| Notes � The chapters seem to be getting longer. The last one was 8 pages long so I�ll try and keep them all at that length. *Sweatdrop* god help me! Chapter Five The door swung open to reveal a women dress in a tight red uniform. Her brown eyes peered through her round glasses and her hair had been divided into two buns and tied tightly with ribbons. �First Years Lady.� �Thank you Howard. I�ll take them from here.� Howard gave Duo a little wave before walking away. �Form a single line.� Lady Une barked. �It is time for you to be sorted into your house. The four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has it�s own noble history and has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are here at Sanq, your triumphs will earn you house points while rule breaking will cause you to lose them. At the end of the year the House with the most points is awarded the house cup. A great honour. The sorting ceremony will take place in a few minutes. Came inside and wait in silence!� �Nearly talks as much as you do Duo.� Heero smirked moving into line behind Duo. He saw Quatre glare at him. Quatre seemed to have taken a huge liking to Duo but Heero wasn�t about to let Quatre push him away from Duo. Duo stuck his tongue out at Heero which received it�s own glared from Une who obviously didn�t approve of fun, Lady Une led the line of students into the entrance hall. �Holy shit.� Duo swore. The entrance hall could have fit the whole of the Dursley�s house in it. A grand staircase lead up and away in more ways than Duo could count. A load of flaming torches hung from the stone walls showing off the various corridors and doors that led away from the entrance. A large double wooden door, much like the main front door, stood off to the right. It was through these doors that Une led them. Duo stared at all of the other students. It was just like a wave of black. Four long tables were in the centre of the hall and at the end was another long table were all the teachers were sitting. �Look up.� He heard Heero whisper from behind and he lent his neck backwards. A clear night sky with millions of stars shining down upon the whole school. At the head of the teachers table sat the man who Duo had seen on the chocolate frog card, sleek shinning brown hair and blue eyes. He wore a navy blue robe with silver linings. �DUO!� Heero hissed grabbing Duo�s braid and tugging it gently. Duo hadn�t realised the line had stopped moving. Lady Une was placing a stool in front of the teacher�s table and on it she place an old and tatty hat. Duo raised an eyebrow at the hat. �Um Heero?� He muttered out of the corner of his mouth. �What�s going on?� �Don�t know.� Just as Heero spoke a mouth appeared at the brim of the hat and it burst into song. �Oh you may not think I�m pretty, But don�t judge on what you see, I�ll eat myself if you can find, A smarter hat than me. You can keep your bowlers black, Your top hats sleek and tall, For I�m the Sanq Sorting hat, And I can cap them all� (1)� The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the tables and then became still again. �So we�ve just got to try on the hat.� Duo breathed and he heard Heero chuckle. �What you think we had to do?� Duo was suddenly very glad that Heero was behind him and couldn�t see the blush that rushed across his features. �Well trying on a hat isn�t *that* bad but must we do it in front of everyone?� Heero didn�t get a chance to reply as Une stepped forward and cleared her throat. �When I call your name, you will come and sit on the stool and place the hat so you can be sorted. Barton, Trowa!� A boy with a strange haircut stepped forward and did what Une had said. There was a moment silence. �GRYFFINDOR!� The table on the far left exploded with cheers and Trowa went over to join them. �Bloom, Catherine!� �HUFFLEPUFF.� The table of the right cheered and clapped. And so it went on. �Boot, Terry!� �RAVENCLAW.� The table second from the left clapped this time. �Chang, Wufei!� �GRYFFINDOR.� And so it went on and on. �Malfoy, Draco!� �SLYTHERIN� �Maxwell, Duo!� As Duo stepped forward the whole hall started to buzz. Duo�s eyes scanned the room looking for a friendly face as he walked to the stool. �Maxwell did she say?� �Maxwell? As in The Maxwell�s?� It was like a snake hissing his name over and over and Duo placed the hat on his head, it was far too big and fell over his eyes. �Not Slytherin.� He muttered over and over again and he thought he heard the hat laugh softly. �Not Slytherin? There isn�t much other choice then. You would be great in Slytherin but as you fear what might happen to you if you join them I better put you in GRYFFINDOR!� Duo lifted that hat off and sighed as he stood to walk towards the Gryffindor Table. He didn�t notice that the Gryffindor students were standing up or Heero�s twin brothers were cat calling �We Got Maxwell.� To the rest of the school. He sat down in an empty seat and banged his head against the table. �Well done. I�m Percy Yuy.� �Hi.� Duo shook the hand that Percy held out to him and turned his attention back to the rest of the sorting. �Peacecraft, Relena!� �GRYFFINDOR!� �Raberba Winner, Quatre!� �GRYFFINDOR!� Until there was one left. �Yuy, Heero!� �GRYFFINDOR!� Heero slid next to Duo and smiled as his brothers all cheered him. Duo stared at the table, there were bowls, dishes and knives but no food. He pulled a puppy face and Fred quickly reassured him. �Don�t worry. There will be food in a minute just�� He pointed at the Teacher�s Table where Khushrenada had just stood up. �Welcome! It�s a new year and I know you�re all hungry so I�ll shut up and let you eat,� Duo glanced back at the table and his jaw dropped open. �Shoot.� The table was covered from head to toe. Every inch had some food on it. �Eat up!� The Dursley�s had never stared Duo but there was always Dudley ready to steal Duo�s food. Duo made a serious mistake of looked at Heero before he started his own dinner. Heero was eating what looked like a fish stick. His tongue licked his fingers cleaned and Duo had to bite back a moan. �Duo?� DUO!� Duo looked quickly at Fred who was smirking at him. �Before you even *do* anything you�ll have to talk to *me* first!� �Why�s that?� Duo asked, trying to sound innocent while squirming on his chair to hide the hard on he had under the table. Why was it whenever he looked at Heero this reaction happened? Fred placed a finger on his lips and Duo�s eyes went wide. �No I was just� um I was�� �I understand.� Duo blushed and lowered his head hiding his face behind the long strands of chestnut hair. �Lord help me.� Duo muttered and refined himself from looking at Heero while food was on the table. Duo sighed and started on his dinner. It passed with conversations about blood types. Heero was explaining to Trowa about his parents both being witch and wizard but Trowa was only a half, his mother a witch and his father a muggle. While Quatre and Relena had latched onto Percy and were both engaged in conversation about School Work and Lessons. Duo just let the talk swirl over him and eat silently. �You ok Duo?� Trowa asked. �Yeah I�m fine.� Trowa nodded and turned back to his dinner. Duo sat watching the tall boy for a minute. Trowa�s green eyes kept flashing down to where Quatre was sitting with Percy. Soon the main course disappeared and after a few minutes the puddings took their place. With too much food and drink Duo felt very faint when Khushrenada stood up and gave out a few notices and bide them good night. Duo didn�t hear what he said just a mumble of words. Percy ordered all the Gryffindor first years to follow him. It was Heero that pulled Duo from his chair. As they neared the entrance hall a teacher wearing a silver mask pushed his way pass. �Itai.� Duo groaned, his vision blurred, the scar on his forehead burned red hot and if it hadn�t been for Heero and Quatre, who were both standing directly behind Duo, he would have been on the floor. �DUO!� Heero held Duo tightly while Quatre checked his temperature. �Are you alright Mr Maxwell?� Duo�s violet eyes blinked open to see Khushrenada leaning over him. He was aware of Heero�s arms around him but when he tried to get his mouth to work he couldn�t seem to form the words he wanted. �That was very rude of Professor Marquis. I�ll have a word with him. Please see Mr Maxwell safely to his bed.� Duo wasn�t listening probably and he caught the words �Maxwell� and �Bed� and Duo nodded in agreement. He let Heero and Quatre half drag and half support him away after Percy. Duo�s mind shut down completely as he was taken from the main hall, through corridor after corridor and up staircase after staircase until they arrived at the Gryffindor Common Room. Percy directed them up another staircase and once they reached the top Heero laid Duo on one of the five beds, he made sure Duo was tucked in and asleep before seeking his own bed. Duo couldn�t recall in the morning when it was exactly he fell asleep, or what he dreamed off but he felt fine and didn�t listen to Quatre or Heero when they ordered him to go to the nurse. *** �Look over there!� �What?� �It�s Maxwell!� �Oh where?� �The boy with the really long hair!� �He is *so* cute!� Duo smirked at that comment but Heero didn�t seem to find it at all funny. The whispers had followed Duo from Monday Morning and it was now Friday and people were still stopping to stare at Duo. It was very nerve racking but Duo loved the attention he was getting and although he couldn�t remember anything about what happened when he was younger he guessed it must have been one hell of a thing in stopping Shinigami cause he was being treated like a hero! On the Tuesday Duo and Heero had been caught late for lunch, trying to force their way into the 3rd floor corridor, which was off bounds. Luckily, it took the caretaker so long to decide how to �teach them a lesson� as he put it, that they were saved by Professor Barton. He showed them the way to the hall, ignored Heero while he stammered to Duo about how pretty Duo�s eyes and hair were. Duo thanked him but was secretly wishing it was Heero who was telling him those things. It took Heero the whole afternoon to cool down and decide that killing Barton would *not* be a good idea. The next day again at lunch, Duo and Heero where separated for each other by a group of girls from Hufflepuff who decided they all had the hots for Duo. All in all Heero was pissed. Duo found out that even though people like Heero had come from magical backgrounds there weren�t that far ahead as the people like Duo. Heero knew more about the spells than how to actually do the spells. And once you had navigated your way through and corridors and staircase and got to lessons in time, the lesson became very interesting and Duo found himself paying attention instead of falling asleep like he did back at his old school. The amount of information Duo had taken in was unbelievable. And by Friday Duo�s brain felt like it was going to explode. �What we got�� yawn, �This morning?� �Look at your timetable.� Chang Wufei banked across the table at him. Duo sighed. �It�s too early in the morning Wufei man to argue about who should�� �Double potions.� Quatre informed Duo with a huge smile on his face. �With professor Z Marquis.� �Isn�t he the guy that knocked in to me?� �Hn.� Heero handed Duo a cup of coffee and sat down next to his best friend. �What�s the betting he doesn�t like me?� Duo moaned. �Marquis doesn�t like anyone.� A boy named Alex told Duo. �Part from if you are in his house. He favours them.� �Why wouldn�t he like *you* Duo? You�re smart, pretty and�� Heero growled across the table and Quatre glared at Heero. �It doesn�t hurt to tell someone how pretty they are you know.� �Quatre is right. Why wouldn�t Marquis like you?� Relena asked just as said teacher walked pass glaring at Duo. �I don�t know but I have a feeling that by the end of the day I�ll know.� *** Quatre hurried ahead but the other four Gryffindor first years went more slowly. Trowa and Wufei lead the way walking in front of Heero. A few feet behind the others was Duo, head bowed and lost deep in thought. His feet followed the others though Duo was complete unaware of where he was or where he was heading, resulting in him walking �bang� straight into someone. �DUO!� He heard Heero hiss and he looked up quickly. A silver helmet covered the top half of his face and the long blond hair gave away the fact Duo had just walked into Zechs Marquis, head of the Slytherin house and one very pissed off potion teacher. �Sorry Professor I�� �Should look where you are going Maxwell.� His cold blue eyes stared deep into Duo�s making Duo shiver. �In to the class room� NOW!� There was a soft laugh as Malfoy pushed pass Duo and hurried into the potions room. Duo groaned. �Hurry up and get in Maxwell.� Marquis growled and Duo hurried in as well. Heero, Trowa and Wufei were sitting round a desk. The seat beside Heero was empty and Duo slipped in there. Marquis entered the room and there was silence. �There will be no foolish wand waving in here.� His voice was low but the students caught every word that fell from his mouth. He had the same gift the Lady Une, the head of Gryffindor, had. He could keep the class quiet easily. �I doubt that any of you will truly understand the beauty and magic of boiling potions but I�ve got to teach you bone heads it any way. There are only two rules in this room and that is, I am always right and follow my orders or risk your life. Wither you follow these rules or not is up to you but I have warned you and breaking them will hurt you not me.� Silence followed this little speech and Duo and Heero exchanged a bewildered look. Marquis called the register; he like many of the teachers had paused at Duo name. �And Mr Maxwell, our new celebrity.� Duo said nothing just glared at Marquis. He heard Malfoy laugh again and he was really beginning to hate the noise it made. Marquis quickly finished the register and once again a heavy silence filled the room. His eyes met Duo and Duo knew something was about to happen to him. �Mr Maxwell, kindly tell me what I would get if I added powered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?�(2) �Um� Pardon.� Duo looked at the other three boys on his table but they all shrugged. Across the room Quatre�s hand was waving in the air. �What would I get in I added powered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?� Duo blinked and tried to recall what he had read in his potion book back in the quiet of his bedroom back at the Dursley. He couldn�t remember. �I don�t know sir.� Marquis�s lips curled. �Lets try again shall we Maxwell? Where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?�(2) Duo tried to ignore Quatre�s hand. �You can find a bezoar in a animal�s stomach.� Marquis looked partly shocked. �What animal?� He snapped. �I don�t know.� Duo answered, the fact that you could find a bezoar in an animal surprised him, it had been a guess. �Didn�t you think to open a book before you came?� �You think I can remember all 1001 things in that book?� Duo snapped. �Can you remember anything from that book Maxwell?� Duo suddenly looked away. �Tell me what makes you think you have the right to question me? You may be famous Maxwell but I am still above you.� Marquis stalked over and snarled at Duo. �Others may think that you are something great and you seem to think that yourself. You have done nothing to prove yourself to be a hero and you need to brought down a few notes.� Marquis stood straight again and turned to the rest of the class. �That will be five points from Gryffindor Maxwell.� Heero suddenly saw a pained look in Duo�s eyes and suddenly realised that what Marquis had just said had been truth to Duo. Duo didn�t think himself worthy of the treatment he had been getting but had taken it all in any way. He reached out to touch Duo�s hand but his friend pulled away. The lesson went slowly and all Duo could think of was how he wanted to get out of there and as soon as the bell went and Marquis had dismissed them, Duo ran from the room. Heero watched Duo go and sighed to himself, maybe Duo wasn�t as sure of himself as he made out to be. *** �Duo! I was wondering when I would see you.� �Hey Howard.� Duo flopped down beside the pumpkin garden where Howard was working. Howard�s kind eyes looked at Duo. �What�s wrong kid?� �I�m just� trying to work things out.� �I�m here to talk if you need it.� �I know. Thank you.� �So?� �I�ve been getting all this treatment and Marquis told me that I hadn�t done anything to prove myself to be the hero which people see me for. I don�t even remember how I managed to defeat Shin� you-know-who, but everyone�� �They�re expecting too much of you.� Howard cut Duo off. �Yeah.� �Your parents would be proud of you Duo, no matter what you were.� �What?� �If you ace all your subjects or fail them it doesn�t matter. As long as you do your best. People would of expected lots of you if you hadn�t stopped you-know-who, your parents being all they were and all.� �But�� �Don�t listen to them. Only those that truly matter.� Duo smiled suddenly. �You mean friends?� �And girlfriends.� Howard smirked. �Howard is it wrong to love a boy?� Howard stared at Duo for a second then shook his head. �No.� �Thanks Howard.� Duo stood up and hugged the man that was quickly becoming a father to him. �I thought I would find you here.� Duo let go of Howard to find Heero leaning against a tree. �Not another Yuy.� Howard complained. �Heero Yuy.� �I spent half my life chasing your brothers away from the forest. Now why don�t I make a cup of tea and you two tell me all about your first week?� �Sounds great.� Duo followed Howard in to the nearby hut; Heero watched Duo�s braid and smiled. He had heard Duo�s last question, maybe there was hope for him yet. TBC� (1) � Taken from the book but I couldn�t be asked to write it all out. Sorry (2) � Also taken from the book. |