A Magical Journey Begins

The Pureblood Directory

They still didn't like him in Slytherin. Sure, he had the protection of his six friends, now strengthened by Megan Yaxley, who was a childhood friend of Abraxas, and seemed to have grown a soft spot for Gwen really quickly. And all of them did all in their power to keep Gwen out of trouble too, since many a Slytherin considered her just as guilty as Tom for the 'fall' of their famous pureblood first years. It was funny that Tom's friends were members of four of the five most powerful pureblood families.

The last one were the Lestranges, but Nicolas Lestrange seemed to be keeping himself neutral in the whole ordeal. Tom was infinitely grateful for that. At least his calm dismissal meant many more students chose to let them be. Sadly, not all were as lucky.

Tom and Gwen were back on their way to the library, as they usually did every day after classes. They probably had read every single book in there, but it still wasn't enough for them. Tom was fascinated by magic and all of its uses, while Gwen just loved to read in general and was always hungry for more knowledge like a true Ravenclaw. When they approached the library, Gwen hissed. Hornby, Boot and Selwyn were taunting Octavian again.

"Leave him alone!" she hissed at the three Ravenclaws.

Olive Hornby looked over and sneered as she saw the two of them.

"What were you going to do, bloodtraitor?" she spat, her eyes flickering dangerously.

"She could hex you into oblivion," Tom threatened.

Boot's eyes rose and he chuckled weakly while Hornby just smirked at him.

"Look! Weasley made a mudblood friend!" she taunted.
"You two losers deserve each other. And a few proper hexes too."

"Just leave it, Olive," Abraxas suddenly spoke up, leaning against the doorframe to the library.

Hornby's eyes widened and her head snapped over to look at the famous pureblood son. The girl scowled, not even noticing that her two friends had ran off as soon as their eyes lay on Abraxas.

"Since when do you stick up for mudbloods and bloodtraitors, Abraxas?" she asked coldly.

"Since I have decided to call them my friends," Abraxas shrugged.

Hornby pulled a face and turned away from Octavian and the others. Before she left she looked at Abraxas again with an accusing glare.

"I'm telling father," she said.

Abraxas snorted and looked away with a bored expression, not even acknowledging the threat as the brunette girl huffed annoyed and walked away. Scowling, Tom walked into the library with Gwen and Octavian following behind him. After a second or two, Abraxas heaved a deep sigh and joined them.

"So the rumours are true?" Gwen blurted out suddenly, peering up curiously at Abraxas.
"About Olive Hornby and the Malfoy family... Is-is she your half-sister?"

Tom, who had pulled out a book he had wanted to read, dropped it in shock and he turned around.

"It is," Abraxas muttered reluctantly, glaring at Tom.
"Don't act so bloody surprised, Riddle! It's a regular practice for Purebloods. Most of the family heads have bastards somewhere. Some are even blood-adopted into the family, like Alphard and Artemis."

Tom's eyes widened even more, as did those of Gwen and Octavian.

"Alphard and Artemis Black are bastards?!" Octavian exclaimed shocked.

"Yeah, but Pollux likes to keep it quiet," Abraxas said.
"His wife blood-adopted them after their mother, Juliana Knight, died in childbirth."

"Bastards..." Tom said awed.
"Muggles see infidelity as some big scandal, and here all the rich families still have bastards regularly..."