Hey everyone! This is Page Before Beauty and this is our first ever Harry Potter fanfic and the first ever fanfic we have ever written together. We plan to have this be a long story so we hope you will stay with us on this ride. Enjoy and please review! Thank you, you are all totaly awesome!
Disclaimer: The wonderful world that is Harry Potter and all its magical inhabitants belongs to our queen J.K. Rowling.
A Thorn in My Side
Chapter 1: Pranksters Unite!
"Mum! Dad! Hurry up! I found platforms 9 and 10!" an eleven year old Thorn Fernsby shouted as she pushed her trolley through Kings Cross Station, her brunette hair in a braid swinging with each step. Her green eyes full of excitement, which were growing every minute. Her small brown cat meowed with irritation as the cart was bounced and pushed as the small girl tried to get through the crowd of Muggles.
"Sweet heart don't worry, the train's not leaving until eleven. You've got twenty minutes to get on it," Thorn's dad, Charles Fernsby, said as he and his wife, Lucille Fernsby, walked faster to keep up with their daughter.
"Charles, where's platform 9 and 3/4?" Lucille asked her husband as she looked around platforms 9 and 10. It must be somewhere near here right? the confused Muggle mother thought.
"I'll show you," Charles said with a laugh. He took hold of Thorn's trolley, "Ok Lucille, take the other side."
Lucille did so, placing her hand on the trolley's handle, her daughter next to her looking just as perplexed.
"Ok, now on the count of three we run straight at the pillar," Charles said, smiling.
"What?" Lucille said frantically. "Are you mad Charles?"
"Just trust me on this dear," he said chuckling.
"Ok dad," Thorn said with a huge determined smile plastered on her face.
"One...two...three!"
The three then ran straight towards the pillar with Thorn's mom closing her eyes tightly waiting for the impact of the cart and brick wall, which never came. Instead the small family went straight through the pillar and to the two females' shock, they were on platform 9 and 3/4 with the Hogwarts Express right in front of them, the smoke billowing from its short stack.
"Oh wow! This is brilliant!" Thorn whispered, in awe for a moment, watching all the families bustling about the platform.
"This is brilliant," Lucille said, still wearing a stunned expression.
"Alright Thorn, let's get your things on the train," Charles said.
"Okay!" Thorn said as she pushed her trolley a bit too quickly. She suddenly collided with another trolley knocking over her cat's cage and some of the luggage from both trolleys.
"I am so sorry," Thorn apologized as she began picking up their things. "I'm such a klutz."
"Nah it's alright," a red headed boy said as he knelt down to help her.
"Here, I think this is yours," she said as she handed him a small book on first year spells.
"And this must be yours," he said handing her a box filled with her robes.
"Thanks," she said finally looking up to see a pair of twinkling brown eyes staring at her.
"No problem. You must be a first year, am I right?" he questioned, grinning.
"How'd you know?" Thorn asked trying to hide the blush that was slowly making its way up her neck.
"Well you must be as excited as I am to go to Hogwarts to crash your trolley into mine," the boy laughed, his eyes crinkling with mischief. "I'm a first year myself. Me and my brother are," he said with a grin as another boy who looked exactly like him pushed his trolley over to them. "I'm Fred."
"And I'm George," the other red headed boy said wearing the exact smile that Fred was wearing.
"I'm Thorn," Thorn said smiling back.
"Thorn are you alright?" Thorn's dad said as he hustled over to his daughter.
"I'm fine dad," Thorn said.
"Charles Fernsby," a man said as he came over to stand behind Fred and George. He put out his hand clasping Charles' with a friendly shake.
He must be Fred and George's dad. He has red hair like them. Thorn thought.
"Arthur Weasley, I thought I'd see you here," Charles said.
"So this must be Thorn," Mr. Weasley said. "It's nice to meet you. You're father has told me a lot about you. I'm Mr. Weasley."
"Nice to meet you Mr. Weasley," Thorn said politely stealing looks at the twins behind Mr. Weasley. The twins then began to make funny faces stepping in front of each other to get Thorn's attention. Fred pushed his brother down giving Thorn a charming wink before George kicked Fred's legs from under him to send them both falling on the floor. Thorn gave a small laugh, muffling the giggles with her scarf.
"And these must be your boys. They have the Weasley red hair after all," Charles laughed as the two boys sprang from the floor, their father turned around to see them smiling innocently.
"Yes. It's Fred and George's first year," Mr. Weasley said noticing how his sons' clothes were now rumpled and hair mused. He gave them a firm glare, but grinned in spite.
"Thorn's too. Maybe they'll be in the same house."
Thorn smiled at the thought.
"Well we've gotta hurry. Molly's probably wondering where we are. I'll see you at the Ministry Charles," Arthur Weasley said waving goodbye.
"See you Thorn," Fred and George said smiling, waving their hands manically as she gave an amused wave in reply.
"Come on Thorn, let's get your things on the train."
"Okay," she said still watching the three red heads walk away and out of sight in the sea of parents, trolleys, and students.
After they loaded the last of Thorn's luggage onto the train the Fernsbys said their goodbyes. Thorn clutched at her slender cat tearfully feeling stupid for being so sad.
"Goodbye sweetie. I love you and I know you'll have fun," Thorn's mom said giving her daughter a hug. "And you Willow take good care of my little girl okay?" The cat meowed its agreement and the mother gave it an affectionate pet.
"Goodbye mum. I love you too," Thorn said hugging her in return and kissing her on the cheek. "I'll write to you as often as I can."
Next was her dad, who picked her up in a big hug, Willow gave a small growl of disapproval, but didn't resist as she was crushed between the father and daughter. "Have fun sweet heart. And remember, whatever house you're put in, I'll always love you no matter what. Just have fun," he said, giving her a kiss on the forehead before putting her down.
"Even if I'm not put in Gryffindor?" Thorn said nervously.
Charles chuckled, "Even if you're put in Slytherin, for all I care. I love you no matter what. Now hurry up before it leaves."
Thorn hurried onto the train and waved goodbye to her parents until she couldn't see the platform anymore. She stroked Willow a few times to calm herself.
"Now to find a compartment," she said to herself.
She then began her mission to find a compartment she could stay in. It took quite a while, but she finally found one. When she opened the door Thorn found it empty except for someone's belongings. A small owl cage was on the top shelf holding a regal looking barn owl who was sleeping.
"Huh. I wonder whose stuff this is," Thorn said. Then an idea dawned on her. Thorn placed Willow on the compartment seat as far from the owl's cage as possible. Then she pulled something out of her pocket. "No one here to stop me from zip tying their luggage."
After zip tying two bags together, Thorn was about to zip tie a third when the compartment opened. She whipped her head around to see a girl with black hair that reached her shoulders and ice blue eyes, who looked to be the same age as her.
"What are you doing?" the girl asked, not sharply, but rather curiously, her large pale blue eyes widening.
"I uh...well you see...," Thorn said as the girl examined her luggage.
"What are these things you put on my bags?" The girl inspected her bags which sported the bright pink plastic ties now. The dark haired girl's owl, Xavier, looked at her then the ties curiously wondering himself what they were.
"Zip ties...," Thorn said cautiously. "Muggles use them to prank their friends. It keeps you from opening bags. I'm sorry, I can get them off your bags!"
The girl chuckled quietly. "That's clever, for a Muggle prank at least," the girl added. "So your parents are Muggles I take it?" The girl's face was stoic at the question.
Thorn was relieved, "Just my mum. My dad's a wizard. It was quite a surprise for her when she found out, almot dropped a tea kettle on herself. Ha! What about you?"
"Both my parents are wizards. They can be...a bit overzealous about their family pride though," the girl said carefully. "But hey, it's the family I was born into, so..." the black haired girl shrugged glancing out the window faintly sad.
"Really? I'm sorry about that," Thorn said feeling awkward. "I'm Thorn Fernsby," she said suddenly holding out her hand.
"Cassandra Villin," the girl said shaking Thorn's hand. "But please call me Cassie. I hate when people call me Cassandra, it's just too formal for me." Cassie's face screwed up distastefully before becoming passive again.
"I like Cassie better too," Thorn said smiling.
Soon the two girls were talking non-stop as the train kept on its speedy journey. When the snack trolley came by they bought practically the whole cart.
"I love licorice wands!" Thorn exclaimed, throwing herself back in her seat, ripping the treat open with her teeth. "They remind me of a muggle treat I love, Red Vines." Thorn devoured her candy happily.
"My favorite is the good Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, like the peppermint ones!" Cassie said, gagging on a grass flavored one, but smiling.
"I know right? The other ones are disgusting!"
The two were laughing when their compartment door swung open revealing two red headed boys.
"Wha- hey aren't you the two boys I met on the platform?" Thorn asked smiling. "Sorry about running my trolley into your trolley."
"What?" Cassie asked confused looking from Thorn to the boys.
"Oh earlier I was running to get on the train and accidentally collided my trolley into his," Thorn explained, pointing to Fred, or at least she thought it was Fred.
"Ah," Cassie said nodding her head.
"Yeah, what's your names again?..." Thorn said snapping her fingers as if she was trying to remember. She of course remembered, but it was fun to play dumb with the fit boys.
"Fred," the one she had been pointing to said.
"George," the other said.
"That's it!" Thorn exclaimed.
"Yeah yeah yeah," George said rolling his eyes knowing she was joking. "Listen if anyone asks, say we were here the whole time," he said rushing to take a seat in the compartment.
"Why?" Cassie asked.
"Just promise!" Fred said as he sat by Thorn and George took his seat next to Cassie.
"Seriously what did you guys do?" Thorn asked cocking her head, grinning.
Just then a tall boy with red hair, glasses and multiple colors all over his face and front, stood in the door way.
"You two!" he pointed to Fred and George.
"What?" they said innocently.
"You two did this to me!" he said gesturing to the colors all over him.
"I don't think that's possible," Thorn said seriously.
"Yeah," Cassie said, feigning confusion. "They've been here the whole time."
The older boy took a moment and looked at the girls' faces before saying frustrated, "Fine! You guys are off the hook, this time."
When he left Fred turned to the girls, "Thanks! He would've murdered us this time for sure."
"Slowly murder us," George added.
"No problem," Cassie said.
"But how did you convince him we were here the whole time?" Fred asked.
"Never underestimate the power of a girl's stare. It's been known to bend the minds of boys to our will," Thorn joked.
"Who was that guy and what did you do to him?" Cassie asked.
"That was our brother Percy," Fred said.
"We made his Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans explode when he opened it," George laughed with his brother enjoying their successful prank. They high fived laughing loudly.
"Oh my, that is brill!" Thorn said laughing with them.
As the train rode on the four kids learned more and more about each other. They even discussed some ideas for future pranks, yelling and laughing through the whole ride.
"We better get our robes on," Cassie said looking out the window. "We'll be there soon."
"You know Cassie, Thorn," Fred said, with Willow curled on his lap petting her reminding Thorn of a cliche evil mastermind. He looked up at the girls then his brother with a small smirk on his face.
"This looks like the start of a brilliant friendship," George said, putting an arm around Cassie, grinning.
"Yeah, sure," Cassie said, shaking his arm off her shoulders. Finally the boys left to find their robes and the girls slipped theirs on, the compartment blinds down. Soon the boys were back with a stack of purple cards in their hands.
"Anyone up for a game of Exploding Snap?" they said expectantly.
"That doesn't sound like fun," Cassie said hesitantly watching the cards as if they'd explode any minute.
"It's fun, trust us. Just be careful with your dainty girly hands is all. The cards can be-" George said.
"-a bit temperamental," Fred finished smirking.
"Let's just get off the train. We're here," Cassie said as the train's whistle went off.
The four first years filed out of the train with the rest of the students. They were then standing in front of a big, tall, bearded man holding a lantern and said in a booming voice, "I'm 'Agrid and I'm the gameskeeper fer 'Ogwarts. I need all first years ter follow me ter the boats."
The students followed Hagrid and began searching for a boat for themselves.
"Cassie! Over here!" Thorn said pointing at a boat in front of her.
Cassie walked over the the boat and climbed in with Thorn.
"Oy Fred look! Cassie and Thorn found a boat for all of us!" Goerge said as he and Fred walked over to the girls' boat. "Why thank you ladies." George bowed before hopping in, making the vessel shake a moment.
Cassie rolled her eyes. "I hope I'm not put into the same house as you," she said to George.
"Ouch that's a bit harsh Cassie," George said grinning as if what she said was a joke.
Cassie scooted closer to Thorn to keep the distance between her and George as wide as possible. The rest of the boat ride was a bit awkward, but mostly silent because of the view of Hogwarts from the lake was leaving all the students seechless.
When they reached their destination they were led inside and up a set of stairs where an elderly woman with gray hair in a tight bun awaited them.
"Good evening students. I am Professor McGonagall. Welcome to Hogwarts. Behind me are the doors that lead to the Great Hall where the sorting ceremony will be held shortly. The Sorting Hat will sory you into your respective houses; while you are here your houses will be like your family. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has illustrious witches and wizards as its alumni. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lost house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a gift whichever house becomes yours. In a few moments when these doors open you will walk into the room behind me in a single line." After she was done she left through the doors.
"Are you excited Thorn?" Fred asked nudging the girl in the arm.
"You bet," Thorn said smiling widely. "What house do you hope to get into?"
"George and I want to get into Gryffindor. Our whole family has been in Gryffindor," Fred said proudly. "What about you?"
"My dad was in Gryffindor when he went to Hogwarts, but I don't care what house I'm put in. Although I really don't want to be put in Slytherin," Thorn said thoughtfully.
"Don't worry only right idiots and trolls get put in Slytherin. Boy I'd be miserable if I was put in there," George said.
"What about you Cassie?" Thorn said looking over at Cassie who was glaring at George.
"Anything is fine as long as it's not with him," Cassie said pointing at George.
"Okay what's your problem?" George said annoyed. "Why do you not like me? What did I do to you?"
"You're immature," Cassie deadpanned.
"That's it?" George seemed sincerely confused.
"Yes that's it! Do you want more reasons?" Cassie spat, her eyes narrowing fiercely.
"Hey why don't we all just calm down," Fred said standing between the two.
"Guys!" Thorn said, eyes becoming huge. "The doors are opening!"
The other three turned their attention to the doors that were slowly opening, their adventures were about to begin. All breathed in slowly as the air of Hogwarts entered their lungs changing them from the inside out forever.