"KOSCHEI! HURRY UP, WE'LL BE LATE!" A bellow echoed up the grand staircase of the Oakdown family home, and a small, scruffy boy emerged from one of the heavy wooden doors, looking a little out of place for his appearance in a smart black shirt and red tie.
"Sorry..." He made his way down the stairs, resisting the temptation to slide down the banister whilst his mother was watching. Koschei Oakdown was in a pretty good mood, considering the fancy party his family had been invited to. Of course, the smart clothes were a downside, but he could put up with smart clothes if it meant an excuse to stay as far away from his family as he could for a night AND eat fancy food.
Upon his arrival downstairs, his mother hustled up, black and red dress rustling and sparkling blindingly in the brightly-lit hallway.
"Koschei, dear, present yourself better! The Hartnells are a respected wizarding family, I can't have my youngest son looking like a street urchin! You're bad enough, what with the..." She tailed off and flapped a hand in his general direction.
Koschei's good mood dipped a little. He was sick of the constant put-downs and brush-offs from EVERYONE. Even his own parents. So what, he was a Squib? Who cared? Why did it even MATTER? He was still a person. He didn't need to be reminded how bad it was, how he was cursed and couldn't do anything, how he didn't deserve to interact with little kids because he got mad at their blatant staring. The little whispers behind his back, the 'I'm so SORRY!' to his parents, not to him, he wasn't the one suffering, it was his parents who couldn't have another precious baby going to Hogwarts because he WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH.
Of course, he said none of this, instead standing up a little straighter and shooting a cold look at his assorted family members before stalking out into the cold night where a disgustingly fancy black and red car awaited.
•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•
Adult parties, Koschei had decided, were no fun at all. He'd been to many before, but this one 'took the biscuit', so to speak. His parents and older siblings had wandered off to mingle with the Hartnells, although it was clear which person belonged to which family from the colour divide. Every Oakdown in black and red, every Hartnell in gold and green. Except one old man, a Hogwarts professor, who dressed solely in black. Why he'd wear work robes at a fancy non-work event (which had something to do with politics, he was sure), Koschei had no idea. He must get enough of wearing them year round anyway.
Koschei had perched in a corner, avoiding the various attractions of the night, such as magical Exploding Snap, magical firework conjuring, and magical dueling. So much magic. So unfair.
Various Hartnell teenagers had approached him, questioning the lack of wand and involvement in the party, only to walk away disgusted as soon as the S-word was out of his mouth.
Squib.
Koschei hated the term.
A dirty mark stamped on his mind, his body, his being. Squib. Useless. May as well be a Muggle, for what he was worth. He was lower than a Muggle in ministry eyes. May as well be dead, his parents wouldn't care. They had other children, magical children who could do wonderful things. Wonderful things that Koschei couldn't do, would never be able to do.
He didn't even notice he'd clenched his fist hard enough to turn the knuckles white until someone tapped his shoulder.
He jumped violently and the offender backed off a little.
"Sorry! You... Are you okay?" At second glance, the offender was a boy of about Koschei's age, blonde and even scruffier than Koschei himself, dressed in a too-large green shirt and gold bow tie. You'd think that with all this money the guy would get clothes that fit, but apparently not. "Hey. I'm Theta. Hartnell, but you probably guessed that." Theta grinned, brown eyes sparkling, and gestured to his colourful attire. "Gold and green, kind of traditional. Don't know why, I hate it. But my mum says I have to dress to impress you Oakdowns. Your family is REALLY stuck up by the way... I should stop talking now. Sorry."
Koschei couldn't help but grin back. This boy's good humour was infectious.
"Name's Koschei. Hi. And yeah, my family's a load of stuck up idiots. You think they're bad now, you should try living with them!" He grinned again, sticking out a hand politely, which Theta shook enthusiastically.
There was a short pause in conversation, then Theta piped up again, "You going to Hogwarts this year?"
Ah. The dreaded school question. The one that made them turn away.
"...No. I-I'm a Squib, you see... Not allowed in..." He fully expected his newfound friend to walk off in disgust like the rest of them had. To his surprise, something rather different happened.
Theta grinned his biggest grin so far, even jumping on the spot.
"Me too! I'm a Squib! I never got why we're not allowed to Hogwarts, it's SO not fair. But now I've met you, and oh, this is so cool! You're the first Squib my age I've ever met, we're going to be such great friends!"
Koschei returned the grin, laughing at the boy's sheer enthusiasm.
"I'm sure we are, Theta." He sprang up, grabbed the other boy's arm and the two of them ran off into the crowd of people, happy and relieved that they'd both finally found someone like themselves and fully intending to enjoy this night thoroughly.