First Day
The year went by fast, and before long, it was time for Sal to get his wand. He was practically buzzing with excitement. With his supplies already purchased, he looked forward to spending the day getting his wand and finding new books.
"Sal, don't even think about it. We're starting with your wand," Lindsey warned, catching the eager look on her son's face. "If I let you in the bookstore first, I won't see you again."
As they stepped into Ollivanders, an elderly man with wispy hair and bright, curious eyes greeted them. "Ah, Miss Cross! It's good to see you. And this must be your son."
"Yes, sir," Sal replied with a grin. "I'm here to get my wand—hopefully one that helps me duel better."
Ollivander chuckled. "Let's give this one a try—cedar, dragon heartstring, very flexible."
Sal took the wand in his hand and gave it a wave. Several boxes exploded off the shelves. "Nope, not that one," Ollivander said, quickly reclaiming the wand. He disappeared into the back and returned with another. They repeated the process several times, but no wand seemed to choose him.
Rather than looking frustrated, Ollivander's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I wonder..."
The wandmaker stepped away, this time unlocking a small safe at the back of the shop. When he returned, he held a long, elegant box.
"Mr. Cross, I don't know if you know the story of the three brothers, but in that tale, there was a wand. It goes by many names, but most know it as the Elder Wand—the most powerful wand ever created. Though many have searched for it, none have succeeded in finding it. I am part of a group that researches unique wand combinations, and I once attempted to replicate the Elder Wand. Elder wood, thestral tail hair, fifteen inches. This wand has never accepted anyone—not even me, its creator—but I would like you to try it."
Sal carefully took the wand from Ollivander's hands. The moment his fingers wrapped around it, a bright light erupted from the tip, illuminating the shop. For a fleeting second, Sal thought he heard a faint, distant whisper.
Ollivander stared, astonished. "Incredible. I never thought I would see the day. Mr. Cross, that may not be the Elder Wand, but it is as close as one can get. I look forward to seeing what you accomplish with it."
"Thank you," Sal said, still mesmerized by the wand. He gave a polite nod before exiting the shop with his mother, eager to see where his journey would take him next.
When Sal boarded the Hogwarts Express, he intended to find an empty compartment to read his new book. However, as he walked along the train, his eyes landed on a compartment where a girl with vibrant purple hair sat alone.
"Is this seat taken?" Sal asked, pointing to the empty spot across from her.
"Nope, it's yours if you want it. I'm Nymphadora Tonks, but I hate that name, so you can just call me Tonks."
Sal chuckled and took the seat. "Nice to meet you, Tonks. I'm Salazar Cross, but you can call me Sal."
"Salazar? Seriously?" Tonks raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Was your mum in Slytherin or something?"
"She was actually in Ravenclaw."
Tonks grinned. "Probably good you go by Sal unless you want to scare people off."
Before Sal could reply, the door to the compartment slid open, and another girl peeked inside.
"Tonks! There you are! I've been looking for you."
Tonks waved her in. "This is Tulip Karasu. We've been friends since we got sorted."
"Yep, Puffs forever!" Tulip declared with a bright smile as she plopped down beside Tonks.
"Hi, I'm Sal."
"Nice to meet you, Sal," Tulip said, extending a hand. "What house do you think you'll be in?"
Sal shrugged. "Well, my mum was in Ravenclaw, but maybe I'll get lucky and end up in the same house as you two."
The three of them spent the rest of the train ride chatting. Tonks regaled them with stories of pranks she planned to pull, while Sal talked about the books he'd been reading. Tulip shared her excitement for subjects like Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures.
Before long, the train began to slow, and the distant lights of Hogsmeade Station came into view. As the students disembarked, Sal spotted a towering figure near the platform, waving first-years over. His mother had told him about the half-giant.
"That must be Hagrid," Sal murmured as they followed the crowd, his heart pounding with excitement for the journey ahead.
As the boats glided across the lake, the sight of Hogwarts shimmering in the moonlight made the castle look even more magical. Sal couldn't help but stare in awe.
"We'll meet at the Great Hall. Good luck!" Tonks said with a grin.
"Alright, see you there," Sal replied, waving as they parted ways.
When the first-years arrived at the castle, Professor McGonagall was waiting for them. After a brief, formal speech, she led them inside. The Great Hall was as magnificent as Sal had imagined. The ceiling, enchanted to reflect the night sky, sparkled with stars while countless floating candles lit the room in a soft, warm glow. At the front of the hall, a simple stool sat with the Sorting Hat resting atop it.
They were called by their last names, so it didn't take long for Sal to hear his name.
"Sal Cross," McGonagall called out.
Sal felt a wave of relief that she hadn't used his full name.
As he sat on the stool and the Sorting Hat was placed on his head, a voice echoed in his mind.
"Mmm, interesting... the heir to all four houses. You're a tricky one. You've taken Slytherin as your last name, and you certainly have the ambition for it. But you don't lack courage, so Gryffindor would fit. Your love of books and intelligence make you an ideal Ravenclaw... I see you've already made some friends."
The Sorting Hat seemed to deliberate longer than usual, and Sal began to wonder if something had gone wrong.
"Let it be... Hufflepuff!" the hat finally announced.
There was a slight murmur among the teachers who had met Sal. Many would have bet on Ravenclaw, but none were surprised that the heir of all four houses could have fit anywhere.
At the Hufflepuff table, Tonks and Tulip cheered, waving him over to an empty seat they had saved.
"I was afraid he'd be in Ravenclaw," Tulip whispered to Tonks.
"Or worse, Slytherin," Tonks added with a smirk.
Sal laughed as he sat down. "Guess I surprised everyone." The three of them shared smiles, already looking forward to their adventures at Hogwarts.
Sal's first class at Hogwarts was Transfiguration, and he couldn't wait to begin. He had always been fascinated by the subject, imagining grand spells and transformations. However, his excitement quickly faded when they started with the basics—transforming matchsticks into needles. For Sal, this was child's play.
With a simple wave of his hand, his matchstick instantly turned into a perfectly sharp needle. Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow but nodded approvingly.
"Very good, Mister Cross. Five points to Hufflepuff."
Sal smiled politely, but as the rest of the class struggled with their matchsticks, he quietly pulled out one of his new books and began to read.
The rest of the class passed uneventfully, though Sal could feel a few curious glances from his classmates. As the bell rang, Tonks nudged him on the way out.
"Show-off," she teased with a grin.
"I was just bored," Sal replied with a shrug. "Maybe next time they'll let us turn something a little more challenging."
"Well, you can help me with mine next time," Tulip chimed in, joining them in the corridor.
Sal laughed. "Deal."
In Charms class, Sal was prepared for an easy lesson and decided to entertain himself by sitting next to Tonks.
"Alright, class, today we will begin with the Levitation Charm," Professor Flitwick announced cheerfully, standing atop his stack of books. "Watch closely—Wingardium Leviosa."
With a graceful flick of his wand, Flitwick levitated a feather in front of the class.
"Now, I want each of you to try with your own feather. Remember, swish and flick."
Sal barely had to concentrate. His feather lifted effortlessly into the air on his first attempt. Smirking to himself, he decided to change the feather's shape, transforming it into a small bird that flapped around in gentle circles. Meanwhile, he glanced over at Tonks, who was struggling to get her feather more than a few inches off the desk.
"Swish and flick," Sal whispered, guiding her hand slightly.
After a moment, Tonks's feather rose steadily, hovering just above their heads.
"Well done, Mister Cross and Miss Tonks!" Professor Flitwick beamed. "Ten points to Hufflepuff."
Tonks grinned. "You know, if you keep showing off like this, everyone's going to think you're the next Merlin."
Sal laughed. "I just like to have a little fun. Besides, you're doing great."
The class continued, but for Sal, it was more about enjoying the time with his friends than the spellwork itself.
At lunch, Sal sat with Tonks and Tulip at the Hufflepuff table. The Great Hall buzzed with chatter and the clinking of plates.
"So, Sal, where did you learn wandless magic?" Tonks asked, leaning in curiously.
Sal shrugged. "My tutors taught me the basics of magic when I was young. It's mostly about intent. Transfiguration, for example, is all about understanding the identity of what you're changing."
"What about Potions? That's my worst class," Tulip chimed in with a sigh.
Tonks smirked. "I think Potions depends more on who teaches it."
"Tell me about it. Snape's the worst," Tulip grumbled. "But back to my question. Any advice for Potions?"
Sal thought for a moment. "Well, I haven't had Potions here yet, but I was taught to treat Potions like cooking. It's about following the recipe, but also knowing when to adjust things based on instinct."
Tonks perked up. "I never thought of it that way. My mum makes me cook at home sometimes. That actually makes sense."
"Thanks, Sal. I'll try to look at it like that from now on," Tulip said with a smile, poking at her food with renewed determination.
They continued their lunch, chatting about classes, professors, and the fun mischief they could get into during the term.
The last class of the day was History of Magic, and to Sal's growing annoyance, it felt less like a comprehensive exploration of the past and more like an exercise in anti-goblin propaganda. The classroom, with its tall windows and heavy drapes, seemed unusually dim in the afternoon light. A faint haze of dust danced lazily in the air, disturbed only by the occasional sigh from a sleepy student.
Professor Binns, the ghostly figure who drifted listlessly above the class, had not bothered to acknowledge the lack of enthusiasm among his students. His transparent form floated behind the podium as he read from yellowed parchment, reciting long-winded accounts of goblin uprisings. His voice, flat and droning, washed over the room like a lullaby, and Sal wondered if the ghost even noticed his audience had long since tuned out.
Sal's gaze swept across the rows of desks. Heads rested heavily on open books, eyes drooped shut, and a few students subtly passed notes beneath their tables. Even Tonks, normally lively and prone to causing minor distractions, had given up and was doodling lazily in the margins of her notebook.
Sal exhaled quietly and leaned back in his chair. History was important, but he had little patience for the skewed retellings. He retrieved his new book on enchanting from his bag and carefully cracked it open beneath his desk. The crisp, fresh scent of parchment filled his nose as his eyes flicked over the opening chapter.
The diagrams of ancient runes and the swirling enchantments seemed infinitely more engaging than Binns' recounting of yet another failed rebellion. Sal skimmed through sections on binding charms and protective enchantments, occasionally pausing to jot down notes in the margins of his notebook.
"Mr. Cross, would you care to enlighten us on the causes of the Goblin Revolt of 1612?" Binns' voice suddenly cut through the haze, causing Sal to stiffen slightly.
He quickly shut his book and looked up. "Uh, the goblins rebelled because of restrictive trade laws imposed by the Ministry. They were barred from crafting wands and had their businesses heavily taxed, which led to widespread unrest."
Professor Binns blinked—or at least, his transparent form flickered briefly. "Correct. Although, it is important to remember that goblins have long held grievances with wizarding society."
Sal nodded, though he kept the rest of his thoughts to himself. Goblins had every right to be angry, in his opinion. The rest of the class gave him brief, appreciative glances—none of them had been paying attention, and Sal's answer had likely saved them from being called on.
As the class continued to drift by, Sal returned to his book, quietly immersing himself in the enchanting techniques he had been meaning to master. By the time the bell rang, signaling the end of the day, he felt as though he had learned more from his own studies than the lesson itself.
Tonks caught up with him as they exited the classroom. "Thanks for that, Sal. I thought I was going to get called on next."
"Anytime," Sal said with a grin. "Besides, I think I'd rather deal with enchantments than goblin wars."
Tulip joined them, yawning. "Let's just hope tomorrow's classes are a little less... ghostly."