Year Three

The last year went so fast that the triplets couldn't believe that they were already on their way to the train station to start their third year at Hogwarts. Last year was so busy with their parents taking care of the three new babies and their mom still running the Ministry. Nova, Leo, and Carina were just so cute, and all three of them loved helping take care of their younger siblings. 

Last year Albus joined their large group of friends at Hogwarts and was sorted into Slytherin with Ara and Scorpius. He struggled with it at first. Honestly, so did James. They weren't talking to one another for almost the first half of the year. After Christmas, though, they seemed to have been better. Lysander's younger brother Lorcan also joined the last year and was sorted into Ravenclaw with his brother. That meant that they almost have 1 person in each house. 

Walking up to the train, Ara realized how many more people would be sorted this year. Margret and Milly, Hugo's younger twin sisters, had turned 11. Along with Lucus, Mary's brother. That would bring their friend group to a total of 12. And that is if they didn't count Victorie, Teddy, and Freddy. 

"I hope you three have a wonderful time at Hogwarts again this year," Draco hugged his three older children. He was going to miss them while they were gone. 

"Daddy, don't forget to record everything for us. I really want to know when they start walking and everything else." Ara kissed the younger trio and then her mother before heading toward the train with her brothers. 

"So, is there even going to be a compartment big enough for the 12 of us?" Hyperion asked. 

"I am sure there will be," James and Albus had joined the group. 

"Yeah, come on, let's find one before they are all gone," Lysander and Lorcan were now joining the group. With Hugo, Margret and Milly weren't far behind. 

"So are we missing anyone?" Ara looked around, trying to count the number of people that they were walking with. 

"Yes, just your best friend," Mary smiled and hugged Ara as she and her brother walked up to the group that was about to get on the train. 

"Mary, how are you?"

"I am good, thank you, how are you?"

"I am great."

"What about those sweet babies?"

"They are so cute. I love them so much. I know we missed a lot last year, but I feel like we will miss even more this year. By Christmas, they could really be talking and moving around. How is Father going to manage on his own when Mother is at work?"

"The same way he managed with the three of you," Mary helped her brother on the train, and they all looked for a compartment. 

"Here we go!" James opened a compartment door, and everyone shuffled inside. 

"So, are you all excited to be starting?" Lysander looked at the three first years that were all sitting together.

"Yes, I am just a little nervous about what house I'm going to be in," Lucus looked terrified, actually. 

"Lucus, how many times have I told you that Dad isn't going to care."

"He was beaming, I am sure, though, when you were sorted into his house. I want him to be proud of me too."

"Lucus, Mary is right. Your father is going to be proud of you no matter what house you are in." Ara gave the boy an encouraging smile before looking over at who had sat down next to her. It was James. That is strange, she thought. They never really sat together. After the ball two years ago, things just sort of went back to normal, though they did dance some at last year's ball, just as they had promised. Other than that, they never really talked or hung out alone. Plus, normally, James would sit next to Hyperion or James. 

"What about you girls?" Hugo was looking at his sisters. 

"We just want to be in the same house, though no one thinks we are going to be." Margret looked sad when she said it.

"Now come on, you are about to see Hogwarts for the first time. You cannot possibly be sad." Lorcan smiled at the twins, and they seemed to look as if they were in better spirits. 

When they finally arrived at the castle, the first years were started to be sorted, and everyone else was waiting patiently to see where they would end up. 

"Longbottom, Lucus." McGonagall finally called him up, and Mary looked at her brother with a smile as he sat upon the stool with the hat on. 

"HUFFLEPUFF!" 

Lucus looked at his father, who had a wide smile on his face before he went down and sat at his new house table. He felt relieved and smiled more than he had all day. 

There were many other students sorted into houses before the twins were called up. 

"Weasley, Margret." 

"RAVENCLAW" 

Margret seemed happy with the house she got and sat down next to the Zabini boys, who made room for her right away when their house was called from the hat.

"Weasley, Milly." 

Milly looked uneasy about sitting on the stool, and she looked almost panicked as the hat was sitting on her head.

"SLYTHERIN." The hat called after a little bit. 

Milly looked at her sister, who still had a smile on her face. Both looked sad in their eyes, though. 

"Welcome to Slytherin!" Scorpius moved over some so that she could sit down and when she did, she started to cry.

"Milly, what is wrong?"

"Father is going to be so disappointed." 

"Nonsense." Ara hugged the girl, and when the food appeared, she dished out some of her own favorites so Milly to try. 

"You know now, out of our friend group, we have 4 in Gryffindor, 4 in Slytherin, 3 in Ravenclaw, and 1 in Hufflepuff. You got us tied with Gryffindor Milly." Scorpius wanted so badly for them to eventually beat out the number of Gryffindors, but he didn't know if it would happen with who was left. Lily would surely be with James, which would mean that Gryffindor would have the most. And since she was the last out of their group to be sorted next year, it just wasn't going to happen. 

"So, how do you like the common room?" Ara was showing Milly everything there was. She was sad thinking about how Marie had done this for her, and in return, she had just stopped speaking to her. She accidentally found out that she had transferred to another school shortly after everything her mother found out. It was sad for Ara, but she would rather be safe, she supposed, than have so many friends. 

"It looked nice," Milly was starting to relax, and she was actually happy with everything that had happened so far. As much as she wanted to be with her twin, she knew she wasn't cut out for Ravenclaw, and she was glad that there were at least some of her family and friends in Slytherin to help her.

"Good morning Ara," James was standing next to her with a grin on his face holding a piece of toast with jam. 

"Good morning James. Are you out here waiting for Scorpius?"

"No, actually, I was hoping I would be able to sit next to you for this lesson if that is alright, of course."