Every good story starts on a train. It insinuates that there's going to be an adventure - a destination that is so exciting that it's worth writing about. Tragically for you, my story starts on a very mundane train journey. This train journey was a journey I'd made six years previously. It was my journey to Hogwarts.
I suppose you could say that this train journey was more exciting than previous ones as now I was riding the train as Head Boy, and I was watching out for my first year baby almost-brother and making sure he didn't get into any trouble. I'd done all these duties though – James was safely in a compartment with three other first year boys – and now I was relaxing in my own, exhaling in an over exaggerated manner as I slid down into an uncomfortably springy seat.
"What's up, drama queen?" Daniel Weathers asked. "Struggling with Head Boy duties already?"
"It's hard being the most important boy in school," I grumbled, smirking slightly as I caught Daniel's eye.
"You arrogant bastard, Teddy," Gregory Lewis laughed as he chucked a Bertie Bott's Every Flavoured Bean at me. He laughed even harder when it hit me square between the eyes.
I mumble abuse back at them, an activity that a Head Boy shouldn't really engage in. If anyone heard me and reported me to Professor Clearwater, the new headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I'd be done for. Luckily for me, being bad isn't really what I do. I'm not a goody-goody two shoes but I don't really like to get into trouble. I don't get my kicks from pulling pranks and getting one over on my peers. Unluckily for me, my friends seemed to enjoy that pastime.
"I wouldn't want to be head boy," Dan said absently to nobody in particular.
Dan and Greg were my best friends and had been since the first train ride on the Hogwarts Express all those years ago. We'd immediately hit it off and have been best friends ever since. Dan is a Hufflepuff, like me, and he's the captain of our Quidditch team. He's a fantastic Chaser and I watch in awe as he scores not only on the pitch but also off of it. Half of the female student population at Hogwarts openly has a thing for Dan and the other half pretend not to care but swoon secretly and silently. His smile has caused people to pass out. I wish I was joking.
Greg is quieter. He's still quite a good-looking guy, but not as obviously as Dan is. He doesn't have girls at his feet but even if he did it wouldn't matter. For two years Greg has been madly in love with Phillipa Greene, a girl in his house (which is Ravenclaw). He's obsessed with her almost to the point where it's embarrassing. He values our friendship but if Phillipa walks by, he's off like a shot to go and tell her some mundane fact about potions, another thing which Greg can't get enough of. I get a lot of second hand embarrassment around Greg.
Those two are my closest friends but I'm on pretty good terms with everybody in our year, and in the years below. I try to be nice to everyone – even those that I find mildly insufferable. Life is just easier when you're kind, I guess. Professor Clearwater described me as a "polite, popular young man" in the letter I received offering me my Head Boyship. I wouldn't go as far as popular, but I'm definitely liked.
Victorie Weasley slinked into our carriage with an evil grin playing on her lips. I snapped out of my daydream to greet her with a smile and she sat down opposite me, next to Dan. Weakly, Dan and Greg offered her a greeting and I did the same. The emerald of Victorie's tie shone the same emerald as her eyes and I watched as she tried to come up with something snarky and clever to say.
"What brings you here, Vic?" I finally asked.
"I just wanted to check in with everyone's favourite nerd," Victorie replied. Not your best work, Vic.
"Me? I'm doing great," I said, "I just had to confiscate some dung bombs off of our darling Jamesie."
Victorie laughed, throwing her head back in an overly-dramatic fashion. "Typical."
My relationship with Victorie was basically the same as the relationship that I had with the boys. We were best friends. As she was basically family; we spent a hell of a lot of time together and even though we were in different years and different houses, we made time to hang out while we were at school together. Our friendship was based on our ability to insult one another profusely and the other not really minding.
"I hope your little cousin isn't in my house, Vic," Greg murmured, "I don't want to have to deal with pranks in the common room."
"I don't know, Greg," Victorie said, with a giggle, "I think little James Potter is pretty smart."
"Crap," Greg grumbled and Victorie laughed again, her platinum blonde hair falling over her face as she did so.
"He'll be a Gryffindor, no doubt," Victorie said, reassuring Greg who now looked a little relieved. James wasn't a bad kid per say but he was a handful. Anyone who'd heard any of my stories knew that. I was secretly pining for James to be in Hufflepuff. "I'd put good money on that fact."
"If the little bastard is anything like you, Ted, he's going to be a real lady killer," Dan snorted, and Victorie and Greg laughed too, clearly finding the joke funnier than I did.
"I thought that joke would have died over the summer but no, it lives to see another year," I said with a sigh, shooting daggers at Dan for bringing it up. There was a running joke between my friends about the fact that I'd never been involved romantically or even shown any romantic interest in anyone. Well, romantic interest that they knew about. You'd have to be a fool to tell Dan and Greg about a girl you fancied and you'd have to be bloody insane to tell Victorie.
"Jokes that great never truly die," Greg reminded me and I scowled from under my mint blue fringe.
"Who's Head Girl, Teddy?" Victorie asked, "Perhaps there could be a little Head Boy on Head Girl action?"
I shuddered, "Maisie Hornswaggle is Head Girl."
I try not to be a judgemental person. I aim to be as accepting, understanding and as kind as I can be but Maisie Hornswaggle is a truly detestable girl. She's rude, bossy and has a superiority complex which drives me insane. As she is in most of my classes, we spend a lot of time together and she is constantly trying to beat me out in tests and brags to no end when she does so.
"How the heck did she get that?" Greg exclaimed, stunned.
"I don't know a single person who likes her," Dan said.
"She's horrendous," Victorie agreed.
After my friends realised that even making a joke about me dating Maisie was too cruel the conversation moved on to how many Muggleborn first years would crap themselves with excitement at the ceiling in the Great Hall and then Victorie excused herself from the carriage. "I left Jeremy with Lauren and Tabitha!"
"And you can't leave them with him for too long lest he savage their hands off?" I suggested, with a cheeky smile.
"I don't know what your vendetta against Jeremy is but I'm telling you he's not that bad. You just need to give him a chance!"
"Vic, the first time I touched him he bit me so hard that it drew blood. I'm not a cat person as it is but I'm telling you, I do not trust that animal," I replied.
"Suit yourself," Victorie said, standing up and opening the door of the compartment. "Bye, boys," she said, from over her shoulder as she sauntered back down the train.
"You better watch that one, Teddy," Dan said, with a chuckle, "If she starts to do what she did last year, your position of Head Boy could be compromised."
"What do you mean?" I asked, puzzled.
"Well, Victorie has a tendency to get you into trouble. I know it's hard to say no to someone when they turn on that Veela charm but mate, if this Head Boy position means a lot to you then don't allow her to lead you astray," Greg explained, sheepishly.
Okay, so they had a point. Whether it was being caught out in the castle after lights out, or taking food from the kitchens, or boycotting lessons to hang out with one another, Victorie did seem to have a more lax view on the rules than I do. Last year, I'd found myself in detention twice and both times were because I was with her. It didn't really matter last year but this year I was Head Boy. I had to set an example for the other students.
"Are you both honestly lecturing me about misbehaving?" I said, still smirking.
"We're not lecturing you," Dan pointed out.
"We're just... pushing you in the right direction," Greg confirmed.
I pretended to huff but I couldn't. Having two friends that were looking out for me was nice. And, they did have a point. The conversation moved forward again and not another word about Victorie was said throughout the remainder of the train journey.
As Head Boy, I had new duties on the platform. I instructed Dan and Greg to go on ahead without me while I helped First Years get off the train, pulling off their luggage and sending them in the direction of Hagrid who would lead them to the boats. It was dark and getting pretty cold outside so I spent most of the time yelling at the First Years to put on cloaks and hats, as it was especially chilly on the water. Little James Potter walked by me with his new gang of mates and I gave him a little wave as he walked by. He smiled brassily and I could hear his new friends whispering to him and asking him how he knew the Head Boy. I smiled to myself as I met up with Maisie.
"How was your summer then, Teddy?" She asked as we walked towards a carriage together and climbed in. I was very shocked she was actually asking me a question.
"Yeah, it was good. How was yours?" I replied, waiting for the shit storm of information and bragging I was about to receive.
"Oh, amazing! We went to the Caribbean, because my father owns about five or six islands out there and we spent three weeks just moving to and from these islands and staying in the mansion. I met up with so many exotic locals and they accepted me as one of their own from day one really. I had an intense summer romance with this really attractive Spanish muggle called Horatio but I had to break it off because I was having too many offers from other guys to keep track. It was pretty awesome. I then did five weeks of work experience in the Magical Law Enforcement department in the Ministry of Magic and I basically have a job offer all sealed up for when I leave here, so I don't really have to worry about my NEWTs. I was so good by the end of it that I was allowed to defend a criminal and I actually persuaded the Wizengamot not to send him to Azkaban. It was so great. And then I obviously played a couple of weeks Quidditch with the Holyhead Harpies. I trained with them over their summer break for like three weeks. I taught them a new tactic. You'll probably see them use it when the new season starts..."
This went on all the way back to Hogwarts. I didn't dare tell her that we only had seven weeks of summer so her dates didn't really add up.
I sat at the Hufflepuff table with Dan half an hour later, ready for the Sorting to commence. I was never really that interested but I wanted to see where James ended up. I hoped and prayed it was Hufflepuff. Professor McGonagall called everyone's names in alphabetical order. When she read out "Potter, James" I could almost detect a grimace on her face. I had the same grimace when I was sorted. Clearly our fathers and grandfathers have a lasting effect here at Hogwarts.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
I was mildly disappointed but it was what I was expecting. James had claret and gold surging through his veins and he looked absolutely delighted to be taking a seat next to his cousin, Fred, on the Gryffindor table. He looked over to me and I shot him my best proud sort-of brother look and he smiled back at me, not disguising his elation at being sorted into the house of his mother and father. I was happy for him.
The feast was impressive and delicious as it so usually is with golden roast potatoes, succulent meat, juicy greens, sweet carrots and lashings of gravy. After Professor Clearwater's welcome back speech, I stood up and led the Hufflepuff first years to the common room for the first time with the help of the fifth year prefects, Fran and Spencer. Fran nattered on to me about how she wished she was a metamorphagus because she'd like to be able to switch up her hair whenever she liked. As a response, I changed my mint blue hair to bubblegum pink which received a chatter of excitement from the first years.
"Now," I said, stopping in front of the barrels that opened up to reveal our common room, "it's very important you listen to my instructions because if you get this wrong, you will be doused in vinegar. To get into our common room, you must tap the second barrel from the bottom to the rythmn of 'Helga Hufflepuff'. Let me demonstrate." I tapped the barrel five times and they moved aside, revealing a narrow passage way. The first years looked on in awe as I climbed in, followed closely by Fran and Spencer.
"Boys, your dorms are to your right! Girls, to my left!" Fran said, indicating with her hands like a flight attendant. "You'll probably want to get a good night's sleep so don't be too late up!"
"We are the only common room in the school with tea-making facilities so don't be afraid to make yourself a cuppa!" Spencer shouted over the rabble of first years, who were looking around the large circular room in awe. The glow from the fire reflected off the copper plant pots that littered the common room which made it look really cosy and inviting. I smiled. While I loved being at home I did miss Hogwarts.
Home for me was with my grandparents which may seem odd but both my parents died when I was only five or six months old. I don't really get very sad about it because I never really knew them but I can't help wondering what they were like. I know my dad was a werewolf, as I am half werewolf, and I know my mum was a metamorphagus because I am also one of those as well. My dad was in Gryffindor and my mum was in Hufflepuff. I know this because when I was sorted, McGonogall whispered under her breath "oh, thank Merlin he takes after Nymphadora!" but I know she was secretly fond of my dad too. I didn't ask Granny much about my mum when I was growing up because I know it was probably hard for her to talk about. As I grew older, people were more ready to talk about it and Remus and Tonks were discussed fondly when I hung out with the Weasleys and The Potters. I now have lots of photos of my mum and dad in a box under my bed that Granny, Molly and Harry gave me.
It was getting late and I was tired. Dan and I were drinking tea in the common room with two other Hufflepuffs that are in our year group: Pippa Morgan and Alex Cutler. Pippa and Alex are dating and have been for nearly a year now and aside from Dan, Greg and Victorie, they are some of my closest friends. We sit up joking and laughing about Professor Bluth's new haircut. It honestly looked like a ski jump. What was that man thinking?
"Can you even say that now you're head boy?" Alex laughed, pushing back his mousy brown hair with his fingers to keep it out of his eyes.
"Probably not – but what old Bluthy doesn't know won't hurt him," I joked, taking a long sip of my tea. I'd progressed to having it with no sugar.
"Don't you have your 'induction' tomorrow afternoon with your new bestie Maisie?" Pippa inquired.
I groaned. "Yes."
"Our last Head Boy and Head Girl got engaged over the summer," Dan said, raising his eyebrow at me.
"I thought we agreed that under no circumstances do we joke about me and Maisie dating," I pointed out. "Because it's not a joke. It's just vile."
"Alright, touchy," Alex said, with a laugh. Alex was on the Quidditch team as well as Dan. He played the position of Seeker. While he and Dan played, Pippa and I sat in the stands and watched. Dan liked to joke that Alex had support from his girlfriend and that he had the support from his.
"Sorry. I'm just pissed that I get this incredible thing but I have to share it with her. It's bollocks. Pippa, why couldn't you have been Head Girl?" I whined, holding onto her arm and shaking it while she giggled.
"Because I'm not as smart as Maisie," Pippa said, with a scowl. Pippa was one of the brightest witches in our year and was definitely set to get all Os in her NEWTs but she'd fallen short to be head girl because her extra-curriculars were not as 'fully extensive' as Maisie's, even though Maisie blatantly lied.
"You're just as smart as Maisie, if not smarter," Alex assured her, resting his hand on her shoulder. She beamed up at him, her face flushed from the heat of the common room and the tea she was consuming.
Yawning, I stretched my arms above my head and made my excuses to go to bed.
"Night, Ted," Alex, Pippa and Dan said lazily in unison.
"See you in the morning," I responded, sloping up the stairs to bed.
AN: Okay so we have another remarkably cliché story from Chloe! What a surprise! I love my NextGen, and so I wanted to write more NextGen! If you like the concept, let me know. Expect hilarity, fluff and more clichés as we continue. :)