The Serpent Prince

The platform was a swirling sea of energy and movement. Families hugged their children tightly, last-minute reminders and advice flying back and forth. Trunks thudded onto carts, a barn owl hooted sharply in protest, and the occasional spark from a wand shot into the air as younger students experimented, much to their parents' alarm.

Alex Lorian stood near the edge of the chaos, his silver eyes scanning the scene. His composure, calm and regal, stood in stark contrast to the frenetic energy around him. The Hogwarts Express, gleaming in its scarlet splendor, belched thick clouds of steam, its whistle cutting through the din.

"Master Alexander," came a familiar voice behind him, sharp and no-nonsense.

Alex turned to see Lady Darya, her dark cloak pristine as ever, her sharp gaze sweeping the platform for any hint of danger. As the head of his royal guard, she had insisted on accompanying him, though Alex had been hoping for a clean break from the watchful eyes of the palace.

"I must escort you to the train," she said, her tone leaving little room for discussion.

Alex raised an eyebrow. "Darya, I'm perfectly capable of boarding a train."

"Your safety is my duty," she replied stiffly. "The King—"

"The King," Alex interrupted smoothly, "has trusted me with this decision. I intend to see it through without causing a scene."

Darya frowned. "It's not a matter of trust. It's—"

"It's time," Alex said, cutting her off gently but firmly. "I'll manage."

Darya's lips thinned, but she nodded curtly. "As you wish, Your Highness. But should you require anything—"

"I'll let you know," Alex said with a small, grateful smile.

He turned and strode toward the train, feeling the weight of her gaze on his back until he disappeared into the steam.

Inside the Hogwarts Express, the corridors were just as crowded and chaotic as the platform. Students leaned out of compartments to shout at friends passing by, while others lugged oversized trunks or wrangled restless familiars.

Alex moved carefully, his robes brushing against the narrow walls as he searched for an empty seat. He glanced into a few compartments: one was full of rowdy boys challenging each other to eat Every Flavor Beans; another had two girls locked in a heated debate over whether Quidditch players from Ireland or Bulgaria were superior.

When he reached the middle of the train, he found a compartment with only one occupant. The boy inside had messy brown hair that curled slightly at the ends, and his mismatched eyes—one green, one blue—were filled with curiosity. He grinned when he saw Alex.

"Looking for a seat?" the boy asked, pushing some of his things aside to make room.

"If it's not taken," Alex replied.

"Not at all. Come in."

Alex placed his trunk neatly in the overhead rack before sitting across from the boy.

"Teddy Lupin," the boy said, holding out a hand.

"Alexander Lorian," Alex replied, shaking it.

Teddy tilted his head, his grin widening. "Wait… Lorian? Like the Lorian family? The royal family?"

"Yes," Alex said simply.

Teddy let out a low whistle, leaning back in his seat. "Well, color me impressed. My godfather's been talking about you for weeks."

"Your godfather?" Alex asked, intrigued.

"Harry Potter," Teddy said casually, as if the name wasn't legendary. "You've probably heard of him. He's kind of a big deal."

Alex smirked faintly. "I've read about him."

Teddy chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "Yeah, he's brilliant. Bit of a worrier, though. When he found out you were coming to Hogwarts, he went on and on about how you'd change the school or something. Made it sound like you were going to rebuild the castle brick by brick."

Alex raised an eyebrow. "I don't think I'll be doing that."

"Me neither," Teddy said with a grin. "But hey, what brings a prince to Hogwarts? Don't you guys have, like, super posh private tutors and all that?"

Alex considered the question. "I wanted to see the world outside my family's walls. Hogwarts seemed… different."

Teddy's grin turned genuine. "Different is definitely one word for it. Weird's another. But you'll fit right in."

The rest of the train ride passed quickly. Teddy proved to be a fountain of stories, his excitement about Hogwarts spilling over into every conversation. He talked about growing up under the watchful eye of Harry Potter, his metamorphmagus abilities, and the strange adventures he was looking forward to at school.

By the time they reached Hogsmeade Station, the sun was beginning to set, casting the platform in warm shades of orange and gold.

"All first-years, this way!" boomed a deep voice.

Alex turned to see a towering man with a wild beard waving students toward a path that led to a cluster of small boats by the Black Lake.

"That's Hagrid," Teddy whispered as they walked. "Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts. He's a bit of a legend himself."

The boats glided silently across the water, and Alex caught his first glimpse of Hogwarts. The castle loomed in the distance, its turrets glowing warmly against the twilight sky. It looked almost alive, its magic radiating a sense of welcome that Alex hadn't expected.

Inside, the Great Hall was even more magnificent. Floating candles hovered above the tables, their soft light illuminating the enchanted ceiling that reflected the cloudy night outside. Alex felt a flicker of awe as he took in the vast space, the warmth of the hall pushing back the chill of the evening air.

The Sorting began almost immediately. Name after name was called, and each student sat beneath the Sorting Hat, which proclaimed their house to the cheers of the tables.

When "Alexander Lorian" was called, the hall fell into a hush.

He walked forward calmly, his head held high, but he could feel the weight of hundreds of eyes on him. Whispers rippled through the crowd.

"A prince?"

"From the Lorian family?"

"What's he doing here?"

He ignored them, sitting on the stool as the Sorting Hat was placed on his head.

"Well, well," the hat said, its voice echoing in his mind. "A most intriguing mind. Ambition, certainly—Slytherin would suit you well. But there's courage here, too, and loyalty, and a hunger for knowledge that would make any Ravenclaw proud."

Alex remained silent, waiting.

"Where shall I place you?" the hat mused. "Slytherin feels like home, doesn't it? Yes, you'd do well there. Shall we?"

"Yes," Alex thought.

The hat chuckled. "Very well… SLYTHERIN!"

The Slytherin table erupted into cheers, their applause echoing through the hall as Alex removed the hat and walked toward them.

A girl with sharp features and dark hair leaned toward him as he sat down. "Welcome to Slytherin," she said, smirking. "You're going to make things very interesting."

Alex returned her smirk, his silver eyes glinting. "I'll do my best."

The feast that followed was filled with laughter and chatter, but Alex found his thoughts turning inward. The system hummed faintly in his mind, its words a reminder of what lay ahead.

[Objective Completed: Arrive at Hogwarts. Reward: 500 points.]

[New Objective: Integrate into Hogwarts culture. Reward: 1,500 points.]

For the first time in years, he felt alive with possibility. The real journey was only beginning.