So this is the sequel to First Year at the Louvre.Unfortunately these chapters aren't pre-written, so this will update whenever I finish the next chapter. Updates are likely to be quite sporadic as I have to focus on work and school as well as this fic, but I tend to have moments where I update chapters a few days apart. Hope you enjoy :)

The platform was packed with children in uniforms, carrying large suitcases. A few of the older ones said goodbye to their parents immediately, whilst the younger ones hung on a little bit longer. 'Come on, Thomas,' said a Cassiopeia second-year, tugging at his little brother's sleeve. 'I can see d'Artagnan and Aramis over there!'

'Wait for me, Athos,' whined Thomas, who was starting his first year at Louvre. His blue-and-orange tie hung loosely around his neck.

'Look at your tie,' admonished Athos absently, still dragging his brother along the platform. 'Can't you dress yourself?'

He joined d'Artagnan and Aramis, who had grown a little over the summer. 'This is my brother, Thomas,' said Athos, steering the wriggling eleven-year-old towards his two friends. But Thomas seemed much more preoccupied with looking in the opposite direction.

'Look at her,' he grinned. 'She's beautiful.'

A dark-haired girl was heading over to them. 'Milady!' cried d'Artagnan in excitement. 'Have you seen Constance or Porthos yet?'

'No,' Milady cried back. She looked Thomas up and down. 'Who's this?' she asked, ruffling his hair.

'My brother, Thomas,' said Athos, as the first-year ducked away.

'You don't think they're already on the train, do you?' asked Aramis, swiftly changing the subject upon seeing Thomas was more than a little uncomfortable with Milady's affection.

'They're over there!' said d'Artagnan, pointing to where Constance was walking with Jacques. They were looking for a place to board the train that wasn't getting busy.

'Where are you going?' asked Jacques, grabbing the collar of Constance's blazer.

'To see my friends,' she said pointedly, gesturing in the direction of d'Artagnan, Aramis, Athos, Milady and Thomas.

Jacques laughed. 'Who'd want to be friends with you?' But he let go of her collar, and she hurried towards them before he could change his mind.

'Bonacieux's such a dick,' commented Milady. 'On the plus side, though, he's not actually related to you.'

'And they'll never invite you to family reunions in the future,' added Aramis. 'So after sixth year you don't really have to see him again.'

'I dream of the day,' said Constance quietly.

'We're just waiting for Porthos and we'll be good to go,' said Athos.

'We're the only ones out here, apart from a few first-years,' worried Constance. 'I hope he doesn't miss the train!'

It was about five minutes before Porthos arrived, a short, blonde-haired girl attached to his arm. She must have been a first year; she was in school uniform and wearing Arcturus colours. 'Sorry I'm late!' he cried. ''Ad ter get Flea 'ere ready.'

Flea smiled nervously, and she edged a little further away from Porthos and closer to Thomas. The second-years boarded the train, eagerly followed by Flea and Thomas.

'Go and find your own compartment,' said Athos to Thomas. 'What about over there?' He pointed to a compartment that would've been empty if it weren't for the curly-haired girl sitting inside. 'Go and make friends.'

Thomas scowled and stalked off, eagerly followed by his shorter, blonde-haired counterpart. Athos breathed a sigh of relief. 'Finally,' he muttered. 'He's so annoying.'

Athos, Porthos, Aramis, Milady, Constance and d'Artagnan found an empty compartment to sit in, and once in the privacy of the compartment Milady smirked. 'Let's finish off what we started last time.'

'Not yet, not yet,' urged Aramis. 'How was everyone's summer?'

Milady shrugged. 'Mine was okay. We went to a fair.'

D'Artagnan also shrugged. 'I worked on the farm. We've hired a farm hand named Planchet. His son's a little younger than Thomas.'

'Thomas and I went to Le Havre for a few days,' said Athos. 'That was fun.'

'Well, Aramis knows I went to see 'im,' said Porthos. 'It was fun to not be at the Court for once.'

'Yeah,' agreed Aramis with a grin. 'It was great! We went bike-riding and where I live there's a lake, so we went there to swim. It was so fun!'

D'Artagnan looked to Constance. Quietly he said, 'How was your summer? It wasn't too horrible, was it?'

Constance smiled gratefully. 'It wasn't bad. We went to the zoo. Jacques―he's gotten better. He's nicer to me. The same can't be said for his parents, though,' and she grimaced.

'Right, right,' said Milady, clearly unable to hide her excitement any longer, 'so we're going to do the gritty stuff this year. I've brought the notes with me; we're going to find out so much!'

'Not now,' said Athos impatiently. 'Do we know who's teaching Advanced War Studies?'

Milady's face fell, and Constance looked sympathetically at her. She knew how much the secrets of Louvre meant to her.

'I do!' said Porthos. 'It's M. Marcheaux. He used to be in the army, just like M. Treville.'

'Treville!' cried Aramis enthusiastically. 'Oh, I have missed him!'

'I've missed Flamel,' Constance put in quietly. 'I've missed going to Alchemy and Mythology, and I've missed the dorms and Matron's cooking.'

'Me too,' agreed d'Artagnan, his mouth watering at just the thought of it. 'I'm so glad to be back.'

They played cards for a while, and Porthos had a nap, which was brought sharply to a close when Aramis flicked him with a card. They shared sweets and swapped sandwiches, and somehow Porthos ended up with half a sandwich and three slices of cheese.

It was a joy to see the grand, old building of Louvre come into view. It was like coming home. For Constance, Porthos, and Milady, it really was home. D'Artagnan's eyes widened in amazement. This was the first time he'd seen Louvre from the train window; it really was spectacular. He spotted the Andromeda towers as well, some distance from the school but still in close proximity. He couldn't spot any of the other dorms, apart from the bricked roof of the Perseus dorms pointing up past the trees. A gentle warmth settled in his stomach.

The train ground to a halt, and they hurried to grab their suitcases and get off the train. 'Where do we go?' asked Aramis.

Milady shrugged. 'I guess we have to make our own way.' She and Athos gave a quick wave goodbye and went in the direction of the Cassiopeia dorms.

'D'Artagnan! Aramis!' came a cry, and the headmaster's son, Louis Bourbon, came hurrying towards them. 'Hey, can we walk to the dorms together? Wait, wait, there's someone I need to bring with me …' He put his suitcase down and hurried away again. Aramis raised his eyebrows at d'Artagnan.

When Louis returned, he was assisting another Sirius boy who was walking mainly with the aid of a thick black stick. 'This is my step-brother, Philippe.'

Philippe smiled nervously behind black locks. 'Please, call me Feron,' he said quickly.

The four ambled slowly towards the Sirius dorms. Aramis and d'Artagnan learnt that Feron was a die-hard Star Wars fan―which was evident, judging by the jacket he was wearing.

'I used to watch the originals all the time with my dad,' he said, but then quickly changed the subject. 'Who's in classes with me? I've taken History, Advanced War Studies, and Geography.'

D'Artagnan beamed. 'Me too!'

'You're with me for History, too,' said Aramis.

'Yeah, me too,' added Louis.

It was odd not to have the same common room as last year, but it didn't look so different. The students crowded round to see who was roomed with who, and d'Artagnan smiled in relief upon seeing that he was with Aramis, Louis and Feron. Although he was on good terms with his other housemates, he was glad to be with his friends. The four sat in the dining room to eat some of Matron's chicken sandwiches before heading to their dorm. There were two bunk-beds, so d'Artagnan and Feron had the bottom bunks, and Louis and Aramis had the top.

D'Artagnan lay awake in bed, listening to Aramis snore, before he finally settled on his side. He sighed happily.

It was good to be home.