Hello You

Aine Murphy was conflicted, staring at her various clothes and hair supplies laid out on her bed she knew that if she wanted to maintain her hair she would probably have to take either a natural break in between or just start the school year off like that
She decided to sit on the floor and slowly started to pack her clothes and think about it later

“Aine?” Connell questioned while walking in and stared at his younger sister

“Gosh Connell is knocking a foreign concept?” She snipped while going over her sweaters, Connell rolled his eyes and sat on her bed

“Just checking in on ya, are you okay?” He questioned as he looked at her hair supplies, touching various things

Aine breathed deeply trying to repress a sigh, she was tired of being asked that by him. She understood why he kept asking because for the first weeks of summer she wasn’t. Aine will forever remember how disoriented and confused she felt and how she couldn’t sleep well. She coped by throwing herself into some studying and reading but she found herself more jumpy and nervous than before. She tried to ignore Connell's protectiveness and hoped once they returned to school he wouldn’t worry anymore. What happened last year wouldn’t happen again,so he will forget about it
“I’m okay Connell, I swear it. Ma didn’t send you did she?” She replied smacking his hand away from her things

“Oi,” he began and he tried to grab a small rat tail comb “you have another let me borrow this one”

“No! I thought you were gonna do a fro thing this year” Aine grumbled out placing her products at the top so they were neat.

“Maybe I’ll braid it up when it gets warmer and I was thinking of going back on the quidditch team this year” He complained keeping it close to him “Oliver asked me to do reserve maybe since his seeker is always getting hurt”

“Whatever you can have it but I’m not braiding it up for you. I have to worry about my own hair and do double work this year so..” she replied while inspecting her room again, searching for possible missed items

“I don’t need you to braid it, any lass would do it if she’s bored or wants me” he smiled to himself bc he always loved to ‘borrow’ Aines things. She had so many and wouldn’t miss it anyways, she loves her brother so she doesn’t mind handing it over.

Aine laughed at Connell and his statement. He was so full of himself. But even so they were closer than most siblings, since they were muggle born they took on the strange new world together and also dealt with the home front together.

Their mother was so kind and compassionate but when it came to magic she found it confusing and she truly didn’t want to send her kids to a faraway school for the whole year. She was accepting of it, but she was their mother she worries about. Their father was a man of little words, he had a soft spot for mother Murphy and usually agreed with what she wanted. He worked very hard and had to travel often, so Aine wondered if her mother was lonely in this house alone. So she wrote very often to her, giving her details of her school and classes and friends. Aine loved her mother and they were close so last year when she was attacked her mother knew something was wrong almost immediately.

Aine wrote almost once a week, then it was radio silent. Her mother vented to her father about it but he reassured her that maybe Aine was stressed and forgot. Until Connell sent a letter home followed by one by the headmaster. Her mother was so relieved to see her on the platform but noticed her sweet girl was different now.

“Aine! Connell! Dinner” her mother sweet voice yelled upstairs
Connell stood up immediately, looked at Aine, pushed her onto the bed and ran out.

“Hey!” She shouted following him trying to trip him down the stairs

“Oh please just eat dinner my sweets” her mom sighed as Aine smacked him one more time.
-
Aines parents escorted them to the platform as they do every year. Her mother joked that it was the most exciting time because she saw so many fun characters and they inspired her.

Before Connell could run onto the train after he placed their trunks on the train. His mother gripped him into a hug and gave him a small lunch and some small allowance. Connell gave a smile and a kiss and said goodbye to their father.

“Now, Aine” her mother started “ I love you so much” pulling her into a hug and she heard her sniffle.

“Ma-“ Aine began

“I know, I know here’s some pocket money and um, oh! Do you want mummy to send you your magazines when I reply to your letters?” She asked while holding Aines face

“Ma you should cancel it while I’m at school~” Aine replied while laughing

“I know but it’s so hard to cancel it plus maybe I like to know what’s trending” she laughed and finally let go. Aine wasn’t upset; she knew why she was worried. She began to turn toward the train when a hand grabbed her shoulder

“Aine,” her fathers deep voice began “do be careful and please write us if you feel unwell, your mother- we worry.” He finished while caressing her face

“Yes Pa I promise I love you both” Aine replied and gave them a quick hug each.

She hopped on the train, passing excited first years running around and searching for her mates.

‘compartments are looking pretty full, maybe I should just get the next empty one and I’ll see them at school’ she thought while entering into the next section of the train. Eventually she found one, she’d see her friend and then she'd see her friends.

Aine pulled out the last summer edition of her magazine and a marker. She was quite a stylish girl and found magazines a great escape from studying and the real world. She loved looking at hairstyles and reading romance tips. She knew it wasn’t mature but she was only 14 and she felt like after the last year she deserved a small guilty pleasure.

“This ones empty-“ a voice started while opening the door and she looked up. 3 pairs of eyes staring at her.

“ Freddie, do you know what empty means?” Asked the shorter boy with dreadlocks to one of the 2 twins.

Aine knows of the weasley twins from her brother and they do have quite the reputation but she was surprised to be interacting with them.

“Shove Off Lee” one of the commands and looked towards her “you mind if we sit here?”
Aine shopped her head as the boys got comfortable one twin sat next to her.

“Thanks Aine” He stated and her eyebrows flew up in shock

“ uh you’re welcome but how’d you know my name?” She started, Aine was sure they’ve never talked before and felt rude for not remembering.

“I’m Fred and that’s George next to you” Fred replied “We know Connell from quidditch he mentioned you a lot” continuing looking at George.

“Oh”

George was thankful Fred was so fast with his words, he had forgotten again that Aine doesn’t know him and they’ve never spoken before but he was so surprised to see her after thinking about her for a good part of the summer.

George studied her and noticed she looked different, just more mature than before. Maybe because she was petrified before but he didn’t notice how pretty she was! He was floored, and kept looking at her while trying to focus on whatever the hell Lee was talking about
He kept observing her while she read booklet, and noticed her lips and wondered if they were soft and her dark skin look so smooth her wanted to -

George shook his head and paid attention to Lee

“And then my mum got so mad she chucked the whole bin at my uncle and he was covered in garbage” Lee finished which caused everyone to laugh including Aine
George looked at her again and felt his face get hot

“ So Aine, how’s Connell?” Fred asked directing himself to her

“He’s alright he’s around her somewhere I think he might be in the precede meeting” she sighed flipping thru the magazine

“He’s one of the worst prefects! I think he does it so he can have an excuse to do whatever” Lee laughed and Aine giggled.

Why was everyone talking to her? Why wasn’t George talking to her? George took a breathe and turned towards her

“ What are you reading?” He asked

“Oh it's a style magazine! I just like to look for new hairstyles and I love reading those anonymous advice.. it’s just a dumb muggle magazine” she replied feeling like she was over explaining

George looked her over again “you get all your hairstyles from that?” She nodded “well that explains why it looks really cute, so was that twisty style last year” he finished and looked at the
floor feeling embarrassed

Aine felt her heart swoon, even though she did this for herself and because it was fun it felt good that a boy, an older cute boy noticed her efforts
“Thanks, '' she smiled." You can look through with me if you want, some of the advice sections are funny” she asked, sliding closer to him. George agreed as Aine showed him various things throughout the booklet.

Now Fred Weasley wasn’t oblivious, George has been a bit spacey all summer and seemed to be lost in thought a lot. Fred had asked him what was on his mind and it seemed like it was Aine Murphy. He turned his head at Lee and began communicating with their eyes.

“Hey Georgie- “ Fred smiled wanting to start teasing his brother but as soon as he opened his mouth the train slowed down, and the light started to flicker

“what’s going on?” Aine whispered recoiling into George’s side out of fear

“We shouldn’t be at Hogwarts yet,,” George stopped mid sentence as a dark looming figure glided by the compartment

Aine had felt sick,small and like she was back to last year again.

George gripped her and shoved them further into the seat away from the door
The dementor lingered for a minute or 2 then left, the light soon returned and the train began to move again

“What was that?” She gasped

“Dementors. They are probably looking for Sirius Black.” Lee answered, quite shaken himself.Aines face contorted into confusion, she had never heard of dementors. Was that going to be covered this year in DADA?

“They guard azkaban and they are dangerous but I don’t know why they would be on the train…..” George trailed off noticing she was still in his arms and let go as fast as he could

“Oh” Aine said still quite dazed and looked out the window until the door opened again

Connell Murphy looked at the 3 boys and then at Aine and then at George

“Alright Aine?” Connell asked but still looking ar George

“Yes” she replied shyly moving away from George

“Well we are close to Hogwarts, so how about you go change and then come sit with me and Oliver” He suggested sounding polite enough, Aine could tell he was worried and complied

“Alright” she answered as she gathered her things “ uh see you guys at school~ bye George it was nice chatting with you” she said shyly while she scurried out. Connell stuck behind for a few seconds still staring at George’.

“How was your summer Murphy?” Fred asked the 6th year

“It was alright, Weasley didn’t think you knew Aine.” Answering flicking between the twins

“Just met her, swell girl,,” Lee answered

“Righttt, we’ll I’ll be seeing you around the common room then” Connell finished while finally taking his eyes off George’s and following his sister. Once he left George felt a breath release and looked at Fred and Lee he began to giggle at him.

“So Aine huh?” Fred laughed as George face burned again

“Shove off!” He shouted