Chapter 1 - a nearly uneventful train journey
Heads were turning as Juniper and I strode down the train platform, trunks in tow. I knew however, that the heads turning were not paying me a lick of attention- not when I was walking with one Juniper Pertinger. My best friend’s mother was a model turned clothing designer whilst her father was a famous magizoologist and a three time winner of Witch Weekly’s Most Charming Smile Award. Needless to say, my best friend had inherited the best of both of her parents genes. The worst part is that I knew Juniper wouldn’t have even noticed people watching her - she was too busy telling a story about meeting one of the Chasers for the Wimbourne Wasps at an end of summer party her mother had dragged her to at the Montague house last weekend. I nodded and gasped in the right places, whilst dragging my trunk over to the Slytherin carriage. I was keeping an eye out for our other friend Eleanor, but knew it was unlikely she would be around - she was the Slytherin 6th year Prefect and they had to have their first meeting of the year on the train.
Finally making her way to an empty compartment, I threw my trunk under the seat and smoothed out my lavender robes before I sat down. Juniper was still going on, and I was only partly paying attention, choosing instead to let my fluffy ginger cat, Sylvia out of her little compartment to curl up on my lap.
“Wow, darling. Sounds tremendously exciting.” I said, scratching Sylvia under the chin. I was hoping that that was the right thing to say, and apparently it was, as Juniper looked satisfied. “It absolutely was, he was gorgeous and did this thing with his tongue that made me swoon. But enough about me, did you have a good rest of your summer?” Juniper asked. I was about to respond when a dark haired boy poked his head around the compartment door.
“Ren, you didn’t see my coin pouch in the entrance hall this morning did you? I can’t find it anywhere.” the boy asked, staring at Juniper as if he was transfixed.
“Theo I told you already, I stuck it in your trunk, because I knew you’d forget it.” I sighed. My younger brother could be the most forgetful thing, it was infuriating. I was always having to be the brain for the two of them - especially on September the First.
“Thanks Ren.” he said lightly, and with a well practiced false casual tone, he turned to face Juniper. “Hey Juniper, good summer?” he asked, his slight irish lilt betraying his nerves.
“Fine thanks little Theo, how was yours?” she inquired. Theodore Nott looked incredibly disappointed to be referred to as “little” - especially given that he was very proud of the fact that he had grown a full two inches over summer. He simply nodded, and left the compartment, his nerve completely shattered.
“That boy is going to be an absolute menace soon. Sorry he’s so obsessed with you.” I was truly embarrassed on behalf of my little brother. “Nah, he’ll grow out of it. And anyway, it’s kind of cute, his little crush.” Juniper replied before quickly changing the subject to the new dress robes her mother was designing for the fall/winter season. Apparently there’d be a great need for them this year, but Gwendolyn Pertinger would not say a word as to why.
“Well tell me then, O’ Wise Seer, why do you think there will be a great need for dress robes?” I asked in jest. Juniper was the smartest person I knew who was still bothering to take Divination as a NEWT level subject.
“Shut up. Professor Trewlawny does think I have a gift, you know.”
“Professor Trewlawny would think my cat had a gift if it wandered into her classroom. As long as Sybbie here didn’t pass out from the incense fumes.”
“Well, it’s an easy O at least. Whatever is the most miserable, is what she’ll most enjoy. Now let me do your horoscope.”
I rolled my eyes, but let her pull out my birth chart and we spent too long making up incredibly dramatic and fantastical fortunes for each other.
“Looks like you’ll find true love at last this year, Serena. That Venus in Sagittarius of yours has been looking for someone adventurous. Someone exciting.” Juniper giggled. Pity, I thought. As the one person I wanted to pay attention to me could definitely not be called adventurous. Or particularly exciting. Caspian Burke was the only Slytherin boy in my year I could stomach. He was studious and kind, and had huge goals - he wanted to be a member of the Wizengamot - not just in his family’s seat either, he wanted to campaign for one based on his own right. But adventurous he was not.
Suddenly there were loud noises coming from the corridor outside and I saw a streak of white blonde hair run by. Malfoy. Merlin, isn’t he just an absolute prick. He’s in my brother’s year and struts around as if he owns the place. Lucius Malfoy isn’t even on the Board of Governor’s anymore, it’s ridiculous what that kid thinks he can get away with. Juniper and I poked our head out of the compartment only to see a small fireworks display and some very loud and inappropriate noises. The Weasley twins, of course. Malfoy was yelling at them to get out of the Slytherin carriage, something about how he didn’t want the carriage to get filthy. I looked around to see most people peeking out from their compartments. Majority of the Slytherin Quidditch team were in the compartment next to us, and they were laughing loudly at Malfoy’s words. Miles Bletchley leaned out and gave two fingers to the twins, asking “Are you excited to be back at Hogwarts, lads? To get your own bed and everything. Don’t have to share with your entire family.” One of the twins drew his wand, but the other held him back. Cassius Warrington smirked and joined in. “Can your mum even afford to feed all of you? I suppose that’s what happens when you’re too uncultured to have anything else to be entertained by- you end up with a giant family like Weasley’s.”
I rolled my eyes, it’s not even a clever joke. Who cares if the Weasley’s are poor, it’s not like they can help it.
“Shut the fuck up about my family, pricks.” the one being held back by his brother snarled at the compartment.
“Or what?” taunted Bletchley, pulling out his wand too.
“Or it’ll be detention for the lot of you.” a voice behind the twins called out. It was Eleanor. Wonderful. She always had a charming knack of diffusing situations.
“Ah, Eleanor!” One of the twins - the one holding back the other - laughed and let her past “Light of my life, fire of my loins - oo-er. I hope you had as radiant a summer as you yourself.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere Weasley. I suggest you take your twin and head back to the Gryffindor carriage. We won’t be long until we reach Hogsmede.”
“Right you are Miss. Come along Fred, you heard the lady. Gents, lovely to see you all again, do enjoy the smell.” And just as he was leaving, he-George Weasley, apparently, very subtly tossed a dungbomb into their compartment before closing the door to the carriage behind them. I watched them both leave, laughing their heads off, and quickly let Eleanor through so we could close the door to our own compartment before the smell made its way through. We could hear the boys complaining through the wall and had to hold in our giggles. Juniper flicked the lock shut so they couldn't come in here.
Eleanor flopped down in her seat and sighed, before helping herself to the not tiny pile of chocolate frogs that I had accumulated from the trolley lady. “Nothing like a classic bit of Slytherin/Gryffindor Rivalry to truly welcome us back. And here I thought that we would have outgrown it over the summer” I said sarcastically and Eleanor rolled her eyes at me.
“I’ve missed that optimism, Serena, truly, but the day that the Slytherin/Gryffindor rivalry ends is the day that I become Keeper for England.”
Juniper piped up from the corner where she was changing into her school uniform, "You should become Chaser for England though Elle."
Eleanor desperately wanted to be on the school Quidditch team, but Slytherin hasn't let a girl play for at least a decade - maybe with Flint gone this year she could finally try out. Trying not to stare at Juniper's flat stomach and how wonderful her golden skin looked in the late afternoon sun. Apparently I was not the only Nott who couldn't keep my tongue in my mouth when it came to Juniper. I shook my head to clear the fog and turned back to Eleanor with as wide a grin as I could manage "Can't be any worse than the useless mob you've currently got playing for you!"
I paid for that comment with a jumper thrown at my face but I couldn't help but laugh. The Quidditch World Cup had been good for exactly one thing, and that has been endless bragging rights over my English friends. Pulling on my uniform at last the train finally came to a stop.
We made our way off the train up to the carriage only to see Malfoy shoving a small girl with a huge mess of blonde hair out of the way to get to the horseless carriages quicker. I stopped to help her up and noticed that she had radishes hanging from her ears. She smiled in thanks and skipped on, but by the time I looked around, Eleanor and Juniper had disappeared. I shrugged and made my way to a carriage, only to realise it was occupied by that same copper red hair I remembered from the forest all those weeks ago. Identical laughs cut off and smiles faded as I stuck my head through, and before I knew it it was too late and the door had closed, the carriage moving up to the castle. Stuck with the Weasley twins. I prayed to Merlin for a swift journey.