September First 1977 was crisp and sunny, a surprise for the inhabitants of Kings Cross Station, and, as usual, Platform 9 ¾ was crowded. Smoke billowed from the awaiting train, curling gently around the gathering people, as owls hooted loudly to one another. Groups of teenagers chattered noisily, laughs lighting up their faces as stories from summer passed through their lips. Trunks were loaded onto the train's last compartment, older students smiling down to the younger, smaller ones as they helped to lift and to point in the right directions.

"You didn't!"

The gathering of girls was easy to spot. Clearly old hands at experiencing a September First they were relaxed and comfortable; their laughs were loud and carefree as they dumped their trunks and owls, discarding of their trolleys before making their way down the platform. They had bid their goodbyes to their families before leaving their homes, meeting up to make the journey to Kings Cross for the last time together.

The girl in the middle turned to glance across to her exclaiming friend, her long dark hair was flying around her face as her hazel eyes rolled in annoyance "Bloody first years," she grumbled as she almost tripped over a nervous looking, very very short, eleven year old "As if September first wasn't hectic enough!"

"Careful Daxia," The redhead to her left, dodging around more eleven year olds with the skill only a seventh year could have perfected, began as the group of four friends pushed their way through the crowds packing the platform "Your Slytherin is showing!" she teased with a wide and cheeky grin. A few parents of said eleven year olds glared to the girls as they caught up loudly over the heads of their children.

Daxia Lestrange paused (forcing an emotional September First newbie-parent to knock into her back) to send Lily Evans a scowl. Everyone on the planet (especially ones residing in Hogwarts for most of the year) knew that if there was one thing Daxia hated more than anything (including a packed Platform 9 ¾) it was her heritage. It was only down to the fact that the two girls had been best friends for almost the entirety of the six years they had attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, meeting on that very platform as nervous eleven year olds themselves, which allowed Lily to get away with such comments.

Although, to look at and to know, the two girls seemed incompatible they had quickly found they understood one another; their beds residing beside one another in the dorm and their senses of humour complemented the other's as did their study techniques. Lily could get away with jokes that others couldn't while Daxia could tease Lily without suffering any consequences.

"Oh shush Lily!" Another of the group was exclaiming as she managed to bound gracefully ahead of her friends, walking backwards so she was able to face them as she spoke "I need to hear more from Dax!...A muggle?!"

Daxia smirked over to Adiya (as a parent sent them another disapproving look), a blonde and beautiful Californian adopted into the group soon after her emigration back in their third year. She had shuffled in behind the first years, more nervous than the smaller kids around her as she took in the spectacular scene that was The Great Hall. She had never been to a wizarding school before, her mother (who was a witch) had taken on the role of her tutor when they were shipped off to America when her father (a muggle) had received a promotion just before her third birthday. Sitting down on the stool in front of the entire school, after having to endure a speech from the headmaster explaining her situation, she had glanced around the faces as she chewed on her bottom lip. One of the tables burst into applause when the hat on her head called out "GRYFFINDOR!" and she'd hopped down from the front of the hall to join her fellow third years. The redhead to her left had welcomed her warmly while the girl with the dark hair and long curls had rolled her eyes, turning to whisper something to a ridiculously handsome boy sat on her left.

The rest, as is said, was history.

Arching her eyebrows Daxia nodded a confirmation; it hadn't taken her long to warm to the girl with the American tinted British accent "Mother was so impressed she sent me to live with Mary for the rest of the summer!" She chuckled as she sent the fourth and final member of their group, Mary Macdonald, a wink "It would have been Lily's but taking me away from the muggle-boy by sending me to a muggleborn? Not even my dear old mum would fall for that one!" She joked nudging a sighing Lily's arm. As one of the oldest and most noble pureblood families the Lestrange family would rather Daxia commit murder and live out the rest of her days in wizarding prison Azkaban than be associated with non-magical folk.

"So; I love your new hair Mary!" Lily commented as the friends piled into the Hogwarts Express. Over summer Mary had figured out a way to charm her short blonde hair into a longer, curled style, framing her pretty features perfectly while managing to provide Lily with the perfect change of subject away from Daxia's controversial family.

Though their bond remained unbreakable Daxia's family had always been a slight barrier within their friendship; Lily, as a muggleborn, could never be invited over to stay at her friend's home, she couldn't meet her family or attend the parties they put on each year. Continually fighting for their friendship neither girl allowed the barrier to break them apart though, with her constant rebelling against their beliefs, it had ruined Daxia's relationship with her family.

"Thanks," Mary replied almost unsurely, fingertips brushing along the base of her hair, as the four girls finally found an empty compartment. The fourth, and final, Gryffindor girl was the quieter one of the group, talented with her studies (both practical and theoretical) and motherly toward her friends she was known as the mediator in the group. She kept the other girls grounded, her and Lily sorted out their study schedules and handed out the best advice "I was pretty nervous about doing it – Dax nearly had to practically hold my wand for me – but I do think it suits me."

"I kept telling her how Ben won't know what hit him!" Daxia winked, referring to Mary's yearlong on-off relationship with Benji Fenwick, a fellow Gryffindor seventh year, causing her to narrow her eyes and reach over to pinch a smirking Daxia. Mary may have been known as the quiet one to people on the outside but she was really anything but; she never stood for any shit whether it be directed at her or her friends.

The girls found themselves falling easily into relaxed conversations after that, once the busy hustle of the platform (along with the initial catching up and teasing) was over with, as they hopped onto the train and settled into their seats. Though they had all managed to catch up over the holidays – whether it be on days out all together or meeting up in pairs – they still managed to find an awful lot needed to be discussed.

"I want to take pictures this year by the way!" Lily announced with an exclaim of excitement. Turning in her seat she reached into her bag, pulling out a bulky and heavy looking contraption almost proudly.

Daxia allowed a loud gasp to fill her lungs as she reached out to grab the black box "That's one of them…things!" she exclaimed before groaning in protest as Lily held it away from her grabby fingers.

"Tell me what it's called and you can have a look," the redhead smirked as Daxia pouted "C'mon Dax, you're taking Muggle Studies at N.E.W.T. level this year!"

"Because I thought you'd hel-Polaroid camera ha!" she suddenly grinned, a wave of inspiration hitting her, as she grasped onto the contraption. She turned it over in her hands a few times with a look of puzzlement as Lily explained how she was going to scrapbook their seventh, and final, year in the castle the muggle way to accommodate her family (who still weren't entirely keen on the moving wizard pictures Lily brought home…especially her elder sister; Petunia).

Just as Daxia began to complain about the camera being a lot less interesting than she was expecting a loud crash outside the door of their compartment caught a hold of her attention. Craning her neck she smiled knowingly, an inkling of who could possibly be the cause of the noise placing her into an even better mood.

"Ladies!" A loud voice greeted as the door flung open and four boys toppled into the compartment, trailing behind them with a spring in his step and an eyeroll toward his dorm-mates was Benji Fenwick sitting beside Mary with a welcome kiss to the temple.

Daxia let out an exclaim of delight, throwing the camera back to an irritated looking Lily, as she jumped to her feet. As friends went she adored her girl-friends; they advised, ranted, gossiped and giggled. Her odds of surviving life at home would have dropped considerably if it hadn't been for Lily Evans, Adiya Bell and Mary MacDonald let alone her academic career at Hogwarts. They helped her keep her head; they listened to her 'brilliant' ideas and assisted in either carrying them out or persuading her to take a different path depending on the situation.

But there had always been something missing when she hung around with the girls.

That was where the guys came in; Gryffindor house's (in)famous Marauders. They hexed, pranked and laughed until their sides ached. They'd helped with her confidence to pull away from her family's strict pureblood rules and regulations, to act how she wanted to act. They taught her that being herself was okay and to not give a single shit about other people's opinions on her (while hexing them or getting your own back in a more creative manner of course).

Being a part of two different friendship groups had always been exhausting for Daxia. She knew they would get along and found it ridiculous that they weren't just one big set; they'd rule the Gryffindor common room if they would just get along.

She had been trying her hardest to pull the girls together with the boys ever since their friendships became well established in their second year, finding her success slowly. As Adiya and she joined the Quidditch team in their fourth year the blonde was able to get to know James (team member since the previous year) away from his Marauder pals allowing them to become quite the trio within their practises and team meets. In succeeding years Adiya not only found herself getting to know the other boys but ranting on daily about how James (who had received the badge in his fifth year) was the best Quidditch captain Gryffindor had ever seen.

Along with Adiya Mary, who had to put up with the boys as her boyfriend's extended friendship base and dorm-mates, found them to be 'charming and funny'. She laughed when they told jokes, gasped along with their dramatics and looked forward to whatever stories they would arrive with at the breakfast table.

It had only really been Lily who was yet to come around fully. On a good day she would silently roll her eyes while holding back her secret amusement, she'd study with Remus and Peter, tease Sirius and laugh with James. On a bad day, specifically around exam time when the boys were at their most annoying, her continual bickering (though they called it banter) with James, Marauders co-leader (and for whom Lily was the perfect girl) (in his and Daxia's eyes anyway), and lack of patience for the other boys drove them all crazy.

September first, it would seem, was one of those bad days.

"Where have you beeeen?" Daxia exclaimed with a friendly arm punch directed toward her favourite Marauder, Sirius Black, as he collapsed into the seat beside her. Effortlessly handsome as he lounged across the train's seat all she could do was roll her eyes and laugh at him as he sent a grin to some passing third years out of the compartment window. As the girls exchanged blushes and giggles he turned to face his friend.

"Busy my dear Daxia," Sirius winked as he nudged her with his shoulder adding "Oi!" As James practically fell over him to head across to speak to Lily about their upcoming Head Boy and Girl meet with the prefects. Both sensing the red head's fiery mood Daxia and Sirius exchanged smirks and moved further away from their friends.

"Alri' Evans?" James was smiling broadly as he sat, ruffling his already messy hair "Good summer?"

Lily, glancing up from where she was inspecting the previously chucked Polaroid camera, glared his way "Are we really going to continue this into our seventh year Potter?"

Shrugging innocently James replied "I was just going to ask if you were ready to go to the meeting," seeming unusually unfazed and unprovoked as he turned to send Daxia and Sirius, his right hand woman and man, a grin "Plus that's not what she was saying over the holidays!"

As the train roared on through the countryside near their destination a bark of a laugh left Sirius, Lily jumped to her feet to head to their meet and Daxia's eyebrows arched in surprise.

"Home sweet home!" James Potter was exclaiming as the four Marauders strolled through the doors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He'd survived the first head student meet, ordered a few prefects around and managed to escape the Hogwarts Express to catch up with his friends before Lily Evans could retaliate to his appointment in any way possible.

To his left Sirius Black sent him a smirk, burying his hands into the pockets of his black trousers as he spotted Remus Lupin glancing to the younger students looking up to the four Marauders, ducking his head out of their eyeline "Hey, are you ever gunna own those awesome scars of yours Moony?" Sirius asked with a slight whine as he sidestepped around James to nudge Remus with his elbow before continuing enviously "I wish I had visible scars."

Remus rolled his eyes, absently scratching the largest of his scars running along his hairline "Shut up Padfoot," he tutted unable to hide his smile.

"I'm serious!" Sirius exclaimed, winking towards his friends at the similarity between the word and his name (Peter Pettigrew being the only of the three to laugh) (it was only the billionth time Sirius had used the joke since their first year) "I think they'd add to my rugged good looks, it's a pity that whenever I'd rebel against my family or put myself in other danger-" this time he aimed his over exaggerated wink towards Remus "-everyone always aims for my body! Just one scar that's all I ask!"

"I'll be giving you that scar in a minute," James laughed as he shoved his best friend's shoulder. He knew Sirius was just trying to make Remus feel better about the additional scarring he'd acquired over the holidays but loudly talking about the trouble they put themselves into in the crowded entrance hall was never a good idea. Residing in the back of his mind, along with the worries of exposing their antics, was the incident at the beginning of their summer; finally sick of his family and their values Sirius had made the move into the Potters' a permanent one. He had arrived bruised and battered but soon buried his feelings about the whole thing beneath his jokes and sarcasm.

"Nice cardigan Black!"

"Bugger off Dax!" he called after the short, grinning dark haired girl darting passed the Marauders to go to change into her Hogwarts uniform before any of their professors noticed "Looking good Evans," he grinned towards the redhead trailing after his friend, as if bugging the new head girl on their fleeting meet with them on the Hogwarts Express hadn't been enough.

James glanced after the two girls with a sigh before noticing Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor house and deputy head of the school, waving him over "Looks like our favourite head of year wants a word with the new head boy," he grinned winking towards his eye rolling professor as he straightened out his robes "Try to not get into too much trouble without me," he added grinning towards his friends as he tapped Sirius on the shoulder with the back of his hand "I mean it!"

"Us?" Sirius called back with a laugh, sending a wave and a grin of his own towards his unimpressed looking professor "Get in trouble? Don't know what you're on about Prongs!"

"If it was nothing why didn't you tell me?"

Lily sighed as she and a smirking Daxia wandered into the Great Hall for the welcome feast. The dark haired girl hadn't stopped smirking and interrogating from the station (where they had posed for their first picture of the year alongside Ravenclaw friends; Hestia Jones and Marlene Branson) all the way up to the castle.

"Come on Lilypad! You can tell me!"

"Stop calling me that!" Lily groaned as the duo took their seats at the Gryffindor tale (late due to a meeting between Professor McGonagall and the two head students meaning Daxia left changing into her robes until they were in the castle). The only thing Lily hated more than Daxia finding out about her childhood nickname was James Potter had heard it being used and took to using it himself when he was feeling particularly irritating. To her annoyance hearing it slip from his mouth caused some unnecessary stomach flips and lightheaded-ness she'd rather not think about.

"Oh you love it," Daxia waved off in a hushed tone as Headmaster of Hogwarts Professor Dumbledore welcomed the new first years "So; you, James and a warm summer's eve-"

"He decided to show up at my place – Petunia was thrilled as you can imagine – after you told him I got head girl," She rushed in a whisper (Daxia knew it'd somehow be her fault) "We hung out for a few days and talked about what our duties this year would be…nothing more, nothing less!"

The finality in her tone made Daxia both back down and smirk in amusement. It seemed her hard work was almost complete.

Slumping against the tabletop as the exhaustion of September first took a hold of her she allowed a wide smile to stretch across her face as the most delicious looking collection of foods appeared of the serving plates before her. Glancing up across the table she sent a twitch of her eyebrow to a smirking Sirius. Peter Pettigrew, final member of the Marauders, pulled his tongue out towards her just as Adiya and Remus burst into hysterical giggles at whatever story James was telling in an animated manner.

It was good to be home.

Thanks for reading :)

This is a little canon information mixed with some AU, I've had Daxia's character and story in my mind since the day after OoTP came out tbh so as JK Rowling is releasing more information about this era I try to add it in.

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