Ch. 30 On a train with true friends

September 1st arrived and like always an slightly rushed morning was happening with aunt Amelia pushing both me and Susan so that I could make the train on time. I'm getting kinda used to riding the ministry cars, makes me wonder why more people don't use them. I get that there are faster ways of traveling, but most of them are annoying or uncomfortable, with a lot of wizards never learning how to apparate for some stupid reason. A comfortable car does wonders.

Anyway, we arrived at Kings Cross with plenty of time to spare. I gave Amelia and Susan some hugs, said my goodbyes and headed to find a compartment.

As I sat down I was left to think on my own and realized I don't really know how to face Christian after what happened with the hippogriffs. On one hand I'm pretty sure I saved him from getting hospitalized at the very least and on the other I did something considered impossible for a wizard, much less someone of my age. I did come to terms with how I reacted in the situation, even if I don't like the way I handled things it still happened and all I can do now is learn from my mistake.

"Hey mate, how's your summer been?" I then hear James voice as he enters the compartment and breaks me out of my thoughts.

"It's been a mixed affair." I reply with a wry smile.

"Really? That's weird for you. What happened?" Asked James with some concern.

"I-" I wanted to to explain but the door burst open with an angry looking Christian.

"You bastard! You owe me an explanation!" He declared.

"First with what happened at the ranch. And second is why you've been avoiding answering my letters or invitations." Christian said as his eyes narrowed.

"Christian I'm sorry about what I did, but I can't answer the first part since I've promised to not talk about that. As for the second... sigh, I just don't know how to face you or your parents." I replied dejectedly.

"Don't know how to face me!" Yelled Christian as he grabbed my collar.

"You're my best friend and you saved my life, but you don't know how to face ME!" He continued.

"Whoa! Christian calm down. This isn't helping at all. Just look at Aedan's face. It's not that he doesn't want to say anything, he's afraid of saying anything." Interrupted James, trying time get Christian to calm down and let go.

It took a moment but he let go with a push to make me sit down.

"You said you promised to not talk about it." He asked with narrowed eyes.

I nod.

"With who?" He then asked.

"My aunt." I answered.

He took a deep breath and then said something I didn't expect.

"Alright, I'm taking an vow and then you tell me everything." He declared.

"Wait a sec Chris! You want to make a magical vow! Those are really strict, you could die!" Yelled out James in shock as my own eyes widened.

"Be quiet James. If you don't want to participate either be quiet and be the witness before leaving, or leave now and I'll find someone else to do it." Answered Christian with anger in his voice.

"Why do you need to go so far?" Then asked James, not understanding why one of his friends was willing to do something that puts his life on the line.

"So that silver bastard can trust me enough to fucking talk to me!" Yelled Christian.

That statement hit me really hard. They are my friends, the best, but I'm scared of them thinking I'm a freak because of what I've been through and become.

"Then I'm taking one too!" Suddenly declared James. "I'm not being left out because I didn't do this."

"Butt out James, this is between me and the shiny git!" Growled Christian.

"No! You two are my best friends too and I'm not letting this happen without me!" He answered with outrage in his voice.

But both of them stopped yelling at each when they saw the tears coming out of my eyes. It wasn't out of sadness, I was just so glad and relieved that these two were my friends that I couldn't stop the tears.

"Whoa, I'm sorry for calling you a bastard." Said a panicked Christian.

"Yeah it's alright. Christian doesn't mean those things, he's just really concerned about you." Followed up James.

"It's not that you idiots. I'm just glad you two are my friends." I answered as I wiped my eyes. "You really want to know right?"

They both nod.

"Alright. No vows. I trust you two more than enough. I was just scared. Scared to lose you guys." I saw trying to pick up my courage.

They both looked at each other and sat down.

"Alright. Talk. It doesn't matter because we're friends." Said Christian after finally getting what he wanted.

I wave my hand, locking the door, casting a notice-me-not, muffling things even further, blocking anyone from seeing into the compartment and checking if there's anything or anyone which could overhear the conversation.

This greatly surprised the two as they watched slacked jawed as I do the wandless magic.

"How'd you do that? You did magic without a wand!?" Exclaimed James.

"It's part of the explanation." I said as I begun. "Well, you both know about how I live with my aunt and little cousin."

To which nod with an obvious look on their faces.

"Have you wondered why that is?" I asked.

They look at me wondering what this has to do with what they want to know.

"Sigh. When I was four years old, death eaters decided to wipe out the Bones family since ours was a family standing against their lord." I said and then looked at James." You might not have heard much on the subject since most of the community is either too afraid to remember that war or too afraid of angering the remaining death eaters and you're Muggle-Born. But they were the loyal followers of the biggest, maddest blood bigot who's hunger for power was insatiable."

"Aedan!" Exclaimed Christian.

"You can't let a madman make you fear him Christian. His goal would have destroyed Britain's magical community and who knows what he would have done after. He was mad and didn't have any actual goals except ruling over others in a bid to feel superior. That's actually one of the reasons i avoided you after that incident, I felt like I acted like him and it disgusted me." I said with a slight bow and a sorry look.

"Back to my family. They killed everyone in the house and found me after my mom had hidden me. Instead of killing me obviously, they took me and stuffed me into a cell in a place supposedly under a Lestrange property, after using the cruciatus curse on me for shits and giggles. I was left alone in that cell for two months from what I could count, without anyone interacting with me and the only time i knew another living being was near was when food got shoved into the cell or when some house-elf came in to empty the toilet and shoot a cleaning spell at me. Nothing happened until some goon stunned me one day and I woke up strapped to a table, in a room filled with diagrams written in blood and parts of an animal, I would later learn was a Wampus cat, around me in a specific manner. It turned out to be an experimental ritual to embue the abilities of the beast into a wizard. Well that ritual almost killed me. I felt like I would burst like a balloon. That was until the old bastard in charge sliced my eyes out and tried to shove the eyes of the creature to take their place." I paused and a look of shock and horror was on my friends faces as they look at the still noticeable scar on my face.

"Fortunately And unfortunately, the ritual had partial success. My body got stronger, faster, it became somewhat spell resistant and my magic core went through it's first maturity with ease. The problem was that I became blind due to the eyes not properly fusing with me. And unfortunately for me, I was the only successful test subject which meant that for the next 4 months I spent my time in total darkness and getting cut, probed and tortured to understand what happened to me and why the eyes didn't work." At this point both of them were simply horrified at what I'm describing. What 4-5 year old could get through all that and still end up like I have?

"Luckily I was able to develop a very strong skill set with Occlumency due to the Wampus cats natural affinity with the mind arts, letting me escape the pain by hiding in my own mind and I had great regenerative capabilities due to my body. Then those in charge of the facility heard the news of Moldy-Shorts defeat and they left me alone for another two months. That was until the demon started doing a crazy ritual with a Phoenix egg they had stolen and put the Aurors on their track. He began to go through every test subject they had until it was my turn as the last. So I was once again strapped to a table but this time." I take a small breath and take my shirt off to show them the scars left above my chest as their faces lost any blood left in them." They stabbed my heart instead of the eyes and shoved the egg in it. They were trying to figure a way to resurrect their lord using a ritual with a Phoenix egg as the focus. But the Aurors found them, took down everyone involved and when the ritual was complete my eyes had fused with the beasts properly, I had gained more strength and magical power, with my partner... SOL!" I finished off by yelling for my now fully grown familiar. I usually let her live as she pleases nowadays, since she comes to sleep with me and spends her time flying outside or hunting after i put on her concealment ring, which makes her appear as a great falcon.

She appeared through her flames and landed on me arm. Much to the surprise of my two friends.

"You bonded with a Phoenix!?" Yelled out Christian because he knows how rare and special this is.

"Yeah, and I know you know why I've never made this public or taken any chances of it happening." I said while stroking my pretty girls head.

"It's a big deal?" Asked James confused.

"Yeah the only other know domesticated Phoenix right now is Dumbledore's." Said Christian still in shock.

"What!?" Yelled out James as he understood just how rare this is.

"She's the only reason I'm alive. She is my first friend. She is family and we are bonded on a much deeper level than Fawkes and Dumbledore. She might actually die if I do." I say stating just how important she is to me and I to her.

"And this has to do with what you did with the hippogriffs?" Asked Christian carefully.

"Hippogriffs?" Asked James.

"Basically a griffon but with horse legs instead of lion, less dangerous, more reasonable diet, a bit smaller, and people are allowed to breed them." I simply explain to James after which he nods.

"But yeah. I basically used a combination of Wampus and Phoenix essence from my blood, infuse a tone of magic and then activated an overpowered Legilimantic attack to make them yield." I explained to James. "That's why I told you not to look into my eyes, and it's actually why I wear these glasses, not because the slash reduced my vision, but because if I don't I might accidentally break someone's brain if I'm not careful."

"And that basically explains why I'm so different from everyone. I didn't even know that I looked like this until I got to my aunts place so I've no clue if it was one or both of the rituals which changed me like this. It's one of the reasons I'm not really proud of my looks and i strive to improve myself because o don't want to ever be in that kind of hopeless situation again." I finished off by saying.

The two were quietly trying to digest everything I had told them, while I was petting best girl Sol trying to calm myself.

"I'm sorry I forced you to say that Aedan. I couldn't possibly have guessed you've been through so much and I was insensitive. I'm sorry." Finally said Christian hanging his head down.

"I'm sorry too. But I'm glad you told us." Said James with a bit of a sad smile.

It took me a bit to react to their feelings.

"Thank you for listening and believing me. And thank you for being my friends." I finally said as I was choking up.

"Yeah ys too Aedan, and we will make sure that stuff doesn't happen again, to you or anyone else." Proclaimed James.

"I may not be as good as you two with a wand, but i certainly won't let you go through anything like that again. And again, sorry for being an ass about this." Said Christian agreeing with James.

"Thanks Christian, James, it means the world to me." I said truly thankful to the two of them.

"Alright. Enough of the sappy stuff because we're almost at Hogsmeade and should get ready." Announced James trying to snap everyone out of it.

I get Sol to head back and we all get dressed up into our robes. I was smiling ear-to-ear as we headed to the castle with true friends.