Chapter 2: Fateful

Disclaimer is in the first chapter.

POV: Nyssa Argyris

I really hadn't expected to be going to Hogwarts. Mother wanted to send me to Durmstrang, since they'd have a better understanding of our Greek culture. But since we moved to Birmingham, Father advocated for a school closer by, and said it was important I learned about British culture too, or else I'd feel excluded. Plus, as purebloods, I would have to ascend into high society – and by that, it was meant that I'd need to debate at the Wizengamot and show up at one or two parties – so it was best I knew what I was up against.

Yesterday I had been to Diagon Alley and bought my stuff – uniform, cauldron, textbooks, my allowance of candy and a pet. Father didn't let me have a pet until this year. He always said I was too young, but this year he surprised me. My pet was currently hiding in my trunk, asleep, but I wasn't bothered – it made it easier to care for him. When we had gone into the shop, it had been full of creatures – owls in every colour, sleek rats, fluffy Puffskeins, warty toads, even a Knarl in the corner attempting to trash its cage. But the thing that caught my fancy was a shiny silver serpent about four feet long, curled up in a cage at the far back.

"Please, Father, can I have that one?"

He had frowned. "The snake? Are you sure? Mightn't you want something a little simpler first?"

I had shook my head – just a few seconds and I was already attached. I poked my finger through the bars. "Hey, snake?"

It had uncurled and silently slithered over, raising its head to my finger almost as if it was trying to sniff me out, just like a dog does. And then it had simply curled up next to me and let me scratch its little, spade-shaped head. I named him Aevus, bought him a small cut of steak for his dinner with my leftover sweet money, and by midnight he was snoozing in my trunk without a care in the world.

And now, here I was, staring up at the shining scarlet locomotive that was going to whisk me off to the depths of Scotland to live in a castle and learn how to turn old socks into three-course banquets and pillows into brick walls.

"Have fun, Nyssa," my father said, patting my shoulder.

My mother gave me a hug. "Don't forget to write, or I'll send you a Howler."

I smiled. "Okay, Mother. Goodbye. Love you."

I found a compartment without any worries – I was never one to be late, so while all the other kids were fussing over the overcrowded front of the train, I slipped into the back and began to unpack my things. I figured I'd put on my robes now, so I opened my trunk, pulled on my robes over my Muggle clothing, then took out some things I thought I might need. A book on potions, a couple of Sickles for lunch money, my wand, and a spare cloak on which Aevus was still taking his nap.

The train was already moving by the time I was joined. The first person to walk into the compartment was a blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy who caught my attention by dropping his trunk on his foot.

"Ouch! Trunk…" he hobbled over, now dragging his luggage rather than carrying it as I glanced up over the top of my book. "Studying already?"

I shrugged. "I figure it's best to get a head start on everyone. This isn't the textbook, either, that thing has nothing in terms of explanation. I got it for my own interests."

The blonde shrugged and sat down opposite me as I turned the page I had been reading (knotgrass) and started on the next (mandrake leaf). "Is that a snake?"

I glanced over at where my pet was curled up – still asleep, despite the noise coming from the front of the train. "Yes, he is. That is Aevus, I got him yesterday. I'm Nyssa Argyris."

I held out my hand. He seemed a little surprised but shook it. "Sterling Nash."

I raised an eyebrow. "I don't recognise your name. Not from around here?"

He hesitated. "No, er, I'm actually… muggle-born."

"Ah. That explains it. You'll be the first to go to Hogwarts, then?" He nods and I continue. "Good, then, we're in the same boat. My mother wanted me to go to Durmstrang, but since we moved from Greece I ended up here."

"Drum strings."

I sigh. "Durmstrang. Wizarding school for Northern and Eastern Europe? Hogwarts only takes the British Isles."

"Right…" He subsided and I went back to reading my book.

POV – Otto Apted

My family arrived fashionably late, or at least that's what my sister Thea said about it. We had barely three minutes left to go when we got to the barrier, and by the time we had slipped through, it was down to two.

"Otto!" My mum handed me an apple. "This is for the train, sweetie."

My da sighs. "You needn't have worried, Mia, he'll be well fed on the train."

My mother frowned. "You know I don't trust travel food, Arion," she said, rummaging around in her bag. "Thea, your orange!"

My sister sighed and took the orange as the whistle on the train blew. My mother sighed. "Oh no, you're going to be late…" she quickly bent down and kissed both me and my sister. "Quick now, on the train," she said, as we both cringed.

Thea helped me carry my trunk up and we both leaned out of the nearest window and waved as the train set off, until we couldn't see either our mother or father. "Well, see ya," my sister said, and disappeared off into the train. Typical. Leave me alone on my first year, why don't you. Oh well, other people did it all the time, I could manage.

I wandered off through the train, checking everything, but it was all full. Eventually, I got to the farthest carriage, and to my pleasant surprise, it was almost empty, but for two people in a compartment – a wavy-haired brunette with a large book and an awkward looking blond. I dragged my stuff over. "Can I sit down?"

The girl shrugged; the boy shuffled over a little and I sat down. "I'm Otto Apted, and you are?"

"Sterling Nash," he said. "And that's Nyssa Argyris."

Nyssa didn't seem to notice; she was halfway through her book already, how early had she arrived? Not that I wouldn't like to read something like that – Basic Potion Ingredients and Their Functions sounded like my kind of book.

"What house do you want to be in?" I asked, to make conversation.

Sterling made a slight face. "I'm muggle-born. I don't know. I only found out about this when an owl flew down my chimney and set the curtains on fire."

I laughed; Nyssa's mouth twitched slightly but she didn't look up from her book. "My letter came through the window, thank Merlin. Not that it didn't fall in the teapot…" Sterling snorted, and I turned to Nyssa. "What about you?"

"I don't know either," she says, voice surprisingly smooth for an eleven-year old.

"Muggle-born as well?"

She folded down the corner of one of the pages and closed her book. "No, I'm a pureblood, but my family hails from Greece. I would have gone to Durmstrang."

I nodded. "You're better off here, it doesn't get as cold."

She raised her eyebrows. "And the rain?"

I shrugged. "You get used to it. I hope I get into Ravenclaw, myself."

"How do they choose the houses?" Sterling asked. "In muggle schools they assign you arbitrarily to prevent the selections from being prejudiced."

I grinned. "Different from here, then. We choose by character traits."

Sterling frowned. "Wouldn't that make any competitions really biased?"

"Of course, it would, if they're not careful," I replied. "But you can be awarded points for most anything, so it usually evens out okay-ish."

"So, then, you've mentioned it now, what's Ravenclaw?" Nyssa asked, slightly curiously. I got the feeling she was trying to stay aloof, but it wasn't working too well.

"The smart house, basically. It's associated with wit, knowledge, and intelligence. Nerd central."

Nyssa seemed interested, but Sterling laughed aloud. "Not for me then, I guess. I've never been too good at any kind of school…"

"Magic's different, though," I said. "Most of it isn't like muggle education."

"What are the other three houses?" Nyssa asked.

"Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Slytherin." I counted them off on my fingers. "Gryffindor is for people who are brave, daring and chivalrous. A bit like knights, I guess. Hufflepuff is hard workers, fair people and loyalty – they aren't really seen as very good at anything, but they're good friends. And they're particularly good finders, apparently."

"You mean seekers?" Nyssa asked.

I shook my head. "No. Like, for hide and seek." Sterling seemed to want to laugh again, but kept it in. I continued. "Slytherin is about ambition, cunning and resourcefulness. It's…"

I hesitated. "Yes?" Sterling prompted.

"It… kind of has a reputation. Most dark wizards come from Slytherin house, see."

Sterling thought for a moment. "They can't all be evil, that'd be dumb."

"Yeah, it would be. You'd at least separate them or something." I agreed.

Sterling scratched his nose. "I think I'm a Hufflepuff. I'm not particularly brave, or smart, or ambitious. Plus, my parents are both barristers."

I nodded. "That does seem like a Hufflepuff sort of family – the Bones family is mostly Hufflepuff, too, and their aunt's the head of the DMLE – magical police. Mine's split half and half – my father's side is more Ravenclaw, my mother's is more Hufflepuff. Though I'm pretty sure I have a Great-Uncle who was a Slytherin."

Nyssa seemed to be thinking. "Where are you going, do you think?" I asked.

She glanced up at us both. "I'm not sure. I can't say I'm not ambitious. Then again, I am reading a massive book before we get to school."

I went to say something, but before I could, I was cut off by Sterling making a squeaking noise. He indicated his leg, and there was what looked like a silvery rope wrapped around it.

"What is that?" I asked.

Sterling squeaked again and Nyssa bent down. "Aevus! You're awake!"

"Aevus?" I asked.

Nyssa gently removed the rope from around Sterling's leg. "Aevus, you weren't supposed to do that. You scared the boy," she cooed gently. In response, the rope wrapped itself around her arm.

"What's…?" I asked Sterling. He sighed.

"Snake," he mumbled. "Aevus is her snake."

I was going to ask more questions, but the door to the compartment slid open and the trolley lady stuck her head in. "Anything?"

I jumped at the opportunity – I wasn't about to survive on just an apple. "Can I have a Pumpkin Pasty, a Liquorice Wand and a bag of Fizzing Whizzbees, please?"

Sterling perked up as he looked over at the candy and food. "Can I have… some of those jellybeans? And some gum?"

The trolley lady looked at Nyssa, who thought for a moment. "A… Cauldron Cake, a Pasty and… a Chocolate Frog, please."

We paid and the Trolley Lady went on her way. Sterling started fiddling with the packet of Every Flavour Beans while Nyssa held the Pasty next to her snake's nose and it started trying to swallow the entire thing whole.

"Every Flavour?" Sterling asked. I nodded. "Yep. What did I get last time? Éclair, orange, banana, bubble-gum… beef casserole…mustard…strawberry and peanut butter ice-cream…envelope glue…"

Sterling took one out, put it in his mouth, and immediately made a face, spluttering.

"What is it?" I asked.

He shook his head and made a sniffling noise. "Jalapeno pepper, apparently."

I am glad to say that was the worst thing that happened all trip.

POV: Albus Dumbledore

"Thank you, Pokey, that will be all," I say, and the house elf bows and scurries off back to the kitchen. I look at the list of new students. It's amazing how the neonate years can shape a person. The Class of 1956 all came out wary of thunderstorms after they rowed across the lake in what muggles call a 'hurricane'. Hyacinthus Nott ended up all jumpy and nervous as a man while Orion Nott became an Auror, all because one twin was teased by Peeves. And he was only teased because he was wet from sitting at the left side of the boat.

Muggle-borns and half-bloods are relatively easy to shape. They're fluid, less steeped in tradition. Pure bloods, on the other hand, I always ensure I take diligent care of them. They're a little more inflexible. You have to be wary with them. I remember what happened when that Hat decided to sort Sirius Black into Gryffindor. It took too long to get that family back under control. If it hadn't been for Pete, the house would still be running around unchecked.

I flick through the list. Nothing out of the ordinary. So long as the Hat does as I say, everything should run smoothly.

Wait. I don't recognize this name. Argyris? Who is this? I check the lists of past students – nobody by that name sticks out. Yet her blood status is pure. I consult my books of Wizarding Genealogy. Yes, her blood is pure, but her family isn't from around here. They're known for being both cunning – and having nerves of steel. Fascinating…

I wake the Hat up. It grumbles.

"Silence. Listen to me. Nyssa Argyris is going to be sorted in a few hours."

"What now?" the Hat complains. "I have a purpose—"

"I said silence. Listen to me. I believe she belongs in Gryffindor."

The Hat mumbles a protest under its breath but agrees and I sit back at my desk, satisfied. Fawkes squawks. "Patience, my friend," I tell him. "I have everything under control."

A.N. Unlike my other stories, which try to skim close to canon, even as they run around blowing things up, this story will attempt to deviate at every possible opportunity. Sure, fate keeps pulling things back, but I'll be expanding the universe a lot more than usual.

Layla, Otto, Sterling, Nyssa and Thea are all OCs. You'll be running into OCs a lot here, mostly because this is the class of 1992 (Ginny's cohort). Therefore there aren't any blank names that can be used as OCs, but I need background characters to make this interesting.

Reviews, please!