"The Magas must be in this compartment, let's find them."
Orion, still seated by the window, didn't react to this statement, his heterochromatic eyes fixed on the passing scenery. However, Arcana, Selena, and Ophelia exchanged glances. It wasn't hard to guess who that arrogant voice belonged to. A few seconds later, the compartment door slid open abruptly, revealing Draco Malfoy, flanked by his two henchmen, Crabbe and Goyle.
"Well, well," said Draco with a smug smile, his eyes scanning each face in the compartment. "Rosier, Blackwood, what a pleasure to see you." He gave a slight nod in acknowledgment. "I hope your journey is pleasant."
Selena responded with a slight nod, a mischievous smile playing on her lips, while Ophelia, always measured, simply nodded politely.
Draco then turned toward the two figures sitting on the other side of the compartment, his eyes settling first on Arcana and then on Orion. "You must be the famous Magas everyone's talking about," he said, his tone becoming more respectful. "Draco Malfoy. It's an honor to finally meet you."
Arcana, true to herself, greeted him with a measured glance and a polite nod. "Pleased to meet you," she responded in a controlled voice. Orion, on the other hand, didn't even bother to turn his head, his gaze still fixed on the window as if Draco didn't exist.
Orion's reaction visibly surprised Draco, who had expected a bit more recognition from someone sharing such a prestigious lineage. He frowned slightly but decided not to press the matter. Before he could continue, his attention was suddenly diverted by the presence of two newcomers in the compartment.
His eyes scanned the boy and girl, a glint of disdain evident in his gaze. "And who are you? I don't recognize you. You must be new." The arrogance in his voice was unmistakable.
Ophelia, sensing trouble brewing, was about to intervene, but Selena beat her to it, a playful smile on her lips. "Oh, Draco, if you don't know them, it's because they have the pleasure of discovering the magical world for the first time."
Draco raised an eyebrow, slowly realizing what that meant. His lips twisted into a sneer. "What are Mudbloods doing with the Magas?!"
The silence in the compartment suddenly became oppressive after Draco's remark. Arcana placed her fingers on her temple and cursed her bad luck. Orion, for his part, still didn't turn his head.
Ophelia, usually more restrained, seemed on the verge of intervening, her gray eyes sending a warning glance at Draco. Selena, on the other hand, merely raised an eyebrow, looking amused but clearly interested in what would happen next.
Draco, frustrated by the lack of response from the two young wizards he had labeled "Mudbloods," frowned. "You should leave now, while I'm still in a good mood," he said arrogantly, a sneer spreading across his face.
Both exchanged a nervous glance but remained motionless, seemingly too confused to know how to react.
Seeing that they weren't reacting as expected, Draco turned to Crabbe and Goyle. "Get them out of here," he ordered confidently. His two henchmen, always ready to obey, began to step forward, their imposing shoulders nearly suffocating the air in the compartment.
It was at that moment that Orion, who had been completely impassive while watching the scenery, finally turned his head towards them. There was a cold glint in his eyes, and deep annoyance marked his expression. His heterochromatic gaze pierced through Draco and his cronies, stopping them in their tracks in an instant.
In a low, but undeniably authoritative voice, Orion declared, "Leave while I'm still calm."
Arcana, though irritated by the situation, remained impassive. The Malfoy family was influential, and an open conflict would only bring complications. She sighed inwardly, hoping this wouldn't escalate.
Ophelia, on the other hand, seemed slightly tense, her eyes following every move Orion made, aware of the repercussions this could have. She preferred to avoid this kind of confrontation.
Selena, meanwhile, had a smirk on her face, clearly amused by Orion's attitude. She was pleased to see that his words weren't just bravado. He wasn't intimidated by Draco, and she found the situation entertaining.
Draco, instead of being intimidated by Orion's coldness, straightened his shoulders, his face taking on a haughty, reprimanding expression. He pointed a finger at Orion, his eyes flashing with anger.
"Who do you think you are to speak to me like that? We're part of a very exclusive circle, a circle that shapes the future of our world. Your attitude is not only disrespectful but unworthy of your rank."
Orion, still impassive, finally turned fully to Draco. His heterochromatic eyes shone with a cold light, an intense stare that immediately silenced the murmurs in the compartment. He fixed Draco with such an icy intensity that the latter felt his confidence waver.
"I don't care about your social rank," Orion declared in a low voice, sharp as a blade. "I'm warning you one last time... Leave now, or else..."
He left the sentence unfinished, and that's when his magic manifested. The air suddenly turned frigid, a cold aura spreading through the compartment. The occupants immediately felt the uncomfortable shift: their breaths shortened, and a chill ran down their spines. It was a deeply unsettling and intimidating sensation, as if the space around Orion was absorbing all warmth, making the air feel heavier and scarcer.
Draco, despite his attempt to maintain composure, involuntarily stepped back, his eyes wide. Crabbe and Goyle, meanwhile, quickly retreated, their pale faces betraying the fear they could no longer hide. Even Selena, always so relaxed, seemed slightly tense, no longer amused by the turn of events.
Draco, visibly shaken, opened his mouth, trying to regain his composure, but his voice trembled slightly as he muttered a "You!" that sounded more frightened than threatening. The air in the compartment had become almost unbreathable, the atmosphere thick with Orion's magic.
It was then that Arcana, in a firm but calm voice, intervened. "Orion, that's enough." She placed a light but authoritative hand on her brother's shoulder, trying to defuse the rising tension. "Draco, excuse my brother; he's not yet educated in politics. A conflict between our houses over something so trivial would be unnecessary and... stupid."
The effect was immediate. The cold magic saturating the air dissipated as quickly as it had appeared. The atmosphere in the compartment relaxed, though the heavy silence lingered for a moment longer.
Draco, seizing the opportunity Arcana offered to save his honor, straightened up slightly. "Of course," he said in a more assured voice, though a bit too quickly. "I'll overlook what just happened... out of respect for the future matriarch of the Maga family."
He threw a final glance at Orion, still trying to understand how someone so young could emanate such power. But before he could say anything else, Orion, seemingly unconcerned by the conversation, simply murmured in a cold voice, "This compartment is too noisy."
Orion, still without showing any emotion, slowly turned his gaze toward Arcana. His heterochromatic eyes, cold and inscrutable, stared at her in silence. Though Arcana was usually so confident, she couldn't help but feel slightly uneasy under his impassive gaze. She had acted to calm the situation, but her brother's neutral expression made her suddenly uncomfortable.
Without a word, Orion finally looked away and stood up, his movements measured and silent. With a simple gesture of his hand, he made his suitcases levitate behind him, without uttering a single incantation or using a wand. The scene unfolded before the wide-eyed occupants of the compartment. Silence fell immediately, replaced by palpable astonishment.
The two young people, who had been too intimidated to intervene until now, exchanged a bewildered look. Seeing their defender leave the compartment with their suitcases floating behind him, they understood that their place was no longer here. Without hesitation, they hurried to follow him, nearly trotting to keep up, leaving behind an atmosphere still thick with the strangeness of the moment.
Arcana, Selena, Ophelia, as well as Draco and his cronies, remained momentarily frozen, stunned by Orion's mastery of magic. Not only had he used magic without a wand, but he had done so without a single incantation, with unsettling ease. Despite his attempts to save face, Draco found himself unable to utter a word, still in shock at what he had witnessed.
Orion walked down the corridor of the Hogwarts Express, his suitcases floating silently behind him, followed by the two young wizards he had defended. They said nothing, still shaken by the encounter with Draco Malfoy, but their expressions betrayed both gratitude and admiration for Orion. He ignored them, focused on containing his annoyance, and only stopped when he found a compartment with enough space to accommodate all three of them.
With a simple gesture of his hand, he opened the door, and the suitcases settled into a corner without a word or spell. He sat by the window, his gaze once again fixed on the scenery, as if isolating himself from the commotion around him. The two young wizards took their seats in silence, unsure of what would happen next.
After a few moments, the young girl, feeling slightly more at ease, spoke in a soft but determined voice. "Thank you... for what you did earlier. I'm Emma Lawson, and this is Max Davies." She turned a reassuring look toward her companion, who nodded, still a bit nervous.
Orion, without turning his head, gave a brief nod. "Orion Maga," he replied in a calm voice, showing no emotion, as usual.
Emma, curious and visibly impressed, continued: "I suppose you're not used to doing that, but... you're pretty good at defending others."
Max, more reserved but grateful, added: "Yeah, we really didn't know how to react to Draco. Thanks again. That was... incredible."
Orion slightly turned his head, glancing at Emma and Max with a piercing look before responding in a neutral tone: "I just didn't like his attitude."
He said nothing more, as if that brief and concise explanation was enough to cover everything. Emma, still curious, couldn't help but observe him further. She had grown up in a wizarding family, and though she had seen many talented wizards, Orion and his sister Arcana seemed... different. Even their beauty were extraordinary.
"You know," she said with an amused smile, "you and your sister... you're stunning. It's like you stepped right out of a fairy tale. It's almost intimidating."
Max silently agreed with the remark, though he hadn't dared to voice it aloud.
Emma, visibly more at ease, continued: "And earlier... You were like a knight in shining armor, coming to save the day. It reminded me of the stories of Gilderoy Lockhart, you know, the famous wizard who writes about his heroic exploits."
She let out a light laugh. "Maybe we should call you 'Gildorion Lovehart'... Beautiful and heroic, kind of like Gilderoy, but... with more dignity."
Max and Orion exchanged surprised glances, visibly taken aback by Emma's candidness. Though neither was the type to speak out spontaneously, Orion's curiosity finally won out.
"Who is this... Gilderoy Lockhart?" he asked, his heterochromatic eyes fixing Emma with a mix of inquiry and caution.
Emma laughed, clearly amused by their lack of knowledge. "You don't know Gilderoy Lockhart? He's famous for his heroic exploits and his books where he talks about how he defeated all sorts of creatures and solved incredible situations. Alright, some say he exaggerates a bit... or a lot. But he's a true hero to many wizards." She rolled her eyes as she said the last part, her disdain for the character evident.
"He's a narcissistic charmer, always boasting about his exploits and posing with his conquering smile in front of journalist. Honestly, I've always found his 'perfect hero' persona insufferable."
Orion's neutral expression suddenly faltered, a grimace crossing his face as if he had just bitten into a particularly sour lemon. His gaze briefly lost its coldness, replaced by a expression of disgust.
"Don't compare me to that man," he said in a frosty tone. "All I did was confront a disrespectful person. There's nothing heroic or narcissistic about it."
Emma raised her hands in mock surrender, still smiling mischievously. "Alright, alright, Gildorion... You won't stop me from thinking you're handsome like a god with a bit of a heroic streak, so give up."
Max burst out laughing beside Emma, both of them unable to contain their amusement at Orion's bewildered expression. The latter, clearly disoriented by the comparison, remained silent for a moment, trying to understand how the conversation had taken such a turn.
Seeing that Orion wasn't particularly talkative and that he had already turned his attention back to the passing landscape outside, Max took the opportunity to learn more about the wizarding world. Curious and eager to understand this new universe he had just entered, he turned to Emma with an enthusiastic look.
"So, Emma," Max began, "tell me everything. What's life like in the magical world? Are potions really as dangerous as they seem? And what's this Quidditch thing?"
Emma, delighted to share her knowledge, smiled at Max's barrage of questions. She seemed to enjoy his enthusiasm and immediately launched into a detailed explanation. "Well, with potions, yes, they can be pretty dangerous if you're not careful. One wrong ingredient or a simple mistake in preparation can cause an explosion or something worse... And believe me, many students have already blown up their cauldrons in class."
Max's eyes widened, clearly impressed and perhaps a bit worried. Emma continued, her tone playful. "As for Quidditch, it's a pretty intense wizarding sport. You're on a flying broomstick, and you have to score points by sending a ball through hoops. But there are also Bludgers, enchanted balls that try to knock you off. It's both exciting and dangerous."
Max listened intently, hanging on to every word. "And wands? How do they work exactly?"
Emma shrugged slightly. "It's kind of like a channel for your magic. Every wizard has a wand that's unique to them, but the wand has to choose you, or it'll never be as powerful. It's pretty fascinating, actually."
Orion, though seemingly detached, listened to the conversation with one ear, his gaze still fixed on the landscape. He didn't comment, but his thoughts remained focused on his own mastery of magic, without the aid of a wand, unlike most wizards.
Max, fascinated by everything he was learning, continued to ask questions, while Emma patiently and enthusiastically answered, happy to share her knowledge.