Well, sorry I´ve been busy with school and private life. But now here it is! The next (late) update!

I hope you enjoy it and don´t forget to review - last call: Hufflepuff or Griffindor?

Oh, and no, I did not read Alice in Wonderland like ever. Is it good?

And I still don´t own any of this!

11. A speech to remember

Flashes of lives, different, so different yet so close, so equal. A boy running away from hunters, one bullies other proffessionals. A boy fighting for his live...or was it lives?

Danger.

Loss.

Conflict.

Freak. Freak. Freak.

A boiler with overheated souce.

A man laughing.

Beloved people bound, never to escape.

A woman pleading.

No choice. Inevitable.

Screaming.

Explosion.

Green light.

0oOo0

"Harry! Harry! Are you alright?" Someone was slapping his face. "W...what?" Harry opened his eyes. There were lanterns above him, and the floor was shaking – the Hogwarts Express was moving again and the lights had come back on. He seemed to have slid out of his seat onto the floor. Ron and Hermione were kneeling next to him, and above them he could see Neville and Professor Lpin as well as Jazz helping Danny up who had so it seems fallen some time on him. The other boy seemed caght between groaning at his monster headache and glaring at Harry for a reason he could not think of.

He too, fel sick and when he put his hand to push his glasses back on, he felt cold sweat on his face. Ron and Hermione heaved him back onto the seat.

"Are you okay?" asked Hermione, her expression something between worried and horrified. "I´m fine" Harry insisted, while his friends looked at him concerned. They didn´t look convinced either. "Are you sure, mate?" Ron asked. Harry nodded.

Quietly he looked towards the door. The hooded creature had vanished. Confused, Harry turned to his friends: "What happened? Where´s that...that thing? Who screamed?" "No one screamed" said Ron, more nervously still. Harry looked around the bright compartment. Ginny and Neville looked back at him, both very pale, while Danny and Jazz conversed in hushed whispers by the window. Harry shook his head: "But I heard screaming..."

This time, he was interrupted by Danny. "I know" he started, unsure. When his sister nodded encouraging to him he continued: "I heard it too because of our bond. But it wasn´t real. Nothing was real. The boiler wasn´t neither was the green light nor the screaming. It was just a nightmare. Thanks for pulling me in."

Harrys eyes widened at that bitter statement and he opened his mouth to apologize or to defend himself, he wasn´t too sure. A loud snap beat im to it. Professor Lupin was breaking an enormous slab of chocolate into pieces. "Here" he said, handing both Harry and Danny extra large pieces. "Eat it, it will help." Harry took the chocolate, but didn´t eat it, while Danny quickly broke a piece of his piece off and handed it to Jazz before both ate it.

"What was that thing?" Harry asked. "A dementor" said Lupin, who was now giving chocolate to everyone else and Danny again. "One of the dementors of Askaban."

Everyone stared at him. Lupin crumpled up the empty chocolate wrapper and put it in his pocket. "Eat" he repeated. "It´ll help. I need to speak with the driver, excuse me..."

And he strolled past Harry and disapeared into the corridor.

Silence followed.

"I´ve read about them" Jazz finally spoke up and Harry decided to take a bite of his chocolate since both she and Danny still stood. To his great surprise he felt warmth spread suddenly to the tips of his fingers and his toes. The others followed his example. "They feed of the positive feelings and memories of people and leave only the negative ones behind. It sounds dreadful...and feels even worse as we just experienced."

Harry glanced at her and nodded: "But what happened?" Danny decided to answer first: "Well, the Dementor entered and suddenly everything seemed slow motion. You went stiff and fell out of your seat." "And started twitching" Hermione added. Ron nodded: "I thought you were having a fit or something."

"Danny stood up and reached for you, but as soon as he touched you, he too went stiff and fell down twitching, too. But luckily no one else did" Jazz explained. Hermione took over: "And Professor Lupin stepped over you and walked towards the Dementor. He said `None of us are hiding Sirius Black under our cloaks. Go.´ But the Dementor didn´t move, so Lupin muttered something and a silvery thing shot out of his wand and at the Dementor, so it turned away and sort of glided away."

"It was horrible" Neville concluded in a higher voice than usual. Ginny who was huddled in a corner looking nearly as bad as Harry felt before, gave a small sob and continued nibbling at her chocolate.

"I wouldn´t have fallen if not for our bond" Danny finally said. "But that´s okay. At least you were not alone in that nightmare."

0oOo0

When Lupin came back, he announced that there were only ten minutes left to go to didn´t talk much during the remainder of the journey. At long last, the train stopped at Hogsmeade station and there was a great scramble to get out. It was freezing on the tiny platfom, rain was driving down in icy sheets.

"Firs´ years this way!" Hogwarts golden trio heard the familiar voice and they turned and saw the gigantic outline of Hagrid at the other end of the platform, beckoning the terrified-looking new students forward for their traditional journey across the lake. Jazz and Danny simply gaped at him, trying to come up with an explanation for why this man was even bigger than their father. Quickly the three friends pulled the siblings into their midst and together they fought themselves over to where the half gigant stood through the mass of people shunting them away along the platform. It wasn´t an easy feat but together they managed.

Hagrid took one glance at the two additional people in their friendgroup before his face split into a wide grin: "Jazz and Danny, I take it? Welcome to Hogwarts! You´re right going here, as it´s your first journey. How was it?" Glancing at Hermione, Harry and Ron, he added: "All righ´ you three?"

Harry decided to answer as both Fenton siblings seemed to be still in some sort of shock: "It could be worse, Hagrid. The dementor was just really nasty, but we´re okay now." Hagrid visibly shuddered at this reminder of his short stay in Askaban, but managed a small smile: "That´s good to hear. Now run along, you three, I´ll take care of Danny and Jazz."

The olden trio nodded, bit their goodbyes and molded into the seemingly endless stream of students going to the carriages, leaving the Fentons to stand a little akward and lost next to the half-giant surrounded by dozens of first-years which gaped a little confused and scared at the three of them.

Finally Jazz found herself back into the reality and – back in overprotective sister mode – snapped: "Hello to you, too, and now would you mind staring elsewhere?" Instantly most children looked away or focused on Hagrid instead. The half gigant didn´t seem to mind the attention at all, instead he sent the children happy smiles and said: "Alrigh´, firs´ years follow me!"

0oOo0

Jazz was glaring when they entered the castle, following in the stream of first years the strict looking witch who had intruduced herself as the debuty headmisstress Profssor McGonnagal. "You never said it was that kind of an amazing view" the teen chided her brother, a bit mad that he had decided that kind of info as non-relevant. The boy shrugged helplessly: "Well, what can I say? I only had the pleasure of seeing it in broad daylight and while that is only half as impressive – which is still pretty impressive – it´s not like it was my main intention to remember how impressive it really looked as I was already very distracted by more important matters, for example falling to my doom or escaping unseen." Rolling her eyes his sister let the matter fall for now.

McGonnagal lead them to a big room and told the first years to stay there to wait, before turning to the american siblings: "Fentons, if you would please follow me?" Glancing at eachother, worried that they did something wrong as the witch gave them that expression they quickly followed her quietly, which caused thedebuty headmistress to smile. "There´s no need to be worried, really, I just want a quick word in my office" she assured them. Nodding the siblings lost a bit of their tension, though they still didn´t dare to speak up while the Professor lead them up a marble staircase and along a corridor.

Finally they reached her office, a small room with a large, welcoming fire, where they were greeted by the view of Hermione already seated in one of the seats, Harry in another while a to Danny familiar looking witch fussed about him. Danny quickly felt the colour draining from his face as he recognized the stern witch as the medic witch. Searching for escape routes and/or help he was disappointed to find Jazz and Hermione had already left the room with McGonagal, while the medic witch now glanced up before a dangerous glint entered her eyes.

Danny gulped.

"Mr. Fenton" she greeted coldly, pressing a piece of chocolate into her patients hand who seemed relieved to be left alone for now. "Thanks, Danny. I never thought she would leave me alone" was the cheery thought projected through the bond, as the bestacled boy quickly stood up and made his exit as inconspicious as he could: "You really are a life saver. I´ll wait outside, alright?" Danny just glared: "Traitor."

"It´s all the same with all of you" the witch muttered, ignoring Harrys exit and Dannys complains that he was fine. "All acting so strong whe you´re already delicate..." "I´m not delicate!" Danny snapped. Madam Pomfrey ignored him, feeling his forehead before aking his pulse: "That´s what you all say. And how dare you to escape my hospital wing, do you have any idea what that could have done to your health?" "I´m fine!" Danny insisted annoyed. "I have half a mind to get you to spend tonight in the hospital wing..." "...and I would just escape again" Danny promised. "I´m fine, really. I just collapsed thanks to Harry and this stupid wizarding bond. I´m really fine."

Doubtfully Madam Pomfrey regarded him for another moment, eyes hard with frustration, before they softened and she pressed another piece of chocolate in his hands: "I guess so. I have no idea how you did it, but I´m sure I would have to watch you 24 to make sure you stay in bed. I really have no idea how you escaped, you´re the first one, ever...not even they managed to get out of my hospital wing. I always caught them..." Danny glanced at her, confused: "Who are they?" "That´s not important right now" she quickly said and with that the matter seemed cleared as she guided him outside, where they reunited with Harry, Jazz, Hermione and McGonnagal.

Quickly the Professor told the Griffindor students to already go to the feast, before she guided the siblings another way down until they found a slightly hidden side entrance into the great hall, where they could already hear the headmasters welcome speech: "On a happier note, I am pleased to welcome four new teachers to our ranks this year. Firstly, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. As our second appointment, well, I am sorryto tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in additionto his gamekeeping duties."

Thundering applause followed this anouncement and Danny and Jazz glanced at eachother, a dark sense of foreboding filling them.

"Lastly" Professor Dumbledore continued. "I´m sorry to say that our former Muggle studies teacher, ..." Jazz stopped listening after that. "No" she said, paling drastically, having counted the weirdness of the last days up to this morning together into one horrifying picture. "No, no, no." Blessfully oblivious as always Danny glanced at her worriedly: "Jazz? What´s wrong?" The redhead just shook her head, before quickly turning to Professor McGonnagal: "Professor is there any way to deelect Muggle Studies right now?" The witch looked confused before shaking her head: "No, sorry Miss Fenton. There isn´t. You´ll have to wait until next year to elect your studies again." "Shit" muttered Jazz.

Danny glanced between them, confused, until Dumbledore solved what already Jazz had figured out: "...and as there were complains that Muggle Studies wasn´t enough up to date with todays muggles, we hired a pair of muggle scientist directly from America who were already aware of the existence of magic to teach you about muggles."

Dannys eyes widened with realisation, before he turned to his sister, grinning widely: "Well, shit, Jazz." His sister just glared.

"I am pleased to introduce you to Professors Maddie and Jack Fenton, this years muggle studies teachers." Silence followed, before someone started clapping enthusiastic. After a short "ow" other people followed though not as enthusiastic as the first applauder.

"And now" Dumbledore continued. "Since their children are a witch and a wizard they have come here for studying, too. Please welcome Jasmin and Daniel Fenton, joining us in fitht and third year."

"And that´s our cue" Danny mumbled, not too keen on entering the room, knowing that their parents would embaress them whether purpousfully or not. "Don´t be a baby" Jazz muttered. "You only have half a life to loose due to embaressment, mine can still go fully." "And that makes dying of shame so much better" sassed Danny, before Jazz dragged him into the room.

Instantly all eyes were on the duo and most pupils gaped without shame. Danny instantly wanted to shy away from the attention, Jazz steady hand on his shoulder being the only thing keeping him visible. Some kids started talking and pointing, remembering the strange incient at the end of the last year, how Potters missing twin showed up by falling from he sky and his strange resemblance to this American boy.

Luckily the strange awkwardness of the mystery involving the boy-who-lived, his twin the boy-who-fell-from-the-sky and the American muggleborn standing akwardly next to his sister in front of everyone was broken by the happy shoutof Jack Fenton: "Jazzerincess, Danny-o! Had a good trip here on the train?" His children paled and their mother continued the embaressment without a second thought: "Jazz, is Danny okay? Are you okay sweetie? I heard you collapsed on train. Those dementors really sound like a nasty piece of work." "How dare them to attack us Fentons! We should blast them with the Fenton-bazooka into the next millenia!" Jack finished and pulled said huge weapon out of nowhere as if expecting a dementor, or worst a ghost to pop up out of nowhere, too, in this moment.

Most pupils gasped at the display in horror while those who didn´t laughed at the hilarity of the situation. Behind the siblings McGonnagal had come inside and accidently dropped the stool on which an old, shaggy hat sat in shock at the chaos in font of her. Said hat fell hard to the ground and suddenly started complaining angrily: "Watch it, woman!" Which sent the pupils into another round of gaping and laugher.

Among the chaos Jazz noticed that her poor little brother, still with a glowing red head from embaressment started to flicker from view. Anger surged through her, rolling like a blazing fury and she embraced it: "SHUT UP!"

Her voice rolled through the hall, amplified by fury and magic, leaving everyone in the room with their ears ringing. Embracing her little brother overprotectively, she glared at everyone who dared to open their mouths at all. Then she turned to their parents.

"How dare you" she said vernom dripping from her voice. "Once just once, we didn´t want to be the ´Fenton-kids from that loony family´ and what happens? No, we don´t get any chance. We couldn´t even get sorted before you had to embaress us." Jack looked apologic and Maddie opened her mouth for an excuse, but Jazz cut her off: "No, I don´t want to hear an apologize. That just doesn´t cut it anymore. This is just like the ghost situation in Amity all over again. Do you even know what that does to the human psyche? No, you don´t. You haven´t read the psychology books I did. You don´t know. We just wanted to fit in for once and have relatively normal school days, which we can enjoy and in which we can learn."

Silence followed and when Jazz looked at her brother, he had almost returned to his normal, pale skin tone, carrying a small, thankfull smile. "Thanks, Jazz. But I guess the last point only counts for you." Jazz smiled back.

Slowly some of their audience started to chuckle in sympathy and understanding before the Ravenclaws suddenly started applouding loudly, having figured something out before the others did. Not really understanding their reasons, but having each their own most pupils followed, showing their empathy for the duo. Jazz turned to the magical children in front of them and hugged Danny close, a move which normally would embaress the boy now only assured them of the unconditional support his sister would always give him.

And then the hat spoke up from the ground where he through all the trouble still sat: "Jasmin Fenton: RAVENCLAW!"

While McGonnagal quickly moved to pick the hat up, the great hall cheered and Jazz waved at her new table, before joining them, smiling brightly, the tension of before forgotten.