Disclaimer: i unfortunately don't own Harry Potter so the characters are not mine and neither is the dialogue at the end of this chapter which comes from the memory train scene in Deathly Hallows.
Unexpected Impressions
Sirius Black sat at the kitchen table listening to his mother lecture him for the countless time. He could probably recite her speech from memory. He was starting his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry today and his mother was making it absolutely certain that her son and the heir to her family would represent them well. He had been given this exact speech since he had gotten his Hogwarts letter if not before that.
"You make sure you're with the right crowd. No associating with mudbloods and blood traitors, understood?" Walburga Black shrilled.
Sirius merely nodded impatiently. He just really wanted to get to the train and not have to sit through his mother's repeated words any longer.
"I heard the Le Fay girl is starting this year." She continued. A slight divergence from the norm in her well rehearsed speech. "Be sure to seek her out. Her mother has been ignoring my offers to arrange a betrothal agreement between the two of you."
Sirius blanched impulsively. A marriage agreement. He was Eleven. But of course his mother didn't care about that. She was obsessed with moving a bloodline. And if anyone had a deeper and more magically pure bloodline than his own family, it was the Le Fay's. They were directly descended from Morgana and King Arthur making them practically wizarding royalty. There was actually nothing "practically" about it. They were The Royal Family of Wizarding England. However, over recent years it was now more of a formal title than a monarchical leadership. And the family recently started straying from even the idea of using a title. It was now merely an image that the papers liked to maintain for gossip. As well as one old pureblood families (like the Blacks) attempted to use to justify the importance of their own blood over that of muggleborns and half-bloods.
"Don't give me that look," his mother scolded.
"I thought they were blood traitors," Sirius recovered dryly.
"Ever since Queen Magdalena married that Potter boy, they have been," she scoffed but nodded approvingly with his comment. "But I'm sure you could show their daughter down the right path, hmm?"
"I don't even know who she is," Sirius protested. "How do you even know it's a Potter she married. They only announced his first name to the public when they got married. And I hardly doubt she'll call herself Jane Le Fay."
"I've followed the bloodline," his mother snapped. "And it would do you good to learn it and follow it too. I've told you a thousand times, in the general public she'll go by Jane Potter."
—-
They stood in the foyer of Potter Manor. James Potter was bouncing impatiently in place. His cousin, Jane Potter, stood perfectly still next to him with her hands clasped in front of her and her head down. She was wearing muggle clothes, a tan corduroy overall dress with a white Peter pan collared shirt. James was also dressed in muggle clothing, jeans and a t-shirt and a loose jacket. He had messy black hair and hazel eyes behind glasses. Jane looked a lot like him, but with much lighter and neater hair, and no need for glasses.
They looked so alike they could pass as twins or siblings, which is really what they felt like at this point.
"Come on! Mom! Dad!" James cried. "We're going to miss the train!"
"Oh be patient James!" His mother, Euphemia Potter, called back. "You will not."
Finally she appeared haphazardly wrapping a small cloak around her one year old daughter, Sara. Just then her husband, Fleamont Potter, came in from the front door, having finished packing both children's trunks.
"Will Mother and Father be meeting us at the station?" Jane asked, finally looking up at her aunt and uncle.
The two adults glanced at each other. Fleamont knelt in front of her and put his hands on her shoulders.
"I'm sorry, my dear," he said. "Some trouble came up at the ministry. And your parents can't make it."
Of course not, Jane thought. Her parents had been quite busy as of late. There were rumors of an uprising dark wizard and her father was apparently in charge of the man hunt. It wasn't the first time her parents had left her with her cousins.
James reached over and squeezed her hand. Aunt Euphemia pulled out a letter and handed it to the younger girl.
"Here, dear," she said softly. "From your mother."
Of course it was. Letters are all she seems to have time for. Jane's mother wouldn't approve of her moping, so she lifted her head and smiled a bright fake smile. She thanked her aunt. With her head high she pushed past her Uncle Fleamont and opened the door.
James came with her as he still hadn't let go of her hand. Even though she tried to get him too.
They finally reached King's Cross station. When they reached a pillar between platforms nine and ten they checked around the corner for any sign of muggles watching. They saw one family standing nervously off to the side, looking around. There was a girl about James and Jane's age who had an owl perched atop her trolley. Euphemia immediately noticed and approached them.
"Excuse me," she said kindly. "You wouldn't Happen to be looking for Platform nine and three quarters, would you?"
The family looked relieved at the comment and nodded.
"I take it this is your first time to Hogwarts then?" Euphemia said. And again the muggle family nodded. She called James and Jane over and introduced them. "It's our children's first time too. We can show you how to get on the platform."
"They said we would need to run between the walls," the father said skeptically after introducing his daughter, Mary Macdonald, to the two other first years.
"And they'd be right," Fleamont Potter said. "James why don't you go first and show them? Then Jane. We'll follow once we've made sure these blokes have made it through."
James nodded and gave the girl a wink. He sped towards the platform and the girl flinched at the expected impact but then froze when it didn't happen.
"See easy," Fleamont said with a dashing smile.
Jane followed her cousin immediately and ran through the pillar. And though she had grown up in the wizarding world, she still stared in awe of the large train in front of them. (After making sure she was out of the way of the entrance of course.)
She heard a shriek and turned to find the girl, Mary, running with her eyes closed through the barrier. In fact she kept running even after making it through. James and Jane reached out and each captured one of her arms to force her to a stop. Jane looked around to see if anyone had noticed. Luckily the platform was loud and full of screaming children.
"You alright?" James asked. After pulling her out of the way.
"Yeah," Mary said, finally opening her eyes. She turned to thank them but stopped and dropped her jaw in amazement instead. "That's the Hogwarts express? And there's this whole platform behind a pillar and no one's ever noticed?"
"That's right," Fleamont said, reappearing next to them with his arm on the girl's father after bringing him through. Mr. Macdonald stared in the same shock as his daughter and wife who just appeared with Euphemia.
The small family thanked them for their help and started to help their daughter board the train. The Potters turned to their two charges.
"Are you two ready?" Euphemia asked.
They nodded. Fleamont knelt next to his son and began whispering to him. No doubt telling him ways to get into trouble.
"I'm going to put my stuff on the train," Jane said. "I'll save you a seat, James."
"Are you sure you don't want some help?" Fleamont asked, interrupting his own conversation.
"I'll be alright," she replied. She said goodbye and waved. She turned away when her aunt Euphemia grabbed her arm.
"You be sure to write to us if you ever need anything ok, sweetheart? Or just write to us in general," Euphemia said. Jane nodded. "And I'm sorry your parents couldn't make it today. But you know that they love you and will write to you as soon as they can."
"I know," Jane said quietly. She gave her aunt a hug and kissed baby Sara on the forehead.
"We'll see you at Christmas, my Dear," Fleamont stood and gave her a hug and a kiss as well. "Remember, we love you."
"I love you too," she said.
After a final goodbye she turned and headed along the train to find an opening. When she found a car towards the back that wasn't crowded she attempted to lift her trunk up by herself. She probably should've let her Aunt or Uncle help her but she didn't want to take away James's time with them. Even though she knew James was more than happy to share his parents with her. And will probably lecture her for running away as soon as he found her on the train.
But she had left them and there was no point in going back now. So she continued to struggle to put her trunk on the train on her own.
"Would you like some help," a boy her age said. He came over and pushed her trunk up without bothering to wait for a reply.
"Thank you," she said in a quiet voice.
Jane had to admit that the nice boy was quite good looking. He had luxurious hair and striking grey eyes. He had a slightly haughty and aristocratic look about him. And yet it was casual and relaxing. It gave Jane a familiar feeling that she couldn't quite place.
"You're welcome," the boy said just as politely. He stuck out his hand. "I'm Sirius Black by the way."
Jane's eyes flashed in recognition but she quickly put on a neutral expression. It was so fast that Sirius thought he had imagined it.
"Jane Potter," she replied in a meaningful tone but did not take his outstretched hand.
Sirius then knew he hadn't imagined that look of surprise. She knew exactly who he was and vice versa. He lowered his hand. The two stared stunned at each other unsure of what to say. The awkward silence only broke because of his mother's shrill call.
"What are you doing, Sirius?" Walburga Black called out. "That better not be a Mudblood you're talking to."
Both children's eyes widened in alarm. Jane stood frozen in fear. Mrs. Black had quite the reputation in the wizarding world after all. But her son acted quickly. He grabbed her arm and all but threw her into the train.
"Quickly," he whispered urgently, "Before my parents find out who you are."
Jane gave a startled yelp. But clambered up the steps onto the train nonetheless. She hurried into the first compartment grateful that it was empty. She peered through the window and noticed that Sirius Black was now casually struggling to get his own trunk onto the train as if she had never been there. She saw a tall jeering woman approaching with her husband and another boy that looked slightly younger than her. Jane could somewhat describe the woman as slightly pretty if it weren't for the fact that her face looked as if it was permanently crinkled in disgust. The man and young boy that flanked her looked alike and also wore twin expressions of disgust. They all looked as if they thought they were superior to everybody there. Which Jane imagined they thought they did. They had the same haughty look as Sirius but instead of the casual relaxing warmth he gave off, they were cold and judgemental.
Jane popped the window open a crack to listen in as quietly as she could so that the family below wouldn't notice. It was lucky that Sirius Black was the one facing her rather than his estranged mother so only he noticed the window opening. He flashed her a quick warning glance and Jane quickly turned and slumped against the seat facing away from the small family so the family couldn't see her but she could still overhear. She had a feeling the warning look was not to stop her from listening in but for her to hide.
"Who was that?" Mrs. Black snapped.
"I wouldn't know Mother," Sirius drawled. "Your shrieking scared her off. I didn't quite get a chance to properly introduce myself."
Jane was quite shocked that he had lied to his mother so easily. She knew the Blacks had a reputation for proudly associating themselves with noble blood and hers was about as noble as it got.
"A mudblood I'd assume," Mr. Black scoffed. "If she was on her own."
Jane would've snorted if it weren't for the fact that she heard a resounding slap following the statement. Instead, she flinched and sucked in a sharp breath.
"How many times do I need to tell you not to talk to that sort," she heard Mrs. Black shrieked.
"Geez, woman," Sirius responded. "How would I know it's not like everyone walks around with a tattoo displaying their blood status for the world to see. For all I know her family could've been with another sibling or something."
"Don't talk back to your mother, boy," Mr. Black snapped.
"Sorry," He responded, though he didn't sound very sorry at all.
"You are to sit with Cissy," The mother demanded. "She'll make sure you make the right friends."
Without even saying goodbye Jane heard the boy bound onto the train. Jane quickly snapped the window shut. As soon as she did, Sirius Black threw open the door to the compartment Jane was in making her jump in fright. She stared at him as he slammed the compartment door shut. He turned to face her.
Sirius took in the girl's frightened wide eyes and his gaze visible softened. Aware that his presence as a Black and the conversation the girl no doubt overheard was the reason she was scared, he kept his distance close to the door. He stayed standing in an attempt to allow her to ask him to leave if she wanted him to.
"Are you alright?" He asked gently.
His demeanor completely shifted from the one Jane had just seen and heard outside. He gave her a soft cheeky grin that for some reason made Jane instantly relax and want to trust him. But she still couldn't speak. So she simply nodded in response.
"Heard all that did you?" He pointed at the window.
"I'm sorry," Jane said softly and blushed. But Sirius merely shrugged.
"I'd have done the same if roles were reversed." He said and gave her a wink. "I'm sorry you had to witness that."
Jane was, once again, quite surprised with how polite and sincere he was. A jarring difference from what she had just witnessed from both him and his family. As well as differing from what she'd heard of his family's reputation. She found herself at a loss for words.
"Would you mind if I sat here?" He asked. "I'd rather not have to go and find my cousins and whatever friends have been picked out for me. But if you would prefer I could leave."
"Not at all," Jane answered.
He proceeded to take a seat towards the middle of the compartment on the opposite bench. He made sure to leave plenty of room in case the girl got uncomfortable by his presence.
"And you won't need to worry," He continued. "I won't tell anyone who you are."
Jane smiled at him gratefully. After witnessing his argument with his family, she was inclined to believe him. The young Black heir didn't seem so bad after all.
—-
The Potters watched as Jane disappeared into the crowd before turning back to their son.
"Listen, James," his father said. "In all seriousness, you need to look after her."
"Of course, Dad," James replied. "But you know she can look after herself."
"We know that sweetie," his mother responded. "We also know that you've been spying on our private conversations."
James immediately tried to protest but stopped at his mother's serious look. It wasn't the usual look he got when he was about to be in trouble. It was the look he got when his parents were about to tell him something very serious and very important.
"You know your aunt and uncle have been very busy," Fleamont started.
"Well yeah, It's why they couldn't come see her off." James said. Then he muttered in a much quieter voice. "Though I think at least one of them should've tried today of all days."
The two elder Potters elected to ignore the last comment. (Probably because they secretly agreed.)
"Do you know why?" Euphemia prompted her son. James thought hard. It had to do with whatever he'd been eavesdropping on otherwise his parents wouldn't have brought it up.
"Does it have to do with all the mysteries muggle and muggle-born killings recently?" He asked in a quiet tone. He remembered the floo call from his Uncle Eldric, Jane's father, he had overheard last night when he couldn't sleep.
They both nodded. His father opened his mouth to continue but James interrupted.
"But Jane's a pureblood," he insisted. "Like the most pureblood."
"We know," Fleamont said meaningfully. "There are rumors that a group of pureblood elitist are targetting muggle-borns in some sort of strange blood supremacy. They aren't just random killings. The ministry doesn't want to announce it like that because of the fear and panic they think it'll cause."
"I still don't understand what this has got to do with Jane." James interrupted again.
"Think about what you said, James." His father said. "She comes from a very old family. Even older than ours. Any Dark Wizard who wants to achieve his agenda needs followers. There have been rumors that the leader of this group, who is currently still unidentified, has been recruiting people from old families, even some Hogwarts students, which includes both you and Jane."
"We're eleven!" James exclaimed.
"I know but that's not going to stop them." Fleamont said seriously. "All they care about is blood. And if you're not with them you're against them. Eldric said that Maggie has already been receiving letters asking her to join their side, restore their families honor. She's also received a few marriage betrothal offers from some families who are suspected sympathizers of this group. And even a couple threats to hand over Jane."
James's eyes widened in alarm.
"We don't mean to scare you, James," his mother finally cut in. "And this is hardly what we wanted to talk to you about before sending you off. But you need to be careful and watch out for each other."
James nodded in understanding. A fierce and determinedly proactive look fixed on his face. He knew his parents wouldn't tell him something like this if it wasn't important. He was raised knowing his blood didn't make a difference but he knew others thought otherwise. He didn't think that they would have too much to worry about at Hogwarts with the professors there. But James also knew from his parents' tales of their time at Hogwarts that when professors weren't around wands would sometimes be drawn.
The family made their way to the train. As they talked the conversation gravitated towards a more casual conversation. His parents helped him load his trunk. He said goodbye to his parents and baby sister with promises to write and to be good (at least a little). And more promises to look after Jane.
When James finally found Jane in her compartment toward the end of a train she saw her sitting with a boy he didn't recognize. They weren't sitting close or really talking to each other. Jane was staring distractedly down at the unopened letter from her mother. He pulled the door open dramatically.
"Well, well," James tutted. Both occupants looked up at him. "What do we have here, Jane? I leave you for not even 10 minutes and you've already got yourself a boyfriend."
He smirked satisfied as both Jane and the boy spluttered.
"What!? Of course not!" They exclaimed together.
"Already talking in sync too?" James teased. "Ah to be young and in love."
He threw a hand over his heart and sighed. Jane glared at him and whipped out her wand.
"You're a prat," she said.
"Why thank you," James said as he flung himself opposite of the boy. And stuck his feet up next to him.
Sirius, deciding it would be fun to join in and play along. Shoved the boys feet off.
"Do you mind?" He said haughtily. "I was trying to entertain the lady. It's quite rude of you to interrupt."
Jane gaped at him. Oh dear Merlin, she thought. There are two of them. James laughed.
"Well if that's the case you'd have to go through me first." James said. He clasped his hands together and imitated a serious look.
"I've had enough of this," Jane said and went back to gazing out the window.
The boys continued to have some sort of staring contest. It was only interrupted when the door opened again and a red headed girl pushed past them. And sat opposite Jane and decided to stare out the window.
The boys simultaneously turned to tell the girl off for barging in rudely but stopped at the look of her teary face. They glanced at each other and silently agreed to drop it.
Jane who had left the boys to their own devices was staring blankly again at the letter from her mother. She hadn't opened or read it yet and she wasn't sure if she should do it now or before bed that night. She didn't want to read the letter and end up crying in front of the boys. Her mother would insist it was unladylike if she did. Distantly she heard the horn of the train go off signaling its departure from the station. She had hardly noticed the girl when she came in until she plopped herself down across from her.
Jane looked up and was surprised to find the girl looking as upset as Jane felt. She had a feeling that this girl wasn't just sad to be leaving her family. She switched her position so she was sitting next to the girl instead of cross and put her hand on the girl's knee. Startled the girl looked up. Jane handed her a handkerchief. The girl gratefully accepted it.
"Are you alright?" Jane asked quietly. The girl nodded but didn't say much else.
Jane decided to turn her attention to James and Black, who were now loudly talking about what they were most excited to do at Hogwarts.
"I'm going for the quidditch team," James was insisting
"But they never let first years on the team." Black said.
"They'll let me!" James said. "They'll be mad if they don't."
"You're mad!" Black said.
The compartment door opened again and another boy came in. He had long greasy hair and a long nose. He pushed passed them and sat across from the red headed girl. James and Sirius resigned to their fate of constantly being interrupted and easily went back to their conversation. Jane, on the other hand, being so close to the girl could easily pick up the conversation.
"I don't want to talk to you," the girl huffed.
"Why not?" The boy said.
"Tuney hates me. Because we saw that letter from Dumbledore." The girl responded.
Jane's eyes widened at hearing that. Whoever this Tuney was had gotten a letter from the headmaster and school hadn't even started yet.
"So what?" The greasy boy said. Jane instantly disliked him. He clearly had no regard for this girl's feelings.
"So she's my sister!" The girl exclaimed
"She's only a—" the boy stopped himself. The girl was too busy wiping her eyes to notice. But Jane wasn't and her eyes darkened. He had a feeling this boy was going to say muggle.
So this girl's sister was a muggle. Which made her either a squib or it made the girl next to her a muggle-born. Jane wasn't sure. Either way this boy seemed to disregard the sister just because she didn't have magic.
"But we're going!" The boy said in excitement. "This is it! We're going to Hogwarts!"
The girl nodded and gave a small smile.
"You'd better be in Slytherin." The boy insisted.
"Slytherin?" James, who had no interest in the conversation the two other occupants of the compartment were, cut in. "Who'd want to be in slytherin? I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?"
He asked Sirius Black. Jane almost had to laugh. Had the two not introduced each other? If they had Sirius clearly left out his last name otherwise James wouldn't have asked. Unsurprising to Jane, Sirius did not return James's smile.
"My whole family has been in Slytherin," he said.
"Blimey," James said. "And I thought you seemed alright."
"Maybe I'll break the tradition," Sirius grinned back at him now. "Where are you headed, if you got the choice?"
James lifted an invisible sword.
"'Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart!'" James exclaimed excitedly. "Like my dad!"
The greasy haired boy gave a small strangled noise and everyone in the compartment turned to look at him.
"Got a problem with that," James said defensively.
"No," the boy sneered. "If you'd rather be brawny than brainy—"
"Where'd you go seeing as you're neither?" Sirius interjected. Long gone was his charm from before. He held the same snarky tone Jane had heard him use with his family.
The red- headed girl stood and looked at James and Sirius with dislike evident on her face. She pushed passed them.
"Come on, Severus, let's find another compartment," she said.
"Ooooo" James and Sirius imitated. James tried to trip the boy, Severus, as he passed.
"See ya, Snivellus," Sirius called after them. James and Sirius started laughing as soon as the compartment closed.
Jane fixed them with an icy glare.
"That wasn't very nice," she scolded.
"He started it!" James protested.
"Yeah and it's not like he was very nice either," Sirius said.
"All he did was tell his friend he wanted to be in slytherin before you cut in," Jane argued.
"And that's exactly it," Sirius said dismissively. "Anyone who actually wants to be in slytherin isn't nice."
"Oh you would know wouldn't you, Black," Jane snapped, with an emphasis on his last name. James looked at him in surprise.
"Black?" James said in surprise. "Really? You're a Black? You certainly don't seem like one."
Sirius smiled weakly at him but turned back to Jane.
"Yes," Black said coolly. "That's exactly how I know that Slytherins aren't good people. You heard everything didn't you?"
He pointed behind Jane to the window she had been eavesdropping out of earlier that day. James stared at them confused.
"My mother was a Slytherin," Jane said coldly.
"Great, then I can bring the number of decent Slytherins up to two," Black drawled. "You can't possibly look at that greasy bat and tell me he's a nice bloke, can you? It took me one look at him to know he's exactly like everyone in my family."
"You can't judge someone if you don't even know them." Jane countered sharply. "If I did that I wouldn't have let you sit you."
"I can leave if that's what you want," he spat.
"That's not what I said!" She snapped back.
James watched the two like a tennis match. He was quite surprised that this boy was a Black. He was much nicer than James had been told the Black family was. He was at once on his guard, reminded of what his parents had told him at the station. He had no idea what happened before he had gotten to the compartment, but James agreed with the boy in front him.
"He's right, Jane," James said. "That boy wasn't exactly being nice either. I caught part of his conversation with the girl. He didn't really seem to care for that girl's feelings."
"Neither did you," she countered.
Jane supposed they were both right as she too had heard their conversation. But that didn't mean she agreed with the two of them. So instead she huffed stubbornly and scooted away. She sat where the girl had been minutes earlier and stared out the window. She didn't talk until later in the afternoon when Sirius Black reached over to her and offered her a pumpkin pastie and an apologetic smile.
