It was the first day of a new term. Hazel Quinn was climbing aboard the Hogwarts express, with her brother Marcus, once again. She was starting her sixth year and Marcus his seventh so they were both accustomed to the large, red engine billowing out smoke that would take them back to school. After Hazel had squeezed through the large mass of students and parents alike she turned to wave goodbye to her curly haired mother and to check her black and white cat Luna had followed her. Sure enough she saw the brave little kitten sauntering behind her up the step and into the hallway of the train. She bounded up to Hazel and jumped up to her shoulders where she wrapped herself around her neck like a warm, breathing scarf. Hazel nodded a farewell to her brother and they both started to search the carriages for their friends. Finally she found the carriage full to the brim with her noisy sixth year companions. "Hazel!" shouted Annie one of Hazel's closest friends. Everyone else turned at the exclamation and she was met by very loud greetings.
"hey guys I've missed you all so much, I haven't seen you all in, what is it two weeks?" Hazel joked. She had indeed spent most of her holidays travelling from one friend's house to another.
"Where have you been?" Asked Sam, who ignored the joke and continued to sport his usual nervous look.
"Yeah Haze we've been wondering whether you were coming back", teased James Potter giving her his signature cheeky grin and wink as he moved over to reveal just enough velvet covered seat for her to squeeze into. Hazel's heart sped up slightly as she squeezed in next to him, she was confused for a moment by the reaction but quickly recovered herself. She let the excited chatter from her friends wash over her as she relaxed into her seat. She was so relaxed in fact it took her several minutes to realise that James was talking to her. "Hey Haze, earth to Hazel, were you listening to me at all?" Asked the rather exasperated teenage boy staring at her.
"Sorry I must have zoned out, strange, I normally find you so fascinating," she teased.
"I am the most interesting wizard in the universe I think you'll find" retorted James.
"Of course you are dear."
Lots of chocolate frogs, a very cramped change into robes and a few hours later, the train stop at Hogsmeade station and Hazel grabbed Luna, jumped off the train and linked arms with Annie as they headed towards the enchanted carriages that would take them to the castle. Professor Longbottom was waiting by the coaches to reassure any second years new to the coaches and welcomed Hazel and Annie with a huge smile. As they climbed into the coach Hazel ended up next to James again and they chatted amicably until they reached the great hall. After the welcome back feast and headmistress McGonagall's usual words of wisdom Hazel trudged sleepily up to her dorm and collapsed onto her fresh four poster bed. The last thought she remembered before falling into a deep but happy sleep was how pleased she was to be back.
The next morning after Professor Longbottom handed out their timetables Hazel headed off for a very busy day of double Potions and double Herbology. Several days passed quickly as the first week of term usually does, her homework pile was steadily rising already and the days were already getting shorter.
"Wake up Hazel, or you'll miss breakfast" suddenly a very bleary eyed girl jumped out of bed at the mention of food as her roommates laughed hysterically at her reaction to the prospect of not eating. Eventually Hazel had fully woken up and her and Annie walked into the great hall and were greeted by Louis Longbottom, James and a huge pile of pancakes. "Yum!" Hazel said greedily as she plonked herself down on the bench and dived straight for the nearest plate of pancakes. "Well hello to you too" said James in mock hurt.
"Aww sorry Jamie did you think I'd forgotten you" she teased in a baby voice, in between mouthfuls of food. "So what are we doing today?" she asked her friends
"Maybe we could sneak out to Hogsmeade?" suggested Louis, "before it starts snowing and we would leave footprints."
"sounds good to me" agreed Annie
"I need to get my scarf so do you want me to grab the map and cloak while I'm in the dorms James?" offered Hazel.
"yes please and could you grab my gloves as well" he shouted to her as she ran down the aisle between the tables towards the stairs.
After she had collected her scarf from the end of her bed, Hazel climbed the stairs to the boy's dorm. She always felt more comfortable in the organised chaos which was much more to her style than the neatness of her own dorm. She had to search through James' trunk and under his bed before retrieving all three items then she climbed out of the portrait hole and started towards the one eyed witch passageway.