Chapter Text
The Archerons and the Knights were both old and prestigious families in the wizarding world. Their houses were also next to one another and the three sisters grew up with the three brothers. Azriel was there when her powers manifested and when her mother died. He sat with her in the garden behind their homes and held her as she cried. She was ten, a year before they both would be heading to Hogwarts.
Then the day came when the owls delivered their letters, Elain rushing out into the garden at the same time as Azriel. Both of them exclaiming that they had received their letters and talking about what their first year would be like and what house they would be in.
Nesta had been sorted into Ravenclaw and Cassian into Slytherin. Neither of that had been a surprise.
“Can I confess something?” Azriel asked as they laid in the grass under the great oak that was nestled in the fields behind the garden.
Elain turned her head so that she could get a better look at him and said, “Of course you can, Az. You know you can tell me anything.”
“I’m scared I’ll be sorted into Slytherin too,” the words were a whisper.
Elain took his hand and gave it a squeeze, “Why?”
“Slytherins have bad reputations,” he said. “I just don’t want to be seen as a bad person.”
There were many things that Elain could have said, but she knew that Slytherins were thought to produce all the worst wizards and witches of their world. “Cassian is in Slytherin and he’s not a bad person. He’s one of the sweetest people that I know.”
But she knew that that would still be his biggest worry, that he would wind up like his adoptive father, one of the Death Eaters. The Knights may have been an old family but they were also clawing their way back to the top because of what Adrastos Knight had been all those years ago. Elain worried that the other kids would pick on Azriel because of how quiet he was, that they would see him as an easy target. But she also knew that he could take care of himself.
Preparations were made and the families went to Diagon Alley together. Cassian and Nesta getting supplies for their second year while Azriel and Elain prepared for their first.
“I can’t wait until it’s my turn!” Feyre said as she bounced down the cobblestone paths, Elain’s hand clutching hers. Rhysand was beside her, his hands tucked into his pockets. He would also be joining Elain and Azriel at Hogwarts for his first year. “What kind of pet should I get? Oh! And what type of wand will choose me!”
Elain smiled fondly at her younger sister and the enthusiasm she was showing towards starting her education as a young witch. Feyre’s hand slipped from Elain’s as she and Rhysand hurried toward the pet shop where they were all headed. Their mothers laughed at the excitement in the air. Nesta and Cassian were bent together looking over their lists and checking off the items that they already had.
Azriel caught up with Elain and showed her the books that he had gotten and together they stepped inside the pet shop as well. It was filled with the noise of all the pets clamoring for attention. The two of them were attached at the hip as they went around to the different cages and enclosures and tried to find a pet that suited their needs. Cassian had gotten an Elf Owl, a surprising choice, but Sparta was a good companion. Nesta had a black cat named Selene after the moon goddess.
Azriel found a wolf puppy in the back of the shop that was mixed with a Husky. The two instantly bonded and Elain couldn’t help but coo over the all-black wolf with piercing blue eyes. He was adorable and Azriel decided to name him Shadow.
Elain, however, was still peering into the cages until she came to an all-white bunny rabbit. She opened the cage and cradled it in her arms and looked at her mother, “May I get this one?” Her mother agreed and the papers were signed.
All that was left now were the wands and Elain went first. Her wand was made of black walnut with a unicorn heartstring, and vines of flowers carved into the wood. She could feel the power inside the want when she held it and it was as if all were right in the world. When it was Azriel’s turn his wand was made blackthorn with a dragon’s heartstring inside. His wand looked as though there were shadows on it. The two eagerly compared their wands as they headed for home.
Only a few more weeks remained until they arrived at Hogwarts and everyone could feel the excitement in the air. Feyre was sad to be the last one left at home, but Elain promised that she would write to her sister every day which appeased the youngest Acheron.
And that night before she fell asleep Elain had begun reading her spellbooks and other texts that she had received that day. At one point she and Azriel sent letters back and forth looking at each other through their windows as the notes soared through the air.
The last note she received from Azriel read, Goodnight Elain.
She pulled a box from under her bed and tucked the note away with all the other notes they had ever sent one another.
The day came when they boarded the train for Hogwarts and waved goodbye to their parents and Feyre who watched from the platform. The five of them had a room on the train to themselves and Cassian and Nesta gave Elain, Azriel, and Rhysand the rundown on everything at Hogwarts and how the first night would go. They would be brought into the Great Hall where all the other years would be seated with their Houses and then the first years would be brought in to be sorted.
“You’ll be called in alphabetical order,” Nesta explained. “Professor Alis will put the Sorting Hat on your head and it will declare which House you belong to.”
Elain and Azriel nodded their heads, their hands clasped together tightly. There was a chance they would be separated which felt odd. They had always done everything together and now they might not be in the same House. Sure they would still get to see one another, but it was different. They might be on different schedules, they would have to sit with their Houses at meals, and come Quidditch time they would also be on opposing sides.
“It’ll be all right you two,” Cassian said when he noticed how nervous they seemed. “I’m sure you all will do beautifully.”
When they disembarked from the train they were separated and Elain and Azriel were led to boats that would take them across the lake and up to the castle. Elain didn’t dare let go of Azriel’s hand the entire way and even when they walked into the castle. Together they stared in wonder at the paintings on the walls and the statues and just everything magical about it. They were really here, after years of waiting, they were officially students of Hogwarts.
Professor Alis greeted them at the entrance of the great hall, “Welcome to Hogwarts first years. Tonight you shall be sorted into your Houses and tomorrow your studies will begin. When your name is called you will step forward so that the Sorting Hat can decide which House you belong to. Any questions?” No one said anything so she opened the doors and led them inside.
The clamor of the other students died down and Elain sought out her sister who was seated with the other Ravenclaws. Nesta waved and gave her a cheerful smile which comforted Elain slightly.
The sorting ceremony began and one by one the students were called. Elain was fourth and she forced herself to let go of Azriel and make her way to the sorting hat. “Yes, I see a softness in you, young one. Also great foresight, you shall flourish here.” The Hat fell quiet for a moment, “I’m putting you in HUFFLEPUFF!”
Cheers erupted from the Hufflepuff table and Elain hopped off the chair and headed toward her new Housemates. She watched the rest of the ceremony surrounded by some people she recognized from parties that her parents held. Viviane, Tarquin, Gwyn, and Elide were the ones she knew off the top of her head.
When Azriel’s name was called Elain perked up and watched as he carefully approached the chair. The room was silent and Professor Alis placed the Sorting Hat on his head. “Hmmm, so many possibilities. Strong, brave, cunning, smart, you have all the makings for a wonderful student. But the House you belong to the most is… SLYTHERIN!”
Elain could see how Azriel looked like he was going to be sick, and how he rushed toward Cassian when the Sorting Hat was removed. The ceremony continued and from across the way Elain caught Azriel’s eye and gave him a smile. He offered a shaky one back and then was distracted by something Cassian was saying.
After eating dinner they were escorted to their rooms and given the password to the room. Elain discovered that she was bunking with Viviane, Gwyn, and Juniper. The three girls spent most of the evening getting to know one another before it was lights out.
The first day passed in a blur. Elain enjoyed herbology and she even had that class with Azriel as well as Astrology which was her second favorite class. During lunch, she joined her roommates and talked about how their days had been going so far. Juniper and Viviane were a year ahead of Elain and Gwyn and gave them the rundown on anything that they didn’t already know about the classes and professors.
The year drew on and when Yule rolled around Cassian, Azriel, Elain, Nesta, and Rhysand all went home for the holiday. Feyre eagerly awaited their return and peppered them with question after question about how their years were going. Elain happily sat with her sister and told her all about the classes and teachers. “I’m not good at Defense Against the Dark Arts,” she confessed. “But Professor Silago is really patient and kind, all of the professors are.”
Azriel, Cassian, and Rhysand all talked about what it was like in Slytherin and how they hated Tamlin and Eris the most. They had the pureblood mentality that a lot of wizards had and looked down on wizards and witches that had one muggle parent or were muggle-born. Elain and the others had never been a part of that mentality although the Knight boys’ father had been. Azriel and Cassian had a secret that they didn’t dare tell anyone. Their mothers had been muggles and knew nothing of their sons’ heritage before their passing, which was when Adeena Knight took them in.
Just because they had one muggle parent didn’t make them any less wizards than the rest of them. But some wizards were just classists and hated that some muggle-born or half-bloods were more powerful than those with two magical parents.
The break was spent resting and preparing for the holidays and after they were through it was back to Hogwarts to finish out the last half of the year. Azriel and Elain were no longer nervous to return to school, the two of them had settled into a routine. They would spend Friday evenings in the library studying together before curfew and on the weekends they would wander the grounds together and watch Quidditch practices.
“I can’t wait until I can try out,” he admitted. “Cassian’s joined the team this year and me and Rhys are gonna try out next year.”
“I’m sure the two of you will be great!” Elain enthusiastically told him. “I think Nesta’s going to try out next year, but she’s on the fence. I think she’d rather keep her nose buried in her books.”
“You know who I think is going to go out for Quidditch?” Azriel asked with a grin.
“Who?”
“Feyre,” he said. “She’s been in love with the idea of flying on a broom and I have no doubt in my mind that she’s going to try and go out for the team as soon as she’s able to.”
Elain wasn’t going to tell him that he was wrong. Knowing her younger sister she knew that Feyre would love the thrill of the game, would love the thought of flying. She had already talked a little about it since they had taken her to a few games. Elain was okay keeping her feet on the ground, though she did like riding brooms. She just didn’t think that she would be any good at the sport.
Azriel grew more comfortable in Slytherin, letting go of his fears about being sorted into the House, and even made friends with the twins Nuala and Cerridwen who Elain also became fast friends with.
One evening when she was with her roommates Gwyn said, “Did you know that there’s a joke going around that Slytherins all have a Hufflepuff companion?”
Viviane giggled, “Yes!”
“I think it’s because we’re the only House that is a neutral entity. The other three Houses all rival one another,” Juniper filled in. “We’re more laid back than most.”
“Elain is totally Azriel’s companion,” Gwyn said with a sly look.
Elain felt her cheeks turn red, “We’ve been friends since we were kids. Of course, we’re close.” As Elain was growing older she had slowly noticed that while she was still friends with Azriel and loved him like a friend her feelings were morphing into something else. She was forming a crush on her best friend and she didn’t know if that was a good or a bad thing.
“You like him,” Viviane said with a squeal.
Elain’s hands went to her cheeks to try and hide her embarrassment, “We’re just friends!”
“I think the two of you will become something more,” Gwyn poked Elain on her shoulder. “When you’re older. The two of you are too close not to be!”
The girls continued to talk about other students and their crushes. Viviane liked a Gryffindor named Kallias and Juniper liked a Slytherin named Fury. Gwyn said she wasn’t interested in anyone at the moment but she was eying their fellow Hufflepuff Tarquin. They were from the same seaside village and spent some time together before coming to Hogwarts.
Finals came and went and Elain passed with spectacular marks. Azriel did well too and the two of them were glad their first year was over and out of the way. It had been a fun yet nerve-wracking experience for the two of them, but now that it was over with they were ready for whatever their second year had to offer them.
On the train ride back home Nesta and Cassian asked them how their first year was now that it was all said and done and they talked for hours about their experience and what they would do during the summer months. Nesta told them that she was pretty sure they would all take a holiday together to one of their family’s estates near the sea.
Little did they know that as they happily chatted about how their future years would go that a dark force was rising in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.