Saturday, 1st September, 1990
King's Cross Station
The green flames of the Floo flared up as several figures stepped out, and Draco looked around the unfamiliar hall with wide-eyed excitement.
There were dozens of Floo Fireplaces scattered about, and just as they arrived, a few other families appeared as well.
Dobby and Fruska were already there, waiting with Aurelia and Altair's luggage: two black trunks, two gold-lined briefcases, and their broomstick cases.
"Dobby, where's Aurelia?" Draco asked, hurrying over, while Narcissa and Lucius followed at a calmer pace.
"Mistress Aurelia will be here shortly, Master Draco," the House Elf replied politely, and Draco nodded as Fruska bowed to him in greeting.
They didn't have to wait long before a nearby fireplace roared to life again, and three figures emerged from the flames.
Altaira, holding Altair and Aurelia's hands, stepped forward and greeted Narcissa with a warm hug and Lucius with a polite nod.
"Mother." The young Miss Malfoy embraced her mother, then her father, and Draco eagerly hugged Altair.
"How was your trip to France?"
"It was pleasant and fun," the young Black smiled, then handed him a letter. "Read it when you return home."
"I will," Draco promised, before stepping back as a group approached from the corner of his eye.
"Lady Black, Lord Malfoy, Lady Malfoy." The speaker was a tall, handsome Asian man with a well-groomed French beard. At his side was a graceful woman bearing similar features, clearly his cousin or sister and also his wife. They were family without a doubt.
"Lord Chang, Lady Chang," Altaira greeted them warmly and shared a hug with the lady. "Hello, Cho."
"My Lady," the girl curtsied and smiled as she was pulled into a gentle hug as well.
"You look lovely as always."
"Thank you," Cho replied sweetly, then shared a tight hug with Aurelia.
Altair greeted her in his usual manner, taking her hand and placing a soft kiss on her knuckles, which made her blush.
The three families chatted for a while before deciding to exit the hall.
Since they would be passing through the Muggle world for a short time, they kept some distance from one another, and the elves were sent back to Malfoy Manor and Grimmauld Hall.
The station, as always, bustled with activity. The children, unfamiliar with the place, looked around in curiosity, noticing the differences between this place and another very busy place.
It was less noisy than Diagon Alley, though the people seemed far more rushed, and greater in numbers. More than voices, the sounds of feet echoed here, and it was quite an experience.
They calmly navigated through the crowds until they reached the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10. A sign marked it as Platform 9¾. Cho grinned as she watched a wizarding family vanish through it.
She had heard about the Platform and how to get to it, and now she wanted to try it herself.
Eagerly, she charged forward with her trolley, making Aurelia giggle, then disappeared into the rippling barrier.
"Go on," Narcissa gently urged her daughter, who dashed into the wall as well, with Draco close behind.
Altaira and Altair were the last to pass through, and as they arrived on the magical platform, heads turned instinctively in their direction.
But no one dared approach or disturb them. They maintained a respectful distance.
Cho and Aurelia marvelled at the red, steam-powered, enchanted Hogwarts Express. It was a thing of beauty, and had been in the world for a long time.
Altair, however, studied the people. His sharp gaze caught the senior students in their school robes, and he smiled at the clear division. Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors were keeping their distance from the Slytherins. Ravenclaws appeared indifferent, keeping mostly to themselves.
His eyes eventually landed on a red-haired family dressed in worn robes. Despite their appearance, they brimmed with magic, especially the oldest boy, who wore a Gryffindor Prefect badge.
Then his attention shifted to someone else among them, a girl about Luna's age, two years younger than him. She was staring at him. And she was the one with the brightest magic in her family.
Their eyes met, and a slow smile curved on Altair's lips, which caused her to hide behind her mother. But she still peeked at him in curiosity, and when he chuckled, she hid again.
Her reaction drew the attention of the rest of her family. A portly man, clearly her father, smiled his way and gave a polite nod.
Altair nodded back in polite greeting and turned his attention back to his cousin, who was now forcing Draco to carry her trunk and suitcase.
He smirked at the scene, then collected his own trunk and suitcase, setting the latter on top of the former. With the broomstick case in hand, he quietly made his way towards the train, pulling the wheeled magical trunk behind him.
Aurelia and Cho quickly followed, and Draco pulled his sister's luggage.
After walking toward the end of the train, having attracted attention from nearly everyone, they entered the last carriage, where the seventh-years usually gathered.
Their arrival drew quiet glances, but the crests on their coats spoke volumes. No one said a word as they chose an empty compartment and stowed their belongings in it.
They stepped out again and spoke with their parents, hugging them, seeking comfort. Draco, pretending to be brave, already looked like he might cry, and Altair told him to be brave and to carry himself with dignity and pride.
Aurelia hugged her Familiar, Sidious, who jumped into her arms, and Cho glanced curiously at Altair.
"You aren't bringing Strix to school?"
"I am. He's already there. Gibble dropped him off at Hogwarts this morning."
"Oh." She smiled and looked at her own Familiar, who was sleeping without a care.
The three stayed with their parents until 10:50 a.m., when the final boarding call came.
"Be safe, and have fun." Altaira kissed Altair's forehead. Narcissa did the same for Aurelia, who was beginning to feel emotional.
Cho held back her tears, but before she could cry, Altair took her owl's cage and told her to follow him.
The two girls quickly said goodbye and followed him back to the train.
The seventh-years ignored their presence, allowing them to settle into their chosen cabin comfortably, but whispers came to life when the door to their cabin closed.
"Why here, Altair?"
"Less noise," he said as he waved his hand and placed a silencing charm around the cabin, preventing noise from outside to reach them, and keeping out prying ears.
She stared at him for a moment, then burst out laughing. He did not want to talk about it, but she could still guess some of his intentions.
For one, he wanted to draw a lot of attention to them from the senior students at the school. She did not know exactly why, but she knew she did not have to be concerned about it.
Cho waved to her parents as the train horn blew at eleven o'clock. Aurelia waved to Draco, who was now visibly holding back tears.
The train lurched forward and gradually picked up speed, leaving the station behind.
It did not take long for them to smile at the unfamiliar but interesting places they passed by, which soothed their hearts a little.
The cabin remained silent for a good half an hour as they were quietly admiring the changing scenery, but then the cabin door opened.
A girl with bubblegum-pink highlights in her white hair, chewing gum, stepped in, surprised to find them there.
"Woah. Kiddos, what are you doing here?" she asked with curiosity evident in her voice.
Aurelia and Cho were surprised by her hair, but then they were surprised by the Prefect Badge on her chest, which had a crown on it.
She wasn't just the Hufflepuff Prefect. She was also the Head Girl of Hogwarts, which gave her considerable authority.
"Just taking a ride to Hogwarts. Why?" Aurelia smiled at her.
"Relax. I'm just curious what you three are doing in here." She smiled and blew a bubble.
"Are there rules about where we can sit?" Cho asked, already knowing the answer.
The girl shut the door behind her as her eyes landed on the eagle owl, and she curiously leaned close to the cage.
"What's his name?"
"Corvus."
"And his?" She glanced at the Maine Coon who was sleeping by Aurelia's side.
"Sidious."
"Nice." She grinned. "And no, no official rules. But there are... unspoken ones, if you know what I mean."
"Oh, we have no clue," Aurelia said sweetly, and the older girl laughed.
"Nice. I like you." She sat beside Altair and extended her hand towards the Malfoy. "I'm Nymphadora Tonks, Head Girl of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You can just call me Tonks."
"Tonks?"
Aurelia's smile froze, and she narrowed her eyes as she stiffly shook the offered hand.
Nymphadora raised an eyebrow and blinked in surprise at the cold reception.
"You don't have a name?" She teasingly asked.
"Aurelia Bellatrix Malfoy."
Tonks's smile faltered.
Altair let out a soft chuckle, which allowed both girls to pull their hands back.
"Why do you hide your appearance, cousin?" he asked Tonks, still gazing out the window.
"What do you mean?" she confusedly looked his way, only to freeze when she saw the Black Family crest on his coat.
"You know what I mean. This isn't your real appearance."
Her heart suddenly skipped a beat, and as a result, her hair colour suddenly shifted, startling Cho and Aurelia.
Moments later, her hair turned fully pink.
"Metamorphmagus?!" Cho exclaimed.
Tonks stood up abruptly, almost in a panic, and then felt very embarrassed.
"Yeah." She smiled awkwardly, debating if she should continue the conversation or not as she glanced at the trio.
In the end, she decided to leave, but not without making sure they knew the rules.
"Remember to join Hagrid when we reach Hogsmeade. He will be your guide, and since he is a very tall man with a thick beard, you won't have difficulty finding him. First-Years must cross the lake by boat. Official rule. Be in robes before the train stops. Seven o'clock sharp. You don't need to carry your luggage. It'll be taken to your House dormitories. Just secure everything before leaving. Your owl will be sent to the Owlery. Cats you can keep with you. Don't leave it behind."
She gave a final grin before closing the door behind her.
"Interesting," Altair murmured, chuckling.
"What?"
"She's happy to meet us."
"Why?"
"Perhaps, because we are her cousins?"
"You like her?" Aurelia asked sharply.
"She hasn't given me a reason not to."
"She's a stain on your family's name."
"Not her. Her mother. She didn't choose to be born a Half-Blood."
"You don't care?"
"Why should I? She's talented. The New Blood from her Muggle-born father gave her raw power. And she's a Metamorphmagus. Quite blessed for a Half-Blood."
"You admire her?"
"I respect her magic. You can acknowledge someone's strengths without accepting them as your equal."
Aurelia frowned and looked away.
Cho agreed with Altair but wisely said nothing. She knew better than to step into a family feud and earn Aurelia's ire.
"Your aunt is also our professor for Basic Health and Recovery," Altair added casually a few seconds later, and his words exploded in their heads. "So do try to hide your disgust in class."
"What?" both girls exclaimed.
"Andromeda Tonks teaches Years 1 to 3. Also teaches the elective Healing Arts and Secrets from Year 4 onwards."
"How did she get the job?" The Malfoy was beyond confused.
"She's been teaching for three years now."
"But Father..."
"It was Dumbledore's decision. He controls half the staff appointments. Andromeda was one of St Mungo's finest Healers. The Board couldn't deny her. Mother supported it as well. It was already done."
Aurelia narrowed her eyes.
"Anything else you want to tell us now?"
"She's also the new Head of House Slytherin."
Altair grinned as his cousin leapt to her feet.
"You're joking!"
"I'm not. Dumbledore enjoys provoking our family."
"She's a Blood Traitor!"
"She is, but the last one was no better."
"Severus Snape?"
"Yes. He's a Half-Blood. A real Half-Blood."
"He is?!"
Altair nodded, and she started peppering him with more questions. He answered every one of them, thanks to his many eyes and ears already at Hogwarts.
Especially in Slytherin.
And once their conversation ended, they all turned very quiet.
A couple of hours later, the Trolley Witch knocked on their door and opened it.
She was quite surprised to see them sitting in a carriage full of 7th Year Students, but then smiled and asked them if they would like anything from the Trolley.
Cho wanted to eat something sweet, and Aurelia wanted to eat something to improve her mood.
The two bought a lot of Chocolate Frogs, Jelly Slugs, a few Cauldron Cakes, and Altair bought all of her remaining Toothflossing Stringmints and Fizzing Whizzbees.
Their purchase made the woman very happy; she did not care that they were buying so much.
She took her five Galleons, gave them a free Hogwarts Prospectus for the Year 1990-1991, and said goodbye before closing the door behind her.
There was no way they could eat all of this now, so Cho stowed away most of the things they bought inside the small magical sachet on her waist.
The three of them enjoyed the Jelly Slugs and Chocolate Frogs as they went through the Prospectus together, which contained the Annual School Calendar, marking days of activities and more.