Whispers were going around the Great Hall about a new transfer student from Ilvermorny. Students were finding it very peculiar that a fourth year would be transferring into Hogwarts in the latter half of the year. Honestly, Albus... Jeremy Reeves was thinking that himself. Great backstory, Dumbledore. "Won't attract attention, my arse," Albus muttered as he stood by the head table, watching students glance up at him in wonder. One glare from him, and their heads were turning 180 degrees the other direction.
"Settle down, students. As I had stated before dinner was served, we have a new student joining us, transferring from Ilvermorny. I would like all of you to welcome Jeremy Reeves with open arms." Some students started clapping, namely from the Hufflepuff table, but Albus focused on the Slytherin table where they were muttering 'Mudblood' and other such slurs. He frowned and thought about how awful his house was before the war.
"Mr. Reeves, please go sit, and the Sorting Hat will place you in your new house," Professor Mcgonogall said as she came around the Head Table. Albus tentatively sat on the stool, feeling like a first year all over again. The hat was placed firmly on his head, and he could already hear the its confusion. "...You are not from this time, are you? Hmmmm... interesting. Very interesting. A future Slytherin... Well, let's see how you fare in the older version of your house... SLYTHERIN!" A couple of claps could be heard from the Slytherin table, but the rest of the hall went quiet, and then, the muttering erupted again.
Albus, trying hard not to flush in embarrassment from the cold welcome, sat at the edge of the Slytherin table closest to the professors. Best not to stir up trouble this early in his 'time travels.'
"It'll pass over soon," said a black haired boy next to him.
"I hope you're right," replied Albus.
"My name is Regulus Black. Third year, but I am in most of the advanced classes with the fourth years. It's my ambition to get out of this school as soon as possible," the boy said confidently.
"Why? This school boring you already?" Albus asked with smirk.
"There are many things that await outside of these castle walls. I wouldn't want to miss out on them."
"Interesting." Albus saw the prefects standing up. "Well, it was nice meeting you, Black. I'll see you again some time." He must be related to Sirius Black, he thought. Harry Potter's godfather was never a popular topic in the house because he became heavily depressed afterwards, but he thought it was his duty to remind his kids about how amazing and brave Sirius was. But, Sirius was nothing like Regulus Black...
"You just might," Regulus said, breaking Albus out of his thoughts. He stayed longer for dinner while Albus followed the prefects, appearing to be a seemingly lost and dazed new student when, in fact, he knew exactly where his common room was.
"The password is slubabor. My name is Rabastan Lestrange, fifth year prefect. If you find any difficulties in school, dorm life, fellow housemates... don't ask me; ask the sixth year prefects. Good night, Reeves," the older boy spat out. Albus raised an eyebrow as Lestrange walked away. Does anyone hear know manners?
There was hardly anyone in the common room, except for some seventh years studying feverishly for the N.E.W.T.s coming up. Then, he saw a younger boy, sat in leather chair in front of the roaring fireplace. His hair shielded his face like a curtain as he read a book. Al knew he was going to be stuck here indefinitely, so he might as well make some friends. "Um, excuse me?"
The boy looked up with a bored expression. "Need something?" he said quietly.
Albus felt uncomfortable, but he kept pushing forward. "I'm sure you saw me at the Great Hall. I'm not that familiar with this school. Could you maybe help me understand my schedule? Professor Dumbledore just handed it to me. He based it on my Ilvermorny credits. I'm not sure about some of these electives, though."
The other boy wanted to object, but with a sigh, stuck out his hand. "Give me your schedule."
"Oh, yeah... right, um, well, where did I put it?" Albus was flustered as he searched through his robes. He didn't think that the other was going to actually help him. "Here you go," he said as he handed the folded paper to the boy with rather clammy hands.
"These electives are abysmal. Divination and Care for Magical Creatures. Switch those out with Ancient Runes and Arithmancy. Those classes are a lot more riveting."
"Ok, thanks. I'll talk to the Headmaster about them. Thank you, um..." Albus trailed off.
"My name his Severus Snape." What? You? You're the great hero that Professor Longbottom talks about in his speeches EVERY year? Dear Merlin, you look like a scrawny loser, not that I could judge. Albus furrowed his brows, but masked his emotions and said thanks again.
He retired to his rooms, pleased to see that the boys there were sleeping, so no on could disturb him. Doing his nightly rituals, he thought about his mum, dad, and Lily, even James, his awful, egotistical older brother. He missed them. Sure, he had his fights here and there, but he could not imagine life without them. And, here he was, in another dimension, where not one of them have been born yet. First, I have no friends, and now, I've lost my family too. Can this get any worse?
Oh, but it can. As soon as most of the boys had fallen asleep, including Albus, many seventh year Slytherins snuck out in the dead of night to apparate out of Hogsmeade. The Dark Lord was preparing the upcoming Hogwarts graduates for their Death Eater initiation.
