Chapter 7
‘you’ve packed your gloves?’
‘in my trunk, along with my hat, coat and rest of my winter gear.’
‘and your wellies? danny’s always telling me how wet it gets during the winter months. we don’t want you catching a cold out there from wet socks.’
‘ive got those too.’ hazel reassured, smiling as margret fussed over her bags, reaching over to fiddle with the top buttons of hazels winter coat and closing them up to ‘protect against the chill’. now the woman was checking and re-checking that both marlene and hazels bags where loaded onto the metal trolley as the rest of the passers by in the train station rushed past, shrill train whistles and the screech of wheels on train tracks ricocheting through the bustling station. marlene was standing to the side of the trolley, looking faintly amused as margret re-checked that they both had their trunks labelled and secure for the second time in the last ten minutes.
as much as hazel loved the woman, she was secretly envious that danny had returned to the canons a day prior, without the whole platform send off. she was certain that he hadn’t been subjected to this level of fussing. then again, she was also certain that all of margret’s fussing and concern was stemming from a worry over her, concern that warmed something inside her and made it impossible to feel anything but touched even as margret checked her bags for the third time now.
‘and your certain that you have-’
‘my wand, yes- in my trunk, alongside my school text books, three rolls of parchment, and my shillings are packed into my day bag, alongside the emergency three gold coins, and extra emergency gold coin in my trunk in case those three first ones go missing or are spent.’
she smiled at margret. ‘ive got everything. im fine, mum. im ready.’
margret deflated, a soft smile replacing the look of concern on her face as a gentle sort of pride shone through her blue eyes. ‘i know you are, dear.’
she opened her arms and hazel didn’t hesitate to come towards her, embracing her tightly as margret enveloped her in a fierce hug. she felt her soft exhale at the top of her head as she let herself steal the warmth from a woman who had been her mother for the past eight years for a moment, then two before gently pulling back. looked at margret’s kind eyes, the eyes of a woman who had loved and cared for her and given her a home and everything she could have ever asked for. who had given her a family.
‘ill write every week.’ she swore and was rewarded by the way margrets smile strengthened, even as she added ‘im sure you and dad will appreciate them more then both danny and marls’s ones anyway. i read one of marls’s once and was almost bored to tears.’
‘oi!’ marlene protested, throwing one of her gloves at hazels face that she batted away, laughing and watching as it fell onto the cold cobblestone floor as marlene stooped down to quickly snatch it up, giving her the bird as she rose.
‘don’t tease.’ margret chided, but her eyes where smiling. she moved over to give marlene her own hug before stepping back and giving them one last once over, before telling them to have a safe trip and disappearing back into the crowds to flu back home. hazel tracked her retreating figure as she blended into the crowd of the station before turning to marlene, and taking hold of the trolley with one hand.
‘we good to go?’ she questioned as marlene made no move to approach the trolley, instead levelling hazel with a glint in her eye that immediately made her suspicious.
‘we have a few minutes.’ she replied, looking both eager and content at once. ‘you still have a few things left to do.’
‘i-’
the rest of her sentence was abruptly cut off by a shout that pierced through the clamour of the train station and hazel found her eyes widening as she whipped her head around with such speed she felt her neck twist in protest from the movement. because she knew that voice. knew the boy it belonged to.
sure enough, pushing through the throng of bodies where two figures rapidly approaching both her and marlene, both bundled in thick winter jackets, the slightly shorter of the two clad in a thick patchwork knitted scarf that obscured some of her bleach blond curls, while the taller strode towards them with long, swift strides, dark hair gleaming in the watery morning sunlight and pale blue eyes already fixed on her own. she spun back around, gaping at marlene who laughed at her expression before her features softened.
‘go.’ she urged, moving to angle the trolley to the side of wooden bench and out of the path of passers-by as she positioned herself beside it. ‘the train doesn’t leave for another fifteen. you have time.’
she hesitated for only a moment until marlene gave her a gentle nudge and she snapped out of her brief shock. before she realised it she was rushing forwards, pushing through the crowd as she made her way over to cass and tony, bag still clasped in one hand. they both smiled as she neared, before cass’s expression morphed into one of as incredulousness as she pulled back her arm and punched hazel in the bicep, hard.
‘you wanker!’
hazel jumped back, cradling her now slightly throbbing arm more out of shock then any real pain. ‘ouch?’
‘where you really just expecting to sneak off without us finding out?’
‘i wasn’t sneaking off!’ she protested, ‘i told both of you that my train was leaving today! that was not sneaking.’
‘sounds like something someone who’s sneaking off would say.’ tony interjected with a raised brow that she rolled her eyes at. his lips quirked up.
‘i really wasn’t trying to rush off on yous.’ she explained, shifting from one foot to the other under cass’s narrowed gaze. ‘and we already said goodbye. its just-’
‘been such a rush.’ they parroted back in perfect unison and she scoffed, giving them both a gentle shove even as her mouth betrayed her by curving into a small smile. she felt her shoulders slump then, the next words quiet as she spoke. ‘yeah. it has been.’
cass’s expression softened as she reached over and grasped hazels hand in her own, interlocking their chilled fingers. ‘i know, zel.’
‘and there’s no way that you can get out of being sent off to this fancy boarding school in the arse crack of scotland?’ tony asked. it was the same thing he had asked the day she had told them both that she was switching schools less then a week ago. they both knew the answer. he asked anyway.
‘no, there’s not.’ she admitted, biting her lip in thought. ‘ i mean, i want to go its just… it’s going to be a big change.’ they had no idea how big of a one.
‘i suppose so,’ tony mused, angling his head. ‘but change isn’t always a bad thing.’
‘no.’ she agreed softly. ‘its not.’
‘oi, don’t you both get all emotional on me.’ cass threatened, even as she blinked rapidly for a moment and her expression cleared. ‘hey, at least you don’t have to hand in that macbeth english report anymore. silver linings, or whatever the fuck.’
‘maybe we should ship you off too to some scottish boarding school, save mr dean from having to read yours.’ tony mused as cass elbowed him in the ribs as both he and hazel sniggered. he straightened suddenly, eyes brightening as he reached a ring clad hand into his coat pocket.
‘before i forget…’
he withdrew his hand and the object clasped in it, extending it out to her. she took it automatically, before looking down at what she was holding. she was holding a small glass ashtray, embroidered with a small black ‘R.H’ on the bottom. she would recognise the pub marking anywhere, as she already had a steady collection of coasters she had nicked from it on nights out. it was from the roaring hog, their local pub that they had been frequenting since she and cass had been fourteen, and tony fifteen. it was their pub. A piece of home.
‘nicked it straight from the hog last night. thought you should have a little piece of home to bring with you to that new school of yours.’
she smiled, feeling something in her chest swell. ‘cheers, tony.’
‘what you say we nip down to the local corner and pick you up a couple smokes to bring with?’ cass suggested, looking at hazel. ‘ i was going to bring you a pack of reds, but forgot them at home.’
she shook her head. ‘cant, my train leaves in the next few minutes.’
‘better that way anyways’ tony agreed. ‘ive got to get back to the corner in the next hour, o’farrell’s likely to castrate me if i miss my next shift.’
she frowned. ‘since when do you work any other days then thursdays and sundays?’
‘i switched up a few shifts’ he explained, shrugging lightly. ‘you mentioned yous only get access to that village phonebooth at that new fancy school of yours on sunday afternoons, so i got garra to switch up the shifts. he works my sundays, while i have his double on saturdays.’
she stared at him, eyes wide as the words sank in, at the casual tone he used when delivering this new update as if it didn’t uproot her entirely. she felt that crack within her chest tremble and shoved it down, simultaneously blinking aggressively against the wetness that threatened to cover her vision while glaring at him for having the audacity for making her want to cry.
‘bloody prick.’ she mumbled as she surged forwards, enveloping him another hug as she blinked furiously, refusing to allow her eyes to become damp. she felt his chuckle reverberate through his chest that she was now pressed against as two large, strong arms encircled her, holding her tight, as she squeezed her eyes shut, attempting to burn this moment into her memory. to be picked apart, deconstructed and combed through when the longing overtook her in an old castle in the scottish highlands. a reminder of what she was leaving, but also a promise of what she was coming back too.
she heard a rustle, and then a second set of arms, more slender then the first pair where wrapping around them both and squeezing fiercely. cass. she felt the brush of her blond curls as they tickled the nape of her neck, smelt the lingering scent of her sweet strawberry perfume mingling with the woodsy scent of tony’s aftershave and felt her body relax as she breathed it in. made herself remember the scent. let herself linger in the moment as it stretched on and knew, irrevocable, that here, standing together on a bustling train platform on a chilly january morning, interwoven in a tangle of limbs and heats that beat in tandem, that she was home.
she peeled herself back slowly, ducking out of reach as tony made a swipe to ruffle her hair, whacking him lightly in the side as cass laughed and chirped a bright ‘until sunday!’
‘well be expecting a full report of your studies by then’ tony deadpanned as cass nodded enthusiastically, adding eagerly ‘full academic report. none of ours will be slacking at their new fancy school. get ready for a long call.’
‘maybe ill just cut the wire then. save me the trouble.’
cass shrugged, unperturbed. ‘meh, well just drive down then.’
she raised a brow. ‘literally neither of you can drive.’
tony was the one to shrug then. ‘then we kidnap someone who can and make them drive us down instead. simple.’
she blinked. ‘or… you could get the train down? you know, how most people do.’
‘im with tony for the first option.’ cass agreed, and was then the one who had to duck as hazel made a swipe for her, laughing while she did so.
‘don’t get into too much trouble until then.’ tony warned as she stepped back, reaching for her bag and grasping it in one hand.
‘or do.’ cass added cheekily, a wicked gleam in her eye. ‘then you get to tell us all about it.’
‘ill make no promises.’ she laughed, and gave both one last hug, allowing herself to linger in their warmth, their familiarity for a few moments before she pulled back, walking over to where marlene was lingering to the side of the platform, both hands clasped onto the handle of the trolley before her. she smiled at hazel as she approached, reaching one hand out to clasp her own and squeezing softly. hazel squeezed back, chest already feeling lighter at the promise of getting to hear from them both in only a matter of days, enough so that she turned, smiling at where they stood shoulder to shoulder at the edge of the platform only a couple of feet away. the distance felt like miles.
‘ill see you at easter.’ she promised, as both her and marlene started pushing the trolley slowly up the platform in the direction of platform 10.
‘and dont you forget it!’ cass called out, raising an arm and waving enthusiastically as hazel huffed a laugh, feeling a smile curl the corners of her lips. she allowed herself one moment to look. one moment, to register both faces of two of the most important people in her life, at tonys bright blue eyes that where currently creased on the corners from the broad smile he was levelling her way, the dimple he was currently sporting on his left cheek that only emerged when he was really, truly smiling. at the way he had one large arm wrapped around cass’s shoulders who was standing pressed into his side, one hand stuffed into the pocket of her thick winter coat and the other raised above her head from where she was waving her farewell, the tip of her nose reddened from the chilled january air and brown eyes alight.
she raised her own arm as she waved back, before turning back to the trolley and helping marlene wheel it down the station, weaving past other train passengers and luggage as they neared their own platform. she would have missed it had marlene not slowed her steps, nudging hazel in the side with an elbow as she nodded to a red brick archway they were now approaching.
she blinked, the smooth red stone wall utterly unassuming before her eyes save for the platform number than hung high above its gaping arch, the number 9 3/4 scrawled upon its smooth black surface in an golden scrawl. she felt the slow build of excitement fizz through her veins as she pictured the train hidden behind its barricade, the hustle of magic welders and noise that undoubtably coated in the platform like treacle. beside her marlene shifted, nudging hazel slightly with her scrawny robe clad elbow, smiling at her friends slowly blossoming excitement, gold eyes aglow.
‘you ready, zel?’
she exhaled, taking a moment to pause admits the overflowing stations commotion, tuning out the bustle of quick paced passers by and screeching train whistles to spiral inwards, burrowing herself within her innermost thoughts. she knew this was it, the point of no return, so to speak. this line, the first step into embracing the wizarding world she had been born into, then ripped out of by greedy clawing hands and abruptly thrust back into once crossed, could not be retracted. by passing through this wall, she would take the final step in removing herself from the shield of wilful ignorance she had so delicately wrapped herself in and into the cold reality she had painstakingly avoided for the past few years of her short life. a reality in which she possessed magic.
a part of her, a large, screaming, thrashing part within her pleaded with her to turn, to reverse her footsteps and leave this place to the corners of her memories, dulled and half forgotten by the passage of time. to walk back into the world of muggles, a world of free of power and the unnatural and to keep trodding forwards, to allow distance to separate herself from this other world as she had previous been so content on doing.
a smaller part, a minuscule glowing fraction of herself seemed to perk up, awaking from its years long slumber to stretch, alight at the magic that seemed to swell beyond the daunting barrier. that part of herself thrummed, warm hands cradling her trembling heart, soft in its touch as it soothed. as it burned. she wanted this, buried within the folds of her fear, her uncertainty and rage, was a bone deep desire to move, to bolt into the tantalising magical world before her and everything it offered. she had her first taste of magic. and she wanted more.
she could not run, not any longer. she knew that deep within her bones, in each heartbeat that fluttered within her chest, beats light and hopeful. she was tired of fleeing. of hiding.
it was time to stand.
she nodded, shoulders straightening, icy determination thickening her blood and straightening her spine. she was ready. tilting her head to meet her best friends calm blue gaze she dipped her head again, mouth set and golden gaze fierce. marlene just smiled at her, intertwining their fingers, white flesh marbled against gold, and squeezed, fingers warm and solid within her own firm grasp. they turned as one, marlene’s other hand wrapping around the cold metal of their shared trolley, overstuffed brown cases balanced precariously upon two large ivory smooth trunks, rotating the vehicle so that it faced the wall before them. both girls lungs expanded, separate bodies attune as if two pieces of a grander whole and then at the same second they launched forwards, footsteps clattering over the polished station tiles as they approached the wall, eyes instinctively squeezing closed as they made contact and launched themselves into the world of witchcraft and wizardry, headfirst and unfaltering.
their hands stayed clasped the entire time.
________________________
the noise of platform 9 3/4 crashed into hazel as she blinked her groggy eyes open from where they had been squeezed shut against her descent through the barrier. beside her, marlene’s own lids fluttered open, blinking rapidly against the bright overflowing light that assaulted their vision. standing side by side before the barrier, the hand clasping pair had an unobstructed view of the platform that spilled before them, robe cladded figures fleeting around the station like pieces of debris cascading down a river, darting around in hurried movements, or stood huddled in embracing groups like boulders jutting out of the waters flow. all around her was motion, the rushing dark dressed bodies a stark contrast to the platform’s light tiles and glowing lantern, open roof allowing the bright blue horizon and burning midday sun to spill into the space, bathing its occupants with its warm caress.
the high stone ceilings stretched towards the open sky, large thick paned windows lining the walls, solid blurred glass depicting towering figures and heroic creatures alike, sunlight smudged as it pushed through their thick surfaces. towering marble speckled pillars wended their way up the right of the platform, the left side sporting the deep grooved railway that now housed the large steam billowing train all the wizards and witches seemed to gravitate towards, small uniformed figures darting in and out its multiple carriage doors. all around her the noise of tearful embraces and loud cheerful chatter seemed to flow, thick in the air as it seeped through the expanse of the narrow stretch of the platform.
she felt marlene squeeze her hand, eyes bright as she met her own, the same bubbling excitement coursing through her nerves that she beheld in her best friends gaze. hazel grinned, squeezing her hand back before detangling them, grasping the trolley with both hands and helping her friend push it up and towards the train. they made their way past several groups of other students, uniforms in various states of completion bidding farewell to their parents, many with small owls or furred animals perched upon their shoulders, some with tear stained eyes and wobbling lips, others with wide grins and fleeting gazes, searching for familiar faces amongst the throng of people.
a few of the faces stuck out to her as they weaved their way through the crowds, such as a family of four, mops of deep auburn hair and pale freckled cheeks huddled together near the end of the platform, two identical boys in uniforms of matching disarray, red and gold striped ties loose and robes notably absent being embraced tightly by what could only be their mother, while an older boy of the same colouring looked on, face alight with amusement over the display of affection. closer to the beginning of the platform she noticed a group of slightly older students warmly greeting on another, a slight framed girl with short burette hair swallowed in a hug by a much larger muscled boy, hair cropped short and cheeks stained red. a girl with twin flowing platinum braids floated fast, dark skin flecked with multicoloured crystals, interwoven into her jewellery that adorned her glowing skin, a clump of strangely decorated cards clasped in both hands.
she tore her gaze to the train and the crowd lingering before it, eyes latching onto a familiar figure, clad in dark black pristine robes and green and white striped tie, long locks twisted up into a half bun spotted with tiny emerald crystals. their eyes met, recognition flaring as dorcas grinned, raising her arm to wave to hazel, the girl returning the gesture with a smile of her own.
‘how have you made friends already!?’ marlene balked, rounding on hazel with an accusing look, as if half expecting hazel to admit she had secretly snuck onto the train already and befriended its entire occupants within the few minutes they had arrived. ‘you’ve barely just made it onto the platform!’
hazel just beamed at her, unable to help a little teasing. ‘i can’t help that my enrapturing personality draws everyone in a five mile radius in.’
marlene scoffed, flicking her on the forehead, making her yelp in protest.
‘merlin,’ marlene grumbled as hazel pretended to pout ‘you and sirius are never allowed to meet.’
‘you mean your friend with the ridiculous hair and annoyingly great beating skills?’
marlene opened her mouth to retort but was cut off by a loud bark of laughter directly behind her, causing both girls to simultaneously whirl around. there, facing them both stood a boy dressed in loose black school pants and an untucked white shirt, tie askew and school robes noticeable missing. his delicately boned ivory face was framed with gorgeous raven silk hair, falling effortlessly just below his jaw in with such perfection it suggested anything but, light blue eyes twinkling with mischief and pink lips tugged upwards in a lazy smirk as he took in both girls startled expressions. although hazel had never seen him before, she could identify those pristine locks and cocky attitude from marlene’s re-accountings, usually the ones that contained exasperated sighs and groans of frustration. sirius, then.
the boy smirked at the blond, accent dripping with aristocracy as he exclaimed ‘you think im a great beater?’
‘of course that’s the one thing you picked up from that.’ marlene grouched, rolling her eyes at the sirius as he turned his attention to hazel. ‘sirius,’ he winked at her before adding in mock whisper ‘and i can assure you, nothing she’s said about me is true.’
‘well she wasn’t wrong about the hair part.’ hazel relied sweetly.
sirius gasped, raising a hand to his chest as if shot. ‘you wound me!’
she shrugged, small smile playing on her full lips ‘im sure you’ll survive.’
‘i like this one.’ he grinned, cocking a thumb at hazel and causing marlene to frown at him, light brows set in a rigid line upon her forehead as she scowled.
‘piss of black, she’s my friend.’
‘what mckinnon, your saying that just because she’s your friend she can’t be mine?’
‘that’s exactly what im saying.’
he opened his mouth, undoubtably delighted at the prospect of winding the blond up some more but was thankfully abruptly interrupted by the shrill whistle that pierced the air, a loud puff of steam following its wake as the train prepared for its departure.
‘all aboard’ sirius grinned, jumping to grab his case as the two girls followed, heavy trunks clasped in each hand as they pushed their way through the crowd. a flash of trailing beaded braids caught hazels attention and she snapped her gaze to a familiar figure standing half out the train, dark eyes scanning and lighting up as they met with her own. she felt her smile bloom, shouting out a ‘this way’ over the commotion of boarding students as she pushed her way towards dorcas, a slightly confused marlene and sirius in tow.
‘hazel!’ the girl in question beamed as the trio came before her, eyes bright and shining. ‘thought i lost you on the platform for a second there.’
‘hey dorcas.’ she smiled back, following the girl inside the carriage with sirius and marlene in tow, the pair swapping a singular glance between them before turning back to where hazel and dorcas stood.
‘meadows?’ marlene questioned, voice slightly strained as she took in the slytherin before her who in turn scanned her from head to toe, eyes lingering slightly. ‘the first friend you made for yourself is a slytherin?’
‘dont be a snob’ hazel chided before rounding back towards her new friend, smiling brightly at her. ‘any space left in your carriage?’
dorcas shot marlene a cool glance before grinning back at hazel as she retorted ‘of course, there’s space for a few more since regulus isn’t taking the train. we’ve got the back carriage, c’mon.’
‘that’s my sign.’ sirius grumbled, already turning on his heel. ‘no way in godrics pants am i spending the next few hours holed up with a bunch of reggie’s mates. I’ll catch up to you both at the coaches.’
with that he ducked down the corridor, swallowed by the scurry of students making their way into their own compartments in a mere matter of moments. marlene looked set to follow but hazel interrupted her attempt to flee, linking her arm through the sputtering girl’s and pushing their way to dorcas who had just reached her own compartment door, swinging the stiff wooden door open as the three girls entered. it was moderately sized with a large thick paned window providing a direct view to the station beyond and the waving parents that dotted it, plush green cushioned benches lining both ends of the wood panelled compartment, upon which sat three figures already deep in conversation, their chatter halting and gazes landing upon to the three girls that lined the entrance of the compartment. they took in the three bodies that stood before them, the tallest braided girl pressed against the shortest, curling chestnut hair falling below her shoulders and a tanned arm wound in the robe covered arm of the last figure, choppy blond hair scraped back into a loose ponytail and blue eyes wary.
hazel returned the gesture, scanning over the three seated figures covering both benches, two dressed in standard black school pants and white blouses, one tucked in and the other not, the third in neat white blouse and grey uniform skirt. the girl was sitting the closest to the door, long braids a platinum blond so fair it was almost white in its shade, contrasting prettily against her dark skin. she had delicate features, as if a pixie had been crafted into human form, with small delicate ring clad hands clasping an assortment of cards in her lap. she was the only slightly familiar face of the three before her with hazel having already seen her briefly brush past her at the platform beyond the window, while the other two where completely unfamiliar.
opposite the delicate boned girl slumped the first boy, arms slung loosely of the side of the bench and posture relaxed, straight brown hair unkempt and short, sticking up at odd angles as if he had spent the better part of the previous few minutes running his pale fingers through it. his face was an assortment of icy blue eyes, sharp cheekbones and angular brows, decorated with a lopsided smirk as he took in the crowd before him. the last boy’s uniform immaculate in contrast to the boy beside him, blond hair windswept, complexion fair to the point his pale blue eyes and rosebud lips where the only splashes of colour on his face. his strong jawline and harsh cheekbones accenting his beauty and scowl alike, red tinged lips tugged down by the edges, gaze hard and unfriendly as he pinned the two new girls with it.
it was the brown haired boy that reacted first, letting out an impressed huff as he scanned hazel, trouble and something else, something not quite sane dancing within his eyes, before his attention flicked to her left, grin staining his lips as his gaze bounced from dorcas to marlene, then back again.
‘new mates of yours, cas?’ he asked sweetly as the girl in question squirmed slightly, shooting the smirking boy a glare before retorting
‘hazel here is, yes. hazel, this is evan,’ she jerked her head towards the silent blond figure, ‘pandora’, gesturing towards the dainty white-haired girl who smiled warmly at the new pair, ‘and barty.’ she finished, the brown haired boy flashing a grin at mention of his name. ‘evan, pandora, barty, this is hazel.’ she paused, then added ‘and mckinnon.’
hazel smiled, hoisting her overstuffed trunk onto one of the railings above and positioning herself onto the bench alongside pandora, the girl smiling softly back at her as she shuffled, settling into the checkered green cushions. marlene made to move beside her but was interrupted by barty suddenly springing upwards, flashing a smirk in evan’s direction before striding over, flopping his long limbs onto the seat beside hazel with a casual ‘actually on second thought, i saw evan devour a bunch of rosmertas signature sandwiches before boarding, and we all know what those do to his insides. cas, mckinnon, looks like him and his gasses are all yours to deal with. sorry about that.’
he did not look sorry at all, smirking fiendishly at the two girls as evan coughed, shooting barty a glare even as the corners of his lips tugged upwards. dorcas was less subtle in her displeasure, currently glowered at barty as if she was attempting to hex him a slow painful death through her gaze alone. her expression of serious murder plotting was quickly replaced with one of barely contained panic as she shot a glance to the blond beside her, as if she could think if nothing more terrifying then spending the next few foreseeable hours pressed between evan and marlene on the short bench. marlene looked similarly uncomfortable, ears tinged with a slight flush as she made to plunk herself down on the awaiting seat, a reluctant dorcas in suit, both making a great effort to steadily ignore each others gazes as they made themselves comfortable on the seat. a singular of dorcas’s braids shifted so that it draped over marlene’s shoulder through her shuffling, marlene stiffening at the contact as if stupefied.
‘so your new,’ barty spoke, turning to her, although it wasn’t framed as a question. ‘i definitely would have noticed you if you weren’t.’
‘keep it in your pants barty.’ dorcas scoffed, shooting the brunette an exacerbated glance. he just threw his hands up in mock surrender, chuckling even as he continued, fixing his icy eyes upon her own. out of the corner of her gaze, she noticed evan stiffening slightly, but he kept his own gaze firmly fixed on his shoes, ignoring her existence completely.
‘you a transfer? can’t say we get many from beauxbatons or durmstrang. what, you kicked out of your old school or something?’ barty continued, something dangerous lingering behind his smirk. she felt both marlene and dorcas stiffen, the latter shooting out a ‘play nice’, although hazel just shrugged, meeting the boys cool gaze.
‘maybe i did.’ she simply replied, watching his eyes light up.
‘salzar, must have been something really bad if your being booted out. they almost never expel anyone out of hogwarts, and im guessing its the same from your old place.’
‘really?’ she supposed that made sense, thinking back to some of the stories danny had told her of classmates of his and the hexes some of them had thrown around, including the fact that the most punishment anyone seemed to ever get consisted of lengthy detentions and polishing old trophy or some other tiring tasks. ‘what does it take for a hogwarts student to be kicked out?’
‘haven’t found out yet.’ he replied, grinning. ‘its got to be something really terrible though, the old bastard seems set on straightening out even the worst of us. can’t think of anything a student in the past few years has done to get them expelled, save for attempted murder. wait- you didn’t kill anyone, did you?’ he seemed strangely delighted by the idea.
‘can’t say i have, no.’
‘attempted murder?’
‘not yet.’
he laughed, seemingly startled at the fact she had garnered such a response from himself. ‘well, whatever it is you did, i expect you to teach it to me immediately.’
she smirked. ‘ill think about it.’
‘dont start you’ pandora warned, narrowing her eyes at the smirking boy as she frowned at him. ‘you dont need any more help getting into trouble than you already do.’
both evan and dorcas huffed out a breath of laughter at this, dorcas relaxing slightly as barty started protesting, launching into a passionate debate that had him demanding his right as an exceptional student to increase his knowledge of magical hexes and curses, regardless if they may be used for any possible attempted murder, as pandora vehemently protested. it was evan who interrupted their debating, acknowledging her presence for the first time since the train had began its journey to scotland.
his gaze was cool as he fixed it upon her own, a cold intensity in those irises that would have made most squirm under them. hazel simply waited. his long limbs were loosely arranged on the seat before him in an imitation of relaxed indifference yet his expression was anything but, features hard, eyes flickering between her and barty, seeming to grow even colder when they landed upon her own again. quite frankly if she was anyone else she would have found him rather terrifying, but as she was not she simply smiled. his voice was bland as he spoke.
‘transfers don’t starts in the middle of sixth year after christmas break.’
she paused for a moment, debating on what to reveal, and quickly settled for the truth, shrugging as she responded ‘that’s because im not.’ it wasn’t as if she was trying to hide how she had only just become a student at hogwarts, and decided she would rather have it out in the open now rather than emerging later in some unsuspecting conversation. ‘i just came into my magic a few weeks ago. before that, i was regarded as without any.’
the three original passengers of the carriage’s brows shot up, eyes widening at an alarming rate. it was pandora who spoke first, voice laced with startled shock. ‘you mean you didn’t know you didn’t have magic until recently?’
‘no.’
‘but how is that even possible?’ she pressed, brows knit together, brow wrinkled. ‘most witches and wizards present as early as four years. your our age, presumably as your joining the same year as were all in. how is it your power never presented itself?’
she raised a singular shoulder, ignoring a tight coiling that wormed its way through her gut, oily and squirming. ‘dont know.’
‘maybe its because you barely posses any.’ it was evan, tone still carefully bland as his eyes bored into hers, seeming to peer down and through her, as if he could sense the oily withering presence that was burrowing itself between the flesh of her intestines. she fought to keep her palms from clenching. he saw too much.
‘watch it.’ marlene spat but both hazel and evan ignored her, gazes still locked. she simply shrugged, stating ‘i dont need magic to throw a punch.’ she hadn’t ever thrown one, but decided he didn’t need to know that, especially as his brows flew up in disbelief.
‘you reckon you could go against me with nothing but your hands?’
‘we could always find out.’
barty cackled, delighted at her response. ‘what, you planning to deck everyone in this carriage?’
‘well certainly not everyone.’ she responded before nodding to the platinum haired girl beside her. ‘out of this carriage, pandora seem far to nice to punch.’
‘what about me?!’ marlene and dorcas both exclaimed, affronted, as pandora preened, both girls reddening as their protests where spoken in perfect unison. hazel just flashed them a smile.
‘your both debatable.’
‘you pick your friends well cas,’ barty laughed. ‘she would make a great slytherin.’
marlene wrinkled her nose at the perceived insult, while dorcas just beamed. ‘she better, im hoping she’s sorted in my dorm and kicks gracie out. ive had enough of that cow from the past five years ive been stuck in a room with her.’
pandora gave her a sympathetic smile, evan seeming to grimace in agreement but barty was silent, expression free of its previous smirk and surprisingly grave as he frowned at no one in particular, question dripping slowly from his reddened lips.
‘seriously though,’ he pondered, ‘how is that actually possible? i mean, a lot of magic welders present signs later on, but none so late that they only come aware of their own powers so late on in life.’
‘leave her be,’ dorcas snapped curtly, beating marlene to whatever response she was undoubtedly about to spit out, mouth already open and cheeks flushed with indignation. barty obediently snapped his mouth closed, shame straining his features as he looked at his scowling friend. ‘im sure she hardly knows herself, so there’s no need to keep pestering her about it.’
hazel felt herself sag slightly, gratitude unfurling within her at her friend’s fierce defence, even as dorcas continued. ‘plus, its not as if her lack of magic is going to be an issue.’ she grinned then, expression fierce and aglow. ‘she’s got five of hogwarts finest here as her personal tutors.’
‘four.’ evan muttered, turning away from her with a scowl and fixing his gaze out the window and upon the rolling green expanse that lay beyond, trees and fields blurring past as the train continued its journey. pandora was the opposite, smiling wildly at hazel as she explained ‘im excellent at divination. id be happy to teach you in it, if you wish.’
‘that would be great.’ hazel smiled thankfully back at the girl, barty merely cocking his head to the side before asking ‘will you teach me how to deck someone?’
her smile morphed into something sharper, something wicked with jagged edges. ‘id be happy to.’
he returned her grin. ‘then count me in.’
the conversation flowed easily onwards throughout the long hours, chatter only briefly interrupted by the appearance of the snack trolley as the lot of them paused to stuff themselves with chocolates and strangely shaped popping sweets, all save for evan who continued staring out of the window, gaze intense enough hazel worried briefly he would burn two small holes through the thick pane. the rest of the occupants quickly drew her attention away and when the train finally arrived at the destination, the enormous grey brick castle nestled between thick grassed rolling scottish hills and framed by a burnt orange descending sun, hazel found herself thinking that regardless of marlene’s previous tirades of the house, she wouldn’t mind too much being sorted into slytherin.