The Marauders' Wives
Chapter 1: The Journey to a New Home
It was Friday, September 1st and after stowing her luggage in an empty compartment, which most were, since it was early, Sarah Peverell walked along the train exploring alone. Mr and Mrs Peverell, Sarah's parents, worked for the Ministry of Magic and were often called for last minute arrangements and "urgent meetings". Sarah didn't know exactly what they did, they worked in the Department of Mysteries, and they were, in every sense of the term, "un-speakables".
So Sarah walked alone along the train, her parents having left on one such occasion. Though she knew her cousin, aunt and uncle were outside, somewhere amidst the mass of people on Platform 9 ¾ she did not bother to look for them. She was quite content alone, comfortable even. It wasn't that she didn't get lonely, she did. Very lonely. But she always found a way to occupy herself; she kept herself busy so she didn't think about being alone. She would think through complicated scenarios in her head, or read a book, or fly her broom, or she would walk an hour to her cousin's house. And when all else failed, she would simply sit, in the big, stately manor, and imagine life with her parents home, and sometimes she would cry, especially when she went to bed alone, and woke up alone the next morning, a message sent by owl explaining that her parents had had to go on some far away mission.
But right now, on September 1st, on platform 9 ¾, Sarah was alright being alone. Her parents had just dropped her off at King's Cross Station and left. She had gotten her own cart, and lugged her heavy trunk and owl, Orion, onto the train alone. She was independent, and thrilled to be going to Hogwarts for the first time. She didn't know what house she would be sorted into, nor did she care. Her parents had never told her which house they were in, though she had seen Ravenclaw memorabilia and the Gryffindor insignia on some items in the attic, however, she had also found items bearing the Slytherin Arms and Hufflepuff's crest. She had, it seemed, ancestors from all houses.
The thing that had Sarah most excited about was that at Hogwarts, she would never be truly alone; she would have friends, and a house full of people, and teachers and classmates. There would always be people. She would never feel abandoned again.
When she was younger, too small to walk to her cousin's house, she would spend her days in the company of their house elf, Binky, who was more like family than her parents, playing and talking. Binky was good company and Sarah would remember to write to her when she got to Hogwarts and was sorted.
The train whistled once as a warning that it would be leaving soon, so Sarah turned back to her empty, forlorn compartment. When she got there, she glanced out the window and saw her aunt and uncle and figured she should go say goodbye, since she wouldn't see them until Christmas. Sighing Sarah descended the stairs. Walking over to her extended family Sarah smiled.
"Hello Aunt Helen, Uncle Charles."
"Oh Sarah, hello dear, I didn't see your Mum and Dad. Where are they?" Aunt Helen craned her neck searching the platform for the missing Peverells.
"They aren't here. Had to go to the ministry. I've already got my stuff in a compartment. I just thought I would come say goodbye, since I won't see you until Christmas." As Sarah explained, their faces fell to sympathetic smiles.
"That's my sister for you. Always busy, always working. Ah, well. I hope you have fun at Hogwarts. James is around here somewhere." Uncle Charles gave her a weak smile, then turned to look for his only son, James.
The Potters were most unlike the Peverells. Charles and Helen, while they both worked, they led a balanced life. And Sarah could always count on them to keep her company, if not the adult Potters, then her cousin, who was more like her brother, James Potter, would.
Spotting James' messy black hair amidst the crowd, Mr Potter called to him.
"James, James! Come 'ere a minute."
James fought his way through the crowd with another brunette boy at his side. When he finally reached his parents, he looked slightly dishevelled.
"Wha- Oh, hey Sarah." James sounded slightly surprised to see his cousin talking to his parents, especially since her parents were no where to be found.
"Hey James." Then seeing the other boy standing slightly awkwardly to the side, she said. "Hi, I'm Sarah Peverell, James' cousin." She stuck out her hand and the boy grasped it.
"Remus Lupin." They shook hands smiling. Turning back to her Aunt and Uncle Sarah decided to take her leave from the group.
"Well, I'll see you later James and Remus, and hopefully I'll see you at Christmas. I've got to go check on Orion; I left him in the compartment. G'bye Aunt Helen, Bye Uncle Charles."
After hugging her aunt and uncle and waving at Remus and James, Sarah turned and walked absentmindedly back to the train entrance. She was almost there, when a blonde girl bumped into her, clearly attempting to wrestle her trunk onto the train.
"Oh, Sorry, I didn't see you. I swear this trunk is jinxed! It's my first year." She said smiling, a cat carrier in hand. "I'm Catie by the way, Catie Davis." She stuck out her hand for Sarah to shake.
"Sarah Peverell. Nice to meet you, it's my first year too…um, would you like some help with your trunk?" Sarah offered. "I've already got mine in a compartment, we could share one if you'd like. I heard the train fills up pretty quick."
"That'd be great, thanks." The two girls lifted the trunk with ease, now that they worked together, and settled comfortably in the compartment.
After two consecutive whistles, the train lurched forward and began pulling out of the station. The girls chatted effortlessly as they got to know each other. Sarah was thankful for having someone to sit with.
It had been about an hour when they heard a slamming door, which was quite an accomplishment since the doors to the compartments slid open and close. Both girls poked their heads out of their compartment, only to see a prefect doing the same. Since the situation, whatever it was, was being handled, Catie and Sarah resumed their conversation.
The trolley witch came to their compartment shortly after, and Sarah bought a liquorice wand and jumping frogs, Catie decided on jumping frogs and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. They had just resettled with their candy when the topic of discussion came to the four Hogwarts Houses.
"Which house do you want to be in? I do hope we are in the same house!" Catie and Sarah had become good friends in the hour and a half that they knew each other.
"I don't know which house, any of them would be good, but I hope we're in the same house too." Catie looked astonished at Sarah's reply.
"Really? You don't have any preference or any idea? What about the house your parents or family was in?"
"Well, my parents travel a lot, and some how I never asked them. But I found stuff from all the houses in our attic. Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, either my parents used to be collectors, or I have blood lines from all the houses. So for me it doesn't really matter. What about you? Any preferences?"
"I was thinking Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. My mom's from Ravenclaw and Dad was Gryffindor. He told me to make sure I wasn't in Slytherin. Gryffindor and Slytherin, rivals from beyond the grave." Both girls burst into laughter, Catie had said the last sentence as though she were an announcer advertising a movie.
Sarah glanced at the watch on her wrist. If she was right about the distance of Hogwarts to King's Cross, and correct about the amount of time it took, then they had just 20 minutes before the train would stop in Hogsmeade station.
"We should probably get changed, we'll be there soon."
The girls rummaged in their trunks pulling out a set of plain black robes. The quickly changed, then they sat back down, nervous excitement settling over their compartment. After about ten minutes the train stopped. They silently got up, collected their things and walked off the train.
Following the yells of, "Firs' years this way, firs' years, over to me firs' years," the girls were led to a dark, black lake with little boats floating all around them. They were to sit four to a boat, so Catie and Sarah looked around for someone to share a boat with. Giving up they sat in a boat on their own and waited for people to take the vacant seats behind them.
When the boats started to speed magically over the still lake, the girls sat in rapt silence, gazing with awe at their new home, a home they would share with hundreds of other students, a home that held more mysteries than magic itself.
They reached the other side of the lake with a 'thud' and stepped out onto the grounds of Hogwarts. The journey to their new home was finished. Now that they were here, so much more lay ahead of them, more than anyone could expect. Hogwarts was a different experience for everyone, it was a unique time in an individual's life, and so, no one can tell another what to expect, it is a period exactly suited to the student. Hogwarts helps students to fully understand themselves, it brings out qualities that they never knew they possessed.
Hogwarts was a home like no other.