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Chapter Text

Draco got his Hogwarts letter on his eleventh birthday. The moment midnight struck a Messenger hawk flew through the windows of Malfoy manor.

It was a crowning achievement. If you weren't a Malfoy. If you were a Malfoy than this was something that happened commonly. The family was purebred so they were rich in magic so powerful some even got there letter before turning eleven.

So as Draco opened up his letter he simply read it, wrote down what he needed and threw the letter into the fire. Mother stopped hanging letters after Beatrice was born.

Sometimes draco wished he was born earlier. The youngest of ten children draco was easily forgotten. He was a spare in case someone died or was cast out of the family tree. That was his role. His purpose.

Draco was no better than a spare tire that muggles used on their cars.

Draco grit his teeth grasping at his nightclothes. He just needed something. Anything. Something that would make him Worthy of attention. But what? In this house of politicians, and philosophers, and artists , and quidditch champs. What use was_ draco?

The door creaked open and draco looked to see Ethan smiling “it's midnight. You got your letter yet?” Draco nodded turning back to the wall.

“Well! Show me!” Ethan said happily entering the room.

Draco scowled and motioned to the fire. Ethan's face fell

“oh you burned it? Oh. I thought you would keep it. I mean mom doesn't hang them up anymore but I thought I could take it.”

Draco shook his head scoffing “that's ridiculous. What use would that even be?”

Ethan smiled wrapping his arms around dracos shoulders “I think it would be lovely to keep”

Ethan was the third child and was a Slytherin prefect. He was the perfect child and now he was engaged to zara mulciber which means he was going to add more wealth and status to the family. Draco scoffed Ethan didn't understand. He was loved , praised even. But draco was nothing, he couldn't understand why draco burned his letter. He couldn't understand what it meant to be ignored at every turn to never be good enough to be the runt of the litter.

Ethan sat down next to draco “viola invited us to her wedding.”

“viola only did it because she had to.”

Viola was the eldest of the malfoys and the coldest. Distant to everyone only interacting when she needed to only smiling when she had to. Cold to everyone. Draco had once asked her how i felt to be engaged. Viola answered,

“i feel nothing. This is for the family my own feelings don't matter.”

Ethan looked dejected pulling draco close tucking his chin over draco’s head “viola cares she’s just. She has a lot of presser put on her as the oldest you know. She trying her best.” Draco scoffed turning away to scoff.

“Viola never cared about anything but the family.” draco said.

Draco’s only memories of viola are of her being cold dismissive and closed off. She never spoke to him for more than a couple times in all of draco’s elven years on this earth. Maybe Ethan had more memories of her. But to him she would always just be the older sister who he never talked to him.

Ethan sighed placing a hand on his shoulder “before the war viola was a free spirt she cared about things she wasn't as closed off.”

“Viola was ten during the war there no way she could remember.’ Draco pointed out now stirring the dieing fire.

“You'd be surprised what can stick to a young mind.” Ethan responded “I remember that she used to climb trees with us and hide out in the forest when she didnt want to wear a dress. And she’d crush blue berrys to dye her hair purple.” Ethan started to describe starting to run his fingers through draco’s hair.

“Most. most of our aunts and uncles died in the war or were cast out draco. You have to understand she was experiencing grief for the first time. She couldn't process it properly.”

“What about you?”

Ethan looked confused “what do you mean what about me?’

“You were ten during the war. Did it effect you at all?”

Ethan looked distant for a moment before shaking his head “i mean. It effected all of us little dragon. It just effected viola worse.”

He got up ‘goodnight draco. Get a good nights sleep will you.”

Ruffling his hair draco caught a sad smile on his face, And with that he left the room.

Chapter Text

Ron Weasley was normal by witch standards. He was unnoticeable and mundane. Just one boy in a family full of them, the second youngest. He was okay at quidditch. He was alright at math. He could remember things to a degree. He was normal.

But being normal in the Weasley family was basically the same thing as being invisible.

Percy was the perfect child, perfect grades, perfect hair, always obedient, always rule following never in trouble. The only time owls come home was to tell how incredible and amazing he was.

Fred and George were the problem kids rule breakers scoff laws. Mum swore that she would die young because of them. Howlers are mainly the only letters they get at hogwarts. Average grades in everything. They weren't even gryffindors. Mother’s favorite house. Fred was a slytherin and George was a ravenclaw.

Mum could tolerate a ravenclaw. She could swallow the disappointment. But a slytherin. Ron hoped he would never be looked at the way mum looked at fred.

Bill was mum’s favorite. Yes percy was the perfect child but perfect didn't always mean favorite. He was daring, handsome and incredible. The perfect mix of modern and pious. He was also mum’s eldest. So he was always going to be the favorite. No matter what he did.

, and Charlie was the disappointment. Long hair no wife. Strange job. Mum didn't hate him the way she hated Fred and George but the resentment was there. It was there and growing festering. Bill had already set up her expectations on what a good child should be and then percy came and enforced them.

And oh course there was ginny. Ginny the perfect one purely because she was a girl. The girl mum had been wishing and hoping for. The first weasley girl born in centuries oh centuries. She was a saint a piller of family or what ever the fuck mum said about her. She had the right junk and was rewarded for it since birth.

But ron?

Ron was average. Which meant he got forgotten a lot.

He got the worst presents because they were focusing on the others. He got hand me downs. Everyone got hand me downs but that was all he had. Everyone else had one new thing. Ginny's comb and dresses. Fred’s robes and george’s quill set. Percy’s owl. But ron never had anything of his own.

He understood it. His family was poor and the ministry was full of dickheads. But it still stung a little. Being yelled at for causing the lake to explode or being told to study constantly would feel better. Instead he was just forgotten constantly.

Hell, even being remembered at least a few times would have been nice. The way she sometimes forgot about Charlie then mentioned him out of nowhere. That would have been ten times better than the loud of nothingness he was given on a nothingness sandwich,

‘Now everybody, I need you to pack your suitcases!” mum shouted from the end of the stairs

“no not you ginny your not old enough to.”

“but mum!’

”‘but nothing.”

Ron walked up the stairs to his room passing the twins as he did accidentally hitting Fred's shoulder.

'`Oi watch where you are going!’ Fred said, shoving Ron back. “Sorry it wasn't on purpose.'' Ron muttered, continuing to go up the stairs. He heard some laughter from the two before they continued going down.

Percy was sitting at the top of the stairs reading a book. He had a sad look in his eye like he was about to break down into sobs.

“Perce you okay?” Ron asked.

Percy suddenly looked up like he realized where he was before getting up slamming his book shut and going to his room.

“I am. Perfectly fine, Ronald. '' he said before shutting his door.

Percy had been acting weird lately. Staying by himself in his room for long stretches of time. He stopped talking to people. Started looking more depressed lately. Ron wasn’t quite sure what was wrong. Percy was never in a bad mood like ever. The one thing he really worried about was grades and gods he never had a failing grade in his life.

Ron scoffed, opening his door and starting to back his suitcase. Ron had never really had friends before. They mostly lived by themselves. There once was the lovegoods but then the mum pandora maybe died so they moved away claiming that she was still screaming at them.

Ron had never really been friends with their kid luna really but still it would have been nice to have one person who he wasn't related to to talk to. Ron sighed slamming shut his suitcase lid. It was fine, maybe at Hogwarts he’d get some friends.

Placing it on his bed he looked at his window, noticing something on the window seal. A rat.

“Hello.” ron greeted reaching out to it.

Rats often got into the Weasley's house. Mum hated it but Ron had seen them enough to be used to them.

“Im ron weasley.” he greeted picking the rat up.

“And you?’ he asked, knowing the rat couldn't respond. He looked at it closer. It was missing a toe.

“Oh that's not good. If you wait here I can get some water and soap. I can clean you.” Ron said again knowing the rat couldn't hear him.

But the rat sat on rons desk looking up at him. Ron laughed and went off to the kitchen to grab some dish soap and a bowl of water.

“Oh hey ron!’ Ginny greeted by the sink.

“Hey ginny.” ron said back putting some water in the bowl

“what's the water for?” she asked, getting on her tiptoes trying to look at the bowl filled with water.

“I'm getting water. I'm thirsty.” ron said back.

“So you're drinking out of a bowl?” ginny asked.

Ron rolled his eyes ‘yes ginny im drinking outa bowl. Now please leave me alone.”

Ginny eyed him suspiciously before walking off. Ron grabbed the dish soap going upstairs.

Coming back up he looked at the rat still waiting on his bed. How odd. Most of the rats left as soon as they left them alone. Ron cleaned the rat up and dried it. He placed it back on the bed smiling

“well. I guess you're going to leave now.” The rat didn't leave, still looking up at ron.

“Um. do you want some food cause i have some cheese.'' Ron said pointing to his desk picking some cheese off of it. The leftover of a late night snack gone wrong only because Fred and George thought it would be an excellent time to homemake fireworks. He handed it to the rat, placing it in front of it.

The rat sniffed it before eating it. It looked like the rat hadn't eaten in a while.

Ron hummed sitting next to the rat. He shouldn't get a wild rat as a pet but its not like anyone would bother acknowledging him. “I'm naming you scabbers.” he said scoping it up “hi scabbers your my new pet.”

Chapter Text

Nevile Longbottom was considered a disappointment by his family. That was just fine by him, currently he had worse problems than his family shit talking him at dinner.

Nevile cupped his mother’s cheek. She was only really peaceful when she was sleeping nowadays. Nevile felt tears come to his eyes trying not to cry on her. His father was in the corner of the room staring at the wall unresponsive to any sound of noise.

Gran entered the room looking at Neville “it's time to go.” she said.

Nevile never liked gran. She was jaded and cold because of the war. Nevile never heard a kind word out of her mouth or a smile on her face. Nevile understood she missed his dad but he still felt angry that she couldn't try to care about neville.

Nevile walked out of Saint Mungo's in silence before operating back to the house.

Nevile looked up at gran “I'm going to go to the park.” he told her before exiting the house. Saint mungo’s visits were the worst. Afterwards gran got all silent holding herself up in her room. At night nevile could hear quiet sobbing. The next day she would go back to her usual self and acted like she was never crying over her lost son.

Nevile walked down the street only to be tackled onto the sidewalk “neville!” a happy voice shouted.

Nevile blinked looking up at the girl on top of him. She had pretty hazel hair and her skin is like coffee mixed with milk with light blue eyes. Luna lovegood. “Hello luna.” he greeted, trying to right himself “you seem better today. Did you do what i said?” she asked, tilting her head.

Nevile sighed because yes he actually did do what she said “yes luna. I made moon water.” “and you didn't let sunlight ruin it right?” Luna asked. Nevile nodded ‘yup. No sun was involved.” Luna smiled wide ‘good! I was going to the park to pick some mushrooms. Would you like to go with me?”

Neville smiled, “yes luna i would love to go with you.”

She giggled and hugged him before standing upright.

Luna Lovegood was an odd girl but Neville found her interesting. Her quirks and mannerisms were so different. His house was greys and whites and blacks. But she , she was vibrant pink and blue and every single color of the rainbow combined. It was a good change of pace compared to what he’s used to.

Luna skipped while nevile walked but they both ended up in the same place. There was a group of tree’s where mushrooms tended to grow. Luna had her pa check and he confirmed there was nothing poisonous there so she was free to pick as much as she wanted.

Luna was what muggles called a vegetarian. She claimed that when she ate meat she could hear the animals screaming at her to stop. Her father was too but because he found it strange to eat the flesh of another being. Nevile didn't quite understand it but was always happy to taste some of the lovegood’s cooking.

They were great to have at celebrations too. Nevile’s family didn't celebrate much but the lovegood’s celebrated everything from the first day of spring to the last day of winter. Beltane was especially fun with them.

To nevile the lovegoods felt like a second family. One that didn't judge him for not being good at magic, one that treated him like a normal person.

Luna filled her basket with mushrooms humming as she did so. Nevile didn't really pick any preferin g to make flower crowns. Gran said that that was a feminine trait but he didn't really care he found the crowns pretty and ended up giving them all to Luna anyways.

They lied in the grass together gazing at the sky “my family doesnt think i can do magic.” Neville said “you would still be friends with me even if I was a squib right?” luna smiled “lady magic has different plans for different people. I would still be friends with you if you were a worm neville longbottom.”

Nevile laughed “and I would love to love you too luna lovegood.”

They parted ways and Neville walked back to his house. Opening the door Neville looked around. He didn't see any of his family members there. Nevile signed, starting to walk to his room. Suddenly he was grabbed before being thrown over somebody's shoulder. Nevile was cursing inside of his head. He was so stupid.

His family was trying to force magic out of him for a while trying to scare the magic out of him. Nevile hated it but all of his protests were met with “we have to do this neville some people think you're a squib!” “Your mother and father were the best magick users in their generation. We owe it to them to unlock your magic.”

This seemed to be another attempt.

Nevoile was benign dangled out of a window shaken by his uncle. Nevile was screaming and cursing at the man but it didn't work he was still dangled out of the window. His head was dizzy and neville felt like he was about to puke.

Something startled his uncle and he let go of nevile’s ankles.

As Neville fell he saw a woman. She had skin that looked like the galaxy like space to shape to form her. Her hair was the darkest black he had ever seen and her eyes looked too deep like if he looked into them for too long he would learn the secret of the universe.

‘Now is the time.’ she said.

Nevile looked away and hit the road below. And he bounced.

Nevile bounced on the road before slowing and just lying on the pavement.

That was magic.

Nevile had just done magic.

Holy shit!

Chapter Text

Hermione granger wasn't popular or cool by any measure.

She was a black girl and a nerd and apparently a teacher's pet. That didn't make her the coolest girl in the world in most people’s view. But she took it on her chest. She was proud of the fact that she was well read. She was proud of her skin color and her grades and everything else.

She had a highschool level reading level since she was in the third grade. She was hermione granger. But now. She didn't understand who she was. She didn't know her name or who she was. Because she was currently growing tiny horns out of her head.

She realized it when she was washing her hair. Dragging her fingers through it trying too get all the soap out she felt something. Something hard. She didn't understand what it was and got out of the shower trying to get a better look at it. Parting her hair she tried to look at it in the foggy mirror. That's when she saw it. Those tiny little horns growing among her dark curls.

Hermione screamed falling back hitting her head.

Her parents found her and found her horns.

Hermione and her horns.

She wanted to believe it was a dream. She wanted to believe that hse was hallucinating that this was just a very surel dream. But she counted to ten and back to one she looked at the sky and the ground hse pinched her self and all of the other dream tactics. This was very very real. Hermione had horns. And apparently that wasn't all.

Her parents weren't her parents. Rather adopted. Her actual parents her biological parents were professors at oxford. But then her mother died giving birth to her and her father apparently just put her in a adoption center and never looked back. She was adopted when she was two. Not young enough to remember any of the process or the center. But apparently no one wanted her. She was too strange. Too off. Flowers would wilt under her touch and food ended dup spoiled when she didn't like it.

But her adoptive parents took her in anyway. Desperate for a child.

The odd things slowed over time until she turned nine and then they stopped all together like it had never happened. They knew hermione was different. Other worldly even. But never said anything. They never told Hermione. Ever tried to stop her. They just let it run its corse.

Everything was normal. They now had a normal child.

Until hermione’s horns.

“Why didn't you tell me anything?” hermione asked gripping her skirt trying her best to not scream.

“We. we didn't want to upset you we had no idea what was going on and we couldn't do anything without proof or.’ mum tried to start

“I was wilting flowers with a touch mum! That was all the proof you fucking needed!’ she failed and ended up shouting.

“I have god damn horns growing out of my head and none of you thought to tell me anything! Nothing at all?”

Hermione dug her fingernails into her arms listening to them prattle off excuses. Her fake parents her adoptive parents. The parents who lied to her.

She felt the warm tears prickle at her eyes and with the tears came the anger and frustration. It wasn't fucking hair. It wasn't fair.

“Hermione!’

A shout pierced through her rage and hermione looked up then down and saw the floor beneath her burning and smoking. And.

“Oh god your horns.”

She reached up and felt the horns. Larger. Curling a bit at the end. She gasped stumbling back.

“Okay just breathe and calm down. We’ll figure this out okay mione.”

She started to sob.burrying her face in her hands. This was horrible. This was absolutely horrible.

Chapter Text

She remembered being free.

Being wild. Untamed. Uncontrolled. Emotional and dramatic.

Manic highs and depressive lows.

She missed that

Because here in azkaban she didn't feel anything except for sorrows. Sorrows and a small kernel of rage. But that rage wasn't enough. It was a spark and she needed a bonfire to keep her warm.

She was freezing to death. Freezing to death in the eternal winter that was azkaban..

She had been robbed of everything she had held dear. Her emotions , her sense of self, her husband, her friends, her beautiful godson! all of it! All of it wasted and gone.

Her gorgeous grandson.

He was going to be eleven this year.

Or maybe it was twelve?

Thirteen?

Sixteen?

Oh gods, how much time has she spent in this hell hole?

How much time since that dreaded night?

Since the fight?

Time didn't even seem to really exist anymore. More of a concept. A joke. A joke that was getting less and less funny with every passing second stuck in here.

She tried to cling to that kernel of anger. To the facts. But the thoughts became swirled in her head over and over as the dementors drew closer. What was true? Was she really guilty? Was her husband alive? We're her friends dead? Why was she here again?

What even was her name?

Her breaths quickened as she felt the cold creep in closer.

Death seemed merciful she thought grasping her hair tight pulling on it. Death was far better than this hell.

Her breaths quickened faster and she couldn't think. She just couldn't think!

She screamed bashing her head against the wall.

“I want my husband!” She screamed clawing at the bars “give me back my husband!”

No one was there to hear her. To deny her pleas. Just the dementors who got even closer to her cell.

She sobbed, slumping against the bars of her cell arm outstretched. She wanted her family back. She wanted her husband to forgive her a crime she didn't even commit.

She wanted justice.

She wanted blood.

She wanted death and vengeance.

With a panting breath she shifted into her dog form.

It was .

Easier to think in dog form.

Less thoughts to process.

Just eat. Breathe. Sleep.

No thoughts of betrayal or a lost husband. Or of a dead godson. Or a broken family.

Eat , breathe , sleep.

The dementors looked at her for a moment before gliding away from her cell.

She wanted slumping against the ground.

This would have to be enough for now.

Eat , breathe, sleep.

Chapter Text

Draco was sent shopping with Ethan and clover.

Clover was older than Draco by four years and didn't look like she was related to anyone in the family. She had dark black hair and emerald green eyes compared to everyone else's blonde hair and light blue eyes. Her skin was the tone of crushed olives compared to everyone else's alabaster skin.

There were rumors flying around that she was a bastard child or that she was adopted. Or a changeling.

But others liked this about her. They thought these qualities made her beautiful. Some consider her to be the prettiest girl in their year. Draco couldn't see it but perhaps that was because she was his sister.

Clover was searching for new Hogwarts robes. She had recently developed and her old robes had started hugging her and falling short. Draco was searching for Hogwarts robes in general; they had similar goals and so they went together. Ethan was simply there because he had access to money and they didn't.

“Oh I never thought I'd ever get to take you here, little dragon. This is incredible.” Ethan gushed smiling.

Clover rolled her eyes smiling as well “it's just a shopping trip ethan , calm down.”

“Oh but clover but it's his first time at Diagon alley.” Ethan insisted. He picked dup draco carrying him in his arms. “He’s going to grow up to be such a talented little witch.” with that he bopped draco on the nose which caused him to squirm.

“Put me down.” he insisted blushing.

Ethan laughed, placing him down but still holding onto his hand which Draco quickly pulled away when they entered the shop.

“I think we should get some food on the way since we're here. The leaky cauldron gives amazing soups." Ethan said looking through different clothes. His eyes seemed to catch on some of the dresses.

“We ate before coming here for a reason.” Clover responded. “We get what we need and we leave. That's it.”

Ethan sighed “fine alright then.” he picked a dress off of the rack and showed it to her “i think this would look lovely on you.” he said.

The dress was light pink with white layers that spilled out at the end trailing behind the dress. It was beautiful.

Clover looked it up and down before scoffing “I prefer black and red.”

“And you always look like you're going to a funeral.” ethan pointed out “the amount of times people have given us condolences because you just had to wear all black all year round.” he scoffed before

“If you like the dress so much then you should wear it then.” she scoffed walking away.

Ethan blushed before putting the dress back “clover is not done!”

Clover didn’t bother responding, already finding a shopkeeper and going to get her clothes fitted.

Ethan scoffed “she thinks she’s such a rebel.” he sighed and looked at draco with kind eyes “please never become like her.”

“I won’t” was draco’s only response

Ethan smiled “good. Now let's get you fitted, little witch.”

Getting fitted for robes was uncomfortable for draco. Having to take off clothes and have the woman examine him and tie things around him.

He hated how he instinctively sucked in his gut as the woman talked about his waist size. How cold the woman's fingers were when they tugged on his skin saying he needed to lose some weight. How they talked about every little thing wrong with his body.

Every little thing was just out.

How his stomach had a little too much pudge.

How his toes were a little too crooked.

How his posture wasn't as good as ethans.

His face wasn’t as pretty as clovers.

He didn’t look like clover , and didn't look like the rest of his family. He was like his mother , an albino. His skin pale as snow along with his hair , his eyes red. He hated that almost. Looking more like his mother than his father.

You would think that because he looked more like his mother than his father he wouldn't look well pretty.

But the way these women talked about him you would think he looked like a troll.

Maybe he did. Maybe he didn’t look like his mother or his father. But rather like draco. And what a horrible thing that would be. To look like himself.

He was glad when it was over, wanting to get out of the shop as soon as possible.

“Okay so we have a few things left to do on the list.” Ethan said happily looking at the notebook he brought with him.

Draco tried to care , he really did but he couldn’t help but think of the cold fingers on his body and the cruel gaze. And how they said that his waist was larger than Felix's when he was Draco's age. He felt hideous and fat. He nudged at his skin feeling the fat underneath and wanted to puke.

“Ugh.” Clover groaned, “we got our robes, what could possibly be left?’

He had eaten a bit too much lately. Maybe too much. Oh and they said that the Hogwarts feast was incredible. He didn’t want to miss out on that but. Oh gods what was he thinking. That was why he was so fucking fat. Maybe if he fasted a bit. So he could eat at the feast. Or if he had just a little less food at the feast. Maybe he should of fasted before the fitting do thuis wouldn’t of happened.

“Well I like sweets and Draco needs school supplies. I don’t care what mum says he’s not getting hand me downs and-”

“It's fine.” Draco bit out, snapping out of his thoughts about food “its fine if I get hand me down. I'm the youngest. It's my role.”

Ethan rolled his eyes “oh shut up draco.” he said affectionately “i'm getting you new stuff whether you like it or not.”

Clover grinned wrapping a arm around draco’s shoulder “come on draco darling. Your getting new shit.”

“Clover language!” ethan hissed at her

“Oh come on, I've been ladylike all day.” clover whined carting draco along with her “you agree i should get one free swear right?” Draco nodded mutely, still feeling a bit nauseous.

“Magic help me.” Ethan moaned before ushering draco and clover forward.

Chapter Text

Ron weasley had gone to every train ride to hogwarts sense he could walk.

So walking to the hogwarts for the train didnt feel really magical until it hit him. He was going to be on that train. He was going to ride it!

He practically rushed out of his mum’s arms to get on to the train. He was only stopped when she grabbed his arm. She shoved his bags into his hands “you forgot your luggage.” she scolded.

She looked at him for a moment before smiling and hugging him “i'm going to miss you so much. Oh. write me every monday and friday okay. Every time i will know if you miss.” ron smiled back at her nodding “will do mum.”

Then e raced away running down the train. Some of the older students shouted at him but he didnt care rushing to find a train car. He found a empty one and collapsed on the seats.

Someone cleared their throat and ron looked to see a dark skinned girl glaring at him “close your legs.” she spat out.

He did but also quickly fixed his poster as well. She reminded him of his mum with her glare.

“Um sorry bout that. Im ron by the way. Ron weasley.”

She looked him up and down before uncrossing her arms “hermione granger.” she reached her arm out to shake his hand.

She was kinda pretty, her teeth were slightly crooked and she had to buck teeth in the front , but her skin looked smooth and soft. And her eyes which were a deep black looked friendly despite her harsh words.

Her hair looked as thick as yarn and was brained into an elaborate crown. Probably trying to imitate witch hairstyles he realized. It was a pretty good imitation. But it made her look too old. Children's hair was different. He wondered if he could help her style her hair. If she wanted his help.

He thinks he would like braiding her hair feeling the soft locks around his fingers.

But he didn't say that. Because that would be weird to say out loud. So instead he said.

“I never heard of the Granger family. You a half blood?”

Hermione looked frightened for a moment before clearing her throat and pulling her hand back onto her lap “yeah. Half-blood.”

Ron exhaled “oof. Sorry about whats going to happen. Te pureblood kids are dicks here there probably going to-.”

She rolled her eyes “let me guess. Call me slurs? Bully me? Make me feel lesser? I know what that feels like ron. You dont need to worry about me.” she insisted crossing her arms again.

Ron felt bad for the girl. He heard the muggle world was hard. Racism and stuff like that. Did this girl experience that? Was that why she was so used to this? Was she raised by muggles or did she have a witch parent?

“Oh um. By the way. Witches and wizards-” ron started. Hermione looked back at him raising hjer eyebrow

“they arent really a thing. Wizards are muggles who were gifted magic. Thats not really a thing anymore. Witches are born with magic. Its gender nuetral so im a witch and your a witch.” ron explained justering to himself and her.

She nodded seeming to understand before asking ‘What about sorceress and enchantress?”

“Sorcerers and sorceresses are just extremely skilled witches. Like can preform magic without a wand level skilled. Enchantresses are just female witches that kill people same then with enchantors.” ron explained to her.

Hermione nodded “well then. Good to know.”

Ron thought they would settle into silence before she spoke up again “what about. Are there any magic users who came from muggles”? What would they be?”

Ron looked at her startled he then emidtly sat down next to her starting to whisper. Muggle borns were extremely controversal. If anyone heard them talking about them.

“muggle borns are like. Super rare but they are possible.” he started pulling hermione down to hear his whispers better. She looked confused but let him. “We dont know how they happen some say its a blessing from lady magic. But they arent witches or sorcerors or enchantresses. There magi. There magic.”

Ron shuddered looking at the door of the compartment “there magic is so powerful one of them is worth five armies.”

Hermione’s eyes widened and she pulled back a bit but ron pulled her back in.

“They are considrred death in human form. We dont talk about them its. Its considered a bad omen if one is brought up.”

Hermione looked worried breathing and breathing out. Her eyes looked worried and shaky.

“and. And what if one is born?” hermione asked shakily

“then. Well most consider them a omen of death and war.” ron explained “they say that every war. Every war that we have had as wizards started soon after a magi was born.”

Hermione looked worried for a second “well then. Good to know.”

Rom smiled at her “it's fine though. Magi haven't been born in like. A hundred years it's fine if you hear one was born that way , probably just a rumor.” He tried to reassure her.”Besides we had a war like twenty years ago and no magi was born then. It's just a tale adults use to scare kids.”

Hermione nodded, smiling far too wide , showing too many teeth. “Of course. Of course right.”

She obviously wasnt fine. She looked like a baby deer eyes wide and pupils dilated.

Ron gently touched her shoulder. “You’re not worried are you?”

‘No its just.” she breathed in and then breathed out. “Tell me more.”

“Tell you more?”

“Books are good but they dont tell me much about the witching world. You can.” she grabbed his hand gripping it tight “please.”

Ron nodded trying to think of anything he knew anything that seemed important. He want quite Shure what details what would be important and unimportant to someone muggle raised.

“Um slurs” he settled on

She looked at him questionly and he had to hide his grimace. Great way to start off moron he scolded himself.

He decided to continue “They exist with us too but its less of a race thing and more of a blood purity thing. Um. mud.” he sighed breathing in and breathing out.

“Mudblood.” he whispered the last bit, the slur tasting like filth in his mouth.

“Its towards half bloods. Those mixed with muggle blood. And those raised by muggles. Its not the official slur its like a loose translation of the actual one.” He resembled not looking at Hermione waving his hands slightly he still felt gross after saying the word “Its like greek i can't really pronounce it. But noone will call you that they only really use the english one.”

Hermione nods “how often are witches raised by muggles.”

Ron shrugs “um I don't really know. It's like a special case thing. Half-bloods are almost always raised in a mixture of muggle and witch. But I've heard of some witches who were adopted by muggles and some who were raised by there muggle step parent or their muggle parents after something happened.”

She nodded. “Alright. I. this is very interesting. Thank you ron.”

Ron smiled still looking away ‘no problem. I'm nervous about Hogwarts as well, ya know." The comforts meant nothing really. He had just told her she would be discriminated against and probably called slurs but don't worry I'm worried too! Dumbass.

She smiled. It was normal now, a regular smile. “Bet your not as nervous as me”

ron laughed *I'm ten times more nervous”

“Nuh uh”

“Uh huh”

They started at each other with fake glares for a few seconds before they burst into giggles

Chapter Text

Neville was nervous having a death grip on trevor. He couldn't fuck this up. He could not fuck this up. If he fucked this up he’d be the disappointment of the longbottom family. He’d be no better than a squib. He cant fuck this up.

His family had lost the gleam of a noble status a while ago. Neville was the cause of that. His lack of magic caused talking amongst the pure blood. Words were thrown around alot. Infidelity , bastard , mudblood. Neville was practically a outcast in the longbottom family line.

Neville gripped trever tighter before loosening the grip. It was fine. All he needed to fo was be sorted into Gryffindor. That was all he needed to do. That and pass all of his clases. That and not make a complete ass of himself. That and uplift the longbottom family name. No pressure. No pressure at all.

A woman stood in front of their group , she looked older in a emerald green dress a teachers uniform her greying hair pulled into a bun. “My name is professor McGonagall and I am the head of Gryffindor house” she curtseys “well met”

“Well met” was chorused back along with similar curtseys and bows

“I trust that all of you have taken your test and passed?” She questioned the group

At Hogwarts before you were sorted you were pulled into a separate room and given two tests. One for literature the other for math. It was to see if your parents educated you well enough before you came here. If you passed you could go on to be sorted and if you failed then you were sent back with a letter telling your parents to teach you better.

Neville was sweating the entire test and on the verge of puking but he passed. He passed and now all he had to do was get sorted. Small blessings.

Professor McGonagall nodded approvingly at the group before speaking again “Hogwarts has a long history of producing the brightest witches of their era. Most join the ministry but others have become pro quidditch players , famous authors, potion masters. We do not except not expect mediocrity.”

Chills fell through Neville's body.

“When you get sorted and you join these hallowed halls. Keep that in mind children. Make your families and houses proud. You were all chosen for your magical potential and the quill is rarely wrong.”

With that she opened the doors to the great hall allowing them to flow through stopping in a line before the sorting hat.

Most were staring up at the night sky illusion others trying to look for there family eating at the tables and watching them. But Neville was staring down the damned hat. Wishing he could set it alight. He had to make his house proud. His parents proud.

He wishes Luna was born earlier. He wishes she was here with him now. She would whisper kind words into his ear before squeezing his hand and giving him the same dreamy smile. The one that made his fear wash away like footprints on a beach.

But Luna wasn't here so Neville was freaking out still.

A hand was placed in his shoulder. “You good man? You're shaking like hell”

Neville turned to see a dark skinned boy with shirt buzzed hair. “I'm dean by the way” he greeted

“Um Neville. Neville longbottom” he stuttered out reaching out his hand

Dean looked at his curious before shaking it “longbottom? Oh so your one of those pure bloods”

‘yes. Your not?” Neville questioned pulling his hand back and putting it in his pocket

“Nah” dean shoke his head “half blood. Um muggle raised? That's the word right?”

Neville nodded “yeah. Must be surprising. Growing up thinking magic is fake only to-”

“Only to find out its real.” Dean laughed “it's freaky as hell. My mom was the witch and she died a while ago. Before she had the chance to tell my dad about the whole. Magic thing.”

“Your mom didn't tell your dad before they got married?” Neville questioned. It sounded like a basic thing to do. He couldn't imagine marrying someone who didn't know about his magic.

“Oh no they weren't married.” Dean explained waving a hand

“But then how-” Neville started to question how dean was here if they weren't married until he closed his mouth and blushed. “Oh right.” Kids could be made outside of marriage.

Dean laughed seeing his embarrassed face and Neville slowly turned around pulling his hood over his head. Dumbass he scolded himself absolute dumbass.

The sorting goes by all too slow.

By the time it finally got to Neville he was shaking. Again.

All the other kids when they got off the stool looked slightly frightened. He was told by his aunt that sorting wasn't dangerous. It wasn't. So why did they look scared?

“Longbottom , Neville” McGonagall called out and Neville had to be pushed forward by one of the kids behind him.

McGonagall gave his a questioning stare and Neville found himself getting in the stool.

The hat was placed on his head and covered his eyes and for a few seconds he was in darkness.

It was silent for a while and Neville was about to take off the hat when a voice spoke up.

“Hello neville.”
“Hi- hi. Who are you?”

‘I am the sorting hat. Here to help you find your house. Now. would it be easier to see me?”

“Sh-shure.” neville called out into the darkness. “Wait are they hearing me talk?”

“Oh no neville this is all going on in your head. Now. where did i? Ah here it is.”

There was a poof in front of him and a old man was there. He was wearing ragged brown robes with a hufflepuff scarf wrapped around them the sorting hat was on top of his white hair wich reached his shoulders a pair of cracked classes balanced on his nose.

“Hello sir neville.” he greeted bowing “i am the sorting hat. Keeper of knowledge of the future and past. I used to be the advisor of kings and great sorcerous before. But now i simply help students find there houses.”

“Well that must suck.” neville blurted out. The hat looked confused and so neville continued ‘i mean. You were an advisor to kings. Why do you want tp help kids?”

“Becuase i like helping the innocent. And in my knowledge.” he tapped at the old hat on his head “no one is more innocent than fresh youth. Now i know your classmates looked scared out there. But that simply means there's alot of information to soak in. i have to get to know you to sort you. Dont worry you’ll forget as soon as the hat is pulled off your head.”

He reached out a hand to neville who had just now realized he had a body. He accepted the hand allowing himself to be guided.

“Now sir neville. Let us start with the childhood memories.”

They walked down the dark hall and the hat spoke again “you know it's not often I meet someone who's met lady magic”

Oh right. That.

After the fall and his magic gained Neville had tried to convince himself it wasn't real. The lady was a hallucination caused by his fear. He couldn't of seen lady magic. He couldn't of. That would be insane. A near squib seeing lady magic. The thought in itself was ridiculous. But here the hat was. Confirming he saw her.

“Now is the time”

What had she meant by that then. And why did she say it to Neville of all people.

The hat smiled at him “your stronger than you think me sir Neville. Now the memories?”

He showed Neville a swirling cloud of colors that took of the rest of the space in the dark void. It looked. Frightening almost. So different from the void that Neville was just getting used to.

“I'll only pull you in if your okay with it” the hat told him

Neville took a breath. Lady magic talked to him. Lady magic talked to him. He can do this. He looked at the hat and nodded “I'm okay with this”

The hat smiled “good “ and that was the last thing he said before he pulled Neville into the cloud of colors

It all blurred together , colors mixing , feelings fleeting , he saw faces and heard names felt touches. There was a wedding maybe. A sandpit. A manor. A face. Scarred. His mom. The colors mixed again and she was gone. A redheaded girl and Luna. There were colors again. It all swirled around him like he was inside a hurricane. Like he was trapped in the eye. He reached a hand out he reached a hand out to escape to leave the eye to leave the swirling colors and-

The hat is pulled off of Neville and he’s breathing deeply tears running down his face. ‘oh. “ he smiles, trying to wipe away tears.

“Gryffindor!”

He pauses and

The names go by and people keep getting sorted.

Macdougal morag slytherin
Moon ravenclaw
Nott slytherin
Parkison slytherin
Patil ravenclaw
Patil gryfindor
Perks sally-anne hufflepuff
Thomas dean Gryffindor
Turpin lisa ravenclaw
Weasley ron hufflepuff
Zabini blaise slytherin

Neville looked out into the distance a thousand yard stare. He didn't remember anything from inside the hat. Just colors and the void. And. And lady magic. It was clear. It wasn't a hallucination it wasn't stress. Lady magic had talked to him. He might of been a near squib and fucking pathetic. But lady magic has seen something in him.

The thought brought a smile to his lips. There was something even if it was small. Something about him that made him worthy to lady magic.

Soon there were no more kids left and McGonagall awa scrolling up the scroll of names. Neville was about to start eating when she called out sounding shocked.

“wait there is one more name.”

whose name was left? Who wasn't here? Who would willingly not come to Hogwarts?

“Evans hari.” she muttered to herself before her face paled.

“Harry potter!” she called out her voice sounding desperate “Harry Potter!” She near screamed her glasses falling off her face.

Whispers went through the hall. Harry Potter was dead. Everyone knew that. He died the night Voldemort died. He was the martyr for the cause. The saint people sacrifice young foals too. Why was she screaming his name?

At that moment the doors swung open dramatically and Ivanov walked through the dining room doors with a girl following behind him grabbing her by the wrist.

She was barefooted and dirty wearing a dress with tons of patches on making it look like a quilt. Her hair was shaggy and uneven falling past her shoulders, her skin scarred and bruised over. Ivanov let go of her wrist when they approached mcgonagall and she dropped like a rag doll on the floor unmoving.

“I found him. I found Harry potter.”

Chapter Text

Hermione looked at the boy

Passed out face first on the floor. He looked so , awful. And Hermione could smell him too. His matted waist length hair (how could it have possibly gotten that long?) covered his face slightly but Hermione better it was scarred like the rest of his visible body. It was covered in these thin little lines. Lichtenberg figures. Everywhere where there was skin visible she could see them. Looking at them too long made a shiver go down her spine. How did he get those? Was it from surviving the killing curse?

Mcgongall rushed to Harry, getting on her knees, propping him up on her lap. She tried to untangle his hair with her fingers looking sad.

‘We’ll get him dressed. We’ll get him dressed and sort him tomorrow. We’ll sort tomorrow.” She couldn't seem to form proper words repeating herself.

She looked up from harry’s face at the other teachers who were crowding around “well?” she asked “help him!’ she shouted out

The teachers seemed to get snapped out of their stunned state and started to order around the servants still in the hall talking about “ministry” and “fudge” and other such things. They had just discovered a saint. Hermione bet that their plates just got very full.

They must have forgotten about the students cause none of them even tried to figure out what to do with them. They seemed to be actively ignoring them, some teacher going out of their way to not answer the few students who talked in favor or demanding paper and quill to write with.

Something caught Hermione's eye that made her stomach turn. His leg. His leg was purpled and twisted. It looked downright awful. It made Hermione sick to see it but she couldn't look away. Not when McGonagall twisted the leg back into its proper place , not when Harry started to scream in pain thrashing against her. Not when McGonagall broke down into sobs pulling hair close to her chest.

The other teachers tried to pull Harry away from her saying they needed to take him to the infirmity. But she was holding on tight, muttering something or another to herself. Something about “baby” and “my dear” and “promised”

It was only when Dumbledore came down from his pedestal and whispered into her ear did she let go.

But it was sudden her arms retracting back in shock causing harry to fall, hitting his head on the ground hard.

This seemed to stir something in the students who realized who was before them on the floor. Harry Potter , the boy who lived.

Shouts broke out , sobs , prayers. It was a blur of noise really.

Some students tried to rush over , maybe to help maybe just so they could touch him. The older students were trying to calm them down but it was evident that they badly wanted to rush over as well. Some actually did shoving aside the younger ones so they could run in front. Some students got lucky and managed to brush their fingers against haris skin before being pulled back by a teacher or a servant or a student either jealous that they got to touch him first or still managed to retain their sense.

She had read about this in her books.

Harry Potter , the boy who lived , the martyr for witch kind. He was a saint. He was worshiped in almost every wizarding household. The sacrificial lamb , the Messiah , the chosen one.

He brought the end to Voldemort's reign of terror. He died so we could live peacefully. Praise him!

Hermione found it utterly ridiculous. A baby was murdered so they turned him into a deity

But seeing it now. It almost made her want to join in on the hysteria. Something about it. Just pulled her in. Like a moth to a flame.

A hand touched her shoulder and she found that she was standing arm out stretched to the boy. A older boy looked at her disapprovingly.

“Give him some space okay?”

“Right. Sorry.” She said bashfully sitting down

A teacher , Hermione wasn't sure which one , picked Harry up in their arms, moving behind Dumbledore. Probably to take him to the medic. The sobs seemed to get louder as he was carried out of the room.

McGonagall took Dumbledore's place at the pedestal. “We understand that this is - very alarming to you all.”

Heads turned to face her and Hermione suddenly felt like she was in a room full of predators. She felt their hungry gazes , demanding to know what they did with their prophet , their saint.

“But Harry Potter is being treated in the medical ward by Madam Pomfrey and her nurses as we speak. He will be sorted tomorrow. Blessed be whosoever house he joins.” mcgonagall spoke in a calm tone but hermione coils see how her hands tightened on the podium , she and her understood one thing , they needed to appease this crowd or there would be hell to pay

“Your head boys and girls will lead you to your dorms and we will discuss this again tomorrow at breakfast where mister potter will be if he is well enough.” she finished before stepping down from the pedestal

A silence fell over the hall and Hermione could tell they were trying to figure out what to do with the information. Trying to deal with the fact that their dead saint was alive. They wanted to know more. Were they the first ones to find out? Did their parents know? Did the ministry know? Whispers filled the hall and Hermione looked to her left and saw the same older boy looking annoyed

He stood up from the slyhterin tabe “alright. We have been given our orders and i expect you to follow them. First years follow me , everyone else follow behind the first years if you see them get lost i expect you to help them.”

He looked at hermione a conflicted look crossed his face before he grabbed her hand and guided her through the doors.

“We as slyhterin house have a long history of making hogwarts proud in every way imaginable. We compete with grfindor house for the title of the best.” he continued to speek to the first years still holding onto hermiones hand “i don’t care about your families alliances during the great war , you will not harass saint potter. Do you understand? If i get word of you doing so i will make you wish you never came to hogwarts.”

They seemed to be going down. Were their dorms in the dungeons? Did they have dungeons? She tried to remember her books about hogwarts but she was still in awe of the castle. It looked so old , with paintings that looked to date back to the renaissance era , or maybe the medieval period. From different cultures too. She could see some from feudal japan clustered together on the far left wall.

The older boy squeezed her hand “don’t fall behind.” he told her before yanking her slightly so she could catch up with him.

They finally arrived to a set ofold wooden doors.

“This is your common room. You will need a password to get in. The password currently is snake. Something easy for you young ones to remember. But it will get more complicated as we get further into the school year. You will be updated when it changes and it will be your responsibility to remember.” He then turned and spoke to the door.

The two wooden doors opened revealing a long dark hallway descending to who knows where.

“First years keep a hand on the wall so you don't trip. Older kids I expect you to cast lumos.” He then started to walk down the stairs taking Hermione with him

“Normally these torches are lit by the servants before we come in. But I suppose they were busy taking care of Saint Potter.” The older boy made what sounded like a scoff “no matter though. I expect you all to not trip and break your neck regardless.

When they finally got into the common room the older boy counted all of the first years.

He nodded approvingly “not one of you got lost. I'm proud. And that will be the last time I say that for you doing something so minor. Next time you're going to have to earn it.”

He let go of Hermione's hand and she kind of missed the warmth. He went to sit down on one of the lavish sofas tilting his head back. “Your dismissed. Go find your private rooms.” He waved a dismissive hand and everyone went off the younger kids giggling trying to claim the best bed for themselves.

Hermione stayed though. Looking at the older boy hesitantly.

“Yes child?” He asked now looking at her

“I'm sorry. But um. Who are you? Your our headboy Right? That means you're in your a seventh year.”

He tilted his head in confusion “you don't know who I am?”

She nodded, grabbing her skirt, balling it up in her hand. She felt embarrassed admitting that. She didn't like being wrong, she hated it a lot actually.

“Right. I always forget about those who are muggle-raised. Poor fucks really. Well child.” He stands up shrugging his shoulders to stretch them “I am your headboy and I am a seventh year. And my name. Leo. My family name is what you should really be asking though.”

Hermione nodded, “What is your family name?”

He smiled , a vicious sort of smile that made Hermione realize how small she was and how big he was. And the fact that she was not supposed to be here. Not supposed to be here at all.

“Malfoy darling. My name is Leo Malfoy.”

Chapter Text

"Saint Potter is alive.”

That was the first thing Arthur heard when he walked into the office.

Saint Potter was alive and found at Hogwarts. He was currently being treated at their medical ward allegedly being cared for by madam pomfrey herself.

As he expected, news reporters were already trying to get permission to get into Hogwarts so they could take pictures of the saint. Some went as far as to bang on the castle gates demanding to be let in.

He can't say he didn't understand it.

Witches didn't have many saints. There was Merlin who was the first avatar of lady magic , Morgana who invented wands and revolutionized potion making , Circe who practically invented charms and protection magic , the founders of Hogwarts who invented magic schools and saved the world from dark forces. Then of course the Potter family , all of them martyrs for witchkind.

To find that a saint was alive , that you could actually talk to him , to touch him. Arthur understood why everyone was going mad.

But no matter the fact that he was a saint. The boy was still a child. A horribly treated child according to the injuries Hogwarts reported to the ministry. Abuse most likely.

But who would even think of abusing a saint?

He sighed sitting down on his desk. Not to even think about the pressure to have the “right” Hogwarts house. It would be mayhem no matter where he got sorted.

Each house viewed themselves to be perfect and infallible, the absolute perfect image of what a witch should be. And despised the others for not being proper. Viewing the others as barbaric or stupid , half witches.

They all hated each other and they all wanted saint Potter in their house.

He felt sorry for the saint. It wasn't the first time. When they were celebrating him Arthur couldn't help but feel a pang in his chest when he realized that this was an actual baby , who actually died.

Maybe he should write to his children. Tell them to be kind to the saint and watch out for him. He'll probably be hounded at all times. And he vaguely knew James during the war. He had saved Arthur's life a few times. The least he could do is make sure his child isn't harassed.

He did wonder however how did the child survive? And who made them believe he was dead? Yes, having an alive saint was well and good but who told them he was dead in the first place? He tried to remember but the day was so chaotic that nothing really stuck the memories muddled together.

Death eaters started doing random terrorist attacks in rage , several parties broke out , some muggles accidentally witness magic , several suicides. It was an explosive day. The only thing he can remember is a news headline.

But it doesn't matter. Wasn't his place to pry. Arthur bets the other houses are though. Especially the ones who allied themselves with you-know-who during the great war. He betted they were seething. Malfoy definitely was. He could almost imagine how red his face got when he first heard it.

He laughed to himself picking up his quill. He would love to see that.

Chapter Text

Saint potter wasn’t at breakfast as it seemed. According to mcgongogall he was still in the medical wing still in a medical coma. Draco couldn’t say he cared much. His family was one of the few who didn’t worship the saint. To him this was just a random ragged looking child who everyone was fawning over.

He sat down with his family at the table. Unlike with the other houses it was common at the slytherin dining table for family to sit and eat with family. Because noble houses often had several many children who all got sorted into the same house. It was off putting almost to see a slytherin child eating alone. They often got shunned to the end of the table to eat with each other. Maybe they could make friends or something.

Draco sat up front of the table close to the teachers. He wasn’t sure why this was considered the best seat but it was and so he sat there with his family.

He had a great many siblings but only a few of them still attended hogwarts. Leo , clover and the twins felix and juno. Felix and juno like draco were both albino. Though Juno was compelled blind because of it, Felix could only see vague colors and shapes. Mateo was also blind because of his albinism. It seemed only draco and viola managed to escape this. Though part of Draco still feared waking up and finding himself unable to see.

He sat down next to Juno , she was in her fourth year which seemed to shock people , they always thought her to be older than she actually was. It made a weird sort of sense to Draco. She always wanted to be like Mother imitating her speech and way of dressing and such. Maybe it worked better than Draco thought it did.

She did dress elegantly enough , her hair always neat, her nails always clean , Draco has never seen so much as a hunt of a pimple on her face. But he never really noticed that. What he noticed was her eyes. Since she couldn't use them she saw no use in having them visible. So she covered them in lace. A lace blind fold that Draco thinks she removed from Mother's dress was wrapped around her eyes everyday. It was striking to say the least.

When they were younger she would take off the blindfold and let Draco see her eyes. He knew that they would look the same as they did the last time she allowed him to see them but there was just a sense of happiness that came with seeing something usually hidden. Sometimes she would wrap the lace around his eyes and laughed as he tried to walk around with it on , ending with him hitting his head a few times.

She lifted her head up as she realized Draco was there and smiled “dragon.” She cooed softly.

Draco hated that nickname.

She reached over feeling for a moment before she got to his cheek and cupped it “you're late for breakfast. Please tell me you're wearing your robes. Felix check to make sure he's wearing his robes.” Felix looked up from his plate with mild annoyance on his face “you realize I'm also blind Juno?”

“Yeah well you can see colors I can't.” She snapped back but Draco could tell she was letting it go.

“dont worry he's wearing his robes.” Leo spoke up.

Draco gritted his teeth , he hated Leo. Ever since they were little Leo loved bullying him, always going out of his way to make Draco feel smaller , worthless. It was fucking annoying and was really fucking hypocritical. Considering the fact that Leo wasn't even Mother and father's favorite, that was Ethan. He was pushing Draco down just to get to a position that was already filled. They were all spares just there in case the main three , viola , Matteo and Ethan died for some reason.

“I let me see your schedule. I want to see who you have.” Leo said with his when out.

“Well if you have to know I have transfiguration first then charms.’ Draco snarled

Leo raised an eyebrow before sighing “alright then.”

The doors of the dinning hall opened and everyone's heads snapped to see who entered. Most were probably hoping it was saint Potter. Gracing them with his glorious presence. But no it was the little dark skinned girl. Draco remembered her from the sorting. Granger something. Most likely a half blood , he’d be sure not to talk to her then.

Her hair was out of its frankly inappropriate bun from last night now in what looked like a bird's nest. A mess of her thick wool like hair. Honestly she walks around with that. Does she have no shame?

“Is it Potter?” Juno asked leaning over

“No just some mud blood kid.” Draco dismissed

Juno nodded “alright then. Is she in our house?”

“Unfortunately so yes.” Draco sighed “honestly what is Hogwarts coming too.”

Felix laughed on the other side of the table but Draco noticed that Leo looked annoyed. “And what's wrong with you?” Draco asked

“Nothing. Just didn't know she was a mudblood. Won't of talked to her then.” Leo said cooly.

“Oh. Was that the girl whose hand you were holding?” Felix asked “I heard from some fifth years that you were guiding a girl through the halls. Like a helper “ he snickered at that

Leo rolled his eyes “well it's not like I knew she was a half blood now was it?”

“Her last name is literally Granger Leo. She might as well write mudblood in big letter on her forehead.” Juno responded smiling

“Assuming you could see her forehead under that mess of hair she's got.” Draco rolled his eyes

Somehow Leo looked more annoyed then before gripping his fork so tight that Draco thought it would snap.

“Well I think-” Leo started but was interrupted by a throat being cleared

They turned to see the Granger girl looking shy standing next to Leo. Apparently none of them noticed her walking up.

“Who is it?” Juno asked putting down her fork

“The Granger girl.” Leo responded sounding bored “what do you want girl?”

“I just wanted to see if I could sit with you?” She asked , her voice was so fucking meek that Draco could of confused her with a mouse.

Felix laughed “do you not have any family here?”

The girl shook her head “no I'm muggle raised. But Leo was nice to me last night so I was wondering if I could-” a hand was out on her shoulder

“Sorry about her. Was trying to catch her attention but she was locked in on getting to you.” Marcus Flint spoke

He then grabbed her wrist, dragging her away from them.

Leo sighed “well thank Circe for flint.”

“i thought I smelled something off. I guess that was her. All that dirt on her skin.” Felix said, waving a hand turning back to his breakfast.

Draco went back to eating a slightly queasy feeling in his stomach. He wasn't sure what that was about , the girl was a mudblood and a dark skinned mudblood at that. It wasn't his fault that she was made wrong. It wasn't his fault..

Catching a look of disgust from Leo , Draco put his head down continuing to eat. He couldn't help but feel like he fucked up big time.

Chapter Text

Aleksei prince was the potions master of Hogwarts. Not that Ron knew the names of all of the Hogwarts professors by Heath but when he told his upperclassmen that he had potions first they immediately told him everything they knew about it.

Apparently professor prince was a kind professor who loved potions more than anything. He loves helping his students and wasn't too harsh on you if you potion sucked. It seemed as long as you put in effort in his class that he would go easy on you.

But that wasn't the interesting part.

From what he remembered aleksei prince was the son of elineen prince the heroes of the prince house who died. Apparently she had one last child before she died of illness or whatever. But the child was a bastard so he was hidden from public view so no one knew about him until after the great war.

Why Dumbledore let a bastard teach at Hogwarts Ron didn't know. But as long as the class seemed easy he really didn't care.

The potions class room smelled like , cinnamon and nutmeg. Really strongly. Ron thinks the professor was trying to cover up the smell of potions he had heard they smell awful.

He sat down next to Hannah abbott pulling out his battered potions textbook. This textbook was older than ron himself. It contained the basics of potions which apparently never changed since bill’s first year at hogwarts so there was no need to get a new one. Waste not want not and all that jazz.

He saw hannah side eye textbook pulling out her own shiny brand new one and a knot formed in his stomach. Right. Hanah was a noble. Ron was one too technically. The weasley house was technically still a noble one but they had lost the gleam of that status a while ago. They were poor. And they had been such for a while , something about a generational curse. Ron thought it was bullshit though. The ministry sucks and the weasley family always had too many morals for their liking. So they got the short end of the stick.

Ron didn’t mind it though. If he had to choose between being lord ron weasley who thought all half bloods and muggle raised deserved to die or ron weasley who had basic empathy. He would always choose just Ron Weasley.

The doors to the dungeon opened up with a swish and a man walked in. he wore black pants with a short black robe over top. His skin was a light brown with light freckles across his face. His hair was short and curly reaching his shoulders. He was smiling when he walked in as if he as excited to teach a bunch of bored eleven year olds.

“You are here to learn the subtle since and exact art of potions making.” he began speaking. His voice was gentler than ron expected. Almost like a womans voice.

“There is little foolish wand waving in this class so i doubt most of you will believe this is magic.” he reached the front of the class puting his hands on either side of the pedestal “i don’t expect you to truly understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes. The delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins , bewitching the mind , ensnaring the senses.”

He paused for a moment as if calming down. “I can teach you how to bottle fame , brew glory and even stopper death, if you only wish to try.”

A silence fell over the classroom , hanging on to every single word coming out of prince’s mouth. He observed the classroom looking over them before pointing at hannah.

“Abbott , What would i get if i added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?” he asked her his voice staying the same calm tone.

She started stammering a bit “a - a um. Well a sleeping potion sir.”

Prince nodded before pointing at a ravenclaw student “Patil! where would you look if i told you to find me a bezoar?”

“Um. a goat sir?”

He pointed at a different ravenclaw student “belby! What is the difference between monkswood and wolfsbane?”

“i dont know sir.”

Prince hummed for a moment before writing something down. “Whats that for sir?” belby asked sounding worried. “None of your concern.” he pointed at a huffepuff student “freeman. Whats the most powerful love potion?”

“Amortenia. Sir.”

“Good” prince moved to the front of the classroom eyes adnering over them. He pointed at ron “where would one acquire pixie dust?”

“Oh um.. From the wings right?” ron answered , he had heard fred and george talking to themselves about it sometimes. Something about a prank that made a person float.

Prince nodded “correct.”

He pointed at another student “the difference between sweet annie and madwomans milk?”

“Um. well. I don’t really know what those are sir.”
The professor nodded before returning to his pedestal to write something down. He then without looking up asked “clearwater. What truth potion is stronger than viritaserum?”

“None sir.”

“Good. hailey. What exactly is bara caws.”

“I don’t know sir.”

He wrote something else down before looking up at them. “Well. it seems you don’t know your plants then.”

He went from behind the podium walking down the aisle the separated desks created. “bara caws is hawthorn. Sweet Annie and madwoman's milk are two completely different plants that have no relation. And monkswood and wolfsbane are the same plant.” he explained

He stopped when he reached the door at the back of the class and turned on his heels “open your textbooks to the first page. We are going to go over the basic plants used in potion making before I allow you to even touch a caldron.”

He started to walk up again "Remember the slang terms for them as well these books are old they won’t use the scientific or known term for them but rather to the most common one for them then. I august you write down these names so you can have something to reference later on.”

Things went well form there. They just looked over the textbooks and jotted down notes. They were allowed to talk as long as they didn’t get too loud about it.

After getting bored ron started to watch the professor. He was kind of a word man. He kept going to this storage closet he had in the front but never brought anything in or out of it. He also had a look of worry on his face at all times. Like he was prepared for the worst to happen at any second. But like it made sense. A saint came back to life. Ron was kinda surprised still loyal death eaters weren't bombing the castle. Maybe they were still in the planning phase.

He shrugged, going back to his notes. At the end of class the professor said he would be checking in with professor sprout constantly to see what types of plants they were learning about so he could incorporate them into lessens And Ron left with a list of deadly and edible plants. Overall it was a pretty good class.

He wasn't looking forward to after the school day ended though.

Hogwarts wasn't free. The rich students may think it was but it wasn't. Your family has to pay to get in. And the Weasley family couldn't afford this. But the oh so gracious and generous Hogwarts came up with a solution to this problem in the 20’s. Students who couldn't afford the tuition would simply have to work.

Which means that everyone who didn't shit silver and gold would have to spend their after hours and weekends cleaning the castle. Like servants or house elves.

His mother had warned him about this but he had kind of forgotten about it in the excitement to finally be going to Hogwarts then the reveal that saint Potter was still alive.

All of his family had to go through it. It couldn't have been that bad then. Bill , Charlie and Percy were still popular despite the fact that they had to clean. Fred and George seemed well liked enough. Though Ron doubted Fred cared what the assholes in Slytherin cared about him.

And supposedly the first years get lighter work so he shouldn't be that worried. It was fine. And besides having to clean so he could learn magic? There were worse prices to pay.

He tried not to be so bitter about being poor all the time. It didn’t help anything and it wasn’t like his parents wanted them to suffer. Though he was , questioning why they decided to have so many fucking children. Like he got that noble houses often had several children but they were barley even a noble house anymore. So why do this? Why make so many kids and force them to compete with each other and live like this. Why make ron drown trying separately to get their attention but they were too focused on fred or george or percy or whoever the fuck to even look his way.

He felt slightly nauseous. He always did when he thought about this for too long. He tried not to think about it often for his own good.