Platform nine and three quarters was in complete chaos, as the new year was beginning. Students could be seen running about, looking for someplace to sit. Parents were anxiously waiting to see when their children would be safely on their way to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Shouts of worried parents and forgetful students could be heard. Fauna Douglas was having trouble trying to be heard over the noise. She had arrived not ten minutes ago, looking for her best friend.
Fauna stood barely five feet tall, with hair as dark as the night. Her dark looks made her pretty, though not beautiful. Her nose was slightly sharp, but it didn't subtract from her looks. Her voluptuous figure made her look a bit strange around very thin English girls. She wasn't very shy, nor was she incredibly outgoing. All her life she had been average. Average grades, average looks. She wasn't the most popular at Hogwarts, but she wasn't an outcast either.
This summer had been the worst of her life. Her brother, an auror, had been killed fighting Lord Voldomort. Her mother and father were devastated. She was just getting used to the idea of being an only child.
Fauna had been wasting the past ten minutes searching for her best mate. Lily Evans was no where to be seen. The two had become friends in Lily's second year when Fauna was just a lonely first year. Lily had found her being bullied by none other than James Potter (thus tainting James in Lily's eyes forever).They were an interesting pair to say the least. Lily with her beautiful red hair and emerald eyes. She was leaner and taller than Fauna, which only added to their differences. Yet the two were very close. Though Fauna did wish that she was Lily's age. She was now entering her fourth year, and she only wished she could be in the same classes as her friend.
"Honestly Douglas, if that brain of yours wasn't screwed to your head, we'd have some problems." She heard a sarcastic voice next to her ear. Fauna whipped around only to be practically thrown to the ground. "Lily! Oh, Lily I've missed you!" The two friends hugged and laughed together.
"I sent you an owl just yesterday telling you to meet me at this very spot. Actually, I have to admit it was quite amusing watching you look for me. I was behind you the whole time." Fauna slapped Lily's arm playfully. "How was I supposed to know you meant right here?" Lily shook her head at her friends' silliness. Fauna was always lost in her own world. "Let's just go look for Cassandra. She said she'd get us a compartment."
Cassandra, Cassie, O'Connor was Hogwarts resident mean girl. She was taller than both Lily and Fauna, and had a look girls would kill for. Where Lily was delicately pretty, Cassie was fiercely beautiful. She almost looked like a lion, what with her blond hair and golden skin. She had the worst attitude; both girls still didn't know how they were friends with her. Yet Fauna loved her like a sister. Once Lily and her had broken thorough her mean exterior, they had found a very sophisticated, loyal, and wonderful friend. Cassie would lay down and die for her friends. That is after she beat the tar out of anything messing with them. Both Lily and Fauna knew this.
Lily and Fauna tried to make it through the chaos that was the Hogwarts Express. "So no signs of 'you know who'" Fauna didn't mean Voldomort. No, this was a different you know who. One even the kind and forgiving Lily Evans hated.
"That stupid prat? Please, don't even mention him." Lily rolled her eyes. "I'm just lucky he hasn't seen me yet. I don't what I would have done if he…" Lily's words were cut off by a very familiar voice.
"Talking about me Evans?" Came James Potters arrogant voice.
"I think she's finally coming around Prongs." This from Sirius Black. Hogwarts biggest heartbreaker. Also the most attractive boy at Hogwarts next to James Potter. And Fauna's crush. She could see Lily about ready to explode. "Please shove off Potter. For your own good." She pleaded. She knew Lily would tear him to shreds if she didn't intervene.
James looked at Fauna like he was seeing her for the first time. "Who're you?" Fauna blushed from pure embarrassment. Sirius laughed when he noticed this, which only added to Fauna's embarrassment. "Aw, look Prongs. You made her blush." He elbowed James suggestively. "Bet she likes you." James laughed along with Sirius, then turned towards Lily. "That's too bad, cause I only have eyes for my Lily flower."
Fauna had never felt so embarrassed in her whole life. Here was the guy she liked making fun of her. "Lily I'm going to go find Cassie." She mumbled, pushing past James and Sirius and running into someone. "Oh I'm sorry Remus." She blushed. Remus was part of the infamous marauders. He was also incredibly attractive. He smiled at Fauna, also blushing a little. "It's alright Fauna. If you're looking for Cassie, she just gave me an earful two compartments down." Fauna smiled at him and nodded her head.
"Prongs look here. Moony's found himself a girlfriend." Sirius laughed. Remus glared at them, before turning to Fauna. "Ignore them. They're just being prats." She smiled at him warmly. He was such a kind person. Nothing like his friends. "Thanks Remus." And with that, Fauna left to go find Cassie. She heard Lily yell before she heard a grunt and a fall. She felt Lily link her arm with hers. "Come on Fauna."
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"You bloody wankers wouldn't know a cute boy if he started stripping in front of you." Cassie huffed. She had just spent a half hour explaining her newest summer fling. Of course this was before Fauna and Lily had poked fun at her, saying she thought anything that had two legs was attractive.
"Actually I do. It's Lily here who can't see that the best looking boy in school is practically in love with her." Fauna laughed. Lily scoffed and threw some of her pumpkin pasty at Fauna.
"Oh please! Potter? That prat?" At Fauna's nod Lily shook her head. "Personally I think Peter Pettigrew is far more attractive." Fauna and Cassie stared blankly at Lily who blushed. "Maybe not. You don't have the best taste in men either Fauna." Fauna scoffed at this.
"Yeah if you don't think Sirius Black is attractive." Cassie and Lily rolled their eyes.
"You know, the way you go on about him, you might as well join that stupid fan club of his." Fauna's face wrinkled up in disgust. Half the population of Hogwarts found Sirius Black attractive. Cassie referred to these girls as the fan club.
"Oh piss off. Plus, I don't think Sirius is the best looking guy at Hogwarts anymore." Cassie and Lily looked at her in surprise. "Tell us!" They demanded. Fauna giggled softly.
"Well, I just realized that my chances with Black were zero. Remus Lupin however…" She broke off and laughed at the girls' amazed looks.
"Remus? But…it's just so random. I could see you with Malfoy more than I could see you with Remus." Cassie exclaimed. Fauna scowled at her. "Gee thanks Cass."
"I'm not trying to be mean. I just think Remus seems really quiet and innocent. And you well…" Cassie started laughing at the look on Fauna's face.
"Need I remind you that I'm the only one here who hasn't been kissed? Or even had a boyfriend?" Cassie laughed loudly while Lily blushed. Suddenly, the door to their compartment opened.
"Geese O'Conner, I could hear you from down the hall." Cassie turned to glare at the marauders.
"Fuck off Black." She responded glaring. He came in and put his arm around her. "Fraid I can't. You see I'm deeply in love with you O'Conner. You're the light of my life." He laughed.
"Aw Padfoot don't give the girl false hope." Came the voice of Angelica Crescent, She was the only female marauder, and sometimes she was worse than the boys. She was of average height. Blonde hair, blue eyes. She was very much a tomboy; being friends with boys all her life.
Fauna turned to glare at the girl who got to spend all her time with the marauders. "And who invited you?" Angelica didn't even so much as look at her. In fact Remus was the only one who noticed her. He came to sit next to her. She wasn't looking at him as he elbowed her softly.
"I'm sorry to hear about your brother Fauna."
Fauna merely shrugged and looked away. "It's alright, thanks."
Remus cleared his throat before he continued. "Did you read that book I recommended?" He whispered. Fauna felt the hair on the back of her neck stick up. She turned to look at him, when she realized how close they were sitting. He knew she wanted to try out for the quidditch team this year, so at the end of last term, he had suggested a book that would help her understand the sport better. She nodded and smiled at him. "Yes, it was very good. It helped a lot." Remus grinned at her. He was very peculiar, she noted. He looked so much older than he was, yet at the same time he had such an innocence about him.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm sure you'll be brilliant at tryouts this year."
"Who's trying out?" James asked Remus. Remus turned to look at James and smiled at Fauna gently. "Fauna. She's going to try out for the beater position." He said it almost proudly. James, Sirius, and Angelica looked at each other before bursting into laughter. Peter laughed along with them.
"Her? Try out for the beater position? She's puny!" Angelica laughed. She was one of the chasers on the Gryffindor quidditch team. Fauna got angry at her. For some reason, she had never liked the girl. Fauna thought she was too stuck up for her own good.
"Shove off Crescent. Who the hell asked for your opinion?" Fauna spat. Sirius and James started laughing in shock that she actually talked back to her. The smile on Angelicas face was wiped clean as she walked closer to Fauna. "Just who do you think you're talking to?" Fauna rose to her feet and looked up at the older girl.
"Sorry, I didn't make myself clear the first time?"
"You're not going to let her talk to you like that, are you Shadow?" Sirius challenged. Angelica glared down at Fauna before whispering menacingly. "You really want your arse kicked don't you?"
"The only one who's going to be getting an arse kicking around here is you, Crescent!" Cassie barked. Cassie knew Angelica would back down if she talked. Everyone knew not to challenge her. Angelica glared at Fauna once more, before turning to Cassie and laughing.
"I'm just having fun O'Conner. No need to get defensive." She laughed once more and turned to leave. "Come on boys. I've got a whole bunch of new pranks to show you." Sirius, James, and Peter followed her out. Well, after James tried to ask Lily out one more time, for which the answer was a definite 'shove off Potter'. Remus got up to leave, but turned to Fauna one last time. "I'm sorry about that. Shad…Angelica's a bit defensive sometimes." Fauna nodded her head, still flushed from her anger. Remus blushed a bit. "Yeah, um, see you around then." As soon as he left, Lily started cursing James.
"Stupid Potter. He still doesn't get it after the five hundredth time I've said no! Those marauders are such prats! Remus is the only decent one."
Cassie moved to sit next to Fauna "I'll take care of her if you want Fauna. That arse shouldn't be talking to you like that anyway." Fauna was tempted to accept Cassie's offer, but just shook her head. "It's alright. I think I can handle her." They calmed down a bit, before leaving to go change into their school uniforms. Soon, Hogwarts could be seen a little away. Oh yes, this year was definitely going to be interesting.