Klaus didn’t know what to expect from the question he had asked. He might’ve already known the answer, seeing as it’s from a pure-blood family of prestige status. But for some reason, he just wanted to hear a different answer for once; nothing that he knew would make his grandmother’s heart flutter.

“Right…” He responded in a low tone under his breath, turning his gaze back to the window, watching the scenery change as the train went further along the tracks; the sun moving at a pace just a minute behind. “So, I suppose you won’t be making friends with anyone who isn’t a pure-blood.”

For some reason, a piece of him felt sad from that statement. If Seulrene only knew his current place, would she have turned her nose at this moment and forgot it ever existed in their memories?

He cleared his throat, looking down at his lap and played with the ring on his fingers. “My grandmother told me that muggles were just wasted space in this world… That we were much special, that’s why we were given this ability to do these things.” He uttered softly, becoming a little warier in his volume as he spoke. “She told me that in this world, there are winners, and there are losers. She said that muggles were smaller, shriveled, foul-smelling and weak. She called them monsters.”

Klaus paused, hesitating a bit on whether he should continue or not, coming to a realization of what he’s saying to a family crony. He pursed his lips in thought as he took a deep breath before looking up to meet Seulrene’s gaze, a small smile appearing across his face.

“But I don’t quite agree with her. Because I know she has never met a muggle a day in her life.” He said, much confidently. “Besides, I much rather form my own opinions meself. Even if grandmother knows better than I do.”

He let out a small chuckle, attempting to lighten up the mood off the topic, as he leaned back into his seat comfortably, stretching out his limbs a bit. “Oh! Do you know what house you’d like to be sorted in?”

-=❋=-

“So, I suppose you won’t be making friends with anyone who isn’t a pure-blood.”

The term “friend” seemed like a foreign concept to Seul. She had never made any friends, nor did she want to with the other pure-blooded children in the past. They were all the same, rich, spoiled, and bratty. She believed her parents even used her to set up strategical meetings with other families with the excuse of having their children ‘play’ together. Perhaps the only true friend Seul had was Sebas, her family owl. They practically grew up together, and Sebas would even fetch her strange objects from the outside world; without mother noticing of course. She was relieved to find out Sebas will greet her when they arrive at Hogwarts. Making friends at Hogwarts seemed like a joke. The girl planned to go through all seven years buried in her studies, after all, she had a familial responsibility to fulfill. 

Now she wasn’t so sure.

No one had mentioned “friend” to her before. Now that Klaus commented on it, Seul was even more conflicted. Did she really want to repeat the first eleven years of her life alone and trapped within her icy sphere? The blonde boy seemed almost melancholy but then put on the same smile as before. Once again, Seul saw through it. A part of her felt the same, though it was difficult to explain. She laid her head on the glass pane and let out a weak sigh, contemplating Klaus’s words. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to make friends?

Klaus went on to share his grandmother’s beliefs: that muggles are wasted space, that they are foul creatures and monsters. That was certainly not true. Although Seul didn’t know any muggles, she knew that muggles are just like her kind. They share the same heart and soul, so what makes them so different? Their inability to use magic? No, some muggles were wizards too so that disproved her theory. Whatever the case was, she could care less about what muggles were.

“But I don’t quite agree with her. Because I know she has never met a muggle a day in her life. Besides, I much rather form my own opinions meself. Even if grandmother knows better than I do.”

Seul’s heart skipped a beat and her midnight eyes beamed at the boy. Did a Vieux really say that? She thought the Vieux family was even more elite than her family and yet a direct descendent said that? For some unknown reason, she felt almost relieved. At that moment, her guard lowered and she even flashed the slightest smile before catching herself and returning to her usual poised composure. This Vieux boy was different, very different. She hadn’t met a single pure-blood that spoke against their family up until now. Klaus remained firm and confident even though he was talking to a stranger. Before she could respond, the blonde boy cut her off with a chuckle and a completely off-topic question:

“Oh! Do you know what house you’d like to be sorted in?”

Mayhaps it was better for the mood to lighten up. Seul straightened her back and placed her hands next to her legs. She leaned forward almost to the edge of her seat and stated proudly: “Ravenclaw! Ravenclaw for sure. It would be an embarrassment for me to be sorted into any other house, although Slytherin doesn’t seem too bad either. See, both my father and grandfather were exceptional Ravenclaws and it is only right that I follow in their footsteps.” The solemn environment did indeed dissipate, as well as Seul’s chilly aura. She continued in interest: “What about you? You seem like a Gryffindor…or…or maybe a Slytherin.”

-=❋=-

The glimmer in her eyes made Klaus wonder what she was thinking about what he had said in regards to his grandmother’s opinions. He couldn’t fully distinguish whether it was a positive one or not, and he felt his stomach flip at the realization that this could spread out and reach the ears of his family. But then the small upward twitch of her lips gave Klaus the impression that, maybe she agreed with some of his statements.

“Ravenclaw! Ravenclaw for sure. It would be an embarrassment for me to be sorted into any other house, although Slytherin doesn’t seem too bad either. See, both my father and grandfather were exceptional Ravenclaws and it is only right that I follow in their footsteps.”

“Ravenclaw? I suppose I can see how it best fits you!” He grinned before the question was directed back at him. “My father was also in Ravenclaw, actually… But I’m not too sure if I should follow along in his footsteps. I also heard that my mother was sorted into a house that was comparable to House Slytherin at Beauxbatons… But I’m also unsure of that as well…” He answered truthfully before glancing out the window to see that the train was moving along a vast lake, the sun nicely setting as time began to pass quickly.

“They say that the sorting hat does not lie. So I suppose I’ll entrust it to make the best decision for me…” He grinned back at Seulrene. He then heard a couple of voices outside, as if announcing down the corridors for everyone to ready into their robes. His brows raised, snapping his head back out the window and there right outside, just across the grand lake perched up on a cliff, taking a glimpse at the prepossessing castle. He had always thought that the Vieux Manor was the most beautiful structure he’s ever seen, but now it’s begun to step down the ladder. “Wow…” He managed to utter out beneath his breath, as he smiled. “It’s as beautiful as the pictures I’ve seen… maybe even more…” He continued before spinning around in his seat to reach for his trunk and pull out his wizard robe, wearing it over his clothes.

“Though… what made you think that I’d fit into Gryffindor or Slytherin?” Klaus asked as he buttoned up his robe, patting it down to smoothen out the slight wrinkles before running his fingers through his blonde locks.

-=❋=-

Klaus was right. The scene lived up to its name as one of the most remarkable views in Scotland. On the other side of the window rose a grandiose stone castle perched on top of a cliff, overlooking a vast lake. The evening sky was a boundless canvas upon which a gradient of dark purple faded into the bright pinks and oranges of the setting sun. It was truly a sight to marvel at. Seul’s soft and pale skin still glowed of warmth as the locomotive neared its destination. The blonde boy also seemed mesmerized with the landscape, beaming and speechless.

“It’s as beautiful as the pictures I’ve seen… maybe even more…”

Seul couldn’t help but smile at his words. There was an honest and pure quality Klaus emitted that she couldn’t help but feel relaxed. Perhaps these seven years at Hogwarts won’t be so dreadful. 

The hallway suddenly became noisy again; all the commotion coming from other first years most likely. The older students began to announce for everyone to change into robes. Seul reached for her leather suitcase full of her belongings. It was surprising how effective this extension charm was, given how her entire wardrobe (of nearly 200 individual garments) was stacked neatly into a box the size of half a coffee table. As she fitted on her robe, Klaus asked why she thought he would be a Gryffindor or Slytherin. “Well, from what I’ve observed, you seem to be pretty confident and courageous, speaking against yo-“ Seul caught herself before she said too much. She cleared her throat and continued, “umm…you also seem fairly self preserved so Slytherin might also fit you.”

It was quite obvious at this point that something happened in the Vieux family, but Seul didn’t want to ask. Although she agreed with the boy’s opinions, she couldn’t bring herself to say it out loud. It felt wrong that she thought differently from her family; even more so now that she was given the heavy burden of releasing her family’s sentenced exile from South Korea. It would be best to just wear her usual cold and elite facade.

After a few awkward and silent moments of putting on robes, the train whistle signaled the arrival at the Hogsmeade train station. “Well, I guess this is it,” Seul said as she began stretching her body.

-=❋=-

Continued at  The Great Lake?