Chase sat on top of his black trunk, twirling his wand between his thin fingers as he flipped through the pages of his scrapbook. Lucius pranced his way up the side of the trunk and came to nudge Chase's arm, begging for attention, "Go away. I'm reading.", he whispered as his father entered the room. 

The older man reached his walking stick out, and flicked the book shut in his sons hands, causing a huff, "Don't huff at me, boy. You will stop this nonsense...We don't feel bad for what has happened in the past. We're Everwoods. We have the world at our feet and if you ruin what little reputation you have, going into this school, with your muggle this and your dopey looks, so help me I will...", their father started before their mother entered the room, causing him to close his lips tightly with a sneer. 

Chase frowned, staring down at the worn cover of his book. He was always the one who got in trouble. He was always the one who didn't fit in. He wasn't born to live with this family, he thought sometimes. He was meant for something better...but what? 

Syler listened to his father from outside his own room, and he shook his head at what he heard. He had told Chase time and time again to be careful with that book he kept. Their father was a prickly man and he did not like even the faintest reminder of the humiliation that shook the pureblood families throughout Britain. Of course Syler could sympathize with his father as he had worked tirelessly to keep the Everwood name well 'respected' and strong. But the man was -very- hard on his children. He decided to go inside to try and calm the situation. 

"Oh, there everyone is. I believe everything is packed and ready to go father." Syler got a growl in return and the constant tap of the walking stick could be heard as he went down the hall. 

Syler smiled at his mom and nodded politely even as she left as well with a grin on her face. Syler sat down beside Chase and gave him a one-armed hug, if any of his friends from school saw this they would never believe it but with Chase, Syler felt like he had someone that he could always talk to and he seemed to always do what he could to make his younger brother feel better. 

"Put the scrapbook in my luggage, since you know father will look in yours." He smiled again and walked out to get the final things ready to go, his hawk Shruikan landing on his shoulder just as he exited the doorway. 

Chase stood, tucking his scrapbook under his arm for the time being as he nodded to his brother, "Okay. I thought father was going to actually strike me this time...", he admitted, before following his brother with his trunk and cat in tow. 

"How are we going this time, Sy? I don't want to use the chimney. Last time, I nearly ripped my arm off. Dad was so angry. Can we not fly or something?", he asked, his eyes like a puppies eyes as he stopped and his shoulders slumped, "I'm scared..." 

Syler looked down for a moment and frowned. "We'll probably use the Floo Network, but I might be able to convince dad to show off his apparating, he was talking about it the other night remember. Let me handle it alright." 

He smiled and ruffled his brothers hair before running down the stairs, his hawk a bit flustered but managed to stay perched. As he reached the bottom he waited for Chase then went into the kitchen where his father was standing. "Dad, I was talking to James yesterday and he was telling me how his father was taking him to the station by side-along apparating. Remember when I came home with the bloody nose, I kind of hit him for saying you couldn't do it. But I was thinking, i've never done it before..." 

His father looked proud for a moment then thoughtful and just like that it was decided. He had the boys get their trunks into a neat row, while he stood behind Syler, his wife stood behind Chase and the two prepared to apparate to the platform.

Chase nodded to his brother, before following him once more down the stairs. Lucius jumped up onto his shirt and climbed his way up to his shoulder, where he held on, but didn't dig his claws into his skin. He simply purred in Chase's ear, which was oddly calming. As Chase listened in on his brother's plea to his father, he almost became jealous. It was so easy for Syler to bargain with the old man. His parents were so proud of his older brother, and the thought of never feeling that sort of adoration made him nearly sick to his stomach. As his father agreed, Chase pulled his clunky black trunk over, placing Lucius in his carrier on top and then stood in front of his mother, in time for them to vanish and end up on the platform. Chase felt queasy, but much better than he had via Floo powder. He stood, getting his legs back underneath him and then slowly opened his eyes, his breath taken away by the sight of the train. 

"Stop staring like a mudblood...", his father snapped, slapping him on the back of the head. His mother quickly reached for him, pulling him into her chest. 

"Listen. You be who you are. You're bright, and you're talented. You'll be a great wizard some day. Don't talk to the sorting hat...and you'll be fine, darling. Mama loves you...", she whispered, being the more reasonable of the two. Sure, in public she was an intolerable bitch, but to her children, she was the voice of reason.

Syler smiled as the feeling washed over them and as soon as the platform came into focus he was already stepping away from his father and next to Chase. As his father slapped his brother Syler felt a rage building but it was fought down almost as quickly. 

He pulled Chase close to him after his mother did her spill and also whispered. "No matter what happens know I will do anything for you. Even if you somehow get placed in Hufflepuff." He smiled brightly and put his forehead to Chase's and then shook his fathers hand before stepping to the train and refusing help with his luggage, instead turning to help Chase. It was strange how protective and loving he was to Chase and cold-hearted and hateful he was to basically everyone else. 

Chase calmed as soon as his mother started reasoning with him. His shoulders lowering just a bit and his eyes fluttering closed. However, it didn't take her long before she stood straight and joined her husband, letting her children go. She fought back the tears as she snapped her fingers at one of the conductors, and pointed to the luggage. She flicked the lock on Lucius' carrier, and let him run free. It didn't take long, until he was on Chase's shoulder, ready to go wherever he decided to. Chase leaned in close to his brother, taking in his warmth as he spoke to him. As he pulled away, Chase gave a small smile, but didn't turn to their father. He simply stood close to Syler as they entered the train, joining the other students.