CHAPTER 1
Fifth year.
I stood at Platform 9 ¾ and stared at the enormous red steam engine that stood in front of me. People jostled around me, shoving me, knocking my bags over. Goodbyes, final reminders and best wishes were yelled among the crowd. Adding to the noise was none other than my dear old mother.
"Rose, are you sure you have everything? Have you seen your brother?" She spun me around in a flustered state, adding to my strained mood. Her already enormous hair stuck out more, and added to her red face and sweating forehead, gave off the impression of a troll. I would laugh if there wasn't a knot forming in my stomach. "Oh, dear God, where is that dreadful bird of yours?" she gasped.
"She's here, Mum" I lifted the cage I was holding to reveal my beloved barn owl, Whistle. She squawked loudly, frightened of the noise, and I'm sure that my mother's hassling wasn't helping.
"Oh, Hermione, leave her be. Rose is going to have enough on her mind with her OWLs to bear to hear any more of your yakking" Dad said, with a wink towards me. Yes, he has always been my favorite parent, warm funny Dad, as opposed to bossy, irritating Mum.
"Oh, Hugo! Hugo, sweetheart!" Mum chirped, catching sight of my brother, who was standing with his friends. "You forgot your robes!" she called, hurrying towards him with a bright pink bag in her hand. Hugo, on the other hand, looked ready to melt into the floor at the sight of our troll-like mum, pushing her way through the crowd towards him. Dad and I both laughed.
"Rose, I hope you enjoy your fifth year" Dad said in a suddenly serious tone, turning towards me. "I can remember mine, and it wasn't all that fun."
"Well, yes because you had a demon headmistress who loved cats, looked like a toad and performed physical torture on you for detention, whereas I was never that lucky" I say flawlessly. Stories about Mum, Dad and Uncle Harry had been told from when I was small and Umbridge was one of my favorites.
My dad chucked "I love you, Rosie. And If OWLs become too much or you do end up having a demon headmistress, send me an owl, and we can always transfer you to Beauxbatons"
"Beauxbatons? No, thank you. I've seen how Aunty Fleur turned out" I joke, a familiar smirk on my face. Dad returned the smile, our smile that we had whenever we made fun of a family member, a favorite past time.
"Rose! Rose, It's almost 11:00" Mum cuts in, pulling a sour-faced Hugo behind her. "Now, be nice to your Professors, do your homework and make sure you get to bed on time" she begins, pummeling me with hugs and kisses, then begins on an unwilling Hugo.
Dad turns to me "Have fun, love. Don't stress out too much" he says, pulling me into a hug.
"Thanks, Dad" I say, breathing in his smell of parchment and cut grass.
At last, the train whistle goes, and I'm pushed on board by my sobbing mother.
"Take care of your brother! Remember to write! Remind Hugo to change his robes everyday!" were a few of the pointless matters my mum called out as I looked out of the window, watching the train depart the station.
Fifth year.
If it was anything like James said it was like, I was in for a ride on an angry Horntail.