The week at Prewett Hall was fun. Sirius and Regulus taught Severus some of the French they had learned over the past month and a half. They also played a lot of games together, with Severus teaching them Dominoes. They decided they would need to show this game to the others on the first Saturday back at Hogwarts. Though, it would feel weird without Andromeda. At least Capella would be joining them.
On the first of September, Sirius, Regulus, and Severus arrived at King's Cross Station with thirty minutes to waste. The three boys were hugged by Ignatius and Lucretia before Lucretia motioned behind them. The boys turned to find Arcturus and Melania standing there.
"We saw Sirius off to his first year last year, so it's only fair that we see Regulus off," Melania explained. Regulus grinned.
"You didn't have to, Grandmother, Grandfather," Regulus said.
"We know we didn't HAVE to, but we wanted to," Arcturus told him.
"Were Sirius and Regulus well-behaved?" Melania asked her daughter.
"Yes, Mother, they even taught Severus a little French," Lucretia responded. "And Severus showed them a Muggle game I believe they're going to show you this weekend."
Melania smiled. Just as she was about to say something else, Marius came running in their direction.
"Arcturus! Melania!" he exclaimed. When he got close enough to them, he lowered his voice, so the Muggles wouldn't hear. "I let Capella use the Floo on her own for the first time, and she never came through!"
Both Arcturus and Melania had their wands out, doing locating charms. They gave each other horrified looks.
"I will go get her," Arcturus said. "At least we still have twenty-five minutes." He hurried towards the fireplace, one that Muggles couldn't see.
"Where did she go?" Sirius asked, wondering if he wanted to know or not. Melania's answer made SIRIUS, Regulus, and Severus gasp in horror.
Capella Black hated the Floo Network. It had been fine when she had used it with her father, but this time, she had wanted to try it on her own, and her father had permitted it. Oh, how she wished she had just gone with him.
Capella had choked on her words when she had said, "King's Cross Station!" So the words came out in pieces, not sounding anything like they should. She felt herself spinning, and she fell out of a fireplace. She stood, expecting to see her father waiting for her, but he was nowhere in sight. She looked around her surroundings, and noticed this could not be King's Cross Station.
She was standing in a shop that not only looked dark and scary, but also felt like dark magic was in every corner. She realized that she had landed in a different place entirely. She needed to find her way out of here, and fast. She had a train to catch.
Capella walked out of the shop and into the streets. She shivered, even in the hot summer weather. This place was full of dark magic. She could feel it. She started getting scared. Where was she? Would she ever get out of here and to the platform on time? Before she could think of what to do, a witch came up to her. She could already sense this witch's intentions. This witch didn't seem like the nice type.
"Ah, a child," the witch sneered. "Where's your mummy and daddy, little girl? Hmm?" Capella was shaking now. Her instincts had been correct.
"I… I…" she stuttered.
The witch reached out a hand, and Capella's survival instincts suddenly kicked in. She ran. She ran as fast as she could away from the witch. She kept running until she ran into someone.
A pair of arms wrapped around her. She almost screamed, but a voice stopped her. "Capella, it's just me," a familiar voice said gently. Capella looked up to see Arcturus.
"Grandfather," she whispered shakily.
"It's alright, I'm here now," Arcturus said quietly. "You're safe."
Capella took a deep breath before saying, "I'm sorry, Grandfather. I didn't mean to get out somewhere different."
"It's common for children to accidentally get out at the wrong location on their first try of using the Floo Network," Arcturus said. He let go of her and said, "Now, let's get you to King's Cross." Capella nodded. "Take my hand." Capella grabbed on, and she gasped as she felt like she was being squeezed through a tube. The sensation stopped as soon as it started.
She blinked. They were standing on a platform. "How did we do that?" she asked, amazed.
"Apparition," Arcturus replied.
"Capella!" she heard voices shout. She found herself surrounded by her father, grandmother, Sirius, Regulus, Severus, Narcissa, Ignatius, and Lucretia.
"Oh, thank Merlin you're alright!" Marius exclaimed.
"Grandfather found me," Capella told him. "I'm glad too. It was a dark place." She shuddered at the memory.
"That place is not for children," Melania said, giving her a hug. "I'm so glad you're safe, dear."
"Well, the train will be leaving in five minutes," Lucretia pointed out.
Everyone started saying their goodbyes, then quickly boarding the Hogwarts Express. Sirius, Regulus, Severus, and Capella found a compartment in the back of the train. Narcissa joined them a few minutes later. Finally, James, Lily, Remus, Alice, and Mary came in. It was one crowded compartment.
Lily and Capella talked about the classes while the others played exploding snap. Halfway through the ride, the compartment door opened to admit a girl who Sirius recognized immediately. He had forgotten it was her first year as well.
"Hem hem," the girl said. "This is MY compartment."
"Er, excuse me?" Regulus asked. "We were here first."
"Oh, but I can kick you all out, you know," the girl said. "Get out of my compartment!"
Sirius, James, and Severus stood together, holding up their Heirship rings.
"You cannot order us around. We are Heirs to our houses," James snapped. "And who are you anyway?" The girl smiled.
"Oh, I do apologize," she said, not sounding sorry at all. "My name is Dolores Umbridge."
"Well, Miss Umbridge, please leave our compartment," James ordered. Umbridge scowled at them but finally left.
The rest of the train ride went smoothly. When they finally got to the castle, they took the carriages. They split into two carriages.
The second years entered the Great Hall, waiting for the first years to come in. Finally, the first years entered behind Professor McGonagall.
McGonagall started reading off the names. It didn't take long for her to call out, "Black, Capella!"
Capella stepped up to the stool and sat down. Only seconds later, the hat shouted, "RAVENCLAW!" The students cheered. For a Black to be in Ravenclaw was a shock.
Sirius wondered which house his brother would be sorted into. After all, he knew from experience that the sorting could turn out very differently. After all, he and Regulus were now both staying with their grandparents, so he was curious to see if Regulus was sorted into a different house.
"Black, Regulus!"
Regulus sat on the stool. It took a long time. In fact, Sirius thought it was taking even longer than last time. Finally, the hat made its decision. "GRYFFINDOR!" Sirius gasped.
When Regulus came over to their table, Sirius whispered, "Gryffindor, Reg?"
"It wanted to put me in Slytherin, but I wouldn't have any of my friends in Slytherin, and there are a lot of future Death Eaters in there right now, and I don't want to expose myself to that," Regulus explained.
Sirius realized Regulus had done what Harry had done in his old timeline, except for different reasons. He and Regulus looked up to the Head table to see their grandparents smiling. Regulus sighed in relief.
"Skeeter, Rita!" McGonagall called out a while later.
"RAVENCLAW!" Capella looked unhappy that Rita Skeeter was in the same house as her.
"Umbridge, Dolores!"
"SLYTHERIN!" The girl dressed in pink looked excited as she headed to the Slytherin table.
"At least we don't have to deal with her except in classes," Regulus whispered. Sirius nodded in agreement.
After Arcturus gave his start-of-term speech, everyone had something to eat. Finally, everyone headed to their common rooms, excited for the year ahead.