I sighed gently as I walked across the station towards the Hogwarts
express, I could hear them whispering, feel their gazes and I knew it was
aggravating my father by the fact if he squeezed my shoulder any tighter
the bone would probably break. Both my brothers were older than me... John
the eldest had all ready disappeared onto the train. He was now entering
his fifth year.
Jacob my other brother was only entering his third year. And here I was entering my first year. I was worried. Very much so. I didn't really get on with people all that well, not because I didn't try... Because... Well.
It didn't matter yet. I hugged my father numbly as Jacob dragged my trunk onto the train for me. He found me a compartment and gave me my trunk before rushing off to meet his friends. I sighed and sat down leaning back out of view from the window as people were watching me.
My brothers used to love hanging around with me... I used to have friends... But then something happened I didn't understand it at the time... No one liked me any more and I spent so much time around healers and hospitals I hate the places. But I understand now. I'm older wiser and different.
John was always the best brother. No offence to Jacob but john was more fun. We were always fighting... but playfully. Jacob always used to stop us though. But I see now why. John could have hurt me. And when I was five making john nine, father and a seven-year-old Jacob were out. Jacob was going to a party I think.
I had been in school a while now. And I had friends, but I wanted to hang out with John. What a stupid mistake. He found our fathers wand. We were going to have fun. He pretended to cast spells on me but they did nothing. After a while he got bored, and I oh so stupidly grabbed a book from the shelves and suggested that he try a real spell.
I remember the next few moments so vividly.
He rolled up his sleeves holding the wand like a baton. Tongue out in mock concentration He waved the wand around madly calling out some words I didn't understand. Nothing happened. He glowered down at me slightly as I sat there blinking.
He shrugged "Maybe it's bust." He stated putting the book away heading out of the room to put the wand back. Then it hit me. A fresh agony like I had never felt before. It hurt more than when John gave me a dead arm. It felt like someone was making all of my body dead. I yelled and cried. I remember my brother running back in and then blackness.
I suppose I must have passed out.
Next thing I remember after that was waking up in a bed... I could hear someone talking... But it didn't make sense.
I opened my mouth to ask where I was but all that came out was a mew. I tried to lift my head but struggled. Then my father came into view. But that couldn't be my father... His head was almost larger than my body.
He said something and I blinked at him. He sighed and left the room lead by a healer. John slipped in and wandered over to me. "Sorry Olivia" He whispered stroking my side. His hand felt bigger than my head. And I purred.
I purred? I looked at my self. I was tiny... and furry. He had changed me into a cat! I growled and bit his hand, scratched it to. After all I was now a small furry animal. I wanted to be human again!
He gave me a look full of sadness before leaving.
And that was it.
I would then spend the rest of my life in and out of hospitals trying to get back to normal.
I didn't understand it at the time.
I did understand the pain though.
Potions, spells, tests on me to try to get me back to normal. In and out of St mungos more than the healers. We even had to go abroad sometimes... But no one could do much. John couldn't remember what spell he'd used. He knew the page and the spell exactly. But he couldn't remember what he'd said. Or how he'd wiggled his arms, or what he was thinking of at the time. The spell was meant to make tree's grow faster so that wasn't of much use.
But by the age of 8 I was closer to normal... at least I was sort of human.
Due to the healers, a couple of transfiguration experts... a few mad people who thought stupid things like rubbing jelly on me would help, the potions, tests, needles and spells I had a partly human body.
My hear was still cat like... and instead of growing down like normal hair mine grew out in all directions. I had a drawn out nose and mouth... A tail cat ears... but thankfully no paws. Another bad thing was the fur. All over. Mostly thin. But it was thick in placed I was meant to have hair.
What was worse was the fact for some reason I had a few cat instincts left.
However, after an attempt that just pushed me back I told my dad I was fine like that. I was sick of the tests... Sick of it all. I'd stay like this and I did. John stopped hanging around me since he turned me into a cat; even Jacob seemed unwilling.
I was surprised when my Hogwarts letter arrived. All through out my medical history people were saying I might not be able to do magic. But I obviously could. Somehow.
But I had a feeling I'd be bad at magic. My cat mewed softly and I stood letting it out of its cage. I petted it softly. Like I said I still got cat urges so owls and rats wouldn't be that safe. I got along with cats. But not with dogs. And I cleaned my self on occasion. At least I was graceful. But I had a feeling this was not to do with my being part cat.
Both my brothers are graceful as well. I think we got it from our mother. She was a ballerina before she had John. She died a while after giving birth to me. I have a few pictures... She's really pretty. Sometimes I wonder if this hadn't happened if I'd grow up to look like her...
I waved to my father as the train began to pull out humming softly to myself. When I got accepted to Hogwarts my father was so happy he insisted he took us all out. John was little bit annoyed, as father seemed to ignore the fact he had been made prefect. I told him later that I thought it was cool. He told me to get out of his room. I got to choose where. I chose to go to a theatre and watch the Muggle play 'Cats'.
My father seemed nervous about this, but agreed. I enjoyed it a lot. The cats'... well humans made up to look like cats... looked like me. However, all they had to do was take off their costumes and they were human again. If only it was that simple for me... And someone complimented me on my brilliant costume... They were a fan and had seen it many times. They asked how my costume was so god. I just blushed and my father pulled me away.
At least no one guessed I wasn't in a costume.
And the cats were so... beautiful when they danced. I spent the next week dancing around my bedroom trying to remember their moves. I did learn some ballet. I asked my dad after I was eight... He got a private discreet teacher...
It took me a few seconds to notice I was being stared at. I would have loved to snap 'what you staring at?' But what came out was. "CanIhelpyou?" in a quiet timid voice.
The boy had shoulder length hair that looked a lot like it hadn't been washed in a while. Due to the fact I was basically a fur ball I needed to wash my body a lot. Twice a day or I got matted and nasty smelling. I could also on occasion get fleas... Not fun
At least I hadn't inherited the fear of water.
"Do you mind if I sit in here with you? Every where else is full of morons."
I didn't know if that was a compliment to me. Maybe the compartment wasn't yet full of morons. I wasn't filling it... But I nodded. "Sure..." I smiled "I'm Olivia..."
"Olivia what?" The boy asked pulling his trunk in putting it away. He had a sneering voice. The sort of voice you could hear a sneer in. John's voice was the same... But he had a come hither sneer. This boy sounded cruel.
"Oh... Tugger. Olivia Tugger."
"Severus Snape." He said sitting on the row of seats opposite me. "You a first year?"
I nodded.
"I am as well. Any idea what house you'll be in?" I shook my head. "I'll probably end up in ravenclaw, or Slytherin."
John had mentioned the houses. But I didn't think any of them fitted me. I was as brave as a worm, as smart as the mud worms crawl through, hard work scares me and my only ambition is to get through school.
I was wondering why he hadn't asked about my fur but then he did.
"Why are you covered in fur?" He said. I burnt feeling his eyes rove over me. It wasn't exactly polite or considerate to my feelings, but I'd had been asked in worse ways. His voice was still sneering at me, even though he wasn't. I decided his voice wasn't very nice. Johns voice didn't sneer for him all the time.
"I had an accident with a wand when I was five... Got turned into a cat. No one could get me back totally normal. This was as close as they got."
He nodded softly.
Another appeared at the door. He was a tall sleek blond. He smelt nice; I attempted to make my nose stop twitching. He could have been the same age as john. John was tall for his age though. Maybe this boy was older than my brother. "Hello Severus." He addressed Severus who nodded back.
They obviously knew each other. "Mind if I join you?" Severus shook his head and motioned for the boy to take a seat. He sat next to me before he even noticed me "And who's this?" He asked quietly.
He had a nice voice... eloquent, clean cut...soft. I pulled at the hair on the back of my head... It was all I could do not to trust my head into his hands and start purring. "Olivia" Severus answered for me... Which was a good thing as I wasn't sure I could talk. His eyes were roving over me. I allowed mine to rove over him. He WAS handsome.
"Lucius Malfoy..." He purred taking my hand kissing it gently not seeming to mind the fur. I let out a high-pitched nervous giggle. He smirked at me and sat back. His arm lay along the back of the seats, and subsequently around my shoulder. I tugged harder at my hair. I wanted to move away from his hand. But that meant moving closer to his body.
Or to the other side of the compartment.
I shifted uncomfortably. "So, do you know what house you'll be in?" Lucius Malfoy asked me silver grey eyes burning holes in my own eyes.
"No..." I whispered. The boy gave off a sort of aura that made you respect and fear him.
"Know what they are?"
I nodded "My brother told me..."
"Who's your brother?"
"Well I have two... John Tugger, 5th year gryffindor" Lucius face contorted slightly. I shifted worriedly "And Jacob Tugger. A 3rd year... gryffindor as well." Lucius nodded gently adjusting a pin on his chest. "Oh... you're a prefect as well?" I asked.
He surveyed me with a look that read 'Oh come on. You're a first year. You aren't a prefect.'
"My brother john..." A scowl from Lucius "Is one as well."
"I know..." He growled.
I gazed at the floor when my cat was sat gazing up at me. I named him Rum Tum. No one in my family understood why. I did. My favourite tom had been Rum Tum Tugger. Our last name is Tugger... I didn't bother trying to explain it though.
Maybe if I learnt how I'd magic a mane onto him. But I had yet to find if he had the personality of Rum Tum Tugger.
John certainly did. He just gave me a knowing smirk when I told him this.
The compartment door slid open again. "'Scuse may boot 'ave enie of ya lot seen uh black cat?"
I looked up. Stood there was a boy with shocking red hair that fanned out like he had been shocked by electricity... Sort of like mine. I saw Lucius and severus' lips curl at his accent. I quite liked it.
"No, sorry, Haven't."
He nodded "Well fanks..." He looked at me "Nice lottaer make up ya got on vere doll, but I fink it's a bit to much for ya." I blinked as he left; it took me a few moments to figure out what he was saying. It was possibly five seconds when the door slid open again; John was stood there.
Lucius stood growled and brushed past john darkly. John smirked sitting opposite me as severus followed after Lucius. "'ere" John said with a grin. "What were you doing with Lucius and that boy?"
"Sharing a compartment."
John raised an eyebrow. "All right then." He turned to look out the window. I was burning to ask him why he was here. But a couple of first year girls wandered past giggling, and at his grimace I knew why. He was trying to avoid girls.
Odd that. He usually loved being the centre of attention. And I could see why. He was incredibly handsome in an older looking way. I had never seen him with a spot on his tanned face, never a bag under those chocolate brown eyes... never a bad hair day with his soft brown hair that matched his skin. Now don't get me wrong I didn't fancy my brother or anything. He just was handsome. And a bit of a haughty show off who liked to mention his bits of fluff in his letter to me. And they always sounded pretty.
His hands were resting about that belt that he always seemed to wear. His lips were slightly parted, gaze un focused. I wondered why he was avoiding girls. He never seemed to mind them. Maybe one of their boyfriends threatened to hex him. But I didn't see why that worried him. He was rather good at magic.
"John... What's wrong?"
He looked at me. "Oh... er...nothing..." He gazed at the floor as Lucius raged back in. "I cant believe him!" Severus who was following didn't seem to happy.
"Met black then?" John muttered looking at Lucius.
"How did you know?" Lucius asked testily. John spread his hands out in front of him gesturing around the compartment. Black... whatever that was, was the reason my brother was here.
"Who's black?" I piped up.
"A git!" All three males said at once, as Lucius and Severus sat down. I looked to john for more of an explanation; he tore his glare from Lucius to look at me.
"Well... I generally have girls dripping off me..." Lucius snorted. "Lucius as well. For some odd reason, must be something wrong with the girls... Anyway. This first year git..."
"Sirius black..." Lucius interjected "Shows up... and has every girl from 1st year to 7th running after him. He's not even that attractive!"
"Plus he made friends with the blood traitor potter." Severus added.
Just then the door opened and stood there was indefinitely Sirius black. He was so... haughty. He smirked around till his gaze landed on me then he pulled a face. "What the hell is that?" He asked pointing at me. I saw john go for his wand, but I had already launched my self at Sirius.
I didn't have claws, but my nails were quite sharp. I began to scratch at him ignoring his kicking that would bruise soon. My brother took his time pulling me off Sirius. I had the impression he wouldn't have done if it weren't for the fact that he was a prefect. Plus it made black look like a sissy in front of those shrieking girls.
"Cant hold my sister off black?" He asked darkly, pushing my back into the compartment. He shut the door and I sat down surprised at my self. Why had I lost my temper like that? I knew I was hot tempered but I'd never attacked rude people before. It must have just been my worry.
I saw my brother dragging Sirius off... I then looked up. "That was..." Severus began. I closed my eyes. "Excellent..." He said breathlessly. I opened my eyes to survey him feeling Lucius grab and shake my hand.
"Pure genius" He purred. And if my fur hadn't been in the way, I'd be blushing. A few minutes later the door opened it was the red headed boy. "Ya attacked black dincha?"
He asked looking at me. I nodded.
"Yer gods! Tha' were well cool" 'ee woz bleedin' all ovar der place till ya bruver... if John is ya bruver... Well till John vere cleaned 'im up. Sirius din' seem to like it much vo... After ways ve girls laughed at 'im 'n' went off wiv ya bruver..."
"Bleeding every where?" I repeated.
"Yup, all over 'is face... nasty sight vat woz. Well see ya lot lata..." He shut the door and I gazed down at my hands. My fur was matted with dry blood, and it was under my nails as well. I wanted to clean it. Oh how I wanted to clean it. But I managed to stop myself.
The rest of the train ride was fairly quiet, except for a rather scarred black and someone else coming to threaten me. Lucius dealt with them for me though... The train pulled into the station and a voice that seemed to come from nowhere told us to leave our belongings on the train and they'd be taken to the castle for us.
I stumbled out of the train into the cold night air. The air smelt like it had been raining. "First years this way!" a loud voice boomed out over our heads. I looked around and saw a tall man holding a lamp in his hand. I paused towards him but followed as the other first years began to follow him.
We stumbled down a steep narrow path... I couldn't see much to our sides... I supposed there were trees there... We turned suddenly, and I wasn't the only one who sucked in a breath. Several people went 'oooh!'
"Honestly," came a sneering voice I now knew well from my left shoulder "you'd think they'd never seen a castle."
I nodded gently hoping Severus hadn't heard my gasp. But this wasn't just any castle. It sat atop a mountain the other side of a great black lake. The castle was huge with more turrets and towers than I've seen healers.
"No more than four to a boat."
I suddenly noticed the boats sitting in the water by the shore. "Severus D'you wa-?" I turned to ask him if he wanted to share my boat with me... But he was already clambering into a boat with two other boys and a very pretty blond girl.
I paused on the shore-watching people go with friends. I noticed that the boy with that odd accent was staring at his feet. Evidently no one had asked him either. I raised my chin and walked over to him. "Wanna share a boat with me?" I asked planning to be as bold as brass but all that came out was a shy little voice.
He looked up grinning like nothing I'd seen before. "Oh, Oid lorve tew!" He said loudly taking my hand dragging me to the nearest boat. "Oim Jerrie by'v way..."
"Olivia..." I said with a smile as a pale sick looking boy joined us. I wanted to glare and tell him to sod off, but he looked so sad and ill I didn't. A short rather round mousy haired boy, who looked very timid, then joined us. This didn't stop him gaping at me.
I tilted my chin up and addressed Jerrie. "Any idea what house you'll be in Jerrie?" I asked louder than I really should have, as we set off across the lake.
"Naw, no' reallay... Wot 'bout ya?"
I shook my head "I dunno evier... I mean either."
"Been 'angin' round me to much ya 'av..." He said with a grin. I grinned back. Some one tugged on my tail.
"OW!" I yelled turning around. "That things actually attached?" the mousy haired boy asked. I was about to snap at him but Jerrie stopped me. He dragged me down the floor of the boat.
"Jerrie! What the hell are you doing?!" I snapped.
"Oim sorry Olivia! But ya was to tempin' to 'ear "'Eads down!" Yow would 'ave whacked ya 'ead one nasty on vat cliff!" He said indicating to the low hole in the cliff face we had just come through.
"Oh..." I whispered as he left me back up. "Thanks..."
"Fink nuffin' of it" He said quietly. I realized we were in a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking us right underneath the school. We carried along this tunnel until we reached some kind of under ground harbour, where we all scrabbled out into rocks and pebbles. We then clambered up a passageway carved into the rock. Jerrie was just in front of me. I heard a giggle from behind me. I looked back there was the pretty blonde, Severus and the two boys. They began whispering.
I glowered and carried on walking. We eventually ended up on smooth damp grass, the smell of earth hanging in the air. We wandered up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge oak front door shivering with anticipation. I raised my self onto tiptoes wondering why the door was shut. The man who had lead us here was knocking on the door.
Jacob my other brother was only entering his third year. And here I was entering my first year. I was worried. Very much so. I didn't really get on with people all that well, not because I didn't try... Because... Well.
It didn't matter yet. I hugged my father numbly as Jacob dragged my trunk onto the train for me. He found me a compartment and gave me my trunk before rushing off to meet his friends. I sighed and sat down leaning back out of view from the window as people were watching me.
My brothers used to love hanging around with me... I used to have friends... But then something happened I didn't understand it at the time... No one liked me any more and I spent so much time around healers and hospitals I hate the places. But I understand now. I'm older wiser and different.
John was always the best brother. No offence to Jacob but john was more fun. We were always fighting... but playfully. Jacob always used to stop us though. But I see now why. John could have hurt me. And when I was five making john nine, father and a seven-year-old Jacob were out. Jacob was going to a party I think.
I had been in school a while now. And I had friends, but I wanted to hang out with John. What a stupid mistake. He found our fathers wand. We were going to have fun. He pretended to cast spells on me but they did nothing. After a while he got bored, and I oh so stupidly grabbed a book from the shelves and suggested that he try a real spell.
I remember the next few moments so vividly.
He rolled up his sleeves holding the wand like a baton. Tongue out in mock concentration He waved the wand around madly calling out some words I didn't understand. Nothing happened. He glowered down at me slightly as I sat there blinking.
He shrugged "Maybe it's bust." He stated putting the book away heading out of the room to put the wand back. Then it hit me. A fresh agony like I had never felt before. It hurt more than when John gave me a dead arm. It felt like someone was making all of my body dead. I yelled and cried. I remember my brother running back in and then blackness.
I suppose I must have passed out.
Next thing I remember after that was waking up in a bed... I could hear someone talking... But it didn't make sense.
I opened my mouth to ask where I was but all that came out was a mew. I tried to lift my head but struggled. Then my father came into view. But that couldn't be my father... His head was almost larger than my body.
He said something and I blinked at him. He sighed and left the room lead by a healer. John slipped in and wandered over to me. "Sorry Olivia" He whispered stroking my side. His hand felt bigger than my head. And I purred.
I purred? I looked at my self. I was tiny... and furry. He had changed me into a cat! I growled and bit his hand, scratched it to. After all I was now a small furry animal. I wanted to be human again!
He gave me a look full of sadness before leaving.
And that was it.
I would then spend the rest of my life in and out of hospitals trying to get back to normal.
I didn't understand it at the time.
I did understand the pain though.
Potions, spells, tests on me to try to get me back to normal. In and out of St mungos more than the healers. We even had to go abroad sometimes... But no one could do much. John couldn't remember what spell he'd used. He knew the page and the spell exactly. But he couldn't remember what he'd said. Or how he'd wiggled his arms, or what he was thinking of at the time. The spell was meant to make tree's grow faster so that wasn't of much use.
But by the age of 8 I was closer to normal... at least I was sort of human.
Due to the healers, a couple of transfiguration experts... a few mad people who thought stupid things like rubbing jelly on me would help, the potions, tests, needles and spells I had a partly human body.
My hear was still cat like... and instead of growing down like normal hair mine grew out in all directions. I had a drawn out nose and mouth... A tail cat ears... but thankfully no paws. Another bad thing was the fur. All over. Mostly thin. But it was thick in placed I was meant to have hair.
What was worse was the fact for some reason I had a few cat instincts left.
However, after an attempt that just pushed me back I told my dad I was fine like that. I was sick of the tests... Sick of it all. I'd stay like this and I did. John stopped hanging around me since he turned me into a cat; even Jacob seemed unwilling.
I was surprised when my Hogwarts letter arrived. All through out my medical history people were saying I might not be able to do magic. But I obviously could. Somehow.
But I had a feeling I'd be bad at magic. My cat mewed softly and I stood letting it out of its cage. I petted it softly. Like I said I still got cat urges so owls and rats wouldn't be that safe. I got along with cats. But not with dogs. And I cleaned my self on occasion. At least I was graceful. But I had a feeling this was not to do with my being part cat.
Both my brothers are graceful as well. I think we got it from our mother. She was a ballerina before she had John. She died a while after giving birth to me. I have a few pictures... She's really pretty. Sometimes I wonder if this hadn't happened if I'd grow up to look like her...
I waved to my father as the train began to pull out humming softly to myself. When I got accepted to Hogwarts my father was so happy he insisted he took us all out. John was little bit annoyed, as father seemed to ignore the fact he had been made prefect. I told him later that I thought it was cool. He told me to get out of his room. I got to choose where. I chose to go to a theatre and watch the Muggle play 'Cats'.
My father seemed nervous about this, but agreed. I enjoyed it a lot. The cats'... well humans made up to look like cats... looked like me. However, all they had to do was take off their costumes and they were human again. If only it was that simple for me... And someone complimented me on my brilliant costume... They were a fan and had seen it many times. They asked how my costume was so god. I just blushed and my father pulled me away.
At least no one guessed I wasn't in a costume.
And the cats were so... beautiful when they danced. I spent the next week dancing around my bedroom trying to remember their moves. I did learn some ballet. I asked my dad after I was eight... He got a private discreet teacher...
It took me a few seconds to notice I was being stared at. I would have loved to snap 'what you staring at?' But what came out was. "CanIhelpyou?" in a quiet timid voice.
The boy had shoulder length hair that looked a lot like it hadn't been washed in a while. Due to the fact I was basically a fur ball I needed to wash my body a lot. Twice a day or I got matted and nasty smelling. I could also on occasion get fleas... Not fun
At least I hadn't inherited the fear of water.
"Do you mind if I sit in here with you? Every where else is full of morons."
I didn't know if that was a compliment to me. Maybe the compartment wasn't yet full of morons. I wasn't filling it... But I nodded. "Sure..." I smiled "I'm Olivia..."
"Olivia what?" The boy asked pulling his trunk in putting it away. He had a sneering voice. The sort of voice you could hear a sneer in. John's voice was the same... But he had a come hither sneer. This boy sounded cruel.
"Oh... Tugger. Olivia Tugger."
"Severus Snape." He said sitting on the row of seats opposite me. "You a first year?"
I nodded.
"I am as well. Any idea what house you'll be in?" I shook my head. "I'll probably end up in ravenclaw, or Slytherin."
John had mentioned the houses. But I didn't think any of them fitted me. I was as brave as a worm, as smart as the mud worms crawl through, hard work scares me and my only ambition is to get through school.
I was wondering why he hadn't asked about my fur but then he did.
"Why are you covered in fur?" He said. I burnt feeling his eyes rove over me. It wasn't exactly polite or considerate to my feelings, but I'd had been asked in worse ways. His voice was still sneering at me, even though he wasn't. I decided his voice wasn't very nice. Johns voice didn't sneer for him all the time.
"I had an accident with a wand when I was five... Got turned into a cat. No one could get me back totally normal. This was as close as they got."
He nodded softly.
Another appeared at the door. He was a tall sleek blond. He smelt nice; I attempted to make my nose stop twitching. He could have been the same age as john. John was tall for his age though. Maybe this boy was older than my brother. "Hello Severus." He addressed Severus who nodded back.
They obviously knew each other. "Mind if I join you?" Severus shook his head and motioned for the boy to take a seat. He sat next to me before he even noticed me "And who's this?" He asked quietly.
He had a nice voice... eloquent, clean cut...soft. I pulled at the hair on the back of my head... It was all I could do not to trust my head into his hands and start purring. "Olivia" Severus answered for me... Which was a good thing as I wasn't sure I could talk. His eyes were roving over me. I allowed mine to rove over him. He WAS handsome.
"Lucius Malfoy..." He purred taking my hand kissing it gently not seeming to mind the fur. I let out a high-pitched nervous giggle. He smirked at me and sat back. His arm lay along the back of the seats, and subsequently around my shoulder. I tugged harder at my hair. I wanted to move away from his hand. But that meant moving closer to his body.
Or to the other side of the compartment.
I shifted uncomfortably. "So, do you know what house you'll be in?" Lucius Malfoy asked me silver grey eyes burning holes in my own eyes.
"No..." I whispered. The boy gave off a sort of aura that made you respect and fear him.
"Know what they are?"
I nodded "My brother told me..."
"Who's your brother?"
"Well I have two... John Tugger, 5th year gryffindor" Lucius face contorted slightly. I shifted worriedly "And Jacob Tugger. A 3rd year... gryffindor as well." Lucius nodded gently adjusting a pin on his chest. "Oh... you're a prefect as well?" I asked.
He surveyed me with a look that read 'Oh come on. You're a first year. You aren't a prefect.'
"My brother john..." A scowl from Lucius "Is one as well."
"I know..." He growled.
I gazed at the floor when my cat was sat gazing up at me. I named him Rum Tum. No one in my family understood why. I did. My favourite tom had been Rum Tum Tugger. Our last name is Tugger... I didn't bother trying to explain it though.
Maybe if I learnt how I'd magic a mane onto him. But I had yet to find if he had the personality of Rum Tum Tugger.
John certainly did. He just gave me a knowing smirk when I told him this.
The compartment door slid open again. "'Scuse may boot 'ave enie of ya lot seen uh black cat?"
I looked up. Stood there was a boy with shocking red hair that fanned out like he had been shocked by electricity... Sort of like mine. I saw Lucius and severus' lips curl at his accent. I quite liked it.
"No, sorry, Haven't."
He nodded "Well fanks..." He looked at me "Nice lottaer make up ya got on vere doll, but I fink it's a bit to much for ya." I blinked as he left; it took me a few moments to figure out what he was saying. It was possibly five seconds when the door slid open again; John was stood there.
Lucius stood growled and brushed past john darkly. John smirked sitting opposite me as severus followed after Lucius. "'ere" John said with a grin. "What were you doing with Lucius and that boy?"
"Sharing a compartment."
John raised an eyebrow. "All right then." He turned to look out the window. I was burning to ask him why he was here. But a couple of first year girls wandered past giggling, and at his grimace I knew why. He was trying to avoid girls.
Odd that. He usually loved being the centre of attention. And I could see why. He was incredibly handsome in an older looking way. I had never seen him with a spot on his tanned face, never a bag under those chocolate brown eyes... never a bad hair day with his soft brown hair that matched his skin. Now don't get me wrong I didn't fancy my brother or anything. He just was handsome. And a bit of a haughty show off who liked to mention his bits of fluff in his letter to me. And they always sounded pretty.
His hands were resting about that belt that he always seemed to wear. His lips were slightly parted, gaze un focused. I wondered why he was avoiding girls. He never seemed to mind them. Maybe one of their boyfriends threatened to hex him. But I didn't see why that worried him. He was rather good at magic.
"John... What's wrong?"
He looked at me. "Oh... er...nothing..." He gazed at the floor as Lucius raged back in. "I cant believe him!" Severus who was following didn't seem to happy.
"Met black then?" John muttered looking at Lucius.
"How did you know?" Lucius asked testily. John spread his hands out in front of him gesturing around the compartment. Black... whatever that was, was the reason my brother was here.
"Who's black?" I piped up.
"A git!" All three males said at once, as Lucius and Severus sat down. I looked to john for more of an explanation; he tore his glare from Lucius to look at me.
"Well... I generally have girls dripping off me..." Lucius snorted. "Lucius as well. For some odd reason, must be something wrong with the girls... Anyway. This first year git..."
"Sirius black..." Lucius interjected "Shows up... and has every girl from 1st year to 7th running after him. He's not even that attractive!"
"Plus he made friends with the blood traitor potter." Severus added.
Just then the door opened and stood there was indefinitely Sirius black. He was so... haughty. He smirked around till his gaze landed on me then he pulled a face. "What the hell is that?" He asked pointing at me. I saw john go for his wand, but I had already launched my self at Sirius.
I didn't have claws, but my nails were quite sharp. I began to scratch at him ignoring his kicking that would bruise soon. My brother took his time pulling me off Sirius. I had the impression he wouldn't have done if it weren't for the fact that he was a prefect. Plus it made black look like a sissy in front of those shrieking girls.
"Cant hold my sister off black?" He asked darkly, pushing my back into the compartment. He shut the door and I sat down surprised at my self. Why had I lost my temper like that? I knew I was hot tempered but I'd never attacked rude people before. It must have just been my worry.
I saw my brother dragging Sirius off... I then looked up. "That was..." Severus began. I closed my eyes. "Excellent..." He said breathlessly. I opened my eyes to survey him feeling Lucius grab and shake my hand.
"Pure genius" He purred. And if my fur hadn't been in the way, I'd be blushing. A few minutes later the door opened it was the red headed boy. "Ya attacked black dincha?"
He asked looking at me. I nodded.
"Yer gods! Tha' were well cool" 'ee woz bleedin' all ovar der place till ya bruver... if John is ya bruver... Well till John vere cleaned 'im up. Sirius din' seem to like it much vo... After ways ve girls laughed at 'im 'n' went off wiv ya bruver..."
"Bleeding every where?" I repeated.
"Yup, all over 'is face... nasty sight vat woz. Well see ya lot lata..." He shut the door and I gazed down at my hands. My fur was matted with dry blood, and it was under my nails as well. I wanted to clean it. Oh how I wanted to clean it. But I managed to stop myself.
The rest of the train ride was fairly quiet, except for a rather scarred black and someone else coming to threaten me. Lucius dealt with them for me though... The train pulled into the station and a voice that seemed to come from nowhere told us to leave our belongings on the train and they'd be taken to the castle for us.
I stumbled out of the train into the cold night air. The air smelt like it had been raining. "First years this way!" a loud voice boomed out over our heads. I looked around and saw a tall man holding a lamp in his hand. I paused towards him but followed as the other first years began to follow him.
We stumbled down a steep narrow path... I couldn't see much to our sides... I supposed there were trees there... We turned suddenly, and I wasn't the only one who sucked in a breath. Several people went 'oooh!'
"Honestly," came a sneering voice I now knew well from my left shoulder "you'd think they'd never seen a castle."
I nodded gently hoping Severus hadn't heard my gasp. But this wasn't just any castle. It sat atop a mountain the other side of a great black lake. The castle was huge with more turrets and towers than I've seen healers.
"No more than four to a boat."
I suddenly noticed the boats sitting in the water by the shore. "Severus D'you wa-?" I turned to ask him if he wanted to share my boat with me... But he was already clambering into a boat with two other boys and a very pretty blond girl.
I paused on the shore-watching people go with friends. I noticed that the boy with that odd accent was staring at his feet. Evidently no one had asked him either. I raised my chin and walked over to him. "Wanna share a boat with me?" I asked planning to be as bold as brass but all that came out was a shy little voice.
He looked up grinning like nothing I'd seen before. "Oh, Oid lorve tew!" He said loudly taking my hand dragging me to the nearest boat. "Oim Jerrie by'v way..."
"Olivia..." I said with a smile as a pale sick looking boy joined us. I wanted to glare and tell him to sod off, but he looked so sad and ill I didn't. A short rather round mousy haired boy, who looked very timid, then joined us. This didn't stop him gaping at me.
I tilted my chin up and addressed Jerrie. "Any idea what house you'll be in Jerrie?" I asked louder than I really should have, as we set off across the lake.
"Naw, no' reallay... Wot 'bout ya?"
I shook my head "I dunno evier... I mean either."
"Been 'angin' round me to much ya 'av..." He said with a grin. I grinned back. Some one tugged on my tail.
"OW!" I yelled turning around. "That things actually attached?" the mousy haired boy asked. I was about to snap at him but Jerrie stopped me. He dragged me down the floor of the boat.
"Jerrie! What the hell are you doing?!" I snapped.
"Oim sorry Olivia! But ya was to tempin' to 'ear "'Eads down!" Yow would 'ave whacked ya 'ead one nasty on vat cliff!" He said indicating to the low hole in the cliff face we had just come through.
"Oh..." I whispered as he left me back up. "Thanks..."
"Fink nuffin' of it" He said quietly. I realized we were in a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking us right underneath the school. We carried along this tunnel until we reached some kind of under ground harbour, where we all scrabbled out into rocks and pebbles. We then clambered up a passageway carved into the rock. Jerrie was just in front of me. I heard a giggle from behind me. I looked back there was the pretty blonde, Severus and the two boys. They began whispering.
I glowered and carried on walking. We eventually ended up on smooth damp grass, the smell of earth hanging in the air. We wandered up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge oak front door shivering with anticipation. I raised my self onto tiptoes wondering why the door was shut. The man who had lead us here was knocking on the door.