Chapter 1: Expectations
West's three older brothers stood in front of him, like they all were studying some interesting artifact, wondering what sort of things it could do. South tilted his head slightly, his yellow eyes looking intently at West's face. He had cut his naturally purple hair short the day before, and he looked all grown up, at least West thought so. He hadn't shaved though, so he looked kind of scruffy. His shirt was untidy, and he was wearing sweatpants, but still he had a kind of grown quality about him, that made it clear that he was the oldest. He was twenty now, and out of Hogwarts, and had worked for nearly three years as a Potioneer. West was wearing his old first year robes, as South's was the only income and they didn't have that much gold to spare. He had also been given his old books, so the only things that were new, were his wand and the pygmy owl, scowling at him from inside it's cage. It didn't seem to like it's new owner much, and seemed to rather want to stay with East for some strange reason.
East seemed to have grown bored of studying West already, and he stared distant minded at the scarlet train. West stared for a moment at his silver prefect badge, thinking that he himself would never ever wear one. East's look seemed to say the same thing, as his gaze came back to West. East looked like he thought he was more grown up than he was, and he was so proud of his badge that his chest seemed to be pushed forward more than ever before, and he smirked, making this new, downward glance at his youngest brother, that made West feel like something insignificant East had inclined himself to care about. "What house do you think he'll be in, North?" He said, his voice sounding kind of lazy. He had asked the question several times since West had got the letter from Hogwarts. "I'd say he'd be in Slytherin with me, but I don't see any cunning in him..." West bit his teeth together. He was used to this kind of treatment, but he still couldn't manage to not be hurt by it. East brushed his purple, but thick and messy hair out of his face.
"I'm sure he'll be in my house," North said half encouraging, but also with a hint of exasperation. West silently thought that he probably wished he wasn't put in the same house as North, Hufflepuff, because then he wouldn't have as much responsabillity for him. North was in his seventh year, and he probably had enough friends and things to do, not to have West following him around. Not that West really wanted to. East pulled on North's short ponytail, making him brush his hand away and staring annoyed at him. "Stop that." North usually let his hair be loose, but on important days he always forced it into a pony-tail, even though it was barely long enough. His hair, too, was purple, and his eyes were as yellow as the other's. North's eyes however, was a bit magnified due to his square glasses.
"Oh it doesn't matter what house he is in," said South, smiling wryly at West, but it didn't make him feel any better. "Easy for you to say," he said, the first thing he had said since they entered the station. "You used to be in Gryffindor." South kept smiling at his little brother, and East rolled his eyes. "What's so good about that? It's not like it's a better house than mine." West could feel the age old argument coming up again. "You better get on the train now, it'll leave soon," South said looking at his watch. East was about to say something, but then he spotted some of his friends going onto the train, and sped off, not saying anything.
"I'll help you with your trunk," North said proudly and performed a hover charm on it, making it float onto the train along with his own, then, he stepped on the train, not mentioning where he would be sitting. West found it likely that he would sit with his friends though, so he guessed it didn't matter much. South sat down in front of him, looking into West's eyes. "Don't look so gloomy, this is supposed to be a happy occation!" He hugged him, a rare thing for any of them to do. "You'll send your owl when you're there, wont you?" South said, smiling. "If it doesn't bite my fingers off..." West mumbled, remembering the angry screeches it had made when he had tried to pet it earlyer. South chuckled, and stood up. "Off you go then."
West nodded and waved, as he stepped onto the train.