Disclaimer: I do not own HP, only this fanfic story, artwork and OCs.
Chapter 3
~oOo~
Compartment 13, Hogwarts Express
The heir of Black looks out of the window, his gaze still lingering on where his family stood before the train had started to shudder forward. The surroundings are still urban and the sky is damp and grey. Xylia is stretched out next to him as he sits next to the window, effectively taking up the entire row of seats. Almost 10 minutes later, once Marius is immersed in checking over his notes in his potions book, a great bang startles him out of his reading. He looks through the glass screen on his compartment door to find a collapsed mess of robes and luggage just outside.
Now, Marius Black may be many things; vain, arrogant, and haughty, but he has been brought up in a high class family that runs on manners and old traditions. Without a thought he opens the door and grabs the hand and shoulder of the dazed girl in front of him.
There is no soul shattering eye contact or missed beats of the heart. Marius's first thought of her is that she has no understanding in how to tie a standard windsor knot (he has no idea how it could have gone that wrong). But his mother and aunt would string him up for not being a gentleman, so he helps her collapse into the row of seats opposite his. Xylia huffs in annoyance and watches the newcomer.
"My goodness, thank you so much!" The girl says as Marius hauls her bags into the compartment. "I was struggling with the weight and those corridors are so narrow! I've never been on a train before, have you?"
Marius plasters a polite smile, noticing her cheeks redden even more. "Not at all. I personally prefer flying to any other form of transport."
She grins sharply in relief to reveal slightly crooked teeth. "Brooms give a great adrenaline rush! I'm Bella Hansen."
Marius takes her hand and quickly presses his lips to the knuckle, dropping it lazily. He is again amused at how much she blushes. "Marius Black. Hansen as in the watchmaker?"
"Yes, our shop is next to Gringotts. My father currently runs it with my uncle."
Bella is dressed already like Marius in her school robes, however like previously mentioned, her tie is a mess and she seems to have a slight cold (thankfully she is hygienic when using a tissue). Admittedly, once you got over her incessant talking and excitement that wasn't particularily ladylike, Bella has her redeeming qualities. She wasn't boring, her eyes are a soft glassy shade of blue and her hair is a warm brown with odd tones of auburn and gold intermingled. Currently it's combed into a neat plait down to her waist.
Marius is aware that the Hansens have occupied Diagon Alley for almost a century. While not an elite family, it's better than muggleborns. That would mean having to relocate compartments. Hansen watches are revered for their quality and sturdiness, and even Uncle Alphard owns one. Bella is a good connection to have.
They talk on and off throughout the journey, playing a card game shortly after lunch with Bella's set. She admits that Xylia unnerves him, which Marius finds funny since if Xylia didn't like her, it would be very clear.
~oOo~
The Great Hall, Hogwarts
"SLYTHERIN!"
Marius smiles an unholy smirk and stalks over to the cheering green table. Obviously, he is not in the least bit surprised, nor is anybody else. He is the first to be sorted into his house this year, and is greeted with approving smirks. A space is made on the bench for him.
When Bella is called, Marius watches with mild interest. It turns out her full name is Maybelle, which is incessantly sweet like the girl herself. However like he predicted, she is not sorted into Slytherin (too cheerful). As soon as the hat shouts Gryffindor, Marius knows that any companionship he had with her will not occur again. If he wants to call upon the acquaintance for something after he has graduated, he has to avoid her during school for fear of alienating her with house rivalry.
His cousin Bellatrix (he muses how two Bellas with such similar names can be so different) is grinning proudly at him, and he receives congratulations from her sisters Andromeda and Narcissa. Bellatrix is in her last year of Hogwarts, while Andromeda is a fifth year student and Narcissa in third year.
Dumbledore doesn't supply a good impression. His words are classed as nonsense in Marius's mind, and he is disappointed if this is meant to be the most powerful wizard in Britain (not that he plans to underestimate him). The food is at least delicious and makes up for the long journey to Scotland.
Once they are shown to the Slytherin dungeons, Marius takes the initiative to choose the bed furthest from the bathroom (who wants to sleep there and get woken by the shower?) and closest to a large tapestry with a waterfall and rock pool. Like wizarding pictures, dozens of snakes are slithering around the scene with low hisses of pleasure. Once he has chosen a bed (all are large with curtains and dark green bedding) his luggage appears at the end. Xylia is immediately let out and left alone (she is in a rotten mood after having to go back in her cage).
Marius stores his perfectly pressed clothes into the dresser to the left of his bed, puts miscellaneous possessions into the dresser on the other side of the bed and packs his quills, several scrolls and his scarf into his brown leather satchel.
By this time, the other first year boys have chosen beds. As Marius has taken up the end of a row, Evan Rosier is situated next to him on the right, and Walden Macnair opposite him. Both boys he has met briefly when he was younger as his father seemed to know the head of every other pureblood family, and doesn't dislike them at least. Evan has light copper hair, green eyes and is attractive, while Walden sports blue eyes, cropped black hair and a set of dramatically arched eyebrows like a bird of prey.
Jenson Wilkes, Marius knows is from a family of successful private healers and is quiet with mousey brown hair. There is also Damian Yaxley who is almost as blond as a Malfoy and his childhood friend Antonin Dolohov with dark features similar to a wolf. All in all, a respectable bunch of boys that Marius is content to share a room with. As a Black, he is from the most important family, so is treated with mutual respect.
The morning of his first day at Hogwarts is predictable. Marius has always been a very early riser. At 4am, he places a silencing charm on the bathroom so as not to disturb his roommates (he isn't planning to make enemies so quickly) and dresses in his robes, with his wand tucked into an inner pocket. According to the prefect that brought them to the dungeons, Marius would receive his schedule at breakfast, and would have time to go and get the books needed for the day from his trunk. Breakfast would not start until 7, the first class beginning at 9.
Marius decides to take a better look at the common room; it's lit by candles and the glow of the lake that flows along the translucent ceiling, and is furnished with stone pillars and dark wood and leather pieces curving to make the giant fire place the centrepiece of the room. Like the statue of the Basilisk that grants entrance to the lair, there are beautiful stone carvings that coil around a portrait of Salazar himself (he stares at Marius with calculating eyes). "Another Black I see. You look exactly like Cygnus."
Marius assumes he means his Great Grandfather, and not his Uncle. He bows respectfully. "Thank you sir. I'm honoured to be a part of this house."
Salazar hums in acknowledgement, dismissing Marius wordlessly. After an hour of reading in the common room, a pillar near the staircase abruptly turns and Xylia slinks out of the appeared hole before it closes again. Marius watches her jump onto the sofa next to him with amusement. "Found a way outside already have? How clever. I hope your hunting was successful." A satisfied purr answers him.
~oOo~
After the other first years have joined him at breakfast, they receive their schedules from the jolly Professor Slughorn, who reminds Marius of Alphard, if a bit more stupid. He walks with Evan and Walden as they are followed by the Slytherin girls to Transfiguration, talking about what they thought of the castle so far. Marius casts a point me spell to find the class room once they discover the moving staircases.
Marius hadn't realised the bad effects his charm and good looks could cause in his life so far. He didn't know how nasty a turn Hogwarts life would take until he found himself sitting behind a certain bitch of a Slytherin girl...