Toujours Pur ~James Potter x O/C

Prologue p2

Slytherin was the only acceptable house.

That's what all 3 of the black children were taught their entire childhood. Being in any other house would bring disgrace to the Black name, and no one had ever been in any other house, it was unheard of until Sirius. And we all know what the consequences were for his defection.

That made Luna the most nervous she's ever been while walking towards platform 9 ¾ with her 2 brothers (her parents having sent them by themselves saying that there were too many muggles for their taste).
In Luna's opinion, Regulus was the blueprint for a Slytherin, so she had no doubt about where he would be placed. It was her own placement she worried about, maybe she didn't want to be in Slytherin, but what did that leave her? She was one of those people that's naturally smart, so maybe Ravenclaw, however she was also super loyal and patient, so maybe Hufflepuff? And then there was Gryffindor, sure she was courageous, but could she risk the backlash from her parents if she came home as another Gryffindor?

"Hey Looney? You listening?"

Sirius' voice broke through her thoughts bringing her back down to the present, realising only now that they had already passed through the barrier and were standing right in front of the Hogwarts express. Scanning her surroundings, Sirius stood with a stupid grin on his face, obviously looking with his grey eyes at someone that Luna just couldn't see. Over the summer Sirius had grown over the summer and was now a whopping 5'2 (which the 12 year old was exceptionally proud of). He had also grown out his hair, much to their parents dismay, so it now almost touched his shoulders, just bouncing up slightly from its natural curl. He was dressed in cream khaki trousers and a deep burgundy as he stood on the platform running his fingers through his hair., a habit he had had since he could reach his hair. On the other side of Luna, her other brother Regulus stood, barely and inch shorter than his brother being 5'1. He was dressed similarly to Sirius wearing black khakis this time, pared with a deep green, almost emerald sweater. He looked almost identical to his brother in his face, both of them sharing the same grey eyes, jet-black hair, and bone structure, although his hair was much shorter, having been cut almost to the skin on the sides by their mother, almost as an act of retaliation against Sirius' defiance, showing she still had control over her children. After scanning both her brothers Luna looked down at herself, suddenly feeling very out of place. She looked nothing like her brothers, having a short bob made out of her light brown hair, so light that in some lights it looked sort of ginger, completely contrasting her brother dark hair, with curtain bangs, and bright green eyes instead of their grey ones. She also had a totally different skin tone to her whole family, where most of them were very fair skinned, she had more caramel coloured skin, which, after spending her whole life being laughed at by her parents for how different she presented to her 'perfect' brothers, she had come to despise. Luna was dressed in a black dress that stopped just above her knees, accompanied by a grey shirt that was being used as a jacket (covering a particularly bad cut that her mother had given her the night before) and was standing a 4'9.

As if sensing how out of place she was feeling, Sirius slipped his arm around her shoulders and guided her and Regulus through the crowds, saying something about wanting to introduce them to someone.

Before Luna knew it, they were stopped in front of a family of 3, and Sirius was embracing a shorter boy with glasses that looked around his age.

"Looney, Reg, this is James Potter and his parents Mia and Monty"

James held out a hand for Luna to shake, knowing that she might not be comfortable hugging him from some of the things that Sirius had told him. After she shook his hand almost tentatively he flashed her a supportive grin and moved on to Regulus. Mia came up to her and wrapped her arms around Luna, making Luna slightly uncomfortable, but oddly touched. She'd never been held by a person that wasn't Regulus or Sirius. When Mia released Luna, Monty came over and squeezed her shoulder saying how nice it was to finally meet the girl he had heard so much about from Sirius.

Behind them a clock chimed, reminding Mia that the kids all had to get to Hogwarts

~

The great hall as filled with students by the time Luna and Regulus entered. Being led with the other first years by Professor McGonagall, or Minnie as Sirius had affectionately called her. They walked in between the tables, Luna catching Sirius' eyes as he smiled supporting at her, knowing that she would probably be placed in Slytherin, so he wouldn't get to spend as much time as he wanted to with her. As the crowd of first years came to a stop in front of the teachers table, Regulus took Lunas hand and squeezed it, silently letting her know that it was going to be ok. He would be there for her

Going through the alphabet backwards by last name, Luna would be after Regulus, making her even more nervous

'You will be put in Slytherin'

'Everything we've done this year will increase tenfold if you disgrace this family like your scum of a brother'

Her parent's words and actions raced through her head as she glanced around the room, looking for some source of comfort, it being found when Sirius, who, seemingly reading her mind, caught her eye and gave her a reassuring smile, nodding his head, letting Luna know that everything will be ok.

"Regulus Black"

As he walked away from Luna, not letting go of her hand until the very last second, Luna was scared, scared that they were going to be separated, but more scared of what her parents would do if they weren't placed in Slytherin.

The hat had barely touched Regulus' head before it yelled out "Slytherin"

The prince of Slytherin.

The hall erupted into cheers, causing Regulus to smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. Luna knew it was fake, he was hiding his fear from everyone, just as their parents had taught them.

"Luna Black"

It was her turn, the decision that would decide her future. Walking slowly up to the hat, sitting on the stool, and feeling the hat being placed on her head. Unlike Regulus, the hat took its time,

'Too long'

'It's taking too long'

Luna was supposed to be a Slytherin through and through, there wasn't supposed to be any other options. There couldn't be any other options.

In that moment, Luna knew, she knew if that hat were going to place her in Slytherin, she would have to tell the hat that's where she wanted to be, that's were she had to be.

Because Luna Black also figured out something else in that moment, if she wasn't placed in Slytherin, she would die. It would be the begging of the end for her.

So, she made her mind focus on Slytherin, on everything her parents ever taught her...

And it worked.

"Slytherin"

For a split-second Luna's face fell, knowing that her future was sealed and there's nothing she could do. Then she plastered a fake smile on her face and walked over to the Slytherin table who were still cheering for her and sat next to her brother, grabbing his hand for any familiarity.

That day, only 4 people noticed how her face fell, how much she really didn't want to be in Slytherin, and only 2 of them understood why she forced herself to be in it, why she needed to be there. And they it.

Those 4 people kept their eyes on Luna every chance they got, making sure she was safe, but what happened behind closed doors, when they weren't there to protect her?

A/N-

Please comment and vote :)