Arthur Belmont-Prince and The Cursed Mirror: Harry Potter Fanfiction

"So, you're telling me," Elias began, his eyes wide as saucers, "that you accidentally turned your aunt's owl into a... what was it again?"

"A cup of tea," I admitted, trying to keep a straight face. "But in my defense, I thought I was just practicing a simple transfiguration spell that I learned from my aunt." It turns out Mr. Whiskers is more resilient than I gave him credit for, but to be honest, it could have ended pretty badly if I hadn't had, as my aunt would say, nothing short of a miracle."

Elias's laughter filled our compartment on the Hogwarts Express, echoing off the walls and mixing with the sound of the train chugging along its magical tracks. I leaned back, enjoying the rare moment of ease. Discovering I was a wizard had been a shock, akin to finding out I was secretly a merman or something equally improbable. Yet here I was, explaining my late-blooming magical talents to my best friend, who seemed more fascinated than fazed.

Our laughter was cut short as two girls entered our compartment, their faces twisted between disdain and outright hostility. The one with a face reminding me of a disgruntled pug—Pansy, as she later introduced herself—looked ready to spit venom.

"I feel sick when I see this," she sneered, eyeing us as if we were undercooked potions ingredients.

But Daphne, with her fair and composed demeanor, quickly intervened. "Pansy, remember what we discussed about tact and diplomacy?" Her tone was icy, cutting through the tension like a knife.

Elias, ever the provocateur, leaned forward, his curiosity spiked despite the brewing conflict. "Diplomacy? On a train to wizard school? What are you, future ambassadors?"

Pansy's face flushed a shade of puce reminiscent of a particularly nasty bruise. "Let's find somewhere less... populated," she muttered, pulling Daphne away before she could issue more than a clipped apology in our direction.

"Well," Elias said, breaking the lingering silence, "that was... enlightening."

"Enlightening?" I echoed, my eyebrows arching. "If by enlightening you mean a crash course in Hogwarts' social hierarchy, then sure."

The trolley lady chose that moment to appear, her cart laden with more sweets and treats than even Missy could conjure. "Anything off the trolley, dears?" she asked, her voice as sweet as the chocolate frogs she peddled.

Elias's eyes lit up like a kid in a candy shop—which, technically, we were. "Did you ever try magical sweets, Arthur?"

I shook my head, a smile tugging at my lips. "Not much, but there's always a first time for everything, right?"

Our unanimous decision to "take the lot" would have made Dionysus himself proud. We dove into the confectionery with the enthusiasm of two people who had never encountered food that could fight back.

"It's like they've packed an entire magical zoo into these," Elias remarked, his mouth half-full of a Fizzing Whizzbee that buzzed audibly, lifting him a few inches off his seat with every chew. I laughed, watching him struggle to stay grounded.

"Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans?" Elias held up a box, his grin a mix of excitement and trepidation.

"Why not?" I replied, feeling adventurous. "What's the worst that could happen?"

As it turned out—quite a bit. Elias's face went through several expressions of disgust as he chewed. "Bogey-flavored," he gasped.

I couldn't help but laugh, especially since my bean tasted like lemon. "Seems like luck is on my side today."

 He shot me a look that said, "You owe me, big time," as he tried to wash down the lingering taste of failure with a gulp of pumpkin juice that tasted suspiciously like liquidized, well, pumpkin.

"Come on, Arthur, that's hardly fair," Elias complained, his voice still a bit thick after the bogey debacle. "You get lemon and I get a taste of the inside of a troll's nose? If this is the wizarding world's idea of balance, I'm rewriting the laws of magic," he declared, wand in hand, half-joking but all ready to duel with fate itself.

I chuckled, clapping him on the back. "Look at it this way, at least you're prepared for Potions class now. Slughorn's got nothing on your taste buds."

He didn't seem convinced, but before he could retort, the compartment door slid open with a hesitant creak. A boy with a round face and earnest, anxious eyes peeked in, clutching a leash that seemed to be attached to... nothing.

"Um, sorry, but has anyone seen a toad?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly. "I've, uh, I've lost mine."

Elias's eyebrows shot up, but his response carried a gentle edge. "No toad-sightings here, mate. But feel free to look around. What's his name?"

"Neville," the boy replied, then blushed deeply. "Oh, I mean, I'm Neville. Neville Longbottom. The toad's Trevor."

"Pleased to meet you, I'm Arthur, and this is Elias," I said, gesturing between us. "First year at Hogwarts?"

Neville nodded, stepping further into the compartment as he glanced around. "Yes, it's all a bit overwhelming, isn't it?"

"Just a tad," Elias agreed with a grin. "Trevor seems to be adding to your troubles?"

"He always gets away," Neville confessed, looking increasingly worried. "I just had him a second ago..."

Elias and I exchanged a quick glance, and then I said, "Why don't you have a seat, Neville? Relax for a minute. Maybe Trevor will show up on his own."

"Thank you," he said gratefully, settling down beside Elias. He kept his eyes on the floor, still scanning for any sign of Trevor.

As he sat, a small, green creature timidly made its way back into the compartment, hopping carelessly up to Neville's foot. "There he is!" Neville exclaimed softly, bending down to scoop up the toad. "Got you, Trevor."

"Looks like he's quite the adventurer," I commented, watching Neville gently place the toad into his pocket.

Neville gave a small, nervous laugh. "Yeah, he's a handful. Thanks for letting me look around."

"Not a problem," Elias replied. "You'll probably have an easier time keeping track of him at Hogwarts. Less space for him to disappear to."

"I hope so," Neville said, his tone revealing his doubt. "I guess I'll see you around?"

"Definitely," I responded. "Good luck with Trevor. If you need any help, just ask."

Neville nodded, his face brightening a bit. "Thanks—I might just take you up on that. Bye!"

As the door slid shut behind him, Elias turned to me with a smirk. "I bet his first spell's going to be a locator charm for Trevor."

"Or a really strong leash," I added, and we both laughed at that..

As the train continued its relentless chug through the countryside, the rolling green hills gave way to darker, denser patches of forest. The skies grew a tad grayer, a sure sign that we were nearing the Scottish border.

"So," Elias said, breaking the silence that had settled over us as we watched the scenery blur by, "what's your game plan for Hogwarts? Got any grand schemes brewing?"

I shrugged, trying to look more nonchalant than I felt. "Survive the sorting, find my classes, and not make a complete prat of myself. Pretty standard stuff."

Elias snorted. "Boring. Come on, Arthur, you turned your aunt's owl into a cup of tea. I think you're destined for more interesting things than just 'surviving.' Hogwarts isn't just any school. It's the start of something big."

I was about to reply when the cart rattled past again, pushed by the trolley lady, her warm smile inviting another round of purchases. "Anything more for you boys? Perhaps a Chocolate Frog or a Cauldron Cake?"

"Let's go for one more round," Elias decided, and we selected a couple of Pumpkin Pasties and a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans—just in case we needed a quick escape from an unwelcome flavor.

As we munched on the pasties, the conversation turned to what classes we were most excited about. "Definitely looking forward to Transfiguration," I said. "And maybe Defense Against the Dark Arts. What about you?"

"Charms," Elias replied, "and Quidditch. I can't wait to see a game. Think you'll try out for the team?"

"Maybe," I said, "if flying doesn't end up like my other magical attempts."

Our chatter was cut short as the train began to slow, the distant silhouette of Hogwarts Castle emerging from the misty horizon. Its towering spires and sprawling battlements were silhouetted against the setting sun, the windows twinkling with warm light as if the stars themselves had decided to settle there.

"Wow," Elias breathed out, his usual bravado replaced with awe.

"Yeah, wow," I echoed, my heart thrumming with a mix of nerves and excitement.

The train's whistle blew a long, low note as we approached the platform, where figures in robes of various colors waited, their faces turned toward the arriving students.

"First years this way!" a booming voice called out as we disembarked. It belonged to a giant of a man with a wild beard and twinkling eyes. "Hurry up now, follow me to the boats!"

If you've ever had one of those dreams where you show up at school naked, then you'll have a rough idea of how I felt stepping into Hogwarts. Except, instead of missing my trousers, I was missing any semblance of anonymity. Thanks, universe, always knew you had a sense of humor.

The first part of the day was a blur of sights and sounds, the kind of sensory overload you'd expect when stepping into a castle that's basically the love child of a medieval fortress and a Renaissance fair on steroids. I tried to play it cool, nodding along as Elias pointed out various landmarks like I wasn't internally freaking out. "That's the Whomping Willow," Elias said, pointing at a tree that looked like it wanted to pick a fight with Godzilla. "And it's exactly as cuddly as it sounds."

But, let's fast forward to the main event: The Sorting Ceremony. You'd think getting a magical hat to decide where you're going to sit for meals would be straightforward. You'd be wrong.

So there I was, standing at the threshold of a new life, literally. The Hogwarts Great Hall, with its enchanted ceiling mirroring the stormy sky outside (because what better way to welcome new students than with the threat of a downpour, right?), seemed designed to intimidate. As if on cue, the whole setup whispered, You're not in Romania anymore, Arthur.

Professor McGonagall, whose stern face could make a goblin reconsider his loan policy, began the sorting ceremony with all the gravity of a Supreme Court judge. Names were called, hats were plopped, and kids scampered off to their new house tables like ducklings to a pond. Easy-peasy.

Then my turn came. "Belmont-Prince, Arthur," McGonagall announced, her voice could cut through steel, or at least through the thick stew of whispers that filled the Hall the second I stood up. The "Prince" part got them curious; the "Arthur" part was just icing on the mystery cake.

I trudged forward, past rows of students trying to out-stare each other for gossip gold. I sat on the stool, the hat dropped over my eyes like a curtain of doom, and the whole Hall hushed. I swear you could hear a pixie sneeze in that silence.

Ah, another Prince, the Hat murmured inside my head, its voice dry as parchment. Let's see where to put you. 

Sitting there, with the hat taking its sweet time mumbling about "Much bravery, but not without cunning,"

I could feel every eye in the room on me. It was like being a rare exhibit at the zoo, Arthurus Unknownus, the Boy Who Was Surprisingly Good at Hiding.

Not Slytherin, I thought desperately. Anywhere but Slytherin. Did I mention not Slytherin?

Interesting, the Hat mused, clearly amused. You could do well in Gryffindor, you know. Quite well indeed.

But? I thought, my stomach knotting up.

But you belong in Slytherin, the Hat decided, as casually as commenting on the weather.

"Slytherin!" it shouted for all to hear.

The silence that followed was, frankly, anti-climactic. A few scattered claps came from the Slytherin table, which looked about as welcoming as a den of lions eyeing the new zookeeper.

**Author's Note:**

Hey everyone!

So, Arthur's adventure just took a huge turn with his sorting into Slytherin! Writing this chapter was an absolute thrill, especially as Arthur begins to navigate the wild mix of excitement and nerves that comes with stepping into Hogwarts. There's something about the Sorting Ceremony that never gets old—it's like your first day at a new school, but with magical stakes.

I loved getting into Arthur's head during this chapter. His mix of self-doubt, curiosity, and humor really brings out the fact that, like many of us, he's still figuring things out—who he is, where he fits in, and what this whole magic thing really means for him. And let's be honest, finding out you've been sorted into Slytherin when you least expected it? That's a whole other layer of complexity to deal with.

Elias and Caitlyn are turning out to be such fun characters to write, and I'm excited to see how their friendships with Arthur develop. Their banter and shared adventures add a lot of color and energy to the story, and I hope you're enjoying getting to know them as much as I am.

I'm really curious to hear what you think about Arthur's sorting. How do you think he'll handle being in Slytherin? Do you think it's the right house for him, or are you as surprised as he is? And what do you think will happen next as he starts his first year at Hogwarts?

Please drop a comment and share your thoughts—your feedback means so much to me, and I love hearing your theories and ideas. We're just getting started, and there's so much more magic, mystery, and mayhem to come!

Thanks for reading and for being a part of Arthur's journey. Here's to more spells, more surprises, and, of course, more fun.

Until next time, stay magical!