Meanwhile in a different Compartment, two boys were chatting eating corn beef Sandwich, which the other boy didn't like
The trolly had passed them, but the boys didn't buy anything, mostly because of two reason, 1 Boy didn't know how actually wizarding currency works and 2 was because the Second boy was dirt broke
The two Boy's were, will Dudley, as for the other Boy, he has Red hair, will Orange to be more clear, brown eyes, freckles on his face, with that of clear stocky but talk build.
[Insert image of Ron]
Dudley spoke in amazement as he looked at Ron. "So, your whole Family are Wizard".
The red hair boy smiled as he spoke. "Yeah, My Parents were in Gryffindor, as for my Siblings, My Oldest Brother Bill he was in Hufflepuff, My Second Oldest Brother Charlie was in Gryffindor, Percy is In Slytherin, and Fred and George are in Ravenclaw, as for me, I am not sure what house, I waan be in, what about you?"
Dudley titles his head, as he thought. "I don't know, I guess I will figure that out once I get there".
Ron smiled as he spoke. "Will, then, it's good instead it, plus thanks for not asking how that works, I can't never get an answer from my family on how we are put into House's".
Dudley chewed slowly, trying not to make a face at the sandwich in his hand. "So, let me get this straight—your whole family's been to Hogwarts, and they all got sorted into different houses?"
Ron nodded, looking proud despite the faint wrinkle in his brow. "Yeah. Mum says it shows we've all got our own strengths. Dad says it just makes Christmas arguments worse."
That made Dudley laugh. "Bet it does." He hesitated before asking, "What's it like? Y'know… living in a magical family?"
Ron tilted his head, thinking. "Loud. Messy. Sometimes brilliant. Sometimes… not." He gave a little shrug. "But at least there's always someone around. Can't say I've ever been lonely."
Dudley went quiet at that, staring at the floor. He thought about long summers in his house, the neighbors keeping their distance, and how Harry—of all people—had been the only one he actually saw every day. For once, he didn't feel like bragging about anything.
"Guess it sounds better than where I'm from," he muttered.
Ron blinked, then gave a small smile. "Well, hey—if Hogwarts is anything like Mum and Dad always say, then it won't matter where we're from. Just… where we're going, yeah?"
That actually made Dudley smile. "Yeah."
The trolley rattled by again, voices and laughter spilling from other compartments. Dudley glanced out, then looked back at Ron. "Next time it comes 'round, think you can help me figure out this—what do you call it—Galleon stuff?"
Ron grinned wide. "Deal. And when we're both sorted, I'll show you the good trick to sneaking seconds at the feast."
For the first time since boarding the train, Dudley felt the knot in his stomach ease. Maybe this place wouldn't be so bad after all.
Ron looked at Dudley as he spoke. "So, since you're a Muggle wizard, you're the first of your family".
Dudley just spoke. "Not, My Aunt from my Mother said, was a witch, my mom doesn't talk about her that much, but the Son, will... He used to live with us, but now no longer does, but yeah, I am not the only magical in my family".
Ron looked as he didn't care about that much as he spoke. "Great, that means you know this answer, what's is the Purpose of a Rubber Duck, my Dad always siad that".
Dudley just blinked, as his mind just rebooted, as he looked at the red hair boy. "Say that again".
Ron leaned forward, lowering his voice like he was sharing some grand secret.
"My dad's obsessed with Muggle stuff. He's always tinkering with plugs, batteries, and all sorts of odd things. But the one he never shuts up about is the rubber duck. He says—word for word—'What exactly is the purpose of a rubber duck?'"
Dudley stared at him, sandwich halfway to his mouth. His brain felt like it tripped down the train tracks.
"You're joking… right? A rubber duck? You put it in the bath. It… floats. That's it. That's the purpose."
Ron frowned in deep concentration, as if Dudley had just revealed the missing piece of an ancient riddle.
"So… it's like… a magical guardian for baths? Keeps kids from drowning or—"
Dudley cut him off, snorting.
"No! It's just a toy! It squeaks! It doesn't do anything. It's just… fun."
Ron sat back, squinting suspiciously.
"That can't be all. My dad wouldn't make such a fuss about it if it was just… floating yellow animals. He says Muggles are clever. Maybe rubber ducks are like… hidden familiars. Or decoys against bathroom curses."
Dudley dropped his sandwich, bursting into laughter.
"Mate, if you ever tell your dad the truth, his entire world is gonna collapse."
Ron grinned sheepishly, scratching his freckles.
"Yeah, probably best I don't. He'd just start a collection and then I'd be sharing my bed with fifty rubber ducks by Christmas."
The Compartment door opened as they turned their heads to see the girl, and they both looked at her. She was holding a Lantern which was odd seeing it was still day
Hermione looked in the room as she spoke. "Excuse me, have you two seen a Toad, Neville has lost his".
Ron looked at her as he looked at Dudley, as they shrugged. "No mate?".
Hermione sighed as she spoke. "Ok, but you've seen one, leave at Compartment 109".
She closed the door, and behind her was Neville, as with them were two other girls, dark skinned, and with brown eyes, both looked Indian and looked identical to each other, even though one of them was wearing a necklace with the letter P on it.
[Insert image of Padma and Parvati]
The compartment door clicked shut behind them, and in the corridor Hermione gave a frustrated sigh, shifting the silver lantern slightly in her grip. Its soft white flame flickered, throwing a calming glow over the narrow passage.
"Not this one either," she murmured to Neville, who looked ready to burst into tears.
At the words, Neville's face flushed red and his breath hitched, panic rising again. His eyes darted left and right as though the toad might leap out of the shadows at any second.
Before Hermione could even try to reason with him, she lifted the lantern higher. The flame inside flared, then pulsed softly. The carvings of wings and badgers etched into the silver seemed to shimmer, almost alive. At once, Neville's panicked breaths slowed, his shoulders lowering as if invisible weights had been taken off him.
"There," Hermione said, her voice a little softer now. "The Lantern of Jophiel does its work every time."
Both Parvati and Padma, standing just behind, exchanged a look.
Padma tilted her head slightly, eyes narrowing on the lantern. "That's no ordinary heirloom, is it?"
Parvati leaned closer, whispering with an almost teasing lilt. "Looks more like a relic than a trinket, Hermione."
Hermione straightened a bit at that, a faint pride flickering across her face though she tried to stay composed. "It's not a relic. It's… a family inheritance. It calms fear. Neville has terrible nerves, and the lantern makes sure he doesn't spiral out of control."
Neville, still catching his breath, mumbled, "It's… it's like it knows when I'm about to fall apart…"
The flame flickered once more, brighter, as if in answer.
Parvati's eyes widened slightly. "Did it just respond?"
Padma crossed her arms, speaking more firmly. "That's not simple magic, Hermione. That's soul-linked magic."
Hermione froze, the lantern warm in her hands. "Soul-linked…?"
But before she could ask what they meant, Neville gave a sudden little cry. "Trevor!" He pointed down the corridor where a flash of green had darted past their feet.
The girls all turned their heads at once.
Neville, forgetting his panic, dashed after the toad. "Trevor, come back!"
Hermione hurried after him, lantern swinging, while Parvati and Padma exchanged another knowing look before following as well—though their eyes kept drifting back to the flickering white flame, curiosity burning.
Then the Toad, jumped on one girl's hand, as they stopped, they were not looking up
"So, that's who the Toad belongs to".
They looked up to see Daphne and Tracey, as they looked at the girls.
Tracey spoke to them. "I was wondering who the Cute Toad belonged to when it came to our compartment".
Neville went as they return the road to the Boy, as then noticed, on Tracy Hogwarts Uniform was the Pin for House Amphisbaena, as be saw Daphne, as he saw the symbol for House Amphisbaena on her Hogwarts Unfrom.
The Girl noticed that Raven like marking on Neville unfrom as well, as they bowed.
Daphne looked at Neville as she spoke. "It's a pleasure to meet the one in line to take over the House of Raven in The Ravenclaw Clan".
Neville bowed to both girls as well, as he spoke in more of a nervous way. "It's a pleasure as well, to meet Heir to House Amphisbaena of The Slytherin Clan, and one if her House Member".
Hermonie was confused as she walked up too the two Girls, she looked at Daphne. "Do I know you?"
Daphne looked at her as she spoke. "I don't remember you, so probably not".
Both girls, clearly forgetting they crossed path in Diagon Alley, as they looked at Eachother, will Hermione was so confused, because the way Neville acted two these two Girls and how these girls acted around him, plus this not how the timit boy acted around her or the twin Girl's he was riding with.
ermione frowned, still processing what she'd just heard. House? Heir? Clan? None of this was in Hogwarts: A History, and that made her feel both unsettled and annoyed.
Tracey smirked a little, clearly noticing Hermione's expression. "Not many Muggleborns know about the old clans," she said lightly, her voice carrying a teasing edge. "It's not the sort of thing they put in the first-year booklets."
Hermione stiffened, not missing the subtle jab, but before she could retort, Neville hurriedly stepped in. "They're important families—old magical bloodlines that trace back to the Founders' era. The Clans still hold influence over certain traditions." His voice cracked slightly as he explained, like he was trying to keep the peace.
Daphne inclined her head, her tone calm and practiced, almost as though she had rehearsed it for situations like this. "And the Longbottoms are one of the ancient Houses that align under the Ravenclaw Clan. Which makes Neville's position… noteworthy."
Neville flushed scarlet at the attention, tugging slightly at his robes. "I-I'm just… I'm not even the Heir yet, technically…"
"Not yet," Daphne corrected smoothly, her eyes narrowing just slightly as if weighing him. "But in time, you will be."
Hermione opened her mouth to protest again, but she froze when she saw how Neville stood straighter, how his voice carried a different weight in front of them than it ever did in the compartments with her or Harry. It was like she was seeing a side of him she didn't recognize—someone who knew this world in ways she didn't.
Tracey, still smiling, finally gestured toward the toad in Neville's hands. "Well, it seems your familiar is more curious than shy. Perhaps he wanted to make introductions for you."
Neville coughed nervously but managed a small, polite bow once more. "Then… I thank you both for returning him."
Daphne dipped her head in reply, her cool eyes sliding briefly toward Hermione again. "Perhaps we will see more of each other in the coming days."
Hermione stood frozen for a moment, the questions bubbling up inside her. She turned sharply toward Neville. "What on earth was that all about? And what's this about Houses and Clans?"
Neville shifted uncomfortably under her gaze, stroking Trevor as though the toad could shield him. "It's… complicated. I'll explain later. Maybe."
Hermione scowled. "Complicated or not, I intend to find out."
Neville looked at Hermione as she spoke. "Let's Say Hermione, that the 4 Founders didn't only find Hogwarts, each also found 4 Clans, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, and lest leave it that".
He grabbed her arm, looking her in the eyes, which said, "don't say, anything, don't do anything".
Hermione blinked at him, caught off guard by the sudden firmness in Neville's tone. It wasn't just the words—leave it at that—it was the way his grip tightened ever so slightly on her sleeve, and the sharp glint in his otherwise nervous eyes. For the first time since meeting him, she realized Neville Longbottom wasn't nearly as timid as he appeared.
Daphne and Tracey exchanged a knowing look, as though they had just witnessed a silent test being passed. Daphne's lips curled faintly into something that wasn't quite a smile.
"Wise advice," Daphne said softly, her voice smooth, calm, but edged with something that made Hermione's stomach twist. "Curiosity has its place, but in politics, it often comes with a price."
Hermione swallowed, trying to process what she had just heard. "Clans? What do you mean by—"
But Neville cut across her before she could finish, his tone polite but urgent. "Not here, Hermione. Not now." His gaze flickered to the corridor, then back to her, pleading silently that she listen.
Tracey tilted her head, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Your friend is clever enough to listen, Longbottom. She'll learn in time."
Hermione's jaw tightened. She hated being dismissed, hated not knowing. But the look Neville gave her—equal parts warning and protectiveness—kept her from pressing further. For now.
Daphne straightened, her eyes gliding briefly over Hermione before returning to Neville. "Well, it seems we'll be seeing more of one another soon. Hogwarts has a way of… arranging encounters."
With that, she and Tracey gave the faintest of bows before moving past them down the corridor, their robes swishing with quiet elegance.
Hermione finally exhaled, realizing she had been holding her breath. She turned on Neville, whispering sharply. "What was that all about? What do you mean, four Clans?"
Neville's shoulders hunched, but his eyes were still steady. "I'll explain when it's safer. Just… trust me, Hermione. There are things at Hogwarts bigger than just Houses. Things you don't want to stumble into unprepared."
The train rattled on, the chatter of other students filling the air, but for Hermione, the words lingered, heavy as stone.
They returned back to Compartment 107. Neville slid the door shut, muttered a quick locking charm under his breath, and for extra caution, pressed the latch firmly until it clicked. The tension in his shoulders finally eased as he slumped into his seat. The others let out their own relieved sighs, the muffled clatter of the train wheels against the tracks filling the silence for a moment.
Parvati was the first to break it. She folded her arms, her eyes narrowing slightly as she leaned forward.
"I'm going to guess," she said carefully, "that these Clans you mentioned… they're something like the Magical Houses of India?"
Her twin, Padma, looked equally curious, though her expression was cooler, calculating.
Neville shifted uncomfortably before nodding.
"Yeah. Something like that. The Clans were established near the end of the tenth century. The first to form one was Salazar Slytherin. He didn't just co-found Hogwarts—he started a whole bloodline order of his own. A… warrior family, if you want to call it that."
Ron blinked. "You mean Slytherin wasn't just a bloke with a bad temper and a thing for snakes?"
Neville gave him a flat look, then continued.
"After Salazar, his rival, Godric Gryffindor, made his own Clan. Not to be outdone, the other two Founders followed. Rowena and Helga—each one built something lasting, not just the Houses you hear about in school stories, but Clans. Families with laws, traditions, and ancient magic tied directly to their founders' ideals."
Hermione, who had been clutching the silver lantern still glowing faintly in her lap, frowned deeply.
"But why don't the textbooks mention this? I've read Hogwarts: A History front to back, and there's nothing about clans—"
Neville held up a hand quickly, his eyes sharp in a way that surprised them all.
"Because you weren't meant to know. Not yet. The Clans… they don't advertise themselves. They don't want the wider wizarding world poking around. And trust me—once you're tangled in their business, there's no getting out."
Padma leaned back slowly, her brown eyes narrowing. "So Hogwarts itself… is just the surface story."
Neville's silence was all the answer they needed.
Dudley then spoke. "But one questipn"
The room went quite. "Oh all the Compartment why our Compartment?"
That one word, destroyed all the mood in the room, Hermione, Neville, Padma and Parvati just looked at Eachother.
Padma spoke. "Is this not Compart 109".
Ron clarifyed. "Nope, this is 107"
Neville started to Panick. "Oh, no I said something too two People who should know of this, now both the White Crows and Black Snakes are gonna come after me."
Hermione frowned, clearly trying to piece things together. "White Crows… and Black Snakes? Neville, what are you talking about?"
Neville ran a hand through his hair, pacing a little in the tight compartment. "They're not Houses. They're… watchers. Each Clan has its secrets, and when those secrets get too close to being revealed, there are… factions. The White Crows guard the truth. The Black Snakes bury it. Either way, if they heard me, I'm in trouble."
Parvati leaned forward, her voice hushed but sharp. "Are you saying you just spoke something forbidden? Like—Clan-level forbidden?"
Neville nodded slowly. "Yes. And the only reason I even know about them is… well, Gran told me once, after she caught me reading one of my grandfather's journals. She made me swear never to repeat it. And now—" He groaned, rubbing his forehead.
Dudley, trying to lighten the mood but failing miserably, asked, "Okay but… why us? Why would they care what we know? I mean—we're just kids on a train."
Ron gave a nervous laugh, though it was clear he was rattled too. "Yeah, except apparently this compartment's got more secrets than the Ministry."
Hermione crossed her arms, her tone firm. "Well, if what Neville said is true, then it's already too late to panic. The question is—what exactly do the Crows and Snakes do to people who talk too much?"
Neville went pale. "They don't… kill you, not straight away. The Crows… they mark you, test you, to see if you're worthy of keeping more knowledge. The Snakes…" He shivered. "They erase you. Not just memory charms. Erase you. Like you never lived at all."
Silence fell. Even Dudley, who usually blustered through things, didn't dare crack a joke.
Finally, Padma whispered, "And we're in the wrong compartment."
Ron suddenly leapt to his feet and jabbed a finger at Neville, Hermione, Padma, and Parvati.
"You four—YOU BLOODY FOUR—doomed me and Dudley by walking into the wrong compartment!"
His voice cracked into a shriek.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The entire train carriage seemed to shake with his screaming, and a few heads from the corridor peeked in just to stare.
Neville sank into his seat with his hands over his face.
Hermione muttered, "Honestly, You."
Parvati whispered to Padma, "...I think we've just declared war by accident."
To be continued
Hope people like this ch and give me power stones and enjoy