The University of Avalon
A Harry Potter UNIVERSE/ Sasporilla Bucket Fan Fiction
by Darren Kelly
CHAPTER 1
The sun's golden rays pushed through the deep red sky as they peeked over dawns horizon. Golden Spires and Ivory walls of the Avalonian city skyline glimmered in the morning sun. A weave of the ancient architecture of millennia past and the hyper engineered creations of today’s technomacers. The shining jewel in the Royal crown of the magical world. Home to the throne of the Witch Queen and the Wizard King. Avalon, the mystic world of the Magi.
Majesty Station stood in the very center of Avalon City. The hub of travel like a great tree house built into and around the gigantic tree of life itself. Golden paths stretched out in all directions like sparkling golden branches of fairy dust that ran throughout the city. Magi trains ran along those lines with exacting schedules.
This morning the station platforms were especially alive with extra porters and greeters willing to take new students and their baggage to the University, for a fee of course.
The air at the end of the platforms began to waver as it does in the heat, like a water curtain that suddenly split by magical star fire, as the first of the Avalonian shuttles broke through the dimensional barriers and arrived on schedule.
Sasporilla Bucket, a rather plain witch of average build and striking pinking hair stood at her window hand still raised from where, seconds ago, she had seen Melvin Lazarus standing outside her shuttle. Once again they had missed each other. There was something in their fates that stood between them. Perhaps it was in hers, she thought, or perhaps it was in his? Which ever, fate seemed determined to keep them apart and it was indeed ticking her off to no end.
Sasporilla gathered her bag, her broom and took hold of the thin leash holding her mail flamingo Jorge, who danced along behind to Latin songs playing on his old walkman. The shuttle came to a slow and gentle settling at the platform side. A voice came over the interior communications system accompanied by the sound of royal trumpets. "Your shuttle has arrived at Majesty Station in the City of Avalon. Thank you for taking Royal Avalon Shuttles. It is now safe to disembark."
The shuttle door slid open. The fresh crisp early morning air flowed in. It occurred to Sassy for the first time that there was a four and a half hour time difference between London and Avalon, even though they were different worlds. Sasporilla stepped off onto the ornately carved marble platform. The royal warrant hung proudly on the station wall guards on either side, watching her. Of all the business people, dignitaries and rich children disembarking to attend university, why were they eyeing just her they wondered? Then it hit her. She wasn't one of the rich or powerful or their progeny that started to mill about the platform. In an average pair of denim jeans and a Primark jumper she looked like any muggle off the London streets not like one of these aristocratic snobs like...
"Draco Malfoy?" Sasporilla called to a finely dressed young blond man walking past her.
His sudden turn seemed to be one of nervousness rather than one of curiosity. His brow furrowed in for a moment then relaxed as he recognized the young witch. "Miss Bucket." Draco Malfoy said politely. "I apologize, I didn't recognize you. It's been a few years since Hogwarts."
"Yes." Sasporilla said. "I'm surprised to see you here, Mr.Malfoy."
"I'm in my final year at the University." Draco said. "I assume this is your first year?"
"Yes it is." Sasporilla said.
"I am walking to the campus now," Draco said, "would you care to accompany me Miss Bucket?"
"No Mr.Malfoy I would not." Sasporilla said. "I guess it's slipped your mind all the nasty things you and helped Billy Bombaduck do to me and my friends?"
"No miss Bucket I have not." Draco sighed hanging his head. "I owe you an apology for my actions towards you back in the day. I was raised to hate. I make no excuses for anything I did and lay no blame on anyone but myself for anything I did."
"Then if that's true, I accept your apology." Sasporilla said. "In principal, to help clear your conscience if nothing else."
"Thank you." Draco Malfoy said managing a stiff shy smile. "Might I offer a piece of advice, as you won't walk with me."
"If you insist." Sasporilla agreed.
"This isn't London." Draco said. "And the University isn't Hogwarts. Keep your head down and just mind your school work. Don't get involved in things here."
"I'll take it under advisement." Sasporilla said sarcastically.
"You do that." Draco snapped as he walked off the platform into the terminal.
There was that bit of bitter fire Sassy was used to from a Malfoy. Then again hadn't she just rung out the snake like a wash-up sponge until it spewed a drop of venom? Perhaps she could have been a bit nicer. After all Draco Malfoy seemed to honestly want to make amends for his slights and crimes of the past. Perhaps this was to big an internal struggle for the first day of university? Which way was the campus?
Sasporilla had barely taken a step towards the terminal when a rather dodgey looking unkempt thin man with scruffy face and baked bean teeth stepped in her way smiling .
"On your way to the University Miss?" The man asked raising the small hairs on the back of Sasporilla's neck. "I'd be willing to help take you and your baggage there in my vehicle for a small fee. Allow me, Jumble Gormbean to be your humble servant and shoulder your burden."
"I can shoulder my own burdens, thank you very much." Sasporilla said as she pushed past the man and walked into the terminal.
"That's my girl." Jumble Gormbean winked as he put his hands into his pockets, and shuffled off nonchalantly following her.
The inside of the Majesty Station terminal was ivory white marble with polished gold guilding all working within the natural form of the natural form of the branches of the tree of life. Witches and wizards mulled around carrying bags, levitating cases , and some even using carts like normal people.
New university students looked at terminal maps trying to find their way through the labyrinth of the station proper to the street below. The guides stood by like the vipers they were waiting to strike. Most were simply over priced for their services but some were out right thieves or worse.
"All right." Sasporilla said stepping up to the map. "Let's figure this bad boy out shall we people? I take it we're all looking for the way out to the University? With all of our heads put together we should be able to figure it out, yes?"
"All right!" The students smiled happy to see some that seemed confident and in charge of the matter.
Sasporilla could see why they were all so confused. There was no way to tell where they were or where they wanted to go. It looked more like a beautifully crafted piece of Celtic knot work than a map.
"Ok has anyone been able to discern on here where we are now?" Sasporilla asked looking around.
Most people just hung their heads ashamed.
"No." One large Red headed girl with glasses and a German accent said smiling. "I even tried REVELIO but nothing worked. Oh, I'm Christin by the way."
"Sasporilla." Sassy said shaking the girls hand smiling. "Ok maybe we're making this harder than it has to be. OY MAP! HOW DO WE GET TO THE UNIVERSITY FROM HERE?"
The map came to life and started to light up with a bright pink dot where Sasporilla was standing currently. The path to through the terminal to the street below illuminated itself amongst the tangled knot-work of halls and paths. Sasporilla studied it carefully attempting to commit it memory.
"Sasporilla look." Christin said tapping the pink haired witch on the shoulder and pointed her in the direction of a magical path lighting up on the floor. The sparkling pink path flowed forward through the terminal and took a turn to the left down a cross hallway. Sassy and Christin looked at each other and smiled.
"Alright everyone follow path." Sasporilla said as the students cheered. Much to the chagrin of the exploitive guides who'd lost their marks this day.
As the jubilant group of students made their way through hallways, down staircases to the central elevator. The large crystal bubble with gold struts and floor was large enough to hold the entire group of students and then some. Sasporilla thought it's design was similar in may ways to that of the art nouveau period of her home but she new it to be elven. One of the students nearest a crystal panel tapped it with her wand and the and a red arrow pointing down lit up.
"Going down" the elevator said, "destination?"
"Street level?" Sasporilla asked everyone who sort of had to agree.
"Street level." The elevator said. "Stand clear of the doors.
The bubble slid closed and began to magically descend. Free of cable or tube like most elevators Sasporilla had been in, the crystal bubble flowed down the trunk of the tree of life showing the older teens a view of the Royal city of Avalon like no other.
"Look!" Christin pointed at a seven spired building of Ivory and Gold in the center of a great square surrounded by other various buildings. "That's the University!"
"How wonderful!" Sasporilla gasped. "It's even more spectacular in person."
"The seven spires," a small quiet voice said from behind, "represent the seven schools of magic taught at the University. Natural Magic, Ritual Magic, Necromancy, Technomancy, Divination, Alchemy and Life which teaches Arts and design, politics and the like."
The shy young lady, a small thin Philippina girl who was quite pretty with her tied back long black hair, blushed when she realized shed spoken allowed and worse... everyone in the elevator had heard her.
"Hi!" The girl mustering up the courage to smile. "I'm Kathleen. I'm in the Technomancy program. I read all that in the updated History of the Royal Avalon University."
Sasporilla had to laugh. What a wonderful young woman. "Hi Kathleen. I'm Sasporilla Bucket, call me Sassy."
"Hello Kathleen." The German witch smiled warmly tipping her slightly. "I'm Christin. Very pleased to meet you."
The entire elevator of students introduced themselves. Not just to Kathleen but to each other. Kathleen had never felt so welcome or so at home, so far from home.
The elevator slowly came to a stop as it reached the ground floor. The Elevators crystal bubble opened right onto the sidewalk at the base of the great tree of life. Right across the street was the entrance to the university campus. The students cheered at their success in finding it. No one noticed Jumble Gormbean getting off the next elevator and stepping back into the shadows to watch.
The sidewalks were as alive with the hustle and bustle of magi in various states of dress. Some dressed in robes finer than any Sasporilla had ever seen at home. Others were dressed rather shabbily showing a definite separation in those who had, and those who had not, amongst the Avalonian Magi.
A small group of young people with arm-fulls of folded pamphlets tried to capture the attention of passers by.
"New issue of Camelot!" One of the young people would say trying to hand one to a person.
"Royal Guard beat up innocent protestors!" Another cried waving a copy in the air.
"Extra, Extra, read all about it!" A young man about Sassy's height with short brown curly hair, glasses and a bandana over his lower face said. "ROYAL TIME BOMB KILLS BOY WIZARD!"
"What is all that about I wonder?" Sasporilla mused.
"The Camelot," Kathleen smiled proudly, "is a underground fifth column news paper attempting to present "NEWS" not normally printed in the main stream media about so called corruption within Avalonian political hierarchies and the royal court."
"Oh." Sasporilla gasped. "I see."
"Take this." The young man with the bandana covered face said shoving a copy of Camelot into Sasporilla's hands. "Read it. Maybe it will help you open your eyes and your mind."
"How rude." Sasporilla protested as the young man turned and walked away.
Sassy glanced at the full colour cover of the Camelot Free Press. It had a decided black and white wavy back ground stripe with a picture of who she assumed were the Witch Queen's eyes, looking very angry and shifty above something she couldn't really make out. It looked almost like a wibbly wobbly time-turner and a shivering pink pygmy puff? That would be absurd! Above was the publications name in what looked like letters cut out of a news paper but the A in CAMELOT was decidedly the symbol for Anarchy. A capital “A” sloppily drawn within a circle. A large blast of flame exploded within the page repeatedly behind it all for emphasis. So this was the political dissident side of University life she'd heard so much about.
It was a common honk of a vehicles horn that drew Sasporilla's attention to the road way. Magi vehicles were in many ways like classic rounded muggle vehicles of the nineteen forties and fifties. However they had no wheels, no tires nor did they use anything as crude as a gasoline engine! The area usually slated as wheel wells were smoothed over with small glowing crystal plates below. Sasporilla was very curious as to what kind of magic made them go. She'd probably understand it no more than she understood a muggle engine.
A small transport carrying half a dozen royal guard parked itself at the side of the road. The guards stepped off in formation and approached the young people handing out the copies of the Camelot.
"Here we go people!" One of them yelled.
"Look at this everyone!" The boy with the bandana covering his mouth cried. "The royal guard silencing the truth!"
A large purple bus pulled up to the side of the road in front of the students. On the side read "Official University Shuttle". The side door creaked open loudly. A rather calm looking bus driver with a salt and pepper beard took and a big cap, took sip from his thermos.
"Ok people." The Driver smiled. "Get in."
Students started to climb aboard carrying their things. Sasporilla watched in horror as the royal guard marched up to the young people, took the issues of Camelot, and started beating them with night-sticks.
"You can't do that!" Sasporilla screamed pulling her wand. "STOP!"
Jorge squawked as two royal guard came up from behind Sasporilla. Sassy turned her head to see they were the pair that had been up on the arrival platform that had been watching her. Had they been following her? The royal guards reached in to grab the pink haired witch.
"Pintillo!" A gravelly voice cast as a puff of red chalky gas exploded in the faces of the guards and the skinny dirty hands of Jumble Gormbean grabbed hold of Sasporilla Bucket and shoved her and her flamingo up into the bus.
"Let me go!" Sasporilla insisted.
"Hurry it up Jumble man." The driver said. " your roots are showing."
The big purple bus sped off as a more guards arrived and arrests ensued. Some young people lay broken and bloodied, others stood up against the wall in bindings. The few, the smartest had escaped. This was becoming all to common a scene on the streets of Avalon on any given day.
"Who are you?" Sasporilla demanded pointing her wand at Jumble Gormbean who's hair was shifting to a spiky red and who's face bubbling and changing from the affects of a polyjuice potion wearing off.
"Cool your jets wide butt." The person said shoving Sasporilla back into a front seat and stuffing a half-eaten apple in the pink haired witch’s mouth.
Jumble Gormbean's face shifted to that of a young woman in her mid twenties with spiky red hair. Sasporilla recognized her oldest friend Lyra Lee-Ashwolf immediately.
"I'm professor Zevo and this is Professor Jacobi. Sorry about the rough introduction, but we try to keep new students as safe as possible and out of as much trouble as possible. At least until we get them safely to the campus. Then you're all on your own."
Lyra was an Auror, a type of magical police officer, and if she was impersonating a professor then she was undercover, Sassy thought.
"Nice to meet you Professor Zevo." Sasporilla said spitting out the apple defiantly. "Professor Jacobi? The same Professor Jacobi who teaches Enchantment at Hogwarts?"
"I did." The bus driver smiled taking another swig from his thermos as he darted the bus in and out of traffic. "But I don't stick around to long in places man. Life’s gotta flow, like a river. Ya know? I go where the next bit of life takes me. Where I find myself needed most. Today, that's here. Driving a bus. Tomorrow, who knows?"
"Yes Mr.Jacobi very deep." Ms.Zevo smiled. "Ladies and gentlemen please allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Ms.Zevo one Avalon Universities Political History professors and welcome wagon coordinator. Our gracious bus driver today is Professor Jacobi."
"Retired." The bearded man said proudly holding up his thermos. "Put out to pasture by the ministry of magic! So now I drive a bus and collect a fat pension cheque every month. Cheers!"
"We'll be arriving at the Universities new student welcome center at the north campus in a few moments." Ms.Zevo said. "There'll be a short presentation to introduce you to the University then we'll get you to your dorms before lunch."
"Excuse me mam." A young man Sasporilla recognized as Jeffrey Leadfellow, a Gryffindor that graduated with her. "What time will the sorting ceremony be?"
"Sorting Ceremony?" Ms.Zevo asked with a curious smile.
"To sort us into our houses?" Jeffrey Leadfellow smiled. "I just know I'll get what ever the equivelent of Gryffindor is."
"My dear boy." Ms.Zevo said walking up to him. "IF you had bothered to do a bit of summer reading, as suggested in your acceptance package, you'd have read that no where within the University are you sorted into HOUSES!"
"That's true mam but," Kathleen added quietly not looking up to meet the rather scary young woman's firey gaze, "we are actually separated by school of magical learning instead. As represented by the seven spires."
"Well!" Ms.Zevo said, her eyes widening, a big smile broadening across her face. "I see at least ONE OF YOU has done her reading! Ten points to Ravenclaw."
"I was a Hufflepuff mam." Kathleen smiled.
"Really?" Ms.Zevo said.
Sasporilla turned at looked at the small Phillipina girl, but didn't recognize her. She thought she'd known every Hufflepuff in the seventh year girls dorm.
"I was still in the fourth year dorm when I finished all my Newt classes." Kathleen said a bit embarrassed.
"Ah!" Ms.Zevo said. "A smart cookie, ay? Well then, glad your with us!"
Ms.Zevo walked back up the aisle and leaned into the bus driver. "Have we any interested parties following?"
"All clear, mam." The driver smiled.
"Right then." Ms.Zevo announced. "We're less than five minutes out. Let's enjoy the rest of the ride."
Ms.Zevo sat down gracefully next to Sasporilla. One butt crowding the other. Casual hip checks shoved each other playfully but discreetly.
"Jumble bloody Gormbean?" Sasporilla whispered.
"Name of an old Dungeons and dragons character." Lyra smirked.
“You crack me up.” Sasporilla giggled.
The Bus turned down the main boulevard that ran straight into the northern campus. An old wizard in long blue robes sat on an even older stone bench smoking a long pipe, stroking his even longer snow-white beard. He peered at the bus over top of his crescent shaped glasses and smiled at the sight of a young pink haired witch sitting in one of the busses front seats. With a creaky stretch of old bones he stood happily and turned to the young man with short curly brown hair and bandana covering his lower face.
“It appears you are quite correct.” The old wizard said happily. “Sasporilla Bucket has finally arrived at the University of Avalon.
The sun's golden rays pushed through the deep red sky as they peeked over dawns horizon. Golden Spires and Ivory walls of the Avalonian city skyline glimmered in the morning sun. A weave of the ancient architecture of millennia past and the hyper engineered creations of today’s technomacers. The shining jewel in the Royal crown of the magical world. Home to the throne of the Witch Queen and the Wizard King. Avalon, the mystic world of the Magi.
Majesty Station stood in the very center of Avalon City. The hub of travel like a great tree house built into and around the gigantic tree of life itself. Golden paths stretched out in all directions like sparkling golden branches of fairy dust that ran throughout the city. Magi trains ran along those lines with exacting schedules.
This morning the station platforms were especially alive with extra porters and greeters willing to take new students and their baggage to the University, for a fee of course.
The air at the end of the platforms began to waver as it does in the heat, like a water curtain that suddenly split by magical star fire, as the first of the Avalonian shuttles broke through the dimensional barriers and arrived on schedule.
Sasporilla Bucket, a rather plain witch of average build and striking pinking hair stood at her window hand still raised from where, seconds ago, she had seen Melvin Lazarus standing outside her shuttle. Once again they had missed each other. There was something in their fates that stood between them. Perhaps it was in hers, she thought, or perhaps it was in his? Which ever, fate seemed determined to keep them apart and it was indeed ticking her off to no end.
Sasporilla gathered her bag, her broom and took hold of the thin leash holding her mail flamingo Jorge, who danced along behind to Latin songs playing on his old walkman. The shuttle came to a slow and gentle settling at the platform side. A voice came over the interior communications system accompanied by the sound of royal trumpets. "Your shuttle has arrived at Majesty Station in the City of Avalon. Thank you for taking Royal Avalon Shuttles. It is now safe to disembark."
The shuttle door slid open. The fresh crisp early morning air flowed in. It occurred to Sassy for the first time that there was a four and a half hour time difference between London and Avalon, even though they were different worlds. Sasporilla stepped off onto the ornately carved marble platform. The royal warrant hung proudly on the station wall guards on either side, watching her. Of all the business people, dignitaries and rich children disembarking to attend university, why were they eyeing just her they wondered? Then it hit her. She wasn't one of the rich or powerful or their progeny that started to mill about the platform. In an average pair of denim jeans and a Primark jumper she looked like any muggle off the London streets not like one of these aristocratic snobs like...
"Draco Malfoy?" Sasporilla called to a finely dressed young blond man walking past her.
His sudden turn seemed to be one of nervousness rather than one of curiosity. His brow furrowed in for a moment then relaxed as he recognized the young witch. "Miss Bucket." Draco Malfoy said politely. "I apologize, I didn't recognize you. It's been a few years since Hogwarts."
"Yes." Sasporilla said. "I'm surprised to see you here, Mr.Malfoy."
"I'm in my final year at the University." Draco said. "I assume this is your first year?"
"Yes it is." Sasporilla said.
"I am walking to the campus now," Draco said, "would you care to accompany me Miss Bucket?"
"No Mr.Malfoy I would not." Sasporilla said. "I guess it's slipped your mind all the nasty things you and helped Billy Bombaduck do to me and my friends?"
"No miss Bucket I have not." Draco sighed hanging his head. "I owe you an apology for my actions towards you back in the day. I was raised to hate. I make no excuses for anything I did and lay no blame on anyone but myself for anything I did."
"Then if that's true, I accept your apology." Sasporilla said. "In principal, to help clear your conscience if nothing else."
"Thank you." Draco Malfoy said managing a stiff shy smile. "Might I offer a piece of advice, as you won't walk with me."
"If you insist." Sasporilla agreed.
"This isn't London." Draco said. "And the University isn't Hogwarts. Keep your head down and just mind your school work. Don't get involved in things here."
"I'll take it under advisement." Sasporilla said sarcastically.
"You do that." Draco snapped as he walked off the platform into the terminal.
There was that bit of bitter fire Sassy was used to from a Malfoy. Then again hadn't she just rung out the snake like a wash-up sponge until it spewed a drop of venom? Perhaps she could have been a bit nicer. After all Draco Malfoy seemed to honestly want to make amends for his slights and crimes of the past. Perhaps this was to big an internal struggle for the first day of university? Which way was the campus?
Sasporilla had barely taken a step towards the terminal when a rather dodgey looking unkempt thin man with scruffy face and baked bean teeth stepped in her way smiling .
"On your way to the University Miss?" The man asked raising the small hairs on the back of Sasporilla's neck. "I'd be willing to help take you and your baggage there in my vehicle for a small fee. Allow me, Jumble Gormbean to be your humble servant and shoulder your burden."
"I can shoulder my own burdens, thank you very much." Sasporilla said as she pushed past the man and walked into the terminal.
"That's my girl." Jumble Gormbean winked as he put his hands into his pockets, and shuffled off nonchalantly following her.
The inside of the Majesty Station terminal was ivory white marble with polished gold guilding all working within the natural form of the natural form of the branches of the tree of life. Witches and wizards mulled around carrying bags, levitating cases , and some even using carts like normal people.
New university students looked at terminal maps trying to find their way through the labyrinth of the station proper to the street below. The guides stood by like the vipers they were waiting to strike. Most were simply over priced for their services but some were out right thieves or worse.
"All right." Sasporilla said stepping up to the map. "Let's figure this bad boy out shall we people? I take it we're all looking for the way out to the University? With all of our heads put together we should be able to figure it out, yes?"
"All right!" The students smiled happy to see some that seemed confident and in charge of the matter.
Sasporilla could see why they were all so confused. There was no way to tell where they were or where they wanted to go. It looked more like a beautifully crafted piece of Celtic knot work than a map.
"Ok has anyone been able to discern on here where we are now?" Sasporilla asked looking around.
Most people just hung their heads ashamed.
"No." One large Red headed girl with glasses and a German accent said smiling. "I even tried REVELIO but nothing worked. Oh, I'm Christin by the way."
"Sasporilla." Sassy said shaking the girls hand smiling. "Ok maybe we're making this harder than it has to be. OY MAP! HOW DO WE GET TO THE UNIVERSITY FROM HERE?"
The map came to life and started to light up with a bright pink dot where Sasporilla was standing currently. The path to through the terminal to the street below illuminated itself amongst the tangled knot-work of halls and paths. Sasporilla studied it carefully attempting to commit it memory.
"Sasporilla look." Christin said tapping the pink haired witch on the shoulder and pointed her in the direction of a magical path lighting up on the floor. The sparkling pink path flowed forward through the terminal and took a turn to the left down a cross hallway. Sassy and Christin looked at each other and smiled.
"Alright everyone follow path." Sasporilla said as the students cheered. Much to the chagrin of the exploitive guides who'd lost their marks this day.
As the jubilant group of students made their way through hallways, down staircases to the central elevator. The large crystal bubble with gold struts and floor was large enough to hold the entire group of students and then some. Sasporilla thought it's design was similar in may ways to that of the art nouveau period of her home but she new it to be elven. One of the students nearest a crystal panel tapped it with her wand and the and a red arrow pointing down lit up.
"Going down" the elevator said, "destination?"
"Street level?" Sasporilla asked everyone who sort of had to agree.
"Street level." The elevator said. "Stand clear of the doors.
The bubble slid closed and began to magically descend. Free of cable or tube like most elevators Sasporilla had been in, the crystal bubble flowed down the trunk of the tree of life showing the older teens a view of the Royal city of Avalon like no other.
"Look!" Christin pointed at a seven spired building of Ivory and Gold in the center of a great square surrounded by other various buildings. "That's the University!"
"How wonderful!" Sasporilla gasped. "It's even more spectacular in person."
"The seven spires," a small quiet voice said from behind, "represent the seven schools of magic taught at the University. Natural Magic, Ritual Magic, Necromancy, Technomancy, Divination, Alchemy and Life which teaches Arts and design, politics and the like."
The shy young lady, a small thin Philippina girl who was quite pretty with her tied back long black hair, blushed when she realized shed spoken allowed and worse... everyone in the elevator had heard her.
"Hi!" The girl mustering up the courage to smile. "I'm Kathleen. I'm in the Technomancy program. I read all that in the updated History of the Royal Avalon University."
Sasporilla had to laugh. What a wonderful young woman. "Hi Kathleen. I'm Sasporilla Bucket, call me Sassy."
"Hello Kathleen." The German witch smiled warmly tipping her slightly. "I'm Christin. Very pleased to meet you."
The entire elevator of students introduced themselves. Not just to Kathleen but to each other. Kathleen had never felt so welcome or so at home, so far from home.
The elevator slowly came to a stop as it reached the ground floor. The Elevators crystal bubble opened right onto the sidewalk at the base of the great tree of life. Right across the street was the entrance to the university campus. The students cheered at their success in finding it. No one noticed Jumble Gormbean getting off the next elevator and stepping back into the shadows to watch.
The sidewalks were as alive with the hustle and bustle of magi in various states of dress. Some dressed in robes finer than any Sasporilla had ever seen at home. Others were dressed rather shabbily showing a definite separation in those who had, and those who had not, amongst the Avalonian Magi.
A small group of young people with arm-fulls of folded pamphlets tried to capture the attention of passers by.
"New issue of Camelot!" One of the young people would say trying to hand one to a person.
"Royal Guard beat up innocent protestors!" Another cried waving a copy in the air.
"Extra, Extra, read all about it!" A young man about Sassy's height with short brown curly hair, glasses and a bandana over his lower face said. "ROYAL TIME BOMB KILLS BOY WIZARD!"
"What is all that about I wonder?" Sasporilla mused.
"The Camelot," Kathleen smiled proudly, "is a underground fifth column news paper attempting to present "NEWS" not normally printed in the main stream media about so called corruption within Avalonian political hierarchies and the royal court."
"Oh." Sasporilla gasped. "I see."
"Take this." The young man with the bandana covered face said shoving a copy of Camelot into Sasporilla's hands. "Read it. Maybe it will help you open your eyes and your mind."
"How rude." Sasporilla protested as the young man turned and walked away.
Sassy glanced at the full colour cover of the Camelot Free Press. It had a decided black and white wavy back ground stripe with a picture of who she assumed were the Witch Queen's eyes, looking very angry and shifty above something she couldn't really make out. It looked almost like a wibbly wobbly time-turner and a shivering pink pygmy puff? That would be absurd! Above was the publications name in what looked like letters cut out of a news paper but the A in CAMELOT was decidedly the symbol for Anarchy. A capital “A” sloppily drawn within a circle. A large blast of flame exploded within the page repeatedly behind it all for emphasis. So this was the political dissident side of University life she'd heard so much about.
It was a common honk of a vehicles horn that drew Sasporilla's attention to the road way. Magi vehicles were in many ways like classic rounded muggle vehicles of the nineteen forties and fifties. However they had no wheels, no tires nor did they use anything as crude as a gasoline engine! The area usually slated as wheel wells were smoothed over with small glowing crystal plates below. Sasporilla was very curious as to what kind of magic made them go. She'd probably understand it no more than she understood a muggle engine.
A small transport carrying half a dozen royal guard parked itself at the side of the road. The guards stepped off in formation and approached the young people handing out the copies of the Camelot.
"Here we go people!" One of them yelled.
"Look at this everyone!" The boy with the bandana covering his mouth cried. "The royal guard silencing the truth!"
A large purple bus pulled up to the side of the road in front of the students. On the side read "Official University Shuttle". The side door creaked open loudly. A rather calm looking bus driver with a salt and pepper beard took and a big cap, took sip from his thermos.
"Ok people." The Driver smiled. "Get in."
Students started to climb aboard carrying their things. Sasporilla watched in horror as the royal guard marched up to the young people, took the issues of Camelot, and started beating them with night-sticks.
"You can't do that!" Sasporilla screamed pulling her wand. "STOP!"
Jorge squawked as two royal guard came up from behind Sasporilla. Sassy turned her head to see they were the pair that had been up on the arrival platform that had been watching her. Had they been following her? The royal guards reached in to grab the pink haired witch.
"Pintillo!" A gravelly voice cast as a puff of red chalky gas exploded in the faces of the guards and the skinny dirty hands of Jumble Gormbean grabbed hold of Sasporilla Bucket and shoved her and her flamingo up into the bus.
"Let me go!" Sasporilla insisted.
"Hurry it up Jumble man." The driver said. " your roots are showing."
The big purple bus sped off as a more guards arrived and arrests ensued. Some young people lay broken and bloodied, others stood up against the wall in bindings. The few, the smartest had escaped. This was becoming all to common a scene on the streets of Avalon on any given day.
"Who are you?" Sasporilla demanded pointing her wand at Jumble Gormbean who's hair was shifting to a spiky red and who's face bubbling and changing from the affects of a polyjuice potion wearing off.
"Cool your jets wide butt." The person said shoving Sasporilla back into a front seat and stuffing a half-eaten apple in the pink haired witch’s mouth.
Jumble Gormbean's face shifted to that of a young woman in her mid twenties with spiky red hair. Sasporilla recognized her oldest friend Lyra Lee-Ashwolf immediately.
"I'm professor Zevo and this is Professor Jacobi. Sorry about the rough introduction, but we try to keep new students as safe as possible and out of as much trouble as possible. At least until we get them safely to the campus. Then you're all on your own."
Lyra was an Auror, a type of magical police officer, and if she was impersonating a professor then she was undercover, Sassy thought.
"Nice to meet you Professor Zevo." Sasporilla said spitting out the apple defiantly. "Professor Jacobi? The same Professor Jacobi who teaches Enchantment at Hogwarts?"
"I did." The bus driver smiled taking another swig from his thermos as he darted the bus in and out of traffic. "But I don't stick around to long in places man. Life’s gotta flow, like a river. Ya know? I go where the next bit of life takes me. Where I find myself needed most. Today, that's here. Driving a bus. Tomorrow, who knows?"
"Yes Mr.Jacobi very deep." Ms.Zevo smiled. "Ladies and gentlemen please allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Ms.Zevo one Avalon Universities Political History professors and welcome wagon coordinator. Our gracious bus driver today is Professor Jacobi."
"Retired." The bearded man said proudly holding up his thermos. "Put out to pasture by the ministry of magic! So now I drive a bus and collect a fat pension cheque every month. Cheers!"
"We'll be arriving at the Universities new student welcome center at the north campus in a few moments." Ms.Zevo said. "There'll be a short presentation to introduce you to the University then we'll get you to your dorms before lunch."
"Excuse me mam." A young man Sasporilla recognized as Jeffrey Leadfellow, a Gryffindor that graduated with her. "What time will the sorting ceremony be?"
"Sorting Ceremony?" Ms.Zevo asked with a curious smile.
"To sort us into our houses?" Jeffrey Leadfellow smiled. "I just know I'll get what ever the equivelent of Gryffindor is."
"My dear boy." Ms.Zevo said walking up to him. "IF you had bothered to do a bit of summer reading, as suggested in your acceptance package, you'd have read that no where within the University are you sorted into HOUSES!"
"That's true mam but," Kathleen added quietly not looking up to meet the rather scary young woman's firey gaze, "we are actually separated by school of magical learning instead. As represented by the seven spires."
"Well!" Ms.Zevo said, her eyes widening, a big smile broadening across her face. "I see at least ONE OF YOU has done her reading! Ten points to Ravenclaw."
"I was a Hufflepuff mam." Kathleen smiled.
"Really?" Ms.Zevo said.
Sasporilla turned at looked at the small Phillipina girl, but didn't recognize her. She thought she'd known every Hufflepuff in the seventh year girls dorm.
"I was still in the fourth year dorm when I finished all my Newt classes." Kathleen said a bit embarrassed.
"Ah!" Ms.Zevo said. "A smart cookie, ay? Well then, glad your with us!"
Ms.Zevo walked back up the aisle and leaned into the bus driver. "Have we any interested parties following?"
"All clear, mam." The driver smiled.
"Right then." Ms.Zevo announced. "We're less than five minutes out. Let's enjoy the rest of the ride."
Ms.Zevo sat down gracefully next to Sasporilla. One butt crowding the other. Casual hip checks shoved each other playfully but discreetly.
"Jumble bloody Gormbean?" Sasporilla whispered.
"Name of an old Dungeons and dragons character." Lyra smirked.
“You crack me up.” Sasporilla giggled.
The Bus turned down the main boulevard that ran straight into the northern campus. An old wizard in long blue robes sat on an even older stone bench smoking a long pipe, stroking his even longer snow-white beard. He peered at the bus over top of his crescent shaped glasses and smiled at the sight of a young pink haired witch sitting in one of the busses front seats. With a creaky stretch of old bones he stood happily and turned to the young man with short curly brown hair and bandana covering his lower face.
“It appears you are quite correct.” The old wizard said happily. “Sasporilla Bucket has finally arrived at the University of Avalon.
The wonderful characters of Christin and Kathleen who will continue predominantly through the Avalon University stories are based on these wonderful Real world ladies! (Yes I have their Permissions!) Both are rather Camera shy but shouldn't be because they are both LOVELY!!!!
PLEASE REMEMBER
I am in no way affiliated with Warner Bros. or with J.K.Rowling. My work is purely that of fan fiction & do not ask for, nor accept money, gifts or other compensation for my work. If you really feel you must do something, donate to J.K.Rowling's charitable foundation LUMOS! Link below! ( https://www.wearelumos.org/ )
I am in no way affiliated with Warner Bros. or with J.K.Rowling. My work is purely that of fan fiction & do not ask for, nor accept money, gifts or other compensation for my work. If you really feel you must do something, donate to J.K.Rowling's charitable foundation LUMOS! Link below! ( https://www.wearelumos.org/ )