Chapter 1
Kara was over the moon. She could barely keep her feet on the ground. She was jumping around, attracting even more glances than the average Hogwarts student. Streaky - the poor cat - was gripping onto Kara for dear life, and if it wasn't for her literally impenetrable skin, she'd be bleeding profusely by now.
Alex was walking calmly behind her, ever the collected Slytherin, her snake, Alura, draped around her shoulders. They'd named the snake after Kara's mother. The blue-bellied black snake had been spotted first by Alex when they were in Diagon Alley collecting their uniforms, books and equipment for first year. It was there that they'd discovered she was a parselmouth, and minutes later, they'd left the store with the snake and Kara's cat, Streaky. Later, in second grade, they'd both get owls after a lot of complaining about having to trudge all the way down to the owlery through knee-deep snow in winter.
"Alex, come onnnnn," Kara whined. "We're gonna miss the train!"
"Kara, sweetheart," Eliza chuckled, "It's only ten-thirty - the train won't leave for another half hour yet."
"But it's our seventh year! Our last year!"
"Who knows," Alex teased, "Maybe Hufflepuff might even come third in the house cup this year."
"Alexandra, be nice to your sister," Eliza scolded. Alex let out a breath. Why was it that her mother was always picking up on all of her flaws and none of Kara's?
"Bye mum," Alex said as they reached the entrance to the platform. Kara echoed her and they said their farewells. Before walking through the barrier onto platform 9 3/4.
"Winn!" Kara shrieked almost immediately before speeding over to wrap her friend in a tight hug, Streaky almost getting thrown off her in the process.
"Ouch, Kara!" Winn yelled. Kara let go immediately.
"Sorry Winn. My powers are a bit..."
"Uncontrollable," Alex finished, finally taking pity on the poor cat on Kara's shoulders and coaxing him off gently before placing him on her trunk in her trolley.
"Hey Kara," a new voice said. The group turned to see James and Lucy approaching. Alex moved forwards to hug her fellow Slytherin and best friend (after Kara, of course).
"C'mon guys. Let's go find a compartment," she spun around to face the train and took a powerful step forwards, unaware of the small girl in front of her until their bodies collided. Kara, of course, barely noticed the impact. The other girl, on the other hand, was sent flying to the floor. Kara looked down at her in shock. "Oh! Hi Maggie, sorry about that!" she reached forwards to help the girl up, but Maggie skillfully avoided her hands and stood up on her own, stretching to ensure nothing was injured.
"No harm done, Little Danvers," she said as Alex began pushing her way to the front of the group. James, Lucy and Winn all held their breath, waiting for the argument sure to ensue.
"Sawyer."
"Danvers."
"Ohh look! You both made Captain!" Kara yelled excitedly, oblivious to the tension in the air. Maggie smirked a little at the Hufflepuff's obvious glee, whilst Alex simply glared at her sister before turning her attention back to Maggie.
"What does the quidditch pitch taste like again? I recall you getting a mouthful of it last year when our beater hit you off your broom," she snarked.
"Aw, don't worry Danvers," Maggie cooed with fake sweetness, tapping Alex on the cheek, "You'll soon find out for yourself."
Alex's hand twitched towards her wand, but Lucy intervened. "As much as I'd love to see a good fight between rival quidditch captains, I'd also love to not get detention before the school term even begins.
"See you on the pitch," Maggie said, before turning and getting on the train. Alex didn't reply.
The moment Maggie was out of sight, Kara slung an arm over her sister's shoulders, eliciting a surprised and irritated hiss from Alura, who hurriedly maneuvered herself to not be crushed by Kara's. arm.
Alex let the snake coil it's long body around her arm and hissed in parseltongue, Easy. I know she can be irritating, but have patience for her.
To which the snake replied, I've had patience for six years. I love her, but she's annoying.
Alex chuckled at her snake's varying opinions of Kara, ignoring her friends' strange looks as she got on the train, continuing her conversation.
"I'll find a compartment," she told her friends and sister.
"I wonder who the new defense teacher is going to be," Kara wondered out loud as the entered Hogwarts in amongst the mass of students.
"Do you think they went to Hogwarts?" Winn asked, sticking close to his friends in an attempt to not get lost in the crowd like last year.
"I hope they're not some ugly old hag like that Umbridge witch we had in first year."
"I bet they will be. Remember that last guy we had? They just get worse each year," Lucy grumbled.
"So, so far we're thinking and old hag who's self-centered and egotistical," James summed up.
"Well," a new voice said, "I may have been a Slytherin, but I don't think I'm that bad."
Kara, who was closest to the voice, yelped and spun around to see the woman who has to be the new DADA teacher standing not even half a foot away. In that same instant, Kara was lost in a beautiful bright green gaze. She swallowed. The woman had raven-black hair, and creamy skin to contrast. Her figure was slim, and she stood taller than Kara, radiating power. Dark red lips caught Kara's attention before she hastily looked back up at the now-smirking woman's eyes.
Lena, for her part, found herself quite entranced by the blonde Hufflepuff, not that she let that show through her mask. She smirked as the blonde's eyes did a once-over of her, landing on her lips for a moment longer than necessary before she snapped her gaze up, blushing slightly.
"Lena Luthor?" Alex asked incredulously, "You were Slytherin prefect two years ago."
Lena's attention turned from Kara to Alex, much to Kara's disappointment. The woman's gaze made her feel warm, and she was already fond of the feeling.
"I was," Lena responded, "You're Alex Danvers, right? I remember you being quite the talented keeper. Made the team in second year, right?" Alex nodded. "Well, you guys better head in. I don't want to have to give you detention before the school term even starts."
The group begins to turn away, but the Hufflepuff caught Lena's gaze once more, and Lena gave her a quick wink.
At the wink she received, Kara felt butterflies erupt in her stomach. Blushing hotly now, she turned away and scurried after her friends, leaving an amused Lena in her wake. Professor McGonagall, who was now lining first years up outside the hall, caught Lena's gaze and narrowed her eyes ever so slightly, a look that was slightly numb because of the smile the witch was fighting to keep off her face.