Hogwarts Welcomes the Next Generation

"We have to get up, love."

"No we don't," came the sulky reply.

Harry cuddled in closer to his husband with a tolerant smile and gently teased his ear with his teeth. "Come on, the boys are already awake, I can hear them," he whispered softly. "We can't let Caleb pack by himself, he'll end up with nothing but sweets and his favourite books in his trunk."

"Dobby will be helping," Severus replied, pulling the duvet up over his head and blocking Harry out.

"Stop behaving like a child," Harry chided. "We knew this day would come, we can't hide from it."

"That's what you think," came the muffled reply from under the covers.

Harry shook his head and sat up, looking down in amusement at the lump that was currently his husband. It was here, the day that Caleb left for Hogwarts, and neither Harry nor Severus was handling it particularly well. Harry was at least willing to feign excitement for his son's sake, but Severus had been in a foul mood for a week and wasn't coping well his firstborn leaving for school.

Harry could hardly believe it was actually happening. It seemed to him that they had only just brought Caleb home from the hospital, a tiny little bundle that cried around the clock. Now here he was, 11-years-old and off to start his first year at Hogwarts. Harry was glad that things had changed at the school and it was now much more common for the pupils to come home for weekends throughout term-time, but he and Severus had both agreed that Caleb shouldn't come home for at least the first month.

Their son was affable and easy-going, he had the ability to make friends easily and people warmed to him, but he was also a complete homebody that liked nothing better than being at the estate with his family. He had a shy streak, and while he was excited about going off to school, Harry knew that his son would be homesick almost immediately.

It would have been all too easy to let the boy come home as soon as he wanted to, but it would do Caleb no favours in the long run. He needed time to bond with his dorm-mates, to establish some independence away from his parents and to experience the richness that life at Hogwarts could provide.

"Come on Sev, you can't carry on like this. You'll upset Caleb."

There was a long pause then finally one corner of the duvet was pushed aside and Severus slowly emerged from underneath it.

"When did he turn 11?" he asked, and Harry could see the grumpiness was masking his husband's concern.

"A month ago, love," Harry said, tucking a strand of Severus' hair behind the man's ear. It was starting to grey a little now, and rather than aging the man, it made him look rather distinguished.

Severus sighed, his face still a mask of distaste. "I'm not ready for him to leave home. The house will be so quiet without him."

"We still have Ben to keep us on our toes. Besides, Caleb will be back and forth once he's settled in. We'll never be rid of him."

"You don't believe that," Severus replied, and Harry had to admit that part of him hoped it wouldn't be true.

He wanted his son to settle in so well that home wouldn't be a place of refuge for him. He wanted him to experience Hogwarts in all its splendour, to revel in the freedom of living away from home. Still, a larger part of himself than he cared to admit to was distraught at the thought of bidding his son farewell.

Unaware of his parents' dilemma, Caleb himself was flitting around his room, stuffing things haphazardly in the trunk his Uncle Ron had bought him only a week ago. Dobby was following behind him, taking things out of the trunk as soon as they went in and trying to rearrange them into some kind of order.

Ben was standing in the doorway, arms folded across his chest, watching the scene with undisguised displeasure. He had made no secret of the fact that he was thoroughly disgusted with the arrangement and that he thought it most unfair that Caleb got to go away to Hogwarts a whole two years before him.

"Your face will stay that way if you're not careful," Caleb told him as he dumped all the sweets Nan had bought him into one corner of the trunk.

Dobby tutted and removed them, placing only a few back in to stop Caleb moaning too much.

"It's not fair," Ben said, stopping short of stomping his feet. "I'm just as clever as you, probably cleverer in fact. I should be going to Hogwarts."

"You're too young. You'll be going the year after next," Caleb replied breezily as he stuffed all his t-shirts into the trunk.

"Master Caleb!" Dobby chastised. "You must be leaving this to Dobby. Dobby will see that everything is packed right. This is no good!"

"Don't worry, Dobs! It's all going in just fine."

"No Master Caleb! It is not fine! Things will be creased and…and…untidy! Books must go in first or they will squash everything else."

"You worry too much, Dobs," Caleb said, grabbing his cauldron and slinging it in.

Dobby looked as though his head would explode at any minute and Harry arrived just in time to shoo the boys downstairs and leave the little elf to his task.

Breakfast was the chaos it normally was. Caleb insisted on pancakes drenched in honey, while Ben, always the fussy eater, ummed and ahhed his way through the choices before he settled on glaring at a bowl of cereal.

It was hard to determine who was in a worse mood – Ben or Severus. Severus, of course, was doing his best to hide it so as not to upset his son, but it was palpable nevertheless. Ben was doing nothing to hide the fact that he was furious with everyone and everything, and his cereal took the brunt of it as he stabbed it with his spoon.

Caleb was more off the wall than he usually was and he refused to sit still while he shovelled his pancakes in his mouth. Harry had to tell him off several times for speaking with his mouth full while he prattled on about how amazing life at Hogwarts was going to be. Harry wasn't entirely certain that his son wasn't doing all he could to wind his younger brother up further.

Severus contributed nothing to conversation, merely stared into his coffee as though it had caused him offence. Harry tried kicking him under the table once or twice, but after Severus sent a particularly vicious kick back his way he abandoned the enterprise altogether. Let him sulk. It was what he did best after all.

"What House do you think I'll be sorted into, Pa?" Caleb asked, and all eyes turned to him.

It was something that Harry and Severus had talked about at length. Of course, there was a certain amount of competition where the topic was concerned, and each man wanted their son to be sorted into their former House. However, it had also been agreed upon that whatever House Caleb ended up in, both of them would be supportive and proud.

"I honestly couldn't say, sweetheart," Harry said, exchanging a glance with his husband. "Which House would you like to end up in?" he asked, slinging an arm around his son's shoulders while the boy stood still for a moment.

Caleb considered the question for a moment, his dark brows knitting in a thoughtful frown. He was beginning to look so much like Severus, although his nose and jawline were very much Harry's.

"I think I'd fit in any of the Houses to be honest," he said eventually. "I'm not sure I have any qualities that dominate the others."

"Well, the hat will take that into account. And remember, you can always argue with it if you don't agree with the choice it makes."

"I'm fairly certain only you have ever argued with the hat," Severus said with a raised eyebrow. "There's no record of anyone else having persuaded it into changing its choice."

"As if I'm so singular," Harry replied, and didn't need the link that existed between them to hear Severus' thoughts at that moment.

"Well, maybe they'll create a House just for you as you're so special," Ben said snidely, giving his cereal particularly vicious prod.

"I think it's dead, love," Harry said, taking the bowl away from him before he massacred the contents any further.

"Caleb can bring it back to life, he's so advanced after all."

"That's enough," Severus said quietly. "This is an exciting day for your brother, there's no need to spoil it."

"Yeah, like you're so thrilled," Ben retorted, hopping off the kitchen stool and stalking out into the garden.

"Little git," Severus murmured under his breath.

Harry rolled his eyes and followed his son outside while Caleb's sharp eyes fell on Severus.

"You're not happy about me going?" he asked his father quietly.

Severus sighed and placed his coffee to one side. "I've not done very well at hiding it, I'm sorry."

"Don't you want me to go?"

"Oh sweetheart, don't think that for one minute," Severus said, taking Caleb's hand in his own. "Of course I'm excited for you and I know you'll have a wonderful time. It's just that…I'll miss you. I'm not really ready for you to go away."

"I'll be back," Caleb insisted.

"I know you will, although we did agree not within the first month. You'll think I'm a foolish old sod, and I daresay I am but…it's very hard for me to think of you as old enough to go away to school. I can't help thinking of you as that little baby we brought home from the hospital."

"Dad," Caleb protested, his cheeks flushing.

"Sorry," Severus said with a laugh. "I'm going to miss you crashing around the house and breaking things. I'm going to miss you helping me with my potions. I'm going to miss your appalling table manners!"

Severus wrapped an arm around him and Caleb cuddled in tightly. He was also going to miss the opportunity to hug his son whenever he wanted. He was going to miss their family evenings, all four of them snuggled up on the sofa watching whatever film the boys had chosen.

Caleb leaving home signalled a change for them all. Within a couple of years Ben would be joining him at school and their family life would never quite be the same again. Before anyone knew it, both boys would have graduated and would be stepping out into the world as adults. It was a hard thing to wrap one's head around.

"This will always be my home, Dad," Caleb said softly.

"I know, but one day you'll make your own home and…I suppose with you leaving I'm reminded very strongly of that."

"I…don't know what I can say to that," Caleb said honestly, and Severus removed himself slightly so he could meet the boy's eyes.

"It's not your responsibility to say anything, nor to feel guilty about growing up. Everything's exactly as it should be and I'll sort myself out soon enough."

Harry appeared at the French windows, his hands on Ben's shoulders as the boy stood in front of him. It was apparent that words had been had and Ben's expression was just as sulky as it had been when he had left the kitchen.

"Right everyone, let's get ourselves ready to go or we'll miss the train," Harry said, setting everyone to rights with his usual air of practicality.

The platform was just as busy as Caleb had imagined it to be and the train was just as impressive as his parents had said it was. His luggage was loaded and his stomach began doing summersaults as it really began to sink in that this was it.

"Caleb!" came a voice through the crowd, and Caleb rose up on tiptoes to see Dan making his way through the crowds towards them. "Don't you look smart!"

"Hi Dan," Caleb said with a grin, feeling a little more at ease at the sight of a familiar face.

"Hi Uncle Harry, Uncle Sev. Oh Ben! Cheer up," Dan said as he greeted his extended family.

"Bit of sore point," Harry said, rolling his eyes towards his youngest, who was standing slightly apart from them all, jaw set firm in a scowl.

"Is that a prefect's badge I spy?" Severus asked, looking at the pin on Dan's Gryffindor robes.

"It certainly is," Dan said proudly. "5th year prefect on track to becoming Head Boy, if you listen to Mum. She's made up."

"As she should be," Harry said, leaning over and clapping the young man on the back.

"Dan!" called a boy from a little further down the platform. "Come on, we're bagging a carriage!"

"I'm sorting out my cousin, you go on," Dan called back.

"You don't have to do that," Caleb said, feeling his cheeks heat. "I don't want to be a burden."

"As if! They can wait, this is your first time on the Express, you need to be with a safe pair of hands."

Dan winked at him and Caleb dipped his head as his smile spread across his cheeks. There was a flurry of hugs and Caleb was swept up between his fathers who were doing their best not to embarrass him too much.

"I'll see you when I get back, Ben," Caleb said to his brother, who was still standing with his arms folded, looking as though he'd hex them all if he could.

"Goodbye," he said stiffly.

"Don't I get a hug?" Caleb asked, and Ben shook his head. He received a nudge from Harry but he stood his ground and stared at the floor.

Caleb sighed and said, "Fine, if that's the way you want it. Come on, Dan. Let's get on the train."

Caleb gave his parents one last wave before letting Dan lead him off down the platform. His cousin explained that most of the first years took the front carriages and the different years spread back through the train.

"None of you are in Houses yet so it's easier not to let that stuff get in the way," Dan said.

"Does it? Get in the way I mean."

Dan shrugged. "Sometimes. It's definitely better than it used to be, better than during your dads' time that's for certain. So, on you get and head for the front carriages. I won't come with you, the last thing you want is to be escorted by a prefect," he said with a grin, his hand resting lightly on Caleb's back.

"Thanks, Dan. You know, it's ok if…when we're at school…you don't want to hang out with me. I'm only a first year and I know you have your own friends and they'll probably tease you and – "

"Hey! You want to slow down so I can catch up?" Dan said in his usual affable manner. "I'm not going to pretend I don't know you just because you're a first year! Anyway, you'll forget all about me after your first week, you'll be too busy making your own friends."

Caleb said nothing but privately thought that the day he forgot about Dan would be the day he lost his mind. The train whistle blew loudly and Dan gave him a gentle pat to get on board. As he stepped up he felt a tug on his sleeve and he turned to see Ben standing there, managing to look cross and sheepish at the same time.

"I have to go, Ben. The train's going to leave."

Ben chewed on his bottom lip for a moment before he threw himself forward and wrapped his arms around Caleb's waist. He held on so tightly that Caleb began to worry that his brother would cut off his circulation.

"I'll miss you, Caleb," Ben murmured into Caleb's jumper. "I wish you weren't going."

He pulled back, an embarrassed flush on his cheeks. Caleb placed his hand on his brother's shoulder and said, "You'll have Dad and Pa all to yourself, you'll have a great time without me."

Ben shook his head and said softly, "It won't be the same."

"I'm going to write special letters, just to you. Dad and Pa won't know about them, they'll just be between us, ok?"

"You promise?"

"I promise. Have I ever not kept a promise before?"

"I guess not."

The train whistle blew again and Caleb looked around, realising that it was now only parents who were left on the platform. He could see his own standing together, Dad's arm around Pa as they watched them.

"Go, or it'll leave without you, and then I'll be stuck with you," Ben said, cracking a smile for the first time in a week.

He moved back to stand with their parents and Caleb boarded the train. He paused in the doorway to wave goodbye to his family one last time, butterflies collecting in his stomach as reality set in.

The train slowly began moving and Caleb held on to the hand rail to stop himself from falling as it lurched forward. Dan was waiting for him a little way down the carriage and as Caleb approached, he said,

"There are a few first years in there. They all look as scared and nervous as one another, you should go in and join them."

"Ok, thanks Dan."

"No problem. I'll leave you to it. Remember, even if you don't end up in Gryffindor, I'll always be around, you can come and talk to me whenever you like."

"Nah," said Caleb with a grin. "I don't want to be seen as the square that hangs around with prefects."

Dan gave him a gentle cuff around the head and moved off down the train, off to find his own friends no doubt. Caleb took a deep breath then stepped forward, opening the carriage door as several pairs of eyes turned his way.

The train ride passed in a blur. Everyone in the carriage was just as excited as he was and he could only remember one or two of the names people had told him. There was a mix of people from wizarding families, mixed or purely muggleborn and Caleb found himself holding back from telling people his surname.

It would come out, of course. The second he was called up to be sorted the whole school would know who he was, but he was hopeful that he could make a friend or two before anyone found out how famous his family was.

It wasn't that he wasn't proud of his parents, he was, insanely so, but he wanted to be taken on his own merit rather than as the son of The Boy Who Lived and Professor Snape. His parents' fame was inescapable and he and Ben had grown up with the stories of how they had defeated Voldemort once and for all.

Part of him worried that he would constantly be compared to his parents. The teachers would expect all sorts of amazing things from him and the pupils would expect him to have the same kind of incredible magic that his Pa possessed. It was a daunting prospect to have so much to live up to, but he was hopeful that people had enough sense to try and let him find his own way out of the shadow of his family.

The talk on the train was all about Hogwarts and what to expect. The muggleborns were quite clearly in awe of everything around them and had no idea what was awaiting them when the train arrived at its destination. There were others who had older siblings or parents who had attended the magical institute and they wasted no time in displaying their knowledge.

Caleb had heard all the stories of Hogwarts from Dan, his parents and all his extended family. There was very little he didn't know about the place but he didn't want to draw any attention to himself by shouting about this fact.

Dad and Pa had already had a long talk with him about what to expect now he was attending the school. He had already been lectured about calling Auntie Minerva and Auntie Hermione 'Professor McGonagall' and 'Professor Granger', while Uncle Remus had to be called 'Professor Lupin'. That would take some getting used to, that was certain.

Sooner than he expected, they were all alighting the train and being herded towards the boats while the other years headed off towards the waiting carriages. Hagrid was there to greet them all and Caleb kept his head down as he shuffled along with the others, glancing up just in time to receive a wink from the half-giant.

The air was filled with chatter but Caleb mostly kept quiet. He liked people well enough but he preferred to sit back and take in situations before he dived into them. He liked to take stock of people, to size them up before he offered his tuppence-worth and it was a technique that usually served him well.

The Deputy Headmaster, who was thankfully not a member of Caleb's extended family, ushered them all into the corridor outside the Great Hall and apprised them all of what was to happen. The first years all began to chatter excitedly but were silenced very effectively by a raised eyebrow from the man. Caleb couldn't help but be reminded of his own father and the thought was strangely comforting.

After a moment's pause they were all led into the Great Hall and Caleb's stomach flipped as they moved down the lines of tables. It was a splendid room and the ceiling was just as impressive as Auntie Hermione had said it would be.

Thinking of her, Caleb chanced a quick glance up at the Head Table. There she was, sitting next to Uncle Remus and beaming proudly at him. Uncle Remus was obviously trying to be a bit more subtle but there was a very definite twinkle in his eyes.

There was a large intake of first years and it took a while until it was finally Caleb's turn. He took a deep breath as 'Penny Naysmith' was sorted into Ravenclaw before he heard the Deputy Headmaster call out, "Caleb Potter-Snape."

A loud murmur spread around the hall and Caleb could hear snatches of "Oh my goodness, that's Harry Potter's son!" and "Snape's kid! Reckon he'll end up in Slytherin?". He did his best to ignore it as he made his way up to the awaiting chair.

The hat was placed on his head and although he couldn't hear its voice like Pa had said he might, he could hear a faint hum, almost as though he could hear the hat's thoughts. I don't care where I end up, he thought, I just want to be certain that I truly belong there. The faint hum grew louder until finally he heard the hat call out, "Hufflepuff!"

The Hufflepuff table erupted in cheers and Caleb felt a sense of relief wash over him as he hopped down from the chair. At least neither of his parents' feelings would be hurt this way and he wouldn't be living in either of their shadows. Whispers followed him all the way to the table but the other newly-inducted first years welcomed him, as did the older Hufflepuffs.

He glanced across the room and caught Dan's eye. The older boy gave him a rueful smile and Caleb returned it. It would have been nice to have been in the same house as him but at least this way he could forge his own path. As many pairs of eyes continued to stare at him, he realised that that might be easier said than done.

Caleb's first week was not going at all as he had envisioned it. He was terribly homesick and he missed Ben and his parents more than he had been prepared for. He missed his bedroom, the family room, the kitchen where he always watched his Pa make dinner. He missed listening to Dad and Ben arguing and he missed the smells that wafted up from Dad's potions lab.

Luckily he had friendly and cheerful dorm-mates and he was slowly starting to form friendships with them all. However, it wasn't the Hufflepuffs who were the problem. In an unexpected turn Caleb found that most of his issues stemmed from the Gryffindor contingent.

It started innocuously enough. The Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors had several classes together, one of which was Potions. He supposed, in hindsight, he should have just kept his head down and his mouth shut, but it was his best subject and he couldn't help answering the questions the professor asked.

That was enough to label him as the teacher's pet and then once they had that as ammunition it wasn't long before his parentage came into play. He would hear them whispering snide things like, "Well of course he knows all about Potions, his Daddy's obviously been tutoring him", or "He should have been sorted into Slytherin, he's clearly a chip off the old block".

He tried not to let it get to him, he was happy enough in Hufflepuff where the others couldn't get to him and there many classes that didn't involve the Gryffindors at all. Still, a group of them made a point to make comments at dinner time or when they passed him in the corridors.

It was so tempting go home, to pack up his things and retreat back to his parents for the weekend but he steeled himself against the urge. A few of the other first years had gone home on the first weekend and it was clear that they weren't settling in well at all.

He did what comforted him the most in times like these – threw himself into learning. It wasn't perhaps the best way of trying to get people to stop calling him a teacher's pet, but books and knowledge had always been his refuge. Books reminded him of Dad and Potions, of Pa and his bed-time stories. Books were friends that never left, doorways into worlds that provided escape. Things may have been difficult but at least he had a retreat that many didn't.

He had always had a reputation for being clever, but really it was Ben who was the clever one. Caleb was a grafter and he enjoyed working at things. It was no different with his studies. Some things came naturally it was true but others required more effort. He found himself spending a great deal of time in the library, which was as good an escape as his beloved books were.

"Here again?"

Caleb glanced up from the books spread out across one of the library tables to see his Auntie Hermione leaning against the chair opposite.

He smiled and said, "I have a lot of homework. I thought the teachers would ease us all in a bit but it looks like I was wrong."

"We like to start as we mean to continue," Hermione said, returning his smile. "Are you getting on alright with it all?"

"Mostly," Caleb said with a nod. "It's a bit more intense than I was expecting."

"It'll settle down after a week or two. You'll get into a rhythm with it."

There was a pause for a moment and Caleb watched as Madam Pince went over to chastise a group of rowdy fourth years. He could tell Auntie Hermione was watching him and he turned to look at her, one eyebrow raised questioningly.

"How are you getting on besides the schoolwork?" she asked and Caleb sighed.

"It's a bit up and down to be honest. All the other Hufflepuffs are great and the boys I share the dorm with are lovely, it's just…the Gryffindors aren't so welcoming."

"Oh dear. Should I have a word? I'm their Head of House after all and – "

"No Auntie Hermione…I mean Professor Granger. I don't want them to think that I've come running to you to sort out my problem. It'll all calm down soon, I'm sure of it. They just need the novelty to wear off, to get used to me being Dad and Pa's son."

"Is that what it's about?" Hermione asked, looked concerned.

"It's what it was always going to be about," Caleb said practically. "I knew it would happen, me being who I am, I just didn't think it would be this bad. I know people are fascinated by Dad and Pa and that they have their detractors…I just hoped that people would take me for me…not just their son."

"People are idiots," Hermione said bluntly, "especially 11-year-olds…no offence."

"None taken," Caleb said with a grin. "Look, you won't say anything to Dad and Pa will you? They'll only worry and there's nothing they can do about it."

"If you don't want me to then I won't tell them, but if the situation gets serious then – "

"It won't, I won't let it."

"I sometimes forget what a stubborn little so-and-so you are. I remember when you were little and you decided you wanted to ride your bike without stabilisers. You just decided one day and that was it – you made your Pa remove them and you rode all over the estate until you'd cracked it. I'll never forget the look on your dad's face when you came back in with your shirt torn, grass stains all over you and a skinned chin. Still, you'd done it, you'd mastered it, just like you'd told everyone you would. When it comes to you, Caleb there's nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it."

"Thanks Auntie Hermione…Professor Granger. That'll take some getting used to," he added, rolling his eyes.

"Go on, go and spend the rest of the evening in the common room. This lot will all be here for you to do tomorrow," she said, gesturing to his homework.

"You'd have never said that when you were my age."

"I wish your Pa would stop telling all these tall tales about me. Honestly, I was a rebel."

Caleb laughed and gathered up his belongings, bidding his auntie farewell and resisting the urge to hug her. He'd known her all his life and he could remember climbing up onto her lap when he was little while she told him stories. It was strange to sit in her lessons and listen to her being authoritative and stern, just as it was odd to watch Uncle Remus command a room of wide-eyed children.

"Hanging out with teachers now because you haven't got any friends?" came a voice behind him as he walked down the corridor.

He turned to find Barney Cullen following him and he cursed silently to himself. Barney was the instigator of nearly all the trouble and he had a vicious mouth on him when it suited him.

"I don't know why it should be of any interest to you if I speak to Professor Granger."

"Ah, but it's not 'Professor Granger', is it? It's 'Auntie Hermione'," Barney said nastily. "It must be something to be part of such a famous family."

"Why don't you mind your own business? I'm not bothering you."

"All those House points you keep getting are bothering me."

"Why don't you focus on earning your own instead of worrying about Caleb's?" came a voice to Caleb's left, and he turned to see an older boy walking down the corridor towards him.

"What's it got to do with you, Andrews?" Barney asked, turning his attention to the other boy.

"A few of us aren't too happy with the way Caleb's being treated," the boy said, and that's when Caleb noticed that there were others walking down the corridor. A couple he recognised, students from his own year, but several were strangers to him.

Barney scoffed and said, "What? The poor little baby can't stand up for himself? Shows why he wasn't sorted into Gryffindor."

"From what I hear, Caleb's grades are the highest in every class. I'm sure if he had a mind to he could hex you into the middle of next week."

"I'd like to see him try," Barney said, eyes narrowed.

"Really?" said a girl, stepping forward. Caleb was reminded very much Pansy Parkinson, an old student of his dad's who popped by to visit every now and again. "Would you like to see us all try?"

"You wouldn't dare," said Barney, sticking his chin out.

"Oh we would," the girl said. "And let me tell you something, there's a few of us who won't play by the rules."

Barney looked at them all for a moment before he gave a nasty laugh and said, "As if I'd waste my time on you lot. Pathetic," he spat, then turned and stalked off down the corridor.

Caleb watched him go, feeling a little bewildered, then turned to look at the people assembled next to him. "You really didn't have to do that," he said to the boy.

"We know you can take care of yourself but we thought it couldn't hurt to make our voices heard. My name's Nicky Andrews," the boy said, extending his hand.

"Caleb Potter-Snape," Caleb said, shaking it.

"Yeah, I know," Nicky said with a smile. "Us Slytherins are big fans of your dad – Professor Snape I mean."

"Really?" Caleb asked, confused.

Nicky nodded. "Without him Slytherin would still be known as a House for dark wizards and social climbing. He gave us a reason to be proud again and for the rest of the wizarding world to stop treating us like pariahs."

"You're all Slytherins?" Caleb asked, glancing at the group.

"No," said the girl, "we're a mixed bunch, a group that's not overly-keen on being set apart by Houses." She moved a little closer and said, "I'm Jess Parkinson."

"I knew you were related to Pansy!" Caleb said, seeing that the girl had Pansy's eyes and mouth.

"She's my aunt. She's also on the Board of Governors here and it's thanks to her that we have a multi-House common room."

"A what?" Caleb asked.

"A common room for people from any House," said Nicky. "Somewhere we can all meet up without any of the pressures of House nonsense. You'd be welcome there any time. Don't worry, narrow-minded Gryffindors tend not to join us," he added with a grin.

"In that case, I'd be thrilled to join you," Caleb replied, returning the grin.

"Come on then, Jess makes the best hot chocolate in the world. You've got to try it."

An arm was slung around his shoulders and as a group they all moved together down the corridor. Caleb felt freer and lighter than he had done in a long time and suddenly life at Hogwarts seemed to hold more possibilities than it previously had done.

AN: I'm in the middle of writing two quite intense, emotional long-fics and decided to give my mind a break to write something a little simpler. Besides, I wanted to drop in our favourite family and add to their story. I hope you all enjoyed it, drop me a review and let me know.