This story starts in a small village in England. In an orphanage, to be more specific. In the year of 1971, Lucien Michaels found himself sitting across from an older woman, claiming herself to be a witch, and him, a wizard. Lucien already knew that he was a wizard, his mother had told him so herself, before she died. She was also the reason he knew that the magical side of life must be kept secret from what she called 'muggles'. However, his mother never told him much about the outside world before she died, and the fact that there is a secret school for witches and wizards to learn magic, was truly a shock to him. So was the fact that this woman was, in fact, here to invite Lucien to attend this school.
Lucien couldn't help but feel excited at the prospect of attending such a school. Curious, he ran a hand through his black hair and asked one of the first questions that came to mind, "Er, how did you know that I was a wizard, Miss?"
"Mr Michaels," The woman started, "Hogwarts has a list containing the names of all the magical children born in Britain." Before Lucien could further question the witch, who's name he learned to be Professor Minerva Mcgonagall, she started to speak once again, "Once a magical child reaches the age of 11, they are invited to attend Hogwarts." Lucien's deep blue eyes flashed with worry as he realised the witch may know more about him than he thought. "As is the procedure with orphaned students," he couldn't help but flinch as she said that, though if she noticed, she never pointed it out, "Hogwarts will be paying for your supplies, and I will be returning in a few days in order to take you to Diagon Alley to collect said supplies," she supplied succinctly.
Lucien's excitement and curiosity continued to increase the more he heard about Hogwarts. An ancient magical castle, where he can learn magic, it sounded, well, magical. He couldn't wait to find out which house he would be entering, honestly, he was hoping for Gryffindor. It sounded like a fun place to be, based on what he heard from Professor Mcgonagall.
Though, if he weren't so caught up in his imagination, he wouldn't have missed Professor Mcgonagall's strange expression when talking about Slytherin, nor her sharp look, as if she were searching his face for a reaction. Seeing nothing, she decided to leave after answering a few more question about the school and informing Lucien that she would be returning 2 days later in order to take him to Diagon Alley.
Looking down at the letter in his hands, after seeing her to the door, and bidding her goodnight(Like Madam Misten had taught him), he couldn't help but feel excited about what was to come. Caught up in imagining himself having adventures, meeting new friends, and casting awesome and powerful spells, the night passed him by without his notice. And so, dressed in his pyjamas(blue with trains on them), Lucien, stumbling now and again, headed downstairs for breakfast.
"Couldn't sleep, huh, Luce," one of the older kids at the orphanage, Marcus, commented, after Lucien nearly faceplanted into his bowl of cereal. The snickers from the other kids, as well as the chuckle in Mark's voice as he spoke, caused blood to rush to his cheeks.
"Leave him alone," one of the oldest girls, Kaitlin, defended, though she had to fight her giggles whilst doing so." He's just excited about that new school he's going to. Speaking of, what's the name of this school ?"
"Um, it-it's, Scamander's private boarding school, I think," Lucien stammered out the name Professor Mcgonagall told him to give to 'muggles' in reply. He couldn't exactly tell them it was a school for magic, no matter how much he wanted to.
"I still cannot believe little Lucien got a scholarship to such an amazing school," announced Madam Misten, the caretaker of the orphanage, as she entered the room. She was like a mother to everyone in the orphanage: incredibly kind, warm looks, Forgiving but stern, she was a nice change for Lucien considering his original parents." But I can't remember you applying for it," she murmured, but was thankfully unheard over the voices of everyone talking.
'I'm so excited. I can't wait to start learning magic. Hopefully i'll be able to make some friends while i'm there aswell.' Lucien was currently walking around outside, hoping to burn off energy so he could sleep tonight. All his thoughts ended up going back to tomorrow and visiting Diagon Alley with Professor Mcgonagall. As Lucien walked past the local park, he over-heard the sounds of fighting and shouting. After he recognised one of the voices as that of Markus' - one of his friends from the orphanage who was about 2 years older than him and often got picked on for being smaller than most his age, as well as his heterochromia(left eye blue, right eye brown) - he rushed over.
"This is what you get, freak!" Lucien overheard one of the kids saying, before pushing Mark onto the ground.
They turned around, probably hearing his footsteps since he was running at them. Before they knew it, Lucien had swung his right arm back and hit the kid who pushed Mark to the ground, right on the nose. Hearing a sickening crack and seeing the blood pouring out of the gaps between his fingers as he held his face, shouting about how Lucien "broke his nose," he couldn't help but feel a little proud of himself.
Now, if he were a little wiser, he would have paid attention to the other 2 kids, but Lucien had forgetten about them. Well, at least until they started wailling on him. Fists and shoes filled his vision as he did his best to fight back and defend himself. Thankfully , Lucien was always stronger than others his age, and so was able to hold his own against the older kids.
After what felt like hours, but was probably only a few minutes, the sounds of police shouting broke up the fighting, causing evryone to scatter in different directions. Thankfully, Mark was okay enough to quickly limp away, with some assistance.
And that's how they were when they got back to the orphanage, holding eachother up as they limped into the infirmary(Madam Misten's office). Sitting the both of them down on the old sete by the wall, she asked about what happened, and after hearing from the both of them, headed out to grab the medicine box.
"Thanks," Mark murmured. Even though he was older, he was still awfully shy. "You didn't have to help me back there."
"Of course I did, we're friends," Lucien told him with a smile, which would've looked better if his lip wasn't split and bleeding. Mark's only reply was a wry smile and nod of the head. Before anything else could be said, Madam Misten returned with the medicine box.
"You can go and get some rest some, Mark," Madam Misten told him. Before he could argue about staying here, she shot him a stern look, causing his mouth to snap shut before he rushed out, mumbling out a faint "goodnight."
Clearly Lucien's innocent look didn't work, probably due to the cuts and bruises on littering his face, since she told him to "sit still and be quiet," while she cleaned his wounds.
"Ouch," Lucien cried out as she applied the rubbing alchohol to the cut on his lower lip. She had mostly finished cleaning the wounds by now, and this was the last one.
"Seriously Luce, you need to stop getting into fights," she reprimanded. Before he could argue his case, she continued in a soft, motherly voice, that everyone here had come to love(since, for most of us, it was the voice she used when reading bedtime stories, or singing songs to help you sleep after waking up from a nightmare), "I know you were just helping Mark, and I love you for it. But, you're going to be starting a new school, and you have to be careful. Promise me you'll be safe?" Seeing his averted eyes, she asked again, a bert more sternly, "Please, promise me you'll atleast try to stay safe."
"Okay," Lucien finally agreed, seeing as it was very difficult to say no to Madam Misten. "I promise I will try to be safe."
sigh," I suppose that's the best I'm going to get."
A smile was the only response he gave.
After finishing with his wounds, she sent him to the bathroom to have a shower and change before bed.
Standing outside the orphanage, dressed in a black shirt and blue trousers, Lucien's nervousness could be quite obviously seen from his constantly tapping foot.
Hearing a popping sound from behind him, Lucien turned around, only to see the person he was waiting for, Professor Minerva Mcgonagall, standing there.
"Good morning, Mr Michaels," She said, as if she hadn't just appeared out of nowhere.
"Wha-, I-, How?" Lucien stammered out in reply.
"It is called apparition, Mr Michaels. It is a form of travel for witches and wizards," she explained slowly.
"Like teleporting," he guessed excitedly.
sigh*"I suppose it is similar."
"Cool," he absently murmured, stars twinkling in his eyes."Can you teach me?"
"Apparition is taught as an extra-curricular during sixth-year, and cannot be used untill you pass the exam after turning 17," she expained. "Now, enough questions. It is time to head to Diagon Alley." Reaching out her arm, she instructed,"Grab on to my arm, tight."
Doing as told, Lucien held on tightly, when he suddenly felt the distinct feeling of being twisted and forced through a small rubber tube.
Landing on some street, he didn't have time to look around when he felt like he was about to throw up and collapsed on the ground.
Managing to keep it down, he stood up and finally looked at where they landed.
"Come along now, Mr Michaels," Professor Mcgonagall instucted, before she headed into a building with a sign reading, "The Leaky Cauldron."
Heading inside, Lucien followed her past the rowdy crowd of occupants, seemingly not affected by the strong smell of alchohol, and guided him through a back door.
"I think we've reached a dead end, Prof-" Lucien cut himself off when he saw the sturdy brick wall in front of him start to come apart, brick by brick, creating a doorway of sorts.
Stepping through, Lucien's nose was immediately assaulted by a variety of smells that he couldn't place.
Looking around, Lucien was met with an indescribable sight. Lots of people, dressed in strange robes that made him seem out of place, were all over the place. Shops selling potions, materials, brooms(I thought witches flying on brooms was a myth), and a variety of other assorted items.
"Keep up, Mr Michaels, we have a schedule to keep," the professor instructed sternly, though, for a second, Lucien could've sworn he saw a smile on her face at his awestruck expression."
True to her word, Professor Mcgonagall followed her schedule and brought him in and out of different shops; Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, to get his school uniform; she led him away from a shop named Zonko's, which he marked to visit at some point(it was a joke shop, how could he not go there).
One of his favourite shops was one called Flourish and Blotts, a book store. He wasn't a nerd, but he did love books(okay, maybe he was a little nerd), and he wanted to read all about the wizarding world and magic. He vowed to come back when he earned some money, but for now he would just stare longingly at the old book shop. Something Professor Mcgonagall didn't miss, like he did the small smile on her face.
"That is almost everything, Mr Michaels," She informed him. His excited smile showed that he knew where they would be going next. "I believe our last stop is right over there."
Spinning around, Lucien speedily walked over to ashop with a single wand in the window, placed on a cushion, which clearly stated what the shop's purpose was. On the sign, in peeling gold letters, were the words: Ollivanders, makers of fine wands since 382 B.C.
He was about to open the door, when coincidentily, it opened. The person seemed as shocked as he did, seeing as they stumbled and almost fell over.
Catching them in his arms, Lucien finally got a good look at them, or, more accurately, her. She had long red hair, which looked incredibly soft. She was short, only coming up to his shoulder, but was definitely his age based on her looks. Her eyes were a beautiful emerald green, and Lucien found himself staring into them deeply.
""Sorry,"" they both chorused at the same time.
Lucien set her upright, before he stuck out his hand and stated, "Hi, I'm Lucien Michaels."
"Iris," she supplied, "Iris Evans. Hi"
Lucien was about to continue talking, when another girl, who looked like she could be her sister, exited the shop.
"Iris, Who's this?" She asked.
"Lily, this is Lucien," she pointed at Lucien, before pointing at Lily, and continuing, "Lucien, this is Lily."
"Hi," Lucien greeted.
"Hey," was her reply. "So, how did you two meet?"
Before Iris could explain, Lucien 'helpfully' supllied, "Well, she fell for me at first sight," earning himself a smack on the arm from Iris, and a laugh from Lily.
"We bumped into eachother," Iris clarified.
"Are you starting Hogwarts this year, then?" Lily questioned.
"Yes. And I take it the two of you are aswell," he guessed, which was confirmed upon seeing them nod.
Before the conversation could continue, two more people, who loked to be Lily and Iris' parents, walked out through the door.
After greeting the two of them, and vice versa, the Evans' and Lucien went their seperate ways, with promises to meet again at Hogwarts.
Finally stepping through the door, after making sure no more red heads would be jumping out, Lucien saw the inside. The shop was tiny, empty except for a single, spindly chair in the corner. Hundreds, maybe thousands of narrow boxes were piled right up to the ceiling of the tiny shop, and the whole place had a thin layer of dust about it.
There, in the center of the shop, stood an old man with sharp eyes that seemed to peer into his soul. Breaking eye contact, Lucien gathered up his strength and stated, "I'm here to purchase a wand, sir?"
"Yes, I suppose it's time you do." Something about his tone seemed off to Lucien, but the old man walked to the back of the shop before he could think further.
When he returned, he was carrying three boxes. After placing them down, he took one of the wands out and handed it to him.
Seeing nothing about, he took the wand back, muttering something about sturdiness.
Before he grabbed the next wand, Lucien asked, "Aren't you supposed to take my measurements?"
The old man froze for a moment, before he opened the next box and grabbed the wand inside. "Normally, yes. But you're a, well, a special case," he answered.
"11 inches long, made of Holly, with a phoenix feather core," Mr Ollivander told him, before he handed over the wand, with narrowed eyes.
Almost instantly, the windows shattered and explosions scattered the shop. It was almost as if the wand was screaming that he wasn't the right person.
Ollivander immediately snatched it out of Lucien's hand, before waving his own wand and setting everything right.
"Curious," he muttered to himself, a sparkle in his eye. It was so nice when he had such an interesting customer.
Opening the last box, he explained, "10 inches long, Mahognay wood, with a uncorn hair core."
After he recieved the wand, Lucien felt complete. Like something was missing from his life, and he finally has it. Clearly, the wand agreed, if the golden fireworks it shot out were any indication.
"Pliable, loyal, great at charms, a most excellent wand indeed. One of my greatest works."
"And how much, Mr Ollivander?" Questioned Professor Mcgonagall from behind Lucien. In all the excitement, he had completely forgotten about her.
"5 Galleons, Professor Mcgonagall."
Professor Mcgonagall reached into her bag and retrieved five shiny gold coins, then handed them over to Mr Ollivander.
"Thank you, Mr Ollivander," Lucien offered with a wave on his way out.
"Take care, Mr Michaels."
Back on the streets of Diagon Alley, Lucien followed after Mcgonagall while thinking about his interactino with Ollivander. 'Take care, Mr Michaels,' he said. But Lucien couldn't remember telling him his name. Weird.
He was dragged out of his thoughts by an arm being shoved in his face. Looking around, he realized they were back on the street. He had zoned out while walking through Diagon Alley and The Leaky Cauldron.
Grabbing Mcgonagall's arm, he felt the familiar feeling of being pushed through a small tube, before hearing a pop.
Standing outside of the orphanage, Lucien made sure to bid Professor Mcgonagall goodbye before heading in. Since it was only about 4 o'clock, he spent his afternoon putitng away his purchases, and hiding his wand carefully.
Now, he only had to wait untill september, and it would be off to Hogwarts.