Chapter 1: New Beginnings

TW: Drinking and Drug Use, Language

Damien walked up to the gates of Hogwarts confidently, after three prior years he knew these paths and halls like the back of his hand. The other witches and wizards laughed and chatted with one another, he felt somewhat left out as he hadn't seen any of his friends yet.

A proud Ravenclaw like his mother Valencia, he walked up to the entrance to the Tower, where the dormitories lie, and answered the riddle with haste, eager to get to his room and unpack where he hoped to see some familiar faces.

He looked in the mirror after setting down his bags, his jet-black hair was growing long, it contrasted well with his forest green eyes and pale skin. Standing near the same desk as last year, it seemed he had grown significantly taller over the summer, the room seemed so much smaller than he remembered. He was the first to arrive, he straightened his robes in anticipation of seeing Peter and Mordred, his two closest friends.

He released his animal companion, a black cat named Silas, who eagerly exited his cage and stretched, immediately heading for the bed with which he was familiar.

"Heh, you're happy to be back too, huh?"

Silas let out a raspy meow, before curling up on the bed and grooming himself comfortably.

Suddenly the door burst open, and Peter wobbled in, struggling to carry his massive bags and the cage of his companion, an old owl by the name of Fredrick.

"Fucking Christ, mum packed me a full load this year that's for sure."

Damien laughed and rushed over to help his friend before tragedy occurred. When his hands were finally free the two hugged.

"It's so nice to see you mate, I feel like it's been ages."

"Well, that's because it has Demian, I barely heard from you all summer." Peter said.

"Heh....well..."

Demian did neglect his friends this past summer, normally, he would visit Peter and Mordred over the break, or at least write, but this year was different. This year Demian spent his time on some much needed self-reflection.

"Me and Viviana broke up, I kind of fell off after that. I'm sorry, I should have told you guys."

"No fucking way, you guys were like inseparable for almost two years, what happened?"

Demian sucked his teeth and shrugged his shoulders, the truth was, he didn't much care for witches, but he just wasn't ready to tell his friends yet. He was worried about the backlash, the rumors, there were little to no queer people within the school walls, let alone confident folks who were publicly out.

"I don't know man, I just...wasn't feeling it anymore, in those two years we barely did anything but kiss on occasion, it just started to feel so fucking boring." He lied.

Peter laughed, "Oh man, you're just too old for kissing right mate, you're ready to move up in the world, eh?" He jabbed an elbow playfully into his stomach.

Demian just smiled, trying to avoid the conversation any longer.

"So where the hell is Mordred? He's running late as usual."

"Yeah man, he always is, dude is a mess, I heard that he lost his companion too, can't find that fucking lizard anywhere."

"He lost Elwin....again?"

"Swear he'd lose his skull if it wasn't encapsulated by his flesh."

They both share a laugh at his expense, before he comes stumbling in the room, a singular bag and an empty cage in hand.

"Fuck boys, I lost her again."

And they laugh a second time.

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

Later than night, after they've unpacked and had a chance to unwind, another Ravenclaw comes in slipping papers under the doors of all the dorms, Peter picks it up and begins to read it aloud, "Beginning Bash, the hidden stairwell, 10 PM." Before he can study the page a second longer, it shrivels up in flames, leaving nothing but ashes.

"Well that's one way to prevent the teachers from finding out, almost fucking singed my hand though the bastards."

"So, are we going then, boys?"

"I mean, I'm going, I don't know about you losers" Mordred laughed.

"Screw it, let's go."

They quickly changed into some relaxed clothes, Peter and Mordred wore basic jeans with graphic t-shirts, Demian took this as a chance to bring out something a bit flashier. He adorned his hands with a few silver rings, put on form fitting purple shirt, with some black jeans, and slid a necklace that his mother had given him on, it had a small silver raven on it.

Peter took the raven necklace in his hand, "Well shit, this is cool. Where did you get this?"

"Mum gave it to me, actually, it used to be hers."

"That's proper cool, too bad my parents don't give me shit but a lashing over the summer."

The boys laugh again and make their way to the hidden staircase.

Mordred took out his wand and tapped that hanging candle three times, rhythmically, an entrance at the bottom of the staircase opened up and they could see dozens of people within, all from different houses. Faint music was playing when they entered the party, the air was cloudy from smoke and almost everyone already had a drink in their hands.

"It's fucking 10:15 why does it seem like we're ages late?" Peter said.

"You tell me, apparently fashionably late isn't a coined term at Hogwarts, we should've been 5 minutes early like the rest of them."

"Well, I'm off to find a drink then, I'll grab you guys something." Mordred muttered before taking off.

"Alright well, I see Penny, I'm off to see if I can't whisper something sweet to her and get a kiss, unlike you I haven't had a steady girlfriend in years."

Demian rolled his eyes, but smiled, it seemed he was alone again.

He made his way through the party, following the cloud of smoke to the center of the room where he saw several Hufflepuffs and a few Slytherins smoking a joint. Enticed, he sat down and attempted to enter rotation, he saw a few people he recognized, including Viviana sitting among them.

"Hey Vi" He waved at her, and she pretended she didn't see him.

Well I guess she's still mad, fucking hell... he thought to himself.

Eventually the joint made it's way around to him and he took a few hits before handing it to the person to his left, he looked up in preparation and saw a pair of light grey eyes piercing through him.

Draco Malfoy...

Startled, he coughed a few times before finally passing it to the Slytherin, his face turning pink from embarrassment.

Draco started laughing before responding, "What's wrong half-blood, not capable of partying with the purebloods? Go fucking figure. Lightweight."

And it was the truth, Demian's mother was an astute witch, well known and reveled in the community. But she married his father, Vincent, for love and love only. He of course knew of her background and was amazed at the thought of a witch falling in love with him. He was a simple man, a chef in London, who had a love of food only rivaled by his love for Valencia.

"Good one, dickhead."

Malfoy smirked, "Watch who you're talking too, you're lucky I even let you sit next to me. You might contaminate me with your ill blood."

Demian rolled his eyes, faking a laugh to fit in when Mordred finally appeared, handing him a drink that smelled rather....strong.

"Jesus Mordred what the hell is this."

"Heh, it's the strongest thing they had, a decade fermented pumpkin juice, my friend."

"Uh, thanks I think?" He choked down a sip of his drink and immediately felt his stomach grow warm, the joint made its way back around and he took another deep drag, his head began swimming and this time he worked up the courage to once again talk to the man next to him.

He leaned in towards Draco, catching a whiff of his strong scent, elderberry and musk, it further intoxicated him.

"So, where are those two losers Crab and Goyle, don't they basically have a 6 foot rule of trailing behind your dick?"

Draco smirked again before plucking the joint from Demians fingertips, inhaling before responding in a raspy voice, "I'll have you know it's a three foot rule, but to be honest I told them not to come, I was hoping to see someone here tonight and didn't need them fucking it all up"

"Really, who?"

Draco leaned in towards Demian, the scent enveloping him again, his heart began to race as the silver haired boy inched closer to him, "Wouldn't you like to know, you fucking git."

Demians face grew pale pink again, he downed his drink in one gulp in attempts to assert dominance and set his cup on the table in front of them.

"Well, as fucking thrilling as this is, I'm going, have a great night."

Draco turned to the rest of his friends, laughing at something Demian couldn't make out, he grabbed another cup on his way out and downed that too, hoping it would wash away his embarrassment and this strange feeling he had in his stomach after Malfoy came so close to him.

His head spinning, he climbed back up to the tower, completely leaving his friends behind, his head hit his pillow and he passed out.