1. Friendships Aboard The Hogwarts Express

"Come along, Boy, we haven't all day." Calla Moody instructed her younger son imperiously, the cold light in her ice blue eyes brooking no nonsense. Even her sleek shoulder-length white blond looked like ice, shining white under the sunlight.

Ten-year-old Alastor Moody sighed and trotted along after his mother and brother, quite used to the routine.

"Coming, Mother."

"Do watch where you're going!" Aurelius's voice distracted Alastor from his examination of the cobblestone street and the boy looked up in time to see Aurelius pushing a younger tawny haired boy off of him.

The younger boy looked truly sorry. "Oh, so sorry, chap. Didn't see you there." He smiled, obviously thinking that would diffuse the tension immediately.

"Yes, well, watch where you're going next time," Aurelius ordered him before walking away to keep pace at Calla's side, his velvet green cloak fluttering behind him. The tone of his voice hadn't been kind, but it hadn't been blatantly rude or cruel either.

The other boy stared after the straight-backed red-head with a surprised look. Alastor stepped to his side and helped him to his feet.

"Don't mind him, he's always like that."

"How can anyone be like that?" the tawny-haired boy asked, glancing at Alastor, his blue eyes curious and wondering.

Alastor shrugged as he helped him dust his robes off. "Dunno. He's my brother and I've never known him to be any other way."

"Say, are you starting at Hogwarts, too?" the other boy asked, eyes bright with curiosity. It amused Alastor to see how quickly the smile came back to his face. How was it that anyone could look so cheerful like that so easily?

Alastor opened his mouth to reply when his mother's strident voice sounded over the chatter of the crowd around them. "Boy! Come along!"

"Yes, Mother," Alastor sighed as he stepped away, apologetic. "See you."

He turned and hurried off after his mother, dark green cloak billowing behind him, the other boy staring after him curiously. A small girl, about eight years old, suddenly appeared at the boy's side.

"Stew, who was that?"

"Dunno." The boy shrugged and smiled when his sister's hand insinuated itself into his. "I think he'll be starting at Hogwarts this year, though."

The girl brightened. "Maybe he'll be in your House and you two can be friends."

"Maybe, Poppy," Stewart agreed with another sigh. "Maybe."

Their mother's voice floated over to them. "Stewart, Poppy, come along."

"Yes, Mum!" Stewart called back, and then looked down at his sister. "C'mon, Poppy."

She smiled and brother and sister ran over to join their parents to shop for Stewart's school things.

Alastor Moody sighed happily as he surveyed the school supplies scattered on his bed. The uniforms were new, but weren't the same quality as his brother's. His books were mostly ones his brother had used, but hadn't any need of anymore. His potions kit, cauldron, scales, and telescope were all standard issue, but nowhere near what his brother had gotten. His wand, though, was uniquely his: ash, eleven inches, and pliable with a phoenix feather for the core. His mother hadn't been pleased with the choice and had suggested trying different wands, but Ollivander had calmly explained that no other wand would suit Alastor. Extremely put out, Calla had paid for the wand and dragged Alastor out of the shop while muttering under her breath that Ollivander was quite a strange fellow.

Picking up the box holding his wand, Alastor reverently opened it and picked up his wand. The warm, tingling rush he'd felt upon taking the wand from Ollivander earlier returned and he swished it through the air. A shower of red and gold sparks flew from the wand, filling his room. Smiling, Alastor returned his wand to its box and began to put his school things away.

He considered his life to be normal. He'd never considered that there could be anything wrong with the fact that his brother received all of his parents' attention and he received none. He naturally assumed that the first-born in every family received whatever attention and affection the parents had to give and the rest of the children received little or none of it. There were times when he wished his parents would pay more attention to him than to make sure he was clothed and fed, but they were few and far between.

One thing that unsettled him about his life was the strong emphasis his parents placed on the Dark Arts. The family tree in their drawing room showed what House his ancestors had been in and nearly all been in Slytherin. A few had been in Ravenclaw, but there hadn't been any in Gryffindor or Hufflepuff to his knowledge. It was safe to assume that if there had been any who fell into either of those Houses, they'd most likely been cut right out of the family. He wasn't sure what it was about the Dark Arts, but he didn't like to perform the few spells his parents had deigned to teach him while his brother was away at school. For one thing, he'd never been able to use either of his parents' wands very well. When he did manage to cast the spells, he always felt as though he'd done something wrong- something awful. He never felt right about it.

Sighing, Alastor finished putting his school things away and stretched out on his bed to daydream of life at Hogwarts.

"Not again!" Aurelius's voice sounded annoyed.

Alastor looked up from getting his and his brother's trunks onto the train to see that the same tawny haired boy with the blond highlights who'd run into Aurelius in Diagon Alley had run into Aurelius again.

"Frightfully sorry, old chap. Head in the clouds, I'm afraid."

"Just keep out of my way," Aurelius hissed, pushing the smaller boy away.

Alastor left the trunks alone and walked over to help the other boy. "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

"Of course." The boy gave Alastor a cheeky grin. "He needs to be taken down a peg or two."

Alastor stared at the boy. "You can't be serious."

"Oh, I am," the other boy replied with a wink, his pert features giving him the air of an imp. "He's a git. I should think you'd have gathered that by now, since he's your brother and all."

Alastor rolled his eyes. "Well, yeah, but-"

"Boy! What are you doing?" Calla's voice stopped Alastor in his tracks.

He slowly turned to her. "Sorry, Mother."

"Get those trunks on the train this instant," Calla ordered him, green eyes hard.

Alastor sighed softly. "Yes, Mother." He trudged over to where the two trunks waited and began to heave his brother's onto the train. His eyes widened with surprise when he felt the other end being lifted. Looking over the top of it, he saw that the other boy had hold of the other end.

"What are you doing?"

"Helping you, of course," the other boy answered matter-of-factly. "You look like you need it."

Alastor smiled slightly. "Thanks, but I've got it."

"No you don't." The other boy pressed forward on his end to make his point. "Now let's get these on the train."

Without another word, they hefted the two trunks onto the train. "Thanks for your help."

"Think nothing of it," the boy answered cheerfully.

Alastor opened his mouth to ask the boy a question, but a sweet voice calling, "Stew! Where are you?" interrupted him.

"I'm coming, Poppy!" The boy, apparently Stewart, called back as he jumped down off the train.

Alastor moved to look out the window of the train and saw the boy talking with a girl no more than eight years old with the same tawny hair and blond highlights. As the two talked, a man and woman approached, obviously their parents. The man was tall, also graced with the same hair coloring, and broad shoulders and Stewart showed signs of following in his footsteps. The woman wasn't quite as tall as the man, with golden hair touched with tawny streaks, and a womanly, voluptuous build, and the girl showed signs of doing the same.

Alastor's green eyes widened when the two adults hugged both children. Why were they hugging both? It was obvious the boy was the elder of the two, and therefore should get all the affection. The family chatted for a little longer and Stewart hugged his sister before turning and bounding for the train, nearly bowling Alastor over when he climbed on board.

"Why didn't you go find a seat?"

"I, er, didn't think of it," Alastor replied, feeling his cheeks grow warm as he started down the train with the other boy, not wanting to admit that he was intrigued by his family.

Stewart cast a speculative glance his direction, but another voice, this time a boy's, distracted him. "Oy! Stew! Over here!"

"Hey, Griff!" Stewart waved to the other boy, who had sandy brown hair, astonishing yellow hawk-like eyes, and wasn't quite as tall. "Did you and Percy find good seats?"

The other boy nodded, smiling. "Yep! I hope you don't mind that we invited someone else to sit with us. Well, more Percy than me, really."

"Not at all, the more the merrier," Stewart answered jovially.

The boy suddenly spotted Alastor, who'd hung back a little. "Who's this?"

"Er," Stewart's cheeks were red when he turned to Alastor. "Sorry, but what is your name, anyway?"

He looked from one boy to the other. Both seemed friendly enough and had treated him better than his own brother did. He offered his hand to Stewart.

"Moody, Alastor Moody."

"Hello, I'm Stewart, but everyone calls me Stew." The blush faded from the other boy's cheeks as he shook Alastor's hand. He inclined his head toward his friend. "This here's my mate, Griffith Hooch."

"Everyone just calls me Griff." Griffith shook Alastor's hand. "Nice to meet you."

"Come on, let's sit down." Stewart stepped past his friend and into the compartment.

Alastor glanced at Griffith, who gestured for the other boy to enter. Nodding, Alastor entered the compartment to find two other boys seated side by side on one of the seats.

"Er, hi?"

Introductions were made all around. The golden-haired boy with the winning smile and bright blue eyes was Percival Lockley (who distinctly preferred to be called 'Percy') and the other chestnut-brown haired boy with the amber eyes was Rremly Redgrave.

"Are you the first in your families to attend Hogwarts?" Rremly asked politely.

"Yeah!" Stewart was the first to answer, grinning cheekily.

"Ditto for me," Griffith added.

Percival laughed. "Third in my family. My brother Jules is third year and Joss is second year. I've also got three cousins here, too."

"I'm second," Rremly smiled his head. "Holden's a third year, too."

The other four looked at Alastor. "What?"

"Are you the first in your family to attend Hogwarts, Al?" Stewart asked.

Alastor shook his head. "No, I have an older brother, Aurelius. You ran into him, remember?"

"Oh, him!" Stewart nodded and hit his forehead with the heel of his hand. "The git. I rather put him out of my mind."

The other boys laughed. Rremly looked thoughtful. "What House is your brother in, Al?"

"Slytherin," Alastor answered matter-of-factly. "What about yours?"

"Hufflepuff," came Rremly's prompt reply, lips forming a pleasant smile.

Alastor sent a glance over to Percy to ask the same question.

"My brothers are in Ravenclaw and my cousins are in Hufflepuff," Percy winked.

As the five boys chatted about anything and everything, Alastor found himself laughing more than he ever had in his life. Of course, Stewart, Griffith, and Percy were a comedic trio anyway. The easy, casual way Stewart, Griffith, and Percy bantered back and forth and tossed insults at each other made obvious the fact that the three were boyhood friends. Rremly laughed more easily at their jokes and antics than Alastor, but he wasn't allowed to keep to himself by the other boys.

This puzzled Alastor. He assumed, from past experience, that he, Percy, and Rremly would be ignored because they were not the firstborn in their families, but that wasn't so. He, Percy, and Rremly were included in the conversation, and the casual way they were included indicated to Alastor that this was the modus operandi for the other boys. It got him thinking of the way he was treated at home.

Before he could ponder for long, though, it was time to change into their school robes and get ready to disembark from the train. Jumping down, the boys stared in awe at the darkened train station. They couldn't stare for long, though, because a gruff voice called, "First years this way!"

The trek to the lake passed without comment, the boys looking about them as much as they could. All five stopped short when they saw the castle ahead of them, twinkling on top of a cliff. The gamekeeper didn't let them stop for long, waving them forward after everyone had had a chance to look. When they reached the boats, the announcement that only four students were allowed per boat caused the five boys to stop and exchange looks. After a few moments of indecision Percy and Rremly headed for one boat while Stewart, Griffith, and Alastor headed for another.

Once on the other side of the lake and in a small underground harbor, the five boys regrouped. They were too awestruck to say much of anything, and Griffith was soaking wet because he'd leaned too far over the side of the boat and fallen into the lake. Before Stewart could jump in after his friend, a long tentacle had pushed Griffith, coughing and spluttering, back into the boat. Surrounding the shivering boy, the five friends followed the other first-years to the front doors of the castle, which looked even more impressive up close. The old man with the lantern knocked three times on the door and it was opened by a tall, distinguished-looking wizard in dark blue—almost black—robes embroidered with purple and silver, with neatly trimmed silver hair and goatee.

"The first years, Professor Dumbledore."

"Thank you, Falco," the wizard replied. "I'll take them from here."

As the doors were opened wider, the first-year students, Alastor, Stewart, Griffith, Percy, and Rremly among them, trooped into the castle. The entrance hall was easily larger than the one at Moody Manor, but nowhere near as elegant. Yet, Alastor found it to be more welcoming than the entrance hall of his own home. They were led across the flagged stone floor to a small chamber off to one side of the hall, where Professor Dumbledore explained about the Houses, the Sorting, and house points. After a short wait, Professor Dumbledore returned to escort the first years into the Great Hall. As he lined up in front of the high table with the other first years, Alastor spotted his brother sitting at one of the long House tables. Aurelius's green eyes met Alastor's and the cool, arrogant look in them sent chills down the younger brother's spine.

After the Sorting Hat explained its purpose, Professor Dumbledore stepped forward with a long roll of parchment. "When I call your name you will come forward and sit down. I will place the Sorting Hat on your head and it will Sort you."

As he watched his year mates get Sorted, Alastor wondered which House he would end up in. He knew that his parents would prefer that he be in Slytherin, and he'd accepted that without question, but now he wondered if he truly wanted to be a member of the House of the Serpent. He barely had time to think when the ceremony began.

"Albrecht, Alfons!

A smiling pert-faced chestnut brown haired boy moved to the front. The Hat was placed on his head, and after several moments called out, "SLYTHERIN!"

Following immediately after was, "Albrecht, Maximilian!" A boy identical in every respect stepped forward. "SLYTHERIN!"

Alastor watched as Maximilian went to join his twin at the Slytherin table, sitting just several spaces down from where his brother, Aurelius, sat.

"Breedlove, Belladonna!"

A golden-haired girl with unkempt shoulder length curls, one of the tallest in the year, stepped forward out of the line. Professor Dumbledore placed the large hat on her head and Alastor waited to hear which House she would be put into. "GRYFFINDOR!"

As Belladonna removed the hat and headed for the Gryffindor table, Alastor heard Griffith and Stewart murmuring beside him. "No surprise, her being a Gryffindor."

"Nope, not at all." Stewart agreed. "I heard she's really quite fierce and feisty."

"Graeme, Ross!" A dark haired boy—seemingly the same height as Belladonna—came forward. He was a bit intimidating, his eyes deep and piercing. Within a moment of the Hat's touching his head he was heralded as, "GRYFFINDOR!"

The four remaining boys waited their turns to be Sorted. Soon enough, Professor Dumbledore called, "Hooch, Griffith!"

The sandy-haired boy, shorter than any of the others, trotted over to the stool, his shoes squishing with each step. The Sorting hat slid down over his shoulders and the four remaining boys waited anxiously. "GRYFFINDOR!"

Alastor caught Griffith sitting down beside Belladonna, opening conversation with her. Alastor looked to the Hat just as another name was called out, "Lockley, Percival!"

He couldn't help but notice that Percy had unusual confidence for one their age. The boy sauntered up to the seat with a winning smile. The Hat was placed upon his head. "GRYFFINDOR!"

Alastor watched as Percival made his way to the House table to sit beside Griffith, who introduced him to Belladonna, by the looks of it. He clenched and unclenched his hands, aware that he would be the next of the five to be Sorted. He still wasn't sure if he wanted to be in Slytherin after all. Before he could make up his mind, Professor Dumbledore announced, "Moody, Alastor!"

As he walked over to the stool, Alastor was almost sure a murmur of whispers started up. Sitting down, the Sorting Hat slid down over his head, stopped by his shoulders.

"Well, now, you're going to be difficult to place. Your parents and brother were all in Slytherin, of course, but that's no guarantee that you'll be there, too."

I don't know what I want anymore, Alastor thought miserably, torn between pleasing his family and pleasing himself.

"Few children know at this young an age," the Hat replied, its tone almost soothing. "However, should you be a lion or a serpent? That is the question of the moment."

If I go into Gryffindor, my family will most likely disown me, Alastor reasoned. If I go into Slytherin, maybe my parents will actually pay attention to me for once.

"So, what is your final answer?" the Sorting Hat asked.

Alastor sighed. You can see in my head, which do you see?

"SLYTHERIN!"