the train ride from scotland back to london was insufferable for a young snake who just wanted to be home. ulysses drake had a haphazard year at hogwarts where he made the quidditch team, got his ass beat more times then he could count, nearly failed potions and transfiguration, and still wasn't sure if he had made any real friends. it wasn't all bad though ; he had saved enough for a firebolt with the weekly money that his father had sent and that had to have been worth it, right?

uly sat quietly on the train ride, zoning out the window while kicking his feet up against the other wise of the trolley hoping that he would have a bloody brilliant summer and he'd come back for second year with atticus, make some real freaking friends, and prove to the slytherin team that he wasn't just some fluke player who continued to get barreled down by bludgers. this summer he would train and perhaps magic would finally make sense to him and he'd get his brothers on the regime as well.

he arrived at platform 9¾ at king's cross station with his suit cases of things only to be met with his mother's icy disposition, a few seconds delay, and beatrice drake walking over to her son to give him a half-hearted hug.

" ulysses, you've grown so much and your hair! you've let it grown quite long. " she preened her son who simply gives a half-hearted smile. " where's dad? i thought he was grabbing me. " uly asked, the letters back-and-forth had him not expecting his mom.

" oh, you know him. besides, i wanted to see you first. i heard about your year, we have a lot to discuss. " with a flick of her wand, she carried his things as they had a driver who would take them in one of those fancy muggle cars to their home only ten minutes away.

as soon as they were in the car, bea turned to uly and gave him a very disappointed look. " almost failing two courses in your first year? are you kidding me, uly? do we look like the kind of family who does anything less then perfection? " ulysses lets out the biggest groan of his life. " i don't want to talk about it. can you just save it for me for tomorrow or something? fu—" he catches himself, knowing better to swear in front of his mother whose eyes fill with fury at the disrespect. with a wand raised to her son, she pokes the end into ulysses' arm. " you dare use that language to me, ulysses nathaniel drake? you are twelve years old. i will sever your tongue. "

" we've arrived, miss. " their driver announced and ulysses was quick to disengage and practically ran into the house filled with fury and rage wanting to destroy everything in his path.

" we are NOT done! " beatrice yelled, but ulysses ignored her to find atticus checking in his bedroom first and seeing his brother sitting at his desk reading something. without skipping a beat, ulysses slams the door and jumps into the other's bed.

" your mother is such a bitch and i do NOT feel bad for calling her that." well, welcome home uly.

——— [ notes ] hehe angst hehe brother time yay !

Ulysses had every intention of tossing a pillow directly at Atticus’ head but he was far too comfortable to move and ruin the perfect position he landed in. “ Semantics, when she’s acting rotted, she is clearly your mother. ” Uly let out a huff of hot air, annoyed and irritated that they would surprise him like this and start his Summer Vacation in the most traumatic and unnecessary way possible. Not even ten seconds getting off the train and she was already livid at the embarrassment that he caused! No one even knew that he barely passed two classes, how could they? It’s not like those records were public knowledge and a ranking came out so every stupid blood purist could talk about the compliments about their children as though they were the ones obtaining the accolades and achievements.

After a few moments of some heavy breathing, Uly pushed himself back up, deciding to prop himself up so he could have a direct view of his brother at his desk reading. “ I didn’t do anything. You know me, Atti. I’m not great at school so I almost failed Potions and Transmogrification. The teachers they have are shit and weren’t teaching me well. I passed by the skin of my teeth and don’t have to repeat the first year, or something. But, it doesn’t mean Mom can treat me like a criminal cause studying is bollocks. “ He was already to throw something towards Atticus if he decided to be team Bea, he needed unwavering support at this moment.

“ Yeah, and good question! Where the hell was Dad? He was supposed to pick me up. If he got caught up with dragons again, i’m gonna go berserk. You’d think his favorite son was coming home after being gone for a year that he’d want to see me or something. ” Ulysses couldn’t stand to sit anymore as he pushed himself to his feet and began to pace in Atticus’ room, upset as he let his fist punch into an open palm as how betrayed he felt only moments ago.

“ Has she been on one this whole time or is this just a special little treat for me? ”

——— [ notes ] atti is so calm lol i love him already