First Year, The Hogwarts Express
Wednesday September 1st 1971
They were trying to cram themselves onto the backseat of the tiny Volkswagen. Mary, her mother and all of her siblings, save for her youngest brother, who got carsick and was hence allowed to sit in the passenger seat next to her father. Normally they weren`t allowed in their father's car, since he leased it from his job and didn`t want Mary or any of her siblings making a mess in it. It had been a rare occurrence that Mary had been home alone when Professor Dumbledore had appeared with her Hogwarts acceptance letter, as normally she was never alone. In a small flat with a huge family, there was always a sibling jumping up and down on her bed, a crying baby in an adjoining room or her mother pottering about in the kitchen, yelling at Mary to get her lazy arse out of her room and help her prepare dinner.
Mary had tried to convince her family that it was truly unnecessary for them to all accompany her to King`s Cross Station. But, even after Mary had basically pleaded them to stay at home and to let just her dad drop her off, they had insisted on coming along. So now they were crammed in the yellow Volkswagen, driving though London. While her dad yelled at the cars in front of them she leaned her head against her mother`s soft arm and smelled her sweat and familiar scent. It only now hit her that she wouldn’t see her family until Christmas. She had never been so far and long away from her family, she didn`t even remember if they had ever gone more than a short train ride out of London in all her eleven years.
Swallowing nervously she looked up at her mother, her hair wrapped up in a golden yellow scarf, like a proud crown balancing on top of her head.
`Why can`t we come along with Mary?` her youngest brother asked.
`Because.` her dad answered briskly.
`But why?` her brother wailed, bottom lip trembling.
`Yeah why?` her sister, sitting squashed up next to Mary, joined in.
In no time the car was filled with the sound of various whining children. Mary chuckled softly to herself, she would start to miss this noise when she was all alone up there in Scotland.
`All of you shut up.` her dad spat. `I`m trying to concentrate.`
Immediately the noise in the car seized and Mary could only hear her own breathing over the honking of the cars around them. She shot a glance over at the clock on the dashboard, they still had some time. The Hogwarts Express, as Dumbledore had told her it was called, would depart at exactly eleven o`clock.
They pulled up into the parking lot of the train station and Mary squirmed her way out of the car. Her dad opened up the booth of the car and lugged her suitcase out of it. The suitcase was filled to the brim with various supplies the letter told her she needed. At first Mary had panicked, they didn`t have the money to spend it on a school uniform, a whole arsenal of books on the weirdest subjects and an array of bizarre supplies, of which Mary didn`t even know what most of them were. Luckily, Mary had been provided her supplies by the school itself, seeing her situation.
The only thing she had had to pick out herself had been her wand. In the past month the headmaster had graced them with another visit and taken Mary to a place called Diagon Alley. It had been the oddest experience, they had to go into central London and via the back of a pub called the Leaky Cauldron they had entered a totally hidden shopping street. The man selling her the wand had been just as odd as the rest of the street, he had been babbling on about the wand choosing the witch or wizard, whatever that meant. There were still a lot of things that Mary didn`t understand about the magical world, the wand only being the tip of the iceberg.
Now her wand was, along with all her other belongings, tucked away safely in her suitcase. The letter had also stated that she was allowed to bring a pet. Yet, when she had asked her parents about it, they had only asked her what on earth she would need an owl for and told her to get on with her chores.
`Ready?` her mother asked.
Mary nodded, holding onto her suitcase. She had said goodbye to her siblings next to the car. Fortunately, her parents had agreed that it wouldn`t be such a good idea to have them all accompanied her onto the platform and only her mom would be coming along until Mary was safe and sound inside the train. When she had hugged her younger siblings goodbye she had had the urge to cry, but she hadn’t want them to see her break down, so she had held herself strong and swallowed back her burning tears.
King`s Cross was busy, all around them there were people hurrying along. Now Mary was paying attention to it she saw indeed a lot more people wearing similar clothes to the ones Professor Dumbledore had been wearing or the other people in Diagon Alley. She tried to search their faces to see if she could spot kids her age among them.
When she turned around again she saw her mother had found her a trolley to put the heavy suitcase on and she plonked the heavy thing down on the metal rack.
`Okay let me see.` her mother said, grabbing the ticket Mary was holding out of her hands. `Platform 9 ¾ , what kind of silly business is this?` she asked, peering at the ticket.
`I`m supposed to run at the barrier between platforms nine and ten.` Mary answered her mother meekly. `That is what Professor Dumbledore said anyway.` Somewhere deep down she was still scared they were all just pulling some huge prank on her and when she collided with the stone wall between the two platforms they would all spring out and laugh at her for believing them.
`All right then.` her mother answered briskly and handed Mary the ticked back, before they started manoeuvring their way through the mass of people again.
They stopped in front of the barrier separating platform nine and ten and Mary looked around anxiously. She hoped she would see someone go through the wall, so she had at least the conformation that was what she was supposed to do. Near them stood a scrawny boy, rubbing his hand over his shaven head, the woman next to him slapped his hand away from his head and hissed something at him. Mary wondered if it was his mother, they didn`t look alike. She looked at her own mother, whom was looking apprehensively at the brick wall.
`Are you quite sure?` her mom asked, a big frown on her forehead.
Mary nodded and looked back at the boy, the woman he was with was heading off towards the ticket stall and she could almost not believe her eyes when she saw the boy start pelting at full speed at the wall. Mary squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to see him splatter against the bricks, but there wasn`t any screaming and when she opened her eyes again the boy had disappeared. Evidently her mother had also seen it happen since she was now pulling Mary along towards the barrier. They kept gathering speed and nervously Mary closer her eyes as they neared the wall.
When she dared to open her eyes again she was standing on a whole different platform and as she looked up she saw a sign dangling above her saying: Platform 9 ¾ . With her mouth slightly agape Mary stared at the huge steam engine waiting patiently for her to board it. Sweat Lord, she thought.
***
`And make sure to write us every day.` her mother said.
Lily nodded vigorously, tears streaming down her cheeks. Now it was really happing, now she was actually heading off to Hogwarts, she noticed she was way less excited to spend so much time away from her family.
Rubbing her nose, Lily looked over at Petunia, whom was standing next to her parents, arms crossed over her chest and supporting a rather sour look.
`Oh come on Tunie,` Lily pleaded. `Can`t you be happy for me? Just this once.`
Petunia didn`t reply and pretended she hadn`t heard Lily. At first her sister hadn`t want to come at all to drop her off at the train, but after a lot of coaxing from their parents she had abided and had sat sulkily next to Lily for the entire duration of the car ride to King`s Cross.
Lily swallowed and looked at her parents again, who shot her both a sympathetic look.
`She`ll turn around.` her father whispered in her ear as he hugged her for the final time before boarding.
For a couple of moments Lily stood hesitantly in front of her family, unsure if she was supposed to board the train now. Next to her a severe looking woman was scolding her son, he looked like he could care less, almost like he was used to it.
`Okay,` Lily finally said. `I really must go now.`
Her mom enveloped her in a last teary embrace and Lily squirmed herself lose, she was afraid that if she would keep standing on the platform any longer, she would be unable to leave.
With a wave she stalked off towards the nearest train carriage and clambered inside. She ran along the corridor and thrust open the nearest compartment door to burst in and run towards the window. Frantically she pushed herself up against the window and tried to search her parents and sister on the platform, she could feel the tears rushing down as she waved at them. How on earth was she supposed to go almost four whole moths without seeing them?
The train pulled out of the station and her parents kept blowing kisses her way as they disappeared behind the thick curtain of engine smoke, Petunia glared at her and Lily felt her heart ache. She hated that she had to say goodbye to her sister in such a state.
When she was no longer able to see them and the train had entirely left the station she turned around and it was only then that she saw the boy sitting on the beaten leather couch in the compartment. He was taller than her, but skinny and his shaven head made him seem younger than he probably was. He had a wide set mouth in a pale face that was contorted into a scowl.
Lily flung herself down on the couch opposite of the boy, sighing deeply.
`It`s so horrid saying goodbye, isn`t it?` she said teary.
`Uh, yeah, I s`pose.` the boy said nodding.
She looked curiously at the boy, at his fraying cuffs and oversized clothes. He didn`t look like he knew much more about what he was doing here than she was.
`Are you from a muggle family too?` she asked. `My name is Lily.` She was always a little bit shy when meeting new people, but she had set it for herself as a good intention to start making friends right away.
`Remus.` the boy replied, looking at his feet, not meeting her eye. `My dad was a wizard, but I didn`t know him…well I grew up with muggles.` he had a cockney accent, speaking in a way Lily wasn`t that familiar with.
`I couldn`t believe it when I got my letter.` she said, smiling at the boy. `But I can`t wait to see what it`s like, can you?` Her excitement she had momentarily lost standing on the platform had come rushing back and she could feel the familiar fizzy feeling start back up in her stomach.
Remus didn`t say anything and kept staring at his shoes, Lily wondered if she was annoying him. Just as the boy opened his mouth, their compartment door slid open and Severus stood in the doorway, frowning deeply. Lily`s face lit up.
`There you are Lily. I`ve been looking ages.` Severus said. He shot a dirty look at the boy sitting opposite Lily.
`Sev!` Lily said excitedly, springing up from her seat and hugging her friend, she felt relieved to see a familiar face. `I`m so glad to see you!`
Severus patted her shoulder and when Lily pulled away she thought she saw the faintest hint of pink on his cheeks.
`Come and sit in my carriage, there`s is plenty of room.` he said.
`Oh…` she looked back at her newly found acquaintance. `Can Remus come? He is all by himself.` Lily felt sorry for the boy, he looked so forlorn.
`I`m not sure. There might not be that much room.` Severus replied, looking disdainfully at Remus, Lily hated it when Severus was being like that. Acting all holier than thou.
The boy slid down in his seat, scowling and propping his feet up on the opposite bench where previously Lily had been sitting. `Get lost then.` he said. `I don`t want to go to your stupid carriage.` He looked away from them, out of the window. Lily felt a pang of guilt in her chest.
She and Severus left and went they were walking at a quick pace along the corridor Lily glared at Severus` back.
`Why did you have to be so horrid to that boy.` she said.
`Some people are just better not to befriend Lily.` Severus said. `I`m just protecting you.`
Lily rolled her eyes, she knew Severus was her friend, but he could be a real snob sometimes.
A boy with a mess of dark hair and round glasses approached them in the narrow corridor, followed by a short pudgy blond boy. Severus knocked shoulders with the taller boy as they passed eachother.
`Watch it.` Severus spat.
`My bad.` the boy said, holding up his hands apologetically and grinning back at Lily before he strutted along, the blond boy having a hard time keeping up.
They stopped in front of a carriage filled with students, some looking their age, but most of them looking like they had been going to Hogwarts for a couple of years already. Lily stepped back nervously, she didn`t know if she felt comfortable sitting with all of Severus` supposed friends. Her heart was hammering in her chest as she saw one of them look up at her and whisper something to his friend before they both burst out laughing.
`Erm-` she said, cowering back into the corridor. `I think I rather sit somewhere less crowded.`
Severus frowned at her, holding onto the handle of the compartment door. His slick black hair falling into his eyes. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, Lily turned around and started stalking back of into the corridor of the moving train, her long plaid flapping behind her. She had suddenly had the feeling that if she would stay there any longer she would no longer be able to breath.
She scanned the train compartments with her eyes, searching for one with no one in it. She almost bumped into the black haired boy whose mother had been scolding him on the platform, he looked like he was in a hurry. Most of the train compartments were either entirely packed or had a close knit little group in them Lily felt scared to intrude on.
Finally, when she thought she would just have to sit in the hallway, she came across a carriage with just one person in it. Next to the window, staring out at the moving landscape and picking at the hem of her school skirt sat a small blond haired girl.
Taking a deep breath Lily opened the door to the compartment. `Hi.` she said.
***
All morning long, Marlene had frantically been packing up her trunk. She had been putting it off for a couple of days now, although she already had everything she needed to take with her waiting patiently to be packed. Somehow, she had thought that if she would just not pack her belongings, she could put off having to go for a little while longer. With every passing day over the last month she had started dreading leaving her parents and her brother even more. It had been even harder because the month of August had been one full of leisure; laying out in the bleak British sun, flying around the yard with Danny throwing quaffles at eachother and swinging her bat at bludgers and obviously going for ice-cream runs with her family. It had almost felt like some sort of final hurray before she would really be going off to Hogwarts.
One sultry summer evening she had dared to open up one of her text books: A beginners guide to transfiguration. Well, in her mind there had been nothing beginner about what she had read on those first few pages. She had quickly closed it, only to spent the next hour crying underneath her duvet. She was convinced that she would never be as good as her brother at magic or quidditch or anything for that matter. It felt especially hard to feel that way, because the person whom she normally voiced her concerns to was Danny and she could hardly start complaining about himself to him. Besides, Marlene was sure he wouldn`t understand. Danny was so self-assured, everything in life seemed handed to him and that made it hard for him to grasp what was going through his younger sisters worrying mind.
Sunken deep in thought Marlene stared out of the window of the Hogwarts Express. They had left the station a while ago already and the landscape was speeding past. She followed the trees with her eyes, if she focused hard enough she could imagine them running along with the train.
Absentmindedly she fidgeted with the seam of her skirt. Her mother had insisted she already wore her school uniform on the train. Marlene had hated that and begged her mother not to. She wasn`t used to wearing clothes like this, the horrible skirt, the saddle shoes and, worst of all, the tights with knee socks over top. The socks kept sliding down and she had had to hoist them up at least a million times now, she intended to never wear them again and just wear her tights. She would ask the other girls how they were dealing with their uniforms.
She bit the inside of her cheek thinking about in what house she would be placed, who her fellow classmates would be, whom she would have to share a dorm with. A thousand and one thoughts running through her head.
Marlene turned around when she heard the door to the compartment slide open.
`Hi.` a small redheaded girl said, also already wearing her uniform to Marlene`s relieve.
`Hi.` Marlene answered shyly. She had chosen a compartment all to herself, even though she had recognized some kids she had seen before at parties her parents had hosted. She hadn`t expected someone to come and join her in her solitude.
The girl sat down opposite Marlene, she wore her hair in a thick plait that hung down her back. Marlene nervously sat up straighter, tucking her hair behind her ears and looking at, what she supposed to be, another first year.
`I`m Lily.` the girl said, smiling broadly.
Marlene blinked, this was the part where she was supposed to introduce herself. `Marlene. I`m Marlene.` she answered, stumbling over her words a bit.
The girl named Lily nodded, still smiling at Marlene, she looked nice enough.
`Erm-` Marlene started, she figured this was her time to take the lead. `First year?` she asked.
Pressing her lips together Lily nodded. Marlene started picking at the hem of her skirt again, maybe if she would rip it, she wouldn`t have to wear it. They grew silent again.
`It`s nerve wreaking isn`t it?` Lily finally said, breaking the quiet atmosphere.
`Tell me about it.` Marlene replied, chuckling nervously.
Marlene wondered if the girl was muggle born, she could be a Weasley with her hair, however she had never heard of a Weasley named Lily. She had spotted a redheaded girl when she went shopping at Ollivanders for her wand, she could be the same one she thought.
Both girls sat wringing their hands nervously opposite eachother, evidently neither knowing quite what to say. Finally Lily opened her mouth like she was going to say something, but at that very moment the door to their compartment flew open again and a black girl with a mass of dark curls stood in front of them, she looked like she was on the verge of tears.
`Oh I`m sorry.` the girl mumbled and already started to close the door again.
`No wait!` Lily called out. `You can sit with us.` She looked at Marlene as if looking for approval, Marlene nodded.
The girl exhaled relieved and slid the compartment door shut.
`I had no idea where to sit.` the girl said hastily, stumbling over her words. `Every carriage seemed to be either taken or when I tried to join a group they shot me nasty looks. I thought magic folks were supposed to be- Well, different. Anyway I spent the last half an hour hiding in the loo, just to get away from it.` she babbled, twisting a beaded bracelet on her wrist.
Lily`s eyes were wide with sympathy and Marlene nodded understandingly at the girl, her skin caught a ray of sunshine and it made her glow like embers.
`Oh God,` the girl said, stepping further into their compartment. `I haven`t even introduced myself.` she trust out a hand to Marlene. `Mary!`
`Erm, Marlene.` Marlene mumbled grinning, shaking her hand. She liked this girl, she was brazen and confident and not afraid to make a first move.
Lily also introduced herself and Mary sat herself down on the beaten leather couch, leaning against the backrest like she had done it a million times before.
`Do you come from magic families?` Mary asked, looking inquiring from the one to the other.
Lily shook her head, but Marlene nodded shyly.
`Really!` Mary piped up excitedly. `So you`re mum and dad are an actual witch and wizard?`
`Yeah, my brother as well. My whole family really.` Marlene answered, looking at the dimples that formed in Mary`s cheeks as she smiled.
`Wicked!` Mary grinned. `I didn`t even know magic really existed until- Well until the headmaster showed up with my letter. That was a proper scare I tell you. I always went to church you see and well, you know, Christians aren`t really big on witches and all. So I`m a bit surprised I haven`t burst up into flames yet in that church. Anyway.` She sighed.
`So you`re muggle-born too?` Lily asked.
`What born?` Mary asked, looking confused.
`Born by non-magical parents.` Marlene clarified. `Muggles is what we call non-magic folks.`
`Oh,` Mary`s face fell. `That`s what those boys were calling me. I just though they were making up sounds.`
`What boys?` Lily asked.
`Just some boys on the platform. No idea really.` Mary shrugged. `But they made it seem like that erm-, was a bad thing or something?`
Marlene sighed, she hadn`t d realized they would already encounter this pureblood bullocks on the first day. `It isn`t.` she said. `However, there are quite some magical families who feel superior to everyone else because they come from a line of only magical blood. And they like to bully or diminish everyone who isn`t.`
`Oh.` Mary said, looking at her shoes. `You`re not like that are you?` she asked looking at Marlene.
`Merlin, no.` Marlene answered quickly. `No.`
`Oh okay good.` Mary laughed and relaxed visibly.
The three girls chatted on for a while, their initial tension had seized and they were now discussing all their concerns, finding solace in the fact that they weren`t the only ones feeling extremely anxious. These could become my friends, Marlene though to herself as she leaned back comfortably in her seat, looking at the green Scottish hills speeding by.
///