Platform Nine and three quarters, was bustling. Parents and children pushing and shoving, toing and throwing as they tried to navigate the magically concealed platform at Kings Cross. In the middle of it all there was a spot of serenity. A small circle of calm and tranquillity, the peace in the eye of the storm.
This spot was solely occupants by a girl, who at first glance appeared to be 5' 5" toddler. Like an infant her eye sockets were too deeply set in her skull, causing her eyes pop out slightly. Normally in children these things pass with age but this girl was eleven and it had still not passed, so probably never would. She had the body of toddler too, she was slightly chubby in the limbs and stomach area much like a 2 year old. She had a beach complexion. Her wavy hair as white as the Mediterranean sands, Eyes that replicated the azure waters of the Seychelles and a lovely golden tan, that only natural sun can achieve.
"Q … Q … Queenie!" The young of a young boy called, knocking the girl, Queenie out of her trance. She whipped around to face him, her waist length, fine hair catching the wind and surfing it as she did.
The boy had much the same features as her. White blonde hair, deep set azure eyes and tanned-they were obviously related.
"Crete" the girl sighed, her voice sweet and smooth.
"Mum says to come now"
"Ok" She replied taking the younger boy-but probably only by a year-hand and started off through the ground.
The two parted through the hectic human traffic until they reached four others, a young man and woman both in their 30's and too young girls, identical twins, who were about 6. All of them donned the same complexion as Queenie and Crete. The family was clearly not from England, their wardrobe gave that away. They were dressed as if they were leading an Arctic expedition. Queenie herself in: black leggings, white long sleeve top, purple zip up hoodie under a light denim jacket. Red Doc Martin boots and a red snood style scarf.
"Now dear you promise to owl us?" The older woman-Jasmine, enquired while embracing her tightly.
"Of course, mum. I'm more concerned about doing you proud!" Queenie explained
"Darling I'll always be proud of you, as will your father even if he doesn't fully get all the magical stuff" Jasmine reassured, leaving her eldest to let out a shaky laugh as the drew apart.
"Dad?" Queenie whispered, eyes glassy, her tears resting precariously on her thick, long, black lashes. He pulled her into a tight hug, swaying her back and forth.
"Don't forget your old muggle dad now will you now?" He whispered into her hair. She just shook her head from its position buried into his chest.
2 sets of little arms through themselves around her waist and she parted with her beloved father to bid farewell to her youngest siblings, Bubble and Squeak.
Crouching down to their level, she embraced them both properly-all 3 of them crying just like her mother, father and brother who were watching on.
"Don't leave!" Bubble gurgled through her tears, the mole under her left eye differentiating her from her sister when she pulled away.
"No don't!" Squeak agreed
"Stay" Bubble pleaded
"Stay" Squeak reinforced
"STAY!" They both chorused, crying even more.
A sharp whistle cut through the platform and the doors of the Scarlett engine opened. Queenie pulled herself up, and hugged her brother, Crete, quickly whispering in his ear:
"I'm leaving you in charge, you best maintain my domain of craziness" he just smiled at her, nodding.
Queenie quickly collected her two vintage style suitcases and boarded the train with one sad, longing glance at her family.
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Shuffling through the train she tried to find an empty compartment, until bi jingo! She'd found one, sliding inside she heaved her luggage on to the over head rack before flopping down on the seat and closing her eyes, jet lag was so exhausting!
Queenie was a from a town in Turkey called Bodrum in the southern Aegean region of the country. Once home to the Mausoleum (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World), Bodrum presently sported intriguing ruins, stunning beaches and cliff-top villas for houses. She had flew hours on a aeroplane just to get to London. Her father was a Turkish muggle and her mother and English witch who'd attended Hogwarts. They'd met when her mother took a trip to Istanbul with her job as secretary to a top ministry worker.
She heard to door slide open and cracked her eyes open slightly. There stood 6 boys, a little older than her all chatting animatedly.
"Do you mind if we join you?" The boy at the front, who appeared to be the leader said
"Sure" Queenie replied, she couldn't deny them a seat could she? She was just a measly first year. The boys filed in. Queenie noted they were all attractive but one stood out to her. The ring leader. He had bronze floppy hair and stormy grey eyes, his pale skin contrasting against her own.
"I'm Cedric, Cedric Diggory" the leader announced, offering out his hand for her to shake. Queenie accepted
"Queenie Askoy"
"Well Queenie, these are my friends. Zach, Nathan, Lewis, Clark and Daniel" he said gesturing to them each in turn.
"So you're a first year right?" Nathan asked
"Yep"
"And Askoy that's not an English name is it?" Daniel pressed earning a sharp glare and a hissed 'Dan' from Cedric
"Erm, No it's Turkish" Queenie awkwardly smiled
"Cool! Are you from Turkey?" Lewis babbled, he was obviously easily excitable. Queenie felt more relaxed by this and launched into the story of her up bringing and life with both a muggle and a witch.
Over the course of the train ride they 7 of them became greatly acquainted. Queenie learned they were all in 2nd year (Cedric and Nathan in Hufflepuff. Clarke and Daniel in Ravenclaw. Lewis in Gryffindor) , she was not to accept gifts from the notorious, 2nd year ginger haired twins from the Weasly clan and not to interrupt Gryffindor Quidditch practice if she didn't wan't to face a torrent of abuse from their third year captain, Oliver Wood who lived and breathed Quidditch so much he was appointed captain at 13 years old. Queenie in return educated them on muggle life and discoveries (she was greatly shocked to hear they'd never even heard of the moon landing).
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"You need to go that way" Cedric said pointing towards, Hagrid-or as Queenie saw him, a giant with cat sprouting from his face and a bad wardrobe.
"O-ok" she stammered. Cedric smiled at her nervousness and pulled her into a quick hug
"You'll be fine"
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Sat in the creaky, old boat travelling over murky waters didn't sit well with Queenie. Her boat was occupied by 5 other people, 2 boys and 3 girls and she was quickly realising looking around her year 7 cohort that she was easily the tallest girl if not the tallest all together. Her boat buddies had already introduced themselves. Marie Bodmin, a petite pale girl with chocolate curls and light blue eyes. Cho Chang a beautiful but again petite girl with long raven hair and dark eyes. Gemma Dobson a slightly taller (but still small in comparison the Queenie) girl with a straight strawberry blonde bob and green eyes. Jeremy Sinclair a thin boy with a lethally defined bone structure and Chestnut floppy hair and Chestnut eyes. Finally there was Rohm Montague, a small boy with chubby cheeks, blonde hair and green eyes. They chatted about everything and nothing on there way there. Queenie already felt she'd made some solid friends.
These new found solid friends proved a great comfort when the were paraded into the great hall before the older students and teachers for the sorting. Queenie and the group all stuck together but soon the use of register order meant Queenie was already being pulled away and up onto the stool which everyones attention was one.
McGonagall placed the hat on the blonde's head and it started thinking aloud.
"Ah, interesting, interesting. A great deal of potential. You have great intelligence you should fit right in Ravenclaw but your bravery is also prominent-you're life in Turkey was a difficult on, always dancing with the devil and having your toes burnt or trod on … oh but then Hufflepuff. You're loyal, fiercely loyal and will defend those you love ten times quicker than you would yourself, you'd let the sly comments slide … I'm placing you in … HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat exclaimed, Queenie sighed and the school clapped.
Hopping down off the stool she skipped the Hufflepuff table beaming in sheer delight. Her smile pulling back her pink soft lips, revealing perfect pearly whites and causing dimples of various sizes to ripple over her tanned cheeks.
The rest of the sorting passed quickly. Marie in Gryffindor along with Jeremy. Cho Chang into Ravenclaw. Gemma into Slytherin (though Queenie vowed to maintain their friendship regardless of what others said but the Hufflepuffs didn't seem to bothered by the Slytherins-they seemed to be neutral) and Rohm into Hufflepuff, which she was thrilled about.
The feast also went with great haste. Queenie made an effort to get to know everyone with in a close enough radius to hold a conversation with full on yelling. While talking loudly to a 5th year four people to her left, Queenie discovered Cedric Diggory was actually the heart throb of Hogwarts. The 5th year, Ivy Duffle explained Girls his year, (probably) the year below and the year above were all madly in love with him. The girls older than that either A) still found him cute, and thought the charm of dating someone older would appeal to 12 nearly 13 year old or B) felt an over riding urge to mother him and protect him from his many giggling love sick fan girls.
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After a long night Queenie was finally in her dorm, her bedroom for the next 7 years that she shared with Rita Rocheleau, a curvy Blonde with blue eyes who was the epitome of the 'dum blonde', Harriet Sims, a 5 foot fireball, with the temper of a short fuse with ginger hair and green eyes, Leah Thorton a shy girl with shoulder length mousy brown hair and grey eyes and Jenny Hix a sporty girl who was driven by success. Jenny had short black hair in a pixie cut and had hazel eyes.
Going to bed that night Queenie dwelled in Ivy's words. Did the whole school love Cedric? Queenie was ashamed to admit it but she'd developed a bit of a crush in the short time she'd know him and wanted to know her chances of actually been noticed.