01st September 1971
Rachele was once again on the arm of Sirius. This time they were waiting in the hallway of Grimmauld place for Walburga to put her traveling cloak on so they could depart for Kings cross station. Today was the day Sirius and herself would start their first year at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry.
She and Sirius had decided not to tell anyone at Hogwarts of the contract. Contracts at such a young age were odd, by pureblood standards, by muggle standards they were downright archaic. They both wanted to make friends outside of their family, Rachele hoped that this would help Sirius make the friends he so desperately wanted.
She had said her goodbyes to her extended family the night before at dinner. Then to her papa, mamma and Leone this morning. Leone had put all his first- and second year Drumstrang books into her trunk, as an early birthday present. She couldn't wait to read some of them on the train. Her mamma had gifted her a pair of ornate steel daggers and two new leather thigh holsters for them. Sirius had given her another piece of betrothal jewellery; the necklace that was part of the set her bracelet belonged to. She had never taken the bracelet off. Occasionally she would have an adult glamour it if she didn't want to bring it to attention. This was mainly when she was going to be surrounded by muggles she didn't know.
Regulus was stood with them talking quietly to Sirius. Sirius had told her that Reggie did not want him to leave. He was sacred to be left alone for 2 years with their mother. Rachele wanted to give the pair as much privacy as she could. Sirius hugged his brother and whispered in his ear. With that regulus left the two alone in the hallway, heading upstairs to the peace of his bedroom.
Walburga entered the hallway and the pair donned their public masks. "You WILL act the proper heir of the Most Ancient and Most Noble house of Black, you will not socialise with mudbloods and blood traitors and you most certainly will not disgrace the house of black". AS she continued to lecture the pair, Rachele wonder how anyone could live with the wailing banshee that was going to be her mother in law. She also wondered how far some of her cousins would go if Walburga referred to them as mudbloods or vermin as she was prone to calling muggles these days 'I wonder if they'd put a hit out on her, or simply just off her where she stood. Worth a looking' she daydreamed idly.
"Well?" Walburga demanded as neither had answered. Rachele realised that Sirius probably could not manage a response that wouldn't be classed as cheeky, so she gripped his arm tightly. As warning not to speak and replied "we will honour our house mother. Toujour Pur". Walburga smile adoringly at her which Rachele thought made her look mentally deranged "and keep my son out of trouble.".
Orion entered the hallway, likely because his wife had stopped screeching thought the pair. "Are we ready to leave?" he asked looking at the children's trunks.
"Yes Father" replied Sirius. He was as eager to get to Hogwarts and away from Grimmauld as she was. There was only so much Walburga anyone could take. She was best in 30 second doses years apart concluded Rachele.
-/-
They apparated directly into platform 9 ¾ she could feel Sirius's excitement at being away from his family for a whole year radiate out of him. She too was eager to get on the train.
"thank you for dropping us off mother father" Rachele opened, eager to get this over with as little fuss as possible and go onto the train.
"it was our pleasure daughter" replied Walburga in a surprisingly pleasant tone.
"do us proud" added Orion.
With the goodbyes said to the Blacks, Sirius dragged their trunks onto the train and the pair found a compartment. When they sat, they looked at each other relief clear on their faces and burst out laughing. Finally, they were free of their parents, more specifically, they were free of the Blacks.
Rachele got a couple of books out of her trunk to read on the journey, and Sirius got out his exploding snap and wizards' chess.
"do you think we will make friends?" Sirius asked her.
"of course, we will" she replied, "there will be many different people at Hogwarts, all of them looking for a friend."
"What if they don't like us because I am a Black?" he asked unsure.
"then they are not worth befriending." She replied confidently.
There was a knock at the door a Lanky boy with sandy hair stood at the compartment door "Erm, hello, can I come in and sit with you for the ride?"
"Sure mate!" Sirius held his hand out to shake. "My name is Sirius, and this is Rachele. We are both first years" he told the shy boy as they shook hands. Rachele stood to shake his hand after. "it's nice to meet you" she told him
"L-Likewise, my name is R-Remus" the boy, Remus, responded. He sat down opposite Rachele and Sirius as another boy entered before Sirius could ask Remus if he wanted to play.
This boy was average hight and build with messy black hair and big round glasses "'Ello do you mind if I sit with you? All the other compartments of first years are full." Sirius stood again to shake the new boy's hand and she mirrored his actions.
"Hello, my names Sirius and this is Rachele. It's nice to meet you" he told the messy haired boy.
"Are you a Black?" the new boy asked.
Sirius tensed "Yes, is that a problem?" Rachele fingered her wand in the pocket of her dress. Although she wouldn't tell him, she was worried they wouldn't like him because he was a Black.
"Do you buying to the anti-muggle stuff?" the new boy asked suspiciously and Sirius visibly relaxed.
"No, it's a load of hippogriff dung" Sirius responded significantly more relaxed, a grin forming on his face. His grin was mirrored I the new boy.
"My name is James Potter. Let's be friends" He told Sirius as they finally shook hands. Instead of shaking Rachele's hand he kissed the air above it. 'He was a pure blood then, if he used manners like those. I would hazard a guess that Remus was a half-blood' she thought.
"do you want to play a game of exploding snap?" Sirius asked the two boys who both agreed, as James sat next to Remus the train whistled, and the four children watched out the window as the Hogwarts Express pulled out of the station.
The boys began their game of exploding snap and Rachele settled into her book, wondering if her tutoring would help her prepare for her next 7 years in Hogwarts.
