Sunday, 1st September, 1991
King's Cross Station, London, England
"You are late, Altair." Draco, who was standing with his sister, parents, and the Chang and Rosier families, brightly said.
"My apologies for keeping you all waiting. Magister Flamel insisted that I have breakfast with him," he informed them, and the eyes of the adults widened at the information he provided.
"Magister Nicolas Flamel?" Damien, who had come to see off his little sister on her first day to Hogwarts, asked and solemnly nodded his head when Altair nodded.
"Let's go. We don't have much time left."
Altair quickly greeted his aunt and the other adults, and then he was off, following Draco, Aurelia, Choxue, and Laetitia.
When they arrived at the platform, no students were there. Everyone was already on the train, and Draco quickly parted ways with them, which made Altair raise his brow.
"We met the MacDougals in Russia, and he's enamoured with the twins, Isobel and Morag."
"Ah, well, they are pretty," he nodded, earning a giggle from Choxue, but Aurelia did not like his words.
"He's been ignoring Susan," she lightly said, and the young Black sighed.
"Lord MacDougal doesn't like your father, Aurelia."
"His brother does, and Isobel and Morag are his daughters."
His instincts told him that Uncle Lucius was playing a game, but he stayed quiet about it.
Altair smiled when they arrived at their cabin and found Daphne inside with their familiars and broom cases.
The girls shared their hugs as he put their things in place, and then he simply sat down and gave some love to his Moon Fox, whom he had not seen in a day.
Suddenly, a beautiful little Snowy Glider jumped on his arm and climbed over his shoulder, and Choxue gushed over how cute it was.
The two Felidrax cats were restless, fighting their urge to hunt it, but one glance from Altair was enough to keep them in their place and behave themselves. And they did not dare misbehave in Illya's presence.
"You didn't sleep last night?" Aurelia guessed when she saw him stand up and expand the compartment, turning his bench into a comfortable couch.
"No." He lightly said, and then took off his shoes.
Choxue, however, had other plans, and she came to sit by his side as he went to lie down.
She pulled his legs into her lap and mischievously grinned at him, but he just smiled and closed his eyes.
As he expected, she did tickle his soles a little, but then behaved herself and comfortably leaned back, chatting with the girls.
Daphne and Laetitia were engrossed in their first train ride, and they kept staring out of the window, enjoying and appreciating the scenery.
At some point, the door of their cabin was knocked, and Altair slowly opened his eyes and saw Hermione peer inside.
"Yes?" Asked Aurelia, who had opened the door.
"Sorry for disturbing you, but have you seen a toad? A boy named Neville has lost it."
"Longbottom?" Laetitia raised her brow, and Hermione nervously nodded her head at the coldness in her voice.
"If he has lost it on the train, he should not worry. The House-elves teleport all the familiars and belongings directly to the Castle when we reach our destination. And if the toad isn't on the train, then there is no point in worrying. It is either dead or lost," Daphne calmly informed the girl, who gratefully nodded to her.
Hermione's eyes briefly widened when she caught a glimpse of Altair's profile, but he had closed his eyes again at that point.
He had told her not to act too familiar with him at Hogwarts or she would attract unnecessary attention to herself, and she was mindful enough to listen to his words.
"Thank you," she said to Aurelia and the rest after taking a good look at the enlarged compartment, quite curious about it, but never raised a question and left.
"An upbeat and confident First Year," Cho commented, and Aurelia smiled. "Let's make a bet. I say she is going to Hufflepuff."
"Ravenclaw," Daphne calmly said, and Laetitia smiled. "Her hair is like a mane of a lion, and I suppose she is heading to Gryffindor."
"Gryffindor," Altair lightly added, and they all looked at him in surprise.
"Well, I am going with Gryffindor too," Cho quickly made her pick, and laughed as Aurelia rolled her eyes.
"Is she a Muggle-born?" Laetitia asked, and Altair smiled.
"She was born to be a brilliant witch. Her magic is very strong."
"You know her?" Daphne looked at him in surprise when he nodded his head.
"Don't be rude to her," he said to all of them, and their curiosity was piqued.
In the evening, when they arrived at Hogsmeade, Altair, Aurelia, and Cho parted ways with Daphne and Laetitia and joined the rest of the students as they headed outside the station, where the carriages were waiting for them.
Aurelia and Cho curiously looked at him when he stopped to caress something invisible that was pulling the carriage, and they both knew exactly what it was even though they could not see it.
From a distance, they saw the lanterns of the boats that were sailing on the lake, and they smiled when they saw the familiar castle in the distance.
The new Prefects and the Head Boy and Head Girl were sent their badges yesterday, and Cho giggled when she saw Gemma Farley being named the female Prefect of Seventh Year Slytherin. They still had a Gemma as their Prefect.
Cordelia Selwyn had been named the Head Girl of Hogwarts, and as they all expected, Theodore Diggory was named the Head Boy.
The former Sixth Year Prefects were now the new Seventh Year Prefects, and for Slytherin, Alastair Sallow and Sylvia Reyes were the new Sixth Year Prefects.
Once they arrived inside the Great Hall, Professor Dumbledore called all the Prefects by their names, the new Head Boy and Head Girl were acknowledged, and a few pictures were taken with the Heads and Deputy Heads of House as well as the entire staff.
Professor McGonagall then brought over the Sorting Hat before she walked out of the Great Hall to get the new First Year students.
She returned about fifteen minutes later, wearing a bright smile, and then took her spot on the platform.
Exactly ten minutes later, Hagrid entered the Great Hall, leading the First Years inside, and everyone was quite amused at their fascination with the enchanted ceiling.
Unlike last year, the sky was clear tonight, littered with stars, and it was truly a beautiful sight.
The new batch gathered under the platform, and then Professor McGonagall explained to them why the Sorting Ceremony was important.
And soon the Hat came to life.
"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
It was not as good as last year's song, but still a decent one, and soon Professor McGonagall opened her scroll.
"Abbott, Hannah."
The first name was called and a timid girl nervously climbed up the stairs to take her seat on the stool.
"Hufflepuff!"
The Badgers enthusiastically welcomed their newcomer, which made the girl smile.
"Appleby, Graham."
"Hufflepuff!"
...
...
...
"Bones, Susan."
"Hufflepuff!"
The relief on Susan's face made Choxue smile, but they stayed seated until the first Slytherin intake was announced.
It was Millicent Bulstrode. Then it was Vincent Crabbe.
"Davis, Tracey."
Altair watched the girl with beautiful wavy brown hair step onto the platform, and even though her mother was a Muggle-born, she carried herself like a true Pure-blood. Nonetheless, her body quivered as her fate was announced.
"Slytherin!"
The young Black led the applause and welcomed her with a smile, and she made sure to bow to everyone before she stood next to Aurelia.
"Davies, Persephone."
"Slytherin!"
...
...
...
"Granger, Hermione."
Aurelia and Cho were surprised to see that it was the girl from the train, and she did carry a Muggle-born surname.
Altair, however, saw his cousin's nervousness and the glance she shared at the Slytherin table.
"Gryffindor!"
Hermione, at first, seemed a little surprised, but then she brightly smiled and jumped off the stool, joining her new housemates.
"Greengrass, Daphne."
Proud and composed as ever, the girl confidently approached the Hat and sat down on the stool.
The decision did not take long.
"Slytherin!"
The Serpents welcomed her with enthusiastic applause, and she approached Altair, who took her hand and planted a kiss on her knuckles, helping her stand by his side.
"Welcome to House Slytherin, My Lady."
"Thank you, My Lord," she whispered, brightly smiling at him, and then nodded to Tracey, who was nervously looking at her.
...
...
...
"Longbottom, Neville."
"Gryffindor!"
...
...
...
"MacDougal, Isobel."
"Ravenclaw!"
"MacDougal, Morag."
"Ravenclaw!"
...
...
"Malfoy, Draco."
The Hat had not even landed on his head when the result was announced.
"Slytherin!"
With a proud smirk on his face, Draco marched towards the Serpents, and then he stood next to his sister as Tracey wisely made way for him.
"Montague, Octavia."
"Slytherin!"
"Montague, Octavian."
"Slytherin!"
The Montague twins joined them too, and it was a while before the next Slytherin was announced.
...
...
...
"Parkinson, Pansy."
"Slytherin!"
The girl happily skipped over and stood next to Draco, who was her childhood friend, but she was mindful enough to curtsy to Altair and the rest.
...
...
...
"Patil, Padme."
"Ravenclaw!"
"Patil, Parvati."
"Gryffindor!"
...
...
"Potter, Harry."
As soon as the name was called, the Great Hall turned very quiet, and even Altair curiously looked at the boy who climbed up the stairs.
What he saw disappointed him, and he furrowed his brows as he saw the boy talking out loud with the Hat.
"Gryffindor!"
"Of course, that Weasley filled up his ears with his lunacy," Draco scoffed when the result was announced, and Altair curiously looked at his cousin.
"What?"
"I tried making friends with him, but that new Weasley said something along the lines that there has never been an evil wizard who was not in Slytherin," he said, and everyone looked at him strangely.
"You tried making friends with him?" Altair questioned, and Draco subconsciously nodded his head.
Soon enough, they were distracted by another name, and their attention was on the platform.
"Rosier, Laetitia."
"Slytherin!"
The Slytherins enthusiastically welcomed the little sister of their former Prefect, and Laetitia curtsied to them all before she stood between Daphne and Millicent.
It took a while for the Sorting Ceremony to finish. This year, a hundred and eighteen new students joined Hogwarts, but only twenty-four entered House Slytherin.
Hufflepuff received the most students, as always, and this time there were thirty-seven of them. Gryffindor, with thirty-three new students, was second, and Ravenclaw, with twenty-four students, was tied with House Slytherin.
Professor McGonagall, as Deputy Headmistress, announced the two new additions to the staff, who were Nymphadora Tonks and Gemma Dumbledore, both Assistants and Apprentices of Professor Montclair and Professor Fairwind.
She also announced that Gemma Dumbledore was Hogwarts' highest achiever in her N.E.W.T.s, and what most of them had guessed turned out to be true.
Professor Quirrell was also announced as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, and quite a few groans were heard in the Hall as they wanted Professor Montclair to continue. Then again, almost everyone understood how busy Professor Montclair was.
The Headmaster addressed the students next.
"Welcome," he said warmly, his eyes twinkling behind his half-moon spectacles. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. To our new students, I extend a particularly heartfelt greeting. I trust you will find your time here both enriching and enjoyable, and to those returning, I wish you a year of success."
He paused briefly before continuing, his voice still light.
"Now, a few words of caution. First, I must remind you that the forest on the grounds is strictly out of bounds to all students. No exceptions."
A ripple of attention passed through the hall.
"Secondly," he added mildly, "the corridor on the right-hand side of the third floor is forbidden to anyone who does not wish to suffer a most painful death."
The statement was delivered so calmly that a few nervous laughs followed.
"House points will, as always, be awarded and deducted throughout the year," he concluded, clasping his hands together. "And now… enjoy the feast."
After the meal, Altair glanced at the staff table one last time before the Prefects led them to the dormitory, and in the common room, he addressed the newcomers and also made a few announcements.
Darius Warrington, the Slytherin Beater and Seventh Year Prefect, was now the Captain of the Quidditch Team. The date of the Trials was announced, and the four Prefects then together informed the Freshmen about the rules of the House that Altair had set.
Once free, the young Black grabbed Draco's hand and took him to the boy's new room, and Aurelia walked in and closed the door behind them.
"Did your father ask you to be friends with Potter?"
"Yes..." he nervously nodded, and his older sister frowned.
"And what's going on with the MacDougals? Why are you ignoring Susan?"
"I... I don't like her... She is a Bones and she is friends with Hannah Abbott, a Half-blood. Now she is in Hufflepuff with her friend. It's embarrassing. Lord Goyle also speculated that Susan is a Half-blood. Her mother was not from Britain, and her maternal grandmother was likely a Muggle-born..."
"She was not a Muggle-born," Altair frowned. "Was Lord Parkinson there?"
"Yes..."
"Do you know that he wants you to make Pansy the future Lady Malfoy?"
"Yes..."
"And?" Altair raised his brow, and his cousin became nervous.
"Father wants me to marry the MacDougal twins..."
Aurelia was unaware of all these details, and her head was spinning now.
"What's going on?" she was extremely confused.
"Voldemort," Altair sighed, and both Draco and Aurelia tensed up at the name he took.