(Coeus Black - PoV)

We have a much easier time boarding than some of the other students we spot, who are trying to carry heavy, cumbersome, presumably unenchanted trunks on board. Have they forgotten about magic entirely?

Then there are all the pet carriers as well. That should have been a problem for us, but, fortunately, we convinced Iris to send Hedwig on ahead of us. I figured she would prefer a nice, long flight to being cooped up on a train, locked in a cage for hours.

She clearly agreed, and might have even forgiven me for monopolizing Iris's time.

Maybe.

Phoebe takes the lead once we board, leading us past dozens of empty compartments. Probably best not to question it.

Dozens become hundreds, the styles of the carriages shifting regularly as we pass through car after car.

"Umm, guys? Exactly how long is the train?" Iris asks. "I really don't remember it being anywhere near this big."

"The Hogwarts Express is always however big it needs to be," Daphne explains, "Though I doubt we will need anywhere near this many carriages."

"I am pretty sure she is just showing off for us. She likes to be admired, don't you girl?"

I run a hand along the wall.

Really, why else would she be painted such a bright red?

"Coeus, are you...talking to the train? Really?" Daphne asks condescendingly.

"Jealous?" I ask.

Daphne raises an eyebrow.

"And why, exactly, would I ever be jealous of a stupid train?"

She harrumphs before brushing past Phoebe and pushing into the next carriage. Or attempting to, but the door sticks, causing her to crash into it, bouncing off and landing on her bum.

"You should probably apologize," I suggest.

She looks up at me from the floor, appearing rather confused.

"Apologize?"

I nod.

"To the Express." I wave a hand around, indicating our surroundings. "You don't really want her mad at you, do you?"

Daphne's expression switches to indignation, as she opens her mouth to refuse...before remembering her current situation.

Looking around hesitantly, she reconsiders.

"I...I mean...I never thought...is it really...?"

"You really should apologize," Phoebe agrees with me, leaning against the wall and looking at Daphne.

Iris stands in the back, watching the entire scene with wide eyes.

Daphne slowly stands and composes herself, straightening her hair and robes before clearing her throat.

"My most sincere apologies," she begins, as formally as possible, addressing a wall lamp. I have to struggle not to laugh.

"Yadda yadda yadda, I maketh formal apology, yadda yadda,"

She sure can use a lot of words to say that she is sorry she didn't realize something could get mad at her.

I am tempted to start doodling on the wall next to me to pass the time. I wonder if the Express would take offense to that or approve? Or just not care.

A fist hitting my arm gets my attention.

"Ow! What?"

"Idiot!" Daphne yells at me. "I asked if you think that was good enough!?"

I roll my eyes.

"Daphne, you were talking to a train. I very much doubt she cares about formalities."

I shrug.

"She just demands a little respect. She puts in a lot of work for us, you know?"

Daphne huffs at me and spins around, only to find Phoebe has already taken the lead again.

I lean over to Iris.

"Drama queen," I mutter into her ear.

She doesn't know how to respond, so I leave her be as we continue onward, ever onward.


After having passed through wood-paneled carriages with leather-clad seats, modern metal carriages with plastic seats, ones with cloth upholstery, others with wooden chairs bolted to the floor, an empty storage car, a luggage car, a two-story house that looks suspiciously similar to home, and far too many others, Phoebe finally comes to a stop, pulling open a door and entering a cabin.

A girl's face peeks out at us from somewhere amongst a mass of brown hair and books. We have either entered some sort of library car, or she is a shoo-in for Ravenclaw.

Phoebe walks in and takes a seat without saying a word. The rest of us follow her lead.

Book girl watches us, frozen in place.

I take up her challenge of a staring competition.

Bring it, Books! Blue is way better than brown.

Phoebe finds this amusing.

After several moments of silence, I hear Daphne sigh beside me.

"Since my companions that are supposed to take the lead lack manners, I suppose I will start the introductions."

I can feel her adjust herself.

"Hello, I am Daphne Greengrass, starting my first year. Yourself?"

She turns her head slightly towards Daphne as she speaks...but still does not blink.

"I, uh, Hermione? Hermione Granger?"

The game continues!

She sounds so unsure of herself, but her eyes still keep shifting back to me. She's...she's watching me, isn't she? She's making sure I don't blink!

She sits up straighter, placing her book in her lap.

"Hermione Granger, I am going to be in my first year as well. Sorry about the books, I, may have gotten a little carried away?" She glances around slightly, but not quite enough to end our contest.

"There is simply so much to look up! Every book keeps referencing something else, with no context, so then I have to look it up somewhere else, which leads to looking up something in another book, and before you know it...well." She waves her hand at the pile with a sigh, before returning her focus to me.

"So who are you then?" she asks.

She voices it innocently enough, her tone light, but her eyes give it away as she locks gazes properly again.

A lot is going on in there. I wonder...

"Coeus Black," I reply, smiling and offering my hand, our eyes remaining firmly locked together.

She tilts her head slightly.

"Black...like Sirius Black?" she asks, accepting the handshake. "Several books mention him, but from the recent papers they were apparently...incorrect." Her face sours.

I am not sure I can properly describe the sheer disdain with which she spoke the last word. The reluctance. It was like Iris going to the healers, or a child admitting they broke something.

I sigh.

"Unfortunately."

...

She waits for elaboration, but I refuse to say more. I am tired of admitting to people that we spawned from him, someone else can do it. Phoebe?

I can feel her roll her eyes.

"He's our dad. We don't like him, or really want to talk about it," she says.

Thank you, Phoebe.

She leans against me.

The recently named Hermione glances Phoebe's way somewhat as she speaks.

"Phoebe Black. Coeus's better half."

...

I can feel the smug smirks from...everyone. Everyone in the compartment is smirking at me.

I can see Hermione's...just you wait. Wait until I win our contest!

My eyes are only struggling a little bit!

I bet you are having a way harder time.

"Good to meet you both." She turns her head for the last time, just enough to somewhat look at Iris.

"Oh, uh, Iris."

...

I can't see it, but I can feel the droop.

"Potter. Iris Potter."

Hermione opens her mouth, seems to reconsider, and closes it for a moment before she speaks.

"I...see? Not a fan of the...everything?"

Iris shakes her head.

"Would you be?" Daphne asks.

Hermione tilts her head, considering.

"That rather depends on what is actually true, I suppose."

Everyone blinks. Everyone but us that is!

The urge to poke her in the eye is rising. Damnit, she doesn't even appear to notice the strain.

"What?" Iris asks.

Hermione shrugs.

"Well, there are certainly some potential perks to your situation. The question is if they are worth the costs, right? It is a bit hard to tell, however, given all the conflicting information and rumors going around."

The girl is frowning very hard.

"I hate how inconsistent everything is. If you can't even trust the books what can you trust? Do you have no publishing standards?"

"Not really," I admit. "It can be a bit of a problem. Especially when the Ministry actively decides to get involved and generally promotes the absolute worst material possible."

Hermione just stares me dead in the eye for several seconds.

I can feel them twitching, watering.

While hers seem perfectly even. Normal.

Bloody hell, how long can she go for? Is she a Metamorph? Phoebe, did you set me up?

She opens her mouth to reply, before her brows furrow, and she looks towards the window.

"Oh, I think the train is starting. I am so sorry, did any of you want to wave goodbye? I can move my things really quick..."

We all shake our heads negatively.

"We said our goodbyes to Andy and Ted. No one likes Sirius or Daphne's parents."

Hermione cocks her head slightly before nodding.

"Wait, the windows work? Do all the windows work?" Iris asks.

"As far as I know, why?" I reply.

"Coeus, how many cars did we walk through on the way here? What would happen if we spread one person through each car, and had them each wave out a window? The train doesn't have that many cars on the outside..."

I shrug.

"I assume people would show up in the same carriage or something? Best not to think too hard on it."

"How many cars exactly did you walk through?" Hermione asks.

"Too many..." Daphne mutters.

"Don't mind her, she's still moody that the Express literally knocked her on her bum after she insulted it."

"...What?"

Hermione appears rather alarmed now, her eyes widening.

Damnit, that was the opposite of what I needed.

Focus. Focus focus focus.

"...problems since then."

Oh, Phoebe explained events while I was trying to keep my eyes open.

That's...ok I guess.

Hermione is looking back and forth between us, trying to figure out if we are pranking her.

I shrug.

"I don't see what the big deal is? Just show a little respect and you are fine? It's not like something is just going to pop out of nowhere and bam-Damnit!"

I blinked.

Hermione smirks at me, smug in her victory.

I glare at her.

Damn.

Fine then, my turn!

My eyes have their own talents!

I look.

Phoebe elbows me after a second, but it is enough.

Neat.

She is a bit broken inside, but she tries to hide it.

Her smirk falters a bit when I smile back at her.

I see you now!

...

Sort of.

...

Look, people are hard, ok?