All The Stars In The Sky
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. All recognisable characters, content, or locations belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Summary: In which our hero, Hydrus, is the son of Ursa Black and her husband, James Potter. AU. fem!Sirius.
Rating: T for mild violence and character death.
Author: tlyxor1.
Chapter One: The Hogwarts Express
At 11 years old, Hydrus Potter thought he knew a lot about himself. He was the heir apparent of two Ancient and Noble Houses, he was the son of heroes, and he was the accursed 'Boy Who Lived'. He was smart, with a mind for numbers, an increasingly extraordinary skill for Transfiguration, and an interest in magical duels and combat. He liked to fly, he thought politics was entirely uninteresting, and he thought Draco Malfoy was the most annoying prat he'd ever had the misfortune of meeting.
He was also about to begin his formal education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was something Hydrus had anticipated for as long as he could remember. The day itself, however, had fallen short of his imaginings.
With an inaudible sigh, Hydrus settled himself in an empty compartment on the Hogwarts Express, deposited his satchel on the seat beside him, and cast his gaze out of his compartment's window. Beyond it, platform 9 and 3/4 was alive with the din of students, parents, and animal companions. He should have been out there, suffering his Great Aunt Lucretia's tender mercies, but the woman hadn't been able to linger, and given the circumstances he was unwillingly leaving behind, Hydrus hadn't wanted her to.
At 90, Lord Arcturus Black was dying. No one had said it out loud, and Hydrus seriously doubted that anyone was prepared to accept it. The reality was unavoidable, however, and Hydrus was scared. He tried, and failed, not to dwell on it.
In any case, Lucretia Prewett had taken up the task of taking care of her father on his sickbed, and HYdrus was loathe to keep her from his bedside. Thus, he'd insisted she return to the Black manor, and meanwhile, Hydrus had boarded the train alone.
The boy wasn't a stranger to death and it's impact on loved ones, but the truth hurt. Arcturus Black had taken Hydrus in after the murder of his parents, James and Ursa Potter, had raised, loved, and taught him, and HYdrus wasn't ready to let him go.
Hydrus didn't have long to brood over the matter, however, because a number of familiar faces had appeared in the doorway, and they served as a remarkable distraction. Theo Nott, accompanied by Daphne Greengrass and Lisa Turpin, Susan Bones, Ernie McMillan, and Neville Longbottom. He'd met them all over the course of his childhood spent at Lord Arcturus Black's side, they'd become friends in that time, and despite his mood, he was pleased to see them.
"Hydrus," Susan greeted, "How are you?"
"I've been better, Sue," he answered, and offered them a weary smile. "Come in, make yourselves comfortable. How are all of you? I'm sorry I missed your end of summer soiree, Lisa."
"That's not a problem, Hydrus," Lisa answered, primly settling herself on the bench seat by the window, "We all understand. How is Lord Black?"
"Not much better," Hydrus answered, tone grim, "Healer Winthrop doesn't think he'll see the new year."
"I'm sorry," Susan's voice was earnest, "Is there anything we can do to help?"
Hydrus shook his head, no, and entreated, "Can we talk about something else?"
"Of course," Susan acquiesced, and then proceeded to ramble about their impending arrival at Hogwarts, the subjects they would study there, and of course, the mysterious sorting ceremony.
The topic, inevitably, led to the subject of houses, and thoughts were varied. Theo and Daphne were confident they'd wind up in Slytherin, as Susan and Ernie were certain they'd be Hufflepuffs. Lisa was of the opinion she'd wind up either in Ravenclaw or Slytherin, and Neville was quietly terrified that he'd not be sorted at all.
"I'm not brave, or clever, or ambitious, and I don't think I'm very hard working, either."
"That's just a load of dung," Ernie answered, "Your family's greenhouses are thriving because of you. If that doesn't take hard work, then I'm not a wizard."
"I've heard that you've already signed a few business deals with a number of privately owned apothecaries, too," Daphne opined, "I think that takes a great deal of cleverness and ambition."
"And I bet it took a lot of courage to make those deals," Hydrus offered, "You were scared, weren't you?" Neville, bright red, nodded, and Hydrus smiled. "But you did it anyway. That's bravery, Nev."
"You'll be a credit to whatever house you're sorted into," Susan concluded. She nudged him, a gentle smile on her face, "And I think that, no matter what, your Mum and Dad would be proud of you."
"You think so?"
"Without a doubt," Susan confirmed.
Neville smiled, and his nerves abated. It wasn't an instant fix, and Hydrus was sure a part of his friend still doubted himself, but it was progress. He chose to focus on that, as opposed to the reason why his friend was so insecure, because otherwise, he was liable to hurt someone.
Algae Longbottom, specifically.
"What about you, Hydrus?" Theo enquired, "Where do you suppose you'll be sorted?"
"Haven't the foggiest," Hydrus answered lightly. He'd been as nervous as Neville at one point, but then he'd realised there were more important things than houses - like family, and dying - and he'd been rather apathetic ever since. "Born to Gryffindors, raised by a Slytherin, related to a number of Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. I don't really care, to be honest."
"I think most people expect you'll be in Gryffindor," Theo observed, "But I don't think so."
"I think most people also believe my name is 'Harry'," Hydrus answered sardonically, and Theo's lips tilted into a smile.
"Naturally," he agreed. "I'm sure you'll surprise them all. In more ways than one."
"I agree with Theo," Lisa contributed, "But on the topic of houses, I think 'clever' is such a misrepresentation of Ravenclaw. The older books, from before Grindelwald, put more of a focus on creativity and innovation, instead of just intelligence and the pursuit of knowledge."
Daphne studied her fingernails. "You've been speaking with your grandmother again, haven't you? No one our age uses the words 'misrepresentation' or 'pursuit', Lisa."
"Whatever," she answered, waved a flippant hand in Daphne's direction, and determined, "I'm going to make sure Ravenclaw becomes more than just nerds and bookworms."
"Not even sorted yet and already making plans," hydrus teased, "Are you certain you'll even wind up in Ravenclaw? What if you become a Slytherin, with all that ambition."
Lisa smiled, and the expression was all teeth and unabashed confidence. "Then I'll whip them into shape, too."
Hydrus chuckled along with the others, though he had no doubts that Lisa would succeed in her self-appointed task. They had several more hours until the Sorting Ceremony, however, and he didn't want to spend the time wondering which house was about to receive the Lisa Turpin treatment. Instead, he wrangled the boys into a discussion regarding the British and Irish quidditch league, and meanwhile, Daphne, Lisa, and Susan withdrew their textbooks to exchange observations, thoughts, and ideas. It quickly captured the boys' attention, too.
"The Potions textbook is a joke," Daphne informed them, "It's no wonder OWL and NEWT Potions scores have been deteriorating over the years. The book hasn't been updated in decades, and besides that, it offers no introduction to the subject at all. I've half a mind to complain, but I'd bet loads of other people already have, and it's clearly done nothing. I don't know what Dumbledore's doing, but you'd think he could control his pet Death Eater better."
"Maybe he's a better teacher?" Susan offered optimistically.
Theo snorted. "Not ruddy likely. Severus Snape is a git, who happens to hate children, and I can't be the only one whose heard the rumours out of Hogwarts over the years."
Ernie nodded his agreement. "My sister says he's horribly biased towards Slytherin, and that he doesn't teach at all. Apparently, he just puts the instructions on the board, expects the students to brew a perfect potion, and then completely tears them down when they don't. It's entirely unprofessional, and if my sister is right, it's a wonder why he's allowed near children at all."
"Because Dumbledore can do no wrong," Daphne answered bitterly, and Theo nodded his agreement. Concerning the headmaster, Hydrus himself didn't have an opinion either way, though it was somewhat discomforting to realise how much political power Dumbledore held. The Chief Warlock and the Supreme Mugwump were more than simply ceremonial titles, after all, but as the train continued on it's tracks, Hydrus tried not to concern himself with things he couldn't yet change.
"What about the others?" Susan wasn't particularly tactful in her approach, but it got Daphne and Theo's minds off Dumbledore and Snape, and Hydrus' shoulders eased. Daphne was frightening in a temper, and Theo wasn't much better, and Hydrus would sooner postpone those outbursts, or at the very least, reserve them for Draco. Merlin knew someone needed to pull the obnoxious prat down a few pegs.
"History of Magic is a flop," Lisa replied, "Though that's no surprise."
"Of course," Hydrus agreed, "Binns' will have been dead for a century by now. Have you heard anything about this year's Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor?"
As Hydrus raised the question, the compartment door slid open. The boy in the doorway, thin and blonde, with a pale face and a pinched expression, was unmistakably Hydrus' cousin, Draco, and the former grimaced upon sight of him. They didn't get along - at all - and he wasn't pleased by the other boy's presence.
"I do," Draco said, a satisfied smirk on his face.
"Maybe that would mean something to us if we weren't about to find out for ourselves," Theo answered, unimpressed. "Work on your tact, Draco. That way, you might actually pass yourself off as a decent Slytherin. Merlin knows you'd be an embarrassment to the house, otherwise."
Author's Note: I decided I didn't like this one. It was just too convenient that Hydrus (Harry) was already friends with such important people, blah blah blah. Maybe I'll come back to it - I was quite fond of the Hydrus Potter plot…