Chapter 15: Sorting and Secrets of Power
The Great Hall of Hogwarts glowed with the soft light of floating candles, casting warm hues across the enchanted ceiling, which mirrored the twilight sky outside. The students murmured with anticipation, the returning second- and third-years eyeing the line of new first-years with excitement and curiosity.
Harrison sat at the Gryffindor table, flanked by Harry and Daphne, his amethyst and sapphire eyes scanning the nervous faces of the new arrivals. He caught sight of a few familiar ones: Ginny Weasley with her vivid red hair, Astoria Greengrass clutching her sister Daphne's good luck charm, and the dreamy-eyed Luna Lovegood, her gaze fixed somewhere above the enchanted ceiling.
Professor McGonagall stepped forward, parchment in hand, and the Sorting Hat atop its stool shifted slightly, its brim twitching with life.
"Greengrass, Astoria."
Astoria stepped forward, her stride hesitant. She sat on the stool, and the hat was placed on her head.
"Hmmm... another Greengrass," the Sorting Hat murmured in her ear. "You are ambitious, fiercely protective, and clever—but there's something else. A hidden steel, a willingness to bend rules for those you love."
Astoria mentally whispered, I want to be strong enough to protect those I love.
The Hat hummed. "A noble desire. You would do well in both Ravenclaw and Slytherin, but your blood sings in the latter. Very well then... SLYTHERIN!"
There was applause from the Slytherin table, and Astoria smiled as she joined them. Daphne offered her a small nod across the Hall.
"Weasley, Ginny."
Ginny strode up and had barely sat down when the hat shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"
Cheers erupted from the Gryffindor table, her brothers standing up to clap and whistle.
"Lovegood, Luna."
Luna drifted up as if walking in a dream, her silver eyes half-lidded in wonder.
"Ah," said the Sorting Hat softly, "a mind that dances to a rhythm all its own. Intelligent, yes, and open to the truths others shy away from. Your place is clear. RAVENCLAW!"
Luna walked over to the Ravenclaw table, smiling serenely at the students who made room for her.
Once the Sorting ended, and the feast began, Harrison leaned back with a contented sigh. The family was growing in strange but powerful ways.
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Training Among Comrades
The next morning dawned crisp and gold with early autumn sunbeams. After classes ended, Harrison gathered his circle: Harry, Daphne, Neville, Ron, Fred, George, Lee Jordan, and Luna. The Weasley twins grinned with excitement, Lee was practically vibrating with curiosity, and Luna simply nodded as if she'd known this invitation would come.
They met in front of the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy on the seventh floor. Harrison walked past it three times, focusing on his intent.
We need a room for magical training, weapon practice, and safe enough to handle divine avatars.
A heavy oak door appeared. Harrison opened it to reveal a vast chamber with walls lined in enchanted sigils, racks of ancient weapons, spell dummies, and a conjured sky ceiling mimicking the cosmos.
Fred whistled. "Now this is a clubhouse."
George clapped. "Best room in the castle."
Lee stared wide-eyed at a levitating obsidian staff. "Can we touch that?"
"Later," Harrison said, motioning them to gather. "We're starting with something simple. Sword stances and combat magic."
He handed each of them a basic training sword conjured from durable enchanted wood, save for Luna, to whom he gave a smaller, silver-handled practice wand and a beginner's khopesh.
"You have potential, Luna," Harrison said gently. "You see truths most ignore. Let's channel that into your magic."
Luna smiled faintly. "The stars whispered that you would help me find my balance."
As the others paired off—Fred and George sparring with flashy but coordinated moves, Ron dueling Neville under Harrison's guidance, and Lee attempting to cast a shield spell—Harrison walked Luna through the core stances of Egyptian swordplay.
"Egyptian combat magic," Harrison began, "is built on purpose. Every move is a prayer, every slash a spell. Feel the energy, Luna. Let it guide you."
He demonstrated a fluid series of motions, his khopesh humming with latent magic. Luna followed, slowly but surely, her light frame surprisingly agile.
With time, she replicated the movements almost as a dance.
Meanwhile, Daphne was guiding Harry through ward manipulation and evasion techniques, both younger students soaked in sweat but thrilled.
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Stars Unleashed
After nearly an hour of training, Harrison raised his hand. "Enough. Time to show you what all this leads to."
He moved to the center of the room and uttered once more: "Khaibit Horus."
This time, the Room of Requirement shifted to accommodate the power. The walls expanded outward, becoming a celestial arena. The sky above darkened into a starlit void.
Harrison began to glow, his hair lifting slightly as divine power surged through him. The combat avatar formed behind him, larger and more defined than before. Wings of cosmic flame unfurled, and a falcon-headed being stood as an ethereal protector. Its eyes were nebulae, its chest a swirling galaxy.
"Behold," Harrison said, "the Combat Avatar of Horus. This is not just divine might—it is cosmic intent."
The avatar extended its arms, and each person in the room felt a surge of magic ripple through them, harmonizing with their magical cores.
Fred blinked. "You weren't kidding about cosmic."
George added, "Blimey, it's like standing inside a star."
Lee stumbled back, clutching his chest. "My magic—feels like it's humming."
Luna stared, not blinking, her gaze wide and reverent. "It's beautiful. The stars sing in its presence."
The avatar slowly dissipated, folding into a vortex of stars that flowed back into Harrison's form. He stumbled slightly, but Daphne caught his arm, steadying him.
"You alright?" she asked.
He nodded. "It takes energy, but it's worth it."
Harry approached. "One day, I'll summon something just as amazing."
"You will," Harrison said, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder. "I'll make sure of it."
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Closing Bonds
As the group caught their breath and relaxed on conjured cushions, Fred and George shared jokes, Lee conjured a floating radio tuned to the Weird Sisters, and Luna sat cross-legged with Harrison, absorbing every word as he shared the meaning of constellations used in ancient spellcasting.
Neville practiced wandless magic in the corner, Ron clumsily but stubbornly mimicked Harrison's sword moves, and Daphne braided a piece of enchanted silver thread into her hair.
The room hummed with warmth, camaraderie, and growth.
A family not bound by blood alone, but by shared purpose, hardship, and dreams of something greater.
As the Room of Requirement faded into starlit silence, Harrison looked at each of them—his chosen siblings, his comrades.
And he smiled.