Chapter 1
Chapter 1-Watch Were You're Going
September 1st, 1993
Madeline Coleman stood on Platform 9 ¾, Located in the heart of London. It was hard for her to believe that she was actually here, clutching two letters in her left hand, and her suitcase in her right as she watched the train with big, discerningly keen eyes.
It wasn't just the location that she was at though. Madeline still, despite her best efforts, had a hard time believing that only four months ago, she had the almost picture-perfect life. She'd passed the necessary exams for an American Auror training program with flying colors and had been looking forward to making her seventh year the best yet. Her nana, Florence Winifred Coleman, a proclaimed advisor of the Magical Law making for the Magical Congress of America, who had taken Madeline in after her parents passing when the girl was only eleven, had even surprised Madeline with tickets to the Montrose Magpies game against Puddlemere United in celebration of her granddaughters' achievement.
Madeline remembered feeling the happiest she'd been in years on the night her grandmother had pulled the tickets out, a bright kind of smile that made Madeline feel proud of her achievements set firmly on her nanas face when she told her that her parents would have been beyond proud of the women that Madeline was growing into.
But Madeline never made it to the game that had been played last month, instead letting the two tickets get buried with her nana in their family cemetery.
A most troubling accident, the papers had read, and Madeline couldn't help but agree.
And now, since Madeline wasn't going to be seventeen until November 20th this year, the Magical Congress of the United States of America had reached out to Madeline's only known, living relative, Minerva McGonagall, asking if Madeline could stay with her until she was of age.
Madeline has never met her great aunt, only hearing stories from her mother when she was younger. But that didn't stop the excited ball of nerves that were forming in her stomach at the prospect of going to Hogwarts.
It had taken Madeline two full weeks to first come to terms when she was told the news. When she had received the first letter from her great aunt.
Madeline,
I am so very sorry to hear about the passing of your grandmother. I have had the pleasure of meeting her once, during your mothers wedding to your father.
She was a lovely lady, full of light and optimism.
I am sorry that you and I have never been in contact before, but it is my greatest pleasure to inform you that you've been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to finish your last year of schooling.
I have heard many great things about your studies at Ilvermony, and the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore and myself consider ourselves very lucky that you will be joining us this year.
Best Regards,
Minerva McGonagall
Madeline had reread the letter four times, before letting the tears fall down her face freely. Minerva McGonagall was her last living relative, true, but Madeline felt like there was a large hole inside of her chest that had completely ran dry when her nana had passed.
Of course, she had her friends from school and her boyfriend, but it wasn't the same. They weren't blood. They weren't as close as family. And although Madeline had them and now her great aunt, she felt more alone than she did on the day that she'd buried her parents.
She had responded with one sentence to her great aunt. She couldn't help but imagine the older women thinking of her as a nuisance, thrown into her life by the Magical Congress all because Madeline wasn't of age yet.
She didn't want to be seen as a chore.
Didn't want to feel like she didn't belong.
Minerva McGonagall,
Thank you for the kind words and the chance for me to finish my last year at Hogwarts.
Madeline
Madeline knew that she was being petty when she had written a one sentence response to the older witch, but she couldn't muster up enough courage to care at that moment. Minerva McGonagall must have seen through the letter though, and not five days later, Madeline had received another letter from her great aunt.
Madeline,
I realize that my last letter may have sounded very formal, but I want to reassure you that I am very happy and looking forward very much to meeting you in person. I wish that it was under better circumstances. And I know that it must be very hard for you right at this moment. Loosing someone that you look up to and love deeply, it leaves a scar so deep that healing from it seem almost impossible. Such a scar is very hard to heal, but it isn't impossible.
I wish that I was able to come get you myself, but with Sirius Blacks escape from Azkaban, every teacher has been called back to the school early to make sure that the grounds will be safe for the students. I have taken the liberty of getting all of your schoolbooks and uniform that we can transform into your house colors. They will be waiting for you in your dorm after you get sorted.
The Magical Congress has reassured me that they will have someone personally escort you to the platform for the train in London.
I have also included your ticket for the train in this letter.
I will see you at the train station in Hogsmead in a short few weeks.
Best regards,
Your Great Aunt,
Minerva
Madeline didn't shed tears when she had read the second letter, only feeling slightly more hopeful that her last year of schooling wasn't going to be spent all alone.
The Congress indeed had sent someone with her. Auror Peterson. The older man, Andrew, used to work with her parents and had always been around her house for celebrations when she was younger, and seeing a friendly face had made Madeline's trip to the platform a bit less maddening.
Now though, she stood alone, Peterson having given her a comforting hug before he had taken out his port key and left her standing there, looking at the now empty spot with longing eyes. He was the last reminder of home to her. Of as normal of a childhood as anyone could have.
Fumbling with the two letters, she took out the gold lined ticket, taking in a calming breath. She could absolutely do this.
She would do this.
Her friends had reassured her that they'd write every week to her this year. And her boyfriend had come to see her off before Peterson had come to collect her.
The second letter in her hand was from him. He told her to read it once she was on the train, and she swore that she would, even though she very badly wanted to read it now.
Taking an unsteady step towards the train, she almost hit someone as they stepped right in front of her, their back to her.
"Hey, watch were you're going." Madeline told the person, taking a moment to collect herself. A boy about her age turned around, wearing an apologetic look on his face.
"Oi, sorry miss. Didn't see you there." He told her, a Scottish accent vibrant as day lining his words. Cocking a brow at her, the boy looked her up and down, frowning. "I don't think I've seen you before." He told her and Madeline raised a brow.
"Mhm." Madeline told him, taking a step around him towards the train. She heard him say something but couldn't make it out when she had taken a few more steps, and the voices of all the people on the train platform clouded her hearing.
Gods, this place was busy. Back in Ilvermony, they had plenty of students at the school, but not to this extant. And they didn't take a train to get to the school either. Parents would more than often apparate their kids to the open gates of the school. And if a student had muggle parents, those parents would drive their kids.
It was simple, Madeline thought. First years being able to be with their parents until the beginning of supper, when they would be sorted, with their parents present and cheering them on. And then after supper was over, everyone would say their final goodbye.
She took a shaky breath, missing the closeness that her school had provided for the past six years.
Her life hadn't been perfect by any means, but it had been everything she had wanted. Now, Madeline wasn't sure if she was really ready for the new year, or if she'd just forced her mind to settle down by promising herself that everything was going to be okay.
She'd stay on the low.
She'd practice patience in keeping her two scents to herself.
And she'd just push through anything that came her way.
This year was going to be a breeze.
At least Madeline hopped.