AN: While this is a companion / prequel of my story Same Destination, Different Journey; it is not necessary to read it in order to read this piece.

Warning! This story will later contain mild slash and is not pure canon.

A Potter

"I realize this is rather unconventional and I appreciate you accommodating my nephew on such short notice." The cold, clipped tones struck like staccato notes along a bass clef. Pollux Black - with watery eyes, paper thin skin and gray that came with age had once been a tall, dark haired aristocratically elegant man - practically choked on the gratitude he spoke of.

Aquila Potter - a tall, muscular, handsome young man with lightly tanned skin, medium long, straight black hair and intense emerald eyes - stood unblinking beside the man who claimed to be his uncle. Pollux's bony fingers, which were dug into the boy's upper arm, went ignored; Aquila was accustomed to pain. Currently, Aquila was mentally numb, emotionally indifferent and bone weary. "With both parents dead, Aquila has come under my care. He is not of age yet and requires further education. I refuse to let him stay at that pamby Beauxbatons."

"How old are you, Mr. Potter?" Albus Dumbledore - Headmaster of Hogwarts along with many more titles, long white hair, white beard, twinkling blue eyes - motioned for them to take a seat, which neither visitor did.

"The boy is fifteen." Pollux raised an eyebrow as if mildly amused at Dumbledore's gesture. Aquila stared ahead of him, unblinking, unflinching, unemotional, uncaring.

"When will he be prepared to start classes?" Dumbledore watched the boy carefully over the rim of his half-moon spectacles.

"You have his file," Pollux's tone brooked no argument while unabashedly calling Dumbledore a fool for not knowing the obvious response. "The boy will start immediately."

"Naturally," Dumbledore stood slowly and crossed the room to grab a tattered pointed hat. "First Mr. Potter will need to be sorted into a house. Do take a seat Mr. Potter, it won't take long."

"There is no point, the boy is a Black. He belongs in Slytherin." Pollux's grip on the boy's arm intensified.

For the first time since the two had entered the Headmaster's office, Dumbledore saw a flicker of emotion, a brief moment of clarity and respite, from the unfeeling mask that Aquila Potter hid behind. "It is a necessary procedure, Master Black. All students must be sorted by the Sorting Hat. If Mr. Potter is to be allowed to attend-"

Pollux growled at the word 'allowed', pushed down on the boy's shoulder and Aquila sat. Hard. Aquila's teeth clicked but he made no noise. Dumbledore set the Sorting Hat on Aquila's head and the three waited. Dumbledore looked with amusement at the only portrait within his office that was not feigning sleep. Former Headmaster Phineas Nigellus Black sat forward in his chair, as if trying to see over Pollux's shoulder.

The Sorting Hat spoke up suddenly, breaking the silence with an assured proclamation of, "Gryffindor."

Both Blacks - Phineas and Pollux - sneered openly at Aquila. Pollux removed his hand from Aquila's shoulder, recoiling as if the boy was filthy or diseased and vile to the touch. "What kind of Black are you, boy?"

Aquila gripped the Sorting Hat, snatching it off his pate. He stood from the chair in order to bring himself to full height, a full four inches over his uncle, biting the first word he had spoken since entering the building, "Half." He held his anger through clenched teeth. "You manage to forget that fact frequently." He noted the muffled grumble of discontent from the hat, forgetting that it was a sentient being - of sorts - and loosened his grip. Aquila turned his attention to Dumbledore and handed back the hat, his frustration barely contained. The soft hint of his French accent rang through his next words, "Thank you, Monsieur le Directeur, is there anything else?"

"Professor McGonagall will be along shortly to collect you and take you to your dorm. Your belongings will be there and you'll start class on Monday." The twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes danced in amusement as he met Aquila's unremitting gaze. A knock sounded moments later, "Enter."

"You have need of me, Headmaster?" Professor Minerva McGonagall - an elderly witch with severely pursed lips, salt and pepper hair wrapped in a bun and green eyes - watched all three men carefully behind square glasses.

"Ah Minerva, this young man has joined us here at Hogwarts and has been sorted into Gryffindor House. Aquila Potter," Dumbledore's eyes watched McGonagall's reaction to the boy's name and noted the subtle twitch of her left eye, "this is Professor McGonagall your Transfiguration instructor and Head of House for Gryffindor."

"Welcome to Hogwarts, Mr. Potter." McGonagall led the way toward the door.

"Thank you, Maître McGonagall." Aquila felt Pollux's eyes bore into his back and stopped himself from leaving. As much as he may not like the man, he still had an obligation. He may be a Potter, but he was still a Black and as much as he didn't want to admit, Pollux controlled his fate. At the door Aquila stopped and looked briefly back at his uncle, giving him a stilted quick half bow before exiting the office.

Waiting to speak again until they reached the bottom of the stairs, McGonagall escorted Aquila towards Gryffindor tower, "You have relatives here at Hogwarts." It was a statement - not a question requiring a response - that was said to gauge his reaction. Receiving none - neither a response nor reaction - the professor continued, "Breakfast is from 7:30 to 9 am. First class begins at 9 am, a warning bell will sound at 8:45. Lunch begins at noon and dinner is at 5 pm. We are currently on the third floor, Gryffindor tower entrance is on the seventh."

Aquila listened closely without showing any acknowledgement and came to a stop when the stairs moved. "Mind the staircase, they tend to move and change routes at whim." The pair continued up the stairs until they reached the seventh floor landing. "The portrait of the Fat Lady guards the entrance and you will need the password. It changes occasionally, so it will behoove you to know it."

McGonagall stood before the portrait of a woman adorned in pink. The Fat Lady peered at the two, "Password?"

"Leonis cor," McGonagall stated moments before the woman in the portrait nodded and opened the portal. With a tap of her wand, the portal entry widened and became a hall rather than a crawl space.

"Lion's heart," Aquila said reflectively; McGonagall raised an eyebrow and gave a nod of approval. "Maman thought it was most important that I know Latin along with French, English and German."

"Interesting."

"Not really."

"It isn't common."

"Neither is the Black family."

"Hmm…" The two stood in the common room. Aquila was once again surrounded by dark bland walls; rich deep colors of maroon and gold entwined were draped over leather furniture and a fire that gave both warmth and light to the room. "The staircase to the left are the boys' dorms, on the right are the girls' dorms." As they walked up the staircase to the left, she continued. "Each year's students have their own set of rooms. You are in your fifth year so you will be sharing this room with others your age." McGonagall paused and peered at the boy. "I warn you, these four are already rather close having spent the past four years together…"

She opened the door and allowed him to enter first. Five four-poster beds with drapes for privacy were in an open room, they formed a horseshoe shape in the circular room. Each bed was made of dark wood, drapes of maroon trimmed in gold. Armoires stood beside each bed, uniform in wood and colors. Aquila was pleased to see he wasn't forced in between the others and crossed to his bed on the far right. He picked up one of the ties in house colors that lay there. McGonagall gave a small smile, "I assume you can tie that."

"Oui," Without prompting, Aquila raised his collar and wrapped the tie around his neck. He tied his knot flawlessly before smoothing his collar back down. "The Headmaster mentioned I will begin classes on Monday."

"Do you know which electives you'd like to take?"

"I was in Arithmancy and Ancient Runes."

"Very well, I will have your schedule for you in the morning at breakfast. There are a total of six prefects within Gryffindor, but your year's prefects are Lily Evans and Remus Lupin. I'm sure either one will be happy to give you any notes to help you catch up with the first couple of weeks you missed." McGonagall pointed to one of the beds, "Mr. Lupin shares the room with you; that should make finding him easy. Remember, dinner is at five."

As soon as the door closed after McGonagall departed, Aquila dropped on the bed and stared at the small window. Now what? He was restless. Pushing away from the bed, Aquila paced for a few minutes and glanced at the time. He had an hour until dinner and desperate for something to occupy his time. He grabbed his extra tie and opened his wardrobe, noting all of his clothes were already unpacked. One less thing he could do.

Aquila made a mental note that there were house elves within the castle.

With a heavy sigh, Aquila grabbed his Transfiguration book and headed to the door. He might as well read in the common room until dinner. Wrenching the door open, Aquila stared at a shorter version of himself with wavy hair instead of straight, pale blue eyes instead of emerald green. The two may have never met before, but Aquila recognized him immediately and it unnerved him greatly, especially when he spoke. "Bloody hell, who are you?"

Aquila glared at the gawking boy. While his mind was reeling at the sight of the teen, his use of vulgar slang was not impressive and Aquila refused to back down. Smoothing his own annoyance, Aquila's accent and words gently, yet firmly, undermined the demand of the other's. "Mind your tongue and move out of my way."

That got the boy's attention as well as the two others behind him. The boy snapped his mouth closed with an audible click of teeth and he stood taller, narrowing his eyes. "Mind your own tongue, you're in our room."

"And you are currently in my way, barring my exit of our room." Aquila waited until the weight of his words penetrated their thick skulls and noted, with a small amount of amusement, the light of recognition in the taller teen with brunette hair that stood behind the two short black haired boys. The non-recognized dark haired teen was sporting round, gold framed glasses that he pushed back onto his face often, his hazel eyes peered questioningly at Aquila.

It was the brunette who gained his tongue first and spoke, "You're-"

"Yes." Only Aquila wouldn't let him finish his thought.

The amusement in the boy's eyes drew Aquila in as he gazed over the shorter two. "Mind if we come in, in order to do introductions a bit more properly?"

"You must be Lupin." Despite himself, he liked the boy immediately.

"I must be." The tall, lanky boy with a mop of light brown hair and expressive hazel eyes grinned, "Remus Lupin."

"Hmm…" Aquila nodded and backed out of the doorway, pointedly ignoring the two shorter boys as the three filed into the room. He waited until their guard was down to spring another surprise at them. "I am Aquila Potter."

The three boys stopped in their tracks and spun around to gawk at Aquila again. "Prongs?"

"Yeah, Padfoot?"

"Did you forget to tell us something?"

"Nope."

Still ignoring the two, Aquila spoke to Remus, "Maître McGonagall suggested I speak with you about class notes. Perhaps I can borrow them in order to prepare for Monday. Core courses as well as Arithmancy and Ancient Runes if you have them."

Remus hesitated. "Sure, but first... You said your name is Potter. As in… well, Potter, really?"

Aquila frowned, pursed his lips and furrowed his brow. "Are you sure you are the Prefect Lupin? I would imagine you to be a tad more intelligent in order to be appointed to such a position of authority."

"Hey, don't talk to Moony that way." The boy with Aquila's face started growling in a threatening manner, which did nothing to deter Aquila's attitude.

With a bored huff, Aquila addressed Remus again. "If you lot are the best that Gryffindor can offer, perhaps I need to revisit the Sorting Hat."

Remus actually grinned instead of being offended. "We aren't all as thick as these two. Wait until you meet Peter, he's worse."

Outwardly, Aquila's expression remained the same but the glint of humor was obvious in his eyes, if one knew to look for it. "Lovely. My opinion of Gryffindor has managed to plummet within the span of five minutes."

"You talk like a French Slytherin," the growling boy spat.

"The hat agrees with your assumption." Aquila simply sniffed, "Only I refused to allow the hat to put me in Slytherin just to spite Oncle Pollux. Now I am having reservations. At least in Slytherin I have family that I dare say would have a bit more common courtesy than to stand gaping at me like a poisson… a fish."

"Pollux… Pollux Black?" The boy stopped growling and peered at Aquila as if he grew a second head.

"I see this information is beyond your level of comprehension. Allow me to simplify things. As I said, I am Aquila Potter. I am the son of Dorea Black and Charlus Potter." Aquila's eyes flick from one black haired teen to the other before he turned his attention to Remus. "Once this information penetrates their thick skulls they will come to their senses, I hope. In the meantime, class notes, s'il vous plaît?"

Remus simply nodded mutely before making his way to his foot locker to retrieve said class notes.

The boy with the glasses stepped forward to stare at him more closely. After a few moments he introduced himself. "I'm James Potter, you've met Remus and this is-"

"Sirius Black. Yes, I am aware of who he is." Aquila met James' hazel gaze. "Hard to miss the Black features, seeing how I am forced to look at them daily."

This proclamation broke Sirius from his thoughts and he bristled. "If you knew who I am, why didn't you say so? You…" Sirius appeared momentarily deflated and his shoulders drooped as he stepped away. "Oh, of course…"

"Hmm…" Aquila smirked, "Do not take it too hard, being disowned by Walburga is probably a blessing. If it is any consolation you remain on the Black family tree. Oncle Pollux has not allowed her to purge you, for the moment. Regulus and Alphard still speak of you on occasion. Alphard has become your champion."

"Uncle Alphard?" The touch of hope in Sirius' voice was hard to miss and he nodded when Aquila nodded, but didn't verbally continue that train of thought.

"Here you go." Remus brought a stack of parchment over to Aquila and stood beside him. "I have Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Potions, History of Magic, Herbology, Arithmancy and Ancient Runes."

"These will do nicely. I appreciate your generosity and will return them soon." Aquila nodded towards Sirius. "I will leave you two to sort out your friend."

That said, Aquila turned on his heel and left the room towards the common room. It was now nearing dinner and the thought of food was enticing him towards the portal and beyond.

Once in the hallway, Aquila straightened his clothing, determined to learn McGonagall's trick to widen the portal hole to a walkway. With book and notes in hand, he walked with purpose towards the stairway, pausing only long enough for the stairs to stop moving before he continued on. The noise level in the building was noticeably higher now that students were no longer hidden away in classrooms and he did his best to fade into the background unnoticed.

His stomach was in knots as he stared at the large Great Hall filled with students and staff, a sea of strangers. "Aquila!"

Aquila's head spun around, his hand only paused long enough to grip his wand. The grinning boy that quickly walked in his direction could only be another Black with his good looks, charming smile, black hair and piercing eyes. "Regulus, I had hoped to see you."

"Why aren't you in Slytherin, cousin?" Regulus tugged at Aquila's house tie with a tut, "Did Grandfather annoy you that much? I told you to ignore the old pill."

He grimaced and nodded, "To my own folly, I did allow the vieillard to infuriate me. If only he allowed Alphard to accompany me."

"Your folly… oh, don't tell me. Did you get stuck in the same dorm with my brother?" Regulus laughed at the groan of acknowledgement and turned to lead them into the Great Hall.

AN: There seems to be some confusion about James Potter's heritage and where Aquila fits in. According to Harry Potter wiki & Wikipedia, James' parents are unnamed and are simply listed as Mr. & Mrs. Potter.
Dorea Black & Charlus Potter are known to have had one unnamed son. There are rumors, speculations, and theories that Dorea & Charlus are James' parents, but it isn't official.
So for my story Aquila & James are distant cousins.

This story is written from Aquila's perspective or view… as in you will follow him throughout the main story. Random chapters will have a companion/different view piece tacked on featuring Regulus Black and/or Severus Snape (i.e. - Chapter 01, Chapter 01 Regulus, Chapter 01 Severus).

Any French is from google translate, but I won't be writing full sentences, just random words.