DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER.
Abhimanyu was standing with his parents on platform 9¾, Kings Cross station as the Hogwarts Express was being boarded.
Even as he was hugging his parents, his mother said, "My child, have a wonderful year. Don't ever hesitate to write to us if something is wrong. Be a good boy my darling Abhimanyu."
His father said, "Study well. This is your final and most important year, so give it your all, and be responsible. And if you ever need anything, just write to us."
As Abhimanyu and his parents ended the embrace, they heard a lady calling out, "Well hello there, glad we could make it on time."
They turned to see a reddish brown haired woman wearing a hat, accompanied by a familiar boy.
"Ginger," Abhimanyu called out, "Glad you're here."
Ginger hugged Abhimanyu even as Molly who happened to be nearby rushed over.
Abhimanyu hugged Ginger and Molly and said, "Nice that you're all here."
Ginger's mother gave Abhimanyu and Ginger a hug and said, "Take care darlings. Have a wonderful seventh year. Don't worry, you'll love it."
Abhimanyu's mother added, "Don't get stressed. You'll be fine."
Abhimanyu replied, "Thanks Ma, Aunty."
Ginger said, "Thanks Mum, Aunty."
Subhadra then spoke, "Abhimanyu, I've added a lot of food. There's so much palak paneer, dhal, and roti. Are you sure you'll be able to finish it all?"
Abhimanyu replied, "Ma, a few more friends are joining us. So now we will have enough to share."
Subhadra smiled and asked, "Son is it your friend Belle…, what's her name, Bellatrix?"
Ginger quickly looked around and then whispered, "Uncle, Aunty, it would be better if you said that softly. Bellatrix's father is not a nice man, and he is let's say, a racist."
Meanwhile, some distance away, Bellatrix, Andromeda and Narcissa were talking to their parents.
Cygnus spoke, "Remember, you are all daughters of the most Ancient and Noble House of Black. You must uphold your honor and dignity."
Their mother Druella, a strict looking woman and dressed in an elite manner spoke, "Remember what your father and I have told you about the importance of blood, and stay away from the wrong kind. Their blood does not belong with ours."
The sisters replied, "Yes Father, Yes Mother."
Just then, the guard blew his whistle.
Meanwhile, R.K. hugged his son and said, "You'd better board now Beta. Take care. God bless you."
Abhimanyu returned the hug and gave his mother a last hug and a kiss on the cheek saying, "Goodbye Ma, Papa. Take care. Please write to me."
Subhadra said, "I will. Goodbye Abhimanyu."
Abhimanyu and his friends boarded the train and found a compartment.
After they had settled in, Abhimanyu said, "I have to go to the prefects' compartment. If you guys get hungry, go ahead and start. Just make sure those Lestranges don't enter, same with Avril Leverge."
Molly said, "Okay, but Bellatrix, Andromeda and Narcissa will join us, right?"
Abhimanyu said, "Yeah, I'm planning to bring them over. Lucius might come here too, to get a taste of North Indian food."
Molly and Ginger both gave him thumbs up and he left to discharge his duties after waving to his parents one last time.
He walked to the prefects' compartment where several younger students were gathered, having received the title of prefect. Bellatrix as the head girl was standing there as well.
Rodolphus Lestrange, as a prefect was also there.
He called out, "Bellatrix, congratulations on becoming Head Girl. That position is meant for…"
He trailed off, upon noticing Abhimanyu standing right next to her, with a glistening Head Boy badge pinned to his robes.
He exclaimed in disbelief, "WHAT?! YOU'RE HEAD BOY?!"
Abhimanyu couldn't hold his smile of savage glee upon seeing the bully's face, especially his mouth, opening and closing like a fish's mouth.
He said, "Yes Mr. Row-Your-Boat Lestrange, Bellatrix and I have been appointed as the Head Girl and the Head Boy, so beware. Now please sit down so that we can give the instructions as soon as possible and you guys can discharge your duties and snack on freely when it's not your turn."
Rodolphus glared at Abhimanyu, but did not dare to pass an insulting remark, seeing Bellatrix glaring directly at him.
Honestly, what was wrong with her? Since a few months ago, she had suddenly started hanging out with this Mudblood, and that was a huge problem for him.
Because she still spoke with him, perhaps there was still a good chance of convincing her to go out with him and end her friendship with Abhimanyu.
Or so he hoped.
Abhimanyu turned to Bellatrix and asked, "Should I start first or you?"
Bellatrix replied, "You go first."
Abhimanyu said, "Sure? Ladies first, come on."
Bellatrix said, "Alright, you said it yourself."
She then spoke, "Good morning my fellow students of Hogwarts who have been appointed as prefects. For those in their fifth year, we offer our sincere congratulations on being made prefects. As some of you may have heard, thanks to Rodolphus, Abhimanyu Pandey and I, Bellatrix Black have been selected as the Head Boy and the Head Girl. We look forward to working with you all, and we request for everyone's attention."
Some prefects clapped for the new Head Boy and the Head Girl. However, Rodolphus did not. Instead, he looked angrily at the floor.
Bellatrix continued, "And now, I would like Pandey to explain our roles."
Abhimanyu spoke, "Thank you Bellatrix. Good morning everyone, my name is Abhimanyu Pandey, and as Bellatrix explained earlier, I have been appointed as your Head Boy. Now please listen carefully as we explain our roles. It is our duty to help our teachers maintain law and order. We must make sure that rules are not broken and that we students behave properly. As Head Girl and Head Boy, Bellatrix and I have the power to remove points from houses depending on the situation and also to hand out detention, but don't worry. We're not mean people. We're nice, so don't worry. Also, one more thing, on and off, you prefects must patrol the train, and we will call you when it's your turn."
He looked at Bellatrix next to him and asked, "Should I proceed?"
Bellatrix said, "I'll take over."
She then announced, "Prefects, as you have heard, you will be required to patrol the train at regular intervals. We will call you when the time comes. On and off, we will also be inspecting you to make sure that you are performing your duties. During the academic year, you may hand out detentions and take points but this can only be for your own house and not any other house. Only the Head Boy and the Head Girl can punish students from other houses this way. Also, if anyone abuses their position, they shall be liable to have their powers revoked."
She motioned to Abhimanyu who said, "You heard that. Now, have you all understood your roles? Are there any questions?"
No one had any questions.
Abhimanyu then announced, "We shall now organize the order in which your prefects have to patrol the corridors. Please pay attention."
Sometime later, Abhimanyu and Bellatrix were patrolling the train to ensure that the first pair of prefects was doing their job properly.
As they reached the compartment just behind the engine, Abhimanyu looked at his silver bordered golden watch which Molly's parents had given him for his birthday and said, "Bell, it's 12:30 now. Do you want to join us for lunch?"
Bellatrix said, "Oh sure. After ten minutes, we'll go get Andromeda and Narcissa. Shall we invite Lucius as well?"
Abhimanyu said, "Sure, why not? Oh and you are going to love what my mom made for the trip."
Bellatrix asked, "What is it?"
20 minutes later…
Bellatrix, Narcissa, Andromeda, and Lucius were sitting with Abhimanyu, Ginger and Molly, dining on roti, dhal, palak paneer, chopped up onions, and some really nice broccoli and mushroom curry that Molly's mother had made.
Lucius stared at his roti and exclaimed, "How am I supposed to cut this thing with a fork?! Are you all really eating with your hands?!"
Abhimanyu laughed and said, "Lucius, that's not the way to eat roti! Just use your hands!"
Narcissa laughed as Lucius finally tore off a piece of roti and ate it with a morsel of paneer, sporting a weird face.
And then Lucius' expression changed to one of wonder.
A few moments later, he said, "I have to admit, this Indian food is very delicious. Who made this?"
"My mother," Abhimanyu replied.
Bellatrix stated, "Your mother's food is amazing!"
Andromeda added, "I'm so glad you invited us to dine with you. I wonder what Mother and Father would say if they were to try this."
Molly said, "It's been a long time since I last came over to your place. This is so nice. I just wish Arthur were here."
With that, Molly let out a sigh.
Abhimanyu said, "It's only for a year Molly."
Bellatrix asked smilingly, "Are you in love with Weasley?"
"Bellatrix," Molly cried out, "That's private!"
Later on, that evening.
It was evening and the train had reached Hogsmeade station.
Lucius had left his compartment to go join his fellow Slytherins after lunch. A little while afterwards, Bellatrix and her sisters had returned to their compartment where they had stored their trunks to rest for a while. Of course, Bellatrix and Abhimanyu had inspected the prefects on and off.
Currently, Abhimanyu, Molly and Ginger were exiting the train with their trunks in tow.
Afterwards, they went to find a carriage.
Soon, they were seated at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall of Hogwarts, watching the sorting.
Dumbledore was seated in the Headmaster's chair, and Minerva McGonagall, the new Deputy Headmistress, was calling out the names of the students who were yet to be sorted.
At some point, they heard McGonagall calling out, "Amelia Bones."
A smiling girl with yellowish brown hair went to the stool and the sorting hat was placed on her head.
A few minutes later, the hat announced, "HUFFLEPUFF," and Amelia Bones went to the Hufflepuff table.
Abhimanyu had heard about the Bones family from Molly.
They were known to be a prominent family with positive views on Muggleborns. That sounded nice, and finally, he had just witnessed a member of the Bones family being sorted.
After the sorting, Dumbledore stood up and spoke, "My dear students, as you may know, this is my first year as the Headmaster of this school, and I am more than happy to have you all here to learn, to fill your brains with knowledge. But most importantly, I wish to be there for you as much as possible. I hope that you will all benefit during my tenure."
He then announced some rules, spoke a few odd words, and then the feast began.
Abhimanyu looked at Bellatrix on and off during the feast.
He wanted to tell her about his feelings but did not know how to.
He was glad when after the feast, Dumbledore called both him and Bellatrix to his office to have a few words with them regarding their duties.
Afterwards, they went to their dormitories, but not without a hug.