A/N Hiya everyone! This is my first ever Harry Potter Fan fiction! I've wanted to write this for a while but I've been crazy busy at art school this year but now I'm finished I finally have the time! :) All feedback is welcome! I hope you like the story! A/N
*disclaimer – J. it's all yours! All I own is my OC!
Chapter 1 – 'The Social Filter'
"Mind the muggles Kate!" Mum shrieked at me as I frantically tried to reverse into a space by the pay and display.
"Argh sorry! I just don't fancy another Mexican stand off for a space!" I said as the almost road kill pedestrians gave me horrified looks as they hurried onto the pavement, "can't they see the L plates!" I complained.
It was impossible to miss them in fact as my mum had used a permanent sticking charm on no less than 6 L plates on our little mini cooper, despite me repeatedly telling her only 2 were necessary.
"I knew we should of left earlier darling, we could have had time to practice your parking properly" mum sighed "I don't need to be a muggle to know if that had been your test you'd of failed just now!"
Despite marrying a muggle mum had never taken well to driving, she found it stressful but my dad insisted on me getting my license, he thought my muggle relatives would be suspicious if I didn't start learning when I was 17 like most kids my age. Well I'm not like most kids my age am I Dad I thought to myself. I'm a half-blood witch; my dad's a muggle, he's a retired aviation engineer who was fascinated by magic when he found out about mum but still wants me to honour my "humble muggle roots" as he calls them. Whereas, Mum's descended from a pure bloodline, the Browns, she's one of 8 siblings so sufficive to say Christmas is a loud affair with all our relatives in one building! She works in Hogsmeade as a sales assistant in Spintwitches Quidditch Supplies, which is great for the discount we get on Quidditch gear but not so great when your mum follows you round on your Hogsmeade visits asking why I once again have not acquired a date... I'd got so lost in thought I barely noticed mum practically howling about how little time I had to get to platform 9 ¾ and muttering about how ridiculous it was that we hadn't just apparated.
I was finally dragging my trunk through the barrier with only minutes to spare, when I spectacularly collided with something. A mass of long red hair entangled with my own and a smile crept onto my face as I realised who I'd collided into.
"Lil! Long-time no see!" I wheezed as I got up and dusted myself off, mourning the loss of precious brain cells as I threw my arms round my flustered best friend.
"See being the key word there Kate… I really think you need glasses, that way we can reduce your frequent collisions with innocent bystanders!" she tutted at me no doubt recounting the numerous students I'd sent to the hospital wing purely because of my lack of awareness. I saw the corners of her lips tug up though so I know she wasn't annoyed, more amused at my unrelenting uncoordination.
Lil and I have been best friends since first year and with both of us being sorted into Gryffindor we quickly became friends. It was almost like we counteracted each other, my clumsiness was paralled by Lily's effortless grace and her goody-goody nature by my cheekiness. Appearance wise we're quite different. She's classically beautiful with soft features, long shiny red hair, pale skin that refuses to tan, a slim figure and beautiful green almond shaped eyes. Whereas I've got curly brunette hair that goes down past my shoulders, tanned skin with a smattering of freckles, hazel eyes, a bit of a fuller figure (what can I say food is my guilty pleasure) and my worst feature is my rather long nose… it looks fine from the front but is undeniably large from side-on!
We both looked up as we heard the unmistakable approaching laughter of our fellow dorm mate, "classic entrance Hodgson, poor Lily never stood a chance with you hurtling through the barrier at 100 miles an hour!" she bellowed at me eyes crinkling in the corners with laughter,
"Aha well not all of us have Quidditch reflexes like you Meadowes" I chuckled as I was reunited with my other best friend Dorcas.
She was for want of a better word, a little tomboyish in mannerisms but lithe as a bloody gazelle on a broomstick. Dorcas has played chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team for the last 3 years and like Lily is well-liked throughout the school for her sparkling charisma. She's quite tall for a girl standing at 5 ft. 11" but is rather enviously proportioned with long toned legs and arms, a slim waist and a generous set of E cups! She's got beautifully plump pink lips, brown straight shoulder length hair and blue eyes.
"Come on girls we'll never get a compartment at this rate!" Lily yelled over the chatter of the platform whilst her and Dorcas simultaneously smiled at everyone they walked past with a small "Hi good to see you!" from Lily and a booming "Good summer?!" from Dorcas.
I definitely felt like the third wheel of our little trio at times, I wasn't exactly a nobody but no one really looked at me in the company of Lily and Dorcas. Now don't get me wrong quiet is probably the last word my friends would use to describe me, I'm not in any way introverted, I'm simply just a bit socially inept. My general embarrassing day to day happenings seem to repel human contact. Lily always says it's part of my charm, the ditsy-face-palm moments which never fail to brighten up her and Dorcas' days but I'm not so convinced. I am especially embarrassing around specimens of the opposite sex. It's hard being best friends with the two most eligible bachelorettes in our year.
As we struggled to drag our trunks through the train to a compartment Lily was telling us how she'd once again been accosted all summer by a certain rather smitten Gryffindor. "…I mean did he really think I was going to respond to any of them? I kept sending them back to him but his letters just kept coming! All of them he signed from your future husband and father of your children James Potter… he's barmy if he thinks that's going to happen!" Lily ranted.
James Potter is our fellow 6th year Gryffindor and the thorn in Lily's side. He's part of a certain rowdy quartet of guys who self-proclaim themselves "the Marauders". James is Quidditch captain, he's pretty built up from playing chaser on the team, he's got this unruly black hair which no brush seems able to tame, these cheeky yet friendly hazel eyes and a grin to rival the Cheshire cat. He's been unabashedly in love with Lily since the begging of 3rd year and has pursued her unsuccessfully since. His partner is crime is no other than Hogwarts heartthrob Sirius Black. Now even I won't deny Sirius was clearly hit with the beautiful stick when he was born, he's got these grey eyes which either sparkle with amusement or burn through walls with broodiness depending on his mood. His fairly long dark hair effortlessly frames his handsome features and famous lopsided grin. He plays beater alongside James on the Gryffindor team so is equally as built up as James if not an inch or so taller. Remus Lupin is the studious, kind and sensible member of their little brood. Although his nature hasn't seemed to rub off on his mischievous friends, the Marauders are relentless pranksters who spend more time in detention than out! He's equally as handsome as James and Sirius with his sandy brown hair and kind green eyes but he's taller and lankier than them. I've always thought he looks permanently poorly too, like there's a slightly pale tinge about him? Then there's the sheep of their group Peter Pettigrew, to be honest I've no clue why they're friends with him because he couldn't be more different from them! He's a bit of a chubby, dumpy lad with a nervous disposition and watery eyes and definitely doesn't get the attention that the others do. I think James and Sirius think they're god's gift to bloody women … oh god speak of the devils I thought.
Despite Lily already levitating her trunk into the overhead space James couldn't resist the opportunity to flex his muscles in front of her and so gallantly ran in to assist it up.
"Careful there Evans wouldn't want it to fall on you!" James said in his Lily voice, he always goes into the deep mature mode when he speaks to Lily that really does make him sound ridiculous.
"How was your summer? Did you miss me?" James said with a wink to Lily. Sirius smirked leaning against the compartment door clearing looking forward to Lily's inevitably bad reaction whilst Peter and Remus stepped up behind him.
The tension radiating off Lily since James entered the compartment was imminent for eruption so Remus smoothly stepped into the compartment and chirped "So good summer Dorcas… Lily?"
Oh phew glad you haven't noticed my miraculous invisibility… it's not like I'm stood here too Lupin! Otherwise this would be really awkward! I thought with a snort.
Everyone's heads shot up in my direction looking shocked… shit did I just say that out loud! Damn you socially- inept brain of mine! Oh god say something Kate they're all just gawping at you!
"Um…sorry think I dropped my social filter in the hallway I'll just go find it…" I awkwardly walked away sheepishly from the group of confused teenagers.
God why am I such a gormy human being? I'll never live that down! Trust me to break the ice with a sledge-hammer of a comment!
I was just about to lock myself into the toilet when an arm stopped the door…
"You have outdone yourself this time Hodgson… what on earth just happened? Did your brain fall out your ass or something?" Dorcas stared at me whilst I just stood there biting my lip nervously.
"I don't know I didn't realise I'd even said it out loud until you all looked at me!" I wailed at her pulling her into the cramped toilet. "What did they say when I walked away? Oh god what must Remus think of me now? Did that really just happen?!" I literally wanted the ground to just swallow me up.
"Calm down its fine I think everyone was just a bit thrown, you never speak up like that normally, to be honest I think Remus feels pretty awful for clearly not noticing you…" she trailed off "just come back to the compartment it's fine, it'll be worse if you don't!" she called over her should as she walked off back towards the compartment.
She's right of course it'll be worse if I just don't go back… I don't particularly want to sit in the loo for hours either; it smells pretty dire in here…
I dragged my feet back along the corridor and took a deep breath to compose myself before sliding the compartment door open. The marauders had obviously decided to stay with us and all looked up from their seats as I walked in. Remus kept his eyes down fiddling with his hands, whilst James and Peter kept glancing between us. Meanwhile Sirius sat lounging back looking highly amused and said "Found your social filter then?"
I cleared my throat before uttering "Err no. I think it's gone forever…" as I sat down besides Lily and the window and muttered under my breath "along with my dignity…" I wasn't sure if anyone else had heard but Sirius locked eyes with me as I said it and failed to hide his grin and silent laughter.
I spent the rest of the journey staring out the window awkwardly only speaking when spoken to by Lily and Dorcas. Out of the corner of my eye I kept seeing Remus shooting me guilty glances and looking up at Lily and Dorcas apologetically, obviously feeling responsible for my lack of participation. After a while he and Lily went out for the prefects meetings and their rounds and they didn't return for a couple hours.
The train horn blew as we felt the Hogwarts Express slowing down, finally home I thought with a smile.
As we were dropping off our trunks to be delivered up to school I felt a hand on my arm and looked up to see Remus looking worriedly at me.
"I'm so sorry Kate I didn't mean to… I just…I…" he seemed panicked and tripped over his words. "Look I've got no excuse," he composed himself and looked me straight in the eye, "I'm really sorry I didn't mean to address everyone but you I guess we've just never really spoken and I didn't automatically think to… god I don't know I'm such a… I'm just really sorry Kate I hope you can forgive me…" he looked up at me hopefully eyes full of sincerity.
The look he gave me was enough to make me forgive him already but the devilish part of me wanted to draw this out a bit more, so I said "Well Remus my forgiveness is rather pricey… it's gonna cost you a pound of flesh at least, which would you prefer to chop off for me… your arm or leg? I'm not fussed either way to be honest…" I could see Dorcas listening in, eyes crinkling and grinning at my words. She knew I was just messing with him.
The look on Remus' face was utterly priceless and I went to put him out his misery and say I was joking as I heard a bark-like laugh from behind me. "You heard the lady Moony what's it gonna be?" Sirius looked between me and Remus.
"Off with his head!" James chirped in from the other side of me and we all laughed.
Remus let slip a sweet little grin before locking eyes with me and whispering "You can have my arm leg and head Kate… anything to make it up to you"
I smiled at his words and replied "Honestly its ok Remus, you're forgiven let's just wipe the slate clean, you can keep your limbs too" I laughed as I started walking into the carriage.
The atmosphere had lifted considerably as we all happily chattered about our summers and what we were looking forward to in the welcoming feast.
The feast was brilliant as usual, the newbie first years all bounded to their new house tables full of excitement after they were each sorted, Dumbledore once again rattled off about various rules and new additions to Filchs' list of prohibited items whilst continually glancing at a chuckling James and Sirius and we all filled ourselves past bursting point with all manner of deliciousness!
By the time we all got back to the dorm all our belongings were there as always for us, we greeted our other dorm mates Alice Prewett, a small pixie like girl with sweet eyes and short hair, Marlene Mckinnon, Sirius's female equivalent in heart-throb status but with gorgeous blonde hair and green eyes and Mary Macdonald, a quiet girl with dark eyes and brown shoulder length hair, which she has a fetish for braiding into all sorts of bold creations, today she'd gone for an intricate fishtail braid. We all were pretty exhausted from the day so after chattering between ourselves for a few minutes it didn't take long after all our heads hit the pillows for us to all fall asleep, ready for lessons the following morning. Well that was an interesting first day I thought as I drifted off…