After going home, Lucifer went to the reception and poured himself a lemonade whereas Maze was looking at his stuff like she got new toys. Eve quickly became her new friend.
"So, you started hitting on a school girl huh? Got some books and shit, but a damn good cat!" Maze, really liked to play with this creature but Lucifer knew the dark truth, she just wanted to degrade his friend Eve, "Also, what're you trying to do with this weird looking stick?"
This was the thing, she was still confused about.
Lucifer sighed heavily, "Mazikeen, will you stop asking me the same question? I already explained to you about the wands, and no I wasn't hitting on an eleven year old girl," he tried to defend his dignity.
Because, he didn't think he had crossed the line of becoming a pedophile yet.
"But it looks like flirting to.. O-okay, Okay, I will stop.... But seriously what are you going to do? Attend this weird school, what about me?"
Maze was also a little sad inside.
"Indeed, I am going to attend Hogwarts to find out more about this magical world? Why are we hearing about this now, and you should stay here looking after Lux, but don't worry---I will find a way for you to visit me eventually. Just give time."
xxxxxx
While Lucifer didn't know what books upper years used for their classes, the shop assistants certainly did. He went straight up to one who wasn't busy and explained what he needed.
When the assistant heard him out, he looked at him in disbelief.
"All the textbooks? Kid, are you sure? You look like a first or second-year. There's really no need to buy them all in one go....Take Defense Against the Dark Arts, for example. The professor changes every year. You never know which book they'll assign. You'll probably end up wasting your money."
'What a kind soul.' Lucifer was convinced this man must be a Hufflepuff.
"Knowledge learned is never wasted. Even if the textbooks change, I don't lose anything.... Better to spend money on books in an unfamiliar world. If I ever don't need them, I can always sell them second-hand...."
The assistant blinked, clearly stunned that such practical wisdom came out of a child's mouth.
Still, the customer was always right. He'd already tried persuading him once-that was good enough. So, he grabbed a trolley and went off to fetch Lucifer's books. When he learned the boy was a soon-to-be first-year, he smiled knowingly and said, "You're definitely going to end up in Ravenclaw."
"Though, personally, I still think Hufflepuff is the best house."
Lucifer nodded sincerely, "I agree."
Ten minutes later, the trolley was piled high with thick, heavy books. Not only the required textbooks, but also several extra books Lucifer had picked himself.
On average, two Galleons per book. But the upper-year textbooks were ridiculously expensive. One book 'Advanced Magical Forces: A Guide to Self-Defense cost seven Galleons alone.
Just like Muggle world in Britain textbooks were absurdly overpriced.
He remembered Hermione complaining more than once in one of her letters: her mother was in university, and some books cost dozens of pounds, even over a hundred. More expensive than robbing a bank!
Owl delivery required ten sickles, but Lucifer in his heart couldn't bring himself to force the burden over to those lovely birds, so he used his own special magic to disappear the books away in a private alley.
xxxxxx
Lucifer was totally unaware of the emotional turmoil of his partner. It had been almost two months since that day in Diagon Alley, and now it was finally time for him to start his first year at Hogwarts.
During the time available, he had practically memorised his books and trained Eve to be on her best behaviour. Well, he had no comments on that, even more so his request of the two pets had been accepted by professors.
When ten thirty struck, both Lucifer and Maze were standing between Platform 9 and 10 at King's Cross. She packed the trunk in the back of the car, they didn't have long until Hogwarts Express left.
The station name--- was originally to honour King George IV. Not exactly a model ruler. His reputation was... less than glorious. Even his closest attendants despised him, once commenting, "No dog could be more vile, cowardly, or numb---hearted than this king."
There might be a few great kings in the world---but George IV was certainly among the worst. Lucifer couldn't understand why someone like 'that' deserved a memorial station.
Worse, statues of George IV could be found all across Britain.
"What exactly did that old loony say to you about this magical platform?"
"Run at the wall between platforms 9 and 10," Lucifer said quietly, so the Muggles (non magic folk) couldn't hear the bizarre thing that came out of his mouth.
His trunk didn't look large, but it had been enchanted with an Undetectable Extension Charm to a triple on his second trip back to Diagon Alley, which was said to be a tough spell---would be able to be mastered by students typically during their seventh year.
However, the concept of it wasn't entirely different from what Lucifer's own ability, which had multiplied his clothing's internal volume, one of the reasons he could just pull about anything wanted from within.
As for whether using celestial powers could be traced by Ministry's laws was out of the norms, even if they had.... Lucifer couldn't care less, he was just a fresh-faced first year! How may he possibly know such advanced magic, right?
Clearly, someone had tampered with his luggage in an attempt to frame or curse an innocent boy! However, the issue of using what comes under the Ministry's registry was what he needed to quickly get rid of.
....But magical items under a spell, even the trunk of his quality risked instability if gone far beyond what it could handle.
When the platform signs came into view, both of them ran towards the damn wall.
"Fuck me, this is incredible isn't it Maze?" Lucifer said after watching the Red Hogwarts train.
"Yep, but don't you think, you should control your language a bit, yeah? There will be innocent kids." She reprimanded him trying to be stern.
"When did you start acting like my mother?"
"When you get your Hogwarts letter pretty boy, I am your guardian now Lucifer. So, don't forget to send me letters alright? I want to know, if you do anything strange..." Her voice was weirdly smug at the little devil.
"Shut up, yeah I will write your stupid letters. Now go away, let me have some peace for the time being."
Maze after giving him a slight peck on the cheek, she looked into his beautiful eyes for a moment, then just walked away from him quietly towards Lux with pained feelings.
"Lucifer!"
He heard an excited voice yell, and turned to see Hermione rushing towards him, throwing her arms around neck and pulling him into a tight hug. "Geez..." He was surprised about her touchy behaviour. But who was complaining?
"Um, did you come here alone?"
"No, Maze went home two minutes thirty three seconds ago, and I was about to... board the train, when I heard your voice, Granger."
The Hogwarts Express departed at eleven o'clock sharp, Lucifer and Hermione arrived with about twenty minutes to spare, it was still early, and when he boarded after handing over his trunk to one of the workers, Eve laying in her cage, sound asleep.
There were still only a few students scattered around the train.
Without hesitation, Hermione walked towards the last carriage, she didn't want to be disturbed later by people walking past their compartment as they boarded, Lucifer followed behind her carrying his cat's cage as he looked around.
Reaching the second to last carriage, she casually picked an empty compartment, and seated themselves in front of each other quite relaxed, unlike what Hermione'd thought she would be if she hadn't known anyone.
"The Hogwarts Express is quite old, and hidden 'inside' a Muggle train station? And yet it hasn't been discovered....."
Hermione's face brightened up, as she adjusted herself into the back of the headrest for comfort, ruffling her school uniform which she'd worn in her excitement so early on.
"It's actually the largest recorded use of a Muggle-Repelling Charm in wizarding history.... These days, Ministry send people every year to reinforce it. You know what, I bet it's one spell every employee there can cast with their eyes closed."
"Good summer then, eh?" Lucifer asked with a smile, already knowing what she said, as the train started to prepare rolling out of King's Cross with a steam honking loud sound that echoed.
Hoping to calm her tensed nerves.
Without realising it, the train had already left the station, heading west toward the Scottish Highlands. The sound of wheels clacking along the tracks didn't damper their chatter one bit.
"It was great, Mum took me to Paris!" She said excitedly, taking a now awake cat into her arms, "What have you done? Anything productive?"
"I read the course books again, and went to Italy for two weeks with Maze. Did horse riding and some other stuff..."
"Really, will you tell me about it?" She questioned, while shaking her head up and down cutely.
"Well there was the Colosseum, The Grand Canal in Venice which was pretty fun---Vatican City, total dreamland at sunset and some art gallery in Florence which was quite fascinating actually."
Lucifer mostly, he was just throwing the random names he visited for a few minutes or so. Because, the things he really did, can't be revealed to this innocent child.
"Looks like you had a great time."
He really did.
"Anyway, have you seen Dumbledore photo in the book? Those eyes were far too lively for someone his age..."
She hardly managed a polite smile, though now that she thought about it Hermione had even more concerns than before, "No way, he's the greatest wizard of this era, you must have looked at wrong picture."
There was a strong tone of making him believe her words.
"But that get up... Could he really be a legitimate school headmaster? I wonder if he's gone senile..."
Her lower lip twitched at the boy, she now really doubted if he would behave properly.
At that precise moment, a very upset and pale looking boy opened the door of the compartment, his lip quivering as a fresh tear rolled down his cheek.
"H-have you seen m-m-my toad? I've lost it," the boy managed to stutter out, looking at the ground as an embarrassed flush crossed his cheeks.
"We haven't, sorry," Lucifer said, offering the boy a reassuring smile.
"But we'll help you look," Hermione said, pulling Lucifer up by the front of his robes and following the toad-boy out of the compartment. "I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, and this is Lucifer Morningstar."
"N-Neville Longbottom."
Lucifer smiled but got elbowed in the ribs by Hermione who glared at him, practically telling him to behave himself. They were both looking for the toad then, he suddenly smacked his head and pulled out his wand. He asked Neville, "What's the frog's name?"
The chubby boy looked surprised to be addressed. "His name's Trevor," he answered softly.
Lucifer then concentrated on his wand, "point me: Trevor" and his wand lifted up a couple inches from his hand and started to spin.
It was the first bit of spellcasting Hermione had ever seen anyone her age do, and she wondered if she would be able to manage it. She had never casted any spells herself, not having learnt any when she got her wand from Olivander's, and already home, where she wasn't allowed to use said wand by the time she learnt her first spell.
The realisation that she was allowed to use magic now made her want to whip out her own wand and start trying out spells.
Lucifer's wand slowed down quickly, until it finally stopped, pointing straight at Neville.
"Huh?" The boy looked confused. "Why is it pointing at me?"
Hermione said quietly, "I think the spell is busted."
"I think it's pointing at Trevor. Longbottom, check your robes."
Neville did, and from within the folds, he pulled out a large, sleeping (?) Toad. Oh.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know, and thank you..."
"Don't worry about it," Lucifer called, then looked at his wand still floating above his palm and pointed in the direction Neville had gone.
He tried to snatch his wand from the air, where it kept dodging, always doing its hardest to point unfailingly at Neville (or Hermione supposed Trevor), before he got frustrated enough to shout, "Stop doing that..."
It stopped floating, and fell on the ground. Lucifer picked it up, mumbling, "Finally" under his breath causing Hermione to start giggling.
That has just been so ridiculous, and magical. He rolled his eyes good-naturedly, "Yes, please, laugh at my disgrace."
"Sorry," She apologized as her giggles petered out. "That was wonderful spellwork though, where did you learn that? It wasn't in our course books." Hermione asked, now slightly looking at Lucifer with admiration and her chocolate brown eyes shining bright with depth of gaining new knowledge.
"I ordered some more books by mail, and was watching T.V but couldn't find the remote. So, I started searching for any Summoning spells... but found this one instead, and just used it for first time now."
Hermione snorted a bit out loud even more this time and had to hold on to Lucifer's hand to balance herself, "How could... fufu someone be so lazy, to even think about using magic to summon a TV remote?" She said between her laughs.
They were on the way to their compartment, while Hermione started using "Lumos" and other first year spells she had read about in her books but then she suddenly stopped entering another that was occupied by redhead and black haired boys.
"We've already told him we haven't seen it," said the redhead, but Hermione wasn't listening, she was looking at the wand in his hand, which she had seen previously from the glass window pane.
"Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see it, then," She sat down in an empty space near the door. The redhead looked taken aback, which made Lucifer smirk exasperated.
"She gets like this," He reassured him, indicating not to take her way of speaking as if she was naturally superior in---suffering another blow to the ribs from Hermione in a flaring temper, Lucifer glared at her down seated figure.
The redhead cleared his throat.
"Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, turn this stupid, fat rat yellow."
He waved his wand, but nothing happened. The rat on his lap stayed gray and fast asleep, making Lucifer burst into a chuckle, holding his stomach.
"Are you sure that's a real spell? Well, it's not very good, is it? I've tried a few simple spells just for practice now and it's all worked for me... Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school of witchcraft there is, I've heard--- I've learned all our course books by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough -- I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you?"

She said all this very fast.
The black haired boy felt like a hundred birds were chirping around his head, so he looked at the redhead who was fuming, and was clearly relieved to see by the mixture of stunned face that he hadn't learned all the course books by heart either.
"I'm Ron Weasley," Ron muttered.
"Lucifer Morningstar," Lucifer waved from where he stood.
"....Lucifer Morningstar, as in the Devil?" Harry asked warily.
"Finally, someone actually noticed, and here I thought people don't have the Bible in this time period..."
Hermione looked at Lucifer like he was the most stupid person in the world, gone barmy and wisely chose to ignore both boys.
"I am Harry Potter, by the way."
'So he is that child who is supposed to defeat some Dark Lord when he was a baby, huh?'
"Are you really? I know all about you, of course -- I got a few extra books, for background reading, and you're in 'Modern Magical History' and 'The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts' and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."
Well that was not all, she'd even finished reading off extra materials gotten from her friend.
"Am I?" Harry said, feeling dazed.
"Goodness, didn't you know, I'd have found out everything I could if it was me. Do either of you know what house you'll be in? I've been asking around, and I hope I'm in Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best; I hear Dumbledore himself was in it, but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad... Anyway, we'd better go. You two had better change, you know, I expect we'll be there soon."
And she left just as she came in a stormy manner, taking Lucifer by his hand, and Neville followed them like a lost puppy. 'Who even was she? What a nutter, I hope she doesn't go to Gryffindor...'
Lucifer's lips twitched as he heard voices coming from inside that same compartment belonging to Ron with his impeccable hearing, he didn't argue with boy's opinion. Fully aware that Hermione's personality won't exactly be likeable to other children, from classmates to upperclassmen in her Muggle school, she had managed to get spats with almost everyone.
'----No wonder she wants to go to Gryffindor. My mum calls them a bunch of thick headed lions---and she looks the part.'
Apparently, Hermione's voice was quite loud, even other batch of students ended up hearing her non-stop chatter all the way.
"Potter seemed alright, that red-head definitely lacks etiquette but maybe I am expecting too much from children..." Lucifer reduced his ear's range and shrugged knowing the girl herself didn't care enough to knock on the door politely first either.
"Language! you just met him..."
He was admonished by Hermione, who completely ignored her own beautiful language and rolled her eyes at him. Not wanting to let her stew in irritation of whether she could hear those mutterings, Lucifer casually changed the subject. 'This girl really didn't have any genuine friends before me at all...'
xxxxxx
"Modern Muggles aren't what they used to be. If the magical world were exposed today.... most wizards wouldn't stand a chance."
....Neville fell silent as the girl went on about nuclear bombs and talked Muggles even landing on Moon, thought he wasn't prejudiced against normal humans, the pride that came with being a wizard was deeply ingrained by his grandmother, Augusta Longbottom.
"Back then...Muggles had revered wizards like gods. W-who would have thought they'd evolve to a point they could pose a genuine threat to wizarding...."
"No wonder books often said the Ministry of Magic was founded to protect the secrecy--and safety of the magical world..."
Listening to Lucifer also didn't help any, he was talking transfiguring nukes using control magic of mind like Confundus, Imperius, polyjuice for cold wars and even normal spells being used like Dark Magic to counter nukes, Neville started to brood alone, as the train grew livelier as students fooled around in their own compartments.
'Morningstar?' He searched his memory, Neville was sure he wouldn't have forgotten, he'd never heard of that surname before. He knew Hermione was a muggleborn, she'd explained as such, hesitantly, he asked, "Hey, L-Lucifer, are you half blood? Or... Muggle-born?"
"Honestly, I don't know what I count as," Lucifer said with a shrug, "Got banished by my parents. Maybe they were Muggles. Maybe they were squibs, doesn't really matter anymore."
Another witch who was also curious to know about his background, now turned to look Neville straight in the eye, she was now sitting beside Lucifer on his left near window, and sitting across from them was a pure-blood, "Why? Does noble Mr. Longbottom regret sitting in the same compartment as us?"
In Cantankerus Nott's Sacred Twenty-Eight which she'd gotten from Lucifer by his owl, Neville's family ranked near the upper middle---a shining example of low-key elegance among pure-blood families.
Naturally, by his question she doubted whether he'd be like Blacks, Gaunts Lestranges, Malfoy's---obsessed with blood purity and ready to bring up lineage at any moment.
"No, no! Please don't misunderstand!"
The boy waved his small hands anxiously, wanting to clear away any which might be insulting, "I honestly don't care about that stuff. My Gran always says every pure-blood family has Muggle ancestors... somewhere in their lineage. I was just curious because I've never met anyone from your world before....!"
He didn't seem to be stuttering talking about such things, as if he'd known them by heart, and was comfortable to share it.
"Then, I owe you an apology." Hermione admitted calmly, while stroking the cat yet again in her palms, she likes her smooth fur, and now wanted one for herself, "I judged you wrongly cause of your tone..."
Around half past 12', compartment door slid open again. A beaming woman poked her head in. "Anything off the trolley, dears?"
"Yes, please." Lucifer jumped from his seat with the excitement of a curious kitten and rushed over to the trolley to make his selections.
Well, "selections" was putting it lightly. He practically bought everything, though in varying amounts, even cleared out nearly all the Chocolate Frogs.
The total came to two Galleons and thirteen Sickles, roughly Weasley family's entire pocket money for a year. Suddenly, Hermione understood why he thought seventy Galleons was too little for a year. At his spending pace, he'd burn through it in a month.
While he was paying, Lucifer also quietly observed the trolley witch.
Rumor had it she'd been hired by the Ministry when the Hogwarts Express was first launched in 1830. That made her at least 180 years old. 'Quite the age, even by wizard standards....'
Lucifer didn't stop at observing her himself---he even dragged Neville out of his sulking. But no matter how closely he watched, didn't see anything suspicious about the witch.
In the end, he chalked it up to a naturally long life and let it go. Then generously spread all the snacks out on the table and invited Hermione and Neville to share. He accepted kindness with perfect composure. If he couldn't even manage that, Gran would have a fit.
For a certain muggle witch, whose parents were dentists, eating chocolates.
"...." She hesitated twice under some serious internal struggle before giving to Lucifer's sly urging of 'your family isn't here', 'try some magical treats' and quietly picked up a pumpkin pasty, mumbling her thanks. The three of them chatted as they ate, and topic eventually turned to the Sorting Ceremony.
"Everyone in my family's been in Gryffindor," Neville said shyly, "Under the hellish training of uncle Algie... So unless something unexpected happens, I'll probably be sorted there too." His face was complicated if he didn't even believe it himself, "But other houses sound nice as well. Gran won't be too mad... as long as I don't end up in Slytherin."
"What's with the Slytherin hate?" Lucifer asked, raising a questioning eyebrow, if wizard was gone, he didn't mind the values of that house, as "the snake" himself, it was quite attractive, and for any type of bullying, well... his own housemates got to be more careful instead.
Hermione wanted to say something.
"It's not that, according to my great-great-grandfather-in-law Phineas Black.... he said 'Gryffindor is the root of all trouble."
"Now, now, Neville, surely---"
"Wherever there's a Gryffindor, there's chaos. You never know what kind of mess they'll stir up next.' That's what one of the looping portrait says every time I go around his route..."
The girl wrinkled her nose in disgust.
xxxxxx
The rest of the ride passed without incident. At some point, Hermione had dozed off exhausting herself, not forgetting she didn't even sleep well last night.
As the sky outside darkened and the train began to slow, Lucifer realised by peeking outside they were finally approaching their destination, and gently woke the sleeping girl.
She blinked, dazed and confused, her expression adorable in a half-asleep kind of way. Then, remembering where she was, she sat up in a rush.
"Oh my gosh, Lucifer, are we there?"
"Yeah. The train's slowing down."
"Guh... I, I forgot to put my robes on!"
While Neville clocked to put his uniform, Hermione had already scrambled to her feet. As she moved, she noticed the corner of her mouth felt wet. One swipe of her hand--and her face flushed bright red.
She'd drooled. 'Did Lucifer see that? How embarrassing! Does he think I sleep like a pig?'
Lucifer, blissfully unaware of the mental spiral Hermione had launched into, just noticed that the once-chatty girl had suddenly gone very quiet.
With a low whistle from the train's engine, it finally stopped, she and him piled out of the train, being pushed around by the older years making their way to the carriages.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Harry?"
A giant big hairy face beamed over the sea of heads, making Hermione and Lucifer look at each other with dropped jaws.
"C'mon, follow me -- any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"
"He is definitely not entirely human that I am sure about, mark my words, no way bones can support such..."
"Oh, are you willing to make a bet then?"
Challenged by bushy-haired girl.
"Mm-hm, if I was right you have to kiss me." Lucifer said with a playful wink, not caring whether she would take his words seriously, not that he minded any, he was only messing.
Hermione Granger did not expect that in a million years, after controlling her flustered expression. She replied with an equal retort, "A-alright, but if I win you have to take me on a date then." Looking proud of herself. 'I do hope, he will lose though.'
Lucifer gave her a smirk and accepted the innocent bet.
Slipping and stumbling, they followed the half- giant down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side of them that Lucifer thought there must be thick trees. Nobody spoke much. Neville, who lost his toad again, sniffed once or twice.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," the half-giant called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."
There was a loud "Oooooh!"
The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.
"No more'n four to a boat!" He called, pointing to a fleet----One by one, small boats with lanterns hanging from their bows emerged silently from the darkness and drifted toward shore, as if guided by invisible hands.
The sight made the Muggle-born witch widen her eyes in wonder. It wasn't until Lucifer stepped forward that she snapped out of it and realized, it was time to board.
"Are these boats enchanted? Or did someone cast a charm on them?"
It was Harry Potter who talked out loud to no one in particular, just found it so magical.
"Hmm, Oh it's you. I read about this part in a book---there's a rule that only four people can ride in a boat. Supposedly, it's because the four great wizards who founded Hogwarts crossed the lake this way... when they established the school."
As the boat glided forward, the young witch kept talking nonstop. Hermione and Lucifer were followed into their boat by Ron and Harry.
"Everyone in?" shouted the giant, who had an entire boat to himself, "Right then -- FORWARD!"
And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass.
Lucifer took a quick headcount---this year's intake seemed to be about thirty or forty students, less than even a fifty. 'So, because of war, Hogwarts is underpopulated as I'd feared.'
Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.
"Heads down!" He yelled as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. In reality Lucifer snorted, that giant was the only one who needed to do so.
They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbor, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.
"Oy, you there! Is this your toad?" The giant said, who was checking the boats as people climbed out of them.
"Trevor!" Neville cried blissfully, holding out his hands who had gotten separated among the crowd. Then they clambered up a passageway, Hermione meanwhile looked crossed, and turned to ask Lucifer incredulously, "Did he just lose his toad again?"
"Apparently he did, he is a clumsy one isn't he?" Lucifer replied shaking his head. 'Seriously, what's wrong with this child? Even after helping him, it didn't matter in the end anyway?'
It always happened with him, even if he tried to change something, it would always go back like it's supposed to. At that time, he didn't know that every single thing he did was just predestined from the start.
Hermione looked like she wanted to smack his head again or she just liked to touch him. No one will ever know.
They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door.
"Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad?"
At everyone's nod, he raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.