Killua looked up when the hat finally yelled, "RAVENCLAW!" after what had to have been a full minute of sitting on the blond kid's head.
The guy was intriguing. Killua was well aware that not many of his peers could see the thestrals. Not to mention the whole "transfer" thing that Gon had explained to him on the boat. Transferring out of a wizarding school was crazy rare. For most kids, they became like a second home. Killua was really hoping for that, but the sight of a familiar face in the same shrinking crowd diminished his hope.
"Canary Torino!" Young-old-lady called, and Killua's babysitter stepped up to the stool.
It didn't take long for the hat to yell, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Killua wasn't surprised. Canary was hardworking and loyal to a fault, and she'd had plenty of patience with him when he was a brat. Well— a smaller brat.
Still, his parents would probably be disappointed that she wasn't sorted into Slytherin, like Amane had been when she first started alongside Illumi, and of course like Illumi himself and Milluki had, and like he obviously would.
"Killua Zoldyck!" Of course, he was last.
Killua felt oddly uncomfortable under the gazes of the students in the hall. Though he knew no one would be able to hear whatever the hat thought of him, and obviously he didn't even care himself, it just felt weird, like his whole personality was on display.
The tattered fabric fell onto his head, squashing some of his hair into his face.
Lots of cunning thoughts in this head. You're certainly a shrewd thinker. You are clever and powerful. All traits found in the greatest of Slytherins.
Of course.
Even so, you are not particularly ambitious, and not very much of a leader. You also have a particularly bitter attitude towards traditionalism, which could cast you out from Slytherin peers.
Perhaps in Ravenclaw… After all, you do have a strategic mind, intense individuality, intuitive reasoning, and great skill in creative problem solving.
…what? Killua hadn't even really considered the possibility that he wouldn't be sorted into Slytherin. He couldn't remember any time a Zoldyck in history wasn't in Slytherin! He'd even been hoping for Gon to somehow end up in Slytherin so they'd be together.
Ah, Gon. Your new friend. You're awfully devoted to him for someone you just met. That kind of loyalty is common of Hufflepuffs.
Killua couldn't help but cringe.
No, you definitely lack the compassion and patience found in most Hufflepuffs.
Killua's face scrunched. The hat was kind of a bastard.
You're certainly daring. Loyalty can be a common trait of Gryffindors, as well. You are willful and courageous.
Gryffindor…like Gon.
What do you want? Between Slytherin and Gryffindor, which would you choose to be in?
"Obviously I would want to be a Gryffindor," Killua muttered, sincerely hoping no one watching could tell.
There you have it, then.
Wha—
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Killua felt practically numb as he walked over to the screaming table. Gon was easy to find; he was standing on the bench, waving with a big grin on his face. Killua smiled back.
He'd never thought this was a possibility. He'd always known he was going to go to Hogwarts, and he'd always assumed he would be stuck in the same house as the rest of his family, as their "prized heir."
As he sat next to Gon and some kid with big, stupid hair, immediately wrapped in a rib-crushing hug and surrounded by cheers, he started to think that maybe his future wasn't so set in stone.
~~~
Gon was following Knuckle, their Head Boy, to the Gryffindor Tower with Killua by his side, and he was feeling great! Killua was so cool! Gon had talked to him a lot on the boat ride across the line when Kurapika stopped responding.
As it turned out, Killua could see the thestrals because his whole family were dark wizards that operated as assassins! Gon didn't even have to worry about the morality of befriending an assassin because Killua didn't even like it!
Gon could tell that Killua was surprised about ending up in Gryffindor. He had said something on the boat about his family being a "Slytherin Family." He hoped Killua was happy about the way things ended up.
"Alright kiddos," Knuckle said, stopping the group at the top of some moving stairs (so cool!) in front of a large portrait of a large woman. "Those of you I haven't talked to yet, I'm Knuckle Bine, your Head Boy. This here is the Fat Lady. Tell her the password, and she'll let you into the tower." He turned to face the painting. "Hakoware."
At the word, the lady in the painting nodded (she moved!!!), and the painting swung inward, allowing the group to step inside.
It was so pretty inside! There was plenty of red velvet, the curtains, the sofas, parts of the rugs, and plenty of gold tassels, and a fireplace.
"Girls will go up those stairs, and boys over here. You're first years, so you'll be in the first door you find."
Gon smiled even wider and grabbed Killua's hand to run up the steps. They had to be the first ones there so they could get beds next to each other!
He threw open the first door he saw, finding a round room with four evenly spaced beds inside. He let go of Killua in front of one, then leapt onto the next.
Two other boys followed them inside, but Gon wasn't paying attention to them. He watched Killua pull back the covers of his bed and pull his suitcase up to sit next to him on it.
Gon pulled the pillow off of his own bed and chucked it at Killua's face.
"Agh! What the hell?!" Killua threw it back, but Gon caught it.
"You looked like you needed to stop thinking so much!"
He got a smile at that, but it looked dangerous. Then, Killua's pillow was flying at him. Gon barely had time to throw his own and catch this one, and then Killua was in front of him, swinging the pillow instead of throwing it, and Gon was almost knocked off his bed.
This was so fun!
Gon swung his pillow at Killua, and feathers started flying, surrounding them in a glorious, fluffy haze.
Yes, Gon was definitely glad things had turned out this way.
~~~
Killua hadn't been sleeping when the alarm went off, annoying bells echoing through the round room.
He usually only slept every couple of days back home. Besides, he had a lot to think about. He'd probably be getting a Howler from his mother soon, asking how he could dare disgrace the family with his sorting like that, and how could their heir be a Gryffindor.
Sucked for them. He didn't want to be the heir, anyways. Illumi could suck it. Killua was glad not to have to share a common area with that stalking creep of a brother. Besides, Killua always got an eerie feeling around his brother, and sometimes even had nightmares of him.
The nightmares didn't sound that odd, considering the "training" Illumi had put him through back home, but Killua had stopped having nightmares of his trauma years ago. Before then, there had been plenty of gore-filled memories for his subconscious to choose from.
Now, if he had a nightmare, it was always Illumi.
Milluki was in Slytherin, too, but Killua didn't really care about avoiding him. Even if Killua had ended up in Slytherin, they probably would have just ignored each other unless one of them needed a favor.
He wasn't in Slytherin, though. He was a Gryffindor, with Gon, and he'd had the loud snoring all night to prove it.
Now, though, the snoring had ceased as Gon flung an arm at the alarm to shut it up, keeping his eyes closed and whining at the annoying noise.
"Idiot," Killua huffed when Gon only rolled over rather than sit up. "You have to get ready. We have classes."
Killua was fully prepared to launch another pillow attack to wake his friend companion, though his pillow was rather empty after the previous night, but Gon shot out of the bed at his first warning, suddenly digging through his trunk for clothes.
"That's right! We have classes! I bet this'll be so fun, right Killua? Are you excited?"
Killua wondered if Gon had ever been to any kind of class before.
It wasn't long before they were seated at their first class (though the staircases certainly seemed to do their best to prevent timeliness), a History of Magic class shared with their years' Ravenclaws.
Based on his despondent expression, Killua could safely assume Gon had learned that classes are not something to be excited about.
Classes had nothing to do with Killua looking forward to time at Hogwarts. Time at Hogwarts was just time away from the Zoldyck Estate. He probably would have looked forward to a trip to Azkaban. Dementors had nothing on the soul-sucking abilities of his mother.
Gon certainly looked like his soul was leaving him with every word that left Professor Wing's mouth at the front of the room.
Their next class, Defense against the Dark Arts with Professor Mizaistom Nana, was a little more enjoyable. They'd only had introductions and been assigned reading, but Professor Nana had at least implied they would be practicing a simple shielding spell later in the week.
Potions was terrifying. Professor Menchi had spent the entire class explaining how strictly she would be grading their potions throughout the year. Killua had some experience with making potions (poisons), but he was still definitely intimidated by Menchi's standards.
Killua was fairly certain their Transfiguration instructor was either a complete moron or some kind of dark wizard. Professor Pariston Hill had the most ridiculous, shiny smile Killua had ever seen. He couldn't help but compare it to Gon's genuine grin and rolled his eyes.
Finally, in Herbology, they had some fun. Their Professor was a tall woman with blue hair who introduced herself as Cluck and wore large feathers in her hair. She started by showing them a thin, green snake that wound itself around her shoulders. Gon was watching it with keen interest.
Then, Cluck held her hand in front of the snake, and it bit her finger.
"This is a boomslang snake. Their venom is incredibly dangerous, able to kill a human with a single bite." Gasps echoed throughout the greenhouse, mostly from the Hufflepuffs on the opposite side of the table, Killua was sure. "Unless you're fine with leaving me to die of internal bleeding as my blood ceases coagulation, I suggest you find the cure in this room. Go."
The students scattered immediately, most either heading for the small bookshelves near the door or going right to the pots to read labels.
Killua huffed. These were all idiots. He didn't have any experience with antivenoms, but he knew they were made with samples from the snake's venom! Of course the cure was in the room! It was in the snake!
All of these other kids were so stupid. He and Gon would— wait, where was Gon?
"Hey, Killua! Do you think…ver-vain is a snakebite antidote? I've never heard of it before!"
Killua dropped his face into his palm. That idiot!
"Gon, get over here!" As soon as he didn't think he'd be overheard, Killua explained. "People make antivenoms with venom samples straight from the snake! I think they must use something to extract it right from the glands!"
Gon leaned back, tapping his chin with a finger. "Have you ever done it before, though? Or seen it done?"
Killua shook his head. "No, I've never needed antivenom. In my family, we just build up an immunity to venoms and poisons, starting with small doses."
Gon hummed. "We wouldn't know how to do it, then. Does the Greenhouse even have the supplies for that?"
As much as Killua hated to admit it, Gon had a point. Beyond that, his questions had made him realize something. With the class being Herbology, it wasn't likely that the Professor would have set up a challenge that had nothing to do with plants. Maybe it really was as simple as researching a plant that cured snake venom.
He walked over to the small bookshelves and a familiar face, giving Gon's sleeve a tug so he'd know to follow.
"Yo, Canary." The girl looked up to face him with that expression he hated with a passion, the blank look of a servant awaiting orders. "Have you guys found anything?"
The mop-headed Hufflepuff next to her shook his head.
"We haven't," Canary said. "There are several volumes on medicinal plants, but I have yet to find a section on curing snake bites."
Killua sighed. Behind him, Gon groaned. "This'll take so long! I have a better idea!"
Gon practically hopped over to the rows of potted plants. He pulled a small leaf off of the closest one.
"I've never been bitten by a boomslang snake before. We don't have them on Whale Island, but we do have forest cobras, and I got bitten by a baby one once when I tried to help it!"
Killua felt his blood freeze when Gon stuck the leaf in his mouth.
"I tried a whole bunch of plants to help, and I can't remember which one fixed it, but I think I remember what it tasted like!" he said from around the leaf he was chewing.
Killua wasn't sure whether or not to be alarmed, so he just ended up laughing. "You're really something else, Gon."
Gon smiled at that, then plucked a leaf from the next plant over, chewing with an expression of intense focus. "Not this one."
He moved on to the next. And the next. Killua was somewhat concerned that he would end up eating something poisonous, since he doubted Gon had been put through the same intensive conditioning he had, but this was just a school greenhouse, so they probably didn't have anything too deadly sitting around.
When he checked, Professor Cluck was watching Gon, looking predictably concerned and confused, but she didn't make any moves to stop him.
Gon plucked a grassy stem from a plant on the end of the row and chomped down. Killua could see the gears turning in his mind.
"I think this is it! It has the same tingle to it!"
"Asphodel," the mop-haired Hufflepuff said, and Canary picked up a huge book and flipped the pages frantically.
"Yes, here, Master Killua. It says that the stems can be consumed to cleanse the blood of snake venom."
Gon smiled. "Thanks! Professor Cluck!" He grabbed the plant with one hand and Killua's hand with the other, bringing them both to the front of the room. "We figured it out! You have to eat this!"
The woman smiled and plucked a stem from the plant, eating it like it was simply a mid-morning snack and not an antidote to save her life.
"Excellent job, Freecss. Ten points to Gryffindor, and five to Hufflepuff for the teamwork."
Gon smiled at Killua like they really were a team, and it made something squeeze in his chest, but he smiled back anyway.
Afterwards, they had Charms, where they learned that the tiny Professor Krueger was absolutely terrifying. Killua felt she was a miserable old hag, but Gon seemed to like her enough.
Apparently, they were going to be starting with levitation charms. They were only even practicing on feathers, which Killua thought was stupid. They practically levitated on their own. He challenged himself to casting it nonverbally, something his parents had been teaching him, since it was essential for an assassin.
He smirked to himself. His peers wouldn't even be attempting this until their fifth or sixth years, and here he was, learning to master nonverbal casting right next to their dumb beginner levitations.
Killua was just getting his feather to hover about an inch when Gon's suddenly exploded next to him.
"Um, Professor Krueger? I think I might've done it wrong. Can I have a new feather?"
Professor Krueger stepped up to the two of them, and Killua felt fairly certain he was busted as well.
"Why don't you borrow your friend's, since he clearly thinks he's too good to practice like his classmates."
I don't think I'm too good, Killua imagined telling her. I know I'm too good. He passed his feather to Gon and smiled pleasantly at their glaring Professor. This would be fun.
Their Astronomy class was hard to get to, since it was up in such a high tower, and Killua was starting to think the staircases had a personal grudge against him, but Kite, their instructor who told them not to call him "Professor," seemed chill enough, even if he did spend a weird amount of time staring at Gon.
Killua hoped he wouldn't turn out to be some kind of pedo perv. He'd have to kill him, and then he'd probably get kicked out of Hogwarts and never see Gon again. That would suck.
They were walking to the Great Hall for dinner when Gon held up his hand. Killua raised an eyebrow.
"A high five! We made it through our first day!"
Killua smiled, smacking Gon's hand with his own. "Yeah. I guess we did."