Ginny was still being shy. Connor understood why, of course. Even though she had much more experience with wizards and witches and magic in general, Hogwarts - actually, school in general if what Blake had said about wizards only starting school from secondary age was true - was still a new experience, and would be the largest part of her life for another 7 years. But Connor wasn't shy - and Ginny seemed to notice it.
"How are you not nervous?" she demanded as they dug into the treats they'd just bought from the trolley. "I mean, yesterday was the first day you saw magic right? How aren't you nervous?"
Connor laughed in response.
"Why would I be? Hogwarts is safe, isn't it? Dumbledore's the strongest wizard of the age, some people even say of all time, don't they?"
"Well, yeah, but - well, you're muggleborn, Connor. And with what happened-"
Ginny paused for a second, catching herself as if she'd almost revealed something she wasn't meant to. What's up with that? Connor wondered. I'll have to ask Blake about that later.
"What I'm trying to say is, how can you be so confident? I'm not saying it's a bad thing, it's just … how?"
Connor smirked.
"I told you, Ginny. There's plenty of professors that I can go to, should anything happen. Blake's already told me about some of the purebloods and stuff. He's gonna teach me Defence - actually, he's already started with the theory."
Connor opened a Chocolate Frog, stuffing his mouth.
"And besides, even if something does happen - Blake's here. Nothing that bad can happen to me as long as he's around."
As Ginny stared at him, silenced by his confidence, Connor swore loudly.
"I think I gave the lady a Knut instead of a Sickle! Be right back!" he said quickly before following the direction that the trolley lady went in.
Ginny followed her age mate's retreating figure. These Renshaws. They're something else.
/
Connor had successfully paid for his food properly and apologised, which the trolley lady no doubt found very charming.
Those Chocolate Frogs were nice, Connor thought absentmindedly. I wanna try those multiflavoured sweets - what were they called again?
Suddenly, the carriage doors opposite Connor opened, and he immediately tensed, gripping his wand in his pocket tightly.
Blonde hair, rat face, arrogant expression. Definitely the Malfoy that Blake warned me about, Connor surmised. He quickly recalled how Blake had told him to say and do the Leg Locking jinx, but continued to walk by normally.
Connor noticed Malfoy's sneering gaze, but he ignored it, hoping to not start a confrontation. I don't want to make anything more difficult for Blake.
But just as Malfoy passed him, out of the corner of his eye, Connor saw Malfoy move. The younger Renshaw quickly turned and raised his wand, ready to jinx - but he paused at the last second.
Malfoy's on the ground? Why? Connor looked around. No one else was here, so why?
There's no way he just tripped over, Connor thought, sighing. Fine.
Connor walked over to the groaning Malfoy, and offered his hand out. Malfoy glanced at him suspiciously, before grudgingly accepting the hand and raising himself up.
"T- Thanks," Malfoy said, as if the words were poison to his very soul. Connor resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
"No problem, Malfoy."
The boy's eyes lit up. Just because I know his name, he thinks I'm a halfblood, or hopefully a pureblood.
Connor tried his best not to roll his eyes again, before turning and walking back to Ginny's direction.
"Wait - what's your name?" Malfoy asked, almost shouting at Connor's retreating figure.
The doors slammed shut behind him.
/
BLAKE'S POV
No one seemed eager to respond - not even Tracey, who was normally so happy to divulge gossip. Blake's heart sank further than it already had - he had his suspicions about what could've happened.
It was Greengrass that eventually responded, her voice uncharacteristically soft.
"We don't know. She hasn't been responding to any of our letters, and we haven't seen her yet."
"I see," Blake replied, equally quiet.
Those unopened letters that she received. Her blood-purist mum. Malfoy's threats to tell her that she was friends with us - with me.
The journey on Hogwarts Express was somewhat fun, as the four of them tried to pretend like nothing was wrong, but the effect of Charlotte's absence was irrefutable.
Soon enough, they arrived at Hogwarts. Coming off the train, the 4 Slytherins wordlessly immediately looked around for their friend, but with no luck. Until-
"Look!" Zabini whispered urgently, nodding to his left.
All 4 heads turned, and for a moment, Blake felt immense relief. Charlotte was there, with her back turned, and she seemed to be alright - no obvious injury or health concerns.
But then she turned around, and Blake felt the most guilt he'd felt in a long, long time. Charlotte's face was gaunt, as if she hadn't eaten in months. Her normally bright eyes were dull, and worst of all, as soon as she made eye contact with him, she flinched as though he'd hit her, and turned around quickly.
All four of them continued onto the castle, pretending like nothing was wrong, even Blake. But that guilty feeling stayed nestled in the depths of his gut, refusing to be removed.
Charlotte is suffering. All because she's friends with me.
/
The Sorting started soon after the students had all filed into the Great Hall, and Dumbledore finished his weirdo speech. Blake was mildly aware of Dumbledore potentially trying to intervene some way or another in his life again, but he thought the chances were slim. Hopefully, I've proven myself to be opposed to his plans. Unless of course, he refuses to leave me alone, but there's nothing much I can do about that now.
Right now, I'm just focused on improving Scriptum Exordia without worrying about the presence of a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher / Voldemort looming over my shoulder, and Connor.
Actually, speaking of Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers…
Blake looked over to where Quirrell had once sat. Now, in his stead, sat Gilderoy Lockhart, a man famed for his various conquests over many, many Dark creatures, and countless adventures - a hero for all intents and purposes. Maybe I'll finally get a competent DADA teacher, Blake thought. Unless Voldy possesses him too.
Either way, my priorities are clear. Scriptum Exordia and Connor. That's it.
The Sorting started, and despite Blake's confidence that his little brother would be sorted into Gryffindor, Blake couldn't help his heart rate increasing as Connor's name came closer and closer.
"Connor Renshaw!"
As a few whispers broke out among the students, Blake could've sworn he saw Malfoy's face pale in shock, leaving him feeling smug. He's definitely worried about having to deal with two Renshaws now.
Blake also didn't miss an expression of surprise from Charlotte for a moment, before she returned back to her now normal, depressed expression.
I'm going to fix this, Blake promised himself, as he watched Connor confidently stride up to the Sorting Hat, and placed it on his head.
The Sorting Hat had barely been on Connor's head before it shouted the result.
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