As I crammed the rest of my things into my trunk my heart fluttered with excitement. I was going back to school. I sighed heavily as I glanced once more at the title page of my new schools rules. Beauxbatons had had a similar booklet but the Hogwarts crest looked much more imposing. I wish I could say that I'd miss my old school, my old professors…my old friends but the truth is that I don't engage and I've never managed to make so much as an imprint on a person's life. I am the faceless girl you passed in the hall, that taken seat in the corner of the library…I was just. Me. Placing a chocolate frog into my mouth I hummed in appreciation. It was the last of the stash my brother Eli had smuggled under my floorboards the first night of Summer. My brother always tried to take care of me when he could, always had for as far back as I can remember. But now, now he was in France somewhere, out of reach.
My mother had thrown him out the moment he turned seventeen and was able to use magic outside of school. She was terrified of us and we had no way of making her understand that we were not monsters. That we were still and always would be her children. I long sigh escaped me and I realised that I had been sighing an awful lot lately…Maybe one day I'll sigh for the last time because I will completely deflate.
This year I turn seventeen. I had a matter of months to find my place in the world…or at least find a place to stay for summer. So far from home I could only hope I'd be successful.
Hope is all I have…So let's hope that Fate will not be cruel.
Hauling my trunk down the steps of our London townhouse I took a deep breath before entering the living room. My mother sat there, straight backed in her chair, cigarette smoke curling around her form.
"Mum?" I stood in the doorway, hoping that she'd eventually see sense and this wouldn't be our last goodbye. She didn't turn and I didn't want this to last longer than it should "I'm going to leave for the train station now, should I write to let you know I got there safe?" Hope swelled only to be crushed
"I don't want your owls flying into this house Erin. You know that" Her tone was void of emotion when she said this and when she finally turned I could see the tiredness in her eyes. Mum had looked haunted ever since the day Dad died. She never recovered and never forgave our world. Dad was a wizard and because he was killed in a magical accident, Eli and I were never forgiven either.
I hung my head and sighed once more, she was my mother and maybe one day she will open her eyes and see me as her daughter and not as some monster.
"I love you mum" I whisper as I grab the handle to my trunk and leave. I leave my memories of a sour childhood, I leave my mother and I leave the house that had the audacity to call itself a home for the past six weeks.
Kings cross station was nothing how I pictured it to be, with its high curved glass ceiling that was somehow industrial looking and yet elegant. Looking down at my ticket I felt my heart skip a beat. This didn't make sense, whipping my head left and right I felt my blood begin to pound, this had to be a joke… Platform 9¾.
"Mum I'll be fine I swear, you don't have to walk me all the way to the train" I looked over to see a tall boy and his mother pushing a cart much like mine, right down to the caged owl. I deflated with the relief and followed, they would point me in the right direction.
"Honey you know I like to say goodbye, I like to see you get on that train and wave you off as it pulls away" The woman smiles down at her son and I watch as he rolls his eyes in amusement. My heart constricts but I push it aside, I couldn't think of this now. I take a deep breath and follow them to the space between platforms nine and ten. I watch as the boy straightens his shoulders and pushes his cart towards the brick pillar, his mother joins him at a run and just as I open my mouth to shout out…they disappear. With my heart rate at an inhuman speed I rush to follow and just as I come out the other side…CRASH!
I became a tangle of human and luggage and was about to try and pull myself up when a muffled voice came from underneath me.
"As much as people joke about girls falling for me, I'd really appreciate it if you'd hurry to stand" The voice was amused and I looked down to see a pair of be speckled hazel eyes looking up at me. Oh God, could this get any worse.
"James! Manners! This was obviously an accident" His mother's voice was strict but kind and I took the hand she offered to me. Once on my feet the apologies began to tumble out of my mouth.
"Je suis desole, I am so sorry! I panicked and ran through the barrier and…"
"It's fine honestly" James waved me off as he rid his sweater of dust.
"It's just that I was kind of lost and I saw you disappear and…"
"honestly its fine, I'm James Potter by the way, I'm guessing that you're new" his smile was genuine as he offered me his hand.
"Erin Bellefleur" I replied, taking his hand in mine and shaking it firmly
"So you are French wee?" He raised a brow and with his smile still in place, gestured with his hand for me to answer.
"Uhm half French, my mother is English, we've just moved back here so I'm finishing school at Hogwarts" his smile was infectious and I found myself smiling back.
"Well Erin Bellefleur, would you like to join my friends and I aboard the Hogwarts Express?" My heart lept, maybe this year would be different.