Tom Stark-Malfoy

We departed off of the Train in time for Hagrid to begin calling out "Firs' years! Firs' years over here!"

It took a while for all of the first years to completely gather.

But immediately after spotting Nott, I smoothly wave through the small compact crowd in order to lose Granger and introduce myself to my subordinates and acquaintances. Or should I instead say – Nott's subordinates and acquaintances?

Regardless of which, our meeting was – to be conservative – boorish. It was only after meeting all of them that I realized, their intellect seemed… subpar. To start with-

"Stop flattering yourself Bulstrode! Theodore will obviously become MY fiancé." Parkinson screeched as she clawed away Millicent's arm that was wrapped around Theodore's.

"OW!" Milicent surged at Pansy aiming for her face "You're the one whoes flattering yourself! I've heard Daddy say the Parkinson's are at a decline because of YOUR father's ineptitude to grasp the market's flux."

Millicent's hands were intercepted by Pansy's as her face started to flush a deep red. Shrieking into Millicent's ear, she spat our her words with deep anger.

"You think I don't know that our investment failed because YOUR shameless father sole OUR work?"

"Finders keepers, losers weepers~" Millicent mocked then childishly stuck out her tongue. Further boiling Pansy's already blistering temper.

"Ladies please!" Theodore tried to intervene, but the girl no longer paid attention to him.

Honestly… such pathetic squabble. The Millicent and Pansy I knew would have never clashed directly on like this. Instead, they would have done it secretly while maintaining a façade of innocence and ignorance. Like proper Slytherins.

"Children, take my advice and stop your ridiculous quarrel at once lest you will both deeply regret it."

""WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME???"" They both screeched in unison.

Excellent. Taking the opportunity when their emotions fluctuated, I guided my magic to start pulling against theirs. Making them more volatile. More… susceptible to change.

Lowering my voice, I leaned in over them and warned them with a cold gaze.

"Not only raising your voices unbecoming of proper nobles, but airing out your dirty laundry for all of your future contenders and allies to witness. I must say, that is no longer an action of bravery, but of pure idiocy."

Sweeping my eyes across both of them, I made sure their attention was all on me.

"Unless you both want to scare away your other potential suitors or announce all your hideous secrets to the world for your enemies to blackmail you with, you both ought to never repeat this unsightly demonstration.

How else shall I understand your uncultured display if not as the inexperience of children? Would you rather I interpret it as the other option?"

Between having their faults perceived as inexperience vs. uncultured upbringing – the choice was obvious. In reversal, calling them 'children' had become an act of consideration on my part.

Glaring them both down, I was satisfied when they both toned down and processed my words. Though I can see through their defiant glares that they were both very displeased with me, they had at least learned to keep their mouths shut. .

In particular, Pansy seemed to have understood my questions at a deeper level than Milicent, if her stunned expression was anything to go by.

Turning my gaze around, I shot down any prying gazes amongst the other firsties before returning my gaze to the two.

Lowering my voice even more, I gestured for them to lean in closer as well to prevent any snooping ears from listening in.

"From your families- you're both vying for Slytherin, I presume?"

They both warily nodded their heads while eyeing me suspiciously.

"Then do forgive my harsh words. To revive cordiality may I present you both with a friendly suggestion?"

"What could you possibly offer!?" Spat out Pansy. Ah~ as wrathful as I remember her being.

"Keep all disputes behind closed doors while showing a united and tranquil front. Both acquaintances and rivals are merely temporary statuses. In other words - don't let anyone accurately guess what you are thinking and feeling. Let them burn their tongue while drinking ice water without knowing how- that way, you can always give them water."

Pansy and Millicent's eyes both widened before glaring brief daggers at one another then shifting their gazes back at me. Though now, Millicent's gaze was unsure while Pansy's was amicable.

"Agreed ladies?" I asked with a smirk while holding out my hand for them to shake. Pansy was the first one to take my hand.

I cast a silent confundus. Nothing too strong, just one strong enough to magnify any positive emotions directed towards me.

"I will recognize your advice. I wish to greet you properly, but I'm afraid I didn't catch your name." There was a gleam in Pansy's eye that was intrigued.

"Tom Stark. Pleasure to meet you Miss Parkinson."

"And I to you. Please, just call me Pansy. I have a feeling we will soon become familiar."

"Of course."

We shared cordial smiles before I turned my attention to Millicent.

"And to you, miss Bulstrode? Shall we momentarily set our grievances aside for a beneficial cooperation?"

Millicent hesitantly glanced to the side before warily taking my hand. Her unwillingness to do so was clear in her body language, and yet she had no choice but to take my hand if she did not want to seem narrow-minded or immature in comparison to Pansy.

"Excellent."

Millicent quickly took back her hand as though repelled by the contact. I took a quick glance at the state of her mind which visibly fluctuated; she was intimidated. I wonder why? Afterall, I haven't done anything remotely scary.

To the side I could see Theodore gawk in fascination and veneration as one would direct towards a role-model. Honestly, the boy could catch flies if he opened them any wider.

Quickly lifting his jaw shut and casting another confundus to magnify his admiration, I whispered low enough for only him to hear.

"Appearances frère."

I watched Theodore rack his brain for a couple seconds before his mouth stretched into a wide grin.

Honestly, these kids have so much to learn.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore.

Theodore directed Gregory and Crabbe, who were standing vacantly to the side, to a boat and pulled me along to sit with him.

"Sorry girls. Our boat's full. But Zabini and Greengrass seem to have room in their's."

Theodore preened as the two girls grumbled under their breaths. After watching them both sit with Blaise and Daphne, Theodore let out a lengthy sigh of relief. At the corner of my eye, I saw Granger spot me and struggle to make her way over, yet dejectedly walked somewhere else after seeing that our boat was full. I silently released my own sigh of relief.

When all the boats were filled, Hagrid yelled something, and all the boats started to float to the other side of the lake. I dared not look into the lake in case the giant squid decides to have an unwelcomed interest upon our boat.

There had been no short amount of gasps and awes as the boats traveled closer and closer to the school. The firsties steadily grew chattier as the excitement slowly built up in their tiny bodies.

Needless to say, this first time you gaze upon Hogwarts is as magnificent as the 1890th time you gaze upon Hogwarts. Something inside my ċhėst got a bit tight as I saw the entirety of Hogwarts fully intact, glowing windows, and busy skies filled with owls returning to their nests in the owlry for the next school year.

The sight of Hogwarts so full of life almost made me tear up. But that would be strange, especially for a first-year who should have never seen Hogwarts before.

Except, for some reason, I heard a muffled shudder of breath in the boat next to ours. I glanced over and saw a head full of perpetually untidy black hair tilted up far higher than the heads of everyone else… too high… as one would gaze at the sky right above one's head instead of the castle (as is expected).

Then the boy's shoulders shook. Is he?... no, impossible… Is Potter crying? Truly? Hah!

"He-" (-y Potter! Is the golden baby scared? Need your mum to hold your hand?) I bit my lip to stop my words. Force of habit. A terrifying force really. I never even knew I still had it after all these years.

Hmm… something is strange with Potter. Truly strange.

"Hey Potter! Scwawed to gow to schewl (scared to go to school)? Need mummy to hold your hand?"

What?! I didn't say that!? I glanced out of the side of my eye to see Nott sneering at Potter who had turned around to glare at him with reddened eyes.

I smacked my hand onto my mouth to stop the laughter that bubbled in my ċhėst, but it was too late and I accidentally let go of a small snortle. Potter quickly switched his gaze and cast a hurt look upon me, to which I looked away and feigned ignorance.. There was a tinge of guilt that pricked my consciousness… It hurts even more because my grin insists on staying despite my attempts to bring it down.