The days leading up to the First, past in a blur for Orion. They were past reading his first year books, and trying new spells. Arabella visited frequently, helping him whenever he needed. So when the morning finally came for him and his brother to leave he was brimming with excitement. His trunk was by his side, and Hedwig was on his shoulder. Orion was now waiting for his brother to finish, with his hair so they could go. Orion was growing impatient, when his brother finally showed up. His mother and father stepped from the Dining Room, ready to go.

They would be meeting Arabella at the station. Apophis was curled up in his trunk, and Orion knew that Arabella was taking Reinath. His mother touched his arm softly, and he felt the uncomfortable feeling of going through a straw before he was out. Orion looked around, and saw the cherry red steam engine, white steam coming from the pipe. Orion turned to look at his brother, who grinned at him. He then turned to his mother, who was smiling but had tears in her eyes.

"We'll write to you every week okay, mum." Orion said, smiling at his mother. She only nodded before pulling them both into a hug, she released them somewhat reluctantly. Their father stepped up with a small smirk on his face. He produced two boxes from his pocket.

"Now that your old enough, I expect you both to make the Malfoy family name proud. So I got you two something." He said in a soft tone, and from the boxes he pulled the Malfoy symbol, on a gold and silver chain. Orion couldn't help the grin that spread across his face when he took his and put it on. Their father hugged them briefly before letting go. "Go on go." He ushered softly. Orion and Draco grabbed their trunks which at a feather light charm on them, and walked towards the train looking for an empty compartment. Orion while he walked looked for any sign of Arabella but he found none.

"You think Bella locked her up." Draco asked with a smirk following his brothers train of thoughts. Orion looked at him for a second.

"I wouldn't put it past her, I'm surprised mum didn't do it to us." Orion replied, Draco nodded with a chuckle. So the brothers, walking along the train and finally found a compartment. Orion sat down once he was done putting his trunk up. Draco sat across from him, stroking Aros feathers mindlessly. Orion picked the book he was reading from beside him, and started to read. He was just getting into the chapter when the compartment door burst open, startled he looked up. To see Arabella, panting and heaving she put her trunk on the rack above and collapsed beside Draco.

Orion glanced at Draco who looked just as startled. "Everything alright Belle?" Orion asked hesitantly. Arabella just glared at him, still breathing heavily.

"My mother is insane." She finally said, the brothers again glanced at each other with raised eyebrows.

"Why do you say that." Draco said, looking at his beloved cousin in concern.

"When I woke up this morning, my mother didn't want me to go, I had to run around the Manor for minutes before finally losing her. So I Flooed to the station the train was about to leave so I had to run onto the train." Arabella said with exhaustion in her tone.

"Where was Tom, in all of this?" Orion asked confused. Arabella smiled but it didn't reach her eyes.

"My dear father was eating breakfast, along with my Uncles." She said with annoyance laced into her tone, "You know if this becomes a habit with my mother whenever I leave for long periods of time, I don't think I'll ever be allowed to leave the Manor." Arabella said looking out the window. Orion wanting to bring her mood back up, asked a question that he knew would make her happy.

"So where's Reinath?" He asked looking into Arabella's deep blue eyes. Immediately she seemed to become excited she stood up and opened her trunk letting Reinath slither on to her arm. Arabella sat down stroking Reinath's head, while the two Malfoy's looked at her in shock she had grown, she was now at least 15 feet. Arabella leaned back against the seat, and closed her eyes obviously tired. Reinath coiled in her lap, and fell asleep. Draco and Orion started to play a game of Wizards Chess, which Draco was winning at. Orion glanced outside while Draco was setting up the second game, and saw rolling plains, beautiful. Orion turned to his brother again, when Draco had poked him. Arabella was now laying across the seats with Reinath laying on top of her. Orion had just moved his knight to Check, Draco's King when the compartment door burst open. Orion looked up startled, he saw a girl with bushy brown hair and large front teeth, she had intelligent brown eyes.

"Have you seen a toad, Neville lost his." She said in a slightly bossy voice. Orion turned to look at his brother and then at his cousin who was still asleep, before turning back to the girl.

"No, sorry we haven't seen his toad but we will keep a look out for it." Orion said with a smile on his face. She nodded before she turned and finally saw Arabella with Reinath still asleep on top of her, she looked shocked. "Oh don't worry she's not in any danger, Reinath is a little teddy bear when it comes to Arabella." Orion said with a slight chuckle, the girl looked at him incredulously. Orion stood up and stuck out his hand with a smirk on his face. "It's nice to meet you, I'm Orion, gel head over there is my brother Draco and sleepy head is my cousin Arabella. And you are?" Orion introduced, with a smile. The girl took his hand hesitantly and shook it before releasing it.

"My names Hermione, Hermione Granger." She said looking at him straight in the eye.

"Well Hermione why don't you join us." Orion said gesturing inside the compartment she looked shocked before smiling and entering, she sat down beside where Orion sat. Draco was still waiting for him to continue the game Orion sat back down, and continued the game while Hermione read, already forgetting about the toad. Arabella soundly slept pretty much the whole ride, which concerned the brothers.

"Do you think she didn't tell us the whole story?" Draco asked glancing at Orion and Hermione. Orion shook his head, he knew Arabella wouldn't do that. Draco looked even more concerned, Hermione was looking at Arabella while she slept.

"She looks peaceful enough, I don't think she's in any pain." She said, her brown eyes meeting blue ones. "We will be arriving soon you need to change, so wake her up." She continued looking at their clothes. They both nodded their heads, before turning back to Arabella.

Orion quietly walked towards her, and gently shook her shoulder. "Hey, Belle please don't kill me but we need to get changed, so you need to wake up. Wakey Wakey Belle." Orion said, fearing for his own life. Arabella shifted slightly and opened her eyes to stare at him for a moment before sitting up, and rubbing her eyes. Then Arabella saw Hermione confusion washed across her features she glanced at Orion and Draco with a raised eyebrow. "We'll tell you later, promise but this is Hermione." Orion said introducing Hermione to his cousin. Arabella nodded, before getting up and stretching feeling satisfying pops. She turned back to her cousins with a glare.

"Well aren't you going to leave so I can change?" She asked, with a raised eyebrow. Draco and Orion flushed in embarrassment before leaving with Hermione. Orion waited tapping is foot impatiently, when finally the compartment door opened again and the boys stepped inside, Draco and Orion changed quickly while Arabella read with Reinath laying beside her. Orion glanced outside and saw that it was dark out the stars twinkling merrily in the never ending blackness. Orion put up the Chess board, and sat down, Hermione had left to go find her trunk. Arabella was staring out the window, stroking Reinath's head softly. Orion looked up sharply when he heard the crackling from overhead.

"We will be arriving at Hogwarts in a few moments, please leave your luggage on the train it will be dealt with, Thank you." The person on the intercom said. Orion looked out the window as the train was slowing down, the moving landscape beautiful underneath the moon's silvery glow. Finally, the train stopped and Orion and Draco let their owls out through the window, before following Arabella, out into the aisle. They walked towards the door and stepped out into the cool night air. Orion grinned when he felt the cool breeze flow around him. Draco and Arabella fell beside him as they walked to a looming figure booming out.

"First years, first years over here." The booming voice rolled over the first year students. Orion looked at man, he had a wild hair and beard dark black and beetle like eyes that were either a deep black or a dark brown. He was gigantic in build and size, so Orion concluded that he was probably part giant. Orion followed the figure with Draco and Arabella beside him, down a slippery path. Orion felt his excitement grow when he saw the boats. "Only four to a boat." The giant man said, not caring about his volume. Orion with Arabella and Draco stepped into a boat, with Hermione who had materialized out of nowhere. The minute the last first year was in a boat safely the boats started to speed off towards the shore on the other side. "You'll be able to see Hogwarts in a few moments." The giant boomed out towards the group. Orion winced slightly did he have to be so loud. But, his complaints in his head seemingly blew away when he saw Hogwarts for the first time. The 7-story tall castle loomed above the lake, lights were on in the Windows causing them to be illuminated by the glow. Orion saw many towers and turrets, reaching towards the night sky as if trying to grasp the stars. Orion grinned, as did Draco and Arabella, their faces illuminated by the glowing light coming from Hogwarts. Orion felt a slight bump when they reached shore, but other than that he was fine, he stepped with the other three following. Arabella stepped beside him on his right while Draco stood by his left, Hermione stood beside a pudgy boy who looked scared of his own shadow. Orion looked up the incline, with sigh, before starting to walk up with his brother and cousin. They reached the large doors soon and waited while the other first years stood behind them, some whispering amongst themselves.

The giant man stepped forward and knocked on the door, waiting before finally and witch stepped out. She had her deep brown hair in a severe bun on her head. Her intelligent brown eyes behind square rimmed glasses, she was wearing emerald green robes. Orion knew who it was immediately, Professor McGonagall.

"The first years Professor." The man said. McGonagall looked at him for moment before nodding.

"Yes thank you Hagrid." The man, Hagrid nodded before disappearing to who knows where. "Follow me." With that she turned around and walked into Hogwarts, the first years following. They walked into a gigantic entrance hall and at the end of it was a grand staircase made out of white marble that branched out into two different directions. On the right side of the room there was humongous hour glasses, with what looked like Rubies, under the symbol of a lion roaring, and Yellow diamonds, under a symbol of a badger, and Sapphires under the sign of a Raven turning in flight. And, finally Emeralds under the sign of a snake rearing in for an attack. The gems were all evenly given to the different hour glasses. Orion noticed a gigantic door by the hour glasses, and to the left or the door was a smaller door. Orion heard voices from the bigger door, he concluded that's probably where the other students were. They were lead into a smaller room, that was probably connected to the other room. Orion remembered reading the room was called the Great Hall.

Professor McGonagall, turned to them. "Welcome to Hogwarts." She began. "The start of the Term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family from within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, RavenClaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose your house points. At the end of the year, the house awarded with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarted yourselves up as much as you can while your waiting." She said her eyes lingering on a few of the first years. "I will return when we are ready for you." With that Professor McGonagall walked towards the door on the other end of the small room.

Orion turned to his Draco and Arabella, with a huge grin. He couldn't believe that he was finally here, he was finally at Hogwarts. Orion watched as people discussed about what was going to happen, he also watched as students freaked out when some ghosts appeared arguing about Peeves. But a stern voice cut through his musings, "Come along now the Sorting Ceremony is about to start." Orion grinned as he followed McGonagall out into the hall. He looked at all the other students who looked at them before going back to their friends. Orion watched as McGonagall placed a old hat onto a stool, and the hats seam opened and it started to sing.

'Oh you may not think I'm pretty

But, don't judge on what you see

I'll eat myself if you can find a smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I am Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head,

The Sorting Hat can't see

So try me on, and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might be in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

There daring nerve and chivalry

Set Gryffindor's apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal

Those patient Hufflepuff's are true

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old RavenClaw,

If you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin,

You make your real friends,

Those cunning folks use any means,

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

Your in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinkng Cap!'

Orion clapped like everyone else did and McGonnagal took out a scroll. "When I call your name you will come up here to be sorted." Orion mostly zones out humming, slightly he ignored the looks from some of the other first years. But, he clapped when Hermione was sorted into Ravenclaw. Finally after Morag MacDougal, was sorted into Ravenclaw it was Draco's turn.

"Malfoy, Draco." McGonagall said to the hall, Draco glanced at his brother with a grin before walking up to the stool with a swagger in his step, Orion tried not to laugh knowing his brother was trying to make him. The hat had barely touched Draco's head when he shouted out, "Slytherin." The table on the far right exploded into cheers. Then McGonagall reached the next name.

"Malfoy, Orion." She said, and Orion suddenly felt all his excitement leave him and instead there was nervousness, Arabella gently pushed him forward. Orion walked towards the stool with grace even though he felt nervousness build in him. The hat was dropped onto his head falling over his eyes.

"Hmm, hello Mr. Potter, oh don't worry I won't tell your secrets even though I can't. You are a difficult one Mr. Potter you have loyalty but to only the ones that have earned it, so that means Hufflepuff is out, you are very intelligent but you don't live off of books, so that means Ravenclaw is out. So the only two left is either Gryffindor or Slytherin. You are very cunning and ambitious, wanting to get out of your brothers shadow. You are also brave and courageous but not stupidly so, so the only house for you Mr. Potter is... Slytherin." Again the table of the serpents cheered and Orion stood up and walked towards the house of the serpents with a huge grin. He sat down beside his brother, and watched the rest of the Sorting waiting for Arabella's turn. He saw Potter get sorted into Gryffindor. And, finally it was Arabella's turn, by the way McGonagalls voice caught he suspected it was Belle. She cleared her throat before saying, "Riddle, Arabella." The hall went completely silent as Arabella stepped forward with grace. The hat was didn't even touch her head before it shouted out, "Slytherin." Arabella smirked while she walked towards the snakes table, who were cheering again.

The rest of the Sorting was uneventful, and boring as was dinner, Orion saw that Arabella kept getting glances especially from the Gryffindor table. So when Dumbledore had finally dismissed them Orion was happy he was very tired. They walked out of the Great Hall and into the Dungeons, Orion wasn't paying attention to the twist and turns, but they were soon in front of the Slytherin Common Room.

"Pure Blood." The Prefect said. A rumbling filled the dungeons hall, as the fake wall moved aside. A corridor was revealed behind the wall, and the first years walked in. Orion examined the common room, that was now his home. It was dungeon like which wasn't a real surprise, aligning the walls were green lamps. Since the common room was partway under the lake the light in the room had a green tinge. Surrounding a grand fire place were low backed black and green button-tufted, leather sofas. It also had skulls and dark wood cupboards of to the side of the room. Orion had to admit it had quite a grand atmosphere, but also a cold one. Orion also noticed as he walked further into the room, aligning the walls in between the lights there were beautifully woven tapestries, featuring what looked like the adventures of medieval Slytherin's. Orion looked back at the fireplace, a beautiful green fire was now burning into existence. Orion glanced one more time at the room and saw tables by the cupboards surrounded by wooden chairs. And to the front of the room, were two hallways one on the left the other on the right, if Orion had to guess that's probably where the dormitories were. One of the Prefects cleared his throat gaining everyone's attention.

"You have been sorted, into the most noble House of Slytherin. In Slytherin we look out for our own, since the rest of the school and most of the teachers won't. If you have a problem with another Slytherin it stays in the Common Room. No matter what that person does to you, you must stand by that person's side, if he or she is in trouble with another student. Now we Slytherin's do not normally break the rules but if you must, don't get caught. Use your cunning to get out of situations. If you do have extensive problems with another student, you can either come to the Prefects, or you can go to our Head of the House, Professor Snape. In the morning Professor Snape will be here to talk to you right before breakfast is to start, so don't be late. At the end of the talk another Prefect and I, will walk you to breakfast and then to your classes. The boys dormitories are on the right and the girls are on the left. You have one person to share your dorm with, the names have been picked randomly, so you better make sure you like each other because they will be your dorm mate for the rest of your Hogwarts years. Goodnight, and Welcome to Slytherin." With that the male Prefect turned and walked towards the the boys dormitories. Orion walked over to his cousin and said goodnight, and him and Draco walked down the hallway to the room they luckily shared.

The room had two beds on the opposite walls facing each other. The walls were a light gray and green, there was a table, with four chairs, surrounding a enchanted window. That showed outside above the lake. While the ceiling was enchanted so they were looking inside the lake itself. Orion could see many creatures, swimming about and it looked beautiful. There were also two dark oak wardrobes, and there was a door that probably led to a bathroom. Orion walked over to the bed on the left since Draco had already claimed the right one.

Orion looked at his bed, it was a four poster, with dark green silk hangings and a dark oak frame. The beds comforter was a lighter green, while the pillows were a beautiful silver. The sheets which were a silvery white looked to be made of the softest of silks. Orion quickly changed into his green and silver pajamas before slipping into the bed. Orion sighed contentedly, his body already falling asleep from the long day. But, as he drifted off, he knew tomorrow was going to be an even longer one.

"Night Dray." Orion said sleepily.

"Night Ori." Came the reply. And, with that Orion fell asleep, already excited about the day to come.


A/N: I hope you all like the chapter. I have a Poll going on for the pairings of Arabella and Orion (Harry) I was going to pair them together but then I realized that their cousins, yes I know I made it that way. Anyway, it would be gross for that to happen. Now it can be Slash I don't care, (either one) it's mostly slash for Arabella because I can't find any good males for her. But Orion has some good females. You can make one or vote on the Poll either one. Thanks. Oh and Neville will be a big part of this story, he will be part of Orion, Arabella's, and Draco's group, they will do pretty much everything together. Oh, and when I said Hermione was standing next to a pudgy boy that wasn't Neville.