2. Hogwarts and the Politics of Sorting

Aurelius caught Alastor's eye as the younger boy approached the Slytherin table and he was pleased to see that Aurelius was regarding him with some respect at least. Having been told time and time again that he was to sit with his brother, Alastor automatically sat down beside Aurelius and turned his attention back to the Sorting just as Professor Dumbledore called, "Pomfrey, Stewart!"

Alastor watched as the other boy crossed to the stool and sat down. A goofy grin was upon his face as Professor Dumbledore lowered the Hat onto his head. After a few minutes, the Hat shouted, "RAVENCLAW!"

"Good riddance," Aurelius muttered as the boy took the Hat off and trotted over to the Ravenclaw table. Alastor smiled slightly as he remembered Stewart running into the older boy at the train station.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing, Aurelius," Alastor replied innocently, his smile gone.

Aurelius glowered at him before returning his attention to the Sorting. Alastor did the same, just as Professor Dumbledore called, "Redgrave, Rremly!"

The last of the five boys stepped forward to be Sorted, looking a bit pale. The Hat slid down over his head. A short wait later, the Hat shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

"At least he's not in Gryffindor," Aurelius murmured as the younger boy joined the Hufflepuff table. "In the lion's den, as it were."

Alastor listened to his brother with a sinking feeling in his stomach. If he let Aurelius dictate whom he was to associate with, he wouldn't be allowed to spend time with the other four. He wasn't so sure his family's approval was worth losing the friendship of Stewart, Griffith, Percy, and Rremly. He turned back to the rest of the proceedings to distract himself from that uncomfortable thought.

He saw a fair blond, "Stoltz, Felix" called to the front. Within a moment the pronouncement was, "RAVENCLAW!" Felix took a seat beside Stewart who immediately started a conversation, quite animatedly, to the amusement of the other boy.

Then there was the shy looking, sweet-faced, golden-honey haired boy, "Wilkes, Milo," who took a seat. After a few minutes—and a few nervous adjustments to his round gold-rimmed glasses—the verdict was, "HUFFLEPUFF!" Rremly smiled and waved Milo over when he reached the table. Milo blushingly sat down beside him.

Suddenly, a new thought occurred to Alastor: would his friends even want to stay friends with him? They each seemed to be doing quite well with the new Housemates they'd met…

Alastor was glad when the weekend arrived. His fears about being abandoned had been chased completely from his mind when the others found him in the hall for the first day of class. They fell into step beside him as if they'd always been taking classes together. This was perfect and wonderful for Alastor, as he preferred the companionship of Stewart, Griffith, Percy, Rremly, and even Belladonna to that of his roommates, despite having spent less than a day with the former and almost a week with the latter. Though, he supposed he didn't really mind the Albrecht twins. They were nice enough and seemed to keep to themselves or otherwise spent their time with Felix, the fair blond from Ravenclaw.

Saturday morning, after breakfast, the six of them met in the courtyard, sitting in a corner of it to be out of the way. "Al, what's your brother's problem?"

"What do you mean?" Alastor stared at Griffith, puzzled.

Griffith shrugged, wrapping his cloak tighter around himself. "Well, he's been an arrogant git, but he makes it a point to insult Gryffindors."

"Haven't you heard of the rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin?" Alastor asked, surprised.

Griffith shrugged. "I know that it's supposedly legendary."

"Exactly," Percy nodded. "To Slytherins, Gryffindors are their worst enemies. It also goes the other way, too."

Looks were exchanged all around the circle of friends. "So, does that mean I'm your worst enemy?"

"No, of course not," Alastor hastened to assure the other boy. "Most Slytherins believe that, but I prefer to make up my own mind."

Percy clapped him on the back, cheerful as always, "Same here. It'll be nice to tell my family there's at least one good Slytherin out there."

Griffith nodded and Belladonna commented, "Well, that's good news."

Alastor looked at each of them. "To be honest, I find I enjoy your company more than that of my own House."

"Well, you're stuck with us now, Al," Stewart informed his friend as he slung an arm over his shoulders.

Alastor smiled. "Thanks, Stew." He looked around the circle once more. "All of you."

"Alastor Moody!" Aurelius's voice caused them to turn around. The older boy looked furious as he stalked across the courtyard towards Alastor and the others. "What do you think you're doing?"

Alastor gathered up the courage that had almost put him in Gryffindor. "I'm spending time with my friends."

"With the enemy, you mean," Aurelius said coolly, coming to a stop in front of his brother. As usual his brother was polished and cool with his fine new robes, red hair neatly combed and held back by a green ribbon at the nape of his neck, his green eyes and fair face now inscrutable.

Rather than lower his head, as was expected, Alastor met his brother's cold green gaze with a steely one of his own. "They're my friends, Aurelius. I won't abandon them because they're not in my House."

"What?" It was difficult to say which of the brothers was more astonished. Aurelius to have his brother call him by his name and stand up to him, or Alastor for actually doing it. "You're betraying your family by doing this, Alastor Moody."

Alastor stubbornly held his brother's gaze, though he'd always been taught to keep his eyes lowered. "I'd betray myself if I turned my back on them, Aurelius."

"I'll inform our parents of this. They will not be pleased to hear about it," Aurelius warned his brother.

Alastor shrugged. "Write to them if you want, Aurelius, but it won't change my mind."

"Very well." With a swish of his cloak, Aurelius turned and strode back across the courtyard and disappeared into the castle.

When Alastor turned back to his friends, they were all staring at him with wide eyes.

"What?"

"Why aren't you in Gryffindor?" Griffith exclaimed.

Heat suffused Alastor's cheeks. His voice was low when he answered, "The Hat couldn't decide which House to put me in. I asked for Slytherin in the hope that my family will treat me better."

"Apparently, it didn't work," Belladonna commented dryly.

Alastor nodded, drawing his cloak tighter around him. "I might just as well have asked for Gryffindor, given how Aurelius just treated me."

Despite many demands from his parents and brother, Alastor refused to give up his friendship with the other boys. They were the first in his experience to treat him as a person, rather than a thing. He knew Aurelius was watching him, and reporting to their parents, whom he would have to face at Christmas, but he enjoyed the friendship of the others anyway, choosing to face his father's wrath rather than spend his free time alone.

All five of them would be spending the winter holidays with their respective families, and enjoyed the train ride home together. When they jumped down from the train, five voices called different names: "Stew!" "Bro!" "Rrem!" "Percy!" "Boy!"

While the other four lit up when they caught sight of their families, Alastor cringed. His mother's tone indicated that she was not happy and her face, when he saw it, reinforced that impression.

"Come along! Quickly now, Boy!"

"Yes, Mother," Alastor replied, trudging towards her with his and Aurelius's trunks in tow.

His coldly elegant mother nodded curtly and looked over his head to someone behind him. "Ah, Aurelius. Time to go!"

"Yes, Mother," Aurelius replied with a smile that didn't quite reach his green eyes.

Alastor watched with a yearning heart as Calla greeted her elder son with a warm hug, her vivid red hair falling against Aurelius face as she pulled him close. "Come along," she barely glanced at her younger son, "both of you."

"Yes, Mother," the two boys chorused. While Aurelius walked alongside Calla with his head up, Alastor followed along behind them with the trunks, his head drooping.

Glancing around before they went back through the barrier into the Muggle part of the train station, Alastor spotted the other four with their families, talking and laughing. Two girls, both about eight years old, listened with rapt attention while three older boys and three older girls, all about thirteen, chuckled at what they were saying. Heaving a sigh of longing, Alastor walked through the barrier, just before a voice called, "Hey, Al!"

Augustus was waiting when Calla returned with the two boys. He looked stately and imposing, as usual. His dark green eyes rested upon Aurelius as though Alastor wasn't there at all.

"Aurelius, hello."

"Hello, Father," Aurelius shook his father's hand.

Augustus glanced at Alastor as the house-elves took the trunks before returning his glance to Aurelius. "Go on upstairs, Son. I'll see you in a minute."

"Yes, Father." Aurelius nodded to Augustus, his expression calm and carefully neutral, and kissed his mother's cheek before disappearing up the stairs.

Augustus' dark green eyes, when he looked down at Alastor, were cold and hard. "In the study, now, Boy."

"Yes, Father," Alastor sighed and headed that direction.

Augustus followed him into the study and shut the doors behind them with a sharp snap. "Aurelius has informed your mother and I that you insist on fraternizing, not only with three Gryffindors, but a Hufflepuff as well!"

"Yes, Father, I have," Alastor replied, digging for the courage that had helped him to stand up to his brother. This was difficult because Augustus was a great deal more frightening where Aurelius was only intimidating.

Augustus waited a few moments, as if he expected an explanation, before continuing. "I have told you, repeatedly, that you're not to consort with Gryffindors or Hufflepuffs."

"I know, Father." Alastor's voice was low, but firm. He stared at his father's shoes.

Alastor jumped when Augustus slammed a fist onto the desk. "Why do you insist upon disobeying that directive? I have explained why you're not to do this."

"Because I prefer to choose my own friends, Father," Alastor replied, slowly lifting his head to meet his father's furious gaze. "Percy Lockley, Griffith Hooch, Belladonna Breedlove, and Rremly Redgrave have never given me a reason not to be their friend."

"That doesn't matter at all!" Augustus raged. "Friendly or not, Gryffindor was Slytherin's sworn enemy! To consort with any of Gryffindor's chosen is an insult to the memory of Slytherin!"

Alastor fought to hold his father's gaze. "I don't care, Father! They're my friends and I'll spend time with them if I wish to!"

"The boys in your House are more suitable companions for you!" Augustus countered, his eyes practically blazing with fury now.

Alastor's hands clenched into fists at his sides as he replied through gritted teeth, "What about Stewart Pomfrey? You haven't mentioned him."

"He is a Ravenclaw," Augustus answered, calming somewhat. "She was always a friend to Slytherin, and has earned no enmity from our House."

Alastor dug his nails into his palms. "I won't turn my back on my friends, no matter their House!"

Augustus stared down at his younger son, a mix of wonder, fury, and shock on his face at the audacity of the boy. This was the most backbone he had shown in all his life, and it infuriated Augustus. "You'll be punished for this, Alastor Adelais Moody! Make no mistake about that!"

Alastor swallowed hard, but stood his ground. "I accept the punishment, Father."

"Very well." Augustus nodded and summoned the birch rod from the corner of the room. "Trousers down, hands on desk." Biting his lip, Alastor did as he was ordered.

The first stinging slap of the birch rod made him jump, but he did not cry out. To do so would have earned him a stronger punishment. After what seemed like forever, the slaps stopped. "Go to your room, and stay there. I want you to consider your actions more carefully in the future."

"Yes, Father." Wincing, Alastor pulled his trousers up and left the room with as much dignity as possible. After reaching his room, he stretched out on his stomach and thought longingly of his friends. This wasn't the first time he'd been punished in such a manner, and it wasn't going to be the last. He sighed and slowly drifted off to sleep.

The winter holidays were hardly enjoyable for Alastor. He spent most of his time shut up in his room, with one of the house-elves bringing him food and other amenities. He could hardly wait for the holidays to be over and to escape his parents. At least Aurelius was too busy spending time with their cousins to bother Alastor much at Hogwarts. The two weeks seemed to drag by. Augustus and Calla went to Christmas parties almost every night during the week leading up to Christmas, which meant he and Aurelius had the manor to themselves. During these times he actually didn't mind spending time with Aurelius. Aurelius usually arranged fine dinners for the both of them and Alastor was able to have a second helping if he wished, which wasn't allowed when they dined with their parents. After dinner they usually spent hours in the sitting room reading together near the warmth of the fire or else they spent time up in the tower stargazing, which gave Alastor a chance to prepare for his Astronomy class.

After Christmas, though, Augustus and Calla were home every night, and Alastor was required to spend the evenings in their company, even if all he was doing was completing the homework his professors had assigned over the holidays. They wanted him where they could see him. For New Year's, Alastor's parents hosted a party, which Aurelius was allowed to attend, but Alastor was ordered to stay in his room. Having no desire to even see his parents' friends, Alastor was quite content to stay in his room and finish up the last of his holiday assignments.

Finally, finally! It was time to return to school and Alastor looked forward to seeing his friends again. As he walked across the platform with the two trunks, the voice he recognized as belonging to Stewart's sister shouted, "There he is, Stew! Right over there!"

Glancing around, Alastor smiled when he saw the other boy walking over, with his sister in tow. "Hey, Al."

"Hey, Stew." Alastor smiled as he shook the other boy's hand in greeting. "How were your holidays?"

Stewart grinned. "Great, as usual. What about yours?"

"Could've been better," Alastor replied, wincing slightly as he remembered the last beating he'd gotten.

Stewart's grin faded. "I'm sorry to hear that, mate."

Alastor shook his head. "It's not your fault, Stew."

"Stew," the girl tugged on Stewart's hand. "You said you'd introduce us."

"Boy!" Calla's sharp voice prevented Alastor or Stewart saying anything. "Get those trunks on the train this instant!"

"Yes, Mother," Alastor sighed and began heading over to the train once more.

Behind him, Stewart turned to his sister. "Poppy, you'll have to wait to be introduced to Al, all right?"

She sighed and nodded. "All right." She stared after the other boy for a moment before shaking her head and returning to where her parents were chatting with Griffith's mother with Stewart.

This time, Rremly was the one to help Alastor get the trunks on the train. The other boy had just climbed aboard when Calla called, "Boy!"

Groaning, Alastor turned and walked over to where his mother was standing, her expression angry. "Yes, Mother?"

"What did your father tell you about associating with Hufflepuffs?" Calla asked, her voice sharp.

"Not to," Alastor replied sullenly.

"Exactly," Calla nodded, her eyes flashing. "Don't forget it."

"Yes, Mother." Alastor was really beginning to dislike that phrase.

At her nod, he returned to the train and climbed aboard. "Hey, Al!"

"Hey, Percy," Alastor smiled at the other boy. "Which compartment are we in?"

As he followed his friend down the train, he thought, I won't forget, but that doesn't mean I'll obey.