If there was one thing that I knew with all of my heart, mind and soul, it was that James Sirius Potter was my best friend.
Okay, so I am completely against girls centring themselves around guys. But between the awkward 'oh wait you're a fucking witch' and the constant turmoil of my parent's relationships, managing to get the one Weasley who I had to get to like me to kind of actually hate me, I had one person constantly beside me. James Potter.
So yeah, when I arrived on the Hogwarts Express, pulling a bright pink Hello Kitty suitcase behind me, my lip wobbling as I thought of the fact that my own parents were back home in Australia, and that I had seen them two days ago.
So when two young boys bounded in front of me as I pulled my suitcase behind me, trying desperately not to cry, my eyes opened wide in a mixture of shock and confusion.
The pair stared at me, matching grins on their faces, and then in seconds flat, the compartment behind them doors burst open, and in seconds there were Catherine Wheels and serpents, lions, ravens and badgers and dragons whirling through the air and sparking.
I burst into tears.
It wasn't the pretty kind either. I have the tendency to erupt into tears and blubber and have red cheeks and have snot dripping. And it wouldn't stop.
The pair of boys one with messy, lomng and dark hair, and the other with darker skin and hair shorn short glanced at each other, wide eyed, before the paler stepped forward, and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. We were nearly the same height, and so it was less awkward than it could be.
"How could you do that?" I wailed into my hands. "Fireworks are dangerous! And indoors?"
The pair exchanged looks one more. I sobbed. Only later did I realise it was because WWW fireworks had sod many safety precautions that it was highly unlikely that they would show any danger.
"You're a muggleborn," the boy with shorn (and very unfashionable) hair stated.
"If that's a rude way of saying that I'm a foreigner, I don't want to hear it," I sobbed. "I'm stranded in some stupid country where it's always raining, going to some school that for all I know is either a highly elaborate prank or I'd full of crackpots."
"Your family isn't magic then," the lighter boy stated. "And you're from Australia!"
"Obviously," I'd sniffled into my hands. "For all I know I'm on the way to a cult for people who call themselves witches and live like they're Amish."
"Definitely muggleborn," the other one mutters, and I pull my head out of my hands to glare at him.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I hiss.
"Your parents aren't wizards so they're muggles. And because you're the kid, you're a muggleborn," the messy haired boys explains, and frowns.
"That seems stupid," I shake my head. "I mean, obviously, people like me who weren't brought up in magic will have difficulty adjusting to the world they are entering, but it just seems like the use of the label will encourage differences."
The pair exchange looks, and the other held out a hand. "Fred Weasley."
I shook it, and before I could offer my own name, the other stepped forward and offered his hand. "James Potter."
I took it also and shook. "Vestie Costa."
And from then on, despite myself being cursed with the name of a horrible great aunt, we were friends.
Fred and I were relatively close, all though he came to prefer the company of his and James' dorm mates and the girls and guys that seemed to come and go. James and I only seemed to grow closer.
Unfortunately, that had caused a lot of problems with my parents and I. I'd written home, frantically scrawling letters out to Mum and Dad, about the gorgeous Great Hall, about James squeezing my hand before the Sorting, and finding myself in Gryffindor with him. About the girls in my dorm, who were all fascinated with my accent, about James and Fred's large family, who everyone seemed to know.
My parents did not like the idea of my only friends being guys. I'd told them that I was friends with my dorm mates as well, but I only ever wanted to invite back James and my friend Mila, a Ravenclaw, who they disliked, and had yet to offer a reason for.
Of course, an hour before I was due to leave, they decided to sit me down. "Vestie, we are very proud of you and your scores," my mother started. "The results we received are quite incredible."
I felt my insides jumble up and I tried not to show I was scared. My parents favourite lecture mode was started by building up my confidence and complimenting me before telling me that I was doing something wrong with my life.
"Honey," Dad stated, reaching across to hold my hand. "The only problem is that you have made some choices in life we can't exactly support."
And just like that my walls snapped up. I gave an uneasy smile.
"Your choices in friends over the years have been . . . unsavoury at best," Mum winces. "We've tried to talk to you over the years, but you never seem to listen. We can't stand the idea of you being hurt by them."
My smile was awkward and stiff and I tried not to grit my teeth or clench my hands at the bullshit reason they'd given.
"We aren't the biggest fans of James or Mila, and especially after that girl," Dad rolls his eyes.
And my walls are up and ready and I slide on a blank face and keep everything under control. "Thank you for the advice, I appreciate it very much. I will keep it in mind this year."
My parents smile, looking awfully pleased with themselves. My face is up, and I stand up. "I have to be going now," I state, the sound grating and almost robotic to my ears and look up the stairs. "I'll go get my suitcase and will be off."
Heading up to my room for the last time is always weird. My fingers trail the banisters, running over the ridge in the wood which has born the scar of the fight I've had with a particularly nasty owl, and the burn marks of the time we stole my uncles cigarettes and burnt them into the timber. I walk up further, fingers trailing outside my room, my forefinger running down the ridge in the doorframe, as I looked in. It wasn't a home - it was barely lived in, with the awkward purple walls and gaudy line of wallpaper of a child, the prison I'd been before all of this. My bookshelf held fairy books and short novels, about cats and dogs, and A Little Princess illustrated copies, with my outdated books from school and my eon new collections, in my expensive suitcase which I had gotten at the magical. Shopping centre on the way back of fourth year.
The bed was awkward also - fairies in dresses and with wands with stars on the ends decorating pale pink sheets, and a giant star on matching pink for my pillowslip. The carpet was stained - red marks from nail polish and lipstick - glitter powder ground into the off white wool, from an exploding presents I had been given. My bedside table held pens and hairpins and nothing from school, while my desk only had a box of letters and other items, which I had collected over the years (concert stubs and movie tickets). Picking it up, I slide it into one of the compartments of my suitcase, and zipped it up. Then, I crawl under my bed, dragged out the dusty cardboard box that lived there, and open it up.
First, was my school uniform - the white collared shirt, the grey jumper with house crest, the knee length white socks with lace (a recent purchase, and one I was very proud of), my grey skirt, my Prefect badge (one of the only thing my parents could actually understand about my schools), the Gryffindor scarf I wore proudly (and also because every year I nearly froze but who is counting?), and finally my robes. All into the leather backpack I had packed for the train ride. Then my wand. For the first time all summer, I took the stick of wood out, and ran my fingers along it, feeling a shiver rack my body. There was something about the connection. You felt like it was almost a part of you. Smiling brightly, I pick up the protective case I had purchased, and slide it into it, and place it into my backpack.
Finally, as my bedside clock ticked to 6.30 I slide my backpack over my shoulders, pulled the handle of my suitcase out and headed back downstairs, and saw my parents and siblings already waiting. "Hey," I smile fondly, and my younger (and far taller, thinner, and prettier) sister bounds over.
"Vestie!" She calls out, flinging her arms over my shoulders.
"It's okay Amy," I shake my head, a smile on my lips. "I'm going to see you soon enough."
"You'll be back for Christmas right?" Amy frowns, pulling back. "I will send you letter by those creepy birds about all the stupid stuff I do."
"Of course," I smile at her, and walk over to my brother, ruffling his never brushed hair. "See you soon yeah."
"Whatever," he growls, and pulls away, returning to texting on his phone.
My parents approach, beaming awkwardly (no doubt still happy about my supposed attempt to 'try' at school) and hug me, whispering and talking to me, giving words of advice that I am too stiff and wound up to even hear.
"I'll see you soon," I smile awkwardly, and pull my suitcase behind me, opening the back door and heading outside into the dusking night. The dog, Duke, approaches immediately, tail wagging, and I bend down to kiss his nose goodbye, and stand again, rubbing his head.
Finally, I make it down to the bottom of the garden, and open the door, pushing the dog out as I pull my suitcase in. Unlike the old days, When if you wanted to go so,ethereal you had to light a fire, regardless of the heat. I liked to refer to the new system Australia (and several other Indo-Pacific countries) had adopted, as quite simply, the Shed Network. It worked in a way which linked each 'Portal' to the Main Portal, which was located in each major city/ town. From there, you could catch an International Portkey or Floo to the individuals location.
Stepping into the raised brick square that that the Ministry had installed, I picked up my suitcase, placed it on my feet, (wincing at the pressure) and pulled sharply on the steel rod, before slamming it back in. In seconds I was spinning and spinning, whirling through time and space, with dust rushing up my nose, and coughing loudly, when I could finally breathe, arriving in the Western Australian Headquarters of Magic, located under a lake. Immediately (even as I coughed and feel out of the Portal, attracting the stares of passersby) a woman stepped forward, holding a clipboard. "Vestie Costa?" She asked, as I looked up at her, coughing from my place on the floor.
"Here," I replied, standing up as my eyes watered, grabbing ahold of the suitcase and pulling it and myself out of the area, even as a man appeared on the step, and headed to the International Departures area of the Floo.
"Follow me please," the woman sniffs, and stalks away causing me to roll my eyes, and do as she says, pulling at my jumper uncomfortably, even though it's winter, and we follow the man who had just walked out.
We make out way to the European section of the Floo Network, and go through the England pathway. Finally, my escort stops in front of the furtherest Floo, and hands me a sashay of powder. "You will be travelling along the Floo Netwrok internationally. Please keep all of your belongings attached to your person, avoid any positions which may result in your limbs sticking out, and move quickly and efficiently once you arrive at the other end, to allow for others safe travels." Once she finishes, to my surprise, she simply walks off, as a family off six each takes a Floo with a giant suitcase next to me.
I clear my throat, throw the Floo into the fire place, and call out. "Kings Cross Station!"
I take a step forward, and then I find myself coughing again.
Soot everywhere, I make it to the other end, where a man sits in a chair in the little shoebox cupboard I have landed in. "Hey Bill," I grin at the man, his salt and pepper beard and wild eyebrows the only hair on his body. Unlike me, all rugged up in jumpers and jeans, Bill is in his shorts and tank top.
"Vestie! Nice ta see ya again!" Bill smiles broadly.
"Same," I grin, and squeeze out of the fireplace, dragging my suitcase behind me. "Hate to do it, but I gotta go. Hogwarts here I come and all."
"See you next time," Bill grins, and I give a finger wave, before squeezing out, and finding myself in the middle of the busy Platform 9 and 3/4's.
Hurrying by a woman who is sobbing into her handkerchief I rush to the train, still gleaming red (despite many protests that the Hogwarts mode of transport should be a neutral colour not affiliated with any houses), and made my way into the train, unfortunately so far from the Weasley compartment it was ridiculous. Shaking my head, I pushed past a group of rowdy fourth years, a couple pressed up against the window kissing enthusiastically, as the train took off. Then, I found that the train was taking off, so I had to hold onto the side of the wall, before finally, I was able to make my way across to the end of the train.
And then Eva, Jen and Em, my three roommates see me walking by their compartment and pull me in. "You look so good V!" Jen smiles broadly.
"Still no tan though," I pout jokingly and return her hug, before Em pulls me out of her arms and into her own.
"For real V, we missed you!" Em smiles, looking ecstatic to be back.
Eva pulls me out of Em's arms and presses kisses all over my face, leaving red lipstick marks. I screw my face up as she finally draws back. "Why were you gone all summer? You left me alone with those two!" She sticks a thumb back in the direction of Jen and Em.
"Hey!" Jen calls out and Em pokes out her tongue.
"You off to the Weasleys?" Eva raises an eyebrow.
"That obvious?" I smile apologetically.
"Only that you do it every time that we get the train," Em rolls her eyes. "Go on - go find your bestie."
I roll my eyes back and give a smile, wave and tell them I'll see them later, before pulling my suitcase behind me, and making my way towards the end of the compartment. And then there's a girl, in her Hogwarts robes, in the middle of the hallway, her suitcase beside her. Immediately, my anger flares, because I have said for years and years that the system of getting on the train when you don't know anyone is stupid, and expecting kids to know things is just as. "Hey honey," I call out, and smile at the girl. "You okay?"
"I am fine, thank you," the girl says, her voice heavily accented. "Everything is very well."
"You from France?" I ask, and note that there is a compartment of First years just ahead, with a game of Exploding Snap going on from what I can hear.
"Yes," she smiles and nods. "The south."
"Cool," I grin back, letting go of the handle of my suitcase. "It's meant to be very beautiful there."
She grins again. "Maman says eet is the most beautiful place in the world."
"Sounds about right," I I raise an eyebrow. "Why'd you come to Hogwarts then? You got Beauxbatons and La Salle right? As well as the rest."
"Maman says that 'ogwarts has the best reputation. And there are improvements to the curriculum this year," the girl nods.
"Yeah?" I frown. "Huh. Now, my names Vestie -"
"Mine is Colette," the girl smiles, hair pulled into two ponytails on either side of her of her head.
"How about we find an actual compartment for you instead of just the middle of the hallway okay?" I raise an eyebrow at her, smirking.
"I guess," Colette replies and I wink, pulling my suitcase behind me and opening the compartment door I had noticed before.
Five heads immediately swivel around, two boys hiding things behind their backs. I hide a smile and raise an eyebrow at them. "Y'all got room for another?" I ask, as Colette appears in the doorway.
"Of course," a girl smiles sweetly.
"Off you go," I nod at Colette, and watch her walk in, the girl helping her put her suitcase away and sit down. "Now," I turn to the two boys. "You got something you want to give me?"
They sheepishly pull WWW merchandise from behind their backs, still in the wrappers, and I sigh. "You're going to be trouble, aren't you," I sigh, before leaning down to take the packets out of their hands. "You're not allowed WWW stuff at school, okay? And if you bring it, don't let me catch you with it."
"You're the girl who's friends with James Potter!" One of the exclaims. "The Australian one."
My eyebrows draw together. "How do you know about me?"
"My brother goes to school already. He's a fourth year," he replies looking at me with wide eyes, while the rest of the group suddenly looks very interests at the sound of Potters.
"I hear the Potters and Weasleys can prank whenever they want," the other boy scowls.
I laugh at that. "Headmistress McGonagall holds them all for detention personally, Professor Longbottom writes home to their parents and Professor Chang humiliates whoever isn't paying attention in her class," I shake my head. "And they all know by now that I deduct points. Trust me, they probably have it harder than you do. Not that you're going to prank!" I fix a glare on the group. "Now y'all good?" They all nod, and I give a smile. "Get some money out for the Trolley Lady. My faves are the Chocolate Frogs personally, but pumpkin tarts are pretty good too."
I give a wave to Colette, grab my suitcase handle, and finally make my way down the hallway, to the Potter compartment.
Taking a sigh, I pull open the compartment door, and in mere seconds, find my face full of hair. "V!" I hear a shriek, and I do what I can - embrace whoever I'm holding.
Finally, they draw back, and I find myself face to face with Lucy, who is grinning brightly, blonde/red hair hanging down to her waist, as she looks at me, in little more than a short skirt and a singlet top. I nearly shiver looking at her.
"It's so good to see you Lucy!" I smile brightly.
"Oh V, it's been forever!" Lucy smiles, pulling me into a seat. Roxy gives me a little finger wave, Rose smiles brightly, and Fred stands up to kiss me on the cheek. "How were your holidays?"
"Pretty good," I grin. "I mean, ghost much yoke with my family is eh, but Thailand was beautiful. I mean, it takes a lot out of you travelling on planes and all, and everything being so manual, but it's a nice experience. Now that great swimming though," I wrinkle my nose up. "How was yours?"
"Although yours sounds amazing, mine was better!" Lucy raises an eyebrow at me. "Ridiculous amounts of Quidditch, a small - just tiny - trip to Paris with Dom, I spent some time tanning, then I went out with the girls, Roxy and I headed to some parties, we took a day trip to the USA to get some shoes, and ended up in the wrong state, you know, the usual."
I shake my head. "I never get you magic born kids. You end up doing all sorts crazy things."
"You have to come stay with us some time," little Lily Potter calls out. "Mum would love to have you, and it would be the best of fun."
"You tell your brother that,"
I joke. "He doesn't love me enough. Needs the time away from me."
"Oh yeah?" A voice calls out, and I turn around to face the door, where James and Dommie stand.
"James!" I shriek, and pull myself off the seat, and into his arms, and pulling my legs above his hips.
He stumbles slightly, before finding his footing, and wrapping his arms around my shoulders tightly, as I pressed my face into the hollow of his shoulder. "I missed you,"I whisper, and tears gather in my eyes.
"You too," James murmurs, as I pull my face away from him and slide down his hips, wiping my eyes.
"God, watching you two is nauseating," Rose rolls her eyes, and I stick my tongue out.
"Hey Dom," I grin at her, and wind one arm around her, not letting go of James with the other.
"Hey V," she smiles, drawing back. "You look good, but seriously - jeans? Where is the girl that spends half of school in skirt?"
I roll my eyes, letting James pull me back onto the seat, squishing between him and Lucy. "I get cold, you know. And the quick adaption is slightly strange for me. Not to mention it is winter at home," I sigh. "It's totally unfair I miss out on both summers."
"I couldn't do it," Lucy pulls her nose up. "You know I love the sun too much."
"There is no sun here," I mutter darkly, as we go by pastures with cloudy skies over them. "This is bloody winter. Clouds and 15 degrees? You lot wouldn't last a second back home."
"I reckon I could," Roxy grins.
"No way," Rosie adds. "We go to Sydney to see Gran and Pop and there is no way in hell you could survive that place. Every time I step foot in the place I want to pour a bucket of ice over myself."
"Sydney?" I scoff. "The place is lucky enough to get 40 at most. I have been through 47 degree days. It gets so hot, you wear nothing to bed. It gets so hot that you have a bucket of ice for your feet. It gets so hot that there are paper scissors rock matches over who gets to sit in front of the fan. And then you get bloody magic folk who cheat and use charms!"
"What, so you think it's unfair to use charms?" The newly appointed Head Girl, and the resident Let's Hate On Vestie Weasley, Molly snarled.
"You miss out on the whole experience I grin at her, despite the scowl she sends me. "You completely loose the fights and don't get that sweet satisfaction at the end of the heat wave, when it finally breaks and there is actually a breeze."
"You've thought about that a lot," Scorpius, Rose's friend pipes up.
"You would too if you'd lived in it for so many years," I grumble. "It reached 35 degrees this winter by the way. 35! It's ridiculous. The farmings gonna be bad, and there will be water shortages. Not that you bloody Brits ever have anything to worry about."
"You do live here for most of the year," James nudges me with his shoulder.
I stick my tongue out. "You know I'm never gonna be a Brit though."
"Trolley Lady is here!" Lily calls out, sticking her head out of our compartment, and waving her over.
"Orders?" I raise an eyebrow at everyone, and tries to keep track of all the confectionary names being thrown at me, before standing up, and making my way out, to see Jill the Trolley Lady outside. Waiting patiently. "Sorry," I smile apologetically, before rattling off a list of orders.
Jill gets them all, and puts them into my arms, as I hand over the money. "Thanks," I smile broadly.
"No problem Vestie,"she smiles.
"How is it that out of all these students, you manage to remember my name?" I shake my head, taking the change from her (a ridiculous amount, because as always I forgot how many sickles to a galleon and a ridiculous amount of other rubbish).
"Easy," she grins. "You're the only one to wear jeans."
I smile at her, shaking my head once more, and wave goodbye, as a group of second year boys approach, holding out knuts.
I enter the compartment, and am not surprised to see that a game of modified Exploding Snap is underway.
"Hey,"I smile, chucking Lucy her pasty, which hits her in her face.
"Ow!" Lucy calls out, and I wince as I sit next to her.
"Sorry,"I bite my lip apologetically.
"Damn V, how is it that with all the time you spend with the bunch of us you manage to be so uncoordinated?" Lucy shakes her head, her pasty in her lap.
"I'm just so blessed," I declare as James takes the treats from me and hands them out to his numerous cousins.
"Sounds about right," Molly mutters, and I flush slightly.
"What time is it back home anyway V?" Dom asks loudly.
"Umm, it's like 1.30 here so umm, 9.30," I shrug.
"How long before you crash?" Lucy raises an eyebrow.
"I do not crash!" I exclaim. "I simply sleep. Not a complete child you know."
"Yeah," James scoffs. "That sounds about right."
"Hey!" I slap his arm. "I can be perfectly mature thank you very much."
"Between the truth or dare marathons, the Disney movie marathons, the crying over children's movies that occurs then, or trying to steal my clothes without me noticing?" James raises an eyebrow.
I frown, mock considering and place a finger to my chin. "I think it's somewhere along the toy broom Quidditch matches in your dorm and the all night marshmallow castle construction."
Although we are both fighting, James cracks a grin first, and I shriek in delight. "I win! What, have you gone soft on me with all this time in England?"
"Never!" James declares standing up, and lifting me to, flinging me over his shoulder.
"Let me down!" I call out, hitting his back, (which is unfortunately far too strong to be affected).
"I'm quite comfortable actually," James says, even as Roxy smirks and Fred rolls his eyes. I stick my tongue out at her in protest. "Unless you want to admit that I am the Ultimate Word Master."
"Never!" I mimic James' earlier word, and find myself being carried towards . . . the compartment door.
I'm quite certain my face dramatically paled, and so I call out to Lucy. "Save me Lucy! Save me!"
"No can do!" She calls back, and I grip the doorways wood with both hands.
"Freddy! Freddy, please, help out a girl!" I call to the boy, who simply smirks.
"After choosing Lucy before me?" He shakes his head, mocking sadness. "I'm feeling to betrayed."
"No!" Leaves my throat as James finally manages to drag me away from the doorframe, his chest vibrating with laughter underneath my legs as I scowl. "I hate you," I call out to him.
"Love you too," he calls back condescendingly, and I bring my leg up to stab him with my knee.
"Jerk," I mutter and he simply keeps moving up the hallway. From my position, when I raise my head, I can see a pair of laughing third year boys, pointing at us. Or more accurately, at me. I scowl at them, as James keeps moving along the hall, myself bumping uncomfortably from my position, being Abel to do little else than stare at his back. And bum. "Put me down," I whine. "Or I'mma have to whine until you do, which will be more irritating for you than me."
"Go ahead," James says, amused.
I wait for a couple of seconds, in which the inky sound is the surrounding compartments, James' feet taking steady paces, and myself bumping up and down. "James!" I whine again. "My stomach is hurting, and I think blood is rushing to my face."
"Just say I'm the Ultimate Word Master," my mouth goes dry, and I shake my head.
"You already know the answer,"I grit my teeth to answer.
"Well then," James states and continues to make his way.
I let my arms hang, and slouch my body, too worn out from fighting against him. Of course, that's when a voice arrives.
Well actually, a person, but from where I am, it's kind of just a voice.
"James," a feminine voice says, sounding suspicious. "Why is there someone who appears to be Vestie being carried down the train over your shoulder?"
"If I told you it was a very realistic doll, would you believe me?" James replies.
"No," the girl answers, and I suddenly knew who it is.
"Mila!" I call out, lashing against James and the arm he has around me. "Mila it's me! Get him to let me go!"
"Hey V," Mila calls out to me. "How you hanging?"
Mila appears in front of me, dark features and light brown eyes framed by a flashing silver headscarf, a deep contrast to my own pale skin, light brown hair ad blue eyes. Although from the back and with a great lack of light, the pair of us often pass as similar due to our stature being, well, short.
"Ha ha ha," I roll my eyes. "Just get him to let me down."
"No can do, " Mila appears in front of me, shaking her head. "But you just hang in there okay?" She pats my bum, and walks off.
"I hate you!" I call out to her. "And it's not even funny!" I add after a moment of a moment of thought.
"Kind of is," James is surely smirking beneath me.
"Shut up,"I scowl back at him. "You have lost the right to humour!"
"Oh really," James turns around, which kind of defeats the purpose.
I erupt into a swarm of coughs and throw in the word idiot.
"Hey!" James calls out at me.
"What?" I would be so batting my lashes if he could see me. "I didn't say -"
"James Potter, just what are you doing to that poor girl?" A voice calls out, and James turns around.
"Hey Callie," he says back.
"Put the poor thing down!" Callie Summers demands, and in a second, my world is upright once more, with my feet firmly planted on the ground.
Of course, in seconds, I am stumbling, and it takes both James and Callie's arms around my waist to stable me. "You okay?" Callie frowns, pushing the hair off my forehead, and examining my face.
"Yeah," I say faintly.
Maybe I should explain something. Callie Summers is the kind of gorgeous you only expect to see in movies. About cheerleaders. Long blonde hair, and tan skin, the poster child of beauty. Green eyes that are wide, perfectly small and petite nose and tiny freckles dotting the bridge, over her perfectly shaped body. She's every guy at Hogwarts' fantasy. Unfortunately for them, the Hufflepuff was Not Interested. With capital lessons. As in, they were male, and she was female, and she was more interested in girls.
That didn't mean that guys hadn't attempted to get her to go out with them. Or even sleep with them. But Callie remained uninterested and so she was the stuff of fantasies, preferring to spend her time with dark haired girls and girls with lipstick slick lips.
But for me? This was a dream, and so I stared up to her, awestruck.
"You can't treat your girl like that," Callie shakes her head, and ruffles James' hair as she exits, hips swinging.
James and I turn to each other, my eyes wide, and James looking a tad dazed. "Is she always so . . . pretty?" I ask.
"I think so," James states, blinking.
We make our way back to the compartment in a haze, and pull the door open, to find the Weasley cousins looking at us. "What happened?" Lucy asks. "V finally give in?"
"No," I shake my head, not even having the energy to be insulted by her accusation against my character.
"Then how did you get down?" Fred asked as me and James sat down at our seats.
"Callie Summers arrived," James replies.
"Callie Summers?" Fred's eyes go wide.
"She talked to V," James murmurs.
"She called me his girl," I jab a thumb in James' direction, snapping myself out of the daze.
"I bet it was the highlight of his year," Rose snorts, and Scorpius smirks next to her.
"Huh?" I screw my nose up in confusion.
"She means now that Callie thinks I'm taken," James sighs.
"Dude, she doesn't like guys!" I shove an elbow into his stomach. "You have no chance. For once I have a better chance."
Everyone stares at me.
"What?" I ask.
Lucy shakes her head with a smile on her face, even as her older sister Molly rolls her eyes.
"How long till you crash anyway V?" Freddy asks, smirking as he kicks Louis' ass in chess, the other boy pouting.
"I have decided I will be doing no such thing. This is my second last year at Hogwarts, so i firmly plan on enjoying," I pout, even as I curl up against James' body.
"Pretty sure that's what you said last year," James laughs underneath me.
"Shush!" I wave my hand. "That was back when I had just stopped catching the dodgy public Floo. Now I am well and truly adjusted to the Shed Network."
"You do know it isn't actually called the Shed Network right?" Rose smirks at me.
"You do know that any other name is boring though?" I don't blink as I stare a her down. "And seriously. Does the Australian Ministry think that organising a bunch of letters into a clever acronym is going to make anyone from around the world take them anymore seriously? Like, how about stop wasting money on stupid things - and stop employing self righteous and annoying guides - and actually get something decent. Like a theme park! Or, I suppose we could get an actual public library. Or a museum. Seriously. The Western Australian Ministry of Magic sucks. The only things I can buy at the newspaper are like two month old Witch Weekly's, a battered Teen Witch, some indie rock magazine, and an Eastern states newspaper. We don't even have our own newspaper!"
"How about you go to sleep?" James asks, chuckling above me. "I think you're tired."
I huff. And determinedly shut my eyes and do not go to sleep.
I went to sleep. That much is obvious, when i wake up and feel myself bumping up and down.
I'm clearly in someone's arms, as rain batters down, and I shiver slightly, before they take a big step, and the rain stops. Blinking, I find I'm in a carriage with Eva, Freddy, Dom, Ally Gaudet, her bestie, and that I am in the arms of James. "Hey," I blink agin, and smile, as I slide off his lap into the seat next to him.
"Hey," he smiles back, hair wet.
I frown at his damp state, and turn to take my wand out of my pocket, before realising that it's in my bag. "Do you know where my bag is?" I ask James, as Eva smirks at me and Dom and Ally hide giggles.
"Lucy took it," James shrugs. "She was going to give it to you once we got you awake in the carriage, but then of course we got separated in the rain, and so we'll just get it off her at the Feast."
"Right," I smile pleasantly. And the six of us have the peace to simply listen to the sound of the Threstrals banging their feet against the floor outside, making their way up to the castle. Them of course, it's ruined.
"Aren't you going to get changed into your uniform?" Eva frowns.
My eyes go wide. "Shit!" I exclaim. "Like massive shit! My uniform is in my bag, I am going to be murdered!"
"V, calm down," Fred smirks, like he knows something I don't. Over the holidays I learnt how to produce a Patronus -"
"James could already do that, and so could I," I say dryly.
"Well. I have a wand," Freddy narks back. "So I'd keep quiet if I were you. By my point was I can simply send a message to Lucy and tell her that we need to meet her in the Great Halls closet, and you can get changed there."
"Admittedly, that isn't a bad idea," I shrug.
"Hey, I always have good ideas!" Fred looks mildly offended, but the thought crosses him as he draws out his wand, a shorter, but still thin thing, and a look of intense concentration crosses his face. It takes a few tries, but upon his third shout of 'Expecto Patronum!', he finally manages to summon a sleek silver fox, which he repeats a message to, and we watch it bounce of, sparkling, as Ally cooes appreciatively, admiring it.
"See?" Freddy smiles, and I fall to mention that I could have done it myself, if you know, I had my wand, considering the fact hat he looks so pleased with himself.
"Very impressive," I say in just a dry tone.
"Not even impressed by my prowess," he nudges Eva, who rolls her eyes.
"I wasn't sure there was any," Eva replies.
If I was slightly less mature I would of yelled out 'Burn!' or something along those lines, but as I am highly mature (and worn out) I simply smirk at Freddy. That should teach him to try and make a move on my friends.
"So how was your summer, V?" Eva raises a brow at me. "Didn't get the chance to ask you earlier."
I flush slightly at the way she is examining my hand closely twined with James', myself being unable to let go. And the fact that she is teasing me about how I ditched her for James. "I went to Thailand for a bit. Hung around. Nowhere near as fun as what you would of done, I'm sure."
"Really?" Eva raises an eyebrow at me. "How fun do you think looking after my stupid baby sister who is obsessed with Liam Wood, Quidditch superstar, in Brazil, instead of hanging out on the beach was?"
" . . . At least you were in Brazil?" I offer.
"My mother was with me all the time. She claims that the best thing about England is that I am safe. She thinks that I would get attacked in Brazil. Does she know what goes on in Hogwarts?" Eva raises a brow, shaking her head like she's had the argument a fair few times.
"What do you mean is unsafe by Hogwarts?" Fred frowns, like he hasn't thought about it.
"Ya chica!" Eva imitates. "Come here mami, I can be your papi!"
"Seriously, guys at Hogwarts can be way gross," I screw my nose up. "And remember that dodgy group a couple of people tried to found years ago? The completely anti muggleborn one? So gross. Chang slamming down on them was the best thing I have seen in my entire life."
"That was nasty," Ally gives a slight shudder, a shadow crossing her face. It's no secret that the war has affected the youth who are my peers. James' father was famous for fighting and defeating the evil 'purist' who instilled terror and started the Secound Wizarding War. Lots of our peers parents had fought also, even at Hogwarts itself. Professors Chang, Longbottom, McGonagall, Trelawny and Sprout were war veterans as well. Unfortunately, like James' adopted brother, many had lost their mothers and fathers to the war, and the attacks following. Ally was one of those. "I'm beyond glad that hate groups have been completely wiped out."
"Yeah James," Eva grins. "Wasn't there an anti Potter group at Hogwarts during your dad's time?"
"The Unofficial Harry Potter Biography 2014 is not a reliable source for information," James sighs. "There is a reason that none of the family have ever given information or quotes."
"And yet it remains the secound best selling biography," Eva smirks, teasing him as we draw up.
"How come no one ever reads Aunt Hermione's biography?" James moans, as I frantically pull him out of the carriage behind me, and up towards the open doors of the castle, and drag him inside, waving goodbye to the others, who we promise to see later in the Great Hall, and drag James with me.
It's busy inside the hallway, and there are far too many students, with confused secound years stumbling around and surly seventh years, high on power as they scowl, with cocky fourth years wandering around. Finally however, we make it to one of the many alcoves that the Weasley's have placed under their protection, and find Lucy already waiting, my robes in her hand.\
"Okay V, we are gonna chuck these over your clothes," she says, before she and James do so, before I can slide in a word otherwise.
Of course, then I end up caught in my robes and stumble, around, accidentally elbowing Lucy in the stomach - "Ow!" - and nearly tripping over, causing James to have to catch me.
Finally, with me yelling out loudly at the pair, we manage to get the robes over my head.
"If it isn't my favourite student," a voice states.
All three of us whirl around immediately, finding ourself facing Professor Chang. "What, you talking about me?" Lucy raises a cheeky eyebrow.
"After you refused to join my Transfiguration club despite your remarkable skills, you may just have lost that status," Professor Chang gives a slight smile. "Now, am I going to have to tell you off for causing mischief, or are you going to leave?"
"Off we go," Lucy grins, and James gives a slight wave.
"Costa, pull your collar up," Chang shakes her head, and I pretend to do so as we walk towards the Great Hall under her watchful eye.
"Shit, what am I going to do?" I mutter as we make our way towards the entrance, even as I can hear McGonagall lecturing the first years in the hallway.
"Here," Lucy takes a scarf out of her own bag, and winds it around my neck. "No one will have a clue that you aren't in uniform. And if they ask, you can merely say that the colder weather is hard for you to adjust to."
"Yeah," I grin, nodding as the idea catches on. "That could actually work."
"Well, I am brilliant," Lucy flicks her hair over her shoulder.
"James, how come you aren't the one to ever come up with ideas?" I frown.
"Hey!" James looks almost offended, as we reach the doors, and walk through to the Gryfiindor table, myself pressing against James slightly to try and hide from the teachers, or anyone passing by (like for instance, Head Girl Molly) who might tell me off. "Who was the one who carried you in the rain?"
"Aww, I'm so sorry," I pout up at him as we sit down at the table, grinning at Dom and Ally. "Did you want brownie points for that?"
"Well that would be nice," James looks considering, and I shove him slightly with my shoulder, before turning my gaze up to the teachers table.
Headmistress McGonagall is absent, still with the first years. Next to her seat is Professor Longbottom's and Professor Vence respectively. Then, Professor Chang, and Professor Hewitt, all the Heads of Houses. The other Professors, such as Trelawny, Thompkins, Hagrid, are spread out on either sides, although I note to my surprise that the DADA seat is not taken by our elderly previous teacher, who very much focused on the thereotical, which he read out in English, and switched to French when he could ('the youth of today are too lazy - maybe if you tried to learn something useful, you would be able to do something!') - which led to James having to translate for me/ the entire row - but instead, a tall, attractive young teacher.
Turquoise hair covered his head, and his eyes were violet. Immediately, I knew who it was. "Why is your brother here?" I turned to James, frowning.
"You mean Al?" James frowned mockingly. "V, you need to understand something. We are no longer in first year. This means, as much as you-"
"Oh, quiet," I roll my eyes, cutting off James slow talking to me like I'm five. "I mean your other brother."
"Oh, Teddy?" James smirks, looking mighty pleased with his knowledge. "He's working here. At least for the year or so. Plans on establishing himself, becoming respectable and all that."
"What, because of him and Vic?" A wide grin spread across my face.
"You always go on about him and Vic," James rolls his eyes. "About her kissing him dramatically before she left for sixth year, undoing his bad boy ways, and sneaking her charm around him. Can't you be satisfied with an average story - got drunk in a bar, slept together, woke up, slept together, had a witty exchange, decided they were a good match, slept together, decide to date, slept together, dated, slept together, got married, slept together, had kids, didn't sleep together."
"Ha ha," I huff. "You've got to love the romance, the drama. Something so amazing. It shouldn't be kept a secret, it should be a novel, a movie."
"Some boy - or girl - is gonna have to buy you a big diamond ring someday, and propose on top of the Eiffel Tower aren't they?" Lucy smirks.
"Oh darling," I give a slight wave of my hand, dismissively. "Don't you know? Boys are for now, diamonds are forever."
Ally smirks, and Dom stifles a giggle and I wink at her. "See, the plan is, you gotta be a trophy wife, acting real dumb all the time. Then, course, after you been all dolled up for a year, you can divorce him, and find yourself a nice home, and a beautiful car to drive. Spend your nights in fancy bars, kissing men, and marry another. By the time you cut loose your third - having stowed away your money each time in a Swiss bank account - you have enough money to buy a McDonalds, make your money, buy a few more, rake in the bills, sell them off, and host fabulous parties, wearing gorgeous diamonds, for a hundred of your closest friends."
"Exactly how much thought have you put into this V?" Ally shakes her head.
I blink. "A lot. It is my life's plan after all. James, Hun, don't get rich, because then I'll just have to ruin our friendship, and make a move on you, entrapping you in my feminine wiles," I batter my lashes at him, looking up, as he stares at me.
Of course, just then is when the Sorting starts.
I ignore the ramble from McGonagall, having heard it enough times, and instead focus on trying to wish the food to come sooner. Then the actual Sorting starts, and I don't look up, until -
"Blanche, Colette!" McGonagall calls.
My little Colette, arches forward determinedly, the boys I sat her on the train with make stupid faces at her as she goes, causing a smile to tug at her cheeks, as she sits on the rickety old stool, and has the hat placed on her head.
I wait, as the hat talks to her, and her lips move. It takes almost thirty seconds, not quite as long as it took for me to be, but still considerable. Finally, it announces it's answer. "Slytherin!"
A smile spreads to my lips, and I join her house in applauding its new member, ignoring a secound year who stares at me until I stop. Of course then I turn to face them. "What?" I ask, causing the kid to turn around, back to their friends.
"Who is that?" James asks me.
"Colette," I shrug. "I met her on the way to seeing you lot. She's from France, speaks not a lot of English, and was waiting outside."
"Ah," James, says, nodding.
"What do you mean, ah?" I raise an eyebrow.
"You have a thing V," James shakes his head. "You look for people like you. That's why you looked specifically after her. You want to save people from things that have happened, or could have happened to you."
I don't bother to respond, as the Sorting finishes, having been relatively short this year.
McGonagall stands up, and walks to the podium.
"I am sure that you are all quite hungry, and I do not wish to hold you back from dinner. However, I do need to make some housekeeping notes. Firstly, as always all WWW products with inclination to prancing are banned. If you are unsure as to what that means, Filch has a complete list in his office, or you can ask one of your House Prefects. The Forbidden Forest is called so of or a reason, and so I must remind you that it is completely off limits for students. If you fail to comply with this, you will of course receive a detention, and Hagrid has let it been know. To me that he is very excited to go hunting with some companions into the deep of the woods. First years, a Prefect will escort you to your Common Room, however if you get lost, simply ask a student with your house colours for direction. As student may have noticed, we have a new DADA teacher, Professor Lupin. It would be appreciated, by myself and the Professor, if you would refer to him as such on school grounds," here McGonagall took a pause to look at the numerous Weasleys, particularly those at the Gryffindor table, James waving at her as I rolled my eyes. "Lastly, I would appreciate it if you enjoyed your meal, and have a safe and happy return, or delight in your stay. Welcome!"
And as McGonagall sat down, food appeared on the table. My eyes went wide, and I grinned brightly, as I took a bread roll off a basket and buttered it thinly. The. Of course, I took some of the quiche, a spiced rice, and enjoyed my meal.
"This food is so incredible!" Molly exclaimed, even as Roxy's jaw tightened.
Even before it happened, I knew what was going to. The pair were always arguing, had been since they were kids according to James. Chalk and cheese, they didn't even look the same, and they acted completely different, with Molly focusing on her studies, and Roxy well, not.
"Oh yeah?" Roxy smirks. "Better not tell Gran that."
"Oh believe me, I won't," Molly snarls back. "Unlike some people,I can keep myself my mouth shut."
"Unlike some people, I can keep my legs shut," Roxy raises an eyebrow, not looking fazed.
And Molly breaks, her face falling and looking like tears are about to fall as well, and stands up, her body shaking. For a second I think that she is about to curse Roxy, as her hand moves towards her robe sleeve, but she turns on her heel, and stalks out of the room.
My eyes go wide. In all of the infamous Roxy/ Molly fights, they are always verbal, always end by a teacher interrupting them. And they always mean that neither of them back down.
Roxy continues to pick at her dinner, seemingly oblivious to everyone looking at her, but after a few minutes, she stands up and walks out, head held high.
My mouth drops, and seconds later Lucy walks outt hastening to a little run, no doubt after her sister. "What was that?" I whisper into James' ear.
"It's complicated," James shakes his head. "I'll tell you in a minute," he whispers to me.
"So James, how are you looking for Quidditch?" Dom asks brightly, too loudly and awkward in the nearly empty of voice Gyffindor table.
It's the perfect thing to ask however, as soon a quick conversations picks up, which starts with James being congratulated, continues to the surrounding housemates offering tips they'd picked up from magazines, and the Wizarding Channel, and then leads into a debate around the question of who would win the Quidditch World Cup.
I had little to no clue as to what was going on, and so simply nodded and watched James and Dom debate with others, having little to add to the conversation, other than to defend Elle Campbell, the 25 year old Seeker for the Harpies, a new recruit from the States. And pretty much the only Quidditch player I knew.
Finally, dessert arrived, and previously too full to have another bite students dug into two, three prices of deserts. I myself, looked at the tarts and cakes, pastries and ice cream, and settled for lemon cheesecake. Because, white honestly, cheese and cake? What could be better?
Conversation settled around me, as others grew content with their bellies, and finally the food Vanished, and McGonagall dismissed us. I stood up, wrapped an arm around James' waist and leant against his chest as the pair of us slowly made our way up to the Gryffindor Common Room.
"Costa!" A voice called out, and I winced, turning around slowly.
"Hello Headmistress," I smiled weakly.
"Professor Chang told me she had already spoken to you about your uniform," McGonagall eyes my (Lucy's) scarf, and my boots poking out from under my robes. "Take that hideous scarf off."
"I, uhh can't," I say and feel my cheeks burn even as James shakes with laughter beside me.
"And why ever not?" McGonagall's lips go dangerously thin.
"I'm cold?" I state.
"I have seen you spend the entirety of winter in little more than a skirt," McGonagall shakes her head. "You are most certainly not. Please, follow me to my office."
I winced. And paused my following to throw a glare at James, before continuing after McGonagall.
McGonagall led me to her office, and then I knew I was a goner.
"Please take a seat Miss Costa," she states, and I carefully lower myself onto the uncomfortable seat in front of her desk, as she takes what looks like a far more comfortable seat behind it. "Now, I am sure you are aware that, although on other days in the year, you are allowed to wear what you wish, and during school accessorise, one may say, your uniform, that during the Welcoming Feast, you are expected to be in your full school uniform, including robes, and your House colours."
"Yes, Headmistress," I respond, dropping my head, and waiting for her to give me . . . detention.
"Then why are you not?" McGonagall asks, and my head snaps up.
She's giving me a chance, is all that runs through my head. So of course, I blow it. "Well I was running late for the train, because the guide back home to take the Floo Network took forever. So I ended up on the wrong end of the train to get to the compartment I wanted. And then of course, I ended up bumping into my dorm mates and saying hey. There was this girl who was French NAND looked lost so I had to help her get to a compartment, so then, I reached the compartment about an hour after. Then after saying hey to everyone I got stuff from the Trolley Lady. James and mock argued and had a stare down. James pulled me over his shoulder, no one helped me down, Mila laughed when we met her out in the corridor. James got told by Callie Summers to put me down and so he did. Then we went aback, I was adamant I was gonna stay up - I went to sleep. Next thing I know James is carrying me to a carriage in the rain, and I wake up. He's wet, so I go to get out my wand, only to remember its in my bag. It turns out Lucy has my bag, and I haven't gotten into my uniform yet. Fred sends a message to Lucy to meet us, and she does, and we put my robes on top of my normal clothes, so I can get changed underneath quickly. Then, of course, Professor Chang arrives and thinks we were up to something, which we weren't, and tells me to lull up my collar. Of course, I can't, because I don't have a collar, so Lucy gives me her scarf, and I wrap it around and make my way to the feast. I think everything is okay, and then well, you caught me."
I'm slightly out breath when I finish my ramble, hands midair after raising and wide eyed.
And then she laughs.
I'm not talking about a little giggle either. It's a big belly laugh, and my eyes go even wider if that's possible.
"Miss Costa, you can go," McGonagall finally composes herself enough to say, before I stand up and make my way to the exit.
I walk to the Common Room in a daze for the secound time today, and when I murmur the password to the Fat Lady, I walk through I see James and Fred waiting for me, James with what I am sure is The Map in his hands.
"What happened?" Freddy asks, as James assesses me.
"McGonagall laughed," I say, taking a seat on the couch, and putting a band to my head even as a headache comes on. "Like actually, completely laughed."
"You're kidding,"James says.
"No," I shake my head. "I was just doing my thing, and like explaining everything that happened and she cracks up."
"Well," James states, a smile reaching his lips. "You have to admit-"
"No," I hold up a hand. You're still on probation for laughing before."
James simply smirks.
"Well," Fred stands up in a display of grace. "Bed?"
"God, I'm exhausted," I yawn, standing up and leaning on James. "Honestly, arriving here a couple of days early should be what I do."
"I've told you for years, come stay with me," James rolls his eyes. "My mum would love to finally meet the girl who I've been friends with for so long."
"My parents would never allow it," I shake the head, although a smile reaches my face at the thought, as we make our way up the stairs of the boys dormitories.
"Tell the you are staying with Lucy. Or Dom," Fred adds, and we open their dormitory door, Fred saluting goodbye, and James and I making our way to his bed. James slips his shoes off, and his robes and trousers, whole I take off my robes, the scarf, shoes and jeans. I slip in on the side nearest to the door, sliding under the covers as James walks around the other side, and jumped into bed.
"So, you excited to be back?" James whispers, once all of the hangings are drawn.
"As excited as ever," I smile. "I mean, I love being away from my parents, but everything I know is back home. I have no clue about anything half the time. And homework, facing my future . . . It's a mess."
"Hey," James looks into my eyes, raising a brow. "You wait till tomorrow to worry about all that. Tonight, just enjoy the fact that the two of us are together, and we get to do so for the majority of the year."
"Yeah," I smile. "The rest of the year. The two of us."
"The year of Vestie and James."
A rewrite of an old fic, and I'm gettin hell into it. Come on guys, tell me what you think :). Our NextGen community is so . . . limited.
