Chapter Three
No matter what Mary tried, they still make it in time to the train station. Dumbledore has explained everything to her, or well, he tried to at least. She wasn’t listening, trying to find a way to not have to go to that stupid school. Apparently she is not that good at hiding and surprisingly, running away is also not the smartest thing to do. They’ve caught her anyway. Well, Dumbledore and his stupid magic have caught her and now she feels like a stubborn toddler. Great.
Mary looks at the train with squinted eyes. They’ve already had to go through that brick-entry, which was only a little bit fun and mostly annoyingly unnecessary. Dozens of children stand around them, saying goodbye or greeting friends, she supposes. They all look stupid with their weird robes. What asshole had lied to them and told them long, fluttering clothes are cool? She is glad she could keep her jeans and sweatshirts, although Dumbledore said something about a dress code. Something about having to wear ties and stuff. Yeah, Mary had thought. Cut your stupid beard and then maybe we’ll talk again. They should choose between ties and shirts or robes. Can’t look like a hippie half the day and then suddenly wear a suit.
“And you’re sure you don’t need anything else?” Her father asks, squinting at the small suitcase.
Mary shrugs. She’s only packed as little as possible. She knows she’s not going to stay anyway, so why bother?
Her father sighs. “Come on, sweetheart. It’s going to be great.”
Again, she shrugs. Whatever. She can make one train ride and then run away.
“And do you have that wand, Dumbledore gave you?” Her father asks. “And your owl? And all of those books?”
She rolls her eyes. “Yes, I have it. I’m going to go now.” She tends to walk away, when her father wraps his arms around her, holing her tight.
He kisses her head. “I’ll miss you so, so much.” Then maybe don’t fucking abandon me.
“Bye, Dad.” She mumbles in his chest, trying to ignore that tugging feeling inside her. No way she is going to be emotional now. She clears her throat. “I’ll go now.”
Her father nods against her head. “Okay, sweetheart.” He pulls slightly away, looking at her sincere. “I love you very, very much, Mary. Do you know that?”
She swallows the upcoming tears away. “I love you, Dad.” And then she pulls fully away, grabs her little suitcase and walks towards the train with a fast pace. Just one train ride, She thinks. One train ride and then I will run away.
When she enters a wagon, there are children everywhere, laughing and talking, bright grins and sparkling eyes. Mary grabs her suitcase more tightly and presses through the narrow corridor. There must be at least one empty wagon, mustn’t it? It has to be, she really doesn’t think she’ll survive the whole ride with some annoying, restless kid. So, Mary walks away from all the laughter, from the little crowds, from greetings, warm smiles and waving arms until she finds finally an empty carriage.
Mary places her suitcase on one seat and then sits down on another, laying her head against the window. She can make out her father in the crowd of parents, siblings and friends. His brown eyes wander over the train, probably trying to find Mary. She doesn’t stand up and wave like all the other kids around her. It doesn’t matter, she’ll see him tomorrow anyway. There is no way she’ll be staying in some weird castle.
Just as the train starts to leave the train station and Mary closes her eyes so that she doesn’t have to see her home leave, someone opens the carriage. “It’s taken.” She says, not looking up.
The person apparently doesn’t tend to leave, though. They only continue coming inside, dragging their suitcase with them.
Mary finally looks up, frowning. “Didn’t you hear me? It’s taken, leave.”
The person, a boy, looks up, too. “Oh, sorry, didn’t see all the people sitting here.” He says sarcastically, while he sits down in the corner furthest away from Mary.
Mary glares at him. “Are you kidding me?”
He stares right back. “What? Am I breathing too loud?” He mocks her, which sounds pathetic with his thick wales accent.
“Can’t you just leave and be annoying in another carriage?”
“Can’t you?”
She presses her lips together at the stubborn boy. He has light brown curly hair falling deep in his face, which is covered in a few brutal looking scars. “Don’t you have any friends to bother?” She tries again.
“Don’t you?”
“Don’t just repeat my questions.” She snaps.
“Then don’t ask any.”
She scoffs. “Oh, you think you’re funny, don’t you?”
He just narrows his eyes.
“And now you can’t talk or what?”
“Better than talking bullshit.”
“Ha ha.” She crosses her arms. “Leave.”
He arches one dark eyebrow. “And why exactly should I?”
“I was here first.”
He scoffs. “Oh, mature.”
Before she can say anything, the door opens yet again. Brilliant. Just fucking brilliant.
A boy with black hair and a girl with fire red hair walk in, both of them laughing.
“It’s taken.” Mary repeats through gritted teeth.
The boy turns to her. “By whom?”
“By me.” She raises her eyebrows. “Go out, here is no space. Search somewhere else.”
“Seriously?” The boy asks and points to the other boy, who is already sitting. “But this weirdo can stay or what?”
The other boy frowns. “Excuse me?”
“Shut up, scar face.”
The girl finally speaks. “Sev, don’t say something like that.”
The boy (Sev?) scoffs. “What, Lily? Not my fault his face looks like that.”
Lily opens her mouth, but Mary jumps to her feet, before she can say something. “And that was just enough.” She glares at that asshole kid. “If you don’t fucking leave in this right second I will punch you so hard in your ugly, little nose that you can’t breath normally for two months.”
He stares at her in disbelieve. “You want to punch me?”
“You have three seconds.” Her hand is already in a fist, waiting to connect with his smug face.
He laughs disbelieving. “I’m not fighting a girl. Can you believe that, Lily?”
Mary’s anger starts to grow bigger and bigger, she clenches her fist, ready to punch the air out of his body, when the girl, Lily, grabs the boys arm and drags him away.
“Come on, Severus. It’s just one carriage. We can find another.”
He still glares at Mary, but eventually nods. “Fine.” Then they disappear and Mary turns to glare at the other boy, still sitting in her carriage.
He looks at her with a raised eyebrow. “What? Gonna threaten me, too?”
She narrows her eyes, takes his washed out clothes, lanky body and the all too visible scars in. She puffs out a breath. “Whatever.”
Something flickers in the boys eyes as a small smile tugs at his lips, corners barely raising. “Whatever?”
She shrugs, turns around and sits in her corner again. “Don’t annoy me, then you can stay.”
He scoffs. “How graceful.” But there is a lighter tone to his voice.
Mary rolls her eyes. “One more word and I will punch you.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
She glares at him. “I will.”
“I believe you.”
Her eyes narrow. “No, you don’t.”
A grin finally escapes on his lips. “Maybe. Maybe not.”
“Maybe or maybe not shut your mouth.” She snaps.
“Fine.” He shrugs his shoulders. “I won’t talk to you.”
“You better not.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Then shut up.”
“Am doing it.”
“You’re literally talking.”
“You could stop.”
She presses her lips together, realizing that stupid boy won’t let her have the last word. Whatever. She doesn’t care about him. With one last glare Mary turns around, leaning her head against the window to watch her world go by, ignoring the sting in her chest as her home passes. Her eyes flutter close.
***
No one bothers them anymore, which is the only slightly good thing about this whole my-father-sent-me-away-after-everyone-I-thought-I-loved-kind-of-just-left-thing, but Mary doesn’t want to be positive. Actually, she wants to be pessimistic. The biggest pessimist to ever exist. More negative than anything in the world.
So when the castle shows up, tall and big and majestic and with a cute, little village in front of it, Mary hates it. Fuck you. She thinks. You’re ugly and disgusting and it is fucking cold and the little snacks I bought on the train ride tasted like shit. That she ate all of them is a part she chooses to ignore.
The other boy has put his book down to stare at the castle with big eyes. Mary scoffs, making a big show of not looking at it, even though there may be a part in her that wants to. Maybe. Not likely.
She manages to do exactly that until the train suddenly stops. Abruptly, she and the boy look at each other. His eyes are big, making him look like an idiot.
Mary scoffs and grabs her suitcase. “Shut your mouth, you look stupid.”
He scowls at her. “I do not.”
“Whatever.”
“Wait.” His hand grabs her arm suddenly, halting her. “Where- I mean, do you know- what do we do now?” She can see in his eyes how much it costs him to ask her for help.
And because she still remembers how he annoyed her and because she is petty, she smiles sweetly and pats his head like she used to with her cousins. “We fly with the broomsticks, idiot.”
“What?” His eyes grow big.
“You didn’t know that?” She fakes pity. “Well, I hope you trained at home or else this won’t go well.”
“I- I don’t have a broomstick.”
“They’ll give you one, don’t worry.” She smiles again. “And I heard they have excellent doctors, so don’t worry if you fall.” She pats his cheek this time. “Unless you die, of course.” Without another word she leaves him, ignoring a sound almost close to fainting. Stupid, sarcastic little shit.
Of course she doesn’t have one clue on how they will get to the castle, but unlike that naive kid she has at least some commonsense. No offense. Or wait- actually, a lot offense. He should have left her alone.
There are carriages. Held by nothing. Mary would laugh at that stupidity, if she wouldn’t be crushed by hundreds of loud children. Eventually some tall ass fuck dude manages to sort them into little groups for each carriage. He has an even crazier beard than Dumbledore, which says enough at this point. Mary just blends everyone out until she finally sits again in her carriage, squeezed between two boys, who obviously have spend the train ride together and are now talking over her head with each other.
“No, no, Sirius!” The one on her left shouts excitedly. “I heard that one bloke manages to get on the team in his first year.”
“What?” Sirius, apparently, asks, sounding outrageous. “But that’s against the rules of Quidditch!”
“But he did! My mam told me about it. Trust me, we will make it, too.” He leans over Mary to talk closer with this Sirius boy.
“You really think so?”
“Of course!”
Someone scoffs, making them turn their heads to a girl in front of them.
“What?” Sirius asks.
The girl leans forward, arms crossed. “It’s not possible to get on the teams in your first year.”
Sirius frowns. “But James said-”
She scoffs again. “I don’t care what James’ mummy said. It’s not possible.”
“But my mam wouldn’t lie to me.” James says, sounding defensive.
Mary rolls her eyes.
“Well, I should know.” The girl starts again. “My brother was captain and he told me he couldn’t do it.”
At this both Sirius and James automatically stop to stare at her with big eyes. “You had a brother, that was captain?” James asks marveled.
She shrugs as if it isn’t a big deal, but Mary can see how proud she is. “Yeah, Mickey. But he graduated last year.”
“Oh, Merlin, that is so cool!” James shouts excited, sitting straighter. “Please, please tell us everything. Did he have any tricks on how to play?”
“I have all my tricks from him. He is brilliant.”
“You play, too?” Sirius asks curious, staring at her with awe.
“Obviously.” She grins. “I plan on getting on the team.”
“Us too!” James shouts. “Awesome, what’s your name?”
“Marlene McKinnon.” Her eyes sparkle. “So, what did you think on the game last weekend against that team from Iceland?”
Mary rolls her eyes, while they start to talk about this weird sport, James and Sirius again squeezing her in between them.
Suddenly Marlene’s eyes land on her, though. “And you? Do you want to play Quidditch, too?”
Mary stares at her. “Why?”
“Because it’s the best sport in the whole world! It’s so much fun, trust me, and once you’re on your broom, you can’t think about anything else and don’t let me start with the championships, because they are-”
“No, no.” Mary interrupts her rambling. “Why the fuck do you think I care?”
Marlene stops right away, mouth still open, as well as James and Sirius, who stare at Mary as if she’s crazy. Silence grows in the carriage, that would most likely be uncomfortable, but Mary doesn’t give a shit. At least now they’re quiet.
And then a soft laugh interrupts the silence, making them all turn their heads. A boy in their age with bright blonde hair jumps into the carriage.
“Peter!” James shouts. “I thought I lost you. Where were you?”
“Oh, I just found this guy here freaking out over some broom stuff and felt bad.” He grins at James and sits down next to Marlene. “Say hi to Remus.” He points to the boy, who sinks down next to him. The boy from Mary’s carriage earlier.
Remus finds her gaze and glares at her. She only grins back, while shrugging.
Marlene clears her throat, turning to Mary again. “So, I take it, you don’t like Quidditch?”
In fact, Mary has no clue what Quidditch even is, but taking one look at Marlene, James and Sirius, she decides she isn’t missing on something. “No.” She says.
“That’s a shame.” Marlene sighs.
“Poor me.” Mary mumbles, which surprisingly makes that Peter boy laugh again.
“Peter?” James says again.
He shakes his head, a small smile on his lips, but nevertheless keeping his thoughts to himself.
Suddenly, the carriage starts going forward. Mary’s gaze flickers to the still empty space in front of it. “The fuck?” She mumbles.
James elbows her in the side. “You shouldn’t swear. My mam says that’s not good.”
She turns to glare at him. “Don’t fucking touch me.”
He grimaces. “You really shouldn’t swear. My mam says-”
“Tell your mam I don’t give a shit.”
“You did it again!”
“And look, I can do it yet again; fuck you.” She snaps, although some part in her enjoys this; riling up some boy by swearing. James frowns at her.
“If I’d swear that much, my mother would forbid me to eat at least for a week.” Sirius comments from her other side.
She turns to him, mouth open. “Excuse me, what the fuck?”
He laughs lightly as if her response amuses him. “What? Yours wouldn't?”
“No.” Her nails dug into her skin, while thinking about her mother.
Something flashes in his eyes, before he laughs again, though it’s more awkward this time.
“Well,” James starts. “She wouldn't be happy about it either way, so you should still stop.”
Mary grits her teeth together. “Don’t tell me what to do.”
“But your mother’s probably not happy about it and-”
“Stop talking about her.” Pain flashes in her, as her fingers dug deeper and deeper into her skin.
“Why?” He frowns. “Doesn’t she care?”
“She’s fucking dead!” Mary bursts out. “So, no, James, I don’t think she gives two shits about my fucking language.” She practically spats into his wide eyed face.
James stares at her, actual tears building in his deep brown eyes. “Oh.”
“Yeah.” She sits back, crossing her arms. Silence builds in the carriage, until she scoffs and points at Sirius. “At least she won’t fucking starve me, so I’m not the one you should be looking at with pity.”
Sirius coughs nervously. “That wasn’t- I wasn’t being serious.” He smiles weakly. “Well, I’m always Sirius, but not- not this time.”
Marlene laughs slightly at the joke even though it was so low Mary felt like vomiting. Or maybe she feels like that, because of the reminder of her mother.
“I’m sorry.” James mumbles next to her, looking even worse than how she feels. “I really am. I didn’t know and that wasn’t okay to just ask and say and I should’ve stopped and-”
“James.” She snaps sharply.
“I am so, so sorry. Please, don’t hate me. I didn’t mean to say that.” He keeps on rambling.
Mary has to resist the urge to strangle him. “It’s fine.”
He stops, looking at her with wide eyes. “Really?”
She frowns. “Obviously not, but I don’t want you to cry to your mum.” She sighs. “Just- stop talking, will you?”
“Yes! Absolutely. I won’t ever say a thing in my whole life. Promise. I’ll do anything.”
Mary turns fully to him, considering something. “Anything?”
“Yes! Anything in the whole world.” He replies instantly, eager to please her.
“Well, then.” She grins. “Can you swear for me?”
He stops. “What- swear? I- I don’t-”
“But you just said you’d do anything.” She frowns at him, faking confusion. “Was that a lie? Should I tell your mum you just lied to a girl?”
James’ mouth opens and closes several time, his brain obviously lagging.
“James?” She asks sweetly. “Just one little swear word? For me?”
James stares at her and then looks down, obviously pained. “But my mam-”
“Come on, James.” Peter says. “You owe it the poor girl.” He looks at Mary with amusement in his bright blue eyes.
“Yeah, do it.” Marlene grins in front of them, looking excited. Sirius just stares at James, seeming to hold his breath and even though Remus rolls his eyes, there is also humor in them as he watches the scene.
James crosses his arms. “I don’t find you very nice right now.” He mumbles, not even managing to insult her.
“Come on, Jamsie.” She sing-songs. “Swearing time.”
He grimaces, face scrunched up, making his round glasses sit uneven on his nose. His whole body is tensed, before he slowly, unsure whispers: “Crap?”
Mary takes one look at Peter, before she bursts out laughing along with Marlene, who down rights cackles in front of her. “Crap?” Mary asks. “That’s the best you could do? I even gave you templates for fucks sake.”
Marlene laughs with her. “And you said it so unsure, Merlin, as if you’d go up in flames.”
Peter grins and Remus rolls his eyes, although his lips tug upwards, too, while Sirius raises his voice to defend James. “Don’t worry, James. It is scary. And you did come up with a good word.”
“Yeah, very, very scary.” Mary soothes him. “For a five year old.”
James crosses his arms, ears turning red. “I did it. Leave me alone, I did it.”
“And you did so great.” Mary grins sarcastically.
“Don’t listen to her.” Sirius intervenes. “She’s mean.”
She scoffs.
“What is your name anyway?” Marlene asks, leaning forward curiously.
Mary squints at her, suddenly not liking the attention. “None of your business.”
“What?”
“Are you deaf or what?” Mary snaps.
Marlene tilts her head as if trying to sort out a puzzle, before she just shrugs. “Fine, don’t tell me, but we’ll find out eventually at the sorting ceremony.”
“The what now?”
“The sorting hat. Don’t you know that?”
“What fucking hat?”
Marlene’s eyes widen. “Oh, you’re muggle born, aren’t you?”
“I’m what?”
“You’re muggle born?” Sirius next to her stares at her oddly.
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“Oh, just your parents.” James explains from her other side. “Muggle born means both your parents don’t have magic. So, are you muggle born?”
She narrows her eyes, nodding slowly. “Yeah, I guess.”
Again Sirius shifts next to her, something weird in his gaze.
“What?” She asks bluntly.
He flinches. “Just- my mother said muggle borns and pure bloods shouldn’t share the same privileges.”
“What?” For the first time Remus says something, staring at Sirius disbelieving.
Sirius shrugs his shoulders. “Well, it’s not really fair, is it? Pure bloods and muggle borns are just not the same. There is a different level.”
“Are you for real right now?” Remus stares at him.
“Why?” Sirius genuinely looks confused.
“Who the fuck told you this bullshit?”
“My mother. She said it’s important to draw lines and don’t ignore the class differences.”
Remus scoffs. “Oh, the same mother, that starves you? Must be a wise lady.”
“She doesn’t starve me!” Sirius bursts out. “Stop bringing that up. It was a stupid joke.”
“Then I hope your racist comments were also just a stupid joke.” Remus counters back.
Sirius presses his lips into a firm line.
“Great.” Remus scoffs and turns to Mary. “Welcome to the fucking wizard world and how there are yet again class differences.” He mimics Sirius’ posh accent, which would be really funny, if Mary wouldn't be fighting the urge to scream violently.
“That’s not good obviously.” James mumbles. “And we don’t think like that- well, I hope we don’t.”
There is a heavy silence, but Sirius doesn’t look up again, pale face scrunched up in deep thought as he stares on the ground of the carriage.
Marlene clears her throat. “Well, so about the sorting hat-”
She starts explaining it to Mary, the four houses and this weird ass hat, that apparently talks to you and reads your thoughts or whatever, which honestly, freaks Mary out a little bit. James intervenes a few time as well as Peter, but the only thing Mary gathers from it is that Slytherins are assholes, Gryffindors the only cool ones, Ravenclaws nerds and Hufflepuffs the leftover looser. Awesome.
They all want to be Gryffindors, obviously.
“And you?” Marlene asks her, after her five minute rant on how everyone in her family has been a Gryffindor. “What house do you want to get in?”
“Slytherin.” Mary says, just to get them riled up, which works so well it’s startling her. Marlene and James immediately start shouting what a bad choice that is, making Mary grin. They are just so easy to get.
But honestly, Mary doesn’t give two shits about these houses. She’ll be long gone tomorrow, so why should she care? This, these people and their obsessions, it doesn’t matter to her, because she will have forgotten them anyway in less then twenty-four hours. And then she will be with her father again and maybe everything will be alright again. Maybe.