Chapter 1 - Going Home
The day I received my Hogwarts letter changed my life forever. Growing up, I had no idea magic even existed out side of my small little world. In case you hadn't already figured it out, I'm a muggle born. My parent's are both school teachers, completely ordinary if you ask me. I have an older brother and sister who can do nothing wrong in my parents eyes. As soon as I was born, it was like I could do nothing right. They always thought there was something different about me and once I received that fateful letter, their suspicions were confirmed.
I had no idea what to expect when going to Hogwarts. I had no friends or older siblings to discuss the life changing event. I was completely alone. I was being thrown into the deep end but I didn't mind. Because for once in my life, I felt like I could actually belong somewhere for the first time in my life.
My first 5 years were the best of my life. I got sorted into Gryffindor which apparently meant I was brave and courageous. A load of shit if you ask me. I was never put up against those two words but what would I know, I'm not a magical talking sorting hat. I even managed to make friends with people who were just like me. Katie Bell and Angelina Johnson were like the 2 sisters I always wanted. They accepted me for who I was and it was all I could as for.
"Annie! Get down here right now! We have to leave in 5 minutes if you are to get on that bloody train and away from us!" My caring mother once again went with tradition and yelled out to me from downstairs.
"Coming mum! Don't leave without me." A bit of sarcasm never hurt anybody.
I looked around my small room, making sure I hadn't forgotten anything. The last thing I needed was mum chucking out anything I left behind which I would end up needing. "Now, what else do I need?" I started chewing my lip, a habit I tended to do when I was thinking really hard. "I guess if it's really important, I'd be able to somehow buy it at hogsmeade.." It was a risk I was willing to take. I shut my trunk, hoisted it off my bed and dumped it on the floor standing up. I locked my owl Freya in her cage and took my things downstairs.
As soon as my feet hit the bottom step my mother shot round the corner and said in her most sarcastic voice, "Took you look enough Annie. What were you doing up there? Sewing yourself new clothes? Get your shit in the car, we need to leave. This summer holiday has gone on far too long for my liking."
I popped my head in the living room and half-yelled to my dad, "See ya dad, I guess I'll see you over Christmas break yeah?"
He looked up from his paper "Huh? Oh, yeah, sure Annie, Christmas break. Should see you then. Have a good year dear." That left me a little dumbfounded. It didn't even seem like they wanted to see me over Christmas. Some great family they are.
The drive to Kings Cross was awkward as usual. I had no idea what to say to my own mum, couldn't even muster up small talk. She was the one to break the ice. "So you got everything you need? I don't want to have to send you anything during the year. That is quite a hassel for your father and I, considering we aren't from your world." Wow. So now I have my own world completely separate from theirs. I scoffed and looked out the window. "Feeling the love mum. Don't worry, I'll try not to inconvenience you guys while I'm at school. "
As soon as we got to the station I jumped out of the car, grabbed all my things and chucked them on the first trolley I saw. "See ya mum, I'll see you whenever I guess." I walked off before she could reply, not wanting to hear what she had to say. I made a bee line for Platform 9 & 10 and ran through without a care in the world. As soon as my feet hit Platform 9 3/4, I knew I was home. This is where I belonged, with people who actually understood me.
"Annie! Annie! Over here you git! For fuck's sake Annie, turn your head and follow my voice! To the left! No, your other left you dumb git!" Over the crowd I could hear one of my friends calling out to me. From the sounds of her language, it was none other than Angelina Johnson. I headed left and eventually found my best friend.
"Fucking hell Angelina! How did you expect me to hear or see you among all these bloody people? Give me a break! I'm only 5'3 hahaha!" I shoved her shoulder and lead her onto the train with bags in tow. I spotted an empty compartment and practically ran to it. As soon as we sat down she started talking non stop.
"Oh my gosh, can you believe what happened at the World Cup? Death Eaters? It's absolutely fucking mental! I mean, why would there be death eaters? And the Dark Mark as well! I couldn't believe it when Fred owled me and told me! He was there you know, with his family. Said it was crazy!" I couldn't get a word in, never really can once she starts talking.
"Wait! Hold on a second! What are you talking about? What the fuck did I miss while I was stuck with my stupid muggle family? Fuck! I really need to start getting the daily prophet delivered!" I was not impressed. I had missed out on something absolutely massive all because my family disapproved of what I was born with.
Angelina's Jaw dropped. As she was about to bombard me with questions, the compartment door slid open. A blur of red is what I saw before I was engulfed in a hug by someone. "Get off me you big oaf! I can't breath! Get the fuck off me now!" My attacker let go and I was greeted with a laughing George Weasley. His twin brother was sitting across from me with a suspicious arm around Angelina's shoulder. I would be asking her about that tonight!
"You idiots! You came in right when I was about to question Annie! She has absolutely no fucking idea what happened at the world cup! The poor dear doesn't understand what has happened." Angelina was quick to fill the boys in.
The compartment door slid open again and in slid Katie Bell, my other gal pal. She said hey to all and sat down next to Fred. The twins shared an incredilous look and stared at me with their mouths hanging open. "You seriously have no idea what happened?"
I shook my head at them. "You forget, my family is muggle and aren't exactly excited by our method of communication. Not a fan of all the owl shit that appears on their cars." This got a laugh out of everyone. They all knew how Vain my family was with presentation, always needing to be perfect, always needing to impress someone.
George found this funnier than the rest for some odd reason. He took my hand mockingly and looked at me as if I was mentally challenged and spoke in a slow voice. "Annie, dear. You missed out on something very important. Do you understand? Hello? Is anyone home?" He started knocking on my skull making me laugh,
"George stop, I'm not simple! Just tell me what happened alright? Stop being a dick about it all! We can't help who our family are hahaha".
For the rest of the train trip, they all filled me in on what happened. We discussed in length what this would mean. The one thing that played on all our minds was why the dark mark had been left in the sky. What purpose did it have? And all through the train ride, George never let my hand go. Something I realised when we were nearly at Hogwarts but I never took my hand away. For some reason it brought comfort and it just felt right.