Ryan and Draco were so excited to start school. The Malfoys had spent some time at the manor, but had chosen to spend the last night at home, with their son. Ryan was busy with his dads, his grandparents, and Uncle. He was excited about school, but he could admit a part of him was also nervous about it as well. He was worried a bit about Albus, he knew the man didn't like his family, and he was reminded of the book store. He knew Hector likely also had it out for him as well. Hector was not as famous, only among the young kids and the older women, as some hoped. His parents had doubled their fortune though, through parenting books, and now Hector's books as well. He had been told by his parents, though James was a pureblood lord, he had always been against them. He had married a muggle born, but like Albus, he was always against the powers. Ryan was just happy; he knew even his Uncle was, that there was no chance he would be a lion.
The morning he was to leave for school, he came downstairs feeling a bit sick to his stomach. His trunk was packed, and the elf had brought it and his owl down, for him. They would be leaving right after breakfast.
Regulus smiled when he saw his son. "Excited prince?"
Ryan nodded a little. "Yes."
Severus heard his tone. "You know it's okay to be a bit nervous."
Regulus agreed with his husband. "Even your cousin is."
Ryan shook his head. "Draco is so excited. Blacks aren't supposed to be nervous. I'm…."
Orion had appeared in the door. "Blacks can be nervous, they can be scared."
Ryan turned to look at his grandsire. "You and Uncle Paddy are not afraid of anything, grandsire."
Orion came to him. "That is not true, for either of us. I was nervous to start school; it is natural for a child."
Sirius once agreed with his dad. "And courage cub, is not the absence of fear, simply knowing there is something more important."
Ryan had heard his Uncle say that before. "I just want to make you guys proud. And I'm not very strong, I can't play quidditch…."
Orion shook his head. "You are intelligent, and have a lot of magic. You will make a wonderful healer, or perhaps teacher, one day."
Ryan smiled a little. "Thank you grandsire."
Wallburga wheeled in. "We will expect to hear good things about you. We will have updates on your scores as well."
Ryan turned to the woman. "I will study hard, I promise."
They had no doubt, even his grandmother, though she always pushed. Ryan was a book worm, he could read since three, and rarely stopped. He had been reading some of the old second and third year text books this summer. He had good magic, but he was nervous about the practical courses, as he did have trouble sustaining magic for periods. But he was excited about book classes, and especially potions, he wanted to meet Horace. His Papa spoke about him all the time, he wasn't Papa's level, but he was good. Ryan hadn't met him yet though.
The family had breakfast, and since she couldn't come, Wallburga gave her grandson another lecture. Ryan hugged Orion goodbye, he wasn't coming to the train station, but he reminded Ryan he was often at school. Lucius had taken over as head, but Orion was still a governor.
At the station Ryan was looking around. "I don't see any one."
Severus spotted some. "I see a familiar group of blondes coming our way."
Draco appeared at his cousin's side. "I can't believe that we're starting school."
Ryan nodded. "I was worried we might be late, grandmother giving another lecture."
Lucius shook his head. "I knew we were right to spend last night at home."
Fred appeared next to Ryan. "Hey kiddo, can't believe you're starting school this year."
George agreed with his brother. "You know no matter what house you're in, you're cool with us."
Ryan looked a bit nervous. "Even if I am a Hufflepuff?"
Draco shook his head. "Maybe a Ravenclaw, but there is no way you're a Hufflepuff. I still think you'll be with me."
Fred agreed with Draco. "And it doesn't matter. Even if a snake, we'll think you're cool."
Susan came their way, and the three of them got on the train, the twins promising to come later. They were joined by Hannah, one of Susan's female friends, and Draco's friend Blaise as well. Ryan waved to his dads, as the train pulled away from the station, until they were out of site. He was reminded though, how excited he had been about school, and he didn't have to be so nervous.
Draco looked at Ryan. "Come on, we're going to go and see the others. We'll be back in time for the food."
Susan saw his nerves and spoke up. "Ryan and I were going to play chess."
Ryan showed her. "Grandsire gave me a new set, and some money, this morning."
Draco waved. "I'll see you later."
Ryan sent a grateful smile at Susan, who assured him it was okay. She knew Ryan, how he felt uncomfortable at times, since he couldn't keep up. Draco and the twins were still his best friends, but Susan was a good friend, and had a lot in common. He knew her family were mainly Hufflepuffs, other than her Uncle Edgar, who had been a Gryffindor with his Uncle. They would be friends, even if they were in other houses.
Ryan took out his new set. "I'm going to make him proud."
Ryan knew the trolley would come eventually. Draco would be back, he promised, before it came. Ryan had to go to the bathroom though, and since he and Susan were done a game, and Hannah was going to play, he headed out of the compartment. Susan and Hannah had been a team, Susan loved chess, but she was nowhere near Ryan's level. Ryan had still beaten them two games out of three.
He was coming out of the bathroom, when he ran into two people, and two he had hoped to avoid. Hector and Ron were on the prowl, of course together, as they were best friends the twins had told him. He had not seen them up close, since the whole book store event.
His luck ran out when he ran into them both. "Excuse me."
Hector sneered. "You're not excused."
Ron agreed. "We have been looking for some fun, and it looks like we found it."
Ryan tried to keep away from them. "I am sure you could figure out exploding snap."
Hector got very close to him. "Is that some kind of crack about my intelligence?"
Ron had his wand out. "No one insults Hector and gets away with it."
Ryan looked around, wishing Draco was close. "I am sure between you and your bodyguard, you have a brain between the two of you."
Hector looked to the bathroom. "I think it is time to flush this little twit's head a few times, may teach him a few things."
Ryan went to dodge them. "Flush Ron, he could use a bath."
Hector snagged something which fell out of Ryan's pocket. "Perhaps we will just flush this instead."
Ryan spotted his beloved astronomy ball from his grandsire. "Give that back to me now."
Hector smirked as he dangled it high in the air. "It's yours if you can reach it, runt."
Suddenly Hector was screaming and the ball disappeared from his hand. Ron was confused. "What did you do?"
Fred's voice came from behind. "The same thing we'll do to you, if you don't scream."
George pointed his wand at his younger brother. "On second thought."
Ron suddenly had spiders on his arms and legs, and was screaming, trying to shake them off. Hector's hand looked like he had touched fire, there were burn like marks, on his hands from the ball. As Hector fled after Ron, Ryan saw that Fred had his ball in his hand, and he was relieved. Ryan was relieved, his grandsire would be upset if he lost it, it cost a lot of money.
Fred and George smiled, and handed Ryan back the ball. They had been growing bored, and had come looking for Ryan, and to find some fun. They were grateful that they had good timing, though they had heard Ryan, and he stood up for himself before they came.
Ryan was relieved when he pocketed the ball. "Thanks. Grandsire would have been upset."
Fred put him in a headlock. "You know we wouldn't let those twerps mess with our little buddy."
George agreed with him. "Besides playing pranks on those two is one of our favorite past times."
Draco had appeared beside them. "Hector made an appearance did he?"
Fred nodded and went into the compartment with them, telling Draco. "We'll have a new person to try our pranks out on."
Ryan reminded him. "You know he is going to be in your house."
George groaned. "Please don't remind us. Perhaps he could be the first Weasley to be a Hufflepuff."
Susan shook her head. "We don't want him any more than you do."
The food trolley came, and Ryan bought the twins some, to thank them for saving him. The twins remained for much of the train ride, and joined him and Draco for some games of exploding snap. Soon enough they were getting into their robes, as the train pulled into the station, and Hagrid was waiting for the first years. Ryan, Draco, Susan and Blaise got in a boat, Hannah going with some other kids, including a boy Neville. Ryan knew Neville, he knew about the kid's parents, because of his Papa.
Ryan and the others had their speech from Minerva, and were led into the hall. The others looked at the roof, but his eyes went to the head table, where he spotted Nanny among the others on staff. He knew he would get to see her so much more. The sorting started.
Draco looked at Ryan as Susan made a Hufflepuff. "Well hopefully this means family traditions will continue."
Ryan was still worried. "I may be a Hufflepuff like Susan"
Draco shook his head. "You know we'll still hang out with you. But I think you'll be a Slytherin with us."
Ryan watched as Neville was a Hufflepuff, Hannah had been one too. "You're coming up."
Draco sure enough was called, Ryan went by his second last name, Prince. Draco to no surprise was. "Slytherin."
Hector was called next and after a few moments the hat called. "Gryffindor."
Ryan was nervous when his name was finally called. "Black-Prince, Orion Regulus."
He sat on the stool, and after only a few moments, the hat called. "Slytherin."
Draco beamed when Ryan went over. "I saved you a spot. I knew you'd be one of us."
There were no surprises, when Ron joined Hector, and Blaise joined them. Ryan wouldn't have minded being with Susan, she was a good friend, but he was worried grandsire may be disappointed. All Blacks, except a few like Uncle Padfoot, were Slytherins. He knew Grandsire would be happy, when he learned Ryan was a Slytherin like the rest of the family. He would send his grandsire an Owl that night.
Draco was so happy. "We have flying class tomorrow, and quidditch try outs this weekend. I know I'm going to make the team."
Ryan had sent an owl to his grandsire the night before, before they had gone to bed. He had asked his Papa to tell grandsire what house he was in. He knew grandsire would be happy, when he learned, and he was sure to get an owl soon. He knew Papa and Daddy would be proud, even if they swore they would be happy whatever house he was in, they both were ones. Ryan was not looking forward to flying, but he was excited to start classes, especially potions class. He had worked with Papa for years, but he wanted to learn in the classroom.
Ryan and his friends headed down to the hall for breakfast that morning. Ryan may be small, but he was lucky, for the house he was in. He was a pureblood, and the others in his house, would watch his back. He had already endeared himself to most of them.
Draco looked up from his one package to see Ryan had two. "Two? Uncle Sirius?"
Ryan shook his head. "No he sent a treat with Papa's. The other is from grandsire."
Draco was surprised. "He already gave you the new chess set."
Ryan was just as surprised. He took out a pendant. "Wow."
Blaise saw the Slytherin crest on a pendant. "Not even your grandfather could have acted so fast."
Ryan turned to him. "It's old. He had them made for his sons years ago."
Marcus interrupted them when he handed them their schedule. "And quidditch try outs tomorrow. But warn you, first years never make it."
Draco looked at the time. "We should be going."
Ryan put the pendant around his neck. "We don't want to be late for potions class."
Blaise grumbled. "Speak for yourself."
Draco agreed. "I don't mind potions, but we have it with the lions."
They groaned as they headed for the doors. They were not looking forward to any classes that they had with Hector. Ryan's hand was on his pendant as they went. A few people knew, like Blaise, who his dad really was. Those who didn't, thought the pendant must have belonged to his dad, and was given to him. In reality his dad wore his to this day. This one was meant for his Uncle, and went into the safe, when his Uncle was a Gryffindor. Two had already been made, so it hadn't been given to Regulus, when he began school.
Ryan was so excited to start potions, along with astronomy, it was the one he wanted to start the most. He also knew about the teacher, Papa had told him about the man a lot, he had helped Papa become a potions master.
Horace smiled when he came in. "Orion Black, I'd know Severus' son anywhere."
Ryan smiled. "Papa told me all about you sir. I am pleased to meet you."
Draco had sunk down at the front desk. "Come on Ryan."
Blaise sat with them. "We need all the help we can get."
Hector had come into the room. "With that dweeb? Likely will blow up your potion."
Horace looked at the kid. "I'd sit down Mr. Potter and write down the potion on the board."
Ron made Hector come with him. "We want to be as far away from his cauldron as possible."
Horace did the usual speech and then set them on a potion. He turned to Hector. "Where would you find a groat?"
Hector shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, in an apothecary."
Ryan put up his hand, and when Horace nodded, he answered. "In the belly of a goat sir."
Hector grumbled when Ryan got points. "The twit cheated, he is the son of a low apothecary."
Draco smirked at him. "Or he just read it in the first page of the book."
Hector looked ready to kill someone, especially when Ryan kept answering questions, he couldn't. Ryan scored 20 points for his house that afternoon, after his team brewed a flawless potion, as well as his answers. There was one potion which blew up, but it wasn't Ryan's, but Hector and Ron's. Well it would have blown up, but Horace acted, and stopped it from.
Hector was stewing when he left the class. "That little know it all sabotaged our potion."
Ron agreed with him. "You know he must have slipped something in it."
Draco shook his head. "Perhaps if you learn how to read, you may absolutely brew a potion."
Blaise agreed. "Ryan doesn't need to sabotage you brats. You sabotage yourself quite well."
Hector watched as they were heading off. "You know I will get you back, for making a disgrace of me."
Hector was not about to be shown up by a brat like that. He had found he was not as famous here as he had hoped. But he would soon change that, he would soon be the most popular kid here. But he needed to show people like the snake brat, that no one could mess with him. They wouldn't make a fool of him. He knew the kid's Papa, his daddy had made a joke of the man in school, and he'd do the same.
Hector looked at Ron. "You know I have an idea. I think flying class is the perfect time to show that little brat up for good."
