Heyo! I'd be really thankful for any follows, favorites and (especially) reviews!
I've gotten some feedback, which is addictive, and I'm hopefully more!
So without further ado, this is Chapter Three of A Journey Into Eternity!
DISCLAIMER: I clearly do not own Harry Potter or any character associated with this story, other than the obvious original characters. J.K. Rowling is the true mastermind behind this series, and I just have the fortunate of being allowed to create an alternate version of the story.
Chapter Three: Into the Thick of It
Atlas
September 1st, 1991 [Black Manor, Somewhere in Scotland]
Atlas ran down the stairs of Black Manor, his footsteps resounding through the large hall. He was laughing, heartedly, as he steamrolled into the breakfast room and met the gaze of his elderly grandfather, who simply raised an eyebrow.
Atlas laughed harder.
"What are you so worked up for?" Lord Black asked.
Atlas smirked, "Surely you haven't forgotten what day it is."
"Of course I haven't." Arcturus chucked, as he politely pointed to empty spot on the table in front of Atlas. "You need to eat."
Atlas merely rolled his eyes and asked, "Arynn, will you please make me my usual?"
Within seconds a kind looking house elf appeared with a freshly made plate of poached eggs and toast. He smiled, "Thank you," before Arynn scampered off.
"I will never understand why you insist on trying to talk with her. Good house elves are only-"
"-seen and heard when absolutely necessary. I know." Atlas interrupted.
Arcturus smiled lightly, before he turned contemplative, "There are some things we must discuss before you whisk off to school."
Atlas leaned forward as he ate and listened very intently as his great-grandfather continued, "Your grades- they are of the utmost importance. You will one day be the Lord of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, and while this affords you some liberties in what you shall be able to do with your life; it also means that you must maintain a reputation of-"
Atlas looked at Lord Black, worried, "Grandfather, we've talked about this already. I'll take care of it."
"Right, right." Arcturus waved it off.
Atlas looked his grandfather over; the man who raised him, who taught him the traditions of his ancestors, prepared him for Hogwarts, the man who had always been there for him. He was truly worried, but he knew his grandfather was strong. He knew his grandfather would be alright.
"Was there anything else?"
Arcturus thought for a moment, "Yes, there is. You already know there will be other heirs at Hogwarts: Draco, Nott, Flint, the rest. Some will be older than you, some will be the same age as you, and some will be younger than you as your years at Hogwarts progress. We are the most powerful house in the Wizengamot, and they know this. Some will look to you as a leader, but others… they will challenge you. They will try to loosen our hold on the Wizengamot in the future by disrupting your reputation."
Arcturus paused to make sure that his grandson was following – Atlas nodded to assure him.
"You'll have to be strong. Not just with your magic, but with your principles too. Do you understand me?"
"Yes sir, I understand. I'll handle it."
Arcturus smiled at his grandson and patted his arm, "Of course you will."
They sat in a comfortable silence before another house elf placed a package in front of Arcturus, whose face brightened, "Ah, yes. I had almost forgotten."
"What is it?"
Arcturus smiled at his great-grandson, "A going away present."
Atlas looked curiously at the package, "May I?"
"Yes, of course. Go on."
Atlas truly did try to unwrap the package as fast as he could, while also maintaining a sense of politeness. His grandfather, however, didn't care about politeness in that moment, "I said 'go on,' lad. You don't have to keep up the pleasantries on my behalf."
Atlas and Arcturus laughed, as Atlas began to unabashedly rip the wrapping apart. Then, it fell out onto the table: a beautiful metallic dragon-hide holster.
Arcturus smiled, "The Ukrainian Government awarded it to me during the Global Wizarding War. I thought the two of us could make it a tradition… A new family heirloom passed down from generation to generation."
Atlas smiled with tears in his eyes at his grandfather, got up, and hugged him. "Thank you. I definitely think this will become a tradition."
He looked over the Ukrainian Ironbelly holster, "How does it work?"
Arcturus kindly took the holster and, with a slight tremor of the hand, strapped it to Atlas' forearm. From there, the holster interestingly melded into his skin.
"You'll store your wand into the holster-" Arcturus began before Atlas cut him off.
"But my wand is longer than my forearm."
Arcturus looked at Atlas with a smirk and a raised eyebrow, "Magic."
Arcturus chuckled and began again, "You'll store your wand into the holster with the tip pointing down your arm. Yes, like that," as he watched Atlas follow his instructions. "Then, when you want it, you'll flick your wrist. Keep in mind the intent of wanting your wand in your hand."
Atlas looked towards Arcturus, who gave him an encouraging nod; then, he flicked his wrist and his wand shot out. His hand wasn't quick enough, however, and the wand flew onto the table.
Arcturus laughed until it became a coughing fit.
"I'm fine, lad." He said, dismissively, at Atlas' worried look. "You'll have to practice to get it down to muscle memory, but it will come."
Atlas nodded and tried again a few more times before catching his wand. He looked up to his great-grandfather who was clapping and smiling, "Good show."
They continued to sit together in silence as Atlas tried again, over and over.
"Would you like to hear why I got it?"
Atlas quickly stored his wand into the holster, "Of course I do."
"It was during the Global Wizarding War against Grindlewald. It was me and Al-"
A knock echoed through the home.
Arynn appeared immediately before them and quickly squeaked, "Master's Malfoy's are here."
"See them in Arynn." Another knock echoed. Arcturus sighed and looked to Atlas, who was clearly disappointed, "Another time, then. I'll tell you when you come back for Yule."
Another knocked resounded as Atlas' face brightened and exclaimed, "Promise?"
"I swear it."
Atlas beamed and got up and hugged his great-grandfather, who whispered in a very low tone, "I love you."
"I love you, too." Atlas whispered back.
Arcturus grabbed him by the shoulders looked him up and down, "You'll have to bulk up some, of course."
Atlas rolled his eyes as the Malfoy's entered the kitchen area.
They all bowed deeply to his grandfather, and Atlas knew that people would respect him the same way in the future. He was sure of it.
"Lord Black." Lord and Lady Malfoy said together.
"Lucius, Narcissa." Arcturus responded, curtly.
Lucius turned to Atlas, "Are you prepared to leave?"
Atlas nodded, as Arynn floated his trunk and owl cage to him, "Yes sir."
"Good, we shall take our leave now." Lucius said as he swept out of the room, followed by Narcissa.
Draco smirked at his father's antics before he followed them out the door.
"Remember everything I've told you."
"I'll take care of it all. You know I will."
Arcturus coughed and smiled, "I reckon I do."
Atlas turned and quickly hugged his grandfather, "I love you."
Arcturus smiled, "I love you too, son. Now go before I kill you for making me tear up."
They laughed together, but Atlas did as he was told and left his great-grandfather and met the Malfoy's in the living room.
"I shall go first, followed by Draco and you, and then finally your aunt." Lucius spoke.
Atlas nodded.
"Very well," he spoke, as tossed a pinch of Floo powder into the fireplace, entered, and smoothly drawled, "Platform Nine and Three-Quarters!"
The green flames flashed brightly and Lord Malfoy was gone.
Draco immediately stepped forward with his supplies, before Narcissa's voice spoke out, "Wait a minute. I need to speak to the two of you."
"You couldn't have done this earlier this week when we weren't on the way to the Hogwarts Express?" Draco exclaimed as Atlas merely tapped his foot impatiently.
"Careful now, Draco, wouldn't want to make mummy upset." Atlas mocked, and was unceremoniously smacked in the back of the head for his antics.
"Quickly now boys, Lucius is waiting on the other side." They both looked up at her and she continued, "Without family, a man will freeze to death in this cold, unforgiving world. You are each other's family. I want you two to stay by each other's side no matter what happens. Understood?"
"Obviously." Draco drawled.
"I don't know. I might rid myself of him as soon as I get the chance." Atlas quipped.
Narcissa looked them both over and smiled, "I love you both."
Draco nodded briskly before rushing to the fireplace, "Platform Nine and Three-Quarters!"
Atlas could clear see Draco had tried to emulate his father's smooth draw… He hadn't managed it.
"We love you too." Atlas said with an eye roll, before dragging his supplies through the fire and echoing Lord Malfoy and Draco.
September 1st, 1991 [King's Cross Station, London, England]
"How fitting," Draco smirked as Atlas' tripped when he exited the Floo at King's Cross.
Atlas' frustration grew as he watched as his aunt gracefully stepped out of the fireplace.
"I might've thought you had sent a tripping jinx at me. That is, if I I thought you could muster the magic."
"Still more magic than you."
"You reckon?" Atlas said, challengingly.
"Enough." Lucius drawled.
Atlas looked up at the steam engine and was taken aback. It was beautiful in all its muggle contraption glory. Who would have thought that muggles could make something so interesting and beautiful? The way the red and black paint pulsed furiously in the summer sun. How it made noises constantly. He was entranced before-
"Atlas- Atlas, come on." Draco was calling to follow him onto the train.
So, he was drawn from his stupor. He looked around and met the smiling face of his Aunt Narcissa and the usual passive face of his Uncle Lucius; which still unnerved him. Atlas gave them a curt nod before dragging his supplies onto the train behind Draco.
They eventually made it to an empty compartment in the middle of the train and Atlas knew for a fact his arms would've given out if they had to keep searching any longer. He thought about trying to lift his trunk onto the overhead, but deciding he'd just leave it on the ground and rest his feet on it. He laughed as he watched Draco continue to struggle to lift his up.
"A little help would be nice." He said, out of breath.
Atlas complained but relented nevertheless. As they finally managed to put Draco's trunk on the overhead, they both collapsed onto seats across from each other.
"We need to work on that." Draco gasped.
Atlas nodded, feverishly, "I'd have to agree."
They hadn't caught their breaths before Draco suddenly stood up and looked as if he had remembered something, "I should probably go find Crabbe and Goyle."
Atlas looked at him as if he had grown an extra head, "Why would need to do that?"
"They're my friends." Draco said, defensively.
Altas laughed.
Draco huffed, but ended up chuckling as well, "Father says it would be smart to keep them close."
Atlas snorted as he reach into his side-bag and pulled out a book called, A Theoretical Guide to Beginning Transfiguration. He flipped the book open to a marked page and began reading. He had almost immersed himself in the tome's description of the Laws of Resistance when he noticed a looming presence. He looked up and Draco was standing awkwardly in the same place as before.
"I thought you were going?" Atlas asked.
"I am."
Atlas looked him over, and then Draco quickly walked out of the compartment. The train lurched and Atlas wondered if Harry had made it onto the train alright. Atlas shook his head and immediately went back to the place he had left off in his book. From what he was reading, the Laws of Resistance were extremely important to understand when you're beginning transfiguration. They stated that as the differences between the original object and the intention for the transfiguration grows, the harder the transfiguration would be.
He wished he had a matchstick to try to transfigure. It should be easy, he mused to himself. He continued reading and didn't even realize there was a person sitting across for him until they cleared their throat and spoke out, "Heir Black."
Atlas' head snapped up and he saw him, "Harry!"
"I've been sitting here for about ten minutes waiting to see when you'd notice me."
"This book- well, it's pretty interesting." Atlas defended.
Harry smiled, mildly, "You can keep reading if you'd like."
Atlas closed the book and placed it back in his bag, "It's alright. I've read it before."
Harry smiled brightly, "How was your summer?"
Atlas knew Harry was just being polite. They had been sending letters back and forth without fail ever since they met in Diagon Alley. Atlas had even convinced Draco to send Harry a letter, but he didn't presume to know if that had gone down positively or negatively. He could never know with his cousin. He snorted to himself, and looked up to see Harry waiting for a response.
"Lovely." Atlas stated, "You have much trouble with the muggles to get to the train?"
"Not too much. They were already coming to London today… For Dudley."
"Your cousin, right?"
Harry chuckled, "Yeah, they have to remove his pig tail."
Atlas looked incredulously at Harry. Did all muggle have pig tails? No, that'd be ridiculous. He definitely would've heard of that before.
"Pig tail?" Atlas asked simply.
Harry scratched his head nervously, "Erm- yeah."
Atlas raised a questioning eyebrow.
Harry looked down, "I'm not supposed to mention it. It could get Hagrid in trouble."
"I won't tell anyone." Atlas assured him. "Trust, remember?"
Harry nodded, "Well, Hagrid used an umbrella to put a spell on my cousin that made him grow a pig tail."
Atlas was completely dumbfounded, "An umbrella? Not his wand?"
"I don't think that Hagrid has a wand."
Atlas was curious but didn't have chance to think on it much further because Harry spoke again quickly after, "Have you read all your school books?"
Atlas sighed, "Most of them. I hated Magical Drafts and Potions."
Harry looked down, but steeled himself and then met eyes with Atlas, "I actually really enjoyed that one, but A History of Magic was amazing."
He's scared I won't like him if he disagrees with me, Atlas thought. Atlas realized he'd have to reassure Harry that he wouldn't like him any less if they disagreed on things.
"I assumed as much after the amount of time we spent in the Apothecary. I'd have been a waste of time if you didn't enjoy potions at least a little."
Harry smiled and Atlas continued, "Did you read all of them?"
"Yeah, but I was almost bored to death reading Waffling's."
"I loved that one!" Atlas exclaimed. "But I get how Waffling's descriptions of the theoretical side of magic could be a bit boring."
He couldn't really understand how one could think of it as boring, but he didn't have to let Harry know that. Magical Theory was credited as the essential foundation to controlling one's magic. He did love it, even if he had read it the year before with his grandfather-
Atlas wondered how his grandfather was fairing without him. There was a part of him that regretted leaving him at home, but the other was excited to finally be able to become his own person out from the under the watchful eye of Arcturus Black. That was the part of him that felt guilty because he did truly love his grandfather and he was worried for him.
His thoughts were interrupted by Draco returning to the compartment, followed closely by Crabbe and Goyle. Atlas rolled his eyes. Why his uncle thought it'd be smart for Draco to keep them around, he had no idea. They weren't worth much. Unless, once they got to Hogwarts they somehow became incredibly intelligent and showed themselves to be particular powerful.
Atlas chuckled at the thought.
"Draco." Harry nodded, stiffly.
"Harry." Draco replied, just as stiff.
Draco was still standing at the door and Atlas thought he looked ridiculous, "Sit down."
He was glared at but Atlas didn't really mind all that much. Draco sat next to him, while Crabbe and Goyle sat on either side of Harry. Harry looked, understandably, very uncomfortable.
Harry attempted to make conversation, "So, what house do you think you lot will be in?"
"Slytherin." Draco answered immediately. "I'll be in Slytherin."
"Me too." Crabbe grunted.
"Yeah." Goyle stated.
Atlas rubbed his jaw, "I'm not sure. What do you think Harry?"
"What utter rubbish, Atlas," Draco started. "We all know exactly where you're going to land, but if you want to pretend like you don't know then so be it.."
Harry nodded in agreement.
"You're point was made." Atlas laughed, and turned to Harry, "Where do you think you'll be?"
Harry looked down, uneasily, "I'm not really sure. I wouldn't mind being in any house."
"Liar," Draco exclaimed. "You're lying."
Harry looked down abashedly, "Well, I suppose I'd rather not end up in Hufflepuff."
Draco laughed out.
"It wouldn't matter if you were in Hufflepuff or not. Strong wizards can come from any house." Atlas glared at Draco.
Draco ignored him, "Except for Hufflepuff."
Harry lightly laughed.
"I think I'll probably land in Gryffindor-" Draco chafed at the word, but Harry continued, "Or Slytherin."
Atlas noticed Draco had been somewhat placated by the closing statement.
"Those are two polar opposites, mate." Atlas said, impartially.
Harry shrugged in response, "Not really. Being cunning or being brave aren't mutually exclusive."
They sat in silence for a while after that. Atlas watched as the scenery outside the train shifted. They were moving extremely fast, he realized. It almost looked as though they were going as fast as they would be if they were on a broom. He reached down and grabbed his book and began reading where he had left off.
"Anything off the trolley, dears?" A voice came with the shuffling of feet and the spinning of wheels.
They all jumped up to pay for some treats, but Atlas could tell Harry was uncertain about all of the different types of candies. So, he paid for a variety of all the best kinds. It'd be nice to show him all the various magical foods.
They had just started in on their candies when Atlas realized he hadn't shown Harry his new wand holster, or Draco for that matter.
"Want to see my grandfather's going away present for me?"
Draco turned sharply from his box of Bertie Botts, "Present?"
"Of course, Atlas." Harry smiled.
Crabbe and Goyle just nodded.
"Watch this…" He flicked his wrist and his wand shot out. He barely missed it and it fell to the ground.
He looked down and quickly picked his wand up as they all laughed. Harry must've realized it was embarrassing him because he quickly stopped laughing, "So, what's the present, Atlas?"
"It's a holster." Atlas said as he rolled his sleeve up to expose the metallic sheath and store his wand again.
"Woah.." Crabbe exclaimed.
"It's beautiful." Draco admired. "What breed is it from?"
"Ukrainian Ironbelly."
They all stared at the holster, impressed.
"Let me try again." Atlas insisted.
He flicked his wrist and missed it again. No one saw that time because they all turned to see who had burst into their compartment.
It was a bushy-haired girl who quickly gushed out, "Has anyone seen a toad? A boy called Neville's lost one."
Atlas stored his wand back into the holster. Her voice immediately set Atlas on edge and he could tell that Draco disliked it too by the way he visibly tensed. Draco and Atlas' eyes met, and Atlas could see the annoyance Draco felt. Atlas hadn't realized no one responded to her for quite a while until Harry finally spoke up.
"Sorry. We haven't seen one."
His voice was lighter than usual. He didn't want to speak for us, Atlas realized.
"Oh." She sat down next to Draco.
Draco's hand went for the wand in his cloak but Atlas stopped him by placing a calming hand on his knee.
"What can we do for you…"
"Granger, Hermione Granger."
"Dagworth-Granger?" Draco raised an eyebrow.
"Who?"
"That means no." Harry smiled, mildly.
"I saw that you had your wand out when I came in. Were you practicing magic?"
"No, he wasn't." Draco said, flatly.
"That's too bad." She looked downtrodden, before her head shot up again, "Why was your wand out then?"
Atlas could basically hear Draco's teeth grinding next to him. He chuckled lightly, "I was showing them my wand holster."
"Could I see?"
Atlas rolled his eyes, "If you'd like."
Please work, he thought to himself. He flicked his wrist and snapped his hand over the handle of his wand as it shot out.
He looked at Harry and Draco, who were both smiling at him. He finally turned back to Granger, whose mouth was hanging slightly ajar. Her front teeth are quite big, Atlas noticed.
"That was very impressive." Granger smiled at him, "Do you know any spells? Nobody in my family is magic, but I've learned all the course books to memory and I've practicing some. They've all worked for me. I could show you if you'd like!"
"Mudblood." Draco seethed.
"We're fine. Thank you though." Harry mediated, quickly.
"What was that?" Hermione insisted.
Atlas attempted to distract them all by jabbed his wand and whisper, "Lumos."
A light flared from the tip of his wand and began to increasingly light the compartment up. Atlas smiled as bright as the light, before banishing it with another jab and lightly spoken, "Nox."
"Yes, very impressive." Granger stated, dismissively. "What was it that you said? Mudblood? What does that mean?"
"It means-" Draco started.
"It means you should probably leave." Harry spoke out, bashfully.
Crabbe and Goyle shook their head, while Draco grinned viciously, "Yes. That's exactly what it means."
Granger huffed and stormed out the compartment, slamming the door behind her.
"There was no reason to be cruel to her." Atlas glared at Draco.
"It was cruel of her to even walk into our compartment. That's the problem with her kind. They don't try to understand our world, they just do as they please and act like they own everything. They act like it's their world."
"It's their world as much as it's our's." Atlas defended.
Harry spoke up again, "And it just seemed like she didn't understand how to properly socialize."
"Then perhaps she shouldn't."
"Shouldn't socialize?" Harry asked, skeptically.
"Mhm." Goyle agreed with Draco.
"Perhaps she shouldn't eat either?" Harry annoyedly asked.
"You can't tell me she wasn't bothering you too! She was so obnoxious, and she barely let anyone else get a word in! Why are you defending her? She's just a filthy mudblood!" Draco exclaimed.
Atlas became aware of something in that moment and his realization quickly made him look to Harry: he had tensed up.
Atlas had told Harry what 'mudblood" meant through their letters and he had been less than impressed by the term. His mother had been a muggleborn; of course he was bound to dislike the prejudicial word for her. Atlas had been used to Draco throwing around the word as they grew up, but Harry wouldn't be acclimated to the amount that Draco spoke the word. He shouldn't have to be either, Atlas thought suddenly. He glared sharply at his cousin.
"That's enough, Draco."
"Atlas-"
"No, Draco. They way you use that word is ridiculous." Atlas looked to Draco, and motioned his eyes towards Harry.
It dawned on Draco, who grudgingly huffed out, "Sorry."
Crabbe and Goyle looked shocked at Draco's apology, but Atlas didn't care about them. He met Harry's eyes. He had visibly relaxed and smiled at Atlas and Draco.
The only time they spoke after that was to sort out changing into their school uniforms. Atlas had been happy enough to sit in silence and sink back into the welcoming pages of A Theoretical Guide to Beginning Transfiguration.
September 1st, 1991 [Hogsmeade Station, The Highlands of Scotland]
As they stopped off the train, Atlas heard a booming voice that made his heart drop, "Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Harry?"
Atlas quickly looked to Harry, who was smiling broadly and nodded vigorously at the humongous man. Atlas couldn't help but chuckle at Harry's excitement.
Hagrid smiled back at him.
"Er- Black?" Hagrid asked, awkwardly.
Atlas was beyond shocked. The man had actually civil acknowledged him. It was a complete shift from his action at Diagon Alley that he forgot to speak for a moment, until Harry bumped his shoulder, "Yes sir. And you?"
"Good enough." Hagrid boomed. "C'mon firs' years! Follow me!"
And follow they did… down a slippery, narrow path. The darkness on either side of them was chilling, and Atlas had even seen a boy a few paces in front of him visibly shake.
Draco had snorted behind him.
"Yeh'll get your firs' sight of Hogwarts in a moment!" Hagrid's voice came from the front.
Just as soon as he said it, the narrow path expanded onto the shore of a large black lake. Atlas' eyes skimmed over the entire lake, followed the path up a tall mountain, and then they finally landed on Hogwarts: a gorgeous castle that shined in the moonlight with high towers that seemed to touch the stars.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid's voice cut sharply through the tranquil moment.
Harry and Atlas climbed into a boat, but Draco waited behind for a moment to look over Crabbe and Goyle.
"What are you doing?" Harry asked.
"He's seeing which one he'd rather take with us on the boat." Atlas interjected with a laugh.
Draco turned back to glare at him, but was shocked to see a pale-haired girl climb into the boat with them. Making any decision he would have made moot. He quickly climbed into the boat with them, as to not be left with anyone else.
Crabbe and Goyle quickly shuffled into any open boat they could get to.
"Everyone in?" Shouted Hagrid. "Right then- FORWARD!"
The boats shifted suddenly and magically began rowing themselves towards Hogwarts Castle.
"Greengrass." Draco said, coldly.
"Malfoy." She nodded curtly, "Hello, Atlas."
Atlas turned back and smiled at her, "Daphne, how are you?"
"Just dandy."
"Always lovely to hear." Atlas smirked at her, which she returned with a blush.
They all stopped speaking for a moment until Atlas realized that she was gesturing towards Harry.
"Right, meet Harry Potter."
"Pleased to meet you, Heir Potter." Daphne said as Harry turned to face her.
"Harry's fine. Erm- nice to meet you too." He said, awkwardly, as he shook her hand.
She seemed disgruntled but Harry looked to not understand why she would be at all. Atlas laughed, lightly, at his uninformed friend.
"Forgive-" He started before he was cut off by Hagrid's booming voice.
"Heads down!"
They all snapped forward to see what they were supposed to be dodging, but were amused to see a high-rise curtain of ivy that no one except for an exceptionally large person would have to actively try to avoid. Of course, Rubeus Hagrid was one such person.
September 1st, 1991 [Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, The Highlands of Scotland]
They continued down a dark tunnel what seemed to be under the castle until they reached an underground harbor. It's beautiful too, Atlas thought as he looked around. He saw a big passageway that must've led into the main portion of the castle. However, he also saw other doors and passageways that he promptly decided he'd investigate.
All the first years stepped out onto the pebbled ground and followed Hagrid through the main passageway into the school. They walked up a flight of stone steps until they reached a gigantic, oak door.
Hagrid turned to face all of them and his voice rumbled out, "Everyone here?"
Atlas turned to look for Harry and Draco. He had been so mesmerized by the castle he had forgotten they were together. He laughed when he saw their expressions, which he assumed was the same as the one on his own face. They had forgotten, too.
Atlas turned around and watched as Hagrid knocked three times on the oak door, which swung open instantly.
Waiting for them was a tall, stern-looking witch in emerald robes with a very tight-looking bun.
"That bun has to give her headaches," Atlas whispered to Draco and Harry who both stifled their laughter.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall."
"Thank you, Hagrid." She nodded briskly at the man, before turning to face Atlas and the rest of the first years.
Her eyes swept over the lot of them before they settled on Harry and Atlas with a saddened expression before continuing her sweep. She gestured them to follow her as she opened the door further, allowing them to enter the castle.
The entrance hall was wondrous, and Atlas was once again entranced by Hogwarts' beauty. Atlas heard the buzzing of hundreds of voices of other students from a door to the right, but was surprised to see Professor McGonagall leading them into an empty chamber next to the hall.
Once she was sure that all the students had clambered in to the small chamber, Professor McGonagall began to speak, "Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses…"
McGonagall continued to speak but Atlas couldn't help but tune her out and began looking around at all the other first year students. He knew some of them from family parties, and could assume some of the others based on certain traits… He looked at the red-head with dirt on his nose. Weasley, Atlas thought with a smile.
He met eyes with Granger. She, understandably, glared at him.
After he looked them all over he turned to listen more intently to McGonagall. He needn't have tried, however, because she was just finishing her speech as he tried to refocus on her.
"-suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."
Atlas knew at once who she was speaking about, but was surprised to see Harry begin trying to flatten his hair down.
"I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly."
"What are you doing?" Atlas asked Harry, stunned.
"Obviously trying to fix his mop." Draco mocked.
This seemed to further entice Harry to licking and pushing his hair down more, not that it was working.
"Stop." Atlas laughed with Draco.
"You heard her, I need to smarten up." Harry said.
Atlas put a hand on his friend's shoulder, "Harry nothing you do now is going to help with that."
"Plus, the windswept look is nice." Draco added, kindly for once.
Harry smiled at the both, "Draco, I didn't know you cared."
Draco glared but the three of them jumped as yelps, hollers, and screams came from all around them.
Atlas looked all around to try and find the source of the commotion until his eyes fell on over twenty ghosts that were continuing to pour our from a wall near them.
Harry gasped next to him.
"What? No one told you about ghosts?" Draco mocked.
"Actually, no. No one told me that ghosts are real."
Draco looked abashed, but not for too long.
A fat little ghost seemed to be talking to a few students further down from them, but was interrupted by Professor McGonagall's stern voice, "Move along. The Sorting Ceremony is about to start."
This was the moment that he had been waiting for years. The day he would be sorted and find another family to add to his own. He was excited no matter where he would end up, and even Draco would be able to know that was the truth.
"Now form a line and follow me." McGonagall ordered and they all obliged.
They all quickly fell in line, Harry and Draco both behind him and red-head witch in front of him. They walked out of the chamber and into the Great Hall.
Atlas was once again awestruck. The castle continued to amaze him no matter where he went, and he had only been to a few places. He looked across the seeing green, yellow, red, and blue being littered and divided between four long tables. At the end of the hall, Atlas saw another long table where all the staff was sitting. His eyes swept across them, trying to process all of them as fast as he could. His eyes froze on the center, however.
Albus Dumbledore, Atlas thought respectfully.
Atlas shook himself from his own daze and continued looking around the Great Hall.
From in front of him he heard Hermione Granger whisper, "It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History."
Atlas' head immediately snapped upwards, and was amazed by the beauty of the night's sky. Stars scattered across the dark expanse, and he was entranced.
Harry nudged him forward, and he realized he had stopped walked to peer up at the ceiling. They quickly caught up to the rest of the students and saw McGonagall place a four-legged stool with an old, tattered, pointed wizard's hat atop it.
Atlas stared intently at the hat and after a few seconds it ripped near the brim and began to sing.
Atlas couldn't even focus on the song, because he was so caught up on the how's of the hat: How did it work? How was it created? How much magic was required to sustain it? How would it sort them?
He clapped along with the rest of the hall as the hat finished it song, but he hadn't truly heard any of it.
Professor McGonagall stepped forward again, began unrolling large scroll, and started to speak, "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted… Abbott, Hannah!"
Atlas watched fascinated and excited because he would be going soon.
The hat yelled out, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Atlas smiled brightly and clapped along with the rest of the hall. Harry nudged him and pointed to the fat ghost from earlier waving excitedly at Hannah.
McGonagall's voice quivered for a moment, before she steeled herself, "Black, Atlas!"
As Atlas confidently swept towards the stool he heard whispers come from all around the hall.
"Black? As in Sirius Black?"
"Bet he's just like his father!"
"I saw him with Malfoy."
His confident stride was broken and he faltered as he approached McGonagall. She gave him a tight smile and he looked over the rest of the staff quickly, his eyes once again fell on Professor Dumbledore.
Dumbledore nodded to him, sadly, but gave him an encouraging smile.
It was all he needed to gain his confidence back and he promptly sat on the old stool and allowed Professor McGonagall to place the hat on his head.
'I have to say, this is a very easy choice for me…' Atlas heard a small voice in his ears. 'A mind as sharp as yours with a thirst for knowledge. Yes, it is very clear…'
"R-"
'Wait!' Atlas quickly thought. 'Can I ask you some questions?'
'I've never been so rudely interrupted while I was sorting someone.'
'Erm- sorry. I just wanted to know how you were created and how you work.' He quickly added, 'Please.'
'Ahh, the very reason you belong where I shall place you.' The voice began again. 'I was created by the four founders to sort their students in an objective way.'
'How'd they do that though?'
'They each imparted a piece of themselves into me so that I could sort students according to their beliefs.' The hat surmised.
Atlas thought for a second, 'So, you're a culmination of each of the founders?'
'Not entirely. They imparted only their desire in a student, not their true essence.'
Atlas rubbed his jaw, 'And how do you read minds?'
'Salazar Slytherin was particularly accomplished in mind magic.'
'Hmm.' Atlas said, deep in thought. 'Thank you.'
'Is that all?' Atlas mentally nodded, 'Definitely must be…'
"RAVENCLAW!"
Atlas heard the final word being shout from the Sorting Hat around the hall. He smiled, of course he was a Ravenclaw. He knew he would be.
McGonagall took the hat from his head and gave him another smile. Atlas looked behind him and found Dumbledore's kind smile. He turned and looked for Draco and Harry who he found clapping and hollering from their places in line.
He realized that the clapping wasn't as loud as the other people's, but that didn't matter to him. Not very much, anyways. He was the first Ravenclaw to be sorted. He looked at the Ravenclaw table and saw that they were all politely clapping for him. Perhaps, they wouldn't hate him because of his father. He walked to the table with a smile.
As he went to sit down near people, most of them unthinkingly flinched away from him. He looked down, embarrassed, and moved to sit by himself. He looked around the table and found everyone either looking at him skeptically, or focusing solely on the sorting.
Atlas decided to retreat into his own mind, thinking back over the conversation with the Sorting Hat. His thoughts were cut short by a body flopping down next to him.
"Terry Boot." The body said, holding his hand out to Atlas.
"Atlas Black." Atlas shook his hand.
Terry gave Atlas a broad smile, and instantly began talking his ear off, "So, why'd the Hat stutter on your house? Why'd the Hat take so much time on you? How come you're sitting by yourself? Why are people whispering about you?"
Terry suddenly stopped as if he expected Atlas to answer all of his questions.
"I convinced the Hat to wait to sort me so I could talk to it about how it was created and how it works."
"What'd it say?" An older Ravenclaw leaned in to ask.
"The four founders magicked pieces of their essence that would sort the students using mind reading abilities that Slytherin had."
A few more Ravenclaws leaned over to listen after he said that, but he continued, "Apparently, the Sorting Hat is a culmination of all the founders combined."
"Hmm, interesting."
"Malfoy, Draco!"
Atlas' head snapped towards the center of the hall and watched as his cousin walked proudly to the stool and was almost immediately sorted into Slytherin. Atlas chuckled at that.
Soon after it was "Potter, Harry!" who McGonagall called out and as Atlas expected the whispers about Harry were astronomically higher than the ones about him.
"The Harry Potter?"
"Potter? No way!"
Atlas watched as Harry walked, self-consciously, toward the stool and the hat was placed on his head to sort him.
He knew it wasn't likely that Harry would be sorted into Ravenclaw, but Atlas still had hope that maybe, maybe, Harry would be sorted into the same house as him. As time continued to press on and Harry still hadn't been sorted, Atlas' hope grew.
Until finally, the Sorting Hat yelled out, "SLYTHERIN!"
Groans rang out from across the hall but the loudest cheer yet came from the Slytherin Table. People were standing and shouting, while the other house tables, including Ravenclaw, had slowly began to politely clap for Harry.
Atlas smirked and began looking around the Great Hall again, not caring for the conversation going on around him.
"You never answered my last two questions: why were you sitting by yourself and why were people whispering about you?" Terry asked.
"My father killed thirteen people, and is the reason that countless are dead." Atlas spoke softly.
"Oh."
"Yes, oh." Atlas smiled, grimly.
"Welcome to Hogwarts!" Atlas hadn't noticed, but Dumbledore had gotten to his feet was addressing the school from behind a golden owl podium. "I have a few start-of-term notices before we can truly begin our Welcoming Feast!
"First years should not that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well. I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all the two magic should be used between classes in the corridors.
"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch."
Atlas looked over and found Draco sulking at Dumbledore's latest statement and laughed to himself.
"I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
Atlas' eyebrows shot up and his neck snapped to looked at Harry and Draco, who were both looking at him with similar expressions.
"Finally, my closing remarks: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!" Dumbledore exclaimed happily as the the food appeared in front of them.
What could be so dangerous that it warranted a warning of that caliber? And what was it doing in a school? What did those last words even mean? He had no idea, but Atlas was sure that Hogwarts was never going to be uneventful.
There it is: chapter three of A Journey Into Eternity! Thanks for reading! Don't forget to favorite/follow/review!
Fire of the Cosmos