September 1st, 1974. Day 1 of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. London. Platform 9 ¾. 10:55 a.m.
The platform was filled with families of young wizards on the first day of school. Mothers shout and swear as owl cages constantly fall off their luggage. Five minutes were left until the Hogwarts Express leaves for Hogwarts.
Luckily most fathers didn't accompany their raging wives as they battle their way through the crowd in order to get their little ray of sunshine on to the train. Most couples didn't have that sort of problem, but I guess that depends on the woman you marry.
I stared out onto the swarms of people from inside my compartment, examining what certain families are doing during this crazy rush hour. Being an on-time person (not so much a morning person), I was wise to arrive early to avoid all this chaos. So far, a family crashed their luggage cart into another family. Fortunately, the two boys were able to escape the bickering parents and managed to get themselves and their luggage on board the train. Another family were smothering their daughter and son with kisses and tears. A small grin appeared on my face as the son tried to escape the clutches of his obsessed mother. Finally, they waved good-bye.
My condition right now is sickly. Arriving about 30 minutes before departing adding the hours it takes for the train to arrive at Hogsmeade station, boredom is bound to look you in the face. Boredom just happens to be my annoying stalker that won't leave me alone. I skimmed a book that I brought along for the ride, but even though the train wasn't moving, I was getting motion-sickness.
My head was in pain and all I could do was stop reading and hyper ventilate until my brain gains enough oxygen for it to feel better. For a couple of seconds, I was bumping my head against the glass window, however, a thought came up that I could lose brain cells by doing so. Not like I hadn't already. Desperately trying to find sanctuary in my little tiny head, my eyes were scanning the scene placed before me, trying to find certain people. But seeing all the moving colors going all over the scene, it only made my headache worse. Now all I could do now was hide my face from the burning light and wait until my head ache goes away.
"James! James! James Potter, turn around when I'm talking to you!" A messy black-haired boy turned around towards his hysterical mother. For awhile he just stood still, staring at the giant black train with a dazed expression. Normally that wouldn't be like him, however, he quickly changed when his mother caught him. A big grin appeared on his face and he jumped through the crowd.
"James Potter! Don't you dare leave your luggage to me and your father!" she shouted as he made his way towards her.
"Don't worry, mum! You could always send it by owl if I forgot it!" James replied with a witty remark.
"Yes, but deary, how are you going to change into new clean underpants without your luggage? An owl can't carry all of those boxers of yours you're so proud about!"
"So you've moved up to boxers, huh, James?"
"Mum, stop embarrassing me!" James pleaded his mother as he realized who overheard. Sirius laughed softly at James' reaction and went up to them.
"Nice day, Mrs. Potter," Sirius bowed as if she was royalty. James, in turn, started to laugh.
"Well, good day to you, Sirius dear." Mrs. Potter smiled, enjoying the treatment she gets whenever Sirius' around. "How has your summer been?"
"Quite a bit of torture, Mrs. Potter. My family still doesn't feel so right living around a blood traitor like me," Sirius turned his head away from his parents who were glaring at his direction. Mrs. Potter seemed to have notice.
"Now deary, don't mind them. Your pure-blood obsessed parents have too much pride of their blood. Remember, if you need a place to stay then we'll always welcome you to our house,"
The train's whistle started to blow and Mrs. Potter suddenly turned hysterical again. "James Potter! You bring your luggage and get on that train right now this instant!"
"Yes, mum!"
"Hey, James-" Sirius started, however, he was interrupted when Mrs. Potter pushed him towards the train.
"Sirius Black! Don't you dare talk back to me, mister, or else you'll get a howler from me tomorrow morning!"
"Yes ma'am!"
"Bye, dearies!" Mrs. Potter waved, crying when they finally got on the train.
"James, your mother's crazy when she's in a hurry," Sirius finally got time to say.
"Now you know how my dad and I feel,"
"Oh, James! Sirius!" The two boys turned their heads down the train to see a familiar tired looking face. "Peter, over here,"
"Oh, Remus," James noticed, pulling his luggage with him as he walked over to him.
"Did you find a compartment for us, Remus?" Sirius asked.
"Not yet. Peter and I were looking until we found you two," he told him.
"Hey, Remus, mi boy, can you help me with this large luggage, would you please?" James asked in a Scottish accent. Remus sighed at his attempt.
"James, that is the worst accent you've had since we first met. Practice does not make it any better," he stated.
"Remus-Sirius! James!" Peter appeared.
"Hey, Peter. How's your summer been?" James greeted him.
Peter shrugged at his question and said, "Not much. My parents sent me to my aunts for a couple weeks. Bloody hell, those women wouldn't stop pinching my cheeks,"
Both James and Sirius snickered at the torture Peter had to go through while Remus smiled lightly having already heard it before. "Oh, I couldn't find any empty compartments, but there's a compartment just a couple carriages down with just one person in it,"
"That should be good, Peter," Remus nodded.
"Good work, chap!"
"James…"
"This is it," Peter pointed. James looked into the compartment and saw a person leaning against the window with a muggle coat thrown over his head.
"Peter, does this person mind for us sitting inside the compartment with him?" Remus questioned him, taking a peak inside as well.
"I haven't asked," he answered. The discussion was brought to a halt when James slid the compartment door open.
"James, we shouldn't disturb him!" Remus advised, but James already settled his luggage and himself inside the compartment.
"Calm down, Remus. He's asleep. I'm sure he won't mind if we stay nice and quiet," James started examining his wand with a grin. Sirius and Peter went in as well, but Remus just sighed.
"I bet we'll be anything but nice and quiet," he muttered under his breathe but joined in as well. Remus sat next to the sleeping person, Peter sat next to Remus, and James and Sirius sat on the opposite side.
The train has been riding along the tracks for about a couple of hours. At least, I could figure. Since even with my eyes close, I could feel the sun's rays flashing at me at the platform. No choice but to cover myself with my coat in order to keep the rays away and let me doze off for a moment or two. Sleep cured my headache, but now I'm hearing voices.
"Hey, what do you think that he's holding?" A mouth stuffed with food managed to ask.
"I don't know. Never seen anything like that before," I wondered if they were referring to my Ipod. No music was playing in the earphones. The play list must've ended while I was asleep.
"D'you think it's some kind of muggle device?"
"James!"
"Oh come on, Remus, lighten up. I'm just going to see what it is. Besides, he's asleep. No harm done,"
"James, please…" Fingers wove around my Ipod in my left hand and I instinctively grabbed the person's hand before he could snatch away my Ipod. The fingers immediately lost grasp on my Ipod. I uncovered myself, bringing my coat to my lap and saw four boys in the compartment looking at me in surprise.
James instantly froze when his wrist was captured by that mysterious passenger. Sirius had his wand out ready for anything, Peter had too much of a stuffed face to react in any other way but widening his eyes, and Remus' eyes widened as well when James was caught in the act.
After a moment of silence, the mysterious passenger took off his jacket.
"Blimey…" All four boys whispered. It wasn't a guy at all, but a girl who was sleeping in the compartment. Her hair was messy from the nap, but it was a dull black and went all the way to her shoulder blades. Her bangs were the same way which covered her dark brown eyes. Though with the sunset, it seems as though her eyes reflected gold specks. The girl removed her long bangs from the front of her face and saw James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter. Nobody knew what to do.
She wiped her eyes without saying a word, still having a grip on James' wrist. Remus, Sirius, Peter, and James looked at each other, suggesting what they should do. Finally, Remus decided to break the silence.
"I'm very sorry for my troubled friend here. He was just very curious, that's all. Did we wake you?" he politely asked her. The girl stared at Remus, but shook her head. She leaned forward in order to pick up her Ipod which she dropped when she grabbed James. Then finally let go of his wrist.
"Sorry about that," she spoke with a tired voice. "I thought you were going to steal it or something. I can't trust anyone these days having my stuff being taken here and there," A small smile showed on her face. James was rubbing his wrist due to the immense strength she used to constrict it, but he didn't seem offended by that.
That was proven when he started asking her something. "Hey, what kind of muggle device is that?"
The girl glanced at her Ipod then back at James. She told him, "It's a muggle device that allows muggles to listen to music on-the-go. It's called an Ipod, however...there's only one in existence right now which I currently have in my possession,"
"Blimey. Such neat things muggles create," James analyzed the design of my Ipod. Peter leaned forward to see the Ipod a bit closer and Sirius changed looks from the Ipod to the girl. Remus did the same thing.
"Have I seen you at Hogwarts before?" Remus wondered, catching her attention.
She thought for a moment and answered, "No. I just transferred here to Hogwarts,"
"From where?" James joined in the conversation, scanning my Ipod.
"Um…Japan," she said, hesitantly.
"You come from Japan?" Peter asked, interested.
"Well, I used to be in a part of Japan before I transferred here, but I was born and raised in America," she cleared.
"That explains why your English is so good," James figured out.
"What's your name?" Remus asked.
"My name is Elizabeth Tikame, but most of friends call me Lizy," she told them.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Remus Lupin," he smiled at her.
"It's Peter Pettigrew," Peter spoke quickly as her eyes laid on him.
"Sirius Black," Sirius smiled devilishly at her direction. "If you need any help around Hogwarts, I'll always be willing to help you,"
"And I am James Potter! The most popular and most handsome Chaser in Gryffindor house!" he stood up with his head up with pride.
"Nice to meet you guys," Lizy welcomed, giggling softly to James' intro.
"Lizy, is it?" Sirius asked.
"Yup,"
"The trolley just came by moments ago," he informed her. "We didn't want to wake you, but if you're hungry, it's at the end of the carriage,"
"Um…no thanks," she replied. "I don't have any money with me...besides, I rather just wait until we get to Hogwarts,"
"No money? Didn't your parents give you any money in case you would get hungry on the ride?" Peter wondered.
"Well…my parents aren't here...in this world..." she drifted off, avoiding eye contact. Peter felt bad for hitting a weak spot and James and Sirius stared at him like he was stupid. Remus felt sympathy too for her.
James spoke in order to cheer up the mood. "Hey, mates, we're almost at Hogwarts. That reminds me, we have to change into our robes," James stood up. The other three stood up as well and started to leave.
"By the way, Lizy, what house are you in?" James poke his head back in the compartment.
"Uh…I'm a Hufflepuff..." she replied, shyly, trying to get back in her happy place.
"Welcome to Hogwarts then, Miss Hufflepuff," Sirius winked.
"You should get changed in your robes too, Lizy," Remus told her.
"Okay,"
Remus nodded to her and followed the others to find a place to change.
I waited a couple of moments at my seat. I wondered what I was to do now that I was awake and left in the compartment by myself. Then a flying envelope entered through the open window and landed on my lap.
Don't fall asleep on the train, Elizabeth. You need to be awake to introduce yourself to the students.
-Dumbledore
A grin appeared on my face; I couldn't help but let out a laugh. I gathered all my stuff that I brought with me on the train, and looked outside to the green forest that laid beyond the train tracks. "Already have."
A/N- For those of you who wonder why Lizy has an Ipod in the year 1974, well...it's a mystery that's yet to be revealed! I will keep switching from Third Person to First Person since I can never choose which one sounds better in certain situations.
