The Parents
The first of September arrived with the kind of crisp morning air that hinted at the changing season. Vi and Powder arrived at King’s Cross early, their excitement barely contained. Vander walked ahead of them, pushing Vi’s trunk on a trolley while Powder bounced beside her, chattering about all the things she was going to do once she got her own Hogwarts letter.
Vi wasn’t listening. She was too busy looking for Caitlyn.
The station was packed with students and families, the chatter and hustle of luggage creating a wall of sound around them. Vi’s stomach buzzed with anticipation as they neared Platform 9 ¾. She hadn’t seen Caitlyn in months, but their letters had been frequent, and Vi had thought of her a lot over the summer—probably more than she should have.
Then, finally, she spotted her.
Caitlyn stood near the entrance to the platform, her back straight, her expression carefully neutral. Her parents flanked her, both dressed in sharp, expensive-looking clothes that made them stand out among the crowd of bustling families. Her mother’s lips were pursed, her father looked vaguely disinterested, and between them, Caitlyn looked… stiff.
Vi’s excitement faltered just slightly.
She picked up her pace anyway. “Oi, Kiramman!” she called, a grin already spreading across her face.
Caitlyn turned, and for a brief moment, relief flickered across her face before she smoothed it over with polite composure. “Vi,” she greeted, and that was all the warning Vi got before Powder barreled into her.
“Caitlyn!” Powder said excitedly. “Vi wouldn’t stop talking about you all summer.”
Vi whipped around. “Powder, I swear to—”
Caitlyn laughed, and something inside Vi unclenched.
“I hear a lot about you too, Powder,” Caitlyn said, crouching slightly so she was at Powder’s level. “How’s your summer been?”
“Oh, boring. But I helped with your package! Vi was being all dramatic about it.”
“Was not,” Vi muttered.
Caitlyn smirked at her, but then her mother cleared her throat, and the moment shifted.
Vi’s grin faded as she took in the way Caitlyn immediately straightened, the way her shoulders tensed just slightly. She turned to face her parents, who were watching the exchange with cool indifference.
“Vi,” Caitlyn said, her voice polite but careful. “These are my parents. My father, Tobias, and my mother, Cassandra.”
Vi, always one to push boundaries, threw on her most charming grin. “Nice to meet you.” She extended a hand towards Tobias, who left it hanging in the open.
Cassandra’s lips barely twitched into a smile before she turned to Caitlyn. “We should be going,” she said, her tone clipped. “It would be unwise to linger.”
Vi felt her jaw tighten.
Caitlyn hesitated for half a second before nodding. “Right. I’ll see you inside, Vi?”
Vi forced herself to keep her tone light. “Yeah, of course.”
She stepped aside as Caitlyn turned, following her parents through the barrier without another word. Vi stared after her, that familiar frustration from the summer curling in her chest.
Vander clapped a hand on her shoulder. “Come on, kid. Let’s get you through.”
Vi swallowed down the irritation and turned back to Powder, who was looking between her and the now-empty spot where Caitlyn had stood.
“I don’t like them,” Powder announced.
Vi huffed a laugh. “Yeah, PowPow. Me neither.”
Vi exchanged goodbyes with Vander and Powder. Now that she knew how to get onto the train, she didn’t need them to accompany her through the barrier.
Vander gave Vi a bear hug. “Be good, yeah? I don’t want to receive any bloody owls unless they’re from you, you hear?”
Vi smirked. “Yeah, dad. I’ll do my best but no promises.” She pulled away when she heard a sniffle behind her.
“I’m gonna miss you!” Powder’s eyes were welled up with tears.
Vi picked up her little sister and tossed her over her shoulder, causing the girl with the bright blue hair to squeal and giggle.
“There’s that smile, Pow!” Vi laughed. “Don’t worry, I’ll write plenty!” Vi handed Powder off to Vander, who threw her on his shoulders.
“Promise?” Powder asked.
“I promise.”
Without another word, Vi gave one last wave goodbye, squared her shoulders and pushed forward, disappearing through the barrier after Caitlyn.