The train hissed to a stop beneath the shadowed peaks of the Highlands, a long whistle echoing like a ghost through the valley.
Cassius stepped onto the damp platform, his polished boots meeting the familiar crunch of gravel.
The smell of rain and pine filled the air, and the low, distant glow of lanterns marked the edge of the Hogsmeade Station.
"All right, first-years this way!" Hagrid's booming voice carried through the mist like rolling thunder. "Firs' years, come along! Boats over the lake—don' be shy now!"
Astoria glanced up at her sister, eyes wide, excitement written across her face.
"That's me."
Daphne adjusted her younger sister's cloak, smoothing the trimmed edge.
"Try not to fall in, Tori. It's not fashionable to arrive drenched."
Astoria only grinned. "Maybe I'll get to see the giant squid!"
Cassius inclined his head toward her. "Enjoy your first glimpse. Hogwarts always looks best reflected on black water."
Astoria's smile brightened, and with one last wave, she darted after the cluster of first-years following Hagrid down toward the glimmering lake.
Cassius turned back to the others—Cho, Daphne, and Hermione—just as a line of thestral-drawn carriages rolled forward from the shadows.
Their skeletal wings shimmered faintly in the lamplight, black eyes gleaming like pools of obsidian.
"Let's go before they fill," Cho urged, hoisting her trunk into the nearest carriage.
Cassius followed, but as he did, one of the thestrals turned its long, bony head to regard him directly.
It inhaled sharply, nostrils flaring, then gave a low, rattling exhale—almost like recognition.
Cassius froze.
His gaze met the creature's hollow black eyes, and for a moment, it was if the horselike creature was staring into his soul.
"Cassius?" Hermione asked softly.
He glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "Don't mind me, just got a bit lightheaded for a second."
He stepper closer to the Thestral, and the beast lowered its head, nuzzling against his sleeve.
Cassius didn't flinch.
His hand rose almost involuntarily, fingers grazing the creature's skeletal muzzle.
Daphne looked on uneasily.
From her perspective Cassius seemed to be possessed or just crazy.
Cassius's lips curved faintly, humorless.
He climbed into the carriage without another word.
The thestral snorted once, wings folding neatly against its sides before the carriage lurched into motion, wheels crunching over the damp road.
The night deepened as they ascended toward the castle.
Through the fog, the turrets of Hogwarts loomed—golden lights glowing from a thousand windows, mirrored in the Black Lake below.
Thunder rumbled somewhere over the mountains.
Inside the carriage, conversation drifted aimlessly.
Cho hummed under her breath.
Hermione rehearsed the list of elective hopes she'd made, hoping to convince the staff to let her take courses beyond her year.
Daphne stared out the window, silently tracing the lights of the castle as though memorizing its silhouette, while faintly worrying about her younger sister.
Cassius remained quiet, his thoughts elsewhere—caught up in why the thestral was so interested in him.
They in myths were horses reared by death to ferry the dead into the underworld, though in reality they were simply a highly specialized magical creature who had created a defense mechanism to appear invisible to all who had not witnessed death.
And this was the death action, not death person/figure.
Cassius had witnessed his own death, and perhaps because he was a former dead person that was why the thestrals were so inclined towards him?
~
The grand oak doors of Hogwarts opened wide as the carriages emptied into the courtyard.
Students streamed in—robes swishing, voices echoing beneath the high stone archways.
Cassius, Cho, Hermione, and Daphne moved toward the Great Hall with the rest of their peers.
The enchanted ceiling above was a dark mirror of the stormy night sky, moonlight faintly bleeding through the illusionary clouds.
House Draconis's table waited near the hall's center—its banners silver and black, bearing the image of a dragon proudly standing tall roaring at the sky above.
Cassius took his place as the others sat beside or across from him, the low hum of conversation already filling the hall.
Minutes passed until the great hall doors opened once more, letting the flood of new first years enter under full watch of the seasoned students.
"Feels strange," Cho murmured, watching the sea of students filter in. "Even with so many new faces… it feels smaller somehow."
Cassius nodded faintly.
"Familiarity breeds that illusion. Hogwarts changes—but its heart never does."
Once the passage of first years reached the front of the hall, Professor McGonagal turned to gaze over all the assembled students, and without even a word the hall quieted instantly.
"Geez there likely two hundred again this year," Daphne whispered. "Merlin, the school's overflowing with students all of a sudden."
Cassius could only smirk, this was afterall his own doing.
Close to half the student body at this point were creations of his own making afterall.
The Sorting Hat sat upon its stool, its brim twitching in anticipation.
Cassius leaned back slightly on his bench, studying the crowd looking over his 'prospects' for the year.
He recognized a few names from the books, and movies, first of all was Astoria of course.
Ginny Weasley, freckled and defiant.
A pale, dreamy-looking girl who would later introduce herself as Luna Lovegood.
As the Hat began its song, Cassius half-listened, half-watched the high table.
Dumbledore's eyes glimmered like candlelight behind his half-moon spectacles, but Cassius noted the faint weariness in the man's smile.
The sorting began without any further ado, and student by student was lain bear by the hat before all the spectators before receiving their just reward of a house to belong to.
Many were pleased, many more were pouting, casting glances to the Draconis table as they passed by.
Then—movement.
McGonagall and Professor Snape exchanged a glance and quietly rose from their seats, exiting the hall through a side door.
Within moments, Lily followed, her expression unreadable.
Dumbledore trailed behind her, curiosity painted across his features as he also excused himself.
Cassius's eyes narrowed faintly.
'Someones in trouble'
He mockingly sang out in his mind, knowing the dunce duo were being reprimanded for their recent achievements.
~
"Astoria Greengrass!"—a long pause as the Hat deliberated, whispering in thought—then, "SLYTHERIN!"
Daphne exhaled quietly, a faint smile curving her lips. "She'll do well."
Cassius merely nodded, gaze flicking toward the doors that had swallowed four of the most powerful people in the castle.
"Luna Lovegood!"—RAVENCLAW!
"Ginerva Weasley!"—GRYFFINDOR!
By the time the last name was called, the murmurs had begun.
Students whispering about professors missing from the table.
Others began to question the absence of Harry Potter.
The enchanted candles flickered oddly, as though caught in a draft that wasn't there.
Then the doors opened again.
Dumbledore reentered, calm and composed, with Lily, McGonagall, and Snape following behind.
Only Snape's face betrayed anything—a faint tension in the jaw, the kind that promised he was far from happy right now.
Seems even in this alternate life, Snape could not get his way, worse still he probably angered Lily further in his efforts to expel Potter.
The Headmaster raised his arms slightly, smiling.
"Welcome! To both old friends and new arrivals. Another year awaits—one I am certain will bring both challenge and triumph."
His blue eyes swept the hall, lingering only briefly on Cassius.
"As always, a few reminders: the Forbidden Forest is forbidden for good reason; magic in the corridors is strictly prohibited."
Cassius's lips twitched, almost imperceptibly.
There was a single line missing from the old headmasters speech, where are the insults meant for each house?
Had it been dropped because draconis had no such insults yet?
"And now," Dumbledore said, eyes twinkling, "let the feast begin!"
Plates filled instantly—roast beef, treacle tart, pumpkin pasties, buttered potatoes, and glittering goblets of pumpkin juice.
The hall erupted into laughter and conversation once more.
Cho reached for a slice of pie; Hermione was already deep in discussion about course scheduling with a Ravenclaw prefect who'd come over to say hello.
Daphne, for her part, sat quietly, savoring the quiet pride of her sister's successful Sorting.
Before the younger girl abandoned her housemates to come sit next to her sister for the meal.