Disclaimer - I don't own Harry Potter or any of the things easily recognizable from the books. Luc and friends are mine, but their last names aren't, and Dirk Courtney is a name from Wilbur Smith's Courtney novels. The de Sauvigny (House and scions) are mine.
The Stolen Generation
Part 2 - The Slytherin
It was time for the Sorting. The Hat had sung its song, a rather uninspired ditty, and McGonagall had moved to stand in front of the assembled first years. Luc had ignored the first few names called, gazing instead at the ceiling and trying to analyse what spells had gone into it. But when she called out "de Sauvigny, Adam", he came back to himself and paid attention.
Adam de Sauvigny was a young boy, one of those who had surrounded the Golden Child, with dark hair and pale skin. He sat down on the chair and pulled the Hat on, then squirmed nervously while the Hat deliberated. Finally, when Adam looked almost terrified, it called out for the whole Hall to hear "GRYFFINDOR!" The Gryffindor table erupted in cheers, and Adam smiled in relief, jumping down to sit at the table with his fellow students.
"de Sauvigny, Caine" was the Golden Child, the leader, the Heir. Luc's grey eyes were fixed on him as he confidently stepped up and accepted the Hat. It took absolutely no time to place him, and he moved to the Gryffindor table as if he had never had a doubt in the world.
However, "de Sauvigny, Dominic", was placed in Slytherin. Luc watched Caine and Adam's faces as they underwent a curious transformation - as all the affection they might have felt for Dominic took second-place to Gryffindor- Slytherin rivalry and prejudice. He was no longer their cousin, but simply another Slytherin. Watching Dominic witness the first blows against a life- long friendship, Luc gained an insight into the prejudices that drove their world.
"de Sauvigny, Michel" joined his cousin in Slytherin, and once more Caine and Adam closed ranks against him. Luc idly wondered how they would survive without the light cast by the Golden Child's approval, but then dismissed the thought. It was really none of his business - he had nothing to do with the internal quarrels of the House of de Sauvigny.
Then, finally, it was his turn. "Malfoy, Lucien" was called and he made his own way up to the stool, sitting down as the Hat was placed on his head. He almost started when he heard its voice in his head.
"Hmm, a Malfoy! That should automatically qualify you for Slytherin, but wait: the de Sauvigny are a mixed House - producing both Gryffindor and Slytherin. Perhaps you would...? But no, there is too much ruthlessness here, even at eleven, and ambition, oh my, you're ambitious - you've a thirst to prove yourself, don't you? Courage, oh yes, but tempered by cold pragmatism, and a complete lack of scruples, oh my boy, I pity whoever crosses you. And yet, you've a strong protective streak, and you know how to love - no, you've got morals boy, but they're entirely Slytherin ones. You're too cold, too strong for Gryffindor, but Slytherin... You could rule Slytherin. Yes, Slytherin will make you great.
And then it shouted aloud to the whole Hall "SLYTHERIN!", but there were very few who had ever doubted where he would end up. The Malfoys had always been Slytherins, and it seemed that this one, bastard or no, would be no different.
Dominic and Michel stuck close together as they entered the Slytherin common room with the other five first years. Dominic wondered, for a moment, whether the Hat had made a mistake with them - why had he been sorted into Slytherin, and Caine and Adam into Gryffindor?
He had seen, before he took the Hat off and went to sit in Slytherin, the exact moment when Caine and Adam had subconsciously disowned him. He knew, instinctively, that Caine would reject him from now on, and that he and Michel would have to make their own way in Hogwarts.
He looked at the other boys in their year, assessing them as his father, an astute businessman, had taught him to do. They all sat in a circle, watching each other, until the Prefect suggested that they introduce themselves.
Shan Andahni had thick blonde hair and dancing grey-green eyes, a quicksilver smile and a ready sense of the ridiculous, and his body was lithe, coordinated and very agile. He looked like a Gryffindor at first glance, but Dominic sensed that those eyes were far too keen underneath all the merriment.
His cousin, Rayden Lestrange, had white hair and pure green eyes, sharper features than Shan's regular ones, and a razor-sharp smile full of mockery and cynicism. His eyes were as sharp as his smile, and his whole body radiated a lazy grace that could, without warning, become deadly intensity.
Brandon Avery, dark haired and grey eyed, seemed at first glance to be, like the other two, eternally amused. His eyes were gently world weary, and he spoke with a quiet drawl, giving the impression that he was far too lazy to work up any energy at all. But his heavy-lidded eyes gleamed with intelligence and he moved with the smooth, coordinated grace of a dancer, or a trained fighter.
Andahni, Lestrange and Avery had all grown up more or less together, they were related somehow, and so were, if not tight-knit, then at least rather close friends. They didn't seem to be experiencing any awkwardness, and projected all the lazy confidence of lords surveying their own realm. Dominic wondered how much of it was a sham, and where they had learned never to show true emotion.
Second last to introduce himself was Dirk Courtney. Thick, rich gold hair framed dark blue eyes and almost perfect features and a sensual mouth, but his eyes were cold and cynical and his mouth was almost permanently fixed into an amused, mocking half-smile. His voice was rich and smooth, but Dominic suspected that he couldn't open his mouth without uttering any cutting comments or insults. The others seemed to be used to him though, simply ignoring the insults and talking to him normally. He sensed that Dirk was a loner - but if he ever gave his friendship, he would give it wholeheartedly, mocking and insulting all the while. It was simply part of who he was, and nothing would change it.
And lastly, when he and Michel and everyone else had introduced themselves, came the boy who had sat silently and watched during the introductions. His name was Lucien Malfoy - but call me Luc - and of all the first years, he was the only one that Dominic couldn't even read a little bit. All of the others had had excellent defenses, but Malfoy was...completely impassive. This probably meant he had more to hide than most, but whatever it was, he hid it well.
Jet-black hair, slightly longer than normal, framed features that, unlike Dirk's, were absolutely perfect, and silver eyes that saw everything and reflected nothing except a sense of burning intensity. Caine's eyes were confident, full of strength and self-assurance. He knew his place in the world, and was perfectly confident in it. But Luc Malfoy's eyes - there was something dangerous in those eyes, something untamed, something feral. If Caine glowed, then Luc burned.
Later that night, in the first year dormitory, Luc sat on a stool by the fire, unfocused eyes gazing through the flames into an inner landscape of memories, dreams and ambitions. He heard the whispering behind him, recognized the voices as the two de Sauvigny boys - Dominic and Michel. He supposed they were his cousins...but he had never really thought himself part of the House before. He was a Malfoy, and the Malfoy way was all he had ever known.
The whispering was increased as others joined in the conversation. Luc half- smiled, listening to the whispers, identifying the new voices. Andahni, Lestrange and Avery - with Courtney sitting apart as he usually did.
Here in this room were the children of some of the oldest, richest and most powerful families in British wizarding society. Each of them was pureblooded, with a lineage tracing back to the Founding at least. And apart from Dominic and Michel, every single child in this room was the son or brother of a Death Eater. He wondered whether the two innocents among them would survive.
The whispering had stopped. Glancing at the whisperers out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Dominic and Michel were eyeing him warily; glancing at each other, then back at the other three, who gave them little shooing motions. Through his other eye he looked at Dirk, who was also watching the little tableau. Dirk's blue eyes met his, and there was amusement in their depths, as well as a warning. Luc closed his eyes wearily and sighed soundlessly.
Evidently this was an interrogation, and the two de Sauvigny had been chosen as the sacrificial lambs. Really, those two were far too innocent for their own good. He turned his head when one of them - Michel? - coughed apologetically. Yes, Michel had coughed; Michel was black haired and blue eyed, Dominic was black haired and green eyed. Other than that, he couldn't see any discernable differences between them. Yet.
Watching them shift nervously from foot to foot, he took pity on them and raised an eyebrow. Then concealed his amusement as they searched for a suitable opening gambit. Dominic, the dominant one of the two, took the lead.
"Umm," he began. Luc heard a smothered, choked sound from where Dirk was sitting, but ignored it and kept his eyes on Dominic's.
Michel took up the initiative. "Is it true?" He blurted out hurriedly. "I mean, what they say about you." Rayden closed his eyes and Shan's eyes danced with unholy glee. Brandon simply watched, but a small smile flirted with the edge of his mouth.
"They?" Luc decided not to make it easy for them.
Dominic flushed. "I mean, what Caine says about you. Is it true?" Ah, Caine, the Golden Child.
"As I have never met Caine, I'm afraid that I don't know what it is he says about me..."
"Oh...you know, about the Potions Master and all..." Across the room, Rayden, Shan and Brandon had gone still; evidently, this was not what they had wanted them to ask, or if it was they hadn't expected them to breach it so tactlessly. Dirk was watching intently, his blue eyes cold with warning. All the boys in the room bar Dominic and Michel knew what that name meant to Luc, but only Dirk knew anything firsthand. Sensing that they had made an enormous faux pas, they hurried on with their questions.
"Does it have anything to do with Professor Snape?"
Throughout all this Luc's face had not changed expression, his muscles had not tensed, his pulse had remained steady and his pupils had not contracted. But something in his eyes must have given him away, because Dominic took an involuntary step back, and changed the subject.
"Ahh, Luc...do you mind if I ask you a rather...personal question?" Amusement flashed through Luc at this, but he only raised an eyebrow and said, "By all means. Please do."
"Why...why are you a Malfoy?"
"My father was a Malfoy, de Sauvigny."
"Yes, I know, but your mother..."
"My mother was seventeen and unwed when she had me. As soon as she could walk she left me with my father and married Aethan de Sauvigny. Is that what you were asking?"
He could see even Brandon wincing.
"So Caine really is your half-brother?"
"Yes, he really is."
"Oh. Well then, thanks."
"You're quite welcome, de Sauvigny." And with that, he got up and walked off. Michel would have followed, but Dominic restrained him. (Come on, Misha; don't be more stupid than we already were...) When he walked past Rayden and friends they made a small hand sign, (apologies) which he acknowledged with a slight nod. As it became clear he was leaving the dorm, Dirk got up to follow him. No one stopped him, but Luc didn't look back.
