Book I

Chapter I

"Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus, Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon'' - Hogwarts Motto

When August finally gave way to September, John woke early and restlessly. He was excited to go to Hogwarts. His anticipation was palpable, even in the Force, from which he felt a sense of… something, but not ill will.

He knew something was going to happen, but not what.

They set off for King's Cross, where the leaflet said the train to Hogwarts would depart from the platform at exactly eleven o'clock. His dad infuriated them all by singing along with songs on the radio and shouting at the host whenever he said something John disagreed with. But, John just tuned this out, he meditated and rested for most of the trip and soon they had arrived.

King's Cross itself was beautiful, but was far too large and confusing. It took the three of them well over twenty minutes to find platforms nine and ten, and then they were truly stumped. The leaflet had said the express was between those two platforms, but then it had said to walk through one of the pillars.

They had thought it was a joke, until they saw another family, with a daughter a few years older than John walk through one. Apparently not a joke then. John's mom had walked up to the pillar and had put her hand through it, then was yanked through entirely, as if something, or someone on the other side had pulled in. Alarmed, they followed after her, through the stone wall that was not.

An imposing man dressed in dark robes had just released his mom, and looked at them coming through.

''Keep moving, don't dawdle. The muggles are not supposed to notice us, and she was disrupting the charm. Please keep moving the next time.'' He instructed, with a grating gravelly voice. ''Muggleborns'' he mumbled, as they started walking again. In front of the family stood an old-fashioned bright red locomotive, like something straight out of a history book. On a lit sign it said ''Hogwarts Express, eleven o'clock.''

Since they had arrived a half hour in advance, the platform was still quite empty. His mom and dad helped him get his trunk onto the train, and they said their goodbyes then, with a quick hug.

He stood there for a moment as they walked off, and took a deep breath. What now?

With his trunk in tow, he started down the train looking for a good place to sit.

A niggling feeling stopped him in his tracks, and he looked inside the compartment next to him. There were already two people inside, but something pushed him in there anyway.

He knocked, and then slid open the door.

Inside were two boys around his age, both with dark hair, already in wizarding clothing and robes, casually talking about something he only half-caught as they stopped and turned to him.

''Excuse me, do you mind if I sit with you? I don't really want to sit alone.'' John asked.

They seemed shocked, somehow, that he'd ask that.

The tallest of the two, who had grey eyes and sharply cut features, recovered quickest.

''Why not? I'm Alfie, this is Ramsey.'' He pointed to the other boy, who was slightly shorter and had dark eyes. When he smiled, his grin looked almost feral.'

John smiled. ''My name is John. John Riddle, to be exact. It is nice to meet you.''

He rolled his trunk inside and closed the door.

Alfie moved to help, but John stopped him. He stepped over his trunk and sat down. He could feel their confusion as he stretched out his hand. Soon, the trunk began floating, and up it went, going up until it reached where it should go, and slid it into place.

Confusion had given way to awe.

''Wandless, wordless magic, at our age? How?'' Ramsey spluttered , as he kept staring.

''That's what you call it? I'd call it the Force. It is so much more than magic, from what I have seen so far, anyway.'' John countered.

''Grandpa and Grandma often say that only highly experienced and highly skilled wizards can do wandless magic. It's supposed to be really hard.'' Alfie said.

''I think it is different from that. It is in us, around us and it binds us together, like in Star Wars. We are all connected, in our own ways. I can sense both of you, but also everything beyond here, from the smallest blades of grass to the mightiest of trees. That is the Force.'' John finished.

''What's Star Wars?" Ramsey asked, glancing to Alfie in confusion, as if it was some obscure bit of magic he was unaware of.

And so John told them.

Through their conversation, he learned that Alfie was short for Alphard, and that his last name was Black and also that Ramsey's full name was Ramsey Lestrange. They were said in a way like it should mean something to him, but he did not know. They also told him they were cousins, or more accurately, second cousins. Ramsey's mother had been a maternal cousin of Ramsey's father, who was apparently in jail with Ramsey's parents, for something they did not wish to talk about. John decided to leave it be.

John himself told them about his parents, and where he'd grown up. When he told them he thought he was Muggleborn, the two of them looked at each other strangely before putting up a face and turning back to him. John told them what little he did know, and that his father had likely been a wizard, though John did not know who he had been.

At that, some lingering awkwardness had eased, and they had talked a little more. They had stood outside for a moment as he quickly changed into his wizarding clothes, as requested by them. John did not at all understand that personally, but he liked his wizard outfit, so he obliged.

John was reminded of how different the Wizarding world was when the door opened again, and an elderly, slightly hunchbacked witch stood outside with a cart loaded with all kinds of strange candy. Alfie and Ramsey recommended several.

One was a chocolate frog that actually seemed to be alive, it jumped out of the package when John opened it. But, it did not get far before Ramsey snatched it up and promptly bit its head off.

He was told that they were spelled to jump and eat like a frog.

John found out that they were also very delicious when a second one entered in his mouth instead. It was some of the best chocolate he had ever had. But, John's favourite were the Fizzing Whizzbees, which made him levitate much like he could by himself.

Eventually, the trio had settled into a quiet comfort, as Ramsey took a nap and Alfie stared at the landscapes they passed by. John sat cross legged on his seat, closed his eyes, and meditated. He could sense the many people on the train, their bright presences so different from the many muggles he had known before. Bright, intense, a thousand suns compared to the moon.

Most stayed in their compartments, but a few were on the move. Eventually, he could feel three approaching, and they stopped in front of their cabin.

The door slid open.

''Black, Lestrange. And who's this?'' A pompous new voice said.

Its owner was a pale boy with very light blond hair, flanked by two surly silent types far taller and broader than him. It was almost as if they were bodyguards, but they did not look older than himself.

''Malfoy.'' Came the reply from Alfie and Ramsey as they acknowledged him, if only barely.

''My name is John Riddle. And you are?''

''Draco Malfoy. These are Crabbe and Goyle.'' He looked to his sides, to the larger boys, who grunted in response.

''Now, as for you. Riddle isn't a name I have heard before.''

''My father was a wizard, as far as I'm aware. Though, I don't know who he was, he's probably dead.'' John interceded, seeing where this was headed.

''Good. I'd hate to have to send a letter to your grandparents." Malfoy said to Ramsey and Alfie. "It doesn't look well to fraternize with Mudbloods and Halfbreeds, especially for purebloods of your pedigree.''

John sighed as Ramsey and Alfie looked solemn, almost emotionless, then Malfoy continued. John could feel Ramsey's anger and Alfie's irritation.

''Now, have any of you seen Harry Potter?''

They shook their heads. Harry who?

''Very well.'' With that, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle left.

As soon as the door clicked shut, Ramsey's bottled anger let out.

''That was Malfoy." Ramsey spat. "None of us can stand him. And you did not deserve to be called that. It's extremely rude, he should know better. Nasty little cunt.'' He swore.

''He could learn some tact, yes.'' Alfie said carefully. ''But I don't think that's coming any time soon.''

Alfie turned to Ramsey. ''And what did he say? Looking for Harry Potter? What is Malfoy thinking, or, as it would seem, what is your uncle putting him up to? I'd bet a dozen galleons that this is his work.''

Ramsey grinned. ''I don't take bets I won't win, Alfie.''

''...Who is Harry Potter?'' John finally asked.

Apparently this Harry Potter was a celebrity in the Wizarding World. He had somehow managed to defeat a Dark Lord that had terrified Britain for more than a decade at the tender age of one and was joining John's year in Hogwarts 10 years later. How he'd managed that, no one knew. Something had happened of course but James and Lily Potter, Harry's parents had died and little Harry had allegedly survived a Killing Curse. Where he had gone after the incident was unknown, though he had been spotted in Diagon Alley with Hagrid a month ago, according to the Daily Prophet. .

Finally, they talked briefly as to what to expect when they would arrive at Hogwarts.

''It's a great old castle, or so grandma Black says. She told me it's filled with ghosts and was built almost a thousand years ago by people called the Founders. There were four, and each of them shaped the school in their own way with a group of students they taught. They all valued different things, such as wisdom, courage and hard work. Each founder named a house in Hogwarts after them with the houses upholding the ideals they did. . My family has mostly been in Slytherin, for he valued cunning and ambition.'' Alfie recited.

''The other houses are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, who valued nobility, wisdom and loyalty, respectively. But it is probably best if we are sorted into Slytherin. Our grandparents would not react well if we both went rogue.." Ramsey said with a sigh..

''Oh.'' John simply replied. ''That's not great, is it?"

''Our grandparents want the best out of us, that's just the way it is." "

That dreary tale was what John was left with as night fell and the train started to slow. Night had fallen by the time they heard a voice throughout the train.

''We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately." The voice said.

Indeed, shortly after the announcement, the train began to slow and halted with a creak of its ancient gears. Outside there was a dark platform, where he could see an impossibly tall man standing with a lantern. He had a very bushy beard, and waved over in the first year's direction.

"Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Harry?"

So, Harry Potter was among them.

Alfie, Ramsey and John followed the rest of the First years down a steep, narrow and barely paved path.

The giant that was a man called out over his shoulder.

"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec, jus' round this bend here."

And sure enough, they did.

Illuminated by the moonlight stood a vast dark lake, above which stood a large castle, with its tall and fierce towers piercing the sky. Proud and grand, it was a fortress from ages past standing defiantly against the Scottish highlands.

They continued, and came to the shore of the lake, where a small fleet of wooden boats laid dormant.

The giant called out that no more than four could go in a single boat, a tall blonde girl joined them and they sat in silence.

''FORWARD!'' the giant called, and seemingly from nowhere, the boats moved.

They glided in silence over the dark lake, John simply stared at the great holdfast before them, as the boats came under a ledge. They were told to watch their heads as the boats went down a dark tunnel, which led to an underground harbour of sorts. There they stepped out and followed the giant up a set of stairs, and then stood before the great oaken doors of the main keep.

The doors were so great, that even the giant of a man was dwarfed by them. He knocked, the powerful noise echoing throughout the chamber several times, and slowly they began to open. John could hear the sound of locks disengaging and ancient wood shifting, obviously built to withstand a siege.

When it opened, it revealed a tall and stern looking woman, dark of hair and in robes a brilliant green. She made for an intimidating sight.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," the giant said.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." McGonagall replied smoothly.

The giant named Hagrid bowed and exited the chamber. They followed McGonagall inside the castle with her robes swirling behind her.

What they had entered was truly an incredible hall. Great and grand, this structure was supported only by its walls. John could only barely make out the ceiling, with it being dimly lit only by torchlight. He could sense a great brightness, a great number of presences through a grand door to the right, but they entered a much smaller door slightly before it, which led into a much smaller chamber.

There she turned to them as the door was closed behind them.

Professor McGonagall briefly informed them of what they could expect from the next few hours, several things John had already heard from Ramsey and Alfie. Nevertheless, he listened attentively. When she was done, she made a last comment commanding them to smarten themselves up. John, self consciously looked down at his robes and tunic and straightened them back into place a little more, even though it didn't truly change anything. He then stood as straight as a rod, to his full height, ready for what was to come.

There were whispers as to how they would be Sorted. No-one seemed to truly know, even Ramsey and Alfie did not know. John simply thought it would be nothing deadly. Their thoughts were disturbed by something… strange approaching the room. He sensed it before the screaming began, and something ethereal and otherworldly entered the room. They felt like echoes through the Force, a memory of what was once there.

Ramsey named them the ghosts of Hogwarts, coming to check upon a new year of students. They said something to the front, but nothing John could hear, and they soon vanished as quickly as they disappeared.

And there she was again, Professor McGonagall called them forth, and they followed her into the Great Hall in a line. If anything, the hall was deserving of the name. Even the Entrance Hall they were just in paled in comparison. It was grander yet, and was well lit by many candles floating in the air. Inside were four long tables, where the rest of the school was seated. Above the candles hung colourful banners. The entire atmosphere was positively medieval.

They strode through the middle of the tables feeling the gaze of curious eyes on their shoulders. At the end of the hall stood an elevated table, where the staff sat down. It was just before that that they stopped, as Professor McGonagall put down a stool, on it was perched an extremely frayed and well-worn hat.

Suddenly, it moved, and out of it, burst out a song, that he did well to forget. A polite applause burst from the hall that soon quieted down again. There was some more hushed mumbling, but he, Alfie and Ramsey stood silently, waiting.

Professor McGonagall unfurled a great scroll of parchment and explained how it worked. She would call forth names alphabetically and they would put on the hat, which would sort them into houses.

He did not pay it much mind, until one of his new friends was called up.

"Black, Alphard"

Much of the hall fell silent at that, and a slight intake of breath was heard. Nevertheless, Alfie walked to the chair confidently and sat down with grace born out of years of practice, gently putting on the hat. It took the hat a little longer than it had for the people before to be called up, but it eventually boomed out its decisions.

"Slytherin!"

Apparently, few were surprised by that.

The blonde girl that had sat in their boat apparently went by Daphne Greengrass, as she soon joined Alfie in Slytherin, as had Crabbe, Goyle and Malfoy.

Though, John was really waiting for Ramsey. When his name was called up, the reception was even worse than that of Alfie, a murmur of disgust and disapproval rose throughout the hall.

Ramsey joined Slytherin as soon as the hat joined his head.

Just before John , "Potter, Harry" was called up who joined Gryffindor after a weighted moment. Great cheers erupted from the hall then, and John had simply rolled his eyes.

Not long after, it was John's turn. The sensation of putting the hat on was exceptionally strange. It felt alive much like the ghosts from earlier. Then that presence bumped into his, and he heard it in his head.

''Curious, most curious. I did not expect one such as you. I was certain he would be the last. But here you are. Here you are." it said again.

''Hmm,'' it continued.' "Hmmmmmmm…''

''Gryffindor or Slytherin, both would suit you. Perhaps Slytherin was not the right choice for him, in hindsight, but it is for you."

John was curious what it meant by that. He just wanted to be with his new friends.

"A Hufflepuff way of saying it, but an admirable desire. You shall be in...Slytherin!"

After the declaration of the hat John joined his newfound friends at the Slytherin table, where Alfie clapped him on the back and congratulated him. John was curious why people had reacted as they did (Alfie had been fairly alone in greeting John), but he whispered that he would explain later.

The Sorting was almost done now. A few more people followed John into Slytherin, but really, he had stopped paying attention. John noticed groups already starting to form at the Slytherin table. The blonde, Daphne had sat with a shorter dark-haired girl he thought was named Davis. Several others had flocked around Malfoy, such as Crabbe, Goyle and a girl named Pansy, from what he overheard.

When 'Zabini, Blaise', was sorted into Slytherin the hat and stool disappeared, and Professor Dumbledore rose to his feet. He said a few words, nonsense really, that John had forgotten as soon as he sat down again, and with it, a veritable feast had appeared.

He knew little more after that as he enjoyed the feast.

Soon after another set of words from Dumbledore they were escorted away from the feast, towards their new dorms. John was quite tired himself, and went to bed as early as he could. He'd need the sleep anyway, as classes would start the next morning. John would sort out the rest tomorrow.

Hello there !

So, that was a lengthy chapter. I hope I did most of those canon moments justice without being a straight copy. Now that those are out of the way, and that the open school year has begun, I can do a lot more fun stuff. Canon will start to derail rapidly from here.

The biggest thing done here is introducing my other two OC's, Alphard Black and Ramsey Lestrange, who I think you can guess the parents and grandparents of, given what I have written about them so far. They will be explored further as this progresses.

Finally, I must once again sincerely thank 1saaa, TendraelUmbra and Xgenje for being diligent beta-readers. Leyrann gets a mention here as well, as he stepped in to review this chapter too, even if he is not really a permanent beta for me.

Cheers,

Foadar

1saaa: thanks to Foadar for giving me a great procrastination excuse. You're the best buddy!