"Targaryen, Aegon."

He jerked in surprise, calmly moving forward as if his mind had not been focused elsewhere. Egg sat on the stool, eyes catching Rhae and Teddy before the hat covered his view of the hall.

"Oh dear," the hat muttered. "Another of you."

"Is that a problem?" he asked, grinning internally at the almost sad note in the hat's tone.

"Two elementals and whatever your brother is with his tangled parentage," the hat sniped. "I don't see how that should be a problem, do you?"

"Aren't you supposed to just sort me?" Egg retorted, stomach clenching in slight worry at his words.

It was one of the few dangers of living here, he knew. His parents had sat them down years ago, before Maia had been born, and explained just why Egg and Rhae had to be careful at Hogwarts, why even Teddy should be careful.

"By all means, Your Highness," the hat countered, sarcasm dripping from his tone. "Or is it Your Grace? First time I've sorted deposed royalty, at any rate."

"When have you ever sorted royalty?"

"Lady Morgana was a fine student," the hat sniffed, shifting on Egg's head. "Now, let's see. What to do with you?"

"Slytherin," Egg requested slyly.

"Not a chance in hell," the hat barked. "I'd like the school to remain standing young man, and you do not have the same temperament for Slytherin as your sister does."

"I'm ambitious," Egg pouted. "And cunning."

"And yet it would remain a disaster," the hat stated dryly. "You are certainly loyal, though not very trusting the lot of you, not a bad mind either when you're willing to sit still long enough, plenty of courage yes, yes. You'll certainly need your strength for what's to come. You're almost as irritating as your father, young dragon."

"My father?"

"Better be, GRYFFINDOR! Do try not to burn the castle down," the hat murmured.

"I make no promises," Egg grinned, handing the hat to Professor Flitwick as his robes changed to show the Gryffindor crest, his tie red and gold as Egg took a seat amongst the grinning lions.

He looked across the hall, seeing Teddy wink at the falsely scowling Rhaenys. Hogwarts wasn't Potter Hall, but it was not so lonely with his siblings close by.


Dear Mum and Dad, and Maia,

I'm in Gryffindor! Ha, I don't know what you did to the hat Dad but he threw me to the lions.

The common room is really, really, REALLY red. Almost like someone splattered paint all over. But it's nice and cosy, even when sharing a dorm with four other boys. Uncle Neville was there at the high table. Pretty sure he won a bet on my sorting but I could be wrong.

I'll write again soon. I miss you all. Tell Maia hello for me.

Love,

Egg


He had underestimated just what it meant to be sorted in Gryffindor.

Egg had grown up on stories of his father and uncles' times at Hogwarts, hearing stories of which house was the best from them. Teddy had fit right in as a Ravenclaw, none of the students bothering him too much in house though he dealt with the odd person who wanted to get close to Harry Potter's son.

Rhae was a Slytherin, and none of the other houses interacted much with them, even if half of them were fond of her or were waiting for Rhaenys to curse them.

Egg was the Gryffindor; the child who had been sorted into their father's old house, even if he did not look like him or bear his name as Teddy did. Egg was close to the man and his son in everything but blood, and in Gryffindor their adoration of him was a touch more reverent than the other houses.

"What's he like?"

"Normal," Egg said, piling his breakfast on his plate.

"He's Harry Potter," a mousy-haired boy said. "There's no way he's normal."

"No, he flies without magic and can lift castles with nothing more than a twitch of his finger," Egg deadpanned, spooning porridge in his mouth.

Some of them whispered in awe, but the boy in front of him smirked at Egg, grey eyes dancing with humour.

The owl post arrived, and he was slightly surprised to see an owl diving toward him. The letter had his name in the elegant script of his mother, and Egg knew he would see his father's scrawl inside.

Blinking, he looked up and saw several pairs of eyes watching the letter in his hand.

"Do you mind?" he asked, tucking the letter into his robes as he continued to eat his breakfast.

Uncle Neville was walking down the table, handing out the schedules to the students as they ate. The express had left on a weekday, and there was almost a full week of classes waiting for them before they could enjoy their first weekend at Hogwarts.

"First years," Uncle Neville said, giving them each a copy of identical schedules but for the names on the top.

Professor Longbottom, he corrected himself, seeing Herbology listed as his first class. Professor Sprout was still at Hogwarts, teaching those taking OWL year herbology and above, he knew from Teddy, and Uncle Neville split his time between Hogwarts and the Wizengamot.

"I expect you all to be on time," he warned them, causing a flurry as the first year Gryffindors began to eat quickly, groaning at the thought of having to hurry across to the greenhouses.


Egg stifled his yelp at feeling someone grab him, his elbow poking into their stomach as he tried to squirm free., magic gathering but unable to do anything against the familiar feel of the other person.

"I told you this was a bad idea," Teddy hissed, slightly pained from having the breath knocked out of him.

He stilled, whirling around to see he was standing almost nose-to-nose with his siblings.

"What in the name of the gods are you two doing?"

"Would you rather we waltz into your common room?" Rhaenys asked blithely. "I'm sure Teddy can imitate any of the Gryffindors but having a Slytherin at the door might be a bit much after we just trounced you."

"And so you thought dragging me into an alcove was the best thing to do?" he asked sardonically, glowering at the two of them.

"I suppose you can go back if you want," Teddy said.

"Not up for an adventure this one," Rhae hummed, smirking at him.

Egg sighed, eyes darting between his brother and sister as he tried to figure out what they wanted.

"Where are we going?" Egg asked, dread growing at the sight of twin smirks of glee on their faces.

"The Chamber," Teddy answered.

All worry fled his mind as Egg perked up, mouth stretched into a wide grin as he said, "Why didn't you start with that?"

Rhaenys rolled her eyes as Teddy shrunk in height, the cloak falling over them as they slowly shuffled along the corridor.

"There's got to be a better way than squeezing under this cloak," Egg muttered, elbows tucked lest he accidentally hit Rhaenys.

"Disillusion yourself at your own risk," Teddy murmured. "Cloak's the only way we'll not get caught."

They came into the girl's bathroom, and Egg stopped at the threshold long enough for Rhaenys to yank him inside.

"Don't be so shy, Egg," she told him.

"Is this a prank?" he hissed. "What in the wo—"

The words died in his mouth as he watched the sink expand, a gaping hole in the floor where once there had been none.

"Bloody hell," he breathed, excitement flowing through him. "Is that?"

"Jump in and find out," Teddy grinned.

"After you," he retorted, blinking in slight surprise as his brother jumped in with a wave.

"Well?" Rhaenys asked. "I've got to close it behind us."

Egg grinned before he hopped in, a whoop of glee leaving him as he hurtled down the slide. He came flying out, twisting in the air as he managed to land deftly on his feet.

"That was fun," he grinned, watching his sister slide out shortly after him.

Teddy had returned to his usual height, towering over the two of them as they walked to the door.

The Chamber was everything he had expected, and entirely different. The snake statues sat majestically along the walkway, candles flaring to life as they entered.

The corpse of the basilisk was no longer there, but in it's place was a duelling platform, larger and wider than the one they had at home.

Teddy walked to the mouth of the statue, hissing lowly as the mouth opened, stones grinding against each other as they peered into the gaping darkness.

"Lumos," he muttered, feeling the Holly and dragon heartstring wand light up, slowly wandering inside in case his siblings had something up their sleeves.

Rhae and Teddy lit the rest of the room, light glowing softly as he gaped around him.

They were in a large room, a holding area of some sort, with soft flooring meant to provide comfort. To his left was an open wall, the inside showing a workroom of some sort.

"Are those books from Salazar Slytherin's personal stock?" Egg gawked.

"No," Teddy replied mournfully. "There's nothing of his left. These are from the Room of Requirement."

"You can take books out from there?" he blinked, reconsidering what he knew of the room.

"If you know what to ask," Rhaenys told him.

Egg nodded, absentmindedly staring at the bubbling cauldrons and the piles of parchment scattered around the desk.

"What's the plan?"

"How would you like some duelling practice?" Teddy asked, smirking at him as his eyes flashed black.

Egg grinned, twirling his wand in hand as his eyes glowed faintly. "When do we start?"


Bloody hell, he thought, mind whirling as he imagined the fallout from this.

Part of the perks of having a family such as his was the ability to use magic at home, and Egg's reflexes had been honed by hours of training with his father. Having Rhae Teddy as siblings meant having someone try and sneak up on you at all hours, forcing him to be quick.

Lionel Belby was crumpled on the ground, the older boy unable to duck beneath the spell that had flown across the hall. His friend was leaning against the wall, out of breath and staring dazedly at him.

"Are you alright?" Egg asked, squatting down as he gently touched his arm.

"What the bloody hell was that?"

"I lost control of the spell. First time trying it in a duel," Egg said hurriedly, feeling the back of Lionel's head and coming away with sticky hands, a slight red tint to them. "He's bleeding."

"What abo—"

Egg didn't hear the rest of his sentence, feeling the build up of magic and whirling in shock, the boy on the other end thrown violently into the wall as his magic reacted.

"Shit," he whispered, cringing as he looked around him. There were footsteps coming closer, and Egg cringed at the sight of Uncle Neville, a sharp frown on his face as he stared at the students on the floor.

"A-Mr. Targaryen," he said, not the uncle but the no-nonsense professor. "What has happened here?" He quickly jabbed his wand, a patronus forming as he muttered something quietly, the bear darting off.

"A duel gone wrong, sir," Egg answered, relief flooding through him as Teddy came sprinting into the hall. His brother's green eyes widened, his prefect badge gleaming as his eyes flashed purple.

Egg's face remained blank, shaking his head minutely at Teddy as the metamorph shifted to grey eyes; lips tightening at the blink Egg sent him, confirming his worries.

"I was wondering what happened when you didn't show up," Teddy said, drawing Uncle Neville's attention. "Alright Egg?"

"Wrong place wrong time," he grimaced, seeing the understanding on Teddy's face.

Professor Longbottom's message heralded two more professors, their eyes widening as they saw the students.

"Follow me, Mr Targaryen," Professor Longbottom said, conjuring a stretcher for Belby as he floated him onto it. The other professors did the same, levitating the three Slytherins and the lone Hufflepuff. Teddy came closer, offering his hand to Lionel's friend as he lightly squeezed Egg's shoulder.

He felt a bump against his shoulder, and Egg sighed quietly as he saw the concerned look in Rhae's purple eyes.

"Everything all right?" she muttered, trailing behind the professors.

"I hope so," Egg grimaced.

They were brought to the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey directing them to beds as Egg was told to wait close to the door, his siblings comforting him as the other Heads of Houses came in to check on their students, McGonagall following after them.

"What happened?" Teddy asked, eyes glancing at the dazed friend of Lionel Belby.

"I took a shortcut and walked right into a duel," Egg told them. "I might have lost control a bit."

"What's a bit?" Rhaenys asked sharply, eyes narrowed.

"No fire," he muttered lowly, seeing the tenseness disappear.

They stood together quietly, Egg stifling the urge to fidget as the professors spoke quietly to the only one awake.

"Mr. Targaryen," the Headmistress said, calling Egg forward as she stood next to the Heads. Her lips were drawn in a tight line as she looked at him, and Egg forced himself to relax, back straight and head held high as he looked back at her.

I've done nothing wrong, he reassured himself.

"Mr. Harper has told us his recollection of events, such that they are. What were you doing in that corridor?"

"I took a shortcut," Egg replied. "Saturdays are usually spent catching up with my siblings, and I was on my way to meet them."

McGonagall's eyes flicked to the two stood on either side of him; it was an open secret amongst the professor's that they met up in the kitchens, none of them knowing they also used the Chamber on occasion.

"And which spell did you use? Mr. Belby was well out of range before you arrived," she told him.

Egg grimaced slightly, acknowledging the point. "A disarming spell," he answered. "They were aiming at me, and I didn't fancy getting cursed. It didn't work as expected."

A necessary lie for the moment; Egg's spell had worked well enough, disarming one of the students, but his second spell had caused the other to move, his spell flying wide as he crumpled under the Hufflepuff's onslaught.

"Duelling is forbidden in the halls," McGonagall reminded him, a stern look on her face. "Twenty points from Gryffindor. You may leave."

Egg nodded, looking back at Lionel Belby before he allowed Teddy to tug him outside.


Aegon wasn't the only one to notice the tense atmosphere at home when they returned for the summer, and he had shared concerned looks with his older siblings, even as Maia ran into his arms.

"Egg!" she called, putting a delighted grin on his face at the pouting faces of the elder two as Maia's hair shifted into the pale silver-gold colour of his, her eyes switching between green and purple.

"Told you I'm her favourite," Egg taunted, smirking at the grumbling Rhaenys even as Maia shouted their names, squirming free to wrap her arms around their necks and her hair cycled through the different colours Teddy showed.

"Bedtime, little love," Papa told her, swooping down to take Maia. "You've seen them, now say goodnight."

"No bed," Maia pouted, shaking her head as she stared at their father, green eyes upset. "No sleep, Papa."

Egg felt his lips twitch into a grin, seeing the same expression on his siblings' faces as they watched Maia try her best to get out of her bedtime.

"Sweetling," Mum said, cooing softly at the girl as she continued to pout.

"Want to hear a story, Maia?" Teddy asked, eyes gleaming as the little girl brightened at the idea.

Their parents took her upstairs, some secret passing between them as Egg, Rhae and Teddy sat in the sitting room.

"Is everything fine?" Teddy asked the portrait of Grandpa James.

He grimaced slightly before reassuring them, "Between your parents, yes. Just…something's come up."

"Mildly irritating something or potential disaster?" Rhaenys questioned, brow furrowed as her eyes scrutinized the portraits.

"More than irritating," Grandpa James muttered. "Just…wait until your parents get back. They'll explain everything."

It was less their parents being obviously tense than it was the worry on the portrait's faces that caused Egg to worry, feeling tendrils of dread curl in his stomach as he glanced at the worried green and purple eyes.

They played a game of exploding snap half-heartedly, the usual delight of causing the cards to explode in Teddy's face absent as his mind whirled with possibilities.

It was on the third round of their game before their parents returned, Maia sleeping upstairs and a solemn look on their faces that put Egg on edge, waiting for them to sit on the loveseat before he bombarded them with questions.

"How was school?" Papa asked, green eyes focused on Egg.

"Fine," Teddy answered instead. "What's wrong?"

Papa had a slight frown on his face, sharing a long look with their mother before they came to an unspoken agreement.

"You remember the lesson you were given on the history of Elementals? There's been a slight…development in the last few months," Papa told them.

The odd feeling intensified, and Egg swallowed at what his mind conjured. He'd thought his parents had been tense at Yule, but Egg had dismissed it once he saw how sickeningly in love they were as their anniversary passed.

"Someone knows," Rhaenys said quietly.

"No," Mum said, shaking her head. "Nobody knows, but there's been rumours floating around of certain parties' interest in our family."

"Why us?" Egg asked, kicking himself as the realization came at the sight of the bitter tinge on his father's face. Papa's hand clenched the slightest bit, relaxing only at their mother's touch.

"It seems I've made a few people nervous," he answered.

"I know we've made ourselves at home here," Mum said, "but in the event things turn sour, Westeros might possibly become more than a short visit."

Egg sat quietly as his siblings asked questions, vaguely hearing them discuss some preparations with their parents.

He'd become comfortable in England, seeing Potter Hall as home and knowing he wouldn't have to be more than his parents wanted him to be. He wasn't Aegon, Sixth of His Name here; just Egg, brother to Maia, Rhae and Teddy.

He was slightly surprised to hear the knock on his door once they'd been told to sleep, hearing the lock click as Teddy opened it. He was followed by Rhaenys; the two of them joining him on the bed so that Egg lay between them. The last time they had done this had been when Teddy had gone off to Hogwarts, all those years ago, and Egg felt his sister roll over to face him, on of her hands holding his.

"I'm not sure I want to go," Egg admitted, knowing Rhaenys would understand.

"Neither am I," Rhae answered. "But we knew we'd go back someday."

"For a visit, yes," Egg huffed. "This is different. More permanent."

"There's not much of an option," Rhaenys sighed.

"If we go to Westeros, there'll be war, and people trying to kill us Rhae," he told her.

"There would be war either way," Teddy quietly interjected. "We go to Westeros there's a possible war. We stay here, and we'll be dragged into a large scale magical war."

"Where did you hear that?" Rhaenys asked, sitting up to look at Teddy.

"I asked Uncle Charlus's portrait," Teddy replied. "Before we came upstairs. He said it's bigger than we thought, and I don't know about you but I'd rather take my chances against sword wielding assholes over magical ones."

Rhae snorted at his words, even as Egg's stomach plummeted as old fears rose.

"What's wrong, Egg?" Teddy asked, eyes flashing in concern.

He was being silly; even with their lives in England, Papa had married their Mum knowing what he was getting into. But Teddy has friends and cousins here, a dark voice whispered.

"You're coming," Egg stated, seeing his brother's face soften.

"You're not getting rid of me so easily, little brother," Teddy said. "We're family, and family sticks together. Besides, who else is going to keep Rhae out of trouble, Your Grace?"

"Says the boy who gets into more trouble than the both of us," Rhae snorted.

Teddy flopped onto his back, laughing at her words. They lay quietly, the three of them contemplating the sudden shift their lives might take.

"I don't want to be king," he told them. "Not if it puts us in danger."

"Not being king might put you in greater danger Egg," Teddy responded. "You don't want to be a deposed prince."

"Can you imagine what Mum and Dad might do if someone tried to harm us?" Rhae asked, voice muffled against Egg's shoulder.

He smiled at the thought; there'd been no real reason for his parents to use their skills beyond their daily activities, but Egg had seen his father wield magic as if it were nothing and his mother deftly handle the stiff-lipped nobles.

He fell asleep, an older sibling on either side of him, comforted with the knowledge that come what may, he wouldn't gave to go it alone.


Dear Mum and Dad,

I made it onto the Gryffindor Quidditch team! Seeker, too! Teddy finds the entire thing funny, but that's only because he's facing both of us now.

Classes are going well. We started duelling in DADA. Don't worry. I'll keep control.

I miss you both. Say hello to Maia for me.

Love,

Egg


Dear Mum and Dad,

I'm fine! It was a spell gone wrong in the duelling club, but other than having to regrow my hair Professor Birch says everything is fine.

Teddy thinks my being bald means I truly live up to my name. A funny guy, that one.

Also, hair-growth potion is very disgusting.

I miss you both.

Love,

Egg


"Shouldn't you lot be going to sleep?" Papa asked them.

"It's match day tomorrow," Egg told him.

"Exactly," Papa said. "It's bad enough flying tired, it's also your first game, Aegon."

"You'll be cheering for Gryffindor?" Egg asked.

"Slytherin," Rhaenys insisted.

"I thought there was no favouritism, Dad," Teddy teased.

"Which is why I'll be rooting for Hufflepuff all year long," Papa told them, laughing at the stricken looks on their faces.

"Where's your house loyalty?" Egg pouted.

"Forget houses, what about us?" Rhae questioned.

"There's three of you in different houses," Papa laughed. "Hufflepuff leads the way to harmony."

Egg snorted, hearing his mother snort on the other end of the mirror as she teased Papa for his inability to decide.

"What about you, Mum?" Teddy asked.

"Whichever one of you manages not to get hit by a bludger," she answered, seeing their faces fall in mock sadness at that almost impossible challenge.


"Mr. Targaryen," he heard Uncle Neville's voice.

Egg froze on the stairwell, trying to recall why he would be in trouble.

"Professor Longbottom," Egg said, grinning at the older man.

"You're late for our meeting," he told him, and Egg cursed as he remembered.

"I was out practicing, sir," Egg said in apology. He fell into step beside him, walking up the stairs to the office on the fifth floor. Even as a Herbology professor, Uncle Neville's office was placed closer to the Gryffindor common room.

"Determined to beat your sister," Uncle Neville said with a wry grin on his face.

"Something like that," Egg told him.

Rhaenys had cinched a spot as the Slytherin seeker, and the loss to his sister had caused Aegon's competitive streak to come out. That they were both seekers only made it worse, and Papa had teased them both as he flaunted his five-minute record.

He was ushered into Uncle Neville's office, seeing the variety of plants that were placed around the room. Egg ducked hastily, avoiding the Venus Snaptrap as it tried to grab him, taking the seat across from him.

"Now," Uncle Neville began. "It's almost time for you to select your courses. Any thoughts?"

Egg blinked, shaking his head as he considered the question. He'd expected them to be well on their way to Westeros by now; Maia was two, and the budget his parents had voted against had been passed in the Wizengamot. The ritual was ready, but they'd not made any move to leave just yet, slowly converting the gold in the vaults to unmarked gold bars.

"Vaguely," Egg admitted. "I'd like to take Runes. Probably Arithmancy as well."

"Any thoughts on a third?" Uncle Neville asked.

Egg shook his head, knowing he might not be here for long. "Rhaenys and Teddy can stick to three classes on top of quidditch. I'd like to enjoy my sleep," Egg jested, pulling a laugh from Uncle Neville as he scribbled something on a piece of parchment. "Was that all?"

"Unless there was something else you wished to speak to me of?"

"Nope," Egg grinned. "Thanks Uncle."


He shifted slightly in his seat, forcing himself to still as he looked through the papers.

He had spent the past few hours in the pensieve, watching memories of court from his mother's time as Princess of the Seven Kingdoms.

Princess Regent now, he thought. Egg still had four years before he was of age in Westeros, and should he take the throne before then – should they find themselves in Westeros before then – his mother would act as his regent, even if it wasn't the done thing.

They can shove their prejudi—

"Young man, why do I feel as if you were about to think something highly inappropriate?"

Egg blinked innocently at Euphemia's portrait, knowing she didn't believe him from her narrowed eyes.

"Just thinking on what would happen if Mum were the regent," Egg insisted. "Really, Nan."

Aunt Dorea snorted in disbelief, and Egg resisted the urge to laugh at the look she sent him as she said, "And I'm Bloody Mary's daughter."

"You certainly fit the bill," Iolanthe quipped, throwing her head back in laughter at Aunt Dorea's disgruntled look. "Those fossils at court won't take a woman as regent well."

Aunt Dorea hummed in agreement, "Men with power let it all go to their heads. Worse still with no magic to level the playing field."

"Not many are willing to tell a wand-wielding woman where her 'place' is," Iolanthe added, a dark smile on her face.

"Take a break, Aegon," Nan told him. "You've been at it for hours."

"Can't," Egg refused. "I've got to be ready just in case."

Grandma Lily's portrait had told Egg she had hoped for the best during the first war with Voldemort, but in their situation it had been best to think of the absolute worst scenario and prepare for that.

Considering she managed to blow a dark lord to bits, Egg decided to take her advice to heart.

The absolute worst situation he could think of in Westeros was his being crowned king and separated from the rest of his family. Egg would fight to make sure that didn't happen, but in case it did he prepared to rule on his own even as he fervently prayed his mother would be there to help him navigate the court.

"Very well," Iolanthe said. "If you insist on not taking a break to go flying, at least let us join in on the fun."

"We're grounded from flying," he reminded her, subconsciously reaching out to the bond he had with Iacomus. The Ironbelly was flying above the lake, dipping down to catch some fish, Egg knew.

"Perhaps you should have kept Maia away from the dragons," Nan said lightly.

"She's a parselmouth. You try to keep her from talking them into taking her up," Egg countered, remembering the look on his parent's faces when they found Maia seated on Iacomus's back. The grey dragon was hovering the slightest bit over the ground, to the little girl's delight, and Papa had spent nearly an hour switching between berating the dragons for listening to her and lecturing the nearly three-year-old troublemaker.

"Now," Nan cut in. "Which memories were you watching?"

"The Rebellion," Egg grimaced, recalling the tense moment when his mother had arrived in King's Landing, Egg and Rhae in hand as the Mad King ordered them to stay. There were some memories of that time his mother refused to let him watch, but Egg had seen enough to know how mad his paternal grandfather had been.

"Walk us through the alliances, Aegon," Aunt Dorea said, pulling him out of his dark thoughts as he explained what he noticed, both in court and from conversations his mother had, the three women offering their input.