Chapter 1: Meeting

Harry was standing at King's Cross, yet he didn't know how to get to Platform 9. The passing guard didn't know anything either, and he was thinking Harry had lost his mind. Hagrid must have forgotten to tell him something you had to do, Harry realized. Even though there's still 20 minutes before the train to Hogwarts departed, Harry could tell he was getting more panic every minute passed. What would become of him if he couldn't get on the train?

At that moment there's a light tap on his shoulder. Harry turned around and found himself stared into a pair of green eyes, green eyes that weren't as obnoxiously bright as his own, but so kind and warm, and Harry felt like he understood the meaning of the word "home" for the first time in his life.

"You look like you need some helps with your direction. Maybe I can show you the way?" the girl that had just tapped Harry's shoulder asked.

She looked the same age as Harry, with soft blonde hair and a beautiful voice. Harry found himself blushing.

"T-Thank you." Harry stuttered. Why was he making a fool of himself?

"You're welcome." the girl smiled sweetly. "So where do you need to get to?"

Harry blushed harder. He didn't know if this girl could help him, or if she would think Harry lost his mind like the guard. But if he wanted to get anywhere, he had to try anyway.

"You may think I'm crazy, but I need to get to platform 9," Harry said.

The girl's eyes widened in realization.

"You're heading to Hogwarts, right?" asked the girl.

"Yes. How-?"

"I'm heading there too. It's my first time too, you know."

Harry felt relief. Finally, he could get to platform 9, to Hogwarts. And maybe he could befriend with this pretty girl too.

"This way, please."

The girl pulled Harry go with her to a very solid looking barrier between platforms 9 and 10.

"All you have to do is walking straight at this barrier," she explained, still pushing him from behind. Harry stared at her over his shoulder, but she just smiled reassuringly.

Harry sighed. He just had to do it.

They went through the barrier and to a platform with a scarlet steam engine was waiting next to a platform packed with people. A sign overhead said Hogwarts' Express, eleven o'clock. Harry looked behind him and saw a wrought-iron archway where the barrier had been, with the words Platform 9 on it.

He had done it.

"What do you think?" the girl asked.

"It feels magical."

The blonde giggled softly at Harry's pun. Harry blushed at the sound.

"Come on, this way. My brother's waiting."

"Your brother?"

"Oh yes, I have a twin brother. He goes with me this year. What about you? Do you have any siblings?"

"I have a cousin. He's a bully though."

"That must be sad. Not getting along with your family."

"Yeah…" Harry replied sadly.

They reached a compartment with only a boy sitting in it. The boy looked up from his book. Although this boy had rather messy looking jet-black hair, his feature was strikingly identical to the blonde's. There's no doubt he was her twin. His green eyes, however, had that mischief sparkle that wasn't there in the blonde's eyes.

"Gigi, what took you so long? And who is it with you there?" the boy asked.

"Sorry." Gigi apologized, even though her voice didn't sound apologetic at all. "Right, Altie, this is…"

Gigi turned to Harry, blushing. "Sorry, it must have slipped my mind to introduce ourselves. My name is Helia Vega Black, and my brother is Selwen Altair Black. It's nice to make your acquaintances."

Harry, realizing he hadn't introduced himself, blushed too. "I'm Harry. Harry Potter. Nice to meet you, too."

The twins' eyes widened.

"You're Harry Potter, as in Harry James Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, aren't you?" the boy – Selwen – asked cheerfully.

"Oh, him," said Harry. "I mean, yes, I am."

"It must've been harsh. To be famous for surviving while losing your parents." murmured Helia.

She looked at him understandingly. Strange how she could make her gaze look sympathetic while not making him feel pitied at all.

Harry smiled softly at the blonde. "Believe me when I say I would choose to have my family with me over this fame every day."

He looked at Helia's kind eyes. She caught his eyes and smiled gently. Harry'd never felt being so close to anyone in years, and they'd just met less than 15 minutes. He wouldn't trade this friendship with the World, Harry decided. But someone had to choose that moment to interrupt them.

"Hey hey, but you know, I heard that after his parents' death and his godfather's capture, Harry Potter was sent to live with his muggle relatives. Is it true? Is it true?" Selwen's energetic voice rang through the compartment, a bit too cheerful for such a question.

"Er… Yes. I…" replied Harry uneasily.

"Hey, did your muggle relatives love you? Did they treat you well? Or maybeee…" Selwen's eyes suddenly lost their cheerfulness and went sharp with deadly seriousness. "Those muggle of relatives abused you?"

Selwen hissed at the word "abuse". Harry's discomfort grew. That's not some questions you ask others at your first meet. It's too personal.

"I… They…" Harry found himself at a loss of words. How was he supposed to answer this kind of question? Should he stay silent, lie, or-

"Don't you dare lie to me about this, Harry!" Selwen's growl caught Harry off guard. "I would know who was being abused when I meet one. And you are one, Harry. Don't you dare lie to my face saying they didn't do anything to you!"

Harry's face grew redder and redder at each word. He didn't need to be reminded of that right the first day to Hogwarts.

"Altair!" Helia growled at her twin brother. "You overstep the boundaries again!"

"But Vega, this IS important. He needs help with it!"

"That's still no excuse for your bringing up something clearly makes Harry uncomfortable. Harry could choose to tell us about it in his own time, or not at all. Seriously Altair, you really should have known better."

Harry's anger had subsided when he realized what Selwen's question was aiming to.

"Do you…" Harry's voice quivered with excitement, with hope "Do you really can help me?"

Two pair of identical green eyes turned to his direction.

"Of course Harry, we'd love to be of help to you. And it isn't because you're the Boy-who-Lived or something, but because you're Harry, and no one, child or not, should be put under abuse." Helia moved closer to Harry and brought him into a tight hug. "We should know, after all."

Harry's eyes widened at the implication. Did Helia and Selwen get abused too?

He shuddered at the thought of someone harming this sweet girl and her twin. Harry unconsciously wrapped his hands tightly around her, as if to protect her from the World. He raised his eyes and looked into another pair of green eyes. Selwen caught his eyes and grinned brightly.

"Don't worry little Harry. You won't have to go back to your relatives if you don't want to. I swear."

Harry was overwhelmed with joy that he didn't care that he'd just gotten called "little" by someone his age and even shorter than him. Harry was beyond happy. He wouldn't have to come back to the Dursleys any more. No more beatings nor starvings. He felt like crying in happiness. Helia sang a calming lullaby softly into his ear. Her song was beautiful, and Harry actually thought that there was magic in her voice too.

The door of the compartment slid open at the moment and a redheaded came in. Harry and Helia quickly stopped their hug and looked up.

"Is there still empty seats?" The boy asked awkwardly. "Everywhere else is full."

"Come take this seat," Selwen said patting the seat beside him.

"Thanks." The redheaded sat down.

"Hey, Ron."

Another pair of twins came standing at the door.

"Listen, we're going down the middle of the train – Lee Jordan's got a giant tarantula down there."

"Right," mumbled Ron.

"Little firsties," said the other twin, "did we introduce ourselves? Fred and George Weasley. And this is Ron, our brother."

"Altair and Vega Black," Selwen replied.

"Blacks?" Ron asked disbelievingly. He opened his mouth, but whatever he intended to say was silenced by Selwen's glare. Ron closed his mouth, but still shooted nasty glares at Selwen and Helia's directions for some reasons.

Harry felt annoyed at this boy. He clearly didn't know Selwen and Helia, yet he looked at them like they are somethings vile! While Selwen pointedly ignored his glare, Helia looked rather uncomfortable. Harry found himself grow angry with the redheaded. Helia was a sweet girl and she didn't deserve such treatment. He was about to snap at the boy – Ron – when a redheaded twin interrupted.

"Ron, stop it. It's disgraceful. You should be ashamed of yourself."

"We're sorry about our little brother's behaviour." The other redheaded twin said.

"But they're Blacks. They're dark. I bet they will become slimy Slytherins soon enough!"

"Ron!" A redheaded twin scolded.

"But-" A glare from the twins sent Ron back to silence again.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but Gigi belongs to the Huffs. It's in the blood, you know." Selwen pompously informed him.

Ron huffed "Who would want to become a Hufflepuff!" He then added after a second thought. "Well, I get better Hufflepuff than Slytherin though."

Hufflepuff and Slytherin, Harry remembered Hagrid mentioned about them before. They're 2 of the 4 Hogwarts houses. Slytherin was for the evils and Hufflepuff was for the duffers. But…

"I'm not sure about these houses, but if Helia belongs to the Hufflepuff then they can't be that bad!"

"Well said, Harry!" Selwen praised him. The cheerfulness still lingered in his voice. "But please call us by our second name."

"Uh, okay…" Harry nodded, not really understood the reason behind it. Helia and Selwen were fine names in Harry's opinion.

Noticing his questioning look, Selwen smiled brightly at him, but his smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "The bastard – our biological father – called us by these names."

There's a realization glint in Harry's eyes. So Helia and Selwen, no, Vega and Altair's father was the one abusing them.

Harry squeezed Vega's hand. She looked up and smiled sadly. "You needn't worry about it, Harry. It's all in the past. Father saved us back then, and he will you too now."

Harry smiled at the kind-hearted girl. Even when she was clearly upset over Ron's words, she still cared about him. The moment was interrupted and they were back to reality again.

"Harry?" said one of the Weasley twin suddenly.

"Blimey," said the other twin. "Are you-?"

"He is," said the first twin. "Aren't you?" he added to Harry.

"What?" said Harry.

"Harry Potter." chorused the twins.

"Yes, I am," said Harry defiantly.

The 2 boys gawked at him, and Harry tried not to turn red. He hadn't done with Ron yet.

"We'd love to get to know you more-" started a twin.

"But our friend, Lee Jordan must get mad over waiting for us by now." said the other.

"So, see you later, then." they chorused again.

"Bye," said Altair and Vega. Harry and Ron stayed silent as the twins slid the compartment door shut behind them.

"Are you really Harry Potter?" Ron blurted out.

Harry nodded, still glaring at him.

Ron squirmed a little under Harry's glare. "Oh- well, look, I'm sorry I didn't mean to offend you."

"I'm not the one you need to apologize to, Ron," Harry said.

"Okay. Fine!" Ron turned to the Black twins. "Look, I'm sorry for distrusting you because you're the Blacks" when Harry raised an eyebrow at him, Ron quickly added, "and for being rude, and for insulting the entire Hufflepuff house." Ron finished, his face's as red as his hair.

"Good," Harry said.

Silence pervaded the compartment. Ron was too awkward to start a conversation, Altair wrote somethings in his book again, and Harry surely didn't want a conversation with Ron anytime soon. Finally, Vega put a stop to this silence.

"Okay, why don't we start all over again and be friends this time? I'm Vega Black," She said, holding out her hand.

Ron's only too grateful to take her offering hand, "I'm Ron Weasley."

In fact, Harry still not feels that comfortable to befriend with Ron yet. The boy was a bigot, and he charged his attitude right after knowing Harry's name, and that must say something about his nature. But he was willing to give Ron a second chance if for Vega's sake alone. And this helped Harry confirm something she had said earlier too. About the reason that she said she would help him not because he was Harry Potter, and he was thankful about it. Because Harry was just Harry, not the famous Boy-who-Lived, and surely not the Wizarding World's saviour.

Vega, Harry realized, unsurprisingly was kind toward everybody. It's just her nature to be nice. But, Harry thought, she's too kind-hearted for her own good. Then again, it's why she's so precious and Harry had every intention to protect her innocence to the best of his ability. A glance across the compartment showed Harry that Altair had looked up from his book and was thinking along the same line as him. He caught his eyes briefly, winked at him, then turned back to his book for the second time.

Harry sighed and looked at Ron's expecting gaze, "I'm Harry Potter," he introduced himself, properly this time.

Now all three of them turned to the last participant of the compartment, the only one who still hadn't introduced himself again. Altair's seemingly unfazed under their expectant gaze, but after a moment or two, he looked up.

"Do I really really really have to play this game?" he wailed, "it's childish, and useless, and stupid!"

There was a tinge of crocodile tears in his eyes. Harry couldn't believe this boy.

"Yes, you really really really do," Vega returned expertly, "now stop being a drama queen and just introduce yourself."

"Fine," he grumbled, "I'm Altair Black, the ultimate supreme Dark Lord in training," he smirked at Ron's fearful expression at the mention of Dark Lord, then turned to Vega, "happy?"

"Yes. Thank you for spending your precious time taking part in this childish, useless and stupid game of mine," she mockingly bowed to him.

Altair, in return, mockingly glared at her. But soon enough, the compartment was roaring with laughter.

Harry felt better after the laughter, and the mood in the compartment got lighter, too. That's when something the Black twins said earlier caught his attention, something he had meant to ask but hadn't time to mention.

"Vega," Harry called.

"Yes?" Vega asked, waiting patiently for Harry to find the word.

"You said it before," Vega still waited patiently with her full attention paid to Harry. In fact, the whole compartment had fell silent, too interested in what he had to say. Harry, red in the face at the realization, finished quickly, "Yousaid'hisgodfather'scapture',sodoesthatmeanIhaveagodfather?"

Vega blinked, visibly tried to process what Harry had just said.

Altair seemed to be the only one that was able to catch his word as he was the one answering him.

"Yes, you do." There was a glint in his eyes for some reason, "now you mention it, I think Father said something like uncle Siri is Harry's godfather. Hey, do you think that makes us godcousins or something?"

Harry thought about the information he had just received. If he went along Altair's logic, then he had a family, he realized. A family of his own, with his godfather, his twin godcousins and their father as his goduncle. Harry felt a bit strange about all of this, but they're his family nonetheless, and he's not about to complain.

'But then again, why hadn't his godfather come for him yet? Did he maybe not want him?' Harry started to felt panic but stopped when he remembered something else – his godfather's capture. 'Does that mean his godfather is in prison? Is that why he couldn't get to him? And yet, what could possibly sentence him to prison for so long? Does that mean he was a follower of Voldemort, that he was evil?'

There're so many questions blooming in his head waiting to be answered.

"The uncle Siri you said is Sirius Black right?" asked Ron. Harry noticed a tinge of fear in Ron's voice. "But he was You-Know-Who's right-hand man, right? And the one sold out Harry's family's whereabouts."

Harry's world stopped at that moment. So the man was the reason everything went wrong, the reason his parents got found and murdered, the reason he had to live his miserable life with the Dursleys all those years. He felt a strong hatred for the godfather he never knew, so much that he was sure he'd rather forgive the Dursleys for all the torment they had given him than forgive the traitor who sold his family to Voldemort and then gave Harry living hell even after his capture.

Altair sickeningly cheerful voice cut Harry's train of thought. "But you see…" he started slowly, his shit-eating grin made Harry feel awfully annoyed, "there was no hard evidence proving uncle Siri was truly the traitor, was there?"

His question made Harry stop. Somehow it actually gave him hope against all odds. If he was right about what Altair was getting at then maybe…

"Did you know our dear uncle Siri had been tossed into Azkaban without a trial to prove his innocence?" Altair faked wiping his eyes, "Dear Father had been livid to find his brother had been in Azkaban for almost 10 years without a trial when we first got back to the Wizarding World 2 months ago," Altair grinned nastily, "I reckon the Ministry will experience the true extent of the Black's fury soon," his grin somehow managed to get so wide that it looked hurt.

Harry wasn't sure what was Azkaban, so he assumed it to be the name of the prison.

"Father has been pulling to get uncle a fair trial," Vega added quietly.

"How could you expect them to play anything fair? The Blacks were a nasty lot and-" but whatever Ron intended to say next was lost when he noticed the cold look in Altair's eyes on his otherwise still smiling brightly face. Ron gulped, "Sorry, I keep forgetting."

"That's right, you'd better remember from now on, or with the war coming back soon, you won't live to see your maturity," Altair said lightly like he hadn't just threatened Ron with the war or his life.

Ron paled visibly, "Yeah, sure…"

"Father doesn't believe uncle guilty for a moment. He said, and I quote, 'Sirius will die long before he serves the Dark Lord and betrays the Potters, the one he had chosen over his blood family long ago'," said Vega, brought the conversation back in track, "'but if the trial proves Sirius to be truly guilty,'," she continued quietly, "'then I would be the one to feed him to Dementors'."

Ron looked like he wanted to ask more, but not quite dared.

Harry's head was bombarded with questions too, but when he opened his mouth, what came out was:

"You two are new to the Wizarding World too?"

Altair, Vega and Ron blinked at his question. Then Altair blurted out laughing. His laughter effectively lightened the dark mood covered the compartment.

"I should have guessed you would ask that," Altair managed between his laughter.

"W-what?" Harry felt his face getting redder and redder, and he stammered, "What's wrong with asking that?"

"No, there's nothing wrong with it. And we're not exactly secretive about it, but," his laughter came to an abrupt stop, and the fact made Harry uneasy, "you're sharp, aren't you?" Altair smiled teasingly at Harry.

"Hey, don't look at me like that, Harry," Altair continued, faked feeling hurt, "it actually was a compliment, you know?"

"And you're being really creepy, you know?" said Ron, exactly the same line Harry was thinking.

There's a soft giggle coming from Vega. "Oh, it's just Altie being Altie," she looked at Harry and Ron, "If we continue being friends after the Sorting, I reckon you'll get used to it soon enough."

"Gigi, your words wound my heart so much that I'm not sure even your songs could heal it," Altair cried and clutched his heart dramatically.

Vega rolled her eyes at her twin's act.

$Don't worry Master, you still have me.$

Harry, didn't recognize whose voice it was, asked, $Who is it?$

All eyes in the compartment turned to him.

$What?$ asked Harry, oblivious of the situation.

"Harry, you are…" Ron looked like he might faint right then and there.

"I'm what?" asked Harry, clearly annoyed at the reminder of not being brought up in Wizarding World like he should have been.

$A speaker!$ was said at the same time with Altair's exciting "A Parselmouth!"

There was a brief silence, and then, "A what?"

"Of course he wouldn't understand with you just saying he's a Parselmouth or a speaker," Vege giggled, "Harry, a Parselmouth is a wizard or witch gifted with the ability to speak snake language."

"But-" Ron found his voice after his initial shock, "but it's dark magic!" he blurted out, "You-Know-Who was one, and he's evil!"

At that, Altair laughed out loud as if in great amusement.

"It's hereditary," Vega explained.

"Huh?" Ron's unenlightened face made Vega sigh and Harry roll his eyes.

"Listen, being hereditary with something means you are born with it," Harry explained to Ron, not feeling so stupid anymore.

"True," agreed Altair, having stopped laughing, "unlike you can choose to be good or evil, you either born a Parselmouth or you not. Like you either born a wizard or a squib." After a moment, he added, "And just like you can learn Parseltongue, there're spells and rituals that can take away your magic and leave you a squib, you know." There's a Cheshire cat-like grin on Altair's face. Creepy.

Ron's face turned white, "You can't do that!" he protested weekly, "I bet its dark magic and illegal!"

"Thank Circe my magical core is darker than most," Altair wiped his non-existent sweat on his forehead dramatically. He then turned back to Ron, smiled sickeningly sweetly, "and there're waaays to make sure nothing could be traced back to you, too!"

Ron's face possibly got paler at Altair's words.

Vega smacked Altair at the back of his head.

"Altie, stop scaring Ron!" she said, trying to sound serious but failed, "Poor him. Look at how pale he is."

"Who? Moi? There's no way I would do something like that!" Altair denied.

Vega rolled her eyes at her twin's tactic.

$Come on Master. Who do you think you are fooling?$ the voice – the snake – said.

$Naturally you're right, my dear,$ replied Altair. He then turned back to the compartment in general.

"Gentlemen, meet my beloved wand and familiar, Syringa!" announced Altair.

There's a movement in Altair's jacket, and then there's a black snake with vibrant lilac eyes coiled around his right hand.

$Hello,$ the snake greeted.

"You can't bring a snake to Hogwarts!" said Ron, still paled.

"Can't I?" asked Altair innocently, but of course no one bought it.

"Er… What do you mean by saying Syringa's your wand?" Harry asked.

"Cuz she literally is my wand, why else?"

Ron gasped at that, "She couldn't possibly be?"

"Yes, she is," said Altair.

"But it's just a myth."

"Well, it couldn't be 'just a myth' if she exists right here before your eyes, right?"

"Blimey!"

"Yes!"

"What is it?" Harry cut in, not at all understood what was going on.

"Gentlemen, behold," Altair started again, "a real-life Asklepian!"

At that, Syringa began to transform and in a blink of eyes, the snake was nowhere in sight and instead there's a wand in Altair's hand.

"Wow," said Ron.

There was a great clattering outside in the corridor and a smiling, dimpled woman slid back their door and said, "Anything off the cart, dear?"

They surely had talked a lot. It's already around half past twelve. Harry was sure they hadn't stopped talking since the train departed, which made it one and a half hour talking straight, he realized.

Harry, Altair and Vega leapt to their feet, but Ron's ears went pink and he muttered that he had brought sandwiches. They brought a lot and Harry told Ron to swap his sandwiches for his sweet.

Altair joined in, "Yeah Ron, have some of mine too." He then took out from somewhere a tea set, "Hey, would you like trying my tea too?"

Not waiting for the answer, Altair poured each of them a cup full.

"Where did you take your tea set from?" asked Harry curiously.

"Magic," replied Altair unhelpfully, already took a sip of tea himself.

Harry rolled his eyes at the obvious answer. He and Ron took a sip of tea at the same time, while Vega's enjoying her Chocolate Frog.

The tea was ridiculously sweet. Harry at least swallowed it out of politeness, but Ron spouted it all out the moment it touched his tongue.

"Merlin's beard, what is that?"

"Sweet tea?" Altair offered.

"It's outrageously sweet! How could anyone drink THAT?" Ron spat. Harry felt sympathy with him.

"I can't," volunteered Vega, "neither can Father, nor anyone I can think of."

"I can't, either," agreed Harry, "sorry mate," he offered Altair a smile.

"No way! Impossible! Unthinkable! How could anyone NOT enjoy my tea?" Altair clutched his heart as if in physical pain.

Harry rolled his eyes, "Just face the truth, mate."

"Yeah!" said Ron, looking smug for the first time.

"No!" exclaimed Altair, "I don't believe it. I WON'T believe it!" denied Altair aggressively, "It's wrong and against nature to even begin to think of it!"

Everyone simply gave him stares of disbelief.

The compartment was full of laughter soon after. From then on, the conversation was relatively light like who got which cards or tried the Every Flavor Beans.

There was a round-faced boy coming in asking if they had seen his toad. He soon left after the answers he received were all negative. Ron wondered why the boy had been so bothered, but as his pet was a rat, Scabbers, he couldn't talk. He went pink, undoubtedly comparing Scabbers with Altair's legendary familiar.

Ron then offered to show them the spell to turn Scabbers yellow, he also admitted it hadn't worked the last time he tried.

Ron rummaged around in his trunk and pulled out a very battered-looking wand.

"Look at me, I'm a walking hand-me-down. I've got Bill's old robes, Charlie's old wand, and Percy's old rat," said Ron.

Harry didn't know who Bill or Charlie or Percy was, so he decided to ask Ron later.

"Anyway-"

Ron had just raised his wand when the compartment door slid open again. The toadless boy was back with a girl accompanied him.

"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville lost one," she said, voice bossy.

Altair snorted, but thankfully the girl didn't notice.

"We've already told him we haven't seen it," said Ron, but the girl wasn't listening, she was looking at the wand in his hand.

"Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see it, then." She sat down. Ron looked taken aback.

"Er- all right."

He cleared his throat.

"Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow,

Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow."

He waved his wand, but nothing happened. Scabbers stayed grey and fast asleep.

"Are you sure that's a real spell?" said the girl. "Well, it's not very good, is it? I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school of witchcraft there is, I've heard – I've learned all our course books by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough – I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you?"

She said all this very fast.

Harry looked at Ron and Vega and was relieved to see by their stunned faces that they hadn't learnt all the course books by heart either. Altair merely looked bored.

"I'm Ron Weasley," Ron muttered.

"Harry Potter," said Harry.

"Are you really?" said Hermione. "I know all about you, of course – I got a few extra books, for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the 20th Century."

"Am I?" said Harry, feeling dazed, while Vega growled unfriendlily, "Are you reaaally just assuming you have known all about him just by reading some books? Harry's a human, and human's more complicated than that, you know."

Hermione went red in the face. "Of course I know that!" she said, "Pardon but who are you again?"

Vega rolled her eyes at the bushy girl. "I'm Helia Vega Black," she introduced, "but please call me Vega," added Vega.

"Altair Black," said Altair.

Hermione nodded.

"Do any of you know what house you'll be in? I've been asking around, and I hope I'm in Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best; I hear Dumbledore himself was in it, but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad…" said Hermione, back to her normal self already. "Anyway, we'd better go and look for Neville's toad. You four had better changed, you know, I expect we'll be there soon."

And she left, taking the toadless boy with her.

"Whatever house I'm in, I hope she's not in it," said Ron, threw his wand back into his truck. "Stupid spell – George gave it to me, bet he knew it was a dud."

"What house do you think you will be in?" asked Harry, "I mean, we're known Vega shooting for Hufflepuff, what about you two?"

"Gryffindor, I hope," said Ron. "All my family was in it. I don't know what they'll say if I'm not. I don't suppose Ravenclaw would be too bad, but imagine if they put me in Slytherin."

"That's the house Voldemort was in?"

Ron gasped.

"What?" said Harry.

"You said You-Know-Who's name!" said Ron, sounding both shocked and impressed.

"Yeah, Harry. Saying Lord Voldy's name is bad!" agreed Altair.

Ron gasped again.

"What?" Altair questioned innocently, "I'm technically not saying his name, right?"

Harry wasn't sure what to think about this statement of his. Well, it's true but something just felt off. Vega only sighed.

"And don't let one man cloud your better judgment on a quarter of Hogwarts population like that," continued Altair, his voice all of sudden turned deadly serious, "Father's a Slytherin, and he's great."

"Slytherin's traits isn't about evil, but cunning and ambition," agreed his twin sister.

"Gryffindor is about bravery and courage," said Altair, following Vega's explanation.

"Ravenclaw is about wit and creativity."

"And Hufflepuff is about hardworking and fairness," finished Altair.

"Wow," said Harry. "When you said it like that, I think I could guess where you'll go."

"And which house there is for me?" asked Altair challengingly.

"Slytherin," answered Harry, feeling more confident and sure of himself after saying it out loud, "I think you've been manipulating the mood in this compartment since the beginning, and that's why you're a Slytherin."

"Ding ding ding ding!" cheered Altair, "Great guessing, Sherlock."

"Who?" questioned Ron.

But before any of them could answer Ron, the compartment door slid open yet again, but it wasn't Neville the toadless boy, or Hermione Granger this time.

Three boys entered, and Harry recognized the middle one as he was the pale boy from Madam Malkin's robe shop.

"Is it true?" he said. "They're saying all down the train that Harry Potter's in this compartment. So it's you, is it?"

"Yes," said Harry. He was looking at the bodyguard-like boys.

"Oh, this is Crabbe and this is Goyle," said the pale boy carelessly, noticing where Harry was looking. "And my name's Malfoy. Draco Malfoy."

Ron gave a slight cough, which might have been hiding a snigger. Draco Malfoy looked at him.

"Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask who you are. My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford."

He turned back to Harry. "You'll soon find out some Wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there."

He held out his hand to shake Harry's, but Harry didn't take it.

"I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks," he said coldly.

Draco Malfoy didn't go red, but a pink tinge appeared in his pale cheeks.

"I'd be careful if I were you, Potter," he said slowly. "Unless you're a bit politer you'll go the same way as your parents. They didn't know what was good for them, either. You hang around with riffraff like the Weasleys and these unworthy-of-the-name-of-Black two, and that Hagrid, and it'll rub off on you."

Harry, Ron and Vega stood up.

Altair looked bored, but before anyone could say anything, he said:

"You know Dray, bad-mouthing your own family won't make you look better."

The pink on Malfoy went darker.

"Who do you think you're calling Dray? We're no family. Don't know what cousin Regulus's thinking, blood-adopted the like of you," he sneered. "Or maybe he's just a filthy blood traitor, just like his brother," he smirked, "last time I checked, the blood traitor's still rotting in Azkaban."

While Vega looked like she's going to explode in rage, Altair wasn't so much as looking at Malfoy's direction. In fact, he just looked at his nails as if they were the most interesting thing in the World.

"You don't talk about Father and uncle like that!" Vega growled.

Harry had never heard she talking like that before, which didn't mean much as he only met her today. Still, it came as a surprise.

"Yeah," agreed Altair lightly, finally looked up from his nails. "What would cousin Cissa say, hearing her son talking like that about her favourite cousin?" His expression changed at once, and he grinned widely, "or maybe… our poor little Dray just feels bad because famous Harry Potter didn't take his hand."

Altair jumped over the table to Harry's side and wrapped his arms around Harry's shoulders affectionately. "Jealous?" he asked Malfoy.

Harry didn't need to turn his head to know that Altair was grinning from ear to ear behind him.

This time, Malfoy completely turned red. He tried to say something smart, but failed miserably, so all three of them simply disappeared at once.

As they left, Altair threw his arms off Harry's shoulders.

"And that," he said smugly, "is how a true Slytherin get rid of someone unwanted."

"Wow. I've never thought I would say this, but that's so cool mate!" said Ron excitedly.

Harry agreed because they would surely get themselves into a fight if not for Altair's interference.

Footsteps could be heard, and a second later, Hermione Granger came in.

"Is there something you need?" asked Vega.

"You'd better hurry up and put your robes on, I've just been up to the front to ask the conductor, and he says we're nearly there."

Ron scowled at her, "would you mind leaving while we change?"

"All right – I only came in here because people outside are behaving childishly, racing up and down the corridors," said Hermione in a sniffy voice. "And you've got dirt on your nose, by the way, did you know?"

Ron glared at her as she left.

"I'll go to the restroom," Vega informed them then left quickly.

When they had all done, a voice echoed through the train, notified them they'd be reaching Hogwarts in 5 minutes.

They got off the train, followed Hagrid, got into their boat, and finally reached a huge, oak front door.

They were finally here.