Hello, all! This is my first fanfic on here, so be gentle! Enjoy :).
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not owned by me.
I stumbled into King's Cross station with shakey knees and butterflies in my stomach. There wasn't anything I should have been particularly worried or nervous about; I had been going to Hogwarts for seven years! You would think I would have gotten over the first day shivers by now. Apparently I hadn't. Maybe it was the fact that this was to be the last time I traveled to Hogwarts on the Hogwarts Express for my very last year at the most magical of schools. My heart skipped a beat as I trotted through the wall to Platform 9 3/4. The wheels of the trolley shook as badly as my knees. Apollo fidgeted in his cage as I ran over a small bump in the stone ground. "Sorry, Lo. Go back to sleep," I whispered to the ornery fox. His orange head peered up at me and his big yellow eyes squinted. He was angry with me, as usual. I woke him from his nap. "I know, I know. Hate me later."
Resigning from his anger, he laid his head back down on the front of his paws. It must be nice, not having to worry about anything other than napping. I, on the other hand, no longer had that luxury. Back to school meant back to the books. Not that I minded, terribly; I enjoy studying. However, I knew I would miss those lazy days reading on my favorite armchair in my bedroom with rain pelting down on the windows and a warm cup of coffee in hand.
At least I would see my friends. Or, acquaintances rather. I like keeping to myself most days, but I wouldn't turn down company if I'm not too busy. I'm usually busy, though. It was normally just me and Apollo. Our bond is a fickle one. There isn't a time when he isn't angry with me, yet if he feels like someone is a danger to me, he bares his teeth and chases them off. Sweet, really, but a hindrance, considering he finds most a danger. Of course, the fact that my Animagus form is a fox doesn't help the situation. He sees me as one of his own. I would, too, if I were him.
The train whistle blew for the final boarding call. Parents all around me kissed their children one last time before saying goodbye for another year. I felt a pang of loneliness. My parents had never taken me onto the platform, even when I was young. They were Muggles that didn't understand the concept of magic, so, naturally, they turned their backs on it. My mother is a librarian and my father a biologist. He tries to theorize magic into a tangible science, but that's impossible. I've tried to tell him, but he just won't listen. Mother is a bit more accepting, although not by much. When I tell her about school she only ever responds with, "That's nice, dear." or "Yes, dear. Did you clean your room?"
It doesn't matter anyway. Once I'm at Hogwarts, everything will feel right again.
I scurried to the train doors and pushed my suitcase up the stairs with Apollo's cage in my hand. A boy gave me a hand up and helped me with my over packed bag.
"Thank you," I said. He nodded and went to find his friends. Apollo growled in his tiny jail. "Oh, hush, you."
All of the other students were filling the compartments as they found their friends. I shimmied through the crowded corridor, struggling to keep my suitcase and Apollo under each arm. Finally, I found an empty compartment. I blew a piece of my red hair out of my eyes as I pried open the door. "Just you and me now, old boy," I said, opening Apollo's cage. He raced out of it and onto the seat opposite me. Stretching his long, lean body, he let out a tremendous yawn and plopped back down for his third nap of the day. "You are ridiculous, I hope you know that," I said to him. He ignored me.
I opened my suitcase and looked around for my hair ribbon. My locks were getting incredibly unruly particularly early today. On an average day, the lion's mane that is my hair tends to become it's most curly and tangled at around three o'clock. It was barely eleven and it already had a mind of its own. I took the ribbon in my hand and collected as much of my hair as I could get a hold of. My hands twisted methodically as I attempted to give myself a side braid. I accomplished at least a close resemblance, closer than I could normally pull off, to say the least. I tied the end with my garnishment of choice and fell back into the seat, finally relaxed.
This year, my final year, would be the greatest time of my life. I could feel it. It sent shivers through my bones and caught my heart on fire with its warmth. I was going Hogwarts for the last time. I was going home.
That's it for the prologue! Thank you for reading it, if you did. Means a ton!
I'll try to have a chapter up every week. I'm pretty busy, so don't get mad if I don't update loads!
Not that you really care...this is just the first installment. I'm expecting no one to read this.