Seranis Incantari: A Harry Potter Adventure

The Sorting Hat

The sign for the pub said The Hopping Pot. Harry guided Kelsey over to a small corner table at the back of the dining room and the two sat down. Kelsey's nose tickled from the dusty air and she fought the urge to sneeze. Harry laughed at the funny face she made and Kelsey turned a deep red in embarrassment. It was not too long that a witch in a beet colored cardigan came over to take their order. Kelsey was at a loss as to what to order. She did not know what it was that witches and wizards ate and the names presented to her did not make any sense. Razzling numterspints? Hopping buttermash? It made her head spin trying to make sense of it all. Harry took the lead and ordered two plates of something she wasn't even going to try and pronounce and two orders of butterbeer.

"But Mr. Potter... I'm underage," she said. Harry just winked at her and smiled. Kelsey blushed again.

Harry brought out a small box with the name Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans on it and took one out and handed it to Kelsey.

"Every flavour? It can't be every flavour, can it? That's just not reasonable!" she said incredulously.

"Go ahead and try it out," Harry replied smirking.

Kelsey hesitated for a moment then popped the bean into her mouth, and immediately spit it out.

"It tastes like vomit!" she cried out. Harry nearly doubled over laughing and wheezing. Just at that moment their waitress arrived with the drinks and she smirked upon seeing Kelsey gagging.

"When they say 'every flavour', they mean it," she said. Kelsey groaned and chugged the butterbeer, attempting to wash away the horrid taste. Very soon, their food arrived and Kelsey eyed her plate greedily. So it was normal food after all - they just gave it weird names. Her plate consisted of what appeared to be shepherd's pie. She scooped it up with her spoon and tasted it. It was delightful indeed. Suddenly she remembered something.

"Mr. Potter I have no clothes to take with me to Hogwarts," she said. Harry looked at her with a gleam in his eye.

"Not to worry, my dear. That is already taken care of," he said. Kelsey was confused for a moment then caught on.

"Oh, you sent them to your house already?"

"Indeed. All we need to do is get your required school things."

Kelsey took out her list and scanned it again. The list was fairly extensive.

"How am I supposed to carry a cauldron?" she wondered out loud. Harry chuckled at her remark.

"We'll keep in my car, how about that?"

The two chuckled and then it was quiet for what seemed to Kelsey to be a long while (although in reality it was more likely a minute).

"Mr. Potter?" she said.

"Yes?"

"Can you tell me more about that dark wizard? Voldemort?"

She could see Harry visibly stiffen at the name and felt bad. But she couldn't help it. She was curious about him.

"I'm sure you'll learn about him in your classes..."

"Yeah, but..."

Harry sighed and relented. "What do you want to know?" he said.

"How did he get so powerful? I mean, surely someone knew what he was up to?" Kelsey asked.

Harry sighed again and rubbed the strange lightning shaped scar on his forehead. He gazed at Kelsey, obviously deeply in thought and took a sip of his drink before speaking.