The flames.
God, how he loved the flames.
The twisting serpent, winding through the halls of his former home.
It was a glorious sight. Of course, the teachers and children screaming kind of soured it, but their school was being burnt so he guessed he could give them a pass.
Cole Stallings. That was the name he was given when he was born, by a mother that didn't stick around long enough to know him. By a father who most likely spent his life drinking. The only person who cared for him was his aunt, and she died last September.
Last September, he officially became alone.
Cole went to a school. A school for special people. A school for wizards. A school named Seroc. Seroc was located in America, but overshadowed by Ilvermony. So much, in fact, that Seroc only had 600 students.
And Cole was one of them.
Seroc was never a home. The other students hated him because he was different. Because he enjoyed learning instead of playing Quidditch. Because he asked questions no one thought of. Because he surpassed everyone with his grades.
They were all jealous, and he was alone.
Strangely enough, he had come to terms with it.
And now, now Seroc was getting what was coming. A serpent, conjured by the incredibly dark spell, Fiendfyre, was flowing through the halls, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Cole watched as he felt the magic pulse from the spell. He could feel the darkness, and he loved it. It intrigued him. Dark spells were not something taught at Seroc, and he was hard pressed to find any books on it.
The best part? It wasn't Cole that summoned the Fiendfyre.
Cole didn't know, or care. He watched the intricacies of the snake, and he smirked.
"Mister Stallings! Come on, we need to get to the lift!" A voice cried out.
For a split second, Cole forgot what was going on. He followed the voice, the NoMaj Studies professor, to the lifts that took the students through the mountains of Virginia.
One Day Later
"Mr Stallings, Mrs Slingalts. Out of all the students at Seroc, you two were the only ones interested in going to the British school. If you don't mind me asking, is there a specific reason?" Jeremy, the Family Dealings counselor for the tragedy of Seroc asked them.
Chloe, of course, answered first, "I went to a British boarding school before Seroc and I loved it! I definitely want to go back!" She was so enthusiastic it hurt.
Jeremy chuckled and looked at Cole, "And you?"
Cole thought for a moment. "I wasn't accepted at Seroc, and I doubt that'll change in Ilvermony. I guess I just want a fresh start."
Jeremy seemed to agree with that. "One more thing. You're both orphans, so we have to have guardians for you over the summer. I've contacted some friends at the British Ministry, and they've sent two well-established men to take you in."
Cole frowned, "Adoption?"
Jeremy waved his hand at the notion, "No no no, like foster. Ish. They'll watch you and they'll either take you in, or someone else will. It's nothing to worry about, I assure you."
Cole still seemed worried, but went with it nonetheless. He felt naked for some reason. Like something was missing.
Jeremy gave a look of defeat for some reason, "All right then. If that's all, take some floo powder and yell 'Leaky Cauldron'. They will be waiting for you there.
Cole didn't hesitate. He took the powder from Jeremy's office and didn't even say goodbye to America before he went. "Leaky Cauldron!" He shouted, leaving the dust of his old life behind.
He appeared in a much more grim setting. Stepping out of the fireplace, he noticed his surroundings. It was a very grey bar, with multiple people going about their business. A blonde haired man stepped up to him.
"Hello, Mr Stallings. My name is Lucius Malfoy, and I will be your guide for the British Wizarding World. If you have any questions, do ask." The man- Lucius stated.
That same nakedness he was feeling earlier had come back. Cole felt his eyes wandering to Chloe, who had just come out of the fire. She was with a man who looked a tad bit younger than Lucius, with unkept black hair, and glasses.
"Your other American counterpart got stuck with someone you don't want to associate with: James Potter," Lucius said, taking notice of Cole's observations.
"And why is that, Mr Malfoy?" Cole asked.
"Potter is foolish. He tends to run around and get himself into trouble."
Cole snorted, "Sounds like Chloe's a good fit then."
Chloe was just like how Lucius described James Potter. She was impulsive, headstrong, and outright dimwitted at times. They'd get along nicely.
"Now if you'll follow me, we need to get robes and such before you go to school. It is November after all," Lucius said.
Cole gasped, he had finally realized why he felt naked! "Mr Malfoy, I don't have a wand."
Lucius looked at him curiously. "No matter, I'll buy you one. Ollivander probably would've made a better one anyway."
They strode into Ollivander's, and Ollivander gave them a look.
"Hello Mr Malfoy. What can I do for you today?" The old man asked.
"This young man here needs a wand," Lucius replied.
Ollivander looked Cole down, "Hmm. I might have just the one." He pulled a box off the shelf behind him, "This one hasn't worked for anyone in the past 5 years, maybe you'll be the exception."
Cole held the dark, wooden wand in front of him. It felt powerful, very powerful. He cast a swift 'Reducto' on a pot, and it impressed him very much.
Ollivander laughed, despite having a pot of his broken, "This is wonderful news! I had just sold its brother no more than 3 years ago, to a woman much like yourself. The thrill of knowledge in her eyes is much like your own."
"Wait, twin?" Cole asked.
"Yes. That wand is Blackthorn, with a Dragon Hearthstring core. The dragon itself was a Horntail, so that core was worth a lot. The Blackthorn wood came from a tree in Canada, and I only had enough money to import enough wood for two wands. Yours, and hers, are both 11 ½ inches. Meaning that your wands are twins!" Ollivander exclaimed.
"Fun. Who is this witch that has the twin then?" Cole asked.
Ollivander looked between Cole and Lucius, a crooked smile on his face and a glint in his eye. "In all due time, Mr Stallings. In all due time."
Lucius decided he had had enough of the old mans antics, so he dropped 10 galleons on the counter and they went off.
"Mr Malfoy, do you know who the twin is?" Cole asked.
"Yes, but you'll learn when you get to Hogwarts. She's in the same year as you. Try to make friends with her, it'll be beneficial." He replied.
Cole though for a moment. "What's her name?" He questioned.
Lucius stopped to look at Cole. "Ashleigh Lestrange. Adopted heir to the Dark Lord."
'That's a long title' Cole though. He decided to keep his mouth shut, and after Lucius bought him school robes, they went back to the Leaky Cauldron.
"Now, I won't see you before Christmas, but you'll go to my Manor over the holiday. I have a son, he's two years under you, in his second year. He'll help you when the time comes," Lucius told Cole.
"Okay Mr Malfoy, thank you." Cole replied.
"Just call me Lucius, Cole. When you're ready, say 'Dumbledore's office' and you'll be set."
"Okay Lucius, thank you," Cole stepped in the fireplace and yelled, "Dumbledores office!"
He appeared out of the flames in an old room. Inside was Chloe, and an old man.
"Good evening Mr Stallings, I hope you found the journey to be pleasant," The man said, a twinkle in his eye.
"It was indeed quite fun sir, thanks for asking," Cole replied politely.
The man, Dumbledore, Cole assumed, smiled, "Good. We're going to go down to dinner to sort you two, then you'll join the table of your house, and you'll be a student at Hogwarts. Any questions?"
Cole had read a bit of Hogwarts: A History while waiting on Lucius to run some errands earlier that day, so he knew what houses were. Apparently Chloe did too, cause she didn't ask anything.
"Good," Dumbledore stated, "Follow me."
They followed the headmaster through the halls, and into a giant dining hall. "Wait here," Dumbledore commanded.
After what seemed like forever, James Potter came to collect them. He smiled at Chloe and led them through the Great Hall.
"Now Chloe," James said, "Go up there and put that hat on, it'll tell you what house you go in."
"Okay," Chloe replied. She strode to where the hat was, and before it even touched her head it yelled, "GRYFFINDOR!"
There were cheers from the table of red and gold, but now it was Cole's turn. He walked to the hat and an old lady put it on his head.
My my, aren't you a tricky one? You're smart, I'll give you that. Would do great as a Claw. But would you thrive? You definitely wouldn't in Hufflepuff. You don't have the brashness of a Gryffindor. How about "SLYTHERIN!" The hat shouted the last word so everyone would hear. The amount of applause from the green and silver table was amazing, Cole never thought someone would like him that much. He sat at the table, next to a girl with black hair, and a boy with brown hair.
"Hello there newcomer, welcome to the house of thieves, murderers, muggle born slayers, and everything else we've been accused of," the boy said, rather snakelike.
"Oh bugger off Crouch. You're just mad cause no one cares if you're they heir or not." The girl shot to the boy.
"Shut it Wendy Black, I am right on the same level as you."
AN: So. A gigantic AU. Hopefully you like it. There's definitely gonna be more coming. Review please! They really make my day!