CHAPTER ONE
"Sil, how long until we get there?" Roman had a pad of paper out, drawing a not so realistic portrait of his sleeping cat that lay next to him.
"That's a good question bug, I'm not actually sure. Are you hungry?" I asked him. I wasn't sure if even he knew if he was hungry. Until someone else asked him, forcing him to think about it, of course. His little head had the biggest imagination. At times it was as if you had to bring him back down to Earth. Although our parents have said the same for me as well. Maybe it runs in the family.
He looked up, eyebrows pulled together. "Yeah I think I am. Do you think they have peanut butter crackers?" His eyes lit up.
"I was thinking of like, a sandwich," I laughed back. "But I will ask around. Keep an eye on Nocturn for me?"
He nodded up at me, as I stood with ease, used to the feeling of having to walk on a moving subway. I was not really sure which way to head first I realized, as I opened the cabin doors. The only person I knew who would be at this school was Roman- who was 11- and Uncle Gio, who had made the journey to the school weeks back to get acclimated. I decided I'd just start asking around as I headed further towards the back of the train, seeing as there was less ground to cover going this way.
I passed a few cabins as I walked. Wondering which one held the legendary Harry Potter. I had heard all about him of course, who hadn't? My family knew he went to this school as well, the same age as me, in his sixth year. But we lived a very, particular life back home, let's say, so Harry Potter being at this school had never meant much to us, even when Uncle Gio took the teaching position.
Still, I couldn't help but to be curious. I studied faces, deciding which door to open to ask.
Grabbing a compartment door, I slid it open, "Hi, I don't mean to interrupt, but I am looking for food for my little brother. Do you know where I can look to buy some?" Polite, straight to the point, do not leave without some kind of useful answer. Just like my father has always taught me.
"There's a trolley that comes by with sweets usually, or there are tables in the furthest back cabin," one of the boys smiled up at me from his seat. Not Harry Potter, but an answer to my snack issue.
"Thank you," I smiled back, making sure to direct it to the boy who had spoken to me, even though all three sets of eyes were studying me. Uncle Gio had said not too many students start this late at Hogwarts. I was a needle in a haystack. I wondered if there were any other American students on board.
After re-closing the door to their cabin, I continued on my journey towards the next compartment. Still no vending machine- wait did magic schools have those? Probably not. That is unfortunate, I could go for some skittles right now, too.
Hands on my hips and eyeing around unsuccessfully for food, I did catch a few eyes drift my way from cabins.
"- won't be catching me in charms class next year is all I have to say-"
"What's that supposed to mean-?"
Voices coming from the right of me, where a cabin was being slid open. I turned to look towards the voices, but instead was met with a tall boy standing in front of me.
"New?" A smirk played on his handsome face.
"No, been here for years, I was really starting to wonder when someone would notice." I mirrored his smirk, pushing my hair back.
"Ah, I'm sure I would have noticed someone like you," he answered, that smirk still playing on his lips.
"I'm sure I would have noticed you as well, and as much as I'd love to stay and hear some more lines you have surely used on every single girl, I have a hungry little brother in a cabin waiting for me." I smiled, keeping my tone light. Back in New York we like to refer to these kinds of guys as fuck boys. Or you know, maybe that was universal. A universal fuck boy.
A playful laugh left his lips before he outstretched his hand towards me. "Theodore. Call me Theo, though."
"Selena," I took his hand. "But isn't it weird that we introduce ourselves with a name we are virtually never called?"
"Virtually-never-Selena, what should I call you then?" He leaned into me slightly.
"Sil," I replied. "Now if you would be ever so kind to tell me where I can get something for my brother to eat?"
He leaned back, still holding my hand in the shake. "Why don't I take you over there right now?"
I followed him to the back of the cabin, where an older witch with a kind face sat with a trolley. She informed me that a lunch trolley would be around shortly, and offered some snacks that were popular while we waited. After fumbling with some U.S. dollars, I found the galleons my mom had ensured I took.
"You're American," Theo's eyebrows pulled up, it was more of a statement than it was a question.
"Very observant of you," I teased, looking up at him as I moved in front of him to take the lead.
"Not that I am not very happy you're here," he followed close behind me, "but why are you here?"
"Mommy and daddy decided it was time for me to get out and play," I turned, hoping if I flirted a bit, it'd be enough to leave my answer at that.
Theo leaned casually on a pole that looked like it was meant for balance, putting his hands in his pockets, "We'll see about that."
"That we will. And I," I turned around to continue walking, "will see you at school."
"That you will," I heard him say just as I pushed open the door to the other cabin.
Theo slid into the seat across from me, earning a grunt from Crabbe and Goyle who were forced to slide over to make room. Theo, with a stupid grin on his face.
"What do you want?" I scowled.
"Ah, you need to lighten up mate! Take in the sights." He kept that stupid grin plastered on his face.
"Don't push your luck Theo," Blaise remarked, sounding bored. "Did you need something?"
"I saw you walking out of a compartment with Slughorn, what was that about?" Theo asked Blaise.
"Not worth the time, " I said casually, answering for Zabini, not wanting to hear about the stupid lunch meeting again. I resumed the position I was in before, laying my head back into Pansy's lap. Pansy resumed running her fingers through my hair, and right before I began to close my eyes, I saw movement on the luggage rack above.
And a flash of something white.
Nightfall had come and encompassed the entire train before the whispers ran along the cabins that we were nearly at our destination. Roman had dozed off, as I lightly shook him awake to tell him we were almost there, he jumped up to look out the windows. And honestly, I squinted my eyes out the window too, excited to see what the castle looked like. I had heard so much about it from Uncle Gio and our mother, but they both said you have to experience it, to really experience it.
When the train finally stopped, kids started clambering out of the cabins, forming a long line to get off through the nearest door. I had Roman's hand in mine once again, gripping him tight in the darkness, as we followed a very large, very hairy man. He called out for first years, and while Roman was a first year no questions asked, I wondered if I should be following the students who looked more my own age instead of the 11 year olds.
I watched as everyone filed into boats- four students per boat- before Roman and I were at the head of the line.
"Excuse me? I don't mean to hold everyone up but my brother and I, we're new and-"
"Well of course yer are," The large man greeted us with a wide, warm smile. "Don't you worry, stay with yer brother. I am 'spose to bring you ter Professor Mcgonagall."
I thanked him and led Roman into a boat, where we sat close to each other, taking in as much as we could in the darkness. The castle was lit, and even in the nighttime, it was breathtaking.
Once we were at the school, we were checked in by name, and then every student was searched. Our person, and our luggage, which I guess made sense considering the circumstances. I kept Roman close, as we followed the large man and the rest of the first years. Inside there was even more to take in, as we walked along a long hall, finally stopping before a very large door. I watched the large man speak to an older witch who was waiting by the door. They looked in my direction, and he waved me over to them.
"Selena Serpico?" The witch asked over rectangle glasses.
"Yes, and that is my little brother Roman," I replied, pointing over to where my little brother still stood.
"Since he is a first year dear we're going to have him join the other first years in a sorting ceremony," She gestured to the door behind her. "I felt for you it may be more appropriate to sort you beforehand, as you may not want to with the rest of the first years in front of your six year classmates."
I gave her a thankful smile, envisioning myself with all the 11 and 12 year olds, towering over them all.
With that, I followed her to the side, where she had a stool waiting. She picked up the sorting hat, which my uncle and mom told us about, to let me take the seat. I did as such, and let her place the hat on my head.
"Ahh" I could hear the low mumble of the hat. "Much to sort through for the sorting hat."
I sat as still as I could, and chewed my lip. I had been nervous about this part, hoping my brother and I would get the same house. Both my uncle and mother had been in Ravenclaw while they were here, but I honestly didn't care which house I was placed in as long as it was the same as Roman.
"A bright mind, a strong one. Colorful. I see…"
"Could be Ravenclaw. No, no. Better if… yes…"
"Slytherin!" The hat called out.
Slytherin, I almost wanted to laugh. The house with the serpent on the crest. I wondered if the hat was biased because of my last name.
The witch, who I learned was Professor Mcgonagall, smiled and walked me back over to the large man, who I gathered was named Hagrid. He was instructed to see me into the great hall.
I followed behind him, having to walk a bit fast to match his very large strides, and we slipped into the great hall through the door that now separated my brother and I.
Hagrid shook my hand, and I thanked him for all his help before he pointed out which table was the one meant for my new house. I walked along the table, many people were chatting, laughing, catching up with the friends they have gone to school with for years and years now.
I could also feel many eyes on me, including Theo from the train. I made eye contact only very briefly though, shifting my eyes back forward and high, like my dad taught me, as I found a spot towards the front end of the table. Not long after, the first years were brought in through those big doors, and to a stool at the front of the four long tables.
I then determined that the hat was in fact biased of our last name, because my sharp, imaginative little brother who I thought belonged in Ravenclaw was also placed into Slytherin. The table clapped for the new member of their house, and he slid onto the bench next to me. We listened to the rest of the sorting ceremony, followed by a pretty grim speech given by the headmaster, and then food appeared on platters along the table.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't virtually-never-Selena," I heard a sly voice behind me. "Looks like you did come to play."
"Theodore," I turned to meet his eyes, "this is my little brother Roman." I ran my hand through Roman's hair, who was busy nibbling off his fork.
"Hi Roman," Theo knelt down to match Roman's eye level.
"No one ever calls her Selena," Roman replied quizicaly, his eyebrows pulled together.
Theo grinned at Roman. "Do you like quidditch bud?"
I let him make conversation with my brother, and looked along the table of teachers before making eye contact with Uncle Gio. He smiled with a wink, and raised his glass towards me. I smiled back and lifted the goblet in return. Professor Mcgonagall had told me that she and I would meet the next morning to go over a schedule. I decided after that I could stop in to say hi to Uncle Gio.
Theo finished his conversation with my brother, ending it with something about bringing him on his broom sometime to practice, before he turned back to me.
"Looks like I'll be seeing a lot more of you, Slytherin," He winked.
I watched him walk back towards where he had gotten up from. He was sitting in what I guessed was his group of friends, a small space of room between them and the next group of kids. Theo sat next to a boy with dark skin, who was conversing with the girl across from him, who had dark short hair. Next to her, and across from Theo looked to be a boy that I could barely make out at this angle, but I could see a bit of his pale blonde hair.
I wondered if it were a requirement to be friends from this house and this house only. If it was some un- spoken rule where you don't talk to the other houses, sit at other tables, or maybe even look at other tables. I did anyway, of course, I looked along the Gryffindor table, and at that moment a boy with black hair and round glasses was walking alongside that table while holding a tissue to his nose.
That must be Harry Potter. I wonder what happened to his face. Who had he pissed off? Well, other than Voldemort, of course.
