Written for the 10 Character, 10 Prompts Challenge (Hagrid, seat) and the Open Category Comp (Riddle Era)
"Sorry. No room," the boy says, and it's immediately echoed by his two companions.
Rubeus frowns. He wants to point out that there is a seat left. Maybe it's even big enough for him. But he's been to six compartments already, and the occupants of each had said the same thing. "Sorry," he mumbles, cheeks burning and eyes stinging.
He's bigger than all of them. If he'd wanted to, he could have easily overpowered them without having to lift a finger.
But, despite his size, Rubeus doesn't like confrontation, and he doesn't want any trouble.
He tries one last time, opening a compartment door and finding a lone passenger. The girl looks up at him behind her large glasses, a scowl on her lips. "Come to tease me, too?" she asks sharply.
Rubeus shakes his head. "Jus' wanted somewhere to sit," he says quietly.
The girl stares at him for a moment, lips pursed. At last, she gestures toward the seat across from her. "You can sit here, if you'd like."
Grateful, Rubeus takes a seat.
Until now, his father has been the only person to treat him so kindly. All the children in his village had shunned him, hissing horrible names at him and throwing rocks and mud whenever he'd pass them by. On the train today, the kids had laughed at him, whispering behind their hands to one another, and staring at him with cold eyes.
It's the first time he's ever felt like maybe he belongs.
"I'm Rubeus," he says.
"Myrtle."
And the two carry on, smiling and laughing, sharing sweets and exchanging stories as the countryside blurs by.