The train pulled into Hogsmeade Station after a while, so Lucifer shook Hermione quite violently.
"Hey, wake up!"
"whereami," Hermione said very groggily as her eyes fluttered open. "Oh hey Daddy, are we going on another trip?"
"In a manner of speaking, " Lucifer laughed as she rubbed her eyes, "We're at Hogsmeade, there is also sorting and the welcome feast."
Hermione groaned before lifting herself up off Lucifer's shoulder and straightening her robes as the train finally stopped.
They immediately heard after stepping off the train, "Firs' Years! Firs' Years, over here!" Hagrid saw them and waved his big palm, straightened up, bracing himself.
As always, it was his duty to escort the new first-years. But before the train even came to a complete stop, he caught sight of someone that made him freeze.
Dusk had fallen by the time Hogwarts Express slowly pulled into the station.
On paper, Hagrid and Lucifer were "friends." But ever since the day he'd witnessed his battle with that hooded stranger in the Forbidden Forest, he had developed a deep, gnawing fear of him.
Lucifer had fought to protect the school. He'd never once wronged Hagrid 'personally. And yet... the very memory of their 'twisted friendship' sent a chill through him.
The big spared him a single glance and waved casually, in motion with Hermione's own and moved towards the carriages.
It was Lucifer's first time seeing them, and he had heard they were charmed to pull themselves, so he was confused when he saw a horse looking creature in front of each carriage, 'those must be Thestrals?'
"スレイプニール" He muttered under his breath, that caused Hermione to look at him weirdly, "Uh..what...did you just say?" she asked, her eyebrows raised a bit.
"Sleipnirs?"
"No, I don't speak that language...can you please translate?" Hermione shook her head, not understanding even a word Lucifer was saying.
"...I thought the carriages were supposed to pull themselves?" Lucifer asked, no one in particular, but because Hermione was already paying attention to his mouth, she responded in kind.
"You are just talking crazy, again. They do pull themselves!" she gave him an odd look.
"No, there are winged, skeletal looking horses, pulling them," he carefully walked over and placed his hand on it, stroking its body, "come over here, Hermione."
"You really look silly doing that," She laughed a bit, covering her mouth with her fingers.
"I'm serious, come over here," Lucifer urged and she sighed, walking over to him. He grabbed her hand and guided it up to the Horse.
Hermione gave a shuddering gasp when her hand felt something that she couldn't see, and quickly withdrew her hand, "What the hell was that?!"
"I am not entirely sure, but they should be 'Thestrals' according to Newt's book.... It's just, they also look very similar to Sleipnirs," Lucifer said, his mind was even more curious than before, cause these were go to means of travelling for Reapers poaching dead human's wandering souls.
They quickly boarded the Strange Carriage and were taken up to the Hogwarts Castle.
"A shame for people who have to miss riding the Carriages," Hermione voiced her negative opinions about Harry, and Ron for going astray.
"I wonder why they were in that car to begin with? Do you think they weren't even able to get on Platform 9 3/4?"
"I'm not sure. I've never read anything that says the barrier closes, but I don't guess that means it can't. There is also, why other Weasley's were able to make it through.... It wasn't 11 o'clock when they came, there was still about four minutes.... from the moment we went through and it should only take someone no more than five seconds to cross the barrier..." Hermione was going in circles in her head, trying to figure out why they missed the train.
"I guess we'll just have to ask them when they get here," Lucifer said as the Carriage came to a halt.
They disembarked and made their way up to Castle, towards the Great Hall to await the Sorting, hand in hand, stepping into the candlelight heart of Hogwarts.
Gazing up at the familiar silhouette of the castle after two and a half months away, Lucifer felt a pang of nostalgia.
'Hogwarts truly did have a magic of its own... It seeps into young witches and wizards, binding them, until the place felt less like a school and more like a second home.'
It was as magnificent as Lucifer remembered. The sky above them mirrored the weather outside, showing a clear starry night, and four long house tables sat steadily filling with students.
Settling into their seats with eager anticipation for Sorting Ceremony and the lavish start-of-term feast.
Lucifer and Hermione's pair, were met with a curious sight: scores of Slytherins warmly greeting him as he passed by crossing from their table, yet each keeping a respectful distance.
Only after he acknowledged them did they relax, quickly scurrying away.
.....Hermione was seeing this side of Lucifer for the second time. But still behavior of the other students struck her as deeply strange---almost as if they were... 'afraid of him? 'But Lucifer is so gentle and well-mannered. Why would anyone fear him?'
The truth was that those who stood farther from him were the ones who could sense most clearly how much he had changed. Layer upon layer of transformation had turned Lucifer into 'something else entirely....'
He now radiated the aura of a wand brimming with immense, dangerous magic, its edge razor-sharp, its power barely contained.
Hermione, closest to him saw Lucifer through a kind of gentle filter. To her, he was reassuring, familiar, never oppressive. But for others, it was different. They looked at him and felt it instantly: over the course of a single summer holiday, Lucifer had grown... more dangerous!'
....Rosier stammered, his gaze toward Lucifer filled with a mix of reverence and fear. It wasn't only him. His cousin, Steven Rosier, a sixth-year Slytherin, also kept sneaking glances in boy's direction, his expression complicated.
Just yesterday, the eldest patriarch of the British Rosier family--'their grandfather'--had summoned the two of them and issued a very clear order: within the school, Lucifer Morningstar's word was law.
If he said "west," they were not even to whisper "southwest." Any disobedience would result in punishment by 'family law.'
Neither of them could make sense of what had gotten into their grandfather.
Especially Steven, he was older than Lucifer. Yes, boy was talented, but he wasn't pure-blooded, nor did he have any 'realfoundation' in wizarding society. Wasn't it enough to simply keep a distance? Why lower themselves to follow him like dogs?
Then Rosier---who had tried to slip in a curse last year, witnessed, for the very first time, what "family punishment" truly meant.
His grandfather was far harsher than Lucifer could ever dream of being. The punishment began with a hundred lashes in succession and continued until Steven passed out cold.
When he finally came to, Steven's eyes were clear. The defiance had drained out of him; he had no choice but to submit. And the old Rosier explained nothing---other than that the command had come directly from France.
Though the French and British branches of the Rosier family seemed long divided, their cooperation had never ceased. The hierarchy between them was unmistakable: the French Rosier line utterly crushed the British branch in both 'numbers and power!'
The British Rosiers' middle generation was already locked away in Azkaban. Whatever scraps of dignity remained were only because French branch occasionally dripped them a little sustenance.
Refusal wasn't even an option.
More importantly, the old Rosier knew exactly who had given the order.... In his mind, countless suspicions about 'Lucifer'strue identity' had already begun to swirl.
At far end, in front of Dumbledore's chair, sat four legged stool.
Neville went off to join Dean and Seamus whilst Hermione and Lucifer moved towards the far end nearest the teachers, "Why are we sitting here?" she asked, confused.
"Making space for Ginny, if she joins Gryffindor...."
"Ugh! You are so annoying, Hmph!" She couldn't help but growl in jealousy, when Lucifer mentioned another girl's name.
"I was just being polite...."
"There's no need for that!"
And, just like that, Hermione started to bicker with Lucifer again, not being happy in the slightest.
He tried to change the topic, when her face started to look grumpy, noticing three seats at the table were just empty.
"Maybe there's been an incident with the first years?" Lucifer asked, moving his gaze upwards.
"What....I think Ginny's brother got expell---" but Hermione was stopped from answering as the door swung open.
Over at the Gryffindor table, several Weasleys sat in grim silence. They had seen Harry and Ron on the train, flying in that bewitched car. Now their worry wasn't only for the boys' safety--it was for their 'father.'
As head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, Mr. Weasley's own sons had just been spotted joyriding across Britain in a magically modified car. Getting expelled would be the least of it; if the Ministry pressed charges, prison wasn't out of the question.
If Arthur Weasley really went to 'Azkaban...' it would be as if the sky had fallen on their family.
All they could do was hope no Muggles had seen the flying car, and that the chaos had gone unnoticed.
But they didn't know. 'The Daily Prophet' had already run a special evening edition.
Six or seven Muggles had reported the sighting to the police, and Ministry's Obliviator Squad was scrambling to contain the disaster.
After a while, the professors arrived one after another. When this year's new DefenseAgainst the Dark Arts professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, swept in, clad in flamboyant aquamarine robes, the Hall erupted in chatter.
Lockhart beamed and waved grandly at the four long tables, calling out thanks for their support and promising autographs after the feast, as though this were one of his book signings.
And to be fair--quite a few students actually ate it up.
It wasn't until Professor McGonagall appeared, face like thunder, carrying the Sorting Hat, that young witches and wizards fell silent.
McGonagall was already seething.
In the past, students only managed to cause trouble after the term began. This year, some had stirred up a national incident before the feast had even started! 'Driving a car across all of Britain---what in Merlin's name had possessed them?'
All she wanted now was to get through the Sorting Ceremony, then hunt down Harry and Ron and show them precisely what the lion's wrath meant.
Even Lucifer felt a twinge of unease at the sight of her expression.
He no longer cared about Dumbledore much, the old man was surprisingly easy to handle, his patience and tolerance endless.
Unless you committed something truly 'heinous', it was hard to earn his genuine anger.
But his Head of House was another matter entirely. Her authority was razor-sharp, her discipline unyielding. When she scolded, it was because a student had erred, and it was always for their 'good.'
Anyone with the faintest scrap of conscience would feel guilty under her gaze.
Both of them spotted Ginny at once, the flaming red hair causing her to stand out like a beacon. She looked nervous but not as terrified as her fellow first years, glancing around nervously and smiled when she caught Lucifer's eye.
"Tsk...." Hermione bit her tongue, when she saw this. Walking alongside Ginny, was a very dreamy looking girl with platinum blonde hair and rather large cloudy eyes. She seemed to be wearing a very odd earring.
"Is that a cork?" She whispered to the boy, sitting beside her.
"Those eyes.... 'Anael?" Lucifer replied, squinting at the blonde girl, she was giving him a familiar vibe.
"Why's she looking here too? Hey, Lucifer..."
"She can't be a Nephilim, right?"
"...You, do you know 'her?" Hermione's mood worsened by the second, because Lucifer was also looking quite dazed, "Oye, do you both know each other?" her tone wasn't even cheerful any more, only laced with pure venom, her cheeks hollowed out in anger.
'Glamourous is not a word
That people use for me
But don't let that fool you, as most Will eat their words, you see.
You can keep your witch hats pointy, Your fedoras black and slick
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
I'll cut them to the quick.
There's nothing you can hide from me I can read your mind
So try me on and I will tell you
What I therein find.
You may do well in Gryffindor,
Where courage is respected
Their bravery and daring
Are only to be expected.
Or perhaps it is in Hufflepuff,
You'll find your real friends
Where hard work and loyalty
Are the beginning and the end.
You might belong in Ravenclaw,
If you possess and value wit Intelligence, knowledge, learning- That's the place for it!
Or perhaps it will be Slytherin,
That will form your truest home
Their cunning and ambition
Lends them great renown.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
Don't get your knickers in a knot!
I've Sorted many, I'll Sort you
I'll give it all I've got!'
The Great Hall rang with applause as the Sorting Hat finished its song.
"That's a different song to last year," Hermione whispered, trying her best to divert Lucifer's gaze from that platinum haired. But he just nodded with an absent-minded look.
"Weird...."
All students, now also went quiet as Professor McGonagall unfurled her scroll and began reading names.
"Bourbon Anthony!"
A curly-haired boy with chestnut-colored hair stumbled forward when his name was called.
He nearly tripped over his own feet as the Sorting Hat was placed on his head-the wide, drooping brim almost swallowed him whole.
After a minute of thoughtful silence, the Sorting Hat finally gave its verdict---
"Hufflepuff!"
The Hufflepuff table erupted into cheers, clapping joyfully as they welcomed their very first new student of the year.
Watching the scene, Lucifer couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. Just last year, he too had imagined being sorted into Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw--surrounded by non-meddling children, laughter, and warmth.
But reality had been far less kind.
That damned hat had been blind to Lucifer's pure and innocent heart, and instead had tossed him into the snake pit. Well, since there was no choice, he had simply made the snakes his dogs who tried to mess wi--
"Romanley Castor!"
"Norfolk Phelps!"
Professor McGonagall continued reading the list of names, one after another. When the line of new students had been cut in half, at last, it was that girl's turn.
"Luna Lovegood."
.....
Lucifer instantly straightened his posture, nervous and tense. Of course, he was hoping she would be sorted into Gryffindor'--that way he could take care of that 'familiargirl' every day. His instincts were screaming at him to spoil her rotten.
This time, the Sorting Hat again played it's tricks.
Luna had barely worn it for a few seconds before it loudly proclaimed:
"RavenClaw!"
....Lucifer was the first to applaud, and the RavenClaw table getting another nerdy, like minded girl to be sorted into their house, quickly followed his lead, creating a happy atmosphere having another asset to win House Cup.
He gained several curious glances, Gryffindor''s were already started to question his loyalty again, trying to find exact connection between the two students, but clapped somewhat in a trance, as if they didn't, something bad would fall atop them for entire year.
How things have changed. Back when Lucifer had been sorted last year, the applause had been miserable.
And now---he was the one leading the clapping for two houses. He almost felt like he should publish a book about his life. The title? "My Struggle in the Wizarding World."
Luna Lovegood blushed as she removed the hat, politely bowing to Professor McGonagall before skipping over to join at RavenClaw casting Lucifer a certain glance of embarrassment....
Almost as if 'sensing' his stare, the girl lifted her head. Her eyes met his, and she gave him a faint smile.
He looked away casually, as though it had been nothing more than an accidental meeting of eyes.
However, all of this had been caught in 4k vision where that spectacled girl from last year who roasted Malfoy's family, started waving frantically for Luna to sit beside her.
Very curious!
"Phew....I'm glad, she wasn't here."
Slowly the line dwindled. Only to Hermione's disappointment, a while later, it was Ginny's turn.
Lucifer chuckled softly and turned his attention back to the Sorting. The ceremony was a lot like opening mystery boxes--you never knew what you were going to get, aside from a few surnames that practically guaranteed certain outcomes.
He studied her carefully.
Right now, she didn't stand out much compared to the other girls--not like Hermione or 'Luna', who had been stunningly cute since childhood. But Ginny had a good bone structure.
With time, and perhaps a little slimming, she could grow into a true beauty.
The Sorting hat barely touched her head, when it called----
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Just why...."
Hermione groaned in frustration, while rest of the table clapped as Ginny made her way over, beaming, and glided into the seat that Lucifer had saved across from them with a mouthed 'thank you.'
Fred or George also congratulated her, whom Hermione still couldn't distinguish apart.
Ginny was all smiles until she realized neither Harry or Ron were there.
1 Extra Chapter - 150 Power Stone's!
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Author's Note
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Link - patreon.com/SmutDxddy
It is also mentioned in the bio.
Bonus Up to Chapter 85 has already been posted there.
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