Chapter Six: If You Miss The Train I’m On | by Peter, Paul and Mary The autumn air was crisp and cold, with the scent of both rain-tinged wind and the philosophical fragrance of excitement. Kings Cross station was clamoring with both muggle and magical children alike, all preparing for a trip of their lives. We all stopped at the wall between platforms 9 and 10. 9 ¾, had been what was written on my ticket. My best guess was a magic wall, so the fear I had evaporated when I saw the wall. I listened intently as Mum explained I had to walk at the wall and I’d appear at the true Hogwarts station. I complied, walking towards the wall, pushing my cart alongside me. Before I could even blink, I appeared on the other side. It was, well, beautiful. I breathed a sigh of relief and anticipation, as Harry appeared beside me. Once again, he attempted to strike a conversation with me. I pitied him. I was a stubborn match, and I would not be easy to light no matter how many times he struck me against the striking pad. “How weren’t you scared at all?” He asked, gaping at me. “I was raised in magic.” I replied curtly, everything in my tone attempting to shut him down. He opened his mouth to say something more, but I just pushed my cart past him and walked over to George. George was grinning. “We love a strong woman, don’t we, M?” He quipped. “Rejecting the boy who lived.” “I didn’t reject him, George.” I said promptly. “He’s just making unnecessary conversation. I don’t need his parenting.” He snorted. “Parenting!? He’s being nice!” “He doesn’t need to be.” I shrugged my shoulders, standing up straight next to him. The loud, shrill sound of the train whistle racked through me. “The train’s here!” George exclaimed, nearly grabbing my wrist, but quickly holding my palm before he could touch it. He pulled me over to the door of the train, getting up and helping me up as well. He let me walk off, finding a compartment of his own. As I frantically searched for an empty compartment, I caught a glimpse of the compartment Harry, Ron and Hermione were in. I caught a few words from their conversation before I moved on. “Marcie doesn’t seem to like me” — Harry “She doesn’t? She likes everyone.” — Ron “Don’t be silly, Harry, I’m sure she’s just a bit distant! You don’t really know her well.” — Hermione Near the end of the train, I finally found a compartment that wasn’t quite as full. There were only two people there, both looked around my age. One was a girl, I guessed. She had long, unkept curly hair that was in a very hasty looking ponytail with loose strands and bangs framing her face. Her eyes were pure, piercing grey, and her skin was pale like the moon. The other person’s gender, I couldn’t guess, but they had darker skin, a sun-kissed tan. Their hair was shorter, shoulder length, spiky and black fading to a shade of violet. Their eyes were a hue of pure cerulean. The girl was fiddling with her serpentine silver bracelet, and the other was reading a muggle comic book. I poked my head in. “Hello! Could I sit with you two? Everywhere else’s full.” The brunette girl looked up first, her grey eyes meeting my golden ones. She nodded politely, and I walked over, sitting down next to her. I inhaled sharply, realizing it would be me who attempted to strike the match this time. “So…could I have your name?” The girl cleared her throat, a bit startled at the unexpected question. “Right, er, I’m…Lilith.” The other person piped up, not looking up from their comic book. “I don’t really care that you didn’t ask, but I’m Jayden, and this one, I know you will ask so I’ll answer beforehand, my pronouns are they/them.” “Ah…nice to meet you, Lilith and Jayden.” I replied, holding back an amused smile at Jayden’s rattled off introduction. “Marcie. Pleased.” There were a few moments of awkward silence, before there was the rustle of Jayden putting down their comic book, and making eye contact with me. “Which house would you wanna be in?” They asked, tilting their head, attempting to make small talk. I thought for a moment. “I don’t really mind any!” I replied. “Bo-o-o-ring!” Jayden sniffed. “I’d be a Gryffindor, obviously. What about you, darlin’?” They cocked their head to face Lilith. Lilith glanced at the wine-haired soon-to-be sorcerer. “Er, well, my parents are in Slytherin, so…Slytherin? I wouldn’t mind Ravenclaw, though.” We eventually warmed up to each other as the train rumbled on, and I feel proud to say I made two friends that day.
yippeeee friends :))
