight hug from Hermione. He was certainly glad that he had two weeks respite at Whytemoor Manor for his bruises and such to heal. Ron clapped him on the back with a serious look on his face.

Where have you been?" Ron demanded. "I could have taken you to a Quidditch game!"

"I sent at least a dozen owls!" Hermione said, somewhat testily as they. "You said you could send mail! Why didn't you reply?"

Harry didn’t say anything for a moment. How was he supposed to explain that Uncle Vernon had made him write that? Of course, when he had pointed out in order to keep up the pretence he would actually have to send letters, he’d woken up a few hours later, head pounding and aching. The protective spells weren’t as effective as they had been a year ago.

"That would be my fault."

Harry stepped in, allowing Sora in as well, who took a seat between Ron and the window. Hermione and Ron's words dried up as they looked at her. She sat there looking at them, as Ron started to try to talk, babbling out incomprehensible words.

"Sora, these are my friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley."

"So…how do you know Harry?" Hermione asked in a cautious voice after she cleared her voice.

"Harry's very…close to me." Sora said, peering into the cage, sticking a finger in and wiggling it around.

Ron managed to choke out something unintelligible as Hermione arched an eyebrow. Harry laughed for a moment before he spoke.

"She's my cousin. Second cousin actually. I'm staying with her now. Her parents are my legal guardians."

"You mean you're gone from those Muggles?" Ron asked, turning to look at Harry.

"Yes."

"And where are you now?" Hermione asked.

"Whytemoor Manor. I got so caught up in everything, I forgot to owl you guys."

"Whytemoor Manor?" Hermione looked at him. "Are you sure?"

"That's what the place is called."

"Are you Sora de Vyns?" Hermione asked, looking at Sora suddenly. "The Sora de Vyns? Author of ‘Magical Beasts: The Hidden World’?"

Sora looked up, caution in her eyes. "Perhaps." she drew down the blinds, leaving a small bit of light to come through. She opened the cage door, whispering softly. "Why?"

"I have so many questions that I would like to ask you!" Hermione gushed.

Sora regarded Hermione for a moment. "If you can tell me what species this is, I'll answer any questions you have."

Harry watched as Sora pulled her hand out from the covered cage; it was covered in brilliant dark blue coils that went around her arm. Ron's eyes opened wide as Hermione looked critically at the reptile.

~ More humans? ~

Harry couldn't stop the quirk from coming to his lips as the snake flicked its tongue out and rested its head against Sora's hand. Sora looked at him with an amused gleam in her eyes before she shifted her attention.

"Any ideas, Ron?" Sora asked, looking at him.

"Me?" he squeaked in surprise. "Looks like a snake to me."

"Looks like an ashwinder, but it's not." Hermione looked very puzzled. "It's not a regular snake though."

Sora simply smiled as she uncoiled the snake from her arm. "I'm sure you have an idea Harry."

Harry shrugged. "I think it is an ashwinder."

"Very strange Sora. Where did you get this snake?" Hermione asked.

"What's your answer?"

"It's an ashwinder." Hermione said in a firm tone.

"Then I shall answer any questions you may have. This is a recently discovered subspecies of the ashwinder and it is very tame. They don’t die a few hours after leaving the fire. They make excellent pets and such."

~ You can quit showing me off. He's coming; I can smell him. ~ The snake flickered its tongue out rapidly.

Harry paused as Sora glanced at the snake, looking as if she wanted to reply. When Sora didn't do anything beyond stroking the head gently, he brushed it aside. Maybe he was imagining things.

"So…what's its name?" Ron asked, looking at the gleaming coils curiously.

"His name is," Sora paused as the snake made a slight hissing noise. "Nyme."

"Sora," Hermione began. "That section in your book on the mating rituals of the kneazle, how did you-"

Hermione's words were cut off as the door opened suddenly. When Harry looked up, he saw Draco Malfoy standing in the doorway. Nothing was said for a few moments as Draco looked around the cabin with a sneer. Harry glared when Draco’s eyes settled on Sora. She was staring back at him, her chin tilted upwards with an arrogant expression in her eyes, daring him to try something.

“Is there something you want Malfoy?” Harry asked icily.

"My my, a de Vyns cavorting with the Potter fan club." Draco sneered with a smug smirk. "Wouldn't your mother be proud."

Sora simply gave Draco a responding smirk. “My, it’s the infamous Draco Malfoy - good-looking, rich, and affluent for all the wrong reasons and the world’s biggest prat.” Sora gave a dry, derisive laugh. “Is this the part where I bow down in amazement or simply ignore you, much like last time after I proved you wrong?”

"For all the stupid buffoons you have around you, it’s not surprising that you don’t know how to train a horse." Draco retorted in a calm but rapid voice.

"That is odd, because you seemed to be the only one to suffer that particular mishap." Sora said coolly. "Oh Draco, I am sure you remember Nyme; he is…fond of you."

Nyme's ominous hissing now ended the bizarre exchange as he started to slither towards Draco. Draco gave Sora a scornful sneer before he closed the door with a slam. Nyme moved back to Sora's lap and coiled himself up.

"That was great! You got Malfoy to sod off just like that!" Ron turned to face Sora. "It sounded like you know him."

Sora simply shrugged, remaining silent.

"Are you one of his enemies?" Hermione asked. “Do you have some strange sort of relation to him?”

"To be honest, I'm not too sure what it should be defined as." Sora lapsed into silence for a moment. "Let's just say that I ended up besting him at one thing. I am sure you know about a Malfoy's pride."

"And how. Little git thinks he better than everyone else because he comes from an older family. They're all arrogant gits, just like the Malfoys." Ron muttered.

Harry and Hermione didn't say anything for a moment, as Sora's face remained the same.

"Er, Ron?" Hermione said after a few moments.

"Yes?"

"The de Vyns are an old Wizarding family, as old as the Malfoys."

Ron's face went bright red. "Uh…I'm really sorry. You're not bad. What I meant to say is-"

"I can see how you came under that impression. It's hard to get anything other than superiority from a Malfoy." Sora paused. "I hear the Chudley Cannons are your favourite team."

That seemed to dispel the tense air. Ron looked somewhat relieved. "I got a poster up on my wall at home. What's your favourite team?"

"The Cannons I suppose. I don't watch much Quidditch, though."

"I'll fix that." Ron said with a smile. "By the time I am done, you'll be a Cannon fan!"

Harry smiled as he watched Sora take Hermione's questions and talk with Ron as she petted the snake in her lap. Nyme's eyes opened briefly and locked on his; they were startling with their blackness. After a few minutes, the snake closed his eyes once more. Harry glanced at Sora once more before he looked out the window at the countryside; there was something else that Sora hadn't told him yet.

"Come on, you two! We'll want to get good seats to see Sora when she goes up." Hermione said as she led the way through the crowd to the Great Hall.

"Is it me or is she still as bossy as ever? You think she might have changed by now." Ron muttered to Harry as they hurried after her.

"It's not you." Harry said. "You know Ron; you seemed to talk an awful lot to Sora on the way here."

"It was just conversation." Ron said with a shrug. "What was I supposed to do? Gawk at her like a bloody fool? Though, she's gorgeous, Harry."

Harry gave something of a scowl. Judging from the way most of the boys' heads had turned when Sora stepped off the train, Ron wasn't the only one who thought the same thing. He would have to make sure that no one tried anything stupid; for their sake at least. They walked into the Great Hall and managed to get some seats close to the front where the teachers' table was. Harry looked around; noticing the first years weren't brought in yet.

"Be patient Harry," Hermione said. "They'll be coming in, don't worry."

"Easy for you to say," Ron said. "She's a seventh year being sorted with first years. How's that going to look to everyone else, 'Mione? I know I wouldn't like it."

"I suppose you have a point there." Hermione said after a moment's thought. "Let's hope she's in Gryffindor."

Harry didn't say anything; he was having something of a mixed reaction to this whole thing. The doors creaked open as the first years came in, Sora the only one virtually towering above the shorter, younger students. She stood there calmly, as the usual round of speeches was made and McGonagall took out the roster, picked up the Sorting Hat and started down. Harry watched somewhat anxiously as they passed the Ds and continues on. Sora's last name was de Vyns, but they must have placed her under V. After the last name was called, Sora was the last one left.

"Sora de Vyns!"

A buzz started around the Hall as Sora walked up to the front and took her seat, somewhat stiffly. McGonagall placed the hat on her head and stepped back. A few seconds later, there was an explosion of movement as Sora whipped the hat off her head and had her wand aimed at it, ready to blast it to pieces. Harry looked around as people started to talk even more. McGonagall placed the hat back on Sora's head after a brief, murmured explanation.

"Silence, please." McGonagall called out, making motions for quiet.

Nothing was heard as the hall became devoid of sound, barring a few feet being shifted and a robe or two being rearranged. The seconds ticked by, but the Hat said nothing. Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione before he looked back up at the front. The Hat couldn't be having that much trouble placing her into a house. A few people coughed, waiting anxiously to hear the verdict. Harry could have sworn that a few people started to doze off before the Hat finally spoke.

"Slytherin!"

That started a new buzz, people glancing and whispering as Sora made her way to the Slytherin tables and took a seat at the end, away from everyone else. As the food appeared on the table, Harry gave a worried look to Ron and Hermione before he glanced over at Sora. She was keeping to herself, barely touching any of the food. Harry looked back at his plate and tried to eat but found his appetite had suddenly vanished. Perhaps the Hat would have been right to place him in Slytherin all those years ago. But why would it place Sora there? She didn't display any Slytherin qualities besides a needed defence of slyness. He sighed and started to eat his dinner. Sora would be fine in Slytherin, even if Draco Malfoy was there.

Note

If you want to know what an ashwinder or a kneazle is, try finding a copy of "Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them" by Newt Scamander. It's a great little bestiary and it only costs 5.99 or 14 Sickles and 3 Knuts for the wizards. I didn't convert it, it said so on the back of the book. Besides, I really suck at math.

When Darkness Comes - Chapter Two || When Darkness Comes - Chapter Four