Year 1: Breaking Traditions

Chapter 7: What is Family

The weekend crept up before they knew it. Keith slumping down half asleep still to breakfast. Who knew magic could be so exhausting.

Or maybe it was the dreams

They seemed to have picked up steam the past week. Maybe to make up for the fact they were so scattered this summer.

But also class was exhausting

Their professors had no forgiveness for the fact they were first years. Dumping a heavy amount of homework on them despite the fact Keith had zero clue what any of them were talking about.

And like why the hell did they have to use ink and a quill

Pens exist right?

As Keith slowly pulled bacon from the middle a small tawny owl carefully landed besides him with a soft whistle holding out her leg. He wiggled his nose slightly confused. He removed the letter attached to her and offered her a bit of bacon. She let out a weird sound of appreciation and took off again.

Keith glances up noting a few other owls coming in. Not as heavy as it was during the weekday. Some kids received mail almost daily so far. Some with the Daily Prophet others with gifts from their parents.

Out of the corner of his eye he spotted McClain on the far edge as normal. A large dark owl digging its claws in his shoulder as he offered it ham. A letter shaking in his hand slightly. His face dark as he read before quickly tearing apart the letter.

Keith returned to his own. He undid the binding and saw a short note.

Meet you outside your common room around 11am. I'll show you around a bit before tea.

-Adam

Oh right that's this weekend.

Keith folded the letter and placed it in his pocket moving to stuff toast into his face next. Laughter at the other end of the hall drew his attention as he peeled the first off. Crowded together at the Hufflepuff table were a bunch of older students. Some from all houses but they did have something in common as they leaned over each other to read whatever they had between them.

They were all from the orphanage. Keith had known them for years and they had all been well aware of him. They were also well aware of who took him home while they were still there.

At least that seemed to have been the argument started on the train that ended in a fistfight between him and a 3rd year Ravenclaw.

Jealousy some may call it. Logic others. By reason Keith should have never been adopted. There were several much better suited candidates yet Adam and Shiro chose Keith by the fate of running into him in the alley.

Keith wasn't stupid. He rather agreed with them. It wasn't like he hadn't questioned the logic over and over himself but it didn't really matter now. He was at Hogwarts, much to his annoyance, and he was still trying to figure out the whole... adoptive parents are his professors thing.

Favoritism had been brought up in the fight on the train as well. Some say the pair would favor Keith for being their adoptive son and let him pass easily. Again Keith could see their genuine logic if he hadn't already had that talk with them himself.

It was just frustrating and a constant reminder why Keith really rather stay alone... though his fellow Gryffindor's weren't giving him much of that option.

Griffin slumped beside him with a sigh, "Finally a day off."

Keith hummed, taking another bite of his breakfast. The other first years slouched in as well.