When it is July 23rd 1984 as it was already morning, the sun brightens up part of a young wizard boy's room. The boy then opens his eyes and immediately closes them again as the rays of the sun's light hit him in the face. "Well, good morning to you too," The boy said, opening his eyes again as he gets out of bed.

He yawns and stretches before walking up to the window in front of him, looking out into the outside world of London. He couldn't help but smile knowing today was the day he gets to go to Diagon Alley to shop for supplies at the one and only Hogwarts of Witchcraft and Wizardry, He could remember the first time he got the letter of acceptance into Hogwarts, the happy look on his mothers face as she was so proud of him as her second and youngest son is going to Hogwarts, he then remembers his brother leaving for Hogwarts when he was six years old and couldn't let go of his leg.

The thought made him chuckle a little until remembering the day after his older brother was at Hogwarts. Turning around away from the window to a guitar next to his bed, it was a gift from his father before he left to go on tour, and the only memory he has of him since his father passed away while he was on tour. The boy then shakes his head before putting on a smile as he gets dressed.

Once he finished getting dressed a feminine voice was heard outside of his room door, "Lucien?" The voice said, sounding very genuine which the boy who is named Lucien smiled.

"I'm up Mum!" He said with excitement in his voice. His door opens as a beautiful woman with white hair walks in, she then smiles at him seeing that he was already dressed for the day.

"You look very handsome," his mother said as she fixed his hair a little which he couldn't help but chuckle. As she finishes fixing his hair she looks at him, "

Breakfast is ready, so make sure to get some before you head to Diagon Alley alright?" Lucien smiles at her before nodding.

"Yes, Mum!" Lucien said while his mother smiled back at him before leaving his room. Lucien stares at himself in the mirror, looking at his white fixed hair and his slightly yellow eyes, he smiled before leaving his room, heading downstairs for breakfast.

As he finishes his breakfast he hands his mother his empty yet slightly crummy plate before letting out a small burp causing his mother to laugh. "Well somebody seemed hungry today." His mother said as she walked to the kitchen sink to wash the plate. "

I'm just so excited!" Lucien said, his smile not leaving his face. "I get to go to Diagon Alley to get supplies for Hogwarts!"

His mother looks at him with another smile before she starts to have a coughing fit, dropping the now clean plate into the sink. Lucien from a smile to a look of concern he gets out of his seat and runs to his mother's aid, "Mum?!" Lucien exclaimed, with fear in his voice before getting a glass cup from one of the cupboards, filling it up with water before handing it to her.

As his mother stops coughing she takes the water-filled glass and drinks halfway before setting the cup down. "Thank you, sweetie…" She said, her voice sounding a little raspy as Lucien still had a concerned look on his face.

"Have you been to the doctor lately, Mum?" He asked her as his mother looked at him with a smile on her face.

"It's only just a cough, Luci...That's all." his mother reassures him as she places a hand on his left cheek.

"But Mum, your illness has been getting worse lately...Ever since Jac-" Lucien was cut off from his mother placing a finger on his lips, silencing him.

"Lucien Crow, don't use Jacob as a bouc émissaire, it wasn't his fault, it was just…" His mother trails off in mid sentence, Lucien looking at her with confusion as she continues speaking, "It was those blasted forsaken 'Cursed vaults' that changed him," his mother finishes. Lucien nods reluctantly before looking down. "

A-Alright Mum…" He responds as he does not know what to do for her but his mother gives him a hug.

"It's going to be alright sweetie, your mum is strong, have you ever doubted me before?" She asked as Lucien wraps his arms around her to give a hug in return.

"No Mum…" Lucien answered, "I always looked up to both you and dad."

His mother smiled as she kissed him on the head. "And don't you dare forget it, now give your mum a big smile!" She encourages him as they let go of each other's embrace. Lucien gives her the biggest smile as he could her as she did the same. She then looks at him in the eyes before her smile becomes a grin. "You look just like your father, and you even have his eyes...Well except for my white hair."

Lucien blushed a little from embarrassment, "Mummm…!"

"It's true though! It makes you the most handsome," she laughs a little before pulling on his left cheek a little and letting go a second later. "Now it's best you be going now, alright?"

Lucien rubbed his cheek before giving her another smile, "Yes, Mum!" He says as he grabs his letter that has the supplies he needed written down.

"Lucien?" His mother called on him one last time as he turned around to look at her once more. "Make some friends and have fun for me okay?"

Lucien smiles at her which makes her smile back in return. "I will Mum!" He said before heading out the door to Diagon Alley.

Moments later as Lucien arrived at Diagon Alley, there was amazement and excitement in his eyes as he took another step, suddenly he noticed a boy in the same robes as him approaching. "Hi, I'm Rowan Khanna! Are you getting ready to start at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry too?" The boy named Rowan asked with a smile.

"Yes, but Diagon Alley seems a bit confusing…" Lucien answered, looking around every part of Diagon Alley. "I'm not sure where to start…"

"I can help!" Rowan suggests as Lucien looks back at him. "I've been reading Hogwarts: A History in anticipation of my first year, so I'm something of an expert on Hogwarts," he smiled before continuing. "You should start by finding all of the books you need at Flourish and Blotts!"

Lucien nods before seeing the store that was named Flourish and Blotts next to another store behind them called Ollivanders "Alright, I'll start checking there now!" Lucien says before running over to the store.

He enters the store moments later, he looks around the place with books filling the shelves. He walks over to a stack of books about charms, as he gathers a few "I can't wait to learn all of these charms!" Lucien thought to himself as he started walking over to a bookshelf that was behind him and started browsing for more books that he needed for Hogwarts.

He notices a book that talks about Fantastic Beasts. "Fantastic Beasts? I know this book. It's brilliant!" Lucien comments to himself before browsing an open book on a table, reading while turning a few pages as he sees the author's name Bathilda Bagshot who was his mother's favorite author.

After a few minutes of searching, Lucien already has what he needs. "I found all of the books on my list!" He said to himself as he pays for his books. "I'll see if Rowan can help me find the rest of my supplies…" Lucien grabs his books before heading out of Flourish and Blotts. Once he exits the store he sees Rowan was still by Ollivanders, once Rowan notices him he gives him a wave as Lucien walks back over to him.

"Thanks for your help, Rowan," He smiled. "I was able to get all of my books."

Rowan smiled back, "Cool! I realized I'm so excited for Hogwarts that I forgot to ask your name…" Rowan said as puts out his hand.

Dreading the moment of being judged before taking a deep breath as he shakes his hand. "My name is Lucien Crow," he said with a smile still on his face hoping he doesn't know him immediately.

"Pleasure to meet you, Lucien," Rowan replies as he still smiles.

"You too. I couldn't be more excited to get to Hogwarts," he added before they stopped shaking each other's hand.

"I know!" Rowan exclaimed as he was getting excited again. "I haven't stopped staring at my acceptance letter since it arrived. Can I see yours?"

Lucien nods and takes his letter of acceptance out of his pocket and shows it to him.

Dear Lucien Crow,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1st. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

As Rowan finishes reading he hands back Lucien's letter. "I already got my supplies, but my mum gave me just enough to buy something special for school," Rowan said as there was something he wanted to get. "I want to let everyone at Hogwarts know that I'm a serious intellectual who is well on his way to becoming Head boy." Rowan continued before he looked at him with a question in his eyes. "What do you think I should get, Lucien?"

Lucien thinks for a moment. It is going to be cold, so it's best to have a scarf. "How about a nice scarf?" He suggested, still smiling.

"Great idea!" Rowan replies, "Scarves make anyone look scholarly." Rowan smiles before continuing, "While I get my clothes, you should get your wand from Ollivanders!"

Rowan gives him a wave and starts heading down Diagon Alley to go shopping for a scarf, leaving Lucien in front of Ollivanders. "Here we go…" Lucien muttered to himself before heading into the store.

Inside the store he notices every box was filled with a wand stacked on each shelf, "I can't believe I'm really in Ollivanders...This is where everyone gets their first wand." Lucien said to himself as he had a small monologue, he then noticed a man behind the counter, assuming it was the owner he hesitantly walked up to the counter.

"Hello… Garrick Ollivander is my name." Ollivander said as his voice sounded very shaky. "Here to receive your first wand, yes?" He pulls out a wand from his counter and examines it, "I have just the thing. Applewood wand, dragon heartstring core, nine inches, rigid. Go on give it a whirl!" He then hands it to Lucien.

Lucien looked at the wand for a second before he flicked his wrist as papers started flying around him, causing him to panic a little. As the papers stopped moving, Lucien knocked off the paper that was on his shoulder before putting the wand back on the counter. "S-Sorry about that!" Lucien slightly exclaimed as he never expected the wand would do something like that.

"It's not your fault," Ollivander said with a smile, reassuring him everything was okay. "The wand chooses the wizard, and that this is clearly not the wand for you." Ollivander lets out a small chuckle, "I recall your brother exploded my favourite inkpot when he tried his first wand."

Lucien's eyes widened in surprise. "Y-You knew my brother?" He asked, almost speechless.

"I remember every wand I've ever sold," he answered. "His wand was a maple wood, dragon heartstring core ten inches." Ollivander sighs with dismay. "A fine wand. Shame they snapped it in half when he was expelled…" Lucien looked down, sadness in his eyes before looking back up at him to meet his eyes.

"I understand that he ran away from home after being expelled," Lucien said, "And has been missing ever since."

Ollivander stared at his eyes for a second before he spoke once more. "That must have had a profound impact on you…"

He looks at Ollivander with a smile on his face. "I just want to restore my family's name and prove myself as a great wizard," Lucien declared as he also wanted to find his brother as well. Ollivander looks at him like he was studying him before he spoke.

"Hmm, I appreciate your passion and determination," he then searches behind the counter. "I may have just the wand for you…" He then brings out a wand as he examines it just like the previous wand. "Hornbeam wand, dragon heartstring core, eleven inches, inflexible." He examined before handing him the wand. "My own wand is made of hornbeam."

Lucien looks at the wand that was just given to him before he takes a deep breath, with just a flick of a wrist he waves his wand as a sudden swirl of light moves around him before disappearing, Lucien smiles excitedly as he looks at his wand once more. "Splendid!" Ollivander exclaimed with a smile, "I'll be interested to see what path you choose…" Lucien smiles at him once more. "Go on, now...I look forward to seeing what becomes of you."

And with that Lucien walks to the door before looking back at the store owner. "Thank you!" Lucien said as he exited the store.

Outside of Ollivanders, Lucien sees Rowan wearing a scarf, he then approaches him to get a closer look as Rowan sees him. "Hey, Lucien!" Rowan greeted him. "How do you like my scarf?"

Lucien smiled before speaking, "It...Suits you. You'll look like the smartest first-year at Hogwarts," he answered

"It was your suggestion!" Rowan replied as smiled back, "I'll be coming to you for all of my future fashion advice." Rowan then notices Lucien's wand, "Wait! Is that a hornbeam wand?!"

Lucien looks at him surprised. "...Yes? How did you know?" He asked, still wondering how he knew what type of wand he had.

"My family's tree farm supplies wood for wands and brooms," he answered. "That's why I love staying inside and reading. It keeps me from going outside and farming." His smile fades slightly, "That, and the fact I don't have any friends…" Lucien looks at Rowan as he remembers his mother's words, 'make some friends' as if she was right behind him.

"We can be friends!" Lucien said.

"You don't think I'm too weird?" Rowan asked as he looked at him with saddened eyes "People usually think I'm too weird."

Lucien lets out a small chuckle as he remembered people were giving him and his mother's death glares, due to what happened with his brother Jacob at Hogwarts, he couldn't remember the details except Jacob ran away from home. "People say the same thing about me." Lucien said which confuses Rowan.

"Why would anyone say that about you?" Rowan asked which Lucien stared at him for a moment.

"...My brother is Jacob Crow," he said bluntly as he was prepared to get judged by another person.

And he was right, Rowan gets a surprised look on his face, "The same Jacob Crow who was expelled from Hogwarts for breaking school rules in search of the fabled Cursed Vaults?!" Rowan said as his voice was loud enough that it catches a few people's attention, "That was a massive story in the Daily Prophet!"

Everyone at school will know about that." Rowan added which caused Lucien to mentally feel the sweat running down his forehead.

"I know...And they'll all think I'm weird…" Lucien said as looks down to the ground as Rowan gets out of his shock before he smiles again.

"Then we'll be weird together!" Rowan said. "What should I do if someone gives you trouble over your brother?"

Lucien thought for a moment before making his decision, he doesn't want to burden him with so many people hating Rowan as much as they hate him, but then again but then he realized that it was going to be a hard first year at Hogwarts, so he needs as many friends on his side as he could get. Lucien pondered for a moment before coming to a decision "I can stand up for myself," he said as he accepted his own decision. "But I'd feel better if I knew you were on my side."

Rowan had a serious look on his face, "Understood. I'll use my extensive vocabulary to verbally pummel anyone who attempts to besmirch your reputation!" Rowan said as Lucien couldn't help but smile.

"Yes! Confuse them all with words!" Lucien jokes as they both started to laugh. Once they finish laughing Lucien speaks again, "I'm glad we met, Rowan. It will be nice to see a friendly face at school, especially one who knows Hogwarts so well."

Rowan grins with excitement once again, "Me too Lucien! See you in September on the Hogwarts express!"

The two friends wave at each other before going their separate ways, Lucien heading home to his mother, as he enters the house he looks around, "Mum!" Lucien called out to his mother, "I'm back from Diagon Alley!" He then hears footsteps from the room down the halls, it was his mother walking down, she looked a little pale, along with her eyes looking a little watery.

"How was your day in Diagon Alley?" His mother asked as Lucien wanted to say something but then he remembered not to doubt his mother, he took a deep breath and put on a smile.

"I had fun!" He answered "I made a friend!" Hearing this from her son puts a smile on her face,

"That's brilliant sweetie…" She said, "Does your friend have a name?"

Lucien nodded, "His name is Rowan Khanna!" His mother's smile grew into a grin.

"Ah! I know that family! They usually stop by at my shop to stock me with some supplies!" She exclaimed with excitement her eyes as she walked over to him, giving him a big hug. "I'm so proud of you, Luci! You made a friend!" Lucien laughs a little before she lets go of him, "When are you going to Hogwarts?"

Lucien looks up at her, "The first of September." Lucien reminded her.

"That's just only two months from now...Do you want to study what there is to know about potions and spells?"

Lucien with a huge grin creeping on his face as he nods, "Yes Mum!"

The words bouc émissaire means scapegoat in french.