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The Dark Circle	By : SisterGryffindor Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > General Views: 4815 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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Chapter List
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Alerick stood at the base of the stairs, feeling his stomach flutter with nerves such as he had never experienced before. He had already made enemies here. That witch and her little grunt had both gone to Slytherin; he would be in a world of trouble on his own. He was truly fortunate Erik was here because he just knew they'd be after him all year.

He watched as Tonya stepped up onto the dais and took a seat on the stool as the others had before her. She looked up at the hat as the manky old thing was placed on her head. A moment of silence passed before the hat sang out "Ravenclaw!"

Applause rose from the Ravenclaw table and she slipped down off the stool, giving Alerick a wink as she hurried past. "Good luck!" she whispered.

“Thanks.” He murmured.

"Alerick Malfoy." Professor Justucky called out, reading the next name on his list of new students. Alerick moved up and took his place on the stool, feeling more nervous than ever. He had to get into Slytherin even if those two pureblood fools were there. He and his Prince belonged in Slytherin; it was meant to be. He had to be there. There was truly no other choice. Several minutes passed with no word from the thing. He stared up at the brim, feeling confused. What was taking so long? It certainly hadn’t taken this long for any of the others so far…

“Strong mind, good capacity for learning, brave to a fault, compliant…” a voice murmured in his head.

“What’s all this rubbish?” he murmured softly, then realized it must be the voice of this manky old hat. “Slytherin house. It has to be Slytherin; its the only choice…” he thought as firmly as he could.

Silence again, then, "Gryffindor!" the hat finally called out and Alerick froze, eyes wide and staring as applause arose from the Gryffindor table to welcome their new member.

"Ah, there you are. Congratulations my lad; off you go now…" The teacher beamed at him.

Alerick looked at him and frowned. “No, sir. It’s not right. It’s made a mistake. It’s completely wrong. Make the hat do it again."

The teacher stared at him in dumbfounded surprise. "Make it…? My boy, we don't make the hat do anything…" he began, unsure.

"Its WRONG, sir. I don't belong in Gryffindor." The applause was dying off and people were making confused noises, but he didn't care. "Make it do it again, if you please!"

Several at the Slytherin table were snickering now, including that bully girl and her friend. "He doesn't want to be a Gryffindor!" she tittered to her flunky.

At the Gryffindor table, there was confusion but some anger at him for trying to refuse their house. “What, we’re not good enough for you Malfoy?” he heard someone mutter.

"Step down, young man. You have been sorted into your house and we have five more students to sort before anyone is allowed to eat. Step down!" Professor Justucky ordered.

“If you are unable to do anything, I assure you I MUST speak to the headmaster…” Alerick began. He knew where to go but he was unsure how well he, as a first year student, would be listened to.

“You may do whatever you wish, young man, AFTER you get down from that stool and allow us to finish the sorting.” He returned, taking the hat off Alerick’s head.

Alerick hesitated, then slowly slipped down, feeling completely dazed.

Gryffindor. Merlin help him, he was a Gryffindor.

How had this happened? He was supposed to be Slytherin! He numbly allowed his feet to carry him down off the dias.

He hardly noticed Erik until the taller boy placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “It will be alright, Alerick.” He assured, though he did look a little concerned about the blonde boy.

He gave Erik a faint smile in gratitude that he was there, and then moved slowly to the Gryffindor table. Several people mumbled greetings and a few simply watched him move to their table, without any word in greeting. Angel had made room beside her for him; he walked to her side and sat down there in silence, still in shock, his eyes downcast.

"It's all right, Alerick; grandfather didn't say you had to be in Slytherin…" she said in a soft, reassuring tone.

“I know, but… my prince… Mallek. I have to be there for him but I won't…" he began, trying to explain. It had all gone horribly wrong. If he could not get the headmaster to allow him a second sorting, it was all wrong…

She put a comforting hand over his. "We don't know that he won't be with us too." She reasoned.

His dark spiraling thoughts halted, a glimmer of light allowed in by her reassurance. Could they still be together in Gryffindor? Of course they could… he was in Gryffindorr, so Mallek could be as well…"You think so…?" he looked at her hopefully.

Angel smiled and nodded. "Of course; he'll be sorted the same as us. It could happen. Many kids here who have family who came before end up in the same house. I know it happened with Rosie’s family, all the Weasleys have been Gryffindors."

He took a deep breath, and then let it out. There was no use stressing out over it; he had to eat to keep his strength in balance. He would speak to the headmaster and see what he could do to change things; until then he had no choice but to accept the current situation. "All right; we'll just have to wait and see. Until then I will do my best at whatever task is set to me."

"Look, its Lazlo's turn." She said, and Alerick looked to see Lazlo sit on the stool.

The teacher paused and then set the hat on the sandy-haired boy's head. It was there only a moment before the hat called out "Slytherin!" Lazlo glanced at the teacher then slipped off the stool and hurried to his new table with barely a glance at his family.

"Well that's a relief. ” Angel commented. “To be honest, I was afraid he'd get into Hufflepuff."

“That could have been horrible.” Alerick murmured.

"Only one more to be sorted." Rosie said, sliding in on the other side of Alerick.

"Yes, Erik's next…"

Professor Justucky consulted his list then looked at Erik who stood quietly waiting to be sorted. "And who are you, son? I don't have you on my list."

"My name, Professor Justucky, is Erik Malfoy.” He performed a flawless formal bow without removing his eyes from those of the teacher. “I need to be sorted today, sir." He said quietly as he straightened. He had sent his duffel bag with one of the house elves earlier so he would not have to lug it about, he just needed a house now.

"Erik Malfoy?" he frowned, reading through the list again. "I don't see…"

The boy started up the steps and moved to the stool. "I need to be sorted." He repeated.

"Just a moment, young man." Headmaster Minerva McGonogall rose to her feet, frowning. "Let me see that, Joshtin." She said, holding her hand out to the professor as she approached them.

Erik simply ignored her and took his place on the stool.

McGonogall gave the dark-haired boy a cross look and took the list, reading through the names. "We have already seated our only Malfoy for this year. Tell me, young man, did you receive your placement letter?"

Erik was ready with the answer; he and his sister had practiced this for days. "There was a mistake, Headmaster; I did not receive one."

"Everyone gets a letter when they are due to attend." She frowned, looking at the list once more.

"I'm supposed to be here." He answered doggedly.

"You will not be sorted until we determine why you are not on the list." She informed him.

"The hat chose for everyone else. Why shouldn't it choose for me? I'm the same as anyone else here, why should I be treated differently than the rest of the first year students? You wouldn’t want it said that you have a prejudice against the Malfoy family, Headmaster." Erik said.

“I have no such prejudice!” she insisted immediately, growing more irritated and angry. This boy was definitely a Malfoy, full of himself and sure he was going to have everything he wished.

"Then let the hat decide. I know I'm not the first one to show up here without a letter. My cousin researched it before I came; there have been five times in the past that students have shown up and had no letter."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "Researched this, have you?"

"I wanted to be sure you'd let me in without the letter." He shrugged innocently. Again, the truth had been his best defense. Of course, four of them had been from other countries, but he wasn't going to tell them that.

"This is highly unusual…" She frowned.

"If you don’t mind, headmaster; I really am hungry." Erik added, hoping to spur her into motion. This was taking far too long and everyone was staring. He was unaccustomed to being the center of attention, but would bear it for this one day. This was not for himself, but for his prince.

"What do we do?" Professor Justucky asked urgently, looking worried.

Headmaster McGonogall shrugged. "Why not? Put the hat on the boy." She instructed. Erik did not smile, simply waiting for the hat to be put on his head.

The professor hesitated. "Are you sure…?"

"Must I do it?" she asked, reaching for the hat with a very cross expression on her wizened face.

"No, of course, I…" he stepped forward and placed the hat on Erik's head.

Erik waited for the hat to call out something as it had with all the other kids but instead he seemed to hear a voice speak in his head.

"You are here but this is wrong; you are one that does not belong." The hat's irritating singsong voice sounded just above his ears. He looked at the teachers but no one was reacting; it was talking only to him. The professor and Headmaster were watching in silence, waiting.

"If you know that, then you also know that I must be here. I am his protection; I am to be here…" he thought back at it, wondering if somehow it would hear him.

"Those who attend here are of proper age; you have not reached that stage." It returned.

"If I am young, it is only by three weeks. I am nearly eleven. You must allow me to attend. I know more than most first years know. I have been trained and tutored all my life, especially for this day. You have to put me in a house. You must put me in Gryffindor, I have to protect him. There are students already who intend him harm. I must protect him."

"As much as you feel this in your heart I fear that this protection is not yours to give this year."

"You must…! Please, please just put me in Gryffindor and I will study, I will study very hard…"

"You do not have Gryffindor inside of you. You are meant for another house."

Erik focused all his attention on his one desire. "Gryffindor. Gryffindor House. You must place me in Gryffindor, please, Gryffindor…"

This time the hat spoke aloud. "Headmaster, this student is too young. He must return next year."

"As I suspected." She said, picking the hat off Erik's head even as he snatched at it. She handed the hat to Professor Justucky, and then turned to the tables. "Let the feast begin." She said in a clear tone, and the tables were filled with golden plates of food. McGonogall then turned back to face the boy. "Step down, young man. You are to be returned to your home." She told him,

"No." Erik glared at her, though he did step down off the stool. "I will be remaining here."

She raised her eyebrows. "The decision has been made, young man. You will not be attending classes this year. Now come along with me." She ordered.

"You don't understand…" he began.

"I understand better than you might believe." She answered. "Now, you will follow me. I will be escorting you home myself. We'll just discuss with Lucius just where you're supposed to be."

Erik's expression darkened with anger, his fists clenching at his sides. "You don’t understand, you MUST let me stay. I have to…"

"Silence!” she hissed the command, and Erik found he was unable to speak. "Now. You will follow me."

-.

Lucius Malfoy stood just beyond view of the house, his arms folded. "All right, I'm waiting.” He announced.

Six year old Remus Severus glanced at his father from several yards away, then took a deep breath. He’d been practicing this for weeks… and he really wanted to show what he had learned. He held out his hand and his broom leapt into his hand, then he jumped up and swung it under him to take off. He grinned and pulled back, leaning in close to the sleek broomstick his father had just bought him, accelerating and shooting skyward first with his blonde hair streaming behind his head. He then did a sharp bank and flew directly past his father, missing him by only inches, sending his robes flying to the side with the wind from his passing.

The elder wizard chuckled softly, quite impressed. Young Remus had taken to his flying lessons just as Draco had; the boy was simply a natural. He watched as the boy then pulled back sharply, executed a loop, slowing somewhat in speed as he began flying once more toward his father across the yard. Lucius tensed slightly at the next move the boy made, one hand resting on his hidden wand. He hiked up his feet, planted first one foot upon the handle of the broom, then the other. He raised his rump and released the broom, balancing on only his feet as he slowed to stop about a foot from his father, the broom holding him just at eye level with him.

"Bravo, son. Excellent." Lucius smiled, reaching out and plucking the boy off the broom to give him a tender embrace.

Remmy laughed and hugged him back. "I've practiced all week on standing on the broom. I did it just a foot from the ground at first, but it’s not hard to do anymore…"

"Just be sure to be particularly careful with your new moves; your mother doesn't want you doing such outlandish stunts on your broom." He cautioned.

Remus Severus looked confused. "That’s just silly, father. My trainer says I'm ready for it. Why can't I?"

"No matter how old you get, my strong and brave young lad, your mother will still think of you as her little one.” He answered.

“But I’m SIX now, father…”

“I know. But you must remember; I did not say not to practice them, I told you to simply be very careful." He corrected. "And don't let your mother see you do them."

“All right father… I’ll practice out beyond the barn.” Remmy smiled at his father and hugged him again.

Lucius chuckled. "So where has your sister run off to? Has she slipped back out to the barn again?"

"Yes, she loves that baby hippogriff she got for her birthday." He answered, rolling his eyes.

Lucius never would have believed that any offspring of his would be as addicted to animals as that half-breed giant back at Hogwarts had been, but his daughter Lilly was not far from that level. She loved every animal she ever saw, and the more dangerous it was it seemed she found it more adorable. "It does seem to be a well-trained little creature."

"He ought to be; she spends every waking moment with him." He chuckled.

"Master Malfoy…" a squeaky voice sounded at his side and Lucius set down his son. "You is having a visitor…"

"A visitor?" Lucius frowned. "Show them into the study; I will be along shortly."

Without another word, the house elf bowed to the ground and vanished.

Lucius frowned at that behavior; the elves only did that when they knew he was about to be infuriated over something. Who the bloody hell was here that would make his excellent mood turn foul?
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The Dark Circle