For others, Gemini might show mercy. But the twins? She sneered. The grown versions couldn't outsmart her. Let alone these underage brats!
Summer camp meant acting like summer camp. Daytime, Gemini led students through the jungle. Introduced local medicinal herbs and animals. When encountering non-toxic ones, she'd let them harvest or transplant themselves.
Nighttime, they gathered on the Flying Ark. Coby showed off his skills. With Dobby, made enough food for everyone to eat their fill. All Chinese regional specialties. Everyone ate until oil dripped from their mouths. Even the spice-intolerant Slytherins—faces red, tears streaming—kept reaching into the bright red dishes.
With the ark's speed, Gemini went wherever she pleased. China was vast. Except strictly forbidden areas, Gemini roughly took the students everywhere. Uninhabited grasslands. Snow mountains. Crowded streets and alleys.
Each place: barely a day's stay. Even then, Gemini sighed about so many unvisited places. Made students who rarely left the magical world incredibly envious.
The journey continued until three days before term. Gemini received an owl letter.
Seeing the nearly exhausted owl, Gemini realized: Oh right. These students had school!
Gemini checked the date. August 27th. The entire ark erupted into chaos.
Some rushed to pack plants. Some organized luggage. Several girls helped each other fix their long hair.
Coby and Dobby spun like tops that day. Constantly called back and forth. Seen sprinting through the ark's public areas.
When Hermione first learned about house-elves, she'd researched them in Ravenclaw's library. Though she still disapproved of the exploitation, didn't stop her from enjoying the convenience.
The chaotic day finally ended. Gemini only had time to call Sun Aihua before piloting the ark toward London at full speed.
Finally arrived at Diagon Alley on the morning of the 29th. Parents had been waiting. Grabbed their children. First priority: buy supplies. School starting soon—these kids hadn't bought books or robes.
After shopping, Gemini saw everyone carrying bags. The ark still held everyone's luggage. Decisively waved her hand. Everyone boarded. Good thing it was large enough—just standing, could fit twice as many.
Following each family's directions, sent everyone home. Only then did exhausted Gemini return to Privet Drive with Harry and Dudley.
Rested only one day. Harry—completely bewildered—was stuffed with his luggage onto Sirius's motorcycle. Gemini hurriedly dragged Dudley out.
According to Gemini: Not the first year anyway. From now on, they'd alternate. Dudley was older—send him first. Next opening day, send Harry!
Compared to Harry's disgusted expression, Sirius was enthusiastic. Whooped. Started his new Harley. The modified motorcycle roared skyward.
Harry frantically grabbed Sirius's belt. Without his quick reflexes, he'd be sprawled on Privet Drive's road. After all, this vertical-launching motorcycle had no seatbelt.
Though Sirius wasn't very reliable, he succeeded at one thing: getting Harry to King's Cross on time. As for safety? Sirius looked guiltily at vomiting Harry. Whistled. Pretended it wasn't his fault.
Dizzy Harry pushed his luggage. Wobbled into the station. With the Weasleys' help, boarded the train.
Until noon, Harry finally recovered. Face pale green. Warned his friends: Unless absolutely necessary, never ride Sirius's motorcycle. The bike flying off while you stayed behind was the best outcome!
The train clanked across fields and through mountain streams. Sunlight scattered freely. Hogwarts Express students sang and ate snacks. Soon a new school year. Heard there was a new required course. No one knew what—no textbook, didn't even know the professor.
Harry sat in the compartment. Suddenly looked up. Why did he feel he should be in the sky, not the train? Illusion?
Harry shrugged. Turned back. Continued chatting with friends about the China summer camp.
Night fell. Train reached Hogsmeade station. Everyone disembarked. The quiet station erupted in noise.
Harry looked around curiously. Over there, Hagrid still shouted for first-years!
So where did second-year students go?
Just as Harry turned to ask Cedric, the prefects spoke.
"Second-years, follow us!"
Harry followed the crowd outside. Numerous carriages waited. Pulled by skeletal winged black horses. Standing quietly.
"What are those?" Harry asked blankly.
"What what?" Ron looked confused.
Harry pointed at the strange horses. "Pulling the carriages. Horses?"
"Those are Thestrals. Only people who've seen death can see them. Their appearance can't be recorded. Few outsiders have seen them. So you not knowing is normal. Hogwarts keeps a herd. Heard when Dumbledore doesn't want to Apparate, he rides a Thestral." Cedric walked up from behind. Gently explained to Harry.
"So these are Thestrals!" Harry studied them carefully. He'd only seen descriptions in books. Didn't know Hogwarts had them for pulling carriages. Of course, books had no pictures—he didn't recognize them immediately.
Boarded the carriage. Four to five people each. Door closed. Thestrals moved. The carriage rode smoothly forward. Almost no vibration felt.
"Wonder what this year's first-years are like." Harry looked at the small window. Rubbed his chin. "And this year's required course. Why didn't we hear anything before?"
"Ugh, whatever it is, I just want to know when we eat. I'm starving." Ron rubbed his stomach miserably.
Draco looked at Ron incredulously. "Weasley! Your mouth didn't stop on the train! How dare you say you're hungry?!"
Ron's face turned red as his hair. "I'm still growing! Who's like you?! Shorty!"
Seeing them about to fight, Harry quickly interrupted. "The required course? Does anyone know?"
Draco immediately ignored Ron. Said smugly: "I know! I eavesdropped on Father's conversation!"
"Tell us!" Harry and Hermione's eyes lit up. Even Neville secretly perked his ears.
"Heard they discussed it last year. Dumbledore found a professor. But the Board of Governors kept objecting. Couldn't open the course. Until this summer—a few days before we returned—they finally confirmed opening it. But the course name and textbook are secret. Heard the new professor will help prepare them as a first-year gift." Draco spilled everything he'd overheard.
Harry rubbed his chin. "Why does this organizing style feel familiar?"
Ron's eyes brightened. "We're here! Get off! Should be eating soon!"
He ignored everyone's strange looks. First to jump off. Cheerfully ran toward the Great Hall.
"So he's just a food bucket, right?" Draco barely squeezed out through gritted teeth.
"Don't talk nonsense. He's just, uh..." Harry didn't know what to say.
Neville calmly disembarked. "Growing."
Harry nodded vigorously. "Right. Just growing."
Hermione couldn't hold it in. Covered her mouth giggling. Moved away from these people. Any longer and she'd die laughing at the Great Hall entrance.
Gradually, students arrived. Sat at their House tables. Waited for Sorting.
Ron held knife in one hand, fork in the other. After a month of chopsticks, cutlery felt awkward.
His eyes locked on the empty plate. Kept muttering: dinner, dinner, dinner. Made Harry almost unable to hear the Sorting Hat.
Finally, Sorting ended. All first-years sat at their House tables.
Dumbledore tapped his crystal glass. Ding ding. The entire hall quieted.
"Before the feast begins, I must say a few words. Please wait a moment." Dumbledore smiled. "First, Hogwarts will open a new required course. The course name is The World. This course will lead us to understand our world—not just the magical world, but also the Muggle world. I think some students have experienced different distant lands." Here, Dumbledore subtly winked at Harry.
Students who'd attended summer camp jolted. Looked at each other. It wasn't what they thought, right?
"Please welcome our new professor! Gemini Black!" Dumbledore waved his hand. BANG! The small door by the staff table opened. Gemini walked out in an elegant gown.
All four House tables had people standing and cheering. Drove all students to cheer. Many didn't understand why. But rumors spread incredibly fast. Soon all students knew—this Professor Black definitely had real skills. Not comparable to that decades-unchanged Muggle Studies course.
"Now!" Dumbledore raised his voice. Suppressed the students' cheers. "Our most important activity tonight! Eat!"
As Dumbledore finished, empty plates instantly filled with food. Steak, fried chicken, fish and chips, pudding, and more.
Students cheered briefly again. Started feasting.
Gemini winked at Harry—who kept looking over. Sat in the spot Dumbledore specially saved for her. Professor McGonagall's left side. Right side was Professor Snape.
When everyone was full and drowsy, Dumbledore announced the feast over. Everyone return to House dormitories. Schedules would be distributed before breakfast tomorrow.
Gemini subtly studied Professor Green on Dumbledore's right. The professor who broke the Defense Against the Dark Arts curse! The supposed Gilderoy Lockhart had been rejected after interviews. This world was increasingly different.
After a night of fermentation, news about these two professors flew around Hogwarts. One: the Defense professor who broke the one-year curse. The other: the new Professor Black.
Heard Professor Black's course had only one long class per week per year level. Same-year students from all four Houses together. Sixth and seventh years combined. All scheduled Monday through Thursday. Remaining time, Professor Black had other business.
After getting new schedules, many groaned. Everyone was interested in the new course. But today was Wednesday. Morning: third-year class. Afternoon: fourth-year.
Harry looked at his schedule. Glanced at surrounding classmates. Among their group, only Ravenclaw's Cho could attend first. Everyone rushed over to her. Begged her to tell them everything at lunch.
Cho good-naturedly agreed to everyone's requests. No textbook—could only bring a notebook to the classroom near the second-floor library.
Other students anxiously awaited third-years' experience. Until lunch, finally saw a group of dazed third-years in the Great Hall. When familiar classmates approached, these students snapped awake. Eyes bright. Said incomprehensible things. Made everyone even more curious about Gemini's course.
Harry, Ron and others looked at the schedule. They had to wait until next week for Gemini's course. Seriously!
Though Harry—urged by friends—went to find Gemini, how could she satisfy Harry? A few words sent him away. Got zero information.
Finally, the second Tuesday. Harry and them finally welcomed their first World class.
Five minutes before class time, all students arrived. Everyone discussed in low voices. No textbook. No specific direction. Completely didn't know how to proceed.
Soon, five minutes passed. Gemini stepped in with the bell. Walked straight to the podium. Turned. Looked at these second-years.
"Good morning, everyone. I'm your World course professor, Gemini Black. Please call me Professor Black." Gemini opened her roster. "Though this wastes time, I must conduct a specific procedure. When your name is called, please stand and answer 'Here!' Understand?"
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