The large red train billows steam as the family of five say their goodbyes for the school year.
"Boys," Arcturus announces, "be sure to make our family proud. We are Blacks. We are the best!"
Both Orion and Lucien nod, promising to not let their parents down. Both seemingly having a hard time leaving their family.
'I never thought I'd get so attached to them,' thinks Lucien.
"Ori, Luci, remember if you need anything in an emergency, just call out to Kreacher," Melania says giving her children one last hug.
"Mom, I don't think we're allowed to use house-elves at school," replies Orion.
"Hush, what they don't know won't hurt them," chimes Melania slyly to her children.
[CHUUU CHUUU]
"You boys better get going or you'll miss the train! Make sure to owl every once and a while, for your mother's sake," says Arcturus giving the boys one last piece of advice.
The twins turn to leave their parents, dragging their trunks toward the steam engine. They follow the mad rush of students as they look for a place to sit.
"So, where would you like to sit brother?" asks Orion.
"Mmm, wherever. We should first find an empty compartment to put our trunks before we do our rounds and say hello to the other families. Father would skin our hides if he found out we weren't acting like 'proper' Blacks," answers Lucien.
In truth, Lucien didn't care one bit about formality and decorum between pure-blooded families. Though as their mother taught them, etiquette and manners go a long way.
'Manners maketh man after all," thinks Lucien remembering one of his favorite films. 'Besides, it's time to meet the wizard.'
'Aurora, please keep notice of anything that may be suspicious. Although he's still a child, it takes a certain type of man to split his soul once, let alone multiple times.'
Aurora agrees, 'Will do Boss!'
*******
Lucien and Orion approach a cabin towards the rear of the train. Inside is a handful of Slytherin boys dressed in jacket and tie. Toward the window sits a young man with dark brown hair watching the conversations play out with a practiced poise.
Silence enveloped the compartment as a knock was heard on the sliding door. The young man closest to the door stood up and opened it before sitting back down.
Lucien walks in with his brother in tow before looking around the room at the familiar faces.
"Avery, Nott, Rosier, Mulciber, Lestrange," Lucien says before nodding his head slightly. Orion follows suit, acknowledging the gentleman in the cart.
The schoolboys nod back returning the acknowledgment.
"I had heard from my father the little boy genius and his pretty-boy brother would be coming to school this year," Avery scoffs.
"Well," Orion replies with a dashing smile, "Hogwarts is the finest institution in Europe. We wouldn't want to miss out on all the fun."
This gets a laugh from the boys before Lucien chimes in, "Our father wouldn't let us go to any where else with all that's happening on the continent. Not like we would either way, at least not while Dumbledore is still teaching."
At this, the young man near the window stirred almost imperceptibly. Lucien turns toward him with a glint in his eye, "And who might you be, friend?"
"Ah, where are my manners?" says Lestrange. "This is Tom, Tom Riddle. Lestrange then turns toward Riddle introducing him to both of the Black brothers.
"Riddle? I don't recognize that surname," questions Lucian to Lestrange.
"You wouldn't Tom's parents passed when he was a child," states Lestrange.
"No matter," Lucien extends his hand toward the older boy, "It's nice to meet you friend. I can see that you keep a distinguished company; please let us know if there is anything you need of House Black."
Riddle clasps his hand in the same fashion, "It's a pleasure to meet you both as well. I look forward to continued friendship in the future.
Unbeknownst to either party, Lucien and Riddle both attempted to scan each other surface thoughts with both sides coming up empty-handed.
Lucien turns around and says goodbye to the cabin, signaling his brother that it is time to leave.
As Lucien walks back to his compartment to change, there is only one thought crossing his mind, 'Powerful. Extremely powerful.'
With Lucien's gift of mage sight, he is able to accurately gauge the amount of mana stored in a wizard's body. Riddle as a third-year had nearly as much magic at his disposal as his father.
Lucien and Orion enter their compartment and change into their school robes before deciding on a game of Wizard Chess to kill some time waiting for the train to arrive.
*******
As soon as the compartment door closes the young lords all turn towards the brown-haired boy.
"Powerful, extremely so, it feels as if there is no end to his magic. He seems to be more talented than you led me to believe, Nott," replies Riddle to their questioning looks.
"From what I can tell, his thoughts are shielded well. He's leagues ahead of his older brother. Let's keep an eye on him, he could be a nice addition to our little group," Riddle announce to the car.
'And if not, well, we will just have to wait and see.'
*******
The Hogwarts Express blows it's horn as the students scurry on to the platform at Hogsmead Station. First-years are corralled by one of the teachers and told to make their way to the lake. The older students, loud and boisterous, take their seats on the enchanted carriages to begin their trek toward the castle proper.
'I wonder if I can see thestrals,' Lucien thinks to himself before asking Aurora to make a note for them to check at a later date.
Lucien sits with his brother and two other boys as the boats make their way across the Black Lake. He can now understand the looks of awe on Harry and his friends' faces when they saw the castle for the first time.
Hogwarts, built of dark grey stone, sits high up on a hill contrasting the purple evening sky. Although too early for stars, the torches lit in the castle windows and around the campus offer a dreamlike display, as if willow wisps are illuminating the budding night. That some of the greatest witches and wizards ever born have walked those hallowed halls is not lost on him.
There is only one thought in Lucien's head as he watches mana pulse throughout the grounds, 'I can finally learn magic!'
*******
Lucien and the rest of the new students are shepherded through the castle by a female professor. Everyone seems to be amazed by the school's size and grandeur. Even the pureblooded children seemed to be in awe by the sheer magnificence of the castle itself. Moving portraits, rustic sets of armor, and beautifully carved statues littered the way to the great hall.
The first-years formed a queue and follow the professor through the large wooden doors into the great hall.
As Lucien looked around, his brother elbowed him and pointed at the enchanted sealing.
"Do you think we can do this at the manor?" he asks.
"I'd ask Mother, there's no way Father would let us get away with that," says Lucien with a chuckle.
The hall grew quiet as the Sorting Hat began its yearly serenade; this year focusing on the need for unity and to band together, as the tides of time may try to tear them apart.
'It's finally time! I wonder where I'm going to go... well at least we can cross Gryffindor off of that list,' ponders Lucien before his mind is abruptly pulled back into the present.
"Black, Lucien!"