Chapter Three, Starting Hogwarts

Since that terrible night three long and hard years had passed. No longer protected by Irma, the twins were once again subjected to abuse and neglect at the hands of their father, but they could finally escape from him and the torture they both endured; for they were off to Hogwarts. Despite the short hand they had been dealt with in regards to family the twins had become stronger, more resilient as they made plans for their Hogwarts years.

They would no longer be put down; instead they would be the Queens of Slytherin and take over the Slytherin Court together. For their bond had strengthened as had their magic which had been what had kept them alive the past three years. Shaking off their maudlin thoughts they levitated their trunks aboard the Hogwarts Express, they'd found the loophole in the law that with so many adult witches and wizards doing the exact same for their children it would never expose them, plus their so-called father never took them to the station, the house-elves had dropped them off. But they couldn't help but feel jealous of all of the parents seeing their soon-to-be schoolmates off to school, including their cousins Radamanthus, a fourth year Slytherin, and his younger sister Niamh, a second year Slytherin, who were being seen off by their aunt and uncle Falco Lestrange and Róisín Avery Lestrange.

This was only the second time they'd seen their aunt and uncle let alone their cousins for their father - the Lord of House Lestrange - had fallen out with his brother years ago and refused to let them see their nieces. Quickly before they could be spotted, they climbed aboard behind their trunks and animal cages carrying their Kneazle crossed with a Seal-point Siamese; Bast and Isis, (who much like their owners, were twins but a boy for Leta and the girl for Lisette), searched for a free compartment before finally finding one with only one student inside.

It was a boy in their year with auburn curly hair reading a book on magical creatures - that wasn't very informative. Lisette knocked on the doorframe startling the boy and offered him an apologetic smile.
"Sorry, but could my sister and I join you?" Lisette asked.
"O-of course." The boy stammered slightly, gesturing to the bench opposite him.

"Thank you." Leta nodded, levitating her trunk to the overhead rack followed by her sister.
"Are those Seal-point Siameses crossed with a Kneazle?" The young boy asked eagerly perched on the edge of his seat as the twins sat opposite him with their kittens now in their laps free from the basket. "Sorry. Well Met, I'm Newton Scamander, but I prefer Newt." The boy introduced himself, holding his hand out to Leta.
"Well Met, Newt. I'm Heiress Leta Lestrange and this is my twin sister Lisette, and it's okay. We love Magical Creatures as well, my sister more so."

"Well Met Newt, and yes they are. They're twins actually, like us." Lisette smiled, cuddling her kitten who meowed and licked her cheek, making her giggle and her sister to smile at her. "This is Isis; named after the Egyptian Goddess of Healing and Magic. And Leta has her older brother, Bast, named after Bastet the Egyptian Goddess of protection, pleasure, and the bringer of good health. Sorry." She apologised for rambling.
"N-no. It's fine." Newt said hurriedly. "I've never met anyone who loves Magical Creatures so much. I spend most of my time on our grounds with them. My brother doesn't understand, he's mostly either duelling or in our library."

"So do we." Leta agreed. "We spend as much time outside with them as possible, but also like your brother duelling and in the library. It's just us." She confessed, clasping her twin's hand. The pair of them squeezing each other's hand and smiling comfortingly at the other.
"Well, perhaps the three of us could find the Magical creatures on the grounds. They should be protected." Newt suggested hesitantly. "Besides you both have me now." He smiled kindly at them.
"We'd like that." Leta agreed.
"We should write a book!" Lisette suddenly declared after a while, a memory suddenly hitting her causing a pounding headache as she clutched tightly at her sister as if it were a lifeline.

"A book?" Newt asked, confused.
"Yes, a book on Magical Creatures and why they should be protected." Lisette expressed, explaining her idea, and planting the seed earlier into Newt then in her original "old life" timeline. It seemed to have worked too as Newt's hazel eyes lightened with delight, the idea surging around his brain.
"That's a brilliant idea!!" Newt exclaimed with delight. For the rest of the train journey they talked about the possibility of the book and what creatures could go into it, as well as getting to know each other and becoming best friends.

To Leta and Lisette, despite their fear and guilt over what happened to their brother, they soaked up all the positive attention they were receiving from the young boy. It felt nice to have someone that understood and didn't judge them based on their so-called father. And for Newt, it felt nice to have someone finally understand him, he knew his parents and Theseus loved him (as shown by how overprotective they were of him) but they, nor any of his peers he'd met at the gatherings, didn't hold his love for magical creatures so he he'd always felt alone; but now sat with the Lestrange twins he didn't feel alone anymore and he wasn't willing to give that up for anything.

***

Arriving at Hogwarts had been a mesmerising sight that took the trio and their peers to breath a way; but now waiting in the middle of the Great Hall with elder peers and teachers watching them as they were sorted was terrifying to say the least. In the middle of the group of soon-to-be First Years stood Leta and Lisette Lestrange holding hands as they comforted each other but on Leta's other side stood Newt Scamander also holding hands with Leta as they comforted each other and offered support.

From the Ravenclaw table sat a boy with curly auburn hair just like Newt and looked so much like him he could be none other than his elder brother Theseus Scamander, a Third Year Ravenclaw. However, that was where the similarities ended as he had bright blue eyes instead of the warm hazel his younger brother had.

He was very overprotective of his little brother and was known as a hugger to those that knew him well, but his personality conflicted with itself as not only was he warm and very overprotective but he also had a short temper which could be pushed to its limit quite easily, which often landed him in detentions quite a bit, but he had learned to work it out healthily as he was a Chaser on the Ravenclaw Quidditch team and was part of the Duelling Club. The moment the First Years had entered behind the Deputy Head Camille Bell, Theseus had paid close attention as he searched for his younger brother. He was pleasantly surprised and pleased to find that he had made friends with two girls on the train who seemed to be equally as invested in the budding friendship as his brother was.

Protectiveness assuaged for the time being, Theseus sat back and watched the Sorting, as the aged Headmaster, Armando Dippet, climbed to his feet.
"I wish to welcome our new students to Hogwarts." He said in a calming voice, easing many of the students' nerves. "I am Headmaster Armando Dippet and give a warm welcome to you all, new and old students, and my new and old staff members, as well. While we are all here we must be united and support one another. Now, before the Sorting I must give a few notices.

So old students I apologise for the repetition." He smiled at them cheekily, before coming serious once more. "To our new students the Forest within the grounds is out of bounds at all times, it houses many creatures that are very territorial and do-not like trespassers into their territory, so to avoid any unnecessary risks we avoid it at all costs. Now, I know many of you are eager to participate in Quidditch, unfortunately you must wait until your Second year to try out, however, you are able to participate in our other clubs such as Duelling, Gobstones, the School Choir, Art, and many more. There will be a notice on the notice boards in each Common Room for you to pursue at your leisure.

If you need assistance or help for anything at all my door is always open, and you can also speak to our Deputy Head Camille Bell, or your Heads of House, such as Professor Galatea Merrythought the Head of Slytherin, Professor Jia Chang the Head of Ravenclaw my old House." He added cheekily before continuing. "The other two Heads of House are Professor Melinda Spinnett the Head of Hufflepuff and Professor Dumbledore the Head of Gryffindor. You can also speak to the Prefects, either from your own house, or from any of the Houses, the Head Boy Joseph Clearwater and Head Girl Serena Patil.

Now, I have detained you all long enough, so let the Sorting commence." As he sat down once more in his redwood chair, identically to each member of staff, an explosion of noise erupted as students and staff applauded their warm and welcoming Headmaster. Once the applause had died down, Professor Bell pulled out a scroll and started reading from the list. One by one, Lisette's peers were sorted into their Houses by the Sorting Hat until it reached her sister.

"Leta Lestrange." Professor Bell read, silence filled the hall as everyone turned to the young girl who walked confidently to the stool, after a whispered 'good luck' from her twin and new best friend, her cousins watching eagerly to see where she and her twin would be placed.
After a few minutes the Sorting Hat finally reached its decision.
"Slytherin!" The Hat shouted. The table at the far right erupted into applause along with Lisette, Newt and Niamh.
"Lisette Lestrange." Professor Bell called, once again those closest to her offered comforting smiles as she made her way up to the stool, perching on it before she saw darkness as the Hat was placed upon her head.

'My, my, you are an interesting one aren't you, Lisette.' The Hat whispered into her ear as it searched through her thoughts, and memories looking for where best to place her. 'Now, let's see. Hmm, difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. A great love of knowledge and a bibliophile. You're loyal to those you love, fiercely loyal in fact. And as fiercely loyal and protective of your sister as I saw in her, despite the hardships you've both faced already in your young lives. I am sorry, dear child.' The Hat said, making Lisette tense, afraid of what he'd seen.

'There's talent, oh yes. Such talent indeed. And a thirst to prove yourself, my dear girl you are a tricky one. You could go into any of the four Houses.' The Hat exclaimed seemingly shocked. 'Hmm.... I know...' he trailed off before shouting aloud for the Great Hall to hear, who'd been sat in shocked silence as she'd been a Hat Stall. "Better be.... Slytherin!!" Smiling happily she hopped off the stall whispering good luck to Newt as she made her way to the Slytherin table, hugging her sister and greeting the others. After that, the Sorting seemed to pass by in quick succession with Newt going to Hufflepuff, he'd paused in his way there to stop at the Slytherin table to promise the twins they'd still be friends which they'd happily and readily agreed to.

As the feast passed in a bubble of conversation Leta and Lisette made a promise to each other.
"You know Lee-Lee, I think it's time we start planning on how we're gonna take over the Slytherin Court as the Queens of Slytherin." Lisette whispered.
"Lissy, I was thinking exactly the same thing." Leta countered grinning mischievously with her twin, the pair linking their pinkies together in a silent promise, one they've done ever since they were young. They'd had enough of being pushed to the side; no more. They would rise to the top like the Queens they were.

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Authors note: who should be a part of their Slytherin Court and what should each person's part in it be?