Starman

30th of June 1972

The girls were in a frenzy of last-minute packing, darting around their dormitory and double-checking every corner to ensure nothing had been left behind. Amalia sat cross-legged on her bed, her trunk open in front of her, as she carefully folded her favourite red jumper and placed it neatly inside.

“Come on! We’ve got to go! We can’t miss the train!” Lily exclaimed, flapping her hands about as she glanced at her watch for the hundredth time.

“Alright, alright, we’re ready!” Marlene said, trying to soothe Lily’s panic as she fastened her trunk shut with a snap.

The four girls grabbed their luggage, dragging it behind them as they made their way out of the dormitory and down the spiralling staircase that led to the common room. Professor McGonagall had instructed all first-years to meet her there so she could do a final head count before leading them to the carriages waiting outside.

As they descended into the common room, they came face-to-face with the boys. James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter were already there, casually leaning against the wall by the entrance to the dorm rooms as though they hadn’t a care in the world.

Lily scowled immediately, her jaw tightening. Without so much as a glance in James’s direction, she shoved past him. James blinked, his face falling into a crestfallen expression that made Amalia’s chest tighten.

As Amalia followed Lily, she hesitated. Her gaze flicked to Sirius, and her breath hitched when she realised he was already looking at her. Their eyes locked for a moment, and Sirius offered her a small, awkward smile—one that was clearly meant to reassure her.

She managed a faint smile back, but the weight of the morning was pressing down on her. As she walked past James, she caught sight of his expression: hurt, confused, and—most of all—betrayed.

Amalia opened her mouth, ready to say something, anything, but before she could, McGonagall’s crisp voice rang out behind them.

“Right, everyone, settle down. I’ll call your names. When you hear yours, shout out loud and clear so I know you’re here!”

Reluctantly, Amalia turned away from James and joined the group gathering near McGonagall. She could feel James’s eyes on her for a moment longer, but when she glanced back, he had turned away, his shoulders hunched slightly as he muttered something to Sirius.

•••

Once Professor McGonagall had marked everyone as present, the group of first-years made their way out of the castle and down towards the carriages.

“Quick, let’s grab this one before it fills up!” Mary called, pointing to an empty carriage near the end of the row.

The girls piled in, squeezing their trunks onto the floor and settling into the cushioned seats. The gentle sway of the carriage as it began its journey was soothing, and soon the girls were chatting cheerfully about their plans for the summer holidays.

“I’m going to Spain with my family,” Marlene said brightly. “We’ve rented an entire villa right near the beach. I’m planning on spending the whole time lying in the sun, doing absolutely nothing.”

“That sounds amazing,” Amalia said, smiling.

“Just remember, we’ve got to meet up for school shopping,” Lily chimed in. “I’ll write to you all with a date once we’re home. I can’t believe we’ll be second-years soon!”

•••

The train station came into view far too quickly for Amalia’s liking. It was bittersweet, leaving Hogwarts behind. As much as she looked forward to seeing her family again, there was something about the castle that made it feel like home.

The girls climbed aboard the train and quickly found an empty compartment near the back. They settled in, stowing their trunks and relaxing into the familiar red seats as the train began to chug away from the station.

The journey passed in a mix of chatter, laughter, and quiet moments. Marlene and Mary were engrossed in a particularly competitive game of Exploding Snap, the occasional bang! making Lily jump and glare at them over the top of her book. Lily, as always, had her nose buried in its pages, her brow furrowed in concentration as she turned each one with careful precision.

Amalia sat by the window, her sketchbook balanced on her lap, pencil moving lightly across the page as she worked on a drawing of the rolling hills and trees blurring past outside. Ruby, curled up beside her, purring softly in her sleep, her warmth a quiet comfort.

The girls made a pact to write to each other as often as possible and promised to meet up in London before the next term began. They laughed and teased one another, enjoying every last moment of the train ride.

Before they knew it, the train was pulling into King’s Cross Station. The platform was bustling with activity as parents greeted their children with open arms, and friends hugged goodbye, promising to stay in touch.

Amalia dragged her trunk behind her, weaving her way through the crowd as she searched for her family. She spotted them near the far end of the platform: her mum and dad standing together, with her siblings, Charlie and Brandy, scanning the crowd eagerly for her.

“There she is!” Brandy called, waving her arm.

Amalia hurried over, and the moment she reached them, her parents pulled her into a tight hug.

“How was your first year, kid?” her dad asked, ruffling her hair affectionately.

Amalia grinned up at him, her chest swelling with happiness as she thought of everything that had happened over the past year. “It was pretty damn good,” she replied.

Her mum laughed, wrapping an arm around her and Brandy’s shoulders as they headed for the exit. “Come on, let’s get you home. I want to hear all about it.”

As they walked away from the platform, Amalia glanced back over her shoulder at the train. A pang of longing hit her as she thought of the castle, the lake, and her friends. But she knew this wasn’t the end—it was only the beginning.

And for now, she was content.