19 - To Hogwarts [MKAV]

{King's Cross Station}

{1st September 1989}

"A hole in the wall that anyone can just... walk right through," Camilla muttered under her breath, her disbelief apparent.

"With a single 'don't focus' spell to repel the muggles."

"Yes, yes," Matteo said, amused. "We get it, it's easy for anyone to just waltz right in."

'Well,' Matteo thought after a liberal use of Analyze, 'it's not terrible.'

While the defenses for the hidden wall to Platform Nine and Three Quarters were practically non-existent, and anyone who knew about the wall and also had a high enough willpower would be able to walk right through it... there was a bit more to it than that.

They had 'apparated' to King's Cross Station, and while for them it was just a wall, it also functioned as a six-way warping mechanism.

There were six other stations scattered across the UK, for a total of seven, and all of them with there own 'wall' that would bring them to King's Cross. The best part was, the 'leaving' bit was very much like Floo Powder, but instead of having to say the name of the station, it worked off of scanning inherent memories.

If you 'remembered' coming to King's Cross Station from Scotland, the fabled wall would take you back to Scotland.

Despite being extraordinarily easy to infiltrate, the entrance to Platform Nine and Three Quarters was honestly a fascinating piece of magic. It also made a lot more sense as to why it was only kept active one day a year. Matteo could already tell that the gate itself was difficult for them to even maintain, and that it'd only be a few decades before the gate failed entirely.

But that still didn't excuse the lack of defenses. Even Bruce Wayne, an ordinary human, could walk past these defenses.

'Well, his willpower is anything but ordinary... but still.'

This was something that had pestered Matteo– with the existence of Marvel and DC, how had Wizarding Britain remained so isolated? With the existence gods, demons, aliens, as well as the presence of the Sorcerer Supreme and Doctor Fate... he wondered how any of the franchises had remained intact at all.

It almost felt like the world was tailored in such a way, but no, the answer was far more simple.

Arrogance.

Power and arrogance went hand in hand– wizards, believing themselves to be above muggles, know almost nothing about them. Even muggle-born wizards and witches stop concerning themselves with muggle affairs after a time. Hell, even with the existence of SHIELD, HYDRA, and Captain America, not a single wizard put any thought into them.

If it didn't affect them directly, they didn't care.

And that went both ways– if it wasn't a threat to humanity at large, or their own country, most 'heroes' either didn't care, or weren't even in the know. That was also why SHIELD didn't intervene during Voldemort's reign, since the coward of a Dark Lord never even took a step outside of Great Britain.

That was if SHIELD even knew of the existence of magic in the first place.

'But with the eventual formation of the Justice League, the Avengers, and the already formed but elusive X-men, as well as all of the upcoming attacks on Humanity as a whole...' Matteo thought, his eyes glistening, 'that will most definitely change.'

He couldn't wait.

And even if it was all slightly nonsensical, Matteo couldn't help but tense up as he, Camilla, and Chloe walked onto the fabled platform. Red, gold, massive, and surrounded by witches and wizards, the sight of the Hogwarts Express made him feel all giddy inside. He really was going to Hogwarts, wasn't he?

'If I do have a weakness, it's probably nostalgia.'

"Muuuuu," Camilla whined, leaning down and pulling Matteo into a firm hug, intentionally pressing her massive bust into Matteo's face. "I'm going to miss you, my Matty, my little boy... four whole months until I see you again, it's going to be terrible..."

They were already getting weird looks, and with Lady and Heir Brooke's faces present in Rita's follow-up article, anyone who read the Daily Prophet knew who they were. And while Camilla's actions were a little over the top... Matteo let her be. He knew how furious Rita's first article had made her, and this was her way of 'disproving' Rita's previous claims.

The fact that Camilla needed to prove that she was his loving, doting mother, not for the sake of her reputation, but because Camilla couldn't stand the idea of anyone thinking she wasn't solely devoted to her son, to him... Matteo had to hold back a feral grin.

Having his women get angry on his behalf was, unsurprisingly, really hot.

"Mom, I have to go," Matteo muttered, his voice muffled by Camilla's breasts. He had to hold back the urge to bite her nipple.

It was two whole minutes before Camilla finally released her son, sighing.

"Stay safe, Matty. And I don't care if it's a student, a teacher, or even if it's the Headmaster himself, feel free to attack anyone who annoys you. Mommy will take care of it," Camilla said proudly, jutting out her chest in what he assumed was pride.

Matteo decided to ignore all the wizards who balked at Camilla's declaration, where she essentially said it was fine for him to attack Albus Dumbledore.

"Alright, I'm going. By mom, by Chloe." After one last hug, and a bit of fondling, Matteo finally separated from his mother, boarding the Hogwarts Express.

Not that he was alone.

No, with Charlotte wrapped around him, Amelia in his shadow, and Nagini wrapped around his body under his 'robes,' he was never actually alone. Not to mention that he always had an additional seven fervently devoted maids residing in his shadow, always a moment away from defending their owner, their master, their deity, to the death.

For whilst they believed in Matteo's might, he wasn't truly immortal... and his women couldn't stand the idea of leaving their deity without sufficient protections.

For Matteo was their owner, their master, their deity.

He was all that they would ever need.

***

As he walked down the aisles of the Hogwarts Express, his trunk silently floating a few feet behind him, Matteo opted to ignore the handful of people who looked his way, as well as the not-so-subtle whispers that reached his ears.

For Matteo was being forced to make a decision.

With a single Scan, he knew the names and locations of everyone on the train, and Matteo now had to decide on which cabin to enter. There were four that caught his eye– the one with Alicia Spinnet and Angelina Johnson, who would be starting this year... the one with Nymphadora Tonks, alone... the one with Libra Malfoy, and two other Slytherin girls... or the one with Noella, Alexandra, and Beatrice Black.

It only took Matteo a few seconds to decide.

Just minutes after the Hogwarts Express left the station, Matteo pushed open the cabin door.

"Boy, this cabin is already full..." the girl's voice trailed off. "...Heir Brooke."

Matteo let out a wry smile.

Sitting before Matteo were the Black triplets, all three of them spitting images of their middle-name counterparts– Noella Narcissa, Alexandra Andromeda, and Beatrice Bellatrix Black. Matteo's straight blonde, bushy brunette, and frizzy noirette cousins all eyed him suspiciously, as if they were trying to hex him with their stares.

All three of them Slytherins, all three of them two years his senior.

And even if their minds were somewhat guarded, with just a glance at... Matteo found himself surprised by how badly Sirius had failed.

If he had to categorize them, Matteo would say that they were 'evil.'

The only people that they trusted were each other, and that was it. They looked down on anything and everyone else, even... even their own father. It was almost like the three of them had been tainted– it was sort of eerie, even to Matteo. He wasn't sure exactly what Sirius's daughters had gone through, but Matteo was finding himself more and more curious as to the circumstances behind his cousins.

'I wonder if Arcturus had anything to do with it.'

"Ladies," Matteo said, bowing slightly, "it appears that you already know me, but I'll introduce myself regardless– I am Matteo Brooke, Heir of House Brooke. If it's alright with you, may I have a moment of your time?" he asked politely, all while slowly closing the door behind him.

"You can stand by the door," Noella started.

"And tell us what you want," Alexandra continued.

"Heir Brooke." Beatrice finished.

Matteo stifled a groan. 'Ugh... triplet speak? Really?' But that was when he realized that, no, it wasn't just 'triplet speak.' It was subtle, but Matteo could tell... the Black triplets truly had a connection of sorts. Said connection was also the very thing that was protecting and bolstering their minds, too.

Not that it would ever be enough to keep Matteo out.

"To start, I'd like to reveal a House secret," Matteo responded. His declaration caused all three of the girl's eyes to widen. "House Brooke has a peculiar practice– instead of marriage, the Head of House Brooke is tasked with finding a suitable heir amongst the populace, to find and raise an orphan with magical potential. Instead of relying on blood, House Brooke relies solely on magical talent."

It took the girls a few moments to realize what Matteo was implying.

"...You're adopted?" Noella asked in disbelief.

"Yes, but Lady Brooke is still my blood-related mother," Matteo continued.

"Blood-theft," Alexandra supplied, even more surprised.

"Or rather, blood-gifting," Beatrice amended.

"Yes, I am a Brooke by blood," Matteo lied, for it was the other way around, "so imagine my surprise when, after my mother had me take an Inheritance test at Gringotts... I discover that while my blood-father, Regulus Black, was no more... a lot of my family still lives."

Their faces blank, the three Black sisters didn't utter a word.

And while the Black triplet's faces were unreadable thanks to their connection, as well as a rudimentary level of Occlumency, that didn't stop Matteo. No, he took all of their surprise, shock, disbelief, and their ever so slight familial love in with relish.

Matteo was going to enjoy doing this to every single one of his family members.

"So let me introduce myself once more. I, Matteo Brooke né Black, am more than happy to finally meet my cousins by blood."

***

{Platform Nine and Three Quarters}

{1st September 1989}

Watching the Hogwarts Express take off, Sirius Black let out a sigh.

"Where did I go wrong, Eleanor...?" he muttered. Sirius loved his little girls, the three little balls of chaos were what kept him going, but ever since he lost his wife... it'd been rough.

He tried, he really did, but Sirius just wasn't father material.

His three daughters had slowly gotten colder to him over the years, and whilst he didn't admonish them for being Slytherins– not everyone was a Snape or a Malfoy– that didn't mean that the idea didn't leave him slightly queasy.

But, he was proud. His daughters were cold, strong, and ruthless.

'They'd make Bella proud too.'

The thought sent a shiver up Sirius's spine.

As for why he had named his daughter's after his cousins, even the one that went insane and is currently in Azkaban, it had actually been Eleanor's idea. With all three of his daughters resembling Sirius's cousins to an uncanny degree, it was almost like fate itself was telling them that it was time for House Black's resurgence.

And even if it was a little on the nose, Narcissa and Andromeda adored the girls, so Sirius couldn't say that it was a bad idea. They got along with the Tonks and the Potters... and they were courteous with the Malfoys, which was honestly more than he could say for him and James, or even Lupin.

No, despite their odd behavior, they were good girls.

And whilst he hadn't married a muggle-born witch to spite his House– no, Sirius had honestly knocked up the witch on accident, creating the best three mistakes of his life– that didn't mean he didn't take pride in changing House Black for the better.

"Hmmm," Sirius hummed, finally done reminiscing.

'Things could certainly be worse.'

Sirius motioned for his wand, ready to apparate back to Black Manor... but he stopped as he realized that he was being watched. Subtly looking over his shoulder, he could see a wizard in worn-out robes standing at the very edge of the platform.

Wand in hand, he narrowed his eyes at his stalker.

Most of the wizard's face was obscured by his robes, but Sirius could recognize that posture, that awkward shuffling, and that scraggly facial hair anywhere.

He nearly dropped his wand.

"...Reggy?"

***

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