On the expansive lawn of a large but cozy house a figure was bent almost double over a shovel, digging rows of holes. As a loud crack rent the air, the figure stood straight, revealing herself to be a short girl with dark skin and tightly curled hair cropped close to her scalp. She wiped one glove-clad hand across her sweaty brow and greeted the person who had just apparated near her.
"Afternoon, mum! I saw that owl come in an hour ago, was it from Miss Gladwick?" Her eyes shone hopefully. "Is she going to be here soon?"
The older woman sighed. "Yes, Amanda, she expects to arrive tomorrow, but I came out here to tell you …" She hesitated.
"Tell me what?"
"There's been a decree by the Ministry. You won't be able to continue your studies at home this year; everyone has to go to Hogwarts now."
"Hogwarts?" The shovel slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. Amanda was filled with emotions from excitement to fear to a terrible disappointment at leaving the beloved old lady who had taught her since she first held a quill. "But Miss Gladwick, and the other tutors, what are they going to do?"
"Have you forgotten your siblings? I daresay they're enough to keep old Gladdie busy. As for the others – well, they do have other students, I expect they'll land on their feet. Now stop that digging and come inside, we need to start packing."
Amanda let herself be led away, one word ringing in her head. Hogwarts!
Just two days later she stood with her mother in the midst of a confusing mass of people on the train platform. Her younger brothers had begged to come along, but Laura Pittman but her foot down firmly on that idea. Amanda secretly thought it was so the boys wouldn't see the tears her mother had been blinking away ever since they arrived at the station.
"Don't worry, mum. I'll write to you every day. You'll see, I'll be just fine." The butterfies in her stomach seemed to disagree.
"Oh, don't worry about me, dear. You'll be busy with all your new friends and new activities; I suppose they have clubs and such, and of course your studies will take up so much time." She dabbed at her eyes with a crumpled handkerchief. "Just be sure to send a note to your brothers now and then."
Amanda hugged her mum tight, feeling the strong arms that had once rocked her to sleep wrap around her in an enveloping embrace, the scent of perfume reaching her nose, making her feel homesick already.
"Well then, best be boarding the train. It wouldn't do to be left behind."
"Yes, mum. I love you."
"I love you too, dear. Good luck!"
Amanda turned and began carefully steering her heavily laden cart closer to the train, determined not to look back. As she carefully unloaded her trunk and the cage containing a very grouchy owl, she finally gave in and glanced behind her, but the crowd was too thick. She swallowed past a lump that had suddenly appeared in her throat, picked up her things, and took a deep breath before stepping into the carriage.
There were less people in here, but just as much noise and confusion. As she dragged her trunk down the aisle, Horace in his cage lifted high above her, she glanced in each compartment. Most seemed full already, and those few that weren't contained occupants who gave her most unwelcoming glances. Finally at the end of the car she peeked in an open door and was greeted by a friendly smile.
"May I sit in here?" she asked the pleasant looking boy before her.
"Sure, we've got room. Right, Ginny, Luna?"
The blond girl seated across from him glanced up from her newspaper and gave Amanda an appraising look. Then she nodded her head and mumbled something that sounded like a "yes" before returning to her reading.
The girl next to her, the one with a beautiful fall of flaming red hair, continued staring morosely out the window.
The boy smiled a bit uncertainly. "All right, then. Welcome! My name's Neville. Do you need a hand with your trunk?"
Amanda pulled it in behind her. "No, thanks, think I've got it." After some effort she managed to wedge it in with the others, perching Horace's cage on the upper shelf. She took the seat next to Neville just as the train whistle blew.
The blond girl folded her paper and tucked it under the seat, which seemed to get the other girl's attention. "Any sign of them?"
"None." She looked at the redhead and seemed to see something in her expression, for she continued in a softer tone, "Ginny, they'll be fine. No news means they haven't been caught. We're all worried about them, but at least we've got each other to worry with together."
Amanda had no idea what they were talking about, but at least she had now learned which girl was which. She surreptitiously studied Neville as he watched the girls lean close to whisper to each other. He was a little bit on the stocky side, and his face was round but he had a very pleasant smile. She noted that there was something about his eyes – something grave and melancholy.
Miss Gladwick had told her stories about the fun and hijinks students got up to on the Hogwarts Express. Either things had changed in the many years since Gladdie was a student, or she'd stumbled into the saddest compartment on the entire train. She leaned forward and reached for the newspaper. "May I?" Nobody seemed to notice. She sighed and settled back for a long, quiet trip.