Chapter Text
It was already dark, the last of the sunlight fading down as the moon came into view, the wind was clearer to hear now and the sound of kids filled the train station. First years to be exact.
Tonight was the night Hogwarts would be getting all new first year students joining the school. Kids were bustling with their packed bags, and parents were guiding their kids to platform 9 ¾. The sound of the train engine was loud and the smell of smoke coming from it filled my nose.
This was fun for everyone else, every other student excited to start at Hogwarts, learn magic, and do all sorts of fun things. But for me this was the opposite of fun, it was torture. I knew that from now on I was going to be the most hated student at Hogwarts.
Sure, I mean, I'm not annoying, or loud, or particularly mean. I don't talk too much. Or bother people, or beg for attention. If anything, I'm the calmest person I know. I listen to people, I'm smart, I get good grades, and I have normal hobbies. What's there to not like about me?...
It's who I am. My name. My family line
My name is Asheton Lestrange. I just turned 11, and received my Hogwarts invitation in the mail a week prior. I was shocked, the letter was signed specifically “Albus Dumbledore". I thought it must've been some kind of joke. Or at least the letter got sent to the wrong address. But it had my name and everything. Every sign pointed to the fact that Dumbledore had actually invited the child of Bellatrix Lestrange to go study at Hogwarts.
The letter had all the instructions on where to find platform 9 ¾ at the train station, along with a list of items I'd need to get from Diagon alley.
After I reread the letter about a million times I packed my bag carefully and made my way to Diagon alley for the stuff on the list.
I stopped at all the necessary places and gathered each item I needed carefully. I walked with my head low, hoping to not be recognized as someone dangerous to avoid and be afraid of. I went to the wand place.
The wand shop owner Ollivander was shocked to see me. I gently pulled the Hogwarts magic school witchcraft and wizardry acceptance letter from my pocket and softly setting it on his front table.
After Ollivander reread my Hogwarts letter he reluctantly found a wand that chose me, and set it in front of me on the table, seemingly keeping a safe distance. I grabbed the wand and softly set it in my bag and exited the shop. I finished buying all the items on the list and left Diagon alley.
A week later the day of heading to Hogwarts finally arrived. My heart hammering against my ribs as I head through the brick wall and to platform 9 ¾ pushing my cart with my packed cases.
From the corner of my eye I spotted a woman, Ginger, seemingly with her kids. An older boy, 2 other boys that looked like identical twins, a young boy, and a younger girl, all ginger as well. One of the worst hair colours in my opinion. From the corner of one of the twins' eyes he looked at me, squinted, recognized me as Bellatrix's kid, and still didn't look away.
The boy looked my age, a short, thin, ginger bowl cut, and a tacky blue sweater. The exact same look from head to toe with his twin, like they were the same person. And they both looked like trouble.
The kid just watched me, waited, when I finally gave up and actually looked up from my cart. The boy grinned, seemingly interested in what I was doing about to board the Hogwarts train. He looked like he was about to make a mouth to interact with me before his mother started lecturing him and his twin on behaving.
I took my free chance and loaded my bags into the train and hopped inside. I walked the aisle for a moment before finding an empty compartment to sit in and closing its door behind me. I loaded my last bag into the overhead bin and sat down, the plush seat sinking under my weight.
Enjoying the quiet I currently had, I grabbed a pair of wired headphones from my bag, connected them to my phone and clicked shuffle on my music playlist. The outside silence was nice, the sound of my calm music making me less anxious about heading to Hogwarts.
The silence lasted a nice amount of time before a small knock echoed on the door to my compartment before opening halfway. I turn my head from the window to see who it might be. To none of my surprise it was the 2 ginger twins from the station.
Before I could oblige, the 2 twins slid into the compartment with me and closed the door behind themselves. Sitting on the seats next to me I slowly paused my music, having a gut feeling that this was about to be the worst train ride I'd ever taken in my life.
Before I could even look up fully and ask who they were, the first twin piped up.
“Hello! I’m Fred, Fred Weasley.” then the second one said “and I'm George, George Weasley.”
I glanced at the window awkwardly before finally opening my mouth to speak, my words slightly unsure and confused.
“Is there anything I can help you guys with?...”
My mind was just about to overthink what either of the twins was about to say when the thought was cut short.
“You're probably wondering why we're here, huh?” both Fred and George said at the same time.
“Well your Bellatrix Lestranges kid, right?” George said, not having the thought process to even think if the question sounded insensitive.
I answered slowly, unsure, questioning. “Yea.. I am. Why?..”
The answer was almost immediate. “We figured.” - Fred
“You're keeping to yourself.” - George
“You look like your mom.” - Fred
“So what's your name, Minnie Lestrange?” - George
Both Fred and George spoke as if their brains were connected into one. And it was easy to tell which one got more of the brain.
“Asheton.. My name's Asheton.” I finally spoke. I felt a little more comfortable, but not fully at ease since I'm trapped in a train compartment with 2 ginger twins. Let alone Weasleys.
Both Fred and George grinned at each other, seeming more interested now, more annoying, more insufferable.
I unpaused my music and looked back out the window, trying to annoy the sound of them telling each other jokes and snickering.
The train ride lasted a few hours, and at some point I hadn't even realised Fred and George had gone back to their own compartment in the train, to focus on ignoring everything besides my music that wasn't outside the train's window. When the train stopped all the first years exited and followed a guy named Hagrid. Hagrid looked lively, a big guy, but he seemed to lead everyone towards the boats with kindness.
As Hogwarts finally came into view it was exactly as I imagined. There were large, soft lights illuminating the castle through the windows. A few other teachers waited by the docks to lead students into the main hall.
As me and the rest of the next first years entered the great hall it was lined with four long tables, seated with students. All students at each table had different coloured robes. The table to the far left was green, then yellow. Then red, then blue.
“There must be four different things to be separated into…” I muttered under my breath, not even a second after a tap on my shoulder.
I turned my head quickly to see what the tap was from only to be greeted by red hair once again. Fred and George Weasley.
“Hey ashy! Ready to be sorted?” Fred said half excitedly and half mockingly.
I turn my head “please refrain from calling me “Ashy”, Weasley.” I followed the kids to the group at the front of the 4 long tables, pointedly losing the Weasleys in the crowd.
A teacher spoke, holding a hat in one hand above a chair. “Welcome new students. I am Professor Mcgonagall. Starting shortly each of you will be sorted into an assigned house. There are four houses in total, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, and Slytherin. We will begin now.”
Slowly one-by-one each student started going up and sitting in the chair, having the hat sort them into a house. Both Fred and George Weasley had been sorted into Gryffindor, now I just had to pray that I wouldn't
After what felt like forever, I finally got called up by Professor Mcgonagall. “Asheton Lestrange.”
A loud crowd of gasps and whispering followed after my name got called. My feet were hesitant but I forced myself up the steps and to the chair, sitting down slowly as Mcgonagall slowly lowered the sorting hat onto my head.
“Mmm… brave, honest, ambitious, and determined… better be… Slytherin!” The sorting hat called out.
I let out a sigh of relief I hadn't even realised I'd been holding. Thank god I wasn't in Gryffindor with the 2 idiots from the train. I stood from the chair and made my way to the Slytherin table, pointedly sitting with a gap in between me and the other Slytherin students.
After what felt like another eternity the rest of the students got sorted and sat down.
Mcgonagall spoke. “Okay new students. These new houses are going to be like your family. I expect you to treat every person with kindness, respect, and do not cause trouble. You will have tonight and tomorrow to adjust before classes begin. Enjoy your time at Hogwarts.” With that Professor Mcgonagall went and sat at the seating row of other teachers at the front.
After a few rules were laid out and every student was told what to do, the house prefects lead the students to their common rooms and dorms.
Walking through the hall I could feel the gazes of other students, as if they were studying me, trying to figure out why I was invited to attend Hogwarts. Getting to the common room door we were all told the password and headed inside.
Everything was located in the dungeons. The common room was dark, a few lights around, enough to see at least. The fireplace had green fire, black couches surrounding it, almost everything else was dark green or black, it was nice and dark.
I headed up some stairs in the common room and headed to the Slytherin dorms. After finding my room I entered, It had a four post bed, a small desk, and a dresser. Every item was doubled on the other side of the dorm room, I would most likely be sharing this room with another Slytherin.
I unpacked my clothes into the dresser on my side, laid on my bed, and practically passed out the moment I hit the sheets. Not even worrying to stay awake to see who my roommate would be.
By the next morning it was already 6am when my phone alarm started going off. I grabbed it off my nightstand with a little force and silenced it. I sit still for a few minutes before I gather my energy and climb off my bed, heading for my dresser and grabbing clean robes, and ultimately heading for the shared bathrooms.
I run a shower, the water hot and already steaming up the mirror. I set my clean robes on the counter and my towel on the hook. Sliding my shirt off, tossing my pants to the side, and pulling off my socks, my dirty clothes ended up in a pile on the floor. I step into the hot shower, letting the water cascade down my skin.
Keeping the shampoo out of my eyes and preventing myself from slipping on the bubbles that pooled at my feet I continued my shower. The sound of other Slytherins getting ready was a faint sound outside the door, drowned out by the water droplets hitting the tiles of the shower floor.
I finished my shower quickly and dried my body off than my hair. Slipping into a clean shirt, pants, and the Slytherin robes, I headed out of the bathroom with my pile of dirty clothes in hand. Heading back into my room I tossed the dirty clothes into a hamper that was provided for the students.
Packing a few items in my bag and putting one of my headphones in, I left my dorm and headed out of the Slytherin common room out into the halls of Hogwarts. Walking past the other students I could still hear my name being whispered through conversations and muttered under the breaths of passerbys. Being the most hated Hogwarts student was already beginning.
I keep my head low, focusing on my music and the sound of my own footsteps on the ground below me. I let the whispering from people around me fade into background noise, making my way to the dinning hall for breakfast. I walk for a few minutes before the scent of cinnamon and fruit seeps under the dining hall doors.
I push open the door to the dining hall, the scent already stronger than before. I keep my eyes up ahead making sure to not make eye contact with anyone else as I head to the Slytherin table. I sit slightly away from the other Slytherin students, grabbing a plate and piling a few pieces of bacon, an egg, and a piece of french toast onto it.
I chew my food pointedly trying to ignore peoples conversations around, whether I'm in them or not. Cutting my french toast into pieces and dipping them into the sticky syrup on the side of my plate, slowly shoveling each piece into my mouth and eating.
*Ding. Ding. Ding* The Hogwarts bell rang from a tower.
Breakfast had finished and it was time for the students to head out and explore the school grounds and or head to Hogsmeade with friends. Most of the students decided to explore the quidditch field or hangout with friends. I grab my bag from the floor and sling it over my shoulder, heading out of the dining hall and towards the gardens.
Reaching the gardens I admire the fresh flowers and carefully planted trees in neat rows, the bushes trimmed to perfection. I walk and sit on a small bench hidden slightly between the trees and plants, keeping myself as unbothered by others as possible.
I sit on the bench and grab a book from my bag, “tales of an unfortunate black cat” and started quietly reading with my music low in my ears. The gardens are peaceful, the soft sound of the leaves whistling in the wind.
Just to my luck, the peacefulness never lasts long. Especially since 2 certain Weasleys took interest in me at the train station. I can hear the rustling of Fred and George from behind a few bushes nearby.
“I know you guys are here, Weasleys. I'm not stupid.” My tone is highly unamused at whatever the 2 Weasleys were planning on doing from the bushes.
“Man.. you're no fun Lestrange.” Fred says as he comes out of the bushes first, George following closely after, holding what looks like a glitter bomb.
George pipes up. “I told you you should've been quieter Fred!” Hitting Fred lightly on the back of his head.
“Hey, it's not my fault! You tripped me anyways..” Fred says to his twin, seemingly not taking the blame for anything.
I let Fred and Georges bickering go on for about 5 minutes before finally cutting in. “Its no one's fault. You guys are both loud, and obnoxious. End of discussion. Now if you'll excuse me I have better things to do than be bothered by two annoying red heads.” I stand from the bench, putting my book back into my bag with a soft crinkle of its worn down pages.
As if a new force came over the twins they both stopped fighting, looked at each other, and stood up straight grinning.
“Lestrange, are you busy?” - George
“We want to invite you to help us pull some pranks!” - Fred
“Well even let you be the one to throw the glitter bombs.” - George
Both the twins' eyes glittered with mischief. Something I didn't want to be a part of, especially on my first actual day at Hogwarts. “I will politely be declining. I don't wish to get in trouble on the first day. Let alone spend another horrible minute within the same area of two very annoying Weasleys. Goodbye.”
With that i exited the garden before either twin could get in another word to me. I head to the library, somewhere I know neither of the brainless dimwits would even think of entering. I sit down at a single table in the far corner, pulling my book back out of my bag to read, silence besides my music once again, what I had enjoyed in the garden before the redheads had showed up.
*3 hours later*
I finish my book and slip it into my bag, grabbing my phone to check the time. “Holy.. three hours?? I'm gonna miss lunch.” With that I put my phone back into my pocket and head out of the library, speed walking down the corridors of the school and making my way back to the dining hall for lunch.
By the time I step inside the dining hall at least a quarter of students had already finished, the others still eating but already on their second plates. I slide into the Slytherin table bench and pile my plate with foods that don't look half bad at the moment, not caring if I think it's something I would or wouldn't like.