Untouchable
As I push my trolley down the platform, I vaguely remember it for some reason. Like I've been here before, but I haven't. My dad's hand rests on my left shoulder and my annoyance with him grows. First he wanted to push my trolley, of course I said no, and now he feels as if he must hold my shoulder as if I would leave if he didn't. I understood, since Mom died when I was two, I realize it must be harder for him than it is for me. I hop onto the train after loading in my luggage.
I force a smile upon my lips as I wave goodbye to my dad. He smiles sadly back, as if reluctant to let me go. I understand his reasons, bundled up, some hormonal, young children and teenagers, all permitted to use magic. Young boys and, even worse, young, snotty girls. The train whistles and starts to trudge forward. As the train rounds the corner, I take one last look at my dad before he vanishes. I smile sadly as I heave my trunk and my owl, Pascal, down the corridor to look for an empty compartment. I pass a couple of full compartments, and some not so full.
"Come on, show us Sadie!" a high-octaved voice shouts obnoxiously. I stop and peek in through the small, clear windows in the compartment doors. Everyone seems to be crowded around a lightly cinnamon colored girl around my age. She grins devillishly and opens a shoe box she is holding. A big, feathery tail thwips out, and I frown. What could it possibly be?
Someone bumps into me as they rush into the compartment and their elbow comes in contact with my hand. Light flashes infront of my eyes as memories flood in. I see a boy huddled on the ground, clutching his arm as if it were causing him excruciating pain. Another light flashes and I see a boy cowering in the presense of a werewolf, and then everything stops. I flinch my hand away as if burned.
I stumble, but no one around me notices at all. I blink, caught by surprise. I shrug it off and continue on. From ever since I've been able to remember, everytime someone touches me or vice versa, I see their worst and most painful memories or fears. Due to this, I've never had a single friend.
I pass a compartment with a few people in it, talking animatedly about something. If I had to guess, I'd say Quidditch. One stopped to look at me, an older boy of twelve, and as I start to be uncomfortable I continue on one again. But my walk of embarassment is short-lived as the boy comes out of the compartment and catches up to me.
"Hey, blondie. Wait up." he says arrogantly, as if knowing I will stop. I feel as if I should not give him the satisfaction, but I stop anyways.
"Yes?" I ask, a tad bit of annoyance at him due to his characterization of my hair color. He hesitates, making deliberate eye contact with me, and I can tell he is staring at my deep violet colored eyes, and I feel somewhat resentful towards him. He nervously runs a hand through his raven hair, and his mahogany eyes dart away from my violet orbs.
"You know, if you're looking for a place to stay, your welcome to sit in my compartment, if you'd like, blondie." he says warmly, suavely even, and my temper flares at the nickname.
"No, thanks, I'm actually looking for a friend." I lie easily. He looks put out, but smiles at me kindly.
"No problem. If you were just wondering, name's James. James Potter." he says arrogantly, but with a hint of bitterness, and I easily recognize the name. But I don't emphasize, I imagine it would be annoying and totally cliche.
"Pleasure, really. Elizabeth, Elizabeth Delamour. Call me Liz." I reply politely. He grins lopsidedly, and I suddenly feel slightly less irritated.
"Well I better be off..." I improvise quickly, to be more believable. "Sara will be worried if I delay any longer. Nice meeting you, James."
"Same here, blondie. Keep outta trouble, that's my job." and he leaves, but quickly does a double-take. I stand there, owl in one hans a trunk in the other.
"Merlin, where are my manners. If mum were here..." he muttered, scolding himself. "Forgot to shake your hand. Go on." he adds at my obvious hesitation. "I don't bite." he chuckles, and I shake his hand. I gasp as a light flashes and I see James in a room full of spiders, cowering in an unmanly fashion. Another light flashes and I see a small redheaded girl lying lifeless on a colorless floor. James kneels at the side of her body, sobbing. One last light flashes and everything disappears.
"You okay?" he asks, and I'm snapped out of my wonderings of who that girl was. Too young to be his girlfriend..
"Yes, quite. I'll see you." I say, releasing his hand and continuing down the corridor with my trunk and owl, leaving James behind with a hurt and confused expression.
I finally find an empty compartment, and I set my trunk and Pascal up on the shelf above a seat.
I suddenly feel lonely, and do what I usually do when I get bored. I let my mind wander. That poor girl... was he afraid for her to die, or had she already gone? He was obviously related to her, there was no other reason. He must love her dearly, to fear for her parting. What a lonely fear, to fear for your loved ones' leavings. What a horrid picture, to see your dear ones dead. Alas, for that is what we all fear most. Isolation.
In my deep, and rather sad, thoughts, I had not noticed a very quiet boy open the compartment door. I only noticed when he spoke slightly louder.
"Excuse me, sorry to bother you, is- is this seat reserved?" the nervous voice asks. My head rises quickly to catch sight of the speaker.
It is a tall, pale boy, obviously my age, with jet black hair. His emerald eyes are bright with undiluted innocence, like that of a child's. His jet black hair is untidy, much like a unknotted bird's nest. I nearly laugh at his nervous look, like he's about to walk to Azkaban. I resist, that would be rude.
"No, not at all." I say warmly, as not to make him more scared than he looks. If that were even possible.
"Thanks." he comes in completely and shuts the compartment door, but leaves it ajar by mishap.
"So, I guess you're just starting this year too?" he asks kindly after putting his things on the shelf opposite mine and sitting across from me.
"Yeah. Name's Elizabeth, Elizabeth Delamour, by the way. Just call me Liz."
"Okay. I'm Albus. Albus Potter." he says, and I retain a gasp.
"Wait, you mean your-" I pause and I see his bright eyes darken with bitterness. "-related to James?" I finish, and I can see he is taken aback. He must have expected me to ask if he were the son of Harry Potter, which would make me sound daft because A. he looks just like him, B. his last name's Potter, and C. it's obvious.
"Yeah, how do you know him?" he asks skeptically. I smile coyly.
"Met him in the corridor not ten minutes ago." I reply, and I see him smile as if convinced.
"Great. Don't think I'm arrogant too though, my brother's a bit.. mad, to say."
"Aren't we all?" and that's when I see his pearly whites. I grin back, and I feel on top of the world.
.
"Try the Aero Fizzwigs, they're brilliant." I cast him a questioning look. "They make you turn blue and float." he says nonchalantly, popping a chocolate frog into his mouth.
I try one, out of pure curiosity, and exactly what he says what happens, happens. He grabs onto my wrist to lower me, and a light flashes before my eyes. I see Al on a stool, with a worn looking hat on his head. Suddenly, the hat shouts,
"HUFFLEPUFF!" and Albus looks like he wants to die. Another light flashes and I see Albus cowering before dementors, a terrified look on his face. I start to run towards him, but the light flashes again and I see Albus and James in a colorless room, fighting. Well, more like arguing heatedly.
"You said you wouldn't care which house I was in! You lied!" Albus yells.
"Not Hufflepuff! What the bloody hell, Al? Hufflepuff?" and I can see Albus wanting to cry, but he yells back at his brother
"I hate you!" vehemently and with one last glare, James walks away. Albus breaks down and the scene disappears in a flash of light.
"Liz? Liz, are you okay?" Albus asks, panicking. I am on his side of the compartment, sitting next to him. I feel prickling tears at my poor friend's fear of unacceptance rise.
"Oh Albus." I whisper sadly, and he looks at me, confused deeply. I see mixed emotions swirl in his almond-shaped eyes.
"Wha-what? Do I have something in my hair?" he asks worryingly, and I smile gently.
"No, it's nothing." I lie, but not so easily. I swear, it's the eyes! I look away, getting up to sit back down in my seat, rubbing my wrist. It is all tingly, like it's asleep, and I panic because it has never felt like this before.
He hesitates, obviously thinking deeply.
"Alright then." he says, shrugging. I decide to change the subject, but am interrupted by someone entering the compartment. More like bursting in like a mad-woman, actually.
"Al! There you are! Merlin, I've been looking absolutely everywhere! Is this where you've been the entire time?" a girl with lush ginger hair and sky blue eyes asks increduously.
"Yeah, sorry Ro." he apologizes, working his magic on her with his eyes. She blinks, tilting her head slightly, as if curious.
"Oh, well, I guess that's alright." she says, justifying the situation. I gaze in amazement. I wonder if he'd teach me that trick.
"Oh, and who's this?" she asks kindly, turning her eyes on me now. I fidget nervously.
"Elizabeth. Elizabeth Delamour. Pleased." I reply curtly. She blinks.
"Rose, Rose Weasley. Pleasure." she rushes on, talking animatedly. "I love your eyes! They're stunning, really." I wanted to make a smart comnent back like,
"Thanks! Yours are nice too, where'd you get them?" but I found it wise not to.
"Thanks." there is an awkward silence. "I like your hair very much. It's fitting." I say graciously, referring to her pale skin and freckly face along with her sparkling eyes.
"Thanks." she says, flattered and grinning broadly. I grab a pumpkin pasty as she rushes to sit next to Albus.
For the next hour, we talk about things such as Quidditch. Lots of Quidditch.
"Puddlemere United and Ireland. What about you, Ro?" Albus asks, biting off a Chocolate Frog's head.
"Well, the Chudley Cannons are dreadful but I prefer the Holyhead Harpies and Germany, really." she beams, but Albus sulks.
"Germany is eighth in the lead!" he exclaims, throwing his hands up. She shrugs as if to say, "So?"
Albus sighs, giving up quickly.
"What about you, Liz?" asks Rose. The day I call her Ro is the day I eat Pascal.
"My favorite team are the Holyhead Harpies. International would have to be Ireland, though." I say, beaming. Albus cheers slightly, but Rose looks a bit put out. I feel a bit guilty, but have no time to fix it.
"Wise, blondie. Very wise indeed." a voice says cheerfully, and I recognize it to be James as he plops down beside me. He puts an arm around my shoulders and I feel Albus' glare on James as another, but redheaded, boy comes in. I feel like my blood is boiling, who the hell does he think he is?
"What's chirpin' blondie?" James asks, and I feel extremely obligated to knock the black out of his hair.
"First of all, get your arm from off around me James." he does so reluctantly. "Secondly, I'm absolutely brill." I say in a cheerful tone, crossing my arms and smirking smugly. Albus and Rose snigger as James frowns.
"Ah, we've got a brave one here, mates. Liz, is it? Delighted, really. Fred, Fred Weasley." he says, holding out a hand. I take it before I realize what it means.
I see a man who looks seemingly like Fred, shaking his head disappointedly and casting a dark shadow over Fred. The light blares and everything fades. I take my hand back, quickly but unnoticably, as if burned.
"You're not..." I point to Rose. He shakes his head as they say simaltaneously,
"Cousins." and I nod, understanding. I wonder if there are more, as the last name suddenly strikes an obscure bell.
"So, what house do you want to be in, Albus?" I ask the question I've been burning to ask. Albus blushes as everyone turns to him.
"Just call me Al, please." I nod quickly. "Uhmm... Gryffindor, probably." he says uncertainly. I frown, that's not right. It was James, certainly. Albu- Al didn't want to let his brother down.
"I didn't ask which one you will get into, I ask we one you want to get into." James gained a look of confusion and curiosity. Quite amusing, actually.
"I guess it doesn't really matter, I suppose." he mumbles, not meeting James' eyes.
"Good for you, mate." Fred claps him on the back and Al coughs. I smile, proud of his minimal effort to speak for himself.
"What about you, Liz?" Al asks curiously. I bite my lip, thinking. Everyone is staring at me, waiting for an answer. I finger one of my corkscrew curls, a habit of mine.
"Gryffindor sounds... promising. I think Ravenclaw is a bit out of my reach. Genius', right? Hufflepuff is just... humiliating... nothing else. A place for the kind and loyal, but not for the brave and proud. Slytherin sounds... not for me, really." I say, and everyone smiles impressively. I lean back on the seat as Rose babbles on about the extravagance of each house.
"Ravenclaw would be alright, Mum wants me to be in Ravenclaw for obvious reasons, but Dad expects me to get into Gryffindor. Which I probably will, living up to expectations..." she trails off, but starts again quickly. "Slytherin's not my type, and I don't really fancy Hufflepuff." she finishes. I smile broadly, these are my type of friends. Al grins as if reading my thoughts.
"Gryffindor, home of the brave and daring." James says obnoxiously, heroically examining an imaginary sword. I snort loudly, making everyone stare at my sudden outburst of laughter.
"And the arrogant." I mutter, but James ignores me. Al sniggers and Fred expertly stifles his laughter.
"So... are there... more of you?" I ask, unintentionally sounding a bit rude. Rose perks up, her blue eyes shining like sapphires.
"Oh yes, plenty. Me and Al are related, did you know? Cousins." Know? I couldn't have guessed in a million years. They were total opposites.
"Oh. How many exactly?" I ask, curiosity getting the better of me.
"Oh. Erhm." Rose murmurs, scrunching her nose in thought. "Well. Oldest to youngest, I'll go. There's Bill and Fleur's, Victorie, Dominique, and Louis. Then there's Percy and Audrey's, Molly and Lucy. Then there's George and Angelina's, Fred-" she indicates him, who grins broadly in response. "and Roxanne. Then there's Dad, Ron, and Mum's, Hermione's. Me and Hugo." she blushes, but continues on. "Then there's Ginny and Harry's. James-" she indicates him, and he winks. "Al-" he smiles nervously. "And Lily." she finishes. "Oh, but then there's Luna and Rolf's, Lorcan and Lysander, they start next year. Luna and Rolf are just like family. Neville and Hannah too, Alice and Frank. Oh! Then there's Uncle Harry's godson, Teddy Lupin." she finally finishes.
I blink. Holy merlin's glittery trousers! That's...
"Seventeen!" I exclaim increduously. Rose puts up a finger, silencing my exclamations.
"12, not counting Teddy, Alice, Frank, Lor and San." she says quickly. "But we always do. There's Uncle Charlie, but he never had any children."
"Pretty cool, huh?" Albu- Al asks with a grin.
"Pretty cool? That's more than two entire Quidditch teams." I breathe, astounded.
"All Weasley's except for Al, James, and Lily, who are Potters. And Teddy who's a Lupin, and Ly and Lor who are Scamanders, and Frank and Alice who are Longbottoms." she says, as if reciting a passage from a book she knew by heart.
"Merlin. Well... I guess that's not too bad." I say, eyes still wide. "Who started this year?" I ask and Rose's nose scrunches again.
"Lily, Alice, and Frank." she says shortly. "But the year after there's Roxanne. Then Lily, Hugo, Lorcan, and Lysander." I nod, solemn. "That's it."
"The only one who has finished Hogwarts yet is Teddy. He's nineteen." James says proudly. I'm baffled, truly. They must have either loved children or... I shake my head, dispelling the thoughts.
"That's great! Can't wait to see what little Lily, Roxanne, and Hugo are like, compared to you guys." I say excitedly and everyone laughs.
"Fred! There you are!" a cheerful voice exclaims, bouncing into the room. It's the girl with the feathery creature, Sadie.
"Hey Sade." he greets her warmly as she drops into his lap, hugging him 'round the neck.
"I missed you, you jerk." she mumbles, her rich brown locks, similar to chocolate, falling down her back. Fred blushes vibrantly.
"Sadie!" he whined, red as his hair. She lets go, hopping off his lap and crossing her arms.
"Git." she muttered darkly. Turning to see everyone, she brightens considerably. "Oh, hey guys. Who's this?" she asks skeptically, eyeing me suspiciously. I sent her a confident stare back.
"Elizabeth." Al says quickly, beating everyone else to it.
"Liz." I correct him, making his face go red. He fidgets, becoming overly nervous again.
"Right. Liz." he states, mumbling, and I smirk.
"Hi! I'm Sadie Jordan." she introduces, holding out a petite hand. I grin.
"Liz Delamour." and the train slows to a stop before I get to shake her hand. She jumps, a broad grin plastered on her face. She grabs Fred's hand, hoisting him up out of his seat.
"Come on Freddie! You've got to help me with my trunk." she exclaims excitedly, dragging him out of the compartment, Fred protesting she couldn't bring her trunk on the boats. James shoots us a goodbye, following Fred and Sadie lazily.
"Leave your stuff here Liz." Al advises as I turn for my stuff. I nod, my cheeks burning. Rose smiles apologetically at me, as if sorry she didn't mention it.
Then, we are off to the castle, side by side by side, each grinning broadly.