With all the ways to start this story, I'm going to begin with an introduction. My name is Alexandra Ueda, and I'm almost 17 years old. Most witches and wizards don't begin their seventh and final year at Hogwarts until they're already 17, but I am an exception for two reasons: one, because my birthday is in the first week of December, which is pretty early on in the year. Two, because of my intellectual abilities. I don't like to brag, though, so let's move on.
My shoulder-length hair is dark brown, like my dad's, but the tips, bangs, and roots are the same color as my mum's: light brown. I didn't inherit her emerald green eyes, or my dad's deep blue ones. Instead, my brother Austin and I have eyes a unique teal color. Now that we're onto the topic of siblings, I have 5. All of them are older than me- Raito and Raye by 12 years, Austin by 9 years, Katherine by 6 years, and Kiseki by 4 years. I love every one of them to pieces. Unfortunately, however, I don't get to see them that often, especially since Raye, Raito, and Austin are all parents, plus Kathy is expecting her first child in a couple of months. Still, we keep in touch regularly.
Alright, let's get to the story. I had just stepped onto Platform 9 3/4 , pushing a cart piled high with luggage such as trunks, a cauldron, and a golden crate that contained a Dutch rabbit named Butterscotch. This was only the second year where it was only my parents seeing me off; normally, at least Kiseki would come along. Last year, however, he was on his honeymoon, and I don't know what his excuse was this year.
Well, no matter. I caught the eye of my best friend, Jenna, and waved her down. She said good-bye to her parents before grabbing hold of her own cart and running over to join me. We hugged and discussed our summers until the red Hogwarts Express rolled into the station. I wrapped my arms around both of my parents, standing on my tip-toes to give my dad a kiss on the cheek. His 5-o'clock-shadow-like beard felt scratchy against my lips.
"I'd tell you to be good, but I feel that if I tell you to do something I already know you'll do, I'll jinx it," he told me with a smile, gripping my shoulder lightly. My dad- Shiro Ueda- is a man that's about 6 feet tall and decently muscular. It's not difficult to accurately guess his age as 46, or at least estimate he's in his upper 40's. The same can be said about my mum, Konata Ueda, though that's about the only thing that's mutual about their appearances. Mum is a few inches above 5'5, and although having 6 kids had made her a bigger weight, she's now gone back to very thin (I'm built just like her, but even shorter). There are already a few strands of gray in her hair, but with a combination of magic and hair care products she's covered them up.
Mum bent down slightly and kissed both of my cheeks. "I'm sure you'll make us very proud, as usual. Don't forget to write, and we'll see you on Christmas…" Her voice was shaking a bit, so I could tell she was trying hard not to cry. I'm probably the only one of my siblings that hasn't questioned why she does this; I have enough sense to realize how emotional sending her children to complete the last year before going off into the world must be for a mother.
I nodded my head. "I'll miss you guys…" The train blew its whistle, so I jumped to hug my parents one more time. I turned to Jenna, grinned, grabbed my cart, and ran to board the train. After shoving our luggage through the door, we met up with some of our friends in the aisle. There was Wendy: a child-like blonde and the only one in our group who was a Hufflepuff. Kelly: an American, girly redhead that was in the same house as Jenna- Gryffindor. Lastly is Cecilia, who is a Ravenclaw like me. She's Portuguese, and really down-to-earth. We found an empty compartment, situated ourselves in it, and then slipped into conversation immediately.
"Did you know the Transfiguration teacher retired?" inquired Kelly after we'd told the highlights of our summers.
"Oh, yeah, my mum said something about that! Such a shame, the old professor was so nice… A bit high up in the years though, hm?" Wendy piped up. I blinked, tilting my head so that my long hair swished into my vision for a moment.
"I didn't hear anything about this…"
Cecilia looked at me with a shrug. "It wasn't in the paper or anything. I'll bet that-"
"Only people employed at Hogwarts or the Ministry know. My mum, being a secretary for Kingsley Shacklebolt, told me, and then I told Kelly when we saw each other over the summer," Kelly interrupted. Cecilia glared at her for a moment before turning to the window. She and Kelly don't get on too well- they never have.
Jenna, who'd been quiet for the most part, turned to me. "I would've thought you would know, Alex. I mean, your parents used to be professors, right?" It was true: for 9 years, Dad taught Care of Magical Creatures and Mum taught Muggle Studies. Raito had also taught Care of Magical Creatures, but 2 years after he'd started, he learned he'd be a father so he retired super early. As a result, few people knew of his brief employment at Hogwarts.
I shrugged. "They've kind of fallen out of the loop lately. I mean, Dad's been so highly promoted at the hospital that there's rarely a day he tends to less than 30 patients, and Mum's books have been getting so popular…" You see, my mum writes books of varying genres (most of them are romance novels or beginner's level magic textbooks), for both the Muggle and wizarding worlds. My dad is a doctor as well as a part-time Healer. "Not to mention now they've got grandkids too fuss over," I added as an afterthought. Yet, the next thing I knew, the topic had changed to Quidditch.
After what felt like years, the Hogwarts Express pulled into Hogsmeade Station. I smiled to myself as I watched the first years be ushered across the lake. It felt like just yesterday that had been me and Jenna, shaking in our boots and clinging to each other as if our lives depended on it… I couldn't believe I'd never see that lake again.
Once everyone had piled into the Great Hall, I bid temporary farewell to all of my friends except for Cecilia. We filed off to our House tables; I sat toward the end of the bench at Cecilia's request (she's not exactly a social butterfly). My eyes automatically scanned the staff table, but to my disappointment there was no new face. On the contrary, there was actually an empty seat where the Transfiguration teacher had sat ever year before. Perhaps Headmistress McGonagall had been unable to place a new professor? What would happen in that case? Absorbed in my silent worries, I didn't notice the Start of Term Speech was over until the feast appeared on the tables. I'm sure the dinner was delicious, but I didn't taste anything I put in my mouth.
With full stomachs, everyone headed up to the common rooms. Some of the Ravenclaws hung out in the common room, but Cecilia and I went straight to our dormitory. Our roommates- Niki, Margaret, and Bess- were already in there. Cecilia uttered a groan: she's not particularly fond of them. I went to my trunk and began searching for pajamas, trying to get a taste for what the other girls were talking about. It turned out they were discussing weddings.
"Hey, Alex, didn't you say your brother got married just last year?" Niki questioned. I nodded, shimmying out of my robes. Niki made a "hm" noise in response. "I was just thinking- I know I read in the Daily Prophet that your sister married Harry Potter's oldest son a few months ago, but I could not remember ever reading about your brother's wedding. His name's Kiseki, right?"
I paused before pulling my nightgown over my head. It was almost never a good time talking about this to people I wasn't very close to. Bess and Margaret were fine- we could be considered friends- but Niki wasn't my favorite person in the world. Convincing myself Niki wasn't in the room, I said conversationally, "The editor for that section of the Prophet is a homophobe. She won't write about gay marriages."
Niki's hairbrush clattered to the floor; Bess and Margaret froze, their eyes widening behind their glasses; Cecilia was completely unaffected (she, of course, knew this story). "Your brother is GAY!" Niki gasped. I continued to put on my nightdress.
"Yeah, he always has been. It makes no difference to me, though. His husband is SUPER nice, and that he's gay doesn't bother me at all. You love who you love, you know?" I responded casually. I truly didn't see why saying that should be any different than talking about a woman's new husband. Cecilia smiled slightly at the floor; Bess and Margaret looked like they suddenly liked me more; Niki stared at me blankly. "Well, good night girls," I exclaimed, hopping into my four poster bed.
"'Night, Alex," the others replied quietly. I pulled the covers over my body, scratched Butterscotch behind the ears as she hopped up beside my pillow, and fell asleep within minutes.