Chapter 3 - Hogwarts Train and House Sorting
On the first of September Ares and Draco were getting everything ready for them to take on the train. Ares was dressed but was practically pulling at his hair, because he went through his trunk like 4 times already. After awhile, Ares finally had his trunk fixed and ready to go. Draco walked into his brothers room and smiled.
"Time to go Ari." Draco said. Ares nodded at his brother and grabbed his trunk and Corbett while in his cage. He followed his brother down into the front entrance where His father and mother were waiting for them.
"All set my sweets?" Narcissa asked her sons with a smile.
They both smiled and Lucius shrunk their trunks so they could place them in their pockets. The Malfoy family walked out of the manor and towards the apparation point. With cages in their hand, the boys grabbed onto their parents and they apparated to Platform 9 3/4.
When they arrived they could already see that the platform was already starting to get crowded. Lucius looked around him and sneered. He hated being around non-purebloods. Looking down at his sons, he laid a hand on each of their shoulders.
"Time to get on the train boys. I want you to study hard and listen to Severus. If you need anything just go to him whether you are in Slytherin or Ravenclaw. And make sure you send us letters... You know how your mother is, she'll worry."
Narcissa glared at her husband then kissed both of her sons on the cheek. "I want you to have fun and write at least twice a week."
Ares and Draco hugged their parents goodbye. Picking up their cages with their pets, they walked over to the train and got on. They walked through the train until they found an empty compartment in the last cart. Going inside, they placed their animal cages on the shelves above their seat then sat down.
"Are you excited Dray?" Ares asked his brother.
"Of course. It's going to be amazing." Draco said and looked out the window.
"I'm excited, but I'm a little scared as well. We won't see father or mum until Christmas Holiday."
"I'll be alright Ari." Draco smiled at his brother.
Ares smiled back when the door to their compartment opened up to reveal Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, Blaise Zabini and Pansy Parkinson. They made there way over and took their sits with Blaise and Pansy sitting with Ares and Crabbe and Goyle over by Draco. Ares waved at them all, while Draco nodded at them.
"Hi Ares!" Pansy said excitedly and gave him a hug. "You look so cute."
Ares blushed. "Thanks Pansy."
The train soon started to move on the track. All of the students started to lean out of the windows and waved to their parents. Ares wasn't no different. When he spotted Lucius and Narcissa, he gave the biggest grin and started to wave them bye. The train was almost out of the station when a pair of familiar eyes caught his attention. At first Ares thought he was seeing things, but when those eyes gave a wink at him. Ares knew who that was. His Tom. Ares smiled at the man and gave a small wave to try and not be spotted.
The group sat back down in their seat and relaxed while the train was moving. Corbett croaked and Ares stood up to let the raven out. Once out, Corbett flew and landed on Ares shoulder. The raven started to nip at Ares' ear.
"He's so pretty Ares." Pansy said and went to pet Corbett. "Not many people have ravens has familiars."
"I know." Ares said.
"So Draco.. Ares.. How was your summer?" Blaise asked his friends.
"Yea.. I heard that your father had a run in with the Potters at Diagon Alley." Vincent said.
"Tell me about it..." Draco sighed. "We were there for our school things and the older Potter called us spawns, like we were evil or something."
"You kinda are." Pansy said giggling.
Draco rolled his eyes. "No we're not. Us Malfoy's maybe quick thinkers and can settle a high paid business deal, but we aren't evil. And he didn't have to say that, Ares is sensitive and-"
"I was fine Dray." Ares said to his brother. Corbett was now grooming his hair.
"Fine Ari, whatever you say." Draco said to his brother and sat back in his seat.
Ares just gave a sigh and looked out of the train window, while stroking Corbett's chest. After awhile, Ares fell asleep.
-O-
Ari!... Ari!...ARES!
Ares woke up with a jolt which Corbett did not like making the raven give out a squawking noise. Rubbing the sleep out of his eye, Ares looked up at his brother and the rest of his friends.
"Get your robes on Ari. We'll be at Hogsmead Station soon." Draco who was already in his school robes said to his little brother.
After getting his robes on, Ares placed Corbett back into his cage. He just latched the lock when the train squealed to a stop at the station in Hogsmead. Ares looked out the window and became nerves. He jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Looking behind him, he grinned at Draco and wrapped his arms around his brother. Both boys grabbed their pets and followed the crowed of students.
All of the first years have now arrived at the castle. They were lead up a grand staircase when they were met by an older woman in green robes. Her face was stern and kind of expressionless.
"I am Professor McGonagall. Welcome to Hogwarts. Now, in a few moments you will pass through these doors and join your classmates, but before you take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Now-" There was a croak and near her feet was a slimy frog.
"TREVOR!" A chubby faced boy yelled out and moved to grabbed the frog. Professor McGonagall gave a look at the boy. The kid gave a timid look and backed away. "Sorry."
The professor looked back at the group of first years and continued. " Now, while you're here, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points. Any rule breaking, and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup."
Ares listened to McGonagall speak and explain the houses. He was smiling, but was still kind of nerves. He heard the professor say to stay where they were and get presentable. Then she left.
The group of first years talked among themselves with each other. That was until Draco decided to confront Harry. He was still pretty upset about what happened at Madam Malkin's. Ares didn't even have time to stop him, so he gave a wary look and went with him. Crabbe and Goyle followed behind them.
Draco said. "I see you're made it Potter?"
"Yes." Potter said. He was looking at Draco's "bodyguards".
Draco smirked and nodded over at Vincent and Gregory. "Oh, this is Crabbe and Goyle." He told Harry when he noticed where he was looking. Potter looked to Draco's right where Ares was standing. "Beside me here is my brother Ares. And I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."
A red-headed boy gave a slight cough, which might have been hiding a snigger. Draco looked over at the kid.
"Think my name is funny, do you?" Draco asked and gave a good look at the boy. "No need to ask who you are. Our father told us all about the Weasleys. Red hair, freckles, and more children then they can afford."
The red-head glared at the young Malfoy lord.
Draco looked back at 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 sort. We can help you there." He said with his hand held out then looked over at Ares. Ares got the point and held his hand out towards Harry as well.
"I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks." Harry said coolly, not taking either hand and went back to the red-head.
"I still remember what your father said about my brother and I. Just watch your back Potter." Draco sneered at Harry and went back over to the others with Ares following beside him. Ares gave a sigh and looked at his brother. "Why did you do that Dray?"
Draco just looked at Ares. "You know why. I was still mad about what happened. Potter will be my number one target now."
"Fine Dray, just don't get into to much trouble." Ares said and leaned his head on Draco's shoulder.
"Don't worry Ari, Uncle Sev will make sure I won't get into trouble." His brother said.
Ares smiled when Professor McGonagall came back to the group of first years. She gave a small smile and looked at all of the young faces. "We're ready for you now!
The first years followed the professor into the Great Hall of Hogwarts where the other students where at. The whole Great Hall was a sight to see. Especially, the magical ceiling. It had Ares in awe.
"It's not really the ceiling. It's just bewitched to look like the night sky. I read all it in 'Hogwarts, A History'." Said a bushy brown haired girl over to Ares right.
"Gather around here please... Thank you" McGonagall said as the group stood in front of her and the sorting hat. Which came alive and started to sing the Hogwarts school song. Draco, Ares and their friends weren't even paying attention to it. Once the song was over, McGonagall started to speak again with a long piece of parchment in her hand. "When I call your name, you will come up, sit on the stool and I will place the hat on your head. Once sorted, you may go over to your house table and have a seat."
Holding up the parchment in her hand, she started to read the names. "Hanna Abbott..."
Ares watched as a blonde girl went up to stool and sat down. As soon as she did, McGonagall sat the sorting hat on the girl's head. It moved, like it was talking to Hanna. Then the hat yelled. "HUFFLEPUFF!" The table for the Badgers of Hufflepuff started to yell and clapped loudly as Hanna moved towards it and sat down.
McGonagall carried on with the names, going alphabetically down the list that she had. Vincent and Gregory was sorted into the Slytherin easy. After a few more names, it was finally time for Draco and Ares. The professor called for Ares to come up. At first he didn't want to go, but Draco gave a little push and Ares stepped forward. He looked up at Severus who was looking right at him. The potions master smiled at his nephew to reassure Ares.
Ares made his way over to the stool and sat down. Once the hat was on his head, it started to talked to him inside his head. "Ahh... The youngest Malfoy. Where to put you?.. Where to put you?"
"Either Ravenclaw or Slytherin... Please." Ares thought. "I want to be with my brother."
"Hmm... Very well." The hat said. "Better be... SLYTHERIN!"
Giving a sigh, Ares stood up and made his way over to the Snake table, where their shouts and clap were really loud. Ares smiled at his brother and Uncle Sev. All he had to do was wait for Draco. And for his brother it didn't even take a second when the shout of SLYTHERIN was over heard, causing more clapping. It was easy for Draco, as well as Pansy. She also went into Slytherin.
Potter was next up to be sorted. It didn't take long when the hat shouted. "GRIFFINDOR!" Followed by loud shouts, claps and foot stopping. More names came and went, making the Weasley prat also go into Griffindor. Last was Blaise and you know where he ended up... Slytherin.
After the long sorting and the Headmaster saying some words that any of the Slytherins were listening to, food started to appear on the table in front of them. Ares took a little of almost everything and started to eat. Some talking was past among friends and then it was time for bed.
Ares, Draco, Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle all shared a dorm room. Ares was going to write a letter to his parents and Tom, but he was so sleepy that he decided to do it when he got up. As soon as his head hit the pillow, he was out like a light. The next day was going to be a tiring day since classes started.
-O-
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